to the Spring 2025 issue
What if I told you that you can make huge improvements to your horse’s way of going without riding? Groundwork is so easy to overlook, but has so many benefits – not least, the fact that it requires less grooming beforehand and tack cleaning afterwards (and given how wet and muddy this winter has been, anything that saves work is a win, right?).
So, whether you’re already a groundwork convert, or looking for something different to try, this issue we
have two fun, simple sets of exercises for you – equine physio Gillian Higgins shares her advice for improving your horse’s balance on p100, while on p40 eventer Saskia Rioux explains the integral role ground poles play in boosting your horse’s agility.
Until next month
Louise Kittle, Editor-in-Chief
THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS
Anna Haines
Improving your horse’s agility doesn’t have to involve riding. On p40, Saskia explains how to improve your horse’s footwork and responsiveness from the ground.
How you manage your horse has a direct impact on his physical and mental wellbeing. Anna shares her advice on p86.
Developing your lower body strength can bring more enjoyment to your riding, as well as improve your performance. Henry shares rider-focused workouts on p66.
Thanks to advances in technology, internal imaging is better than ever, which means vets are able to diagnose a range of conditions more easily. On p60, vet David explains all you need to know.
Louise was bitten by the horsey bug at age two, and has ridden and owned horses ever since, competing in eventing as well as enjoying training her horses – and herself: she’s a BHS Int SM.
DON’T MISS...
Our great subscription offers!
Choose from a LeMieux headcollar or amazing discount –turn to p53.
If breeding your own horse is a lifelong dream, there are a few things you need to consider before starting the journey. Fizz shares her advice on p92.
Saskia Rioux
Louise Kittle, Editor-in-Chief
David Rutherford Fizz TickridgeMarshall
Henry Carter
Spring 2025 issue
IN THE SADDLE
21 Winter training guide: part two Take these simple steps to a supple horse
30 Less is more How to create a confident, accurate horse at home
36 Learning to loosen up Gareth Hughes’ handy exercises for a more relaxed ride
40 Create an agile horse Effective groundwork exercises for every horse
46 Have a go at... Everything you need to know about British Dressage
50 6 secrets to tackling hillwork Mix up your horse’s routine to see the benefits
MIND MATTERS
54 Hacking reset Calming mindset techniques to eliminate hacking jitters
ASK A VET
60 Picture perfect Internal imaging techniques explained
ASK THE EXPERTS
74 Management know-how
76 Mind matters
78 Ask a vet
80 Horsey shopping
82 In the saddle
84 In brief
MANAGEMENT KNOW-HOW
86 The secret to a happy tummy Reduce the risk of gastric problems
92 Baby love What to consider when breeding from your mare
100 Winter health & wellbeing Improve your horse’s co-ordination and balance
HORSEY SHOPPING
106 Moving on Thinking of selling up? Here’s what to consider...
110 This month we love... First aid care, coats, rugs, shampoo and more!
112 Grooming gadgets Shedding tools to say goodbye to your horse’s winter coat
116 Play it safe Our yard security tips to help protect your horse and equipment
AGILE HORSE
Cover stories
Photo by Jon Stroud
From training advice to confidence building techniques for you and your horse, our experts share their knowledge to help you create a happy, trusting partnership.
IN THIS ISSUE
8 Girl power Meet the director of the UK’s all-female equestrian stunt display team 14 Horseworld hub News, views and what you’ve been up to this month 18 Horseworld science Discover the latest research in the equine industry
28 Win! A brilliant bundle for your horse from Protechmasta
66 Fit for purpose Be a better rider with Henry Carter’s lower body workout
72 Perfect prizes Amazing goodies up for grabs!
127 Dream horsey homes Find your ideal equestrian property
129 Next month A sneak peek at the April issue
130 My life with horses Dressage enthusiast and business owner Marcela Pomphrey
In this feature
Practise cross-country in the arena
Build your horse’s confidence over jumps
Perfect your lines and accuracy
Photos
isLess more
No cross-country course access? Eventer Susie Berry demonstrates how to create a confident, accurate horse at home
EXPERT
Susie Berry has represented Ireland in the European and World Championships, and was in the Irish team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you need fancy fences to practise cross-country skills. But while access to shoulder brushes and skinnies is great, it’s also possible to recreate these questions even if all you have is a couple of sets of poles and jump wings. With the right exercises, you can create a horse who learns to look between the flags, no matter what you’re jumping.
