Meadow Farm Stables Duffield Derbyshire

22/08/2025

Horse girls! We’re finally on trend 👌🤣

New "Tired Girl" beauty trend goes viral among Gen Z, where they use makeup on their faces to look tired, sleep deprived, and exhausted to celebrate the aesthetic of someone who didn’t get a good night’s sleep.

02/08/2025

Today I've put on my brave pants because equine welfare is important to me.... as is being kind, compassionate, supportive and understanding to my fellow riders. This topic is emotionally charged, but it's a conversation that is necessary and sticking our heads in the sand won't help ourselves or our horses.

🧠 Fat Shaming vs. Equine Welfare: Let's Clear This Up 🐴

In the equestrian world, conversations around rider size can quickly become uncomfortable. But here's the thing: talking about load limits isn’t about fat shaming — it's about equine welfare. There’s a big difference between targeting a person’s body shape and discussing what a horse can physically carry without risking pain, injury, or long-term damage.

📣 Your amount of body fat or how much you weigh does not need to be discussed. In fact, a tall muscular person can weigh more than a shorter person who has higher adipose tissue (bodyfat).
This is not a conversation about anyone’s worth, appearance, or character. It’s about physics and biomechanics (which is measurable and does not change), and the welfare of our horses.

📊 The Research Is Clear
Multiple studies support the 20% rule: horses should carry no more than 20% of their bodyweight, including tack and rider. Beyond this point, horses begin to display observable signs of stress and unsoundness — regardless of how balanced the rider is or how well the saddle fits.

🔬 Key Findings

✅ Clayton (2020) found that even with a balanced rider and appropriate tack, horses showed increased gait asymmetry, higher heart rates, and signs of discomfort when load exceeded 20% of their bodyweight.

✅ Greve & Dyson (2013) observed that exceeding this threshold often led to lameness, saddle slipping, and altered movement patterns, even in well-conditioned horses.

✅ Powell et al. (2008) demonstrated that horses carrying 25–30% of their bodyweight had significant increases in muscle soreness, heart rate, and fatigue compared to those carrying 15–20%.

⚖️ Yes, There Are Other Factors Too
It’s not just about the numbers. Factors like the age of the horse, their back health, fitness level, the type and duration of activity, and rider skill and balance all matter. A fit, skilled, and light rider may impact a horse less than an unbalanced one — but weight is still weight, and the research shows even the best riders cannot eliminate the risk once past the 20% threshold.

🤝 No Room for Bullying
There is absolutely no place for abuse, bullying, or humiliation of riders. Conversations around appropriate rider-horse matching must be sensitive, kind, and thoughtful. It’s essential to create space for honest, supportive discussions without shame.

🐴 But We Must Do More to Protect Our Horses
Our horses can’t speak up when they are struggling. It is our duty to advocate for them, to keep their welfare front and centre, and to ensure they are not placed in situations where physical harm is inevitable.

If you’re unsure whether you're within your horse’s safe load limit, consider:

✅ Weighing yourself and your tack

✅ Knowing your horse’s actual weight (not just guessing)

✅ Speaking with a vet, bodyworker, or qualified saddle fitter

✅ Exploring different breeds or horse types that better match your riding needs

🥰Let’s keep these conversations kind, factual, and horse-centred.
Protecting our horses is not up for debate.

19/07/2025

💪 Cross‑Training Your Horse

Many of us ride with a single goal in mind—dressage, jumping, eventing, hacking—but research in equine sports science shows that horses thrive when their training is varied.

🧠 Neurological benefits:
Studies have shown that learning different tasks stimulates a horse’s cognitive pathways, improving problem‑solving skills and reducing stress‑related behaviours such as weaving or cribbing. Variety keeps them mentally engaged rather than mentally fatigued.

💪 Musculoskeletal development:
Different activities recruit different muscle groups. For example:
• Hill work strengthens the hindquarters and improves joint range of motion.
• Polework and lateral exercises enhance proprioception (the horse’s awareness of where their feet are).
• Hacking on varied terrain helps condition tendons and ligaments, reducing the risk of overuse injuries seen in repetitive schooling.

❤️ Cardiovascular conditioning:
Alternating between low‑intensity hacks and higher‑intensity schooling sessions builds a more adaptable cardiovascular system. Horses cross‑trained in this way often recover faster after exertion.

🧬 Behaviour and welfare:
A 2021 review in Applied Animal Behaviour Science highlighted that horses given varied work showed fewer signs of boredom and stress compared to those in single‑discipline regimes.

✨ In short: Cross‑training isn’t just “fun”—it’s a proven way to build a stronger body, a sharper mind, and a more resilient, happy athlete.

