Lady The England-Flag-Flying-Unicorn ;)

Saucisson said:
As for it being dangerous I suggest you take that argument up with the police and the cavalry who do terrible things to their horses such as play drums on them, make them pull guns in front of crowds, control riots etc
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I would just like to say that a LOT of time is put into making these horses used to such things. They are not just thrown into ceremonial procedures or difficult work.

The young horses who are taken on at the Cavalry have years of training before they are put into ceremonial duties and before this happens they have to "pass out" meaning they are mature and well trained enough to manage happily.

They are happy, INCREDIBLY well looked after horses with 24 hours on site vet, guard etc checked every 30 mins all day/night every day/night.

I know more about the Cavalry horses obviously in my position but I also know Kings Troop horses pull 6 to a gun - hardly a lot compared to 2 horses pulling a carriage and passengers.

I have also spent time down at the London Metropolitan Police Stables and these are looked after one officer per horse plus groom and again having heard about the training the go through, I dont doubt for one second that the horse isn't well prepared enough for this and mounted crowd control really is the only option in some circumstances.

Sorry didn't mean to go on, I just don't want people to have the illusion of the "terrible things" these horses are put through as it simply isn't the case.
 
I have just seen the video, and it took some watching to get my eye in to see she is not coming though and not a lot of flexion in the hock, but then I am no expert, but she doesn't look as bad at the back as I had expected from the comments. I was expecting lame/crippled, however, I see stiffness (that may be indicative of something), and also a huge amount of backing off from the flag.... she wasn't all that happy about that was she, but she seems a very tolerant horse. :)

I also agree get your saddle checked again, but then that is to be expected with her changing shape so spectacularly.;)

Definatly a different way of bomb proofing.... perhaps not the way most of us would have done it, but neither of you are worse for wear from this so this is good, it would be interesting to hear what her reaction is when she is out.:D
 
Cavblacks said:
Sorry didn't mean to go on, I just don't want people to have the illusion of the "terrible things" these horses are put through as it simply isn't the case.
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I think think the "terrible things" comment was intended as tounge in cheek i.e a joke!
 
:eek: Eeek, Cavblacks, I was laying on the sarcasm there - please don't think that I think the cavalry horses are badly treated. I have been lucky enough to ride some of these horses and have also seen the work and care they receive at St John's Wood and at Melton which is superb.

But, I do think it is another reason to try and keep horses in work (maybe just light work) if possible. I always have the impression that dogs and horses (and maybe men ;))keep going longer and keep condition if kept active and have something to apply their minds to.
 
Angua2 said:
it would be interesting to hear what her reaction is when she is out.:D
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out as in on a hack??
shes fine in company, but has seperation anxiety so i dont take her out on her own (last time i tried over a year ago i took her out in hand and she paniced, started rearing and managed to run back to the field....i had only got a few yards round the corner from the field lol) but i havent tried going out on her own whilst riding
 
Saucisson said:
:eek: Eeek, Cavblacks, I was laying on the sarcasm there - please don't think that I think the cavalry horses are badly treated. I have been lucky enough to ride some of these horses and have also seen the work and care they receive at St John's Wood and at Melton which is superb.

But, I do think it is another reason to try and keep horses in work (maybe just light work) if possible. I always have the impression that dogs and horses (and maybe men ;))keep going longer and keep condition if kept active and have something to apply their minds to.
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Ahhh OK sorry!!!! I read that completley wrong in that case :o

Its been a long day!

Took it seriously as opposed to tounge in cheek - can you tell Im used to standing up for them ;):D
 
Hmm some of you need to meet Mr Manners.

Yes attaching it to the bridle could have been catastrophic, but luckily in this case it wasn't, and who are we to judge someone else based on a couple of posts on a forum?

i'm all for a bit of pony torture with flags, tarpaulin, balloons etc. :D It tickled me that during warm-up for last week's natural horsemanship demo for the queen, we were asked to stop, as our bouncing balls off, walking horses up and down ramps, over tarpaulin and through tight spaces had the more traditionally trained horses in hysterics just watching us! funny how none of ours reacted to the bunting, flowers etc but several others' horses wouldn't go near them. That's why we do it, not just to make ourselves look like eejits :D

I like to think it was my pony, who walks quite happily over a custom made see-saw, who amused the queen the most. On the day at just the right moment he discovered that by standing just so and shifting his weight he could just not move his feet but send the see-saw rocking forward and back. Bless :D

Oops sorry for the tangent :o
 
Lol! It's a good thing there weren't cameras around when I was a kid.... My sister and I used to ride back to front....:D
 
It is great to see Lady looking in better condition and I am pleased that you are enjoying her, but I remember in previous vids from last time you posted it was pointed out that your horse looked in pain through her back and hindlegs. Please do get her checked by the vet if you didn't last time, at least it will put your mind at rest that you aren't causing further discomfort. Sorry to have a negative to add, but I'm sure you will want to act in Lady's best interests.
 
we used to ride bareback round the village (headcollars only, no hats even) and we used to ride up the main road, two abreast holding each others reins and steering for one another :o
 
touchstone said:
It is great to see Lady looking in better condition and I am pleased that you are enjoying her, but I remember in previous vids from last time you posted it was pointed out that your horse looked in pain through her back and hindlegs. Please do get her checked by the vet if you didn't last time, at least it will put your mind at rest that you aren't causing further discomfort. Sorry to have a negative to add, but I'm sure you will want to act in Lady's best interests.
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Those videos were old and she was ridden under orders from the vet to 'ride through the lameness' because at the time her artheritis was worse than it is now and vet said by doing light ridden work (all we did was walk/trot/canter) it would help exercise her joints

whoever posted them videos were completely out of order, i never actually got to see the thread as it got deleted after i found out about it but yes, in those videos she was lame but we were only doing what my vet told us to do
 
In that case maybe it's time for a review from your vet to see if Lady needs any medication as she still looks pretty uncomfortable and hollow through her back. ;)
 
touchstone said:
In that case maybe it's time for a review from your vet to see if Lady needs any medication as she still looks pretty uncomfortable and hollow through her back. ;)
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Well me and my mum have agreed that after i break up from college (just two weeks left) we will get my vet out to do a full check over and i will mention the lameness to him to see if theres anything to help :)
 
Brighteyes I did read what you put and didn't discount it - however Lady was also very hollow in the vids without the flag that I saw, hence my comment.
 
