Hoof and Paw - Equine

26/07/2025

What a stunning day today, it felt like Spring! 3 bodywork sessions (apologies T, I forgot to take photos of your ponies!). I’m looking forward to the Equine & Lifestyle Market at Solway next weekend - who else is going?

13/07/2025

I met this gorgeous little bush pony today - lots of acupressure & Myofascial Release (MFR) to ease her into bodywork. Find out more at https://www.hoofandpaw.co.nz/equine-bodywork

12/07/2025

Two of my clients from today’s trip to Upper Hutt. With soft & wet footing contributing to paddock slips & skids, Winter is the ideal time for a bodywork session for your horse, even if they’re turned out or only in light work.

You can also introduce your horse to some pilates exercises to help keep condition over the Winter months. Gillian Higgins (Horses Inside Out) has a great video on stretching & core stability exercises using the tail - https://youtu.be/mLPy1KhDy_k?si=kVLr0W3_xmnyQzIb

Find out more about my equine bodywork services at https://www.hoofandpaw.co.nz/equine-bodywork.

05/07/2025

Dodging raindrops with these 2 unicorns today! Here are 5 Winter Fitness Tips for Your Horse.

Keeping your horse fit through winter can be tough — but it’s the perfect time to build a strong foundation for Spring.

I work with horses throughout Winter to help keep them moving well, comfortable, and ready for whatever comes next. Here are 5 simple ways you can support your horse this season:

1️⃣ Keep Them Moving
Even light daily movement like in hand walking, turnout, or straight-line lunging helps maintain circulation, muscle tone, and joint health 🐎
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2️⃣ Prioritise Warm-Ups
Cold muscles are more prone to injury. Give your horse a longer warm-up with extra stretching and relaxed work before asking for more.

3️⃣ Add Variety
Hills, poles, in-hand work and short sessions 2–3x a week can do wonders. Keep it fun and engaging for both of you or try something new.

4️⃣ Don’t Skip Bodywork
Winter stiffness is real! Regular sessions support muscle balance, reduce tension, and spot little niggles before they become problems.
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5️⃣ Feed to Support Movement
Forage, minerals, hydration and a balanced diet are just as important in winter to fuel recovery and support performance.
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💡 Small, consistent actions over winter = better performance, soundness, and comfort in the seasons ahead. Visit www.hoofandpaw.co.nz to find out more!

27/06/2025

Freya is still looking for a new home - genuine reason for owner rehoming her.

13/06/2025

Times are hard at the moment but if you can spare a few $ to prevent some of these horses from being culled, every little bit helps ❤️

51 KAIMANAWA HORSES SAFE. 81 UNSAFE.

Just 60 hours to go until applications close on Sunday evening.
We are in the final hours for this year’s Kaimanawa herd.

There are really two main options remaining for the horses still unplaced:

1️⃣ Culling.
This is the direction this year was always intended to head.
The Wild Horse Advisory Group made it very clear that leniency had already been granted: the herd was allowed to remain at 400, when the target was originally 300. This meant 279 horses needed homes, not 379 — an impossible number.

2️⃣ Homes secured in the next 60 hours, or excess horses saved via public crowdfunding.

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/279-wild-kaimanawa-horses-279-days-279-lives-saved #

We know there are still homes in the works — our KLF Approved Trainers personally know of about 9 pending homes that haven’t yet completed their paperwork. But even if we place 65 horses in total, and reach the halfway mark, there will still be around 65 excess.

For those horses, we’ve been given until 28 July to raise public funds to save any unhomed horses. These would be placed with KLF Approved Trainers — so no property checks, or references would be required. While applications will close for the general public on Sunday, KLF can continue raising funds right up to the final moments when transport is being arranged.

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Every single additional owner who steps up this weekend helps secure the herd’s safety for the next decade. Every additional home reduces the number of horses left at risk — not just this year, but into the future.

Visit www.kaimanawaheritagehorses.org to adopt a horse or email info@kaimanawalegacyfoundation.org to apply for a KLF Initial Handling Subsidy.

You can also donate to help us save more excess horses:
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/279-wild-kaimanawa-horses-279-days-279-lives-saved #

Or direct to the KLF Bank Account:
Kaimanawa Legacy Foundation Board
12-3659-0111060-00

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KLF APPROVED TRAINERS
These trainers are eligible to train subsidised Kaimanawa horses and have spaces for handling or in their workshops.*

AUCKLAND
Leanne Hackett - 4 spaces
warhawk.limited@gmail.com
FOALS OR JUVENILES

HAMILTON
Noa Smythe - 3 spaces
noasmythe@gmail.com
FOALS, JUVENILES OR MATURE HORSES

TAUPO
Kelly Wilson/Morgan Chandler-Bruce - 6 spaces
info@kellywilson.nz
FOALS, JUVENILES OR MATURE HORSES

TARANAKI
Mimi Einfeldt - 2 spaces
mimis_kaimanawas@yahoo.com
FOALS, JUVENILES OR MARES

07/06/2025

A wonderful day catching up with an existing client & then a trip out to Heavenly Horse Trekking. Very calm ponies in not the best weather. As we’re approaching Winter, this is an ideal time for a tune up for your horse. DM or visit my website to find out more: https://www.hoofandpaw.co.nz/equine-bodywork

03/06/2025

Bodywork for 4 wonderful unicorns today, very relaxed despite the blustery weather! Get in touch if you’d like a pre-Winter tune up, DM or visit https://www.hoofandpaw.co.nz/equine-bodywork to find out more

02/06/2025

Myofascial Release (MFR) - my favourite technique because it’s so effective! Equinology’s (who I’m certified with) post highlights why fascia is so important.

24/05/2025

🐾 A little reminder that I’m also qualified to work on dogs! 🐾

I had the pleasure of working on this gorgeous older chap for a canine bodywork session today. Here I’m using Myofascial Release to alleviate some lower back tension. Find out more at https://www.hoofandpaw.co.nz/services

17/05/2025

The rain held off in Upper Hutt today for bodywork sessions on 4 horses.
🗓️ Upper Hutt Schedule
*12 July - fully booked
*28th June /19th July - available (pending demand)
Get in touch if you like to book your horse 🐴 or dog 🐾 in for a Winter tune up.
🗓️ Wairarapa dates available every weekend
https://www.hoofandpaw.co.nz/equine-bodywork
https://www.hoofandpaw.co.nz/services

30/04/2025

THANK YOU SO MUCH Wairarapa!!
We’ve received plenty of rugs which will be great for winter.

We need you help! We’re looking for donations of horse covers between 4’9” and 5’6” to keep our vulnerable equines warm and dry over winter. They must be WATERPROOF still.
If you’ve got something gathering dust in the shed, please drop it off to the Masterton centre.