The Magazine
Happy Trackin' is a digital magazine released on a quarterly basis, with a focus on track systems, barefoot horses and the importance of providing a species appropriate lifestyle.
In this magazine, you will find everything from stories of successful track rehabilitation cases and 'how to' articles to competition horses, hoof health and our best tips and tricks on how to keep your track system running smoothly.
If you're a trackie with a passion, then you're in the right place. Happy Trackin' everyone.
Behind Happy Trackin'
My name is Maddie and like the majority of you reading this, I am a horse owner keen to do my part in normalising species appropriate living for the mental and physical health of our equines. My family own and run 'PB Paddock Paradise Livery', a paddock paradise (track system) livery based in the charming county of Shropshire, UK. Having always had a keen interest for writing and an all-consuming passion for the work we do through the livery, I was encouraged to take the jump and begin a digital magazine on what I hope will be filled with invaluable information, tools, success stories shared and most of all, encouragement to continue providing your horse with a fulfilling, species specific life.
As I have grown up with a horse-obsessed Mum from a very young age, I have always had an interest in horses and have never needed any sort of encouragement to follow in her footsteps. I was very lucky, and was gifted a rescue pony named Dubri Firkin for my 5th birthday. The so-called pony madness soon took charge with my new best friend in tow, following me through my childhood and into adulthood where I spent years learning through my family's devotion to horses the true meaning of loving an animal.
As a child, I unfortunately become chronically ill which altered the life I had envisioned for myself drastically. I spent the entirety of my teen years constantly working towards one goal - to ride again. Now I realise riding isn't in the cards for me, so I am thankful to have learnt to fuel my love, drive and passion for horses in another way.
Working has always been difficult, and a career always seemed highly unlikely. In 2016, I was able to attend college where I studied Media, which included a variety of things, all of which I use today in some shape or form. In early 2018, my Mum officially opened PB Paddock Paradise Livery, the type of lifestyle and job she had only ever dreamt of before making it a reality. She had rehabilitated horses, used track systems and had friend's horses as liveries for many years prior to this, but making it officially changed everything for us as a family.
For quite some time, I tried to be a part of PB in a way that my body couldn't cope with. I fell in love with the process of healing, and watching previously depressed, ill or hurt horses blossom into healthy, kind and somewhat cheeky characters. Shortly after, I began exploring my options and briefly dappled in art and design, drawing pieces that were turned into metal artwork. I enjoyed drawing, and I could do it from home around my health. In logic, it was the perfect set-up, but my heart just wasn't in it.
As PB grew, my role became admin, content creator, website design and writer. It was here that my love for what we do yet again expanded and still continues to encompass my life. To help someone help their horse, to transform a horse's life, to educate and spread awareness, to fight for the horses who have no one in their corner - there is no greater joy for me. It was then that Happy Trackin' was born as an expansion of PB, allowing me to create something meaningful for a community of like-minded people with a similar interest in providing the very best for their horses. My family's, particularly my Mum's, deep-seated passion and devotion for horses and the journey that has taken us on continues to be a constant in my life, one that I am very grateful for. I now hope to share that through my work, and now this magazine, with you.
A big thank you to my family for always striving to provide the very best for our four-legged friends, always being my inspiration. I am very grateful for the childhood I had watching your successes and failures, lessons learnt, your kindness and love and most of all, your willingness to keep learning fuelled by your devotion to such gentle creatures. I can't wait to see where this journey takes me.
