I just bought my first cob! Introduction + feed advice + photos!

[SatansLittleHelper]

Everything crossed for you for the viewing ?
I hope you will update us periodically on Rigsby, I've really enjoyed reading this thread...hopefully you will soon have a new partner in crime to have fun with too

 

[palo1]

Thank you for sharing Rigsby - it was very generous of you if you are not usually comfortable with that level of public stuff and I think lots of readers on HHO will have enjoyed and learnt from Rigsby's journey ! Best of luck looking for a sporty friend.

 

[scats]

Fingers crossed for the viewing.
Rigsby is ace and I know what you mean about a horse being there at the right time. The Diva reignited my love of riding. I was absolutely at the end of my tether with horses breaking, constant vet bills and lurching from disaster to disaster... and then this little hairy cob came along and changed my whole world.
Best of luck with the search for a new horse, but do drop us a Rigsby photo from time to time!

 

[rabatsa]

Good luck on a new purchase. Do keep giving a few Rigsby updates every couple of months so that we know he is still alright.

I have followed and learnt a lot from his story.

 

[Fraggle2]

Thank you for this thread. Have loved following Rigsbys story. Please do update now and again as would love to know how he's doing. ?
Fingers crossed you find his new best horsey friend soon x

 

[southerncomfort]

Lots of luck with the viewing though I'm sad at the thought of this thread coming to an end. I've taken a lot from it.

In fact, I was thinking about it while I was brushing my teeth this morning. ?

I'm currently doing loading and travelling practice with my youngster. I absolutely hate travelling horses and I have a particular fear of being stuck on the motorway with a horse in a trailer.

So I started thinking about how I could prepare my pony in case that happened so that he wouldn't become worried.

Which led me on to this thread and your posts about having Rigsby stand quietly on the lorry on his own with a haynet and trips to the petrol station etc, which has given me lots to think about, so thank you!

 

[Squeak]

Good luck for the viewing today. I'm another that has enjoyed your threads with Rigsby, thank you for sharing. There are definitely some horses that come in to our life for a reason.

Would also love to keep updated, however sporadically, with Rigsby's progress.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

How did it go Red..??? ??

 

[Red-1]

Little update...

Rigsby is relishing retirement. It really 'feels' different between us. He is chillin' and relaxin'.

I have found a new goal for him. I really enjoyed taking my last horse to the care home that mum was in. The last time we went was in lockdown, it was amazing as the residents had not had anything to look forward to. I felt like Princess Anne as a whole line of them was placed before me, to meet and greet my horse.

Mum is gone, but I think that this summer, if the home would like it, I would like to take Rigsby there to meet residents. He is now good to travel, has learned to stand still and is no longer pushy. I can see residents and celery, smiles and sunshine.

Also, I know a few little people who would like to come and have a play and sit on Riggers. I think Rigsby would enjoy that too. I'm not sure what he knows about little children, but he didn't know about flags or fitness balls either, and he accepted them without fuss or fanfare.

I had a little sit myself this evening, when I went to fetch him in. Just with the head collar. He was amenable to steer round the school. So, I pulled the halter too, he thought that was cool.

He really is a dude!

I am taking him to a pole work clinic in a couple of weeks. I had been prepping hm for it, but now, instead of going to trot/canter/jump, we are going for the social. Same event, different feel. A friend is talking her horse for their first public engagement, so I will take Rigsby as a giant sofa, to support, maybe have a trot over some stuff, but mainly as a mobile camera person.

A couple of shots of Riggers tonight.

 

[ycbm]

Really glad you decided on another update Red

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

This makes my whole heart smile ?

 

[Red-1]

Really glad you decided on another update Red

I had been so prolific posting, I thought you would think he had died or something if I just cut it off!

