Flying Hooves - Equine Massage, Bit & Bridle Fitting

03/04/2026

❣ Hi everyone! There's been a few changes to my T&Cs, so please have a read through🧐

Quite a bit more info in there on vet guidance, safety and data management. Any horse that has not been seen in 3 years will have data archived and deleted. This should give enough time for any insurance needs for historic veterinary info etc.

The big one is I'm going to have to get stricter on payments. Invoices are payable within 24 hours of receipt and payments can be made by card at the end of your appointment. This has always been the case but I really need to start enforcing it, I'm sure you can understand 🥰

Thanks for reading the updates!!

💖 Sarah

02/04/2026

😍 I’m so proud of two of my lovely clients being featured in this month’s Your Horse Magazine for completing the 1,000 mile hacking challenge! 👏 👏 👏

Well done to both of you, it’s been a pleasure to be behind the scenes cheering you on and “keeping your horses moving”!

💖 Sarah

02/04/2026

Great post!

Following on from our post regarding horses carrying their tail to one side and why they do it?

So, we start with a sobering truth.....

⭐️We dont know!!⭐️

Not for sure!
With so many controversial opinions and opposing avenues of information, it is clear, this question does not have one simple answer.

What we do know, is tail crookedness is something that should be noticed, considered and monitored.
It is a clue, or in some cases a flag.

It most certainly can be related to something simple like....

✅️Genetics. Especially in Arabs/Welsh cobs.
✅️Mares in season.
✅️Sweet itch.

But tail crookedness can also be related to...

✅️Muscle tension.
✅️Alignment issues.
✅️Compensatory patterns
✅️Injury/trauma.

So, When we notice our horse has their tail to one side we need to consider any other possible related symptoms, such as....

✅️Asymmetry/over all development.
✅️Lameness.
✅️Stiffness or difficulty bending one way.
✅️Reluctant or unable to engage hind quarters.
✅️Poor transitions.
✅️Bucking/bronking.

These signs or behaviours require investigations or involvement from...

✅️A saddle fitter.
✅️Rider, trainer, instructor, = Straightness exercises.
✅️Body worker or body workers, we tend to use a combination of therapies and therapists.
(Tail carriage is linked to the spine and pelvis)
✅️Vets.

Speaking of vets....
If carrying the tail to one side is new, or persistent, you must seek the support of a vet immediately.
Especially if you witness a crooked tail accompanied by the toes being dragging and/or any incoorodination, as this can be a sign of a neurological condition such as EPM.

⭐️But to conclude...

The tail to one side is not a diagnosis. It is a clue, which in our opinion, often relates to asymmetry somewhere in the body.
Tail crookedness can range from being completely harmless to something that requires immediate attention.

Paul and Cheryl Sheldrake.
New Mill Stables. ❤️

⭐️⭐️⭐️Just for fun.....
With this information, what do you now think of the image I have shared below?

On the previous post that featured a video of this horse in walk, a couple of people made comments regarding the saddle and rider sitting to the left.....

With that in mind, What action do you think we have taken for this horse?

Lastly, a big thank you to all of you, that have positive and kind interactions on our posts.
We appreciate you and your input. ❤️

Thank you ❤️

01/04/2026

🤩 Hey everyone! I’m soooo excited to be able to introduce a brand new, one of a kind, experience for your horse!! 😍 I’ll be at Donington village hall today with my equine sunbed! Bring your horse along and get them beach bod ready with a perfect bronzing session! ☀️ Fed up of owning a grey?? Let the sunbed tan them to a beautiful mahogany 🐎
The possibilities are endless!
💖 Sarah 😘

31/03/2026

Oooo 👀 look!! Now if only you knew a bodyworker or a bit and bridle fitter you could vote for her. Totally unashamedly dropping a breeze block sized hint 😂
And, if you don’t like me, vote for someone you do 😆

ONE DAY LEFT TO NOMINATE!

