The UK is facing its worst hay crisis in over a century. And for livery yard owners like Lauren Johnson, the reality became terrifying when her hay supplier called to say the field was on fire. This is Day Three of our three-day Hay Crisis Special.

Meet Lauren Johnson—Faversham, Kent. Livery Yard of the Year 2024. Lauren runs Graveney Equine Horse Track System, a specialist livery designed to mimic how horses naturally live and eat. Her 20 horses rely almost entirely on hay distributed around the track—there's no grass safety net. When her regular hay supplier called to say the field had caught fire due to extreme heat and drought, Lauren's yearly hay bill jumped by £3,000. A field that normally yielded 500 large bales produced just 80. She scrambled to secure supply from a backup contractor she'd only just started talking to—pure luck that saved her season.

📌 IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL HEAR:

The Phone Call: "The field is on fire." Lauren describes the panic of being told her hay supply literally went up in flames due to machinery sparks in bone-dry grass during the hottest summer on record.

The £3,000 Increase: Lauren's hay bill jumped from £11,000-12,000 to over £15,000 for slightly less hay. She had no choice but to pass costs onto livery clients—who are already stretched thin by the cost of living crisis.

Practical Strategies for Horse Owners: Lauren shares her community's survival plan: slow feeder nets to reduce waste, mixing straw up to 50% (gradually), using chaff and hay replacers, storing hay properly with specialist tarps, switching to haylage (with gut health warnings), and utilizing standing hay on pasture for horses that can tolerate it.

The Gut Health Warning: Lauren explains why switching between hay and haylage can cause colic, laminitis, and hindgut acidosis—critical information many vets and feed merchants aren't sharing with desperate horse owners.

The Livery Yard Crisis: Livery yards are closing across the UK. Land is being sold for housing. Yards are overstocking to survive financially. Winter turnout is disappearing under mud. And licensing requirements may eliminate the "cheap field rental" loophole many horse owners rely on.

The Uncomfortable Future: Lauren predicts horse ownership is becoming elitist again—not by choice, but by economics. Fields that once rented for modest sums now command £500/month per acre. People are selling horses into a flooded market or making the heartbreaking decision to euthanize rather than risk unknown futures. And climate change means this isn't a one-off crisis—it's the new normal.

This episode is raw, practical, and deeply informed. Lauren manages both sides of the equation: she's a livery yard owner and an arable farmer. She understands the pressures on hay suppliers, the financial impossibility facing yard owners, and the heartbreak of horse owners who can no longer afford the animals they committed to for life.

RESOURCES: Graveney Equine on Facebook: Graveney EkwineHorse Track Systems Facebook Group (active community with hay crisis support)

#HayCrisis #HorseWelfare #ClimateChange #HayShortage #TrackSystem #LiveryYard #CuriousEquestrian #Equestrian #HorseOwnership #UKHayCrisis

The UK is facing its worst hay crisis in over a century. Spring 2025 brought the driest conditions in 50 years for the UK, and England's driest spring in more than 100 years. Hay yields have dropped by 50-75% in some regions. Prices have doubled or tripled. And for horse owners like Katarina Marcus, the reality is stark: hand-grazing three horses in the dark with a head torch just to keep them fed. This is Day Two of our three-day Hay Crisis Special. Yesterday, we heard from the British Horse Society about expert strategies to reduce waste and stretch your supply. Today, we're hearing the lived reality from someone on the ground.

Meet Katarina Marcus—Brighton, Sussex. Kat saw this crisis coming in July. She sectioned off winter grazing early, started hand-grazing her horses on the South Downs, and began rationing hard feed to compensate for hay she knew wouldn't arrive. Her hay prices have jumped from £5 to £7.50 per small bale—and she expects it to rise again. Her 5-foot round bales went from £35 to £50, soon to be £60. But the financial strain is only part of the story. Kat is also an author you can find her collection of novels here: https://www.katharinamarcus.com/

📌 IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL HEAR: The Daily Reality: Kat gets up an hour earlier than usual to hand-graze her horses before work. In winter, she'll be out in the pitch black with a head torch because she's stopped riding entirely to focus on keeping them fed. The Herd Dynamic Crisis: Kat lost one of her four horses to colic in January. She's been looking for a fourth all summer to ease the "terrible number three" dynamic—but her Shetland budget is now her hay budget. The two mares are fighting. The older one, a grass sickness survivor, is losing condition.

The Livery Yard Lifeline: Kat's yard has banded together to feed "little and often" throughout the day, with different owners coming at different times to give small portions. It's a beautiful example of community—but not everyone has that.

The Career Sacrifice: This isn't Kat's first hay crisis. The last one forced her to leave her career as a freelance horse trainer and instructor because clients couldn't afford lessons. .

