Work in progress but not bad for a 2 (nearly 3) year old! He’s such an awesome boy I just adore him. Can’t believe I’ve owned him for nearly a year already. It’s gone SO fast. He’s growing up so quickly 🥲
Ok be honest. Who else let their horses get really unfit over Winter? 🤣
It was so hideously cold and wet!
And so the fittening process (is that a word?!) begins…
When the weather forces you to do new things can be good. Enjoying a little in hand hack with my youngster Orion who is 2 and a half years old now and confident to venture out with just me on his own already. What a great adventure-horse he’s gonna make!
When you have less time than horses 🤣
#multiplehorses
#equinesavvy
Those of you who have met my youngster Orion might like to see how he’s growing and getting on.
Hard to believe but this is only his third time being at liberty and he’s just 2 years old.
Just adore him 😍😍😍
#startingliberty
#liberty
#equinesavvy
You might have heard us quote the wise old horsemen (and women!) who say “If you look after your Horsemanship, your Horsemanship will look after YOU”.
Often that refers to the relationship of trust and mutual respect and responsibility that you spend years nurturing with your equines. Sometimes it refers to strategies and techniques. This is a good example of the latter as this student practices using a bend to bring her horse to a full stop. Practicing when the sun is (kinda) shining means that when you’re up the creek you are not in fact without a paddle 👍
A lovely first for baby Orion today out being ponied at the EBA sponsored ride at Writtle Park. Lots to contend with including horses cantering away, lots of unfamiliar sights and sounds, plus his very first roadwork & traffic. This boy is so awesome I’m so excited to get to be his human!
Lovely 2nd day in the New Forest with this awesome group. Lots of fun with water crossings, bridges and spectacular views. Rewarded with loads of newborn foals and ice cream!
Dawn Marshall
#horseholidays
#equinesavvy
This is my new youngster, Orion, who has just turned 2 years old. One of the things he loves to do is to hang out with me holding the space so he can let down and doze. Although this isn’t an activity I’ve honestly done much of in the last few years, you can see how much older horse likes to join in and takes the opportunity to also rest. He’s also started doing this in the field sometimes - I was quite staggered that he left the grass to do this since usually eating takes priority 🤣
It’s such a privilege and an honour to be able to do this for our horses - they are often so strong and confident - we forget they can feel vulnerable, especially when tired or resting.
I think about ‘holding’ the space for them, taking all the awareness on, so that they can zone out and know I’ve got their back. I ask quite a lot of my older horse, as he’s always been my main vehicle for learning, experimenting, getting things wrong etc. I’ve asked him out of his comfort zone more times than I can remember. So it’s especially nice for me to be able to do things like this for him.
#equinesavvy
#horsetime
Thank you to the lovely Hayley Elliot for this video testimony. Hayley was one of a group of students who joined us for a trip to the Kings Forest in Suffolk this Summer for a few days of fun, adventure and supported hacking with her horse.
Over Winter and Spring next year we will be repeating the specific hacking training that enabled so many people to take part this year in group hacks, solo hacks AND even riding holidays who could not do so before.
So if you’ve missed out this year, or want to build your skills in the saddle for hacking out, get in touch!
Hayley Elliott
#equinesavvy
#review
Lovely first day with students at the New Forest. Horses all being absolutely awesome partners enabling the ride to be very relaxed and fun. Walk trot and cantering through the gorgeous countryside here amidst the new forest ponies! 😍
