The Professionals

SUSTAINABLE EFFORT

With global warming and levels of pollution on the rise, it’s never been so important that we all play our part in looking after our planet. Showjumper Camilla Bingham explains how equestrians can help be more green.

“Trying to be sustainable on a competition yard is tricky. For a start sport horses require so much stuff – lots of hay, feed, rugs, boots, tack and gear – and they all have to have their own equipment because each horse has its own requirements. Also, as we all know, horses can be incredibly destructive! Things break all the time and need replacing, but this means adding to landfill – something we should all do our best to avoid. “Often it’s cheaper or easier to just replace old or broken items with new ones, but I always try to get things mended or repaired whenever possible. I’m not a big fan of clutter so I have regular clear outs and won’t keep things in the tack room if they don’t get used. I try to sell things second-hand before I am allowed to buy anything else new, though not everybody wants to buy used items these days. I find if something isn’t selling, just give it away for free instead of automatically binning it – often your ‘trash’ can be really useful to someone else. “One thing I’ve learnt over the years is that that buying quality items is better because they last longer. It might be more expensive at the start, but it pays off in the long run as you don’t have to keep buying the same cheap items over and over again, and of course end up throwing the old ones away each time. Always go for quality over quantity, and try to thoroughly research each purchase before buying something and finding it’s not quite right. There are so many influencers these days reviewing products online, so be mindful that they might be being paid to promote something rather than giving their honest critique of a product. “I try to work with companies that share my aim of being more sustainable. So many equine items come in plastic bottles or jars, or wrapped in plastic, and the waste from these can soon mount up. I was lucky enough to meet Zoe from Honest Riders a couple of years ago and I really love their horse care products, which are cruelty-free and use all-natural ingredients. They also come in recyclable packaging, and this summer I’ve been particularly impressed by their soap bars, which have great results for bathing horses yet have zero packaging. Certain products such as fly spray, coat gloss and detangler I buy in bulk, as it’s cheaper and more CAMILLA BINGHAM IS AN INTERNATIONAL SHOWJUMPER BASED AT PUTTENHAM PLACE IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. STARTING HER COMPETITION CAREER AS AN EVENTER, SHE SWITCHED TO SHOWJUMPING IN 2010.

efficient to buy large 5l bottles to fill up the smaller spray bottles, rather than keep on buying more of the smaller ones. “I use Gain Horse Feed because I was impressed by their green credentials. Their feed comes in brown paper bags, which are recyclable, and they source their ingredients from working farms that are trying to be more sustainable in terms of promoting soil health and biodiversity. “One thing we can all do is spend a bit of time researching which companies we buy from. Often their website will have a section on their environmental credentials, or you can ask their sales reps about how the company is working towards being more sustainable. “I try to recycle as much as possible, and with any rubbish we do have we keep separated according to material, so plastic in one, string in one, and bags in the other and so on, so when we take it to the tip it can be put in the appropriate bins. At shows we try to bring our own food and water, and even take our own mugs so we can avoid getting those takeaway cups from the show cafés. “These things might not seem much, but if everyone in the horse world does what they can it really will make a difference.”

www.puttenhamplace.com

Camilla is sponsored by GAIN Equine Nutrition, Honest Riders, Lord and Lady Equestrian and Protexin.

#GOENDURANCEGB SARA PARROTT & STARLIGHT

Endurance GB is planning to build on a postlockdown surge in grassroots membership and participation this season with a new scheme

#GoEnduranceGB to

encourage riders to step up to graded level competition.

#GoEnduranceGB offers the opportunity to enter up to two novice Graded Endurance Rides (GERs) up to 40km before becoming a full riding member of Endurance GB with a further £10 in membership or ride entry vouchers to all those who complete a ride under the scheme. Designed to smooth the path of riders who enjoy the experience of pleasure rides to challenge themselves and their horses at the next level, anyone entering a graded novice class through #GoEnduranceGB 2021 will have support from experienced riders and on completion an introduction to the vetting process with a post-ride pulse check for their horse.

www.goendurancegb.co.uk “Myself and my partner Craig Elenor have a yard of show horses, most of whom we produce for clients although we do have a few of our own. These range from lead reins, show ponies and M&M’s, to horses, youngstock and stallions.”

How did you come to start riding Starlight? “One of my team Katie Ramsden who worked for me said she thought she knew a horse I might like. She showed me a video of Starlight, known as Queenie at home and I liked her straight away. “After watching her trot up inhand on the road in the video, Craig and I went to see her that afternoon and as soon as we walked in the yard and saw her we knew we had to have her. A client at the time who is now a good friend, Flick Haigh, said that she would buy her for me to show. “She was very raw when we bought her, but she has really blossomed over the years. When Flick gave up the show horses two years ago she gave me the opportunity to buy her, which we did.” Tell us more “She is a 16hh, Native Coloured mare and is now 9-years-old. Her stable name really suits her perfectly as she is definitely the queen of the yard. She can be hot at times but has a heart of gold, loves children and is the perfect nanny for the foals.” What makes her special? “Queenie just has that star quality we look for in a show horse, she loves to perform. To ride she’s like a plaited horse, she’s so light on her feet and powerful, she’s super spooky at home yet the moment she steps in the ring she’s into best behaviour mode. She stands like a rock at the biggest shows yet is ready to turn it on when you ask.” What is her routine? “Queenie’s routine is very basic, she likes to be in the field as much as possible; summer time she’s out at night and vice versa in the winter. As long as she gets her breakfast and dinner she’s happy! As she’s mine she’s last on the list to ride, so she gets ridden as and when we have time - she’s no different if you ride her every day or give her a week off.” Your major wins? “Queenie is very reliable and bar her novice year she has won every HOYS qualifier she has been in - hopefully I’ve not jinxed my luck! However we do not over show her, she’s lucky to do six shows a year. She’s been second at the Royal International Horse Show twice, she loves it there, it’s one I would really like to win on her. It was fantastic when she went Supreme of Show at CHAPS last year which was amazing.”

“She has two feeds a day, TopSpec Comprehensive Feed Balancer, TopSpec UlsaKind Cubes, TopChop Lite and TopSpec Calmer. She has haylage when she is in and just loves her food and looks so well with a shiny and glossy coat.”