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Absolute
SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 2021
PLUS
Also Inside: BUYER’S GUIDE
INGATESTONE SADDLERY CENTRE
COUNTRY & EQUESTRIAN STORE EST: 1974
ESTABLISHED AND STILL RUN AS A FAMILY BUSINESS, INGATESTONE SADDLERY CENTRE IS CLASSED AS A LEADER IN THE FIELD BEING ONE OF THE LARGEST EQUESTRIAN AND COUNTRY STORES IN EUROPE.
In Store...
Our store houses all the leading brands. You can browse for hours, relax and refresh yourself in our excellent café or stroll in the grounds. Young or older, our product range is vast and satisfies most needs of the pleasure rider through to the serious competitor. There is something for everyone.
Our Team...
In store we have a fantastic team of skilled and highly qualified professionals ready to help you 7 days a week. Whether you come in to store or use our mail order service, we are always on hand to offer advice on our products.
@ingatestonesaddlerycentre
@ingatestonesaddlery
INGATESTONE SADDLERY CENTRE LTD MAIN ROAD, MARGARETTING, INGATESTONE, ESSEX CM4 0ES Tel: 01277 353723 Website: www.ingatestonesaddlery.co.uk EXTENSIVE WEBSITE FOR ALL YOUR COUNTRY AND EQUESTRIAN NEEDS. WE CAN MAILORDER AND OFFER A QUICK AND EASY CLICK & COLLECT SERVICE.
SEP/OCT
2021 ISSUE 351
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Though every attempt is made to ensure accuracy, PCD Media Ltd cannot be held responsible for the opinions expressed in the magazine. The opinions and technical information in the articles are those of the authors.
How to contact and connect with us...
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saddlery; launching a new equestrian platform; top tips for returning to the office Buyer’s Guide Yards, Arenas and Stables planning for planning The Professionals including eventer Ben Perry; trying carriage driving for the first time; five minutes with Amy Stovold, dressage supremo Nutrition - including the benefits of balancers explained; autumn feeding advice; spotting overweight
GIVEAWAYS & OFFERS 5 Ariat Saddle Snaps 17 Equine America Bundle 35 Animal Health Company delivery offer 67 Gladwells’ money-off reader offer
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Jessica Lockwood and Dazzler’s Joker competing in the SEIB Search for A Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse Qualifier. See page 65. Photo: Nico Morgan Media.
WHAT’S
INSIDE
FEATURES INCLUDE 4 News 6 What’s On 8 Clipping - advice from leading professionals Jayne Ross, Emma and Kevin McNab, plus equine vet and event rider Natalie McGoldrick 14 Health and Welfare including EHV, the risk that has not gone away 25 Rhea Freeman asks - what are the rules of engagement? 26 Equine Careers - from a Google search to a career in
horses; feeding veteran horses A Year to Remember - local eventer Bubby Upton Saddlery and Tack including your questions answered and Poppy Webber’s comment Event Reports
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NEWS STALLION STUCK Photo: Hay Farm Heavy Horse Centre
STRADDLING GATE
REGISTRATIONS CRUCIAL: RARE BREEDS’ SURVIVAL
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are Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) is encouraging smallholders and farmers to ensure timely registration of their rare breed livestock and equines despite the disruption to shows and sales for a second year, to help safeguard the breeds’ futures. In normal years the summer’s county shows, agricultural shows and sales often provide key milestones ahead of which rare breeds are registered but many of these shows have been cancelled or disrupted. RBST Chief Executive Christopher Price said: “If registrations of rare breeds are overlooked in 2021 as a result of disruption to summer events, crucial information will be lost and the work to support the future of these breeds will suffer.” www.rbst.org.uk
DISCOVER NEWMARKET: TRAIL OF DICK FRANCIS
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ans of Dick Francis can now follow the author’s trail around Newmarket on one of two new guided tours from Discover Newmarket. ‘On the Trail of Dick Francis’ takes in many of the places that the late former champion steeplechase jockey knew from his horseracing days and which he used in the plots he based in Newmarket. Tours are available on 1st October, 5th November and 3rd December. www.discovernewmarket.co.uk
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CHARITY HIT: VANDALISM AND THEFT
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ransby Horses is sad to report the charity has recently been the victim of theft and several cases of vandalism. “As a charity we rely solely on support from donations, so any loss of income through theft or damage has a huge detrimental impact,” said a spokesperson. “We have a wishing well on site and we encourage visitors to donate spare change and make a wish. We are sad to report the contents of our wishing well were recently stolen.” In addition to the recent theft, thirteen in-memoriam plaques have been damaged. Should anyone have any information about these incidents, please get in touch on 01427 788 464. May/June Competition Winners: Covalliero Outfit Molly Horsenell Essex; Robinson First Aid Kit Carina Brock - Suffolk; Clare Mealing-Mills Norfolk; Dawn Farnish - Suffolk; Michelle Baldwin - Essex; Rowen Barbary Bev Hughes - Norfolk; Deborah Oldroyd-Jones - Essex; Elizabeth Mackenzie - Cambs; Eva Bush - Essex; Janice Cousins - Suffolk; laura Sheldrake - Suffolk; Pam Wells Essex; Sarah Flatman - Norfolk; UVEX Louise Harding - Cambs.
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stallion who was desperate to reach his neigh-bours got stuck straddling a metal gate. Walkers spotted the skewbald stuck - with his front end one side and his back legs the other - and contacted the RSPCA for help. Inspector Tina Nash attended. She said: “The stallion, was trying to get to the mares on the other side of the gate and obviously thought he could clear the 4ft gate. But he got himself stuck halfway! “If he’d have spent a little more time looking, he’d have realised that if he walked along the fenceline a little further, he could have just trotted around to see his lady friends!” Tina called for assistance from Fire & Rescue Service who carefully winched him up and off of the gate and back onto all four hooves.
STAR HORSEY PHOTOS SET TO SNAFFLE PRIZE
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he British Equestrian Trade Association’s annual Calendar Competition is up and running and on the lookout for twelve horsey pictures to be the stars of the 2022 BETA calendar. Images will be picked to represent each month, with the one judged Best in Show bagging the entrant a fantastic gift hamper. The deadline for submissions is Friday 17th September 2021. Email info@beta-uk.org to find out more.
COMPETITION
SADDLE
SNAPS
EACH ISSUE AN ABSOLUTE HORSE READER WILL WIN A PAIR OF - Deborah Smith
- Lexi Hodgkins
- Lyn Howlett
“Did someone say cheese?”
Somewhere over the rainbow dreams come true
“Trot on Nanna!”
ARIAT BURFORD BOOTS worth £130!
- Vicki Rudd
Sponsored by
“I’m just catching some rays, mum!” - Karen Ireland - Elizabeth Mackenzie Oh it’s been a rough night!
Food Is Life! “Yes I know, I am just so handsome!”
- Angela Ersoy
WINNER! WINNER! - Molly Horsnell “That's a bit chilly human, can you turn on the hot tap?!
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 IMAGE. THE BEST PHOTO AND CAPTION WINS THE BOOTS! 5
WHAT’S ON
TOPSPEC SUPPORT
OSBERTON
INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS
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ooking for a great staycation at the end of the summer months whilst getting that horsey fix for you and the family? Camping and caravanning is available at this year’s Osberton International Horse Trials which runs from 29th September to 3rd October on this prestigious Nottinghamshire country estate. Enjoy all the fun of the evening entertainment and chill out and have a drink with friends before heading back to the camping field for a BBQ and to relive the days sporting action. Organisers BEDE Events have put together a host of packages including an Osberton Membership which gives you forward parking for all four days and access to the Member’s Lounge with complimentary tea and coffee refreshments. There’s no better way to enjoy a horse trials than a good walk round the cross-country knowing you have somewhere to go back to, where you can relax and recuperate. If you’ve missed the excitement and thrill of visiting a major three-day-event why not treat yourself to picnic parking. Enjoy your glass of fizz and delicious food while catching the thrills and spills that cross-country day is bound to bring. Picnic Parking at the water jump is available on Saturday 2nd October and will see you right up, close and personal to the action. There is limited space so don’t delay if you want this fantastic view. What better way to enjoy Osberton International Horse Trials than with your caravan, motorhome, horsebox or tent on site allowing you to stay overnight, book your pitch before they go and get set to party!
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Knowing you can enjoy four full days watching all three sections whilst experiencing the many added attractions of this fantastic event is something to look forward to at the end of the summer. Entry to Osberton International is free but to guarantee your place get your forward parking booked. Once they’re gone they’re gone. Forward parking gives you easy access to your vehicle and is just a five minute walk from the heart of the showground and all the action. As well as a new look British Eventing Your Horse Championships with a 4-Year-Old showcase, 5, 6 and 7-Year-Old National Championships alongside two international sections are set to attract the country’s leading riders. The event will also play host to a national driving event for the very first time. Following the huge success of a regional driving trials in 2019, the team are pulling out all the stops to bring top-level sport to the Osberton Estate. Sponsored by Bennington Carriages there will be classes for single, pairs and teams and will see major names from the carriage driving world battle it out to head the leader board. www.bede-events.co.uk
STARS
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eld at Aintree Equestrian Centre, the STARS Champion of Champions Show in partnership with TopSpec, will run from 19th to 21st November, and is the brainchild of show rider Sarah Harrison. Sarah created and became the founder of STARS Champion of Champions in 2018, with the aim of providing a championship event specifically for Riding Club and Pony Club members. Said Sarah: “The shows sole purpose is to give competitors a prestigious event to aspire to, and to be proud of qualifying for and attending. “We really do try and put on a fabulous show, with a championship feel and are delighted to welcome this new partnership with TopSpec. This year will be our third event and it will no doubt continue to grow in stature and popularity.”
LIVERPOOL INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW
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elebrating the success of their ongoing relationship and laying the foundations for the future, Liverpool International Horse Show welcomes Voltaire Design as the new title sponsor in an exciting three-year deal. Taking place from 31st December 2021 – 3rd January 2022 at the M&S Bank Arena, live sport will be back at the Voltaire Design Liverpool International Horse Show after a challenging two years. The event stages a fusion of world class showjumping, captivating displays, and outstanding performances to thrill the whole family. The show also offers visitors the opportunity to get up close to leading riders, with all ticket holders having access to the Collecting Ring, ring side shopping and Champagne Bar. www.voltairedesign.com www.liverpoolhorseshow.com
GET MARRIED AT REDWINGS HORSE SANCTUARY!
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edwings Horse Sanctuary is offering couples the chance to marry at one of its Norfolk visitor centres. Picturesque Caldecott Hall at Redwings Caldecott, in Fritton near Great Yarmouth, is now taking bookings for weddings and other celebrations. As well as a beautiful ceremony room, a large marquee with built-in bar and its own gardens are available to hire for the wedding celebrations. Caldecott Hall has also been renovated to include stunning self-catering rooms – perfect for the wedding party, guests or anyone simply looking for a night away. Weddings at Caldecott Hall are being managed by Norwich-based event planning company Ginger Lily Catering and any profits from the venue hire will go towards supporting Redwings’ work. www.gingerlilycatering.co.uk
STUNNING EQUINE SHOW THE MANE ATTRACTION
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stunning new equine show featuring trickriding, vaulting and chariot-racing makes its UK debut in County Durham. ‘Fina and the Golden Cape’ is a spectacular new 50-minute theatrical equine presentation taking place every Saturday until 11th September just outside Bishop Auckland. The new stunt horse show is the centrepiece of a brandnew visitor experience called 11Arches Park which takes place on a panoramic outdoor stage. In addition to the new equine show, there are a host of other family-friendly attractions including: The Maze of Fame, Kids’ Viking Lair, the Dancing Waters show, Animal Croft and the interactive Viking Village. www.11arches.com
Sam Brown, Managing Director at Ginger Lily Catering, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming brides and grooms for the 2022 season – and enquiries are already coming in!
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Photo: The Ev ent Photographe r
CLIPPING
Jayne Ross on The Keystone Cob HOYS09 winning Champion Cob
s p i T p o T
FROM THE ABSORBINE
PROFESSIONALS JAYNE ROSS 7-time RIHS Supreme Champion and 7-time HOYS Supreme Champion talks about hogging
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f you want to show your cob, you will need to hog his mane. Cobs have a workmanlike head and neck which is why hogging suits them so well. “Polo ponies and driving horses are also hogged to stop the mane becoming entangled in the equipment used with them. Other people hog their horse’s mane to help manage sweet itch as it makes it easier to apply treatments and prevents the horse rubbing it’s mane out,” said Jayne.
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...”Cobs have a workmanlike head and neck which is why hogging suits them so well”...
1. It is best to use battery powered clippers. “Try to use the quietest pair you can because you will be working right up to and through his ears.
Do not use small trimers as they will not be powerful enough. Make sure your clippers are clean and the blades are sharp.” 2. Ensure you have a perfectly
clean and dry mane before you start. “A long mane should be cut shorter with scissors first to prevent the clippers overheating. Be positive using even pressure – do not use light, tickly strokes.” 3. Ideally hog the mane about three days before a show. “This allows for a bit of regrowth so your horse will not look scalped because he will on day one! “Applying ShowSheen Miracle Groom waterless shampoo after you have hogged is a good way to lift out any greasy residue, dirt and dust. “Whatever your reason for hogging make sure to take the time to ensure your horse is happy with the noise of the clippers before you start the process.”
ShowSheen Miracle Groom waterless shampoo
EMMA AND KEVIN MCNAB: International event riders Kevin is an Olympic silver medal winner at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as part of the Australian Event Team. He also has an enviable record of top 10 finishes at CCI5*, coming sixth at Kentucky in April 2021. Emma has an impressive tally of top placings and has represented Australia on several occasions including at the World Equestrian games in 2018.
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lipping is a practised skill. Once you have done it a few times it’s a very straight forward job. “These are a few tips which we believe are important and make the difference between a good and bad clip.” 1. A clean coat is the first step. “Not only does it result in a cleaner clip it is also much kinder on your blades, and they will stay sharper longer.” Continued overleaf...
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CLIPPING EMMA AND KEVIN MCNAB: International event riders Continued from previous page...
“We always give our horses a full bath in Absorbine 2 in 1 shampoo before they are clipped. We have found this gives fantastic results.” 2. The most common clip we do on our horses is the Hunter clip. “So, we leave their legs and saddle patch on. It is important when clipping the outline of the saddle patch that you leave enough hair that the saddle actually sits on the patch with hair and not hanging out past it. If you do this, it is very common to get patches behind the saddle patch where the hair rubs and can sometimes make bald patches. This can make their backs quite sensitive and sore. “The easiest way to make sure you don't make the saddle patch too small or short is to sit a saddle cloth on their back and gently let it move to where it sits when you are riding. Then make a note of how far back you must make your saddle patch go.” 3. Try to clip in good light. “Often if you clip in poor lighting, you bring the horse out into the natural light and notice you’ve missed spots.”
NATALIE MCGOLDRICK MA VETMB MRCVS Equine Vet and event rider Natalie graduated as a Vet from the University of Cambridge and went on to set up her own practice. She is an advanced level event rider having represented GB on the team at 3* and has produced horses up to 3*
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As an equine Vet, I spend a lot of time clipping, albeit on a small scale, for things such as prepping for joint injections, or to better examine wounds. “I am also frequently asked to sedate nervous horses so that they can be safely clipped. These are my top clipping tips from a veterinary viewpoint.” 1. If having your horse sedated by a vet for clipping, make sure you have everything ready to go! “Don’t discover that your blades need sharpening, or the yard plug socket isn’t working, after the vet has sedated your horse! Also be aware that horses often sweat when they have been sedated, which may make clipping certain areas quite tricky.” 2. Remember that even when sedated, a horse can still kick! “If your horse is prone to kicking out when being clipped in sensitive areas, don’t presume he isn’t going to kick when sedated; his reactions will just hopefully be a bit slower!” 3. If you have a horse or pony with Cushings, he or she will likely need clipping throughout the summer months. “Likewise, any horse or pony with a thick coat will also be more comfortable if clipped all year round, especially if they are in work. Remember to keep pink skin covered during the heat of the day if you do clip, to prevent sunburn. A spritz of ShowSheen Hair Polish and Detangler onto the hair will help clippers glide through.” www.absorbine.co.uk
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CLIPPING
ANIWELL AMHVet FOR
CLIPPING CARE
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easonal Clipping can leave your horse or pony itchy, with rashes, small cuts and other irritations. Clipping can leave your horse incredibly itchy and they can quickly rub the closely shaved skin raw. Even the most careful clipping can result in the odd nick to the skin, opening the door to bacterial invasion or worry from biting insects. After clipping use a damp/hot cloth to remove microfine hair fragments, a soft brush or alternatively rinse the body down. Dry thoroughly and if you can add a light spray of quality grooming oil it will keep the skin and coat shining, due to the loss of natural oils. Avoid using products that are then required to be shampooed off – as this can further strip the natural oils, drying the skin further creating irritation. Bear in mind if your horse has
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white/pink skin, especially on the legs, this skin will be exposed to the elements – protection from even the winter sun, mud, rain and insects is very important to prevent burning, scalds or bites. Cover with flysheets and boots if this is going to be a problem early on. Aniwell's AMHVet is perfect for post clip care of the skin – be it a rash or needing a covering protective cream. AMHVet (Active Manuka Honey Vet) is ideal for treating and soothing the common irritations, rashes or small nicks caused when clipping your horse or pony in winter and also your dog or rabbit at any time. It contains laboratory certified New Zealand’s Active Manuka Honey (AMH) at a UMF (unique manuka factor) of 15+ (MGO, methylglyoxal 500) the most effective level, in a water-free base. At this level it will provide
an ideal moist healing environment, prevents bacterial growth even when a wound is already heavily infected, and provides a fast rate of tissue regeneration. Active manuka honey has been proven to assist with granulating tissue, painless debridement of necrotic tissue, removes crusts from wounds, decreases inflammation (being a super sugar it draws fluid away from inflamed areas), decreases the amount of exudate (ooze), is reportedly soothing and produces minimal scarring (from human burns cases), is importantly hypoallergenic and nonirritating. FiltaBac can also be applied over the AMHVet giving extra protection
from the weather and insects. FiltaBac is an excellent protective cover to stop sun, mud and insects getting at the soft exposed skin. Both products can be soothing and also result in minimal scarring. They can be used safely and effectively on all animals, on a variety of injuries bites, cuts, burns, rashes and stings. www.aniwell-uk.com
Skin care range for horses.... Cavalor Derma Wash is a hygienic shampoo which is ideal for horses and ponies with flaky skin, dull coats or a skin condition. It is also the ideal shampoo to wash new horses arriving on the yard as part of the biosecurity process. Cavalor Derma Wash is enriched with glycerin which ensures the skin is well-hydrated and the coat has a healthy shine. The shampoo contains chlorhexidine which is an excellent disinfectant and stops the growth of bacteria and fungi. RRP: £16/500ml.
