Horse Scene Magazine by Horse Scene

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The No. 1 NATIONAL magazine

Is Your Horse Eating Too Much?

November 2011

Christmas Gi Ideaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for all budgets

Back To Basics improve your riding

Gastric Ulcers the hidden problem

How to: Stop cutting corners Move up a level Banish mud fever

Senses how does your horse use them?

WIN Over ÂŁ3,000 worth of prizes up for grabs!

Ahead of the herd

YOUR No1 FREE MAGAZINE The Old Tannery, 224 Spen Lane, Gomersal, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire BD19 4PJ T: 01274 878755 • F: 01274 878754

Editor Pascale Armitage pascale@horsescenemagazine.co.uk

Advertising Manager Caroline Ludkin caroline@horsescenemagazine.co.uk

Subscriptions subscribe@horsescenemagazine.co.uk

Contributors Dr.Hans Delaunois-Vanderperren Zoe Davies Nicola Sheard Ginny Oakley Julie Nicholson

Published By MCL PUBLISHING

4 ............ Horse talk 6 ............ Le er scene 8 ............ Cu ng corners 10.......... New on the scene 12 .......... It all makes sense 14 .......... Token frenzy... collect your 3rd token!

.............. Subscribe to Horse Scene

16 .......... A day in the life of Sarah Stre on 18.......... WIN a pack of Vetrofen & Vetroﬂex 20 ........ The musical story - The Pas Seul 22 ........ WIN A Bag of Equilibra 500+ 24 ........ Banish mud fever 28 ........ Is your horse ea ng too much? 32 ........ Moving up a level 34 ........ Gastric ulcers - the hidden problem 36 ........ WIN...Giveaways up for grabs! 39 ........ Christmas gi guide 48 ........ Equestrian balance therapy 50 ........ WIN A Trailer Vision camera system 52 ........ Expert Q&A 56 ........ Tried & tested...read our reviews 58 ........ Back to basics part 1 62 ........ Choosing bedding and yard products 66 ........ Tack room break

Cl P in ro ica ve lR nb es y ea rc h

© MCL Publishing all contents are copyright. All rights are reserved. No part of this publica on may be copied, stored or transmi ed in any form without prior wri en permission from the publisher. Whilst every eﬀort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted however caused. Contributed material does not necessarily reﬂect the opinion of the publishers. The Editorial policy and general layout of this publica on are at the discre on of the publisher. No responsibility can be accepted for ar cles, photographs or illustra ons whilst in transmission with the publishers.

Inside this issue...

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Horsetalk APASSIONATA - the magic returns

Have you become a fan of Horse Scene’s Page yet?

If not, your missing out on

Competitions & Giveaways Up to date news Gossip & discussions ...and much more The interna onally renowned horse spectacular makes a drama c and welcome return to London’s O2 Arena. The NEW show with over 40 horses plays on Saturday 21st of January at 2.30pm & 7.30pm.

A stunning and beau ful show, APASSIONATA combines a horse’s natural elegance and nobility with the ﬁnest equestrianship, exhilara ng stunts and touching music sung by an opera singer. This is a thrilling, theatrical event where everything from the courageous to the compassionate and from the complex to the comic is observed. See the skillful agility and athle cism of the classic Cossack riders and their horses as well as the mesmerizing simplicity and discipline of a horse whisperer’s talents. From Shetland ponies to Friesian horses, over 40 horses have been drawn together from throughout Europe to create this evoca ve and emo onal show. Intertwining so many of a horse’s tradi onal abili es with light, dance and music means that APASSIONATA is a show for all the family to enjoy. The powerful, world-wide language that exists between man and horse is inspira onal and amazing to witness. “One of the world’s greatest equestrian shows” The Times “A unique theatrical experience” Daily Express. Ticket prices range from £27 for children and £39 for adults. For ckets contact 0871 6207056 or for more informa on visit www.apassionata.co.uk

4 HorseScene

Join us today and become part of our on-line team

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Represent Pink Equine in 2012 Are you a dedicated compe tor who is looking for a chance to shine? Could you sparkle in the saddle for Pink Equine? The team at Pink Equine are opening up the stable doors to three talented compe tors in a year long sponsorship deal that is guaranteed to dazzle the opposi on! Aﬃliated eventers, show jumpers and dressage riders are invited to apply for the Pink Equine 2012 Sponsorship deal by ﬁlling in the online form at www.pinkequine.com and showing their commitment to the brand. Once applica ons have been submi ed Pink Equine would like to see a taste of what entrants can do for them. Applicants are expected to demonstrate their dedica on to Pink Equine by being ac ve on their Facebook wall and keeping them updated on progress to prove that they are a worthy candidate.

A er December 31st 2011 three ﬁnalists from each discipline will be selected and posted on the website and then it will be down to Pink Equine fans and customers as to who will receive the sponsorship. The people with the most votes at the end of the closing date will be crowned the Pink Equine Sponsored Riders for 2012. The successful candidates will receive a £400 voucher to spend on Pink Equine equipment. Then if they con nue to demonstrate dedica on to the brand, with blogs, updates, videos and promo on of Pink Equine, they will be rewarded with the op on to add products up to a value of £150 every 3 months to their Pink Equine kit. In addi on to this each rider will be given a unique discount code to give to their friends.

Bringing expertise to your door Would you like to be able to talk to someone about feeding? Is your horse’s diet balanced and supplying him with the correct nutri on or do you need help with feed related problems?

yards with 12 horses or more. The yard service is open to both exis ng and poten al new clients.

To ﬁnd out more about organising a visit to your yard contact the Mul ple AwardWinning Helpline on 01845 565030 or visit www.topspec.com

The TopSpec team of experienced nutri onists and equine advisors will be happy to provide friendly advice at your yard, tailored to your individual horse or pony. TopSpec now has ﬁve weighbridges available with their free yard service covering the whole of the UK, as part of their commitment to providing the very best advice in equine nutri on. A TopSpec nutri onist and/or equine advisor can visit your yard to oﬀer experienced advice when it comes to feeding and managing horses and ponies of all types. Owners are provided with individual diet plans for each horse during the visit with the weighbridge, where required, provided at

HorseScene 5

letterscene

Write to: Le er Scene, Horse Scene Magazine, The Old Tannery, 224 Spen Lane, Gomersal, Cleckheaton BD19 4PJ or email: le ers@horsescenemagazine.co.uk

The Starletter will win a pair of

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What does your horse want? I, like probably most other horse owners like to make sure my horse is dressed in warm snug rugs and is tucked up in a warm stable every night over winter, but this is some mes not what your horse might want. Last year, my mare would rear up every me when stabled and she has damaged the roof in the stable. I couldn't go in the stable without her trying to bite or spinning around with her ears pinned. Eventually the penny dropped with me that this was just not the life for her, so I bought a shelter and I le her out last winter. She was no problem at all, she turned back in to the loving and relaxed mare I know and she is much happier. Stabling in winter is not every horses dream of a nice life so please take in to considera on that the life you think your horse might/should want is not necessarily what they want. Keeley Mclane

Why are breeders carrying on?

Hotshot

I recently accompanied my friend to a horse sale in wales, where hundreds of foals were awai ng their des ny. In the bidding ring, some of them were not even ge ng a £5 bid which ques ons the fact as to why breeders are s ll breeding lots of foals every year. Horses and ponies are not selling in the current climate, so why do these breeders con nue to breed when some of them can not even sell them for £5. It totally baﬄes me and I would be interested to know what other readers think on this ma er. Anne Lo house

This is me and my horse ''Unique Vision'' riding for the ﬁrst me out in a year due to an injury. Sent in by Amie Webb

Want to be next months HOT SHOT? send your picture to hotshot@horsescenemagazine.co.uk

Star letter Changes for ponies I am lucky enough to own a beau ful 2 year old new forest x welsh filly called Fleur; she is beau ful and intelligent, with such a fun, extroverted personality that she always makes me smile even at the end of a hard day. Although I love horses there is something about ponies, especially the na ve types, which I find irresis ble! A er breaking her in next year I'd always hoped to be able to compete in fun, unaffiliated show jumping classes at my local equestrian centre and riding clubs. However, much to my disappointment, this is not possible. In affiliated and unaffiliated dressage, adults can ride ponies which is fantas c, if you enjoy dressage (which I don't)! Endurance and Trec are great op ons for adult pony riders but sadly these events do not seem to happen in my area, therefore for people such as myself who lack transport, compe ng in these disciplines is not a viable op on. As a child I successfully competed in show jumping on a 15.2hh horse as a senior (against adults), now I am an adult myself and own a pony I will not be allowed to compete in jumping as the rules of my local compe ons s pulate ponies can only be ridden by juniors. Ok, maybe it would be unfair for a 25 year old to be compe ng in a class against children, but then why not let me compete on my pony as a senior, against other adults? If I wanted to affiliate I could register my pony as a “horse” and compete as a senior, so why is it not possible to do this in unaffiliated compe ons? I just want to have fun with my pony, affilia on is not something I aspire to or can afford. The a tude of others can be quite disheartening too, at a horsemanship clinic recently the Instructor took one look at my girl and said "you'll look so silly riding her, you'll have to sell her on". Prior to this I was prac cally laughed out of the show ring in 2008 when entering my ex loan pony in a working hunter class. In other countries such as Iceland, the na ve pony barely reaches 14hh yet the norm is for grown men to ride them and no one bats an eyelid! I would love to see a change in a tudes in the UK and an end to what I feel is discrimina on, however it seems that this is a long way off. Miriam Salameh - Selby

Cutting corners? Improve your turns this winter

With the winter here and hacking some mes limited why not plan me in the arena to improve on some basic schooling... star ng with your corners. There are usually two reasons for cu ng corners, the rider is a novice who has never been taught how to steer through them correctly, or an experience rider who has let bad habits creep in. The horse, on the other hand, maybe unschooled or s ﬀ and thus takes the easier op on.

Are you cu ng corners? Anyone with basic riding skills can easily improve their cornering technique. If the horse is ﬁt and can perform a balanced trot on circles of less than 20 meters in diameter, accurate corners can usually be achieved within a few weeks. Warm your horse up ﬁrst for several minutes, then ride around the arena on the rail, taking the same line on the corners as usual. A er a round or two, move to the inside of your track and look at the hoof points around the corners. Ask your self these ques ons, is the arc too wide? Could I have kept more to the rail a li le longer on the approach to the corner and made a ghter turn? If the answer to both is yes, there is room for improvement.

8 HorseScene

Lets improve them Take your horse back on to the track, pick a corner and plan to ride it a couple of strides deeper than last me before making the actual turn. Do it at walk ini ally to give yourself extra me to think about what your doing and choose the correct line for the curve. Never go so far in to the corner that the only way to complete the turn is by making a desperate tug with the reins, it defeats the objec ve and is very bad riding. The turn must always be comfortable for your horse and in propor on to his size and current level of athle c ability. Riding a corner is really nothing more than making a quarter turn, and the aids for turning are one of the ﬁrst things we learn as beginners. When your horse is tracking right, your right hand controls the bend and direc on, and your inside leg applied near the girth keeps the forward impulsion. Your outside le hand controls the pace and balance, and the corresponding leg, when lightly applied behind the girth stops the hind quarters from swinging out. Don't start the exercise un l your horse is tro ng ac vely and really using himself. When the pace is relaxed and steady, aim to do one complete pass around the arena riding all four corners a few strides deeper than normal.

Mental cue One vital ingredient to success is the riders mind. Try thinking ''turn'' rather than ''corner''. When the last stride has been reached on the straight, say ''yes'' to yourself, and turn, as if mentally turning 90 degrees. Imagine that your hips and pelvis are actually steering the horse rather than your legs and hands. This can have a very posi ve effect on some horses. It may also be helpful to think of the inside leg as the pivot around which your horse will be turned. To re-enforce this, a firm push with the outside leg at the girth when making the turn can help achieve a fluid movement, you will feel that your horse is turning around your inside leg.

Did your horse find it difficult? If your horse found the exercise difficult your horse may be a novice, unfit, s ff on one side (as most horses are) or in extreme cases there maybe some physical condi on that needs professional a en on. Your horse may also have been a vic m of ‘following the original track’. If your arena is heavily used a definite groove o en gets warn in to the track where previous horses have gone round on the rail. This deep indenta on is unlikely to have accurate corners, as most riders are prone to cu ng them. Horses love to use this well trampled groove. Some mes its difficult to avoid this on the straight due to space restric ons, but never let it ruin the corners. Obviously, the horse may have to step out of the groove for a few strides when the corner needs to be ghter, and some of them just hate loosing there well worn guide. The answer is to ride asser vely with firm leg aids and give a light tap with a schooling whip if your horse slows or seems hesitant to step out of it.

