I started my journey into horse ownership like many people do - as a horse crazy kid begging my parents to take me to the riding school.

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My eventual step into horse ownership was unconventional. I was gifted my first horse on my 18th birthday before I got a driving license or a even a full time job.

Holly, a spritely "definitely not a kids pony" 12.2hh was a bizarre match for a 5ft 2 adult rider, but believe me we have as much fun as anyone can have on a "proper" sized horse. A year later, I acquired an unbacked 14.2hh cob, Abbie, and we have done everything from eventing to western riding. Our true love, however, is endurance riding and hacking.

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Amidst the fun and joy my girls have brought me, historically I found myself battling with weight and intermittent soundness issues. For Holly, it was unsoundness in the spring which would come “out of the blue” and catch me by surprise almost every time. For Abbie, it was saddle malfunctions due to an obscene expansion in her waistline, to the point where I was told I would need two saddles, one for winter and one for summer.  I was a novice owner with no tools at my disposal to prevent my horses from getting sick.

That was until I began researching species appropriate living, the causes of laminitis, and the teachings of Dr Kellon, Jaimie Jackson and Lucy Rees. I enrolled into several nutrition and behaviour courses and I studied hard. In 2019 I set up my own bespoke weight and body condition analytics business, Horse Weighbridge North East and since then, I have been lucky enough to travel all over the country.
I have met horses in a whole host of set ups, including the track liveries of Gawsworth through to the World Champion Eventer Banzai Du Loir, and in that time I have learned how to overcome the many challenges associated with conventional horse husbandry.

 

During my travels, I am met continuously with the uncomfortable truth that many horses struggle to thrive in the environments we put them in and many owners feel powerless to help. The Laminitis Toolbox was born when I decided that every horse owner can make a difference to their horse’s health and well-being, even in the constraints of a livery yard. The Laminitis Toolbox is a one-stop-shop, full of tools to help every horse owner treat, manage or prevent laminitis, regardless of the set up. Through extensive testing, I know these products can provide you with a number of ways of improving the physical and mental wellbeing of your horse - happy shopping!

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Kelly