Boundary Equestrian

06/04/2026

🦄⚖️AUTUMN GRASS and LAMINITIS 🦄⚖️

It can happen! It's very similar to spring grass with it's sugars.

➡️photosynthesis creates sugars which provide energy to the plant helping it to grow
➡️sugar in grass is the lowest in the early morning
➡️any sugars that the plant isn't going to use immediately stores them as fructans
➡️sugars and fructans are fermented by bacteria in the hindgut and produce lactic acid
➡️too much lactic acid disturbs the good bacteria and can cause colic or laminitis
➡️stressed pasture (drought, frost, overgrazing) can increase sugar levels

If you suspect your horse is laminitic contact your Vet immediately. They will be able to provide the next steps.

If caught early and managed, laminitis does not have to be the end of your horse. By feeding an appropriate forage based and balanced diet your laminitic horse can still enjoy their life.

The below pic of "Sugar Content in Forage" was copied from https://www.facebook.com/ThePureFeedCompany. It's a great, clear and concise visual.

21/03/2026

Pole lessons....
Saturday 28th March.
All details in the attached.
PM me to book

21/03/2026

⚖️⚖️NUTRITIONAL NEWS⚖️⚖️

Using corn oil to help with ulcers.

I was recently at an educational evening held by Rangiora Vets where they discussed ulcers. A big take away from this was the use of corn oil to reduce ulcers as a form of treatment. Naturally, everyone’s ears perked up with being told that using a natural item could combat ulcers…..however my ears perked up and my brain started whizzing with flashing lights – good flashy and bad flashy!

✅Good Flashy Lights
➡️One study has shown that corn oil helps to reduce acid output in the stomach, therefore aiding in the gastric mucosa (1).
➡️Another study found that corn oil helped to heal glandular ulcers. The corn oil did not show any healing to the non-glandular ulcers (2).
➡️Corn oil is a natural product, i.e. not a chemical and can be purchased over the counter.
➡️Corn oil provides a good source of slow release energy without the fizz (as all oils do).

⁉️Bad Flashy Lights
➡️One depravation of feed study found that corn oil did not help to prevent or heal non-glandular ulcers (3).
➡️Corn oil, like all oils can be unpalatable to horses – introduction must be slow, increasing a small amount every 4 or so days.
➡️Corn oil contains more omega 6 than omega 3 – ratio is approx. 55 : 1. Linseed (flax) oil is 14 : 57! Omega 6 and 3 are essential fatty acids which the horse needs but their bodies cannot create. So they need to be fed as part of their diet. Omega 6 is inflammatory while omega 3 is anti-inflammatory – both are required. However, a horse with PPID or asthma for example would require more omega 3 to help their body cope with their ailment.

Takeaway message
➡️First and foremost, talk to your Vet and get a scope performed so you know what you are dealing with.
➡️While it may not be the help required to cure your horse of non-glandular ulcers, corn oil is definitely a contender to help prevent both glandular and non-glandular ulcers as the oil helps to create the mucous layer in the stomach.
➡️Be careful how much you feed as it may create an unbalanced diet for your horse. If you do choose to feed, introduce slowly so your horse gets used to the taste and texture in their feed.

Remember, there is no “one size fits all”
Boundary Equestrian
🦄 ⚖️⚖️🦄
Providing nutritional support and diets.

(1) Cargile, J.L., Burrow, J.A., Kim, I., Cohen, N.D. and Merritt, A.M. (2004), Effect of Dietary Corn Oil Supplementation on Equine Gastric Fluid Acid, Sodium, and Prostaglandin E2 Content before and during Pentagastrin Infusion. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 18: 545-549. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2004.tb02583.x
(2) Martinez J, Carmona J and Silveira G (2016), Effects of corn oil on the volatile fatty acids in horses with induced gastric ulcers. Scientific Electronic Library Online, Ciudad Universitaria, Montería, Córdoba, Colombia http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0122-02682016000305558
(3) Nicholas Frank, DVM, PhD; Frank M. Andrews, DVM, MS; Sarah B. Elliott, BS; John Lew, PhD (2005). Effects of dietary oils on the development of gastric ulcers in mares.https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Frank-Andrews/publication/7434607_Effects_of_dietary_oils_on_the_development_of_gastric_ulcers_in_mares/links/563ed54a08ae34e98c4db3a8/Effects-of-dietary-oils-on-the-development-of-gastric-ulcers-in-mares.pdf

Send a message to learn more

13/03/2026

New arena layout with 2 jump grids. Focusing on that nice rounded bounce and going in a straight line.

