to March 2024 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.
We’re really excited to bring you this issue of H&R – not only is it full to the brim with great content from experts, but it also comes with a bumper Shires catalogue, packed with every horsey item imaginable! Whatever your taste and budget, and no matter what you need – riding kit, rugs, showring essentials – there is so much to choose from in the 465 pages. A passion for horses is something the Horse&Rider team shares with you. We know how lucky we are to combine our love of all things equine with our jobs, but there have never been more ways to
be involved in the equestrian industry. This issue, Sub Editor Halima spoke with four people immersed in very different equine careers, so if you’re considering a change of direction, turn to p102 for some inspiration. Until next month!
Louise Kittle, Editor-in-Chief
DON’T MISS...
your chance to win an incredible bundle from Equilibrium, worth more than £1,000! As well as the new Heatsense massage pad and three sets of boots, you’ll get a £250 voucher to spend on anything in the range! Turn to p62 to find out more.
THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS
Emily Buckley
Alison Buttery
Heidi Woodhead
Yazmin Pinchen
Donna Case
Maurice Emtage
No one wants to be told their horse needs surgery, but if it’s a prospect you face, do you know how to help support his recovery? Vet nurse Emily explains it all on p64.
Building a strong relationship with your horse is so important if you’re to get the most out of your time together – Alison shares her tips on p54.
With spring around the corner, on p22 Heidi demystifies the different kinds of crosscountry fence you can expect to meet out on a course.
Yazmin shares one of her favourite gridwork exercises to help boost your horse’s confidence and refine your riding on p38.
The correct diet plays a vital part in maintaining good health, and it’s even more important when caring for a veteran horse. Nutritionist Donna shares the key considerations on p84.
A well-fitting saddle is crucial to enabling your horse to perform to the best of his ability. Master Saddler Maurice explains the process on p96.
HORSE&RIDER 3
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AN EQUILIBRIUM BUNDLE!
March 2024 issue IN THE SADDLE ON THE COVER
22 Clever cross-country Get ready to tackle
WIN! EQUILIBRIUM MASSAGE PAD
your jumping problems
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
34 Balancing act Ferdi Eilberg shares his tips
44
96 54 38
MIND MATTERS ON THE COVER
54 Getting to know you Alison Buttery helps you build confidence with a new horse
ASK THE EXPERTS
72 Management know-how 74 Mind matters 76 Ask a vet 78 Horsey shopping 80 In the saddle 82 In brief
the test
for every shape and budget
122 This month we love... Hats, stirrups, rugs and much more!
4 HORSE&RIDER
XC
FENCES
SADDLE FITTING
GUIDE EQUINE BONDING
22
EXPLAINED
Issue 655 £4.99 25 January – 21 February 24
secrets
Confidence-building
GRIDWORK BODY
PROTECTORS
ON THE COVER
8 It’s show time Our guide to major equestrian events this year 14 Horseworld hub Keep up to date with the latest horsey news 17 Horseworld science Discover the latest research in the equine industry 18 Kick back & relax Feel inspired with our list of horsey podcasts
84 Management 101: golden oldies Top
120 Perfect fit A selection of body protectors
HACKING
34
REGULARS
MANAGEMENT KNOW-HOW
114 Tried & tested We put therapy boots to
LATERAL WORK TIPS
March 2024 Stride towards your new horsey goals with our trainers’ exercises and advice. Plus, find out how to build an ever-lasting relationship when starting out with a new horse, and learn more about feed portion sizes.
Buckley explains post-operation care
HORSEY SHOPPING
SAFER
Photo by Jon Stroud
64 TLC on prescription Vet nurse Emily
ON THE COVER
FERDI EILBERG’S
THE SECRET TO
Cover stories
ASK A VET
tips on feeding your veteran 96 Saddle up Find out more about the saddle-fitting process 102 A hands-on approach We speak to four professionals with different equine jobs 106 Hit the road Things to think about when buying horse transport 110 Appropriate portions Are you feeding your horse too much or too little?