💭 How do you vary your horse’s work? Do you notice a difference in their behaviour or performance?
Share your experiences (and photos!) below—we’d love to hear. 🐴💚

18/07/2025

🌱🐎 The Science Behind Mutual Grooming in Horses 🐎🌱

If you’ve watched horses in a field, you’ve probably seen two of them standing side by side, using their teeth and lips to scratch each other’s necks, withers, or backs.
This behaviour is called allogrooming, and research shows it plays a crucial role in equine social life.

🔬 Why do they do it?
Studies in equine behaviour (e.g. Feh & de Mazières, 1993) have found that horses who groom each other regularly tend to form strong and stable social bonds. These bonds are essential for herd harmony and help reduce conflict within the group.

💆‍♂️ Physiological benefits:
Mutual grooming stimulates the release of endorphins — the horse’s natural “feel‑good” hormones. This lowers heart rate, reduces stress, and contributes to overall wellbeing.

🧪 Social structure:
Horses are highly social herd animals with a clear hierarchy. Allogrooming isn’t random; it usually happens between preferred partners or closely bonded individuals. In other words, when you see two horses grooming each other, you’re seeing a genuine friendship in action.

💛🐴 Happy, socially fulfilled horses are healthier — in body and mind. 🐴💛

📷 Have you spotted your horse allogrooming with a friend? We’d love to see your photos in the comments!

17/07/2025

💭 Does Your Horse Actually Like You?

We spend hours feeding, grooming, riding, and caring for our horses… but have you ever stopped and really wondered:

👉 Does my horse actually enjoy my company?
👉 Do they look forward to seeing me, or simply tolerate me because I bring food?
👉 Do my training methods make them feel safe, curious and willing—or stressed, shut down and resentful?

Horses are masters at hiding discomfort. A pinned ear, a tight lip, a swish of the tail… these small signs often get brushed off as “just how they are.” But what if those are their way of saying, “I’m not okay with this”?

✨ Imagine if your horse could choose—would they choose you?
✨ Would they walk up to you in the field with bright eyes and a soft, curious expression… or hang back, hoping you pass them by?

Our relationship with a horse is not built on tack or training plans—it’s built on trust, clarity and kindness.
Next time you’re with your horse, ask yourself:

✅ Am I someone they feel safe with?
✅ Do I make training a conversation, not a demand?
✅ Am I listening to what they’re quietly telling me every day?

🤎 Because true partnership isn’t about how well your horse performs—it’s about how they feel when they’re with you.

💡 What do you think? How do you know if your horse genuinely enjoys your company? Share your thoughts below—we’d love to hear your experiences.

Gorgeous photography of myself and my lovely now retired boy ‘Chip’ by Imogen Moon ABIPP - Equine & Dog Photographer

13/07/2025

🐴✨ Pole Work Perks – Why Every Horse Can Benefit! ✨🐴

Pole work isn’t just for dressage horses or jumpers — it’s a powerful, low-impact tool for all disciplines, from happy hackers to elite competitors!

At Meadow farm; we love incorporating pole work into our horses’ routines, and here’s why:

✅ Improves Balance & Coordination
Navigating poles encourages horses to engage their core, lift through their shoulders, and think about foot placement — perfect for body awareness and straightness.

✅ Builds Strength & Topline
Pole work helps develop key muscle groups without the stress of high-impact training. Great for rehab, conditioning, or simply keeping your horse fit and supple.

✅ Boosts Engagement
Hind end activation is vital for power and impulsion. Properly placed poles help engage those engines behind!

✅ Mental Stimulation
Bored horse? Pole work adds variety and focus to schooling sessions. It keeps training fresh and fun for both horse and rider.

✅ Adaptable for Every Level
From walk poles for rehab horses to raised grids for more advanced work — pole exercises can be tailored to suit any horse’s stage and ability.

Whether you’re looking to fine-tune your horse’s way of going, add variety to your routine, or support a rehab plan, pole work is a simple and effective go-to.

12/07/2025

🪰 Fly Spray Recommendations Needed!

Hi everyone!
We’re on the hunt (again!) for a fly spray that actually works—because so far, nothing seems to be doing the trick. 😩 The flies are relentless this year, and our horses (and humans!) are fed up.

We’d love to hear from fellow horse owners, liveries, or yard managers—what fly spray do you swear by? Whether it’s a shop-bought brand or a DIY mix, we’re all ears.

