NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP, bloodstock & sport horse SALES

Starting Youngsters

Jo likes the challenge of backing the youngsters, some of which look so ‘angelic’ but have a ‘demon’ within!  She uses a lot of groundwork skills before actually backing them, as this helps with the human-horse partnership – to become an alpha ‘horse’ in their eyes - trusted, respected but not feared.

 

Barefoot where possible

We treat every horse as an individual and our lengthy experience in horsekeeping has led us to believe that in some cases the traditional habit of shoeing horses can, in fact, hinder rather than help a horse’s way of going.  The hoof itself acts as a shock absorber and the soft fleshy ‘frog’ would, in its natural state, be in contact with the ground to assist circulation as it bears some of the weight at every stride.  Shoeing a horse raises this frog out of contact and, especially in stabled horses where activity is limited, this just exacerbates general poor circulation and lymphatic drainage. 

 

We realise that through the demands of training or competing some horses just cannot cope with the wear to their hooves barefoot and that in those cases shoeing may be the best course of action. However, we have found that many horses coming to us whose owners have initially insisted their feet would be too week to cope, have seen dramatic improvement in the hoof quality when left unshod.   As each shoe would normally be held on by 4-6 nails which pierce, and therefore weaken, the hoof wall,  it only takes a few months for these perforations to grow down to be replaced with solid hoof once the shoes are removed.  See our article on “GOING BAREFOOT”.

 

A Long Successful Career

We aim to achieve the best performance from every horse we work on - both for the owner …. and our own pride!  We adapt the training and forge each horse’s career by expertly assessing their fortes and building on these strengths.  Unfortunately, inherent lack of ability or injury can sometimes foreshorten these goals but we recognise how much every horse gives to us and therefore take our responsibilities seriously in seeking to provide for them in retirement or after injury curtails their career.  

 

** See our Horse Care Articles & Links page for detailed Holistic Horse Care advice and articles **

    E-MAIL:  info@holistichorsemanship.co.uk

Encourage Natural Behaviour

 

Horses at Valley Fields Stud are encouraged to display their natural behaviour, interacting with other equines, picking at grass and herbage and with freedom to move unrestricted.   Even ‘failed’ horses with behavioural or physical problems have had their careers turned around as their mental attitude has totally changed when their natural needs are catered for.  

….. and, from the Owner’s point of view, having invested in such an asset,  it means that you are giving the horse the best possible chance of a long, successful career.

Our Natural Horsemanship philosophy allows your horse to thrive in an environment which allows them to “be a horse, not just a machine” .  Many racing yards keep their horses stabled for most of every 24 hour period – they may just have an hour on the horse walker or a run up the gallops but that’s all.  This is not acceptable in terms of their mental and physical wellbeing and standing in a stable will not enhance fitness or athleticism! Please spread the word to limit the use of stables and increase turnout.

We can pre-train racehorses in what we feel is a much more holistic approach to getting a horse fit and also take injured or “broken down” racehorses for rehabilitation, rest or retraining to another career.  Please also contact us if you have a well bred mare that may not be able to compete but could have a fulfilling life as a broodmare at Valley Fields.  Horses give us so much—we owe it to them to give them a good life even if their “usefulness” is limited due to the stresses we imposed on them in their careers.