Recent content by PoppyAnderson

This is just awful apologist stuff. You didn't need to be there or have any context to know what you saw. People who care about the welfare of horses don't need your patronising label of bunny huggers, like you're somehow superior because you're tougher. If you're consistently getting up in a...

I've watched her numerous times for many, many years in warm up rings. Yes she was ruthless in terms of owning her space (she's a world class athlete...being ruthless is in their dna) but I genuinely never once saw her put a toe out of line. Never. Never a sock in the teeth, never the use of a...

Same here in the North West. It's been hideously wet for the last few weeks and the fields are now awful. Forecast rain all week, just to pile on the misery. Mine are still living out for now but are about to come in for some much needed respite for the Winter.

They live outside in groups, barefoot and he does a lot of work bareback. He's awesome.

Charlotte always appeared to be sympathetic to her horses too. I've watched her for many, many years. Stood by the side of the warm up ring and watched her school every horse she's ever owned. She was, by far, the most sympathetic rider. She'd run through a few of the moves and then spend most...

Poor bugger. Sold at 24 and still expected to keep going.

Totally agree. If she said something along the lines of, I'm appalled at what I did, I'm committed to do better, I've donated x amount to a welfare charity, I invite anyone to video me at any time, I'm donating 20% of all my future teaching earnings to Brooke by way of apologising to them, I'm...

Worst test I've ever seen her do. Horse was beyond tense. If that was my horse, she'd never get on it again.

I saw this awful, abusive man in action once at a Katie Jerram clinic (saw him at home once too and he's just as vile as the video shows) and to give her credit, she told him to take all the gadgets off and lengthen the reins. She was very tactfully trying to do right by the poor horse.

Really mild here in the North West. Been 16° all day and it's 18° now. Raining all day but dry at the mo. Tomorrow is looking cold and wet, so my outdoor ponies are going to stand in for a few hours.

Same. Absolutely no need to rug a healthy unclipped horseright now. Let them enjoy the last few days of being unrugged. Plus, much better for them to bit chilly than too warm in a rug that they can't take off!

Some great ones of course, no denying that. I think I'm just on a pathway, as I grow older, where I'm increasingly questioning what we ask of these horses, so I see things through different eyes.

Just watching on BBC. Some awful xc rounds. Lots of rough riding, with horses being repeatedly gobbed and ragged around. More than a few look utterly overwhelmed and not comfortable at this level.

I knackered my feet wearing my wellies too much (Le Chameau too, so not cheapos). I've not sorted my winter footwear yet but thought I'd add another cautionary note.

Having now seen the video, I'm pretty appalled. The horse is very obviously lame. Not borderline, just clearly lame as daisies. He shouldn't have had to have the judge pull him up, he should have stopped immediately and got off too. Yet another stain on dressage and British dressage too.