Equitatio

19/10/2025

I can't quite believe it but after 10 months of hard study and lots of fun, it's official.
I'm now a qualified innate botanicals selection practioner 😳 I can't wait to see where this step of my journey takes me.

17/10/2025

Friday herb focus

✨ Burdock Root: The Earthy Detox for Horses & Dogs ✨🌿

Recognisable by its broad, heart-shaped leaves and prickly burrs that cling to coats and clothing, Burdock (Arctium lappa) is a powerful herb that’s as cleansing as it is grounding. Beneath the soil lies its treasure — a deep, fibrous root rich in inulin, antioxidants, and detoxifying compounds.

This humble hedgerow plant has long been revered across the UK and Isle of Man as a protector and purifier, believed to draw away illness and “bad humours” from the body.

🐴 For Equines:

* 🌱 Supports liver and kidney function, helping the body clear toxins naturally.
* 🐎 Promotes a healthy coat and skin, particularly for horses prone to sweet itch, mud fever, or dull coats.
* 🌿 A gentle digestive tonic, encouraging balanced gut flora.

🐶 For Canines:

* 🐾 Helps cleanse the liver and blood, supporting overall vitality.
* 🌸 Useful for allergies, itchy skin, and dandruff.
* 💪 Aids in detox after medication or during seasonal shedding.

💧 Hydrosol Uses:

* Burdock hydrosol is earthy and grounding — ideal as a skin mist for itchy, irritated areas or added to grooming sprays for a healthy shine.
* Can also be used to support digestion and detox.

🌸Essential Oil:

* Burdock root is not typically distilled into an essential oil. However, its infused oil (burdock root steeped in carrier oil) is a beloved natural remedy for nourishing the skin, aiding hair/coat health, and soothing irritation.

🌕 Folklore & Tradition:
In British and Manx folklore, burdock was known as a plant of protection and purification. It was believed to draw away sickness and negative energy — sometimes worn as a charm by people and animals alike. Farmers on the Isle of Man once hung burdock roots in stables to keep livestock healthy and ward off illness, especially through the damp winter months.

✨ In short:
Burdock Root = The ultimate herbal cleanser — supporting skin, coat, liver, and digestive health for horses and dogs, while grounding the body’s natural balance.

🌿 Nature’s detox with a touch of folklore magic. 🌿

🌱

Buy yours here: https://shop.equitatio.co.uk/index.php?id_product=71&id_product_attribute=89&rewrite=burdock-root-chopped&controller=product #/1-pack_weight-100g

29/09/2025

I actually had this discussion with someone today, sometimes I can be too quick to consider getting off but if that choice means I can get back on later or tomorrow then it's not the wrong decision.

The toxicity of the “ride them through it” and “be a gritty rider” mindset…

The horse world has built a culture around the idea that the epitome of being a good rider is being able to ride a horse through anything.

A refusal to get off.

That endangering yourself (and in many cases, also the horse) is a badge of honour.

That it’s an inherently admirable trait to evade groundwork and try to do everything from in the saddle, even when the horse is showing you that they are struggling.

This belief system has led to many people growing up putting themselves in unnecessarily dangerous situations with their horses.

I was one of those people.

I took immense pride in my ability to ride through horses broncing, rearing and otherwise panicking.

I am lucky I didn’t end up with worse injuries than I have. I put myself in a lot of dangerous situations that were avoidable.

All because I was taught a narrative that to get off the horse is to be weak.

That dismounting was a failure. That it was letting the horse “win.”

But, training isn’t a battle.

And if your training resembles a battleground, you’re doing something wrong.

Creating lasting confidence in horses often involves meeting them where they are, not forcing them to work through increasing stress until they either fatigue physically and stop fighting or mentally shutdown.

We should be encouraging riders to know when to stop when they or their horses are struggling with anxiety and lack of confidence.

We shouldn’t be trying to push people to ignore the alarm bells that their brain is sending them and ride through it anyways.

Ground work is a powerful training tool.

Getting off the horse, even if just for a short pause, can be a powerful reset.

It can allow both horse and rider to regulate.

We need to do away with the archaic “cowboy on” mentality that leads people to believe that they need to endanger themselves in order to become a good trainer.

The best trainers and riders are the ones who learn to operate in a way where they avoid stressing horses to the point of explosives.

