Riverstown Farm Stables

28/07/2025

𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞’𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐛,𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞’𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

There’s a growing discomfort in the equestrian world, one that doesn’t come from seeing poor horse welfare, but from seeing someone name it.

If an equine rescue shares concerns about welfare standards, their voice is generally accepted. Perhaps even expected. After all, it’s “their job.” But when someone who isn’t part of a registered rescue, a coach, a rider, a breeder, or a concerned owner, raises similar issues, the reaction shifts dramatically.

They’re told they’re being negative. Causing division. Damaging their reputation or the image of the sport. Suddenly, the problem isn’t what’s happening to the horse. The problem becomes the person who dared to say it out loud.

It’s a strange little dance society does, isn’t it?

You’re applauded for maintaining a spotless reputation if you stay quiet, keep your head down, and look the other way. But speak plainly, especially with facts, evidence, and concern, and you’re quickly labelled “trouble.”

This isn’t a niche problem. It’s a cultural one. The horse world has, in many places, built a dangerous loyalty to silence. There’s a deep reluctance to confront hard truths for fear of ruffling feathers, upsetting long-standing figures, or disturbing the status quo.

But the thing is this loving horses isn’t about staying polite. It’s about protecting them even when it’s uncomfortable.

Equine welfare should never be seen as a PR risk. It’s not “bad for the industry” to demand better. In fact, what truly damages the horse world is the ongoing tolerance of outdated, harmful practices masked as tradition or expertise.

We’ve somehow created a space where being liked is more important than being honest. Where people would rather maintain friendships and business ties than challenge what they know is wrong.

That has to change.

Rescues do vital work, but they cannot and should not carry the full weight of accountability in the horse world. Every person involved with horses, whether amateur or professional, has a responsibility to speak when something isn’t right.

The moment we start treating equine welfare as everyone’s job, not just the rescue sector’s, is the moment we begin building an industry with true integrity.

Until then, we must be brave enough to keep speaking, even when it costs us.

Because reputations can be rebuilt.
But the horses never get to choose who speaks for them.

It’s up to us to keep our social licence in all parts of the equine world.

26/07/2025

An Open Letter

To the riding school in the UK jumping ponies in side reins with novice kids on top

Like come on basic horse knowledge, you don’t jump in side reins, it’s drummed in at pony club, equine college, bhs. Like seriously come on, you’re meant to be approved establishment with the horses welfare as priority!

You are tying their heads down and sending them at jumps. I don’t care if it’s a crosspole or a full course, it’s wrong. It’s dangerous. And it’s cruel.

These are kids just learning to ride. They don’t have the balance, the feel, or the hands to ride with contact, never mind over fences. And the ponies? They’re expected to carry them, jump, and somehow stay safe… while their heads are literally strapped in place.

Have you ever jumped a fence with your chin tied to your chest?
Because that’s what you’re asking the pony to do.

Side reins are for lunging. That’s it. Any instructor who tells you otherwise needs a serious rethink or a new career. And don’t bother saying “it was only a little jump” the height doesn’t matter. The principle does.

You’re taking away the horse’s ability to balance itself.
You’re putting children on a trapped animal and calling it a lesson.
You’re risking falls, injuries, fear. For what? Control?

If the pony isn’t safe without side reins, it’s not safe for a novice child. Full stop.

This is personal to me. Because I care about horses. I care about how they’re treated. And I care about what we’re teaching young riders not just in the saddle, but what we doing for welfare!

And what you’re teaching right now?
Is how to ignore a horse that’s trying to cope the only way it can, tied in, shut down, and still expected to “be good.”

You can do better. You should do better.

And if no one else is going to speak up, I will as a coach! This is how we should not be teaching the future generations!

And if you’re paying for lessons as a parent for this kind of treatment of the horses, please please rethink!

26/07/2025

𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐦, 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡

Lately I’ve found myself thinking more and more about the way kids are today, emotionally, mentally and how that compares to how I was brought up in the sport.

