Absolute Horse - March 2018

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F

E M K ’M C -I !

PI P EE U R

Absolute

MARCH 2018

It’s

Show Time!

PLUS

...LOTS MORE MOTHER’S DAY GIFT IDEAS INSIDE!

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MARCH

2018 ISSUE 320

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11

33

42

Read Sarah Gairdner’s Ride Like feature on page 54.

Photo: Lorraine Porter Photography: www.lorraineporter.photo deck.com

REGULARS 4 News NEW Ariat ‘Share Your 6 Snaps’ 7 Sophie Callahan’s Shoot of the Month - Vigo 33 NEW Catch up with Gaby Lucas 60 Vets Directory

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Classifieds Showdates

COMPETITIONS & GIVEAWAYS 11 East Anglian Game & Country Fair 31 Ruff & Tumble Apron 33 Equitheme 37 Aniwell READER OFFERS 41 EFECS reader offer 68 Golden Paste Company sample offer

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...

INSIDE

WHAT’S

FEATURES 8 Show Time 16 Nutrition 28 Laminitis 30 Buyer’s Guide: Mother’s Day Edit 34 Health & Welfare 44 Meet Joe Wolter 46 Electric Fencing Low-down 50 Saddlery & Tack 52 Ride Like: Lara Edwards 54 Ride Like: Sarah Gairdner 56 Ride Like: Jayne Ross

01473 731220

office@ahmagazine.com

www.issuu.com

facebook.com/Absolute-Horse

#abfabnagmag

www.absolutehorsemagazine.com

PCD Media ( East Anglia) Ltd, Home Barn, Grove Hill, Belstead, Ipswich, Suffolk IP8 3LS

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NEWS

Katie receiving her Award from Chris Hewlett. Photo: Craig Payne Photography

Katie Jane Scott was the recipient of the Haddon Training Equine Apprentice Award, presented to her by Christ Hewlett, Haddon Training Managing Director at the recent British Breeders Awards Dinner.

One of the criteria stipulations for the award was that their employer could only nominate the apprentice and in Katie’s case this was Tori Desborough of TT Sporthorses, based in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, where Katie started as a 14year-old Saturday worker. Upon leaving school, Katie went to work for Tori full time as a level 2 Equine Apprentice, where she further developed her skills and experience that has now enabled her to move up to a level 3 Apprenticeship, which has been designed for the job role requirements of a senior groom.

The Shetland Pony Welfare Trust is a registered charity just outside of Cambridge, originally set up to rescue and rehabilitate Shetland ponies. However they now open their doors to all equine breeds.

“We currently have over 30 horses and ponies in our care and a further twenty ponies have been rehomed on our fetyday foster care scheme. We receive no government funding and #nationalequestriansa rely on public donations. All our staff and Trustees are March 24th heralds the return of volunteers.

National Equestrian Safety Day, a safety awareness day aimed specifically “On Sunday 4th February at Litlington Village Hall we organised a charity car boot sale to raise funds We raised an at the equestrian community.

Rosemary Lang, Administrator and Fund amazing £583.86 and special thanks go to Hill View Farm Shop, Kneesworth and Bed-Down for their support.”

Co-ordinator at the Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund explains: “As the clocks go forward, more riders return to the saddle and the competition season starts. This day is to remind equestrians to stay safe around horses at all times and also to raise awareness of our valuable work and the continuing need for equestrians to support us so that we can help you, should you ever need us.”

Quick reminder...

Tickets are available online for two of East Anglia’s horse trials. Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International runs on Easter weekend, from Thursday 29th- Saturday 31st March. Also enjoying a Bank Holiday weekend, Saracen Horse Feeds Houghton International takes place from 24th - 27th May. www.musketeer.co.uk

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CELEBRATING

THE BEST

The equestrian industry turned out in style to celebrate the winners of the 2018 BETA Business Awards, which were announced during the British Equestrian Trade Association’s annual Gala Dinner, at the National Motorcycle Museum recently. The locally-based winners included...

EQUINE CAREERS SALES REPRESENTATIVE OF THE YEAR Winner: Patrick Robertson, Allen & Page, Norfolk TSM SOCIAL MEDIA AWARD 15 Hours and Under Winner: Simple System Horse Feeds, Suffolk SEIB RETAILER OF THE YEAR Runner-up: Westleigh’s Saddlery & Country Clothing – Ramsden Bellhouse, Essex Online/Mail Order Retailer Winner: Feedmark, Norfolk (See more on page 24) CERIS BURNS EQUESTRIAN EXPORT AWARD Winner: Dengie Crops, Essex.

The Pony Club Endurance Championships will be held at Euston Park in Suffolk on Sunday 19th August as part of the Nationals Day of the HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup Festival - The UK Endurance Masters. This will provide Pony Club Members with an incredible opportunity to be part of an international event.

BIG

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AND THE WINNER IS...Barrow Farm RDA! We are pleased to announce that Barrow Farm RDA, Chelmsford, has been voted as the winner of our recent ‘We Love Charity’ feature.

Thank you to the hundreds of you that cast your votes online.

Barrow Farm RDA will now receive a bedding donation from Phillips Brothers Woodshavings and we will cover the story in a future edition.

SPECIALIST HORSE STEPS IN BRECKLAND BEAUTY SPOT A set of specialist horse steps has opened up an inaccessible bridleway along the Little Ouse Path in the heart of the Brecks on the Norfolk/Suffolk border between Santon Downham and Brandon.

Work has seen a set of steep concrete steps removed and replaced with new bridleway steps making Before the route which follows a former tow path easily ridable.

A 550m section of the path along the riverbank has also been levelled and re-surfaced.

This work has helped to stabilise this very popular route, which was narrow, uneven, slippery, and prone to flooding.

After

December/January Competition Winners: Abbey England: Laura Burton, Suffolk. Equisafety: Angela Rayner, Suffolk; Alexis Smith, Suffolk. Horseborne: Abbi Lepley, Nottinghamshire, Cathy Evans, Essex; Hannika CoatesMelton, Suffolk; Serena Allery, Cambridgeshire. Horsehage: Coral Blew, Essex, Eilish Lawler, Suffolk; Jessica Zampi, Suffolk, Linda Rowell, Suffolk. Life of Riley: Rebecca Needham, Cambridgeshire. Ruff & Tumble: L Gurnham, Suffolk.

DISCOUNT ! 14TH APRIL WSAETUEK AY RD

LSATURDAY 7TH APRI

95% of new stock will be discounted!

Extra discounts on selective products on selective days!

Free pair of ARIAT boots of your choice to the value of £300 to be won...plus lots of great prizes!

Free tea coffee and cake all week!

FOLLOW U S FACEBOO ON K FO DISCOUN R T UPDATES

Sandons Saddlery

Bintree road, Foulsham, dereham, norFolk nr20 5rl tel: 01362 683383 www.sandonssaddlery.com

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SADDLE SNAPS

SADDLE

SNAPS

Our new competition where each month an Absolute Horse reader will win a pair of

ARIAT BURFORD BOOTS

worth over £130!

nt kind “Watching a differe !” of horsepower on TV

- Chantal Wootten

“Styling It Out!”

WINNER! - Claire Goug

h

Sponsored by

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

snaps@ ahmagazine.com

Don't forget to include your contact details and a caption to your pic...best pic/caption wins the boots...

Good luck!

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- Julia Prentice "I'm not sure if this rug is me - does it come in another colour?"

- Sylvia Mary

Janes

“Quick, there’s something nasty on my wheels Mum!”

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“Pretty please can I have one more treat, I have been a very good boy!”

- Katrina Hall

Shofotohet Month

Katie Evans and Vigo

“Learning to read so I can perfect my dressage test!

Spook at B and leap across to X I’ve got the brains as well as the beauty you know!”

A

n

“Please sir..... can I have some more?!” Tegan White

t the beginning of February, Katie Evans and I chose a freezing cold, but gorgeously sunny day for her beautiful winter shoot, over in Writtle.

Katie has ridden sidesaddle since the age of six, including winning National Junior Side Saddle Equitation Champion when she was younger and she’s currently working towards her Side Saddle Association teaching exams, so I was so excited to meet these guys, as my previous side saddle shots are often amongst my most favourite images!

I just love the timelessness and class of the side saddle turn-out. It’s such an elegant sport and Katie tells me that she is passionate about promoting the art of side-saddle and introducing new riders to it.

Katie owns the very dapper Vigo, or Galliano III

www.sophiecallahanphotography.com Blog: www.sophiecallahanblog.com

as he’s better known. Vigo is a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood and boasts a very successful showing career as a Small Riding Horse and Intermediate Show Riding Type. Katie has had Vigo for two and a half years and does a bit of everything with him. They take part in side saddle displays, together and she says he absolutely loves to show off to the crowd.

Most recently, this season Katie and Vigo won their Side Saddle Area Points Championship and they have recently introduced him to dressage which he is really enjoying.

Huge thank you to Katie, her lovely mum and of course to Vigo, for having me and for showing off their stunning side saddle turnout for me.

Despite the random flurry of snow and the freezing temperatures, it was an absolute pleasure.

Sophie x

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CLINICS

SHOW TIME

SHOWS, WHERE TO GO, GETTING THE GLOW!

TSR Showing Clinics are fun and friendly for ALL levels of rider and any type of horse and pony - a great place to practice and gain confidence to WOW the Judges!

You may even get talent spotted for the TSR Training Pathway and your chance to be selected for the TSR/HOYS Showing Master Class.

Everyone receives 10% off Smart Grooming products and a Baileys Horse Feeds voucher!

Anyone can attend a clinic.

It’s £25 for BRC and TSR members, £35 non members. www.theshowing register.co.uk

For the first time ever, Hickstead is offering free admission on the Thursday of the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting.

Following in the footsteps of the successful introduction of a ‘shopping day’ at other equestrian events, Hickstead will be allowing free general admission entry to spectators on the Thursday of the show, which is the first day of international competition.

“We have more than 150 trade stands in the Charles Owen Shopping Village at our June meeting, and we want to encourage as many visitors as possible to come along and browse the fabulous selection of shops,” says Hickstead Director Lizzie Bunn.

A small booking charge will apply plus a £10 charge per vehicle for car parking, and tickets and parking must be reserved online in advance.

Nigel Coupe, winner of the 2017 Al Shira'aa Derby.

Photo: Craig Payne

AL SHIRA’AA HICKSTEAD DERBY MEETING 21ST-24TH JUNE

Colour !

Crush

EQUERRY BOLESWORTH INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW 13TH -17TH JUNE The event combines top-level dressage and showjumping competitions with luxury shopping, champagne, cocktails and fun family entertainment, World class sport and a brilliant line up.

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Are you looking for a fantastic day or evening out, watching the leading names in the world of dressage and showjumping, in a stunning setting while eating delicious food?

The Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show provides the answer.

The four-star level showjumping and three-star level dressage spectacular takes place in the grounds of Bolesworth Castle, Cheshire.

View the showjumping and dressage in style from the ringside luxury VIP marquee. Packages start at £100. www.bolesworthinternational.com

Super Gold Shampoo for palominos, duns and light chestnut horses, Super Red to get your chestnut and bay horses shining, Super White to brighten and highlight all shades of grey and Super Black for any dark bay, brown or black horses. www.animal-health.co.uk

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SHOW TIME

ALL THE PRIZES!

SHINE ON!

L

et your turnout shine this summer and dazzle the Judges with these perfect turnout tips from purveyors of the finest equine brushware, Renwick & Sons.

even on the morning of the show, make sure you really rinse out the shampoo and don’t use conditioner if you want to plait.

Gaining Perfect Marks Quarter marks can be the perfect finishing touch to your horse’s turnout but think about the Practice Makes Perfect All fingers and thumbs when it type, shape and placement of them. Some horses suit less comes to your plaits? Then rather than more and dependent make sure you get a few on your horses’ breed, the practice runs in before show classes you’re competing in and day. Sewn-in plaits also look much more professional (and his or her conformation, these will all be factors to consider. are more likely to stay put for the whole show day) than Giving You The Slip elastic bands.

Our show riders find that our brushes help promote that Soap Drama Ideally, you want to give your gorgeous natural coat bloom, but if you are planning on using horse a full bath a couple of a coat shine product avoid your days before and then ‘spot wash’ dirty patches on the day girth and saddle area, you don’t want to be slipping and sliding of the show. Washing his mane the day before will make all over the place. it harder to grip and plait, and Be Prepared it’s essential you remove all Make sure you have your soap suds. Otherwise, it will be grooming kit to hand to remove impossible to plait neatly! If mud, dust and dirt before you you do have to give your horse head off into the ring. A soft a full bath the day before or brush, such as our Finishing

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Brush is perfect for that last minute sweep over before your horse steps into the ring.

A last minute quick wipe over with a clean damp cloth around eyes, nose, mouth and then finally the riders’ boot soles, ensure that you and your horse are good to go!

Good luck this season! www.renwickandsons.co.uk Renwick & Sons have announced their new partnership with The British Grooms Association, an organisation committed to supporting members in their careers as grooms.

Harry Hall is inviting riding clubs and shows to apply to the firm for prize sponsorship.

If you’re running an annual show for which you need some prizes, or would like to give out a Special Award to a dedicated volunteer, Harry Hall may be able to help provide prizes.

Harry Hall will provide vouchers to redeem on its website www.harryhall.com.

“We have always tried to help out shows, clubs and charities with prizes wherever we can,” explains Marketing and Sales Director Rachel Bowles. “This is taking things to the next level in a way that will benefit more riders and organisers while helping us to spread the word about our products and benefits.” https://harryhall.com/blog/ post/sponsor-our-prizes to find out more, at least eight weeks ahead of your event or show.

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SHOW TIME Quick Knot clips create beautiful plaits. The clip is as easy to put in, as it is to remove, even for children. www.quickknot.co.uk

Equetech Regency Show Breeches are styled in a timeless rich honey coloured technical stretch woven twill, and feature a clever Equetech silicone knee detail for extra grip in the saddle.

RRP:£83.50. www.equetech.com Botanica 5-in-1 MultiPurpose Spray This anti-static spray conditions, shines and detangles, giving that extra sheen and resulting in a smooth and sleek coat. RRP: £12.99. www.botanica.ie

Equetech’s Foxbury Tweed Riding Jacket features slanted flap pockets with an internal zip pocket, and is cut to flatter your silhouette.

RRP: £152.50. www.equetech.com

CoolDown is a new herbal after workout rinse made with 12 herbs and essential oils that gently cools and refreshes tired horses.

Includes rosemary oil, peppermint oil, lavender oil, aloe vera juice, arnica extract and sassafras oil. www.facebook.com/ AbsorbineUK

Shapley’s Hi Gloss Finishing Spray is a light oil based spray used to highlight, accentuate and condition your horse’s coat, muscles and features. RRP: £14.95.

Available from Shapley's retailers and online.

New from Shadow Horse are the Winner's Circle brush sets. RRP: £45. www.shadowhorse.co.uk

Kendron Pro Paddock boots are made from a premium calf leather upper, with a leather lining.

RRP: £169.99.

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The Kendron Half Chaps oiled leather inner calf panel provides exceptional grip and durability, and the mobility curve enhances flexibility. RRP: £149.99.

Both www.ariat.com

O-Mega Shine is a vegetable-based cold pressed oil that helps to achieve and maintain a show winning coat. Scurf Off is a specially formulated shampoo that assists with dry scurfy coats. Contains rosemary oil to sooth and rehydrate. www.animalhealth.co.uk

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Champion CPX Supreme A traditional velvet hat suitable for showing.

Featuring a slim profile lightweight injection moulded ABS shell, covered in British PAS 015 the finest quality velvet with 2011, VG1. British crown comfort padding in Kitemarked to PAS poly/satin finish, with lining in 015 2011. hi tech moisture wicking material for superb comfort. A four point padded flesh colour harness in super soft leather with rear lacing adjustment and a quick release traditional stainless-steel hook fastening buckle, with a shock absorbing peak.

Colours: Black, navy, brown*, green* and ruby.* Sizes/RRPs: 6 - 6** (51-55cm) £146; 6 7/8 – 7 (56-63cm) £175. *Special order ** VAT exempt www.championhats.co.uk Helite Hunt Coat - the first hunt coat offering Helite Airbag protection with a traditional look.

