Hannah Cleghorn Equestrian

08/09/2026

🌱🐴 Paddock Maintenance – More Important Than Just Making It Look Tidy! 🐴🌱

We all know how quickly a paddock can get messy, but good field management is about much more than keeping it looking nice. Your horse spends a huge amount of time grazing from the same ground, so looking after the pasture is an important part of looking after your horse too. ❤️

💩 POO PICKING

Regular poo picking is one of the simplest and most important things you can do.

Not only does it keep the field cleaner, but regularly removing droppings can help reduce the build-up and spread of intestinal worm eggs and larvae on the pasture. Horses also naturally avoid grazing around areas where they have dunged, which means neglected fields can become patchy and overgrazed in some areas while others become long and rank.

🌱 RESTING YOUR PADDOCK

Grass needs time to recover!

If horses are constantly grazing the same field, they can quickly eat the grass faster than it can grow. Resting paddocks allows the grass to recover, develop stronger roots and produce fresh growth.

🚜 FIELD ROTATION

Rotating grazing areas is a great way to give sections of pasture a break.

Moving horses between paddocks can help prevent areas becoming poached and overgrazed, while allowing rested fields time to recover. It can also help spread grazing pressure more evenly across your land.

🌿 GRASS MANAGEMENT

Healthy pasture needs looking after too! Depending on the land, regular harrowing, topping, rolling, fertilising and reseeding may all have a place in a good paddock-management plan.

And remember — a field that looks green isn’t necessarily a healthy field. Soil type, drainage, grass species, stocking levels and grazing pressure all make a difference.

🧪 HAVE YOU TESTED YOUR SOIL?

Soil testing can be really useful for finding out what’s actually going on beneath the grass.

A soil test can give you information such as pH, phosphorus, potassium and other nutrients, helping you make informed decisions about what your pasture actually needs rather than simply throwing fertiliser at it.

Getting the pH right is particularly important because it affects how available nutrients are to the grass.

🐴 GOOD PADDOCK MANAGEMENT = HEALTHIER PASTURE + BETTER GRAZING

A little regular maintenance can make a HUGE difference over the course of a year.

Pictures of two different fields at different yards! 😮

At HC Equestrian Freelance Groom, I can help with paddock and yard maintenance, including:

✔️ Poo picking
✔️ Paddock maintenance
✔️ W**ding & general outdoor maintenance
✔️ Deep cleans
✔️ Yard duties
✔️ Holiday cover
✔️ One-off jobs

📍 Based in Oxfordshire

If your paddocks are starting to look a little worse for wear, or you simply don’t have the time to keep on top of them, get in touch! 📩

HC Equestrian Freelance Groom – keeping yards, fields and horses looking their best. 🐴🌱

08/09/2026

07/08/2026

Marcus wasn’t aware he was in need of a little glow up…. There were signs 😂😂

01/08/2026

✨ EXCITING NEWS – HC Equestrian is Growing! ✨

I’m so excited to announce that HC Equestrian Freelance Groom is now offering even more services to help keep your yard looking its absolute best! 🐴✨

Whether you need a one-off refresh, are preparing for winter, welcoming new horses, or simply don’t have the time, we’ve got you covered.

🧼 Stable Deep Cleans
✔️ Emptying stables
✔️ Removing bedding
✔️ Lifting rubber mats
✔️ Deep cleaning underneath
✔️ Pressure washing floors & walls
✔️ Disinfecting
✔️ Replacing mats ready for fresh bedding

🚜 Yard & Outdoor Deep Cleans
✔️ Pressure washing yard areas
✔️ Hard standing
✔️ Walkways
✔️ Wash bays
✔️ General yard tidy-ups
✔️ Moss, algae & dirt removal

🔨 Yard Maintenance & Minor Repairs
Together with my partner,( who’s a painter and decorator/ builder) we can now also offer:
✔️ Stable repairs
✔️ Gate repairs & hanging
✔️ Fencing repairs
✔️ Replacing fixtures & fittings
✔️ General yard maintenance
✔️ Small repair jobs around the yard

🎨 Stable Painting & Wood Treatments
Give your yard a fresh new look with:
✔️ Stable painting
✔️ Stable door painting
✔️ Wood stain & protective coatings
✔️ Timber treatment
✔️ Stable frontage refreshes

💜 More Than Just A Groom…
We’re now able to offer a complete yard care service—from looking after your horses to helping maintain and improve your yard.

📍 Based in Oxfordshire
📩 Message me for availability, a free no-obligation quote, or to discuss your requirements.

No job is too small—whether it’s one stable, a full yard deep clean, a fresh coat of paint, or a few repairs that have been on your to-do list for months, we’re here to help!

