Equine Ecology in conversation with Annabel Holmes

Lead a Horse to Water

In this episode I had the great pleasure of talking to Annabel Holmes, The Equine Ecologist a mum, ecologist and passionate horsewoman based in the Cotswolds. Growing up on a nature reserve in Suffolk, Annabel later went on to study Ecology, starting her career splitting her time between a feed company, and later in agricultural botany during the holidays. After university, while working in ecological consultancy and conservation, she turned her studies back to horses, to study equine behaviour and nutrition. Soon after having her baby (now a wild toddler), she combined her expertise and creativity to help horse owners manage their properties more sustainably. Drawing from ecological habitat management, permaculture and horse keeping methods growing in popularity, she now offers consultancy services from design to long term land management plans for all types of yards. Horses are a key part of the British countryside, and their positive effects on the land are undermined by management techniques that don’t always benefit horses either. Taking steps towards a more sustainable management style can have impressive effects on horses, benefiting health, training and development. For owners, this can result in more time to do what you want, and long term cost savings. For more information, follow Equine Ecologist, Annabel Holmes on social media, or visit www.EquineEcologist.co.uk For her upcoming events and courses: https://www.equineecologist.co.uk/services Annabel mentioned Soilscapes soil typefinder during the podcast: https://www.landis.org.uk/soilscapes/