returning to riding - just bought a shire!

K

Kizzy's mum

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Feb 26, 2008
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Hi there everyone

Things have happened for me very quickly. I recently returned to riding at 32, and haven't ridden properly since I was 15. I was helping with mucking out 4 horses in exhange for a gentle hack. Anyway - one of their horses was on loan to them and she was going back!!!

She was the horse I'd been riding, so I bought her!!!! She's a 23 year old Shire and is lovely. A little head shy, but is extremely kind, and hacks out fine on her own, and doesn't spook.

That's all I want really - a nice gentle ride a couple of times a week

I can't believe a childhood dream has come true, as I always wanted a horse, but things get in the way!!

Does anyone have any advice for getting her fit, as she's not been ridden that much, and to make sure she stays as healthy as possible in her twilight years? I'm giving her flax oil and garlic at the moment.
<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/claireyates/?action=view&current=kizzystable.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/claireyates/kizzystable.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
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Is she pure bred shire??

That's a really good age for a shire,I have a heavy and was told she might not live past 20:( At least your girlie is proving that wrong,gives me some hope for mine:)

As for getting her fit,maybe just regular gentle work??
I'm not great at this am trying to get my clydesdale fit for showing,and have been asking for advice my self!!
Some things I am planning after being given lot's of advice is hill work (slow),stretches and transition work.I will also be longreining as I do quite a lot of this anyway,and find that helps me get a bit fit too!!
Don't know if any of those suggestions would be helpful to you and your girl??

Feed and supplement wise my girl get's lot's of corn oil (although that will be cut down as we go into summer,as she has come through the winter rather too well shall we say:eek:) low starch,high fibre feed such as high fibre nut's,chaff etc (heavies are prone to EPSM,hence the low starch,high fat and fibre) and a glucosamine supplement for her joints (again can be prone to joint probs due to sheer size).
My girl is only 8 though so don't know a lot about feeding and supplements for older horses,there might be extra things your girl needs because of her age??

Heavies can have different needs but that doesn't always mean they have more expensive or more difficult needs,just different:)
I was scared to death when I first got my big girlie,not having had anything like that before,but hasn't been as bad as I thought and wouldn't be without her now:)

Your girl looks lovely and I hope you have lot's of fun with her:)
 
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I love watching the ridden Shires whenever I'm at Peterborough...so graceful!

Sussanahandmonty.jpg

This is the closest I can manage for a shire,he's a crossbred bred by Susannah Powel for logging and he is ridden too
 
Hi devonlass - yes she's a pure bred, and having been in touch with the Veteran Horse Society, seems as though she has a few good years in her yet. I suppose people have their own beliefs about age, but people are different, so I suppose horses must be aswell.

I think you're right about the regular gentle work - she has a light hack and trot, and that's it. With the nights getting lighter I hope to ride her after work, so am looking forward to that.

It's funny, I've never really been that daunted by heavies - gentle giant always comes to mind, and some people are bored by a plodder, but she makes me feel safe.

Over time I really hope to build a great bond with her, as that's the most important thing for me - I want her to enjoy me riding her, as much as I do. She has high fibre nuts currently, but no chaff as she has problems with it - will look into joint supplements I think, so thanks for that.
 
Kizzy's mum said:
Hi devonlass - yes she's a pure bred, and having been in touch with the Veteran Horse Society, seems as though she has a few good years in her yet. I suppose people have their own beliefs about age, but people are different, so I suppose horses must be aswell.

It's funny, I've never really been that daunted by heavies - gentle giant always comes to mind, and some people are bored by a plodder, but she makes me feel safe.

Over time I really hope to build a great bond with her, as that's the most important thing for me - I want her to enjoy me riding her, as much as I do. She has high fibre nuts currently, but no chaff as she has problems with it - will look into joint supplements I think, so thanks for that.
Click to expand...

That's great news from the VHS!! I am only going on what I have heard from a couple of people on here who breed and keep heavies,but as you say they are possibly all different.

