Absolute Horse - June 2019

E M K ’M C - I E! PI UP RE

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Absolute

JUNE 2019

PLUS

Inside...

COUNTRY & EQUESTRIAN BUYER’S GUIDE

JUNE

2019 ISSUE 334

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Classifieds/Vets Directory

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Agroco-sponsored Showdates Diary

Donna Case Nutritionist - My Simple Summer Feeding Hacks

Herbalist Daisy Bayliss - Herbs FEATURES for laminitis?

6 Life of an Equestrian Blogger - My Time at Royal Windsor by NEW: Paul Herbert’s legal Charlotte Miller advice - Loaning or Loaning Out Your Horse 8 What’s On Samantha Hardingham 14 Careers, Education and Competition Anxiety or Training - featuring Honest Excitement?

Rider Zoe Kiff, Jane Van Lennep from Simple System, Sarah Rhea Asks - Can We Talk About Turnbull from Horsehage, Rhys Children?

Knapp from Phillips Brothers Reports and stable lad Charlie Richards

Though every attempt is made to ensure accuracy, PCD Media Ltd cannot be held responsible for the opinions expressed in the magazine. The opinions and technical information in the articles are those of the authors.

How to contact and connect with us...

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Special Feature - RDA 50th Anniversary

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Petplan Equine Area Festivals

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Stress and Excitability - with Dr Shurlock

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Nutrition - Summer Condition and more

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Effective Fly Control

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Health & Welfare

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Be Stress Free - with Harriet Morris-Baumber

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Saddlery & Tack

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Buyer’s Guide

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Stables, Bedding and Paddocks

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Ride Like - Tutorials by Alicia Hawker, Nicola Wilson and Leah Beckett

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The Professionals - including Ros Canter, Carl Hester, Georgie Spence, India Ward and Kate Dennis.

COMPETITIONS 5 Ariat Saddle Snaps 7

Mountain Horse

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Lycetts Festival of Hunting

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Global Herbs

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Cavallo

Victoria Campbell and her Irish Draught Connemara, Moss Town Marz at the Redwings Show on 12th May. See full report on page 57.

WHAT’S

INSIDE

REGULARS 4 News

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NEWS THE PERFECT DAY: SPEAK OUT ON STRANGLES

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edwings Horse Sanctuary is launching a national day of action as part of its Stamp Out Strangles campaign.

A special Speak Out On Strangles Day will take place on Saturday 6th July, and the equestrian community is being urged to come together to show its support for fighting this prevalent, but preventable infectious disease, which has at least 600 recorded outbreaks per year. www.redwings.org.uk/speak-out

BRITISH BREEDING ANNOUNCES FUTURITY PLANS

ritish Breeding has announced the dates for its 2019 British Breeding Baileys Horse Feeds Futurity evaluations. This highly regarded series aims to identify talented horses that will go on to compete successfully in the future in Dressage, Endurance, Eventing and Showjumping, and the series offers the ideal opportunity for breeders to showcase potential stars.

The 2019 Futurity dates range from late July to end of August, giving later foals time to mature and allowing breeders a choice to present their young stock at venues across the country. Local dates include 1st August at Writtle College, Essex. www.british-breeding.com

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RYAN ROUSE: SERVICES TO EQUINE WELFARE

n 6th April at the Ken Cranage Memorial Ball, hosted by The Horses and Ponies Protection Association (HAPPA), Ryan Rouse was named winner of a special award for Services to Equine Welfare.

Ryan Rouse heads up the External Welfare side of Bransby Horses Rescue and Welfare, based in Lincolnshire. www.bransbyhorses.co.uk

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Competition winners: Bolesworth Andrew Burton, Suffolk; Jade Schofield, Essex; Sian

STOP PRESS:

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ributes are being paid to Roger Clark who has sadly passed away.

A renowned farrier and expert on Suffolk Punch horses, social media was awash with comments in the wake of Roger’s passing, with those who knew him describing him as the ‘greatest countryman in Suffolk,’ a ‘legend’ and a ‘true Master of Hounds’.

Bontoft, Lincs; Zoe Carey, Essex. Aniwell Angela Tuck, Suffolk; Jackie Foulds, Suffolk; Julia Prentice, Suffolk; Louise Fuller, Essex; Sarah Dicken, Cambs. Suregrow Janice Robinson, Cambs

BROOKE LAUNCHES PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION WITH STAR JUDGES

lobal animal welfare charity Brooke has enlisted Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden, equestrian Gemma Tattersall and photographer Matthew Seed to judge a brand new photography competition for 2019.

The Brooke Photo Competition, launched last month, challenges the public to get out and take their finest snap of a horse, donkey or mule and submit it to Brooke for a chance to win amazing prizes. The competition is divided into two categories – photos taken with a smartphone or tablet, and photos taken with a camera. Entrants must submit their chosen image to Brooke’s website before 2nd September and donate £10 to help make a difference to the lives of hardworking horses, donkeys and mules and the people who depend on them. www.thebrooke.org/get-involved/fundraise/photo-competition

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COMPETITION

WINNER! WINNER! - Emma Reedman

“Look mum, I’m the Phantom of the Field!”

- Tegan White

“It’s a sunday morning... I am NOT moving!”

SADDLE

SNAPS

EACH MONTH AN ABSOLUTE HORSE READER WILL WIN A PAIR OF

ARIAT BURFORD BOOTS worth over £130!

Sponsored by - Rebecca Hyde-Parker

“Are we on a Game of Thrones set, Mummy?”

- Lizzie Brown

“Oh, I never fall off....” said no rider ever!

- Lisa Taylor “When the birds have finished grooming my mane, I’ll stick me feet in the bath and I’ll be ready to party!”

Entry is easy, simply email a candid photo of your horse to

snaps@ ahmagazine.com

- Pauline Whitley “I’m SO hungry. Has anyone seen my food bowl?”

- Deano Smith “I only wanted a bit off the top!”

- Catherine McNab “Mum are my teeth clean?”

Don’t forget to include your contact details and a caption to your image! The best photo/caption wins the boots.

Good luck!

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LIFE OF AN EQUESTRIAN LIFESTYLE BLOGGER

My time at Royal Windsor...

BY CHARLOTTE MILLER, THE FORELOCK JOURNAL

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Photo: George Parish Photography

eld in the picturesque private grounds of Windsor Castle and thoroughly enjoyed by none other than Her Majesty the Queen, The Royal Windsor Horse Show is one of the most prestigious events in the equestrian calendar and certainly my favourite of the year.

Excitingly, my first opportunity as brand ambassador for Hiho Silver allowed me to takeover their Instagram for the day and there certainly wasn’t a shortage

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of things to share.

There’s so much more to the event than just the iconic showing, although that’s certainly not something to miss.

In fact, the Cob Championship was an unexpected favourite of mine. These horses were magnificent and not to be underestimated; although their vast and heavy build would suggest otherwise, they managed to gallop the length of the arena at quite a speed.

The cobs were followed by something altogether very different. The stands soon filled up as the Grand Prix Freestyle to Music got underway. Charlotte

Dujardin unsurprisingly took top spot the evening before and as usual all eyes were on her. A new combination of only three months, Charlotte has taken reins on Sonnar Murray-Brown’s horse, Erlentanz.

Of course, the pair provided another beautiful test, riding to Valegro’s famous ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ music. For me, the music alone evokes memories of some of the most wonderful tests and it is always such a pleasure to watch Charlotte ride so effortlessly.

They were champs once again, taking first place with an outstanding 81.9%.

This year also brought us 90 minutes of captivating equestrian displays, in The Pageant. With a narrated history of Queen Victoria, sing-a-longs and equestrian performances from around the world, they really put on quite the show and

When Charlotte met Charlotte!

the atmosphere was fantastic.

I’ll be honest, The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery’s display was the one I was most looking forward to, I understand it’s a sentiment shared with celebrity gardener and pageant host, Alan Titchmash.

I caught up with The King’s Troop Left Section Commander, Lieutenant James Billingham, before their Musical Drive that evening.

Exceptional horsemanship and courage was certainly shown by both the soldiers and their 68 horses during the drive. I could

e Paris

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graphy

WIN! WIN!

Photo: Georg

It’s safe to say I was totally caught up in the magic that is The Royal Windsor Horse Show and I’m already looking forward to returning next year.

VIP meeting...

VALEGRO AND TEDDY THE SHETLAND

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Photo: Rose Lewis/Daydream Equine Art

barely even begin to imagine the logistics of getting all the horses, equipment and people to an event like Windsor; all in all it’s a 3-4 day process, from preparing and loading the kit and the guns onto the HGVs, to boxing up on the day and then off-loading at the other end and setting up the stables.

But of course, it doesn’t end there, life at the Barracks in Woolwich is certainly busy too. There are two draught parades a week, in which they run through the Drive twice. On the other four days of the week, a 6-mile route is ridden through London, whether it be from South East London, starting from Woolwich or if they are forward mount for a ceremonial event out of Wellington Barracks, riding through Central London.

I asked James what the relationship was like between the soldiers and the horses, “Our guys love the horses. They genuinely love them, they really, really do”. I’m sure it’s the relationship between them, that allows such remarkable performances.

Not only do they ride the horses in Ceremonial Displays and Musical Drives, but some horse and rider combinations go on to compete in other disciplines too. Training in their own time to prepare for the competitions, they really get to work closely with the horses. They were able to show off their training in the Land Rover Services Team Jumping on Saturday, where they took second and third place.

Something else I particularly enjoyed and previously only watched on TV, was the Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix. It’s seriously impressive to watch how they manage to get the horses around each of the tight obstacles, which looked an almost impossible task before you saw them complete it. It’s that ‘edge of your seat’ kind of excitement and watching them splash through the water elements made for great watching too.

eddy is a therapy pony by day and Instagram superstar by night. With over 122,000 followers worldwide, Teddy has become a prolific social media influencer and makes regular ‘meet and greet’ appearances at events such as Royal Windsor, Olympia and recently Badminton Horse Trials.

Teddy is sponsored by Shearwater Insurance, Horseware and Plevin Products.

WIN WITH MOUNTAIN HORSE!

ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL RECEIVE A PAIR OF AURORA JODHPUR BOOTS!

New this season from Mountain Horse is the sleek and sophisticated Aurora boot which offers outstanding comfort and support for hacking or everyday on the yard.

Packed with great features, its three different styles - jodhpur (£129), zip (£139) and lace (£139) – offer unique Mountain Horse technology so that your feet stay comfortable all day long.

This is quite the boot that you’ll be comfortable wearing all day, both in the saddle, and on the yard, with enough style to ensure it looks great on days out too. www.mountain horse.se

Colours: Black and brown Sizes: 36 – 43

To enter: Visit www.absolutehorsemagazine.com and click on the Competitions page. Entries open 1st June 2019 and close 30th June 2019.

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WHAT’S ON

BREAK THE NORM THIS SUMMER AND

VISIT NEWMARKET!

iscover Newmarket, accommodation options for the town’s official tour visitors that suit a variety of guide, is putting a requirements and budgets with stake in the ground for the options like the luxurious four Home of Horseracing as an red star Bedford Lodge Hotel, alternative holiday location for the Best Western Heath Court anyone looking at taking a Hotel and The Packhorse Inn. staycation this summer.

There are also family options too This year, Newmarket is with Suffolk Cottage Holidays. showing prospective visitors to There are a host of things to do the town why they should when visiting the town with consider thinking outside of the Discover Newmarket’s various box for their next family tour options taking you back to adventure in 2019. the time of King Charles II, This new wave of thinking retracing the footsteps of royalty around choosing to holiday and learning all about the domestically as opposed to history and heritage of this going abroad is a way of iconic location. showing that a Summer holiday Learn all about the Sport of does not have to be a trip to the Kings starting at attractions like seaside but rather that visitors The National Stud where you can enjoy multiple stops en get the chance to meet the route to a destination or even potential champions of the stagger their holidays into a future, stroking the noses of series of mini-breaks. foals that are only a few weeks There are lots of old which is an experience to

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savour.

Take in the impressive collection of artwork at Palace House which is home to the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art and learn more about the history of horseracing as you work your way through the interactive exhibits.

It wouldn’t be a visit to Newmarket without a day at the races and the opportunity to go behind the scenes on a Race Day Tour or go into the racing yards and onto the gallops in the mornings to see the work that goes in to getting a horse from the breeding shed to the winner’s enclosure.

HOLKHAM COUNTRY FAIR: THIS JULY

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he much-loved biennial Holkham Country Fair is returning to Holkham Hall on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July.

Set in the surroundings of Holkham Estate by kind permission of the Earl and Countess of Leicester, this North Norfolk Country Fair will offer two days of countryside pursuits, rural crafts, displays, food demonstrations, performances and will be great fun for all the family. www.holkhamcountryfair.co.uk

RESTAURANT REOPENING

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INTERNATIONAL DAY: RCBPC

This year’s International Day at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club on 27th July will see the Frasers England Polo Team playing the principal match against Argentina in a bid to win The Coronation Cup, plus five times Olympic British dressage rider, Carl Hester, MBE will be giving a rare UK dressage masterclass. www.theinternationalday.com

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ewmarket restaurant, The Tack Room reopened recently following a refresh from award-winning food company, Absolute Taste.

Based at Palace House, home to the National Horseracing Museum and the Packard Galleries of British Sporting Art, the restaurant is the perfect place for locals and out-of-town visitors to enjoy The Tack Room’s revitalised facilities and food.

THE ROYAL WHAT’S ON

OLD CART WHEELS ROLL ONCE

with its rolling terrain and challenging obstacles offers the perfect venue to witness and experience the very best in the modern carriage driving world.

In absolute contrast to the fast and formidable driving trials, in a quiet corner of the Royal estate, another altogether sedate but equally competitive event will be held. An Attelage de Tradition will be staged for traditional type carriages. With the modern focus on high performance driving

Photo: www.eventtoevent.co.uk

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British marques) with large collections being amassed in impressive private and public venues. The National Carriage Museum in Lisbon is a prime example of the level of interest shown where complete turnouts are archived from Baroque Travelling Coaches right down to liveried grooms’ wigs.

Remarkably, the key focus in the Attelage de Tradition is not the winning, but the interest in the trials, the demand for antique carriages has waned dramatically, uniqueness of their vehicles.

Although the competition with many sadly consigned to format is relatively new in the UK the bonfire! Their original construction of wood and metal with only a handful of venues around the country, returning often proves too costly to competitors are unearthing lost maintain, and modern vehicle treasures and debuting a variety design with durable metal and of carriage vehicle designs. This performance construction competition is about promoting arguably negates the need for and encouraging traditional these traditional vehicles. carriages, and competitors are reThe Attelage de Tradition is a pan-European competition that discovering old unwanted or forgotten vehicles with unusual is growing rapidly in popularity features and resurrecting them across the continent. It was for the Attelage. Unlike private created in response to the alarming rate of destruction and driving where the attention is on the way of going and neglect of original vehicles. outstanding overall impression, Unlike the UK, there is a strong the ‘Attelage’ has three main growing interest with European focuses, the correctness of the collectors of original vehicles to acquire carriages and have them turnout, the performance of the turnout and the competitor restored. Despite the comedic socialising! drama of Brexit, our European counterparts are particularly keen “We are learning of competitors who are travelling far and wide on preserving the heritage of horsedrawn carriages (particularly scouring old barns for original vehicles. Attelage offers greater Photo: FfotoImage Photography

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he Royal estate at Sandringham has long been the focus for competitive carriage driving thanks to the foresight and dedication of HRH The Prince Philip. He was responsible for the inspiration to introduce Driving Trials to the United Kingdom which has grown in popularity across the globe, uniting a strong community of carriage driving enthusiasts.

With this interest in the fast and exciting driving, a new breed of carriage driver and vehicle design has developed, much like Formula 1 motor sports.

Technology has brought new construction techniques for lighter, stronger vehicles to offer competitive advantages, and the FEI have even had to impose certain constraints to maintain an even playing field. The Sandringham Estate in Norfolk

ESTATE AGAIN IN

Photo: FfotoImage Photography

Photo: www.eventtoevent.co.uk

game and period antique rifles,” added Lester.

The purpose of the event is to encourage the use of these wonderful carriages, put into practice what they have produced. All competitors have to negotiate a road drive and a cones course, whether they are a small donkey or a large team of coaching horses. This is the one

Photo: FfotoImage Photography

scoring for vehicles built before 1945, although modern reproductions are also welcome,” explained Lester Dagge.

“Correctness of turnout is important and fun part of the competition where turnouts are inspected by three AIAT International Judges. Such is the level of detail and interest, we know of one competitor who acquired an antique Shooting Break complete with accessories for hanging game and guns.

They have carefully researched the vehicle’s history, restored the carriage to its former glory and recreated a full appointment of accessories for presentation including a new puppy to travel under in the vented dog compartment, a complement of fresh

SANDRINGHAM 29TH-30TH JUNE

event where all competitors are judged on their individual abilities and welcomes all equines, combinations and vehicles, all adding up to a spectacular event.

The second stage of the event is the road drive where competitors have to travel a moderate distance and deal with five difficulties on route. These are typically issues one would encounter on a normal drive, such as reversing or turning in a circle, with a bit more skill required and marked by awaiting Judges! The third and final stage is the cones class where all competitors have to negotiate a series of coned gates to test the driver’s ability. This is done at a steady pace unlike our slightly faster cousins in the scurry driving competitions.

On completion of the third stage, the results are calculated and the category winners revealed in a spectacular extravaganza of carriage turnouts in the main arena at Sandringham. Once again the old wheels of tradition roll proudly on Sandringham’s turf.

With an informative commentary illustrating the individual vehicles and their provenance, this is a great way to see the original vehicles being put to good use once again. www.attelagedetradition.co.uk

MAKE IT A DATE: BPS NATIONAL CHAMPS

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he annual British Palomino Society National Championships for Palominos and Cream Dilutes at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, is one event not to miss on 13th-14th July.

This year will be the Society’s 45th consecutive year of running this prestigious show which is set to be one of the best ever with a host of classes and events running over the weekend. www.thebritishpalomino society.co.uk

BRANSBY HORSES: SUMMER FAYRE

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incolnshire-based equine charity, Bransby Horses, is hosting their annual Summer Fayre on 2nd June. It is a chance to take the family for a day out and meet some of the 400 animals the charity looks after across 600 acres.

Entry is free. There will be horse demonstrations, a trailer training and loading demonstration, and so much more! www.bransbyhorses.co.uk

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WIN! WIN! WHAT’S ON

TICKETS TO

LYCET TS FESTIVAL OF HUNTING!

