Viv Pearson BHS Accredited Coach

We should be working hard to ensure the horse can carry us with EASE. The figures below
are MAXIMUMS & include the saddle, girth, irons, leathers & saddle pad… & please remember this quote from Sue Dyson’s research!
“Dr. Sue Dyson’s landmark pilot study found that when a rider's body weight exceeds 15%, to 16.7% of the horse's body weight, it can significantly compromise the horse's gait and induce temporary lameness and behavioral signs of pain, especially when combined with a poorly fitting saddle”.

Some very wise words here. Long read but well worth it 🙂

I thought this might resinate with some of you x

Buying Horses….
When do you know what you’ve actually got?

So you finally found your new horse, you have compromised along the way, age, height, type and everything in between but when do you really know what you’ve bought?
I’ve researched many equestrian topics and one of the most surprising was that horses in nature would pair for life. Why do I mention this? Because how long does it take for a horse to accept its new environment and when do we realise that maybe this horse maybe quite different with us than it was when we tried it. Whether you were rushed into the purchase through one viewing or you have seen the horse multiple times what you thought you bought isn’t always the horse you wanted.

So what is it that we are prepared to accept and what is it that we’re not and is there such a thing as a horse without any physical or mental issues? The keyword is acceptance and sometimes this acceptance leads us into deep reflection of what we truly want as oppose to what we thought we wanted.

Some of us crazy people decided we would breed our own and whilst I wouldn’t change any of them I certainly didn’t get what I truly wanted,this can put emotional strain into making decisions when it comes to keeping horses and how many you can realistically afford to keep! So I guess you could say when it comes to horses, life is easier if you are prepared to compromise then not becoming deeply saddened by the loss of what we thought we had.

Understanding that your horse may have been ridden by one rider for some considerable time plays a big part in allowing your horse to adapt to not just new surroundings but a whole new way of being ridden and handled. It’s important to understand that when you buy a schoolmaster or something with more experience, this can often only last as long as the horses training is maintained. Equally it can be that as an experienced rider/trainer you want to put your own stamp on your new dancing partner.

Finding the right balance of support around you isn’t just crucial if you lack experience but also to support you in this new partnership, be that a physiotherapist , nutritionist , vet, body worker or indeed a coach. Building a 360° view of your horses development physically as well as it’s demeanour and how it responds to certain questions or environments is key to find the path to work together.

I highly recommend keeping a journal not just for appointments such as the vet, physiotherapist or the farrier but also for training session . Keeping records of your first outing or show, schooling away from home or simply hacking with a friend will help you build a picture of how your horse felt and reacted and how you are progressing as a partnership. This can also be backed up with photos, physio reports, test sheets and training progression.

Just like us when we need to build strength, mobility and physical capability we need a benchmark so keeping information and adding pictures of your horse standing from both sides and from the front and the back, looking down through the back gives us a real sense of progress and a record for future reference.

In the past I have offered advice on how to progress laying out progression goals over so many months, creating a flexible but targeted goal to build a confident and happy partnership. This is just one of the support tools that can help you track progress, stay positive and maintain positivity and logic when meeting challenges.

I rarely see a horse that doesn’t need some kind of support be that through a training program to improve muscle function and enhance proprioception, as this can be challenging if you don’t have specific knowledge of correct functionality of the horses body in training .
Horses that have been produced professionally have often had a guiding rider with knowledge and good timing to help them reach performance levels.

When a horse has purely been produced to be sold having competed or trained to a certain level they often don’t run with full functionality and can be at risk of certain body and limb lameness. It’s also possible that these horses would pass a full five stage vetting without necessarily being picked up with minor imbalances through their bodies that would create enough worry to fail them.

So we have bought the horse we thought we wanted to discover they aren’t quite what they seemed. We now realise that we need to support them, develop them, strengthen them and arm ourselves with skeletal and muscular development knowledge, often returning to basics to unravel poor posture and movement patterns to release their potential.

If we accept that this is likely to be part of the ongoing journey that creates our knowledge and our horses sound and happy future it doesn’t feel such a heavy load. I draw constantly upon the knowledge that I have gained through many horses and I have been lucky enough to be involved with this process many times. Once embraced we become a true horse person that doesn’t just see the external but reads what they see. To understand them is to gift them with safety, greater soundness and for them to be more at peace with their human.

“Time is what we owe them.”

