Absolute Horse - September/October 2022 by Absolute Horse Magazine

OCTOBERSEPTEMBER/2022 UPPICKME-I’MFREE! Inside... PLUS See page 18 Also Inside: BUYER’SGUIDE

38 3 FEATURES INCLUDE 4 News and Updates 10 Careers and Educationincluding ‘choosing your challenge’ from the BHS pathways; new BD Apprenticeship Programme announced; we meet local equestrian artist Rachael Robinson 14 Health and Welfareincluding VetWatch from Rossdales looking at equine fractures; announced;Forcampaign#TheWeighToWingatherspace;RideUkrainecampaignWinterhoofcare; www.absolutehorsemagazine.com#abfabnagmagwww.issuu.comPCDMedia(East Anglia) Ltd, Home Barn, Grove Hill, Belstead, Ipswich, Suffolk IP8 3LS 01473 731220 office@ahmagazine.comThough 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... @absolutehorsemagazine 10 WHAT’S 20 ways to keep you and your horse safe 29 Rhea Freeman says - ‘So I wrote a book’ 33 Dressage Coach Jessica Gale asks - When to move up a level? 35 PhysiotherapistChartered Louise Towl - talks Post natal rider fitness 36 Buyer’s Guide - including dressing for autumn advice from Tamsin Sprawling; we meet Sophie Mercer from Eqcouture ISSUE 356 12 14 INSIDE 2022SEP/OCT40 Nutrition - including condition without ignition advice from Baileys Horse Feeds; Nutritionist Donna Case discusses fibre ingredients 48 Saddlery and Tackincluding your questions answered; saddler Poppy Webber discusses the d-to-d measurement 56 Stables, Yards, Arenas and Bedding - including mobile field shelter advice from Vale Stables; livery yard bestpractice with Cheryl Johns 58 Event Reports and Photos GIVEAWAYS & OFFERS 6 Ariat Saddle Snaps 43 TurmerAid 45 Rowen Barbary 47 British Horse Feeds 55 Animal Health Company delivery offer 67 Gladwells’ money-off reader offer Champion Light Horse photographedMoorsholme by Emily Harris - see page 65 36

Kitteridge, Chair of the Club, said, “Times are really tough for charities at the moment so we wanted to do our bit to help. We had a brilliant time at the barn dance and it is fantastic to have raised so much money for a worthwhile charity. We’d like to thank everyone who supported us at the event, with special thanks to Christine Willett at Parklands Farm for letting us use her barn for free and sponsoring the live Leighband.”Perry from EHPPS added, “We are incredibly grateful to IBRC for choosing to support Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society with their barn dance fundraiser. It was a super evening with a fantastic amount raised. Thank you all.”

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials has launched a new digital TV service that will give fans of equestrianism an unrivalled viewing experience. Burghley TV will combine comprehensive livestream footage of this most prestigious CCI5* event (31st August - 4th September) with expert commentary, analysis and behind-the-scenes footage and interviews. A replay service will be available, plus a comprehensive library of historic footage, stretching back to 1990 will also be part of the Burghley TV package. www.burghley-horse.co.uk

Sophie witnessed an accident at Iken Bay Riding and Livery. Sophie said, “It was one of our friends who owns a horse that spooked, and she was badly hurt. The East Anglian Air Ambulance arrived, and the doctors were really able to make things better, giving our friend pain relief and making sure that she was getting the best care. I really wanted to help raise money so that they could help more Sophiepeople.”completed her challenge and has raised £750 to date, three times her original target.

SPORTS HALL RENAMING

4 NEWS

Inspired by the quick action of the East Anglian Air Ambulance that came to the aid of a fellow rider, Thomason,Sophie13, and her pony Louie rode thirty miles recently to raise money for this critical emergency service.

NEW DIGITAL TV SERVICE: BURGHLEY TV

Aschool sports hall at William Farr C of E School, Lincolnshire has been named after Sophie Wells OBE, a highly decorated Paralympian in the equestrian sport of Dressage. Sophie who is from Lincoln, opened the newly named ‘Wells Sports Hall ‘in front of invited students, staff and ex-students. “I am thrilled to be given this honour. It is a personal first as I have never had a building named after me. It is particularly exciting that the idea came from the students themselves,” said Sophie.

Members of Ingatestone and Blackmore Riding Club in Essex (which is affiliated to British Riding Clubs, in Area 8) donned cowboy hats and dancing shoes in July to raise money for a local horse sanctuary. The club’s barn dance was attended by more than 150 people and raised £1,200 for the Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society Georgina(EHPPS).

£1,200 RAISED FOR LOCAL HORSE SANCTUARY

SOPHIE AND LOUIE TAKE IN SUPPORT OF THE EAST ANGLIAN AIR AMBULANCE

FLIGHT:

“Seeing so many people from Lincolnshire and beyond coming together to celebrate everything our amazing county has to offer is so rewarding for all the people who put in months of hard work to put on the best event we possibly can and we already can’t wait for 2023.”

Saturday’s lecture subjects will include the effect of feed on behaviour; assessing and training basic behaviours and more. Sunday’s demos will include stress-free clicker training; how to assess the body language and emotional thresholds.

www.lincolnshireshow.co.uk

Taking place under clear blue skies and lots of sun, the Show made its 137th outing, with the two-day event seeing more than 55,000 people through the gates to enjoy the very best Lincolnshire has to offer – which is 3,500 more people than the last in-person Lincolnshire Show in Jayne2019.Southall, CEO of the Lincolnshire Showground, said: “It’s hard to express how overjoyed we are that the Show is finally back – it’s been a long three years since we’ve been able to welcome people to the Showground in such a style. The atmosphere on site has been palpable – and definitely boosted by the fantastic weather – so to welcome a much higher level of visitors than our last show has been the cherry on the cake.

Trudi Dempsey, Lauren Fraser, Robin Foster, Rosa Verwijs, Sooz Foster, Emma Lethbridge, Abigail Allen and Justine Harrison, vet Sophie Hill and physiotherapist Holly Gallacher.

EVENT PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED: UNDERSTAND HORSES LIVE THE LINCS SHOW 2022: WELCOMES THOUSANDS OF VISITORS

The event is aimed at horse owners, students and equestrian professionals interested in improving their knowledge and understanding of horse behaviour, training, riding and physiology. It is approved for CPD/CEU by the British Horse Society, IAABC and Karen Pryor Academy.

Understand Horses Live is a unique new equine event – a weekend of lectures plus practical demos and training workshops on horse behaviour, physiology and training, taking place at Writtle University College 3rd-4th September. An international panel of experts - equine behaviour consultants, academics, vets, physios and trainers - will lecture on a variety of fascinating subjects on Saturday, then put the scientific theory in to practice with demos and workshops with the horses based at Writtle University College on Sunday.

DIARY:FORDATETHE

October11thEXHIBITIONEQUINEBUNBURYMADELEINEART-29th

Thousands of visitors descended on the ShowgroundLincolnshireasit welcomed back one of the county’s most beloved events - the Lincolnshire Show, making its highly anticipated return after the pandemic.

Speakers include equine behaviour consultants

www.understandhorses.com

Photo: SmailesSteve 5

Madeleine Bunbury is a travelling equestrian portrait painter. She paints life size horses, directly from life, under a natural north light. She does not use photographs, but has devised her own creative process to keep her subjects comfortable during the hours of posing. “Sometimes I have to whisper to them a little,” she Theresaid. will be an exhibition of smaller works, to include full portraits, heads of horses, sketches and horses with their owners, at the Osborne Studio Gallery. www.osg.uk.com

6 SADDLESNAPS EACH ISSUE AN HORSEABSOLUTEREADERWILLWINAPAIROF BURFORDARIATBOOTS worth £130! ENTRY IS EASY. SIMPLY EMAIL A CANDID PHOTO OF YOURTOHORSE ahmagazine.comsnaps@ DON’T FORGET TO YOURINCLUDECONTACTDETAILSANDACAPTIONTOYOURIMAGE. Sponsored by THE BEST PHOTO AND CAPTION WINS THE BOOTS! WINNER! COMPETITION “Well, you did say I was a monkey!” - Cheryl Tuff - Kirsty “AnyoneCyprusforcoffee?!” - Melanie White “You taste good mum!” - Lyn “Sausages!”Howlett - Emily Perry “Hey good looking!” - Jessica-Rae Manning “Ooohh lets have a little snuggle here!” - Debbie Lammond “Quick tip it, she’s not looking!” - Claire Davis Spot the difference!

Photo: BayarsaikhanOchirEldev-

ThompsonShari

Whilst horses are changed roughly every 35km, at checkpoints strung out throughout the country, riders must endure being in the saddle for up to 200km a day and face the challenges of riding over twenty-eight different semi-wild horses, with abilities,temperamentsvaryingandbuckingtheinevitablefalls and mishaps that happen along the way and navigating through challenging terrain, from giant sand dunes to freezing mountain passes. After the pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 editions, the twelfth Mongol Derby kicked off on the 23rd of July and looked set to be one of the most fiercely contested races to date, with forty-six riders, from ten different nations, competing for the prestigious win. Day one saw young Kiwi pair, Sam Edney and Annie Hackett, take an early lead, as other racers suffered navigational errors and falls. By the end of day two riders had found their groove, and four had caught the Kiwis, as six riders bunked down together at station six - the race is made up of twenty eight stations, strung out along the route. Riders aim to be at one by the end of the riding day, but can opt to, or unintentionally, wild camp or try and find a friendly Mongolian family with space in a ger. By day three riders were pulling out of the race with bruised and battered bodies (some chose to ride on with broken bones) whilst others served time penalties for riding past cut-off times the night before. The names changed, but the end of the day still saw six riders neck and neck, amongst them experienced riders Irishman Patrick Heffron and Brit Chris TheWalker.pair’s navigational nous saw them take a slender, but clear, lead on day four as the race hit some serious mountainous terrain and the weather deteriorated to ‘cold, wet and miserable’ - a sudden change for a field up until now more concerned with getting enough water on board than shaking it Dayoff. five and the pair kept their lead, just, as they chose to wild camp only eighteen minutes ahead of a chasing pack of seven, including American Deirdre Griffith (who was right at the back of the race at the end of day one) and South African Willemein Jooste. Patrick and Chris rode out front through days six and seven, but never with enough of a lead to relax and, with just a few hours riding left, on the final day Deirdre and Willemein passed them - a perfect example of how tackling the Derby as a team can carry you a long way (sharing navigation, helping each other out of scrapes and generally keeping up moral). They crossed the finish line together to win the toughest horse race on the planet, leaving Chris and Patrick to finish just behind to take joint third. For more details on the race, which is run by British company The Adventurists, visit www.equestrianists.com TOUGHEST HORSE RACE 2022

STEPPE.MONGOLIA’SACROSSHASMONGOLHORSETOUGHESTRACE,THEDERBY,THUNDERED

Photos:

Brit Chris Walker (left) and Irishman Patrick Heffron cross the line in joint third

8 BRIT PIPPED AT THE POST: AFTER A TWO YEAR ABSENCE, THE WORLD’S LONGEST AND

Based on the ancient horse messenger system used by Genghis Khan, in a country where the horse is king, at 1000km the Derby is the toughest test on the planet for enduranceequestrianriders.

EQUESTRIAN ADVENTURES WORLD’S

Chris Walker at full pace

REDWINGS TAKES ON GREAT YARMOUTH’S ANNA SEWELL HOUSE

kindness,‘inducewaspurposeherto sympathy, and an understanding treatment of “Decadeshorses’. ago, the current owner’s mother, herself an advocate for animal welfare, convinced her husband to buy the house to protect it, when a fan of Anna Sewell had proposed to dismantle it and relocate it to the US. She preserved the Grade 2 listed building, which has become a place of pilgrimage for fans of Anna and her novel.” Black Beauty was the only book that Anna Sewell published. She died shortly after the novel was released in 1877, and never witnessed its enormous success or the influence it had on changes to horse welfare in Victorian Britain. Over 100 years later, in 1984, Redwings Horse Sanctuary was established and is currently responsible for over 2,000 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules across the UK, including 700 living out on permanent loan in Guardian Redwings’homes.

The building is owned by a Redwings supporter and horse owner who approached Redwings about occupying the property. Redwings is the largest horse charity in the UK and was founded in the county, and their headquarters continue to be in Hapton, south of Norwich. Gemma Walpole, Executive Director for Income and Engagement at Redwings, said:

Adoption Star Maya is affectionately known as the charity’s ‘very own Black Beauty’. She is a beautiful Friesian mare who came to Redwings in 2010, with six other horses. The group had been found in terrible conditions, with one horse sadly passing away before help could reach them. Their owner was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering and all the surviving horses were signed over to Redwings. Having made a full recovery, Maya now lives at Redwings Aylsham in Norfolk, and visitors are able to sponsor her from just £15 a year, to help Redwings continue their frontline welfare work across the RedwingsUK. held an official opening of Anna Sewell House at the end of August and going forward it will be open to the public. It will be staffed by Redwings employees and volunteers, and Redwings is currently passionateapplicationswelcomingfromthoseaboutequine welfare and the treasured novel to become an Anna Sewell House Volunteer Guide. www.redwings.org.uk

“It’s so important to the owner that the property be used in a way that’s a fitting legacy to Anna and her work to improve horse welfare, so it makes perfect sense for it to be a showcase for the work Redwings does “Blacktoday.Beauty is one of the most successful novels of all time with over 50 million copies sold worldwide and was one of the first to use an animal as a narrator. Anna didn’t write the novel for children. She said that

Redwings is proud to announce the charity has taken on Anna Sewell House – the birthplace of the Black Beauty author - in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

Choose from a range of topics available to everyone whether you find yourself in or out of the saddle; everything from our Horse Care pathway to an Introduction to Riding. We also encourage all riders to take our ‘Ride Safe’ Award which has recently been recognised in the new Highway Code and will help teach you best practice when riding out in a wide range of environments. To find out more bhs.org.uk/challenge-awardsvisit

Pony Stars is run through the BHS’s Approved Centres and BHS Accredited Professional Coaches; children can either join a group through their local approved centre, or for those lucky enough to own their own ponies, a BHS Accredited Coach can come to you to deliver the activities – you could even set up your own group at a local yard. To find your local coaches and centres, head to bhs.org.uk/enjoy-riding.

YOURCHOOSE CHALLENGE

Even your little ones can join in the fun with our Junior Challenge Award – Pony Stars. With over 100 topics for children to explore, Pony Stars is set to ignite a passion for ponies in children aged 12 and under, as well as build knowledge and cement friendships that will last a lifetime. The programme follows in the hoofprints of the BHS Challenge Awards for teenagers and adults, which has seen thousands of horse owners and riders learning more about their four-legged friends whilst building their own skills and making new friends. With youngsters able to start taking their BHS Stage qualifications from the age of 13 upwards, Pony Stars can also provide a fantastic foundation for those dreaming of a career with equines.

10 CAREERS & EDUCATION

One of the things that makes horses such fabulous companions is that there’s always something more to learn about them; they are a lifelong and immensely rewarding project. If you'd like to deepen the understanding and bond you have with horses - whether that’s through developing your practical skills or gaining the extra bit of confidence you need to set and then reach your riding goals – then the Challenge Awards are perfect for you. You’ll receive expert guidance and support from BHS Accredited Professional Coaches, who will help you design your own development journey - and most importantly, you can have fun along the way!

Challenge your children...

THE EQUESTRIAN INDUSTRY IS RICH WITH EXCITING CAREERS THAT ARE ALL UNITED BY AN INNATE LOVE OF HORSES. WHETHER YOU’RE JUST WANTING TO LEARN MORE AND STRENGTHEN YOUR BOND WITH HORSES, OR EMBARK ON AN EQUESTRIAN CAREER, THE BHS HAS A PATHWAY FOR YOU.

onlysolving.problemteamworkplanning,fortoopportunitieshavingwhilstbuildskillslifesuchasandNotdoes

workingqualificationsrecognisedforapprenticesinthesport.

To find out more, head over to bhs.org.uk/horse-explorers.

Kickstart your career... Visit bhs.org.uk/pathways.

ExplorersHorse help young people to build connections and gain real-world skills, it also looks great on a CV by demonstrating abilities and knowledge that equine industry employers look for.

careeralloweducationbroadennewreceivingfunded,qualificationsintonownotworkingThosedevelopemployersreturnandbusinessasetting.deliveredrangeskills,learningprogrammeApprenticeshipwillcovertheofpracticalequestrianaswellasprovidingaofqualificationpathwaysinanequestrianRoutescanbechoseninrangeofequestrianandareas,fromleadershipdigitalmarketingtoseniorequinegroom.AfundamentalprincipleoftheBDApprenticeshipschemeisthattheprogrammeisnotjustopentoschoolleavers–itwillalsosupportthosewantingtototheindustry,orlookingforawaytotheirexistingstaff.whoareinterestedinwithhorseswhohavehadopportunitybeforewillhaveanaccessibleroutetheindustry.Mostofthewillbefullywithsomeemployersagranttotakeonaapprenticeship.ThiswillthereachofBD’sprogrammesandapprenticestobuildtheirwithinthesport.

Horsing around with Horse Explorers...

Working alongside horses every day must surely be one of the most rewarding career paths in the world, and across every career, regardless of role, we’re all working for the same goal: to improve the health and welfare of horses. There are so many places that your BHS qualifications can take you – the opportunities are Whateverendless! your professional aspirations with horses, the BHS Career Pathways are designed to offer you the opportunity to learn practical, real-world skills that will enable you to progress your career and reach your goals, all with the love of horses at the heart. The structured learning platform will support you to gain the skills and knowledge you need, from entry level right up to BHS Fellowship. Your BHS Career Pathways qualifications will be the stamp of approval that employers are looking for, as well as inspiring a practice of life-long learning. We’re here to guide, advise and support you through every stage of your career journey.

