Higher Counthill farm

25/05/2026

🔷 POLE FITNESS 🔷

🔷 Higher Counthill Farm 🔷
OLDHAM

After the success of the last clinic here in the fabulous arena we have secured another date 💪

Save the date or message me to save a place in advance.
Great fun and beneficial for all horse and rider combinations.

18/05/2026

R’s Birthday Special layout is now set out today in the jump arena.

Not a course but lots of different exercises/combinations.

Hope you all enjoy!

30/04/2026

⭐ Last few jumping spaces for Saturday, 2nd May at Higher Counthill farm⭐

We still have limited availability in the following sessions:

Polework
50cm and under
60–70cm
70–80cm
90cm+ available on request

🦄A great opportunity to get a session in before the season gets busy, whether riders are looking to build confidence, improve technique or get some jumping practice in.

👉Click on the link below

https://horsemonkey.com/uk/equestrian_event/87341/Rochdale+%26+District+Riding+Club+2026++Season+Clinic+2+%28+All+Disciplines%29

18/04/2026

HAY SOAKING TRUTHS 🟨💧

If I had a pound for every time I get asked about this, I'd be rich!

There always seems to be nutribaloney circulating about soaking hay - for example whether or not it should actually be soaked.

(I'll post about length of soak time tomorrow - there's a simple method to work that out - keep your eyes peeled!).

Some Q&As to help...
__________
Q: Does soaking hay strip it of nutrients?
A: Yes - that's the whole point (unless you're soaking for 10-15 mins for respiratory health) - we're long- soaking to reduce BOTH calories (energy) & water soluble carbs (sugar & fructan)
___________
Q: Can we replace the useful nutrients lost e.g. minerals?
A: Yes - that's why we add a balancer or vitamin & mineral supplement to the diet, because soaking may reduce some mineral levels
___________
Q: Do we soak for just sugar reduction?
A: No No No No!!!! For overweight horses & ponies or those with insulin dysregulation we soak hay to reduce calories (energy) as well as water soluble carbs (WSC) = sugar AND fructan!!

(Fructan is not sugar. It's made up of sugar units joined by bonds that are not broken by digestive enzymes, but fermented by gut microbes.
The reason some may get confused about fructan is they either think it's a sugar or they think it doesn't affect insulin response... both are incorrect).
________
Q: Is it safe to test hay for just sugar & starch and then feed it to laminitis / ID / EMS horses & ponies if it's under 12%?
A: Absolutely, categorically NO!! This is really important. Both calories and fructan (WSC) can be highly variable in hay and you could cause laminitis by feeding unsoaked hay of unknown energy (calorie) and WSC content. Furthermore, analysing hay is only an estimation of what that particular sample contained and results should be used with care.

To focus solely on sugar and starch and insulin response and forget calories (dietary energy) and body fat level for all horses and ponies - especially laminitics - is plain bad advice and shows a complete lack of nutrition knowledge and understanding.
______
Q: Do I need to be worried about soaking hay, about mineral losses??
A: Absolutely not. We just need to balance soaked hay with suitable products. Soaking hay is sometimes the only way we can get unhealthy overweight, laminitis-prone, EMS/ID horses & ponies to lose weight without half-starving them.

I hope this helps to calm the worry about soaking hay and clarify some nutribaloney.

Feel free to share 🐴🍏🟨💧

14/04/2026

Surface has started to be delivered for topping up the arenas 😎

07/04/2026

TLC for the XC arena, emptied, harrowed, levelled & awaiting a top up of surface 😎 then a NEW course, ready for the summer ahead ☀️

05/04/2026

04/04/2026

Pole fitness by Ashley Ward in May.
Make sure to get booked on.

💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥

NEW POLE FITNESS VENUE

HIGHER COUNTHILL FARM
OLDHAM

💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥

Higher Counthill Farm in Oldham has a fabulous 60m X 50m outdoor arena.

Suitable for all horse and rider combinations whatever your level or discipline .

The sessions are educational, supportive, tailored to each partnership and FUN 😁
The younger riders love these sessions too !!

Benefits :-

✅ Improve balance , co-ordination, posture and self carriage and strength
✅ Enhances rhythm, tempo, straightness and suppleness.
✅ Promotes joint flexion and range of movement
✅ Identifies asymmetries .
✅ Supports soundness and longevity.

✅ Qualified and experienced coach with experience coaching all levels .

Hourly Group sessions of 3 riders per group . £40 per rider .

Please message me on FB or on 07977 306809 to book your space .

24/03/2026