Protection for the back, pelvis, chest and neck as well as preventing impact injuries.

Available as a complete jacket with inner air bag, or just as an outer to add to your Helite air bag.

RRP: £510 complete with the Helite airbag or £195 for the outer jacket to zip onto the Helite Air bag. www.helite.co.uk Shapley’s Easy Out No Rinse Shampoo removes coat stains, dust or dirt whilst adding shine.

RRP: £16.95.

Available from Shapley's retailers and online.

Equetech Waffle Capped Show Shirt Technical, breathable, wicking and quick drying show shirt with contemporary styling.

RRP:£34.50. www.equetech.com

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Ride like...

SHOW TIME: TUTORIAL

SIMON REYNOLDS

LEADING SHOW RIDER SIMON REYNOLDS IS NO STRANGER TO COMPETING AND KNOWS HOW CHALLENGING THE DISCIPLINE CAN BE. IN THIS ISSUE SIMON PROVIDES SOME HELPFUL ADVICE ON...

HOW TO IMPROVE

TRANSITIONS

n the world of showing, moving up and down the gaits needs to look fluent and effortless so practicing transitions regularly at home is key.

The horse’s balance and obedience also benefit with practising transitions and as a rider they develop your effectiveness.

‘Practice makes perfect’, is one of the oldest sayings and it is 100 per cent true. Eventually perfect transitions will become second nature to the horse which should then follow

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through at competitions.

Hacking is a great place to do some transitions because both you and your horse will be more relaxed and moving forward, schooling doesn’t always have to be in the arena.

Communication is key between horse and rider when moving through the gaits successfully, and with any discipline not just showing, thinking ahead allows you time to set up, prepare and then carry out the transition.

If you hurry a transition it can be harder for both the horse and rider to move efficiently, thus

Simon at North of England Show 2014

resulting in the movement looking unbalanced and out of rhythm.

For upward transitions, from walk to trot and trot to canter, the rider should maintain a contact and increase the lower leg to ask the horse to move forward to the desired pace. If there is little response to the question being asked, more lower leg or a touch with the spurs may be needed.

With repetition, gradually your horse will learn to move with the smallest aid, but it is key to repeat this exercise as

miscommunication with upward transitions can result in disobedience from the horse and laziness.

You will also get a delayed response if your contact on the rein is too strong and the horse will be confused whether you are asking him to move forward or wait with the hand. So, have a soft hand and look for a crisp reaction forward when you close your leg.

For the downward transition, the rider’s position can help with slowing down. Horses respond well to riders using their seat

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Simon and Morrow's Marksman

and shifting their weight.

By relaxing and dropping your weight downwards into the saddle this should signal to your horse to slow down. If your horse is responding, you are able to keep your leg

Simon and Natalie join Fibre-Beet team

wrapped round on to their sides.

This will keep the downward transition fluent and harmonious.

If there is no response to your aid when shifting your weight, gently close your hands to finish the question and movement.

By not using your hand first means there is less of a chance of an abrupt movement or the horse lifting his head.

There are a number of exercises to help with transitions such as riding down the centre line or three-quarter line in trot and make a downward transition to walk for a few strides and then back up to trot.

This is a great exercise to test straightness as well.

Practising transitions on a circle is also beneficial as the rider needs to be able to keep the circle formation. If you find it quite easy through walk and trot, incorporate the canter as well.

Even just asking your horse to move from working trot to a couple of strides of a collected trot, and then back to working, is a great way for the rider to perfect smaller/subtle aids.

Once you feel you have grasped transitions and you and your horse have good communication, the competition ring should be much easier. If you know you have done the homework, then you and your horse should be confident in your abilities.

Why Simon Reynolds Feeds Fibre-Beet

Fibre-Beet helps to maintain good condition for all of Team Reynolds horses, throughout training and during the busy competition season.

It is a Super Fibre conditioning feed that is a formulated blend containing all the benefits of the original Speedi-Beet product, with added high-quality Alfalfa for optimum condition and to provide quality protein for muscle tone and function.

Alfalfa can help with topline and that extra finishing touch for competition horses, or simply in maintaining weight and a healthy, shiny coat.

Unlike some cereal-based feeds, Fibre-Beet offers an excellent source of highly digestible fibre in a soaked form and provides slow release energy without the ‘fizz’.

Keep up to date with Team Reynolds Showing throughout the season or find out more about FibreBeet at www.britishhorse feeds.com

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NUTRITION

G

rooming products can add gloss and finishing touches but you really can’t beat the ‘shine from within’ that comes from a healthy balanced diet.

A Balance of Nutrients Soft supple skin and a shiny coat are both external signs that a horse is receiving all the nutrients he needs for good health and well-being, with no one nutrient being more responsible than another. It is rare for modern pasture or forage to supply all these necessary nutrients which is why supplementary feeding is recommended, be it in the form of a broad spectrum supplement, a balancer or compound feed. Supplementing with one nutrient, without heed to the overall nutritional balance of a horse’s diet, may not bring the desired results.

Hallmark IX HOYS 2013 Supreme Horse Of The Year

efficiency so the horse is able to obtain more of the nutrients from his forage too. Horses who require calories in addition to those supplied by forage, are best fed the recommended amount of a suitably formulated compound feed to achieve a fully balanced diet.

Added Extras Once the ‘base diet’ is fully balanced we can then consider Achieving the Balance ‘added extras’ to Your horse’s energy make doubly sure requirements will dictate your the horse has all he choice but, whatever you elect to needs to produce feed alongside forage, you healthy skin and should feed it at the hair. Extra help manufacturer’s recommended may be particularly levels in order to achieve a fully beneficial when the balanced diet. For horses whose coat is changing in energy (calorie) requirements are the spring and met by forage alone, a good autumn and the most quality feed balancer is the obvious addition is oil, perfect way to supply all the commonly fed as essential nutrients a horse needs straight vegetable oil without the additional calories or cooked linseed. Oils associated with a mix or cube. are made up of Preferable to a vitamin and component fatty acids mineral supplement because which may be digested they also supply quality protein, and used as an energy balancers often contain a source or be combined with digestive enhancer, like a yeast or other molecules involved in prebiotic, which encourages gut body structure and function.

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Just like amino acids, some fatty acids are essential and must be provided in the diet, the most widely known ones being Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are directly incorporated into cell walls, including those of the skin, whilst other fatty acids are involved in the production of natural oily substances which lubricate the skin and hair and give it a healthy shine.

Omegas Not all oils are equal with, for example, soya oil being rich in Omega 6 fatty acids and linseed in Omega 3s, and research has shown that an optimum balance is necessary for them to work beneficially in the body. There are several high oil supplements on the market some of which provide a blend of oils from different sources and therefore a mix of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. One or two

aim to provide a more precise balance of fatty acids and ideally they should also contain additional antioxidant vitamins and minerals to counter the free radicals produced during the metabolism of the oil.

Final Polish This gives high oil supplements an advantage over straight oil, which can be messy and unpalatable, or micronised linseed which is comparatively low in oil and calories, but whatever method you choose to increase your horse’s oil intake, the main diet should be fully balanced first. Like all changes to the diet, adding oil should be done gradually to give the horse’s system time to adapt then, with a full balance of nutrients plus a little oil, you’ll simply need to polish with a soft cloth! www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk

’ n i m o o l B

Marvellous!

By Baileys Horse Feeds

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NUTRITION

Mollichaff Condition Complete is a highly digestible, high fibre, high oil and low starch complete feed containing a balanced blend of alfalfa, dried grass, oat straw, fibre pellets, barley, soya flakes, soya oil and mint as well as Yeasacc and a prebiotic, plus vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

Soya oil provides essential fatty acids to help improve skin condition and encourage a healthy, glossy coat. www.horsehage.co.uk

Mollichaff ShowShine is high in oil for ultimate show condition and is cherry-flavoured, providing a delicious taste and smell to ensure it is highly palatable.

Made from the highest quality oat straw that has been chopped and dust extracted, it is naturally high in fibre. To give extra bloom to the coat and that added condition it contains a unique coating which combines high levels of soya oil with low sugar molasses. www.horsehage.co.uk

Topspec Super Conditioning Flakes improve condition, provide balanced calories and protein for performance, provide a balance of fast-releasing energy with oil for stamina, and reduce the weight of current hard feed intake without reducing performance or condition. www.topspec.com

Equerry Conditioning Cubes and Equerry Conditioning Mix have been scientifically formulated to provide your horse with the calories and quality protein they need to promote muscle development, gain weight and improve topline.

Conditioning Cubes and Mix provide a good source of fibre and contain high levels of oil to promote condition and a shiny coat. www.equerryhorsefeeds.com

Award winning Hood Show Team...

The award winning Hood Show Team has become Brand Ambassadors of Feedmark, a leading producer of science-based equine supplements.

Allister, Anne and their son Oliver Hood are leading producers and have produced no less than 82 Horse of the Year Show winners and countless county show Champions.

Last season’s notable wins include Oliver riding Annabel Jenks’ large riding horse of the year, Diamonds Are Forever to take the HOYS Supreme Horse of the Year title 2017. This marked a double victory for Diamonds Are Forever, who qualified with Allister when he went Supreme at the Royal International Horse Show. For the second year on the run, Allister also won the Colosso Family Heavyweight Cob of the Year championship at HOYS, riding Caroline Tyrell’s Our Cashel Blue.

Based at Buttons Farm on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, the Hoods produce a wide range of horses and ponies including Lead Rein Ponies, Show Ponies, Hacks, Cobs, Riding Horses and Hunters.

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Smart Linseed is pre-cooked so that it can be fed to your horse straight from the bag. Linseed is high in oil and will promote healthy skin and will help with a high shine to his coat.

Omega 3 fatty acids are thought to also play an important role in helping to maintain immune function and to support repair processes.

RRP: £16.99. www.castlehorsefeeds.com

Providing elevated energy and protein, Condition & Show Cubes are suitable for horses and ponies needing extra condition and those in regular, more intense work. The low starch formulation offers controlled performance without excitability, while the fully balanced vitamin and mineral profile supports health and condition.

RRP: £8.99. www.castlehorsefeeds.com

Fibre-Beet is a formulated blend containing all the benefits of the original Speedi-Beet product, with added high quality Alfalfa for optimum condition and to provide quality protein for muscle tone and function.

Alfalfa can help with topline and that extra finishing touch for show horses, or simply in maintaining weight and a healthy, shiny coat.

British Horse Feeds sponsored rider Simon Reynolds said: “Fibre-Beet helps to maintain good condition for all of my horses, throughout training and during the busy competition season.”

RRP: £12.65 - £13.60. www.britishhorsefeeds.com

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NUTRITION id you know your horses skin is the largest organ in the whole body, comprising 1224% of their body weight? And did you also know that it serves many purposes, some of which you might never have thought of?

For example, skin provides the main line of defence against harmful pathogens, insects and disease. It enables a horse to feel hot and cold and regulate his body temperature accordingly, secretes natural oils, excretes waste products, synthesises Vitamin D and contains sensory cells that allow your horse to

D

important roles include: copper, magnesium and zinc. Zinc, particularly is needed for skin cell reproduction, maintenance and repair. Vitamins associated with skin production and maintenance include Vitamin A, Start with a fibre Vitamin E, which also gives focused, balanced diet important antioxidant support, Your horse’s skin is made up of 3 and B vitamins. main layers - the epidermis Biotin is a B vitamin essential for (outside layer), dermis (middle normal skin growth and repair inside layer) and the deeper and it is produced by the many hypodermis, which connects the billions of microbes living in the skin to structures underneath. horses’ hindgut. They thrive on And this is an important fibre, so providing plenty of consideration – that the skin is good-quality fibre and forage not only an external covering but will help enhance skin health by also extends inside the body, keeping those microbes happy which means that what is and productive. A diet high in going on inside the body fibre means a healthy digestive intrinsically affects what is system and this in turn will boost going on in the skin. the health of your horses’ skin.

A balanced diet is the key to Provide quality protein whole body health and, therefore, to supple, healthy Skin is primarily made of protein.

There are 3 types of protein in skin - which itself needs certain vitamins and skin – keratin, which provides minerals to function structure and integrity in the well. Minerals epidermis, collagen which is an that have important component of connective tissue in the dermis, and melanin which is responsible for skin pigmentation.

Protein is essential for good health. A good-quality source of protein which contains the essential amino acids needed to build keratin and collagen is best. Look for feeds containing quality protein from soya and linseed. respond to the light touch of a fly! So, it’s important to ensure the skin is well cared for, and the healthier the skin the more resistant it becomes against infection and disease.

FEEDING FOR OPTIMUM SKIN HEALTH

More Than Skin Deep

Supply the correct Omega Balance Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are important to help enhance skin

By Lisa Elliot MSc, Castle Horse Feeds equine nutritionist 20

suppleness and condition. They both help to resist infections and allergic reactions, but the skin is healthiest when they are supplied in the correct balance.

Omega 3 is needed in greater amounts in the body but quite often the horse’s diet can contain higher levels of omega 6, which could potentially result in increased inflammation within the body and lead to skin inflammation. Omega 3 fatty acids have been specifically shown to decrease inflammation and improve inflammatory allergic skin conditions. Linseed meal is a useful source of Omega 3 fatty acids so is a great way of getting higher levels into the diet for improved health.

Additionally, grass has a higher ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 so ensuring your horse gets plenty of grazing can also help.

Don’t forget water!

You can feel the difference in your own skin when you don’t drink enough and it’s no different for your horse.

Providing clean, fresh water will help keep him hydrated, and adding 1-2 tablespoons of salt per day to your horse’s feed should help stimulate thirst to boost water intake. www.castlehorsefeeds.com

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NUTRITION

A

t 19-years of age, Smokin Gun also known as Gunner is showing absolutely no signs of wanting to slow down.

Explains Rebecca: “Gunner has continued to demonstrate his consistency and versatility across the disciplines, as well as his remarkable soundness and toughness all of which are characteristics rightly celebrated in the Connemara pony.

“My daughter Bethany and Gunner have notched up an impressive BE record despite the inconvenience of A Levels during last summer.”

The duo finished third in the BE South West U21 leagues, and fourth in the Pony Club Area Eventing League both of which boasted well in excess of 300 combinations.

GUNNER WINS HERE WE TALK TO REBECCA HAMILTON-FLETCHER ABOUT THE FAMILY’S AMAZING CONNEMARA PONY, GUNNER.

PRESTIGIOUS CONNEMARA AMBASSADOR AWARD Their dressage has continued to impress, and they appear to hold the 'unofficial record' of being the only known combination to have successfully represented

FEEDING THE

Competition Horse 22

their Pony Club at Area and Championship dressage across the four levels; from Juniors when they were both twelve years of age, right through to

Open (Elementary) level. As a result of this great achievement they are to feature on the revamped main Pony Club website, “Which is quite an

A number of factors influence your horse’s ability to perform, including their genetic talent and fitness. However the right diet can help to provide that competitive edge.

One of the biggest challenges in feeding sports horses is balancing the need for sufficient fibre but at the same time providing enough energy for performance. Even horses in hard work require a diet based on fibre and for the majority this is met by feeding preserved forages (i.e. hay or haylage).

The energy demands of exercise mean that the hard-working horses will require a more calorie-rich feed. However, the best source of calories will depend on the type of work your horse is doing and their individual temperament. Cereals are digested in the small intestine and provide what is commonly known as ‘fast-releasing’ energy. Cereal based feeds, such as Equerry Sports Mix, are ideal for horses needing a bit more ‘oomph’ or those competing in short-duration disciplines (e.g. showjumping). However, Equerry Performance Cubes are more appropriate for horses that tend to be overly-excitable or those competing in stamina activities (e.g. eventing or endurance) as the energy is provided by more ‘gradual-releasing’ energy sources (i.e. fibre and oil).

Another major nutrient needed is protein, which is made up of chains of amino acids. Protein is essential for the development of muscle strength and topline, as well as being important for the repair of muscle damage.

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honour,” said Rebecca.

“Bethany and Gunner have also been invaluable school team members at various NSEA National Championships, culminating with a spectacular win in the Eventers Challenge Championship at Hickstead.

