Riverstown Farm Stables

22/06/2025

Photo 1, This section was strip grazed by cattle in small areas, then topped. It’s now resting, left to regrow for next year or to be used for winter grazing if needed. Regrowth has already started to show.

Photo 2, Yet to be grazed. Same field as shown in the video I shared earlier.

This is a proper old Irish meadow paddock home to native grasses, wildflowers, and herbs. The kind of land that’s vanishing across Ireland/Uk. Too many are ripping up ground like this and reseeding with ryegrass to fatten cattle or increase milk yield. But that ryegrass is dangerously rich and completely unsuitable for horses.

This field will be grazed by horses next year and safely so combined with a track system/Equicentral management.

It’s about good land management. Understanding biodiversity. Knowing which grasses belong and which don’t. Looking back to how the land was worked before we lost the run of ourselves with fertiliser bags and reseeding charts.

BUT it also depends where you are in the world, different things happen but we should try strive to create old meadows again for future generations

22/06/2025

Bought as a companion so whoever perviously owned this poor pony just passed the buck on instead of doing what’s needed and right to guarantee her safety. Whether putting the pony in retirement livery or put out on loan to fully vetted home with very strict tight contract with regular visits or the sometimes the best option pts at home in surroundings where they are happy, comfortable and loved.

This is becoming a more and more a common issue in Uk, Ireland and around the world, we will continue to see issues due to the cost of living or people circumstances.

Do the right thing.

Before your horse ends up in a bloody dealers yard advertised as ridden horse again or neglected like this one or worse end up in the slaughter pipeline!
😢

Partially blind pony left alone and isolated in a field is rescued.

Marble was bought as a companion by her previous owner and when the other horse left, she was forgotten about.

The mare remained in the field alone with little animal or human interaction, was unhandled and uncared for.

She is now in the safe hands of HAPPA.

Full story via link below:

https://www.yourhorse.co.uk/news/partially-blind-pony-rescued/

13/06/2025

𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ✂️

A joke within a deeper message.

Every time you type “confirmation” instead of “conformation,” the universe allows one more badly-assembled stallion to keep his plums.

Yes. Somewhere out there, a c**t with the build of a broken ironing board just got spared the snip, all because someone couldn’t be bothered to check their spelling.

And look, we get it. “Conformation” is a boring, judgey word. It sounds like something your aunt says at Crufts. But here’s the difference:

•Confirmation: That’s what you get when Amazon tells you your parcel’s arriving tomorrow. Or when Sharon says she will be at the pub quiz after all.

•Conformation: That’s what horsey people judge in the show ring, legs, angles, shoulders, backs, bits that should be straight but sometimes look like IKEA got drunk.

The Real Problem? It’s Not Just the Spelling

When people say, “He’s got lovely confirmation so we’re keeping him entire,” what they mean is:

“He has legs.”
“He stood still once.”
“My child loves him.”

Congratulations, you’re now one poor decision away from flooding the countryside with foals that move like shopping trolleys and vet bills that read like mortgage statements.

Because This Isn’t Just About Spelling. It’s About Breeding.

And breeding is not:

❌ Because he’s pretty
❌ Because he’s not tried to kill anyone (yet)
❌ Because you’ve got a mare and vibes

Breeding is about improving the breed, not handing out baby licences to every hairy cob that once jumped a cross-pole without tripping over his own feet.

When you breed a stallion with bad conformation, you’re not just making a foal. You’re making problems with legs. Ones that bend the wrong way. Ones that cost thousands in corrective shoeing. Ones that spend more time on box rest than in work.

•If your c**t has bad hocks, a weak back, and knees that point at different postcodes: snip.

•If you can’t spell conformation, maybe don’t be in charge of the next generation.

•If you think breeding is “just a bit of fun,” please stop. This is why we can’t have nice things.

📧 Confirmation = what you need for dinner at Pizza Express

🏇 Conformation = what your horse needs to justify keeping his testicles

✂️ Castration = what should happen when either of the above is confused

Save the bloodlines. Save the breed. Save us all from watching another foal grow up looking like it was designed by a committee of blindfolded toddlers with Lego.