THREE LUCKY WINNERS WILL RECEIVE A PAIR OF TICKETS TO THE FESTIVAL! Crowds in their thousands will descend on the East of England Showground in Peterborough for the annual Lycetts Festival of Hunting, which takes place on Wednesday 17th July 2019.

The event offers a glorious annual showcase for the world of hunting boasting the greatest gathering of hounds in the country.

The wonderful spectacle of hounds competing in the outdoor rings will be as colourful as ever, with the attendance of Harriers, Beagles, Basset Hounds, Draghounds and Bloodhounds. The Blencathra Fellhounds will return following a debut parade in the Foxhound Ring last year.

Lycetts Festival of Hunting 2019 will also host a vibrant variety of showing classes with in-hand and ridden equine classes also encompassing qualifiers for the Horse of the Year Show in many categories – including Ridden Hunters, Working Hunters, Working Hunter Ponies and Coloured Horses and Ponies.

The Shopping Village is a must-visit element of the show and welcomes an eclectic mix of exhibitors including Turner & Bell, Glaze & Gordon and The Hunting Stock Market. www.festivalofhunting.com To enter: Visit www.absolutehorsemagazine.com and click on the Competitions page. Entries open 1st June 2019 and close 30th June 2019.

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WEEKEND TO REMEMBER: BOLESWORTH INTERNATIONAL

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s the countdown to The Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show on 12th-16th June gets underway don’t forget that there are accommodation options available for the event.

If you would like to stay at Bolesworth, the beautiful camping and Festihut site is situated on the Bolesworth Castle estate, located off the main drive in a stunning grassed area. There are all the amenities you need for a comfortable stay on the campsite, which is just a short walk from the showground where all the action takes place. www.bolesworthinternational.com

DAVID NOALIA EXHIBITION: OSBORNE STUDIO GALLERY 17TH JUNE-4TH JULY

David Noalia, who lives and works in Seville, sold his first paintings to a dealer aged seventeen, who then commissioned eight more pieces. This was the defining moment, he discovered he could make a living from art painting his favourite subject, the Andalusian horse. Admission is free. www.osg.uk.com

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he weekend of 2nd-4th August sees competitors of the highest calibre competing for five British Championship titles including The Magic Millions British Open CCI4*-S at Gatcombe Park.

The demanding cross country course takes centre stage where competitors run in reverse order of merit, making for an exciting climax as the leader sets out last to try and win the coveted title. www.festivalofbritisheventing.com

VISIT REDWINGS

THIS SUMMER! jam-packed summer of fun awaits families at Redwings Horse Sanctuary’s visitor centres!

Not only can you meet some of the adorable 1,500 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules in the charity’s care, but its visitor centres also offer a special schedule of activities for all ages during the school holidays – and entry is free!

Redwings has five visitor centres nationwide, including Redwings Caldecott, near Great Yarmouth (NR31 9EY), and Redwings Aylsham, north of Norwich (NR11 6UE), both in Norfolk, and Redwings Ada Cole, near Harlow (EN9 2DH), in Essex.

Each centre is open every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday throughout the year, 10am to 4pm.

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There will be a chance to enjoy cuddles with some of the charity’s most characterful residents, including pretty Shetland pony Tinkerbell, stunning ‘Black Beauty’ horse Maya and little donkey Esther.

Look out for opportunities to join in tours of the centres, enjoy fascinating talks and even have a go at pony grooming!

Find the full list of holiday activities at www.redwings.org.uk/visiting.

Join the club!

Redwings’ annual Summer Club offers the chance for children, aged six to eleven, to enjoy fun and educational activities every week during the school holidays.

The Club provides a taster of what it’s like to be a Redwings vet, a field officer, a farrier and even a horsey dentist with We Love Horses, Ponies hands-on activities, including and Donkeys! giving a pony a mini health Starting on Friday 19th July, check, filling tasty haynets and visitor centres will host a series creating enrichment toys for of specially-themed weekends – donkeys. including We Love Horses, We Places for each session are Love Ponies and We Love booked on a first come, first Donkeys – celebrating all the served basis. Email unique things we love about our education@redwings.co.uk to four-legged friends. book in advance.

#10forTim #10forTim #10forTim #10forTim

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brand-new charity run will take place on the Saturday night of the Longines Royal International Horse Show (27th July), to raise money for the Tim Stockdale Foundation.

Left: Adoption Star Zippy enjoying his birthday party at Redwings Ada Cole

Party with an Adoption Star!

Sponsoring one of Redwings’ Adoption Star horses, ponies and donkeys costs £15 per year and every penny goes towards helping to care for your new friend and their pals.

Every year, each Adoption Star is thrown a special party to celebrate their birthday at the visitor centre where they live – and everyone is invited!

Each party kicks-off with the Adoption Star being treated to a pampering groom, before they get to parade in front of all their

Adoption Stars Maya and Cookie at Redwings Aylsham

visitors and tuck into their very own cake! For more information, head to www.redwings.org.uk/adopt.

And don’t forget…

Visitor centres provide acres of peaceful green space and paddocks – perfect if you’re looking for somewhere to simply enjoy a summer walk.

Dogs on leads are welcome too! www.redwings.org.uk

CAREERS, EDUCATION & TRAINING

MY CAREER...

Jane Vnannep Le

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ong-standing readers of the Absolute Horse magazine will recall that you used to write for the publication many years ago Jane, so please tell us how and when Simple System was launched, and your role in the company.

“Simple System was founded in 1996. I was keen to source forage feeds for my horses at the same time as Tim and Sue Warren, the other founder Directors, were looking for a new

venture. Tim has strong connections in the agriculture sector, so basically, I told him what feeds I wanted, he had to find them and Sue kept the books. Turned out that sufficient other people wanted to feed their horses more appropriately that we could form a viable business. We were the first horse feed company to source and market cooked linseed meal for horses. Instant Linseed and LucieNuts were two of our first products and are still finding huge popularity with horses and their owners.”

You originally ran a riding school, livery and stud in East Anglia before launching Simple System – how do you feel this influenced the products that you formulated?

“Caring for a large number of very diverse horses and ponies gave me unique experience.

Being responsible for their

Shim'ir 1985 BNC Ridden Gelding homebred

Jane hunting 1963 (12-yearold) Snowflake

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HAVING FEATURED SIMPLE SYSTEM PRODUCTS WITHIN THE PAGES OF THE ABSOLUTE HORSE MAGAZINE, WE SPENT FIVE MINUTES WITH THEIR DIRECTOR OF NUTRITION, JANE VAN LENNEP, TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HER AND HER CAREER. feeding gave me first hand experience of the effects of diet on many types and disciplines.

All of the horses - without exception - improved when cereals were excluded from their diets.”

Please can you tell us more about your degree in Botany.

“My first degree was Combined Science in Botany and Geography and gave me valuable insight to the connection between an organism and its environment.

My tutor on the very first tutorial encouraged me always to ask the question Why? and that has been fundamental to me. And perhaps a bit annoying to others…!”

Your career highlights?

“The first degree meant I could do a second degree, which was a MSc at Aberystwyth in Equine Studies. I was fortunate to be one of the last students to study

under the incomparable Jim Lees who encouraged my somewhat lateral thinking. It confirmed my belief that we should feed horses the types of feed they evolved to eat and was an amazing opportunity to study everything about the horse in so much depth.

“During the 20-odd years running Heron Stream Stud I was able to acquire BHS and NPS qualifications and was an examiner for NPS and ABRS. I also judged ridden and in-hand showing, trained and raced Arab horses, collected Gold in Golden Horseshoe Ride, produced National Champion show horses and even rode in an early Team Chase.”

What does a ‘typical’ day entail for you?

“Typically varied! I talk to people on the phone about their horses and put together individual feeding plans which I then write up in a detailed email for them. I

1986 Triumphal Chant BNC Stallion

“There was a gap in the market...” specialise in unusual issues, liaising with vets and breeding stock. I research forages and get excited about developing new feeds for our range! We have brain storming sessions on what feeds are needed, how to name and market them. Some of my time is spent on the general business management of the company and I am involved in training new staff and updating existing staff. Yard visits and talks all over the country take me away several times a month.”

Best part of your job?

“Often, people come to us because they have exhausted all other possibilities and are at their wits end as to how to help a much-loved horse. When we can sort out diet and sometimes management systems as well, with a good result, that is really rewarding.

Solutions are rarely straightforward and often require a broad approach encompassing diet, work, management and environment. Bringing it all together with a happy outcome is a good job, well done!”

If you could give our readers one piece of career-related advice what would it be?

“Never turn down any opportunity to learn, gain experience or pick up a qualification, even if it seems utterly irrelevant. You never know…”

IN THIS ISSUE, WE CAUGHT UP WITH ZOE KIFF, THE FOUNDER OF NEW ECO-FRIENDLY EQUESTRIAN BRAND HONEST RIDERS. THE BRAND HAS DEVELOPED QUITE A CULT FOLLOWING WITH ITS SUSTAINABLE ETHOS AND CATCHY SLOGANS ‘DROP IT LIKE ITS TROT’, ‘CENTRE LINE’ AND ‘TWO HEARTS’ SO WE WERE THRILLED TO FIND OUT MORE…

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onest Riders was started because I felt there was a genuine gap in the market for a brand that had good solid ethical values at its heart.

“Our ethos is that equestrian style shouldn’t just look good, it should do good as well.

“As an animal and nature lover, I found myself feeling frustrated about the impact we’re having and have had on our planet.

When we first set up, I spent time thinking and investigating how we could be more sustainable in everything we do.”

As well as the slogan range, you also sell natural horsecare – can you tell us a bit more about that?

“I was shocked when I discovered the amount of chemicals in the horsecare products I used to use and knew there had to be a better way.

“Over the course of the year before Honest Riders launched, I set about trying and testing a whole host of natural horsecare products from some amazing brands,

on my own horses. I then picked the ones I loved best and could vouch for and started selling those!”

You’ve created the tagline ‘Riders On A Mission’, can you tell us a bit more about that? “#RidersOnAMission is all about the impact we have, as an equestrian community, on the environment around us and how we can club together to make changes for the better.

“We really want to represent an uprising in the equestrian world; we’ve pledged to source our garments from factories that subscribe to the ‘Fair Wear Foundation’ and use fabrics that are environmentally friendly.

“We’re endeavouring to reduce plastic consumption and use sustainable materials in everything we do - from the packaging your order arrives in, right back to the methods used in manufacturing our goods. I really hope this is a vision that people can get behind.”

Follow Honest Riders on Instagram @honest.riders and Facebook @honestriders

Jane at a BHS demo

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CAREERS, EDUCATION & TRAINING

A Day in the Life of a...

HorseHage & Mollichaff Sales Advisor

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arah Turnbull has been in the job for over five years and works part-time, doing two full days per week which she combines with a second job working at Kingston Maurward College as a Learning Co-ordinator and Assessor for Equine Apprenticeships.

She is based in Dorset and the job sees her out on the road visiting both wholesale and retail customers who could be situated anywhere in the south of England, or perhaps attending one of several shows where HorseHage is exhibiting.

Her main responsibilities in this role are to promote the sale of HorseHage and Mollichaff products and offer support to the wholesalers and stockists through providing products, information and advice for their customers. This could include

product training for staff, attending in-store open days, delivering product samples and point-of-sale materials and handling customer service enquiries. When attending the big events such as the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials or the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, she would be on hand to help visitors on the stand with any equine feeding advice they may need as well as assisting in setting up and taking down the exhibition stand before and after the event.

The hours can vary greatly depending on what Sarah is undertaking on any given day but generally a day on the tradestand would start around 8.30am and finish around 6pm.

Sometimes an earlier start or later finish is required and occasionally an overnight stay.

So how does Sarah fit all this in around being a horse owner herself?

Said Sarah: “I am able to fit the job around owning my horse but I do need a little help when I’m away overnight; I stable my horse at a fab yard where I have some great friends that help when necessary.”

The main criteria for this type of job would be an excellent knowledge of horses and equine nutrition backed up with qualifications, plus good communication skills and a clean driving licence. Sarah has a BSc (Hons) degree in Equine Science and is a horse owner herself so has a wealth of equestrian experience and is a qualified BHSAI. Said Sarah: “The other day I left home early to collect some

“No day is the same and I love the variation!”

HorseHage for a customer and deliver it to her house and then drove home again. I spent the rest of the day working from home on some research for a new product and calling stockists to update them with new information. On another day I was trying to fit in visits to as many stockists as possible to check that all is well and help with any staff training or product queries. As a team we are very much focused on customer and sales support. My favourite part of the job is working at the shows and events with a great team and meeting lots of people.” www.horsehage.co.uk

A day in the life of...Rhys Knapp of Phillips Brothers

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joined the family business Phillips Brothers in 2015 at the end of my school education, becoming the fifth generation.

“My Great Aunt retired and the administrative position was a great starting point for me to commence my apprenticeship.

“Since this time with the growth of my skill set, I’ve incorporated the role of

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Customer Service and since 2017 I have taken on the responsibility of Production Manager. I have just completed Level 3 CMI Leadership and Management apprenticeship and in September I will embark on a Chartered Manager Degree.

“A typical day commences at 7.00am starting the production line and referring to the handover notes from the shift of the evening before. This enables me to assess if we are on schedule and what the priorities of the day are. I spend the morning with the team in the factory processing bales of shavings and straw products, and loading vehicles. I am

very hands on and aim to lead by example, at no time expecting any of my team to complete tasks that I am not willing to do myself. Once Jake, our late shift Supervisor arrives, we have a hand over meeting and I spend the afternoon in the office forward planning Health and Safety, Training and KPIs. “The best part of my job is working with family. We are all focused on clear short term and long-term goals, protecting and growing our brands for equine and poultry bedding with the sincere aim to exceed customer expectations.” www.phillipsbrothers.co.uk

Charlie Richards

MY EQUINE CAREER

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ver wondered what sort of people take the Apprenticeship in Racehorse Care route? We caught up with Charlie Richards who completed the course at The British Racing School (BRS) in 2016 to find out about his new career as a Stable Lad at Andrew Balding Racing…

“My name is Charlie Richards, I’m 19-yearsold and from Croydon in Surrey. I have been working at Kingsclere for Andrew Balding for two and half years since graduating from the BRS. “I attended Carshalton Boys’ Sports College and didn’t begin riding until I was 16-yearsold. I had grown up watching plenty of racing on the TV but I was playing football with my two brothers at a younger age. I didn’t have the same passion for football as I did for horse racing so attending the BRS was the best decision I’ve ever made.

“The highlight of my career so far with Andrew Balding was Charlie and leading up Shine So Shine So Bright Bright owned by King Power Racing in the 2,000 Guineas, having watched it on TV Did you have any prior racing when I was younger - it was surreal to have experience? accomplished such a dream so early on in my “I did some work experience with Simon career.”

Dow at Epsom. I am very grateful to Simon What BRS course did you do? for giving me the opportunity to start my “I did the Foundation course, and started in career with him.”

August 2016 for 14-weeks. After What are your future plans? successfully completing this I was offered a “The plan is to stay in racing for as long as I job at Kingsclere, starting my Apprenticeship can. I am very passionate about the horses I in Racehorse Care – I started here on the 6th look after and I love going racing. My dream December 2016 and love it.” would be to ride in a race or to become a Why did you choose the BRS? jockey.”

“Newmarket is the home of racing and I Visit www.brs.org.uk where you can find wanted to gain experience and learn from details on all the courses on offer and the the best place possible.”

Open Day dates or email careers@brs.org.uk

SPECIAL REPORT

RDA CELEBRATES: 50 Years of Diversity TO CELEBRATE ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR IN 2019, RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION IS MARKING THE MILESTONE THROUGH ITS 50 FACES CAMPAIGN, TELLING THE STORIES OF SOME OF THE AMAZING PEOPLE WHO MAKE RDA THE EXTRAORDINARY ORGANISATION IT IS TODAY.

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esigned to challenge preconceptions about disability and volunteering, and to celebrate the diversity and inclusiveness of RDA, 50 Faces features a collage of portraits, as well as the surprising and often moving stories of horse riders, carriage drivers and volunteers from all over the UK. “A 50th anniversary could be a time for looking back, but we wanted to celebrate where we are now, as leaders in disability sport, and also look to our future – helping even more disabled people to benefit from time with horses,” says Caroline Ward, Communications Manager at RDA UK. “50 Faces is an engaging and interactive way for people to find out more about what we do – and will hopefully inspire more people to get involved.”

To celebrate 10 years of volunteering with RDA, Alex Sullivan threw herself into a fundraising mission to complete

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Alex Sullivan (Right) Lizzie Bennett

10 challenges for 10 years.

Having started volunteering with Rawreth RDA Group at the age of 14, at just 25-years-old, Alex is hugely experienced and has many inspirational stories to tell about the riders she has met along the way.

A keen horse rider from a young age, it was her riding instructor that roped her into helping out when the RDA group needed some more volunteers with horse experience, and from then on, Alex has never left, continuing to volunteer as well as join the committee.

When an annual fundraising

event fell through, Alex thought she would step in to try and make up some of the difference and so ‘Alex’s 10 Challenges’ was born.

Alex raised £5000, working her way through adrenalineinducing events such as a 50k Ultra Marathon; The London to Brighton Bike Ride and even qualifying as a free fall skydiver.

When the going got tough, Alex thought about some of the riders that had been too ill to continue riding, or about riders they had lost throughout the years and this spurred her on to keep going.

She would think of the impact that RDA has on riders and their families. “We had a boy with autism who came to ride and his mum said, ‘Don’t be offended, if he doesn’t talk’. At the end of the lesson he said ‘Thank you Fudge’ to his pony. I remember his mum burst into tears. It’s these little things that make it all worthwhile,” said Alex, who works as a civil servant.

To mark the end of her challenges, Alex organised a charity ball, held at Orsett Hall in Essex, that was attended by family and friends from across the UK and some of the RDA riders that Alex has assisted over the 10 years that she has been a volunteer.

Alex gave a short speech at the ball, thanking everyone for coming and for their support throughout the year. She was then amazed when one of her riders, who is autistic and struggles making eye contact and talking to one person, asked if he could say something.

“For someone who struggles to talk to me at times, this meant so much to everyone. He delivered a fantastic speech to a room of 100 people, thanking everyone for coming and he explained that the fundraising helped him to be able to carry on doing what he loved,” explained Alex.

Living life at full pace is something Alex is used to, which helped drive her forward in her fundraising efforts. She regularly gets up at four in the morning to travel to London, to help exercise the horses of the

Household Division as a civilian rider.

“The early morning start is well worth it to be able to ride out with the soldiers in Hyde Park,” said Alex.