Get in line
Successful cross-country riding isn’t only about being fast and brave, it’s also about being accurate and decisive. If you’re to come home clear and inside the time, you’ll need to jump and land in balance in order to avoid losing time setting up and readjusting. You’ll also – crucially –need to have planned and then ridden efficient lines between your fences. Being able to plan those lines is one thing, and it requires careful course-walking – ideally with a trainer – but executing your plan is another challenge entirely. You’ll need to be able to channel your horse between your aids to specific take-off points, at specific angles, to manage it, which means first making accuracy a habit at home.
PART THREE
Learning to
loosen up
Does your horse carry tension under saddle? Use Gareth Hughes’ handy exercises for a more relaxing ride
When it comes to getting the best out of your horse, tension is your number one enemy. From hacking to test riding, where there’s tension, there’s often reduced progress due to a lack of synergy between mind and body. We alleviate a horse’s mental stress through patience, training and positive associations, but tension can be held through physical stiffness or weakness. Fortunately, there are plenty of exercises that can help him loosen up and release through his body.
Identifying which type of tension you’re dealing with is the first step, but
Good intentions
Most riders start their session in walk on a loose rein in straight lines. While this might seem good for a tense horse, it could be the worst thing to do. If he’s holding tension in his body, whether through nerves, spooking or general stiffness, harness and maintain his energy in a productive way. Instead of increasing the tempo and thereby losing any longitudinal suppleness, change the question by asking your horse to go anywhere other than straight ahead –for example, through lateral work. Be intentional during your warmup by asking for shoulder-in or travers down the long side, rather than simply
EXPERT
Gareth Hughes is a Team GB bronze, silver and gold medallist in dressage. He was the dressage coach for the Australian eventing team and also the Swiss Dressage technical advisor. He runs Hughes Dressage, based in Warwickshire.
step two is having the tools in your toolkit to diffuse the situation. The following exercises are for when your horse is feeling particularly tense and unfocused, but they also target suppleness and relaxation through the body, too.
walking straight. Increase your use of shapes – various-sized circles, squares, spirals and serpentines – and don’t be afraid to introduce lateral work early on. Doing this will all help to focus your horse’s mind and loosen his body far more effectively than allowing him too much time to think on a long rein while going large around the arena.
DID YOU KNOW?
With a more established horse, starting your working session in canter can help loosen him up and improve the other paces. ➤
Change the question by asking your horse to go anywhere other than straight ahead
In this feature
Learn to ride lateral movements
Understand suppleness
Create a more relaxed horse
Hacking reset
Eliminate hacking jitters with Alison Buttery’s calming mindset techniques
Alison Buttery is a certified mindset and confidence coach, a BHS APC senior coach and an experienced rider, who specialises in helping riders overcome their nerves. She’s also the founder of The Everyday Equestrian.
Hacking can be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding parts of riding, a chance to explore new places, connect with your horse and enjoy time out from the world. But if nerves, fear or anxiety about what might happen are holding you back, you’re not alone. Many riders feel the same way. But, with the right mindset tools and strategies, you can overcome those worries, manage what goes on in your head, rebuild your confidence and start to look forward to hacking out with your horse.
Going it alone
Hacking alone can feel daunting for many riders, as it may trigger a sense of fear of the unknown. Without the reassurance of other horses or riders, the perceived lack of a safety net can make you feel vulnerable, and it’s easy for self-doubt to creep in.
However, hacking alone can also be hugely empowering. It’s an opportunity to build trust with your horse, strengthen your bond and prove to yourself that you’re more capable than you thought. Overcoming the fear of riding solo often comes down to mindset, preparation and taking small, manageable steps to grow your confidence.
Group dynamics
TOP TIP
Whether you’re nervous about hacking alone, worried about riding in company or battling anxious thoughts, the right techniques can help you control your mindset and build confidence.
