Recent content by Winters100

Thanks all for the good advice and the encouraging stories. I guess we will just have to see how she does. I am hoping that laminitis is not a big risk as she has always been a poor doer, and for now she is reasonably fit. I am happy to retire her if that look like it is in her best interests...

My poor old lady has been diagnosed with Cushings today:( Interestingly she did not have symptoms other than a slightly longer coat than the others, has always been alert and forward going, but due to her age, we have for the last few years tested each Autumn, and this year it is positive...

Seems so strange to me that people who are paying for their horses to get good levels of care are asked to justify why they don't clean their own boxes! What about horses who do not have clean boxes or adequate care? I filled my own haynets tonight, along with about 20 others, because the...

Apologies if this is the wrong place to ask, but regarding tracks how does it work when you need to bring in to ride? I have always thought them a nice idea, and wondered whether I should try to have one made in part of the field, but fetching in sounds like a lot of bother. What do people do...

The yard that I am on is fairly highly priced for our area and has a long waiting list. I believe that the main reason that it is so popular is that it is flexible. Turnout is unrestricted, and offered in a variety of ways, from individual, to large groups, or as mine live in a small group of...

Sorry, not trying to be difficult, but why? Surely for a beginner, who is not capable of riding with contact, horses can be found who can be ridden without contact? Surely there is no point in the horse being on the bit if it is achieved by such contraption, or am I missing something?

People really use this device simply because the rider is not adequately experienced to get what they want from the horse? Wow. Over my dead body would I allow a child or novice to use this on any of mine.

Lovely that you are so involved in your daughter's hobby - she is truly a lucky little girl. Speaking personally however I would absolutely hate the arrangement of the pony being used for riding school lessons. Even if she is now used for the 'regular' riders, rather than absolute beginners...

For me it would be Bolt, but I would also discuss with the owners of Henry whether a compromise might be made - ride and take care a couple of days a week to be able to hack together with your children? Maybe there is something that might suit all parties. Whatever happens I know that the...

To be honest I would personally not really like this arrangement. If someone else was to ride the pony I would prefer to know who, and to be in control of the situation. I appreciate that it is probably more cost effective than just having the pony at livery, and maybe in some ways more...

I am with TPO, if you get him fit and slim you may well see a big hike in energy levels. Also I don't really count hacking as exercise, unless you have somewhere that you can do it at speed or a lot of trotting up hills. For me a day when they only hack counts as a day off, because all I am...

Interestingly my physio came to mine today, and she made the comment that old lady pony has (touch wood) been the most reliable of the 3 in terms of health and soundness. In 3 years the only time off she has had is for a tooth removal, and for a minor hoof infection, and she works 9 out of...

horselover have you spoken with the owner about this? If not be sure to do so at the earliest opportunity. If one of mine had issues I would certainly want to know about it, and to give help in correcting the problem. I would also work the pony hard before you next go for a hack, I don't...

I also use the flexineb, although I have not needed it for some time now. Have used ventolin, pulmicort and atrovent, as well as simple saline inhalations. Very easy to use and got one of mine over a rough patch. Now he seems fine with steamed hay, very clean pellet bed and keeping his weight...

As with people, exactly how long a vaccine offers protection varies between individuals. It does not just stop on a certain day, rather becomes gradually less effective. For this reason the time limits will have a buffer built in, and not getting the vaccine on time to the day will not matter in...