Through her connections at the Household Cavalry, they kindly donated a tour of the barracks that was auctioned at her charity ball.

As a volunteer, Alex understands the enormous financial demand to keep RDA groups running, and hopes to raise more money in the future, while having fun along the way.

For Lizzie Bennett life is about learning to do what you can, with what you have. She was born with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which is a genetic condition that affects your collagen and is in about 98% of the body’s cells.

Every part of the body can be affected including the joints, blood vessels, digestive tract, hearing, vision, nerves, skin and muscles. The progressive nature of the disease meant that Lizzie was not officially diagnosed until the age of 22, even though she had symptoms when she was younger.

As a teenager Lizzie was hypermobile which would result in injuries such as dislocations

and subluxations. At 13 she broke her back doing gymnastics, and for six months, doctors put her discomfort down to soft tissue damage.

Lizzie only discovered the full extent of the damage following an MRI scan, which showed she had several fractured vertebrae and all the disks in between were crushed.

Throughout her childhood Lizzie enjoyed horse riding and was lucky enough to own her own horse which she kept at home.

Sadly, following her gymnastics accident, she had to sell her horse and give up riding when the daily chores became too painful, even passing out when bending down to pick out her horse’s hooves.

Following her graduation from university, Lizzie was finally diagnosed after struggling through her days as a student with so many random symptoms, including what felt like food poisoning on a daily basis, as well as battling with constant fatigue.

In September 2014, Lizzie made what she describes as the best decision – joining Cambridgeshire College RDA. An email asking if any of the RDA participants would be interested in trying vaulting meant that Lizzie could fulfil a

long held ambition and would lead to Lizzie expanding her involvement with RDA. At the time Lizzie needed to use her wheelchair almost all of the time, having limited strength in her legs and she was unable to grip with her left hand, so she was unsure how she would cope. A heart condition that is linked to her genetic disorder also meant that she regularly blacked out and had seizures.

After two years of turning up to training in her wheelchair, Lizzie can now usually walk into the arena with just the aid of her crutch, and can now even stand on a horse, which is incredible considering she can’t feel her feet.

The progress has been slow for Lizzie and there have been injuries along the way, such as dislocating her collar bone on a dismount but with determination she has mastered moves that would have been inconceivable to her when she first started, such as a cartwheel into dismount.

Lizzie now holds nine national para-vaulting championship titles, and has qualified as a vaulting and riding RDA coach and she has further extended her involvement by joining the participants and vaulting committees, as well as

becoming a member of the regional committee for the East Region. In her spare time she also volunteers by running the group’s website, helping to promote fundraising activities and events.

Said Lizzie: “RDA in general, and particularly vaulting, has made such a difference to my life. I never thought I would be able to stand up on a horse and because of vaulting, everything else in my life is better.

“One of the things I love most about RDA vaulting is the fact that we are doing things that most able-bodied people would find hard and there aren’t many times that a disabled person can say that!

“It makes other things in life less daunting and teaches you to hold your head high, to be resilient and get back up and keep trying. My new-found confidence was also the impetus behind me reigniting my love for gymnastics, so I contacted a local club about their disability sessions.

“Vaulting and life in general are often both quite difficult, but the rewards make it all worth it.”

You can read Alex and Lizzie’s story, and meet the other 48 Faces of RDA at www.rda.org.uk

50th Anniversary Tartan...

A new tartan has been produced by Lachcarron of Scotland in celebration of 50 years of RDA. The tartan was launched at an anniversary event in Edinburgh by RDA President, Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal. The Princess met with volunteers and participants from around the country and was presented with her very own RDA tartan scarf.

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PETPLAN EQUINE AREA FESTIVALS

20th Anniversary Celebrations AND A LOOK AHEAD TO BROOK FARM AREA FESTIVAL

put in to take part in the muchloved Area Festivals.

The award categories are: • Inspirational star of the series – do you have a particularly interesting qualification story? he 20th anniversary of Farm will have worked hard over its’ first year to 24 Area Festivals, • Surprise star of the series – is the iconic British the winter to achieve their eight regional Area Festival there something different Dressage competition, Finals and the Championships qualifying scores. To compete at about your horse or dressage the Petplan Equine Area an Area Festival both horse and with over 6,000 dressage tests partnership?

Festivals, kicked off last rider combinations will need to ridden in the 2018/19 series.

• Support star of the series – month at Wellington Riding, The Area Festival gain three scores at 62% or have you got a special Hampshire and continues this Championships which was higher at Preliminary, Novice supporter you couldn’t be month with the seventh Area introduced in 2001 had 84 and Elementary level and two without?

Festival taking place at Brook competitors in its’ first year. The scores at 60% and above at • Progressive star of the series – Farm, Essex from 28th – 30th most recent Championships in Medium to Intermediate II level. have you worked your way up June. Throughout the series, The top riders from the Area April 2019 had almost 500 tests 24 Area Festivals and eight Festival Finals will then go to the through the levels? ridden.

• Perseverance star of the series Area Festival Finals will take Winter Championships which Those heading to the Petplan – have you had to overcome place. will be held at Hartpury College Equine Area Festival at Brook any significant obstacles on The series, which started in in April 2020. your Area Festival journey?

2000 and is aimed at amateur As part of Petplan Equine’s Entries opened on 22nd May riders, has grown from 15 Area celebrations for the 20th Festivals around the country anniversary, Petplan Equine and close on Tuesday 1st September. The nominations with 555 tests is launching the will then be judged by an completed in Petplan Equine independent panel of equestrian Area Festival experts. To take part go to Awards. These www.petplanequine.co.uk/areavery special festivals/awards where you can awards have been designed to recognise nominate your friends, family or yourself. the hard work and endeavour that grassroots competitors and their support teams

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Tessa and Tresaison Hallmark...

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ne rider who had a very successful visit to Brook Farm Area Festival last year was Tessa Halsall. Tessa rode her own Tresaison Hallmark (Hal) into the top spot in the Elementary Silver class, qualifying them for an Area Festival Final. Following an excellent result at their Area Festival Final, Tessa and Hal qualified for the Championships at Hartpury College.

Reflecting on their journey, Tess comments, “I couldn’t afford a top level dressage horse so I brought Hal as a yearling and have produced him myself. Since those early days we’ve done everything together; from his first ride, hack and competition, all the way up to the Petplan Equine Area Festivals, Finals and this year the Championships! Hal is a fantastic horse and I am so proud of how far we have come. The drive to do well has inspired me to lose over two stone, as he was bred to be over 17hh but only made 15.2hh.

“The Petplan Equine Area Festivals mean an awful lot to me. They are actually a great excuse for family time. I normally do everything with my horse alone however at the Championships, my family who live locally to Hartpury came to cheer us on.” www.petplanequine.co.uk/area-festivals.

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NUTRITION

Stress & Excitability

IN THIS ISSUE BRITISH HORSE FEEDS CONSULTANT NUTRITIONIST, DR TOM SHURLOCK, EXPLAINS WHAT CAN STRESS OUR HORSES OR PONIES OUT DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.

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tress is a term that covers a number of situations.

In the case of the horse it can be narrowed down to two main areas; firstly, it is mental or emotional strain caused by adverse or demanding circumstances – usually of external origins – and secondly, a physiological disturbance or damage which, by definition is internal.

Examples of the former would be travel, new environments or training, feed restriction and unfamiliar sights and sounds; and of the latter, ulcers, gut dysfunction, disease, competition, fly strike etc.

Obviously, this list is not extensive but highlights where behavioural or physiological factors may come from.

As a counter, excitability is defined as responding too readily to new experiences, or a direct cellular response to a stimulation; this would include neural pathways, and this gives a clue to the role of calmers.

So, what are we looking at as stress factors in the coming season? And is there anything

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we can do to help ameliorate the situation?

Improving weather means more activity, both in the horse’s life but also in his environment.

People are out, there is more noise, strange sights and smells, heavy traffic, possibly competitions and any number of unfamiliar inputs that may spook your horse. Summer also brings physiological stresses such as fly bites, heat stress, dehydration and hormonal cycles such as breeding. Each of these will result in different coping mechanisms but there will be common pathways. The commonality of these pathways invariably involves oxidative/inflammatory dysfunction; even behavioural/excitability issues (involving neural excitory/depressive pathways involving GABA and endocannabinoid systems) generate oxidative factors, and inflammation is the first response to most physiological dysfunction.

Come the summer, come factors

that either stimulate behavioural responses (fight or flight), confound them (confinement, for example) or reinforce them (turnout), and factors that initiate physiological stress. However, there are dietary regimes that can help.

The horse, as are all of us, is a creature of habit and dietary consistency is a calming existence. Normal behaviour allows a horse to graze and, at the same time, to explore alternative feedstuffs; subsequently they rest. This, where possible, is ideal as not only does it fulfil behaviour (reducing stress) but also optimises the physiology of the gut (reducing stress). However, realistically, many horses have different lifestyles – stabling, transport, competition etc. all interrupt this lifestyle. In such cases, preserved forage plays a role but providing the ‘exploratory’ phase can optimise behaviour. This is where super fibres can help.

Providing forage (as grazing or preserved) may be insufficient

for dietary needs, depending on lifestyle, so the provision of a super fibre can supplement this.

Adding this component as a soaked feed, such as Speedi-Beet and Fibre-Beet, improves the diet, enhances gut function, hydrates and enhances natural behaviour – all factors in mediating stress. And because simply increasing or decreasing the amount fed, over the seasons and ranges of activity, can cater for most situations (feeding alongside a hard feed/balancer/supplement can cover practically all situations); as such there is continuity of feedstuffs which is also a stress alleviating system. It is easily transported, so ready for travel, competition, relocation etc.

Again, the familiarity of feed and continuity of feeding helps relieve stress. Further benefits – the role of fibre in EGUS, fermentation benefits maintaining absorptive integrity in the hindgut, avoiding endotoxin inflammation – all help reduce physiological and behavioural stress.

Finally, as touched on earlier, calmers. There are many calmers in the market, and scientific research has shown that plant bioactives that act as antioxidants can ameliorate neural pathways. Products like TurmerAid can also have a place.

They also act in the inflammatory cycle, which is also ‘anti-stress’.

In summary, maintaining a consistent, fibre-based diet can help many manifestations of stress, with possible inclusion of selected bioactives can help. www.britishhorsefeeds.com

NUTRITION Product News...

Super So Kalm contains a premium grade Magnesium with L-Tryptophan, an essential amino acid associated with the production of Serotonin, to calm and focus the horse.

Fed daily, this can aid concentration and willingness to work, without removing the edge required for competition.

RRP: £29.99/1ltr 33 day supply.

Baileys Keep Calm is specially formulated to provide slow release calories and a minimal starch content (7%) in order to maintain condition while encouraging a calm temperament. Containing Speed-Beet and other sources of highly digestible fibre, Keep Calm soaks to a tasty mash in around 10 minutes and is fortified with a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals to supply a fully balanced diet, alongside forage. With a sugar content of less than 5%, it is also suitable for those prone to laminitis, who require some weight gain, and will support muscle tone and well-being for horses in up to medium work.

SRP around £13 for 20kg. www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk

Super So-Kalm Paste is a concentrated form for more rapid support. Administer a minimum of 10ml two hours prior to event before the adrenalin is pumping. RRP: £19.99/30ml syringe. www.equine-america.co.uk Formulated for horses prone to gastric ulcers, Baileys Ease & Excel contains a blend of ingredients all selected to be easy on the stomach and digestive system. It’s very low starch content (6%) helps avoid increasing natural digestive acidity levels, while the inclusion of Protexin InFeed formula helps support the health and integrity of the whole digestive tract. With excellent quality protein and performance levels of slow release energy, vitamins and minerals, Ease & Excel is ideal for any sensitive or stressy horse with moderate to high calorie requirements.

SRP around £13 for 15kg. www.easeandexcel.co.uk

TopSpec Calmer is designed to be fed to horses and ponies with anxious temperaments or those that cannot cope with stressful situations. Not all horses are anxious for the same reason so TopSpec Calmer has been developed with much more than a ‘single ingredient’ approach. It contains yeast, MOS, B vitamins, magnesium, tryptophan and sepiolite clay, which all act in different ways to help calm and relax responsive horses.

TopSpec Calmer reduces anxiety without affecting normal behaviour or reducing presence. It can improve performance by improving focus and reducing the effects of stress. TopSpec Calmer will start to take effect within hours but maximum effects will be seen within three weeks. TopSpec Calmer contains only natural ingredients but no herbs. It is a very palatable, caramel flavoured additive that should be mixed into damp feed. It can be added to any combination of feeds and supplements, TopSpec nutritionists recommend that these are low in sugar and starch. www.topspec.com

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Placid is an herbal supplement for horses and ponies prone to excitability or stress.

Containing Chamomile, lemon balm and vervain which are renowned for their calming properties and magnesium to encourage an even temperament.

RRP: £16.25/1kg. www.dodsonandhorrell.com

Foran Equine Nutricalm is a calming supplement containing B vitamins, Magnesium and L-Tryptophan to aid nervous horses and to promote focus and relaxation in stressful situations.

Includes L-Tryptophan, an essential amino acid and precursor to Serotonin. www.foranequine.com/uk

Magnesium has many roles within the body including the health of nerve endings and fibres, and a lack of magnesium may show in a horse as tension or nervousness. Magnitude is a highly absorbable form of Magnesium that should be fed daily to horses or ponies to promote healthy nerve tissue and reduce nervous tension.

RRP: £22.99 1kg/6 month supply. www.equine-america.co.uk

WIN! WIN! WIN £50 VOUCHER!

FOUR LUCKY WINNERS WILL EACH RECEIVE A £50 GLOBAL HERBS VOUCHER!

Tranquil E is a liquid supplement for horses. This valerian based supplement can be used on horses with high spirits or of a nervous disposition. Also ideal for horses under the stress of enforced box rest. It can be given long term.

Available in 1lt, 2.5lt and 5lt bottles. www.animalhealth.co.uk

Mollichaff Calmer Complete is a complete, high fibre feed formulated for nervous or fizzy horses. It is low in sugar and starch and contains a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement. www.horsehage.co.uk

Dodson & Horrell Take Control A blend of nutrients and herbs which help to support your horse’s concentration and nervous system function. It is an ideal dietary addition for horses which are prone to nervousness or excitability and can also be used during times when an extra ‘helping hand’ is required, for instance when making changes to the daily routine or when travelling and competing.

RRP: £7.50/800g pouch. www.dodsonandhorrell.com

Fusing modern high-tech approaches with the most ancient traditions, Global Herbs provides sophisticated and highly effective herbal products, using a blend of 100% natural ingredients and zero chemicals.

Global Herbs offer an extensive range of highquality feed solutions for all requirements.

Summer-proof your horse this season with the aid of targeted supplements, designed with the changeable summer months in mind.

• FlyFree is a unique feed supplement to aid fly toleration, soothe insect bites and maintain a healthy, glossy coat.

• PolleneX is designed to support the respiratory system, offers comfort from airborne irritants prevalent during high pollen count periods.

• LamiPro provides everyday protection against fluctuations in diet richness, aiding digestion and feed utilisation whilst comforting sore feet.

• Skratch helps support and aid hair re-growth for tails, manes and coats, whilst simultaneously preventing itching, for healthy summer skin. www.globalherbs.co.uk To enter: Visit www.absolutehorsemagazine.com and click on the Competitions page. Entries open 1st June 2019 and close 30th June 2019.

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NUTRITION

SUMMER CONDITION

By Dr. Courtney Miller BS BVetMed MRCVS Veterinary and Technical Nutrition Manager, Dodson & Horrell Ltd

he sun is shining, the grass is green once again, competition season is ramping up, and summer is upon us! Changing seasons and routines present a great opportunity to re-evaluate feeding programmes to ensure each individual horse is being fed to requirement. Those needs can vary greatly depending on workload, metabolism, breed, and turnout conditions.

To determine the best way to feed throughout the summer, we must examine the way in which each component of a feeding programme influences overall performance of the individual horse and their needs.

Even if the hours spent on pasture have remained the same moving from winter and summer, the energy that can be provided by those hours on pasture can increase dramatically.

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As a reminder, energy can be provided through three sources: proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

Summer grass can provide significantly increased energy, particularly through lysine (an amino acid contributing to total protein). This is an important point to remember when assessing the amount of concentrate feed to provide. If your horse is an easy keeper, it might be worth considering a swap to a lower energy feed in the summer that still provides the necessary vitamins and minerals not provided through forage.

Balancers, mineral blocks, some treats, and certain supplements can all help to balance nutrient profiles in a low-calorie format.

Most feed companies provide helpline services and yard visits from nutritionists that can help guide product choice.

Independent nutritionists and

veterinary surgeons can also help provide advice.

If workload is set to significantly increase over the summer months, or in situations where additional condition may be needed, feed types and products are also available to help. For example, in addition to increasing turnout time (if there are no concurrent health concerns related to increased consumption of spring and early summer grass such as laminitis), other options can be considered dependent on need. If an even temperament is desired, controlling the carbohydrate component of the energy in the diet may help. To do this whilst still increasing condition, protein and oil/fat should be preferentially increased. There are many products on the market that can help satisfy these requirements, including highly concentrated options that can be

added as a top-up to an existing feeding programme.

Another option would include the addition of forage sources with added components such as oil. Short chop fibre or chaffs with added oil may provide a good option. In cases where energy needs a boost, a higher carbohydrate complementary feed/concentrate can be selected.

These are available in many forms, including cubes and mueslis dependent on horse and rider preference. Contrary to popular belief, not all modern mixes or mueslis are molasses based, or high carbohydrate, providing many viable options to our horses.

Although we often only think about the forage and concentrate components of our horse’s feeding plans, we mustn’t forget the importance of water intake throughout the summer months.

It is important to ensure horses are always allowed free access to clean water, and that water is regularly offered during competitions so that horses can drink until their thirst is fully quenched. Electrolytes can be added to water, helping replace losses from sweat whilst horses replenish their fluid levels.

