Clarkston Farm , livery Lanark ML11 9UN

28/01/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BteWjdnrj/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) can occur in horses and ponies of all ages, breeds and types.

It isn’t a disease itself, but the name given to a collection of risk factors that increases a horse or pony’s likelihood of developing laminitis.

Most horses with equine metabolic syndrome are obese, like the grey pictured below, and have regions of abnormal fat deposition.

However, some lean horses may also have EMS. These equines tend to have regions of abnormal fat deposition despite their ribs being visible or easily palpable.

Sadly, a diagnosis of EMS is frequently made when a horse or pony has already come down with laminitis.

Therefore, if your equine is a good-doer, struggles to lose weight, or has areas of abnormal fat deposition, then you should discuss equine metabolic syndrome with your vet and be pro-active rather than reactive.

This is particularly important as we head towards spring in the UK, when some equines may not have lost as much condition over the winter as nature intended.

Read the full veterinary advice via the link below:

https://www.yourhorse.co.uk/horse-care/vet-advice/equine-metabolic-syndrome/

📸 Image by Shutterstock

31/12/2024

Great finish to 2024
Six horses lunged and now tucked up for the night
I hope 2025 brings you much joy with all your beautiful horses and ponies

10/12/2024

Getting my 5 a day
polework Monday , thanks for setting it up for us all to enjoy

06/11/2024

DIY spaces available

01/11/2024

Beautiful morning at Clarkston
Happy Friday

26/10/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Rytxqx5JZxfPYV2G/?mibextid=WC7FNe

SLOOOOOW DOWN!

SLOW your walking down to 1 step per second with and without your horse next to you.
SLOW your hand movements down as you touch or do things.
SLOW your talking down.
SLOW your breathing down.
SLOW your pulls and pushes down on the leadrope.

SLOW to FLOW!

Humans are WAAAAY to fast for horses and this is one of the leading causes of reactivity and opposition reflex in horses.

Speed = stress.

Let me teach you what speed does...

When the brain perceives a threat, it causes the body to release the stress response hormone cortisol. Cortisol levels and speed go hand in hand.
Cortisol provides the body with the fuel it needs to flee a scary situation or fight against it.

The thing with the mind-body relationship is that the brain feels an emotion such as fear, which create a physical response in the body, but the body can also move at a certain speed or in a particular way and create an emotion in the brain. It can be reverse engineered.

This is how special the intimate relationship is between the brain and body.

The other thing to remember is that, collectively as a social animal, when speed is noticed by another mammal (no matter the species), it alerts the unconscious brain to threat.

Speed is an alarm system in a social system (consciously and unconsciously).

If you walked down a road and everyone started running, you'd find it hard not to run even if you didn't know what the cause was. You are noticing that others are running and in a direction, so you mirror them to increase your chances of survival. You don't need the reasoning part of your brain for this. You just activated your primal (survival) part of the brain.

One other thing to remember: HORSES CAN SMELL CORTISOL. So not only does your speed act as a visual alarm system to your horse, it also acts as an olfactory one!

Would you want to interact with someone who caused you to feel constantly on alert?

These little things are the beginnings of what ripples into chronic stress in both humans and horses.
You spend enough time around someone who is fast in their movement, your nervous system will condition itself to being on high alert.
HELLO 👋 CHRONIC STRESS!!!

Slow your movement down = slow your thoughts down.
Slow your movement down = lower your cortisol.
Slow your movement down = feel connected with yourself, the world and others in it.
Slow your movement down = slow your alarm systems down and eventually they'll turn off.

Slow down so much that it is uncomfortable. It won't be uncomfortable for long, I promise 😉

Happy brain training 🧠
Charlotte 🙂

17/10/2024

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21/08/2024

DIY spaces now available at our lovely friendly yard
Indoor arena with training mirrors and Bluetooth sound system,outdoor arena, outstanding off road hacking
Locking individual tack and feed lockers
Winter turnout paddocks
Access to horse walker, Theraplate, salt therapy ,solariums , rug wash and hot water showers
On site BHS Senior coach as well as regular clinics with visiting trainers
Facilities which help you give your horse the best possible equine care
Please share if you can

28/07/2024

Poppy enjoying her first Elementary dressage test yesterday

14/07/2024

We will have a couple of diy spaces available, excellent facilities and exceptional hacking in our fun , supportive and very friendly yard

28/04/2024

A couple of visits to west kype farm this week
poppy and Ricky had a win in their prelim and novice class
Today it was Diego's turn , huge thanks to Caroline Paterson for her support at test and teach

24/04/2024

A young rider was lunging a horse when an old rider came close. After having observed him, the old man asked the boy: "Do you want to know the secret to communicate with your horse?" And the boy answered "Yes."

So the old man closed his own hand into a fist and said to him: "If you can open my fist you will learn the secret of communication."

The boy used his strength in every way possible by pinching, hitting, pulling, pushing...but he just couldn't open the hand. Finally, in frustration, he told the old man: "I can't open it, but please tell me the secret to communicate with my horse." With peace and calm the old man answered: "You could have simply asked me to do it."


Comunicare con il cavallo blog
artist Anna Speshilova

08/04/2024

Such a busy week for the Clarkston ponies , arena hires, competing and demo riding
As well as an awesome Debby Lush clinic
Amazing to watch so many horses and riders improve over the weekend 😃

24/03/2024

A good day for the Clarkston gals
Koda got a first and and a second
Mav and Lisa got two seconds

21/03/2024

We invest so much in our horses, feed , supplements, physio , tack etc
Don't forget the importance of investing in training
Aim for the best trainer you can get - (not always the coach you like best) the one who tells you how it really is - that's the one who wants to see you improve ; to see your horse develop and get stronger
That's the coach you want on your horses side