Gentle Equine Cornwall

03/05/2026

Overwhelm doesn't always show up dressed in bright colours, announced by a fanfare of shouting and screaming. More often than not, it is outwardly invisible, buried underneath a stoic smile or brushed aside without acknowledgement.

Holding responsibility for another's wellbeing, whether animal or human, can be exhausting, no matter how much love you have for them, and it's ok to admit that. It's possible to feel gratitude and grief at the same time, to carry both hope and fear, love and resentment, joy and sadness, strength and anxiety.

At the moment, 2 of my herd are experiencing severe equine asthma, and it's been hard. There's been lots of research, vet visits and advice, tests and procedures, trials of medications, adapting day to day management, and a lot of financial outlay. Extra time is needed to give them their treatment each day, and the worry about how to help them is constantly in the back of my mind. I love them dearly and know I'm incredibly lucky to have them in my life, but at the same time, it can be shattering.

If that's how it feels from a human perspective, I can only imagine what overwhelm feels like for our precious equines. They have no say in where they end up, who their companions are ( if they even have any ), what they are fed, or what is asked of them. Their efforts to communicate are often labelled as a behaviour defect, rather than a cry to be heard, and they are pushed whilst physically and mentally uncomfortable, or passed on to another home when they're unable to perform as expected.

To all those who are guardians and carers, who stick with it however difficult it gets, thank you. This is what love looks like 💗. It's not extravagant gifts and grand gestures, it's telling your partner to rest while you rock your child to sleep, or making them some tea and toast because you can see that they're exhausted. It's not flashy matching tack and endless shows, it's quietly walking your retired pony to his favourite place to snack, or making up extra feeds because your horse needs her medication 3 times a day. It may not be glamorous, but it's real 💗🐴.

13/01/2026

It's ok to rest, to pause, to be, without needing to be productive or achieve targets. It's great to have goals and plans, to look forward to the future, but there's a lot of value in stillness.

Recently, the universe has been putting the brakes on, and I'm having to learn to accept it. A few months ago, one of my beloved herd, Gwen, underwent emergency colic surgery. Her recovery has involved lots of small, gentle steps, and gradual healing. Thankfully, she is back to her wonderfully sparkly self; however, I am now going through my own recovery period.

The combination of a freak accident ( not horse related ) which resulted in a thigh injury, plus a winter virus flattening my energy reserves, has meant that I've had no choice but to slow down. I've had no physical or mental capacity to train with my herd: taking care of their daily needs has been my limit.

There's something peaceful that comes with that space of enforced slowness, though. I notice the small signs from each horse; the gentle nicker of recognition, the ear movements to pick up on details in their surroundings, the glances towards their herd mates. There are no expectations, just spaces to breathe and notice.

The time will come for action, productivity, goals, and challenges. For now, the quiet space is where we are, and that is ok 💗.

07/07/2025

My name is Kate, and my passion is working with horses using positive and ethical techniques.

07/07/2025

Vulnerability is strength, and other paradoxes.

From an early age, we're conditioned to be part of a world where everything is better, bigger, faster, smarter. Working ourselves to exhaustion in order to prove our worth, the endless need to be seen as productive, the pressure to buy more, achieve more, earn more......our whole identity wrapped up in the belief that who we are and how we are is not enough, that we'll only belong or be accepted if we stick to these unspoken expectations. Rest gets labelled as laziness, illness as being 'less than', vulnerability as weakness, asking for help as self indulgent, and we disappear further into the rabbit hole, on a one way trip to burnout.

I've come to realise that, for a variety of reasons, I don't function well within that system, and the more I try to force myself to fit, the worse I feel. I've been living with several chronic health conditions for a long time, and often have times where the symptoms profoundly affect my physical and mental reserves. All too often, I've pushed myself through because I've been worried about upsetting, disappointing, or angering others, but also because my self worth has been intrinsically linked to achieving and doing. If I stop, rest, admit I'm not coping or ask for help, then I feel as if I've failed.

The daft thing is that fighting exhaustion, overwhelm, pain or anxiety is actually way more stressful and tiring than recognising it and voicing it. We become proficient at wearing our strong, capable masks for the outside world, and it can feel both frightening and strange to be open about how we're feeling.
Today, I realised that I needed an extra day to recharge so that I can get my inner spark back, which has taken a bit of a battering recently. It meant that I needed to ask for the help of trusted friends and family, and I found it really hard to do. That difficulty was not because of them, as they're all fantastic, but because I felt weak and selfish for asking. I suppose that like many things in life, asking for what we need and voicing our worries is something that gets easier with practise.

I've noticed though, that what we look upon as weakness in ourselves is often what we see as strength in others. I greatly value and respect the people around me who tell me honestly how they're doing, who ask for support when they need it, and who feel able to do what feels right for them, regardless of how difficult that is.

