Humber View Track Livery

22/04/2025

Anyone fancy doing this to their horse?
I mean, I've seen the zebra fly rugs but this could get some conversations going while out riding! 🤣

🇯🇵🐄 In Japan, researchers discovered a surprisingly simple and eco-friendly way to protect cows from insect bites: painting them with zebra-like black and white stripes. Their study found that this pattern can reduce fly landings by more than 50%, especially around sensitive areas like the heels.

They used non-toxic paint on black cows and observed that the striped animals experienced fewer bites and showed less discomfort—fewer tail flicks, head shakes, and other defensive movements. Not only is this method effective, but it also offers a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides. It helps protect livestock without harming their health or the environment, making it a low-cost, nature-friendly solution for improving animal welfare.

15/04/2025

Balou REALLY wants to play.
Billy REALLY doesn't 🤣

14/04/2025

I love to watch what happens when a newbie is settling in.
It's not the initial bit, but after they've said hello to everyone and they're just finding their place in the herd.
A newbie mixes the herd dynamics up a bit and it's fun to watch how all the horses react to that.
Apple (left) has taken a liking to our newbie Ozzy (right) which has left Rubin, who Apple would usually hang out with, to find new friends.
Well, not exactly new as they often made up a 4 with Willow and Bear, so he's now just hanging out with them.
Rubin and Apple do still spend some time together but not as much as they used to.
We do see them as a group of 5 now but it has changed the relationship between all of this lot.
It will be interesting to see how this develops as they settle in.

14/04/2025

“My horse can’t be turned out, he’ll hurt himself!”

Well of course they will get hurt if they aren’t accustomed to being outside, filled with anxiety, and completely unprepared for life as a horse.

Can you imagine how sad it must be to be a horse and not have a clue how to “horse”? To go from stall, to arena, and to be brought in any time you run, play, move around?

I frequently get horses in training who aren’t turned out before coming here. I’ve had horses who can’t manage small hills, are afraid of trees, and panic in a light rain.

It’s quite an adjustment for them, but no horse hates turnout- they hate being unprepared and anxious. Slowly but surely they gain confidence, sure footedness , social skills, and a real, healthy, happy life as a horse.

If they aren’t used to being turned out, it’s likely they WILL hurt themselves or another horse. But keeping them locked up is no life. So what to do? The answer lies in why you have a horse: is it to develop a happy, healthy equine partner, and to help them be their best self? Or as a vehicle for competition only, at their expense? In the case of the latter, I reccomend Motorsports, or some sport where competition doesn’t require wasted horse minds and bodies.

The road to competition is often paved with lame, miserable and used up horses.

14/04/2025

Track systems are definitely becoming more main stream 🎉

⚠️ R𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗢 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱-𝗱𝗼𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁. 🤗

Grass can be a rich source of calories, it typically has a higher Digestible Energy content than hay or haylage. In the spring and early summer months, it grows more rapidly and produces higher levels of water soluble carbohydrates like sugars and fructans, which provide readily available calories for the horses. 🌞

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗦𝗬𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠:
Place an inner fence (usually electric taping) in the centre of the paddock to form a 'track' between this fence and the outer perimeter, which encourages more movement as the horse navigates round the track to eat. 😎

A wider track may be required for larger number of horses, to reduce the chance of more dominant horses cornering others on tighter tracks. Adding enrichment, like logs, scratching posts, cones or trotting poles, can help to increase movement and interest. Place alternative forage options like hay or haylage around the track to keep your horse moving. 🏃‍♀️

𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗦:
✅ Encourages movement and increased exercise compared to traditional strip grazing methods
✅ Horses may be able to be turned out for longer periods
✅ Allows for social interaction with other horses
✅ Underweight horses can potentially be grazed on the inner section to allow a higher calorie intake whilst still being able to see their companions on the outer track

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦:
❎ May be less effective at encouraging weight loss as total grazing area may still be large
❎ May increase bullying within the herd
❎ Track area may become muddy and new grass growth may be reduced

More tips in our Equine Weight Loss Handbook: https://www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk/equine-weight-loss

💚

12/04/2025

12/04/2025

So, I was talking to someone the other day who didn't know anything about track systems.
I was explaining the concept to her when she said "my horses wouldn't stay out all night, they'd be banging at the gate."

I think this is a common misunderstanding of the principles of a track, our horses don't have to stay out all night if they don't want to, but the point is they have the choice.
There's a barn on the yard and the shelter on the main track and they always have access to both so can choose to take themselves in whenever they like. Or not.

We just don't believe we have the right to make that choice for them.
Even if they want to come in on an evening, do they always want to stay there all night?
And do they really never want to come in during the day for a bit to protect from rain storms, wind, flies or get some shade?
We simply believe they're entitled to have a say over how they spend their day.

07/04/2025

Sunset over the track 🥰
It really feels like summer's just around the corner today 🌞

03/04/2025

A track system at a zoo!!! 😃

Visitors will get to see giraffes, zebra, antelopes and ostriches all roaming together 🦒 🦓

01/04/2025

Morning snoozes 😴 in the sun 🌞

01/04/2025

So I've got the same problem again this morning, but it's double today!
Can't take rugs off as they are but don't want to disturb 🤷

31/03/2025

Taking some rugs off this morning and I've run in to a little problem.
I don't want to disturb Apple's snoozes 😴🤣
Can't get her rug off while she's lying down and don't want to get her up when she looks so peaceful.
Guess I'll have to come back in bit 🤷

Couple of photos in comments as it won't let me post both together.

28/03/2025

When a few of you are having a glass of wine in our tea room and the horses are all looking for their dinner 🤣

27/03/2025

Afternoon snoozes 😴 in the shelter.
Think I woke Balou up 🫣

27/03/2025

We've got a new boy here now.
Meet Ozzy.
We've had our little Taffy in with him for company while he settles down and recovers from a couple of scrapes.
They've been doing quite a bit of mutual grooming which is super cute 😍 considering the size difference!
Taffy can only just reach Ozzys withers 🤣

22/03/2025

It makes all the hard work worthwhile when you receive lovely messages like this from one of our fabulous liveries 🥰

22/03/2025

Levi came over to get the best bits when I was putting hay out.
I missed filming the little canter at the start I'm afraid, couldn't get my phone out in time 😬
The others just stayed down in the bottom corner and waited for me to get to them.

These horses are so pampered they don't even have to put any effort in for food!
Unless they want to get to it 60 seconds before the rest of course 🤣