Those seeking livery yards near Glasgow which offer the best care for their horse and stunning surroundings to enjoy need look no further than Tullochan Livery. We are run by an ex-international eventer, Fiona Stuart, who ensures perfection is standard at every step, from customer care to horse health. As an expert in horse biomechanics, Fiona can advise and assist you on getting the best out of your horse during its stay with us.

There are many reasons to let your horse stay at Tulloch Livery. Here are just a six of them.

1. Stunning surroundings

Tullochan Livery sits just north of Balloch at the southern end of Loch Lomond. This is one of the most beautiful areas in Scotland, with plenty or opportunities to explore the countryside. Hacking around Loch Lomond is a pleasure at any time of the year, and many beauty spots are easily accessible from our livery. Explore one of Scotland’s most popular National Parks on your horse from the convenience of Tullochan Livery.

2. Private riding lessons & training

Although you don’t need to stable your horse with us to take advantage of our training sessions, it certainly makes it easier if you are already here! Through a range of training techniques specific to your horse’s needs, your horse (and you!) will 100% see positive results. Discover more about our training here.

3. All weather arena

When the Scottish weather starts to set in, it’s important to continue exercising your horse. Fortunately, we enjoy an all-weather, floodlit 20 x 60 arena, with a selection of jumps, poles and training blocks. It’s a fun and exciting way to keep active on those dark and cold days.

4. Multiple livery packages available

We offer a range of livery packages to suit your needs and wallet.

You could choose assisted DIY for £45 per week which includes feeding morning and night and putting in and out each day mid-week. At weekends we do the morning feed and turnout/bring in, but not afternoons. Or you could choose full livery for £90 – £100 per week. Find out more about our livery options here.

5. Run by knowledgeable professionals

Owned and run by Fiona Stuart you can be assured that our stables are held to the highest standards. Fiona is an ex-international eventer and competed for over 30 years at the highest level both nationally and Internationally in 3-day eventing. She was 3 times Scottish Eventing Points Champion; regularly Scottish Champion at all British Dressage Levels and two years running she was Scottish Sportswoman of the year! Find out more about Fiona here.

6. A friendly community of horse lovers

We pride ourselves on having a warm and friendly community of horse lovers at Tullochan Livery. We have an active Facebook group which is a great place to meet other owners and share in the adventures of their horses!

If you would like to find out more about Tullochan livery yards near Glasgow, just send us a message and we’ll get in touch with you as soon as possible!

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Horses are strong animals. That’s probably one of the reasons we love them. However as with everything, it can be hard for them to deal with extremes – including hot and cold. We’ve previously written about ways to keep your horse cool in hot weather. So we thought it would be good to write about ways to keep them warm and comfortable in winter too. Our livery yards near Glasgow are set up to ensure horses remain safe and warm through the toughest of Scottish weathers. Here is what we have learned over the years about how to keep your horse warm in winter.

Protect them from the cold rain

Horses can cope with the cold very well. They develop fantastic winter coats which can protect them from much of the bad winter weather. However freezing rain and winds is another matter, and this is something you can help protect against. Coats and rugs for horses are available to protect them from the very worst that Scotland has to offer. Some don’t need anything, but others may benefit form a covering. Whether to do this is often a personal by the owner. Tullochan Stables, being a livery yard near Glasgow, is well used to cold weather and wind! We make sure all our horses are as comfortable as they can be during inclement weather.

Simple rules like never blanketing a wet horse (wait until they are dry) and blanketing the very young or very old/infirm are good rules of thumb. blankets and coats should always be inspected daily.

Keep your horses well watered

As important as it it to ensure your horses have access to water year-round, it’s crucial that they drink enough in winter. They will probably need more water in winter than the rest of the year. This is because of what they eat now.

In the summer, when feeding on pastures, the moisture in the grass contributes to your horse’s daily needs. In winter, when food is going to be mainly dried hay or grain, you need to ensure your horse drinks enough to compensate for the loss of water in thier food. Drinking less can result in a loss in appetite which, in turn, may cause impaction colic. A horse has to eat enough throughout winter to tolerate the harsher weather.

Keep exercising!

Just because it’s winter is no excuse to stop exercising your horse! In fact, a lack of exercise for a prolonged period of time can lead to a range of health problems. One of the benefits of letting your horse stay at our livery yards is access to our all-weather, floodlit 20 x 60 arena. Here there is a comprehensive selection of jumps, poles and training blocks to keep your horse’s body and mind active over winter.

Winter care for horses

If you have any questions or concerns about how to keep your horse warm in winter, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We have many years of experience in ensuring all types and sizes of horse are kept warm, healthy and happy over winter. If you would like to pop into our livery yards near Glasgow to see for yourself, just drop us a line!

