I have been thinking about investing in a lorry with a friend for a while.  It seems like a reasonable thing to do, mainly because a horsebox is not something that is used all of the time, and a lot of the time it just sits around doing not very much.  I figured, if two of you own it and split the cost, well it will get used more and stay better mechanical shape and be more economical.

I was thinking about how to do this aside from actually finding someone who will invest with me.  It seems that doing this in the caravan industry is fairly normal, so why not for a horsebox?

I think to buy a half decent horsebox the cost will be between 10k and 15k GBP, if you spend anything less than this you risk getting something that is going to cost a fortune in upkeep and repairs.

I will need a contract that sets out the details of how the relationship would work, these are probably the main things that need to be covered:

1) The purchase price, that it is split 50/50
2) That all expenses (except diesel) are split 50/50 including all mechanical expenses, tax & insurance costs;
3) That who ever finishes with the box last must leave it clean and with a full tank of diesel;
4) A fair way of booking out dates;
5) Insuring the lorry / damage issues / payment of excess / accident / theft / horse damage;
6) What happens if one party wishes to sell/transfer, consider a minimum term of 12 months, what if the other party cannot find someone to transfer their half to - would you just have to sell the box?  How does each party get out and how do both parties get out?
7) Valuation upon sale - how will this be decided?
8) Where it will be kept and who deals with taking the vehicle for maintenance, repairs;
9) Can you take friends in the lorry;
10) That it cannot be used for making a profit;
11) The other party has a lame horse or sells their horse so cannot go out, will they continue to pay all costs? 
12) Breakdown costs;
13) Sale notice provisions;
14) Consider weight restrictions - When you get the weight certificate subtract that weight from 3.5 tons & that will give you payload.  Assuming each horses weighs about 600 KG - that doesn't leave much for tack etc / water etc !
15) Who has responsibility for getting repairs done / MOT / Tax;

Quite a lot to think about but may perhaps be worthwhile, after all, the horseboxes seem to sit there 90% of the time!  I think the key would be finding a good buying partner who is safe and reliable and who is happy to commit to at least 12 months, come rain or shine.  Its a great idea but could potentially be dodgy if anything goes wrong, that is why a watertight agreement would be needed.  But first to find the right person.......

So I have been battling with bruised feet and bruised bones in the feet (pedal and navicular) for some time.  Its a difficult one as the horses are so used to wearing shoes, but are now shoeless in the paddock while they are resting.  But, because of this their feet are not used to the hard ground, I have found my mare is still very sore two months on.  She was actually having a slight hop around the paddock the other day and having called the vet out, he has said that she has bruised her sole again, very very sore.  So, having the shoes on would have prevented this, but I get the feeling I need to give the feet longer to adapt, after all she isn't back in work until September.
So for now, I shall persevere with barefoot, but if she keeps going hopping lame from bruised soles just while on holiday in the paddock which is now dry (perhaps the wet to dry change has not helped), I may need to opt back to front shoes.  The hoof boots sadly don't seem to stay on for full turnout, but they are excellent for going out for a little walk in.
I am currently trying different hoof boots, and I am waiting for the Cavallo Treks to arrive, having bought a pair of Equine Fusions already.  They are great, but I think they are a tad too big and this has made a huge difference, these hoof boots really need to fit like a glove to be any good at all.  The Hoof Boutique online store have been superstars in giving me some amazing advice on this point, I think I just need to keep going.  EBay is fantastic for second hand boots so you can get the size right before you spend any major money on a pair of hoof boots. Hoof Boots are a whole new world !!

So, I took in a new rehab project for some work last week and so far he is being very good.  His odd quirks are yet to make a full appearance but he has only been in for a week or so.  In fact, I actually felt so confident with his ridden behavior and legged my mum up and she took him for  a little hack, what a sweety.

He is a 15hh young Appaloosa gelding who may be a little heard strong on the ground, but once you are on him, he is brill.  I have high hopes for the spotty pony, and I can't wait to really get stuck in with him.

I believe wth lots of handling on the ground and in the school, and learning a few manners as we go along, and he will be a little diamond.  Luckily as I have my niece coming over from the US for the summer, I now have a helper (much needed with 4 !) and a pony for her to ride and work with me on, can't wait !!

