Our mascot Red thinks he’s a bit of a clever clogs when it comes to knowing all about Redwings! He’s here to answer your questions so feel free to ask him whatever you’ve always wanted to know about taking care of horses and ponies, what life is like here at Redwings, or even what Red likes for his tea!
Fill in the form here, wait a few days and Red’s responses will appear below (don’t worry though, we’ll keep your identity secret!)
Why don’t you see if you can catch him out?
Question 1
I know that ragwort is a very dangerous plant for you horses to eat as it damages your liver. At my riding stables, the field is covered in ragwort but the horses don't seem to eat it much. I told my riding teacher but she said there is too much of it to get rid of and it would cost too much. I don't want the horses to get ill and I don't know what to do. What do you think Red?
Red says: Hello, thank you for your question. As you correctly said Ragwort is a very dangerous plant and it can be extremely harmful to us horses. Therefore it is very important for all ragwort to be removed safely from a horses paddock, it is certainly not safe for anyone to assume that a horse is not eating it as they can develop a taste for it. If there is a lot of ragwort the easiest way of tackling it is to spray the paddocks with a product, which kills the plant. However it is vital that the paddock remains empty before and after this until all traces have been removed. If you would like more information on this please visit our welfare pages or please feel free to contact us on 01508 481008. I suggest you talk to an adult to assist you in talking to the manager of the stables if you are finding it difficult. I hope this helps.
Question 2
I have a 16.hh standardbred trotter and he is a pain as whenever I go to the field he's waiting at the gate for me and when I go to check on him or groom him he runs off! Why does he do this? Also if I'm leading him he normally walks a bit then drags me and then canters off. I can't get a training headcollar for him as I have not got enough money, please help!
Red says: Hello thank you for your question. It sounds like it could be a number of problems upsetting your horse. There is always a reason for any horse to be naughty or to cause a problem. It may be he is in some sort of discomfort if he dislikes being riden or groomed. When you are leading him and he drags you, he may just be excitable going out, it might be he needs to be ridden and have some work. Horses are very clever and they do need a regular routine. Either way it does sound like you need assistance from a specailist in nautural horsemanship. If you were to contact our welfare department we could put you in contact with someone who could assist you and they could offer you more detailed help. I hope this helps.
Question 3
Hiya Red! I was just wandering what to do about my pony. He is a rescue Shetland and has been perfect up until a few weeks ago, he gave me mild concussion when throwing me off and he has been bucking at every chance he gets. He is still brilliant when I groom and muck out but in the school he is a nuisance. Why do you think he is doing this?
Red says: Hi there, thank you for your question. I am sorry to hear you had a fall from your pony and got concussion. Sometimes when a pony bucks all the time it may be because he is in some discomfort. He might have a sore back or it could be his saddle does not fit correctly. Your pony does not sound nasty so it might just be his way of telling you his in a bit of pain. My advice would be to get your vet or a specialist to come and see your pony to give him a check over. Ask at your local tack shop if they can recommend someone. It doesn't have to be expensive and your pony will be very grateful. If you would like any further advice you could also visit our welfare pages. I hope this helps and good luck!
Question 4
How old does a pony have to be to have shoes on?
Red says: Hi there, thank you for your question. Once a young horse begins work, usually at about four years old, it will need to be shod. Usually at first only a pair of front shoes are fitted. Horses which work regularly on the roads without shoes would wear their hooves away quickly and their feet would become sore. A shoe protects the hoof from wearing away. However if a horse or pony has good feet and keeps off the roads for most of the time it may not need to be shod. But a pony under the age of four should not be having shoes on. It is always best to discuss this with your farrier who will have all the best advice. I hope this answers your question. Have fun!
Question 5
I ride at a riding school and they recently got some new jumps for the pony club and the ponies I ride in rallie's or shows are always scared of them. Is there anyway I can help them be less scared?
Red says: Hello, thank you for your question. Sometimes ponies can be scared of new things and it may take time for them to get used to the new jumps. I think a good thing to do is lead them past the jumps so they can get used to them with you by their side to give them confidence. You could ride them around the jumps so they slowly get used to them, without having to go over them. If you school the ponies in the same area to where the jumps are they will soon begin to realise that the new jumps are not too scary and then you can slowly start taking the ponies over them. Remember it is always important to end on a good note so once they are getting used to working around the jumps, just pop them over it once and finish on a good note. You can then build this up to jumping a course. I really hope that helps. Have fun and good luck!
Question 6
When I go riding and I am in trot I can't help bumping up and down. My instructor says I should lean back and tense my shoulders. Can you help me and give me tips please?
Hi there, thank you for your question. There are a few ways you can try and stop bouncing up and down. The main thing to remember is it does take time to learn how to ride and it does take practice. The first tip I would give you is to try and relax, it is a good idea to master a sitting trot first then start to feel the natural rhythm of the pony's trot. It is good to keep your hands soft, heels down and rise from your pelvis and not your legs. Try and keep your shoulders back, this will help your balance. I hope these few tips help. Good luck and remember practice makes perfect! Bye for now.
Question 7
Do Shetlands need to be looked after everyday?
Red says: Hello there, thank you for your question. This is a very good question as lots of people think that as Shetlands are so tiny they require less care than other ponies. In fact these tiny ponies require the same level of care and responsibility as any other. Their paddocks need to be cleaned out daily and they have to be fed and have fresh water provided daily too. They also need grooming and vet care such as worming and vaccinations. They can be prone to Laminitis and may need their grazing restricted. Shetlands are wonderful ponies but they do need daily care and a lot of time. Hope this helps. Have Fun!
Question 8
Hello im coming to see Victor this Saturday and would like to know if you are going to be there?
Red says: Hi there, it is lovely you are going to see Victor on Saturday I am sure he wil be so pleased to see you. You never know I might be there on Saturday, it does depend on the weather really as my coat does not fair too well in the rain so we will have to wait and see. If I am there it would be lovely to see you. Hope you enjoy seeing Victor! Bye.
Question 9
How many people does it take to look after all the horses in Redwings?
Red Says: Thank you for your question. We have around 250 people working for Redwings, so quite a lot of people. All these people are spread over our different centres and departments. For example, we have lots of staff who work on the farms and some in the offices and centres. We also have a nights team who check on all the horses during the night, even when it is very wet and cold. They, like all our staff, do a great job. Thanks again for your question. Bye for now.
Question 10
How much do your ponies cost to rehome?
Red says: Thank you for your question, there is no charge to anyone loaning a horse through our Guardianship scheme but anyone interested needs to be prepared for the fact that it is a big responsibility. Redwings performs a home visit before anyone can be considered for a Redwings horse or pony and they will also check up every six months to ensure that the horse or pony has settled in well and is receiving the correct care. If you are interested in re-homing but are under 18 you have to ask an adult to do the application for you. If you would like to read more about our Guardianship scheme please go to our main website. I hope that answers your question. Have fun!
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