Snip smart. Spell smarter. Cheers. 🥂

12/06/2025

Whatever the level, whatever the goal, many riders will have felt the pressure at some point in their equestrian journey. The strongest aren’t always those who shine in the ring, but often those who fight quiet battles behind the scenes in the yard, on dark mornings, after tough rides, battles few ever see.

Just like our horses, we can carry a lot without ever showing it. But that doesn’t mean we should carry it alone.

We speak often about the importance of equine welfare, making sure our horses are fit, healthy, happy, and heard. But we must show that same compassion to ourselves and each other ( although some situations are questionable). A happy horse starts with a healthy rider mentally as well as physically.

So let’s keep encouraging our fellow riders not to let pride or fear hold them back from speaking up. When things feel overwhelming, reaching out isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom. You’re never alone in this herd. 🐴

Caesur and Moomoo

11/06/2025

“𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬.”

Sure, haven’t we all said it at some point?

As a coach in training, I hear it regularly. And truth be told, I used to say it myself when I was younger in Pony Club. I thought I knew it all once I could trot, canter and pop over a small spread at Friday night Pony Club Rally lesson. But riding is about far more than just staying on.

Why do we feel like we’ve “got it” so quickly?
Is it pride? Confidence? Or just not knowing what we don’t know yet?

Whether you’re schooling in the arena or heading out for a quiet hack down the lane, proper instruction is always important. It’s not just about improving, it’s about fairness to your pony, your own safety, and building good habits that last.

Why do we like riding?
Is it the freedom? The partnership? The joy of being outdoors?
Whatever it is, don’t we want to do it well, and with care?

Some people think lessons are only for the showjumpers or eventers. Or they reckon that once a pony’s been backed or sent away for a few weeks, it’s grand and ready for a novice rider. But if you’re still learning and your pony’s still green, you both need the support of someone who knows the ropes.

Why do we sometimes treat hacking like it’s “just a bit of a ride”?
Maybe because it feels relaxing, but have you ever truly thought about what your pony is coping with out there?

Irish lanes (or roads whatever country your in), boggy ground, tractors, barking dogs, pheasants ( or other animals) bursting out of hedges, low branches, sudden showers, it can all test your nerves and your pony’s training.

One fright can cause a fall. One bad ride can knock a pony’s confidence for good.

So be proud to keep learning.
Why do we feel embarrassed to need help sometimes?
There’s no shame in lessons, in fact, there’s great sense in them. That’s how you become a better rider, a better partner to your pony, and a safer one too.

At the end of the day, our ponies give us their best, they deserve the same back.

Farmleight storm and our trusty Richardson (Rice) horse trailer at Pony Club one day events

10/06/2025

So new topic from “ Your Local Horse Girl” and she has raised some very valid points. What do you think?

09/06/2025

I’ve a bit of pet peeve that annoys me about when people are selling Connemara ponies especially young stock claiming they are roan when in a couple the years they are actually grey roan meaning they will light and go fully grey.

The foal is born roan and is roanish through till about 6/7 but are getting lighter over time due to grey hair going light grey (white) over time.

Please stop selling your stock as roans and do a bit of research into what a grey roan and let customers know this as a lot aren’t an aware of this.

Prime example below is Vicky, a Connie x ID (TIH)

Picture 1 &2 she was a 5 year old. this was around 2013 the time I was riding and hunting her,

Picture 3 is 2016, as a 8 year old just arrived in the USA

Picture 4 & 5 2025 17 years old still living with her owner who imported her into the USA.

See how she has changed over the years.

Rang over!

09/06/2025

So with me, I try to use natural products as much as possible with horses. Beneficially, there’s so much better for a horse and the environment plus supporting small local businesses is what we should be doing as horse owners.

I came across this little gem of hoof balm made by Piper's All Natural Horse Oils made local to me in Scotland. Even on my own skin it’s made feel so soft!

If your looking for something more natural for your horses hooves, this is thing to have in your groom kit plus smells great.