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The Bare Bones of the Matter

How one horse’s lifetime will transform the future welfare and wellbeing of our horses

A Documentary Series

This insightful online documentary series explores the challenges horses face in today's world.

 

Using her own horse, Freddie Fox and his skeleton, the original star of Horses Inside Out as a case study, equine anatomy and biomechanics specialist Gillian Higgins shares his story alongside special guests and top equestrian professionals. Many of these experts, including world leaders in their fields, were part of the multidisciplinary team that cared for Freddie during his life.

This engaging and conversational 7-part series helps horse owners deepen their understanding of their horses while raising awareness about comfort, movement, welfare, and the best practices for maintaining the highest standards in the equine world.

This unique and thought-provoking series

  • Unlocks the intricacies of equine anatomy

  • Dispels long-standing myths and misunderstandings in horse care and training

  • Questions traditional approaches to training, welfare, and management

  • Exposes the root causes of injuries and performance setbacks

  • Defines the gold standard for horse care, training, and management

  • Highlights the vital role of a multidisciplinary approach to equine wellbeing

  • Reveals the science behind optimal horse health and performance

  • Unravels the mechanics and mysteries of the equine body

  • Elevates standards across all aspects of horse care, training, and management

This documentary series is dedicated to Caroline Moore,
a dear friend, mentor and coach.

In collaboration with

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Freddie's Story

£25
with Gillian Higgins
Wednesday 24th September 2025

In the first chapter of The Bare Bones of the Matter, Gillian Higgins shares the inspiring story of Freddie Fox, the original star of Horses Inside Out. She reflects on their journey together, recounting memorable moments and valuable lessons from his life. Gillian also highlights the dedicated team that ensured Freddie's comfort and performance at every stage of his life.

Introducing us to Freddie’s skeleton, she explores his anatomy and the valuable insights his bones reveal. By understanding equine anatomy, we can enhance our horses' comfort, optimise their performance, and better prevent potential issues - regardless of what equestrian discipline we do. Also in this chapter, leading equine scientists and professionals provide expert analysis, each offering a unique perspective on different aspects of Freddie’s skeleton and what it teaches us about horse care and well-being.

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Holistic Training

with Caroline Moore and Richard Davison
Wednesday 1st October 2025
£25

This chapter explores coaching and training strategies that promote both longevity and peak performance in horses. Gillian Higgins is joined by the late eventing performance coach Caroline Moore FBHS and Olympian dressage specialist Richard Davison for an in-depth discussion on holistic training, selecting and developing horses for long-term success, and injury prevention. They also tackle key topics such as achieving the correct outline, debunking anatomical misconceptions, neuromuscular training, finding the right coach, and the welfare challenges facing equestrian coaches today.

Also in this chapter is a short interview with behaviour specialist and trainer Kelly Marks who highlights the importance of learning in both horse and rider and with Roly Owers, chief executive of World Horse Welfare, who discusses learning theory. 

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Healthy Bones

with Dr Sue Dyson
Wednesday 8th October 2025
£25

In Chapter 3, lameness consultant and performance specialist Dr. Sue Dyson joins Gillian Higgins to uncover the stories bones can tell. They explore bony changes caused by bits, as well as common equine issues such as arthritis, neck pain, ECVM, navicular disease, kissing spines, congenital abnormalities, and hock problems. The discussion also highlights the importance of strengthening, how to assess your horse’s back, and practical methods for improving equine well-being.

Packed with myth-busting insights and hands-on techniques, this chapter gives horse owners the skills and knowledge to assess and improve their horses.

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Hoof Care and Balance

with Mark Johnson
Wednesday 15th October 2025
£25

In this chapter, Gillian Higgins is joined by farrier and barefoot specialist Mark Johnson for an in-depth discussion on the vital role of the hoof in equine health and performance. They explore the hoof’s anatomical connections, methods for improving hoof balance, and its impact on movement and overall soundness. Other topics covered include assessing hoof shape, comparing barefoot approaches, the use of hoof boots and shoes, and much more.

The chapter also features a special interview with farriery legend Simon Curtis, who literally wrote the book on angular limb deformities and asymmetry in young horses. If you want to maximise your horse’s hoof health and performance, this is a must-watch.

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Dentistry, Performance and Beyond

with Dr Chris Pearce
Wednesday 12th November 2025
£25

In the dentistry chapter, Gillian teams up with vet and dental specialist Dr. Chris Pearce for a detailed look into equine dental health. They explore how dental pain can impact performance, the key problems every horse owner should recognise, and some of the most misunderstood areas of the head—including the hyoid, TMJ, and incisor balance.

 

They also discuss what a modern dental examination should include, helping owners understand what to expect. If you want a soft, consistent contact and a horse that feels comfortable in its mouth and head, this is a chapter you won’t want to miss!

