Welcoming autumn at Caplor

Through all of this, one thing remains central to our philosophy at Caplor Equine: giving horses the opportunity to live as naturally as we reasonably can.

Turnout, movement, grazing, companionship and herd relationships are enormously important to us.

Watching horses living together also teaches us a great deal about them. We see friendships develop, personalities emerge and herd dynamics change.

For our retirement horses in particular, this quieter, more natural way of life can be incredibly valuable.

Retirement doesn't mean that good management stops. Older horses can actually require closer observation and increasingly individualised care as their needs change.

Our job is to provide that support while allowing them to continue doing what horses do best — being horses. So, for now, we're enjoying September.

We're appreciating the sunshine when it appears, watching the landscape gradually change and making the small adjustments that come with another season on the farm.

Before long there will undoubtedly be mud, rugs, dark mornings and considerably more wheelbarrowing involved.

But we're not there quite yet.

For now, there are still fields to graze, autumn sunshine to enjoy and, for some of our residents at least, the very welcome return of a little something extra in the breakfast bucket.

Find out more about Caplor Equine

Caplor Equine is a BHS Approved Centre set within the Herefordshire countryside, offering a welfare-led approach to livery and horse care.

If you're considering Retirement, Assisted or Full Livery and would like to find out more about life at Caplor, we'd be very happy to hear from you.

Preparing without wishing the summer away

Of course, September also means that we're quietly beginning to prepare for the months ahead.

Around the farm, we're thinking about grazing plans, field conditions, fencing, water, shelter and how different areas will be used as the weather changes.

Managing land for horses is a year-round process. Decisions made now can have an impact not only on the coming winter, but on the quality of grazing available next spring and summer too.

Careful rotation and thoughtful use of our fields helps us balance the needs of the horses with the long-term health of the land.

And while we're preparing for winter, we're certainly not rushing towards it!

There are still plenty of beautiful days to enjoy.

Looking at the horse in front of us

No two horses experience seasonal change in exactly the same way.

Age, breed, workload, metabolism, dental health, previous medical history and individual condition can all influence what a horse needs.

That's why observation plays such an important part in our approach at Caplor.

We regularly look at body condition, appetite, behaviour, movement and the way individual horses are interacting within their herd. Often it is the small changes that tell us the most.

An older horse beginning to lose a little condition doesn't necessarily need an entirely different management regime. They might simply need some additional nutritional support.

Another horse may head into autumn looking extremely well and require very little intervention at all!

The aim isn't to manage every horse identically.

It's to give each horse what they need.