Hard Working Pony Mum

26/05/2026

Apologies for lack of posts - life is busy, some human health issues and weather is not playing ball! This month's CPD very apt for most of us who are wondering why the weather gods can't spread the wet stuff a bit more evenly through the year.

The impact of hard ground shouldn't be underestimated on our horses, so please be sensible and if you do feel a shortening of stride or tension through the back then 1) get your therapist in and 2) try to keep the faster work on a surface.

Total PITA for those of us without nice arenas!

23/04/2026

Have to confess I was a bit gutted that her insulin levels were over 140 last week - they were still on the mud patch of a winter field and the lami app had been showing green. On the plus side at least it showed up before we'd moved onto the summer fields - so drugs ordered and muzzle super glued on.

Ordered (via vet prescription) from my local pharmacy who winced at the cost - me too 🙄 - and then asked me why I was using them for a pet. When I said horses can get the equivalent of type 2 diabetes they were shocked. In their minds that comes from eating junk food.

I'm pretty sure Splodgy would be partial to doughnuts but - just like some humans - she has a genetic trait meaning she gets fat on fresh air and her body can't process sugars & starches properly. It would be better if she could do more exercise but that old suspensory injury won't allow her to carry a rider, so diet & drugs it is.

Is she on board with the diet? No. She would happily eat herself into an early grave 🙄

22/04/2026

A bit of in hand snacking post massage session for this small & very hairy member of the herd. She's a lot less hairy since the massage as I basically acted as a shedding tool 🤧 I'm now sneezing and making a note to fully clip her next year!

20/04/2026

02/04/2026

Afternoon sitting with the cat catching up on CPD - sun shining through the window so a very happy cat!

31/03/2026

And this is why we love WOW Saddles!

Horses change shape all the time (Dawn Britnell WOW Saddle Fitter & Retailer -HP5 , UK was out to us to deal with a saddle slipping back with winter weight loss not so long ago) and the WOW is so adjustable that a massive change in the horse's body doesn't mean a new saddle.

Its interesting that Calli is seeing such a big difference in her horse after taking shoes off. I think we can often underestimate how much shoes can help or hinder a horse in the development of their body. Barefoot isn't always the answer either - I've seen shoes going on make a huge positive change in the way a horse holds itself. Getting a good, knowledgeable farrier on board can be a game changer.

No hoof no horse and all that 😁

Thank you to .wow.saddles for adjusting our saddle at the weekend 🥰

Meji’s body has gone through so many changes since being out 24/7 and barefoot. When areas of mental and physical tension are unlocked, it’s almost like pins and needles; blood flow returns to old areas of tension and brings new energy and ability for strengthening.

We are now onto our latter stages of strengthening in our programme, as Meji’s strength and mobility through his lumbosacral area is improving hugely! His little hooves helping to pave new neural pathways 🥰🐴🤍

31/03/2026

Just awful - hopefully Olivia's physical injuries will heal quickly but it will take a long time to get over losing her horse.

It really shouldn't be so unsafe for riders on the roads. I am dressed up in all 3 shades of high viz when I ride out and still drivers will pass too close and too fast, even on the single track road. I have found wearing my headcam slows them down - so they obviously know they MUST slow down, but they are choosing not to unless they can see there might be consequences.

Please remind all the non horsey drivers in your family, workplace etc that the highway code says 10mph and a good 2 metre clearance for a reason.

🥹 I feel I owe everyone a little explanation following what has been a very difficult month. I only really explained this on my personal Facebook, but sadly about 10 days ago Parker and I were hit by a car whilst out hacking. Tragically, I lost my dear horse, something that has been incredibly hard to come to terms with.

For those who knew Parker, you’ll understand just how special he was. He has played such a significant role in so many of our students’ journeys, helping teach, support and give confidence to those learning. He truly was a favourite amongst many, and I know his loss will be felt by more than just myself.

As a result of the accident, I’ve also sustained a broken ankle along with soft tissue injuries, and I will be in a boot for several weeks.

Because of this, I have had to cancel my teaching for April, as it simply isn’t safe for me to teach whilst managing these injuries. However, we have ensured there are plenty of alternative dates available at our Caistor venue (just 30 minutes away), so that everyone can continue their learning and be fully catered for. These sessions will be delivered by someone we trust and value greatly, Katie, who I know will continue to support you all to a high standard.

