Every horse is an individual. We look at their needs, behaviour, health, welfare and ability to cope, alongside the environment and management systems that shape their lives.
When we have unanswered questions about our horses, sometimes the missing piece isn't another intervention, another gadget or another change in training. It may be understanding what's happening within the system around them.
At Switch Equine, we look at the connections between horse, land and management to understand what might otherwise be overlooked. Because whole-horse health starts with the environment we create around them — and ultimately, with the land beneath their feet.
Whole-horse Health
Understanding the individual horse - their needs, behaviour, nutrition, welfare, pain, stress and ability to adapt - and how the environment and management influence the way they live.
Resilient environments
Designing healthier, better-functioning land and management systems that are resilient to changing weather patterns and extreme events. Through grazing, movement, soil, water, forage and biodiversity - creating resilient environments that support healthy horses.
From track systems and equicentral approaches to paddock-based and rotational grazing, we help you find an approach that works for your horse, your land and you.
for coaching, courses and educational resources, visit our resources page.
Switch Equine was founded by Laura, a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) with a deep passion for ecological restoration and animal welfare. With a background in zoology, evolutionary biology, and behavioural science, Laura's academic and professional expertise spans years of work as an ecological and environmental consultant, tackling projects from landscape recovery to on-farm interventions.
Her journey into alternative equine management began when she bought her first horse, who struggled to thrive in traditional livery yard setups. This sparked a quest to find species-appropriate approaches that considered the horse within their wider environment and management system. Wanting to explore these approaches in practice, Laura purchased a smallholding in North Wales, where she continues to explore how species-appropriate, evidence-informed management approaches can benefit horses and land.
Inspired by the results, Laura founded Switch Equine to help others on their own journeys toward environmental recovery through equine-focused, sustainable practices. With a blend of professional expertise and practical, hands-on experience, we’re here to support you in creating healthier, more sustainable environments for both horses and land.
Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) · CIEEM Full Member · CIEEM Registered Practice · ISES Associate Member · AnimalWeb Expert
Bringing together professional ecology, equine science, behavioural science and evidence-led welfare.
Laura's help has been invaluable in managing my land. She has provided advice about how best to utilise the limited space to minimise damage and also set out what measures I can take to improve it in the long term. She took a very personal approach, taking into consideration the specific needs of my ponies and taking into account that I don't own the land and therefore can't make long term changes.
Laura was immensely knowledgeable and helpful - she brings a wealth of experience and scientific understanding to the complexities of land, water flow, track maintenance and horses. Working out how we can keep the ponies healthy in a changing climate, while also maximising biodiversity and holding as much water on the fields/land in the places we need it felt like an insurmountable set of challenges - and now we're sorted. Perfect. Totally recommended.
"I have finished the course and I am very impressed! I think we are coming from a similar place and I didn't disagree with anything! Its so helpful to have all this information together in one place and so clearly presented. The course is jam packed with information but in digestible, bitesize pieces so I diodn't get overwhelmed. I particularly like the bit about being careful about the language we use to describe our horses and their behaviour. Its insidious and not helpful, for example, to describe frightened horses as naughty. I am overjoyed that this information is getting out there. I believe the vast majority of horse people want the best for our horses but if we need the correct information then we can make the changes necessary to improve all our lives"