As a summary, moving into summer, it is important to revisit the needs of your horse, and ensure their feeding programme matches requirements. In consideration of their feeding plan, ensure forage, nutrient, and water needs are all addressed. If further help is needed, do not hesitate to reach out to professionals and services that are on offer, many of which will provide free advice to help. www.dodsonandhorrell.co.uk

Located in Newmarket but working both nationally and internationally Donna is the highly experienced equine nutritionist who runs ‘The Horse Feed Guru’, an equine nutrition consultancy. Formerly a Commercial Nutritionist across three brands, now completely independent, she has worked with horses and riders competing at an Olympic level through to one-horse owners wanting the very best. Clients can trust the independent advice they receive comes from extensive industry knowledge and experience but is also totally impartial of any feed brand. Her aim is to demystify feeding for the good of the horse and rider.

www.thehorsefeedguru.com Tel: 07901 337826 1. Don’t forget the Water! It is so easy That is why during the summer due to forget water and focus on other to the rise in temperature and areas of feeding, but never forget its increased sweating from summer importance! Your horse typically hacks and competing, your horse will requires around 20-25 litres a day, typically require some form of but remember as the temperature or electrolyte replenishment. For many work rises, that requirement will rise leisure horses around 1tbsp of table too! As such make sure your horse salt per day in the hard feed in has access to fresh, clean water at all addition to forage will typically meet times. If you are travelling make their requirements. Those working sure you take regular breaks to offer harder, on low forage diets, or who water. If you are competing, taking suffer from certain clinical conditions water from home is a really good may require an adjustment however, idea as horses just like humans can so it is worth checking your be reluctant to drink water that does individual plan with a nutritionist. not taste ‘normal’ to them.

3. Monitor Your Grazing. During mid2. Sort Your Electrolyte Strategy. A summer you may find that grass horse’s sweat is rich in electrolytes. growth rate really slows down,

By Donna Case BSc (Hons)

particularly if there is little rain.

During this time the grass can become stressed, so continue to monitor those prone to laminitis closely, adjusting your management regimes as necessary. If it becomes necessary to add hay to your fields, split into several piles to ensure all horses have access. Be careful when the rain comes again however as this will likely mean rapid grass growth.

4. Don’t forget the vitamins and minerals. Even if you feel as if your grazing is meeting the majority of your horse’s needs it is probably not fully balanced. Providing a balancer will ensure vitamin and mineral requirements are met as well as quality protein in a low-calorie format.

5. Be careful of Fermentation. If you soak hay, remember with the higher temperatures bacterial growth is more likely to be an issue and fermentation can occur. To reduce the risk of this happening do not soak hay beyond 2.5 hours, and if you make up soaked feeds do not leave for any length of time. If you do use sugar beet look for quick soak alternatives.

Five SUPER SIMPLE

SUMMER FEEDING HACKS 27

NUTRITION

r e m Sum Time

WEIGHT WATCHING

fter the relatively mild winter, and the grass coming through earlier than in previous years, many horses and ponies came into spring carrying more weight than usual, and the grass is continuing to grow! In addition, highly nutritious

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conserved forage that is available from 2018 is making it even more difficult to control weight this summer.

Care should be taken to avoid further weight gain as this, combined with high-sugar grass, can increase the risk of laminitis.

However, there are ways to help

keep good-doers in a slim, healthy condition. A suitable diet as well as exercise regime, is key.

Grazing Access to grazing usually needs to be restricted. This can be done in various ways including by co-grazing with other species

(e.g. sheep), using a grazing muzzle, reducing paddock size with electric fencing (e.g. strip grazing) or turning out in a ‘sacrifice paddock’ with a safely hung net of soaked hay or tub of straw chop.

Restricting the time spent on good grass can be of limited benefit compared to other options, as ponies increase their intake in the turnout time given.

However, it may be the only practical solution.

Conserved forage (hay) Care should be taken to avoid reducing fibre intake excessively.

Therefore, when grazing is restricted and time is spent off the grass, forage should still be provided to help maintain a healthy digestive system. It is important never to starve a horse or pony, as this can have fatal consequences.

A high-fibre, late-cut meadow hay is usually the most suitable conserved forage to use.

However, there was very little produced last year and therefore

LIFE AFTER LAMINITIS: Rosemary and Tilly hen Rosemary Myers bought Tilly as a green 5-year-old she had no idea of the emotional rollercoaster ahead.

Rosemary had decided that as she was in her sixties and suffered with arthritis, her usual Thoroughbreds were getting a bit too much. So, she opted for a pretty 14hh Connemara mare, to take life a little easier. Though it seems Tilly had talent and she wanted to show it!

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Rosemary says, “The first summer with Tilly, she had taken a kick and needed some time off. Then I had an accident and managed to get my chest trodden on, so I needed some time off the following year.

Eventually all was looking good for 2016 with Tilly in daily work and competing in Working Hunter classes and dressage.

Tilly was a little overweight at this time, and it showed mostly in her neck and bum. Though I

wasn’t too concerned as she was working and turned out on very little grass.”

However, the weight issue was causing internal damage that Rosemary couldn’t see, until disaster struck. “We were at a dressage competition, and her upward transitions just didn’t feel right. I took her home, kept her in and called the vet out a couple of days later. By this time poor Tilly was crippled with pain. X-rays showed pedal bone

rotation in both front feet. The vet gave us a strict diet to follow with box rest on deep wood pellets. I was totally devastated.”

The problem with any restricted diet in horses, is making it last.

As horses are trickle feeders, they don’t need to eat it all so quickly, but given the chance most will get through their ration far too quickly and be left standing bored and hungry. If the horse is also in pain, the stress to the horse is even worse.

most hay available has been very nutritious, early-cut hay which has caused some problems for good-doers, including weight gain and laminitis.

Rather than over-reducing the amount of hay fed to an overweight horse or pony, hay can be soaked in ample cool, fresh, water for between 3 and 12 hours to significantly reduce its sugar and calorie content.

If the quantity of hay fed needs to be restricted, it should be reduced to no less than 1.5% of bodyweight per day (e.g. 7.5kg as fed for a 500kg horse). It is often helpful in these circumstances to use haynets with small holes to slow consumption.

An extremely low-calorie and low sugar/starch chopped oat straw can be used to partially replace hay or haylage, to help avoid horses and ponies standing for too long (> 6 hours) without forage available.

time of year often mean an increase in workload. This increases requirements for vitamins, minerals and trace elements in the diet which, in most cases, will not be met by grazing alone.

For horses/ponies whose calorie and protein requirements are met by grass, using a top specification multi-supplement or non-conditioning balancer is a perfect way of balancing this forage diet and supporting work without weight gain.

A feed balancer or pelleted multi-supplement can be fed on its own. Horses and ponies that might bolt their feeds can have a low calorie, unmolassed chop mixed in or a couple of bricksized, smooth and round river stones placed in the bottom of their feed bucket.

For horses/ponies working hard enough to sweat, a salt lick should be available 24/7 and further salt and/or electrolytes may need to be added to the feeds.

Rosemary contacted Trickle Net for advice and bought three Trickle Net Minis to manage hay rations and help with Tilly’s recovery.

“With management I was able to ensure that Tilly was hardly ever without food, but she was eating at a more sensible. healthy rate. As I work full time for the NHS, my sister helped with the day time care and we slowly started to see improvements. With regular Xrays, imprint shoes and steady hand walking, by late October

we had the go ahead to increase exercise to normal levels.

“The following Spring we joined the Wobbleberries and started to have BE training. In August we won an unaffiliated ODE and in September we came second in our first ever affiliated BE ODE! We are just loving our eventing now, and we’ve qualified for the 80T regionals. I was worried Tilly would remember the pain and not want to jump, but thankfully she loves it! I honestly believe without Trickle Nets we would not be where we

Hard feed Longer daylight hours at this

Exercise As well as a low-calorie but nutritious diet, an appropriate exercise regime will help with weight control. For overweight and/or unfit horses and ponies, this exercise should start gently and be increased gradually according to fitness.

If in any doubt it is best to speak to an experienced equine nutritionist to tailor this advice to your own horse or pony’s requirements.

Article supplied by nutritionists from the TopSpec Multiple Award-Winning-Helpline. They can be contacted, free of charge, on 01845 565030.

FACT FEEDING

Horsehage

70 – 100% of your horse’s diet should be provided by forage. In the wild, horses will graze for up to 18 hours a day, covering many miles in doing so. They are natural ‘trickle’ feeders and have evolved to utilise a high fibre diet requiring a continuous flow of fibre coming through to help protect the stomach from ulceration.

Concentrates only need adding to the diet if your horse requires more energy or weight-gain. In most cases simply a change in forage such as changing from hay to haylage or bagged forage, or from a straw-based chaff to an alfalfa-based chaff will promote weight gain. www.horsehage.co.uk

are now. More likely, I would no longer have this amazing lovely pony at all. Of course, we are still using the Trickle Nets to keep her trim too.” www.tricklenet.co.uk

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NUTRITION

Celebrate and Win...

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n 1998, Baileys launched Lo-Cal as ‘the ultimate low calorie, high nutrient forage balancer’, and it was the first feed of its kind aimed solely at good-doers and Native ponies. It was originally sold in a 15kg sack as this was a month’s supply for the average ‘large breed’ pony. This year, Lo-Cal Balancer celebrates its coming of age, with a 21st birthday makeover and a few tweaks to its tried and trusted formula.

Those who buy promotional bags of Lo-Cal Balancer can celebrate its fantastic milestone with a chance to win one of 21 fabulous Horseware prizes - from a Rambo Duo Rug, with liners, to their new HorsePal app for monitoring your horse’s welfare. Each promotional bag of Lo-Cal contains a prize ‘birthday’ card which, if not a Horseware winner, will give £2 off the next purchase of Lo-Cal Balancer so, essentially, every one is a winner!

In response to the latest research, customer requirements and market trends, Baileys have taken the opportunity to boost the biotin level, in Lo-Cal Balancer, as well as lowering the starch and sugar levels, making it doubly suitable for those prone to laminitis. It now also contains added linseed, to promote coat shine and ensure horses positively glow with health! www.baileys horsefeeds.co.uk

GET ON THE HUNT FOR A SILVERMOOR SILVER TICKET!

S

ilvermoor are delighted to announce a campaign running between now and August to win a host of fabulous prizes.

Fifty silver tickets have been hidden in fifty different packs of Silvermoor haylage, Silvermoor Swingers and Silvermoor Treatsies.

With a host of fabulous prizes get checking your packs straight away to see if you are a winner! www.silvermoor.com

ALLTECH AND ROSSDALES: JOIN FORCES TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPACT OF MYCOTOXINS

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ossdales Veterinary Surgeons in Newmarket has formed an innovative partnership with leading animal nutrition company Alltech to raise awareness and provide a comprehensive solution to the much-underestimated problem of mycotoxins in horses.

Following a surge in the number of horses presenting with raised liver enzymes that can be attributed to mycotoxins, Rossdales’ partner and internal medicine specialist Emily Haggett approached Alltech.

Mycotoxins are produced by certain moulds commonly found in forages, mixed feed, grains and bedding, and are generally referred to as being of either ‘field’ (Fusarium and Endophyte toxins) or ‘storage’ (Penicillium and Aspergillus) origin.

They are implicated in a variety of acute equine health problems which can include liver disease, colic, hypersensitivity, abortions and neurological disorders. Chronic cases can lead to cumulative effects such as damage to organ function, reduced growth, infertility and respiratory problems.

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As symptoms are usually non-specific, the clinicians at Rossdales want to educate owners and encourage veterinary surgeons in other practices to consider mycotoxins as a cause, when it is seemingly difficult to get to the root of a problem.

From a simple-to-use testing kit, Alltech can detect over 50 different mycotoxins, providing results in as little as seven days.

The testing kit is available to horse owners free of charge and comes with everything needed to provide a sample, as well as step-by-step instructions, and is packed in an addressed and postage prepaid box which can be reused to return the sample. www.knowmycotoxins.com

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

HAYGAIN EXAMINE:

RECENT STUDY HAS FOUND HORSES BEDDED ON STRAW OR FED DRY HAY ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER FROM LOWER AIRWAY INFLAMMATION 3-year study of over 700 horses has discovered that the type of bedding and forage that a horse is exposed to has a significant effect on their respiratory wellbeing.

The research referenced was carried out by Dauvillier et al and was first published in the American Journal of Veterinary

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Internal Medicine (JVIM) in late 2018 and it identified a greater incidence of lower airway inflammation in horses who are housed indoors, bedded on straw and fed dry hay.

The study concluded that horses who were fed dry hay were 2.6 times more likely to have fungi in their airways. In addition, the horses housed indoors and

of microbes that were present.

This gave the researchers the most accurate representation of what particles the horses were actually breathing in, rather than simply measuring what they were being exposed to in the stable. The same research showed that soaking hay did not remove fungi that can cause IAD, whereas steaming the hay at bedded on straw exhibited a high temperatures with a significantly higher incidence of Haygain Steamer did. Overall, lower airway inflammation than the use of the Haygain Steamer those kept outside or bedded on was shown to reduce a horse’s shavings. chance of developing IAD by Inflammatory airway disease 65%, and it can reduce respirable (IAD) is a widespread problem particles by 98%. that can limit the athletic For riders who are looking to performance of equines but give their partnership an extra critically without them showing competitive edge or for amateur any visible outward sign of ill owners who simply want to health bar the occasional cough. ensure their horse doesn’t suffer They may train well at home, from an underlying health issue, answering the questions asked avoiding IAD is key. The Haygain of them, but once under Steamer allows owners to reduce increased pressure in a the risk of their horse inhaling competitive environment be dust and fungi, while the unable to perform at the highest innovative Haygain Comfortstall level. A separate study found Flooring System reduces the that 84% of horses that were need for bedding in the stable examined showed signs of IAD, and helps to prevent the buildmeaning their athletic ability and up of inflammatory stable offoverall wellbeing was gasses such as ammonia. compromised.

Read the full findings of the The study by Dauvillier et al took research by Dauvillier et al here: samples from the horses’ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ airways, rather than the air in the pubmed/30576012 stable, and measured the levels www.haygain.co.uk

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HEALTH & WELFARE: FLIES

Z

TAKE ACTION EARLY: EFFECTIVE FLY

CONTROL

oetis announced recently that horse owners should consider taking action early to keep flies under control.

“Flies are one of the down sides of warmer weather but if you act early to reduce the numbers breeding in your horse’s environment you can help stop them bothering your horse throughout the entire season,” said Zoetis vet Wendy Talbot.

Horses are prone to attack from many species of parasites including house flies, horse flies, black flies, blow flies, bot flies, mosquitoes, midges, lice, ticks and mites. They can cause dermatitis, pruritic (itchy) conditions, lumps and skin lesions. They can also cause conjunctivitis, headshaking and

contamination of wounds plus have the potential to spread other diseases too.

Biting midges, Culicoides spp. are a particular pest as they can cause sweet itch. Mosquitoes are also well known airborne irritations. Over thirty species have been recorded in the UK, including those with the potential to spread diseases such as West Nile Virus, a fatal disease that is luckily not found in the UK at present. Flies may also carry other parasites that can infect the horse such as Habronema spp. and Onchocerca cervicalis, which can affect the skin and in extreme cases the eye.

Most flies thrive and breed in warm, moist conditions such as on dung, rotting bedding or

UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT: Absorbine products

H

aving endured a mild, wet winter, only to be followed by warm temperatures, sunshine and showers, flies look set to be a real nuisance this coming summer. A combination of stable management and chemical control provides both a sophisticated and cost-effective means of protection against biting insects.

Biting and nuisance flies, lice,

bots, mites and ticks can all cause damage and irritation to your horse but with the right equipment to hand, you can help prevent discomfort.

The Absorbine UltraShield Fly Mask keeps horses cool, dry and comfortable, offering full-face protection from insects.

Designed to protect, it features breathable moisture wicking fabric and a mesh that blocks 80% of UV rays. The mask works perfectly in conjunction with the

Absorbine Tips: • Clean up around taps and hosepipes where moisture accumulates.

• Remove bedding in hard-to-clean areas such as under feeders and automatic water bowls, in corners and around fences and rails.

• Ensure good ventilation and airflow to prevent moisture build up and allow bedding and floors to dry.

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Ultrashield Insecticide Spray, giving all-round protection against flies.

UltraShield spray contains active ingredients Permethrin and Pyrethrin, providing instant

‘knock-down’ when insects come into contact with it, as well as a long-lasting protective ‘shield’, to offer allround protection in equestrian premises, stables and fields. www.absorbine.co.uk

946ml trigger spray bottle, RRP £24.80.

UltraShield Fly Mask from £24.

spilt feed material. From these unsavoury places they can spread bacteria to the horse, especially to vulnerable areas such as the eye and wounds.

“The best way to control the nuisance of flies is with good environmental management to control their breeding grounds and a proven fly repellent or insecticide,” said Wendy. “It’s important to understand the difference between a repellent and an insecticide though; a repellent simply makes the horse less attractive to flies whereas an insecticide aims to kill the fly as soon as possible after contact with no biting needed. For maximum effectiveness insecticide treatment should be started before the fly season has begun,

7: Make sure there are no puddles near the stables.

to control breeding, and continued at regular intervals throughout the season.”

Wendy’s Top Tips:

8: Invest in a fly rug and/or a fly facemask for your horse if it is badly affected.

1: Use a spray insecticide on your horse’s coat and a specifically designed cream product on sensitive areas like ears and sheath.

9: Spraying fly rugs with insecticide or repellent will provide extra protection.

2: Try a specifically designed insecticide for areas around can’t breed in them. the horse’s stable where flies congregate such as the roof or 4: Muck heaps should be kept away from where your horse on mesh around the windows sleeps and grazes.

– always check the product label carefully to ensure it is 5: Stables should be safe to use in a horse’s scrupulously clean at all environment. times.

3: Clear horse droppings away from the stable and pasture on a daily basis so that flies

6: A clean, well-groomed horse will generally attract fewer flies.

10: Stable your horse in mornings and evenings when most flies are about.

11. Only use an insecticide or repellent that’s designed for use on horses. Always speak to your vet or suitably qualified person (SQP) for the right information on what to use. www.horsedialog.co.uk

Our most efficient fly repellent to date -

STRONGER & LONGER LASTING

Barrier Animal Healthcare 36/37 Haverscroft Industrial Estate, New Road, Attleborough, Norfolk NR17 1YE Tel: 01953 456363 email: sales@barrier-biotech.com www.flyrepel.com www.ragwort.com

HEALTH & WELFARE: FLIES Product News...

RRP: £9.99 for 500ml spray pack.

The Bucas Buzz-Off Zebra range of fly and insect protection products with zebra print are made from a specially developed lightweight fine mesh fabric that blocks even the smallest of insects. Research has discovered that flies hate the Zebra stripes as they find them confusing and so steer clear of them.

Buzz-Off Zebra Fly Mask RRP: £16. www.zebraproducts.co.uk Soothit is a thick Tea Tree and lavender cream to assist with soothing the skin. Apply to areas affected by Sweet Itch, insect bites, sun burn, minor skin irritations etc.

Tea tree has been used for many years for it’s natural antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Tea Tree Lotion comes in a handy, quiet, spray bottle as well as refill bottles. This makes it easy to apply even through to dock of tail or base on the mane.

