I have always loved the Olympics and part of that is because of the platform it gives Equestrian to the general public. Other than racing, our sport rarely makes it in front of normal poeple. But the Olympics is different. During the Olympics the public get behind athletes from a number of different sports, especially sports we are likely to win a medal in. And we have won a lot of medals over the years in Equestrian ..read more

Ah, the equestrian world—a place where every novice rider eventually realises they speak a different language. Combine this with the English language already being needlessly complicated and it’s no wonder we all end up confused at times. Today, let’s dive into one of the most confusing terms in equestrian lingo: “nap.” Nap: The Word with Multiple Personalities Nap (noun): Standard Definition: A brief period of sleep, especially during the day ..read more

The buzz is real! The British equestrian teams for the Paris 2024 Olympics have just been announced, and I’m started to get excited! Not only do I love watching the equestrian on the mainstage, such as the Olympics, I will actually be at Versailles, watching the Team Dressage in person! Here’s a quick rundown of the exciting Team GB teams: Dressage Team Led by Performance Manager Caroline Griffith Charlotte Dujardin with Carl Hester and Coral Ingham’s Imhotep (Groom: Francesca Gorni) Charlotte Fry with Van Olst Horses and her own Glamourdale (Groom: Richard Hauwaerts) Carl Hester with Fiona ..read more

Sweet itch is primarily caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva of Culicoides midges. This allergic reaction results in severe itching, leading horses to scratch and rub excessively, causing hair loss, sores, and skin infections. Unfortunately, there is no cure for allergies. But with good management, you can help to prevent flare ups and you can treat the symptoms. Management Strategies for Sweet Itch As with most things horse related, prevention is better than treatment ..read more

Sweet itch, also known as summer eczema or equine insect hypersensitivity, is a common yet distressing condition affecting horses, particularly over the Summer. We’ve all known horses who “have a touch of sweet itch” where they are often seen with bald manes and tails from rubbing. But it can be an absolute nightmare for both horse and owner. In this post, we will look at the cause and common symptoms of Sweet Itch. What is Sweet Itch ..read more

We have not had the best 12 months. We had Scottie’s tendon injury, we’ve had 2 abscesses, developed a touch of sweet itch in his girth & armpits. Then to top it off, about a month ago, he went quite lame in his loss of use leg! He did improve a lot after seeing the farrier and reducing the size of his field. But after 2 weeks he was still 1/10 – 2/10 lame ..read more

I found this years Badminton Horse Trials incredibly exciting and I think a big part of the reason why, is that it felt like a traditional event. By that, I mean it really felt that every phase mattered and anyone could win it. I can’t remember the last time I watched Badminton and Burghley and thought someone placed outside the top 20 after dressage could win it. But this year I did and it wasn’t far from happening ..read more

The last 12 months have seen a lot of changes to my Owners Group stable. There have been some exciting developments and a few happy goodbyes. Chez Hans Retiring Chez Hans was a fantastic horse to have in my stable. He spent one season constantly winning back to back before suffering a small injury. With a long rehab he made a full recovery. But perhaps due to his age, he struggled returning to racing afterwards ..read more

Tomorrow’s the big day – the Grand National is here! But this year, things might look a bit different, and that’s because the BHA (British Horseracing Authority) have made the first real changes to the race in 30 years. All these changes aim to improve the safety and welfare of both the horses and the jockeys taking part. Reduced Field Size: In a proactive move to mitigate congestion and minimise risks during the race, organisers have reduced the number of horses competing from 40 to 34 ..read more

Last year, the Horse Welfare Board took a huge step forward in launching Britian’s First Thoroughbred Census. The aim of thiis pioneering initiative, undertaken by Hartpury University, was to bridge the intelligence gap between the estimated and actual British Thoroughbred population. From hear we can better understand the lives of horses who have left racing and take steps to further improve their welfare. And now, the results are in! A huge number of responses The Thoroughbred Census, spanning six months, garnered an impressive 8,256 responses from former racehorse owners, 5,566 were previo ..read more