The event saw Gunner jump two fast clear rounds in both the 95cm and 1.05m finals.

“They also helped their school to unexpected success at the NSEA National Showjumping finals at Royal Windsor,” said Rebecca.

The pair only managed to fit in two WHP shows, ending up Champions at BSPS Area 11.

As Bethany begins the next chapter of her life at University, Rebecca has dusted off her own

eventing gear and taken up the competitive reins once again.

“We attended the British Connemara Pony Society Annual Performance Awards event and Gunner won the overall best Ambassador of the Breed, which we are thrilled with, especially at his age. He was the only pony to get over 10,000 points.”

Gunner has been fed on a TopSpec feed regime for many years and he is fed TopSpec Senior Feed Balancer, TopChop Grass and TopSpec UlsaKind Cubes.

The horse can make around half of the amino acids they need in their body. However others, known as the essential amino acids, must be supplied in the diet.

Meeting the micronutrient requirements of the competition horse is also imperative as vitamins and minerals are essential for energy metabolism, bone strength and hoof quality.

Equerry Sports Mix/ Performance Cubes contain a complete package of micronutrients, including elevated levels of antioxidants such as vitamin E, which are important to help neutralise the increased free radical production associated with exercise. www.equerryhorsefeeds.co.uk

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NUTRITION

Persistence pays off!

W

e’ve all had scenarios of getting excited about a new type of super healthy feed that is extremely low in sugar, it has rave reviews online and you finally get to try a small amount with your horse - but guess what - he won’t eat it.

Cycling through products based on your horses tastes is akin to letting your child decide exactly what he/she would like to be brought up on nutritionally. Horses (especially those that are stabled), like children, are dependant on us making the

right decisions for them, even though sometimes, given the choice, they won't necessarily agree with these decisions. This is when you need to show a little authority and persist with the right course until things shape up the way that is best for their health.

To continue along the child analogy, like children, horses are sometimes also subject to unnatural amounts of sugar in their modern day diets. From birth they generally become accustomed to sugar through cane molasses in their feeds - and this leads to an underlying desire to eat more of it. Molasses in small amounts is fine, but it is an ingredient which can sometimes be a little ‘overused’ in feed manufacture. Molasses is not the problem here, it is the overuse of molasses - be clear about that.

Nonetheless when you try a feed that contains none at all, such as any Keyflow product, you might find that your horse (child) says give me back the chocolate bar please, I don’t like this broccoli!

How to do it:

1. Mix It When introducing any new feed, the only fair thing to do is mix it thoroughly with something familiar to them.

2. Persist and Insist Be patient and allow them time to get used to it. Mix in with their normal feed, at small amounts over the course of days or even weeks and then persist.

FAMILY

It’s a

AFFAIR!

Feedmark, the producer of sciencebased equine supplements, has won the coveted title of SEIB Retailer of the Year 2018 in the Online/Mail Order Retailer category at The British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) Business Awards.

For over 35 years, Feedmark has supplied innovative supplements and nutritional advice to 70,000 customers, both in the UK and overseas. Founded in Norfolk, by Warwick and Margaret Townsend, the business continues to develop and innovate under the directorship of their son, Chris and daughter in-law, Rebecca.

3. Add and then gradually remove sugar You can wean them off their sweet tooth by adding sugar - we would recommend in the form of honey - and then gradually removing it. www.keyflowfeeds.com

Quick, there’s still time!

Equerry is still running a special promotion throughout the month of March.

Buy four bags of any Equerry product at your local store and get one bag of Equerry Minty Treats absolutely free!

The Equerry horse feed range includes Equerry High Fibre Cubes, Equerry Cool Mix, Equerry Horse & Pony Mix, Equerry Horse & Pony Cubes, Equerry Conditioning Mash, Equerry Conditioning Cubes and Equerry Veteran Mix. Equerry Minty Treats 20kg are £11.50. www.equerryhorsefeeds.com

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NUTRITION

Just chill out! s your horse or pony feeling a little fresh and excitable after the long winter? It’s always important to look at your management routine and environment to ensure that any potential stressful situations are kept to a minimum before relying on a change to the diet.

Fizzy behaviour may also be due to pain from being ridden in poorly fitting tack or from teeth that need attention so this should be checked out too.

Then make sure you feed your horse the correct amount of feed he needs for the work he is

I

doing. It can be easy to overestimate your horse’s workload and feed a product that’s too high in digestible energy.

Mollichaff Calmer Complete is a complete fibre feed formulated for nervous or fizzy horses. It contains a balanced blend of fibre pellets, oat straw, dried grass, herbs, soya oil, limestone and trace elements, and it can be used as the sole bucket feed when fed at the recommended levels as it contains a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement.

It includes elevated levels of

magnesium along with camomile, lemon balm and mint, to help relax your horse, plus vitamins B1 and B12 which are known to help decrease anxiety by exerting a calming influence.

It’s suitable for all horses and ponies, including those prone to laminitis, as it’s low in sugar and starch providing limited controlled energy from high quality, digestible fibre and oilbased ingredients.

Throughout March and April a special promotion is offering £2 off a bag of Mollichaff Calmer Complete (in participating stockists, whilst stocks last), so don’t miss out!

Check out their website for a new competition to win a relaxing spa day for two people including four treatments and afternoon tea! www.horsehage.co.uk

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INTRODUCING

TURMERAID

T

urmeric (Curcuma longa) is known as the orange ingredient used liberally in Indian curries.

Turmeric has a long history of use in both Indian and Chinese traditional Ayvedic medicine, as well as having been used as a textile dye.

“Four years ago I started the Facebook group Turmeric User Group (TUG) to document the therapeutic use of turmeric in humans and all animals and this group passed 254,000 members as of September 2017,” explains Vet Doug English.

Doug continues, “The active ingredients are notoriously difficult to absorb and when

that is achieved they are quickly eliminated. The addition of black pepper is used to markedly slow the excretion of the active curcuminoids and prolong their effect in metabolic pathways. Also these components are not soluble in water but are in oils, short chain fatty acids and alcohol.

Unless these are present when consuming turmeric absorption does not happen.

“There is much scientific evidence (about 8000 scientific citations if one cares to look in the scientific literature) to back up the tens of thousands of anecdotal experiences put forward in this

group over the last four years.

There is also a 3000 year history of these effects in eastern medicine. There is no real negative evidence. Just recently the sceptics TV show Trust Me I’m a Doctor produced real evidence that turmeric included in food had a significant effect on genes associated with inflammation, asthma and some forms of cancer.”

SUMMARY OF ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE OF TURMERIC BENEFITS FROM TUG - SUPPORTED BY SCIENCE

by Doug English B.V.Sc Veterinarian Arthritis: Curcumin inhibits the breakdown of cartilage and has been shown in some studies to be effective in relieving symptoms of arthritis.

Blood pressure: Normalises blood pressure.

Brain health: In addition to the antiinflammatory and antioxidant protection turmeric/curcumin affords against neurodegenerative diseases, Curcumin has been shown to inhibit formation of the plaques between neurons that disrupt brain function.

Cardiovascular effects: Curcumin improves the liver’s ability to clear the body of LDL (’bad’ cholesterol) and increases the proportion of HDL (’good’ cholesterol).

Diabetes: Turmeric is effective at reducing blood

sugar and increases insulin sensitivity and levels serum glucose.

Depression: Mood lifting, mentally energising anecdotes are common in the TUG page.

Gastrointestinal tract: Inhibits the growth of Helicobacter pylon, a bacterium associated with both gastric and duodenal ulcer formation.

Liver health: Turmeric protects the liver from inflammation and improves the function.

Skin, nails and hair growth: Significant reduction of itchiness in skin of humans, horses and dogs. Improves quality of hooves and deepens coat colour in horses. Counteracts sunburn even after redness appears.

Wound healing: Promotes rapid healthy healing.

The Golden Paste Company has announced that its equine product TurmerAid is now available from Battles, making it even easier for retailers and consumers to buy this high quality turmeric based equine supplement.

“The demand for our product continues to rise, and making it easier for people to get hold of and learn about it is really important to us, which is why we’re so pleased to be working with Battles. The company has a great team of ASMs and offers a high level of support to its customers, something we think is really important,” said Janine Kell, Managing Director of The Golden Paste Company.

TurmerAid is a new product that combines turmeric (certified with 5.10% curcumin), linseed oil, cracked black pepper, yucca and apple cider vinegar in one convenient, clean, pelleted product. TurmerAid contains ingredients to support healthy joints, help the integrity of the horse or pony’s natural defence and structural mechanisms, support the processes involved in the inflammation cycle in horses and promote well being and general health. www.goldenpastecompany.com

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LAMINITIS

G

NEW STUDY INVESTIGATES HORSE OWNERS’

KNOWLEDGE

A

new study, supported

by Spillers, in collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), aims to shed light on UK horse owners’ understanding of laminitis and whether or how this may influence their horse management practices.

Ultimately the outcome should help define the most effective ways to convey evidence-based science to horse owners in order to improve equine health and welfare.

Equine laminitis is a painful, debilitating foot condition, often necessitating prolonged treatment or euthanasia. A number of managementrelated modifiable risk factors have been identified, including rapid weight gain, recent box rest and recent introduction to grazing. However, no research has yet been conducted to investigate whether or how such research evidence translates into changes in horse

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care and hence improvements in horse welfare.

The study is being conducted by Chantil Sinclair an epidemiologist at the RVC, supervised by Dr Jackie Cardwell, Dr Nicola Menzie-Gow (RVC) and Dr Carrie Roder (Anglia Ruskin University).

It is supported by Spillers via Waltham, who provide the science underpinning the brand.

Chantil combines a background in human health with a passion for horses and a keen interest in improving access to scientifically supported information.

The study forms part of Chantil’s PhD. She explains: “My key objective is to understand the decision-making process when caring for horses. First, we intend to establish the level of knowledge horse owners have about existing scientific evidence on reducing the risk of laminitis.

We then hope to identify the specific barriers that either hinder awareness or prevent implementation of best practice.”

Chantil will be looking at the

underlying factors that act as barriers or drivers to the acceptance of research evidence and adoption of new practices.

These include attitude, behaviour, technical and cultural factors.

Once a better understanding of such barriers has been established it is intended that laminitis and other health and welfare issues can be addressed with these in mind, to ensure that horses are consistently given the best quality of life possible. The ultimate aim is to improve horse welfare through optimised communication and information exchange between researchers and horse carers and the promotion of evidencebased horse care practices.

rass laminitis typically occurs in the spring when the early flush of grass is rich in water soluble carbohydrates (sugars).

The grass is high in sugar and low in fibre - not the ideal forage type. Most will have had limited turnout over the winter and will want to gorge on the fresh, sweet grass. The sugar responsible for these health issues is Fructan these are non-structural carbohydrates that horses can’t digest and must be broken down by the microorganisms in the hindgut. Therefore horses that are not used to regular turnout and the influx of new grass, or those that are prone to colic and laminitis can easily have their digestive tract upset.

Offering ad lib hay can be beneficial, encouraging the horse to feel more full and therefore less likely to gorge next time they go out. You can reduce sugar content by soaking for 9 hours, followed by 50 to 60 minutes steam in a Haygain steamer.

Alternatively, you may wish to provide your horse’s forage in a Haygain Forager - the natural way to slow the pace a horse eats, reducing the risk of colic, gastric ulcers, obesity and laminitis. www.haygain.co.uk

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IMPROVE GAIT AND COMFORT

Foot fitted with Imprint thermoplastic shoe

A

n independent study has shown that Imprint First can significantly improve the gait, and perceived comfort, in obese ponies.

The in vivo trial carried out by a team led by Janneke Sleutjens at Utrecht University Department of Equine Sciences studied hoof kinetics in a group of ten Shetland ponies both before and after application of the frog-supportive mouldable glue-on shoe. This is the first study to demonstrate a significant effect of body

condition scoring on hoof kinetics.

Ten Shetland mares were divided into two groups of five; normal and obese, and were given a routine foot trim by university farrier Jan de Zwaan. The ponies were led at walk and trot over a force plate and dynamically

Speedi-Beet is a highly nutritious micronized (cooked) beet pulp feed which provides an excellent source of digestible fibre and is ideal for horses and ponies prone to, being treated for, or recovering from laminitis.

Speedi-Beet is also starch free and unmolassed, making it 95% sugar free.

RRP is around £11.65-£12.60. www.britishhorsefeeds.com

calibrated pressure plate immediately following trimming and again 72 hours after the application of the thermo-plastic Imprint First shoes.

Whilst the normal weighted ponies moved more smoothly and evenly, the obese, hyperinsulinaemic, ponies were noted to move more ‘carefully’ by demonstrating a shorter stride and stance phase and increased loading of the heel region compared with the toe at both walk and trot - discomfort commonly associated with a sub clinical stage of laminitis.

Immediately following application of the Imprint shoes the gait within the ‘normal’ group didn’t alter significantly but the obese ponies gait improved with less heel landing and a longer stride and stance phase. During the 72 hours following application of the Imprint Firsts the obese ponies gait improved further and became more fluent and comfortable and similar to the normal weighted ponies. The

TopSpec AntiLam is a pelleted multi-supplement designed to provide 5-way nutritional support for those prone to, being treated for, or recovering from laminitis.

AntiLam is a brilliant formulation combining several supplements with a high-fibre, very low-calorie carrier to make it palatable.

The formula is very low in sugar and starch and cereal-grain-free. Used and recommended by nutritionists, vets and farriers. www.topspec.com

results clearly demonstrate that the fitting of the Imprint Firsts appear to have a beneficial effect in aiding comfort in these obese ponies.

The nail-less Imprint First shoe provides maximum support from its heart-bar design whilst still allowing natural movement of the foot. It is the only mouldable shoe designed specifically for the early treatment of laminitis providing immediate relief and inhibiting descent of P3.

Andrew Poynton FWCF, Managing Director of Imprint Equine Foot Care, said, “This study confirms objectively just some of the effects of using the Imprint System. The research demonstrates that the Imprint shoes can make a significant difference to the obese, potentially sub-clinical laminitic; the results are visible and positive and improve with time.” www.imprintshoes.co.uk

New Equiglo Quick Soak 10 Minute Beet is made from Britishgrown, nonGM unmolassed beet flakes, it is low in sugar and starch, and acts as a natural probiotic for healthy gut function. RRP £9.95. www.equiglohorsefeeds.co.uk

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BUYER’S GUIDE 14ct rose gold vermeil antler design necklace is inspired by the countryside and is decorated with sparkles in cubic zirconia stones.

RRP: £58. www.ladida-andover.com

The Safa Ladies Printed Shirt features a flattering feminine silhouette, made from a beautiful fluid fabric that drapes elegantly and feels silky soft next to the skin. This design has a quirky dog print.

RRP: £60. www.toggi.com

The Day s ’ r e h t o M Edit

Schöffel Country’s Lyndon II fleece gilet in plum. RRP: £139.95. www.schoffel.co.uk

The Norfolk Fedora in Dark Brown (Gamebird Feather) RRP: £89. www.hicksandbrown.com

Eley Cartridge Aga Hob Covers RRP: £16.99. www.countryside greetings.co.uk

Spanish Leather Belts with interchanging buckles. RRP: £55. www.thespanish bootcompany.co.uk

Frill Blouse in White RRP: £59.95. www.oxfordshirt.co.uk Life of Riley Make-Up Case RRP £25. Toiletries Bag RRP: £28. www.lifeofrileyonline.co.uk

Snaffle Bit Bangle in Two Tone RRP: £65. www.equestrian jewellers.co.uk Regina Boot in Tan. RRP: £325. www.fairfaxand favor.com

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Atlas & I Personalised Map Tray created with a personalised vintage map base. RRP: £68. www.atlas-and-i.com

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Knightsbridge Coat in tawny.

RRP: £549. www.hollandcooper.com

Hiho’s Exclusive Sterling Silver and 18ct Rose Gold Vermeil Triple Cherry Roller Snaffle Necklace.

RRP: £95. www.hiho silver.co.uk

WIN! A COTTON TOWELLING APRON FROM

RUFF & TUMBLE!

Sophie Allport Bunny and Seed Mug RRP: £14. www.shopfor shooting.co.uk FourH - London Spice Handbag combines British heritage with style.