Available in 500ml spray, 1lt, 2.5lt and 5lt bottles. www.animalhealth.co.uk

FlyFree is the only anti-fly feed supplement. This unique and powerful formula discourages flies and midges. FlyFree helps to soothe bites, runny eyes and soreness and maintains a healthy, glossy coat.

RRP: from £14.42/500g. www.globalherbs.co.uk

Stinger is an effective spray for the relief of flying and biting insects including midges.

Each application is effective for up to seven hours (depending on the weather conditions).

RRP: £15.99/ 750ml.

Citronella Summer Horse Spray is an effective coat conditioner containing Lanolin and Aloe Vera with essential oils including Citronella, Eucalyptus and Cedar Wood.

Will leave your horse’s coat and skin healthy and supple with a pleasant citronella aroma.

RRP: £12.99/1ltr.

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Extra Tail’s formulation has been adapted for the modern market, being water-based and Deet-free: utilising instead the natural properties of geranium, chrysanthemum and Citriodiol, the latter being sourced from the Eucalyptus citriodora tree which is renowned for keeping irritating insects at bay. www.thomaspettifer.com

New from Botanica International Ltd, this allnatural Fly Spray has a unique formula that can be used on all animals to keep them protected for longer. This plant-based spray is sweat resistant, non-greasy and is free from toxins, chemicals, lanolins, parabens and prohibited substances. The natural way to keep flies at bay!

Simply shake well before use and spray liberally as required, for effective, long lasting protection from flies and biting insects. RRP: £14.99. www.botanica.ie

Fly Repel Spray is specially formulated for horses and ponies, and gives superior natural protection from troublesome biting flies.

Fly-Repel Gel is an essential horse care RRP: £14.99/750ml. product for long lasting fly deterrence. Now with RRP: £13.50/500ml. new improved formulation which contains Lemongrass Oil, Teatree Oil, Lavender Oil, Citronella Extract and Ethyl Buthanol.

All www.equineamerica.co.uk

UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT: FiltaBac RRP: ÂŁ23/500ml.

Veredus Sanix is an antidandruff and anti-itch lotion for manes and tails. The lotion is specially formulated to restore the horse’s hair roots back to their normal condition and ease the symptoms of sweet itch. It helps to eliminate itchiness, therefore relieving the need for the horse to rub. www.zebraproducts.co.uk

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lies irritate, bite and can cause dangerous physical situations for people on the ground or when mounted, especially with sensitive horses. Some horses can lose all sense of focus when biting insects are prevalent.

When the flies have broken the skin and cause weeping wounds, preventing infection and allergic reactions is paramount. Cleaning the wound area with clean water or a mild antiseptic solution before applying a thick layer of an antibacterial wound protector cream such as FiltaBac will deter further insect invasion and allow the skin to breathe and heal, while

at the same time providing protection from sun, rain, wind or mud.

Sweet itch is the most well known of the seasonal insect problems. The allergic reaction to the saliva of the Culicoides midge unfortunately has no known cure - therefore prevention is the key. Removing horses from the midge breeding ground (sheltered, boggy marshlands) to an exposed, dry area will reduce the incidence of midge infestation; also using close fitting rugs and head covers. If the skin becomes compromised and inflamed a thick application of FiltaBac antibacterial cream to those exposed areas unable to be covered will prevent further

irritation and insect attack. www.aniwell-uk.com

HEALTH & WELFARE DAISY’S HERBAL ANSWERS “Hi, my pony is prone to laminitis and is always on a restricted diet. Can you suggest some herbs Daisy Bayliss, that may be of benefit?” Herbalist There are many ways that herbs can be used to support a horse or pony prone to laminitis.

As they are often on a restricted diet, feeding herbs to provide vitamins and minerals is a good idea. Sea Kelp along with Nettle, Hawthorn and Rosehip can be fed all year round or just at times when the diet is restricted and provide a good source of vitamins and minerals. Kelp is an excellent source of vitamins, essential minerals and amino acids, therefore making it a great multi-vitamin and hoof supplement. Nettle and Hawthorn are great for circulation and so will improve blood flow to the hoof and in turn improve hoof quality. Nettle is also rich in Iron and vitamin C. Rosehip has been seen to improve hoof quality and is a great source of vitamin C. During times of laminitis, herbs such as Devil’s Claw, Boswellia or Turmeric could be used to help with inflammation. Hawthorn, Nettle and Cleavers will help with circulation and Comfrey can help to repair damaged tissue.

If drugs have been used for a long period to help with the laminitis, Milk Thistle will support liver function and Meadowsweet will support the digestive tract.

These herbs are often used to supplement horses diets to help the horses holistically over a period of time.

It is important to remember that they take longer to get into the system than medication, therefore, if your horse/pony is suffering from an attack of laminitis needing immediate assistance you should contact your vet. www.champerene bespokehorseherbal.com

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PRIMROSE SAFELY DELIVERS COLT FOAL

lltech and the team at World Horse Welfare’s Glenda Spooner Farm in Somerset, are excited to announce the arrival of a new colt foal, born to Primrose, who was rescued from an abandoned herd, suffering from severe photosensitivity.

Primrose’s harrowing story was published in the May issue of the Absolute Horse Magazine.

The little cremello cob mare, who is being supported by Alltech, safely delivered the foal in the early hours of the morning, in a special field at the centre that is reserved for mares to give birth. The grooms were delighted to meet the new addition when they did their early morning checks, shortly after coming on duty.

In recognition of their generous support, the team at World Horse Welfare have given the honour of

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Primrose and Teddy with their groom Fern Laurie.

naming Primrose’s foal to Alltech and their UK Marketing Manager, Isla Baker-Browne was thrilled to reveal they have decided to call him Teddy. www.lifeforcehorse.co.uk

One for the riders...

The pollen in fields, grass verges and parks is one of the main reasons that horse riders have hay fever at this time of year. Grass pollen affects a staggering 95% of people living with hay fever. The season peaks in June, and again in July.

One way of reducing the severity of your hay fever symptoms is to reduce the amount of grass pollen entering your body.

HayMax organic drug-free allergen barrier balms work by stopping grass and other pollens getting into the body. And they’re perfect for horse riders because they’re drugfree with no drowsy side-effects so won’t affect your riding ability. RRP: £6.99. www.haymax.biz

HEALTH & WELFARE

NEW STUDY CONFIRMS VALUE OF RIDDEN-HORSE-ETHOGRAM

H

orses, as flight animals, instinctively remain silent in the face of pain, but a new study, recently published in Equine Veterinary Education, shows that they do in fact have a ‘voice’ if observers are trained to ‘listen’.

The study confirms that if vets are trained to use a RiddenHorse-Ethogram they are better able to recognise pain-related behaviour in horses, which may reflect lameness or back or sacroiliac pain. This should in turn help them to communicate potential performance problems more effectively with their clients.

Conducted by Dr Sue Dyson, Head of Clinical Orthopaedics at the Centre for Equine Studies at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, the study compared the real-time application of the RiddenHorse-Ethogram with analysis of video recordings of the horses by a trained assessor and determined whether veterinarians, after preliminary training, could apply the ethogram in real time in a consistent way and in

Product News...

agreement with an experienced assessor.

Twenty horse and rider combinations were used for the study. The horses were in regular work and were capable of working ‘on the bit’. They were assessed by a chartered physiotherapist and then a Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) qualified saddle fitter checked the fit, placement, balance and suitability of each horse’s saddle. Eleven horses were found to have ill-fitting saddles and fourteen had back muscle tension or pain but these did not influence the behaviour scores.

The horses were also assessed by an independent lameness expert. Sixteen showed low-

grade lameness or abnormalities of canter, which were likely to be pain induced but did not prevent the horses from being used for the study.

All twenty horses were given a 15-minute ridden warm-up before executing an 8-minute purpose-designed preliminary level dressage test. During each dressage test a team of ten equine vets, who were selected from forty volunteers and given preliminary training, applied the Ridden-Horse-Ethogram. They assessed each horse for the presence of a total of twentyfour behaviours that occur more commonly in lame horses compared with non-lame horses. It has previously been shown that the presence of ≥8

The Back on Track Mesh Rug is now available in chocolate brown with coordinating headcollar and leg wraps. Boasting mineral-infused Welltex lining, providing maximum benefit to the circulatory system and supporting muscles and joints, Also available in black, navy, burgundy and suppleness and mobility. Ideal for green, sizes 125cm to 165cm. RRP £194. use before or after exercise, to help aid muscle recovery. www.backontrack.com/uk

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behavioural markers is likely to indicate the presence of musculoskeletal pain.

All behaviours were scored with a binary method as present or absent. The ethogram was also applied to each horse by an experienced trained assessor (Dr Dyson) and the tests were filmed so that the experienced assessor could make a comparison between her realtime behaviour assessments and video analysis.

There was good agreement between the expert’s scores and the volunteer vets’ scores and excellent consistency in overall agreement among the volunteers. The scores also reflected the volunteers’ capacity to use the ethogram to identify lameness status, with higher scores awarded to the lame horses compared with the non-lame horses.

There was no significant difference in real-time scores and video-based scores for the experienced assessor, verifying the reliability of the system.

Dr Dyson and her team are now working with Equitopia, in conjunction with Padma Videos, to produce a training video to enable vets, owners, riders, trainers and paraprofessionals to learn how to apply the Ethogram.

The Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show has announced The British Horse Society as their Equestrian Charity for 2019.

Loaning or loaning out your horse: Get it in writing

By Paul Herbert

D

ivorce, workload, redundancy, relocation and financial difficulty can all put a strain on your ability to maintain your horse.

You may have outgrown your horse, either physically or in terms of ability, or you might want a new or younger horse to take you to the next level.

Parting with your trusted friend on a permanent basis can seem too drastic a step and the solution for many people is to put their horse out on loan.

For those wanting a horse, finding the capital outlay to purchase one might be beyond their means, even if they have sufficient regular income to keep a horse. Others want to dip their toe into horse ownership, without becoming stuck with an unsuitable horse.

Some want a schoolmaster to teach them and get them to the next stage before buying their own.

Whether you are considering putting your horse out on loan, or taking a horse on loan, you should make sure there is a loan agreement in place. This is a legally binding contract that sets out the terms of the loan and should protect each party’s

interests as well as the horse.

Benefits of a loan agreement As the horse’s owner, you’ll want to know that it will receive the same care and attention you would provide and, most importantly, that it will still be there at the end of the agreed loan period. The borrower meanwhile, will want to know what their obligations are, what they can do with the horse, how long they will have it and the procedure or circumstances for returning the horse.

In addition, you’ll need to consider who is responsible for tack, rugs, veterinary bills and insurance. A loan agreement can cover everything from where the horse is kept to how often it should be shod. It should also cover details such as the type of bedding, feed, and even work that the horse is allowed to do.

There are many templates available online, but these are generic and like a sale or purchase agreement, each loan agreement should be tailormade. If you are in any doubt, you should seek professional legal help from a solicitor, preferably one with equine knowledge.

Dispute resolution solicitor Paul Herbert is Burnett Barker Solicitors’ equine specialist and has over 25 years’ involvement in the equestrian industry. He can help with issues including sale/purchase disputes; trainer fee disputes; veterinary negligence claims; foal share agreements and syndication agreements. www.burnettbarker.co.uk

HEALTH & WELFARE

C o m p et it io n

JOCKEY REVEALS: THE MENTAL CHALLENGES OF INJURY

ANXIETY OR EXCITEMENT?

W

elcome to June! The competition season is well under way and recently I’ve been inundated with clients that suffer competition anxiety.

Let’s put anxiety into perspective. It’s a common state that can affect riders at all levels of ability. When you perceive an event as more intimidating it’s likely that your level of anxiety will rise. Horses being flight animals as opposed to fight will instantly feel your flight emotions kick in.

We have 50 to 70,000 thoughts a day. They’re all filtered by the amygdala section of the brain which is still prehistoric. This part of the brain is there to protect us - it’s designed to tell us intuitively when we’re safe and when to run from lions!

However it hasn’t caught up with 2019! From the amygdala section of the brain each thought is then sent to different parts of the brain, depending on past experiences and environment.

Picture your amygdala like that of a toddler, it creates merry hell with a tantrum if if’s suspecting change or fear.

Imagine that you’re running from a lion, how does it feel?

Your heart would be pumping, you’d be sweating and running on adrenaline.

Now imagine that you’re riding cross country at speed, your heart would be pumping, you’d

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be sweating and riding on adrenaline.

Very similar emotions. The difference is anxiety creates a tense, shallow breathing body and mind, excitement creates a relaxed, deep breathing body and mind.

Question is how can you override the amygdala, turning that ‘toddler having a tantrum’ into a ‘toddler that’s happy as larry with an ice cream’ (ie feeling sick and not wanting to go cross country, imagining falling off, to having a great relaxed round that you really enjoyed)?

WHO is with you when you’re competing? Are they aiding your anxiety or making you feel relaxed and self assured? Is there someone else that can assist you on the day?

WHERE are you in the competition time cycle when you start to feel anxious? Is it a week before, a day before, an hour before etc? Note down the cycle of anxiety, what can you do to stop the over thinking in the time leading up to a competition.

Using the traffic light system for anxiety, green being relaxed, amber being butterflies, red feeling nauseous, WHEN does your anxiety rise from green to red? What’s causing this?

WHAT triggers the anxiety? Is it a place, a person, a specific fence etc?

WHY are you feeling the anxiety specifically? Does it root from another experience?

BY SAMANTHA HARDINGHAM

HOW does your anxiety manifest itself?

Once you have jotted the above six points down on paper you can start to work on your plan of action to turn them into excitement.

Anxiety is based on FEAR False Evidence Appearing Real!

Anxious thoughts are thoughts that pass through your head. You don’t own them. Therefore you CAN change them.

Now using the WHO, WHERE, WHEN, WHAT, WHY and HOW method as above, jot down how to change your anxious thoughts to exciting thoughts. Visualise your perfectly relaxed round or test, smile whilst you’re doing this in a quiet place with no distractions. Writing down how you will change your thoughts on paper, assists your brain in rewiring your future thoughts, changing your competitions days into relaxed and successful experiences. www.facebook.com/ ItsTheBodyMindCoach

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rom an aspiring rider with a bright future ahead of him to a crashing fall which almost cost his life, Brian Toomey could be forgiven for feeling hard done by that his career had been prematurely taken from him.

“One of the hardest things an athlete can face is not being able to do their job because of an injury – you can’t underestimate how tough that is to deal with mentally. It was like experiencing a loss; it felt like my whole life had suddenly been taken away from me.

“Through the Injured Jockeys Fund I had regular sessions with psychologists and doctors which was a massive help during some pretty dark times.

It was like training me to deal with the situation – giving me coping mechanisms, and becoming stronger mentally.”

Toomey said; “After the accident my sole aim was to get my jockey licence back again and I think that determination played a major part in my recovery.

Now I’m working towards setting up a training yard.” www.briantoomey racing.weebly.com

BE STRESS FREE: EVENT PREPARATION

with Harriet Morris-Baumber

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day’s eventing usually coincides with a very early start, so if you are not prepared in advance you can end up arriving at the venue flustered and not in the best frame of mind to complete your dressage test.

Event rider and trainer Harriet Morris-Baumber is used to ridiculously early mornings, setting her alarm for 3.30am to travel to events up and down the country.

Here, Harriet offers her top tips on how to be prepared to ensure you can jump in the lorry safe in the knowledge that you have everything you need for the day.

• Wash and plait your horse the day before but ensure you always check what’s lurking under the hood and rugs before you leave home. It is far easier to wash or re-plait at home than it is once you arrive

Have smaller kits within your main horse box kit

and the excitement starts to make your horse fidget 100 times more than normal!

• Re-assess all your kit well in advance of the event and replace missing items. You might look and see the bottle of fly spray looks full but does the spray still work?

• Make a tick list of items and cross them off as you load them into your lorry.

• Where possible double up on items such as fly spray,

sponges, grooming kit etc so you can have one ‘horse box kit’ and one ‘home kit’, then they can all live together in a storage box so that you just have one box to lift into your lorry or trailer and not 25 different items.

• Have boxes within your main box for other kit such as for plaiting kits or studs, then when you need to do an emergency repair to some wayward plaits you can find everything you need in one go and you’re not rummaging around to find the comb in a massive box.

• If you have a grey horse invest in a really good stain removing spray. There are lots of good ones on the market and they are quicker and easier to use to remove last minute stains than trying to wash with shampoo.

Above: Keep all essential items in one storage box. Left: Clean studs in advance of an event and soak in WD40 to prevent them from going rusty, making them easier to screw in.

• Clean studs and give them a good soak in WD40 well before an event, this really helps them go in easier than if they have become rusty.

• Clean stud holes the day before and pop in a flat road stud or blank stud, this way the hole and the threads stay really clean and then all you need to do when you get to the event is swap them over www.harriet-morrisbaumber.co.uk

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SADDLERY & TACK

THE SEARCH FOR THE

BESPOKE DRESSAGE SADDLE

LOOKING FOR A LUXURY, BESPOKE DRESSAGE SADDLE THAT WILL HELP WITH YOUR POSITION IN THE COMPETITION ARENA? IN THIS ISSUE THE SOCIETY OF MASTER SADDLERS DISCUSS WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR ressage riders need to feel close to the horse helping to keep them in a rhythmic balance as they glide around the arena.

When looking for a new dressage saddle, fit for the horse is crucial and everything that can help the rider to achieve the correct balance and elegant position should also be considered.

Another key essential is that the saddle should be fitted by a Society of Master Saddlers’ Qualified Saddle Fitter to ensure the fit is perfect and the horse is truly comfortable and can perform at its best whether training at home or out competing at the highest level.

The bespoke, luxury dressage

D

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saddle will be designed and made to exacting standards following consultation with your Qualified Saddle Fitter and after discussions about your individual requirements and what helps you to ride at your best.

All riders have their own needs, likes and dislikes and through the process you will be able to decide on personal choice to give you the bespoke saddle you are looking for and what is best for your horse’s requirements as well.

It is important that the dressage saddle fits horse and rider perfectly. If the saddle rolls to one side or pinches the horse’s back, the horse will never be able to work or move well,

however skilled his training.

If the saddle is uncomfortable, there are times when a horse will simply stop working altogether and in the long run a saddle that does not fit will lead to soreness and injury.

A dressage saddle is designed with a long and straight saddle

flap, which mirrors the leg of the dressage rider. They also have a deep seat and knee blocks that are usually pronounced. This helps prevent the riders’ leg from coming too far forward.

