Recent content by Barleyboo

" IMO, the way forward is to bring him in and tie him up. Don't do any jobs like poo picking or checking water while he is there, do it while the field is empty. Don't put yourself in a position to get into that situation." This is exactly what we do with my horse who sounds very similar to...

Lots of those comments are very predictable with their 'stay on the bridleways' message. It's just a shame that it's so hard to find a bridleway around here that isn't infested by louts on trials or quad bikes and groups of cyclists who charge up behind you with no warning. Not much different to...

My horse has a pelham. He's never so much as hinted at running away and he isn't strong in a snaffle but he was never really happy in his mouth and was always fiddling and snatching. After trying various types of snaffle I borrowed a pelham to try and he just loved it. I've come to the...

"I have an old, odd piece of kit, it wraps round the front of the cavesson and poppers closed, with rings for lunging! It's very odd, ive never used it as don't trust it to stay done up!!!" I know exactly what you mean as I used to have one! I really wish I could get another as it was...

We used to be able to hack to a show every weekend in the school holidays when I was a kid. Now there aren't any shows around here to go to which is a bit sad, you have to be rich enough to afford transport to do anything at all. I would love to be able to take my youngster to what was our 'big'...

I shall watch this with interest as I've been wondering how easy it is to get a passport name changed myself. It's not that I don't like my cob's name but it's the shortened 'pet name' on the passport and I'd prefer it was his full one.

We have big haybales but can't get them to the field so we have a shed next to the shelter and take enough along in wheelbarrows to last the week to save wrestling with tarpaulins in the dark/wet/wind every night. Head torches are good but we also have a light with a car battery in case we need...

Sounds just like my old pony when I first got him, he had all the tricks, rearing, spinning, pushing me against barbed wire... You do have to be determined as others have said, but if you think that the 'getting angry' approach will just result in riling him up more and make you scared, you...

If you haven't got buttercups have a look for wild parsnip. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/herbaceous/wildparsnip.html (american website as it was the best picture I could find of the distinctive leaves, but we are on South Downs and have got it). We have been in our...

"Bolted and threw him off?? Isn't it more likely the horse napped and he lost his balance?" It looks like it really bolted, don't know why though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy8Twj-uGiY

Another member here (in my 40s) and I agree that having a break from riding is a very bad thing. In my case it was because my old pony was losing his sight and I wasn't prepared to have him PTS all the time he was still healthy and happy and coping well, but couldn't afford to keep another to...

The grey pony in your link came to a 'family fun day and bbq' at my son's school a couple of years ago. I was actually very impressed. The pony was beautifully turned out and obviously well cared for, new-looking hats were supplied (adjustable ones if I remember rightly) and it all went without...

I used to get the "you must be getting paid too much" remarks from someone at work. Then I asked her to work out how much she was spending on cigarettes in a year (she was a terrible chainsmoker - this was before smoking was banned in offices - showing my age now!) and it was twice what my pony...

A master saddler recommended a Wintec for my boy as he said the rate he was growing I'd be replacing a leather one in six months (and I only had a small budget). I was a bit dubious but I've been very pleased with how comfortable it is and four years later have found no need to replace it as was...

My gelding turned into a total monster when we were out the day before yesterday. I didn't think I was going to be able to get him home (stupidly I thought he might calm down if I got off and lead him) but I just had to hang on as I couldn't lose him on the road, we were on a bus route! He was...