MB Equine

23/01/2025

Last weeks antics!

A WHOLE field, and Camilla chooses to roll next to the fence.

This mare is so chill… she just laid still in no panic just wondering when she can start eating again!

Thank you dad & Natalie for finding her while I was doing stables… she had only been out for less than a hour!

So grateful to have Hampden Equine Vets onsite, a special thank you to Lienna for helping us get all 730kg of her out without a scratch.

What a joy to have horses 😉😂✨

23/01/2025

How I feel seeing the weather forecast for rain & winds as if we haven’t had enough already. 🥺😩

21/01/2025

📸 Equine & Canine Mini Photo Shoots – March 15, 2025
🐴 Location: MB Equine at Hampden Vets, Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire

✨ Mini Shoot Package:
🌟 £99
• 5 High-Resolution Digital Images
• 5 Low-Resolution Digital Images

🌳 Venue Highlights:
• Two stunning tree-lined driveways, ideal for natural, picturesque shots
• Gorgeous overhead tree line for unique and elegant portraits
• Option for striking black background photography for a timeless look

Celebrate the bond with your horse or dog in this beautiful setting with Fae Loudoun Photography.

💌 Limited slots available – book now!

📅 Reserve your session today!

19/01/2025

Counting down the days to summer. Can’t wait for more memories to hold forever with the best people ☀️💗

18/01/2025

The coolest Connie🤍

Love a Tiggy ride, she always reminds me of my Brandy boy the feel she gives you.✨

Amelia Bowler photography creds 📸

17/01/2025

Yard doggy Rex on arena door control… 💙

17/01/2025

Dark Symphonie - AKA Sophie 🖤
Foal➡️Now

How lucky is my mother?! Colette Bassinder

In fact, as a family; we are all incredibly lucky to have this mare in our lives. She is one of a kind, she can adjust to whoever is on board. She takes it all in her stride and gives you a wonderful ride. ❣️

She also has a full time job of watching, caring and mentoring Felix… we watch them out the window and poor Soph is always making sure he’s not committing crimes (he’s a maniac in the field). 😏

16/01/2025

Felix doing well, even full of beans 💙

16/01/2025

PUSHING horses TOO FAST

"Although breeders have created a better horse, the market has created a demand for a stronger, healthier, more powerful horse. It's easier to sell a horse that looks like a carefully developed eight-year-old, and not like a three- or four-year-old just beginning his career. If you force it, you can get a three-year-old to physically look like a developed eight-year-old.” Klaus Balkenhol

Too many young horses are not allowed to mature slowly at grass (and by grass I mean old pasture, with access to varying types of land for minerals, different terrain to challenge ligaments/muscle development and a variety of legumes/hedges etc to forage).
Instead, rising 3yos are brought into stables, put into an exercise programme and fed high levels of concentrates. They develop muscle mass, but not enough bone structure to support it. They look mature from the outside but they aren't . . . and when you start to work these horses, degeneration sets in. Elite sales and age competitions create pressure to push horses too fast too soon - with the lure of high prices as a “reward” for pushing these horses.

We do start our horses at 3, but only lightly. They will come in and have a few weeks driving in long reins, be sat on, hacked up the lanes and they will wtc in the arena a couple of times before we let them off again until their 4yo year. They are usually overlooked as 3yos because they don’t look like the ones at the elite sales - but that is because we choose not to produce horses in that manner, not because we lack the quality of horse. They are very commercial 4/5/6yos so we choose to play the long game for the benefit of the horse.

As 4 and 5yos, we continue in the same ethos. The horses alternate between periods of work and periods of rest back at grass in a small herd. When in work they aren’t drilled in the arena daily, they do lots of slow hacking and riding on different terrain. They do very few shows! They are let off to grass for the winters (Dec/Jan) of their 4 and 5yo years if they are still here with us. By 6 you have a well conditioned, mentally well adjusted horse who is ready for more serious work and competition.

Will we ever be rich? Probably not 🤣 but are we happy? Very ❤️ we are the custodians of these wonderful animals, we brought them lovingly into the world and by taking this approach to their growth and training (as well as being selective about who we sell them to) we hopefully ensure a long and happy future for each of them.

So if you want a 3yo that looks like an 8yo…. The elite sales are the place for you.

If you want a horse with carefully thought out breeding, from good, proven dam lines, that has been slowly and carefully produced - come to us. You will need to come with an open mind, have a little bit of vision, a willingness to be patient and the ability to trust us. But if you can do all that, you will understand why our small customer base keep coming back to us and become life long friends.

Horse first - sport second. And we mean that. Anyone is welcome to come and visit our farm in the west of Ireland and see these wonderful horses growing up happy and healthy 🙂

"The horse must perform from joy, not subservience. Praising a horse frequently with voice, a gentle pat, or relaxing the reins is very important to keep the horse interested and willing” - Klaus Blakenhol

15/01/2025

Miss Maisy is looking far to well fed🫣

🚫Not one of my horses come out of winter underweight, there is no excuse for it even with lack of grazing if caring for them properly.

Although Maisy here is far to chunky for my liking, her paddock does not have the most grazing however we make sure she is not lacking any vitamins/minerals with good quality hay & feed. 🍽️🌾🤍

13/01/2025

⚠️We are inundated with messages so please bear with me and I will get back to these within the next 48hrs.

What a week it was last week!🥶

❄️When the pipes freeze - even though they are purposely well insulated! You start the process of endlessly boiling the kettle, picking up the buckets and the long journey of getting water to the horses begins.

🧤You endlessly loose gloves by removing them so many times a day as you can’t do any buckles with them on. By the time all the field throughs are smashed, hays put out to those who need it… the morning is over!

💪🏻The hard work that gets put in, the dedication, the hours outside in these freezing cold days to make sure that the horses are taken care of.

Hats off to all horse owners and yards in these tough times. If nobody has told you lately, you are doing a great job!👏🏻

Just want to say thank you to our wonderful girls - Tash, Tayla, calen and annabel for all your extra hard work this week. ❤️

This week is looking warmer, so let’s look forward to better days🧡⭐️☀️

11/01/2025

All our liveries will fill in a form which provides us with emergency contacts ,vet practice, farrier etc for both horse and owner if something was to happen. These are then allocated on stable doors as well as our emergency book if they are ever needed. Luckily we have Hampden’s onsite 🐴🙏🏻

Here's a reminder for you from a previous post:

When facing colic or injuries, knowing the right steps to take can be a lifesaver. Here are some tips to make sure you're ready:

Vet’s contact info: Save your vet's number and keep it easily accessible.

Equine first aid kit: Maintain a well-stocked first aid kit at your yard and in your horsebox/trailer.

Emergency contacts: List key contacts and display this list visibly at your yard and when traveling with your horse.

Transport plan: Ensure you have a dependable way to transport your horse if necessary.

Practice drills: Regularly review and practice your emergency plan.

Being well-prepared can make all the difference during a crisis. Stay safe and take a

11/01/2025

Hahah! This is too true… I have various ripped jods but they still to the job!

I think this is the definition of horse ownership isn't it?
Ive just spent £30 on a broom to ensure my stables are neat and tidy as my Gorilla sadly died a death from my over exuberant sweeping, and two salt licks because they're getting low in the stables..
..and I'm strolling about with a dying Tesco body warmer that's been eaten by a mouse.. but it still keeps a good 75% of me warm! 🤣🤣🤣

09/01/2025

I’ll never not capture memories ❤️