Recent content by downsouth

I'm thinking about doing one of the Classical Riding Club dressage tests at a competition, please can anyone tell me which movements are in test 5? i think it's pitched at novice/elementary level.... Also it appears the CRC website requires you pay to become a member before you can purchase a...

Hi, you're not alone in this situation. My horse has been a bad loader since I bought him but he's lovely in every other way! In the last year we've progressed from around 1 hr to load (once 3hrs!) to now 15 mins. If you pressure my horse he will just rear and become panicky and even less...

My PRE started roaring about when he turned 4. I had him scoped and he has severe paralysis ie one side of his larynx is completely paralysed. At first he coudn't canter more than a few circuits of the arena without his breathing becoming too laboured to carry on, but over the past year and a...

Hi, this happens to me with my 5yo. We've been out 6-8 times in the past few months and exactly the same thing happens each time. Warm up really nicely then as soon as he has to go into a new arena for the test, he turns all introverted and won't go forwards. Luckily he doesn't spook but...

thanks for the suggestion i'll definitely bear these in mind for the future - can't afford to try one at the moment as they're a bit pricey, even on ebay! Has anyone used a Myler sweetmouth on their horse?

Hi, I after some suggestions for a new bit for my horse, one that will be BD legal. My 5 yo has a very dry mouth which two of the trainers I've been to have commented on - he doesn't salivate at all! One of them suggested I coat the bit in something tasty before riding to encourage him to play...

Saturday - supposed to tip it down with rain all day so will ride in between showers (if there are any in betweens ) Sunday - BD at Sparsholt, my first affliated comp

Poor you, it's a horrible thing to go through but yes it's totally normal, grief is never nice and affects people in different ways I lost my pony suddenly 3 years ago after 18 years. At the time I had no horsey friends and my family stopped mentioning her after a couple of weeks so I had no...

I'm hopefully not too bad at sitting, haven't had any comments about it in the three tests ridden so far. Also ride sitting trot when training (apart from warm up and down) and not been told I look like a sack of spuds yet - felt like one plenty of times though I shall carry on as I am then...

That's great if I'm allowed to do either I can just pick on the day same as milliepops it depends on how my horse is going. If he's very forward I sit as it's comfortable and easier to hold together but when he's not off the leg I rise as he starts going forward more then. Think I made a prat...

yes, someone else suggested to try TREC but the nearest events are still a couple of hours away (guess I'm lazy about driving that far ) I watched the WE European Championships at Hartpury last year and that had me hooked! Silmarillion - yes it is him

Does anyone know which is preferred, or is it optional? And would you be penalised for doing it part sitting and part rising. I find the 10m circles and medium trot easier while sitting so not sure whether to sit for it all or if I should really be rising!! thanks

Not tried it but would absolutely love to do it as it's fantastic to watch! Unfortunately there don't seem to be any comps/training in the south as I looked lasted year on the WE UK website. That said, I've had dressage training with someone from the Portuguese WE team but it's the obstacles...

Bought a KK ultra to replace a French link but there was no noticeable difference, i was a bit miffed after spending all that money! My horse has a very dry mouth so thought the aurigan mouth piece and lozenge might help but he went excatly the same as in the French link, typical

I just bought some Moser Avalon cordless clippers and done one full clip with them so far - they're great! They're only suitable for fine coated horses but I did my whole horse in under one hour and the blades didn't get hot at all. The battery lasts 3 hours apparently but i didn't need them...