As warm, moist and muddy conditions are ideal for bacteria, it is important to avoid these environments where possible. When prevention is too late it is important that bacterial infections are dealt with as soon as possible. Make sure the leg is dry before you apply Cavalor MudDoc, a cream that works on different levels to help heal. This cream will absorb very easily. It acts as an antibacterial and promotes the healing of the skin. Make sure you keep applying Cavalor MudDoc until the skin is totally healed and the hair has completely grown back. RRP: £31.50/200ml.
Cavalor Lurax Cream provides the necessary nutrients essential for the regeneration of the skin cells. This promotes less scarring and faster hair regrowth. The cooling cream’s antiseptic and antiinflammatory properties reduce the chance of infections. RRP: £31.50/200ml. www.zebra products.co.uk
HEALTH & WELFARE
EHV:
THE RISK HASN’T GONE AWAY
JUST BECAUSE EHV IS NO LONGER MAKING EQUESTRIAN NEWS HEADLINES, THE RISK HASN’T GONE AWAY. THE OUTBREAK IN VALENCIA EARLIER THIS YEAR MAY NOW BE SLIPPING TO THE BACK OF EVERYONE'S MINDS, BUT NOW IS EXACTLY THE TIME EVERY HORSE OWNER SHOULD BE MAKING SURE THEIR BIOSECURITY PROTOCOLS ARE UP TO DATE AND DISCUSSING VACCINATION WITH THEIR VET, SAYS ZOETIS VET WENDY TALBOT.
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iving in a world with Covid-19 has given us a reality check about how airborne disease can take hold and wreak havoc in a matter of months. If there could be a small upside for horse owners from the pandemic it may be that it has helped to clarify the importance of vaccination and biosecurity to protect human health. These should remain our watchwords to minimise infectious disease risks for our horses too. Understanding EHV Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) is a contagious viral infection causing respiratory disease,
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abortions and neurological disease. Like the human cold sore virus, EHV lies dormant in the majority of horses after they recover from infection and it will periodically recur, especially in times of stress such as travelling or mixing with other horses at shows or events or on busy yards.1 Once the virus is reactivated the horse will shed virus into the environment possibly causing new outbreaks. This has the potential to affect the health of the whole yard.2 Unfortunately, there is no cure for EHV. Once a horse has the virus it is likely to remain a carrier for the rest of its life.
Horses most at risk of EHV Moving and mixing horses with others increases the risk of spread of infectious disease.6
Competition and Riding Club horses are likely to be at increased risk not only because of their exposure to other horses at venues but also because the stress of travelling and competing can trigger reactivation of the virus in horses that have been previously infected with EHV.7 Horses at livery yards, especially those with new horses regularly coming on to the yard are also likely to be more susceptible so it is always best for newcomers to be quarantined and for other yard occupants to avoid all contact until the new horse has been confirmed as free of disease.7 Breeding studs and yards with pregnant mares can also be particularly vulnerable to outbreaks which can result in the rapid loss of large numbers of foals (abortion storms).8 How does vaccination help? Vaccination plays a pivotal role because it helps tip the balance in favour of the horse’s immune system. Continued overleaf...
What are the signs of EHV? Your horse will need to be tested by a vet to determine whether the virus is present but signs of respiratory disease are similar to equine influenza and can include: 3,4 ›› Fever ›› Nasal discharge that goes from clear to thick and yellow ›› Weepy eyes ›› Swollen glands ›› Cough ›› Lethargy ›› Reduced appetite ›› No obvious signs but you may have noticed a consistent reduced performance.5
HEALTH & WELFARE respiratory disease and the frequency of abortion.8 Reduction in the incidence of EHV-1 abortion has been attributed to widespread vaccination in pregnant mares.6,9
Continued from previous page...
Although vaccinated horses can still be infected with EHV, it significantly reduces the presence of the virus in the environment (viral shedding), the severity and spread of the
Help - I think my horse may have EHV If you think your horse may have any symptoms of respiratory disease, it’s sensible to isolate them immediately and contact your Vet to discuss the next course of action. In most cases horses will make a good recovery from EHV respiratory disease, the prognosis is guarded for those with EHV neurological disease.1 If you take away just one message from reading this
Reducing the risk factors for EHV 2,4,8 ›› Minimise stress: such as that caused by overcrowding, heavy parasite burdens, poor nutrition, climatic extremes, concurrent disease and mixing animals from different social groups ›› Ensure good biosecurity: avoid contact with other horses, don’t share equipment, bowls or stables ›› Practice good hygiene: humans can spread EHV indirectly via their hands or clothing if they have been in contact with an infected horse ›› Quarantine new horses ›› Isolate infected horses ›› Don’t mix unvaccinated horses with vaccinated ones
article let it be this: Choose to vaccinate and to give your horse the protection it deserves. Vaccination is easy and it’s been proven to be effective at reducing the risks of respiratory
EHV and reduction in abortions. Speak to your Vet to book your horses’ vaccinations now. www.horsedialog.co.uk/ equineherpes
References 1. Allen GP. Respiratory Infections by Equine Herpes Virus Types 1 and 4. International Veterinary Information Service. 2002. 2. Slater J. What is Equine Herpes Virus? Accessed August 2019. https://www.horsedialog.co.uk/ Health/WhatisEHV.aspx 3. Davis, E., Disorders of the Respiratory System, Eds Reed SM, Equine Internal Medicine. 2018, 313 4. Allen, GP. Epidemic disease caused by equine herpesvirus-1: recommendations for prevention and control. Equine Veterinary Education; 14(3):136-142. 2002. 5. Slater J. Equine Herpesviruses. Eds, Sellon DC and Long MT. Equine Infectious Diseases, Chapter 14. 2nd Edition. Saunders Elsevier, St. Louis, Missouri. 2014, 151-168. 6. Lunn, D. P., Davis-Poynter, N., Flaminio, M. F., Horohov, D. W., Osterrieder, K., Pusterla, N., & Townsend, H. G. Equine herpesvirus-1 consensus statement. Journal Of Veterinary Internal Medicine / American College Of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 23(3). 450-461, 2009. 7. American Association of Equine Practitioners. Risk-Based Vaccination Guidelines. Available at: www.aaep.org/-i-166.html. Accessed June18, 20: 8. Ivens P, Rendle D, Kydd J, Crabtree J, Moore S, Neal H, Knapp S, Bryant N, Newton JR. Equine Herpesviruses: A Roundtable Discussion. UK Vet Equine, July/Aug. 2019 9. Kydd J, Townsend H, Hannant D. The equine immune response to equine herpesvirus-1: The virus and its vaccines. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 1, 2006;111,15-30. MM-16136
FIVE THINGS YOUR VET WISHES YOU
WOULDN’T DO
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o help your Vet diagnose and treat your horse effectively, it is important that we as horse owners don’t do
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anything to make the Vet’s job more difficult. Here, Robinson Animal Healthcare take a look at five things your Vet wishes you wouldn’t do!
Apply products to a wound If a wound is severe enough to require veterinary treatment it is important to not apply anything
to the wound before the Vet has had chance to perform an examination. Products such as purple spray and wound powder can interfere with the colour of the tissue and any discharge making it difficult for the Vet to properly assess and treat the wound effectively, resulting in delayed healing and poorer prognosis.
foreign object to determine the exact location, angle and depth and if it is penetrating any vital structures. Removing an object that is embedded in a wound before the Vet arrives can hinder treatment and prognosis, not to mention running the risk of not completely removing the whole object.
Remove penetrating objects If a wound has been caused by an obvious penetrating object that is still clearly visible in the wound, don’t be tempted to remove the offending object. The Vet might need to perform an x-ray prior to removing the
Delay phoning the Vet Never be afraid to call your Vet for advice, even for something that seems insignificant, such as a small wound. Delaying calling a Vet can seriously affect recovery and healing time.
WIN! WIN!
RRP: £1,000.
TRULY INNOVATIVE: NEW MOVEMENT TRACKER he new Alogo movement sensor has been researched and developed over a number of years and is the most accurate technology ever implemented in an equine sensor. The sensor has the ability to visualise the real jump trajectory or stride pattern of a horse. With this information riders and trainers then have the ability to identify the optimum
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parameters such as reach, level, athleticism to help prevent injuries by analysing the smallest variations. All the data provided from the sensor can be made available to your smartphone, tablet or laptop, allowing riders, owners and instructors to develop a training regime to help horse and rider reach goals quicker and more efficiently. www.zebraproducts.co.uk
Administering prescribed medication without Veterinary consent Most horse owners have got the odd sachet of bute kicking around at the bottom of their first aid kit and it can be tempting to administer it to your horse without speaking to your Vet first. Bute can obviously mask pain, especially if your horse is lame which can make it incredibly difficult for your Vet to perform a lameness examination effectively.
and help reduce the spread of infection. It is a myth to believe that your horse doesn’t need vaccinating because they are old or they don’t leave the yard to compete. If your horse is not vaccinated against Tetanus even the smallest puncture wound can provide an entry point for the infection to thrive. The survival rate for horses suffering from Tetanus is poor and for those that do get better it is a long road to recovery. www.robinson healthcare.com
Not vaccinating Horses should be routinely vaccinated to prevent disease
ONE LUCKY READER WILL WIN A PRIZE BUNDLE FROM EQUINE AMERICA! We’ve teamed up with Equine America to offer one lucky reader the chance to win the following prizes: 3 Equine America Branded White Saddle Cloth - RRP £35 3 Equine America Baseball Cap - RRP 10.99 3 Equine America Reusable Face Mask - RRP £5.99 3 Equine America Gillet - RRP £46.99 3 1kg Glucosamine 12:10 Plus - RRP £41.99 3 900gm Pro Gut Balancer - RRP £26.99 3 Dermagel 100ml - RRP £18.00 Glucosamine 12:10 Plus provides key ingredients to provide nutritional support for cartilage repair and to help maintain healthy joint fluid to lubricate and nourish the joint, maintaining the vital shock-absorbing properties in hard working joints. Pro Gut Balancer is a unique combination of pre and probiotics, together with a mannan oligosaccharide (MOS), to help maintain the health of the gut microbiome The number one herbal skin hydrogel, for intensive and rapid skin care, plus a protective barrier effective against foreign contaminants. Derma Gel provides and maintains a moist, epidermal environment with the ability to help clean the surface, encourage natural hair re-growth and maximise skin smoothness. www.equine-america.co.uk
To enter: Visit www.absolutehorsemagazine.com and click on the Competitions page. Entries open 1st September and close 31st October 2021.
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HEALTH & WELFARE
MAGGOT-INFESTED RESCUED FOAL:
TRANSFORMS INTO
SHOW RING STAR
other horses is very new to him. He did such a good job in the ring and a lovely trot for the Judges. “I think Matty shows the joy of the process of rehoming. When he came to Redwings he was as sick as sick can be but, with the care he received, he made a full
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rescued pony who was discovered emaciated with maggot-infested wounds as a foal is now a rosette winner in the show ring. Seven-year-old cob Matty, who received emergency treatment at Redwings Horse Sanctuary and has since been rehomed to Guardian Sarah Prior, was placed third in the Rescue Inhand Class at the Royal Norfolk
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Show on 28th July. Fellow Redwings rehomed pony, 19-year-old Welsh Shetland cross Domino, also placed fourth in the same class. Guardian Sarah, who works as a veterinary surgeon at Redwings and played a key role in Matty’s recovery, said: “I’m so proud of Matty and our rosette! We haven’t been out showing much and to be here at the Norfolk Showground with so many
recovery and is now able to enjoy life in a home and opportunities like this to show what rescued ponies can do. I’m glad the Judges could see in him what I do – he is a lovely boy!” Matty came to Redwings in 2013 at just eight weeks old. A passer-by had found him abandoned in a field in Norfolk and barely able to move. On arrival at the Sanctuary, it was clear that Matty was severely dehydrated, very thin and with an untreated wound on his leg that was completely covered in flies and maggots. A veterinary examination also discovered that maggots had entered his hoof capsule and were eating away at it from the inside, causing him extreme pain. It is likely that Matty, whose name was inspired by the once densely matted state of his coat, was abandoned due to the severity of his condition and, if it hadn’t been for the swift actions of that member of the public
Redwings Matty and Redwings Oak going out for a hack
and the Redwings Rescue team, he would have died in days. Meanwhile, Sarah had just started working at the charity’s Horse Hospital and was one of the team who provided little Matty with round the clock intensive care. She said: “It was love at first sight and I knew that one day I would like to offer Matty a home with me. At the time, Redwings waited until horses had turned four before considering them as candidates for its Guardianship rehoming scheme so I waited patiently until 2018 when I could then take my special boy home. “Matty is so brave and so trusting despite what he went through as a foal. He still always drinks when offered a bucket of water, just like he did so desperately the day he was rescued. He loves a good wither scratch and being groomed.” Sarah rehomed Matty as an unbacked project, meaning that she took on the responsibility of teaching him how to be ridden after he had received basic training at Redwings. And last year, she offered a home to another Redwings rescued pony, 23year-old Native cross Oak, to become Matty’s companion and the pair are now inseparable. To find out more about Redwings’ Guardianship Scheme and the rescued horses currently looking for new homes, please visit www.redwings.org.uk/ rehoming.
AMBASSADORS SOUGHT FOR
STRANGLES AWARENESS WEEK 2022
S
trangles Awareness Week will return in 2022 after this year’s campaign reached more than two million people across the world. Over 180 Ambassadors, including equestrians, livery yards, riding centres, vet practices and equine professionals, signed up to share messages through social media during the Week, which ran from 3rd to 9th May 2021, with the aim of raising awareness amongst horse owners of the world’s most-commonly diagnosed infectious equine disease. For the first time, international equine and veterinary organisations, including Sweden’s National Veterinary Institute and its twenty member organisations, the Royal GD and MSD Animal Health in the Netherlands, and the University of Melbourne and the Equine Veterinarian membership body in Australia also supported the Week. In all, more than 310,000 people were reached online, while a further 2.5 million readers received the Week’s messages through articles in worldwide equine and veterinary publications. Organisers, including Redwings, are now encouraging even more people from across the equine
community to show their interest in becoming Ambassadors ready for next year’s campaign, which will take place from 2nd to 8th May 2022. Ambassadors will join a mailing list to receive exclusive Strangles Awareness Week content for their social media channels, as well as guidance on how to share their own experiences of the disease and encourage
others to speak up too. Anyone wishing to sign-up as an Ambassador for Strangles Awareness Week 2022 and be kept up-to-date with the latest news from the campaign can email campaigns@redwings.co.uk
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HEALTH & WELFARE
YES, HORSE PRICES
HAVE ROCKETED
T
he rising price of horses, ponies and young stock has been the talk of the tack room through the pandemic, as people abandon holiday plans and instead focus on sport, hobbies and adventure closer to home. Now Europe’s leading horses for sale website ehorses.com and its UK counterpart ehorses.co.uk has proof that prices HAVE risen steeply through the pandemic apparently by over 30%! ehorses advertises between 700 and 3,250 horses a month on its market-leading website, across Germany, Europe — including Britain — and around the world. Since ads are removed after three months, the inventory is always up to date. The firm recently analysed the
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prices at which these horses are advertised (where prices were stated), first removing the top and bottom 10% by price. The startling findings showed that prices increased by over 14% year-on-year from 2019 to 2020 and, in the first half of 2021, they are increasing by a further 37% year-on-year. ehorses.co.uk's CEO Lena Büker says: “While ehorses is not privy to the final prices horses sell for, this data clearly proves that asking prices for horses and ponies have increased steeply through the pandemic. The fact we have also seen huge growth in the use of ehorses, with over 3,000 horses advertised on our site in some months, adds strength to this data.”
