‘I keep my horses as naturally as possible’
AURIOL THORNE KEEPS four horses on a five-acre plot in Liphook, Hampshire. All of her horses are kept barefoot, fed a natural diet and live out 24/7 without rugs.
“My horse’s feet are trimmed by an equine podiatrist and, despite their wet paddocks, their feet are healthy,” says Auriol. “They live on five acres of pastureland surrounded by thick forest, so they have natural shelter and access to plants, trees and herbs for browsing. They also have access to a sand pit for rolling and a 36ft open-fronted barn where I put two round bales of organic hay in the winter, giving them ad-lib access.
“Alongside hay they are given an organic feed with a broad-spectrum probiotic year round. “I don’t rug unless it’s absolutely necessary, although my 28-year-old New Forest pony is rugged to help him stay warm. The others are kept rug free to grow thick winter coats. It takes me longer to get them show ready (I show them Western) in the spring, but I don’t mind. “I also practice zoopharmacognosy, which is self-selection of herbs via plastic trugs. The horses pick out what they want that day, keeping them healthy and stimulated.
“I do worm counts and try to only use herbal wormers or diatomaceous earth. If I have to use a chemical wormer, I pick the five-day one and double dose them with probiotics and green clay, marshmallow root or humic and fulvic acid to protect their gut.
“My horses clearly thrive living in this way and are happy and healthy.”