one last post, a nice one this time

RubysGold

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Heres a few pictures of Roo, beautiful as ever.
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The posts I've done tonight make me look like a bad owner, but I'm just going through a rough patch I think, learning all my lessons the hard way and all at once.
Hopefully the last picture (above) will prove that I do love my horse, and I dont neglect her.

And I'll post a picture of Bramble too, couldn't get a particularly good photo as she always pretends to be asleep with ears like a donkeys.
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I'll stop posting now, and I think I'll stop posting and replying to posts for a while too, so hopefully you can forget about me being a bad owner.
Nickie
 
Your not a bad owner - you are just learning!! At least you ask for advice and then take it on board - which is more than some do. We should all learn something everyday - the day you think you know it all (about anything) is the day you should give up. You are doing a fine job - we all had to start somewhere...and you spend a lot of time looking after other peoples horses at your yard.

Give Roo a hug - she knows you love her!!

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You are not a bad owner, you just need more experience like many us us probably did in the beginning and horse ownership is a steep learning curve at first and you never stop learning. Do you have experienced help at your yard as I'm gussing that your parents are not very horsey [sorry if I've assumed this wrongly]. Never be afraid to ask for help.At least you are asking for advice and open to that advice given. Chin up chuck!

Edited to add: You look a fantastic partnership, keep us updated on her progress x
 
Hey! For what its worth , I think we all let our horses get a little bit fatter than we'd all like (ducks!). Darcy is only just about trimming down. The grass will be all dying off soon if your fields are anything like ours and have no nutrients to it whatsoever. It won't take long.
 
yep what samstar said, I think people on here would rather somone ask about somthing they don't know, and we are all learning all the time.
See I am wrong I said your pony was a hairy and its not
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But my last tip of the day, turn your flash around the other way so you don't get that flappy bit
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Don't you dare put yourself down, you have had some good advice tonight, so listen to it and learn from it.
I'm still learning hell of a lot from here and from my best mate.
I bought an obese pony and now have her slim.
Put her into a smaller paddock with electric fencing and let her eat all the grass down to barely anything, then start feeding 24hr soaked hay am and pm, her weight will soon drop off
 
Hey hun, She doesn t associate you with the sore bit, she knows you love her and you ll make it better for her.
Your obviously upset so I suggest you have a hot choccy and retire and in the morning she ll be really glad to see you again!
Sleep tight!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Thanks.
I thought I was ready for a horse, I went to college for two years, having never touched a horse. I was the only person who hadnt been riding since I was like three. I couldnt put a saddle on. That was a very steep learning curve, but I got good grades at the end.
I thought I had a good level of knowledge when I left, but doing what your told on a yard is different to making your own decisions.
Lavender: your right I don't have horsey parents, and they warned me at the start I'd have to do it all alone, but I never expected it to be so hard
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There are only 5 people at my yard, one thats grumpy and isolates herself, has knowledge but is extremely opinionated. A couple that don't have all that much knowledge, who I help when they struggle. And my friend who isn't there often.
Meaning, the only people I can ask questions to are you lot on here.
Nickie
 
I have been reading all your posts and i don't think you are a bad owner at all! quite the opposite! You realise when something needs dealing with and you ask for advice and sort it. Thats good. We all have to learn and i can tell you adore your pony very much!! please don't worry.
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Nickie I have had horses all my life (it is 46 years since I got my first pony
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), but I still come on here and ask questions.
With regard to the other pony with sores from the headcollar, hope the following makes you feel a little better. An elderly lady who I work for has an old mare, this lady is crippled iwth arthritis and relies on friends and family to care for the horse. I offered to hold it for the farrier this week, the ladies grandaughter put a headcollar on the mare on the sunday as she can be a little hard to catch and doesn't know me that well. I went up on Tuesday (2 days later) for the farrier, and the mare had 2 sores on her cheekbones where the headcollar had rubbed quite badly
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I was amazed this could have happened in such a short time.
 
horses are so difficult thats why we love them. each one is different and 99% are bloody hard to look after. i use this forum a lot to help me, im just not very vocal. so i sit back and soak in all the information and only comment on stuff when im pretty sure i know what im saying.

the problem with things being written down is that the person reding them can interpretthem completely differently to the person writing it.

i understand how you feel. i have ridden since i was five and when i was nine my parent bought a pony for me from some local gypsies. we couldnt afford to keep her at the yard with others and rented a small field where i couldnt ask for advice. over the years i have picked things up, whether by learning from my own mistakes or asking constantly.

im lucky enough to have fund a fantastic instructor who never ever makes me feel stupid when i ask questions. theres still so much i dont know and i not always confident in what i do.

but just keep asking the questions, annoy people who cares. dont take the advice in a scathing way even if its meant that way. we're all in this for one thing, because we love horses, and as far as i can see you're in the best place for advice.

if theres anything i can do to help let me know...
 
You are not a bad owner! You noticed something was wrong and asked for advice! A bad owner wouldn't have done this! Every horse is different and the only way you can learn is by asking questions! The fact that you came on here and got advice shows that you love her, and as long as you take that advice on board and follow it, you will have her back down to her ideal weight in no time!
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Hi Nickie,

I think its really hard when you don't have horsey parents, and feel like you've bitten off more than you can chew! I was desperate for a horse and then when I got one, I didn't realise how hard it was. Before that I'd only ridden at a riding school. I didn't even know you were meant to get their backs checked annually by a physio, luckily I got some advice on here when my horse started playing up, and it turned out people here were right, her back was sore.

The yard that you're on doesn't sound like it helps matters either? For your first horse I think it helps to be on a bigger yard where there are knowledgeable people around to ask for help, it takes the enjoyment out of riding when you're constantly there by yourself and not quite sure of the right thing to do. Can you move your horse? Obviously its difficult if your parents are paying and have the final say, or if you don't have your own transport etc, but worth it in the long run. My first yard was extremely quiet too and I hated it by the end, having been used to a busy riding school. I know how diffficult it is to keep the weight off a good doer too, I'm currently having the same battle with mine. I think prevention is better than cure in this case and at least you'll be prepared next year.
 
You are learning and tryng to learn. You are taking on board information and attempting to do the best. That is a good owner. You are a good owner.

Couple more pointers. Saddle is too narrow and is too far forward, and really does not look suitable for your horse.I would look into getting a new saddle, but bare in mind as she loses weight, her saddle will not fit anyhow.

Keep up your goodwork, and don't be downhearted by the less than good comments (of which mine are some, I don't mean to offend)
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