Recent content by LinzyD

Ooh, interesting, Goldenstar... I've had a silica sand and rubber surface for 4 years and it's been great, but now that I'm asking more of the ponies and working at higher levels, I'm worried about the risk of injury as it doesn't support them as well as the fibre surfaces that I ride on...

Give the pony as much turn-out and in-hand exercise as you can. If you have any hills nearby and can manage it, lead the pony out in-hand in a bridle doing some hill work in walk two or three times a week. It's great for introducing a youngster to the big wide world, good for your own fitness...

It's Christmas. Believe the best in people. The worst that can happen is that it's a bit of time wasted. I know that in the UK we might be a bit shocked at the notion of a 10 year-old moving on to horses, as opposed to having the odd sit on a big horse, because we have an abundance of...

Really great definitions of success above. Yes, I think this rings true for many of us. For me, first and foremost is the relationship with the horse and working with what you have. One of the reasons that I've done so many different disciplines and activities is that I try to find what each...

I think what Popsdosh is saying is that as well as the legalities, we don't know for sure that the product is exactly what it claims to be, and therefore we could be giving our horses absolutely anything in those blue granules. For me, the latter was the biggest element of the risk, but on the...

This is absolutely it. I had very ordinary ponies as a child and enjoyed the whole business of looking after them as much as the riding. The one thing I really wanted but could never have was a 'stripy' rug - in those days they were woollen Witney blankets. I didn't have a horse of my own...

My experience is that it arrives quickly, it works, it's cheaper than the alternatives. Do it or don't depending on what your view is of the risk vs benefits.

Yes. I had a couple of lessons at the Bartles years ago and was encouraged to use one, and was told that they do it as a matter of course on all their young horses. I was shown how to use it actively and not just as a safety grab. So generally it would be a thin strap like you have on a...

Riding is all about communication between horse and rider, so it's a lot like learning to speak a language. There are fundamental structures and basic rules of grammar that apply pretty much all the time - the principles of keeping a horse between yourself and the ground; then there are...

Typical quirky Connie behaviour, I'm afraid. They either seem to be docile and a bit lazy or else exactly as you describe, highly intelligent, really affectionate and loving, but incredibly difficult to work with and a complete enigma. Mine is the most successful pony I've ever had - HOYS...

5.5 million people went to the races last year. Stick a tenner per person welfare levy on every ticket and you've got £50 Million to put in to programmes to deal with ex and rejected racers via rehab, re-use and disposal. Add on to that a hefty welfare tax for all the big corporate sponsors of...

It's exactly this sort of attitude, the attitude of 'I cough up for charity, I do my bit, I look after my own horses properly, I can't do any more,' that is at the root of the problem. There are 3.5 million riders officially recognised in the UK, and probably far more unoffically. If 3.5...

We already do have a system in place whereby we all contribute in a structured, obligatory way towards child welfare at home and abroad, and it's absolutely right that we do. Via taxation we pay millions of pounds in international aid, and in to provision of education, housing, healthcare and...

Thanks for that. How interesting. I think a lot of progress could be made in a number of ways by classing horses as farm animals, but again that inevitably means more control...

Cobgoblin, it sounds a bit 'I'm alright, Jack.' And most of us are. But I'm strongly in favour of collective responsibility for the welfare crisis. It's not enough to say that I'm a good owner and my responsibility ends there. Yes, it may seem that good owners would be paying for bad via...