Shona McLauchlan Equine

14/07/2024

Slalom exercise over a single raised poles, once the horse is established and confident then you can set up more poles in a line .

14/07/2024

11/07/2024

🔶Some balance pod work for Luca 🔶

These are great for helping balance awareness and posture as they have to keep adjusting their bodies to find balance. If horses carry tension up in lumber sacral region it activities the muscles as they are having to make small adjustments.

It can be useful as a proprioception exercise as well.

I usually start with one pod at a time building up to both so they are confident in what being asked and build up the amount of time slowly as well☺️

10/07/2024

Calle used be to a very sharp, spooky ex show jumper, after a trip back to my parents and catching up with my oldest friend she put me onto .method and I’ve not looked back.

⚡️groundwork groundwork groundwork ⚡️

We can be in such a rush to “fix” our horses issues but we need to get off their backs and start from the start…. on the ground.

By following the TRT method and showing/teaching/explaining to them how to find relaxation in all we ask and prepare them for the environments we put them in. The idea is to teach your horse to control his own level of tension.

I use the method on every horse I work with, and by watching them move on the ground we often get a far better understanding of their minds and their bodies. I’ve helped loading issues, started young horses, taught Spanish walk and more….

I really feel in the UK we’re not taught the importance of groundwork, that’s it ‘fluffy’ yet the countries on the continent, America and Australia spend so much more time on the ground first and I think it’s a shame to not see it’s value.

Building a stronger bond with your horse is just magical and what we all strive for.

Groundwork is the base of all learning for horses and becomes an integral part of handling them.

If you’re interested in groundwork and working with the TRT Method with your horse then do get in touch. Happy to discuss more about the process for any anyone who has questions 🥰

09/07/2024

Amen to this 👏🏻

Watch out - are you being hoodwinked into buying a supplement as a cure all? 🚫

I'm a little tired of cure-all adverts for supplements on social media, criticising other products with untruths about fillers and suchlike.

Your horse is likely to benefit much more from some lifestyle changes than some herbal reset or gut cure-all.

I'm not saying herbs or other supplements are bad, or useless, but if the emphasis is put on a whole-horse strategy with attention paid to a well-balanced diet and behavioural needs, you may find the extra, expensive supplement unnecessary.

Here's a tip - if you read a very compelling advert for a supplement, why not go away and think about it for 24 hours, consider the rest of your horse's diet & lifestyle, then make your decision.

Then be sure to change nothing else while you feed it, so you can get a true picture of how much it has helped (or not).

Or you could just buy the thing, ignore the rest of your horse's diet & lifestyle, and potentially waste your money.

It's up to you, after all. It's your horse and your money.

I'm just seeing a lot of cleverly worded ads that promise all sorts of unproven, rather silly results, and I wanted to alert those of you who are after the truth..

🐴🍏🌱💊

08/07/2024

Well done New Zealand 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
We can only pray BD may one day follow suit 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

07/07/2024

Just found this guys page and have to say it’s fascinating!!!

Whether your horse is barefoot or not there’s lots of interesting points on balance and how you can trim ….

06/07/2024

🔷Long Lining 🔷

One of my favourite ways to work a horse!!

Such a beneficial tool to have whether it’s a must due to rehab work or part of your exercise routine.

You get to see so much from the ground as to how they’re moving, where they may be struggling and having 2 lines give you so much more influence over hierarchy there holding themselves improving their balance and posture.

People often shy away from it as they think it’s hard with 2 lines, they’ve never been shown and don’t haven’t confidence to start or even know how to get going.

I offer long lining lessons and clinics for anyone keen to give it a go and expand their tool kit on ways to exercise their horses.

So many variable exercises using poles and so useful bringing horses back into work after time off or maybe your unable to ride for some reason.

Once you get into it and realise how much fun it can be with your horse I promise you’ll be hooked 🤩

05/07/2024

🔷Struggling with straightness??🔷

Try using tram line poles to help keep your horse together and not drift left or right.