Where they can develop a horse without the extreme anxiety.

The best trainers make training look quiet and easy.

Sure, it might not be as entertaining and dramatic to watch.

But it is infinitely better for both horse and rider.

20/09/2025

Friday herb focus (on a Saturday again)

🌹✨ Rosehips: Nature’s Vitamin Boost for Horses & Dogs ✨🌹

After summer’s blooms fade, the wild rose leaves behind a precious gift — rosehips. These bright red-orange fruits of the wild dog rose (Rosa canina) are small, oval, and jewel-like, bursting with Vitamin C, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids.

🌿 Why Rosehips for Animals?

🐴 Equine Benefits:

* Supports joint health thanks to natural anti-inflammatory compounds.
* Boosts immune resilience, especially through winter.
* Aids circulation and hoof health, keeping horses strong from the inside out.

🐶 Canine Benefits:

* Provides a natural source of Vitamin C to help recovery from illness or stress.
* Helps manage arthritis and mobility issues in older dogs.
* Promotes a glossy coat and healthy skin.

💧 Hydrosol Uses:

* Gentle and soothing, rosehip hydrosol can be used as a skin toner for irritations, or misted for a calming environment.

🌸 Essential Oil:

* Rosehip doesn’t yield a traditional essential oil. Instead, its seed oil is cold-pressed — a rich, golden oil packed with fatty acids.
* Applied topically (always diluted for pets), it nourishes dry, itchy, or scarred skin.

🌕 Folklore in the UK & Isle of Man:

* In British folklore, wild roses and their fruits were symbols of protection and healing. Rosehips were strung into charms to guard against illness and misfortune.
* On the Isle of Man, rose bushes were planted near cottages to ward off evil and bring blessings, with the hips gathered in autumn as a tonic for both humans and working animals.

✨ In short: Rosehips are a nutritive superfood and gentle healer, helping to support joints, immunity, skin, and overall vitality for horses and dogs alike.

💬 Do your animals enjoy rosehips? Share your experiences below!

Buy yours here: https://shop.equitatio.co.uk/index.php?id_product=22&id_product_attribute=29&rewrite=rosehip-powder&controller=product #/1-pack_weight-100g

Photos by me from my hedgerow herb garden

\ 🌹

12/09/2025

Friday herb focus

🌿✨ Astragalus Root: Strength & Vitality for Horses & Dogs✨🌿

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), also known as Huang Qi, is a hardy perennial plant with slender stems, pinnate leaves, and small yellow flowers. Traditionally used in Chinese herbal medicine for immune support and vitality, this remarkable root is gaining attention for holistic equine and canine care.

💪 Why Astragalus for Animals?

🐴 Equines:

* Supports immune function and resilience against seasonal illnesses.
* Promotes stamina and recovery, ideal for performance or aging horses.
* May assist in respiratory health and cardiovascular support.

🐶 Canines:

* Strengthens the immune system, helping dogs stay healthy year-round.
* Supports recovery from stress, illness, or surgery.
* Can help maintain energy and vitality in older dogs.

💧 **Hydrosol Uses:**

* Mild and safe; can be added to water for immune support.
* Can be used topically for minor skin irritations or inflammation.

🌸 Essential Oil:

* Astragalus is not commonly distilled into essential oil. Its healing benefits are best derived from root infusions, decoctions, or hydrosols.

🌕 UK & Isle of Man Folklore:
While Astragalus is not native to the UK, traditional herbalists in Britain have long respected it as a “longevity and strength” root, valued for protection, resilience, and vitality in both humans and animals. On the Isle of Man, roots and tonic herbs like Astragalus were sometimes included in blends to support working animals through harsh seasons.

✨ In short: Astragalus root is a natural tonic for immune strength, stamina, and overall resilience — perfect for horses and dogs who need an extra boost. Always consult a qualified herbalist or veterinarian before introducing new herbal remedies.

\ 🌿

Buy yours here : https://shop.equitatio.co.uk/index.php?id_product=9&id_product_attribute=69&rewrite=astralagus-root-chopped&controller=product #/1-pack_weight-100g

05/09/2025

Friday herb focus.

🌿💜 Mallow Magic for Horses & Dogs 💜🌿

With its soft, velvety leaves and delicate lilac-pink flowers, Mallow (Malva sylvestris) has been treasured for centuries as a gentle healer. In the UK & Isle of Man*, mallow was a “comfort herb”, planted near homes to bring peace, protection, and harmony — for both people and animals.

