Eriskay ponies

Re: Eriskay ponies

Doolally — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:06:57 GMT

loaaads of adults ride ponies. My stick pony is only 14hh, i'm just under 9st and I often feel like eating loads to put on some weight just to slow her down!lol

Re: Eriskay ponies

Jo Mackenzie — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:05:12 GMT

Native breeds are really sturdy, they'll carry almost anyone! I used to ride a Highland pony for a guy who was about 6'2" and not exactly light. As well as the Highland he also had an Icelandic pony which was about 13hh or even slightly smaller which he used to do endurance with - his feet were almost touching the ground, he looked ridiculous but the pony didn't bother in the slightest!!!

Re: Eriskay ponies

Fiona Leathers — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:13:16 GMT

When I worked with horses, I used to ride Welsh Section B but did break in a Section A once & you've seen how tall I am!! (True I used to be a size 12 when I did that job!) Go enjoy your Eriskay - they're a great breed & I'm sure you'll have lots of fun with him!

Re: Eriskay ponies

Louise B — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:11:11 GMT

Hi,

Sorry about the delay replying but I have been away locumming.

I haven't been to see him yet due to snow, ice, etc. I am going to see him in mid january now but I am having loads of doubts now (mainly due to people telling me that I am being cruel as people over 8stone shouldn't ride small ponies, that adults don't ride ponies fullstop, I shouldn't be riding anything under 14.2, etc). I did speak to the breed society and various enthusiasts who are all adament that I will be fine to ride him but its a tad offputting to be honest!

Re: Eriskay ponies

Doolally — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:09:29 GMT

did you see him?what was her like?

Re: Eriskay ponies

Doolally — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:08:24 GMT

hiya.

i keep my arab mare barefoot. she was diagnosed with navicular syndrome 7years ago, initially i went down the natural balance shoe route on the advice of my vet but struggled to keep her sound. I took her shoes off about 4years ago and she's gone from strength to strength and hasn't had a lame day since, she had a lameness workup 2years ago at the RVC for desmitis in a hind leg and no-one could see any lameness in front. She's trimmed by an equine podiatrist and i'd recommend looking into an EP if you do go barefoot as in my experience not many farriers can/will do a decent enough performance trim.

As for the treeless saddle - I changed to one about 3years ago and it's been great! I've got a freeform, i've heard some good stuff about the heather moffatt phoenix but they are big bucks!!! Since having the treeless my mare has muscled up so much on her back its amazing, and they give you so much more finesse with your aids

i've recently started dabbling in parelli - if you google it there's some major for and againsts - i think if you go into it with an open mind then its all good

If you want any more info on barefoot/treeless/parelli then give me a shout, as i've come on a major journey in the 10years ive had madam - from having her stabled almost 24/7, to out 24/7 barefoot and fancy free lol

Re: Eriskay ponies

Jo Mackenzie — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:32:04 GMT

How did you get on when you went to see him?

Just a quick point on treeless saddles - the yard I used to work on had one which we used on some of he youngsters, and we found they either loved it or really really hated it! If you're planning on getting one I'd advise trying to borrow one for a while so you can try it out, cause they are expensive! You do need to have quite a secure seat to ride in them as well - we had a livery client who couldn't stay on hers, she wobbled too much, but was fine in an ordinary saddle.

This is the first year my horse hasn't been out 24/7 and I have to say although its nice to find a clean, dry horse in the mornings I do miss having him out day and night! The yard I'm on at the moment is great though, if I get held up at work the guy who owns it will bring Ben in for me at no extra cost - I don't even need to phone ahead, he knows if I'm not there by a certain time that I'm held up at work. I'm really lucky in that respect. The yard I used to work on and keep Ben at charged £2.50 for bringing in/turning out which doesn't sound like much but it could add up!

Re: Eriskay ponies

Louise B — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:39:17 GMT

Thanks for all the advice so far guys I have looked at a yard today and I am looking at another one tomorrow - one is DIY grass livery and one is effectively full grass livery. I wanted to get a feel for the options. God - I hope this wee chappy is a nice pony when I go to see him now on saturday

[quote user="NickyVN"]

Main thing I would add is that you do need to monitor grass intake of these native types as prone to getting too fat on very little!!

