cabbagepatch88

I will be sunning myself In the south of France

Well the field is very overgrown so Milo will have to survive with a muzzle on but other than that its fine. The fencing is secure but is wire with barbed wire on top (eek) but if it becomes a problem I will run a line of electric fencing around the outside. Ive got hundreds of metres of it and thousands of posts so I could do it pretty quickly if needed. Lots of natural shelter, running water. Really quiet location, a few minutes hack from the wonderful Bramshill Forest and theres a riding school up the road who do little shows and stuff occaisionally. The daughter who wants to learn all about horses is very shy but suddenly got chattier when I showed her a picture of Milo on my phone They also own two more large fields that they leave for the wildlife but they have mowed a track around the edge so they have said im more than welcome to ride around the edges of the fields They have got a big trough to put in the field for me and a gate to put back on the hinges so they have said they will do that this afternoon and my plan is to take him down tomorrow. I hope he doesnt mind being on his own! Free livery wahoo

Oh no, poor horses hope you all dry out soon! Glad Blue's feet are sorted Well ive had an eventful week, we're moving again in all seriousness its been very stressful. Milo was fine for the first few days at the new yard, until a mare in the neighbouring field kindly came into season. I have never seen anything like it. I got down there tuesday morning to find him galloping up and down the fence line, screaming, eyes out on stalks, mare screaming for him, spraying etc, waving her bum around, you know the general mare stuff! Anyway he was in such a state about this mare I had to put him in a field on his own. He still continued the mental behaviour so I ended up having to stable him and thats pretty much how its been all week. He has attacked his new friend Barley as obviously he thinks his mare belongs to him, and one of the horses in the mares field is now lame because of all the frantic running around. Ofcourse the owner of the mare refuses to move her, the YO says we cant change field so all in all, I have to move. So, a few sleepless nights later i think ive managed to find myself a little gem. I was contacted yesterday by a man who owns a house in the neighbouring village and has 3 fields behind his house. He owns them but has not the faintest clue about horses. His daughter who is 15 is absoloutely desperate for her own horse and he is looking for someone to let her look after their horse so she can learn all about it, before taking the plunge into buying their own. So the deal is, if I let her look after Milo and I teach her all about horses, I get to keep him there for free. Im going to see it tomorrow. Its right next to the forrestry commision so the hacking will be amazing. He will be on his own with the saftey of being in someones back garden so he will be being watched all the time. They have running water but no stables/storage etc but thats not too much of a problem. Hope its as good as it sounds anyway

Woooooow well done Clare and Loki, thats amazing!! Fantastic news! Well done Wanda

Well you kept that quiet a huge well done to both of you! Milo moved to his new yard yesterday and all went really well. He spent the morning in his stable (as I work Saturday mornings) and when I got back at lunchtime he heard my car pull up and let out a huge whinney and terrified the life out of everyone there! They said he'd been so quiet they didn't know he was in there in the afternoon I put him out if the field, he said hello to his new friend barley and then he got on with eating! I left him out last night, came down this morning to find everything as it was and he was in the right place so think he was ok. He was chilled having breakfast etc this morning so hopefully Oops, didn't finish! Hopefully he will be happy there

Well I've organised to move Milo next weekend - to the yard next door It is basically a proper farm - its a bit of a tip and everything is kind of slung together but really for what I need its fine. Its right next door so obviously the hacking is exactly the same, they have no purpose built school but they ride/jump in the field. They have stables and I get one in my price (which is £50 a month cheaper than current yard!!). The good thing is that they have 26 acres and only 12 horses so tonnes of grazing to go round. The owner (the farmer) showed me the 2 fields Milo will be rotated between, both are enormous and the grass is knee height. They take really good care of the grazing and harrow/roll/seed/fertilise/de-weed. He would share with one other horse or if they don't get on they can stay separated as they strip graze the fields anyway as the grazing is so lush. So basically in terms of facilities i will be lacking in a school but saving £50 a month on livery and definitely won't need to spend much money on feed!!! The few horses i saw come in whilst I was there were immaculate and wonderfully shiny so think they're all well kept and looked after.

Well its all misery here I'm afraid! Had a massive fall out with my YO last week and she has made it quite clear she wants me to leave. Despite me making suggestions that (i think) are logical idea she has refused and been really quite nasty. So anyway, have taken it upon myself to look for somewhere else. Tomorrow I've got 2 yards lined up to see, one is literally next door to where I am now but bigger and more basic. They allow 24hr turnout and he would go in with one other gelding. The second is part of a huge farm, they said he could go in with another gelding or they would also do individual turnout! On the plus side, both are cheaper than my current yard! Poor milo getting dragged from pillar to post Gooster glad you're having fun! Clare, be careful on that knee!