Keep him supple Although a turn seems like a simple thing to us, its not quite so easy for our horses. Instead of being ver cal on two legs they are horizontal on four. With novice and s ff horses, it's best to get them supple with regular schooling sessions that involve plenty of circles and changes of direc on. Always aim to ride the corners posi vely, even if they are not very ght at first, its all part of the schooling process. A few gentle vibra ons with the fingers on the inside rein rather than a steady pull can help ini ate a bend with a novice horse. The outside rein contact should be eased slightly, but not given away, as this can unbalance the horse by allowing too much neck bend. If the hind quarters start to swing out, slide the outside leg back behind the girth and apply a li le pressure to correct it. Try not to suddenly kick with the outside leg, as your horse might think you are asking for canter. Never ask for too much at first, take the corners a li le wider and be content with that extra stride or two. Once your horse can achieve this, gradually ask for more un l the corners are being ridden as ghtly as possible. Above all, never prac se riding corners all through a schooling session or un l boredom sets in and remember to work in both direc ons. It is amazing how many riders seam to school there horse by working 2/3 of the me in one direc on and only a 1/3 in the other. Usually the horses s ff side is the one that gets neglected.

New

on the

Forget frozen fingers Having cold hands can be horribly uncomfortable which is why Ariat have created their toasty warm Insulated Tek Grip Gloves. Slim line and lightweight, they are made from a clever technical Polartec Wind Pro stretch fleece with a hard coa ng, which retains body heat to keep fingers warm and snug in cooler temperatures. To ensure prac cality in the saddle the Ariat Insulated Tek Grip Gloves feature a synthe c suede palm to promote grip and sensi vity, ar culated fingers for freedom of movement, reinforced stress points to maintain durability and a quick and easy non-snag adjustable Velcro closure. Available in Slate, Bark or Black and are priced around £33.50 For more informa on visit www.ariat-europe.com

Health and vitality

Do you want your horse or pony to be in the best of health, full of life and vitality? Fullolife has introduced a new range of nutri onal oil based supplements that includes Pure Cod Liver Oil, High Strength Joint Care and Soya Oil. Designed to help promote the best of health whilst providing a nutri onally formulated blend containing essen al nutrients and vitamins. Fullolife Pure Cod Liver Oil is a pure and natural condi oner that provides an excellent source of vitamins A and D, as well as polyunsaturates to help maintain good health, skin and coat. Fullolife High Strength Joint Care is a formula designed to help maintain supple and mobile joints ideal for both young and veteran horses. Fullolife Soya Oil is natural oil supplement to help promote healthy skin and a glossy coat. Containing Omega 6 fa y acids and a source of linolenic acid, it provides an excellent source of slow releasing, non-hea ng energy for essen al for improved stamina. For more informa on contact 01482 701271 or visit www.fullolife.co.uk

10 HorseScene

scene

Cool & balanced

Designed for horses and ponies that need extra condi on but no ‘ﬁzz’ and that are in light to medium work. A ‘Non-Hea ng,’ cereal-grain-free formula; with low levels of starch and sugar, plus good quality protein. It s mulates weight gain whilst delivering a formula that not only avoids exci ng horses but also includes ingredients that may reduce anxiety and help horses relax. Feeding TopSpec Cool Balancer improves the amount of nutrients that a horse can extract from his feed and because the horse can u lise more nutrients from forage the amount of concentrate that needs to be fed can be reduced. This beneﬁts diges on and is a more natural way of feeding, leading to a more relaxed horse. Available in15kg sacks, which last a 500kg horse for 30 days or a 250kg pony for 60 days. Priced around £22.50 (15kg) For more informa on visit www.topspec.com

Value at it’s best The Saxon 1200 Combo Heavy oﬀers great value protec on with 300g of polyﬁll. Made from a strong 1200 denier polyester ripstop outer, which is fully waterproof and breathable, full 210T Nylon lining, low cross surcingles, adjustable leg straps and the combo design helps provide maximum protec on. Available in Navy/Chutney in sizes 5’67’0. Priced around £69.99 Available from all leading saddlery stores.

Feed like clockwork The ingenious Bosworth Automa c Horse Feeder allows you to have complete control of your horse’s feed me when it is inconvenient to be on hand. Combining style with strength and durability, it is both simple to install and operate and a removable bucket that holds up to 13 litres of food makes cleaning easy. Powered by a 12V ba ery which is included, providing complete ﬂexibility of loca on. The feeder has proved great for elderly, ill and lamini c horses who beneﬁt from smaller or extra feeds. Thoroughly tested in both the UK and Switzerland since 2009, this is one new product invaluable to any stabled horse. Priced around £299 with free delivery. For more informa on visit www.bosworthdesigns.com

It all makes

sense The horses senses of sight, sound, smell, taste and touch have helped them survive in the wild for thousands of years and are extremely important. If you are aware of what these senses do and how they work, you will have a better chance of understanding your horse, making owning and training more pleasurable.

Sight Sight is the most important sense to a horse as it is used to look for danger and means the diﬀerence between life and death. The horses eyes are set mainly on the sides of his face and he has mostly monocular vision. He can see a diﬀerent image with each eye and they have nearly 360 degrees of vision. They also have binocular vision, which means they can judge how far away things are.

Horses have two blind spots, one in front and one behind. which is why you should never creep up on a horse from behind!. The lens of the eye does not change shape to focus as the human eye does instead the horse changes his head posi on to change his focus. The top part of the eye picks up long range vision, so a horse will hold his head up high to focus on distant objects, while the lower part of the eye picks up close vision, so the horse will lower his head to look at something close.

12 HorseScene

Horses can detect a ny movement from a great distance, but they do not have super ﬁne focus up close. Cells within the horses eye are light sensi ve and allow the horse to see at night, so don't worry if you are riding in dim light – they can see! Although it seems horses can diﬀeren ate between colours (especially blue and red), it is generally thought they have poor colour vision.

“Horses can see a diﬀerent image with each eye and they have nearly 360 degrees of vision”

Sound

Touch

Smell

The horses sense of hearing is extremely powerful, a quiet rustle in the grass can have an en re herd galloping to the other side of the ﬁeld. Horses can hear sounds up to approximately 4,400 metres away in comparison, most humans can only hear sounds 300 feet away and dogs only have the ability to hear sounds 1,320 feet away. Generally the ears show where the horse is looking and they can rotate to more than a 180degrees. They pick up every sound from all direc ons, before they can even see it.

The horses skin is uniquely sensi ve, even the slightest touch of a ﬂy causes the skin to twitch. The upper lip is used for touching, feeling and li ing objects in order to inves gate them and, they can feel what mood you are in whether it be happy, frightened, angry or sad. The equine sense of touch is an important (although o en overlooked) element to the horse. Although many people think that horses have a tough hide, they really don't. Their skin is tougher than our human epidermis, but it is s ll rich with nerve endings. Horses use their touch to communicate with other herd members, by mutual grooming and it is the horses resonance to touch that also allows us to ride them, by applying and releasing pressure, as the horses natural ins nct is to yield to pressure. Without the sense of touch, it would be extremely diﬃcult to use the horse to ride. Humans can also use touch to convey messages to the horse. A gentle rub down, a pat on the shoulder, a vigorous massage in just the right place — these are all ways of saying, "I'm your friend" to a horse.

Like most nonhuman animals, horses have an acute sense of smell that they regularly employ to provide them with informa on on what is going on around them. Horses use their sense of smell in a number of diﬀerent and important ways. Horses trap incoming smells and analyse them, sending messages to the brain. They can detect smells that humans can not and they can even sense good water from bad. Smell allows the horse to iden fy a member of the herd and it is important par cularly to mares and stallions in the breeding season. In reac on to certain smells, horses some mes exhibit what is called the 'Fleming response'. When doing this the horse raises his nose in the air and curls up his top lip in order to smell as much of the scent as possible. Stallions o en do this when smelling the urine of a mare to see if she is ready to mate.

If you look at the shape of the horse's ear, you can see that it's built sort of like a funnel. With this design, the ear can capture sound in its outer part and channel it down into the ear canal. The broad outer part of the horse's ear very adequately takes in the slightest sound in the horse's environment. Using very mobile ears, horses constantly monitor the world around them. Just imagine trying to pay complete a en on to different sounds coming in to either ear at the same me. Impossible for a human, yet the horse does this on a steady basis. A horse can take in the sounds of a car driving by, children playing, a bird chirping and a human approaching, all at once, from different places in the environment. The horse then processes that informa on and makes split second decisions about whether to react — all while picking out the best blades of pasture grass or meandering down a rocky trail. The process really is mindblowing. You can also tell how your horse is feeling from his ears, if his ears are pinned back he's probably angry, frighted or in pain, if his ears are pricked forward he is startled or interested, if he has one ear forward and one ear sideways he is generally listening to you. Horses can also dis nguish the difference in the tone of your voice, he will know if you are speaking to him in a happy tone or a not so happy tone. This is why the voice aid is used when training horses and must not be underes mated – pay a en on to your horses ears they can tell you alot!

“Horses pick up every sound from all direc ons, before they can even see it“

“Without the sense of touch, it would be extremely diﬃcult to use the horse to ride”

“Horses trap incoming smells and analyse them, sending messages to the brain”

Taste While not as important as other senses (some horses may not agree), an equines sense of taste is well developed and is closely related to his sense of smell. Horses always smell their food ﬁrst before tas ng to check what it is and will spit out bi er tas ng food as they prefer sweet and salty tastes. Their choices are based on taste and texture and they will usually avoid toxic plants. Anyone who has ever had to orally medicate a horse knows he can taste the medicine, when the feed is not le untouched. So, if you need to give oral medica on, try mixing them with something sweet like apple sauce or molasses to tempt them.

“Horses prefer sweet and salty tastes and choices are based on taste and texture”

HorseScene 13

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A day in the life of

Eventer Sarah Stretton Animal farm As soon as the light starts fading away I know it’s almost home me, but I have just two more things to do. Finish oﬀ my horses and put them to bed and feed our cows. Yes, I also have cows!. My dad and I currently have 42 calves, my nickname is currently milkmaid! So when I just think my day is ﬁnished, and the nice warm house and a lovely cup of tea awaits I remember that my day is not done!

Socialising I always make enough me for socialising. With having such a busy lifestyle it can be very easy to struggle to ﬁnd me to see my friends, but I make sure that it is never a struggle for me. TGI Fridays is always a massive hit but on the odd occasion I have a day oﬀ, I can be spo ed doing a range of ac vi es including sledging in the winter and water skiing in the summer.

My day to day routine can vary depending upon what yards I need to visit and what part of the season we are in. At the moment my horses are based at Vicarage Farm, which is only 5 minutes down the road from my house. I currently have 3 horses in work stabled at Vicarage Farm and my other young horses and eventers are on holiday at home.

The horses The horses currently in work are Arturo nickname Derek, he is an intermediate eventer but this year, he didn't want to play out on the cross country course. It’s a shame but, horses have their own brains and it’s my job to work them out so, I have decided to do some show jumping and hun ng this winter and hopefully this will get his brain back on the right track. Capello nickname Aaron is a new horse to my string; he is 4 years old and from Poland. He is a really smart horse who has come from a dressage yard so it is now my job over the winter to educate him in all areas with the thought of the BYEH qualiﬁers and young horse classes next season. The third horse is Do y, she is a sales horse that myself and Ruth have together. She is 6 years old and has done a li le bit of dressage and show jumping. She is a cracking stamp of a horse with huge poten al. We'll be taking her out to do some BSJA and hunter trials so she has some more knowledge before we think about selling her.

16 HorseScene

With a number of horses at diﬀerent yards my car is pre y much my tack room, obviously I ride all my compe on horses in my Bates saddles, so I have to remember which saddle to take over on various days. So far I haven’t forgo en yet!

