WHO ARE WE AND WHAT DO WE DO?
OUR ETHOS
Practises are changing rapidly and many new, progressive ways of keeping horses are being developed.
Animal welfare protocols continue to develop in the western world and legislation in some european countries has already been passed that prevents horses being kept alone and even limits the use of stables. As a result, a new wave of species appropriate, outdoor living facilities are becoming hugely popular on the continent and the UK.
Traditional horse keeping has not really moved on since horses were used for war and work. It is based on owner convenience and comfort rather than what the horse actually needs to be happy; friends, forage and freedom.
Simply put, traditional systems are not meeting the needs of the modern horse.
As custodians of the land, we are also growing conscious of our impact on the environment and the negative effect keeping horses can have on the landscape. Industry wide underpricing of livery and the resulting over stocking, overgrazing and poaching of land which then in turn leads to horse sick, monoculture pasture, fields of mud or dust and therefore loss of valuable top soil and destruction of habitats; all of this needs to change to improve the health of our horses and our natural world.
We are proud to provide a natural, species appropriate facility, run using concepts from The Equicentral system. We aim to provide a great way of life for the horses whilst having all the mod cons and comforts for the humans.
SO HOW DOES AN EQUICENTRAL LIVERY SYSTEM WORK?
The horses lives revolve around their small herd and a surfaced holding yard which replaces the need for individual stable. Here, they have unlimited access to water, shelter and ad lib hay fed from covered feeders.
From this holding yard or loafing area, the horse has access to the paddocks, only one of which is available at any one time; allowing us to rest, repair and rotate the grazing.
The holding yard gives us the ability to ‘lock in’ the group at certain times. For example we could decide to lock in during the day when horses are being ridden or in very wet weather when the fields would other wise become poached and damaged.
The loafing area means horses are always outside and moving, even when conditions or circumstances may have previously meant being confined to a stable for many hours.
Having the hay, shelter and water in one place means the horses are encouraged to move more. They take themselves out to eat grass and forage in the hedges, walk back for water, spend some time eating hay and resting in the shade then they walk back to the fields for another bout of grazing.
We have multiple hay feeders to prevent resource guarding and to allow the lower herd members space to eat hay.
We currently have two herds of up to 12, a boys team and a girls team.
DO YOU ALLOW SHOD HORSES?
Having been barefoot with our own horses for a number of years, we operate as a barefoot only facility. We have an amazing trimmer who visits us but you are welcome to use your own professional. If your horse is currently shod, we are happy to assist in the transitioning of your horse to barefoot. Its not as scary as you might think :)
HOW DO YOU MANAGE YOUR LAND?
We have a land management plan in place which will, year on year improve our grazing and the soil. This plan includes soil and grass testing, over seeding of fields, mulching, creating our own fertiliser from our horses manure, improvement of top soil and careful rotation of paddocks.
We will be planting horse and wildlife friendly, low sugar grass species, herbs, hedges and trees allowing horses to self select and we will also be rewinding some areas for our local wildlife.
Providing lower sugar, healthier grass means healthier horses with less metabolic, gastric and hind gut problems. We will never use bagged fertiliser or chemicals on our land.