Ask The Expert
Consumer Rights Act 2015
QUESTION TO LEGAL EXPERT ALISON GOODWIN: Hi. I’ve had the offer of a full refund on two saddles a third less deposit and full refund on two girth’s. The seller did not provide any notice or told me anything about a refund/return policy on the bespoke saddles and there is nothing on their website The…
Read MoreBridle for Showing Yearling?
Question to Claire: “Hi, I have a yearling filly, born august 2018. I am planning doing a couple of local shows with her in hand at the end of the season. She is small for her age and I was just wondering what bridle I should use with her? ive been told to show her…
Read MoreBridle Colour
Question to Claire: “What colour bridle should I use to show my highland mare in hand. She is a dun colour, should it be brown or black leather? Shelagh” Answer from Claire Oliver: “Hi Shelagh I would suggest you use a plain brown leather bridle, on your highland. Best of luck at your competition.…
Read MoreQuarter Marks?
Question to Claire: I am in hand showing a 3 year old British bred Hanoverian in the young stock classes. Should I put quarters marks on the hind quarters or leave them bare. Ruby Answer from Claire: Thank you for your enquiry, I would put quarter markers on your 3 year old. Best of luck…
Read MoreHeight Restrictions Hack & Riding Horse Classes
Question: Dear Claire, I have a rising 4YO Trakehner gelding whom I expect to make 16hh/16.1hh, once he is of age, I would love to do some ridden showing. I am aware of the height restrictions on hack and riding horse classes so I am after advice as to which classes I may be able…
Read MoreConsumer Rights Act 2015 – Saddle Question
Hi Alison. I have a horse with big shoulders who has always under-performed because his saddle rams into his shoulder, displacing his scapula and forcing him to tense through his back and neck. Until recently I was unaware of the reasons for his pain response but aware that I needed to rehabilitate him without a…
Read MoreConsumer Rights Act
Question: Hello, I Hope you can help. We bought a 2nd hand saddle from a registered saddle fitter for my daughters horse, it was the first horse that we have bought having had others on loan & we are quite novices in tack. The saddle fitter came & fitted the saddle & said it was…
Read MoreBrown or Black Boots?
Question: Hi Claire, I have recently bought a new horse and wish to start showing with her. She has been beautifully produced and although she is only 6 years old, she has been to the big shows in England, and done well [always in the ribbons] I haven’t partaken in much showing at all, apart…
Read MoreTension
Question: I have a very talented Lusitano mare who sometimes gets comments about her being tense. However, before this last weekend, she had never had a score as low as 51% which I think was unjustified and insulting. She has been winning consistently with scores in the mid 70’s all summer . The mare is…
Read MoreUnsound
Question: “I have a 13 year old Shire X mare who came back from loan in April. Since her return she has simply hasn’t been right. We initially thought it was in her back, now she appears ‘wrong’ in the front. She hasn’t really been lame just seems sore all over. We have had her…
Read MoreHow to Improve the Canter Into a Fence
Question: My horse is a temperamental 5 year old 15hh welsh section D, she loves jumping and we have done 3 indoor show jumping competitions, one out door and we are at a show on Sunday. I am actually taking my horse along with two other youngsters cross country training tomorrow, I was just looking…
Read MoreBreach of Contract/Negligence
Question: I would like some advice. I had my sand school put in about 6 years ago by a local firm after doing a large amount of research. I was advised at the time to go with a limestone binding layer instead of a second membrane as although more expensive it will last much longer.…
Read MorePoorly Fitting Saddle
Question: I do dressage clinics at a friend/client`s private yard in Scotland. Recently a girl, who I had not previously taught, came for a lesson. She arrived for help with her horse in a brand new saddle. I watched her warm up and gave some advice to improve her position, but after a short while realised…
Read MoreBreach of Contract re Sale of Horse
Question: I purchased a horse on 04/10/14 her advert stated 8 years old however she still has not given me his passport and vet scanned his microchip he’s actually 11 almost 12! I have a contract in place with the purchase and that too States he’s 8. She made a lot of excuses about passport…
Read MoreBreach of Contract re Saddle Fitting
