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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

Assuming she passes her vetting tomorrow, new pony...

30 replies

seeker · 02/12/2009 08:03

...arrives on Sunday. She will be at full livery in a very competent yard. What is the best way for dd to start bonding with her? How do we help her settle in? All suggestions gratefully recieved!

OP posts:
MitchyInge · 02/12/2009 09:37

how exciting! she looks very very pretty from the pics on your other thread, bet your daughter will have lots of fun with her

my little girl has 'bonded' with her pony in all the usual ways - hours spent grooming, plaiting and unplaiting mane and tail, oiling bits of him, being bucked off and getting back on, schooling and jumping and cuddling and shopping for rugs and head collars, watching him play with his friends in the field etc

am so pleased I did it, although it dawned on me yesterday that she will outgrow him in terms of her ambitions and ability and although there would be no difficulty selling him I'd have huge emotional problems ever parting with him - luckily can always ride him myself, he is fun to hack which is a big priority

Original poster
seeker · 02/12/2009 11:50

We're trying not to build up - it all depends on the vet!

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Owls · 02/12/2009 12:55

Second all Mitchy says, spend as much time with her as possible not just riding but general grooming, etc. I'm sure you won't be able to get DD away from the stables anyway!

Fingers crossed for the vetting. Although I bought DD's old pony even though he failed the vetting on flexion test. Bit different from your situation though as DD had been riding him for a few months so she'd fallen madly in love and we knew he was sound in work. Anyway, he took her through most of her PC years, stayed sound and they had great fun together.

Original poster
seeker · 02/12/2009 14:12

Oh God, what to do if she fails! Don't even want to think about it!

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MitchyInge · 02/12/2009 15:40

don't understand how any horse passes flexion tests really, such an unnatural range of movement - you could always pay separately for x-rays if there are any concerns raised during that part of the vetting

Original poster
seeker · 02/12/2009 17:09

Is there any leeway on flexion tests or do they have to get 5/5 to pass? Seems a bit unrealistic in an older horse.

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Owls · 03/12/2009 08:55

No I think it is a definite pass/fail scenario if my memory serves me well. Will you be at the vetting, is it your vet that's doing it?

Just asking, because when our vet failed our old pony, I did speak to him at the time and he said sort of "off the record" that he couldn't pass him but "it wouldn't put me off buying him for what you want him to do" sort of conversation.

Sorry if I've worried you that wasn't my intention. When is the vetting?

Original poster
seeker · 03/12/2009 17:47

She passed! "fabulous joints for an old girl!" was the somewhat unprofessional verdict!

Some minor issues, all in lne either with her age or "That's Arabs for you". The beginning of a cataract, a small benign tumour in her nasal passage and an old healed ligament injury in one leg. But nothing that would stop her being "a ton of fun". (he was very Australian)

She does toss her head a bit at trot and the vet recommended one of those muzzle net things because he said she did it more going into the wind and he thought it might help. And she does weave - but she'll mostly be living out.

Eeeek.

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MitchyInge · 03/12/2009 23:00

ooh, congratulations - let the fun commence!

Owls · 04/12/2009 10:27

Ahh good news. Now you can go shopping! For some reason I love buying new rugs. No idea why as my two don't wear them that often and when they do they're wrecked within about 3 days. But there's just something about a new rug......or maybe I'm just a bit strange.

Original poster
seeker · 04/12/2009 10:31

Well, she's very llight grey and she lives out all year round for preference 9odd preference for an Arab, I thought)so the more of her is covered up the better. Otherwise she will be mud coloured for half the year!

Dd bought her a new head collar, lead rope and saddle cloth on the way home yesterday. Apparently her theme is going to be red and gold. I wanted blue and silver - but was over ruled!

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MitchyInge · 04/12/2009 11:15

I too am a total rug fiend! Wish we could get pyjamas like that, so snuggly - I probably only bought Joey so I had an excuse to get rugs (got new one yesterday ). It is the great tragedy of my life that of all the millions of rugs I've bought for Barney not one is suitable

Please show us your rugs Seeker!

Original poster
seeker · 04/12/2009 11:20

She comes with a selection of rugs - we're going to look through them and decide what we need. I only really know about natives, so I don't know what my friend describes as "those spindly things" need in the winter. I'll post another picture once dd has colour co ordinated her. Faather Christmas is going to be a bit busy this year!

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Original poster
seeker · 04/12/2009 11:53

Could you aim me at a good heavyweight turnout rug, oh you rug experts?

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MitchyInge · 04/12/2009 11:57

if £££ no object how can you do worse than the new Rambo Duo?

rug porn

MitchyInge · 04/12/2009 12:01

on my income ():

made by these people but 300g I think, mulberry and blue cheaper but less cheerful

Owls · 04/12/2009 12:16

These are good

Can we have a budget please so Mitchy and I can go shopping?

snorris · 04/12/2009 12:24

That's great news!! . I have a rug habit too . I like these guys, Premier Equine or Equestrian Clearance. If you like Horseware rugs, Cybercheckout quite often have good prices.

Original poster
seeker · 04/12/2009 12:28

Definitely under £100. So the Rambo is out - sadly!

£50-60ish?

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MitchyInge · 04/12/2009 15:46

would much much much prefer to go shopping without a budget!

you might struggle to get a serious heavyweight rug in that price bracket seeker, what size do you need?

Owls · 04/12/2009 18:37

This looks like a maybe?

Doesn't fit DD's colour requirements though does it. Are you sure you can't up our budget?

Original poster
seeker · 04/12/2009 20:57

Oh go on then, I'll go to 150. This pony's kit is going to be worth more than she is shortly!

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Original poster
seeker · 04/12/2009 20:59

dd found a red one!

Not heavyweight though - could we put a fleece underneath it?

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Pixel · 04/12/2009 23:18

Very smart! Red one here says it's heavyweight.

MitchyInge · 05/12/2009 11:31

ah we have that one, it's the only one that seems to not put pressure on Barney's sensitive bits - am saving it for when it is minus 30 though