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Every horse is worthy and deserves a full and healthy life filled with love, compassion and understanding.

26/10/2025

After eating a parasitic vine that came down with a tree in a storm back in August, Red lost quite a bit of hair and was very unwell for a while.
Now that his coat’s fully grown back and his condition has improved, he’s feeling (and acting) like his old self again!
After a bit of trial and error getting a saddle to work for him (I forgot how tricky he is to fit without his usual solid mack truck build 🤦‍♀️), it’s finally time for him to get back to work.
Let’s just say… I’m a little more excited about that than he is 😅

22/10/2025

Came across this little visitor while feeding the horses, a good reminder that snake season is well and truly here 🐍

This isn’t our first scaly visitor for the season, but it’s the first one I’ve managed to get a photo of!

Snakes and horses aren’t the best combination, and just like us, horses can be bitten too, and the signs aren’t always obvious at first.

Here are a few to watch for:
✨ Sudden swelling, especially around the muzzle or legs
✨ Loss of coordination, wobbly gait, trembling, or sudden collapse
✨ Weakness or unwillingness to move
✨ Sweating, laboured breathing, or colic-like behaviour
✨ Unexplained bleeding (for example, from the mouth or nose)
✨ Dark or reddish urine
✨ Signs of paralysis

If you ever suspect a bite, call your vet immediately. Early treatment gives the best chance of recovery, and even the mildest symptoms can progress quickly.

Snakes are often found near water, feed areas, and shady spots so stay alert, and keep an eye on where you step! 🐍🐎

16/10/2025

There must be something in the air this month…
I’ve been a little quiet on here lately, between clients, lessons and the usual daily chaos, the herd decided I needed a bit more stress in life.

It started with Rocket, who turned up one morning sporting this strange facial injury. Judging by the shape, I’d say he got a little too close to something with teeth. Curiosity definitely has its downsides when you like to investigate things most horses would wisely avoid.

Then Snow wasn’t well, he went off his feed, appeared lethargic, and was generally out of it, leading to several calls with the vet. He perked up, thankfully, but still refused to eat for a few days which is always worrying at his age.

Next came Holly, delicately hopping across the paddock after what I suspect was a disagreement with Beau about personal space. Thankfully, just a bit of swelling that went down after a few days of poultice and rest.

And to finish things off, Red came to dinner with a nosebleed. Nothing serious, just a scratch from a stick he had to reach past for that “better” bit of grass.

It’s been one of those weeks… but everyone’s on the mend, and I’ve seriously considered buying coffee in bulk ☕️🐴

06/10/2025

Okay Beau… whatever works 😆 Work smarter, not harder, right?

05/10/2025

Holly all geared up and looking the part 😍🐴

She’ll be ready for her under-saddle assessment very soon. I just want to make sure she’s 100% comfortable first after a bit of hoof tenderness last week. It stemmed from one of the worst cracks in her previously neglected hooves, which we’ve been carefully managing. The tenderness was expected, but thanks to the regular hoof care she’s been receiving since coming into my care, the crack held together far better than it would have otherwise. Without that ongoing attention, it would have caused her far more pain and problems.

I’ve got to say, Holly keeps on impressing me. Her in-hand training is excellent, and even being fussy, I’m yet to find a real fault. If I had to name something, it’d be her lack of photogenic skills and maybe a touch of separation anxiety, but that’s not really a fault, just normal horse behaviour.
I’ve got a feeling her under-saddle training will be just as impressive. Let’s see if she proves me right 🤞

16/09/2025

7 weeks and 1 day since Beau and Holly officially came into my care, and 5 weeks and 4 days since they arrived safely on the property. Hard to believe the difference in under 2 months!

They both still have weight and condition to gain, but their progress already makes every bit of time, money, stress, and effort so worthwhile.

Swipe through to see where we started ✨

13/09/2025

The adorable old man (and honorary garden gnome) makes quite the model 🥰
Can’t wait to see that glorious summer coat come through once he’s done shedding his winter woollies!

