Recent content by Jules111

We took the leap and bought a border line derelict house with land that was in no way set up for horses. We're not exactly young and I don't think I ever really appreciated how much physical work would be needed. Every single fence post (I stopped counting at 500) was knocked in by hand using a...

This is the first year I've genuinely felt too old for the relentless misery of winter. I started with horses 40 years ago and there have been plenty of rubbish winters but this one really feels like a constant punishment. I have 5 horses who have never spent so much time either standing in a...

Due to a real emergency I had to travel Manchester to Leeds in a 3.5t during very high winds - literally don't travel unless an emergency warnings everywhere whilst driving over the highest motorway (M62) with a horse that was in a life or death situation. I swear the 3.5t box I was in saved us...

I rescued a 4 month old foal in an awful state, got him well and eventually loaned then sold him to a lovely family when he was 4. Time pushed on and I lost touch with the family. 26 years later I walked on to a livery yard, a little pony rushed to the gate whinnying to me. He would not stop...

Having them at home is wonderful and more work than I ever ever anticipated. I fell into the "get sheep to help sort the grazing" trap. I flipping well fell in love with the sheep. They have so much character, really really love a cuddle and are here forever. I'm reluctant to admit that managing...

I've been riding for 40 years, I often wish I actually knew 10% of what I thought I knew when I started out. The more I learn the more I realise how much I have to learn. I'd love to have half the skill Elf has on the worst days.

Isn't it incredibly sad that you need to have a thick skin to survive what is essentially a hobby for the vast majority of us. A flipping labour intensive and expensive hobby... why do we seem to accept bullying as the norm on most livery yards? Something feels so off about this...

Agree it's not the "biggest" problem... but if I was buying a youngster I always prefer unhandled compared to a colt handled regularly by a child.

I'd personally feel more concerned about the youngster being handled by a young child. Yearling colts are unpredictable, unbalanced and can turn into a complete tit very easily. Every time they are handled they are learning what is acceptable and unacceptable. A child cannot be expected to hold...

What a lovely little colt and a very clever mummy. At least you haven't had to spend the coldest night of the year sitting in a stable. Congratulations.

I love a BOGOF, can only imagine the feeling you get when you realise the grass/hay belly is moving... makes me look at the overweight gelding suspiciously ;)

It's taken me 40 years of horses to fully appreciate that the things that are important to us often mean very little to the horses. All the time i've wasted with "cosmetics", tidy beds, pretty tack, endless hours of grooming all mean bugger all to the horse :rolleyes:. I'm now working on...

Sending virtual hugs. It's a rough time to have to name the day but as you know it really is the kindest thing we can do for our horses. I hope your husband recognises that a vet does not suggest PTS if there are other options that would help the pony. Having to make this choice for my girl a...

I'm another fan of maximum turn out, particularly for a cob. Standing around all day with food handed to them is not helpful to keep the sane or healthy. It really is an extreme change of lifestyle to go from a trecking centre lifestyle to a lifestyle of little movement. He will probably be...

If you're fed up having to sort fencing DO NOT get a shitland...