Recent content by HipoH

I have done this exact thing, bought a pony unseen and just sent a transporter to collect and dolloped the money into the seller's account by transfer! However and this is a big HOWEVER... the pony was an unbroken youngster I wasn't bothered what it was like as I was confident of the breed, the...

In this situation I would definitely suggest she has pulled, tweaked or re-arranged herself in some way shape or form by her rug removal and/or gate jumping fence demolition antics.

Being able to sustain self carriage takes a lot of effort for some horses, but it is achievable for any horse. They have to build both muscle, strength and stamina and this takes time. In your position with a lack of strength you really don't want to get into a tugging match and to be honest...

Had keyhole hysterical-ectomy about 6 years ago, totally keyhole no messing with the lady bits, gave myself 2 weeks of totally doing nothing but did make myself walk everyday twice a day gradually increasing duration. After 2 weeks I was back in the saddle, others were horrified but consultant...

I would also say get a companion (I'm not a fan of any horse/pony living alone although some seem to cope to be fair) but if you do you will need to set out your stall as it were from the outset that he must leave his new friend and that its a non negotiable. As a 4 year old Highland he's also...

She looks like a poppet and I'm sure you'll have lots of fun with her. Re showing I would definitely be showing her as a traditional coloured and that gives you lots of classes both inhand and ridden. I wouldn't hog and trim her out as I would suspect that her bone wouldn't be of sufficient...

A couple of ideas having had the pleasure of owning a habitual breast bar jumper! 1. When tying up loop rope under the breast bar and clip onto beastie (very useful emergency measure) not mad tight but just enough to prevent them getting their head high enough to go orbital. 2. Re-educate...

This absolutely!

My 3 year old was treated with the irradiated wires for one above his eye, hugely expensive but it was effective and at the time the insurance covered it. However, he also had a load of them on his sheath these were treated with acyclovir cream from the vet (same stuff as Zovirax) the key with...

I've been on yards where tubes of sedalin or back in the day ACP tablets were shared out like smarties, this is a very dangerous practise as you don't know how each horse will react, yes it is fairly safe when used appropriately for a specific purpose under veterinary guidance/supervision but at...

I certainly wouldn't think it was recommended for long term regular use! The biggest risk would be a drop in blood pressure which is minimal in a healthy horse as a one off/occasional drug to deal with a particular situation, shoeing, clipping, etc. But vets always check the horse's heart before...

The best thing I have found when leading, particularly to deal with mouthy ponies or those that crowd, is I swing the lead rope like a helicopter (vertically not horizontally) in front of me. I'm not intentionally hitting the horse. But if the horse chooses to put his/her nose in my helicopter...

I think you need to have an honest and frank discussion with your vet. In my experience vets will be happy to continue treatment unless the owner draws a line in the sand. I think you need to discuss with them where you are at now and realistically what the options are and what the long term...

Making the call and waiting is the hardest part for us but the ponies are completely oblivious. I think its just about coming to terms with the decision and processing it yourself. Sometimes it really helps to talk to someone who will be non judgemental just to off load and reassure you that it...

I had my old mare done a couple of weeks ago by injection. The vet that came was familiar to her. The process went as follows. Vet popped in some local anaesthetic on the site in her neck where the cannula was going she then put a cannula into the vein. We led her out to her favourite paddock...