CDM Equestrian

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I apologise to everyone getting stuck on this post πŸ˜… it's a long hopeless oneI just came across this picture that made m...
07/12/2024

I apologise to everyone getting stuck on this post πŸ˜… it's a long hopeless one

I just came across this picture that made me a bit emotional

This is a bunch of very special ponies that I had the pleasure to ride and work with for many months and I am today massively grateful for making me a better horsewoman

From left to right we have Arthur (rising 6yo) that unfortunately has recently left us, Rumi (rising 8yo) retired from ridden work, Alan (rising 5yo) also retired from ridden work and Conner (rising 5yo) the only one still ridden that is being just brilliant in his new home

The three boys on the left are gorgeous looking young geldings that I like to think are just as grateful to have met me as I am to have had them crossing my path

They are everything that everyone out there seem to be looking for at the moment: athletic, overheights, beautiful fully registered Connemaras, well bred with gorgeous expressive faces, good jumpers, good movers

They all have been broken in and started by professionals that redeemed them sound and healthy and perfectly suitable to tackle anything a competition pony would have in the future, just a bit "green" or "sensitive" or with some sort of minor quirks

All these people couldn't have been more wrong even though the ponies showed some clear signs all along and then have finally (a lot later) been discovered to carry such critical injuries that wouldn't allow them to have any sort of ridden future and in Arthur's case not any future at all

I have been very upset and frustrated and angry for every single one of them over and over again and having them all "going wrong" in my hands. I was distraught by a feeling of guilt and disappointment that made me brooding and doubting of my future in the industry, that maybe I have some sort of "bad luck" following me that was trying to tell me this is not the job for me, maybe I wasn't emotionally "though enough" for this role and sometimes, even now I still have those feelings of nonconformity with any other producers and sellers. I don't know how other professionals would take similar situations, maybe I was too sensitive or too easily attached to these animals that take up so much of my time, my health and my life.

I remember taking and looking at this picture back then, when everything as we imagined for these ponies was going wrong and I remember thinking that everything for myself was going wrong too together with them until the pressure of the routine and continuity of the job distracted me and made me carry on taking care of the other 20+ horses we had at the time

Until today, when I bumped into this picture again after being detached from those feelings for a long time and all of a sudden a fresh, newfound point of view has hit me:

I have always been gifted (or cursed) to be able to see and to "feel" what I ride more than most rider that I came across in my not so long career with horses can, I wouldn't call it "a special connection" or a "gift" because I hate being the voodoo, daughter of nature type of person. My logical brain and I like to think my own self as some sort of pragmatic translator of the horses, maybe my analytical and increadibly critical brain and my exhaustedly trained hand/eye to brain connection and seek of knowing more are the real key of this incredibly subjective feeling of right or wrong that each horse gives me when under saddle.

I have learnt the difference between "a weak baby" and "an odd baby", a "stiff untrained horse that doesn't know how to bend" and something that mechanically can't bend, some learnt behaviours and a sign of discomfort. I weirdly get a migraine when riding horses with poll/neck head injuries and tensions and a bad belly by working with something with ulcers or GIT issues (I know!! Freaky and still yet to be explained!!) and I have trained that sensitivity to the problem so much that I would just tell what I think it's wrong and (at least the last few years) 100% of the times my thoughts have been confirmed by veterinary investigations.

So the same happened with the three boys and now I know why I met them, why they met me.

They needed me, they needed us, my fantastic team of professionals behind the scenes as well as their wonderful, understanding owners that have followed my gut feeling and my desire to find out more even if (especially in the case of Rumi) they have been previously investigated and assessed by vets, physiotherapists, chiropractors and other professional riders too (with Rumi making himself quite famous with millions of viewers on Facebook πŸ˜‚) with nothing apparently wrong or clinically significant found

They needed us to save them from a future of misunderstanding and selfish people that would have sold them on over and over again, calling them names and punishing their so called bad behaviours by forcing them and oppressing them to do a job that they couldn't mechanically and physically do