Wasn't so much daunted by her being a heavy,although her sheer bulk took some getting used to!! As you say they are usually gentle souls,and ploddy,which is what I like too!!
It was the looking after part I was worried about.Keeping weight on in the winter (mine live out as well to make matters more difficult!!),coping with the constant greasy heel they seem to suffer from:rolleyes:,maintaining the joints that tend to wear more due to their sheer bulk and the extra strain etc etc,the list goes on!!

Am sure you will have a great bond with her,she looks very content so think you must be well on the way already:)
I have found the glucosamine works pretty good for the joints,and can get it for a really good price on e-bay.
She looks lovely and make sure you keep us updated with how you getting on,with lot's of pics of course:)

And as you a heavy fan,and I will use any excuse to post pics of my girl,here is a pic of my clydie,hope you like and don't mind me hi-jacking the thread with my pics:eek:
kateandcarronfeb08012.jpg
 
She is beautiful indeed... and looks very kind hearted... Good luck to you both!!! :D She certainly doesn't look no 20 years to me... !!! :cool:
 
Kizzy's mum said:
Hi there everyone

Things have happened for me very quickly. I recently returned to riding at 32, and haven't ridden properly since I was 15. I was helping with mucking out 4 horses in exhange for a gentle hack. Anyway - one of their horses was on loan to them and she was going back!!!

She was the horse I'd been riding, so I bought her!!!! She's a 23 year old Shire and is lovely. A little head shy, but is extremely kind, and hacks out fine on her own, and doesn't spook.

That's all I want really - a nice gentle ride a couple of times a week

I can't believe a childhood dream has come true, as I always wanted a horse, but things get in the way!!

Does anyone have any advice for getting her fit, as she's not been ridden that much, and to make sure she stays as healthy as possible in her twilight years? I'm giving her flax oil and garlic at the moment.
<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/claireyates/?action=view&current=kizzystable.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/claireyates/kizzystable.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Click to expand...


oooo she's lovely. Congratulations :D
I have an oldie too. He'll be 27 this year. We hack out about five times a week. Lots of time to warm up then lots of brisk one, two three four walking.
He's on a supplement for his arthritis and I've found that the 24/7 turnout keeps his old bones from getting stiff.
I once read a study done on school horses. Half the horses were treated as normal but the other half were given one specific person to spend thirty minutes a day loving on them and grooming them. The horses that received the one on one time became more confident in their work and also worked their way up on the "board of directors "out in the field.
So I guess love is a vital "supplement" and can make a world of difference. Same with us all really, isn't it? :D
What's your girls name?
 
Ooo she's lovely, I always wanted a shire! I'm sure you'll have great fun with her.

Love the pic of the Clydesdale, heavies are great!
 
Wow Devonlass your clydesdale is great. I really love her colouring - so beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was menadering through the ads yesterday and came across a dapple grey clydesdale - 17yrs old for £950 - I hope Kizzy (that's her name) lives to be a grand old age, but I think I'm hooked, and an older heavie will always melt my heart I think!

I went to see her last night and as I'm keeping her turned out at the mo, took her a carrot. She was very happy to see the carrot, but followed me all the way to the gate and then nuzzled into me and rubbed her head on my chest - so lovely!!! I mentioned it to Andrew (previous people who had her on loan), and he said she loves a rub, so it looks like I'm getting somewhere with her. She really is special!!

Lovely story Julia - love definitely is the best medicine!

I just feel so lucky - I've waiting all my life to own a horse - have to pinch myself sometimes!! Funny thing is - I go on holiday in a week - and part of me doesn't want to leave her!!
 
she is gorgeous, horses that are that chilled on the road and that quiet are a bit like gold dust, she looks adorable - hang on to her;):D

as far as maintaining her, i perhaps think oils (as you have mentioned) and joint supplements to look after her joints and coat. garlic is groovy:p

if she has not be ridden a lot i would build her work up steady and slowly, but and excercise such as hacking/ schooling on a regular basis will do her good - build up gradually ;):p

good luck, she looks fab :)
 
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