Question: Hi I purchased a new Albion Kontact saddle on the advice from the saddler that my old saddle would not fit my new horse. Since purchasing the saddle and being told it fits me and the horse, I have had to have it re balanced 5 times since February and had the back lady…
Read MoreLiability for riding accidents
If a rider falls from a horse and is injured, who is liable? A recent case which left a young girl permanently disabled, in which the court decided that the horse’s owner was liable for the rider’s injuries, having failed in her duty of care towards the girl, highlights the need for owners to think…
Read MoreBehaviour Change
Question: Hi Rhiannon, I bought a new horse for my daughter in May, aged 6. He was going very well for several months and jumped everything you put him at, never putting in any stops. Unfortunately something has happened and he very often sticks his nose up in the air, to the extent that he can not…
Read MoreCareer Advice
Question: I am currently holding an offer to study human Physiotherapy at Brunel Uni, wanting to specialise in Equine. Am I able to do it in this route? And do you get much work as an Equine Physio? Answer from Rhiannon Bradford Hello Bethan Thank you for your enquiry. Definitely the only way currently that…
Read MoreSlipping to the Right
Question: Hi, I was wondering if there is any exercises I can do to help me to stop slipping to the right. I am 15 years old and my instructor says I lean to the right and my back could possibly be twisted even though it causes me no pain what so ever. Although sometimes…
Read MoreWhich Pelham
Question to Claire Oliver: Hello I have a 4 year old Welsh section D cob who I am schooling at the moment and have been to 4 shows with him. I am hoping to continue showing but would like to try a Pelham on him but not sure which one to try, can you help…
Read MoreWhat to Wear Showing
Question: Hi Claire, I hope you can help, I have been out of the showing circuit for many years now however, I have bought two very different but lovely horses & would like to get back in to it, my only problem is I have forgotten what to wear & what my horse should wear….…
Read MoreShowing in Yearling Classes
Question: Hi I have a cob cross foal that I want to show in yearling classes next year. He is not going to be heavy. He will make around 15.2hh and long legged. Therefore do I show him as a lightweight cob (he currently has quite a bit of feather) or show him more as…
Read MoreShowing my Welsh Section D Yearling
Question: Hello, I’m going to be showing my welsh section D yearling gelding in a couple of weeks, and have decided to try out the “ridden pony/working hunter youngstock” class.. I was wondering if his mane needs to be plaited? I’ve plaited him up a couple of times for practice, but as he has a…
Read MoreOlympia veteran classes
Question: Hi, I have a stunning Donnerhall Oldenburg who is 15 this year so aiming for the Olympia veteran classes. He is very dark brown/ black so what colour tack should he go in? He is fine in a double , would a raised nose and and coloured browband be best? Thanks, Sue Answer from…
Read MoreShowing a Skewbald 8 Month Old Filly
Question: Hi Clare, I was wondering if I could have some advice. I’m going to start showing my skewbald 8 month old filly this show season and was just wondering what classes I could do with her and does she need trimming and plaiting? I was going to start at local level then progress on…
Read MoreShowing a TB Ex racehorse
Question: Hi Claire, I would be grateful for some advice. I have a TB Ex racehorse that I would like to show at local, then county and possibly the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse class. I am planning on wearing brown tweed, beige coloured browband and brown tack with pelham. Also, what quarter markers are correct…
Read MoreWhat Classes Would you Recommend?
Question: Hi Claire, I was just hoping for a bit of advice on my ISH as I have recently started showing her with the hope that eventually we can do working hunter. She has a fantastic bold jump and can go to about 1.10 confidently at the moment. She is 7 however was broken late and…
Read More3 year old British Warmblood filly
Question: I would like some advice about my 3 year old British Warmblood filly, she is a British Warmblood from Hannovarian and Westfalian bloodlines. I have taken her to stud book shows and to the BEF Futurities. To show her i used a flash bridle with a pearl and diamond browband and i wore white…
Read MoreWelsh Sec D 2yr Old Filly
Question: Hi I have just bought a registered Welsh Sec D 2 year old filly and plan to do some in hand showing this summer. What should she be wearing? What should I wear? Should the filly be trimmed in any way or just left natural? Thanks, Anna Answer from Claire Oliver: You should be…
Read MoreSuitable for a Small Ridden Hunter Class?