They needed us to find peace with the human kind, learn to like us and enjoy our company because nothing at all out of their capabilities was asked of them anymore, they only needed to be present and to enjoy being a horse and all of a sudden we had this bunch of happy, relaxed, enjoyable and increadibly polite young horses, just like in the picture

And I needed the wonderful 3 boys

I needed these boys so I could learn to speak up when I felt there is something not right and to stand my ground and believe into my skills and experience even if with no proven scientific backup (yes I have a pony patting degree but you know what I mean!!) and even when other professionals are saying different

I needed these boys so I could find and surround myself with professionals that "can see" like I do, "can feel" and "can love" the horses the way I do

I needed these boys so I could learn even more how to listen first and train after, to put the horse FIRST and the sport after, to put their brain and their feelings and their body language, even if minimal first and our needs and expectations after

Despite all the tears the boys and many others have brought me, I wouldn't think twice on taking on a sensitive Connemara, a bucking warmblood, a rearing thoroughbred, a bargeing draught, a petrified Welsh over and over again

I wouldn't think twice on helping another animal trying to express something instead of falling into a loop of learnt, defensive behaviours and feeling of pain and discomfort

I wouldn't think twice on giving a wonderful soul all the time and perseverance needed to see if they could happily give this ridden life a go or if it would be too much of an ask for their body

I might never be rich or might never make it around Badminton or the Olympics but I will be proud of every single one of this journeys with each one of these special clever animals

Lots of love and thoughts go to my three boys tonight, Alan and Rumi are happily keeping company to other horses, beautiful Arthur is overlooking us all and playing with every broomstick he can find up there and Conner, not even 5yo yet is helping a soon to be 60 yo incredible lady get her confidence back after a seriously scary fall from a previous pony that led to a nasty injury

04/12/2024

Look at these cutiepies go!!

They would look great under the Christmas tree πŸŽ„πŸŽ

Which one is your favourite??

Pepper rising 4yo 14.1hh cute as a button little pony, she is the perfect bundle gorgeous face, amazing conformation, big moving, good jumper, brave, bold and forward but polite and increadibly affectionate

Peggy that only just arrived and is desperately due a bath πŸ™ˆ is rising 4yo 14.2hh more switched on, competition type with a very snatchy jump!!

Two very lovely very different stamp of ponies both already broken in, walked, trotted and cantered under saddle and popped a jump

Clara 07478199827

Malmesbury

02/12/2024

I know I keep going on about how sweet this guy is, Egan (to make 15hh heavyweight cob gelding) is seriously cute and kind but also very smart indeed πŸ₯°

Tonight I was planning to get a great video of me spinning around, jumping up and down and somersaulting off the saddle and instead we got this πŸ™ˆ fair to say that (only!!) 10 years of working with horses does this to you, I used to be a dancer believe it or not πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚ and a gymnast!! How embarrassing, fair to say that the wearing and tearing, clicking dodgy joints and the cold humbled me straight away πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

Here's what you get, a decrepit slower than my grandma around the world and some very rusty scissors πŸ™ˆπŸ™ˆ

Nevermind

The cob is sweet! Maybe I will try a somersault, just need a few paracetamols and a yoga session first πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

P.s. Vittoria Panizzon I am NOT making you proud with this one πŸ˜‚

07478199827 Clara

Malmesbury

Something a little different πŸ₯°Beautiful blue eyed boy Apollo has just arrived to come back into work and potentially fin...
01/12/2024

Something a little different πŸ₯°

Beautiful blue eyed boy Apollo has just arrived to come back into work and potentially find a new home

He has done a little bit of everything but his love is into hacking and exploring (he reminds me very much of good old boy Jack, if you have followed us for a while you will know too)

He is low mileage for his age

15.1hh 12yo Welsh D gelding, gorgeous model he will be under assessment for the next couple of weeks

28/11/2024

This shows how sweet Egan is, with the evil child hanging at the end of my whip πŸ˜‚

It was Egan's first time in my arena, he has BIG paces in a little Cobby body, he naturally steady, straight and very rhythmical, with more fitness and strengthening he will be formidable. So so safe and sweet I could trot and canter down the long side with my hands out like an airplane and when you stop kicking he stops for you, he doesn't spook and is not sharp

He would be an asset to any riding school/RDA but also smart enough for someone to produce into the super dressage cob that I know he will be!

