AB Equestrian Bristol

🌿 We Need to Stop Normalising Distress in Horses 🌿

I’ll be honest — I’m tired of being exposed to so many videos of horses bucking, rearing, riders falling off, being ridden in tight nosebands, eyes wide, mouths foaming, bodies tense, tied down with training aids and gadgets — all set to upbeat music for likes and follows. (And they do get so much attention.)

I know I might take a more alternative approach to training, but we have to stop treating these moments as entertainment or “just part of it.”

Of course, horses have their moments — a buck, a spook, or a squeak and a bronc after a few days off. That’s normal. But when these behaviours are repetitive, when the tension is obvious, when the horse looks uncomfortable time and time again — that’s not normal. That’s communication being ignored.

These are not quirks. They’re messages. They are actually screams at this point when we haven’t listened to the whispers — the slightly tight muscles, not wanting the bridle on today, struggling to pick out feet, ears back, withdrawn demeanour, lethargy.

We need to start recognising what softness truly looks like — a relaxed eye, a swinging back, a quiet mouth, a horse that seeks connection rather than tolerates pressure. Not every sign of discomfort is pain, but it could be confusion, environmental stress, or simple misunderstanding.

Progress in training isn’t flashy. It’s often quiet, slow, and imperfect. Quick fixes don’t exist, and that’s okay. It might look like everyone else online is doing “better,” but remember — social media isn’t always showing the whole picture.

✨ Stay patient. Stay curious. Keep listening. Because a horse that feels seen, safe, and understood will always give you more than one that feels forced. ✨

SUCH an insightful video. Years within the industry and I've never heard a clearer breakdown of equine communication and how we as riders/handlers subconsciously influence our horses in either a positive or negative way

Horses mirror your energy. I always tell people that if I'm having a bad day, it's SO important for me to shake that off before engaging with the horses I work with because if I'm unsettled, they're unsettled

I didn't know about the impact of moving the head first and how that can leave a horse feeling unhappy, which is crazy given we're taught to lead a horse from its head, to pull on lead ropes and reins. A good instructor will emphasis the importance of using your seat, but I've never understood the biomechanics behind it

May or may not have just found my next rabbit hole to disappear into 😂

It's a long watch (my fidgety self had to do it in three parts) but so worth it

The Science of Feel: Chris Irwin on Veterinary Horsemanship | Utrecht University Lecture ▶ Watch highlights from this talk → https://www.youtube.com/playlis...

I haven't posted much recently as I've just been so busy. Multiple heat waves means lots of late finishes and early starts so my routine has been all over the place, but the horses are happy 😂

🐴 Lots of holiday care bookings for new and returning clients
🐴 Hacking
🐴 Ad hoc yard cover
🐴 Sole yard cover
🐴 Regular livery
🐴 Clipping

Limited availability during the first half of September

Highly recommend!! Lots of experience handling a massive range of horses, great work ethic and reliable

Also a pro with problem loaders and backing youngsters 👌

Some bits and bobs from the last couple of weeks

🐴 Took Sunny out in the trailer for our three year anniversary
🐴 Regular AM & PM Livery
🐴 Weekly sole yard cover
🐴 Poo picking
🐴 Hacking with friends and solo
🐴 Ad hoc yard cover
🐴 Lots of holiday care
🐴 Ragwort picking 🙃

Anyone else confused by the weather? I got absolutely soaked earlier after fighting for my life in the heat all day. Did not expect to be squelching round M&S anytime soon 🤣

I've been super busy recently which is great and how I like it

From cats to horses to a tortoise called William, I've cared for them all the past week or so

🐴 Holiday care
🐴 Sole yard cover
🐴 Regular livery
🐴 Dog walking
🐴 Hacking
🐴 Groundwork
🐴 Meeting new clients

Pretty much booked up over the next couple months but could be available for ad-hoc exercise or shorter holiday care bookings

Three years of loving you 🫶

Sometimes life has a way of making sure we find the things that are meant for us..

Some bits and bobs from the last few weeks

🐴 Holiday care
🐴 Sole yard cover
🐴 Hacking & hand walking
🐴 Regular livery

Pretty much booked up for June, July and the start of August but could be available for clipping or ad hoc exercise

What a busy few weeks it's been!

🐴 sole yard cover
🐴 multiple holiday care bookings
🐴 clipping
🐴 exercise
🐴 took Flynn to see Sunny again and he was just the most gentle boy (it always amazes me how such big animals seem so aware of tiny humans)
🐴 poo picking
🐴 meeting new clients
🐴 desensitization training
🐴 some shadowing for myself where I get to pick the brain of someone incredibly respected within the industry (can't wait to do more of this!)

Small ponies aren't taken seriously 🐴

There is a somewhat unpleasant attitude towards smaller ponies within the industry that is often dressed up as humour. Ponies referred to as “devils” or “sh*tlands”. People seem to find small ponies displaying extreme stress behaviours hilarious and somehow just a quirky personality trait instead of an animal in distress. Just this week online I have seen extremely stressed ponies biting and rearing while the humans present laugh away. Stress behaviour is seemingly just cute and funny when you're small.

I think a lot of small ponies are treated horribly. I wonder if it is because they feel easier to dominate and intimidate so we don’t feel the same sense of fear or respect around their behaviours. A tiny shetland kicking or rearing at you just doesn’t feel particularly dangerous so we feel more comfortable trashing through their boundaries and forcing them to comply.

They are still equines who have the same needs as any larger horse and should be treated with the same respect.

Life is hard when you’re a small pony, think about how defensive you would feel as a prey animal when everyone handling you towers over you. They are often lead with their heads pulled upwards in uncomfortable postures or when we handle their legs we may pull them too high to make it more comfortable for us. They are often given to children and expected to put up with being kicked and yanked about, then labelled “sassy” or “stubborn” if they don’t put it up with it quietly enough. Many are used just as companions to larger horses and their own needs fall by the wayside, often being left on unsuitable forage and grazing which damages their health.

I have several clients with smaller ponies, from miniature Shetlands to Exmoors and riding ponies, and all of them feel they have, at some point, not been taken seriously when they have gone to the vet or other professionals with concerns. There is an underlying feeling of “why would you bother spending all of this money and time on “just" a small pony”. Although I guess this speaks to the wider industry problem of horses being seen as things to “use” rather than as sentient beings we care for unconditionally.

Earlier this year I met a lovely Shetland pony who had been purchased for my client’s young son. He was “fine” to ride but she really wanted her son to be able to handle and groom him. The previous owners had said he was always grumpy and an adult needed to handle and put his tack on because he would “take advantage” of children. The pony I met was very shut down and uncomfortable. He nipped and pulled faces half-heartedly still trying to communicate a discomfort he knew would be ignored.

We addressed his management so he had appropriate forage 24/7, he had bodywork and was treated for stomach ulcers. We then worked on building positive associations with people using fun enrichment activities and clicker training. I also worked with the client on how to handle him with his posture in mind to make sure we weren’t pulling his head upwards all of the time and making him sore. Her son can now lead, groom and tack up his pony and is really enjoying him while learning to have respect and empathy for horses.

I have met some very frightened, traumatised small ponies who have been labelled “nasty little sh*ts” by professionals when they have tried to defend themselves after all of their warnings had been ignored. If we started treating them with respect and considered how they’re experiencing the world, they wouldn’t feel the need to be so defensive. They have all the same body parts that can be sore as larger horses do. 🐴

Have you got a small pony and felt you haven’t been taken seriously when looking for help? 🐴