AnimalCrackers

08/11/2024

I’m very guilty for this 🤣

07/11/2024

6 weeks on Saturday and the days get longer again, the joys of winter working

05/11/2024

If you use yumove and buy from Amazon, read this.

31/10/2024

Please think about this before setting fireworks off

It’s that time of year where we put out a polite reminder about fireworks. We have been really lucky since we moved to Nether Anguston - the local residents have been brilliant at contacting us about fireworks and they all understand the responsibility that comes with living in a rural location near livestock.
We don’t get into discussion about whether fireworks should be permitted for private use or not - that’s for the lawmakers and politicians to decide, but communication is key - so do please let us know if you are anywhere near ARCs site and intending on letting off fireworks.
We have around 90 horses on site, all of whom are very happy and feel safe and relaxed in their home - but they are flight animals that don’t understand fireworks - they are pretty scared of sudden noises/flashes/explosions. So let’s all work together to try to make this time of year easier for the animals. Do please let us know by phone or email if you are aware of any fireworks in the vicinity. Many thanks everyone!

31/10/2024

Remember I can get the full range of stock and often do a discount on the RRP😉

30/10/2024

Today was a bit of a mind blowing 🤯 day.
This morning Davie did the dog walking so I could head to ARC for the first Perform Physiotherapy clinic on Murphy! My head was hurting with all the info to take in.
Highly recommend a session with the physio team or even just a session on Murphy, he unfortunately doesn’t respond to clicking 🤦‍♀️🤣 I didn’t know I clicked so often 🤷‍♀️
Headed back to work and then spent the best part of the afternoon working my way through the account stuff so I can send it off to the accountant and get my tax return done, I really hate the admin side of being self employed it makes my brain hurt 😴

27/10/2024

Sensible information for firework night

🎆Fireworks can present a major challenge for managing horses. And although they used to be limited to Guy Fawkes Night (5 November), now they are often used at Halloween as well as weddings and other personal occasions.

⚠None of us want to see our horses trying to jump out of their fields or stables, so there a few things you can do to help keep them safe.

▶In advance – research local firework displays and speak to neighbours. Consider whether your horse would be better inside, or staying in their usual field.

If they live out and you want to bring them in when you know there will be fireworks, start doing so a few days before so they can get used to a new routine.

🔥Make sure you have fire extinguishers, sand, water and an evacuation plan in case of a stray firework landing on your stables.

▶During fireworks – use anything you can to distract and calm your horses. Ensure they have lots of hay, or maybe a treat ball.

🎶If possible switch on lights and the radio to try and mask some of the noise of the fireworks.

Be around – if you are onsite you will quickly know how your horses are coping. This might mean some overtime so discuss with your boss. A good employer will be pleased to know you care!

👀After fireworks check your horses over thoroughly for any injuries such as overreaches.

Check their fields too for any stray fireworks or debris.

The BGA represents and supports grooms in all sectors. Find out more at britishgrooms.org.uk

25/10/2024

The cleanest bed I ever have to muck, and she’s 2nd in the roll in mud category 😂
My very own diva, Enya

25/10/2024

My favourite job, putting down new beds!
This is a mix of natural flake sawdust and their small flake shavings, I find it makes a lovely soft and absorbent bed, I plan to remove the wet from this stable every 2-3 days and obviously take the 💩 out daily 🤣

23/10/2024

Introducing new horses onto your yard – whether it's to stay or simply a short-term visit – carries a high risk of infectious disease transmission 🦠

The vets from our Equine Infectious Diseases Advisory Group share their top tips for protecting your horse and others on the yard from potentially serious health risks 👇

22/10/2024

My favourite time of the day, just me and my horses, skipping them out and listening to them munching in hay (I like them to have full bellies before going out) it’s the best sound ever.

18/10/2024

It’s been the week for dirty buckets, I’ve had 💩 in a feed bucket and 💩 in a water bucket, p*e in a feed bucket and 2 tipped water buckets 🙄
Silly ponies causing extra work 🤣.
17 stables mucked most days this week, yes I have caved and brought my own lot in, the weather has just been so rubbish, the fields are so wet.
Hopefully I will get time to get my winter fields electric taped off and start getting them used to the new grass for a few hours a day for a couple of weeks and then the summer ones can be rested/cross grazed.
I don’t understand how quickly the year has gone, clocks change next weekend, we just didn’t get a summer at all, I am definitely not ready for winter yet.

