Sophie Elfleet Equine Body Worker

14/01/2026

My favourite type of morning - Cold, crisp and bright ❄️ the only thing that would be better is if I was enjoying it from behind two chestnut ears.
Starting the day checking the girls and taking a few deep breaths to set me up for some sessions. Perfect 👌
How do you start your day?

12/01/2026

I don't know about you guys, but my January seems to be going quite fast. I actually quite enjoyed the first month of the year as I like to have a think about what I want to do over the coming months and start to take steps to plan and make them happen.

Last year I did my first horse bingo; a way to give yourself some goals that you can tick off (which is so satisfying) as you go and a possible excuse for a reward if you complete it 😂

I also have one for general life too.

I thought I would share the idea and for those that don't enjoy January it's a fun activity to keep you going!

Have a go and show me what's on yours 😁

08/01/2026

Happy birthday to Tasha Holden 🥳
Hope you are being spoilt and get to hang with your favourite Mr Monty!

🎂🐴

08/01/2026

Some more tips and advice for you to support your horse (and your mental health) through the cold, dark winter.

PART TWO - Body and mind

🌳 Shelter - having an area where they can take shelter and dry off is good for their physical and mental health; reducing risk of illnesses and ailments and offering a safe space to rest, dry and keep warm.

🧥 Rug appropriately - A horse's thermoregulation zone is 5 - 25 c and they have many adaptations to keep them warm when temperatures do drop below 5. All horses are individuals so their needs and circumstances must be taken into consideration when rugging. But be aware that over-rugging is a big issue.

🐎 Movement - free movement keeps them warm, keeps their internal systems working efficiently and keeps joints and areas of stiffness lubricated and functioning. Allowing the freedom to move, play and rest as they choose is allowing them to regulate their temperature as nature intended.

👭 Companionship - having social freedom is a pillar for horse health. A herd offers support and stability, reduces stress and boredom and encourages movement. A horse can not function as a solitary animal.

🥾 Hoof care - Checking and picking out daily to stop build up of mud or snow and checking for issues like thrush. Offer hard/dry standing to reduce the risk of softening hoof walls and ailments associated with prolonged time in muddy/damp conditions.

📒 Body scoring - Keeping a record of weight and general body score is valuable to monitor health and can be valuable information for equine health professionals or future reference.

✅ Safety - Put down sand and grit on walk ways, use mud mats or alternatives to help manage areas that get muddy and generally take care of yourself.

07/01/2026

This is an amazing way to show your appreciation and support for your equine professionals. I am excited to nominate some amazing people this year who have been wonderful support to me and my horses and I know make such a difference to so many others. Who will you nominate?

It’s that time again! The Equestrian Business Awards 2026 are officially open for nominations and the best part? It’s completely FREE to nominate or even self-nominate!

Whether it’s a professional, business, or charity who goes above and beyond for horses and their owners, now’s your chance to give them the recognition they deserve.

Why nominate?

Celebrate dedication, skill, and excellence in the equestrian industry

Show appreciation for those who make a real difference

Help raise standards across the sector

Entering couldn’t be easier, just follow the link in the comments to submit your nomination.

07/01/2026

Temperatures are scarcely reaching above freezing and here in Norfolk we managed the lowest overnight temperatures this winter the other night (-12.5)! It's bloody cold! The joys of keeping horses are really highlighted during these cold months, where we really look forward to hauling wheelbarrows through mud, frozen water taps, 5 minutes of daylight and perpetual anxiety about whether our horses are warm enough or if they are passing round the number for the RSPCA ….

To hopefully address some of that anxiety I have some tips and advice for you to support your horse (and your mental health) through the cold, dark winter.

PART ONE - diet and hydration

🌿 Ad-lib forage - for me a non-negotiable. Free access to good forage will support their digestive system and boost their internal heating system (fermentation in hind gut). They should consume 1.5-2.5% of their body weight daily.

🧂 Salt - a lick or supplement in feed/water will encourage drinking as well as supporting muscle/nerve function and digestion.

💧 Mash - increasing the water content of their feed by adding a forage mash/beet or wetting their feed will increase hydration.

🚫 No sudden diet changes - An abrupt change in feeding habits will increase the risk of colic or digestive discomfort. Make changes gradually over a week or more to give them time to adjust and self regulate.

