Horse Haven - Holistic Livery & Ethical Training

06/10/2024

Young horses are little curious sponges whose first instinct is to explore rather than run away. Well it certainly is where Artemis and Hercules are concerned 😂
I absolutely love helping them learn that even potentially scary things like fires and chainsaws aren’t a big deal at all. I did laugh that Artemis almost had a drama llama moment over me being caught on a bramble though 🤪
And ‘helping them’ with life skills stuff like this generally means wandering over with them and letting them safely figure stuff out themselves- no force, no coercion and they are doing a good job of self-rewarding with the ash leaves so my input with the target and food isn’t needed today.
Clever little horses
❤️

PS sound up for the full autumnal garden clearance sound effects 😊

11/09/2024

Absolutely soaked to the skin…and…..the sun is still shining 🌞
“I love my job” as an earworm on repeat until I dry out!!
I mean you’ve just GOT to love Autumn weather haven’t you 🤣

07/09/2024

We do love a bit of tree forage and dietary diversity here at Horse Haven😁
The herd have access to miles of hedgerows and tree copses around the tracks with many different species that give great benefits, from increased roughage to nutrient content, berries, bark, nuts and all!
Reno and Hero got a lovely bonus browsing session on the yard thanks to some high winds ❤️

05/09/2024

Oh this is MORTIFYING 🤣
I was really dissatisfied with my daily sweeping experience, sop I was researching new brooms, asking fellow YO’s about their favourite makes, doing my homework.
That homework didn’t include actually checking my current broom to see if it was so well used it had barely any bristles left 😝🫣🤪🤣
We’ve done spot the ‘ball’ let’s have a game of spot the difference 😁
It was definitely time for an upgrade for sure!!

05/09/2024

Oh this is MORTIFYING 🤣
I was really dissatisfied with my daily sweeping experience, so I was researching new brooms, asking fellow YO’s about their favourite makes, doing my homework.
That homework didn’t include actually checking my current broom to see if it was so well used it had barely any bristles left 😝🫣🤪🤣
We’ve done spot the ‘ball’ let’s have a game of spot the difference 😁
I think it was definitely time for an upgrade for sure!!

03/09/2024

Posts like this are always contentious, and they really shouldn’t be.
For anyone worried they are causing mental or physical harm to their horse or pony due to needing to use a muzzle - I bring you two of my lovely liveries Tartine and Oscar.
Here are two ponies, both severely impacted by metabolic issues.
Between them they have EMS, Cushings and PSSM1. Both are prone to easily piling on the pounds if they have free access to any forage (even netted!) and neither can be safely managed in a ‘normal’ livery environment without severely restricting their movement through isolated stabling or dry penning.
Their issues not only seriously impact their health but, unchecked, could end their lives.
They live on a track system, but as part of their management they are also muzzled when needed.

They are not stressed
They don’t feel like they are missing out or get frustrated
They don’t resource guard
They don’t have a problem eating, drinking, playing or mutually grooming
They don’t have teeth, jaw or tmj issues.

What they DO have is better health, a lovely life and a much better chance of it being a long one!

30/08/2024

Now when I were a lass many, many years ago in Sheffield, my Dad used to do the pools and play spot the ball (this is definitely not going to mean a thing to younger followers 🫣🤣)
Tonight for some Friday fun I present to you a very special HH version of spot the ball 😁
…..brought to you by the lovely Pie and half an Explora magic
…. It’s ……
Spot the hoof boot!!!

29/08/2024

Little and Large 😁
It’s funny to see Oscar and Hero sharing together as there’s quite the size difference!
Well maybe not when it comes to attitude, Oscar’s is HUUUUUGE!! 🤪

24/08/2024

When you’re pretty sure you’re being watched and the poo picking is being judged 😳🫣🤣

16/08/2024

Grooming……
The art of transferring dusty hair and mud from one being to another 🤣
Lovely Reno and Hero don’t look bad for a couple of rather ancient boys through do they 🥰 Despite a tally of sweetitch & Cushings for Reno and dodgy old legs for Hero 😊
Wish I could say the same for me lol! 😂

05/08/2024

There are few things in life that make a trackie YO feel as good as this does😁
(With apologies to my precious husband, family and other animals) 😋

OK winter you can have at it now, we’re good!

