Hesteyri Horses

23/10/2026

13/10/2026

Stabling — the great debate

There’s a post going around about why stabling at night all year round is beneficial, which claims to be entirely factual. I have nothing against the poster — I’m a big fan and generally find her work very useful. This is simply to point out that the list is entirely one-sided. You can list as many ‘facts’ as you like, but without analysing the opposite viewpoint it’s still biased.

I’m very definitely not arguing against the use of a stable. A lot of ours are stabled overnight during winter and it’s a really useful tool for weight management either way. A stable is cosy and warm when it’s lashing it down, it’s much easier to keep them clean, and it’s much easier to check their legs. There are a multitude of amazing things about having a stable — and honestly, a lot of those things are about convenience for the owner, which is absolutely fine. Owning horses is hard enough; we deserve a bit of convenience sometimes.

What I really objected to in the post was the response in the comments whenever anyone argued the other side. The suggestion that it’s obviously more convenient to turn your horse out all the time is, frankly, deluded. We have both every winter — some horses are in, some are out, some are on limited turnout because the ground gets muddy and you just do the best you can. But all of ours are out as much as we can possibly make happen, in as large a space as we can manage. Our whole place is due to be tracked over the next few years — it’s only ever money slowing that down — and eventually we’ll have a multitude of interlocking track systems so every horse can have their ideal situation.

The inconveniences of having horses out all winter are enormous. I spend far more time outside than I’d like — poo picking, haying up (we’re lucky to have a tractor now, but for many years that was wheelbarrows). Anyone who thinks it’s more convenient to keep horses out than in a stable is very much mistaken.

Someone pointed out in the comments that horses eat so much more living out than they do in and that is 100% true. Our biggest overhead is always hay and when they’re in, they eat less than half the amount! And obviously waste a lot less too!

So the people choosing to keep their horses out are doing so because they believe it’s good for their health. And then they see a post like this from someone well respected, and it knocks their confidence. That’s the only reason I’m posting — if you believe your horse is better off out and then read something like that, you might feel like you’re wrong. You’re not.

The benefits of keeping horses out come down to three things: friends, forage and freedom — the three F’s, and the most important factors in equine welfare. Most stables, even lovely ones where horses can reach over and interact, don’t fully provide these. They can see each other but they can’t truly groom and communicate. Freedom in particular — a stable is a very small space for quite a large animal. When Bristol Zoo had lions in a small enclosure everyone was up in arms and they had to be moved. We should ask ourselves the same question about our horses.

I know the original post wasn’t suggesting horses should be stabled 24/7 — it was simply making the case for overnight stabling, and I completely respect that. But we need to be far less one-sided in these discussions. I respect anyone keeping their horse in. I respect anyone keeping their horse out. As long as they’re looked after — and that isn’t always easy — both are valid choices.

People with a platform and a strong opinion have a responsibility to make clear that it is an opinion. That’s all I’m saying.

11/10/2026

Almost myths about the former racehorse

‘They don’t hack alone’
No horse naturally hacks alone. When we’re backing youngsters we train them to be alone from first principles. Former racehorses don’t have that, race yards generally ride a fair few horses out together in a string. Your horse will likely hack out alone (all ours do), they just need training to do it!

‘Former racehorses are more prone to injury than other horses’
This is a MUCH more nuanced subject, so don’t just get angry with me. 36% of horses retiring from racing do so with musculoskeletal injury, which would obviously be a risk factor for future injury.

However, in the population which came out of racing injury free, there is NO evidence that they are any more likely to be injured in the future, compared to other breeds.

What continues to be a high risk factor, and this does go for all horses, but particularly relates to former racehorses, is their conditioning programme, and I don’t mean how quickly they put weight on! If horses don’t learn how to work correctly and use their core, they will develop injury when doing high intensity work such as jumping.

It is worth noting that there’s a dearth of evidence comparing breeds injury risk, and any commentary is anecdotal. I do wish to change that, but I also have quite a lot on my plate to start a new research project!

Please if discussing these subjects be kind and stay calm. Anyone being unnecessarily rude to anyone will have comments hidden and repeat offenders will be blocked.

Full list of references available.

10/10/2026

Confidence!

A very complex problem, which invites a lot of analysis and discussion from various different quarters, but if we cut the noise we can boil it down to a simple answer:

Break it down! Find the thing you feel comfortable doing, until you’re bored, and then push the boundary a little bit. Be positive about the steps you make from that point, rather than looking back at what you could do when you were younger, or before ‘that’ happened.

09/10/2026

Email list/ WhatsApp group

I know some of you will be looking at this and thinking ‘I’m actually on that list and the last time I got an email was during Covid’. (I’m actually not sure about the last time I wrote an update to you all).

However, life is about evolution, and we can all strive to be better, so if you want to be on our email list please send us a message! You’re more likely to never receive an email than to be spammed continually, so rest assured we will not be filling your inbox with junk!

We also have a WhatsApp community, so if you want to connect with like minded people, keep up to date with what’s going on, and get our free advice (and advice from the community that’s a bit more carefully monitored than fb), also send us a message with your number!

Going forward, clients will be added to both of these communities, but please don’t feel like you have to stay, we won’t be offended if you hit the ‘unsubscribe’ button!

What would you like to see on the page? Drop us a line about how we can support you and your horse! In this age of connection, let’s use it to our advantage!

08/10/2026

This weekend is the LAST CHANCE to view these special equines, before they go home for the winter.

Both also available on lwvtb, or possibly open to payment plans!

08/10/2026

Voice note/ text/ phone call consultations

I was sending voice notes back and forth with a friend this morning, and it made me think maybe not everyone has someone they trust to bounce ideas off.

Have a problem and don’t have time or too far away for a lesson? Give us a voice note, text or call to get our expert advice on horse training, riding or confidence/ performance issues.

£10 for a voice note/ text response.
£20 for a phone call.

07/10/2026

Coaching, ridden assessments and riding!

Spaces available on the following dates:
Saturday 10th pm
Sunday 11th pm
Tuesday 13th all day
Wednesday 14th all day

We are hoping to increase our coaching and freelance riding base and have fewer liveries going forward. If you want to be part of a team who is genuinely invested in yours and your horse’s progress, who won’t just teach you on the day but will help you to improve your systems and training every time, we are the ones for you.

Happy to coach or ride, or do a combination of the two! Ridden Assessments include a pre and post ride chat, and a written report for the following 6 weeks, as well as a discount code for the amazing A.P.Equine & Canine McTimoney Chiropractor!

£30 for lessons or schooling at ours, sessions are around 45 mins, but do depend on the fitness of your horse! £50 for the first ridden assessment, £40 for subsequent ones.

£40 for lessons or schooling at yours.

06/10/2026

Menin Gate
17hh, 10 yr old TB gelding. Stunning on the flat, with low 30s eventing. Hasn’t evented this season because of the terrible ground but will be a promising grassroots campaigner! Jumping 90. Hacks alone and in company. Can occasionally throw the odd shape so not a novice ride. Great on the ground! Offers above 8000

Cassandra Rose
15.1, 8 yr old TB mare. Eventing at 90 level. Jumps anything and is a pretty easy ride in this sphere. Flatwork is coming but a work in progress, prefers hacking in company but is fab to lead or follow when she has a friend. Offers above 7000