Well I dont want to speak too soon but I think it might be a success! If he dares get too close she gives him 'the look' and he backs off! I took a very boring video of them this morning, please excuse milo's fly rug outfit in other news last night my yo told me if he doesn't settle with her then I will have to leave as she can't afford to have him on individual turn out. Charming! Video:

Oh Clare, poor you! It's always horrid coming off but especially as you were jumping, it knocks your confidence. Like PW says, re-live it In your head and try and correct it. I've only come off milo once jumping (amazingly). I'd just gone clear round our first 2'6" and was so chuffed, next thing I knew I was on the ground! As it transpired it was entirely my fault, I was riding out of the ring and nearly crashed into a jump wing, milo went one way and I went the other as soon as your knee allows, get back on and do it again, otherwise you'll put it off forever! Milo went in with the mare yesterday and it went amazingly well. She's a very strong character, she tells him where to shove it and i think hes actually a bit scared of her, yipee!

Hope Phoebe gets better! Poor Annie and co PW I've used alphabute before, its nice stuff isn't it. Shame it was cancelled Clare! I think Loki has been chatting to milo on showjumping strategies Milo news good and bad and in-between. Bad news is that he's suddenly developed sweet itch! Last year he came up with a tiny patch i thought might be sweet itch but it never came to anything. Last week I hogged him and noticed a scabby yellow patch and then the following day caught him scratching his tail in his stable so I'm pretty sure it is. Have dug out my fly rug, will be buying every product available at the weekend In between news is that he has yet to go out with the mare. She seems very feisty and to be honest I've been putting it off! I think we are trying at the weekend but I think they are going to kill each other! Good news is amongst the broken-ness he is working really nicely. Of course we are mostly hacking and basic schooling but at the.moment he feels lovely and light and bendy Also, my most exciting news is that I have finally been able to book onto a riding club clinic they are starting some 'back to basics' clinics with only 4 in a group, the first class is walking and trotting over poles so I'm going to do that it will be so nice to get him out, its probably the only thing I will get to do with him this year so looking forward to that.

Well the last time this happened and he got bossy he was on a variety of calming things although he hasn't been for a long time. I have researched into rig calm and it looks like a good idea but it is very expensive, I think I worked out a £28 tub would last 2 weeks :O but I would be willing to try it as a last resort. I have discussed with YO possibly putting him in a pen at night. Our next plan is to try him with the only other 'horse' at my yard who is a mare. I'm wondering whether he feels the need to boss the boys about to show who's boss but maybe he would be calmer with a mare. Maybe he will be worse. Who knows, worth a try! The muzzle would stop him biting but he chases too, he literally barges them to get them moving and then bites them to keep them moving! If he's a nightmare with the mare then will have to try rig calm and penning him up at night. Very reluctant to let him live on his own

Best of luck for tomorrow Clare, hope you get it sorted! Well Milo has disgraced himself already. Two nights out and he's reverted back to his old ways of chasing and bum biting Had a call from YO last night to say he was being a complete arse, his friend was moved back with the others and now he's on his own. I really don't know what to do with him! I will speak to YO this evening and see what she wants to do. It's a shame his legs can't withstand being stabled, he's better off in at night to keep him out of trouble! Why can't I have a social horse...hmph

Hope youve all had a nice relaxing jubilee weekend! Milo met his new friend Patch (another coloured cobby jobby just short of 14hh) and all was calm, Milo did his usual bum-biting trying to get patch to run around but other than that they have been pretty chilled. Last night I decided to leave him out and start his new 'living out' routine. I brought him up to the yard to eat his tea, and when I clipped the leadrope back on to lead him back down to the field he looked absoloutely mortified! Poor pampered pony So anyway I put him back out and he started grazing again so left them to it. This morning when I got down to the yard I couldnt see him and started pannicing. Then as I got closer I could see him laying flat out in the field. I really thought he was dead, he didnt respond when i called him. As I got closer he noticed me and reluctantly got up. I checked him all over expecting to find some horrific injury and there was nothing! I led him back to the yard and he was like a sloth....he ate his breakfast then I led him back down to the field...again like a sloth. I think he is absoloutely knackered from being out last night, ive never seen him look so tired. The last time he was out at night was 9 months ago so I guess hes been used to laying down and having a good sleep every night but obviously last night he didnt! I was going to take him for a nice long hack today but as hes so tired and the weather is foul I dont think I will. Poor Milo Monkey How is Blue doing?

