Shenanigan Stud Therapy Herd

29/05/2026

Surprised to be posting this again.

30 years after the Atlanta games. And even longer since Dr David Marlin published what remains the most valuable understanding of equestrian sport in high heat and high humidity.

I still hear of professionals in the industry’s having such poor understanding of the science.

This week has been hot, I have been distracted by air quality. But heat kills.

27/05/2026

Beautiful Briar’s story.
Please vote for our gentle giant to become the Pet Hero that he is.

The role Briar has played in Jo Wheatley’s life sees him shortlisted for National Pet Award.

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/bdenkxhh

24/05/2026

Briar is nominated as a Pet Hero in the National Pet Awards, please look out for when voting starts very soon. It would be wonderful for this gorgeous gentleman to be recognised

One retired racehorse helped a Fermanagh woman survive devastating grief.

23/05/2026

It’s a firm favourite with the herd.

20/05/2026

This afternoon’s forage session included beech, dandelions, cleavers, and cow parsley. The herd have cottoned on that human usually comes back with a van full of goodies when she’s been out.
This was a taster at this end of the paddock, the main treasures went round to the back paddock so the goats could get first dibs this time.
The dandelions have all flowered and gone to seed now, perfect time to pick them without depriving the bees and other insects of the tasty pollen from the flowers.
Beech trees grow so quickly and the road into Tempo is lined by them either side. We take the lower branches from the new growth along the road. It provides a tasty treat and also helps to keep the roadside clear so that walkers can walk along the edge.

18/05/2026

🌿🐴 New Forest Stallions Are Out – Please Read & Respect 🐴🌿

The stallions of the New Forest have now been turned out and they’ll only be roaming free for a short 6-week period.

This brief time is vital to the future of the breed. New Forest mares come into season roughly every 3 weeks for 5 days, so if the mares don't become pregnant on their first covering/mating, they might not get the chance to mate again as the stallions would have already been removed. By limiting stallions to just 6 weeks on the forest helps carefully manage both the number and quality of foals born each year.

These stallions are not just any ponies they are carefully selected, vetted, and licensed before being allowed out. This ensures the continued health, quality, and preservation of this iconic native breed.

⚠️ Important Reminder for Visitors:
This is a sensitive and energetic time on the forest. Stallions and mares can be:

More lively and excitable

Unpredictable, especially around people, dogs, and vehicles

👉 Please:

Keep a safe distance at all times

Do not approach or feed the ponies

Keep dogs under close control

Drive with extra care

By giving them space, you’re playing a part in protecting one of Britain’s most treasured landscapes and its unique wildlife.

💚 Thank you for helping to safeguard the future of the New Forest ponies.

16/05/2026

Wonderfully stated, it’s our ethos here.
We let things flow naturally, allow people the space to feel comfortable, and watch the ponies and horses to work their magic.

A gentle reminder for anyone working with children, teens, or adults around horses:

Dysregulation does not always look dramatic. 🐴

It is not always:
• shouting
• crying
• aggression
• visible panic

Sometimes it looks like:

⚡ over-talking constantly because silence feels unsafe

⚡ laughing through everything

⚡ rushing tasks and movements

⚡ repeatedly apologising

⚡ asking “am I doing it right?” every thirty seconds

⚡ freezing when given choice

⚡ becoming overly compliant

⚡ watching your face for signs they’ve got something wrong

⚡ panicking over tiny mistakes

⚡ struggling to make decisions

⚡ trying to care for everyone else instead of themselves

⚡ shutting down emotionally while still physically participating

⚡ saying “I’m fine” while their entire body says otherwise

And honestly?

Horses often notice these shifts before humans do.

You might see:
🐴 the horse moving away slightly
🐴 increased tension
🐴 difficulty connecting
🐴 sudden stillness
🐴 pushiness
🐴 hyper-alert behaviour
🐴 disengagement

Not because the person is “bad” or “too much”.

But because nervous systems communicate constantly.

Sometimes the young person who looks the calmest is actually working the hardest internally just to stay regulated enough to remain in the session.

That is why trauma-informed practice matters.

Not so we can label every behaviour.
Not so we become frightened of emotional responses.

But so we stay curious instead of judgemental.

A child rushing a grooming task does not need "correcting" first.

They may need help feeling safe enough to slow down.

A teen who constantly says “sorry” does not need "behaviour management"

They need a relationship where mistakes do not feel dangerous.

The work is not in controlling the behaviour.

Sometimes the work is helping a nervous system realise:

“You are still safe here even if you get something wrong.” 🌿