Bradders

If you get something sane and sensible that would hack and do a bit of dressage and is a generally nice person, (and is not too wide!) but I can't really look until I have sold Rolo - sorry. So sorry that you have 3 emergencies on their way - must be heartbreaking for you

San - go and get one fitted - it is the only way to get a good fit - I went to a place in Littlehampton - ended up savign some money as the only one that fitted me properly was a kids one! Clare - sounds like a great start to the morning!! Would consider it myself Good luck with Ziggy Am I permitted a proud mum moment? I am so so proud of Rolo - he was hacked out on his own on the roads today - first time ever on the roads on his own since he has been here (they are lanes, but they are fast) and first time on the road at all since last Autumn. I know the route that he was taken along and it is probably about 4 miles ish - through 2 scary farms, 3 gates and probably about 2 miles of road work. Apparently he did not put a foot wrong. He was a very good boy on the lunge for me yesterday too. Why did he have to get so damn wide? C'est la vie, I guess. He is going to give someone a lot of fun. We think he may have grown to 15 hands now - really must measure him! I did ride the massive mare yesterday - nearly couldn't get my foot in the stirrup - even with amounting block!! My friend led her down the bridle path until I got used to her (it is a bloomin long way down!) - when we turned for home I was let loose and we had a couple of really nice trots - she is much easier in trot out than she was in the school My friend has been so kind she has offered to let me have lessons on her once a week until I get myself sorted - very very kind - but I did feel very insignificant on her! Dear God - that is worse than me and Nemo!!!

Jacky that sounds great - so glad that you have made the decision - think it was the right one!

Would the Veteran Horse Society be able to help?

I have been at my yard for ........................................ 12 years!!!

That is very good value. I pay £33 per week and hay works out at about £12 a week in winter. Sounds like a very good alternative to me - plus you could go to shows without having to travel!

Bless them - that tabby is very cute

Lovely piccies- they look very good for their age You have inspired me to tak esome of my old codger over the weekend! I may be having an interesting weekend - my friend has a 17 hand chestnut mare - I have ridden her in the school once - she has persuaded me to let her take me for a little ride down the lane on Saturday - with her on foot. Very kind of her, especially as she knows I am nercous about hacking out. Then, on Sunday, I may be riding a little TB gelding who is very very quiet - Sarah is determined to get me on him as she thinks that his build and stride will remind me of Nemo Think his owners are looking for a sharer in the long term, which is not a route I would really want to go down - I am not good at sharing my toys , but at the moment I think they would be grateful if someone small just rode him every now and again. I also have to lunge Rolo - always entertaining!! Am also hoping to do some in hand stuff with him - he was so good on Tuesday night - put some scarey things in the school and got him to follow me (off lead) up to them, over them and around them - had him walking over towels on the floor and plastic sacks - not a murmur from him

Sorry - very quick reply as I should be working!! I would go and have a look at the yard- spend a couple of hours there with your friend if you can - get a feel for the place. Indoor school is a massive plus over the winter, and when you get your trailer, you can box to the beach! Nothing to lose by going to have a good old nose

Tara sounds absolutely fantastic - I am a great fan of oldies - Nemo was 18 when he came to me and he taught me loads. You will have great fun with her Ooo Freya, that sounds exciting Now are you sure that I can't tempt you with a very kind coloured cob?

Well done on the dressage Jayne - excellent result!! Am with everyone else about the spring fever - even saint Rolo who has never really been naughty has been touched with the stupid stick this week!

Oh no I think the bloods only have any value if you had them done at the time of the vetting, but I am not sure. Are you a member of the BHS - I have found their free legal help very useful in the past. Could it be something simple like an abscess?

Jacky that is fab - was wondering how you got on What a good boy Kane is. Lovely looking mare Jay - what were you being presented with the saddle for? So sorry about your saddle woes Clare - I feel your pain. I am so disillusioned with bloomin' saddlers - seems decent ones are impossible to find. I am still bitter about poor Rolo's back. Rolo was hacked out on his own for the first time in months on Friday - and was a good boy. He showed an initial reluctance, but was seen heading back to wards home on a very loose rein and looking very relaxed Same was happening today too. I have now accepted that I am doing the right thing for both of us. It is so hard as I adore him, but the best decisions aren't always the easiest ones to make. Nemo was absolutely hilarious last night - the andalusian youngster was moved in to the field next door to Nemo. It was the battle of the show-offs!! Nemo kept goading him - there was rearing, spinning, galloping, foot stamping All from a 26 year old that could hardly walk 2 weeks ago. He was clearly not going to take any nonsense from some young whippersnapper.