As always, put things back as you found them, report any damage & enjoy your ride. It's a stunning weekend for it!

01/03/2026

Another Emmet4Horses session. This was on my grazers horse.

Notice the eye & nose level before & after. The short video shows the moment the brain/muscular system catches up with one another. It was a brilliant moment to watch on video!

One week on and we're still rocking have the "new" level. Plus, the owner tells me that she isn't quiding anymore! Win/win 🐴❤️

21/02/2026

Arena is all set up for tomorrow's pole lessons.
Lots of poles with lots of variations but focusing on straightness & rhythm so that you can be flexible!
Weather is looking fab.🌞🌞🌞🌞

19/02/2026

Still a few spots left for pole lessons and Sundays weather is looking ok so far.
PM me to book.

13/02/2026

Emmett for my old girl.
Did some lengthening, thoracic sling & breathing moves. Some cool muscle twitches veins popping, lots of licking & snorting!
The joys & benefits of Emmett.

08/02/2026

⚖️⚖️ NUTRITIONAL NEWS ⚖️⚖️

The 3️⃣ F’s
These encompass the basis of horse care, nutrition and health (in no particular order).
✔️FORAGE
✔️FRIENDS
✔️FREEDOM

As well as the 3️⃣ F’s, I also like to include 2️⃣ S’s.
✔️Safety
✔️Shelter

🌿🌿FORAGE – grass, hay, bailage. This should be the basis of any horses diet. There should be long stem FORAGE readily and easily accessible. Slow feed (small hole) hay nets and strip grazing are useful for the good doers to assist with trickle feeding.
▶️Horses are trickle feeders (a little and often)
▶️Horses will only create saliva when they masticate (chew food)
▶️Acid is continuously created in the horses stomach, 24/7
▶️Saliva helps to neutralise the stomach acid (reducing the risk of ulcers)
▶️Forage is digested in their hindgut by fermentation by the good bacteria
▶️B group vitamins (including biotin) are by products of fermentation which are a major influencer of brain and nervous system function

🐎🐎FRIENDS – horses are herd animals, relying on the other members of their herd for protection, mental stability, companionship and social development.
▶️Reduce stress
▶️Encourage movement, play and grooming
▶️They get REM sleep as they know others in their herd are on watch for any dangers.

🛤️🛤️FREEDOM – allows them choice, movement and self exercise
▶️Promotes natural movement
▶️Helps with fitness
▶️They can perform their normal behaviours of rolling and scratching
▶️Help with their mental stability.

⚠️⚠️SAFETY – our horses have a right to be safe in their paddocks. Safe from paddock obstacles, poisonous plants, other horses and sometimes, sadly humans.
▶️Do a walk through of your paddocks checking fencing, branches, holes, plants
▶️Horses have a hierarchy, whether in a herd or paddocked over the fence, one will be dominate over the other, by understanding the hierarchy you can help to provide a less stressful living situation.

🛖🛖SHELTER – includes sheds, trees, hills and covers. Shelter encompasses being able to have protection from rain, wind and sun.
▶️Horses will shiver to generate warmth, their hair can stand on end trapping warm air (if not wet)
▶️They can warm their core by reducing the blood flow to their legs and ears
▶️Feed hay, the generation of heat is another by-product of fermentation

The level of the 3️⃣ F’s and 2️⃣ S’s is very much dependent on the individual horse, their location and what you as an owner are able to provide due to financial costs, availability of products and the equipment you have.

There is no “one size fits all”

Boundary Equestrian
⚖️⚖️ 🦄🦄 ⚖️⚖️
Providing nutritional support and diets.

Send a message to learn more

08/02/2026

🦄🦄Time to get back into it🦄🦄

Pole lessons - Sunday 22nd February!

All details are in the pic below. PM me to book.

04/02/2026

⚠️Arena users⚠️

This is not ok! ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Most of the poles and all the jumps have been moved and dismantled.
Please leave the arena as you found it.

Simple courtesy to myself and the next arena user goes such a long way.
Thank you.

19/01/2026

Arena has been groomed and a new setup with a 2 stride grid, walk and trot poles.
Easy online booking.