Glenview Stables

11/03/2026

Are you sitting optimally? Does your tack allow your horse to move and do his thing? Things to consider every time we tack up and head out with our horse…..

Lindsay’s Bite-Sized Biomechanics 🧠🐴

What is organising your horse’s trot?

No, it isn’t entirely you.
(Sorry.)

Hidden within the spinal cord are networks of neurons called Central Pattern Generators (CPGs). These neural circuits organise the rhythm and repeating sequence of the horse’s gaits — walk, trot, canter and gallop.

Think of them a bit like the bass guitar in a band.

They set the rhythm that everything else works around.

The limbs are coordinated through these spinal networks so that the diagonal pairs of trot and the sequence of footfalls in walk, canter and gallop can happen automatically. In other words, the horse arrives with a built-in movement programme already installed.

This is why coordinated stepping patterns can still occur even when the brain isn’t consciously controlling every step. The spinal cord is perfectly capable of organising the rhythm.

Your job as the rider is not to manufacture the gait.

Your job is to avoid interfering with the system that is already trying to organise it.

The CPGs set the rhythm.

The tempo, however, is organised higher up in the nervous system — in the brain — and is influenced by things like balance, posture and how forces are travelling through the horse’s body.

When the horse is struggling with balance or compensating somewhere in the system, the brain may adjust tempo in response to those challenges, and the rhythm can start to feel less stable.

So when we work on improving rhythm in training, we are not really ‘fixing the trot’.

We are improving the conditions that allow the nervous system to organise the gait cleanly.

Which is quite reassuring really.

Because it turns out the horse already knows how to trot!

Image concept inspired by the published work of Dr Andrew McLean

05/02/2026

All of our horses and ponies enjoy post lesson treats. However it’s been recently discovered during a routine dental visit that one individual has tooth decay which is leading to chewing and digestive issues - most likely the result from enjoying too many polos and sugary treats!
We’re not stopping clients from bringing their favourite equine lesson partner treats but please be more mindful of what we feed them. Think more natural forms of treats such as apples, carrots and specially formulated horse treats (the kind you can buy in the tack shop), all of which are kinder to teeth than a whole pack of polos or sugar lumps! 🐴😉

🦷🍬 A Sweet Treat Isn’t Always So Sweet…

During a recent dental exam, we found a sugary treat firmly stuck between a horse’s teeth. While treats are often given with the best intentions, high-sugar snacks can cause real problems for horses.

Why sugary treats can be an issue:

* They can stick to teeth, increasing the risk of dental disease
* Excess sugar feeds harmful bacteria, contributing to decay and gum inflammation
* They may worsen metabolic conditions such as EMS or laminitis
* Chewy or sticky treats can even pose a choking risk

Healthier alternatives include:
🥕 Carrots
🍎 Apples
🌾 A small handful of the horse’s regular feed
❤️ Or simply a good scratch and kind words!

Dental exams help us catch issues like this early, before they become painful or costly problems.

If you have questions about equine nutrition, dental care, or safe treat options, our team is always happy to help.

📸 *Photo from an actual dental exam (shared with owner permission)*

30/10/2025

Reminder for Friday 31st Oct - Pony camp running as scheduled between 10.30am and 1pm. However there will be no afternoon lessons due to the Halloween festivities! We’ll be back in action as usual Saturday morning again. Wishing you all a safe and enjoyable Halloween! 🎃 👻

28/10/2025

Patience is key. Slow down and pass carefully….

FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint Gardaí in Donegal have issued advice to motorists who are unsure of what actions to take when coming across…

14/10/2025

To book please PM or WatsApp Hilary on 087 9730809

12/10/2025

just like everything else we put on our horses the fit of your horse’s rug is vital….

The hidden damage of badly fitting rugs ❌

Most of us are now clipping for the winter and many horses spend longer hours rugged, but an ill fitting rug can quietly cause significant tissue damage. This is something I tend to preach every year!

Basically tight or uneven rugs create constant pressure over the withers, shoulders, and hips. Over time, this can lead to bruising, fascial restriction, and reduced circulation, causing soreness and really poor tissue health.

