Recent content by DuckToller

One swallow back tonight - did a quick duck and dive into the stables and out again, then sat on a tree surveying. Something to cheer us up and to report on!

Does he absolutely need to sit? I've taught a few adult beginners recently and got them to take a light seat in trot (holding neck strap or mane if it helps) and taught canter from that position, and didn't bother with the traditional sitting! Neither wanted to be serious riders, just happy...

Anyone watching the show jumping? Live stream seems to have stopped.

A colt foal I was looking after used to roll as soon as I put haylage out in the field. He would rush over, paw at it, eat some and then he would get down and roll in it. I put it down to excitement - he was easily pleased! Could it be that?

Just do it - you have been very honest in telling them your story so they know what to expect. A year is plenty of time - why not aim to do it in six months as more of a challenge? I have joined a gym to help my riding fitness and have requested exercises to help my core stability and general...

I find that when I have several horses eating hay, they are more competitive and greedy and there is less likely to be any left. Perhaps she just isnt that hungry - do you have to put a whole bale out if she is on her own? Maybe just put out what she needs every day? I got the farmer to...

Agree with SEL - I put the pony's welfare first, over someone's feelings. If we don't speak up, who would? There are some very ignorant instructors around sadly. I would turn up next week in my smartest instructor gear and hope she sees you. You have planted the seed but you might need to...

Every Pony Club branch is different, and have very different styles of camp, even between neighbouring branches, and some might not suit you at all, so first of all I would go on the PC website and see which branches are nearest to you, and then contact them with your questions. Some will be...

My mare had this 4 years ago. She was as lame as lame could be, and the prognosis from vet hospital was that they rarely come back from this injury. As she is well bred, and there was a fair improvement in the lameness after a few weeks, it was off to stud with her, and 2 colts and 4...

Please don't feel you should or must be there until the final moment - you have done your best by her, but being there at the end isn't a great idea. Seeing your beloved horse on the floor isn't an image that goes easily - I stayed with my much loved first pony (I was mid 20s) and the image was...

Somebody sent me this one by Rudyard Kipling when I lost our dog. There are others I am sure, but this strikes a chord. http://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/poems_dog.htm

I have tried to look up the requirements for a 7.5 t lorry with regards to skirting - the side panels that go from the body down. I can find some info on London but what about the rest of the country?

I asked a similar question a few years ago and the more knowledgeable breeders on here said it was unlikely that a mare would accept a foal once their own was weaned, as it is the flood of hormones when a foal is born that makes them accept their own, and as this settles down it becomes less...

What are you trying to achieve - do you need to increase rider numbers and income, or just offer more things to your existing clients? We found that when we offered mid week extras such as a gymkhana, often the participants would then cancel their weekend regular lesson the following weekend -...

I always stay on the Saturday night for the fantastic band at the big beer tent (think it's called The Pig & Whistle) - if you are in a crowd that like to party it is well worth staying on for that so you might need to sort transport out if the coach will only do one trip. The band doesn't...