This meant that I've taken what feels like an eternity of time off working with the horses! It was very important to me to give her all the contact she needed in her first months. Back to work again now though! :)

It's been a wonderful experience so far, and I have some insights relating to horses to share in an upcoming newsletter.

Baby Licia :)

Despite the changes, Happy Horse Training will of course be staying faithful to its holistic principles, and I'm looking forwards to raising the activity on the website again this year, as well as on the facebook group, which I warmly invite you to join if you're not already a member:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/hhtraining/

It's a friendly place to share any ideas or questions you may have on anything relating to horse care and training.

I also have an exiting new teaching project that I'm going to be launching this year - I'll keep you posted on that in the next few months.

The herd at HHT has also undergone some big changes with Camille's move. Eight horses went with her, and although, inevitably, some strong relationships were separated, all seem to have accepted the changes very well, on both sides.

It still surprises me to see them going into their shelter to find shade from what to me is the very welcome warmth of the sun on a chilly winter' day! How uncomfortable they must have been when we inflicted heavy rugs on them in such conditions in the past!

Now they are free to groom each other, feel the sun on their backs or have a gallop or a good roll without an uncomfortable rug getting in the way.

Lulu, the chestnut above, struggled to grow a thick winter coat last year, having been stabled, rugged and clipped previously, and he had a hard time regulating his temperature in both hot and cold weather. This winter his coat has come in thick and tough and his general condition is doing great. Energetically, it feels like he has built a lot of resources that, after some time off, he will be ready to put into his work when we start up again soon. His personality has also become a lot more balanced - he is much less clingy towards people, with a calm confidence in the herd.

This is also the first winter since we completely removed grain from the horses' diet. They have all kept their condition very well so far, including those who are getting on into their twenties and in addition are not good-doer types.

They are still getting a handful of Camelina meal daily, which is an excellent source of omega 3 and 6 oils, plus a small amount of luzerne hay. Otherwise they have ad-lib access to meadow hay via slow-feeder nets, free access to loose sea salt, and to a seaweed supplement, which interestingly they have been relishing lately! Seaweed is a great natural source of minerals, and they seem to prefer the taste to sea salt. It's better to offer it free-choice as some horses are more sensitive to the iodine it contains and will know to avoid it.

Best wishes for prosperity and happiness during the coming year!