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19/01/2008, 8:43 Martinwatkins Joined on 23/08/2004 W Devon/NE Perigord Posts 1,018 Re: horsey advice needed please! Quote: Golly Martin, I didn't know you were a fellow Fell person. Well it's really Wendy who's the pony fanatic.    Bert is 16 and rather lazy,  coupled with an extremely clear view of what he likes (and likes not) to do. He does love pulling a trap,   and we duly shipped our (rather small) vehicle out the first year.    Four weeks later we were unceremoniously dumped in a ditch outside Genis while Bert and an only partially-upright trap rattled off at high speed towards the village.   I had lost my boots in the accident so was pursuing him in socks.   We managed to commandeer a Brit car to join in the chase,   and although Bert was shaken and had a minor cut where a shaft had poked him we were all unscathed,  although the trap has never been the same since.    No matter,   I made a formal declaration that I was NOT going out in the wretched thing again so it's at the back of the barn and Wendy goes out on a saddle,   which is much less to Bert's liking. We did use the trap one more time (both of us hanging on to Bert's head) to conduct a French bride to her wedding as no-one else for miles around has a pony and trap.    It was nerve-wracking. Have you all noticed how a superficially deserted French village (particularly at lunch time) will transform into a bustling hive of activity if the Brits organise a "spectacle" for the inhabitants?     I had no idea how many people lived on the eastern fringes of Genis until our "incident" with a runaway pony. I'd add a photo of Bert but there's no point - they all look exactly the same! Do you (did you?) have a Fell?    I thought it was internal combustion that fired you up Coops!    Report

19/01/2008, 8:49 Martinwatkins Joined on 23/08/2004 W Devon/NE Perigord Posts 1,018 Re: horsey advice needed please! re return to the UK   (Jacqui Too) I'll get Wendy to post more if necessary cos she deals with this,  and obviously P & L Luck do most of the paperwork,   but I CAN tell you that a vet inspection before return to the UK is no longer necessary. The first year we took Bert back and forth we had to get our French vet out to inspect him (one of the most cursory (and cheap) inspections I've ever witnessed,  a quick glance and a <<Oui,  il est tres beau>>) before he went home,   but that requirement was dropped in 2003.  We just ring up the Lucks (who have become great friends) and tell them our dates.    They then pick up Bert whenever they're "passing" and then - very kindly - keep him at Liskeard until we're back (whichever way we're going) and then bring him on to us.    It makes the whole thing very easy,   and the cost remains bearable because he's always got a few others going as well.    He travels very well,   and adores Peter and Lynette,   and positively skips onto the lorry (althouh being a Fell his interest in food over-rules any other considerations so he's a sucker for a tempting snack strategically placed!)    Report

19/01/2008, 10:00 cooperlola Joined on 05/05/2006 72 - Sarthe - home of les 24 heures du Mans Posts 6,408 Re: horsey advice needed please! duplicate deleted - at it again! Healthcare Issues Site    Report

19/01/2008, 10:00 cooperlola Joined on 05/05/2006 72 - Sarthe - home of les 24 heures du Mans Posts 6,408 Re: horsey advice needed please! Yes, I do, Martin And oddly, this pic' was taken 5 minutes after coming off said lorry. Healthcare Issues Site    Report

19/01/2008, 11:06 Martinwatkins Joined on 23/08/2004 W Devon/NE Perigord Posts 1,018 Re: horsey advice needed please! Thanks coops,   lovely pic.   A big contrast to the grey wet January day outside our Devon windows this am.    Bert looks more like a seal than a pony at the moment,  although he really isn't that bothered by rain.     Report

19/01/2008, 11:11 cooperlola Joined on 05/05/2006 72 - Sarthe - home of les 24 heures du Mans Posts 6,408 Re: horsey advice needed please! Yup, Bronte doesn't look like that at the moment either.  In fact, her camouflage is so good she is hard to distinguish from the muddly field she is standing in. Healthcare Issues Site    Report

19/01/2008, 11:32 Jacqui Too Joined on 23/08/2004 Shropshire / Dordogne 24 Posts 682 Re: horsey advice needed please!  Martinwatkins wrote: re return to the UK   (Jacqui Too) I'll get Wendy to post more if necessary cos she deals with this,  and obviously P & L Luck do most of the paperwork,   but I CAN tell you that a vet inspection before return to the UK is no longer necessary. Thank you martin, that would be brilliant. So nice to know that someone else does this and any  info would be very helpful. By the way you are only 17 miles away from me at Pommier Jackie    Report

19/01/2008, 12:06 Jacqui Too Joined on 23/08/2004 Shropshire / Dordogne 24 Posts 682 Re: horsey advice needed please!  cooperlola wrote: Yup, Bronte doesn't look like that at the moment either.  In fact, her camouflage is so good she is hard to distinguish from the muddly field she is standing in. I know what you mean: mud I'm a bit a a fair weather rider now but even when we get a nice day it takes so long to clean him off  that I'm knacked before we start!! Looks like you have wonderful grazing. Mine would have to be fed  hay as the grazing is poor and stony Jackie    Report

19/01/2008, 16:16 Martinwatkins Joined on 23/08/2004 W Devon/NE Perigord Posts 1,018 Re: horsey advice needed please! Hi Jacqui - not sure I can add a huge amount to what's already been said (Martin seems to remember a lot for somone who claims not to be interested in horses!). However, I understand from our transporter Lynette, that the ferry captain has the authority to refuse to allow horses on board if he considers that the sea is too rough, so in theory you could find yourselves stuck in Portsmouth or wherever for a while.  Less likely in the summer I suppose but who knows these days! Bert has always travelled as a part load and has never taken more than 48 hours to get to us door to door from the transporter's base,  usually nearer 24.  I was advised - to my initial surprise - to travel him 'naked' so to speak, as they can get quite warm even with aircon. in the lorry, and slipping boots and/or rugs are more likely to cause trouble than being without. I think one advantage of using a professional company as we do is that they are regular uses of the port and so are well known which perhaps helps if there are ever any local difficulties.  Also a big lorry has more room if they get held up; one time on the way back (via Roscoff) when Bert was alone this happened but he was able to have 3 or 4 compartments opened up thus allowing him to pass the time lying down in comfort! As far as the paperwork goes, there's always an export licence tucked in his passport when he gets to us in France.  I know this has to be applied for in advance and seems to be valid for just over a month. For the return trip I think it's just the passport but you would need to check that. Hope this helps.  Perhaps we could meet up during the summer. W.    Report

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France Forum » Living » Pets » Re: horsey advice needed please!

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