Isi
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Post by Isi on Sept 2, 2008 11:45:57 GMT 1
Thanks for all your info re vets. We take so many things for granted here in the UK, especially when living in a fairly populatd place; choice of vets, farriers, trimmers fed merchants etc!
It's quite reassuring to know there are lots of horsey people on our side of the Gers. I am looking forward to meeting new people and making new friends. I know its a while before we take the horses over but we will be visiting frequently over the next few years until we make that final move.
Pity about the trimming laws in France, I will still learn to trim my own properly, so as well as a refresher course in French conversation/language, looks like I will have to do a couple of the AEP courses.
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gillmcg
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Post by gillmcg on Sept 3, 2008 10:45:26 GMT 1
Hi isi I live in the north of the Charente on the Charente/Haute Vienne border. Very much cow and sheep country with maize and small fields sown for hay as it's quite hilly here. The hacking is pretty good as I can use small access tracks between the fields although often there are trees down across the chemins but OH and our neighbour intend to go out with the tractor and chainsaw! My only complaint is too many flies in the summer and too muddy in winter but you can't have it all - we have very few ticks here for some reason although a friend 15 minutes away has loads as well as marauding bot flies (her land is very wooded and surrounded by hunting forest so perhaps that explains it). We chose this area to be as close to the English climate for my TB as possible - although it's hotter in summer and colder in winter he can cope as he has 24/7 access to shelter. There's really nothing I've found that works for the flies except Butox diluted 1:3 and sprayed on before a ride. I'm not keen on using it all the time so I use essential oils in a cold tea base most of the time - it's effective for about 30 minutes or so to give them a bit of respite while they munch the windfall apples! I found that Concer, although content with a fly mask, started getting gunky eyes when he was wearing it every day. I can only surmise it was because he couldn't rub them on his forelegs when they were weepy so the goo built up? I don't bother with it anymore unless the flies are exceptionally bad. They spend a lot of time in the barn munching hay and sleeping during the day. The grass only stopped growing for about a month in the summer as we had no rain so I have to be careful with restricting them - I'm hoping to sort out a Paddock Paradise track system this winter but I'm a little concerned about knee high mud - depends if the weather is more wet than cold, will have to see. I digress!!
I don't miss the local saddleries - it's amazing how little you actually 'need' and how well you can improvise. I know I used to buy loads of 'stuff' that I now very happily live without. I did make sure I stocked up on decent boots and jods etc before I left the UK so I'm pretty much set for the next few years. After that, the internet will have to do. I have found an excellent French farrier who has an arab stud farm - he only trims now as he believes that horses only need shoes for remedial purposes and will refer to another master farrier if he thinks that's the case. He is also a shiatsu practitioner with good results.
You'll find there are lots of 'horsey' expats over here - we come for the cheap land but there the similarity can end so be selective. My French neighbours think I should be firm friends with every Brit within a 100 km radius.....I'll say no more!. One useful thing set up by a Brit over here is an online forum for horse owners in the N.Charente and we meet up every month or so. Last month an American (living with a French partner who is also a riding instructor/trainer) gave a fascinating talk on useful herbs to grow with cuttings from her land.
There are only a couple of things I can put my hand on my heart and say I do really miss - company riding out occasionally (as I think we're much more likely to push ourselves a bit more in company - I find I make excuses not to ride which I would obviously be less inclined to do if I'd made arrangements to ride with someone) and my excellent UK vet who I trust implicitly. Not to say there aren't good vets out here but sometimes the language barrier can be a problem as well as the cultural differences. The best local equine vet is Belgian! There is also a UK vet who comes over for consultations as well as an EDT.
Re work: very very difficult to find over here unless your french is fluent (even then they tend to have a very 'old fashioned' selection process e.g. family, friends, french - probably in that order!) or set up your own business which is incredibly expensive to do. In the UK people moan about tax, over here it's 'cotisations'. As a percentage of income you pay a lot more here than in the UK for Govt services. You also have to pay a percentage of your health care costs although you can take out insurance to pay that if you can afford it. There are a lot of Brits under retirement age going back to the UK as they just can't earn a living here so that needs careful thought......
Bon courage!!! Gill
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Isi
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Post by Isi on Sept 5, 2008 10:43:48 GMT 1
Hi Gill,
Great to hear from you. I never thought there would be so many Horsey Brits on here!
I really am finding it very interesting and reassuring hearing everyones experiences about living in France with horses. Thank you so much for sharing with me.
It's funny isn't it? It's not like I am moving to some uninhabited, god-forsaken and unchartered part of our planet but the reality of making a move to another country, even if it is just next door and part of the EU is still quite daunting. Don't get me wrong, I am very excited but it is a huge responsibility taking the horses too.
We have signed our Compromis de Vent and are visiting briefly at the end of this month to meet with 'officials' over a question about the land boundaries. All being resolved satisfactorily we hope to complete towards the end of next month.
Look forward to 'speaking' with you all again soon. Isi
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Post by marianne on Sept 5, 2008 12:24:05 GMT 1
so, Isi, next time you're here, start locating your nearest specialist horse vet/trimmer (remember, just because you're in the phone book doesn't mean they can fit you in), feed supplier, friendly farmer (to either cut or supply hay) ........... ;D
Woo hoo, this IS exciting!
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Isi
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Post by Isi on Nov 10, 2008 16:29:37 GMT 1
Yay!
Just got back from weekend in France having completed on our new house - yipppeeeee!!!
I am sooo excited - it is has actually happened - it no longer a dream.
Lots of hard work now to modernise (sympathetically of course!) and create our home in France and plant hedges around the perimeter (or fencing?) and find time to do all this whilst maintaining work, kids, horses here lol
Absolutely cannot wait to be able to move there.
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