Sula

[sharonspiers]

hi Karen, thanks so much for the info. I'm gonna have another go now xx

[sharonspiers]

well here goes. Hopefully you will now see some photos of me and Sula ans amy on claude, taken on the beach one sunny morning in September.

[sharonspiers]

Wow thats so good ,thanks again . heres the other photo

[sharonspiers]

Well now i know how to do it i will put some more on very soon. Thanks Em for the fab instructions If i can do it anyone can xx

[sharonspiers]

sorry to bother you all again, could someone give me the facebook name for my safe cobs. Been searching but no joy! x

[sarah]

Wow, wonderful pics - riding on a beach is still one of my dreams yet to be fullfilled.

[picasso]

Hi Sharon,
just use the link from the website.

[Erika George]

Hi Sharon,
I have only just read your lovely thread and I am highly envious of you riding Sula on the beach. Doesn't she look lovely. I can also relate to the hours disappearing whilst communing with your horse. Somehow there is nothing quite like it especially as they seem to enjoy it as much.
I am so glad that you have found a true partner and friend.

Best wishes

Erika & George

[erika george]

Well having re-read the whole of this thread I feel the need to post some more. I cannot believe how alike in manners and temperment Sula and George are. If you think it can't get any better then you are wrong! I particularly note that you say Sula is not very affectionate which was exactly how George was. He as always happy to be caught but would generally ignore me in the field otherwise, unless of course it was feeding time. However, after I had had him for about a year, I was on my knees scrubbing out the water trough when I felt George behind me. He had come across the field and was gently exploring my legs, back and arms with his whiskers. I quietly carried on cleaning the trough and he thoroughly examined me literally from top to toe. It was so sweet and moving. Over time he has really softened, you can see it in his face and eyes, not just to me but also to my livery lady and her disabled daughter. Even to my husband and sons. He just loves to commune with us now and will spend many an hour following the poo barrow around the field. He even carresses the farrier's head when being shod, mind you the first time "Happy John" thought he was going to be eaten alive!
He has turned into a great big softie who everybody wants to cuddle, especially at this time of year when he is mega hairy! I am sure that Sula too will become much more affectionate as she relaxes into her home.
With lots of love and affection from one great horse to another!

Erika & George

[gillybou]

Hello Sharon
I've really enjoyed this thread so much - albeit a little late! You are very generous in spending your time giving us all some much information and enjoyment. Believe me, we never get bored and you have no worry about gushing - if you can't gush about your own horse, then who can! And then I got to the gorgeous photos - Sula looks so much like Coco I had to do a double take. I recognise so many of the things you say - we've had Coco 10 months now and yes she still tries it on sometimes and needs a firm but fair hand. Is Sula a Normandy too? If so, you might be interested to find out more about Sula (and Erika you might wish to about George). If you have their breeding name there is the French national stud website and you may well find them on there. If you do and you want to find out more, you can join for 24 hours for somethign like 3 euros (ok you do have to join up in French so I had to enlist the help of a bilingual friend!) and you can find out their breeding line and any progeny. Great fun to do - I even found a photo of Coco's final foal (she had 5) who is almost 3. The website is www.haras-nationaux.fr/utilitaires/moteurs-de-recherche/chevaux-et-poulains.html. You just type in the horse's name and you can do this much without signing up.
PS I've put a couple of photos of Coco under a new thread 'Coco' so you can see what she looks like.
Gilly

[sharonspiers]

Hello Gilly and Erika
So sorry I haven't replied before, just LIFE!!! Anyway thank you for your posts. Have to say it was lovely to read how Georges affection has grown. We've had Sula two years in May and she has definately changed over the last few months. Slowly but surely she is showing her affection to myself and Jo more and more. Gilly the info on the french website is sooo interesting. We will definately be going on and having a hunt. We have often said we would like to know something about her past. Sorry, yes she is a Normandy!! They really are so beautiful aren't they. Here's to many more posts. Xxx

[gillybou]

Hi Erika and Sharon
Knowing that affection can still keep coming after two years has been a bit of a life saver this weekend when Coco was a particular grump. I definitely had almost tearful 'after all I do for this horse' moments and was feeling particularly sorry for myself.
Good luck with the French site - it's very exciting when you find some info.
Gilly x

[sharonspiers]

Hi, a bit of advice please. Apparently sula has lost some muscle at the base of her neck/just in front of the saddle. I'm told that it could lead to back problems ! Now I'm also told this is because I don't make her work/ get her riding in an outline at all. Admittedl y I don't do any schooling we really do just hack. I have had her nearly 2 years and she's been fine but I'm told that this has happened overtime and needs to be rectified. The reason I'm asking for advice is the lovely lady who is giving me this advice ( she has been so good with me ) tends to come at things from a different angle to me. I'm very "natural" she is more old school! I'm not dismissing her advice its just I'm so happy just hacking but if im doing something detrimental to sula I want to no. She does look a little different , maybe not so rounded there but is it a bad thing? She doesnt seem in any discomfort and her saddle was checked and reflocked about 9 months ago (will be getting checked again shortly) . Any opinions xxx

[avril]

Hi Sharon, there are a number of reasons why Sula has lost muscle at the base of her neck, none of which will be related to working in a so called outline which in itself is damaging. Sula, like the majority of our horses, had a well developed neck and topline without spending one day in a school or being made to conform to an outline. We would strongly recommend you explore other angles such as whether the saddle treally fits. In our experience saddle fitters vary greatly in their ability to truly evaluate fit so don't take their word as gospel. (Not suggesting this is the case with yours) It might be a seasonal thing as horses can lose condition in odd places from around January onwards, to be replaced once the grass comes through strongly. Horses can also develop dips in front of the wither due to being ridden to produce hollowing which will ultimately lead to back problems. If the saddle is not causing discomfort then the answer for increased muscle is always to encourage stretching of the neck forward and down rather than up or in and back. Happy to discuss further via phone if that would help. Let us know what you decide.

[gillybou]

Sharon

I would be interested to know how you get on. I am having exactly the same problem and have also been told it's due to my riding. I'm having the saddle checked in May anyway and I don't Coco hollows when ridden as her head is usually well stretched out and down but I'm not sure. Coco has also dipped a bit on the sides of her bottom (sorry, don't know technical term for that bit) and has lost weight generally. She is on full livery, on hay rather than haylage, and I don't have an input into her food but the YO is very experienced so I'm pinning my hopes on the new grass. I would prefer a little more weight on her (Coco that is rather than the YO!)

Gilly