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Blimey, that’s not good! 😦 I can see the concern over being forced to use just one saddle fitter specialising in the brand. I had a Sue Carson on my old horse and loved it. Sue Carson saddles of course recommend using their own fitters but they cost a small fortune and any local saddle fitter...

Fantastic! Thank you so much for measuring it, you’re a star!

Good idea! Thanks SEL. I’ll read up on them a bit to try to work out what I’d need, as I know they have so many different changeable parts to them.

I have a friend who has two PREs and ended up buying a WOW because everything else she tried touched their spines and their reaction was mega scary. She thinks they’re fantastic saddles but unfortunately there’s no way I can afford one.

Thank you Sbloom, that’s massively helpful. Sounds like I should be having you out to see my lad! As I now know I can get away with not having a dressage saddle for at least the lower levels of dressage, I think it’s probably best to go down the route of buying a GP, then look at getting a...

Ouch that sounds pricey! Trust me to buy a horse whose breed is typically difficult to fit 🙄

J1ffy The thought of being miss sold a saddle is really worrying me. I don’t want to cause a behavioural or physical issue for my lad, but not qualified to know if something is a little ‘off’ with the fitting. The first I’ll probably know about it is when I’m dumped face down in mud. I’ve heard...

I mentioned that to my saddler the other day as I’ve heard it too. He said most of the new saddles have fairly wide channels now, it’s just the older ones that can be quite narrow. Do you think this is genuinely the case?

my boy is also 4yrs but not filling out too much yet. The saddler gave me a little Thorowgood GP just for his backing and that puts me in a horrible chair position too, hence one reason why I’m thinking of getting a dressage saddle. Something that makes me sit up nicely is deep in the seat and...

Thanks Littlebear. my lads shape is a bit awkward at the moment as he has the typical short back but has very high withers without much shoulder yet. So not much there to stop the saddle sliding forward up his withers.

Totally agree with you. I’m going for a changeable saddle and will be getting the fitting checked every 8 weeks until his growth starts to slow down. He changed massively in just 4 months of long reining him 3 times a week! He’s Spanish so has a lot of filling out to do.

That’s good to know about your friend I thought I’d get marked down if not using the ‘correct’ saddle. I’m in two minds about whether riding in a GP would be more stable than riding short in a dressage saddle. I’ve always had an event saddle, but find I sit more ‘in’ a dressage seat. It kind of...

Hi there, I’m about to buy my youngsters first saddle after being back. I’m hoping he’ll be an all rounder with a bit more emphasis on dressage. I’m trying to figure out whether it’s best to get a GP for just a year or so, or go straight for a dressage saddle. He obviously won’t be doing any...

Thank you for the replies. Hmm... think I might steer clear of this horse then. As you say, why buy troubles. Considering the potential cost of an op and he’s still green, I think they’re asking for more than he’s worth at the moment. And insurance wouldn’t cover an as the vetting will...

Hi there, I’m considering going to view a horse that might need a tie-back op in the future. Obviously it’s been priced to sell knowing the purchaser may need to pay for the op in the future, so I’m wondering how much I’d be looking at having to cough up for it. Has anyone here recently...

If you're thinking about commercial rates/running a business that's not an issue as it'll just be for personal use. The 'art studio' will be the tack room as far as the planners are concerned, as it's up to me what I do with the tack room once it's built (no one complains about a spare stable...

Oooh that sounds good! I haven't found any yet with insulation attached. Do you remember what company the metal roof was produced by?

Thanks for the replies. Hmm.. I plan to use part of the stable block as an art studio so wonder just how relaxing it will be being hammered by rain. Maybe there's an insulation I can put under the roof that won't cost the earth as it's already turning out to be an expensive build. Do you...

Less grief from the husband that I spend all my time with the horse; I'm keen to get the jobs done quick and back in the warm.

The heritage department are being difficult about the roofing I want in my planning application for stables. Apparently only clay pantiles will do. Crazy and irrational as it is, it's prohibitively expensive so I have to look for an alternative affordable roofing similar in appearance so I can...

I'd get a wildlife camera and put up a simple booby trap - a tin of cheap paint on a shelf above the doorway attached to fishing wire at knee height. It would be hugely entertaining to watch if you set the camera to catch them getting covered in paint. They'd also have a hard time explaining to...

The woman is an utter moron. Not only is she paying a fortune for something a head torch can do, but also killing the environment & causing upset at the yard which will ultimately make it a bad atmosphere for everyone. Why can't everyone just be reasonable and considerate of eachother? Talk to...

So annoyingly, (or lovingly, however you want to see it!) my husband has just spilled the beans that he's booked a holiday for us as a surprise birthday present in December. I've got to love him for his timing! So I'll be going to the sales tomorrow for a gawp, but nothing more, and leaving my...

Thank you for your input paddi22. TBH I'm not looking to compete at a high level, and think the re-schooling process will be just as satisfying. I'll want help of course, as re-schooling isn't my occupation. But I've not got massive ambitions eventing wise. At the end of the day, I've got other...

Hi Bonkers2, thank you for the post. I'm afraid I don't completely agree with you regarding 'type' of ex-racer though. Flat racers have no prior experience of jumping so can be introduced to it gently in the same way you would as any youngster. But an NH type has been taught to jump as fast and...

Thanks TheMule. Are there any 'decent yards' you could recommend I contact? Or do you reckon I should stick to the re-trainers on the RoR website directory? (None seem to be very close to me)

Thank you for your replies. All sound advice :-D I'm not going to the auctions simply to save a few quid. I'm not rich, but have no qualms about ploughing a lot of money (and time) into retraining with the help of a pro. My thinking is that those horses that don't sell at the auctions, will...

I'm considering buying a racehorse at the Newmarket sales. My YO is experienced with racers and has re-schooled a couple of her own in the past, and says she'll help me through the process with my own. She knows a couple people on the race yards who have told her which horses to look out for...

I agree with Wench and would get a blood test done for viruses. Also when was she last wormed for tape? Your horse is showing all the same symptoms as mine did before his blood test came back to say the poor boy was riddled with tape.

Look up the strangles information on the Animal Health Trust website. It gives clear guidelines on how strangles should be managed. If you don't think the yard is following them properly you're well within your rights to discuss it with your yard manager. Don't worry about being seen as causing...