Recent content by bluewhippet

When i got my first horse 4 year's ago, I rode every week, and fell of at least 12 times in the first six months! I was a reasonably experienced rider and new to horse owning, and I think my muscles needed to develop and I had to rediscover my balance. Plus, he was a very spooky, prancy arab...

I like the term 'extreme hacking'.

Waves at all the other fast hackers! Burmilla, you can be another inspiration to me…my YO is one already. I wasn't slating schooling in anyway. Just think it is funny that I behave like a teenager and the teenagers ride in a very sedate way. And, I agree, the derogatory connotations of...

I think it is great: I feel healthier now then I did 10 years' ago with tiny children at home. I love hearing about older people who are still zooming around on their horses. When I bought my Arab, I kept being advised to get a very steady cob. I wanted the horse I longed for when I was a kid...

I think the teenagers are all reasonably reluctant riders - it is just one thing scheduled in by very well off parents - and it is all structured: pony club events, lessons. When there is not a programmed activity they don't ride at all. The 'they' is about 6 different teenagers that have been...

I am on a very small and lovely yard. I am late forties, YO has just hit 60. We go on very fast hacks together or on our own. We are lucky in that after 20 mins' quiet road work, we reach woods that you could ride through all day. I have an Arab who is fast and has endless stamina. We have a...

I don't know if I am very dense but I didn't think the driver went that fast. Yes, it is lovely if everyone slows down to a crawl but I consider that I ride in a very polite area and quite a lot of cars will pass like that. But maybe it is faster than I judge?

Couldn't agree more. Don't understand why tax evasion is thought to be acceptable whereas benefit fraud is lower than low.

thought they were very beautiful - love watch horses being boy/girl racers on their own.

Yes. I knew there would be a good Arab name for it: 'the dragon snort'. They are just comical creatures. So beautiful and graceful and such complete show offs. And mine is the most idiotic boy of them all - that is why he can only make the noise with baby donkeys and my little daughters.

He does it when he is rounding up his field of donkeys. He has a couple of Jennies and foals to keep in order. Especially if I am trying to ride him in the school while they are all gallivanting in the field next door, he assembles his arab credentials: prance, head carriage, tail carriage...

After trying lots of bit on my head tossing Arab, I did a lot of lunging and hill work and then tried bits again. The Nathe straight bar has been great. Expensive but if it doesn't work out, you can sell it on Ebay for almost what you paid for it - I know because I was watching them!

congratulations, he is very very pretty. Beautiful boy. Won't you get incredibly impatient waiting all that time before you can ride him?

I have given myself a black eye and a burnt lip making toffee brownies, so I can sympathise wholeheartedly!

Haven't read all the replies, so sorry if I am repeating advice...I bought a bum bag (had to get a leather one to get over the stigma!) and have never used it. I use my hi-vis, has zip up pockets big enough for phone and keys and gloves and probably a lot else.