FG Equestrian Training

06/08/2025

Managing Peak Season Without Overdoing It

As the competition calendar fills up & long daylight hours encourage extra schooling, it’s easy to push too far without realising. Over-fitness in horses—yes, it's a real thing—can lead to burnout, behavioural issues & injury. How do we balance peak performance & preserving long-term health?

🔥 Spotting the Signs
A well-conditioned horse should feel powerful & willing, not explosive or edgy. Watch out for:
• Increased spookiness or tension
• Becoming hard to settle in the warm-up or between fences
• Loss of top line despite workload
• Dullness or loss of interest in work
• Frequent sore backs or tight muscles

📅 Periodise Your Workload

Just like human athletes, horses need structure. Build your plan around the season’s priorities:

• Taper work in the week before competitions to allow recovery
• After intense events, factor in proper rest—even 2–3 days off or light hacking can reset mind & body
• Vary your sessions: include polework, hacking or hill work to break mental fatigue

📈 Fitness ≠ Fast Work Every Day
Cardiovascular fitness builds quickly—Quality matters more than quantity. A 30-minute focused schooling session is often more valuable than an hour of constant drilling.

💡 Nutrition & Recovery Go Hand in Hand
As horses get fitter, their nutritional needs increase
• Monitor weight & muscle tone weekly
• Feed enough energy to match output, don’t overload sugar or starch
• Consider electrolytes & recovery supplements, especially during hot weather or after events

🧘 Mind the Mind
A horse pushed too hard for too long may show behavioural changes. Keep sessions varied, allowing social turnout & scheduling proper downtime are all vital in maintaining mental wellbeing.

✅ Summary:
Tune into how your horse feels, not just what your training plan says. Remember: resilience is built not through relentless intensity, but through thoughtful, responsive care.

06/08/2025

06/08/2025

It may seem like a picture of a beautiful Mallorcan beach might not have much to do with training horses, for me, my early morning runs give perspective and space to redefine one’s simple daily practices.

🔹 Core Values in Horsemanship: Trust, Confidence, and Relaxation 🔹

In all aspects of my work with horses, I return to three foundational values:

Trust. Confidence. Relaxation.

These are not just abstract ideals — they are essential pillars that shape every interaction, every session, and every stage of development for both horse and handler.

While these words may seem broad, each holds significant weight in practice. Here’s what they represent to me, and why I believe they’re crucial in responsible, ethical training:

⸻

🔹 Trust
Trust is the gateway to all meaningful progress. Horses are remarkably perceptive animals — they don’t respond to image, ego, or technique alone. They respond to consistency, clarity, and authenticity.
When a horse offers you its trust, it’s not just obedience — it’s emotional investment. You’ve earned their willingness to listen, to try, and to follow your guidance. This kind of trust can’t be forced. It must be earned through patience, fairness, and presence.

⸻

🔹 Confidence
True confidence is cultivated over time. It’s not about pushing a horse through fear, but about providing experiences that allow them to learn and succeed.
A confident horse is one that feels equipped to make decisions, explore new situations, and recover from mistakes. Confidence leads to autonomy, and autonomy leads to a horse that can think, problem-solve, and adapt — key traits in any well-rounded equine partner.

⸻

🔹 Relaxation
Relaxation goes far beyond the physical. Yes, it includes soft muscles, a swinging back, and regular breathing — but equally important is a relaxed mind.
A relaxed horse is a teachable horse. When a horse is calm, their nervous system is regulated, and they are in a mental state where learning can actually occur. This doesn’t mean passivity — it means they are present, receptive, and grounded in the moment.

⸻

Taken together, these three pillars form a holistic framework for ethical, effective training. They shape how I assess progress, how I structure sessions, and how I measure success — not by what a horse does, but by how they feel in the process.

As trainers, handlers, or simply horse lovers, we may all have different methods — but shared values create a strong foundation for better horsemanship.

If you work with these values too — or interpret them differently — I’d be interested to hear your perspective. The conversation around quality horsemanship is always evolving, and we can all learn from one another.

05/08/2025

05/08/2025

The Benefits of Riding uphill

🔹 Walking and trotting uphill strengthens the back, hamstring and gluteal muscles that will then give more pushing power in your flatwork and jumping.

🔹 Trotting uphill opens the shoulders and is great preparation for medium and extended trot as well as improving straightness and symmetrical development of muscles.

🔹 Cantering uphill also has benefits. The thrust from both hindlegs created when you canter uphill develops jump and elastic recoil.

🔸To avoid placing to much strain on your horse’s body increase the frequency and steepness of the incline gradually. 🔸

05/08/2025

🧠🐴 An Introduction to Equine Neuroscience
📍 Dark Deer Croft, Cannich
📅 October 18–19, 2025 | 9:30am–5:00pm

Do you want a deeper understanding of your horse?
To better read their signals, needs, and emotions—and build a relationship that honours them as sentient beings?

Join us for this unique 2-day small-group experiential workshop with Sue McIntosh (MA, CCC)—founder of Healing Hooves and a leader in trauma-informed, neuroscience-based equine work.

✨ Day One:
Explore the human and equine nervous systems through a trauma-sensitive lens. Learn how body awareness supports regulation for both horse and human—and apply this through direct connection with the horses.