Champion and nominate your favourite equestrian business, professional charity or organisation via The prestigious and highly coveted Equestrian Business Awards!

The categories for this year are:

🌟Retailer of the Year
🌟Equine Therapist of the Year sponsored by Equicantis
🌟Vet Practice of the Year
🌟Diversity Award
🌟Riding School of the Year in association with the ABRS+
🌟Equestrian Media of the Year sponsored by Cowgirl Like Me Media
🌟Equine Dental Technician of the Year sponsored by the British Association of Equine Dental Technicians
🌟Groom of the Year
🌟Equestrian Tech of the Year
🌟Livery Yard of the Year sponsored by Westgate Labs
🌟Event Venue of the Year
🌟Farrier of the Year
🌟Riding Instructor of the Year
🌟Horse Transporter of the Year
🌟Equine Service of the Year
🌟Behavioural Trainer of the Year
🌟Saddle Fitter of the Year
🌟Charity of the Year sponsored by Downwest Embroidery
🌟Photographer of the Year
🌟Bit/Bridle Fitter of the Year

A huge thank you also to our general sponsors, Equine K Taping UK and Equinnect for their unwavering support!

31/03/2026

When you have a day off and your horse needs some TLC but you want to just hang out and not “work”, enter the Equilibrium Massage Mitt!

or should that be !!

28/03/2026

Beautiful Breeze, breezed through her second treatment today! So proud of how far this little mare has come in such a short space of time 🥰

She was really struggling after reactions to her vaccine injections; sore, stiff, tense muscles 😔

Today, there was a lot less going on and she enjoyed some deeper release work, giving herself a huge pandiculation stretch upwards through her neck and shoulders 🤩

Her mum has bought her a heat pad so this is going to be a big help before her next visit, helping muscles relax further.

Breeze and her mum really are a pleasure to work with!

💖 Sarah

24/03/2026

😴 As I fell into bed last night, I thought about the horses I’d worked with yesterday.

“Just a light day…” 👀

Only 4 horses.
That’s it. Not 6. Not 8. Just 4.

But here’s what that actually looked like:

🐴 4 x 2-hour sessions
🚗 Travel between clients
🛒 Quick stop for horse & dog food
🍴 Lunch on the go
🐎 My own horse to care for before and after
♥️ Not to forget the time needed to call my mum, catch up with my husband and snuggle my dogs!

All in, that’s a 13-hour day…
12 hours 45 minutes out of the house to be precise.

And it got me thinking…

When people say they see 6, 7, 8+ horses a day, how much time is each horse really getting?

Because this work isn’t just “doing a treatment.”
It’s assessing, listening, adapting and, sometimes, standing still long enough for the horse to tell you what they need.

That takes time.
And it takes energy.

I’m not interested in numbers.
I’m interested in outcomes.

Horses that move better.
Horses that feel better.
Horses that are better.

Quality over quantity. Every single time 💜

💖 Sarah

If you and your horse just want time and to feel listened to, drop me a DM and come join the Flying Hooves Family 🐴

23/03/2026

Busy day today driving around and treating this gorgeous group!
The delightful Duchess, the scrummy Spike, the lovely Laurel and the adorable Aggie 😍
What a brilliant day! Thanks for being amazing everyone!
💖 Sarah xx

21/03/2026

Happy 1st day of Spring! 🌼☀️

And what a gorgeous day it is! The lovely Xena thoroughly enjoyed her treatment in the sunshine 🥰

She was utterly relaxed and I was able to get some really deep work done over her glutes which will help her with hind limb range of motion and allow her to work correctly under saddle 😍 so proud of this lovely girl today!

💖 Sarah

19/03/2026

Tongue out Thursday brought to you by the lovely Dora! 😜 how cheeky does she look, showing us exactly what she thinks to having to do her assessment! 😂
Love you Dorsee! 😍

19/03/2026

Does anyone have one of my 5” hanging cheeks on loan?? I seem to be missing one, too expensive to lose!
Thanks guys ♥️