RRP: £349.99. www.fourh.co.uk The Cora Ladies Printed Shirt features an elegant horse bit print for an added touch of style and subtle tonal embroidery.

RRP: £60. www.toggi.com

The Tetbury: Dotty Edition belt is made using premium quality cowhide.

RRP: £64.99. www.mackenzieand george.com Navy Leather Weekender Bag. RRP: £299. www.lifeofriley online.co.uk

The Signature Navy Messenger Bag has full grain English bridle leather for fixings. RRP: £145. www.katenegus.com

Made from the signature Ruff and Tumble double layer of cotton towelling, the apron affords maximum protection and is highly absorbent – perfect for tackling dirt and grease.

Use this must-have lifestyle apron for bathing your dogs, drying wet and cold hands, cooking, housework and all manner of wet and dirty jobs! www.ruffandtumble dogcoats.com

k!

Good Luc

To enter go online at

www.absolute horsemagazine.com

and click on the competitions page. Deadline is 31st March 2018.

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BUYER’S GUIDE

The Aaliyah Ladies Mid Layer Jacket is lightly padded at the front and back, and features useful thumbholes in the sleeve.

RRP: £75. www.toggi.com

Horseshoe Stone Necklace RRP: £45. www.equestrian jewellers.co.uk

Heugah Interiors Weaver Green Throw - made entirely from recycled plastic bottles! RRP: £45. www.heugah interiors.com

Sylvia Kerr Jewellery 9ct Rose Gold Pearl Hare Necklace.

RRP: £645 (Silver RRP: £194). www.sylviakerrjewellery.com The Equetech Performance Riding Tights are styled in a 4-way stretch with a silicone horizontal grip to inner legs and zip smart phone-sized pocket to thigh.

RRP: £46.95. www.equetech. com

3 in 1 Horseshoe Necklace RRP: £40. www.pegasus jewellery.net

Equetech Isabella Training Shirt is styled in a technical wicking fabric with a stretch lace panel on the underside of the sleeves for full ventilation.

RRP: £39.50. www.equetech.com

Outback Randwick Fedora RRP: £48. www.glazeand gordon.com Annalise Ladies Reversible Padded Jacket is reversible, giving two great looks for the price of one.

RRP: £100. www.toggi.com The Equithème Chamonix Breeches are lined with micro polar fleece. RRP: £99.90. www.equitheme.co.uk

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Hiho Silver’s new bracelet features terling silver ‘bits’ with two solid 9ct yellow gold rollers, two sterling silver rollers, and a solid 9ct rose gold roller in the centre. RRP £990. www.hihosilver.co.uk

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Catch up with...

GABY LUCAS

Glaze & Gordon are the only UK stockists of stylish Californian equestrian clothing brand Goode Rider.

Goode Rider Chill Out Jacket RRP: £179. www.glazeandgordon.com

S

Black Heart Equestrian new ladies riding breeches.

RRP: £90. www.blackheart equestrian.com The Leather Organiser Wallet is available in four colours, which can be used as a clutch for a night out or as an alternative to a purse. RRP: £75. www.katenegus.com

o this is my first blog with Absolute Horse and I am so excited to share with you what goes on with my horses Salo and Zante, my training and of course where I am competing.

The year has started out great, both horses have been put through their paces with a lot of training and we have mixed it up with pole work which has gone down really well. So much so, that I will be holding pole work clinics throughout the year at my base in Brentwood, Essex. Visit my Facebook page Gaby Lucas Dressage for more information.

On 28th January I took Salo to Brook Farm EC to compete in two Advance Mediums. We had a few mistakes and he was quite nervous because he hasn’t been out in a while, but we still managed to win both tests which was great.

I also had a nice surprise from Equithème who delivered some amazing gear including casual wear, competition gear and horse wear for Salo and Zante. I am kitted out for the year! See www.equitheme.co.uk I have a lot planned over the next few months which I can’t wait to tell you guys about.

See you next month!

Gaby x

MONTHLY COMPETITION...

Paragon Equestrian Luxe Technical Baselayer.

RRP: £39.99. www.paragon equestrian.co.uk

Ladies rolled sleeve T-shirt with gold horseshoe print, 100% organic cotton. RRP: £32. www.beesting clothing.co.uk

To celebrate Gaby’s first blog Equithème are giving away a pair of Equithème Césaria Breeches worth £41.90, to one lucky reader!

These stylish Navy breeches with decorative embroidery are made from stretch cotton.

To enter go online at: www.absolutehorsemagazine.com and click on the competitions page. Deadline is 31st March 2018.

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HEALTH & WELFARE

WHY IS THE TMJ IMPORTANT TO THE

RIDDEN HORSE?

T

he Temporal Mandibular Joint (TMJ) is a small but important joint to the horse that is rarely discussed in the grand scheme of things.

This small joint is found just infront and below the ear on each side of the horses head and is where the lower jaw articulates with the temporal bone. The TMJ Mechanism is more than just bone matter though, it is surrounded by skeletal muscle, ligaments and tendon.

Small but mighty the TMJ has a large part to play in the horse when it comes to everyday movement especially in ridden movement. When in ridden work or training, the horse works correctly in to an outline; however the area can become tight and this can then have a knock on effect to the horse’s poll, which can then lead to the horse compensating for the

‘restriction’ in other areas of the body.

Such as restriction to the hyoids, and muscles around the poll such as the brachiocephalicus (the large neck muscle that aids forelimb movement).

Signs of TMJ issues • Uneven wear of the teeth (your vet or equine dentist may notice this); • Head tossing, especially when pressure is applied with a bit or hackamore; • Cribbing; • Ear sensitivity; • Difficulty taking or wearing a bit; •Difficulty with certain leads or gaits; • Difficulty flexing at the poll; •Head shy or sensitive in jaw area.

By Karen Allott BSc(Hons) Equine Therapy and Rehabilitation and EMAP (Dist) Specialist Equine Massage Practitioner.

www.allottrtequestrian. wixsite.com/allottrtequestrian

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TMJ issues are more common than you think and have also been linked to lameness in the hind and other joint dysfunctions.

The Contender rug applies pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) from the top of the horse’s neck to top of tail via eight strategically placed PEMF spools. The spools are located over the main muscle groups and help to support improved suppleness, muscle tone and overall condition. The mesh construction also allows air to flow down the horse’s back, to help keep him cool. It can be used with additional rugs over the top on cooler days too.

RRP: £1,950. www.fmbs.co.uk

If the area becomes damaged it the runs the risk of becoming inflamed which can be very painful for the horse.

This can then also lead to issues with eating as well as behavioural problems. So how do you know if your horse is feeling restricted?

Having a massage therapist or other para professionals work with your horse on their soft tissue can help. Massage therapy with myofacial and trigger point releases are a great relief as well as crainosacral therapy session which will help relax any sore areas and relieve any painful restrictions.

Some times it’s the small things that matter the most!

New Diamond Brushing Boots use highly reflective Mercury fabric and embedded glitter that generate an astonishing reaction when light hits them, as not only do they reflect/shine, they sparkle too!

Available in Pink, Orange or Yellow.

RRP: £59.99 per pair.

Available from end of April. www.equisafety.com

Ab Horse MAR18 final.qxp_Ab Horse FEB18 21/02/2018 09:15 Page 35

DAISY’S HERBAL ANSWERS...

Hi, my mare gets very difficult and stressy when she comes into season, sometimes to the point where I don't want to ride her, are there any herbs I can use to settle her down a bit ?

Hello, yes herbs can be very beneficial for mares. The best herb for settling hormones is Vitex Agnus Castus also known as Chaste Berry, which has been used in both animals and humans for hundreds of years. I would try this alone to start with, giving it 4-6 weeks to see the full benefit. Agnus Castus

alone is usually enough to settle things down and there is no point in giving her lots of things unnecessarily. However, if you still find that she is a bit stressed, herbs such as Chamomile, Vervain and Valerian can help to relieve stress and tension. Valerian is also an anti-spasmodic and will help with cramps that may cause her to be irritable.

Agnus Castus shouldn't be fed to mares in foal or with foals at foot. www.champerene bespokehorseherbal.com

Look Out, Look Up

F

ocus, concentration and correct safety precautions are vital during competitive riding events, but that doesn’t mean that riders can afford to lose concentration when they are out riding for fun. There can still be potential hazards running across fields and country lanes – for example damaged or low overhead

Daisy Pric Herbalist e,

power lines which are sometimes hard to spot from a distance.

UK Power Networks owns and runs the electricity infrastructure including the power lines suspended on wooden poles across the East and the South East of England. It has joined forces with other similar companies across the UK to help keep people safe near power

lines with its ‘Look Out, Look Up’ campaign, urging those who live work or play in more rural areas to ‘Be Bright, Stay safe.’

Peter Vujanic, head of health and safety at UK Power Networks said: “We invite riders to ‘Be Bright, Stay Safe’ and take a moment to think about the potential hazards around them as they work or play in the countryside. It could save lives if, before you set off across a field or through a wood, you cast an eye around to check for potential dangers.”

Peter advised:

• Riding in poor visibility is never a good idea, especially so when riding near or underneath overhead power lines.

• Remember when riding to Look Out, Look Up for nearby

overhead power lines.

Electricity can jump across gaps so do not get too close to power lines or equipment.

• Look out for the signs – take note of any warning signs (typically a yellow “Danger of Death” sign).

• Minimum heights for overhead lines varies according to the voltage they carry, however the minimum height for the majority of the overhead lines carried on wooden poles is 5.2m above the ground.

• Call 105 – if an incident occurs or you spot overhead lines that look too low, call 105 immediately to tell the local electricity company. If there is a danger to the public, also call the police. www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/ safety

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HEALTH & WELFARE

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF

TUMERIC M

y go to drink to get rid of any suspicious feelings of colds or aches and pains is a mug of warm water with turmeric, cinnamon, a teaspoon of honey, a season of black pepper, plus a slice of lemon

BY SAMANTHA HARDINGHAM

and/or ginger. Within a day I’m right as rain again!

Turmeric, the lovely bright yellow spice related to ginger which has been used to relieve everything from liver problems to depression. But it’s main domain is fighting inflammation in the

body. It’s been used since ancient times but is only now becoming more mainstream although there’s still not a lot of research to back up the ancient wisdom yet! it may be the most effective However I personally swear by nutritional supplement in it’s ‘magical powers’ and I believe existence.

Curcumin is the compound in turmeric that gives it it’s wonderful colour but is poorly Here’s a recipe for a warming absorbed into the bloodstream; by adding a ‘Turmeric or Golden Latte’... pinch of black pepper you’ll help the curcumin to be In a pan add a mug of unsweetened almond milk plus a teaspoon of absorbed. turmeric, half a teaspoon of cinnamon, a pinch of ground or slice of fresh ginger, a sprinkle of ground black pepper and a half teaspoon of vanilla essence or a pinch or vanilla seeds, warm through and serve immediately!

Happiness Hacks

The Doctor of Happiness and Fairy Godmother of Positivity have teamed up to bring you some top tips for a joyous life. Here are Andy and Shonette’s happiness hacks...

Practice the 4-minute rule …that is, be your best self for the first 4 minutes of arriving at work, getting home, etc.

Your brilliance is infectious.

Reframe situations For example, a leaking gutter means you have a house; paying tax means you have some income; your teenager spending hours on his X-Box means he's not wandering the streets.

Watch out for the 90/10 principle This states that 10% of your happiness depends on things that happen to you while a whopping 90% depends on how you react to these events. Make a conscious choice to be positive.

Andy Cope and Shonette Bason-Wood are co-authors of ‘Happiness - your route-map to inner joy’. Available now on Amazon. Find out more at www.artofbrilliance.co.uk

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Ab Horse MAR18 final.qxp_Ab Horse FEB18 21/02/2018 09:17 Page 37

Equine vet Malcolm Morley with Gemma Pearson

WIN! A BUNDLE OF PRIZES FROM

ANIWELL!

Don’t Break

YOUR VET!

quine vets have one of the highest injury risks of all civilian professions.

To help address this serious issue the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has launched a campaign to help horse owners make life safer for their horses, themselves and their vets.

Don’t Break Your Vet comprises a series of short videos, featuring vet and equine behaviourist Gemma Pearson, providing quick and simple ways of teaching horses to be quiet, relaxed and safe for injections, clipping, worming, examinations and other

E

veterinary procedures. The campaign is supported by some of the UK’s leading riders and competition grooms.

According to a paper recently published in the journal Equine Veterinary Education an average equine vet may expect to sustain between seven and eight work-related injuries that impede them from practicing, during a 30-year working life.

This is far a higher figure than other civilian occupations such as the construction industry, prison service and the fire brigade. Bruising, fracture and laceration to the leg or the head were the most common injuries

reported with the main cause being a kick with a hind limb.

“Many accidents occur when vets are trying to work with horses who have learnt to avoid examination or treatment,” said David Mountford, CEO at BEVA. “This is dangerous for the vet and the handler but it also often results in a stressed horse and can increase the time and/or cost of reaching a diagnosis or treating an injury. Gemma’s amazing videos show how a little preparation can have a big impact on horse, owner and vet safety.”

Videos are available on YouTube.

WE HAVE TEAMED UP WITH ANIWELL TO OFFER 5 LUCKY READERS THE CHANCE TO WIN A SET OF THEIR POPULAR PRODUCTS FILTABAC, FILTACLEAR AND AMHVET. To be in with a chance of winning visit www.absolutehorse magazine.com and click on the Competition page before the deadline of 31st March 2018.

k!

Good Luc

Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy...

#Hor

Horse Health Week returns this March as part of MSD Animal Health’s ‘Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy’(KBHH) campaign.

The week long event beginning on 5th March, will focus on ‘doing the best for my horse’, encouraging horse owners and vets to advocate preventive healthcare measures.

There will be a range of resources available on the KBHH website and social media channels, including ‘yard card’ checklists, animations demonstrating the benefits of a proactive approach to healthcare, and horse health booklets.

There will also be a social media competition encouraging people to upload a photo of themselves ‘doing the best for my horse’ to the competition page which will be shared through social media. www.healthyhorses.co.uk eek eek #HorseHealthW eek #HorseHealthW hW alt He se or #H k seHealthWee seHealthWeek #Hor seHealthWeek #Hor

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HEALTH & WELFARE

INSPIRING FILM RELEASED TO REMEMBER

AMERSHAM RESCUE

R

edwings Horse Sanctuary has released a moving film depicting the inspiring story of the Amersham rescue survivors.

In January 2008, Redwings helped to rescue almost 100 horses, ponies and donkeys found living in horrific conditions at Spindle Farm, in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.

In the ears that followed Redwings offered a safe forever

Xena was largely unhandled but her confidence has grown

home to 60 horses and donkeys from Spindle Farm, as well as six foals born to rescued mares.

To mark 10 years since the momentous rescue, Redwings has released a short film telling the story of the Amersham survivors and sharing memories from staff who were there on the day.

To watch the film head to https://youtu.be/ Ovgy6Lvq5Dk

ALLTECH HELPS SUPPORT XENA AND HER UNBORN FOAL

Leading animal nutrition company, Alltech, is to fund the rehabilitation of an in-foal mare at World Horse Welfare’s Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Norfolk.

Xena arrived at Hall Farm in June 2017 as part of a large welfare case. During her arrival assessment Xena, who is believed to be a Percheron x Thoroughbred, was found to be in-foal. A rough estimate puts her height at 16hh but as she is too afraid of the height stick, this has yet to be verified.

In providing support for Xena, Allech also hopes to highlight the ‘Need to Breed’ campaign that was launched to spread the word about the impact that breeding just one foal can have; with the sad reality that there are now more horses in the UK than there are good homes. www.lifeforcehorse.co.uk

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REDUCI RELIAN ON CHEMICALS FOR SUSTAINABLE PARASITE CONTROL

A

s spring approaches it’s a great time to be considering our horse’s parasite control for the year ahead. This means making plans for their field management and a regular testing programme to protect them both now and in the future.

We’ve probably all heard the term ‘wormer resistance’ which describes parasites that have evolved so that they are no longer affected by the chosen worming treatment. Much like antibiotics this limits the effective drugs we have to control infection. There are only a limited number of wormers and no new ones in development; if we end up with resistance to all our drugs then we will no longer be able to treat parasites in our horses. A potentially devastating prospect!