 

[MyBoyChe]

I dont come on this forum as often as I used to but along with AAs threads, yours have been a fabulous read and I always look for new posts from you. They are fun, humorous, light hearted and you speak such good sense without preaching, Ive learnt a lot and will miss you and Rigsby. I do hope you will continue with the odd snippet so we know how you both are. There is a very lucky horse out there somewhere waiting for you to find him x

 

[chaps89]

He really landed on his feet (hooves?!) With you. I'm so glad he's done his job and more
Your posts are so much more relaxed and you sound genuinely so content, it's lovely reading, as well as having been educational hearing the journey you've been on with him, thankyou for sharing.
A retirement of little people cuddles, care home trips and as a sofa/mobile camera mount sounds perfect, he's a lucky lucky horse.

 

[Red-1]

He really landed on his feet (hooves?!) With you. I'm so glad he's done his job and more
Your posts are so much more relaxed and you sound genuinely so content, it's lovely reading, as well as having been educational hearing the journey you've been on with him, thankyou for sharing.
A retirement of little people cuddles, care home trips and as a sofa/mobile camera mount sounds perfect, he's a lucky lucky horse.

It is weird, the whole dynamic between us has changed. He makes me smile every day still, but there is a softer feel between us.

 

[Red-1]

I dont come on this forum as often as I used to but along with AAs threads, yours have been a fabulous read and I always look for new posts from you. They are fun, humorous, light hearted and you speak such good sense without preaching, Ive learnt a lot and will miss you and Rigsby. I do hope you will continue with the odd snippet so we know how you both are. There is a very lucky horse out there somewhere waiting for you to find him x

Thank you. I have no idea why I did open up about him, I think it was partly escapism from the situation I was in with mum. I do know that I won't share as much again, not to say he won't have the odd update.

 

[chaps89]

I can understand that, pressures off to be doing things properly and bring him up to scratch and now you can both relax and enjoy each other more so?

 

[Red-1]

I dont come on this forum as often as I used to but along with AAs threads, yours have been a fabulous read and I always look for new posts from you. They are fun, humorous, light hearted and you speak such good sense without preaching, Ive learnt a lot and will miss you and Rigsby. I do hope you will continue with the odd snippet so we know how you both are. There is a very lucky horse out there somewhere waiting for you to find him x

Thank you, you are very kind. I have rung a couple up, not found one I feel I want to go see yet.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

My aunt was thrilled to bits the other week when 2 lambs had visited her care home, so I'm sure you will have lots of takers for Rigsby visits.

 

[Red-1]

Another short update...

Rigsby has been kickin' his heels and chillin' - except that last night he did go to a pole work clinic, but as a mobile sofa for me to support a friend with her first ever clinic! We hung out, did a walk round, did 2 short trot rounds, 1 lap each, but otherwise just socialised. He loved it. Was foot perfect all evening.

Today, a new challenge - pony rides. Today some small people had a ride at our house. They had never ridden before. Rigsby emanated 'calm vibes' as soon as he realised what was going on. He was groomed, loved on, sat on... He was, again, simply Mr Perfect.

I think he has found his niche.

 

[Red-1]

Well, this is a quick update...

Fiona came back earlier than scheduled as I have not been happy as, although Rigsby had been sound he was not as happy as before (hence going into retirement).

She reports his feet are better than ever. His weight is perfect. And... there is reason for his work objection that is not to do with being old, infirm or broken

She believes he has some gut pain.

I have re-read this thread (yes, someone early on did say it would be useful as a diary) and it has happened before. Some months back, I reported that he was suddenly trotting here, there and everywhere. That he was finally lifting into transitions, and enjoying work, as opposed to resenting trot. I reported that I don't know if it was comfortable feet, a slightly different saddle set up (after a wonderful saddler visited), the physio (which certainly had straightened his stance) or that I HAD RECENTLY STARTED A GUT SUPPLEMENT!!!

That was a post on February 3rd!

