Everything Horses Ltd.

23/04/2025

Biscuits update.....therapy mode for a couple of months....thankyou Denyce Waldon and Kathy Boyle ...I was at my wits end, you are both brilliant in what you do for these horses and thier owners, never stop learning, it takes a community to raise a horse, just like our kids.

23/04/2025

A great read from a very talented horsewoman......

The ethics of rehabilitation for horses

Ethics means, just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

Let me explain that further, the horse in the pictures below taught me a very valuable lesson after years of believing I was helping horses. I had never considered that if there was significant bone changes from years of soft tissue problems or genetic issues contorting the horses body that those things are irreversible.

The horse below is martini, he is a Swedish warmblood bred for dressage. He was started at 5, ridden on and off but always having issues with anxious tension. He got some cracking scores early on and won a dressage series but as time went on the work became more tense and he got hotter to ride. He was great to trek out and super safe. Then his owner decided to sell him due to a lack of time. He was hard to sell because of how hot he was to school, so the price was significantly dropped and he was now sitting in a paddock overweight and out of shape. That’s when I bought him for cheap, I thought because he’d been started later(5) that he would have years left although I suspected I’d have metabolic issues to deal with because of how obese he was.

When I got him home the first thing I did was get X-rays of the knee down in the fronts to see how his joints looked and to check for any pedal bone rotation from the white line separation/inflammation of being overweight and lack of hoof care. Mild rotation of the near side front but clean joints and now I could show those x-rays to the farrier for remedial shoeing, for the barefooters….he was foot sore and I needed him to get moving asap, he went barefoot again later on. He developed a serious floating issue where he would fall over on the right side as soon as you moved forward but he was fine on the left side. I only learned about the floating issue on his first ride to the vets, the previous owner had only reported scrambling but this had progressed to actually loosing his balance and falling down when driving 1 metre forward.

Months of diligent slow rehabilitation followed, body work, Inhand work, lunging, diet overhaul, 4 weekly reshoes. His bloodshot eyes and pain face slowly started to fade and I felt confident we were making good progress. In this time he got a full dental that helped free his neck up immensely but a slight restriction bending right still remained. He was ready to start ridden work so I had a WOW saddle fitted to him, he had a large shoulder and short back that needed a set back panel. After three months we started ridden work, we did allot of hacking out which he loved and then we started schooling. We spent allot of time learning new postures to take the neck out longer but while ridden it was very difficult for him. It felt rather than he didn’t understand that he physically couldn’t because he would always oblige with what I requested for a moment and then retract.

6 months passed and that’s when I took the after photo below. Around this time I was listening to podcast of a person who rehabs horses and she planted a seed that started the doubt in what I was doing. She said, “Good work sticks and so once I’ve completed rehabilitation I turn the horses out for 1-2 months. when they come back to work they will normally feel better and have retained the work, horses with serious physical restrictions will have regressed to almost a starting point again”. She said “those horse are normally dealing with serious boney changes or deformities and the moment you turn them out the bones dictate the soft tissues”.

That was a light bulb moment for me because so often I had rehabbed horses at the charity I operated Stable to Stirrup or in my project horses and in their new homes it had fallen apart in a matter of months.

So I turned martini out for 2 months and slowly I watched his body go backwards and his behaviour decline. I had one ride to confirm what I had already suspected, he was back to square one…..in fact he was worse because now he protested to go forward. What I now know is that I had totally destabilised his physical coping ability and in that process made things worse. Horses compensate when things are hard and through the process of learning new proprioception I felt I had caused things to get tighter than before turn out.

Mentally he was always looking for danger around him, always jumpy at the slightest thing that didn’t upset my other horses. Then he would stand for hours in a corner away from other horses with his head down looking depressed. That’s when I decided this is no life for a horse and I made the call to put him down.

I was commited to the whole process and decided to dissect him as the final chapter in learning from him. I could have never imagined what this horse was coping with. My background in taxidermy means I am confident in handling lifeless bodies.

The findings as follows

ECVM (equine complex vertebrae malformation) unilateral C6, transposed to C7
Arthritis in every anticular process neck joint
Kissing spine
Sacroiliac disease
Boney growths through out the sacro lumbar junction.
Bone spurs on the lumbosacral junction that was restricting flexion of the hind.

So this is the next horse that I’ll bring you his story of learning! On his specific behaviours and physical restrictions I felt under saddle, there’s so much to talk about with this horse so your all welcome to ask questions but more will be revealed over the next few months.

He’s at rest now

*he was 13 when put down
*in the second picture he’s been clipped out as it’s the middle of winter and yes it does change the colour and visibility of his brand.

His story is available on patreon.

21/04/2025

My war horse, for 20 years we worked side by side, my father before me who actually trained the king, Dozer, hes antique now days, I have trusted this horse with my life, and I'm still alive so it speaks for itself, he's just got a Lil bump on his head lately......the colour on his legs is from betadine spray which I've discovered is an awesome fly repellent!!!

17/04/2025

17/04/2025

So true

❤️ If You Give a Kid a Horse....

If you give a kid a horse,
they’ll ask for a saddle.
Once they have a saddle,
they’ll need a good pair of boots.

When they get those boots,
they’ll want to climb in the saddle.
Once they’re in the stirrups,
they’ll ask you how to hold the reins.

When they learn to hold the reins,
they’ll beg to trot.
Once they learn to trot,
they’ll dream of galloping across open fields.

