Struggling to maintain canter? Picking up the wrong lead? Disunited behind? Bucking or 'humping' when asked for canter transition? Canter difficulties can present in several ways, and not all of them are immediately obvious. Perhaps your horse consistently picks up the wrong lead. Maybe they struggle to maintain canter for more than a few strides before breaking back into trot. They might become disunited, feel noticeably crooked, or find one rein considerably more difficult

**STOCK PHOTO - Not horse in question Animal abuse is a growing conern on the island of Ireland, we all see the distressing images on social media. But, what do you do if you are concerned about a horses' welfare and what steps can you take to get help? "Nearly 20,000 horses and other equines were euthanised in the Republic of Ireland over a ten-year period after being seized by local authorities." 2010-2020. (The Journal, 2021) I was in this position a few months ago, I want

Hello fellow horse mad people! It's been a while since I posted a blog - life got in the way (the usual stuff!) and to be honest, I had invisioned a different journey for my blog when I first started it, when that didn't go to plan I got it into my head that it had failed and I felt a bit deflated about the whole thing. But, on reflection, it's not that it failed, it just took a different path. I also didn't fully understand what blogging was all about when I started it, I wa

Warming up a horse correctly is one of the most overlooked yet crucial aspects of equine performance. A proper warm-up isn’t just about “getting the horse going”—it is about systematically preparing the body and mind for the demands of work.

Gastric ulcers are one of the most common—and misunderstood—health issues in horses. From stress to feeding routines, there are many factors at play. Yet, while treatment is well-established in veterinary science, a booming supplement market often complicates the picture with misleading claims.

Equine calmers are popular supplements used by horse owners that is thought to manage anxiety, stress, or excitability in their horses. They're especially common for competition horses, young or nervous animals, or horses adapting to new environments.

We are all blue in the face hearing about the high risk of Laminitis at this time of year, this blog entry is not going to tell you about the warning signs and how to manage your pre laminitic noble steed. This is a real life scenario that happened to me this week, how I spotted the warning signs, evaluated the risks and dealt with the emotions of a concerned owner.

Lameness in horses is a broad term that refers to any alteration in a horse’s gait caused by pain or mechanical dysfunction. It is one of the most common performance-limiting issues in equine athletes and can range from subtle movement irregularities to severe, non-weight-bearing conditions. Lameness can be categorized as unilateral (affecting one limb) or bilateral (affecting both limbs, usually in the same pair—either both forelimbs or both hindlimbs). The biomechanical imp

A muscle spasm is an involuntary, sudden contraction of a muscle or muscle group, often occurring as a protective response to prevent further injury or strain. However, in horses, these spasms often arise due to factors like poor saddle fit, compensatory movement patterns, metabolic imbalances, or neurological dysfunction.

Gastric ulcers are one of the most common health issues affecting performance horses today, with studies suggesting that up to 90% of racehorses and 60% of sport horses suffer from this painful condition. While many horse owners are aware of ulcers, few consider the root cause: modern management practices and artificial selection have created an environment in which ulcers thrive.

Over the last number of years, the marketing of some equestrian products has included elements like “scientifically proven” “backed by science” or “based on research”. For a consumer this could be beneficial as the company has gone though lengths to show that their product works, right?

Much attention is placed on the fit of the saddle, bit and bridle, but what about the girth? The choice of girth design, shape and size...

Our first webinar of 2025! Emer & Cleo sit down and discuss clever marketing hacks that big brands and corporations use to drive sales,...

Why Does Your Horse Hold Its Tail to One Side?

Headshaking is a perplexing and often frustrating condition that can significantly affect a horse's comfort, performance, and quality of life. Among the various causes of headshaking, trigeminal-mediated headshaking (TMH) is particularly challenging due to its complex origins and variable presentation. Affected horses suffering trigeminal-mediated headshaking are considered to have neuropathic facial pain, which negatively impacts welfare. In general, head shaking is consider

What is posture and why is it important to have good posture? In this 30 minute webinar Emer will look at how posture impacts your horses...

Abstract

What is FIR? Far Infared Radiation (FIR) is a subdivision of the electromagnetic spectrum that has been investigated for biological...

In this webinar we well take a deeper look into the anatomy of the shoulder and how it works together with the Thoracic Sling to create fluidity in movement. Find out how saddle fit affect the function of the Thoracic sling and inhibit movements like half pass during a dressage test.

The foot is one of the most important parts of the horses body. It is the contact point of a 600kg body of mass and the ground. In...