Winter Guide 2016

FREE WITH

● Expert advice from Dengie ● Winter must-haves from Musto ● Stunning clothing from Pikeur ...and much more!

A New Unsung Hero It’s the jacket that performs flawlessly, unnoticed as you ride. It’s the jacket you take out every time. It’s the Canter BR1 Jacket now in a longer length. Stormproof, breathable and quilted on the inside, the Long Canter BR1 Jacket will be your new unsung hero.

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Welcome

Is it winter already?

G

ET SET FOR the colder months with this handy Winter Essentials guide.

We’ve packed it with advice from the best experts around and reveal some of the products that will help to get you and your horse through to spring. Whether you’re in search of new clippers, clothing, feed, rugs or more, you’ll find it all here.

Imogen Johnson Your Horse editor

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CONTENTS 4 6 10 12 16 18 22 25 26 30 33 34 37 39

MUSTO showcases its latest waterproof boots SyncEquine explains the benefits of thermography Get expert feeding advice from Dengie Revamp your riding wardrobe this winter with Horseware’s stylish new collections The team at NAF help you choose the right supplements to keep your horse happy and healthy Find out more about the Albion KB Comfort Bridle Allen & Page helps your horse maintain a healthy weight Worming tips from the experts at Zoetis The team at Blue Chip explain the benefits of feeding a specific concentrated balancer Choose SEIB Insurance Brokers and insure your horse, tack, horsebox, property and more with confidence The pros of steaming explained by Haygain Countrywide reveals its winter rug range Discover Pikeur clothing perfect for winter riding Increase your clipper know-how with Masterclip

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34 YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016 3

New GORE-TEX country footwear

by MUSTO

®

Striding across muddy fields, wading through icy streams, mucking out stables and spectating in wet weather – you can embrace it all in the new luxury leather GORE-TEX® boots from MUSTO

W

INTER MUD, RAIN and cold are all things the seasoned horse owner is used to and now, thanks to the new range of leather country boots from MUSTO, they’re no barrier to working around the yard and enjoying the British countryside.

Renowned for exceptional quality and performance, MUSTO has just launched a range of premium waterproof leather boots made with leading performance technology and impeccable style.

A GORE-TEX® membrane will keep your feet dry

All of the boots and shoes in the MUSTO range are made with the highest quality materials sourced from world-leading manufacturers. Whether it’s the most supple and durable leather from leading tanneries, or the pinnacle of waterproof technology, every detail has been carefully considered.

The ultimate in waterproof boots MUSTO has been proudly protecting riders from the worst of the

Feel secure on any surface thanks to Vibram® soles on MUSTO boots

British weather for decades, using the best technical fabrics available.

To create the ultimate in waterproof footwear, it’s teamed up with the world’s leading waterproof brand, Gore, producers of the GORE-TEX® membrane that’s renowned for the best waterproof protection and breathability.

Every fabric, thread, lace, footbed, toe cap and more has to comply with the stringent MUSTO Gore standards.

The new Suffolk, Hickstead and Storm boots have a GORE-TEX® membrane to keep your feet dry and allow sweat to escape. This is what you need when working around the yard or on long country walks in wet weather.

The performance is incredible. This is why MUSTO can put the strongest guarantee of product performance on its footwear, the GORE-TEX® promise: GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY™.

Traction and style MUSTO has also incorporated Vibram® soles into its new designs to create its 4 YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016

WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

PROMOTION

most rugged and durable boots yet.

Vibram® is known to be the best in the world for outdoor soles. The Vibram® Olympia™ sole digs into the earth for traction, features a rubber shank bar for stability so your ankle is less likely to roll on uneven surfaces, and the cut of the sole pattern gives you better slip resistance on wet rocks.

The new GORE-TEX® Country Footwear range by MUSTO

Inside the boot, the footbed is made with shock absorbing materials to cushion your foot on uneven ground so your feet are comfortable all day.

The best of British Designed in Britain, MUSTO’s premium country boots have had every element carefully considered. The luxury leathers The boots in the new range are built to survive the toughest conditions

are soft to the touch, while the layering of textured leathers gives the boots structure, preventing sag with wear. The tapered and curved uppers are designed to fit your calf perfectly so the fit is comfortable and secure. A double-layer panel on the inside of the boot is scratch resistant for extra durability in the countryside. Even the zip on the zip-side Suffolk and Storm boots is selected from the world’s best zip manufacturer, YKK®.

FIND OUT MORE: VISIT WWW.MUSTO.COM FOR MORE ON THE RANGE

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YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016 5

Thermography can help to identify both early stage and chronic conditions

Thermography you can trust Get to the bottom of any lameness, behavioural or performance issues your horse may be suffering from this winter with the help of the experts at SyncEquine

S

YNCEQUINE SPECIALISES IN physiological imaging, more commonly known in the industry as thermography.

This procedure detects inflammatory and neurological processes, and helps to isolate pathology to assist diagnosis along with the monitoring of treatment and rehabilitation.

The technology is 100% safe and doesn’t require sedation. In fact, as there’s no contact between the 6 YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016

equipment and the horse, most find the process entirely stress-free.

What health issues can thermography detect?

Thermography is a test of physiology, and graphically records skin surface temperature. Like scintigraphy, it looks at function rather than anatomy, and provides a valuable window into the horse’s autonomic nervous system, which can help to identify both early

stage and chronic conditions. Spinal pathology, degenerative diseases and numerous injuries can all be identified by the technology.

Benefits aplenty As well as being non-invasive, there are a number of additional benefits to using the service. For one, the imaging is relatively simple and full body assessments can be performed, which is particularly helpful for intermittent WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

or difficult to diagnose lameness cases. What’s more, issues relating to performance and behaviour can be assessed as the technology can contribute objective information relating to the horse’s subjective feeling of pain.

PROMOTION

DID YOU KNOW?

A NATIONAL SERVICE IS PROVIDED AND THE COST OF IMAGING MAY BE COVERED

BY YOUR INSURANCE IF YOUR VET REFERS YOU.

It’s stress-free Using SyncEquine is easy. If your yard is suitable for imaging, there’s no need to box your horse up as the team can come direct to you. Or, if you’d prefer you can take your horse to a local veterinary clinic.

Appointments can be booked direct or via your vet and normally take up to one hour and 30 minutes for a full body assessment. Being non-invasive, easy to perform and relativity low cost for a full body assessment, SyncEquine provides an imaging choice that’s proving popular.

Isolating kissing spines

Thermography is completely non invasive meaning less stress for your horse

Thermography is non-invasive, meaning less stress for your horse

High-tech results

WHY CHOOSE THE SYNCEQUINE SERVICE?

At SyncEquine only clinical grade imaging equipment is used, and its team of experienced vets provide ● It’s non-invasive and sedation-free the results. Having your ● It provides affordable imaging horse’s results interpreted ● You get results from vet surgeons and reported on by trained ● It provides a quality controlled service vets in this way is critical as it ensures previous and current clinical signs quality controlled service, the correct are taken into consideration, and that protocols, clinical technology and SyncEquine’s reports can scientifically aftercare are all provided as standard. contribute to the investigation.

When using thermography, many FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.SYNCEQUINE.COM aspects have to come together for OR CALL 0845 519 5971. accurate results. At SyncEquine a

Isolating stifle pathology

SyncEquine provides a quality controlled service as standard

WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016 7

Non-invasive Equine Imaging Lameness Issues?

Behavioural Changes?

Joint Problems?

Injury Monitoring?

SyncEquine specalise in physiological imaging more commonly known as thermography. The service is non-invasive and the team can come to visit your yard on request. Clinical standard equipment, results from experienced veterinary surgeons and a quality controlled service come as standard when you book with the team.

Contact the team for a free consultation www.syncequine.com 0845 5195971

Our nutrient-rich alfalfa feeds will have everyone jumping for joy

For the answer to ALL your equine feeding queries talk to a Dengie nutritionist today: DENGIE FEEDLINE: 0845 345 5115 ï DENGIE ONLINE: DENGIE.COM

Fibre facts

A high fibre diet is the best thing for your horse. For a trouble-free winter take a look at the range of fibre feeds from Dengie

T

HE WINTER MONTHS are a true test of your dedication as a horse owner as you spend more time battling poached gateways, frozen taps and mucking out, while the dark evenings mean less time for riding too.