🧠 Day Two:
Delve into how horse and human brains are similar and different—how we learn, feel, sense, and experience the world. Deepen your understanding of equine body language and communication through hands-on experience.

Throughout both days, you’ll be supported to apply these insights to your own context—whether you’re a happy hacker, instructor, therapist, or simply someone seeking a more attuned equine relationship.

🌿 No prerequisites or experience needed.
This workshop is also the perfect next step for those who attended the one-day March event.

💷 Early Bird: £325 | Full Price: £395
Price includes both days, all materials, horses, lunch & refreshments
📞 Only 12 spaces available – this will fill quickly!
➡️ Register: 07772 884899 / [email protected]
📧 More Info: [email protected]

Training with Healing Hooves means joining a professional, compassionate community rooted in science, grounded in nature, and committed to ethical, mindful work with horses.

05/08/2025

🐴 An Introduction to Equine Assisted Services
📍 Dark Deer Croft, Cannich
📅 October 25–26, 2025 | 9:30am–5:00pm

Curious about incorporating horses into your work with people? Whether you're just beginning or deepening your journey, this small-group experiential workshop with Sue McIntosh (MA, CCC) offers a powerful introduction to the field of Equine Assisted Services (EAS).

Over two immersive days, you'll:
🌿 Explore how to partner ethically and safely with equines
🌿 Learn to support co-regulation between client and horse
🌿 Understand the unique triad: client–equine–facilitator
🌿 Experience hands-on sessions with the horses at Dark Deer Croft
🌿 Explore trauma-informed, attachment-sensitive practices
🌿 Learn about certification pathways & different EAS models
🌿 Reflect within a supportive small group setting
🌿 Develop your mission, vision & next steps
🌿 Complete your first step toward internationally recognised certification

No prior experience is required—this is a welcoming space for professionals from counselling, education, social work, coaching, and beyond. It’s also a perfect next step for those who attended our March one-day intro!

🎓 Facilitator: Sue brings 40+ years of equine experience and over 25 years of therapeutic work through her internationally respected organisation, Healing Hooves.

💷 Early Bird (until filled): £325
💷 Standard Rate: £395
➡️ Prices cover the full 2-day workshop and include:
✔️ All materials & equipment
✔️ Use of horses
✔️ Lunch & refreshments both days

📞 Limited to 12 participants – this will fill quickly!
👉 Register: 07772 884899 / [email protected]
📧 More Info: [email protected]

Join us for a meaningful, hands-on introduction to ethical, trauma-informed Equine Assisted Services—and take the first step in a journey that could change lives.

05/08/2025

🌿 Centered Riding® Clinic at Dark Deer Croft 🌿
📅 September 19th–22nd
🧠 With Lucile Bump

We are beyond thrilled to welcome Lucile Bump, an internationally respected Centered Riding® Instructor, to Dark Deer Croft this September for a truly transformational clinic. With over 50 years of experience and direct mentorship under Sally Swift, founder of Centered Riding®, Lucile brings a depth of knowledge, kindness, and clarity that will leave a lasting impact on riders and instructors alike.

This 4-day clinic offers multiple ways to participate:

🐴 Updating Instructors – Certified CR Instructors can update their credentials in a full-immersion course designed to refine teaching, deepen understanding, and continue Sally Swift’s legacy.
💫 Open Clinic Participants – Minimum 2-day attendance, includes groundwork, bodywork, and a ridden session each day.
🎓 Student Riders – Enjoy a daily ridden session, hands-on groundwork, and direct learning from top instructors.
👀 Auditors – Join for observation and insight into every aspect of the clinic—ideal for future participants!

💼 All options include: lunch, refreshments, and full course materials.
🐎 Stabling, paddocks, and horse hire available.
🚛 Lorries & trailers welcome with parking and hook-up.

Spaces are limited to 12 participants—first come, first served!
📍Held in the beautiful setting of Dark Deer Croft
💷 Pricing in the poster

Whether you're looking to grow as a rider, refine your instruction, or deepen your connection with your horse—this is the clinic for you.

📩 DM us now to reserve your spot or request more info!

05/08/2025

05/08/2025

Spook-Busting Sessions – FG Equestrian
Is your horse nervous, reactive, or easily distracted? Our spook-busting sessions are designed to build confidence, trust, and focus in both horse and rider. Using calm, progressive techniques, we help desensitise horses to common triggers in a safe and supportive environment.

🧠 Groundwork & ridden options available
🐴 Ideal for young, sharp, or anxious horses
💪 Improve your partnership, control & confidence
📍 Sessions at our yard or yours (travel by arrangement)

Build a braver horse — and become a more confident rider.

📞 07772 884899
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.fgequestrian.co.uk

04/08/2025

🚨 ONLY 2 SPACES LEFT! 🚨

Don’t miss your chance to work with Robyn Dunn, Chartered Physio to the Scottish and British Endurance Teams, at Dark Deer Croft on 16–17th August.

This unique clinic includes: ✅ Ridden symmetry assessment
✅ Video analysis with visualise jacket
✅ Off-horse physio assessment
✅ Activation session
✅ Re-assessment on the horse
✅ Personalised home exercise plan

📍 Private and Semi-Private options available — but hurry, there are just 2 spaces left!

📲 Message us or head to DarkDeerCroft on Facebook to book now. Don’t hang about — these won’t last!