Horse&Rider magazine - July 2024

to the July 2024 issue

I’m not sure I’d ever given a lot of thought to how much horses sleep. My own sleep routine, given that I have two small children, sure. But horses? Not so much. This issue I’m yet again reminded that one of the best things about my job, and there are lots of them, is the opportunity to speak to experts in their field who share their amazing knowledge, expanding mine in the process. And so it was that speaking to Anna Haines made me think back over my horsey experiences thus far and reflect di erently on many of them, realising that

strange bumps and odd behaviour could, quite easily, have been linked to a lack of quality sleep. Much as we all feel better for the right amount of rest, so do our horses, and there’s plenty of ways we can facilitate that. So, what are you waiting for? Find out how on p56. Until next month

Louise Kittle, Editor-in-Chief

THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS

Does tension a ect your horse’s way of going?

Annabella shares her tips to resolve it and help your horse relax into his work, on p22.

The equine equivalent of a knee, and performing a very similar role, the stifle joint can be di cult to treat, and problems tricky to diagnose, as David explains on p70.

Helping your horse maintain a healthy weight is important for overall health, as well as wellbeing. Emma shares her tips for safe slimming on p94.

Achieving good dressage marks is not only about way of going, but also ringcraft. Brush up on the four areas Meg highlights on p38 and turn that 6 into an 8.

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.

DON’T MISS...

The annual Horse&Rider reader survey is live – complete it to help us improve your magazine and be in with the chance to win this amazing LeMieux bundle! See page 40.

Establishing, and reinforcing, the basics are important in every discipline, none more so than jumping, as Louise explains on p32.

In the last part of his series looking at rider position, Lewis focuses on your legs. From how to give e ective aids to solving common problems, turn to p44.

Annabella Pidgley

David Rutherford

Meg Elphick

Lewis Carrier Louise Harwood

Emma Short

IN THE SADDLE

22 Release the pressure Annabella Pidgley helps you find your horse’s inner peace

28 Mind your manners Danielle Heath shares her ringcraft and etiquette tips

32 Jump up a gear How to maximise your next jumping session

38 Put to the test Exercises to polish off your dressage performance

44 Total position guide Make your leg aids effective with Lewis Carrier’s top tips

MIND MATTERS

50 Competitive strategy Alison Buttery helps you resolve competition nerves

56 Sweet dreams Is your horse getting enough sleep?

ASK A VET

70 Joint decision Vet David Rutherford looks at stifle conditions

ASK THE EXPERTS

78 Management know-how

80 Mind matters

82 Ask a vet

84 Horsey shopping

86 In the saddle

88 In brief

MANAGEMENT

KNOW-HOW

94 A weighty matter Help your horse reach and maintain a healthy weight

100 Management 101: Young horses Teach your youngster basic handling skills

106 Manage your horse to win! Keep your competition horse happy and healthy

HORSEY

SHOPPING

112 This month we love... Jackets, saddles, fly rugs and so much more

114 Getting to grips with safety A buyer’s guide to technical safety stirrups

116 Ready for action We put short-sleeve riding tops to the test

128 Horses for sale A selection of horses for sale from our website

July 2024 issue

Cover stories

Photo by Jon Stroud

July 2024

Flatwork and jumping exercises to help you get the most from your summer, plus must-have kit, and ways to boost your competing confidence, and much more!

REGULARS

8 Hearty Haflingers Find out more about these blond bombshells

16 Horseworld science Discover the latest research in the equine industry

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

62 Win! A trip to Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials

64 Horses in the blood We chat to eventer Gemma Stevens

90 Perfect prizes Get your hands on some fab prizes

92 Subscribe to H&R Get every issue delivered straight to your door

126 Dream horsey homes Gorgeous equestrian properties

129 Next month A sneak peek at the August issue

130 My life with horses A week in the life of financial advisor Charlotte Watson

Release the pressure

Is tension wrecking your tests? Dressage rider Annabella Pidgley helps you find your horse’s inner peace

Annabella Pidgley has six European Championships under her belt at Pony, Junior, and Young Rider levels. She’s 2023 Young Rider European Champion with Espe, and competes at Grand Prix with Vamos Amigos and Gio, the former mount of Charlotte Dujardin.

