What horses need

Caring for the Herd: Why Respecting Our Horses Enhances Your Experience

At Track Clinic, we have clear evidence that prioritising horse wellbeing directly enhances the groundbreaking impact of equine therapy. When horses' fundamental needs are met, they become more open, engaged, and able to offer deeper therapeutic connections. Unfortunately, traditional horse care often prioritises human convenience—restricting movement, limiting social interaction, and giving horses little choice.

At Track Clinic, we choose differently, placing our horses' natural needs at the heart of their care.

OUR PROMISE TO THE HERD

1. Always in Good Company

Horses feel safest and happiest when surrounded by companions. We ensure continuous social interaction, allowing our horses to play, groom, and build strong, trusting relationships. Solitary horses confined to stables often become fearful, bored, depressed, or emotionally shut-down. Horses also require companionship for deeply restorative REM sleep, essential for their overall health. We replicate their natural herd environment as closely as possible to support emotional and physical wellbeing.

2. Freedom to Roam and Shelter Naturally

Movement is vital for horses’ physical and emotional health. At Track Clinic, our horses are never confined to the boredom and physical restriction of stables. Instead, they live on a purpose-built Track System (Natural Boarding), giving them freedom to roam, rest, and shelter naturally. They have access to varied terrain, a pond to splash in, mounds to climb, soft areas to roll, trees to browse and rub against, barns for shelter, and abundant hay, minerals, and medicinal herbs to self-select. This choice and agency lead to clearer expression, greater mobility, and enhanced trust.

3. Nourishment from Nature

We provide a diverse, nutrient-rich diet reflecting their natural feeding patterns. Our horses forage from hedges, trees, and various vegetation, supplemented by vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, carrots, bananas (with skins), broccoli, kale, parsnips, and sweet potatoes. They also freely access healing herbs, spices, and minerals, using their innate nutritional wisdom to meet their body's precise needs.

4. Natural Hoof Care

We avoid metal shoes, which disrupt the hoof’s natural ability to absorb impact, restrict healthy blood circulation, and cause deformities and injuries. Instead, our horses' hooves are regularly trimmed (every 4-8 weeks) to maintain natural shape and health. Varied terrain and ample space encourage continuous, healthy movement, similar to conditions in the wild.

5. Respectful and Intuitive Care

We respect each horse's unique personality, needs, and preferences. Using Animal Communication and attentive observation, we respond clearly to their signals—whether they need rest, soft surfaces to roll, water to cool down, or assistance shedding their coats in spring. We never reprimand or force submission, understanding that resistance stems from confusion, fear, or discomfort. Instead, we maintain a gentle balance of meaningful interaction, rest, and play, and provide regular therapeutic treatments such as Reiki, Bach Flower Essences, Trust Technique, and Aromatherapy Massage.By deeply listening and responding respectfully to our herd, we empower them to fully support and heal our clients. Caring well for our horses means they can care even better for you.