grace

Happy New Year everyone!!! its my first day back today... I resolve this year to lose weight, and give up smoking!!.... Im going to see the therapist at my GPs for some help with both...we shall see how it goes.......but think of the money I will save!!

Well its my last day at work today before Christmas..... Id like to wish you all (two legs and four legs)a Merry Christmas and a Happy and injury free New Year....

How terrible, I hope the riders are ok, did they catch the driver?

Well waste not want not I suppose?

I cant see the pics, but sounds like you had an entertaining day...

Donkeys can look after them selves.... we always used to run the newly weened race horse babies with a Donkey called Ding (an ex champion donkey of Ireland no less) they would go in all full of themselves ....that never lasted very long....

I always say you know when the time is right......and the effort to keep her in work may not be doing her much good, I think your gut instinct it correct...and a peaceful retirement maybe just what she needs.....

I think its much better for them to get one good shock and learn from it than to risk multiple injuries possibly causing their own death or the death of others....hope the little monkey has learned his lesson.... Rescue a donkey.....oh go one you know you want one....its nearly Christmas and everything....

Good luck CP...you will be fab!!! deep breath a nice smile, relax those shoulders and off you go.... and enjoy it....its meant to be fun...

Poor Banner... I hate seeing ponies shivering you did the right thing to get a rug on her....... as for Wanda .... Fly Bucking... she sounds like she is feeling a bit better.... when Race Horses do it .....we call it 'feeling well in themselves'... though I doubt the person trying to stay on is calling it that..... Good luck for the dressage.... you will be fab.... I sued to practice my tests on the drive when I was little, used to draw out the school in chalk....(dont do that on your livingroom carpet)...

We only had drag hunting where I lived in Kildare (its all Stud land) its good to go with someone who knows what they are doing but is happy to hack along at the back.... just do as much or as little as you want...its really good fun...

The thing with insurance, its not really about what the item is worth you must think about but the cost of replacement...so how much would it cost to replace him should the worst happen and he had to be completely retired....

Ok yesterday I spent most of the day watching Goffs Orby yearling sales online (I know what a sado) but my best friend Eimear works for The Irish National Stud so I could watch her lead round her yearlings.....then text her to tell her what I thought...probably even more sad...

Honestly Im utterly confused...I dont know what the truth is or what it isnt....its a can of worms I wish Id never opened....

Well the plot thickens....Im not sure she actually got a passport when she bought this horse..so I have been very very calm and suggested she speak to her yard owner to see if she will take him on for a companion horse to use on the yard....as he is lovely and calm...and in the summer could possibly do a bit of light hacking....the horse clearly needs to be retired....Im remembering to breathe and everything... @ Clare I cant believe the price of some of these girths....the mind boggles.... @ Milo, could you do a bit of swimming with him over the Winter, a girl I work with swam her pony to get him over an tendon op and was so thrilled with the results has carried on taking him every month....he is a coloured horse and she says the side benefit is a lovely sparkling pony at the end of it.....

Ok...Im going to try not rant too much, but I have finally got to the bottom of the 'broken down horse for a pound' situation...my sister went to the yard and was pulled aside by one of the girls who keeps her horses there.... its seems there was a plan....which was to give me the 'sob story' about loving the horse so much but being terrified of him, to get me out at the weekends (giving up my time and risking my neck) to re school him and get him fit....then pretend she was keeping him to ride/hack but actually to sell him on...for a profit....to buy herself a native pony of some description in the spring sales... Im afraid I am livid.....but even more worried about the horse now...

Im trying to get a look at his passport to see what he has done before if he is an ex racer - if so I might try and get him an ex racer home where they know what they are doing with TBs , there is no point keeping a horse you are afraid of....its bad for both parties...

Well went out for a family dinner on Sunday and got talked into having a look at one of my sisters friends horses...that was bought for a £1.00 because his tendons were knackered....he is 17hh 7yrs old...and possibly an Irish Draught, Sportshorse or ex Race horse she cant remember... who my sisters friend has now nursed back to health but is too afraid to ride or in fact do anything with at all.... she wont school him because she is afraid she will hurt him (she thinks any contact with the bit is cruelty).... another girl on the same yard would like to buy him and do some eventing on him but my sisters friend wont sell him because she thinks eventing him will hurt him ... I can feel a slap round the head coming on....

I might try and get a bit of long reining in if I couldnt ride (if raining) you can rug up for long reining....lots of rein/rain in that sentance..phew!

I hear leaving a trail of bread crumbs is the answer.....

I really like them as a solid alround breed... being realistic I would only want to do local shows, hacking and mybe the odd pleasure ride....they seem to be sound and nice tempered.... and though I shouldnt I have been looking....Im still a bit confused by the pedigrees though...as the prices seem to vary wildly in the thousands depending on the breeding not unlike race horses actually...but as I dont intend to do much roping or cattle cutting Im looking for soundness and temperment...and Id rather not have a pale horse (too much washing) and id rather have a mare but thats negotiable if everything else is right

Is it me or does colic always seem to be worse when the seasons are changing.....its a terrible thing my heart goes out to her ownders....

I used to have a great rug wash and repair guy in Ireland called Niall, he would come out and chop and change the rug for you move the straps etc until it fit.....much cheaper than buying a new rug....maybe there is someone in your area?

I know but I feel they would be wasted with me....what I would really love and what I have set my heart on is a Quarter Horse....a youngster I can do myself...I just need a nice little Lotto win so I can give up work ....

Right just seen on the dreaded FB my step Neice is selling two of her homebred horses....16.2HH wich is a bit big for me really ... and they will be bred as jumpers....and I hate show jumping...can you tell Im talking myself out of this!!!