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horseandrideruk.com MARCH 2015
Jump ditches and water
All in
the mind
the easy way
Complete guide to
SHIVERS
How mistakes can improve your riding
Top tips for training
young
horses Do you know the
10 signs of good horse health?
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Fab Uvex kit an training with d Sam Griffiths
Uk’s best-selling equestrian monthly
Welcome meet the team… Editor’s letter
Editor Louise Kittle started riding aged six. She’s a qualified BHS IntSM and owns Ted, a four-yearold Irish gelding. Ted is just beginning his ridden career, and Louise hopes he’ll make a great all-rounder when he finishes growing!
Welcome to 2015, and to March Horse&Rider! It’s the time of year when we begin to think about getting out and about again with our horses. To make sure you’re within the law, we’ve unpicked the regulations governing just what you can drive or tow, and whether you need to take additional tests to chauffeur your horse to shows! If you’re aiming for some cross-country fun with your horse, don’t miss Brook Staples’ arena eventing training. This issue, Lucinda Fredericks shows us how to train two different personalities, and I’ve been putting her tips for young horses into practice with Ted. It’s going well! I’ve also been spending lots of time just getting to know him. This is a really important part of caring for your horse, because knowing what’s normal helps you monitor his health – and our feature on the 10 signs of good health will help you do just that. I hope you enjoy this issue and I’ll see you again in Spring Horse&Rider.
Céleste Wilkins Kate Hammaren
Lucy Turner
Staff Writer
Contributing Editor
Assistant Editor
Says: “Are you feeling the dreary winter blues? If so, then I suggest you spend some ‘me’ time and give yourself a glam makeover without compromising on riding time, with Michael Ashton’s quick yard-to-office hair and make-up tips (p112).”
Says: “Managing your own pasture is a real responsibility, so researching the first part of our ultimate guide to pasture management (p89) was a pretty huge task. I hope our ideas help you keep your fields in tip-top condition in 2015.”
Says: “Freak accidents are one of life’s mysteries and this month’s ‘Tale of the unexpected’ is no exception, when a horse was left fighting for his life after his shoe became embedded in his foot on a hack. Find out what happened next on p78.”
Follow Lucy on Twitter @horseandrideruk
Follow Céleste on Twitter @hr_insider
Are you ready to embrace failure and welcome mistakes as a friendly nudge in the right direction? Asks Tina Sederholm in ‘There are no mistakes, only feedback’, on p52.
Discover our team’s wealth of horsey experience at horseandrideruk.com ➤ EDITORIAL Editor Louise Kittle Assistant Editor Lucy Turner Staff Writer Céleste Wilkins Contributing Editors Alison Bridge, Kate Hammaren ➤ ART Art Editor Sarah Garland Designer Adam Witt
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Contents March 2015
32
In the saddle
Regulars 6 Horseworld News,
24 The happy athlete
Lucinda Fredericks’ top exercises for youngsters and strong horses
diary dates and the bond between horse and rider
14 The American dream Take a guided tour of Kentucky, USA, a horse lover’s paradise
32 Jump ditches and water – the easy way In the school and out hacking with Brook Staples
21 Share, write, tweet Have your say here
71 What’s on the Web?
@horseandrideruk.com
118 Subscribe to H&R
and save up to 20%
144 Competition entries One form for all prizes
145 Next month What’s inside Spring H&R?
146 My life with horses
It’s hot work running a Singapore saddle club
4 HORSe &RIDER
40 A simple change Find out how Western
Mind matters 46 Top tips for training young horses Jason Webb explains how to create respect
52 All in the mind How to
learn from your mistakes
56 Riding life How to turn your negative thoughts into positive ones
l
62 Equine behaviour
‘No’ to nipping Aversion to mares l Barging out of stables l l
64 Veterinary matters
Old tendon injury Is Sudocrem banned? l Possible liver problems
66 Shopping Jacket l
colour l Numnah vs saddlecloth l How waterproof are rugs?
23 WIN! Uvex riding hat
Loads of fabulous horsey prizes
The best age for bitting Lifting forelegs l Field care facts l
l
Competitions 133 Perfect prizes!
60 Horse management
l
riding is not so different from English!
and clothing, and a lesson with Sam Griffiths
Ask the experts
144
En compteer our t on oniteions form
68 R iding technique
l Progress for the over40s l Sudden refusals l Horse won’t go forward
70 Quick Q&As Salt licks l
l
Rug rubs l Physio facts
52 Cover stories
32
52
82
78 46
86
120
108
Management know-how
Horsey shopping
86 Do you know the 10 signs of good health?
108 Choose the best camera Great kit for
78 Shoe’s on the other foot A reader’s horse
89 Pasture planning Have
112 Scrub up well – make-up for every occasion Make the
82 Complete guide to shivers A vet
99 Let’s make babies!
120 Wedding bells Create
Ask a vet 72 Flexible friends
Veterinary guide to causes, diagnosis and future effects of joint injuries or disease
has a freak accident with a loose shoe
demystifies this distressing condition
94
On the road Make
sure you're safe and legal transporting your horse in your lorry or trailer
Learn what to look for to make sure your horse is in tip-top condition a year of fabulous fields with our month-bymonth field care calendar
Want to put your mare in foal? Don’t miss our complete guide to artificial insemination
104 Wellbeing news
l Is patting an approriate reward for horses? l Antibacterial proteins found in mushrooms l The drawbacks of elastic reins
72
Directory 134 Horses for sale Find the horse of your dreams here and in our huge selection at horseandrideruk.com
your horsey photographs
transition from yard to work, and look supersmart in the show ring a horsey theme for your big day
124 Home and away Welsh riding holidays tested by the Horse&Rider team
23
136 Houses for sale Want to keep your horse at home? Here’s the perfect place!
137 Horse&Rider directory Find what you want,
from insurance to riding holidays, in our classified ads
129 This month we love... Funky sweaters, flexible stirrups, waterproof boots and jackets, colourful rugs and more
HORSe &RIDER 5
Horse
6 HORSe &RIDER
world
Soul
searching P
artner, confidant, friend. These are just some of the ways we describe our horses. The bond between horse and rider goes deeper than just athletic teammates. Scientists have found that on some level, horses and riders become attuned to each other, resulting in equines and humans being able to relate to each other. It’s something many riders experience and a major draw for many into equestrian sport.
➤ HORSE &RIDER 7
Nominate
your favourite charity to
Photos: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire, S&G Barratts/EMPICS Archive
win
The Queen is awarded FEI Lifetime Achievement Award Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II received the first FEI Lifetime Achievement award to recognise her role as supporter of equestrian sport throughout her reign as British monarch. Horses have played an important role in The Queen’s life. She started riding in the private riding school in Buckingham Palace Mews at age three in 1930. A year later, on her fourth birthday, she was given her first pony, Peggy, a Shetland mare, by her grandfather, King George V. The Queen has since owned and bred many horses, including Thoroughbred racehorses, and Shetland, Highland
and Fell ponies. Her breeding programmes have preserved and enhanced British bloodlines, and her racehorses have won more than 1,600 races and four of the five British Classics races – only the Epsom Derby still eludes Her Majesty. FEI President, Princess Haya says: “She is a true horsewoman, who still rides whenever State business allows, and her knowledge of breeding and bloodlines is incredible. The bond between The Queen and horses is truly extraordinary, and I can’t think of anyone more fitting to receive this very special FEI award in the Year of the Horse.”
American yard fire claims 15 horses Members of the equine community responded with an online crowdfunding campaign that raised almost £50,000 in under a week, which will go towards the rebuilding of the yard.
Stock photo
A tragic fire at a yard in Georgia, USA, claimed the lives of 15 showjumping horses. The blaze broke out at about midnight in Julie Curtin’s New Vintage Farm. Grooms were able to save 20 horses, but 15 perished.
Horse
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Signs you’re incurably Horsey
8 HORSe &RIDER
1. Your car smells fine to you, but overwhelmingly horsey to non-horsey passengers.
Petplan and Petplan Equine are conducting a nationwide search to find the UK’s top animal charities. They want animal lovers to recognise the tireless work of their favourite charity by nominating it, or one of its employees or volunteers, for a Petplan and Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) Animal Charity Award. Nominations close on 13 February. You can vote at petplanequine.co.uk/ charityawards Jenna Martin, Horse Unit Manager at Blue Cross in Burford, won last year’s Animal Charity Employee of the Year Award. She says: “To see so many of these wonderful horses and ponies being brought into charities due to neglect is upsetting. They often need such extensive physical and emotional care before they can be rehomed, which makes it heartbreaking.” Under Jenna’s guidance, the team rehomed over 50% more horses in 2013 than the previous year. Rehoming Centre Manager Stuart Insley describes her as: “Hard-working, funloving, absolutely brilliant to work with and an inspirational member of the team.”
2. You use all your annual leave for clinics, competitions and riding lessons.
Horse Dorset bridleway saved Riders in North Poole, Dorset, breathed a sigh of relief when a track known as Wheelers Lane was saved from development by a dedicated team of local residents and the British Horse Society (BHS). The group, led by local resident Marion Pope and BHS Access Officer Jean Heaton, achieved official bridleway status for the track, resulting in its protection from proposed development by Canford Renewable Energy. If you are aware of a bridleway threatened by development, the BHS Access Officer in your area can advise you on how to save it.
Eventers rejoice!
The 2015 British Eventing calendar has been confirmed. Packed with fixtures and new venues for this season, at least 140 BE80(T) classes will take place. This level is open to everyone and is specially-designed as an introduction to eventing, with free coaching and advice from BE-accredited coaches on the day. Visit britisheventing.com
Group celebrates end of boggy bridleway
Sheet’s Heath Common near Brookwood, Surrey, was previously inaccessible to some riders in winter due to unsafe conditions on the path onto the common. Worplesdon & District Bridleways Association raised funds for the creation of a new permissive horse ride by holding dressage competitions, lecture demos and pleasure rides.
Blue Chip finds next big stars
world
Congratulations to Jack Bowerman and Chelsea Round, the winners of Blue Chip’s Search for the Next Big Stars competition in August Horse&Rider. They each win a lesson with a top Blue Chip-sponsored rider, one-year’s supply of a Blue Chip balancer and supplement, Blue Chip branded clothing and access to a Blue Chip nutritional specialist. Jack is a young show producer, and Chelsea is a young eventer competing at British Eventing.
The Breakfast Club saved from dire straits A group of horses named after breakfast items have been rescued by Redwings. Jam, Muesli, Benedict, Waffle, Crumpet, Marmalade, Croissant, Toast, Bagel, Marmite and their equine friends are now grazing happily after being rescued and rehabilitated after serious neglect. Robert McAleenan and his son Conor from County Antrim in Northern Ireland were given jail sentences and banned from keeping horses for 25 years after being convicted of a series of animal cruelty offences. Sixty-six horses, ponies and donkeys were removed from their
farm and a separate site nearby in 2011. Many horses were starving and one was so weak it needed to be euthanised on welfare grounds. They had been left without food or water and many were standing in their own waste with no clean bedding, and suffering from worms, overgrown hooves and infections, including strangles. Twenty-three of the horses were transported to Redwings’ Norfolk headquarters when they were strong enough to make the journey. If you’re in Britain and want to support Redwings’ work, text RWHS00 followed by the amount you want to give to 70070.
HHH Rate H&R and win! 3. You own more breeches and jodhpurs than jeans and work trousers.
Rate H&R and you could win a Mountain Horse Crew jacket, worth £89.95! Visit tinyurl.com/RateMar15 to give our features a star rating, and one lucky reader will take home this versatile, lightweight and waterproof fleece-lined jacket, ideal for all-year-round wear. Combining practical features with style, it’s designed for in the saddle and on the yard. Colour may vary. mountainhorse.co.uk
➤ HORSE &RIDER 9
Get your
tickets Be the first to get your hands on coveted event tickets for the big events of 2015. Many offer advanced booking discounts, so it’s well worth getting organised in advance. Here is our guide to some hot new ticket releases...
Badminton Horse Trials CLA Game Fair 6–10 May Badminton, Gloucestershire badminton-horse.co.uk
A favourite for many countryside and horsey types, Badminton boasts a massive shopping village and top-level eventing. Save on admission and parking passes in advance, and why not treat yourself to a hospitality package? With gorgeous food and inside seating, it’s the perfect way to watch the action – especially if the weather is typically ‘English’.
Don’t miss
The Festival of Food at Badminton Horse Trials is the best thing for snacks and meals, with plenty of cheeses, wines and treats to take away. There are lots of samples, so you can try before you buy.
Horse
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Signs you’re incurably Horsey 10 HORSe &RIDER
4. You’re an early riser by necessity – after all, the horse doesn’t muck himself out!
31 July – 2 August Harewood House, Leeds, Yorkshire gamefair.co.uk
A celebration of the Great British countryside, the Game Fair is a highlight on the summer event calendar. From shooting to fishing and falconry, there are masses of demonstrations that are sure to impress you. Don’t miss the Totally Food Show with goodies to eat and cooking demonstrations. Book your tickets online and don’t miss out on the gorgeous Emma Bridgewater CLA Game Fair mug, available to pre-order when you book.
VIP treatment
Treat yourself to a VIP picnic at the CLA Game Fair’s new Picnic Lawn. Choose from a range of luxury hampers, featuring locally-sourced produce and drinks. Picnic blankets and picnic tables with umbrellas will be provided, and your dogs can come, too!
5. Your house may be a mess, but there’s not a stray bit of straw lingering on your swept and mucked-out yard.
FEI European Eventing Championships
9–13 September Blair Castle, Highland Perthshire, Scotland blair2015.com See top eventers ride for victory at the FEI European Eventing Championships. Not only is it a major senior team event, it’s the last chance for nations to gain qualification for the 2016 Olympics. Star-spot top riders in the shopping village and keep non-horsey family members entertained in the Bruadar Country Fair. There are lots of options available for accommodation and membership.
Sleep in style
Blair Castle offers several accommodation options if you would like to stay on-site. Traditional DIY camping is on offer, as is glamping. There are super-luxury tipis and yurts available, which come kitted out with everything you need for a lovely weekend – rain or shine!
6. Your horse gets new shoes more often than you do.
Hickstead
Equestrian.com Derby Meeting 24–28 June Longines Royal International Horse Show 28 July – 2 August
Hickstead is synonymous with showjumping and the two international fixtures are unmissable for fans of the sport. The Hickstead Derby meeting includes national and international classes, including the Hickstead Speed Derby and Hickstead Derby. The Longines Royal International Horse Show features showing and showjumping at the highest level, including the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup. Show membership is available.
Derby community
Don’t miss out on your chance to get up close and personal to human and equine showjumping stars at the Equestrian.com Derby Meeting. Buy a luxury polo shirt from hickstead.co.uk and get a whole host of extras, including free members’ badges for a day.
7. You were rocking ‘equestrian chic’ before it was fashionable.
world
Bolesworth CSI**** International showjumping
18–21 June Bolesworth Castle, Tattenhall, Chester, Cheshire bolesworthinternational.com In its second year, international showjumping at Bolesworth already has a reputation for brilliant hospitality, top-class jumping and excellent entertainment. Upgraded to CSI**** status this year, it’s is sure to attract top names in the sport. Hospitality and advance tickets are available.
Photos: Kit Houghton, Jim Crichton, Samantha Lamb, Julie Badrick/iesportsmedia.com
Horse
Musical ride
Why not stay for the after party? Scouting for Girls will be headlining the evening entertainment on 20 June. Polo and a puissance class will start the evening off, then dance the night away to live music!
8. You’re horserich but cash-poor and perfectly happy that way.
➤ HORSE &RIDER 11
Horse
world
Ariat Inspiration of the
Stacey Ralton has inspired her sister Kayleigh to ride after she had a stroke
month
I had a stroke two years ago, at age 22, leaving me with a weakness on my left side. As a result, I was terrified of all horses, including my own. The fear paralysed me and I couldn’t even lead my mare, Zola, whom I trusted fully before my stroke. “Because of my fear, I started to lose all hope and I thought of rehoming Zola at 22 years old, even though I love her very much. Stacey was there for me during that time and reassured me. She helped me when my arm went completely dead when I mucked out,
leaving me unable to lift the shavings fork. “Over the past two years, Stacey has stood by me, teaching me how to ride again, and helping me to build the strength in my left Kayleigh a side and my nd Zola confidence around horses. I’m now living life to the full and I have no fear of Zola – we can jump, hack and do dressage. I couldn’t have made such an amazing recovery without my sister.
Tell us why your horsey inspiration deserves this award, and they could win Ariat Olympia breeches and a Team Waterproof jacket, worth £255! Send a clear photo, SAE for its return, and contact details for you and your inspiration, to:
Tweet box Find out what our favourite horsey people are saying on Twitter this month
@DavisonDressage (Olympic dressage rider Richard Davison) “All horses and riders settled for first dressage training session @olympiahorse.”
@CSJDujardin (Charlotte Dujardin) “Well what an incredible evening and congratulations to Lewis! So overwhelming to see dressage up there! Thank you to everyone for voting.” @Cougzag (American Jockey Agent Brian Beech) “#CaliforniaChrome checking out his new Xmas stocking.”
Ariat Inspiration of the Month, Horse&Rider, Marlborough House, Headley Road, Grayshott, Surrey GU26 6LG, or email celeste@djmurphy.co.uk For full terms and conditions, visit horseandridercompetitions.co.uk
For information on Ariat products % 0845 600 3209, ariat-europe.com or email info@ariat-europe.com
What’s on TV for horse lovers Tune in to Horse&Country TV this March on Sky 258 or online at everwhere.horseandcountry.tv. Enjoy Yard Talk and H&C Masterclass starring Philip Miller, Chris Cox Horsemanship, Rudall’s Round-Up: JAS final and Around the Dog World. Go wild with Zoo Vet at Large and watch amazing acrobatics on the FEI World Cup Vaulting Final. There’s a new documentary series, Wild Carpathia and don’t miss the Argentine Open Polo 2014, Longines Hong Kong Masters and new FEI Equestrian World. For complete listings, visit horseandcountry.tv 12 HORSe &RIDER
Zoo Vet at Large
@RoeSpencer (International Showjumper Spencer Roe) “It’s beginning to look a lot like #Christmas.”
improves performance The Best feed the Best
Gold Medalists including Peter Charles, Scott Brash, Mark Todd, Laura Collett, Team Eilberg and Emile Faurie all choose to feed Superflex to their horses and recommend it to all others. Polo ponies, racehorses, driving ponies, and police horses, plus hundreds of BRC Champions also choose Superflex as they have all seen how it improves their performance. Is your horse getting the best you can feed? For winning joints, feed the winning formula, feed Superflex.
For more details please call our NAF Helpline: 0800 373 106 or email info@naf-uk.com
www.naf-equine.eu/uk
14 HORSe &RIDER
Photo: Cheryl Ann Quigley/Shutterstock.com
Horse
world
American dream The
The state of Kentucky is home to some of the best horse breeding, racing and sport in the world, and many of its equine superstars trace their ancestry back to our own British Thoroughbred
T
hree hundred years ago, three stallions founded a breed of horse that today is celebrated worldwide for its speed and stamina. Thoroughbreds as we know them today carry bloodlines from the UK’s native mares, who were cross-bred with imported Oriental stallions of Arabian, Barb and Turkoman breeding. They were selectively bred to be extremely athletic and the Thoroughbred’s popularity quickly spread throughout the world, finally entering North America in 1730.
➤ HORSe &RIDER 15
Runners in the 2014 Kentucky Derby – winner California Chrome is lying third here Below: First turn at the 2014 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky’s indigenous Bluegrass is perfect for horse breeding
Kentucky Derby photos - Main: Bill Brine. First turn and winner: Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
Race to the top
In 1798, English racing legend Diomed was exported to the USA and although he had failed as a stud in England, the 21-year-old stallion sired so many offspring he was considered the father of American Thoroughbreds. Racing in the USA really began to take off after the Civil War ended in 1865. By 1890, there were more than 300 racetracks and the American Stud Book (first compiled by Colonel Sanders Bruce of Kentucky in 1873) started to document all the American Thoroughbred pedigrees. The sport was almost wiped out in the early 1900s by a ban on wagering, and in 1908 there were only 25 tracks left. Fortunately, at the Kentucky Derby that same year, some betting was legalised and horse racing took off. Kentucky is rich in racing history, with the first racecourse laid out in the city of Lexington in 1789. Nearly 100 years later in 1875, Churchill Downs racetrack officially opened with its three premier races, the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Clark Handicap modelled on Britain’s Classics, the Epsom Derby, Epsom Oaks and St Leger Stakes. The Kentucky Derby has been held every year since, and remains the oldest, continuously-held sports event in the United States. This year, the 140th race was won by California Chrome ridden by Victor Espinoza and trained by 77-year-old Art Sherman.
Aerial shot of Churchill Downs
2014 winner California Chrome
1798
English racing legend Diomed exported to the USA, considered the father of American Thoroughbreds
USA Kentucky
1873
American Stud Book complied by Colonel Sanders Bruce of Kentucky
16 HORSe &RIDER
1875
Churchill Downs opens with first Kentucky Derby won by Aristides, a three-year-old chestnut colt
Horse
world
S! CHEEinRt juleps are
0m y 120,00 t the Kentuck a d e serv eeting. Derby m
The Kentucky Derby is known as ‘The Greatest Two Minutes in Sport’ for its approximate run time. It’s also dubbed ‘The Run for the Roses’ for the garland of 554 red roses that’s draped over the winner
1896
1915
The distance is reduced from 1.5 miles to its present 1.25 miles
Regret is the first filly to win the race, followed by Genuine Risk (1980) and Winning Colors (1988)
1900s
The race joins the Preakness Stakes in Maryland and Belmont Stakes in New York. to become American racing’s ‘Triple Crown’
1973
Secretariat wins with a time of 1:59 minutes, setting the record for the fastest time
1954
Purse for the Kentucky Derby exceeds US$100,000 for the first time – it grew to a cool US$2,177,800 in 2014, with the winner’s share standing at US$1,417,800 HORSe &RIDER 17
➤
Seabis
cuit
Photos: Wikipedia, Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation, Secretariat.com, James Shambhu of the Kentucky Horse Park, William Fox-Pitt photo: StockImage Services.com/FEI
A state of mind
Over the years, Kentucky proudly hosted legendary Thoroughbreds like Man 0’War, Secretariat and Seabiscuit, and it was these household names, amongst others, who gave racing in the US a big following for many years. The Thoroughbred was finally designated official state horse of Kentucky in 1996 and the breed is also featured as the Kentucky state symbol. Today, there are around 450 working horse farms in Kentucky’s Horse Country and the region’s deep-rooted love for the Thoroughbred is ever-present in the rolling fields of grazing horses, beautifully-designed farms and, of course, the famous racetracks and auction houses. It is said that travellers in the early 19th century remarked of the Bluegrass State: “A handsome horse is the highest pride of a Kentuckian.”
1996
The Thoroughbred is made state symbol of Kentucky
1978
Kentucky Horse Park opens in Lexington as a unique celebration of man’s relationship with horses
18 HORSe &RIDER
Man O’Wa r t
Secretaria
ts Fun facar
Man o’Wt kept ledgers for
ere arbu ar died, th mes m, Will H His groo . When Man O’W na n o li mil sign than 1.3 re o visitors to m h it ledgers w were 63 uit seabisc’War’s grandson. O n a it was M Seabiscu riat secretad Secretariat the ke Century, ESPN ran the 20th In 1999, f o te le t ath horse 35th-bes est-ranking race h ig h e th t. on the lis
H&R recommends riders wear an up-to-standard hat when they ride
Horse
world
Park and ride
Kentucky also boasts the only park in the world dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse. The Commonwealth of Kentucky bought a farm for US$2.7 million and in 1978, the Kentucky Horse Park opened its gates to the public. There are numerous equestrian-themed attractions at the park, such as horse and pony rides and Hall of Champions shows, and it is also the final resting place for many Thoroughbreds who stormed the racetracks of yesteryear.
Kentucky’s kings Man O’ War ‘Big Red’
(Born Kentucky, 1917–1947) Height: 16.2hh Colour: Chestnut Notable wins: He won 20 of his 21 races Total prize money: US$249,465
Seabiscuit
(Born Kentucky, 1933–1947) Height: 15.2hh Colour: Bay Notable wins: In six years of racing, he competed 89 times, winning 33 races Total prize money: A record-breaking US$437,730
Welcoming the world
In 2010, the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games were held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, the first time they had ever ventured outside Europe. The three-day event at Lexington is part of the Rolex Grand Slam and this year was won by William Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero (above).
Secretariat, also ‘Big Red’ (Born Virginia, 1970–1989)
Height: 16.2hh Colour: Chestnut Notable wins: In 1973, he became the first US Triple Crown winner in 25 years. He set race records in all three events in the series (the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes) – records that still stand today Total prize money: US$1,316,808
2010
2015
Kentucky hosts the Alltech World Equestrian Games
Who will win the next Kentucky Derby?
HHH Rate
this feature
Go to tinyurl.com/RateMar15 for a chance to win a Mountain Horse Crew jacket (see p9).
HORSe &RIDER 19
Supple Muscles and Joints Mesh Rug
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Boots
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Committed to wellbeing
Share, write, tweet . . .
Horse
world
If you want to comment on an article in Horse&Rider or share your thoughts, then drop a line to Lucy Turner – address on p22. Remember to include your contact details and boot size!
H
Star ! letter
Winter woes
Here we are again, the dreaded winter. I lived in southern Ireland with my horses for two years and the winters were awful, but I didn’t dread them like I do here. It’s the livery yards, you see. They think horses are made
Have your say!
Take a hike
I am a keen walker and would really like to make an appeal to riders who take their horses into the countryside. All of us, riders and walkers, are obviously out to spend time enjoying the environment, and get a bit of fresh air and exercise. However, my walking experience these days has been somewhat of an obstacle course, involving negotiating churned-up pathways, of course made soft by wet weather, but mostly a problem due to numerous horses’ hooves trampling them. To all riders: please don’t take up the whole path so it becomes impassable for walkers, pick one side and ride single file. This means there’s a proper path left for those on foot to continue enjoying their stroll. Jenny Ashworth, Shropshire Walkers and riders have to share the paths Posed by models
of sugar. Nearly every morning there’s been a shower of rain, my phone goes off, ‘All horses to remain in their boxes due to weather’. My horses are Friesian and Connemara. They are built for weather and I rug them just to satisfy my peers anyway. They love to be out. All horses do. Okay, some man-bred Thoroughbred-types may need a little cosseting, but a rug should suffice. I know the yards also want to protect their paddocks, but they are so small, the horses can’t get up enough speed to damage them. Let them be horses! Mine loved it out all the time in Ireland and were never stiff, lame or naughty. I brought them in only when snow was falling while they ate quality hay and, if I’m honest, for my benefit. Haynets tied to the fence would have done. As Billy Connolly once said, ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes’. Chrissie Haward, Essex
We asked you on our Facebook page what you think about riding and leading. Is it great for getting the horses exercised when you’re tight for time or potentially dangerous? Here’s what you had to say... Emma Jeffery Not keen with today’s eejits on the road! Kelly Lee As long as it isn’t on a busy road, I can’t see a problem. Although there are too many idiot drivers out there. Louise Desoer Depends where it is. It’s okay as long as it is safe to do so. Mirror the comments about the idiot drivers though! Liz Daniels Great for exercising when time is tight, providing it’s with the right horses and an experienced rider, and it’s done sensibly!
Lou Vega Not for novices, however, a more experienced rider would have little trouble. Also, I would abstain from roads and stick to grassy or dirt tracks.