✨ Why Mallow for Equines & Canines?
Its leaves are rich in mucilage, a soothing gel-like compound that calms irritation inside and out.

🐴 For Horses:

* Supports digestive comfort (especially for gastric irritation).
* Helps ease respiratory irritation from dust or coughs.
* Applied externally, calms mud fever, rubs & skin irritations.

🐶 For Dogs:

* Settles mild gastritis and digestive upsets.
* Comforts kennel cough or throat irritation.
* Soothes itchy, inflamed skin when applied topically.

💧 Hydrosol Uses:

* Safe and gentle — mist onto bedding, spray onto itchy coats, or add (tiny amounts under guidance) to water for digestive support.

🌸 Essential Oil:
Mallow does not yield a true essential oil — its healing gifts are best used via leaves, flowers, infusions, and hydrosols.

⚖️ Marshmallow vs. Common Mallow

These two cousins from the *Malvaceae* family often get confused — but they’re not the same:

💜 Althaea officinalis (Marshmallow)

* 🌱 Tall perennial with pale pink-white flowers and grey-green leaves.
* 🌿 Root is especially rich in mucilage → powerful demulcent.
* 🩺 Strongly soothes coughs, ulcers, bladder irritation & gut lining.
* ➡️ Best for deeper, internal healing.

💜 Malva sylvestris (Common Mallow)

* 🌱 Shorter, branching with purple-pink veined flowers.
* 🌿 Leaves & flowers contain mucilage (less than marshmallow) + tannins & flavonoids.
* 🩺 Calms mild respiratory & digestive upsets, excellent for topical skin care.
* ➡️ Best for gentle, everyday support.

---

🌕 Folklore Wisdom:

* Marshmallow was considered a sacred herb of protection and healing in Europe.
* Mallow was a household ally, used in charms for love, peace, and comfort in the Isle of Man and across Britain.

✨ In short:
👉 Marshmallow = powerful, root-based healer for deep internal soothing.
👉 Common Mallow = gentle, leaf & flower ally for everyday calm & care.

Picture credit, me, from my herb garden.

Buy yours here: https://shop.equitatio.co.uk/index.php?id_product=86&id_product_attribute=120&rewrite=marshmallow-leaf-cut&controller=product #/1-pack_weight-100g

\ 🌿

29/08/2025

Friday Herb Focus (on time, though yes I've missed a couple of weeks)

🌼✨ Chamomile: A Gentle Healer for Horses & Dogs ✨🌼

With its delicate daisy-like blooms, Chamomilehas been treasured for centuries in UK & Isle of Man folklore as a plant of healing, peace, and resilience. On the Isle of Man, it was sometimes planted along paths — believed to bring good fortune to those who walked over it, and to soothe both people and animals.

But did you know there are two main types of chamomile used in herbal care?

🔹 German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

* Taller plant with airy, branching stems and sweet apple-like scent.
* Rich in azulene, giving its essential oil a deep blue color.
* Stronger anti-inflammatory and skin-healing actions.

🔹Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)

* Low-growing, mat-forming perennial often found in lawns.
* Oil is pale and sweet, with a crisp, apple-like aroma.
* More renowned for its calming, soothing, and digestive properties.

🌿 For Equines:
🐴 German Chamomile can support horses with mud fever, skin irritations, or sore muscles.
🐴 Roman Chamomile is ideal for stressy, nervous horses or those with digestive upsets.

🐶 For Canines:
🐾 Roman Chamomile is a go-to for anxious dogs, easing separation stress and promoting restful sleep.
🐾 German Chamomile shines in skin care, helping soothe itchy hot spots, rashes, or allergies.

💧Hydrosols:

* Gentle and safe for both species.
* Spritz on bedding for calm, mist over itchy coats, or use in grooming sprays.

🌸 Essential Oils:

* Highly concentrated — always dilute and use under guidance.
* Roman: calming massage blends or diffusion for anxiety.
* German: targeted skin applications in well-diluted topical blends.

🌕 Folklore Wisdom:
Chamomile was said to thrive when walked upon — a symbol of resilience, healing, and endurance. In Manx tradition, it was sometimes carried to protect against bad dreams and misfortune.

