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Hi Judybos Sorry didn't mean to make you glum !  My horses travelled well and like another forum member said best to let the experts do it if you can.  I didn't give acp or anything else.  One thing you should be aware of which you may not already be, there is a tick disease horses (and dogs) can get here in France called Piroplasmosis.  One of my horses had it recently and its very VERY VERY scary.  If you don't catch it early enoough a horse can die within 4 days - YES 4 days.  The classic signs to look out for are lethargic, slightly wobbly on legs, generally gloomy, high temperature, it goes from there to not eating, sweating and unable to walk.  Apparently the tick attacks the red blood cells causing anaemia etc.  If you handle your horse every day it should be fairly easy to spot.  Unlike dogs, horses cannot be injected against the disease and the only thing you can do is spray insect repellent all over the body to try and prevent the ticks attaching.  Not just any old repellent though, you must get it from the vet.  They use it on cattle too !  Thankfully my horse survived, but it has taken him well over a month to regain full strength and vitality. Small bales of hay are normally approx 1.40 euro's, but take care the french don't seem to know about ragwort !  I can't get any English make horse feed here in the Loire Valley, but have found a great alternative called Dynavena.  Also our local mill makes a very good mix. If i can help any more please e mail me [email protected]. Good luck

Hi Judybos Sorry didn't mean to make you glum !  My horses travelled well and like another forum member said best to let the experts do it if you can.  I didn't give acp or anything else.  One thing you should be aware of which you may not already be, there is a tick disease horses (and dogs) can get here in France called Piroplasmosis.  One of my horses had it recently and its very VERY VERY scary.  If you don't catch it early enoough a horse can die within 4 days - YES 4 days.  The classic signs to look out for are lethargic, slightly wobbly on legs, generally gloomy, high temperature, it goes from there to not eating, sweating and unable to walk.  Apparently the tick attacks the red blood cells causing anaemia etc.  If you handle your horse every day it should be fairly easy to spot.  Unlike dogs, horses cannot be injected against the disease and the only thing you can do is spray insect repellent all over the body to try and prevent the ticks attaching.  Not just any old repellent though, you must get it from the vet.  They use it on cattle too !  Thankfully my horse survived, but it has taken him well over a month to regain full strength and vitality. Small bales of hay are normally approx 1.40 euro's, but take care the french don't seem to know about ragwort !  I can't get any English make horse feed here in the Loire Valley, but have found a great alternative called Dynavena.  Also our local mill makes a very good mix. If i can help any more please e mail me [email protected]. Good luck

Hi there - good luck is all i can say.   don't mean to be doom and gloom, but i brought my horses over 18 months ago, and it just isn't the same in france - nothing is the same, grass, feed, competitions etc - you need to be prepared before your horse arrives.  i didn't need to restrict the grazing, but it wouldn't do any harm for a few days just to be on the safe side. as for the tunnel rather than the ferry 18 months ago you couldn't bring horses across on the tunnel, i don't know whether things have changed now, check it out. good luck julie

are you still looking for somewhere ?  we may be able to help - e mail me on [email protected] if you're interested.   Julie

please look at www.loirevalleygites.com, we can negotiate price for long term lets, and can accommodate you for the period you require.  we are approx 35 mins from Angers close to Saumur.   Julie

Hi, in response to your message, please look at www.loirevalleygites.com - we can accommodate 24, and could negotiate the price for that amount of guests.   thanks Julie

hi - it took us an age to find this sort of equipment, but if you have an "Espace Emeraude" - hope its spelt right ! they sell all that sort of stuff, or you could try a mail order catalogue called JLB - tel : 03 22 87 39 11. Failing that look on the internet, www.jlb-horse.com - good luck

hi - hope you enjoy your life here in France, its a pity you are not closer to Saumur, we have a cane suite and table which is now surplus to requirements due to the fact that we don't have a conservatory here. its sitting in our attic collecting dust - malheureusement ! hope you find what you're looking for.

i think you're on to a loser here - the French don't do horse shows as we know them ! i have searched high and low in our area 49. if however i am wrong please let me know - i long to see horse show as we know it !!

i read your message and was delighted - we do everything you ask for, and more - maybe you should come and stay at our gites sometime. we are in the loire valley if you would like to know more send me an e mail or look on www.loirevalleygites.com

we live in area 49 and i am looking for a good condition second hand double horse trailer - anybody got one for sale ??