JKHindmarsh Equine Services

30/10/2025

04/08/2025

Looking forward to this!! 🥰🦄

**Strangles, Asthma, and Clicker Training Talk**

Join us for a discussion about strangles and equine asthma featuring two excellent veterinarians, Beth Bryant and Laura Hergreaves from B&W Equine Vets - Failand . Following the talk, Jenny Hindmarsh from JKHindmarsh Equine Services will demonstrate how to use clicker training to help our horses become accustomed to the nebulizer.

Tickets cost £10 and can be purchased through our online shop: https://www.theavoncentre.org.uk/shop-1

All proceeds from this event will benefit our charity, which provides riding and other nature-based activities for the Disabled and disadvantaged, particularly to aid in the recovery from hay loss due to the recent fire.

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23/06/2025

When horses are denied regular contact with other horses, they can experience increased stress, which may manifest as restlessness, stereotypic behaviours (such as weaving or cribbing), and even health issues like digestive or musculoskeletal problems.

Social isolation has also been linked to heightened anxiety, learning difficulties, and a greater risk of injury, as horses deprived of companionship are more likely to become despondent or withdrawn.

Humans can offer comfort and support to horses during periods of social isolation, but cannot fully substitute for the social bonds horses form with other horses.

A recent (2025) study by Janczarek and colleagues examined this issue by measuring heart rate, heart rate variability, and behavioural responses in 12 horses during brief isolation periods.

The researchers found that even with attentive human support, horses still show physiological and behavioural signs of stress when isolated from other horses. Mares, in particular, remained stressed regardless of the type of human interaction.

Janczarek, I., Gazda, I., Barłowska, J., Kurnik, J., & Łuszczyński, J. (2025). Social Isolation of Horses vs. Support Provided by a Human. Animals

22/06/2025

Hearing the early communication - we, as humans, are generally not so great at this but we can train ourselves to get better! 🥰🦄

✨ ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕎𝕙𝕚𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕣 𝔹𝕖𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕥 ✨

When we’re around horses, it’s easy to miss the quiet ways they try to communicate with us, especially when we’re focused on a task or rushing through our routine.

Horses are always talking to us.
That sideways glance, the quick stop in eating, a little chew or blink. These are all ways they might be saying, “I’m not quite sure about this,” or “Can you give me a little space?”

Often these behaviours are labelled as “naughty” or “dominant” when really, they’re just a horses way of doing their best to be heard. If we pay attention to those early subtle signals, we’re much less likely to see those bigger behaviours show up later on.

Let’s give our horses a voice before they have to shout. 🧡

16/06/2025

So great!!! 🤩🦄

Watch the latest from ITV News - The University of Portsmouth believes the findings could lead to improvements in horse welfare

17/04/2025

Exactly this! Dominant/Alfa/top of the pecking order; all outdated terms that don’t help us to work better with our horsey pals. Understanding learning theory, internal and external motivations and how to set up for successful interactions is the way I like to work.
Let’s keep progress rolling forwards with a growth mindset and aim to give horses a good life 🥰

The concept of a fixed "alpha" horse leading a herd through dominance has evolved significantly in recent years.

The term "alpha" is increasingly seen as misused and outdated when describing horse behaviour (similar to its decline in wolf science).

Historically, the "alpha" horse was perceived as holding a permanent top rank, claiming priority access to resources like food, water, and preferred locations, and asserting dominance by chasing subordinate horses.

This belief extended into human-horse interactions, with some training philosophies advocating that handlers must establish themselves as the "alpha" to gain the horse's respect and obedience and methods interpreted as the horse 'accepting' the human trainer as its leader.

Contrary to traditional beliefs that only the highest-ranked or oldest horses in a group lead, research demonstrates that any horse can initiate movement.

As for the concept of humans as alpha leaders - this brings its own set of problems. This approach relies on anthropomorphism, transferring human concepts like authority onto horses, which can lead to training techniques that elicit fear, over clear, consistent communication.

Adapted from: Equitation Science, 2nd edition - written by Andrew McLean, Paul McGreevy, Janne Whinther Christensen & Uta König von Borstel

Available for purchase on our website!

19/03/2025

I really feel that if we could change the way we use land for horses we could see massive, all encompassing benefits for horses but also for the local ecosystem. Surely there’s a collaboration waiting to happen with an environmental organisation!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BhtDUShKm/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Lack of turnout – and owners without basic knowledge – mean ‘most horses’ in England and Wales are not getting what they need. Read more via link below

02/02/2025

Last Wednesday I went back to Brack(enhurst campus). Since I completed my Equine Sports Science degree at Nottingham Trent University in 2013 there have been some huge changes. The horses now live out 🌱🌳🍁🍂 all year round, only coming in for teaching, individual care and tlc. Wherever the horses are, they always have access to other horses. All of the housing is social. ALL OF IT! The least social housing is American barn style stabling with barred windows between boxes - this would be a dream in many yards! 🦄
The horses were so relaxed, one lovely mare was sleeping flat out while two other horses were being clipped by students next door (these hairy friends were also dosing). It’s spectacular.

There’s more - there is a policy for riding the horses where you must use one aid at a time. I cannot even begin to express how excited I am about this. The implications for horse welfare are MASSIVE. I can’t tell you how much I love the way this yard is run and managed. I can’t stop talking about it. 🫶