Little Hooves

06/01/2026

Helping eachother

Life Update.....

I am currently going through a really difficult employment ( navigating redundancy-related uncertainty ) alongside pregnancy, and it has made me look very seriously at how I protect myself and income over the next 12 to 15 months , my maternity period, and Equimotional.

I cannot go into all the details publicly, partly because I am trying to handle everything properly, calmly, and with the right advice.

But what I can say is this:

Equimotional as an income matters more than ever right now.

So I am asking my community for a bit more direct support.

If Equimotional has ever helped you, inspired a session, supported your confidence, given you a resource when you needed one, or made you feel less alone in this work, there are a few ways you can help me keep it moving:

✨️You can buy a workbook or resource from the website.

✨️You can book onto the course.

✨️You can join the Facebook subscriber area.

✨️You can share a post.

✨️You can invite your friends to the page.

✨️You can RECOMMEND us to a school, alternative provision, yard, parent, carer, or facilitator. ( THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE )

✨️You can comment on our posts, because Facebook’s algorithm sometimes behaves like a feral goat with a grudge.

Every sale, share, recommendation, and bit of support helps. It helps me prepare for maternity leave and continue creating resources that support facilitators, young people, and horses.

I know money is tight for lots of people, so please do not feel pressured. But if you were planning to buy something, book something, recommend us, or support the page, now would be a really meaningful time and helpful time.

Thank you for being here and for helping this little community grow ❤️

Charlie x

www.equimotional.com

05/26/2026

Great idea

🐴✨ Make a Simple “Sniff Pot” for Your Horse

One of the easiest ways to add a little curiosity and enrichment to your horse’s day is with something we call a Sniff Pot.

It’s simple to make, inexpensive, and surprisingly interesting for many horses.

All you need is:

• A strong plastic container with a lid
• A few small holes drilled into the top
• Something interesting for your horse to smell

That’s it. 😊

Horses naturally explore the world through scent, and many really enjoy investigating new smells when they’re introduced gently and safely.

Some horses become very curious.
Some sniff thoughtfully and quietly.
Some clearly have opinions about which scents they like… and which ones they definitely do not. 😄

It’s a lovely way to encourage calm investigation, curiosity, and thinking.

You may even notice your horse becoming more confident about exploring new things over time.

Here are a few interesting things you can try inside your Sniff Pot:

🌿 Herbs
• Fenugreek (many horses seem to love this one)
• Peppermint
• Chamomile
• Lavender
• Basil
• Rosemary
• Dried mint leaves

🍎 Food scents
• Banana peel
• Cinnamon stick
• Cloves (very small amount)
• Vanilla essence on cotton wool

🌸 Nature smells
• Pine needles
• Eucalyptus leaves
• Flowers such as roses or marigolds
• Safe leaves or bark from horse-safe trees

✨ Essential oils (very tiny amounts only)
Place a drop or two on a cotton ball inside the container.

Some horses enjoy:
• Lavender
• Peppermint
• Frankincense
• Chamomile

The important thing is to let your horse choose.

Some horses will be fascinated by certain smells and completely uninterested in others.

That’s part of the fun.

You’re learning more about what your horse enjoys while also giving them something new and interesting to explore.

And watching your horse carefully investigate a new scent with those soft whiskers twitching will give you a smile. 😊🐴

If you’d like more simple ideas like this to enjoy with your horse, I’ve left a link in the comments below. ✨

05/25/2026

Interesting

One Tick. One Bite. One Very Sick Horse.

Anaplasmosis in horses is one of those diseases that can look terrifying at first — high fevers, swollen legs, jaundice, lethargy — but thankfully with prompt treatment, most horses recover very well.

Anaplasmosis is caused by a bacteria called Anaplasma phagocytophilum and is spread primarily through tick bites. Deer ticks (the same ticks associated with Lyme disease) are the main culprit. Horses become infected when an infected tick feeds on them and transfers the bacteria into the bloodstream. Cases are most common in spring and fall when ticks are especially active, but they can occur anytime ticks are present.

One important thing to understand is that there is typically an incubation period between the tick bite and when the horse actually starts showing symptoms. The incubation period for Anaplasmosis is usually around 6-12 days after exposure to an infected tick. This means horses can appear completely normal for days or even weeks before suddenly becoming sick. Because of this delay, owners often never actually see the tick responsible for the infection.

Once inside the body, the bacteria infect white blood cells and trigger a widespread inflammatory response. Symptoms can range from mild to severe depending on the horse’s age, immune system, and how quickly treatment is started.

Common symptoms include:
• Sudden high fever
• Depression or extreme lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Reluctance to move or stiffness
• Swollen legs (especially hind legs)
• Ataxia/incoordination in more severe cases
• Yellowing of the gums or eyes (jaundice/icterus)
• Petechiae (small red pinpoint hemorrhages on gums)
• Increased heart rate
• Colic-like discomfort in some horses

Many horses look profoundly sick very quickly. Owners often describe them as going from “normal” to “seriously ill” in 24–48 hours.

Bloodwork is extremely helpful in diagnosing Anaplasmosis. Typical findings often include:
• Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia)
• Low white blood cell count
• Mild anemia
• Elevated inflammatory markers such as SAA or fibrinogen
• Elevated bilirubin causing jaundice

Veterinarians can sometimes actually see the bacteria inside white blood cells on a blood smear, but the most accurate diagnostic test is usually a PCR test run on blood. This detects the DNA of the bacteria and confirms infection.

The good news is that Anaplasmosis generally responds very well to treatment. The antibiotic of choice is usually oxytetracycline given intravenously. Many horses improve dramatically within 24–48 hours of starting treatment. In milder cases or after IV treatment, horses may also be placed on oral doxycycline.

Supportive care is also important and may include:
• Anti-inflammatories to control fever and discomfort
• Fluids if dehydrated
• Careful monitoring of appetite, hydration, and temperature

Recovery expectations are generally excellent when treatment is started early. Most horses recover fully within a couple of weeks, although some may take longer to regain full energy and muscle condition after being very sick. Severe untreated cases can occasionally become life-threatening, particularly in older horses or horses with complications, which is why early veterinary intervention is so important.

One important thing to know is that horses do not directly spread Anaplasmosis to each other. The disease is transmitted through ticks, not horse-to-horse contact.

The best prevention is good tick control:
• Daily tick checks
• Keeping pastures trimmed
• Reducing brush and wooded overgrowth
• Using veterinarian-recommended tick repellents or prevention products
• Monitoring horses closely during heavy tick seasons

If your horse suddenly develops a high fever, swollen legs, depression, or jaundice — especially during tick season — Anaplasmosis should absolutely be on the list of possibilities to discuss with your veterinarian. The earlier it’s caught, the smoother recovery usually is.

I’d love to hear of other symptoms you’ve experienced with your Anaplasmosis positive horses.

05/18/2026

These are amazing 🤩

05/18/2026

10 manes ✅ 10 tails ✅ 🥰🥰🐴🐴🐴

05/17/2026

My dream

Palomino C**t April 23, 2025 AMHA #246512 Measures 27.75" 5/16/2026 Sire: Los Arboles Bolero's Sweet Dream AMHA #221523 AMHR 32" Dam: Little America's PQ Just Perfection AMHA #235643 29.5"

05/17/2026

For Reals!!!!

05/17/2026

Beautiful

05/15/2026

Great job

05/14/2026

Wow, I didn’t know that. How many of you knew this?