Curious Equestrian

Curious Equestrian
  • 5.0 (3)
  • PETS & ANIMALS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Curious Equestrian: Where Conventional Wisdom Gets Bucked. The podcast for riders who question "because we've always done it that way." We interview researchers, vets, and evidence-based trainers about horse care, training, welfare, and the messy realities of horse ownership. No gurus, just better questions. New episodes every two weeks. Support the Podcast Newsletter: https://www.curiousequestrian.co.uk Merch: https://curiousequestrian.teemill.com/ Book Shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/curiousequestrian

  1. Hay Prices Have Doubled. Here's What's Really Happening

    APR 17

    Hay Prices Have Doubled. Here's What's Really Happening

    Hay prices have doubled. Some suppliers have nothing left. If you're a horse owner right now, this episode could save you time, money, and a lot of sleepless nights.Anna-Louise sits down with Nick from NP Nunn — a major hay, bedding, and feed supplier to stud farms and racing yards across the UK — to get an honest, ground-level view of the 2026 hay shortage crisis. Nick explains exactly why the shortage happened, how he's adapted his business to keep horses fed, and what horse owners can expect for the rest of the season.https://npnunn.co.uk/In this episode:Why the UK hay shortage started last June — and why it's still getting worse.How suppliers like NP Nunn are now importing hay from France, Belgium, Ireland and Scotland.The hidden nightmare of customs: one lorry held for 28 hours with correct paperwork.Why prices have doubled — and the extra 10% fuel surcharge now hitting buyers.The difference between French "crow hay" and UK meadow hay — and whether it's safe for your horse.What Nick predicts for the new hay crop and when supply might ease.How the war in the Middle East is affecting the wider equine supply chain.Whether you're a livery yard owner, a private horse keeper, or just trying to keep your horses fed this spring — this one is essential listening.🕒 Support the podcast: Shop our merch and browse our bookshop (links below)The Curious Equestrian challenges conventional wisdom in the horse world. We interview researchers, vets, and evidence-based trainers to ask uncomfortable questions about how we care for and train horses.🔔 New episodes every two weeksSubscribe to our newsletter: www.curiousequestrian.co.ukBook shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/curiousequestrianMerch: https://curiousequestrian.teemill.com/

    39 min
  2. See Your Horse, Not Your Idea of Your Horse | Kate Sandel

    APR 6

    See Your Horse, Not Your Idea of Your Horse | Kate Sandel

    Horse trainer and author Kate Sandel invites you to rethink what it really means for a horse to be well – in body and in mind. If your horse isn’t mentally with you, she argues, you’re not truly training together, you’re just doing things to them. In this conversation, we explore how to see the horse in front of you more clearly, soften your expectations, and build a partnership that feels good for both of you. Drawing on French classical riding, horsemanship, and bodywork, Kate shares practical ways to centre the horse’s experience in everyday training choices. Why you can’t separate a horse’s physical soundness from their emotional state. How to notice who your horse actually is, instead of who you hoped they’d be. The truth behind so‑called “naughty” behaviour, and what it might be telling you. Why simple walking with your horse is one of the most underrated tools you have. What really makes a great teacher – for horses and for humans in the arena. How grassroots equestrians can nudge the wider horse world toward kinder training. Kate is a UK‑based horsemanship teacher, French classical riding practitioner (École de Légèreté trainee), equine sports massage therapist, and author of Riding In Release. From her base on Dartmoor, she runs Soft & Sound, offering lessons, clinics, and online support for more ethical horse–human partnerships. Links and resources Resources & After Hours Q&A (newsletter): https://www.curiousequestrian.co.uk/horse-human-partnership-right-question Soft & Sound: https://softandsound.org/ Riding In Release: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/4745/9781908809940 Newsletter: https://www.curiousequestrian.co.uk Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/curiousequestrian Merch: https://curiousequestrian.teemill.com/

    1h 13m
  3. Caring for the Older Horse

    MAR 22

    Caring for the Older Horse

    Do you care for a senior horse and want to ensure they are happy and healthy? Then you won't want to miss this episode written and narrated by Sue Palmer. Sue is an experienced equestrian physiotherapist with over 25 years in the industry. Sue has worked with inspiring owners and professionals during her career, and she's here to share her insights and expertise on caring for older horses. Sue's Free Horse Massage Mini MasterclassThe Inquisitive Herd — free newsletterEvery episode includes an after-hours conversation available only to subscribers. Subscribe free at www.curiousequestrian.co.ukBooks written by Sue PlamerHorse Massage for Horse Owners — Sue Palmer Harmonious Horsemanship — Sue Palmer and Sue Dyson Browse our bookshop: bookshop.org/shop/curiousequestrian

    25 min
  4. Horse Massage: What a Physiotherapist Actually Wants You to Know

    MAR 22

    Horse Massage: What a Physiotherapist Actually Wants You to Know

    Sue Palmer is a chartered physiotherapist who works with horses and riders every day. Her mission, which she has given herself until 2030 to achieve, is straightforward: she wants every equestrian to understand that pain and behaviour in horses are linked. That when a horse is called naughty, difficult, or lazy, the first question should be whether that horse is in pain. In this episode, Anna Louise sits down with Sue to talk through what horse massage means in practice - not as a luxury, but as a tool for listening. Free Horse Massage Mini Masterclassthehorsephysio.co.uk The Inquisitive Herd — free newsletter Every episode includes an after-hours conversation available only to subscribers. Subscribe free B ooks mentioned in this episode Horse Massage for Horse Owners — Sue PalmerHarmonious Horsemanship — Sue Palmer and Sue Dyson Browse our bookshop: bookshop.org/shop/curiousequestrian

    48 min
  5. Does Kinesiology Tape Work for Horses?

