The Freedom Track

18/10/2026

🐎 A few months ago, Mickey couldn’t canter without slipping. Yesterday, he gave me one of the biggest milestones of our year! ❤️

To some, this might look like a simple canter around the arena, but to us, it’s a HUGE step forward. Mickey was struggling to push off properly and lacked the strength and stability he needed, so we’ve had to go right back to basics and listen to what his body was telling us.

Last year, we were out chasing cows 🐄, but this year has been about slowing down and rebuilding. It’s been a team effort between the vet and farrier to investigate the cause of his discomfort, and we’re still very much on that journey.

For now, we’re focusing on hacking, water treadmill work and a couple of schooling sessions a week, gradually rebuilding his strength without asking too much too soon. I’m also riding in an English jump saddle with the Air System by Sue Carson, as unfortunately his Wade saddle is now too narrow.

Mickey definitely seems to prefer having a PURPOSE rather than just going round in circles! 😂 Yesterday, we worked on side pass using a pole as a guide, and he was excellent.

We’re not there yet, and his comfort will always come first, but these little wins mean everything. Sometimes progress is about taking a step back to move forward. ❤️

Last year, chasing cows. This year, rebuilding the foundations. Hopefully, we’ll get back out there one day!

Onwards and upwards, Mic! 🐴💪❤️

17/10/2026

Nickel is enjoying a warm gut mash tonight with a little bit of goldenmeal and linseed oil… he only gets fed once a day if that and has ad-lib blended hay… I’ll post an update on how he is looking tomorrow 🌟 🍑 Finer Forage - Naturally Better Horsefood

13/10/2026

Nickel, 3 years old, and Red, 16 years old. ❤️🐴

This picture captures something I feel quite strongly about, and something I probably don’t talk about enough.

Far too often, I hear people say that horses shouldn’t behave like this. That they shouldn’t play rough, rear, kick out or get carried away with one another. But horses are horses, and this is normal equine interaction. It’s communication, boundaries, play and social learning.

Somewhere along the way, I think we’ve become so focused on preventing horses from getting injured that we’ve started to normalise keeping them apart, limiting their interactions and managing every possible risk.

Of course, safety matters. Of course, there is a place for individual turnout, particularly for health reasons, recovery, management needs or when circumstances require it. But we also need to ask ourselves a bigger question…

What is the cost to a horse’s mind when we take away its ability to simply be a horse?

Horses are social animals. They need companionship, movement, choice and the opportunity to interact with others. They learn from one another, establish boundaries, build relationships and express themselves in ways that we can’t replicate by keeping them in separate paddocks.

And no, I don’t believe every horse should be thrown together without thought. Herd compatibility, space, introductions, individual confidence and appropriate management all matter enormously. There is a difference between sensible risk management and trying to eliminate every single risk from a horse’s life.

What worries me is the horse left alone, stressing in a paddock, because we’re so frightened of a scratch, a kick or a little bit of rough play. We can end up protecting the outside of the horse whilst completely overlooking what’s happening on the inside.

I would far rather see a horse with the odd mark on its body, living a fulfilled, socially connected life, than one who looks immaculate on the outside but is struggling mentally because its basic needs aren’t being met.

That doesn’t mean ignoring injuries or accepting dangerous situations. It means looking at the whole horse, not just the bits we can see.

Nickel is only three, and Red is sixteen. There is something lovely about seeing horses of different ages interacting, communicating and being part of a social world that belongs to them.

Our job isn’t to make horses fit perfectly into our human idea of what safe should look like. It’s to find a responsible balance that allows them to live as horses. ❤️

I know this won’t be everyone’s opinion, and that’s absolutely fine. I’d genuinely love to hear other people’s thoughts on this one. 🐴💭

12/10/2026

🖤

11/10/2026

Super impressed with this gut mash… smells so good and Gigha, Meg and Nickel are loving it warm as we head into the colder months!

Mickey is starting in the museli with the omega boost but I still give him some Lucie nuts and linseed in a warm mash too while his work increases.

All ponies still get foreage plus balancer and salt too 🖤

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11/10/2026

🖤

11/10/2026

He’s cute and distracting

10/10/2026

And relax ☺️

07/10/2026

Mic is currently back at home with me and Meg, and he’s getting some serious smiles! 😂❤️

A friend of mine has been taking him out a couple of times a week for me, heading up into the hills, and can I tell the difference? Absolutely!

He is absolutely loving being busy, and I can genuinely feel the difference in him all the time at the moment. He’s getting work at least five times a week, with a real focus on building those supportive muscles and improving his movement.

He’s feeling stronger, more balanced and, most importantly, he is really enjoying himself.

I’ve got a feeling this winter is going to be a really good one for him. ❤️

The only slight issue… he’s getting fitter, stronger and enjoying himself far too much! 😂🙈

… 😆🐴