Gretgrix Equestrian

01/02/2025

Our winner of our Jan/Feb ‘win a lesson’ draw is - Imogen Itter! (Well done, I will be in touch to organise your bonus lesson 🤩).

March availabilities are now online! Jump online to book. Currently offering regular lessons on weekend mornings only. *Some Tuesdays and weekday evenings by appointment only

Thanks to everyone who continued to support me over the summer holidays - it was greatly appreciated in these difficult times. I realise times are tough for everyone, hence me putting off any price increases for last 12 months+. I will be needing to evaluate the viability of my current business model, but hope to keep any changes to a minimum.

Here’s some more Smokey spam - 1 month old 🤗

20/01/2025

Here’s some morning “Smokey spam” aka inspiration for you.

Born 2/1/2025

Somerset D’Isle x Dreamtime Xzibit x Gumbanero

Really looking forward to watching this one grow up!

19/01/2025

❤️❤️❤️

19/01/2025

We still have a few appointments left for remainder of Jan and some weekend mornings during February.

We are taking on a limited number of new clients (8 years and over) in 2025. Please message me to find out how to book online. Returning clients from previous years also welcome.

Remember, all bookings taken online this month go into a draw to win a free lesson of your choice. 🤩🤩🤩

WIN A LESSON! Details below, click to open.

February appointments are now online 🤩
Over Feb we will only be open Sat/Sun 9-12 and some Tuesdays by appointment (my work days in other job have changed, so no longer doing Fridays).

With each lesson booked online and paid for between 9th Jan and 31st Jan, you will gain an entry into a draw to win a complimentary lesson of your choice - Schoolmaster, Equisimulator or own horse. If you already booked a lesson today, you already have an entry. The more lessons booked, the greater chance you have 🤩 Winner will be announced 1st Feb).

13/01/2025

Galloping into the new week…!

We still have several morning lesson spots for the remainder of school holidays. February weekend bookings are filling. Get online to book!

Photos: Our week old Somerset D’Isle x Dreamtime Xzibit c**t ❤️

09/01/2025

WIN A LESSON! Details below, click to open.

February appointments are now online 🤩
Over Feb we will only be open Sat/Sun 9-12 and some Tuesdays by appointment (my work days in other job have changed, so no longer doing Fridays).

With each lesson booked online and paid for between 9th Jan and 31st Jan, you will gain an entry into a draw to win a complimentary lesson of your choice - Schoolmaster, Equisimulator or own horse. If you already booked a lesson today, you already have an entry. The more lessons booked, the greater chance you have 🤩 Winner will be announced 1st Feb).

08/01/2025

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS!

I have had a number of enquiries about school holiday programs, however with family and other commitments, I just don’t have the time to run such programs these holidays. I do, however, have quite a few vacancies for morning riding lessons over the next 2 weeks. Please jump online or contact me to book (all ages, not just kids!).

Unfortunately ‘Smokey’ and his Mum, Floss were in hospital from Friday to Tuesday to provide some care after a tough delivery. Little (large!) Smokey was rather dehydrated and Floss needed some TLC to prevent any post birth complications. It was the right choice given the hot weekend we just had. They are home now, but I have to say I’m a bit nervous. Please let the rest of 2025 be uneventful. 😭

Unfortunately I have had a very tough time with veterinary issues over the past 2 months (well, last 12 months to be honest). Therefore, every time a lesson is booked, I do a happy dance. To me, it is not ‘play money’ - it helps me survive and be able to continue to offer lessons on school horses. Given the cost of running an equestrian business in this economic climate, every lesson helps. ❤️

I look forward to seeing my regular clients (and some new faces!) soon xx

(foal cuddles are also included!)

03/01/2025

Our final foal for the season - a huge c**t!
Somerset D’Isle x Dreamtime Xzibit

He needed some assistance arriving, owing to Floss being a first time Mum & the c**t being such a large fella. I was on the phone to vet within 10 mins of waters breaking when I noticed labour had stalled. He was out within 40 mins of active labour starting - this is the reason I always want to be around when a mare foals…time is critical to ensure a good outcome.

Overall, am very happy with all 3 foals. It is incredibly stressful, but rewarding when things work!

