Photographs - Bluebells in the Spinney

Posted on 2:40pm Friday 19th Jun 2020

Steve and Kez went for a short stroll around the spinney. Vicki managed to get some photos of Steve and Kez with the bluebells and the beautiful trees.

Photographs - Bitless Longreining

Posted on 2:10pm Friday 19th Jun 2020

A sunny afternoon so perect for some bitless longreining. As always Vicki and Steve ensure there is good supply of positive reinforcement treats. The bridle is an Orbitless. A gift from our dear friend Wendy Wainwright.

Poem - Kez and Non Ridden

Posted on 2:00pm Friday 19th Jun 2020

I was born in Ireland across the sea,

Not much is told about what happened to me.

In Ireland horses used to be held up high,

Now too many suffer terribly and die.

The problems are not just Irish making,

It's a global issue human greed is baking.

The equine industry created the perfect storm,

Traditional thinking and riding is the norm.

Into the mix add marketing riding for pleasure,

Plus overbreeding with no thinking or measure.

Throw away culture, unethical quick fix training,

Broken we are seen as useless and draining.

I was broken then passed on for money,

Put in a box with a pony called Honey.

We travelled to England to a dealer to be sold,

The truth well hidden and never to be told.

Here Vicki and Steve found me in a stable,

Sold to them as a riding horse and very able.

Steve and Vicki knew I found riding hard,

So the best physiotherapist came to the yard.

The local vets, lots of visits and tests galore,

Then to Newmarket Equine Hospital a bore.

Home with diagnosis and I cannot be ridden,

My humans love me so much it's not hidden.

Non ridden is not a wasted or worthless horse,

We have so much love in our hearts of course.

Non ridden gifts are not taught at grass roots,

Mainstream equestrianism is all riding boots.

A world geared for riding it's hard to be heard,

Reality is marginalized and judged our word.

Out of the shaddows the dirty secret no more,

The non ridden equines are knocking the door.

Until the original Non Ridden Equine Facebook group there was no diverse social platform out there for people who choose not to ride or own non ridden equines to come together no matter why they don't ride. It was clear more than clicking like on social media has to be done. The not for profit Non Ridden Equine Association UK was launched and is run by unpaid volunteers. Why UK when the issues are global? Because we don't have the skills and knowledge and resources to tackle global issues. However because we are the only organisation doing this work no matter where you live in the world you can enjoy the Non Ridden Equine Association UK website and its free resources.

Here is the link www.thenonriddenequineassociationuk.org