Ps HUGE Thanks to Iwan and everyone who helped cut, turn, row up, bale, wrap and and move bales, a monumental effort and one I am always eternally grateful for 😇

21/06/2024

Well they couldn’t have been more helpful 😍
Huge thanks to Pie and Artemis for assisting me in setting up the new scritchy brushes in the barn.
Pie was making sure I got it straight and I think Artemis would have had a go with the drill if I’d let her 😁
Such good friends ❤️

20/06/2024

Another giraffe masquerading as a pony in the HH herd 😋
Hercules really does love trees, doesn’t he 🤣

12/06/2024

24/05/2024

It’s a long, long time since we had a feel Good Friday!
So here’s a happy, smiley blast from the past with friends that we love and miss, although dear Ginxy is still here and yes he still loves his scritches THAT much 🥰

Smiley happy ponies to see you into the weekend!
With love and thanks to Arthur, Clipsie, Ziggy, Reef, Moo, Ginxy and Chica for making me smile too
Enjoy xx

08/04/2024

RARE TRACK LIVERY SPACE AVAILABLE AT HORSE HAVEN

Hi everyone
Well I find myself in an odd position after years of saying I wasn’t taking on any new liveries and actively reducing the herd numbers last year - due to the sad losses of dear Dougal and my own sweet Chica and Sully sailing through his training and preparing to go home, I am finally going to be opening not one, but two very rare track livery spaces here at Horse Haven!
We’ve only opened one emergency space for retirement track livery in the last three years, so if you were interested, have previously asked or know someone who may be looking please do get in touch.

As spaces are so rare we would ideally like them to go to horses or ponies who are currently living sub optimal lives due to conditions such as PPID, EMS, PSSM / MIM, CPL, DSLD, Laminitis prone, grass sensitivity, behaviourally challenged etc - so that they can live a fully supported fulfilling life with friends, forage and freedom when at the moment they may not be able to. Spaces will be offered to the horses or ponies who are the best fit for the herd and in the most need - preference is for long term liveries to keep a happy harmonious herd with minimal disruption.

What we offer is a gold standard fully comprehensive home from home livery service in the most beautiful natural setting, designed to offer horses with challenging conditions the ability to truly be themselves in a well managed environment designed to fully support them physically and mentally whilst giving them the freedom of choice and movement that fulfils their behavioural needs.
The vast majority of our owners live considerable distances away (even in other countries) so our livery package covers all the big things your horse needs plus as many of the little things as we can think of too, meaning that as an owner you don’t need to worry, we’ve got you and your horse covered for their daily needs. And we are flexible over individual requirements, even complex ones, which we will always do our very best to accommodate.
We fully support owners who wish their horses to be kept holistically with homoeopathy, energy therapies or herbally and are equally supportive of owners who prefer a fully allopathic approach - we have excellent local and specialist vets on hand.

As yard owner, manager and caretaker of the herd I have nearly 40 years of very varied professional and personal equine experience with years of study and CPD that covers all aspects of equine care and husbandry including hoof trimming, nutrition, behaviour & body work. Caring for the herd here is my full time ‘job’ which truly is a labour of love.
In the ten years we’ve been here we have nurtured, rehabilitated, trained, supported and cared for 44 horses so far and helped them be the best version of themselves as the special individuals they are - successfully dealing with all manner of metabolic conditions, rehabilitation of behavioural and physical challenges and injuries.