[/quote]

LOL. My current one is very good at that (bit like its rider).

Re: Eriskay ponies

Nicola Smith — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:57:23 GMT

Main thing I would add is that you do need to monitor grass intake of these native types as prone to getting too fat on very little!!

Re: Eriskay ponies

Sian Pasquale — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:52:45 GMT

Mine are all barefoot over the winter because they don't get worked much, but it all depends how much road work your planning to do and the type of ground he will be kept on..chalky/stoney ground can take big chunks out of hoof, sand wears the hoof down (usually enough to only need the farrier 8 weekly if not more but with my thoroughbred wears them down too much so she has front shoes on), very wet, clay soil often ends in shoes being pulled off throughout winter so its not worth putting them on!

Not sure on leather, treeless saddles but I ride my very wide (fat!) cob in a thick saddlecloth that has stirrups and girth straps attached..very western style! Got it off ebay for £30 a few years ago and its so comfy! And it was the only option for him bless him he is as wide as he is long so any saddle just sits so high on his withers!

My horses live out all year round..even the thoroughbred, they currently have hay once a day but will probably increase to twice a day now its getting chilly and at some point they will have a hard feed (chaff) once a day (mainly for the thoroughbred, the cobs would do fine without) but I try to hold off as long as poss cus it is a big commitment..they expect their dinner at the same time every day come wind/rain/snow and thats hard work! They all have their medium weight rugs on at mo, only put heavy weights on when it turns really cold, very fat cob is still naked because he rips all his rugs and has enough fat to keep him warm! and there is lots of shelter via trees.

When checking out livery yard, try to meet as many people there as possible and chat to them about the atmosphere, arrangements etc.. beware some horsey people can be very difficult (is the polite term) which is why I am so grateful to be able to rent my own land and do as I please with my horses, not what the livery yard owner expects me to do!

Good luck and let me know if you need to know anything else

Re: Eriskay ponies

Louise B — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:04:30 GMT

Yes - they are pretty rare. They are on the endangered breeds list. They are supposed to be fab weight carriers though and very people orientated which is what attracted me to them. I am going to meet him on sunday and then have some thinking to do. I think I am going to have to find some more locum shifts to pay for him

Thanks for info re: barefoot, parelli, etc. I will look into parelli as I have only heard of it and have no idea what its about. I am keen to go barefoot. He was shoed when in regular work but is currently barefoot as he is hardly being worked at the moment. From what I have read, as a breed they seem to do very well barefoot.

Re: Eriskay ponies

Mac Feather — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:20:27 GMT

Are Eriskay ponies rare? I know zilch about horses. But I recall someone in my parents neck of the woods got a couple of these ponies and there was quite a big to-do when they arrived.

Re: Eriskay ponies

laurad — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:23:07 GMT

hiya,

barefoot is fine mine has no back shoes on anymore, however if pony is already shod i would take the back shoes off initially as he may become foot sore, the feet will need time to harden. then would take the fronts off when he is confident on hard surfaces. such as hacking. if used to going in a snaffle would stick to that, a bit-less bridle adds a lot more pressure to the poll as there is no contact in the mouth, this may alter how the pony goes for a while especially if young. treeless saddles i dont have experience of but believe they are the way forward so im told. if you want to go down the tack routes like you have mentioned try looking into parelli its an alternative to traditional riding and is based on the horse learning self carriage

Re: Eriskay ponies

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:40:47 GMT

Tucky was barefoot as well so what?

Re: Eriskay ponies

Louise B — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:15:47 GMT

[quote user="Caro Laithwaite"]

barefoot riding is great whats so special about doing it though? hell l used to wear shorts, shirt and no shoes used a lunge head collar for a bridle and that was it.

[/quote]

The horse is barefoot - not me you daft nana

Re: Eriskay ponies

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:58:29 GMT

barefoot riding is great whats so special about doing it though? hell l used to wear shorts, shirt and no shoes used a lunge head collar for a bridle and that was it.