OMG, imagine strapping that flag to your horses! How could you?! Of all the ridiculous, irrepsonsible things to do!








You could have least have made it a proper flag!


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I can't beleive people are getting their knickers in a twist about her having a flag attatched! I'll see if I can find the photo of Toby where the flag has flipped round in the wind and wrapped round his face. That'll keep you occuppied.

JadeyyAndLadyy - she's look so much better with her winter coat out and a bit more condition. Well done!

I do however agree that she doesn't look comfortable, either in her back or in her hindquarters. Hopefully the vet visit will tell you what, and it'll be fixable. She looks like a lovely, willing horse so fingers crossed she can keep being ridden.
 
I don't care about the flag, she is a tolerant horse, obviously.

She is however in a lot of discomfort behind, possibly coming from her back or pelvis. That is a very abnormal movement for a horse. I looked after a horse with arthritis for 8 years, he had it in all 4 legs (including Hocks, which is what the back knees are) and would be very stiff first thing in the morning after being stabled at night, and first thing when getting on him. He never looked anything like that bad though or else no one would have even put a saddle on him, let alone sat on him.

You should not be riding her if she's that lame. Even for the next 2 weeks until your vet has been. I disagree that it is just hollowing. You should have been able to feel that within 4 strides and got off after not too many more.

Her weight does look a lot better though, so well done on that.
 
Perhaps we should stop putting rosettes on bridles in prize givings aswell?
Back many a year (too many) when I was a lad horses just got on with things. Perhaps that was because we exposed them to more rather than backing away like a lot of people seem to these days.
I find it quite sad the amount of times I hear " my horse wont do X,Y,Z" or "I cant do A,B,C with my horse".
 
Hm. Don't think I'll put one on the Dizz :D Although she isn't the slightest bit bothered by the ones on the cars :). Then again, maybe it would act as a warning that "We're coming through!" :D

Yup, something not right on her backend, but others have already said that and you're getting the vet out, so good stuff :). Saddle needs seeing to, but probably wait 'till the vet has been out. Horses changing shape makes for lots of saddle fitter visits lol, ours is out every month at the moment (at this rate I could have bought two more saddles! Ah well lol).

Good to see her condition so much improved :).
 
I think some people have gone a little OTT on here, yes Lady is off in the back/hind legs. But what you/we don't know is how offten she ridden, I had a 20 year old with bad joints and if I had stopped ridding he would of been worse for it. In some case's light work is the only way to keep them going.

I am sure if we all sat down and went through thing's we have done with our horses in the past, we'd all find daft things that could of gone wrong but didn't. :)

By the way Lady is looking a million times better!! :D
 
amymay said:
You have the loveliest mare. And I think you've taken on board so much advice here from people regarding her condition and how to improve it.

But, she is really not good in any way behind - and to my mind it doesn't look like simple case of lameness. Of course, these things should alwasy be discussed in depth with your vet - but to my mind she looks to have a serious problem behind in both back legs. And if she were mine, her ridden days would be over.

Sorry, I don't mean to offend - and it's only my opinion.
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An opinion that I agree with.

And no I'm not just going by age; my 24 year old is a bit arthritic, but still in work, However, I also have a just turned 9 year old who was written off last year, and she moves better than that :( but there is no doubt in the world her riding days are over. Lady really is demonstrating a great deal of discomfort IMO, and has been since the videos your made months ago. I wouldn't be waiting 2 weeks or doing any more riding, but getting the vet out asap. Please?! :( :(
 
Wow, just wow. Have some of the posters never heard of 'Handy Pony' ? I recall pegging washing to a line and all sorts. Perhaps they should campaign to close down the Pony Club, for encouraging such irresponsible behaviour;)

The OP has stated her 19 year old mare has mild arthritis in her hocks - keeping her moving will be beneficial in keeping stiffness at bay. It is often far better for our oldies to keep them in light work, retirement can be the worst possible thing.
 
couldnt remember the horse until getting part way through the posts, and yes she looks so much better well done.

Re arthritis in hocks, my warmblood has just been tentively diagnosed with this (before x rays) and advice was to get him working see if it improves but i think it needs to be under vets advice , let us know how she gets on:)
 
Arabelle said:
Wow, just wow. Have some of the posters never heard of 'Handy Pony' ? I recall pegging washing to a line and all sorts. Perhaps they should campaign to close down the Pony Club, for encouraging such irresponsible behaviour;)The OP has stated her 19 year old mare has mild arthritis in her hocks - keeping her moving will be beneficial in keeping stiffness at bay. It is often far better for our oldies to keep them in light work, retirement can be the worst possible thing.
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Our pony club went a stage further and had us doing Sword,Lance and Revolver,at camp one year.Once they realised it was a game,none of the horses objected to us firing a Webley .455 from them ,at balloons.(Blanks were used of course,but they still gave a hell of a flash and bang).:D.I do also agree with keeping older horses active .
 
She looks well than pix in that last post- well done for doing so taking what people have said on a public forum, then doing it again and taking it on board.
Not many people would take it kindly ,or ask for advice,or take criticism
Let us know how you both get on
 
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