Tailabout Farm

06/09/2026

YOU ARE BEING LIED TO ABOUT GRASS LENGTH !!

Long grass is not lower in sugar and fructan for horses and ponies than short grass in terms of what they actually eat.

An attention grabbing headline?

Yes! I am getting tired of this persistent nutribaloney that short grass is bad for horses, not suitable for laminitics, not suitable for weight loss or healthy weight maintenance.

This is Simply Not True.

Even if short, overgrazed grass IS higher in sugar and fructan and lower in fibre per kilo, it is the TOTAL AMOUNT that the horse eats and the RATE they eat it that matters, not what is in the forage per kilo.

Well-or over-grazed, short grass will generally provide more suitable grazing for a good doer or EMS / laminitis prone horse or pony.

On this type of grazing they will get LESS nutrients (less sugar, less fructan, less calories) per hour of grazing compared to the longer, stemmier grass, simply because of how much they can eat.

I cannot tell you how many owners have told me that their horse or pony has piled on the pounds (gained f4t) and sadly in some cases succumbed to laminitis, when they have tried putting them on free choice longer grass.

Now, the horse on overgrazed, sprouting pasture will likely need more fibre e.g. from a strip of the longer stemmier grass and/or supplementary forage like soaked hay BUT! grazing very short grass is sometimes the only way to keep a good doer slim and healthy (if they don't wear a grazing muzzle).

The key is to monitor the individual horse or pony and adjust their grass access from their bodyweight and condition, and any signs of metabolic disturbances or laminitis.

Some take home tips:
> always monitor your individual horse or pony and adjust their grass access accordingly - check their weight & condition, any signs of laminitis, their gut comfort and droppings
> never assume that long meadow grass is safe for your horse or pony prone to weight gain & laminitis
> over-grazed pasture with supplementary forage (if out 24/7) is a method used successfully by thousands of owners of good doers and laminitis-prone horse and pony owners
> if you have no option but to graze bottle-height grass (about 3" or 10cm) for overweight horses or ponies, good doers or those prone to laminitis, I recommend using a grazing muzzle (and potentially strip grazing as well)

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🐴🍏

16/08/2026

Why Your 18th-Century Ancestors (and the Romans) Would Laugh at Stirrup Anxiety

If you've ever panicked when your foot slipped out of a stirrup, or obsessed over whether your leathers are 'one hole too short,' you are carrying a very modern type of stress.

We’ve been taught to view stirrups as the safety net keeping us on the horse. But historically? Stirrups are a relatively late addition to the equestrian world—and for most of human history, riders didn't fuss over them at all.

1. The Ancient World Rode Without Them Entirely

For thousands of years—from Alexander the Great and the ancient Scythians to the entire Roman cavalry—people rode, trotted, cantered, and fought across continents without anything to put their feet in. They didn't fall off every five minutes because balance comes from relaxation, hip mobility, and a deep seat—not from pushing down into iron.

2. They Were Invented for War, Not Balance

When paired stirrups were finally introduced, they weren't invented to keep everyday riders safe. They were created for warfare. Stirrups allowed heavily armored knights to brace against a lance impact, mount warhorses in full steel, or stand up to swing heavy swords. If you aren't currently charging into medieval battle with a 10-foot lance, you don't actually need stirrups to stay secure.

3. 18th-Century Workers Didn't Care About 'Correctness'

Fast forward to the 1700s and 1800s, when horses were daily transport and farm machinery. The average farmhand, courier, or drover didn't stand by their horse measuring stirrups against their armpits before mounting.

Tack was shared, leathers were thick hide with few adjustment holes, and gear stretched unevenly. People simply got on with whatever length was there, rode miles across rough terrain, and got the job done. Stirrups were treated as simple footrests to rest tired legs on long journeys, not the structural pillar holding the rider on the horse.

The Modern 'Obsession' with what’s right and wrong!

This anxiety over 'perfect stirrup length' and rigid correctness only appeared in the late 19th and 20th centuries as riding shifted from daily utility to formal, institutionalized sport.

So the next time a foot slips out of a stirrup, try not to view it as a crisis. It’s just an invitation to remember that your balance belongs to you, not a piece of metal hanging from a leather strap. Human beings rode casually, securely, and successfully for millennia on ba****ck horses or clunky, mismatched gear. Your body is far more adaptable than you give it credit
for!
Find out more about horses in history, balance, riding without stirrups on our Rider Confidence courses here at our centre in Hemel Hempstead- link in comments

11/08/2026

Visit our national dash cam safety portal to report an incident. This page also contains privacy information on how your footage will be used in compliance with our terms of use.

25/07/2026

Maybe we should try this!?

21/07/2026

29/06/2026

In case you don’t feel sad already leaving your horse to go home….🥺