The UK has a relatively narrow temperature range compared to other countries. Native ponies who live a natural life with vast acres to roam over can usually gain sufficient nutrition on top of using up their fat stores to survive

the colder months quite happily.

However, domesticated horses and ponies who often spend time confined in their stable or squelchy paddock over the winter may need a helping hand.

The nutritional value of grass declines in winter. In spring, young grass plants have a greater proportion of leaf and this is where nutrients, such as protein and minerals, are found.

As the year progresses, the amount of leaf declines, while fibre and indigestible materials increase, which means your

horse gets less out of his pasture. Some individuals, such as youngstock and veterans, are less efficient at digesting fibre, putting them at risk of losing weight.

Winter weight loss If your horse is carrying a little too much weight, winter is the ideal opportunity for him to lose a few pounds. Try not to be tempted to over-feed and over-rug your horse if he’s a good-doer. The best

WINTER FEEDING TIPS ● Use fibre and oil as energy sources to help avoid over-excitable behaviour ● Fibre is the horse’s central heating system – keep your horse warm by feeding lots of it ● Use small-holed haynets to help keep your horse occupied and make his forage ration last longer

10 YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016

● Use the winter months to help promote weight loss, if needed.

Try not to over-rug or over-feed, and keep exercising him as much as the winter weather will allow ● Feed a high-fibre diet to help promote digestive health, maintain regular bowel movements and help reduce the risk of colic

A low-calorie, fibre-based feed will help your horse shed any excess pounds WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

PROMOTION

QUALITY GRASS ALL YEAR ROUND Dengie has created a simple range of grass feeds using the finest grasses and oil grown by UK farmers. Dengie grows as many of its own ingredients as possible, helping to keep its feed miles low while supporting UK farmers.

The team at Dengie can trace the fibre ingredients in every bag they make back to the field they were grown in to create natural and safe feeds you can trust.

Dengie’s grass feeds are high in fibre and highly digestible.

They are naturally sweet, and can be included as part of the bucket feed or as a hay replacer.

Dengie Meadow Grass with Herbs and Grass Pellets have been created using the finest grasses and oil. They are FREE from: ● Artificial preservatives, flavours and additives ● Molasses – with no added sugar ● Cereals and cereal by-products, including straw ● GM ingredients

Follow Dengie’s tips for a happy, healthy horse this winter

way to keep him warm is to feed plenty of low-calorie fibre feeds, such as Dengie Hi-Fi Lite or Hi-Fi Good-Doer, as heat is produced when fibre is fermented in the digestive system.

Fibre as fuel Fibre provides slow-release energy, making it the ideal way to provide your horse with enough energy, without the risk of over-excitement or fizziness.

Chewing helps support good digestive health

you keep him chewing for as long as possible to support his behavioural and digestive health.

Feed type can influence chew time.

Researchers have discovered that a horse will chew a kilogram of hay 3,400 times in about 40 minutes, but will chew one kilogram of oats 850 times in only ten minutes. Feeding fibre means more chews and helps keep a stabled horse occupied for much longer.

A good set of teeth is vital for getting the most out of feed. Chewing helps to break it up into smaller particles, allowing the nutrients locked inside to be more readily extracted and absorbed.

Stay hydrated Did you know that fibre can provide as much energy as mixes and cubes?

For example, Dengie Alfa-A Original contains the same level of energy as a cool mix at 10MJ/kg but with about ten times less starch.

Oil is another slow-release energy source, and when combined with a good quality fibre, such as alfalfa in Dengie Alfa-A Oil, it can provide as much energy as a conditioning mix or cube.

Chewing for health Horses were designed to eat fibre and spend the majority of their day eating.

If your horse has less turnout during the winter months, it’s important

Some horses become reluctant to drink when the weather is colder.

To help your horse stay hydrated feeding soaked feeds can increase his moisture intake.

Soaked feeds, such as Dengie Alfa-Beet or Alfalfa Pellets are also particularly beneficial for older horses or those with poor teeth who may struggle to chew.

Soaked feeds, such as Dengie Alfa-Beet, can help keep your horse hydrated

Alfa-A Original and Alfa-A Oil are good sources of slow-release energy WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016 11

Seasonal wear

The Elina Parka Jacket and Blanket Oversize Scarf

Revamp your riding wadrobe for the season ahead with the great range of practical, stylish clothing from Horseware.

Here, the team share their winter must-haves

C

OOLER NIGHTS AND shorter days mean only one thing – winter will be here before we know it! As your summer riding wardrobe gets tucked away, it’s time to get ready for the colder months ahead with longer sleeves, snug gilets and waterproof jackets.

At Horseware, we design our equestrian collections to be functional, stylish and practical to ensure you have the very best riding wardrobe, no matter what the weather or season may bring. Read on to find out more about our pick of this season’s favourites, from smart padded jackets to cosy fleeces.

The Eve Padded Jacket

Denim breeches

The Keela

Layer up and stay warm One of our most-loved ranges, the Horseware Ladies Collection offers fun pieces to help you layer up in style.

New this season are the Eve Padded Jacket and Gilet, which offer style and cosiness, with lined pockets and a flattering fit. They’re showerproof, too.

The Eve Padded Jacket and Gilet are perfect for layering up over our best-selling Keela Base Layer, which is made from a soft, antibacterial wicking fabric, making it your go-to base layer shirt.

For extra warmth when the weather takes a turn for the worse, a must for every rider’s wardrobe is our Brianna Jacket. It’s waterproof and breathable, with fully taped seams, and is very

12 YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016

lightweight, making it a comfortable jacket that’s ideal for winter schooling sessions or rides out.

Add some colour to your collection of breeches this winter with our fun and practical Ladies Denim Breeches. Perfect for schooling or hacking, new colours

added to this season’s collections include a bright pink and teal.

To up the warmth factor even more, add our Softie Fleece, Bobble Hat and Scarf, with our Softie Socks to complete your winter look.

The entire Horseware Ladies Collection

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PROMOTION Stylish and functional If a preppy cool, on trend yard look is more your style, we’ve completely revamped our Horseware Polo Ladies Collection to give you our best winter range yet. Inspired by beautiful blue, grey and brown hues, the feel is fresh, stylish and functional.

Some of our favourites this season include the Maya Padded Jacket and Gilet, both of which have a gorgeous over-sized padded collar, with leather contrasting trim and a flattering padded design. The Maya range is water repellent and has a hidden hood for the changing weather.

Layer the Maya Gilet and Jacket with our favourite base layer, the Elena Sleeve Technical Top, which has both wicking and antibacterial properties.

For a little extra warmth and style while in the saddle, add the Mariette Knitted Sweater – its design is one of our favourite looks this season.

Another new piece, perfect for the cooler days, is the super cosy Elina Parka Jacket. Its length helps to keep you warm, and its soft fleece lining keeps the chill

off your back. Pair it with our Knitted Hat and Scarf, the Elena Technical Top and our favourite Nina Breeches for a cool look this autumn.

We’ve also added the snug Kenza Wrap Neck, which is perfect to throw on whether you’re heading to the yard or out into town.

Our Nina Breeches have proven

to be one of our most-loved pieces, so this winter keep cosy with our winter version, which have a cosy fleece lining, in addition to still being super stylish for everyday schooling.

Co-ordinate your entire Polo Ladies Collection look with our oversized Blanket Scarf, Knitted Hat, Ear Muffs and Socks to keep extra warm.

The Maya Gilet

The Kenza

Elena Top Mariette Sweater

The Briana Jacket

Rain, what rain?

Softie Socks

For rainy days at the yard, we love our Horseware H20 range, which offers the very best in waterproof protection. It uses an innovative fabric that’s soft to the touch, as opposed to traditional waterproof materials. The Poncho Jacket comes in black, and the H20 Rain Jacket comes in black with a reflective top bit on the shoulders.

Our H20 Waterproof Trousers will also give you added protected from heavy rain.

Poncho Jacket

is designed to fully co-ordinate, so you can mix and match all your favourite pieces together. The Collection’s affordable price tag makes it a favourite for all riders, especially if you’ve just had to update your horse’s winter wardrobe too!

