How To - General Equine Advice

Whether you should buy a horse unseen is a controversial topic that is often raised in equestrian discussion groups and is one that usually produces strong opinions either way. What with the current changes to the world and the restrictions in place due to COVID-19, it got me thinking about what can be done to increase the chances of such a purchase being successful. Before lockdown number 3, I was a phone call away from buying a horse without actually seeing it. I had found, on paper at leas...

While the option of loaning a horse – rather than buying – is often dismissed as a risky endeavour, with the right guidance, loaning or part loaning/sharing a horse can be a great opportunity for all three parties; the owner, the loanee and the horse itself. I started out my equestrian journey by loaning my little Welsh pony, Buster – who is actually still living with me after we made him a permanent part of the family many years ago – and I have been loaning two ex-racehorses, Jake a...

Do you ever feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day? Juggling work, family, social life, horses and everything else life throws at us in between can be overwhelming at times. We leave the house at the crack of dawn and don’t get home till after dark, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Now, I know most of us wouldn’t change that for the world; we are dedicated to the sport and love our horses too much for that. But, when we are constantly on the go and rushing through life at 10...

Now that the weather has made a turn for the worse, the nights are drawing in and typically, we are spending less time moving around outside, our cardiovascular fitness levels can drop very quickly unless we keep on top of it. Cardio is a bit like marmite; you either love it or hate it! From my experience, when you tell someone they need to improve their cardio, they instantly think they have to run for miles on end, and the thought of that isn't very pleasant, especially when it's dark, ...

Horses are certainly not cheap to keep. And now with the uncertainties of the effects of Covid 19 continuing for the foreseeable future, we all need to be even more careful with our hard-earned cash. Here are my starters for ten on top tips to save money on your horsy expenses. 1. Look at your livery costs - Review what you’re paying for at your yard. Could you swap to do some of the work yourself if this is allowed? Can you turn your horse out more? They’ll be more relaxed, less fre...

There are many reasons why one might wish to sell a horse. Plenty of reputable people make a living from taking on horses and training them up with the intention of being sold on. Others may simply have to face the fact that their trusty steed is no longer suitable for the job they need them for or that due to a change in circumstance, keeping them is no longer viable. Whatever the reason for selling a horse, it is essential that the horse’s long term welfare be considered in all aspects of...