Galloping will make them feel free,
and feeling free will make them brave.
Once they’re brave,
they’ll fall off...but don't worry, they’ll get back on.

And when they get back on,
they’ll ride with grit in their teeth and stars in their eyes.
They’ll muck stalls without complaint,
and wake up before the sun just to feed.

They’ll brush that horse’s coat,
And let the rhythm calm their soul.
They’ll learn patience, responsibility,
and how to speak without words.

They’ll whisper to that horse all their hopes,
and that horse will listen like no one else can.
They’ll build friendships in dusty arenas,
and learn trust on winding trails.
They’ll know the thrill of a blue ribbon,
and the heartbreak of a goodbye.

If you give a kid a horse,
you’ll give them more than just a ride...
you’ll give them confidence,
courage,
and a quiet kind of strength
that’ll stay with them for life.

Because if you give a kid a horse...
you’ll change them forever.

❤️ ©Michelle Knutson | Born In The Barn

05/04/2025

This is a courtesy reminder to all visitors, campers and volunteers, to PLEASE shut gates to the paddocks holding horses.

We have had multiple occasions where people are leaving gates open (especially when no one is around) and we have had the horses run out onto the road, with the potential of causing harm to themselves and others.

We open this space to the public to see the horses, and to witness first hand, the life these rescues now have, with love and care every day 🐴🫶🏼

Please leave things the way you found them, and please respect the property with as much care as possible as well as the owners 🩷

30/03/2025

Wendy update.....she has finally turned that corner, flicked that switch, decided to trust humans....

25/03/2025

Anyone coming through Harvey able to tow a gooseneck horsefloat to the Swan Valley??
Cash.......

20/03/2025

In the beginning, there was horses......

16/03/2025

Kids & horses, they learn so much

This was sent in by Rosie. L Dunlop

Why My Mum Paid for Horse Riding

When I was little, I remember sitting quietly while my mum and her friends had a good gossip over tea and biscuits. One of them turned to her and said, “Why on earth do you spend so much money on horse riding?”

My mum just smiled and said, “Oh, I don’t pay for horse riding.”

Cue confused looks and someone nearly choking on a custard cream.

She continued:

I pay for the moments when my child is so shattered they want to quit but can’t, because the horse still needs mucking out and, funnily enough, doesn’t clean up after itself.

I pay for the days they come home from school “too tired” but still drag themselves to the yard, because apparently, horses don’t appreciate being left to their own devices.

I pay for them to learn responsibility,since forgetting your PE kit is one thing, but forgetting to tighten your girth leads to a very public lesson in gravity.

I pay for them to understand that no matter how much you beg, horses do not do homework extensions, and “the pony ate it” is not a valid excuse.

I pay for them to develop patience, because sometimes, your horse just decides that a leaf, a shadow, or absolutely nothing at all is life-threatening, and you have to just sit there and accept it.

I pay for them to learn resilience when they fall off, get covered in mud, and still have to get back on while their so-called friends are laughing instead of helping.

I pay for them to experience character-building situations, like being soaked, freezing, and smelling like a stable, while their non-horsey friends are warm, dry, and wondering why their car stinks after giving them a lift home.

I pay for them to understand that success doesn’t happen overnight but vet bills, saddle fittings, and emergency farrier visits sure do.

I pay for them to have friendships built on shared experiences, like the trauma of a pony refusing to be caught for an hour, only to suddenly trot over the second you give up and put the headcollar away.

I pay for them to learn that a “quick trip to the yard” is never, ever quick, and that one horse hair in your food means there are probably ten more you just haven’t noticed yet.

I pay for them to spend time outdoors, learning life lessons, instead of glued to a screen (unless they’re watching riding videos on YouTube and planning their next unrealistic equestrian purchase).

I pay for the absolute chaos that is Pony Club on a Friday night, where kids fly in all directions, ponies test every boundary, and parents question all their life choices but still show up again next week.

At the end of the day, my mum wasn’t paying for horse riding. She was funding a lifelong obsession, an impressive collection of bruises, and a social life that revolved entirely around the smell of hay and manure. And honestly? It was worth every penny.

11/03/2025

Lucky horses, just like those with Dale Reid

Willie Nelson, the renowned country music artist, is the proud owner of a vast 700-acre ranch in Texas, aptly named Luck. This name is particularly appropriate for the 70 horses that reside there, each possessing a unique story of survival. These horses are treated with the utmost care, receiving hand-fed meals twice daily and enjoying a level of attention that surpasses the norm. The ranch serves as a tranquil refuge, featuring expansive farmland where the horses can roam, graze, and thrive in a natural environment. What distinguishes this sanctuary is its noble purpose: nearly all of these horses have been rescued from slaughterhouses, spared from a dire fate, and granted a renewed opportunity for life.

Under Nelson's stewardship, they spend their days in comfort, enveloped in affection and the stunning landscape of Texas. For Nelson, Luck represents more than just a name; it symbolizes his deep compassion and commitment to these animals, who exemplify the essence of resilience.

Willie Nelson once said, "My horses are probably the luckiest horses in the world. They get hand-fed twice a day, and they were just about to be sent to slaughter, which is probably the last thing they remember. So, they're happy horses." His words reflect a profound bond with these animals. For Nelson, horses are more than just creatures of work or leisure—they are companions who have been given a second chance at life.

10/03/2025

credit Funny Horse Cartoons

05/03/2025

05/03/2025

IT'S ALIVE!!!! Hello "Murphy" complete with his own bell, ready for the Saturday showdown....cheap to keep and doesn't s**t.