There are two important steps we can take to slow resistance and safeguard our horses: 1. Protect key medicines 2. Reduce the worm challenge in the environment

Protect key medicines A parasite can only build resistance to a drug when exposed to it. If we only worm when necessary – using worm egg counts and other diagnostic tools wherever possible to reduce the frequency of chemical doses - that on its own will prolong the life of our wormers considerably.

Healthy adult horses can follow a very simple annual plan: worm count for redworm and roundworm every three months in Spring, Summer and Autumn.

Dose for the possibility of encysted redworm in mid-

Ab Horse MAR18 final.qxp_Ab Horse FEB18 21/02/2018 09:17 Page 39

NG OUR CE

By Claire Shand, SQP, Westgate Laboratories

winter, sometime between December and February, and after the first frost if you are also targeting bots.

Wherever possible we should reserve moxidectin (Equest) for this single winter dose and use other wormers through the rest of the seasons to target adult stages of small redworm and other parasite challenges. This will help preserve efficacy of this important chemical. Using it as a blanket wormer at other times of year it is akin to using a sledge hammer to crack a nut!

Test for tapeworm every six months, treating only if results indicate. Keep an eye out for pinworm and sellotape test horses if you suspect a problem.

Co-ordinate any treatment needed giving sufficient wormer for the horse’s weight. Exposing the worms to a dose of wormer that is not enough to kill them is a sure fire way to build an army of resistant worms.

Check for resistant worms; if a positive result is found, treat the horse then sample again in about 10-14 days. If the wormer has been effective the second count should be either ‘no eggs seen’ or very low.

Reduce the worm challenge in the environment

tested and treated accordingly.

Just as important in our armoury • Don’t worm and move; after worming ensure horses stay on against resistance is good the same pasture for a few days husbandry and paddock to help slow down resistance. management to break the Taking simple steps to beat lifecycle of the worms and reduce the reliance on chemicals. Simply put this means poo picking, poo picking and more poo picking!

Worm larvae passed in droppings hatch and become mobile within seven days at which point they leave the dung piles to re-infect the pasture.

The milder and wetter the weather the further and faster the larvae can travel. Collecting droppings twice a week, even through winter is a sound investment in your worm control programme.

resistance will help us to play the long game, preserving the efficacy of the wormers to give us many happy years of horse owning ahead. www.westgatelabs.co.uk

These additional steps will also help: • Keep horses with the same grazing companions for herd stability. Rest and rotate grazing and don’t overcrowd fields.

• Cross graze pasture with other species eg. sheep where possible.

• Keep new horses separate until

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HEALTH & WELFARE

WORMING REMINDERS...

AND SO MUCH MORE! HUUFE: THE EQUESTRIAN ACTIVITY TRACKING AND SOCIAL MEDIA APP

H

uufe is the first social media platform that is built solely for equestrians. It combines ride tracking with picture and video sharing, stable management, classifieds, riding groups and cuttingedge accident detection and notification. Absolute Horse can now share the first published images of what the app will look like when it is launched in the Apple and Google App Stores this spring.

Social media has become an important part of our equestrian lifestyle. We share our pictures, videos and stories. We buy and sell horses, trailers and tack on our favourite websites. We follow our friends, riding heroes and group posts. But current social media wasn’t designed with equestrianism in mind. It doesn’t combine social

40

activities with features such as riding routes, riding safety or stable management. The Huufe app does.

Huufe CEO, Charlie Trietline, knows this equestrian world well, he grew up the son of a National Hunt trainer with up to 100 horses under his care. He rode as an amateur jockey for a while and continued to do so in his first job, in The Household Cavalry. His passion for horses wasn’t diminished when he moved into the technology sector, working for HP. Indeed, it presented an interesting question. Trietline states: “I started to wonder why equestrians were underserved with activity tracking, compared to runners or cyclists. There were quite a few smartphone apps to track a person’s exercise routine, but nothing for riding.” Out of this observation, Huufe was born. “It was quickly apparent that, when tracking rides, we

needed to have pictures and videos automatically attached.

We could also massively enhance rider safety by allowing people to follow the location of loved ones, in real time, and be alerted immediately if they had a fall.” Huufe quickly also added supporting features such as horse profiles and a stable management calendar to help manage veterinarian, farrier, vaccination etc. administration.

More features are being built into the app ahead of its launch in late spring. “After that the ‘road map’ for Huufe features will be user driven,” Trietline adds. “This is an app for the equestrian community, so we will add what riders want.”

The Huufe team has some expert advisors in Will Connell, Director of Sport at US Equestrian Federation and Richard Waygood, British Eventing Team Performance Director. The team has also reached out extensively to the equestrian community for direction. Early user feedback has been enormously encouraging.

“Indeed, the biggest challenge has been deciding what rider requested ideas to include at launch and what to develop subsequently. There’s much more exciting stuff to come!” he added. www.huufe.com

• Huufe uses the GPS in a rider’s smartphone to track them when riding.

• Huufe can automatically add pictures and videos, that are taken during the ride.

• Huufe subscribers can share rides, photos and videos with friends. They appear in an activity feed. Friends can comment/like these posts.

Additional features: • A personal rider profile.

• Horse profiles. Riders can share pictures and videos of their horses. They can also follow horses they admire.

• The horse profiles include a full digital record for the horse, contact details for service providers and reminders for events such as worming, vaccinations, farrier visits etc.

• Groups. Enables friends or organisations (such as riding schools, clubs, etc.) to share news, events, information etc.

• LiveRide. A safety feature that allows nominated people to track a rider’s location.

• SafeRide. Motion sensors are used to detect a fall and alert nominated contacts.

• Riders can save routes and share them with friends.

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EFECS!

(Right) Clare with her horse Ben aka Pencos Benevolent; (Below) Rosie and BMD Douglas from last year Photo of Rosie: Melody Fisher.

Happy birthday AS LOCALLY-BASED EFECS CELEBRATE THEIR FIRST YEAR IN BUSINESS, WE FIND OUT MORE FROM DIRECTOR CLARE HASLER...

E

FECS Ltd (Equine Faecal Egg Count Solutions) was founded by myself a year ago in March 2017 so rather excitingly the business is celebrating our first anniversary this month!

“As a lifelong horse owner, rider and competitor with a passion and background in working with horses, then as a sales representative for an equine supplement company before I moved over to animal health, I started up EFECS a year ago after becoming continually dismayed by the lack of understanding and advice available to the horse owner where the use of worm counts are concerned.

“Having worked as a qualified SQP (Animal Health advisor) for equines and companion animals for over 10 years, I found that friends were coming to me more and more for advice regarding worming and more specifically the use of worm counts – the when, why and how-to questions being asked all the time.

“After working for a large wellknown mail order animal health company, and being qualified to perform Faecal Worm Egg Counts, my career took me on a very different path for a few

years but at the back of my mind I knew that I would always come back to the thing that gives me the greatest job satisfaction and job fulfilment.

“Here we are a year on from launching EFECS, a company based upon the principles of having the health and welfare of the equine at it’s heart along with great customer service backed up by a wealth of knowledge and passion.

“Everyone that purchases a worm count from us is entered onto our database with a free reminder system when the next worm count (or wormer) is due.

“EFECS offers a nationwide postal worm count service based in Essex. With an aim to simplify the worming process, designing strategic worming plans incorporating the use of worm egg counts, for the one-horse owner, to studs and large livery and competition yards.

“We are also pleased to announce this year that not only are we continuing with our sponsorship of Kizzy Smith Eventing but have also added another young and upcoming local event rider to the EFECS stable of sponsorship.

“Rosie Bates based in Chelmsford, is very much an up

and coming young local event rider. Currently aiming her own horse BMD Douglas at 1* this year having already qualified and competed at Badminton Grassroots with Dot2Dot111 as well as competing for Essex Union PC in the prince Philip

Cup at HOYS. Rosie is a regular instructor for the Essex Farmers PC and runs her own clinics, encouraging people to achieve the dreams they never thought they would.

“It is with great excitement we all look forward to the coming year!” www.efecs.co.uk

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THE DOS AND DON’TS OF

TAPEWORM CONTROL T

By Dr Corrine Austin, scientist and Director of Austin Davis Biologics

apeworms can present a constant challenge for horses, requiring careful management to maintain horse health.

Incorrect management can lead to unchecked worm burdens, development of resistance to wormers and, in worst cases, ill health and death.

Tapeworm infections cannot be reliably detected using standard worm egg counts (WEC) as tapeworms release their eggs within specialised packages, resulting in uneven and sporadic distribution through faeces.

of tapeworm wormers at Bransby Horses. The published • Do look out for EquiSal study reports the findings from Tapeworm saliva collection 237 horses tested over the kits available from your The Dos... course of a year*. Testing with Veterinarian or SQPs within • Do test for tapeworm before EquiSal Tapeworm and only worm egg count companies, using tapeworm wormers. worming horses with a country stores and online. Over Many horse worms, in diagnosed infection reduced 100 equine veterinary practices particular the small redworms, the use of tapeworm wormers now stock and supply EquiSal are becoming increasingly by 86% compared to 6 Tapeworm saliva kits to their resistant to available drugs, monthly routine worming clients and many more meaning that they are able to strategies. recommend testing as part of survive the killing effects of the worm control programmes.

• Do test all horses in a herd and drug. Although resistance has only treat those with an • Do save drug use for confirmed yet to be reported for infection. Some horses are infections where there is a real tapeworm, when drugs are more prone to infection threat to horse health. used on a routine and meaning that a few horses will Research has shown that a uninformed basis, resistance is carry a higher level of infection. targeted worm control inevitable and it will become It is important to ensure the programme using the EquiSal difficult to control tapeworms infected horses are wormed Tapeworm saliva test in horses. appropriately to avoid controlled tapeworm • Do use blood or saliva testing. continuous paddock infections and reduced the use

42

contamination and an ongoing tapeworm life cycle which can be difficult to eliminate.

• Do use the drugs praziquantel and double dose pyrantel to worm for tapeworm if required. These are the only drugs available for treating tapeworm and their use is only necessary if your horse has a tapeworm infection.

The Don’ts...

• Don’t routinely treat for tapeworm without proof of infection. Many horses simply don’t need treatment for tapeworm – only a quarter of horses tested with EquiSal Tapeworm to date have had tapeworm infections requiring treatment. If your horse is

*Lightbody, K. L. et al (2017) Equine Vet J. DOI: 10.1111/evj.12742 #Lightbody, K. L. et al. (2016) Vet Clin Path, 45: 335–346

HEALTH & WELFARE

Ab Horse MAR18 final.qxp_Ab Horse FEB18 21/02/2018 09:17 Page 43

g

y,

(

)

, 45 335 34

Using the saliva test...

The EquiSal Tapeworm saliva test is easy to carry out using the specially designed swab supplied in the EquiSal kit. The swab is used to collect saliva until an indicator turns pink to tell you when you have collected enough saliva to send to the lab for testing. The test provides a low, borderline or moderate/high diagnosis and worming is recommended for horses diagnosed as borderline or moderate/high. Diagnostic accuracy has been proven through full validation of the test which has been published in the peer reviewed journal, Veterinary Clinical Pathology#.

It is easy to integrate EquiSal Tapeworm testing into worm control programmes – simply test every six months at a time when routine worming for tapeworm is considered.

diagnosed as low, continue to test every 6 months and only treat if they become infected.

• Don’t assume your paddock management and worm control programme are effective. Paddock management and worm control programmes go hand in hand to effectively manage tapeworm infections in horses and the only way you can find out if your management is effective is to test your horse using a blood or saliva test. If your horse is diagnosed with an infection, it may be necessary to carry out additional testing and

NEW FUNDING

The Moredun Research Institute has successfully obtained new research funding from the Horse Trust to complete the development of a blood based test for the detection of cyathostomins (small redworms) in horses. The funding will also be used to investigate a saliva based adaptation of the test, in development at Austin Davis Biologics Ltd (service provider of EquiSal Tapeworm testing).

Small redworm infections are extremely common. Horses with many immature worms (larvae) in their guts can develop severe colitis, which can be fatal. Moxidectin is the only dewormer that has high anti-larval efficacy, but for which resistance is not yet widespread. To protect the effectiveness of this dewormer, targeted treatment programmes are required. Direct methods for the detection of all stages of small redworm do not exist. The availability of a diagnostic test to detect the intra-host stages of small redworm will be of great value to equine veterinarians enabling them to make a differential diagnosis as well as informed treatment decisions.

In this collaborative project, Professor Jacqui Matthews from Moredun will work with Austin Davis Biologics and Professor Martin Nielsen at the Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky.

treatment together with management changes to successfully reduce infection levels over time.

• Don’t leave tapeworm control to chance – carry out regular testing. Tapeworms attach to the caecum and to a small region of the intestines called the ileocaecal junction. This localised attachment causes damage to the intestines and the presence of large numbers of tapeworms cause intestinal obstruction and clinical disease, resulting in colic. www.equisal.com

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TRAINER PROFILE

MEET JOE WOLTER

By Patti Hudson

W

hen American trainer and clinician Joe Wolter comes to Devon for the second time in August 2018 he will bring a lifetime of experience to share.

Although he grew up in California working on a Thoroughbred farm and riding jumping horses, Joe always wanted to be a cowboy. As soon as he finished school he set out to become one and headed to Nevada, home to some of the largest ranches in the United States and known as a training ground for those interested in learning traditional cowboy skills.

Before long Joe found himself on the Soldier Meadows Ranch, where the cow boss was a man

44

named Ray Hunt. This was before Ray Hunt became worldrenowned and his approach to horse training came to be called natural horsemanship. “I remember watching Ray, and what he could get done, and how horses acted around him. It was like nothing I’d ever seen,” Joe says. “It made me think of my years on that Thoroughbred farm, with those studs dragging people all over the place. Their answer for a horse problem was to get more people to try and manhandle them. Ray’s approach was just the opposite.

I can’t imagine doing what I do today without Ray’s influence.”

After working several years for Ray Hunt, Joe returned to California and became

acquainted with Bill Dorrance. “I figured out real quick that Bill and Ray Hunt were a lot alike.

Bill helped me in so many ways, and not only with horses, but in being a better person. He was always gentle, even when people were rude. He just wouldn’t pay any attention to bad behavior. But if you were there to learn, he would darn sure help you out. And he was the best roper I’ve ever seen.”

During this time, Joe also had the opportunity to frequently work with Bill’s brother, Tom Dorrance, the man who had taught Ray Hunt. “Tom was the greatest horseman I’ve ever known. He noticed everything and saw things in horses and people no one else did,” Joe says. “I’m very fortunate to have been able to spend so much time with both the Dorrances and Ray Hunt.”

Joe went on to work for the famous Four Sixes Ranch in Texas, where he started, trained and showed replacement fillies and stallions. In 2002 he won the inaugural AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse competition at Fort Worth Stock Show and over the

years has won numerous other ranch horse and roping competitions.

Today Joe maintains a full clinic schedule, and although the Dorrance Brothers and Ray Hunt have been gone for some years, he continues to build on what he learned from them.

Central to Joe’s approach to horsemanship is the belief that by understanding what the horse is feeling and taking the horse’s needs in to consideration, riders can develop a bond with the horse that will allow them to accomplish almost any goal. He offers the following advice on how to go about developing that bond.

Listen to Your Horse “The most important part of any conversation I have with a horse is letting him tell me about himself. How does he feel about things? What’s he like at the end of the lead rope? Is there a heaviness or brace in there?

Does he respond with respect, or is he just going through the motions?

“How the horse answers those sorts of questions can tell you a

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lot. So I’ll check him out on the lead rope and use a flag to bring out a desire to move, which gives me an opportunity to see how much he respects and understands the lead rope. It lets me direct his feet and see what his understanding is – how he looks and feels – it’s all part of the conversation.

“The flag and the lead rope are just tools to help get the discussion started, but to keep it going you have to listen to what the horse tells you and respond to what he needs.”

aren’t aware of what the horse is offering you, it’s going to cut off his desire. I think horses are trying all the time and we’re just too busy doing our own thing to notice. But it’s just amazing to me how much you can get done when you recognise and reward the horse’s try. We have this physical picture of what effort looks like, but we sometimes miss the mental part of it.”

even better and you get even more done.”

was so much more open to suggestion the next time I rode her. There’s so much horses will Give Your Horse Time give you if you can give them the time.”

