Riley Equine Services

06/12/2021

Morning all!

A long overdue update for you all….

A few weeks ago I managed to put myself on the receiving end of a pretty nasty kick. I was in hospital for 5 days on surgical high dependency unit at Worcester due to numerous bits of internal damage, the worst being a laceration to my pancreas. I’ve been back home for almost 2 weeks now, but still have another 10 days of no contact with horses to endure 😞. It’s hard not being able to do what I love, but I just can’t risk repeating the damage and ending up back in hospital. My husband and kids need me in one pice, now more than ever.

I am so grateful for the amazing care I received from the NHS when I needed it. It was very scary to be told that I was that close to needing emergency surgery.

So, Spring finds himself getting another cheeky holiday. He’s probably starting to think he’s retired. Sorry mate, not yet!!

Another bit of news; Bryn has been sold. It’s made me feel very sad, but I’m sure he will have a lovely life in his new home. He absolutely excelled himself whilst with Caroline Webley, who did a fabulous job as Finishing School Teacher. Thank you so much, it has helped to set him up for life.

This means that right now Spring is my only horse, much to my bank balance’s relief. We’ll see how long that lasts, but if I get another one at some point, please understand that it’s purely for business purposes, and not at all because one horse isn’t enough (she says 😆)

I find myself in the extremely unusual position of having finished my Christmas shopping, and SHOCK HORROR, I’ve even made a start on wrapping. Next on the list of things to do before starting working again is the dreaded tax return…… shoot me now 😩🔫

I want to say a HUGE thank you to the army of family, friends, clients and well wishers who have provided help, food, support, flowers at a particularly challenging time. I have felt so honoured to know that so many caring, thoughtful people have my back. I can’t wait to be able to get back out doing my thing and seeing you all again. And in the meantime I will enjoy cuddling my mum’s new puppy who arrives this afternoon, sitting by the fire, wrapping presents, binge watching tv, catching up on all the food I couldn’t stomach a few weeks ago, and probably procrastinating about preparing my tax return. Anyone who fancies visiting, be prepared to be handed a folder full of receipts to log 🤭

17/11/2021

This slightly lean boy is new to his owners. They asked for my advice about what clip to go for. He is currently being ridden a few times a week, and they dont want to risk him getting lively due to taking too much coat off as they don’t know him well yet. He lives out and they would like him to put some weight on. He recently got rather sweaty shortly before he was due to go back out in the field and had so much coat that they worried about him catching a chill.

With all the above information I suggested an Irish clip as he will keep plenty of hair to help him stay warm. Hopefully we’ve removed enough hair, from the key areas to prevent him from getting too sweaty, but if not we can always take more off (but we can’t stick it back on if we find he gets lively!)

03/11/2021

Neat line goals …… ✔️

Clipping under mild sedation today. I have done lots of desensitisation with this mare, but after discussion with her owner we have agreed that sedalin is the kinder way to clip her. I’m told that she was previously very stressed when clipped (not by me). Horses don’t forget traumatic experiences, so please take care to ensure your precious horses and ponies are introduced to clipping in a sensitive way. I am always happy to chat to clients about my skill set, as I am confident that I am learnt appropriate methods to be able to train horses that clipping is not something to fear.

Happy Humpday everyone, the weekend’s on the horizon!

23/10/2021

Dainty bit of clipping art today 💗

15/10/2021

A delightfully relaxed lady to clip today. Her owner asked for her incredibly long mane to have a tidy, without making it ‘short’. I was also asked to tidy the feathers, so that she would stop treading on them, but keeping the full feathered look.

Call me modest, I think we nailed it today

😁💗😁

13/10/2021

L👀K how much this cutie was enjoying his clip today! Like lots of horses, whilst being clipped, he gets quite, er, ‘relaxed’, meaning clipping can often be a good time to have boys checked for beans. I do sheath cleaning, and whilst it’s entirely possible to remove beans even when they’re tucked up, it’s MUCH easier to a thorough job (& arguably more bearable for them) when they’re letting it all hang out!

