Successful sharing - Piper and Jane

Hey, even though we had the bad, we (fingers xx'd) now have some good news, we have managed to loan Piper and have got a sharer for D'Arcy.
If you remember, Piper is our lovely coloured 14.1hh cob which we had broken to drive by Georgina Frith, but as we are still so busy washing rugs and with the shop and ebay, we never had the time for a youngster, so we have found a lady called Jane Cook who lives in Plumpton and she is keeping him at a yard just at the bottom of her garden. It might have been fate, as we were both in WH Smiths at the same time and we got talking and hey presto! she now has my cob. We delivered him to the yard today - Saturday 4th August, he walked into his stable and took one look at his bed (straw) and we could see his brain thinking "great - wall to wall food". Bless him, as you can see from this photo he is rather on the portly side, even though he spends more time in the stable than in the field. More interesting stuff will follow, he will be having either an identity chip or being freezemarked next week, so shall keep you informed of progress.
Sorry - Piper is 14.1hh 6yo piebald NFxCob. Nice chap.

Sadness all around Harry (pic) and Sabre RIP old friends

Hi there,
Have not done much to my blog at present as been busy washing lots of horse rugs. Its nice being busy.
We have had an unenviable job of having a horse put to sleep. I use the words put to sleep as most people have their horses shot, we did not have a lot of choice in the matter, as Sabre, my old horse of 35 or so years, a loyal friend, but still bit of a sod had decided it for us, he lay down and had had enough. The day before he was bright and very perky, but like all of us who have animals we know the day will come that will not only bring sadness and loss but also a large vets bill. The vet was already at our yard, sadly putting a friend's loyal servant to sleep, the knackerman was ready to collect that horse, when I got the call from my groom saying "come quick". Being the coward, I sent Graham, my husband, he is always the one to have in any emergency, being over 6ft tall and very calm he was great. As he left me, he did say, you know this might be the end of him. Again, with any horse,you never know when you might get that call, so you are always prepared.
But anyway, back to Sabre, apparently, the horse is always sedated prior to the last injection, so there is no need to panic, it is a very civilised and gentle way to let them go. I am crying as I type this, and have not been able to talk about him to friends yet, I am not sure when I will be able to think about him without sadness.
As I think of the last great favour we can do for our animals, it makes me wonder why so many people pass on their old friends (some perhaps enemies!) to the sales and auctions, knowing what they know, but that the horse does not, and seeing some of those horses that get so upset at being away from their own little stable and field, it makes me wonder how and why people are so cruel. Yes,it is hard making that ultimate decision, but that is what owning animals is all about. The responsibility comes with the animal. Its welfare, and the end. We should be brave enough to say to these people who advertise their oldies in the horse and hound and other mags why are you so cruel to your horse? Why not even get a friend who is braver than you to be with the horse at the end? Why do you have to put your horse who has been loyal and faithful to you through the auction ring to get a few pounds, I really don't get it.
Incidentally. did you know that to put an obit in the horse section of the Friday-ad paper you need a death certificate? I knew you needed one for people who had died, but didn't realise that I needed one for horses, apparently, it is still upsetting for people to read about it!!! (Tell me about it)
Let me know your thoughts.
Keep on hacking
I do have pics of Sabre, and they show him at his very younger age, we have had him for over 25 years, but I have included the picture of Harry, my friend Sandra's horse which was the other one put down on the 31st July 2007. A very sad day for all.
Amanda

Problems loaning horses

Hello again viewers,
Well thank god Valentine's Day is over, all the hype, good old hubbie forgot the flowers and cards again! but all he says is "I've got you now, don't need to keep chasing!" Aren't men wonderful?(no)Well he is, I broke my elbow and shoulder some weeks back and he's been brilliant driving me around, working for me,lots and lots, and when I can't do anything he has just gone and done it, bless him, maybe I should have got him cards and choccies.

Well, now Spring is just around the corner, the midges and mozzies are out in force in the warm sort of spring air, it makes me think about doing something with the nags, can't sell them, too crocked, so thought I would find sharers for them, can I heck! Its like looking for rocking horse poo! Talk about idiots and free riders, I can see why people looking for sharers get so fed up. Why can't people be honest of their riding ability, the point is the horse will find out, you can lie to the owner but the horse does not lie.

