Hartley Animal Wellness

03/08/2026

East Lynne Endurance Ride - what a weekend.

I absolutely don't know what I would have done without Hazel McCort and Marty this weekend. They went over and above supporting me and Anahme. From expert strapping, top notch bread and butter pudding and encouraging messages on track when we had a directional mishap to back tracking and helping me change my shredded float tyre in the dark in the middle of nowhere and then letting me stay the night in a cosy bed with a hot cuppa waiting so I didn't need to drive the extra hour home in the middle of the night. Thank you 🙏

Anahme was incredible in camp, lowest HRs and quickest recoveries we've seen yet. He coped brilliantly with the unexpected amount of hill climbing, and wasn't phased when we were caught up trying to communicate with 3 lots of checkpoint people and the ride organisers to work out how to get back in after a couple of us got a bit misdirected towards the end. Despite being a bit of a handful through Leg 1, and needing a bit of a push to keep up the pace in Leg 2, I am still constantly impressed with this big spotty boy. He was so patient and just kept giving during an (extra) long day on track.

Huge thanks to the ride committee for the lovely tracks, and to the sponsors who supported the ride. We took home the "turtle prize" for last successful finishers and won a lovely grooming bag of goodies as well as a bag of hay that the Bailey's kindly passed over as the people who travelled furthest, which then went to us!

Massive thanks to checkpoint volunteers Deb and Matt - I had a pretty bad time managing my POTS while people were working out how we should get back in and I really needed some electrolytes to help regulate my heart rate. Matt found me some chips and a banana and Dee from another checkpoint was feeding Anahme carrots to make sure his gut sounds were ok coming in. Deb even walked/ran part of the way back in with me and Matt followed in the ute. You guys are what make endurance special. Incredible volunteers, giving whatever they can in a tough moment.

Thanks to Tom, the Chief Steward for your grace in letting us finish over time due to it being a new course. Thanks to Chris Dowey for vetting Anahme in and the big hug when we trotted out totally sound. Thanks to Animal Focus Jo for the beautiful photos of Team Anahme and for always being such an encouragement when I see you on track.

Despite feeling like we were lost about 7kms in from the end, apparently a fair few other riders (including some of the front runners) made the same mistake as us but just kept going - in hindsight, I wish I'd just kept going, but there was a real risk of being caught up in part of the 20km track from the day before, with potentially no checkpoints or water and many extra KMs.

It's not a weekend I'll quickly forget but I'm grateful for all the good bits ❤️

15/06/2026

Slow and controlled is best! But if your goal is to get your horse lifting over the back, it's best to go:
Low (poles on the ground)
Short (distance between the poles)
Slow (controlled walking)

A great bit of new research in an infographic from Hartpury University. Pole work isn’t just about trotting over poles. Depending how we use them, different effects are seen. Higher poles, wider poles and doing them quickly create more extension (dipping) of the spine. This may not be ideal - go low, go short, go slow!

07/06/2026

Today Anahme and I vetted out at the end of the 80km ride at Windeyer BUT condolences are not required because the incredible improvements and progress completely overshadow the fact that it wasn't a successful completion. After being checked over by Rhys, we think he could have a bit of fatigue in the biceps femoris, but he was walking out beautifully after a rest and has been taped up overnight. I'll check him over tomorrow but he travelled home really well. Despite that...

What did we achieve today?
💪🏽 On track, he was calm and level-headed the entire way - couldn't fault his attitude on track

💪🏽 We climbed over 1700m in elevation over some difficult terrain - he was a champ

💪🏽 Anahme ate and drank really well in camp

💪🏽 Team Anahme have done some strapping tweaks and we're learning how to cool him effectively to bring his HR down - he's a big horse and requires a bit to get it down

💪🏽 The 4 glue-on shoes (that I glued myself) stayed put perfectly with pads in tact over said terrain

💪🏽 We saw improvements in the non-gait areas of the final vet check and his halfway vet check was perfect - all As and 1s

💪🏽 I had heaps of fun riding with my big spotty boy and taking in the views from the top of the world

Huge thanks to Central Ranges Endurance Club NSW for putting on a great ride. Thanks to the Chief Steward, Rhys and Chris for vetting him, all the volunteers on check points in the cold as the sun came up and everyone else involved in making it a fantastic weekend.

Hazel and Marty, thank you again and again for trusting me with Anahme. He's a bloody good horse and is getting better and better every time! And together with Kat Leonard (the 3rd member of Team Anahme) thank you all for feeding me, cringing about the terrible karaoke coming from the pub with me and working together to strap and care for Anahme with precision and excellent problem-solving skills ❤️

03/05/2026

So important for all the geldings out there.

