It can be difficult to remember when to vaccinate our horses, especially if we have quite a few of them. Not all vaccinations fall due at the same time. I bought a number of ponies throughout the year in 2009 and they all needed vaccinating. It may help to have the following written down: 1st […]
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Welcome to our blog page, HOOFBEATS, where we talk about the countryside with a main emphasis on training and caring for horses and ponies. If you would like to contribute ideas and information about your own experiences, we would be delighted to hear them. Please email to [email protected]
The opinions expressed here are from personal experience and we strongly advise you to contact your vet or your riding instructor if you are seriously worried about your horse.
Trying to load reluctant horses into horse boxes can be frustrating as it requires enormous patience and calmness. Fighting with and forcing horses up the ramp is dangerous for both the handlers and the animal. I was horrified to be be told, many years ago, of a man who lost his temper with a horse […]
A new pony reminded me this morning of how horses and ponies which are difficult to catch can waste our time. This 128 cm gelding arrived in my yard, having been sent back to a seller because he was unsuitable for a six year old girl. He is a nice looking, Connemara type pony with […]
Another morning of sharp frost and freezing temperatures. Extremes of temperature do not suit horses, in my opinion. Frozen ground means no grazing and I have to bring feed and hay to horses and ponies in the fields. They are all wrapped up in warm, winter rugs so they don’t actually mind the cold but […]
The big freeze continues in Ireland with temperatures not getting above zero during the day. The Lithuanians who work here think this is nothing – it’s minus 25 back in their country – but the Irish are struggling! Today the ice was unbreakable in the horse’s water troughs, the taps in the yard were frozen […]
I read Monty Roberts’s book The Horses in My Life this Christmas in which the author picks the ones who influenced his career the most. His great love and respect for horses comes across on every page of this book. I read his first book, The Man who Listens to Horses, over ten years ago […]
This post is not for the faint hearted. Just thought I’d get that in early. If you can’t even bear the thought of reading about rats, tune out now. My horror story began several months ago when our beloved dog died. He used to accompany me every night to the stables for last feeds and […]
We’ve all probably heard of ‘estate agent speak’. It’s a special language, or use of words, by estate agents when they describe houses for sale. ‘In need of some renovation’, for example, usually means the house is a complete ruin. I thought it would be a good idea to assemble some ‘sales speak’ which people […]
I hope wherever you are in the world that you are enjoying your horses. In Ireland, we have at last seen the first signs of spring after an extremely wet winter. We have even tentatively taken off some of the winter rugs and replaced them with lighter ones, or none at all on sunnier days. […]
For a few days, Rocky seemed like the perfect pony. We have been getting him ready for backing and he lunges well on both reins, drives on long reins around the arena and up and down the lane, and has even had a small journey in the horse trailer. He followed me up the back […]
Have you ever tried riding bitless? Many people are now considering or have already made the switch to riding without a bit in the horse’s mouth. Some are forced to attempt the transition because their horse has a problem in his mouth and a bitless bridle is the only option. Others use bitless bridles because […]