✨ From ancient folklore to modern holistic care, chamomile remains a gentle yet powerful ally for both horses and dogs. Always use with respect and professional guidance.

Buy yours here: https://shop.equitatio.co.uk/index.php?id_product=72&id_product_attribute=91&rewrite=chamomile-flowers&controller=product #/1-pack_weight-100g

Picture credit, me, from my herb garden.

\ 🌿

27/08/2025

I must admit this is a big pet peeve of mine, along with not rinsing feed buckets after use and/or water buckets/drinkers

🤢 clean your bits!!

Not only is it incredibly unhygienic to have a dirty bit in your horses mouth but fixed on food can cause sores, rubs and ulcers around the lips!

Keep them clean!

You wouldn't eat of a dirty fork!!

26/08/2025

Mares are horses too 🐴

If we put 2 horses side by side showing the same stress behaviours, but one was a gelding and one was a mare, I guarantee being “hormonal” would be very high on the list of people’s explanation of the mare’s behaviour. While the gelding may have ulcers, kissing spine and other sources of pain thrown onto the table, its almost like mares are seen as a different species.

I find the way we speak about mares can have a particularly nasty under-tone, no doubt stemming from the misogyny ingrained into all of us from a young age. It leaves a really sour taste in my mouth watching people laugh at distressed horses “haha she’s so sassy, little witch!” who are just desperately trying to communicate their discomfort.

It is so normalised that mares are "grumpy" that we actually highlight the ones that aren't by saying they're "not mareish". We literally think its normal for mares to be stressed and upset and that's just how they are. I hate the term "mareish".

I have a client who’s horse started napping and rearing, after a basic trot-up and palpation of her back, for some reason I still cannot fathom, she was prescribed a course of Regumate “to see if it helped”. Regumate is not something we should be giving to horses lightly and with absolutely no solid evidence of hormonal issues, but I hear of this happening commonly when we have a mare who is showing behavioural issues.

Upon assessing this mare I could see she was on a very restricted amount of forage and also didn’t have adequate muscling to carry the rider comfortably. She was scoped and diagnosed with stomach ulcers, we of course implemented management changes then worked on building her body up again. The napping behaviour never returned as now she was comfortable. This was such a simple, basic deduction from assessing this horse, and yet we jumped straight to a hormonal issue and disregarded anything else simply because she was a mare.

I am of course not saying mares cannot have hormonal issues. This idea of “oh she’s just hormonal”, okay, if that is the case she is likely uncomfortable, perhaps she is in pain and she is not up to training today, it is not a justification for ignoring the horse and carrying on. Grumpiness and irritability usually come from pain and stress, it is not stand-alone. I know if I’m feeling grumpy and irritable I want to be left the hell alone.

Another thing to note is that often horses who are having hormonal issues improve hugely when we improve their management to be more species-appropriate and reduce their chronic stress-load, just like us.

This is absolutely not a generalisation of all mares, but I have anecdotally found that mares tend to be quicker to express how they’re feeling, which I’m sure plays a huge part in their unwarranted “difficult” reputation. They’re just harder to bully.

Have any of you had your concerns dismissed because your horse happens to be a mare? 🐴

Picture is of a much younger me with a beautiful mare I had on loan called Zerlina, she was sweet, kind and gentle with both people and other horses, just like all mares can be if given the opportunity.

09/08/2025

🤗💬 It’s OK to be bad at something

It's normal to be bad at something when it's new

Somewhere along the way, many of us picked up the idea that if we can’t do something well right away, we’re failing or that thing isn't right for us.

But here’s the truth: whether you’re learning a new skill yourself—or helping a horse learn something unfamiliar—being a beginner is supposed to feel awkward. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re just… new.

Think about the last time you tried something you’d never done before. Maybe you went to your first yoga class and couldn’t touch your toes. Maybe you took a ceramics class (or like me, a year of ceramics classes) and still struggle to center clay on the wheel. Did that mean you were hopeless? Of course not. It meant your brain and body needed time to figure it out.

Our horses are no different.

When we introduce a horse to positive reinforcement (R+) training, the concept itself—“I can make good things happen by offering behavior”—is brand new. It takes time for them to understand the game, trust the process, and feel safe experimenting. The same is true in rehab work: asking a horse to use their body in a different way after injury or compensation patterns can feel strange, even clumsy at first.

