Recent content by sportsmansB

Thank you so much everyone. She really leaves a big hole in our lives, I just so admired her spunky little personality right to the end. We buried her yesterday (no judgement please, I know it isn't allowed...) in our 'fairy ring' on the hilltop beside her little grassy paddock that my OH made...

By the time the vet was away last night it was dark and the others were still out so I didn't bring them back in, I would have needed to bring them in to see her one by one I think, and thats a bit complex I did feel from him when I was sitting with her and he just stopped panicking and was...

Came down last night to pop mine in the field cos we have two nice days coming up, to find my littlest ancient (34ish) pony down in the straw in the barn. She had gobbled up her mash at lunch time and seemed fine, but had obviously been down for a while and couldn't get up. I shouted for OH to...

Yes its super tidy and the electric wire on the top of the rail or inside of it means they can't nibble on it. Luckily the one annoying thing that my horses don't do is nibbling on wood but it does mean it lasts really well if they are predisposed to that.

I have tornado wire on mine with one wooden rail across the top (for looks really, I didn't bother with that on the hedgerow sides) - and it really is excellent, zero maintenance apart from the posts and I got pre treated octoposts which are fab. You can put a strand of electric wire across he...

I'd definitely look at requesting a private load for them especially if you want to provide your own forage. Then they will go straight from point a to b without dropping others off etc. It is more expensive but if you're concerned it is well worth it. Coopers have a good reputation. Also...

I get small wrapped bales which are the size of a large hay bale (so substantially bigger than the bagged stuff- they are still £8 each but I'd say have more than double the amount in a bag) - for next year, if you have a local farmer who makes for the yard you could ask them to make a quantity...

I'd say it was a mixture. The Abi Lyle case had got some publicity at the time, but that was a long time before, and he had spun a story (as far as I remember) that it was her father who had pushed for it due to not wanting the relationship, and it was a load of nonsense. Lots of people...

Katie's Trust are really pushing now for better safeguarding in the industry, where predatory men can have so much influence over young people- controlling their livelihood, their home, their passion for horses, when they are often physically separated from their families. We are bringing them...

I'm also an accountant - though I now have a broader COO role which covers pretty much everything Depends a bit on what you consider 'well paid' I chose to prioritise my career and now earn a very good salary - but I put the hours in to get it. Our industry is not really a WFH type (private...

I keep my horses on a big competition yard where we do use the walker - they go on in the morning while being mucked out and to warm up / dry off after riding if needs be. I know some people hate them but sometimes it is unavoidable, with many horses to ride and less time to turn out / bring in...

Our eventing yard offers BHS qualifications alongside CAFRE (we are in NI) it is a block day release type thing so it works OK for us - as long as the block isn't the week of a home international, we had to get them to change it one time and now they check! To be honest having seen many many...

I guess often times these horses pass down within national federations through coaches etc however given that most of the kiwi jnrs / YR are not in the UK and the horse is, it opens it up to a wider pool. I think it is great if these horses get a few more years at lower levels with people who...

Just to add to this - pretty much everyone feels like their riding isn't progressing as much as they would like and they aren't as natural as everyone else! It just shows that you are dedicated and trying hard, tough it can be a bit disheartening Well done for broaching a challenging...

Maybe she doesn't want to upset you by discussing why she doesn't want you on the 5yo so much any more. That's a very impressionable age for a horse, and every single experience they have shapes their future in some way. Maybe after your schooling sessions she felt he wasn't progressing as well...