Rainbow Farm

15/01/2025

Not sure you’re much help on stable duty 🌼

14/01/2025

Why trainers PUSH horses TOO FAST

Klaus Balkenhol explains, "Although breeders have created a better horse, the market has created a demand for a stronger, healthier, more powerful horse. It's easier to sell a horse that looks like a carefully developed eight-year-old, and not like a three- or four-year-old just beginning his career. If you force it, you can get a three-year-old to physically look like a developed eight-year-old. Too many colts remain stallions which, if approved, promise breeders higher prices as three-year-olds. Now 250 to 300 young stallions are presented each year, when only 40 or 50 will be approved.

Few breeders have the sense to geld the yearling stallions and leave them on the pasture to mature naturally. Instead, yearling stallions are brought into a stall, fed too much grain, and at three, look like six- or seven-year-olds. They have muscle mass, but not enough bone structure to support it. They look mature from the outside but aren't . . . and when started to work, degeneration sets in. Competitions also create pressure to push horses too fast as competitions are now scheduled throughout the year without any breaks."

Common Mistakes In Pushing Too Fast
Tightening the noseband: "A horse resists by sticking out his tongue. Tightening the noseband too much puts pressure on the nose and on the poll. If it is necessary to tighten the noseband very tightly, then something has gone very wrong in the basic training of the horse. The horse cannot be relaxed, the first step on the training scale," warns Klaus.

Specializing too early: "Drilling every day in the indoor arena is too intense for the young horse. It's very important, especially in the first two years of training, not to specialize the young horse. Training should include a variety of activities, including trail riding, which is good for the mind as well as building strength with hill work. It should include jumping, either free or low jumps under saddle, including small natural obstacles on the trail, and cavaletti. A variety of work will allow the horse to stay mentally fresh and to enjoy his work. Only when the horse is happy can dressage become art."

Not checking tack frequently: "Saddle and tack need to be checked constantly for proper fit and adjusted as the horse's body changes with growth, and as his fitness improves with the training. If the noseband gets too low, for example, and the skin between the noseband and the bit is rubbed and becomes sore, this causes the horse discomfort and loss of relaxation. Regularly check for sharp edges and bit problems in the horse's mouth and teeth."

Working too long: "The goal of our training is to build the horse's mind and his muscles. Suppleness and relaxation require adequate muscle strength. strengthening requires both contraction and relaxation. Blood flow and oxygenation occur when the muscle relaxes. If the muscle is kept in a constant state of contraction, it loses power and strength, and actually becomes smaller. Frequent rest periods, especially for a young horse at a free walk on a long rein, are necessary. The rest periods are not for a rider's fatigue, but to allow the horse to stretch and relax his muscles. The rest breaks will give you a completely new horse. This is the systematic gymnasticizing of the horse."

Riding when the horseman is tense: "Horses are particularly sensitive to the rider's mood. A rider shouldn't ride if she is under undue stress or doesn't have the time to ride. If the rider has a bad day, give the horse a rest day or go for a relaxing trail ride; don't work in the arena. The horse mirrors the rider's mood."

Not praising the horse enough: "The horse must perform from joy, not subservience. Praising a horse frequently with voice, a gentle pat, or relaxing the reins is very important to keep the horse interested and willing. If the horse offers piaffe, for instance, because he's excited, praise him for it. You shouldn't stop the lesson at that point nor make a big deal out of it. If you don't want piaffe, quietly urge him forward into trot, but you should NEVER punish him for offering the piaffe. - Klaus Blakenhol

📸 Max & Maxwell: Equestrian Photography

14/01/2025

This is killing the sale of good horses. Everything is relevant but leisure horses are failing vettings as if they’re 5⭐️ GP jumpers 🙄

14/01/2025

Great workout for strength & conditioning for both horse & rider 💪🏻👏

14/01/2025

I guess last nights session was a tough one when you receive this from the riders this morning 😂🐴😂🐴

12/01/2025

3yrs since our early morning headtorch ride Gemma Kate , let’s go again 🤔

08/01/2025

🤣🐴

🚨 The Ultimate Do’s and Don’ts for Parents of Kids with Ponies 🚨

DO prepare for early mornings.
The pony doesn’t care if you’ve had a late night or a lie-in planned. The sound of hooves on gravel will be your new alarm clock. (Also, the kid will ask for breakfast at 7am like they’ve been awake since 5.😴🍳)

DON’T underestimate the mud.
One word: mud. Even in summer, expect your child (and their pony) to find the deepest, squelchiest puddle. You’ll think, “Maybe just a little bit of dirt”... but no. It’s always a lot. 🌧️💩

DO make friends with the farrier.
When the pony’s hooves start clicking like tap shoes, it’s time for a visit. This will quickly become a monthly routine. Get used to hearing words like "lameness," "shoeing," and "hoof care" and start Googling them like you’re writing a dissertation. 🦶🔨

DON’T panic when your child wants to dress the pony.
It may start innocently—maybe with a cute little blanket. But suddenly, your pony is in a tutu, and you’re not sure if you’re at a stable or a circus. Just breathe, take a photo, and move on. 🦄🎀