“I’ve been riding a lot of young horses lately and one of things Be Present that’s really clear to me is just “Horses are always in the how important the release is moment and keenly aware of when you get the response what’s taking place around you’re asking for. them. We humans are usually so “But I’ve found it works even busy thinking about what better when you don’t pick up already happened or what might on the reins right away and ask Do Less happen, we don’t notice what’s for it again; they need time to “I remember working with Tom absorb it. We humans can get so happening right here and now. and feeling like I had done focused on what we’re trying to “It’s not noticing what’s taking something fairly well. Tom place in the present that can get accomplish with the horse. We Focus on the Good would say, ‘That was pretty keep working on it and working us in trouble with horses.

“One thing I’ve found that really good, but what would happen if on it, but really we can get a lot “But if we can clear our minds means a lot to the horse is you did less, if you cut it in half?’ more done if we allow the horse and become more in the focusing on the good things and “I see a lot of people missing moment, we can become more time to soak on it. rewarding them. I’m always that in their horsemanship aware of the horse and more “I have this filly that really looking for ways I can make the missing the opportunity to get observant of all the little things wanted to stick her nose out right thing easier. I try not to more done by doing less. Ask and didn’t really want to collect that mean so much to the horse. even think about what the horse yourself the same question Tom herself. But when I accepted the I really believe that’s what set might be doing wrong. I just asked me and then see what Ray and Tom and Bill apart. They least little change from her and work at being ready when the happens when you back off a had this amazing ability to then let it go, well that just right thing comes along - when little bit more or use a little less clearly focus on the task at hand. made such a difference to that the horse is really trying. pressure to accomplish what horse. By changing my pattern, I When they were with the horse, “If you miss those little tries and you’re trying to do. I bet it gets they were thinking about the changed her pattern and she horse. They were right there, right then and nowhere else.

“So turn off the phone, forget about the past and don’t worry about the future. Go ride your horse with a clear mind. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish together when you’re both in the same moment.”

To Joe Wolter, horsemanship isn’t about ‘this’ method or ‘that’ method, what breed you ride, or what discipline you choose. It’s all about communication and considering the horse’s point of view. www.JoeWolter.com

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PADDOCKS & PASTURES

ELECTRIC FENCING

LOW-DOWN LESLIE SUTHERLAND FROM WWW.ELECTRICFENCING.CO.UK ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT ELECTRIC FENCING

I

s electric fencing wrecking your beautiful and suitable for my expensive fence.

• Strip grazing/pasture horses? management: perhaps you Yes is the short answer! have a very large field that you The long answer is still yes…: use all year round but it is agricultural electric fencing is suitable for equine and sectioned off so your horse or pony does not gorge on the livestock. There are a few different types of electric fencing grass all at once leaving none products used for horses: for later in the season. Electric fencing strip grazing is an ideal • Post and rail: for those of you system to prevent laminitis lucky enough to have post and rail fencing you probably have too.

• Track system: this is a newer a line on the top to stop chewing, leaning over to check way people are setting out out next door or to prevent their paddocks. The system is made up of tracks them from scratching their bottoms when itchy and allowing/making the horse

46

move about their paddocks to look for food and water. It is great for getting horses moving about more whilst out grazing and many people also put down different surfaces for the horses to cross to build up stronger feet if un shod etc.

How does electric fencing actually work?

An energiser can be powered by mains, battery or battery and solar. The energiser takes the power and converts the volts into a static pulse and sends this down the fence line every

Ab Horse MAR18 final.qxp_Ab Horse FEB18 21/02/2018 09:18 Page 47

second. When a horse touches the electric fence the pulse travels through the animal into the ground and back to the earth stake creating a circuit.

With the fence having a pulse every second you will maybe see some people touch the fence and say, “It’s not working...

OUCH!” and jump away. This is because of the pulse.

If your horse or pony touched

the fence they will get a static zap and do the same move away from the fence. Agricultural electric fencing has been designed to safely keep your animals where they should be.

plan ahead as the fencing will take a few days to arrive if ordered online. It is also wise to plan your fence before you buy.

Some companies offer a kit building service to help get the right products.

Whatever the time of year you should be maintaining your fence regularly to check for any weak points, breakages or vegetation on the lines. It is always best to have some spare fence (rope or tape) and some spare connectors, also if you have post and rail some spare insulators.

Spring is when the phones start to get busy as we start to get calls from people with ponies and they are worried about laminitis; if this is you, then a

pre-season check so you know you are ready is a good idea.

Is there a perimeter limit?

The perimeter limit is determined by the energiser you own or are about to purchase. If you look at the specification of the energiser it will give you a maximum distance the energiser will cover. It is always recommended that you should power up, ie buy a slightly bigger energiser than you need.

This will give you plenty of zap down the line. It is often the case that you might want to power more than one line so remember this when working out the max distance for your energiser.

Continued overleaf...

When is the best time of year to install a new electric fence?

There is no hard and fast rule here, but… it is best to ALWAYS

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Ab Horse MAR18 final.qxp_Ab Horse FEB18 21/02/2018 09:18 Page 48

PADDOCKS & PASTURES You can usually use exactly the same electric fencing components for both permanent and temporary set ups.

Continued from previous page...

For example: an energiser might cover 8,000 meters, this may sound loads but if you have 2 lines then it will cover up to 4,000 meters and if 3 lines it will cover up to 2,666 meters and so on. Many people will fence off the perimeter of a field and then section it off. This is possible with the correct sized energiser – just always ensure you have done your sums correctly!

What are the differences between 3. Gates temporary and Do you need a gate? If so how permanent fencing? many?

The title of this question slightly gives this away!

4. The height of your fence How do I go about Permanent fencing - this is You might own the next choosing my new usually a boundary fence of an Milton and need it nice and fencing system? area you need to fence off to high or have a tiny Shetland This is very different for keep your horses safely in their and need to stop him everyone as it depends on your fields and away from danger. limboing underneath. Or set up, your horse and your perhaps you have both in the Normally electric post and rail budget. However, you will fencing or a protective line run same paddock! always need to consider the along the top of wooden post 5. The material of your fence following things: and rail fencing. It is a If you are protecting post and 1. Power source permanent fixture. rail galvanised wire and rope Mains, battery or battery and Temporary fencing – is a are great, but if you are strip solar. All three will give the temporary set up! This type of grazing, you need to make same zap on the fence but a fencing enables you to strip sure your horse can see the battery will require charging graze your animals and it is fence and this is where you regularly. easily moved so you can will look at rope or tape as it manage your pasture 2. What you want to achieve is very visible. throughout the year.

A boundary fence on post and

48

rail? Or strip grazing.

Is there a standard height or spacing?

The short answer is no.

Height - The height will depend on your animals and their ability to get over or under things. Post and rail fencing us usually 1.2 to 1.4 meters and this seems to suit for boundary fencing as it is a solid fixture. Usually 1m high plastic posts are perfect for strip grazing, but if you do have a horse who jumps for fun then 1.4m high posts might be best for your horse. See diagram to the left to give you a rough guide.

Spacing – There is no hard and fast rule with spacing. Have a good look at your field. Is it undulating, exposed to lots of wind, liable to flooding, does the soil hold well etc? Plastic posts for strip grazing shouldn’t be more than about 5m apart – less space between the posts will generally make for a better tensioned fence. Wooden post and rail fencing posts tend to be about 2m apart but could be further apart depending on the situation.

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What happens if I touch the fence?

If you touch the fence you will receive a nice friendly reminder why not to do it again! Because it is a static pulse that is sent down the fence line every second it will not do you any harm.

Much like if your horse touches it you receive a good static zap and jump back (maybe using some colourful language). The fence will continue to pulse every second so if you go back again to try you will receive another zap.

How is the fence powered?

We have spoken about an energiser and this is what puts the zap into an electric fence.

You can power your energiser by mains power, battery power or battery and solar power.

You will get the same result with all three, with the mains unless there’s a power cut you are always going to have power on the fence; with a battery you will have to recharge the battery every few weeks depending on the size of the battery/energiser; with battery and solar power you will extend the time between charge to your battery by 6 times, this will save you from lugging a battery around too much (especially in the summer time when we have more light in the UK).

Is there a lot of maintenance involved with an electric fence system?

Yes and no! You need to make regular inspections – a walk around to make sure there is no vegetation likely to touch the fence, making sure your posts

are in good order. Using your trusty electric fence tester to test your fence and then by knowing your average fence read you will soon know when there is something wrong, hopefully before the horse has bolted.

It is always best to have one or two spare posts, insulators and connectors around should you have a sudden need for them.

NEVER tie tape as it breaks down the metal filament. A few spare tape connectors are a must. With regular attention your fence will last you well. If you are using a battery NEVER let the battery run flat, we recommend a 12v leisure agri battery must be charged every 2 to 3 weeks regardless of if you think it needs it. The batteries do not like to go too flat and if they do they do not always fully recharge! Charge your batteries often and this will maintain the battery and save you from the expense of having to buy a new one too soon.

If you are storing your fencing for the down season then store the battery fully charged and re charge during the down season especially if it is stored for longer than a month.

As for storing your fence line we recommend the purchase of a reel so you can reel back in your fencing and not have a tangled birds nest potentially destroying the fencing in the process.

It is crucial that you plan your electric fence system before you buy. If this is all new to you and you are unsure of what you need then just ask – we would be happy to plan your system for you. www.electricfencing.co.uk

PLANT DANGERS

Equestrian Charity, World Horse Welfare, has joined forces with Leeds based marketing and communications engagement specialists, Alpha Card, to help raise awareness of the dangers of poisonous plants to horses.

Tragically many horses, ponies and donkeys die each year from preventable plant-based poisoning and often there are no visible signs until the damage is done, resulting in irreversible injury or even sudden death.

Specialists in the creation of bespoke Z folding cards and endlessly folding Infinity Cards, Alpha Card first started working with World Horse Welfare in 2015, and since this time has donated both time and resource to help the charity increase awareness and engagement through its printed pocket guides; which are all manufactured in the UK. This latest edition, a free Poisonous Plants Guide, features ‘top tips’ for owners on how to help keep their horse safe from toxic plants all year round.

Director of Fundraising of World Horse Welfare, Emma Williams, said: “The new durable, pocket size, fold-out Poisonous Plants Guide that Alpha Card kindly printed is extremely handy. I and many horse owners can take this into the field to help identify potentially harmful plants. We are hopeful that this guide will go a long way in helping to prevent avoidable harm to many horses and ponies, whilst raising awareness of World Horse Welfare’s work.”

Each plant featured in the World Horse Welfare bespoke guide has been colour-coded based on a combination of the potential consequences and likelihood of exposure. While not a definitive list, the guide aims to help reduce the risks posed to many horses which can include anything from a mild allergic reaction to a fatality. www.worldhorsewelfare.org/Chelsea-Sign-Up

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SADDLERY & TACK THANKS TO YEARS OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING MOST HORSE AND PONY OWNERS NOW UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING ALONGSIDE THEIR SOCIETY OF MASTER SADDLERS REGISTERED QUALIFIED SADDLE FITTER WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR VISIT AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR. IN THIS ISSUE THE SOCIETY OF MASTER SADDLERS PROVIDES ADVICE...

Hard standing and good facilities are a huge help for the visit.

Working with your Saddle Fitter eveloping a solid working relationship with your local Society of Master Saddlers Registered Qualified Saddle Fitter is a great way to ensure you have access to regular advice and support.

With clear communication and a thorough understanding from each party, the end results will lead to all horses and ponies in the yard being ridden in a saddle that fits, is comfortable and also allows the rider to perform at their best.

Today most riders recognise the important part the saddle plays in terms of welfare, comfort and success.

Whether your saddle is new or second-hand, it is important that it is fitted by a Qualified Saddle Fitter registered with the Society of Master Saddlers. Their first consideration will always be the horse. This may mean that you need to adjust any preconceived ideas you may have about your own preferences in relation to make and design.

When thinking about a visit you

D

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must plan ahead and provide the best facilities you can to help the saddle fitter to give the best possible service.

First on the list is a flat, hard surface where the horse can be stood up and run up in-hand.

Next is an area where the horse can be ridden. Saddle fitting can take a considerable time and the saddle fitter is likely to want the horse owner to ride in a number of short-listed saddles, an essential part of the fitting procedure.

If you are opting for a saddle designed specifically for dressage, polo or showing it is very unlikely you will be wanting to use the saddle for jumping! If you are considering purchasing a saddle that will involve jumping, it is essential to ride over a few fences.

Although obvious to the majority of riders, some believe their presence isn't a necessary factor. Occasionally horses are 'shared' or ridden regularly by more than one person and, in this case, both riders should be present.

Sometimes clients are

unsuitably dressed. Jeans and trainers are always inadequate and they certainly aren’t the most comfortable clothes in which to try out short-listed saddles.

The Society of Master Saddlers generally cautions that the wellfitting saddle does not require the addition of anything under it with the possible exception of a thin saddle cloth. There are, however, exceptions to every rule. When there is a valid reason for using a numnah or gel pad the saddle fitter will need to allow for the addition.

Have your own stirrup leathers and girth available. The saddle fitter will be carrying girths of

various types and sizes but it is a good idea to have your own available. Using your own stirrup leathers is generally more comfortable and avoids the possibility of the saddle fitter's new leathers becoming marked and therefore difficult to sell.

The saddle fitter would obviously prefer to preserve the condition of his new saddles but, in addition, the marks left on the well-groomed horse’s back after removal of the saddle are significant because they indicate bearing surfaces and further identify unwanted movement. www.mastersaddlers.co.uk

NEWMARKET SADDLER WINS AT NATIONAL Newmarket-based Master Saddler, Coralie Chung captured a top award at this year’s Society of Master Saddlers’ National Saddlery Competition.

Held at the Saddlers’ Hall in London and supported by The Worshipful Company of

Saddlers, the event continues to be hugely popular promoting expertise and craftsmanship in the saddlery industry.

Coralie won the Side Saddle class and took home the Side Saddle Association Trophy presented by their president, Roger Philpot.

Said Coralie: “I have worked in

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MASTER SADDLER LAURENCE PEARMAN ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS ON SADDLERY People often state that you should be able to fit two fingers width under the pommel, but is this a good rule of thumb that a saddle fits?

The old adage of the two finger clearance under the pommel is a little outdated now.

We now look for sufficient clearance when the rider is mounted, but this is a very small part of what the saddle fitter looks for when checking a saddle.

Clearance is also required at the back of the saddle between the panels and the spine, to sit level from front to back, width of tree points in relation to horses withers, angle of tree rails, overall length of saddle, length of tree points and shape of panel, to name just a few of many others, which will be checked if you call in a Qualified Saddle Fitter.

AL

COMPETITION the industry for 26 years and this win is very, very special. I was trained by some fantastic saddlers over the years and this success is very much testament to the time and effort they took to help me gain more knowledge and skills over that time.�

After selling my horse, I have a saddle that I don't need.

What's the best way of finding a new home for my saddle?

If you are not in need of the saddle anymore first thing to do is to find the current value of it.

The best way to do this is to take it to your local Master Saddler to get it valued.

It may be that a straight sale to them will result, but certainly it would be a good idea to have the saddle checked for safety for a small fee, then if needed made safe, either for a private sale or it can be advertised in equine publications and social media.

It is best to always recommend the purchaser needs to get the fit checked by a Qualified Saddle Fitter.

Ab Horse MAR18 final.qxp_Ab Horse FEB18 21/02/2018 09:18 Page 52

Ride like...

TUTORIAL

HOLDER OF TEN BRITISH DRESSAGE REGIONAL TITLES AND TWO NATIONAL TITLES, LARA EDWARDS HAS A PASSION FOR PRODUCING HORSES. HERE SHE HELPS IDENTIFY THE IMPORTANCE OF...

Your Horse LARA EDWARDS

Establishing a partnership with

A

ll the best horse and rider partnerships are built on a foundation of trust; even the most talented of horse has got to want to do what you are asking of him.