Here’s where the magic happens:
✨ We break things into small, achievable steps.
✨ We reward even the try, not just the polished outcome.
✨ We stay patient, compassionate, and curious.

Every wobble, every hesitation, every tiny shift toward the goal is progress worth celebrating. The more we acknowledge those small wins, the more motivated both we and our horses feel to keep going.

And yes—this kindness goes both ways. If you’re learning a new skill as a trainer, handler, or rehab practitioner, give yourself the same grace. Reward your own effort. Notice your own small improvements. Progress isn’t a straight line for anyone.

Because in the end, this is what creates the best outcomes:
✨A safe learning environment.
✨A willingness to reward progress at every stage.
✨A partnership built on trust, not pressure.

So next time you or your horse are “bad” at something new, remember—every expert was once a beginner, every beautiful movement started with a clumsy first try, and every partnership grows stronger when we honor the process.

💬 What’s one small “try” you’ve celebrated recently with your horse?

03/08/2025

Friday herb Focus (on a Sunday)

🌿✨ Meet Mugwort: An Ancient Ally for Equines & Canines✨🌿

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) — with its feathery leaves and silvery underside — has deep roots in UK and Isle of Man folklore, known as a protector and dream herb, believed to ward off evil and guide lost souls. Historically carried by travelers and hung above doors, this aromatic plant is still cherished today — not just for humans, but for horses and dogs too.

🧠 What Can Mugwort Do for Your Animals?

🐴 For Equines:

Encourages emotional balance and mental clarity, ideal for nervous or over-reactive horses.
Supports the digestive system and may help with gut discomfort or colic-prone individuals.

🐶 For Canines:

A soothing aid for anxious or hyperactive dogs.
Traditionally used to repel parasites and ease skin irritations.

💧 Hydrosol Uses:

Mugwort hydrosol is a gentle, non-toxic mist perfect for topical use or calming the environment.
✔️ Mist onto bedding to promote **calm dreams** and restful sleep
✔️ Use in grooming routines to **soothe the skin** and **repel fleas naturally**

🧙‍♀️ Folklore Wisdom:
In the Isle of Man, mugwort was known as a “witch’s herb” — not feared, but respected as a plant of protection and second sight. It was burned in rituals to cleanse spaces and guide animal spirits. Let your animals benefit from that same ancestral care.

🌕 Embrace this time-honored plant with reverence, and always consult with a qualified animal herbalist before introducing mugwort into your pet’s care.

💬 Have you tried Mugwort with your animal companions? We'd love to hear your story!

Buy yours here: https://shop.equitatio.co.uk/index.php?id_product=90&id_product_attribute=128&rewrite=mugwort-leaf-cut&controller=product #/1-pack_weight-100g

Picture credit - Equitatio, from my own herb garden.

\

25/07/2025

Friday herb focus

Lemon Balm Benefits for Equines & Canines 🌿

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is a fragrant, lemon-scented herb from the mint family, cherished for centuries for its calming and healing properties. With bright green, heart-shaped leaves, it’s a lovely addition to any herbal collection!

For Horses & Dogs:
🍃 Calming & Anxiety Relief — Lemon balm soothes nervousness and stress, perfect for anxious equines and canines during storms, travel, or change.
🍃 Digestive Aid — Supports gentle digestion and eases stomach upsets.
🍃 Antiviral & Antioxidant — Helps support immune health and fights inflammation.

Uses:

Essential Oil: Use diluted in massage blends for calming effects or around stressful situations (never directly on skin without dilution).

Hydrosol: A gentle spray to refresh, calm, and cool the skin and senses. Great for sensitive noses!

Folklore from the UK & Isle of Man:
In traditional UK herbal lore, lemon balm was called the “heart’s delight,” thought to bring peace and happiness to the home. On the Isle of Man, it was believed lemon balm wards off evil spirits and was planted near stables to protect horses from harm.

Give your four-legged friends a taste of nature’s gentle healer with lemon balm — a fragrant friend for body and soul! 🌱🐴🐕✨

Buy yours here: https://shop.equitatio.co.uk/index.php?id_product=82&id_product_attribute=112&rewrite=lemon-balm-leaf-cut&controller=product #/1-pack_weight-100g

Pictures taken by me in my garden