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Keep the rain at bay with the H20 range

See the practical and stylish new Horseware clothing range at any number of its stockists, where you can get your hands on all of the winter riding essentials mentioned here. Alternatively, visit www.horseware.com and use the ‘Where to buy’ tool to find your nearest retailer.

For all the latest news and offers, follow Horseware on Facebook, Instagram, Snap Chat, Twitter or Pinterest.

YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016 13

WWW.HORSEWARE.COM | INSTORE | MOBILE | #RUGSFORLIFE

IRON RICH

NEW name

vitaFerrin HIGH IN VITAMINS

maintain peak performance

vitaFerrin

vitaFerrin

Feed vitaFerrin to maintain peak performance.

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www.naf-equine.eu/uk

Take care of your horse’s health by supplying the essential vitamins and minerals he needs

Give his diet some

TLC

Whether your horse is retired, a happy hacker or a four-star event horse, he needs a balanced diet that works for him. Here, the team at NAF help you get it right

V

ITAMINS AND MINERALS play an important role in your horse’s body function and performance, from his muscle development to his coat pigmentation, which is why it’s essential to provide him with everything he needs and ensure he has a healthy, balanced diet.

16 YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016

Of course, a high-fibre diet is the ultimate for any horse, as it ensures a positive gastric environment and good digestive transit. However, it can be difficult to quantify the vitamin and mineral levels in it because hay and haylage quality varies greatly.

Supplementing your horse’s high-fibre diet is one way to provide a guaranteed

level of essential micronutrients.

Thankfully, supplements are easy to feed and have been formulated to cater for a broad spectrum of horses and ponies. But before you decide which product to buy, you need to consider your horse’s lifestyle.

Picking the right supplement In order to find the right supplement that will meet your horse’s needs you need to ask yourself a few questions. For example, is your horse in hard work? Does he sweat a lot? Is he a happy hacker? Be honest with your answers – if your horse is in light work, hacking out at a leisurely pace twice weekly, he obviously won’t have the maintenance requirements of an eventer who’s in training.

If your horse is being asked to work regularly he may benefit from a supplement that offers value-added condition, with a focus on high quality gut support, that’s backed up by vitamins and minerals.

NAF’s In The Pink Powder is perfect for those who maybe lack a little sparkle WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

PROMOTION

Slim offers metabolic support

vitaFerrin helps optimise performance

For times of peak performance you can increase the maintenance level, giving you peace of mind that your horse is supported when he needs it most.

Hard working horses, like eventer Tom McEwen’s ride Hunter Valley III, will need broad spectrum vitamins and minerals that suit their workload

Support for leisure horses

PHOTO: SEBASTIAN OAKLEY

or struggle to keep condition well, which is a common problem, particularly over the cooler winter months.

Horses in hard work who sweat a lot, those working in particularly hot weather or who have compromised health, are likely to benefit from a product that provides a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals, but also the added extra of immune support.

Hard work or illness can rapidly deplete the immune system, leading to a Whatever your horse’s job, find a supplement that works for him

WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

In The Pink Powder restores ‘sparkle’

drop in performance, so ingredients such as Echinacea or Yucca will be valuable to replenish and restore the balance. Iron is also particularly important to these animals, so look out for a formula offering targeted support.

Introducing vitaFerrin With the above in mind, NAF’s veterinary and nutritional specialists have developed vitaFerrin. vitaFerrin helps to optimise your horse’s performance in a number of ways.

For a start, it’s rich in iron and fortified with vitamins and minerals to maximise your horse or pony’s training and performance potential. It also has the added immune system support of Yucca and Echinacea, which give your horse a boost, particularly when he’s tired following hard work. vitaFerrin will help you ensure the key ingredients are provided in your horse’s diet, and it comes in an efficient liquid formula that’s more quickly absorbed, easy to use and, if you have a fussy feeder, is easy to hide in feed.

If you find a more leisurely pace of life suits your horse best, look for a product that contains gut support, with a balance of micronutrients to optimise your horse’s diet. If you’re not currently offering any hard feed, a pelleted formula is likely to be the best choice for you, as this can be fed alone.

If you have a good-doer, choose a product that can be fed alone and will help support weight management, while still balancing his diet.

Slim is the perfect option for these horses, particularly if they only need to look at grass to gain 5lbs! It offers magnesium, marine extracts and a natural source of vitamins and minerals in a simple pelleted formula. Your horse will love feeling as though he’s getting a little extra something, and you won’t have to worry about adding inches.

Ultimately, all horses need their vitamins and minerals – it’s just the formulation they come in that should be changed to meet their individual requirements and workload.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE? VISIT WWW.NAF-EQUINE.EU FOR MORE INFORMATION AND THE LATEST PRODUCTS YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016 17

Let your horse perform at his best thanks to the unrivalled comfort of the Albion KB Bridle, as used by Laura Tomlinson and Capri Sonne Jr

Comfort & performance A correctly fitting bridle is as important to your horse’s comfort and performance as a correctly fitting saddle. The Albion KB Comfort Bridle is designed with your horse’s comfort in mind. Read on to find out why your horse should be wearing one

L

EADING BRITISH SADDLE manufacturer Albion Saddlemakers is dedicated to producing correctly fitting, comfortable saddles and bridles, ensuring your horse can perform to the very best of his ability.

The experienced team at Albion understand all there is to know about comfort and pressure. Sixteen years ago they invented the original patented Pressure Relieving Albion KB Comfort Bridle.

18 YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016

The bridle was developed by Albion’s Chairman, Paul Belton, alongside Olympian and former German and US National Coach, Klaus Balkenhol.

The Original KB Bridle was designed and patented (European patent number 1302440) in the year 2000 and is still recognised as one of the leading bridles on the market today. Featuring a horse friendly, ergonomic design and stylish good looks it’s no wonder this bridle is so popular among professional and amateur riders worldwide.

The original communicator The Original KB Comfort Bridle is like no other, aiding willing submission by reducing poll, browband and noseband pressure, improving performance in all disciplines at all levels. It features a distinctive cut-away padded headpiece and slips that are anatomically positioned to disperse poll pressure. In addition, an oversized browband ensures ear clearance to minimise nerve pressure and a soft padded noseband allows for extra comfort. This original design enables WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

PROMOTION Your horse will be happier and more willing to work in an Albion KB Comfort Bridle

An oversized browband adds to your horse’s comfort

ALBION’S TOP TIPS FOR A PERFECT FIT Albion recommends that all bridles are fitted by an experienced bridle fitter to ensure your horse is as comfortable as possible.

However, there are a few simple checks you can make: 1 Make sure the browband isn’t too tight and not pulling the headpiece onto the back of your horse’s ears.

The KB browbands are designed to be slightly oversized to ensure generous ear clearance.

“IF YOU EVER WANT A PERFECT PERFORMANCE, THEN ALL THINGS MUST BE PERFECT” KLAUS BALKENHOL

For those who like a touch of luxury, the KB Super Bridle has half-rolled leather and stitching detail

2 The throatlash must not be tight as it will interfere with your horse’s breathing and collection. To ensure comfort there should be enough room to place a clenched fist between the side of your horse’s cheek and the throatlash.

3 The buckles of the cheek pieces and noseband should be parallel and slightly below the corner of your horse’s eye (to avoid damage in the event of the bridle pulling across the face), and the arms of the cheeks and noseband must lie behind his cheek bones.

4 The noseband must lie at least one finger or 1cm below the cheekbones, as this is another pressure point area.

If the noseband is placed too high on the face it can cause great pain.

5 The buckle of the cavesson noseband must sit comfortably at the back of the jaw, in between the jaw bones, to avoid creating a pressure point.

6 The pad on the back of the crank noseband fastening should not connect to the front of the noseband, as this can cause pinching and subsequent sores.

more refined fitting and balancing of the bridle, particularly on the noseband and cheek pieces, relieving pressure over the face and poll area. Made from only the best full-grain bridle butts, the KB Bridle is renowned for its quality and durability.

A bridle for every individual The Original KB Bridle is tailor-made to perfection with an almost infinite range of design and colour options. You can mix and match styles that are suitable for individual horses.

WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

There are two designs to choose from, either the traditional KB Competition Bridle or the more luxurious KB Super Bridle, featuring half-rolled leather and stitching detail. It’s available in cob, full and warmblood sizes as standard, and made to measure sizes as a request.

Albion also offers the opportunity to create a bespoke KB Bridle featuring boldly coloured leathers and the option to sparkle with a variety of Swarovski® elements to achieve the perfect look every time. Prices start from £213.

TO FIND YOUR NEAREST ALBION-APPROVED RETAILER CALL 01922 646210 OR VISIT WWW.ALBIONSADDLEMAKERS.CO.UK YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016 19

We know a lot about comfort -

we invented the Original Pressure Relieving KB Comfort Bridle ¨

PRESSURE RELIEVING BRIDLE EUROPEAN PATENT NO. 1302440

Slips anatomically positioned over the pressure relieving padded headpiece maximising poll comfort

Padded & oversized browband for ear clearance Pressure distributing noseband with near & offside adjustment attached to the pressure relieving padded headpiece

Refined fitting

FABRENTO IS WEARING:

KB Competition Snaffle Plain Browband Padded Crank Flash Noseband 30mm Leather Continental Reins Black.

In 2000 Albion created the first Pressure Relieving Bridle - it’s still one of the world’s most comfortable bridles, only now with almost infinite options.

The Original Pressure Relieving KB Comfort Bridle® was designed by Albion Chairman Paul Belton, together with multi medal winning Olympian Klaus Balkenhol in 2000. It is now recognised as one of the most popular and comfortable bridles by riders worldwide.

The Original Pressure Relieving KB Comfort Bridle® is like no other, allowing a more refined fitting and balancing of the bridle, aiding willing submission by dispersing poll, browband and noseband pressure, improving performance in all disciplines at all levels.

The Original Pressure Comfort Relieving KB Bridle® is tailor-made to perfection, with an almost infinite range of options, made to measure or ‘Mix & Match’ styles and sizes to achieve the perfect fit and look every time.

To ensure my horses can perform at their best they must be comfortable, that’s why I love Albion’s Original Pressure Relieving KB Comfort Bridle®. I can use their ‘Mix & Match’ components to create the perfect fitting bridle whilst looking classically stylish.

LAURA TOMLINSON British Team Dressage Gold & Individual Bronze, Olympics 2012

KB COMFORT BRIDLE THE ORIGINAL COMMUNICATOR

INSPIRED BY RIDERS, PERFECTED BY TECHNOLOGY Albion Saddlemakers, Albion House, Bridgeman Street, Walsall, WS2 9PG, England Tel: +44 (0) 1922 646210 • Email: sales@albionsaddlemakers.co.uk

www.albionsaddlemakers.co.uk

SINCE 2000

CALM & CONDITION

For increasing and maintaining condition

“

Spread the word...

”

Calm & Condition®

For Topline Without The Barley ╩ ,♥σ′⊕✦ ¹♥σ½♥ş⊕½ ♥ş½ ✔Þ½  ⊕✠ ½⊕½Č½ Č⊄♥⊂Č║σ♥✟♥⊂σ ½⊂½σ✦ ╩ Č⊕½✦ Č⊂¹ ⊄⊕Č½ ½½ ⊕✠ ♥⊂ ČÞ′ Č⊂¹ ⊕✠ ♥⊂ ✔σČΎ ╩ & ′½ Č⊂¹ ⊂♥½ Č ½  ′Č¹ ✠ℜ ╩ /¹½Č⊕  ′½ Č⊂¹ ⊂♥½ ′Č ⊂½½¹  ✔ ⊂  ⊄Č♥⊂Č♥⊂ Þ⊂¹♥♥⊂ ╩ Y✔♥Þℜ Čℜ ♥⊂ ⊕½ ′Č⊂ ϭϬ ⊄♥⊂✔½ ╩ Č⊕Č⊂Þ½¹ ✠♥′ ✟♥Č⊄♥⊂ Č⊂¹ ⊄♥⊂½Č⊕ ⊕✔ ½ Č⊂¹ ş♥Þ ╩ DČ¹½ ✠♥′ ′♥σ′ ✔Č⊕♥✦ E⊂║'D ♥⊂σ½¹♥½⊂ Ύ t′½⊂ Þ⊄Č½¹  Č¹♥⊂Č⊕ ¹♥½ ✠♥′ Þ⊄ČČ✟½ ½⊂½σ✦ ⊕½✟½⊕

For friendly and helpful advice, contact our award-winning nutrition helpline today on 01362 822 902 or email helpline@allenandpage.co.uk Y✔½ ¹ Z½½½⊂Þ½ Č⊕⊄ Θ ⊂¹♥⊂ ^dt

www.allenandpage.com

Watch his

weight W

INTER’S A TIME when our horses often lose weight – and while this is a great opportunity for good-doers to slim down to an ideal weight, for some veterans, poor-doers and harder-working horses the need for a high calorie diet to help prevent unwanted weight loss becomes increasingly important.

There are many ways to help your horse maintain a healthy weight, starting with his fibre intake. Regardless of the time of year, fibre is the most important part of every horse’s diet whether they need to gain, lose or just maintain their weight.

Fibre is important for good digestive health and its digestion also provides a valuable source of calories. What’s more, as fibre is fermented in the horse’s gut, heat is produced, which helps to keep him warm. A diet that’s lacking in fibre means a horse is more likely to feel the cold and have to use other energy sources to keep himself warm. As a result, weight loss or failure to gain weight is almost inevitable, despite any high calorie bucket feed he may be getting.

22 YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016

Feed as nature intended A horse’s digestive system requires an almost constant supply of fibre. In the wild a horse will graze for 18 to 20 hours a day and, to mimic this need to constantly ‘trickle feed‘, our horses should therefore have fibre – in the form of grass, hay or haylage – available at all times. Providing ad-lib hay or haylage when your horse is stabled, or when the grazing is poor, is the best way to ensure he has a continuous supply of fibre.

Help your horse to maintain a healthy weight this winter with advice from Joanna Palmer, equine nutritionist at Allen & Page

to feed your horse more calories to help him put on weight without giving him more energy. This can be concerning for some owners whose horses are naturally forward going. However, it’s the ingredients within the feed, and the type of energy they provide, that is important.

Provide ad-lib hay or haylage when grazing is poor

Calories without the fizz Even if grass alone has met your horse’s calorie needs during the spring and summer, once his grazing has diminished and the colder weather has set in, he may require a high calorie supplementary feed to provide additional calories to fuel his work and help him maintain weight through the winter.

However, with a vast array of feeds available, it can be a challenge to know which one’s best for your horse.

The most important thing to remember is that when it comes to promoting weight gain, calories and energy are exactly the same thing – it’s not possible WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

PROMOTION

Fast Fibre

Veteran Vitality

will provide slow-release energy, and this is much less likely to affect behaviour or cause digestive upsets.

A diet high in fibre and oil

Feeds that are high in starch and sugar, as is the case with traditional cereal-based mixes, provide quick-release energy, which can cause fizzy and excitable behaviour. Alternatively, feeds that are low in starch and sugar, and contain ingredients that are high in fibre and oil,

Unmolassed sugar beet pulp is a commonly used ingredient in horse feeds, which is not only high in fibre but also an excellent calorie source. It contains as much energy as many cereal grains, but without the high starch content. Research has found horses digest oil well, and it’s a concentrated source of calories for them.

A diet that uses oil as an energy source rather than carbohydrates (cereals) is often recommended for excitable horses who tend to ‘hot up’ on cereal-based diets. Concentrate feeds that are high in oil will usually contain linseed as a source of slow-release energy. This is high in omega 3 oils and known for its excellent anti-inflammatory properties.

Veteran Vitality and Fast Fibre It’s well known that as horses age their digestive system becomes less efficient.

This means older horses are more likely to lose weight, and a change to a more nutrient dense feed is often required.

One of the most important qualities of a veteran feed is that it’s easy to eat.

Older horses with poor teeth are more at risk of suffering choke and colic, simply because they’re not able to chew properly.