LAUNCHES:DRESSAGEBRITISH PROGRAMMEAPPRENTICESHIPRECOGNISEDNATIONALLY

British Dressage is delighted to announce the appointment of Sport Structures as its partner to support the delivery of an employment pathway of nationally The BD

Perhaps your child has completed Pony Stars already, or you’re looking for a way to motivate your teenager to get out in the fresh air after a long week at school – if so, Horse Explorers is our next level challenge award that offers a natural progression from Pony Stars. Aimed at teenagers and young adults, these awards help to develop your confidence, skills, and knowledge in a fun and supportive environment. You’ll be building your horsey knowhow

“Drawing has completely saved me”

CAREERS & EDUCATION WE MEET LOCAL ARTIST

In February 2020 I gave birth to my first child Juliana At the time I was working as a zookeeper and loved my job working with a range of species such as reindeer, goats, giant tortoises, wallabies, rainbow lorikeets, fish and horses to name a few. I absolutely loved my job and spent six happy years doing my dream job. Six weeks after her birth, the world changed, and the doors began to shut as the pandemic hit the UK. In those short six weeks, I realised that my mental health had drastically changed, and I began to have visions that would scare me and cause huge anxieties. My partner was incredible and did what he could to support me. Juliana had been suffering with colic and reflux and we were only able to get a GP appointment over the phone; she hadn’t slept properly in 48hours, and we were exhausted. There was a brief moment where she finally dropped off to sleep and I had a pencil and paper ready at hand to take notes of what the doctor may suggest; in that moment I drew one of the horses I worked with from a photo on my phone. After I had finished, I realised how calm and relaxed I felt, I hadn’t felt like that since before my daughter was born. I showed my friends and family what I had done, and they were all so encouraging and told me to keep going, so I did. During every short spell of sleep for Juliana rather than sleeping at the same time I would grab the pencil and practice. Originally, I stuck to drawing horses and foxes and would regularly share my fox drawings with a rescue centre that would auction them off and raise money to support the charity. I then began to research better materials and ask other established artists what the best items would be and then I invested a large chunk of our savings into buying pencils and paper that I would need to create and sell better work. I was approached after three months of practicing to draw my first commission of a dog and then shortly after for a horse owner in OnceAustralia.myconfidence built, I began taking small commissions through the summer until my daughter was 9-months-old and I had to make the decision as to whether I was going to return to work full time or try and pursue my drawings. I took the plunge and handed in my notice whilst learning how to develop my social media across different platforms and then in January 2021 I officially opened my Elevenbusiness.months after starting my journey I landed my first high profile client drawing for the worlds biggest and most famous show jumping family names – The Whitakers. I was commissioned to draw Catwalk IV for Robert Whitaker as a birthday gift but at the time I had no idea that it was his wife who had reached out to me. In hindsight I should have taken note that it was a horse drawing with that surname, but it only dawned on me a week into the drawing when Kate and I were talking about the horse I was drawing and what he meant to the team that I realised this wasn’t just your average horse. To date it is still one of my most detailed drawings and it’s safe to say that he was very well

RACHAEL ROBINSON

Essex-based Rachael Robinson with Catwalk IV, drawn for Robert Whitaker

artwork...related

Imran Atcha, a founder member of St James City Farm Riding School, was announced as the winner of the Sir Colin Spedding Award at the National Equine Forum (NEF) recently. Lynda Warth, British Horse Society County Access and Bridleways Officer for Cambridgeshire, was highly commended as an Award finalist. Lynda Warth was highly commended as a finalist in recognition of the sheer scope of the access work she undertakes on behalf of equestrians in Cambridgeshire and around the country. Initially helping to secure a local bridleway was the catalyst for Lynda to push for equestrian access rights to become engrained in policy; consideration of equestrian access is now a requirement for Cambridgeshire building and transport projects thanks to her endeavours. Lynda has worked to include different recreational activities within the access network, so that wherever possible families can exercise together safely, whether walking their dog, cycling, riding or carriage driving.

2021 I worked hard building my social media pages landing 30,000 followers on TikTok and 7000 on Facebook by the end of the year with a large client base and a waiting list to draw for people all over the world. In December 2021 I launched my Patreon channel where people can learn to draw from me in their own time and setting without any pressure and no matter where they are. I have kept my classes incredibly cheap as I want more people to have the opportunity to have access to quality learning without paying a huge price in private classes. 2022 has been filled with a lot of excitement where I have nominatedbeen and shortlisted for three awards. My social ondateonincreasedfollowingmediahasto9000Facebooktoand41000TikTokwithno help from any external sources. The awards I have been nominated for are the Equine Service of the Year 2022 from the Equestrian Business Awards, Digital Woman of the Year 2022 from Digital Women, and most recently one of my drawings has been shortlisted for Wildlife Artist of the Year 2022 from the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation. All these awards are completely unexpected, and I received an amazing 96 nominations for the Equine Service of the Year with so many of my clients reaching out to me to tell me how much their drawings meant to them but also how I had been towards them through the whole process and why they nominated me. I have recently attended the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead to display my work. Whilst I have done small country shows this is one of the biggest events I have been to with my art. Throughout the event I was live drawing so people can see how my drawings come Workingtogether.in the equestrian industry in the way that I do means so much to me and hearing the stories of the horses I am drawing because I don’t just draw and hand over a portrait, I take the time to get to know not only the animal but also the owner. I love hearing stories and I love the close friendships I have made over the past two years with a number of people who hired me for drawings. One lady calls me her adopted daughter and we regularly meet up to see each other, all of this I did not expect when the pencil went down for the first time. I did eventually get some help for my mental health and whilst this is still an ongoing challenge for me, I am more the person I was before having a baby. Drawing has completely saved me in many different ways, and I am excited to see what the future continues to bring. www.rrobinsonart.co.uk

Lynda works alongside BHS colleagues on major transport projects to ensure that Cambridgeshire equestrians are included on all NMU (non-motorised user) provision including reconnection of any severed rights of way, access over or under roads, railways and rivers and takes every opportunity to improve the existing network through the project.

Lynda Warth and HRH The Princess Royal ...As I had a huge passion for horses since I was a little girl and had ridden my whole life, I knew that I wanted my business to be focused on equestrian

13 Throughreceived.

NEF AWARD: WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Sir Colin Spedding was the founding chairman of the NEF and the award was introduced in 2013, in his memory. It is presented annually to an exceptional unsung hero of the equestrian world.

Lynda Warth said: “I consider myself hugely privileged to be selected as a Finalist for this prestigious award. However, I see it as recognition by the equestrian community of the often challenging, always ongoing, hard work of Access Volunteers to protect existing paths, to search for routes which should be available and to seize every opportunity to improve the national bridleway network for current and future generations of horse riders and carriage drivers.”

Presented

By Matthew Coleridge BVMS, MS, Dip ACVS-LA, MRCVS WHEN OCCURSFRACTUREA

14 bone is subjected to forces that exceed what it is able to withstand. They can come in all sorts of degrees of severity ranging from small fissure fractures and small chip fractures in joints to large, complex and comminuted fractures of the long bones.

Most horse owners associate the word ‘fracture’ with a sense of dread, fearing the worstcase scenario is inevitable. Whilst this sadly is the case with some types of fracture, and euthanasia is the only or the kindest option, many fracture types can be managed successfully, provided that there is early and appropriate veterinary intervention.

Main: An elbow (ulna) fracture in a young warmblood repaired using a bone plate. Below: A frontal fracture of the long pastern in a showjumper

What is a fracture? A fracture is a partial or complete break in a bone. Bone is one of the hardest substances in the body and is subjected to a multitude of forces on a day-today basis. Fractures occur when a like human athletes tend to occur more commonly in highlevel equine athletes and are related to the intense, repetitive training they undertake. Pleasure horses are more likely to suffer an acute fracture due to a misplaced step or from an external trauma, such as a kick from another horse or collision with a gate or fence.

BONES:THEM

What causes a fracture? Fractures in horses normally come about in one of two ways. Either the bone is subjected to a very high amount of stress very quickly, leading to an acute fracture, or it is repeatedly loaded, eventually fracturing due to cumulative fatigue of the Fatiguebone. fractures in horses, just by

ROSSDALESEQUINEHOSPITAL Cotton End Road, Exning,CB8Newmarket7NN. T: 01638 577754 E: hospital@rossdales.com www.rossdales.com HEALTH & WELFARE: VETWATCH

Vet Watch

BVMS,COLERIDGEMATTHEWMS,DIPACVSLA, MRCVS

VET PROFILE

How do we diagnose a fracture?

Fractures are generally confirmed using digital x-rays, where a clear break in the bone will be Fracturesapparent.can be ‘open’ or ‘closed’. An ‘open’ fracture is one where the skin and soft tissues have been broken or cut, so the fractured bone has been exposed to the environment. These are commonly caused by kicks or collisions with hard objects such as gates and fences. These carry a poor prognosis as they are almost certainly infected. A ‘closed’ fracture is one in which the skin has remained intact. Once the horse has been transported to a referral hospital, diagnostic imaging of the suspected area will be carried out to diagnose the fracture. This will start with digital x-rays of the area and depending on these findings, further threedimensional imaging may be necessary with either computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

First aid/splinting Horses with fractures are usually treated at equine hospitals and before transporting the horse, the fracture will be stabilised by the attending vet, using a bandage alone or in combination with splints. The goal of the attending vet is to immobilise the joint above and the joint below the fractured bone. For example, a pastern fracture would have a stiff bandage placed from the foot to the top of the cannon bone. By immobilising the fractured bone in this way, further propagation of a fracture or damage to the soft tissues around the bone, is Horsesminimised.sustaining fractures are in a lot of pain and can become quite distressed.

A comminuted pastern fracture. X-rays (a) were taken indicating the need for further imaging. CT imaging (b) allows for a clear understanding of the fracture. The surgeon used fluoroscopy imaging (real time moving images) to guide the repair (c) and (d).

Continued overleaf...

If you suspect your horse has sustained a fracture, call your vet immediately. Fractures do not all present in the same way and clinical signs can vary from lowgrade lameness to the horse appearing very sore - in some cases, there will be severe nonweight bearing lameness of the affected limb. Within seconds of the fracture occurring, the area will start to swell and, left unbandaged, the swelling can become large, quickly, indicating the need to take an x-ray.

A B C D

Matt is a specialist in equine surgery and joined the team at Rossdales Equine Hospital in 2020, having spent the previous three years as a surgeon at Fethard Equine Hospital in Ireland. He qualiﬁed from Glasgow Veterinary school in 2012 before spending a number of years in the USA, where he undertook a Surgical Residency at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in a combined program with Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Kentucky. He completed a Masters in Veterinary Science (MS) in 2017 and the following year he became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS). Matt is experienced in all aspects of equine surgery, particularly orthopaedics. He is interested in all aspects of the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry and his surgical interests include juvenile and adult orthopaedic surgery, as well as broodmare reproductive and abdominal surgery.

Technology in this area is improving rapidly and a lot of advanced imaging can now be undertaken with the horse standing and given mild sedation.

A horse with a lateral condylar fracture has a large swelling of the left fetlock joint.

Injectable pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory drugs as well as mild sedation are regularly used to help horses through the journey to the hospital.

In summary

HEALTH & WELFARE: VETWATCH

If welfare is daysretiringbecomingcompetingbreedingchangeothersathleticresumehorsesaremajorprogrammeandinitialoftemperamentage,othertakingtypesuccessfully,canmanykindestmaycompromised,seriouslyeuthanasiabetheonlyortheoption.However,incaseslimbfracturesbemanageddependingonandclassification,andintoconsiderationfactorssuchasthesize,value,andwelfarethehorse.Thecostoftreatment,surgeryrehabilitationwillalsobeafactorwhenownersdecision-making.Somewillbeabletotheirpreviouscareers,whereaswillhaveacareer–possiblyacareer,oratalowerlevel,ahack,ortoliveouttheirinapaddock.

Common fractures In racehorses, the most common long bone fractures include pastern fractures and condylar fractures of the cannon bones. These are seen and fixed routinely at equine referral hospitals, often with the horses standing and sedated. Common fractures seen in pleasure horses include pastern, pedal bone and elbow (ulna) fractures.

Prognosis following a fracture Whether a horse will be able to return to their previous level of performance will depend heavily on the type of fracture that has occurred, but if a good and timely repair is initiated then, yes, it is possible for horses to return to their previous level. If a good repair is achieved, fractures take approximately 3 months to heal and during this time horses are confined to varying degrees of restriction/box rest. Depending on the type of fracture, some horses may be able to start walking exercise 30 days after surgery.

Continued from previous page... Fracture repair taking place with the horse under general anaesthesia. Fluoroscopy is being used to guide the repair.

Lateral condylar fracture, before and after surgery. This fracture was repaired using local anaesthesia, with the horse standing and sedated.

Equine orthopaedic surgery has progressed enormously in the last 50 years. Many of the more common fractures are now treatable and can be surgically repaired by specialist veterinary surgeons. Surgeons working in areas such as Newmarket where there are a large number of racehorses in training can be fixing fractures on a near daily Fracturesbasis. are generally repaired using steel or steel alloy surgical screws and bone plates. The type and conformation of the fracture will determine what is used and in what combination. These implants also have been

Contra-lateral limb laminitis is perhaps the most well-known complication associated with fracture repair. This occurs due to excess stress being placed on the foot of the ‘good’ or unfractured limb as a result of the horse being too sore to weight bear through its repaired limb. Implant infection is rare, but is another nasty complication. Once infection sets in around the plate and screws used to repair the fracture, the only way to resolve it is to remove the metalwork. Modern implants are able to maintain their strength in the face of infection for long periods of time and so improve the chance of fracture healing before implant removal.

developed hugely over recent decades, to become stronger and more resilient. A significant number of fractures can now be repaired without having to place the horse under general anaesthesia. What is known as ‘standing fracture repair’ is now commonplace for horses sustaining simple fractures to the cannon bone and pastern. The horse is sedated and local anaesthetic is then used to numb the area to be operated. More complex fractures or those occurring in bones higher up the leg require general anaesthesia. These may also need arthroscopic alignment of the fracture fragments to ensure a smooth articulation remains once the fracture has healed. Following surgery, the fracture can be stabilised using a bandage or cast to provide support to the surgical repair and aid the soft tissue healing. Complications

Can/how do we fix them

In comparison for the full year of 2021 just 43 (around 15%) of a total of 277 intake and rehoming requests specified financial reasons and in 2020 a total of 32 (nearly 14%) out of 231 requests stated financial Thereasons.charity, which rehomes horses from its centres in Burford, Oxfordshire and Rolleston, Staffordshire as well as through its Home CoordinatorRehomingAnnabelleforwelfarecausetoproblemsratheraregethorsescheme,Directisurgingownerstointouchiftheystruggling,thanletescalatepotentiallyhealthandproblemstheirhorses.Taylor,at Blue Cross, said: “We are acutely aware that as the cost of living continues to increase, many people may be unavoidably presented with making difficult choices for their beloved horses. “We encourage them approach us whilst their horses are still healthy rather than risk them being passed from pillar to post, potentially ending up in a welfare compromised situation. We are here to listen and help, not to judge, and with Home Direct we a can help people as much as we are helping Bluehorses.”Cross

Home Direct has proved to be highly effective, with over 150 horses helped since it was launched back in 2015. Every horse is assessed thoroughly by a member of the Blue Cross horse unit team and then advertised on the charity’s website. Once a potential new owner has been found Blue Cross will arrange and oversee initial visits. If it’s a good match, the horse will then be rehomed directly from the old home to the new one. All the home visits and checks will be completed as if the horse was from a Blue Cross Bluecentre.Cross also offers their Home Direct service to other equine welfare charities that don’t specialise in rehoming. Any horse can be considered for Home Direct, as long as they pass a health check and are not on any long-term medication. If you need support, advice or guidance about giving up your horse please org.ukhelpmyhorse@bluecross.email rehome/horsewww.bluecross.org.uk/

TOINTERRUPTIONSSUPPLYOF

The three bodies have been aware of minor interruptions to the supply of such vaccines throughout 2022. However, a significant, pan-European logistical problem being experienced by Boehringer Ingelheim has raised the prospect of a further reduction in supplies in the coming BEVAmonths.isliaising with the three vaccine manufacturers to quantify the impact of the shortage and to consider solutions, not only to minimise the threat to equine health and welfare but also to prevent disruption to equestrian Davidcompetition.Rendle, Chair of BEVA’s Health and Committee,Medicinessaid:“We remind all horse owners of the importance of maintaining vaccination for equine influenza but would advise they wait until as close a time as possible until their horse’s next dose is due to minimise current demand.”

“It is distressing to see that the number of people seeking rehoming support because of financial reasons is already more than double last year’s annual total and we still have a third of the year to go”

RECESSION MAY BE STARTING TO IMPACT HORSES WARNS BLUE CROSS

The latest figures from national pet charity, Blue Cross, indicate that an increased number of horse carers may be struggling financially to keep their horse. So far this year the charity has received 144 requests from people asking for the charity to take in or help rehome their horse or pony and more than 70% of these cited personal or circumstancesfinancial as the reason.

VACCINESINFLUENZAEQUINE

The British vaccinesofmonitor(BHA)BritishEquestrian(BEVA),VeterinaryEquineAssociationBritish(BEF)andtheHorseracingAuthorityarecollaboratingtothepotentialimpactashortageofdosesofforEquineInfluenza.

The Horse Trust has ramped up their Healthy Body Condition Awards with many showing shows signing up to be ‘WeightAware'. This included the Derby Meeting, Hickstead, 23rd to 26th June. These coveted Healthy Body Condition Awards recognise and reward horses in the best condition as well as providing support and advice. The Sussex Equine Hospital supported and carried out the assessments alongside the showing Judges. The Horse Trust delights in sharing the success stories of professionals and amateurs alike in their quest to see more healthy-weight horses.

Photos: PhotographySpidge

Hannah Horton on Bankers Draught

HICKSTEAD SHOWING

Lynn Russell, a leading Show Cob producer, came a very close second with Talos for the Award having previously received it at Herts County Show in May. Speaking at Hickstead, Lynn said, “The Awards are a good idea and horses should carry less condition. Some of the Judges may need some adjustment on how they take this into account when Lynn’sjudging.”regimeis to keep the horses out 24/7 and to harrow their fields regularly. “They seem to regulate their intake of forage and consequently their condition. For feeding, I use straights, rather than mixes and cubes.”