Loving my new battery powered HD Roamer clippers from Masterclip Clippers UK

Blades beautifully sharpened by Stoke Prior Sharpening Service

Today I collected up the clipped hair for use in traditional lime plastering - what a neat little reuse of a waste product 💗

02/10/2021

One of today’s clients 😍

Clockwise, starting from top left;
1. Unclipped, impressively hairy pony
2. Bulk of coat removed. Lines & tufts remain.
3. Much improved finish after lots of persevering. Just the dust in his coat left to remove now.
4. The finished article, after hot clothing

If you would like your horse or pony to benefit from a clip as thorough as this boy had, please do get in touch to discuss your requirements

15/09/2021

‼️ CALLING ALL REGULAR CLIPPING CUSTOMERS ‼️

I’m super busy at the moment, so please don’t leave it too long to get booked in. I’d hate to let anyone down!

Send a message to learn more

07/09/2021

07/09/2021

Another offer for anyone who missed out on last months’….

28/08/2021

Super local company if anyone needs their blades sharpened?

25/08/2021

August is fast drawing to a close. Any more takers for this special offer?

16/08/2021

I am privileged enough to get to use the wonderful facilities at Bryony Wilson’s yard in Stoulton, Worcester (5 mins from both J6 & J7 of the M5). Cross ties, easy access to power and masses and masses of LIGHTS so I can see every last little tuft of hair. If you would like your horse to benefit and are happy to bring your horse over, please do get in touch

10/08/2021

Time to start thinking about those ponies who are shortly going to be sprouting the beginnings of winter coats 🤦‍♀️. I’m offering a special offer of 20% off for bookings made, with a £10 deposit paid before the end of August (appointment for a mutually agreeable date - it doesn’t have to be in august)

Please get in touch through WhatsApp

07773711007

I’ve been a bit slow to post these photos. This was the last clip I did before lockdown. He is an mature gentleman who I have clipped previously, so I was comfortable for his owner to stay well away whilst I worked wearing gloves and touching as little as possible. Not touching your face is something that you have to discipline yourself to when clipping, so that was not an unusual challenge! I’ve made the mistake of trying to wipe hairs away in the past, and all it does is cause the cut hairs to stick in to your skin. Yuk, and ouch! As you can see from the bottom right photo, this horse has had a high trace clip through the winter (to help keep him warm as he is well in to his twenties, but to stop him getting wet from sweating when he is worked. Yes, he is still very much in work, which is amazing). When re-clipping and removing additional hair, it takes a certain amount of dedication to not leave clip lines at the point where you are removing previously unclipped hair. As you can see though, not only did we have no clip lines, we also have a lovely shiny finish, all ready for his summer coat to come through 😍.

I hope you are all staying safe, and helping the NHS to save lives

01/04/2021

Another day of trimming and tidying. Just a bath with buckets of anti yellow shampoo needed, and he’ll be

01/04/2021

An afternoon of tidying for me yesterday - although clipped throughout winter, this lovely boy has kept his fluffy legs for protection against the elements. With the weather now so much milder, it was time for them to come off. However, I still keep guards on when clipping legs, just to give them that little bit of protection whilst smartening them up. He also had a mane pull, a tail tidy, bridle path trim and the all important beard trim 😋

Bryony Wilson
Georgie Ormandy

27/02/2021

Who doesn’t love a neatly clipped and very handsome chestnut head

I’m feeling so inspired by the bauetuguk weather. All of my own horses are now looking super tidy, all ready to get out in rye post lockdown world

26/02/2021

This young man had his end of winter woollies removal done today. I didn’t finish until 8pm, so a final check over to be done in daylight, then photos of the sexy svelt bod will be posted all over fb 😬

23/02/2021

Gorgeous Jack modelling his end of winter clip ✂️

Appointments available for those in need of similar therapy 🤩

21/01/2021

L o c k d o w n C l i p p i n g O f f e r

£35 full clip with mane tidy.
(1/2 head and legs left on. 15 mins for mane)

11/12/2020

✂️CLIPPING AVAILABILITY THIS SUNDAY 13th DEC✂️

I have a couple of slots available to clip at Daneswood Dressage this Sunday, ideal for anyone who has sessions booked with Leonie Brown. Outside clients also welcome 🙂

Call/text 07773711007 or PM to book

06/12/2020

✂️CLIPPING UPDATE✂️

I have been sooo busy over the last few months that it’s prompted me to think about how best to fit everyone in. I have decided to trial the offer of a discount for those who can bring horses to me at any of the following places that I work from;

•FECKENHAM - my yard
•OMBERSLEY - Leonie Brown’s yard
•UPTON SNODSBURY - Moorend Farm
•STOULTON - Bryony Wilson’s yard Windmill Hill Farm

Leonie Brown and Bryony Wilson have generously offered their super facilities, so why not combine your lesson with having your horse clipped? I will be in attendance on some of the clinic days being run by each trainer - dates to follow shortly.

