Mud fever - How to deal with it and how to cope!

The best thing you can do if you suspect your horse has mud fever is not panic. Occasionally mud fever  has an awful tendency to look a lot worse than it actually is and can cause the leg to ballon up in a matter of hours.

Before we start looking in to possible cures and how to treat, we need to establish what exactly mud fever is and why some horses get it and others don't!

What is it?

Mud fever is a group of diseases that causes irritation and dermatitis in the lower limbs of horses. Often it is caused by a mixture of bacteria called "Dernatophilus congolensis and Staphylococcus spp". Although mud fever is normally associated with mud, it can also be caused by mites; this is less common but owners should be vigilant.

Before Ceaser was got mud fever last winter I thought it was something that was associated with winter, wet weather and mud. However, this myth is wrong and a horse can suffer an attack at any time of the year - autumn, winter, spring and summer.

How will I know if my horse has mud fever?

Any of the following can be signs:
- Matted area of hair containing crusty scabs
- Thick, creamy, white, yellow or greenish discharge between the skin and overlying scab
- Raw looking skin
- Inflamed, sore looking legs
- Lameness
- In bad cases: lethargy, depression, loss of appetite.

In Ceaser's case, sometimes his legs looked clean and I struggled to find the scabs. However, I was told once that even the smallest of scabs can cause swelling and lameness. You have to be very vigilant when checking the legs and almost go through with a fine tooth comb to ensure you get every scab off.

How can I help if my horse has mud fever?

Keeping your horses skin clean and dry is the basic necessity to treating mud fever. There is no point in washing the legs if you are then going to leave them wet, put your horse back in the stable and go. If you intend to do that then you may as well leave the mud on. One of the most important things to do is dry the legs.

If your horse has any scabs on his lower legs that you suspect may be mud fever then the best thing you can do is soak his legs in a warm water with some salt in and gently remove the scabs. It may seem cruel and sore to pick the scabs off, but it is important that you get them off in order to be able to clean the infected area. It is important to not clean the area with a normal shampoo - this won't work! Once the scabs are removed then wash the area in a mild disinfectant such as an iodine wash or hibi-scrub.

In particularly bad cases I have found with Ceaser that washing in a warm mix of salt and water is fantastic. Then after drying the legs I spray on an iodine spray which helps get rid of any infection by thoroughly cleaning the area. For a while I spent a fortune on creams from the vets and antibacterial jelly, however good old salt is just as good and what was used way before any specialist products were introduced.

If you do want to add some cream onto the wounds after spraying on iodine then Betnovate cream is your best friend. This cream is traditionally used for treating Eczema in humans and has a steroid in that  is fantastic for treating skin conditions in horses, like mud fever.

To clip or not to clip. To wash or not to wash?

Often horse owners put mud fever down to a horse being stood in a muddy field for too long or washing his legs too much. They are both wrong. I have been told by my vet this is another myth and incorrect. If a horse is prone to mud fever he will get it whether or not you wash the legs once a day or once a week. It is all about working out what works for your horse. If you find you have been washing his legs every night and he still gets mud fever then try leaving the mud on to dry and brushing it off instead. If this doesn't work then try a different approach. Individual approaches will work for individual horses - no two cases of mud fever are similar, it really does depend on the horse.

Clipping is another big question. I have spoken to many owners that ponder whether or not to clip. Again, it is about working out what works for your horse. Some need their feathers to protect their legs, whereas others need their feathers removing so you can get right to the core of the scabs and get rid of them. I have found that Ceaser needs his legs clipping regularly. When I clip I try to get as much hair off as possible.

What else?

If you know your horse is prone to mud fever then it is important to check his legs daily, or even twice a day.

In bad cases, your horse may need antibiotics if the mud fever has turned in to an infection.

A few top tips to dealing with mud fever and preventing it:

- Remove scabs that you find. Don't pick them off without soaking in hot water first.
- If you are using gloves or paper towel to remove scabs then remember to use a new glove or bit of towel before moving on to a different scab. Mud fever is a bacterial problem and can be transferred.
- Carefully dry the area to prevent skin remaining wet and water logged. Again, always use new clean towels.
- A variety of creams, ointments and other lotions are available to use. Seek advice from your vet and work out what is best for you horse.
- If the affected area is particularly bad and open sores are evident then they should be dressed with something. I use a cream for Ceaser if he is bad that I get from my vet. It has a antibiotic in and is fabulous for horses like him that cannot have antibiotics intravenously.
- Sever swelling, lameness and open sores can mean your horse has a secondary infection to the mud fever. At this point you will need to get your vet out as your horse could need a shot of antibiotics intravenously to get it into his blood stream quicker.
- Mud fever isn't confined to the field. If your horse has a horrible, wet and dirty bed whilst he has an open sore, then it could turn into mud fever. Keep your bedding clean!
- Aloe vera cream is fantastic for soothing mud fever sores. I have used this ever since Ceaser first got mud fever and it is fantastic!

