Producing Ponies for Kids and Pony Club by Fiona Clark

07/02/2025

05/02/2025

🐴WANTED🐴
Who's got the perfect schoolmaster/mistress hidden away? 🐴🐴💎
⭐ Between 13.2 - 14.2hh
⭐ No younger than 7
⭐ Traceable contactable history
⭐ Super canter rhythm in the school and open spaces
⭐ Saintly from the ground
Please no hairy cobs, nothing green, must be in current work .
⭐ Pragmatic re. Vettings but must be disclosed .
Absolute 5* private ling-term family home awaits 🐴 💖

02/02/2025

27/01/2025

21/01/2025

⭐🎉𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬!🎉⭐

We are delighted to introduce our BRAND NEW in-house LAMP PCR machine! 🎊📊Now, we can perform quick and accurate tests for:

🔬𝐄𝐇𝐕 𝟒
🔬𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐳𝐚
🔬𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢
🔬𝐑𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐬

✨AND, if you're specifically looking to test for strangles, we've got you covered! A pouch wash can be done and you'll receive results on the very same day!🏃📅

‼️𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 £𝟐𝟎𝟎.💸

Which includes:
👉𝙋𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙝
👉𝙎𝙚𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣
👉𝙇𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙛𝙚𝙚

𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘢𝘳𝘥.

📞𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧'𝐬. 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞, 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝟎𝟏𝟕𝟎𝟗 𝟗𝟏𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟎 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩.📊

Ensure your horse's health is a top priority, give us a call to book your appointment today!💚

17/01/2025

17/01/2025

🛑 THE SADDLE MUST FIT YOUR HORSE. IF YOUR ARSE DOESN'T FIT IN THE SADDLE THAT FITS YOUR HORSE, IT'S NOT THE HORSE FOR YOU!

I harp on about correct saddle fitting all the time. Especially when people state "oh it's a bit old a broken but fine for backing and starting" ...
NO!! STOP🛑

*see attached pic for credit

Kidneys and saddle - what can they have in common?

Kidneys play a huge role in the body: detoxification of blood and lymph; hydration of the body; regulating homeostasis.
Horse kidneys are about 15cm long each and weigh about 700 grams.
So it is quite a sports organ serving a very important function.

What then can kidneys and a saddle have in common?
The downside of the horse => LAY DOWN.

The right kidney is located exactly below the transverse vertebrae at the connection of the ribcage vertebrae (th17/18) and the first lumbar (L1); the left kidney is located a little further and lies only below the lumbar vertebrae vertebraes (L1/2/3).

It is accepted; that a properly fitted saddle should lie up to the end of the breast section, i.e. to the Th18 circle based on the muscles and supporting them by the transverse vertebrae; the task of which is to protect the organs including the kidneys.
Unfortunately, the lumbar spheres don't have extra support in the form of ribs and both kidneys are also located in this place.

What happens when the saddle is too long and goes beyond the thoracic section of the spine?
The rider suppresses and/or literally fats the horse's kidneys while riding; causing a host of negative effects to the horse's health.
Sometimes a different situation happens - the saddle has a good length of panels for the horse but it is not in balance (points)- the effect is the same - the saddle rebound and the pressure on the rear arch - cause the same sick effects for the horse - back damage; kidney damage.

Besides chronic tension; pain; inflammatory back muscles; spinal cord (PSS) can cause serious kidney and urinary tract diseases in a short time.

I continue to misunderstand quite often; that a well fitted saddle is an investment in your horse's health (!!! ) and also saving for the wallet. Yes to thrift. Saddles don't belong cheap; but an investment in a good saddle is above all an investment in the health of the horse.
There are no compromises here.

Not sure if your saddle is laying properly- call a recommended saddlefitter; saddle fit check should be at least once every 3 months; fill check/correction once a year.
Saddle fitting check can also be performed by a physiotherapist with experience and expertise in the subject. In addition, the physiotherapist will immediately catch an accumulation of tension due to a badly fitted saddle.
Don't ignore the pain signals in your horse; seek specialist services.
That's why WE are - specialists - to help your horse get back the comfort of life and you to save on long-term treatment.