“Tom is now sixteen and has had a successful showing career and it looks like he’ll continue to do so. He’s pretty good at regulating his own weight in that he isn’t greedy - in fact he gets four small feeds a day whilst at Althoughgrass.”notso susceptible to being overweight, the Large Riding Horse class was assessed, giving the rosette to Legend In Manhattan exhibited by a clearly delighted Victoria Hersford. Owned by James Woodington, Legend was placed second in the class out of six. Well-known showing producer Val Sheehan was presented with the Award at Herts County for 6year-old Heavyweight Hunter Red Rumour. Val hadn’t heard of the Awards before winning but agrees enthusiastically with the concept. Val’s horses are all fed for the work done. Val acknowledges that, “You can’t feed to build fitness.” PRODUCERS

18 HEALTH & WELFARE

What is The Weigh To Win Initiative? The Horse Trust's Programme is an important initiative to reward healthy equine body condition and raise awareness of healthy body condition in show horses. Showing in particular is often seen to promote horses who are overweight and the aim is to challenge and educate on what is an ideal body condition. The programme was run at events throughout the showing season providing friendly, supportive advice and guidance to owners, riders and producers, both at the events and during online training sessions.

Kate MasterLomaxBarberandoftheHouse

ARE ‘WEIGHT AWARE’

#TheWeighToWin

Dream On Harry, owned and exhibited by Siobhan Dalloway, won the Award in the Maxi Cob class and was delighted by the recognition. Siobhan wasn’t previously aware of it, but thought it was a very nice incentive. “Harry was a rescue case from Ireland, taking nine months to get fit for today. We let him be a horse and have a natural lifestyle with regular exercise to keep him in today’s good Startingcondition.”thedaywith the Lightweight Cobs, Bankers Draught won The Horse Trust’s KnownAward. as Todd, his body condition score was 30% better than the top placed horses in the class. Exhibited by Hannah Horton she explained that Todd goes hunting all winter which keeps him very fit and obviously in a great condition.

Victoria Hersford and Legend Manhattanin

Master Of The House, or Big Tom, won on a score of almost 20% better than the others in the Heavyweight Cob class. Ridden and owned by Kate Barber-Lomax, it’s Kate’s mother who does the day-to-day care and oversees Big Tom's 4-days a week exercise regime. They were thrilled to be placed second in the class and be first for the Healthiest Body Condition. They’re new to the Awards and think they’re a brilliant idea.

RIHSConditionHealthycontinuedTrusttheirBodyAwardsatTheatHicksteadonthe last week of July.

Lancer is owned by HM The Queen and produced by Katie Jerram-Hunnable from Great Dunmow, Essex. He was seventh in the Heavyweight Hunter class out of twenty-five registered entries. Lancer is a 7year-old and Katie has had him since he was two. His lovely character means that his next job will involve ceremonial parade duties for the Royal TopFamily.showing producer Katie Jerram-Hunnable is no stranger to receiving the Award having recently been given the same rosette for her horse The Imperial Choice at Herts County Show. Katie attributes the horses' excellent condition to a tried and tested regime of daily exercise and correct feeding, plus turnout and grazing. Katie monitors the grass available and accordingly adjusts all the horses’ feeds in line with the quality of forage that grows throughout the year. She also implements a good de-worming programme, but the overriding contributor to her horses’ wellbeing is her drive to build muscle-tone, rather than just putting on weight. “We can’t feed to get fit but we can make sure the horse gets the correct nutrition and exercise”, she says. “The Programme is a very good thing and really goes towards helping people to be aware of healthy body condition and its importance”, says Katie, who was delighted to once again receive the Award.

His connections hadn’t heard of the Awards before receiving one today. “Sometimes fat is used to try and cover up problems in showing so it’s good to see these Awards to spread awareness.” Chantelle has recently finished school and would like to work with Thehorses.RIHS has supported the programme since 2019, and is pleased to raise the profile for the Awards at this year’s event. David Ingle, Director of Showing at the Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead and former Chairman of The Showing Council, said, “Showing is keen to become more educational and we are in an era of great improvement in equine welfare, with increasing scrutiny under social license. This initiative shines a light on this important aspect of showing. We will be making this Award in more classes and highlighting the importance of correct weight to competitors at the RIHS this year,” said David. Jan Rogers, Head of Research and Policy at The Horse Trust, says, “We get very upset by seeing photos of underweight horses in the media, but in reality, far more horses are obese than are underweight. This is worrying for vets who are finding that they have to treat these horses with serious health conditions like Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Laminitis. Peoples’ perceptions of what is a healthy weight have shifted towards the higher body condition scores. We would like to help to reset this balance.”

Katie

Jerram-Hunnable and HM The Queen's Lancer

Greenholme Falcon is an 11year-old Dales pony owned by Victoria Oliver and shown by Chantelle Chapman. Dan has travelled from Colchester, Essex and also competes in Working Hunter classes which probably contributes to him keeping a healthy condition. “He’s ridden at least three or four times a week; he’s shod which means he’s easier to work. He comes in at night and has a small feed.”

The Awards were given in over twenty classes and over 400 horses were body condition scored by qualified experts Tamzin Furtado PhD, Alison Talbot MRCVS and Dee Pollard from the British Horse Society.

Photo: Equinational THE ROYAL INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW (RIHS)

The Horse

In a bid to keep the veterinary network functioning throughout Ukraine, Anatoly has overseen the distribution of the muchneeded medicines, dressings and equipment throughout the regions in need and stocks should last several months. In a letter thanking David Rendle for the assistance, Anatoly said; “I’m grateful to you David and all the organisations who made this possible, for not giving up when faced with the difficulties and for placing your trust in us. Also, for collaborating together, which can’t have been easy, to make a huge difference. It has been worth it, and you have not only brought relief to animals but given support to the people themselves by showing them that they are not alone and for as long as it takes.

MAKING IMPACT IN UKRAINE

20 HEALTH & WELFARE

–and those involved are extremely grateful. Anatoly Levitsky, retired Ukraine Equestrian Federation team vet and in-house vet at Kyiv Hippodrome, assembled a network of vets who could help treat horses in the wartorn country when many vets were called into military service. The need for medication, equipment and dressings became increasingly urgent and Anatoly reached out to his contact network, including the British Equestrian AssociationVeterinary(BEVA)and the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA).

Veterinary aid, support and supplies coordinated and funded by members of British Equestrians for Ukraine have made a illness,numbergroupandconflict.caughtdifferenceconsiderabletothehorsesupintheRussianFinancialsupportgoodsprovidedbythehashelpedagreatofhorsessurvivewoundsandtrauma

“Many organisationsinternationaltookpart in providing food and evacuation of horses from the war zone, but only you came to the help of Ukrainian vets in treating the wounded, burned and traumatised equines. The two big trucks you provided with drugs and equipment was brilliant – so much so it wasn’t easy to unload, to sort and to distribute between different regions of Ukraine – but we’re so Davidgrateful.”Rendle added; “Without the generous support we’ve received from a number of individuals and companies, none of this would have been possible. As equine vets, we’re passionate about welfare and we knew we had to do something to help the horses as well as the people. It’s been a huge collaborative effort and the results speak for themselves with the number of lives saved and relief “However,provided. the situation in Ukraine is ongoing and while we may have bought some time for now, the need for help will continue.”

UK EQUINE VETERINARY AID

equestrians-for-ukraine-fund/support-us/appeals/british-www.worldhorsewelfare.org

It was the collaboration between British Equestrians for Ukraine, in which BETA and BEVA are key players alongside British Equestrian, the British Horse Society and World Horse Welfare, plus the British Equestrian Veterinary Association Trust and the American Association of Equine Practitioners who answered the call for help. A team of veterinarians, including David Rendle, president-elect of BEVA and Dr Till Hörmann of Hörmann Equine, a mobile veterinary practice in Leicestershire, secured a number of aid donations and negotiated the purchase of drugs and equipment at trade or vastly reduced rates utilising the British Equestrians for Ukraine Fund. Their hard work secured goods worth over £190,000 – enough for two full lorry loads which were driven from Britain to Ukraine with the support of the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation.

FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN ‘RIDE FOR UKRAINE’, AIMING TO SAVE 5000 HORSES, HAS BEEN LAUNCHED

www.helpukrainehorses.euwww.rideforukraine.info

Inna Logutenkova, 2-time participant of the Olympic Games, 2-time participant of the World Equestrian Games WEG, 3-time participant of the European Championship, Finalist of the World Cup and the Chef d'equipe of the Ukrainian dressage team says: “I’m proud to become one of the first ambassadors of the campaign and help Ukrainian equestrians to save and feed their horses. I believe that after Ukraine wins, the country will recover and show the best result in the sports arena. Our team is defending Ukrainian sports honour while our army defends European freedom from Russian Fundsinvasion.”raised through the campaign will be used to

“We believe that the equestrian community in the world will not stand aside and will help Ukraine to save their horses.”

“The situation on the frontline is very unpredictable and as the biggest foundation that focuses on helping horses and equestrians, we feel responsible for the horses that stay in Ukraine. We know that the biggest problem for Ukrainian horse owners is feeding and caring for their horses because of the lack of money. The economy collapsed; their normal income sources don't exist anymore. And we are keen to help them to save horses while they are recovering and looking for new jobs or rebuilding their businesses,” says Mykhaylo Parkhomchuk, founder of the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation and the Secretary-General of the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation.

RIDE FOR UKRAINE maintain the health and welfare of the horses. First of all, this is the provision of feed and hay including coverage of the costs of transportation to all regions of Ukraine. Also, to support horses in a free evacuation shelter. At the moment, there are 37 horses, but the UEF-CF predicts an increase in the number of horses that temporarily cannot be supported by the owners and who may be in the war zone. These horses will need relocation and keeping, which the foundation also provides. For this, several more shelters are already being prepared in the west of Ukraine. If necessary, 100-120 horses will manage to survive difficult times there.

At the FEI ChampionshipsEuropeanDressagefor Juniors & Young Riders at Hartpury, the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation (UEF-CF) launched a ‘Ride For Ukraine’ fundraising campaign. This campaign is aimed to unite all equestrian riders, professionals, Thecommonwarmwhenhorses500,000ambitiousTheambassadorsmembersUkrainianwintertimearoundandorganisations,federations,goodsproducershorseloverstohelpfeed5,000horsesduringinUkraine.Thedressageteambecamethefirstofthecampaign.goalissimple,but-toraiseabouteuroandfeed5,000duringthewintertime,freshgrassorhayandstableswillnotbethatasinsummer.ideaofthe

‘Ride For Ukraine’ campaign is that every show can support the campaign and help Ukrainian horses from simply placing info about the campaign on site or organising a special class or show dedicated to the campaign. Every rider at this show can donate by participating and every visitor can donate using a QR code or via the website. There are many partnership options for equestrian goods producers, publishers, media, educational and any other kind of organisations and people who love horses and are ready to help. Becoming an ambassador is easy. After donating a particular amount of money you will get a pin, cap and become part of the team that saves Ukrainian horses during the war with Russia.

Natalie McGoldrick MA VetMB MRCVSEquine vet, event rider andAmbassadorAbsorbine

PLAN

HEALTH & WELFARE WINTER HOOF CARE STRATEGY NOW!

Natalie McGoldrick riding Tricky Johnnie at Houghton 4 star XC

“Another issue we face with our horses’ hooves during the winter months, is when the ground turns from wet and boggy, to frozen and rutted. If you have a stable, this is the time to avoid turn out, as the risk of injury to your horse is high. Not only are tendons at risk, but bruised feet are a common occurrence; your horse’s soles will be soft due to the previously wet ground, and thus extremely prone to bruising if he then canters over rutted

daily foot care will help. The key to reducing the risk of your horse developing a foot abscess, alongside good farriery and foot care, is allowing the hooves to spend some proportion of the day out of the mud.

wet winter without sinking and provide your horse with some respite from the mud.

Continued overleaf...

Natalie McGoldrick MA VetMB MRCVS is an 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 and evented horses up to 4*. Natalie says, “The winter months provide many challenges for horse owners and keeping feet in good condition is high up on the “Onelist.of the most common call outs for ambulatory vets during a wet winter, is to foot abscesses. These are normally caused by horses standing in mud for many hours a day, and obviously for a horse living out 24/7 with no access to hard standing, the risk of developing pus in the foot is much higher than in a stabled “Therehorse. is nothing you can paint on the foot to prevent abscesses, and no amount of YOUR

“A common site in most fields now, is an area of hard standing on which horses can be fed their hay, or if they aren’t fed hay, then a dry loafing area. This will allow the horse’s hooves to dry out for at least some of the day. These dry areas don’t require planning in most areas, if they are constructed with temporary slabs or mats that can be lifted and moved. If constructed during the dry summer months, a small dry loafing area can last a

22 Autumn is here, with winter just around the corner. It’s time to plan for your winter hoof care regime. conditionsChangeable–oneminute hard, the next minute wet - can cause hoof problems.

“Ifground.youdon’t have the luxury of a stable, then my tip for avoiding bruised soles during frozen periods in the winter, would yet again be to try and construct a flat, dry loafing area. For those unable to get their horses out of the mud, my advice would be to ensure your farrier still visits regularly, and to make sure your horse is receiving the correct balance of vitamins and minerals, especially biotin, throughout the year.”

Both before and after turning out or exercising, pick out feet

Hooflex Frog and Sole Care will help soothe the hoof and eliminate odours caused by bacteria and fungi. It is ideal for those in muddy conditions or spending increased time in their stables, it promotes normal hoof health without killing live tissues, whilst penetrating the frog and sole tissue without stinging, staining, or drying out the hoof.

The winter is not all about wet weather! Cold, dry weather can cause feet to dry out, with the increased risk of damage or cracking. It is important to maintain the moisture balance of the hoof and Absorbine Hooflex Original Liquid Conditioner is just the ticket. It is designed to maintain the pliability of the entire hoof by providing essential conditioners, as well as encouraging health hoof growth. It will also discourage bacteria in areas where it can So,accumulate.planning a regular Autumn and Winter hoof care regime can prevent issues before they arise, and we all know that prevention is better than cure!

Nigel Hill, Chairman of Exmoor Pony Society, said: “The Exmoor pony is one of the most iconic native breeds in the UK. It’s still a ‘Priority’ breed according to the Rare Breeds Survival Trust – which means endangered.

HEALTH & WELFARE

www.absorbine.co.uk

“It is our role to safeguard the future of such a vulnerable breed at a time when there are growing risks from the effects of global warming on habitat, disease and social change. Our new Scientific Advisory Panel will ensure we are at the forefront of equine genetics, helping Exmoor Pony Society members, breeders, stakeholders and the public to understand initiatives that may impact upon and support Exmoor ponies.”

and where possible, allow feet to dry out after standing in muddy fields. As Natalie has said if your horse is living out 24/7, a field shelter with dry standing area will allow relief from wet conditions and likewise if stabled, regular skipping out will avoid wet patches from building up in a confined area.

LAUNCH OF NEW ADVISORYSCIENTIFIC PANEL

TheguardianPonyExmoorSociety,of the equine breed since 1921, has established a Scientific Advisory Panel to lead on genetic research and securethatinnovationwillhelpthefuture of the UK’s oldest native breed.

www.exmoorponysociety.org.uk

TheYouGovsurveyindependentthroughrecently.resultsrevealed that 40% of the general public would only continue to support the use of horses in sport if their welfare was improved, while 20% would not support their use in any circumstances.

Roly Owers, Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare said: “This was a survey of a representative sample of the general public, and the vast majority of respondents (over 90%) had little or no recent contact with horses. This is a snapshot of what some may dismiss as ‘uninformed’ opinions about horses in sport.”

A hasmuchsurprise,camesurveywhetherrangedsportacrosspanellistsdiscussion40-minutewithfromthehorseworldacrosstheresultsasahoweachsportconsidered their social licence to operate, where improvements have already been made and where others could be and whether attitudes and actions had changed with social media capturing fleeting good or bad Drmoments.BarryJohnson, Chair of British Racing’s Horse Welfare Board, pointed out that racing was ahead of some other sports with response to social licence. “Racing has researched these issues, and this is what precipitated our report, A Life Well Lived, and the setting up of an independent welfare body,” he said. “Trainers and racecourses have opened up their facilities and invited the public in to see what happens before and after racing. It’s a change of culture which has allowed things like the whip consultation to take place.”

Christian Landolt, dressage rider and eventer, trainer and FEI ground jury member said, “There is a big discrepancy in how people manage their horses, of horsemanship at all levels and it worries me. There needs to be a push on “Aseducation.aJudge I’m also aware that riders often don’t know the rules of the sports they compete in - I sit a little exam each year for the FEI and I’d like the riders to do that too before they can Olympiccompete.”eventer Pippa Funnell MBE shared her experiences with social media, saying that you have to be honest when things don’t go according to plan but she also said that: ”It’s a way of life and it’s important to get that across to the public.

“Education is key. There could be a system where respected riders can be there with an armband and be open to approach by anyone wanting advice. And it puts them in a position to pick out someone doing something wrong by the horse and tactfully educating them.”

Dr Madeleine Campbell, Senior Lecturer in interactionshuman-animalandethics,RVC, has worked extensively on the horse-human relationship. She said: “A large part is around communication. Competitors talking about their horses and how they are managed is really helpful to those not familiar with horses. It’s important that we can explain to the public that we are including demonstrable welfare in policy making. When it’s well done there is a benefit to the horse as well. We need to explain that and communicate the horse’s positive lifetime experience.” The full webinar is available to watch via the World Horse Welfare YouTube channel. WELFARE

World Horse Welfarean charityinternationalthatstrives to support and improve the horse human partnership in all its guises – offered support to equestrian disciplines recently as it challenged them to work together to ‘do more, faster’ to demonstrably prioritise equine welfare. This challenge came at the end of an event hosted by the charity, with an aim to highlight the challenges and opportunities faced regarding public perceptions of welfare in equestrian sport – and explore how they can be addressed.

World Horse Welfare supports the responsible use of horses in sport and for several years has been championing the concept that equestrianism can only flourish with public support – in other words – so long as it has a social licence to operate. The charity sought objective evidence of the public’s views commissioningby an

EQUESTRIAN SPORT COMES TOGETHER TO DISCUSS PERCEPTION OF

IN SPORT

“What really is very upsetting to me is that the rare wrongdoings of a very small number of people involved with horses can tarnish the rest of us” - Pippa Funnell MBE

10. Check temperature.theSafety kit shouldn’t be stored in extreme temperatures as it can cause the foam in body protectors and hats to degrade, and can also compromise other safety equipment. Don’t store safety kit in the car, over direct sources of heat, or where it gets very cold or very hot.

