Recent content by sollimum

I would recommend Mikado Equine near Alton, Hampshire who have options for all budgets and shapes.

A wonderful very experienced horse rider (competed extensively in her youth, had ran a riding school many years ago) told me that the old way to get confidence up was hacking on a safe horse/pony. Obviously you need school work first but then to hack and hack more and your confidence builds...

I have ponies and cobs, pat them, kiss them daily and do positive reinforcement. If I am ever able to ride one of them, I will be thrilled (retired, young, injured) but will then reinforce positively as we hack along past obstacles! I do herbal self selection sessions with them too.

I am so very sorry. Please look after yourself and allow time to heal. To have to make such a decision about a young is a huge emotion to process.

My yearling comes in at night off the clay but I do always give him daily turnout, with his friends, whatever the weather. In the perfect world he would be out for 24 hrs but it does mean he is led, has his headcollar on and off, feet picked out etc and a cuddle. If you can guarantee that they...

Apologies if someone has already said this but you have to pick through people's descriptions of horses - so a confidence giver for a tween might actually be a forward going pony for a teenager that likes speed. I remember when my daughter went for lessons in a local riding school for a while...

Yes it would seem like a good plan.

I am thinking of setting up a winter calendar with ferrero rochers to last me until spring. I open my advent calendar every night once the ponies are tucked up in bed and will miss it next month!

I agree with the above. I use positive reinforcement with my youngsters, they always have a handful of haycare in their stable waiting for them and then when I turn them out, they stand nicely, have their headcollars off and I click and scratch too. I am not trying to preach - I have tried...

I would concentrate on your recovery and when you are ready next year, have a vet check to ensure she is comfortable and then get some help. Confidence is such a fragile thing for you both.

I think soundness to start with is a massive plus point - he generally sounds amazing! So maybe we end up with the horse that we are meant to have? Even my young broken one has taught me so much - not that I would wish that adventure on anyone, at the rehab yard there were many young horses...

I have spent the last 5 years occasionally riding and mainly rehabbing (not through choice but firstly with my old boy and then with my new one!) I have been on a learning adventure - occasionally riding (on the highs of the rollercoaster) but mainly working from the ground and it has...

Learning to rehab and train from the ground as NR88 has said is such a brilliant tool - learning to long rein effectively with an instructor helping you, would be a good first step. I did an equine touch foundation course this year, so that I can give the ponies a body balance and I have...

I would try and find a loan home for him, there will be a family out there that would love him I am sure. You could use your local contacts (ask at your local riding club etc) and find someone locally so that you can still pop in and see him. He could easily be brought back into work by a...

That's really interesting, thank you. Absorbency is so important - amazing that you have used only 1.5 pallets in 12 months.