What are you really good at?

[Cadfael&Coffee]

turning out well, and dealing with foals and youngsters/ problem horses

if mum ever has one that's frightened of something/ has an issue, it's me she sends in

i am also superb at getting a horse so fit that it does a tank impression with an amazing backside haha

 

[midi]

Running plait- I think it's used on Spanish horses, only I do it tight to the crest so it stays out the way more. Always looks smart though, and takes about 5 mins to do it at most!

Oh I see, just in the picture it looked as though it was right at the top running right down the middle. I don't think I can manage to be able to do a running plait so tight and neat as that haha

 

[Fools Motto]

I'd like to think I'm good at keeping horses happy. If one likes being in, it is in, and if they like being out they are out. If one likes pony nuts but not chaff, they just get pony nuts.... things like that.
I'm also good at bandaging, and making nice fluffy straw boxes!!

 

[only_me]

Not much - am average at most things!
Am very good at creating a mess

I like to turnout well as well - am working myself to pull horses' mane, is currently nearly twice the length it should be although it took 20mins to just comb through it tonight!! But I like plaiting!

 

[muffinmunsh]

Op
Please can you come and turn mine out? They are supposed to be stylish warmbloods but look more like Animal on Speed at the moment! Hair hair hair

 

[Alphamare]

Catching horses. I am really good at catching hard to catch horses.

 

[AprilBlossom]

My first thought when I saw this thread was ' ooh, I'm rather good at making pastry' lol!

Equine-wise, I am very good at creating a pressure hose out of a normal hose with my finger and firing clay mud off hooves!!

Also extremely good at visualising fences at least three feet higher and wider than they actually are.

 

[Fools Motto]

Not much - am average at most things!
Am very good at creating a mess

I like to turnout well as well - am working myself to pull horses' mane, is currently nearly twice the length it should be although it took 20mins to just comb through it tonight!! But I like plaiting!

Good plaits!! (like the OP's too!) I wish I could plait manes to a high standard, I guess some things are just not meant to be! And not to mention I have the horse with the UKs worst, most impossible mane to plait. That doesn't help!!

 

[Jesstickle]

And not to mention I have the horse with the UKs worst, most impossible mane to plait. That doesn't help!!

Worse than this?? ( I know I should have done falsies but I just didn't have time!)

Horse looks like a right spanner!

 

[faerie666]

I'm also quite good a plaiting (note the envelope with my Best Turned Out prize)

My first go at a 'sticky out' tail plait, it kills me that the top isn't quite in the middle

I'm also quite good at breaking in youngsters.
I can't school them to any high level, but if you want a horse with good basics, manners and confidence, then I'm your woman.

 

[rubysmum]

i have a range of speeshul yard related skills
de-spidering rugs for other people
worming tricky horses
poo picking [ i am the only one who does it - so clealry it is a very skilled task as no-one else in my field can do it]
um - thats it really

 

[mulledwhine]

LPLO, beautiful plaits , please come and do mine

I am good at being at every ones beck and call literally, they are right next to my house

 

[Fools Motto]

Worse than this?? ( I know I should have done falsies but I just didn't have time!)

Horse looks like a right spanner!

MUCH MUCH worse!

Her mane is SO thick and so strong it just pings open. I have no control over it!! I try to re-enforce it with added bands, it may hold for a dressage test! Sowing it, well thats a battle with poor eyesight (me) and fidgety mare (her) recipe for disaster.

 

[Jesstickle]

MUCH MUCH worse!

Her mane is SO thick and so strong it just pings open. I have no control over it!! I try to re-enforce it with added bands, it may hold for a dressage test! Sowing it, well thats a battle with poor eyesight (me) and fidgety mare (her) recipe for disaster.

I have to sew. I am useless with bands but with a needle and thread I am pretty ok really. Plus lots of cheapo hair gel

Gorgeous horse

 

[Lolo]

Do you sew?

If you bunch her mane like you have, then plait very tightly. Don't wash it for a week or two before hand so it's really greasy. Wet your hands and plait as tightly as you possibly can and band them off. Then, fold under once, then again so they're flat against her neck rather than sticking up and sew them tightly up... Takes ages, but can hide how many you've got going on. Also avoids the golf ball look!

ETA- I can only band manes which are reasonable to plait. Took me a few attempts to get going with sewing, but now only takes an extra 10 minutes. I used to spend ages in my poor pony's stable plaiting him up repeatedly...

Can't do sticky-out tail plaits though...