5. Check your label. Make sure your body protector is of the correct standard. You’re looking for a white with purple (2009 standard) or black with blue (2018 standard) label with level 3 displayed. This is suitable for all riding activities.

26 As the British Equestrian Trade SummerAssociation’sofSafetyfor 2022 comes to an end, we wanted to share with you some of campaignfromhighlightsthethein the form of 20 easy ways to help keep you and your horse safer… of course, this is NOT an exhaustive list, but it’s a good place to start!

8. life.mightWhat3Wordssaveyour This free service gives a precise location (to a 3m square) which means people can find you, fast! See what3wordsourfeatureonpages32/33! watches that alert people if you sustain an impact/stop moving and need help.

9. Safety kit isn’t just for riding. Many injuries happen when handling horses. A kick to the head from an exuberant horse during turn out can consequences,disastroushave so don’t be afraid to put you hat on!

12. Stirrup size. Make sure your stirrups are the correct size – not so tight a boot could become stuck, or so loose and big that a boot could slide through.

11. Be honest. When it comes to working with professionals such as farriers, vets, physios, etc, be honest with them about your horse and its behaviour. This might mean they wear additional safety equipment or ask the horse to be sedated for specific procedures, but your ‘optimism’ about your horse’s behaviour could lead to serious injuries, which you don’t want.

4. Get your air jacket serviced. If you use an air jacket, make sure you stick to the recommended service schedule. If you don’t and parts become damaged or aren’t maintained properly, it might not do the job intended, should you need it.

7. Look at apps that can call someone if you’re injured. Particularly useful if you ride on your own, you can get apps for phones and

6. Footwear matters. Do NOT wear flip flops or similar footwear around horses. Even if it’s hot.

HEALTH & WELFARE TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR HORSE SAFER! 20 ways

1. Check your hat! When did you buy it? We all know that hats should be replaced if they sustain an impact, but they also need to be replaced between every three to five years depending on frequency of use as the foam used degrades over time.

3. Know the signs of concussion. The FEI has a great concussion guide which should be printed off and stuck up at the yard.

2. Had a fall? Replace your hat. You might not see the damage as the outer shell often rebounds after impact, but the foam inside can’t reinflate and can’t offer the same level of protection after it’s been damaged.

13. Safety stirrups might not be safer. There is currently no standard for

17. Look for the NOPS logo when buying feed and supplements. Naturally occurring throughaccidentallysubstancesprohibited(NOPS)canoccurnaturallyinsomerawmaterialsusedinhorsefeedandcanalsoenterthesethesupplychain.

19. Fit for purpose. Having hats and body protectors of the correct standard is important, but if they don’t fit, they won’t be as effective or comfortable. If you go to a BETA approved fitter, they have been trained in how to fit hats and/or body protectors to ensure you get the best fit possible. www.beta-uk.org, or shop where you see the BETA sign.

Swedish insurance expert, Agria, has been protecting horses and pets across Europe since 1890. Since coming to the UK in 2009, Agria has protected the nation’s pets with lifetime cover, and now that the specialist insurer has launched the UK’s very first equine Lifetime policy, horses can benefit from the same protection for life. Bringing Lifetime horse insurance to the equine world allows horse owners the reassurance that vets’ bills can be covered year after year for recurring injuries or repetitive or chronic conditions, ensuring their horses’ lifelong welfare. A Lifetime policy, with up to £10,000 of vet fees cover every year, means that owners will no longer face the difficult decision of whether to ‘call the vet or wait and see.’

20. Report your accidents. BETA has an Accident Reporting Form that gathers data from accidents to help support the continued development of incredible safety equipment. It’s really easy to access and fill in and you could influence the future of safety. safety stirrups, so if you want to use them, do the research on how they work and check that the one you choose does have a safety element. Don’t compromise on sizing because it’s a safety stirrup. The safety aspect should be an addition to correct fit, not instead of.

16. Keep medicines well away from your feed and supplements store. This is important for everyone, but for horses who compete it’s even more vital as some medicines can cause disqualification from competitions if they accidently end up in feed buckets.

14. Check your stitching. Regularly check the stitching on your saddles and bridles. When you clean it or, if you don’t clean it regularly(!), make sure you check all the key stitching as part of your tacking up routine.

15. Keep chocolateyourtoyourself! Did you know that chocolate, in addition to many other human food products, contains competition?prohibitedingredientsinequineReadup on the rules, particularly if you compete.

UK’S FIRST:

18. Only use horse (anthelmintics)wormers when absolutely necessary. Our horses are becoming resistant to the active ingredients used in horse wormers so like human antibiotics, we need to carefully use what we have otherwise we are putting the future health of our horses at risk. Use worm egg counts first to check whether using a medicine is really necessary, as well as other methods such as poo picking and resting fields where possible.

The NOPS logo gives you peace of mind that the manufacturer has done everything they can to reduce the risk of unwanted substances entering your horse’s feed.

POLICYINSURANCELIFETIMEEQUINE

“We understand that every horse is an individual, which is why our policies offer owners a flexible range of options that are reliable uncomplicated,”and says Vicki Wentworth, Managing Director of Agria and herself a keen event rider. “As it is the horse that we are insuring for the course of it’s lifetime, the same policy can continue upon sale of the insured horse, giving the new owner further peace of mind.” equinelifewww.agriapet.co.uk/

“The biggest benefit of being a part of Small and Supercharged is the wealth of knowledge and experience you have access to - not only from Rhea, but other group members too. You’re part of a community, there’s a feeling of ‘we’re all in this together.’”

www.stormandgrace.co.uk

www.3donkeys.co.uk

Find out more about the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group: www.rheafreemanpr.co.uk

www.foxyequestrian.com

“Being a small business can be a very isolating and rather lonely place at times and being part of Small and Supercharged has been a real game changer. It is a ‘safe’ place to ask questions - without fear of ideas being stolen and there is always someone to bounce ideas off. Sometimes just a bit of support is all that’s needed and there is an abundance of it!”

ASK A Masterminder

www.hbmarketingcommunications.co.uk

“The Small and Supercharged group is the perfect place for a small business owner to get support and ask any questions without being judged. Not only full of practical advice, it also provides a friendly virtual network during the most challenging times of running a business.”

RIDER HEALTH & WELFARE

Amanda Marshall, 3 Donkeys Clothing

Chelle Mullen, Storm & Grace

“Rhea engages in the group very frequently, you don’t feel like another group member, you feel like an individual who is understood.“

“Small and Supercharged is a wonderful and supportive community. There is a huge range of knowledge and expertise and members are always eager to offer their advice. We have so much fantastic coaching on social media which has helped to increase our followers and therefore increase our presence in the equine industry.”

Katie Nicholl, The Horse Diva

Liz Shepherd, Yeoman Haylage

Harriet Brown, HB Marketing Communications

www.yeomanhaylage.uk

“By paying to be in it you are investing in yourself and/or your business. For me, it makes me show up to watch the training, read the posts and engage with the group - like I’m getting my money’s “Mastermindworth.isa smaller, more niche group of like-minded people. There are so many free Facebook groups out there which are often saturated with 1000’s of members. The groups are often irrelevant to where you are in your business, or they aren’t monitored and there’s a lot of spam or unhelpful, unsupported or rude comments/posts.

Sophie Sacco, Foxy Equestrian

“The Small

youalwaysyourlearningindustry.peopleagroupSuperchargedandMastermindhasprovidedmewithsafespaceoflike-mindedtotrustintheThereareheapsofopportunitiesatfingertipsandRheaisonhandtoguideifneeded.”

‘WHAT BENEFITS HAVE YOU FELT FROM BEING IN THE SMALL

www.thehorsediva.co.uk

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 answers. This month’s question is… AND SUPERCHARGED GROUP?’

Have you ever dreamed of writing a book? To be honest, it’s a secret dream I’ve been harbouring for as long as I can remember. So to have my first book out in the world now, and to have it a best seller (it knocked the PR and marketing God that is Seth Godin off the top spot for a while!), well, the whole thing feels more than a little surreal. This issue, I wanted to chat to you about the book, but also to help give you a push if you’re like me and have always wanted to do the same. It all starts with a plan… on paper. The first part of the book involved a lot of A3 coloured paper (not mine, ‘borrowed’ from my children) and I wrote down everything I thought the book should contain. Some ideas were broad, like ‘social media’, some went into a lot more detail like ‘how to work well with influencers’, but it all went down. From there, I grouped ideas together, crossed out duplicates and started to form a bit of order. Next came the chapters, which were simply distilled from these grouped together words, and boom, that was the plan. My book - Small & Supercharged - Small Steps To Supercharge Your Brand On A Budget - is about PR, marketing, social media, influencers, blogs, vlogs, SEO, basically it touches on what you need to promote any brand well, even if your budget is zero. It’s great for businesses and anyone trying to grow a personal brand, be an influencer, or just promote themselves and their cause Nowbetter.Ihad my plan, I just needed to write 50,000 words. Which wasn’t the hardest part of the process (that was to come!). Because I knew what I needed to write about, I just got cracking and chipped away at the project over a few months. I inserted quotes from various people (all with their permission!) to help add extra depth and insight to specific topics, and it was done. Well, the first draft was. I knew it would need a little editing and polishing, but the next stage, for me, was the Ihardest.amincredibly lucky to have a very good friend, Ruth Chappell, who you might know better as the lady behind Dressage Anywhere, who used to work in publishing and understood the process and helped me to do the things that were needed. Although I’d had the cover professionally designed, there were a few ‘issues’ (one being the spine not in the middle of the cover), but thank goodness I had friend, artist, Illustrator wizard and all round good egg Emily Cole (aka Emily Cole least, Jane Badger from Jane Badger Books, was another superstar who helped me work out how to do the final bit. I did also have my mother-in-law and husband proofread it, and Ruth’s lovely mum gave it the once over too. It really was a team effort! So, why did I write it all down in a book? Because I wanted to provide a blueprint to people who wanted to grow their brand or business. It needed to be easy to understand, jargonfree, and provide easy-to-action advice. I wanted it to be helpful and conversational in tone, not judgey and formal, because I don’t learn well that way. I wanted to write the book I wanted when I was starting out, and that I could advise people at any stage of their journey to buy, read, highlight and make notes in. I wanted to provide a useful guide and companion to this world of PR, marketing, social media and more… and hopefully, if you bag yourself a copy, you’ll agree that that’s what Small & SuperchargedSmall Steps To Supercharge Your Brand On A Budget is!

Debut

24inAmazon.co.ukreachesbook#1onlessthanhours!

To get your copy, search ‘Rhea Freeman’ on Amazon. And if you buy before mid September, you can also attend the online launch event for FREE for even more inspiration. Follow @rheafreemanpr on Instagram for all the updates about that!

29 I’M RHEA FREEMAN. I’M A MARKETINGPR, AND SOCIAL PAGES.SEEMANYTHEBESTNUMBERWORKRURALEQUESTRIANSPECIALISMCOACHCONSULTANTMEDIAANDWITHAINANDBUSINESS.IWITHAOFTHEBRANDSININDUSTRYANDTHATYOU’LLINTHESE

Rhea Says... SO, I WROTE A BOOK!

EQUINE COMPETITIONPHOTOGRAPHYTO FIND COVER STAR 30

Verity believes in advocating the ability in disability and relishes the challenge of defying convention and breaking down boundaries.

The Saddle Club, which costs £11.99 a month, includes a monthly online masterclass from leading riders and guest experts; admin feefree access to the core Wise Owl Equitation offering of virtual training with top class international trainers; access to rider confidence coaching; unlimited access to online rider-specific workouts; entry to an online community; exclusive discounts and savings from both equestrian and non-equestrian brands. www.wiseowlequitation.com/saddle-club RIDERS ACCESS TO SUPPORT

BLINDRIDERSDRESSAGE

Anew online saddle club is giving amateur riders access to the expertise and guidance of riding coaches, personal trainers, sports psychologists and professional riders to help them learn and improve. It also provides a support network of like-minded people, all dedicated to improving their riding.

Equisafety has provided a host of high visibility clothing for not only Verity to wear but also her labradoodle Guide Dog ‘ITV This Morning’ star Luna. www.equisafety.com

forum.com/cover-imagewww.nationalequine

RIDER HEALTH & WELFARE

FROM INTERNATIONAL

The winning image will feature on the programme cover for the 31st National Equine Forum, which takes place on Thursday 2nd March 2023 (#NEF23).

JOINS TEAM EQUISAFETY

RIDER

Blind international dressage rider Verity Smith has joined Team Equisafety as the latest brand ambassador. Verity is well known in the sport of para dressage, but is also highly regarded as a campaigner, singer, songwriter and author. Over the years, Verity has also been selected to compete internationally as part of the French Para Dressage Squad.

If you are a budding equine photographer, now’s your time to showcase your talent; the National Equine Forum is running a special competition to find a cover star for the NEF 2023 programme and all amateur photographers are eligible to enter, by submitting a picture of their own horse or one they have received permission to photograph, subject to terms and conditions.*

Said NEF honorary publicity officer Sarah Shephard, “We are looking for appealing, creative, and innovative photographs of members of your equine family to give the cover of our next programme a real wow factor.”

NEW SADDLE CLUB GIVES

Cavalor Bianco Spray contains white powder that's activated when sprayed on stains as well as high-quality silicones. These keep dirt from attaching to the coat, allowing for easy removal with a cloth, and create a protective layer without coating the skin.

Hawkins Organic have announced the launch of the Lemon Aid Range. The range includes a newly formulated Lemon Aid No-Rinse Wash, a grooming spray and a shampoo.

All Hawkins Organic products are not tested on animals and use vegan, cruelty free oils. They are hand blended in a natural base and perfectly pH balanced so suitable for horses with sensitive skin and mild enough for regular use. www.hawkinsorganic.com

Lemon Aid Grooming Spray is ideal for daily use on the coat, mane and tail and great for plaiting.

Lemon Aid No-Rinse Wash is newly formulated to contain three organic essential oils. The perfect wash when you don’t have much time or after exercise to refresh. Great for shows and competitions!

www.robinsonhealthcare.com

www.zebraproducts.co.ukCavalor

Wound dressings are an essential item for any first aid kit. They encourage a wound to heal more rapidly and help prevent the risk of infection and scarring. All dressings should be non-toxic, non-allergenic and suitable for the wound type - no single dressing is appropriate for all wounds and all stages of healing.

New product launch...

NEWS...PRODUCT

Lemon Aid Shampoo is a refreshing shampoo which is mild enough for daily use and can help to soothe irritated skin.

Star Shine gives your horse’s coat a lustrous shine to help catch the Judge’s eye. A fantastic coat conditioner, Cavalor Star Shine helps promote a brilliant gloss and adds volume to the hair. It can also be used on manes and tails, helping to keep them tangle-free for up to a RRP:week.£48.50/2000ml pouch, £17/500ml bottle and £7/250ml bottle. www.zebraproducts.co.ukCavalorIceClay consists primarily of kaolinite. This clay is naturally rich in minerals with a high absorption capacity; it purifies and removes excessive synovial fluid from the ankle joints and the other joints and tendons. The magnesium sulphate in Cavalor Ice Clay stimulates blood circulation and allows muscles to relax. This effect is enhanced by essential oils including arnica and rosemary. RRP: £39/4kg. www.zebraproducts.co.uk

ESSENTIAL: Skintact Wound Dressings

A low-adherent wound dressing such as Skintact from Robinson Animal Healthcare is ideal for minor cuts and grazes and is available in three different sizes. Before applying any dressing to a wound it should be thoroughly cleaned using a saline solution or a level teaspoon of salt per pint of previously boiled water. The frequency of dressing change depends on the type of wound, the dressing used and healing rate. Being low-adherent means it can be removed from the wound without causing any further trauma and using it over a sterile hydrogel such as Vetalintex will create a moist wound environment and reduce the risk of scarring.

Cavalor Bianco Spray’s formula is pH neutral and won't damage the skin's natural sebum. RRP: £13.50/200ml.

. Used by over 85% of UK emergency services, new research by what3words found that almost 1 in 3 people wouldn’t feel confident in describing their surroundings accurately if they were in an unfamiliar location and needed to contact emergency services.

Luckily, Cookie only sustained a scrape on his thigh.

“I ended up tearing two ligaments in my ankle, dislocating a toe, and fracturing the side of my foot, all on the left side. I got off lightly given the circumstances as I could have died that day.

Providing a what3words address enables dispatchers to direct teams and resources to exactly where help is needed, aiding callers in everything from rescuing injured equestrians to responding to fires, to locating stranded animals.

32 What3words, the free and locationinnovativeapp,has been critical to saving lives of two equestrians - Rachel and Dot - as they got into difficulty whilst out riding their horses.

FREE LIVE-SAVING LOCATION APP SAVES TWO EQUESTRIANS

Dot & Cookie...

RIDER HEALTH & WELFARE

what3words has been proven to save up to 10 minutes of potentially life-saving response time. Gill Pleming, Service Manager (EMS Coordination), at the Welsh Ambulance Service recently described the technology as ‘an invaluable addition to our emergency response toolkit.’ what3words has divided the globe into 57 trillion 3m x 3m squares and given each square a unique combination of three words: a what3words address. For example, the check point on the PYG Track in Snowdonia National Park can be found at ///february.secondly.plod. Be prepared and download the what3words app. The app is free to download on both iOS and Android

Dot (34) who was abruptly thrown from her horse Cookie after he was spooked by passing traffic and Rachel (41) who was thrown off a friend’s horse, Ben, after she attempted to mount him from the ground, both used what3words so that emergency responders could find them accurately and quickly. While Dot and Rachel were incredibly lucky on this occasion, the British Horse Society reports that over 60% of UK horse riders have experienced a road-related near-miss or accident, so horserelated incidents aren’t rare and often happen in areas that aren’t easy to describe to the emergency services. To tackle this problem, Emergency services across the UK are urging the public to ‘help us to help you’ by downloading what3words

know when it might come in handy. I have also used the app to help my manager locate myself and my colleagues during a work trip to Milan - I wasn’t expecting to use it in such a positive way so soon after my accident.”