Riding & training If possible I always try to ride my own horses in the morning, which means it is one less thing to ﬁt in to the a ernoons. Ruth, the owner of Vicarage Farm and myself o en ride together and help with fences etc so I suppose it’s a rou ne which we are both used to and it works well. The a ernoons are taken up by travelling to various yards throughout Warwickshire. At some of the yards I school the horses for the owners while they are away at work whilst others are my event and dressage horses which I am usually preparing for up-coming compe ons. By about 4pm I usually start making my teaching rounds. I do a huge amount of teaching especially in the evenings and once the even ng season starts to quieten down this usually spreads into most weekends as well.

On the odd occasion I hav e a day oﬀ, I love to go water skiing

This is of course just one day, I regularly go BSJA and BD with various horses as well as lessons for myself and mee ng up with some of my sponsors including Bates Saddles so a very well planned diary is the key, however plans do regularly change but that’s horses and as long as everyone is ﬂexible and communicate I always manage to get everything done. Sponsored by

WIN

Vetrofen & Vetroﬂex Pack Each winner will win 1 x Vetrofen 21 Sachet Pack & 1 x Vetroﬂex 2kgs

3 packs up for grabs!

What is Vetrofen... Vetrofen is a proprietary blend of the plant extracts Scutellaria baicalensis and Acacia catechu, clinically proven to assist the bodies’ inflammatory response and an oxidant proper es. Vetrofen works by suppor ng the dietary balance of the metabolic processes involved in maintaining joint comfort rather than simply focusing on the symptoms. This approach is in sharp contrast to masking symptoms with the use of chemical alterna ves. Vetrofen can be used in acute cases, long-term and in tandem with Vetroflex. Both contain 100% natural pure ac ve ingredients for maximum effec veness with no fillers, no banned substances, safe for long term use with no side effects.

What is Vetroflex.... Vetroflex is a proprietary blend of specially op mised collagen pep des, clinically proven to s mulate the growth of new joint car lage cells counterac ng wear-and-tear effects on joints brought about by injury, ageing and the ac ve lifestyle. Vetroflex works by protec ng car lage and synovial fluid against deteriora on, whilst s mula ng the car lage cells to produce more collagen and proteoglycans. Vetroflex has the same amino acid composi on as collagen and supplies the amino acids such as glycine and proline, important for the synthesis of collagen. Vetroflex supports strong flexible and healthy joints whilst providing regenera on of joint car lage in areas of weakness or damage. Vetroflex offers regenera on as opposed to degenera on which is something quite extraordinary, now offering significant benefits over tradi onal Glucosamine or Chondroi n blends to enhance and prolonging your horse ac ve lifestyle now and for the future of your ac ve or ageing horse.

Why feed them together? Use Vetrofen to maintain the body’s inflammatory response associated with the s ffness and arthri s common with old age and, if needed, in parallel with Vetroflex to strengthen and protect the joint now and for the future whilst regenera ng the joint car lage where damage has occurred, therefore reducing the likelihood of the swelling and s ffness in the first place or in the case of hard ground just simply taking it in their stride.

How to enter: Send your name, full address and contact telephone number on a postcard to: Horse Scene Magazine, The Old Tannery, 224 Spen Lane, Gomersal, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, BD19 4PJ or email your entry to win@horsescenemagazine.co.uk Closes: November 27th 2011. See full T&Cs on our website.

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A Musical Story THE PAS SEUL ‘The Pas Seul’ is a unique music competition that tells a theatrical story, does it sound interesting? We thought so, which is why we have asked Ginny Oakley, a Side Saddle Association Panel Judge and Instructor to explain more about this musical story telling competition…. What is the ‘Pas Seul’? The Pas Seul is a unique music compe on where the horse and rider tell a story. Theatrically based this compe on offers a new dimension to “Dressage to Music”. Indeed it is far from a normal dressage to music class. The rider and the horse must act out and tell a story within the allo ed me. Costumes, on both horse and rider are required to set a scene and with the clever use of props, either on or off the horse, a true picture emerges. The first task is to find a theme, many use musicals, but some of the best are worked around a basic idea for example a person or episode in history. The music must be chosen carefully as it must not only help in telling the story but also fit to the horses foot fall. Compe tors are allowed to submit a precise of the story they are about to tell to set the scene to the judges and the audience which is read out prior to the start of their programme. The use of props and ac ng are essen al as this is not designed as a fancy dress to music show! Compe tors may have two un mounted helpers and sta c props. These however need to be moved in and out of the arena quickly so must not be too big or heavy. The use of helpers and props can really add to the whole performance. The other way of enhancing the programme is to have props on the horse that can be shown and used as the programme unfolds. Many have been seen removing ar cles of clothing! A large cloak is a wonderful cover for an ou it beneath that takes the story to its next stage.

20 HorseScene

The Pas Seul has been around for many years and indeed the Side Saddle Associa on has had a class of this type since the 1980’s. More recently the Pas Seul has made a big come back at the Side Saddle Associa on Na onal Show where the Rococo Memorial Class invites the juniors to have a go and the Caro Cripps Memorial Class has become an Interna onal gala evening performance for the seniors. It has proved to be so popular that it has become one of the biggest classes at this pres gious three day show. Pas Seuls can be found at shows around the country and may be ridden astride or side saddle depending on the rules stated by the organising body. It is hard work but so much fun!

What the judges are looking for Judges are looking for harmony between horse and rider and entertainment value. The over all picture must be pleasing to the eye and most of all the theme must be apparent regarding the costume and the music. Scoring is worked on a 40/60 ra o. 40% of marks are given by Judge 1. This will include the way of going of the horse, the harmony between horse and rider and the

correctness of the movements that have been performed. Higher level movements may be performed but unless correct will not always gain higher marks. 60% of marks are given by Judge 2.This includes marks for the music and how it enhances the story that is being told. Marks for the suitability to the horses foo alls are also included. The costume is also judged on how it enhances the theme and relates to the story being depicted. The entertainment value is also important.

Training The training is the same for any horse on the flat. They need to be working at Novice level BD and able to stay balanced as the rider does the "ac ng" part. Training needs to be intricate and well thought out. It is really not a great idea to ride for the first me in your full costume on the day of the class to discover that your horse is terrified of it, remember there may be mirrors, or that part of your clothing comes un done when it is not required to do so! Your horse also needs to be well accustomed to both your helpers and sta c props and not jumpy or worried by the props that you may wish to use when aboard. As with all theatre produc ons, prac ce makes perfect!

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orse h G I B r u Keep yo nug this winter s warm & Do you have a heavy, draft, big, broad horse? Do you struggle to find rugs to fit? Is last years rug a little snug? Has your horse gained a few pounds over the summer? Does it look like a mini skirt? If you answered yes to any of these, The Big Horse Shop can help. The Big Horse Shop has designed a range of horse rugs especially for the heavier equine, from Chunky Cobs up to the Biggest Shire. Heavy Horses have a very different build to other horses, they are generally short coupled with broader, deeper bodies and most manufacturers don't seem to don't cater for this type of horse or pony. One of the rugs in the range is the 'Epic Stable Rug', a medium weight stable rug that features a circle quilted design, 600 denier polyester outer with a warm 250gram filling. Designed for the bigger proportions of the chunkier horse & pony, other features include twin buckles, quick release chest straps, a deeper body, extra large shoulder gussets, a large tail flap and low cross surcingles. Available in sizes 6’0 & 6’3 (Draft fit) in Black/Red and 6’6 - 7’6 in Blue/Red. Priced at just £69.99! To view the full range visit www.thebighorseshop.co.uk

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Are you looking for the ultimate winter adventure combining skiing and snow activities with your passion of riding? Look no further, Top50Ranches.com showcase a number of ranches that have it all and will certainly be a once in a lifetime trip! Visit Triple Creek Ranch in Montana, they specialize in families with teens. At C Lazy U Ranch in Colorado, you can have great fun tubing, sledding, snowmobiling, or if you fancy something a little slower try cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, or winter ice fishing. Bar W Guest Ranch in Montana offers cross-country skiing in the breathtaking Glacier National Park. Stay in the comforts of Tod Mountain Ranch, British Columbia, Canada, with homemade meals and enjoy ski and snowshoe activities nearby at Sun Peaks Ski Resort. Snowshoe in Yellowstone National Park right past elk and moose with a trip to Lone Mountain Guest Ranch, Montana. The Ranch at Rock Creek, Montana, is a guest ranch that achieves the perfect balance between invigorating exercise and relaxing tranquillity. Discover the serenity and joy of a winter escape at Echo Valley Ranch & Spa, Canada and touch the magic of a Cariboo wonderland with our Winter Getaway. If skiing is your family’s passion, Latigo Ranch, Colorado offers Nordic ski lessons and use of 60 kilometres of Nordic ski trails, most of which, guests will have to themselves! If this has got you yearning for a once in a lifetime winter getaway, visit www.top50ranches.com to find your ideal trip with that personal touch!

WIN A Bag of Equilibra 500 + Omega 3 The ONLY feed balancer you will ever need! 10 Lucky winners will each win themselves 10 bags 1 bag of the New Equilibra 500 + Omega 3 up for feed balancer which, has all the key grabs! beneﬁts of the old product, with the extra advantage of highly beneﬁcial Omega 3 to further support op mum health, fer lity and performance. It is also a Non-GM soya free formula on. www.gwfnutri on.com

How to enter: This compe on can only be entered on the ‘’Horse Scene Magazine Facebook Page’’. Come and join us and be in with a chance to win this fantas c prize.

H S I BAN

Mud FEVER Mud fever is one of those conditions which is guaranteed to make any equines life a misery. Here, we look at some of the products on the market that can help treat the condition and prevent it for the future.

Lincoln Muddy Buddy The Lincoln Muddy Buddy Range consists of Muddy Buddy Powder, Muddy Buddy Ointment, Muddy Buddy Scrub, Magic Mud Kure Powder and Magic Mud Kure Cream. Use the Muddy Buddy Powder for mass coverage over vulnerable areas, the heavy duty Muddy Buddy Ointment can be used for more localised applica on, and at the end of the day Muddy Buddy Scrub can be used to hygienically clean any aďŹ&#x20AC;ected areas. New to the range is the Magic Mud Kure Powder and Cream, both scien ďŹ cally proven to kill the bacteria responsible for mud fever. Use the powder during the ini al painful stages and use the cream when the severity of the condi on has eased. www.ba les.co.uk/lincoln

24 HorseScene

Robinson Animal Healthcare Help prevent mud fever this winter with a range of products from Robinson Animal Healthcare. Ac v Wash is a mild, an bacterial cleanser which gently removes scabs and debris caused by mud fever or rain scald. Available in a 500 ml bo le, it can be easily applied with a damp sponge. For best results, apply Veterinary Gamgee a er you have washed and dried the area to absorb any excess moisture and keep legs warm and dry. Equiwrap self-adhering bandages secures the Veterinary Gamgee in place and provides extra support. Available in many diďŹ&#x20AC;erent colours, this strong elas cated crepe bandage is easy to use and comes in single rolls. www.robinsonhealthcare.com

Fabtek Solu ons

Nomad 18V Portable Washer

Fabtek Solu ons provide products to help treat and prevent issues caused by the bacteria in the mud. The company’s Mudtek and Meditek Silver Wound Dressing ranges contain Zorflex , an an bacterial fabric with silver, which has undergone studies and proven effec ve against many types of bacteria including Dermatophilus Congolensis. It works by drawing the bacteria towards it and holding them in the fabric un l they die. The Mudtek range of bandage pads, pastern wraps and stable boots can be used to help maintain a healthy environment (i.e, when there is no open wound). The close fit gives the Zorflex the greatest opportunity to work, whilst s ll being comfortable for the horse to wear. All products in the Mudtek range are for indoor use, washable and reusable. www.fabteksolu ons.com

More eﬀec ve than a hosepipe, more useful than a bucket and handier than a tradi onal horse shower. The Nomad 18 V Cordless portable washer will clean and cool your horse as well as being suitable for lots of other equestrian jobs. The detachable tank holds as much water as a full bucket, only there is no waste. Instead, the Nomad’s pump and op mally designed spray gun delivers enough water pressure to clean mud or clay oﬀ your horse, or a lighter spray that’s perfect for showering. You can use cool, warm or iced water and being about the size of a cool box, it’s small enough to keep in a corner of a trailer, lorry or in the boot of a car. The Nomad uses a removable professional rechargeable power tool type ba ery, with enough charge to run non stop for up to 40 minutes, so no electric on site is required. The versa lity of the Nomad is what makes it a unique piece of equipment every horse owner should invest in. So, if you have an equine with mud fever but you don’t have water on site to clean your horses legs, then the Nomad is the perfect choice. www.nomad.com

Original M-T-G

Equilibrium Equi-Chaps

Original M-T-G has been providing quick and eﬀec ve relief from numerous skin ailments since 1938! Originally formulated for human skin condi ons such as Psoriasis, this safe and easy to use product is the only one needed for relief from a variety of bacterial and fungal skin problems, such as : Mud Fever Rain Scald Sweet Itch, as well as Dry Skin and Tail/Mane Rubbing. Original M-T-G provides results a er just one applica on! Formulated to eliminate the causa ve agent crea ng the skin problem, it condi ons the skin and hair around the damaged area, promo ng both healthy skin and maximum hair growth. In fact, Original M-T-G has proven to work excep onally well promo ng hair growth. www.shinyshowhorse.co.uk

Based on the premise that preven on is be er than cure where mud fever is concerned, Equi-Chaps provide a simple idea that has helped to improve the welfare of countless horses. The Equi-Chaps Close Contact chaps come well down over the hoof and heel area, helping to protect the skin in these vulnerable areas. They ﬁt like a second skin and help to keep the horse’s legs dry and mud free.

