Freedom And Motion Equine Park

05/11/2025

28/10/2025

27/10/2025

The Trouble With Touch😬

You know that phrase “gentle as a mother’s touch”? Turns out, it’s not just sentimental fluff - it’s neuroscience with a pulse.

Research shows mothers instinctively stroke their babies at the perfect speed and pressure to activate C-tactile afferents - nerve fibres designed to whisper “you’re safe” to the brain. This slows the infant’s heart rate, lowers stress, and regulates both mother and child in one elegant biological feedback loop.

But here’s the catch: that system evolved for HUMANS.

And while horses are mammals too, that doesn’t make us the same species on different legs. My theory? Horses have to learn to accept and enjoy our touch - because their sensory systems weren’t built for it. They are profoundly sensory animals, guided by highly developed sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste - often far sharper than ours. These senses are their survival network, helping them detect danger, gather information, and interact with their world. It’s why they notice things we don’t - and why they can be so sensitive to things we barely register.

When a horse feels uneasy, every nerve is tuned to danger. Our instinct to reach out and stroke them in that moment? It’s like waving a sparkler in a blackout. We’re trying to soothe ourselves while overloading their already-strained sensory radar.

That’s why horses get tense in the wind - it’s not bad behaviour, it’s sensory overwhelm. Wind dulls hearing and blurs scent, leaving them more alert. And yet, that’s when we’re most likely to touch them - adding yet another layer of sensory noise.

Horses, in contrast, prefer touch that’s slower, firmer, and more deliberate - the kind of grounded contact you’d see in mutual grooming. It’s steady, not fluttery or fast. And they prefer to get to know you first.

I restrain the urge to rub or fuss and instead find a horse’s favourite scratchy spot, introducing myself slowly until I see them soften - breathing, blinking, and feeling safe enough to enjoy it.

Understanding this isn’t about being less loving; it’s about being a little less instinctual human and a little more thoughtful human. Awareness lets us meet horses where they are - not where our nervous systems wish they were.

So before you reach out, ask yourself:
Is this for me - or for them?

This is my Collectable Advice Entry 62/365 of my challenge to share good ideas and insights for you to select SAVE, hit SHARE but please do not copy and paste.

Also, a shout out to my good friend Zoe Beattie for drawing my attention to this research ❤

25/10/2025

CAN A HUMAN REPLACE A HERD MATE?

Many owners assume their company alone is enough to keep a horse relaxed. In a new study of riding-school Warmblood mares and geldings, researchers tested whether a calm human can stand in for equine company during brief separations, and found the effect was limited at best.

For the first part of the study each horse stood with two familiar herd mates. In the next three-minute phase, they were separated from the others but remained with a familiar handler. During this isolation period, the horses showed clear signs of stress: their heart rate was higher and heart-rate variability lower.

Across repeated sessions, the handler either stayed neutral, offered calm stroking, spoke quietly, or did both. None consistently reduced the individual horses stress. Quiet talking produced the most consistent (yet still minor) benefit, mainly in geldings; mares remained the most stressed.

Behaviour was recorded in detail using a structured ethogram – a catalogue of defined behaviours – so that trained observers could record how often and how long behavioural indicators of stress (e.g. calling, fidgeting, raised head/neck posture, ear/face tension) appeared in each phase. Heart activity was measured using a wireless heart monitor to assess heart rate and heart-rate variability.

Separation is inherently stressful for many horses, and a human cannot entirely replace equine company. Put your horse’s social needs first, ensure they have regular, predictable time with their herd mates.

If they become anxious when taken away from others, build exposure gradually, keep sessions short, and prioritise management that ensures they can see and hear their equine friends. When separation is unavoidable, a calm human voice may help some horses, but don’t expect it to solve the stress of isolation.

Study: Pisanska et al. (2025). Social Isolation of Horses vs. Support Provided by a Human. Animals.

23/10/2025

18/10/2025

17/10/2025

11/10/2025

08/10/2025

🌟 We are thrilled to announce our second Cushing’s & Laminitis Clinic! 🌟 Saturday 25th October 2025

This is your chance to come and learn the very latest, cutting-edge knowledge about managing Cushing’s and laminitis in horses and ponies.

🗓 Date & Time: 10:00am – 12:30pm
☕ Bonus: We’ll finish the morning with scones and a cuppa!
💲 Cost: Free to attend

We’re especially proud to share that some of our very own HSES ponies contributed to a Melbourne University Vet School study on Cushing’s and laminitis. That groundbreaking research has now been recognised on the world stage – winning a prestigious award presented by Princess Anne at the BEVA Awards in the UK! 🏆🇬🇧

Come along, enjoy a relaxed and informative morning, and celebrate this exciting milestone with us.

👉 RSVP / via a PM or email [email protected]
🔗 Learn more about the award here: https://www.beva.org.uk/News/Latest-News/Details/BEVA-honours-excellence-with-Awards-Ceremony