Facebook,groupstheawareness“IwaswouldwasthoughtofAlthoughaway.I’dhearditbeforeIneverthatitsomethingIneed,butIwrong.nowraiseaboutappinpetonasyounever

“Thanks to everyone, especially Nigel and his knowledge of what3words, I made it to the hospital quickly and received treatment. The day after the accident, downloadedI what3words straight

Passer by Nigel was running through Ruislip Woods on his regular route, near a horse-crossing, when he heard a loud scream and saw a horse rearing. Moving towards the noise, he found Dot laying on the ground in excruciating pain next to her very frightened horse. After calling the London Ambulance emergency services and sharing their what3words address, the ambulance arrived within just three minutes.

Dot recalls her experience: “People rushed to the scene, even a nurse and two military medics who happened to be there helped me. A kind runner, Nigel, dialled 999 and gave the ambulance our what3words (///cheat.indeed.dome). The emergency services arrived quickly after, and didn’t have any troubles finding me due to the precise location.

There are a few questions you can ask yourself that will help you to clear up exactly where you’re at and whether now is the right time to make that move up. Is this move going to help you to achieve your goals with your horse?

I speak about it a lot but setting goals is really important. It helps to keep you motivated and gives you a direction both for your training and for competing. Everyone’s goals are completely individual to them and the reason why one person competes will be very different to another person.

Continued

THE PROFESSIONALS

This is a question that every rider asks themselves. When is the right time to move up a level? Is it too soon? Should I have moved up earlier? It can be one of those questions that can have you going back and forth and I’ve seen many a rider spend months in that conundrum!

overleaf...

JESSICA GALE IS A BDCC AND UKCC LEVEL 2 COACH WHO HAS COMPETED UP TO SMALL TOUR. JESS COACHES RIDERS UP TO SMALL TOUR AND

Ultimately though every single rider is different; with different goals and aspirations, different horses, different experiences. What is right for your friends or fellow competitors might not be right for you. So, ultimately the focus has to be on what is the right decision for you and your horse.

Rachel & Ben...

WHEN TO MOVE UP LEVEL?A

Rachel was visiting a private farm in Rosewell, Scotland, to ride her friend’s horse, Ben. She was thrown from the horse after attempting to mount him which resulted in her fracturing her spine in four places as a result of the fall. Rachel called for help, and after trying to describe her location for about 5 minutes, the handler asked if she could share the what3words address. She identified her what3words address as ///parsnips.risen.bulky. Using this information, the call handler was able to immediately locate Rachel, and the Ambulance Service arrived within twenty minutes to take her to the hospital. Rachel recalls her experience: “I was a woman all on my own with spinal injuries, and the ambulance service was able to prioritise me. I was so relieved that they found me quickly, I don’t even want to think how much worse the pain would have been if I had to wait any longer. “I was honestly so relieved I had the what3words, you never really think that stuff like this can happen when you are doing things that seem ordinary. It’s really important to have the app on your phone just in case.”

ANDVIDEOTRAININGPODCASTS,THEANDDRESSAGEACCESSIBLEDEDICATEDDRESSAGE’,‘DECOMPLICATINGRUNSASITETOTRAININGINFORMATION.SITEINCLUDESARTICLES,INSTRUCTIONCHALLENGES.

So its really important that firstly, you are very clear on why you are competing in the first -place:Doyou use it to see how you’re doing in your training? - Is it because you want to win or qualify for a championship? - Is it because you enjoy seeing your friends and it’s a fun social time for you? - Is it because you want to get to a certain level? Think about why you compete and what your goals are at the moment (both your competition goals and your training goals) and see if going up a level aligns with those goals that you have set yourself. Your goals work almost like an equine version of a moral compass to help you to make decisions that are going to benefit you and your horse in the long run. Can you ride the movements for the next level confidently at home? This brings us quite smoothly onto my next point: what level are you training at? Before you move up a level you want to make sure that you are confident riding the movements required for the level you want to compete at. So say you’re thinking of moving up to Novice level; you need to make sure you are able to ride a counter canter and a medium trot and canter. And if you want to make the move up to Elementary you need to make sure you are confident with your leg yields and simple changes. I always suggest training a level above the one you compete at. So if you are competing at Novice you should be training at Elementary level at home. It has double the advantage for you because it means that you will be stepping down a level in competitions so you will feel more confident and, in comparison to your training, the movements and requirements should be relatively easy. And whilst you are competing, you will be consolidating and becoming confident in the work at the level above so by the time you come to compete at that level you should feel confident and ready to go. Try looking at some tests for the level above and running through them at home to see how it is to link all the movements together. Sometimes it can seem really easy to do the movements alone but when you have to link them together it suddenly seems more difficult. If you are able to run through the test and feel confident in the movements then it sounds like you are on your way.

If you look at your test sheet and you can see loads of areas where you still feel you could improve then maybe it’s worth holding off for a bit and really confirming the work you’re doing now before moving up.

I’m not a fan of just using scores to determine when the right time is to move up a level. They can be impacted by so many things. However, it’s always a good idea to think about how happy you are with your scores at the moment. Everyone’s idea of a ‘good’ score is different: some would be happy to get over 60%, some wouldn’t be happy unless they’re in the 70’s and for some, the score is irrelevant.

I think this is a really important one to talk about because there are some horses (and people for that matter) who really step up and feed off the atmosphere of a competition and there are some who feel nervous, anxious or pressured.

Continued from previous page...

If either you or your horse does get nervous or anxious, or the other way and they get overexcited, and you’re still not able to get that easy clear round, it may be better to hold fire and focus instead on building your confidence in the arena with these easier tests. That problem will still be a problem at the higher levels but you will also be having to ride harder movements and sequences. You’re much better working and fixing the problem now before you move up. A horse’s welfare is always the number one priority so consider whether this move will benefit you and your horse. What does your coach think? It may seem simple but people rarely do it. Ask your trainer outright if they think you are ready. They will be the person most likely in the know about what you are capable of, where you’re at currently and if you’re ready or if it would be beneficial for you to make that transition Soup.keep these points in your head for the next time you start wondering when to move up a level to help clarify what you’re really Remember,thinking.the main reason we all do this is for fun, to enjoy it and because we love our horses.

How are you and your horse feeling at shows?

34 THE PROFESSIONALS

Are you happy with your current scores?

So any decision you make that will make you enjoy dressage more, and that puts your horse’s welfare as priority, is always going to be a good decision in my book! dressage.comwww.decomplicating

POST

RIDERS.ANDADVICETHATONLINEANDANDPHYSIOTHERAPYTOFOUNDERLOUISEPHYSIOTHERAPISTCHARTEREDTOWLISOF‘READYRIDEPILATES’HASCREATEDCOURSESOFFERHELPFULFORFEMALEPREGNANT

From the word go, unless you have specific medical reasons not to, you want to start doing your pelvic floor exercises. As the foundation of the pelvic and abdominal area, if you can regain a semblance of normal function here early on, you are making it easier to build strength and movement control throughout your body. Initially, this can seem a gargantuan task, so aiming for even just 4-5 reps, 2-3 times a day is enough. Once you get started, and as your body starts to settle – with swelling going down and hormone levels returning to pre-pregnancy status – you will suddenly realise that you actually have a functioning pelvic floor. As we are varyexperiencesourindividuals,allandbirthwillwildly,there is very definitely no set way of planning your recovery. Your sleep quantity and quality, the amount of help you receive, whether you breast or bottle feed, whether you had a vaginal delivery or c-section – all of these will impact on the time it takes for healing to occur, and your energy levels to start to rise. My Post-Natal Fitness for Riders programme is aimed to be worked through no quicker than 12 weeks, and this course will get you to a good baseline of low back and pelvis strength and control (dynamic stability), upper body stability, and balance. However, for some people it may take 6 months to reach the end of the course, and that is absolutely fine. Your body has to dictate the time it takes. This can be very frustrating, but provided you are making steady progress, please don’t let this get you down. The early weeks and months of parenthood are at times tough, but they do fly by, and if you can manage to take the pressure off when it comes to how quickly you want to be back at your best, this will help Nextenormously.time,we’ll go through ways of structuring your post-natal exercise to maximise the benefits in a small amount of time. www.readytoride.online

FITNESS:RIDING NATAL

One of the first things I realised after becoming a mother, was that my body was very definitely no longer my own! There is the obvious aspect that literally overnight I EVERYTHINGbecametomy baby, but my body had changed shape in an instant, and parts of it felt like they would never be the same again. I’m sure most, if not all, new mums can relate. I found this a shock. Honestly, despite doing ante-natal classes, and treating a number of pregnant women and newmums over the years, I was so unprepared. Add in the immense hormonal changes that happen in a very short space of time, post-labour exhaustion, lack of sleep and a change in identity, and it’s clearly a lot to deal with!

For many of us, aside from a general lack in fitness and strength, there can be a real feeling of disconnection around the tummy (abdomen), which results in a feeling of instability. This can then others,theandlegthemovementmaintainingdifficultiescreatewithwithhorse,secureaidapplication,consistencyincontact.Forthereisalso the added concern around continence.

Even thinking about appropriate exercise is daunting on top of this, whether you are desperate to get back in the saddle or not.

Whatever path you choose, the main thing to remember is that your body needs both time and work, to regain the strength and fitness you had before pregnancy. There is a real lack of research when it comes to women and the return to fitness after pregnancy, but it is a good idea to allow yourself a year.

By Louise Towl

The best way to deal with all of this, is to consider your body as being in recovery mode, and allow yourself to rebuild accordingly.

36 BUYER’S GUIDE AutumnSelection Stallion Poncho. RRP: £350. Eclipse Skirt. RRP: £115. www.waringbrooke.com Alexandra Trainer. RRP: £145. The Henley Driving Shoe, Tan Croc Print Leather. RRP: £180. www.fairfaxandfavor.com Lilymere Quilt Jacket in Olive. RRP: £249.95. www.schoffelcountry.com Brantham Fedora in Grey. RRP: £69. www.hicksandbrown.com Sennowe Belt in Jaguar. RRP: £80. Lined Regina in Cognac Nubuck. andfavor.comwww.fairfax Norfolk Quarter Zip in Grey. RRP: £65.95. Sowerby Sweatshirt in Grey. RRP: £54.95. clothing.comwww.whaleofatime Morganite Beaded Bracelet. RRP: £70. Chalcedony Beaded Bracelet. RRP: £70. www.rennejewellery.co.uk Labradorite Iota Ring. RRP: £85. Amazonite Beaded Bracelet. RRP: £70. www.rennejewellery.co.uk Sennen TheRRP:Sage.SweatshirtCovein£69.95.OxleyFedora in Pebble. RRP: £89. www.hicksandbrown.com The £375.Taupe.Regina,RRP: Heritage R Toe Western boots. RRP: £160. /gb/enwww.ariat.com

Dresses: Rib knit dresses are an all year round essential which can easily be layered throughout the autumn months.

Artichoke. RRP:

Fairfax

Tweed Baker Boy Cap in Blue Check. RRP: £79. www.acreandholt.co.uk

The Amelia and Natalie dresses are selflined which means even lighter colours such as white and cream can be worn with dark tights, without any worries of them showing through, to increase their wearability throughout the cooler months.

Sweatshirts: One of the best things about autumn is being able to snuggle up in the softest sweatshirts. I like to layer my quarter zips underneath a blazer if I want to be warm whilst staying smart. These essential quarter zip sweatshirts feature hemmed cuffs rather than ribbing, enabling you to wear them for smarter occasions and avoiding any uncomfortable bunching if you are wearing them underneath a jacket or coat. Our crewneck sweatshirts are a relaxed ﬁt making them perfect for casual days and lounging.

Snoods: For early morning dog walks or trips to the stables, a snood is a more practical alternative to a scarf. www.sprawlingandosborne.com

NEW LIMITED EDITION Iconic country footwear brands, & Favor and Le Chameau, have joined forces and created a limited edition wellington boot, the L’Alliance. The new style brings together both brands and their iconic features; pairing the renowned Fairfax & Favor fan and tassel on the beloved Le Chameau signature wellington boot, made from the brand’s celebrated Chamolux rubber. RRP: £295. www.lechameau.comwww.fairfaxandfavor.com

Whether you’re trying to hang on to the last of the summer or you’re patiently waiting to wrap up in a cosy jumper, September and October can be tricky months to dress for. I always want to design pieces that can be worn across multiple seasons, maximising wear time and reducing the cost per wear. Here’s a few of my favourite pieces that are ideal additions to your autumn wardrobe.

BOOT

The Norfolk shirt , £79.95. www.schoffelcountry.com

Classic R-Dry. RRP: £199. www.ri-dryclothing.co.uk

Felsham Baker Boy Cap in Russet. RRP: £69. The Oxley Fedora in Olive Green. RRP: £89. www.hicksandbrown.com Amelia Rib Knit Midi Dress - Chocolate £90

SPRAWLING & OSBORNE IS A COUNTRY LIFESTYLE CLOTHING BRAND BASED IN ESSEX, AND IS RUN BY TAMSIN SPRAWLING. HERE TAMSIN SHARES HER THOUGHTS ON...

DRESSING FOR AUTUMN Natalie Rib Knit Mini DressCream Crewneck£75Sweatshirt £65 Reversible Snood £15Tamsin x 37

The

Whenequestrianfellow and horse owner Sophie Mercer couldn’t find the equestrian clothing she wanted, she decided to create her own and, thus, the hottest equestrian sports-luxe brand around town, Eqcouture, was born!

“I taught myself a lot while working in my father’s business, from accountancy,Photoshop,buildingwebsiteand email marketing and more, so I applied all these skills to leggingsfirstwebsite,AlongsideEqcouture.mynewIorderedmyboxofridingand

“At first, I was selling just one or two pairs, but I knew from the feedback from those early customers that I was onto something, and I tried to stay positive and focused. Then the Pandemic hit, and with people unable to shop in physical stores, they soon turned to online shopping, and it was then that our online sales started to pick up. I was soon designing more styles and ordering more stock to meet the growing

attempted to fit Eqcouture in between working full-time and producing and selling horses.

EQCOUTURE: EQUESTRIAN STYLE RIDING HIGH

Thedemand.”lockdown proved to be a turning point for Sophie, and her love of equestrian style pulled her ever closer to Eqcouture with a fresh emphasis on doing something positive during this dark time.

Sophie’s business has grown from selling 200 pairs of riding tights to a 900% increase in sales since she launched. Sophie now works full-time on the brand and has a dynamic and dedicated team working alongside her. This year, she has taken Eqcouture on the road, featuring at many of the big shows and events across the country, a move which has had a substantial positive impact. The company has over 50% returning customer rate and has racked up a considerable loyal fanbase and a flurry of five-star reviews. For such fantastic growth, Sophie remains exceptionally modest about her designer talents; “I think my customers find me relatable. After all, I’m a normal horse owner just like them. I love my horses and ride as much as I can. The only difference is that I decided to design riding clothing that I would enjoy riding in that would be comfortable and stylish and of fantastic quality without costing a fortune. Fortunately, what I love turned out to be what equestrians love too!” www.eqcouture.co.uk

Sophie started playing with designs and samples back in July 2019 alongside her full-time job working in her father's furniture and stationery business, with a bustling sideline of buying, producing and selling Irish horses. Although she admits at this point, she was struggling to find the time to concentrate on Eqcouture fully; “I would buy horses from Ireland and produce and sell them on. One time I bought five young horses over from Ireland, all of whom had never really been handled properly, let alone ridden, so to say that was a bit of a mammoth task to complete alongside a full-time job and trying to focus on launching a new equestrian brand is a bit of an understatement! However, I managed it and sold them on for a good profit.

“I think the Pandemic was a time for reflection for many of us. Whilst I loved working for my father and producing and selling horses, I loved designing equestrian clothing more. I just felt that if I was going to make a change, the time was then, so I took the plunge and invested all my time, money and energy into Eqcouture.”

38 BUYER’S GUIDE

39 Competition Riding Socks. RRP: £6.50. products.co.ukwww.zebra Luca Grip Breeches. RRP: £146. www.zebraproducts.co.uk Cavallo Damira Gilet. £113. www.zebraproducts.co.uk Mercury Jacket. RRP: £119.99. www.equisafety.com Cavallo Diane Hoody. RRP: £134. www.zebraproducts.co.uk Derby Tall Boots. RRP: £125. bootcompany.co.ukwww.muck Joan Sweater. RRP: £118 Anne Leggings. RRP: £158. www.ninibos.com Elisabeth Poncho. RRP: £308. www.ninibos.com Cavallo Daisy Polo Shirt. RRP: £59. www.zebraproducts.co.uk RRP:FOXYeGLOVE.£28per pair. equestrian.comwww.foxy Event Number Bib. RRP: £16.99. www.woofwear.com Hi Vis Lanacre. RRP: £299. www.ri-dryclothing.co.uk

4 Feed forage alternatives – If your horse is not a good hay or haylage eater, consider providing some alternatives like Alfalfa Plus Oil, soaked Speedi-Beet or Fibre-Beet and Fibre Plus Nuggets in separate buckets alongside his forage, so that he can browse on them and increase his overall fibre intake. This will supply some extra calories from digestible fibre but will also help ensure that gut health and digestive efficiency is at its optimum so the system can make the most of the whole diet.

TOP TIPS BAILEYS FEEDS

HORSE

40 NUTRITION Mwinter months but, with a little forethought, if you adapt their feeding in time, you can help them maintain condition all year round, while encouraging a level head.

FOR PROMOTING CAUSINGCONDITION,MAINTAININGANDWITHOUTFIZZ.CONDITION WITHOUT

Continued overleaf...

4 Feed the right amount - If you choose a fibre/chaffbased feed as your source of extra calories, be sure it is fortified with vitamins and minerals and feed it at the recommendedmanufacturer’slevels, to achieve a fully balanced diet. This may look like a large volume because a Stubbs scoop only contains about 0.5kg of a chaff-based feed, while a scoop of Top Line Conditioning Cubes, for example, weighs 1.8kg.

4 Start early – It’s always harder to feed to replace weight and condition that’s been lost than it is to maintain it, especially as the temperature drops. Keep an eye on your horse’s condition and make changes to their diet as soon as you spot any dropping-off of condition or top line.

FROM

4 Choose soft, leafy forage –Obviously hay should be clean and sweet smelling but feel it in your hand and look for the least stalky bales. The stalkier the grass when it was harvested, the less digestible it is so try to find hay or haylage with a higher leaf content, which will also be more nutritious, and feed it ad lib.