DIGITAL REVOLUTION
FOR LIVERY YARDS
A
n award-winning livery yard manager has embraced the digital revolution and launched an equestrian management app designed to make yard management safer, more streamlined, and more professional. The newly launched Livery Live app removes the need for paper diaries or the traditional yard whiteboards. Instead, Livery Live captures every owner request and individual equine requirements, stores emergency contacts, automates billing, and enhances communication between management, staff, and clients. Designed to simplify and streamline, Livery Live puts professional yard management quite literally in the palm of your hand. Livery Live creator, and manager of the SEIB Livery Yard of the Year 2020, Adrienne Devonish, commented. “We use apps for other aspects of our daily lives, and it struck me that running and managing the yard would be much easier with an app. An injured horse or a member of staff calling in sick can interrupt the normal routine; the app makes this instantly easier to see and respond to.” With Livery Live, yard owners and managers can review individual horse care plans, monitor feed orders and deliveries, ensure additional service requests from owners are recorded and invoiced correctly, and enables management and staff to access emergency contact details 24/7. Horse owners can use the app to request services, personalise their horse’s profile, notify the yard of changes to care plans and check their billing at any point, allowing them to budget more effectively. Due to the unpredictable nature of live animal environments, yards work better when people can communicate clearly, effectively and respond quickly. Livery Live gives users the information and connectivity they need to run a safe, successful, and professional yard. Data is updated in real-time to enable instant decision making. Task allocation, invoicing and ordering are streamlined, making yard management faster, easier, and more efficient. Subscription models are affordable for businesses and individual horse owners. Starting from £2 per month per horse, following a 6-week free trial period. www.liverylive.com
Article by Cheryl Johns, ABRS+ Trustee
ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
WHEN LOOKING FOR A NEW YARD
T
he livery industry is competitive, and many horse owners do not realise it is completely unregulated. Whilst there are legal obligations for any business regarding insurance, taxes and H&S, anybody at all regardless of experience, competence, or knowledge of equines - can open a livery yard. Whilst investigating the packages and the services or facilities available, it is also important to ensure you are placing your equine in the care of a yard that is run professionally, legally and with the competence you would expect for the care of your equine, and not just basing your decision on cost or facilities. It is important for horse owners to
understand the important questions they must ask when contacting a potential yard. Any good yard should be able to show you evidence to prove they run a professional and competent yard. You should expect them to hold a professional insurance policy, and to include care, custody and control (CCC) insurance if they offer services. You should also be able to request details of any qualifications, experience or training claimed to be held by the yard owner or their staff. You would expect there to be a good level of knowledge in horse management, welfare, and basic veterinary care at the very least. You should request a copy of their livery contract. This will indicate their expectations of the arrangements, payments
and terms of notice and are designed to protect both parties. Horse owners are often deterred by yards they feel have too many rules or a lengthy contract. However, it is important to understand why these are in place, and that the job of a responsible yard owner is to ensure the horses in their care are in an established routine, and that all on the yard act appropriately. They should be able to explain their H&S policy to demonstrate a responsible attitude towards the safety of all on the yard, and be able to advise on biosecurity practices, and what steps they take to prevent infectious disease from new arrivals or cross-contamination. After all, welfare of the equines should be of primary importance on the yard. Ensure you question any points you feel are important and raise any queries that may crop up during a viewing. Whilst yards may not have all the information, their responses will indicate their competence in these areas. The ABRS+ has put these considerations at the forefront
SINCE 1954, THE ABRS+ HAS BEEN THE ONLY ASSOCIATION DEDICATED TO REPRESENTING EQUESTRIAN ESTABLISHMENTS. THE ABRS+ CERTIFIED AND APPROVED SCHEMES FOR RIDING ESTABLISHMENTS, LIVERY YARDS AND EQUESTRIAN CENTRES OFFER A HALLMARK OF QUALITY, PROMOTE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND PROVIDE SUPPORT FROM A TRUSTED ASSOCIATION. for horse owners with their new Certified or Approved Livery Yard scheme and an emphasis on the education for horse owners as to what makes a ‘good yard’. This gives horse owners peace of mind that the member yards have already been appropriately verified for such competences and documentation. By taking the additional steps to research and scrutinize any yards you are considering, you are more likely to find a professionally run yard with the competence to provide livery services you would expect. This is proven to lead to a much longer home for your equine and happy liveries! An extended guide to ‘Finding Livery’ can be found on the ABRS+ website www.abrs-info.org/guides
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HEALTH & WELFARE
EQUINE GLANDULAR GASTRIC ULCERATION
Written by Sarah Voss Equine Internal Medicine Clinical Teaching Associate
Haemorrhagic (red arrow) and fibrinosuppurative (blue arrow) EGGD lesions
Erythematous (red arrow) and fibrinosuppurative (blue arrow) EGGD lesions
E
quine gastric ulceration syndrome (EGUS) is commonly diagnosed, but despite being used broadly, EGUS is a syndrome encompassing two diseases, classified according to which part of the stomach is affected. The stomach has two different mucosal linings. The ‘squamous’ portion which is not designed to sit in acid; and the ‘glandular’ portion which is very acid-resistant. This article
focuses on equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD). Signs of EGGD are variable, including change in temperament, altered appetite, poor performance, and increased sensitivity to grooming, girthing, and rugging. The only way to diagnose EGGD is with gastroscopy. While we apply a grading system to squamous ulcers, EGGD should not be graded because there is poor correlation between the pathology present and the
Depressed haemorrhagic (red arrow) EGGD lesions
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hierarchical grading systems that were in use, so descriptive terms are used instead. We still do not fully understand what causes EGGD, but it is likely a combination of several factors. EGGD is often harder to treat than squamous disease. First line treatment for EGGD is oral omeprazole paste combined with sucralfate. Omeprazole acts to decrease the acidity in the stomach, providing a better environment for healing. Sucralfate has a number of beneficial effects, including creating a protective coating over lesions and improving blood flow to promote healing. Horses are treated for four weeks initially, then gastroscopy is repeated. If there has not been sufficient improvement we must decide whether to extend the initial course of treatment, or to switch to an alternative medication. There are two main alternatives: injectable omeprazole, or oral misoprostol. Some horses do not acidsuppress as well as others with oral omeprazole, and we may then see a better response when
we change to omeprazole injections. Oral misoprostol works by supplying a synthetic prostaglandin, a chemical normally produced by the stomach to protect itself from acid, which promotes healing. Occasionally horses will respond to none of these treatments, and we may need to pursue further investigation or trial alternative treatments. It is well established that optimising health through good management is particularly important when managing horses prone to EGUS. There is evidence to suggest horses that exercise (at any level) more than five days a week are more prone to EGGD, so building in rest days is important. Stress is likely to be a factor predisposing horses to EGGD, so minimising stress as much as possible is important. This will look different for each individual, however keeping to a regular routine, and ensuring horses can exhibit natural behaviours such as spending time with herd-mates is probably beneficial. We also carefully discuss dietary modification with the owner, but ensuring access to forage and reducing starchy feed are particularly important. Article supplied by: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge
www.vet.cam.ac.uk
RETIREMENT BECKONS FOR
TWO EX-POLICE HORSES
B TRY BEFORE YOU BUY A SOBERING TALE OF BUYING HORSES UNSEEN
L
addie and Angel came into the care of World Horse Welfare in March 2021 after the pair’s new owner had bought them both unseen online from a horse dealer in Essex. Laddie, a bay Thoroughbred cross gelding, was a sad sight: dreadfully underweight and, having been recently fully clipped by the dealer, his ribs were also clearly visible with his hip bone and spine protruding through his skin – a stark contrast to the advertised stunning, schoolmaster horse that was depicted in the videos and pictures sent by the dealer to the potential buyer. Angel was in good body condition but was nervous, skittish and flighty – not the bombproof hacking pony advertised. The new owners asked World Horse Welfare to help these horses when they realised the specialist care, attention and facilities needed to nurse them back to full health. After several months of specialist care and rehabilitation Laddie and Angel have a bright future.
Online shopping has become the norm for many during the Covid-19 pandemic, but World Horse Welfare warns about buying horses without meeting your potential new horse first. Laddie and Angel’s owners paid £7000 for the pair but the hidden costs incurred after buying horses unseen can be much higher. You may have to factor in ongoing veterinary costs of sick animals, specialist feeding and your time nursing your horse back to full health. Sadly, in the end your new horse may still not be fit for use. Although some people do buy horses unseen successfully it is seldom advisable and, where possible, you should always meet the horses to check that they are as described and suitable for your requirements. If you must buy unseen, you should always check seller’s or dealer’s names and reputations online and get animals vetted before parting with your money. www.worldhorsewelfare.org
ransby Horses is delighted to announce the arrival of two ex-Greater Manchester Police (GMP) horses into their care after a combined thirteen years of public service. 18-yearold Irish Draught, Captain, and 17-yearold Irish Sport, Steele, will enjoy their retirement in the heart of the Lincolnshire countryside. After beginning his career with GMP in 2013, Captain attended a number of high profile events and served alongside fellow retiree, Steele, on many occasions. Following increasing lameness earlier this year, Captain was retired in June. Steele is described by his handlers as ‘in a league of his own’; brave, very athletic, affectionate, intelligent and funny, and has retired earlier than expected due to failing eyesight. www.bransbyhorses.co.uk
RIP: FREDDIE FOX
G
illian Higgins and the team at Horses Inside Out said goodbye recently to Freddie Fox, who after 24-years was gently and sadly laid to rest surrounded by those who loved him. Freddie Fox has given so much to the world of horses helping to educate thousands of people across the world. He has contributed to raising awareness about equine anatomy, biomechanics, movement, soundness, welfare, riding, training and management practices for the good of horses everywhere. www.horsesinsideout.com/post/freddie-fox
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RIDER HEALTH & WELLBEING
ASK A
Masterminder
Small & Supercharged Mastermind is an online group supporting small equestrian and rural businesses and, as such, is bursting with amazingly knowledgeable people with lots to share. Each month we’ll be asking them a question and members will be sharing their top tips. This month’s question is…
‘NAME YOUR STAND - OUT 'PINCH - ME' MOMENT WHILST RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS’ Faye Robinson, Horseshoe Hearts & Home “Big ‘pinch me’ moment was receiving the product photos from Sophie (Callahan) of our new textiles range. The design - created from my own drawings. printed onto linen fabric and manufactured in the UK - has made a childhood dream come true! I still can't quite believe they exist!” www.horseshoehearts.co.uk Tiffany Lay, Ladybridge Leatherworks “One of my ‘pinch me’ moments was the first time my beautiful stirrups were used by a rider at an international dressage competition.” www.ladybridgeleatherworks.co.uk Amanda Marshall, 3 Donkeys “I had the honour and great pleasure of meeting Charlotte Dujardin CBE on our stand at Your Horse Live 2019 and to then see our photo and the 3 Donkeys name across Charlotte’s social media channels, has to be the ultimate ‘pinch me’ moment.” www.3donkeys.co.uk
Sophie Callahan, equine and small business photographer “A stand out moment of my career happened just this summer. I was asked by Newhall Publishing and the Royal Windsor Horse Show to collaborate with them on the cover for this year’s Souvenir Programme. I had previously taken a photograph at Horse Guards Parade, that they thought would be perfect. An honour in itself, to be asked. “But when I received a photograph from the show of Her Majesty The Queen holding the programme, with my photo of her horse in full view, this was definitely a ‘pinch me’ moment!” www.sophiecallahan.com Cathy Wright, Cathy’s Chocolates “I work with the 2* Michelin Chef Sat Bains for the past nine years, supplying all the after dinner chocolate for his restaurant. After a chance encounter at the end of our meal I spoke with him and was cheeky and asked if I could drop samples of my work in to him. It’s the same chocolate that I use throughout my range.” www.cathyschocolatesandcakes.co.uk Tracey Cole, Tracey Cole NLP “When I was being assessed for my accredited NLP Trainer certification, I had to give a presentation. One of the fathers of NLP, Dr Tad James, sat just out of my line of vision. When I finished, he came up to me and said, “That was an exceptional presentation. Great job!” I was so overcome, I couldn’t speak!” www.traceycolenlp.com Jane Brindley, Horse Riding With Confidence Scotland “My stand out moments are simply seeing how happy my clients are when they fulfil their long held goals. When a client sends a photo or returns to see me with huge smile saying ‘guess what I did!’” www.horseridingwithconfidencescotland.co.uk
Find out more about the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group: www.rheafreemanpr.co.uk 24
Rhea Asks... THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT… ARE YOU DOING ENOUGH? I’M RHEA FREEMAN. I’M A PR, MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA CONSULTANT AND COACH WITH A SPECIALISM IN EQUESTRIAN AND RURAL BUSINESS. I WORK WITH A NUMBER OF THE BEST BRANDS IN THE INDUSTRY AND MANY THAT YOU’LL SEE IN THESE PAGES...
E
ngagement is definitely a buzzword when it comes to social media, but it’s actually a really important part of not only the amazing platforms we have access to for free, but in growing brands and fostering relationships too. So, what is engagement? In social media terms, it’s any action taken on your content. What’s an action? A like, a comment, a share, a save… you get the idea. Why does it matter? Well, this is threefold. When a post gets good engagement (so lots of likes, comments, etc), it signals to the platform you’re using that your content is actually rather good (in terms of people enjoying it), and that can give it a bit of an organic boost and the platform may then show it to more of your fans/followers (because we all know, based on reach figures, our content
only gets served to a small percentage of our audience initially). So that’s one very good reason (no one puts energy into content creation for the post not to be seen, right?!). The second reason, is a simple one. If a post does well and people engage with it, it gives us a clear signal that we should consider doing more of the same. Not identical content, but what about it has encouraged people to engage? Was it a video vs, a still image? A graphic vs. a carousel post? Did it have you in it? There are usually patterns to posts that outperform the norm. And last, but not leastengagement will help you form true connections. Particularly comments, shares and even DMs in response to your post. When people comment, or share, or DM, we as the creators
have the opportunity to engage back. Like a real life conversation. And that gives us the chance to form connections with people. These connections might start as a simple exchange, but could develop into anything else - and how exciting is that? Now, how do we get this engagement? It’s not a dark art, but it does take effort and time. One simple way to encourage engagement is to ask for it. And the easiest way to do this is to ask questions, or for opinions, early on in your caption. Ask for people’s thoughts/ views/experiences and then, when they comment, respond. That’s a super-easy way. The second way, is to act like you’d like others to act towards you on social media. So comment on the posts of those that you follow. Think their horse looks awesome? Tell them. Think they’ve
done well at a show or event? Tell them. Can you understand the feelings they’re having in response to an issue? Tell them. And last but not least – and this is particularly good for Instagram - use hashtags. We often use hashtags to categorise our content so people can find it, but use it the other way and find like-minded people through key hashtags and engage with them. This could well help others find you through the comments, and maybe even give you the opportunity to connect with the person whose content you have commented on. www.rheafreemanpr.co.uk Twitter (@rheafreeman) Instagram (@rheafreemanpr) Facebook (/RheaFreemanPR)
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CAREERS
FROM GOOGLE SEARCH TO A
Capel Manor College, never having spent a single minute in a saddlery workshop. Two years at Capel left me feeling that I experience. had finally found an industry I “From this I made the decision could thrive in. I had met some to pursue a career in horses and amazing people and my hard applied to do a degree at Writtle work had been recognised in a College. I had no idea what I placing at the SMS National wanted to do but I had a love for Saddlery Competition at riding and helping problem Saddlers’ Hall. horses. Three years of university “My good friend Charlie Fuller didn't help me find a career so I had been offered an moved to Gloucestershire to apprenticeship with David Dyer work on a after working and volunteering hunting and there on weekends and days off. dealing yard. After my apprenticeship offer at It was hard, a leather goods manufacturer and eye fell through David proposed opening. It taking both myself and Charlie taught me so on. much but it “I was insistent I didn't want to also made it do saddle fitting, the idea of very clear I advising people in a professional couldn't work on yards for the way terrified me. But after a year rest of my life. It was here that I in the workshop I started to go first wondered how saddles were out with David on fits, and the made and thought it may be next thing I knew, I loved it. It is something I could do - I was the perfect balance of customer always creative and felt I had to interaction, skill and equine decide between a creative and maintenance and equine career. rehabilitation.” “I left this job and applied to
CAREER IN SADDLERY
H
ow did you first become interested in saddle fitting and saddlery in general as a career? “I honestly had no idea that saddlery, let alone saddle fitting existed as a career before a random Google search. “As a kid I had ponies, we bought a second-hand saddle from a man that came with a wide selection. Apart from that, the only time I saw a saddler
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was when I had to take my saddle up to Wadswick, our local saddlery, to have the knee rolls stitched back onto the flaps. “After we had to sell my ponies I had very limited contact with the equine world until I worked and could support my own interest in horses. I started back having riding lessons then got a summer job on an international event yard off the back of school work
IN THIS ISSUE WE TALK TO SMS QUALIFIED SADDLER, BRIDLE MAKER AND SADDLE FITTER, FREYA GEMMILL (NEE WELLER) ABOUT HER BUSY LIFE IN THE INDUSTRY AND THE HIGHS AND LOWS ALONG THE WAY.
Are horses your hobby – if so tell us a bit more? “Not so much anymore. I have a share in a mare called Caz and her owner competes her but I just hack and school a bit. I don’t really have the drive to compete as I feel I would need to have my own horse and commit to riding every day. At the moment I don't want that, so horses are just work and a once/twice a week bit of me time which is great and the right balance at the moment.”
seeing the horses uncomfortable and the owners frustrated at not knowing how to help them. Those are the appointments that make me question this job, but they're also the reason I feel I have to keep on trying.”
