O.C Equine

07/09/2025

Quick question for my clients 🥰
I’m considering ordering in some hoof armour and adding it to my list of services. Having had a few of my clients trialling it for a while now, I have seen a noticeable reduction in bacterial infections and just generally better sole condition in these horses. 🐎

I’m not saying it will help in all cases, but it does seem to seal up the white line/sole junction. Creating a barrier from moisture and bacterial ingress. Of course it will have to be applied on a super clean hoof. And clients will need to provide somewhere clean and dry for application. For those that want to give it a go, would it be of interest?

We would be looking at an additional £20 fee to cover the cost of the product/nozzles and time to clean up the foot properly prior to application.

Just comment your thoughts below. And if there’s enough interest I will order some, as I’ll be restocking my van with all my consumables next week! 🥰

14/08/2025

Really lovely feedback, thank you so much 🥰

Despite having a couple of weeks break from client sessions this month, I am still very much working with the herd and Kindred Spirits - Equine Track System Team.

We had a fantastic cleansing session last Thursday with an impromptu follow up Saturday. Olly in particular lapped up the energy we created and joined us.

Saturday morning was herd trim day with Olivia Cresswell .

Olivia is fantastic at listening to the horses, and adjusting her approach dependant on the horse and what maybe going on that day.

Our Olly is a very sensative guy and was a little high energy from overnight. Picking that up and working briefly with his human, a plan was made for his trim to ensure it went smoothly. Olivia was so very supportive in working with that.

Lady is awakening and understands she now has a voice and it is understood. She clearly expressed her opinion that from now on she would like to be trimmed out with the herd, again Olivia just simply adapted and all went well.

Some may ask the question as to us allowing so much choice and voice from the horses, as traditionally it has been seen that humans should have 'control '.

There is a big difference in allowing choice and being out of control, which we balance. By working this way, we maintain emotional health and build strong relationships, leading to working in partnership with the herd.

Without this approach we could not do the work we do and the horses would simply not engage willingly and of their own choice.

I do work with several humans and their own horses to help them build similar bonds and relationships using the same EFL techniques and Somatic work.

If you are interested in understanding how it could improve your relationship with your horse. Please do get in touch for a no obligation call.

12/08/2025

Soaring temperatures again this week 🥵

Kindly asking clients to be flexible with appointments as I may need to reschedule, as in all honesty I’m struggling with my heart condition in this extreme heat again. It seems to be when there’s no breeze it’s even worse! I am working flat out at the moment, and probably neglecting a bit of self-care. I’m back from covering my colleague in Lincolnshire later today, and will be in touch with those I feel I may need to move.

If I can’t move you - please provide me with shade, soak your horses hooves and spray with fly spray/use fly masks and rugs etc.

Thank you,

Olivia 🥰

23/07/2025

Not posted in a while! A really lovely thoroughbred transformation - I think we’re on the 6th trim now (roughly!)

26/06/2025

Notice to my clients: I’m not at work today, so will be a delay in message replying until tomorrow ⭐

17/06/2025

Hi all! 👋

Temps are expected to soar this week. I am keeping an eye, and will try to move clients to the early morning wherever possible.

For full transparency I have a minor heart condition that I’m finding is really sensitive to working in silly high temperatures. I’m taking all steps possible to minimise these ill-effects and have beta-blockers too if needed. But for my health I will be cancelling if it’s making me unwell.

Please help me by providing adequate shade to work in, soaking horses hooves (standing on a wet towel works wonders), applying fly spray to your horses and making sure they are comfortable and happy too. Grumpy, hot horses makes it much, much harder.

And please be prepared to be flexible with appointments, apologies in advance for any inconvenience caused. It’s a bit of a play it by ear scenario. Thank you for your continued support 💓

15/06/2025

Harness trying on today for Apollo 🥰

08/06/2025

Just a heads up I’m covering my colleague in Lincolnshire again tomorrow and Tuesday. Messages will be answered on my return 😇

22/05/2025

⭐ Little message for all clients ⭐
If I could encourage clients to soak their horses hooves prior to their podiatry appointments. With the warm, dry weather - hooves are extremely hard!

Here’s a few ideas on how to soak your horses hooves 🚿 :
- put hooves in low level feed trug (water can sit below coronet band)
- soaking old carpet/towels getting them to stand on it.
- soaking nappies and poilticing them on over night
- hosing their hooves for a few minutes (little wasteful so options 1, 2 or 3 would be better!)

Clients please avoid:
- hoof oil this time of year - it repels water… so don’t use it!!
- hydrating topical creams such as hydro hoof are great, but please avoid just before our appointment as it wrecks my tools! - apply after!

Thank you! My hands and wrists are become really sore ❤️‍🩹

15/05/2025

I have been on the look out for grazing muzzles for my geldings, that weren’t green guard or flexible filly. So I thought I would give Kramer a go! I am not sponsored in anyway, and this video is just an initial impression/unboxing. We will see how we get on with them, with a full review to follow 😇

14/05/2025

I've not really shouted about this enough - but for my clients who struggle understanding the terminology of their horses hooves. My online course into the external structures of the hoof is now live! Available to you at £5! Equivalent to a scratch card or a bougie coffee!

Horse-owner friendly courses on horse hoof health and anatomy.

02/05/2025

Love this, and I try my best to not default to defensive mode. It’s very challenging sometimes! But we are all subjected to our own bias. But taking on others interpretations and point of view is really important. Obviously there is a way to go about it (politely)!

We aren’t always right.

Recently I went to a barn to see a new client, and someone (not the owner) there very clearly made it known that the type of rehab I focus on wasn’t how they would approach the case.
To be honest, these kinds of interactions are why I typically don’t pick up new clients- I ADORE my current ones, the ones who see the benefits in what we work on with their horses and are happy to collaborate without the drama. Because we all know from past posts how I feel about . But you never know what you’ll walk into with a new case.

I made a rule a few years ago that I will never try to “convince” someone to approach hoof rehab the way I do. Everyone works the way we do because we believe in it and believe we see results. If someone is happier to do something else, that’s their prerogative. The best way we can “convince” anyone is by doing the best we can for the horse and seeing progress. Words and arguments rarely accomplish that. The horses are our constant teachers.

But when this person so strongly disagreed with what I was doing to this horse’s feet, I felt this overwhelming need to be right. It took everything in me to just quietly work and make the best decisions I could at the time with the horse and hooves in front of me, and leave the horse more comfortable than when I met it.

But really, I wanted to list all the reasons for why I do what I do, and for good measure, critique this person’s horses’ hooves just to “show them”- because that would have changed their mind! (not 😂😂)

It shook me up for a few hours after that appointment. First, I was shaken up because I felt offended and defensive. But then, I was shaken up because I hate when I fall back into that default of defensiveness and trying to prove the other person wrong. It’s just not productive.

It has had me thinking the last week or so about that “need to be right.” Sometimes, when I feel strongly about something, that “need” shows its ugly head, even on social media. And I don’t think this is unique to me (or at least I think not). Our pride creeps in and we want to “educate.” Or make them realize how wrong they are. One of those. lol.

But really, a need to be right can close us off to new ideas, or even better ideas. It can stop us from learning things that may help even more horses.

Yet I see this so much in the horse world- not even just the hoofcare world. And I’m not immune.

The truth is.. is there a right and wrong with hooves? Are hooves so black and white? Objectively we know every case is different and we need to cater to each horse as an individual. But do we practice what we preach?

Do you ever fall victim to this “need to be right”? Have you gotten into arguments where you argued just to prove someone wrong? Do you have a “hill you die on”?

I don’t have any wonderful insights for this post. Just musing over my continual journey to try to be better.