Recent content by Cuddly Connemara

Get her teeth checked by an equine dentist - not a vet. The dentist could tell you if the bit has damaged her mouth in anyway or if it's something else. It could be the size of the bit my horses bit was a quarter of an inch too big for his mouth and it caused a lot of damage. Stick with a...

Try not to let it knock and believe me I know how hard it is to not lose confidence. My horse randomly bolts (or used to) and not gonna lie he scares me to death. What I would suggest is try being more relaxed and fluid in the saddle , don't be ridged or ramrod straight, it helps you to move...

I'm really at a loose end. My horse suffered a neck injury about 4 months ago; which caused him to bolt dangerously. I'm trying not to sound like an utter wimp here but, I have a huge Phobia of bolting. Bucking, rearing and spooking doesn't phase me at all but bolting is my absolute pet hate. I...

Unfortunately I bought a beautiful and horribly expensive Symmonds saddle 2 years ago - fitted correctly etc. And now it doesn't fit and my poor boy is sore from it. I want an excellent treeless saddle that will contour to him nicely, it must be rock steady ( non slip) as I have to mount from...

There's nothing wrong with him - he's been out of work for a month and doesn't want to be brought back into it that is all. I appreciate everyone's advice for the mounting issue but I just wanted to know if there were any non elastic girth leather girth straps because I can't find one.

Thank you, this is very helpful 😊

He has no issue with the mounting block when I am not stood on it . It only becomes an issue whe a literally put my foot in the stirrup and try to mount him off it! I have been trying to desensitise him to this gently for 2 years - it's not as easy or simple as it sounds to fix with this...

He was attempted to be broken in Ireland at the age of 2 by hunting with his breeder - yep, I was horrified too.

Me and my riding instructor have worked on his mounting for 2 years - I have only managed to mount him from a block twice and he has immediately bolted or thrown me off. It's not that I am too impatient to work on this , he is genuinely petrified and that makes him extremely dangerous to do this...

Unfortunately cannot mount from a mounting block as he is a particularly strange horse - a gel pad could work though:)

Unfortunately when I was mounting my already nervous , young horse - the saddle slipped and he bolted , of course I was on the floor in seconds. I understand this wasn't his fault and it probably hurt him. It looks as if the elastic snapped in the girth! Could anyone recommend a...

My horse has been out of work for a month , I got back on him today and he threw when I was mounting , it was malicious and no he is not hurting or has an injury in anyway. I cannot keep going with this and it has happened more than once , he has never allowed me to mount from a block, ever! He...

I'm sorry but that last comment is totally uncalled for , as a veterinary student myself , I find that even senior vets have biased opinions towards things such as this. It's difficult not to allow your own opinions and preference to get in the way especially when a patient is asking for advice...

Haha , sorry I've just re-read the original and I didn't mean to put improving condition before taking off shoes , it's been a lonnng day :)

How is it back to front ? He was shod when I bought him , I tried to take his shoes off permanently but he was too sore, I sold him to my friend who is a farrier who tried to take his shoes off as well and improve the condition of the hoofs . We both agreed that barefoot is best for a horse if...