I don't make a habit of regular sheath cleaning or checking for beans myself but they are done without fail when Dr Kim does their annual dental under sedation.

If it's been a while since you've checked your gelding or you haven't had a vet check - please make sure they don't have a bean in any of these 3 spots!

02/05/2026

Love this guide from Equine Bodyworks By Mary Sargeant. This is one to save! It's really important to know the normal vital signs of a healthy horse AND to know what is normal for YOUR horse! When something is a bit off, you will have some early warning signs ❤️

Thought I would reshare as lots of new followers and its a handy way to help with the basics of what we should all know

Learning the basics is something I was taught in college, it was many years ago yet I still have the foundational knowledge which not only gave me the valuable tools when it came to looking after my own horses but also the common sense, critical thinking, not to just do but ask the whys.

Of course alot of the stuff is no longer relevant (in the case of jute rugs or stealing your nans blanket for an underrug) but the foundation of who i am was taught to me from someond who in principle always put horses first when it came to health, training, and just generally how to be a kind human when dealing with the horse, of course when your younger you often don't appreciate the valuable lessons you were taught yet often i fall back to those original lessons in how to help our horses maintain a healthy mind and body
Hope this helps with a little of the basics
I will delve deeper into other things to help you help your horse with more basic skills we all need

02/05/2026

So many benefits to bodywork but there are some that are slightly counterintuitive!

5 Counterintuitive Benefits of Massage and Myofascial Release

1. Relaxing Tissue Can Improve Strength

If a horse feels tight, heavy, or inconsistent, the answer isn’t always more work—it’s often less interference.

Tension can look like strength, but excessive tone actually limits how well muscle fibers coordinate and fire.

When unnecessary tension is reduced, muscles can contract and release with better timing.
Strength then becomes a product of coordination—not rigidity.

2. Less Effort Can Create More Power

Power isn’t just effort—it’s efficiency.

As range of motion improves, movement requires less internal resistance. Horses often feel more forward, more willing, and more powerful—not because they’re trying harder, but because they’re no longer working against themselves.

3. You Improve the Back by Connecting the Whole Body

The back doesn’t function in isolation—it reflects the entire system.

Restrictions through the hindquarters, pelvis, or fascial lines disrupt how force travels forward. This often shows up as heaviness in the hand, limited shoulder freedom, or difficulty lifting the back.

When these connections restore, energy transfers more cleanly—supporting a stronger topline, lighter forehand, and more fluid movement.

4. The Tight Area Isn’t Always the Problem

The tightest area is often the one doing the most compensating.

Neck tension, for example, may reflect restriction through the ribcage or reduced support from the thoracic sling. When the underlying pattern improves, the tension often resolves—without directly chasing the symptom.

5. Massage Improves Resilience, Not Just Relaxation

Massage and myofascial work don’t just calm tissue—they improve how it functions and recovers.

They support:

* Efficient energy use within muscle (glucose uptake)
* Circulation and nutrient delivery
* Lymphatic flow and waste removal
* Tissue repair and remodeling

The result is tissue that is more adaptable, more responsive, and better able to handle workload.

A Useful Way to Think About It

Massage removes what’s getting in the way.

When those barriers are reduced, the horse can use his body—and his energy—more efficiently.

That’s where better balance, coordination, and consistency come from.

https://koperequine.com/how-massage-modulates-muscle-and-fascial-tone/

28/04/2026

Woodstock Debrief

Buckle up. There have been many churning thoughts going through my head over the last couple of days about our first successful 80km at Woodstock over the weekend.

Overall, I am delighted and proud of the big spotty boy and his grit and determination. I'm also incredibly grateful to have had the support of Hazel, Marty and Kate over the weekend. Their calm, efficient and highly experienced strapping (and dinner and cups of coffee and encouragement) made the weekend such an amazing team achievement.

But I have also been plagued with feelings of inadequacy and concern about what others think. Leg 1 was a huge challenge for Anahme, going out in the dark with a big group. He really struggled with a heap of horses coming up behind him with head torches, which is totally fair. I don't have a team to train with to simulate these things at home. He had a bit of a gallop and twisted a boot and I had to get off to fix it up, and he really struggled to calm enough for me to get on again. The back of the pack riders were very kind and stopped and held him so I could get on, but then he stressed a bit and rushed past them, which was understandably frustrating for that group, but he was pretty overwhelmed. After that he calmed beautifully and we trotted on calmly on our own...until we were going through a paddock with a herd of cows about 10m to our right, just as that group of riders came up behind us again. Poor Anahme had another moment, during which one of the riders mentioned the emergency float was just behind us, and I should probably call them. This was a bit of a turning point for me. Yes, we were really struggling in that moment, but I'd seen glimpses of how good he could be once we were on our own again and there was no bloody way I was giving up on him. They saw him at 2 points where he was at his absolute worst, but I knew we could do this.