 

[TheBayMonkey]

Mucking out shavings: flat level bed, square flat banks and straight edges.
I groom for friends at shows so can do both normal, running and webbed plaits.
I'm also known for spending about 4 hours cleaning a single bridle or saddle until it gleams

 

[ebonyallen]

Tack cleaning litttle bit OCD really

 

[Batgirl]

I am good at bandaging (ex-physio), I am quite good at organising (OCD kit bag and lists to tick everything off as it goes in) and I am quite good at encouraging people and breaking nerves. I am also incredibly modest

 

[LeneHorse]

I am good at putting my foot in it, good at being a big scaredy-cat, excel at moaning, and am good at being a slave to my pony.

I am useless at plaiting, clipping or anything useful so my pony looks like a great hairy Yak.

I also have a special skill of running riding club shows with hardly any helpers

 

[milesjess]

Making big, perfectly neat beds I get serious OCD with it especially shavings... But you should see the finished article Probably sweeping up too and organising things.

 

[Brontie]

Working with disabled children around the horses, it's incredibly rewarding to see them enjoying themselves. And i'm also good at handling horses, I handle them on the ground better than I do if im riding.

 

[kerilli]

OP, i LOVE that running plait, i've only ever seen the ones that get further and further from the neck, please can you tell me (us) how you keep it that close to the neck? Do you have the mane a specific length and thickness? I really want to try that, love the idea of plaiting in 5 mins if ever pushed for time, might try to set a new mini-trend out eventing next year! more tips please!
as for what i'm good at... umm... i'm very patient with difficult horses. i don't mind rearers at all (not flippers though). my horses have always built confidence with me, e.g. gone v happily xc with ears pricked and a big smile on their faces (iykwim), never gone sour or started stopping etc. i'm v patient on the flat and have a v high boredom threshold, which is useful for the tricky ones! umm, i'm v fussy about keeping stables and fields immaculate, so it's always clean and smart for the horses. i can list the things i'm not good at far more easily, tbh!

 

[Carefreegirl]

Bandaging, picking scabs, forgetting to put sugar beet into soak, sitting to mega spooks, leaving my tack out on the yard and going home. Eating, drinking and sleeping.......

 

[Madam Min]

I'm very good at stressing, champion worry wort I am

 

[mulledwhine]

Good. At dressing up pony and daughter

Shame they do not feel the same

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

At the moment I am very good at window shopping for horses!

Like others I am great a wading through mud and poo picking, also brushing a very muddy pony so as its rideable
My friends mare is no better at avoiding the mud then my beloved girl was, how she gets it where she does I have no idea

 

[Chestnuttymare]

I'm good at sweeping and my area of the yard being spotless and having my horse perfectly clean even for just a hack. making the cappucino at break time. think that's about it really

 

[zachary]

OP, you have made me very happy! I am a lurker usually but read your post and had to reply.

Have been in that place where I can only see what I am totally pants at for some time now. I had convinced myself that I may as well stop riding as was so completely useless. Reading through your thread I kept remembering things that I am good at.

THANK YOU!

You win the prize for plaiting, I think you could sell a step by step guide to that running plait (I would buy it!)

 

[Lolo]

OP, i LOVE that running plait, i've only ever seen the ones that get further and further from the neck, please can you tell me (us) how you keep it that close to the neck? Do you have the mane a specific length and thickness? I really want to try that, love the idea of plaiting in 5 mins if ever pushed for time, might try to set a new mini-trend out eventing next year! more tips please!

One day I'll find another suitable pony and do a video of me plaiting- it's so easy and quick.

I'll try and explain though...

Pony in the picture had a very thick mane over a foot long as he was a proper welsh C who was shown at a high level inhand. But as long as the mane is at least 4/ 5 inches long you can do this. Make sure the mane is really well brushed and not too clean- have to be able to run your fingers through really easily.

Take three inch long sections at the top of the neck and do the first twist of a plait.As you start the second twist, add another inch of mane to the twist and pull it in tightly. Keep doing that until you get to the bottom of the mane, and then plait the straggly bit as neatly as you can and band the bottom tightly. Tuck it under the running plait and sew it into place with a few loops. Ta da! Done

 

[juliette]

My first thought when I saw this thread was ' ooh, I'm rather good at making pastry' lol!

.

I had a similar thought, I could make Victoria Sponge blind folded and it would still come out good!

Equine wise I would say I'm not brilliant at anything but am very very patient, my friend pointed this out last week when I was waiting for my horse to finish his mouthfull of haylage before I put his bridle on. She would have just pulled the haylage out and immediately tacked up!