Moorend has its super indoor school, which I use for teaching and schooling too. So how about combining your visit for clipping with hire of the school on your own, or a lesson or schooling session with me?

My yard has access to miles of beautiful off road hacking, and I’m very happy for clients to park up at mine and go for a hack after clipping.

Prices as follows;

Hunter clip (full body clip with half head, legs left on) £45
Blanket or trace with half head £40
Irish £35

Extras;
Full head £5
Legs £10
Sheath cleaning £10

Reduction for ponies, according to size

£5 reduction per horse if brought to any of the locations mentioned.

Spaces for clipping at your home are becoming rather limited now, so please consider if you can come to me. Tea and coffee will always available for whilst you wait ☕️😁

23/10/2020

Very proud to be helping Lakota and owner Julie get the best possible start to his ridden career. Two hacks this week, both involved me getting on and off multiple times, to make sure his back doesn’t get tired in these early days. Next week will involve Julie getting on board again, as I believe in nurturing the bond between horse and owner, rather than making it all about me riding the youngster

04/10/2020

Yesterday saw the first outing for my new Medium blades. I took these photos to show that the finish is rather lovely - no pink skin showing through the white hair, and a shine to the coat. This horse lives out so leaving the coat a little longer is ideal for protection against the elements

02/10/2020

I’m pleased to be able to now offer a choice of finished coat length when clipping. Up to now, I’ve only had Fine blades, which cut to 1.6mm. I recognise that not everybody wants a super short clip though. So, if like me you are keen to keep your horses out as much as possible but end up feeling guilty that you’ve had all their cost taken off, I can now offer the following options;

Fine 1.6mm finished coat length
Medium 2.5mm
Coarse 4.5mm

These are Masterclip Clippers UK blades, recommended to me (along with their fabulous handsets) by the helpful team at Shear Ease Ltd. Thanks to both companies for great services, brilliant products, and helpful staff, you are a pleasure to deal with

05/09/2020

03/09/2020

30/08/2020

The comments below are from a client of mine, Jane Blackband, who I’ve had the pleasure of working for for some time now (the first time was way back in 2007 when I helped with backing a previous horse of hers). I teach Jane once a week on her pony Bunnie, who is a very fiery welsh dragon 🔥🐲🔥. I also school Bunnie once a week. We’ve started to make significant progress in convincing Bunnie that it IS possible for her to contain her boundless energy. I love figuring out what works for her - it’s not always been the most obvious route, but it’s a journey full of fun and giggles 🤩. And very rewarding when Jane goes out and get scores like this! Go Jane and Bunnie, BD next!

25/08/2020

And just like that, it’s clipping time again. This handsome young man is competing at Pony Club Area Dressage tomorrow, so a full clip, with head, and a leg tidy was the order of the day. He was beautifully behaved, even allowing me to do his ears 🥰💙🥰

I was very pleased to give a 15% discount to hus owner, which was a prize for a competition I ran at the start of lockdown.

Please feel free to get in touch if you have ponies in need of defluffing 😁

Tel 07773711007 or PM through my page 😊

16/08/2020

Friday fact...your horse or pony needs something in their stomach before you exercise or ride them!

Ensuring that your horse has something in his or her stomach before you ride or exercise them is so important to keep their gut healthy.

The strong acids in the horses stomach are present whether there is food in the stomach or not. If there is no food in the stomach for the acids to break down, the acids attack the squamous cells in the non-glandular region of the stomach. If the horse is frequently without food, this usually results in the horse developing gastric ulcers....the stomach does not work well when empty! If you add exercise onto this, the acid will just be splashing around in the stomach causing all sorts of problems. Ensuring that your horse eats before you ride will prevent any of the acid splashing around.

Whatever you offer should be forage-based and highly digestible. Either offer a haynet and let them nibble at that while you are getting them ready, and/or feed some chaff or if your horse has dental issues, some soaked grass nuts are ideal! I would still advise feeding something if they are ridden or exercised from the field, so you can be sure there is something in their tummies. This is particularly important if they are on restricted grazing or their grass is short!

Your horses stomach works best 1/2-3/4 full...so ensuring it is kept that way will help keep a healthy gut environment!

12/08/2020

11/08/2020

Come on everyone, let’s support Lincomb Equestrian so they can buy a defibrillator 🤩

08/08/2020