What does a typical day look like for you? “At the moment, very different to the last five years! Working for David, I spent most of my years commuting an hour over the dreaded Dartford Crossing, What is it about your doing a full day's fitting, or a job you enjoy the most? mix of fitting, workshop and “Strangely, the people! I have admin before the long drive met some amazing, friendly and home again. We managed to fascinating people. I love the work it so I did as little in Kent as horses, and I love seeing how a possible (I live in North Essex) to small adjustment can make a reduce my commute, but it was massive difference to their way ultimately the distance I had to of going and comfort. But I love travel just to start and finish my the excitement their owners week that pushed me to make a have when they feel the change. change. The joy they get from feeling “I have just come back from a their horse open up for the first post wedding mini-moon and time, or when a prevalent am getting everything together behavioural issue just disappears to start up as a self-employed like it was never there. I can't saddler and saddle fitter. I have help but feel what the owners the brilliant support of my feel, both the highs and the husband Craig as well as all my lows. It's the best and hardest saddlery friends from across the part of the job.” country all lending me their experience. Are there any down “I would like to acknowledge all sides? the brilliant young fitters I have “As above, but when things go met through Capel Manor wrong. When you try College, the SMS fitting exams everything, even the weird and and other SMS courses. Every wacky but you can't put your one of them has created a place finger on why or what is causing for themselves in this industry, a problem. Those are the and every one of them is so, so appointments that haunt you. I talented. My place in this want to be able to help industry would not be the same everyone, not because I want to without you, so thank you.” be the person that can fix www.mastersaddlers.co.uk everything, but because I hate
DERRY MOORE PHOTOGRAPHER
D
erry Moore has photographed more historic houses and gardens than any lensman in history. His photo essays include the House of Lords and Royal Lodge Windsor, Chatsworth, Houghton Hall, Waddesdon, palaces and lush gardens in Turkey, Spain, Morocco, Tunis and Italy. Portraits include the Royal family, great artists, philosophers, musicians, actors, and Arrow's Conquest at Neil Morris Stabl there are thirty-eight es, Middleburgh, Virginia Derry Moore portraits in the National Portrait Gallery alone. In preparation for his latest exhibition ‘Horses’, Derry Moore explored every aspect of equestrian life across the globe. He photographed the Royal Mews, the hunt at Badminton, and glorious 18th-century stables at Chantilly built by the Prince de Conde. The Prince was so obsessed by his horses, writes Derry Moore, that after death he imagined he would be reincarnated as a horse ‘requiring to be housed in a suitably imposing dwelling.’ “In England, I photographed racehorses in Newmarket and Lambourn, military horses in London, Suffolk Punches, those monumental creatures, in Suffolk and huge Shire horses in Wiltshire. Ponies too – both Shetland and New Forest.” Approximately forty of these sensitive equestrian images will be available for sale at the Osborne Studio Gallery exhibition in September.
Exhibition Dates: 14th - 30th September 2021 Location: Osborne Studio Gallery www.osg.uk.com One of Lady Euston's Suffolk Punches
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CAREERS
FRUSTRATION LED TO NEW
EQUESTRIAN PLATFORM
T
his revolutionary new digital platform is creating a shift in the online equestrian community by bringing all aspects of the equestrian lifestyle together. Tack Room Trading is the go-to place for everything equine, from buying and selling horses and equipment to searching for jobs, properties and businesses. Business partners Jodie Jago and Colin Macgregor bring together a concentrated marketplace for riders, owners and equestrian
businesses to access and to trade with each other. Features include an instant messaging service which enables efficient and direct communication. In the equestrian world, owners often end up with a lot of equipment or gear that they no longer use which is a huge waste. At a time when sustainability is more important than ever, we can all do our bit to help the planet by using second hand items. The other vision behind this new
site is usability and convenience. The user will be able to search for an item, refine by location and price, and within seconds see all what is available. Buyers can then contact the seller with any queries and start the buying process. Listing items, jobs, horses or property on the Tack Room Trading site is just as easy as buying. Fees are applicable to some items but with the account plans and available associated discounts, these are considered to be a bargain. Jodie Jago, co-founder of Tack Room Trading said: “As a horse owner myself with three children who all compete and ride, I have found that the second-hand market for equestrian items is my go to place whenever we need new items. “I got frustrated that there wasn’t an area where I could search for deals, second hand items and new items in one place, and so Tack Room Trading was created.” Create an account now to browse, buy or list your items. Items under £500 are free to list! www.tackroomtrading.co.uk
MARCUS HODGE ARTIST
F
rom Andalusia to India, this collection of paintings brings together images from trips over the last two years. Marcus Hodge includes portraits and sketches of majestic Marwari horses in Rajasthan, the international circus horses of Monaco, to the thoroughbreds and Arab horses of the Middle East. Marcus Hodge originally made his name as a portrait painter. He studied Old Master techniques for five years at the Escuela Libre Del Mediterraneo in Palma. On completing this rigorous training he became only the third person in the school’s history to be invited to remain as a tutor. Exhibition Dates: 5th - 27th October 2021 Location: Osborne Studio Gallery www.osg.uk.com
RED BEAR EQUESTRIAN TURNS ONE
D
espite launching during lockdown, Red Bear Equestrian, that offers equestrian home ware, jewellery and fashion for ladies and children, is taking the equestrian world by storm and introducing new products whilst gaining a loyal following on Instagram. “Our latest range, The Fell Collection, is named after our rescue fell pony. Our customers asked for understated equestrian fashion, that was durable, affordable and easy to wear every day. That is exactly what my family and I created,” said founder Hayley Anderson-Richardson. Hayley designs all of the Red Bear Equestrian ranges, with input from her three children. “We have also recently brought production in house. Due to lockdown the models, photography, design and some manufacturing have all been done by us as a family which makes Red Bear Equestrian extra special.” www.redbearequestrian.com
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THE DOOR TO TRAINING
IS OPEN NOW...
BY NIKKI ROUTLEDGE, REGD, MCTIMONEY ANIMAL THERAPIST
TOP TIPS FOR HORSE OWNERS
RETURNING TO THE OFFICE
T Nikki Routledge MSc PGCLT FHEA MMAA AHPR Regd, McTimoney Animal Therapist
T
wenty-five years ago I started training to become a McTimoney animal manipulator, having seen the benefits of physical therapy and after experiencing the McTimoney treatment myself for whiplash following a car accident. When I first qualified, it was primarily competition horses, racehorses and those with quite marked behavioural issues which formed the patient group. Now, with an increase in awareness of how musculoskeletal issues can manifest and gradually build into bigger problems, owners are requesting help far sooner. The highest level of qualification is MSc for animal musculoskeletal therapists, including physiotherapists, osteopaths and McTimoney chiropractors. Practitioners who have trained to this level have had to study for many years covering the anatomy, physiology, and pathologies of the animals they work on, as
well as the practical hands-on training. The door to training as a musculoskeletal therapist is open now to a far wider range of people. I am one of the first non-human trained graduates of the McTimoney Animal Manipulation course following six years of study (four years in equine science and two years in chiropractic for animals) and I have been working as a McTimoney Animal Practitioner for twenty years now. The McTimoney College was ground-breaking in removing the barrier to non-human trained applicants more than twenty years ago, and whilst the MSc Animal Manipulation still requires applicants to have a prior degree, preferably in a related science, those with an unrelated degree but plenty of experience evidenced in the animal industry are also considered. www.mctimoneycollege.ac.uk/postgraduatestudies/msc-animalmanipulation
he pandemic brought some of us the opportunity to spend more quality time with our animal companions and, for some, it was the perfect time to bring a horse into their lives, possibly for the first time. With the return to ‘normal’, however, many horse owners may now be wondering how they will fare on their return to work. Not everyone’s job role will be suited to or offered flexible working as a permanent solution. That’s why Bransby Horses and World Horse Welfare have teamed up to provide their top tips for equine owners returning to work. Sam Chubbock, Head of UK Support at World Horse Welfare said: “Juggling looking after horses with work and family commitments can certainly be a challenge, but it is usually achievable with care and planning. For example, if time is proving to be a problem you may be able to make changes to the way your animals are kept without affecting their welfare, although make sure any changes in their management are introduced gradually. If you have concerns about how you are going to fit everything in, or if it proves too difficult as you start to go into work more frequently, then don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
Top 5 Tips: • Time management – Planning in advance as much as possible can help with your daily routine. Combine your gym workout with your horse jobs • Buddy system - Arrange a sharing network within your yard environment or buddy up with someone for turn out, checking or feeding. • Livery options - If your horse is currently stabled, could it be put out to grass? If they need to remain stabled, for some going to assisted or full livery might be an option. • Exercise – Providing your horse with enough exercise is important for their health and wellbeing - you may be able to lunge or free-school on days when time is short, saving hacks for weekends. • Shares - Finding someone to share your horse with so that fitness and quality time aren’t affected is an option some owners may wish to consider. Time management is always a challenge for working horse owners but it can be done successfully. Finding what works for you is key as one solution will not be right for all owners. If you are struggling to adapt and would like free, non-judgemental guidance, contact: Bransby Horses – 01427 788 464 World Horse Welfare - 01953 497 238.
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BUYER’S GUIDE Estilo Bag in Brown. RRP: £149. Sereno Leather Polo Bracelet. RRP: £25. www.pampeano.co.uk
n m u t u A Edit
Winscombe Cardigan. RRP: £120. Witney Cardigan. RRP: £120. www.beaufortandblake.com
Cashmere Crew Neck in Natural. RRP: £99.95. www.oxfordshirt.co.uk The Oxley Fedora in Pebble. RRP: £79. www.hicksand brown.com
Bowdens stripe roll neck jumper. RRP: £120. www.beaufort andblake.com
Burnham. RRP: £375. www.fairfax andfavor.com
Melton Bag in Brown. RRP: £160. www.hicksandbrown.com Boxing Hare Scarf. RRP: £85. www.waringbrooke.com
Vierzonord Neoprene Lined Wellingtons in Marron Fonce. RRP: £190. www.lechameau.com
Cashmere Roll Neck in Pale Blue. RRP: £119.95. www.oxfordshirt.co.uk
ASALI Weekender in Dark Blue. RRP: £190. www.asalidesigns.co.uk
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Grub’s Rainline Boot. RRP: £79.95. www.grubsboot.com
Brantham Fedora in Grey. RRP: £59. www.hicksandbrown.com
Ladies Ptarmigan Tweed Coat in Iona Tweed. RRP: £699.95. www.schoffelcountry.com
The Gatcombe, Choc. RRP: £325. www.fairfax andfavor.com
Funnel neck jumper. RRP: £110 www.tomlane.co
Devon Merino Jumper in Navy. RRP: £109.95. www.schoffelcountry.com
Southwold Sweatshirt in Blue. RRP: £52.95. www.whaleofa timeclothing.com
Belgravia, Tan. RRP: £345. Mini Windsor. RRP: £285. www.fairfaxandfavor.com
Bowdens stripe scarf. RRP: £99. www.beaufortand blake.com
Jameson Women’s Quilted Leather Boots in Caramel. RRP: £280. www.lechameau.com
The Gatcombe, Tan. RRP: £325. www.fairfaxandfavor.com
Dachshund Scarf. RRP: £85 www.waring brooke.com
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BUYER’S GUIDE
A brand new collection designed to not only look great but remain functional for the active equestrian. Made from a breathable, 4-way stretch technical fabric which allows complete freedom of movement and creates a flattering fit, leaving all riders feeling great. RRP: from £23.95. www.harryhall.com White Competition Leggings. RRP: £65. www.mochara.co.uk The Guard Jacket is made with WPS 5000 fabric, it is water and wind proof and very durable. The jacket has a two way zipper, three front pockets with zippers and reflective piping along front sleeves and back sleeves. RRP: £89. www.mountainhorse.se
Mochara have launched their popular Base Layer Top in ‘Baby Blue’, ‘Mauve’ and an elegant and flattering ‘Burgundy’. RRP: £40. www.mochara.co.uk
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Scottish-based equestrian clothing brand Apt Cavalier has updated its best-selling riding leggings with new design features and added a new colour option which is perfect for winter looks. The new Power+ Leggings in burgundy combine an innovative design with a high-performance fabric and style for the yard, gym, shop and beyond to create the perfect gift for those who spend their lives in the saddle. With some new design features, the handy pocket is now situated higher on the leg for improved comfort and easier access, and there’s a pocket on both legs instead of one side. RRP: £49.50. www.aptcavalier.com
Dublin Suede Half Chaps II Black. RRP: £38.99.
Collegiate Mono Crown Padded RaisedFlash Bridle. RRP: £139.99.
Dublin Power Performance Mid Rise Colour Block Tights Aqua. RRP: £55.99. Dublin Cool It Everyday Riding Tights Black. RRP: £53.99.
Weatherbeeta 300D Reflective Exercise Sheet Yellow. RRP: £52.99
Weatherbeeta Comfitec Plus Dynamic II Detach-ANeck Medium Black/Aqua RRP: £144.99.
Weatherbeeta Kyla Waterproof Jacket Asphalt Grey. RRP: £129.99. Dublin River Boots III Chocolate. RRP: £139.99.
Below right: Weatherbeeta Comfitec Fleece Zip Dog Coat RRP: £19.99
Dublin Altitude Zip Paddock Boots Black. RRP: £47.50.
All products on this page are available from www.ingatestone saddlery.co.uk
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YARDS, STABLES, ARENAS
Planning
FOR PLANNING
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uper stables, a magnificent manège, a huge horse walker or gallops – whatever you are planning you are likely to need planning (consent)! It’s often so daunting when planning a project which is likely to cost the earth – so to get it right first time it’s probably worth carefully considering which planning consultant you use. Google or recommendation? Choose a consultant to approach to discuss your project and get a quote. Some people feel more comfortable having a solid recommendation on which planning consultant to use and some prefer an arm’s length arrangement with someone they don’t know and who the ‘neighbour down the road’ has used.
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Look at their portfolio Research what projects they’ve been involved in and look at the planning applications they have been involved in. You can often search a Council’s planning pages by ‘agent’. It’s often useful to look out for someone who specialises in rural and equestrian work because both of these specialisms have their place when considering a project. A consultant often works as a project manager to pull aspects of the planning process together, instruct third party consultants (ecologists, heritage assessments, archaeology and architects) and advise on the project to help avoid any pitfalls. Talk to them on the phone Make sure you can work with them; have a chat with them on the phone; most firms will give you a free 15-30 minute free
ANGELA CANTRILL IS A CHARTERED SURVEYOR AND PLANNING CONSULTANT AT THE RURAL PLANNING CO, ONE OF HER SPECIALISMS IS PLANNING FOR EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES.
initial consultation. A consultant may have some useful ideas and a strategy which may not always be immediately obvious, often talking through your options and enabling you to decide which is the most beneficial way of applying for certain proposals your ideal solution and work when considering your long from there. They will often term aims and objectives. provide you with recommendations on the most Discuss your dreams effective way of making the and desires project work. Provide the consultant with
Instructing the consultant Once you have a plan to take the project forwards, the consultants will agree terms with you and send out instruction documents for signature. Read the small print and understand what is and isn’t included in the fee and get clarification if in doubt, to avoid any shocks over additional charges later on.
comments. The consultant will be able to submit any further information which the planning officer requires, refute any objections or agree any amendments or conditions which may be necessary.
Planning documents and application The consultant will have gathered a lot of information about your project and is likely to supply you with a draft of the planning statement, plans and drawings, so that you can check the information and make sure you are happy with the information being submitted. Once approved by you, the planning documents (including planning statement, site and location plans, architect plans) will be submitted to the Council.
Build your dream facility Provided that you have planning approval and have approved related conditions, then commence the build!
Decision day The Council will issue a decision; approval (planning consent) or refusal. An approval will often mean there are conditions attached to the consent which Have a site visit need to be complied with. Some It’s often really useful to get the of the conditions will require consultant out to your property further information to be to see the overall set up, submitted to the council in a however, in recent months due separate application which is to Covid restrictions it’s become called an ‘approval of commonplace for the consultant conditions’ application. to ask for detailed photos, a Conversely a refusal is video overview of the site and disappointing but there could even drone footage; so the be the option to appeal the travelling distance between the decision. This can be time consultant and the site is no consuming and costly but worth longer a barrier. considering.
Planning process Monitoring the application will be necessary to ensure that there are no comments from objecting parties or consultee
A planning application can be a fairly involved and stressful process - a planning consultant can often take the weight and manage the application effectively using their knowledge and expertise particularly when it comes to dealing with the planning officer and politics surrounding the application. www.therural planningco.co.uk
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THE PROFESSIONALS
YOUNG EVENTER
SETTING OUT ON A PROFESSIONAL CAREER
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t a time when British Eventing brings back Team Gold and Individual Silver, and equestrian medals all round with two Bronzes in dressage and Individual Gold in the showjumping – it’s never been a better time to be a young rider setting out on a career in eventing. And according to Ben Perry, rider at Team Jones Equestrian, there’s no better place to be than at Team Jones Equestrian
yard in Rutland, home of top international eventing and dressage riders Richard and Victoria Jones. With Covid restrictions hopefully behind us, 20-year-old Ben has talent spotters to impress and the Olympics in Paris to dream of. In his two short action-packed years with Team Jones, he and his mare Fa Karla have fast forwarded from pre-novice BE90 competitions to qualification for 4* events following a strong performance at Aston le Walls.
love with a sharp 7-year-old mare with attitude and opinions that Ben was sure he could change. At nineteen he and Karla took the perfect next step to join Team Jones yard in Rutland. “It’s been life changing,” he says. “Richard and Victoria both go that extra mile – literally – to take me to the important events to develop my horse and my experience. With Victoria my His excellent run of form dressage has gone from ‘grin continues, finishing on his dressage score at Houghton Hall and bear it’ to rhythm and harmony. But more than that, CCI3* and sixth place in the they teach me equine life skills Young Rider CCI3* that I just couldn’t have got at championship. home because I don’t come So what’s the story from a horsey family. behind Ben? “I now have the confidence not Although he was brought up in just to ride, but to meet with the countryside around owners, talk with other Loughborough, horses or ponies competitors and even with were never on the family radar – British Eventing officials. I have but they were on his. The not only grown in riding abilities mother of Olympic showjumper but in personal confidence.” Holly Smith had a yard nearby Team Jones are eyeing up a busy where he was already riding end to the season with the ponies at the age of four and the yard’s top eventers, Alfies Clover addiction had started. He and Kilballyboy Bob – both worked for free, rode ponies, having been nicely prepped at and bought his first 14.2hh some smaller events over the pony at the grand old age of past few months. As for Ben, he twelve. and Karla hope to end the But he longed to go eventing. season on a high at Osberton At sixteen he sold the pony, International CCI-L 3*. counted his pennies and fell in www.teamjonesequestrian.com
INTERNATIONAL PARA SHOWJUMPER JOINS ROBINSON ANIMAL HEALTHCARE
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nternational Para showjumper, Laura Goodall has joined the team of sponsored riders representing Robinson Animal Healthcare, following a nationwide search. Laura’s determination and passion for the sport she loves stood out from the many applications that came flooding in. 27-year-old Laura has ridden since the age of six and competed in British Showjumping competitions from the age of thirteen beforeshe was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2015. Laura now competes in both Para Showjumping and British Showjumping competitions with her top horse Guusje. www.robinsonhealthcare.com
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H
ave you ever watched in awe at the skill of carriage drivers as they manoeuvre their way through cones or obstacles on the marathon after the glamour and precision of the dressage phase? For many horse and pony enthusiasts competing at the highest level may not be their dream, but simply getting out and about in the countryside for a pleasure drive is a fantastic way to spend your spare time. The team at Bennington Carriages near Newark, offer a wide range of Carriage Driving experiences aimed at the newcomer or novice which provide an ideal opportunity to try this wonderful activity. The Carriage Driving Experience provides an enjoyable introduction to the sport during a two hour session.