The UK’s best-selling equestrian monthly
DJMurphy
on how to develop your horse’s balance 38 Move on up Regain your confidence with Yazmin’s grid 44 7 secrets to safer road riding Check out our advice 48 No need to rush Exercises to get a keen horse listening
Issue number 655 March 2024 n Are you feeding your horse the right amount? n On test: therapy boots n How to care for your horse after surgery n The secret to safer hacking n Common jumping problems solved
common XC challenges
28 Showjumping solutions How to solve
62
ON THE COVER
62 Win!
An amazing bundle from Equilibrium
90 Subscribe to H&R Get every issue delivered straight to your door
92 Perfect prizes Amazing goodies for you and your horse are up for grabs
124 Dream horsey homes A selection of gorgeous equestrian properties
129 Next month A sneak peek at Spring’s issue
130 My life with horses A week in the life of bridle maker and fitter Kelly Jones
114
TRIED AND TESTED
Showjumping
solutions Check out our ideas for solving some of the most common showjumping problems
Photos: Jon Stroud
B
alance, control, rhythm, straightness and strength are five of the building blocks that – when working in harmony – help produce a successful showjumping round. But a breakdown in any one of these key elements can lead to a multitude of problems. So, if you’re looking to refine your skills or you’re having a little trouble, here are five ideas to help you fix them in your training.
TOP TIP
Before you address anything in your training sessions, it’s important to get your horse checked over by your vet and bodyworker for any underlying problems that could be causing the issues you’re facing.
28 HORSE&RIDER
In the saddle
Straightness
How you set up your horse to each fence can greatly impact the outcome of the jump, and a wonky approach can lead to dropped poles, run outs and even a poor getaway.
DID YOU KNOW?
You can test your horse’s straightness – and find out how much he relies on the fence – by riding slightly off the outside track. Doing this can help highlight which rein is weaker.
HOW TO FIX IT… Poles are your friend when it comes to improving straightness and there are some really simple ways to set them out that will do wonders for improving your approach. Try building a channel of parallel poles into the fence, approximately 1m apart, then position two poles on the fence as V-poles. This will help make your approach straight and encourage your horse to jump the middle of the fence, too.
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HORSE&RIDER 29
Getting to
know you
Follow Alison Buttery’s advice of time and patience when building a confident relationship with your new horse
Photos: Jon Stroud. Alison runs The Everyday Equestrian, theeverydayequestrian.co.uk
B
Our expert
uying or loaning a new horse is always exciting and exhilarating but, as with any situation that is so emotional, can sometimes be a nerve-wracking experience, with anxious or worried moments. This is the start of a wonderful and rewarding partnership that will only grow stronger over time.
Start your journey 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.
When you take on a new horse, it’s a big change for him as well as you – so try to remember that you’re both in the same situation. You’ll already know you need to manage him correctly to enable him to settle into his new routine and environment, but this considered approach applies just as much to you as to him. It’s important to acknowledge and accept that if it
all feels a bit uncertain to begin with, that’s okay because it really does take time to get to know your horse – and vice versa. For you both, it’s a period of discovery and exploration, and how well you’re able to manage your mindset and confidence during this getting-to-know-you phase can set the tone for your future relationship. So, let’s look at some ways to do this.
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Mind matters
It’s important to acknowledge and accept that if it all feels a bit uncertain to begin with, that’s okay
HORSE&RIDER 55
TLC on prescription
Photos: Adam Fanthorpe, Jon Stroud. With thanks to VetPartners practice Liphook Equine Hospital for their help with this feature, liphookequinehospital.co.uk, vetpartners.co.uk
If your horse has to have an operation, vet nurse Emily Buckley has some guidance on aftercare
H
orses may be admitted to an equine hospital for a variety of reasons, which could be anything from routine surgical procedures to medical emergencies. But, one thing you can be sure of if your horse has surgery, whether planned or unexpected, is that during his hospital stay, he will be looked after to the highest standards while being closely monitored to ensure his recovery is progressing well. The postoperative care your horse receives and how long he remains in hospital will largely depend on the type of surgery carried out and how well he responds to treatment. Then, once the veterinary team is happy for him to be discharged, you’ll be given guidance on how to continue caring for him in his own home so you can get him back on his feet as soon as possible.
64 HORSE&RIDER
Our expert
Emily Buckley RVN is a qualified equine veterinary nurse based at Liphook Equine Hospital in Hampshire.
vet InAsk the asaddle
On waking up
Once your horse’s surgery has been completed, he will be carefully transferred using a winch into a padded recovery box near the operating theatre. Depending on your horse’s size and temperament, he may require some help to get safely to his feet as the anaesthetic gases wear off and this may come in the form of a rope-assisted recovery system. For this, ropes are attached to the horse’s head and
tail and pulley guides support his weight, helping him get to his feet gradually while he’s still unco-ordinated from the anaesthetic. Once your horse is up and fully awake, he’ll be taken back to his stable and started on a feeding chart, being fed little and often to avoid choke or colic. He’ll be monitored regularly over the next few hours to make sure he’s recovering well and not experiencing any complications.
DID YOU KNOW?
Once your horse is awake, your vet team will call you to let you know how the surgery has gone and what to expect. You may be given a timeline on recovery, and when your horse is expected go home.
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