If a rug is tight across the chest or shoulders, it can limit scapular movement and shorten stride length. Rugs that slip or twist may cause horses to alter their posture to stay balanced, leading to tension and asymmetry.

🙏 Check & Prevent. Look for rub marks, warmth, or uneven hair growth when removing your rugs. Watch how your horse moves, restricted shoulder action is definitely an early warning sign. A well fitting rug supports free movement, healthy fascia, and muscle balance and makes for a happy free moving horse!

🐎 Have a great winter but keep checking

www.woldsequinemassage.co.uk

22/09/2025

Reminder: The stables will be closed from Monday 22nd September to give the ponies a well deserved break. Lessons will resume as normal on Saturday 11th October. We look forward to welcoming you all back soon.

17/09/2025

❤️

The quieter you become the more you can hear

- ArtoftheHorseman.com

29/08/2025

26/08/2025

Be Patient When Schooling Your Horse

If horses came with an instruction manual, life would be a lot easier. But they don’t, and that’s probably just as well, because half the fun (and half the grey hairs) comes from figuring it out together.

When we ask a horse for a shoulder in, a circle with bend, or even a simple halt, we know what we mean. The horse, however, does not. They haven’t been studying the FEI rulebook in their spare time. To them, it’s just their rider suddenly asking for something peculiar and they’re left to wonder whether it’s worth co operating or if a polite wobble (or a not-so-polite hop) might be easier.

It’s rather like asking your granny to master TikTok overnight, she’ll get there in the end, but you’ll need a good dose of patience while she works out which button does what.

A new movement feels strange to the horse. Muscles protest, balance shifts, and for a while they look more like a shopping trolley with a wonky wheel than the graceful athlete you were hoping for. But with repetition, rest, and a bit of encouragement, things improve. What was once awkward becomes elegant provided we don’t rush them.

Patience is the rider’s greatest tool, though many of us misplace it as soon as the horse starts arguing. It is not the horse’s job to know instantly. It is ours to explain kindly, to reward the smallest try, and to resist the temptation of “just one more time” (which always ends badly).

Good schooling isn’t about drilling or demanding perfection. It’s about communication, fairness, and yes keeping your sense of humour when things go badly. Because when your horse decides that leg yield means sideways towards the gate and not across the diagonal, sometimes the best you can do is laugh, regroup, and try again tomorrow.

Give them the time to work it out. Horses taught with patience today become the willing partners of tomorrow. And if they test your temper in the meantime? Well, that’s horses for you always reminding us that the learning never ends on either side of the saddle

Michael Duffy 2012 Dublin Horse Show.

18/08/2025

What a wonderful opportunity for those of you aged between 18 and 30yrs eager to travel and gain valuable work experience at the same time! 🌍✈️🐴

Grow Abroad World Alliance conference in September at The Killeshin Hotel in Portlaoise.

The conference will have equine internship organisations from USA, Canada, New Zealand, Brazil, Australia, South Africa, India, Tanzania, Nepal and all of Europe. They will be in Ireland for a week and so we want to invite young Irish horsey people to come to meet them in Portlaoise on Thursday 11th September from 2pm – 4.30pm and see the opportunities that are out there. There is no charge and no commitment, it is simply an opportunity for potential young horse people to meet these organisations, learn more about internship opportunities abroad and ask any questions they might have. They can talk directly to the people who organise the placements and ask any questions they might have. Placements are for a maximum of a year but could be as short as four or six weeks. The internship organisations also help with visa’s, insurance and whatever else is needed.

So for example, if someone is interested in a placement riding horses on a ranch in Texas, working with showjumpers or dressage horses in Canada or maybe rounding up sheep in Australia for six months, this is where they can get all the information, in one place, at one time.

All of these organisations will be in one room for one afternoon Thursday 11th September from 2pm- 4,30 pm. This is such an amazing opportunity for those who might be interested to learn more and it’s completely free. This chance will not happen again for a long time. The last time this group was in Ireland was in 2011 and it has never been in the UK, so this really is the one chance for young people to learn about some of the opportunities and adventures waiting for them.

If you require any further information, please don’t hesitate to email [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])