GlenOlive Equitation

06/10/2025

We are getting nearer to being able to reliably read animal emotional expressions.

‘Artificial intelligence systems have become skilled at automatically picking out the important landmarks on an animal’s face’
C. LESTÉ-LASSERRE/SCIENCE

Read more here: https://www.science.org/content/article/can-ai-read-pain-and-other-emotions-your-dog-s-face

29/09/2025

Blue skies one side- clouds the other.

Are you a glass half empty or a glass half full kind of person? The lens we look through shapes the way we respond to life events and situations.

That’s the same for our horses too. In this paddock- Fanta (the sorrel/chestnut coloured gelding) is an optimist- ever hopeful - believing that something good is always bound to happen for him- but Biggie is definitely a pessimist… ‘the sky might fall down’ sort of guy.

Knowing this about them helps me to behave the way they need me to be!

What kind of horse is yours?

27/09/2025

With the green grass growing rapidly - here’s a useful article discussing how horses can be ‘Fit not Fat’!

https://www.yourhorse.co.uk/fit-not-fat/burn-more-calories/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwNEdQlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHvAOGqI3NOiwpqkHvBfCI4kDDbpVKX6I3juTYH2ZKTWUOIl3Rk-Rbuyzorai_aem_NRXC0OBsKbteEFzXrXf2_g

Calorie-burning exercise is essential for weight loss as well as helping your horse maintain a healthy weight

26/09/2025

Yesterday we delivered Percy to his new home with Zoe and Conor. He’s already enjoying the lovely views and I gather Zoe was up early this morning to enjoy a farm ride before work!

25/09/2025

How can you provide a Good Life for your horse? Have a read of my recent blog to find out more!

Every positive interaction, every thoughtful management decision, and every moment of understanding contributes to your horse's emotional wellbeing. It's not about being perfect – it's about being mindful of what makes a horse's life not just worth living, but a good one We all want our horses to ...

23/09/2025

Thinking of moving?
We still have room for another grazer to join our GlenOlive horse gang. If you know of someone who is looking for somewhere with great facilities where horses live a good life - please let them know to message me.

19/09/2025

I’m excited to be one of the new committee members. Lots to do to get the club back up to speed, but we’ve got a great committee with a lot of energy.

19/09/2025

I’ve been asked if I can help to find the perfect horse for someone new to owning horses. Ideally 15hh ish, older, safe, life experienced, sound and uncomplicated. This unicorn just needs to be willing to enjoy quiet hacks, some gentle schooling and lots of loving. If you know of a horse like this, please get in touch.

11/09/2025

Pilot checks, horse agency and riding with compassion.

Imagine how much easier it would be if you could have a conversation with your horse before you got on his or her back.

Have you ever thought about what you might say?

Would you ask them if they felt like being ridden today?
Would you ask them what they felt like doing if they were to be ridden?
Would you ask for their permission or opinion?

We all like to feel like we have some control over our situation or environment and horses are no different. We all want some form of agency in our lives - to make choices, decisions and be individuals.

Imagine how your ride would be different if you did listen more closely to your horse. What sort of pilot checks would you make before you started? Would you ride differently, ask differently, expect less or more? Would you both enjoy it more?

Riding with compassion involves recognising that it’s a privilege to have horses in our lives, and that comes with a responsibility to ensure that they enjoy the relationship we have with them as much as we do. Horses are not machines- they are living, breathing, feeling individuals with their own needs, preferences and desires.

So- next time you interact with your horse, look closely into their beautiful eyes and ask them; ‘how do you feel’? and if you are prepared to listen carefully and act accordingly - you can consider yourself to be a compassionate equestrian.

30/08/2025

Had to share this!

19/08/2025

Not the be all..

F***l egg counts derived from f***l flotation tests🔬 - are a common method for determining parasite levels in horses, which can then influence how often a particular horse is wormed and what class of wormer to administer. As helpful as this information is - it unfortunately does not tell us the whole story. F***l tests will not identify Pin Worms, Bots or Neck Threadworms. These parasites either do not reside in and/or lay eggs in the digestive tract making it impossible to detect their presence from a f***l sample.

Adult Tapeworms and Ascarids, despite residing in the digestive tract, can go undetected if adult worms present are not actively shedding eggs🥚 at that point in their reproductive cycle🔄. In addition, a f***l egg count cannot reveal evidence of an existing population of Encysted Small Strongyles or Ascarid and Large Strongyle migrating larvae or immature adults within the horse.

Learn about common equine parasites not revealed by f***l tests & where they reside and/or reproduce 👉 https://www.thehaypillow.com/blogs/news/can-equine-f***l-egg-counts-reveal-accurate-parasite-burdens

24/06/2025

The thorny issue of over-rugging!

As the weather cools at this time of year and we start to feel the cold, there is an often misplaced perception among many horse owners that their animal must also be getting cold and will need to be rugged. But before dashing out to cover our horses up, it's worth considering if this is actually th