to the September 2024 issue
While so many parts of the horse world remain steeped in tradition, there is an ever-increasing amount of research and innovation going into our sport – from safety equipment to clothing fabrics and tack to nutrition.
The net result is an increasing ability to make informed decisions to benefit not only ourselves but also our horses. A great example of this are developments in understanding of how best to help our horses thermoregulate. The extensive work done on the best way to cool horses began ahead of the 1996 Atlanta
Olympics, where the combination of heat and humidity meant innovative ways to reduce core temperatures were required, particularly on cross-country day. The ongoing work in this area can only benefit our horses, especially in a changing climate, so make sure you’re up to speed on the best way to keep your horse cool this summer on p90.
Until next month!
Louise Kittle, Editor-in-Chief
THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS
Create the canter of dreams with four simple exercises from dressage trainer Dannie on p26.
Want to get rid of that negative voice in your head, saying you’re not good enough? Alison explains how to give yourself a mindset makeover on p52.
Do you know what you can do to help keep your horse’s digestive system working optimally? Vet Adam explains it all on p60.
Louise was bitten by the
bug at age two, and has ridden and owned horses ever since, competing in eventing as well as enjoying training her horses – and herself:
DON’T MISS...
Whether it’s time for a wardrobe refresh, or you fancy some window shopping, don’t miss the 161-page Shires catalogue with this issue of Horse&Rider!
Planning a stay-away show, camp or clinic? Alicia is here to help smooth the planning and share tips to keep your horse happy on p94.
How up to date is your saddlery and tack knowledge? Master Saddler Maurice shares 15 things you need to know on p84.
Help build your horse’s jumping confidence with advice from 5* eventer Louise on p42.
Alicia Wilkinson
Alison Buttery
horsey
she’s a BHS Int SM.
Louise Kittle, Editor-in-Chief
Dannie Morgan
Maurice Emtage
Louise Harwood
Adam Kukaswadia
IN THE SADDLE
26 Lighten up Take your canter to another level with Dannie Morgan
32 5 secrets to lungeing success Top tips to maximise your sessions
36 The spice of life Annabella Pidgley on feeling confident riding different horses
42 The joy of jumping Tackle courses confidently with Louise Harwood
MIND MATTERS
52 Mindset makeover Reframe your worries and put the fun back into riding
ASK A VET
58 Guide to vaccinations Which vaccines, when and why?
60 The good digestion guide Good gut health and how to spot signs of trouble
ASK THE EXPERTS
72 Management know-how
74 Mind matters
76 Ask a vet
78 Horsey shopping
80 In the saddle
82 In brief
MANAGEMENT
KNOW-HOW
84 Saddlery 101 Understand the fundamentals of saddlery
90 Turning down the heat How to cool your horse effectively
94 Manage your horse to win! Keep your horse healthy and happy away from home
100 Turning heads Trim to perfection with Fizz Tickridge-Marshall
106 Perfect policies Insurance advice to guide you through the policy maze
HORSEY SHOPPING
112 Stop the slip A selection of non-slip saddle pads
114 This month we love... Sweatshirts, supplements and more!
116 Tried and tested We put stain removers to the test
120 Head first We’ve got the heads up on riding hats
Cover stories
Photo by Jon Stroud
Our experts help take your riding up a gear and banish those negative thoughts. Plus, discover how to keep your horse cool and his digestive system in good health.
REGULARS
8 A Scottish adventure Behind the scenes of a new documentary, White Horses
14 Horseworld science Discover the latest research in the equine industry
16 Horseworld hub Keep up to date with the latest horsey news
20 Burghley begins What’s happening at this year’s horse trials
48 Show & tell An exclusive interview with showing expert Danielle Heath
66 Win! An Aigle bundle
68 Subscribe to H&R Get every issue delivered straight to your door
88 Perfect prizes Get your hands on some fab goodies
129 Next month A sneak peek at the October issue
130 My life with horses A week in the life of Blenheim Horse Trials’ event organiser
up Lighten
Dressage rider Dannie Morgan reveals how to take your horse’s canter to a whole new level
If you struggle with your horse’s balance in canter, you’re definitely not alone. An uphill canter can take ages to develop, especially with bigger-moving horses or those who are naturally built more on the forehand. But don’t worry, it will come as long as you’re willing to put in the work.
In the last issue, I discussed some of the techniques I use to improve a horse’s balance in trot and canter, particularly when they’re less established in their training. This month, I’ll focus on further developing balance in canter and preparing your horse for more difficult movements.