To have your say about horsey issues of the day, visit facebook.com/HorseandRiderMag
➤ HORSE &RIDER 21
Horse
world
H&R ’s
top tweets Our favourite tweets @HorseandRiderUK @KatieRoebuck foggy hacking ears #winterhacking
Does bullying go on at your yard? Let’s put a stop to it @KarenannPhotoBC #horses #surfers Whiterocks Beach
Singled out
@SaffronLeM Three-hour hacking adventure! #weekendriding
H
I recently lost my beloved horse to laminitis. He was a friendly cob, and we liked to just potter about in the school and on hacks. Once I’d recovered from losing him, I wanted to get back in the show ring, so I bought a fantastic new horse and keep him at my old livery yard. He’s a striking Dutch Warmblood with a fantastic, scopey jump and a fab temperament, and is easily the most talented horse on the yard – we won a few classes within the first few weeks. However, this caused a few problems with other liveries who are in the showjumping circles. They went from being my friends to barely acknowledging me, whispering behind my back, cutting me up in the school, leaving
Horse&Rider thank you...
my horse in the field on his own and, I think, ‘borrowing’ my equipment – so far a couple of brushes and a saddlecloth have gone missing. I spoke to the yard owner, but he doesn’t want to get involved. I then spoke to one of the liveries who had been a friend and she just said I was being pathetic. I’m really miserable there and am now leaving the yard. It shouldn’t have to be this way, but I know bullying on yards is common and I wanted to raise awareness. I think yard owners and managers have a responsibility towards the welfare of their customers and their horses. I hope it wouldn’t become malicious, but only time will tell and I’m not prepared to find out. Anonymous
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22 HORSe &RIDER
If you want to share your thoughts, send your letters to Lucy Turner, Letters Editor, H orse&Rider, D J Murphy (Publishers) Ltd, Marlborough House, Headley Road, Grayshott, Surrey GU26 6LG, with photos if they’re relevant and an SAE for their return, or email lucy@djmurphy.co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you!
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@PoshPooches1 #weekendriding. My first full weekend with my new boy, Twig – my first horse! :D
Win!
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A lesson with Sam Griffiths
and Uvex gear Two lu ck y rea d ers whsillat hiseayarchd inwDoin rset m Griffit ● A private lesson with Sa hat, worth £399.95 ed xxe Su ● A Uvex £20 ● A Uvex hat bag, worth ar, 2 IR eyewe worth £119.95 ● Uvex sportstyle SGL 20 ed numnah ● A Uvex brand
Sam is the 2014 Badminton winner with Paulank Brockagh, and represented Australia at the World Equestrian Games in 2014 and 2010, as well as at the London 2012 Olympics. He also finished third at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in 2014 with Happy Times. Based in Dorset, Sam has 15 horses to compete in 2015. For maximum head protection, Uvex exclusively relies on high-quality materials that meet the highest safety demands. The durable, hardshell construction of the Uvex Suxxeed hat is made using a special injection moulding technique. Protect your eyes with sportstyle SGL 202 IR eyewear, which provides a non-slip fit and with contrast enriching lenses, provides protection from infrared rays. The lesson with Sam Griffiths will take place between 24 March and 9 April, subject to Sam’s availability. Winners must be available during this time, and are responsible for transport of their horse to and from Sam’s yard in Gillingham, Dorset.
Q
What is the name of Sam Griffiths’ Badminton-winning horse?
w
moreorth than
£750 EACH!
Tie-breaker: In 50 words or fewer, tell us why you should win a lesson with Sam Griffiths?
To ente r:
For more information, visit uvex-sports.com and samgriffithseventing.co.uk
Answer the question and tie-breaker on the competition entry form on page 144 or visit horseandridercompetitions.co.uk to enter online. Please provide a ridden photo of you and your horse, and a brief description of your ability and experience as a combination. Entries must be received by 28 February 2015. Visit for full terms and conditions. No purchase necessary.
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HORSE &RIDER 23
PART TWO In this feature... ➤ Liven up your schooling sessions
The
happy athlete Eventer Lucinda Fredericks has found there are certain types of horsey personality she meets again and again, even if the individual is always unique. In the second part of this series, she works with an inexperienced horse and a strong character
Eventer Lucinda Fredericks has won Burghley, Badminton and Kentucky three-day events, all on her 15.3hh chestnut mare, Headley Britannia, ‘Brit’. Lucinda now competes on Brit’s children, chestnut mare Little Britannia and Sport Horse GB stallion, Britannia’s Mail.
While we know that every horse is an individual, there are definitely types of horsey character I seem to meet on a regular basis. And over the years, I’ve found that by slightly adapting my management and training philosophy to suit that personality, I can make a real difference to the mindset of the individual horse I’m working with. No matter how quirky or complicated a horse seems, the goal is to develop a compliant, happy athlete who can perform at the level you want him to. What differs is how you get to that point! Here’s how I work with some of the different types of horse I meet.
s o u n d li k
CASE STUDy
ea
ho
Strong char acter An experience d horse can ha ve his own idea s about how to do things! I’ll sh ow you how to get him on si de.
yo u
24 HORSe &RIDER
k no w ?
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Do
s
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Individuals of different types
Young or inexperience d A green hors e needs to bu ild balance and strength. Follo w my programme to boost his confidence.
e
As told to Kelly McCarthy-Maine. Photos: Bob Atkins
Our expert
Meet Cos
Cos came to eventing as a seven-year-old from a showjumping background and has had an incredible first season, pinging around double clear at every event. From climbing hills and splashing through puddles on Salisbury Plain, the exercises I’ll show you helped Cos make such a successful transition from showjumper to event horse.
The inexperienced horse
Young or inexperienced horses can become a bit backwards in their way of thinking if you spend too much time in an arena. The best way to help this is to take your training programme out into the big, wide world to help build their confidence. You’ll find that, once you have established the feeling of going forward and built up strength by hacking out, your horse’s flatwork will improve. Here’s how I work with an inexperienced horse, Cos, to train his body and his mind for a successful start in his career as an event horse. The exercises are the same no matter what you want to do with your horse!
In the saddle
➤ Schooling away from home ➤ Develop your horse’s balance and confidence
➤ HORSe &RIDER 25
Exercise 1: Working on hills and slopes Working young horses gently up and down hills and slopes helps them become physically stronger and learn to balance themselves. Follow my top tips... ➤ I do plenty of slow trot work up hills with my young horses. When riding on the road, I tend not to trot on flat sections. ➤ I carefully walk my horses down hills on the road, asking them to relax into the contact, and be round and aware of where they are placing their feet. This helps them engage their hindquarters to stay balanced and not fall onto the forehand. ➤ Working up and down slopes helps to build strength and balance in you and your horse. Engage your core muscles and keep your weight central in the saddle to help your horse stay balanced.
Exercise 2: Use what you find to develop your horse One year I did all my preparation for Badminton Horse Trials using just a few fields and three jumps – and finished in sixth place. With a bit of determination and creativity, you can get a lot done with very modest facilities. Part of the fun of schooling outside the arena is using the natural landscape to develop your horse. When riding out, be mindful of the footing. Get to know where the ground stays soft in dry weather and where you can go when it is wet, and keep an eye on changes in grass and vegetation – it’s a warning you need to watch out for holes. ➤ A fence line gives you a reference point to check that your horse is straight. ➤ Steep sections help horses to think about their feet – go slowly, lean back and slightly slip your reins. ➤ Long grass can act as raised trotting poles. The tickling of the grass encourages your horse to work with a greater range of movement and can help show him the way to more ‘wow’ paces.
26 HORSe &RIDER
In the saddle
Exercise 3: Go with a buddy and work independently It’s nice for horses to leave the yard together and it can really help a young horse’s confidence to have a lead from a more experienced horse. Hacking together to a field or area to school and then working independently is a great experience for horses – it simulates competition days when the horses are together in the lorry or warm-up, and then have to be brave and go off on their own to perform. Don’t throw your green horse in at the deep end. Be sympathetic – stay in the same area as your companion, but do insist that your horse is concentrating on his own work. Choose a specific exercise to work on – for example, square turns and straight lines, or working and medium trot – to keep both of you focused on the job in hand.
My essential kit
A sloping field or a steep bit of track are both elements you can use to improve your horse’s balance and way of going
➤ The world can be a big, exciting place for young horses and I never go anywhere on a young or inexperienced horse without a neck strap. You can get specially-made neck straps that look quite nice, but I find an old stirrup leather, with the buckle done up and any extra length fed back through, does the job nicely. Chances are you’ll never need it, but it does give you a little extra something to grab on to if the horse leaps around. And even if I’m just going up on Salisbury Plain to school, I’ll usually put my stirrups up a hole or two. HORSe &RIDER 27
➤
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In the saddle
The strong character
The further along in a horse’s career he is, the more likely he has formed quite a few opinions. As a rider, it’s important to keep training interesting and fun. This will help to keep your horse engaged and working with you, rather than to his own agenda. Here are three exercises I use to keep an experienced horse focused on the job at hand.
CASE STUDy
Meet Dizzy
With her owner unable to ride for a few weeks due to an injury, strong character Dizzy isn’t sure she wants to work for me. Dizzy is extremely talented, with a lot of experience. Here’s how I work with a strong character to try to encourage them to ‘come to the party’.
Exercise 1: Have the horse do the work The more established a horse is, the more training he will have had and the better he knows his job. So, as a rider, you need to be more creative with his work and challenge him with clever exercises that con him into better engagement and suppleness. All in a day’s work! ➤ Working walk pirouettes help stop that feeling of being run-away with in medium trot or canter. After a few strides of medium trot, return to walk, half-halt and go into a wide walk pirouette, then return to trot or canter and ask for more medium work. Your horse will have to balance himself to produce the pirouette, encouraging him to lift his forehand and engage his quarters. ➤ Shoulder-in is a great exercise for strong characters. The movement creates suppleness without you having to specifically ask for it.
Working walk pirouettes help refocus a tooconfident horse
HORSe &RIDER 29
➤
In the saddle
Exercise 2: Get counting When I’m working to encourage a horse to be lighter in the hand, I count to four over and over in my head, and co-ordinate my aids in a bit of a loop. Eventually, the horse takes more responsibility for the balancing work and you can do less. The process starts with me counting out a deliberate pattern like this... ➤ 1, 2: Ride a half-halt, with your leg on. By slowing him and asking him to organise himself, there’s time for the hindleg to step under his body. ➤ 3, 4: As he pushes off with his hindleg, soften the rein to allow him to move forward in balance. The stronger a horse or the more he tries to lean on your contact, the more you have to engage the engine (the hindlegs) with more half-halts to release him off the reins. In the same way, the more often he pulls, the more you have to let go. But remember, half-halt only works and creates a benefit if you release afterwards.
Exercise 3: Liven it up
Web extra
I don’t mind when there is a lot of activity on my yard. On any given day there are children riding bikes or playing in the hay barn, cars going up the drive and terriers racing through the school. Feed gets delivered, hay bales are lifted on the front of a tractor and the banks of the school are mown while I ride. You can’t control the environment at competitions and your horse needs to learn to focus and concentrate no matter what is going on around him. How he copes with distraction is a good test of your relationship. If he trusts and respects you, he should be able to tune out most distractions.
Teaching a strong horse to balance himself can be as easy as 1,2,3,4
My essential kit ➤ I’ll occasionally school my horses on the flat in a Pelham. I use two reins on the bit, and often choose a leather curb or soften the action of a curb chain by wrapping it in cohesive bandage. Having two reins allows me to apply pressure with the curb if the horse is against my hand and to quickly release by softening the curb rein as soon as he relaxes, while maintaining a contact on the snaffle rein.
Top tip
Go online to find out how Lucinda prepares different personality types for competition, and her management tips for them, too. horseandrideruk.com 30 HORSe &RIDER
➤ While it may be difficult to get an experienced horse excited about going into the school for 45 minutes of flatwork, riding when the yard is busy or moving the arena furniture around can liven things up a bit.
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PART Two In this feature. . . ➤ Schooling over curving lines Our pupils
Words: Alison Bridge. Photos: Louise Siggers Solheim. Thanks to Brook and Kathy Staples for their help with this feature, idealsportshorses.com
James Gearing has been riding for three years – all of those with Brook – and is riding his sevenyear-old gelding, Scooby Solly V. He is competing at BE90. Sarah Gearing is riding her 13-yearold Selle Français, Petal du Chene. Sarah has owned her for two years and has progressed to BE100, qualifying for the Badminton Grassroots Championships. Following a blip across country, she has stepped back to BE90 to regain her confidence. Josi Gressler is riding Nobleman, aka Noble, a nineyear-old from Brook’s yard who has gained a couple of points at Novice level. Josi is from Germany and is spending some time training with Brook.
32 HORSe &RIDER
Cross-countr y preparation
Skinnies, ditches, difficult lines – Olympic eventer Brook Staples helps three riders practise for the eventing season, while in the school and out hacking
In the saddle
➤ Practising corners ➤ Tackling ditches and water out hacking Our trainer Australian Olympic event rider Brook Staples has been placed at Badminton and Burghley, and competed at the Sydney Olympics. A British Eventing Accredited Trainer, he produces and competes event horses to CCI*** level, as well as teaching. In this feature, Brook rides his six-year-old Irish event horse, Shane, who has 16 points at Novice level.
L
ast month, I explained how to create an adjustible canter and help your horse stay balanced on the approach to fences in preparation for going cross-country. This month, I’ll explain how to ride curving lines, related distances, corners, ditches and water – the main challenges you will meet out on the cross-country course.
Riding a line of fences
As you move up the grades, cross-country courses become ever more complex, so it’s important to build your skills. While it’s nice to go cross-country schooling regularly, if you don’t have your own transport, or if the venue is miles away, it’s not always possible. The good news is that you can build your skills in the arena and out hacking.
➤ HORSE &RIDER 33
st rid
es
ri de s
An upright, three strides to a one-stride double, four strides to an upright
e re Th
Cross-country is all about accuracy. You need to be able to keep your horse straight to the fence – even if it’s on a curve. To develop this skill, I set up a line of fences incorporating a vertical, then three strides on a curve to a one-stride double, then four strides on a curve to a skinny vertical (right). It’s a telling exercise – if you don’t ride each jump straight, the rest will go wrong.
One stride
t rs u Fo
Setting up your fences l An average horse's canter stride is 12ft or 3.6m l When pacing out your distances, allow an extra stride to account for take-off and landing l Three strides for an average horse is 48ft or 14.6m l One stride is 24ft or 7.3m l Four strides is 60ft or 18.3m
With a difficult line like this, if you don’t ride one jump straight, the whole lot doesn’t work well
James jumps the first upright smoothly
Wake him up!
Get organised before you approach the first fence. Make sure you come to the fence in a balanced, forward-going canter with your horse focused on the first upright. Refusals are more likely if he isn’t focused on the task at hand. Your horse will find it easy to jump the upright, but if he isn’t on your aids and if his canter isn’t in balance, making the three strides to the double will be difficult for him, nevermind the four strides following the double to the skinny vertical. If your horse lacks focus or you’re finding it difficult to make the three and four strides before
34 HORSe &RIDER
and after the double, ride a big circle in canter and adjust your horse’s pace forward for a few strides, then collect him for a few strides. The fences come up quickly in this exercise, so there’s little room for error, but if you keep the fences small, it’s forgiving. Make sure you sit up and ride forward from the first to the second fence. Use your outside rein to keep your horse straight. Even though you’re riding on a curve, you need to keep your horse’s body in a straight line. If he’s falling out through his shoulders, there’s a greater chance he might duck out at the last minute. Be determined! Focus on a point in the middle of each fence and ride decisively and positively towards it. While this exercise uses coloured poles and fillers, this test of accuracy is similar to the challenges that will come up on a cross-country course.
In the saddle
Smooth it out
The goal of this exercise is to navigate the four fences on the curve in a smooth way. Your body position can go a long way to helping – or hindering – you in this exercise. If you have a tendency to jump ahead of your horse, this is a good exercise to help you break the habit. Sitting up and letting the horse come up to you will help you to stay balanced and organised as you bend your horse. Having effective hand, seat and leg aids through this exercise will go a long way to keeping your horse smooth through the curve. This all starts with a stable base, with your weight in the balls of your feet and heels. Make sure you don’t grip with your knees, because this weakens your base of support and makes your leg much more prone to swinging back behind the girth, rendering it ineffective. What’s more, if you’re secure in the saddle, you’ll be able to stay with your horse should he run out at the last minute.
“Let the horse come to you,” Brook demonstrates
...but dropping her weight into her stirrups gives her a stable leg position
At first, Sarah was gripping with her knees too much...
➤ HORSE &RIDER 35
Helping you & your horse More Myler Ported Bits These two bits both have quite large ports, so there is less restriction of the swallowing reflex, (the main cause of resistance). How do they compare?
MB43 Narrow Low Ported Barrel
MB33 Low Medium Wide Ported Barrel
• Both mouthpieces have Independent Side Movement, for a clearer lateral aid, so that an aid from a single rein only activates that side of the bit • Both mouthpieces are ‘solid’ (ie they don’t collapse (or fold) around a joint), so they give a direct action. This means they are quite still in the mouth and do not exert pressure on the outer lips and bars. The width of the bit is also maintained, which can prevent a horse with a wedge-shaped face getting rubbed or squeezed by the top of the cheek. • Both are curved forward to accommodate the tongue • Both mouthpieces are available on an Eggbutt with hooks; and a Pelham. Myler Combinations are available with the MB43 now and the MB33 from May next year. ➤ The MB43LP gives
➤ The MB33 gives the
a lot of tongue room but the curved area where the port joins the main “canons” of the mouthpiece will still apply tongue pressure. ➤ The MB43 is ideal for an intermediate to advanced horse which is works well off the other aids but can still get get strong, so tongue pressure can still be required.
maximum amount of tongue relief, so there is far less interference in swallowing at all. This bit acts on the bars of the mouth. ➤ The MB33 is ideal for a well-trained, polite horse, which works well of the other aids and does not need any tongue restriction for signalling or control.
To decide which mouthpiece would be best for your horse, consider: • what are you trying to improve? • how is your horse resisting? • how has he responded to other bits you have used and how did their actions differ? • what is his mouth like? (eg big tongue; fleshy lips; short muzzle, etc)
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In the saddle
Noble stops at the double, but ends up jumping the line well in both directions (below)
Legs not hands
This exercise is great for showing up any gaps in your horse’s training or weaknesses in your riding, because the fences come up quickly – there’s nowhere to hide! If your horse isn’t between your leg and hand on the flat, you’re more likely to have problems. What’s more, if you steer your horse through the curve with just your hands, rather than a combination of hand, seat and leg, it may put you at risk of a run-out. Instead, use your legs and reins to channel your horse, keeping him straight and the canter active. Imagine your leg and rein aids as walls on either side of your horse, keeping him straight and preventing him from even thinking about running out. Practising accuracy in training will pay off in spades when you go cross-country, because your horse will be on your aids, straight and able to tackle whatever combinations of fences come up.
Before and after
When jumping, your approach is the most important thing. It needs to be balanced and forward, and while the horse must be able to see and adjust to the fence, don’t start your approach so far away that your horse’s canter becomes flat. If you get the approach right, your getaway will be good, too. With cross-country, the most important thing is to kick on and move away from the fence on landing. When you are schooling, practise riding away from fences straight and at an angle – you need to be able to do both across country to avoid time penalties!
Brook and Shane jump the corner
Corner craft
To help the riders practise jumping the corners they will meet on a cross-country course, I set one up in the school using three wings and two poles. Keep it small at first – make it easy for your horse. When you’re starting out, it’s a good idea to set a slanted pole on the narrow side of the corner, like a guide rail, to stop your horse from running out. It’s better to get him jumping confidently without a run-out, than to rush him and have to retrain him not to run out. Ride like you’re jumping a vertical. Keep your hands still and your leg on. Make a straight approach in a balanced canter and check your horse is listening. Aim to jump the corner about a metre from the apex, depending on how wide the angle is, to reduce the risk of a run-out. Don’t panic and get too strong with your hand, and remember to close your legs as you near the fence. Once your horse is confident jumping the corner, you can place the guide rail on the floor. Jump the corner from both directions once you’re comfortable without the guide rail.
Use a guide rail to start with and remove it once he’s confident
When you’re starting out, it’s a good idea to set a slanted pole on the narrow side of the corner HORSE &RIDER 37
➤
In the saddle
Web extra
Go online to see videos of Brook and his pupils jumping the curved exercise, corner and ditch out hacking. bit.ly/brookstaples
Petal lends Scooby confidence going through the water
Out and about
While it’s great to go cross-country schooling with your horse, transporting him and hiring a venue isn’t always easy. But you can do quite a bit of preparation out hacking. If you can find something safe to pop over on a hack, go for it. If you get your horse into the habit of jumping a variety of obstacles – not just coloured poles in the arena – it will become second nature to him and he’ll be used to jumping whatever’s put in front of him. In the last two to three years, ditches have become a lot more common on cross-country courses. You rarely used to see rail-ditch-rail combinations (coffins) and now every course has them. Are they more difficult than any other fence? Not necessarily – it’s just another question the horse is asked. Ditches are mainly a confidence thing and most horses get over the fear of them. If your horse is worried, you need to practise enough so he just thinks, ‘Oh, it’s a ditch’. There are often opportunities to practise jumping ditches out on a hack. Just make sure it’s safe to do so. Approach in a steady trot. Keep your leg on and don’t let him turn away. I recommend approaching tricky obstacles like ditches in a positive, forward trot because the slower pace
38 HORSe &RIDER
If you find something safe to pop over on a hack, go for it means it’s more difficult for your horse to run out than it is in canter. If your horse doesn’t jump the ditch on the first attempt, steady him and turn him around straightaway. Encourage him to jump the ditch, but don’t get in front of the motion. It’s okay to get a little bit left behind. Stay calm, pick up a steady trot and approach again. If he’s good, make a fuss of him, then trot him back over it. Just keep repeating the exercise, popping him over the ditch and making a fuss of him so he knows he’s on the right track. If you have a nearby stream, you can practise riding through water, something usually found on a cross-country course. Riding successfully through water is all about confidence. When you’re introducing your horse to water, it’s a good idea to bring an experienced horse along and just walk into it. If your horse isn’t keen, bring his friend back and keep walking him past. This usually works to persuade horses who are reluctant to get their toes wet that water isn’t too bad.
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Our trainer
As told to Soraya Abdel-Hadi. Photos: Bob Atkins. Thanks to Judith Hubbard, westerntrainingonline.co.uk
Judith Hubbard is a BHSII, UKCC Level 3 Coach, and a Western Equitation Society Approved Instructor and Judge. She first experienced Western riding when teaching at a summer camp in North Carolina. Then, when the Arab Horse Society in the UK began running Western classes a few years later, she started competing and never looked back. In 2011, she founded an online Western riding development programme, offering remote learning for Western riders.
40 HORSe &RIDER
In the saddle
Our models
A simple change Instructor and Western enthusiast Judith Hubbard explains why English and Western riding are not as different as they may seem
W
estern riding is growing in popularity in the UK. Considered to be one of the oldest equestrian disciplines in the world, it dates back to the 1500s. It relies on communication from the seat of the rider and a light touch with one hand on the reins. Ranchers managing cattle from horseback required not only a particular style of riding and tack, but for their horses to develop different paces – jog and lope. To an outsider, the differences between English and Western riding can seem insurmountable, but in reality there are more similarities than you’d imagine. Judith Hubbard continues...
Kate and 11-yearold Honey have been doing Western together for twoand-a-half years. Honey was a broodmare and did not start her ridden work until she came to Kate, who has been riding Western on-and-off for 15 years. The partnership won Novice Rider High Point and Novice Horse at the National Western Show 2013.
Andrea started to do Western with her cob 10 years ago, but then she bought Annie, a Quarter Horse as a weanling. Now six, Annie was started as a Western horse and Andrea has been bringing her on for a year.
Western riding is very closely aligned with classical dressage. It’s all about riding your horse from your seat and your leg, and making sure he is really soft, willing and responsive. To me, it’s just good horsemanship!
➤ HORSe &RIDER 41
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In the saddle Jog
Western paces
Western riding has two paces that don’t appear in English riding – the jog and the lope. Both have evolved as comfortable paces for working cattle and they are comparable in some ways to collected trot and collected canter. Both paces are hard work for the horse and are introduced slowly. A young Western horse would not be expected to instantly work in jog and lope, in the same way that a young dressage horse would not be asked to produce collected work. The jog is a rhythmic, two-time pace like a trot, but slower – in order to match the speed of moving cattle. The horse drives from the hindquarters as in English riding, but with a flatter frame.
Lope
The lope is a rhythmic, relaxed, three-time pace. It is similar to a canter, but slower. It should be comfortable for the rider and also efficient for the horse (so he does not expend too much energy), as it would be used over long distances when working cattle.
Creating a better partnership
In Western training, we present the horse with a puzzle, then give him the opportunity to work it out. Then, as he solves the problem, he learns the correct response to the cues – we don’t make him do anything. As soon as you change to the attitude of making a horse do something, you’ve lost the essence of Western riding. Once a horse is correctly and positively trained, when you pick up a rein, apply your leg or change your body position there will be a response. This is a true partnership between horse and rider.
We present the horse with a puzzle, then give him the opportunity to work it out
The importance of verbal cues Verbal cues are important in Western riding and, unlike in dressage, are allowed in competition, too. We tend to set up our horses for transitions with our seat and leg, then they wait for the verbal signal before they change pace. These cues are taught on the lunge first, then introduced into the ridden work. Whoa – horses need to know this cue. It always means ‘stop’, never ‘slow down’. As soon as the horse hears it, he should be putting the brakes on! Cluck – used to transition to jog. Kiss – used to transition to lope.
➤ HORSe &RIDER 43
Can you make the transition to Western? It is almost always possible to retrain your horse to be ridden in a Western style and any type of horse is welcome, from a Shetland to a Shire. The UK Western Equestrian Society is an all-breed society, and we’ve had Friesians, Fjords and coloured cobs. That’s the great thing about Western – the horse you have at home in the field can do it! At the larger Western shows, there has been an increase in the number of Quarter Horses taking part. This is because the riders who started out on their own non-traditional horses 10 years ago have decided to take Western more seriously. The main advantage of having a Quarter Horse is that the paces are bred into them, but people fall in love with them because they are also really nice horses to have around. Is there a discipline I can’t convert from? I’ve seen riders from all disciplines who want to make the change over to Western. As a general rule, the more trained your horse is in English riding, the easier it is to go Western. It’s not impossible if your
horse has only ever been hacked and never had any formal schooling, but the process would have to be broken down into tiny chunks to make it work for the horse. How long does converting take? It varies hugely from horse to horse and depends on previous experience, past training and personality. Can I combine English and Western riding? Cross-training is important to all horses, whatever discipline you do. Although I don’t often see riders riding both English and Western, there can be benefits in doing so. When I first started Western I had a horse who was competing in dressage at Medium level, but wasn’t progressing. After working with him with a bit of Western training, he did move up. A word of caution, though – I believe that once you have trained your horse to the higher levels of Western, it would become confusing for him to switch back and forth. This is mostly because of the differences in rein contact.
Specialist skills and equipment Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to replace all your tack to get started with Western riding, although long-term you will probably want to invest in a saddle. Invest in split reins In terms of riding style, the use of the reins is probably the most different to English riding. Split reins allow you to easily adjust rein length, and move your hands up, down and side-to-side more readily than traditional English reins do. Also, I often find that just changing the reins allows the rider to mentally settle into the act of riding in a Western manner, rather than fighting the urge to shorten up the contact. Removing excess kit The next stage is removing nosebands, martingales and similar items. Even horses who have been ridden for years with these items can learn to relax their jaws, head and neck through this simple step. Combined with Western training, it can really help
44 HORSe &RIDER
remove tension and help them become much happier in their ridden work. Bitless bridles We use bitless bridles or bosals to train young horses – traditionally this was done because of the changing of teeth between three and five years old. Ideal rein length The most obvious difference between Western and English riding is the rein contact. A popular misconception among nonWestern riders is that all Western horses go on a loose rein, but that’s actually only seen in highlytrained Western horses – they have to learn their job first. Ideal rein length depends on the level of training and age of your horse. With a young horse, there are times where I will have a direct rein, which is quite a lot shorter and comparable with the length you would use in English riding.
A bosal bridle
In the saddle
Exercise one: Guiding An important element of Western training is teaching your horse to stay straight until you tell him otherwise. Imagine you are riding in a continuous straight line for miles and miles – you don’t want to have to keep saying to the horse, ‘Left a bit! Right a bit!’. I use an exercise where the horse is allowed to wobble and is corrected as necessary. I encourage riders to do this exercise every time they ride. ➤ Choose a straight line and set up your horse so he is straight. ➤ Allow your reins to be completely loose, so your horse can put his head where he wants. Don’t use your legs or reins to keep him straight. ➤ When he deviates or wobbles, immediately turn him in the opposite direction. This turn needs to be at least 90 degrees, so you have taken him off the track he was on. ➤ Choose another line and repeat the exercise. If he does not wobble, ride him to the end of the line and use a neck-rein turn to change him onto a different line.
Andrea working on a loose rein
Annie is nice and straight...