DO get used to the smell of hay.
If you’re not living with the scent of hay, straw, and occasionally manure, are you even a parent of a pony? Embrace it—it will become part of your life, your car, and your laundry. 🏡🌾

DON’T make plans that involve any kind of “schedule.”
Pony time is not linear. A “quick” trip to the stable will somehow turn into a three-hour adventure that involves a minor crisis over the pony’s mood. Expect to be late to everything, always. ⏰🐴

DO have a small fortune set aside for pony-related emergencies.
It’s not just for the vet or tack; it’s for random things like the pony getting a splinter, needing a second saddle, or your child deciding that their pony “deserves” a new outfit for a show. And don’t forget, the hay will cost more than your weekly shop. 💸🛒

DON’T expect to ever be fully clean again.
Between the hay, the mud, and the occasional unexpected pony bath, you'll find yourself covered in bits of everything. And your kid? They’ll look like they’ve just come from an obstacle course. 🧼👚

DO get comfy with pony events.
Forget about Netflix on a Saturday. Your life will now revolve around pony shows, pony parties, and pony competitions. You’ll be hauling hay bales and tack, cheering loudly, and pretending you know what’s happening in the ring. 🏅🎉

DON’T tell your kid "just one more pony."
If they ask for another pony, just don’t. Because "one more pony" always becomes "two more ponies" and soon you’re wondering if you should just build a small horse kingdom in the back garden. 👑🐴🐴

DO accept that the pony is now part of the family.
They might not sit at the dinner table, but you’ll swear your child loves that pony more than you. Just be grateful the pony doesn’t want your seat at the table. 😅🍽️

DON’T ever, ever suggest that the pony is too much.
You’ll be met with a look of betrayal that could rival any soap opera. "What do you mean, too much? The pony is my BEST FRIEND!" And trust me, you don’t want to be the one who “ruins” that bond. 💔🐴

DO enjoy the ride.
Even if your weekends are a blur of hay, boots, and pony drama—there’s something magical about watching your kid and their pony bond. Just remember to pack extra snacks for kid & pony ( don’t forget about yourself) and maybe a second mortgage for all the pony-related costs.🍏💸

Do you have any tips of do’s and dont’s

07/01/2025

⚡️Glad to be back indoors this Friday for our next Indoor Jumping Night
⏰️ Kicking off at 5.30pm with X-Poles
✅️ Get pre-booked before 4pm Thursday using the link;
➡️https://mullingarequestrian.com/online-bookings/friday-show-january-3rd-from-17-30/

05/01/2025

Coming soon 🤩

Tickets are selling fast, have you got yours? 🎟 The Sandstorm Show is back, and it's an equestrian night you won't want to miss!🐴 Live demonstrations from and in the comfort of a seated indoor arena 🙌!
Enjoy the show, the entertainment, shopping and food trucks and we even have more surprises in store for you 👀!

To be in with a chance to win 2 VIP tickets (goodie bag and reserved seating) just:

- Follow our page ✨️
- Share this post💕
- Tag a horsey friend you will bring along 🐴

We recommend purchasing your tickets soon due to demand, if you win this competition, we will refund your purchase 👍

Charity Partner and sponsored by and !

04/01/2025

Striding into her 35th year Zack’s lovely mum Zoe. So lucky to be retired to large sheltered walled gardens & acres and acres of grassland options 💕thankyou soooo much for looking after her ChaCha

03/01/2025

*** ENCYSTED REDWORM ***

I first posted this in 2019, but after reading a LOT of worrying comments recently about how people don’t worm their horses at all, as they do worm egg counts, I thought it was time to do a little encysted redworm refresher, with some updates!

1. Redworm can kill your horse.

2. You need to worm for encysted redworm AFTER they encyst, and before they emerge, so NOT in the Autumn! Wait for a good, frosty cold spell.

3. Encysted small redworm are NOT DETECTABLE in worm egg counts.

4. The larvae of small redworm, “encyst” or burrow into the gut wall. These can cause fatal consequences when they re-emerge.

5. Redworm appear as tiny pieces of thread in your horse’s droppings. They are very short and thin, and can be hard to see. They are white if they haven’t yet fed, and red if they have fed.

6. A horse can appear completely normal and healthy whilst carrying a large redworm burden. However, weight loss and diarrhoea may be early indicators; don’t ignore these signs.

7. Most wormers DO NOT target encysted redworm. Only TWO do: Fenbendazole and Moxidectin.

8. Lots of combination wormers contain IVERMectin. This WILL NOT have any effect on encysted redworm. The only wormer that contains MOXIDectin, is EQUEST. The Pramox (blue) version will treat tapeworm at the same time. Don’t use Pramox if you have treated separately for tapeworm, or used a saliva or blood test for tapeworm. Use the normal Equest (green) if this is the case.

9. Redworm are eaten by the horse during grazing. The larvae start to burrow into the gut wall as temperatures drop. Treating for encysted redworm whilst temperatures are warm, is not the optimal time, as the larvae may well not have started to encyst. Treating after a few hard frosts, also reduces the level of reinfection from larvae already on the fields.

