This is sobering stuff!!
Sorry for the delay and thank you all for your help.
I'm very reluctant to shell out hundreds for the benefit of helping others so I'll have some hard thinking to do.
In terms of child protection and first aid I'm trained in both and it is with the parents present so...
I probably know the answer to this but just in case... I'm pony sharing with an old friend and am teaching her children to ride. It's informal with no set agreement. She brings the pony and set up (field/stables) - I bring the experience and help. It's working out very well and the pony is old...
I tow a 511 with a LWB T5 VW Transporter and really like it. You have a better view of the road as you're a bit higher and it has good big mirrors. Ours is a camper and so has more windows. I would struggle on some awkward junctions/manoeuvres without. It wouldn't pull me out of the mud like a...
I have found horses enjoy the magic-brush on their heads which then helps to settle them and makes them less resistant to stuff going on up there. I'd progress with baby steps as best you can and holding clippers near head whilst doing something they like. What about the small head clippers that...
Thanks JB. I use a running martingale as my youngster has been known to stick his head up in the air if he gets overexcited so its my safety net! I hoped that it wouldn't do anything (other than offer a neck strap) for the times when his head wasn't sky-high. Are you talking about a correctly...
I don't see what's so wrong with a running martingale as if you don't need it it doesn't do anything? I think of it as v. different to a restrictive noseband in that respect. I don't see it as a problem for the horse, just more damn tack cleaning...
Of note, William Funnell on YouTube says most of us have the cavesson too low. It should sit just (1cm or so) below the site where the curve of the cheek meets the jaw (hope this explains - he just pointed to it!). He said its painful for the horse if you site it elsewhere and that's a very...
Sounds like he needs more turnout! Failing that I'd try working him v. hard so he's tired and hopefully hungry too. Turn the stable into a rewarding place for a tired hungry horse.
For years we have hunter clipped with half or full heads clipped and they nearly all prefer to be out. We have lots of grazing which is key but when we gave them access to yard and barn the only thing that would really drive them in was flies! With better fly sheets they don't even get that...