18/10/2024

This is me, and the reason I ask for everything to be written down 🤣

09/10/2024

I will never be able to describe the power of time spent cleaning stalls.

During this time I have made some of the biggest decisions in my life. I have silently thought my way, step by step, through some of the biggest disasters of my life. I have ugly cried my way through heartbreak all while cleaning stalls. I’ve thrown bags of sawdust in range as I thought about all of the sh*tty things going on in my life. Each stall has oddly given me a place of comfort as I stood, fork in hand, feeling empty during the times I’ve felt so alone. It has taught me to appreciate the serenity of the quiet. Realizing the ones in my life I can count on and the numerous fake people who are only present when convenient for themselves. I’ve enjoyed a free gym membership, as I’ve sculpted my back and shoulders into “he man”, just sifting away. I’ve stumbled my way, dry heaving, with sunglasses ....cleaning stalls through morning sickness, because god forbid my best friend be forced to stand in a dirty stall. Today I spend my morning cleaning stalls and processing my life. I’m mentally making life changing decisions, as I write this post, knowing that whatever I decide, it will be the right one, as it was made in a stall.

I understand that there are those who think us horse people should get “real” jobs. And that all we do is spend our days “playing” around. I’m genuinely sorry that you have never been exposed to a lifestyle that teaches you discipline, how to love unconditionally, put something other then yourself first, bust your ass for the things you want and need, kept humble by a 1200 lb animal, the real meaning of “hard work”, early mornings and late nights spent caring for something other than YOU. Those are things a “real job” will never give you.

Some of you haven’t cleaned stalls .....and it shows.

- Aubrey Burwell

08/10/2024

I had a weekend camping with my pony, well 1 night reclining on the passenger seat in the jeep trying to sleep (too many spiders in the trailer 😂) while Enya had a luxury suite 🙄 at the lovely Bogenraith Equestrian Centre.
I headed over after work on Saturday morning and shared a school hire with a good friend, it was great to get the horses used to the arena before their tests on Sunday, both horses were very well behaved.
Afterwards we had supper in the cafe and then I plaited up the lovely Leo and Rosie, and had a lovely evening chilling and chatting.
Sunday morning I was up early to give Enya a leg stretch, feed , wash the white bits (I now want a posh wash-bay 🤣)
get her plaited up before helping a friend and stewarding for the morning classes.
1pm and it was time to start getting ready for our turn at the Scottish Riding Club Event Series DTM finals.
We were doing both our music tests for the Elementary and Medium. I was a bit anxious about it but once we got into the arena and my music started I couldn’t help but smile and I really enjoyed both tests, I was extremely proud of Enya, she’s not been the easiest and has had her issues but she never put a hoof wrong.
To make the day even better, we were 2nd in the Elementary and to my surprise we won the combined medium/advanced medium class 😳 I got a bit emotional 🥹🤣
And now I have bought too many photos, but I really couldn’t narrow them down any further 🤷‍♀️
So here’s Enya (Sienna fb) first freestyle finals.

05/10/2024

What better way to spend a Saturday evening 🤣
2 manes done ready for their dancing tomorrow.
Just Enya to do in the morning (she can’t be trusted to keep them in overnight 🙄)

03/10/2024

Fyi

30/09/2024

DIARY UPDATE

2024 diary is now fully booked

2025
Jan-March - fully booked
April - limited availability
May - fully booked
June- limited availability
July - availability (at the moment!)
August - December - fully booked

Massive thanks to you all for booking in so early, makes my life easier for planning some me time 🤣

I can’t believe my wee dog walking and freelance grooming business will be 20 years old in July! When I gave up office work in 2005 and decided to take the plunge and set up Animal Crackers and try it for a year, I never thought it would work out. I always feel privileged to look after the most amazing animals.
Thank you all so much for trusting me with your pride and joy.

Ps I am going to offer bathing and plaiting for next year, this will be very limited as I plan to be competing myself and Enya is a mud monster and requires hours of work to get ready 🤣
Photo of Enya last weekend taking reserve inhand champion at Ladyleys (might hire Davie out too, although he makes Enya look like a 12.2🤣)