Hello :-)

[Talltails]

I am pretty much a new member - I was a member before a long time ago, but couldn't remember what my username was  .  So My new username is Talltails - since the light of my life is a 17hh beastie with a very long tail 

I live just outside Glasgow, and am a bit of a sad hippy, of the fluffy coated barefooted bitless bareback horse kind.  I spend a ridiculous amount of my time angsting about hooves, and am just about managing to maintain my horse barefoot while he continues to live out all year round in a soggy Scottish field.

Said horse is and has been pretty much fully trained using clicker since he came to me aged 4 - he is now 9.  I use the clicker as a tool to enable me to train a young, fiesty and very large horse without having any horse training background, and despite being a very average rider...  Having 100% cooperation from a 17hh who is licking his lips at the thought of the opportunity of another go at shoulder-in is much easier than trying to strongarm the same horse while trying to convince him that I actually know what I'm doing 

I am very very strongly of the belief that dressage is fitness training for horses, and that to keep my horse fit and able to carry me, he needs to be able to develop the carriage, strength and balance to do so.  Again, though, we are self-taught, so muddle along a bit hit and miss...  However, reading Heather's post in the Riding Section on shoulder-in a few weeks back led to a breakthrough for me and hoss, and made me keen to become a full member in order to hopefully get lots more similar insights 

I do quite a lot of in-hand work - horse suffers from a long term sacro-iliac injury, along with stifle problems, and I am convinced that fitness (endless hills  ) and conditioning are the best way to keep him comfortable and happy.

I know that this post is completely worthless without pics - I wouldn't dare introduce us without... so without further rambling, here's Jackson (I am hiding in there somewhere too).








Hope this is not too much picture spamming - I can never resist the opportunity to show off my boy 

Finally, here is the (blink and you'll miss it) shoulder-in at trot, hippy style - thank you, Heather 



Looking forward to meeting everybody and reading all about you and your horses 

[yvonnemzz]

 :wave:Hello and welcome from Yvonne in North Yorkshire. Love the pics -especially the snowy scene. I, too, have a horse in the 'extra large' bracket. Know what you mean - better to have him on your side than on top of you !

[Taliessin]

 
Hello from the other end of the island (Land's End!) and welcome.
Jackson is 
 

[Amanda1950]

Hello 

What a gogeous boy Jackson is 

[Talltails]

Thank you for the welcome 

I am loving this smiley > 

[crdodgeon]

Hello and welcome! Lovely pics
Jackson's lovely  He could almost be a UK cousin of Naiad's horse, Amigo - another big, bay boy. What's Jackson's breeding?

[Candy]

Hello and welcome. Jackson is very yummy!

[Talltails]

He could almost be a UK cousin of Naiad's horse, Amigo - another big, bay boy. What's Jackson's breeding?

We don't know.  Like me, Jackson came to Scotland from Ireland. But before he got to Scotland, we know nothing about where he came from... his passport was "lost" by the dealer, and although the vet scanned a microchip, it wasn't a horse one... It was a cat one   so we can't find out anything that way.

I would say he is IsH type - has a fair bit of TB, minimal feathers but big legs and takes a WB size bridle.  He was a gangly 16.2 when I got him aged 4, had been backed in Ireland  
and then, we think, had thrown a massive split and was sent to the sales.  He had been on 4 months field rest when I bought him, and after arriving with me, spent another 4 months out of work due to a series of hoof abscesses (had been wearing the same set of shoes for over 4 months...).

So the answer is... I don't know   But Heinz 57, dodgy conformation, lopsided and all as he is, we love him dearly and he has a wonderful personality!

[nona]

What a splendid fellow Jackson is.  Welcome to you both. 

I am a big clicker fan and has enabled me as a very inexperienced horse owner to achieve more than I could have done any other way, let alone the relationship it allows one to develop.

Enjoy the forum and looking forward to your contributions.

Nona

[Talltails]

I am a big clicker fan and has enabled me as a very inexperienced horse owner to achieve more than I could have done any other way, let alone the relationship it allows one to develop.

This sums me up perfectly too 
I can see this is the right board for me!

[Minstrel]

Welcome 
I've just joined too and it's great.
Jackson looks wonderful what lovely photos 

[Heather]

Hi and welcome again! Jackson is a very handsome lad! We also clicker train our horses, and I cant imagine doing without it now. It is difficult not to click if I am taking a clinic and the students horse is not clicker trained. I find myself doing it anyway!!

[Flyingfox]

his passport was "lost" by the dealer, and although the vet scanned a microchip, it wasn't a horse one... It was a cat one   so we can't find out anything that way.

I mean, this is funny, but awful too! You have a very, very big cat, clearly!

Good to meet someone clicker training/using treats for motivation on here who is getting their horse to become a willing partner.  I live in North Somerset and my horse Flying Fox may be a bit similar to your Jackson in size and temperament I think. I also use treats for a training 'tool' and all my horses think this is a very good idea!

[Talltails]

I mean, this is funny, but awful too! You have a very, very big cat, clearly!

Azctually, when we're out and about, Jackson walks to heel without needing to be led, so the most common comment we get is "Wow, that's a very big dog"    He hasn't miaowed yet...

[ChrissieW]

  Hello and welcome. 

Jackson is gorgeous