A concentrate feed, such as Allen & Page Veteran Vitality, that soaks with water to form a soft mash is often relished by even the fussiest of feeders. If they’re having difficulty chewing hay, it’s essential that a hay replacement feed, like Allen & Page Fast Fibre, is also fed.

Calm & Condition Allen & Page Calm & Condition has been designed for horses who need to put on, or maintain, their weight and condition, and is also ideal for hard working horses.

Like Veteran Vitality, Calm & Condition is barley and molasses free, making it WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

Calm & Condition

lower in starch and sugar than traditional conditioning feeds. Calm & Condition is also high in fibre and oil, providing an excellent source of slow-release, stamina-giving energy that is much less likely to cause the fizzy and excitable behaviour that often comes when a cereal-based diet is fed.

Both Calm & Condition and Veteran Vitality are ideal for horses who need a little help to maintain their ideal bodyweight. When fed within the recommended amounts for the horse’s size and workload, they’ll provide a balance of vitamins and minerals as well as pre and probiotics to help maintain an efficient and healthy digestive system.

To help ensure your horse is getting the right feed, regular weighing and condition scoring are essential tools in monitoring his condition. The use of a weigh tape every fortnight or so will help you to pick up on changes in your horse’s weight much quicker than relying on the naked eye alone.

It goes without saying that regular dental check ups and an effective worming programme will help to ensure your horse’s digestive system is able to work efficiently and allow him to gain the most nutrition from the feed.

Adequate rugging is also essential to keep your horse warm and help prevent weight loss.

FIND OUT MORE: FOR INFORMATION ON FEEDING TO PROMOTE WEIGHT GAIN VISIT WWW.ALLENANDPAGE.CO.UK OR CALL THE FRIENDLY NUTRITION HELPLINE ON 01362 822902 YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016 23

PROMOTION

YOUNG HORSES ARE AT RISK TOO Foals and yearlings are more susceptible to the threat of worms and, in general, they will need dosing more frequently than their adult counterparts. The main threats are ascarids and small redworm.

Tapeworm may be seen from approximately six months of age.

Your vet can carry out a specific test to find out if your horse has tapeworm

Winter worming

Even when your horse looks well he could still have a significant worm burden. Dr Wendy Talbot, the National Equine Veterinary Manager at Zoetis, explains more

I

T’S A COMMON misconception that a faecal worm egg count (FWEC) will identify every type of worm affecting your horse, unfortunately it won’t. Some worms will never be revealed by FWECs, and if these ‘hidden’ parasites are not treated with a suitable wormer every year your horse’s health could be at serious risk.

FWECs are an essential tool for monitoring how many parasite eggs your horse is shedding at certain times of the year, but they never give the whole picture. Encysted small redworm, tapeworm and bots will not show up in a standard FWEC. Even if your last count result said ‘no eggs seen’ you should still give your horse an annual treatment to combat encysted small redworm, tapeworm and bots.

Here, Dr Wendy Talbot talks about each of these worms and how to combat them.

ENCYSTED SMALL REDWORM

Initially these may not cause any obvious symptoms, so you may not know your horse has them until he starts to show signs of a problem later on. Over the winter the larvae of the small redworm your horse has ingested during grazing often stop developing and will hide inside the gut wall, where they are known as encysted small redworm (ESRW). This means they never reach the adult egg laying stages. Consequently, even though WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

ESRW could put your horse’s health at risk

What do I need to do? The accepted method for tapeworm control is to break the cycle by using a wormer specifically licensed for tapeworm every six months, usually in the spring and autumn.2 Alternatively, you can ask your vet to carry out a separate tapeworm test using a simple blood or saliva sample.

BOTS

Bots (see below) can cause mild damage to your horse’s mouth and gums and may also harm his stomach lining.

What do I need to do? These should be treated in the winter, after the first frost when the adult flies have theoretically died and before the bots mature.

larvae may be present, FWECs will not reveal them. Small redworms are a high risk to horses. They can cause diarrhoea, rapid and severe weight loss, colic and can be fatal when severe encysted larval infection is present.1 What do I need to do? All adult horses should be treated in late autumn or early winter each year. Only two active ingredients are licensed to treat encysted small redworm: a single dose of moxidectin, or a five-day course of fenbendazole.

However, there’s widespread evidence of resistance in small redworm to fenbendazole, including the five-day dose, so a resistance test is recommended.1

TAPEWORM

These can cause ill-thrift, enteritis and colic, and won’t show up in a standard faecal worm egg count, so specific treatment is needed to protect your horse.

Ask your vet or SQP for advice on worming your horse and visit www.wormingyourhorse.info Further information is available from Zoetis UK Ltd, Walton Oaks, Dorking Road, Walton-on- the-Hill, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 7NS, or call the customer support line on 0845 3008034 or see www.zoetis.co.uk.

Use medicines responsibly (visit www.noah.co.uk/responsible) 1 Matthews (2008) Equine Veterinary Education, p 552-560 2 Proudman and Matthews, In Practice (2000) 22, 90-97

YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016 25

PHOTO: EQUINE LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

At the Age of 21, I’m Blue Chip Too still competes with Blue Chip’s founder, Clare Blaskey

Senior Balancer is packed full of everything your veteran horse or pony needs to help him look and feel great

Balancing act Targeted nutrition is key when you’re formulating a diet for your horse. Here, the team at Blue Chip Feeds explain the benefits of feeding two of their specific concentrated balancers – Senior Balancer and Ulsa-Cool

F

EEDING A BALANCER is a popular option for many owners who are keen to ensure their horse receives all the nutrients he needs on a daily basis. But there are now a growing number of balancers that are designed to address the needs of your horse if he has more specific requirements. These remove the need for additional supplements.

Blue Chip has developed a range of concentrated balancers with targeted nutrition. Here, we explore two of its popular products that have been formulated for older horses and those who may be suffering from ulcers.

Keeping your veteran healthy Maintaining your older horse’s good health is vital in order to increase the

‘Piggles is still competing at national level at 16 – I couldn’t be prouder!’

length of his working life and help him maintain condition into his retirement years – but this can be a challenge.

Blue Chip has developed its new Super Concentrated Senior Balancer to offer an easy to feed, cost effective way of providing everything your veteran needs to keep him fit and well on a daily basis. The whole-cereal, molassesfree, 100% natural formula provides specifically formulated levels of vitamins, minerals and nutrients to meet the increased nutritional demands of the older horse, alongside a top quality probiotic. This creates a healthy bacterial environment in your horse’s gut to enable increased nutrient absorption.

Ageing horses also have an increased predisposition to PPID or Cushing’s disease, a condition that affects the functionality of the pituitary gland. So Chaste Tree Berry extract is included as part of CushinComboTM, alongside antioxidants to help maintain the correct operation of this vital gland.

Kate Lewis feeds her horse Evie Ulsa-Cool, with great results

Blue Chip ‘All Stars Academy’ finalist Stephanie Hill and her horse Blue Chip Diamond Cavalier Royale, or Piggles (left), has been using Senior Balancer since she was introduced to it on the All Stars Academy programme – and the pair continue to go from strength to strength. “I’ll feed Senior Balancer to Piggles for the rest of his life – it suits him perfectly,” says Stephanie. “We always get compliments on how well Piggles looks for his age at shows. He is absolutely thriving, in fantastic condition and competing at national level at the age of 16 – I couldn’t be prouder!”

26 YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016

WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

PROMOTION Enjoying a sound, happy horse Maintaining joint health is key to extending the working life of your older horse, and it’s vital that his diet includes the key ingredients needed to keep his joints mobile and inflammation-free.

Senior Balancer contains Glucosamine, MSM and Hyaluronic Acid to aid cartilage regeneration and maintain the correct viscosity of synovial fluid so the joint moves freely within its capsule. Also included is Rose Hip extract (Rosa canina), which contains a glycoside that’s been proven in tests to be a natural supplement for joint comfort and mobility. It works by limiting the amount of white blood cells that enter the joint to cause inflammation, therefore reducing inflammation and swelling as a result.

‘ULSA-COOL helped my horse’ horse “My stressed, agitated mare is much more pleasant to be around since I put her on Blue Chip Ulsa-Cool,” says show jumper Kate Lewis (right).

