local riding featured post

Be warned – Horsetail, Mares Tail or Scouring Rush

Just a quick question... As horse owners we're mostly all familiar with the battle against ragwort and how it has spread into every field, central reservation and grass verge in the country, but how many of us know anything about mares tail?

Horse or Mares Tail, (scientific name Equisetum Palustre), is toxic to horses and should in my opinion be equestrian enemy number one. It looks like it belongs in Jurassic Park and spreads like wildfire. From a few small patches last year my paddock is now covered in it and it looks as if it's spreading fast and here to stay.

I've been researching this plant and what I've discovered doesn't make for pleasant reading.. more at Mares Tail - Toxic To Horses

The Flying French Man !!

Lorenzo - The Flying French ManIf you haven't seen this guy before then you've gotta see this video.

Apologies, as it's on our main site, (wouldn't run in the blog), on the Equestrian Chat page.

Just scroll down the page a little to see it. There's also a couple of other good videos worth watching. Especially the Party Animals one.

A little bit of horse talk !!

Cartoon Horse - Flashy StallionTwo show stallions are arguing over who should take best of breed.

The first one says, “I’ll agree you are the closest I have ever seen to my equal, but my legs are just a bit straighter than yours, and you know, the legs are of prime importance: no foot, no horse!”

The second horse says, “I’ll allow your legs are just a bit better than mine, but mine are the legs I was born with, and I know for a fact that you've spent thousands on corrective work. Your foals will inherit your natural legs, not your genius farriers work.”

The first horse mulls this over for a moment; then says, “You’re right. I stand corrected…”

Fidgit my amazing little mare

Fidgit in the ribbons after winning the novice showjumping at her first showHi this is Fidgit my stunning welch section D cross Arab, she's 15hh and 14 years old.

She's a very pretty elegant mare with a great presence and spirit about her, which I'm often been told by people as she really knows how to show off.

Although she's now 14 she thinks shes about 6, as when i got her she was nearly 10, unbacked and still in the field with her mum, i've now become mum and we've formed an amazing bond and trust between the two of us.

She's an absolute joy to own and i would'nt swap her for the world, i've owned other horses in the past and know what we have together is somthing very special.

We both love hacking out, alone or with lots of friends. She thinks schoolings way too boring unless there's jumps involved, this is were Fidgit really excels herself.

Fidgit and i Fidgit after coming 1st in the novice Fidgit jumping off the bank at home

She loves jumping, especially cross country and totally trusts me, never refusers and will have a go at anything. We have the perfect partnership as i love jumping and she defenatly sences this.

As you can see in the picture she has a powerful, big, bold, jump.

The middle photo is Fidgit ( "Welch Diva" show name ) and i after winning the novice show jumping which was Fidgits first ever show.


You can watch Fidgits winning round on this video. It was a very windy day which unfortunatly can be heard on the video (sorry).

Thank you for reading about my super little mare Fidgit. Please let me know what you think of her. Regards Sheila.

My Wonderful Winnie

Winnie doing her second dressage testWinnie is my big warmblood thoroughbred cross, who's rising six and standing 16.3hh.

She's the cheekiest, nicest, full of character horse who, because of her size, scares everyone else around her. A real gentle giant.

Winnie loves other horses and is always up for some fun.

She's still just a baby but is coming on really well.

We've done some dressage, some jumping and some showing and Winnie loves to jump, although she also likes to get dressed up.Winnie and Elizabeth

As you can clearly see she is the most beautiful horse in the whole world.

Like most big horses she loves children and has lots of little friends like Elizabeth who give her far too many treats.

You can see more photos of Winnie in the Lincolnshire Image Gallery where Jodie rides her in the showjumping and I ride her in the showing and dressage classes.

I'd love to know what other riders think of her or what you think she'd be best suited to ?

Winnie and I warming up