Sweet itch, also known as summer eczema or equine insect hypersensitivity, is a common yet distressing condition affecting horses, particularly over the Summer. Weve all known horses who have a touch of sweet itch where they are often seen with bald manes and tails from rubbing. But it can be an absolute nightmare for both horse and owner. In this post, we will look at the cause and common symptoms of Sweet Itch.What is Sweet Itch?Continue reading Understanding Sweet Itch in Horses: Symptoms & Causes at EquiPepper.

We have not had the best 12 months. We had Scotties tendon injury, weve had 2 abscesses, developed a touch of sweet itch in his girth & armpits. Then to top it off, about a month ago, he went quite lame in his loss of use leg!He did improve a lot after seeing the farrier and reducing the size of his field. But after 2 weeks he was still 1/10 2/10 lame.Continue reading Hes done it again at EquiPepper.

I found this years Badminton Horse Trials incredibly exciting and I think a big part of the reason why, is that it felt like a traditional event. By that, I mean it really felt that every phase mattered and anyone could win it. I cant remember the last time I watched Badminton and Burghley and thought someone placed outside the top 20 after dressage could win it. But this year I did and it wasnt far from happening.Continue reading Badminton 2024 ~ A traditional Eventing Competition at EquiPepper.

The last 12 months have seen a lot of changes to my Owners Group stable. There have been some exciting developments and a few happy goodbyes.Chez Hans RetiringChez Hans was a fantastic horse to have in my stable. He spent one season constantly winning back to back before suffering a small injury. With a long rehab he made a full recovery. But perhaps due to his age, he struggled returning to racing afterwards.Continue reading New Jumps Mare and More Goodbyes at EquiPepper.

Tomorrows the big day the Grand National is here! But this year, things might look a bit different, and thats because the BHA (British Horseracing Authority) have made the first real changes to the race in 30 years. All these changes aim to improve the safety and welfare of both the horses and the jockeys taking part.Reduced Field Size:In a proactive move to mitigate congestion and minimise risks during the race, organisers have reduced the number of horses competing from 40 to 34.Continue reading Changes to The Grand National in 2024 at EquiPepper.

Last year, the Horse Welfare Board took a huge step forward in launching Britians First Thoroughbred Census. The aim of thiis pioneering initiative, undertaken by Hartpury University, was to bridge the intelligence gap between the estimated and actual British Thoroughbred population. From hear we can better understand the lives of horses who have left racing and take steps to further improve their welfare. And now, the results are in!A huge number of responsesThe Thoroughbred Census, spanning six months, garnered an impressive 8,256 responses from former racehorse owners, 5,566 were previously unrecorded.Continue reading Britains First Thoroughbred Census: The Results Are In! at EquiPepper.

This post contains Affiliate Links. This means we may receive a small commission on any sales you make after clicking on these links. For more details please see our Privacy Policy.Back in October I treated myself to a pair of Kentucky Storm Jodhpur boots from Bareback Footwear. While they are riding boots, this isnt what I bought them for. I bought them to be an every day winter boot for all occasions.Continue reading Bareback Kentucky Storm Jodhpur Boot Review at EquiPepper.

Are traditional metal horseshoes inadvertently contributing to discomfort and potential injury in racehorses? Maybe. We know that the rigid nature and weight of a metal shoe can increase concussion forces in horses legs, potentially overshadowing the benefits the shoe offers a horse. But fear not, because EQUISHOX is here to offer a promising new alternative.Developed by former top British jockey Robert Choc Thornton, EQUISHOX is a revolutionary rubber horseshoe designed to tackle this issue head-on.Continue reading EQUISHOX ~ Reducing Concussion Forces in Racehorses Legs at EquiPepper.

So far 2024 has not been our year.Scottie came in abscess lame towards the end of January. But over the next few days, while waiting for the farrier to come out, his lameness was very up and down. Some days he was very lame, some he wasnt far off being sound. This combined with a bit of swelling in his lower leg made me doubt and abscess and worried it could be a tendon injury.Continue reading Another Month, Another Abscess at EquiPepper.