“Evie has become so much happier and calmer – I can’t recommend it enough! It’s strange to think that at the beginning of the year I had to retire her in 1.05m classes and now she’s jumping 1.30m to 1.40m classes. She really feels like a different horse and I always look forward to riding her now.”

Keeping him healthy from the inside out

Maintaining your horse’s health into old age As with all balancers in the Blue Chip range, Super Concentrated Senior Balancer incorporates Nucleotides into its formula. These benefit your veteran as they improve nutrient absorption, aid the immune response by boosting the number of white blood cells in the body to fight infection, and improve recovery rates as they increase red blood cell turnover, which is vital for carrying oxygen to working or damaged muscles and tissues.

This complete balancer is designed to keep your horse’s tummy healthy and happy

Ensuring good digestive health

PHOTO: FOTOGRAPHER

For some horses, their diet will consist of a high level of concentrated feed, which is a far cry from the ‘trickle grazing’ they’re designed to do. The result of this modern way of feeding is an increase in the number of horses suffering from stomach ulcers. Indeed, this problem

can be seen in some degree in up to 63% of performance horses.

Blue Chip’s new Super Concentrated Ulsa-Cool Balancer has been specifically formulated to help maintain acid balance in your horse’s gut.

The 100% natural, whole-cereal, molasses-free formula incorporates AcidBalTM. This is a calcium carbonatebased acid buffering agent comprised of Lithothamnion, which is derived from marine minerals and can help the natural pH balance of the gut by slowly releasing calcium, magnesium and silicon over a prolonged period. This enhances the buffering effect it has on stomach acids.

Also included is mint, which has been used for centuries to aid digestion and is known for the soothing and calming effects it has on inflammation and digestive upsets.

As with all the Super Concentrated Balancers in the Blue Chip range, Ulsa-Cool contains specifically tailored levels of all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients your horse needs on a daily basis.

Also included in the formula is SoundHoofTM, a complete hoof supplement that incorporates Biotin, Methionine and organic Zinc to ensure the formation of strong, pliable hooves, as well as PrimoVentoTM, a menthol and eucalyptus-based respiratory supplement that soothes the airways. It helps to maintain lung integrity and function, and is known to have a soothing and calming effect on digestive upsets and any areas of inflammation.

Why Ulsa-Cool is a cost-effective option Each 3kg tub of Ulsa-Cool, priced at £24.95, will last the average sized 16hh around one month when fed at a rate of 100g per day. This makes it a highly cost effective and easy to feed option when you consider it contains all the top quality ingredients of a Blue Chip Balancer, with the on-going acid buffering qualities of a separate gastric health supplement.

The power of Beta Glucans Ulsa-Cool incorporates Beta Glucans – natural, plant derived polysaccharides found to enhance the immune response and play an active role in macrophage production. (These are the white blood cells your horse or pony requires to actively fight off infection and disease.)

Beta Glucans coat the stomach lining with a protective film and slow the passage of feed, keeping the stomach fuller for longer, creating a less acidic environment.

WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

FIND OUT MORE: FOR INFORMATION VISIT WWW.BLUECHIPFEED.COM

YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016 27

For the right cover at the right price - Think SEIB Equestrian insurance with the personal touch and 50 years experience.

www.search4astar.org.uk

Game of Thrones ridden by Kieran Quinn

Bridgeham ridden by Sophia Scott

(Photo courtesy of ES Photography)

(Photo courtesy of ES Photography)

For anything equestrian including horse, horsebox, home, business or liability you will love your insurance from SEIB. Our policies are selected from a wide range of insurers so there is no need to shop around or spend time searching numerous websites. Just call SEIB Insurance Brokers we are here to help you.

We insure

HORSE

HORSEBOX

TRAILER LIVERY YARD MOTOR

01708 850000 www.seib.co.uk

Terms & Conditions apply. South Essex House, North Road, South Ockendon Essex RM15 5BE. South Essex Insurance Brokers Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

LIABILITY

BUSINESS

HOME RIDING SCHOOL

Insurance you can Can buying insurance be easy – and even a pleasure? The team at SEIB Insurance Brokers say yes!

A

S BROKERS THAT have been in business for more than 50 years, and who’ve won numerous industry awards for customer care, the team at SEIB believes in good old-fashioned service.

They’ve been leading the way in equestrian insurance for decades and remain at the forefront of the industry – success that’s largely down to an understanding of all things equine.

Many of the team at SEIB are horse owners and riders who truly understand the commitment required to keep horses and the costs associated with their ownership. They know that insurance is only as good as the first claim and that priority must be given to explaining what’s on offer and what should be expected from the insurance.

Straightforward and stress-free Of course no-one gets up in the morning excited about buying insurance, and no-one wants to pay more for insurance than is absolutely necessary.

With this in mind, SEIB believes it’s

SEIB’s dedicated team of horse owners, like Kathryn Herring (pictured here) are on hand to help you

vital that the process of buying insurance is as easy and stress-free as possible to ensure the right cover is in place should something go wrong. For them, it’s important the customer understands the following: ●● They’ll pay a fair price ●● The cost won’t rise dramatically in the second year

●● They can speak to someone they

trust who can explain what they’re buying and why

Why choose SEIB? Using the company’s status as a broker to arrange insurance, the team at SEIB knows it can truly meet the needs of any client. They won’t just buy cover

DO YOU KEEP YOUR HORSES AT HOME? If you keep your horses at home, SEIB has a new policy with exceptional levels of cover at a competitive price.

Its ‘Equestrian Country Home’ insurance will cover not only your home but your stables, equipment, liability and machinery too. SEIB is also able to insure the land even if it’s not attached to your home.

Cover is automatically included for trailers, including horse

30 YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016

trailers up to £5,000 and quad bikes up to £10,000, and higher values can be added.

SEIB has taken into account house sitters, and they will be covered while looking after your pets and yard while you’re away. Items such as tractors, mowers, tack and saddlery can be added to the main policy.

Terms and conditions will often apply, but if the equipment is stored securely, replacement should not be a problem.

The limits for liability are high at £10 million for occupiers, personal and employer’s liability, property owners, organised events, additional and acquired land, plus country pursuits.

So much cover is automatically included – just call SEIB to find out more on 01708 850000.

MEET KATHRYN Kathryn Herring can help you on all matters relating to your equestrian yard. She rides every day and, as an experienced horse owner, she understands exactly where you’re coming from and the cover you need.

WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

PROMOTION

off-the-shelf from a list of insurers – instead they spend time adjusting the cover they offer to provide complete protection, while keeping an eye on the costs to ensure that clients don’t pay too high a premium for the cover they need.

What’s more, the service provided

by SEIB is complete, so whether you need cover for a much-loved old hack, a competition horse or a high-flying equestrian business, the team at SEIB has the experience, contacts and policies to make purchasing insurance a pleasure.

A personal touch SEIB isn’t run like a call centre. Instead, a dedicated team is always on-hand to offer help and advice and, nine times out of ten you’re likely to speak to the same person about your policy or claim.

This means getting all the information you need is easy so there’s no need to visit comparison sites or wade through endless telephone options. In addition, many of the team have been with the company for decades.

“We believe that SEIB Insurance Brokers is a very special company and we would like you to be part of our success,” says SEIB’s Nicolina Mackenzie.

“We promise to help you find the best possible policy for your circumstances and if you need to claim we promise

SEIB believes in putting Game of Thrones, ridd en by something back, and it Kieran-Quinn, was cro wned sponsors events across SEIB Search For A Sta r Supreme Champion the board. It tends to at HOYS in 2015 support the grassroots of the industry – for example with the ever-popular SEIB Search for a Star, Racehorse to Riding Horse, Burghley Sponsored Ride, BSJA Winter Novice Championships, Vale View Arena Eventing, Trec GB and British Show Horse Association Working Show Horse classes.

There’s something for everyone, so why not come along to one of its competitions or give the team a call to find out how they can help you.