In the world of horses, that feels especially resonant. Equines are expected to perform in ways that humans demand, to be the perfect horse that never struggles physically or emotionally with what is being asked of them. When horses reach their point of overwhelm, it can manifest in many different ways, from muted shutdown to explodable bucking, from seeming slightly 'off' to being severely lame, from fear to aggression, and everything in between. All too often, these signs are suppressed, with horses labelled as disobedient, willful, naughty, bolshy, and many other things besides. These are all human constructs, of which the horse has no knowledge. They do not have the ability to preplan, to plot, to be naughty, to have ill intent or malice; they simply respond genuinely to how they are feeling at that time. They have no other way to communicate that they are struggling, yet we fail them by punishing, forcing, and pushing.

Your horse is not less worthy of love or care when they are struggling in any way; if anything, that is the point when they need the greatest understanding, for they are vulnerable. The same is true for you.....compassion soothes the soul in ways that manic striving never will. Go gently with yourselves and each other 💗.

My name is Kate, and my passion is working with horses using positive and ethical techniques.

23/01/2025

Change isn't always easy, even when it's for positive reasons. Doing something different can threaten our sense of safety, our comfort in familiarity. We tend to stick with what we know, even when it no longer serves us. Letting go is a tricky concept for many of us, and I'm no exception.

Recently, I made a change that was needed for both the welfare of my herd and for my own wellbeing and peace of mind. Despite it being my choice, it wasn't easy. Stepping away from places, people, or dreams we've become attached to, can evoke conflicting emotions. Excitement of the new sits with grief at losing the old, and our future plans lie beside all that we've left behind.

It's ok to change, and it's ok if it's not easy. It's ok if no-one else gets it; that doesn't make your choice any less valid. All that matters is that you know why you've taken those steps and that they sit well with you. 💗

25/10/2024

24/10/2024

It's not always about change. Sometimes, it's about getting back to where we started, connecting with the roots of all we hold dear.

Like many of us, my love for all things equine started in childhood. I read obsessively about horse care, pored through pony magazines and stories, and got close to horses whenever I could. I enjoyed riding, but my happiest place was alongside horses. Mucking out, grooming, feeding, tack cleaning, walking them out to the field...anything to be around them.

It's taken a long time and lots of wrong turns to get back to that place, and to trust my intuition about what feels right in how I choose to interact with horses. There's been many lessons along the way, with many more to come, and that's ok. We do the best we can with the knowledge we have at the time, and when we know better, we can do better.

I no longer carry a whip, choose to ride bitless with my own horses, keep them out 24/7 as a barefoot herd, and spend most of my training time with them working from the ground, using positive reinforcement techniques. I have no desire to compete ( although I'm not judging anyone who chooses to, it's just not for me anymore as I know it doesn't bring out my best ), and my top priority is to give my little herd the best quality of life that I can, with their needs put before my plans and wants. I get it wrong often, but I will always keep trying to be the best I can be for them. To Delilah, Gwen and Proffi; thank you for bringing me back home ❤️, and thank you to all the other beautiful equine souls who've been part of that process ( Keo, Norah, Norman, Tulie, Chymnee and Annie, my rainbow horses 🌈❤️ ).

16/10/2024

A few days ago, I was with my horses, tired to the bone. I'd spent another morning filling water tubs, skidding around their track picking up poo, taking hay out, topping up nets, treating an abscess, and I had nothing left in my tank.

As I hid in the shelter waiting for the rain to clear, I glanced up the field and saw a vivid rainbow, and our beautiful Proffi was standing underneath it. He was the picture of contentment, not bothered by the rain or the mud, just present in the moment.

That picture has stayed with me. This time of year can feel like Groundhog Day, an endless stream of physically demanding jobs, feed bills, vets bills, repairs. It can be exhausting and worrying, but there's joy to be found too, in the quiet moments alongside our beloved equine friends. Caring for them is a responsibility and a privilege, and I wouldn't have it any other way 🐴💗.

15/03/2024

When winter feels never-ending and the skies are dark, hold onto the knowledge that brighter days are coming.
The last few months have seemed relentless, with persistent rain reducing fields to muddy swamps and continual storms knocking our energy and spirits.
If this is how it is for you right now, you're not alone. Be kind to yourself, knowing that you're doing your best against the odds and that soon, it will get better.
Sending love to all my fellow horse folk out there....you've got this 💗💪💗

24/12/2023

Merry Christmas to all my friends and clients. I'm having a short break over the festive period and will begin sessions again on Mon 8th January. Thank you for your support throughout 2023....working with you and your beloved equines is a privilege 💖

My name is Kate, and my passion is working with horses using positive and ethical techniques.