I combine this with a looser rein and swap between the two as necessary. As a horse becomes more trained, I use a longer rein for more of the time. The most important thing is to look for an elastic-feeling rein and that you are not holding or stopping the horse with it.
...then does a bit of a wobble...
...but Andrea quickly corrects he r
The curb As horses become more advanced, your reins are used as a support to your leg and seat aids. At this point, I swap horses over to a curb bit. Just like if you were using a Pelham and a curb strap, the strap should make contact with the back of the chin at about 45 degrees. We often use leather straps initially and then we may switch over to a chain. Riding with one hand When you first start Western, you will work on releasing your rein contact using two hands before switching to a one-handed contact. In novice rider classes, you can ride with two hands, in open competition you will be expected to ride one-handed.
Web extra Go online for another fun Western exercise from Judith Hubbard, horseandrideruk.com
Average length of a training session
A traditional Western curb bit
Practise an exercise until it is better than it was and, as soon as you feel it improving, stop! There can be a tendency to over drill your horse, particularly if an exercise is going well, but this often leads to a deterioration in the results. Try to stop on a high note and then move on to something else. This could be after a few seconds or it might be after 20 minutes – it really depends on you and your horse. If you’d like to find out more about trying Western with your horse, the Western Equestrian Society is a great place to start. Founded in 1985, this UK-based, all-breed society holds shows, training camps, clinics, trail rides and social events, wes-uk.com
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HORSe &RIDER 45
pART TWO In this feature. . . ➤ Getting your horse’s attention in-hand
Photos: Louise Siggers-Solheim. Thanks to Toggi and Champion for their help with this feature, toggi.com and championhats.co.uk. For more information on Jason Webb, visit yourhorsemanship.com
Our trainer Jason Webb was born in New South Wales, Australia. Through his continual work in training horses, he developed an in-depth understanding of horse psychology and behaviour, and has developed a training system based on equine psychology. His easy to understand teaching methods have helped riders of all abilities train their horses in a safer, more effective way.
Our equine pupils Cali is a six-year-old Spanish gelding. He is rebuilding his trust in people after he had a bad experience. Smokey is a two-year-old Thoroughbred colt who has come to Jason for starting under saddle before starting racing.
Solid FOUNDATIONS In the second part of our series, Jason Webb demonstrates how to give youngsters a good start
I
t’s important for youngsters to learn to respect you from the start. They must learn good basics that will allow you to be in control, whether you’re putting a rug on for the first time or mounting. When you’re in control of your horse, you can get his attention, even when he’s distracted. You can earn his trust and become his leader, helping him to stay cool whatever the situation.
Get his attention
When working with a horse in-hand, I’m teaching him the cues that I will use under saddle, too. I want to teach him to go forward, and to turn and face me on cue. Going forward is a no-brainer, but turning to face me is invaluable – if his first response when he encounters something scary is to stop and wait for me to react, he’ll be much easier to calm down. I train that reaction by disengaging his hind end every time he goes to run, putting pressure on the headcollar so that he
turns to face me. It will soon become second nature to him, and he’ll make the connection between looking at me and relaxation. Youngsters can tend to be over-reactive at first, just like Cali. I point at his hip to get him to move off in a circle around me and he shoots off. Eventually, he will become more settled in his response and realise that all I am asking him to do is move in a circle around me. When I lunge, I’m not doing it for exercise, but rather to get the horse’s mind to switch onto me. I can tell when he isn’t focused on me because his eye will be looking outside the circle. When I catch his eye as he’s trotting around the circle, then I know he wants to be with me. I keep him moving until he’s focused on me, that way he’ll start to realise that it’s much easier for him to stick with me rather than trying to run away. In contrast to Cali’s reaction on the lunge, Smokey shows lack of respect for me as the leader by snaking his head around and looking at
All the gear I start by working youngsters on the ground. You can work them with a rope headcollar and lunge line, or you can use a bridle. If you choose to use a bridle, I would recommend using a bridle rope – a piece of heavy rope I thread through the bit rings and over the poll, making a loop (see left). That way, your horse can go in either direction, without you having to change the lunge line as you would if it was attached to the bit. I do a lot of changes of direction in-hand, so this piece of kit is invaluable. 46 HORSe &RIDER
The bridle rope works similarly to a rope headcollar
Mind matters
➤ Desensitising him to new and scary objects ➤ Mounting and riding
‘
‘
You can earn his trust and become his leader, helping him to stay cool, whatever the situation
➤ HORSe &RIDER 47
Horse&Rider recommends you wear a current, up-to-standard riding hat and gloves when handling your horse
Smokey turns his head in on the circle, challenging me
me head-on as he’s trotting around. He’s challenging and threatening me, bending his head and falling out through his shoulder, which brings his hindquarters closer to me, which could end in him kicking me. I need to make sure that when his shoulder moves, his back end moves, too. I want his body to straighten up and for him to gain respect for me. The only way to fix Smokey’s attitude is to ask him to move, proving to him that I can make him go when and where I want. When he’s well behaved, I leave him alone and in that way he starts to accept that me being the leader is just the way things are. It’s like in the field, the boss horse can move any of the other horses away from the pile of hay – and if one doesn’t move, he’ll get a kick in the belly. Smokey might protest, but he’ll soon realise it’s a lot easier – and less painful – to let the boss horse eat, then take his turn. It’s the same thing here – Smokey will start to realise that it’s a lot easier to accept my cues without fighting them.
Follow the leader
I want my horses to find neutral. That’s the state where I leave them alone so they think, ‘I must be doing the right thing because he’s not asking me to do anything’. It can be hard for youngsters to pay attention sometimes and when you’re faced with a challenging personality, like Smokey, it can be a daunting task. 48 HORSe &RIDER
Smokey learns to find neutral by walking behind me
To help him find neutral, I walk in front of him. If he lags behind me then the pressure on the bridle rope quickly tells him to speed up without interfering with the bit. If he stops because he decides he doesn’t want to move, my weight on his poll makes it an uncomfortable situation. I’m teaching him to mirror my speed. If I walk slowly, he needs to walk slowly. I’m teaching him all the gears and how to walk with me.
Getting on
Once your horse is well-established in-hand, it’s time to get on. I take it slow with Cali because he
Continued on p50
➤
Mind matters
Desensitisation
When you’re introducing your youngster to new things, he might over-react at first. By desensitising him, you’re able to help him cope with novel situations in a calm, controlled way. I start with a long pole with a plastic bag on the end. It’s a scary object to your horse, but the exercise will help you to establish the right reaction to new things, and it will help you in a variety of situations. I don’t use this exercise until I have taught him to stick with me, through the initial in-hand work. I’m training Cali to realise that turning and facing me is always the answer. Even when he’s unsure, he The plastic bag is a scary object to your horse
At first I stand at a short distance from the horse and wave the bag away from him. I keep an eye on his expression and comfort level. Cali is much more worried about humans than objects, but he’s still wary. If he jumped away and panicked, I would drop the pole and have him turn around and face me, then walk back and try it again. Eventually, he’ll learn running away isn’t going to help – a response that will be beneficial if he encounters something scary in the school or out hacking. ort Standing at a sh t ar st to ce an st di
must stay and look at me because when he does, that’s when I give him a break. Eventually, he’s going to start looking at me when he faces a scary situation, thinking, ‘You’re going to help me out’. I bring the bag closer to Cali and he tenses up, but with time he’ll realise that it isn’t actually chasing him. He’ll start to relax and realise that when he relaxes, everything gets better. I try to pique his curiosity, stroking him with the bag. He puts his ears back and looks like he wants to kick it because he’s worried, but I want him to understand it, to investigate it. Some horses will stand there all tense and just blank it. Because they don’t investigate, they don’t learn. I want Cali to sniff it, look at it and analyse it.
I ask Cali to move with the bag positioned on his shoulder. This is moving with distraction – something he’ll face a lot when ridden. He tenses up because it’s still there when he’s moving, but I persevere. I want him to take straight steps, because that indicates to me that he’s not afraid. He’s really hard to move because he’s still not sure. He’s thinking, ‘I’ve become really comfortable here, but if I take another step, is that going to change?’. I take more steps until he becomes more fluent, less sticky and is moving straight – that’s a sign of confidence.
Cali investigates the bag
Cali is still slightly worried about the bag
HORSe &RIDER 49
Mind matters
Mounting from the right...
...and the left side
If he goes to bolt off, I turn him and disengage his hind end, preventing him from becoming out of control
Safety first! ➤ When starting out, always handle your youngster in an enclosed space, such as a manège. Always have a helper. If you’re unsure, get an experienced professional to help. 50 HORSe &RIDER
was previously rushed and is a bit wary of mounting. Usually I use a mounting block for getting on, but they are not always available, so in this instance I am practising mounting Cali from the ground. I put my foot in the stirrup and lean over the saddle, patting him on the barrel where my leg will go. I want to see if he moves. If he does, I’m in the position to get off quickly while keeping hold of my inside rein. I keep the inside rein short so that I can take away his power and spin him in a small circle to face me should he go to bolt off. Disengaging the hind end is the first thing I teach him on the ground and it’s the first thing I teach him under saddle, too. I stand beside him, giving him a slight nudge with my body on his barrel, as if to move him sideways away from me. Does he tense up or does he step to the side easily? I’m always gauging his reaction to ascertain whether he’s ready for more. When he feels settled and confident, he’s ready for me to get on and ride away.
Working confidently
I use the same cues under saddle as I do when I’m lungeing. An opening rein creates forward movement. If he goes to bolt off, I turn him and disengage his hind end, preventing him from becoming out of control. At first I will let him choose the direction, as long as he moves forward. I can start to refine the aids when he’s more fluent and confident. Once you’re happy in the school, it’s time to hack out!
Next month
Jason teaches a young horse to hack out calmly.
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Our expert Tina Sederholm has trained riders from Pony Club to international level for 30 years. Formerly an international event rider, she is particularly interested in the psychology of training, especially ways to help riders understand what is blocking them.
Self-coach to improve your feel Phase 3
There are no mistakes,
only feedback Photos: Bob Atkins
Get downhearted when your horse doesn’t do what you want? Feel like giving up because you think you’re never going to get any better? Tina Sederholm shows you how to use your mistakes as fuel for improvement 52 HORSe &RIDER
!
Mind matters
Reim agin e your mist akes
Say you are attempting shoulder-in. On one rein you get the correct angle and your horse crosses over properly. On the other, your horse collapses through his outside shoulder and doesn’t cross his hindlegs. Let’s ask some simple questions to get the clues you need for a successful shoulder-in to the right:
Situation Right should er-in doesn’t really happen, despite me using the sa me aids as I do for successful left should er-in. What can you feel your horse doing? When I ride into right should er-in, my horse leans on my left hand, bends too much and falls out throug h his should er. What could you do differe ntly? I could check how my horse is feeling on the left rein before I prepare for the should er-in. He often leans on my left hand when I try something new, so if I lighten him a bit on that side before I ask for should er-in, he may get the idea that I want him to keep his body straighter and not fall out throug h his should er. This problem happened when a client was schooling by herself and she couldn’t get to the bottom of it. So she answered the questions above and we discuss ed her answers on the phone. Then she tried again, with greatly improved results. The only thing I added as an instructor was to see if, once she had better control of the horse’s outside shoulder, he was responding to her inside leg and if he wasn’t, to work on his respons iveness to her leg aids before repeating the shoulder-in. When you are familiar with the questions, you can run through them in your head while you are riding. Soon it will become second nature to look at your schooling in this rational way and you will find you can solve many problems by yoursel f.
O
ne of the main principles of self-coaching is that you either achieve success or receive feedback. Many of my clients beat themselves up when they make mistakes or have setbacks. They say things like, ‘I’ve ruined my horse’ or ‘I’m so useless’, as if beating themselves up will stop them ever making a mistake again. It won’t. In fact, if you become so busy telling yourself off for making an error, you miss the real gold – the information that can lead you to success.
Thinking mistakes are bad comes from the belief that any path to improvement should be completely smooth. But this thinking is faulty. For instance, would you agree that the majority of aeroplanes get safely to their destination? But did you know that aeroplanes are off-course for approximately 95% of the time during any one flight? Sensitive telemetry constantly steers them back on track when competing air currents push them off course. And it’s the same for us when it comes to learning. Mistakes show us where we are off track.
➤ HORSe &RIDER 53
! Added adrenaline
Sometimes mistakes cause you to have a shock reaction – for instance, if your horse runs out at a fence at the last moment, or spooks or trips. It’s common in these situations to feel an adrenaline charge inside and so will your horse. This adrenaline surge is part of your fight, flight or freeze reaction and is a perfectly normal thing to happen. But it is equally important to calm yourself before trying to look analytically at any issue, because if you act from an adrenalised position, you are likely to make chancy decisions.
R e focu s y ou r m in d
Situ at io n My ho rs e ra n out at a skin ny fe nce. W hat em ot io n are you fe elin g? an d frustratio n, A ng er, em ba rra ss m entppen s th e fi rst ti m e be ca us e this ofte n ha. we try a ne w skin ny s. If you st ill fe el st ro ng cu fo re d an s th ea br ep wn. N ow ta ke a coup le ofe de til you st art to ca lm do un it t ou ab e or m rit w em ot io n, ta lk or this sit uatio n? ed ch oa pr ap u yo as el fe W hat coul d you an d pu sh hi s up d ee sp to d te ar st he , rn er , but A s I ca m e roun d th eI cowent a bit bl an k an d tried to st ra ig ht en hi m sh ou ld er to th e le ft. he wa sn ’t liste ni ng. erently? W hat coul d you do diff pi ng ra ils eit he r slo e m so ith w es ni in sk e pi ng ne w I coul d go ba ck to ju mst ra ig ht an d th en try th em with out th e gueid si de to he lp ke ep hi m in a boun ci er ca nt er. I coul d practis e m or r ra ils. I coul d approa chs on th e fl at be fo re I co m e to a fe nce – fom w he n st ra ig ht en in g ex erci seon a lin e in si de th e tra ck an d co rre ct in g hi ex a m ple, ca nt erin g with hi s sh ou ld er. he trie s to bu lg e out
Mistakes at competitions are often more disheartening than the ones at home – Tina Sederholm 54 HORSe &RIDER
Think calmly to turn a mistake into a positive outcome
Mind matters
Don’t panic when your horse refuses to co-operate
Anger management
There is nothing wrong with feeling a bit of anger and frustration, especially if you have made a similar error before. If only we lived in a world where we made mistakes once, but sadly this is not the case. It is annoying when we repeat mistakes, but it is still only feedback that we haven’t quite mastered an aid, or that there is a weakness in our riding. Although you should never take your anger out on your horse, sometimes anger has its uses. For example, you may normally choose a nonconfrontational approach to resolving napping issues, but if your horse is napping on the road and is getting close to a ditch, you might need to give him a firm slap on the shoulder to regain his attention and try to prevent him from injuring himself – and possibly you.
Mistakes at competitions
Mistakes at competitions are often more disheartening than the ones at home. It is one thing to make a mistake by yourself or in front of your trainer or friends, but quite another when you have a large audience of people you don’t know. You can find it threatening to your sense of self if you believe you have have failed in public. So how do you recover from a competition setback? ➤ Let yourself feel the emotion – anger, frustration, disappointment. A wave of emotion felt all the way through actually lasts less than two minutes. You may have another wave later on, but it will be less intense. If you let yourself feel it, you will be able to let go. Then you can move on.
➤ Analyse what went wrong. Be honest with yourself. Did you try something too advanced to be realistically achievable? Do you need to adjust your expectations? What weakness do you need to work on? ➤ Look around. Everyone makes mistakes, has successful days and also has ones they’d rather forget. It is unrealistic to imagine every competition will go perfectly. ➤ When you have figured out the solution, get to work and improve your weaknesses. However, don’t just focus on what went wrong, also make sure you look at what you do well and use that as evidence of your capabilities. So are you ready to embrace failure and welcome mistakes as a friendly nudge in the right direction? Maybe you can’t quite get to that mindset, but I hope this has at least softened any judgement you had on yourself for making mistakes, finding some elements of riding difficult or not always winning a red rosette. And when you let go of the self-criticism and turn it instead into self-evaluation, the doors to progress will start opening again.
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➤ HORSe &RIDER 55
Mind matters
Riding life This issue, Wendy Jago explains how to come to terms with your fears and turn them into positive thoughts
Our trainer
The issue
Imagination is one of the most versatile of human skills. It can be For many people, as well as reward and recreation, riding incredibly useful or incredibly self-limiting. Recently, two people offers escape from their I’ve been working with have had off-horse lives. Yet the similar problems with it. struggles and successes we The thing about imagination is have in communicating with our horses that, as far as the mind’s workings are often similar to those we experience are concerned, there’s no with colleagues, friends and family. difference between an ‘unreal’ NLP riding coach and List 3 Dressage scenario and a ‘real’ experience. Judge Wendy Jago explains how much There’s also no difference between you may have to gain by bringing your ‘then’ and ‘now’, because both two worlds together. happen ‘now’ in your mind and the same neural links and pathways are concerned. That’s why something imagined can make us feel excitement or dread, just as if we were facing the real thing. When we create a scenario about the future, it will feel real here and now, especially if it involves either triumph or disaster. And that’s what happened to both my clients. The first client had a bad experience with her horse – he’d spooked, and she’d fallen off and been concussed. So she was fearful of riding in case it happened again. Even the wind in the bushes seemed dangerous, because she imagined it would make him spook again. Meanwhile, the second client, a businessman, had felt marginalised by colleagues in the past and was determined to make a better impression at an upcoming meeting.
thought his colleagues wanted to hear. From the outset he was preparing his defence, because he felt defensive. So it was likely that his body language would reflect this, too. As we unpicked their problems, I asked them to do some extra imagining. Once we have created a fearful scenario, we tend to shut it down just because it frightens us. But every unchanged repetition deepens and reinforces the neurological pathway involved, and increases its ability to shape future events. The rider needed to modify and continue her scenario. She knew how to regain a horse’s attention, and how to turn and stop its headlong flight, so by adding these reality-based scenes, she could continue her disaster-movie until it reached a place of coping, eroding her present fears and changing her future behaviour. The businessman needed to imagine a number of possible tacks his colleagues might take, rather than just one. In fact, he could even imagine influencing them from the start by asking what their goals for the meeting were and setting out his own.
Imagination can help you find better strategies that you never thought you had
The approach
Both were very clear about what might happen and why they dreaded it. The dangers were real, but were they actually likely? The short answer was yes, because the scenarios they were running weren’t just films in the mind, but would be enacted by their bodies. The rider’s anxieties made her tense and self-absorbed, so her horse would become tense even if he didn’t understand why. Moreover, he’d know she wasn’t really ‘with him’, so he’d feel unsupported and be more likely to follow his own flight instincts in a spooky situation. The businessman did a lot of preparation for the meeting, but it was based – naturally – on what he 56 HORSe &RIDER
What’s next?
➤ Always respect your anxieties rather than telling yourself they’re stupid. They can serve to protect you – provided you understand and edit them. ➤ The same imagination that can make your life a misery can also help you find better strategies that you never thought you had. The rider became less fearful, her horse felt reassured and she enjoyed riding again. Having asked about his colleagues’ goals, the businessman found he had no need to defend himself and just by asking, he’d begun to establish a more equal relationship. ➤ Make sure, in editing your scenario, that you use the same kinds of mental approaches that were powerful to start with. If you were seeing your fall, edit in pictures. If you were feeling the sensations, replace them with feelings of comfort. If you were hearing critical words, change the dialogue! ➤ Above all, remember your mind is not a separate creature with a will of its own. It is a part of you with energy that you can harness to help you take things forward.
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ASK THE EXPERTS
Our experts are on hand to help you and your horse
Get in touch by mail or online HorseandRiderMag
@HorseandRiderUK
Or send your horsey problems to Ask the experts, Horse&Rider, Marlborough House, Headley Road, Grayshott, Surrey GU26 6LG, email experts@djmurphy.co.uk or log on to horseandrideruk.com for more advice. Neil Brimson BVetMed MRCVS is a partner at Garston Veterinary Group.
Emily Haggett BVSc, DipACVIM, MRCVS is an associate at veterinary practice Rossdale & Partners.
Ollie Pynn BVSc, CertEP, MRCVS is a partner at veterinary practice Rossdale & Partners.
Johnathan Bowman is an international showjumper who runs the JB Academy for up-and-coming riders.
Jane van Lennep BSc, MSc, NPSD, BHS SM offers advice on breeding, stable management and endurance riding.
Garry Holter is a pasture management expert and founder of Demeter Grassland Management.
Perry Wood trains horses and people, combining classical riding with natural horsemanship.
Minette Rice Edwards trains up to Grand Prix level dressage and also teaches jumping.
Claire Williams is Executive Director of the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA).
Anna Saillet BSc (hons) is an equine behaviourist and runs Equine Behaviour Solutions.
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➤ HORSe &RIDER 59
| horse Management Our Experts
Jane van Lennep BSc, MSc, NPSD, BHS SM offers advice on breeding, stable management and endurance riding.
Garry Holter is a pasture management expert and founder of Demeter Grassland Management.
Did you know?
Get a leg up
I have problems with my 20-year-old mare. When I want to pick up her near fore, she is very unwilling and tries to bite me. If she’s tied up or someone holds her, then I don’t have a problem. She is happy to let me lift all her other legs. Why do you think I am having this problem? Perry Wood answers:
This sounds like quite a quirky problem. It’s not always easy to know why a horse has a particular issue, although these things usually occur as a result of physical discomfort or a previous negative experience. The great news is that you have found a way to work around the issue, although it presently requires a second person to give her reassurance. Since she is an older horse, look at her body and her other legs very carefully to determine whether she has some weakness or stiffness elsewhere that makes picking up that foot uncomfortable for her. Often a weak or sore leg can cause a horse to not wish to pick up the other (good) foot as it will require more pressure be taken by the bad foot. I also suggest you have a good think about how you are picking up her foot. Do you check she is standing well and ready with the other three legs? Before you pick up the tricky foot, make sure 60 HORSe &RIDER
Perry Wood trains horses and people, combining classical riding with natural horsemanship.
she has shifted her weight off it, and onto the other foreleg and her hinds before asking her to lift it. Do you run a friendly hand down from the shoulder to the lower part of the leg, then ask with a gentle feel and wait for a nice response, or do you grab or squeeze quite hard to incite her to lift the foot? Any or all of these elements may contribute to her being tense about lifting the near foreleg. I would make a lengthened regime of picking the foot up when there is always with someone standing with her so she is happy, then over a few days or weeks, have them stand a little further away each time until they are no longer needed. Ask your farrier to look at your horse, too. Does she do the same thing with him? If so, you can stand back and study the pattern. If she doesn’t do it with the farrier, you could try copying exactly how he goes about it. Either way, careful observation is the answer.
➤ Foals’ teeth start erupting a week after they’re born and a full set is usually present at around six months. Between the ages of two and five, the baby teeth, known as caps, begin to loosen and fall out as the adult teeth start to erupt. Dental check-ups are important at this time to check for retained caps, which can be problematic – every six to 12 months is recommended.
Remember
➤ Horses are prey animals whose natural instinct is to flee from danger. Therefore, their legs are very important for their survival. Having a leg immobilised takes away their ability to run away and leaves them feeling very vulnerable. Add to that the fact that they are handing their leg over to us, a predator, and it’s easy to see how much trust it takes for a horse to allow us to do this.
Top tip
➤ Don’t graze a newlyseeded field too hard, as it can be damaged easily and it could mean that you have to repeat the whole process. Let your horse eat the long grass, don’t top it and make sure you chain harrow then aerate the field each year.
Ask the experts
Sow the seed
Photo: Bob Atkins
I have a one-acre field that I’ve been told needs ploughing and reseeding before I move my 15hh pony from his livery yard. Could you advise on any particular type of grass seed I should use? I think the field will be sprayed and ploughed in March. Garry Holter answers:
A bit young? I’ve been told that horses should only be introduced to the bit when they are fully grown, or at least around four years of age. But I see a few people with bridles on their horses when they are only two years old and even when they are still yearlings. Is this okay? Are there any risks in doing this? Jane van Lennep answers:
Bitting horses generally is a contentious issue. There are people who believe that no horse should ever be submitted to having anything other than food in its mouth. But over the millennia, people handling and riding horses have discovered that there are occasions when more, or more refined, control is needed, and the horse’s mouth is coincidentally suited to bitting. Just as the horse’s back, designed to support a huge weight of digested food and in mares, foals, coincidentally is strong enough to support a rider, so the specialised dentition for grazing leaves a handy gap between incisors and molars – the bars of the mouth. Having identified a need for more control, it is our responsibility to use it with consideration and respect. At what age you introduce a bit is a matter for individual circumstance and tends to be based on need rather than convention. Yearlings and two-year-old colts can be very playful, and even dangerous, as they experience surges in hormones dictating their behaviour at an age when they have not learned, or been taught, any control. In such cases, if bitting enables the handler to remain safe and the horse to be protected from the
consequences of his actions, then bitting has its benefits. It can be a good idea to introduce a bit to yearling colts so they become used to having a bit in their mouth before it needs to be used. By the time a healthy colt is two years old, it may be judicious to lead him from a correctly-fitted, suitable bit in order to keep the horse, his handler and any other horses or people in the vicinity safe. A suitable bit for leading does not have a joint and, for young horses, might be of a lightweight material, such as nylon. The lead rein should be attached to a coupling, so it cannot tighten or jam tight under the jaw. It should be well-fitted and high enough to discourage the horse from putting his tongue over the bit. For showing, it may be a stipulation that yearling colts are bitted but not necessarily led from the bit, but that horses of two years old and over are led from the bit. Until the horse is mature in his mouth at around five years of age, bitting should be done carefully to avoid injuring sensitive gums, especially where teeth are erupting. As much consideration needs to be given to removing the bridle as putting it on, to avoid banging the teeth or gums. It may not be ideal to bit youngsters, but there are times when, for everyone’s safety, it is necessary.
Firstly I advise you not to plough as this will delay your plans considerably. Unless there is a very good reason, such as a field entirely composed of thistles, there are better ways forward. I am guessing you have a weed issue as you mention spraying, but many weeds are good for horses, and the few that aren’t can be dealt with in better ways than spraying. To get a better head start, have your field power-harrowed – imagine a garden cultivator on an industrial scale – as it will turn the soil over but leave the field in a more usable condition. Ask whoever does the work to go as deeply as they can and you should be left with a tilled soil ready for reseeding almost immediately. However, in March the soil won’t be ready – grass seed doesn’t begin to germinate until the soil reaches 3–5ºC – so hold off until the weather warms up or all you will do is feed the birds with your seed. As for the seed, I suggest a fine grass mix that contains no ryegrass, as these types have far too high a sugar content for horses. MAS Seeds sells a mixture called Grass Mixture Number 3, which is ideal and is highly palatable. Not only will your pony not have to adjust to the grazing, it will allow you to judge how well your pony is doing without having to worry about what he is eating.
Bitting should be done carefully to avoid injuring sensitive gums ➤ HORSe&RIDER 61
| equine behaviour Our Experts
Anna Saillet BSc (hons) is an equine behaviourist, and runs Equine Behaviour Solutions
Perry Wood trains horses and people, combining classical riding with natural horsemanship.
Say ‘no’ to nipping I have a four-year-old gelding who is good to handle, but is really nippy. He’s not aggressive, but everything goes in his mouth. Why? It’s really annoying! I want to stop it happening. Anna Saillet answers:
This type of behaviour is not uncommon in young horses and may be investigatory, playful, related to anxiety, or a combination of all these. It is essential to have your horse checked over by a vet to ensure he is not experiencing any discomfort that may be contributing to the behaviour. Try to make sure you are not accidentally rewarding his behaviour, either. If he enjoys receiving attention, any reaction from you could be rewarding to him, so try to avoid this. Equally, it is important not to punish him for this behaviour as it is likely to cause an increase in anxiety and could accentuate the problem. Sometimes this type of behaviour is accidentally encouraged by owners when treats are given at inappropriate times. If he shows nippy behaviour towards you, if he pushes you with his head, or nibbles or nuzzles
TOP TIPs
at you or your clothing, don’t offer him a treat or attention – even if you had been planning to. Otherwise it is easy to become a walking vending machine that your horse believes dispenses
treats whenever he pushes or nips, and this can increase the behaviour further. It is important to try to encourage him
➤ Focus on the behaviour you want, rather than what you don’t want. For example, teach your horse to look away from you when you rug him, rather than trying to stop him from nipping when you rug him. ➤ Don’t feed treats from your hand. ➤ Be careful not to accidentally reward your horse for unwanted behaviour, or behaviours that could easily escalate into bad habits.
