British Equestrian Podcast

It's the final episode in our series for Equine Health Week 2026, in partnership with Agria. We’ve covered various specific health conditions over the course of this week, but today we’re going to focus on something a bit different – but no less important in terms of safeguarding the wellbeing of our horses. As horse owners and carers, it’s our duty to ensure that our horses have the best possible...

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome is believed to affect as many as one in three horses in the UK. This painful condition can be caused by multiple factors and will impact performance, temperament and welfare.  Leading consultant and researched Ben Sykes shares how, as our understanding of the condition and how it affects our horses improves, so too does how effectively we’re able to treat and manage i...

We're spoiling you with not one, but two episodes today for Equine Health Week 2026, in partnership with Agria!  Ensuring your horse has a healthy digestive system and a diet that meets their needs is just one step in reducing the risk of numerous gastrointestinal problems, including colic and equine gastric ulcer syndrome. We’ve reunited our equine nutritionist dream team of Dr Marga Mas from Dod...

Colic is a word that strikes fear into the hearts of everyone who owns or cares for horses, with good reason – it’s one of the most common veterinary emergencies and causes of equine death worldwide.    While the severity and causes of colic will vary, knowing how to spot signs so you can respond quickly is vital in giving your horse the best chance of a good outcome. Professor Sarah Freeman from...

While not a disease itself, lameness is a symptom of an underlying problem and a sign that your horse is in pain. Sometimes that pain is minor and can be resolved quickly and easily, but at other times it can be more serious and not immediately obvious what's caused it.  In our next episode for Equine Health Week 2026, in partnership with Agria, vet Rob Oulton from the World Class Programme and Sc...

In the next episode of our series for Equine Health Week 2026, in partnership with Agria, vets Hattie Bell and Tegan McGilvray from Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance join us to discuss the important role that vaccines play in protecting our horses.  For many of us, vaccinating our horses is just something we tick off once or twice a year when we get a reminder through from the vet practice, w...

Equine Health Week, in partnership with Agria, is back for 2026! This year, we're focusing on some equine health essentials.  In today’s episode, Sam Cutts from Hook Norton Equine Vets shares some of the basic first aid knowledge that all horse owners and carers should have in their arsenal, what items to keep in your first aid kit and, perhaps most importantly, how to tell when it’s time to call...

In our final episode for Worming Week, in partnership with Agria, the focus turns to the environmental impact of the drugs used to treat our horses for parasites.  Rachel is joined by Claire Shand from Westgate Labs, who sits on the core steering group of cross-industry organisation CANTER, and Ruth Dancer from White Griffin to find out the effects that these drugs can have, not only on a local le...

In the second of our Worming Week episodes, in partnership with Agria, Rachel chats with Nicola Housby Skeggs, Veterinary Director at The Horse Trust, and Dr. Tamzin Furtado from the University of Liverpool.  They take a closer look at what factors need to be taken into consideration when deciding whether to test or treat our horses for common parasites, and why overuse of anthelmintics poses such...

It's the first episode in our special series of podcast episodes for Worming Week, in partnership with Agria. Having the right parasite testing and treatment programme in place is an important part of keeping our horses healthy and also helps to protect the national herd. Rachel chats with vet Tim Mair to explore the different parasite tests and what factors need to be considered when putting toge...

In this special episode for Clean Sport Week 2025, Rachel is joined by Dr. Marga Mas from Dodson & Horrell and Kate Hore from NAF to explore the topic of naturally occurring prohibited substances – also known as NOPS – and how they relate to clean sport. Our experts will also share some simple steps you can implement at your own yard to reduce the risk of contamination and protect your horse’s...

In the final episode of Equine Health Week 2025, we're focusing on a topic that nobody involved with horses likes to think about, but one that many of will have to go through at some point – end of life.    It’s a sad fact that very few horses will pass away naturally so, whether as a result of accident, injury, illness or old age, euthanasia is something that many owners will be faced with. Vet A...