For just £600 per calendar month Horse-Haven offers

• Natural herd living for a small group of horses (Maximum 10) with plentiful resources, space and enrichment opportunities.
• Access to our all weather multi-surfaced track system, plus unsurfaced summer hillside track and hardcore yard areas where we provide numerous forage stations, water troughs, barns, open stables, shelters and lounging areas.
• The multiple loops of track that wind around and through all 22 acres of fields and can be opened and closed as ground conditions or husbandry needs allow to make a huge 2 mile long track or several smaller ones. We have the flexibility to provide small introductory track loops, or set up separate tracks for metabolic, rehab / recovery or age related special needs. We have ebeen successfully running a separate overnight “Oldies” track with free choice loose hay and hay replacer feeds for our Cushings affected, dentally and physically challenged retirees since 2021
• For enrichment the herd have access to the river and a large section of the bank with trees, pebbled, gravel and sandy areas. There are several large climbable banks and mounds around the tracks which themselves have undulating, hilly and flat areas. There is a beautiful shady tree tunnel, sand pit, log piles and small tree copses. All tracks are bordered by trees and natural hedgerows which give plenty of browsing opportunities. Forage is available adlib around the tracks 24/7.
• Occasional limited and monitored access to well managed pasture when and only if it is safe to do so - This is dependent on your horse’s metabolic health and sensitivity to grass. These sessions are to allow group play.
• An individually balanced diet of top quality forage based feed plus linseed, probiotics, our bespoke hedgerow herbal mix and minerals from Equinatural plus additional vitamin E.
Up to two daily feeds are included. We can feed up to four times per day for an additional cost. Sea salt, rock salt and mineral licks, herbal & flavoured waters are regularly available free choice.
• Individual supplements such as psyllium, Mycosorb & green clay are provided should the need arise
• Choice of one individual bespoke herbal / support mix if needed – we have hoof / EMS / gut / skin x 2/ joint / immune / PSSM / Cushings etc. Additional herbal mixes are available at a cost.
• Good quality Forage – hay/dry haylage is either grown here on site or purchased from an approved local supplier and checked for suitability. We can also supplement with straw for severely metabolic / overweight horses on emergency diets.
• Each horse is thoroughly checked, groomed if they wish and the weather allows, and given individual care and attention every day. Our house is right next to the yard and the fields and tracks surround it, all easily accessible in minutes.
• We have regular weight checks and full, thorough condition & hoof health checks
• Rug and hoof boot changing. (Equipment supplied by you)
• We supply fly masks, fly control creams/ spray and sun screen as required.
• Daily mucking out of the barns, tracks and yard including provision of bedding. Maintenance and management of tracks, yard, fencing, fields and paddocks. (Excluding damage caused by your horse)
• Minor first aid treatment with natural, homeopathic and allopathic options available. (Excluding all veterinary visits, ongoing treatments and supplies)
• Organising visits and holding for vet / dentist / farrier / trimmer / bodyworker / therapists etc. (Excluding visit fees, treatments and supplies)
• In the event of illness or injury, or if specialist rehabilitation is required additional checks / nursing care will be given throughout the day and night as needed.
• Hygiene checks / cleaning for both geldings and mares as required.
• Maintenance hoof trimming by me on a monthly schedule. (Excluding any remedial work, external trimming or farriery costs) We can offer a fully supported barefoot transition.
• We provide hoof health clays, essential oils, soaks or spray as required.
• One annual dental check up and basic treatment from our fully qualified and insured Equine Dental Technician Simon is included (but any ongoing remedial work or further treatment under sedation will be charged to you at cost)
• Giving of medication, vet directed treatment or remedies. (Supplied by you / vet / homeopath at your cost)
• Minor rug repairs to small rips or tears
• Inclusion in our yard worm count (FEC & Equisal) and targeted worming programme - A choice of chemical, herbal or homeopathic worming solutions are included as needed.
• Fully supported end of life care
• Inclusion in any Emmett Therapy training courses held here - giving free treatment for the duration of the courses

We also have a range of additional services, therapies etc available and can offer a variety of exercise options both ridden and in-hand, plus life skills training using positive reinforcement and shaping. Full details will be sent on enquiry.

Please do get in touch if this may be of interest, or share to anyone who may be in need of a space.
We very much look forward to introducing you some new additions to the Horse Haven family soon.

28/02/2024

This was fun to do and it was so lovely to have been asked by the fabulous Carol at EquiNatural who has been supplying us with products we love since 2016

So, here’s a little insight into how HH came to be and the person behind it all, hope you enjoy 😊

Supercharge your horse's health with EquiNatural's nutrient-rich, quality organic equine herbal supplements, mineral balancers, individual nutrients and topical therapies, just as nature intended.