Remember that every aspect of your horse’s training should be done slowly – little and often is key. Not only can overdoing things make your horse sore and increase the risk of injury, but he’s likely to become stale, too.
I hope you’ve been having a go at last month’s balancing exercises and everything’s going to plan. If so, why not step up a level and try my exercises this month? Here’s how to get started.
Dannie Morgan is an international Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer based in Hampshire. He has numerous Regional and National Championship wins and has represented Great Britain at Small Tour. EXPERT
Developing the counter-canter
of jumping The joy
Teach your horse to confidently tackle complete courses with eventer Louise Harwood’s simple exercise
EXPERT
Louise Harwood is a BHSII and an accredited BE coach. She has ridden in countless five-stars with her string of homebred horses, and produces and trains out of her Herefordshire yard.
By now, you know that riding great courses comes down to a few fundamentals – a solid rhythm, a commitment to your line and a balanced approach. But if you’re introducing an inexperienced horse to jumping, all these fundamentals can feel pretty di cult. So how do you turn gangly-legged approaches and helicopter jumping e orts into something more mature, smooth and competitive? By building straightforward exercises that do the job of explaining it all for you.
Photos: Jon Stroud.
Photos: John Stroud. Nigel Baker Photography, Mark van Dam, Groomee, Many Peake/shutterstock.com. With thanks to Western Counties Equine Hospital for their help with this feature, westerncountiesequineclinic.co.uk
The digestiongood guide
Vet Adam Kukaswadia advises on managing your horse’s gut health and how to spot signs of trouble
EXPERT
Adam Kukaswadia DrVetMed CertAVP(EM) PgCertVPS MRCVS is an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Equine Internal Medicine with special interest in gastroenterology, respiratory medicine and ophthalmology.
DID YOU KNOW?
The upper, non-glandular region of the stomach is susceptible to gastric ulcers, and horses become more prone to these issues when they’re stressed or fed on high-grain diets.
Horses have evolved a specialised gut that enables efficient extraction of nutrients from fibrous plant material. It’s a complex yet effective system, and one that needs to be carefully managed in a domestic setting in order to avoid digestive upsets, some of which can be very serious, or even fatal. Fortunately, a good understanding of the horse’s digestive system makes this task easier.
Through the system
Digestion of food begins in the mouth via strong, durable teeth that grind the tough fibres in plants, in particular large, flat molars that are responsible for breaking the forage down into smaller particles to make it easier to digest.
To further help digestion of the food eaten, horses produce large amounts of saliva to help moisten it and facilitate swallowing. Saliva also plays another crucial role, as it contains enzymes, such as amylase, which begin the breakdown of starches.
The horse’s stomach is relatively small for the size of animal and is divided into the glandular and the non-glandular regions. In the stomach, hydrochloric acid helps to first break down the food and then pepsin secretion starts the process of protein digestion.
Beyond the stomach is the small intestine, where the majority of nutrient absorption occurs. It consists of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum and it’s here that nutrients from broken-down food, including carbohydrates, proteins and fats, are absorbed and transported into the bloodstream.
The caecum and large colon make up the hindgut of the horse’s digestive system. The former is a large fermentation chamber where fibrous plant material is broken down by microbial activity, producing volatile fatty acids that serve as an energy source for the horse, while the large colon is responsible for further water absorption and the formation of faecal balls. Water absorption continues before the remaining waste is expelled from the body as faeces.
Manage your horse to win!
PART 3: STAYING AWAY
Alicia Wilkinson shares her tips for keeping your horse happy and healthy away from home
Alicia Wilkinson is an event rider, BE UKCC Level 3 and BHS coach based in Essex. She’s competed up to 4* and runs a small team of horses from her yard at home. EXPERT
Separation from friends, unfamiliar environments and changes in routine can make being away from home a stressful time for many horses. And if you’ve ever experienced a fit horse who’s full of adrenaline and eagerly anticipating what’s happening, you’ll know it can also be a stressful time for riders and carers, too.
But as much as we might tell our horses that it’s okay and there’s nothing to worry about, actions speak far louder than words, so here’s my practical advice on how to keep your horse cool, calm and collected while staying away from home.
Photos:
TOP TIP
It’s essential your horse’s vaccinations are up to date – usually within six months of your competition date. But it’s a good idea to check the governing body’s rules for your discipline, as they may vary.
