Natural Horse Enrichment

03/06/2023

I’ve been a little quiet on social media this Spring, largely due to the painful loss of my beautiful boy and business inspiration, Sol.

This doesn’t mean that I haven’t been taking lots of orders - thank you to all my wonderful customers, I hope that yourself and your equine friends enjoy!

As always, all of the seeds are from native herbs and wildflowers, all of which are safe and beneficial for horses and highly rated for pollinators too. Packed in recycled, recyclable and compostable materials to boot.

03/01/2023

Great to start the New Year with our first order for 2023!

Now is a great time to start thinking about sowing beneficial plant species for our equine friends and we have you covered for multiple soil types! All our seed mixes are:

🇬🇧native to the UK
🐎beneficial for horses
🐝great for pollinators
♻️come packaged in recycled, recyclable, biodegradable and compostable materials

09/04/2022

Oof, having Covid the last couple of weeks has been rough - so glad to be back with you all! I’ve been busy keeping rehab pony Sol entertained though ☺️

Keeping enrichment varied is key! Here’s a few of the tools and activities we have been doing in the last week, which have included:

🧂 Salt lick
🌱 hanging foraging toy (our very own willow twist!)
👅 Lick mat (marmite and dried mint)
👃 snuffle mat
🎯target training
🐴 hay pillow slow feeder The Hay Pillow, Inc.

Do you have a favourite enrichment activity? 🐎

24/03/2022

Another willow Hay Heart finished and ready for delivery. These lovely horse enrichment tools really are a labor of love ❤️🐎

24/03/2022

I think ribwort plantain are my favourite seeds as they look so much like tiny coffee beans ☕️🌱 this plant is also excellent for horse health due to its high tannin content, anti-mucosal and anti-inflammatory properties 💪🏻 healthy, natural enrichment that’s good for the environment too!

Don’t forget it’s free delivery on all our seed mixes and horse enrichment toys until midnight tonight!

23/03/2022

A whole lotta love goes into making our willow hay hearts. After soaking the willow for 5 days and wrapping in damp towels for a few hours, it is finally ready to weave. The hearts are woven (see video!), allowed to dry and set for a day and then fortified with h**p string before trimming excess ends and adding the finishing touch of a h**p hessian bow that can then be used to hang the heart in the stable, yard, field or around a track, filled with the forage of your choice. A whole lotta love from us, to you and your equine friend.

P.S. apparently I look grumpy in this video but it’s just my concentration face!

23/03/2022

To celebrate Mother's Day (this Sunday!) we are offering FREE shipping on orders placed between now and midnight on Thursday the 24th March. We post by Royal Mail First Class and orders will be despatched first thing Friday morning. Our seed mixes and willow horse enrichment toys make great gifts for horsey mums!

Shop here: https://www.naturalhorseenrichment.com/shop

Wildflower seed mixes safe for horses. Natural Horse Enrichment wildflower seed mixes are 100% native to the UK, produce safe and beneficial plants for horses, designed to flourish in a variety of conditions, excellent for pollinators. Packaged in recycled, recyclable and biodegradable materials.

22/03/2022

Today’s Hay Heart featured extra forage treats in the form of cleavers and dandelion leaves, both of which have extra horse health benefits.

Our willow Hay Hearts are:

✅ 100% plastic free
✅ durable
✅ designed to provide excellent, flexible, natural enrichment
✅ made from sustainable materials
✅ packaged in recycled, recyclable and compostable materials
✅ beautiful!

You can buy yours here: https://www.naturalhorseenrichment.com/product-page/willow-hay-heart

18/03/2022

All of the enrichment, none of the plastic! Our willow Hay Hearts aren’t just for hay either - they are great for multiple forage types and having more than one plant to choose from is an extra enrichment bonus. Here you can see Sol actively picking out all of the cleavers first - clever boy ❤️

15/03/2022

Let's talk about worms. Horse redworms pose a significant threat to horses worldwide and resistance to chemical wormers is widespread, posing a serious risk to our equines. Bioactive pastures could be the key to helping solve this problem 🌱

https://www.naturalhorseenrichment.com/post/horse-worms-wormer-resistance-and-bioactive-pastures

Horse redworms pose a significant threat to horses worldwide and resistance to chemical wormers is widespread, posing a serious risk to our equines. Bioactive pastures could be the key to helping solve this problem.

