last post of this blog!

Since it's turning into the search for a new horse, I've started the new blog:

myfifthhorse

Follow the link!

I don't think I'll post more to this one. Molly's story is pretty much done.

However, I shall welcome you all to the new one and hope that, in due course, i have good things to report instead of the continuing litany of what hasn't worked, LOL

not sound

got a free arena so took her in on the way from the field - she's still not quite right on that shoulder. goodness knows what she did to it...

Darley didn't get my online app, it's missing in the ether, so did another one...

acquaintance from blackdene rang to tell me about a 5 year old TB down in crook, that's quiet enough for her daughter to ride (daughter quite young, not sure if she's quite in her teens yet) so i said i might be interested to see that...

interesting what pops up as word gets round!

starting to look

last time i actively looked for a horse was 1995 - and i got queenie, who i had known for years anyway.

it's interesting!

was offered a nice one today, but for more money than i have. was told of another that someone is trying to give away - it's 18, so no thank you! LOL.

also told of another place in yorkshire rehoming OTTB's, so off to investigate that...

and horsemart:

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/advert/9_yrs_16_2_hh_dark_bay_thoroughbred_cleveland/108236

couldn't get in arena again to see how molly is..

? on soundness

i did give a passing thought to trotting molly loose in the arena, to see how the right shoulder/whatever lameness is doing, but it was full of children so i decided to leave it to tomorrow.

but when i turned her out i had a look at how she was moving, and she seemed slightly uncomfortable still.

the bute was finished at the weekend, of course...

also discussed my decision with molly's previous owner, who fully agrees with my views on the subject - that's always good!

here's a thought

http://www.darleyrehoming.co.uk/index.asp

just sent an application in...

telling people

my decision....

those I've told so far this end are in support; partner thinks about time too, and Gaynor agrees the way to go as well

so, horse hunt...

I keep saying my next horse will be a gelding, who'll hack on his own or in company, and will do gates, LOL!

I want to be able to get out without worrying about whether we'll even get out the gate but also be able to train and actually get out and do some dressage as well (I've never been a jumper!), so i wouldn't want one that doesn't want to be in the arena

There's a lot to be said for an OTTB - a friend had a lovely one last spring that would have fitted the bill perfectly, but he was bought to sell on and now has been...but something of his stamp, with a sensible head on his shoulders - and they've all been out and about and know that whiteboards and such like won't eat them!

my plan is to potter on with Molly until we find something else (assuming she recovers from this weeks lameness, which one hopes she does, we didn't think it was anything too awful!)

6 years come october

since I had molly

here's the first entry of my earlier blog:

http://clairehodgson.20six.co.uk/clairehodgson/archiveofmonth/2005/07/00

and then i moved to blogger in summer of 2006

What progress has been made?

none.

the heading of this blog says

"This is the continuation of the story of my mare Molly and her retraining into, hopefully, a sensible horse, a safe hack, and a horse able to obtain decent marks at dressage as she has really nice paces when she's working well ...."

i haven't managed that.

I've learnt a lot in the time I've had her, spent a lot of money, improved my skill set no end...

but I don't have a "safe hack" (unless she's safe because she refuses to go, or sets off and plants, that's safe enough), and i don't have a horse able to obtain decent marks at dressage.

And we're reverting to where we were in terms of being able to have a bit in the mouth, and being mounted...

and she's 16, and has arthritic changes in both fetlocks, probably...

I've made up my mind to retire her and get another horse that I can enjoy for the ridden work...

I could put her in foal, but there's little point - I'd be 60 time any foal was ready to be ridden, would i really want to be backing a baby at 60?

I'll probably keep her going till i find something else; they do grass livery at the yard I'm on....

also, i really HAVEN'T the heart to keep trying - as my friend said in the spring, this was the year for her to come good...

edited to add: as and when i get new horse, that will mean new blog, i shall close this one then...

of bits and necks

usually, when the poll is out, one thinks that that causes various resistances

is that the case when the resistances were there in any event in a horse that, in its previous life, had been ridden etc. in a bit that hurt her?

been thinking about this all day, jean!

but think about the history - it's the same as her thing with gates, she remembers what happened when she was 6 months old, and IMHO the thing with bits is the same, she assumes it's going to hurt even if it isn't any more...

i think probably the poll being slightly out wont be helping, and obviously i've emailed the physio to come and see .. but i can't sensibly think that'll make much difference, in the scale of things...

at least she'll eat bute!