💦 Warm water - Add warm water to troughs or offering a warm bucket or buffet will encourage hydration, reduce impaction colic risk and add enrichment.

01/01/2026

Happy new year team! Let's make this one a good one 🥂

25/12/2025

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas!

24/12/2025

Day 24 - 12 benefits of bodywork

It’s christmas eve and tomorrow we start the 12 days of christmas, so in the festive spirit here are 12 benefits of bodywork!

1. Muscle and mental relaxation
2. Pain and tension relief
3. Activates the parasympathetic nervous system - reduces stress
4. Decreases inflammation and promotes recovery
5. Improves movement and flexibility
6. Releases happy hormones
7. Injury prevention
8. Enhances muscle tone, strength and efficiency
9. Supports and aids rehabilitation
10. Improves circulation and lymph flow
11. Supports function of systems throughout the body (respiratory, digestion, hormones etc)
12. Aids in handling and trainability

There are just SO many benefits and definitely not restricted to just this 12.

Bodywork is a powerful tool for any horse owner. You absolutely do not have to have a performance horse to see the benefits. Any horse from a happy hacker, pony club pony, retired golden oldie, yearling to high level dressage horse, racehorse or service horse and everything in between will benefit from having a regular bodywork routine. It is just as important as having regular visits from your farrier/trimmer, dentist and vet (vaccinations, health checks). It’s commonly misconstrued as a ‘pamper’ which I think significantly undervalues the true work that goes into bodywork sessions and all the genuinely altering, beneficial changes, physical and mental, that happen with regular bodywork.

Simply bodywork makes a difference.

23/12/2025

Day 23 - My christmas wish to you

I hope everyone has a Whiz in their lives.

Someone who insists on being your weighted blanket when you are feeling down

Someone happy to be the window through which to see your laptop screen when you are trying to work

Someone to give you anxiety on that relaxing woodland walk because SQUIRREL!

Someone to sit shotgun on all outings in the motorcar and make no comment on your amazing driving

Someone who truly appreciates your dulcet tones during bedtime stories

Someone to make you laugh because sitting like a gremlin will never get old

Someone who is the best little spoon and never hogs the super king sized bed …. Or kicks the spare out the other side.

Someone who you want to write a silly post about because you are so tired but just love them so much your heart might explode!

And someone who loves you unconditionally and is as much a part of you as your right arm.

Christmas is about family and appreciating all those we love, biped, quadruped and any other! So my Christmas wish to you all is that you have that Whiz in your life and you love and appreciate them just as they do you.

Would love to see your whiz, post a photo in the comments ❤️

22/12/2025

Day 22 - An introduction into barefoot
I'm not an expert but the hoof is fascinating and these are some of my basic understandings I would love to share with you, even if it just gets you thinking.

I am proud that my mare is barefoot but it is the most natural thing in the world but not considered the norm. I grew up with shoes being an unquestioned part of having a horse. But why are we constantly fighting with the natural function of the hoof instead of working with it? In fact, metal shoes block natural function, movement, increase concussion, weaken hoof wall and increase injury risk.

The very foundation of hoof function is that it needs to move; contracting and expanding in response to the environment, changing shape in response to the body and putting appropriate forces on the sole improving blood flow and nerve function. We are conditioned to expect our horse’s hooves to have perfect curved shape, the shape of a horse shoe! But asymmetries and flares are actually normal and usually function to support the body.

3 benefits of barefoot;

> natural function/improves health
> improves movement/proprioception
> reduces concussion / improves shock absorption

Hooves can tell us a lot about how the body is functioning. There is a constant loop of feedback. Hooves will respond to try to address asymmetries in the body to support and reduce stress and stock forces traveling up the limb. Similarly, damage/abnormalities in the hoof will cause uneven feedback and strain/pressure up the tissues of the limbs and the body will compensate. Fun fact, did you know your horses teeth/jaw has a direct impact on their hooves? This is due to a high concentration of nerves in the jaw which feedback about balance and proprioception.

My understanding is that natural hooves are wide and actually have a concave shape a bit like the arch of our own feet and the heels are relatively low to support normal function of the frog and digital cushion. Front hooves tend to be round and wide and hind hooves more oval in shape.

This is the bare bones and I hope to learn so much more.