Myth:

Mud fever doesn't just occur on horses with pink skin. Any horse, any colour can get it, but it is just less likely. Even if your horse is bay, be vigilant.

If you suspect your horse has mud fever then seek advice from your vet. It may not always mean he/she needs to come out, but they can offer advice over the phone. It is not the end of the world if your horse has mud fever and although it is a pain to treat it is treatable.

Here is a link to the diary I kept of Ceaser's mud fever. Whilst we had a very bad 11 months with it last year, I am glad to have finally got it under control and he has been mud fever free for 5 months now!

Salt, warm water, Betnovate, heel dressing, aloe vera and iodine has been my best friend!

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The increase in horse-slaughter - Sian on the Peter Levy show.

On Tuesday of this week I was contacted by Peter Levy's producer from BBC Humberside to see if I would appear on his radio show to discuss the increase in horse-slaughter.

Sadly, since 2009 there has been a 84% increase in horses being slaughtered in abattoirs. Unfortunately this large figure hit home after the recent announcement that horse meat was found in burgers sold in Tesco.

Peter asked me simple questions like the cost of keeping a horse and why people seem to be sending them to be slaughtered nowadays rather than selling.

A spokesperson for Bransby Home of Rest in Lincoln, was also on the show and mentioned that many rescue centres are inundated with rescued horses that they simply are struggling to accommodate more.

To listen to the discussion click on the following link and go to 22 minutes 30 seconds in.

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Dealing with colic in cold conditions

(I am by no means a vet - If you think your horse has colic, do not hesitate to seek advice from a vet)

It was announced this week that vets are seeing an increased rate in colic due to the cold weather.

I have quickly put together some tips below to help you prevent your horse from being at risk of suffering from this awful condition that can be potentially dangerous if untreated.

Firstly, what is colic?

Unfortunately horses cannot not vomit to get rid of toxins or indigestible food, so if he gets an upset stomach there is no where for the food to go.

What can cause colic?

There is probably too many factors to mention that can cause colic but below is a list of the most common
- Poor feeding
- Cold weather (see below)
- Stress after hard exercise, travelling or sudden change in routine
- Un-soaked suger beet.
- Too much food
- Poor and over-grazed pasture
- Digestive disorder.

- Horses are less likely to consume as much water in colder weather than they would when the temperature isn't so low. This can simply be because they aren't as thirsty or due to their water troughs freezing over. Keep an eye on how much water your horse is intaking - if you do not feel it is enough then encourage him to drink more by adding a little cordial to make it more appealing.

- In this weather horses spend an increased amount of time in their stable. Try and at least walk your horse around by hand or turn him out, even for 15 minutes. The digestive system depends on body movement to help push food along. This can cause an impaction. When your horse is out in the field he will spend a lot of time moving about finding different areas to graze in. My vet told me horses will take thousands of steps when out in the field but if they are stuck in their stable this dramatically decreases to only roughly a hundred steps.

- When the temperature decreases dramatically some horse owners feel the need to increase feeding amounts to "keep their horse warm". Don't increase mixes and hard feed as this could cause a compaction. If you feel the need to increase any then include roughages such as hay - they do not produce the carbohydrate overload than can trigger endotoxemia; a toxin is reflected in colic and laminitis.

- Ensure only yourself or at most two or three people care for your horse on a daily basis. Too many people with different regimes and feeding amounts can cause colic.

- Allow as much turnout as possible. Even in snowy conditions you can put him out for 15 minutes and it will allow him to walk around naturally.

- Don't feed mouldy food. Haylage is especially known for going mouldy if left open and unused for too long. If you haven't used your haylage up in four days, discharge it.

How will I know if my horse has colic?

Different horses will show signs of colic in different ways. No two horses are the same, however if you know your horse well then you will know when he is off colour and not right.