31/12/2024

Wishing all of my clients and supporters a happy and healthy 2025. 2024 has been a challenging one here - fingers crossed we are on an upward trajectory!

I have just added some weekend appointments during school holidays. Jump online or contact me to book. Please note, there’s still plenty of weekday morning availability left for the holidays (only mornings available over summer).

27/12/2024

It seems quite fitting to share this old blog post again, about the summer I learned to ride.

After nursing 2 horses through colics this past month, it is also bittersweet recalling this story of one of the happiest and saddest times of my life.

Hero and Nitro are now well, however December has been a rocky month.

We have had a lovely Christmas and now hope 2025 is a bit kinder on the veterinary front.

23/12/2024

Love these two!

Prince (chestnut, by Britannia Royal is 5 weeks old). Coco (bay by Somerset D’isle) is 5 days old.

January appointments are available online. Please book with link provided, or contact me to book in. We’ll be back on deck 6th Jan.

18/12/2024

Evie (Hermes Vision) decided to surprise me with a daytime delivery of a large blingy filly by Somerset D’Isle.

Evie’s Mum, Diamond B Vogue, was a very successful eventer. Looking forward to see what this filly can do, with her Dad already producing many successful jumpers, eventers and show horses.

11/12/2024

JANUARY LESSONS ARE ONLINE!
We will be closed from Dec 23-Jan 5, recommencing lessons during school holidays on Jan 6th.

My apologies for the delay - Fan favourite, Hero, has been in hospital with a less common, life threatening colic - intussusception involving the caecum (part of large intestine telescoped back on itself). We opted to treat it conservatively by keeping him comfortable, reducing inflammation and keeping his gut happy. Usually it is resolved surgically, as in worst case scenario, the blood supply to portions of the bowel can be cut off. In this case, he has been extremely fortunate.

He didn’t present as having typical colic, just lying down more than usual, rolling intermittently, but vitals normal. It is only because I took him into clinic and did an ultrasound that we realised he was in trouble. It has been an anxious few days, however it appears it has corrected itself and he is doing all the right things. Fingers crossed he can come home soon. I hope there is continued good news to share….

20/11/2024

Lessons 23/24th Nov

Please note - all lessons this weekend have been moved slightly earlier so I can finish by lunchtime and avoid the heat. Please check your emails to see your rescheduled time. If it does not suit, get in touch with me to make other arrangements. Please note, as the hotter weather approaches we only offer morning lessons.

Thanks for your understanding.

13/11/2024

Crunchie welcomed a c**t at 4.06am 12/11/24

No name as yet, suggestions welcome.

He is by Britannia Royal (IFS) an advanced eventing stallion in UK (Royaldik x Jumbo).

Crunchie is a TB by Lucas Crannach.

27/10/2024

“We have to make friends with the canter.”

If you watch many riders school a horse, they will trot until the proverbial cows come home, will walk now and again to give the horse, (or themselves) a break, but will manage to avoid doing much practice in the canter.

I don’t think I am making this up. I think that if a random group of riders could somehow be timed, the amount of elapsed minutes and seconds of canter work would be far lower than time spent trotting.

Maybe that’s OK, maybe no big deal, but schooling at the canter has some important benefits that the trot can’t provide.

The canter is the gait that has the most potential uplift, that gives that nano second of upwards thrust, Reiner Klimke said to think of each canter stride as “a miniature jump.” So to build in more lifting power, the canter, with that moment of three legs off the ground, is more effective than the trot where two legs are up, two on earth, in diagonal pairs.

I have heard it said that the trot “borrows” lift from the canter, that the quality of the trot just following a good canter will be more buoyant, if only briefly.

Also, if you are a jumping rider, the canter is the gait from which most jumping happens, and it’s so important to be able to lengthen and shorten the canter, to create an adjustable canter, and it can’t be practiced at any other gait.

Certainly, the canter is more tiring for the horse, so it shouldn’t be overdone, but neither should it be avoided. This is a good quote that I heard---not sure who came up with it---

“We have to make friends with the canter.”

Consider your own schooling practice. Maybe you already utilize enough canter, but if you realize that it’s not a familiar enough sensation, maybe that means something needs to be added?

(Note in photo, 3 hooves off ground)

https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/drf+all+eyes+on+me