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The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

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Original poster

Feels like Spring!

17 replies

Butkin · 18/03/2009 22:42

Cob and connemara are now living out all the time, as we didn't bring them in on Monday night, although we are still feeding them and giving them hay in the field.

Today it was so sunny that we gave the roan Sec A pony a bath to help his coat come through before his show this weekend. Was still damp this evening but we just groomed him and changed him into a fresh rug.

As we are feeding in field etc it is still taking us as much time but less mucking out and it does feel that Spring is here!

OP posts:

Pixel · 18/03/2009 23:14

Isn't it lovely!

Went to get little horse out of the field yesterday without wellies on for the first time this year, we have primroses in the hedgerow, rugs are off during the day, we can ride in the 'schooling paddock' (we call it that for want of a better name ).

The only drawback to all this spring-fever is the shetland who is being a little madam because she is in season!

MitchyInge · 20/03/2009 16:02

ahh it is exciting isn't it - I am really yearning for some lovely long hacks

alicecrail · 22/03/2009 21:40

Its been lovely but i haven't been able to ride this weekend because we have been laying a new floor in our kitchen/conservatory. Horses have had a lovely time in the field without their rugs though, and even better there is no mud - yay!!!

Original poster

Butkin · 11/04/2009 23:07

Connemara on the horsewalker today - officially now in training! We kept her in for the rest of the day (diet) and plan to try and ride her tomorrow.

2 section As both got their baths (1st of year for Palomino, 2nd for Roan) after they worked in friend's menage. Now hoping that when we groom them tomorrow their coats will improve rather than go boufant (which was the result after the Roan's first bath of the year).

Giving them a good go over tomorrow with Furminator etc and some walking in hand, with side reins, ahead of show on Monday.

Already beginning to fret we are going to miss come show closing dates so busy double checking entry dates.

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alicecrail · 13/04/2009 08:57

Which show are you off to? We are jumping next weekend and i can't wait!

Original poster

Butkin · 13/04/2009 18:53

Been to Eastern Welsh Pony and Cob Society show nr Huntingdon.

Good venue - huge indoor arena and plenty of working in.

Unfortunately both ponies failed to make top three. Just too many professionals there today and our young pony is too light by comparison. We just don't want to pack on the weight at the moment as they are out for most of the day and the Spring grass is coming through. Much easier for the pros with their stabled ponies to get the feed into them more safely.

Still onwards and upwards!

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alicecrail · 14/04/2009 07:41

Sounds lovely, well done for actually getting out though!
Our TB was very naughty yesterday and DH fell off! Landed on his feet still holding the reins though, so it was ok , and when we started trotting him over poles he leapt the first one and cleared it by about 4ft!! (it was very funny) but he finished the session working really nicely and a bit hot, (the horse too )

Original poster

Butkin · 14/04/2009 10:36

Well done Alice, how is your TB bred?

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alicecrail · 14/04/2009 13:08

He is out of a mare called Tendency and his sire is Vettori. I don't know much about either i'm afraid.

Original poster

Butkin · 14/04/2009 23:01

Good old Crail - I remember quite a lot about him as he was bred by a lovely friend of mine - the late Mary Chapman.

He ran 27 times and won 3 times when trained by Chris Wall (an old friend of the Chapmans) - at Doncaster, Newbury and Wolverhampton.

Tendency had been in training for Roy and Mary - with Tony Hide - and had won at Leicester under Steve Cauthen.

Glad there is life in the old boy yet!

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alicecrail · 15/04/2009 07:56

Oh yay! You know him? I had Robert on the phone yesterday asking how he was getting on. He has been retired to us and looking soooo well now. I used to work for chris and ended up looking after crail when the last girl left. To be honest i never used to like him because he was such a pain in the bum! He was always untying himself and following you around the stable whilst you were trying to muck out and he was such a wuss! And when we went racing!!!! omg he would drag you about! But then i started riding him and Chris used to send us off round the heath on our own, i used to jump out of bed in the morning knowing i would be riding him first lot.
I said to Chris's wife one day "if crail wants to retire at any point i would always give him a home" A couple of months later i was loading him into the trailer!
He has been fantastic, we gave him a year off when we first got him then got him back into work and within about 10 weeks we did our first dressage, then i took him round the local pony club mini hunter trial - he loved the water (but he is a dirty beast!)
My DH is learning to ride on him and although it may in theory not be a very good idea, it has (on the whole!) worked very well and DH loves him to bits.

Sorry i have gone on a bit i could talk horses all day!

Nekabu · 15/04/2009 09:25

Don't apologise for going on! I've been sitting here reading your post with a big grin on my face ... It's so nice to hear of a TB who's come straight out of racing and into a lovely home. Mine's had a few bad homes before he came to me, so it is so nice to hear of one that's gone straight to a good one!

alicecrail · 15/04/2009 18:46

Thank you! I have had a lesson on him today and he was a superstar! He just tries so hard to please, and even if it doesn't go right he doesn't mind as long as you don't get cross with him. I'm sat here feeling sore and grubby but happy and full of good intentions now to really get him doing more because he really is capable of becoming so much more. I think his owners are quite keen for him to do some dressage, so i am going to aim for some in june.

Tell me all about your tb?

Nekabu · 16/04/2009 10:13

He sounds lovely! Lots of luck with your dressage plans!

Mine's an ex-flat and is now a pasture ornament, which suits him just fine ...

alicecrail · 16/04/2009 10:58

Funny you should say that, Crail would be more than happy in complete retirement but my mare hates having a holiday. She has never had to do the amount of work that he has though

Original poster

Butkin · 16/04/2009 16:09

Maybe when Robert's daughter gets old enough for TBs she'll want a sit on Crail - she seems quite keen.

Delighted he is doing well - maybe you should look at some of the Retrained Racehorses show classes they have now at loads of shows.

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alicecrail · 16/04/2009 17:19

I have them in mind! I just could never imagine him moving well enough!! I rode him again today and it was lovely. I must admit i have lost my confidence a bit and was quite nervous of riding him yesterday - he just seems so big and strong now. But i didn't even touch my neckstrap today, he really is a sweetie.
I think at one point the chapmans were planning on having crail for the daughter, but when he came out of training they thought he might be a bit much, this is what the travelling head lad said, so i don't know for definite.
I'm hoping to make a dvd up for them of Crail doing stuff, they have seen pictures but they haven't seen him working at all, and i'm really hoping they will be pleased, i know we are!

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