Jumping problems? solved!

Emma and I finally went for a ride yesterday after many weeks. She bought along her camcorder in the hopes of getting some video of us jumping.

It was a beautiful day and the sun was out. We warmed the horses up by riding around three gates, where we had a lovely canter along the grassy stretch. Nell's canter was rolling and steady so I made the decision to work on turning at speed and kept her going around the corner. Normally she stops at the end of the stretch or breaks down into the trot, but yesterday she was feeling well and cornered with an elegance that would make a dressage horse jealous.

When we got to the woods I tried teaching her to stand to open the gate. It took a while to get close enough but eventually she got the idea that I wanted her to stand next to the fence while I reached across to the bolt. We got most of the way and decided to let Emma finish the job. After all, I could try opening it on the way out.

The big pond in Rocky's field drains off into a river which runs through the woods. The river had flooded leaving many of the trees at the bottom half of the woods standing in water - including the jumps. We walked the horses through the deep water - another one of Nell's dislikes then headed off in search of dry land.

We found a couple of nice easy jumps with a run up that wasn't too boggy and started jumping. Nell was wonderful and I finally figured why our jumping had sucked. I had been restricting her by becoming tense and keeping my reins short and in turn she was cat-leaping because she was struggling to get her head. So I relaxed and allowed her to do the work.

And we flew. No more cat leaping. No more falling behind the movement. My confidence has gone up and I am ready for next time.

Tralee was a poppet but not quite as bothered to be jumping as usual. He took it all in his stride and jumped every one but it may have been too easy for him. After all - a 15.2 Hunter who was used to 6ft hedges need not put much effort into 1ft logs.

On the way out Nell stood close to the gate and for the first time since we bought her; I opened it without getting off.

Two problems were solved yesterday and here's hoping my jumping goal might just become a reality!

Have you hugged an old horse today?

It is well known that unlike antiques horses do not get more expensive with age. Many are simply put down when they can no longer cope with the things their owner wants them to do or are simply sold on. There is rarely a market for old horses, even here in the UK and it's a sad fact that many will never find that lifetime home.

Our horses will NEVER suffer that fate. Dear old Tralee turns 20 this year and is one of the few horses to pass through only a couple of homes. He was bought over from Ireland as a 4yr old and lived with the same owner for the next 14 yrs of his life. June will mark his 2nd year with us and we have no intention of ever selling him.

Although we lack much history from Nell, we suspect she has never really had a home for long. Born in Germany, she is a long way from her roots. She is a lifer though. Never again will she be hungry or unloved. Nell has many, many years of riding left in her and I intend to make the most of her lively and spirited nature for however long I have her for.

Lucy is my sister's loan pony. Being a Welsh c she is long lived and this year will turn 28. She is still ridden and although we only have her for one more year, we will miss her. Thankfully Lucy will never be far away and we will always be allowed to visit her.

We could never think of selling our older horses. They have given us so much, isn't it fair we give them a permanent home in return?

When the time comes that they are too sore to do their jobs, we will do the right thing and send them over rainbow bridge. As much as we would all like to hold onto them, it is only for our own selfishness. Once they are gone they do not hurt. Until that time we make their lives comfortable. We rug them when it's cold, give them supplements, feed them warm mashes in the winter and keep their bellies full. We stable them when the rain is too hard, and take them on walks in hand during the long summer days if they are no longer rideable.

But what in return? Friendship, trust, a safe and reliable mount. Older horses have a lot to give. They inspire confidence in us. When we take a fall, our elderlies are always there, waiting to help us feel safe again. They have funny moments like spooking at umbrella's or mobility scooters but never let us down on a busy motorway or when a massive truck rushes by. Not all veterans show their age either. Nell is 17 this year(as far as we know) and still loves to gallop and jump. If you are considering buying a horse this year, there are a lot of older horses out there, just waiting to give you their love and experience.

Horse Profile: Tralee

This picture was taken on the day we bought our first horse home. Tralee is a 15.2hh connemara x Gelding who is now 19yrs old. We had owned a loan horse before him which hadn't worked out so before buying Tralee we took him on loan for 2 weeks. He was previously owned by Captain Sparrow of the Western Hunt so naturally for the 14 yrs that the Captain owned him his job was to be a hunter. Not the kind of hunter that trots around a ring and then has to jump a few logs; no, Tralee was a real fox hunter, hardy, tough and reliable.

His vetting didn't come back all clear - He has low ringbone in his near hind - but his eyes are bright and heart strong. The ringbone does not seem to bother him although he will rest that leg more often than the others. We introduced him to Harriet on his first day home. Large ladies must do something for him as now he thinks he's a stallion. ;)

This was mum's first hunt. Tralee was keeping an eye on the Morgan stallion that he thought might try and steal his girlfriend, Harriet.

Years of hunting and little schooling has left him somewhat ewe necked but overall he's a fantastic little horse that is built to last. He has a pony stride and generally takes his time in everything but is so reliable and bombproof its not worth moaning about. He can go fast when he wants to, however and his age sometimes comes into question when he's prancing down the road or spooking at an ice-cream sign. Last christmas Mum took him hunting and he was behind the red-coats all the way and was in his element to be back hunting.


This year Tralee got a sprained ligament which was a long time healing. Although we were still able to ride him it was very slowly. He seems to finally be getting over it and Emma even did a small jump on him the other day.

Captain Sparrow, and Tralee as a 4 yr old; not long after being imported by Tregurtha from Ireland.

Not surprisingly, Tralee is very well known here in the lower parts of Cornwall. Many times while hunting last year did Mum have people come up to her and say: "That's Captain's horse, that is". It was great having all the history of our old boy and knowing exactly what has happened throughout his life. Quite often people have no knowledge of what there horses may have suffered previously much like how it is with Nell, our 1/2 haflinger mare.

A quick run down:

• Name:Tralee
• Height: 15.2hh
• Gender: Gelding
• Breed: Connemara x (Welsh D?)
• Colour: Chestnut with Flaxen mane/tail
• Place and DOB: Ireland in 1989

• Strength: 3/5
• Stamina: 4/5
• Speed: 3/5
• Riding Comfort: 2/5
• Temperment: 5/5