Steve Brinkworth Horsemanship Essentials

23/08/2025

09/08/2025

yep :-)

09/08/2025

What a privilege it is…

…to watch the first few white hairs appear around a horse’s eyes, the face you’ve known for years. Maybe since they were a gangly youngster, or perhaps only in more recent seasons. Either way, you’ve become their constant.

One day, as you run your hand up along their face and brush aside their forelock, you notice something different. A few grey hairs, soft yet stubborn, threaded through the colour you’ve always known. Just a smattering, almost as if they were dabbed on with a brush when your back was turned.
And they stop you in your tracks.
Because there it is.

The first, quiet whisper of time.

There’s a particular kind of privilege in caring for an older horse. Not just the honour of fulfilling their everyday needs. But the deeper, quieter privilege… being the one who will walk beside them as they soften with age. The one whose hands they will come to rely on completely. The one who will know them for the rest of their life.

They won’t be passed along. They won’t be asked to start over with someone new. They’ll only ever know your care, your routine, your way of doing things. Until the day they take their last breath. That’s something profound.

Not everyone gets to be the person who holds space for a horse’s entire arc. You see the wonder of youth, the steadiness of middle age, and the gentleness that so often comes with time. Not everyone chooses it. Not everyone can. But for those of us who do…

…what a privilege it is.

To know them, not just when they were strong and sound and “useful,” but when they slow down and ask for a little more patience. A little more help. A little more softness. To be their person, not just for the ride, but also for the parts of the journey where you walk side by side, even for the times you carry the most weight for them instead.

Because even as their bodies change, their hearts don’t. The bond grows stronger and deeper and even more familiar.

What a privilege it is.

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©️Lauren Johnson Graveney Equine: Horse Track System - dedicated to Jasper who has graced us with the first few grey hairs this year. With us forever 💚

09/08/2025

09/08/2025

With the drought and hay hard to come by, we’ve been experimenting with different supplements.
We recently put mineral blocks in the paddock for our horses to access whenever they want.
They’ve always had unlimited access to a variety of quality hay and they’re all fat and shiny… but we’ve been amazed by the difference the mineral blocks have made.
The biggest difference is their hay consumption. They’re not eating nearly as much, but still maintaining their condition. We started with the 2kg blocks but now we know how good they are, we’ve upgraded to the 20kg blocks. Much better value.
Important note: Check the molasses content! Some are very high sugar (as much as 50%). We use Olsonns as pictured. Only 3% We are Not affiliated with them. Just highly recommend for a simple cost effective solution. 🤠🐴

08/08/2025

There's chunky horses and then there's whatever this is.

08/08/2025

08/08/2025

This is something I find many riders (myself included) struggle with and it’s completely natural!

Most of us are taught from the start to steer with the reins. It becomes instinct to pull right, go right. But horses are incredibly attuned to our body. They feel a subtle shift in our seat, the tension in our legs, even the energy behind our breath.

And yet, when something goes wrong, our first reaction is often to grab at the reins. More pressure. More pulling. More confusion…

But reins should be a whisper, not a command. A final piece of communication, not the first.

When we start riding from our seat, core, and intention, things begin to change. Transitions become smoother. Bends feel natural. The horse begins to listen rather than just react.

💡 Next time you ride, ask yourself:

— Can I prepare this movement with my seat and posture before even using my reins?
— Are my hips following and guiding, or am I trying to steer from the front?

Your horse is listening not just to your hands, but to your whole body 💃🏼

04/08/2025

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