07/02/2024

Hi everyone
I’m sorry to bring you the saddest news as yesterday we said a heartbreaking farewell to the force of nature that was dear old Dougal.
Dougal came over from Kent to join the Horse Haven herd back in April 2021, he hadn’t been very well and it was hoped by his wonderful Mum Siobhan that the specialist care we could offer would help him enjoy his retirement in a happier, healthier way.
It took him no time at all to settle in as he joined our resident Oldies metabolic / PPID mini herd. The ladies LOVED him and he them, Moo not so much lol as his beloved Darcey immediately fluttered her eyes his way!
He loved the routine of a little grass / hooning time each morning and the rest of his time spent on the tracks eating as much hay as he could stuff in his gorgeous face. It didn’t take long for him to put on some weight and start thriving.❤️
The better he felt the livelier he got and the bigger his sense of humour!! Turning out and catching him invariably included swiftly moving out of his way as he threw shapes with great abandon – caring not one jot if you were in the way or on the end of a rope. I had a close up view of his hind feet on more than a few occasions lol! No one was getting in the way of the ‘Daily Dougie’ as we christened his antics. What a love for life and joy in movement he had – even though his wobbly old legs made getting down to roll the kind of manoeuvre that had us watching from behind our hands.🫣
But nothing was going to stop his enjoyment of a bloody good roll and some accompanying acrobatics afterwards. He certainly taught me a thing or two about living life to the full with arthritis….although I’ve not tried getting down to roll in the mud yet!😆
When he wasn’t plastered in mud, he was attempting to be an Poo-bald, or an Ap-poo-loosa, he most definitely preferred being brown all over and was never that keen for you to clean him off again, which was a shame as he was gleaming with good health when we did. I loved the curious look he would give me as if asking if I was super impressed with his efforts.😎

Life didn’t come without its challenges though, keeping Dougal’s guts happy was a real balancing act sometimes, there was a lot of trial and error, different forages, feeds, supplements, herbs and homeopathics to find out what worked best for him as he even left our lovely vets scratching their heads looking for a solution, but even that didn’t dampen his enthusiasm.
That and finding ever more inventive ways of getting his Prascend into him….he was far too clever to be fooled for long! 😆
In Spring 2022 Dougal faced the challenge of saying goodbye to three of his close companions in the Oldies herd, Teleri, Darcey & Moo and also had to cope with an injury from getting cast in the barn. He was surprisingly a wonderfully patient and calm patient and he made a brilliant recovery.
Although he was happy mingling with the main herd he was missing a crew and fate intervened with the arrival of Hero – another big rangy old sports horse who wasn’t feeling his best and came needing some retirement TLC Horse Haven style.
Well to say they hit it off was an understatement – Dougs and his new sidekick Hero became the best of friends, a true bromance if ever there was one.🥰
Watching those two daft old buggers hooning around like a couple of lairy colts has been the highlight of every day since.
In summer 2022 we finished surfacing our new oldies track, which we moved from the riverside where they had been. It was gently undulating, had a nice sheltered barn, wide loafing areas and the sand section. Dougal, Hero, Reno and Bonnie loved having their own space where we could feed special forage and bigger feeds, mindful of dietary and metabolic needs, plus lots of gentle movement. It was big hit! Dougal loved the barn, perfect place for a good snooze (and a covering of poo or course!!)😍

Life continued happily, but as ever with our dear retired friends, time started taking it’s sad toll on dear Dougs, his hind legs were ever wobblier, teeth decidedly dodgy and his tummy occasionally causing me nightmares, but Dougal remained as upbeat and lively as ever.
Siobhan and I had a good heart to heart and assessment coming into this winter, but as he looked so well and happy, good weight, still Dougieing like a good ‘un every morning we could see no reason not to see how he went.