🐴 Did you know? A clean stable is about far more than just looking nice! 🧼✨

Over time, urine, bacteria, mould, fungi and ammonia build up underneath rubber mats, in corners and on stable walls. Even the cleanest stables can hide dirt and germs you can’t see.

A professional deep clean can help:

🧼 Remove built-up dirt, bacteria and grime.
🦠 Reduce germs and unpleasant odours.
💨 Cut down ammonia build-up, creating fresher air for your horse.
🐴 Promote a cleaner, healthier environment.
🪰 Help discourage flies and insects.
🦶 Clean underneath rubber mats where moisture and bacteria often collect.
🚿 Pressure wash floors, walls and stable fronts.
🧴 Disinfect the stable using professional-grade products.
✨ Leave your stable looking, smelling and feeling fresh.

💰 Discount on more then one stable, weather you have more then one horse or weather a couple from the same yard come together and get a booking. Big yard discounts also!
💰 Discount on deep cleans and then painted/ treatment.

07969816687

09/07/2026

☀️ Summer clipping? Absolutely! ✂️🐴

People often think clipping is just for winter, but that’s not always the case!

Some horses naturally carry a very thick coat all year round, and during hot weather like we’ve been having, they can really struggle to stay cool. Harry is one of those horses, so today he had a summer clip to help him cope with the heat. 🌡️

By removing that excess coat, he’ll be much more comfortable, sweat less, cool down quicker after exercise, and generally feel happier during this heatwave. 💙

Every horse is different – while some have sleek summer coats, others hang on to a heavy coat regardless of the season. Clipping isn’t about looks; it’s about doing what’s best for the individual horse.

Harry is now feeling much lighter, cooler, and ready to enjoy the sunshine in a lot more comfort! ☀️🐎

Has anyone else had to give their horse a summer haircut this year? ✂️👇

02/07/2026

🌿 It’s amazing what a few hours (and a lot of sweat! 😅) can do… 💪

Today’s job was tackling the weeds and nettles that had completely taken over the side of this arena. Safe to say they’ve now been evicted! 👋🌱
still some to finish but already looking better 👌

A clean, tidy yard not only looks so much better, but it’s safer for both horses and people too. It’s one of those jobs that’s easy to put off, but makes such a huge difference once it’s done. ✨

Need a hand getting your yard back under control?

✅ W**d removal
✅ Nettle clearing
✅ Yard tidy-ups
✅ Fence line clearance
✅ General outdoor maintenance

26/06/2026

Another day, another sunrise spent in the stables… ☀️🐴🥵

Up at the crack of dawn, sweating our t**s off before most people have even had their first coffee! Mucking out, filling water buckets, turning out, bringing in, riding, poo picking… and it’s not even lunchtime yet! 😂💪

Then come the summer horse-owner debates… 🤣

🚿 Hose and scrape?
🚿 Hose and don’t scrape?
🐴 Leave them out?
🏠 Bring them into a cool stable?

Everyone has their own opinions, and every horse, yard and situation is different. At the end of the day, it’s your horse, and you know them better than anyone else. Do what you feel is best for their welfare and what works for your individual circumstances. ❤️

Video from a few summers ago with the best Bon Bon pony ❤️💦

25/06/2026

🐴☀️ Holiday Cover Availability ☀️🐴

Just a little reminder that my diary is already starting to fill up with LOTS of holiday cover bookings over the coming months! ☀️

If you’ve got a holiday, weekend away, or any time off planned and need someone reliable to look after your horses, please get in touch as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Whether it’s feeding, turnout, mucking out, bringing in, exercising, or simply making sure your horses are happy and cared for while you’re away, I’m here to help.

Pop me a message to chat about your requirements and reserve your dates. 🐎💕

07/04/2026

What a EGGcellent day today! 🥚 🐣 🐴 lots of good pony pats for the amazing ponies! Smiles all round for the kiddos ❤️🐴

03/04/2026

*** SYCAMORE SAPLINGS ARE OUT - DON’T RISK YOUR HORSE’S LIFE ***

Atypical myopathy is one of the most horrific ways for a horse to d*e. The saplings are now out. Just because horses have grazed the same field for years and been fine, absolutely doesn’t mean they will be this year.

These photos were from a case I saw in 2023. The pony had grazed the paddocks with sycamore saplings for less than an hour. He did survive, but wouldn’t have done had he been left much longer.

Please, please do not risk grazing fields with sycamore saplings. I do honestly understand how hard it is for many of you with fields that have sycamore trees. The trees need cutting down; there is no other easy way of managing them. And if you are planning on buying land, never buy any if there are sycamore trees on it, or close to it (unless you can chop them straight down).