Recent content by Mattb125

I have an interview at a racing yard next month and I need to learn how to Gallop.I can ride to a good level and have been teaching myself to gallop with fairly short stirrups.I know I need to get my bottom up my elbows bent and my weight into my hands. I need to know how to double bridge the...

Its a long term project so will be a while down the line before we start jumping.I will be starting off with long reining over flat and raised trotting poles before progressing to loose schooling.I could make a lane out of jumping locks and poles if that would make things easier for the horse?

Im currently reschooling an ex-racehorse and would like to introduce loose jumping at some point. Can someone please explain the best way to do it and what aids I use eg voice/lunge whip I think. If the horse is completely loose how do I stop him just galloping round the school in all directions?

Is it safe to leave brushing boots on day and night for a few nights while on enforced turnout due to possible strangles? Boots taken off every morning while horse groomed in the field.

The best bit is she is threatening to close the paddocks unless we move our horses back to our stables at nighttime because she is worried about grass cover in the fields!

I am positively fuming about what happened this weekend. Early saturday evening on yard checks a horse was found to have an openly weepy absess under his chin (possible strangles alarm bells ringing).His glands were swollen on both sides with small pre erupting lumps on both sides.Although the...

I just bought the AP McCoy racing skull cap.Its a fantastic hat for cross country offers lots of extra temple protection.Its pretty good value at £115 and you can choose your own cross country colours.

Thanks to those who advised on the best method of retraining my former hurdle/Ptp mare. She has settled in very well and is enjoying her whole days in the field so much that she is not keen on going back in the box at night! She has been slow to warm to the hay after being on sweet hayledge. She...

sounds like a good book will have to purchase that.Turned her out this morning with an old companion pony.She ignored the companion until I tried to get her back in the stable then she refused to go in.After some encouragement she went in and will go back out for the whole day tomorrow. Glad you...

ok thanks I just thought it would be a good idea to get her trotting on the lunge and then quietly get her used to being mounted before jumping on?What do you think? The idea is to school her then sell her on as an all rounder. Thanks for the Winergy site looks good and the mix sounds great.

Hi Im looking for some advice as to how to bring on and produce my former racehorse.I am looking to turn her into an all rounder who will do a bit of dressage,showjumping, cross country and as a hack out. She is racing fit and has been on 16kg of haylage and racehorse cubes.I have swapped the...

Sorry my system deleted the mail before I could print could you please resend it to me if possible? Thanks Matt

How about Jigsaw Puzzle or The Missing Piece as she has a jigsaw puzzle effect on her.

Thats great and yes maybe eyes closed would be horse dependent as I know several horses I wouldn't want to close my eyes on!

Hi Nats Thanks for the feedback. Did you do anything like holding on closing your eyes and counting the steps feeling the tempo?