Recent content by Sparky Lily

Just a word of warning to anyone considering acquiring a Shetland. They are addictive. I started with one; now have five. All adorable. I would have more if I could.

I used to live near Cannock Chase, and it is wonderful for both gentle and more strenuous hacking. There’s also the benefit of Ingestre Stables for lessons! Housing is very affordable too, but with good access to major towns and cities.

I had a total knee replacement 6 years ago, at age 69. I agree that doing the exercises before and after surgery is the key. The first 2 weeks post surgery were hell, but fine after that. I don’t ride now, but I have found my artificial knee slightly less flexible sideways. This is only an issue...

I suppose we were aware that our elderly beagle was becoming more than selectively deaf, but it was only when he started barking a lot more that we realised just about all hearing had gone. He became more fixed in his routines too, and more stubborn about what he wanted, and when. He picked up...

I find voice is the best control/aid for a Shetland. Best not to shout/swear/mutter though, if trying to hold them back. Nice and calm usually does the trick. (Easier said than done sometimes!)

The only indication of either of my mares being in season is that one of the geldings becomes a bit more attentive. The mares’ behaviour does not change at all. I have completed the survey, but don’t feel I can have added anything useful.

We have used Feliway and found it useful in two situations. The first was when we added kittens to the household and an older cat bullied them. They never did like each other, but it helped calm things down. We are now using Feiiway again as our 2 cats (the former kittens) seemed very disturbed...

Have a look at Ingestre Stables in Staffordshire.

I bought Little Piggy haynets from Amazon recently (my nearest tack shop is 50 miles away on a different island), and they seem to be be bearing up well with 5 my Shetlands. Small holes, and very stretchy.

This is the smallest of my Shetlands - about 36” - meeting my 17hh ISH (sadly no longer with us) for the first time. All went well. This one and his almost identical half-brother used to slide under Harvey’s belly for shelter.

I’m so pleased Tonic is staying. I know the effect of beagle eyes only too well! I am just about ready to tell you all that the old boy in my posts 12 and 26 went drastically downhill shortly afterwards, and was pts. We miss him terribly. We collected him from his breeder between Christmas and...

We use old coverless duvets as dog bedding. They’re quick and easy to wash and dry, and the dogs like them.

I have Morton’s neuroma in both feet, and had the injections several years ago, but they worked better in one foot than the other, so not much help. I also have arthritic knees (had one replaced), so there are other limitations in how far I can walk/how long I can stand, so I decided not to...

I don’t like having just one dog. For 50 years now we have had mostly two dogs, and sometimes (like now) three. But as we are getting older now, we have decided not to have any more, so eventually we will be down to one for a few years in our dotage. She is a beagle.

This is the old boy, now aged 15. It is a huge wart which, rather surprisingly, doesn’t bother him much. The vet doesn’t want to remove it, due to his dodgy heart, and cream did make it itchy, which then made him scratch it, which did make it sore. So now nature left to itself, and the young...