If your short of poles then put the tram lines every other pole a keep aiming for the midis if your pole your going over as in the 2nd photo.

Be creative with finding stuff to use, I know not everyone has the luxury of lots of poles. I use white guttering from B&Q which is under £10, they make great tram lines, ground line and poles on the floor. Really light to move around, yes there not as robust but I find they respect them as the easy to see and the squared edges helps them judge the distance.👌🏻

04/07/2024

🩵Always take the wins ….. but remember they might not look like they used to 🩵

I’m not going to lie treating Pecan for ulcers and trying to figure out the cause and how to help him feel better has been tough, really tough.

The amount of times I’ve gone over the 6 month prior to scoping and tried to pin point moments and changes that were showing his lack of confidence and discomfort.

Apart from showing a few competition nerves by being behind my leg and going to the 💩 more frequently there wasn’t much.

I do feel this is partly due to me never pressing him, that I felt he wasn’t 100% with me so never pushed him to perform just because he moves well and should be able to.

The word “should” is key here for me and something that’s been key building him back up. Just because I think he “should” be okay, just because a year ago he was doing something doesn’t mean right now he can.

A year older doesn’t mean a year more confident if something has knocked them.

I can’t keep thinking this time last year we were going out in the lorry on our own training, gearing up for Hartpury festival of dressage and the Regionals as it just doesn’t help anyone and makes me feel I’m doing something wrong. And trust me I’ve done it many times and had to work on my mindset to be what he needs.

We will return to competition when he’s ready.

For now we take the win of going on a tiny solo hack of 15mins and only having 1 💩 He’s never been fully confident out hacking, he’s been out alone many many times, nothing bad has ever happened, he’s never refused to go, spun or been naughty but we’d take much longer as he was not covering the ground.

When we started to hack in company towards the end of ulcer treatment he would go to the loo several times progressively getting looser. So today when we met a neighbour and had to do the last bit solo I was happy with 1 solid 💩 as we walked down the drive home…..

Not much to some but to me that’s a big big win and shows we are getting there. He’s just not a horse to say no but that gives me no right to ask more than he wants to give 🩵

📷 from our photo shoot last summer 😍

04/07/2024

🔷Another pole setup with variations to walk through 🔷

04/07/2024

Want some walk pole inspo!!

🔹I know there’s several of you out there with horses in rehab or needed in hand work as well as looking for ways to keep exercise varied so thought I’d share this, can be in hand it ridden ☺️

🔹Lots a variation to walk through, straight lines/curves/over the point/ across the poles/different size circles the list goes on.

🔹For me when doing in hand work is to be creative! Keep turning, add in a halt and back a few steps, keep changing direction.

🔹Try and make the emphasis will be on stepping and turning and the same time over a pole as it engages so much more if there body especially their core 💪🏻 also helps tone our little tushes as well 😆

Hope this gives you some inspiration next time your setting up poles or looking for something new 🤩

01/07/2024

Straight on the grid for this moment this morning 🥹🥹🥹🥹

So much herd activity here, parallel lines, guarding of the resting, one still looking outwards …..

All just melted my heart as I joined in by standing along side holding space 🥰 perhaps my most favourite moment so far with my gang 🩵🩵🩵🩵

30/06/2024

✨Self selection ✨

I’ve been learning so much recently about self selection, herbs, oils and what plants are good for horses.

I ordered some herbs recently after White Horse Holistics second visit and my automatic reaction was to work out the weight each needed, put suitably sized scoops in each tub and adjust the feed board as to what was to be added into the breakfast and dinner.

I then caught myself as this isn’t selection for them going forward. What their body needs one day might well not be the same the next day, next week or next month.

So instead I give them their feeds and put a small amount of herbs on the edge for them to eat if they CHOOSE. At present I have a yard of fatties so feeds are small and it easily fits into the bowl. If this becomes tricky I will give them a second bowl with the herbs in to allow for choice.

As owners we want the very best for our horses and to help them in all ways possible so buying tons of supplements and yummy treats are our way of satisfying that need inside us. But if we continue to feed what they don’t require we’re not only wasting money but putting something in their body they don’t require.

