Stable Hands Byron Bay

07/11/2024

To all my Stable Hands Family, as some of you know already, Stable Hands Byron Bay will be on hiatus while I take a prolonged break to visit family in the Uk. The last few months have thrown me quite a few curveballs and it’s been a challenging time. I’ll be back next year refreshed and ready to look after your horses and pets once again, and I will be looking to expand the Stable Hands team and client base. I want to thank all my amazing clients for their support, kindness and understanding.
I’ll be posting progress and updates on my socials, so don’t go anywhere! I’ll be back soon!
With Love, Helen 🦄

07/11/2024

Always Slow Down and be careful when passing, give them a wide berth too!

Please be aware that horse riders sometimes ride in double file to protect novice riders or nervous horses, are often able to see and hear further ahead than a motorist, and may signal to you. The riders may be children or young people. Horses are powerful animals that are easily frightened and can panic in traffic. Please slow down and give them plenty of room when overtaking.

22/10/2024

No wonder we don’t need the gym when we have horses! 🤣

𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚖𝚗 𝚌𝚊𝚔𝚎 🍰🧁🎂

21/10/2024

New advice for worming your horses to prevent resistance. Key take aways: FECs should be used as a tool to inform you about your horse’s worm burden BEFORE using a treatment. There are new tests available for worms the FEC doesn’t pick up on, and a low worm burden can be healthy for your horse so it can build immunity. A new horse to the premises should always have an FEC done straight away before any treatment is given. Good read, lots of information! Always consult your vet or specialist for advice about your particular horse🐴🪱

New guidelines on equine worm control have been launched – with the warning: “If horse owners don’t make these changes now, it will be too late.” Cross-sector group CANTER (Controlling Antiparasitic resistance in Equines Responsibly), has published a “crucial” document setting out key pr...

09/10/2024

I will never be able to describe the power of time spent cleaning stalls.

During this time I have made some of the biggest decisions in my life. I have silently thought my way, step by step, through some of the biggest disasters of my life. I have ugly cried my way through heartbreak all while cleaning stalls. I’ve thrown bags of sawdust in range as I thought about all of the s**tty things going on in my life. Each stall has oddly given me a place of comfort as I stood, fork in hand, feeling empty during the times I’ve felt so alone. It has taught me to appreciate the serenity of the quiet. Realizing the ones in my life I can count on and the numerous fake people who are only present when convenient for themselves. I’ve enjoyed a free gym membership, as I’ve sculpted my back and shoulders into “he man”, just sifting away. I’ve stumbled my way, dry heaving, with sunglasses ....cleaning stalls through morning sickness, because god forbid my best friend be forced to stand in a dirty stall. Today I spend my morning cleaning stalls and processing my life. I’m mentally making life changing decisions, as I write this post, knowing that whatever I decide, it will be the right one, as it was made in a stall.

I understand that there are those who think us horse people should get “real” jobs. And that all we do is spend our days “playing” around. I’m genuinely sorry that you have never been exposed to a lifestyle that teaches you discipline, how to love unconditionally, put something other then yourself first, bust your ass for the things you want and need, kept humble by a 1200 lb animal, the real meaning of “hard work”, early mornings and late nights spent caring for something other than YOU. Those are things a “real job” will never give you.

Some of you haven’t cleaned stalls .....and it shows.

- Aubrey Burwell

26/09/2024

Keep a close eye on this weather system everyone!

