This Equestrian Life

In this episode, Miri and Rhi are joined by holistic vet Lily Wilson, of Nurturing Nature Equine. They discuss Lily’s approach to horse care, needle shyness and have an in-depth discussion about the surprising impact of haynets + hay placement in stables.

Follow Lily: https://www.nurturingnatureequine.co.uk/ 

This podcast is brought to you by Redwings Horse Sanctuary and Equilibrium Products.

To learn more about the incredible work that Redwings do, visit https://www.redwings.org.uk/rhi 

To learn more about Equilibrium Horse Products, visit https://equilibriumproducts.com/ 

Follow Miri and Rhi: 

In this episode, Rhi and Miri dive into the world of young horses, discussing everything from foals to five-year-olds, the ethics and challenges of early training and their own personal experiences. From shaping behaviour to emotional growth - both equine and human - they explore what it truly means to raise a horse kindly.

This podcast is brought to you by Redwings Horse Sanctuary and Equilibrium Products.

To learn more about the incredible work that Redwings do, visit https://www.redwings.org.uk/rhi 

To learn more about Equilibrium Horse Products, visit https://equilibriumproducts.com/ 

Follow Miri and Rhi: 

Welcome back to season 2! In this episode, we’re kicking things off with a much-requested episode on all things confidence.

This podcast is brought to you by Redwings Horse Sanctuary and Equilibrium Products.

To learn more about the incredible work that Redwings do, visit https://www.redwings.org.uk/rhi 

To learn more about Equilibrium Horse Products, visit https://equilibriumproducts.com/ 

Follow Miri and Rhi: 

In the season finale, Miri and Rhi talk all things springtime. From changing grass, to worming and hoof care, we get into all the key things to think about at this time of year.

This Equestrian Life is brought to you by Miri Hackett (Hackett Equine) and Rhiannon Davies. Join our weekly chats where we discuss everything from training and mental health to our weekly horse-shaped mishaps - all from the perspective of a professional rider and hobby rider. 

Huge thanks to Premier Performance and Westgate Labs for sponsoring this podcast. 

Get your 4 FREE Premier Performance products with every order - that's 20% off AND 4 exclusive goodies FREE with every order using code equestrianlife20

Use EQLIFE10 for 10% off Westgate Labs test kits and get results you can trust to protect your horse with access to their award winning expert advice.

NB - the discount above excludes EquiSal tapeworm kits and the subscription service.

In this episode, Miri and Rhi discuss all things competition and horses. From nerves and preparation to navigating your purpose and how to show up as a good mentor for your horse and good fellow competitor, we break it all down.

Chapters

00:00 Miri’s week: Holistic Therapy 

05:26 Rhi’s week: Harley update: did the competition plan work? 

09:13 presence vs. nerves competing 

13:04 thoughts on top-level competition 

21:05 training to compete, or training to train? 

21:48 the financial pressure of competing 

25:02 the pressure we put on ourselves

26:10 finding a positive mindset 

27:43 competing against ‘yourself’

31:58 knowing your horse’s strengths and weaknesses

38:25 welfare at shows 

46:43 being a nice fellow competitor 

51:22 friends & food at shows 

58:28 process & preparation 

01:01:14 travelling & turnout 

01:10:22 Miri’s showing career 

01:14:16 Q&A: First-time owner finances

Huge thanks to our sponsors for today’s episode: Premier Performance and Champion Equestrian.

Get your 4 FREE Premier Performance products with every order - that's 20% off AND 4 exclusive goodies FREE with every order using code equestrianlife20.

Sign up to be the first to hear about an exciting product drop from Champion on https://championhub.com/. 

Premier Performance T&Cs - DISCOUNT CODE CANNOT BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS, SALE PRODUCTS or BUNDLE PACK PROMOTIONS. Not available on Premier Horse Treats, packs of 3, 5 and 10 cookies or palatability samples, mash, Unicorn and Variety cookies are also exempt. Free products included whilst stocks last. Free products will be added to your order at the time of sending out.

In this episode, Miri and Rhi are joined by professional rider fitness experts Maeve Sheriden from Activate Your Seat and Steph Brumption from SJB Performance training. We discuss everything from sport-specific training to where to get started and what to focus on. 

Chapters

0:00 Intro 

0:27 Rhi’s week: big presentations, new bits and ‘thinking into happiness’

11:38 32 Miri’s week: what would you do if you could live your life again? 

23:40 Our topic today

29:07 Introducing our guests 

30:19 Maeve: Activate Your Seat

32:06 Steph: SJB Performance Training 

33:37 Your horse is not your gym

34:42 Sport-specific training 

38:18 (the reality) of rider core strength 

43:13 Where to start

57:16 To band or not to band

59:53 leg imbalances 

63:30 The mental impact of fitness

67:04 Nutrition and fitness 

74:15 the menstrual cycle and fitness 

81:45 One thing to start, one thing to stop 

Huge thanks to our sponsors for today’s episode: Premier Performance and Toggi. 

Get your 4 FREE Premier Performance products with every order - that's 20% off AND 4 exclusive goodies FREE with every order using code equestrianlife20.

Use code TEL15 for 15% off Toggi Clothing. 

Follow our guests: 

In this episode, Miri and Rhi discuss injuries and rehab in horses. 

TRIGGER WARNING (TW): 

Though we hope it feels hopeful as we share advice and the future of rehabilitation, in this conversation, Rhi candidly discusses the loss of a horse due to injury and unsuccessful rehabilitation. We understand that this may be difficult for some listeners and we have tried to share very specific chapters below to help you navigate the episode in the way that feels best for you.

