Any MNers with horses out there?

[Longlegs1972]

and how do you cope?

I'm getting really down cos I never get the time to spend with mine....

I've just emailed Ginny's details to my mum but I bet she says she's not big enough. She's always convinced there's 'nothing in front' when she gets on a smallish one even though it can carry her weight. It might have something to do with the fact that her last horse was a part-shire! I don't want to have a huge great thing to feed and clean up after when we don't need it so I have a cunning plan. We're all going camping at the end of the month and there are stables on site so I'm going to ring up in advance and book our rides. I'll try and get my mum a pony instead of the hairy carthorse she would pick for herself . I just hope she doesn't fall off or my plan will backfire horribly.

MrsWho - I always used to ride lunatics when I was younger, but I'm a right wuss now! I used to keep my horses with a chap who used to deal and he was always getting me to take one down to the main road to see what it was like in traffic, or take one to a hunter trial even though I'd never set eyes on it before.

I used to happily jump a triple bar 5' 2" at the back, 3' 6" at the front and 6' wide...

...nowadays it sets my heart racing to pop over a 3' jump on my friend's schoolmaster.

Terrible thing, advancing age

Madoldcatlady - I appreciate what you are saying about not wanting to 'over-use' a milder bit etc, and agree with you too. I was only suggesting another line of thought - which could be used in addition to a different bit. My concern largely arises from it being a new thing for her, so a new bit could be seen as just dealing with the symptoms rather than cause of the issue, plus, I have met many horses who were very strong/heavy because they were running away from the severe bit being used. But I'm sure the lessons you will be doing will be a big help - sounds very sensible.
A friend of mine took over a horse with a reputation of bolting whose owner's claim to fame was that she had once bent a pelham. With patience and sensible schooling she was perfectly mannered in a simple snaffle. (In fact we once did a session with our trainer that involved using wool for reins to demonstrate how light an aid the horse would respond to, but that's another story!)

I used to ride a mare that almost bolted into her fences - the owners were using a gag. She was hard to hold when her blood was up, but the gag meant you couldn't go round corners, either! I used double reins on the gag and soon found that I wasn't needing the gag rein. I asked if they'd mind if I switched to a French link snaffle with a flash noseband. She went so much more kindly that within a couple of weeks she wasn't flattening over her fences at all. I won the local riding club's points trophy for open jumping on her that year.

Fortyplus- Yeah I used to keep my horse at the local riding school.As I am only 5ft (and used to be fairly light ) whenever they had a little pony in to break or had a new small pony I was the one who did it.Once road a 11hh pony to see what it was like in traffic and it bolted with me they didn't buy it!

I'm 5'10" so didn't ride many ponies! I did jump one 14.2hh mare who was brilliant - she came in to the dealer unshod as her foal had recently been weaned from her. She loved to jump - I popped her over 4' and had to flick my legs out sideways as we went over as they were dangling so far under her tummy!

my friend was like that, she got all the naughty big ones

We're showing our 3yo connemara in hand on Monday. Do you think we can get away with using a regular bridle or do you think we need to buy an in-hand bridle.

We're struggling to source an nice in-hand one because pony ones tend to be too small and the noseband on cob ones is too big for her refined nose.

Butkin, good luck on Monday! Have no idea on in-hand showing I'm afraid! Can you not buy an in-hand bridle in the same colour as your regular bridle and swap nosebands? (If this is not possible just ignore my ignorance )
MrsWho/Fortyplus, oh to be a teenager again! I used to love riding the nutcases, used to ask to ride them! One of the horses I ride (the older one who should know better!) got excited on a field close to home the other day and proceeded to fly-buck the first half of the field I'm quite glad I've had that nutcase training - definitely helps me stay on board nowadays!
Madold, any solutions to your bit dilemma? One of ours is ridden in a 4 ring french link dutch gag (though currently just worn as a loose ring french link ATM) and the youngster is in a loose ring french link again after swapping from a french link hanging cheek. Though I have read that a change every now and again can do them good as they tend to learn how to evade them?
Hope you all have lovely weekends and hope it warms up a bit - I'm freezing! Brrrr!

Riding schools aren't the same now , no nutters (or even little -bit-nutty horses) too much risk of being sued.

