Blogs
“Horse Style: How to Get More Dash for Your Cash!” blog post by Helen Watts
It’s not just at Christmas time that we need to watch our budget. If Santa’s ignoring that request for those new Pikeur breeches or that jumping saddle, here’s a few tips to save money but stay stylish all year long! Ho ho ho! ‘Tis the season when keeping a horse costs more. Now, you may…
Read MoreFrom The Ground Up: Top Tips on Staying Safe When Handling Your Horse
Many of us read the recent story on Horse and Hound and shared here on Hereford Equestrian following a 77-year old handler being airlifted to hospital after being kicked in the head. Aside from always wearing a helmet when handling horses, here are some simple, safety first tips to keep you, others and your horse…
Read More“Real Liveries of a County Near You – The Only Way Is Up!” – Blog Post by Helen Watts
There’s a farm called Misery, but of that we’ll have none Because we know of one That’s always lots of fun (Ha ha!) And this one’s name is Jollity; believe me, folks, it’s great For everything sings out to us as we go through the gate Bonzo Dog Band I was not always lucky enough…
Read MoreRiding the horse life/work balance: Is being your own boss the solution?
There can’t be a horse owner out there who hasn’t sat at their desk in the winter months, watching the light dwindle and thought about working for themselves. No more arriving at the yard when it’s dark in the morning and dark again at night. No more having to ask friends or pay to have…
Read MoreHome Is Where My Horse Is
Seeing as moving house is one of the most stressful events we can experience, moving your horse can also rank right up there with it. Yes, we may be fully aware of the long term benefits we will gain by moving. This knowledge does not lessen the short-term angst level however. I worked out the…
Read MoreHappy Rider = Happy Horse. Is your body coming between you?
Let’s get one thing out there right off the bat: this post is not about body shaming. It’s about having a happy relationship with it and therefore, a happier relationship with your horse. I am not about to enter debates about whether or not you may be too heavy for your horse either. Also, if…
Read MoreAll the Single Riders – Put Your Hands Up!
Time to saddle up your inner Beyonce. And not just the single ladies out there. This includes LBGQT riders or anyone in a relationship who feels alone. Or with the fear their fate is the equine equivalent of Crazy Cat Lady as they age. Ending up that weird horse hoarder with several assorted equines of…
Read MoreChecking out from Heartbreak Hotel: From Unhorsed to Back in the Saddle Again.
I never thought I would buy a second horse. Of course, there were the lottery win fantasies we all indulge in. Where in addition to buying that dream horse property and its purpose built American style barn with 20 Loddon boxes, I also bought or adopted the horses with which to fill it. Aside from…
Read MoreOff the Track: Could an Ex-Racehorse Be Your New Best Friend?
Whenever I can I like to get up to the HEROS Racehorse Rehoming Charity at North Farm Stud which is located just outside of Wantage in Oxfordshire. The charity, which occupies 80 acres of rolling Oxfordshire countryside, is run by Grace Muir who has successfully rehomed hundreds of ex-racehorses since she set up HEROS in…
Read MoreThe Importance of Roughage in the Horse Diet
The horse’s diet has evolved over the years due to the way in which they have had to look for food, water and shelter. Horses are known as nomadic gregarious herbivores. Which means they move around in herds for safety, eating grass and other roughage they can find on their journey to find the sparse…
Read MoreGet Back – You Don’t Know Me Like That! The Skinny on Yard Bullies
A friend of mine just messaged me very distressed. A person on her yard had called her ugly. Apparently there had been previous altercations and the individual in question has a reputation for being somewhat unpleasant – not only to my friend but to others as well. This kind of behaviour – and we can…
Read MoreBoots, Breeches, Bling! My Fake Instagrammable Riding Life
We give so much of our time to our horses. But what about some ‘me’ time for us? We don’t have to be perfect. But would feeling good or better about ourselves influence how we ride? I could probably put good money on the fact that each and every one of us has this vision…
Read MoreHappy Hacker? Or Just #Hackedoff?
How many readers out there describe themselves as ‘just a happy hacker’? And before you stop reading, yes, if you do compete as well, this article is also for you. Chances are you hack and also compete or show to varying degrees. Or perhaps you are one of those riders who is never happier than…
Read MoreGet Back on the Horse: Feel the Fear and Ride Anyway
I’m sitting in a chilly classroom on the campus of a local community college on a freezing Saturday morning. It’s a back to school moment complete with radiators that do nothing but emit worrying banging sounds worthy of the Victorian plumbing that orchestrated the school rooms of my youth. Desks are notably absent but rows…
Read MoreGuidance for the recent outbreaks of Equine Flu and other contagious diseases.
As of the 13th February 2019 the British Horseracing Authority decided to resume racing. Thousands of samples where taken and tested by the Animal Health Trust and they are cautiously optimistic that the current outbreak of equine flu is relatively contained to a small number of cases. The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) continues to closely…
Read MoreInformation about tetanus, flu, EVA, EVH and Ringworm
What are Vaccinations? Prevention is ultimately better than cure and vaccinations play an important role in preventing disease in horses. Vaccinations are used to: • reduce the risk of a disease outbreak occurring • reduce the spread of disease in the event of an outbreak • decrease the severity of illness in affected animals. Vaccinations…
Read MoreRide to Freedom – How I reconnected on the Mongolian Steppe by Katriona Shrives
I stared out the window of the plane at vast wilderness of Mongolia. It was our fourth year bringing guests to this incredible destination and although I was excited at the prospect of seeing great friends I felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. With so much to do the…
Read MoreGirl Meets Horse – What To Do When That Happily Ever After Doesn’t Happen by Helen Watts
Girl meets Horse. Or guy meets horse. Or gender fluid person meets horse. Sorry, but the last two didn’t quite have the punch I wanted for a headline. Besides which, we all know women make up a disproportionately large proportion of the leisure horse sector. Hey – I’m just playing the numbers here. No bias…
Read MoreThinking about fitness – an article by Sam Goss
When you are thinking of going out and about with your horse, you really need to make sure that he or she has been working and is fit enough otherwise you can cause injuries like a damaged tendon or sprained ligament, or simply a gall or pulled muscle. We need to think about their bodies…
Read MoreLooking for Mr. Ride – Is the Perfect Horse as Elusive as the Perfect Man?
Although everything that follows is true, some names have been changed to protect the identity of the horses. Back in the Saddle ‘Get back on the horse and do it again.’ Mortified and miserable I clamber to my feet. Cheeks flaming, but thankfully concealed by my cheap, ill-fitting jodhpurs, I dust myself off. A few…
Read MoreOwning a horse is a labour of love
The lows of winter – mud, wet rugs and dark days, which we are all no doubt currently experiencing, make it difficult to remember the highs – the clear rounds, the relaxing hacks and the accomplished feeling of cracking that dressage movement. I’ve managed to compound these miseries of winter by both owning my own…
Read MoreGetting ready for the lighter Evenings
Sam Goss entered the following article for the recent Hereford Equestrian blogging competition and won the runner up prize jointly with Ceri Belli. Here is Sam’s entry which was written before Christmas. Sam will regularly blog for Hereford Equestrian during 2019 and I’m sure you will find her articles very useful. Getting ready for the…
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