Shenanigan Stud Therapy Herd

13/01/2026

12/01/2026

Go on, give us a vote, send us a pound a month, share, so many ways to help support our work.
2026 will be the year of outreach for us.
Getting our insurance organised to take the Shetlands out to visit those in the community that are unable to come to us in Tempo, County Fermanagh.
Reaching out to neurodiversity groups, residential care, expanding our home education social groups, encouraging different age groups and also those from every cross section of society to come over and meet the shenanigans.
We accept individuals, families, groups, work teams, sports teams, carers, anyone is welcome.

Each year we give £300,000 in grants based on your votes

08/01/2026

It’s the rain and mud that makes it a gruelling slog, the frozen pipes etc, as long as the herd is ok then I can keep going. The short days are grim, but that turn into Spring time gives me such a boost that it’s all worth it.

Horse ownership isn’t always therapeutic.
Sometimes it’s just exhausting.

Winter is where the fantasy really falls apart. Short days. Long mud. Frozen taps. Wet gloves that never dry. Everything takes twice as long and gives half the reward. What once felt grounding can start to feel relentless.

There are days when going to the yard does not calm you. It overloads you. Cold, dark, sensory-heavy, decision after decision after decision. Rugs. Feet. Feed. Weather checks. Guilt if you rush. Guilt if you don’t.

Horses do not pause for low energy, foggy thinking, or burnout. They still need the same steady care, delivered by a person who may feel anything but steady.

This is the part that rarely makes it into feel-good posts.

Loving your horse does not mean every visit feels healing. Some days it feels like work. Actual hard graft. Some days it feels like pressure. Some days it feels like dragging yourself through mud both very physically and mentally.

That does not make you ungrateful.
It does not mean horses are the wrong choice.
It means winter is hard and responsibility is heavy.

The therapeutic part of horses is not constant calm. It is showing up anyway. It is quiet moments that happen despite the exhaustion, not because of a picture-perfect version of it.

If winter has you questioning yourself, you are not failing. You are just in the season where survival mode does more of the talking than romance.

Spring will come 🌼 🌸 🌻

08/01/2026

This works for training most species of animals. Weigh out their total feed, and then take out 1/4 of it out to use as small rewards during interactions and training.
It’s a method used in falconry and with sealions and other performing animals for years. You have to get the balance right though and make sure that their feed amounts reflect the levels of activity.
It’s best not to give treats by hand when training horses. Encourage the horse to take a step back (more training) and place the reward in the space between you.

One of the easiest times to train your pup is right before meal times 🐶🍽️
If feeding is consistent, your pup will naturally be a little hungry—and that’s when learning really clicks.
When they’re hungry, you become exciting. You have the food, and the more they choose to stay with you, focus on you, and engage with you, the more rewards they earn. Simple, fair, and effective.
Your pup needs a certain number of calories every day to grow and thrive—and they’ll get them. The difference is that some of those calories come from training instead of a bowl on the floor. They’re not missing out… they’re learning 💡
Keep sessions short, fun, and positive—especially for puppies. A few minutes at a time is perfect. Think of it as a game, not work. Training before meals builds focus, better habits, and a stronger bond… all while feeding your dog.
Win-win 🐾✨

08/01/2026

Love this, having horses is a rather gruelling and very wet and messy time during the winter months. Herd human was most discombobulated yesterday as she brought in our lunchtime haylage when the lace of one waterproof boot managed to loop around the hook of the other boot and cause a very controlled sideways collapse in our midst.
She was most upset because she had only put on her ‘nice’ trousers that morning.

If you find an equestrian on their side this winter, please turn them the right way up and power them with tea.
No, seriously. This is not a joke. This is a health and safety advisory.

Winter equestrians are a fragile species. We can usually be found frozen in gateways, wedged against stable doors, or lying horizontally in a muddy field questioning our life choices. If discovered, do not panic. Simply follow the steps below.

First, check for signs of life.
Are they muttering about mud, frozen taps, or why they didn’t take up knitting? Good. They’re still with us.

Next, carefully rotate them upright. Winter riders tend to tip over due to excess layers, stiff joints, and boots filled with mud that now weigh approximately the same as a small car. Use correct lifting technique. Bend your knees. Protect your back. This person has already ruined theirs.

Once upright, immediately administer tea.
Not lukewarm tea. Not herbal nonsense. Proper, builders’, strong-enough-to-stand-a-spoon-up tea. Bonus points if it’s delivered in a battered yard mug that smells faintly of hay and regret.

