Calm Healthy Horses UK

11/06/2026

What a fabulous mini track. For most owners the mini track is an absolute game changer compared to traditional stable / turnout. Movement, forage/ diet, friends and choices - all provided in a small and appropriate area. I also love the interaction you have with your horses while taking care of the track - so many benefits for the horse and human. If you have the opportunity to make something like this do give it a go - you will not regret it 🥰

10/06/2026

Next to a good glass of wine there is nothing more soothing, assuring, relaxing to make a horse girl feel happy than her barn filled with hay. Total respect and credit to my hay man John, turns up on 24hr notice (came 24hrs early today as it raining tomorrow 😅) brings 8 soild, heavy six string bales of LATE Cut MEADOW HAY, perfectly made and barn stored so I can have my deliveries all year round without worry. Very fairly priced, Ive not been hit increases due to last years hay - and the ultimate joy to watch, 8 mins from arrival to hooking up ready to go, all into my matchstick effort of a shed I built myself with old bits of wood and CHH pallets - bit like reverse Jenga - what a super star 😍

09/06/2026

OMG - my vet is giving a talk on laminitis and showing people around the GRASS FREE TRACk - well done Field Equine 🥰

07/06/2026

This is Ghandi.

Ghandi receives the same hay, daily feeds and ridden work as my other horse, Cloudy. Of my three horses, he is by far the most metabolically sensitive and could easily be labelled a "managed EMS" horse.

But here he is at 17 years young, thriving.

Without the benefits of Tracklife, I'm not convinced he would have reached this age in such good health and comfort. Living on a grass-free track, eating a carefully balanced hay-based diet and staying active every day has allowed him to remain the horse he was always meant to be.

One thing that often surprises people is just how capable he is on challenging terrain. We enjoy TREC competitions and regularly head out on long hacks across steep, stony and demanding ground. Despite his sensitivities, Ghandi is more than capable in the rock-crunching department!

For me, this is what successful management looks like. Not simply avoiding problems, but creating an environment where the horse can genuinely thrive.

Diet and trim really do matter. I balance the diet, while my fabulous friend and trimmer, Georgie of Hoof Matters ISNHCP, balances the feet. Track-life does the rest.

Happy horses. Happy human 😊

30/05/2026

Today I found myself reflecting on just how much Cloudy has changed over the years

As we picked our way confidently across steep slopes, loose stone, deep ruts and rough ground, I realised how easy it is to take these things for granted when they become normal.

He wasn't rushing. He wasn't hesitant. He wasn't looking for the easiest route. He was simply carrying me with confidence, balance and agility across terrain that many horses would find difficult, especially barefoot.

Watching him place his feet with such certainty reminded me that healthy feet don't happen by accident, but are the result of hundreds of small inputs made consistently over time.

Track life that encourages movement every day. A hay-based diet that respects how the horse is designed to eat. A balanced bucket feed that complements the forage. Additional mineral support when its is needed. Appropriate training that develops strength, balance and confidence. Together these things can create something quite remarkable - a horse that is physically capable, mentally relaxed and genuinely comfortable in his own body.

Years ago I would have admired a horse crossing this sort of ground and assumed he was simply lucky to have "good feet".

Now I know that what we are often seeing is the outcome of good management quietly adding up over time.

Today I was simply grateful for the horse underneath me and proud of what we have achieved together. Moments like these are a real measure of success and make up for the less glamorous and many hours spent hours poo picking and haynet filling while wading through the mud and rain. Today the sun was shining, we had fun and all was well 😁

19/05/2026

Any questions for me or Happy Trackin' Magazine ? Please feel free to email me or Maddie so we can get you some answers 😃

In 2 short weeks, Issue 10 will be available 🥳

In the meantime, our pros are here ready to answer any questions you may have.

Here at Happy Trackin', we believe there is no such thing as silly questions - only questions that help us learn!

Who are our pros?

