Buck-It-Better

05/11/2025

Make sure you report it!

Stay safe everyone 🐴🤞🏼

⚠️ Fireworks and horses: the risks are real.

Since 2021, we’ve recorded:
💔 26 horse fatalities
🐴 121 horses injured
🧑 33 people injured

These are more than just numbers... they represent lives forever changed.

Every incident matters. If fireworks impact you or your horse tonight, report it via the Horse i app. Your report helps us campaign for change and build a clearer picture of what’s happening across the UK.

This allows us to actively lobby for stronger legislation through the Fireworks Impact Coalition... working with MPs, partners and campaigners to better protect horses and their owners from these preventable incidents.

📲 Download the Horse i app now and help make horses’ lives safer 👉 https://bit.ly/40B1o0w

01/11/2025

The worst weeks/months of our year are here!

Do non horsey people know that Fireworks can cause severe stress, injury, and even death to horses 😢 Sudden bangs and flashes often trigger panic, leading to serious accidents 🔥

👀 UK Firework Laws 🧨

❌ It's illegal to set off fireworks between 11 pm and 7 am, except; Bonfire Night until midnight & New Year's Eve, Diwali, Chinese New Year until 1 am

❌ Fireworks must not be set off in public places such as streets or parks.

❌ Only adults (18+) can buy or use fireworks

❌ Noise limit: consumer fireworks must not exceed 120 decibels

👀 Around Horses & Livestock 🐴
Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it's an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to an animal!

🎆 Setting fireworks off near stables, fields, or riding areas will cause unnecessary suffering and could lead to prosecution.

🎆 Always check for animals nearby before lighting fireworks.

🎆 Inform local yards, owners, and neighbours well in advance of any planned displays - please carefully consider and respect any concerns raised by owners of horses or livestock!

How You Can Help 🤗

If you are planning a fireworks display;
✅ Choose low-noise or ‘silent’ fireworks.
✅Warn local horse owners ahead of time.

If you see fireworks endangering horses❗️
📞RSPCA Cruelty Line: 0300 1234 999

30/10/2025

OLD HORSES CAN DIE OF STARVATION IF NOT GIVEN FEED THEY CAN CHEW

Many owners see their elderly horses or ponies getting thinner and thinner despite some bucket concentrate feed, and might assume that 'it's just their age'. These owners often have no idea that all the horse needs is feed in a form that the horse can eat.

Most elderly horses lose weight because they cannot chew very well, and this might be despite good, regular dental care. Horses' teeth grow continuously throughout their lives and will eventually loosen and fall out.

They literally 'run out' of teeth. Even those with teeth left can struggle to chew enough conserved forage (hay/haylage) to maintain condition, because the grinding surfaces of the teeth become smoother.

If these horses are fed just concentrates - especially low-fibre conditioning or veteran feeds - they will struggle, because they will be fibre-deficient.

Older horses who gradually get thinner must have their forage (hay, haylage and eventually grass) replaced with ground fibre sources, soaked to a mash, and eventually may need 100% of their feed from a bag.

It is ignorance, rather than cruelty to let a very old - but otherwise healthy - horse get very thin. But it is absolutely 100% avoidable with the knowledge of what to feed!

The grey horse reflects how older horses can end up looking if they don't have their long forage replaced with chewable alternatives. I have hepled a number of owners with old horses this thin.

The dun pony is how an older horse (late 30s) can look despite having lost most of their teeth, when fed 6kg forage-replacement feeds daily.

You can claim a free article on feeding older horses and ponies (see the comments for a link) AND I'm delivering a webinar on this very subject next week - comment webinars and I'll send you the details.

Please feel free to share
🐴🍏

25/10/2025

Due to some confirmed cases of strangles in the surrounding area, we would like to give some advice and put some precautionary rules in place for our upcoming competitions.

We would like all competitors to be vigilant and forthcoming with any information you may think will keep everyone safe.

Before leaving your yard to come to Crow Wood, we would like everyone to take their horses temperature. The “normal” realms is anywhere between 37.2 and 38.3 degrees. It is a good idea to take your horses temperature once weekly so you know what is “normal” for your horse. If you find your horses temperature is not in the normal bracket, please get in touch and we will over a full refund for you.

Other signs to look out for are:
- lethargy
- swollen lymph nodes
- discharge from the nose or eyes
- lack of appetite
- dull eyes/coat

If you suspect your horse even the slightest, it is best to contact your vet and get advice on the steps moving forward.

The barns and yard area are strictly NO ENTRY ⛔️ if you must use the toilets, entry is ONLY permitted from the gate near the horse walker via the car park. Rosettes and test sheets can be collected from the hut near the entrance to the small indoor. The reception area may only be used to access toilets and vending machines.

We all want to be able to enjoy our equine friends safely and healthily so honesty and vigilance is key.

We are looking forward to seeing you all 🦄

22/10/2025

I am soo sorry I have been very quiet on my page, I havent been to visit any ponies since before HOYS.

Being honest, Im still coming to terms with loosing my big best friend a couple of months ago.

As we all are preparing for our neddies for a gruelling winter, I will be back out in November, so please drop me a message if your ponies are need of a massage 🙌🏼

Hope you are all surviving the summer blues!

30/09/2025

My littlest BIB member, standing at around 30” and thats 30” full of pure SASS 💁🏻‍♀️

30/09/2025

I had the joys of spending my Friday afternoon with the very lovely Major a couple of weeks ago. 🖤

Hes a beautiful gentleman that was a pleasure to treat just before he struts his stuff around the arena of dreams in a few days time! 💜💛

I will be supporting him and his Team Bridales
by the sideline with a prosecco in my hand 🥂 🤞🏼

Thankyou for trusting me with your very handsome boy 🩵

Best of luck! 🤞🏼 🐴🖤

30/09/2025

Get ready 💇🏼‍♀️ 😆

24/09/2025

Can you do it though? I challenge you all! 🐴💪🏼