- Pawing at the ground
- Sweating
- Looking round at his belly
- Restlessness
- Lack of appetite
- Stamping of the feet
- Lying down
- Bloated
- Kick Violently
- Lie down and get up frequently
- Have an elevated respiration rate
- Have few or no gut sounds

If you suspect your horse has colic then do not hesitate to contact your vet immediately. Colic can be fatal and sometimes can go unnoticed.

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Horse & Rider article correction.

Having seen the article published in Horse & Rider Magazine I have noticed I have been mistakenly misquoted by a freelance journalist.

The article says I compete at affiliated elementary level dressage and received 70% to qualify for the Petplan Area championships.

When I was interviewed by the freelance journalist and sent the email, what I actually said was I compete up to Elementary level at unaffiliated where I get scores up to 70% and work at Medium level at home. At affiliated BD level I compete in Prelim classes.

I then included that I qualified for the Petplan Area championships at Prelim level, however I did not join BD to fulfil this qualification.

Upon seeing the article I immediately contacted the freelance journalist who sends her sincere apologies for her small mistake. Nonetheless, I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for interviewing me and allowing me to give my opinion on adults riding ponies. Additionally I have contacted Horse & Rider about this mistake.

Whilst I had every intention of moving up through the affiliated ranks this year, I made the hard decision back in October to concentrate on studying towards my MA in Sports Journalism instead. Due to this I will continue to BD when I can, but on a ticket for the time being.

Anyone with queries should not hesitate to contact me by commenting below or emailing slequinejournalism@gmail.com

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Snow with horses - a few top tips to help you along!

Thankfully, here in the UK we only have to deal with snow at most a few weeks a year. 

However, for all horse owners those few weeks will feel like they are dragging on forever and warmer weather will seem a million miles away. 

If you are struggling with your horses in this awful snowy weather, then you may find these useful tips of mine helpful. 

1. If you read my blog post earlier on in winter you will remember me saying you need to stock up with lots of food before the bad weather hits. Your horses won’t be able to graze in deep snow, so ensure you feed lots of hay to replace this.
2. Occasionally our water drinkers freeze when the cold weather hits. Always be prepared with water containers filled or ensure you have a tap inside that you can get water from if your outside taps do freeze. If you do have water drinkers, be prepared and buy water buckets in just in case. 
3. A friend of mine who keeps her horse out 365 days a year has just admitted to putting her thicker rug on today. Temperatures are set to fall to -15 in some parts of the country and you need to be prepared. Horses spend a lot of time in this weather just stood about. They won’t be able to move about a lot and therefor will need thicker rugs or more rugs on to keep warm. Be careful not to over rug though.
4. There is a lot of speculation that snow is dangerous and can cause lots of damage to horses limbs. Personally I wouldn’t ride in the snow because you don’t know nor can you see what is underneath it. However, this doesn’t mean to say that you cannot still turn your horses out in their paddock. Ensure their feet are well greased with something like lard and this will prevent the snow from compacting in their hooves. Picking their feet out as soon as you get them out of the field will also help ensure there is no danger of tripping up.
5. Stock up on salt and grit. On my yard we have boxes of grit ready to use at any time should we get hit with lots of ice and snow. If you’re wanting to turn your horses out then make sure the path to their field is well gritted to prevent and dangers of slipping over.
6. Putting something like a tennis ball in a water bucket will prevent it from freezing.
7. Watch your horses weight in weather like this when they can’t be exercised - They will still be getting the same feed as usual so ensure your equine doesn’t get fat. This could cause laminitus! 
8. Mud fever loves weather like this. If you are turning your horse out still, don’t forget his legs will be rather wet when it comes to bringing him in. Don’t leave them wet - dry them off with a towel if you can to prevent any skin conditions. 
9. Emma Lebutt, a follower of mine on Twitter also recommended that once you have broken the ice in your water buckets, ensure you sieve out the chunks still left in so it will not freeze so thick and fast. 

Owning horses in snowy weather can be an enjoyable time. It is still possible to ride should you want to, but you just need to take precautions. 

Tweet your top tips to @FurryMane or comment below! 

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Cost of livery?

For a feature I am writing I have just had to look up the total cost of owning a horse per annum.

I was shocked to read that the going rate for Do It Yourself (DIY) livery is between £30 and £40 at most places a week. This includes nothing apart from a stable, use of the arena and a field ONLY during dry periods.

