Recent content by Conkerock

I've had a couple of tense ponies prone to high head carriage and found no quick fix - as already suggested avoid shortening your reins and getting into a fight with him as that will exacerbate the problem. Try to relax as much as you can and reward any relaxation and stretching downwards by him...

I've charged someone with this - a delightful bloke who was driving his trotting pony dangerously and nearly caused an accident by flying flat out through a red light on a busy road, carrying no lights in the dark

Cob&onion - that box is certainly 'big enough' to take the horses you mention but you would need to weigh it to know the payload. My understanding is that coach built boxes like the one pictured are heavier than the van conversions leaving you less weight for the horses etc

Agree with Theocat - if you want to do it because you enjoy the process / challenge go for it. I periodically take on projects but would never spend more than I could afford to lose. By the time I've paid livery and all other costs I probably don't breakeven but it makes the hobby I enjoy...

Regarding payload I found a local weighbride (at a chicken processing plant) and weighed my van myself - I wouldn't take anyone's word for what it could carry without seeing it with my own eyes. Many features that are for safety are heavy (steel reinforced bulkhead / aluminium floor etc) plus...

I love my van but I only use it as a pony box. If I was looking to travel a 16.2 I would probably look at changing my car and getting a trailer (which I am considering anyway because I am finding the running costs (particularly when it comes to repairs) hard to justify) or getting a larger...

Thanks everyone, My yard sadly lacks a suitable schoolmaster otherwise I would be going down that route. If only I still had my previous pony as he had stacks of self-confidence and would be perfect to bring this chap out of his shell. I have a local friend that I could take him to sometimes to...

I have recently bought a 5 year old Arab x project pony. I don't know too much about his history but he is very nervous/spooky and I am guessing that he has hardly seen anything before (he was even scared of buckets when he arrived). I have therefore set about opening his eyes to the wider world...

I think horses are often just creatures of habit when it comes to toilet matters... I have had ponies who will NEVER wee when being ridden, one who ALWAYS wee'd in the horsebox on the outward journey (never on the way home, perhaps it was nerves) and my current one ALWAYS poos in the same spot...

Another vote for Prince Fluffy Kareem!

Another vote for Rambo Protector although I use mine so much that they do eventually go threadbare along the spine!

My van has a straight armed folding saddle rack on the back door (like those shown in the photos) and I have never had a problem with my saddle falling off (no bungees required). On the rare ocassion that I've tried to carry 2 saddles on it though they have both slid off! This is far enough...

I like Shires, my last pony had a pink nose and the full face Shires mask I had for him fitted like a glove, he wore it 24/7 and it never rubbed and he never got sunburn. The only thing I found though was that the nose cover made him sneeze so I just had to sew a tuck in it to raise it up off...

The different brands have different sizings unfortunately so it's just a question of trial and error. I have had a fine 14.1 TBx Welsh who wore a small Rambo mask whilst my 14.2 Welsh Section D wore a medium Rambo / medium Shires. They both wore cob sized bridles but the Sect D was definately on...

Brill, pleased to have been of use:)