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

So wierd - I can see it when I quote the message, but still not on the original post. I did raise it with FAT on the photos thread, but deleted that when I could then see it.

(Lovely photos btw!!)

@Meredith, I am using an ancient, stuttering laptop on Windows10, which might be the reason for me.
 
Rigs stayed at home with my boyfriend in charge of him and 2 dogs whilst I took H to camp at Somerford!

It was a fab time. Photos courtesy of Isabel Pearce Photography and slung on a video...

Trying if quoting works..

edit o add...Strangely I can see it if I click on Tik Tok under the empty box and then click on Not now when asked to join TT. Very odd.
Second edit. now it works if I click on the quote. Even more odd!
 
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I've just been in contact with the person who sold him to me and sent her the video from camp, and also the one where my totally novice boyfriend was riding H on the beach. It is only the third time I've contacted her since purchasing him.

Sadly, she has stopped selling and now concentrates on her own and schooling livery. The reason she's stopped is the unrealistic expectations of people buying youngsters.

I find it sad, but agree that people do expect an automaton, with perfect behaviour, conformation and manners, straight out of the box.

It is sad when the good sellers give in.

Anyway, she was happy to see H is thriving!
 
Rigs is going great guns!

He is doing rides out regularly and is extra busy now BF is learning to canter. I bought him a new saddle, one that actually fits him! He also has an Equitex pad, very posh and soft.

BF has decided he likes the stirrups under the saddle flap even when I explained that, although it stops stirrup leathers chafing (his leg moves too much and with all the cantering he's doing, it chafes) it is dangerous as the stirrup would not detach if he fell off and got caught in the stirrup. Eventually we came to a compromise. I found my set of Barns Buckles, fitted them and now Rigsby's saddle is comfortable. Sadly, he often rides BH, so the problem is not eliminated as I only have one set of Barnes Buckles and I don't think they make them any more!

The other night, BF had his first horse related injury. We were riding a track around the back of the village and I explained that 'allowing' a horse to baz off just because that horse likes it, is not etiquette, so set the task to keep behind H and I in canter. He did fab! Orderly canter. This is a big step as, up to now, BF has been a passenger in canter.

He has been keen for me to stop babying him along, so we then did a longer canter, weaving between trees that were quite low. He did duck in time for a stray branch, but then sat up too early for one that had caught on my back and got a thwack on the chin. Just a scratch, but the first injury even so.

It was on the way to the fish and chip night at our village hall, you can see the injury on a video of Rigs begging for chips...


By the next day it wasn't noticeable though.

Rigs had the physio check him again, nothing to treat.

I had two to ride yesterday, so I thought I'd do some ride and lead. Up to a year ago, when BF started to ride, they did a lot of this and are generally good. BF was socialising yesterday in a different city and is generally very busy at work, so 2 for me to work...


They were good, however, Big H decided to stop for a poo on High Street yet Rigs knew we should not stop and there was a car, quad and container lorry all lined up trying to pass. I was stretched like washing on a line. Good job I use a 12ft rope 🤣

Soon all back in order, back for Rigs to have a comedy sock clip. My clippers broke about 18 months ago and I decided that the cost of new ones would pay for a fair few clips, and I hate clipping! So, a pro is coming this afternoon. However, Rigs is sensitive around his lower legs, where he used to have nasty mallenders and still has the final traces now. He stands like a rock for me but not for other people. I just find it easier to do the legs for him so he can feel confident. He is the same for loading: pretty much loads himself for me, but won't load for other people.

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If he were a younger horse, I'd persist with press-ganging new people to come load him/clip him, but, he is an old man and is just fine for me and really I can't be arsed:eek:🤣

Oh, and he is disgusted to be back in his muzzle

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Oh, and BH has been going great guns. Had a few lessons and been out hacking.

Indoor XC...


Showjumping...


Enjoying physio after a few busy weeks...


Hacking somewhere new...


Oh, and we had a play bareback and with a headcollar but where I had to fold my arms...


Big H really is the nicest horse. So kind and generous.
 
The clip of BF and Rigs with chips is just so sweet. What lovely boys you have.
Rigs is actually a pro at drinking coffee from a cup, or beer from a glass. Really 'gets' it and likes to sample whatever his rider is having!

And yes, I am blessed with 2 lovely horses.
 
Rigs is a 20 year old cob and had been struggling in the heat. My clippers broke (30 years old LOL) and, when I saw the price of good new ones, I decided not to get any more. I hate clipping and I'll be able to pay someone else to do them for years before it costs as much as new clippers.

She clips a stack better than I can, plus I don't have scratchy hair down my bra
😁
He looks stunning, will be cool, can have a rug at night, and we won't have to contend with the absolute mattres-worth of hair that Rigs had started to shed!

Winner, winner, chicken dinner all round!

Stunning!

