Horses

No horse now, Dordor, but had a family pony for 14 years. Still miss being with horses on a daily basis. I used to love watching them, especially their friendships. The thing I miss most is the smell of hoof oil! Horses and small children have a natural empathy [you only have to read some of the things that Michael Morpurgo has written to know that].

I know what you mean about the smells, Crimson. For me it's the newly removed rug that smells like honey. Watching and being with horses is very therapeutic. I was part of an equine assisted therapy group for many years and was fascinated by the interaction between damaged people and horses and the resultant improvement in people's moods. The horses enjoyed it too - the opportunity to stand still for half an hour while someone just strokes you is one most horses could get used to.

I must look more closely at Michael Morpurgo's work. Any titles in particular?

War Horse is the one I'm thinking of. The author and his wife had/have a farm where disadvantaged children stay. Once, a boy who suffered from a terrible stammer stayed with them, but they realised that he was fine when he spoke with the horse. I can still 'smell' my pony in my memory. She had a 'musky' smell, not really very 'horsey'. And I can still hear her whinny to me. If she was walking towards the wrong gate leading to the corral I would say to her 'go round' and she would change direction. We had a pony on loan prior to her that would not lift his feet; I loved it when she would lift whichever foot we pointed to. It's so magical to stand by a field full of horses and call 'your' horses name and then see her canter across the field to you.

War Horse is such a good book, although originally written for children I enjoyed it. If you get the chance, go to see War Horse in London, it's amazing. The body language of the puppet horses has to be seen to be believed. I've had horses all my life and I was entranced by the performance. Go and see it!

I cried when Joey came on as a foal [and continued to cry throughout the show!]....the way that he put his head down to eat the grass, lifted his head suddenly and then slightly put his leg out to the side just knocked me out..in that second Joey was a real horse, and the puppeteer didn't exist. You don't need to have spent a lot of time watching horses to enjoy the show, but, if you have, the attention to detail is unbelievable. As someone said in a review, the puppeteers don't just bring them to life, they give them a soul as well. I'd love to see it again.

My children were never interested in ponies, but my grandchildren are. The gene must have missed a generation. I have a Shetland for them and we are having great fun with her, and getting out to shows. Only wish I was younger so that I could run faster!!

I'm looking forward to the shetland for the grandchildren, farmgal. My horse is a Brabant 17hh and HUGE. He is wonderful with the children, but a bit too big for a one year old and a four year old. I have wonderful daydreams of the shetland sheltering under Teddy's tummy when it rains. If you want to see what a Brabant looks like last night's episode of Coast included an item about them still being used for shrimping near Antwerp. Haven't tried that with Ted yet . . .

I watched that bit on Coast with the horses shrimping - amazing. Not sure that my Connemara pony would do it, probably think that some monsters were lurking in the water waiting for him!

Oh, I was watching that and wondering about the horses that were being used. I was told years ago that our Shire horses were far too tall and tended to have heart problems, whereas the European working horses were much sturdier and healthier. I did think, though, that one of the horses in the programme had a docked tail, which I would have thought was illegal [it might have been the camera angle]. They looked like wonderfully placid horses. I'll google them now; wanted to do it last night but didn't know what breed they were. I went to Connemara a few years ago and didn't see a sigle pony...I rather thought they'd be roaming wild like the ponies on dartmoor!

Crimson I'm sorry to say that docking Brabant's tails is usual in Belgium. I think it is and looks disgusting.
Teddy, my Brabant, has a very long and luxuriant tail which I do actually have to trim the end of a couple of times a year otherwise it trails on the ground! One day soon I'll put a photo of him on my profile page for everyone to drool over - he is very handsome, though I say it myself. Will be off to see him for the second time today soon, but first a cup of tea.

My DH used to ride horses as a jockey in steeplechase. His father bred and trained racehorses so he's been around horses and race courses most of his life, including taking his own DD around show jumping.
Because he was well known locally, he was asked to stunt double for an actor who couldn't ride in a TV show called '5 clues to fortune' which was set at Woburn Abbey. I've tried everywhere to get a copy of that film, without success. When I contacted Woburn Abbey - they'd never heard of it! I suppose it was too many years ago - the present Duke's GGF would have been in charge then.

Ladies ... I had to join in on this. I have a very large thoroughbred and like many of you have been around horses all my life. My granddaughter who is nearly 5 had her first riding lesson on Sunday. Well it was a walk out in the woods at our local BHS riding school. It is a lovely way to get them started and my girl is too big. She too is used to being around horses and knows the dos and donts, I hadn't thought of getting her a grooming kit, must get one. Horses are brilliant to be around. I keep my girl on DIY and at this time of year there is nothing better than being out at the crack of dawn doing the chores. I work and commute to London so it really is early. The winter just gone was really tough and it was the first year that she has lived out, having previously been on a DIY yard with stabling. Well she really loved it and kept her weight on ... I can't say that I enjoyed the minus 10 on the car thermometer each morning. Looking forward to reading more tales (sorry for the pun) of horses. Does anyone still compete?

nanafrancis; did your DH ride any famous horses? I've loved steeplechasing all my life, although I have to admit that we had a terrible year with fatalities and I really struggled with it all. The nearest I got to horses as a child was watching the racing on a Saturday, and it became a huge part of my life. our pony was always fully turned out; she hated being stabled [she was a Welsh Cob]. The thoroughbreds in the yard seemed happy to be stabled all the time. Don't miss having to carry water to the field when all the pipes froze up in winter!