With many years’ experience and from a family steeped in Carriage Driving, UKCC Level 3 coach Sue Mart covers the essentials of Carriage Driving and provides one to one tuition whilst also ensuring your first time ‘behind the reins’ is safe, rewarding and of course, fun! Said Sue: “Carriage Driving has always been such a big part of our lives and everyone in the Bennington team so enjoys passing on our skills and knowledge to get more people interested in this fantastic pastime or sport.” Bennington also offer tailormade one-to-one tuition, suitable for all levels and disciplines of driving - from novice to advanced and from pleasure to competition. Sue will work closely with you to understand your requirements and tailor either individual or a series of sessions to ensure you realise your Carriage Driving goals.
Carriage Driving Academy Bennington has always focused on making Carriage Driving enjoyable and accessible to all. To some this means relaxed driving through picturesque countryside and a picnic halfway through the drive. To others it means the thrills and excitement of competing at club, national and international level. The Bennington Carriage Driving Academy offers an extensive range of facilities and training for all levels of driver. A wide range of Try Driving experiences are available for those new to Carriage Driving or for those who would simply like to ‘have a go’ for the first time. For more advanced drivers, the Bennington Carriage Driving Academy has a wide range of Carriage Driving facilities to help improve performance and develop skills.
The Carriage Driving Academy is a purpose-built facility, set in ten acres of picturesque countryside and is extensively equipped to help maximise your enjoyment of the sport. Ample parking, wash down facilities and toilets are available as well as expert advice from the Bennington Team - who are always on hand. The Academy offers: • Outdoor dressage arena 100m x 40m • Obstacle and water splash • Cones course • Outdoor training area • Grass fitness track Sue and the team at Bennington are always happy to talk to those wanting to have a go at carriage driving and learn more. www.bennington carriages.co.uk
WHY NOT TRY...
CARRIAGE DRIVING 37
THE PROFESSIONALS
F
ollowing on from Amy’s recent explosion back onto the competition scene, we would like to know a bit more about how to juggle family and competing life.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
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he Windrush Equestrian Foundation are pleased to confirm a new partnership with the Ebony Horse Club. The partnership looks to help develop new pathways into the eventing industry for their members. The new relationship took its first step forward at the Young Eventer’s Programme summer training camp held at the infamous Billy Stud this July. Riders from the Ebony Horse Club joined with the Foundation’s young eventing riders for a day of training with, British Olympian and Rolex Grand Slam Champion, Pippa Funnell. Windrush Equestrian Foundation CEO, Mariachiara Apruzzese said: “It was truly special to have a few young riders from Ebony Horse Club attend the training at The Billy Stud with our riders. We are very excited for this partnership and are looking forward to offering more opportunities for Ebony riders to experience the eventing world alongside our mentors
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and riders.” The Ebony Horse Club members, along with Yard Manager Tom, spent time with Windrush Equestrian mentor Pippa Funnell, gaining an insight into the running of a leading sports stable, and training the top riders of the future. The partnership aims to offer increased training and work experience opportunities, to the young riders at Ebony Horse Club, within the eventing industry. Ebony Horse Club General Manager, Naomi Howgate said: “A key part of Ebony Horse Club’s mission is to provide new opportunities and raise the aspirations of our young people. Working with the Windrush Equestrian Foundation helps us to do this in a very exciting way. Having our youngsters work with top riders and coaches inspires them for the future and helps them learn things that they wouldn’t learn in their regular lessons at our centre. Maybe one day we will see an Ebony rider compete alongside a
Windrush rider as a result of this exciting partnership.” The Foundation is now keen to explore the option of work experience placements, within the eventing industry, that would be suitable for the Club’s members. Any eventing stables or businesses willing to explore potential work experience options please contact info@windrushfoundation.org.uk
How has the return to competition life been for you post-Covid? How did you manage to keep horses fit enough to get back out and compete once restrictions were lifted? “It was a very difficult time for us all in the horse world but I did find the uncertainty hard to manage – we had so many stop and starts and when it finally did reopen properly I was still slightly dubious how long it would last! “I managed the horses with regular ground work (something I really believe in) and by my incentive reward coaching in the round pen. I also hacked (again something I believe strongly in) and of course schooled. When I had an inkling things would reopen the focus shifted to more schooling and less hacking etc.” How have you managed family-wise with the shift? Do you have family around who can help with your daughter, Florence? “I am so lucky – husband Simon (Director at Sussex Equine Vets) shared Florence with me as much as he could and we often ran a tag team of me schooling horses early and him taking over in the afternoon. Also it helps that our yard (recently bought in Horsham) is close enough for me to travel to easily.”
PHOEBE OLIVER INTERVIEWS AMY STOVOLD, ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S LEADING DRESSAGE RIDERS, AND EXAMINES HOW SHE IS RISING BACK UP THE DRESSAGE COMPETITION LADDER SINCE BECOMING A MUM
Five minutes with...
AMY STOVOLD What successes have you had so far and what are you hoping for in the near future? “I am very pleased that in the short time back competiting Bobo L (Bo) has already been placed second in Grand Prix and we have another high profile show at the end of this month in Bury Farm that I am have high hopes for. We all have different methods but unlike some riders I do tend to take my time with the youngsters – Kenjiro is my youngster I am very excited to be working on and will begin to introduce him to some high level competitions soon.”
What changes have you noticed in yourself since returning to competiting post becoming a mum? Are you now more careful with the risks you take?
“I am definitely more careful – I assess the horse more before taking it on and won’t ride anything that is really tricky or sharp – the risks are now just too huge in terms of falling and hurting myself! I also train myself now to be stronger – I have a healthy balance of PT sessions and Yoga as the core is slightly harder to work on post childbirth! As I was a slightly older mother this is also very important – I want to be strong both as a rider and a Mummy as Florence also demands energy!”
What do you think are the biggest hurdles facing young dressage riders? “I really feel for young riders today – there is so much competition and pressure via
social media. They are surrounded by people with better horses and better wardrobe/tack/horseboxes etc but the truth is that there is no greater satisfaction than working on a horse yourself and creating the impenetrable bond that you get in doing so. “I didn’t come from a horsey background – I worked in a riding school for all my lessons and so I am living proof that you can make it happen with dedication and raw desire.” How do you keep horses fit during the Winter months? “Training doesn’t stop for me in the Winter – I train in snow and cold and wet and am lucky as my yard is surrounded by a hard track that I can use and the school has a quick draining system. “I also alternate – essential for some of the young horses and I use a mixture of the pen and school – on really horrible days the horses choose to have a duvet day but where possible I try to get them out once a day for a leg stretch at the very least.” Amy is available to coach riders and horses from youngsters to Grand Prix level. Visit her socials @teamstovold www.teamstovolddressage.com
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NUTRITION contain all the nutrients necessary to support these areas.
The Benefits of
BALANCERS
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alancers are often misunderstood but really are an excellent feeding option for many horses. What They Are Balancers provide all the essential nutrients you’d find in a mix or cube, without the energy/calorie element so are fed in much smaller quantities. They are formulated to supply the nutrients known to be lacking in forage and pasture, which is even more important if hay is being soaked, which washes out nutrients as well as calories, or if grazing is stressed. Every balancer supplies a wide range of vitamins and minerals in carefully calculated ratios to
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meet a horse’s daily needs, including nutrients to support healthy hoof growth, metabolism, tissue repair etc. Unlike vitamin and mineral supplements, balancers also contain protein which supplies essential amino acids. These are the building blocks of all body tissues, including hoof, hair, muscle and bone, so are pretty important and also often deficient in modern forages. Most balancers also contain ‘digestive enhancers’, like yeast culture or prebiotic, which support gut efficiency. Some balancers are said to contain special ‘supplements’ to target certain issues but this is just another way of saying they
Great for Good-Doers Because balancers are concentrated and fed in such small quantities, their calorie contribution to a horse’s overall diet is negligible, making them perfect for horses who maintain condition on forage alone or those on calorie-controlled diets. They’re low in starch and sugar, so suitable for those prone to laminitis, and will help build and maintain muscle tone in working good-doers, whose requirements for essential nutrients can be met without adding to their waistlines. Feeding a low calorie balancer, alongside forage, is better than feeding a ‘token gesture’ of a mix or cube or no hard feed or supplement at all, as it ensures the horse receives a fully balanced diet, without going to the waistline. Many a ‘lazy’ good-doer, fed no or little hard feed, feels happier and healthier when receiving a fully balanced diet through the recommended
amount of a balancer. They often start to find work easier and, as fitness levels improve, so can achieve a healthier body condition. Added Flexibility Horses’ calorie requirements can fluctuate with workload and depending on the contribution made by grass and forage. Spring and summer grazing may supply plenty of calories so feeding the full recommended amount of a mix or cube, that may be appropriate through the winter, would provide too many additional calories and has to be cut back. While this controls calories, it also reduces intake of essential nutrients so adding balancer to reduced amounts of hard feed, brings nutrient levels back up without unwanted calories, and helps ensure the horse continues to receive a fully Continued overleaf...
NUTRITION Continued from previous page...
balanced diet. This is important to support health, wellbeing and performance as well as healthy hoof growth and recovery. Great for Sharp Horses All balancers are low in starch, sugar and energy so will not exacerbate excitability or fizzy behaviour. Any dietary changes should always be made gradually, to allow a horse’s digestive system and hind gut bacteria to adapt but, for those horses who tend to be sharp or stressy, it’s always a good idea to make these changes more slowly. This is even more important if the previous diet was lacking or imbalanced and you are introducing a new feed or balancer to rectify this. Great for ‘Condition’ Good condition is as much about muscle tone, top line, hoof quality and coat shine as it is about levels of body fat so feeding a balancer, at recommended levels, should help to improve all these aspects of a horse’s condition. The pre and probiotic content helps improve digestive efficiency so even those on a forageonly diet should be able to ‘make more’ of the diet overall. In some, this may even result in a little weight gain but even those balancers described as ‘conditioning’ will not provide sufficient calories for horses who need significant weight gain. They will need to increase their calorie intake and the most efficient way to do this is with a specially formulated highly digestible, calorie-dense conditioning feed. www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk
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BALANCERS ARE THE BEST OPTION FOR WEIGHT WORRIES
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pillers have been running an informative online campaign recently, Nutrients Not Calories, to help horse owners learn about the unique benefits of balancers, to us help keep our horses healthy and slim, and Newmarket vet Lucy Grieve has applauded the initiative. Balancers are worth their weight in gold when your horse needs to cut back on calories but not nutrients, and used in addition to appropriate management they can help you to reduce the risks of obesity and its associated conditions such as laminitis. Nutritionists at Spillers will be publishing a series of blogs, videos and infographics to explain what balancers are, the power of
feeding by the cupful rather than by the scoop and the daily nutrients horses need beyond those supplied by forage alone. The campaign has the support of Lucy Grieve, a frontline vet at Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons, Newmarket. “A significant proportion of the UK equine population (up to 70%) are overweight and so actually require a weight loss diet which excludes compound feeds altogether,” said Lucy. “In these cases, a ‘balancer’ is appropriate and allows the horse to receive what it needs without receiving the excessive calories that are going to do it more harm than good. “I think compound feeds are
probably used too much by too many, where a balancer is usually sufficient,” she continued. “Unfortunately, many horse owners think their horse is in harder work than it actually is, warranting increased rations but hard work would actually be an advanced eventer or racehorse in full work! I try to persuade all my nonprofessional clients to start with a balancer (together with forage) before even considering a compound feed. It’s amazing how many weight and behavioural issues are solved by this simple move!” Clare Barfoot RNutr, Marketing and Research and Development Director at Spillers, added: “A good balancer provides optimum levels of vitamins, macro and micro minerals and amino acids to balance the base diet, with minimal calories and starch. This makes them ideal for horses and ponies that keep their weight on a forage-only diet or those needing less than the recommended amount of compound feed.” Lucy Grieve concluded: “Every horse needs enough of the essential vitamins, minerals and quality protein to stay healthy but in my experience a lot of people still don’t really understand balancers and what lifesavers they are! We all love our horses and want to do our best for them and by opting for a balancer we can help to do just that.” www.spillers-feeds.com
Show, Great Yorkshire Show and Wheatley Horse Show. Tamzin Furtado says, “Horses who are overweight or cresty are often celebrated for their condition – and we want to slightly challenge that, by celebrating horses in ideal body condition.” Fellow Liverpool University graduate and vet, Ben Curnow, MRCVS, who judged body condition as part of the 2019 pilot programme, added, “It’s not about being critical of or challenging the judges, just showcasing what ideal body condition looks like.” The British Equine Veterinary Association considers equine ehaviour change rosette to the healthiest body obesity to be one of the scientist Dr Tamzin condition within the class. highest-ranking equine health Furtado from The pilot programme ran prior risks today. The Horse Trust is Liverpool University has to the Covid-19 disruptions in working with a number of joined forces with The Horse 2019 and was very well received horse world bodies to come up Trust to reward healthy body by competitors and with practical solutions to condition in show horses professionals alike. David Ingle, enable human behaviour and spread the word on how Chairman of The Showing around equine obesity to be best to go about Council and Director of Showing changed for the better. maintaining the healthiest at the Royal International Horse Jan Rogers says, “We get very weight. Show, Hickstead, said, “Showing upset by seeing photos of Instigated by Tamzin and Jan is keen to become more underweight horses in the Rogers at The Horse Trust, the educational and we are in an era media, but in reality, far more programme targets both of great improvement in equine horses are obese than are affiliated and unaffiliated welfare, with increasing scrutiny underweight. This is very shows up and down the under social license. This worrying for vets who are country, providing friendly, initiative will help to shine a finding that they have to treat supportive advice and light on this important aspect of these horses with serious guidance to owners, riders showing.” health conditions like Equine and producers, helping them The Royal International Horse Metabolic Syndrome and to recognise the benefits of Show participated in the 2019 Laminitis. Peoples’ perceptions maintaining a healthy body pilot programme and were of what is a healthy weight condition. pleased to include the initiative have shifted towards the Both local and on-site vets in their show schedule again at higher body condition scores. work in conjunction with the this year’s show. We would like to help to reset Judges to score horses in the Other participants in the 2019 this balance”. chosen classes and award a pilot included Bucks County
HEALTHY BODY CONDITION IN SHOW HORSES
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NUTRITION
W AUTUMN FEEDING
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utumn can be a difficult time of year; the constantly changing weather and variations in temperature can make one day feel like summer and the next like winter. There are several factors to take into consideration when it comes to autumn feeding. Each horse must be treated as an individual when developing a feeding regime at any time of the year so consider factors such as age, temperament, dentition, overall health and weight. Body condition scoring is a useful tool to monitor your horse’s condition throughout the year and always take note of the quantity of water your horse consumes. The darkening evenings often result in the horse’s work load being considerably reduced during the autumnal months. This regularly coincides with reduced turn out as horses are stabled during the night after free access to pasture during the summer months. A suitable balance will need to be reached to ensure the horse is receiving
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adequate levels of fibre and concentrates are not being overfed. 80 to 100% of the horse’s diet should be fibre-based and as we move through the autumn months a large proportion of this will be made up of forage. Fibre is important for many reasons but especially in helping the horse to maintain its body temperature. Heat is released when fibre, retained in the horse’s hindgut, is fermented by micro-organisms. This process of digestion is a very useful source of warmth for horses during the colder months, in particular those that live out. Sourcing good quality forage is obvious for many owners but this can become increasingly difficult as the winter months continue, so ensure your supplier has enough good quality forage to fulfil your horse’s autumn and winter requirements. The length of time we stable our horses often increases as we progress through the autumn so finding forage that is dust-free is vital for good respiratory health.