62 HORSe &RIDER
to carry out another behaviour that is incompatible with him chewing on the things that you don’t want him to. This can be done by either providing him with rewards for keeping his head turned away from you or objects he usually picks up, or more simply by providing him with a tasty haynet to eat while you are carrying out these tasks. To reward him, you can drop a treat into a bucket on the floor in front of him when he looks away from you or releases an object, or use some super-special scratches instead! Most horses have a favourite area to be scratched on and a good, firm scratch in this spot can be extremely rewarding for him if you would prefer not to use food. If you don’t know where your horse’s ‘Ooh’ spot is yet, spend some time trying to find it through trial and error! When you find his magic spot, start to say ‘good boy’ when you give him a good scratch, so that in time the words themselves will become reinforcing for him. This can be very useful for any future training. Try to think about teaching your horse what you do want instead of focusing on what you don’t want and you will be surprised how much this alone can improve your relationship.
Ask the experts
Upsetting the balance
Photo: Bob Atkins
A new mare has been introduced to the yard where I keep my pony. My pony and one of the other horses there stop every time they see her and pee at her. Is this behaviour the equine equivalent of cats scentmarking their territory? Perry Wood answers:
This is not uncommon behaviour. Some mares seem to give off signals, body language or pheromones that make other female equines act in this way. It is not the same as marking territory. I have owned a number of these types of mares, who can set everyone off squealing and spraying as though in season. It is not always conducive to a peaceful herd, since they seem to be causing an imbalance of apparent hormonal excitement in the group.
In a hurry My horse is polite in the stable, but as soon as the door is open he barges out. Why does he do this? Anna Saillet answers:
Although bargy horses are often considered to be ‘bad mannered’, this is unfair because they are simply using behaviour to express how they feel – after all, they are unable to speak in our language. Horses are social herd animals, but when stabled they are usually unable to make physical contact with their companions and they may not even be able to see them. This can be extremely stressful and is likely to be a contributing factor to your horse’s behaviour. Who’s cleverer... Barging is usually associated with a high level of arousal and this could be caused by stress, anxiety, frustration or excitement. The most important thing to consider is what may be causing your If you said ‘dog’, you’re horse to rush out of his stable. Is he is probably right! Size for size, bored, lonely or frustrated because of a your dog’s brain is twice as lack of equine company, forage or big as your horse’s. The ratio entertainment? Are other horses turned of brain to body size is: out before him, causing an increase in his frustration and anxiety levels? Is the exit Horse – 1:593 of his stable narrow? Some horses Dog – 1:235 develop an aversion to walking through narrow gaps and it’s important to remember that being confined to a very small space is extremely unnatural for a TOP TIPs horse. Consider how you ➤ If your horse has to be
Dog or horse?
could alter your horse’s management to help with this problem. Try to make his stable a more positive environment and ensure that he always has access to forage so that he does not spend time without food. Horses are trickle feeders, designed to eat small amounts of low-energy forage throughout day and night. A lack of forage will result in increased stress and frustration for your horse, and also an increased urgency for him to want to get to the field. Stable enrichment should also be provided to make the stable a more positive environment for him. This can include things such as branches to chew on, vegetables hanging on string or treat balls. Your imagination is the limit in terms of what you can provide to make his stable more appealing. If you think he may be afraid of walking through narrow spaces, ask your vet to check him over for any physical pain before starting a training programme to rebuild his confidence. This should be done with the help of an equine behaviourist, as it’s essential to undertake any training at a pace suitable for your horse as an individual and this varies considerably from one horse to another.
stabled, provide plenty of forage and as much enrichment as possible. Change the enrichment items daily so that they don’t just become ‘part of the furniture’. ➤ Always look for the underlying motivation for a behaviour so that you can work out the most appropriate way to solve the problem.
➤ HORSe &RIDER 63
| veterinary matters Our Experts
Neil Brimson BVetMed MRCVS is a partner at Garston Veterinary Group.
Emily Haggett BVSc, DipACVIM, MRCVS is an associate at veterinary practice Rossdale & Partners.
Ollie Pynn BVSc, CertEP, MRCVS is a partner at veterinary practice Rossdale & Partners.
Tendon troubles I’m interested in buying a horse, but the owner says he has had a tendon injury in the past. Will he pass the pre-purchase vetting and will it affect what I can do with him? Neil Brimson answers:
Tendon injuries present in lots of different ways, so without knowing which structure was involved and how severe the injury was, it is difficult to give definite advice. A good rule of thumb to follow before you organise a vetting is to check that since his tendon injury, this horse has had a consistent record of doing the sort of work you are hoping to do without there being any recurrence of the injury. If you decide to have a pre-purchase examination carried out, you should discuss your
concerns about the injury with the vet prior to the vetting taking place. The vet will then pay special attention to the tendons during the examination and may suggest that additional checks, such as an ultrasound scan of the tendon, are performed. The judgement the vet will make as to whether this injury may affect his suitability for you will depend on what you intend to do with the horse in the future. So the vet’s opinion on his suitability might be different if you’re looking for a light hack rather than a potential eventer. Once it is clear from the vetting how well the original injury has repaired, the vet will be able to advise you if you need to take any extra precautions with the horse if you choose to buy him.
Is it legal? My friend told me that Sudocrem is a banned substance. Is this true and if so, why? Ollie Pynn answers:
Sudocrem is marketed as an antiseptic healing cream, aimed primarily at the treatment of nappy rash in children. However, it’s also a commonly-used cream in horses, for the treatment of skin abrasions, sores and other minor skin conditions. There is a common misconception that some medications, supplements and ointments are approved by the FEI. This is not true. Instead, the FEI issues a Prohibited Substance List, which is split into two categories – Controlled Medication Substances and Banned 64 HORSe &RIDER
Substances. The Controlled Medication Substances list contains things that might be normally used by vets, riders or grooms in horses when they are not competing, but withdrawal periods must be adhered to before taking part in a competition. The Banned Substances list identifies those that aren’t permitted for use in competition horses at any time. However, it is not quite as simple as that, because any substance with a similar chemical structure or similar biological effect as those present on the list is also considered as pertaining to
Did you know?
➤ Tendons usually connect muscle to bone, whereas ligaments normally connect bone to bone. ➤ Equids are the only animals that sleep standing up. They have a mechanism called the stay apparatus, which locks the joints in the legs in place without the horse having to use any effort or energy.
the list. Therefore, you should work closely with your vet when administering anything to horses who are competing. The use of herbal products is particularly risky, because their exact ingredients are often unknown and they could easily contain a prohibited substance. Going back to Sudocrem, none of its ingredients are listed on the FEI Prohibited Substances List and nor do they have a similar chemical structure or biological effect to substances on the list. Therefore, in my opinion, Sudocrem is fine to use in competition.
Ask the experts
On a high
Personal hygiene
A recent blood test showed my horse had high GGT levels. I understand this relates to the liver and have started feeding him milk thistle, but is there anything else I can do? Should I be cautious about anything else I feed him? He has arthritic hocks and I wanted to try a devil’s claw supplement, but is it advisable while his liver function isn’t great?
Someone told me I need to clean my new gelding’s sheath every three months. Is this true? If not, how often should I clean it and what type of products should I use? Neil Brimson answers:
Emily Haggett answers:
GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase) is an enzyme that is contained within cells in the liver. When the liver is injured or damaged, GGT is released from the cells into the circulation, which can then be measured in circulating blood. GGT is a stable enzyme and has quite a long half life, which means that it is a reliable indicator of liver disease in horses. The liver has many essential roles. One is to remove toxins, damaged cells and infectious agents from the blood. During these processes it is not uncommon for the cells to become injured, with the subsequent release of GGT. The liver has a huge capacity to repair and regenerate, which means that small increases in GGT are often not significant for the horse. However, when the liver becomes diseased, either as a result of prolonged exposure to toxins or bacteria, then larger increases in GGT can occur because the liver’s ability to repair becomes reduced. These changes are often more significant and if GGT concentrations remain very high, this is a worrying sign. Mild increases in GGT in horses are common following episodes of bacterial or viral infection, after an episode of colic or in horses with Cushing’s disease (Equine Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction). Other causes of increased GGT include eating mouldy hay and ragwort.
Your vet will be able to advise you about how serious the problem is based on other blood test results and your horse’s specific circumstances. In the majority of horses, mild increases in GGT are nothing to worry about. You should check your hay and field for ragwort or any other potentially toxic plants that could be causing low-grade damage to the liver. Milk thistle and vitamin E can be useful to help encourage the liver to repair. Feeding a balanced diet is also important. If your vet is worried about your horse’s GGT levels, then it is sensible to recheck them after six weeks. The enzyme can take a few weeks to decrease, so there is no point rechecking it too soon. GGT levels often remain mildly increased in horses with Cushing’s disease that are not being treated with medication (pergolide). There is no problem with giving your horse a devil’s claw supplement, as this is not known to have any adverse effects on the liver. In some horses, if the problem persists or gets worse, it may be necessary to have further tests or a liver biopsy done to see if any other treatment is necessary.
Unlike the person at your yard, I don’t think that a gelding’s sheath needs to be cleaned that often. The suggestion that this is necessary comes from the small risk that some older geldings can develop a type of skin tumour of the penis, which may be associated with a build-up of sheath discharge. My own concern is that by repeatedly cleaning the sheath, particularly if you choose to use antiseptic washes, you can upset the normal bacterial flora in this region and cause your horse to get a nasty secondary infection. I also have concerns about your own safety in carrying out this task, as you may put yourself at risk of being kicked. My own advice would be to try to observe your gelding when he urinates and to check if there is a large build up of discharge, particularly on the surface of the penis. If there is, then it may be worth asking for help from your vet to clean this area, which is often best done with your horse lightly sedated. In our practice, we try to avoid using any antiseptic products in the washing solution and we generally just use warm water. If your horse doesn’t object, you could try cleaning just the external part of the sheath in this way, but please take care when you are doing this and stop if there is any risk of you being injured by your horse.
When cleaning your horse’s sheath,avoid antiseptic products
Did you know?
➤ Controlled Medication Substances are given a detection time, which is the estimated time the substance remains in the horse’s system. This is different to the withdrawal period, which adds a safety margin and is chosen with professional judgement and discretion to allow for individual differences between horses. For example, the detection time for phenylbutazone (bute) is seven days, but the withdrawal period may be longer.
➤ HORSe &RIDER 65
| SHOPPING Our Expert
Claire Williams is Executive Director of the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA).
Perfect pad What is the difference between a numnah and a saddlecloth? Numnahs and saddlecloths perform a similar function. Placed below the saddle, they absorb your horse’s sweat and help him to remain as comfortable as possible. A numnah is cut to follow the outline of the saddle, whereas a saddlecloth is oblong in shape. Both are usually quilted and made from thin layers of felt or foam, sandwiched between a hard-wearing outer fabric. Numnahs tend to contain a degree of filling, but they should never be so thick that they alter the fit or balance of the saddle. Some are half-lined with fleece or sheepskin. The numnah’s snug fit means that it is only partially visible. Because it covers less of the horse, it is also worth considering as a better option during hot weather.
Photo: Steve Bardens
Claire Williams answers:
Saddlecloths are usually made of wool, cotton or synthetic fabrics and, because of their shape and visibility, are often seen sporting designs or sponsors’ logos. Both saddlecloths and numnahs are available in a wide selection of colours and are easily laundered. They are secured under the saddle by two straps attached to the girth tabs. Always
ensure that the numnah or saddlecloth is pushed up into the gullet of the saddle to prevent it being pulled down tight over your horse’s withers. And if he has high withers, some numnahs are specially-designed to accommodate them. Care should always be taken when buying a numnah to ensure that it fits the length and width of your saddle.
Colour conundrum I need a new show jacket. What colour options are okay for showjumping and dressage? Horse&Rider answers:
If you’re competing at unaffiliated showjumping and dressage, there may not be a rigid set of rules governing dress, but when you affiliate you must abide by the British Showjumping and British Dressage rules for show jacket colours. The only colour that’s off-limits for British Showjumping is dark 66 HORSe &RIDER
blue with a red collar and white piping, as this is the official British team colour. British Dressage has stricter rules when it comes to jacket colour. They must be of any conservative, dark colour, including black, navy, bottle green, charcoal grey or brown. They must not be multi-coloured or boldly striped, although subtle pinstripes are permitted. Coloured collars and contrast piping on collars, lapels, pockets and vents are allowed. If tweed is your thing, it must not be brightly coloured or have loud patterns.
Ask the experts
Winter wardrobes
Did you know?
Bespoke
A saddlecloth has the added advantage of an area that can be customised by embroidery, diamanté or other embellishments.
Washable
Some show jackets are made from high-tech fabrics that are machine washable.
Full up Someone at my yard said some rugs are more waterproof than others. What do they mean? Are they right? Horse&Rider answers:
It’s important that your horse’s rug is waterproof if he is to be turned out in all weathers. According to the British Equestrian Trade Association, ‘Waterproof or water resistant refers to the outer fabric of the rug, which will not allow water to pass from the outside of the rug to the horse’s skin. Any rug that is advertised as waterproof is referring to the fabric used for the rug rather than the whole product. This is because rugs have stitching and fastenings that cannot be taped to prevent water penetration, especially around tail flaps or surcingles. Although threads swell to fill stitching holes, movement is just as likely to stretch the seams’. Whether one rug is more waterproof than another depends on its materials, construction and the integrity of the waterproof coating.
Durable denier
It’s often hard to tell whether one rug is better than another, and upkeep can play a part. The rug’s outer fabric will be rated by denier (see box below) and may feature ballistic or rip-stop nylon, which all contribute to the rug’s durability. While the rug may be more resistant to wear and tear, these properties alone may not enhance its waterproof qualities. All new turnout rugs are treated on the outside with waterproof coating, which will slowly diminish with wear. Rugs can be reproofed by a rug-cleaning service or with a special spray for synthetic fabrics. If your horse is turned out in the rain for long periods of time, you may want to have a second rug on hand as a small amount of water can leak through the seams of your rug by the surcingles, straps and tail flap as the outside fabric becomes oversaturated.
➤ When selecting a rug, you’ll often see rugs labelled with a Denier (D) rating, such as 600D. Denier refers to the weight of the material used for the outside of the rug. It’s the number of yarns used to make one thread, so a 600D rug will have 600 yarns to each thread used. This means a 1200D rug’s outer fabric will feel a lot thicker and bulkier than a 600D one. A 1200D rug is super strong and durable but a 600D rug is everyday strength.
The warmth of a rug is usually indicated by the weight of the insulation, measured in grammes. The higher the number, the warmer the rug – a rug with 300g or more is considered heavyweight.
Perfect fit
Saddlecloths and numnahs come in a variety of sizes, usually depending on your saddle’s seat size.
Clean up
It’s a good idea to get your turnout rugs treated with a waterproofing treatment when they are cleaned.
Modern turnout rugs are treated with a waterproof coating, which will slowly diminish with wear
➤ HORSe &RIDER 67
| Riding technique Our Experts
Johnathan Bowman is an international showjumper who runs the JB Academy for up-and-coming riders.
Minette Rice Edwards trains up to Grand Prix level dressage and also teaches jumping.
Stop off
TOP TIP
Photo: Bob Atkins
➤ If you’re having difficulty with your showjumping, taking a few lessons from an experienced instructor can help restore your confidence – and your horse’s! A good place to start is the British Showjumping website where you can find a list of coaches’ contact details by area. britishshowjumping.co.uk
Perfect practice
My horse refuses jumps with no warning. Why does this happen and how can I fix it? Johnathan Bowman answers:
This could be due to three reasons – ground conditions, lack of confidence or pain-related issues. Make sure when you’re jumping that you think about where you’re riding, ensuring that it’s as stable a surface as you can find. If you’re jumping in a field and your horse is refusing, you may need studs. If you’re riding on a surface, it may be moving on take-off, causing your horse to lack confidence in his jump. If it’s a confidence issue, go back to basics. Work on your canter approaching and riding 68 HORSe &RIDER
away from a small fence. Keep the fences small until you’re 100% confident of your stride. Make sure you ride away from the fence as confidently as you approach it, as the strides after landing could be the approach to the next fence. If your horse’s canter is lacking power or he’s rushing, train over smaller fences until his canter is regular and even. If your horse is refusing doubles or combinations, make sure the striding between the fences is correct and keep them small until your confidence grows. Sometimes horses refuse because of pain-related issues or due to injury. If your horse refuses consistently, it’s time to contact your vet.
➤ Poles are an excellent way of practising your jumping skills without unnecessary wear and tear on your horse. While grids of poles are great for developing your horse’s paces, courses of poles can help you to master concepts like related distances, dog-legs and one or twostride combinations. If you meet a pole on the wrong stride, it will have far less of an impact on both your horse and your confidence. You can also use small cavalettis – poles that are slightly raised – to practise your skills. Get creative with your courses and most importantly, have fun!
Ask the experts
Trotting troubles I am 44 and have just learnt to ride over the past three years. Progress is good sometimes and not others, but I love it. At the moment, my diagonals are a big problem and I just don’t know when I’m on the correct diagonal. Are there any tips for getting it right? Minette Rice-Edwards answers:
In rising trot, the outside hindleg of the horse should push the rider up and they sit as the inside hindleg comes underneath, bearing the weight. It is, therefore, important to change the leg we sit on so that the horse does not become stiff and uneven. Unless we’re in counter bend (a more advanced exercise), we always change diagonal when we change direction because we change the bend of the horse. Start in walk, look down and determine when the outside shoulder of the horse is coming back towards you with each step. If you are on the left rein, this will be the right shoulder and on the right rein, the left shoulder. Make sure you are thoroughly familiar with this on both reins. Then move on to sitting trot and repeat the exercise. When you can definitely see the outside shoulder coming back, you can start rising to the trot. Always sit as the outside shoulder and foreleg are back towards you. Rise
when they move forward. Practice changing diagonals by sitting for two strides and then rising straight back up again, you will find it a little awkward when you are on the wrong diagonal. When you change direction and, therefore, the horse’s bend, you must change your diagonal. Glance down to check you are right – remember, always sit as the outside shoulder to the bend comes back. You can then start to learn by feel. In sitting trot, loosen the seat bones so that they follow the movement of the horse’s pelvis rocking from side to side as he brings each hind forward. Allow your outside seat bone to drop as his outside hindleg comes forward, then
Leg on! I feel I’m constantly nagging my horse but he isn’t really going forward Johnathan Bowman answers:
Your horse has to learn that when you put your leg on, it means go forward. To teach him this you can use transitions and lateral work. Use changes of speed within the gait, collecting and extending on the centre line or diagonal. Make sure you get a response when you ask your horse to accelerate. Likewise, when you want your horse to collect, make sure he maintains impulsion. You can also use shoulder-in and leg-yield to help him learn to be sharper off your leg. This works because your horse has to move when you put your leg on. Another exercise I would recommend is putting two poles out and varying the number of strides in canter between them. The poles give a good visual and you’ll know when you’ve got it right.
immediately rise as it pushes you up. Glance down until you can tell by feel that you are on the correct diagonal. This exercise can also be done from a forward seat. Loosen your ankles, allow them to drop alternately with the rhythm of the trot (like riding a tiny bicycle), then sit as your outside ankle drops. This should sit you on the correct diagonal – you can always check by looking. Practise quietly on your own and without any pressure. Remember that rising trot is easier if you are in balance over your legs with the movement being absorbed by loose ankles, knees and hips, don’t rise too high and sit softly in the saddle. Enjoy your diagonals!
Allow your outside seat bone to drop as his outside hindleg comes forward, then immediately rise as it pushes you up
➤ HORSe &RIDER 69
Ask the experts
Aches and pains
A pinch of salt I’ve heard that horses need salt, especially when they work hard and sweat a lot. My horse lives out 24/7, and I hunt him and take him to sponsored rides quite a lot. Do you think he needs extra salt and how should I feed it? Horse&Rider answers:
It’s a good idea to supplement your horse’s salt intake if he’s working hard as he’ll be losing electrolytes in sweat, which has various detrimental effects on his health and behaviour. The Kentucky Equine Research Centre says: “Salt is the only mineral
70 HORSe &RIDER
for which horses have an indisputable appetite, thereby displaying a degree of nutritional wisdom regarding its consumption. If salt is available, most horses will consume sufficient amounts to meet their needs without overindulging.” An easy way to provide it is to put a salt block in your horse’s field so he can help himself when he wants to. Look for a good quality horse lick that is well-made, so your horse can’t kick it to pieces if he’s playful and it won’t wash away in the rain. You can also get salt licks with added ingredients aimed at promoting health and even calmness in horses.
Horse&Rider answers:
It’s a legal requirement under the Veterinary Surgery (Exemptions) Order 1962 that your horse is seen by your vet before a physiotherapist – or other manipulative therapist – treats your horse. Your vet will diagnose any conditions your horse may have and refer the treatment on to your physiotherapist.
Photo: Bob Atkins
| in brief
I’d like to have a physiotherapist examine and treat my horse, but my yard mate says that I must have my vet examine my horse first. Is this true?
Rubbed up the wrong way My horse has got really bad rubs on his shoulders from his rug this year. Is there any way I can stop this from happening? Horse&Rider answers:
The shoulders are particularly prone to rug rubs, because as the horse moves, they rub against the lining of the rug. First, check the fit of your rug, as a badly-fitting rug will make the problem worse. You might want to consider investing in a specially-designed anti-rub vest – there are lots of types available to suit all budgets. Alternatively, you could sew patches of silk or satin into the lining of the rug around the shoulder area, as their slippery texture will reduce the friction on your horse’s shoulders. And padding under the silky patches may help, too.
Photos: Bob Atkins, Steve Bardens, Bob Langrish
FRIENDS
Joint problems are many horse owners’ worst nightmare. Vet James Howie explains what the causes may be, how your vet will diagnose them and what they mean for your horse’s future 72 HORSe &RIDER
Ask a vet
Our expert James Howie BVetMed MRCVS qualified from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London. He worked in mixed practice before becoming Veterinary Director of Lintbells. He also works as a clinical vet in the south of England.
H
orses have evolved over millions of years to become supreme athletes with great stamina and endurance. Their limbs are uniquely adapted for speed and weight-bearing, and large muscles high in the leg generate great forces that are transferred down to a single toe (the hoof). Meanwhile, the hoof and fetlock are adapted to absorb considerable concussion each time the foot lands. The forces that are applied to all parts of the locomotor system are considerable. In addition to this, each individual horse’s conformation can also place extra strain on his legs. Horses’ tendency to strain tendons, chip knees and incur various other musculoskeletal injuries is the reason why lameness is the most common reason for calling out your vet. And joint problems make up a significant part of the cause of these lamenesses.
Spotting the signs So what are the signs to look for if you think your horse has a joint problem? Typically, he will become lame on the affected leg. Subtle lameness (sometimes called subclinical) may present as the horse being ‘just not quite right’ and he may not be lame all the time, which makes the problem hard to spot. Lameness can be more pronounced during certain exercises such as lunging or trotting, so be on the lookout for a head nod – up on the affected side and down on the sound side. Other signs that your horse is uncomfortable include a sudden reluctance to work or a sudden change in behaviour, such as increased crib-biting or aggression. This is often a response to pain. It is important to have persistent lameness assessed by a vet who can localise the problem and structures affected.
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Joint conditions
There are a number of conditions that affect horses’ joints, with varying degrees of severity. In addition, certain breeds and age groups, as well as horses taking part in certain disciplines, are more prone to certain conditions. ➤ Osteoarthritis is caused by a loss of cartilage on the surface of the joint, leading to inflammation and pain. The growth of new bone is often seen around the articular surfaces, reducing the joint’s range of movement. The arthritic process is degenerative and cannot be reversed. The fetlock is the most commonly affected joint. Bone spavin is the name given to osteoarthritis of the lower three hock joints, although it usually affects the two lowest hock joints (the tarsometatarsal and the distal intertarsal joints). ➤ Osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) is a cartilage disorder seen in young horses, characterised by the presence of large flaps of cartilage or loose fragments within a joint. It can lead to osteoarthritis. ➤ Rheumatoid arthritis results from the immune system attacking healthy joint cells, although this is rare in horses. ➤ Joint infection is usually a result of trauma to the joint capsule or joint bursa, allowing infectious agents to enter the joint. This results in heat, redness and swelling around the joint, with accompanying pain. It may also be spread through the bloodstream to the joint. If left untreated, the infection can result in permanent lameness. ➤ Fractures or dislocations involving a joint can be very problematic. Even if joints are able to heal, damage to the articular surface often results in permanent degenerative joint disease and arthritis, which ultimately leads to a loss of function of the affected joint, as well as pain. The most commonly fractured bone in a joint is the pedal bone. Smaller fractures, such as chip fractures, are common in the hock and knee. ➤ Cysts beneath the cartilage, called subchondral cysts, can occur in all limbs. ➤ Repeated concussion can result in inflammatory changes and high-impact injuries in a joint. It can occur during work on hard surfaces, but may also be the result of abnormal conformation and gait. ➤ Capped elbow or hock is inflammation in the bursa beneath the joint. It can follow trauma from a fall or kick, from lying on hard floors, wearing shoes that project beyond the heels or from leaning or reclining for long periods of time. 74 HORSe &RIDER
Uncovering the cause
Your vet’s first concern is to isolate the exact area that is causing the pain and lameness, before determining the cause of the problem. This means carrying out a full examination of your horse, which begins with assessment in the stable. Your vet will look at your horse’s posture, musculature and overall symmetry, as well as any tell-tale signs of discomfort when standing, such as shifting his weight from one foot to another. Next, he will begin a more in-depth examination that will usually include palpation of the joint and looking for signs of inflammation, such as heat, swelling and an increased pulse. Flexion tests allow the vet to check your horse’s range of movement as well as any overt signs of discomfort. They put structures under increased strain, which may make lameness more pronounced. Walking and trotting in a straight line and on the lunge help the vet to assess your horse’s stride length and look for any head nod. This may also involve the horse being ridden if the lameness only appears when the horse is carrying a rider. Once your vet has determined the leg affected, it is important to isolate the problem to a particular area. Nerve blocks are often used for this purpose – anaesthetic is injected to numb specific nerves that supply the area of the leg under suspicion. If the block is effective, the horse will become sound. The next step is for the vet to use X-rays or ultrasound directed at the structures causing the lameness. However, they may fail to show the cause of the problem. If this is the case, then your vet may recommend that more high-tech imaging is carried out. Scintigraphy (bone scan), CT and MRI scans can be magnetic very costly. Always check resonance imaging with your insurance provider (MRI) or that extra tests such as computed these are covered on your tomography policy, or that you can afford (CT) scans are to pay for them yourself, excellent tools for before proceeding. diagnosing bone and joint problems, but often involve referral to a specialist.
Top tip
Did you know? ➤ Equine kinematics is a new technology using computer analysis of gait movement. It can help to diagnose subtle lameness that is not visible to the naked eye.
Ask a vet
Treatment options
Treatment for lameness almost always includes a period of rest. This may also be combined with medications such as non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – for example, phenylbutazone (bute). Intra-articular (into the joint) injections of corticosteroids may also be used. Both of these only act to treat the symptoms of the condition (the lameness and inflammation) – they don’t treat the cause. Other injections your vet may suggest, depending on the diagnosis, include hyaluronic acid, polysulphated glycosaminoglycans and pentosan polysulphate. In some cases, your vet may decide that there is a need for surgery or arthroscopy to remove bony or cartilagenous fragments, or repair fractures. Cysts usually require surgery via arthroscopy, though smaller ones may repair with conservative treatment.
There are numerous different treatments for every problem and your vet will advise you on what is best for your horse in the circumstances. The choice of treatment varies with many factors, including your horse’s workload and the activities you take part in, as well as your expectations, alongside how severe the problem is, the horse’s age and the cost of treatment. Controlled exercise is often advised to help speed up recovery. It can also help prevent fracture-related diseases, such as osteoarthritis, in cases with joint involvement. In conjunction with your farrier, the vet may suggest that your horse is fitted with specialised shoes to aid the healing process. This is particularly common, for example, in pedal bone fractures where the additional support is really beneficial.
Once your vet has determined the leg affected, it is important to isolate the problem to a particular area
Did you know? ➤ Research done at the Royal Veterinary
College in Hertfordshire has shown that lameness is often more pronounced at a slow trot rather than at faster speeds.