For Lara Edwards, establishing a partnership with her horses is vital to her success as a trainer and rider. With her own homebred foals just starting their careers, she has had the luxury of building a bond from day one, which can be a much easier task.

Her two current top horses started their careers with other riders, but having gone on to achieve considerable success and climb up the levels with both horses also demonstrates Lara’s ability to develop a bond to get the most out of more mature horses.

During the early days with her horse, Felix, Lara struggled to get him into the arena at competitions. With lots of hard work and dedication, Felix has transformed into a winning

52

performer, thanks to learning to place his trust in his rider.

Lara said: “Based on my past experience I feel it takes anywhere from eight to ten months to form a partnership with a horse where you know them well enough to understand their actions at home and away at competitions.

“This also takes into account different seasons, for example some horses will be sharper in winter and when it is windy, or become slightly more difficult when in season. Getting to know their little quirks helps to build a stronger relationship.”

Establishing a partnership is as much about the time spent on the ground as it is about the time spent in the saddle. If a horse doesn’t trust you on the ground, why would they trust you when you are on board?

Lara considers the time spent grooming as bonding time and believes simple things like respecting personal space in the

The personality of your horse also has a big impact on the speed at which they build relationships

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Lara is a big advocate of natural horsemanship exercises to help build a strong relationship with your horse

stable as being vital. With a foal or young horse early training begins in the stable where they should learn to move over when asked and should not barge towards the door. If any horse behaves in this manner, they do not consider you as an equal in the partnership.

Time is a big factor in any bonding process. The more time spent with your horse, the better. Lara sometimes grazes her horses in-hand, and this must be done sensibly and without the horse pulling and tugging their handler around.

Remember that the basic principles of training apply, regardless of whether your horse is a foal or older.

Lara is a big advocate of natural horsemanship exercises.

Learning to understand a horse’s natural instincts and how and why they behave in a certain way can help avoid miscommunication. Confusion could be argued as one of the greatest threats to bonding with your horse, when he fails to understand what he is being asked to do.

The personality of horses also has a big impact on the speed at

which they build relationships.

“I have always believed that the more sensitive/sharper horses actually form stronger partnerships with their rider.

When you understand what worries or concerns them, they then learn to rely on you when you take them out of their home environment. It is important to recognise this so you become their security

blanket away from home,” added Lara.

No two horses are the same and finding your way as a partnership can mean listening to your horse and maybe taking a step back when they become worried about a situation. This is a building block to a stronger, trusting relationship in the future.

Lifeforce Elite Lifeforce Elite from Alltech is specially designed for competition horses and those faced with stressful situations. It supports a healthy immune system, increases the availability of antioxidants and creates a healthy digestive environment.

A 5kg tub of Lifeforce Elite retails at £120 for a three month supply.

For further information please visit www.lifeforcehorse.co.uk or telephone 01780 764512.

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Ride like...

TUTORIAL

SARAH GAIRDNER

TRAINING THE YOUNG EVENT HORSE...

INTERNATIONAL EVENT RIDER SARAH GAIRDNER HAD A BUSY LIFE OF COMPETING UP TO 3* LEVEL AND PRODUCING YOUNG HORSES AT HER BANBURY BASE, WHILST JUGGLING FAMILY.

VARIETY IS THE e! f i l f o e c i p s

W

hilst the Burghley Young Event Horse Series and British Eventing hold qualifiers for their 4 and 5-year-old classes, many horses are not mature enough to benefit from taking part, so what could they do instead?

Take a moment to think about the skills an event horse will need to learn, and build a plan from this point.

Working over varied terrain Make sure you hack out.

Too many young horses spend too much time in a small arena going in circles.

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If you are limited by busy roads look at other options, do friends have good hacking that you can box to? There is a network of rides provided by British Endurance and EDGB, or look to UK chasers with their courses countrywide or in the autumn go hunting. All are an excellent opportunity to ride your horse in company over varied terrain and ground conditions.

Dressage and Showjumping

For more serious development of the event horse, British Dressage run Preliminary and Novice level classes in a 20m x 60m

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arena (rather than a 20 x 40) which helps to give the horse more time to balance and these are held on all weather surfaces for extra security. British Showjumping classes are useful for young horses with clear round starting at 85cm and regular classes at 90, 95 and 100 level. It is advisable for horses to be comfortable and jumping clear at the height above that you wish to event at.

Cross Country Schooling

Remember, this is another strange environment for your young horse to become accustomed to. You may see a simple log in a field but to your horse it’s something to go around and they don’t always understand that jumping over a log is ‘fun’. Ditches, steps and water should be introduced gradually making sure that the horse is secure and happy before trying a step down into water – you will only meet these at BE100 level and usually with an alternative before moving up to Novice.

Your horse should always go home from a cross country schooling session thinking that was fun rather than ‘oh that was really hard work’. Try to build confidence with different types of fences found on a cross country course before working on speed as this should be the final part of the picture and may not happen until after several competitions.

We are all getting very comfortable with using arena

Photos: Lorraine Porter

eventing and all-weather schooling areas but in competition we need to jump from grass and without losing their confidence. Horses need to experience different footings, they need to be able to find their balance when it is a bit wet or muddy, so don’t forget to school on grass as well.

Consistency

We need to keep the same theme with the young horse through all 3 phases. Think of the early scales of training: are they in a rhythm and going forward into an even contact? If they are not doing this going down the road or in the arena, then they aren’t going to be very

easy to manoeuvre around a jumping course.

Fun and Variety

Humans are much happier doing different things and having a break and it is the same for horses. Make sure their work load is varied and factor holidays and down time in for them too.

Young horses often benefit from several ‘short breaks’ during the season.

Fitness

A young horse will never have been fit (unless it’s an ex racehorse) so bear this in mind with your programme. They don’t have to be 3-day fit but they do need to be fit enough

for the job in hand otherwise you do increase the risk injury.

Once a horse has reached a level of fitness they will always be quicker to return to that. I really notice a difference if my horses have hunted with their fitness and endurance levels than if they haven’t. Also remember the first event we take them to could well be the first time they have been ridden 3 times in a day!

Don’t forget about your fitness too, a young horse could mentally bottom out quickly and will require a fit and balanced rider to support them home.

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Ride like...

TUTORIAL

JAYNE ROSS

TOP SHOW RIDER AND PRODUCER, JAYNE ROSS, HAS WON THE TITLE OF SUPREME HORSE OF THE YEAR AT HORSE OF THE YEAR SHOW FIVE TIMES IN THE PAST TEN YEARS. THE JAYNE ROSS SHOW TEAM IS AN AMBASSADOR FOR TOP GROOMING AND HORSE CARE COMPANY, ABSORBINE.

J

ayne has broken in around 12 youngsters this winter – she has been ably assisted

by Absorbine groom of the year, Scott Dixon, and Libby Robertson and Breisha Subachus who all do the backing and riding away. Each of these youngsters is having the best possible start to their ridden careers.

GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR

YOUNG HORSE

56

Jayne says: “From the moment a young horse arrives in the yard to be backed and broken they will be learning all the time.

Some of the youngsters we have will have already seen a bit of the world and been wellhandled through in-hand showing and so on. Others will have rarely been out of their field. Everything that we do with the young horses is a case of repetition and them learning that they can trust us. We want to avoid confrontation and make sure that they are enjoying all these new experiences.

“As a first step, each horse will be tied up in his stable – to a ring using bailer twine - for mucking out and will learn to move over when asked to do so.

They are groomed and all have their feet picked out before they go out in the field and again on coming in. It is great for them to get used to having their legs

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touched - they learn to trust you – and this will make life much easier for the farrier. They also have their legs washed off if they are muddy so this is another thing for them to get used to. In addition to teaching the horses to lead in and out in walk we also trot them up inhand.

“Once they have got to grips with all this, we then put a cavesson on to begin lunging them in the school. Each horse has boots on all round for both lunging and turnout. After a day or two a roller will be added for lunging and then once the horse is ready they will have a bridle with a key bit on to get used to.

We do leave them in the stable with the key bit – but never one with cheek pieces on.

“When the horse is lunging well with the roller, we put a saddle on with the stirrups down to make the horse aware of the extra weight and the flapping stirrups. Following this we begin long-reining. They get used to being long-reined in the school and then around the yard.

Patience is key to all of this and

we never rush any of the horses.

Only once they are completely relaxed with one step will we move on to the next.

“The next step is to begin backing the horse by leaning over him in the stable. We have an extra-large stable which we use for leaning over. The space needs to be large enough to avoid anything getting bumped and we always have three people Meet Jayne’s sponsor...

– one to lie across, one to hold the horse and the other to give a Absorbine horse care and turnout products are widely known as leg up.

“The horse-world’s most trusted name”.

“Once the horse is happy with Founded in 1892 by Wilbur Fenelon Young and his wife, Mary Ida, this, we move on out into the the company has manufactured and distributed quality health care school to first lie across and then products for over 120 years. sit on the horse. Again we have W.F Young and Absorbine are recognised as a worldwide leader in three people for this. Once the innovative, specialised animal health care brands – including jockey is on board, the horse will Absorbine Veterinary be led around in walk to begin Liniment, UltraShield fly with and then all going well, trot control, ShowSheen will be introduced. The person grooming products and leading will then slowly unclip Hooflex hoof care – that the lead rope and keep walking support wellness and at the horse’s head for a few enhance the quality and steps. By the second or third day enjoyment of life for people of riding the horse may well be and their animals. being ridden right round the For more information, visit school in walk trot and canter. “ www.absorbine.co.uk

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SPECIAL FEATURE

SPECIALIST EQUIPMENT

Helping Accessibility Mark Riders HERE WITH THE HELP OF ACCESSIBILITY MARK WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE SPECIALIST EQUIPMENT COMMERCIAL RIDING CENTRES USE WHEN PROVIDING LESSONS FOR DISABLED RIDERS.

H

orse riding has many benefits for disabled people and for those with conditions that effect communication, physical strength and balance.

Part of the foundations for the success of Accessibility Mark is down to the horses and ponies that are required to quickly adapt between riding lessons for clients in a commercial riding school and the disabled riders during an Accessibility Mark session.

Due to certain conditions riders can at times struggle to grip the reins properly or use the reins to balance, this is where centres can take advantage of specialist or modified equipment to ensure the safety of both horse

58

and rider.

Wherever possible it is recommended that regular equipment should be used, but there are a number of useful pieces of equipment for those who need them.

During the initial training to become an Accessibility Mark centre, the ASO (Accessibility Support Officer) will introduce staff to a number of simple aids, as well as training on how to use each piece effectively to the benefit of the horse, rider and coach.

Correct use of the reins is one of the most important steps in learning to ride in order to communicate with the horse.

Most novice riders will use their hands to balance when they first

start learning, which can be uncomfortable for the horse; this is even more problematic for riders with poor core strength.

There are a wide range of specially adapted reins that can help riders to be more effective with rein control where function, grip, strength and hand and arm position may be compromised.

Rainbow reins are one of the

most popular choices widely used for riders who lack concentration and are good for teaching the correct contact.

The different colours help to achieve even rein length and can improve awareness when trying to prevent the reins from slipping through the hands; they are also easy to pick up when dropped by selecting the same coloured section.

Rainbow reins can be used in

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conjunction with coloured mounted games equipment such as bean bags, poles and balls. For riders with learning disabilities, the coloured equipment is a simple tool in teaching colours and to follow patterns.

One centre using specialist equipment to great effect is Wrea Green Equitation Centre, based in Preston, who have even made extra modifications to meet their rider’s needs.

Owner Chris Pollitt explains how this modification is helping riders and ensuring the welfare of the horses and ponies: “We ask our saddler to remove the billet fastenings from the rainbow reins and replace them with a clip that can easily be attached and removed from the bit. When we are teaching a rider to steer we would attach the reins to the headcollar to remove pressure from the pony’s mouth, with a leader in control of the pony and in some cases two assistants either side.”

Other reins that can be used are ladder reins, looped reins and bar reins. Ladder reins are ideal for riders with poor strength in their hands or riders that need to control the horse with the wrist or elbow joint if hand grasp is non-functional.

Looped reins have several loops sewn to the inside of plain leather reins, that are large enough for the whole hand to slip in and out easily, meaning that reining can be done with the wrist, back of the hand or elbow. Bar reins provide a means for one handed riders to have improved contact.

Other pieces of equipment to

help a disabled rider achieve their riding goals include bunny ears and a balance handle which both attach to the D ring on the saddle. Holding the Bunny ears or balance strap instead of the reins puts the rider in a better position, improving balance and security in the saddle.

Kay Padfield, owner of Church Farm Equestrian, near Bristol said: “We have riders that can’t grip the reins but who can grip the bunny ears, also some of our autistic riders won’t hold the reins properly or just let go suddenly, so it is in the interest of the horse for us to have control and for the rider to hold on to the ears. The suede texture of the ears can also be more appealing for some riders to hold.”

Riding for the Disabled Association, in partnership with the British Equestrian Federation’s participation programme, launched the revolutionary Accessibility Mark scheme to work with commercial riding centres with the aim of getting more disabled people to participate in riding.

Accessibility Mark status is awarded to a riding centre that has been approved by RDA following training and assessment. The close link with the RDA means that it can offer continuous support to the establishment to ensure it provides a first-class experience that aims to be hugely beneficial.

There are currently 38 Accessibility Mark approvedcentres across the country. www.rda.org.uk

THE RACEHORSE SANCTUARY

T

he Racehorse Sanctuary and Rehoming Centre was founded in 1996 by Graham and Sue Oldfield when they were Jilly Cooper opening the gifted the late and High Dependency Unit great retired racehorse Moorcroft Boy. November 2016 saw the Sanctuary move from Sussex to Somerset as they sought a bigger establishment, enabling them to help more horses. Over 4,000 leave the racing industry each year and it’s staggering how many end up in upsetting conditions. The Sanctuary is there to form a gap between the racehorses that retire from racing and those that are looking for a new home.

When horses arrive at the Sanctuary, they may have been forced out of racing due to injury, or their time may have just come to an end as a racehorse due to age, lack of interest or poor performance. Regardless of their path to the centre, each horse is fully assessed by Graham, Sue and their vet before a plan is made.

Horses are given the time they need to unwind, to settle in and to have a break before any retraining will commence.

There are two significant, unique factors that pose The Racehorse Sanctuary as a real leader within the equine charities. The first is the Peter O’Sullevan High Dependency Unit, which opened at the Somerset base in April 2017. The unit has been developed to offer a specialist dedicated area for the rehabilitation of high dependency horses, those that need a little extra time, care or attention before being rehomed. The second factor is that the Sanctuary owns the horses for life, so even though they go on to be rehomed, the Sanctuary remains the lawful owner of the horses, ensuring none end up in dismay or uncared for.

The Racehorse Sanctuary relies entirely on public donation and their charity fundraising days - without them they simply wouldn’t exist.

There’s a ‘Donate’ section on their website which gives plenty of options. Alternatively, to donate £5, simply text HORS £5 to 70070.

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VETS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

VETERINARY CONTACTS

60

HAWKEDON VETS EQUINE PRACTICE 01284 789428

Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP29 4NP

www.hawkedonvets.co.uk

Ryder-Davies & Partners VETERINARY SURGEONS Our experienced equine team offer a range of services throughout Suffolk, South Norfolk & North Essex Services include: • Full lameness investigations • Teeth rasping & advanced dental work • Pre purchase examinations • Vaccinations, worming regimes • Equine reproductive stud work • BEVA accredited practice for chilled & frozen semen • Investigation of breeding problems in mares Facilities include: Inpatient and outpatient stabling with 24 hour care • Digital x-ray, In-house laboratory, endoscope & digital ultrasound.

We offer: Visits on a round-reduced visit fee Yard visit days- no visit fee • Spread the cost health plans Regular client information evenings & newsletters. www.ryder-daviesvets.co.uk

24 Hour Emergency Support Tel: 01394 380083

Wherry Veterinary Group Bungay, Suffolk

Working with you for the health and wellbeing of your equine companions.

Take advantage of our experienced equine team and our modern, purpose built premises.

01986 892771

Essex based mobile veterinary practice

Advanced dentistry, lameness evaluations, portable Xray, ultrasound, portable video gastroscopy/endoscopy all carried out in the comfort of your horses’s home.

