Horse
‘
Cella has her own style and I trust her. She doesn’t like me to touch her mouth, so I just have to resist the urge to get too involved
‘
Photos: Stefano Grasso/Longines Global Champions Tour
Ben Maher, winner of the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in London, talks about his new mount, Cella. Find out more on p8
6 HORSE &RIDER
world
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This month, side-saddle, classical training, festivals and more
Diary dates 2-4
2
August
August
Taking place at royal residence Gatcombe Park, Gloucestershire, the Festival of British Eventing provides a weekend of topclass eventing in a stunning setting. Plus, there are plenty of arena attractions, entertainment and a bustling shopping village, too. gatcombe-horse.co.uk
2-4
August
ned Western explairidin g from
Learn more about Western Judith experienced Western competitor to n ctio odu Intr Hubbard at her Western Riding clinic. Held at lecture Urchinwood Manor, Bristol, this from ing ryth demo will look at eve training to tack. Tickets £15. urchinwoodmanor.co.uk
6-8
August
Eventing festival
Horses all day
The popular Bakewell Show, Show Derbyshire, has introduced a dedicated equestrian day to its calendar for 2013. Visitors on 6 August will be treated to a full day of horsey entertainment, including Horse of the Year Show qualifiers, ridden heavy horse classes, unaffiliated dressage and a novice horse class for any horse of any breed not placed at a county show. bakewellshow.org
6-8
August
Side-saddle style
For those hankering after the days of Downton Abbey, take a trip to the National Side Saddle Show 2013, Addington Manor, Buckinghamshire. With over 100 classes designed specifically for side-saddle riders, the show has something for everyone and includes the Side Saddle Association Equitation Championships. sidesaddleassociation.co.uk
Water world Worried by water jumps? Book yourself on a Water Schooling clinic with eventer Mark Cavell. Held at the Osberton Estate, Nottinghamshire, Mark will give you top advice that will benefit you and your horse, whether you’re introducing a youngster or building your technique. emdg.co.uk
➤ Petplan Equine recently asked their Facebook community: “Who comes first, your horse or your partner?”. They found that 90% of respondents put their horse before their partner. Petplan Equine’s Head of Marketing, Isabella von Mesterhazy, says: “I’m sure that there are many people who have long suspected they are behind their other half’s horse in the pecking order and this exercise has certainly proven that.” 10 HORSE &RIDER
Pure XC
11-31 August
Love crosscountry but not so keen on dressage and showjumping? The Horseware National Hunter Trials are designed for you! Compete crosscountry in 28 qualifiers around the country and if you’re in the top three of your class with no jumping penalties, you’ll advance to the national final in October. elandlodge.com
➤ ‘Dragons’ Den’ investor Deborah Meaden has become an ambassador for Hoof, the British Equestrian Federation’s Olympic legacy programme. The entrepreneur bought her first pony for £60 after saving her summer holiday earnings as a child and now owns several horses. hoofride.co.uk
Horse
world
Out &t Abou from Get the latevista H&R Gatcombe and Twitter Facebook
13
August
Classical training
Inspire your attending by dressage dressage al tion rna inte trainer Diane Followell’s ‘Training riders – transforming horses’ clinic at Checkenden Equestrian Centre, West Berkshire. Held on the second Tuesday of every month, riders benefit from Diane’s apprenticeship with late world-renowned classical dressage master Nuno Oliveira. classicalriders.co.uk
18
August
Agility fun
Find out more about horse agility at The International Horse Agility Club Training Day and Competition, Chudleigh, Devon. Running from 10am to 4pm, tickets are £35 for members, £40 for non-members and just £5 for spectators. thehorseagilityclub. com
15-30 August
14-18
Equestrian celebration
For a total celebration of the equine, visit Equifest, Equifest held at the East of England Showground, Cambridgeshire. Described as an ‘equestrian extravaganza’, the event includes showing, showjumping, carriage driving, plus a wide range of trade stands for your equestrian shopping needs. equifest.org.uk
August
22-25 August
Horses at the castle
The Blair Castle Barclays s, International Horse Trials 0 40,00 cts attra , shire Perth visitors and sees a range of riders compete – from Olympians to amateurs. Plus, there are showjumping and showing classes on site, too. blairhorsetrials.co.uk
Clever coloureds
29-31
Appreciate all things coloured equine at August the Coloured Horse and Pony Society UK 2013 Championship Show, Arena UK, Lincolnshire. A showcase of the varied talents of coloured horses, you can see everything from in-hand classes to ridden championships. chapsuk.com
30 Augubster -1 Septem
Calling dressage divas
The dates and venues for the 14th annual Petplan Equine Dressage Area Festivals have been announced. It’s the perfect opportunity for amateur dressage riders to shine. Find your nearest venue at petplanequine.co.uk
➤ The British Eventing ‘Eventing Cinema’ competition is back! Capture the spirit of eventing on film and win £1,000-worth of photographic equipment. In association with Horsehub, entries will be judged by Laura Collett, Paul Tapner, Mike Etherington-Smith and Liam Killen. Entries close 16 September 2013. britisheventing.com/eventingcinema
New at Longleat
New for 2013, the Longleat Horse Trials, Wiltshire, is an unaffiliated two and three-day event aimed at the amateur rider. The cross-country course runs through the estate’s beautiful grounds, and there will be a range of entertainment and activities. longleat-horse-trials.co.uk
➤ New research by Gervase Phillips, a specialist in military history at Manchester Metropolitan University, reveals the plight of horses during the American Civil War. It is believed that 1.2 million horses died during the conflict and the average life expectancy of an artillery horse was just seven-and-a-half months. HORSE&RIDER 11
➤
PART 2
In this feature... ➤ Harness knowledge you already possess
Perfect your circles
Our author Martin Diggle started riding at age 19 and has competed successfully in all the main disciplines, both on his own and other people’s horses. He was, for many years, closely involved with a riding club that actively encouraged membership from adult beginners and retains a keen interest in helping novice riders to progress.
