Recent content by lme

I want someone experienced and horse friendly, with a good understanding of biomechanics and a willingness to make training enjoyable for both me and my horse. If I try someone and my horse doesn't enjoy the experience, I don't go back. In my experience, people who are promoted as being very...

I can remember viewing one of my children's ponies. I was grilled at the viewing and allowed to buy her because I was (correctly) viewed as a 'forever' home. Turning up with the child the pony was for and their 3 younger siblings definitely helped. The only horse I have ever sold as an adult (a...

I think so yes - we didn't give it much thought at the time as she 'passed' the vetting for what we wanted her to do and so we assumed points noted on review of X-rays were not a concern.

We have an 18yo that had one on her X-ray when we bought her as a 5yo. It has never caused her any issues.

No - I wanted a nicely produced 16:2-17h 5 or 6 year old warmblood mare with good SJ breeding who had not been rushed or done age classes. Ideally Chestnut or Bay. Bought a 17:1 grey 4yo ISH who I was told was ‘not a fan of schooling’ unseen from Ireland. She is wonderful.

It just sounds as if you've done a good job but got a bit a bit stuck with the riding away Its probably not helpful ascribing human motivations to him. He's just a young pony so will have ups and downs. And at his age needs to get confidence from his rider. I'd get help with riding him away...

So sorry - Holts are brilliant though. So kind.

Sometimes you just know. I bought an unbroken 4yo sports horse mare from a job lot advertised in horse and hound when I was 24yo, living in London and hadn’t sat on a horse for 6 years. As soon as I met her, I knew I would buy her. I owned her for almost 30 years.

Totally agree - what I enjoy most about the horses is spending time with them. I do ride, but its not why I have them, which takes the pressure off massively when its in their best interest to retire.

I wouldn't stress and would focus on hacking then give the winter off out in the field. We backed ours (tall gangly WB) in the summer of his 4th year. He did loads of groundwork, long reining, and walking out round the lanes, was ridden several times in the arena to get steering, then hacked a...

I'd keep control of her and either retire or give time off then lightly hack at walk (if she enjoys that). I wouldn't loan her again. You cant trust people not to view horses as sports equipment.

I just put feed down or bring horses into stables where food is out ready. I don't much mind where they are. They are all big compared to me but pretty obliging as they know they are getting fed and I'm not going to mess them around.

I think its a combination of us now knowing more, being able to check / treat more and as others have said the change in the way horses are produced / kept not enough turnout, too much time in an arena etc etc. I like to be old school in terms of turnout and hacking v arena work but not in...

My dream breed isn't really a breed, its a type. I love SJ bred WBs. ideally with a bit of SF. Ironic really as I've barely left the ground in 20 years and absolutely do not need that type of horse.

I ended up with a 'modern' ISH (WB x TIH). She is awesome. Thinks that made her affordable were age (4yo) and size (17h+)