Recent content by Cragrat

No personal experience of that type of injury, but a friends horse tore an eyelid quite badly, and it healed really well. You got a vet quickly, which is apparently key with eye injuries, so hopefully yours will heal well. Not the same, but my brother once had his eye damaged by a goat's...

Book a few lessons on a 'good' Racewood simulator with an excellent instructor - personally I really rate Nicky Caden at Racewood HQ. The difference between a basic and a top of the range simulator is huge, but the instructor is what really makes the difference. Nicky is not only fully...

I use Magic hoof boots with studs for XC schooling and fast work on grass/mud. He is REALLY confident and jumps well in them. I have a pair of boots set up with the studs permanently, and use a different pair if he needs hoof protection on hard ground. Obviously, sadly, not allowed in...

Theoretically , you should add the excess weight the horse is carry to the rider and tack weight. So f the horse is 500kg, but is 50 kg over wieght, and the rider weighs 60 kg, and the tack and riders boots and hat and coat etc weighs another 20kg, the horse is carrying 130kg. The...

A Chiffney is a wonderful tool, used correctly. One leadope on the headcollar as normal, and a different, easily distinguishable rope on the Chiffney. They usually say 'what the *** was that?? ' the first time you use it, and test it again. After the 2nd time, rarely 3rd time, they...

Yes. We live 1 1/4 hours from our nearest decent venue, and 1 1/2 to 2 hours from most others. I have definitely cut down on lessons/clinics/ competitions etc. Luckliy we have a FANTASTIC xc venue only 40 mins away, and that has just opened for summer, so I'll be going there still. A camp...

I've had 2 shot, one by my vet (he's an older very expereinced vet) and one by the hunt. Both were as everyone has said, very calm, quick, and peaceful. One mare hated strangers,, and could get aggressive. At over 17hh could easily have made it hard for the huntsman, but she was calm...

I am nearly twice the age of you, OP. My ROR really shook my confidence jumping, with his habit of firing me over head and/or stopping literally on top of jumps and totally destroying them ( and inbetween times jumping beautifully - he was totally unpredicatable, which was worse in a...

very helpful, thank you. I am thinking of using them to support perimeter fencing, so once they are in, I don't envisage moving them

The Micklem still has a headpiece, and the cheekpieces are still connected t the bit even if it via a D ring, so I don't see how all poll pressure would be removed? The drop noseband acts to stablilise the bit, ( that was the reason William Micklem included it as part of his design,) so I...

Well done for persevering! Our 3 did the same last month - it had been a gorgeous sunny da, and I'd let them have the afternoon naked( all clipped). Came to get them in, and they said no thanks, led particularly by the mare. After many attempts I'd run out of swear words to mutter as they...

These look very interesting! Do you use them? I see they have a 10 year warranty - do you think they'll last the 25year lifespan they state? Do your have to have their post knocker, plus liner, or can you use a standard post knocker? Sorry for the many questions!

How about banning nosebands and huge thigh blocks? It might not fix everything, but it would be a blooming good start, by making it obvious, even to judges, which riders were using their bodyweght on the horses' mouths.

That is a shame, and a good idea about keeping all members in the loop, whether or not they are riding

Are there any famous/interesting yards nearby that would let you organise a yard visit? Perhaps a re-hab yard too?