Forage that comes with a quality guarantee can reduce costly wastage. We, as horse owners, often spend a considerable amount of time investigating the nutritional contents of our bucket feeds but we don’t always do the same for our forage. Choosing a forage that has been fully analysed will help in developing a balanced consistent diet for your horse or pony. HorseHage dust-free bagged forage comes in four varieties offering a choice for all types of horses and ponies including those prone to laminitis. It is consistent, contains no additives, comes with a 100% quality guarantee and has BETA NOPS certification. A broad spectrum vitamin and mineral source should be supplied in the horse’s diet throughout the year but it is particularly essential as the access to grazing becomes restricted. www.horsehage.co.uk
hen grass grows under normal conditions, it contains high levels of soluble sugars and nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs). When there is a ground frost and grass is frozen, the grass accumulates more sugars to try and enable it to carry on growing in adverse conditions. This extra sugar content can be one of several different triggers for laminitis. If a horse or pony is prone to laminitis, it should be fed a low sugar, low starch and high fibre diet. It is important not to starve horses and ponies prone to laminitis as this can cause further problems. Choose forage that has a lower sugar content than hay, such as High Fibre or Timothy HorseHage and, ideally, a complete feed suitable for horses and ponies prone to laminitis that contains a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement such as Mollichaff HoofKind Complete. Mollichaff HoofKind Complete is made from a balanced blend of high quality oat straw, dried alfalfa and fibre pellets and is topped with a light dressing of soya oil with added vitamins and minerals, trace elements, including magnesium and natural plant-based antioxidants, as well as added biotin. www.horsehage.co.uk
NUTRITION fibre content of the natural herbage diet, releasing energygiving substances which the horse then uses. Contrary to some beliefs, fibre is not just a ‘filler’, as the hindgut micro-organisms create a delicate microbalance which, if upset, may result in health and performance problems and also may suppress the immune status of the horse, often creating a downward spiral of health problems.
FEEDING FIBRE
3) Fibre can help buffer stomach acid Trickle feeding fibre such as chaff (a little at a time) encourages horses to chew, producing much more saliva than when concentrates are fed on their own and this alkaline saliva buffers the stomach acid. The presence of a high fibre feed such as chaff in the stomach helps to neutralise stomach acid. Chaff will also encourage chewing, prolonging feeding time and the production of increased amounts of acidbuffering saliva. Furthermore, alfalfa may actually have a more
FIVE FIBRE FACTS FROM HORSEHAGE AND MOLLICHAFF
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n this issue we are talking all about fibre in your horse’s diet. This can be provided by the horse’s natural grazing, forage, chaff or high fibre feeds. Here are five facts on the waves known as peristalsis. The importance of fibre from gut is designed to receive a HorseHage and Mollichaff: small but regular and frequent supply of food (trickle feeding) 1) Feed fibre first to encourage these ‘waves’ to The horse, through evolutionary continue. A period of as little as adaptation which has occurred eight hours without food may over a period of 65 million years, cause a slowing of these has become a ‘trickle-feeder’. muscular contractions and His digestive system, with its impair the digestive process. A small stomach and very large high fibre diet is a more natural bacteria-filled hind gut is way to feed you horse compared designed to contend with an to a high cereal diet and forage almost continuous supply of can provide 70-100% of the grass and herbage. Food is diet. (If 100% of the diet is moved along the digestive tract provided by forage, a broad by muscular contractions or
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spectrum vitamin or mineral source such as a good quality balancer should also be provided.) 2) Fibre – It’s not just a filler! Many horse owners feed a small amount of chaff just to bulk out the concentrate feed but there are other beneficial reasons for its use. Horses are predominantly fibre digesters or hindgut fermenters. Within the hindgut, are millions of microorganisms that play a vital role in breaking down the digestible
protective effect than other haybased chaffs because of the high protein and calcium content giving improved buffering properties. Feeding a bowl of alfalfa chaff or any chaff prior to exercise may be helpful as this will help to reduce the splashing effect of acid on an empty stomach. 4) Fibre can reduce boredom for stabled horses Feeding a chaff will stimulate the production of saliva and will satisfy a stabled horse’s psychological need to chew, as a product such as Mollichaff can require up to 8000 chews per kilo to eat compared to as few as 1200 for concentrates. By providing plenty of fibre to horses that have to spend increased periods of time stabled can prolong eating time and decrease the likelihood of stereotypical behaviour caused by stress and/or boredom. 5) Fibre – fuelling the horse’s central-heating system During cold weather, access to fibre has a double advantage as not only does it keep the digestive system functioning correctly, but additionally, the digestion of fibre in the hind gut creates heat as a by-product, quite literally warming your horse up from the inside out! The digestion of fibre in the horse’s system produces heat so it is also a vital tool to keep them warm, particularly if they live out or are not rugged. www.horsehage.co.uk
CAN YOU SPOT AN OVERWEIGHT HORSE?
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pillers is helping horse owners ‘get their eye in’ on Body Condition Scoring (BCS) by running an online test to see who can spot an overweight horse or pony. Obesity is a major welfare issue for horses and ponies, not only because of the direct weightassociated effects, but also due to the increased risk it poses for certain clinical conditions, in particular laminitis. Whilst touch is a key part of Body Condition Scoring, it is
also very useful to learn how to make an assessment just by eye. The test simply involves assessing photographs of a total fifteen horses and marking their BCS using the 1-9 scale. “These days when we are exposed to so many images of horses and ponies on social media, it’s good to know if you can spot an overweight horse from a photo alone,” said Clare Barfoot RNutr, Marketing and Research and Development Director at Mars Horsecare UK, home of the Spillers brand.
“Being able to spot an overweight horse is important as a first step in tackling the welfare issues that obesity presents our equines.” Body Condition Scoring is a popular method of practically assessing the horse or pony’s level of fat covering across several areas of the body where fat is normally laid down. The assessment is made by eye and by touch using a numerical grading system. The Spillers team use the 1-9 scale based on the method developed by Henneke et al (1993) but there are other scales available. “With so many horses and ponies in the UK, carrying a few extra pounds, the question is have we normalised overweight horses?” said Clare. “We have designed our test to help you to assess your ability to spot an overweight horse and ‘get your eye in’ on what constitutes a healthy weight.” www.spillersfeeds.com/can-you-spot-anoverweight-horse
Alternative to Linseed Oil...
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ritish Horse Feeds Cooked Linseed is 100% whole linseed that has been cooked and micronised to provide the highest quality nutrition. This optimises the digestibility and bioavailability of its nutrients for your horse or pony. Linseed is an ideal addition to any feeding regime as it is a key provider for protein and oil to help benefit performance, condition, skin and coat and general health. For adding topline and supporting muscle activity, the quality protein, with an ideal amino acid profile, contained within Cooked Linseed can help as well as being a great source of slow release energy. High levels of omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids gives a real shine to coat condition. www.britishhorsefeeds.com
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NUTRITION
FEEDING LAMINITICS
THIS AUTUMN
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Super Fibre conditioning feed, Fibre-Beet is ideal for laminitic horses and ponies needing to maintain condition through the autumn and into winter months. 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. It provides a good range of minerals, trace elements and amino acids and it is high in fibre with low sugar content, providing slow release energy without the ‘fizz’. Ideal for horses and ponies prone to digestive upsets and very palatable for fussy eaters, Fibre-Beet has added biotin for hoof quality and is suitable for horses and ponies susceptible to laminitis. Soaked and ready to feed in only 45 minutes in cold water, or 15 minutes in warm water, FibreBeet is also ideal for veterans even if teeth are poor or missing. The RRP is £13.50 - £14.50. www.britishhorsefeeds.com
Pro Gut Balancer is a unique combination of pre and probiotics, together with a mannan oligosaccharide (MOS), to help maintain the health of the gut microbiome in the light of the many challenges faced by modern performance horses to pPromote optimum digestive function and energy production from dietary fibre source. RRP: from £15.40. www.equine-america.co.uk
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SEC A ARNIE: ‘I’LL BE BACK’
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hen owner Suzanne Hibbard saw her 4-year-old, Welsh Section A, Arnie, looking sorry for himself in the field she knew she had to take action. Arnie is usually fit and well, and Suzanne, a former Horse of the Year Show competitor, shows him in-hand with the talented youngster already catching the Judge’s eye in the competition arena with his stunning looks. This spring Suzanne kept Arnie on his usual routine of being stabled at night and being turned out in the day and she became worried when he suddenly became foot sore one day when she led him to the field. As this was the first time this had happened Suzanne sought advice and it was suggested she look at supplements that could support Arnie. Said Suzanne: “Arnie is such a sweet pony and as an owner you just want to do everything you can to get them back on track. “A friend suggested I try LaminAid and I decided to give it a go. We also used a
therapeutic hoof oil, PodoSens at the same time for his sensitive hooves. “I kept Arnie on restricted grazing and he was in the field for smaller periods of time and in the space of a few days he was walking normally and looked so much more comfortable. “With the combination of the change in his routine, together with additions to his diet we can’t wait to get competing again.” Cavalor LaminAid is a unique balanced combination of several essential oils. Each oil is characterised by a specific structure, composition and effect. They work on various different levels in the body to support metabolism. The oils support the sensitive intestinal flora and bring hormonal and metabolic processes back in to balance. Cavalor LaminAid also supports circulation towards the hoof. Cavalor LaminAid is used in combination with Cavalor PodoSens. Cavalor PodoSens is a therapeutic hoof oil. The blend of essential oils helps provide support for sensitive hooves and promotes hoof elasticity. www.cavalordirect.co.uk
Photo: Jayphotos.co.uk
COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS REVEAL CONFIDENCE BOOST
FROM CASPER
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ondon-based interior designer and part-time potter, Victoria Tar, has recently gained a real confidence boost with her Irish Sports horse, Captain Corlea (or Casper, as he is known at home). She purchased the 14-year-old grey gelding just over six months ago following a six month loan to make sure they clicked and that she was able to undertake the pressures of owning a horse again after a twenty year break. Casper could be a bit spooky and also got quite stressed when travelling. She started off with lots of lessons and small jumps, increasing things gradually. Casper had formerly been a showjumper and so knew the ropes and, although it was hard work, Victoria’s confidence slowly started to return. Casper is turned out during the night in the summer and is
stabled during the day. He enjoys High Fibre HorseHage as his forage all year round and is also fed on Mollichaff Calmer Complete as his spooking became worse when he was on a higher energy feed. This also helped to reduce his stress when travelling. Mollichaff Calmer Complete is a fibre-based complete feed which is low in sugar and starch, providing limited controlled energy from high quality, digestible fibre and oil-based ingredients, making it an excellent feed for horses and ponies that are nervous or easily excited. It also contains a carefully formulated combination of camomile, lemon balm and mint. It can be used as the sole concentrate feed when fed at the recommended levels as it contains a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement. www.horsehage.co.uk
NEED FOR OBESITY AND LAMINITIS CARE GUIDELINES
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he Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for guidelines on the care of horses and ponies at risk of obesity and laminitis, especially during any future lockdown events, a new study has found. The study Covid-19 impacts equine welfare: Policy implications for laminitis and obesity investigated the implications of Covid-19 related policies on equine management and welfare, with a focus on laminitis and obesity was conducted by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), in collaboration with the Waltham Petcare Science Institute who provide the science behind the Spillers brand, during the lockdown restrictions imposed by the pandemic. Key objectives of the study were to assess the impact of the pandemic on the management of laminitis susceptible horses and ponies, to identify challenges faced in implementing Covid-19 based guidance, and to ascertain areas of decision making and policy development which could undergo improvement in future pandemic or emergency scenarios. “We discovered that lockdown-associated factors had the potential to compromise the welfare of horses and ponies at risk of obesity and laminitis,” said Ashely Ward the lead author a PhD student at SRUC. “These included: disparate information and guidance, difficulties enacting public health measures in yard environments, and horses having reduced exercise during the pandemic. “Our conclusion was that guidelines should be developed for the care of horses and ponies at risk through collaborative input from veterinary and welfare experts. This would help to reduce the negative impacts of future lockdown events in the UK.” www.sruc.ac.uk/all-news/horse-power-helps-ownersthrough-lockdown
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NUTRITION
FEEDING THE
VETERAN HORSE L
ike people, not only are horses living longer now, but they are enjoying an active lifestyle for far longer too. As a result, the age old rule of a horse becoming a ‘veteran’ at 16-years is perhaps no longer applicable. Of course, as with people, horses will age at different speeds, and whilst one may start to struggle in its midteens, another may be fit, healthy and remain very active well into their mid or late twenties. This can leave us as owners with a dilemma as to when we need
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to start feeding ‘veteran’ or ‘senior’ feeds. Whilst this is an impossible question to give a generic answer to, probably the best advice is to treat your horse as an individual, and so long as he is getting adequate vitamins and minerals, calories and fibre from his current diet, there is no rush to start feeding a specialist ‘veteran’ feed earlier than you need. Dental Issues Teeth are probably one of the most common problems horse owners face with older horses, and whilst good, regular dental care throughout a horse’s life
will undoubtedly help delay any serious issues, there is only so much that can be done about wear and tear over a lifetime. Once teeth become badly worn or if some are missing, chewing a long-stem forage may become increasingly difficult for many horses. If you notice bits of partially chewed hay/haylage dropping from your horse’s mouth or scattered round his net, this is a tell-tale sign that he is struggling to cope. It is important to take action at this point to ensure that sufficient fibre is kept flowing through the digestive system, but also to avoid the risk of impaction colic occurring as a result of poorly chewed forage. A solution is to consider feeding a short chop product which is easier to chew but will still supply high levels of fibre without an increase in sugar and starch levels. Consider a product that can be used either as a chaff to add additional fibre to your bucket feed, or as a partial hay replacer for those that are struggling
Top Tips for Veterans 4 Think carefully about your forage choices; ensure what you are providing is consistently clean, nutritious and palatable. 4 Try to keep cereal-based feeds to a minimum and when required, provide additional calories through fibre and oil sources. 4 Ensure teeth are checked regularly. 4 Ensure you stick to a good worming routine as worm burden and damage in older horses can cause serious problems. 4 Don’t let your oldie get cold! Your horse burns huge amounts of calories trying to keep himself warm over the winter. 4 Consider feeding digestive enhancers to help him digest his feed as efficiently as possible.
with their hay or haylage. Even for those elderly horses that are still coping with a longstem forage, it is important to remember that it is unlikely they are chewing as efficiently as they once were. This, combined with
the fact that their digestive system probably won’t be absorbing nutrients quite so well, makes it important to feed the best quality and most digestible forage possible. A good quality, bagged forage made from ryegrass can be a good choice for individuals who need a little help with their weight as it will be easy to chew and will provide a consistent level of calories, fibre and nutrients. For those who are still doing well with their weight, choose a lower calorie bagged forage. The added advantage of feeding a bagged forage is that it will be dust-free. Older horses that may have been exposed to dusty forages over the years may be more sensitive to any form of dust in later life and poor quality forage is a known offender when it comes to high dust/mould spore levels. A lot of senior/veteran feeds are higher in calories than the maintenance or low energy feeds which many leisure horses are fed, and as a result of this, starch levels are often increased as well. This can have the potential to cause problems for the elderly horse’s digestive system. As discussed above, elderly horses often have a decreased fibre intake (whether due to loss of appetite, inability to chew, or poor digestive system efficiency); add onto this an increased starch intake, and suddenly the chances of disturbance to the bacteria in the hindgut is much higher. The result of this may result in symptoms such as loose droppings or colic. www.horsehage.co.uk
SUPPORTING THE AGING PROCESS
WITH NUTRITION THIS WINTER
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inter can be especially challenging for veteran horses and understanding the aging process helps us to provide the best nutritional support. Ageing is accompanied by loss of muscle mass, changes in fat storage and mobilisation, an increase in insulin resistance and, in extreme cases, onset of Cushings. Additionally, wear and tear systems – joint degradation, onset of laminitis (exacerbated by the preceding disorders) – cause physical damage. Finally, some decrease in enzymatic efficiency occurs and this may affect absorptive capacity, which can act as a stress factor and also impact on biochemical processes. There are two systems in play; metabolic dysfunction has a direct inflammatory input, whilst physical damage indirectly works through inflammatory cues increasing oxidative damage. Feeding the veteran needs to take these parameters into account, and metabolic stresses can be alleviated by improved nutrition, such as more digestible protein, and concentrating on hindgut fermentation for energy production, but supplying bioactives that support the normal inflammation and oxidative processes can be as important. Equally important is to actually improve the bioavailability of these actives, as they can have poor absorbability and systemic life. TurmerAid from The Golden Paste Company addresses these concerns. The major component is turmeric, which contains a range of bioactives
from essential oils (terpenes) to polyphenols (curcumin) to sterols; where the terpenes have a direct role in supporting the inflammatory cycle, curcumin is a powerful antioxidant and their interaction is what helps support a myriad of processes involved in ageing. However, it is the additional products in TurmerAid that fully support the veteran. Black pepper and apple cider vinegar both act to increase systemic longevity of turmeric, whilst yucca improves the absorbability of the active ingredients. Both turmeric and beet pectin help improve hindgut fermentation and absorption, which is beneficial to the veteran. www.goldenpastecompany.com
RRP for a 2kg tub is £19.99. A 15kg sack is also available, RRP £125.99.
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NUTRITION LOCATED IN NEWMARKET BUT WORKING BOTH NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY DONNA CASE BSC (HONS) IS THE HIGHLY EXPERIENCED EQUINE NUTRITIONIST WHO RUNS ‘THE HORSE FEED GURU’, AN EQUINE NUTRITION CONSULTANCY. FORMERLY A COMMERCIAL NUTRITIONIST ACROSS THREE BRANDS, NOW COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT, HER AIM IS TO DEMYSTIFY FEEDING FOR THE GOOD OF THE HORSE AND RIDER.
VETERAN HORSE: ADDED EXTRAS?
