Helen Whitelegg

Redwings’ Policy and Research Manager Helen first joined Redwings in 2001 and has worked in the charity’s horse care, welfare, communications and campaigns teams. Now Policy and Research Manager, Helen draws on first-hand experience of horse health and welfare issues to develop campaigns and carry out research projects that support owners with evidence-based information that can have a positive impact on equine lives.

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The power of polework

Polework is a fun and different way to exercise both horse and rider. It involves setting out variations of poles on the ground to...

10 August 2022

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Be sand colic savvy

Keeping your horses on light sandy soil can mean less mud in the winter and easier paddock maintenance come the spring but with it...

13 July 2022

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Know your fetlocks

The fetlock is a hard-working, high motion hinge joint. It is the meeting point of the cannon bone, proximal sesamoid bones and th...

20 June 2022

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Have Horse Will Travel

Transporting horses safely needs careful planning. Not only do you need a suitable trailer or horsebox but you also need the appro...

15 June 2022

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Scoop the poop

OK so it’s probably not on the top of your list of favourite horse-related jobs but don’t under-estimate the importanc...

18 April 2022

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Knees up

The horse’s knee which is also referred to as the carpus, is equivalent to the human wrist. With nine bones forming three jo...

15 April 2022

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Understanding stifles

Your horse’s stifle is the equivalent of the human knee. It is a powerful joint enabling the limb to flex and extend to prop...

11 March 2022

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Quality of Life

Quality of Life is an important consideration for any equine, whatever their age, health or circumstances.

20 December 2021

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Buying Children's Ponies

Buying a pony is a huge undertaking and getting it wrong can cause massive headaches. Over the years I have bought many ponies an...

01 December 2021

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Euthanasia

Alongside the pleasures and rewards of horse ownership there are inevitably some hard times, and none more so than having to say g...

29 November 2021

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Biosecurity

The word biosecurity may sound complicated but in fact it is simply a set of management practices to help keep horses safe from di...

22 November 2021

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Wound first aid wrapped up

Horse emergencies needing speedy first aid come in many forms but finding your horse with a bleeding, gaping wound has to be up th...

03 November 2021

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Choke is no joke

Choke is the obstruction of oesophagus – usually by food. It can be frightening to witness but thankfully many cases of chok...

03 June 2021

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Busting The Jargon

Get to grips with some of the common terms used to explain worms and worm control with our HorseDialog jargon buster

25 September 2020

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Summer weight watching tips

Grass is the most natural feed for horses and our equine friends usually love nothing more than mooching about in the field with t...

29 June 2020

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Getting back onboard

If you are planning to bring your horse back into work after time off during lockdown it pays to be prepared and to take things sl...

15 June 2020

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It’s in the blood

Whether animal or human, blood is essential. It’s an ingenious transport system, transferring oxygen from the lungs to all t...

23 April 2020

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What is EHM?

Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) is a rare but serious neurological disease caused by a type of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV), ...

14 February 2020

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Tell Tails

Thick and lustrous, long and flowing, or fine and wispy and soft as silk, your horse’s tail is not just a spectacular fly sw...

14 February 2020

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Clipping Made Easy

Now is the time to give your horse a short back and sides to remove that woolly winter coat and help keep him cool when he’s...

16 December 2019

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What is EHV

Equine Herpes Virus, commonly referred to as EHV, is a potentially serious contagious disease threat that every horse owner should...

22 July 2019

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Brain matters

On average a horse’s brain is the size of a large orange but weighs significantly more at roughly 623g and it is around half...

19 July 2019

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Banishing bots

Bots can be irritating for your horse and the onset of winter is usually the best time for you to get these pesky parasites under ...

04 June 2019

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Hoof Abscesses

Your horse’s feet have a very tough job. Not only do they have to bear the weight of the horse over a relatively small surfa...

04 June 2019

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The heart of the matter

We all love big-hearted horses – believing them to be kind, bold steadfast and willing to try their best with whatever the r...

04 June 2019

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Eight tips for Springtime

Summer’s on its way, with the promise of warm weather, longer days, bright early mornings and balmy evening rides. We can tu...

16 May 2019

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Is my horse a Headshaker?

Has your horse suddenly started behaving like a heavy metal music fan, shaking his head like a Deep Purple devotee whenever you ri...

13 July 2018

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Equine Eye Care

As prey animals horses have evolved to be on the constant look out for danger. Their eyes are large and laterally positioned, prov

01 May 2018

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How to prevent mud fever?

How can I prevent mud fever? For the most part it’s all about keeping the legs clean and dry: Avoid muddy paddocks Try cr......

23 February 2018

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What is mud fever?

What is mud fever you ask? Mud fever is enough to make any horse owner hot under the collar. It’s a persistent skin problem,...

19 February 2018

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The Big Wriggler

Tapeworms are the biggest worms to affect horses in this country. While the most common type can grow up to 20cm long, there is a ...

19 July 2017

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Why Breed From Your Mare?

While the grass may be struggling to flourish in many parts of the country because of the hot arid conditions the reverse is true ...

14 March 2017

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Equine influenza and tetanus

Vaccinations are essential to help protect your horse from diseases such as equine influenza. The vaccinations you are probably mo...

15 February 2017

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