Oh and such a lovely person πŸ₯°πŸ₯°

Clara 07478199827

Sweet little Egan is also ready to move on 😊To make 15hh, 6yo cob, beautiful big moving guy with loads of feathers, mane...
25/11/2024

Sweet little Egan is also ready to move on 😊

To make 15hh, 6yo cob, beautiful big moving guy with loads of feathers, mane and tail

He is a good happy hacking chap, bred and owned by the same person until now, he belonged to a lovely family where he has been driven by grandad (but unlike most driving cob he has a soft lovely mouth and not at all strong or leaning on your hands) and he would also get hacked around the farm by the grandchildren, a real quiet, sweet person, not much bothers him and has been very settled since he arrived

He was searched for a client whom circumstances have now changed so he is available on the open market

He can seriously move, has a big canter, still needs more fitness work and filling out but he has a big frame, beautiful markings and good bone

He is not bargey or rude, increadibly delightful and polite chap, good with children and dogs too and safe, he doesn't get silly if left behind, he goes in front, behind and on his own, in open fields and on the road

He hasn't put a foot wrong hacking with us the last two weeks and he will have a little play tomorrow in the arena too to see what he can do

Gorgeous dressage, show prospect that has already seen a bit of the world, non spooky laid back guy, more woah than go

Malmesbury

Clara 07478199827

With the gorgeous Shadow flying through her vetting the next sweet boy that would like a new forever best friend before ...
21/11/2024

With the gorgeous Shadow flying through her vetting the next sweet boy that would like a new forever best friend before Christmas is Joey πŸ’™

(very proud to say that EVERY horse that was vetted to find a new home this year has very successfully passed with flying colours and compliments from the vets for their polite, patient and sweet personality πŸ₯³πŸ₯³πŸ₯³)

Joey is a very much loved 10yo, 15hh medium weight cob with a very fancy skewbald spotty coat, he is a family pony that has been owned by his mum since a freshly backed 4yo

In these fabulous past 6 years Joey has never, bucked, bronced nor reared, he can have a spook like any breathing, existing horse but he is not one to be rude or sharp

Joey has been a pleasure ride for his non competitive mum all these years and had a lot of fun mostly hacking around and exploring both in company and on his own, with the odd schooling session and arena hire

He has lovely paces, presence and he is very correct and he wouldn't look out of place in a dressage arena or out showing with a bit more practice and he has also a serious ping for a guy of his size and built

Now as safe and reliable as lovely Joey is, if you are looking for a ploddy cob that drags his feet please don't message me

As his name suggests, he is a fabulous, enthusiastic, responsive ride, up for anything but not strong nor rude, he really thinks to be a thoroughbred and to be so fast!! But (no offence Joey) if you have ridden sport horses and thoroughbreds or anything with a "proper engine" you will just laugh at him and appreciate his effort, you won't ever feel out of control on him, he will very enthusiastically get into canter whenever asked but he is easily kept at the back in a snaffle in an open field without a complaint, he is just a willing bubbly guy that really makes us smile.

Now!! (And I can't repeat this enough) If all the experience you have is going around in circles on 27yo riding school Nelly cob with three legs that needs the effort of a whole team of instructor clicking and chasing, mum waving and shouting her best words of encouragement from outside of the arena and you sweating from the flapping and kicking and smacking to get three strides of canter out of it, then Joey probably will feel to you like a whippet on crack, HOWEVER if you like a funky looking guy, even if you are a bit more novicey or maybe not as much of a technical rider or have ridden a lot of bigger/sharper horses and now looking for something smaller and safe that is forward and loves to work and have fun, then Joey would be the perfect guy. He would also suit a teenager that likes to charge around but we would really like someone that won't run him to the ground

He would be a great hunting pony as well as being smart enough to turn into a great all-rounder

Joey is trainable, he has lovely manners on the ground and he has tack of his own to include fitted saddle, stirrup leathers, girth and bridle to go with him

