Woolley Moor Equestrian

26/08/2026

🐴🌿 A NEW DIRECTION FOR LIVERY AT WOOLLEY MOOR EQUESTRIAN 🌿🐴

We’ve had a lot of enquiries recently about traditional stable-based livery, so we wanted to explain how our livery is changing moving forward.

We are no longer offering traditional stables livery. Our focus will now be exclusively on track and herd living — providing a more natural way of keeping horses, with movement, forage and social interaction at the heart of our system.

# # # 🌿 A carefully managed introduction system

We are currently developing a dedicated quarantine paddock, set up as a track with its own stable. This will be our first line of defence when new horses arrive, helping to reduce the risk of bringing infectious diseases such as strangles and equine influenza onto the yard.

Depending on the horse’s history and circumstances, blood testing and/or a guttural pouch wash may be required.

Once quarantine has been completed, the horse will move onto our new introduction track, which is also currently a work in progress.

Here they will be able to see and interact with our existing herd over a secure fence, allowing them to gradually become familiar with the other horses before joining the herd permanently when they are ready.

We believe taking the time to introduce horses properly is essential for the safety and wellbeing of both new arrivals and our existing herd. ❤️

# # # 💷 Assisted DIY Track & Herd Livery — from £300 per month

Our £300/month package includes:

🌾 Ad-lib hay 365 days a year

🛏️ Woodchip bedding

🏠 Use of our huge barn

🐴 Enough stables for the whole herd to come in together for feeding, twice a day

🌿 24/7 track and herd living

🍽️ I will bring horses in once a day to feed

🌾 Hay will be provided on the track twice a day

🧹 I will carry out the majority of poo picking

For the £300/month package, owners are expected to attend once a day to help with poo picking and to attend to their horse’s individual needs.

Owners remain responsible for things such as grooming, rugs, medication, supplements and any other individual care their horse requires.

# # # 🐴 Full livery

We also appreciate that owners can't always get to the yard every day, so full livery will be available for days when owners are unable to attend.

Our aim is to create a system where horses can live as naturally as possible, while still having access to excellent facilities and the individual care they need.

If you're looking for traditional stable-based livery, we're no longer the right fit.

But if track life, herd living, ad-lib forage and a more natural lifestyle sound like something your horse would thrive in, we'd love to hear from you. 🌿🐴

📩 **Message us for more information or to arrange a visit.

24/07/2026

🐴 Show Jumps Are Ready This Weekend! 🐴

Our brand new Jump4Joy show jumps are all set up in the Woolley Moor Equestrian sandschool and are available to hire this weekend! 🎉

Whether you're introducing a young horse to coloured poles, brushing up on your jumping technique, or simply fancy a fun schooling session, our is ready and waiting.

✨ 20m × 60m all-weather arena
✨ Quality Jump4Joy jumps and fillers
✨ Suitable for all abilities
✨ Plenty of space to build a course or work on individual exercises

📅 Available throughout the weekend.

💷 Arena hire:
• £20 per hour for the first horse (including use of the jumps)
• £5 per additional horse

Message the page to book your slot. We look forward to welcoming you and your horse to Woolley Moor Equestrian! 🐎

15/07/2026

Are horses really as fragile as we've been taught to believe?

Horse care and stable management in the UK has largely been built around the idea that horses are delicate animals. We almost expect diseases such as laminitis, navicular syndrome and colic, while tendon injuries, abscesses, cuts and bruises are often considered an inevitable part of horse ownership.

As a result, much of our education focuses on routines and rules designed to keep horses safe.

But what if the problem isn't the horse?

What if it's the way we've been feeding and managing them?

Horses evolved in arid environments. Contrary to popular belief, a desert isn't defined by high temperatures—it's defined by low annual rainfall. Those dry conditions produced forage that was naturally high in fibre and low in sugar, meaning horses evolved to consume large quantities of relatively low-calorie forage while moving almost constantly in search of it.

For decades we've been sold feeds and forage based on their "nutritional value", often marketed with the promise that we can feed less. It sounds like a money-saving shortcut, but in many cases we end up paying the difference in veterinary bills, while our horses pay with their health.

Thankfully, there is a growing movement towards more natural horse management. Barefoot horses, track systems, herd living and unrestricted access to clean, dust-free, low-sugar, low-starch, high-fibre hay are becoming increasingly recognised as ways to support long-term health.

In reality, we should be feeding more, not less.

The more appropriate forage a horse consumes, the more fibre reaches the hindgut, supporting the billions of beneficial microbes that play a vital role in digestion, immunity and overall health. A plentiful supply of suitable forage also increases the intake of naturally occurring trace minerals.

Horses raised in stable social herds have their play and social needs fulfilled from an early age. They learn communication, boundaries and body awareness, often growing into calmer, better-balanced adults that are less likely to injure themselves or others.

Movement matters too.

Young horses should ideally cover around six miles each day. That continual low-level movement is essential for developing strong digital cushions and lateral cartilages within the hoof—structures that protect the foot throughout adulthood. While mature horses can still improve their hoof health, it's much harder to fully develop these structures if they weren't allowed to form during growth.

Now, before anyone says, "My horse can't live on a track system," or "My horse needs shoes," or "My horse can't exercise that much because of a medical condition"—I'm talking about prevention, not criticism.

Every horse is an individual, and if your vet has recommended a particular management plan, that's absolutely the right course to follow. None of us can change the past, but we can always work towards management practices that better reflect what horses evolved to thrive on.