While the company is fully independent, it’s owned by the respected insurance company Ecclesiastical, which is, in turn, owned by a charity (the All Churches Trust). The profits from this group ultimately go to charity, and in the past two years the company has donated £50 million to a wide range of charitable organisations. The next target is £100 million in the next three years.

to be there to hold your hand. “It’s impossible to mention everyone at SEIB but hopefully, from this short selection,

you’ll want to give us a call, find out more about the people behind the phones and find out how we can help you.”

DID YOU KNOW?

BARRY FEHLER (RIGHT), WHO STARTED SEIB AGED 16, HAS ALWAYS OWNED HORSES, AND STILL DOES.

MEET DONNA If you have a tack shop or are a saddle fitter you could call and speak to Donna McInnes. She’s also involved in a lot of the charity insurance and takes time out every day to visit her veteran Arab gelding who she’s owned for decades.

MEET SUZ If you were at the SEIB Traiblazers Championships this year you’re likely to have met Suz Hawkins on the SEIB stand. She’s competed in dressage at a high level and now enjoys bringing on her youngster who’s a very naughty (but loveable!) cob.

WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

Whether you’d like cover for your horse, horsebox, trailer, livery yard, riding school, charity, tack shop, equestrian property or anything else horsey, if it’s good old fashioned service you’re after, try SEIB.

VISIT WWW.SEIB.CO.UK OR CALL 01708 850000 YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016 31

PHOTO: ES PHOTOGRAPHY

trust

GIVING SOMETHING BACK

Even the best quality hay can cause respiratory problems Did you know that Haygain’s patented system is the only scientifically proven method for purifying hay?

Steaming with Haygain: ✔ Eliminates respirable dust particles ✔ Kills mould, bacteria, fungal spores and dust mites ✔ Aids in the prevention and management of respiratory conditions ✔ Retains the hay’s nutritional value ✔ Improves forage palatability ✔ Is suitable for colic-prone and post-operative horses

Clean hay means healthier horses – that’s pure horse sense.

T : 0333 200 5233 www.haygain.com

PROMOTION

Haygain hay steamers are available in a range of sizes to suit you, whether you own one horse or six

A cough-free winter

A dust-free environment can be difficult to achieve where horses are concerned, but help is on hand from the team at Haygain to boost your horse’s health this winter

T

o help keep your horse’s respiratory system in tip-top condition it’s important to manage the level of dust he’s subjected to. Without careful management he may start to cough as his respiratory system is challenged.

If this happens, and he also has a runny nose, it’s time to assess his environment.

when your horse is out of his stable.

To reduce dust further, use a bed of dust-free shavings and steam all of his forage. Thorough, high temperature steaming is the only proven method for reducing dust in fodder – so reducing the amount of dust your horse inhales as he eats.

Feeding the best forage

Research at the Royal Agricultural University has shown that steaming at the high temperatures achieved in a haygain® steamer kills all the bacteria and mould, and reduces the respirable particle content by more than 95%, making it the best option for providing ‘clean’ forage.

Unfortunately, a homemade steamer won’t do a good enough job as it only partially reduces the respirable particle content and doesn’t kill the bacteria.

In fact, partially heated or soaked forage actually has a higher bacteria content.

Ad-lib forage is always advisable for horses to help satisfy their desire and need to chew, and maintain good digestive function – and hay is the best fodder to feed. however, even the highest quality hay is high in particles that may irritate your horse’s respiratory system. These particles form the dust you can’t see, and have a 50 per cent chance of being inhaled deep into your horse’s lungs, potentially causing the respiratory disorder Recurrent Airway obstruction (RAo), also known as CopD, equine asthma or heaves.

While soaking hay will reduce the dust, this process means valuable nutrients are washed out and it can also increase the bacterial content of your hay.

Managing dust levels Mucking out, filling hay nets and sweeping the yard should all be done www.yourhorse.co.uk

Steaming is the way forward

Haygain to the rescue Using a haygain® hay steamer is the only scientifically proven method for purifying hay. Its unique steaming technology eliminates respirable dust, including the pathogenic moulds known to be responsible for equine respiratory disorders, thereby helping to boost lung function and optimise performance.

The proven ‘spike’ system

The haygain® method uses the patented, proven manifold spike system (pictured above), which pushes steam into the centre of the hay and ensures all of the hay is steamed fully at temperatures exceeding 100°C. haygain® hay steamers are available in four different sizes, with a model to suit all types of yard.

Steamed hay is ready to feed immediately after a steaming cycle of around 60 minutes, depending on the amount of hay. Its complete nutritional value and goodness are maintained, with improved palatability. haygain® steamed hay can form the basis of a low-dust regime, minimising your horse’s exposure to allergens, and helping to prevent and manage any respiratory disorders, including RAo.

WANT TO FiNd OuT mOre? CAll 0333 200 5233 Or visiT WWW.hAygAiN.COm your horse wINTer esseNTIALs 2016 33

Keep him snug in a stable rug

Countrywide Farmers offers an extensive range of horse rugs. Here’s its pick of the best for this season, plus some tips to help you choose the right one

K

EEPING YOUR HORSE warm while he’s stabled is important for his health and well-being and, if you decide a rug is the order of the day, there are a few key points you need to consider.

First, is your stable draught-free and warm, or prone to being cold? And what type is your horse? A native pony will require much less in the way of extra

34 YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016

warmth than a Thoroughbred who feels the cold. Finally, consider whether or not your horse is clipped. How hairy he is will make a difference to the polyester fill you require in your rug.

A guide to rug fill Once you’ve considered the points above, you’ll need to consider what amount of fill will suit your horse. As a guide,

100-180g of fill is ideal for unclipped horses who come in at night, while 200-250g rugs are suitable for basic winter weather conditions if your horse is partly clipped. For colder weather conditions, or Thoroughbred type horses who feel the cold, a rug of 300g upwards might suit. For fully clipped horses, the addition of a liner or under rug is highly recommended.

WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

PROMOTION The Kadence Quilted Stable Rug

The Shires Tempest Stable Combo Rug

lining that keeps your horse’s coat clean and shiny. Twin chest clips, cross-over surcingles and a wipeable fillet string all make this rug a great choice.

The Kadence Quilted Stable Rug has a 200g fill with a tough, easy-clean 420-denier outer fabric, quick-clip front fastenings and cross-over surcingles. Also available in this range is a rug liner with 150g fill, which fits under both stable and turnout rugs in the Kadence range. The Kadence Deluxe Duvet also offers a ‘combo’ solution under rug, with 200g fill to keep your horse warm and cosy at all times.

The Kadence Tweed Stable Rug

The Weatherbeeta range This winter, the new range of stable rugs from Weatherbeeta includes its Comfitec collection. Countrywide’s pick of this range is the Comfitec Channel Quilt Stable Rug in regular or combo neck options. With a tough 210-denier outer and 250g fill, it’s ideal for winter use, and a good fit on most horses.

From the Amigo range is the ever popular Insulator Combo Rug, which offers a 200g fill with a 210-denier

The Amigo Insulator

rip-stop outer fabric and double front closures. It’s a popular choice with many of Countrywide’s customers as the combo neck has been specially designed so it won’t rub your horse’s mane away.

Ideal for layering, you can also treat your horse to the Amigo Insulator, which is a 200g fill rug that fits under a number of the Amigo rugs in the range.

The ever-popular Shires range offers the Tempest Stable Combo Rug with 300g fill for colder conditions. Its tough 210-denier wipeable outer makes this rug highly durable. It has cross-over surcingles and twin front fastenings.

This style of rug is also available with a 100g fill for warmer native types, in both a standard and combo neck option.

SHOP FOR RUGS

The Kadence range The Tweed Stable Rug from Countrywide’s exclusive Kadence range is a new 200g filled stable rug with a tough 600-denier rip-stop outer. Its brown herringbone tweed design won’t show the dirt. Unique new features include a suede neck cuff for added warmth and a knitted jersey WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

SHOP IN-STORE OR BUY ONLINE AT WWW.COUNTRYWIDEFARMERS.CO.UK Countrywide offers convenient shopping options with free parking and a carry-to-car service in all stores, along with rug cleaning and fixing services. You can take advantage of free click and collect in all stores. Express next day delivery options are also available.

YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016 35

SAVE £10

NOW £24.99

WAS £34.99

4’ X 6’ X 12MM

RUBBER STABLE MATTING

NOW £60

3 2*

*MIX AND MATCH, CHEAPEST ITEM FREE

ALL NAF SUPPLEMENTS

NOW £99.99

WAS £159.99

SAVE £60

HALF PRICE WAS £120

Brown. Regular, Wide Size 4-8

SHIRES QUILTED COUNTRY BOOT

With Neck Cover - Navy/Green Check. 1200D with 300gm fill 5’6” - 7’0”

JOHN WHITAKER TURNOUT RUG

Shop online at countrywidefarmers.co.uk

Shop in store

Contact Countrywide 08708 352352

Countrywide Farmers

@CWFonline

Terms & conditions: Offers valid in store and online from Friday 28th - Sunday 30th October. Subject to availability, while stocks last. Countrywide reserves the right to end promotion at any time. Countrywide Farmers Plc. E&OE. Please check store opening hours as some stores are closed on Sundays. For more details visit www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk/events.

SAVE 20%

SAVE 20%

*LIMITED TO 12 PER CUSTOMER

SELECTED RUGS

SAVE £1*

SELECTED SHAVINGS

BODY PROTECTORS, RIDING HATS

*

3 2

*EXCLUDES VALUE RANGE, CHEAPEST ITEM FREE

COUNTRYWIDE HORSE FEED & HAYLAGE

Autumn Equine Event

FOR

Friday 28th Sunday 30th October 2016

FOR

PROMOTION

Look perfect in

Pikeur

DON’T MISS OUT!

PIKEUR’S HIGH-PERFORM SHIRTS, FLEECE TOPS, HOOANCE AND DECORATIVE T-SHIRTS DIES OUT QUICKER THAN ANYTHISELL NG ELSE, SO BE QUICK.

GET YOURS TODAY! The stylish collections from Pikeur showcase the brand’s winning fashion sense, unbeatable quality, fantastic cut and high performance. Here, we reveal the latest designs for autumn and winter

P

IKEUR’S AUTUMN-WINTER collection marries the soft, natural shades of beige, brown, silver, grey, olive, aubergine and navy with splashes of colour. Its Premium Collection features stunning coral, the Sportswear Collection has notes of sangria and, in its Next Generation range are bursts of violet.

The smart Raja jacket is perfect for winter

Cosy and elegant

Style that works Stylish it may be, but the Pikeur range performs well too, with waterproof, highly functional jackets across the range, including the sporty, yet elegant, Paloma with its subtle shimmer fabric, Primaloft® lining, detachable hood and imitation fur collar. There’s also the Leona, with its ‘Active Air Conditioning’, stand up collar and a 145g padded lining with lozenge quilting.

The Penelope comes in a number of shades, including silver

ONE FOR THE BOYS!

The Paloma jacket

Quilted comfort

The Cazita waistcoat

The Premium Collection’s Penelope waistcoat, Palmira quilted jacket and Phillipa quilted long coat all have an 80 per cent down and 20 per cent feather filling and come in shades of silver, coral and fango. The Phillipa comes with a detachable hood and imitation fur collar to help keep you warm, comfortable and elegant looking on the coldest of days.

Check out too the Raja softshell jacket in aubergine, with its cosy fleece inner, detachable imitation fur collar and appliqué diamanté.

The Next Generation’s quilted Cazita waistcoat has a warm in-collar hood, while Pikeur’s snuggly Gracia waistcoat and Jolie jacket both allow you to co-ordinate between the aubergine and nude options.

They have a range of stunning features – the outer fabric lightly shimmers, the imitation fur on the stand-up collar can be detached, and decorative zips line the edges and pockets. The Evita, available in sangria, white pepper and insignia blue, also has a detachable hood and imitation fur, with contrasting stripes on the inner lining that conceals a 165g wadding.

Pikeur hasn’t forgotten the chaps, who have their own range to enjoy, including this Lavaro waterproof sporty parka, which is lined with 133g Primaloft® and teddy plush fabric. It’s ideal for long days at the yard or spectating at events.

Limited edition breeches Pikeur’s limited edition breeches include the funky four-pocketed Stacy Grip, with its patent buttons and decorative studs, while the Lucinda Grip, Latina Grip and Piana Grip breeches are available in a range of new colours for the season (these include cherry with a contrasting seat).

For fans of a more natural look, the Premium Collection includes the Piorella breeches in platinum, bronze or chocolate, with contrasting mock-leather patches.

WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK

The Stacy Grip breeches come in bright cherry

Visit www.pikeur.de to see the full range (click on the union flag at the top!), email info@shawsequestrian.com or call 01335 370313.

YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016 37

MASTERCLIP™ Heavy duty horse clippers start from

£149.99 All our prices are inclusive of VAT and next day mainland UK delivery if ordered before 1pm

V-Series

VARIABLE SPEED CLIPPER

Showmate CORDLESS TRIMMER

2 year Warranty on all our clippers Leicestershire based customer care and after sales service

www.masterclip.co.uk For details and stockist information please contact Shaws Equestrian T: 01335 370737 E: info@shawsequestrian.com www.pikeur-eskadron.com | www.facebook.com/pikeur

call our team on

0116 279 6900

PROMOTION

Cordless clipping Make clipping your horse this season quick, easy and safe with a set of cordless clippers from Masterclip

W

hatever coat type you have to contend with, Masterclip have a clipping solution to suit you and your horse’s needs, whether you have a fine coated thoroughbred, a traditional cob or have a problematic coat due to a condition such as cushing’s. however good your horse is to clip, it is much safer and easier to use a clipper without any trailing cables. Masterclip have several cordless clippers in their range that are worth a look…

charging and a long clip time.

If both batteries are kept fully charged you will have a total clip time of around four hours. this does, however depend on what type of coat you are clipping and the density and cleanliness of the hair. the hD roamer is an easy clipper to use as the weight is evenly distributed throughout the handset. With the clipper blades attached and the battery in place, the total weight is only 1.2kg.

special offer In conjunction with Your Horse Live, Masterclip is offering a 10% discount on all clippers, trimmers and blades until the end of November 2016.

Simply enter YHL10 at the checkout on www.masterclip.co.uk

Ideal for a quick tidy up The Masterclip HD Roamer

A powerful clipper that offers great results

When it comes to tidying up around the sensitive and hard to reach areas, the Masterclip Showmate is an excellent trimmer to use alongside the hD roamer. available in a choice of colours and

Fast becoming a popular choice this season is the Masterclip hD roamer, which is a powerful, heavy duty cordless clipper that is suitable for all types of coat. at only £224.99 it offers great value as it comes with two sets of blades, two rechargeable batteries, a charging unit, clipper oil and a silver box for storage.

With the battery neatly stored in the base of the handset, this cable-free clipper is ideal to use on young or nervous horses and is an obvious choice for yards without power. the high performance batteries use the latest li-ion technology that offers fast

priced at only £59.99 including next working day delivery, with a £10 discount if you buy the hD roamer and the Showmate at the same time.

The Masterclip Showmate comes in a range of colours

Tried, TesTed and approved For total peace of mind, all Masterclip clippers come with a full two-year warranty. Masterclip stock all spare parts for their range of clippers and are therefore able to offer a fast turnaround time for service and repairs, even when your warranty has expired.

www.yourhorse.co.uk

To find ouT more abouT The masTerclip range and currenT deals VisiT www.masTerclip.co.uk your horse wINTer esseNTIALs 2016 39

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A magazine subscription is a thoughtful, inspiring gift that your loved ones can enjoy long after Christmas.

For just £24.99 or less, the subscription will be delivered straight to their door, with the start issue arriving after Christmas Day.

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01858 438884 quoting JOY1

Terms & Conditions: The amount of issues for £24.99 will vary by title, you cannot renew any existing subscription on this offer. Payments can be made by credit/debit card or PayPal. Offers close on 28th December 2016. Offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Calls from a BT landline will cost no more than 4p a minute. Call charges from other landline providers or mobile phones may vary. Order lines open 8am-9.30pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-4pm (Sat). UK orders only. For overseas orders please phone +44 (0)1858 438828. Calls may be monitored or recorded for training purposes. For our full terms and conditions go to http://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/offer-terms-and-conditions.