It’s been all change at the yard this week, as we waved goodbye to Treat Yourself – who has completed his rehab on the horse walker – and returned him to my sister. He will have some time out in the field before he starts being trained around Christmas time.
Owning a horse often brings lots of pleasure, but it’s not always the joyful experience you want it to be – not least when your horse has an accident or falls ill.
Before bringing a horse or pony into your life, it’s very important that you understand what the costs will be and have a plan for how you will meet them. Let’s look at what you can do to prevent your equine galloping all over your bank account.
From Cheltenham to the Grand National, from Red Rum to Desert Orchid, a day at the races couldn’t be closer to the nation’s heart. And there are few roles more key to that experience than the professional jockey.
Well winter is on its way, the evenings are slowly drawing in and the mud has begun to appear, making my lovely green grassy paddocks resemble a mud covered swamp - like something out of Shrek 😫 (although I am loving the trees changing to the autumnal colours).
I’m pleased to say Autumn and I made it through our dressage test with the new riding club. We did have a few set backs along the way though – Autumn came up slightly lame on the Tuesday evening when we were practising so was given a few days’ rest.
Mabel, Diva’s adopted granny, is retired and roughed off. This basically means that she isn’t bathed or groomed beyond having mud brushed off with a dandy brush so that her coat is full of natural grease and acts to insulate her against the rain and cold.
Whether you’re moving home, changing owners or travelling to a prestigious horse competition or event, longer journeys need a bit more planning and preparation work than a quick trip to the vets.
Most horse owners adore their animals and would do anything to keep them fit, healthy and happy. But, unfortunately, some owners are less responsible and allow their horses to graze on land which is not theirs without the landowner’s permission. This is known as fly-grazing.