MAKING A CAREER OUT OF A LOVE OF HORSES
It's not especially easy - or financially viable - to work with horses, but MumsHaynet has found that a passion for all things equine can be enough to fire the imagination and kickstart a business.
YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER, AND YES, YOU CAN MAKE THEM DRINK
“They say, ‘find a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.’ Well, it’s totally true. Our passion for our horses inspired our business,” says Emma Louise Llewellyn.
“You can't call it work when it's something you love!”
Emma, her partner Rae, and their pal Vanessa set up NeighturesGraze earlier this year; a start-up that offers water buffet packs of all-natural herbs and minerals.
“While traditional water troughs do the job, we saw an opportunity to create something more interactive and enjoyable for our horses,” says Emma.
“Our vision at NeighturesGraze was to design a buffet-style water station that features multiple buckets, each equipped with fresh water and natural herbs and minerals that have natural properties to support your horse, from natural antihistamines to hormone regulation and digestive aids.
“With that concept in mind, we embarked on our journey, creating water buffet packs to suit horses’ needs.
“In the wild, horses are naturally inclined to seek out specific plants and herbs that offer nutritional benefits and hydration.
“By creating a water buffet, a designated area where horses can choose from buckets of fresh water infused with various beneficial herbs and minerals, we mimic this natural behaviour.
“This not only satisfies their thirst, but also allows them to make choices based on their instincts, leading to a more enriching experience.”
Emma, from Haverfordwest in Wales, has been involved with horses since the age of four and it was a shared love of horses that brought Rae into her life.
“Our current herd started with Guss who was a birthday present from myself to Rae. Weaned as a six- month-old, Guss has always been Rae’s heart horse, and the bond they have is unbreakable.
“Whisper joined our family in November, in foal to our beautiful filly Echo. And it was Whisper, coming off the mountain as a wild pony, that somewhat bonded the idea of NeighturesGraze and how we owe it to our horses to encourage them to be as natural as possible.”
The NeighturesGraze water buffet packs offer a number of natural mixes aimed at specific equine needs such as rosehip, beetroot, salt and nettle leaf for skin, coat and hoof care, and salt, spearmint, garlic and liquorice for respiratory concerns.
“We have enjoyed every moment of putting NeighturesGraze together,” says Emma. “From creating the logo and name to testing it on our own horses! And we have been really touched by the great response from friends and other horse owners.
“In fact, we have already had our first order from Texas, USA. We cannot wait to continue spreading the word, but at the end of the day we're in it for the horses.”
For more details of NeighturesGraze email info@neighturesgraze.com or check out their website at https://neighturesgraze.co.uk/
THE BUSINESS CLEANING UP WITH EQUINE HYGIENE PRODUCTS
Tracy Richards' love for animals, especially horses and dogs, inspired her to create Aqueos, a revolutionary brand dedicated to pet and equine hygiene and first aid.
The journey began after she was made redundant.
Recognising there was a gap in the market for safe, effective, and easy-to-use antibacterial products designed specifically for animal care, she got to work.
As an avid horse lover and dog enthusiast, Tracy had experienced firsthand the challenges of maintaining hygiene in stables, grooming areas, and around active pets – without relying on harsh chemicals.
Working from her home in Pewsey, Wiltshire, Tracy created Aqueos.
After initially offering an animal and planet friendly range of disinfectants Aqueos has been growing organically ever since, introducing a number of must-have first aid items including an award-winning spray-on plaster.
“The Aqueos product line includes sprays, shampoos, wipes, and disinfectants that are versatile, fast-acting, and effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria, fungi, and viruses,” explains Tracy.
“Crucially, these products are alcohol-free, non-toxic, and safe for both animals and humans, making them ideal for everyday use.
“Focusing on sustainability, ensured that Aqueos products are eco-friendly and biodegradable.”
Since its launch, Aqueos has gained a loyal following among horse and dog owners, pet groomers, veterinarians, and animal lovers across the UK and Ireland.
Today, www.aqueos.co.uk stands as a testament to her vision, offering innovative hygiene solutions that help pet and equine owners provide the best care for their beloved companions.
A MODEL BUSINESS
A veterinary nurse who painted toy horses as a study aid has seen her hobby grow into a business attracting orders from all over the world.
Genevieve Tomlinson, 29, started painting miniatures during the first year of her Master’s degree while revising equine anatomy.
After posting her work on Facebook, she was inundated with orders from as far afield as Australia and America.
“I shared a photo of a model on a vet nurse page and it blew up from there,” Genevieve said. “I started getting commissions and when I put the same photo on an equine biomechanics group I received 400 likes in a day, followed by a huge list of orders.
“My first order was actually from a massage therapist in Denmark and I get a lot interest from Australia and USA, all of which means I can now fund the last year of my Master’s degree.”
Genevieve, from Exeter, finds most of her models on eBay and offers a range of illustrations from superficial musculature, deep musculature, skeleton and dermatomal. Due to customer demand she has also branched out, offering painted models of dogs and even cattle.
“I will paint whatever I can find,” Genevieve laughed. “I did a cow for a vet student and then a woman in America contacted me who does therapy on cattle, and she wanted a sheep, a cow and a pig. The sheep was most challenging because I had to find a model that didn’t come with a wool effect.”
Genevieve originally began painting models in the first year of her MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy degree at Harper Adams University to help her learn the 3D locations of equine anatomy.
“It really helped because the illustrations in books can be difficult to relate to real animals.”