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hen looking for a veteran feed suitable for your older horse you know you need to find one that will supply the correct energy/calories, quality protein for muscle repair and development, plus a great vitamin and mineral profile to support all round health. But what other ingredients might you come across that may be of benefit? The first inclusion could be some form of digestive support. As your horse gets older the digestive tract tends to become less efficient. Over the course of his lifetime damage caused by parasites can start to affect him and can hinder the GI tract, leaving scars and reducing digestive function. Some feeds will include pre/probiotic support to support a healthy hindgut microbiome. Look for
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ingredients such as live yeast, FOS or MOS to aid you with this. Another useful inclusion can come in the form of additional joint support. Quite often when added into a hard feed the ingredients selected are glucosamine and MSM which may be enough to help your horse if he is showing minor signs of stiffness. Be aware however that sometimes a specific joint supplement may be required to provide optimum levels of glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and Hyaluronic Acid and to make a big enough impact on the joints. Some horses of course require more than just nutritional support and will need medication, so speak to your vet as appropriate. On the topic of medication sadly there is the possibility that your horse may require more in his feed as he continues to age for many
different reasons. You may find that this leaves him with a reduced appetite. Many veteran feeds have attempted to combat this through the inclusion of palatable herbs and flavours. A study conducted by Goodwin et al., 2005 found that eight favourite flavours were, fenugreek, banana, rosemary, carrot, cherry (only ever use cherry flavourings as cherries are poisonous to horses), cumin, peppermint and oregano. Some of these spices and tastes are now incorporated into veteran feeds to help with palatability and can be really useful to help to hide some of the taste from the
medications you are adding. Finally whilst the feed is likely fully balanced, your older horse may benefit from some additional immune support through an increase in the level of antioxidants such as Vitamin E and C. If increased the manufacturer will often mention this in the description of the feed. www.thehorsefeed guru.com
Product Suggestions... Everyday Vitamin and Mineral - providing over twenty-five essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements that may be missing in the diets of horses and ponies. Everyday Vitamins and Minerals is an ideal way to help ensure optimum health and performance. Contains probiotics and prebiotics to support digestive health. Ideal for horses and ponies on forage-based diets or low concentrate feed intakes. Contains both probiotics and prebiotics to support the gut microbiome and immune system. RRP: £25.70/1.5kg. www.equine-america.co.uk
Cortaflex HA Regular powder is designed for the nutritional maintenance of healthy joints in horses and ponies in light to moderate work, or older horses needing a little extra mobility support. Provides key nutritional building blocks for joint support including collagen, amino acids, MSM, hyaluronic acid and trace elements. From as little as 56p/per serving, available in powder and liquid form. www.equine-america.co.uk
Elite Equine 100% Organic Rosehip Supplement
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lite Equine is formulated from 100% organic rosehip powder which is harvested by hand, high in the mountains of Lesotho. Once collected, the rosehip fruit is dried and ground up. No additives or bulking agents are used. This pure grade of rosehip found in Elite Equine’s Organic Rosehip supplement, has been proven valuable in improving the general health of horses, protecting cartilage, reducing inflammation and promoting the overall performance of horses. Inherently anti-inflammatory and a powerful antioxidant, rosehips RRP: £38/1kg. can also be fed to horses recuperating from illness or injury as they help to restore the immune system and aid tissue repair. Studies have shown that in many cases rosehip can complement, or even replace, the use of traditional NSAIDs that often lead to stomach ulcers and other secondary ailments. Rosehip is a natural producer of biotin and has been known to address poor coat quality, unhealthy skin conditions, allergies, and brittle hooves. Unexpected benefits include being an appetite stimulant and addressing poor gut health. www.eliteequineuk.com
Equine Products UK has launched Equine OAP, a nutritional supplement for veteran horses and ponies. Equine OAP is a comprehensive nutritional supplement containing a blend of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, probiotics, prebiotics and a protein source to support the health and vitality of senior equines. The aging process can have an impact on the nutritional requirements of horses and ponies, meaning that, particularly if they are roughed off and live on a forage-based diet, they require additional nutritional support. The Equine OAP supplement has been carefully formulated to support digestion, hoof growth, mobility, bone health, muscle maintenance and energy and vitality. RRP: £39.60/1kg. www.equine products-ukltd.com
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NUTRITION
THIRST QUENCHING VENDING MACHINE
FOR HORSES
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t is a well-known fact that many horses do not drink enough when traveling to and from shows and events. Equidiet (UK) Ltd have set out to tackle this problem by teaming up with Richmond Equestrian Centre to offer ‘HiDrate’, the world’s first equine vending machine. Proprietor Abigail said, “I’m delighted to be the first equestrian centre to install this equine vending machine; we have used these products in the past to help with a colic on the yard and we think this is a fantastic idea for our visiting customers.” Hi-Drate has been designed to
instantly quench the thirst and demands of equines. It is the only way to preload water into the digestive system by providing a nutritious drink that forms a soluble fibre gel which travels further into the digestive system to increase the hindgut reservoir. Packed full of natural wholefood goodness, Hi-Drate is based on a mixture of the highest quality British-grown grasses and plantbased Omega 3 oil. Developed in the UK by Equine Nutritional Hydrotherapist Sandra Murphy BSc, the unique patented hydration and nutrition system allows voluntary uptake of large
amounts of water attached to excellent quality soluble fibre. Hi-Drate will be available at additional equestrian centres
across the UK in due course. To order your vending machine visit the website. www.equidiet.org.uk
r... Graze-on Grass Treats even greene
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s demand for more environmentally friendly packaging grows, Northern Crop Driers relaunch their 2kg Graze-On Grass Treats in a new recyclable pouch. Previously available in a 2kg plastic tub, the new pouch drastically reduces packaging waste and is made from recyclable material. The green credentials don’t stop there, the treats themselves are made from 100% natural dried grass and they are manufactured using renewable electricity. Featuring the eye-catching Graze-On brand livery, the new standup pouches will be available in store from early September. Available to buy individually, in outers of 5 x 2kg pouches or by the pallet - 275 pouches. RRP £4.50 per pouch. www.northerncropdriers.co.uk
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Have you had your Grassabix?
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lnwick based equine company Silvermoor Ltd has expanded its operations with the launch of their latest product Grassabix. The 1kg dried grass forage block is available in three different flavours and was created with the aid of a grant scheme from the North of Tyne Rural Business Growth Service. Grassabix is a complementary feed for horses and ponies to be fed in conjunction with their current diet. It can either be fed directly from the bag or it can be soaked to create a delicious mash. The grass forage blocks are specifically compressed for easy feeding, storage and handling. They are available in three different flavours; TurmerAid, linseed and magical minty unicorn, each variety supports the health and wellbeing of horses and ponies. www.silvermoor.com
HORSEHAGE & MOLLICHAFF:
LAUNCH NEW WEBSITE
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lying the flag for forage for over forty years, the team at HorseHage & Mollichaff has launched a new website. Packed with features on everything from an insight into HorseHage and Mollichaff products, brand sustainability, equine nutrition and feeding advice, a postcode finder stockist locater, the informative website also includes a regularly updated news section. With a fresh new modern design but still in keeping with the well-known brand image the site is easy to navigate around and provides plenty of detail.
Said Mark Westaway, Marketing Manager at Mark Westaway & Son: “We are delighted to have launched a new website that is extremely user friendly and aesthetically pleasing. “Our news section will be regularly updated with everything from product news, testimonials, rider updates, feeding advice and the latest general horse information.” Eye catching imagery brings the website to life and showcases the fantastic products HorseHage and Mollichaff have to offer. www.horsehage.co.uk
LOCAL RIDER BECOMES AMBASSADOR
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spiring showjumper Natasha Hamblin, from Grantham, Lincolnshire, has been appointed as a brand ambassador for the equine feed company Spillers. Natasha is one of eleven ambitious riders who won their place from 650 entries to join the new Spillers Ambassador Programme. With this substantial leg up from Spillers, Natasha, together with her palomino tobiano sports horse Reuben, hopes to take great strides in fulfilling her equestrian dreams this year. Over the next three years Natasha plans to continue to produce Reuben towards eventing at BE novice/intermediate and above and also compete in pure dressage.
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Photos: Adam Fanthorpe
SADDLERY & TACK
A YEAR TO
REMEMBER DETERMINED LOCAL EVENTER BUBBY UPTON REFLECTS ON A SEASON OF HIGHS AND LOWS
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venter Bubby Upton says horses and ponies have been her love and passion ever since she can remember. “My siblings gave up riding but I
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never wanted to,” remembers the British under 25 champion. “Since I could walk I was on a pony, and I can’t wait to see what my future holds. Until a recent, freak fall that saw me
injured, it had been an exciting year for myself and my team.” Bubby has represented Great Britain five times now. Yet the self-confessed perfectionist says she is always striving to get more out of herself. “If I am not winning, I am learning,” she reflects. “I have learned to channel my competitive instinct over the years and I do have big goals! I have a great team around me, and the most amazing horses.” Bubby graduates from university in 2022, and ultimately wants to win gold at an Olympics. “Each of my horses has characteristics to take them to
the top of their game,” says this dynamic eventer. Bubby’s early riding career started at the Newmarket and Thurlow Pony Club; she took part in the 2014 Pony European Championships with her ponies Alfie XI and Howen Loganberry, aged just 15. She went on to win team and Individual silver at the Europeans on Alfie XI, before moving onto horses. A tally of medals In 2017, with Eros DHI, Bubby was crowned Junior European Champion. Her new ride Cola III won the British 7 Year Old Championships (3-star) at Osberton the same year, the horse’s first time at the level, while in 2018, Bubby completed her first CIC4* at just 19-yearsold at Burgham with Fernhill Rockstar, finishing fourth. 2019 saw nine top five finishes at three and four star level, plus an individual Silver and Team Gold at the Young Rider Europeans with Cola III, adding to the staggering tally of seven European medals that Bubby had achieved at youth championship level.
One of eventing’s youngsters including It’s Cooley brightest stars Time and Hevaska H are also These successes firmly put the waiting in the wings, meaning now-22 year old on the Bubby is well placed to continue international eventing map. A to chase her dreams at the third at the young horse highest levels. championships in 2020 with 2021 also saw Bubby, who Cooley As Ice, and two top ten works with an array of top-level finishes at the four star at sponsors and brands, join forces Burgham, helped with lorinery cement what was experts, Bomber ...“If I am not to be a something Bits. “I am winning, I am of a training year unbelievably learning. I have impressed with the due to the learned to channel improvements that pandemic. One of eventing’s my competitive I have felt in my brightest stars well horses’ way of instinct over the going since using prepared for a years and I do fantastic year of Bombers, and in competition in the have big goals!”... the horses’ first half of 2021. comfort,” she says. However, this meant that “There’s an individual solution Newmarket-based Bubby was for every horse within the range. well-prepared for a fantastic year There’s actually an unbelievable of competition in 2021. choice of over 45 thousand She won the CCI-long under-25 cheekpiece and mouthpiece 4-star with Cannavaro at Bicton, combinations in total, in sweetbecoming the British under-25 iron, titanium and synthetics, so champion, and placed fourth there’s a bit for every horse, rider with Cola III at the same event. and discipline,” Bubby says. Bubby was third with Magic Join the conversation at Roundabout IV at Houghton at facebook.com/BomberBlueBits four star (the horse’s first event UK at this level!), and has had many top five placings at every level, Absolute Horse and Bomber Bits this season. A string of talented wishes Bubby a speedy recovery.
CASE STUDY - Cola III
“Cola has a very sensitive mouth, so I was interested to try the Ultra Comfy Lock Up from Bomber bits. They can make bespoke bits, so I tried a titanium version. “The centre joint of this bit has been double locked, to ensure that the angle over the tongue remains correct, even when the reins are taken up and released, but it retains the individual lateral aids; it has a more forward, curved mouthpiece than a conventional snaffle. “The shape of this mouthpiece allows more room for the tongue, and so distributes pressure more evenly; it also helps to reduce pressure points on the bars of the mouth. It’s often recommended for the more sensitive mouthed horses. “Titanium is an interesting metal – it’s very antimicrobial due to the natural titanium dioxide layer on the bit, meaning bacteria can be reduced and naturally destroyed it always has a pleasant temperature as well, so it doesn’t conduct heat and change temperature. I also find it is good for producing saliva, which helps with the horse’s relaxion response. “It’s early days but I am pleased with the bit so far, and if we can keep this horse comfortable in the mouth, Cola really has the world at his hooves!” Bubby, real name Isabelle, says. (The sweet iron version of this bit is pictured.)
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SADDLERY & TACK
CAREER CHOICES:
SADDLE FITTING
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f you are interested in learning more about saddle fitting the first place to start is by taking a look at the Society of Master Saddlers’ website. On there you will see the different options and opportunities available to you, especially if you are currently working outside the industry. The Society organises a two-day Introductory Course in Saddle Fitting which is run in conjunction with BETA, the British Equestrian Trade Association. The course is open to all those with an interest in entering the field of saddle fitting. It is also open to other equestrian professionals who want to enhance their equestrian knowledge in this area such as BHS Instructors, chartered physiotherapists, veterinarians etc.
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An ideal route into saddle fitting is to find employment with a Society member who is willing to train you through an apprenticeship. Another route could be to train as a saddler and join the Society in your own right, then progressing into saddle fitting. There is a helpful page on the SMS website to help you find apprenticeships and courses currently available. After initially attending the twoday introductory course, which will not only inspire you but give you plenty of knowledge to start your first steps to becoming a Qualified Saddle Fitter recognised by the Society of Master Saddlers, you will need to complete three years’ experience working with and alongside a QSF. This can be done on a part-time or full-time basis depending upon your circumstances and the
availability of a tutor. You would be able to join the Society’s Mentor Scheme as a trainee saddle fitter which is open to those who have attended the Introductory Course. This is an ideal way to develop your training and skills whilst working towards the five-day qualification course. All of those training to become a saddle fitter and working towards the Society’s City & Guilds Saddle Fitting course and assessment will need to undertake training in saddle flocking and attain the Society’s Saddle Flocking Qualification before attending the QSF course. Full details of the requirements for the exam can be found on the SMS web site under ‘Training’ then ‘Courses’. You can train for this where you wish or at one of the establishments listed.
IT IS SO EASY TO DREAM OF WORKING OUTSIDE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE IN AN OFFICE JOB AND CRAVING FOR SOME FRESH AIR. WITHOUT DOUBT IF YOU WANT VARIETY, A DAY THAT IS NEVER THE SAME AND HAVE A PASSION FOR HORSES AND PEOPLE, A CAREER IN SADDLE FITTING COULD BE THE ANSWER. Your final step to becoming a QSF on completing the five-day course is to complete a final assessment leading to your SMS Registered Qualified Saddle Fitter status. It really is that straight forward! The Society’s aims are to safeguard the quality of work, services, training and qualifications of all those who work in the saddlery trade from manufacturers and retailers through to individual craftspeople and saddle fitters. With this in mind the SMS formulated the Qualified Saddle Fitters course, a more advanced course aimed at saddle fitters who have been fitting saddles for a number of years and who want to refine their saddle fitting to the standards promoted by the Society and approved by City & Guilds. Continued overleaf...
Your Questions Answered... QUESTION: “I have a showjumper that has very high withers and fitting a saddle is causing problems can you help?” ANSWER: “The fashion at There seems to be a belief that the moment in showjumping is very much for flat seated close contact saddles with short tree points and minimal foam panels. I am afraid it will be unlikely that you will be able to fit such a saddle to your horse no matter what any of their salesmen tell you so please put that out of your mind. However, a Society of Master Saddlers Qualified or Master saddle fitter (a list of QSFs and MSFs can be found on The Society of Master Saddlers’ website where they are listed by county or country) will know how to get a saddle made that will fit your horse beautifully whilst giving you a similar feel.
longer tree points are somehow bad – that they will restrict the horse when jumping - but I have never seen any evidence for this either in scientific research, or in use. If your horse has a high wither it means that the rib cage will be sitting much lower, and it is this that supports the saddle. Short points and a minimal panel will just mean that the muscles running beneath the saddle are compromised – they cannot carry weight and cannot work properly when so restricted. Because of this your perfect saddle, one that you can use without the addition of various and several pads will
likely have longer tree points and a deeper cut panel at the front. It may also be necessary to have deeper gussets to the rear to balance the saddle for you. It is possible that the tree needed to follow the contours of your horse’s back has more ‘dip’ in the seat than you would like but a skilful saddler can make it so that it looks and feels flat for you whilst giving the best possible support to your horse. Whilst you might not find such a saddle ‘off the peg’ for your horse, a SMS QSF or MSF will know how to achieve a good fit that satisfies both you and your horse. www.mastersaddlers.co.uk
FORMER SOCIETY OF MASTER SADDLERS’ PRESIDENT, KAY HASTILOW PROVIDES ADVICE ON FITTING A HORSE WITH HIGH WITHERS.
SADDLERY & TACK Product Suggestions...
Continued from previous page...