HORSe &RIDER 75
➤
Ask a vet
Looking to the future
Generally, prognosis for improvement or resolution of joint problems depends on the underlying condition. Established degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis have a poorer long-term prognosis because the changes cannot be reversed. Some OCD lesions in the stifles of young horses can improve with conservative treatment alone, even if there is lameness and fluid build-up in the joint at the time of examination.
Fractures involving joints must always carry a guarded prognosis due to the likelihood of secondary arthritis developing. An accurate diagnosis can make a major difference to your horse’s recovery by allowing for the most appropriate treatment options. It also helps your vet to give an accurate prognosis, as well as an idea of what work your horse may be able do in the future, which may influence decisions about your horse’s future.
Your vet may need to see your horse ridden to help with his diagnosis
A helping hand
The old adage that prevention is better than cure is definitely true for joint problems, especially ones that are likely to result in arthritis. Careful planning of exercise type, level and duration, as well as the surface on which that exercise takes place, is highly likely to be beneficial in the prevention of certain joint injuries and problems such as concussion or fracture. Nutrition may also play an important part in supporting joint problems. Feeding a well-balanced diet geared towards a horse’s individual needs will help reduce problems such as calcium and phosphorus ratio imbalances, especially in growing horses. Many horse owners feed nutritional supplements to support joints and their surrounding structures, and glucosamine and chondroitin have long been used for joint support. However, more recently omega-3 fatty acids are coming into the limelight as a potential natural anti-inflammatory. Green-
lipped mussel provides a unique form of omega-3 called ETA that may be particularly useful, as well as being a source of the building blocks of joint tissues, including hyaluronic acid, chondroitin, dermatan and heparan sulphate. Hyaluronic acid has often been injected into problem joints, but a recent study showed that it can also be beneficial if given orally. Methylsulphonylmethane (MSM) is also used as a joint support. It has antioxidant effects, potentially helping to reduce damaging free radicals. Other examples of antioxidants include vitamins C and E. While the science is lacking as to whether these joint supplements actually prevent joint problems, you are certainly unlikely to cause any harm by trying.
HHH Rate
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Go to tinyurl.com/RateMar15 for a chance to win a Mountain Horse Crew jacket (see p9). 76 HORSe &RIDER
速
Tales of the unexpected
Readers tell us their true-life stories
The shoe’s
on the other foot
No-one likes a nasty surprise. Unfortunately, one H&R reader found herself having to do some seriously quickthinking when her horse suffered a freak accident
W
hile out riding, keeping an eye out for hazards that have potential to cause your horse injury, such as large stones, roots and deep or slippery ground, is something that’s almost second nature to riders. The last thing you’d expect is for your horse to be severely injured by something he wears every day. Horse&Rider reader Lauren Medcalf was out riding her 17.2hh Selle Français gelding, Percy, when she suddenly realised something was very wrong. Lauren continues the story...
Photo: Sarah Godley, Surrey Union Hunt
Percy and I were hacking along one of our favourite routes on the common, and were enjoying a lovely canter. As we went round a corner on the track, Percy put in a flying change. All of a sudden, he was cantering on three legs. I tried to pull him up, but surprisingly he was keen to keep going – still on three legs! Eventually, I managed to stop him and looked down to check the leg he was holding up.
On the hop
A feeling of horror ran through me when I saw his right hind hoof. One of his shoes was sticking out
78 HORSe &RIDER
of it. I’d never seen anything like it. I quickly jumped off, looped the reins over my arm, and tried to get a better look at what was going on. Percy was still holding his leg in the air and it appeared that he’d lost the shoe from his left fore and trodden on it with his right hind. I have no idea how, as he’d only been shod 10 days before, so his shoes and feet were in good condition. I can only assume he overreached when he did the flying change and pulled off the shoe. The shoe was hooked over his foot, with one side deeply embedded in the frog and the other running up the outside of his hoof wall, with the end digging into the coronet band. I was really worried that he’d try to put his foot down and make the problem worse, so I tried to pull the shoe free, but it was stuck fast. At a loss as to what to do, I phoned my yard owner and, having explained what had happened, asked whether someone could bring the lorry up to the common to collect Percy. She sent Kim, one of the girls from the yard, and suspecting we’d need the vet to come out to us, put in a call to them, too. Meanwhile, I did my best to make sure Percy kept his foot off the floor and didn’t push the shoe in any deeper.
Ask a vet
Do you have a ‘Tale of the unexpected’ about your horse? Maybe an unusual ailment or a miraculous recovery? Send the details to Lucy Turner, Horse&Rider, D J Murphy (Publishers) Ltd, Marlborough House, Headley Road, Grayshott, Surrey GU26 6LG or email lucy@djmurphy.co.uk
The branch of the shoe was embedded in Percy’s foot (also right)
Lauren and Kim had to saw off the end of the shoe
Realising farriery tools weren’t quite going to cut it, Kim dashed to a building site to borrow a hacksaw! Emergency improvisation
Kim was expecting to see a nail stuck in his foot, so she brought some farriery tools with her thinking we could pull it out. Realising they weren’t quite going to cut it, she dashed to a building site she’d passed on the way to borrow a hacksaw! We decided to try to cut the shoe near the coronet band, in the hope it would relieve the pressure and we could remove the shoe. Eventually we managed to cut through it, then Percy kicked out and the whole shoe came away from his foot. It worked! However, he began to lose a lot of blood from the hole in his foot, so the next challenge was to try to stem the bleeding until the vet arrived. The only thing we had was the clothes we were wearing – luckily we had a couple of layers on! So we took off what we could and wrapped up Percy’s foot in our tops. With the shoe out, I let him rest his foot on the ground – he didn’t seem at all concerned and kept trying to walk off to eat.
Rushed into hospital
Charlie Dean from the Liphook Equine Hospital was with us about five minutes after we’d got the shoe out and assured us we’d done the right thing. She gave Percy some sedation, antibiotics and painkillers, then replaced our makeshift bandage with something more suitable before we loaded him up to go to the clinic. Percy needed emergency surgery to assess the internal damage and to treat the injury. Vet Tim Phillips was going to perform the operation and told me that he wasn’t sure what he was expecting to find, but he explained that there was a strong chance that the deep flexor tendon was affected and that if it was damaged more than 50% of the way through, Percy wouldn’t be coming off the operating table. I couldn’t believe it, it was such a shock. When I set out on my hack, that last thing I expected was that Percy might never make it home.
➤ HORSe &RIDER 79
Ask a vet
Tales of the unexpected
Readers tell us their true-life stories
X-ray showing the depth of the hole
Six weeks after injury
What’s the damage?
It was a tense time. I decided to wait at the hospital and, as Liphook has a viewing area into the operating theatre, I could watch the vets work for a while. I had a chat with Tim once Percy was back in recovery to sleep off the anaesthetic. The shoe had penetrated the navicular bursa, coffin joint and the tendon sheath, and it had gone into the deep flexor tendon by about 30%. Tim wasn’t hugely optimistic. He told me that although it was possible that Percy would recover, the chances of him being able to return to the level of work he’d been doing before were very slim. The first two weeks were critical because the risk of infection was incredibly high, so Percy received a lot of antibiotics. But he got through it and a week later, he was able to have a hospital plate fitted to his foot to provide protection. He was very lame and it was three weeks after the surgery before he was able to make it across the yard. Even then, he needed a rest once he’d got there.
Veterinary viewpoint
Three months after injury Six months after injury Percy needed emergency surgery
Vet Tim Phillips from the Liphook Equine Hospital treated Percy’s foot. He tells us more about the injury and what he needed to do to help him...
“Penetration injuries to the foot are quite common, but it’s usually a nail that causes the problem – I’ve never seen an injury like this where the branch of the shoe has gone into the foot. Initially, I was concerned about the extent of the damage to important structures within the foot, as the branch of the shoe was quite a bulky object to enter the hoof and it had gone in quite deeply. The other problem was the developing infection. “We took some X-rays of Percy’s foot and luckily there wasn’t any damage to the bony structures. So we rushed him through for surgery to have a closer look inside the foot, and to thoroughly clean out the wound to help control the infection. “The shoe had opened up the navicular bursa, the coffin joint and the tendon sheath, and had damaged the deep flexor tendon. To be honest, I didn’t expect him to survive. My immediate concern was controlling the infection, but even if he survived that, the damage inside the hoof was so extensive that the chances of him becoming sound were remote. “Percy received an intensive course of antibiotics and the dressings on his foot were changed regularly until he was able to wear a hospital plate. The plate was put in place to protect the defect in the foot until it had repaired. Luckily for Percy, the surgery and an intensive course of antibiotics successfully brought the infection under control, and all he needed then was time to heal. “Having never seen or heard of an injury like this before, it was difficult to gauge how well Percy would recover, but looking at the extent of the damage to his foot, realistically the chances of him returning to any level of soundness was around 10%. It’s fantastic to hear Percy’s doing so well. He has definitely surprised us all.”
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Time’s a great healer
After five weeks in hospital, Percy was allowed to come home. He was still unsound in walk, so he had to stay on box rest for a further three months, with walks out to pick at the grass. After that, he was turned away on paddock rest for six months. But he still wasn’t sound even after so much rest. Tim explained that this was likely to be due to scarring in the foot. He suggested I start bringing Percy back into work and see how we got on, as it would help to break down the scar tissue. It was a very slow process with a lot of walk work, but Percy coped really well and after three months there was definitely some improvement. Percy continued to improve with exercise but he was still unsound so I decided to give him a break in the field. This worked wonders, because when I brought him back in to work again, he was a hundred times better. Before long, the miracle we’d been hoping for happened – Percy was sound. He is now out hunting regularly and has remained sound since. Thankfully his recovery has been better than any of us expected. Percy was thrilled to be back in the field
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Shake a leg! Shivering is a disorder that usually affects horses’ hindlimbs, but what does the future hold for a shiverer? Vet Graham Hunter from Ardene House Veterinary Practice, a member of XL Equine, has the low-down on this mysterious condition
S
Photos: Bob Atkins, Steve Bardens, Bob Langrish
hivers (also known as shivering) is a fairly uncommon, progressive, chronic nervous or neuromuscular movement disorder seen in horses. It is most commonly seen in draft breeds (particularly the Clydesdale in the UK), but is also regularly identified in warmbloods. It is noted, but is less commonly seen in lighter breeds, such as Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Arabs and Morgans. Shivers is characterised by excessive flexion and outward rotation of primarily the hindlimbs. This is most noticeable when a leg is lifted or the horse is walked backwards (see main image, right). Tall, male horses appear to have a slight predisposition, with the onset of clinical signs being seen at a young age – generally between two and four years old.
Mystery cause
The true cause of shivers is not known. Although it is considered to be caused by an underlying neuropathy or nerve problem, in some cases it has been thought to be a result of a muscular problem, infection or trauma. Thorough neurological and post-mortem examinations have been performed, looking at nerve pathways from the brain stem, all the way down the spinal cord to the associated muscles and joints. These examinations have consistently failed to find any conclusive lesions to explain the clinical signs. It has been suggested that shivers could be due to an underlying muscle disease called equine polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM). PSSM and shivers are both common in draft breeds and 82 HORSe &RIDER
often occur together in the same horse. But muscle biopsies taken in cases of shivers have unfortunately failed to prove a convincing association or link between the two conditions. Systemic or respiratory infections, such as equine influenza or strangles, have been thought to cause damage to the nervous system, resulting in shivers. But this, as with all previous theories, has not been proven. Suggestions that osteoarthritic lesions of the lumbar vertebral column may cause shivers sound very logical, with lesions of the
There is som e evidence th at shivers is in heri
ted
Ask a vet
Our expert Graham Hunter BVM&S, GPCert(EqP), Cert EP, CertAVP(ESO), MRCVS graduated from The Royal (Dick) Vet College in Edinburgh. He is the senior equine veterinary surgeon at Ardene House Veterinary Practice, a member of XL Equine. Although interested in all aspects of equine medicine and surgery, Graham’s focus and passion over recent years has been lameness and surgical cases.
Early signs of shivers lumbosacral vertebra causing either mild spinal cord lesions or damage to the nerve roots. This, in turn, could cause muscle spasms in the affected hindlimbs. Again, though, no evidence has been obtained to determine a connection between this and the clinical signs of shivers. There is also some evidence that shivers is inherited or has at least a hereditary predisposition. There is, however, no specific genetic pattern that has been identified and, therefore, no genetic tests are available. Shivers has been classified as a hereditary disease under the UK Government Horse Breeding Act of 1918. As a result of this predisposition, many people would discourage breeding from stallions with shivers.
It is frequently the farrier who detects the presence of early-stage shivers. The horse may be reluctant to lift up a leg, appear to be unable to hold up the affected leg, or be reluctant to stand on three legs for any length of time. Any of these will result in your farrier having difficulty in trimming and shoeing the affected limb. Horses with shivers may appear worried when having a leg picked up or may hesitate before snapping it up quickly. If you notice any of these signs or are worried, ask your vet to perform a full physical and neurological examination on your horse to see whether there is any evidence of shivers.
HORSe &RIDER 83
➤
Diagnosing the condition
There is no easy blood test that can be performed to confirm shivers. Instead, it is generally diagnosed by the recognition of the characteristics by farriers and owners, clinical signs and the ruling out of all other diseases that the horse’s symptoms could suggest. This is sometimes not as easy is it may sound. Early signs of shivers can resemble stringhalt (which causes a similar action), intermittent upward fixation of the patella (locking patella), leg mites (chorioptic mange) or even the rare and more recently recognised ‘stiff horse syndrome’. Painful conditions involving the bottom part of the hindleg, such as a foot abscess, can sometimes result in a horse showing an abnormal limb flexion that can mimic shivers. To complicate matters further, sometimes a concurrent, painful hindlimb lameness can worsen the abnormal limb Horses with shivers flexion seen in a true case flex the hindlimb of shivers. excessively and The condition may rotate it outwards present with a wide variety
You can check for signs of shivers by turning the horse in a tight circle or backing him up (see right)
84 HORSe &RIDER
of clinical signs that vary with the severity of the disease. In mild cases, the signs may only be seen occasionally. Occasionally, if a diagnosis is not clear, your vet may undertake some tests that are primarily targeted at ruling out other conditions. Blood samples or muscle biopsies may be taken to check for muscle problems. If the horse has been imported from the USA, a Western Blot test may be done to rule out equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). This disease can present with a great variety of different neurological signs, some of which are similar to shivers.
Shivers in action
When a leg is lifted or the horse is backed up, the horse will demonstrate excessive flexion of leg, with the limb lifted high, and often rotated and held out from the body for a few seconds before being placed hard back on the ground. The thigh muscles may also be seen to tremble. The tail head may lift up and quiver and sometimes the horse may stretch his neck forward. The muscles of the face can be affected, too, with a characteristic flickering of the eyelids, ears and lips. In stallions, the testicles may be seen to shiver. In some severe cases, the hindleg is held out behind the horse in rigid extension, and horses can also occasionally be seen to stand on their hind toes with the heels elevated a little off the ground. These unusual signs are seen occasionally at rest but generally at walk. No significant clinical signs are seen at the trot or canter until the condition is more advanced, and weakness and a loss of power become noticeable. These signs are most obvious when the horse is backed up or turned in a tight circle, at the first stride after standing or the last stride after walking. In severe cases, horses are very reluctant or unable to move backwards at all. Shivers tends to worsen in cold weather, when the horse is stressed, anxious or excited, and when he is not in work or where there is a lack of exercise for any reason.
Ask a vet
A gradual progression
When managing a shiverer, allow as much turnout as possible
The prognosis for horses with shivers is poor, because although some cases will remain static, the majority will progressively worsen over time. As this happens, we see wastage of the thigh muscles and eventually more generally over the whole hindquarters. The hindquarters become very weak and stiff, and advanced cases are seen to stand with a very wide-based stance behind. Although horses are often still willing, the loss of power and weakness eventually results in the horse being unable to perform any work, so the long-term prognosis for athletic function is grave. Eventually, the discomfort and incapacitation associated with the muscle cramping can become so severe that euthanasia is the only option available.
Shivers will affect a horse’s ability to pass a five-stage prepurchase veterinary examination Available treatments
It can be difficult to advise on the best treatment options as there are no reliable treatments for shivers. Many different medical treatments have been tried, including dietary vitamin E supplementation (1,000 international units per day). Vitamin E is often prescribed because of its neuroprotective properties. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as phenylbutazone (bute), may be used in cases where there are suspected traumatic or inflammatory causes, and in some cases, muscle relaxants have been tried to help relieve the muscle cramps and spasms. A variety of anticonvulsants and antipsychotic drugs have also been tried, because they potentially have effects on muscle contraction and nerve function. However, no A high-fat, lowconsistent improvement carbohydrate has been seen with any of diet could be these treatments. beneficial Dietary management using a long-term, high-fat, lowcarbohydrate diet has been suggested. It can be used in shivers cases related to confirmed PSSM and cases with no identifiable muscle pathology. It is possible that this diet decreases the anxiety of the horse as well as decreasing the muscle cramping seen in shivers cases. However, this diet change can take up to six months for a response to be noted. Shivers cases are frequently overweight and their calorie intake should be reduced to manage this situation before starting on a high-fat diet. Despite these options, there are currently no successfully proven surgical or long-term medical treatments available.
Managing a shiverer
There is no doubt that factors such as reduced turnout, excessive or limited exercise, illness, stress or excitement can precipitate the worsening of the clinical signs of shivers. It is, therefore, logical to minimise these triggers. Regular, controlled exercise with maximum daily turnout and the removal of any stress or excitement triggers would be a logical management approach to prevent severe shivering episodes. Occasionally, clinical signs of shivers have been reported to improve after long periods of rest, but the signs unfortunately almost invariably return when the horse’s work is resumed.
Pre-purchase considerations Shivers will affect a horse’s ability to pass a five-stage pre-purchase veterinary examination. The decisions can be difficult in performance horses, and dressage horses in particular, because we know that the disease is most noticeable at walk, is generally slowly progressive and is very likely to eventually result in loss of power and weakness. However, the rate of this progression is completely unpredictable. The pre-purchase examination will record any abnormalities and signs of ill-health, and their significance will be noted and discussed with you, based on the use the horse is intended for. Mild shivers in a beautifully-behaved schoolmaster may be perfectly acceptable for a child’s general riding pony, but be completely unsuitable in a Prix St Georges dressage horse.
Current thinking
There is very little new information on this unusual movement disorder. New theories, such as one that relates shivers to recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN, also known as roaring, where respiratory noise is heard during fast work), are constantly being explored. Horses suffering from RLN also tend to be tall, predominantly male, and of draft, warmblood or Thoroughbred breeding. It’s been questioned whether there is a common pathology that affects the long nerves in these horses, but as with all other proposed ideas, no evidence has been found to back up such a theory. At present, researchers at the University of Minnesota are performing research into shivers in conjunction with Ontario Veterinary College. The focus of this research is dedicated to trying to establish the cause of the disease, if the condition is inherited, and if dietary therapy could be effective.
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HORSe &RIDER 85
Ten signs
of good health Do you know what signs to check for? Céleste Wilkins shows you the top 10
T
here is nothing more important for horse owners than keeping their horse happy and healthy. Do you know what signs to look out for and how to tell if your horse is feeling under the weather? Here are some indications of good equine health...
pulse 1 Temperature, and respiration It’s essential to know your horse’s vital signs and a good place to start is his temperature, pulse and respiration (TPR). l Your horse’s normal temperature is 37.2–38.3°C. To take his temperature, use a digital thermometer inserted into his rectum. Don’t forget to use a little bit of lubricant such as KY jelly or Vaseline to make it more comfortable for him. Make sure you hold the thermometer in place – you wouldn’t want to lose it! l Your horse’s normal heart rate is 28–44 beats per minute. Use a stethoscope to listen just behind his elbow, by the girth area. If you don’t have access to a stethoscope, feel for his pulse on the underside of his jaw, where the lingual artery passes over the jaw bone. Take the pulse for 30 seconds then multiply the number by two to determine the number of beats in a minute. l A normal respiratory rate for an adult horse is 10–24 breaths per minute. You can measure this by watching his flank move as he breathes, watching his nostrils, feeling his breaths by holding a hand in front of his nostrils or listening to the air traveling across his trachea (on the bottom of his neck) with a stethoscope. If you’re listening with a stethoscope, ensure that his breaths sound clear, not wheezy.
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pink gums 2 Salmon Your horse’s gums should be moist
and salmon pink. If they are pale, deep red, purple, overly yellow or streaked with the appearance of small, broken blood vessels, it’s time to call the vet. Pale gums can indicate shock, while deep red can indicate toxicity, blue/purple low oxygen and yellow can indicate a liver problem.
3 Capillary refill time
When you gently press your horse’s gums, they should turn white, but return to their salmon pink colour within two seconds. A delay in how long it takes them to return to their original colour (known as capillary refill time) indicates poor circulation and can be brought on by serious dehydration, shock or toxicosis.
Management know-how
does his gut 4 How sound? You should be able to hear gurgling noises coming from your horse’s gut if you listen carefully. You can put your ear to his flank or listen with a stethoscope. Gurgling, tinkling sounds and the occasional roar are all normal – but beware if you can’t hear any, especially if coupled with behavioural signs of colic. You may want to compare a variety of horses’ gut noises. Listen regularly to determine what’s normal for your horse.
a pinch 5 In You can check your horse’s
hydration status by pinching the skin on the base of his neck or shoulder and releasing it. It should snap back to normal within one or two seconds. If it doesn’t, it may indicate dehydration.
droppings 7 Decent Droppings may be an indication of his
health. They should be well-formed balls without any massive chunks of undigested feed, have a subtle odour, a fairly uniform colour and no mucous covering. A small amount of liquid immediately following a poo is normal, but any very loose droppings or failure to pass droppings for hours at a time may be indicative of gastrointestinal upset.
his legs 8 Check Do you know what’s normal when you
feel your horse’s legs? Some horses may have ‘cold’ splints – bumps along his lower leg that don’t affect his wellbeing. Any old injuries may make his legs feel different, even if they’re completely healed. Every horse is an individual and by having a good feel of his legs daily, you’ll get to know what’s normal and when things aren’t. Look out for any abnormalities – if one leg is visibly swollen but the rest aren’t, is an indication something is wrong. If all four legs are warm because your horse has been standing in the sun, then that might not be as much cause for concern.
9 No foot, no horse
How are your horse’s feet looking? Are they dry, brittle and cracked? Can you tell if he’s due for shoeing? Many problems can occur with the feet, so it’s worth having a chat with your farrier to determine what’s normal for your horse. He can tell you what to look out for when your horse is due for shoeing and any signs of poor health.
eyes 6 Clear Your horse’s eyes should be clear,
bright and free from discharge. His eyelashes should be perpendicular to the eye – not pointing downward. Any swelling or weeping may indicate pain and immediate veterinary attention may be needed.
✘
✔
good condition 10 In Your horse’s overall condition
can indicate whether he’s feeling good – or not. Learn how to body condition score your horse and assess his weight. Feel the fat covering his ribs, shoulder, withers, neck and tailhead. Assess whether he’s gone up or down in condition lately. How does his coat look? Does he have a healthy sheen or does he look dull? These are all indications of his general health and should be assessed on a regular basis.
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HORSe &RIDER 87
Management know-how
Part one
s e t o n
Pull out & keep
Field
In the first of our two-part pasture management calendar, Horse&Rider shows you what paddock-based jobs need tackling from January to June, and helps you get them sorted easily and quickly
M
Words: Kate Hammaren. Photos: Bob Atkins
anaging and maintaining your paddocks and pasture is a year-round job, and it is essential for any horse owner to know how to get the best from their land. Whether you use your paddocks for grazing or hay-making, keeping your pasture well-managed is a big responsibility that brings with it some hard graft. But get it right and it’s not just your horse who will benefit, but also the environment and other wildlife.
Turn over for the first part of your pasture management calendar HORSe &RIDER 89
➤
Pasture
management Start as you mean to go on and make a detailed plan for the forthcoming year. It’ll help you organise your important paddock maintenance at the right time, ensuring you get optimum use from your pasture. We’ve put one together for you to hang in your tack room!
e n o t r Pa
Jan ➤ Check paddocks aren’t overstocked (one horse per acre maximum, depending on whether they live out or in) to avoid poaching and damage to existing grass, and fence off any damaged or waterlogged ground – for example, around gateways. ➤ Roughly plan grazing rotations and management for the year ahead. This allows you to find or let extra land and source contractors to carry out any work needed as soon as the ground conditions allow. ➤ Forward plan – carry out a soil test to establish pH and other nutrient levels (the optimum soil pH for grass growth is 6.5). This will help you choose an appropriate fertiliser for use later in the year.
FEB ➤ Ensure grass is kept at a minimum length of 2cm to protect the ground, and help prevent soil compaction, poaching and damage to grass roots. ➤ There is little chance of grass growth at this time of year, so you may consider feeding hay in the field. Depending on the number of horses and type of grazing, think about the best way to feed hay to avoid wastage. ➤ Assess the field to decide if it needs reseeding or overseeding. If in doubt, contact an expert for advice. When there’ s less grass, feed hay
APR ➤ Apply fertiliser when the grass begins to grow. Monitor the weather forecast (don’t fertilise when heavy rain is due, as it will wash away the fertiliser) and seek expert advice. Consider using slow-releasing fertiliser to avoid causing a big flush of rich grass. Always follow advice on the fertiliser to determine how long the land needs to be left fallow before it can be grazed again. ➤ If you have space, consider whether you can set aside some land to grow your own hay. If in doubt, call in a specialist contractor for advice. ➤ Look out for and control weeds before they establish – spot-treat, or use a more broad application of herbicide where pulling or cutting methods are not possible.
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Tighten leaky taps
MAY
ld d manage fie s carefully an te ra th ow gr ass eds. ➤ Observe gr your horse’s ne to g in rd co ac . time imum of 5cm ngth to a min le s as ter fence gr p ee ➤K iled post-win ta de t ou y rr time to ca time to begin ➤ S et aside ing is the best pr S . ks ec ch and field ce. any maintenan
Management know-how
Poisonous plants Every horse owner wants to ensure their horse is happy and healthy, and turnout is a big part of this. But poor pasture management can allow unwanted plants to get a hold. Horses graze selectively, but if there is little grass and they are hungry, the risk of them eating things they would usually naturally avoid increases. This is the best argument that we can think of for not overgrazing your land! Here’s how to spot the nasties and what to do about them.
Bracken is sometimes hard to control, and
Did you know?
In a typical year, grass grows five times faster in May than it does in September!
MAR ➤ Prepare the ground following the recommendations from the soil analysis and, if there is a severe weed problem, consider spraying. ➤ Cut or graze the land before sowing grass seed – it will struggle to root through long grass. ➤ Begin over-seeding. ➤ Harrow and roll as soon as conditions allow – don’t leave it until late spring or early summer, as new grass may be damaged and hard ground will limit the value of rolling. ➤ Monitor grass growth rate and be prepared to adapt your horse’s management routine according to his needs.
june ➤ Target invasive weeds such as docks and ragwort. Leave nettles where possible, as they’re a great habitat for wildlife, but where they become problematic – for example, around gateways – cut them back regularly. ➤ Minimise flies by eliminating any standing water, fixing leaking taps or troughs and keeping a tidy muck heap. ➤ Continue to monitor and react to grass growth according to your individual requirements. ➤ Scrub water troughs and allow to dry before refilling. ➤ When the weather is mild and the ground unsaturated, address any issues with gateways that are boggy in the winter by considering long-term drainage and resurfacing options to reduce poaching.
is most dangerous when mixed with hay because it’s harder for the horse to spot and avoid. It’s highly toxic when fresh as well as when dried. Chemical control may be necessary on large areas, although on smaller patches a continual mowing regime can keep it at bay and eventually eliminate it.