In the penultimate episode of our Equine Health Week 2025 series, we turn our attention to our 'golden oldies' and how we can support them as they age. Nicola Housby Skeggs, Veterinary Director at The Horse Trust, shares what she's learned from caring for the around 140 elderly horses who live on-site at the charity. She and Rachel discuss all aspects of veteran care, including easing into retirem...

For the next episode in our series of episodes for Equine Health Week 2025, we’re focusing on how you can build a partnership with your horse in the saddle and support him to perform at his best. Coach and former FEI Eventing European Champion Nicola Wilson returns to the podcast to share her top tips for a successful ridden partnership, including how to instill confidence in your horse, planning...

Our horses' nutritional needs will change throughout their lives. In this special episode for Equine Health Week 2025, Rachel is joined by NAF's Head Nutritionist Kate Hore and Dodson & Horrell's Veterinary and Nutrition Advisor Dr. Marga Mas for discussion on all things equine nutrition. Covering everything from different nutritional needs at different life stages to how to choose the most su...

In today's episode of our Equine Health Week 2025 series, it's all about giving our horses a good life. Groom and yard manager Steph Sharples shares how she cares for the horses at Hughes Dressage in a way that means they're able to perform at their best with Gareth between the white boards. She and Rachel discuss the importance of having a routine, learning your horse's personality and why all of...

In the second of today's two episodes on training young horses, eventing legend Nicola Wilson shares her experiences, both as a rider and a coach, in producing young horses with a way that encourages a ‘happy athlete’ who enjoys his work. She and Rachel discuss how to build confidence and trust, allowing your horse to progress at his own pace and the importance of giving him time to 'be a horse'. 

In the third episode of our Equine Health Week 2025 series, in partnership with Agria, attention turns to young horses who are starting their ridden education. In the first of two episodes on this important topic, Rachel speaks to Dr. Russell Mackechnie-Guire of Centaur Biomechanics – a key member of British Equestrian's World Class Programme team of sport science practitioners – about how you can...

In the second episode of our series for Equine Health Week 2025, delivered in partnership with Agria, our focus turns to the years from weaning to the start of your young horse's education. Associate Professor Brad Hill from The University of Nottingham's School of Veterianary Medicine joins Rachel to discuss how to get the weaning process right, how to provide the best environment for your young...

Equine Health Week 2025 is back, in partnership with Agria!  In the first episode of the series, Dr. Jan Birch and Edward Matson of the British Horse Foundation and vet Rebecca Keating from Twemlows Stud Farm join Rachel for an in-depth discussion on everything there is to think about if you're considering breeding your mare. Plus, they explore how to care for her during pregnancy, what the foalin...

With April being Stress Awareness Month, Rachel sits down with sports psychologist Leonie Lightfoot from British Equestrian's World Class Programme to find out more about what stress is, how it can affect us and some top tips for what you can do if you find yourself struggling with a stressful situation. Plus, they discuss the beneficial impact of horses in managing stress. 

In the second episode of our two-part concussion series, Rachel and Ash are joined by a very special guest – Olympic and European eventing team gold medallist, Laura Collett. Laura shares her experiences with this type of injury, how it affected her and what she learned from the experience. Plus, Ash imparts more top tips for anyone going through the concussion recovery process, particularly aroun...

When you spend time around horses, falls, knocks and jolts are inevitable – no matter how careful you are. Most of us will admit to having had concussion at least once in our ridden career and – while it’s true that concussion might be more commonly associated with contact sports such as rugby – equestrian sport does come with an increased risk, regardless of the level you participate at.  In the...

Pelvic health is one of those topics that many of us feel uncomfortable discussing, but it's important to know a bit about what's going on down there so you can be confident and comfortable in daily life. In this episode of our Female Health February podcast series, Rachel catches up with Ros Cooke from the World Class Programme to find out more about pelvic health and pelvic floor function, inclu...

One of our final topics for Female Health February is nutrition and body image. Rachel is joined by Dr George Wilson, Leonie Lightfoot and Dr Anna-Louise Mackinnon from the World Class Programme to find out more about what makes a healthy diet and the best snacks to fuel your day at the yard. Plus, conversation turns to the thorny issue of eating disorders and how we perceive our bodies.