The dressage saddle has been designed with a longer stirrup as well as longer and straighter saddle flaps. It has a higher cantle and pommel to help encourage the rider to have a deeper seat.

A dressage saddle is designed to allow the very best communication with the horse by placing the rider in the centre of gravity, providing a sufficiently deep seat to feel secure but still be able to absorb the horse’s movement and by placing their leg long and relaxed to enable the appliance of a minimum of aids.

The dressage saddle should encourage a good position without being restrictive. On a dressage saddle the stirrup bars are set further back to encourage a longer, straighter leg position.

Most dressage saddles have long girth straps and a short girth; this allows the rider to maintain closer contact with their legs and give clear but minimal signals.

The stuffing of the panels of a dressage saddle is often kept to a minimum to allow a closer feel to the horse.

When fitting a dressage saddle they are often easier to fit than jumping or general purpose saddles due to the panel and flaps generally sitting behind the shoulder and not impeding the movement. www.mastersaddlers.co.uk

SADDLERY

Q&A

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hen I was asked to talk about this subject I smiled a little. I have two children (3-year-old twin boys), a dog, and two horses, and I run my own business too. Some days it works quite well and all the plates are spinning… and other days quite a few of those plates smash into smithereens. But you know what? It always turns out OK in the end. There’s a great quote knocking around the internet that explains that we can’t control all situations but we can control how we react to those situations, always. For someone like me with control freak tendencies, that helps.

So, first of all – can you have it all? I think you can BUT you need some help. I’m very lucky that I’ve always had childcare help a few days a week and now the boys are at nursery I feel like I’ve got a lot of time back where I can really focus. And I LOVE it. Do not be afraid to ask for help. Be it from family members, friends, child minders – help is key. No one can do everything on their own. And it’s not just bad for your family and work, it’s really bad for your mind. I love my children more than words can express, but I still need time on my own to be me and do what I know I’m good at.

Finding hacks to help you is a big thing too.

I’m all about the ‘small wins’, so one of those is using the slow cooker; it’s been a game changer for me – and I’m very grateful to the friend who suggested it! It means I’m not

trying to finish what I’m doing at work, cook dinner and get involved with bath time and associated chaos… dinner has been cooking since 9am. Hacks like this make me feel like I have achieved something big at the very start of the day. And that feeling tends to create more ‘wins’.

Having a tick off to-do list in the Notes section of my phone is superb. I usually remember both work and non-work jobs when doing something else, so Notes with the ticks is the thing.

When a child (four or two legged) is ill it can be really stressful. But you can choose to control the situation. I try and tell myself that it will be OK and then I start to plan. I’m lucky that I work from home so an ill child who needs a sofa day usually isn’t a disaster, but it does mean I need to rearrange things… and that’s exactly what I do, I rearrange like a good ‘un! People understand that life happens, and they’ll also appreciate that you’re trying your best if you’re just open and honest with them.

And lastly – cut yourself some slack. I do not know anyone who has this whole childrearing thing figured out… if you’re comparing your child management to someone else’s Instagram squares – stop. Most people show the things that make them feel good and not the fact that they’ve stood on Lego, forgotten to make lunches and everything else before that moment!

LET’S TALK ABOUT CHILDREN...

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STABLES, BEDDING & PADDOCKS

YOUR FENCING

fence going to be powered?

Mains, battery or battery solar?

3. Earth Stake – every electric fencing system requires an earth stake and it must be pushed into the ground as far as you can get it.

4. Tape or rope – most electric post and rail fences are made up with either tape or rope. The choice depends on preference and also on the general weather conditions of the area. If the paddock is very exposed it would be recommended to use rope over tape.

5. Line to line connector – these connect the horizontal lines thus transferring the power Making a strong barrier and a through all the lines. Better to psychological barrier too. What is the distance to be covered and use a proper connector so that how undulating is the area to be the zap is transferred as well as it fenced – this will determine how can be.

6. Insulators and tensioners many posts you need. Perhaps – Insulators differ for tape and fence posts every 2-3 meters.

2. Energiser type – How is the rope. It is also possible to get

Frequently Asked Questions “I’VE READ YOUR ARTICLE IN THE APRIL EDITION OF THE ABSOLUTE HORSE AND HAVE DECIDED TO INSTALL A PERMANENT ELECTRIC FENCE RATHER THAN A WOODEN ONE. CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME HOW EXACTLY I CONSTRUCT A PERMANENT ELECTRIC FENCE AND WHAT COMPONENTS I WILL NEED?” MERIEL YOUNGER FROM ELECTRIC FENCING DIRECT ANSWERS...

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t’s all in the planning. A permanent electric fence for horses is like an electric post and rail fence and should be made of good sturdy materials – measure up beforehand and then quantify the products required.

A typical kit list for a permanent mains electric fence could be: 1. Wooden posts – most permanent electric fences are like an electric post and rail – wooden posts support the electric fencing on insulators.

Paddock Maintenance Be Pest Aware On The

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f poaching in your paddock is a problem, it can easily be put right but timing is very important.

By now, the land should be both drying out and warming up. The first thing to do is harrow the field. This will tear out moss, break up and level heavy soil, to improve the soil structure and make a seedbed.

Fertilising is a vital component to achieving a well-balanced paddock. Suregrow fertiliser provides grass with consistent healthy growth, and should be applied either once or twice a year as required. The fertiliser stimulates root development, resulting in a denser sward and therefore suppressing weed growth. Suregrow Fertiliser has been designed to be slow release and low in nitrogen, avoiding lush high-protein grass which can be harmful. www.suregrowuk.com

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A

ll horse owners know that dreaded feeling as they enter stables, tack rooms or feed stores. A rustle, a scuttle - and then something darts away hopefully as far from you as possible in the opposite direction.

Rodents are perhaps the biggest concern on yards. The warmth and shelter of stable buildings and access to feedstuff and water provide the perfect five-star environment for them to breed and thrive.

The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) says horse owners can take some steps to reduce the likelihood of pests taking hold by undertaking a few key issues.

Dee Ward Thompson, BPCA Technical Manager, said: “One of the most important things to do is to keep feed stored in rodent proof containers.

screw in or nail on insulators both of which work well for wooden posts. If the area to be fenced is a long stretch it is a good idea to add either in-line tensioners or corner tensioners to keep the fence tensioned.

7. Connectors – It may be you are covering a long distance and if this is the case you will need to connect the tape or rope together. I am sure everyone has tied their electric fencing in knots to extend it...the better way to do it is to use connectors.

The tape or rope will last longer and conduct better if you use connectors.

8. Gateways – Are there gateways to be considered? Will the gates be electric gates (ie tape/rope and a gate handle and anchor) or wooden gates? Do you need the power to transfer under the gate or is it ok to have the power going through the

Yard...

“It is also important to make sure spilt feedstuff is swept up, as this is a real magnet for mice and rats, not only around feed bins, but also in the stable where horses have eaten.

“And, where possible, care should be taken not to sweep bits of corn into the bedding, as rodents will find it.”

Controlling rodents is more important than ever in light of a recent study by the University of Reading, which revealed a new generation of rats carrying a genetic mutation which makes them resistant to conventional poison.

electric gate through the gate handles and back on to the fence?

9. Fence tester and warning sign – an electric fence is not complete with out a fence tester. There is no way you would catch me touching my electric fence to see if it is working. Nope… I use my tester!

Warning signs are required every 10m if you are near a right of way. However, if the general public have access to the electric fence I would always advise putting up a few warning signs.

It can feel like a daunting task putting up an electric fence.

Planning is key, make sure you have all the right components and ask you supplier for help if you need it – they should be able to provide technical help and trouble-shooting advice. www.electricfencing.co.uk

Of further concern is the fact that rats without the genetic mutation are being killed off by poison, so the resistant species are taking their place, leaving a growing population of resistant pure-breds.

With their numbers expanding there could be a significant risk to public health if their population is left unchecked, in rural environments, as well as urban areas.

Dee added: “It is most likely the spread has been accelerated by the application of rodenticides, by amateurs doing it themselves, or employing an unqualified individual to try to resolve the problem.

“The best course of action is to

appoint a pest management professional through the BPCA referral service to take a preventative, forward-thinking approach.

“A large part of prevention is thinking ahead and identifying potential causes and entry points before infestations occur.

“The process can include inspecting stables, outbuildings and feed stores and the surrounding area on a routine basis and reporting on the status of pest infestations, organising and undertaking a programme of treatments, as well as using pest control equipment or chemicals to control and eliminate target pests.” www.bpca.org.uk/find

Stubbs High Manure Collector and Scraper Rake – perfect for use in the stable, arena and at shows as well as in the paddock, alongside a barrow. www.abbeyengland.com

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Ride like...

TUTORIAL

ALICIA HAWKER

HAVING MOVED THROUGH THE BRITISH EVENTING PONY, JUNIOR, YOUNG RIDER AND CCI3*-S PROGRAMMES, 24-YEAR-OLD ALICIA HAWKER IS NOW COMPETING INTERNATIONALLY AT CCI5* LEVEL. ALICIA HAS SELF-PRODUCED MULTIPLE HORSES, GAINING NUMEROUS WINS AND PLACINGS IN SENIOR LEVEL COMPETITION.

EXERCISES W MY FAVOURITE

e currently have a team of eight exciting horses ranging from 5* to just starting their careers at BE90.

“12-year-old Charles RR is top of the yard having completed Badminton twice and Pau once, he will now be aimed for Burghley this autumn. We had our best result this spring at Badminton finishing top thirty and winning the best U25 prize.

I can remember doing Charlie’s first BE90 almost seven years

48

ago, we’ve both gone through the levels and learnt together.

We have some exciting young horses at the moment that I hope may follow in Charlie’s footsteps.

“I believe it’s really important with the young horses to give them time and a rounded education. The 4-year-olds do basic flatwork, some jumping, hacking out and get taken schooling - however we don’t compete them until they are 5year-olds, and try and aim for

their first event around May/June/July. Each horse is different so we make a plan to suit each one. If the basics are in place correctly they have the ‘tools in the box’ to learn and cope with a competition environment.”

three paces apart (for big striding horses, use 3 and a half 1/2 paces). I start by warming up cantering over the poles making sure I can canter over the middle of each pole maintaining bend through the horse’s body and balance.

Gradually raise the poles one at a time to a small upright, even with the experienced horses I would only raise the poles to 80cm. It’s a great exercise for footwork and suppling. The horses have to bend and engage their hind leg, and the curve discourages them from rushing.

“Starting a jump session with this exercise is a great way to improve the canter quality with horses that are prone to rushing.

It’s also great for the lazy ones!

As the poles are so small if they make a mistake they don’t lose confidence and it’s a fun exercise to add in half way through a course at home.”

Fancy footwork “Another exercise I like doing with both the young and experienced horses to prepare them for XC is trotting a variety Bounces of small uprights and spreads in “An exercise I love to do with the the school at home - these can young and experienced horses is be on all sorts of angles, three bounce fences on a circle distances and skinnies. line. I place three poles on a “For the young horses they twenty metre circle line approx would be max 70cm and even

for Charlie max 90cm. I trot in on a fairly loose rein and allow them to work out their footwork. They gradually learn to look for the next question and learn how to jump from close/long take off points. It’s also great for rider position and balance as you have to sit still and allow your legs and seat to balance you rather than your hand. Again because the jumps are small if they make a mistake neither horse or rider loses confidence. I find the horses love ‘playing’ over these exercises and it’s something different from the usual course or gridwork.

“Sometimes you are going to find yourself not on the perfect line/take off XC so preparing yourself and your horse is really

important. I like to add barrels/fillers/watertrays when the horses feel like they’ve ‘mastered’ the uprights/spreads/skinnies.”

Going competing “When the young horses start their career Eventing I like to do a few events fairly close together so they can get comfortable in that environment and it becomes ‘normal’. They can then have a mini-break before doing a few more.

“Each horse is different but I find at the beginning they really benefit from calm, clear, consistent work. Make sure you get the basics in place before competition - the dressage test/SJ round/XC fences should feel like a level down from training - so then adding competition atmosphere is the challenge rather than the work they will then grow in confidence quickly and feel relaxed.” www.aliciahawker.com

Photos by Tim Wilkinson, Eventing Images

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Ride like...

TUTORIAL

NICOLA WILSON

HERE WE TALK TO SUREGROW SPONSORED EVENT RIDER NICOLA WILSON, WHO PROVIDES ADVICE ON HOW TO WALK A CROSS COUNTRY COURSE AND HAS SOME INSIDER TIPS ON WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE DAY.

Preparing to Ride:

CROSS COUNTRY G

old medal winning event rider Nicola Wilson aims to help riders of all levels tackle walking a cross country course and offers advice on how to ride a course.

Nicola highlights fences that she thinks would be rider frighteners and those that are technically difficult to ride, then describes how she would tackle them.

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Walking the course Explains Nicola: “At the major events I tend to walk a cross country course three to four times, before I ride it. This allows me to understand the course, walk the lines and set all the minute markers. My tip when walking the course is to always look back at each fence to find the right lines to get to it.

“Recently I have started to use a cross country app, instead of

using a measuring wheel. You can select your event and it will create a course map, you can then add the jumps and it will automatically set minute markers. It’s a great tool.

“Throughout the course I look for a point around four to five strides before the jump, to prepare for the fence and focus the horse, moving it up or down the gears as required.

“The horse needs to read the

question, then say okay before the rider can push on. A half halt can engage the horse, but make sure you don’t do it too soon as it may not work and slow the horse down too much, losing the effectiveness of the half halt and the canter will become flat.

The canter must always be in front of your leg.

“The type of half halt will depend on the fence and the reaction you need. It can be purely a slight half halt to rebalance for a table, parallel or individual fence or a bigger half halt on the way to a coffin.

“Whilst jumping a fence, select a point to ride to with your eyes, this may be another element and will help to keep the horse concentrating. The horse can sense your next move; it is such a magical partnership.

“It is vital to know your lines on a cross country course so you can direct your horse. Dressage schooling plays a very important

part, as your horse often needs to be straight like they are going down the centre line or perhaps ride a figure of eight to get to another element.

“Always right positively in the correct canter or pace for the type of dance you are tackling, keep the horse upright and motivated and keep your hands low so the horse can see what they are doing. The horse’s neck is its fifth leg, so make sure it can use it.

“A horse’s canter must have impulsion, with a forward going rhythm, this enables plenty of choice if you need to adapt by adding or taking away a stride to get you out of a difficult situation. When you walk the course you must know all the possible options available so you can react quickly.

“As a rider you should react to the way a horse is feeling underneath you. You must give your horse confidence in correct, balanced riding and getting your horse to the fence in the correct canter.”

Tackling fences “All fences should be tackled slightly differently, to achieve a clear and safe round. With any jump if you lift the horse’s head they can’t see, so let them see the jump before you ask the next question.

“If you are jumping a fence that is on a slope downhill or has a drop after it, we need to land balanced in our stirrups, most likely slip the reins as the distance from our upper body and the horse’s neck will increase. This will in turn lighten the horses front end and put our weight on the horse’s hind legs,

sit up and further back than normal, focusing on your centre of balance, moving away from the horses neck.

“Keep the rhythm and balance, slightly slip the reins, always keep your leg on and turn up the intensity of the use of the leg if the situation needs you to. Be a reactive rider and feel what’s going on underneath you and always look at the next fence, keeping your eyes up at all times especially at ditches.

“A coffin canter is the shortest and most powerful canter but it’s imperative that our body position is correct and in a upright position with soft low hands and eyes up.

“The water jump needs the correct canter as if you have too much speed the horses can jump in too big and tip us forward which can lead to an unnecessary tumble. However too slow or underpowered in the canter could lead to a refusal or an awkward jump again tipping us forward. I use visualisation to help get the correct feel and canter to jump the more difficult fences.

“Upon landing after a difficult fence or combination a pat and ‘well done’ can boost moral allround. I am an advocate of rewarding my horses who are trying hard to please. We are a team, working together.

“If part of an element is at the top of a slope, a horse may lack energy, try to always keep momentum. Your horse should feel like a plane taking off uphill and not nose diving.

“Narrow arrowheads can catch riders out. Stay straight, with your hands down and don’t lean

forward, always look between the flags.

“Fear the first and last jump as much as any, concentrate and keep your contact, so the horse does a good job and does not make a silly mistake.

“Practice makes perfect, you don’t need to train over big fences but build your horse and your own confidence by training over the different style of fences that you are to meet at the competition. Confidence is key.”

SARAH HIGGINS AND ALEX HUA TIAN JOIN TEAM

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heraPlate UK are pleased to welcome dressage rider, Sarah Higgins and event rider, Alex Hua Tian, to their brand ambassador team.

Sarah and Alex share a base in Cheshire, where they have had a TheraPlate for twelve months, used both as part of a sports conditioning programme and also injury prevention.

The TheraPlate uses a unique wave vortex therapy to increase circulation and promote healing.

Keeping both Alex’s event horses and Sarah’s dressage horses in peak condition has certainly been easier for them with the use of the TheraPlate. Sarah said,“The better our horses feel, the better they perform. For us the TheraPlate was a musthave piece of equipment.

Since its arrival our horses start each session noticeably looser and immediately ready for work. It has become an essential part of our day to day routine.” www.theraplateuk.com

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Ride like...

TUTORIAL

COURTESY OF HER SPONSORS ALOERIDE, THE NATURAL ALOE VERA SUPPLEMENT FOR HORSES, INTERNATIONAL DRESSAGE RIDER LEAH BECKETT GIVES READERS A LOOK AT LATERAL WORK AND HOW INCORPORATING IT INTO YOUR EVERY DAY TRAINING CAN HAVE SO MANY BENEFITS FOR YOU AND YOUR HORSE.

A BIT ON THE SIDE! LEAH BECKETT

Photos by David Miller

Pic 1 have written a very brief introduction to the basic lateral movements but before we go there, I have to start where I always start and that is to say that if there is anything that I have learnt then it is that the most important thing of all when riding dressage is to first know how to ride straight.

“So many people demonstrate their straight lines with an inside flexion but it’s not – straight is straight. There should be a straight line from the front of the saddle up the mane and through the two ears. Your reins should be like a tunnel and the horse should be right in the middle of them. I always say try

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Pic 2 and keep your knees, toes, forearms and thumbs facing forwards, like you’re skiing. Then all the energy and impulsion takes you in a straight line. If you are dropping a hip or pulling up a heel or cocking a wrist then you would ski off the mountain!

So imagine what happens to the energy of the horse! I don’t think people always realise that the horse is a mirror of their own body so whatever you do, however you sit, has an absolute direct impact on the horse. (Pic 1).