Buttercups contain a compound that causes skin irritation and ulceration of the mouth. They can also cause colic when eaten fresh, but are not dangerous in hay. It is hard to reduce the number of buttercups in fields without applying herbicide, because they grow close to the ground and aren’t killed by repeated mowing. Oak and acorns contain tannins that can lead to colic and even death. The best prevention is to fence off the whole canopy of oak trees to prevent horses grazing where the acorns might fall, as well as checking the surrounding area, collecting the acorns and disposing of them safely. Ragwort causes more fatalities than any other plant, and must be carefully removed and disposed of. It’s easy to spot the tall stems when the plant is approaching flowering, but be on the lookout for the flat rosettes of leaves that the plant produces in its first year. On small sites, the quickest and cheapest way to get rid of it is to use a specialist fork to hand-pull the plant – never just cut it down to the ground because it will quickly regrow next year. The leaves can cause an allergic reaction, so wear gloves and long sleeves. It’s important to remove all the roots to stop the plant regrowing. On a large area, this might not be a practical solution, in which case look out for specialist herbicide products. Ragwort remains toxic when treated, wilted, cut or pulled, but becomes more palatable, so horses must not have any access to ragwort whatsoever. yew needles and seeds are extremely
poisonous to horses, even in small amounts. What’s more, they’re a common hedging plant in gardens, so check adjoining land to your fields. Yew, fresh and dried, is toxic year round.
Unfortunately, some plants become more palatable when they have been treated with herbicides, so always ensure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines as to how long to keep your horse (and other animals) off the pasture after treatment. Where herbicide is the best or only solution, try to spot-treat problem areas to protect other wildlife and plant species. Good fencing, and fencing out trees and hedges, is a useful way of ensuring your horse or pony is safe from accidental poisoning.
HORSe &RIDER 91
➤
Management know-how
On the surface
Banish excess water
On duty No matter the weather, there are paddock duties that need to be carried out frequently year-round. Poo-picking regularly will improve your grazing and reduce the risk of worm infestation. Routine pasture tasks such as checking fencing and water supplies are hard work when the days are short, but remain essential. Why not fix a time each week when you check these areas, to ensure they don’t get forgotten? Bald areas appear in the summer and you might not think they’re a problem, but the flip side is that they quickly turn into deep mud in winter.
Send in reinforcements Most ground damage is caused by lots of movement – either horses playing in the field, pacing fencelines when they think it is time to come in, or when they congregate at feed times or at the end of the day. Installing multiple gateways will give each one the opportunity to rest while another is being used – slip rails are an inexpensive, practical option. If electric fencing is used, several entry points may be installed in different places, giving you flexible alternatives.
Field facts
Another long-term solution to muddy areas is to reinforce them with a tougher surface. Always check with your local authority to find out whether planning permission is required before making any improvements. The best place to start is by addressing drainage to ensure excess water is taken away from the area as quickly as possible. Once you’ve dealt with drainage, the next thing to consider is reinforcing the ground. This doesn’t have to be a costly venture – improvements can be undertaken on all budgets. The key to keeping your gateways in good condition over the winter months is to plan ahead, because almost all ground improvement works need to be done in good weather, and it’s this summer work that will determine how well the ground stands up to the winter wet. Remember, it’s not just gateways that need care and attention over the wet months. Paths and other areas of pasture subject to heavy use (for example, around water troughs) may also benefit from a reinforced surface. There are many different options for surfacing gateways and other areas... ➤ Rubber matting or tiles are a good option for gateways where drainage assistance is not needed. Purpose-built honeycomb rubber mats can be used to strengthen the ground, allowing grass to grow through but preventing poaching. They can be used directly on existing surfaces and provide a soft surface alternative, but always seek the manufacturer’s advice on where you plan to install them. ➤ Geotextile membranes can be laid over soil, beneath a hardcore layer. It’s important to keep the surface sufficiently topped up, or hooves may break through the aggregate and damage the membrane. ➤ Concrete should be professionally installed. While invasive and relatively expensive, a raised concrete area can be a good long-term solution in certain circumstances. ➤ Aggregate such as sand may be used to surface gateways in light use. Topping up will be necessary at least every few years. ➤ Hardcore can be cheaper than concrete and tends to be less slippery. It must be sufficiently deep and underlain with a secure sub-base. It’s important to specify the use so that the supplier can expressly avoid sharp materials, such as glass, in the mix.
➤ As it becomes colder, grass growth slows down and stops altogether as the soil temperature falls below 6°C. ➤ Grass should be kept at a minimum of 2cm throughout the winter to help prevent soil compaction and poaching. ➤ Hand-pulling of weeds is easier in spring, while the ground is soft and roots are less established, than during the summer when the ground is baked hard and roots are deeper. Specialist tools are available to ease the labour involved in hand-pulling and to assist complete root removal. Be aware that some plants can re-establish if root fragments are left behind in the soil. We feature the second ➤ The average grazing requirement for half of our pull-out horses and donkeys is roughly 1–1.5 acres calendar and take a per animal.
Next month
look at fencing options.
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Sowing the seeds Following any gateway improvements, reseeding of the surrounding area may be necessary to initiate new growth where grass has previously been badly damaged. Reseeding is best undertaken in the spring when the mild temperatures and rain will assist seed germination, and the roots have the opportunity to strengthen over the summer. However, horses will need to be kept off reseeded areas until the new grass is strong enough to tolerate hoof pressure.
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On the road Safely transporting your horse begins with ensuring you are licensed, insured and covered for every eventuality. Horse&Rider fills in the details
Words: Kate Hammaren. Photo: Bob Atkins. With thanks to Huntmill Transport Training for their help with this feature, huntmill-training.co.uk
A
s the days begin to lengthen and the show schedules are confirmed, it’s time to make plans for how exactly you’re going to get your horse to that show and win a frilly! Before you drive or tow, the most important thing to check is that you comply with legislation governing driving a lorry or towing a trailer, and that you are insured and safe for your journey. The first step is to find out the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of your vehicle. MAM is the weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load that can be carried safely when used on the road. It is also referred to as gross vehicle weight (GVW), and determines the kind of driving licence you must hold. Finding out your vehicle’s MAM should be straightforward. It will be listed in the owner’s manual and is normally shown on a plate or sticker
94 HORSe &RIDER
fitted to the vehicle. If you’re unsure where to look, speak to your mechanic, who should be able to show you the location. Another important figure to know if you’re towing is the gross train weight (GTW), also called gross combination weight (GCW). This is the total weight of the towing vehicle, plus its trailer and its load. Any vehicle with a GTW of more than 3.5t would normally be considered a regulated load and, therefore, require an operator’s license and be governed by all related regulations involved in this. It can include 4x4 vehicles towing horse trailers, so it’s important to check this out. Driving licence legislation changed in 1997, so the type of vehicle you can drive on your car licence depends on when you passed your test – but we’ve explored the most common scenarios to guide you.
Management know-how
the Fines for driving without to up be correct licence can to £5,000, in addition disqualification and also invalidation of your insurance. So how do you know what transport you can legally drive and tow?
circumstances a car pulling a trailer with horses. For more information, see VOSA’s guide to towing small trailers and the vehicle operator’s manual.
Further driving tests
Perfect paperwork If you passed your test before 1 January 1997 and hold a car licence, you can drive... ➤ a motor vehicle not exceeding 3.5t MAM. ➤ a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25t. Practically, this means that you can drive a horsebox with a MAM of up to 7.5t or a car and trailer combination, dependent on its weight limitations (refer to the vehicle operator’s manual for further information). If you passed your test on or after 1 January 1997 and hold a Category B (car) licence, you can... ➤ drive a vehicle not exceeding 3.5t MAM towing a trailer up to 750kg MAM. ➤ tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined weight of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3.5t. Practically, this means that you can drive a horsebox with a MAM of up to 3.5t, but not in most
If you passed your test after 1 January 1997 and want to drive or tow more than your standard Category B licence permits, you’ll need to take additional tests. The main ones of interest to horse owners are... Category B+E this is the test that allows you to drive a vehicle with a horse trailer and horses (again, subject to the vehicle and trailer being compliant with regulations governing towing weight). You will have to pass a practical trailer towing test, which you can take at any point once you have passed your Category B (car) test. Category C1 this test allows you to drive a horsebox up to 7.5t. You will have to pass a medical examination as well as an additional driving theory test, and also a driving test in a vehicle of the appropriate size. You must be 18 years or over to take the test. Category C you can drive any rigid-bodied goods vehicle (not an articulated lorry). You’ll need to pass the same tests as for the Category C1, but the vehicle you drive for the test will be larger than 7.5t. You must be 21 or over to take this test unless you have completed further recognised training relating to Driver CPC (see below). More information can be obtained from Skills for Logistics.
Professional drivers Don’t assume that, because you don’t earn your living from driving, you will not be classed as driving professionally. It is all too easy for horse owners to end up in a position where they are classed as professional drivers. For example, if you drive a horsebox as part of your job (for example, as a groom), then you will be classed as a professional driver. Since 10 September 2009, anyone driving a horsebox professionally is governed by new legislation requiring commercial drivers using vehicles weighing over 3.5t to have the new Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). This means drivers must undertake 35 hours of periodic training in five seven-hour sessions, and the training must be completed within every five-yearly cycle. However, if you acquired your category C
or C1 licence after 10 September 2009, you must have completed the Driver CPC initial qualification by passing module 2 (case study) and module 4 (vehicle safety demonstration) to get your Driver Qualification Card. So what does this mean for you as a horsebox or trailer owner? If you only use your vehicle to drive your own horse for amateur activities, you may not need an operator’s licence, or to undertake the CPC. However, if there is a commercial element involved and horses are transported in return for financial payment (for example, work as a groom, being paid to ride or compete the horses being transported, or for reward – including transporting friends’ horses if they are paying you), then you will need an operator’s licence and probably a driver CPC. If you are in any doubt, refer to the VOSA guide for Horsebox and Trailer Owners.
HORSe &RIDER 95
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Specialist trailer insurance is advisable to cover all eventualities
Ensure you’re insured UK law states that all vehicles must be insured at all times, unless the legal owner has made a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). If you only use your horsebox or trailer seasonally, it is theoretically possible to cancel your insurance during the time the vehicle isn’t being used, but you are required to have a SORN from the date the insurance is cancelled, which can be reasonably complicated to arrange. The legal minimum insurance is third party cover, which means you are covered for accidents where you cause damage or injury to another person, vehicle, animal or property. This is the limit of the cover, and your vehicle and damage to you or your property are not covered. When transporting horses, it is always advisable to ensure you have the most comprehensive you can afford. Choose a policy that covers you, your vehicle and possessions within the vehicle – but be aware that policies vary and the services that you receive will depend on the company you use, and the level of cover you take out.
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Trailer insurance is slightly different, because you have two vehicles (your car and your trailer) to consider. Firstly, it’s essential to check that your car policy isn’t invalidated by towing a trailer with livestock on board. Then check the small print – it’s quite likely that the trailer will only be covered third party on a normal car policy, and only while you are driving it (not when it is unhitched at home or an event). So although it’s not a legal requirement, properly insuring your trailer is a very good idea, because they are expensive pieces of equipment that are often targeted by thieves. You can make sure your horse trailer is fully covered either by extending the insurance cover on your towing vehicle or by taking out a separate horse trailer insurance policy. The type of wheel lock you fit and where the trailer is kept can affect your premium. If you decide to take out separate insurance for your trailer, as with everything, shop around and ensure the policy offers all the cover you want.
Management know-how
When transporting horses, it is always advisable to ensure you have the most comprehensive insurance you can afford Who can drive your vehicle?
While it might sound like a simple question, it’s worth considering who else may need to drive your horsebox. There are two options for this – either include more named drivers on the policy or select an ‘any driver policy’, which covers any driver with the correct licence and permission to drive the vehicle. This is very useful should the worst happen when you are out and about, and someone else needs to drive your horse home. In terms of trailer insurance, providing you have specific trailer insurance, it should be covered no matter who is towing it (providing they have your permission, their vehicle is insured correctly and the towing weight is within the regulations).
Nervous about a breakdown?
Stay safe Being fully covered is one thing, but there are some simple steps you can take to reduce the stress of a breakdown or problem... ➤ Programme the breakdown and insurance company phone numbers into your phone. Keep a note of your policy numbers in your phone, too. ➤ Install a hands-free kit or keep a bluetooth headset in the vehicle. ➤ Print out all the contact details, including phone and policy numbers, and keep them in the glove box of your car or horsebox, just in case.
Unfortunately, breakdowns and accidents happen and, in the event of an emergency, you will want to get your horses back on the road or home as quickly and as safely as possible. It’s therefore essential to have comprehensive breakdown cover in place. Most insurance doesn’t automatically include breakdown cover, however, many companies offer it as an add-on. Before agreeing to this, it’s worth shopping around for other quotes to ensure you get the best value for money. The elements to consider in breakdown cover include... ➤ emergency road assistance. ➤ home start. ➤ long-distance recovery. ➤ alternative transport for horses and people. This can be a pricey add-on, but if your trailer or horsebox cannot be swiftly repaired, it offers you the peace of mind to know that your horses will be transported home.
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➤ Ensure your mobile phone is fully charged before setting out. ➤ Carry a charger in your car or horsebox that plugs into the lighter socket – if you are on hold to the breakdown company, a dying battery is the last thing you need. ➤ Make sure someone knows where you’re going, what time you’re due to arrive at your destination and what time you’re expected to arrive back at the yard – especially if travelling alone.
HORSe &RIDER 97
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†See website for full terms and conditions.
As told to Kelly McCarthy-Maine. Photos: Bob Atkins. With thanks to Beaufort Embryo Transfer, beaufortembryotransfer.co.uk, and West Kington Stud, westkingtonstud.co.uk, for their help with this feature
Wellbeing
Management know-how
Let’s make babies Part 1
Once you’ve made the decision to breed from your mare, you might think your tough choices are out of the way. But you’d be wrong! Deciding how to get your mare pregnant will affect your choice of stallion, as Horse&Rider finds out
W
hile every breeder wants to produce a frisky, healthy foal with a desirable pedigree and a bright future, how you get there is a unique journey for each mare and owner. Unless your mare is a Thoroughbred and you wish to produce a foal who will race, it is unlikely that natural cover will be an option. For the health of the mare and the stallion, modern breeding has transformed over the last few decades and artificial insemination has become the standard. Breeding a foal suitable for your intended use, as well as your budget, your mare’s fertility status and your own circumstances, requires a lot of homework. And you have several choices to make as you search for the perfect stallion to complement your mare’s temperament and conformation.
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HORSe &RIDER 99
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The options ■ Fresh semen
If you are able to take your mare to a stud and leave her in the care of the dedicated stud team, it is often possible to use fresh semen from the resident stallions. Semen from stallions standing at your chosen stud during the breeding season can be collected and prepared on-demand to suit your mare’s peak times of fertility. To use fresh semen, the stallion and the mare need to be kept at the same facility, so collection and insemination can be organised within the mare’s short fertility window and the relatively short lifespan of fresh semen. There are many benefits of fresh semen... ➤ It’s the most natural and, often, most affordable option when it comes to artificial insemination. ➤ It will likely be at its highest percentage of progressive motility (see p103 ‘Tech speak’) for that individual stallion. ➤ A mare with various fertility challenges can be inseminated several times, as there is a relatively unlimited supply of semen from a resident stallion.
■ Chilled semen
When it is not possible to bring your mare to the stud or the stallion you have chosen is not local, semen can be collected, chilled and transported to you. If handled correctly, chilled semen can survive at a constant temperature in specialist, insulated containers for 24–48 hours. The main
Photo of Timolin courtesy of esphotography.co.uk
Case study
benefit of chilled semen is that it is of a similar quality and motility to fresh semen. However, it has the added advantage of a longer lifespan and it can be transported, saving the need for the mare or stallion to travel. Despite this, its effective use is still constrained by a use-by-date and the idiosyncrasies of courier and postal services. The mare needs to be monitored carefully for signs of upcoming ovulation and logistics considered in advance to get the chilled semen delivered. It’s essential to have excellent communication with the stud where your chosen stallion is standing, because mare ovulation does not conform to Royal Mail delivery schedules. If you are importing semen from Europe, it’s important to understand the bank holidays in the stallion’s home country and take these into consideration. These challenges need to be worked around, and surrounding yourself with reproductive experts who are experienced in handling chilled semen can save you expensive multiple inseminations and increase your chances of a successful conception.
Semen is measured out from stallion Britannia’s Mail
■ Frozen semen
Some stallions, especially many elite competition stallions, are only collected from during their off season (when they are not competing) and their semen is frozen to be used throughout the breeding season. Likewise, stallions who are geographically distant from the intended mare may have their semen frozen so it can be
Fresh semen
Case study
Frozen semen
Filly Britannia’s Caberet, ‘Twiglet’, by Britannia’s Mail
Sport Horse Great Britain Champion, four-year-old stallion, Timolin, by Totilas
Simon and Bridget Hall chose to use fresh semen from Britannia’s Mail out of affection for his dam, Badminton and Burghley winning mare, Headley Britannia. “Although Brit was one of the best-ever mares in eventing, in her retirement she competed in hunter trials with Lucinda’s daughter Ellie and hacked out with weekend visitors to the farm. As well as building his own promising eventing career, Britannia’s Mail has inherited Brit’s pluckiness and character. Our main hope for Twiglet, beyond any specific performance goals, is that we enjoy her company. Most of the time we keep our horses at home, so they need to be manageable, polite and fun to be around,” explains Simon. “Having said that, with a granny like Headley Britannia, there is no telling what adventures little Twiglet has in store for us,” he adds. Tilly was taken to the Beaufort Embryo Transfer centre for her insemination and stayed until she was confirmed in foal and a foetal heartbeat was seen.
Timolin was conceived at Twemlows Stud Farm in Shropshire using frozen semen from the worldrenowned stallion, Totilas. Timolin was a first foal for 12-year-old Hanoverian Prix St Georges mare, Simira. She had a healthy pregnancy, resulting in a colt foal who was named Timolin. Timolin carries some of the best lines in dressage breeding and is the result of the careful matching of a successful performance mare with the superstallion, Totilas. Timolin is also the culmination of a lifetime’s ambition of Olympic dressage rider, the late Jane Gregory, and is having a world-class education under the watchful eye of Jennie Loriston-Clarke. From his first appearance at a BEF Futurity show, Timolin, like his sire Totilas, has been earning accolades for his conformation, paces, temperament and potential.
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Management know-how
transported, then stored indefinitely. Some deceased stallions have a bank of frozen semen, which becomes a precious commodity as the number of available straws is finite. Frozen semen is stored and transported in liquid nitrogen-cooled containers, and held within ‘straws’. If the mare is to be inseminated using frozen semen, the insemination must take place within six hours of ovulation for the optimum chance of a successful conception. While timing the insemination down to the hour takes intense monitoring of the mare, having access to the semen without an expiry date means you can inseminate when your mare is exactly ready, whether that is a bank holiday, the middle of the night or a Monday morning. Benefits of frozen semen include... ➤ Frozen semen can travel and be stored for long periods of time. ➤ Frozen semen can be ‘banked’ during the off season for competition stallions.
Liquid nitrogen storage
Semen is frozen in straws
Factors to consider when using frozen semen... ➤ Frozen semen needs to be inseminated into the mare within six hours of ovulation – essentially on top of her ovulation. The mare needs frequent monitoring by a reproductively competent vet. ➤ Frozen semen can be expensive due the additional processes involved. ➤ There is often a finite number of ‘straws’ available when using frozen semen, so knowing the fertility status of the mare is paramount to avoiding waste and the cost of multiple unsuccessful inseminations.
Case study
Chilled semen
wing Rosie sho her talent
Yearling filly Dunges Kristal ‘Tilly’, by Chiron, influential eventing Thoroughbred stallion Owners Tim and Alice Page decided to use chilled semen from influential eventing Thoroughbred stallion, Chiron, with their four-star eventing mare, Dunges Laurent Rose, ‘Rosie’. Alice says: “I thought it was getting near the time for Rosie to foal, so she was wearing a foal alarm to monitor her vital statistics. A friend came by and loaned us a foal camera that I set up in the house and was keeping an eye on. At 11.30pm, Rosie was looking a little unsettled, so I decided to go and check on her. But by the time I’d walked from the back door to her stable, she had foaled all by herself! The whole process took less than 10 minutes. Tilly seems to have inherited her mother’s calm nature and hasn’t been any fuss or bother at all. Hopefully, she’s inherited her mum’s talent as an eventer, too! “It’s lots of fun owning top-level horses, but we find it really enjoyable to breed our own, too. Tilly has the looks, movement and bloodlines to make a lovely event horse, and we’re looking forward to seeing what the future brings,” explains Alice.
Tilly with her mum
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HORSe &RIDER 101
➤
Artificial insemination
The process of artificial insemination involves using semen from a stallion and inserting it into the mare’s uterus through the cervix during her peak moment of fertility, when close to ovulation. The process has stringent health and safety considerations, and everything that touches the mare must be sterile. The mare is washed, and her tail is wrapped and tied securely out of the way. We visited Beaufort Embryo Transfer Centre in Gloucestershire to discover how it’s done...
Horse&Rider says:
Think carefully before choosing to breed from your mare. It’s important to make the decision for the right reasons. Only breed from mares with good conformation, an excellent soundness record and a pleasant temperament.
A reproductive vet uses a catheter to inseminate a mare
In the late 1970s, Jennie Loriston-Clarke had a dilemma. Her stallion, Dutch Courage, was growing in popularity as a dressage and eventing sire and yet, with only 25 acres at her Catherston Stud, she was limited as to how many mares she could accept at the stud each year for breeding. Together with her husband Anthony and stud assistant Tessa Clarke, Jennie began attending courses with Newmarket’s equine fertility expert, Professor Twink Allen. “We had to find a way to get the semen to the mares, without them having to come to our stud,” explains Jennie. “So we learned how to collect from the stallions and ordered some incredibly cumbersome insulated containers from America. We experimented with cool packs from the freezer
‘
to keep the semen a constant 4°C during transport, for periods of time of up to 36 hours. By 1985, we were shipping chilled semen to a friend on the Isle of Man. With successful pregnancies and Dutch Courage foals on the ground on the island, it seemed a good a time as ever to push the technology forward. “Many more courses were held and fellow breeders, studs and vets began to see the potential in artificial insemination. We were thrilled that our stallions’ services were on the market and available to many more mares than we could ever accommodate at Catherston Stud.”
We had to find a way to get the semen to the mares, without the mares having to come to our stud
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An AI pioneer
Dutch Courage
Management know-how
Mare health
Before your mare is accepted at stud, she will need to pass several health checks and upon arrival, will be examined by a veterinarian to ensure that she is in good Mare health is reproductive health and essential to has no physical barriers produce a to carrying and delivering healthy, viable a healthy foal. Mares foal and protect should have a good body other breeding condition score, have had stock from their teeth examined and infection or their feet trimmed disease regularly, and must carry an up-to-date passport with details of their vaccination history. Mares are introduced to the examination stocks gradually, walking through and eventually standing in them. There are doors at the front and back of the stocks: on the front is a heavy canvas strap that keeps the mares from moving forward during examination and the door at the back helps protect the vet from being kicked. One of the broodmares standing in the examination stocks nuzzles vet Emma Tomlinson. “The mares know I am pregnant and it feels like we are all on this ‘motherhood’ journey together. It’s nice,” laughs Emma.
There is a companionable air to the broodmares, which they extend to pregnant Beaufort Embryo Transfer vet and Director Emma Tomlinson
At Beaufort Embryo Transfer, mares are generally handled in pairs, a practice that helps them to relax
➤ One of the ways sperm is assessed for quality is the percentage of spermatozoa moving actively forward – this is referred to as progressive motility. ➤ I f semen is to be chilled or frozen, liquid extender is added to protect the sperm and provide nutrients. Extenders for chilled sperm include milk solids, glucose, sucrose and antibiotics, while sperm intended for freezing can have cryoprotectants such as egg yolk.
Watching the mare
At Beaufort Embryo Transfer Centre, in-season mares are scanned at least once a day to look for signs of ovulation. If they are not in season, they will be scanned every few days depending on the stage of cycling. When scanning a mare, the vet looks at the condition of the uterus and the state of the cervix (a relaxed cervix is a clue that the mare is close to ovulation). Meticulous records are kept of every scan. The first season of the year is often a transitional cycle with delayed ovulation while the hormones are warming up, and mares typically stop cycling from November to March. You can encourage them to start their summer season early in the year by the use of artificial lighting. During the summer cycling, you can encourage a mare to come into season and, to a limited extent, influence the timing of her ovulation with the use of hormones.
Tech speak
Next month
Find out what happens when your mare goes to stud, and how expert handling keeps stallions happy and relaxed.
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HORSe &RIDER 103
Management know-how
Wellbeing news
{ NEws special }
{ Training }
Natural selection
Is elastic fantastic?
When your horse has done well, it’s a natural reaction to give him a pat, but does he really enjoy your well-meaning reward? A group of British equitation scientists believe that as a scratch on the wither is a more natural behaviour for horses, it would be a better reward, so they conducted a study to find out. The researchers studied five horses who were used to being handled and five who were not. The handlers patted each horse four times for 30 seconds with 15-second breaks in-between, then repeated the process but with scratching instead of patting. As a control, the handlers also just stood quietly next to the horses for the same amount of time. During the study, the horses’ heart rate and behaviour were recorded. When patted, the horses moved much more, raised their heads, moved their ears
Is a pat a good reward? more and some pawed the ground. There was no pawing when they were being scratched, they moved less, lowering their heads and showing a lot of upper lip movement and mutual grooming. The horses’ heart rates didn’t vary significantly, although previous research on wither scratching has shown that it consistently lowers heart rates. However, their behaviour clearly showed more appreciation for the scratching.
{ Research }
Magic mushrooms Antibiotic resistance is becoming a real problem in both human and equine medicine, but university researchers from the Institute of Microbiology at ETH Zürich have discovered a new protein called copsin that has the same effect as traditional antibiotics. The researchers found that a type of mushroom, called Coprinopsis cinerea, that grows on horse manure has the ability to kill certain bacteria. Further research revealed that it is the copsin produced by the mushroom that has this antibiotic effect. This could be an exciting discovery for the field of medicine.
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‘
Tip of theMonth
Spillers fibres have added vitamins and minerals to make your feed work harder for your horse’s health. Choose from Spillers Cool Fibre with magnesium, Spillers Conditioning Fibre with rapeseed oil or Spillers Senior Fibre with glucosamine.
104 HORSe &RIDER
It seems sensible that having elastic inserts in your reins will help you achieve the desired elastic contact, but researchers from Duchy College in Cornwall have discovered that elasticated reins could interfere with effective communication and training. They looked at 30 horses and riders who rode both in traditional reins and ones with elastic inserts, and used a gauge to measure rein tension. The riders were asked to walk and halt their horses, and to drop their reins several times during the test. They found that when the rider maintained a normal contact, the tension was lower in the elastic reins, but when they asked the horses to stop, there was significantly more tension in the elasticated reins than in the traditional ones. It also took three times longer for the tension to be released with the elasticated reins. In training, immediate release of pressure is often used to reward the horse, but it appears to be difficult to achieve this with elasticated reins.
horsey shopping
Scrub up well
Michael Ashton’s make-up masterclass for every horsey occasion
The complete buyer’s guide for horse and rider
Picture perfect
Take your best equine snapshots with our guide to choosing and using cameras for all budgets.
Wedding bells
First-hand advice from a beautiful bride on how to incorporate horses into your special day.
Home & away
Your perfect horsey holiday is closer than you think!
This month Perfect we love... prizes Colourful rugs, innovative stirrups, equine-inspired fragrances, cosy sweaters and more!
Be in with a chance of winning loads of fabulous goodies!
➤ HORSe &RIDER 107
A cluttered background
See the light
Photography is all about light – it controls what and how we see things in a photograph. As a rule, try to get the sun to your back and shoot in the morning or afternoon when the sun isn’t directly above you. Try to avoid low light conditions where possible as horses may not react very well to flash photography.
Frame your shot
Whether you want a stunning action shot or a beautiful portrait, it’s important to look at the composition of your photo. The background plays a big part – cluttered or busy backgrounds detract from the horse, even if they’re out of focus. Getting as close as possible to your subject can also help – this is where zoom lenses come in handy.
Portraits
l These look best if the horse has his ears pricked – rustle a plastic bag or put some rocks in a bucket for maximum effect. l Shoot from different angles and perspectives – get creative!
Action shots
Picture perfect Get the perfect snapshot with our guide to selecting a camera
S
o you want to take photos of your horse that are worthy of the mantelpiece? It’s not as tricky as it seems! All it takes is finding your perfect camera, learning how to compose your shot and understanding a few settings.