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Demonstration Date & Time

Join Fiona Stuart ex-international eventer for an evening of biomechanical training. Or bring your own horse along to begin solving your very own issues!

When: Friday the 3rd of June, 2022, at 7pm

Where: Provanston Equestrian, Fintry, G63 0LP

Cost: £15 (£8 for under 18’s)

How to Book: Message us to book or text 07736561636 to reserve your space.

1:1 Demo: Bring your own horse or come and watch. Message us to book or text 07736561636.

Horse training and areas Fiona will cover

At this demonstration, the following areas (and more, we are sure!) will be covered

1. In hand horse stretches and physio strengthening

2. Effective lunging for correct movement, muscle development and body control

3. Long reining for muscle rehabilitation, strengthening and straightness

This is set to be a lively, friendly and informative evening. So bring a chair, and horse clothing, in case you want to get involved with hands-on guidance. And if you can’t be there, just let us know and we can orgnaise an online experience for you to follow.

Problems this horse training will help

Biomechanical training, stretching and strengthening help solve a whole host of issues. Often, problems occur due to discomfort or a muscle imbalance.

These can include: riders looking for jumping exercises for horses that rush | horses knocking jumps | dressage consistency issues | nervous, hot or sharp horses | stiffness | problems holding an even / balanced stride | problems with straightness | horses constantly behind the leg | crabbing into jumps | stopping at fences

Many of the things we riders put down as “bad attitude” or a “bad horse” are in fact down to pain, weakness and poor training. Here we want to help right these issues and develop you a new horse!

Fiona’s Experience

Fiona Stuart, was a top international eventer, competing against the likes of Princess Anne, at all the top named events. As such, she was a frequent face in the papers and media. Further, she was the first female to be selected to compete in the then “all-male” Olympic sport of eventing. And if this wasn’t enough, she was also a top competitor on the British Dressage scene.

Today, she is one of Scotland’s best equine biomechanical experts and a riding coach that is still ahead of her game. As such, she has spent many years working with the vet schools rehabilitating horses, and travels the country teaching riders of all abilities, as well as frequenting competition with her competitors.

Benefits of biomechanical training

So, what is biomechanical training of equines? And what are the benefits of correct horse biomechanical strengthening? Well, the answer is tenfold! And this is true, no matter the level of your horse, their ability, or whether you are experiencing particular issues, or not. Yes, with correct equine stretching and strengthening all horses can move up to new, unimaginable levels. So come along and learn this magical art. And, gain an unimaginable understanding of horse training, muscle development and rider enhancement. By doing so, you will be creating a much happier, more relaxed, confident and flexible horse, with a connection on board, you could currently only dream of!

Reduce the chances of injury

Further, horse stretching also helps prevent injuries and muscle wastage while improving overall comfort and health. So this kind of training makes a huge difference, no matter whether you have a hot/sharp horse or a horse that’s behind the leg.

Join us for a fun evening and learn lifelong skills that will open a whole host of possibilities for you and your horse. Because he deserves the best possible quality of life… and so do you!

Message us to book here or text 07736561636 to reserve your space.

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Water…

Water is the most vital of elements to give your horse to keep them cool. They will stay hydrated and cool with plenty of fresh, clean drinking water. Change the water at regular intervals to make sure that they aren’t exposed to chaff, larvae, algae and other contaminants in the water.

Washing down…

Water also covers a multitude of other uses to keep your steed cool. For example, if you water and sponge down his legs you will note the larger vessels that stand out. Those vessels benefit greatly from having cool water sponged on them. Think about the idea that you put a cold flannel on your neck in the heat, this is the same principle. When you do sponge him down, though, make sure not to get it inside his ears.

Use a sweat scrape!

The other important fact about sponging down your horse – make sure that you scrape off all excess water. The idea is that the cool water makes contact with the warm horse and basic physics means that the cold water immediately heats up! If you don’t scrape the excess water off, it can cause your horse to overheat. Also, be careful of putting your horse out into the direct sunlight to ‘dry them off’, this has the same effect and the sun will heat the water on your horse causing them to heat up!

Schedules and Exercise…

Keep it early – that’s the golden rule. If you have to work and exercise your horse, make sure you keep it as early as possible so that they have not had time to heat up too much. Evenings are a great alternative if you can’t do mornings.

Don’t let your horse cool down too quickly after you exercise him. Keep it smooth and slow by loosening his girths, and then give him sips of water, making sure it is cool and not cold and definitely not icy because that can shock his system.

Feed and Care..

You can give your horse supplements in hot weather to prevent energy and vitamin loss. These supplements contain electrolytes that will keep your horses stamina high. Common salt is a good supplement, it aides rehydration but will not replace other essential nutrients lost through sweating. Another thing is to provide licks for him, which keep him hydrated and energised.  You can also prevent your horse from getting sunburn and bites by using protection, such as fly sheets, sunscreen, and anti-bug sprays.  His grooming pattern should be considered when you groom him in hot weather too. Friction causes heat!! 