“Straightness is the key to everything. I cannot stress it enough. It is the foundation to dressage and certainly the key to success. If you have control of

Pic 3 the body and you have the basics in place it makes training the ‘tricks’ so much easier! And not just for you, but it also makes the work easier for the horse. If he is straight and evenly balanced then his body is the most available it can be to do the exercise you are asking of him.

“When a horse is straight he is on two tracks. This means that the hind legs follow in the track of the front legs (Pic 2). When we first start to introduce lateral work it is on a three-track movement. So for example in shoulder-in the shoulders are brought in from the track and the inside hind leg tracks into the path of the outside front leg

Pic 4 (Pic 3). Too much angle and you get (Pic 4) four tracks. Can you see each leg has its own track?

Too much bend and you will struggle to even get off two tracks! Shoulder-in is a great exercise to increase suppleness, increase engagement of the hind legs and also help to get your horse more between the inside leg and outside rein. This exercise does all the work for you so as a rider don’t try and over complicate it! Come through the corner, bring both hands to the inside (almost as if you are neck reining a little) to bring the shoulder in, half halt on the outside rein and then ride the horse up the track on the inside leg (Pic 5).

Pic 5

Pic 6

Pic 7

Pic 8

Pic 10

Pic 9 “Another great exercise for increasing suppleness is Travers.

This is where you bring the quarters in (Pic 6). The head, neck and shoulders head up the track whilst the quarters step in.

You can see that the rider’s outside leg is back whilst the body is positioned straight – reflecting the horse (Pic 7). Such a wonderful, wonderful exercise for bend and also the foundation for half pass!

“Half pass is simply Travers on a diagonal line! Turn onto the diagonal, visualise your long side and ride the quarters in!

Pic 11 (Pics 8 and 9) Eh Voila! A super supple, flowing, engaged half pass!

“Just to demonstrate the difference the lateral work can make for suppleness and engagement, these two photos show the difference: The first before the lateral work, the second after! (Pic 10 and 11) Obviously for the purposes of this feature, lateral work and riding these movements has been super simplified to make it easy to understand but it really is not so hard – IF the horse is straight to begin with.

“As with any aspect of training your horse, it doesn’t matter if it goes wrong in the beginning, just have some fun with your horse. If you are serious about teaching the lateral work just get some support on the ground to help you get the feel for the

correct aids and angles and remember be happy with ‘baby’ steps at first, the quality of step will improve with time and keep your sessions short and sweet with plenty of walk breaks.” www.aloeride.com

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THE PROFESSIONALS IN THIS ISSUE FEI WORLD NUMBER ONE EVENT RIDER ROS CANTER, SHARES HER INSIGHT INTO JUMPING AT HOME TO IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS AND PREPARE FOR A COMPETITION COURTESY OF HER SPONSOR EQUIPE.

JUMPING AT HOME WITH:

ROS CANTER

ast year saw Ros take third place at Badminton and Luhmuhlen Horse Trials and become World Champion after taking Individual and Team Eventing Gold Medals at the World Equestrian Games in North Carolina, USA. Based in Lincolnshire, 33-yearold Ros, first looks at rider position when approaching a fence. Explains Ros: “Start warming up with a small show jump, both horse and rider must be looking at the fence riding in a balanced canter, with impulsion to jump the fence with impulsion.

“When approaching a fence the rider must keep a strong core position, sit calmly and let the jump come to you. Keep control, but ensure your hands are low and together, so the horse can focus on the jump without the rider doing too much with their hands. Maintain positive riding and keep your leg on as you

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approach the jump.

You want your horse to be confident and in balance, and concentrating.

“Regardless of the jump, look beyond it and try to land straight and in a secure position. The key is to always look ahead to the next jump and where you are going.

“You must trust your horse to find a stride to the jump and not interfere too much; this will only put the horse off and cause confusion.

“By keeping a quiet contact on the rein, keeping your hands low, body in a secure position and once you are on your line, your eyes must stay focused beyond the fence, this will help direct your horse in a confident way to tackle the jump. The

horse will find his feet quietly and understand what they need to do without just following your lead all the time.”

When jumping there are many occasions that a horse has to think for itself and the sooner he learns how to cope in those situations the better. Especially when going cross-country there are many instances when a horse may be required to use a ‘third leg’ to stay upright.”

Explained Ros, “Let your horse choose where they want to set

off from, don’t chase them or drop your hands, rather create strength through your body and don’t fight them through the rein but keep a consistent contact.

“It is important to follow these principles in both showjumping and cross country training. If you have a problem or if your horse is getting strong, halt for a minute then start again so that you can both relax and try again.

“Cross country fences may appear daunting, but keep calm with soft hands and aim for the middle. Poles either side of the fence in a V shape can help keep the horse straight and focused.

“When riding a course turn with your body and steer from the outside, not just by using the reins, again keep your contact as quiet as possible.

“Always look where you are going, keep the reins steady and if you feel tense look above the fence and ride forward over the jump.

“Always finish with a big pat, try not to over phase the horse, just keep everything calm and do what you both feel comfortable doing. At the next schooling session you can then progress further.”

The Equipe range of saddles and accessories has been created with the highest quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail and are used by leading event riders around the world.

Each saddle is manufactured to satisfy the demands of both the rider and the horse whatever the equestrian discipline. www.zebraproducts.co.uk

GEORGIE SPENCE: PLANS POST-BADMINTON

HAYGAIN SPONSORED EVENT RIDER GEORGIE SPENCE IS FRESH FROM BADMINTON, SO SHE TELLS US MORE OUT ABOUT HER 2019 SEASON SO FAR. ow has the 2019 season been for you to date?

“My highlight of the season so far is getting two top-10 placings at Bicton CCI3*! I’ve also had some great outings with young horses on the up and completed another Badminton!”

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Tell us about your rides.

“The wonderful Halltown Harley, is a 13-year-old Irish Sports Horse gelding who I took

to Badminton, and Wii Limbo who is aimed at Burghley at the end of the summer. I’m so lucky to have the support of their wonderful owners.”

You are sponsored by Haygain, how did that come about?

“A friend of mine was using a Haygain steamer and I was so impressed with both the idea and the execution of it. I purchased a Haygain HG One and it quickly became clear how

brilliant it was and the difference it made to the horses. As steaming the hay became a yard-wide must, I contacted Haygain about working with them and I now have a Haygain HG 2000 as well. The whole yard benefits from steamed hay and I know my horses have the best possible chance of performing well at competitions.”

What does the rest of the season hold?

“I’m excited about taking Wii Limbo to Burghley in the

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS JOIN THE TEAM JONES YARD

oung riders India Ward and Kate Dennis have both joined the expanding South Luffenham-based Team Jones yard with their competition horses.

They come from wildly different backgrounds – 18-year-old Kate from a North Yorkshire farming family grew up with horses, and 19year-old India comes from a town background in Water Newton, Peterborough and is the only India Ward member of her family to ride horses.

With the help of Victoria Jones, India is already achieving success. She took the Winter Qualifiers at Sheepgate by storm, winning with 70% and 69.86% on her 14-year-old Danish Kate Dennis warmblood Elverhojs La Cour. She then came second in the

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Autumn and I’m aiming some of the younger horses at Ballindenisk. My aim over the next five years is to ride on my first Senior team, and I would love to be competitive enough to win a medal. A top-10 placing at a 5* event would be the cherry on the top of the cake!” www.haygain.co.uk

Under 21s class at the Winter Championships at Hartpury, and sixth in the Silver section of the Advanced Medium in a really tight competition.

Kate joined in March and came with two horses – home-bred 8year-old Eric the Red and her 7-year-old KEC Quality Ethan. She admits she has always struggled with dressage, so having a top dressage rider like Victoria on hand is special. “I just can’t believe the amount of top training we are getting,” she said. “The yard is full of fabulous quality horses. I get to work with the yard’s top eventers Alfies Clover being prepped for 5* events and the young horse Grafics that has just joined the yard from Ros Canter’s.

“Eric has been up to Intermediate – but we’re making sure we get the basics right. We’ve been to Lincoln, Belton and Burnham Market Horse Trials and we’re improving all the time.” After having some poles down at Lincoln and Belton, Kate had double clears at Burnham Market, so up the leaderboard she goes.

In the words of Victoria Jones: “Kate and India may be young professionals just starting out on their journey, but we believe they have the talent and determination to be stars in the making. Our job is to help them achieve their ambitions by having the proper groundwork, good training and hands-on support.” www.teamjonesequestrian.com

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THE PROFESSIONALS

IN THIS ISSUE WE TALK TO THE DRESSAGE MAESTRO TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS LIKE TO SPEND A DAY ON HIS YARD, COURTESY OF HIS SPONSOR SUREGROW

At home with CARL HESTER Olympic gold medallist Carl Hester MBE is the holder of more than 65 national dressage titles.

et in the Gloucestershire countryside, Carl’s picturesque yard is home to his treasured and multimedal winning dressage horses.

Surrounding the yard is post and railed turnout paddocks where all the horses get to relax and spend some down time after training and competing. Beyond the paddocks are the fields where both the youngsters live

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and Carl’s retired horses that have helped him to his major successes over the years.

Carl is very fortunate that his yard is supported by a great team who give all the horses the very best care and attention. The team features dressage superstar Charlotte Dujardin and international travelling groom

Alan Davies.

There is no such thing as a lie-in at Carl’s and the team are well known for saying he is ‘irritatingly cheerful’ and bouncing with energy first thing in the morning with his mobile ringing and a shout to the dogs he is off to the yard.

The schedule is tight, but not hurried where the horses are concerned. Carl never rushes a schooling session and each horse is worked for as long as is required to achieve the goal Carl has set.

He misses nothing and calls instructions to the others on the team as they school alongside him. The radio plays and quiet concentration fills the air. The afternoons are when Carl teaches his many clients.

Daily Routine Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: All the horses are worked as below: 7.00am - 8.30am. “The first thing we do is take round morning feeds, as we go into each stable we make sure the previous nights feed has been eaten, check legs and see there are healthy droppings.

After they have eaten we start to muck out, change rugs depending on the temperature and get the first horses ready to go out in the paddocks or on the walker.”

Carl and Charlotte arrive to start riding at 8.30am so the first horses are ready.

8.30am - 1.30pm. “The yard is

swept and we continue to get horses ready. The team warm up the horses before they are schooled and walk them off, usually down the drive, when they finish.” Often Carl and Charlotte will hack them round the field together. After work all the horses are bathed and groomed. This is a really busy time with everyone focused to get the horses finished by 1.30pm.

2.30pm - 4pm. “After lunch we clean the tack and do all the general yard duties and paddock maintenance. Our paddocks have benefited greatly from the addition of Suregrow fertiliser.”

4pm - 5.30pm. “All the horses have a quick groom before night rugs are put on, we start the final tidy of the wash bays and tack room, skip out, sweep the yard, take the hay trolley round and finally evening feeds. The arenas are levelled and once the tack room is locked we leave to the sound of contented munching.”

9.00pm. “We take it in turns to do the late night check, a quick look over each stable door to see they are all comfortable and well.”

Wednesdays and Saturday: Horses are hacked for an hour.

Sunday: Horses day off. “This gives us a day to catch up on other jobs like pulling manes and tails, cleaning the horsebox and all the other jobs that crop up. We make sure our horses are turned out where appropriate or go on the walker.” www.suregrowuk.com

REPORTS

REDWINGS SHOW here were some real stand-out performances at the 2019 Redwings Show on Sunday 12th May at Topthorn Equestrian Centre, with the Supreme Champions dominating several classes on their way to overall victory.

Standing supreme this year were Victoria Campbell from Colchester, Essex, and her 23year-old Irish Draught Connemara, Moss Town Marz, in their first year of competing at the Redwings Show. The pair, fresh from taking third place in the Senior Ridden Horse class at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, had taken first place in Ridden Hunters, Veteran Horse and the Ring One Championship, judged

by Margaret Walton.

Victoria and Marz also took home the Spillers Best Condition Championship, with Reserve Best Condition going to Amy Forsdyke and with her Dales, Byersgreen Alfie, who won the Best Condition Ridden class in Ring Three (Just for Fun), judged by Fiona Harrison.

Commenting on their winning day, Victoria said: “I’m ecstatic and chuffed to bits for my old boy. He’s qualified for Olympia five times and won the Veteran Champs when he was fifteen, and he’s still going! He is the perfect gentleman. I’ve had him for seventeen years - he has

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been my best friend and absolute rock.”

On the Redwings Show, Victoria added: “The Show is fantastic. I’ve never been before, but the atmosphere is great, everyone has been really helpful and it’s all for a great cause.”

Reserve Supreme Champion went to Diana Dunstan, from Shillington, Hertfordshire, with her stunning 1-year-old British donkey Perehill Tia who won the Donkey Breed Society affiliated Donkey Youngstock In-hand class and Ring Three Championship, judged by Jane Etheridge.

Diana said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that Tia has done so well today, especially at such a young age and being so well-behaved at one of her first shows away from her mum. Our next plans for the summer include the Hertfordshire County Show, the Royal Norfolk Show and the DBS Annual Supreme Championship Show which we’ve qualified for here today.”

Redwings Show organiser Jude Palmer said: “This year we celebrated the 10th anniversary

Supreme Champions Victoria Campbell and Moss Town Marz; (left) Reserve Supreme Champion Diana Dunstan with Perehill Tia

of the Redwings Show, and our competitors really made it a show to remember! With the Novice Ring and Just for Fun classes, we always aim to create a friendly and supportive environment for those new to showing, but we were also thrilled to see healthy competition between the more experienced show-goers, which this year included many of our previous champions and those recently returned from major national shows. We’re delighted

with the support given to our show which benefits our rescued horses, and we look forward to seeing everyone again next year.”

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REPORTS

HORSEHEATH HORSE TRIALS Photographs by Richard Weller Poley

mateurs and is great viewing for all professionals, including concerned. It would be amazing a bronze medal if they got the opportunity to Olympian, competed against have higher grades here.” each other over the weekend A wish that Horseheath hope of 20th-21st April at the PwC will come to fruition if BE grant Horseheath Horse Trials, near their request for a Novice class Cambridge. for April 2020. This wish was The sun shone an unseasonably echoed throughout the 23° providing the organisers weekend, and well supported on with the unusual task of social media by a number of irrigating and aerovating the competitors wishing to fill their course in preparation for the lorries, particularly when event at a time when April travelling longer distances. showers are expected to be Winners from each BE100, BE90 prevalent. Over £10,000 in and BE80 sections took home additional spend was required to Tiggas numnahs, TopSpec ensure that the ground was Electrolytes, EK9B goodie bags, perfect.

Well Gel vouchers, prize money Horseheath organisers were and of course Easter chocolate delighted to meet New Zealand bunnies sponsors by Sharp Bronze medal team winning Nutrition.

Olympian Caroline Powell who Prizes for the BE80 were kindly had travelled from her Suffolksponsored by Devoucoux who based yard with some generously donated numnahs, youngsters to give them some tack cleaning products, caps and eventing experience. keyring for those placed first Caroline was particularly third. Horseheath Horse Trials successful with one mare once again awarded rosettes for winning the PwC BE100 Section the highest place first-timer in C with Greenacres Special each class as well as double clear Cavalier. Said “...I cannot praise the rosettes Caroline, “She is a Horseheath team enough, sponsored by lovely mare bought the ground maintenance Simple System. in Ireland as a 4The April 2019 was obvious! Amazing year-old - you can course was follow her progress team and volunteers too, designed by Tina I’m so proud to call it my Ure and built by #lovinthejourney. local...”

“Horseheath has David Carpenter. worked tirelessly and produced As usual there was a good focus the most amazing ground for on natural fences using wood the weather we have had. There sourced from the Thurlow

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estate.

Hertfordshire on Cassino Valeroyale finishing on 25.8 and The Winners a double clear.

Section A PwC BE100 was won Section G NFU Mutual BE90 was

by Claire Dodson from won by Aaron Otway on Hemingford Abbots with her Dreamworks Desire finishing on horse Second Vision finishing on his dressage of 30.3. Aaron a score of 26 dressage and a travelled from Kent to compete double clear. “It was an at what he declared as his “first awesome cross country course. event of 2019” and his favourite Horseheath was the first event event to compete at. we did in 2017. It has been a bit Section H was won by Corinne of an up and down journey since Roberts from Bishops Stortford so I am thrilled with today’s with her horse Fourstar Struck result.” finishing on 22.3 with just 0.8 Section B PwC BE100 winner time faults on her amazing 21.5 Megan Page from Stamford with dressage. “It was a super SJ her horse Iloma finished on a course and the ground was dressage score of 26 again with perfect. A brilliant XC course, a a convincing double clear. She super confidence giving course has owned her horse since he with lovely technical questions. was an unbacked 3-year-old and Thank you to all at Horseheath this is her second season. for the work on the ground.”

“It is great to have a win, my Section I NFU Mutual BE90 was first BE100 win, before stepping won by Jayne Commins from up to Novice next season.

Billericay, Essex, with her horse Horseheath was a fab event and Spring Vayu finishing on a lovely to have the sun shining.” dressage score of 28.8. “Vayu is a Section C PwC BE100 was won homebred horse from my novice

by New Zealand Olympian venter. He is by Jumbo and a very Caroline Powell on Greenacres cheeky chap.

Special Cavalier with just 0.4 “He loved all three phases, time faults to finish on 27.7. particularly the XC which was Section D BE100 Open beautifully prepared.” sponsored by Binder was won by Section J NFU Mutual BE90 was local Mary Edmundson from won by Mollie Harris with Kirtling in Newmarket, with a Winterdown Shutterfly who stunning 22.3 dressage and no finished on a score of 24.8. penalties with her horse Section K NFU Mutual BE90 was Tashkaldou. won by Daisy Hills (532) from Section E PwC BE100 was won Ashford in Kent, who took the

by Jasmine Wilks from win with Taurmore Buster.

Orpington Kent, on her horse “Daisy loved the XC the most.”

Harestone finishing on her Section L Taylor Vinters BE90 dressage of 23.3. “It was my first Open was won by Maisie Grover time with her and I am very on a dressage score of 25.5 with impressed and will definitely be her horse Newrath Samson. back.”

Section M Saffrey Champness Section F NFU Mutual BE90 was BE80 was won by Phoebe won by Lisa Maynard from

Claire Dodsonwith Second Vision

Corinne Roberts with Fourstar Struck

Megan Page with Iloma

Jasmine Wilks with Harestone Mollie Harris with Winterdown Shutterfly Daisy Hills with Taurmore Buster.