26 HorseScene

Made of Stomatex, Equi-Chaps Close Contact Chaps are extremely ﬂexible and breathable, so can be worn for long periods of me with minimum risk of rubbing. The radical new fabric acts to actually repel water, keeping the horse’s legs drier and providing incomparable levels of protec on from the destruc ve eﬀects of mud and moisture. www.equilibriumproducts.com

Is your horse eating too much? Zoe Davies MSc.Eq.S.

It is common knowledge that in the UK we tend to overfeed our horses and many horses and ponies are overweight. Probably one of the main reasons for this is that we o en fail to take into account the calorie contribu on of pasture and conserved forage such as hay and haylage. Another reason is that we think horses are using up more calories than they actually are, when working.

28 HorseScene

Luckily there is a tool we can use to monitor calories in/calories used and that is the horses’ bodyweight. Healthy horses will put on weight if they consume too many calories compared to what they are using up through living, working breeding etc. Nature encourages this and in mes of plenty in summer for example, horses lay down extra calories in the form of fat stores to help see them through harsher mes ahead when food is scarcer in the winter. However in reality this lack of food does not happen because we o en feed too much conserved forage and hard feed! This all leads to a tendency to gain weight, par cularly for horses and ponies with any “na ve” genes, almost year on year and this can become a chronic problem, o en resul ng in health issues. Researchers have now shown that this excess fat (or adipose) ssue is actually highly metabolically ac ve. The fat cells known as adipocytes start to release several biologically ac ve substances including cytokines, which then have an effect on glucose and fat metabolism. For example, one substance known as adiponec n impacts on insulin sensi vity and signalling. When present in excess they can lead to insulin resistance, which in turn can result in lamini s. In addi on these substances put these horses and ponies in a low grade chronic inflammatory state. So to summarise horses and ponies pu ng on a small amount of weight and then losing it are not really a problem, its when this weight gain is excessive over a long period, that chronic health problems can ensue. Typical chronically overweight horses o en have fa y sheaths, cresty necks, peach bo oms and fat pockets over the eyes and they need to be put on a diet to reduce the risk of o en severe health problems. Regardless of the health issues, overweight horses and ponies are more inclined to be lethargic par cularly in the warmer summer months. They o en “lack energy” and when their weight is reduced they can regain their natural sparkle and find work less of an effort.

How to assess bodyweight Most horse owners just use their “eye”, probably the most inaccurate assessment of all! The most accurate method is a weighbridge or portable weighing scales, but these are not o en available. Researchers at Auburn University have recently shown the most accurate method a er the weighing scales is to use a formula based upon heart girth and body length from point of shoulder to point of bu ock, known as the point measurement. The girth measurement is taken right around the barrel just behind the elbow and and about one inch from the highest point of the withers. All you need is a tape measure and a calculator!

Condi on scoring There seems to be some confusion amongst horse owners as to the defini on of “good” condi on in horses. Weighing the horse will give you an accurate idea of the horses’ weight at the me but what about condi on? Some horses and ponies may look fat around the belly area or “tummy” but also at the same me, look quite ribby and lean along the top line. This does not mean that the horse or pony is in good condi on, in fact, the reverse is o en the case. Horses and ponies may have a fat tummy because of other factors such as previous pregnancies (Mums know all about this!), or feeding poor quality forage. Feeding poor quality i.e. over mature forage will result in the typical hay belly, where indiges ble fibrous material sits around in the hindgut for many days. This type of forage does not bring much nutri on with it and so o en horses and ponies use up fat from their stores instead. Some horses may also appear tucked up along the tummy area and this may be as a result of dehydra on. To help horse owners assess the actual condi on of their horse or pony, a very handy management tool in the form of condi on scoring was developed. Some condi on score tables vary from 1-5 and others from 19. Either is fine. This allows you to assess the rela ve amount of body fat without calculators, weighing scales or weigh tapes. Condi on scoring simply assesses visually and by gentle touch, the amount of body fat covering par cular points of the horses’ skeleton, for example the point of hips, bu ocks, spine, ribs, neck and so on. Although, some of these areas may also be heavily muscled, such as the hindquarters and tail head, with a li le prac ce and light prodding of the area, the difference between muscle and fat can easily be ascertained. It may be used for all horses and ponies no ma er how fit or unfit they are. It also does not take into account gut fill (or fat tummies) as men oned above. This therefore makes it an accurate method of assessing and monitoring a horse or pony’s condi on. There are many sites on the internet that show you how to accurately assess the body condi on score of your horse.

Areas where the horse stores fat

The point measurement gave the most accurate es mates, only underes ma ng bodyweights by an average of 17.25 kg (roughly 38 lbs) whereas the commercial weight tape gave the most inaccurate es mates, underes ma ng weights by an average of 65.81 kg (roughly 145 lbs)!

Bodyweight Estimation Formula Bodyweight (kg) = Heart girth (cm) squared x Body length (cm) 11,880

Bodyweight (lbs) = Heart girth(inches) squared x Body length (inches) 330 This calcula on is quite easy, with a calculator!

HorseScene 29

Body condi on scoring system As you complete each of the points here, refer to the condi on scoring table below to give your horse an accurate score for each area. Add up your total score and divide it by the number of areas you have scored. For example if you have scored five areas of your horse divide the total score by five. This will give you your horse's overall condi on score. 1. Feel along the top of your hose's neck and down to where the neck joins the shoulder. 2. Run your hands down both sides of the withers. 3. Con nue along the back, feeling for the spinous processes or fat on either side of the backbone. 4. Feel the quarters and tailhead for projec ng bones or fat deposits. 5. Press firmly around the ribcage to assess the fat overage over the ribs.

This table, adapted from Carroll and Hun ngdon 1988, shows you how to assign a condi on score to your horse Condi on

VERY POOR

Neck & Shoulder

Withers

Back & Loins

Hind Quarters

Ribs

Bone structure felt easily, no muscle shelf where neck meets the shoulder

Bone structure felt easily

Three points of vertebrae felt easily

Tailhead and hip bones projec ng

Each rib can be easily felt

POOR (eg some older horses with very poor den on etc)

Bone structure can be felt, slight shelf where neck meets shoulder

Bone structure can be felt

Spinous process can Can feel hip bones be easily felt, transverse processes have slight fat covering

Slight fat covering but hips can s ll be felt

MODERATE (eg mares milking towards the end of the grass season)

Fat covering over bone structure

Fat deposits over withers

Dependent upon conforma on

Hip bones covered with fat

Fat over spinous processes. Ribs are not visible but they can s ll be felt

GOOD (eg show condi on)

Neck ﬂows smoothly Neck rounds out of withers into shoulder

Back is level

Can't feel hip bones

Layer of fat over ribs

FAT (good-doer and increasing risk of lamini s)

Fat deposited along neck

Fat padded around withers

Posi ve crease along Can't feel hip bones the back

Fat spongy over and between the ribs

Bulging fat

Deep posi ve crease Pockets of fat

Pockets of fat

3 4 5

VERY FAT

Ideally, you should be aiming for a condi on score of between 2.5 and 3. Remember when you are condi on scoring that factors such as a long, thick coat and some conforma onal differences can make it difficult to apply certain criteria to a specific animal. Animals with prominent withers, those who are flat across the back and heavily in-foal mares (the weight of the foal pulls the skin ght over the ribs) may cause the body condi on score to appear lower than it really is.

Weight loss diet If you are feeding your horse too much, then its me to address the situa on by pu ng the horse on a slowly reducing weight loss diet. 1. First of all increase the exercise if possible, then remove concentrates (concentrated calories!) from the diet and replace with a good broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement or a low calorie balancer. This is important as maintaining op mum intake of vitamins and minerals is essen al. 2. Feed later cut meadow hay with a low level of water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) i.e. sugars of less than 12%, if possible and soak hay for 30 minutes (preferably in warm water ) or in cold water before feeding to remove as many residual soluble sugars as possible. 3. Calculate how much feed to give daily and feed 2% of the horses bodyweight as hay reducing to 1.5% if not losing weight. 4. Restrict access to pasture by using a muzzle or strip grazing or reduce me out at grass. 5. For severely overweight horses and ponies, temporarily stop all access to pasture, use grass free areas instead such as arenas un l a signiﬁcant reduc on in bodyweight has been achieved, but do not starve. In winter, this is easier as the pasture is less nutri ous and the colder months mean horses will use up more calories to stay warm, therefore don’t over rug. Horses and ponies will slowly lose weight and this will have untold health beneﬁts.

30 HorseScene

MOVING UP A LEVEL © Equiscot

Here our sponsored rider Nicola Sheard gives you top advice and ps on making the move to the next level.

Whatever discipline you compete in, moving up to the next level can be a challenging time for you and your horse. It sometimes can be a tough, disheartening, and demoralising experience resulting in poor marks and disappointment. However if you are correctly prepared with a plan in place to work towards you can skip all the heartache and instead progress with conﬁdence. When you are going out to compete and the jumps start to look smaller or your test isn’t challenging enough for you and your horse then it is probably time to start thinking about moving up a level.

Challenge yourself at home

Familiarise yourself at the next level

It is important to make sure that you are established at the next level within your training before moving up at a compe on, for example when training at home you should be jumping three or four inches higher than the compe on fences will be. Be realis c in your goals and push yourself at home ﬁrst before you think about pushing yourself in the ring. Nevertheless it is important to remember not to overlook anything in training, as a small problem can soon turn into a big one if not corrected.

Get yourself familiar with the next level by walking the courses in which you want to aim for. Study the course as if you were going to be taking part, consider the distances, height of fences and get the general feel for the course. If you like the look of it then have a go, however if there anything you don’t like the look of or aren’t sure of leave it for another day and instead go home and talk to your trainer about it. Discuss with your trainer what parts of the course you didn’t feel conﬁdent about and work out together why you were worried about them. With your trainer you can then prac se riding similar fences or distances away from the pressured environment of a compe on.

Don’t rush Don’t rush yourself and become too over faced, be realis c in your goals and take your me. Enjoy yourself and have fun where you are comfortable. Your trainer should be working together with you therefore make sure that they support your schedule and agrees that your goals are viable.

Top ps Don’t panic if you have to walk four, five or even more courses before you find the one you feel confident to try. There’s no pressure or me limit. Don’t over look anything in training. A small problem can turn into a big one if it is not corrected. Make sure you are established at the next level within your training before moving up. If something doesn’t go to plan, analyse your mistake and go back to basics to rebuild. Familiarise yourself at the next level before you compete. Be realis c in your goals.

32 HorseScene

on the

Vetscene

By Dr. Hans Delaunois-Vanderperren, DVM, CertEM(StudMed), CertEqSc, GespPD, MRCVS, DipEqSc

NORFOLK

EQUINE VETERINARY SERVICES

The Hidden Gastric ulcers severely under-diagnosed in Grade 2 EGUS: Small, single lesions on the Margo Plicatus

This means that EGUS can affect any type of horse and pony. Certain risk factors have been described such as diet, intensive exercise, physical stress/illness, psychological stress and medica on. Because most affected horses only show non-specific signs e.g. poor appe te, slowed ea ng ac vity, rough hair coat, weight loss, poor performance, poor condi on, colic, changes in behaviour, pain on girth ghtening, teeth grinding, difficulty swallowing, excessive saliva on or even no signs at all, it seems that we are only seeing the p of the iceberg.