Photo: Bob Atkins
l Showjumping photos look best with the horse in the centre of his flight arc, knees tucked up and straight over the fence. Oxers can be slightly easier to shoot in this regard as there is more hang-time. l Cross-country fences offer a variety of different shots. Drop fences with the horse stretching down on descent, splashing through water or mid-flight over a trakhener all make great pics. l Dressage can be harder to capture than jumping or cross-country, especially lateral work. In general, a good photo is when the forelimb closest to you is outstretched in walk or trot and when the outside hindlimb is weight-bearing during canter.
108 HORSe &RIDER
Horsey shopping
Compact or DSLR?
Should you choose a slim, pocket-sized camera or a hefty DSLR with a choice of lenses? A lot will depend on your budget, but also what type of photos you want to take. If you want a few portraits and snaps around the yard or at shows with a camera that you can pop into your pocket, compact is probably the way to go. If you want to take action shots a DSLR may be your best bet. The flexibility of settings and choice of lenses will allow you to take crisp, clear photos of horses in motion.
Get kitted out!
l At the very least, you’ll need a bag for your camera and your gear. If you have a pointand-shoot model, you can opt for a small pouch with room for a spare memory card or two and a battery. If you have a DSLR with multiple lenses, then a bag with multiple compartments for lenses, batteries, cards and comfy straps can keep all your gear in one place. l There’s nothing worse than running out of space on your memory card mid-photoshoot! Make sure you purchase a few cards and batteries, too. l If your computer doesn’t have a slot for a memory card, or your camera takes a larger card, you’ll need a card reader to download your pictures.
Features to consider
When choosing your camera, make a wish-list of things you can and can’t live without... l Portability Do you want something that can fit in your pocket? l Durability Do you need something hardwearing that can survive a few knocks? l Speed If you’re buying a camera to take action shots, there are a few technical specifications you’ll need to consider. Frames per second (fps) is the number of photos that can be taken consecutively. You can get away with fewer frames per second if you have impeccable timing, but serious photographers require at least 7 fps. l Video Do you want to use your camera to take video as well as stills? There are many options available in compact and DSLR cameras. l Megapixels This has some impact on the quality of the photos. More is generally better. l Viewfinder Would you rather look through a viewfinder or at an LCD screen? Some cameras offer only one or the other.
Settings explained
Setting your camera on auto mode can help you take great shots, but if you want to experiment, there are a few key settings to understand... ISO The measure of your camera’s sensitivity to light. A low ISO (100–200) will produce sharp images, but won’t compensate as well for cloudy or dark conditions. A high ISO (400 and higher) will compensate for low light conditions, but photos will be grainier. Aperture The size of the opening in the lens when the photo is taken. The size of the aperture is referred to as ‘f-stop’ and larger numbers indicate a smaller opening. This is how you can achieve the much-coveted blurred background. A larger aperture (smaller f-stop) will bring the foreground in
focus and blur out the background, while a smaller one (larger f-stop) will keep the subject and background in focus. This is limited by the lens you’re using. Shutter speed The amount of time the shutter is open when taking a photo. For action shots, you’ll need a fast shutter speed. Speed is limited by your camera and lens. These three elements all interact with each other. A fast shutter speed will let in less light, so ISO and aperture should be adjusted accordingly so your photos aren’t too dark. There is some scope to edit your photos in programmes such as Photoshop or Lightroom, but getting the hang of setting up your camera for various light conditions will save you time in post-processing.
➤ HORSe &RIDER 109
Find the right
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for you! EXPERIENCE LEVEL
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High-speed shooting with up to 12 frames per second. Sharp images in a variety of light conditions. Full HD video.
Manual and auto scene modes, large LCD screen and lightweight body. Captures clear shots of fast-moving objects and HD video.
Manual and scene intelligent auto modes give flexibility. A moveable LCD screen allows for creative angles.
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110 HORSe &RIDER
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Horsey shopping
BEGINNER
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HORSe &RIDER 111
Our expert
Photos: Liz Gregg. With thanks to The Mark Todd Collection and Gatehouse Hats for their help with this feature, wefi.co.uk
As personal make-up and hair stylist to award-winning recording artist Adele, Michael Ashton has won worldwide acclaim. His illustrious client list also includes Bianca Jagger, Eva Herzigova, Elle McPherson, Amber Heard, Neve Campbell, Ellen Pompeo, Natasha McElhone, Saffron Burrows and Daisy Lowe. In his spare time, Michael is an aspiring event rider competing at BE100.
Make-up Scrub up well
for every occasion
Make-up and hair stylist to the stars, Michael Ashton gives time-saving tips for rider turnout
F
or working horse owners, maximising time on the yard is as important as ensuring you make it to the office on time looking your best. The transition from yard to office can often feel like an added chore, but with the right products and some quick-fix hair and beauty techniques, you can create a look that is professional, polished and will last the day. What’s more, these tips are simple, easy and won’t take long, so you can spend more time riding and show up to work looking your best – a win-win!
112 HORSe &RIDER
Pre-yard prep
As with anything, preparation is key and your make-up and hair routine are no different. By setting aside a little bit of time in the morning, you will be in good shape for the rest of the day.
Moisturise
After double-cleansing your skin I recommend using a moisturiser suited to your skin type that will nourish and rejuvenate without creating excess shine. Don’t forget your lips! One of my favourites is Lucas Papaw ointment, which is fantastic for hydrating lips.
Horsey shopping
➤ HORSe &RIDER 113
SubScribe to H&c tV eVerywHere tHe cHannel you want, wHereVer you want it
With H&C TV Everywhere you can watch Horse & Country live on your tablet, smartphone or laptop, and with seven day catch-up you’ll never miss your favourite show again. Subscription costs just £4.99 a month with no minimum term and the apps are free to download and feature all our news, blogs and Twitter updates. To subscribe to H&C TV Everywhere go to horseandcountry.tv/everywhere now.
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Horsey shopping
Completing the transformation
Michael’s
5
top products ① Estée Lauder Double Wear Light foundation ② Lucas Papaw ointment ③M aybelline Dream Touch blush/06 ④ Shu Uemura lash curlers ⑤ Batiste Dry Shampoo
Eyes
Having prepared your skin, start by using a soft brow pencil to fill in your eyebrows. By creating a fuller and more defined shape to your brows, you will instantly frame your eyes before applying eye shadow or kohl. Next, curl your lashes to open the eye shape and give the appearance of more lash volume. Shu Uemura lash curlers are an industry secret that everyone should know about and are well worth investing in, as is a good-quality, long-lasting mascara. When choosing mascara, you want a product that will give you volume without any clumps. What’s more, waterproof mascara will save time on touch-ups after riding. Diorshow Black Out is my go-to mascara for full, fluttering lashes, but if you just want to grab something from your local store then Maybelline Great Lash is a good, budget-friendly option.
Foundation
Finding the perfect foundation is often a case of trial and error. Look for a product that gives you the desired coverage, while at the same time allows your skin to look fresh and natural. Estée Lauder Double Wear Light foundation is brilliant for this and has incredible staying power without requiring excess powder for longevity. If your skin is prone to becoming shiny, you might want to keep a touch-up powder, such as MAC Prep + Prime, in your handbag to apply throughout the day as required.
When it’s time to get in the car and leave the yard, having a mini kit of products will help transform your look and give it that little bit more polish. If your base has started to wear off or rubbed away on your forehead while wearing a riding hat, then start by touching up these areas first before adding a soft kohl pencil along your lash line. Browns, bronzes and slate grey are flattering colours that won’t look too over done for the office, but that will add definition and lash density. Applying a subtle wash of colour on the cheeks is a great way to give your face an instant lift. Using a large blusher brush, apply cream blush in soft pinks, corals or burnished shades, starting on the apple of the cheeks and then blending upwards towards the high plane of the cheekbone. Finally, use a neutral lip liner to fill in your lips, making them appear fuller – either MAC lip pencil in Spice or Subculture is great for this – before applying a slick of clear lip gloss for added dimension. To finish off your yard to office transformation, a light mist of a signature scent will really work wonders.
Start by applying your base with a foundation brush through your T-zone where most people need more coverage, then blend outwards towards your hairline, cheeks and neck. Follow with a concealer or under-eye brightener. I find Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage is the perfect product for doing both jobs. Use a firm brush on any blemishes for an opaque coverage and a fluffy concealer brush for a more sheer coverage on the under eye area.
Hair
When it comes to how you wear your hair on the yard, practicality should be the deciding factor – be it a simple pony tail, soft plait back off the face or a headband. Tucking your hair under a hat will help keep it dry and, hopefully, prevent the dreaded stable smell that unfortunately tends to come with the territory. Dry shampoo is essential if you’re going from the yard to the office. It will absorb any oil from your scalp, help give volume and texture to hat hair and deodorise horsey smells. Hold the can approximately 20cm away from your scalp and spray onto the root area in sections, then brush through to evenly distribute to the midlengths and ends of your hair.
Yard to office in a few easy steps
HORSe &RIDER 115
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Horsey shopping
Simple, easy make-up that doesn’t look overdone
Show-ring style
Riders often spend so much time on the turnout of their horses they forget the importance of their own presentation. Making sure that your hair and make-up is polished without being overdone will ensure you leave a good lasting impression. Most importantly, it is about finding the right balance, where you enhance your best features without looking as if you are wearing a full face of make-up.
Step-by-step show ring make-up
Next month
Don’t miss Michael’s skin care and hair care tips to keep you radiant at the yard all winter. 116 HORSe &RIDER
l Create a picture perfect, luminous complexion by massaging Estée Lauder Double Wear Light foundation into the skin and buffing with Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage where needed for extra coverage. Add a sheer veil of Bobbi Brown Under Eye Brightener near the inner tear ducts. l Using a large, soft powder brush, dust the T-zone with Jurlique Rose Silk finishing powder and the under eye area with Laura Mercier Secret Brightening powder. l Well-placed blush gives youthfulness to the face and my favourite is a product by NARS called Orgasm, which works on absolutely any skin tone. l Beautiful brows can make any eye. Brush them into place using clear brow gel then, using feather strokes, fill and define with Givenchy eyebrow pencil. l Create a modern take on the classic Monroe eye by curling your lashes before highlighting/contouring the socket with Dior’s Parisian Lights palette, then extending the eye line with Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner in black before applying Dior Blackout Waterproof Mascara. l Finally, for decorated but understated lips, a berry-toned lip stain will give just the right amount of long-lasting colour.
Long-lasting products help you glow all day
Step-by-step polished hair
Styling your hair for competition will depend on your hair length and the discipline in which you compete. If you have shorter hair, it may be a case of simply making sure any stray hairs are tucked into your riding hat and sprayed into place with a strong hold hairspray. But if you have a bit more to work with in regards to length, then hairnets are a quick and effective way to quickly create a variety of styles that will keep hair in place for the duration of the day, without having to keep restyling.
The classic bun or chignon
l Secure hair into a sleek ponytail at the nape of the neck using an elastic hair tie, spraying any flyways with strong hold hair spray such as Schwarzkopf Silhouette. l Backcomb your ponytail to give added volume before gently smoothing over the outside with your hands or hair brush. l Take a hairnet and pin the top of the net on either side of the ponytail base using kirby grips, then place the entire ponytail into the net. l Once you have the ponytail inside the hairnet you can twist and pin into a classic bun shape or, by twisting and placing it back on itself, you can create a variety of styles at the nape of the neck that will give an interesting added detail to your look, while still allowing you to wear your riding hat comfortably.
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HORSE &RIDER 119
Wedding Are you planning a wedding? Horse&Rider considers the best way to include your love of horses – and even your horse himself – in the big day
The wedding
You’re a horse-lover, so it’s only natural that, if you’re lucky enough to be planning a wedding or civil partnership, you’d like your horse to feature in the day. There are several ways to make this happen. Some brides choose to ride their horse to the ceremony, although this isn’t always the easiest, or safest, thing to do. However, a horse and carriage to take you to or from the venue can be a very special way to have horses involved. If you’re interested in exploring this further, the best place to start is by speaking to the venue for the ceremony. You’re unlikely to be the first couple to ask about it and the venue will be able to guide you as to the practicalities of your idea. On a more serious note, it’s important to get permission (if needed) for a horse and carriage, as some venues may have valid reasons to refuse this.
120 HORSe &RIDER
Horsey shopping
Top tips
➤ Getting married overseas? You can still make horses a part of the big day! From a snowy horse-drawn carriage ride through the Austrian Alps, to riding along a tropical beach, anything is possible! ➤ Why not choose an equinethemed reading for your wedding, just like Zara Phillips did? She chose The Rabbit and the Rocking Horse from The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. ➤ Go the extra mile by asking your florist to wire some extra flowers that match your bouquet to be woven into your horse’s mane. The pictures will look gorgeous!
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The reception
If having your horse at the ceremony isn’t possible, don’t lose heart – the reception may be perfectly feasible. Many countryside venues will be used to this type of request and can easily accommodate you. However, it’s important to plan carefully. For example, you’ll need a safe, enclosed place to unload your horse that isn’t too far from where you intend to take the photos, in case he becomes stressed and needs to be quickly taken back to the trailer or lorry. It can be a lovely suprise for the wedding party to discover there is a ‘guest of honour’, but consider how your horse will cope with so many people and a strange venue when planning the day. Will you need a couple of helpers to ask guests to keep a distance from your horse, or will he love all the attention and fuss?
Meet the Bride Case study
When Horse&Rider’s very own Gemma O’Neil got engaged, she knew she wanted a horsey theme to her big day. Find out how she pulled it off!
Why not go all-out and have a horse ice sculpture?!
It’s not all about real horses, either. Here are some great ideas for an equine-themed day... ➤ Why not keep your horse’s old shoes to use as part of the table centrepieces? Clean them up and spray-paint them to match your colour scheme. Two shoes back-to-back make a great table name-holder. ➤ Choose famous horses as table names – Red Rum, Milton or Charisma, anyone? ➤ Keep the horsey theme by using horseshoe cut-outs around each table. ➤ Ice sculptures are increasingly popular reception decorations – we love this horsehead version (above). ➤ Make a unique gift and place card all-inone. Paint model ponies with chalkboard paint, then write the guest’s name on the side and position on the place setting. 122 HORSe &RIDER
Gemma’s top tips
➤ Have a practice run of your horse’s turnout for the big day, even if it’s just to rule certain things out. If your new husband or wife is going to have to handle your horse, it’s important they are comfortable around horses. As much as you will want to grab the reins and take control, it really is quite difficult with a big dress and open-toed shoes. ➤ Think about what quirky horsey themeing you can do. Could you ask your farrier for some old horse shoes as decorations?
It had always been my dream to have my horse, Dollar, at my wedding, so when we chose a beautiful stately home just a few minutes away from my yard as the venue for our big day, I immediately started to think of ways we could include him in the celebrations. The first step was to speak to the venue to check they were happy with my idea. I was so pleased when the manager told me she was more than happy to have him there. It turned out that they were used to hosting the local hunt, so the idea of horses wasn’t a problem. That was when my plans began to mushroom – I planned for all my friends at the yard to come over on the day with their horses beautifully turned out as a wonderful backdrop for some of the pictures. It seemed like the perfect idea.
Horsey shopping
Gemma’s horse, Dollar, loved his fifteen minutes of fame as guest of honour at her wedding!
But a thought entered my head: ‘What if one of the horses spooked or got loose, or what if one of the guests got kicked or trampled?’. The more I thought about it, the more it filled me with horror and I could just imagine how our perfect day could quickly turn into a disaster, with loose horses, frightened non-horsey guests and injuries! So I took a step back and thought about what was really important to me – my horse, Dollar, the horse I had grown up with over the last 15 years, who I knew wasn’t spooky or silly and who I could trust with our guests on the big day. I spoke with a close friend at my yard who knows Dollar well and handles him regularly about what we were hoping to do and, thankfully, she offered to get him ready for us on the day and bring him over. A few weeks before the wedding, I thought about how I wanted him to look on the day, and decided it might be nice to try to do some plaits incorporating ribbons in our colour scheme. I bought some ribbon and tried a few different ideas – they all looked terrible! Dollar is a traditional cob and it just didn’t suit him at all. Far better to let him be his natural, hairy self instead! Two days before the wedding, many brides are having a pedicure and panicking about flowers. But I was at the stables, scrubbing Dollar from top to tail and getting him as white as possible! On the day, it was so nice to know that Dollar was in safe hands and that my friend would get him there on time. Caught up in the magic of the ceremony and the fact we were now married, by the time the doors
opened for us to go outside into the beautiful grounds I had almost forgotten that Dollar was going to be there, so when I saw him it was amazing. He was gleaming and looked so smart. Everyone loved meeting him – lots of friends and family had heard all about him over the years but had never met him, so that was really lovely. My niece and nephew, who know Dollar well, were very excited and of course wanted to sit on him to show off to everyone! It was a boiling hot day and poor Dollar did have to stand around quite a bit, but he was very patient and luckily one of my bridesmaids had thought ahead and brought a packet of polos to help him stay happy and pose for the photos. My best and funniest moment was when my new husband, Phil, lifted me onto Dollar so I could have some photos on him in my wedding dress! Dollar had been show-shined to within an inch of his life, so trying not to slide off was amusing! I felt so relieved that we had decided to just have Dollar at the wedding, not all the horses at the yard, because it definitely helped limit the number of things to worry about, and also made it even more special that it was just my boy there. I would definitely recommend keeping it simple, yet effective!
The horsey theme didn’t end there, though – we tied the whole wedding together with a subtle horsey theme using horseshoes. We had a horseshoe motif on our stationery and also had some custom bunting made, which featured horseshoes, as well as horseshoe table confetti. Lastly, we chose to use real horseshoes for our favours. A friend of mine has a farrier who works with a lot of racehorses and so was able to get hold of a batch of used shoes for us, which we then cleaned up and spray-painted gold. We then roped in helpers to thread the shoes with ribbon in our colour scheme, and added tags with a good luck poem and each guest’s name. This took a long time to do, but was more than worth it and looked so beautiful. All our guests were really pleased with their gifts, which were made even more special by the fact that each shoe was unique and had been worn by a racehorse at some point.
HORSe &RIDER 123
Gemma’s wedding photos courtesty of Christopher Ison. Horse&Rider recommends you wear a current, up-to-standard riding hat when you’re mounted
And now for the party!
HAY-ON-WY E
LLANDOVE RY
Home & away
Inspiration for a horsey ‘staycation’ here in Britain – Horse&Rider road-tests two very different holidays in Wales
BRECON BEACONS CAMBRIANS
Lucy and Alfie (left), Céleste and Florence
Horse&Rider’s Céleste and Lucy took a threeday, self-guided tour of the Brecon Beacons
We arrived at FreeRein Headquarters near Hay-on-Wye on a muggy, misty morning. A warm welcome was awaiting us and over tea with FreeRein’s Beth, we talked over the ride ahead. At the time of booking, we had been feeling brave, so had opted for a three-day, self-guided trail. But when Beth set out eight maps, Lucy and I looked at each other with dread. After some reassurance – and more tea – as well as instructions to go with the maps, we felt more confident. We packed the paperwork safely into our pouches and set off to meet our steeds, coloured cob Florence and chestnut Alfie. We really couldn’t have been better matched – Florence and Alfie were incredibly well-behaved, but perky and up for a blast when the time was right. 124 HORSe &RIDER
Snacks packed and goodbyes said, off we trotted into the Brecon Beacons, a national park on the Welsh borders. It took a few wrong turns to get the hang of map reading, but we were soon on our way. We climbed along lanes, eventually reaching a clearing with a long, green stretch of grass all the way to the top of a hill. Florence started to pick up the pace as if to say: “This is where we canter!” so we let them go, laughing and wooping all the way up to the top. The morning mist burned off, leaving a glorious afternoon that, coupled with a rather good pub lunch, meant our focus on map reading was not quite as good as it could have been! Still, we enjoyed our two-mile detour, and found our intended route easily enough, arriving at our overnight stop, New House Farm, as the sun sank towards the horizon. After untacking our ponies and leaving them to graze in the paddock, we made our way to our rooms. The facilities far surpassed our expectations, with power showers
Horsey shopping
Curious Welsh ponies
Self-guided tour tips
“I’m sure it’s this way...”
and farm-fresh, home-cooked food, as well as great conversation from hosts John and Sue. The second day was full of memorable scenery. We made our way along the tracks, finding good turf for canters here and there. It was so peaceful – we didn’t see another person all morning and despite being just a few miles from civilisation, it felt like we were in the remotest part of Wales. We followed the Offa’s Dyke path for a short distance and emerged onto an exposed, hilly area with dramatic views. Welsh ponies and foals dotted the landscape and as we rambled on we came to a grassy oval – like a racetrack – perched high in a cloud. It was just crying out for us to have a race around it – and Florence and Alfie were more than happy to oblige! Then we rode on to our second overnight stop, The Harp Inn, with our horses staying at a farm down the road. Everything was very well-organised, from the clean numnahs, feed for Florence and Alfie’s supper and breakfast, and grooming kits to brush away the day’s sweat, to our luggage waiting for us in our rooms on arrival. All this meant that our only job was to ride and relax.
A self-guided tour is a brilliant way to explore the countryside at your own pace. You decide what speed you want to go and when to stop for a break. It’s a great way to spend some time with a horsey friend and really bond with your new horsey partner. A word of caution, though – to get the most from this type of break, it’s important that at least one of you can read a map. Also, make sure you’re honest about your level of riding ability and fitness – it’s a long way to go if you feel less than confident or sore after just a couple of hours. To keep stiffness at bay and rest your horse’s back, get off and walk occasionally. And a final tip – take plenty of snacks with you in your saddlebags because this kind of riding really gives you the munchies!
For two girls who spend most days in an office, three full days of riding took their toll, and by the time we made our way back to the FreeRein stables we were beginning to ache, despite our comfy saddles and ponies. The homemade tea and cakes restored us, and after saying a fond farewell to our new friends Florence and Alfie, we reluctantly climbed in the car to drive home.
Vital statistics Three-day Old Drovers Trail From
£528
Includes Full directions and waterproof maps, bed and breakfast accommodation based on two people sharing, luggage delivery to each overnight stop, saddle bags. Not included: lunches, drinks, evening meals at inns or hotels – evening meal included when staying at B&Bs or farm guesthouses. Don’t forget: Sunscreen, snacks, water bottle, penknife, torch, waterproofs. For more information: free-rein.co.uk HORSe &RIDER 125
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Abi and Merlin (left)
Horse&Rider’s Abi Cannon tried a group guided ride in the Cambrian Mountains
Set in-between Llandovery and Lampeter in Camrthenshire, Mid Wales, Cae Iago is a wellestablished, family-run riding centre set in beautiful scenery. Specialising in riding holidays for adult riders (rather than novices or firsttimers), you won’t get stuck with beginners. Before arriving, I was asked about my level of riding – which is a difficult question for most people. I explained I had ridden at low-level affiliated and riding club level, but hadn’t actually sat on a horse in a few years. This didn’t seem to be a problem, but I was intrigued as to what sort of horse I would be given. On arrival, the yard felt really relaxed. Host Lesley made me feel very at home in the Victorian farmhouse where I met my fellow riders for the day. Then I met my horse Merlin, a grey Welsh cob who looked sturdy but not sluggish. Once on board I felt quite at home, with Lesley checking that everyone’s tack was secure before we set off. I was riding with fellow guest Rachel, who has ridden at Cae Iago many times. We set off along the quiet lane from the farm and my fears of being stuck with a ploddy riding school horse were soon allayed – Merlin was a very responsive, balanced, calm ride. Roddy, our ride leader, explained how the staff work to match riders to horses. They tend to under-horse people on day one so they can assess if their riding is as described, then move them up if needed. A great idea – there’s nothing worse than someone being over-horsed and then being petrified the entire ride. We trotted along a few lanes, then set about a climb and we found that all the horses seemed incredibly sure-footed. I would never have attempted some of the terrain on my horse at home! As we rose up the side of the mountain, the mist lifted to reveal an amazing vista. There was a series of grassy stretches as we made our ascent,
Tips for a guided tour
Group escorted rides are a brilliant way to meet people with similar interests, as well as relax and enjoy the scenery. No need to worry about which way to turn at a crossroads, or how much further it is until a rest stop, your only job is to relax, enjoy bonding with your horse and enjoy the gorgeous views. It’s important to be very honest about your level of ability on a group ride – overestimate it and you may find it’s not quite the relaxed, enjoyable riding holiday you planned.
The views were beautiful, and the horses responsive and well-behaved 126 HORSe &RIDER
“It’s windy up here!”
which allowed us a few canters. I had been a little apprehensive, as it had been a long time since I last went at any sort of speed, but Merlin was balanced and steady, and I felt quite safe. At the very top of our trail, the wind was incredibly strong. If I’d been riding any horse I had known before there would have been bum-swinging and general prancing about, but these horses all behaved beautifully – even politely stopping for a quick photo opportunity at the summit! The way down looked treacherous, but the sure-footed Welsh cobs made light work of the descent, even crossing a ford before returning to the farmhouse. After an enjoyable four hours,
Horsey shopping
Cae Iago farmhouse
we were back at Cae Iago HQ, the horses were put away and we enjoyed a well-earned cuppa in the farmhouse. It had been an excellent morning that had restored my confidence and given me the riding bug again. Cae Iago offers full-week, midweek and weekend breaks as well as two-day trail rides for the more experienced rider. You can start your stay whenever you want and there is plenty to do locally for non-horsey partners. All packages are full-board and guests are free to bring their own alcohol or wander down to the local pub. There is plenty of home-cooked food, and tea and cakes waiting for you when you return home from a ride. The accommodation is clean and tidy, with ensuite shower rooms and comfy beds. Having never been on a horsey holiday before, I can now see the appeal – the riding and the countryside were amazing. The views were beautiful, and the horses responsive and wellbehaved. To make the most of it, I would recommend taking a good pair of gloves, a decent waterproof and windproof lightweight jacket, a small camera and good boots. Then just enjoy!
Vital statistics Two-day midweek break from
£394
Includes Four to five hours of riding per day and full board accommodation (full English breakfast, packed lunch, afternoon tea and a two-course evening meal). Alcoholic drinks extra. Free transport to and from the local towns for anyone travelling by public transport is available on request. For more information: horseridingholidaysgb.co.uk HORSe &RIDER 127
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Horsey shopping
Wales
Eastern
central
SOUTHERN
l Cae Iago horseridingholidaysgb.co.uk l Cwmfillo cwmfillo.co.uk l Tregoyd Riding Holidays tregoydriding.co.uk l Trans-Wales Trails transwales.com l FreeRein Holidays free-rein.co.uk
l Valley Farm valleyfarmonline.co.uk l North Humberside RC nhrc.info l Willow Farm willowfarmholidays.co.uk
l Church Farm churchfarm.uk.net l Middle Woodbatch Farm middlewoodbatchfarm.co.uk l Endon Riding School endonridingschool.co.uk l Spring Hill Farm springhillfarm.co.uk l Hope End Holidays hopeendholidays.co.uk l Shenberrow Farm Cottage shenberrow.co.uk l Zip Travel zip-travel.co.uk l International Warwick School of Riding warwickriding.com
l Wellington Riding wellington-riding.co.uk l Equitopia Spirit of Exmoor spiritofexmoor.com l Collacott Farm Cottages collacott.co.uk l Granary Mead Cottage granarymeadcottage.co.uk
Experience the beauty of the British countryside on horseback
Turn to page 14 1 for more holida y inspiration
128 HORSe &RIDER
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Horsey shopping
month we
Check out some of the great new horsey stuff this month
Perfect padding
The Fleeceworks Therawool Perfect Balance pad is breathable and easy to wash. It features built-in, removable memory foam shims that compress evenly, while offering excellent shock-absorbing qualities. Colours: White, black or natural
Sizes: Medium or large RRP: £98 ☎ 01628 302301 shadowhorse.co.uk
Shock absorption
Stable scent Give your signature scent a horsey flavour with Stable
The Flex-On balance stirrups are made from polyamide with an aluminium frame, angled to work in harmony with your leg position. The tread is grippy and two elastomer balls sit underneath to provide shock absorption.
by The Library of Fragrance. It’s an authentic
scent every horse-lover will know, with notes of fresh straw and hay. Feel like you’re mucking out all day!
Colours: Graphite Sizes: One size RRP: £145 ☎ 01628 302301 shadowhorse.co.uk
RRP: £15 for a 30ml bottle thelibraryoffragrance.com
Horsey harmony The Gemosi Harmony bracelet is handmade from the tail hair of your horse and features a stunning sterling silver heart. Perfect as a gift or for yourself. Made to your specification.
