Recent content by Curly_Feather

SI on the wall is often a battle for us, and we're established at Medium. Off the wall, no problemo, can do easily, switch smoothly and confidently from side to side, and do transitions within/between gaits while holding position. On the wall, he is mentally absolutely glued to the wall. I've...

So true. At our local shows here in South Africa I see riders and horses going out and trying hard, from prelim to grand prix. Lots of good training. Also lots of mistakes in the higher level classes, but riders laughing and patting their horses through their tests. A few years ago the higher...

Totally this. Men have such an enormous genetic advantage in terms of density of muscle fibres, it's ridiculous. Even unfit men have an average forearm and grip strength waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay above an average fit woman. So unless they can somehow be made to give that up, weight should not be looked at.

I admit to sometimes really liking Isabell Werth's rides. I saw her one GP ride (not the freestyle) from this competition and I really didn't like it. She looked like she didn't have as much control over her own body as usual, tipping forward and back. Not a harmonious picture at all.

I want to add onto this post a bit. When we do strengthening and suppling work, specifically, it can be quite uncomfortable. I do weight training and pilates and yoga, and trust me, I'm happiest when it's over. But I have a very big prefrontal cortex that enables me to tolerate the...

I would say that it's more "ethics" than "etiquette". My friend once vetted a very nice (expensive) horse that failed the vetting majorly. She offered to share the x-rays and resulting report with the owner. They declined and kept advertising the horse as "perfectly sound". That is just...

I love these threads. You guys all rock. We had a show. 3-1 (Medium, for the Brits). Did not go great, so I'm a bit disheartened. If there were prizes for "all 4 feet super close together" or "levitation", we would be nailing it...

For me it would depend more on other behaviours. My gelding's tail is a lethal weapon. He very accurately swishes at anything touching him, in hand and under saddle. Even when putting boots on, I know to grab his tail first. For in-hand work, we knot his tail or risk an eye injury. When ridden...

My secret has been to find a saddle fitter who is not a rep for a particular brand, and who LISTENS to me. We don't always agree 100%, but she has been working with me and my horse for about 15 years. A fitter that works for a particular brand, even if they've got impressive qualifications, will...

One thing to consider when thinking about straightness in the saddle - how straight and aligned is your pelvis when you are driving? We tend to put more weight in a particular seatbone when we are driving, due to which foot we are using the most (depends on what country you're driving in too)...

Sorry for your dismal weather guys! It's summer in South Africa, so the worst we have to battle here in Gauteng are thunderstorms.

There are quite a few complexes in South Africa that ban cats already. Not many, but I think complex management has to deal with so many roaming nuisance cat complaints that just banning them outright is the easiest solution.

How do you mean by ruined? I wash my genuine sheepskins in the washing machine, with very gentle (and very small amount of detergent). It needs to be on a gentle and very long wash, with minimal spinning. It comes out of the wash VERY clumped up. I lay it flat on a drying rack in the shade for...

South Africa has one of the most temperate climates on the globe, especially the Eastern Cape parts. Our show season here is all year, we only really break a few weeks over Christmas. I have NEVER had to groom mud off a horse in my life 😁

I'm fit but I die in jumping lessons. Because from the moment I start an exercise my brain goes "okidoki, time to hold your breath". It is absolutely exhausting.