What about the horse or pony only used on a recrea onal basis? A recent study looked into condi ons that are typical of recrea onal use of horses and their eﬀect on the stomach. Dr. McClure from Iowa State University (USA) and his co-workers devised an experimental protocol to mimic these condi ons. Twenty horses with no signs of ulcera on on gastroscopic examina on at the beginning of the experiment were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 remained on-site with no altera on to their environment, while Group 2 was transported for 4 hours to a stabling facility where they were moderately exercised twice daily for 30 minutes and received feed in the morning and the evening. This regime was con nued for a total of 4 days before being transported back to the home farm. All horses were scoped again on day 5.

What is EGUS? In recent years, the awareness of owners regarding Equine Gastric Ulcera on Syndrome or EGUS has increased but the condi on is s ll o en missed as the cause of a variety of problems e.g. reduced body condi on, changes in appe te and behavioural and exercise-related issues. EGUS describes the development of ulcers on the inner wall of the stomach caused by exposure to excessive amounts of acids produced by the stomach. Depending on the area where the ulcer develops, we class them as squamous ulcera on (upper sec on of the stomach) or glandular ulcera on (lower sec on of the stomach). The severity of gastric ulcera on ranges from minimal inﬂamma on of the stomach lining to severe ulcera on and bleeding of the stomach wall. In extreme cases, the stomach can perforate which can lead to sudden death.

What type of horse develops EGUS? Because most research into EGUS has been done on racehorses and performance horses, the feeling is that EGUS is generally a problem of horses in intensive training. Prevalence of 93% of racehorses in training and 63% of performance horses has been reported. However, 37% of non-performance horses have also been found to have a certain degree of ulcera on.

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Grade 3-4 EGUS: Extensive lesions with areas of superﬁcial to deep ulceration on the lesser curvature of the stomach

Problem recreational horses and ponies Grade 0 EGUS: The epithelium of the glandular and squanous part are intact

Grade 1 EGUS: There are areas of of hyperaemia and hyperkeratosis (yellow) of the lesser curvature of the stomach.

While only 10 horses were used in each group, Dr. McClure and co-workers did find some very interes ng results: 7 horses out of the 10 from Group 2 developed EGUS while only 2 horses from Group 1 did so. Furthermore, the gastric lesions found in 2 of the Group 2 horses were more severe than the lesions found in the Group 1 horses. This study shows that the combina on of transporta on, stall confinement at a facility unfamiliar to the horses and light exercise resulted in an increased incidence of EGUS within a short me. None of the risk factors in this study can be considered as severe. The researchers also speculated that the development of EGUS in 2 horses from the control group (Group 1) was due to the removal of some of the horses from the group-housing environment which caused changes in the social order. This reveals further how readily ulcers can develop in the equine stomach. The findings of this study indicate that ac vi es considered to be normal by the recrea onal horse enthusiast are associated with an increased incidence of EGUS. While the ulcers were not as severe as the ones found in horses par cipa ng in more intensive ac vi es, mild ulcers have been associated with clinical problems and as such should not be ignored. These findings should increase awareness of how readily EGUS develops in horses and thus how they have importance for a much greater popula on of horses than previously thought.

Diagnosis, treatment and preven on. Because many horses suﬀering from EGUS won’t have any symptoms or show only non-speciﬁc signs (see above), the only way of diagnosing ulcers is by performing a gastroscopy: an endoscope is passed through a nostril into the oesophagus and

all the way down into the stomach where the lining can be visualised. For a full examina on, the stomach should be empty and as such the horse should be starved prior to the gastroscopy. If EGUS is diagnosed, a 28 day treatment with an acid inhibitor should be started and a close look at the diet and management of the horse should be performed. Stress should also be avoided. If the ulcers have not healed a er the ini al 28 days, a further 28 days of acid inhibitor treatment combined with an bio cs might be necessary. Preven on is of course the name of the game: feed your horse as naturally as possible by allowing daily turnout, ad lib hay and hard feed fed li le and o en. You should avoid a high grain/low roughage diet. Avoiding as much stress as possible is another cornerstone of EGUS preven on together with regula ng your horse’s exercise.

References: McClure S, Carithers D, Gross S, Murray M. 2005 “Gastric ulcer development in horses in a simulated show or training environment”, JAVMA; 227(9): p. 775-777 Mitchell R. 2001 “Prevalence of gastric ulcers in hunter/jumper and dressage horses evaluated for poor performance. In: proceedings of the Associa on of Equine Sports Medicine Annual Mee ng. Murray M, Grodinsky C, Anderson C, Radue P et al. 1989 “Gastric ulcers in horses: A comparison of endoscopic ﬁndings in horses with and without clinical signs”, Equine Vet J; 7(suppl): p. 68-72 Murray M. et al. 1996 “Factors associated with gastric lesions in Thoroughbred racehorses”, Equine Vet J; 25(5): p. 368-374 Nieto J, Snyder J, Beldomenico P, Aleman M, Kerr J, Spier S. 2004 “Prevalence of gastric ulcers in endurance horses-a preliminary report.”, Vet J; 167(1): p. 33-37

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Closing date: 27th November 2011

Giveaways

5 up for grabs!

Messy Mare Two Faced Hoodie

The new Messy Mare Two Faced Hoodie features the Messy Mare crest and a unique horses head design on the reverse of the hood which can only be seen If the hood is worn up! Available in Vanilla or Sapphire in child sizes 5/6, 7/8, 9/11 & 12/13 or adult sizes S-XL Please state size and colour when entering

KP Equestrian Diamante Snaffle Bridle 3 KP Equestrian have just launched their up for latest collec on of fun and fashionable equestrian wear for horse and rider and grabs! this season’s collec on includes the addi on of a gorgeous leather snaﬄe bridle with diamante trim noseband and browband. This quality bridle will make any horse stand out from the crowd and shine! The bridle includes rubber reins and is available in black or brown, in sizes pony, cob and full. Please state size and colour when entering

Townend Imperial Performance Jacket

1 up for grabs!

Ac ve Performance for the serious rider, this ergonomic sports fit jacket is windproof, waterproof and breathable. Mesh lined for added breathability and features taped seams, ac on back for added movement, internal waist channel, twin rear riding vents with zip and gusset, adjustable Velcro cuffs with internal lycra storm cuff, laser cut taped seam pockets, zip pocket at the arm with logo print design, internal security zip pocket and a fold away hood with draw string. Available in sizes XS-XL in Red/Black, White/Pink or Black/Silver. Please state size and colour when entering

Mollichaff Condition

15 bags up for grabs!

Mollichaff Condi on is a brand new, complete concentrate feed which is suitable for encouraging weight gain in all horses and ponies, especially those that struggle to maintain their condi on. It is a highly diges ble, high fibre, high oil and low starch mix containing a balanced blend of alfalfa, dried grass, oat straw, fibre pellets, barley, soya flakes, soya oil and mint as well as Yeasacc and a prebio c, plus vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

How to enter:

please send a postcard marked with the product you would like to win, along with your name, address & telephone no. to: Horse Scene Magazine, The Old Tannery, 224 Spen Lane, Gomersal, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire BD19 4PJ or email your entries to: win@horsescenemagazine.co.uk Please note: Entries will not be accepted without a telephone number and full address. Please allow 28 days for delivery. See full T&Cs on our website.

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Look for the white label as your sign of quality

Beware of inferior copies A market leader in the field of horse toys with a persona of itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own. A twenty-sided, Equine BoredomBuster made from military-grade materials. Fill with pony nuts or treats and let the horse play - with tasty rewards. Exellent for in the stable or paddock. Also useful as a trickle feeder to stop the horse eating its food too quickly. Available in 5 exciting colours and two sizes: Small 20cm - holds up to 2kg feed Large 25cm - holds up to 3kg feed

www.elico.co.uk

Available from all good equestrian and agricultural retailers

Now in itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

12 th Yea r as mark et leader

Christmas gift ideas .....for all budgets Buying Christmas presents can be stressful, so check out our gi idea's to suit all budgets, we are sure you will ďŹ nd something any equestrian enthusiast would love to ďŹ nd under the Christmas tree!

HorseScene 39

A Treat in Heaven Priced Heavenly Horse has Christmas all wrapped up for from your beloved 4 legged friend with a range of nutri ous treats. The four treat stocking stuﬀer, ed with a red heart edged bow and gi tag is priced at just £3.99. Shannon's bag of Christmas kisses comprising of 12 heart shaped home made treats topped with Christmas princess yummy gummies in a bag ed with heart edged red ribbon, priced at £5.99. The large and medium jars, star ng at £6.49 are available in 3 diﬀerent toppings, Minty Angel, Sugar Kiss and I love You. For that extra special treat, the Gold Selec on Box compromises of 19 heart shaped hand made treats, topped with red heart shaped candies, sugar hearts, colourful heart shaped jelly beans and pink Christmas princess yummy gummies. Tied with a beau ful pink organza ribbon and heart edged ribbon and gi tag. www.heavenlyhorse.co.uk

£3.99

Keep Organised Perfect for the busy horse owner who needs to keep organised, the Heavenly Hooves 2012 Calendar features images from the popular country collec on and is priced at £9.99. To match, the Heavenly Hooves 2012 Diary is designed with the horse person in mind having one page for each week of the year, with the added Priced from extra of a page showing the month at a glance along with a “Must do this Month” notes page. www.elico.co.uk

£5.99

Sooooo Tempting

Priced around

£159.99

A stylish addi on to the Dublin footwear range, these elegant Dublin Tempt boots are suitable for casual or riding wear and are made of so casual leather. The full cow suede leather lining is complimented with a tartan fabric cuﬀ, which teamed up with the RCS footbed, provides comfort. Featuring a fashionable top boot design with stylish tassel zip and contrast s tching. Created to look great and feel comfortable, no ma er what your riding style. Available in black or brown, in sizes 4-8. www.dublinclothing.com

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Luxurious Warmth

Priced around

£16.99 each

The Mountain Horse Cambridge Hat & Scarf will keep anyone warm and snug this winter. The kni ed bobble hat is in muted winter shades so you can team it with just about anything. Features a thick, ribbed band, a small metal MH badge and contrast stripes. The matching classic scarf is made from a luxurious wool mix and teamed together make a warm, fashionable look. www.mountainhorse.co.uk

Look Fabulous Priced at

For a classic and meless gi , which can be worn in and out of the saddle, the Ariat Lexi Jacket is a tradi onal diamond quilted jacket designed to look fabulous whilst s ll oﬀering many prac cal features. A wind and water resistant technical micro-twill outer protects you from the elements whilst a cosy Polyﬁll insula on keeps you toasty warm on those chilly winter days! Choose from black, grey check or navy in ladies sizes XS – XXL. www.ariat-europe.com

£89.95

The Gift of Relaxation Priced The Equilibrium Therapy Massage Mi was designed around and produced to provide an affordable, effec ve massage treatment for those difficult to get to muscle groups. The easy to use Massage Mi helps to promote relaxa on, improve flexibility and improve muscle condi on. The mi is lightweight, affordable, portable, easy to use and easy to clean. Features three different se ngs - Low, Medium and High, allowing you to choose the intensity of the massage for your horse. Each programme lasts 10 minutes offering a quick and convenient massage session for your horse at any me. www.equilibriumproducts.com

£95.00

Someone Special The Toggi Elana Bag makes the perfect gi for someone special this Christmas. Combines style with elegance for head turning good looks. Made from real leather, the Toggi Elana is the ul mate accessory for discerning Priced fashionistas this season. Available in around chocolate. www.toggi.com

£80.00

Colourful Treat

Priced at

£13.80

What be er gi to oﬀer your favourite horse or pony than a treat that not only tastes great, but also oﬀers 3 days worth of the required vitamins, minerals and trace elements, all in a handy 650g tub. You can purchase a Mini Horslyx individually, priced at £3.45 or in a unique Rainbow Mixed Mini Gi Set containing each of the four formula ons, Original, Garlic, Respiratory and Mint, priced at £13.80. The colourful gi set comes complete with name tag making it the perfect horsey present. www.horslyx.com