I fully intend to return to teaching in May and look forward to getting back to doing what I love.

Parker was more than just a horse 💖 he was a teacher, a partner, and a huge part of so many people’s journeys. I feel incredibly grateful for everything he gave, not just to me, but to all of you who had the privilege of learning alongside him. He will always be a part of what we do.

Thank you for your understanding, kindness, and continued support during this time, it means a lot. RIP my gentle, beautiful boy.

30/03/2026

Poles! No photographer on Saturday so here's one from a year ago. He now treats canter poles with slightly less enthusiasm (thankfully 😁)

Polework clinics got a bad reputation a couple of years ago and I could never work out why. There was a US based bodyworker who got a big UK following who used to criticise them and - as with many things online - rather than reading the criticism for what it was it got turned into Poles Are Bad.

So if you have a horse in rehab and you are using poles then yes, absolutely take it slowly and read your horses body language. No point in tiring a horse out who is recovering from an injury because they will just end up developing compensatory movement patters.

BUT, if you have a fit, well conditioned horse then clinics are a great way to improve their proprioception, tax their brains and have fun. When Raglan first started going to the Fancy Footwork clinics as a 5 year old he would rush, knock poles and fall over his own feet. He was nowhere near coordinated enough to master the canter exercises so we stuck to walk and trot. The (amazing) pattern of poles that Nina lays out can be worked through in many directions at different speeds. Straight lines, curves and some angles that really test the riders steering. Raglan rising 8 rarely touches a pole and can be relied on to work out his feet even when his rider might not have given him the best line to work with (!)

I work with poles a lot at home - both in hand and under saddle - not just for proprioception but also to help topline development and add interest to a schooling session (I'm yet to meet a horse that doesn't enjoy them). If you are struggling for ideas then Nina has an App to help with that and you really don't need many poles for a good session
https://www.fancyfootworkequestrian.co.uk/poleworkpatternsapp

Huge thanks to Equifocus for the picture (they always manage to capture stunning photos and yes, we do dress up!) and to Fancy Footwork for the fabulous layout.

(if you see this post please hit 'like' below - I'm getting moaned at by the FB bots because they want me to spend money 😞)

27/03/2026

🐎✨ Vitamin E… and horses (of course!)

Another horse I know was diagnosed with low vitamin E this week, and it really got me thinking… are we just getting better at spotting it, or has the past year (hello drought and hello floods 👀) played a role?

In theory, horses out on good pasture during summer should get plenty of vitamin E from fresh grass, and many can tick along over winter with limited grazing plus a standard balancer or fortified feed. But with last year’s drought meaning more hay feeding, followed by restricted turnout this winter… could we be seeing the knock-on effect now?

🌾 Hay vs grass – not quite the same
People often say hay is just dried grass, but the drying and storage process significantly reduces certain nutrients—vitamin E being the big one. It degrades quickly, so hay-based diets often fall short.

📊 How much do they need?
Roughly 1–2 IU per kg of bodyweight (so ~500–1,000 IU for an average horse).
On good pasture? Usually covered.
On hay? Likely need supplementation—and many standard balancers don’t provide enough.

⚠️ Vitamin E + Selenium supplements – a word of caution
You’ll often see combined products on the shelf such as the NAF one below. Yes, they work together as antioxidants, BUT…
👉 Too much selenium is toxic in horses.
In the UK we don’t hear about it as often due to low soil levels, but if you’re adding supplements on top of feed without knowing your baseline—you could be overdoing it.

💊 Not all vitamin E is equal
Many combined supplements use synthetic vitamin E, which is only about ~50% as bioavailable. So if your horse is actually deficient, you may need much higher amounts.

Natural vitamin E (often found in online-only products such as Forage Plus, my preference) is more expensive 💸 but:
✔️ Better absorbed
✔️ No added selenium risk
✔️ Often a better option for hay-based winter diets

👀 What to watch for

Stiffness
Irritability
Low energy
That vague, shifting “lameness” that makes you question yourself

Severe deficiencies can show as neurological or muscle issues, but more often it’s just a horse that feels a bit… not quite right. A fellow bodyworker recently referred a horse back to the vet who wasn't responding to treatment protocols - the culprit? Vitamin E deficiency.

🩺 Worth checking
If anything feels off, it’s absolutely worth asking your vet for a vitamin E blood test—it’s one of those things that’s easy to miss but relatively simple to address once identified.