Personally at the moment I’m looking at what herbal alternatives they’re are to supplement I’ve tended towards in the past so I can offer them rather than buy something that wouldn’t be edible unless hidden in their feed.

Obviously if they need medicines prescribed by your vet to help with a particular ailment I’m not saying not to administer this. Luca is currently on ventapulmin as he has a cough that wasn’t clearing. The vet and myself believe the trigger is pollen so I’ve ordered Homeopathic mixed pollen remedy to try and will look into herbs that support good health respiratory function going forward.

Do you feed herbs?? Have you thought to offer alongside feed rather than in? I’d love to know your thoughts 🙌🏻

21/06/2024

☀️Summer Solstice ☀️

What a beaut of an evening for a stroll up a tor behind a friends house 🥰

So easy not to make the most of where you live, then you get views like this and remind yourself why it’s so magical to live where you do 💜

16/06/2024

Pecan showing just how interested he is was….

16/06/2024

Another fascinating visit from White Horse Holistics yesterday☺️

Luca was noticeably more relaxed, literally as soon as he saw Celia and her boxes of delights appear his whole face softened. He was much calmer throughout taking more time to scent the oils. He was still very clear in his choices giving a no swiftly.

I have been offering both horses the oils they selected last time every few days since the last visit and Celia was happy that they have done their work and we were able to add some deeper working oils. Seeing Luca such calmer and letting himself into his body was really wonderful.

Pecan has definitely become less guarded in his body over the last few weeks and has a softer look on his face. He has as keen to engage with the oils this time and swifter on his choices rather than standing and scenting from a distance. It was like his body was willing to open up and allow the oils to be taken.

Like Luca he was not so interested in the oils he selected last time and we worked with further scents working on deeper parts of the body and we also got to offer him herbs as well.

I have further oils and herbs to continue offering and observe over the next few weeks.

Watching Celia work is truly amazing, she has an instinct to offer the horses just what they may need, observing their reactions and being guided by their responses. I feel so lucky to have found her and to helping my boys with the issues in their bodies 🦄

08/06/2024

🩵Summing up Pecan’s week 🩵

I can’t tell you how much it meant to have a lesson this week with knowing we are ulcer free 🙌🏻

We had one several weeks ago and he went well but you’re always worrying until you get the all clear which we did on Tuesday’s scope.

I’m loving learning a different style of riding as well and it’s opening my eyes so much to really getting the horse in good balance and great techniques that encourage them to work correctly by showing them what you want until they start offering it. The lighter feel is just amazing.

Pecan has always dropped behind the contact and as that’s what Calle used to do I have a real habit of drawing my hands back to try and create it not to carry them and ask to take it forward.

I schooled him again today and he was soooo much better! I hardly had to correct him. The way Kate explains it makes it super easy to relate and seems so obvious. One of my favs was “If the contact goes slack, tight, slack, tight it’s your responsibility to correct it” so I go back to bending him to the outside until I feel a steady contact on the new outside bend rein then straighten up. Showing him that we want to have a consistent connection.

Keeping everything precise and sticking with a few simple exercises means they quickly learn and most importantly gain more confidence.

I’ll be honest as a dressage rider I’m so used to seeing horses short in the neck that my idea of on the vertical is being retrained, realising when they are over flexing at the poll not carrying their nose where it needs to be.

Kate very kindly took video for me to watch back as after nailing an exercise in our previous lesson when I went to repeat on my own I got a bit lost, then totally started to over think it all! I may well set up my Pivo for the next session.

Kaye trains in the French classical school of riding called Legerete and her Facebook is Soft and Sound if anyone wants to check her out. 🥰

08/06/2024

A lovely run up the moor behind us with this one to finish the week 🥰

After his unwillingness to jump on Wednesday he’s carried on the week normally. We had a good flat work session Thursday, a jump yesterday which wasn’t perfect but okay and a canter up to the top of the Tor today.