14/03/2022

Sometimes, enrichment is throwing around your Cavallo Hoof Boots 😎👌

13/03/2022

Trying to hang today’s Hay Heart with an impatient pony “helping” 😂

13/03/2022

13/03/2022

NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH - sustainably made horse enrichment toys!

We are delighted to launch two new horse toys - the Willow Hay Heart and the Willow Twist. Fill the Hay Heart with hay and hang in multiple locations and heights to mimic natural browsing and problem solving and use the Twist to encourage play and exploration - both alone and with you!

These toys are designed to provide excellent natural enrichment for your equine while being sustainably produced and packaged.

Read all about them in our latest blog:

https://www.naturalhorseenrichment.com/post/new-product-launch-sustainably-made-horse-enrichment-toys

and check out the rigorous Willow Hay Heart testing video below!

Buy here: https://www.naturalhorseenrichment.com/shop

11/03/2022

We celebrated our first week of trading with a seed giveaway and we're delighted to finish our second week by announcing our winner.... Phillips! Ali, send us message with your address and the seed mix of your choice and we'll get it in the post to you pronto! We hope that you, your equine friends and your local pollinators enjoy them 🐎🐝🌱🌸

10/03/2022

Getting a seed order ready with a coffee is definitely a great way to start the day! 🌱☀️☕️ Another order of the Wet and Clay mix - proving very popular! You can win one for free by entering the competition in the previous post - winner to be picked tomorrow evening!

08/03/2022

Happy International Women’s Day everyone! Here’s to equality and helping to support and lift each other up through our equine journeys. Horse life can be so hard at times, with many ups and downs and I am incredibly grateful for all the wonderful women that I have around me, lending an ear or a hand and sometimes sending me lovely pics of me and my boy when I did t realise they we’re taking photos on our rehab walk! ❤️

At the moment I’m juggling being a full-time scientist with launching NHE and working with Sol through navicular rehab. Each of these brings their own joy and hard times but I’m working hard to get the balance right and this is helped greatly by several fantastic women including wonderful experts that I’d love to give a shout out to:

🌟Alicia Harlov at The Humble Hoof podcast - I have learned so much!
🌟Yvet Blokesch at Feather Light Horsemanship with her incredibly helpful training and mindset videos - they have made a massive difference for me
🌟Amanda Barton at Tilefield Equestrian - Amanda Barton - my first mechanical horse session was so enlightening and helpful and I’ll be seeing her again at Sol’s Whole Horse Clinic in a few weeks for rehab exercises!
🌟Thea Woods Thea Woods - Equestrian Training for all the ongoing daily support and friendship and helping to take such good care of my boy

Thank you to my women friends, professionals and community for all that you do ❤️

06/03/2022

GIVEAWAY TIME! 🥳🥳

Thank you so much to all of our new followers, supporters and customers, we've been blown away by the number of orders and interest everyone has taken. To celebrate our first week of trading, reaching 200 likes and *smashing* our first week goals, we're celebrating with a giveaway! Follow the steps below to enter and be in with a chance of receiving a horse-safe, environment-enriching, pollinator-friendly wildflower and herb seed mix of your choice, free of charge.

🐴 like the page
🐴 tag two friends in the comments on this post
🐴 share the page

We'll choose and announce the winner on Friday 11th of March. N.B. we're only able to deliver to the UK.

More info on the plants included in our mixes can be found here: https://www.naturalhorseenrichment.com/shop

04/03/2022

These packets are off to their new home where they will provide healthy enrichment for horses and food and habitat for pollinators ❤️ we take sustainability very seriously here and all of our packaging is plastic free, recycled, recyclable and biodegradable, even the sellotape which is also compostable! 🌱♻️🌎

04/03/2022

Our Super Seed Mix is proving very popular! This mega mix has a whopping 10 species of wildflower and herb that have been chosen to:

✅ grow in a variety of conditions
✅ provide benefits to horses
✅ provide excellent food and habitat for pollinators

Buy this mix here: https://www.naturalhorseenrichment.com/product-page/super-seed-mix

Sow in situ at your yard/track/paddock (preferably in a non-grassy spot - after winter I bet we all have these!) or in pots.

