"Natural" Barefoot Livery.

We provide a personal service that offers total peace of mind to the caring owner.
Your horse will be cared for as if our own, so that when you are away at work rest or play you can you can feel comfortable and assured knowing that your horse is cared for, comfortable, loved and happy.

“Natural”?

Well as natural as possible because let’s be honest just putting a fence up is un-natural if you think about it.

Facilities

Bunk House style B&B in the farmhouse for horse owners (and others).  Great for those who want livery here but live a little too far away for daily traveling. Traditional Farmhouse with log fires and yummy food
Roomy indoor stabling, Small indoor arena.  Enclosed jumping or other activity field as weather permits.Direct bridleway access. Winter yard turnout possibilities.

Herd Keep

Our horses and ponies are kept on rolling farmland of approximately 25 acres divided into various large and smaller paddocks. Good natural shelter with trees and small woodland areas, some fields have streams running through.
the horses and ponies are kept in mixed or single sex herds as the individual needs of horses require.

Special care

Here at Complete natural horse we have become highly experienced in caring for the "tricky" to keep horse, those that drop weight with alarming speed and those that carry too much weight or have other metabolic issues. We can accommodate the laminitis prone.

Grazing

We mix graze with sheep to keep down the grass that the horses leave and to help reduce the worm burden.
We build "paddock paradise" track systems when necessary to increase movement and reduce grass consumption and have crew yarding for when the land is too dangerous for safety sake ie frozen and icy.

Stabling

Large indoor stables where the horses can see and touch each other if they are kept in for whatever reason.
Indoor turnout on pea gravel - great for feet.

Pasture and Hay

Although not yet registered Organic with the soil association we do not use chemicals or fertilisers on the pasture. Hay that we outsource and any other grain (if fed) herbs, fruit or vegetables are all grown without chemical input. In winter hay is fed on an ad lib basis, on hard standing areas or the crew yard ensuring a constant supply of fibre – central heating for horses. The good doers have a more restricted supply until it gets very cold.

Wormers

We use herbal or homeopathic products along with regular worm counts. We will use chemical wormers if required.

Feed

Feed is forage based plus Linseed, Mag Ox and Un-mollased, unbleached Sugar Beet. We can also supply organic bruised Oats or Barley.
Home grown or local seasonal fruit, herbs and veg (they eat better than us….!)

Rugs etc

Now although we prefer not to rug our horses in order that they can control their own temperature and not be restrained by the rug – each horse is an individual and some of the oldies or perhaps the more fragile are rugged in the cold and wet during the winter and coldest months.
In summer some are more bothered by bugs and flies and so may require a mask, fringe or fly rug.
We would prefer our horses to be comfortable and do the best for the individual welfare rather than being overzealous about the natural livery.

Barefoot Trimming – Performance trim

We believe in the “do no harm “school of trimming and the trimmers we use are Equine Podiatrists of K C La Pierre, Pete Ramey or similar. 
All prescribed hoof conditioning is taken care of as part of the livery fee. We have plenty of smooth tarmac, and gravel areas on which to condition the feet.

Vet

Our primary vet is Chris Day http://www.alternativevet.org/ the pioneer homeopathic and alternative vet in the UK. In an emergency we use the local vet.
Other health practitioners such as Equine dentists, Physios, Chiros, Equine Touch and Bowen therapists etc please see our horse health page

Handling:

All handling is of a calm, assured and confident naturalistic style.
Twice daily handling.
AM close quarters check in the field, rugs, fly masks, fly repellent attended to as required. Any first aid is attended to.
We use homeopathic remedies and other natural tinctures in association with advice from our vet Chris Day – see http://www.alternativevet.org/
PM horses brought in onto dry standing, brushed off, and checked again, feet picked, washed and disinfected with our own product made with natural ingredients. This has been a great success in helping with thrush and other such infections. Horses then have their hoof conditioning on smooth tarmac or gravel or in boots and pads according to individual requirements. Up to 15mins (sun, rain, sleet, snow or dark)
This daily handling has two main functions
1.Hoof conditioning
2.The offshoot is that the horse calms down with the routine and becomes settled and easy to handle and catch. It also gives the opportunity for a little groundwork training if required.

Rates

from £12 per day

Included in the cost is:
Assisted livery

Feed
Hay
Horses are check at close quarters twice daily. Caught, brushed off, feet picked, cleaned and disinfected. Fly spray applied (seasonal)
Hoof conditioning on the tarmac of up to 15mins as required.
Any rugs/fly masks etc on or off as required.
Handling for the vet or trimmer etc

Full Livery,

rates please enquire

Add to the above exercise 4 days per week,
Tack cleaning,
Thorough grooming
Rug cleaning and small repairs
please enquire with your specifications

Extras:
Wormers, supplements, vets fees and hoof trimming, dentist, classical schooling etc,

General Madness

You are welcome to try out whatever new horsey adventure you like( ie horse agility, horse dancing, barrel racing, trick training, fancy dress ,mounted archery…) - confident and secure in the knowledge that no one here will think you are strange!

(well not for long anyway)