In the photo I marked where a well fitted saddle lies. It's easy to notice - both kidneys lie exactly under the back of the saddle.
A picture from the book of G. Higgins Anatomy and Physiology in Equine Training

06/01/2025

Sad, but so very true 🐴💖

Take a field full of young horses—doesn’t matter the breed or sport—and you’ll quickly see the harsh reality. Some will get hurt or die before they even have a chance to prove themselves. Some will be bought and rushed by people who don’t know what they’re doing, or worse, who “do”know but can’t resist cutting corners. Some will be started by hot-headed, short-fused riders who can’t handle the pressure. And only a small handful will ever get the chance to become well-trained by calm, patient, and skilled hands.

In short: there are far more potentially great young horses out there than there are people who actually know how to bring them along with the skill, the patience, and—let’s be real—“the temperament”to make it happen.

And the worst part? It’s usually the horse that gets blamed for the mistakes humans make.

And let’s not forget: the people who don’t know what they don’t know are the hardest to reach. And that? That’s a real problem.

06/01/2025

Having bought my not quite as described first horse last year (good job I love the nut case) I was petrified of getting it wrong for my daughter. She’s a quiet little rider rather than gung-ho so she won’t just hop on anything. She’s had also outgrown the riding school plods so it was something in-between we were looking for. Basically safe as houses but somthing she can have fun with..something everyone wants for their child!

Fiona was recommended by a friend of a friend who had previously used her. After weeks of scouring the net and going round in circles I contacted Fiona. My timeframe was tight and I didn’t have endless days to go and view loads of ponies so Fiona quickly whittled down as bunch of ponies until we had some contenders, weeding out the ponies not so suited, asking the questions I wouldn’t have necessarily though to ask. After a week or so of viewings Fiona contacted me with a potential pony not yet on the market. We arranged a viewing and she was just perfect. Kiwi is a sweet little Cob ,lovely on the ground, safe , good breaks just want you need for a 1st pony. Not being from the area I wasn’t sure which Vets to use for the vetting but Fiona was more than happy to phone round and collect quotes from the local vets.

Overall it was a very stress free experience and more importantly Kiwi is exactly as described. I would 100% recommend Fiona and will definitely use her horse/pony paring services again!

Send a message to learn more

06/01/2025

SNOW DAY ❄️☃️ fans CLIENTS. PLEASE CAN YOU POST PICS OF YOUR FABULOUS STEEDS HERE: 🐴
Producing Ponies for Kids and Pony Club by Fiona Clark

06/01/2025

❄️10 inches of snow here today ☃️😩 so catching up on some admin. 2024 was a fantastic year for
⭐ 43 matches made 🐴
⭐ Jockeys and homes assessed
⭐ Lots of repeat business from clients who's kids are moving up a step
⭐ Some super horses and ponies from private homes on the books looking for their next best friend
🐴🐴 WANTED 🐴 🐴
⭐ 12.2HH schoolmaster/mistress, saintly FR for all pony club activities
⭐ 13.2HH safe sane useful coblet, gelding, more black than white please
⭐ 14HH useful schoolmaster/mistress 1.5 type that will step up or down for mother daughter
⭐ 15.2HH Sporty type, low level allrounder
⭐ 15.2hh weight carrier for sole hacking and dressage
💯 5* family homes garunteed on small yards. We are looking for lifelong best friends. All must be open to viewing and vetting.
⭐ Pragmatic about vettings, lumps and bumps, wear and tear and stable habits but all must be disclosed!
⭐ Known history and upto date passports a must

05/01/2025

Every time you ride. You're either schooling or un-schooling your horse. There's no in-between.

Correct, traditional training is tested, proven and is suitably firm and kind in tandem. Bits, required to mouth and flex a horse to help him lift his core and carry his rider well into his teens or twenties if done correctly and fate remains kind to him.

Coaching, not terrifying the horse, allowing mistakes, but correcting them gently, progressively , not by yanking a rope or knotted head collar where the knots correspond painfully to pressure points on the face, but through repetition.

Correct training, its really deep, it's not easy, it demands more from the trainer than the horse most days. No loss of temper, no gadgets. It is about building the horse, physically and mentally, giving him confidence in you and allowing him to find himself, to learn balance, to accept the aids without a fight, in grace.