Jayne Commins with Spring Vayu

Mary Edmundson with Tashkaldou Lisa Maynard with Cassino Valeroyale

Maisie Grover with Newrath Samson

Aaron Otway on Dreamworks Desire

Plumb, from Ely, with her horse Haw Cruise on a score of 29.3.

“This was Cruise’s first ODE so I was not even expecting to come in the top half so it was a nice surprise!”

Section N BE80 Saffrey Champness winner was Jenna Davies finishing on a score of 28.0 with Abbott’s Vale Remus.

Section O Saffrey Champness BE80 was won by Julia Kershaw from Hundon, Suffolk, with Aubain Sheila; she also won best Newcomer in her section finishing on a score of 26.4 which included 0.4 time penalties. Julia is from Australia so this was her first BE, and her

horse’s first ODE. Section P Saffrey Champness BE80 winner was Franki Jarvis who was also celebrating her birthday. Finishing on a score of 22.8 with her horse Obi Dazzled.

“I absolutely loved my day at Horseheath Horse Trials! I cannot praise the Horseheath team enough, the ground maintenance was obvious and was highly appreciated by everyone! Amazing team and volunteers too, am so proud to call it my local.

“But yes, I have to say I had the best birthday ever and on Lisa Roger’s amazing horse.”

Jenna Davies on Abbott’s Vale Remus Julia Kershaw with Aubain Sheila

Phoebe Plumb with Haw Cruise

Franki Jarvis with Obi Dazzled

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REPORTS ALLANA CLUTTERBUCK TAKES THE SUREGROW GRAND PRIX AT ROYAL WINDSOR

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ssex-based Allana Clutterbuck secured the Suregrow Grand Prix at the Royal Windsor Horse Show after a superb effort riding Vykinbay.

The 10-year-old Vykinbay and Allana took the title with an impressive clear round in a time of 36.69 seconds.

Allana has been riding Vykinbay for a year and they have quickly formed a great partnership.

The dark bay gelding, is currently on top form with a string of wins on the circuit including winning the Team Junior Nations Cup in Opglabbeek, Sentower Park, Belgique.

Said Allana: “It was unbelievable to win, the atmosphere was amazing. It is the first time I have ridden at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, it felt such a privilege to head the class.”

The Grand Prix Senior 1.35 class sponsored by Suregrow Fertiliser was an exciting event drawing a great lineup of riders fighting it out for the top places.

Jonathan Cox of Suregrow said: “We were delighted to sponsor the Suregrow Fertiliser Grand Prix Senior 1.35 class. Well done to Allana and Vykinbay, it was a fantastic result.”

PROUD MUM SHARES DAUGHTER’S SUCCESSES SINCE SEIB SEARCH FOR A STAR 2018

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Photo: Equinational Photography

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hantelle Chapman from Little Bentley and Greenholme Falcon (Dan), an 8-year-old Fell pony, are competing at top level affiliated showing this season.

Eagle-eyed readers will recognise Chantelle as our December cover-star, as together with Dan she took the first ever SEIB Insurance Brokers Search for a Star Mountain and Moorland Championship at Your Horse Live.

Competing in Royal International Horse Show Qualifier classes for M&M Large Breeds, Chantelle was also competing at Arena UK in Grantham at the BSPS Winter Championships, where she won her class, gaining her special ticket to the RIHS final! She also went on to take PUK Young Rider Champion.

“Chantelle is working very hard and is looking forward to the finals held at Hickstead,” explained mum, Victoria Oliver.

“She is also competing at The Royal Windsor Horse Show and Horse of the Year Show qualifiers too.”

Photos: British Riding Clubs

ESSEX JUNIOR TEAM FOR INGATESTONE AND BLACKMORE RIDING CLUB

Sophie Runnacles riding Pinecroft Calico, Ellie Hastings riding Its Himslef the Elf, Isabele Lane riding Carra Lad, and Charlotte Lane riding New Oak Thyme.

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inners of the BRC Equitheme Junior Winter Dressage Championships at Bury Farm on the 28th April have been announced.

The Ingatestone and Blackmore Riding Club Junior Dressage team comprised of Charlotte Lane (age 12), Isabele Lane (16), Ellie Hastings (14) and Sophie Runnacles (16).

The team first qualified at an Area Qualifying round at Brook Farm TC in October 2018 where they won their qualifying round, this meant they were able to compete at the Championships held at the end of April at Bury Farm Equestrian Centre near Milton Keynes.

Each team member rode a separate test. Sophie riding the Prelim 13 test, Ellie the Novice 28 Test, Charlotte the Novice 34 test and Izzie Elementary 42. All girls scored incredibly well all gaining a top third position within the team scoring meaning they ended on an overall score of 6 points, just ahead of the second place team on 7 points.

The Team were overjoyed to have been crowned the Winners of the British Riding Clubs Winter Intermediate Junior Dressage Championships.

A fabulous weekend topped of with huge smiles.

IPSWICH HORSE SOCIETY EASTER SHOW

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he Ipswich Horse Society recently held their very successful Easter Monday show at Trinity Park, Ipswich. The weather was glorious and classes were very well supported with competitors coming from all across the region.

The show was raising funds for the Street Forge Workshops at Thornham and The Bumblebee Children’s Charity at Sproughton. The Committee would like to thank everyone involved in the running of this show from Judges, sponsors, course builders, stewards and all the volunteers who give up their time and energy. “We could not hold this show without them.”

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For horse or rider.

Horse/rider discount package available.

Donna Rae Walls ECBS. www.donnasbowen.co.uk 07742 051532

SATURDAY 1ST JUNE DRESSAGE Essex: Fletchers Farm; Dressage. Tel: 01206 242210 DRESSAGE Essex: Wix EC; British Dressage. Tel: 01255 870744 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Easton & Otley College; British Dressage. Tel: 01603 732316 DRESSAGE Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Unaffiliated Dressage.

Tel: 07557 091008 ENDURANCE Suffolk. Kings Forest, Near Bury St Edmunds: International, National and Pleasure rides. Tel: 07917 206166 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Beds: Twin Trees EC; Showjumping. Tel: 01767 627414 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Showjumping. Tel: 01708 687550 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Team Showjumping. Tel: 01449 711962 SUNDAY 2ND JUNE ARENA EVENTING Suffolk: The Jays; Arena Eventing. Tel: 07759 603120 ENDURANCE Suffolk. Kings Forest, Near Bury St Edmunds: International, National and Pleasure rides. Tel: 07917 206166 DRESSAGE Essex: Wix EC; British Dressage. Tel: 01255 870744 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud: Affiliated and Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07879 881755 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Lime Kiln Farm EC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07749 951898 Continued overleaf...

Tel: 01986 874800

63

SHOWDATE DIARY Your Showdate listings for..June/July 2019 ODE Norfolk. West Norfolk Foxhounds Hunt Club and Blackwater Farm Eventer Trials and ODE. 60cm, 70cm, 80cm, 90cm and 100cm classes. www.blackwaterfarm.co.uk SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Cambs: Grey Fern Park EC; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 07879 492068 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Unaffiated Showjumping. Tel: 01708 687550 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Codham Park EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07769 907076 SHOWJUMPING Essex. Dengie Hundred Horse Society. SJ. Purleigh Barns Farm. Tel: 07896 164837 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Brampton EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07824 344072 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: The Jays; Showjumping. Tel: 07759 603120 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Mini Showjumping. Tel: 01449 711962 TUESDAY 4TH JUNE SHOWJUMPING Essex: Codham Park EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07769 907076 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud: Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Brampton EC; Unaffiliated

64

Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07824 344072 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Forest Edge Arena; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 01760 722616 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Evening Showjumping.

Tel: 07557 091008 WEDNESDAY 5TH JUNE SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; British Showjumping.

Tel: 01234 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Showjumping.

Tel: 01708 687550 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Showjumping.

Tel: 01708 687550708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Wix EC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 01255 870744 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: The Jays; Senior British Showjumping.

Tel: 07759 603120 THURSDAY 6TH JUNE SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; Evening Clear Round Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07557 091008 FRIDAY 7TH JUNE DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud: British Dressage. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Evening Open Showjumping. Tel: 01449 711962 SATURDAY 8TH JUNE ARENA EVENTING Essex: Codham Park EC; Arena Eventing.

Tel: 07769 907076 DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Dressage. Tel: 01708

687550 DRESSAGE Essex: Barleylands Arena; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07545 010770 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Forest Edge Arena; British Dressage. Tel: 01760 722616 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; Junior British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SUNDAY 9TH JUNE DRESSAGE Beds: Twin Trees EC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01767 627414 DRESSAGE Cambs: Grey Fern Park EC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07879 492068 DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Dressage. Tel: 01708 687550 DRESSAGE Suffolk: Centaur Trust; Affiliated and Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07881 802129 DRESSAGE Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01449 711962 JUMPCROSS Essex: Codham Park EC; JumpCross Competition. Tel: 07769 907076 SHOWING Essex: Harolds Park Farm; Showing Show. Tel: 07775 516945 SHOWING Norfolk: Forest Edge Arena; Showing Show. Tel: 01760 722616 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; Junior British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Cambs: Fenning Farm EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07875 044829 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands Arena; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 07545 010770 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud: British Showjumping.

Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk:

www.agrocotrailers.co.uk

Brampton EC; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 07824 344072 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Lime Kiln Farm EC; Showjumping League. Tel: 07749 951898 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Showjumping. Tel: 07557 091008 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: The Jays; Unaffiliated Showjumping.

Tel: 07759 603120 TUESDAY 11TH JUNE DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; British Dressage. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Codham Park EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07769 907076 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud: Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 WEDNESDAY 12TH JUNE DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; Affiliated and Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01234 708400 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Easton & Otley College; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01603 732316 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Showjumping.

Tel: 01708 687550 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Showjumping.

Tel: 01708 687550708400 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: The Jays; Senior British Showjumping.

Tel: 07759 603120 THURSDAY 13TH JUNE COMBINED TRAINING Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Evening Combined Training. Tel: 07557 091008 DRESSAGE Essex: Wix EC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01255 870744 FRIDAY 14TH JUNE ENDURANCE Norfolk. Euston Park near Thetford . International and National rides. Tel: 01379 644945

SPONSORED BY

SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; British Showjumping.

Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Outdoor Showjumping. Tel: 01708 687550708400 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud: Unaffiliated Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Evening Novice Showjumping. Tel: 01449 711962 SATURDAY 15TH JUNE ENDURANCE Norfolk. Euston Park near Thetford . International and National rides. Tel: 01379 644945 DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; British Dressage. Tel: 01234 708400 DRESSAGE Essex: Bluegate Hall Dressage; British Dressage. Tel: 07527 482847 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Easton & Otley College; British Dressage.

Tel: 01603 732316 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Lime Kiln Farm EC; Unaffiliated Dressage.

Tel: 07749 951898 SHOWING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Working Hunter Show. Tel: 01449 711962 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; British Showjumping.

Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands Arena; Junior British Showjumping. Tel: 07545 010770 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Showjumping.

Tel: 01708 687550708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Codham Park EC; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 07769 907076 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud: Senior Team Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Give It A Go Showjumping. Tel: 07557 091008

SUNDAY 16TH JUNE DRESSAGE Cambs: Fenning Farm EC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07875 044829 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Easton & Otley College; Carleton RC Dressage. Tel: 01603 732316 ENDURANCE Norfolk. Euston Park near Thetford . International and National rides. Tel: 01379 644945 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; British Showjumping.

Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands Arena; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07545 010770 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 01708 687550708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Codham Park EC; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 07769 907076 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud: Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Forest Edge Arena; Cash Showjumping.

Tel: 01760 722616 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Easton & Otley College; Carleton RC Showjumping. Tel: 01603 732316 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Lime Kiln Farm EC; Showjumping and Gymkhana. Tel: 07749 951898 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Junior British Showjumping. Tel: 07557 091008 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Showjumping.

Tel: 01449 711962 TUESDAY 18TH JUNE SHOWJUMPING Essex: Codham Park EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07769 907076 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud: Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Evening Showjumping.

Tel: 07557 091008 WEDNESDAY 19TH JUNE SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; British Showjumping.

Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Showjumping.

Tel: 01708 687550 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Showjumping.

Tel: 01708 687550708400 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud: Unaffiliated Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Lime Kiln Farm EC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07749 951898 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: The Jays; Senior British Showjumping.

Tel: 07759 603120 THURSDAY 20TH JUNE SHOWJUMPING Beds: Twin Trees EC; Showjumping Evening. Tel: 01767 627414 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07557 091008 FRIDAY 21ST JUNE DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Dressage. Tel: 01708 687550 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Forest Edge Arena; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 01760 722616 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Clear Round Showjumping. Tel: 07557 091008 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Evening Open Showjumping. Tel: 01449 711962 SATURDAY 22ND JUNE ARENA EVENTING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Arena Eventing.

Tel: 01449 711962 DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC;

www.agrocotrailers.co.uk

Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01708 687550 DRESSAGE Essex: Codham Park EC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07769 907076 EVENTING Beds: The College EC; British Eventing. Tel: 01234 708400 JUMPCROSS Essex: Codham Park EC; JumpCross Training. Tel: 07769 907076 SHOW Suffolk. Easton Harriers Pony Club Annual Show at Westerfield Showground, Ipswich.

BS Showjumping, affiliated Dressage, Showing classes. Tel: 07876 243433.

SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands Arena; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 07545 010770 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Forest Edge Arena; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 01760 722616 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: The Jays; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07759 603120 SUNDAY 23RD JUNE ARENA EVENTING Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Arena Eventing.

Tel: 07557 091008 DRESSAGE Cambs: Fenning Farm EC; British Dressage. Tel: 07875 044829 PLEASURE RIDE North Norfolk.

Tel: 07917 206166 DRESSAGE Essex: Codham Park EC; British Dressage. Tel: 07769 907076 DRESSAGE Essex: Harolds Park Farm; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07775 516945 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Brampton EC; Affiliated and Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07824 344072 EVENTING Beds: The College EC; British Eventing. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOW Norfolk: Forest Edge Arena; Charity Show. Tel: 01760 722616.

Continued overleaf...

65

SHOWDATE DIARY

SPONSORED BY

Showdate listings for..June/July SHOWING Cambs: Grey Fern Park EC; Showing - In Hand & Ridden Classes. Tel: 07879 492068 SHOWING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Unaffiliated Showing. Tel: 01708 687550 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud: Junior British Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Lime Kiln Farm EC; Cash Showjumping.

Tel: 07749 951898 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 01449 711962 TUESDAY 25TH JUNE SHOWJUMPING Essex: Codham Park EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07769 907076 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud: Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 WEDNESDAY 26TH JUNE DRESSAGE Cambs: Grey Fern Park EC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07879 492068 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Brampton EC; Evening Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07824 344072 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Showjumping.

Tel: 01708 687550 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Showjumping.

Tel: 01708 687550708400 THURSDAY 27TH JUNE COMBINED TRAINING Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Evening Combined Training. Tel: 07557 091008 DRESSAGE Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01449 711962 FRIDAY 28TH JUNE DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Dressage Area Festival. Tel: 01708 687550 DRESSAGE Essex: Wix EC; Evening Dressage. Tel: 01255 870744

66

DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud: British Dressage. Tel: 07879 881755 DRESSAGE Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07557 091008 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Evening Novice Showjumping. Tel: 01449 711962 SATURDAY 29TH JUNE CAR BOOT SALE Beds: Twin Trees EC; Car Boot Sale, sellers 10am, buyers 11am. Tel: 01767 627414 DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; British Dressage BYRDS Inter Regionals. Tel: 01234 708400 DRESSAGE Essex: Bluegate Hall Dressage; British Dressage. Tel: 07527 482847 DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Dressage Area Festival. Tel: 01708 687550 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Forest Edge Arena; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01760 722616 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Easton & Otley College; British Dressage. Tel: 01603 732316 ENDURANCE Suffolk. Poplar Park, Woodbridge. National and Pleasure rides. Tel: 07917 206166.

SHOWING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud: Showing Show. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands Arena; Junior British Showjumping.

Tel: 07545 010770 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07557 091008 SUNDAY 30TH JUNE DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; British Dressage BYRDS Inter Regionals. Tel: 01234 708400 DRESSAGE Beds: Twin Trees EC; Quest Dressage. Tel: 01767 627414 DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Dressage Area Festival. Tel: 01708 687550 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Easton & Otley College; British Dressage. Tel: 01603

732316 ENDURANCE Suffolk. Poplar Park, Woodbridge. National and Pleasure rides. Tel: 07917 206166.

ONE DAY EVENT Essex: Harolds Park Farm; Mini One Day Event. Tel: 07775 516945 SHOWING Suffolk: The Jays; Showing Show. Tel: 07759 603120 SHOWING Essex. Dengie Hundred Horse Society. Purleigh Barns Farm.

Tel: 07896 164837

SHOWJUMPING Essex: Codham Park EC; Unaffiliated Fun Showjumping. Tel: 07769 907076 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud: Unaffiliated Showjumping.

Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Novice Unaff. Show Jumping Show – Fletchers Farm Riding School, Fordham, Colchester. www.fletchersfarm.co.uk or 01206 242210

SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: The Jays; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 07759 603120 SHOWJUMPING Colchester: Novice Unaff. Fletchers Farm Riding School, Fordham. www.fletchersfarm.co.uk Tel: 01206 242210 TUESDAY 2ND JULY SHOWJUMPING Essex: Codham Park EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07769 907076 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud: Senior British Showjumping.

Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07557 091008 WEDNESDAY 3RD JULY SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Showjumping. Tel: 01708 687550 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 01708 687550708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Wix EC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 01255 870744 THURSDAY 4TH JULY

www.agrocotrailers.co.uk

SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07557 091008 FRIDAY 5TH JULY DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud: British Dressage. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Evening Open Showjumping.

Tel: 01449 711962 SATURDAY 6TH JULY ARENA EVENTING Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Arena Eventing. Tel: 07557 091008 DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; British Dressage. Tel: 01234 708400 DRESSAGE Essex: Fletchers Farm; Dressage. Tel: 01206 242210 DRESSAGE Suffolk: Centaur Trust; Affiliated and Unaffiliated Dressage.

Tel: 07881 802129 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 01708 687550 SUNDAY 7TH JULY ARENA EVENTING Essex: Codham Park EC; Arena Eventing. Tel: 07769 907076 DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; British Dressage Inter County. Tel: 01234 708400 DRESSAGE Cambs: Fenning Farm EC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07875 044829 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud: Affiliated and Unaffiliated Dressage.

Tel: 07879 881755 DRESSAGE Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01449 711962 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Cambs: Grey Fern Park EC; Unaffiliated Showjumping.

Tel: 07879 492068 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Showjumping. Tel: 01708 687550 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Brampton EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07824 344072