Gallifraygypsycobs

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📣 The news you’ve all been waiting for! ENTRIES OPEN TOMORROW!

Please share far and wide!

Thank you for your patience as our small team pulled together a schedule and sponsorship.

We are so excited to see you April 11th and 12th. Don’t miss out, it’s going to be epic 😎

📍Claudelands Event Centre

Gorgeous wee Alfie has had a super, kind and careful start to life and only due to life changes for his owner is he available to a new home. Could be gelded before leaving for a new home and would be the most amazing kids pony.

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Hallelujah for common sense and horse welfare !! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ALWYfVo5v/?mibextid=wwXIfr

*** WHY HORSES SHOULD NOT BE JUMPING UNDER SADDLE WITHIN WEEKS OF BEING BACKED ***

I’m always shocked and saddened when I see posts and adverts stating how a horse has been backed for several weeks and is now already jumping under saddle. I’m sorry, but that’s nothing to be proud of. I’m very sure there will be many that disagree, but you are setting a young horse up to fail.

If we give our competition horses a couple of months off, we spend weeks, maybe months, carefully bringing them back slowly to build up muscle. Yet a 4 year old with bone and muscle that is completely unconditioned to carrying the weight of a saddle on their back, let alone a 10 stone (and the rest) rider, is cantering and jumping within 4 weeks of having weight on their backs for the very first time?

Young horses should be taken extremely slowly after backing, as it takes months for them to develop the correct muscles to carry the weight of a rider. In my opinion, it is acceptable to back a horse at 4 years old (PLEASE don’t start posting that damn chart of growth plate fusions, or I’ll just delete and block!), PROVIDED the horse is given time to develop the correct muscles to carry themselves and a rider. I absolutely wouldn’t touch a 4 year old that had been backed for 4 weeks and was already jumping under saddle. Sure, they are likely sound and would pass a vetting, but it’s setting them up for orthopaedic issues in the future. Treat an unbacked horse’s fitness and muscle/bone strength as you would treat a horse that’s just had a 2 month holiday, at least.

It’s not impressive that your young horse is jumping (normally hugely over jumping, so even worse for them) within 2 weeks of being backed.

Slow and steady wins the longevity race.

Just appreciating the ear fluff on our stunning partbred (German riding pony x GC) filly. You can just start to see the real colour under the baby coat and she is my favourite, never goes out of fashion colour- black🥰.

Jim Bob has arrived back from the hills at Rita’s to join Jasper on the Journey to Grown Up. Jimmy is a 4yr old, out of a lovely Tb (Viking Ruler) mare and is by GE Pride's Freedom.

Jasper is ticking along nicely on the go slow to go fast principle. Nearly ready to start long reining and moving to having someone ie Margot on his back. Has been super relaxed and cooperative about a bit, light side reins, saddle blanket and surcingle, and starting to lunge at walk and trot.