Balanced Equine

24/03/2025

Pro show jumping photos by Paul Dobson Photography - Shows and Events from the British Eventing Official at Northallerton Equestrian Centre at the weekend and a screenshot from Sandy Smith 's cross country video.

I'm very proud of my wee home bred girl and looking forward to the rest of the season.

Just two more events before the LeMieux Grassroots Championships at Badminton. 😃💜

22/03/2025

Great start to our eventing season today with a trip to Northallerton Equestrian Centre for their BE event.

We travelled down yesterday to stable on site. Mum and Michael Wright came to meet us there so it was lovely to see them and get mums Lasagne for tea.

Gin behaved really well. She was a little bright in the dressage for 33, I think another five minutes warm up would have been good for her but for our first time between the white boards since last September I'm pleased with that. Followed by a double clear, with just 0.8 to add for two seconds over the time in the cross country. I didn't wear my watch and just let her go at her own pace for the first event so that's promising for making the time next time. Very proud of her performance to finish 6th.

That was my first trip to Northallerton. What a lovely facility and really lovely, friendly, helpful atmosphere and organisers.

💜

15/03/2025

Mum has just been up for a visit. It was lovely to see her and get to do things that you only do with a visit from mum, pancakes for breakfast, an extra day off, out for lunch.
Mum is a great help round the yard and it was lovely to be able to ride together.

Mum loves Hobo and always rides him when she visits. Hobo is in his 20's now and semi retired. He does still baby sit the horses we have in for training and is ridden once a week in between.
His only sign of aging is his teeth, they have expired and he cannot eat hay at all any more. He still eats grass and gets five buckets of soaked grass nuts per day. Mentally he is still only 6. And he had heard that Cheltenham was on this week so has had extra energy to run his own gold cup.

🏇🏇🏆💜💜

09/03/2025

Another trip to Bogenraith Equestrian today for their British Eventing Official ACE arena event.

Gin was feeling great. We had one pole in the 90 but jumped a lovely double clear in the 100 for 2nd place.

💜

07/03/2025

That feeling when you've just done a piece of canter work and just can't wait until you get back to the field...

04/03/2025

For the past two weeks we have had a work placement student from SRUC Oatridge Campus.

It was great to have some extra help and lovely to have someone so keen and willing to learn.

And bonus her mum owns Cukie Patisserie and made us this lovely tart. What a thoughtful gift 💜.

03/03/2025

Yesterday we headed up to the rather lovely Bogenraith, our first time there, for their BS show.

I had let my BS membership expire last year after Blair and would have really looked for any excuse not to go showjumping. But, I want to get better at it for my horses and to perform the best that we can at Badminton so after a kick up the ass from a friend membership purchased and off we went.

We did the British Novice and the 95. Not everything had gone to plan in the morning, including a tack malfunction just before I was about to get on so I was stressed before the first class and rode a bit 💩. Gin being the star she is got on with it anyway and we finished 2nd. I had a good chat with myself before the 95 and it felt much better, bar the two strides in a one stride double but again my clever pony helped me out for 5th.

We are heading back to Bogenraith next weekend for their arena event.

Video of the 95.

Thanks to Lucy Locket's pocket rockets for the help and tack save.

22/02/2025

We like boring...

❗️If Training Isn’t Boring, You’re Not Doing It Right❗️

Unfortunately, social media tends to reward the dramatic. Videos of rearing, bucking horses and ‘miracle’ turnarounds get the most attention, making it seem like big emotions are part of good training. But real, ethical training doesn’t look like that. It’s the quiet moments, the small successes, and the sessions that feel a little boring that build long-term, reliable behaviour🥰

Good training should be uneventful. If it’s exciting, dramatic, or full of big emotions—chances are, you’re pushing too far, too fast.

Whether you’re working with a horse or a dog, training should feel calm, predictable, repetitive. That’s where real learning happens with low aderaline and low cortisol. They don’t learn well when they’re overstimulated, emotionally overwhelmed and stressed. They learn through consistency, patience, and small, achievable steps.

When training is too intense, the stress hormone cortisol floods the system. High cortisol levels interfere with memory, slow down learning, and leave the animal feeling anxious rather than confident. This can lead to all sorts of issues like muscle wasting, ulcers, infections and more. The more stress, the less real progress is made, at that point they are just trying to survive. 🥹

So, if your training sessions feel slow, steady, and uneventful—good. You’re probably doing it right.❤️

12/02/2025

Training Livery FAQ'S...

