Riverstown Farm Stables

04/12/2025

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐎𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬?

We do it without thinking.
He likes his stable.
She enjoys this job.
He hates change.
She wants to come in.

Comforting ideas. Neat. Human. And often completely unproven.

Horses don’t come with subtitles. They don’t sit around forming opinions in the way we do. What they do have is a nervous system built for survival in a world where getting it wrong once means you don’t get a second go. When we say a horse “likes” something, nine times out of ten what we’re actually describing is tolerance within a predictable setup.

And predictability is the real key here.

𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥

People love to say horses thrive on routine as if they’re little creatures of habit who dislike variety. The reality is far less sentimental. In the wild, routine equals safety.

Drink from known water sources.
Graze and browse where footing is safe.
Travel familiar routes.
Stay with the herd.
Play briefly.
Sleep lightly.
Repeat.

That cycle isn’t about enjoyment. It’s about risk reduction. Predictability keeps a prey animal alive.

So when your horse appears calmer doing the same thing at the same time every day, it’s not because they’ve emotionally bonded to that schedule. It’s because their brain doesn’t have to work as hard to assess danger. Less information to process equals less stress.

A horse relaxing in routine doesn’t mean the routine is optimal, it means it’s known.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐲𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 “𝐇𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐖𝐚𝐲”

This is where projection creeps in.

We interpret calm compliance as happiness.
We interpret familiarity as choice.
We interpret lack of resistance as contentment.

But horses are exceptionally good at enduring. Stillness, shutdown, dullness, these can look an awful lot like good behaviour if you don’t know what you’re looking at.

A horse can tolerate a stable, a job, a rider, a routine for years without ever choosing it.

Tolerance is not preference.

Horses don’t communicate through narratives or vibes. They communicate through……
𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲
𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞

None of that fits neatly into the story of he loves this, which is why it’s so often ignored.

And let’s be honest…….telling ourselves a horse enjoys something makes us more comfortable with how we manage, train, or use them.🙃🙃

𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠

If you truly want to know what a horse prefers, you have to look at what they choose when choice is available.

Where do they stand when no one puts them there?
Who do they interact with when pressure is removed?
How do they move when they are not driven?
Do they seek engagement, or simply comply?

A horse that consistently offers something when they are free to decline is giving you information. A horse that only ever complies under confinement is not.

Routine does matter. Hugely. But routine should reflect the horse’s biology, not human convenience wrapped in comforting language.

Routine should allow for……..
Forage led days
Movement over distance
Social contact
Variation within predictability
Mental decompression

The 5 domains.

Not just repetition because he doesn’t like change.

Because more often than not, it isn’t that the horse likes things a certain way.
It’s that they’ve learned not to protest.

And the quiet horse deserves just as much scrutiny as the loud one.

M we need to stop asking, Does he like this?
and start asking, What is this horse actually telling me?

03/12/2025

𝐌𝐮𝐝 𝐅𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐝
🙃

Winter fields….soggy, squelchy, perfect for horses to pretend they’re Olympic athletes in the mud sprint. And every year, someone whispers the dreaded words…𝗺𝘂𝗱 𝗳𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿. mud fever is not caused by mud. Mud is innocent. Mud is just the stage where the real stars, bacteria…perform their drama.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐝 𝐅𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐈𝐬

Mud fever, or pastern dermatitis, is basically a microbial rave happening on your horse’s lower legs. Bacteria, fungi, moisture, and tiny scratches throw a party on the skin. Mud just makes it easier for humans to notice the chaos. White legs, feathered fetlocks, or sensitive skin? Congratulations, your horse has VIP passes.

Even dark legs aren’t safe…bacteria don’t care about aesthetics. They just want a damp, warm, slightly damaged patch of skin to move in, and boy, do they love it.

Now, let’s talk about the real culprits. These bacteria are literally everywhere, waiting for an open invitation…..

𝐒𝐨𝐢𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐮𝐝, Fine, mud is a host, not the cause. It’s basically a microbial Airbnb.

𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐞, One day rolling in a manure strewn paddock, and suddenly your horse’s pasterns are a five star bacterial resort.

𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫, Puddles, buckets, hoses… if it’s wet and not sterile, it’s a bacteria highway.

𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 & 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, Sharing grooming tools or turnout? Congrats, you’re hosting a bacteria potluck.

Mud fever isn’t punishment; it’s opportunism. If the skin is wet, dirty, or nicked, the microbes move in like it’s an all you can eat buffet.

𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
mud fever is 100% preventable with a bit of effort, and your horse can still wallow in mud like a proper equine hooligan.