My suspicion is the temperature drop the night before spiking the sugars but will see how he jumps the next few weeks to see if any patterns emerge. I’m hoping it was just a blip and may go to clear round jumping in a few weeks to see as I know he goes well there.

Hope your all enjoying the ☀️ as it’s made an appearance 😎

08/06/2024

It is amazing to me how many people want their horses to place trust in them, but are unable to place trust in their horses.

We get to grabbing on the reins every time he puts a foot astray instead of waiting to see if he might make it. We insist he go on instead of giving him a moment to look at something that has got him really concerned.

We fail to see so often that in order for a horse to develop whatever confidence nature put in him, he needs someone on the other side believing he can do it.

I heard a fairly stunning quote this past week. I won't be able to do it justice as I don't recall it word for word, but it presented the idea that organized horsemanship - as we know it - is designed to protect the human from the essence of the horse. Domestication has, for many hundreds of years, tried to take what is so naturally in horses and package it for human consumption. Riding has become a right we have, not a privilege we earn, and things get framed around what we can get from the horse instead of what we can offer to him.

You cannot take what you haven't earned.

30/05/2024

Fabulous post from Soft and Sound, well worth a read over your morning tea or coffee!!

Why won’t my horse do what I want?

Well the first clue is probably in the title. Most of the things we ask horses to do are not necessarily of their choosing. Leave their friends, go down the side of a busy road, ride a 20 meter circle, execute a canter half pass, get in a trailer. The list goes on. There are very few things a horse would ‘choose’ to do which exist in the human imagination.

With this as our starting point we can recognise how extremely generous they are. How wonderfully willing they are to give our crazy ideas a go, and sometimes even enjoy those ideas. They’re incredible.

When they do say no, these are typically the 3 areas we need to explore.

- Physical. Just because your saddle was fitted it doesn’t mean your horse likes it. Just because your vet has ‘given them the all clear’ doesn’t mean they are. Just because they always come over in the field it doesn’t mean their body doesn’t hurt. They’re the master disguisers of pain so we need to become the master detectives! That’s as much the job of the horse custodian as anything else, are they trying their best to communicate physical discomfort by not wanting to get on the ramp, for instance?

Emotional - do they spend their life in a perpetual state of worry or anxiety? Have they never been shown that a human can be a source of comfort rather than concern? Are we ‘stealing rides’ on top of their worry? Just because we can make them do ‘a thing’ that doesn’t mean we should when their baseline is ‘Not Ok’. The beauty of this situation is very often we can be a significant part of the solution- it’s amazing how a horse can change how he feels when a person shows him a better option.

-Cognitive. It’s incredible how many horses just have no idea what it is a human wants from them. They are sponge like learners, and that requires us to be excellent teachers. We need to remind ourselves that idea in our head needs step by step practical translation to your horses brain. They are good at guessing but the downside of that is that they can believe their guessed ‘incorrect’ answer is the one you were looking for. And if you don’t respond to that offer, they’ll offer it again and again and again…

All of this is what I run through when I’m trying to work out why a horse is saying no. Or we perceive them to be saying no. They may well be saying yes, just to a different question than the one we intended….

Photo shows a most excellent con who’d inadvertently been taught to lean on his left shoulder all the time. Once he understood he didn’t need to do that’s he happily found a different answer,

27/05/2024

When Luca and Pecan were diagnosed with ulcers and began treatment I very much believed the cause was individual and once given the clear by my vet to treat them going forward as such.

There are many many causes of ulcers in all animals especially horses as we have changed their natural habitat so much and as massive amount from them.

I wanted to get to the root cause and hopefully support their bodies in the exact way needed. A friend in Leicester has used Zoopharmacognosy and through her practitioner I found the amazing Celia Braund from White Horse Holistics in North Devon who very kindly made the near 2hr journey to us today.

Her knowledge and wisdom was second to none and watching the horses choose the oils and take as much as they needed was truly heart warming.