The rest of Leg 1 was fabulous. He was calm and consistent and happy to keep going. He came back in, vetted through and ate and drank well in his yard.

The first 25kms of Leg 2 were absolutely incredible. He had never felt better. Cruising along at 17km/hr, and I was almost worried we would come in under time. We then got to a checkpoint and he was able to graze, but I think he realised just how hungry he was, and ended up eating for about 15mins. After this, he was really flat, and questioning his life choices (or forgetting what the job was) but picked up once we found other riders on track. It was super hot out there and he did incredibly well managing himself for the last 15kms.

He was very hot coming in off Leg 2 and Team Anahme did a phenomenal job cooling him with ice water to get his core temp down to lower his HR. I'm so thankful for Rhys (one of our fabulous endurance vets) for his discussion around how he was recovering, and his suggestions for management in the future. He was a little stiff behind, but metabolics were great (probably thanks to his extended grazing session).

I learned so much this weekend, about Anahme and about myself and I'm really proud of what our team achieved. Getting a horse through their first 80 is a big deal when you aren't part of a team of riders and don't have that group of horses who can bring them along on track.

Team Anahme are already working on some tweaks for next ride at Windeyer in 5 weeks and Anahme and I will be hitting the hills in training to make sure he is fit and ready for the terrain. I also had a great consult with Bryan from CEN Horse Nutrition who confirmed we are on the right track!

It is only going to get better from here! Hazel McCort and Marty, thank you so much for trusting me with your incredible boy. You bred a good one!

28/04/2026

With the huge effort and organisation to get Anahme through his first 80km endurance ride last weekend, I'm a bit behind on getting my schedule out for this week!

I have availability tomorrow and Friday but am fully booked on Thursday. Can fit a couple more Saturday morning too.

Thanks to all those who have passed on recommendations - it's been incredible meeting some beautiful new horses and seeing consistent improvements with horses I've been seeing for over 2 years. It's such a privilege working with these amazing creatures.

24/04/2026

Some really helpful things to observe to learn more about your horse and their posture and movement from the wonderful Dr Raquel Butler!

Observation Is Your Superpower for Your Horse ✨

One of the most valuable skills you can develop as a horse owner is simply the ability to observe.

In my courses, I often hear people say, “I can’t believe I never noticed that before.” And that’s the power of learning to truly see your horse.

Observation can alert you to issues before they become major problems. It also helps you recognise the small positive changes that show you you’re on the right track.

❓Start asking more questions.

Things to Observe That Can Transform Your Understanding of Your Horse:

How do they stand to urinate or defecate?
- Does it look easy and balanced?
- Do they strain, grunt, brace, or seem awkward?

How do they stand to eat?
- Are they calm, square, and comfortable?
- Or do you notice tension, leg lifting, kicking out, or constant repositioning?

Where do they hold their head when you let go of the reins?
- Can they remain balanced and neutral?
- Does the head lift high, drop low, or drift to one side?

How do they move in the paddock?
- Do they happily walk, trot, or canter toward you when called?
- Or do they move slowly, drag their feet, twist limbs, or carry tension?

When you ask them to walk or halt…
- Do they initiate movement willingly, or always need encouragement?
- Are they light in the hand?
- Do they halt with balance and organise their limbs well when they stop?

💥Observation Builds Connection
Observation is more than noticing problems - it is a pathway to deeper connection.
When you truly notice your horse, they begin to show you more.

🧐You become more aware of their:

Comfort and function
Stability and balance
Confidence and emotional state
Physical challenges and compensations

And that means you can create a safer, more supportive environment because you understand why something feels difficult for them, not just that it does.

23/04/2026

Incredible resource from Karly at Stable-Ised Equine to help decode the ingredients in bagged feeds. A lot of thought and research went into this and is so valuable when trying to understand which feeds are considered safe for metabolically-challenged horses.

🔎 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗔 𝗕𝗮𝗴 𝗢𝗳 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝘆 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿…

Here is your very own reference guide when it comes to deciphering the ingredient lists of commercial/premixed/bagged equine feeds in Australia.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱:

🟢