Willow Wood Stables

06/11/2025

The ‘W’ quarter marks needed their own moment 🙌🏽

29/10/2025

Happiness looks alot like a Red horse ❣️🍒🍄🚘

29/08/2025

🔬 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗔𝗬: 𝗨𝗞 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿

A growing body of research shows that 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗨𝗞 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 —despite decades of progress in equine science and behavior studies.
Yet, terms like “naughty,” “stubborn,” and “defiant” are still commonly used to describe horses showing 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀.

Let’s unpack why that’s a problem. 👇

🧠𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗦𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗦 ≠ 𝗛𝗨𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗦
Horses have 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗲𝘀 compared to humans. This part of the brain is responsible for 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀. Horses simply 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙧 “𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙡” 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙧.

Instead, equine cognition is built on:

•𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 (classical and operant conditioning)
•𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿 (especially negative reinforcement and avoidance learning, as well as positive reinforcement)
•𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀 (primarily fight, flight, or freeze)

💥 What many riders perceive as “naughty” behaviour is often:

•A 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚 from unclear or conflicting signals
•A 𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚 triggered by fear or insecurity
•A 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 to pressure, pain, or discomfort
•A 𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙧 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣
•𝙋𝙖𝙞𝙣-𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙧 or remembered pain often missed or misinterpreted

📚 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝘀 that labeling horses with anthropomorphic terms (like “naughty” or “cheeky”) leads to training methods that are less effective and more likely to cause distress or learned helplessness.

✅ A more ethical, evidence-based approach requires:

•Understanding the horse as a 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹
•Recognizing their limited ability to process 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀
•Using 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
•Applying 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀, not tradition or punishment

💬 It’s time we stop blaming the horse and start questioning the human interpretation. Science offers us the tools - 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲?

Study link in the comments 🤓
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Scootboot
Equine Products UK
Arena Saddles
Equine Light Therapy LTD

29/08/2025

For many riders, the obsession with “finding a distance” can turn into a daily battle. We walk into the ring convinced that every jump is a test of whether we can see that perfect takeoff spot. But at Balmoral, the philosophy is different. Instead of chasing the distance, the focus is on rhythm, pace, and track. When those pieces are correct, the distance takes care of itself.

At its core, riding to a jump is about presenting the horse with the same canter stride again and again. Rhythm is what makes that stride predictable. Horses are creatures of habit, and they thrive when the canter feels like a steady drumbeat. A consistent rhythm keeps the horse relaxed, balanced, and mentally prepared for the effort ahead.

When riders change the pace every three strides—slowing, kicking, pulling—the horse is left guessing. That uncertainty often leads to missed distances, chipped jumps, or long, weak efforts. Rhythm, on the other hand, builds trust. The horse knows what’s coming, and the rider can focus on steering and balance instead of panicking about “seeing” something.

Rhythm doesn’t mean slow. In fact, one of the most common corrections at Balmoral is asking riders to go forward. A plodding canter rarely produces quality jumps. Instead, the horse needs impulsion, the power from behind that creates a strong, jumping stride.

Think of pace as the energy within the rhythm. The right pace feels like you’re riding forward to the base of the jump, not crawling or rushing. It gives the horse the power to push off the ground and the rider the ability to stay with the motion. Without pace, rhythm falls flat; without rhythm, pace becomes chaotic.

🔗 Continue reading the article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/08/27/the-power-of-rhythm-why-pace-and-track-solve-distances/
📸 Photo © Carly Nasznic

26/08/2025

🦄 Willow Wood Stables is hiring 🦄

🍃THE ROLE🍃
Temporary stable manager for Willow Wood stables while our wonderful long term manager takes some time off as she works on growing baby #2.

🍃THE CANDIDATE🍃
A motivated individual who has sound knowledge and experience in horse care and management. We want someone who has high attention to detail and holds themselves to a high standard of work.
A perfect job for someone studying or on their gap year.

🍃THE DETAILS🍃
We will need someone who is ready to start work anytime over the next few weeks.
The individual must be able to handle performance horses on their own and will be needed Monday-Friday for both morning and afternoon work.
This job not only entails daily stable hand duties but other managerial tasks as well.
Training will be provided - you will work side by side with the current stable manager while you find your feet in this role and get to know our team (two and four leggeds). We are loacted in Terrey Hills

Please message ‘Natty Mohr’ on Facebook or on 0407466055 if this sounds like a job for you.

We look forward to hearing from you 🩷🦄

18/08/2025

Homebred Macca out there making dreams come true 🦄✨

10/08/2025

He knows he’s cute 🐻

07/08/2025

100%! I couldn’t run WillowWood without my amazing daughter, Natty Mohr. She manages the business seamlesly. And we are both grateful for our wonderful team here starting with the incomparable Abby West. Her dedication, hard work, skillset, support and loyalty are second to none. The humans and horses of WillowWood love and appreciate you 💜🦄🤎🐴

Behind every smooth running agistment property is someone juggling an endless list of responsibilities , often 24/7, 365 days a year.

It’s not just turning horses out, filling hay nets, or picking paddocks.
It’s not just answering messages, managing enquiries, or keeping the arena perfect.

It’s running a sanctuary. Not just for the horses but often for their owners too. And it’s done with little rest, sometimes little thanks, and a financial and physical load most people will never see.

People see happy, well-fed horses in the paddocks.
They don’t see the 5am starts followed by late-night client messages.
They don’t see the knot in your stomach when the hay bill lands, or the quiet stress of another cost increase that can’t be absorbed forever.
They don’t see you mucking out alone on Christmas morning, or pacing the paddock with a torch at 2am checking a colicky horse.

They don’t see the guilt of running a business while caring for animals like family, trying to keep it affordable for their owners.
They don’t see the heartbreak of telling someone it’s time to move their horse on, or worse, breaking the news that their horse didn’t make it through the night.
They don’t see the love in every feed prepared, every rug change, every “just popping out to check them again” when you should be sleeping.

And behind all that? Navigating insurance, safety standards, welfare scrutiny, compliance, staffing, and ever-rising costs.

Because running an agistment property isn’t just a job. It’s a life. It’s responsibility, love, pressure, and passion rolled into a role that never truly ends.

Yes, there’s an agistment fee, but it could never reflect the true cost: financially, physically, mentally, or emotionally. Sick days don’t exist. Holidays are rare. And yet, we keep showing up for the horses, for the owners, for the love of it all.

So if your agistment owner says prices need to go up, take a moment to think about why. It’s almost never about profit , it’s about survival, sustainability, and keeping the standard of care your horse deserves.

And to every other agistment owner and manager out there, you’re not alone. You are seen, you are valued, and what you do matters more than you know. 🐴❤️