I was brought up in a strict Irish pony club background. Coaches were hard on us. You didn’t complain. You didn’t get coddled. You just got on with it. We were pushed to our limits and expected to meet the standard. And honestly? That pressure made a lot of us into strong, gritty riders who could handle the tough days the bad rounds, the stubborn ponies, the disappointments that come with this sport.

Sometimes I feel that same energy creeping into my teaching style. I don’t scream, I don’t break anyone down but I am fair and I am firm. Because I still believe that resilience matters. That this sport, as much as we love it, is not always kind. There’s mud, bruises, heartbreak, and a lot of failure before the winning photo.

But I won’t lie there are days where it makes me question myself.

There’ve been moments when a kid has cried in a lesson, and I’m left wondering…
Was that frustration? Were they being too hard on themselves?
Or did they feel like I was being too hard on them?

It does make you stop and think. Are you pushing too much? Or are they just not used to being pushed?

I find the teaching style in the UK now very different to Ireland. There’s more emphasis on comfort and encouragement and while I see the value in that, I do sometimes feel a bit out of place. I don’t know what it’s like in other countries, but it can be disheartening when it feels like the old ways are no longer welcome. Especially when you know how much they can build strength and resilience.

I’m still figuring it out. Still learning how to strike the balance between support and standards. I don’t want to break anyone but I do want to build them.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s where the real coaching lives in the middle ground. Because I don’t want to be the reason someone falls out of love with riding but I also don’t want to be the reason they give up when things get hard.

Or sometimes maybe I’m just being hard on myself…… 💁🏼‍♀️

23/07/2025

Just a reminder 💁🏼‍♀️

23/07/2025

Plot twist, the horse is the only one listening.
Which became very clear when the kid exited the saddle with all the grace of a dropped potato.

We’d gone over the line. We’d talked about balance. We’d discussed, at length, what not to do.
The horse, bless his soul, took it all on board. Calm, obedient, focused dare I say, professional.
The rider?
Opted instead for a bold reinterpretation of the plan.
It involved speed, flailing, and ultimately, a sudden reunion with the sand.

To his credit, the horse stopped immediately.
Didn’t bolt, didn’t panic. Just stood there like,
“You saw that, right? That wasn’t me.”

I asked if they were alright. The kid gave me a thumbs up from under the fluff of the arena.
A little winded. A little dusty. A lot offended that gravity had the audacity to work on them.
We dusted off, checked all limbs were functioning, and carried on as you do.

But make no mistake
The horse understood the assignment.
The child did not read the brief.
And I? I simply observe, instruct, and quietly lose the will to live.

23/07/2025

Following yesterday’s post about the current horse market, I had this absolute gem sent in by Julie Clarke one of our long time followers who’s known for sending in the odd brilliant bit.

Her take on being a horse seller is hilarious (and painfully accurate).

Please, I beg you, bring a sense of humour and leave your offence at the gate.

You’ll need it. 😂🐴

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀.

Yes. Hung up the headcollars. Swapped the boots for slippers. Poured myself a sherry and booked a room at Sunny Pines Retirement Lodge for Emotionally Exhausted Horse Sellers.

Why?

Because after this week… I just can’t anymore.

Let me explain.

𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 1: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

A woman messages me asking about a gelding.

“I haven’t seen him,” she says, “but my spiritual mentor reckons he’s got a Sagittarius moon and would clash with my aura. What’s his star sign?”

I reply: “He’s a horse.”

She ignores that and says she’d still like to come. “We’ll see how my crystals feel about him on the day.”

I said no.

She said, “What if I bring my pendulum and see how it swings when I stand near his stable?”

I block her.

𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 2: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻

Man turns up. Unannounced. Parked sideways across the yard gate in a Fiat Panda with “I ♥ Starmer” bumper stickers.

Wanders over. Doesn’t introduce himself. Just stares at the mare for a while and says:

“She’s got kind eyes. That’s what matters to me. My last one had evil eyes and turned out to be a pathological liar.”

Then he opens a Tesco bag, takes out half a brie, offers it to her, and says:
“If she takes the cheese, I’ll buy her.”

I ask him to leave.

𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 3: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿

Lady calls.

“I saw your advert for the 7yo Connemara. I’d like to negotiate.”