Based in Malmesbury

Clara 07478199827

Time for gorgeous Shadow to find her new human πŸ₯° as much as I would love to produce her further towards her first season...
12/11/2024

Time for gorgeous Shadow to find her new human πŸ₯° as much as I would love to produce her further towards her first season eventing, with another 10 youngsters in starting their ridden career and taking up our time, she would be available to the right person

15.2hh chocolate dun rising 5yo ID X Connemara mare

Shadow has impeccable manners on the ground and is a real, sweet affectionate mare, she loves a cuddle and a fuss and happily turns out with both mares and geldings

Shadow has incredible paces for a little horse and trust me, when you are on board you can really feel it, she has been produced slowly with lots of hacking and wondering around giving time to her body to adjust to her humongous engine

She has a beautiful canter and a big flashy trot, she marches out leaving the older horses behind. She would be amazing in the show ring or as a dressage prospect. She is soft in the mouth and responsive off the leg when asked, never rushy nor rude

Shadow is great to hack, she is forward and enjoyable, always in a snaffle, both in front and behind, when in front and on her own she can have a baby spook but you can kick her past anything. She can canter in a group and she has never broncked, bucked, reared or never had a nappy side from the first day she wore a saddle (we broke her in ourselves). She would be great and very smart in the hunting field and I would happily take her out for her first time on behalf of the new owner if interested

She is great in traffic including farming machinery, dog walkers, cyclists, buses and farm animals

You can happily lead one or two horses (one on each side) from her or she can also be led off out hacking just in a headcollar, she will be polite and stick to your side

Shadow has been jumping to an arena hire around a course of fillers without batting an eyelid and has been cross country schooling proving very genuine and well behaved including walking off on her own, away from her friends in the lorry and having stranger horses charging around her

She is fabulous for the farrier, to wash, load and travel both in a lorry and in a trailer, in company and on her own

I do think a lot of this young mare and I would love to find an experienced, nice home that would love her as much as we do and that would produce her further into the wonderful horse I believe she will be one day

There's nothing this correct, smart and bright mare can't do, she could be a great little grassroot eventer, a great show horse, a very smart hunter or a talented dressage horse for a competitive amateur or a younger rider moving off of ponies

She is bright and intelligent but sensible and reliable and would suit a vaste range of riders, please no complete novices because of her age and abilities

Based in Malmesbury

Clara 07478199827

While lovely Joey is under assessment there's another super cobby making his way from Ireland with already a couple of v...
01/11/2024

While lovely Joey is under assessment there's another super cobby making his way from Ireland with already a couple of viewings booked in πŸ™ˆ not surprised look how sweet he is 😊

Egan, 15hh 6yo gelding cob that rides and drives well and has been out and about in the last couple of years driving with grandad and hacking with the grandchildren, a sweet family little horse, that moves well and is athletic enough to turn his hoof to anything

Just flew through a vetting, up to date with everything, teeth, vaccinations and freshly shod too, he is good to travel, shoe and has impeccable manner on the ground 😊

He will make his way over soon and will be available also after being assessed



Clara 07478199827

This lovely boy is joining us todayJoey ☺️15hh 10yo cob gelding, he has been a really good companion for his owner for t...
29/10/2024

This lovely boy is joining us today

Joey ☺️

15hh 10yo cob gelding, he has been a really good companion for his owner for the last 6 years, where he has been ridden as a pleasure/hacking horse

He has been mainly used to hack, both alone and in company, in front and behind. His current home is not competitive but he took part to some in hand shows when younger and has been to arena hires too, he has popped a jump and is careful for his size, he has never bucked nor bronked, he can have a look at things if something spooky catches him by surprise but he is not sharp nor dangerous, his owners are amateurs happy hacker and he has never been a handful nor difficult for them that owned him since a freshly backed 4 yo

He is a very attractive type, good moving cob that could do well in low level coloured classes (he has a splint in front) and/or as a all-rounder

He is a very loved, good boy and change of circumstances force his mum to move him on

He will have a couple of weeks of assessment/, fitness work while here and then will be available for viewings