A parting thought… If you are told it will take six weeks walking to help your horse always give it more time, never less.

And if you ever ask me how long will it take the answer is…..the horse will let you know.

Interesting 🤔
Love the bottom image, not so keen on the top one…

What do you see? 👇 This is what we see. Perhaps you see differently?

1. Mouth and Lip Seal

Top horse
* The lips parted, mouth open
* The tongue maybe blue from compression
* Excessive saliva dripped onto the chest
* The horse’s lip seal broken for correct breathing
* Nostrils tight, nose wrinkled

Bottom horse
* Lips and mouth closed
* No disruption of the mouth
* No saliva
* Natural appearance of muzzle

2. Head and Neck Posture

Top horse
* The neck has visible “break” or acute angle in the upper-to-mid cervical region
* Head behind the vertical
* Neck posture highly compressed
* The throat lash area compressed

Bottom horse
* Head in front of the vertical
* Poll is highest point
* Neck less compressed.
* Open angle through throat-latch

3. Rein Contact

Top horse
* Reins visibly taut
* Visible tension on the bits - the shank bit especially compressing the tongue and causing the mouth to open

Bottom horse
* No reins
* No bit
* Self-carriage
* No compression on the sensitive oral cavity so mouth closed

4. Forelimb Loading

Top horse
* One forelimb elevated dramatically, does not match hind leg elevation
* Supporting forelimb loading significant proportion of body mass, fetlock is severely distended

Bottom horse
* Forelimb and hind limb elevation match
* Loading on supporting forelimb is not severe

5. Facial Expression

Top horse
* Eye is tense.
* Muzzle is tight
* Mouth movement is visible

Bottom horse
* Eye is soft
* Muzzle is relaxed
* No mouth movement

Given the growing body of evidence that bits cause pain and that hyper flexion is a recognised welfare concern, why do governing bodies continue to require bitted competition while excluding modern ethical bit-free bridle alternatives? Is it because the top horse could not be ridden without force and pain due to inadequate and inappropriate training?

Running a livery yard is ‘emotional labour’ new study finds – and more support is needed. Read more below

100% This!

💩 The power of poo picking! It might not be glamorous, though it's one of the most effective ways to protect your horse’s health and it is backed by research.

📚 Studies have shown that managing your grazing land by regular poo picking significantly reduces the number of infective parasite larvae on pasture which reduces the risk of infection and helps break the worm lifecycle before it can impact your horse.

🌱 Parasite control can start on the ground, literally! Consistency matters more than perfection. Small, regular efforts have a real impact on paddock hygiene.

Read the evidence 👉 bit.ly/Poo-Picking-Power

Anyone needing some practice on a grass arena?

🐴🎉Calling all Eventers 🎉 🐴

We now have a 20x60 dressage arena set out on grass so you can get that final practice in before your next event 👍

To book send me a DM or text 07831131676

Whether you love or hate the Grand National, we know you all love horses, so we wish every horse and rider get home safely today
So while millions are watching the at Aintree please give a thought about our work and support us🏇
Today, names will be cheered, bets will be placed, and one horse will make history.

But here’s a name we don’t want the world to forget…Hallo Dandy 🐎❤️A Grand National winner in 1984, celebrated at the time but years later, found neglected and in need of urgent care. Dandy arrived into the care of the BTRC, and with our expertise and love he recovered well and lived to a fanastic age of 33 years. His story is a powerful reminder that for some horses, the biggest race begins after the finish line. Because when the crowds go home and the spotlight fades… what happens next?

While many Thoroughbreds go on to thrive in new careers, others find the transition much harder — especially those carrying injuries or needing extra support later in life. That’s why BTRC exists. And why our Vulnerable Horse Programme that is supported by Retraining of Racehorses is so important — providing a safety net when it’s needed most.

👉 If you’re watching the Grand National today, could you donate a small sum to the BTRC?

👉 If you’re having a bet today, could you donate a small part of your winnings?

And just as importantly by liking, sharing, and talking about BTRC, you’re helping us reach more people, raise awareness, and continue our work supporting thoroughbreds who need us most. Every share really does make a difference.

Hallo Dandy’s legacy has already helped hundreds of horses find safety, care, and a second chance. Let’s keep his name in the spotlight — where it belongs.
Please consider supporting us today: https://donate.justgiving.com/charity/thoroughbredrehabilitationcentre/donation-amount