4 Feed more calories – The average Digestible Energy content of hay/haylage is around 9MJ/kg so, if your horse is eating ad lib forage (as much as they can eat) and is underweight, whatever you give in addition should have a higher DE ie. be higher in calories, in order to promote weight gain. While fibre may be the energy/calorie source of choice, especially for sharp or stressy types, fibre alone may not be calorific enough to promote weight gain.

4 Low starch feeds - Unlike starch from cereals, fibres and oils do not cause gastric discomfort so are the calorie sources of choice in low starch feeds, especially those formulated for horses prone to gastric ulcers. These low starch, higher calorie feeds, like Ease & Excel mix and Cubes, are ideal for promoting condition, while helping encourage a calm outlook.

4 “Quick calorie/energyrelease”sources

4 Keep meal sizes manageable – this is even more important for the poorer-doer who will benefit from as many small meals as you can fit into his day. Large feeds risk overloading the stomachwhich is small and relatively rigid – and can lead to feed flowing out of the stomach before it has been fully “processed”. If undigested cereal starch reaches the hind gut, as a result, it can upset the bacterial balance and cause problems. As a rough guide, feed no more than 2kg (a Stubbs scoop of cubes) per meal for a 500kg horse.

Keep your horse warm and happy – many horses lose weight in winter as they use so much more energy to maintain their body temperature. Keep the poor-doer well rugged and as content as possible, as a stressed horse will use valuable energy worrying.

42 NUTRITION NEWS...PRODUCT

4 Consider using a “digestive enhancer” – these include yeast, probiotics and prebiotics and are useful for promoting gut efficiency to help ensure your horse is making the most of what he eats. Digest Plus is a prebiotic which feeds the good gut bacteria so that they flourish at the expense of pathogenic species.

4 Assess your horse’s worm burden and get his teeth checked regularly important for every horse but, again, more so for the poor-doer to ensure his digestive system is not compromised.

Continued from previous

4 Contact a feed company Helpline – If things still don’t seem to be working for you, why not ring or email for advice, there may be one little thing that you’re missing. Baileys nutritionists are both knowledgeable and practically experienced. www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk

–Carefully cooked cereals are a highly digestible and concentrated source of extra calories for promoting weight gain. Their calories are rapidly absorbed and readily available, termed “quick release”, so may not suit the fizziest types, but do work well for many horses. The starch they contain can increase acidity levels in the stomach, which may exacerbate gastric discomfort in the ulcer-prone, however.

4 “Slow release” calorie/energy sources – These take longer to digest and absorb into the blood stream and do not exacerbate excitability so are ideal for fizzy, stressy horses. They include highly digestible fibres, known as “superfibres”, such as beet pulp, alfalfa and soya bean hulls, and vegetable oils which provide more than twice as many calories as the same weight of cereals.

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4 Conditioning mixes and cubes – These are designed to do what it says on the bag and are more energy/caloriedense than chaff-based options so feeding volumes are smaller as you get more calories per scoop. Any fully balanced conditioning feed should contain good quality protein, to build muscle and top line, as well as calories, and supporting vitamins and minerals. They must also be fed according recommendationsmanufacturers’to to get results – a cup or two won’t cut it!

Fibre-Beet is a Super Fibre conditioning feed, containing all the benefits of the original Speedi-Beet product, with added high quality Alfalfa. It is ideal for maintaining optimum condition and providing quality protein for muscle tone and function. Fibre-Beet provides a good source of slow release energy without the ‘fizz’. Fibre-Beet also provides a good range of minerals, trace elements and amino acids. It is high in fibre with a low sugar content making it suitable for horses and ponies prone to laminitis as part of a balanced diet. Ideal for horses prone to digestive upsets and very palatable for fussy eaters, Fibre-Beet also has added biotin for hoof quality. RRP: £15.99 - £16.99/20kg bag. horsefeeds.comwww.british

NEW LOOK, NEW NAME AND NEW PRODUCTS

Rowen Barbary Supple is formulated to help support joint health and mobility Rowen Barbary Supple contains optimum levels of Glucosamine HCL, Chondroitin, MSM, Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C. www.rowenbarbary.co.uk

FIVE OFEACHREADERSLUCKYTOWINATUB TURMERAID !

To enter: Visit www.absolutehorsemagazine.com and click on the Competitions page. Entries open 1st September and close 31st October 2022. Full terms and conditions are available on our website. Give your horse a boost this winter with TurmerAid. Carefully formulated to optimise the bioavailability of key functional ingredients which include turmeric (5.1% curcumin), linseed oil, black pepper, apple cider vinegar and yucca.

The Pure Feed Company’s range of equine supplements has undergone a makeover with a rebrand and the introduction of five new products. Formerly known as Pure Plus, the supplements have been reformulated in line with current scientific thinking and guidance, repackaged with a QR code to help owners directly access helpful guidance and details of recommendations,benefits/feeding and renamed Pure Supplements. www.purefeed.com

Ideal for use over winter when many horses require additional support in the cold weather to maintain healthy joints and support the body’s natural inﬂammation process. Also aids digestion and promotes a healthy skin and coat. www.goldenpastecompany.com

WIN!

EA NUTRA Buteless High Strength

Dengie Healthy Hooves Molasses Free now includes Methyl Sulphonyl Methane (MSM), that provides a source of bioavailable sulphur. Sulphur is particularly important for hooves because it is needed to bond keratin fibres together in the unique way that gives hoof horn its hardness and flexibility. SRP: £16.75/20kg. www.dengie.com 43

This unique solution, combining boswellia, yucca and marshmallow extracts, provides high levels of phytochemicals (plant-derived) and antioxidant compounds to support joint comfort. Helps antiinflammatory processes and supports joint health and comfort in both performance horses and older horses. RRP: £40.50/1ltr. www.equine-america.co.uk

many blends. Soya Hulls, another ‘super-fibre’ are the outer husks of soya beans and are high in digestible fibre as well as being useful in helping to support gastric health and lowering the starch and sugar content of the feed. Soya Hulls are also valued for their protein content. What about oatfeed and wheatfeed? Are these just sweepings from the floor? Absolutely not and actually any feed manufacturer that is UFAS registered will not be throwing floor sweepings into your horse’s feed! Oat Feed and Wheat Feed are actually by-products from the human food industry and do not include the cereal element of the oat or wheat plant. Both of them are high in fibre and relatively low in starch, making them a useful inclusion in many hard feeds. www.thehorsefeedguru.com

COMMON INGREDIENTSFEED–THE FIBRES

Nutritionally improved straw can worry some people as they are unsure as to what it actually is, but it is commonly used to lower the overall calorie level of a feed, whilst having been processed to improve digestibility. Often times you will find it as a major ingredient in feeds for good doers. Alfalfa on the other hand is an example of a moderate to energy/caloriehigherfibre source, alongside linseed. Both of NUTRITION these ingredients when included at a high enough level help to raise the calorie content in a safe way for excitable, spooky horses and for those with certain clinical Linseedconditions.whilst being high in fibre also contains high quality protein, and contains a high oil level providing Omega 3s, 6s and 9s in beneficial ratios. When fed at a high enough quantity this has a number of health benefits and as part of this helps to support a healthy skin and coat. Beet Pulp has had the sugar already extracted yet is still extremely digestible. Don’t panic you do not need to soak the feed just because this ingredient is present unless advised to by the manufacturer as it will have been ground or micronized removing the need to do so.

44 LOCATED NEWMARKETIN BUT WORKING ANDGOODFEEDINGAIMINDEPENDENT,COMPLETELYBRANDS,ACROSSNUTRITIONISTCOMMERCIALFORMERLYCONSULTANCY.EQUINEFEEDRUNSNUTRITIONISTEQUINEHIGHLY(HONS)DONNAINTERNATIONALLY,NATIONALLYBOTHANDCASEBSCISTHEEXPERIENCEDWHO‘THEHORSEGURU’,ANNUTRITIONATHREENOWHERISTODEMYSTIFYFORTHEOFTHEHORSERIDER.

Sometimes looking at feed ingredients on labels can feel perplexing. You may wonder about certain elements of the blend and how they benefit your horse so this issue I’m focussing on some of the fibre based ingredients whistleandalfalfa,straw,nutritionallyincludingimprovedoatfeed,wheatfeed,linseed,beetpulpsoyahulls,givingyouastoptour!

Known as a ‘super-fibre’ it has a really beneficial place in

By Donna Case BSC (HONS)

RRP: £55.50. america.co.ukwww.equine-

RRP: £23.20/2kg 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. It promotes optimum digestive function and energy production from dietary fibre sources, promotes synthesis of vital B vitamins and vitamin K by the gut microbiota. RRP: from £17.99. www.equine-america.co.uk

WIN! WIN!

Solution Mash is a high oil, high ﬁbre, fully balanced feed with just 1% sugar that is ideal for feeding to horses that require a diet that is sympathetic on the digestive system. Used in combination with ActiSoothe that is formulated to support digestion and maintain gastric health this is the ultimate diet for any horses suffering from digestive disturbances. www.rowenbarbary.co.uk DIGESTIVE DISTURBANCES

To enter: Visit www.absolutehorsemagazine.com and click on the Competitions page. Entries open 1st September and close 31st October 2022. Full terms and conditions are available on our website.

ULS-gard Pellet - Natural, nutritional support for gut health and comfort (calcium, magnesium, lecithin, pectin, glycine). Contains key ingredients traditionally used to soothe the stomach wall (aloe vera, marshmallow root, liquorice), and BetaGlucans from high nucleotide yeasts to support a healthy gastric mucosa. Alfalfa and soya hulls base to provide a fibrous mat.

WIN A ROWEN BARBARY ULTIMATE

The good digestive health of our horses is vital to prevent illness, disease and to ensure food is utilised efficiently. By providing a forage-based diet which is balanced with vitamins and minerals you can meet your horse’s required dietary fibre intake and basic nutritional needs. Additional feedstuffs may be added to the diet to meet energy demands for horses that require extra nutritional support e.g. for performance or Tocondition.further support good digestive health, many horse owners are using the natural turmeric supplement TurmerAid from The Golden Paste Company. This complete turmeric pellet is curcumin),includeingredientskeytheformulatedcarefullytooptimisebio-availabilityoffunctionalwhichturmeric(5.1%linseedoil,black pepper, apple cider vinegar and yucca. www,goldenpastecompany.co.uk

HEALTH PACKAGE ! 45 DIGESTIVE

To help combat gut health issues we’ve teamed up with Rowen Barbary to offer one lucky winner the chance to win 7.2kg Acti-Soothe along with 3 bags of Solution Mash and a Rowen Barbary Saddle Pad. Designed to soothe and protect the stomach lining, Rowen Barbary Acti-Soothe helps control stomach acidity and maintain a normal pH, while reducing anxiety in horses prone to nervous behaviour.

Studies have already shown that strip grazing is an effective way of restricting grass intake in ponies. Now, new work indicates the added benefit that eating less doesn’t automatically mean moving less.

“Redwings is a charity 100% funded by donations, and we could not do the work we do, caring for over 1,500 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules every day and rescuing hundreds more, without donations like this.”

support for

to the

and ponies on very low, or no

46 NUTRITION

Redwings is saying a huge thank you to Spillers for their support as part of their most recent equine obesity campaign.

concentrate feed. RRP: £48.50. www.equine-america.co.uk PRODUCT NEWS...

Pellets deliver a

The feed company is on a big mission this year; to help overweight horses get slimmer while adding weight to Redwings Horse Sanctuary’s funds. They have pledged to convert equine weight loss kilos into £££s, to raise £5,000 for the Spillerscharity.isinviting horse owners to join the Spillers Slimmers’ Club, with the goal of members' horses collectively losing 100,000kg. As the weight loss accumulates it will be converted to a financial donation of £5k to support Redwings’ vital equine welfare work, which includes rescuing horses from the risks of Lynnobesity.Cutress, Chief Executive of Redwings, said: “We are very grateful to Spillers for supporting us through this important campaign.

Lamigard Care unique approach nutritional management metabolic horses suitable for horses other

Having shown in a previous study that strip grazed ponies gain significantly less weight than ponies with free access to restricted grazing over a 28day period, Spillers and their research collaborators set out to discover whether eating less as a result of strip grazing also means moving less in the field.

and ponies. Lamigard Advanced Care Pellets are low in sugar and starch, high fibre, easy to feed and

Advanced

In addition, a second study was evaluated, that had been carried out in collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College, to look at the effects of strip grazing on the behaviour of ponies turned out in groups. In the second study ten ponies were randomly assigned to one of two adjacent paddocks. Both paddocks were the same size, had been managed in the same way and subjectively had the same amount of very limited grazing available. Paddock B was divided into seven strips (using electric fencing) with ponies given access to one additional fresh strip of grazing every day; ponies in paddock A had access to the entire paddock for the duration of the study. In both studies, behaviour and activity levels were assessed using a combination of direct observation and activity monitors attached to the poll strap of their headcollars.

To evaluate the effects on ‘activity levels’ of ponies strip grazing behaviouralindividually,datafrom the previous study was analysed.

www.spillers-feeds.com Photo: ShephardSarah DOESN’T MEAN MOVING LESS EATING LESS BY STRIP GRAZING:

and

Restricting grass intake is an essential part of many weight management programmes.

“Similar amounts of time were spent grazing, standing and locomoting (which included walking, trotting and cantering) within the different groups and shouldhowusefulbelievethespentnewlyponiessee“WhilehomeDirectorResearchRNutr,studiesfrustrationrelatedperformanceencouragingly,ofbehaviourstostressandwerelowinbothtoo,”saidClareBarfootMarketingandandDevelopmentatMarsHorsecareUK,oftheSpillersbrand.wewereunsurprisedtothatthestripgrazedpreferredtograzetheaccessiblegrassandmosttimegrazingafterfencehadbeenmoved,wethisfindingcouldbewhendecidingifandthosepronetolaminitishaveaccesstograss.”

Being overweight can pose as much of a welfare risk as being underweight for horses, not only because of the direct weightassociated effects, but also due to the increased risks posed for certain clinical conditions, especially laminitis. Other health and welfare implications include increased joint strain, respiratory stress, heat intolerance, an

“By helping our horses safely reach an ideal body condition score we decrease their risk of laminitis and the agony and suffering this condition brings. At Redwings we empathise with the challenges of managing weight, especially in our Cobs, Welsh Ponies and Shetlands, but getting an honest opinion as to whether your horse is overweight is essential. Don’t wait for laminitis to strike before seeking advice.”

Nicola Jarvis, Head of Veterinary Services at Redwings, said: “Fat has long been regarded as just an innocent way to store excess calories, but we now know fat produces chemicals that negatively affect our horse’s metabolism and health, as it does in humans.

SPILLERS REDWINGSSUPPORTWITH CAMPAIGNWEIGHTY

To sign-up to the Slimmers’ Club go to the Spillers Facebook page.

EIGHT LUCKY READERS TO EACH WIN A BAG OF SPEEDI - BEET !

WIN! WIN!

The Spillers Slimmers’ Club was launched last summer to help address the problem of equine obesity in a positive way. Now, with more than 2,900 members, the motivating and friendly club provides practical support and camaraderie for owners of overweight horses and ponies, to aid them on their weight loss journey. It provides information and advice including weight loss tips, details of how to body condition score and use a weigh tape, diet plans and weight loss records. Club members also receive access to a dedicated Facebook group where they can share their horse’s progress and tips with other owners, get inspired with success stories and post questions for Spillers nutritionists to answer.

RRP around £15.99 for a 20kg sack. To enter: Visit www.absolutehorsemagazine.com and click on the Competitions page. Entries open 1st September and close 31st October 2022. Full terms and conditions are available on our website.

Speedi-Beet is extremely versatile and can be fed strategically to a range of different horses from overweight horses and ponies to poor doers.

Speedi-Beet is a highly nutritious micronized (cooked) beet pulp feed which provides an excellent source of digestible ﬁbre and being soaked guarantees hydration. Due to its unique manufacturing process, Speedi-Beet can be soaked and ready to use in just 10 minutes and is extremely palatable. It is also starch free and unmolassed, making it 95% sugar free.

Feeding Speedi-Beet before turnout can help stabilise the ingestion of sugars present in grass.

“Our mission for this campaign is threefold,” said Spillers’ Product Manager Sarah Nelson. “We want to use our knowledge and expertise to help owners of overweight horses and ponies achieve safe, sustainable weight loss, to raise funds to support our favourite charity Redwings and to continue to raise awareness of the need to end equine obesity for good.”

www.britishhorsefeeds.com increase in chronic low-grade inflammation in senior horses and reduced fertility.

48 SADDLERY & TACK

ANSWER:

QUESTION:

“What should I expect from my saddle fitting appointment? Is there anything I need to do to prepare my horse?”

“If you or your horse obviously dislike the saddle you will be asked to stop and try others. Be aware that a saddle must be seen ridden in by you on the horse in question to confirm a good fit. No one can say that a saddle fits without this!

“Having tried suitable saddles and selected two or three to try, each will be girthed up with irons and leathers fitted and a saddle cloth beneath the saddle. You will be invited to mount and try each saddle at walk, trot, canter if you are happy to do so and jump if that is a requirement for the saddle.

“The fitter might have taken details before your visit but they will need to know height, age, sex, colour and breed type of your horse. How long he has been in your ownership, what fitness level he is at and what your aims and ambitions are with him. Has he or you had any old injuries that might affect his/your way of going. Likewise recent injuries.

www.mastersaddlers.co.uk

KAY FITTER,MASTERMASTERHASTILOWSADDLER,SADDLETRAINEDAS

“There are two types of saddle fitting appointments – to buy a ‘new’ saddle or to check your existing saddle. For simplicity I will cover buying a saddle. “For the saddle fitter we would like the horse to be inside, or at least under cover, clean and dry. He should be used to being handled, and to strangers coming to him. Good manners make things much easier with a fitting. “You should have a bridle, stirrups, leathers, assorted sizes of girths and a saddle cloth, ideally not too thick, to hand. You will need to have hat and boots and body protector if you use one ready so that you can ride, and there should be a safe, enclosed area (a secure field is fine) to ride in. If the saddle is for jumping it is advisable to have a couple of jumps in place ready.

