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A new study undertaken by working animal charity Brooke has revealed that almost half of UK pet owners are comforted by their animals during holidays like Christmas, which although widely considered to be a happy occasion, can be a stressful time for a lot of people.The online questionnaire, which surveyed 2,148 adults in December 2024, found that 80% of respondents believe their pet understands them, while 35% feel their pet understands them better than their friends and family.Nearly half of respondents 48% revealed that they shared how they are feeling with their pet every day.Just as pets provide comfort during stressful times, working animals, including horses, donkeys and mules support millions of people worldwide, often forging unbreakable bonds with theirowners, said Brooke CEO, Chris Wainwright.Handling animals, including working animals, with compassion and respect supports their wellbeing and promotes a positive, life-long relationship with the people around them.We hope these findings encourage people to remember that all animals deserve to be treated compassionately and that animals are wonderful for helping to avoid loneliness.Preferring to spend Christmas with petsThe survey also revealed that almost half (48%) of UK pet owners buy their pets a Christmas present, while 11% prefer spending Christmas with their pet rather than family, and 55% treat their pet to a special festive dinner.Brooke is the worlds largest working equine welfare organisation and works with communities, local health providers and policy makers to improve the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules across Africa, Asia and Latin America.Its 2024 Christmas animation, entitled Handle with Care, highlighted the importance of handling animals compassionately. The animation, which is just over a minute in length, has a voiceover by Ted Lasso actress Annette Badland.Brooke celebrated its 90thanniversary last year.Main image ShutterstockFurther readingHow to tell if a horse is happyHow to stop a horse bitingHow to stop a horse buckingCan you read your horses body language?How to take care of a horseThe post Animals are key to happiness during holiday season, research shows appeared first on Your Horse.

YouTube Channel Focus Area Description Show Jumping Life Show Jumping Provides insights into the life of a show jumper, motivation tips, and Grand Prix course designs. Evention TV Eventing, Hunter/Jumpers, Dressage Covers training tips and farm management in an engaging format. Your Riding Success Dressage Focuses on dressage with advice applicable across all riding styles, emphasizing motivational instruction. Equestrian Life Comprehensive Equestrian Life Covers topics from grooming to barn management and training. Stable Horse Training Horsemanship and Horse Husbandry Offers detailed advice ideal for continuous learning. Tim Anderson Ranch and Horse Training Advanced Training Offers advanced training techniques for intermediate to advanced riders. Basic Horse Training Basic Training Simplifies training into manageable steps for clear communication between rider and horse. Horse Network and Horse & Hound Equestrian Lifestyle Offers content on current events, health topics, and top rider interviews. Exploring Equestrian Training: The Best YouTube Channels for Horse and Rider Improvement For the equestrian enthusiast, the journey to excellence in horse riding is both continuous and rewarding. Whether you're a novice rider or a seasoned competitor, theres always room for improvement. YouTube channels offer an accessible platform to enhance your skills, providing diverse content aimed at horse training and rider development. In this article, we will explore some of the most insightful YouTube channels that cater to equestrian enthusiasts and practical tips to elevate your riding journey. Understanding the Importance of Equestrian Training Before diving into YouTube channels, its crucial to grasp the fundamentals of equestrian training. Improving horse-riding skills is multifaceted, involving knowledge of horse anatomy, behavior, mastering leg aids, and maintaining personal fitness levels [source]. Show Jumping Life For show jumping aficionados, Show Jumping Life provides a treasure trove of insights. With over 80 videos, this channel offers a window into the life of a show jumper, covering motivation tips from top competitors and diving into Grand Prix course designs [source]. Evention TV Evention TV, hosted by Jimmie and Dom, is perfect for eventers, hunter/jumpers, and dressage riders. Although inactive, its rich content remains highly relevant, covering everything from training tips to farm management, all delivered in a manner so captivating you'll want to watch them repeatedly [source]. Your Riding Success To boost confidence and motivation, Your Riding Success with Natasha Althoff is exemplary. Her channel, with over 600 videos, focuses on dressage but offers advice applicable across all riding styles, emphasizing motivational instruction beneficial to riders of all aptitudes [source]. Equestrian Life For those seeking a comprehensive view of equestrian life, Equestrian Life is invaluable. With over 400 videos, it covers a broad range of topics from grooming, barn management, tack, to training, equipping you to become a well-rounded horse person [source]. Stable Horse Training Based in British Columbia, Stable Horse Training offers a focused look at horsemanship and horse husbandry. This channel, run by a seasoned trainer, provides comprehensive advice, making it ideal for those craving continuous learning and detailed advice [source]. Tim Anderson Ranch and Horse Training For intermediate to advanced riders, Tim Anderson Ranch and Horse Training is a must. With over 25 years of experience, Tim Anderson shares advanced training techniques, offering insightful looks into real-world training scenarios [source]. Basic Horse Training Basic Horse Training simplifies complex training into manageable steps, ideal for beginners and seasoned riders aiming to polish their skills. With straightforward, step-by-step guides, it facilitates clear communication between rider and horse [source]. Horse Network and Horse & Hound To gain a broader perspective on the equestrian lifestyle, Horse Network and Horse & Hound are excellent resources, offering content ranging from current events, health topics, to top rider interviews [source]. Tips for Effective Learning from YouTube Channels While YouTube channels are valuable, effective learning requires a strategic approach. Understand your horses anatomy and behavior, refine your leg aids, and consistently work on your overall fitness. These elements ensure a strong foundation for riding improvement [source]. Improve Your Skills with Just Horse Riders Beyond video resources, the right equipment and attire play a critical role in equestrian activities. Explore our extensive range of riding boots, gloves, and socks for maximum comfort and performance at Just Horse Riders. Conclusion Whether you're a beginner or experienced rider, improving your equestrian skills requires commitment, patience, and continuous learning. By leveraging these top YouTube channels alongside our curated turnout rugs, stable rugs, and more at Just Horse Riders, you can significantly enhance your riding abilities and deepen your connection with your horse.