2 LOWS FOR SEQLD & NENSW - Widespread Rain, Possible Flooding, Damaging Winds & Dangerous Surf! *Share + Tag family and friends*
A cold core upper low will track North East into both areas tonight causing instability to increase. Scattered showers, rain areas and isolated storms with hail are expected to develop this afternoon and evening through North East NSW into Southern inland QLD. This activity is likely to push into SEQLD early Friday morning (Blue line & arrow).
The upper low is expected to spawn a surface low just off the NENSW & SEQLD coasts overnight Friday before intensifying in strength during Saturday. The 2 lows are forecast to become aligned into one (White circle & arrows). Heavy rainfall is likely between Port Macquarie and Tweed Heads including inland areas to the ranges with current data suggesting up to 200mm is possible - this could lead to some flooding given the ground is already wet. Depending on EXACTLY where the low develops will determine the heaviest rainfall - if it is slightly further north then heavy falls will spread into the Gold Coast and Brisbane as well so watch for forecast updates and changes for that. Scattered showers and rain areas are likely across SEQLD (along and east of the ranges) during Saturday.
Damaging South to South Easterly winds up to 100kmhr are possible on Friday and Saturday for exposed parts of the Gold Coast - Hinterland, Border Ranges and Main Range of SEQLD, Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast in NSW.
Dangerous surf and beach conditions also expected along the NENSW coast into the southern SEQLD coast.
So overall across SEQLD it is going to be wet, cold and windy on Friday & Saturday - if the low develops further north severe threats could include parts of SEQLD. NENSW watch for severe weather with heavy rain, flash flooding, damaging winds and dangerous surf.
*** To access our full forecast details with high resolution maps, more towns, rain, storm and flood maps plus live warnings sent to your email and phone click to subscribe here *** >>> https://higginsstormchasing.com/subscribe/

ECMWF rain forecast via weatherwatch.net.au

18/09/2024

Long toes only affect the navicular right?

The leg has a series of joints. The metacarpo-phalangeal joint (fetlock), the proximal interphalangeal joint and distal interphalangeal joint (Pastern and coffin). Each one of these joints is a centre of rotation and because of how the digit is not underneath the limb, but in front off, each of these joints is profoundly affected by the distance from its centre of rotation to the point at which the ground acts through the hoof. In the form of the turning force (moment).
An increased turning force must be counteracted by whatever keeps those joints from descending under the load, the tendons AND ligaments.

Hence why long toes affect ALL of the soft tissue structures on the back of the leg. Both tendons and the suspensory!

If you would like this information clarified, explained in simpler terms and would like an introductory lesson in equine digit biomechanics then join myself and The study of the equine hoof on the 3rd Oct at 7pm BST where I will be doing just that.

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/digit-biomechanics-101

10/09/2024

Make sure you pups are fully vaccinated, and your older dogs have their annual vaccinations 🐶

PARVO VIRUS CASES IN BALLINA.

Dog owners please be aware there have been reported cases of parvovirus in the Ballina area.

Please take the time to research this virus and familiarise yourself with the signs, symptoms and transmission of the virus.

It is a highly contagious and hearty virus.

If you suspect your dog or puppy is affected call your vet for advice. Do not walk in unannounced and risk exposing others.

We will be operating with caution so as not to put animals in our care at risk.
Parvo is a devasting and often fatal virus so please respect safety measures put in place.

Please ensure your dog or puppy is fully vaccinated and vaccinations are kept up to date.

15/08/2024

SAVE THE DATE!!!

We are back & diving straight into a T-Shirt hack and Jumping Equitation day. This day is a great opportunity to dust off your cobwebs to prepare for the spring shows ahead or to learn the ropes of competing in the hack ring. We have also added a great Jumping Equitation program to perfect your style and technique over a jumping course.

We have a great program being released in a couple of days with equally great prizes.

11/08/2024

Very important when overtaking horses on the road, and well demonstrated, give us at least 2 metres, and pass slowly 🙏🏼

08/08/2024

Come and join us for a day of brumbies! Led classes, ridden classes and classes just for fun.

08/08/2024

After spending a week learning from Tami Elkayam Equine Bodywork and a week decompressing, I’ve finally gathered my thoughts enough to string some words together.

These are the 5 things that keep coming up for me when I’m talking to people.

1. Living has a price and that is expressed in the body. It is rare to see a horse who is conformationally perfect. A body at anytime is adapting to its internal and external environment. These can be seen as compensations. The more opportunity we give the body to compensate, the longer it can hold itself together. The body doesn’t need to be pretty, just functional.

2. Symmetry is bad. If a biological body was symmetrical it would break. Ambidexterity is the goal. If a body was perfectly symmetrical there would be no room for error. The bones and organs that make up a horse are not symmetrical so why would we expect the horse to be symmetrical.

3. Fascia is an indicator of the metabolic state of the horse. Stress internally and externally causes a pH change within the horse and has a massive impact on the health of the fascia. Ensuring we reduce stress in our horses lives wherever possible can have a large impact on the health of the tissues that make up their bodies.