BENCH SADDLER IN THE LATE 1960s. KAY SET UP HER OWN BUSINESS IN THE 1970s. THEN IN 1995 THE SOCIETY OF MASTER SADDLERS SET UP THEIR COURSE AND QUALIFICATION FOR SADDLE FITTING AND KAY TAUGHT ON THIS COURSE FROM THEN UNTIL 2021, FOR MOST OF THIS TIME AS LECTURER.LEAD

“Having decided on the saddle that you want, any alterations or changes that you require will be discussed, and then you get down to the nitty gritty of cost, payment, delivery (if having a similar saddle to that tried made) and paperwork. A record of the visit, templates and measurements should be taken and the fitting form shared with you. Terms and conditions, the right to cancel contract and other relevant paperwork should be dealt with. A saddle made specifically for you MUST be ridden in on the horse before the sale is complete and follow up visits to check the fit should be

“The fitter will take a description, look at his conformation as regards saddle fitting and check for areas of asymmetry, discomfort or sores, noting anything that might be “Theyrelevant.should ask to see the horse walk and trot in-hand to see if the way he moves might influence the saddle fit. “They should discuss your requirements and what might be suitable for both you and your horse. It may be that you want a specific brand or style of saddle but the fitter thinks this an unsuitable choice for you both, explaining why and advising something similar but not what you asked for. This isn’t a sales pitch – if we know that your choice will lead to problems we would usually walk away rather than sell an unsuitable saddle. The welfare of the horse is the uppermost importance for us at all times.

“Thisdiscussed.isabrief overview of what to expect but you can see that it is thorough and takes time so please allow up to a couple of hours - you cannot fit this in during your lunch hour!”

Your Questions Answered...

“They have been developed with both affordability and Sprenger excellence in mind to extend the range to a wider audience.

IN THIS

NEWS...PRODUCT

The Equipe Rarity Grip Saddle has been specially designed with the younger rider in mind, making it a great junior pony saddle. It is an elegant and very comfortable jumping saddle crafted in refined leather equipped with a synthetic tree that favours the seating of the rider, whilst adapting itself perfectly to the structure of the pony.

RRP: £2,475. www.zebraproducts.co.uk

The new ergonomically shaped Satinox bits from Sprenger are made of high-quality stainless steel and are characterised by excellent workmanship and quality.materialtested andexpertisethewanting“ForLindsay:Explainsridersresearch and development that Sprenger bring to their collections, the Satinox range is ideal and offers excellent value.

performancerangecreatingdisciplinesmodelscomprehensiveTheandpressureBEENCOLLECTIONWHYSATINOXLOOKSLINDSAYCONSULTANT,SPRENGERISSUEBITTINGMIDDLETONATTHENEWRANGEANDTHEHASDEVELOPED.andachieveadirectpreciseeffect.”Satinoxrangeoffersaselectionofforalltypesofhorses,andtraininglevels,anattractivebasicbitwithanoutstandingpriceratio.

“The 11-strong collection includes Snaffles, Mullen Mouth, Eggbutts, D-rings, Weymouths and Bradoons to cover all eventualities and whether competing in dressage, showjumping or eventing.

www.zebraproducts.com

“The Satin mouthpiece with its matt surface ensures a pleasant feeling on the tongue and the curbed shape of the bits gives the tongue plenty of room. They provide an even distribution of

www.horsetrust.org.uk/training-courses/saddlery-fitters/

The advice has been developed to help provide saddlery fitters with the latest developments and information on welfare issues and will assist them in clarifying actions or decisions taken in the course of their professional duties.

NEW ONLINE TRAINING LOOKS AT EQUINE WELFARE ISSUES

ANSWER: “The best way to find a good saddle fitter is often by word of mouth from your musculoskeletalinstructor, practitioner or other professional.equestrianHowever, it is really important that you check that the person who has been recommended to you is qualified.

Thanks to an innovative collaboration between the Society of Master Saddlers, The Horse Trust and Redwings Horse Sanctuary, new online training has been made available for saddlery fitters looking at emerging welfare issues.

Past President of the Society of Master Saddlers, Ted Boggis, said, “The severity of animal neglect ranges from mistakes by inexperienced owners to gross mistreatment. In these straited times horse welfare will undoubtedly suffer as owners struggle to balance the needs of their families against the well-being of their horses. This course provides a new dimension to the skills of those professional SMS members who fit saddles and bridles, allowing them to address welfare issues non-confrontationally through improved communication skills and understanding of their clients' circumstances, as well as defining confidential reporting channels for the most egregious cases.”

50 Your Questions Answered... SOCIETY OF MASTER SADDLERS’ PRESIDENT, MASTER SADDLER, MASTER BRIDLE MAKER, ADVICEREADER,BRIDLEREGISTEREDSADDLEREGISTEREDHARNESSMASTERMAKER,MASTERFITTERANDQUALIFIEDFITTER,HELENPROVIDES

“They will be able to assess your existing saddle and adjust if appropriate or fit a new saddle for you and your horse. By using an SMS member you have the added assurance that they are fully insured, undertake regular CPD to keep their knowledge current and that there is a process in place to support you should an issue arise.”

www.mastersaddlers.co.uk

QUESTION: “How do I find a good saddle fitter and trust they’re going to do a good job of either fitting a new saddle or checking my current one? What qualifications should I look out for?”

SADDLERY & TACK

The training provides saddlery fitters with guidance and understanding of the current government legislation in this thought-provoking area of the industry.

”On the Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) website you can search to check that the person is a Registered Qualified Saddle Fitter or Registered Master Saddle Fitter (RQ/MSF) or you can search by area to find a RQ/MSF in your area if you haven’t been recommended RQ/MSF“Allanyone.SMS have spent time in the andrequirementsridersaddlebiomechanics,anatomy,horsealsosaddle,fittingonlylearningtradenotaboutthebutstudyingdesign,bringingall of these elements together to ensure the best fit and comfort for both you and your horse.

One of my measurement.saddledescribeFitterbugbearsbiggestasaSaddleiswhenpeoplethewidthoftheusinga‘DtoD’

D IS FOR: DON’T GET ME again! Instead, check for a manufacturer’s mark (often stamped under the left flap, or on the left stirrup bar). Or you can even try lining up a gullet bar with the front of the saddle, as this can give you a rough idea. But... the only true way to know what width the saddle is, is to ask a professional. And even then, the only way that they can say for sure is to take the panel off (the squishy part of the saddle) and look at the bare front of the tree. Saying that, they’ll be able to make a very good educated guess just by looking at the saddle from the front. Find your Qualified Saddle Fitter www.mastersaddlers.co.ukhere: 51

NEWS...PRODUCT

Equitex

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The Equipe E-Carbon EK-26 includes the Special and GC as used by top showjumper Ben TheMaher.Equipe EK-26 Special and EK-26 GC Jump Saddles are the most popular style from the E-Carbon range chosen by many professional and amateur riders Craftedalike.with a patent-pending carbon fibre tree, comprising of carbon and three-composite fibres that can be personalised in shape and thickness. Alongside the carbon fibre tree the EK-26 Special and EK-26 GC feature the fromEquipeJumpRRP:(Dampingshock-absorbinginnovativesystemD.S.BSystemEQBridge).EquipeEK-26SpecialSaddlefrom£4,370.EK-26GCJumpSaddle£4,370. www.zebraproducts.co.uk Pony Half Pad. £159.

RRP:

STARTED! POPPY WEBBERComments on...

If you have somehow managed to avoid hearing this terminology, or are unsure of what I mean, have a browse of some social media saddle selling pages and you’ll see people advertising saddles for sale saying something along the lines of ‘7 inches D to D’. By this, they mean the distance between the two D rings at the front of the saddle. You know, the little metal dooby-wotsits that you attach your breastplate to, or your little ‘oh **** strap’, or indeed your packed lunch… Whatever you like. But people like to measure between them, because they believe it correlates in some way to the width of the saddle. They are wrong. Because D rings are placed any old where really. They don’t form an integral part of the saddle, and, as such, they don’t have to be placed in a set position. In fact, they’re screwed in wherever the saddler feels like it… By placing them half an inch lower, you could increase the distance between them by a few inches. Depending on where the D rings are placed, a medium saddle can measure the same as an extra wide saddle! You see, the width is actually determined by the ANGLE of the HEAD of the tree (the front of the saddle). Just to confuse matters there isn’t an official standard - for example, a 90 degree angle can be a medium or a medium wide, depending on the manufacturer. So, if you’re ever tempted to measure your D rings… think QUALIFIED SADDLE FITTER FOR THE SOCIETY OF MASTER SADDLERS, SOCIALPEEWEEADVICEPOPPYSURROUNDINGNORFOLKLINCOLNSHIRE,CAMBRIDGESHIRE,COVERINGANDAREAS,ALSOWRITESPOSTSONSADDLERY’SMEDIA.

As horse owners, we all like to think we know their personalities and little traits inside out. We can learn a lot about our horses’ feelings from their actions and how they behave. Has your horse started behaving a bit different to usual? A change in behaviour could indicate they are becoming frustrated with not having access to fresh grass to graze on, and this is a sign that you should act quickly and move your mobile field shelter to a new area. Looking for an alternative to a permanent shelter? A mobile field shelter from Vale Stables that you can move around as much as you like is a great solution, particularly when you consider just how unpredictable the weather can be nowadays. Taking good care of your horses usually requires a lot of adapting to different circumstances, and getting a mobile field shelter can help you to be that bit more flexible. www.valestables.com

Horses struggle to feed off muddy areas where they don't have sufficient access to grass, so it’s important to move your mobile shelter to a more grassy area whenever you see the ground becoming too boggy. Protect from winds

HOW SHOULDOFTENYOU MOVE A MOBILE FIELD SHELTER? VALE STABLES

you spot grass Looking after your pasture properly means allowing certain areas to rest and regrow. Overgrazing will significantly reduce the amount of grass and nutrients available to your horse, having an adverse impact on their health. Keep your eyes peeled for areas of fresh patches of grass in your field and move your mobile field shelter over there when you spot them emerging. This allows your horse to always have fresh grass to feed on.

How frequently you decide to move your mobile field shelter will be your choice. There are plenty of benefits to moving your mobile field shelter more often, and the trick for horse owners is to gauge the best moment to move it. After all, making sure your horses feel comfortable throughout all twelve months of the year is paramount. Having a mobile field shelter provides you with the luxury of being able to move it around, and this is something you should take advantage of.

Planning regulations Be wary about thinking that a mobile field shelter will always be exempt from laws on planning permission. This isn’t always the case in practice. In 2011, a horse owner in Wales failed to move his mobile shelter often enough and as a result, received a fine of £1,230 from the local council! In order for a mobile field shelter to be exempt from these laws, a council will expect you to move the shelter regularly and have the appropriate means of moving it. This is so that it can in fact be classed as ‘mobile’ rather than a permanent structure. To avoid falling foul and getting a hefty fine, you should look to move it every 1-2 months. Weather changes Changes in weather will have a major impact on your horses’ well-being and your field. The summertime and warmer weather can always pose challenges for horse owners, and summer 2022 has been a real scorcher with heat waves across the country. In warmer weather, try placing your mobile field shelter in the cooler, shaded Inareas.the winter, mobile field shelters help keep horses warm and snug out of the cold weather, rain, sleet, and snow.

Storms in recent years in the UK have seen winds as powerful as 100mph! That’s no fun for your horse so make sure you do all you can to protect them from strong winds. Not only will being out of the elements be more comfortable for your horse, but it will also protect them against debris such as tree branches that may blow into their path. If you are experiencing strong winds, angle your mobile field shelter away from the wind to offer somewhere more safe and comfortable for your horse. Hopefully, this should help avoid your horse becoming anxious and a flight risk in more extreme conditions.

52 STABLES, YARDS, ARENAS AND PADDOCKS

Changes in behaviour

GUIDE:ULTIMATETHE EXPLAINWhen

Are the contents of my stables automatically covered under my household insurance?

aroundinjuredmembertheYardLiabilityAdditionally,youLiabilitybegatepropertyescapedyard.notthatliability.useinsuringTheInterruptionBusinesscover.maindifferencebetweenstablesforpersonalandasaliveryyardisManyclientsbelievehavingDIYliveriesdoescountashavingaliveryHowever,ifahorseandcausedthirdpartydamagebecauseawasleftopenwhowouldliable?SpecialistLiveryYardinsurancecancoverforsuchcircumstances.PropertyOwner’sisincludedwithLiveryLiabilitywhichprotectsyardownershouldaofthepublicbeonyourland,orinandyourbuildings. insurance.co.ukwww.shearwater-

Insuring your equestrian property, and everything in it, shouldn’t be a stressful experience. It can however be confusing knowing what is covered, what could be covered and how certain policies can work together.

Does running a livery yard require different insurance? When running your equestrian property as a livery yard, whether this is for a commercial venture or whether it is as simple as having a few friends livery to help with running costs, the material damage cover does not differ. For example, the buildings themselves and their content remains the same. However, insuring your equestrian property as a livery yard can offer additional benefits including Money Cover and Assault and 53

Standard household policies are not designed for the nonstandard natures of equestrian properties and buildings, and cover may therefore fall short in some areas. The wording of Equestrian Property Insurance policies are tailored and designed to consider that horses are the main occupants of the buildings and the unique equestrian uses that goes with them.

Equestrian insurance needs.topropertyofmarketunderstandShearwaterspecialists,Insurance,thisnicheandtheimportancegettingequestrianinsurancetailoredmeetyourindividual

Mainstream household insurers will not cover all your equestrian specific equipment, such as show jumps, feed and forage, bedding, saddlery and tack. By using an equestrian specific insurer and broker you can be confident in the level of cover that is being provided and take a stress-free approach to equestrian property insurance provision.

Here Shearwater’s specialist equine insurance brokers answer key questions regarding stables and equine property insurance, explaining the difference between equine specific and mainstream policies and why a tailored equine policy is best. Why use equestrian specific insurance?

INSURING YOUR STABLE YARD Your questions answered

Standard Household Buildings and Contents policies may extend a level of cover to the stable buildings, but they’re not designed to cover everything your equestrian buildings may house. Some policies may have restrictions on individual values for items, additional security requirements or may exclude certain uses.

With work from LiveryList, Redwings, ABRS+ and other equestrian bodies in recent years, there is becoming an industry expected, albeit not obligatory, level of best practice that should make horse owners understand the questions to ask when considering their next yard, and should help yard owners understand how they can provide a safe and well-run setting for clients, and their Whenequines.you view a yard, most importantly you should check that the yard and their staff have the experience and competence to provide not only day-to-day equine care, but a high level of health and consideration,welfaresuch as a biosecurity policy or vaccination requirements, as well as a knowledge of common ailments

UNDERSTANDING

PRACTICE FOR LIVERY YARDS

By Cheryl Johns STABLES, YARDS, ARENAS AND PADDOCKS and a good level of equine first aid. If exercise is included in their livery package, then you also need to feel confident that this can be provided in the manner you’d expect. You can tell a lot by viewing a yard, looking at the level of cleanliness and maintenance, the health and condition of horses on the yard, and speaking to existing liveries. Client care is also a hugely important aspect. Yards should be requesting details of equines, verifying service providers, retaining passports (now a legal obligation for all but pure DIY yards), ensuring all equines are insured, and being insured themselves. Livery contracts should be commonplace to offer clarity as to the livery arrangements between yard owners and their clients. These days there should be a substantial amount of paperwork exchanged between horse owner and yard owner to complete what is, after all, a professional Thisarrangement.businessisjustaverybasic guide, and it’s also important to be honest with the needs of your own horse so that equally a yard owner can decide if you are the right fit. It is important that both yard owner and horse owner feel the yard is mutually suitable to ensure that a wellchosen livery yard can provide a safe and happy home for your horse for the long term! You can find a detailed guide to finding livery co-produced by LiveryList and the ABRS+ https://bit.ly/findingliveryhere: BEST

There is no need to have any experience - in business or equine management - nor any formal registration or licensing process. Whilst all livery yards should be aware of welfare and business legislation, as well as basic common sense when it comes to equine care and yard management, this lack of regulation can lead to unpleasant and costly experiences for horse owners who unwittingly find themselves at poorly run yards.

LAUNCHED IN 2011, LIVERYLIST IS THE UK’S LEADING LIVERY YARD DIRECTORY AND RESOURCE FOR LIVERY YARD OWNERS, AND IN RECENT YEARS HAS BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TO DEVELOP AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIVERY YARDS FOR BOTH YARD OWNERS AND HORSE OWNERS

The past twelve months have been incredibly hard for the equestrian industry: still reeling from the effects of Covid, and now facing spiralling costs to cover horse care, and the recent droughts. This has resulted in grass shortages and increased costs for yard owners, subsequently passed on to liveries, which has given many no option but to seek pastures new. If you’re looking to change yard, it is important to make sure that you’re choosing a yard that is right for both you and your horse in the long term, as well as offering you the level of service and experience you would expect of a business you are entrusting to look after your Manyequine.horse owners are unaware that there are no restrictions on who can open a livery yard.

Fury Safety Boot. This dealer-style boot made from an Australian V-Cut three piece, water resistant, full grain Iberian leather upper, is the ultimate work boot, ideal for on the yard. Equipped with a Defender ballistic nylon, anti-penetration midsole, composite toe and an oil/acid resistant sole. RRP: £105.95. www.grubsboot.com

RRP: Premium £4080 (+vat); Warm & Dry £10,710 (+vat).

www.horselight.co.uk

HorseLight are the official stockistUKof the new generation of infrared equine solariums manufactured by Stallvärme.

NEW GENERATION OF: SOLARIUMSEQUINE PRODUCT NEWS...

The Premium and Warm & Dry Stallvärme solariums are a totally new experience for horse and owner alike. Both solariums are silent, easy to clean and use much less electricity than a typical equine solarium. Their design, which has no glass or bulbs, has no need for bulb replacement. Stallvärme uses infrared technology to warm up the horse’s muscle tissue directly and not the air surrounding it, helping to raise core body temperature from within. In preclinical studies, far-infrared radiation significantly reduces inflammation and increases cellular vitality. Warming up the horse before training helps to reduce the risk of injury and allows the horse to feel more supple from the very start.