Species included:

🌱Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)

Birdsfoot trefoil is an adaptable and hardy perennial wildflower that grows up to 15cm and produces delicate yellow flowers in the spring. Birdsfoot trefoil is a known anthelmintic, meaning it can reduce your horse's worm load.

🌱Chicory (Cichorium intybus)

Chicory is usually better known for the production a coffee alternative but this lovely member of the daisy family produces beautiful blue blooms and leaves that are edible for both horses and humans! Chicory is another natural anthelmintic that can help to reduce worm load in horses.

🌱Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)

Cornflower is a quintessential British wildflower. This annual flower produces the namesake 'cornflower blue' flowers, and pretty seed heads. Fortunately it is very good at self-seeding so once established it should come back year after year!

🌱Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Often underestimated, the humble dandelion is great for horses and pollinators alike. Fresh dandelion leaves are thought to act as a 'blood cleanser' that is beneficial for the kidneys and liver and good for rheumatic conditions. Importantly they bloom from early spring throughout the summer, providing a much needed food source for pollinators. Plants can grow up to 50cm and provide a lovely splash of yellow followed by gorgeous ball-shaped seed heads.

🌱Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)

Oxeye daisy produces what many consider the epitome of white daisy flowers and is a species that thrives in hay meadows. These daisies grow up to 75cm tall and are tough enough to compete with grasses and thrive in clay.

🌱Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)

Ribwort plantain is a human and horse edible plant that is also an important host plant for glanville and heath fritillary butterflies. This unassuming herb is readily eaten by horses and is reported to have anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties that are good for stomach upsets and inflamed mucus membranes. Ribwort plantain produces tiny white flowers on a brown inflorescence which can reach heights of 75cm.

🌱Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris)

As the name suggests, selfheal has been used in traditional treatments for human wounds and is known by many other names such as heal-all and woundwort. A member of the mint family, selfheal grows up to 50cm and produces lovely violet flowers on compact flower heads.

🌱Wild carrot (Daucus carota)

Wild carrot is another of our taller species that produces lovely big white umbellifer flowers, often with a red spot in the middle of the inflorescence. This hardy biennial is a good competitor that will grow in a variety of conditions - N.B. this plant will not produce edible carrots!

🌱White campion (Silene latifolia)

White campion seeds are easy to germinate and seedlings grow quickly - great for competing with weeds! At night time these flowers produce a lovely smell that attracts moths which come to feed (yes, some moths are pollinators too!).

🌱Wood betony (Stachys officinalis)

Wood betony, or betony, produces beautiful purple flowers that are loved by bees and butterflies alike. This plant has been used in traditional horse remedies across the globe, to cure wounds, prevent colic and to prevent stress.

03/03/2022

My most gorgeous and cheeky boy, the inspiration for my journey into natural horse enrichment, Sol. We’re in rehab for navicular syndrome and today was his first time walking out in hand (in boots and pads) for a few weeks. He was an absolute superstar 🌟I really couldn’t love my ginger prince more ❤️ we’re very lucky to have been offered a spot in a little herd at a private track livery, where the mix of surfaces, including plenty of hardstanding with pea gravel, will do wonders for his feet.

02/03/2022

Having heavy clay soil where my pony is kept, I was inspired to create a seed mix that would flourish in wet and clay conditions! This mix is packed with some really lovely wildflowers and herbs that provide natural enrichment and known health benefits for horses as well as all being great for pollinators!

Buy this here: https://www.naturalhorseenrichment.com/product-page/special-mix-wet

Species included:

🌱Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)

Birdsfoot trefoil is an adaptable and hardy perennial wildflower that grows up to 15cm and produces delicate yellow flowers in the spring. Birdsfoot trefoil is a known anthelmintic, meaning it can reduce your horse's worm load.



🌱Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)

Meadowsweet has been used in traditional horse remedies around the world for many years. Fresh meadowsweet is typically believed to be good for the digestive system and helpful in cases of gastric ulcers, fevers and rheumatic pain.



🌱Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)

Ribwort plantain is a human and horse edible plant that is also an important host plant for glanville and heath fritillary butterflies. This unassuming herb is readily eaten by horses and is reported to have anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties that are good for stomach upsets and inflamed mucus membranes. Ribwort plantain produces tiny white flowers on a brown inflorescence which can reach heights of 75cm.