“Negotiate what?” I ask.

She says, “The entire concept.”

She offers half the asking price, wants me to deliver the horse, include a year’s worth of feed, a saddle, bridle, insurance, lessons, and a therapist to talk through her fears of cantering.

When I say no, she says, “You’ve lost a sale.”

I say, “I’ve gained several brain cells back.”

𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 4: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗜𝗬 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗷𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿

A man asks to view a horse for his wife. Says she’s a “natural.”

She arrives in crocs, no hat, swings onto the horse like she’s getting on a barstool, and points him at a jump despite me saying repeatedly: “He’s not seen poles yet.”

She kicks. He panics. She screams, falls off, and lands in a flowerbed.

He says, “Hmm. Doesn’t look genuine.”

They leave.
I weep quietly into a salt lick.

And finally, the last straw:

A woman messages: “I’m just starting out but I’d like a horse that can do everything.”

I say: “What’s everything?”

She says: “Dressage, hacking, jumping, liberty, must load, clip, go barefoot, do yoga with me, and ideally be under 10, under £5k, and under 16hh because my boyfriend gets nervous around ‘tall energies’.”

I say: “I don’t have that.”

She says: “Call me when you do. I’m manifesting it.”

I said, “I’m manifesting early retirement.”

And that’s what I did.

I now live in Room 6B at Sunny Pines. It has a view of the duck pond and I get jelly on Wednesdays.

I no longer take calls unless it’s about cake, naps, or quiet donkeys.

If you need me, I’ll be in the lounge, muttering “he’s not suitable for your three-year-old niece” into a cup of lukewarm tea.

Horse sales?
Not anymore.
I’ve ascended

Photo Credit: Juile Clarke

22/07/2025

𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐬 𝐈𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐊?

I’m not selling right now, but I’ve been watching the market closely, and honestly, it’s grim. Even well-bred, talented horses priced to sell are sitting around with no real interest. What used to be quick sales are now dragging on for weeks, sometimes months.

This isn’t just a normal slowdown. People simply don’t have the cash. The cost of everything hay, straw, feed, fuel has shot up, and this year’s drought has made it worse. The cost of living keeps rising, and many yards and owners are struggling just to cover basic care, let alone consider buying or selling.

It feels very much like 2007 when the cracks started to show before the 2008 crash. Back then, the market slowed before it collapsed. Brexit has only made things worse, pushing the UK’s economy down a different and tougher path than Ireland or mainland Europe.

Ireland’s horse market seems to be holding up better. The economy there is stronger, and while things aren’t perfect, horses are still moving. A lot of Irish horses still come over to the UK maybe because prices tend to be cheaper in Ireland, or for other reasons we don’t always see. It shows how linked the markets are, even if the economic realities feel miles apart. Across Europe, the market seems steadier too. The contrast with the UK is hard to ignore.

But this isn’t just about buying and selling. It’s about equine welfare as well! When horses can’t be sold, owners struggle to keep them properly cared for. Rising costs mean farrier visits get delayed, vet care is cut back, and feed is rationed. Yards close or reduce numbers, leaving some horses vulnerable. At worst, some get passed around or abandoned because people can’t afford them.

So I’m asking:

🔹 Are you seeing this slowdown where you are?
🔹 If you’re in Ireland or Europe, is your market still moving?
🔹 For those in the UK, have you had to pull back on buying, breeding, or basic care?
🔹 Is this just a temporary dip, or the start of something more serious?

I think it’s a conversation worth having across borders and disciplines. Horses are part of our lives, our businesses, and our communities and none of us are untouched by what’s happening out there.

What’s your experience?

21/07/2025

Isolating for 21 days is very important biosecurity! See below no blood tests 👇🏽

🚫 Strangles Blood Samples – Why We No Longer Recommend Them 🚫

Despite our recent guidance, we’re still seeing many requests for strangles blood tests before horses move to new yards. Here’s why we advise against it:

🔬 The blood test only shows if a horse has been exposed to the strangles bacteria—and “recently” could mean up to 6 months ago.
❌ It does not tell us if a horse is a carrier.
⚠️ In fact, most carriers will test negative on the blood test.

