Search results

I also used WH pads...

Are you taking someone with you? Have a really good look at it for lumps, bumps, or anything that looks odd. Ask to see it trotted up. Do not get on unless you have seen it ridden by someone else first first. Do not get on if you have any doubts at all after having seen it ridden. Ask about...

There's certainly a market, but it's a small one, and you might find those willing to pay more for the right yard all have slightly different interpretations of "right"! Good hacking and turnout are usually going to mean you aren't very close to a big city, and in smaller towns and rural areas...

This is a great decision. Ride as many different horses as you can, and you will be far better able to assess whether a horse suits you when you are in the right place to start viewings.

Newtothegeegees, what is your budget for a horse? If you can afford £5k for a first horse, that's great - but you will get more for your money (and probably a better fit) if you buy a riding club type of no particular breeding. You will be paying for the "Spanish" label (even unpapered) and that...

What complete nonsense. It's a month long challenge, but you do it in 14 days. It's 100 miles (that would take an hour a day) but actually you can just do groundwork and it's suitable even if you're pushed for time. And best of all, it will "save you up to three lifetimes" - er, What?! I agree...

The single most important thing you can do right now is to ask your instructor to a) keep an ear out for you, b) look at adverts (especially as there's a chance they will know local horses), and c) come with you to viewings and ride the horse before you do. You should pay them for this (or at...

It's laziness / lack of time. It's also an awareness that most horse people shopping on Facebook will be looking for total bargains; it's extremely demoralizing crafting a decent post and getting lots of "would you accept this very cheeky offer?" replies. I am trying to muster the enthusiasm to...

Gosh, that's impressive, when you think how many riders can't manage sitting trot even after years of practice! Your husband is clearly cut out for Western😊

Some of the games that are useful for kids are just as good for adults. Walking or trotting around a "course" of poles scattered on the ground is fun because they can try for a better "score": how many can you steer over in 60 seconds? Things like bending also help with steering and confidence...

Try mixing it with butter and putting tiny flecks of the cold butter onto normal food. One of mine will eat it like that... sometimes. But as Auslander says, if it is distressing trying to get it into her, perhaps best not to try. Not many cats will wear being wrapped/syringed more than one day...

Agree with teddypops - lots of hacking and build it up slowly and naturally over time. The "strong" you're feeling is more likely to be lack of balance and falling on his head. I'd find a nice gentle uphill, and just let the canter come naturally a few times. He'll find it hard in a school and...

Turning away should help with the ulcers as well. I'd certainly be giving him a year off at this point, and you can always revisit if he looks as though he has improved.

Yes, the horse needs to hack - for soundness, and for mental health. If you aren't yet confident to hack him, find a sharer who would hack him for you, and in the meantime ride out with sensible people at the yard so you can build your confidence. How often do you have lessons? How many other...

If you felt the share was too cheap before, It's not the family's fault - it was your choice to set the rate where it was. Coming into the winter - when sharing gets harder - is not, psychologically, the time to raise the rate. It's unfortunately not the cost of keeping your horse that...

There is definitely a group of people who would pay for high quality livery and who wouldn't need a school, but I honestly don't think they'll ever be in a high enough concentration in one area to make it viable. Even travelling out to a school is a pain if it's a cold, dark January evening...

If soupy mash is out, will he eat sugar beet? You might need to approach the hydration and nutrition in two parts.

Get it serviced professionally. Regardless of whether you want to put a horse in it, you have a duty to make sure it's roadworthy. Servicing isn't terrifically expensive - probably about £100 unless you need lots of expensive parts.

With two, beware of pair bonding - you need to be prepared to put in some hefty effort at the beginning to get them used to being apart. Coping on your own with two horses who refuse to be separated will suck every ounce of joy out of your horse time. Of course, that might just mean you need...

OP, some practical advice for you: Owning a horse and keeping it at a reasonable livery where you have professional support - which you MUST have when you are starting out - is going to cost you a bare minimum of £500 per month. This is not including the cost of purchasing the horse and...

I started riding a new instructor's advanced horse, and she was trying to get me to ask for canter with my inside hip forward. Nothing doing. Eventually she told me just to ask as I normally would (a deliberate but passive outside leg, and a squeeze on the inside) and we had a perfect strike off...

Okay, Kirsty: Exactly how much work did you do on the first, second and third rides? What was it that made you decide to jump off? Have you at any point "ridden her through" a bit of napping? What does you vet say about bringing her back into work, and her behaviour now?

Absolutely agree. We should be proud of - and champion - the fact that our sport is a completely equal playing field for men and women. "Leading lady rider" is demeaning - we don't need some sort of special prize; women prove again and again and again that they compete and win on their merits...

It sounds like an expensive solution, especially as it won't add value - you'd be better paying a "B and B" fee at a local stable for those few nights you need it.

Late to this, and nothing to add to getting a proper workout, but one observation on the bush - it almost looks as though he's using it as a "handrail", and making contact with him to help himself navigate it while he's feeling wobbly. It doesn't look like just interest to me. I think that comes...

The horse has been on loan to the RDA. They don't pay bills for horses because they're attached to them - they pay bills because the horse is doing a useful job (although of course they get attached as individuals!) All the OP needs to do is to visit, explain the circumstances have changed and...

Even if the owner covers vet bills, livery, feed, forage, feet and insurance add up to quite a lot per month to be forking out for someone else's lame horse that you can't ride. I would want a sound horse at the start of the loan, a guarantee that the owner pays for vet costs relating to the...

I also agree he's off. My junior car has been off behind for some time: just a bit of a John Wayne walk intitally. Wouldn't move at the vets, but had a "pain" reaction to having two thumbs very firmly and suddenly pressed into her hips (I am not convinced it wasn't just surprise). X rays showed...

I would be questioning whether it's a front foot issue, causing the horse to tense and hold its weight in all the wrong places...

Well, good for the Daily Mail! It isn't often that national newspapers give space to the work experience person. And it's super to see they're letting the cub reporters develop their own distinctive style without interference from pesky sub editors or anyone with any technical or journalistic...