I must divert briefly from horses.........I had an awesome weekend this weekend as I spent some time on my work's latest ship launch for 'Harmony of the Seas', what an amazing experience.  Yes I missed PonyPatting all weekend, but I have to say, I did enjoy cruising, only Friday until Sunday, but still, what an experience.  The ship has more fun stuff on-board than Oxford Circus and the cocktails are yummy and strong (it was my birthday :) - they had ice skating, bumper cars, rock climbing, water slides, casino, bars, night club, diving show, Grease show and loads more, OMG, I am a cruise convert ha ha.

Anyhow, getting back to the horses, the other weekend I took my favorite rearer off to an XC clinic at Gasstons Yard in Headley.  I don't know if I can actually call this horse a rearer any more as he seems to have lost the rear in his rear.  He was an angel and jumped like a super star. I thoroughly enjoyed the lesson, was able to make it over all of the fences we were pointed at including a massive massive table that made me want to cry a little as it went through an arch that I didn't think me and my 16.3hh warmblood would even make it through, but we did, awesome happy times.

We even jumped a ditch without issue.  The thing about having great teacher like Lucy, is that when she tells you jump a jump, you just do it, its as if there is no other option, you just simply have to jump the jump, and oh my god can this horse jump.  I even made it over a few Novice fences which was pretty darn fun I have to say. 

So, the upshot has to be, I never thought I would enjoy riding a warmblood as much as I do.  Yes he is a lot of work to get going on the flat, you really have to gee him up, but when it moves, oh my god.  And this horse has definitely had some education at some point, and well, when it jumps its gorgeous.  The last thing on my list has to be neater SJ, at the mo we always have one pole, but I think with more flat work and getting a more compact canter, we will get there.  Thank you to Lucy Gasston (XC and SJ help) and to Madeleine Herridge for some brilliant flat lessons, you have definitely got me going with a horse that had a decidedly dodgy future ahead, now has a very pleasant looking one !!

Its been a super busy few weeks since Munstead One Day Event but great fun.  I was lucky enough to go to Badminton on Saturday and see some absolutely amazing event riders do some seriously tough fences that I wouldn't even contemplate.  I think there was one jump there in the entire lot that I would have actually done, MAYBE.  You have to take your hat off to them, million dollar poinies or not, silver spoon or not, you cannot fake being a brave rider and helping to get your horse over those fences, its definitely a team effort.  I was seriously impressed.  I used to think 'well I could do that', if I only I had been born rich.  But its just not the case, yes it would have helped and yes I could have had expensive ponies and trained 7 days per week, but you cannot buy guts, and that is what those riders have in oodles.  it was an amazing experience and I did do some shopping, yay, I am now the proud owner of some bright red stirrup irons, hmmmm.  Must have been having too many Pimms !!

Anyway, we then took naughty rehab pony to Merrist Wood for some show jumping and XC on Sunday and he was a superstar, perfect behavior all day and we just had one pole down sadly, but his behavior is what I always have my eye on, and that was impeccable.  definitely heaps of improvement from him, what a dude :)

My other rehab project is busy sunning himself on holiday with my mare (see pic below) oh what a hard life for a horse on holiday, no wonder they don't mind being injured !!  Hopefully they are back in work in September / October time, cannot wait to get them going.  Super excited.  In the meantime to stop them going ferell I ride them bareback around their paddock which they are not impressed with, work is definitely a big no no for them right now, in any shape or form !!!

God and I am loving this weather, the grass is growing, the ponies are nicely rounded and life is good !! :)

Hey Folks,

So I thought I'd give you a few dates for your diary in and around the Surrey area:

1) 14th May - XC Clinic at Gasstons Livery Yard, Headley, nr Epsom;
2) 29th May - Littleton Manor Show Jumping and XC Clinic, Reigate, Surrey;
3) 4th June - Epsom Derby Racing Weekend;
4) 5th June - Great Bookham Equestrian Centre Open Show, Bookham, Surrey and Kingsclere Sponsored Ride, Berkshire;
5) 11th and 12th June - Mid Surrey Pony Club One Day Event;
6) 25th June - Pachesham Equestrian Centre, One Day Event;
7) 9th July - Show Jumping at Great Bookham Equestrian Centre;
8) 31st July - Stratfield Saye Sponsored Ride, Berkshire;

I shall be there, ready to rock :)