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Essentials

Family Fun Priced

around The Silly Moo Gi Basket will make an essen al gi this Christmas. This cute basket includes Silly Moo Hand Cream, a protec ve moisturising cream for hands that leaves skin feeling silky smooth and smelling great and a Silly Moo Lip Balm, this vanilla ﬂavoured balm is perfect for avoiding dry, chapped lips when working outside this winter and as it contains SPF20 it is also ideal for the summer me. www.ba les.co.uk

£9.99

These two board games will guarantee your family fun at Christmas. “Hackaway” – a Priced fun ride with obstacles, penal es and around ques ons that require skill, luck and good fortune to complete the course. “Burlington” – complete a cross country event like Burghley or Badminton. You will tackle various cross country obstacles and just to add to the fun there are bogey squares where you may get extra penal es and a good mix of general horsey ques ons. The rider with the least number of penal es wins the Burlington Horse Trials and is awarded their very own Champion Cer ﬁcate. www.ponygang.co.uk

£17.00

Get Bossy £18.00 this Xmas Priced from

What be er gi than a Bossy’s Bibs for your best friend? Make rug rubs a thing of the past with this simple, effec ve, an -rub bib. Silky and lightweight, it will give your horse or pony maximum comfort and protec on under all rugs. Bossy’s Bibs are a firm favourite in yards around the world because they work well for all types of horses and ponies. Available in 5 fabulous colours. A Bossy’s Bib makes the perfect stocking filler or Christmas gi . Happy horses are wearing Bossy’s Bibs! www.bossybibs.co.uk

Give the Gift of Safety

Priced at

£15.00

Carrots have created a collec on of colourful gi ideas that will give you change from £20! Whether you are looking for a secret Santa present, or a children’s stocking ﬁller – Carrots have it covered this Christmas! For a Christmas novelty item which is guaranteed to get people talking on the yard, the exclusive range of fes ve Hat Covers have been designed speciﬁcally to add some fun to seasonal riding apparel. Available in a Christmas Pudding design, Christmas Shetland scene and a brand new Father Christmas Hat Cover. www.carrotsuk.com

Classic gift Priced at

£44.99

Does your horse spook, buck, rear, cat-leap or stumble? The RS-tor rider safety device aids balance and arrests a rider’s fall - it sits in the hand like a riding crop. Available in Childs, S and M/L sizes. (Adults over 5 usually select M/L). www.rstor.co.uk

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Christmas Novelty

The ‘Classic’s Portable Tack Pack’ is the Priced perfect necessity and will ﬁt in the front from of most horse trailers, wagons and tack rooms. This twinned wheeled unit can easily house two large saddles and two bridles and the big front double skinned door has two over centre catches which can be padlocked for safekeeping. With a moulded one piece large handle this can be chained inside any tack room for security. The Pack is lightweight for its size yet extremely strong and highly manoeuvrable. With great colour choices available this Christmas this is one of those ‘Classic’ investments for life. www.jsw4jumps.co.uk

£229.00

Ideal Stocking Filler

Priced at

£15.99

These stylish Sock Chaps make an ideal stocking ﬁller. The Innova ve riding socks have a speciﬁcally designed grip area on the inner calf, providing the comfort and simplicity of a sock but with grip and security similar to half chaps. Available in Black/Brown or Black/Pink in a range of sizes. www.ba les.co.uk

Cosy & Warm The Equi-Master riding & yard boots oﬀer Priced the perfect solu on to cold feed. The around boots are made from waterproof leather and feature climate control technology to keep your feet warm in winter but cool in summer, toe protec on, a s rrup balance system and are super comfortable and hard wearing. Priced around £82.50, they make an ideal gi for someone who wants the best protec on and warmth this winter. www.equitector.com

£82.50

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Kitted Out

A holster containing a SoloComb, SoloRake and SoloBrush. This simple, light and dis nc ve clip-on holster can sit in a grooming kit and then be a ached to a waistband, belt or pocket, enabling the owner to work on the horse without the need for bending to change tools or losing kit whilst working. Purposely designed to carry the SoloGroom range and keep Priced at them together, it is the best way to check no one has borrowed equipment and is the perfect gi . www.sologroom.com

£39.99

Bling Up Front

Priced at

£45.00 This gorgeous 'Bling Up Front' Horseshoe Diamante Leather Belt from the Bling Equestrian range will make the ideal gi this Christmas. The beau ful, quality leather belt is surrounded by crystal horseshoes and features a snap on Diamante buckle, a must have for every Bling Diva! Available in sizes S/M or L. www.blingequestrian.co.uk

Fashion Trend

Priced from

The Rebel Rider animal print hipster style jodhpurs feature re-enforced knee patches, a mobile phone pocket on right hand leg, two deep front pockets and embroidered Logos while also offering a fla ering design with five different animal prints to choose from. Available in child and adult sizes. www.rebelrider.co.uk

£34.95

Sparkle & Shine

Priced around

£9.99

The Lincoln Merry Christmas Sparkle Pack contains 1 x 500ml Lincoln Classic Horse Shampoo and 1 x 250ml Lincoln Classic Mane & Tail Condi oner to make any horse sparkle and shine. Comes with a fes ve s cker to address to your bestest friend.. www.ba les.co.uk

Equestrian Balancing Therapy Julie Houghton BHSI (Reg'd), Cert.ZB (Ccer ﬁed Zero Balancing Prac oner), ECST (Equine Cranio Sacral Therapist) Reiki master and founder of Equestrian Balancing Therapy explains what its all about and how it can help your horse….. There are many therapies that are used to treat clients on a couch, and many therapies that are used for horses in the stable, but Equestrian Balancing Therapy is unique, in working with the horse and rider combination as a single unit. It is used on both the horse and the rider whilst the rider is mounted. What is Equestrian Balancing Therapy (EBT) ?

By using gentle finger pressures and held stretches, it invites the release of excess tension accumulated in the deep structures of Equestrian Balancing Therapy (EBT) is a unique new therapy using the body. The specific quality of touch enables physical structure specific techniques on the mounted rider and also on the mounted and energy to be engaged simultaneously in a way that creates a horse, to help the combina on towards a mutually harmonious, harmonious rela onship between them and provides a s ll point balanced and improved way of going. EBT helps the combina on around which the combina on of horse and rider together, can to find improved balance, freedom and communica on. The rider feel and recognise their mutual op mum balance. The gains suppleness and becomes able to give very light controlled combina on can reorganise, giving an opportunity to let go of subtle aids. EBT helps the horse to become more balanced, supple excess tension, s ffness and pain, and experience a new level of and relaxed enabling the horse to respond instantly and willingly harmony. to the requests of the rider.

How did EBT start? How is EBT used? EBT is a gentle yet powerful hands-on method of balancing both the mounted horse and the mounted rider, by helping both their mutual body's energy and body's structure to ﬁnd their op mum point of balance physically and mentally.

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A er working all my life teaching riders of all levels and training horses at all levels, I became increasingly aware that most riders were trying their best to ride as well as they could, but o en their body would not adapt to the posi on required. I was constantly looking for ways to help them. Because of severe health problems in my family, I started to learn about and train in a number of

alterna ve therapies and eventually I discovered Zero Balancing. Zero Balancing is a wonderful therapy started by Dr. Fritz Smith M.D. (a doctor, osteopath, master of acupuncture and expert in many other therapies). He devised Zero Balancing to help the client (on the couch) to improve their mind/body/spirit balance by working on the skeleton to release any held trauma, stress or pain. I loved this work and trained to become a ZB prac oner. A er my first Zero Balancing workshop I started to apply the ZB principles to formulate a system of helping riders to organise and harmonise themselves be er, both physically and mentally to deal with the stresses put on them by riding a horse. As my work progressed I realised that the horse also needed help to rebalance to work with the rider effec vely and started adap ng the same ZB principles to help the horse, with great effect. I realised that the techniques I was using, combining ZB with elements of my other training for alterna ve therapies (especially Reiki and equine cranio sacral therapy) had now evolved into a therapy in its own right, and deserved its own name - Equestrian Balancing Therapy.

Injuries to horse and/or- how do they affect our performance? Many riders have injuries at some stage, in their me with horses, and most tend to ride before the pain and discomfort from that injury has completely disappeared. If a rider is riding with any pain, restric on or s ffness, the horse will feel the resul ng restric on and asymmetry caused, as a result of the riders resul ng imbalance. The horse's reac on will be to adjust its length of stride and balance accordingly, preven ng his ability to perform at his full poten al, if this situa on persists for any length of me the horse's performance will con nue to suffer and can even result in pain, lameness and major resistances. If the horse does not carry itself in an even and balanced manner (again possibly through injury, incorrect training, inadequate fitness for the work being asked, or ill fi ng tack and/or equipment) again the imbalance will transfer to the rider causing the rider to ride in an imbalanced way to accommodate the horse's asymmetry. Many riders who 'force' themselves into a 'correct' posi on and this results in excess tension and s ffness, in their own bodies which will prevent them from being able to ride to their full poten al, and prevent the horse from working fluently, with freedom and expression. Also horses that are 'forced' into an outline, or into work that it does not understand, or is not fit enough to perform, will show s ffness and resistance, evasions and some mes worse.

How EBT helps

1 EBT helps the rider's body to relax restric ons, and held tensions to help them to adopt a correct posi on with the maximum ease.

2 As EBT helps the rider's body to adjust whilst on the horse, it feels more natural to the rider to use the correct muscles to achieve and maintain a correct posi on.

3 EBT helps the rider to physically follow and ﬂow with the horse's movement, by helping the rider to become physically and mentally more relaxed and balanced in their own posi on, so they no longer have to 'force' a posi on.

4 EBT also helps the rider to become more aware, responsive and sympathe c to the horses' ﬂow of energy both physically and mentally.

5 EBT is used on the horse to help the horse to adjust its balance and way of going with the rider si ng on him, so that the horse is guided to intui vely understand the best way of eﬃciently carrying the rider and responding to the rider's requests with ease and eﬃciency.

6 Many horses work with restric ons resul ng from the rider's excess tension. EBT can help improve the horse by releasing the rider's excess tension.

7 We o en see problems such as, the horse is short in his/her stride, uneven or unlevel in their length of stride, s ﬀ to one side, tense through the back and neck, mentally stressed, eg shying, rushing, bucking etc. EBT can help.

8 Frequently problems are caused by an imbalance in the way the horse and rider work together. As a result of this excess tension the rider res quickly, and then the rider uses incorrect muscle groups to adapt to try to keep on working. This results in strain and/or pain in their body.

Who can be helped with EBT? Any rider and horse can benefit from EBT. Riders from beginners to professionals have felt great benefit from EBT sessions. Horses of any age, stage of training, breed or discipline can benefit from EBT. Disabled riders, including those with condi ons such as mul ple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, downs syndrome, back injuries, head injuries etc have also found great benefit from EBT. EBT has also been used with clients (including non-riders) on a mechanical horse with great results.

What happens in a typical EBT session? EBT is used through clothes and boots. It is directed towards the skeleton of either horse or rider in a non-intrusive way. EBT establishes a clear interface between the therapist and the rider in which the boundaries of touch and communica on are dis nct and non-intrusive. An EBT session takes an hour. The rider is asked about any problems they have encountered then asked to walk and trot on each rein to allow an ini al assessment. The rider is asked to halt and gentle pressures and stretches are used from the waist down to the feet, the rider is then asked to walk the horse to integrate the work then a reassessment is made. The rider is brought in again, the horse is then treated normally from the saddle back through the quarters. The combina on is asked to walk again in a speciﬁed way, to help the horse to integrate the changes. The same work is then carried out on the rider's upper body, followed by integra on, then the front of the horse. Once the combina on is working in a balanced way, they are given work to help them to adapt to the improved way of going and to consolidate the work, so that they can maintain and build on the progress achieved. Every session is diﬀerent and is uniquely adapted to each combina on of horse and rider.

For more informa on on EBT visit www.equinetherapyservices.co.uk

HorseScene 49

WIN WIN

WIN

A Trailer Vision Digi-Max System & Yard Guard System N

I W L

I W U

1 X Dig-Max Two Camera System

This Digital Wireless Camera/Reversing camera system, features the very latest technology. The system includes everything you will need to operate a wireless camera system and reversing camera system.The system being digital wireless, means that it can be used at the same me as bluetooth devices, or wireless networks, interference free. The 7â&#x20AC;? colour LCD monitor can be used with up to 4 cameras including a reversing camera. The monitor can also show the images from mul ple cameras at the same me (Quad View), as well as manual camera selec on. This system will allow the winner to watch their horse safely on camera 1 while camera 2 will allow for safe reversing.

