Equine Mediation

27/06/2025

https://intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk/product-category/webinar/

24/06/2025

Only a few weekends left with availability this summer;
4th July
18th July
1st August
28th August
Send us a message to book 😊🌿🌱🌳🏕️
Plenty of weekday availability, so book your much needed escape to the countryside…what are you waiting for! 😀

21/06/2025

TURN OUT DAYTIME OR OVERNIGHT DURING SUMMER, (for a good doer)?

I get asked this question a lot...

The idea of overnight turn out being best for good doers in summer came from the research showing that fructan levels peak in grass during the afternoon and early evening, then drop overnight. The safest time for turnout was therefore proposed to be early hours of the morning.

HOWEVER! its not just fructan levels per kg of grass that matter and TOTAL fructan, sugar and energy (calorie) intake by the grazing horse is more important both for body fat level and laminitis risk. On top of that, fructan levels may remain elevated during cold nights and are also affected by other factors including sun, shade, water availability, temperature, fertilisation, growth rate of grass and how hard it is grazed.

More important than day or night turnout is how much grass your horses have access to and restricting this for good doers is probably more important than when you turn out. Horses do spend less time eating overnight, but that would only really be worthwhile if you're talking about 12 hours out and 12 in. Most owners are turning out for longer than the horse is in, with overnight turnout.

And! horses fed restricted forage during the day may eat more overnight than research on free choice-fed horses would indicate.

Daytime in and overnight turnout suits many in summer in because it helps avoid fly worry and excess heat if there is no shelter in the paddocks. But there are other factors to consider - the most important of which is the amount of grass your horse or pony can eat - if you're trying to ensure safety of grazing for good doers and potential laminitis-prone horse and ponies...

As always, keep monitoring your individual horse or pony to ensure they maintain a healthy body fat level and adjust their diet accordingly.

Feel free to share 🐴🍏

21/06/2025

More training, Stud operation & practice and Handling the young foal. Pizza ordered, coffee and study before I collect pizza for an hour. Got a pitch in the shade, no point showering until the sun goes down. Very glad I packed my neck fan!!!

15/06/2025

Another great weekend of learning, made a friend which made it slightly harder to take notes 😂🥰. I always loved biology and anatomy so I was in heaven with a pile of bones and all sorts. Learned a lot about nutrition too 😁👌

06/06/2025

Please read Adam’s wise words. I have been doing my rounds and telling people to be careful. 2 cases on my yard in the last month, one making a good recovery, one devastatingly had to grow wings and gallop over the rainbow bridge 🌈😢.
Please be vigilant xx

26/05/2025

25/05/2025

Working on my course work videos for my Diploma. 6 join ups done…. Getting there!

13/05/2025

WORKING HORSES NEED ADDED SALT!

Working horses can lose significant amounts of salt (sodium chloride) in their sweat.

They lose potassium too, but that is oversupplied by most horse diets, whereas sodium is often undersupplied.

(Salt is a term we usually use to describe sodium chloride, although by definition it can include any mineral salt. Electrolyte is a term used to describe salts involved in body fluid balance).

Check there is enough sodium in your chosen electrolyte product if you are using it to replace sodium lost in sweat (as opposed to rehydration).

Aim for at least 20g of sodium chloride (common salt) (about 8g actual sodium) daily for light work up to 60g (about 24g) for hard work.

(You don't need to add potassium until the horse is in endurance training or very intense work, sweating profusely most days. Then, a half and half mix of lite- or lo-salt can suffice...or a commercial electrolyte providing it supplies enough sodium!)

Feel free to share 🐴🍏⚪️

30/04/2025

I have been working with gorgous Rocky for a few sessions now, building confidence and now getting lines round him to prepare for long lining. He’s wonderful to work with 🥰