Most of us will need to supplement our horses grazing with hay at points throughout the year. But what are the best ways to hay a herd of horses? And how can you keep the hay as tidy as possible in muddy conditions? Keep reading to find out.Hay for groups of horsesIf your horse is in induvidual turnout, it is often easier to provide extra hay for your horse. You can just supply 1 source of hay for them and thats it.Continue reading Putting Hay in the Field ~ Top Tips at EquiPepper.

Most of us will need to supplement our horses grazing with hay at points throughout the year. But what are the best ways to hay a herd of horses? And how can you keep the hay as tidy as possible in muddy conditions? Keep reading to find out.Hay for groups of horsesIf your horse is in induvidual turnout, it is often easier to provide extra hay for your horse. You can just supply 1 source of hay for them and thats it.Continue reading Putting Hay in the Field ~ Top Tips at EquiPepper.

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Riding stables are facing a staffing crisis when it comes to finding capable employees. Photo by Shelley PaulsonIf youre looking for a job working at a riding stable, youre in luck. There are countless openings for stable help and qualified instructors across the countryits a job-seekers market right now due to working shortages affecting riding stables. The United States is not alone in its struggle to keep a full workforce; the UKs Horse and Hound magazine reports that a number of riding schools have decreased offerings due to a shortage of workers, horses and funds. The recent headline: Looking for Work? Canadas Horse Industry Has Endless Opportunities from the American Horse Publications newsgroup describes worker shortages in Canada.Table of ContentsToggleShortage of Young Workers Creative Solutions for Riding StablesHours, Pay, and BenefitsKey TakeawayBut why the shortage? Can it be solved? And how will it affect the future sustainability of riding stables?Shortage of Young Workers Colleges with equine programs receive requests for graduates by riding stables. Marny Mansfield from SUNY Cobleskill indicates that on the average, I receive one request a week for either barn help or a therapeutic horsemanship instructor. There is an unmet demand, since most of my students get swept up after their internship. The same has also been said by many equine vet practices looking for recent graduates to add to their staff. Younger people value their time and question if the longer hours and hard work of a stable or veterinarian job meets their need for work-life balance.In addition to the decreased supply of workers, stable employers report a decrease in the knowledge and skill level of applicants. Where do potential workers obtain the needed knowledge and skill sets?Years ago, many kids would be a barn ratsomeone who would spend long hours working at a stable in exchange for saddle time. That option is less available today. Robin Brueckmann, dressage professional and a former barn rat, extolls the value of that immersive experience and points to the German saying, One only learns riding by sweeping. Kids also gain equine knowledge and skills by participating in 4-H, Pony Club, camps, et cetera. If there are fewer qualified staff available, who will train the next generation?Creative Solutions for Riding StablesEquine Affaire in Massachusetts in November 2023 provided hope, however. A large number of youth were in attendance and clearly articulated that they wanted to continue to work with horses. A few indicated that they would pursue a non-horse career to afford horses as a hobby. Teachers described equine classes that have been added to their high school curricula, along with kids participating in Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) riding programs.Creativity is the key to possible solutions. Work-to-ride programming, like the old barn rat programs, are popular.One such program is offered by Kim Gundersen at Equine Journey in Lakeville, Mass. The average age of kids in Gundersens program is 7 to 12before they tend to lose interest or take up other activities.Interestingly, there is a resurgence of adults over the age of 35 that participate in the work-to-ride program. Participants gain knowledge and skills, and Gundersen gains assistance in caring for the horses.The world is different now, she says. I dont know where the teenagers are, but I wish theyd come back to the barn.Hours, Pay, and BenefitsStable owners need to have business management skills to help make sound decisions. Kris Young of Touchstone Farm in Lyndeborough, N.H., says that flexibility is needed to meet the needs of workers.To increase worker supply, the horse industry must promote why a position at a riding stable is a sound career choice. Kitty Stalsburg, executive director and instructor at High Hopes therapeutic riding center in Old Lyme, Conn., indicates that the horse industry tends to be myopic and needs to look outside of the box for solutions. The pay scale also needs to be competitive. Stable owners must not overwork their staff. If four staff are required to run the stable, but only two are hired, the temptation to overwork and burn out the two is high.Stable managers need to support their staff and provide additional incentives, such as benefits, time off, education, and other perks. Stable owners should be ready to step in and continue training employees to fill the knowledge gaps. Home-grown instructors can provide solutions.Focusing on the benefits of the horse and human connection can be a powerful selling point. Following the work of organizations, such as Horses and Humans Research Foundation, which supports research and provides webinars about why horse connections are powerful, can provide sound, useful data.Key TakeawayWith high overhead, lots of hard work, and a decreasing work force, there is a concern for the future of stables and horseback riding as we know it. So why work in this industry?I love the connection with the horses and how I feel around them, and I love sharing it with others, says Gundersen.A youngster puts it in more current terms: A horse connection is chill!The working shortages across our riding stables are a troubling phenomenon, so put on your thinking cap to help our industry find creative solutions.This article about the worker shortage affecting riding stables appeared in the March 2024 issue of Horse Illustratedmagazine.Click here to subscribe!The post Riding Stables in a Crisis Due to Worker Shortages appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

