The Horse Aunty

31/10/2025

31/10/2025

This could never be said enough.

Photo credit on the bottom right of the image.

30/10/2025

Very much agree.

30/10/2025

OLD HORSES CAN DIE OF STARVATION IF NOT GIVEN FEED THEY CAN CHEW

Many owners see their elderly horses or ponies getting thinner and thinner despite some bucket concentrate feed, and might assume that 'it's just their age'. These owners often have no idea that all the horse needs is feed in a form that the horse can eat.

Most elderly horses lose weight because they cannot chew very well, and this might be despite good, regular dental care. Horses' teeth grow continuously throughout their lives and will eventually loosen and fall out.

They literally 'run out' of teeth. Even those with teeth left can struggle to chew enough conserved forage (hay/haylage) to maintain condition, because the grinding surfaces of the teeth become smoother.

If these horses are fed just concentrates - especially low-fibre conditioning or veteran feeds - they will struggle, because they will be fibre-deficient.

Older horses who gradually get thinner must have their forage (hay, haylage and eventually grass) replaced with ground fibre sources, soaked to a mash, and eventually may need 100% of their feed from a bag.

It is ignorance, rather than cruelty to let a very old - but otherwise healthy - horse get very thin. But it is absolutely 100% avoidable with the knowledge of what to feed!

The grey horse reflects how older horses can end up looking if they don't have their long forage replaced with chewable alternatives. I have hepled a number of owners with old horses this thin.

The dun pony is how an older horse (late 30s) can look despite having lost most of their teeth, when fed 6kg forage-replacement feeds daily.

You can claim a free article on feeding older horses and ponies (see the comments for a link) AND I'm delivering a webinar on this very subject next week - comment webinars and I'll send you the details.

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30/10/2025

Love this visual for helping understand what the horse feels when someone sits sit crookedly in the saddle.

I also like to think of it as a toddler on your shoulders trying to reach across to grab something think how much harder it is for you to stay balanced.

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29/10/2025

Stop rushing your horse’s rehabilitation or pushing them too hard after time off when they’re not yet conditioned for the work you want them to do.

Over time, I’ve noticed that many people don’t bring their horses back to work properly after an injury or diagnosis. Even after time off, iv seen people bragging that their horse had 3 months off and they just pulled them out the stable straight to a competition, fun ride etc. Would you run a marathon with no training? Nevermind having to carry someone round plus travel.

They might follow a short rehab plan and as soon as they get the all-clear from the vet, they jump straight back into full work - even though the horse isn’t physically ready for it.

Often, no proper prehab or true rehab work has been done - just some light hacking and not much else, nothing targeting the specific area that was in need of help in the first place. You can’t expect your horse to stay sound in the long term if those strong foundations aren’t built first. Conditioning is essential for long-term soundness and performance.

I know it’s tough - after weeks or months of rehab, everyone just wants to get back out there and enjoy their horse again.. yes there has been many times i was the one staying behind waving off everyone to shows, riding holidays etc wishing i was going too so i know what its like but you have to be patient. If the strength and conditioning aren’t there, your horse simply won’t be ready to do the job you’re asking for.

Even if you're horse is feeling great and back where they were before rehab dont stop incorporating the prehab !

28/10/2025

Bridle of the week this week is veteran Harry, he has very sensitive ears so I hope he loves his new Ecorider Freedom Comfort bridle.

28/10/2025

I swear we all learn more from our own mistakes than anything else!