Using what you already know
C H
M
20m
E
20m
15m
10m
B
Photos: Steve Bardens
How circles fit into a 20 x 40m arena
K
F A
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In the saddle
➤ Ride a properly round circle ➤ Improve your accuracy riding school figures
You know the shape of a circle – use that to ride it really round, says Martin Diggle
I
f you’re trying a new activity, whether it’s starting riding or moving to a new discipline, you already have skills that can help you progress. Of course, you need to learn riding technique, but as I explained last month, if you can sing or dance, this can help you ride with rhythm. This series is all about bringing aspects of your life experience into the saddle, and this month I’m looking at riding circles, a deceptively simple exercise that is in fact difficult to do well. But it will be easier if you use your ability to plan ahead and your knowledge of the simple geometry of a circle – see the diagram left if you need a reminder!
Plan your route
Correctly-ridden circles are valuable schooling exercises for horses. Circles, or parts of them, are intrinsic parts of riding in an arena and significant factors in even the most basic dressage tests. But circles are not that easy for horses to perform (especially if they are not particularly active, balanced or supple), and for this and other reasons, they are not easy to ride well. Doing so requires good co-ordination and technique. However, another factor necessary for success is planning – it is clearly not possible to reproduce any figure, whether mounted or not, without first having a good picture of it in your mind’s eye. (You could not, for example, draw an equilateral triangle without first knowing what it is – one with all three sides equal.)
Circles have no angles or straight lines – ride them that way!
Sarah and Rocky show how it’s done!
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What’s Ladies’ fit
The Champion Freedom body protector features a bespoke design for ladies, ensuring a snug, close-contact fit. Priced from £102. ☎ 0113 270 7000 championhats.co.uk
Vits and mins
Nettex All Purpose Vits & Mins promotes health in older horses or those on a reduced hard feed ration. Priced at around £11.50 for 1.5kg. ☎ 01634 257150 nettexequine.com
horseandrideruk.com For a fantastic selection of equestrian products.
“
e easy to The Equimat Plus stable mats ar move and cut to shape – I love them!
Tried&tested Equimat Plus stable mats RRP: £108 per 180cm x 122cm mat ☎ 01536 513456 davieskett.co.uk
H&R tester: “These mats were easy to move and cut to shape (even with my limited DIY skills). They slot together well and do not move once in place. The mats have reduced my mucking out time by half – the soiled bedding simply slides out. They create a cushioned, level bed for my old horse. He loves them and so do I!”
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”
All-rounder The LeMieux Stealth Air XC boots are designed to provide
strength, protection and comfort. Priced at £36.95 (fronts) and £42.95 (hinds). ☎ 02380 814360 horsehealth.co.uk
Horsey shopping
Check out some of the great new horsey stuff this month
Sleek
The NuuMed Event pad is ergonomically
designed to maximise performance and give a streamlined look. Priced at around £32.50. ☎ 01458 210324 nuumed.com
Colour queen
The John Whitaker Ladies’ Self Seat Tape breeches come
Germ killer The KBF99 shavings fork (RRP: £19.99) and brush (RRP:
in bold and eyecatching colours. Priced at £60. ☎ 01706 340500 johnwhitaker.com
£13.99) possess a unique, proven additive that kills harmful bacteria and fungus. ☎ 01239 614648 kbf99.co.uk
Low cal
Baileys Light Chaff
Block colour
is a low-calorie blend of alfalfa and chopped oat straw, with a dusting of mint. Priced at around £8.50 for 15kg. ☎ 01371 850247 baileyshorse feeds.com
Stay bang on trend with Equest
Colour Blocking bandages in a
variety of bright colours. Priced at £22. ☎ 0800 321 3001 dressagedeluxe. co.uk
Accessories The British Eventing dog coat (RRP: £22.99) and bandana (RRP: £14.99) will have your dog looking smart and stylish this summer. britisheventing.com
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