Blog

Are you an adult rider tempted by the adverts featuring native ponies for sale? If so, adjust your brain before you buy, writes Carolyn Henderson.

A friend who events her 14.1hh Connemara - and regularly beats the big boys and girls -  says the first thing to decide is whether you think like a po...

Are you blinded by science, or are you having the wool pulled over your eyes in the name of pseudo-science? Reputable companies give good, free advice, writes Carolyn Henderson.

While they’ll obviously give their own products as examples, they should be able to explain their recommendations in pl...

Other nations reckon we Brits are obsessed by the weather, writes Carolyn Henderson.

They could be right, but horse owners have a special take on it. Long summer evenings? Some people might be dreaming of relaxing in the garden with an equally long, cool glass of something. But as a member of the...

The Hickstead Derby has a roll call of equine legends, writes CAROLYN HENDERSON.  If you had to pick one of those illustrious names to be the champion of champions, who would it be?

For many, the title would go to a one-eyed horse called Adventure De Kannan. When he powered round with rider Trevor ...

The current heat wave is a godsend for most of us, but for your horses, excessively warm weather can be detrimental, leading to dehydration and even heat stroke if not managed well. By following a few simple rules while the weather is hot, you can significantly reduce the risk of your horse suffe...

Schooling your horse is only the start, writes CAROLYN HENDERSON. Unless you have an endless supply of horsey helpers, you must also train your nearest and dearest. That way, you get the help you need, avoid arguments about the time and/or money you devote to your horse and keep everyone happy. I...

Traditionally, it’s bad luck to change a horse’s name. If you really can’t stand it, you can always give him a stable name.

Turnout time also provides numerous nutritional and health benefits, as Nutritionist, Olivia Colton MSc from Feedmark explains; “a constant supply of forage, such as turnout on a grassy paddock, is more suited to their digestive systems, being trickle feeders.

If you have a nice mare, it’s tempting to imagine what her offspring would be like even if imagination is as far as it can go

When non-horsey people see pictures of the Queen out riding, or Prince Philip driving his team of ponies, they have one of three reactions, writes CAROLYN HENDERSON.

• How do they manage it? After all, Her Majesty is 91 and HRH is 96 in June.
• Surely it’s too dangerous at their age – shouldn’t ...

There are two things that riders should think twice about saying, writes CAROLYN HENDERSON.

One is “My horse is being naughty” and the other is “My horse always goes like that.” You may disagree, and you may phrase the first observation in stronger terms. But before you’re tempted to think that y...

How much is a horse worth? Yes, this is a trick question – and there are several answers, writes CAROLYN HENDERSON.

The nicest is the one you hear from an owner whose horse is part of the family and regarded as priceless. These owners tend to be women, and they often have a T-shirt that proclaims...