Do you have an entourage? Or do you go it alone?

[HORSE Mag]

The Horse team is really keen to hear from you if you have an entourage! Is your team of helpers, trainers, advisers and experts integral to your relationship with your horse? Do you keep your horse on a comprehensive livery service, or have numerous instructors, a physio, a sports psychologist, equine dentist, saddle fitter, various other therapists as well as your regular vet and farrier? Or do you turn up at shows with a vast team of friends and helpers? If so, please get in touch as we'd love to hear from you for a feature in the December issue of Horse!

Or... Do you go it alone? Apart from your vet and farrier, do you keep your horse at home or on DIY, and have to go to shows with no help at all?

Please email victoria_spicer@ipcmedia.com if you or anyone you know fits the bill! You could have a starring role in the December issue of Horse.

Thanks loads

Victoria

 

[Libbyn1982]

My biggest support group was my mum who was my groom/horse transporter/psychologist/cheif picnic maker and show day organiser all in one as I am so useless come show days and was forever forgetting things. Couldn't have done all the shows I did without her.

 

[Cop-Pop]

I have help but not a vast amount - my Dad drives me so he's always there (when he isn't sleeping in the trailer

) and OH sometimes comes but he's not very horsey... So I don't go it alone but I don't have a huge support team

 

[Nailed]

I have a regular vet. I trim my own horse as I did some training as a farrier. I do everything myself except the odd days turn out in summer as all of us DIY livery's at my yard chip in together and do a days turning out each.
I prefer to do it myself, find i have a better relationship with my horse and also know my horse and his habits better, and notice illness quicker.
I also find that the more people involved, the more things that can go wrong!

Lou x

 

[ironhorse]

I groom for my OH, but when I get to compete our horse he usually leaves me to my own devices!
We're lucky that everyone in western riding is pretty friendly and my OH seems to have built up a bit of a supporters' club!
Several of us from the yard go to the same shows so there's always someone there to cheer you on, and our trainer comes along when his commitments allow.
As for entourage, well madam has a chiropractor, dentist, and a different vet to the other horses on the yard, because of her 'special' problems!
Sadder still, we have a mini version of her (one of the soft toy horses with magnetic feet) that has to come to every show for luck. And when we bought our lorry, it came with an Eeyore on the dashboard, who also resembles our mare, so he had to stay too!

 

[star]

i'm on DIY. i'm my own vet, my horses are barefoot and i trim them myself a lot of the time and just get farrier to tidy things up every now and then. i have just bought a trailer and passed my test so i now go to shows on my own. i go to a dressage trainer once a month. horses have physio if i think they need it and their saddles checked if i think they've changed shape and there might be a problem. so, no entourage really and i like it that way.

 

[vennessa]

I am a nightmare with our horses - got worse over the years.
My two daughters and i do everything apart from farrier, vet etc
We recently had an Intelligent horsemanship demo where two of ours were used. The horsemanship man asked if he could do some spooky work with them and my face must have spoke volumes. I said yes - i totally trusted him - but my face must have said no. He knows me and what i am like, his brother is my farrier and so he took it light hearted.
I think i have got over protective of them through bad past experiences.
Shows are hard work without help but we manage.
We are moveing premises shortly and i said point blank i have to be on my own.

 

[sallyellis]

I have my own vet and farrier who I trust, and my OH will feed/check on my horses if I am really ill, but other than that I go it alone, usually with 3 children in tow! I would love to have an entourage to help me groom, handle, teach me things so if anybody wants to help out with a foal, a yearling colt and an ID x mare in Bristol please contact me.........

 

[Halfstep]

I'm a bit of an entourage person, although I'm on DIY. I always like to ride with eyes on the ground if possible, otherwise I go indoors where we have mirrors. I have a weekly trainer and go to another trainer regularly. I hate going to shows on my own and usually have someone groom for me, although I do my own plaiting.

I used to be a go it alone person, but I've gotten more neurotic in my old age

.

 

[rreennoopony]

When we go to driving trials, its usually Phillip, Phillippa, Francis, Adam or Billie, my Mother, Father, Sister and myself, and occasionally some others. In my defence, this is usually between two ponies... =/

 

[JenHunt]

I have a vet (obviously) but am fortunate that - touch wood - i only see him for routine stuff.
I also have a saddle fitter who comes out yearly just to double check.
And i have 2 or 3 instructors i see fairly regularly.
when i go to an event its usually just me and either OH or my sister...

 

[hellspells]

I'm definatly an entourage person and not through my doing as occasionaly I do load, drive tack up and compete all on my own but generally not.

At my last working hunter - I walked the course with my trainer friend. I had left horse in trailer but came back to find YO doing studs - groom holding her and mum doing finishing touches. As I had last min instructions groom led her round.

I have a physio, chiropractor, farrier vet and specialist vet that comes over from France. We also fly a saddler over to the yard

God how spoilt am I???

 

[Abbeygale]

I keep my horses on my own yard, and so everything is done by me. My mum helps out if I am running late from work - but other than that just me. I try to request the same vet - but I don't always get it. WIth regards to going out competing, now that I can get myself there under my own steam (i.e. not conning dad to take me out) I generally go out on my own. If I am taking something out that I know is going to be awkward then I will always try to take someone with me - just to help with getting ready etc.

 

[K27]

I keep my horses at my rented yard, I have help with them on the yard
, and I have (dressage) training as and when we need it with a professional dressage rider/trainer. We have brilliant: vets, farrier, dentist and the saddler checks the saddles every 6 months. Also have a physio but rarely have to call her (touch wood!). To me these people aren't an Entourage they're a necessity and their help is invaluable!

 

[FMM]

I go from having a massive entourage to just me, my son and his pony. THe massive entourage is shared, as we usually have at least 4 horses at each competition, and sometimes as many as 9. However, my horse is generally tacked up and tarted up whilst I am getting changed - I always work in myself, but if I didn't feel like it, then someone would do it for me. I can meet the lorry at the show, so no driving/plaiting/tack cleaning etc. I can get off the horse at the ring after the class and hand him over to a groom (although I don't ever do that as I like to take him back to the lorry and sort him out).

However, when I take my son and his lead rein pony to a show, preparing for travel, tack cleaning, driving the lorry to and from the show etc trying to get him dressed and remaining clean, the pony prepared and tacked up, then myself dressed up in lead rein gear - which means I need at least 45 minutes to get us all ready.

I enjoy both types of shows, but find the former far more relaxing!

 

[Janette]

I keep my mare DIY, and the yard owner is my occasional trainer. I use the obvious professionals - farrier and vet, and go to visit the sadle fitter when I think we need it.

I go to shows on my own, but always welcome company, because a. The jobs are shared, and b. it's more fun.

 

[dieseldog]

I used to take my OH to shows with me, but he normally lasted 5 mins - the amount of time it takes to eat a burger before he fell asleep in the luton under the duvet.

So I now go by myself but at least I never have to go watch rugby as payback

 

[KatB]

I'm lucky in the fact I have a fantastic farrier, vet and Dentist who all know me and my horse well. I also have brilliant friends which actually have stopped me having to go out alone, as always used to go to events etc on my own, driving myself there and back aswell

So generally have fab people with me, but not really an entourage, unless I have more than one horse! But do also go it alone on occasions

 

[Weezy]

I think CotswoldSJ should feature as a *go it alone* person, as she does do it all alone so often - I envy her her initiative as I am too pig lazy to go alone most of the time LOL!