MSL- Equine

09/03/2024

And another post to share…… I’m busy this morning 😄
This one is such a passionate one of mine …. As in interest, not my post obviously, but why are we in such a hurry? It takes a little longer waiting for a horse to repair (if that’s possible) once we’ve got carried away. How does it cope with growing and carrying us without damage? With long reining and mentally stimulating ground work exercises and maybe some short hacks in equipment that are fitted to its developing body, we will have a strong well mannered horse.

Before backing your young horse, please read -

I wrote the first version of this post many many years ago now, every spring I tweak it, update it and reshare as owners are beginning to think about starting their youngsters. It has been stolen thousands of times, usually without the image, which irritates me as Naomi’s image was my inspiration to write this piece and I feel the words lose a lot without it, so please share rather than steal.

There are strange tables around that lead the reader to think horses age more quickly when they are young and slower as they get older. There is no evidence to support this. Why would the horse be the only animal in the world that ages in a non-linear manner? It doesn’t even make sense. It is an excuse for impatient owners to justify working their immature horses.

Sitting on a horse before they are mature is risking kissing spine, especially if the horse is not conditioned slowly. Sending a horse away as a 3 year old to go from unbacked to ridden daily in 6-8 weeks is a recipe for disaster. Riding in circles on 3 year olds damages the hocks. Jumping large jumps on 4 year olds is asking for stifle injuries. Pounding the roads pulling traps with 2 year olds damages every joint in their legs. Any joints asked to take excess pressure before maturity increases the risk of irreparable damage. Perhaps a young horse puts down more long bone in response to work, but a child heals quicker than an adult, it’s no excuse to cause them damage. An adult is still fully capable of adapting to the work load, just slower, without the collateral damage to the rest of the body.

For every horse that is backed at 3 and lives a long working life until they are 30, I can show you thousands, tens of thousands that are euthanised before they hit their teens because their bodies are broken. The exception makes the rule.

Now for the post -

A horse ages roughly 3 times faster than a human.

So a 90 year old human is a 30 year old horse. Both very old, usually arthritic, don’t have many of their original teeth left, and very likely retired and enjoying the finer things in life.

A 25 year old horse is a 75 year old human. Some are still happily working but some prefer retirement and an easier life. Often depending on just how hard a life they’ve lived.

A 20 year old horse is a 60 year old human. At that point where the body doesn’t work like it use to but the brain is all there and wants to be active.

A 13 year old horse is a 39 year old human. Middle aged, prime of their life where their knowledge and physical ability are about equal.

So let’s get down to the babies and work our way up.

A 1-1.5 year old horse is getting their first adult tooth, this happens at 6 years old in a human child.

A 3 year old horse is a 9 year old child. A child. Not ready for work by a long stretch. We have moved past sending children down the mines.

A 4 year old horse is a 12 year old child. Often will do odd jobs for pocket money, maybe a paper round, mowing lawns etc. Basically a 4 year old horse can start a bit of light work experience to learn the ropes.

A 5 year old horse is a 15 year old teenager. Think they know it all, cocky, and ready to up their work and responsibilities. Still quite weak and not fully developed so shouldn’t be at their physical limit but can start building strength.

A 5.5 year old horse has just cut their final adult tooth, this happens at 17 years of age in a human.

A 6 year old horse is an 18 year old human. An adult. Ready to work.

An 8 year old horse has achieved full fusion of their final growth plates. This happens at 24 years of age in a human. This is the age it is safe to push a horse for their optimal performance.

Pushing your youngster too hard too young will result in the failure of many body parts. Joints, spine, tendons, ligaments as well as their brains. Waiting another year or two at the beginning could give your horse an extra 10 years of useful working life. Be patient with your pride and joy!

Written by Vikki Fowler BVetMed BAEDT MRCVS

Graphic credit to Naomi Tavian , check her out on Pinterest

09/03/2024

I thought that this was interesting for any of you with babies …… horse babies of course 😄

Teething young horse?…. Give them a lead rope to chew!

I always tell my clients this, but I’m not sure if it’s general knowledge.

People often give Jolly balls or dog toys, but these only help with the front teeth, the back teeth go all the way to the horses eyelevel and the horse can not get these toys back there.

Often these youngsters discover lead ropes on their own. Unfortunately unknowing owners tell them off, when actually lead ropes are one of the best things you can give a youngster to help with the painful process of teething. The cheek teeth start coming through at 1 year old and continues until 4 year old.

Note - although it is unlikely the horse will swallow the fibres, please use a natural cotton rope just in case and replace if becoming frayed. Also  don’t forget to remove the clip, you don’t want any accidental nose piercings!!

