Equine'n'Wine

Every yard has them… the unofficial mascots, the tiny supervisors, the escape artists, and the animals who somehow become just as much a part of yard life as the horses themselves.
In this week’s light-hearted episode of Equine’n’Wine, we’re celebrating the wonderful chaos of yard buddies — from loyal yard dogs and opinionated cats to mischievous goats, donkeys with attitude, and every unexpected character in between.
💬 We chat about:
• The classic “head groom” yard dog who oversees everything
• Hiding cats as children!
• Donkeys with strong personalities (and criminal tendencies)
• Goats who genuinely believe they are horses
• Why these animals become such an important part of yard life

Featuring hilarious listener stories including:
• A donkey called Kevin who stole an entire sandwich
• A yard dog who wandered into the collecting ring and began managing traffic during a clear round
As always, it’s a mix of horse chat, laughs, and the kinds of stories every horse person instantly understands.
💡Lorna’s Golden Nugget:
“Castrate your male goats!!”
So pour a glass, settle in, and prepare to feel very grateful for the weird and wonderful creatures that make stable life unforgettable.
📩 Got a funny yard story or horsey dilemma? Email us: [email protected]
🎧 Don’t forget to follow, rate, and share the podcast!

Who says you need an arena to school your horse?
In this week’s episode of Equine’n’Wine, we’re taking your training out on the trail, sharing simple and effective ways to incorporate lateral work into your everyday hacks — no fancy setup required.
With our “laugh as you learn” approach, Lorna brings the expert guidance while Emma-Jane asks the questions we’re all thinking (and shares a few very real-life moments along the way!).
💬 In this episode, we cover:
• How to use everyday markers like telephone poles for turn on the forehand exercises
• Simple leg yield exercises from one track to another
• Practising shoulder-in and haunches-in while staying on a straight line
• When (and when not!) to attempt turn on the haunches
• Why hacking might actually be one of the best places to improve your horse’s training
📩 Featuring a listener question from Aoife in Galway, how do you know if you’re doing it right ?
This episode is all about being resourceful, creative, and intentional with your riding — because better horsemanship doesn’t come from perfect facilities… it comes from how you ride.
💡 Lorna’s Golden Nugget:
How to Leg Yield without shoving your horse!
So next time you head out for a hack, why not turn it into a schooling session?
📩 Got a question or horsey dilemma? Email us: [email protected]
🎧 Don’t forget to follow, rate, and share the podcast!

Seeing a Stride (or Not!) | Real Talk on Jumping & Rider ConfidenceIf you’ve ever found yourself staring at a jump thinking “is this a stride… or is it not?” — this episode is for you.
This week on Equine’n’Wine, we’re diving into the realities of jumping, breaking down some of the most common (and most confusing!) concepts riders hear all the time — from riding a line and finding your position, to chipping in and chasing that elusive “perfect stride.”
💬 We chat about:
• What it actually means to ride a line
• Finding a secure and effective jumping position
• The truth about seeing a stride (and why it takes time)
• What happens when you chip in — and why it’s not the end of the world
📩 Featuring a listener question from Megan in Bristol, who’s struggling with confidence and overthinking distances after returning to jumping.
As always, we keep it honest — because most riders aren’t seeing perfect strides every time… and guess what? That’s completely normal.

Whether you’re just starting out over poles or building back confidence, this episode is a reminder that jumping isn’t about getting it perfect — it’s about finding your rhythm and trusting your horse.
📩 Got a question or riding dilemma? Email us: [email protected]
🎧 Don’t forget to follow, rate, and share the podcast!

Can astrology help you better understand your horse?
In this fun and fascinating episode of Equine’n’Wine, we dive into the world of Horsey Horoscopes — exploring the different zodiac signs and the personality traits they might reveal in our equine partners.
With Lorna leading the way (resident astrology enthusiast!), we chat through the strengths, quirks, and challenges of each star sign — from bold and fiery Aries horses to sensitive Cancers, stubborn Taureans, quirky Aquarians, and dreamy Pisces types.
💫 We explore:
• The 12 zodiac signs and horse personalities
• How astrology might offer insight into behaviour and training styles
• Why some horses seem born dramatic… and others gloriously unbothered
• Using astrology as a fun tool, not a rigid rulebook
We also discuss the surprising historical link between astrology and breeding, including Colonel William Hall Walker, founder of Tully Stud (now the Irish National Stud), who famously used astrology in his quest to breed winners.
So… is your mare a classic Scorpio? Is your gelding giving major Libra energy? And should we all be checking birth charts before buying our next horse?
🐴✨ Pour a glass and join us for one of our most entertaining chats yet.
📩 Tell us your horse’s birthday and star sign: [email protected]
🎧 Don’t forget to follow, rate, and share the podcast!

This episode was inspired by a thoughtful email from Stephanie in France, which got us reflecting on the horse books that shaped us — from childhood pony stories to the training manuals that still influence how we ride today.
We take a nostalgic trip back to the “pony book era”, chatting about classics like Black Beauty, Pony Club manuals, and those unforgettable illustrated guides that made us fall completely in love with horses (and gave us a few unrealistic expectations along the way!).
From there, we move into the books that truly shaped our horsemanship, including BHS manuals, Horse Master’s Notebook, and the work of Mark Rashid — exploring how different philosophies, training systems, and teaching styles can both guide and confuse riders.

✨ Books we mention in this episode include:
Pony Era:
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell.
The Manual of Horsemanship - Pony Club Manual.
The Threshold Picture Guides by Tony Weber, illustrated by Carol Vinsor.
Educational:
BHS Manuals. Official handbook - Complete manual of horse and stable management.
Horse Masters Notebook by Mary Rose.
Mark Rashid Books - Free on Audible. Horses Never Lie, Considering the Horse, A Good Horse Is Never a Bad Colour etc.
Thinking Riding by Molly Sivwright.
Celebrity Jumping Exercises by various authors.
101 Showjumping Exercises and The Dressage Exercises from same series by Linda L.Allen.
Training the Young Horse by Pippa Funnell.
Other Recommendations:
The Connemara Journey by Hillary Brandt.
Feeding Herbs to Horses by Wendy & Terry Jennings.
Essential Oils for Horses by Carol Faith.
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
Plus, a few extra recommendations for anyone looking to expand their horsey bookshelf.

Whether you’re rediscovering riding or deep in your horsey journey, this episode is a reminder that there's really nothing quite like a good book.
📩 Got a favourite horse book we should read? Email us: [email protected]
🎧 Don’t forget to follow, rate, and share the podcast!