Recent content by Smogul

I am not upset, just trying to explain the employer's position. When I worked for a small building firm, on one occasion 78 of the applicants for an experienced plasterer's job had no relevant work experience or qualifications. Why on earth did they apply other than to satisfy some arbitrary...

Actually, recruitment is not my job. I work for a small company, too small to have an HR department so I can be faced with sifting through over 100 totally irrelevant job applications. on top of the things I am actually employed to do. I suppose I could stop paying suppliers, not bother doing...

Too true. Having been it in the position of receiving multiple emails/FB/WhatsApp messages etc for one job ad, it is really time consuming to answer every one. So many of the applications were just standard and poor quality, with no effort made to tailor the application to the specific job. Part...

So what? You still need to look at the pony as an individual. Hadn't realised this thread was so old!

Totally agree. Am I the only one baffled by these threads? Why not rug the pony you have in front of you, rather than obsessing about breed.

Antihistamines didn't help my pony at all. Nor did brewer's yeast or any of the other pills, supplements or creams people suggested. Only thing that kept her sane was Boett rug.

I agree with 99% of this but I reckon horses, like people, can have a personality, a sense of humour and can be naughty. OH used to take out two ponies ride and lead. They behaved impeccably when there was any traffic or other horses around. However, given a quiet long stretch, they would often...

Depends on the horse. I have seen many kids ponies who adored looking after their small riders but had no interest in more "interesting" activities with an older rider.

Quick update. Thanks to people who suggested lead-trained sheep. Friend will take pony for three months and work with him. Her OH who is a vet agrees that the pony is probably suffering from low level chronic stress which is hindering any learning. He has suggested using a mild calmer for the...

Thanks for your supportive comments. I totally agree that farmer has no obligation to help me. He tolerates rather than likes horses. I came on to see if anyone could suggest anything that I had not thought of and already tried. I had not thought of a sheep trained to a walk on a lead as I...

I have been wondering about a behaviouralist. However, friend does have a couple of pet lambs at the minute and is willing to try and help us so I will go down that route first.

I like the idea of a lead trained sheep although I can't see the farmer going for it. Friend occasionally has pet lambs so I might speak to her over the weekend. Really at wits end but don't want to give up as great pony in many ways.

Yes, great idea and ideal scenario but as I said in an earlier post, pony broke out of field next to to sheep. Can't see the farmer being happy with his sheep fencing being wrecked. Also, pony has had laminitis in the past and no way can be out on good grazing.

No, he won't follow another horse past sheep or even walk past them with horses between him and the sheep. Food distractions don't seem to work - I think he is too panic-stricken to even notice food. Very food oriented in normal situations so that was the first thing we thought of of using...

Thanks for suggestions. I did use the "chase" technique with one pony who was scared of lorries and it worked well. At the minute I can't get current boy within 20 feet of a stationary quad bike so following one would be a non-starter.