Gooster what about a snack-a-ball or something similar? Or putting 2 small holed haynets inside each other so it takes him ages to eat it? Milo still been as quiet as a mouse. I think he's really happy to be back

Agree with PW. If you can see the improvement from her advice I'd stick with her

We had our big move today back to my old yard! Milo was amazingly well behaved and went back out in the field this afternoon like he's never been away, no running around at all! Thought I'd take the opportunity for some photos Mum where are we going? We don't normally hack first thing in the morning... Oh yes I remember this place. Look, auntie April even planted some flowers outside my stable to make it look pretty! It's nice and cosy inside! Back out in ny favourite field, no need to be silly

Glad Blue is home, I bet hes being spoilt rotten Had a bit of a panic last night, when I went to get Milo in from the field I knew something was wrong because normally he sees me coming and desperately tries to scoff his last few mouthfulls of grass, and yesterday he was just standing there staring into the distance. As I got nearer I could see blood pouring down his leg and as i lifted up his rug I could see he had a nice big wound on the inside of his front leg. I got him back to the yard and washed it off and it was really quite deep. It was definately a kick but it was like a slice. It had gone all the way down to the dark muscle so after getting the entire yards opinion I called the vet because I thought it would need to be stitched. Fortunately for me my vet was literally at the yard opposite so he popped in. After much poking and prodding he decided not to stitch it but as the wound is quite deep he's given me a 5 day course of penicillin, I have to inject it into his neck. Im really quite squeamish but I actually managed to do it last night and this morning so pretty chuffed with myself Milo none the wiser, cant understand what all the fuss was about. With all the bute he has in his system I doubt he felt a thing

It is seen to be better for them because its much more natural and obviously beneficial for their joints etc to live out because they can keep moving. Horses who are stabled spend a long time stood still which is no good especially for horses with arthritis. The bad things are that if you have a dainty type they may loose condition, or on the flip side if you have a good-doer on good grazing they will get too fat. In the winter there is more risk of mud fever etc but that could happen with any horse that is turned out! In my opinion its better for them mentally and physically to be out, as long as they are correctly rugged and fed, have access to shelter and water then they should be as happy as Larry! Of course you'll always get the horses who stand by the gate waiting to come in to their nice cosy stables

Good news, he's finally made an improvement! He was sound in walk and trot on the yard and sound in walk and trot in the school on the lunge BUT flexion tests were a bit iffy, he put him down as moderately positive in both hinds but did say he was quick to recover. Next step is to drop him down to 1 bute per day and continue my normal routine, next check in 3 months. Vet agreed moving him so he can live out was a good plan, I hope it just makes the extra improvement!

Oh gooster poor you really hope you get it sorted! I was really impressed with milo yesterday. Ever since he's had the spavin hes been reluctant to round or carry himself in walk, I guess as its uncomfortable for him to take the weight behind. Yesterday I hacked him and where nomally he marches off at the quickest walk known to man, he steadied, came completely off the forehand and I could feel the hinds really powering underneath him. He was completely light and wonderful for the entire hack which is unusually good for him even on a good day! He had the physio last week and I've started riding in my gp saddle again as I'm convinced my dressage one is too narrow - so I'm hoping that helps but also thinking those hocks must be feeling better. Got the vet tomorrow!!!

I've just Googled gastric ulcer symptoms and it does sound a lot like Loki - lack of performance...also I know ages ago you said he was salivating a lot, that's also a symptom! How interesting. One of the ponies at my old yard had pellets in his feed, ulcer guard I think it was called....something like that! Let us know what vet says,sounds viable though doesn't it...

What an absolute idiot....accident waiting to happen...

Oh Clare, how frustrating Poor Loki. I really hope they get to the bottom of it this time!! Well ive handed in my notice of leave, I am going to move him back to my old yard the w/e of the 26th/27th. Got the vet 2 weeks today so I guess then I will know more...whether he just needs to be turned away or not. Will be nice to be closer to home but not looking forward to the mud

Thanks Clare I have texted both YO's today to explain situation, of course they both understand my thinking so I will have to ponder it over the weekend

I need to have a ramble so thought here was best I was free on Sunday and was chatting to my old YO last week so milo and I hacked down there, picnic in tow! As soon as he realised where he was going and we got on the bridlepath he started screaming (very embarrassing) and didn't stop until we got there. Now he hasn't been there for nearly 7 months. He must've really loved it there, which surprises me! I spoke to the yo who said she would happily have us back should milo need time off. Since we went back I've started thinking maybe we should just go back anyway. I think he would be so much happier living out again (for his hocks). I would have to trade a gorgeous yard and grazing for a crappy little place but something is saying to me he'd be happier there. It's not like I'm getting to use any facilities at my current yard as I'm just hacking so feel as though its a bit of a waste. Help me please? Am I just being emotional?