K.R.H Natural horse care

30/07/2024

If my books were full of Queenies, I would be a very happy trimmer. Super lovely mare to trim with easy feet. Gold star for Queenie for being foot perfect on a warm evening.

28/07/2024

Many thanks for every one that came to see my paddock paradise today.
I'm super proud of this place, (and it's only the start) so it really was my pleasure to show everyone round and have a great chat with you all. ❤️
Be apart of my journey, follow my page and watch out for more meet ups like these in future.

28/07/2024

To those that visited my track today, if you enjoyed yourself and fancy another track visit, keep an eye on PB Paddock Paradise Livery 's page. Its very much worth going to one of their open days/clinics.
They have a wealth of knowledge and I've practically learnt all I know from these guys.

27/07/2024

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow. 🥰

As you enter the farm, please drive straight, head towards the fields at the other side and park anywhere around there. Please park up close where possible. There are a few of us and this car park is also for the cafe'.

If you can, please get there for 11, track walk at 11.30/ 11.45. This should give us some time before we walk the track to get a take away coffee from the cafe. 😀

Any problems, give me a call 07446263583.

So excited 🥰

25/07/2024

In summer I hear see lots of posts from people saying their horse’s hooves are struggling with the dry weather or hard ground. In winter, the posts start saying the problem is the wet weather and the mud causing the problem.

Thing is – hooves are pretty much weather proof. There will be some change to the hoof horn, but only a little.

If the diet is good, then the hooves don’t struggle with weather changes. Maybe it’s time to stop blaming the weather – which we have no control of and start looking at the internal environment of our horses, like their diet – which we do have control of.

The Healthy Horse: Feeding and Nutrition is a short course to help you understand your individual horse's needs and choose a management system that suits your environment, benefits the whole herd, and simplifies your life. Find out more, here https://hoofgeek.com/fan/

25/07/2024

I have decided to join my two business so a new logo was in order.

One Step Closer Paddock Paradise run by myself at K.R.H Natural Horse Care Practitioner.

I absolutely adore my logo created by the ever so talented Emma-Jayne Art. (Go check out her beautiful floral tatoos 😍).

The 4 orange dots represent the 4 pillars of natural horse care. The 4 strands of foliage symbolises the change in season. I also saw it as the yellow being hay and the green being the tree leaves. I also asked Emma to include a yin yang which she has done in a stylish and fitting way. This to me brings the two business's together. The 4 pillars are one and the same and all needed to create strong healthy hooves which means we have a healthy gutt and a healthy horse overall.

So, I would like to welcome you to, One Step Closer To Nature, paddock paradise 🥳🥳🥳

23/07/2024

3 assisted DIY livery spots available.

I'll be asking for two days a week help with filling haynets and poo picking.

£350 Per horse, per month. including hay, daily checks, putting out hay, poo picking on the days you don't cover included. Every 6-8 weeks trimming , Feed and extra services at extra cost.

Full livery spots also available at £450 per horse per month. Including hay, daily checks, putting out hay, daily poo picking included. Every 6-8 weeks trimming, feed and extra services at extra cost.

Lovely hacking, stunning views and calming atmosphere. Large field to ride round or school in.
Café on site that does really good food and hot/cold drinks.

Message for more info ☺️

23/07/2024

5 different hay stations, situated at different sides of the track.

The horses have the choice of eating in the sun or shade. Depending on where the sun is, there is always the option of either through out the day as the earth rotates. ☺️
The same goes for the wind or the rain. No matter what way the wind is blowing or the rain is falling, we have natural shelter all round the track.
The choice is very much theirs 🥰

22/07/2024

🩷

16/07/2024

Another day trimming in Shropshire is complete, but before I head home, here are some pics of Mary and her perfectly large feet. Last of the day but very much not the least 🥰

15/07/2024

Two different ways, different levels of enthusiasm, same purpose. Dinner has been served!

12/07/2024

How cute is Mr.Bob the cob 😍
Being a good boy for his evening trim

10/07/2024

09/07/2024

💛 A message to all my clients (and everyone else interested) 💛

On the 28th July at 11 o clock, I'm inviting you to come join me at my track for a tour. A casual little get together where we can talk tracks, horses and hooves! I know a few of you have wanted to come see so why not have all of us together 🥰.