Pre purchase examinations.

24 hour local emergency cover.

01371 851755/ 01371 850532 www.fullerequine.co.uk www.facebook.com/fullerequine fullerequine@gmail.com

Ab Horse MAR18 final.qxp_Ab Horse FEB18 21/02/2018 09:18 Page 61

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

Horse Supplies

Saddleries

Fakenham (01328) 851351

Stockist for a wide range of Horse Feeds; Bedding; Supplements; Requisites.

Horse wormers now available Delivery Service. Everyone welcome.

Come and see us at our new larger premises Clipbush Business Park, Fakenham NR21 8SW

WIX

www.gjlaninmalfeeds.co.uk

EQUESTRIAN CENTRE

Battlesbridge Mills Horse & Country Shop

Everything for the Horse & Rider Huge range of tack, accessories, stable supplies

Tel: 01268 560008 The Mills, Chelmsford Road, Battlesbridge, Essex SS11 8TR www.horseandcountryshop.co.uk

Dentist

PROFESSIONAL, QUALIFIED & CARING EQUINE DENTISTRY

Full range of Horse & Pet, Feed & Bedding Open 7 days a week Indoor schools for hire

01255 870744

To advertise your business or service call:

Juddpurs Saddlery Specialists in saddle fitting by Society of Master Saddlers qualified saddle fitter.

Most ranges of saddles in stock or we can order.

111 Bedingfield Crescent Halesworth, Suffolk IP19 8ED

Tel: 01986 874800

KAY HOWARD

QUALIFIED MASTER SADDLER & SADDLE FITTER • Range of quality new, secondhand and synthetic saddles and accessories • Impartial, independent, saddle fitting and advice • Mobile workshop.

• Re-flocking, top-ups and remedial flocking • Full saddle repair service.

Based in Norfolk, but covering a wide area.

07968 445509 WWW.BEDT.CO.UK

Please phone Kay on (07775) 850400 Registered member

Stables

01473 731222

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Surfaces

SHOWDATE DIARY Your Showdate listings for...

THURSDAY 1ST MARCH DRESSAGE Essex: Wix EC; Dressage. Tel: 01255 870744

Transport

MARK HOWES

C.V.S. (ANGLIA) LTD

BEDFORD • AWD • SPECIALISTS

HORSEBOX SPECIALISTS IN MOT PREPARATION, MOT TESTING FOR CLASS 4 & 7 VEHICLES, SERVICING, PARTS, SPECIALIST BODY (Aluminium & Wooden) ACCIDENT REPAIRS Welcome old and new customers to their premises at

Equine Crematoriums

HOLYWELLS ROAD, IPSWICH TEL: (01473) 216462

Suffolk Pet & Equine Crematorium

PEACE OF MIND AT A TIME OF GRIEF 01284 810981

www.suffolkpetcrematorium.com

62

Pet Crematorium for large and small animals

FRIDAY 2ND MARCH DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Dressage.

Tel: 07595 023325 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud EC; British Dressage. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Novice Evening Showjumping. Tel: 01449 711962 SATURDAY 3RD MARCH DRESSAGE Cambs: Fenning Farm EC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01353 727109 DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07595 023325 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud EC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07879 881755 EVENTER TRIAL Beds: The College EC; Eventer Trial. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Unaffiliated Showjumping.

Tel: 01449 711962 SUNDAY 4TH MARCH DRESSAGE Essex: Barleylands Equestrian Centre; Dressage. Tel: 01268

904109 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Lime Kiln Farm EC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07749 951898 SHOWING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud EC; BSPA Showing. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWING Essex: Brook Farm TC; BSPS Showing. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; Area 31 British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Harolds Park Farm; Unaffiliated Showjumping.

Tel: 01992 893948 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Wix EC; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 01255 870744 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: The Jays; NSEA Showjumping. Tel: 01284 386014 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Unaffiliated Showjumping.

Tel: 01449 711962 MONDAY 5TH MARCH DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Dressage.

Tel: 07595 023325 TUESDAY 6TH MARCH SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325

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SPONSORED BY

March/April 2018 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Forest Edge Arena; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 01760 722616 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 WEDNESDAY 7TH MARCH DRESSAGE Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; British Dressage. Tel: 01449 711962 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Wix EC; Evening Showjumping.

Tel: 01255 870744 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: The Jays; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 01284 386014 THURSDAY 8TH MARCH SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; Evening Clear Round Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 FRIDAY 9TH MARCH SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Open Evening Showjumping. Tel:

01449 711962 SATURDAY 10TH MARCH DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Dressage. Tel: 07595 023325 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Forest Edge Arena; British Dressage.

Tel: 01760 722616 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands Equestrian Centre; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 01268 904109 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Mini Showjumping. Tel: 01449 711962 SUNDAY 11TH MARCH ARENA EVENTING Beds: Twin Trees EC; Arena Eventer Trial. Tel: 01767 627414 DRESSAGE Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Unaffiliated Dressage.

Tel: 01449 711962 DRIVING Essex: Wix EC; Indoor Driving. Tel: 01473 735732 SHOWING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Unaffiliated Showing. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Cambs: Fenning Farm EC; Clear Round Showjumping. Tel:

01353 727109 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands Equestrian Centre; Junior British Showjumping. Tel: 01268 904109 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk:

Lime Kiln Farm EC; Unaffiliated Showjumping.

Tel: 07749 951898 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: The Jays; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 01284 386014

THE SOUTH SUFFOLK SHOW Ampton, Ingham, Nr Bury St Edmunds

Sunday 13th May 2018

Schedule for British Showjumping (Snr), SSA, P(UK), Private Driving, Donkeys, Suffolk Punch Heavy Horses. RIHS Qualifiers for SHB(GB), BSHA, BSPS, P(UK) & BSPA. Entries close 25th April 2018

Schedule and E-Tickets are available via www.southsuffolkshow.co.uk or forward C5 SAE to Secretary: Geoff Bailles, 35 Dalham Road, Moulton, Newmarket CB8 8SB Tel: 01638 750879

THE EAST ANGLIA HORSE SHOW 7th April, 27th May, 24th June

Emneth Showground, 175 Outwell Road, Emneth, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. PE14 8BG

Showing classes affiliated & unaffiliated for all levels. 50 classes & 11 championships.

THE EAST ANGLIA CHAMPIONSHIP HORSE SHOW 29th July

The Laurels Showground, Garden Lane, Wisbech St Mary, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. PE14 8BG

Showing classes affiliated & unaffiliated for all levels. Over 80 classes & 25 championships. The East Anglia Championship Finals Classes, Welsh Bronze Medal Classes, WHP, In Hand, Ridden, Breed, Training, In Hand & Ridden Showman, Lorry Dog, Fun Classes, Evening Performance.

SHOW SECRETARY, IVY HOUSE FARM, EUXIMOOR DROVE, CHRISTCHURCH, WISBECH, CAMBS PE14 9LT www.theeastangliahorseshow.org.uk Tel: 01354 638800

SUNDAY 29TH APRIL FROM 10AM

At Easton Farm Park, Suffolk IP13 0EQ Horse Classes:- Showing & Fun Classes - All Levels Welcome

All schedules are on www.suffolkyfc.com More Information: Cherry Clements 07970 668558

www.copdockmill.co.uk

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SHOWDATE DIARY

SPONSORED BY

Your Showdate listings for... March/April 2018 TUESDAY 13TH MARCH SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 WEDNESDAY 14TH MARCH SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: The Jays; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 01284 386014 THURSDAY 15TH MARCH DRESSAGE Essex: Wix EC; Dressage, Intro - Ad Med. Tel: 01255 870744 FRIDAY 16TH MARCH DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud EC; British Dressage. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Novice Evening Showjumping. Tel: 01449 711962 SATURDAY 17TH MARCH DRESSAGE Essex: Barleylands Equestrian Centre; Team Dressage. Tel: 01268 904109 DRESSAGE Essex: Wix EC; British Dressage. Tel: 01255 870744 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud EC; Junior British Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 01449 711962 SUNDAY 18TH MARCH

64

ARENA EVENTING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Arena Eventing. Tel: 01449 711962 DRESSAGE Essex: Barleylands Equestrian Centre; Team Quest Dressage. Tel: 01268 904109 DRESSAGE Essex: Wix EC; British Dressage. Tel: 01255 870744 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755

Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: The Jays; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 01284 386014

MONDAY 19TH MARCH DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Dressage. Tel: 07595 023325

SATURDAY 24TH MARCH ARENA EVENTING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud EC; Arena Eventing. Tel: 07879 881755 DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Dressage. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands Equestrian Centre; Crosspole Showjumping. Tel: 01268 904109 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Crosspole Showjumping. Tel: 01449 711962

TUESDAY 20TH MARCH SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud EC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 WEDNESDAY 21ST MARCH DRESSAGE Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; British Dressage. Tel: 01449 711962 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; British

THURSDAY 22ND MARCH DRESSAGE Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Unaffiliated Dressage.

Tel: 01449 711962 FRIDAY 23RD MARCH SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Open Evening Showjumping. Tel: 01449 711962

SUNDAY 25TH MARCH SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands Equestrian Centre; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 01268 904109 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Junior British

www.copdockmill.co.uk

Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud EC; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 01449 711962 TUESDAY 27TH MARCH DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; British Dressage. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 WEDNESDAY 28TH MARCH DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: The Jays; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 01284 386014 THURSDAY 29TH MARCH DRESSAGE Essex: Wix EC; Dressage, Intro - Ad Med. Tel: 01255 870744 FRIDAY 30TH MARCH DRESSAGE Beds: Twin Trees EC; Affiliated and Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01767 627414 DRESSAGE Essex: Wix EC; Dengie Dressage. Tel: 01255 870744 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud EC; British Dressage. Tel:

Ab Horse MAR18 final.qxp_Ab Horse FEB18 21/02/2018 09:18 Page 65

07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Novice Evening Showjumping. Tel: 01449 711962 ENTRIES CLOSE 16TH APRIL

SATURDAY 31ST MARCH ARENA TREC Beds: Twin Trees EC; Arena Trec. Tel: 01767 627414

NPS AREA 14

Saturday 14th July

LATE ENTRIES ACCEPTED

Sunday 22nd April 2018

Ashfields Carriage Driving & Polo Centre, Essex Quals: NPS, BSPA, SSADL, BSHA, SHB(GB), TGCA(GB), EQUIFEST, NORTH OF ENGLAND SHOW and

Ponies Senior Sh UK, owin Osborne R g, TGCA, efrigerato rs Driving & Donkey Breed Soci ety qualifiers

RIHS M&M WHP. PLUS TSR/TALENT SPOTTING

sae Mrs M. Kidman, Romans Farm, Rettendon Common, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8HQ or www.facebook.com/NPS-Area-14

Affiliated & Unaffiliated In-hand, Ridden & Working Hunter Classes, Unaffiliated Show Jumping and Private Driving Classes General entries close: Friday 21st June

Show Jumping entries close: Friday 29th June Holbecks Park, Hadleigh IP7 5PE

Tendring Showground, Lawford House Park, Nr Manningtree, Essex CO11 2ND

Affiliated BSPA, P(UK), BSJ, BDS, DBS, Ridden & Working Hunters, Cobs and Local Hunt Class.

Schedules available to download from the end of March at:

HADLEIGH SHOW Saturday 19th May 2018 Schedules available from:

www.hadleighshow.co.uk or www.horsedates.co.uk or send C5 SAE to PO Box 1027, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 9XG Entries close - 24th April 2018

www.tendringshow.co.uk or www.horsedates.co.uk

www.copdockmill.co.uk

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Vets in the

SHOWDATE VETERINARYDIARY CONTACTS

SPONSORED BY

Ryder-Davies & Partners

HAWKEDON VETS EQUINE PRACTICE

VETERINARY SURGEONS Your Showdate listings for...

March/April 2018

DRESSAGE Essex: Wix EC; Colne Valley RC Dressage.

Tel: 01255 870744 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud EC; British Dressage. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands Equestrian Centre; Junior British Showjumping. Tel: 01268 904109 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; PC Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 01449 711962 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: The Jays; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 01284 386014 SUNDAY 1ST APRIL DRESSAGE Cambs: Fenning Farm EC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01353 727109 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud EC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWING Essex: Barleylands Equestrian Centre; Showing Show. Tel: 01268 904109 SHOWING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Showing Show

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789428 Tel: 01255 870744 01284 870744 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: DRIVING Beds: The College The Jays; Senior British EC; Indoor Driving. Tel: Showjumping. Tel: 01284 01234 708400 386014 SHOWJUMPING Cambs: Fenning Farm EC; Clear THURSDAY 5TH APRIL Round Showjumping. Tel: SHOWJUMPING Essex: Bury 01353 St 727109 Edmunds Barleylands Equestrian Suffolk SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: IP29 4NP Centre; Senior British Topthorn Arena; Showjumping. www.hawkedonvets.co.uk Tel: 01268 Showjumping with 904109 qualifiers. Tel: 01449 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: 711962 Anvil Park Stud EC; Senior SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: British Showjumping. Tel: The Jays; Senior British 07879 881755 Showjumping. Tel: 01284 386014 FRIDAY 6TH APRIL SUNDAY 8TH APRIL based mobile veterinary practice DRIVING Beds:Essex The College COMBINED TRAINING Advanced EC; Indoor Driving.

Tel: dentistry, lameness Norfolk:evaluations, Anvil Parkportable Stud EC;Xray, ultrasound, portable video gastroscopy/endoscopy 01234 708400all carried out in the comfort Carlton of RCyour Combined horses’s home. examinations.

SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Pre purchase Training.

Tel: 07879 881755 24 hour local emergency cover.

Topthorn Arena;01371 Open 851755/ DRESSAGE Essex: Brook 01371 850532 Evening Showjumping.

Tel: Farm TC; Unaffiliated www.fullerequine.co.uk 01449 711962 www.facebook.com/fullerequine Dressage. Tel: 07595 023325 fullerequine@gmail.com SATURDAY 7TH APRIL DRESSAGE Essex: Wix EC; ARENA XC Essex: British Dressage. Tel: 01255 Barleylands Equestrian 870744 Centre; Arena Cross Country. DRESSAGE Suffolk: Tel: 01268 904109 Topthorn Arena; Unaffiliated DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Dressage. Tel: 01449 Farm TC; British Dressage.

711962 Tel: 07595 023325 DRIVING Beds: The College DRESSAGE Essex: Fletchers EC; Indoor Driving. Tel: Farm EC; Unaffiliated 01234 708400 Dressage. Tel: 01206 SHOWJUMPING Essex: 242210 Barleylands Equestrian www.flectchersfarm.co.uk Centre; Senior British DRESSAGE Essex: Wix EC; Showjumping. Tel: 01268 British Dressage. Tel: 01255 904109

Our experienced equine team offer a range of services throughout Suffolk, South Norfolk & North Essex Services include: • Full lameness investigations • Teeth rasping & advanced dental work • Pre purchase examinations • Vaccinations, worming regimes • Equine reproductive stud work • BEVA accredited practice for chilled & frozen semen • Investigation of breeding problems in mares Facilities include: Inpatient and outpatient stabling with 24 hour care • Digital x-ray, In-house laboratory, endoscope & digital ultrasound.

We offer: Visits on a round-reduced visit fee Yard visit days- no visit fee • Spread the cost health plans Regular client information evenings & newsletters.

with qualifiers. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands Equestrian Centre; Easter Showjumping.

Tel: 01268 904109

MONDAY 2ND APRIL ARENA TREC Beds: Twin www.ryder-daviesvets.co.uk Trees EC; Trec. Tel: 24 HourArena Emergency Support 01394 380083 01767Tel: 627414 DRESSAGE Essex: Barleylands Equestrian Centre; Dressage. Tel: 01268 904109 SHOW Suffolk: Trinity Park; Ipswich Horse Society Spring Show, in aid of The East Anglian Air Ambulance. Tel: 01449 613923 or 01449 711427 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Easter Showjumping. Tel: 01449 711962 WEDNESDAY 4TH APRIL DRESSAGE Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; British Dressage. Tel: 01449 711962 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Wix EC; Evening Showjumping.

www.copdockmill.co.uk

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