And there was no slow decline to diminish this huge personality, he dropped weight in the last couple of weeks, but right to the end Dougal was kicking those heels up, rolling in mud, flattening me, doing brilliantly with having his feet trimmed (which was sometimes an issue for his wobbly legs), eating and snoozing as he always had.
The end, when it came, was a shock to us all, a sudden deterioration with neurological symptoms. I am beyond sad and guilty that this happened when I was away, but my incredible friend the lovely Sarah of Safe Hands who covers for me dealt with everything in her wonderful calm, caring and empathetic way. Thankfully Siobhan was able to travel over to be with him on his last day and despite our wonderful vets trying to make him comfortable with advice from the referral team at Cotts, Dougal left us peacefully yesterday afternoon, surrounded by love and cherished to the last.
I’ll be returning home to a much quieter yard with the biggest space where Dougal no longer leaps with his inimitable joie de vivre, but I have the best memories of this gorgeous big daft lovely hooligan to look back on.
Thank you Siobhan for bringing him into our lives here, he enriched ours as much as we did his and we will miss his presence terribly.

Run free lovely boy, I know you are galloping, leaping and rolling with the wind in your mane ###

07/01/2024

2023 - Part 2: Say Hello!
At the rate I’m going I’ll still be writing about 2023 next new year 😆

This is the good bits! Because despite all the sadness I need to do proper introductions to the horses who snuck in / stayed and of course let you know how all our other lovely herd members have been doing.

Our first welcome aboard came in May with the arrival of the sweet, funny and so inquisitive Sully who was booked to come for life skills training, backing and riding away.
I actually had three schooling / starting liveries booked for 2023 and it wasn’t much fun cancelling two of them because I knew I wouldn’t be able to accommodate them / have the time or resources, particularly if there was a behavioural element involved as I now had a pregnant member of staff on site.
Sully made the cut as he was was a pure start, not a re-start, so nothing to undo, he was already used to track life as he’d been having a fabulous time at Graveney under the amazing care of Lauren and that showed in his lovely sweet nature and ability to slot in like he’d always been here. It has been a hugely rewarding pleasure watching him explore life and soaking up his lessons like a very cute pony shaped sponge.
He was due to go home in the Autumn but as he wasn’t physically ready to ride yet he’s staying on this year so his education will continue in the Spring before he heads back home to London once he’s riding away.

Then just before Arthur left we welcomed two special new arrivals. After four years of hoping and waiting the planets aligned and I was finally able to realise the dream of having a foal from the amazing Mistrals Stud. This was arranged long before things got so complicated here and my original plan had been to have my foal overwinter at a young stock livery and bring them home as a yearling.
But Gi (completely unbeknownst to me initially!!) fell head over heels in love with one of the other foals, joined in and bought one of his own!
So, as they would be company for each other, the very lovely Artemis and Hercules came to join the HH herd together and what beautiful bright additions they are.

I try not to think about the fact that’s three (four inc Roxy!) more beautiful souls to care for than I was expecting this winter 🫣

So that leaves us with just 11 horses here now, a far cry from the herd of 22 we had a couple of years ago! We haven’t had so few in a long, long time.
The herd have coped remarkably well with the change in dynamics, because they are such a happy relaxed group they have adapted, new friendships and pair bonds have been made / strengthened and for them life goes on.

Roxy has joined the track herd for a few months before she’ll be heading home to her mum Halla in Manchester in the spring.
I am delighted that she has been fully accepted into that group, although it’s clear she misses the close companionship of Ziggy she has become much friendlier with Pie as a result as they were both grieving his loss.
She loves the foals too, so the four of them are a happy little sub group.
The great news is Roxy is doing brilliantly on the track too - she’s lost 30kg in the last month alone so I know the call to focus just on track livery moving forward was the right decision. It really is more beneficial health wise, time and time again I see horses improve once they are off grass, even when they aren’t turned out full time anyway. She’s much livelier in herself, moves so much more and still manages to have mad moments!

