The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: Hardfeather on December 08, 2008, 08:23:58 pm

Title: Introducing myself
Post by: Hardfeather on December 08, 2008, 08:23:58 pm

I thought I'd done this before, but it seems not, so..........

Hi there,

I live in Angus with my wife and two young boys.

We rent a cottage and about four acres from the farm, and we keep four horses of our own and sometimes have one in for training, a terrier and a lurcher, a small flock of laying hens, and some rare breed poultry as well.

I am trying to source some Californian or New Zealand (or crosses thereof) so that we can produce some for the table, so any help there would be greatly appreciated.

I am also turning over about a third of an acre for a kitchen garden, so I'll be asking lots of questions about that too. All I've grown to date are some courgettes, marrows and pumpkins.......oh, and a few onions but, having plenty of manure, I hope to enlarge on that next year.

I have experience in Highland ponies, Highland cattle, and Suffolk sheep, and I work a horseman much of the time.

I look forward to being a part of this community, and I may even have some input as time goes on.  :)

Title: Re: Introducing myself
Post by: Fluffywelshsheep on December 08, 2008, 08:31:33 pm

Welcome to the group
linz aka Fws

Title: Re: Introducing myself
Post by: Rosemary on December 08, 2008, 09:04:02 pm

Hi and welcome.

I'd be interested in hearing more about what sort of work you do with horses.

Title: Re: Introducing myself
Post by: Hardfeather on December 08, 2008, 09:56:21 pm

Thankyou, Fws  :)

And you Rosemary.

I work with horses which are, for example, difficult to load, or to clip, or are difficult for the vet......ranging from those which are just lacking an education in manners, to those which are purely dangerous to handle.

Their problems may have arisen because they have been badly handled/treated previously, but sometimes they, and their owners just need a start and some advice to get them going.

I work very quietly with the horses, teaching them how to yield to pressure, which they learn to do very quickly, and then I use that as a basis for retraining them into a better way of going.
 
An important part of my work is helping the owners of these horses to develop a compassionate and sympathetic approach to their management and training.

I also start young horses for riding and/or driving, again with lots of involvement with the owners if they require it.

I have a wee job, too, on a Highland pony stud where some of the ponies are driven to National standard at HDT.

I really enjoy my work, and find it very rewarding.

Thank you for asking.

Title: Re: Introducing myself
Post by: garden cottage on December 09, 2008, 04:22:33 am

Hi and welcome from our madhouse, on friday were off to collect a rda pony on loan for hols to look after so may be asking some questions.............neil

Title: Re: Introducing myself
Post by: Hilarysmum on December 09, 2008, 06:38:02 am

Hi and welcome, it sounds like a lovely life you have.

Title: Re: Introducing myself
Post by: pigsatlesrues on December 09, 2008, 09:05:57 am

Hi and welcome from us to.  Normandy in the mud - ah bliss!  - NOT!

Kate :pig:

Title: Re: Introducing myself
Post by: FiFi on December 09, 2008, 12:49:22 pm

Hello fellow newbie!  ;D

Title: Re: Introducing myself
Post by: Hardfeather on December 09, 2008, 04:50:38 pm

Quote from: FiFi on December 09, 2008, 12:49:22 pm

Hello fellow newbie!  ;D

Hello  ;D