Drop your recommendations below 👇
Thanks in advance from all of us (especially the horses!) 🐎🦟

11/07/2025

☀️🔥 Riding in the Heatwave: Caring for Our Horses in 30°C+ 🔥☀️

With the current heatwave pushing temperatures well over 30°C, many of us are facing the question: “Should I be riding my horse in this heat?” 🥵🐴

At meadow farm stables horse welfare always comes first, and in these extreme conditions, it’s important we adjust our routines and expectations. Some key points to consider:

🌡️ To Ride or Not to Ride?
In high heat and humidity, even light exercise can be a strain. Many of our liveries are choosing to give their horses a break or swap ridden work for gentle in-hand exercises, short walks in the shade, or cool hosing-down sessions. If you do ride, aim for very early mornings or late evenings when the temperature drops—and keep it short and light.

💧 Hydration Is Essential
Ensure your horse has constant access to fresh, clean water. Electrolytes can also help replace lost salts, especially if your horse is sweating a lot, even at rest.

🚫 No Shame in a Day Off!
Remember, skipping a schooling session in this heat is not slacking—it’s smart horsemanship. Your horse’s comfort and safety must always take priority.

🔥 Signs of Heat Stress in Horses 🔥

Be on the lookout for these signs—especially during high temperatures (like 30°C+):

🔹 Excessive sweating (or no sweating in hot conditions)
🔹 Elevated heart rate that doesn’t return to normal after rest
🔹 Increased respiration rate or rapid, shallow breathing
🔹 Lethargy or weakness
🔹 Muscle tremors or stiffness
🔹 Dry or tacky gums
🔹 Elevated body temperature (above 39.5°C)
🔹 Staggering or uncoordinated movement
🔹 Reluctance to move or signs of distress
🔹 Dark urine or reduced urination (signs of dehydration)

🚨 What to Do if You Suspect Heat Stress:
✔️ Move your horse into the shade or a cool, well-ventilated area
✔️ Hose with cool water (start at the legs and work upward)
✔️ Offer small amounts of cool water frequently
✔️ Use fans or hand-held airflow if available
✔️ Contact your vet immediately if symptoms are severe or don’t improve

🧊 Prevention is always better than cure—ride smart, rest often, and never underestimate how hard the heat can hit.

— meadow farm stables Duffield

09/07/2025

🌿 Is Your Horse Trying to Tell You Something?

As horse owners, we all want the best for our horses—healthy, happy partners who enjoy their work. But too often, signs of discomfort or pain are missed until they escalate into what many call “naughty” behavior: bucking, napping, rearing, refusing to go forward…

The truth is, horses rarely act out without a reason. These extreme behaviours are usually the last resort, not the first sign.

⚠️ Early signs of discomfort can be subtle:
• A change in facial expression or posture
• Tail swishing or ear pinning during grooming or tacking up
• A reluctance to be caught or tacked
• Stiffness, crookedness, or a lack of willingness under saddle
• Head tossing or opening the mouth excessively even in mild contact

Waiting until your horse “says it loudly” means they’ve likely been whispering for quite some time.

👉 If something feels “off,” trust your instincts. Speak to your vet, saddle fitter, dentist, or bodyworker—whoever is needed. Early intervention can prevent injury, improve your horse’s wellbeing, and preserve your partnership.

At our yard, we’re always here to support owners in prioritising their horse’s welfare and ensuring every horse has a voice that’s heard before they have to shout. 💬💛

05/07/2025

♥️🤗

Your horse didn’t sign up for this 🐴

My friend recently sent me an article that was basically just belittling anyone trying to be more ethical with their horses, a running theme within the article was the idea that horses have entered into a “mutually beneficial” contract with us at some point. Because we feed them they must work for us and if we do silly things like groundwork and don’t ride them we are doing them a terrible disservice because you absolutely cannot treat a horse like a pet and do ridiculous things like cuddle them and give them treats. They're there to work!

Well I must’ve missed the memo because my boys definitely didn’t sign anything.

You can’t call something an agreement when one party has no choice in the matter. Regardless of how kind or ethical we try to be with our horses the truth is, unless we are turning our horses out on acres and acres of land and essentially leaving them to be feral, we control every aspect of their lives. Where they live, where they go, what they eat, when they eat, who they live with. Very few horses get to opt out of being ridden or jumping or dressage or hacking or whatever else we decide to do with them.

It is not your horse’s responsibility to stay sound and be a good jumping horse just because a bunch of humans decided that was his designated job and you paid £10k for him, and it is not fair to reduce his quality of life for your convenience. Unfortunately the industry is still full of people who think a horse’s life only has value if they can be ridden and some people seem to project this onto the rest of us who love our horses for who they are and not just what they can do for us.

When we understand the body and how taxing being ridden actually is for a horse, the idea that riding them is doing them some sort of favour becomes a bit ridiculous. It takes much patience, care and consideration to ride a horse in a way that isn’t detrimental to their body, they certainly aren’t designed to be ridden. I am so happy that people are taking steps to further their knowledge and try to become more ethical in their interactions with horses and I’m sick of people who are threatened by this trying to shame them out of it.

