Red Gum Equine Services

06/07/2025

Heads up.

It's just over 8 weeks until I hit the road south to Tamworth 😁 I will be away and (thus unavailable for trims) from the 6th September through to 5th October.

📝What this means is that I'm starting to sort out my schedule for the next 8 weeks.

💥I will have limited to ZERO flexibility to reschedule if a time or day suddenly doesn't suit you.💥

Unfortunately some horses will go way overdue for a trim but this can't be helped sorry. I will try and contact everyone over the coming days to book times so please have your calendars handy!

I have room for a couple of clips if needed but contact me ASAP to book in.

Thanks.

📸 Trouvaille Double Agent looking absolutely amazing. Little over 9 weeks until I start working with the big fellar, can't wait 😁

06/07/2025

I like my farrier. She's a bit different, got a few alternative ideas but basically does a decent enough job.

My horses feet are rock hard at the moment, which I know makes trimming them so much more challenging and takes a toll on her physically, so I soaked the sand in my horses stable and put her in there for a few hours before my farrier arrived to try and soften them up a bit. Apparently this worked a treat and made it so much easier to get the layers of dead sole out and tidy up the frogs.

I like my farrier. I sprayed my horse with fly spray when she arrived, it's kind of hard to do a good job on a horse that's bothered by flies. I didn't get upset when she growled at my horse a bit as she was being a bit opinionated about having her back feet done. I might do some work with her on this before the next visit 🤔

I like my farrier. I'm not going to whinge about her and run her work down because my horse was a bit tender footed after a trim. Time got away on me and I forgot to schedule her in on time so there was a fair bit of foot to come off rather than just the usual quick tidy up. I'm also not going to blame her for my horses feet deteriorating a bit. That's on me, I really should have stuck to the schedule she recommended and kept up with treatment.

I like my farrier, I respect her work and knowledge so when she told me my horse needed some treatment post trim I did just that and will keep it up.

I like my farrier, I appreciate her work, I understand that she's still learning and I am certainly not about to sack her for the odd mistake. These things happen.

01/07/2025

It's July 1 today which means new prices for trims are in effect.

Heads up.....my prices are changing 1 July 2025 ⬆️

It's the post I didn't want to do but unfortunately with the way things are going I need to increase the price for my trimming services.

🐴 Hoof trims will now be $70/horse.

🐴 Trimming lesson is $80/horse

❗️❗️❗️Horses that are difficult to trim will attract a fee of $20 in addition to the regular charge. This is non negotiable. I do what I can to bring my best self to your horse and keep my cool to do the best I can by your horse. If your horse is difficult to trim this eats into my day, reafs my body around, impacts the quality of my work and now becomes an unplanned training session.

Thanking you in advance for your understanding.

28/06/2025

2 spots now available in this clinic. Best 2 weeks with your horse (in my case it's 4 weeks given it's a 4/5 day drive each way to get to it).

🚨 𝟭 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗳𝘁! 🚨

Only one rider position left for our 10 Day Intensive Clinic!

Book now to secure that spot!

28/06/2025

Big Simon mid trim this morning. This horse was rather challenging to do his feet when I first took him on....... WAS, not any more though 😁👌

26/06/2025

Whilst I'm no longer doing lessons that doesn't mean I'm not hosting clinics...... far far from it. I still have so much more to learn and hosting and riding in clinics is a big part of that learning process.

So........ places available in the August clinic in Darwin with Anthony Desreaux. If you're intending on coming along could you please register ASAP so I can have an idea on numbers.

Got questions? Sure thing, send me a message 😊

25/06/2025

After much consideration I have unfortunately made the decision to close the lesson side of my little business.

I have a few good friends I will continue to help with their horses but outside of that..... riding and horsemanship lessons is something I will no longer offer.

Not an easy call, I've been coaching in the Top End for a little over 10 years now but is what it is.

Thanks

📸 riding Penny bridleless for the first time outside the round yard last night.

25/06/2025

According to Facebook memories I shared this this time last year and I'll share it again. My thoughts on draw reins hasn't changed. Have I used them in the past? Yep, when I was 15 for a couple of rides and didn't know any better. Thankfully I know better these days.

The words "never" and "always" leave zero room for compromise, and therefore should not be taken literally in every single case, and an example might be the use of draw reins on a horse.

What draw reins do----They give the rider enough leverage, because of the physics of basically the pulley principle, to force the horse's head into positions that can cause extreme pain, and can even cause long term damage.

They also can so thoroughly overwhelm a horse's ability to avoid them that some horses who have been ridden much in draw reins automatically come behind the vertical, like in this picture, even when ridden without draw reins, and once that happens, that the horse just "gives up," it is extremely hard damage to undo.

Now, sure, it is theoretically possible for an extremely gifted rider to use draw reins with extreme tact to correct extreme resistance without causing extreme damage or discomfort, just as some extremely gifted riders can use extreme bits without similar damaging results.

The problem, though, is that lots of riders assume that they are "extremely gifted," when they are not.

I read something that makes sense, "Draw reins should only be used by the most gifted riders in the world, but the most gifted riders in the world do not need draw reins."

So, yes, while there is theoretically a tiny window, a sliver, of wiggle room, it is probably a mistake for any of us to equate ourselves with riders so exquisitely gifted that we can use devices like these safely.

Which means, since many riders use these things daily, that there are more exquisitely gifted riders out there than we realize, or there are lots of arrogant riders out there who think they are, and which situation is accurate, I leave to others to judge----

24/06/2025

How well does your horse follow a feel on the halter?

Are they "be lead by your 9 week old puppy while your other half fogs for mosquitoes" type follow the feel?

Bit of cuteness for the afternoon.

24/06/2025

I installed a flood light off the front of my stables over the weekend and wowzers, will definitely be a handy addition.

When I was talking to the better half about what I wanted in terms of electrics in the stables I kept the brief pretty simple......

Lots of power points and light the stables up like the MCG!

The lighting setup is far in excess of what is really needed for feeding horses late at night and early morning. One single baton light would have been sufficient and 1 fan oscillating is enough to keep the horses comfortable so not really any need to install another 2 more (which will be done before the Build Up).

A more simple setup would have saved me a lot of money BUT I designed the lighting and electrical setup for, heaven forbid, that unexpected middle of the night vet visit. One stable will have 2 fans on it to help keep a sick horse comfortable or cool a horse that has overheated. There's 3 power points there because why the hell not 🤷‍♀️

No one ever said "I really wish I had less lights/power points/fans"

Rather have and not need than need and not have ;)

23/06/2025

Little update re: upcoming clinics with Anthony Desreaux in Darwin.

✅️ Darwin clinic 9, 10 and 11 August - places available, contact me for more information and to register. Optional 4th day for this clinic unfortunately no longer available.

❌️ Alice Springs clinic on the 16, 17 and 18 August has unfortunately had to be cancelled due to lack of interest :(

📝 If you're intending on joining us at the Darwin clinic but haven't yet registered could you please do so ASAP so we can have an idea of numbers.

⁉️ Any questions? Sure, feel free to send me a message.

Thank you 😊

23/06/2025

The amount of people who told me to simply smother my new saddle in powder to stop it squeaking was insane. I didn't, I conditioned it once or twice (got warned big time about over conditioning it too!) and just put it to work. It's still a bit squeaky but meh. Read the caption on this video and get the powder away from your saddle!