4. The diaphragm is connected to the hind legs and therefore canter can be a really rehabilitative gait. The diaphragm is the biggest pump in the body. The contents of viscera (internal organs of the main cavity of the body) aids in exhalation and inhalation by creating a vacuum.

5. ‘You’re not lame in one foot, you’re lame in all four’. Everything is connected, you can’t look at things two dimensionally. We only notice s**t is really wrong when the front end of the horse fails. It is our job, as owners, to note when changes occur, before the whole horse is falling apart.

07/08/2024

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱

Positive reinforcement is essential in effective horse training, and understanding what truly motivates your horse can make all the difference. While many trainers use praise and pats as rewards, scratching offers a more meaningful and beneficial alternative for your horse.

𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴
Horses have unique preferences when it comes to rewards. A simple pat on the neck or enthusiastic praise might not resonate with them in the way we expect. Instead, scratching mimics the natural behaviours horses use to interact with each other. In the wild, horses use their teeth to scratch each other’s necks, which is both a social interaction and a practical behaviour that helps alleviate discomfort.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨
Scratching has a calming effect on horses. Studies have shown that when horses scratch each other at the base of the withers, their heart rate lowers by about 10 beats per minute. This is a clear indicator that scratching is more than just a pleasant gesture; it’s a stress-relieving action that horses find highly rewarding.

𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨
At Pony Club, we emphasise the use of scratching as part of our reward-based training techniques. Here’s why it’s effective:

▪️ Immediate Gratification: For positive reinforcement to work, the reward needs to be given immediately after the desired behaviour. Scratching provides instant, tangible gratification for your horse.

▪️ Meaningful Reward: Unlike loud praise or pats, scratching is something horses naturally enjoy. It directly addresses their physical comfort and mimics the social grooming they experience with other horses.

▪️ Stress Relief: The calming effect of scratching can help reduce stress and anxiety, making it an ideal reward during training sessions.

𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘜𝘴𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘌𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺
When incorporating scratching into your training routine, keep the following tips in mind:

1️⃣ Be Consistent: Use scratching as a reward consistently to help your horse associate it with positive behaviours.

2️⃣ Observe Preferences: Pay attention to where your horse likes to be scratched the most—some might prefer the neck, while others might enjoy it on their withers or back.

3️⃣ Combine with Other Rewards: While scratching is highly effective, you can also combine it with other forms of positive reinforcement, like treats, to enhance the reward.

In conclusion, scratching is a powerful and beneficial form of positive reinforcement that aligns with your horse’s natural behaviours and needs. By incorporating scratching into your training, you’re not only rewarding your horse effectively but also fostering a deeper bond built on understanding and respect.

Happy training, and remember to keep those scratches coming! 🐴✨

07/08/2024

Some great points here!

Make Them Carry Their Saddle

A father of a darling girl and I were talking last week and he said that he wanted his daughter to ride more and not have to do the work part of the catching, grooming, and saddling. I smiled as I explained.

Riding horses is a combination of strength, timing, and balance. Kids in this country are physically weak (unless they are actively involved with weight training and physical conditioning 4+ times a week.)

When you walk out to the field, you are clearing your stress from being under fluorescent lights all day; feeling the sun soak into your bones. As your body moves on uneven surfaces, it strengthens your legs and core.

When you groom your horse (especially currying), you are toning your arms and stabilizing your core.

When you carry your saddle, your arms, chest, and back are doing isolated strengthening work.

Being near horses, calms and makes you tune into the splendor of these empathetic animals.

When you ride at a posting trot, it’s equivalent to a slow jog calorie burn wise.

After a lesson, the riders are physically tired and mentally quiet and balanced.

Horses feel your heart beat and mirror your emotions back.

Riding large and somewhat unpredictable animals makes you resilient and pushes your expectations.

Working with horses is so much more than learning how to ride.

So parents, make your children carry their saddles. Don’t do the hard parts for them, as long term it actually hurts them. To advance with their riding, they must get stronger. You can help by doing the high parts.

I love having you all at the farm, and am so grateful to get to share these fascinating animals with you.

Hannah Campbell Zapletal