Please let me know if you are able to join me and remember to bring some pennies for a slice of cake and coffee in the on site tea room. 🍰🫖☕️

02/07/2024

Fresh trim for Dante'

26/06/2024

Dinky Thumba feet 🥰

25/06/2024

Jane has been out of shoes now for 2.5 years. Her feet have become stronger and healthier in that time. She has grown almost a hand in height and has so much personality. I adore this horse. 🥰

20/06/2024

Full livery Spaces available.

Message me to book a viewing.
Please note that at current, its not a completety grass free track. With in the next couple of months I'm hoping it will be. 😊

One Step Closer paddock paradise is built on a really nice hill which will help build some nice muscle and some flat areas down the bottom perfect for rolling and flat out sleeping. 😴

There is natural shelter all round with mature hedge and some big beautiful trees. The view is stunning and the atmosphere is so calming 🥰.

Lovely on and off road hacking around the area to explore. Maps show lots of bridle ways in the area and once you have crossed the main road, the side roads are very quite. We also have two fields you can ride round/school in so don't have to leave the yard.

The track is roughly 550m in length (with plans to extend in years to come). I've made it generously wide so they should never feel confined and allows plenty of space for play.

We have just opened and I have a lot of exciting plans for the place. Watch this space.

Nn13 Fathinghoe.
Full livery only.
Barefoot only.

18/06/2024

Stans feet are 😍

17/06/2024

Today I went back and trimmed Rosies hinds using the advanced trim guidelines.
Unfortunately her left hind had taken the toe off itself which actually now, from the measurements I've taken, leaves her hoof too short so we will allow this to grow.
Her right hind trimmed up very nicely.
I'm excited to getting her feet back to where they should be.

16/06/2024

Yesterday I learnt you can safely shorten the toe with out chopping it off completely.
I feel this is a great middle ground for the whole leave the toe, chop the toe debate.

Critical measurements were taken and safe cut lines were made based on these measurements.
It all made sense to me and the little mare walked off much better than she walked in. I thank this little mare for her patience with me as I learnt some very valuable advanced trim guidelines.
A special thanks to Equine Soul for helping me. ❤️

Pictures of after the trim. I have some before photos which I'll post in the comments.

11/06/2024

Once every 6 weeks I pop over to Shropshire.
I used to go trim Dante' and seeing as there are no ISNHCP trained practitioners with availability in that area, I thought I could make a day of it and pick up some Shropshire clients.

Despite Dante' no longer living in that area, I'm still making the trip up as I'm a little bit attached to my lovely clients and can't give them up 🥰.
So I have some availability for any one within the circled area (on the last pic) needing a natural hoof care practitioner. Don't hesitate to get in touch. 😘

09/06/2024

Yes, yes and yes!

"The goal of the natural trim is to simulate natural wear and stimulate normal function of both the hoof capsule and the internal components of the foot.... The natural trim is not meant to force the foot to look a certain way; it is meant to grow a healthy sound foot from the inside out. And during that time, the comfort of the horse is paramount." ~ Jaime Jackson, founder ISNHCP and AANHCP

(Photo shows the mustang roll, a term coined by Jackson in the late 1980s to describe a characteristic of the Great Basin wild and free-roaming horses, getting started through the 'natural trim' and will be 'completed' by the horses through their activity and lifestyle. The 'natural trim' is a humane, barefoot trimming method that emerged during the period of time when Jaime was applying certain characteristics of the Great Basin horses to the domestic horses in his farrier practice in the mid to late 1980s.)

08/06/2024

Some before and afters of Brodys feet.

I met Brody and her lovely mum last night. She had gone a long time in-between trims due to farriers not turning up and struggling to find someone else to fit her in. Luckily she found me and she's now on a 6 week cycle (to start with, 4 weeks if her feet tell me otherwise).

This post isn't to name and shame or dis other working professionals. It's to say, don't panic, feet are forgiving and by making a few changes, we can bring them back to good health given time.

01/06/2024

I've written a little something for Happy Trackin' Magazine.
Can't wait to read the other articles from fellow trackies and other like minded equestrians 🥰.
Make sure you check it out!

✨️ Issue 2 of Happy Trackin' Magazine is available now! ✨️

Here's what you'll find inside this issue...

Guest Articles:

PB Paddock Paradise Livery owner, Alyson Sharpe, shares how she adapted one small aspect of the Paddock Paradise to suit her UK-based track system livery.

Alice Short of Equine Elements explains how prioritising her therapy horses' mental wellbeing translates into her client's sessions.