Dear Ginxy lost his pair bond Xefira and has buddied right up with Tartine now, they have developed a lovely relationship together. He also spends more time with Reno now than he used to.
Ginxy is still our resident healer, always there in times of need, especially if we have our EDT or the vet in. There he’ll be watching closely making sure his buddies are doing ok. He’s also not averse to having mad moments through the barn like Tivo used to, which do make me laugh! He’s looking fab, with the most beautiful rich dark coat this year, very foxy and shiny, gorgeous boy.
Reno also hangs with Roxy and the foals when he isn’t up on the oldies track with Dougie and Hero eating bundles of lovely extra hay. I was worried how he’d cope losing both Bonnie and Clipsie but he’s been really good, he’s mellowed a lot in his later years from the firebrand he was that’s for sure.
I made the decision to keep him in the oldies herd when Bonnie left as he was used to that routine and it’s proven to be a good choice. He’s still looking like a lovely fuzzy bear albeit a bit grey & grizzled round the edges now, but he’s holding weight well especially considering how interesting his teeth are.
Those three old boys rub along really nicely together, but Dougie and Hero remain the very best of friends and have been since the day they met! They are still full of joy even if their legs are a bit wobbly.
They both get to have a spell in the field each morning and I get to see the “daily Dougie” as he hoons across the field with great abandon! He’s another with not much left in the way of teeth, but he’s coming through winter really well, which is incredible considering the stinking weather we’ve had in the last six months. After quite a bit of trial and error it looks as though I’ve got his diet absolutely on point. Hero is continuing to look great, no weight or health issues and no sign at all of the swollen legs that plagued him before he came to live on the track. I love watching him Tigger away as irrespective of how they look, those old legs are carrying him so well.
Tartine has also been seen hanging out with the foals which was a happy surprise! She’s had a quieter year riding wise since Abbie left, there aren’t enough hours in the day to manage daily 2 hour hacks over winter any way, but we have a little trundle every other day, maybe around our home tracks or around the village. The longer days in Spring will mean more adventuring, especially as she’s now almost self loading on the trailer after lots of little training sessions. Looking forward to taking her and Sully to places to further their education!
Sully and Oscar are the best of buddies, play mates / champion bitey fighters and chief hooners - I am followed at speed every morning and evening when I’m putting the hay out. The group of Tartine, Ginxy, Sully and Oscar is a lovely fluid circle of friendship and I’m glad they’ve allowed Roxy to slot in with them.
Oscar has been awarded a gold star (and ….drum roll please……an Oscar lol) for his ability to say absolutely not, no way no how to our lovely EDT Simon two years running, and this year say, yes of course, no problem 😉 He’s mellowing and a bit of a cuddlebug when he wants to be…and only when he wants to be lol! The rest of the time he’s running circuits of the place clearing all in his path…even with a Santa hat on 🤣
Pie has been a revelation - from a horse that didn’t know how to live with other horses when he arrived, he has become the most incredibly kind and benevolent mentor and uncle to Artemis and Hercules.
He’s off for the winter now so is getting to relax and bond with his new little buddies. We’ve had some absolutely brilliant lessons with our friend Kelly at Celaeron last year, she really got to grips with both of us and worked out the key to getting a huge improvement in our flatwork following her success at getting us both jumping the year before. I am sad that she is moving away, but hoping to have lots of fun this year doing other stuff!

So that’s us up to date ……and because posts are useless without pics - and here’s some more of the gorgeous gang here at HH through the year (including how I started my year in 2023….it was all downhill from there lol!)

03/01/2024

Well here we are, another year has rolled by and in 2024 we are now into our 10th year at HH 😳
Honestly? I’m not sad to see the back of 2023 - I think I can sum it up as a year of surprises, some notable hellos and far too many sad goodbyes.
Sit yourself down with a cuppa, this is a bit of miserable pity party post (and it’s taken me days to write…sorry) In fact there’s so much stuff to unpack as it’s been so long since I posted proper updates, I’m going to make three posts!

First, our sad goodbyes…….

We end the year with considerably less horses in the herd than at the start and saying all those sad farewells has been a really difficult and emotional time for all of us left here - both human and horse.😕
The decision to both reduce the herd numbers, stop doing any grass based livery / only offer track livery moving forwards was not taken lightly and came about for a few reasons.
The reduction was borne from surprise and unexpected news that meant my number two Abbie would be leaving us in the summer, and the ramifications from that when my own physical health with ever advancing arthritis was already making life tricky and I knew that under the extra strain of taking on all the yard work on top of everything else I do that I was going to really struggle.
From previous conversations about the future with some of my lovely owners I was already aware that a few of the herd could return to their families / closer to home this year. Then it also meant making the really difficult call not to offer any spaces to the many horses in need waiting as herd members left.
I remain truly sorry that we weren’t able to help in those cases, it causes me real conflict and upset to keep having to turn horses needing respite or rehab away knowing that we could make the world of a difference to their lives. And I don’t know what’s been worse - that, or watching horses I’ve loved and cared for for many years leave and seeing solid friendships and pair bonds being split up as a result.
It was hard enough last spring when dear Teleri and Moo passed, then Darcey & Safy went home. But 2023 surpassed itself for walloping emotional knocks.

