In February, The British Horse Society Hub at Stirling Agricultural Centre will be the base for Robocob – the British Equestrian Trade Association mechanical horse, or riding simulator.

This will offer a realistic riding experience to anyone who is interested and in a controlled environment.

Would you like to improve you posture, balance, core without worrying about how your horse is going? Are you coming back from an injury, a prolonged period of time away from riding or just want to have a go? These sessions will be ideal for you.

Each session incorporates tailored exercises for everyone, aiming to improve your riding position without having to worry about the horse beneath you! The sessions also improve core strength, balance and confidence.

Each 30 min session takes attendees through all paces and give them the opportunity to use the mirrors to see if that shoulder is dropping, or if you are moving your hips too much.

Taster sessions: this includes the hire of the mechanical horse and coaching are provided by a BHS Accredited Professional Coach (contact bhsscotland@bhs.org.uk)

Back to real horses, as they need care as we head into 2023 as BHS has been highlighting in its 'Be horse aware' campaign, which was launched to educate the general public on why you must not feed horses, as well as etiquette such as keeping dogs on leads near horses and always closing gates.

The general advice involved in this campaign included giving horses space, leaving gates and property as they were found, taking litter home, taking responsible access, keeping dogs on leads and binning dog mess.

The campaign also highlighted the dangerous and even deadly consequences of feeding horses, with the BHS receiving ongoing reports of horses becoming ill, or even dying after being fed by members of the public.

For landowners/horse owners, the BHS provides free warning signs to use on your land. To download these and to learn more about why it’s so important to 'Be Horse Aware', including a heartbreaking case study, visit our website: https://www.bhs.org.uk/supp.../our-campaigns/be-horse-aware/ You can download a Scottish poster there.

We are also running three discursive online sessions designed to start a national conversation on the miracle and structural masterpiece that is horses hooves.

These continually renew themselves and, hopefully, last a lifetime. But these are complex, weight bearing structures upon which the entire horse and equine industry depends.

We all marvel and praise the hoof and look at the ways we in society can do better to understand both the mechanics and mechanisms, tools and trades, regulations and science that help us keep our horses feet in great shape.

Week 1 includes 'From shod to barefoot', with David Greenwood, Sarah Logie and Mark Trussler. This can be booked on our tickets tailor https://www.tickettailor.com/events/bhsscotland/