The Uncomfortable Truth: Kat predicts we will run out of hay. Not just expensive hay—no hay. And unlike the last crisis, we can't import from France (Brexit, and Europe is facing the same shortage). She fears for urban horse owners with no access to grazing. She fears for stabled horses. And she fears we'll see a flood of cheap horses on the market as people are forced to sell. This episode is raw, honest, and deeply human. It's about the trade-offs we don't talk about—careers, Christmas plans, riding time, herd dynamics, and the fear of what happens when the supply runs out.

ABOUT CURIOUS EQUESTRIAN: We explore the questions horse owners are afraid to ask. From mental health to practical horse care, we bring you the experts. This episode is made possible by our Inquisitive Herd members.

Join for bonus Q&As, behind-the-scenes planning calls, and a community of thoughtful horse people: https://www.patreon.com/cw/CuriousEquestrian #HayCrisis #HorseWelfare #ClimateChange #HayShortage #HorseCare #CuriousEquestrian #Equestrian #DIYLivery #HorseOwnership

The UK is facing its worst hay crisis in over a century. Spring 2025 brought the driest conditions in 50 years for the UK, and England's driest spring in more than 100 years. Hay yields have dropped by 50-75% in some regions. Prices have doubled or tripled. Horse owners fed hay through summer when they'd normally rest their budgets. And climate change projections suggest this is the new reality. In this first episode of our three-day Hay Crisis Special, we sit down with Emeline Hannaley, Horse Care and Welfare Education Manager at the British Horse Society, for practical, actionable advice on how to manage your horses through this shortage without compromising their welfare or breaking the bank.

📌 IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

The Reality Check: How bad is the shortage really? Regional variations and what suppliers are experiencing on the ground. The Wastage Problem: Studies show 30% of hay fed to horses ends up on the muck heap. How to identify and eliminate waste in your feeding routine.

Slow-Release Feeding: Hay nets, haybales, and other enrichment devices that extend eating time and reduce consumption (without frustrating your horse).

Alternative Forages: Chaff, sugar beet, forage mashes, and even oat or barley straw—when to introduce them and how to do it safely.

Weight Management Opportunity: Over 60% of horses the BHS assesses are overweight. This crisis is a chance to reassess your horse's diet and body condition.

Storage Solutions: DIY weatherproofing, pallets, and maximizing small spaces when you don't have a barn.

Financial Strategies: Payment plans, sharing delivery costs, and where to cut costs without compromising welfare.

Climate Adaptation: What horse ownership might look like in five years and how we can prepare now.

RESOURCES: British Horse Society Welfare Helpline: 02476 840517 Email: [email protected] Hay crisis advice & cost-cutting tips: bhs.org.uk Free nutritionist helplines available through major feed companies

ABOUT CURIOUS EQUESTRIAN: We explore the questions horse owners are afraid to ask. From mental health to practical horse care, we bring you the experts.

#HayCrisis #HorseWelfare #ClimateChange #BHS #HorseCare #CuriousEquestrian #Equestrian #HayShortage #HorseNutrition

When Lisa's daughter Tiffany was told she'd never walk or talk due to a rare chromosome disorder, horses proved the medical professionals wrong. Within a year at the yard, Tiffany spoke 100 words and could ride, though she still couldn't sit in a chair. That experience led Lucy and Lisa to found Teal CIC—now the UK's only ASDAN-accredited centre offering customized equine assisted learning courses.

In this conversation, Lucy and Lisa explain why equine assisted learning succeeds where traditional approaches struggle. You'll discover the science behind how horses physically lower human heart rates, why their force-free training methods work with students who stim or use wheelchairs, and how young people who refuse maths in classrooms enthusiastically calculate feed ratios for horses. From rescue pony Sam's transformation to students now working in the equine industry, this is the story of how alternative education through horses creates pathways to success.

Lucy retrained as a counselor with 30+ years in the equine industry. Lisa retrained as a cognitive behavioral therapist. Together they've run the multi-award-winning Teal CIC for 11 years, serving students aged 12-25 through alternative education and clients aged 2-85 through therapeutic sessions.

Find Teal CIC:Website: www.tealcic.co.ukSocial: @teal.equine or @tealcic

Losing a horse is one of life's most devastating experiences—yet it's often a loss society doesn't fully recognize. In this episode, we explore euthanasia options, what to expect, grieving, and where to find support when nobody around you understands.

Sophie Cookson King from Blue Cross walks us through the difficult decisions horse owners face: When is it time? What are the methods? How do I prepare? And how do I cope with the grief afterwards?

