Stephen Gowling

Bishop Auckland, United Kingdom

Englishman trying to ride western!

Other news - working a few Clinics with my mate Clive who runs ā€œSpookbuster obstacle coursesā€ which is great fun and lets me work problem horses and make them more handler friendlyĀ 

Needing to find another saddle as mine & the wife’s Billy Cook don’t fit the youngster or Angel as they are very short backed, might have to get the English ones back out unfortunately and use them until I find one that is not to Ā long

Hope you all are having fun, be great to hear some updates from you allĀ 

Stay safeĀ 

16 May 13:54

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Part 2Ā 

Stanley (youngster) coming on lovely, lots of softening and ground driving, absolute superstar and put another quick ride on him with no issues, plan to spend more time in the saddle this weekĀ 

Mooney my big girl - mixed week, working the code well and ground driving is great but we have a big issue with violent head tossing in bridle to a point that I had to dismount, had this before with the hackamore and when I first got her & clipped her face (needed sedation afterwards) its all related we think to her whiskers on her chin & being over sensitive- the curb chain was causing this it looks like so removed & better but because she is in a snaffle it can start to pull through so need to change it, thoughts Richard BoatwrightĀ please? I have an American gag here but no other shank bits, may try a rolled strap bit hobble but not convinced it won’t aggravate her also.

5 horses and not one can be hacked out for various reasons!Ā 

Got a spare stall so might buy another 🤣 send Gus over please

Posted

16 May 13:44

Stable update (because I know how you love it 🤣🤣)

Angel - she really has got over loosing the foal well, back in work and loving the round pen work, she has driven carts before so ground driving is second nature to her, although turning and softening the head is a challenge to her as she has been taught to not bend! Grasped the code very well and her attitude has returned (dominant mare who loves a fight) - couple of rides, all goodĀ 

Flicker - the old girl has worked the code but doesn’t really understand anything much and given her age that’s fine, discovered a tumour in her front hoof so that’s bad news as she is to old to operate on

Sargent - making good progress with moving forward, he is a master at the code and ground driving is coming on, back in the saddle for him soon although he has taken to trying to roll lots to get out of work so nipping that in the budĀ 

2

14 May 05:41

Brilliant you had a great time and got home safely, travelling to new places and experiencing new cultures is mind blowing at times, hence why I like to come over the pond to you guys.

Just time to wash and pack for the summer vacation then šŸ˜‰

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09 May 14:26

So glad you have enjoyed it, a fantastic country with some great culture, reckon next year I will have to get you over here for a few days!

Richard BoatwrightĀ Bonjour Richard, she’s doing brilliant thanks, back in season and annoying the geldings!

Had her in the round pen doing a bit of light work and loving it, she’s new to the code but sharp as a knife on it.

Going to do some more work on the softness and see which saddle fits her and give her a ride out soon.Ā 

Thank you for asking

Thank you Lynn, much appreciatedĀ 

Thank you so much, a rough few days but I’m so glad the mare is OK and I worked her today for the first time and she loved it and looks very happy so that does make it all much easier to deal with.Ā 

Well Richard BoatwrightĀ I think we have a very resilient mare on our hands here, she has just slotted back into top dog role immediately, a real spring in her step, she looks and is acting so relaxed and happy that we are astounded to be honest, milk is drying up and she has tucked back up nicely.Ā 

No stressing or anxiety that we can detect, so much so that I will work the code with her tomorrow (she escaped it so far as she was with foal!!)Ā 

A bath and a clip coming up and a bit of pampering is called for.

Thank you mate, yes we have lived every moment of it, all that time and then bang taken away, I’m not an emotional guy generally but today got to me, I was so looking forward to our first foal that I could mould from the start and not inherit other people’s mistakes and mishandling and produce the best horse I could.Ā 

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