Clara 07478199827

Pepper 😍 14.1hh 3yo Connemara mareThe most adorable, cute as a button little mare, she loves people she loves attention ...
18/10/2024

Pepper 😍

14.1hh 3yo Connemara mare

The most adorable, cute as a button little mare, she loves people she loves attention and it's just the most gorgeous dainty little thing, beautiful competition prospect for 148 classes but at the same time because of her personality I can picture her dressed up as a unicorn for a little girl πŸ₯° and being a fabulous family pony

Very athletic with a mega jump and paces, a real competition type, she could event, showjump, would be a very little attractive working hunter/show pony too

Beautiful small head and very proportioned body

Walked, trotted and cantered under saddle and popped a couple of jumps with fillers and turned away, very genuine into a fence and very brave

In her winter wollies now so imagine her in the summer 😍 just gorgeous

Based in Malmesbury

When you ask your groom to video yourself sitting on a breaker for the first time πŸ™ˆDemi Thom thought she would get away ...
26/09/2024

When you ask your groom to video yourself sitting on a breaker for the first time πŸ™ˆ

Demi Thom thought she would get away with it πŸ˜‚

Earl 😊3yo Connemara Gelding just under 15.2hh Very sweet and quiet on the ground and to handle, he picks up all his feet...
19/09/2024

Earl 😊

3yo Connemara Gelding just under 15.2hh

Very sweet and quiet on the ground and to handle, he picks up all his feet and has started wearing tack, big floaty trot and a lot of presence

He will be a lovely kind all-rounder for someone

Based in Malmesbury

Clara 07478199827

Finally time has come for what I thought was going to be Jack's favourite thing of them all πŸ‚πŸ¦ŠπŸŽAnd I was totally right J...
18/09/2024

Finally time has come for what I thought was going to be Jack's favourite thing of them all πŸ‚πŸ¦ŠπŸŽ

And I was totally right

Jack's heart is with the hounds in the hunting field, charging across the countryside

Jack went out with the Beaufort for his first time on a lovely morning and oh my god what an angel he was, thoroughly enjoyed it and indeed foot perfect from when he first loaded on the trailer until the very end

βœ…He waited happily and patiently not bothered about the hounds and the master horses going in different directions

βœ…He was never strong or rude, he would do a gate and very politely let people go ahead in front of him, you can walk him when everybody else's was cantering

βœ…Not once he got hot nor silly even during a panic few seconds when another horse got stuck into a bunch of barbed wire and dragged it across the field towards and around all the other horses, everyone was jumping around panicking and Jack safely moved away from the situation keeping his blood cold

He is 7yo 15hh beautifully bred chunky Welsh section D, not a hot silly dragon like many welshies are, he is polite on the ground and a pleasure to have around, change of circumstances force the owner to move him on very sadlys as same owner since a 3yo

Based in Malmesbury

Clara 07478199827

09/09/2024

The coolest 14.2hhs ever!! Doing their first arena hire at Rectory Farm Arena first time seeing fillers and going around a full course of proper jumps

They were both very brave, giving anything a go and jumping all fillers first time 😊

Pony 14.2hh 4yo Dun Connemara X QH gelding, gives some pocket rocket feelings he is fun and tries his best to please, he has a careful jump and a bouncy canter

Bailey 14.2hh 4yo fully registered connemara gelding, he is such a laid back dude, nothing is a big deal for this brave, safe pony, he has the smoothest and most natural canter ever in a little baby horse and an impressive technique when he gets it right πŸ₯°

They both give some serious eventing vibes for the future and are very excitingly looking for their new home for someone to have fun on producing them into superstars

04/09/2024

For everybody's enjoyment πŸ™ˆ

Albert did his first crosspole today πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

Fire breathing dragon, athletic like a gazelle, with the scope of Big Star and the speed of Secretariat!!!