 
OMG, after the clip, Rigs was just full of energy and enthusiasm. We don't normally jump, but I'd got some out last night, as I like H to have a pop every week...


But then Rigs looked interested, so I tacked him up and he had a jump too.

Old music for the old man! 🤣


I know I post about the smallest things, but, especially since Mr Red died, I really appreciate every little thing that goes right in life, that is fun, that makes me feel alive.
 
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I may not be competing, but I really feel like a winner with the little adventures that we have. My animals consist of a 17 year old dog, who I inherited from Mr Red (after he took pity on him in 2014, when we found him nearly dead on the street), a 14 year old dog, who I inherited from mum, a 20 year old horse, who had many medical issues and an 8 year old, beautiful horse, who I took a gamble on buying online, unseen other than a video. I new have a wonderful boyfriend, after thinking that I'd never be happy in a relationship again. Come to think of it, I found him online too 🤣 but I did at least meet him before deciding to be in a relationship!

Here are us adventuring with doggos this week...


They are certainly not the sort of dogs that I would have gone out to buy, but they are just the sweetest.

Ever get so as you are so happy, it almost makes you afraid?
 
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Short update to say that Rigs is still powering on as a superstar!

He's not being ridden quite as much as he is getting serious field time, but his BF designed muzzle is keeping him happy and slim.

I did box him out to ride with a friend and he looks fabulous!

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Dratted horse got cast against the fence in his new garden :rolleyes:

No real harm done tho.

I like how he looks round to see who was watching!!!


Other than that, he's happy, healthy and going on the odd ride out, where he is VERY enthuseastic!
 
Both horses and I (and BF) were going great guns! Then, we had 2 weeks on holiday and I pulled my back trying to scuba dive! The tank was simply too heavy and my back carries a previous injury.

Then, I'd only just got back a couple of days, had a nice ride out, when Rigs started showing signs of colic.

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Of course, the vet was here within about an hour of it starting. I insisted on thorough treatment as he was so ill 4 years ago. Poor horse was dosed twice within a few hours, but that seemed to sort the small impaction. So, he did only have colic for around 4 hours but it was awful all the same. He was so good, the new student was able to have a feel too as he stood beautifully.

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The tube was left in between tubings, to lower the chance of a bleed.

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Rigs' field is bare so he is being treated to a few hours a day on the lawn: Mr Red would turn in his grave (except his ashes were scattered in the sea!).

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He really is back on top form. The vet thinks it was because of the hot weather, and he will have been a bit dehydrated. It was dehydration last time too. On that occasion, he pooed in his indoor water and the water on the patio froze. He did have water this time, but the dehydration will have been just from the heat.

He would be back in ridden work but...

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...

I had been out hacking on H after the holiday, then we had an interesting bit fitting, where he really enjoyed deciding which bits he liked (he really understood he was trying bits, I think). He was schooling beautifully, he liked the new mouthpiece, I'd booked us onto a jumping clinic that was to be today to try the bit he chose...

Next day, I was out hacking on H, having a lovely time, but he slipped on the road where the tar had melted and there were loose stones on top. It was such a silly thing. H is fine, he had a soft landing! A few grazes but fine. My knee took the brunt.

I had it X rayed, it isn't broken, but heck, it is sore.

So, both horses are now off work (BF is welcome to ride either but isn't really bothered unless we are riding to the pub 🤣) and I am resting up. I even hired a freelancer for yesterday and today to do stable chores so I can sit still! If it isn't better in the next few days, I may pay someone to ride them to keep them ticking over.

I guess it was just my turn for some bad luck! At least both horses have had a minor glitch but are on form.
 
Sorry about your fall Red.
Your knee may not be broken but there could ligament damage etc so I hope the hospital will send you for an MRI. I ruptured my ACL and tore my meniscus (I had to fight for a year to be sent to orthopaedics to get a mri) and 5 years post surgery I’m still struggling with it.
I will say though when I was riding a lot it was really good strengthening for my knee and the best it’s felt.

Fingers crossed for a very quick recovery and hope BF is being a good nurse.
 
Sorry about your fall Red.
Your knee may not be broken but there could ligament damage etc so I hope the hospital will send you for an MRI. I ruptured my ACL and tore my meniscus (I had to fight for a year to be sent to orthopaedics to get a mri) and 5 years post surgery I’m still struggling with it.
I will say though when I was riding a lot it was really good strengthening for my knee and the best it’s felt.

Fingers crossed for a very quick recovery and hope BF is being a good nurse.
I am more worried that a whole segment on the upper knee, towards the inside of middle, is still numb 3 days on. I simply can't feel the skin and couldn't from the moment of the fall.
 
I'm pleased rigs recovered well from his colic. With regard to your knee if that were your horse you'd have a specialist or to them, treat yourself with the same care and see someone privately, even a good physiotherapist. I mean this very kindly!
Right now I don't think that there is anything I can do bar rest.

