Brook Barn Equestrian

23/01/2025

UK and Ireland STORM EOWYN UPDATE.⚠️⚠️.

We have bumped up the forecast wind speeds for western Ireland and central Scotland, due to an increase in the confidence of a string jet. A sting jet is a concentrated area of more powerful wind gusts. In this case, a sting jet will likely form off the south west coast of Ireland during the 2-4am timeframe, and move north east thereafter. It will push along the western coast of Ireland.
Coastal headlands and coastal villages may see the strongest wind speeds, in excess of 120mph. However, it's effects in terms of 90-110mph wind gusts will be felt at a significant distance inland. Therefore, we have moved the forecast area of 90-110mph further east and also slightly further south.
Further east and south across Ireland, a general area of 75-100mph is given, due to the greater wind area associated with the storm.
This area will move into Northern Ireland by late morning, followed by central and southern Scotland from around 12pm.
Wind speeds will likely reach 100mph locally in the central belt, however more widely 90mph for Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Strong winds will extend into Northern England and North Wales later in the day. These areas will experience a milder version of the stronger winds further north, due to being on the southern extent of the sting jet. Wind speeds will likely reach 75-100mph north of Leeds, through Cumbria, North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Durham, and across North Wales.

For the midlands and southern England, a general area of 50-65mph is given.

An exceptionally serious weather event is about to unfold, and in the worst affected areas will likely be remembered with the same credence as the larger storms in the last century. For central and western Ireland, locally, destruction of residencies is possible, along with extended power outages.

This is not a warning, it is an assessment of forecast wind speeds.
Please heed separate official warnings given by Met Eireann and the UK Met Office.
Areas in red warning areas should follow specific advice, which includes all of Ireland, all of Northern Ireland, and central/southern Scotland.

23/01/2025

Another week of rehab for the boys. Oscar decided yesterday it was time to up his game, bored with only walking and trotting....threw a few bucks in and bolted .
After jumping the line of poles and a single cone ( no excuse for skinnies now), settled to do some really nice work. I ll have get my brave pants out again ready to get back on board.

Steven doing a great job with Arch who was nice keen too but somewhat better behaved, I suppose you'd expect that at 22.

16/01/2025

***Edited Apologies to everyone who has commented, I came across these photos while sorting through files, this happened a few years ago. I was just making a point how horses help us learn to deal with many things. As much as we want to protect our children, grief is inevitable as we always need to put the horse first.

I am proud of my children for many reasons, but I think the biggest reason is to be there when you are needed.

Levi's first day with Prince and his last. Levi could have left the task to me, but he chose to there and came home from university when he could have easily not faced the pain of saying goodbye.

Our horses become family members, saying goodbye is painful finding the right time is hard, do it when its right for them not you.

Horses teach us so many things, dealing with grief is one of them.

15/01/2025

Finally managed to get the boys working outside on their fitness rehab. Taking things really slow, so hopefully we'll get the best results.

Both worked on the long reins over poles, you can really see how it gets the hocks working. Oscar needs his muscle building up on is offside hind.

Great to see Steven back on Arch doing a bit under saddle

Hopefully we ll get a few fine days to keep it up 🌞

12/01/2025

Following my own advice, yesterday I spent some time clearing a cupboard and came across these. A very young Levi and Prince along with a piece of Levi's art work at the time .....special memories.

I sometimes wonder if I had encouraged and helped him more would he still be riding ? 🤔

I've always believed having a pony or horse is such a privilege that is never a given. I had to catch buses and walk miles just to spend time at the riding school or helping with other people's horses.

Most of my friends who had ponies at an early age with much parental help nolonger ride. Whereas the ones who had to work hard at the start still do .

10/01/2025

Snow might have stopped play for alot of people but there are many things you can do in the meantime.

Catch up with the jobs you keep putting off.
De clutter the tackle room, clean tack, order any new kit you need, get prepared for the coming season. Spend some time learning body work and help reduce stiffness and tension in your horse. Helen Thornton - Equine Sports & PEMF Musculoskeletal Therapy runs some excitement courses. Jim Masterson has some great books and videos.

Take some time out for a little self care, check out some of the rider fitness courses on line, book a massage or physio if you need it.