BEDDING THE BEDMAX WAY:

The success of Bedmax shavings is because the vast majority of owners share the same absolute commitment to the health and well-being of their horses, and recognise the value of a topquality, beddingdust-extractedtheycantrust. So, what is it that makes Bedmax shavings and Littlemax shavings a cut above the rest? Bedmax Limited proudly became the first equine bedding company to be awarded the new BETA NOPS badge. This accreditation certifies that every stage of the Bedmax production processes are managed proactively to avoid - or minimise - the risk of contamination by NOPS, naturally occurring prohibited substances, which could be harmful to horses. This includes both Bedmax shavings and Littlemax shavings. Bedmax shavings are purpose made large flake shavings predominantlymadefrom pine sourced sustainably in from UK forestry. They are designed with the horse’s health and welfare in mind with the aim of minimising the risks to stabled Dusthorses.is the possibly the greatest risk to stabled horses. When inhaled it can impair or seriously damage horses’ respiratory systems. Bedmax worked using research completed by top equine vets to establish the minimum size a dust particle can be before it becomes inhalable. Anything below this threshold is removed during a triple dustextraction process meaning it has one of the lowest levels of dust on the market. It might sound clichéd, but no hoof no horse. Horses’ hooves need firm, resilient support which is provided by the large flakes in Bedmax. Moisture is also key to caring for hooves. If bedding is too dry, it will draw moisture from the hooves causing them to become brittle and crack. Too moist, and it will soften the hooves and make them susceptible to disease. Bedmax is dried to a controlled moisture content to preserve hoof Bedmaxhealth.also provides excellent protection for hocks and other joints which can easily become injured when horses lie down or roll. The combination of large, medium and small flakes in each bale creates layers which provide a secure and protective bed with good cushioning. This encourages horses to lie down which is vital to achieve REM sleep which is imperative for effective rest and recouperation to optimise performance. Hygiene is another factor which makes Bedmax stand out. Maintaining hygiene effectively is crucial, but difficult. Bedmax shavings are predominantlymadefrom fresh pine timber because pine offers unique natural antibacterial action against harmful bacteria and fungi. Shavings are also dried to sterilising temperatures during manufacture to ensure that all bales are free from bacteria and spores. The pine shavings are also effective at combating ammonia which is produced when urea in urine is broken down. Contact can result in damage to the respiratory system and attack the structure of the hoof. The structure of a Bedmax bed manages urine by allowing it to drain through to be absorbed at the base of the bed, in turn protecting horses from Littlemaxexposure. is part of the Bedmax family and was introduced in 2010 in response to a demand for smaller, lighter flakes which offer the same benefits that Bedmax is renowned for. It holds almost the same qualities as Bedmax and goes through a very similar manufacturing process to extract dust, maintain hygiene and provide optimum moisture content required to keep hooves happy and healthy. Each bale of Littlemax contains the perfect combination of flake size to ensure it provides maximum support and comfort to protect joints and encourage proper REM sleep. Like Bedmax, this combination of flake sizes allows Littlemax to effectively manage moisture by draining urine to be absorbed at the base of the bed, keeping the surface

56 STABLES, YARDS, ARENAS AND PADDOCKS

Thedry. biggest difference between the Bedmax and Littlemax is flake size and this is simply down to personal preference. www.bedmaxshavings.com

FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF BEDMAX SHAVINGS AND LITTLEMAX SHAVINGS

www.seib.co.uk #SEIBhere2help Chris Bradley MBF Harley Rebel. Photos

Photo: SMR

SUFFOLK’S

LILY ASPELL WINS Saturday 16th July

At Morris Equestrian Centre, Lily Aspell, from Newmarket, won the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Rounds, riding Donna Caldwell’s Legends Rock. Forty-four keen combinations came forward at the start, and nine combinations jumped double clear for a spot in the final jump off. The jump off saw five combinations jump clear so it would require a quick round to secure a ticket to HOYS, and a quick clear round is what this combination produced. Lily piloted the 9-year-old dun gelding across the finish line just 0.04 seconds ahead of second place, stopping the clock at 33.15 seconds and securing this partnership the win.

58 REPORTS & PHOTOS

Photo: PhotographyAgnewJamieofMeaderLaura

The first Riding for the Disabled (RDA) Search for a Star showing competition since 2019 was held at the RDA National Championships at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire on Friday 15th July. RDA centres from across the country were represented in the Search for a Star competition with competitors travelling from as far as Devon (Erme Valley RDA), Middlesborough (Tyne and Wear RDA) advice from the Judges. The overall champion title went to Tara Redfern and My Last Bob Chris Bradley and his own, MBF Harley Rebel took the best rider title for Cambridgeshire College RDA and Catriona McCartney and Axholme Thor took the championship for best Chriscombination.Bradleywon the best rider title in Search for a Star at Hartpury. This is not the first time Chris has done well in RDA Search for a Star, he was placed in 2019 with Quintus. Chris who has also evented and competed in dressage said: “I just knew that Harley was the horse for me when I sat on him. I’m so pleased with him, maybe we will do more Search for a Star classes. He jumps too and we are planning to start practicing for the special Olympics.” Chris has had a tough time, his mother explained: “Quintus very sadly got a tumour and died. Chris thought he might not get another one at one point. We started looking and sat on loads of horses before finding Harley We’ve only had him since the end of MarketingApril.”Manager at SEIB, Nicolina MacKenzie said: “Every time we are so impressed with the lovely horses and riders that come forward. Our Judges are pleased to be able to offer help and encouragement all of which is appreciated – we are all very grateful. Thank you to the RDA championships team for making us feel so welcome.”

“In this class, we look for a very mannerly horse or pony that is straightforward for the rider. Manners and suitability are crucial.” - Katie Jerram-Hunnable

sashes,withFourthethehorsesessentialJerram-Hunnablealongsideclass.performingcompetitorskeyDisabledSearchCollegeCambridgeshireand(CambridgeshireRDA).foraStarRidingfortheisundertakeninalow-mannertoensureallareabletoenjoyinthisshowingMrRichardRamsayjudgedKatieandChrisfulfilledtheroleofstewardingtheandriderstoandfromarenaandclearlyexplainingprocedurewhilstinthering.championswerepresentedgreen,goldandwhiteaplaque,rosettesand

HIGH STANDARDS SET AT THE SEARCH FOR A STAR RIDING FOR THE DISABLED CHAMPIONSHIP

To overcome Sunbeam’s lack of exposure to the atmosphere of major show rings such as Hickstead’s, The Queen and Jerram-Hunnable hit upon a novel approach. “Normally, they come through their novice years and get stepped up to big shows like this, but these Covid babies haven’t seen a lot. But Sunny was stabled on site for the Jubilee celebrations, so he heard a lot of the noise and crowds!”

Taking a win in the main arena at the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting is always a great achievement, but doing so on an unfamiliar horse is even more impressive - and that’s exactly what Ronnie Jones did to secure the win in the Mochara 1.25m Open Championship. His winning ride came aboard the elegant grey Cruso J RS, who had been in Ronnie’s string for just a week. “It’s all quite unknown with him, but he just gets better and better, so we’ve got high hopes for him,” said Ronnie of the 10-year-old gelding, who he co-owns with partner Alex Bishop. “It was his first time in the main arena, so I wasn’t sure how he was going to react, but he was really good. I was a little bit worried about jumping the wall, because he hasn’t seen one of those either, but he didn’t bat an eyelid at it. He got in a really nice rhythm, and he’s really careful, so I was able to just trust him to the last.”

“She was a little bit strong when I first got her, and I messed around with bits for a while, but I’ve got the hang of her now,” says Madieson, an alumnus of Raleigh’s Sweyne Park School. “We haven’t done too much together; this is only our fourth show, but she’s awesome.”

Show producer securedJerram-HunnableKatiearoyalvictory at the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting at West Sussex’s All England Jumping Course recently. Riding the 5-year-old Sunbeam for Her Majesty The Queen, Jerram-Hunnable took top honours in the Supreme Coloured Horse Ridden “It’sChampionship.solovelyto have a win for the Queen in her Jubilee year,” said Jerram-Hunnable. “He’s a homebred of hers, and he’s beautiful, but he’s only five, so it was a big ask. The Queen knows about the win, and she’s over the moon.”

AL SHIRA’AA HICKSTEAD DERBY MEETING Sunday 26th June ESSEX TEEN AND POCKET-SIZED RIDE TAKE TOP HONOURS IN HICKSTEAD OPENER

Sunbeam is not the first Hickstead champion that Jerram-Hunnable has piloted for Her Majesty - the ex-racehorse Barbers Shop won here back in 2013. “I was thinking when I was in the ring that this was our first big chance since Barbers Shop to win another one for Her Majesty,” added JerramHunnable. Sunbeam, whose mother Tiger Lily IX was evented by the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Tindall, was born at the Hampton Court Stud Farm, and Jerram-Hunnable first laid eyes on him as a youngster. From that moment she felt he had that little extra something that makes a top-class show horse. “I thought he was absolutely lovely,” she added. “Then he was sent to me as a three-and-a-half year old, and we’ve had him ever since – but he’s what we’d call one of the ‘Covid babies’. He hasn’t seen a lot in life yet.”

Katie Jerram-Hunnable rode a winner for Her Majesty The Queen at the All England Jumping Course at Hickstead, West Sussex.

Photo: PhotographyHoovesandBirch/BootsElli

Cruso J RS is a grandson of the famous showjumping stallion Cornet Obolensky, who was recently at the centre of a highstakes evacuation from Ukraine, where he stands at stud – and Ronnie is certain that that’s where his horse’s character and competitive spirit comes from.

Unlike many competitors at Hickstead, who campaign expansive strings of horses, Kyra is Madieson’s only horse – “So she gets very spoiled,” laughs the rider. When she’s not training and competing, Madieson assists with the family mechanics business. It’s a balancing act, but it’s already paying off.

“Even just riding in that arena is surreal – I never though we would win it,” says a delighted Madieson Blakesley, who claimed the first class of the week in Hickstead’s Longines International Arena. Her partner for the winning round in the Hickstead Novice 1.10m Championship is the diminutive Kyra, with whom she’s already formed a sterling relationship – despite only having the little mare for a month.

60 WELSHMOOR OF THE SaturdayYEAR18th June Reserve Coloured Champion - Maddy Vaughan and Warrackston Little SupremeJasper In Hand - Phillip Ward-Burton and Griseburn Orla 1st M&M - Tara Buckley and Murthwaite Heir Hunter 1st Trot Off - Faye Bircher and Patch 1st ConcoursElla Miller and Bingo 2nd ConcoursWendy Winney and Charlie Reserve Supreme In Hand - Laura Oughton-Auker and MerribridgeBestHuntsmanRider- Kaci Bircher and Pantyfid Pure Gold Reserve PottleChampionSupreme-MiaandPoppet REPORTS & PHOTOS

Before their appearance in the Rescue class, Redwings Stardust and Redwings Rocket had a busy day as they were stars of the Royal Norfolk Show Rescue Village, meeting members of the public and helping promote the Redwings rehoming scheme. Rocket, a 12.3hh Cob gelding, and Stardust, a 13hh Cob mare, will soon both be available to rehome as unbacked projects –looking for experienced Guardians to continue their training to be ridden horses.

resultsfabuloussaid:scheme“Whatfor team Redwings at the Norfolk Show. To see our rescued horses doing so well, and their Guardians supporting Redwings by showing them at such a prestigious event, is wonderful!

It is such a great opportunity to show what our ponies can do in their new homes and will hopefully inspire others to rehome a horse from Redwings.”

HORSES

Redwings Edward and Guardian Claire

Patchwork and

ThursdayWednesdayNORFOLKSUCCESSCELEBRATEATTHEROYALSHOW29thand30thJune

Redwings Edward and Guardian Claire, Rocket and Redwings team member Natalie , Stardust and Redwings team member Katie and Matty and Guardian Sarah

Redwings Guardian

Redwings Patchwork triumphed in the Ridden Rescue class and Redwings Edward came second in the In-hand Rescue class at this year’s Royal Norfolk Show, the first held since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Joining Edward in the Inhand class were Redwings Matty who took fifth place, Redwings Stardust, sixth place, and Redwings Rocket, seventh place. Patchwork, a 13.2hh, 13-yearold cob mare, was attending the show with her Guardians Yvette and Victoria. She was rescued by the charity in 2009, as one of eleven horses from a site in Rickmansworth. The horses had been abandoned and were straying onto the grounds of a local school. They were in poor condition, with suspected heavy worm burdens. As the group had not received even the most basic care, they were all underweight and suffering from lice, which was treated on arrival at Redwings. Patchwork’s blood tests also showed she had problems with both her intestines and liver. Yvette said: “Patchwork, or Millie as she is known to us, has done us proud today. We don’t show regularly, and she spends most of the time as a happy hacker with my mum, but we love to bring her to the Norfolk Show to represent Redwings and show how great rehomed Redwings horses can be!” The Rescue classes are judged on a combination of their rescue story and transformation, and their show on the day. For Redwings Edward it was his first ever show, after being rehomed in June 2020 to thesightdifferentringgeldingAnn.ClaireGuardianshisandTheCobinthelookedafromhorsethat came to Redwings in 2013, severely underweight and with blood tests revealing he was suffering with a high worm burden that had caused damage to his intestines, and with liver damage caused by ragwort Claire,toxicity.reflecting on their class in the ring, said: “I am beyond proud of Edward. Before this he had never really left our yard before, and now here he is competing at county show level. He behaved impeccably in the ring and I could not be happier with him!”

Rachel Angell, Head of Norfolk Equine Operations, who heads up the charity’s rehoming

REHOMED REDWINGS

Yvette

There are currently 500 horses living out in homes through the Redwings Guardianship scheme. Horses are rehomed on a longterm loan, with Redwings retaining ownership in case of any changes in their Guardian’s circumstances. Applications to rehome a horse are welcomed via: rehomingwww.redwings.org.uk/

62 REPORTS & PHOTOS SundaySHOWSUMMERWELSHMOORSASH10thJuly Reserve Supreme Ring 3 - Faye Bircher and Charlie ChampionSupremeBoy- April Abbott-Hall and Ballagh En Vogue Leah Bircher and Pantyfid Master Rupert1stConcoursD'Elegance-BevPooleyandScarfCharlee Filby and PicassoHodeme 1st YoungstockAngela Fox and Spellbound Hobbit Warrior Reserve TwitchenChampionSupreme-SofiaandPippi 1st Open In HandMatt Corder and Pantyfid Master Rupert Supreme Ring 3 - Seren Platt and Annie Reserve Champion Ring 3 - Georgia Filby Photos by emilyharrishorsephotographerwww.facebook.com/

63 SSHOWPERFORMANCESERIESSHOWCASEEVENINGaturday23rdJuly Reserve M&M Champion - Kate Scorey-Sayer and Llanai GuardsmanReserve Supreme In HandGriseburnSeamanChristyandOrla M&M ChampionTara Buckley and Murthwaite HeirHunter1stM&M Small Breeds - Clair Scales and Dargale Angela 2nd BoyTinkersMetcalfColouredRidden-MillieandDream Reserve andRiddenReserveOrganChampionTraditional-EmilieandJuliusSupreme-JoEldridgeBikersTony1st Shetland - Kate Tarn and Topfield Mr Boombastic Traditional ChampionAlice Griffiths and Hillrow Harvest Supreme In Hand - Philip WardBurton and Ducketts Dilemma Photos by emilyharrishorsephotographerwww.facebook.com/

64 ESSEX SUFFOLK PONY CLUB WednesdayCAMP 27th July Olivia Cottrell Harry AmeliaSpenceAnley and Berry Annabel Bryce and andWesterlingSammySportyRevMillie Siggers and Sabinas Bright Star Poppy Anley and Ruben Mia Rush and Winnie REPORTS & PHOTOS

Photo: IZABELLA ROGERS WINS THE BLUE

CHIP PONY NEWCOMERS SECOND ROUND

Saturday 18th June At Bishop Burton College Summer Pony Premier, Izabella Rogers, from Chelmsford, won the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Rounds, riding Nicola Rogers’ Ella Z. Izabella rode two clear rounds aboard the 9-year-old bay mare for a spot in the final jump off along with thirteen other combinations. A quick clear round secured this partnership the win, stopping the clock two seconds ahead of their nearest rival.

emilyharrishorsephotographerwww.facebook.com/

Photos by

https://spidge.co.uk/-PhotographyEventSpidgeESSEX’S

65 THE SHOWCASE SERIES SUMMER SHOW SUNDAY 7TH AUGUST Champion In Hand PonyCaron Woodcock and Belchford Casper Reserve Supreme Ridden - Harry Peck and Brechfa Cynog Reserve Supreme In Hand - Jo Cullen and Sunwillow Antonia Champion Youngstock - Amelia Short and Rhydypandy Braint 1st Yearling - Kate Scorey-Sayer and Glanhayl Hurricane Champion Light HorseMoorsholmeThurstonCaitlinand Champion In Hand ColouredGeorgia Pratt and Orions Blu Thunder Reserve Novice ChampionWendy Winney and Charlie Reserve M&M ChampionAmelia Grantham and Landslow Pearly Queen Supreme Champion In HandTim Hall andHoreb The High Roller Champion Miniature Horse - Zoe Sturgess and Blackspirits Silver Dream Reserve BoyBircherChampionTraditional-FayeandCharlie

CLASSIFIEDS 66 ROSSDALES HERTFORDSHIRE01462790221 Equine TrustExpertiseVeterinaryYouCan Our ﬁrst opinion vets and reproduction.dentistrysurgery,diagnosticandwithveterinaryofofferspecialisthospital-basedcliniciansunparalleledlevelsexpertiseandcare,coupledexcellentfacilitiestechnologyforimaging,medicine,and ROSSDALES EQUINE HOSPITAL & DIAGNOSTIC01638CENTRE577754 ROSSDALES NEWMARKET01638663150

Absolute Horse - September/October 2022

Articles inside

Event Reports and Photos

Saddlery and Tack

Stables, Yards, Arenas and

Rowen Barbary

Animal Health Company delivery offer

British Horse Feeds

TurmerAid

Nutrition - including

Rhea Freeman says - ‘So I

Health and Welfare

ways to keep you and your horse safe

Chartered Physiotherapist Louise

Buyer’s Guide - including

Careers and Education

Dressage Coach Jessica Gale asks - When to move