You may also know a horse that lives in a stable most of the year, wears shoes, eats haylage and cereals, and appears perfectly healthy.

And that's possible.

But many health problems develop silently over years before they become obvious. Just because the consequences haven't appeared yet doesn't necessarily mean the management is optimal. Prevention is always easier than treatment, and our goal should be to create environments that allow horses to thrive—not simply survive.

Can you see how crazy that sounds? We wouldn't encourage people to wait until they developed heart disease before improving their diet, or to wait until they got lung cancer before giving up smoking. Surely prevention is better than cure?

There are a growing number of livery yards now providing environments that more closely meet horses' natural needs. They're well worth considering—especially while your horse is still young, healthy and able to benefit most from preventative management rather than rehabilitative care.

10/07/2026

Today's little enrichment experiment... a cooling mister in the barn doorway! 💦☀️

Jerry and Bear were the first to investigate. Jerry approached with his usual caution, taking his time to work out this strange new thing. Bear, on the other hand, absolutely loved it! 😂 He kept coming back to stand in the cool mist, play with it, and even have a drink from the droplets.

One of the lovely things about giving horses opportunities like this is that they get to choose. Some will dive straight in, others will watch from a distance before deciding whether they want to have a go. There's no pressure—just another way to help them stay comfortable, encourage curiosity, and provide a bit of enrichment on a warm day.

It's always fascinating to see their different personalities shine through. I wonder who will be brave enough to try it next! 🐴💙

09/07/2026

Is anyone interested in a PHD in Equine Welfare? Closing date for applications soon.

SRUC and EastBio are recruiting for a PhD project to start October 2026 in equine health.

This 4-year project is open to UK applicants only, with funding covering tuition fees, research costs, and provision of a UKRI stipend towards living costs.

This project is based at SRUC Aberdeen in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences and is in collaboration with WALTHAM and Mars Petcare.

Application deadline 15 July 2026. Interested? Email: [email protected] for an application form or to find more information about the project visit 👉️ https://buff.ly/9SKPDk8

08/07/2026

The best thing about having a western saddle? Not having to change your clothes just to ride on a hot day! 🤠☀️

Unfortunately, I had to cancel a lesson with Gabrielle McHenry this morning because I woke up feeling awful after sleeping in a bad position (the joys of getting older! 😂). Thankfully, my lovely husband came to the rescue with some ibuprofen, and I was feeling much better before long.

After spending the day with hubby, it was easy to chuck the tack on and head out for a quick ride in our lovely breezy sand school.

A huge thank you to my lovely friend and livery client, Merin, for taking some videos of our ride before she headed home. ❤️

Of course, as luck would have it, the moment she left was the exact moment the little monkey decided to bronc his way all the way down the long side! 🙈

No drama in a nice secure western saddle, but I can’t promise my pelvic floor was quite as secure! 🤣 Sadly, that part wasn’t caught on camera, so you’ll just have to take my word for it.

Getting older definitely has its moments!

western saddler

05/07/2026

There is nothing more satisfying than chopping down weeds in your own paddocks on your own ride on flail mower!

If anyone needs any tight spaces or awkward paddocks topping, I can come and do them for you. £50 per hour or £300 a day. Can also harrow.

28/06/2026

As many of you know, I’m currently a Year 1 student on the Lantra Level 5 Diploma in Equine Podiatry. The more I learn, the more I realise just how fascinating—and misunderstood—the horse’s foot really is.

One of the questions I’m asked most often is…

What is the difference between a Farrier and an Equine Podiatrist – and which one should you choose for your horse?

The answer isn’t as simple as saying one is “better” than the other. Both professions are dedicated to improving equine hoof health, but their training and day-to-day focus are different.

🐴 Farriers
A qualified UK farrier completes the Diploma of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (DipWCF), which is the minimum qualification required to register and practise. This is broadly equivalent to a Level 3 qualification. Some farriers choose to continue their education to gain the AWCF (Level 5) or the prestigious FWCF (Level 6), demonstrating an even higher level of knowledge and skill.

A large part of a farrier’s training focuses on forging, making and fitting horseshoes, alongside trimming, anatomy, biomechanics and managing horses with a wide range of hoof conditions.

🐴 Equine Podiatrists
Qualified Equine Podiatrists train to a minimum of Level 5. Our education places a strong emphasis on hoof anatomy, biomechanics, pathology, nutrition, environment, movement analysis and rehabilitation, alongside practical hoof trimming.

Rather than relying on shoes, Equine Podiatrists focus on understanding why a horse’s feet are unhealthy and what changes can be made to help the horse grow stronger, healthier hooves. This often includes advice on diet, turnout, exercise, surfaces and overall management.

So, which should you choose?

✅ If your horse needs shoes for its workload, protection or veterinary treatment, a registered farrier is the professional legally qualified to fit them.

✅ If your goal is to improve your horse’s hoof health, transition to barefoot, or rehabilitate hoof-related problems through trimming, nutrition and management, an Equine Podiatrist may be the right choice.

In reality, the best outcomes often come when owners, vets, farriers and equine podiatrists work together. These professions aren’t competitors—they each bring different skills and knowledge that can benefit the horse.

For me, studying Equine Podiatry has completely changed the way I look at the horse’s foot. I’m looking forward to sharing more of what I’m learning over the next two years, and hopefully helping horse owners better understand just how incredible these structures really are.

I’d love to hear your experiences. Has your horse always been barefoot, or have you made the transition? Let me know in the comments.