Surrey Hills Livery

07/08/2024

What is the inherent nature of a horse? We all have our theories. Training philosophies often revolve around someone’s opinion of how a horse thinks and behaves naturally. Some find cherry picked science to back up their claims, others stand firmly on tradition.

I wonder why it’s so hard to simply say we don’t know, and to keep our eyes open and learn. We’re all making our best guesses through our life experience and education and biases. The entire scaffolding of a training program could come crashing down if we were open to new information, the whole premise could be disproven with one newly learned fact. For many, that seems a fate worse than death. It’s entirely human to want to label and categorize and to know- but we don’t know.

Why is it so hard to be open? To move freely through time an understanding and to adapt with it? It’s what a horse does- move freely from moment to moment - and to get along with horses, I think it behooves us to learn this important skill.

25/07/2024

A little Polly Pocket hoof mud mould! I love finding these around the land ❤️

27/06/2024

Side by side I will graze with you, step by step I will roam with you. Forever thankful that you are my herd 🙏 🤲 ❤️

25/06/2024

Yep 👍 I always enjoy reading Amy Skinner Horsemanship no nonsense posts. They state the facts in the simplest of ways.

Bad news- having horses is not a right

Their basic needs are non negotiable, and if you can’t provide them, something has to give

They need a herd, not just a view of horses from a private paddock. (Obviously stall rest or temporary health conditions are unique situations)

They need forage, meaning grass or hay as the primary part of their diet

They need water, shelter, etc

The rest of the stuff we offer them: body work, tack fitting, training, etc, is essential, but if they don’t have the basic elements of wellbeing, it’s not going to “fix” the horse

Just the same as you would struggle with your mental health living in a cubicle except for a few hours, pizza day and a raise isn’t going to fix the basic need for socialization and freedom to interact in your world. What’s the point of extra trainings if your most basic needs aren’t met?
Nothing can take their place

The tricky part here is that the world is changing - land is harder to come by, good boarding barns are hard to find, places where you can care for your horse the way you see fit

I certainly have had to get creative at times to make it work.

I love horses more than anything, but I think if I couldn’t make one happy, if I didn’t have the finances or space to keep them the way they need to be psychologically and physically well, I would have to rethink having them, or find some way to band together with others to make it work.

But I couldn’t imagine keeping a horse like a hot house flower for my own enjoyment, at the expense of their beautiful, short and fragile life.

12/06/2024

Trip down memory lane! Mum popped round to found pictures of my first ever ride on a horse! Aged 2 and fearless!

07/06/2024

Coco is so grounded and has such a calming presence. She loves a snooze in the sandpit. This is becoming her favourite spot!

07/06/2024

Happy 13th Birthday to lovely boy Lux. We love you SO much. You bring so much to our herd, the policeman protector, the kindest of souls, the cheeky instigator, the casanova 😎 🆒️ 😎. You are an absolute dude and we all adore you 🤎💫 Have a great day with your mummies today 🎁 🎁 🎁 🥕 🥕 🍎 🍏 😋

03/06/2024

Queen Wish and all her minions!

30/05/2024

Absolutely 💯

The best conversations have no words 🧡

©️Emily Cole Illustrations

P.S Turn this drawing upside down

25/05/2024

All our herd have different bonds with each other... Lux and Flora have always been the best of friends. They knew each other from being stabled together many years ago but from the moment they saw each other again (6 years later) they were firm friends again 🤎 🤎

25/05/2024

Beautiful place 😍

23/05/2024

Here we have a 'Lesser Spotted Roo Bear'... this particular species of Roo Bear can be found being a pickle in all sorts of locations... especially those that aren't permitted...

(Came across this old picture of 5years ago when she was rising 2)

22/05/2024

Coco 🤍

Welcome beautiful girl ✨️

22/05/2024

Rio 🧡

Welcome special boy ✨️

13/05/2024

Lux and his pint sized wife! Good job she's only 10hh because she's A LOT of woman to handle 😄 😆 😉!

08/05/2024

Spring sunset. Beautiful.

05/05/2024

Beautiful Tia, she loves to strike a pose 🌟 🤩 ⭐️ 📷

28/04/2024

Floyd

Tomorrow this lovely boy will be leaving his roaming, relaxing and exploring hooves behind as he embarks on a new chapter of being ridden and returning home to his lovely Mum! Floyd came to us for 3months of herd time and ended up staying for nearly a year and a half!

Floyd was seemingly a very complex chap when he arrived. He is naturally an over thinker, an anxious boy, who needs a lot of mental and physical stimulation and unlimited space to explore.

Floyd has been by far the horse that took the longest to bond with the herd, he was either over keen and not recognising the invisible bubble the herd set or he was introverted and unsociable. It took him months to groom, to play and to snooze with the herd. Now you'd never know! He is so appropriately sociable with his 4 legged friends, especially at the sandpit.

Floyd has wiggled his way into my heart, he has loved being my little pesty helper when I'm doing land maintenance. I will miss his little nose nudges when he creeps up on me with stealthy silence just for some fuss. I will miss watching him lead expeditions around the land often with the whole herd opting be part of his latest adventure.

Be bold and brave in your new exciting chapter Floydie Bear! I promise I will try not to cry too much tomorrow 😢, thank you for all you've taught us... Time really does let your true self come to light ✨️ We will miss you dearly! ❤️

28/04/2024

We literally have the best liveries in the world 🌎 💓! How lovely to come up to this surprise gift from Wish's Mummies! Thank you for choosing us to look after your princess 👸.

25/04/2024

I spy with my little eye 👁 👀 😄 🤣!

24/04/2024

April Track Snaps 📸!

16/04/2024

Spring night sky 🌙

Surreyhillslivery

10/04/2024

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09/04/2024

It all began with Flora...

Flora has taught me it all. She is the most kindest, loving and loyal horse you could imagine. She bonds so strongly to those she trusts.

Prior to herd life on a conventional yard she was a 'poor doer', seen to be 'difficult' or 'dangerous'... she is NONE of those things. She is just an excellent communicator of her needs. In a domesticated setting she did not thrive. So over the 9years I have owned her I have listened, observed her, responded to her wishes and our beautiful place was created.

Thank you Flora for all you teach me, I will be your student forever, always willing to listen and learn.

22/03/2024

The hedgerow munchers!

21/03/2024

Belle exploring the hills this afternoon! Closely followed by Roo, Flora and Oscar!

18/03/2024

First hack under saddle today! Roma aka Roo Bear all grown up. Only been properly backed a week and she's doing very well 🌟 🤩 ⭐️