Owning a horse can be stressful at times, and the busy life of an equestrian can deplete much of your mental and physical energy on a daily basis. So it’s important to just sit back, take a deep breath and appreciate the little things in your horsey life that give you a lift from time to time.
Here are a few simple pleasures horse owners and riders will have experienced at some point. What would you add to this list?
1. Opening a brand new rug
2. Early summer mornings before the horse flies come out
3. The smell of hoof oil
4. A pile of full haynets
5. A fresh bed of shavings
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
6. When the lorry starts first time
7. Watching horses grooming each other in the field
8. Your horse’s whinny when he greets you
9. Perfect plaits or quarter marks
10. The shine of a freshly cleaned bridle
11. When the bird who nests in your horse’s stable hatches chicks
12. Looking back through old competition photos and videos
13. A fresh set of shiny (horse) shoes
14. A tidy well-swept yard
15. The sound of horses peacefully chomping on their hay (not a door kick to be heard!)
16. That cup of tea (or coffee) after you’ve completed your yard chores
17. The smell of a new bag of chaff
18. A horse taking a polo out of your hand
19. Burying your head into your horse’s neck
20. That rewarding feeling after you’ve given your filthy horse a bath
21. When your trainer says you did something (you’ve been trying to nail for ages) well
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