On the other hand, hacking in company can come with its own set of challenges. While the presence of other riders can offer reassurance, it’s easy to feel pressured to keep up with their pace or match their confidence, even if it doesn’t seem right for you or your horse. This can trigger feelings of anxiety and frustration or a perceived lack of control. Group dynamics can also present challenges if other horses are excitable or behaving unpredictably.
The key to hacking out in company is to communicate openly and effectively with your fellow riders, agree some guidelines about what you all want to do and remind yourself that you always have a choice about what’s right for you and your horse.
By setting clear boundaries and staying connected with your horse, you can enjoy the benefits of company but without compromising your own confidence or progress.
It’s an opportunity to strengthen your bond and prove to yourself that you’re more capable than you thought
Picture perfect
Modern veterinary medicine has access to a range of internal imaging techniques to facilitate diagnosis of all kinds of conditions. Vet David Rutherford explains how they work
EXPERT
David Rutherford BVM&S
Cert ES(Orth) Dip ECVS
SFHEA MRCVS is Clinical Associate Professor in equine orthopaedics and imaging at the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science.
Often, it’s not possible for vets to be sure of the cause of a horse’s health problem by simply carrying out a physical examination. Especially when working with patients who can’t tell you what hurts or how things feel, knowing exactly what is going on to cause the symptoms that are being investigated means internal examination is often needed. Modern imaging techniques enable this without the unnecessary invasiveness of surgery, and developments in recent years mean that access to a range of methods has never been easier.
While radiography (X-rays) has been around for a very long time, over the past 20 years other types of imaging methods (or modalities) have been adapted from use in human medicine, and these have made a huge impact on vets’ abilities to diagnose health problems from illnesses to injuries, and, in particular, lameness.
Where it all began
The first imaging method, radiography, was developed in 1895 when the ability to look at bones and joints inside the body was discovered by German physics professor Wilhelm Röntgen. Since that time, the technique has, of course, become far more sophisticated. In addition, the use of ultrasound for soft tissues (such as tendons or intestines) and endoscopy to look inside body cavities with a camera have become common practice in equine veterinary medicine. However, when these methods fail to produce the answers or
detail needed to enable an accurate diagnosis, alternative approaches are required. This is where techniques such as nuclear scintigraphy (bone scanning), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) can be beneficial. While some X-rays and ultrasound investigation can be done on the yard using portable machines, when it comes to more sophisticated imaging techniques, your horse will need to visit a referral centre. This is because the sophisticated machines used are large and very complex.
Radiography (X-rays)
When taking a radiograph, a beam of X-rays is fired at the area of the body to be examined. Depending on the thickness and density of the body part involved, varying amounts of these X-rays are either absorbed by the tissue or pass straight through it to then be detected by a radiographic plate. A picture appears on the plate, with areas that have been exposed to a large amount of X-rays showing as darker and those where few X-rays have penetrated being lighter. Radiographs are most useful for looking at the size, shape and density of bones and joints, and will usually be the first technique used for these areas. Diseases such as fractures, osteoarthritis and mispositioned bones (such as kissing spines or hoof imbalance) can usually be identified clearly on radiographs.
DID YOU KNOW?
X-rays are radioactive and, while there is minimal risk to the patient, those taking radiographs receive significant cumulative exposure, and therefore must wear a special lead apron for protection.
EXPERT
secret to a tummy happy The
Reduce the risk of your horse developing gastric problems with Anna Haines’ management advice
Anna Haines is a clinical animal behaviourist, member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors, and has been a freelance equine behaviour consultant for 14 years. She has an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare, specialising in equines.
Keeping your horse healthy is strongly linked to how you manage him in physical terms, but ensuring he’s happy mentally is just as important. Both play a major part in maintaining good digestive health and, because of the gutbrain axis (the two-way connection and communication between the two organs), managing him holistically helps reduce the risk of gastric issues developing.
Double trouble
Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is a term used to describe mucosal diseases of the horse’s stomach and there are two main types...
1. Equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD): lesions in the mucosa of the squamous area (the upper, non-acid-producing area).
2. Equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD): lesions affecting the glandular mucosa (the lower, acid-producing area). ➤
DID YOU KNOW?
ESGD is found in feral and domesticated horses, but is more common in the latter and is particularly widespread among racehorses.