Do not ask how they are.
They will say “fine” while their eye twitches and their soul quietly leaves their body.
Expect them to be wearing:
• Seven layers, none of which are actually warm
• Gloves that are somehow both soaking wet and frozen solid
• An expression of pure regret

They may appear grumpy. This is normal. Winter equestrians have been up since dawn, defrosting buckets with kettles, chipping ice like they’re auditioning for a mining job, and explaining to non-horse people that no, the horse cannot “just stay inside today”.
They are tired.
They are cold.
They smell faintly of horse and despair.

Under no circumstances should you suggest:
• “At least it’s not raining”
• “You chose this life”
• “Horses are just pets”

If the equestrian starts laughing for no reason, crying into their tea, or talking about selling everything and moving to Spain, this is also normal. Continue tea application until coherence returns.

Once revived, they will stand up, pull their hat down, sigh deeply, and go straight back out into the cold to do it all again. Because despite everything — the mud, the ice, the numb toes, and the emotional damage — they love it.

And if you find them on their side again tomorrow?
Turn right ways up.
Apply tea.
Repeat until spring. ☕🐴

07/01/2026

❄️ Cold Weather = Higher Risk of Impaction Colic ❄️

As temperatures drop, the risk of impaction colic in horses increases. Winter management plays a big role in keeping equine digestive systems healthy—here’s what every horse owner should know 👇

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🐴 What is Impaction Colic?

Impaction colic occurs when dry, firm feed material becomes stuck in the horse’s intestine, usually in the large colon. This blockage slows or stops normal gut movement, causing pain and potentially serious complications if not treated promptly.

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🚨 Signs of Impaction Colic

Signs can range from mild to severe and may include:
• Reduced or absent manure production
• Dry, hard f***s
• Decreased appetite
• Lethargy or depression
• Pawing, stretching, or looking at the flank
• Lying down more than usual or difficulty getting comfortable

Always contact your veterinarian if colic is suspected.

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🧊 Why Does Cold, Freezing Weather Increase the Risk?

Cold conditions contribute to impaction colic for several reasons:
• Reduced water intake: Horses often drink less when water is cold or frozen
• Drier diets: Increased reliance on hay with less moisture than pasture
• Decreased gut motility: Less movement and colder temperatures can slow digestion
• Frozen or limited water sources: Even short periods without adequate water can lead to dehydration

Dehydration + dry feed = higher risk of intestinal blockage.

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✅ How to Help Prevent Impaction Colic
• Ensure constant access to fresh, unfrozen water (ideally lukewarm in winter)
• Monitor daily water intake and manure output
• Soak hay or feeds if recommended by your vet
• Encourage regular movement and turnout
• Make dietary changes gradually
• Schedule routine dental care and parasite management

Cold weather doesn’t have to mean colic risk—with good management and close observation, you can help keep your horse healthy all winter long 💙🐎

07/01/2026

So many people who struggled to do things ‘the right way’ and beat themselves up about it for years can find real peace and confidence once they realise why.

Can you imagine feeling out of kilter with others for most of your life, but not knowing why? This was the reality for Will Gannon until recently. The 64-year-old father of two from Templeogue in Dublin, dropped out of college at UCD in second year.

He’d been studying German and English, but found he struggled to pass exams. “I felt really stupid because of it. It was like I was running up against a brick wall and I couldn’t figure out why,” he says.

Part of his issue involved a lack of organisation: “At school, at college, or in work, I was always adrift,” he says. “I mostly managed to get by, and I’m not quite sure how because I could never approach things with a methodical approach. My brain felt scattered.”

In March of this year, Will learnt why he found certain things so hard.

It happened when two of his young relatives were diagnosed with ADHD. “When I heard about their symptoms I suddenly realised, I had the same,” he says. “I talked to my GP and therapist about it and they encouraged me to get diagnosed.”

Due to the long public waiting lists for ADHD diagnosis here, he opted for a private assessment which typically costs between €600 and €1, 600. “It was worth it for me to find out one way or another,” he says.

He was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD. “When you read about ADHD it’s usually an image of a kid, running around like a fly in a bottle, but I was the opposite,” he adds. “I’m passive and quiet, so it never occurred to me that I had it.”

He describes the diagnosis as “transformative”, adding: “It has allowed me to interpret my own path in life. It all makes sense now”