It has had rest, a load of anti inflammatories, 3 ice packs, Equissage massage bed, Epsom Salt bath, elevation pretty much all day, bandage in between times. I think the inflammation will have to go down before any other movement/treatment can take place.

I have fracture clinic in 8 days.

I will see how it goes as I have a tight timescale to get fit again!
 
All of July, my knee was a pain! I have been to a physio, and she says I have bone bruising, likely microfractures, probable ligament damage, nerve damage (I still have a numb patch) and it still won't bend. I think this is about 6 weeks in...

The photos got worse before they got better!!!

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The physio wants me to get an MRI, but it is improving, slowly, so I am leaving it.

I tried to ride H quite soon but, although he was fab, my knee was excruciating. H was dispatched to a friend's livery yard to be ticked over hacking. Rigs joined him for a week, while BF and I went away to Krakow. I had to use a wheelchair for some of it as, at the start, I could only reliably walk 100yds or so, and stairs were one at a time, same leg leading each step.

Rigs came home just to be turned out, and I have been doing physio exercises, ultrasound, ice, etc etc.

About 10 days ago I managed to get it to bend enough to ride a bike, so have been doing that. Not far and very slowly. There is still a lot of fluid in my knee, and tightness/tenderness up my femur, so it is just to spin my legs. I have swum in lakes, but it has been in crawl and it is only this week that I have been able to do a breastroke.

However...

This week we had a breakthrough.

On Wednesday, I wheeled Rigsby out. He'd not been ridden for about 8 weeks (?) and I got on. Knee was too painful, so got off again. But, I tried again on Friday and it was not so bad!
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Today, I got on and rode out!!! Yay! Rigs looked after me. Even picked a parcel up out of the parcel box!

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Oldies are the best!!!
 

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Well, my knee got a bot better so BH came home and I started riding him. My knee is doing fine! Sore but functional-ish!

My boyfriend has been riding BH mostly as BH is bigger, but this day I rode BH on the stubble to see how I coped with some sustained canter work. Rigs does much less work, he isn't drilled and likes a 100yd dash then a rest, so that's what he does. Rigs is of an age and stage that he just does as he pleases!

This was a video of us on the field...


H having to run laps whilst Rigs relaxes🤣 I am so lucky, two lovely horses!

I did so well with BH that this was us on Friday!

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He isn't fit as he had about 6 weeks at a friend's where he was mainly walked out every other day, with a little lungeing in-between, but it was just a walk/trot hound exercise.

Today, BH is trying a western saddle to make him more appealing to BF. BF prefers Rigsby's indomitable spirit to BH's kind and calm domeanour. I've told him that, in a western saddle, he can ride in jeans and the saddle won't pinch. BH has decent, rounded, paces and he finds that, even with breeches, his inner thighs rub with the stirrups. I did tell him that full chaps or lessons (!) would prevent this happening but he is resistant to both ideas. He just wants to ride out, not trot circles 🤣 and it it too hot for full chaps.

I'm not bothered; it is nice that he makes the effort to have a ride at all, so he can do pretty much what he wants. The field is less than a mile from home, so Rigs strolls to the field, hangs out there, maybe does a 100yd dash, then hangs out. he adored BF, much more than me!
 
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Well, my knee got a bot better so BH came home and I started riding him. My knee is doing fine! Sore but functional-ish!

My boyfriend has been riding BH mostly as BH is bigger, but this day I rode BH on the stubble to see how I coped with some sustained canter work. Rigs does much less work, he isn't drilled and likes a 100yd dash then a rest, so that's what he does. Rigs is of an age and stage that he just does as he pleases!

This was a video of us on the field...


H having to run laps whilst Rigs relaxes🤣 I am so lucky, two lovely horses!

I did so well with BH that this was us on Friday!

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He isn't fit as he had about 6 weeks at a friend's where he was mainly walked out every other day, with a little lungeing in-between, but it was just a walk/trot hound exercise.

Today, BH is trying a western saddle to make him more appealing to BF. BF prefers Rigsby's indomitable spirit to BH's kind and calm domeanour. I've told him that, in a western saddle, he can ride in jeans and the saddle won't pinch. BH has decent, rounded, paces and he finds that, even with breeches, his inner thighs rub with the stirrups. I did tell him that full chaps or lessons (!) would prevent this happening but he is resistant to both ideas. He just wants to ride out, not trot circles 🤣 and it it too hot for full chaps.

I'm not bothered; it is nice that he makes the effort to have a ride at all, so he can do pretty much what he wants. The field is less than a mile from home, so Rigs strolls to the field, hangs out there, maybe does a 100yd dash, then hangs out. he adored BF, much more than me!
Smashing photos.
 
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