➡️ Edyta Jackson of Isnhcp & Equiliberta

➡️ Alyson Sharpe of PB Paddock Paradise Livery

➡️ Sue Dawson of Calm Healthy Horses UK

Want to send in your question but also want to stay anonymous in the mag? Just pop me an email and I'll remove your name at request 💙

[email protected]

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Pre-order Issue 10 now or subscribe - www.happytrackinmagazine.com

07/04/2026

In two weeks’ time I’ll be visiting Jenny in New Zealand, and I’m really looking forward to meeting this newest addition to Calm Healthy Horses.

Jenny has spent many years helping horses overcome head shaking, its a serious and often distressing condition for which she has developed management and nutritional strategies. In fact, this is exactly why I first contacted her over 10 years ago, when I was struggling with my own horse, Glen.

At the time, Glen’s head shaking made him completely unrideable at certain times of year. In sharp spring wind, sunshine or rain he would stand flicking his head out on his track. He was clearly unhappy and in distress so it was incredibly frustrating and worrying for me.

With Jenny’s guidance, I made significant changes to his management and diet which I have continued meticulously month after month, year after year. Glens recovery was not immediate, it took time. Initially we had some improvement but also some set backs, but over eighteen months Glen became completely head shaking free and has remained that way ever since.

What I’ve learned is that, like many metabolic issues, once a horse has become highly sensitised, ongoing management is key. It wasn’t just about removing obvious triggers like clover or rich grass, or adding salt or magnesium. It required a consistent, careful approach to his whole environment and nutrition over time.

Ten years on, Glen is far more resilient, but I still manage him thoughtfully. He lives in a largely grass-free environment and is fed late-cut meadow hay. He also receives a well-balanced daily bucket plus additional minerals which I adjust as needed. Keeping him on a grass free track with ad lib hay has made his management sustainable and straightforward.

Now at 23, I’m still enjoying riding Glen. He’s soft, supple, and clearly loving life, which feels like a huge achievement given where we started.

While vets are often uncertain about the exact causes of head shaking and understandably cautious about outcomes, I firmly believe that getting the diet and environment right reduces metabolic stress and is a credible and effective approach to helping the horse, that when done well has a very real chance of success.

Its going to be really interesting to follow Jennys progress with her latest head shaking rehab pony
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18FwHWbXzo/

06/02/2026

For anyone who wants to find out more about CHH and feeding / managing horses on track would be great to see you at PB on the 28th Feb 😊

Have you ever wondered how the right nutrition can impact your ridden horse's performance?

Sue Dawson of Calm Healthy Horses UK is joining us on the Saturday 28th February 2026 for an in-person clinic, to discuss the role of nutrition in the ridden horse and how ensuring their nutrition and environment is appropriate encourages a calm state of wellbeing to carry out the correct biomechanical movement, strengthening and supporting the horse long term.

She will also be discussing the 'how' and 'why' behind making the right nutritional choices for your horse, providing an environment in which they can become healthier, fitter and calmer, influencing your time together both in and out of the saddle.

For information and tickets - www.pb-paddockparadiselivery.com/events-courses

24/12/2025

From all of us at Calm Healthy Horses, wishing you a very Happy Christmas 🎄. It’s been a privilege to work alongside so many thoughtful owners this year. I hope you enjoy a peaceful festive break and look forward to supporting you and your horses again in the New Year.

26/08/2025

Loads of information in Happy Trackin' Quarterly Magazine - plus I always provide a little article to support these guys in keeping the track vibes flowing 🙂

✨️ Featured in Issue 7 ✨️

Not everyone has access to a track livery nearby, or is able to buy their own land. Instead, many of us rely on compassionate livery yards to house our horses, or the local farmer with land to rent.

Traditional livery yards and renting land can come with quite the set of hurdles to overcome, and many horse owners struggle with the restrictions often in place around turnout, socialisation and feeding. So, what exactly happens when you're fed up of traditional management methods or your beloved horse comes down with Laminitis?

Rachel Sartain of With Animals In Mind bravely shares her 8-year long journey on how she overcame the barriers of livery yards with a grass sensitive horse, in pursuit of providing her horse Honey with the very best environment she possibly can. From no track to a grass track to her current set up, Rachel's story is the reminder we all need to never settle when it comes to our horse's health and happiness.

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PRE-ORDER Issue 7 in print (limited amount available) - www.happytrackinmagazine.com/product-page/issue-7-print-pre-order

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