Question: Hi Claire, I show my horse locally in Family Horse, Riding Club Horse and Working Hunter classes. I would like to enter her in a class at a bigger show. From the photo I have included, can you tell me if you feel she would be suitable for a Small Ridden Hunter class, if…
Read MoreIn-hand showing with a 2yr old KWPN x Cob
Question: “I have a KWPN x Cob coloured, rising 2 filly. She’s currently standing at about 14.2 at the withers. I’d like to do some in-hand showing with her at local level this summer just for some experience. I’m not sure what type she is and how to turn her and myself out though? I’ve…
Read MoreWhat Showing Class Would you Recommend?
Question: Dear Claire, This is my rising 6 year old Irish Sports Horse gelding, he is 16hh. I would like to start showing him this year, what class would you recommend for him for his build? We seem to have Riding Horse or Ridden Hunter classes around my location but not so much lightweight Hunter,…
Read MoreIrish Middleweight Coloured Gelding
Question: I have a 16.2 6 yr Irish middleweight coloured gelding. He is built to do most things, but as regards to showing, I don’t know what classes to aim him at; he has a very soft mouth and I don’t want to over bit him too quickly. He’s in a happy mouth straight bar…
Read MoreRidden Hunter Class
Question: Hi Claire, I wondered if I could call upon your advice as I’m getting conflicting messages from friends! I’m hoping to embark on my first attempt at showing and have entered a ridden hunter class with a riding judge listed. To clarify does that mean I will not be expected to perform an individual…
Read MoreRegistered Sports Horse
Question: Hi, I was just wondering what show gear I should wear I’m going to be showing a white Irish draught and a skewbald registered sports horse but I’m not 100% sure what to wear for riding or in hand Answer from Claire: Dear Rebeka To show your horse in hand a collar and tie,…
Read MoreHunter Type
Question: Hi, I’ve owned my 8yr old IDx gelding for just over 2 years now and I’d really like to know more about showing and what class/classes you think we should look to do. I’ve no experience in this area but really would like to give it ago. Any help/suggestions as to what is expected…
Read MoreAdvice on In-hand Showing
Question: “I’d love some advice on in-hand and (in-time) ridden showing classes with my registered welsh section a, Sid (Pentymel Celyn). He is a cracking looking little pony (in my opinion) he has one sque-wiff back foot though- if his hind feet were hands on a clock they would read 11 oclock (hope that makes…
Read MoreShowing a Cob in Ridden Classes
“Can you give me tips on showing my cob in ridden classes. It’s completely new to me and so is the horse. I don’t know what I should wear, nor what he should wear!” Answer from Claire: “In cob classes the cob should be shown in either a double bridle or Pelham. The bridle should…
Read MoreBehind the Vertical
Question: “I have a fantastic horse perfect in many ways apart from she goes behind the vertical at any opportunity! We lose marks in dressage for this evasion. Even when I push her forward try to maintain the contact she gets so stressy and does it even more or gets her tongue over the bit! …
Read MoreWhich Noseband and Browband
Question: Hi Claire, I have been lucky enough to qualify for a National finals on my AQH in the Foreign breeds class and the Palomino / dun/ roans and spotted class. The judge at the qualifying show mentioned he would be better shown in a Pelham or double bridle, which is fine, but now I…
Read MoreHow Do I Keep my Horse Straight?
Question: I have a wonderful 16.2 Warmblood x TB, aged 9, and we are just starting out as a new partnership (I have owened him now for just over 12 months). He has alot of experience, prior to my ownership in the eventing sphere and he did really well, but I wish to concentrate just…
Read MoreBuilding Regulations for All Weather Arenas
Question: “Please could you let me know where I can find the building regulations that apply to all weather equestrian arenas? I have tried phoning a couple of Planning Offices and they all just dodge the question. I want to read what is actually applicable to all weather arenas. Why do we have to apply…
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