Does anyone else bet on the gee-gees? My son introduced me to the Scoop 6 on a Saturday and I've been hooked ever since. It's a £2 bet, picking 6 horses from 6 different races. Simiiar to Jackpots and Placepots which you can find everyday of the week.
I don't smoke or drink so i don't think that a couple of quid a week betting is sinful - hope not anyway! Yet to win of course, but it's more fun than the lottery.
Shetlands are both incredibly wise and totally inscrutable. They know everything, are afraid of nothing, and are as loyal as a dog. I believe they are used in America for blind people -- or did I dream that?!

Having a sabbatical from betting, farmgirl; like you I don't smoke and hardly drink, so over the years I've enjoyed having a bet. When we go to a race I like to study the horses that will be running so that I know them individually as they walk around the parade ring, so the having a bet follows on from that. I used to do quite well, but had a terrible few months, hence the sabbatical. I won't bet on the internet [too easy to get carried away] so I always go to a betting shop but, with the cost of petrol it isn't worth it any more. I hasten to add that a usual bet for me is 25 pence each way, so I don't exactly spend a lot of money! I've never done the Scoop 6 because I don't like accumlulators [sp]..can't imagine what it's like to have a vast sum of money resting on one last race. Also can't imagine what it's like when I hear of people having a bet of thousands of pounds. When I was a child I used to take my dad's bet to the [then] illegal bookies up the road, and then I used to watch the racing with him, so it's a bit like a comfort blanket. Will start to study the Ebor handicap when the weights come out, although I don't think we'll be going to it this year as we're going to Paris for the Arc [on my tick list of things to do before I expire along with the Melbourne Cup..the race that stops a nation]. Think the Scoop 6 was stopped in it's tracks by that 20/1 winner today!

Re shetlands being used for blind people in America. There is a breed of miniature horses that are used as "guide horses" - not only are they bright, trainable, friendly, and loyal, but they are strong enough to lean on to help one stand up. Sometimes they live in the house, even going upstairs. They can be house-trained, and slippers and soft boots are available for them to wear indoors. Sometimes I think I'd love an indoor house when the knees are creaky, but then I think about how being a horse means living outside in a herd . . .

I've never heard about Shetlands being used as "guide horses", that sounds very strange. My DH was very rude when I told him about this - muttered something about the Americans being much bigger than us so needed ponies instead of dogs!

Dordor; is this for real? I want one!! Can just see us on the sofa watching the telly at night. [how do you house train a pony? I know you can house train rabbits...]

Apparently there is a pony in the UK -called Rosie - that is being trained for a young boy. Brilliant as the concept is, the downside could be people who would want them as the latest fashionable pet - like pigs. The advantages over a dog is (apparently) that they live 2 or 3 times as long.
Just think how cosy it would be having one keeping your toes warm at night! Perhaps you just need a very large litter tray to house train it, or perhaps they could sit on the toilet. I have heard of cats that use toilets!

The horses DH used to ride were the ones his father bred and trained, crimson. One was Revealed which ran in the 1951 Grand National, others were Red Fuel, Tombo, Trygoon and Silver Star. They travelled all over the country to races but I'm not sure whether you'd call any of them famous

DH used to steward the horses at The Royal Show before we left the UK and he knows so many folk in the horse world

Nickel Coin's National, a year before I was born.Revealed; amateur ridden, 11 years old. Our racing club has a Grand National evening in April and we have a room full of Grand National jockeys, some of whom haven't seen each other for years. It started as a one off, but now we do it every year..I get them to sign my Grand National book 'A Race Apart'. Sat next to John [Foinavon] Buckingham one year. I love racing folk, and the horses are my heroes.

Oh I would love to curl up on the sofa with a couple of miniature horses and you, Crimson!! As for house-training, I believe that it can be done - they go outside, Farmgal, although I suppose if you had an enormous house you could get a litter tray . . . I know horses can be trained to poo in the same place: the best I've experienced is that Teddy uses the same 2 or 3 spots in his field, which is useful. Talking of poo, which I'm afraid I do sometimes, it was only when I got my first horse a few years ago that I realised the use of playing lacrosse at school. Anyone who's mucked out a stable and played lacrosse will know what I mean.

Yes I agree, my DGS age 3 yrs is very active and so about 3 months ago I agreed to part fund a pony for him - my daughter has always ridden and worked with horses so quite knowledgeable.
It has been such a positive experience for both of them, he loves helping get the water, groom and spends hours outside, my daughter finds that she is no longer hunting for things to do with him and so is not spending money on other activities. She also finds being with the pony a good stress buster for herself.
We live in the country and they can walk to the DIY livery yard so it is easy to fit into everyday life.
He already knows the rules about being safe around the pony and I think that caring for any animal helps children to learn about respect , patience and responsibility .
For me it is so special watching the pleasure they get from having the pony.

Did anyone read about the shire horse that was born blind; her owner was advised to euthanise but he refused..she has had a cataract operation and can now see [not perfectly, but adequately]. Was so 'Black Beauty'. Made me well up. Iremember reading Black Beaty to my daughter..got to the Ginger chapter and couldn't read for sobbing; my daughter grabbed the book and read it herself saying 'Oh Mother!'.