Re: Eriskay ponies

Louise B — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:49:09 GMT

Laurad - thanks x

Ps. I think I will have alot of questions to ask if I go ahead

Can I ask some more questions:

He comes with some fairly ropey tack. I will need to invest in some more but I am not going to hurry out to do so as, initially, I won't be riding him and only doing ground work initially. I like the look of bitless bridles and treeless saddles. I am planning on going barefoot. However, I don't know enough to know if I am being seduced by the hype What do you think I should do? He is snaffle-mouthed, always has been and only hots up in large groups (I hack alone anyway).

Caro - yeah, they look cool. I like the sound of them and I like the native pony cobby look. He's the same size as the cob I currently ride but I will need to lose some weight before I put him into work with me I've got a lighter friend who is going to keep him working/school him in the meantime as he is a bit lazy (which suits - so is Jack and I love wandering over the hills with him sharing an apple)

Re: Eriskay ponies

laurad — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:34:59 GMT

mine is out 24/7 365 days a year. however he does have a big indoor barn to get too. regards mud fever dont hose his legs on a daily basis i went through a stage of doing it but made his heels worse. not sure about turn out boots that protect against it think they call them equi chaps theyr maybe worth a look??. in all leave the legs alone and if anything when dried off i put vaseline on mines heels. my fields are now like bogs, if poss invest in some hard standing (field shelter is best). if your field is big enough strip graze it so the pony is not on the same land and will rest the other parts from being trampled on.

Re: Eriskay ponies

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:31:02 GMT

eish you got a longer Quick Question than l do at times POHM hehehe. Joking apart l was just reading up on the ponies very interesting. I see they are in the red book. they have to have dna testing in foals, special times post birthing to notify the register of births.

Re: Eriskay ponies

Louise B — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:17:34 GMT

Hi, thanks for all your replies so far. Very helpful/informative. Its a bit daunting really. I am not sure whether I am doing the right thing or should stick with the status quo (part share in a cob).

For anybody who keeps there horses/ponies outside 24/7 365 days, do you have much of a probelm with mud fever? How boggy do the fields get? How boggy can they get before it is a problem?

Re: Eriskay ponies

laurad — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:54:27 GMT

its ok i hope it helped. there is alot of diff between private and commercial livery yards, mine is on private and i have the flexibility of turn out i can go when i want to check him/ride etc and the owner only has me on the yard so will check him when i cant get there (snow) whereas the livery yards have alot of rules my sister prefers this though, for example individual paddock turnouts they have no interaction with other animals(good or bad idea im not sure) and she has to have hers in by half 3 without fail now its winter. Again id just advise to check out every detail with you new yard so your happy its suppost to be fun not a chore.any questions just ask

Re: Eriskay ponies

LoveCat — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:47:13 GMT

Hi POHM - I don't have a lot of experience with Eriskay ponies - too small for me but I have known a couple in my time that other people have owned and they have been very sweet little things.

At the mo I share a horse with a lady who has him on stabled full livery so the yard do everything for him. There is the option of grass livery and again I believe you can have that on DIY or full too, so hopefully you will be able to get the yard to help you out on the days you can't make it up there.

Good luck!!

Re: Eriskay ponies

littlehays — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:45:30 GMT

just a note on grass livery, it's always handy to have a stable available - you never know when you will need one. check with the yard owner/manager whether such a facility is available should your pony become ill or something. if not, i would definitely consider finding a yard and paying for diy livery that has the option of 24 hour turnout - that way you've got the stable there, it's a bit of peace of mind, and the best of both worlds.

Re: Eriskay ponies

Louise B — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:38:49 GMT

Hi Laura, thanks great - very useful. I have a share at the moment but he's kept at the owner's own yard so I have absolutely no idea about livery in terms of expectations, etc.

Re: Eriskay ponies

laurad — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:32:19 GMT

i dont know much about your breed i have foresters, but re grass livery depending on what sort of yard your on you will have to check the pony yourself everyday, its a good idea to get yourself on a yard where there is the option of services and the yard staff can check your pony for a small fee or give him/her a haynet/feed. Some yards are strict in that you cant pal up with someone else (my sister was on a yard like this and i couldnt look after her pony whilst she was away she had to pay the yard) and share monitoring duties so check this out before you decide which yard to go too. I find people are happy to check over your pony if you do theres i used to bring in and a friend i made on the yard turn out.

hope this helps