04/03/2024

This is a great guide.
One of the things I hear so often with young horses being backed, or horses returning to work is that they’ll get them back into work first, and then get the saddle fitted!
I know costs of keeping horses go up and up but it needs to fit in the first place to allow the horse to work correctly without avoiding discomfort, so that it can do what we are asking in comfort. Simply waiting will exacerbate existing injuries and potentially create new ones. Vets bills are a lot more expensive, not to mention more time off and the wellbeing of that horse you love?

How Often Should Your Saddle Fitter Visit?

Horses undergo more than just seasonal changes, their shapes evolve over a lifetime as well. We put together this guide on how often, in an ideal world, your saddle fitter would like to see your saddle for a check, to ensure your horse's comfort.

Remember, this is a general overview, and every horse is unique. If you're ever unsure about the right time for your next saddle check, your saddle fitter is your go-to source for personalised advice.

01/03/2024

Thought you might like reading this 😊

HORSES CAN RECOGNISE THEIR KEEPERS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS

A recent study has found that horses presented with photos of humans can recognise their keepers at a rate much better than chance.

Ethologist Léa Lansade of the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, conducted an experiment to find out how well horses can recognise individuals from photographs. Their results showed that horses can remember a keeper’s face even six months after having seen the person.

The research team used two computer screens to display a random selection of unfamiliar human faces. 11 three-year-old Welsh mares were trained to choose between two side by side images by pressing the touchscreen with their nose, then being given a food reward. Then over a course of 32 sessions, the team started to introduce photos of the horses' handlers into the selection of unfamiliar faces.

The researchers found that the horses correctly identified their current keeper and ignored the unfamiliar faces about 75% of the time – a rate significantly better than chance. The horses also selected photos of previous keepers - people they hadn’t seen in six months.

These results are surprising for several reasons. They suggest that horses can understand that photographs – two-dimensional images – represent real people, without being given any other cues like voice, behaviour or scent. They actually performed better at this task than dogs have done in previous research.

The findings also suggest that horses form emotional attachments to their human keepers and have advanced facial recognition abilities. On an ethological level this would be very important as of course they would need to learn who to trust so they could alter their behaviour accordingly – knowing who to avoid or who they can approach safely. The results also show that horses have a good long-term memory for human faces.

Study details: Lansade, L., Colson, V., Parias, C. et al. Female horses spontaneously identify a photograph of their keeper, last seen six months previously. Sci Rep 10, 6302 (2020).

You can read the study in full here: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-62940-w

27/02/2024

18/02/2024

17/02/2024

With equine experts that aren’t experts in saddle fitting believing that a saddle isn’t enough to affect a horse’s ability to work correctly or to build symmetry to aid performance I can’t help but scream out, You’re wrong!
Despite only doing very few horses these days either passed on by believing professionals who are trying to identify poor performance, and close friends, I have had 3 horses in one week who’s movement has been transformed by a mixture of saddle placement, rebalancing and alterations.
A horse being asked to achieve our goals, even if its aim is to create a better way of carrying itself and its human, will always have to compensate and work through restriction and discomfort if we don’t correct these things first.
This week I’ve had a beautifully obliging horse show that it can canter correctly to the right using the correct canter lead once his shoulders were free, a pony negotiate hills without its (what had become normal) resistance, and another stop tripping, spooking and jogging, leading to the instructor noticing how much more they could achieve because this pony was now comfortable.
We MUST listen to the experts in that experts field, not others with an ego that gives them the confidence to guide others in an area outside of their area of knowledge. Welfare is listening to body language even if it’s not bucking or bolting, but those that shut down and hold that glazed, staring expression as they try so hard for us.
I am not always right and there is so much to learn when it comes to horses, but working with other specialists that value your knowledge in order to help a horse (and rider) enjoy their partnership is always a pleasure.

To every horse I work with, I will try and listen to what you are telling me, to be gentle, help where I can and communicate this to your rider/owner.

To every owner/rider, I will try and communicate my findings honestly, from knowledge, to help you understand clearly so you can have a happy partnership.

Michelle x

28/01/2024

This is something every fitter is up against. I’ve heard saddle fitters get a bad name as someone points out their saddle doesn’t fit, and it’s often then asked who the fitter is. Well a saddle can be fitted and within only a few weeks or months a horse can change shape.
A well fitting saddle can allow more muscle development due to it giving the correct rider support and clearance for the horse to move correctly, and in comfort.
A horse coming out of or going into winter will change shape.
A horse going from more turn out to less and visa versa will change shape.
A horse turned away and coming into work will need one fit to re start its training in comfort and another to fit to those developing fitness changes.
A correctly fitting saddle can prevent lameness, behavioural issues, reluctance to go forward, head nodding, hollowing as well as improving the riders position and harmony with the horse.

