Recent content by WestCoast

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    I've started my dream business and am totally and utterly miserable three months later

    Sorry I haven’t had a chance to read all the replies, but I think you‘re not alone in having this happen. You’re not a right idiot, you are brave and you went and chased your dreams - you just hit the small print that says you don’t always get the fairytale ending. So now you reassess - decide...
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    Headshacker - how much bad luck can one have?

    When I first had my mare after a few weeks she started to flip her nose up coming home out hacking. I was deeply concerned that I’d bought a head shaker. It’s is possible that her bridle or saddle were bothering her - I swapped to a Henry James headpiece with the cutout poll and very soft fly...
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    I just bought my first cob! Introduction + feed advice + photos!

    He looks lovely. Keep doing what his previous owners have been doing with food and hack him as much as possible. Always give him a quiet day where you mostly walk after he’s worked hard though. Other bit of advice for cobs is that it’s worth taking the time kindly correcting him if he’s pushy...
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    Fly/barrier cream for sheath

    If you don’t like they yellow of battles I’ve been using Nettex Summer Fly Cream Deet on my mare’s teats and ears. I did a patch test before using it - including putting it on my own neck which is very sensitive So you’d want to do one on your boy as well.
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    Pony being dangerous to lead

    An alternative to a chifney is what we used to call a stallion chain. Buy a flat link chain and thread it through the bottom rings of the head collar and attach the lead rope to it. You can also buy headcollars with a chain built in. Also buy a copy of Perfect Manners by Kelly Marks and spend...
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    How to make trailer less attractive?!

    As long as you remember to charge it every week a dig gps tracker like a Tractive hidden inside makes an economical tracker.
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    Back Protector - Problems dismounting

    This reminds me of the time I put up a post entitled: problems getting off in a body protector 🤦. Anyhow I tend to swing my legs over until I‘m resting my chest on the saddle and then push away slightly as I go down holding onto the breastplate so I don’t land on my bum. I never got on with...
  8. W

    Mouse proof storage ideas

    Probably a galvanised trunk is going to be your best bet. Mice are very good at chewing though plastic.
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    Horse wanting to catch up with others on a hack

    Am I going to be the only one who is going to criticise the other rider her. She came across a less experienced rider, that she clearly knew was less experienced, on her pony out on its own and just charged off ahead on hers without any consideration. Meeting another horse and then parting from...
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    Price of horse feed!

    It’s worth looking at different feeds and their ingredients. I just looked and baileys stud balancer is £10 a bag cheaper than their No 19 performance balancer with near identical ingredients, just no alfalfa bulkier in the stud balancer so it’s higher in protein. Feed rates pretty similar for a...
  11. W

    Bedding for wet, diggy mare.

    Thank you - it was so much easier when there was just the choice of straw or shavings but it does sound like the newer beddings are more absorbent.
  12. W

    Tell me what to do!!

    Absolutely worth it, but would advise you make sure they also train you as he will backslide otherwise. I found that my opinionated mare that I had to kindly but firmly insist that she did everything she was asked to do. It is so easy to just let the little things slide, for example if you ask...
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    Very old fashioned horse feeds?

    Very good source of extra complete protein (fibre diets are a little low in lysine and I think methionine amino acids). People did on occasion add egg to feeds but I’m not sure that was a great idea. Linseed was always popular for protein and essential oils, together with yeast and seaweed for...
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    Bedding for wet, diggy mare.

    I know this has been asked before and I’ve read previous threads but am overwhelmed with choices for bedding. Moving my lovely mare onto DIY and so have the choice of bedding I want. It’s 12x12 a earth floor stable - I’ve got half a dozen eva mats second hand but am thinking of just putting 3...
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    Le Mieux Gel Tek Girth

    I bought one but it was the wrong shape for my mare and caught her behind the elbows.
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