Recent content by suestowford

I use a scoop & rake to heave out wet shavings into the barrow. Using both hands to heave the full scoop up to the barrow puts less strain on each arm. Interested to read about the protein. I suspect I'm a bit short on that too.

One of the ponies here was hopping lame. The farrier couldn't find anything. Then he was sound, then lame, then sound. It was a nightmare. It turned out it was an abscess, but very deep in the hoof. It took some sorting out and he had some damage to the hoof wall from it as it burst out of the...

It could be innocuous, maybe the horse doesn't like having lots of different riders. Or he could be a bucking bronco! That's the challenge with for sale ads isn't it? Working out what's NOT been said.

I did several years on a boggy winter field with only natural shelter. No hardstanding and a lot of praying that there would be somewhere I could put hay out where it wouldn't get blown into the next county before they could eat it. I recall a lot of falling over in the mud too. You have my...

I saw a wooden block on the Brooke stall at a show. The lady there said most people had no idea what it was for. It was a lovely bit of wood, I'd have bought it if I hadn't already spent all my £ on other things.

I'm a returning rider, it's been about 18 months for me. I am also older, so my body is less co-operative than it was. I have found a seat saver has helped me a lot - I used a rubbery one which was great, and also one of the HM style suede ones, both have really helped me to relax more in the...

There is a pony here who has a rep for being hard to catch. He's a lot better now he is retired but still tricky to headcollar in the field. Certainly I need to hide the headcollar under my coat on the approach or I would see only a pair of hairy heels disappearing up the field! Generally though...

I lost a pony too soon. he wasn't young, but neither was he old, and I have often said since then that I won't get another one. But it was three years ago that he went and now I am thinking that maybe I might, one day, have another pony. It's OK to say, enough, but it's also OK to change your...

I don't understand why 'happy hacker' is derogatory. Someone who hacks out will be dealing with traffic, loose animals of all kinds, steep hills (round here anyway), big open spaces, and people sharing that space. They'll be opening and closing gates, cantering in company, coping with spooks and...

This is exactly what I have on my barn. It's stood up to some ferocious storms.

I expect there are people who would say that about me. I have two ponies here, neither is rideable. Those people might say why don't I get rid of them and buy something I could ride. I'd say it's none of their business! They cost me a fortune in vet meds etc. but they are nice ponies and I'm...

I only have to go across the road to get to my two so that was easy, but I have been out to Mole Valley this morning. We haven't had much snow but everywhere is very icy.

This would be a great pity were it to come about. I think it might, greed is powerful motivator. Kempton has never really been a fashionable track, but very popular with ordinary folk who just like watching racing (and having a bet). I lived not far away for a while and we would often go, only...

There's a pony here with Cushings. He was diagnosed after showing mild laminitis signs, aged 12. His hormone levels were ten times what they should have been so he must have been brewing it for a while yet he had none of the classic symptoms (apart from being a bit footy one day). What he did...

Magical Mistletoe and Naughty Elf 🧑‍🎄