Topics covered:

• Lethal injection vs. gunshot euthanasia
• What happens during the procedure
• Preparing in advance (the responsible thing to do)
• Disenfranchised grief: why horse loss feels so isolating
• Supporting your remaining horses
• Talking to children about loss
• The rising cost of living crisis forcing tough rehoming decisions
• Getting another horse after loss
• Free Blue Cross support services

Blue Cross Pet Loss Support:If you or someone you know is struggling with horse loss, Blue Cross offers free, confidential support:📞 Helpline: 0800 096 6606 (8:30 AM - 8:30 PM, 365 days/year)💬 Web Chat: bluecross.org.uk/pls📧 Email: [email protected]

This episode is for anyone facing the loss of a horse, considering euthanasia, grieving a beloved companion, or supporting someone through this journey.

Your loss is real. You're not alone.

In this episode, Ruth from Blue Cross breaks down everything you need to know about keeping your horse safe during firework season—from practical preparation to handling those tricky neighbor conversations.If fireworks stress you out, this episode is for you. Share your experiences in the comments—let's learn from each other.

For more advice and resources, visit Blue Cross:https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/horse/horses-and-fireworks

Horse trainer Josie joins us to explore why going back to basics isn't a step backward but a continuous spiral of deeper understanding. In this thoughtful conversation, we discuss how ego creates barriers to learning, why basics form the foundation even for Grand Prix movements, and how understanding the way horses learn transforms our approach to training.

Josie shares her personal journey from authoritarian training to partnership, including honest reflections on having "obedient but dull horses" and learning to allow expression and joy. We explore the concept of horses as sentient beings rather than beasts of burden, the importance of reading body language, and why there truly are no shortcuts in good horsemanship.

From her work with Willie the Cob to insights about learning theory and pressure and release, Josie emphasizes that returning to basics reveals new layers of understanding each time. We also touch on social media's impact on horsemanship, the historical context of training methods, and why balance - both physical and emotional - underlies everything.

A conversation about humility, continuous learning, and making the world a better place for horses.Guest Bio — Josie Matthews is a professional horse trainer who breaks down horse training into simple, easy-to-understand steps, ensuring clarity and confidence for both riders and their horses.▶️ Watch More from Josie:    / @basichorsetraining  📘 Free Training Guide: https://www.basichorsetraining.com/f/...🌐 Website: BasicHorseTraining.com

What happens when you throw out everything you've been taught about horse training and try the complete opposite?

Diana Waters went from traditional BHS instructor training to building a 22,000-member community around one radical idea: slowing down instead of pushing forward.

In this episode, Diana reveals her "slow walk work" method that's quietly transforming how horse owners approach training, rehabilitation, and building genuine partnerships with their horses.

Connect with Diana:

Website: thepowerofwalk.com

YouTube  @responsiveequine5569 

Facebook Group: Slow Walk Work (22,000+ members)

Why is obesity one of the biggest killers of horses? In this eye-opening episode, veterinarian Katie reveals the shocking truth about equine obesity, with 40% of UK leisure horses classified as overweight. From practical solutions like grazing muzzles to track systems, discover how to spot weight issues and take action. Katie shares candid insights about client conversations, showing world influences, and why modern horse keeping poses unique challenges. Learn why this crisis could devastate our equine population if left unchecked, and get actionable tips for keeping your horse at a healthy weight. Essential listening for every horse owner who wants to ensure their equine partner's long-term health and happiness. 🐎 #HorseHealth #EquineObesity #VetAdvice #HorseManagement

About Dr Katie KershawKatie is an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Equine Internal Medicine at Ryder-Davies & Partners Veterinary Practice. She joined the practice in 2012 after qualifying from Bristol Vet School, and has since developed extensive expertise in equine health, preventive care, and obesity management. Alongside her equine work, Katie also has a keen interest in small holdings, especially sheep and goats.🔗 Learn more: Ryder-Davies Equine Services

When Jonny Browne saw an advert for a "rider interpreter to joust at the Royal Armouries," he was curious. What he didn't expect was how this job would completely transform his understanding of horses and horsemanship.

In this conversation, Johnny shares his journey to professional performer, working with everything from medieval armour and live gunfire to falcons and film sets. But the real story is how the horses themselves became his greatest teachers.

We explore Jonny's unique approach to measuring expertise - not in years of experience, but in the number of horses you've worked with. His distinction between "accustoming" versus "desensitising" horses offers a fresh perspective on training, while his advice about putting a mirror in your tack room might change how you approach every session.

From the cob who couldn't handle clanking armour to his work in equine-assisted psychotherapy, Jonny's stories reveal the deeper lessons horses offer about patience, listening, and honest self-reflection.

Whether you're dealing with a "difficult" horse or simply want to deepen your partnership, this conversation will challenge how you think about horsemanship, learning, and what it really means to listen to what horses are telling us.

Connect with Jonny: simplegoodhorsemanship.com