Horse&Rider magazine – December 2016

TOP TRAINERS! Kelly Marks  Gareth Hughes  Dan Watson The UK’s best-selling equestrian monthly Issue number 560 December 2016 n Ride your way to a supple horse n Gridwork with Pippa Funnell n Keep thrush at bay n Complete spook-busting guide n 40 ways to embrace winter

WIN A SADDLE!

supple horse Ride your way to a

Poisoning is your horse at risk?

Winter menace

PIPPA FUNNELL’S Gridwork essentials

KEEP THRUSH AT BAY

40

ways to embrace winter

BUYER’S GUIDE TO

RIDING GLOVES

COMPLETE

SPOOK-BUSTING

£3.99

GUIDE

December 2016

As told to Georgia Guerin. Photos: Bob Atkins. With thanks to Toggi and Champion for their help with this feature, championhats.co.uk

PART TWO In this feature. . .

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➤ Interesting ways to use gridwork

In the saddle

➤ Be confident jumping from trot ➤ Fun ways to practise jumping on an angle

Getting the most

gridwork out of your

Our expert

Pippa Funnell is one of only two riders to have won the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, winning the three major four-star events back-to-back. She’s also won two team silver and one individual bronze Olympic medals, and was a member of the eventing team in Rio earlier this year. She rides her Rio 2016 horse, 11-year-old Billy The Biz.

Jumping a grid is a great way to improve your horse’s rhythm, balance and confidence.

Pippa Funnell explains how

S

etting up a gridwork session might seem like a lot of effort to begin with, but the benefits for both you and your horse far outweigh any time you spend preparing, especially when you can do so many different things with just one grid. These exercises show you how you can use a three- or five-fence grid to help you improve your balance and seat, and your horse’s rhythm and technique. Plus, it’s a great confidence booster for both you and your horse.

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TOP TIP

Riding a grid means that the next fence will come up much faster than usual, so you’ll need to change your position much quicker. Make sure that as you go over each fence ,you move your hands forward up your horse’s neck, rather than being tempted to let the reins slide through your hands, because you won’t have time to pick them up again before the next fence.

HORSE&RIDER 27

Our expert

Photos: Bob Atkins. With thanks to Anna Saillet, equinebehavioursolutions.co.uk

Anna Saillet is an Equine Behaviour Consultant.

She gained a BSc (Hons) in Animal Behaviour from Liverpool University, and an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare from Newcastle University, in which she specialised in equine behaviour. She has competed in dressage, showjumping and eventing.

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Mind matters

Spook

BUSTING Whether your horse is spooky or you simply want to build his confidence in new situations, spook busting training can really help.

Anna Saillet shows you how

I

t can be frustrating dealing with a horse who repeatedly spooks at things, but it’s important to understand why he might be doing it and that there’s lots you can do to help him overcome this behaviour, and make life easier and more enjoyable for both of you.

Why horses spook

Horses are flight animals and in their natural environment, you would find them living and grazing on open plains with fellow members of their herd.

They are also a prey species, which means that they must be able to escape any threat or danger rapidly.

While horses do have the ability to attack a predator by biting or kicking, this is an extremely risky strategy, so instead they are much more likely to use flight to get away from the danger as quickly as they can. When your horse spooks or shies, this is a fearful response to what he perceives to be a frightening stimulus. It’s important to remember that just because it isn’t scary to you, doesn’t mean that it won’t seem very frightening through the eyes of your horse. As owners, we’re constantly asking our horses to override their natural evolutionary drive to rapidly flee from danger when we ride and work with them.

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40to ways beat th e wi nte r blu es It’s easy to feel down in winter, especially when dark nights and wet weather limit riding time and can make being at the yard feel like a chore. Rachel Dyke has some great ideas to lift your spirits

Be more efficient 1. Put together a plan of what you want to achieve

when you’re in the saddle and stick to it. Set timers on your phone to vibrate or beep when it’s time to move on to the next stage of your session.

4. A rug with a full neck

5. There’s no such thing as being too

prepared. Get out your diary now and start planning your competition season for when spring arrives. If he’s not been working as hard over the winter, decide when you’ll need to start upping your horse’s fitness levels and how you plan to do it. Get organised now before competition dates clash with other things in your diary, like holidays, parties and family obligations.

will minimise the amount of mud or stable stains you’ll have to brush off before you can tack up. Alternatively, choose a Lycra hood or bodysuit, which will also keep his coat lovely and sleek.

2.

On some days, see whether a frien d on a similar schedule can bring your horse in or even tack him up so he’s ready to go as soon as you arrive at the yard . If you’re lucky enough to have access to a horse walker, maybe they can put him on for 10 minutes before you arrive so that he’s warmed up, too.

Come to an arrangement where you ’ll do the same for them on another day, turn their horse out in the morning in exchange, or offer to do the evening feeds afte r you’ve ridden.

3. If you want to do some

jumping, set up your grid or course in advance. Try to tie in with someone else on your yard so you can help each other – many hands make light work.

98 HORSE&RIDER

t switch

, why no zing is good enough 6. Ifdyoyoururgrarouti during the ne so your horse is in

aroun mean he ? Not only will this day and out at night e you time sav o als ll wi e field, it has more time in th nt to ride stable when you wa because he’ll be in his ering or lay t bu , colder at night after work. It may be oblem. pr at th lve so rug should buying him a thicker

Management know-how

Spice up you r ridi ng

8. Try something new! If you and your horse are stuck 7.

If you don’t have an arena with lights, investigate local indoor ones for hire. Not only will this mean you don’t have to worry about riding in the dark, but it’s also great practice for when you go competing or have lessons.

Splitting the hire price with a friend will make it less expensive, too.

in the same dull routine, have a go a something different – for example, hunting or horse agility. Read more about how to give these different activities a go on p40 and p46.

It’s a great way to meet new people and improve your partnership with your horse. You could also look for yards that offer lessons in polo, side-saddle or Western riding – you never know, you may get hooked!

10. If Charlotte and Valegro’s recent success

9. Have you been struggling with

something in your schoolwork? Book a set of lessons with a local instructor to guide you through it. You could also arrange to have a lesson on a schoolmaster at your local riding school to boost your confidence.

has got you inspired, why not try dressage to music? Video your horse in walk, trot and canter, and spend some time when you can’t ride putting together a floorplan. The music should match the rhythm of his footfalls and try to choose something that compliments his personality. It also has to be a tune that you’re happy to listen to over and over again, as you’ll want to practise your routine many times before you debut it in public.

11. If deep ground is getting you down, why not

book a visit to some local all-weather gallops? Not only can you and your horse have a blast, but you’ll be safe in the knowledge that he’s less likely to pick up an injury.

12.

Lungeing and long-reining can be great alternatives if you don’t have enough time to go for a ride, and they’ll help to improve your schooling, too. However, don’t just let your horse amble around, instead ask for plenty of transitions and ensure he has the correct bend, just as you would if you were riding him. Begin each session with a plan of what you want to achieve and finish with a goal for next time.

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