10. The larvae stay in the gut wall during the winter, and are then triggered to emerge from the gut wall as the temperatures warm up in the Spring. If the horse has not been treated for redworm during this redworm “hibernation” stage, he/she is at risk of developing CYATHOSTOMINOSIS.

11. Cyathostominosis has a mortality (death) rate of up to 50%. It presents as colitis; profuse diarrhoea and colic. Contact your vet immediately if you see these symptoms in your horse at any time of year, but it is more likely to be due to redworm if this occurs in the Spring.

12. Ensure you have treated for encysted
redworm before temperatures start to increase as Spring arrives, incase of a large encysted redworm burden that may suddenly emerge.

13. There is a blood test for all stages of redworm, including encysted. This detects antibodies, so may be positive if your horse has had a high burden in the past 6 months, even if he currently doesn’t, but worth discussing with your vet. I would not be recommending this route for high risk redworm horses ie horses in herds with no poo picking, or rescue cases.

14. 5 day Panacur Guard (Fenbendazole) is the only other wormer that can treat the encysted stage of redworm. There was widespread resistance to this wormer, and a huge move towards everyone using Moxidectin for encysted redworm. It is my wormer of choice for very sick or poor horses, due to its milder action over 5 days. However, there is some evidence that it may cause more damage to the gut than Moxidectin, so more research is definitely required!

15. Poo picking daily is perfect pasture management, but does not mean that your horse is worm free! You still need to egg count/blood test for all worms and/or worm.

16. Herbal wormers do not work.

17. Worm egg counts do not detect encysted redworms (or tapeworm/bots/pinworm). I realise I am repeating myself, but this is something that lots of people still do not realise.

18. Do not UNDERDOSE when worming, as this will aid resistance. If in doubt, add 50kg to the weigh tape weight of your horse. Wormers are very safe with regards to toxic doses.

19. The Mole Valley wormers are NOT the same as Equest!!!! I saw this misinformation posted yesterday! They contain Ivermectin, which will NOT treat for encysted redworm.

20. Do NOT overuse Equest. Moxidectin (Equest and Pramox) should only be used ONCE in a 12 month period. So know when to use it!

This is not an exhaustive review of redworm, and I may add to the list if I think of anything else, but I hope this is of some use! Worming regimes and what worm egg counts detect, seems to cause lots of confusion amongst horse owners, and even yard owners.

Blood tests currently used for tapeworm and redworm, measure antibody levels to the worm. The saliva test also measures antibodies. The concern here would be false positives. This means the test coming back as positive when your horse has been clear of the worm in question for months. Antibody levels remain high for months following successful treatment for the worm being tested for. However, a negative obviously means the horse has been clear for a good few months, and would not need worming.

Happy reading!

Please share, as this is really something that all horse owners should know, and still don’t!

No prizes for spotting the hundreds of redworm in this photo!

03/01/2025

Mornings like this 🧡

02/01/2025

Food for thought …

Do you ever wonder why some people have truly happy horses ? Horses that never colic, bang on stall doors, misbehave while with you on the ground and under saddle ? It's not all due to training.
Its because some horses are allowed to be horses. The absolute very best thing you can do for every horse is let them live outside in a herd with constant forage. Let the horse decide with his group when to eat, when to nap under the shelter, when to drink and when to play. Let him learn his place in the herd. Horses do not need humans or our ideas. They need forage, water and oxygen .I hear almost daily from horse owners they they are scared to let their horses outside because they will hurt themselves. So you turn them out 1 hr a day and they go nuts. Meanwhile 23 hours a day their minds are going nuts as you lock them in a stall with "enrichments". Then they act like fools while you are trying to groom and ride. It's not the horse, it's the human routine
Stop feeding your horses at 8 am and 5 pm on the dot everyday. These types of routines create anxiety in horses that leads to stress colic, ulcers, bad behaviors and more. Feed one day at 8 and the next at 820. Mix it up a little and stop making them live on a humans routine that you think is best.
Weve worked with horses that had training as high as competiting in the Olympics but were no longer performing, all they needed was to live outside. In by allowing them to live out, they immediately went back to performing their very best .
Let your horse be a horse , living out not only is mentally healthy but also keeps them in great physical health as well
Were all about happy horses in training and board with us at Brock Griffith horsemanship. We get lots of requests to stall training horses, which we dont do. There is a reason we work with horses and behavior issues of all levels at our facility, we are excellent at finding the source of the problem. Not trying different equipment to make the behavior better with a bandaid. Humas are top quick to cage everything.. horses, dogs and children for lord's sake. Let these things roam free. For the love of horses, let them be horses. They will literally give you their whole hearts 💙 ** I am sharing this text (I've shared before) with my own personal picture.** shared from 👇
Www.brockgriffithhorsemanship.com
Written by Leisha Welborn Griffith

24/12/2024

Lots of fun had getting ready for Christmas with Ferdia Equine

24/12/2024

Have a grrreat one everyone 🎄🎅😘

21/12/2024

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