There's growth and understanding, not submission in a negative way. Kind legs and hands, a good seat for the rider to guide him through the process, through all of the training. No crude, cruel methods that are cleverly gift wrapped and presented as natural.

Forget about quick fix "systems" that only seek to hoodwink you into thinking they are working. Done through bullying and bulls*t, with tarpaulins, plastic bags on sticks and fast talking sales people, offering the holy grail by art of distraction. Most not able to actually do anything constructive in terms of correct training with any longevity.

Bullying, spinning, yanking, HURTING your horse by constantly brow beating him until his brain shuts down, his hind quarters hurt and his fetlock gives out. Know that doing this stuff, he will go lame and switch off if you're "lucky", fighting back if you're not!

Focus less on ego, or that of these so called messiahs with more Instagram followers than gods, but with so little knowledge, if you poured it into a teacup it wouldn't half way fill it!

I'm tired of bitless, bridleless, barefoot, not for a circus act but for day to day and at any cost. I'm fed up being told by nervous wrecks how groundwork will cure them of their fear of riding which as an experienced rider, I know, sadly, it won't.

Modern so called groundwork is not the correct method of long-reining and beautiful in hand working of the horse to flex, strengthen and advance him. The new so called groundwork, reported to build a bond just by subduing and confusing the horse, losing him all hope. Not to mention, this stuff is contextual. Horses don't think like us, so the tarpaulin indoctrination may be possible in a clinic or at home, but just you wait until it's out of the blue, on a hack, trust me, you won't ride him over it because riding isn't groundwork! The horse doesn't relate or connect the two.

Understand, you can build an unbreakable bond with your horse, through mutual respect, through taking time for his educational needs. Leave your ego at the door. Stop listening to snake oil sales people.

A horse is made, a rider is made. Making either takes a lifetime of hard work, repetition. consistency, disappointment and of course the absolute feeling of elation, joy. The highs are beyond comprehension, and until you have walked that path, you will never understand why the natural, no hope brigade talk such utter nonsense.

I accept the people who believe, I feel sad for them. Most so indoctrinated they want to justify their cults without stepping back and seeing it for what it is. Often, dare I say it, middle aged women, nervous to ride, looking for a reason not to, being sold an expensive dream in order to have the decision vindicated by others who want to "play" with a horse. I only hope, for the sake of the horse, they one day realise they are wrong. As a middle aged woman, I know the joy of riding. That's why it saddens me that the "cults" normalise not riding when I bet, 99% without medical reason, would buy the £1000 nerves cure potion if it was a thing, so they could ride fear free! I get it, I'm not being mean, I'm trying to make you see the wood amongst the trees!

I don't bother to fight back, the argument is pointless, the disciples are as subdued as their horses, confused by smoke and mirrors.

Just know that you can go to groups that love all that rubbish. Share this post so you can moan about it with other believers. I really don't care, because I know what is right and humane and correct. I thankfully ride every day, my horses are happy and healthy with no fear of me or my methods. Just, know it won't change the facts, moaning will only make you feel better, justified, able to discuss with your peers about how uneducated I am (!). That's fine, you haven't found your way yet. I hope you do.

This group is for people who genuinely want to get on better with their horse. To overcome nerves and anxiety riding to progress. This is not a place for natural horsemanwhatever, and I invite you to leave if that is your thing and you don't like my point of view.

If you want to genuinely find a way, please stay, open you mind, your heart. See where it leads.

Save for the Masters who preserve the correct training methods, modern opinions have changed, usually driven by money in sales of gadgets and promises.

Methods have changed, but in the last five thousand years, one thing hasn't changed... the horse.

HU Owen
Author & Rider.

I HOPE IT RAINS The Confidence Manual for the nervous rider https://amzn.eu/d/8uUZXVp

04/01/2025

*** ENCYSTED REDWORM ***

I first posted this in 2019, but after reading a LOT of worrying comments recently about how people don’t worm their horses at all, as they do worm egg counts, I thought it was time to do a little encysted redworm refresher, with some updates!

1. Redworm can kill your horse.

2. You need to worm for encysted redworm AFTER they encyst, and before they emerge, so NOT in the Autumn! Wait for a good, frosty cold spell.