1 x Yard Guard This wireless, waterproof, PIR detector (ba ery powered) and a receiver/alarm unit is an ingenious system that can be used to monitor a gate or drive access. When a vehicle or person passes through the PIR detec on area, a alarm/chime is heard from the receiver/alarm, which can be sited in a house etc, up to 100m from the PIR detector. The receiver/alarm unit can be used with up to 4 PIR sensors and each sensor has a 6m movement detec on range. The system u lises digital wireless technology and is interference free. The PIR sensor works from a 9V ba ery (not supplied) and the ba ery could last up to 1 year, depending on use. The receiver/alarm unit has 2 se ngs for either 'alarm' or 'chime' and loudness. The receiver/alarm unit can operate from either 3 'C' 1.5V ba eries (not supplied), or a mains adapter. This system will allow the winner to keep their yard safe for total peace of mind.

50 HorseScene

Got a ques on? email: expert@horsescenemagazine.co.uk

& ? QA

STOP CAT LEAPING

How do I stop my horse getting under the jump and then cat leaping over it?

A: Nicola Sheard answers.... Cat leaping over the fence usually occurs when the horse is riding to the fence without enough rhythm and power in your canter. Then, when you get to the fence, your horse lacks impulsion to take off from a confident stride, so he pops in a ny stride to balance himself to get up in the air resul ng in a catleap. In order to resolve this make sure your horse if cantering in a forward uphill rhythm generated from your leg and keeping a suppor ng contact with your hands. Another cause could be that you’re looking down at the jump, an cipa ng the take-off point and giving your hands away. Instead give yourself a focus point to look forward towards; looking ahead to where you are going will keep your posi on more secure on the last few strides before take off.

52 HorseScene

Grid work can help as it can encourage your horse to take oﬀ conﬁdently and comfortably without the cat-leap. A grid of two to three fences with a placing pole going in will give help you to learn and ‘feel’ if you’re doing it right, and you’ll be able to judge when your horse is ready to start jumping single fences again happily. Prac ce riding through the grid keeping a consistent canter and also looking ahead, this will help you from looking down and dropping your contact. Be persistent, prac ce makes perfect!

OVERCOME STAGE FRIGHT

Q: I really want to compete this winter but I

Meet our experts...

freeze with anxiety before I even get in the arena.

A: Laura Bateman answers…. It is horrible to experience severe anxiety. You probably have some of the following symptoms: • Increased heart rate and breathing frequency • Tense muscles

Dr. Hans DelaunoisVanderperren, DVM, CertEM (StudMed), GespPD, MRCVS, DipEqSc

Caroline Moore FBHS, Bri sh Even ng & Bri sh Dressage Accredited Coach

• Dry mouth • Sweaty palms • Nausea • Needing to go to the toilet frequently These are some of the physical symptoms of anxiety. They are all harmless although they feel uncomfortable. The natural Flight and Fight mechanism causes these by flooding the body with adrenaline when it thinks it is in danger. The Fight and Flight mechanism is designed to prepare your body to either fight a danger or run away from it. A bit of anxiety is normal and is beneficial to help you achieve your best. But too much can be disabling and naturally we want to avoid any situa on which makes us feel like this. In terms of managing your anxiety the good news is that there is lots you can do, but it will be hard work and the more people you can have to support you the be er. Firstly I would advise that you learn some relaxa on techniques that you can prac ce regularly and then use to help manage the physical symptoms of anxiety. There are a number of relaxa on techniques, I suggest Progressive Muscle Relaxa on and breathing exercises. Once you feel you have gained some control over the physical symptoms using relaxa on you can then start what is called graded exposure. This involves very slowly building up to your final goal, which in your case may be doing a compe on. Break this down into a hierarchy of small steps, for example: Start a ending shows but just as a spectator. Then move to taking your horse to the show and perhaps tacking up but not compe ng. Then progress to warming up in the arena but again don’t go any further. The next step may be to walk around the compe on arena without anyone watching. Then with people watching (again not actually compe ng), then you could do one jump, or a few dressage moves, and then leave the arena. So the idea is that you have broken down the act of compe ng into lots of small steps. You do each step as many mes as it takes for you not to feel anxious when doing it. You will feel some anxiety when moving up to another step and this is where you use your relaxa on techniques to help you.

Craig D’Arcy

Julia Gray

FdSc AWCF Registered Farrier

PGCE, BSc (Hons), BHSAI Head of Equine At Myerscough College

Claire Fitzmaurice

Zoe Davies

Qualiﬁed Saddle Fi er and Master Saddler

MSc.Eq.S,R.Nutr. Consultant Equine Nutri onist

Kate Coles

Sarah Weston

BSc (hons) Supplement Specialist

Associate Of The Intelligent Horsemanship Associa on & Animal Behaviorist

Jamie Anderson

Laura Bateman

Breeding Specialist

BSc MSc, Psychological Therapist specialising in Rider Psychology

As I can only give brief advice in this format, you may ﬁnd you need further support to help you tackle not only the behaviour side of your anxiety, as described above, but also the thought processes which go along with your fears of compe ng. There are also other techniques a professional can teach you such as visualisa on. If this is the case someone with qualiﬁca ons like myself can support you and guide you in tackling this anxiety. Good luck!

Laura Sanders

Nicola Sheard

BHS AI, INT. SM Interna onal Groom

Professional Show Jumper and Trainer

TACKING UP – IT'S A BIG PROBLEM

It takes me ages to get the bit in my horse’s mouth. Whenever I try, he clenches his mouth shut and lifts his head out of reach. What can I do to teach him to accept it more willingly? His teeth have been checked and once the bit is in he works really well.

A: Sarah Weston answers.... I am pleased to hear that you are willing to spend me pu ng your horse’s bridle on rather than forcing the issue. Horses like to have their bridles put on politely and sympathe cally. The art, if a horse starts to become awkward, is to become even calmer and quietly insistent rather than angry or rough. You don’t say what type of bit you are using but it would be worth checking that it ﬁts properly and that it is comfortable for him. So many horses are made to accept fat single jointed bits when actually they have very li le room for them in their mouths. Consider the ac on of the bit you are using too. It can really help if you teach your horse to lower his head to a slight pressure on his poll. Simply place your hand on top of his poll, wait un l he lowers his head even a frac on, and then take your hand away. This is repeated un l it becomes automa c. If your horse is tall, stand on a moun ng block. Then you can start to reintroduce his bridle. Tradi onally the handler has their hands around the horse’s nose while they put the noseband and bit in ﬁrst. I have found that the Intelligent Horsemanship way of pu ng on a bridle can work much be er. Put your right hand

over the horse’s poll and between his ears and hold the crown piece of the bridle. The le hand then holds the bit and asks the horse to accept it into his mouth – I gently put my fingers between the bars of his mouth on the off side in order to s mulate him to open his mouth but in me, if you always do it sympathe cally, the horse will voluntarily open his mouth for the bit. Once the bit is in place, I use my right hand to gently fla en the horse’s le ear forwards to go under the crown piece (just as if it were as long as a donkey’s ear) and then physically move to the offside of the horse to do the same on the other side. I might give a horse a click and a treat for each stage of this process or just at the end, and find this can be a useful addi on to my training.

KNOW YOUR SADDLE

Please can you explain how I can tell if my saddle is the correct ﬁt for my horse

A: Claire Fitzmaurice answers…. There are many different things to take into account when checking whether or not a saddle fits a horse. The first thing I do is just put the saddle on, without a saddle cloth so I can see clearly, and then girth it up and stand back and have a good look at it. Does it fit the shape of the horse's shoulder? Is it in contact with the horse's back the whole way along the panel? Watch out for the saddle not being in contact with the horse's back either at the back or in the mid sec on of the panel ( bridging ). Next I look at the balance of the saddle. Ideally the cantle should be either level with or slightly higher than the pommel, with a dressage saddle the cantle can be 2 to 3 inches higher. It's of the utmost importance that the saddle is level on the horse and any

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difficul es in conforma on to do with this should be taken into account when the saddle is first being fi ed. Then it's me to get on,( it is advisable to wear a normal saddle cloth) once there is weight on the saddle you will be able to tell much easier if it is fi ng correctly. The easiest way to give you a rough idea about the fit is to firstly check there is adequate room over the withers, then get somebody on the ground to insert their hand in the side of the saddle, just behind the horse's shoulder and where the points of the saddle are, approximately 5/6 inches down from wither. It is very important that the saddle is not ght in this area as it can cause extreme pressure, restrict movement and hinder jumping.

Then watch the saddle whilst in mo on. How s ll is the back of the saddle? Is the panel in contact with the horse's back? Is it moving forwards or backwards? Is it slipping from side to side, or just slipping onto one side? Also look at the level of the saddle, pommel to cantle, when the horse is in mo on as some horses carry the saddle differently when they begin to move A correctly fi ng saddle is of huge importance to the well-being of your horse and can make a big difference to performance for both horse and rider. It is worth checking saddle fit regularly, as horses change shape with me of year, fitness, condi on and age and this can affect saddle fit. If in doubt, always contact a qualified saddle fi er.

tried&tested Thermatex Quilted Leg Wraps

Toggi Blenheim Boots

My horse who not only suffers from mud fever, but also arthri s was very happy to test these Thermatex leg wraps. A er washing the mud from his legs every night, I popped these on and they very quickly wicked away the moisture, while also keeping his legs lovely and warm. They are very easy to put on with the three Velcro fastenings and they stayed in place very well with no slipping or sagging. They are so and comfortable for him to wear and they are a good price too at £53.50 for a set of 4. They have helped no end with his mud fever problem and he is not as s ff in the morning as the wraps help with his arthri s too. They are a valuable piece of my horses wardrobe now and are effec ve for lots of leg problems. For more informa on visit www.thermatex.co.uk

These boots offer a real country feel for leisure wear while also being suitable to ride in too. They are made from full grain leather and are totally waterproof and breathable which is great! They are really lightweight to wear and the arch-moulded foot bed with gel bag offers extra comfort and shock absorbency. I wore the boots all day around the yard and while riding, and I must say they are the comfiest boots I have worn, at £169.50 they are a very good price too. The boots have it all, style, comfort and the prac cality needed for a riding boot. For more informa on visit www.toggi.com

Mountain Horse Berkeley Jacket This jacket is beau ful and very stylish while also offering the 'performance' for riding. It is waterproof and very breathable, and the wide kni ed rib at the waist and inside the sleeve cuffs really keep out the cold. You can change the jacket by removing the faux fur trim on the hood or by removing the hood altogether for a totally different look. The jacket is great to wear for all occasions as well as riding in and there are plenty of pockets to keep your belongings safe. The jacket, while being warm is lightweight to wear, which is good when on the yard and riding as I do not like bulky jackets that restrict your movement. It definitely looks and performs very well with no bad points. For more informa on visit www.mountainhorse.co.uk

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Bucas Smartex Extra Turnout With this range of rugs now available for ponies, I was keen to try as I find rugging my li le pony very difficult. They have got the sizing spot on because the rug fits perfectly and takes in to considera on the size of smaller ponies in the depth, length,chest and neck area. The rug is very breathable and the stay dry lining wicks away any moisture very quickly. The outer fabric is very strong and durable, not even my li le monster can rip it!Some very good advantages are the shoulder darts which offer ul mate freedom, making it the only rug that hasn't rubbed his chest area. I also love the way the rug fastens with a Velcro overlapping front sec on which is padded for comfort and hides a unique 'Click n Go' fastening which is very secure and easy to do – no more fiddly fastenings!. The neck is very easy to a ach with Velcro panels and it stays in place very well, offering total coverage with no gaps. There are also cross surcingles, detachable elas c leg straps and a nice deep tail flap for added protec on. I would 100% recommend this rug for any horse – it is the best! For more informa on visit www.zebraproducts.co.uk

Wahl Avalon Clippers These clippers are very lightweight but extremely powerful with a 80W rotary motor. They easily glide through the hair and offer a very quick and neat clip. They are cordless which means no draping wires, they a ach to a belt mounted ba ery pack which is lightweight to wear and offers 2 ½ hours clipping when fully charged. The clipper itself has a lightweight, compact design and fits comfortably in one hand, while offering a quiet, low vibra on clipping me, perfect for young or nervous horses. They feature the Wahl 'cool running' snap on blades that do not need aligning or tensioning, making it easy when cleaning, oiling and changing the blades. It comes in a handy carry case with everything you need to get started and it is very affordable too. A definite winner! For more informa on visit www.wahl.com

