Recent content by marestare

I am currently virtual horse shopping (the best kind) for a friend (even better), and find myself laughing out loud at the outrageous money people are asking for horses they are selling. My friend is looking for a nice riding club sort, who can turn it's hoof to a sponsored ride, doesn't need...

If you are going to have clean facilities, year-round turnout, proper fencing, decent sized boxes, a few jumps for the school, access to good hacking and decent basic horsecare then I will be your first customer!! I am a bit north of you, (about 9-10 miles) but any decent yard around here has...

Sometimes - particularly as I used to have a 16.3 warmblood and then downsized to a 14.2. Couldn't give a toss though and they are soon simpering when they would like someone to open a gate when we are out hacking:D. My pony can turn a hoof to anything, gets herself out of trouble if I...

Yep - been riding with one for four years now - It helps me to mount and dismount from the off-side, and I usually walk the last half-mile home when hacking, to loosen myself off. Do need to pop a couple of Tramadol prior to riding sometimes but other than that I'm fine. Back in the days...

. JessTickle raises an interesting point - what is the "average" rider? H&H did a survey in the UK back in 2011 asking what the majority of horse owners did in terms of activities and competitive level - can't remember the detail but I do seem to recall that, as you would intuitively...

Was wasting time this morning looking at horses for sale (I am NOT buying:)), and find myself increasingly irked by people who do not know how to spell the breed of the horse they are selling. So far this morning I have come across a "Hanoveron", several "Andalusions" (perhaps these are...

I also think riding schools and trainers have a lot to answer for giving people delusions of adequacy when it comes to their ability, by only giving them dopes on ropes to ride and letting them lump about and telling them they are wonderful instead of really teaching them. When I sold my...

I have one - don't know how effective it is as have never "used it in anger" - but I am a doddery old bat and have dismounted without disconnecting the lanyard, thus activating inflation, on more than one occasion. :o Only sound was a slight "psst" and the GWM (giant warmblood mare) - who was...

Used to have a Dr Cook's bitless which I occasionally rode my last mare in - bought it on a bit of a whim and eventually ebay'ed it as it was very expensive and mostly collected dust. I also had a loan horse who did everthing, and was very happy, in a hackamore, which was great for brakes but...

My current girl was cranked and flashed when I went to buy her, so I asked the owner why - the reply was that she would get her tongue over the bit otherwise. Turns out she had a big ulcer in her mouth right under where the crank strap gets tightened, and was desperately trying to get her...

Related to exercise and feed is turnout. Horses that live out 24/7, aren't stuffed full of hard feed and every sugary supplement going, and get regular exercise, have far less excess energy to devote to spooking and general pratting about. As others have mentioned, the trend towards having...

If you do know of anywhere - or can pm me anywhere to avoid;) would be most grateful.

Ha ha yes I am familiar with Devon's roads, currently live a bit further north in Devon. Ideally would be within 20 miles of Exmouth but I know how hard it is to find a nice yard - currently make a 30 mile round trip twice a day to a far less than ideal yard:(

I trialled the cob version (equivalent to the Thorowgood T4) - very comfy and pretty good value for the money. However as someone else said I felt slightly tipped forward in in and ended up putting a riser in the front - how much of this is inherent to the saddle and how much is due to my mare's...

My mare was also unwilling to stand at the mounting block when I bought her, and would also start to walk off the minute your foot was in the stirrup. So, like you I decided to deal with it (I have a slight disability so my horses have to learn to be "faff proof"). I spent half an hour every...