Firstly back in May we waved goodbye to the very lovely Lorca who went home to his mum Carole in Devon to get to know Dante, his little brother from another mother and for Carole to reconnect with her lovely boy. Gosh it was hard not seeing his gorgeous velvety nose and sweet smiley face popping up to give smooches every day. No more special Lorca hacking out moments or blissful Emmett huddles.

In July it was time to wave beautiful Xefira back off to Surrey so her Mum Pamela could spend more time with her now, especially as we’d got her EMS & Cushings under control and she was back under saddle and happily hacking out for the first time in many years. Xefira held a very special place in my heart - I’d known her from birth as she’d been bred by a friend of mine who had died just a couple of years ago and she reminded me so much of my own first Luso girl, so it was quite emotional.

In August it was time for our resident joker Silver and his long standing friend the sweet Abbie to make their way home to Norfolk as Annie and Kam were setting their own track up. I’ve had the great pleasure of looking after four of their horses in the last three years and I shall miss you all!
The yard was a much quieter place without Silver’s in your face love of life, hooning around getting into trouble and generally making us all laugh. Abbie’s daily nose boops, quiet steadfast presence and calming peaceful influence was equally missed (although it was even quieter without her seasonal squealing love ins with Roxy!)

Then at the end of the month the beautiful old soul that is Bonnie made her way home to mum Helen in Surrey so they could spend Bon’s last years together. Bonnie had been with us for five years on rehab / retirement and had required a lot of specialist care and extra support from me in the last couple of years so it was a real wrench to say goodbye to her, but I was proud that despite everything she’d been through she left looking and feeling fantastic, ready to enjoy her special time at home.

September brought the very sad loss of Clipsie as he galloped over the bridge free from the constraints that old age and those hard years of playing polo had put on his wonky little legs. His lovely mum Wendy sent a beautiful memorial tree and asked for his ashes to be scattered in the fields here where was so happy and full of joy and life, so as much as his passing left a huge hole in all our hearts, he’s going to be with us and his friends always.

Then all too soon in October the force of nature that was Ziggy left this world and it will forever be a smaller darker place without his fire burning bright within it.

Finally, for this year, after a change in his circumstances and our decision to only offer track livery moving forwards, we said a very emotional and sad farewell to dear Arthur as he made his way back to the home of his birth with Maria and family a month ago.
What to say about Arthur? If Ziggy was the soul of HH , Arthur really was the heart - chief mischief maker, Houdini, friend to everyone horse and human, provider of solace and smooches, Emmett mascot….he was huge in body, spirit, personality and presence. I am so very glad and absolutely honoured to have spent the last almost eight years and half his life guiding him through learning life skills, re-starting him, going out exploring, plenty of cursing at his shenanigans and laughing so much too. My big ginger friend, my confidant and frequent nemesis we all miss you more than words can say.

I hope you don’t mind me getting that off my chest, maybe I share a bit too much but I wear my heart on my sleeve and I think it’s good to post about the reality of what being a YO in a place like this is really like. It’s harder than you can begin to imagine because when I promise to love and care for them as if they were mine, I really do. There have been a lot of tears as saying goodbye for whatever reason hurts just the same. To everyone who has supported me, kept me going when I honestly thought I couldn’t carry on, commiserated and let me weep on them - I can’t thank you enough, I really and genuinely couldn’t do this without you.

Now - Go hug your own YO and tell them how much you appreciate everything they do please, because I know a lot of other YOs feel just the same.

The next instalment will be a happier one, I promise!! I’ll properly introduce the ones who managed to sneak in / stay and let you know how all our other lovely four legged friends and HH herd stalwarts are doing.

For now, here’s some pics of the faces we miss - Arthur is actually getting his own album for Maria which I’ll share here.