🌱Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris)

As the name suggests, selfheal has been used in traditional treatments for human wounds and is known by many other names such as heal-all and woundwort. A member of the mint family, selfheal grows up to 50cm and produces lovely violet flowers on compact flower heads.



🌱Wild carrot (Daucus carota)

Wild carrot is another of our taller species that produces lovely big white umbellifer flowers, often with a red spot in the middle of the inflorescence. This hardy biennial is a good competitor that will grow in a variety of conditions - N.B. this plant will not produce edible carrots!



🌱Wood betony (Stachys officinalis)

Wood betony, or betony, produces beautiful purple flowers that are loved by bees and butterflies alike. This plant has been used in traditional horse remedies across the globe, to cure wounds, prevent colic and to prevent stress.

01/03/2022

Just taken delivery of some beautiful local weaving willow 😍 these all-natural, bark on rods are now soaking for 5 days before testing out for a new natural horse enrichment product…watch this space! 🌱🐎

28/02/2022

This is our mix specifically designed for adding natural horse enrichment to grassy areas - great for a corner of the paddock or in a grassy patch that the horses can be given access to. Each wildflower and herb has been selected based on:

✅ It's brilliant ability to compete with grasses
✅ It's benefits to horses
✅ It's benefits for pollinators

The mix includes:

🌱 Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)

Birdsfoot trefoil is an adaptable and hardy perennial wildflower that grows up to 15cm and produces delicate yellow flowers in the spring. Birdsfoot trefoil is a known anthelmintic, meaning it can reduce your horse's worm load.

🌱 Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Often underestimated, the humble dandelion is great for horses and pollinators alike. Fresh dandelion leaves are thought to act as a 'blood cleanser' that is beneficial for the kidneys and liver and good for rheumatic conditions. Importantly they bloom from early spring throughout the summer, providing a much needed food source for pollinators. Plants can grow up to 50cm and provide a lovely splash of yellow followed by gorgeous ball-shaped seed heads.

🌱 Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)

Oxeye daisy produces what many consider the epitome of white daisy flowers and is a species that thrives in hay meadows. These daisies grow up to 75cm tall and are tough enough to compete with grasses and thrive in clay.

🌱 Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)

Ribwort plantain is a human and horse edible plant that is also an important host plant for glanville and heath fritillary butterflies. This unassuming herb is readily eaten by horses and is reported to have anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties that are good for stomach upsets and inflamed mucus membranes. Ribwort plantain produces tiny white flowers on a brown inflorescence which can reach heights of 75cm.

🌱 Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris)

As the name suggests, selfheal has been used in traditional treatments for human wounds and is known by many other names such as heal-all and woundwort. A member of the mint family, selfheal grows up to 50cm and produces lovely violet flowers on compact flower heads.

Order this mix here: https://www.naturalhorseenrichment.com/product-page/special-mix-in-grass

27/02/2022

Our ‘Dry and Open’ mix has some truly beautiful wildflowers and herbs in its special recipe, reflected by the diversity and beauty of the seeds that make it. I especially love making these as the scent of fennel, which is only included in this mix, is just lovely.

26/02/2022

So pleased with how our seed packets and labels have turned out - so cute! Even better knowing that every part of them is recycled, recyclable and biodegradable 🌱♻️🥰

25/02/2022

Not a bad view while waiting for the pony podiatrist this afternoon ❤️🐎☀️

25/02/2022

Welcome to Natural Horse Enrichment! 🥳

We provide:

🌸🐎🐝🦋🇬🇧100% UK native wildflower seed mixes that are safe (and in many cases, beneficial) for horses and excellent for pollinators
🌱🌿 seed mixes designed to flourish in a variety of conditions (even clay! 💦)
♻️🌍 super environmentally friendly packaging - our packets are recycled, recyclable, biodegradable and compostable and our labels are recycled, recyclable and biodegradable. All of our packaging is made in the UK.

Our various mixes will provide your horse with wonderful enrichment when:
✅sown in their paddock
✅around their track system
✅in moveable pots
✅in livery yard flower beds and borders

We've started with wildflowers...but watch this space!
*NB we only deliver to the UK!

With very much love from Georgia and Sol x