RRP: £103 gemosi.com
“
all day Keep your horse close with equine perfume and jewellery
”
➤ HORSE &RIDER 129
Horsey shopping
Ride like a champion
Designer whites
The Aintree blouson jacket from Champion is waterproof and
Aztec Diamond white technical breeches are
breathable. It features an anti-pill fleece lining for extra warmth, elasticated cuffs and hem, and a practical, concealed hood.
designed for competitors. With four-way stretch material, they are lined in soft-touch Lycra with wicking and cooling properties. Grip-line technology knee patches and asymmetric construction over the kneecap aid comfort.
Colours: Black Sizes: XXS–XXL RRP: From £70 championhats.co.uk
Colours: White Sizes: 6–16 RRP: £70 ☎ 01388 764656 aztecdiamondequestrian.com
Winter brights The colourful KTY 5 A Day Full Neck Light Weight Turnout Rug comes in
Horsey retreat
bright colours and is made from ripstop 600D fabric, making it waterproof and breathable. Full and standard neck options are available.
Health with Horses is a specialised course focused on improving human health through riding and contact with horses. Courses target stress relief, relaxation, fitness and confidence – all in a relaxing atmosphere in Andalusia, Spain.
Colours: Grape-raspberry, apple-grape or navy Sizes: 4ft6in to 7ft6in, with neck covers available in XS–XXL RRP: £54.99 equestrian.com
RRP: From £995 ☎ 00 34 952 75 60 37 centroecuestrelasminas.com
Keep track
“
wd with Stand out from the cro brown gaiters and boots
”
Keep track of your horsey life with the
competition log book from Equine Log Books. Useful for tracking your horse’s progression over time, it also makes a lovely keepsake to record your adventures with your horse.
RRP: £11.99 ☎ 07736 644019
Booted up Taurus Footwear leather gaiters are
manufactured from soft, calf Aniline leather, Amara lining, and feature an elasticated rear panel to ensure optimum flexibility and a streamlined fit.
Colours: Brown Sizes: XXS–XXL RRP: £42.25 ☎ 01328 851432 taurusfootwear.co.uk
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Horsey shopping
Beautiful boots
Funky top
Tacoma boots from Bogs provide protection and comfort. They’re waterproof and comfort rated to -15˚C, and have a DuraFresh lining to fight odours.
Add a bright sweater to your winter collection with the Horseware Zara sweater. Striped sleeves, salmon pink cuffs and a baby blue body make this piece unique and right on-trend.
Sizes: 37–42 Colours: Leaf green, teal, sunglow, dark grey, black or red RRP: £85 bogsfootwear.com
Sizes: XXS–XXL Colours: Teal or navy print RRP: £25.95 horseware.com
Tried& Tried&tested
tested
Dogmatic headcollar RRP: From £23.48 dogmatic.org.uk ☎ 01652 657922 H&R tester: “I loved this headcollar. My dog is really strong on walks, but this stopped him pulling my arm out. It was easy to fit and there was no riding up, rubbing, coming off or discomfort. I would recommend it for dog owners who wish to have complete, but gentle, control.”
Tried&tested
Horseandponydirect.com joint supplement RRP: £18.99 for 1kg, £16.99 when you buy three or more packs horseandponydirect.com H&R tester: “This product was very good. It was better value for money than my usual joint supplement and just as effective on my 13-year-old gelding. It kept him feeling supple when I schooled him.”
132 HORSE &RIDER
srses m 0 1mo0rre shaolreidoernuk.co fo eand rs
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must be no more than 30 words. Remember to include your complete contact details. Attach up to four landscape-shaped photos as jpgs. Email your advert to horsesforsale@djmurphy.co.uk
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your horse’s details with four clear, landscape-shaped photos and an SAE to: Horses for sale, Horse&Rider, Marlborough House, Headley Road, Grayshott, Surrey GU26 6LG.
See your advert online at horseandrideruk.com plus we’ll publish a select few inside Horse&Rider magazine Huge potential l 16.1hh, TB mare, 6 yrs. Huge potential for the future, elegant-looking mare with a wonderful temperament. Great confidence giver and regularly ridden by a young teen. Showing promise in DR, enjoys SJ, currently competing at 80cm. £3,950. % 07972 362415 (Lincolnshire)
l 14.2hh, cob mare, 15 yrs. A hardy type who has never put a foot wrong. Bombproof to hack but green in the school. Ridden bitless and treeless. £800. % 07818 053374 (Surrey)
l 14.1hh, Connemara gelding, 15 yrs. Has competed in PC, ODE, SJ and much more. Forward-going so not suitable for a novice. Total gentleman in every way. £1,500. % 07747 780180 (Devon)
l 16.3hh, ID X, gelding, 9 yrs. Lovely horse with plenty of potential, well-schooled and responsive. Does lovely DR, but really enjoys jumping. Has hunted and XC. £3,500. % 01302 844904 (SouthYorkshire)
l 17.2hh, ID gelding, 7 yrs. Show-stopping registered ID with fantastic bloodlines. Ample potential and 100% bombproof. Calm and predictable temperament. £4,200. % 07504 417546 (West Midlands)
l 11.2hh, Welsh Section B gelding, 13 yrs. Excellent lead rein pony, well-behaved in traffic and loves attention. Great with children. Comes with tack and rugs. £600. % 07878 651417 (South West)
l 13.2hh, Welsh X, gelding, 11 yrs. Lovely personality, been in the ribbons every time out. A real headturner, good to box, shoe, clip, bath and hack. POA. % 07854 897113 (Essex)
True gentleman
l 14hh, cob mare, 6 yrs. Suitable for nervous novices, great confidence giver. Pops small jumps and hacks in traffic. 100% honest and looks after her rider. £1,800. % 07933 142468 (Warwickshire) 134 HORSe &RIDER
l 15.2hh, cob gelding, 5 yrs. Three good paces and happy to pop a jump, still green and needs educating, but has a willing and easy attitude. Perfect project. £1,500. % 07446 006510 (Surrey)
l 16.1hh, ID X, gelding, 26 yrs. Fleabitten grey schoolmaster. Currently in a riding school but would prefer a quieter life, would make a great mother/daughter share. Has done all disciplines, including beach rides, however, can be a little strong. Hacks alone or in company. £500. % 07946 409816 (Wrexham)
Horses for sale
l 15.2hh, warmblood X, gelding, 5 yrs. Amazing paces and works beautifully in the school, jumps anything in front of him. Easy on the ground and sweet natured. £3,500. % 07446 006510 (Surrey)
l 16.3hh, Dutch Warmblood mare, 18 yrs. Flashy and pretty. Jumped BSJA, finds schooling boring, great hack. Needs bringing back into work, ideal hack or hunter. £500 ono. % 02476 346721 (Leicestershire)
l 15.2hh, Irish cob gelding, 8 yrs. Extremely smart, nice paces, sweet temperament. Done PC, XC, SJ and hunted, would do DR. Great hack, well-behaved. 5* home only. £2,500. % 07989 436277 (North Yorkshire)
l 14.1hh, Connemara mare, 5 yrs. Sweet nature, sensible. Brought on slowly, done pleasure rides, XC, SJ, ODE. Confidence giver. Good catch, clip, box, shoe, in traffic. £5,750. % 07947 648863 (Staffordshire)
l 14hh, Connemara mare, 4 yrs. Has done all basic paces in the school and a little bit of jumping. Great to hack and loves to be groomed. Friendly with people, dogs and horses. Good with the farrier, needs a confident rider to bring her on – not a first pony. £1,700. % 07747 442027 (Kent)
l 15.1hh, Welsh X, mare, 12 yrs. Lovely nature, easy to do. Done HT, SJ and evented. Well-schooled, good hack, in traffic. Will suit competent rider. £1,100 inc tack and rugs. % 07878 172057 (Somerset)
l 16.3hh, TB X, gelding, 7 yrs. Floaty paces, scopey jump, fantastic hunter, snaffle mouth. Ready to compete. Good to catch, shoe, clip, loads with encouragement. £3,000. % 07890 606991 (Somerset)
l Miniature stallion, 5 yrs. Lovely temperament, good to do in all ways. Broken to ride and long-reined, done SJ. Has produced off spring, ideal for breeding programme. £400 ono. % 07824 533717 (Wales)
l 13hh, New Forest gelding, 5 yrs. Gentle and kind, a pleasure to work with, has never put a foot wrong. Handled by children. Good to do in all ways. Currently wasted. £1,000. % 07925 485814 (Somerset)
l 9hh, Miniature Shetland mare, 3 yrs. Striking paces, even markings, would do well at showing, unbacked. Amazing temperament, easy to do. Heartbreaking sale. £300. % 07447 156714 (Essex)
l 13.3hh, Fell gelding, 4 yrs. Fantastic hack, 100% bombproof in the heaviest of traffic. Done gymkhana. Good to box and with farrier. £1,200 inc tack and rugs. % 01573 430769 (Scotland)
Beautiful Welsh gelding l To make approx 15.1hh, Welsh Section D gelding, 2 yrs. Gorgeous nature and cheeky personality. No blemishes, fantastic paces, outstanding jump, perfect for showing. Easy to do in every way. All history known. Sad sale due to change in circumstances. £1,000. % 07789 991312 (Warks)
l 15.3hh, cob gelding, 8 yrs. Needs bringing on, scopey jump, good hack, ideal project horse. Lovely temperament. Lives in or out, good to shoe. Not a novice ride. £1,500. % 07734 303700 (Staffordshire)
Super young horse l 15.2hh, gelding, 4 yrs. Homebred, Zangersheide and Cassini lines. Super paces and looks. Broken and ridden away, been brought on slowly. Still green, but willing and trainable. Sad sale, but overstocked with young horses for next season. £2,950. % 07917 834327 (Cheshire)
l 12.2hh, Welsh Section B mare, 13 yrs. Beautiful pony, done some shows and showing classes. Would suit small adult, has so much potential, needs bringing on. POA. % 07545 207663
JARGON BUSTER BD: British Dressage; BN: British Novice; BS: British Showjumping; CS: cob size; CT: combined training; Disc: Discovery; DR: dressage; ER: endurance ride; Exp: experienced; F/M: freezemark; FR: first ridden; FS: full size; HDT: horse driving trials; HT: hunter trials; ID: Irish Draught; Inc: including; ISH: Irish Sport Horse; LDR: long-distance rides; LR: lead rein; M/chip: microchip; MG: mounted games; M/W: middleweight; ODE: one-day event; P/port: passport; PBA: part-bred Arab; PC: Pony Club; POA: price on application PS: pony size; pt-2-pt: point-to-point; R&D: ride-and-drive; RC: Riding Club; Reg: registered; ROR: Retraining of racehorses; Sec: section; SJ: showjumping; TB: Thoroughbred; Vacc: vaccinated; WB: Warmblood; WHP: working hunter pony; XC: cross-country.
Photos should be clear, landscape-shaped and not copyrighted. All photographs sent at advertiser’s own risk. HORSe &RIDER 135
View online adverts at horseandrideruk.com
Lovely temperament
ountry Chome
Treat yourself to an equestrian paradise on the Welsh borders
All this could be yours!
In all 71.48 acres
Five-bedroom country house
Guide £1,250,000 For more details: Jackson Equestrian % 01928 740555 jacksonequestrian.com
B
ryn Hall is a wonderful country house with magnificent views across Shropshire, Cheshire and the Welsh Borders. Located two miles from Overton-on-Dee and four miles from Ellesmere, the property comprises 71.48 acres, including a five-bedroom house and stables.
Restored 18th Century barn with annexe accommodation
Stable yard with 10 loose boxes
Foaling stables
Portal-framed barn
Horse walker
All-weather manège
Well-maintained pasture, woodland and wildlife pools
Modern amenities
Bryn Hall was built in 1990 on the site of a derelict farmhouse. It has been designed in a Georgian style with light, airy rooms and a practical layout. Three of the bedrooms in the main house are en-suite and there’s additional accommodation in a restored 18th Century barn.
Horsey heaven
Formerly a successful stud and event yard, the equestrian facilities at Bryn Hall include 10 loose boxes, foaling boxes, a portal-framed barn for youngstock, feed room, tack room and rug room. There’s a horse walker, all-weather manège and plenty of land. The grazing has been wellFor a selection of equestrian maintained, and the productive ground properties for sale 136 HORSe &RIDER
is suitable for turning out livestock and horses all year round. There’s lots to do with your horses locally. Llanymynech Horse Trials, Wynnstay Hunt and several equestrian centres are close by, with unaffiliated and affiliated competitions.
PROPERTY
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“I would thoroughly recommend this tailored course to anyone in the equine field ” Christina Dunlop - Harry Dunlop Racing
M&S Ambulance would like to announce the release of their latest Equine specific course held at our training centre in Lambourn. This course is aimed at first aid for anyone involved with horses from equine enthusiasts to event organisers. This first aid course is focused on the typical injuries people suffer from riding or working with horses and is designed to enable participants to confidently administer first aid when it matters most.
This qualification covers the below topics; · CPR · Assessment and management of suspected breaks · Treating bleeds · Assessing a fall · Handling unconscious casualties · Equine related traumas
You will be taught by one of our Healthcare Professionals with hands on experience in the equestrian field. M&S Ambulance Service can also offer first aid cover for events or special training days at your yard. Please contact us for more details on our courses, event cover and training days.
T: 01488 638 345 E: training@msambulance.co.uk
DISTANCE LEARNING Want to improve your knowledge of horses? Equine courses available. Flexible Start Date. Excellent, friendly tutors. Contact -www.acsedu.co.uk, info@acsedu.co.uk or 01384 442752
To advertise please call freda on 01428 601034
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EQUINE HEALTH HORSE AND DOG MASSAGE COURSES
Online classroom with videos, notes and coaching (course also available via email). Articles on rehab, fitness, stretching and more.
07890 968115 www.horsesanddogs.co.uk
ROSETTES
TaraneT Holistic health for animals information online to help your animal’s wellbeing, plus Aloe healthcare products. Visit: www.taranet.co.uk Email: info@taranet.co.uk or phone us on: 01823 478337
MAKE ROSETTES! For your own club shows or start a home-based business. We supply ALL rosette components at wholesale prices.
www.trsribbons.co.uk Tel. TRS Ribbons: 01289 386838 (Quote H&R)
➤ HORSe &RIDER 137
ONLINE RETAILER
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INSURANCE Affordable Cover Priceless Service Committed to you Committed to you
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KBIS Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (300861)
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Personal Accident Insurance www.kbis.co.uk
Yard & Freelance Instructor Insurance
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Horsebox PetFinancial Insurance KBIS Ltd isInsurance authorised and regulated by the Conduct Authority (300861)
UK HOLIDAYS Horse and Pony Pleasure and Competition horses Choice of vets fees and excesses
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Check out more holidays online HORSe &RIDER 139
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INSURANCE
UK HOLIDAYS
Adult Riding Holidays
GRANARY MEAD COTTAGE
Burley Lodge, Burley, Ringwood, Hants, BH24 4HS
www.wellington-riding.co.uk
Enjoy an Instructive riding course at Wellington Riding. Bring your own horse or ride one of ours. Stay in a nearby hotel or B&B. All riding levels are welcome. Private tailormade holidays can also be organised. Dressage, cross country, show jumping or general all round improvement. Please see our website for more details. Call: 01189 225 379 . Email: holidays@wellington-riding.co.uk Wellington Riding, Heckfield, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 0LJ
HAVE A FUN HOLIDAY IN THE NEW FOREST Set in a stunning location in the heart of the forest. Excellent self catering accommodation – up to six people. l Fabulous riding/driving with little or no roadwork. Escorted rides if requested. Large spacious stables and turnout paddocks. l Well behaved dogs welcome l
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Contact: email enquiries@granarymeadcottage.co.uk, visit our website www.granarymeadcottage.co.uk or call 01425 402473 - brochure available on request.
Cae Iago - Adult Riding Holidays Home Cooking. Weeks/Weekends/Midweek Vegetarians welcome. Family Breaks/Trail Rides Farm. En-suite bedrooms. Breathtaking countryside Established 1968 Superb horses/Welsh Cobs Approved by County Council to suit all abilities British Horse Society, WTRA Basic experience WTB Accredited Activity Centre an advantage Cae Iago, Ffarmers, Llanwrda, Carms SA19 8LZ. Tel: 01558 650303 Email: riding@caeiago.co.uk Website: www.horseridingholidaysgb.co.uk Open all year round
UK’s Best-selling equestrian monthly 140 HORSe &RIDER
FOREST OF DEAN Gloucestershire.
20,000 acres of wonderful off-road riding. Treat yourself & your horse to a memorable holiday with first class self-catering accommodation & 5* equestrian facilities, including a gallop, school and all weather canter track. A warm welcome awaits you!
Please contact John or Lucy Verity on 01594 541211
www.churchfarm.uk.net
UK HOLIDAYS
Tregoyd Mountain Riders
Lower Cwmcadarn Farm, Felindre, Three Cocks, Brecon LD3 0TB
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Horse riding, pony trekking and lessons. Situated just 3 miles from the border town of Hay-On-Wye in the Brecon Beacons National Park. We welcome beginners and experienced riders of all ages. Accommodation available in comfortable 3 star farmhouse for thos with or without their own horse. Bunkhouse also available for groups. Livery and lessons.
Tel: 01497 847351 Fax: 01497 847680 Email: info@tregoydriding.co.uk Web: www.tregoydriding.co.uk Wales tourist board certified activity centre, Wales trekking and riding associations, AALA, BHS
Pub ‘Petal’ day rides and link-up’s with other B+B’s A training base for endurance riders and ‘Red Dragon’ competitors l Easy access to the Royal Welsh Show ground l Horse logging courses l Comfortable flexible accomodation for horse and rider l l
Cwmfillo is truly a fabulous find for you and your equine chum!
For further details or make a booking call 01982 570 355, visit www.cwmfillo.co.uk or email julie@cwmfillo.co.uk
H Bring your horse on holiday H Explore the Shropshire Hills H Miles of bridleways and quiet lanes
07989 496875 / 01588 630141 www.middlewoodbatchfarm.co.uk
Accredited B.H.S Horses Welcome Scheme (Wales)
Upper Heath Farm
Bring Your Horse on Holiday to Shropshire Fantastic facilities for you and your horse. Self catering accommodation with DIY livery for up to 5 horses. Enjoy the stunning scenery that Shropshire has to offer. The Jack Mytton Way (bridleway) runs through Upper Heath Farm land so you can ride out straight from the cottage door, following miles of lanes and bridleways. www.upperheathfarm.com 01584 823845 info@upperheathfarm.com
Luxury farm cottage, fantastic riding straight off the farm, 5 smart boxes/ turnout paddocks. Stunning views. Short breaks. Two bedrooms. BBQ terrace & parking. Cottage £130 a night - minimum 2 nights. Horses £12 a night each.
HopeEndHolidays
01386 858359 l www.shenberrow.co.uk tinacarroll@shenberrow.co.uk
OVERSEAS HOLIDAYS
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Exciting riding in small groups, suitably challenging for all abilities Beautiful, well schooled horses Ride as much or as little as you like Try your hand on our cross country course Fully inclusive holiday with delicious home cooked food and regional wines Visit us on Facebook
H BHS accredited Horses Welcome Scheme H Large 16x12 stables and turnout available H 4 star B&B & self catering available
Flexible arrival and departure dates
FrenchRidingHolidays.co.uk Call Derek or Anne on 00 33 565 434 569 Email: info@frenchridingholidays.co.uk
To advertise please call freda on 01428 601034
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Bring your horse on holiday to the Malverns Five star luxury accommodation for you and your horse Many bridle paths to explore, or ride up on to the Malverns with stunning views Post and rail paddocks, excellent stables, flood lit school Local XC facilities, equestrian centre for competitions/ training Very friendly yard, will pre-book/arrange anything for you
horseandrideruk.com/directory
‘Cwmfillo’ is nestled amongst the stunning rolling Radnorshire hills. The outriding is second to none, only 800m from the open hillside, rides can last as long as you like!
hopeendholidays@gmail.com T: 01886 880631 07967 641467
OVERSEAS HOLIDAYS Superb riding holiday in Southern Andalucia . . . . . . on fit and well trained horses through beautiful countryside. Small groups, private apartments, swimming pool, home made food, Spanish wines, horse displays and airport transfers are all in addition to the fabulous riding. A recommendable holiday for the capable rider and horse lover. Visit our website or call Giles & Miranda on 0034 952 455010.
www.horseridingspain.com
visit: horseandrideruk.com HORSe &RIDER 141
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Special offers!
Special introductory prices on stable mats available online. PLUS bulk buy 30 pieces for trade prices!
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MASTER SADDLERS 2014 DIRECTORY SCOTTISH BORDERS
KENT
WALES
NATIONAL SADDLE CENTRE (QSF) Cicely Jeffrey Tel: (01450) 376732 Mob: 07796 440077 Web:nationalsaddlecentre.co.uk cicely@nationalsaddlecentre.co.uk cicelythorne@msn.com Covering the North of England and Scotland. Specialist saddle fitters for amateur and competition riders. Stockists of Amerigo, Albion, Passier, Keiffer, Ideal, Prestige, Kent & Masters and Fairfax.
FIRST THOUGHT EQUINE LTD (WOW Saddles, Classique Saddles and Flair Air Flocking) (AT, QSF) Little Duskin Farm, Covet Lane, Kingston, Canterbury, CT4 6JS. Tel: (01227) 831614 Email: info@wowsaddles.com Web: www.wowsaddles.com Manufacturers of the revolutionary WOW saddle with interchangeable headplates, panels and flaps. Also traditionally flocked Classique Saddles, Flair adjustable air flocking, Korrector Saddle Pads and Equiform template system. The ultimate in comfort for you and your horse.
AYRES SADDLERY (AR) 190 New Road, Rumney Cardiff, South Wales CF3 3BN. Tel: (02920) 793941 Web: www.johnayressaddlery.co.uk Closed Sunday and Monday
CLEVELAND
D.J Sayer Saddlery (QSF, QMS) Brewery Yard, Yarm, Cleveland, TS15 9AH Tel: (01642) 785423 Web: www.sayersofyarm.co.uk Email: davesayer@msn.com HERTFORDSHIRE
Martin Wilkinson Saddlers The Flint Barn, Coursers Farm, Coursers Road, Colney Heath, Herts, AL4 0PG Tel: 01727 821020 Web: www.martinwilkinson.com Email: Sales@martinwilkinson.com Independent specialist saddle fitters. Society of Master Saddlers qualified saddle fitters. Stockists of a wide range of new and preowned saddles and quality saddle accessories for all disciplines. KENT
DAVID DYER SADDLES (QSF, QMS, MS) Frogpool Manor Farm, Perry Street, Chislehurst, BR7 6HA Tel: 020 8308 0500 Mob: 07714 158986 Email: sales@daviddyersaddles.co.uk Web: www.daviddyersaddles.co.uk
Northern Ireland
OLD MILL saddlery 110 Larne Road, Ballycarry, Carrickfergus, Co.Antrim, United Kingdom, BT38 9JN Telephone: +44 (0)28 9335 3268 Fax: +44 (0)28 9335 3111 Email: info@saddlery.biz Web: www.saddlery.biz SUFFOLK
JUDDPURS SADDLERY (QSF, AR) 111 Bedingfield Crescent, Halesworth, Suffolk, IP19 8ED. Tel: (01986) 874800 Mob: 07880 555863 Email: re-judd@hotmail.co.uk Website: www.juddpurssaddlery.co.uk SURREY
BUTTONS SADDLERY (MSR) 44 Guildford Road, West End, Surrey, GU24 9PW. Tel: (01276) 857771 Email: adrian@buttonssaddlery.com Web: www.buttonssaddlery.com
TRADE
ALBION SADDLEMAKERS CO LTD (QSF, QMS) Albion House, Bridgeman Street, Walsall, WS2 9PG. Tel: (01922) 646210 Fax: (01922) 643777 Email: sales@albionsaddlemakers.co.uk Web: www.albionsaddlemakers.co.uk Email: sales@albionsporting.co.uk Web: www.albionsporting.co.uk BATES & WINTEC SADDLES UK Distributor Unit 9, Somerville Court, Banbury Business Park, Adderbury, Oxon, OX17 3SD Web: www.batessaddles.com Web: www.wintec.net.au Web: www.caircushionsystem.com Harry Dabbs Saddle Makers William House, 93 Frederick Street, Walsall, West Midlands, WS2 9NJ Tel: (01922) 612238 Email: info@saddlery.co.uk Website: www.harrydabbs.co.uk Manufacturer of The Future Saddle SHIRES EQUESTRIAN PRODUCTS 15 Southern Avenue, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 OQF. Tel: (01568) 613600 Fax: (01568) 613599 Email: sales@shiresequestrian.com Web: www.shiresequestrian.com
British Saddlery is the best in the world. Ensure that you deal through a Member of the Society of Master Saddlers. Look for the badge and be assured of service and satisfaction by craftsmen. AT - ALLIED TRADE MEMBER, AR - APPROVED RETAILER, QSF - QUALIFIED SADDLER FITTER, MSR - MASTER SADDLER RETAIL, QMS - QUALIFIED MASTER SADDLER, QS - QUALIFIED SADDLER
ur Ask yogent a s w ne to save
Don’t miss next month’s
u , so yo for you ISS
Fab fitness plan! Get your horse ready for the season
NEW SERIES! Riding confidence
M DON’IT UE! S S AN
NEW SERIES!
Showing masterclass
with Lynn Russell
banish your nerves
WIN!
Stop the scratch Sweet itch explained
Ariat Gorgeous boots
Fancy footwork
Easy flatwork exercises from eventer Izzy Taylor
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My life
e not When they’r turn the e w , working horses out
with horses
Anthony Lowry BHSI , Club Manager , Bukit Timah Saddle Club, Singapore Originally from Ireland, Anthony Lowry BHSI grew up surrounded by horses at his fa mily’s stud farm near Dublin. Follow ing time working with Gr and Prix dressa ge horses and show jumpers in Aust ralia, Anthony moved to the Bukit Ti mah Saddle Club in Singapore.
With daily temperatures above 30°C, horsey life in Singapore starts early and finds somewhere shady in the afternoons to rest, explains Bukit Timah Saddle Club manager Anthony Lowry
Monday
It’s a rest day for the horses and a lot of the staff at Bukit Timah. The riding school is closed, but some of the livery owners will be in to ride and check up on their horses. It’s my chance to catch up on emails and administration jobs. I also sit down to work with Nina, our office manager, to plan the schedule of activities for the rest of the week.
Tuesday
As told to Kelly McCarthy Maine
With temperatures reaching 30°C or more, we start riding lessons at 7am. By late morning, it is too hot to ride, so all the horses are washed down and return to their stables to rest until 4pm. Our stables are openfronted, airy and shaded to help the horses stay cool. I escape the midday heat by working in the air-conditioned office. I have to keep any eye on the figures, so I have a meeting with our finance manager to discuss budgets, forecasts and financial reports.
Wednesday
Wednesday is staff training day and I’m busy helping our grooms prepare for their British Horse Society stable management exams. Then I coach three of my regular clients – all competition riders – and then lunge a lovely ex-racehorse called Flying Fulton who I have in for retraining.
146 HORSe &RIDER
After work th e horses enjoy a cool sh ower
Thursday
I meet with Pedja, who manages the livery yard and supervises our estate workers, as well as teaching riders. Our facilities include 100 stables, more than three acres of riding arenas, lungeing pens, turnout paddocks, hacking trails and the only cross-country course in Singapore.
Friday
We regularly host competitions where other riding clubs in Singapore visit us. Our next one is this Sunday, so Pedja and I spend the day preparing the arenas for dressage and showjumping. We don’t have an indoor arena, so we put up tents for spectators and judges. The arenas are levelled and raked, and there will be some last-minute maintenance before the guests arrive.
Saturday
The weekend is our busiest time and lessons are booked solid all morning – most horses will do two or three. On Saturday mornings, our junior riders take part in Pony Club and we offer pony rides. Lots of the younger riders and their families make a day of it and have a meal in the Riders’ Café or Marmalade Pantry.
Sunday
Sunday is a jam-packed schedule of competition. When each horse has finished working, he gets washed from hoof to tail with cold water. This helps to cool them down before they go to their stables or in the turnout paddocks. Horses who aren’t competing are turned out and go on the horsewalker during cooler parts of the day. We finish on time, so there’s just time to reintroduce myself to my family and friends before hitting the hay, ready for it all to begin again tomorrow!
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