So what happens when the blood test is positive or borderline? You end up needing a guttural pouch flush, which is the only reliable way to check for carriers—by testing directly for the bacteria.

💸 Using a diagnostic test, then ignoring the results, is a waste of time and money.
💉 That money is far better spent vaccinating the horse 7 days before yard entry—this helps:
• Protect the horse during travel
• Reduce the risk of spreading strangles to others
• Provide real disease control

Strangles is endemic in the UK—it’s always circulating. Until we increase vaccination rates across the national herd, outbreaks will continue.

🔁 It’s time to rethink yard policy.

A negative blood test doesn’t mean the horse is safe.
A positive result doesn’t mean they have strangles.
So what’s the point?

👉 There isn’t one. Vaccinate instead. 💪💉
📞 01738 259427

21/07/2025

Checking in on the girls this evening and spotted Sunny. please ignore the half-pulled mane, we were rudely interrupted by a downpour mid groom 😩🤣! She was completely engrossed in one particular patch of hedge. It’s a favourite spot of hers partly because I sometimes tuck little treats in there for her to find but also because it’s full of a variety of grasses and plants she loves to browse.

Knowing what’s growing in your hedgerows and grazing areas is so important. Some plants are safe and even beneficial… but others can be toxic, especially when dried or wilted. Being able to identify what your horse is eating helps protect their health and ensures they’re getting variety without risk.

So do you know your plants? Can you name the different types in the photo below? 👇🌿

20/07/2025

This is something I’ve been experiencing myself and watching unfold in so many of my riders.

I’m not riding as much as I’d like to. I’m not as fit. I’m tired after a ride, and sometimes even just getting off feels hard. My leg doesn’t swing as easily, and my knees don’t bend the way they used to. If I’m honest, I’ve had that moment where I thought… “I’m stuck.”😭😭 and a few times I’ve dismounted and ended up on my ass cause my legs were so weak ( April time was the last time)

And as a woman with a bigger chest, that doesn’t make things any easier. It affects my posture, my core, how I move, how I breathe and it certainly affects the way I dismount. When your balance is off centre and your body feels like it’s working against itself, the saddle can feel a mile away.

But it’s not just me. I’m seeing this right across my riders especially women and children. They’re not just nervous. They’re genuinely struggling to move the way they need to.

🟡 Some can’t get their leg over the cantle.
🟡 Others cling to the saddle for support and slowly slide down.
🟡 Some launch themselves off so hard the horse loses balance.
🟡 Many physically can’t hold the reins for more than a few strides without hands cramping, fingers going stiff, or the reins slipping away.

I see them getting embarrassed. I see them trying their best. I help where I can, lifting legs, holding arms, catching reins, but I’m also watching what this does to the horses underneath.
Saddles get twisted. Backs get jarred. Tension builds. And it’s not fair on the horse.

Basically children today are growing up without developing proper gross or fine motor skills.
Handwriting’s no longer taught consistently. Touchscreens are replacing pencils. Kids aren’t climbing trees or running wild. They’re sitting still often for hours a day. Those basic skills that should develop from 0–5 years… just aren’t.

So now we’re asking bodies that have never been taught to move well, to suddenly ride a horse. To balance, steer, dismount, feel. And for many riders even those who want to do it right their body simply can’t.

As a coach, I’m trying to meet riders where they are.
I’m building in
🔸 Ground warm ups
🔸 Mobility exercises
🔸 Dismount practice
🔸 Grip training
🔸 Awareness of posture, balance and body use

This above is also for myself!

I’m writing this not to shame anyone, but to say
You’re not alone. I’m going through it too.
But if we don’t talk about it, we can’t help each other and we can’t protect the horses.

We have to stop pretending this is a riding problem.
It’s a body literacy problem, and a welfare issue for the horse.
Riders are struggling to manage their own bodies and the horses are left to carry the consequences.

Because if we don’t face this head on, we’re going to end up with riders who can’t physically ride and horses carrying more than they should ever be expected to.💁🏼‍♀️