Recent content by book_lover

thank you Misskk88 - great advice and agree with every word. Glad you are both enjoying the dressage - I thought I could take that up actually as I believe he's had a history of dressage too :D will let you all know how it goes with the vet.

oops, thanks Ladyinred. I thought I'd only changed this one to public (so you could all see it). Will investigate tonight as I have a day long workshop to deliver today.

thanks so much everyone :D She has been waiting 4 years for her first show so my heart was in my mouth but they did great!

haha Tobiano :) Thanks for the ideas everyone - I won't get to jump Becky really I'm afraid - the two of them are a bit of a dream team in the school and Laura can jump her over 90 (their current record) but they tend to stick to 70 odd and if a course, lower. They are superb together...

thanks, good advice, I will definitely do this. Yes - she is fantastic, has been a huge part of my daughter's education and a fantastic confidence giver for us both. But I will tell her that I have concerns and won't be going above 60cm until I have sought medical/professional advice on Seb's...

I knew it was worth asking on here. It all does make sense now. I only hear from people at the yard that he is being cheeky. But then, they all tend to have younger horses so perhaps haven't been through this yet.

ok thank you. Yes persistently saying no I'd say above 70. So sticking to 50-60 makes sense. Will break the news to my enthusiastic chum from the stables who cheers me on to go higher. I think I need to seek some proper advice regarding what I can do when out though. And in time, do I need to...

But like I said earlier too - I will now be looking at checking with a vet 100% he is safe to jump without it causing him pain. And be more sensitive to his limits.

His owner told me it was fine for him to do jumping, she's done a lot of investigation into side bones... I certainly wouldn't have done it otherwise (or taken him on - jumping is what I love!). He seems to enjoy jumping smaller courses (60cm or so) - once he gets his confidence up. Loving your...

ok thanks ponydi - good to get that perspective :)

Steeora this makes a LOT of sense to me - thank you. He was being ridden maybe 3 or 4 times a week. But I was aware that, whilst others were doing (say in a flatwork session) lots of circles in trot, circles in canter etc. I was just doing a more lazy version - some walking, trotting, mostly...

Also, and just thinking aloud - I've often (probably quite arrogantly) thought he's happier being with me because a) he wasn't getting much work before or human contact, and was being bullied by the alpha males in the field and b) he now gets lots of fuss and bonding with me, a variety of work...

But yes you do have to ask if he needs bute or something else to ease pain when jumping, is he better not jumping? I was only meaning that I think it's better to investigate with a vet rather than just assume he's past it based on one particularly bad day.

He is perhaps making it clear over bigger jumps. But don't other horses get more refusy over larger jumps, isn't this typical? After it gets past a certain height it's more like hard work? Others including my instructor have said he is taking advantage of me, and picks up on my nerves. So I...

thank you. There is an equestrian specialist vet we can get out for a hefty fee. The livery family usually get our local vet, who my husband and I are quite friendly with - but I'm not convinced he knows a great deal about horses. Mainly because he admitted as much!! Maybe will get the...