Full livery can cost in the region of £150 a week and this includes most requirements apart from farrier, vets and any other care such as emergencies.

It shocks me that people pay such a huge amount a year to own a horse and often you will find people not just one, but maybe two or three equines. I am guilty of this and between us my dad and I own six at the moment. Albeit, a couple are school ponies that we have in our riding school.

I am interested to know what you pay for you livery and in return what you expect.

At my yard we charge £22.50 a week and without a doubt offer the best facilities in our area for that price. However it doesn't stop the complaints and I don't think livery yards can ever keep every individual happy - there are so many needs one requires that to tick everyones requirements off you would need a small fortune of money.

In return for £22.50 a week, which is the cost of DIY Livery we offer the following:
- Outdoor olympic sized, all weather flood lit arena
- Canteen with tea/coffee making facilities
- 2 viewing boxes that overlook the menage
- Viewing veranda overlooking the menage
- Cabin that has heating in for the cold weather
- Course of show jumps, fillers and some cross-country fences
- All weather turnout. Admittedly this all weather turnout is on a rota now in bad weather BUT it means we will have good grass when spring comes.
- Individual turnout
- Off road hacking through our own private woodland. This leads to our very own large haulage field which you can ride around at your leisure
- All stables are in a barn which has CCTV and 365 day a year security.
- Tack rooms are all very secure with padlocks and CCTV operating throughout
- On site riding instructor which is available as and when you need her
- Owners lorry to use. Yes, at a small extra cost but this only covers its MOT, tax and insurance.
- Cheaper clinics with riders like Joe Whitaker, Lionel Dunning and Penny Hollings
- Post and rail fencing - some electric in places but all paddocks are sturdy and with post fencing
- Cross-country course is currently being built
- Individual lockers to store tack in etc
- Shared feed-rooms between 3/4 of you
- Hay/Straw/Feed/Shavings sold on site
- Tack shop for liveries
- Help and assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.
+ MORE!

For £22.50 a week, this barely covers the cost of lighting, broken fencing and all other areas that need regular repair work and attention.

In this snowy weather we have ensured all liveries have had water available at all times for their horses. Only two taps are not frozen on the yard and the yard manager has filled up all buckets so even DIY liveries do not have to fetch it themselves.

I am interested to know what you pay and in return what facilities you receive. Also, roughly, how much per annum do you spend on your horse. If you are a competition rider I am sure this is a much higher amount than what happy hackers pay?

Tweet me @FurryMane or comment below so I can expand on this further.

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Fox-Hunting. Yes, its illegal but will it ever stop?

Last Wednesday I received an email asking me if I would travel to the Voice of Russia radio station in London to pre-record a debate on fox-hunting.

In 2005, the British tradition, fox-hunting was banned. However, in recent media coverage it has been discussed that animal rights campaigners claim there is little enforcement and the law is often bent.

Hosted by Tom Spender, The Voice of Russia asked us to discuss the future of hunting in Britain. Also  debating was Jim Barrington, welfare consultant to the Countryside Alliance and former Executive Director of the League Against Cruel Sports, Vanessa Hudson, leader of the political party Animals Count; and on the phone Sir Gerald Kaufman, Labour MP and opponent of fox-hunting.

To listen to the debate click here.

Let me know your thoughts - it would be interesting to see what you all think of how the debate went. I did find at times that I wanted to say things but didn't get a chance to.

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There's no day like a snow day - January 2013 snow.

 When the amber weather warning for heavy snow arrived a day before my 22nd birthday I thought the met-office were over-reacting. Of course, I should know better than to think anyone would joke about the snow and once again we are practically snowed in.

Mind you, some good comes out the bad and although I can't ride I enjoy getting my camera out and snapping away at the ponies whilst they enjoy a good leg stretch in the snow.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I am - I must be one of the luckiest girls alive to have such photogenic equines and a relatively good camera to use.

Ceaser and Sara enjoying a lovely leg stretch in the arena.

Chester, wondering what it's all about.

My gorgeous girl. 

I wish he would stop practicing his bucking!

Chester ate some yellow snow.....

Such a lovely sight - the two ex-racers together.

Khalisa's turn to eat yellow snow...

Ceaser chasing Sara. 

Such a gorgeous girl - Sara. 

What a beautiful photo.

Ceaser enjoying nibbing the snow off my hands. 

The old boy, Dougie. Enjoying the snow.

Not forgetting little man, Scampy.