No luck yesterday - mixed M and M class and judge seemed to prefer his Welshies to connemaras.

Does anybody know where we can buy a saddle for our Dartmoor. We've had him professionally measured and need a 14 inch extra wide.

However the only 14 inch saddles we can find are straight cut show saddles. We want our DD to feel secure - especially as she starts little jumps - therefore we'd like one cut like a GP.

Any ideas greatfully received!

sorry about yesterday butkin, sympathise over the noseband dilemma, am about to have to go and have my £50

• noseband altered by a saddler - cobsized doesn't fit, but this wretched f/s is way too big and the buckle for the headstall portion of the noseband is stuck under the browband. Can't help on the saddles i'm afraid - would be tempted to ring round a couple of saddlers that do s/hand and chat to them, worth travelling some distance for this bit imo.

Hello again horsey peeps!

I haven't posted for a while but I see this thread is grinding to a halt so this is my atttempt to revive it!

Pixel, have you got a pony yet?

Manuka, have you got a Maurice yet?

Butkin, have you got a saddle yet????

Me and horsey are doing brill! I got a Bartl sheepskin for her and thats super soft and lovely for her. New saddle is due for fitting a wek on Wednesday (only a 10 week wait!). We've gone back to the hanging cheek french link. Persevered with the head shaking and once she got used to the different action she's going like a dream.

We are having our first lesson ever on Monday. I'm very nervous but very excited too. I know I'll ride like a tit (don't perform well under pressure) but we'll have a go anyway.

Come on then, are you all up to?

Hello, I'm still here (supposed to be doing the ironing!). No pony yet I'm afraid. The little piebald cob is still there and I'm contemplating asking if I can have him on loan for a bit to see how we get on. They are only selling him because they are losing their grazing so they may agree. I'm going camping for half-term so I might ask them when I come back. He's a scruffy little oik but there's something about him I like.

I've already phoned ahead to the site and booked my rides. Think of me at 9am on bank holiday monday, I will be riding on Exmoor on a beautiful bright bay horse (I've ridden him before and he's sooo nice) and I just can't wait .

That sounds wonderful Pixel! Good idea re loaning the pony.

I had an amazing ride this morning. I woke up at 5.30am and decided to sneak a ride before anyone else woke up.

We had the most tranquil beautiful ride. The sun was already shining and we didn't see another soul. We did see lots of lovely wildlife though because the dog walkers hadn't disturbed them yet. A family of hares, a load of little fluffy malards and their mum. Several familys of geese. Rabbit babies and lots of green woodpeckers. Best of all a little kingfisher skitting along the canal.

Ahhhhhhh bliss.

We were all done and dusted before anyone else got up! I was home with a nice cuppa by 8.30

Hello!!!
Wow that sounds like the most amazing way to spend a Sunday morning! Much better than lying in bed fuming with rage about being awake since 2am cos of dh snoring!!!
I don't have a Maurice yet unfortunately but am still working on it! I am though in the process of choosing an eternity ring which is a nice second best!
Pixel- I hope you have a fantastic time!! xx

We had our first lesson today. It was fab! We both worked harder than we've ever done. It mad me realise what a softie I am on my own, letting her dictate the pace and not insisting she attempts to maintain an outline (she normally charges round with her nose in the air!)

Anyway, she went like a dream, we're both knackered and I can't wait to put all we've learned into practice and improve a bit before our next lesson.

Hi Madoldcatlady! Glad you lesson went so well. When is the next one booked for?
I assume that you have back/saddle/bit issues sorted for now if you are in a position for lessons, which is good news.
Were you sore the next day? I know you will be in practice at riding so to speak ( unlike me who would be on crutches for a week after a proper lesson right now) but a hard lesson can be still tough.
Also bumping this thread a bit as it seems to be very quiet lately. Is everyone out enjoying their horses too much?
I have been away on a course for 4 days (imagine that - 4 days without kids/house, getting to do interesting stuff with horses, and staying with rellies who ply me with wine in the evening!)

Hi! I have only posted here once or twice.

I have been having twice weekly lessons for the past 10 weeks. I used to ride as an early teenager, but didn't have any formal lessons, just lots of confidence back then.

I hadn't ridden for over 23 years prior to the recent lessons, I had fallen off alot as a teenager which didn't bother me back then, but since growing older and having children I was very nervous about getting back in the saddle.