You will be required to pass an assessment, which will include a written paper and practical units in conformation and action inhand, saddle assessment and fault identification, taking template measurements and a practical saddle fitting assessment. Once a Saddle Fitter achieves their qualified status they will need to attend a refresher day every two years to maintain their qualification. Qualified saddle fitters should also gain CPD points and attend additional training seminars when they can to maintain their knowledge to current standards. These days are also a great chance to meet and socialise with other likeminded SMS members within the same industry and learn from each other. Don’t forget to take a look at the SMS website. You will find it is full of very informative advice on what each step to becoming a Qualified Saddle Fitter consists of. Take your time to research the website and feel filled with confidence to take the leap from your everyday office job to your dream saddle fitting career. www.mastersaddlers.co.uk
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The Sprenger Comfort Roller Super Soft Spur has been developed with a rowel that is significantly thicker and more rounded than on the original Comfort Roller spurs. When in contact with the horse, the rowel rolls with the horse and thus avoids rubbing and chafing on the fur and skin of sensitive horses. With its unique fit and design, the spur can be adjusted to the foot by bending and the intelligent spur strap loop helps provide a perfect fit on the boot. RRP: £64. www.zebraproducts.co.uk
The Carbon Ultralight Dressage Whip from Fleck is the perfect riding aid. Whether for professional or recreational use – Fleck dressage whips meet the demands of the most discerning riders. The Carbon Ultralight features a non-slip PU grip and a plastic cap. With the high-tech carbon material, this whip makes for relaxed riding and maximum precision when it counts! RRP: from £35. www.zebraproducts.co.uk
The Apley and Irnham Bridles from Cathedral Equine are leather bridles featuring a drop noseband which helps to prevent your horse from opening their mouth and crossing their jaw. Made from premium black leather, the Irnham Black Snaffle Bridle with drop noseband features stunning rose gold piping detailing on the noseband, rose gold fittings and a fully adjustable throat lash at each side. RRP: £64.99. www.cathedral-equine.co.uk
The range of browbands from Cathedral Equine features a browband to suit every taste whether you like full on bling or just a subtle hint of sparkle. All the browbands are designed with a natural curve for comfort and style and are embellished with crystals in a range of colours from classic clear to various shades of pink, blue and purple. RRP: from £15. www.cathedral-equine.co.uk
BITTING THE
YOUNGSTER... The Sprenger novocontact Eggbutt Bit with D-shaped rings is ideal for super sensitive horses that do not take the contact confidently. The oval shape of the mouthpiece enlarges the contact surface on the tongue for a soft influence. The bit also allows direct pressure transmission on the tongue and lower jaw due to the fixed mouthpiece. RRP: £146.50. www.zebra products.co.uk
The Nathe Pelham Bit with flexible Mullen mouth is suitable for strong horses and provides contact on the mouth, poll and lower jaw. It features variable rein options to adjust the leverage effect on the poll and bit guards to protect the lips. It is made from high-quality Thermoplastic with a steel core. RRP: £205. www.zebra products.co.uk
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prenger Dynamic RS bits are characterised by an ergonomically shaped mouthpiece allowing a soft and even distribution of pressure for a better contact between horse and rider. The Dynamic RS Full Cheek bit lies very quietly in the horse’s mouth as the cheeks prevent the bit from being pulled through the mouth, making it ideal for the young horse. It avoids inconvenient pressure on the back teeth. Due to the curved joints, the mouthpiece remains in the correct central position on the tongue, letting the rein aids work perfectly with the horse’s mouth and therefore encouraging the horse’s confidence in the rider’s hand and increasing safety. Thanks to the patented ergonomic shape, the rein aids reach the horse’s mouth in a more targeted manner. The pressure generated by the rein aid is distributed over the entire tongue, which acts like a cushion in the mouth. The ergonomically formed mouthpiece allows a rapid and balanced effect on the tongue. It fits perfectly into the tongue and mouth contours, resulting in soft and even pressure on the entire tongue area with no pressure to the palate, encouraging the horse to chew and the effect is precise and effective. The bit is ideal for sensitive horses or those with a fleshy tongue as it lies steady in the horse’s mouth and gentle on the corners of the mouth, supporting contact to the corners of the mouth in an extremely effective way, keeping the horse on the bit. Due to the fixed mouthpiece, the bit allows direct pressure transmission on the tongue and lower jaw. The lateral contact helps horses that tend to fall out whilst riding or approaching an obstacle. The
fine lozenge can direct gentle pressure pivotally onto the tongue. The cheeks are most helpful with turning aids, especially with young horses. The gentle pressure against the face on the outside of the turn supports the rider’s aid, making turns much easier for the horse to understand and for the rider to carry out. The upper part of the cheeks are curved outwards away from the horse to avoid uncomfortable pressure on the jaws. The middle link of the mouthpiece is turned to the front by 45°. This unique angle is the only way to get true contact with the tongue. When a contact is taken, the mouthpiece rolls smoothly over the horse’s tongue and stimulates it in a gentle but effective way. Clearly defined aids can therefore be given through the reins without squeezing the tongue, making it a great bit for the younger horse. The Sprenger Dynamic RS is made from ‘Sensogan’ metal, a distinctive composition of copper, manganese and zinc. Horses like the taste and the warmth of the metal and it encourages the horse to salivate. This results in the horse mouthing the bit and relaxing the jaw, helping them to accept contact. The Sprenger Dynamic RS Full Cheek double jointed bit is available in sizes 125mm, 135mm and 145mm with a 16mm thickness. www.zebraproducts.co.uk
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SADDLERY & TACK
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF
POPPY WEBBER
QUALIFIED SADDLE FITTER FOR THE SOCIETY OF MASTER SADDLERS, COVERING CAMBRIDGESHIRE, LINCOLNSHIRE, NORFOLK AND SURROUNDING AREAS, POPPY ALSO WRITES REGULAR ADVICE POSTS ON PEEWEE SADDLERY’S SOCIAL MEDIA.
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Photo: Abbi Grief Photography
Show condition’, ‘Well covered’, ‘Fatty Boom Boom’. Whatever words you use to describe it, there is no denying that this is the time of year that saddle fitters spend a vast proportion of their lives widening saddles, discussing fat pads, and dealing with saddles that slip and slide. ’Tis the season to be… wobbly. We all know the health risks that are associated with overweight horses, but have you considered the saddle fitting implications? When your horse puts on weight, it will affect how their saddle fits. And this is the time of year that people often complain about saddles slipping from side to side, or forwards/backwards. At this time of year, horses can
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get quite significant fat ‘pads’ (or indeed pillows in some cases!) on their shoulders and the top of their ribs. These pads can make the saddle perch on their backs, meaning they are less stable; and therefore more likely to slip. It can even affect the length of the saddle on the horse’s back. Chubby shoulders can push the saddle, which previously sat nicely, back and well over the last rib. Or, the pads can cause a saddle to ‘bridge’. This is where there is more contact at the front and the back of the saddle, but a gap in the middle. Pretty much like a little ‘bridge’ over their little chubby backs (hence the name). Again, this can encourage the saddle to move around more, as it
doesn’t have as good pressure distribution; which can make it perch and wobble. Bridging saddles are also uncomfortable for the horse. In many fittings, it’s simply a case of your Saddle Fitter widening your existing saddle and/or tweaking the flocking. But it is not always that easy. Sometimes a horse can be just about within the ‘normal’ range and fit into ‘normal’ saddles for the majority of the year, but during the summer months can balloon so much that they fall into the category of ‘needing a specialist saddle’. For example, something designed for the chunky types, the cobbier horses… the barrel shaped equines. So, if your horse is in ‘show condition’, or has developed some rather interesting fat pads… or you’re finding your saddle isn’t fitting so well... call up your local SMS Qualified Saddle Fitter and ask advice. If you’re struggling with their weight (the horse’s, not the fitter’s) then a call to an Equine Nutritionist can be useful too. www.peeweesaddlery.co.uk
GB WIN JUNIOR EUROPEAN TEAM BRONZE 22nd July
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he Junior team representing Great Britain under the title sponsor banner of Team NAF did Great Britain proud when they took Team Bronze in their respective category at the FEI Youth European Championships in Portugal. The trailblazer for the team was 17-year-old Ava Vernon, from Lincolnshire with the 12-yearold bay mare Jolie Fleur van de Noordheuvel. Second rider in was Amelie Gachoud, aged 16 from Surrey, with The Precious One. Claudia Moore, aged 16 from Brentwood in Essex, with the 9year-old bay mare Hardesther posted solid rounds across all three days. Anchor rider came in the form of 18-year-old Oliver Fletcher from Oxfordshire with the 9-year-old bay gelding Hello William. Oliver posted a spectacular clear to secure Great Britain the Team Bronze.
EVENT REPORTS
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closed doors at the Norfolk Showground by the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA) in association with RBST. Susannah Muir, who is based near Colchester in Essex, said: “Threeshires Edgar is so calm and lovely, he wants to please and will try anything. This was only his second big show and he was absolutely perfect. Rare breeds have brought so much to other breeds – even today’s eventers have bloodlines that can be traced back to native ponies like the Exmoor.” Abigail Staff, based in Grantham, Lincolnshire, won at the Horse of the Year Show in 2015 on a New Forest pony and says that she has been gradually converted to the breed and now has three New Forest ponies. She describes them as: “Unique – they are show offs, but extremely loyal and versatile, a lovely breed.”
n Exmoor pony and a New Forest pony took top honours as the two RBST Rare Breed Supreme Champions at the Norfolk Equestrian Show on Wednesday 28th July. Exmoor pony Threeshires Edgar, a 9-year-old gelding bred and owned by Liz Barker and shown by Susannah Muir, was awarded the RBST Priority Breeds Supreme Champion title. New Forest pony Marleydenes Miriam, a 4-year-old bay mare owned by K Pitcher and shown by Abigail Staff, was awarded the RBST At Abigail Staff with RBST At Risk Risk Breeds Supreme Champion title. Breed Supreme Champion Seven of the rare native equine breeds Marleydenes Miriam listed as Priority or At Risk on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) Watchlist were represented among the nineteen rare breed entrants for the first ever RBST Priority Breed and RBST At Risk Breed rosettes as part of the Show. The one-day Show was hosted behind
Susannah Muir with RBST Priority Breed Supreme Champion Threeshires Edgar Photos: Linda Trotman / RBST
RARE BREED SHOWCASE AT NORFOLK EQUESTRIAN SHOW 28th July
ESSEX SISTERS WIN WINTER CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES AT THE ROYAL INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW, HICKSTEAD 21st July
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n Day Two of The Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead, and under blue skies, ponies and their riders came together to contest three of the British Showjumping Winter Championship titles. First up was the Winter JC Pony Final, where a competitive starting line-up of twenty-five combinations delivered some great showjumping. The pressure of the occasion must certainly have been felt by many of the young riders that came forward but eight managed to put this behind them and deliver a clear round for a place in second round. Using her first draw in the jump-off to her advantage, 13-year-old Izabella Rogers from Chelmsford, Essex skilfully posted the winning double clear in what proved to be an unbeatable time of 38.08 seconds, on board the 9-year-old bay gelding Neil 55 owned by Nicola Rogers. Inspired by her sister’s earlier winning way, it was 11-year-old Sophia Rogers from Chelmsford, Essex who scooped first place in the Winter 128cm Pony Final. From a strong starting field just two combinations were left to go head-to-head in the jump off. Sophia rode Whinney Lass, an 18-year-old grey mare owned by Nicole Rogers, with speed and accuracy to deliver the winning double clear in just 34.46 seconds.
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EVENT REPORTS
IZABELLA ROGERS TAKES THE PONY FOXHUNTER MASTERS TITLE 5th August
T CAMBS’ ROSIE WALKER AND GREY LAD V WIN 4th August
Photo: 1st Class Images https://www.1stclassimages.com/
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osie Walker and Grey Lad V were crowned the winners of the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Masters in the final class of the day at the British Showjumping National & Academy Championships 2021. Only eight out of the thirty-three starters managed to battle their way to the jump- off, of which just three achieved a double clear. The combination, who started their career together in May 2020, took the win with an impressively fast time on the clock. Rosie commented: “When we did the first qualifier, I had only ever jumped up to 1.10m, this was my first big competition. I didn’t expect much, so to qualify for HOYS is amazing!” Having travelled all the way from Norfolk, Rosie’s mum went on to share: “No matter what class he is in he will always try his hardest, he loves his job!”
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hirteen-year-old Izabella Rogers from Chelmsford riding Neil 55, known as Neil at home, were the well-deserved winners of the Pony Foxhunter Masters at the British Showjumping National & Academy Championships being run at the NAEC, Stoneleigh. The combination displayed true showmanship navigating their way around the course achieving the fastest time of 37.84 seconds out of the five competitors who made it through to the jump off. Commenting on Neil, proud Izabella said: “He [Neil] is a very energetic character and can be horse shy but he loves his job and once he gets into the arena, he knows his job and wants to win!” After her success, Izabella went on to explain that she is now concentrating on preparing for Horse of the Year Show 2021 for the rest of her season. Next year, she has big plans to aim for selection on to a Pony Nations Cup team and also to focus on the Leading Pony Showjumping qualifiers. Izabella also achieved second place in the Pony Foxhunter Masters with pony Queen Star with a jump off time of 39.67 seconds. Following closely behind were Isabelle Doyle and Ross Culleens Lad in third place.
ESSEX’S RONNIE JONES WINS THE PRESTIGE ITALIA BIG STAR NATIONAL 6YEAR-OLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL 8th August
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onnie Jones riding Kaleche takes home the title for the Prestige Italia Big Star Championship, this was the ultimate test for the country’s best 6-year-olds who had to face two rounds at 1.30m to qualify for the jump off. With twenty-nine starters ready to take on the challenging course, twenty secured their place in the first jump-off, with nine through to the final jump off. Incredibly, six riders secured a triple clear with Ronnie and Kaleche coming out on top with a finishing time of 45.79 seconds. After a highly professional ride, Ronnie admitted “Her [Kaleche] first round wasn’t her best, she was a bit spooky. I wasn’t sure how it would pan out, but she’s been really good this year and won HOYS qualifiers and Windsor’s 6-year-olds, she’s been so reliable!”
1st August
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Photo: 1st Class Images https://www.1stclassimages.com/
eysoe Equestrian Centre played host the NAF Five Star Silver Semi Final recently, and it was Jade Meekings from Felsted, Essex who took the top spot with her 15-year-old grey mare, Pauls Lass. Jade was one of eighteen keen competitors to secure their place in the final jump off from a starting field of thirty-one. With a tough jump off track designed by David Cole, Jade rode a fast and precise round to finish in just 36.85 seconds to take the win with a triple clear.
SUFFOLK RIDER EXCELS: SEARCH FOR A STAR AND RACEHORSE TO RIDING HORSE QUALIFIER 9th August
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est Wilts Equestrian Centre provided a great new Search for a Star venue for the qualifier on the 9th August. Judges, Richard Ramsay, Jordan Cook, Hannah Horton and Louise Gaunt were assisted by stewards, Helen Dunwell, John Foster and Craig McLelland. Entries were not as plentiful as at some of the earlier Search for a Star qualifiers, but the Judges were impressed with the standard of horses coming forward to try for tickets to the prestigious Search for a Star Horse of the Year Show and Your Horse Live championships. The classes at West Wilts were all held in the outside arena, which was generally a popular choice with competitors, although it meant several competitors went home a bit damp! Riding Horse runners up, Jessica Lockwood and Dazzler’s Joker had a long trip from Suffolk to West Wilts. Jessica said: “I have wanted to go to HOYS since I was 3-years-old – so for about the last thirty years or so! We travelled from Suffolk last night and I am so glad we did.” Jessica and Dazzler’s Joker attended the Stoneleigh Search for a Star qualifier and took third place in the hunter class and then third in the riding horse hack class. She continued: “This is his first
show season. I bought him out of the field two years ago. He had done nothing except be out in the field. When I got him he was very nervous and in poor condition. We have taken things really slowly. I used to do working hunter classes and coloured horse classes with my old horse that is now a veteran.” Jessica works for her family aggregate supply business, JT Few and Eco Concrete Ltd. She added: “At Stoneleigh, my heart was in my mouth at the prospect of a ride Judge riding him, but he has gone beautifully for the ride Judge both there and here today at West Wilts.” SEIB’s Marketing Manager, Nicolina MacKenzie said: “What a lovely day we had at West Wilts with super competitors who have been a joy to be around and given such lovely feedback, very different from some of the comments that we receive on social from those sitting in armchairs! Numbers are down this year but that appears to be across the board and something that is affecting most competitions across the
Photo: Nico Morgan Media.
ESSEX’S JADE MEEKINGS TAKES THE TOP SPOT
UK. We understand how difficult it is to get back on the road after the pandemic and are so proud of the competitors that have been able to attend and the standards that they have managed to achieve. I believe the quality has been exceptional this year and every ticket has been hard fought, with so many competitors travelling from venue to venue to make their dreams come true. We delight every time we see someone who has taken the Judges’ comments on board, kept trying, practicing and training, then have come back to finally quality.” www.seib.co.uk/competitions
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EVENT REPORTS
CLASSIFIEDS
ESSEX’S IZABELLA ROGERS TAKES THE BLUE CHIP PONY NEWCOMERS SECOND ROUND AT WALES AND WEST SHOW 25th July
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hirteen year-old Izabella Rogers from Chelmsford, Essex jumped straight in to first place in the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Rounds which took place at Wales and West Show riding the 8-year-old iron grey mare, Queen Star. Against a starting field of sixty talented combinations, Izabella rode two clear rounds for a spot in the final jump off along with fourteen other strong combinations. With a triple clear proving hard to come by, Izabella kept a cool head to produce another faultless round in just 40.00 seconds for first place.
ESSEX’S NELLIE LOCK WINS NAF PONY 2* STYLE & PERFORMANCE FINAL 8th August
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Photo: 1st Class Images https://www.1stclassimages.com/
he British Showjumping National & Academy Championships 2021 at NAEC Stoneleigh saw Nellie Lock and River De La Courance, known as River at home, take first place in the NAF Pony 2* Style & Performance Final. After travelling from Essex, it was well worth the journey for winning pair Nellie and River, who have only been a combination for the last five months. Nellie commented “River is a joy to ride! The course rode really nicely, and I set him up well to the fences!”
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