From Sussex to Malaga!

[Charles]

My Gypsy Horse(Cob) came from West Sussex. John Parker took 5 days to bring him to Spain and he was as fresh and calm when he arrived as the first morning I saw him. Thanks John!
I was really worried though as so many people nagged me about how dangerous it could be changing Caspers diet! I guessed it would be a challenge as I live East of Malaga 2,000 feet up in the foot hills of the Almijara mountains. There is NO grazing here! Good hay is hard to find and the prices for a pensioner are challenging. A few English folks made grumbling noises, but Thousands of people here have horses, and my Appy, gelding did well, and my mules loved it, and they all manage. I knew this breed was a good doer, but Caspers attitude just seemed to be 'If it's in the manger I eat it'! The Spanish hard feed is high energy stuff(Corn, Oats, Carrob etc) and lower on fibre and fat, but Casper and I soon found using bran the fibre content could be brought up, plus a little Olive or Sunflower oil, and so I cut the Spanish feed with that and monitored his weight and manners! No hay, so I feed him clean straw as a filler (as with the mules)and he took to it. Put on weight in the right places and muscle tone, kept his stamina, and stayed cool headed! Then just recently I found a supplier of Baileys feeds who was prepared to deliver foc (40 miles). Gradually in one year Casper has changed again with No issues! High Fibre Horse and Pony Cubes. High Fibre every day Mix. He has a small amount of straw with his bucket feed morning and evening and only straw mid day! He is 8 years old and despite everyones concerns is a happy, fit, and and easy going lad and hack. Like me he hates to Gallop, and gives the mildest of protests if asked to! Even a 64 year old invalid like myself can cope with him. (I carry frozen vertibre from a broken back and deformed left arm after climbing accident, diabetes, 2 heart attacks etc, haha!). My Spanish neighbors have been level headed and unemotional, and this has supported my decision to buy another Cob. A friend who is a BHA teacher said I would "kill Casper!". How wrong could she be? Charles.

[Liz]

Hi, Charles

A few people I know have moved to Spain in recent years and taken their horses with them. One lives in the mountains north /north east of Malaga where they have afinca and a bit of land and took her Luso stallion with her. He seems to be thriving

The other is near Seville and keeps her horse at the most amazing livery yard - I visited her last autumn. Sadly, her horse did not have such a good journey. I cannot publicly post details for legal reasons. However, he's settled well and seems happy. The only downside at this yard is that there is no turn out except for some sand schools but I have to say the set-up is such that the horses seem to be quite happy. There are 2 HUGE American barns with the riding school horses in one and the liveries in the other. The barns have air conditioning and all the horses have very clean, deep beds. They are fed 3 or 4 times a day by the full time grooms and also have clean oat straw and/or alfalfa for additional fibre. The stallions, mares and geldings (not many geldings) are all in the same barn. The chief hombre has some wonderful Andalucian stallions, all working at or near Grand Prix level. I watched him take a clinic and it was superb. I don't speak Spanish but know sufficient about the subject to follow what he was demonstrating. Ther facilities are wonderful and they do have excellent out riding in a national park.

[Charles]

Liz. I'm E.N.East of Malaga to! I wonder if I know your friend? Pat and I are quite isolated here so would to to exchange email addresses with her. Maybe you could pass my email address to her? We welcome any visitors and anyone who would like to hack out on Casper! Charles.