If snow and ice is stopping you riding its no good complaining try something different instead.

I am just completing a mental health course in children and young adults in preparation for starting my Equine Facilited Interactions Certificate at the end of January.
Watch this space for our exciting new venture !

07/01/2025

Archies turn next.
Just before Christmas we had an incident where he spooked and pulled up sharp while cantering.
He was immediately slightly lame but walked it off on the way home.

He's just not been quite right since, looking quite pained in his facial expression like he had a headache.

It turns out he probably had whip Lash from pulling up so quickly .......look at the relief he's feeling after his session with Helen Thornton - Equine Sports & PEMF Musculoskeletal Therapy.

It was also booster day so both boys were checked by Luke from Green Veterinary Practice and given the thumbs up 👍 to start gradually working

07/01/2025

A really brilliant session with the amazing Helen Thornton - Equine Sports & PEMF Musculoskeletal Therapy today.

I ve delayed starting Oscar's rehab until Helen could see him. Since his surgery using the body checks I learned on Helens 2 day course, I had identified a problem around the hyoid tissue and TMJ. He was very reluctant to let me touch behind his ears and under his chin.

After Helen worked her magic he was all sorted.
The soreness was probably created from the GA and the positions his head and neck were put in during the surgery.
The last image isn't Oscar but shows a horse under GA to illustrate my point.
I wonder how many horses under the vets advice are put in pessoa s after surgery without this soreness being treated?

06/01/2025

Surround yourself with good people, so glad I've found my tribe

Never underestimate the importance of your people.

When you step back or hesitate, they’ll be the ones who push you forward.

When you fall, they’ll be the ones who pick you up.

When you find 100 reasons you can’t do something, they’ll find one reason you should.

When you lose your way and forget why you do this, they’ll be the ones who bring you back.

When you make stupid decisions, they’ll tell you, and then they’ll help you fix it.

When you’ve had a bad run and everything seems to be going wrong, they’ll be your shoulder to cry on.

And when you finally succeed, when you ride in to collect that ribbon, they’ll be the ones cheering the loudest.

They won’t always agree with you, and they sure as hell will tell you when you’re wrong, but they’ll always believe in you...even when you don’t believe in yourself.

Your people are invaluable.
Never let them forget it.

05/01/2025

As we enter the new year many people will setting goals for 2025.

If 2024 didn't go as well as you hoped it's wise to remember the famous words of Bruce Lee.

'A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.'

After making slow but good progress with Oscar we were stopped in our tracks when a bone chip was discovered in his hock. The goal of ending the year with our first ODE, came abruptly to an end. I am of course bitterly disappointed, it's soul destroying to get this far again only to have circumstances beyond my control dictate our future hopes and dreams.

However looking back without that initial goal would I have acheived things we did ? Would I have pushed myself outside my comfort zone ? Probably not, so instead of negatively focusing one what we didnt do, I am trying to be grateful for what we did manage to do together.

🔸️ Hacking solo
🔸️Hacking away from home
🔸️Training in new places and over coming some pretty wild excitement
🔸️Successful first dressage competition
🔸️Successful first Combined training
🔸️Working hunter champion at our local show

Another favourit quote of mine is
'With gratitude hope is sustainable ' M J Fox

I truely hope he comes good 🤞🤞🤞🤞

I'm changing goals to intentions for 2025, I ll tell you why in my next post.

29/12/2024

Good horsemanship goes hand in hand with welfare, great read as relevant now as it was nearly 30 years ago.