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A riding school and rescue and rehabilitation centre in Hampshire is fearing for its future after the local council decided to lease its land to a herd of alpacas.Russells Equestrian Centre near Southampton has leased 7.5 acres of land in Itchen Valley Country Park for grazing from Eastleigh Borough Council between May and October each year for the last 10 years.The riding school, which also operates a rescue and rehabilitation centre called the Epona Trust, was informed last month that this arrangement would no longer be possible as the council has decided to lease the land to facilitate the grazing and walking of around 30 alpacas.This decision has severe consequences for the business as they require this land to provide enough grazing for their horses and comply with their riding school licence.There is concern that refusal to lease the land will jeopardize their business, livelihoods and their wonderful horses and ponies.Lose their whole businessCarol Boulton established Russells Equestrian Centre 50 years ago, and together with her daughter Verity Tidmarsh, have a hugely positive impact on our community, said Amanda Winstone, Epona Trust committee member.They specialise in helping children and adults with special needs and Carol is a Riding for the Disabled county chair and a trustee for the Association of British Riding Schools.They also rescue and rehabilitate horses and ponies as part of the Epona Trust, all who will be affected by the loss of this grazing.They could lose their whole business due to this decision, but the impact is worse than that and could also mean losing their beloved horses.At the time of writing, a petition set up by Amanda advocating that councillors review the decision had received over 2,700 signatures.A spokesperson for Eastleigh Borough Council told Your Horse:The Council has entered into a new licence agreement to allow the grazing and walking of around 30 alpacas on the 7.5-acre Lower Russell Fields site at Itchen Valley Country Park.This will provide grazing and the opportunity for children and adults to walk alpacas at the park. As well as having biodiversity and health and well-being benefits, it will generate income towards the upkeep of the park.The previous seasonal grazing licence for Russells Equestrian has been issued for many years on a month-to-month basis between May and October, with no commitment in the legal agreement to continue this year-on-year.We wrote to Russells Equestrian in December giving them five months notice that we would not be renewing the licence this coming May, and the Council is continuing to work with Russells Equestrian to look for alternative grazing.Main image Russells Equestrian Centre.Further readingEquine flu: how to lower the risk to your horse7 common winter vet call outs and how to avoid them this seasonHandy guide to horse health insurance and vet fees coverHorses are designed to get wet, so many dont need to wear a rug, says vetThe post Concern for future of riding school and rescue centre as council opts to lease grazing to alpacas appeared first on Your Horse.