Horse trainer and equestrian author, Dressage in Hand by Josepha Guillaume, explores the shift away from prescribed bed rest in human medicine with nurse, Samana Rikers, and the parallel to equine health care.

Kerry Reeves, owner of Dun, is back with an update.

Sue Dawson, Calm Healthy Horses UK representative, is back to put things straight - competition horses can and do thrive on track systems, even mini ones.

Mother-daughter duo, Pony Talk Academy, are looking for a fellow horse-lovers to join the team, bridging the gap between species appropriate living and the pony club for all future horse-obsessed kids.

From a little girl to a passionate horse woman, Gillian Lopez of Heaven Sent Farm, LLC explains the benefits she has seen in her horses since opening a track system boarding facility.

Kelly Higgins of K.R.H Natural horse care, ISNHCP Practitioner, gives us a sneak peak inside the planning and building process behind starting a track livery.

Interviews:

Grace Diviney of Equine Soul, ISNHCP Practitioner, breaks down her go-to plan of action when it comes to tackling Laminitis and Whole Horse Inflammatory Disease and what she recommends horse owners do to prevent acute or chronic attacks.

Regulars:

Enrichment Makes - easy enrichment ideas for your own track system.

Hoof Care - our tips on maintaining or supporting the growth of healthy hooves.

Julian's Top Tips - a handyman's advice on maintaining your track, from one trackie to another.

Tracks from around the World - a look at track systems from across the globe.

Track Hacks - our track 'must haves' for you and your horse.

Healing Hooves - a look at healing horses' progress on track.
.. and more!

Happy Trackin' fellow trackies or trackies-to-be.

Grab your copy here: www.happytrackinmagazine.com/shop

24/05/2024

😘

14/05/2024

With introducing horses to a paddock paradise track system for the first time, regardless of circumstances, livery or horse, comes change. Sometimes this is change that is predicted, prepared for and expected by the owner who sought a different lifestyle for their horse and found themselves at the gates to our livery. Other times, this change comes as a surprise, challengers their prior beliefs or fills them with anxiety. This isn’t to say that this change is bad, but it is change at the end of the day and as a species, I do feel that us humans aren’t always very accepting of change.

I can’t tell you how many times I have been on the end of the phone to a worried owner, searching for answers to what I’m sure, and understandably so, feels like a very long list of hurdles to overcome. However, it’s very easy to agree to something like moving to a track livery and all it entails when you feel like your emotional barrel is full, and all you want is for your horse’s circumstances, health or happiness to better in some way. It is because of this that we really, truly try to stress to owners that the journey they’re about to embark on is rarely straight forward and easy going. Although their horse may be the one experiencing the changes, for better or worse during said temporary transitional period, it is the owners that struggle the most if they’re not fully on board with the process and ready to release control. I am not speaking from a place of judgement, but a place of understanding that embracing change when it occurs is an important part of their journey to feeling and doing better.

Some hurdles or changes your horse may experience during the first year of their life on track can include anything from abscesses and messy self-trimming to changes in weight, muscle, mood or behaviour. Anything and everything can be affected when they’re provided with a different environment that actively encourages a more species appropriate lifestyle and the ability to make decisions for themselves. On the odd occasion, we welcome horses that go through a period of avoiding their owners like the plague. It’s not necessarily because the owner did anything wrong or they dislike them. Countless horses have had every aspect of their lives planned out for them and micromanaged for years on end, whilst many have had vet and blood tests galore. It’s almost like a teenage rebellious stage (or the not so polite version, the f**k you stage, nick-named by one of our liveries) but it is just a part of the process whilst they relearn the basics. It’s almost like a time of self-discovery, which can be more extreme for some than others, granted.

My point to all this is if you’re considering joining any track livery, or maybe even just setting up a track system yourself, prepare yourself for the hurdles that will undoubtedly come and the change in your horse that will ultimately lead to a happier, healthier version of themselves. It takes two to tango, or in this case, human and horse, to become the difference that changes your horses life. You are a team after all, and their wellbeing is worth the uncomfortable feelings of lacking control that their journey may bring.

09/05/2024

Stratum internum - The white (unpigmented) layer of the hoof between the Stratum lamellatum and Stratum medium.

In English, the line that looks white between the white line (which isnt actually white) and outter hoof wall. The S.internum is what we call mother natures horse shoe as it's the hardest part of the hoof.

08/05/2024

07/05/2024

This place has an amazing energy to it 🥰