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Saddlery and Symmetry

with Laurence Pearman and Catherine Baker
Wednesday 19th November 2025
£25

In the Saddlery and Symmetry chapter, Gillian is joined by Master Saddlers Laurence Pearman and Catherine Baker from the Society of Master Saddlers for an insightful look into saddle design and fit. They explore the anatomical challenges of saddle fitting, how to assess fit, what to expect from a professional fitting session, and the impact of asymmetry on both horse and rider.

 

The chapter also features a fascinating interview with research scientist and biomechanist Dr. Russell MacKechnie Guire and saddle engineer David Kempsell, who discuss the science behind saddles, symmetry, and rider-horse interaction. Whether you're passionate about improving performance or simply want to ensure your horse’s comfort, this is a must-watch chapter for every rider.

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Veterans and Veterinary Care

with Matthew Barlow
Wednesday 26th November 2025
£25

The final chapter of this series is a deeply emotional and important one, as Gillian shares the final stage of Freddie’s journey. While a difficult topic, it’s one that every horse owner will face at some point. Gillian is joined by vet Matthew Barlow to discuss caring for older horses, covering common conditions such as Cushing’s, choke, strangles, melanomas, and more. Independent equine nutritionist, Clare MacLeod, discusses the nutritional demands of veterans and the practical challenges of feeding older horses.

 

The chapter also features a thoughtful interview with Dr. Nic de Brauwere, Head of Welfare at Redwings Horse Sanctuary, offering valuable insights into end-of-life care. Honest, heartfelt, and essential viewing, this chapter is a must-watch for every responsible horse owner.

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Live Question and Discussion Session*

with Gillian Higgins, Sue Dyson, Chris Pearce, Catherine Baker, Mark Johnson, Clare MacLeod and Richard Davison
6.30pm GMT Wednesday 3rd December 2025
*included in the whole series ticket

After viewing of all the chapters in this series, join Gillian and the feature presenters for a lively group discussion with the opportunity to ask questions.

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Purchasing Options

Buy series before 20th June and SAVE £100!

EARLY BIRD WHOLE SERIES TICKET PRICE: £75 

Buy individual episodes:

£25 per episode

Purchase the whole series after 20th June:

£95 for whole series (SAVE £80)

How it Works

Chapters in this documentary series are approximately 1 hour and 20minutes long.

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There will be opportunity to ask questions at the live discussion session with the feature presenters on 3rd December. This is included in the whole series ticket.

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Each chapter will be available to view from the date listed above. 

 

Enjoy lifetime on-demand access 

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A certificate of participation will be available after viewing.

About the Feature Presenters

speakers

About the Short Form Presenters

About the Collaborators

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The British Horse Society is collaborating with the Bare Bones of the Matter documentary series in particular; Chapter 2: Holistic Training in relation to the BHS training and exam system, Chapter 4: Dentistry Performance and Beyond - in relation to their campaign - No Pain Check Again and Chapter 7: Veterans and Veterinary Care in relation to the BHS campaign Friends at the End

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World Horse Welfare is collaborating with the Bare Bones of the Matter documentary series in particular; Chapter 2: Holistic Training in relation to the importance of understanding learning theory and Chief Executive Roly Owers contributes a short feature in this episode.

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The Society of Master Saddlers is collaborating with the Bare Bones of the Matter documentary series in particular; Chapter 6: Saddlery and Symmetry in relation to the importance of saddle fitting with a qualified professional helping to demonstrated the modern gold standard.

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The Performance Mentoring Programme (PMP) is Caroline Moore's legacy aiming to advance the training of the young professional event rider to excel in the sport of eventing. This is something we hope to support through this documentary. Caroline presents in chapter 2 and fives a great insight into her training methods as well as the PMP.

pmp
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The 24 Behaviours is Dr Sue Dyson's superb ridden horse performance checklist and gives a fabulous system for horse owners and equestrian professionals to recognise the ridden horse in pain. Sue touches on this in chapter 3: Healthy Bones of this documentary series.

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The Equine Dental Clinic, a true centre of excellence for equine dentistry offering advanced and referral services as well as routine dental appointments, is collaborating on the Bare Bones of the Matter documentary series and Chapter 5: Dentistry Performance and Beyond in particular. 

EDC

Intelligent Horsemanship, an educational horse training membership organisation, is collaborating on the Bare Bones of the Matter documentary series and Chapter 2: Holistic Training in particular as Kelly Marks features with a short interview in this chapter.

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Clare MacLeod, Horse Nutrition Health and Fitness, is collaborating on the Bare Bones of the Matter documentary series and Chapter 1: Freddie's Story and Chapter 7: Veterans and Veterinary Care as Clare gives advice on how to feed and manage veteran horses. 

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