You are not the first to suggest that!! In fact I think the first was one of the many saddlers I had out to him - suggested I give up riding and drive him as iit would be easier than fitting a saddle to him!! He has the paces to do really really well in dressage and would show well, so am hoping that someone very nice with a bit of vision will come along!

Of course!! Everyone welcome!! My little weight carrier will be up for sale soon - he has a lovely slow, comfortable walk, but, unfortunately, he is a sensitive little chap, so not quite a novice ride at the mo. They are out there - so good luck! I quite like the idea of schooling at 6 Clare - nice and peaceful. The very best of luck Jacky - I am sure that you will have a whale of a time Rolo was turned out over night for the first time last night, and, for various reasons I had to go and get him and his field mate in before work this morning. They walk at completely different speeds so brought his field mate in first then went to get Rolo. He was so good - no creating at the gate because he had been left on his own - just patiently waiting for me. We then had our first cuddle in days - he has been really off with me for the last few days. Have spent the morning wondering if I couild keep him as a pet Bloody daft idea, but I have never bonded with a horse as I have done with him. But, no tears so far today - that's a result!! Think he was going to be hacked out today - not heard anythign so I assume it all went OK Haven't had the oomph to post about it on ST yet - you never know, maybe someone on there would like him!

She is gorgeous Kathy Looks like a violet from the photo - my first rescue chin was a violet. I have a little book that you would be most welcome to have - contains all the basics. Neutered males aren't that uncommon in rescues - although I had to get mine done.

Thank you I am still totally distraught over selling him - the day I took the photo of him with his feathers, he followed me around the school, stood there like a rock when I took his headcollar off and took loads of photos of him, and then when I broke down and sobbed uncontrollably in to his shoulder. He is my very special boy. If only he hadn't got so chunky!! When I was looking, I put a saddle width limit of medium wide as I suspected I would find anything wider tricky - that's what he was ridden in when he first came! I suspect that he is now somewhere between an X-wide and an XX-wide. We are going to have to find him a treed saddle of some description for people to ride in when they come to try him - the treeless takes a lot of getting used to, and I can see it putting people off. (He is extremely flexible and has a huge scopey movement - it feels like being on ship in rough seas in that saddle!) I have been offered a share on 2 horses on the yard - 1 have ridden before, a chestnut section D - very sweet, and a chestnut throughbred who is laid back to the point of being horizontal. It is very sweet of both owners, but I am not sure that I am emotionally up to it at the mo.

Well done Jacky - I have ridden without reins on the lunge, but not with no one else in control! Very impressed Internet seems to be working now so I couldn't resist posting a piccie of him now, with his feathers almost fully grown and the little skinny thing that I went to try! Now: Before: And just one of him looking cute!

That made me laugh Sandra (San had just text me to say "smile"! It was a good day on Saturday - despite me purchasing a pair of bright pink sticky bums!! (And that is a very attractive jacket Clare ) Lovely pony piccies Be interested how you get on with those stirrups Jacky - I had some Heather Moffett ones but sold them cos they were not compatible with the Barefoot. I have some really sad news I have very reluctantly decided that I have to sell Rolo. I am totally and utterly heartbroken - I decided on sunday, but today is the first day that I have felt together enough to write somethign on here - without bursting in to tears. He is perfect - everything I could ever dream of in a horse, and more, but he is just too wide for me - I find riding him uncomfortable for my back and my hips, and I feel a bit perched. I still think he was meant to come to me - he has truly blossomed, but I now think that he is ready to go one and achieve something special for someone else (who is a bit woder with longer legs!) He has effectively been turned away over winter sao we are getting him hacking out again and then I will advertise him - someone is going to be very lucky - true gents like him do not come along that often - and they had better take good caer of my delicate little flower Was so chuffed with him on Monday - washed all his feathers and he just stood there happily munching his hay - remember how he wouldn't let me touch his legs for months! Interneet is not cooperating otherwise I would show you my lovely feathered chucnky chap! So, if you know of someone very nice looking for a 14.2 ish traditional show cob, who would excel at dressage, and is happy to pop a cross pole too - let me know.

I have a little "How to Care for your Degu" book that you would be most welcome to have, should you decide to take the plunge

My chin and degu were very happy together. But, if I am being completely honest, he does seem happier with a little female chin for company. All mine have been rescues - there are a lot about. Good luck

Ther uis a forum called Chinchillas Unlimited - they should be able to give you loads of advice. I used to keep a chin and a degu together, but poor old Derek the degu diied, so got a second chin. I find them very easy to keep - but if you get degus be very careful with their diet - they have issues with sugar

Not come accross Deosect, but Coopers is good stuff - although very pricey and you have to apply it with a sponge. (Might be a bit too strong to use on his sheath tho)

He is gorgeous! Worth the wait

What a good boy