Please remember a saddle is only as good as its fit.
Horses change shape so need refits every 6 months on average.

28/12/2023

We are looking for a member of staff to help us during our busy foaling period and for the right applicant potential for more. Role includes all general yard work and handling of youngstock. For more info please call Caroline on 07789917444

30/08/2023

We are excited to announce that joining us on our stand at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials this week will be Litemyride. We will have a range of solar lights on display suitable for a multitude of different functions around the yard, in the stable or for your arena. If you are visiting this week make sure you call by our stand in the World Of The Horse pavilion and have a chat with our team.

30/08/2023

Check out our layout plan to see exactly where all our brilliant exhibitors are at this years Defender Burghley Horse Trials 👀

What a line up 🤩

Horse&Rider Magazine
PONY Mag
Allen & Page Horse Feeds
WOW Saddles
Protexin Equine Premium
Erreplus
Dengie Horse Feeds
Aquamax Horse Bedding
Horizon Horseback South Africa & Botswana
JFC Equine
Drimee UK
Emerald Green Feeds
Mudcontrol
Derriere Equestrian
Equine Products UK
BETTA LIFE
Silvermoor
Equi-Light
Avalanche equestrian
Bloomfields Horseboxes
Aviform Nutrition UK - Avian
SupaStuds
Aztec Diamond Equestrian
Black Country Saddles
Baillie Haylage
Premier Performance
Back in Action
Woodland Shavings
Black Heart Equestrian
Stirlingshire Mobile tack

20/08/2023

23/07/2023

Thank your horse.

Thank your horse for carrying you on his back, defying his natural instincts.

Thank your horse for coming to your call in the pasture and leaving his friends behind, when you have nothing to offer but companionship.

Thank your horse for having strong enough shoulders to hold your body as you lean on him to cry after a bad day.

Thank your horse for jumping obstacles bigger than he is, for dancing sideways across the sand and for cantering into water, all because you ask him to.

Thank your horse for his endless patience when you are frustrated at him not for understanding, do not forget he does not speak our language.

Thank your horse for his warm breath on your cheeks on a frosty winter morning.

Thank your horse for his soft sigh as he falls asleep by your side, trusting you completely to watch over him in his most vulnerable state.

Thank your horse when he is old and stiff, when his tack is covered in cobwebs and his face is flecked with grey, because he has given his best years to you and asked nothing in return.

Thank your horse for existing, because one day the stable will be empty and the head-collar will hang unused from the hook, and you will wish you had.

📸 by Lynne Healey
Words by yours truly!

17/06/2023

Where does your horse want you? Do you know? Can you feel it? As your saddle fitter or equine body worker we step into your journey maybe once every four or five weeks, if your in rehabilitation with your horse or if not possibly every four or five months. Between visits your horse may have moved yards, changed trainer or rider, gone barefoot, changed discipline and the list goes on. If you can understand your horse better, you have more chance of guiding your equine professionals when you feedback your progress. I love watching horses position themselves when I stop to chat with the rider. Many horses just place the rider exactly where they want you. Left or right, they know what works for their body and it’s compensating patterns. Do you know where your horse likes you to sit? Gathering just that simple piece of information gives you a better understanding of your horse’s requirements. Once you know that it’s working how that affects motion and the why? Now that takes more work, and not just the job of a saddle fitter and body worker. Vital and most key to correction is a coach that can see the asymmetry and is educated in helping you to correct your horses asymmetry or disfunction. Motion therapy is the winner!!

02/06/2023

🐎Horses: The Truth Behind the Labels - Lazy, stubborn, grumpy....

Labels are always handy ways of explaining things away, especially when it comes to horses.

🫢We are continually amazed at how culturally ingrained this dismissing of horse behavior is, despite the volumes of evidence and research to support that it is how they communicate.

🤔It also, surely, makes some level of logical sense when you think about it!

❓Instead of saying "my horse always pins his ears when he sees the saddle", how about WHY is my horse pinning his ears when he sees the saddle?

❓Instead of saying "my horse always moves away from the mounting block when I try to get on", how about WHY does my horse move away from the mounting block when I try to get on!

You get the gist - be curious about equine behavior - it is their language!

🌠🌠If you want to help yourself to help your horse to stay sound and happy, then we HIGHLY recommend Dr. Sue Dyson's course - 24 Behaviors Indicating Pain in the Ridden Horse.

