Rossmore Riding & Agistment Centre

Loving my office today ❤️

Something to think about ..... something so true. Be a horseman/ woman not just a horse owner.

Horses are amazingly tolerant, giving creatures.

It unfortunately means they’re often exploited due to the ambitions of the human. After their basic needs are met, you must be very thoughtful in the training of your horse.

Your first duty is to preserve the purity of the paces. What does this mean? Walk has 4 beats, trot has 2, canter has 3, gallop has 4. ALWAYS. If not, something is wrong biomechanically, and your horse is at risk of injury. BTW impure paces can usually be detected in a photograph, even though it is only a “moment in time”, AND this applies to all disciplines.

Strapping a horse’s mouth shut with a crank/flash (or other) noseband very often contributes. The fact is, a horse cannot maintain full range of motion with his hind legs if he can’t move his tongue and jaw. FACT.

For jumping, if the horse bolts off - away from, towards, or after a jump, putting on a bigger bit and a martingale will not fix it. If a horse hesitates or stops, pulling out the whip will NEVER make him more confident.

These are just a few hints that your horse is asking for HELP. Go back. Consolidate the basics. Another wonderful thing about horses is they're retrainable. If you ignore the hints, eventually the horse will either break down, or will SHOUT to get your attention, and you will get hurt.

After all, horses are dangerous. We tell everyone that. But actually they are not. We wouldn’t be able to ride them if they were truly dangerous. You know what’s dangerous? People are.

Ponder this excerpt from Franz Mairinger’s book “Horses are made to be Horses”:

I recall an incident in Sydney when we had a lame horse with a very bad tendon, and the rider wanted to start the horse the next day. We asked Roy Stewart, the veterinary surgeon, and he said, ‘Yes, that’s the trouble. People always think that horses are made for man, but that’s not true. Horses are made to be horses’. I thought about that a lot, and decided that if I should write a book I would call it Horses are made to be Horses.

(Franz Mairinger was the first coach of an Australian Olympic Equestrian Team, his excellent book is out of print, but can occasionally be found second hand - buy it if you see it)

(Picture credit Thinking Art )

We picked you up today together all of us, those who knew you, loved you and cared for you.
My daughter cried so bitterly on seeing you, we thought you would stay whole with us forever and now your in this box that we can’t hug or hold and cry our tears and fears into your soft fur anymore.
My tears are dry for now until maybe in awhile it really sinks in that you are gone and my heart will break all over again and again and again just like since the day Dad left us.
So here you lie our beautiful sassy girl in this box in my home and heart never to be alone and always by my side.
Forgive me for not having the strength to forget you and keeping you with me until one day we are both free together.
RIP Patches Moo.

Patches 1983-2022
Today we with a heavy heart we said goodbye to you , your heart didn’t leave us a choose.

Thank you for the peaceful passing in our arms, I wished you this and my wish came true.
Thank you for 36 wonderful years thank you for your unconditional love and listening ears.
Thank you for all you taught me about what is important in life , cuddles , good food and warmth. Without you I’d have been lost many times over, you saved me 36 years ago and I have given my all to keep you safe warm and happy. All who met you loved you but never as much as we did.
My cheeky independent,stubborn larger than life Moo.
We love you and life will not be the same without.
Your body comes home to me in 10 days to stay forever but I know your soul will run painfree until you miss me too much and find me once again.
I will be waiting for you, in any form you choose , I will know you and you will once again come home to me and this time I pray I out live you as this pain I can not bare ever again.
Rio my beautiful sassy lady.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy new year x

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a safe new year.

LOVE MY MOO❤️
Second clip for Patches since September.
She has dropped off in weight this past few months and the cushions is playing havoc with her this year. She is one tough 37 year old
I pray for another 34 more years with her.

Working with twins.
Skyes makes a great baby watcher .

Wondering where we have been for the last 12 months !
In March Emily welcomed into the world Lucas and Susannah born a month early , both healthy and growing like wildfire.
Busy busy times ❣