DefinitelyDressage.com

silk

Every clinician I have met is grateful to be able to stay on site and have accommodation provided. Kid-friendly decor or linen would not have been an issue. None was a princess or overly demanding, though - they were happy to have their own space to retire to.

silk

I've started reading the Bridgerton novels. Light hearted, some quite funny bits. I can see why it worked as a series.

silk

Another skite, because I now have a horse that floats! Two successful (brief - 3mile) trips 'around the block' in the trailer this weekend. Both of us were less nervous the second day and so everything went much more smoothly. I need to solidify the fact that everything is going to be fine by repeat...

silk

One small challenge (during the second session) was preparing her to be driven. I started the truck and let it run whilst she was loaded, so there was no "we are loaded, then the truck gets turned on, then we move" signal. Because it really is challenging to change things for them (directi...

silk

I feel like this is an appropriate place to share my recent win. The baby pony (ahem, now 5 1/2) has done lots of loading and standing but not any travelling, besides a short trip on day 1 of her life when she came home from the place she was foaled at. All went well until she managed to bust out un...

silk

Sharon May-Davis, or SMD (she loves that she had no idea what those letters meant together, until well after she had started referring to herself using them, haha) is amazing. I've done 5 dissections with her, including one of my own horses, which I believe I put up either here or on the UDBB (~6 ye...

silk

Silk, I read "All the Light We Cannot See" a while back. Enjoyed the book very much, but was disappointed with the ending. Some authors are great at weaving an intriguing story, but then seem to speed up and dump it all at the end. JMHO Yes, a shame to spend all that time doing a great jo...

silk

Thanks all. Unfortunately a shorter trim cycle isn't an option as the farrier is quite busy. We're on 5 weeks cycle currently. Silk--in terms of other issues--I'm in a very wet part of the country so I'm sure that doesn't help. As for dietary, RP has up untill just now been on basically a forage on...

silk

There's a fb group called "managing horses to prevent iron overload" started by a friend of mine. She's got a lot of good knowledge and presents it simply. Iron and Manganese can both cause issues when over-supplied. One of my trimming clients has started to address her known high iron and...

silk

I've missed hearing from you! I'm dealing with one dodgy disc myself (l5-s1) so I have an idea of the level of pain you are talking about experiencing (managed to tweak it last week and cripple myself... ironically, doing the stretches my physio and specialist recommended to help it).

silk

Another idea... Use what already works on the horse. Or at minimum, fit (even better, trial) other kinds before committing to purchase them.

silk

Disclaimer - I don't know a lot of the newer boots, so my generic comments relate to older styles. The key to success with hoof boots is getting ones with the right proportions for the hoof, and adjustability to suit the hoof over the trim cycle. A boot that is the correct proportions and design for...

silk

Last night, pork chop with salt, pepper and fresh thyme out of the garden, pan fried and served with a simple risotto and steamed beans, and fresh corn on the cob with butter and salt (omg, I could eat that and nothing else and be happy)

Had to fend the cat off from the pork chop leftovers, ha!

silk

We never get long enough with our friends - run free, Beetle.

silk

Connected Riding and Groundwork (Peggy Cummings) has some great techniques to encourage this, S-walking being front of mind.

silk

Something with the armfuls of beans and zucchinis that are producing prolifically in our garden.

I was spoiled by a home-cooked beef stew the other night, beef with potatoes and peppers - delicious, and something I wouldn't normally make myself.

silk

I bought a water pick a few weeks ago because I hate flossing. It is so much better, but last weekend I realized that it's really just a tiny pressure washer and is great for blasting dirt out of small spots. Among other things, I used it to clean a rhinestone browband. This is the best repurposeme...

silk

Ok ok ok, we need texsuze's mom's new kitty pictures then, haha!

silk

I'm looking forward to "texsuze's horse shopping thread" ...

silk

and (my fourth link so had to remove from previous post) some specific exercise ideas https://eventingconnect.today/2017/08/2 ... -on-track/

silk

What about tapping into resources such as building fitness for eventing? This has a horse focus, but I imagine a search on triathletes or similar could give a human perspective. https://www.britisheventinglife.com/articles/train-like-a-triathlete Here is a dressage-rider-focussed one: https://dressa...

silk

Other end of the spectrum... I think both of these pony mares would make lovely kids ponies with a wee bit of training (assuming neither are broodmares due to poor behaviour under saddle) https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/sports/equestrian/horses-ponies/ponies/listing/2946023004?bof=K8j56Pq3 h...

silk

The problem is with getting them wet through and letting them dry. If they are constantly wet, they will rot. If you can have a simple rotation of multiple pads, you will be better off. The leather is fragile when wet so also be careful how you handle it when you rinse it. Woolen underlay (either a ...

silk

You probably want one still on the hide - rather than stitched onto a backing (more like the faux fur). You also probably want two, so you can use one on each horse, and they have a chance to dry out. Or four... LOL. But to be honest for longevity, get felted wool. I have no idea what kind of places...

silk

Riding buddy suggested Blown Away, a glassblowing competition. We were in our mutual friend's pottery studio and they convinced me to get on the wheel to throw, we got talking about art and creative endeavours. I mentioned glass, so she told me to watch it. I'm nearly at the end, having binged 8 eps...

silk

I heard a trainer (I forget who, now, it was years ago) explain that food should be a reward, not a bribe. It clarified "appropriate use of food" for me.

