Recent content by Sparky Lily

Sounds like he would fit in well with my five, but I don’t want them learning any more “skills”.

Retirement!

I have 5 hairy Shetland ponies. I have tried all sorts of things over the years, but always come back to using a plastic curry comb and strong bristled dandy brush for shedding, then a flicker brush for tidying up. The process still takes some time. The mare in my avatar sheds copiously and the...

I once saw a lovely big cob doing dressage to music with the canter to Ride of the Valkyries. Magnificent!

Yes, i used to ride on Cannock Chase, many years ago. The trekking centre is excellent. Have fun!

So sorry to read this. It never gets any easier. Lots of cuddles with Goose may help you both x

I think maybe you both are! We have a 14 year old beagle in much the same state. We decide whether to walk, and if so, how far/long on a daily basis. Some days he just potters around the garden; others he may be out for over half an hour. Sometimes it is a stroll up and down the road; others a...

As the resigned-to-my-fate owner of 3 beagles, I am impressed that you achieved any level of obedience with yours!

We looked at this rather the other way around. We had the easier dogs - cocker spaniels and various mixed breeds - while we were working and bringing up a family. We waited until we retired to have our first beagle. Now both in our 70s, we have three beagles.

Hey, someone I know in real life! I hoped you might start posting again. Pidge is looking great. Grace and I have a combined age of 95! I’m certainly not adding in the other 4, even though one is just a 2 year old.

Patience (not the card game!)

Oh, that look!

Olyvia and Zarra nearly getting their noses burned.

Perhaps they don’t realise how little you use. They see an open bale outside your stable, which goes down very slowly, and you don’t have another in your storage, but you change the shavings weekly. They may assume you are using more than you do, so, in their minds, where do you get it from? I...

I suggest you ring Ingestre, which is relatively close to where I think you are now, and see if they can help. Even if they don’t have a suitable horse at the moment (I am a bit out of date there), they may be able to suggest somewhere else.