Recent content by olivia x

I was just watching "International Velvet", the sequel to "National Velvet", filmed in 1978, and notice that the horse was being ridden in red nylon reins!!!!!

If it runs from hip to knee, and hurts on the outside of the knee, and is one of the worst pains ever, could be your IT (iliotibia band). Or the start of injury to the IT band. But as people suggested, physio or osteo might be the place to start to find out what it is. I did my IT band in last...

Probably because of where I lived-- where Western riding was the norm and English was regarded as some kind of weird novelty by most people-- many horses I knew and had did both. They would both neck rein and direct rein, and if it caused them any kind of confusion, they honestly never let on...

There is some interesting research that points out some of the possible harms in using boots http://www.horse-canada.com/archives/the-problem-with-boots/

I just had the loveliest most relaxing afternoon with my horse. I spent a good half hour grooming her, talking to her, etc before even thinking of tacking up, and she got so relaxed that she was falling asleep, eyes closed, head and neck down. It was great-- because that was just what I wanted...

Thanks very much for the information, I will check it out. :)

Riding Club -- just wanting to get or perhaps be directed to some general information on these, as it is all new to me. Who joins, why, what do you do as a member, how far along do you have to be in you/your horse's discipline? In other words, what is Riding Club all about? Any information at...

Oh, how exciting. I think sidesaddle riding looks so elegant. Keep us posted on what happens! I had a friend who rode sidesaddle and I had a go a few times at it-- it was a lot of fun, but certainly a different way of riding than astride.

I have read horses might have strong reaction to cyclists in part because of how they move-- no legs! Rather they sort of slither along in a way that must seem similar to another legless creature-- the snake. All in all, for prey animals, horses do a remarkable job of overcoming their instincts...

I think that horse buying is a little bit like internet dating-- you can't really tell much until you see the horse in person. Photos, descriptions, etc, might encourage or discourage you-- but-- until you are face to face- there is so much that you cannot tell. Being clear about what won't work...

This is a probably not very helpful aside-- but WHY are such horses rare? I would think that would be the norm to find, rather than the exception. Maybe I was just plain lucky before with horses that I had, but the question of them being safe and sensible was just a given. Even my rather more...

I am a cyclist, dog owner and horse rider, and see absolutely horrible behaviour from the first 2 groups all of the time. I cycle on local cycle paths that are loaded with dog walkers and walkers, and on the occasional bridle path, which have dog walkers and walkers, cyclists, horses etc, and...

I think its very normal to have your priorities and interests change over your life-- and its healthy too! Who wants to be stuck in a rut? Let's face it, horses are expensive and time consuming, it becomes more than a hobby, it is something of a lifestyle, and if you are ready to make something...

I struggle to understand the firestorm in reaction to his comments. Some of what he said was taken out of context. Read in context, and it reads differently. The man is entitled to his opinions. Whether any one agrees or not-- well-- that is their entitlement too I suppose. He works in a part...

At a past yard, some time ago, there were a few children who were dumped there by their parents. One child was actually in foster care with a family that lived a mile up a country road and used to walk to the yard. She did chores in exchange for an occasional lesson. She was sometimes a bit...