Chaser Equine - Emma Fenwick

08/02/2025

26/01/2025

Back on again 🙌both of us very scruffy but feeling like I’m sitting effectively again. 🏇

22/01/2025

I have availability for lessons this weekend at Sandfields Equestrian 🐎🐎
30 mins private £20, which includes arena hire. Please message me for further details

21/01/2025

I have two 1.5kg pouches of vitamins and minerals for sale. £20 each, can deliver locally.

18/01/2025

Louis was very tired after the dentist yesterday 💤💤 can’t believe the old boy is 22 this year 😱
Thankyou James Arkley Equine Dental Services

13/01/2025

Why trainers PUSH horses TOO FAST

Klaus Balkenhol explains, "Although breeders have created a better horse, the market has created a demand for a stronger, healthier, more powerful horse. It's easier to sell a horse that looks like a carefully developed eight-year-old, and not like a three- or four-year-old just beginning his career. If you force it, you can get a three-year-old to physically look like a developed eight-year-old. Too many colts remain stallions which, if approved, promise breeders higher prices as three-year-olds. Now 250 to 300 young stallions are presented each year, when only 40 or 50 will be approved.

Few breeders have the sense to geld the yearling stallions and leave them on the pasture to mature naturally. Instead, yearling stallions are brought into a stall, fed too much grain, and at three, look like six- or seven-year-olds. They have muscle mass, but not enough bone structure to support it. They look mature from the outside but aren't . . . and when started to work, degeneration sets in. Competitions also create pressure to push horses too fast as competitions are now scheduled throughout the year without any breaks."

Common Mistakes In Pushing Too Fast
Tightening the noseband: "A horse resists by sticking out his tongue. Tightening the noseband too much puts pressure on the nose and on the poll. If it is necessary to tighten the noseband very tightly, then something has gone very wrong in the basic training of the horse. The horse cannot be relaxed, the first step on the training scale," warns Klaus.

Specializing too early: "Drilling every day in the indoor arena is too intense for the young horse. It's very important, especially in the first two years of training, not to specialize the young horse. Training should include a variety of activities, including trail riding, which is good for the mind as well as building strength with hill work. It should include jumping, either free or low jumps under saddle, including small natural obstacles on the trail, and cavaletti. A variety of work will allow the horse to stay mentally fresh and to enjoy his work. Only when the horse is happy can dressage become art."

Not checking tack frequently: "Saddle and tack need to be checked constantly for proper fit and adjusted as the horse's body changes with growth, and as his fitness improves with the training. If the noseband gets too low, for example, and the skin between the noseband and the bit is rubbed and becomes sore, this causes the horse discomfort and loss of relaxation. Regularly check for sharp edges and bit problems in the horse's mouth and teeth."

Working too long: "The goal of our training is to build the horse's mind and his muscles. Suppleness and relaxation require adequate muscle strength. strengthening requires both contraction and relaxation. Blood flow and oxygenation occur when the muscle relaxes. If the muscle is kept in a constant state of contraction, it loses power and strength, and actually becomes smaller. Frequent rest periods, especially for a young horse at a free walk on a long rein, are necessary. The rest periods are not for a rider's fatigue, but to allow the horse to stretch and relax his muscles. The rest breaks will give you a completely new horse. This is the systematic gymnasticizing of the horse."

Riding when the horseman is tense: "Horses are particularly sensitive to the rider's mood. A rider shouldn't ride if she is under undue stress or doesn't have the time to ride. If the rider has a bad day, give the horse a rest day or go for a relaxing trail ride; don't work in the arena. The horse mirrors the rider's mood."

Not praising the horse enough: "The horse must perform from joy, not subservience. Praising a horse frequently with voice, a gentle pat, or relaxing the reins is very important to keep the horse interested and willing. If the horse offers piaffe, for instance, because he's excited, praise him for it. You shouldn't stop the lesson at that point nor make a big deal out of it. If you don't want piaffe, quietly urge him forward into trot, but you should NEVER punish him for offering the piaffe. - Klaus Blakenhol

📸 Max & Maxwell: Equestrian Photography

12/01/2025

Ice skating anyone ?? ❄️🥶⛸️

07/12/2024

Bits for sale:
All 5.5inches and very lightly used.
🐴Three ring straight bar happy mouth gag I think is brand new and never used £8
🐴loose ring straight bar happy
Mouth snaffle has a few marks £4.
🐴2eggbut snaffles one is stainless steel the other is tarnished slightly £3 each.

06/12/2024

Selling off a few items before Christmas. Please message me if you would like any info on any of the items. I will be placing an order next week so let me know if you need anything. 🐴

25/11/2024

For sale:
Super So kalm powder 1kg £28
Super So kalm syringe £16
Protexin gut balancer 700g £24

14/11/2024

🥰☀️🐴

06/11/2024

For sale:
Glucosamine powder 1kg £15
Buteless powder 1kg £26
Gut balancer 700g £24
Vitamin treats 1kg £10
Super so kalm syringe £15

05/10/2024

Weekend offers!
Please message me for any details, all new,unopened stock

05/10/2024

Best friends 😊🐴🐴

26/09/2024

SoldButeless and glucosamine powders both unopened 1kg. Long expiry date £35 for both 😊

24/09/2024

Both sold Thankyou 😂I’ve got 2 unopened tubs of vitamins and minerals for sale. They expire 24/12/24.
I’m asking £10 per tub. (RRP is £29.50 per tub)

Please 🙏 someone must be able make use of these before I completely lose the will to live with people on eBay offering me £1 less than the auction start 🙈🙈

Happy to post at cost

14/09/2024

Glucosamine 1kg £15
Airways powder 500g £20
Tail detangler 1litre £16
Stinger fly spray 1litre £17

14/09/2024

Super So Kalm for sale 🐎💨
Powder 1kg £25
Syringes 30ml £17 each