A RECAP ON AACHEN 1995. THE BEGINING OF THE SLIPPERY SLOPE TO WHERE WE ARE AT NOW.
Susan’s Interview with Dr. Reiner Klimke At the Aachen CHIO
July 1995
Susan: I was watching you as you schooled Biotop in the indoor arena this morning, and it was wonderful. I noticed you were working him in a fat snaffle, and I wondered if you could talk about the importance of working in the snaffle for upper level horses.
Klimke: I ride at home only once a week on the double bridle.
Susan: Do you mean for most of your Grand Prix horses, or for this one especially?
Klimke: All. I want to have them very light in my hand. It is easier when they are really "through", and they take the bit and take your hands. Then they are not afraid to come out to the double bridle.
Susan: Biotop seems to be very "out" to the bridle--there is not a lot of overflexing. Klimke: And when he goes in extensions, the neck and frame extend too. And yet there are
horses who make their extensions with overflexed necks and they score just as well... Susan: Can you explain that?
Klimke: Well, when I tell you this, I don't want to sound jealous, but I live for classical riding. Classical riding means that the horse must go: that is, the energy must come through and the horse reaches forward. But the judges don't always mark accordingly. I don't mind; I know what is right. I have been in this sport for nearly 40 years.
Susan: I also saw today that you were doing a lot of work on the basic paces, and simple transitions.
Klimke: Yes. The horse must go forward and he must be happy. If the horse is happy and he trusts you, then you can teach him. If you punish him, that is wrong.
Susan: They never forget. Is there any place for punishment in riding?
Klimke: I hate to punish a horse. It must not be. It can happen to anybody. Sometimes you lose your patience, you try to make the horse a slave. But it is not right. Sometimes you see riders blowing up, even here, with top riders. I say to myself, "Poor horse, I wouldn't like to be in your stable."
Susan: Why does it happen? A lot of these riders will teach and talk about riding classically, and mean to do it, but then it is different here. Is it the pressure?
Klimke: I think everybody wants to win. Perhaps they think if they make a horse tired it will be submissive. Sometimes it may work, but if you really look you can see what is wrong. Some judges don't have a really good eye, and they judge by punishing mistakes, like too many or too few strides in a pirouette, for example.
Susan: Too much counting and not enough...
Klimke: Yes. The principle is: how is the walk, how is the trot, how is the canter, how is the acceptance of the bridle, how does the back work--all of these things. And in addition, the figures. But they deduct too much if a figure is not 100% okay. You see? If you make a pirouette and the horse really uses his hindquarters, and maybe the pirouette is a little big, you should not be given a 5.
Susan: That's a little extreme.
Klimke: Yes. It can be at least a 6, can also be a 7, when the horse really canters classically. Even if the circle was too large, remember that you must deduct from 10. The judge must be able to see the main achievement of a horse and rider, in a movement.
Susan: This brings up another question, and that is--there are some amazing equine athletes here, and some of them get a lot of points because of that. Where are the places in the Grand Prix test where the talent can't cover up the problems with the training?
Klimke: I look only at the way that the horse moves, in all three gaits. He must come from behind, with a swinging back. The head and neck must seek the bit. I hate it if the horse comes behind the vertical and stays there. When the horse is really "through", you must be able to open and close the frame, and keep him reaching into the bit. And right now, in the judging, in my opinion, this doesn't count for enough. But sooner or later, good riding will be rewarded. You must not lose your patience, you see. And don't give up.
Susan: I know that an international horse must have talent for piaffe and passage. At what point in a horse's life can you tell if that talent is there? Can you tell at the very beginning of training?
Klimke: No. But when you can easily do transitions with the horse--when he shows the ability to sit back--and the half halts go through, I like to see that. And there must be the desire to do the piaffe.
Susan: Whose riding do you admire? Klimke: Right now?
Susan: Past or present--anybody.
Klimke: Okay. Nicole in her best time was very good. Of course, now
her horse (Rembrant) is 18. But look back to Stockholm (World
Equestrian Games, 1990) or Barcelona (Olympics, 1992). It was just the
right, wonderful picture. Nice hands. Coming to nearly invisible aids.
There are some other riders who are very good in a test--it is fantastic.
And when you see the same person training...well if somebody else
would do this, then the vet would probably say, "Come on, not here."
But they laugh and say, "So what. We're winning." Riders who ride for medals must try to be an example for classical riding. It is their duty. You cannot talk one way and ride another. Either you talk as you ride, or you explain why you don't.
Susan: Do you allow people to watch you school your horses at home? Klimke: Absolutely. I have nothing to hide. I have seen riders make a fuss about spectators being allowed to watch the schooling at the World Cup Finals. This is wrong. The best thing for the horse is the open door.
Susan: What's wonderful is that you have demonstrated that classical riding can win. Klimke: And I will not stay away from it.