Karen Farnsworth BHSI, British Eventing Coach, NDPCE

20/11/2025

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🧂 Salt for Horses in Winter — Don’t Skip It! ❄️🐴

As the colder months arrive, many horses drink less, their gut slows down, and the risk of impaction colic increases.
One of the easiest ways to support them is daily salt.

⭐ Why salt is essential:

Encourages regular drinking

Supports hydration, gut motility, muscle & nerve function

Helps prevent impaction colic

Balances electrolytes when on hay

🧂 How much salt?

For a 500kg horse:

1–2 tablespoons (15–30g) per day

Light work → ~15g

Moderate work → ~30g

Heavy sweat → add an electrolyte mix on top.

👉 This is in addition to free-choice access to a salt lick (horses rarely lick enough to meet needs) or free choice loose salt can work if you can keep it dry.

🧊 Winter hydration tip:

Salt + slightly warmed water = a big increase in drinking.
Most horses drink 30–40% more when water isn’t icy cold.

⭐ What type of salt? (Here’s the truth, simple & final!)

Honestly?
Use whatever salt your horse will reliably eat.
The body only cares about the sodium + chloride, not the colour of the rock.

Plain table salt → perfect, affordable, consistent.

Sea salt / Himalayan → also fine, but the “extra minerals” are minor and don’t replace a balancer.

Loose salt works better than blocks for accurate intake.

Avoid flavoured salts or low-sodium salts.

👉 The main thing is consistency, not brand, colour, or marketing.

09/11/2025

Good day of BS yesterday. Zac and Harley went to Bishop in the morning and jumped 2 double clears in the BN (placing 4th) and in the Blue Chip Bliss Qualifier to qualify for Blue Chip Championships.
Amber went to Willow Banks in the afternoon. First party for Holly in a long time and she didn't disappoint. DC in the BN then DC in the Blue Chip Pearl Qualifier to place 2nd and qualify. Bobby then jumped round the Blue Chip Sapphire to qualify 🙌🙌

01/11/2025

This 🙌
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31/10/2025

Perfection 🥰

23/10/2025

Always going on about this 🤣

25/09/2025

The sky was was blue so I thought I'd have a first sit on the beautiful one. We've only had him nearly 2.5 years 🤣

22/09/2025

Harley being a superstar in the rain at Allerton Park

06/09/2025

Holly now out hacking in walk 😍 needed her boyfriend to keep her company as she had jelly legs going out by herself 😆

29/08/2025

This 👇👇🙌🙌

For many riders, the obsession with “finding a distance” can turn into a daily battle. We walk into the ring convinced that every jump is a test of whether we can see that perfect takeoff spot. But at Balmoral, the philosophy is different. Instead of chasing the distance, the focus is on rhythm, pace, and track. When those pieces are correct, the distance takes care of itself.

At its core, riding to a jump is about presenting the horse with the same canter stride again and again. Rhythm is what makes that stride predictable. Horses are creatures of habit, and they thrive when the canter feels like a steady drumbeat. A consistent rhythm keeps the horse relaxed, balanced, and mentally prepared for the effort ahead.

When riders change the pace every three strides—slowing, kicking, pulling—the horse is left guessing. That uncertainty often leads to missed distances, chipped jumps, or long, weak efforts. Rhythm, on the other hand, builds trust. The horse knows what’s coming, and the rider can focus on steering and balance instead of panicking about “seeing” something.

Rhythm doesn’t mean slow. In fact, one of the most common corrections at Balmoral is asking riders to go forward. A plodding canter rarely produces quality jumps. Instead, the horse needs impulsion, the power from behind that creates a strong, jumping stride.

Think of pace as the energy within the rhythm. The right pace feels like you’re riding forward to the base of the jump, not crawling or rushing. It gives the horse the power to push off the ground and the rider the ability to stay with the motion. Without pace, rhythm falls flat; without rhythm, pace becomes chaotic.

🔗 Continue reading the article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/08/27/the-power-of-rhythm-why-pace-and-track-solve-distances/
📸 Photo © Carly Nasznic

18/08/2025

It's been a mad month so far! I've been at the Academy Show at Stoneleigh supporting the Yorkshire Academy young riders over several days. They all rode their socks off and it was a pleasure to be able to support them. Then it was on to the PC championships at Off church Bury. What an amazing time over 9 days. It was hot and dusty and I'm still washing clothes and saddle pads 😆. Zachary had the most amazing time winning the boys Intermediate Tethrathlon Championship, and also being on the winning intermediate area team. In the 100 SJ team event the team came 4th and then winning the open 1.10 showjumping team event with just a team of 3 😳😲🥰 with a thrilling jump off where he and his amazing team mates rode their socks off to all jump clear to take the win 🏆🥂🍾🙌 it was then onto the chairman's cup where a solid test put them mid field and 3/4 of the way round the xc they were flying until lady luck called time 🙈. We knew the fairytale week had to come to an end and both horse and rider were fine and Harley has been absolutely amazing 😍. Amber did the 90 SJ jumping a clear and then having a pole on superstar Bobby. Not bad for such a new partnership. The dressage test in the eventing left a lot to be desired, rolling the last pole sj and then storming the xc like it was a course of cross poles 🤣🤣 such a class pony ❤️ Great experience for Amber to ride the championship course - a little slower would have made for less of a dry mouth 😆 weeks like this are what memories are made of and we are forever thankful for our equine partners 🦄🦄
Did I mention I've been coaching at PC champs as well and many of my private clients have been smashing their goals with some amazing achievements 💕

31/07/2025

The boys doing their jockeys proud last weekend ❤️❤️

06/06/2025

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As we wrap up , we’re shining a spotlight on the incredible Academy Coaches at the heart of British Showjumping’s talent pathway! 🏇

Our Academy Coaches do more than teach – they mentor, inspire, and guide the next generation of riders, helping young athletes build confidence, skills, and a lifelong love for the sport.

Their passion and dedication are what drive progress in British Showjumping — and we couldn’t do it without them. Further information on the British Showjumping Academies can be found here: britishshowjumping.co.uk/training/Academies-1