Recent content by alicesmith

Thanks everyone, I think it's definitely a gel pad for us! The front of the saddle is at the right height, and from the sounds of what's been said here and what the saddler said to me, any riser/half pad is just going to make it slip more!

I don't wish to cause anyone offence but I'm not asking about my saddle fit - I trust a fitter who has seen my saddle and my horse more than I could trust anyone who has seen neither. As I said in my OP, my (young) horse currently has no definition in his shoulder; once he has slimmed down and...

I'm so very confused, I need to buy one of these but don't know which one, why can't the daft horse be the right shape? :P So my new saddle slips forward on occasion when I'm cantering. I've had the saddler out, and she has recommended I put 'something' under the front of the saddle, as the...

Thanks everyone! Took him out again today; intended on long reining but since I couldn't even get within 15 meters of the gate, and then he freaked out at some invisible monster when I lead him through the gate, I just lead him the whole hack, and he was much better. I'm thinking it really is...

No, he's completely fine according to the vet, and he doesn't seem to have more trouble on that side than the other.

So bit of background - until December, pony and I were getting on splendidly, schooling well, about to start jumping work again, hacking for up to an hour and a half in company or alone with minimal problems (pony is very spooky). Then mid December, he injured his eye, leading to two and a half...

Which classes should a horse be plaited for? I know M&M's should be left unplaited (or the Foresters should be at least!), but what about things like part bred and coloured? Is plaiting usually seen or is it up to you? I only really have experience showing New Forest Ponies so a little unsure...

Hunters are a good idea, I hadn't thought about that at this stage - although we think we'll have to hunt them when they're older as we aren't sure what else to do with them!! I do love plaiting as well, so that could be perfect ;D They'd definitely be maxi cobs if we were to show them as show...

AA, I'll get one up as soon as I can find one of them, they're currently both out with our Forest herd and are never around when you need them! WelshD, they seem to both be unfeathered, so perhaps I should rule out traditionals! I can't seem to find any shows in the next few months that have...

I'm hoping to show some youngsters next year, but want to get them out in the next few months for a bit of experience. While most are pure or part-bred New Forest Ponies, we've got a couple of Percheron crosses and I'm not sure what to show them as! They are both half Percheron, a quarter New...

Today, Storm had another viewing, and because M was at work, I was the one there to ride and answer the potential buyers questions. I've never even been to a viewing, let alone be the one acting on behalf of the seller, so I was a bit nervous, but he's a super pony and I wasn't particularly...

So ever since I started riding with/for M, I knew that she had dressage lessons with a Grand Prix rider called Jodie. I was never hugely 'up' with dressage - I'm starting to get there now though! - so I didn't really know any of the names of the top riders or what they looked like or anything...

Lovely pictures, what a handsome horsey!

Yesterday, M and I took our ponies to cross country. Storm has never been before, only started jumping a few months ago (at almost 8 years old), so my ultimate plan was just to not die! Started by walking around all the jumps so we could gauge how scary everything was (not very!), then followed...

I find callers distract me, too. I tend to learn them by making a rough mini school in my front room and then pretending to be a horse - I might look stupid but it sure helps me! Then just keep running through it in your mind, once an hour, once a day, whatever works until you've got it. And...