- Blueberry 🫐 3yo grey 14.3hh Connemara mare perfectly mannered on the ground, wearing tack and has been lent over, beau...
02/09/2024

- Blueberry 🫐 3yo grey 14.3hh Connemara mare perfectly mannered on the ground, wearing tack and has been lent over, beautiful inside and out and to make 15hh+, this lovely little lady has been with us a couple of weeks and will be very gradually introduced to ridden work before being turned away for the winter

- Bailey πŸ¦„ grey 4yo 14.2hh Connemara gelding, Bailey is the ultimate mother dream, not only with the ability to be a top competition pony with a serious future ahead, he also must have been the most grounded, safest and willing youngster I have broken in, in the last couple of seasons. He hacks alone and in company, in front and behind, in traffic and open fields, nothing phases him, you can safely pop him at the back with a younger/less experienced rider on board in a snaffle galloping across the field and he will safely look after his rider, he hqs been xc schooling giving some serious eventing pony feeling, jumped everything first time. He is impressively athletic for a Connemara, well bred, polite and scopey! A serious FEI 148 prospect with 5 stage vetting certificate and full set of X rays available

- Betsy 🌷 3yo dark chocolate dun 15hh lightweight cob mare, increadibly quiet and well behaved to handle, she has a fantastic frame to grow into, elegant and not heavy set, to make over 15hh, has been started under saddle and being good as gold, she will gradually be introduced to walk, trot and canter out hacking to then be turned away for the winter

- Luca ✨ grey 4yo gelding 16.1hh TB X ISH, baby Luca is freshly broken in and hacking away really well, he is the quietest little horse to handle and has been a pleasure to start, he has big paces and will be loose jumped in the next couple of days, he needs someone to give him time to fill out and develop and that can see behind his baby gangly phase he will be very special and has a great easy going personality, a real competition prospect with blood for someone that doesn't have 20k to spend on your next eventer

- Jack ⚫ black 7yo 15hh Welsh D gelding, a real handsome chunky monkey, Jack is steady and very polite, he has been doing a bit of everything and he mostly enjoys hacking, funriding and outdoors activities. He has some typical Welsh D behaviours so I would like to find someone familiar to the breed that can enjoy him fully. He has a great jump for a hunky boy and would be stunning and a brave jumper in the hunting field

- Albert πŸ’ͺ🏼blagdon 18.2hh 5yo fully registered Shire gelding, a real sweet boy, he is bright and athletic for his size and a very good boy, very gentle on the ground, he has mainly been hacked and given time to grow due to his size, you can safely pop on him after some time off, he is ready to go out and about and see the world with a new partner in crime. He was broken in to drive and ride at 3yo, turned away until 4 and since then quietly being ticked over. He moves well and could turn his hoof to anything really! Due to his size and age NO NOVICES please, he doesn't need any brute force (we are all under 5ft5 and can perfectly handle him) but he is quite literally a HUMONGOUS puppy dog so please don't enquire looking for for a weight carrying first time owner kind of horse, he will not go to the police nor to someone that can't appreciate/know the breed, please don't turn up saying he is too big or too much horse or if you have dodgy knees/hips, HE IS WIDE AND 18.2HH!!!!

Pm on here or message/call Clara 07478199827

Guess who's back?? Albert (aka Albertino for the Italian friends) is now back and all of his whopping 18.2hh of him πŸ˜‚Thi...
28/08/2024

Guess who's back??

Albert (aka Albertino for the Italian friends) is now back and all of his whopping 18.2hh of him πŸ˜‚

This time to find a new home as unfortunately his mum's circumstances have changed very sadly

Albert is a 5yo 18.2hh fully registered baby shire, very well bred, with size but lots of athleticism for a big draught horse!!

He was broken in to BOTH ride and drive at 3, turned away for the winter and came to me at 4yo to get him going under saddle, out hacking and in the arena

Since then he has been ticking over and now ready to crack on again after another little break, his mum loves him to bits but she is afraid she won't do him any justice due to changes in her personal life so if anyone is looking for a beautiful, bright and humongous baby Shire please get in touch

No novices due to his age and size, we are all under 5ft5 and can perfectly handle him so he doesn't need any strength or brute force but just experienced hands as he thinks to be a big puppy dog

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Manbys Farm, Flintham Hill, Oaksey
Malmesbury
SN169SA

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