Chapters 

0:00 Intro 

1:13 Miri’s week: the impact of sunshine 

2:59 Duchess update 

3:42 A spider living on Miri’s mic 

4:25 Rhi’s week: Harley’s first solo trip & struggling with moving arenas 

12:25 Horses eyes and spooking 

14:28 introducing our topic & trigger warning 

17:11 TW: Woody’s story: pedal bone fracture 

29:27 Managing horses for injury prevention 

31:48 Barefoot vs. shoeing 

34:49 Box rest & ethics 

36:35 ‘Outside of the box’ rehabbing

38:55 Zora’s story: splint bone fracture  

43:04 Finding ‘joy’ in your new rehab routine 

45:47 Blondie’s story: PSSM, PSD

55:35 Holistic & non-invasive rehab 

57:06 Dealing with challenging horses in rehab 

64:55 Movement & injury prevention 

68:26 Compensation patterns

70:15 (TW) Grief/Hope after losing a horse 

75:48 Hope: the future of rehab 

Huge thanks to our sponsors for today’s episode: Premier Performance and Toggi. 

Get your 4 FREE Premier Performance products with every order - that's 20% off AND 4 exclusive goodies FREE with every order using code equestrianlife20.

Use code TEL15 for 15% off Toggi Clothing. 

This episode is a follow on from Episode 3: Buying & selling horses: viewings, vettings and vital info and we recommend you listen to that first! This week, we discuss what to do once you get your new horse home, from finding your new professionals, setting up a routine, goals and seasonal changes.

This Equestrian Life is brought to you by Miri Hackett (Hackett Equine) and Rhiannon Davies. Join our weekly chats where we discuss everything from training and mental health to our weekly horse-shaped mishaps - all from the perspective of a professional rider and hobby rider. 

Huge thanks to Premier Performance and Westgate Labs for sponsoring this podcast. 

Get your 4 FREE Premier Performance products with every order - that's 20% off AND 4 exclusive goodies FREE with every order using code equestrianlife20

Use EQLIFE10 for 10% off Westgate Labs test kits and get results you can trust to protect your horse with access to their award winning expert advice.

NB - the discount above excludes EquiSal tapeworm kits and the subscription service.

In episode 5, Miri and Rhi unpack the complex topic of sustainability within the equestrian industry. We talk macro - track livery, transport, yard management, and micro - buying new clothes, feeding and bedding. We also unpack the emotional piece of finding the balance with our sustainable actions and tackling the need to be ‘perfect’. 

Chapters 

0:00 happy Galentines!

0:58 the “you meet them twice” theory

4:40 the weird world of viral videos

7:25 ACOTAR fan club

11:04 Sending flowers

12:47 Spring is coming!

13:20 what is “sustainability”?

14:59 horses as a luxury

17:31 recycling on the yard

18:18 straw vs. shavings bedding

21:21 horse feed

24:00 battling the “overwhelm”

25:43 the most sustainable yard in Britain

26:54 horse transport

31:01 equestrian fashion & clothing

32:53 sustainability as creators

34:09 buying once, buying well

35:34 Equitex preloved sale

37:42 Finding the balance

39:44 plaiting bands

42:16 choosing brands who do more

45:18 Cancelling your email subscription

46:02 track livery and sequestration 

52:05 reusable items

54:56 Blondie’s hoof boot saga

58:00 barefoot as sustainable

This Equestrian Life is brought to you by Miri Hackett (Hackett Equine) and Rhiannon Davies. Join our weekly chats where we discuss everything from training and mental health to our weekly horse-shaped mishaps - all from the perspective of a professional rider and hobby rider. 

Huge thanks to Premier Performance and Sundown Bedding for sponsoring this podcast. 

Get your 4 FREE Premier Performance products with every order - that's 20% off AND 4 exclusive goodies FREE with every order using code equestrianlife20

Find out about Sundown Bedding's Switch to Straw campaign

In episode 4, Miri and Rhi are joined by Holly Outtridge - who left her corporate career to set up her own photography business - and Niki Baxter - a professional groom best known for her viral clipping, plaiting and grooming skills. We discuss all things equestrian careers - how to get into it, avoiding pitfalls and finding support in community.

0:00 Intro 

0:36 Rhi’s week - competing, a special quote and a stirrup mishap 

6:48 Miri’s week - a runaway horse and a special day with Blondie

16:14 today’s topic and guests

18:46 Rhi’s equestrian journey 

21:19 Miri’s equestrian career 

26:18 unpaid internships 

28:30 introducing Holly Outtridge & her photography career 

29:31 introducing Niki Baxter and her professional grooming career 

30:35 How did you get into your career? 

32:42 Social media as a stream of income? 

35:53 is your job financially comfortable? 

39:39 creating stable income when self-employed

42:12 ‘bread and butter’ jobs 

45:38 qualifications (or lack thereof!) 

48:31 apprenticeships 

50:34 when things go wrong 

56:25 the future of the industry 

1:08:45 going self employed 

This Equestrian Life is brought to you by Miri Hackett (Hackett Equine) and Rhiannon Davies and sponsored by Premier Performance. Join our weekly chats where we discuss everything from training and mental health to our weekly horse-shaped mishaps - all from the perspective of a professional rider and hobby rider. 

Huge thanks to Premier Performance for sponsoring this podcast.  Get your 4 FREE products with every order - that's 20% off AND 4 exclusive goodies FREE with every order using code equestrianlife20