Stable during the day…

Another good thing to do is to keep your horse in during the day and letting them out in the field at night. It does two things. One it keeps them out of the heat of the day. And two it keeps them away from all those biting insects. It is not always what we favour here in the UK as we are used to stabling at night with our climate. But it is worth trying out. After all, it isn’t us who have to endure the heat and flies!

So be prepared…

We don’t get a lot of sunshine here in Scotland, but when we do it can become hot suddenly and our horses are not acclimatised to it. Therefore it can be a real stressor to them. The video below gives a detailed insight into how our horses are affected by heat and some more detail on how to manage this.

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1 – A Week Beforehand

It is always good to prepare early, especially if you are staying overnight.  Some of the things you will need to start preparing are your feed and water containers, your first-aid kit, mucking out equipment, spare tack and equipment. It is good practice to check the stitching on your saddle, bridle and stirrups. If there are any issues with them, you have a week to find replacements.  You might also need to fill out health papers and registration documents if you have not already been asked to do so. Always make sure you have your horses’ passport for travel and check-in.

You should also have some protein prepared, such as a protein bar for energy as well as a sports drink that contains electrolytes to keep you going. If your event is held outdoors, you might require suncream too, so don’t forget that. We personally always pack an extra set of waterproofs if we are at a UK event! Also, your own supplies and attire should be washed and ready.

2 – The Days Before

Most events will have overnight stabling for your horses so you can get them tucked in and relaxed with time to spare.  It also gives you a chance to arrange your tack, get checked in at the secretary’s office and find your bearings.

3 – The Preceding Hours

Groom your horse at least a day before the show. This has a calming effect as well as making your horse feel and look better. Anything you can do to prepare beforehand will always help you on the day. Try to warm up in advance of the class starting, if you can give your horse a test ride around the arena and get him used to the surface and the feel of it. Make sure that you feed your horse a couple of hours beforehand and a little ration about an hour before you get going. After that, relax and enjoy the rest of the event.

Here is a good video to help you to prepare…

What is the next event you are preparing for? We’d love to hear your top tips for preparing both physically and mentally on our Facebook page here. Or if you are looking for some training come along for some with Fiona Stuart and ex-international eventer. Get in touch here or call on 07740 986 348 to find out more.

Eventing Packing Checklist

Here is a handy quick print packing list to us as a checklist for eventing:

• Up to date Horse passport
• Grooming kit/hoof oil or grease
• Two buckets (drinking & washing)
• Sweat scraper and large sponge
• A tank of water for horse washing/drinking
• Dressage Test sheets
• Mucking out tools/skip bucket
• Spare clothes
• Bandages / wraps
• Sweatsheet/rainsheet
• Towels
• Saddle
• Stud Girth
• Bridle
• Bits
• Breastplate or Martingale
• Range of Studs & Stud Kit
• Hairnets
• Eventing jacket
• Body protector
• Cross country jumper
• Cross country silk
• Black silk
• Skull cap
• Cross country boots
• Tendon boots
• White Dressage saddle cloth
• Feeds & buckets
• Hay & nets
• Electrolytes
• Directions and contact numbers for stabling, event and accommodation
• Times / number
• Number Bib
• Sewing kit
• Breeches, boots/chaps
• 2 x riding gloves
• Horse first aid kit
• Sewing/plaiting bands
• Ice tight and brown paper

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1 – Diet

Of all the ways to help your horse stay healthy and keep their hooves in good shape, the number one aspect has to be diet. If your horse’s diet is well-balanced and filled with vitamins and minerals essential to its overall body health, its hooves will stay in great shape.

2 – Living Conditions

Maintaining the moisture balance in your horses feet, especially in the extreme dry or extreme wet, is the biggest challenge we face. Consider how wood rots when left to dampen and remain untreated. Much the same happens to hooves that remain damp. Watch the weather and make sure you dry your horse’s feet when you return from a wet ride or bring them in from the field. Make sure that you moisturise their feet in the dry weather – check out our hoof care products which will help maintain the best moisture in dry conditions.

3 – Exercise and Conformation

Your horse’s conformation can be weak, and this, in turn, can cause poor hoof balance and therefore unhealthy lower limb structure. There is little that we can do to change the conformation of our horses but by using a good qualified farrier every 6 weeks, we can help to maintain the balance within their hooves. Exercising your horse correctly and often will also help their hooves remain in good condition. Adapting our exercise regime to take into account the ground conditions can help our horses maintain good hooves.

Paying attention to aspects of animal care can help your horse stay fit and healthy for many years. You can also buy supplements and formulas to help with keeping your horse’s hooves in the best possible condition. The video below is a good guide to what a healthy hoof should look like…

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