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Equestrian Social Media Awards

Just before Christmas I spent rather a lot of time desperately asking you all to vote for me in The Equestrian Social Media Awards (ESMA's).

The ESMA's are innovative for getting the equestrian community together to promote the sport and lifestyle we all love socially.

As you all know, I only set this blog up back in January and already I have had 19,000 views. It was at that point I also realised I needed to stop using my Twitter for personal use only and make it in to an interesting and topical page people wanted to click on and read.

When I asked everyone to nominate me for the ESMA's I was sceptical as to whether I would fit the criteria needed to be in with a chance and then when I heard over 10,000 votes were submitted I didn't hold much hope.

However, I am pleased to announce that I have made it through to the second rounds and am in the TOP 10 for THREE categories!!!

- Best use of Twitter by an Amateur Horseperson.
- Best Newcomer
- Best use of Social Media by an Amateur Horseperson.

When I saw I had made it through to the top 10 in one category I was over the moon, but to click on and find I had made not two, but three categories I was ecstatic.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who voted for me and made today one my best birthdays.

If you could all click on this link now and vote for me once again, but in the three categories I am named in, I would be ever so grateful.

It takes only a few seconds to cast your vote and your vote could send me to Portugal on a once in a lifetime dressage training opportunity.

Thank you,


Sian and Ceaser x

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For fox-sake, another debate!

Based on the success of my column that appeared in the Boston Standard before Christmas I have been asked if I will participate in another debate on fox-hunting.

Of course I happily obliged as I am sure you may know by now this is a debate I love to get involved in and will happily talk for hours about.

I am travelling down to the venue tomorrow where the show is being pre-recorded and am rather looking forward to it.

For obvious reasons I can't mention too much information now but I will reveal all when I can.

I would just like to say a huge thank you to the Editor of the Boston Standard, Stephen for publishing my column as it has certainly just opened another door for me.

To have a read click here.

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A little bit of encouragement goes a long way..

Stupidly I had an idea in 2012 that I thought would be clever and make some good reading for all of you that follow my blog.

I decided over the next few months I am going to participate in events or situations that I wouldn't usually find nor put myself in and then write about it.

For example, towards the end of 2012 I made the short journey to our local Polo Club and had the most brilliant day learning how to play Polo and what it is all about. This didn't take me too much out of my comfort zone and I found myself wanting to play more and go much faster than we had been allowed.

A few weeks before that I arranged to have a side-saddle lesson on Ceaser; something neither of us have ever tried before. What an experience that was! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and we both took to riding sideways like ducks to water. After a few canters round the arena I found we were flying over a jump sideways - something I loved!

However, both of these have been pretty calm and whilst I've tried new things I don't feel they have taken me out of my comfort zone. So...being the enthusiastic writer and rider I am I have decided to set myself a few challenges for 2013 and share them all with you.

I like to think of what I'm embarking on is slightly more than giving you something to read, but more of a bucket list. Life is so short and I am fed up of walking along at snail pace and letting life go - I wan't to make the most of what I have and take advantage of offers and how lucky I am to be involved in such a fantastic sport.

How did all this begin?


At the age of 14 I had a rather bad riding accident when show-jump practicing in our yards field and have since been absolutely petrified of spreads. I'll jump them but I'll shut my eyes before we take off (Jacky did look rather shocked when I said this!) It all started when I was practicing for a local Working-Hunter qualifier on my 12.2hh pony, Sara. Being a jumping pony she flies into jumps like there is no tomorrow and you quite literally have to sit there and hope for the best. However, I must have not hoped for the best that day as coming into a spread she threw the brakes on, chucked me over the jump then decided it wasn't scary after all as "Mummy had done it fine" and she then jumped it after me. This resulted in both of her knees hitting me in the face and that is all I remember of that! The next bit I recall is a friend running up to me screaming and me getting up sobbing rather loudly that my arm "felt funny".

Lots of x-rays later I was sent home from A&E with my arm in a cast, two black eyes, a split lip and a mother that wasn't impressed as I always seem to undergo injuries in my dads care and not hers! (probably because she doesn't believe in anything dangerous like horse-riding whereas my Dads moto is "get on and do it"). 6 weeks later I had the cast off, decided to try the same jump the following day and ended up back in hospital after Sara threw the brakes on again and off I flew! This time the wrist was sprained and I was out of action for another 3 weeks. Since then I reverted from a jumper to a dressage rider and have never looked back.

