Recent content by maya2008

Going through a solid fence isn’t normal - in a well maintained fence it would be really difficult. If it is an electric fence it is more normal if the charge is running low. Having a kicking fight in the field is fairly normal though and usually is resolved without harm to either party. Mine...

I’m 5ft4 and ride chunky 12.2hh upwards. If that helps? Feet don’t go below anyone’s ribs. That said, I am very weight conscious - have to forgo the pies for love of the horse! When I had a 14.2hh life was less stressful on that front! Gorgeous! My son’s D is 14hh. He’s about 5ft2 and there’s...

Believe it or not, people turn up to view small ponies without hats for their children too!

Absolutely check for laminitis. It is a well known side effect.

Or is the only answer to move? Not my yard - I have found the Spotinor/coopers spot on to be a game changer but unsure if it would be enough in that situation.

That’s why I only deep litter onto bare earth! We would remove the little patches of straw that bubbled up but generally if you are on dry bare earth you end up essentially on a nice warm compost heap that rots itself down, staying dry on top too. Much nicer than the horrors of deep litter onto...

We fed iams with a dressing of fresh meat on top. She’s gone now but lived a very long, healthy life.

Try a different rider? Or alternatively, go to some local shows and start from the ground up, trotting over 30cm that she can walk over if necessary. Can always enter HC or just deliberately go really slowly so you don’t out compete the little ones on their tiny ponies.

I have done rubber mats and shavings. Also straw straight onto the earth (my preference) which is then deep litterered. If you don’t use the stables in the summer you never have to dig it out - it rots into the ground. For both, you need a slight slope away or generally dry ground.

Is he young? Or spooky? If you’re looking for more control in the case of a spook or a very exciting situation, I would generally up the bitting from snaffle to Universal or similar. In the case of a healthy horse without pain, that would generally give more control, not upset them and enable...

Either the squirrels take them in leaner years or you have to rake them up. They were particularly poisonous and numerous this year. I paid my kids by the bucketload one year if you have any neighbourhood children wanting pocket money!

Check you are straight, but be mindful that a crooked horse will make a crooked rider. Lateral work and turns to supple both sides. But… He had an OCD removed, didn’t he? I would video him on the lunge on both reins in walk, trot and canter and if possible a jump. Then I would analyse those...

Spicy rising 3yo was so funny yesterday. Working on his back feet because he’s more reactive with them than I’d like - will pick up for me, with a tap from a crop, but won’t tolerate them being held. Panics and leaps about. So rope…right? But how to get it round that leg? He is so very very...

So I would either: - spend the money and x-ray to see if it’s an injury with inflammation or actual pinching due to spinal arthritis. - or get a timeline from the vet of how long you would expect to see an improvement to tell the same. If spinal arthritis I would pts. There’s no real going back...

There was a lady driving round looking for someone to take a bale of hay they had used at a fete near me last summer. Council tip wouldn’t take it. In bags, shredded?