So, I am still trying to share my 16.3hh ID/TB gelding, nice chap, jumps, xc, dressage, would show. Contribution to costs involved. Kept near Haywards Heath, West Sussex. Just email me amanda.kelly@btconnect.com and I can let you have more info.

Search for a star

We at Cobwebs appreciate how hard some ponies and horses make our life.
Therefore we have come up with a really great idea to show our appreciation, we are deliberating over how we can show how hard a child/adult/horse/pony/helper/mum/dad/grannie/ you get the idea works.
So, we are proposing that a secret representative will be visiting selected shows throughout the coming season to search for a star.
It might not be the winning combination, it might be for the pony who has had a really bad start in life and is now back on track and out there competing. It might be the little lead rein pony with a tiny tot on board. It could be the first ridden guardian angel who never puts a hoof wrong but doesn't look the best as he's old, so never gets a placing - ever! It could be the long suffering dad who drives the lorry/car and trailer/leads the pony, who pays the bills, (all of them!) without a whimper (especially the vet's)or it could be you!!!!!
Please watch the website for further info as we think of how to do it, the winners of each show will win a little prize, get their photos on our website, and then the overall winner will have to be voted for for the Star of 2007 who will then win a bigger prize. Sound good? Let me know your thoughts.

Thank god thats over!

Well, now Xmas is well and truly over, I have eaten far too much and after putting back some of the weight I had lost, I have remotivated myself back onto the diet.
Having delivered some rugs back over the weekend, as hubbie drove the van into her yard, I could see her peering at the passenger (me!) frowning at me, she came to the van, as I opened the door and tried to jump out, stopping her three large dogs getting in and my boisterous labrador getting out at the same time was no mean feat!
However, having managed that I said "Hi, how are you?" She said "Wow, I just did not recognise you" isn't that nice, not sure if its the Annie Lennox hair cut, or just the fact that I had lost six stone in weight and she hadn't seen me for a year (Graham does all the delivering not me!)but golly it does make you feel better when someone notices your weight loss (especially after you have been a bit bad and eaten things you shouldn't).
Thank you Caroline, you know it's appreciated and Tom is still a little git
xx

WHEN WILL COMPETITORS STAND UP AND BE COUNTED!

Time and time again, we hear eventing competitors bleating about the size/height/placing/etc of the jumps, dressage riders about schools/teachers/etc, show jumpers about the size of the classes/height of jumps/everything. Showing riders whingeing about horses being too fat/judges knowing riders.
BUT THEY ARE DOING IT WRONG - THEY ARE WHINGEING TO THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW IT.
They should be constructively critical to the people who can change it (if necessary in some cases). Approach the right people in the right frame of mind, have their gripes written down and be constructive about how things can change. Be correct and don't go on about personalities, take it to the agms and to the committees. All stand together and be counted.
DON'T WHINGE AND WHINE - JUST GO AND DO IT - OR SHUT UP!!!

INTERNET BUYING SCAMS

For god's sake, what is wrong with a lot of you????
What part of idiots do you not get??
Again, you are too damn greedy and think that by accepting more money that an item is worth you will get to keep the money, or that you will send it on??
Time and time again, scams are going round to take you lot for a ride, and time and time again you flipping well fall for it all.
Why can't you see them for what they are worth?
BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU ARE TOO DAMN GREEDY AND THINK YOU CAN MAKE MONEY! ! ! ! !
And I will tell you something, this will go on and on because you are.
Its like working from home, you do it for damn all because they have you over a barrel, you think you are earning lots but take it down to £££'s per hour and you are probably making something like 50p an hour. But again, you are greedy.
THERE IS NO FREE LUNCH.
When will people learn not to get taken for a ride.
I get really fed up with this sort of thing going on, but a friend said something which made me think the other day, she said "it makes the world go round".
So if you are gullible enough to get taken in by scams/dealers/conmen, then in my book, you flipping well deserve to get taken to the cleaners and don't then go bleating about it, because everyone then knows how stupid you really are, and they will say so