1. 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝘀 – Moisture is bacteria’s best friend. After rides or washes, dry your horse’s pasterns like your life depends on it.

2. 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗹𝘆 – Feathers hide dirt, mud, and bacteria. Brush like a pro, even if your horse gives you the do I look dirty to you? side eye.

3. 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 – That tiny red patch today is way easier to fix than a full blown scabby nightmare tomorrow.

4. 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐥𝐲 – Creams, washes, or vet magic. Be consistent, or you’ll be starring in Mud Fever, The Sequel.

5. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 – Wet stables, mud baths, and standing water are bacteria’s dream. Fix drainage, keep bedding dry, and give microbes fewer opportunities to crash the party.

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬

Blaming mud like it’s a villain, it’s the innocent bystander

Ignoring early signs, red patch? Swelling? Heat? Treat it before it turns into a crusty apocalypse.

Over washing or scrubbing aggressively, damages skin, basically giving bacteria VIP access.

Sharing dirty brushes or towels, congratulations, you’re now an accessory to bacterial invasion.

Mud fever is annoying, yes, but totally beatable. With daily checks, good hygiene, and early treatment, your horse can stay healthy and still enjoy mud without consequences. Mud is fun; mud fever is not.

So next time someone says, It’s the mud’s fault, smile knowingly. Mud didn’t do it. Opportunistic bacteria did. But you? You’re armed with grooming brushes, clean towels, and a solid plan. Your horse might roll in mud anyway but at least they won’t bring a microbial party home with them.

That’s why I invested in a hard standing for the girls this year, allows them somewhere to stand dry out of the mud and eat their hay ☺️

03/12/2025

If anyone can spare a bit for change for jingles poor donkey that was in the pound with really long feet! Poor boy, kitty at Equine halfway house pony rescue and refuge - Equine Welfare Network is about the only rescue centre in Northern Ireland that gets no funding at all to help!

03/12/2025

This is an incredibly important watch. So many of us think a horse’s bad behaviour is stubbornness or naughtiness, but the truth is that horses are constantly communicating through their actions. Too often, we miss the signals they’re giving us. Studies show that up to 90% of horses displaying aggression or so called problem behaviours are actually in pain. Paying attention to what our horses are really trying to tell us isn’t just good horsemanship, it can completely change how we respond, care for them, and understand their world.

03/12/2025

Absolutely mortified by the infamous ‘nasty vet’… the kind who gives you that look like, “I hope you like needles, because today is your unlucky day.” Heart racing, ears pinned, panic levels through the roof… and then wait for it, treats appear. Suddenly, I’m the poster child for good behaviour, calm, collected, and practically smiling in under sixty seconds 🙃.

Bloods? Done. ✅
Passport? Ready. ✅
My brief moment of outrage? Completely evaporated, leaving only the sweet taste of victory… and carrots. Ireland, here we come 🇮🇪.

03/12/2025

Wee reminder, the lovely Abbotts View Livery: Barefoot and Back to Nature for World Horse Welfare webinar on how to set up a track system is on tomorrow evening. AVL has just been crowned livery yard (boarding stable) of the year here in Uk. even you don’t set up a track system, might be some little tips to help with paddock enrichment or shelter set up, even if your just interested or like to learn and it’s free ☺️

Have you ever thought about setting up a track system for your horse?

In our third Welfare Wednesday Webinar episode, we’ll be discussing what track systems are and how they can be beneficial to horses with livery owner and author, Amy Dell Anthony.

📅 Wednesday 3rd December
🕖 7:00 – 8:15pm
👉 https://bit.ly/4rkVTPO

From weight loss to social living, track systems can be useful for promoting the 3Fs of Friends, Freedom and Forage for all horses – But where can we start? Amy will talk through the key considerations for setting up a track from fencing and surface choices to herd dynamics and how to provide hay. So, if you’ve ever considered a track and had questions, join us to ask Amy for her expert advice!

02/12/2025

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥

We insist we’re sensible adults.
Then we spend ten solid minutes explaining to a horse why he has to stand still as if logic has ever worked on a prey animal with opinions.

Plastic bags get a briefing.
Puddles require negotiations.
Tractors are introduced formally so nobody feels ambushed and our own poor life choices.

And the babying is elite level delusion.

They roll in mud? “Oh you’re so proud of yourself, aren’t you?”
They spook at nothing? “It’s okay sweetheart, mummy’s here.”
They so much as sigh oddly? Google, vet, priest on standby.