I still enjoy show jumping and have jumped on my universities equestrian team, taken Ceaser to a local ODE, won some show jumping events and found myself wanting to get back in to show jumping but I have never found myself enjoying it as much as I used to.


So...here is my slightly insane and crazy bucket list. Please bear in mind that although it may not seem a lot to you, I am a dressage rider. I like to keep all four of the ponies feet on the ground apart from when we are partaking in a flying change.

Anyway, without putting it off any longer:
- Participate in a ODE on a horse that isn't my own in a decent sized class - height wise
- Exercise a racehorse - no, not one of my own...but exercise a racehorse on the gallops
- Partake in an Amateur riders race
- Play Polo again - but this time at a lot more speed!
- Ride Ceaser on the gallops
- Complete a show jumping competition of at least a meter on a horse that isn't my own.
- Ride a famous dressage horse (Can someone put me in contact with Charlotte or Carl please????)
- Overcome my fear of spreads
And the list is ever growing.... So watch this space.

This is where the lovely Jacky Beaven comes in. Jacky and I met through my lovely sponsor, Charles James. She saw my rather brave and apprehensive post on our sponsors facebook page about trying new things and offered me a ride on her lovely 15.2h Dutch Warmblood, known as Coco.

Coco and Jacky have built an amazing partnership together after a few years back Jacky decided she wanted to get back into Eventing and purchased Coco as a 3 year old. Since then they have competed in Intermediate events, Novices, 1 stars, the Lycetts young horse event and are now aiming for 2 star event.

After clicking on to Jacky's facebook page and seeing photos of Coco flying over jumps I wouldn't even go near, I quickly accepted Jacky's invitation and this weekend found myself travelling the 90 minute journey to meet her lovely steeds!

When I arrived I was introduced to the lovely Coco who has the most adorable and kind face and Madge, a chestnut mare that reminded me so much of Sara.

Jacky said that Coco had been out of work for a few weeks as she was having some time off after the hectic season eventing so we wouldn't be able to do much but I could hop on, do some schooling and get the feel for her.

I must say, I loved her, but honestly - who couldn't. After a few initial disagreements when I first got on and Coco almost asking me what the hell I was doing up there, she was on her holidays, she worked lovely. Her trot is quite literally to die for and she has an amazing extension on her that I am sure would rack up the points if she was a dressage horse! I have also always found that horses tend to have a canter I don't like - probably because I am used to much shorter pony strides. However, Coco's is completely different and very much a nice and steady collected canter. She will go forward if you ask her and comes back immediately when you say "hang on".

If I had gone to look at this young horse to buy I would have said yes there and then - she is exactly what I imagine my next horse to be like and is the perfect size.

I thoroughly enjoyed riding her and cannot wait to have a little pop over some jumps - if Jacky still lets me!

Next up was Madge. I asked Jacky if I could stay to watch her ride this young chestnut mare as she looked like she had some potential. Jacky explained she had very low mileage on the clock but would make someone a fantastic riding club pony as she really is a great all rounder. After watching, Jacky asked if I would like to get on and of course I happily obliged.

Of course, before I knew it we were flying over jumps at speed I don't think I've been at for quite some time! This young horse is definitely one to watch for the future; she has scope to go far with a young rider I think.

I didn't tell Jacky but that was the first time I had jumped in 2 months. I find myself now not wanting nor enjoying to jump as I love schooling too much. I am a real perfectionist and spend the majority of my time getting Ceaser's dressage right. However, being given the opportunity to ride two fantastic eventers is something I loved and jumping Madge gave me the jumping bug back.

Something Jacky said or did to me on Saturday definitely worked though as on Sunday I scrapped Ceaser's schooling and in stead we had some fun jumping. He was on fire, had no knock downs or refusals but jumped everything first time. Before long we were up to hole 11 on the wings and he was flying over spreads - with me aboard!

So, maybe without realising I have started to work on my list. I am rather excited to say the least about what situations I am going to find myself in. An email this morning has confirmed that the "compete in an amateur riders race" bullet point may be closer to being crossed off than I initially thought!

Huge thank you's and carrots go to very kind Jacky and adorable Coco and Madge for a very enjoyable  day with them all. To follow Jacky and Coco's journey together click here.

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Horse-riding. A hobby or lifestyle?

I was hoping you all would be able to help settle a discussion (I wont say argument) between myself and the other half, Mark.

