The Helping Horse

19/06/2024

Amazing horses 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 once again. This time removing bracken without harmful chemicals. Contact Hitch In Farm Working Horses for more information.

Bracken rolling, in the summer months we do contract work smashing up Bracken with a roller, walking many a mile! Bracken is a big problem in the UK (livestock can't eat it and it's carcinogenic) and is usually controlled using some fairly nasty chemicals (actually banned in the EU). The horses are able to access areas which are steep and narrow where other machinery can't access. They pull a roller which crimps and bruises the bracken. This bleeds the bracken, and draws on its resources as it tries to heal itself. If you cut it off at the base you strengthen the roots and don't weaken the plants to the same extent. If the process is repeated over 3 years and the correct stocking of animals is put on the site to keep on top of things, you will be rid of your Bracken problems!

Think it's smashing? Help it get seen!

14/06/2024

These photos show how 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 can be in the mud. They were taken in January 2018 but came up on my Facebook memories from 5 years ago so I thought I'd share them. Working alongside the horses was an absolute pleasure but being able to talk to people we passed going to and from the work site about the work they were doing was an important part of the day too.

03/02/2024

Sunrise

13/01/2024

Bow likes ice! The other bath had plenty of water in it (photo in the comments) but she preferred to crunch.
Do you have a horse that likes to eat ice?

08/01/2024

Another example of the amazing work horses can do.

Natural Resources Wales will use horse power to remove infected trees from ancient woodlands. NRW’s Forest Operations and Land Management teams will turn back the clock to use traditional forestry skills to thin an area of sensitive woodland in Fforest Fawr near Tongwynlais, on the outskirts of Ca...

28/12/2023

So wonderful to see 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 in all sorts of environments. Do you have a project that a working horse could help with?

A beautiful Belgian draught horse has been helping with restoration work on the Grantham Canal, which passes through the Vale of Belvoir.

30/11/2023

Arrived to fill hay nets today and the horses were at the top of the field catching the early sunshine - so sensible.
Tom came and kept me company but they did have plenty of hay out :)

27/10/2023

Excellent post by Dorset Horse Logging showing just how 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐟𝐮𝐥 horses can be.

03/09/2023

We opened up a little more grazing today so the horses came and ate, and then snoozed in the sunshine.

28/08/2023

Contented horses, happy with a little extra grazing

17/08/2023

Wonderful to see the Waldburg Shires 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 with the harvest and providing information for a scientific study in Cambridge . Timeless photos apart from the camera tripod and the audience! There is a great piece from the local TV news on the Waldberg Shires page if you're interested.

11/08/2023

Bracken rolling with horses - how very 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗳𝘂𝗹. Follow Hitch In Farm Working Horses on YouTube for some great videos.

06/08/2023

Take a listen to Mike and Ellie from Hitch In Farm Working Horses on Radio 4 here to find out about working horses today on a newly purchased farm in Wales.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001pf4q?fbclid=PAAaarISwxtiFM_3pQeizq7I3db4qTyxZFcUlZ8fOh4KgK0kst85JOGMQzq_g

Verity Sharp visits a farm in Carmarthenshire where working horses are used.

26/07/2023

Another set of excellent reports for the horses from Mel Bhavsar - Equine Podiatrist.

22/07/2023

Grazing in the rain

22/07/2023

The horses were very interested in why I was pulling ragwort in the rain today but it comes out so much easier. They soon decided I didn't have anything for them and wandered off to graze.

28/06/2023

We were doing some field management this morning and came across this little chap. Who is he and what is he sitting on?

23/06/2023

Such devastating news on day one of this year's charity drive by Coldcroft Shires. Wishing Millie a speedy recovery. Details of how to donate to the charities they were supporting can be found on their page together with a photo of the incident after Millie had been taken to hospital.
We went to meet them a couple of years ago when they passed through Leicestershire and they are both such lovely horses. Sending best wishes to Jamie, William and everyone who cares for Millie.

31/05/2023

When they see you and think you might have brought a snack with you :)

13/05/2023

09/05/2023

A bucket of food on your human's head while you have your trim :)

07/05/2023

We opened up some grazing yesterday for the horses and they have let us know that it is now grass season as they hay nets still had quite a lot in today. It also seems to be the start of fly season so they had their fly masks put on. I took a quick photo of Tom in his as less than 10 minutes later he had removed it! On the plus side I don't have to go hunting for it!

27/04/2023

Perhaps this would be cheaper than having a horse 😁