Horse&Rider Magazine - November 2023

to November 2023 issue

Louise Kittle, Editor-in-Chief

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.

There’s nothing like the change of a season to make me reflect. Autumn is my favourite time of year – misty mornings, crisp, sunny days and beautiful leaf colour in the hedgerows. I never much feel like making resolutions in January – but introducing good habits and mindful moments feels easier in autumn, without the pressure of the competition season on top of us. This autumn, I’m working on decluttering literally, and also metaphorically, by focusing on one thing at a time and doing it to the best of my ability. I’ll let you know how it goes!

This issue, we’re exploring ways you can adjust your riding and management

routines to help reduce the risk of injury and disease. Our experts share their simple, practical ideas on p62 and 114. Whatever you enjoy doing with your horse, it’s worth exploring the last part of Nina Gill’s polework maze on page 30. While the floorplan takes a little setting up, the rewards are well worth it. Until next month!

DON’T MISS...

Louise Kittle, Editor-in-Chief

THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS

Alison Buttery

Emily Morey

Our autumn/winter gear guide magazine with this issue! From long coats to turnout rugs in this season’s freshest colours, there’s something for every budget and style.

Establishing and maintaining rhythm is the key to jumping a clear round. Meg has a simple exercise to help you get on track on p42.

Tackling your nerves following a fall or unsettling experience can feel overwhelming, but Alison shares her advice on p48 to help you.

Fuelling your body to enable you to tackle your to-do list, as well as ride to the best of your ability, needn’t be a matter of luck, thanks to nutritionist Emily’s tips on p94.

You don’t need to head out XC schooling to boost your cross-country skills this autumn, thanks to advice from international eventer Phoebe on p18.

Jumping injuries are common, but vet and professional eventer Jess shares her tips for warming up and fitness plans to help reduce the chance of them happening on p114.

Did you know that there are riding and management changes you can make to your horse’s routine to reduce the risk of him developing arthritis?

Vet Nicky explains more on p62.

Jess Campbell

Phoebe Locke

Meg Elphick Nicky Jarvis

94 Easy eating How important is fuelling our own bodies for riding? 100 Vet on call Find the perfect vet practice for you and your horse 108 7 ways to get ahead this autumn Our must-dos to prep for winter 114 Sound advice Reduce the risk of jumping injuries with a vet’s advice 120 Weigh to go Navigate the tricky rules of transporting your horse HORSEY

SHOPPING

124 This month we love... Gilets, breeches, reins and so much more!

Cover stories

REGULARS

8 Triumphant Trailblazers A backstage pass to this year’s championship action

14 Horseworld hub Keep up to date with the latest horsey news

68 Win! Three lucky readers will win a Holland Cooper outfit worth £357!

78 Perfect prizes! Great goodies up for grabs in this month’s issue

106 Subscribe to H&R Get every issue of the magazine delivered straight to your door

126 Dream horsey homes A selection of beautiful equestrian properties

129 Next month Take a look at what’s in December’s issue

130 My life with horses A week in the life of Jessica Gale, an all-round talented equestrian

Crosscountry confidence

How to be ready for anything on the cross-country course with eventer

Phoebe Locke

Cross-country riding isn’t for the faint-hearted. You and your horse need to be bold, brave and confident if you want to produce a perfect round. But if you’re thinking that doesn’t sound like you, never fear.

As with everything, the work starts at home and there’s plenty you can incorporate into your schooling to help tackle the unexpected out on the course.

With cross-country courses becoming increasingly technical and with greater time constraints, refining your skills has never been more important. My tips will help you practise three types of common, but tricky, crosscountry fences in the arena at home. ➤

➤ Tackle fences with confidence ➤ Find your XC pace

Our expert

Phoebe Locke began her career as a showjumper, competing at HOYS and winning at London International. She then made the transition to eventing, and was British and European U21 Eventing Champion in 2019. She competes a string of horses from her base in Wiltshire, and is a regular on Nations Cup teams.

A new way

of thinking

Retrain your mind with help from Alison Buttery to beat fear and anxiety after a bad riding experience

Getting back in the saddle after a fall or scary experience can feel daunting for many riders. The unconscious mind, sometimes referred to as the subconscious, can blow things out of proportion, allowing nerves and anxiety to take over.

Nevertheless, it plays a crucial role in keeping us safe and alert, and is responsible for processing vast amounts of information and making split-second decisions without any conscious effort on our part.

The feedback loop

Sometimes, the unconscious mind can be a little overenthusiastic and it has a tendency towards automatic (and super-fast) scanning for potential risks and hazards. This capacity for creating a seemingly endless list of things that could potentially happen based on previous experiences, and the meaning unconsciously given to those experiences, can play havoc with your confidence around riding.

The unconscious mind can also distort the perception of reality, as it has a tendency to focus on the negative aspects of a situation, disregarding any positive experiences or previous successes we’ve had as riders. This predisposition to dwell on worst-case scenarios can create a feedback loop, reinforcing fears, stopping any action and preventing you from moving forward.

Photos: Jon Stroud

Our expert

DID YOU KNOW?

When you accept that your mind is constantly working with the best of intentions – i.e. to keep you safe – you can find ways to manage your responses and learn to control your thoughts and emotions to find your way to riding confidently again.

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.