Here's a bit of background information, just to help set the scene.

Mark is a music teacher by day and plays snooker when he can, as a 'hobby'. He is also in one of his towns snooker teams; which he takes rather seriously by having as many lessons as money will allow.

As we were doing the Christmas rounds to ensure we visited all of the family a rather interesting topic came up in conversation. We began to discuss our hobbies and what we enjoyed doing. Mark mentioned that my horse-riding enthusiasm wasn't a hobby but more of a lifestyle because of how time consuming my horses are and how they are always on my mind. He then said, that unlike his snooker, horse-riding was a 24/7 commitment which made it a lifestyle not a hobby whereas he played snooker to get away and relax.

Of course, I beg to differ. Yes, I come home at night and bore Mark with my endless stories about how "Ceaser schooled fantastic today" or "Ceaser was naughty today, he got out of his stable and did this and that". BUT, I don't see mucking out, poo-picking, making endless haynets up, nor running around and seeing to my horses ever-growing needs a chore.

I wasn't born into a horsey family, I didn't have everything handed to me on a plate. My mum can barely go near them without jumping back a few feet when one sniffs her and my Dad only decided to take up horse-riding so we could have a hobby to do together when him and mum split up. What I want to ask is, how is something a lifestyle when you became involved by starting it as a hobby?

I, like Mark, pay for lessons to improve my riding like he pays to improve his snooker techniques. However mine is to improve my position or jumping techniques, not how to pot a certain coloured ball in to a certain hole! (I thought snooker was all about luck until I met Mark!)

When he mentioned my hobby being a lifestyle I was little put out to say the least. No second thought goes into what I do each day for my horses and when I go for a ride I see it as a way to relax. Even when I am training for a competition.

Mark said that he goes to the snooker centre for a few hours on certain nights to escape and have a bit of "him" time. He meets up with friends that he is on the team with to practise and socialise. He comes home disappointed when his team don't win and gets excited when he finds out he has won the snooker league trophy and gets to collect it at the presentation evening. Although, isn't that exactly what we do when we go competing?

I admit, my horses require a lot of my time and yes I trawl the internet constantly looking for the latest bridle or saddle I can save up for. My horses are always on my mind, but only because I care. Although, on the contrary, I believe Marks snooker takes up a lot of his time. He will often spend a good few hours a week practising and discussing with team mates what they are up to next.

I'm quite intrigued to find out what my followers think horse-riding is. Is it a hobby or a lifestyle? Let me know what you think by commenting below or by tweeting me @FurryMane

Don't worry, you wont cause any arguments despite what you say - I think the both of us are quite enjoying debating about how time consuming our hobby is and isn't and one that could go on for quite some time!

(After reading this, Mark is worried what people may think about him - He's lovely really. He teaches primary school kids; he's got to be!)

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New Years hack - just what Santa ordered!

It has become some what of a yard tradition now that we all join together on New Years Day and hack to one of our liveries local pub.

I just thought I would share some of the photos of the fun we had today and our walk to the pub. Unfortunately all of the liveries couldn't come, but despite this, those that went still had a lovely time.

Same again next year everyone?

Before we set off!

In the Spilsby Theatre's car-park for a quick photo!

Ceaser hates being at the back!

Fabulous photo.

Love our new Chestnut Feed Numnah!

Arches & Lemonade, Quavers and Ceaser - What more could I want?

Poser CP!

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Equestrian aims for 2013 - Part 3 - Sophie Cottis

Well, happy new year! Here's to a very enjoyable and prosperous year.

I hope you all had a read of Rebekah's equestrian aims yesterday. I am enjoying reading all of your goals for 2013 and it's definitely making me add to my list!

Anyway, here is the next instalment to this week long feature. Today we have a young show jumper, Sophie Cottis who is hoping to move up through the ranks at BSJA this year with her pony, Romeo.

"I have lots of aims for 2013 but I think my main ones have to be the following

- Compete Romeo in a 1.10m open
- Win a 1.10m open
- Qualify & compete at Blue Chip 
- Compete twice a month
- Compete my 13.2hh, Kitty and my 16.2hh Rev, in BSJA"

Sophie had a fantastic debut year in 2012 after gaining numerous double clears and many placings in what was her first year competing at BSJA.

I want to take this time to wish Sophie every bit of luck in 2013 - this girl is definitely one to watch for the future!

Take a look at her website here.

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