silk

I helped my friend with her gelding. He has been extensively trained with R+ (clicker) and is a food mugger (prior to her buying him). She knows Parelli. He is quite good at stuff on the line but seemed to have a gap with the trailer. She has been working on things in a Parelli type way: he got to t...

silk

Having lost my own mare recently, who was with me for 20 years, I feel your pain dreadfully <3

Fly free, Kirby, and huge hugs to you Robyn

silk

I've started one by Anthony Doerr, 'All the Light We Cannot See'. It was slow to start but fascinating storytelling. I enjoyed another of his books previously (About Grace) so will probably work through any others he has. I tend to look at the "guaranteed available" and "book club&quo...

silk

I think breaking the task down is absolutely the correct thing to do and will ultimately result in success. I am (constantly, still) surprised at the tasks they can do "in entirety" that become/are difficult when broken down, but I suppose that really highlights the level of trust they hav...

silk

That sounds like great progress, blob!

silk

Pasta Grannies, which is a cookbook. I'm loving the short insta/fb videos and managed to loan it from the library.

silk

New flatmate broke a dial on the oven and it can't be repaired so..... ovenless. Argh. Normally not a problem but it does limit the ability to 'just' chuck on a roast or something. It is asparagus season here, I don't think I've gone a day without at least one serving of it for the past fortnight. Y...

silk

I ended up with one that could pass as a double for the last one. Very funny. She is her own horse in her own right but I get 'glimpses' of my last mare constantly. I thought I was getting a diamond in the rough, and I did, she's a real gem who just needs some undoing. I managed to contact the previ...

silk

Silk, we will need some pics of new pony(or did I miss them?). Neat that you were able to get in touch with the previous owner! You did not miss them. I haven't even announced her to my own friends on fb yet :lol: I basically picked her up then promptly spent 2 weeks away from home. I need to spend...

silk

Love me a good mare! I just don't find the same connection with a gelding. I've had some very quirky mares, all very special. I enjoy their "personalities" - I like my horses to have a point of view. A mare is more likely to challenge you to 'learn smarter', as you can't "tell" t...

silk

Ride my new pony! Hopefully, I have a saddle to fit her (I bought one sight unseen on a whim, and one of my others may be OK - both are for sale though as neither are my dream saddle). She is very upside-down, the kid who owned/rode her has been taught to waggle her hands to get the head down, ugh....

silk

I recently bought a Strip Hair grooming brush. Horrendously priced but brilliant thing, I've raved about it to everyone. I just saw an ad for that on my instagram feed. It looked tempting--but a lot of things look tempting in their ads. Good to hear you like it! Both of mine get very furry in the w...

silk

I recently bought a Strip Hair grooming brush. Horrendously priced but brilliant thing, I've raved about it to everyone. Besides that... Specific saddle blankets (everyone has their favourite brand/cut/colour). Decent lead ropes (I'm very picky about these). Leather wear from my favourite tack maker...

silk

Ride my new pony! Hopefully, I have a saddle to fit her (I bought one sight unseen on a whim, and one of my others may be OK - both are for sale though as neither are my dream saddle). She is very upside-down, the kid who owned/rode her has been taught to waggle her hands to get the head down, ugh. ...

silk

I don't know whether watching would make me feel like stabbing my eyes out with forks, but I did watch ours recently, which was a "landslide". No party has won an outright majority since the introduction of MMP (mixed member proportional) in 1993. I've got my fingers crossed that the resul...

silk

Hello dear Betsy! So good to see you here and an update on Khodi. (I've been kicked off Facebook since May. A lightning storm destroyed my old computer. When I got a new one and tried to log back on Facebook was sure I was trying ti impersonate me, I guess. Anyway they kicked me off) I wish I could...

silk

Congratulations!

silk

I appreciate the idea of making the horse work outside the trailer, and inside is a place of rest. But! For horses like the one I've just bought - it doesn't work. They get so worked up and stressed that they lose their minds. They stop thinking and just keep reacting... the thoroughbred brain leave...

silk

Ahh, that makes sense. It's the balance with "upping the ante" while keeping within learning ability. With my previous horse, I did many many years of trailer loading. Every time we went somewhere, we would do 5-15 minutes of practice, both ends of each trip. It seemed overkill but definit...

silk

Yes, this is key in my case because for MM it is very much a trailer problem--specifically getting off the trailer. She does not want to get on because she does not want to have to get off. Before her accident she would walk right up every time no hesitation. But now she has a fear rooted in a real...

silk

The first thing I'd highly recommend is teaching her to take one step, with whichever leg you specify, in the direction you specify. Only ONE step: not two, three, ten or fifty. Often a horse who backs out in a rush doesn't feel confident about the backing, so break that piece down into just one ste...

silk

Well, I might have bred one of them, but I've ended up with two horses today, that are pretty much clones of the two horses I had a decade ago. Confetti is finally in a place that's similar to her dam when I bought Indy in 2010 (albeit unstarted, but Indy was only really 3/4 started when I bought he...

silk

Also, remain cognizant of the requirements of your horse. My new horse has a loading problem. It is actually a leading problem. I need to do a LOT of work on the ground to turn her into a reliable loader, and 75% of it will be away from the trailer. She is an anxious horse so if your energy raises e...

silk

I'm highly amused that we are all amused by this game, unfortunate as it is!

I'm also feeling blessed that we can all laugh about the hard aspects of animal ownership.

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