Not suprisingly they were polar opposites, Pecan calm and allowing of the process to work through his body with some evident changes in his top line by the end and Luca ….well Luca was Luca!!

Intense would be the main word, frantic to smell and on top of it all but really very quick and clear to say no not for me. He couldn’t get enough seaweed.

Once they’ve selected by smell they’re given the opportunity to lick the oils….Luca mouthed Celia’s hand 🙈 tried teeth but never once licked…a first for Celia, he didn’t actually bite just mouthed with his lips. Anyone that has met Luca will be nodding their heads completely understanding of his character.🤣

I’ve been left with oils for both and herbs for Luca to carry on with in 48hrs and to watch the changes in their body.

For me allowing your horse to self select as they would in the wild is so important and if anyone is interested I highly recommend looking into it.

Celia’s website is www.whitehorseholistics.co.uk for anyone wanted more information

26/05/2024

Throw back to last our last round at David Broome Event Centre last Sunday 🤩

It was certainly an educational few days for us both. Luca definitely has his own style and it doesn’t make it easy for the rider at times. We had a few stops the in other rounds where I just didn’t keep the hind leg underneath him on a turn as he thinks he’s got it and goes flat then finds he’s on nothing at a jump.

I’ll admit I watch my rounds on him and cringe at how messy we look, while others come in on their neat balanced canter, with their heads all steady and we enter head up, tail swishing like a whirling dervish 🙈

I have to remind myself that with his poll injury as a foal this is what we are and as long as we leave the jumps up what does it matter?! He’s got an incredible jump and when we’re on it I feel we can go a lot higher. He’s not the biggest and looked tiny compared to a lot there, but he’s naturally quick so once we’ve got our confidence I’m hoping to be more competitive in the classes which tends to by huge!!

I think just a gentle reminder to be you and enjoy what you have, others may look stylish but they’ve not had your journey and from thinking we were going to have to pts as a 5 year old as we could safely get a head collar on him I think we’re doing okay 💙🦄

20/05/2024

🦄Home from a fantastic 4 days 🦄

Our first BS stay away so lots of educational rounds and experience. We jumped the best on the first and last day with him not making it easy on the other days but that’s Superbrat for you!!

Loads of fun meeting and hanging out with Lucy-jay Roberts and Helena Veda, thanks for all your support and of course top training from Zoe Reddan 🙌🏻 you all made it a great show.

Great to watch the bigger classes which looked bloomin huge and most horses made Luca look like a pony 🤣

Hopefully be out to another soon 🤞🏻

30/04/2024

🩵I’m longing to see this horse look like this again ….coat gleaming and soft happy face 🩵

I’ve not been sharing much with Pecan as in some ways there’s not much to say and in others I could right a book.

After he was scoped with grade 3/4 ulcers the biggest question was why?? There are many many reasons they get them and I believe it’s usually more than 1 contributory factor but you still need to find them so you can manage them going forward and to prevent them coming back.

For me just putting them on a hugely expensive supplement isn’t enough and the causal factors need to be found.

Pecan has always been emotional as a horse and never one to explode but to inwardly worry and shut down. After Regionals it was clear it wasn’t confident in doing anything or going anywhere. I struggled to really pinpoint specific occasions when I missed him not being okay with the environment but knew at some point it had.

The biggest thing I’m keeping in mind is “they notice when you notice” the second you spot concern you stop and back off giving them a chance to process. This shows them you see them, understand them. You’re not going to apply more pressure to get things done because you think they “should” be fine with it.

As humans we frequently put our time limits on things… how many times have you heard “oh they should be fine with this by now” “all my horses learn this in X days” WHY!!! Why should they be told how long they have to learn AND be confident in the world we put them into, they don’t choose stables and arenas so we owe them that everything we ask is when they’re okay with it.

My work with him takes time and patience and a fair bit of standing looking where he’s looking and letting him take his time.

Today when I rode him I actually felt him move his whole body in walk not stilted and stuffy. I let him walk where he wanted, trot where he wanted and he is starting to get some swing back in his steps.