3. Encysted small redworm are NOT DETECTABLE in worm egg counts.

4. The larvae of small redworm, “encyst” or burrow into the gut wall. These can cause fatal consequences when they re-emerge.

5. Redworm appear as tiny pieces of thread in your horse’s droppings. They are very short and thin, and can be hard to see. They are white if they haven’t yet fed, and red if they have fed.

6. A horse can appear completely normal and healthy whilst carrying a large redworm burden. However, weight loss and diarrhoea may be early indicators; don’t ignore these signs.

7. Most wormers DO NOT target encysted redworm. Only TWO do: Fenbendazole and Moxidectin.

8. Lots of combination wormers contain IVERMectin. This WILL NOT have any effect on encysted redworm. The only wormer that contains MOXIDectin, is EQUEST. The Pramox (blue) version will treat tapeworm at the same time. Don’t use Pramox if you have treated separately for tapeworm, or used a saliva or blood test for tapeworm. Use the normal Equest (green) if this is the case.

9. Redworm are eaten by the horse during grazing. The larvae start to burrow into the gut wall as temperatures drop. Treating for encysted redworm whilst temperatures are warm, is not the optimal time, as the larvae may well not have started to encyst. Treating after a few hard frosts, also reduces the level of reinfection from larvae already on the fields.

10. The larvae stay in the gut wall during the winter, and are then triggered to emerge from the gut wall as the temperatures warm up in the Spring. If the horse has not been treated for redworm during this redworm “hibernation” stage, he/she is at risk of developing CYATHOSTOMINOSIS.

11. Cyathostominosis has a mortality (death) rate of up to 50%. It presents as colitis; profuse diarrhoea and colic. Contact your vet immediately if you see these symptoms in your horse at any time of year, but it is more likely to be due to redworm if this occurs in the Spring.

12. Ensure you have treated for encysted
redworm before temperatures start to increase as Spring arrives, incase of a large encysted redworm burden that may suddenly emerge.

13. There is a blood test for all stages of redworm, including encysted. This detects antibodies, so may be positive if your horse has had a high burden in the past 6 months, even if he currently doesn’t, but worth discussing with your vet. I would not be recommending this route for high risk redworm horses ie horses in herds with no poo picking, or rescue cases.

14. 5 day Panacur Guard (Fenbendazole) is the only other wormer that can treat the encysted stage of redworm. There was widespread resistance to this wormer, and a huge move towards everyone using Moxidectin for encysted redworm. It is my wormer of choice for very sick or poor horses, due to its milder action over 5 days. However, there is some evidence that it may cause more damage to the gut than Moxidectin, so more research is definitely required!

15. Poo picking daily is perfect pasture management, but does not mean that your horse is worm free! You still need to egg count/blood test for all worms and/or worm.

16. Herbal wormers do not work.

17. Worm egg counts do not detect encysted redworms (or tapeworm/bots/pinworm). I realise I am repeating myself, but this is something that lots of people still do not realise.

18. Do not UNDERDOSE when worming, as this will aid resistance. If in doubt, add 50kg to the weigh tape weight of your horse. Wormers are very safe with regards to toxic doses.

19. The Mole Valley wormers are NOT the same as Equest!!!! I saw this misinformation posted yesterday! They contain Ivermectin, which will NOT treat for encysted redworm.

20. Do NOT overuse Equest. Moxidectin (Equest and Pramox) should only be used ONCE in a 12 month period. So know when to use it!

This is not an exhaustive review of redworm, and I may add to the list if I think of anything else, but I hope this is of some use! Worming regimes and what worm egg counts detect, seems to cause lots of confusion amongst horse owners, and even yard owners.

Blood tests currently used for tapeworm and redworm, measure antibody levels to the worm. The saliva test also measures antibodies. The concern here would be false positives. This means the test coming back as positive when your horse has been clear of the worm in question for months. Antibody levels remain high for months following successful treatment for the worm being tested for. However, a negative obviously means the horse has been clear for a good few months, and would not need worming.

Happy reading!

Please share, as this is really something that all horse owners should know, and still don’t!

No prizes for spotting the hundreds of redworm in this photo!

04/01/2025

Okay, let's go 😍
credits: Pinterest