Feeling like our horse owes us something because we have spent x amount of money or given them what we deem to be the “perfect life” just breeds frustration. No matter how much money or effort you have put in, your horse cannot understand this. He is just out there being a horse and responding to the world the only way he knows how to.

So next time you’ve spent hours caring for your horse, just paid off your last vets bill, he’s broken his 6th rug of the season and he just will not “do the thing” in your training session, remember he is oblivious to all of this. He is just doing the best he can with the information, experiences and body he has available to him. The more we can learn about equine behaviour and healthy movement, the more we can empathise and move through these issues without feeling so hard done by.

Training becomes much more pleasant for us and horses when we start seeing issues as interesting puzzles to solve rather than feeling frustrated at a lack of compliance and feeling a need to make the horse “do the thing”.

And if you want to spend your time taking your horse for walks like a dog or teaching them to jump through hoops because that is what brings you joy then more power to you. Do not let other people’s nonsense justification for the way they treat their horses make you doubt yourself for a second. Friends, forage, freedom to move, freedom from pain and feeling safe, none of this requires you to sit on their back. 🐴

14/06/2025

Absolutely love this 💖

Why It’s Not Our Horse’s Job to Make Us Happy

This is something I’ve been thinking about a lot recently, and I know I can’t be the only one.

Most of us got into horses because we loved it. We loved the freedom of riding, the joy of connection, the escape from the everyday world. Horses were our hobby, our outlet, and our happy place.

But as I’ve grown older — and especially as horses became not just my passion but also my job — I’ve started to realise something that’s been quietly shifting inside me for a while:

It’s not fair to expect our horses to give us fun.

For a long time, without even realising it, my mood and happiness were tied up in how things were going with my horses. If we had a good day, I was on cloud nine. If we had a setback, I’d feel low — frustrated, worried, or even a bit lost. It started to feel like my emotional wellbeing was being dictated by whether things were going “right” with them.

And here’s the thing: that’s a big weight to put on the shoulders of an animal who never asked for that job.

Over the years, with all the ups and downs — especially with Finn and Ditsy — I’ve learned so much. There have been incredible highs and some tough lows. And through it all, I’ve come to understand this: horses are not here to fix us or carry our happiness. They are our companions, our partners, our mirrors… but not our therapists.

I’ll always love horses. That hasn’t changed — it never will. They’re still my passion, and I feel lucky every day that I get to work with them. But I’ve also started to look elsewhere for my own joy — for hobbies and outlets that are just for me. Whether it’s something creative, active, or simply relaxing, I’m learning to find fun and fulfillment beyond the yard.

Because when we take that pressure off our horses to be our everything, we give them the space to just be — and we also give ourselves the chance to be happier, more balanced, and more present in the moments we share with them.

So if you’ve ever felt this too — like your emotions rise and fall with how your horse is doing — just know, you’re not alone. And maybe it’s okay to remind ourselves that we’re allowed to have fun outside the stables, too.

Because our horses are amazing… but they don’t need to carry the weight of our happiness - often it seems the more knowledge you gain the less about " fun " it becomes and more about putting the horse first.

❤️🐴

03/05/2025

Friday focus…overweight horses and horses on full turnout need vitamins and minerals too!

Just because a horse or pony is overweight, it does not mean they do not need nutrients!! ‘He’s / she’s fat, they do not need any feed’ is what I hear frequently! Or, ‘my horse is out at grass now, so they will get the nutrients they need nutrients from that’! This is absolutely not the case at all, they still need added vitamins and minerals whether they are overweight or at grass.

Even with access to summer grass and with good quality hay, vital nutrients will still be missing, so providing a good quality vitamin and mineral supplement or feed balancer will bridge that gap and ensure their body is still getting the nourishment needed for overall health and well-being. It is even more important if you are soaking hay and they have no access to grass; you can’t take everything out and put nothing back in! You only need a little chaff and / or mash to put their balancer or vits and mins into (depending on which you are feeding), so their feeds are not going to contribute to weight gain if you are worried about that!

I get so disheartened at times as you would not believe how many times I hear ‘he / she is a native / good doer, they don’t need any feeds’. So many people see feeds as extra’s they don’t need, particularly at this time of the year when they are spending longer out! But they do need them, they still need a good base diet, just like we do to thrive!

So if anyone tells you that your horse or pony does not need their nutrients requirements meeting and that they should not need any feed due to their weight or the time of year (which I get sick of hearing!), I would definitely not take their advice and carry on feeding your balancer or vitamin and mineral supplement. Remember, these need to be fed at the recommended rate all year round!