The Complete Balanced Horse

Thought I’d share something historic with you.

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY. 25 years ago. Tremendous to actually be there at the time. Was interviewed for News at Ten on the streets of Lan Kwai Fong (didn’t realise it was big news channel until people from UK called or emailed following day to say they’d seen me on TV looking like drowned rat.) It rained and rained. The rain hid the tears as we watched Britannia sail away with Prince Charles plus Chris Patten and family (plus their dogs, Whisky & Soda). Not sure what happened to 50 year full autonomy but half way down the line and it didn’t work. Never was going to really. However, still ❤️ 🇭🇰. Best place I ever lived for 12 years. Miss it still and miss so many friends of every nationality.

❤️💚 Have had the most amazing time working with some fabulous horses in Ibiza and some super owners. Have a few appointments left over next three weeks for anyone who wants to book in a saddle check or massage/stretch or gait analysis session. Qualified Saddler, Qualified Saddle Fitter, Qualified Equine Therapist. For regular clients then last chance for check up before I’m off. In most cases, if I’ve regularly checked your horse and saddle nothing will need changing. I don’t believe in doing anything to earn a few bucks if it’s not necessary. That can actually cause more harm than good.

Next stop Limoges. Just informing friends in that area well ahead that I’ll be based there for a few months. Happy to check and flock saddles if necessary or gait analysis plus massage and stretch. Rehabilitation programmes also planned and can assist. See you soon France. 🥰🥰

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL IBIZA CLIENTS

The only fully qualified Saddler & Equine Therapist is leaving the island in a few months. I have already advised a few regular clients who are filling my calendar but please get in touch as soon as possible if you would like to book an appointment for massage & stretch, gait analysis, saddle fit check etc to book a space. I’m sad to leave as so many horses have benefited from therapy sessions or even slight saddle adjustments. I sincerely hope someone special arrives on the White Island to replace me. TROT ON! 🐎

Peter is a great friend and I am so saddened by this. One thing I can say is that he has only bred the best with the best in his small stud with the view to produce outstanding horses in either dressage, show jumping or eventing. He has devoted his life (and a lot of money) to this and his reward has been watching his horses compete successfully at high level competitions. In the background nobody knows how much work he has personally put in. I went to see the youngsters and mares in foal last winter. It was cold. It was muddy. It was a heavy wheelbarrow. It was hard work. He has done all this on his own and matched horses to riders for years with great success. I’m so sad for him but please share and let’s find some super competition homes for these gorgeous horses. I have a few ideas for a few people if interested. XX 🥰

🐴 Looking for a willing (and very nice) subject who is happy to have a FREE massage and stretch session but also allow photos to be taken and used on public pages. Must be well behaved and deserving of this free gift. If he/she has a couple of problems ie slight lameness or one sided then all the better. WhatsApp me on 622418732. 🐴

🍁🐴 It’s Autumn! So many changes. Love this season. Great time of year to get your saddle fit checked or treat your horse to a well deserved massage and stretch session. Let’s send our equine friends into winter looking and feeling at their best. Please give me a call. +34622418732 or +447738081945 🐴🍁

🐴 IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR 🐴

Please make sure you have the fit of your saddles checked regularly. This ensures optimum comfort and performance for you and your horse. I realise that by offering this service I am not employed as often to sort out painful back problems associated with ill fitting saddles but I would rather forsake those earnings to see a happy, comfortable horse any day. Message me or WhatsApp on +34622418732 or +44(0)7738081945 to book an appointment.

FOR SALE. Zaldi GP/Jump Saddle. Royal Deluxe. 17.5”. M/W. Very good condition. Complete with original cover, leather girth, stirrup leathers, Sprenger stirrup irons, breastplate and stunning leather bridle. €600.

Please message or call on 622418732 for further information, additional photos or free fitting on your horse.

Not acceptable. Time to rethink. Too cruel on every level.

TOKYO 2020 WOMEN'S MODERN PENTATHLON



I was disappointed to watch the jumping in the Women's Modern Pentathlon. There appears to be little compassion shown for the horses.

""Former British pentathlete Heather Fell said in commentary for the BBC Schleu was living a "real life nightmare". "This is hard to watch, hard to commentate on," Fell added.""

"Charlie Beckett said: "Watching someone's Olympic dreams snatched away from them just because a random horse doesn't want to go round a course is absolutely heartbreaking. Modern pentathlon is absolutely brutal.""

Broadcaster Niall McGrath wrote: "The pentathlon is absolutely brutal in the Olympics. How can you not feel for the competitors when the horses don't co-operate, years of work down the drain - total lottery."

One commentator appeared to at least recognise and acknowledge that the horse was distressed. "Nick Holder wrote: "That show jumping element of the pentathlon is nuts. Twenty minutes to bond with a horse. Ridiculous. That poor German girl given an apparently distressed horse and losing a big overall lead. Stupid.""

