Recent content by maya2008

Got too many of my own freeloaders given the market has dried up (understandably)! So I am overwintering a lead rein pony (and leading her off mine for exercise), a kind, older happy hacker (at least my son enjoys hacking her alone) and two 2 year olds who I don’t think will be big enough to...

I would want to fix the issue at least in hand with a few good experiences before turning away. Leaving something on a bad note is never a good thing.

3yo ponies don’t sell to be honest. Whatever you do it’s wrong. Sell unbacked in the spring - risk of project buyers putting too heavy riders on and doing too much. Small market because almost no one wants their child to back a pony. Sell unbacked at 3.5 - everyone thinks you failed and are...

We had a 4 turning 5yo last winter at the same stage you are. Was broke to drive at 3 briefly (with previous owner) and identified traffic issues then. As is consistent with my experience, turning a horse away when they show traffic issues does nothing to fix them. They remember just fine...

That’s how much it is costing this winter…

Straw bed if that would then give you storage for both hay and straw? Then finish haynet, pick at bed. Hang the haynet in the middle of the stable from a beam so it swings when they try to eat. Hay balls. Bucket of boring chaff.

In terms of selling a 3yo who turns 3 in, for example, May 2026, it would go roughly like this: 1) Advertise unbacked in March/April (as rising 3). Possibly some interest, more as you get closer to her birth date. People will be out of hay though after this winter so your market will be more...

Not every horse likes bitless, it’s simply pressure in a different place. Some actively don’t like nose pressure and some need a contact for a feeling of security. Some are happy either way. Some prefer bitless.

A confidence coach is a brilliant thing if you had a freak accident, or lost confidence on a horse who was unwell/too much for you and now need to ride something else/your fixed horse. Gaining your confidence back on a horse who is, at times, outside of your ability to ride safely, involves...

As humans we don’t see them for hours at a time, so sometimes we will never know. One of mine did a good effort at dropping dead the other week. Temp of 40.5 degrees, lay down to die. Luckily I was there, vet arrived within 30min and she was up and walking once her fever was reduced. But if she...

So a recent nearish outbreak did get me thinking. When the kids start taking their current ponies out next spring they’re going to be travelling a lot more and going to bigger shows. Is it worth vaccinating the ponies who get out and about, to hopefully protect them and the ones left at home...

It depends what you’re looking to do, and whether you can ride in your/any fields in the drier parts of the year, as well as your arena hire options. No arena pluses: - happy horse who sees value in the things you teach them (collecting for better balance down a hill, leg yielding off softer...

There has been an extra haylage cut here, so haylage may be available where hay isn’t as stocks dwindle. Honestly though, you don’t need it. Don’t worry about it. The others will have to sort themselves out.

Moved a pony out of the ‘wet’ paddock, but the others are ok. It will drain quickly too once it stops. Roads are worse than the fields, little streams running down the sides everywhere. Wiltshire

I had a lady enquire about a small pony for loan (off a Fb ad so still on topic!). She’s coming back to the UK from another country. I mentioned the hay shortage and she said, ‘But I have one and a half acres for a horse and a pony, I won’t need hay this winter.’ Ok then…