What is the cost of training livery?

As of 1st April 2025 Training Livery will be charged at £231 per week (£33 per day).

This price includes five days of individually tailored training sessions, seven days full care, hay and hard feed as required.

The next space available will be from around mid May.

10/02/2025

Training Livery FAQ'S...

What is the cost of training livery?

As of 1st April 2025 Training Livery will be charged at £231 per week (£33 per day).

This price includes five days of individually tailored training sessions, seven days full care, hay and hard feed as required.

The next space available will be from around mid to end of April.

09/02/2025

Training Livery FAQ's

What's the best way to make an enquiry?

The best way to contact me is either via email or WhatsApp message.

I will not answer the phone while I am working with a horse throughout the day. If I am doing something where I can answer the phone it is unlikely that I will be near my diary and I might not be able to answer all of your questions.

Email or message gives me time to make a considered, accurate response.

After the initial enquiry I am happy for prospective clients to make an appointment to come and view the yard and meet me before deciding if they would like to book their horse in.

Our website is currently being updated but will have a contact us form. It also has lots of information about the services we provide.

When making an enquiry please leave your name.

www.balancedequine.co.uk
[email protected]
07742 103815

09/02/2025

Stunning rainbow at the yard yesterday while we were away with Gin 🌈.

Thanks to Beth and Linzi for the photos 📸.

I wonder if I'll find a pot of gold today 🤞🏻.

08/02/2025

Gin went for a trip to Inchcoonans Equestrian today to have a pop round a course of jumps to see where we are at before entries open for the first event we are aiming for. Despite the rain we both had fun and won a chocolate bunny 🐰 .
I love the catering at Inchcoonans so got some lovely Victoria sponge also.

💜

05/02/2025

Training livery FAQ'S...

What is included in training livery?

Training livery includes five days of individually tailored training sessions, seven days full care, hay and hard feed as required.

Horses are worked with for five days throughout the week by Jo. When required a second person will be available. Each horse is individually assessed and training sessions are tailored appropriately.

Seven days full care is provided to meet the horses basic daily needs.

Ad lib, home grown hay or haylage is included.
We feed Simple System Horse Feeds which is included.

The horse has the use of a fully rubber matted stable and an individual paddock with other horses over the fence. Hay is fed in the fields.

03/02/2025

Training Livery FAQ's

When will you next have a space available?

Every training livery space with us is open ended to make sure that all horses get all the time that they need.

As detailed in our last post there are lots of factors which affect how long a horse might need to be with us. Therefore, it is tricky to give an exact date of when the next space will be available.

A deposit will secure your place on our wait list. I can give an indication of when I expect the space to come up and then I will keep in touch as to an exact date.

Unfortunately I cannot hold a space without a deposit.

02/02/2025

I thought I'd do some posts with Training Livery FAQ's. If anyone has any questions feel free to post them in the comments and I'll answer them in a post.

Training Livery FAQ's

How long will it take?

It is impossible to answer this question as all horses are individuals and all learn at different rates.

The are lots of factors to consider;
How much handling has the horse had before coming for training livery?
How good has the previous handling been?
Has the horse ever been away from home before?
How quickly will the horse settle into a new yard?
How quickly will the horse settle with being handled by a new handler?
Are there any physical compromises that need to be worked through?
Are there any mental compromises that need to be worked through?
What is the desired outcome?
How experienced is the person who will be taking over the handling and riding when the horse comes home?
The list could go on...

As a guide when horses come to us for backing they are usually with us for anywhere between four to twelve weeks depending on the factors above.

For general handling and schooling two weeks would really be the minimum and then can be for as long as you like.

🐴💜

31/01/2025

*Space now filled. Thank you to everyone who expressed an interest and also who shared the post.*

We have had a cancellation so will have a training livery space coming available in the next few weeks.

The next horses on our wait list do not wish to move forwards so the next space available after this one will be into May.

For more information about training livery see https://balancedequine.co.uk/training/.

I am finally getting the website updated after our move so it is still under construction but all information about training livery is there.

We will be having a price increase for training livery from 1st April 2025 so this will be the last space available at the current price.

For more information contact Jo on WhatsApp 07742 103815 or email [email protected].

27/01/2025

We've just had these two little cuties to stay for the weekend while their owner was away.

They were a welcome distraction from the wild weather. Gin was fascinated by them.

We are happy to offer short term holiday livery on a daily rate. Email or WhatsApp for more information.

💜