Recent content by little_critter

I’ve come to the conclusion that some people keep horses because they love horses, and some people keep horses because they love riding. I ride myself, but I wouldn’t put my enjoyment of riding above my horses welfare.

Lost motivation to ride but really should make more effort because the weather means turnout is limited and they need movement and stimulation.

Even if they don’t understand the words I’m sure they understand the intent behind them.

Why wouldn’t you? Surely you can pop to the yard before the service?

Absolutely. People probably roll their eyes at me gushing at my horses, but I want to tell them when they are doing the right thing. When they walk nicely to the field I tell them “this is nice, thank you” When I knew they were wound up in the field and I asked them to be nice to me as I...

Yeah….but the fields are so sopping wet we need 2 fully dry weeks to get close to drying them up.

Another day of rain for us. At least we got 2 hours of dry in the morning so I could chuck the ponies out and poo pick without getting rained on. OH went for a cycle ride and got drenched, he also had 2 punctures bless him.

Here’s a training question for you. My horse is good to be bridled, his quirk is that I can’t put the bit in in the usual way (cradled in hand and placing in mouth). If I try that he fusses and head tosses. Our method is that he has to grad the bit, I hold everything else out of the way and...

Sorry, that’s my fault. I remember in Nov/Dec thinking we've had a dry autumn and if we carry on this way we won’t replenish the reservoirs after the dry summer. It seems Mother Nature was saving all her rain for Jan/Feb

I think of it like yoga. The exercise you are doing needs to be of benefit to the horse. The horse gets the benefit from carrying themselves / putting themselves in the positions you request. If you went to a yoga class and your instructor put you in the yoga poses and held you there, you...

I saw a rainbow today. No idea how, I couldn’t see any sunshine. It’s been steady rain here today, not heavy or dramatic, just relentless.

We are also noticing some light shedding at the yard.

Same here, especially in winter! I am rapidly becoming a pony patter, and I’m ok with that. People keep dogs and those dogs don’t need to be ‘useful’, so what’s wrong with keeping horses and not riding much. Yes it’s more expensive than keeping a dog but it’s my money, my choice.

Personally I wouldn’t go to speedibeet for conditioning. Once made up it’s mostly water. That’s why my 2 good doers get it, they think they are getting a nice feed when in fact it’s mostly water and fibre. To help with condition I’d add some micronised linseed to the feed. It’s got good oils...