Now I am full of confidence. I am starting a Horse Care and Management course in September which is for 2 years part time. This is with the intention of owning my own horse in 4-5 years time .

I have some questions for horse owners with regards to costs involved.

I intend to purchase a heavy weight cob type pony between 14hh and 15hh, which will be kept at grass in a field at the back of my house.

I intend to use the pony for daily hacking with the possibility of small jumps (depending on confidence).

I would like to know about costs of extra feed, insurance, farrier, schooling, teeth, injections administered by vet, worming and any other costs that will need to be given consideration.

I hope you can help.

Oh! and I am bumping the thread. I check daily to see if anyone has posted. And nobody around lately .

Well done you MummyWilliams at getting back in the saddle after such a long break. I had 10 or so years off and it all came flooding back.

I've got my new saddle Bamzooki! It was altered a little (flocking removed) and it's blooming perfect. Fits her like a glove and it's so secure and comfy to ride in.(Albion K2 Dressage, made to measure) She goes like a different horse in it, I would never have believed it would make such a difference. We're having our first lesson in it tomorrow. I can't wait!

Since I've been riding her with alot more contact,in an outline, she's going beautifully in the school, we have brakes and speed control! But, to hack out she's suddenly become very spooky. The only thing I can think is that previously she's had her nose in the air looking for trouble, but now things sneak up on her and make her jump. For example she's never spooked at a drain cover in her life til now. She seems to have seen them for the first time and is very worried by them. We almost ended up on the bonnet of a car the other day as she leapt into the middle of the road to avoid one!

Hello horsey people
I had to loan my lovely but nutty mare when I got pregnant with dd Miss riding soooo much.
Just wanted to say hi to people who understand how good the hay munching noise and the riding out by yourself and the whinny when they see you, is (what a weird sentence...)
Ahhhhh having a riding lesson just isn't the same, not that I even have the cash to do that anymore and what with bfing and all, whinge whinge, sorry!

Hi pamplemouse. I love that munching noise too.

Will you get your horse back at some point in the future? I can't imagine being without mine now, not even for a week ( I refuse to go on 2 week holidays as I miss her too much! Drives DH insane )

By the way Bamzooki, I was a little sore after our lesson, but not hugely so. It did take about 2 hours (literaly) for my cheeks to return to their normal colour as opposed to raging scarlett!

I'm not sure I will loanee wants to buy her and she is so nuts that I didn't enjoy riding her that much. I miss looking after her and being outdoorsy though. I might look for a share of a ploddy type to get my confidence back.

Afternoon all!
Thanks for the thread resurrection guys Glad everyone seems well
Hi Pamplemousse! Ah how old is dd? It's so hard when bf-ing to get those hours away to do something else - I stopped riding for over a year with each of my dc, nothing worse than riding with huge boulder boobs anyway but it will pass really quick though, honest!
Mummywilliams - Great news about the course and your plans for the future, I'm pretty clueless on the money side (I exercise 2 for my old riding instructor), though if your out on grass all year that will cut costs - no bedding, extra hay during winter and a bag of nuts or mix, rugs (if needed), tack, our farrier charges £60 for a full set.. you might get away with just a trim depending on where you'll be riding....hmm, their is a lot to think about but your course will help
Madold, glad things are going so well! You must get a picture of her in your profile! It's amazing what they spook at, dmare is pretty reliable but hates big lorries, whereas dgelding doesn't bat an eyelid at traffic but will leap 10 foot in the air at a bird or squirrel. He really caught himself out yesterday, spooked at a duck and went up on his toes but we were on a metal bridge over a brook and he slipped backwards and landed on the front of his hind fetlocks with his hooves backwards (does that make any sense?!) He was wearing boots but has come away with a few good grazes Looked like a punk when we'd finished with the purple spray! Seems ok today though
Dmare is being particularly good at the moment, touch wood, I took her along a path I usually avoid (it faces home and she likes to go up it at the speed of sound with a few fly-bucks for good measure) and she was very sensible. The warm weather makes a difference though, always chills her out. I'll try and put a picture of them both on yahoo (they'll be v. amateur camera phone pics though!)
Pixel, any good news yet?
Bye for now x