    MAR 5

    Does Kinesiology Tape Work for Horses?

    A $13 roll of tape is showing up in equine rehabilitation yards. The question is whether the claims stand up. Rebecca Haddock has spent 30 years working at the edges of equine therapy. In this episode, she explains how kinesiology taping works in horses, why the equine version is built entirely differently from human tape, and how she's simplified the technique so that any horse owner can learn it. We also ask why she threw out the rulebook on who can access this training. Learn more about Rebecca's work at equitecs.com ***If this episode made you curious, the newsletter is where we pick the conversation back up. The questions we saved until the recording light went off. Free, no spam, unsubscribe anytime. 👇www.curiousequestrian.co.uk/p/384842a6-5d1f-475f-975d-8d675909007a*** Learn more about Rebecca's work: Website: https://www.equitecs.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equi_tecs/https://www.facebook.com/EquiTape **** Support the podcast: Shop our merch and browse our bookshop (links below)Subscribe to our newsletter: www.curiousequestrian.co.ukBook shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/curiousequestrian Merch: https://curiousequestrian.teemill.com/ The views expressed are those of the guest. Nothing in this conversation constitutes veterinary advice. Always consult a qualified vet for the diagnosis and treatment of your horse.

    1h 6m
  6. Wild Horse Behavior: What 20 Years of Research Reveals About Domestic Horses

    FEB 17

    Wild Horse Behavior: What 20 Years of Research Reveals About Domestic Horses

    Bonny Mealand - Equine Podiatrist, Touching Wild Academy In this episode: Bonny Mealand has spent 20 years studying wild horses, she talks about how horses' entire lives revolve around social relationships, and how watching wild horses changes the way we advocate for domestic horses.Key topics:- Why social relationships are horses' primary need (not hierarchy or survival)- The two-year commitment: not riding until her mare genuinely agreed- How wild horse behavior reveals what we're missing in domestic horse careGuest contact & resources:Intro Video Credit: Lizzie MacKenzie, Of The Wild - visit the Touching Wild Academy to watch in full. Intro Photo Credits: Jean Sinclair. Takhi in Mongolia Photo Credit Nancy Clarke.Support the podcast: Curious Equestrian challenges conventional wisdom in the horse world. We interview researchers, vets, and evidence-based trainers to ask uncomfortable questions about how we care for and train horses.🔔 New episodes every two weeksSubscribe to our newsletterBook shopMerch Additional Resources mentioned in this episode:Horses in Company by Lucy ReesHorses in Our Hands5 Domains of Horse Welfare

    1h 5m
  7. The Complete Winter Feeding Masterclass

    JAN 29

    The Complete Winter Feeding Masterclass

    This is your comprehensive "Winter Survival Guide." In this deep-dive, Independent Equine Nutritionist Clare MacLeod (MSc) joins us to cover virtually every aspect of managing your horse through the colder months. From the anxiety of the Hay Crisis to the confusion around rugging and fasting windows, we leave no stone unturned. Clare provides the science-backed protocols you need to prevent colic, manage mud, and keep both "Good Doers" and "Hard Keepers" healthy until spring. In This Extensive Guide, We Cover: The Forage Crisis: Exact protocols for stretching hay and safely mixing forage types. Gut Health: The "7-Day Rule" for transitions and the truth about "Ad Lib" feeding. Medical Myths: Why the "4-Hour Fasting Window" is critical for ulcer prevention. Management: To rug or not to rug? A nutritionist's verdict on calories vs. cold. Winter Colic: The link between dehydration, impaction, and cold weather. Weight Watching: Using the winter slump to your advantage for "Good Doers." Guest Resources: Clare MacLeod’s Website: https://www.equinenutritionist.com/ Follow Clare on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClareMacLeodEquineNutritionist

    57 min
  8. The native ponies we could lose

    JAN 21

    The native ponies we could lose

    We often think of the Shire horse as a staple of the county show. Huge, gentle, and safe. We assume they are doing fine. The data tells a different story. In this episode, Anna Louise sits down with Tracy Wathen-Jones from the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST). We move past the nostalgia of the heavy horse to face the biological reality: we are losing our native breeds. We discuss: The extinction numbers: Why the Exmoor pony and Eriskay are now critically rare. The "frozen" insurance policy: Why we are relying on a gene bank of semen from the 1960s to save these breeds from total collapse. The lost language: Why handling a Shire requires a different skill set to a warmblood—and why losing the "old boys" means losing the horsemanship skills to keep the breed alive. Utility vs. Sport: Why "conservation grazing" might be the only job left for our native ponies. This is not just a history lesson. It is a conversation about whether the horse has a future if it doesn't have a job. Special thanks to the following photographers and societies for the images used in the video intro: Jennifer Feleris, John Green, Katrina Bell, Frances Ellis, Louise Blundell, Deborah White, El Dunlop, David Stewart, and the Eriskay Pony Breed Society.Learn more about our UK Native Horse Breeds on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust website: https://www.rbst.org.uk/pages/category/equine-watchlist The Inquisitive Herd (Membership):The conversation continued after the mics cut off. Members can listen to the After-Hours Tapes, where Tracy shares the specific reality of funding these projects and the "messy" truth of breed societies.

    58 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Curious Equestrian: Where Conventional Wisdom Gets Bucked. The podcast for riders who question "because we've always done it that way." We interview researchers, vets, and evidence-based trainers about horse care, training, welfare, and the messy realities of horse ownership. No gurus, just better questions. New episodes every two weeks. Support the Podcast Newsletter: https://www.curiousequestrian.co.uk Merch: https://curiousequestrian.teemill.com/ Book Shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/curiousequestrian

Information

  • Creator
    Curious Equestrian
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    94
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Curious Equestrian
  • Show Website
    Curious Equestrian

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