I think its time there was a review of the welfare of horses used in the Modern Pentathlon. This is so far away from the management of the horses in the Dressage, Eventing and Jumping at Bajikoen. Sadly I feel there may be more of the same to come today in the Men's Modern Pentathlon competition.

URGENTLY required for client. Medium fit saddle. GP or Dressage. Preferably flocked and not close contact. Will pay good price for right saddle that fits. Please message me here or WhatsApp on 622418732. Thanks. All saddles considered. Photo is just random one and not necessarily exact style needed.

What a beautiful horse. Had a fabulous few hours with Prince, checking his back etc and measuring him for a new saddle. ❤️❤️

Sadly some animal rights people go too far. An organisation in Ibiza that gives children in need the opportunity to experience all sorts of things, including painting on ponies, has come under vicious attack from the so called animal rights group on the island. All ponies used are extremely well cared for and actually enjoy the fuss being made of them. Below is my response in English and Spanish.

Lamentablemente, algunas personas que defienden los derechos de los animales van demasiado lejos. Una organización en Ibiza que brinda a los niños necesitados la oportunidad de experimentar todo tipo de cosas, incluida la pintura en ponis, ha sido atacada brutalmente por el llamado grupo de derechos de los animales en la isla. Todos los ponis utilizados están muy bien cuidados y realmente disfrutan del alboroto que se hace con ellos. A continuación se muestra mi respuesta en inglés y español.

I am a qualified equine therapist specializing in the rehabilitation of injured or sick horses. To help people understand the structure of the horse, the physical stress that can be placed on the body of a horse, the way the muscles etc move in a horse I often paint them. i have attached a photo as an example of what I do. I use chalks soaked in water. This is because it is easy to apply, easy to draw with and washes off easily. The horses actually love all the attention and fuss. To them it is rather like a long grooming session. Sometimes I allow children to help me colour in the muscles. The children enjoy it and it is a good education for them. The more we can help the ignorant understand the mechanics of an animal and how it works the better we can help to eradicate animal abuse. Does what I do amount to animal abuse? If it did it would go against everything I stand for and try to do for the welfare of the horse. If a horse or pony particularly objected to me painting on the muscles it would soon let me know by pulling backwards or kicking legs. To continue would cause the horse distress and could also be dangerous for me and any children I had helping. So, just to reiterate, what I do is not harmful to the horse and, as I said, educates the ignorant. It is no different really to what Momo Espai Creatiu are doing at Can Bufi. Please visit my page The Complete Balanced Horse. I am happy to arrange a demonstration of my work - painting muscles on horses is just a part of it. Please do not critcise people until you are armed with the full facts and understand a situation fully first. You can do so much harm to somebody's reputation and livlihood simply because you have not understood. I fully support Momo Espai Creatiu and Can Bufi and applaud them in their care of the horses and ponies and also in what they are doing to help children in need. ❤️

Soy un terapeuta equino titulado especializado en la rehabilitación de caballos heridos o enfermos. Para ayudar a las personas a comprender la estructura del caballo, el estrés físico que se puede colocar en el cuerpo de un caballo, la forma en que los músculos, etc. se mueven en un caballo, a menudo los pinto. He adjuntado una foto como ejemplo de lo que hago. Utilizo tizas empapadas en agua. Esto se debe a que es fácil de aplicar, fácil de dibujar y se lava fácilmente. Los caballos realmente aman toda la atención y el alboroto. Para ellos es como una larga sesión de aseo personal. A veces permito que los niños me ayuden a colorear los músculos. Los niños lo disfrutan y es una buena educación para ellos. Cuanto más podamos ayudar a los ignorantes a comprender la mecánica de un animal y cómo funciona, mejor podremos ayudar a erradicar el maltrato animal. ¿Lo que hago equivale a maltrato animal? Si lo hiciera, iría en contra de todo lo que defiendo y trato de hacer por el bienestar del caballo. Si un caballo o un poni se opusiera particularmente a que pintara los músculos, pronto me lo haría saber tirando hacia atrás o pateando las piernas. Continuar causaría angustia al caballo y también podría ser peligroso para mí y para cualquier niño que tuviera ayudado. Entonces, solo para reiterar, lo que hago no es perjudicial para el caballo y, como dije, educa al ignorante. Realmente no es diferente a lo que está haciendo Momo Espai Creatiu en Can Bufi. Visite mi página The Complete Balanced Horse. Me complace organizar una demostración de mi trabajo: pintar músculos en caballos es solo una parte. Por favor, no critique a las personas hasta que esté armado con los hechos completos y comprenda la situación completamente primero. Puedes hacer tanto daño a la reputación y el sustento de alguien simplemente porque no lo has entendido. Apoyo plenamente a Momo Espai Creatiu y Can Bufi y los aplaudo por el cuidado de los caballos y ponis y también por lo que están haciendo para ayudar a los niños necesitados. ❤️