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Rob didn't improve either of mine and he's too expensive to use regularly. Nice guy but I wouldn't bother again.
I mentioned him as my story sounds similar to yours. I had mine’s hind legs blocked, x rated, scanned and nothing showed. Vets kept saying horse was lame in his stifle, both stifles, and to go for exploratory surgery. I just wasn’t convinced. The physio and vet checked his back repeatedly and found nothing. Took a punt on Rob as last ditch effort and he found the problem in the lower lumbar and treated it within 20 minutes. Had a couple of months of specific rehab exercises for that and horse is now fixed. Once I’d spent a grand at the vet the £150 fee for him didn’t seem so bad 
But obviously there is a lot of times he cannot help.
But obviously there is a lot of times he cannot help.
I find mine so useful. I have a single mat path from the gate which I walk on even if the ponies don’t. It’s been down a few years and has a good covering of grass now and I made a big square under the hay feeder which has made such a difference, I want to expand that and put some more down in the gate way.I’ve ordered my first lot of MC mats for this winter! Put them out but horses aren’t using the field they’re in yet, hoping to get to Christmas before they get moved over, but have such high hopes for them
Can we complain about the cold now please because I’ve got a tap that won’t defrost 
Definitely. It snowed here on Tuesday night. I don't get to see the horses in daylight during the week now, sunrise is 8.36 and sunset is 3.28 today and we'll go to 9.04/3.20 by midwinter. I have them at home with no electricity in the fields, so it's head torches all round. Can't wait for the days to start lengthening again.Can we complain about the cold now please because I’ve got a tap that won’t defrost
wow! As someone who lives in Australia, that is wild to me! What country do you live in?
I'm right on the north coast of Scotland
head torches are not the horse’s favourite, our days aren’t quite as short, 7-4 at the mo.
snow flurries, but not settling, horses seem to have lost the plot, planned to ride this afternoon, but changed my mind last minute, and lunged instead, like flying a kite
snow flurries, but not settling, horses seem to have lost the plot, planned to ride this afternoon, but changed my mind last minute, and lunged instead, like flying a kite
Just keep thinking, December tomorrow and after the 22nd, it’s only getting lighter 
I have a lot of respect to anyone working their horses atm. I’ve not ridden since the clocks changed I don’t think. Horses have barely left the field only for the farrier
I have a lot of respect to anyone working their horses atm. I’ve not ridden since the clocks changed I don’t think. Horses have barely left the field only for the farrier
Definitely! Today was the first day that I've really felt uncomfortably coldCan we complain about the cold now please because I’ve got a tap that won’t defrost
I too am counting the days til the 22nd as after that we're heading in the right direction! Am still managing to ride- short ones on a Tues and Thurs as I finish work at 1pm, then can do longer at the weekends. Planning to give my mare a week or 2 off over Christmas though, more for my benefit than hers. Ive just too much on so it will be quite nice not to be thinking about how I'm going to fit riding in as well!
I know we like to hold on to the thought that from the 21st Dec we are on the way back up, but, I always feel like it’s just plunging us into the absolute worst of the winter.
January and February are dire, everyone is skint and miserable, it’s a very long way to summer still, absolutely nothing to look forward to.
January and February are dire, everyone is skint and miserable, it’s a very long way to summer still, absolutely nothing to look forward to.
I feel so much for you all! I thought winter here was bad enough because we don’t have Christmas to enjoy in the middle of it. Summer feels hectic because it’s hot, there’s a million flies, absolutely no grass and it’s ridiculously busy with Christmas too. But perhaps none of it is as bad as a 3pm sunset
February can be surprisingly okay up here. It's often cold but clear skies and sunshine and I can cope with that. November, December and January we will always get 70mph+ gusts each year and occasionally go to 90-100mph (joys of coastal living!) When you've got rain or hail in that it's really, really not fun. Can't put rugs on that weather because they get ripped off and the horses won't go inside the field shelter because it rocks.
I often used give mine December off and then the guilt of not riding didn’t nag at me but since the arrival of the child’s pony that apparently still wants to do things in December and it’s too dark to ride afterschool I still have to do my twice weekly ride and lead to keep the pony ticking over. 
Has anyone got any experience with strangles? Since bringing my boy back into work after his winter break I’ve been struggling with his bit/bridle fit - he’s not happy in the contact. He’s due his teeth next month so I booked it in for Monday coming and arranged for a bit and bridle fitter to come a few days after. This morning when I went to let him out into the paddock he was shivering (it’s about 15 degrees but the southerly wind is cold but it’s not a temperature I’d usually rug him in). I put a light rug on and took him to the paddock. He just stood there which is very unusual and the pony trotted off like usual. I watched him for a while and then decided to bring them back in because something wasn’t right. I gave them some fresh hay and he didn’t touch it. I then went looking for a pain response. He was totally fine everywhere except the right hand side of his throat. He moved away every time I touched there. He will eat small handfuls of feed but won’t put his head down to eat and when he’s chewing it’s definitely laboured. He ate as usual overnight and there was the normal amount of droppings in his stable. His breathing is fine. Does this sound like strangles? I’m so confused if it is because hes vaccinated and he’s only been out once a fortnight ago and we hacked alone in the forest and he only drank my water out of my bucket. We have our own property and there’s no horses nearby. Help! My vet charges $360 to even take a call at the weekend and because I have an appointment booked on Monday I’m wondering if I can just wait?
Useful list of symptoms here: https://www.bhs.org.uk/horse-care-a...ement/horse-health/equine-diseases/strangles/
What's his temperature? I'd probably isolate him from the pony until your vet's been, just in case.
Oh, and I'd postpone the bit and bridle fitter, and tell the vet you suspect it, because if it is strangles they could spread it around other clients.
What's his temperature? I'd probably isolate him from the pony until your vet's been, just in case.
Oh, and I'd postpone the bit and bridle fitter, and tell the vet you suspect it, because if it is strangles they could spread it around other clients.
yeah I’ve isolated the pony as much as is possible given I only have the two of them and they’re fairly well bonded. He’s really perked up this afternoon and is happily eating again so that’s a relief. Will definitely be contacting my vet and bridle fitter first thing Monday to rearrange everything
How did your pony get on?