Equine Head to Tail by Billie Morris

13/12/2025

I retired from horse racing a few years ago. I don’t regret leaving the racing industry as I was tired and disappointed in how racing was changing. Yes I could have gone to another yard, but I had had enough.

There are many excellent trainers who put their horses first, but there are some who don’t.

At this time of year especially, I think about all the horses I worked with. Are they well? Are they loved?

So when I moved back to Devon, as I was sitting on the beach one day, I had this idea of writing a book. So me being me, I decided to have a go.

This was written a few years ago. Some people might like it, some will hate it. But that’s life.

I loved my racing career, I loved my horses. Hopefully, over the years my writing has got better. If you want to take a look at my book here it is.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09M4YF72T?fbclid=IwdGRjcAOqNUZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeGQIsRDq7Tx7FeZmmgwTiO0zi3x_g5pQ8nr_5ycNERAuCogFkj8Z-XMYQA0g_aem_yB49J86C10jM-ErtllJNsg -view_1765627371300

Dreams do come true! Growing up in Manchester, I never would have thought that putting a double page pull out of the race horse Nijinsky on my bedroom wall, would have set off a lifelong love for horses, Thoroughbreds in particular. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would wor...

11/12/2025

Thinking of what to buy your horsey partner, girlfriend, wife, friend or relative?

Please do not buy any of the torture gimmicks that are available on sale at the moment.

So-called balance bands. Would you like a big fat band round your backside to bring your wayward hind legs into join the party? I think not, but then again maybe some people would🧐

Bungees and I don’t mean the ones hanging from bridges. I mean the ones that go from your horses head to between his front legs enabling him to have a splendid view of the ground and not much else.
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Draw reins, again used incorrectly, gives a splendid view of the ground for your horse. I don’t get why the polo set use them these days, as if the pony wearing the kitchen sink on his head and mouth isn’t enough.

What I do recommend is the purchase of some riding lessons with a good trainer. That will be more beneficial to both horse and rider, than the above bits of so-called tack and the other contraptions devised by companies to get you to spend even more money. It doesn’t benefit the horse.

Let’s get back to old fashioned riding. Taking our time to learn what makes our horses tick.

You might even enjoy it! 🐴🎁🎄

07/12/2025

I see that there are even more horses, young stock and foals for sale. It is nearly Christmas after all. But what happens after Christmas? I often think that not only are horses and ponies being bred indiscriminately but as a fad.

There are the studs advertising their stallions, that’s well and good as they have to make their money somewhere. Apart from taking in mares for foaling.
But are they all top class sires? Now there is a question to ask before sending your mare off to be covered. And possibly the most brutal of questions, is Your mare actually good enough to breed from? I never bred from my mare as, and this is the most important reason ….

I couldn’t afford to breed from her.
I knew that once I saw any foal that she produced I was keeping it for life. I’m like that, a bit soft.
I really didn’t want another drama queen, which Smartie was. I wanted a nice quieter type. Although if I’m honest, it would have bored me to tears.
I questioned myself, was she actually good enough to breed from?

With the best will in the world, no one actually knows what is going to happen in our lives. If the worst had happened after Smartie had produced a foal and I couldn’t keep both, there was absolutely no way she was going. So would that foal/youngster go to a good home? Would it be passed from pillar to post through no fault of it’s own? All these questions went round in my head. So no, she wasn’t bred from. I think that even if I had the money, I wouldn’t have found her a husband, for all those very reasons above. Do I regret not breeding from her? The answer is a big fat no.

23/11/2025

Older horses are not disposible. It's our duty to take care of them as they grow older.

19/11/2025

16/11/2025

Fascinating ❤️

13/11/2025

Not particularly horsey but, I’m interested in what the animal charity bosses earn.

Aside from all that, surely if charity bosses took a pay cut, the ones who are exceedingly well paid and payed that back into the charity they front, the charities would be able to spend their money more wisely. 🤔

Just a thought.🧐💬

11/11/2025

It has been a tough time recently for our equine friends. First the non-stop fireworks which have caused no end of trauma and in some cases resulting in a number of injuries and deaths.

And no, I am not being dramatic.

And now we have this stormy weather. The rain has been at times torrential, driven by strong winds. It makes me think of the horses and ponies who have no shelter. When I say no shelter, I mean no trees to get under or hedges which are tall enough to provide some protection. Even if a horse is rugged, he still needs some sort of shelter. Field shelters are great when facing the right way and not at the bottom of a hill. But who can guarantee the wind and rain will blow the right way?

So our poor horses are not only at the mercy of over feeding, under feeding, over rugging, under rugging, lack of basic horsemanship but the elements as well.

Well done us!

Photo of the dreaded electric tape that tends to fall down in a breeze.

06/11/2025

This lot are often a waste of time, other charities have to step in and do their job for them, but, they just might have the clout to change the law regarding fireworks. Something needs to be done.

Did fireworks affect your pets last night? You're not alone 😔

A massive 66% of animals are negatively impacted by private firework displays. In 2024 alone, we received 1,084 heartbreaking stories from people whose animals experienced fear during this stressful season.

Your voice matters, and sharing your experience helps us push for real change. If your animals have been affected, please complete our short survey: https://bit.ly/3YIqpam

06/11/2025

Bit of a rant…..

Well last night was a lovely night for firework lovers in my area. I have absolutely no problem with firework displays provided that the local population are warned in advance. People are entitled to enjoy themselves.

But four and a half hours of the damn things??

Come on play fair. 9.35pm was the time it finally stopped.

Is it any wonder animals are so frightened? Not to mention children getting eniugh sleep for school the next day.

But in this world of self entitlement, who cares?

The sooner they make quieter fireworks the better.

Rant over.