These are animals that survived evolution, wolves, famine, and war, yet we’re convinced they’ll perish instantly if their rug is folded wrong.

They don’t pay bills.
They don’t say thank you.
They destroy property for sport.

Still, we’d die for them.
we’d sell organs for them.
We’d miss weddings for them.
We’d remortgage for them.
We’d argue with strangers on the internet for them in comment sections like lawyers on commission.

We talk to horses like humans and treat them like babies because somewhere between the hay bills and the heartbreak, they rewired our brains.

And honestly?
No regrets.

02/12/2025

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞’𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞…𝐈𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐖𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞?

When was the last time you truly asked yourself what would happen to your horse if you died tomorrow? Not in twenty years, not when they retire, not when someone will sort it, tomorrow. Who would feed them, care for them, make the decisions no one else can? Have you made that plan, or are you leaving it to hope….?

Most of us convince ourselves it will be fine. A friend will step in, a family member will take them, someone will find a good home. But stop for a moment and think…….do you really know that? Have you written it down, spoken about it, made it legally clear? Or is it simply something you hope for something that, in reality, offers no guarantee at all?

Rehoming horses, especially retired or companion animals, is far from a safety net. Homes change, circumstances change, promises fade, and what begins as a loving arrangement can quickly become a compromise on welfare. How many horses have slipped through the cracks simply because good intentions weren’t backed up by action?

I have made my wishes explicit in my will. My horses are to be humanely put down, regardless of whether my partner would choose to care for them. Harsh? Perhaps. But is it harsher than leaving their future uncertain, gambling with their welfare simply because we find the conversation uncomfortable? If something happened to him tomorrow, who would truly look out for them? Who would ensure their safety and dignity?

Love isn’t only about feeding, grooming, or riding. It is about foresight. It is about taking responsibility when you might not be there to protect them. And if you claim to care, are you doing everything you can to guarantee their welfare, or are you merely hoping someone else will?

Ask yourself honestly….have you really planned for them, or are you just assuming it will all work out? Because in the life of a horse, hope is not enough. Only certainty keeps them safe.

01/12/2025

All of us at RFS are thinking of Carl Hester and everyone at the yard and involved their lifetime.

Valegro and Uthopia did life together from beginning to end. They travelled the same roads, lived side by side, shared the same fields, and grew old together as the true companions they always were. Their partnership wasn’t just something we saw in competition, it was woven into their everyday lives.

Our thoughts are with Carl, the grooms and the whole team who cared a for them as the boys at home, especially through the quieter, harder days that come with age. Letting them go together was a final gift of loyalty, compassion and respect that only those who live with horses truly understand.

Thank you, Valegro and Uthopia, for what you gave the sport and for what you gave the people who cared for you every single day. Rest easy, gentlemen.

29/11/2025

Abbotts View Livery: Barefoot and Back to Nature has won livery yard of the year! Second track livery to win this award! Many congratulations to Amy, her family, staff and all the horses at the yard ( and owners)! Amy is the most loveliest person and done wonders for horse welfare regards track systems (paddock paradise or paddock trail)! ❤️

WE WON!!! 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🥹🥹🥹🥹

Equestrian Business Awards

29/11/2025

Seen Core Conditioning for Horses share this (thank you) and I couldn’t stop watching it! This is what we should be aiming to achieve!

Riding a horse long and low is often misunderstood. Some people think it’s lazy riding or that the horse is just falling onto the forehand. But when it’s done correctly, long and low is one of the best ways to help a horse move better and feel stronger in their body.

In a good long and low frame, the horse stretches the neck forward and down while staying in a steady, soft contact. The back lifts rather than drops. This gentle lift in the back encourages the horse to use their tummy muscles (their core), which are needed to carry a rider comfortably.

When the core is working, everything else starts to improve. The horse doesn’t need to brace through the back or tighten the neck to stay balanced. Because of this, the legs especially the shoulders and forelegs can move more freely. The stride becomes looser, softer, and more elastic.

Long and low also helps the hind legs step further underneath the body. This gives better balance and makes the horse feel more even and steady in the contact, rather than heavy or rushed.

Mentally, it helps too. Stretching into the contact allows the horse to relax. Tension often shows first in the neck and jaw, and when these areas soften, the whole body can start to move more naturally.

Long and low isn’t something you stay in all the time. It’s a working position you return to during training after transitions, between exercises, or when a horse feels tight. Used this way, it builds strength, confidence, and healthy movement.

Done well, long and low doesn’t make a horse weaker. It helps them carry themselves better and move with freer, easier limbs.