Harmony is, arguably, the central aim of dressage. It’s a discipline that’s all about fluid, seamless communication – a communication that, when it's at its very best, is often pretty hard to spot because horse and rider are so completely in tune with one another.

But when that communication starts to unravel, it can have a knock-on effect, not only on the setting up of the movements but also on scores because what the judges are looking for is harmony between horse and rider.

The most common issue that spoils this harmony is tension, and this needs to be dealt with at its source if your horse is to feel and perform at his best.

Take the first step

Tension can creep into your ride in different ways. Your horse might spook at something unfamiliar, for example, and then struggle to unwind again, or you might feel tension as you teach him something new and move him out of his comfort zone. Or, perhaps it’s simply that he’s prone to tension generally, or maybe the tension is coming from you.

In this feature

Release tension in your horse  Learn how to relax when in the saddle 

Refocus with lateral work

TOP TIP

Help your horse feel secure at competitions by keeping your warm-up routine the same as the one at home – any sudden changes to it will confuse and potentially upset him.

Competitive strategy

Resolving competition nerves begins at home, as Alison Buttery explains

EXPERT

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.

Being able to effectively manage competition nerves is crucial if you want to ride at your best and also enjoy competing with your horse. Feeling nervous or anxious in the weeks and days leading up to a competition is quite natural, but these feelings can become overwhelming if they’re not properly managed.

By developing strategies to control your nerves, you can channel this energy positively, transforming anxiety into focus and motivation that can supercharge your performance and allow you to fully engage and enjoy every moment of the day.

Understand your aims

Understanding why you want to compete is key if you’re to stay motivated

throughout the season. Whether it’s the thrill of competing, a focus for your training, a way to have fun and stretch your comfort zone, or the desire to strengthen your bond with your horse, knowing what you aim to achieve helps tailor your training and competition plans. It also enhances your focus and helps you choose events that are best suited to your objectives.

In addition, knowing what motivates you plays a role in how well you manage yourself through the inevitable ups and downs. Competing with your horse can be physically and emotionally demanding, and having a clear understanding of why you do it helps maintain your motivation and resilience. This perspective shifts the emphasis from a specific outcome, score or placing to prioritising learning and enjoying each step of the process.

Furthermore, understanding why you compete helps you set realistic expectations and manage the perceived pressures of competition. For instance, if it’s simply to gain experience, then each event can already be seen as a success, thereby removing the pressure to win while allowing you to focus on what’s important to you.

Transform anxiety into focus and motivation that can supercharge your performance

A weighty matter

Help your horse reach and maintain a healthy weight with advice from nutritionist Emma Short

EXPERT

Emma Short BSc (Hons) is Equine Nutritionist at Baileys. She provides feed advice for horse owners and delivers educational talks to owners, equestrian associations, veterinary practices and retailers.

With 30–50% of the UK’s equine population considered overweight or obese, many horse owners are unwittingly beginning to see an unhealthy body condition as the norm. Just as for humans, overweight equines are at risk of a number of health issues, most notably equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), insulin dysregulation (similar to type two diabetes) and laminitis. Carrying excess body fat also increases pressure on internal organs, including the heart and lungs, and can lead to joint problems because of the added strain on limbs.

The right weight?

When you see your horse every day, it can be hard to spot the weight creeping on

While we talk about bodyweight and weight gain, there’s no way to determine the ideal weight for an individual horse. This is because weight varies so much according to breed, conformation and muscle development. However, knowing what your horse weighs and being able to monitor it is useful for spotting changes that can otherwise be difficult to identify when you see them every day. Weighbridges are the most accurate option but weightapes are a useful alternative, especially for regular monitoring.

Almost more important than bodyweight is knowing how much fat your horse is carrying. Using an objective numerical body condition scoring (BCS) scale is invaluable for assessing fat levels and can also be done regularly, alongside weightaping, to monitor losses or gains.