01/09/2025

Cute at 1pm, Beau… absolutely terrifying at 1am. Lesson learned: no more empty feed buckets left in his paddock after dinner 🪣🙃

27/08/2025

Today’s warmer weather finally gave me the chance to give Beau and Holly their much-needed baths. Both were absolute angels, no issues with the hose or water, and both stood patiently throughout the whole process… well, unless you count Holly repeatedly shoving her nose into the stream and cutting it off mid-flow. It slowed things down a little, but she was having fun, so that’s what matters.

Thankfully, Holly’s wet darkened coat didn’t spark a repeat of last week’s rug incident, when Holly in a rug had poor Beau utterly convinced a stranger had appeared in his paddock. He was not impressed. 😅 After a very thorough investigation, he eventually accepted that yes, it was still Holly — she hadn’t disappeared and been replaced by a much whiter imposter. 🤭🐴

22/08/2025

Talk about a glow up (and a grow up) ✨
From a gangly 3-year-old who had no idea what to do with those legs, to the absolutely stunning giant you see today — and trust me, the view from up there is… a little disorientating 😅🖤

Swipe through to see Sparrow’s journey from the day he arrived to the horse he is now.
And sorry to say but this one’s not coming up for adoption. He’s home for good 😉🐴

17/08/2025

Now for “Twitchy” — aka Beau.
Though he’s already collected quite the list of nicknames: Beau Beau, Twitchy McGee, Prince Darkness, The Dark One… he’s nothing if not eccentric.

Beau is a striking 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding with a presence you can’t ignore. Some find him unsettling — but really, he’s just misunderstood. What others see is simply the result of negative past experiences. With patience and kindness, he’s already revealing glimpses of the sweet, gentle, attention-loving horse I’ve always believed him to be.

So why “Twitchy”?
Beau has an unusual head twitch/jerk. After my first visit, I considered possible causes: parasites, stress, nutritional deficiencies, dental/sinus issues, pain, tumours, or trigeminal headshaking. Then, on my second visit, I witnessed one of the most concerning behaviours a horse can show — often linked to neurological issues or, in Beau’s case, deep psychological distress. In that moment, I knew he had to come home, where he could finally receive proper care.

After parasite treatment, the twitching eased but remains. On Thursday, the vet confirmed what I’d suspected: Beau’s years of stress have taken a severe toll on his wellbeing. This is also why I ensured Holly came home with him — separating them would have been counterproductive for his recovery. Thankfully, no signs point to neurological disease, just the weight of prolonged distress.

Now, Beau is settling in beautifully. While he’s still under close watch, the layers of his past are already beginning to soften. With time, care, and compassion, I can’t wait to see his true, gentle nature shine through 🖤🐴

14/08/2025

Now that they’re here and settling in nicely, it’s time to introduce the newest arrivals — affectionately nicknamed “Twitchy” and “Itchy”.
Ladies first, of course. 💁‍♀️

“Itchy” aka Holly
Holly is a 10-year-old, 16.2hh Thoroughbred mare and an absolute sweetheart through and through. She’s also much less itchy now that we’ve tackled the heavy lice load and worm burden she arrived with.

Her once bare, patchy face is now almost fully covered in hair, and clearing the worms has revealed her true condition: underweight. With the hooks on her back teeth now fixed, she can finally chew properly, which will go a long way toward helping her gain healthy weight.

From my initial behavioural assessment of Holly — based on our first three interactions - and observing her movement, responsiveness in-hand, and overall way of going, I suspect she’s more than the “unbroken broodmare” many assume. Now that a bit of hoof care has eased the pain caused by neglect and multiple untreated abscesses, her balance, long legs, and carriage make me wonder if, after a presumed unsuccessful racing career, she might once have been destined for something entirely different before ending up in the pickle I found her — perhaps even jumping.

For now though, my only focus is on improving her mental and physical wellbeing. The mystery and any training can wait until she’s truly ready. 🌿✨

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