Animals First Equestrian

03/01/2025

I try and explain to everyone this is what it’s like training a horse. There is no straight route to success, we must have ups and downs, backwards and forward progress, it’s normal and should be expected.

22/12/2024

London 2024
SSADL Oldest Pony
Welsh Section A

21/12/2024

Congratulations to Lottie Fry and Glamourdale for winning the 2024 FEI World Cup qualifier at The London International Horse Show

21/12/2024

Advent Calendar Week 3 Giveaway has landed! 🎅🏼🎅🏼 This week we are giving away a bag of our award winning Hartog Digest🌿 This week We have teamed up with our friends at Haynet Mate💜 who will be giving away a Haynet Mate haynet filling tool- designed to save time- reduce wastage and prevent bending and stretching when filling nets!😎. Digest is a natural forage-based feed with a unique Powerstart formula which balances the microbiology of the gut. Increasing mucus production to protect the stomach lining and increasing blood flow to the gut wall to improve the absorption of nutrients.💚 Helping your horse feel good from the inside out 💫 To ENTER follow and and tag or comment below! 💚Winner announced on Christmas Eve🎄🎄 Good luck!💚💜
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15/12/2024

The owner of a horse who was found with her leg stuck in a hole seven foot deep was aghast to find badgers had built an “underground city” beneath her field. Sheena Hird’s mare Trinity had to be extracted by firefighters after the ground collapsed into the tunnel in the field Sheena rents in D...

10/12/2024

26/11/2024

Here are 13 things that always tend to baffle us equestrians…

Read more via link below

21/11/2024

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There are days that I don’t want to ride. I feel tired, unmotivated, and stuck in my head. But then I push myself to tack up anyway, and the moment my horse’s hooves hit the sand, I feel lighter. Sometimes, the hardest rides are the ones that heal you most and gives you clarity.

18/11/2024

How many hours a horse should be turned out is still a topic of ongoing research, but studies consistently show that longer turnout times significantly improve horse health and welfare. Horses are naturally designed to graze and roam freely throughout the day, and when confined to stables for extended periods, they may develop physical and mental health issues.

One study published in 'Applied Animal Behaviour Science' found that horses benefit from a minimum of 12 hours of daily turnout, as it allows for natural behaviours like grazing and socialising. Horses turned out for less time may experience stress-related behaviours, such as cribbing and weaving, which are often signs of frustration and boredom in confined animals. Another study published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science confirmed that horses with more turnout time (over 6 hours) had better musculoskeletal health, fewer incidences of lameness, and healthier hooves.

Turnout also impacts digestion. Studies have shown that horses who are allowed to graze freely have a lower risk of developing ulcers since continuous grazing keeps stomach acids in check. Horses kept indoors for too long are more prone to digestive disorders and colic, as they lack the opportunity to graze, which is their natural feeding pattern.

While full-day turnout is ideal for most horses, it’s not possible for all horse owners, which is why we recommend aiming for at least 6-12 hours! 🕜

13/11/2024

There will be days when everything goes right, and days when nothing goes as planned. On the good days, remember to be grateful. On the challenging days, remember to be kind to yourself and to your horse. Both kinds of days are essential. The tough rides teach us resilience, while the smooth rides remind us why we fell in love with dressage in the first place.