🚀🚀This groundbreaking research is proving to be an invaluable tool for owners, vets and other equine professionals in better recognizing the early signs of a problem brewing.

🗝️🔑Early detection is the key to avoiding chronic lameness, pain and dangerous behaviors from horses that are trying to communicate their discomfort when not being heard with subtle signs - escalation to bucking, biting, rearing, spooking can mean it is late in the game for resolution!

❗Learn how to be proactive in preserving the physical, mental and emotional health of your, or your client's, horse:

🎈🎈AND, with 50% off until midnight tomorrow, NOW is the time:

https://www.equitopiacenter.com/shop/ethogram-may23/ref/1

25/05/2023

This infuriates me….. can’t let go of the reins… nod and smile at least

A POLITE REMINDER TO ALL WHO RIDE ON THE ROADS

This morning I stopped to wait for two people on horses riding towards me on a quiet country road. The two people in question just stared at me and there was no acknowledgement. The horses were perfectly behaved and there was nothing to distract the riders to explain why they did not offer any acknowledgement.

Now this experience isn't going to change my behaviour. If I see more horses and riders I am going to slow down or stop for them as appropriate. And if I see the same people again I will stop/slow down. Of course I am likely to remind them to be courteous to motorists/motorcyclists/cyclists if I do see them again.

But think of the non-horse person who has the experience of being ignored? Yes, its the law to slow-down or stop for horses on the road, but might a non-horse person be a little irritated and next time perhaps be a little less considerate?

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE FOR THE SAKE OF EVERYONE AND THEIR HORSES, DO REMEMBER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE ON THE ROAD WHO ARE CONSIDERATE TO HORSES & RIDERS!

05/05/2023

Badminton we are ready for you!

Please do come down and visit our trade stand, situated inside the World Of The Horse pavilion. Our stand is full of saddles for you to try/ compare/ sit on, and retailers to answer all of your thoughts and questions!

We look forward to seeing you all!

03/05/2023

This is all rather exciting...we're evolving and rebranding at the moment. There will be a big reveal very soon but I'm just working on a lighting project with the first new logo!
If you are thinking about upgrading your lighting or starting a new project. Drop us a line and we'll show you the light 😁
https://www.litemyride.co.uk/services

14/04/2023

Today just happens to be wow day!! But why not share 😊

14/04/2023

Sorry guys they may not be for some of you, but I have had great results with just a wow girth even (saddle fitting well of course). …..

Another FreeSpace Girth review we had to share! This time from the lovely Claire McNay & her beautiful grey, Skipper!

"Having struggled to find a girth that my young Irish Draught Skipper was 100% comfortable in I was interested to find out more about the WOW FreeSpace girth. I read up about it and spoke to my fabulous fitter Sally who advised on the options available. I decided to go for it and I have been delighted with it. Since using it Skipper has never felt tight and tucked up when I first mount and ride away, and his walk has so much more swing. He's proving to have a big jump as his confidence builds and this girth along with my WOW saddle enables him to move freely and comfortably in all disciplines 👌"

30/03/2023

Another example of girths being capable of being such a big and important part of horse comfort and performance. I do like to stress though that the outcome that you are looking for is hugely based on the combination of a well fitting saddle, with the correct girth strap/billet positioning for YOUR horse, for even this girth (which I love) to achieve this.

28/03/2023

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐬 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠…

I’ve never seen a more misunderstood animal more than 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐬 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠.

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞…

I’ve been trying to tell you that I am in pain, but you don’t seem to listen.

I show you that I’m in pain by not being willing to work but you just call me 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 or 𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐲. Instead of helping me, you just 𝐤𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫.

I show you that I’m in pain by rearing when you try to ride me, but you enjoy showing people you can sit to a rear. Instead of getting off and listening, you just say “𝐇𝐞’𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐭!”

I show you that I’m in pain by throwing my head in the air, but you just say it’s one of 𝐦𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬. Instead of helping me, you just buy 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 so that I can no longer 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐢𝐫.

I show you that I’m in pain by bolting, but you just get scared and decide I’m not the one for you. You sell me and I still remain as 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐬 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠.

It’s our responsibility as animal owners to do right by them, horses can’t speak, they communicate through their actions. So we need to listen!

9/10 times “negative behaviour” is caused my pain, the rest is learnt behaviour. Either way I always check for pain first.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐬 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, deserves the world. The amount of tolerance, loyalty, patience and trust the hurting horse has, is something I can only dream of having.

Written by - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫

Artist - Ruby Campbell