Stephen Gowling

Bishop Auckland, United Kingdom

Englishman trying to ride western!

Commented on Community page layout

16 Feb 05:40

If you have a question directed to Richard, please tag him in the message use @ then his name, no space e.g Richard Boatwright when you start typing his name a drop down box will list all people with that name and just select his name

Lynn Morrison So I looked into this and it’s main ingredient is Bentonite which I am familiar with as I used to work in the clay industry and it has many useful applications in animal feeds, medicines and other things so I can see why it will work as an inhibitor and also mood changer, might give it a whirl on a couple of mine who have ulcers and girth hesitancy 

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Lynn Morrison Sounds just like any typical mare you come across in the UK!!

On a serious note I do find that lots of factors affect horses just like humans I suppose, weather, humidity, rainfall, wind, how long they have been in, other horses around them in season etc

No two days are the same with ours and the younger they are the less predictable they are! 

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13 Feb 06:00

So what is the medicine?, interesting read and glad to see you are making progress 

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Thanks Lucas Truax I was super proud of her having rode English for 40 years it has taken a lot of effort, trust and self discipline for her to drop the reins and trust the horse, super proud of Flicker also, she keeps on amazing us and going strong when most horses would be gone or retired at her age, no doubt in a few months she will be swimming in the sea again 

Terrible to start with from the ground but good from the saddle bizarrely, think she wants to be an Indian now! 

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Posted

09 Feb 12:25

Just for a bit of fun but with an interesting point to make, my good lady today went on a horseback archery tester day, I played groom for the day, her ride today was Flicker, her 27 year old Vanner who only last year converted from English to Western riding, not just tack but also riding method, a forward horse at times and nervous but she has done a few Clinics and has taken to non contact and pressure free riding well having previously been ridden full contact and constantly on the bit. 

All the other attendees were 100% English riders in every way, and not 1 of the 5 others could sit at standstill with no contact on the bit and shoot an arrow without having to mess around with reins and be out of balance, the worst horse was dancing around and bolting. 

If I ever doubted the decision to change our riding style and follow new principals like Richard teaches then today was vindication, other people were saying oh well she is just a relaxed horse and not wanting to acknowledge a different approach makes a difference to a horse that used to be highly strung! 

Now I have to buy her an archery set as she has the bug! 

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09 Feb 12:14

Richard Boatwright

06 Feb 17:41

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Well the operation sort of went well, the 2 wolf teeth (1 blind growing outwards) were removed and then the vet found another 2 on the bottom jaw which is a very rare occurrence apparently, all removed and apparently healing time is a week before the bit can go back in and work can continue 

Nice job 👍 

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