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....

Looseleaf - she sounds as though she was a real dream. How lovely, that she would let you lie with her whilst reading. I'd love to do that with my future pony. I ride a Highland mare at the riding school.

Bamzooki - that would be great - keep me posted. Whereabouts are you from?

I am from a tiny village on the outskirts of Huntingdon, nr Cambridge.

Pixel - I have seen that advert and must admit he did catch my eye - my parents live in East Sussex. Do you know if he is still for sale? Or have you been to see him? Or made enquiries about him? Let me know! I am getting really excited now.

I have been in touch with a trainer/behaviourist who I am going to pay to come with me on my first try out. I have never owned/bought a horse before now. Just want her to come with me to make sure that I am choosing the right pony for me. This is before paying out for vetting.

Sooooooo EXCITED!!!!!

Oh, so sorry to disappoint but no, I haven't phoned up or anything. The advert is still on there though which I would take to mean he is still for sale. People seem to take off the ad or write SOLD across it otherwise. Actually that's the first time I've done a search for Haflingers. They are getting very popular aren't they? (not surprised, they are gorgeous).

Thats ok Pixel - thank you anyway.

I am hopefully going to see on Friday:

www.horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM724A4E9/Page/2/Referrer/DisplayResultsHorses.asp/W eb/DisplayHorseDetail.asp

What do you think?

I will give the Haflinger in East Susex a ring in the morning. I will keep you all posted.

Oh! I forgot to say - Pixel - yes Haflingers are v. popular. They are very pretty and also have lovely personalities and apparently are very easy to do.

He's fantastic isn't he?. Just the sort I would like but well out of my league budget-wise unfortunately. Good luck .

Oh bum, I don't think my link worked either!

MummyWilliams - if you are near Huntingdon then the people I am talking about are very near you. I have phone nos to give you if you still need them (they are clients of mine so be nice!). They also have this warning for you too -
'Be very aware of buying any haflingers from dealers that have been imported, they usually have false passports and are not pure bred, therefore can not be registered or bred from.'
I am in Rutland but that's sligtly irrelevant for these purposes!

Hi! Bamzooki - Thanks for this. I have put my email address in my public profile, for you to email me the phone numbers. Whereabouts are they?

Completely understand what they say about imports - I definately wouldn't go down this route.

Email me the telephone numbers and I shall give them a call, and of course I will be very very nice to them.

Also - does anyone know of any livery local to Broughton, Nr. Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire?

MummyWilliams - I have emailed you the details. Good luck.

Did you get it OK MW?

(D'you like my new HP name??)

Hi! FANGZooki - yes I did get the email. Many many thanks. I haven't called yet, I have been out all day searching for livery. I am going to look at a pony tomorrow morning. And I will call them (if this try out is unsuccessful) either tomorrow or Saturday.

This is going to my first try out, what should I expect, what should I do etc etc.?????

very exciting mummywilliams. I would ask them to leave the pony out until you arrive - so you see it being caught (very useful) - also arrive early just in case they are lunging the legs off it beforehand .
see pone being groomed/tacked up /mounted - make sure someelse rides first - any excuses of they haven't got a rider be very cautious.
check passport etc, and make sure you don't pay without getting all documents - they never follow in the post
most of all have fun, remember it's a pony not a machine, and if you don't like him/her say so politely (it's their lovely little baby even if it only has 3 legs and a ewe neck) as soon as you are sure so as not to waste their time, or yours.

MW - how did it go?

Hi! Everyone. didn't get to go and view cob gelding. The lady (a trader) phoned up on the morning and cancelled, she said she had an emergency to deal with. She said she would call back later that day. I waited for her call, but it never came. I have emailed 3 times now, no reply. I think I will have to forget about him.

I am still looking.

Fangzooki - I am going to ring on Wednesday, your friends/clients in Gamlingay. Will let you know how I get on.

Besides looking at Haflingers, I am also looking at cobs, preferably chestnut, skewbald or piebald in colour, also prefer a gelding, although I would not discount a mare. Needs to be 14hh to 15hh max. Just needed for happy hacking, light schooling and small jumps (if I get brave enough). Must be weight carrier, as I weigh 13 - 13 and a half stone. I have max £4000 to spend on pony/horse. I have facility for 24/7 grazing/live out, with stabling for v. bad weather. Can attend daily, and ride 5 times a week. If anybody knows of anybody who knows of a pony/horse like this please, please contact me.

