Behind Happy Trackin'

From one trackie to

another

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 grew 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 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 - only to realise in early adulthood that riding simply wasn't in the cards for me anymore. However much I may miss it, I learnt that loving horses isn't about riding, but instead, about appreciating them for the beautiful animals they are.

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 official 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 now, 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, 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.

This is an unwavering passion of mine, one that I hope will do it's small part in leaving the equine world a better place than how we found it. I now hope to share that through my work, and now this magazine, with you.

A huge thank you to my family for always supporting my dreams, no matter how big or small. A particularly big thank you to my Mum, for always fighting for the welfare of animals and leading by example.

Meet the HTM animals

Dancer is my beautiful and incredibly cheeky girl, a 16 year old warmblood x cob. I have had her since she was 18 months, after she was thrown in as an 'extra' when my Mum purchased her boy Buster many moons ago. She was curled up in the stable next door to Buster's, underweight and unhandled, awaiting travel to the meat market. Luckily, my Dad noticed her and insisted she came home with us, which thankfully, is exactly what happened.

She has lived on our track system ever since, has never been shod and simply enjoys just living her life. Our relationship has been built on simply 'being' together, often causing mayhem and making me laugh. She's a one of a kind pony, and I'm very grateful for the bond we have.

Pi, my 16 year old irish cob, came into my life about 6 or 7 years ago, originally as a livery for my family's commercial track livery. I connected with him very easily on full livery, despite having anxiety around people and handling, and quickly became a 'favourite' of mine. Several years later, he left to go back into ridden work having fully rehabbed with us, only to return 2 years later. Not long after becoming a livery again did his then owner approach us, explaining her situation and asking us if we would consider having him gifted to us.

Originally taken on for my partner, he later became my boy. He's quite a complex horse with a lot of sensitives, and whilst we did enjoy a few rides together at one point, I am more than content with knowing he's happy and safe in his retirement, living amongst his friends, without the need for a 'job'.