I certainly don’t have all the answers yet but l starting feel I have the right tools to find them 🩵

I did say I could right a book and this is certainly a short version of what’s been going through my head with him!!

Photo credit to the fabulous Tanja Davis from our shoot last summer ☺️

30/04/2024

The child that keeps on challenging you 🤣🤣

We all love him but my god this horse is tricky 😬

He’s been jumping well and he’s also put he on top of a fence at high speed, resulting in the most interesting of bruising!

His favourite trick is to distract you from what you’re asking and lead you to a whole different conversation you don’t actually want or need!

I also find it so difficult to forget the history of his poll issues and being told by him categorically not to touch his mouth. He can AND his happy to accept a contact now but he also reverts back to his no can’t shan’t.

So being the more intelligent out of the 2 of us (possibly questionable 😂) I’ve got to be the one saying I’m not grabbing hold I’m just asking to have a conversation down the reins that needs to be consistent.

Our main and biggest issue has always been straightness and today that’s all we did. Keep it simple but get the basics really really good.

I spent a long time in walk until it was really solid before asking more which paid off so well as trot and canter came much more easily!!!

I’ve heard it said many times that once you get to an advanced level of anything you go back to the basics and get them perfect and it’s so true that if the basics aren’t in place 100% you’ve got nothing.

So here’s to me keeping this in mind every time I ride him, he’s got the scope I just need to keep the conversation flowing in the right way 🦄

24/04/2024

Luca and I flying the flag for change …. but exactly as this wonderful posts describes….in a way that people will listen and you never just might be influenced 🙏🏻

As always so grateful for Soft and Sound training and guidance with all my horses, Kate’s depth of knowledge and wisdom is vast and I highly recommend checking out her page.

13/04/2024

🩵Well the Luca child certainly made up for Pecan missing out on the Nationals today 🩵

🏅2 x DC’s 3rd 80cm and 4th 90cm 🏅

He was super relaxed in the warm from the start when last time he was tense so I was thrilled with that and really tried in the ring.

We had a bit of a head twirling start in the 90cm which he was doing in that warm up but I just ignored and focused on the rhythm and he settled which was mega as over the first I was like this is not going to go well🙈

I really feel we’re getting into a groove and growing in confidence…. I even jumped one on a slight angle to take an inside line (first photo) and was chuffed how well it went. Before now it’s been about getting the rhythm in the canter riding straight lines and not going crazy so it was a real boost to pull it off.

He’s naturally fast so if I can keep my lines tidy we’re up there 🙌🏻 he was only 3 seconds slower than the first in a class of 30 to come 4th which makes him really competitive 🦄

Absolutely stunning weather my favourite venue as it’s run so well and everyone is so friendly 💓

But thanks to the team for the snaps, doing an awesome job as always 📸

23/07/2023

🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄💙💙💙💙💙
Total Pecan spam coming ……

📸

23/07/2023

⚡️⚡️ 𝓡𝓔𝓖𝓘𝓞𝓝𝓐𝓛𝓢⚡️⚡️

Still on such a high from Regionals 💖💖

This horse was just mega!!! Really chilled hanging out in a stable after the arena walk waiting till the afternoon and when I started warming up he was just with me 🥰 feeling really grown up after our trip to Hartpury.

To score a PB 72.93% placing us 4th at a qualifier was just the best! I’ll admit being in the gold section was a bit intimidating for me but as the lovely .warman.5 told me afterwards “with a score like that that’s where you should be “

We may be in chance of a wildcard to the Nationals 🤞🏻🤞🏻 we’ll just have to wait and see 🙈

Beyond grateful to .bainbridge1 for all her training and support, believing in us and pushing me to do more 💪🏻

I know I’m sitting on a special horse and having started and produced him is so satisfying.

It really was the best day, hanging out and helping the team from Congrats on all their successes 👏🏻 such a fantastic supportive bunch of people to be around, definitely helping me to get in the right zone mentally to compete. 🫶🏻

Thanks to for these awesome photos 🥰 really made me emotional looking at them 💖