Hello horseypeople. Well it's arranged! We are taking delivery of a 3 year old cob gelding of about 14hh on Thursday morning. We weren't intending to have a youngster but fell in love with his gorgeous sweet face. Anyway, we haven't bought him yet. The lady who owns him is unfortunately having chemotherapy and is quite happy for us to have him for a while on a trial basis while we get to know him. She will have him back if we decide we don't want him but hopefully that won't happen! He isn't completely green as he's been broken to harness and ridden bareback so as long as we take our time I think we will be ok. In fact I'm hoping he will be a doddle compared to my last pony who had learnt every trick in the book by the time I got him. This one is still innocent . Pics on MNhorsepeople for anyone who can remember how to get on there as I haven't done a profile on here yet.

Hello all! Not had internet connection for what seems like ages, but what fab news to come back too Great stuff Pixel! I think I can remember how to get back on the Yahoo thing so will be straight over! LOL at 'still innocent' know exactly what you mean!
MummyWilliams good luck with your search! Will keep my ear out for you, I'm in the Midlands too

What about this one MW? Oh I could browse on these websites for hours!

Random question to horsey mums but did riding make your pelvic floor muscles stronger (and therefore labour tougher?) I've also heard that your perineum is tougher as a result and might not stretch as well.... arh am due in 7wks and have been told I should be slapping oil on my nether regions!!!!!

Any luck MW?
Any more news Pixel?
I have no idea Rach! I had sections with all of mine. Pelvic floor quite weak though despite riding most days. Weed myself on a trampoline last summer Was tipsy at the time, but still, you don't think of these things at the time do you?!

Rodeo, I knew I'd jinx things if I posted on here too soon and I have! The pony's owner was too ill to bring him over in the horsebox yesterday as arranged and was carted off to hospital instead. I was disappointed but it's hardly her fault poor thing. She has told the girls looking after him that we have free rein (no pun intended!) and can either go over to her place and do what we want with him (she has already given me the combination for the gate) or try and arrange alternative transport. Hopefully we will be able to move him soon but in the meantime we are going over on Sunday to see him ridden and get to know him a bit as well as try our saddles on in the hope that one of them will fit. I've paid a deposit on him today so things feel a bit more like they are moving in the right direction .
Rach, I'm not sure how anyone would know the answer to your question. How on earth would you compare? FWIW my babies were born over 4 years apart. I had a tear the first time but that was due to over-zealous use of a ventouse (hey it rhymes!). My second labour was only four hours from start to finish with no stitches and no pain relief, and yes, I did use rather a lot of almond oil in the weeks before so maybe it did help. I'm certain it didn't do any harm so go for it I say! (and I too wee myself on trampolines).

Rach
i'm sure that's the case - with ds1 i was in second stage for nearly 2 hrs, kept coming down, banging his head against my leather perineum and retreating back up - finally agreed to an episiotomy (triple ouch)
other 3 were much easier births - guess once it's damaged the jobs easier. pelvic floor in pretty good shape generally, although there was a small involuntary release when xc jumping the other day - she screwed and twisted over a jump

Oh I can ride ok. Horses or bikes. I can run as well with no problems, it's just the trampolining that is impossible!

Bumpity bump because our pony has arrived at last! We are supposed to be having him on trial but I think that when his owner comes out of hospital we will be forcing money into her hands. He was a complete angel when we loaded him into the trailer and very calm on arrival. Plus he loves cuddles and kisses!
Hopefully it won't be too wet tomorrow because we have tickets for Hickstead and will no doubt spend a small fortune on things he just has to have. He definitely needs a bit because my Dr Bristol will be no good for him and I need a hat as mine is ancient. I can't decide whether to get a jockey skull like my old one, or a traditional velvet one (ds looks so smart in his), or go for one of the new-style polyhelmets. Decisions decisions!

Very jealous Pixel. Post a pic, we need to see!

I have got one of those new-fangled hats that are like a cycle helmet and I find them much less sweaty-head-making than the traditional sort. OTOH dd (7) hates hers because she can't get a sparkly pink silk for it like her pals have got! (Ah, the mixed-up priorities of the very young!)

I don't know how to post a pic .