Ruth Fisher- Bit and Bridle Fitting Consultant

23/06/2025

In the world of horse care, there’s a growing understanding that everything begins in the gut. From performance and behaviour to immunity and nutrient absorption, your horse’s digestive system plays a central role in how they feel and function. And at the core of this system is the gastric healt...

19/06/2025

NOW FULL

This Sunday. Space available on or around this route.

DM or WhatsApp 07377 165446 for more details

16/06/2025

Understanding Topline Development: A Foundation of Skilled Riding and Training

One of the most essential—yet often misunderstood—aspects of skilled riding and training is correct topline development.

A healthy topline isn't just about the horse looking “round.” It’s about the muscular and skeletal integrity that allows the horse to move in balance, lightness, and self-carriage.

The key muscles involved include the longissimus dorsi, trapezius, latissimus dorsi, and abdominals. When developed correctly, these muscles support the spine, lift the back, and allow the horse to step under with the hind legs, creating propulsion and balance.

You can see the signs of correct topline development: a lifted, swinging back, a soft poll, nose in front of the vertical, lightness in the hand, and free, rhythmic gaits.

You can feel it too—there’s a buoyant connection, rather than one that is heavy, braced, or flat.

Unfortunately, many modern riding programs skip this foundation entirely.

Horses are pulled into a frame, ridden heavy on the forehand, and held together by the rider's hands instead of trained into self-carriage through correct biomechanics.

This not only causes training resistance, but long-term soundness issues and compromised welfare.

When riders and instructors don’t understand the biomechanics behind a horse’s frame, they may mistake tension for collection, and shape for substance.

True topline development takes patience, feel, and an educated eye—but it is the key to creating light, willing, and sound partners.

Let’s raise the bar.

Seek instructors who understand the body as deeply as the art.

Because every horse deserves to be ridden in a way that supports—not compromises—their long-term health and happiness.

Learn more about this topic when you become a part of the evolution towards better education, supported by evidence and research, on the care, welfare and training of horses and riders based on harmony.

Go to www.equitopiacenter.com and experience the benefits today.

16/06/2025

Isolation can also mean separation by field fencing...

Freedom to choose to play, interact, hang out and groom without restrictions, are all taken away by a fence..

When horses are denied regular contact with other horses, they can experience increased stress, which may manifest as restlessness, stereotypic behaviours (such as weaving or cribbing), and even health issues like digestive or musculoskeletal problems.

Social isolation has also been linked to heightened anxiety, learning difficulties, and a greater risk of injury, as horses deprived of companionship are more likely to become despondent or withdrawn.

Humans can offer comfort and support to horses during periods of social isolation, but cannot fully substitute for the social bonds horses form with other horses.

A recent (2025) study by Janczarek and colleagues examined this issue by measuring heart rate, heart rate variability, and behavioural responses in 12 horses during brief isolation periods.

The researchers found that even with attentive human support, horses still show physiological and behavioural signs of stress when isolated from other horses. Mares, in particular, remained stressed regardless of the type of human interaction.

Janczarek, I., Gazda, I., Barłowska, J., Kurnik, J., & Łuszczyński, J. (2025). Social Isolation of Horses vs. Support Provided by a Human. Animals

10/06/2025

Filled 😊

Last minute space on the route or nearby tomorrow morning. 11th June

WhatsApp 07377 165446 or DM to book

£80 a horse and takes around 90 mins

09/06/2025

🤣🤣

09/06/2025

Thank you to whoever has nominated me for this 🥰

To be able to help so many horses and their people find a happier and more comfortable partnership is a privilege.

Nominations are still open.. I'll be honest, though, the thought of an award ceremony terrifies me more than any of the horses I get the heads up on from their owners for being quirky! I'll take 600kg of horse telling me what they think, over dressing up any day! I would actually choose being near flappy things over that, and anyone who knows my aversion to feathers knows I hide from them, too! So here's my Nomination link if you'd like to see me squirm.... 😏🤦‍♀️🤣

https://forms.gle/rNaVV7JKXMgRb9ZaA

08/06/2025

How much does a bit affect your horses body, posture and balance?

This super cool dude gave a very good example of a change I see and riders feel when changing to a bit that works with the Anatomy of the mouth.

The way in which the bit is used is absolutely critical to enabling good, kind, ethical communication, but think he showed really well how knowing what the oral Anatomy is and working with it, unlocks the body to allow really positive changes before you've even touched the rein.

06/06/2025

Ron's products have been a game changer for my horses and so many of my friends and clients horses.

The horses gut is so much more than just the stomach. I see many horses who are struggling, where stomach ulcers have been ruled out by scoping, but where hindgut issues haven't been considered...

Causes of hind gut inflammation in horses

The caecum & the large intestine (colon) of the horse is referred to as the hind gut. It holds a diverse range of micro-organisms ie fungi, yeast, parasites, protozoa, archaea, viruses and bacteria. The hind gut acts as a fermenter using these microorganisms to digest fibrous plant material.

To stay healthy the hind gut needs a constant supply of low starch/carbohydrate roughage to ferment from forage eg. pasture, hay, haylage and feed. Roughage should always be available to the horse all year round.

Problems can occur from pasture high in sugars and starch. During Spring pasture lacks fibre and is also high in water soluble carbohydrates such as simple sugars and fructans, together with starch. Simple sugars and starches are digested in the small intestine. However if large volumes of starch are consumed some will pass undigested into the hind gut.

Fructans cannot be digested in the small intestine and together with any undigested starch will be rapidly fermented in the hind gut. Lactic acid is produced, lowering the pH making the hind gut acidic - hind gut acidosis. Acidity causes inflammation and ulceration of the gut wall. It also changes the microbiome by killing off good bacteria & increasing levels of bad bacteria.

Death of good bacteria produces toxins which when released into the blood can contribute to laminitis, colic and other illnesses. High levels of lactic acid in the blood can also cause issues with muscle recovery after exercise or tying up in some horses.

As well as forage/food high in starch and carbohydrates, other causes of acidosis may include:

Pain - e.g. dental/musculo-skeletal, hoof imbalance, muscle
Emotional stress e.g travel, training, competition, stabling
Ingesting sand
Chemical wormers
illness
medication
Intestinal parasites
Colitis
Long term use of NSAIDs

Symptoms of acidosis can be varied and we will look at those in another post.

04/06/2025

Upcoming routes

Thursday 3rd July LE15 or close to map route
Friday 11th July NN6 area or close by.

Message me if you think you may fit in to the route and are available those dates.

07377 165446 Text or WhatsApp