Unity Horsemanship
Tel: 07508896475
“Working horses is a little like being married. Sometimes you need to adjust and change your plan.”
- Buck Brannaman -
Holistic Livery including an all-weather track system.
We are a small, tranquil and friendly livery yard on the edge of the Ashdown Forest. We are passionate about appropriate equine management and care. Our set up is vastly different from most other equestrian establishments.
Horses in our care are allowed and encouraged to have full access to FREEDOM, FORAGE and FRIENDS.
Everything from what they are fed to their daily routine is based on our understanding of the equines' natural behavioural patterns and needs. Our unique approach means that every horse with us is well socialised, calm and healthy both mentally and physically.
Unity Horsemanship Ethos
We are proud to say that our horses can live out 24/7 all year round due to the extensive work we have undertaken to create all weather tracks and "loafing areas". In the worst winter months our horses live very happily on these wide tracks and are fed ad-lib hay. To date we have not had a single problem of mud-fever, thrush, or other mud related issues. We have lots of Natural shelter and hedgerows to browse and forage on. We also have two very large and solid field shelters to protect the horses year round.
At unity horsemanship we acknowlege that horses should be kept as naturally as possible, however we also understand that that isn't always possible due to grazing restrictions, weather, injury and also the performance level of your horse. Therefore, our stables are large and all come with big windows at the back overlooking the fields. Horses tend to be much happier with this set up as it means if need be they can happily stay in and still see their friends from their stable. Thus, reducing the chance of separation anxiety and general stress.
We feed good quality organic hay ad-lib all year round. Hay is fed from slow feeders on the floor to encourage natural foraging and digestion.
Our "hard" feed is 100% forage based and contains pretty much everything a horse needs, we also feed a full spectrum excellent quality multi vit/min and micronised Linseed to deliver essential Omegas and help with condition for those who may need it.
Natural Rock salt licks are available to all horses all year round.
Grazing/Tracks
50% of our grazing has recently been reseeded with a seed mix specially designed for horses health. It is full of herbs and wild flowers making it delicious to graze on and good for the land, bees and insects as well as the horses!
Paddocks are poo picked daily, routinely rotated and properly rested.
All paddocks are fenced with post and rail. From early summer till late autumn we use a large grass track system in the fields to ensure that horses don't get too over weight, keep moving and stay mentally healthy.
A tracking system, is a new way of keeping horses on turnout. The method attempts to stimulate natural grazing habits and herd life.
Simply put it involves grazing your horse on track rather than a rectangular field and this helps keep the horses on the move.
The many benefits include-
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Encourages constant movement and conditioning of hooves
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Allows you to control grazing, helping keep laminitis and other metabolic diseases under control.
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Helps prevent equine boredom
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Can help to rehabilitate horses after illness/injury
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Helps control fat/obese horses by keeping weight down.
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improves fitness and mentality.
Utilising an open field is the usual method of turning horses out in the UK, but unless encouraged, this situation means that our horses often won’t explore, and instead tend to remain around one area, often grazing on too-lush grass.
In the wild, horses roam along a route in search of food and water. Most estimates put this roaming figure at around 20 – 30 miles per day. The constant need to move and find food, while avoiding potential predators, encourages movement which is exactly what nature intended. Tracking systems replicate this and help stimulate horses to behave and move more naturally, according to their instincts.