Aigle Parcours Iso Open Wellingtons These take wellies to the next level, gone are cold feet and hello toasty warm ones! The shock abosorbing sole also make them extremely comfortable to wear, and the profiled ankle fit provided excellent support when walking etc. They have a very sturdy grip and are suitable to walk on all condi ons with ease. I love the side zip which makes pu ng on and taking off so much easier and the strength, durabilty and design is second to none. I fully recomend these to anyone who wants a wellington that is made to last and offers amazing comfort and warmth, where others fall short. For more informa on visit www.aigle.com

PA RT 1

BACK to BASICS by Liz Hodges 58 HorseScene

There are articles written every week about how to improve our leg yields and turn on the forehand, how to ride a better dressage test or jump a clear show jumping round, what to do to shorten or lengthen our horse's stride but what about the basics for those of us that are still learning our nearside from our offside and our diagonal from our right leg? All too often we can get tied up in trying to learn the next step when in fact we could all benefit from going right back to the fundamentals of riding and checking that our basic aids and seat are correct so that we are able to give clear and precise directions to our horse. In this new series we aim to help with just this and provide clear foundation stones on which everyone can build a solid base to their riding skills. Let's start with a common problem that novice riders encounter; how to be in control of your horse. So, you've had a few lessons and you've mastered how to get on and off without si ng in the sand every me, but Its now me to take control of this horse all by yourself. Depending on where it is you are learning to ride, you may have taken your horse down to the arena yourself (a er being dragged to the nearest tree so he can have a small snack before your lesson, well why not you think, it was quite funny to see him stretch his neck up like a giraffe to reach the tasty branches), he may have been wai ng for you already in the arena as he had been on a previous lesson (great, no trees to encounter you think, but you s ll have to spend 5 minutes remembering how to get his reins over his head, ghten his girth and adjust the s rrups whilst he busily tries to wander over to another equine friend) or your horsey friend may be teaching you on her own horse so she has the horse all ready for you, all you have to do is jump on (he wouldn't dare to move as said the friend who is very experienced). Ok, so whatever your par cular scenario you are now on your horse and ready to get going, you get hold of your reins, then adjust them as they are twisted, uneven, or held incorrectly in your hands. You then give a light squeeze with with your leg as you've been told to do by your instructor to get your horse to walk on. She may even have demonstrated this herself on another horse. Why then, when you copy her exactly does nothing happen? You try again, this me with both legs as you remember this is actually what the instructor told you to do, (not just one leg!) S ll nothing happens, you give a gentle kick, except it doesn't quite work as somehow it was more of a stamp of the heel than a kick in against your horse's side, s ll nothing happens. You are now ge ng very fed up and just want your horse to get a shi on like everyone else's horse is doing so easily. You give a big almighty kick against your horse's side to make sure something happens this me. Your horse moves off slightly quicker than you expected and leaves you behind a li le, resul ng in you accidentally pulling on the reins. The horse stops. Does any of this sound familiar? Why you may ask does the horse not just walk on and behave himself like all the others are and like he himself did with his last rider? The answer is simple, you have already told your horse that he is in charge and he doesn't need to do as you ask him. Without realising it, most beginners will give their horse all sorts of messages that there is no need to do as requested before they even mount up. Let's take every scenario in turn and look into what your horse is hearing from you without you realising it.

You lead your horse down to the arena yourself (a er being dragged to the nearest tree so the horse can have a small snack before your lesson, well why not you think, it was quite funny to see him stretch his neck up like a giraﬀe to reach the tasty branches).

This scenario or something very similar to it are very common, what is important to remember is that from the moment you enter your horse's stable you are giving him messages about yourself and which of you is in charge. It is vital that your horse understands that he must always do as you ask him even over the smallest possible detail. So, when you enter your horse's stable you need to make it clear that he is to do as you ask. Take hold of his reins just below the bit and give a gentle but firm upwards nudge of them to li his head gently from the floor or in its res ng posi on. It is vital that the horse immediately shi s his a en on from whatever he has been previously doing to you and what you are asking him. This is the me where your horse learns whether or not you are in charge and leader of his herd. If you allow the horse to ignore you; his head remains low and he stays in his snoozing state, or he carries on ea ng his haynet, or worse, pulls away from you and moves to the opposite side of the stable, he has already learnt that he doesn't have to respect you and you are not his herd leader. If you insist at this stage that he does not only what you ask, but that he does it immediately and in the manner that is requested he will respect you and understand that you are his leader and the person to obey. Once you have your horse's a en on, make sure you have control by taking his reins over his head and holding firmly a few inches below the bit with your right hand and your li le finger nearest to the horse's head. This allows you to use your whole hand and the strongest part of your arm (biceps) to steady your horse if he tries to pull you in a direc on you don't want to go. Again, it is vital that if your horse tries to move anywhere other than exactly where you want to go, you correct him immediately. As you lead your horse he should keep his neck very slightly bent towards you, this keeps his front legs and feet away from yours and keeps his a en on on you rather than anything else that is going on around him. The second that you feel his head move away from you give a gentle, but firm nudge on the reins towards yourself. Your horse must immediately bring his head back towards you otherwise repeat the nudge again but slightly firmer s ll. It is vital that your horse responds immediately, do not wait for longer than a second for your horse to respond otherwise you are teaching your horse that it is acceptable to not obey you straight away. If you lead your horse in this way he will not even think to look at the tasty tree but if he did you would be able to bring his a en on straight back to you before he has taken a step towards the yummy leaves. Allowing your horse to walk where he likes, and take a snack if he feels like it teaches him that he is in charge and makes the rules about what you do or don't do. This will be translated to how he feels he should behave when riding him.

Your horse must respect you and wait un l you are ready to move oﬀ.

Your horse is wai ng for you already in the arena as he had been on a previous lesson (you spend 5 minutes remembering how to get the reins over his head, ghten his girth and adjust the s rrups whilst he busily tries to wander over to another equine friend)

This can be a difficult problem as it can take quite a while before adjus ng all your tack becomes second nature to you. If you are able to ask a more experienced rider or assistant to help you then do, also asking if you can prac ce this before or a er your lesson will help so that you aren't just doing this once per lesson. You can prac ce in the stable a er your lesson too if your horse isn't needed again but make sure you have someone to check that you are doing things correctly and that you leave your horse's tack in a safe condi on. You can s ll make it clear to your horse that he must respect you and wait un l you are ready to move off by insis ng that he stands pa ently; don't allow him to fidget or wander over to another horse or assistant standing on the ground. Again you must correct your horse the second he takes a single step if you are wan ng him to stand s ll by quickly resis ng on the reins.

Your horsey friend is teaching you on her own horse so she has your horse all ready for you, all you have to do is jump on (he wouldn't dare to move as said your friend is very experienced).

Your horse must understand from the second that you take control of him that you are in charge.

Although this may seem ideal, as you don't have to worry about any of the prepara on or handling of the horse, it also doesn't help you in learning any kind of horse management. Also, why is it that the horse behaves so well for his owner? What is it that she does that makes the horse know he must do as requested by her? If you rely on someone else to control your horse when you are on the ground you will ﬁnd it harder s ll to achieve any obedience when you are riding. Whatever your par cular scenario for learning to ride the principle is always the same. Your horse must understand from the second that you take control of him that you are in charge and that he must do as you request straight away. This is the single, most important, lesson you can ever learn when dealing with horses as no-one, no ma er how strong and muscular they are, can force or pull a horse into doing something it doesn't want to do. All horses are trained using their ins nc ve herd nature; this involves obeying their herd leader; and if that herd leader is not the rider problems will always arise. Think

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of yourself and your horse as a ny herd of your own, one of you has to be in charge and

in order to get your horse to do as you request the leader has to be you.

Choose & use the best Get sorted with the ‘must have’ bedding & yard products on the market easibed easibed, a clean, dust free wood ﬁbre bedding, is used by interna onal show jumpers Billy Twomey and Ellen Whitaker, and triple Olympian Richard Davison. easibed is produced in robust packaging. The bedding provides a dust-free, suppor ve bed with a consistency that allows the wet to drain through to the base where it is absorbed, leaving the top dry and comfortable. It is economical to use, easy to muck out and it produces a smaller muck heap. easibed's dust free quali es make it a healthier choice for the rider and the horse. Priced around £6.00. www.easibed.co.uk

Haygain HG-1000 Hay Steamer Enables you to feed dust-free palatable hay, helping maintain a healthy respiratory system to enhance performance. The scien ﬁcally proven hay steamer ensures hay is clean by killing all spores. It is very robust, easy to maintain and is designed to take an en re strung hay bale, but if required can also be used with hay nets or wedges of hay. The steamed hay is ready to feed in approximately 50 minutes and retains its complete nutri onal value and goodness. Research indicates it is eﬀec ve at encouraging fussy eaters. Priced at £1350. www.haygain.com

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Weelie Barrow

Unibed Premium

Now supplied ready to assemble and with colour coordinated handles and wheel, this tough, light, mul purpose wheelbarrow features a strong, galvanised, welded and lacquered frame with a unique heavy duty and easy to clean stepped pan, 160kg load capacity, strong wheel brackets plus improved balance and weight distribu on when loaded makes this Weelie Barrow an ideal yard must have. Available in pink or blue and is priced around £79.99. www.ba les.co.uk

Unibed premium bedding is ﬁnely chopped and put through a rigorous dust extrac on process to ensure dust levels are kept to a minimum. The rape straw is then treated with a unique formula of three natural, non toxic oils – Muna, Moringa and Arnica which combine to create a clean and soothing environment for your horse. All three oils are naturally an parasi c, an bacterial, an fungal and have an inﬂammatory proper es. Suitable for use as a deep bedding material, removing droppings daily and wet bedding once a week and as it rots down very quickly it will keep your muck heap cost to a minimum. www.unibed.uk.com

Belvoir Bed

Eezhay Premier Combo

Made from a mix of wheat and rape straw. The raw material is passed through a state of the art dust extrac on process to produce a clean and virtually dust free bedding which is ideal for performance horses and those suffering from respiratory problems. Belvoir Bed has now re-formulated its exis ng treatment. The principle ingredients are Lemongrass - a nontoxic and non-irritant plant offering a pleasant lemon smell without the potency of citronella - and Cade Oil, which helps retain this fresh aroma. Both ingredients combine together to offer an sep c, an parasi c and an -fungal proper es which helps repel insects, fight against bacteria and reduce moulds and spores. Belvoir Bed is quick ro ng, easy to muck out and comfortable for your horse. Prices start at £4.90 + vat, Belvoir Bed can only be ordered direct enabling prices to be kept to an absolute minimum. www.belvoirbed.co.uk

The new Eezhay Premier Combo incorporates a unique detachable feeding manger within the Hay Feeder. Made from super tough mild steel, the stylish design allows horses to feed in their natural posi on which in turns encourages healthy diges on, respira on and aids the natural wear of teeth. The removable feed manger offers horse owners a space saving, mess-free feeding method. Efficient and effec ve, the Eezhay Premier Combo can hold up to a whole bale of hay in one go. Available in pony size as well as the original full size, there is a wide range colours to choose from and every product comes with a one year full manufacturers guarantee. With prices star ng at just £64.99 for the Eezhay Premier Pony, this innova ve product will be a true investment in to your feeding rou ne. www.eezhay.net

Tek-quine Black Mat Save bedding me and money by ﬁ ng these quality mats. Made from non porous solid rubber, this mat has a tortoiseshell top surface with a wide Rib base. Suitable for horseboxes, stables and walkway applica ons. Available in 10mm, priced at £36.45 or 17mm priced at £51.30. www.tek-quine.co.uk

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Harold Moore Equestrian Tools Harold Moore offers a range of stable and yard tools in a fashionable range of colours. The range comprises of shovels, forks, scoops, scrapers and brushes. These polymer equestrian tools offer many advantages and benefits, they are sturdy, robust, but lightweight and very easy to handle. They will not rust or rot and are easy to clean and transport. The range is available in various sizes and designs and consists of cleaning tools, feed prepara on tool, bedding prepara on tools and much more. www.haroldmoore.co.uk

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