🤩 Tell me… Do you have nicknames for your horses? I’ll go first: Lenny also known as: • Lenny the Licker • Bubbles • Lennykins • My King Benjamin is also known as: • Mr Floof • Unicorn • Bennykins • My Prince • Back-breaker (because he's so small 😅) Your turn 👇 Drop the names, the sillier the better. 🤣 🐴✨🫶

✨ I want to share something that’s been sitting heavily with me the past weeks. Recently, I found out that a mare I knew of was put to sleep due to behavioural issues. From what I observed, she had all the right physical checks -chiro, physio, ulcers, bloods the lot. But what I saw daily was a horse showing very clear signs of distress during handling. During tacking up she would bite, strike, kick. It escalated to the point she couldn’t even be tied safely. Bridling would start in one place in the barn and end 20 metres away. There was no punishment - which is good but there was also no guidance. No change in approach. No outside help. Same pattern in - same pattern out. And eventually…the behaviour became the label. 👉 Here’s the hard truth: Even with experience. Even with knowledge. Even with good intentions. If we don’t ask for help, nothing changes. Years ago I would run after people, offering help whether they wanted it or not. I learned the hard way that if someone isn’t open, they aren’t open. You can’t force readiness. Do I wish I had stepped in more? Of course part of me does. But I cannot take responsibility for every situation I witness. That would mean carrying the weight of every horse everywhere - and that’s neither realistic nor healthy. What I do believe, deeply, is this: If the horse is physically well and the owner is open, most things are fixable. Horses with “people problems” were created by people - often unknowingly. That means they can be un-created too. Some in a few sessions. Some in a year. Some longer. But behaviour is information. I’ve known horses who survived trailering accidents and calmly loaded the next day because the owner didn’t label them as trauma victims. I’ve also seen horses who had no accident, but after one frightening moment were labelled “traumatised” where from that day forward, they carried that identity. We are powerful in what we reinforce. We are powerful in what we ignore. We are powerful in what we assume.

Naturally we talk horses every day in here. But today let’s meet the other loves of your life.😍 The dogs. The cats. The quirky rescues. The tiny dictators. The old souls. I’ll go first. This is Coady - aptly named. My whole life people called me “Coady” after my surname, not Zoë…so I thought why not, it worked…lol! She’s 15 years old now. A little miracle dog. 🐶 Jack Russell cross Boerenfox (a Dutch breed) — small body, enormous personality. She was diagnosed with CKD almost 7 years ago. We were told to prepare ourselves. But with love, care, management, and a lot of stubborn devotion… she’s still here. She’s obviously getting older now. A few quirky little habits have appeared. A slower walk. A deeper sleep. But she is pure joy. A bundle of love. And she is with me pretty much 24/7. Now Id love to know… Who’s your non-horse soulmate? Drop a photo if you can. Tell me their name and one thing that makes them uniquely them. Let’s fill this thread with fur and love. 🐶 ✨🫶

I’m super excited to start this book, it does look rather intense 🤨 wish me luck 😬 What is your go to horsy book?

Does anyone have this problem? Storm started 2 years ago aged 5 when we moved to where we are now, which is more boggy wet land with more midges!! I researched that Sweet itch is a common, chronic allergic reaction in horses caused by sensitivity to saliva from Culicoidesmidge bites, resulting in intense itching (pruritus), hair loss, and scaly skin, primarily along the mane, tail, and belly . Affecting roughly 5% of horses, this condition peaks from March to November. While no absolute cure exists, management includes using specialized rugs, insect repellents, and keeping horses stabled during dawn/dusk to prevent bites. Key Symptoms storm now presents with are: - Intense Irritation: Severe itching, leading to restless behavior, agitation, and self-trauma. - Skin Damage: Hair loss, bald patches, thickened/rough skin, and scaly, scruffy skin. - Affected Areas: Primarily his mane base, withers, tail, face, ears😒 I am preparing now as with all the rain, and odd sunny days the midges are out already!!! His withers skin so hard/rough poor little lad!!! I have tried everything!!!! He wont wear a rug, and is out 24/7 so last year I treated him early and he seemed better... his mane has never fully recovered properly but if you do know of any herbal creams please let me know!!! He will wear a fly mask🤩 but he escapes from rugs so I gave up as too dangerous!! I use avon skin so soft which midges hate and I smother his mane/top of tail in baby oil and teatree/neem oil which is cheaper and works against them but any other ideas welcome! I have also purchased farm cattle "spot on" which i think helped him better last year too!! I am always keen to learn what other people do, plus I read somewhere that younger horses can fight against it and need to self immune? Not sure if thats true?!!! Also let me know about any products especially more handmade/herbal as you add "horse" to a label and it trebles in cost lol 🤣 I know we can humanise horse care a lot and I try not to molly coddle him, to allow as natural habitat as possible, but sweet itch is simply horrid for them...