I kept him on the gut supplement for quite a while, as he is on very few rations and has to stand with no food for some hours in the day, despite feed being split into 5 portions, in a Marts Net. But... I stopped the gut supplement when he started to go out to grass for longer than an hour, as this was like adding a 6th feed into the day.

She guesses that the stopping of the gut supplement, in addition to the rather lush grass (which we cut every week, and he has to suck in through a muzzle ) has made his guts sore again.

He is still happy to be saddled and girthed, but she showed me some other signs that have convinced me that she is right.

Riggers has re-started his gut supplement, is back to in hand walking out and about, or 10 minutes under saddle at walk in the arena, until we see if he perks his cheerful face back on.

He is still essentially 'retired' but I am glad I looked into why he was less cheerful than before.

He is also down from 3 hours at grass, back to 2. Although he shows NO signs of the dreaded lami, and he is keeping weight down, Fiona reports it is silly season for lami, with the dry then wet, now sunny.

Rigsby is too hot in the arena in the day, so is now out at night and in during the day.

A photo of the wise one out walking yesterday.

 

[cauda equina]

What a lovely relaxed pic of you both
Please could I ask -
How Fiona knew his gut was sore?
And which supplement do you use?
Thanks

 

[Red-1]

What a lovely relaxed pic of you both
Please could I ask -
How Fiona knew his gut was sore?
And which supplement do you use?
Thanks

It was a very subtle way he is moving his off hind leg, and also the way he was happy and cheerful to work, and then not, with the addition of the co-incidental (!) inclusion then removal of the gut supplement just when he firstly became happy to work, then unhappy to work.

He is not girthy, not lame, just not happy and cheerful.

I was using one in a big white tub, can't remember the name offhand, but do remember to was hugely expensive! It is one that is supposed to help the hind gut.

 

[cauda equina]

It sounds as if it works though so probably worth the money!

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Aww love him, glad you have it sorted and he can go back to his cheerful self
He is the luckiest boy to have found someone who really cares and understands him. This thread has been invaluable to me personally, I've read through it so many times, for reassessment of how I train my horses. You have such a wonderful insight.
Any luck finding another horse yet..??

 

[Red-1]

Aww love him, glad you have it sorted and he can go back to his cheerful self
He is the luckiest boy to have found someone who really cares and understands him. This thread has been invaluable to me personally, I've read through it so many times, for reassessment of how I train my horses. You have such a wonderful insight.
Any luck finding another horse yet..??

Aww love him, glad you have it sorted and he can go back to his cheerful self
He is the luckiest boy to have found someone who really cares and understands him. This thread has been invaluable to me personally, I've read through it so many times, for reassessment of how I train my horses. You have such a wonderful insight.
Any luck finding another horse yet..??

Only been to look at one. I was assured no sarcoids.... Didn't even have a ride.

 

[Red-1]

What a lovely relaxed pic of you both
Please could I ask -
How Fiona knew his gut was sore?
And which supplement do you use?
Thanks

Had a look in the feed room... https://www.chestnutmill.co.uk/prod...MI4bmJo5328AIVh7HtCh0yiwBgEAQYAiABEgK0g_D_BwE

 

[cauda equina]

Thanks so much, that's really helpful.
I've got a young horse with a funny off hind, 'it's just the way he moves' said the vet but I'm sure there's more to it

 

[Red-1]

Thanks so much, that's really helpful.
I've got a young horse with a funny off hind, 'it's just the way he moves' said the vet but I'm sure there's more to it

It is very subtle, his rhythm is bang on. He just places that leg very carefully. Fiona is a magician, well worth having her have a look. I am all for calling vets for a lame horse, but she is in a league of her own for seeing subtle things...

I call it physio for short, but she does Crania Sacral work. Before Covid, she did people as well and I can personally attest that it is not mumbo jumbo and does make a difference!

 

[cauda equina]

Mine isn't lame but he tends to go on 3 tracks with his off hind not properly underneath him.
I wonder if you could PM me Fiona's contact details please?