Recent content by solgabrien

I think as a child - there were books that influenced my tastes too - I loved Walter Farley's Black Stallion series, The Brumby books and the Ginny and Shantih books. Even now, Black Beauty really effects me too.

It's interesting that greys, palominos etc are the ones we most wanted!

I was about 10 years old and riding a dun pony called Champion, we were all mounted up and waiting in the yard for the lead rider to move off. Champion decided to tank me into the stable (mounted) for hay - I was left hanging from the roof!

As a little girl, I read every single pony book I could lay my hands on - I used to cut pictures out of the Horse and Hound and name all the horses. My mother was a hunt groom looking after giant 17hh horses who were kind enough to let me gently feed them carrots. As I grew older I had my own...

I don't know much about Parelli - but this sounds awful! I used to look after a VERY headshy polo pony and found that a small handful of food with the bit was the best way for us to bridle her - not ideal, and it still took 2 people but surely easier and less distressing than ropes!!!!

I'm not sure about pond fish, but cold water goldfish (which are basically the same) can pick up various diseases - and once one gets ill - then they all can become sick very quickly. With goldfish, they are usually isolated in a bucket with some medicine put in the water (it's an inky blue...

Thanks, yes I think the dentist is due. She is 16 and I know for sure that her teeth were checked 2 years ago, but since then - I have no idea.

Hello, I wondered if anyone can help - I have on trial a TB mare who hasn't been ridden for a year (I was told it was due to her rider going off to uni). On the ground she's a total sweetie - you couldn't meet a kinder horse. I expected it would come as a bit of a shock to her when I got on -...

Why worry about what other people do?

years ago I worked as a polo groom at the Guards Club - our ponies were sprayed with sheep dip!!! I don't know enough about the chemicals etc to say if it's a good idea or not, but it seemed to work well enough when they were in the sun waiting for chukkas, bearing in mind they didn't have manes...

I've been away from the horse world for 15 years (how I coped I don't know) but before then I worked with showjumpers and Polo ponies - and there was never such a thing as a "sports horse"! it seems that every horse is now a "sports horse" - It's really annoying. Other irritants are diamante...

Thanks for all your suggestions - I was thinking of lungeing first and then seeing how we go. It's great to know that there are other horses/people who have been in this situation. The mare is kind but perhaps a bit "sparky" so i'll see what her attitude is once the tack is back on! Thanks again

I have the oportunity to work with a 15 yr old Hackney mare who was broken professionally but has not been ridden for 6 years. I was wondering if anyone has any advice as to how to approach working with her? Thanks.