Horse deals The UK’s Biggest for buying and selling
Horse deals THE no.1 specialist horse sales magazine
Horsedeals.co.uk
Issue 130 january 2012 ÂŁ3.70
Over 1000 Horses &
PERFECT PARTNER
Nine top riders reveal what makes their ideal horse
ISSUE 130 janaury 2012
Top money saving feed tips plus
www.horsedeals.co.uk
Calmers We find out if they really work
HORSEboxes
for sale
Under the hammer Tips and advice to guarantee success at auction
stallion special
The best of British stallions, stock and studs
Find your dream equestrian property for less than 250k
INSIDER INSIGHT/OUT AND ABOUT Pictures by Matthew Roberts
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With over 18,000 visitors across two days, Your Horse Live was bigger and better than ever before. The main arena featured demonstrations from Laura Bechtolsheimer, Anna Ross-Davies, Roland Tong and a hilarious double act from Oliver Townend and Geoff Billington. Plus, the adrenaline pumping Rockin’ Horse display team had visitors on the edge of their seats as they threw out the health and safety rule book to show off their amazing stunts.
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1. Dressage rider Anna Ross-Davies gets ready in the warm-up arena 2. Eventer Oliver Townend makes his last minute checks 3. The crowd are on the edge of their seats as Rockin’ Horse perform 4. ‘The Editor’ tells the story of Rockin’ Horse 5. Oliver and Geoff get themselves wired up 6. Show jumper Geoff Billington helps the team set up for his double act 7. A well-deserved pampering session for one of the Rockin’ Horse team 8. Roland Tong has a bonding moment 9. Oliver Townend amuses the crowd 10. One of the Rockin’ Horse team poses for a snap shot 11. Laura Bechtolsheimer shares her words of wisdom 12. The Rockin’ Horse team are raring to go 13. Balloon, ridden by Geoff Billington, makes any jump look easy 14. Amy from Rockin’ Horse helps clear the arena in her own unique style 15. Guido from Rockin’ Horse gets a bit hot under the collar 16. Roland Tong shows the crowd how it should be done
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INSIDER INSIGHT/OUT AND ABOUT
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JANUARY 2012 Horse Deals
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january 2012 Horse Deals
buying at auction
Under the hammer
TOP TIP
If you’re an auction novice, it’s essential that you take an experienced and knowledgeable person with you on the day.
JANUARY 2012 Horse Deals
Tel: 01733 468000
buying at auction
Can you pick up your next eventing superstar at a British auction? Horse Deals asks expert event riders if it’s possible. Plus, our top tips on buying at auction
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uying and selling horses is a difficult business – making numerous phone calls, examining hundreds of for-sale ads and travelling miles for viewings can be incredibly time consuming and a little demoralising. There is another option, the horse auction. But why is it that buying in British horse auctions can seem far less desirable than buying at auctions on the continent? Are good horses simply not sold in British auctions? While there are a number of auctions that take place selling standard riding horses and ponies, Thoroughbreds or specific breeds, there are also a number of sales which solely focus on selling the performance horses of tomorrow. In fact, a number of top horses, and many currently moving through the ranks, were bought at auction in the UK, so maybe it’s time to re-adjust our perception.
Stars of the Future
“Our Stars of the Future auction has run twice a year, for the past 14 years,” says Richard Botterill of Brightwells, “and we have sold some amazing, well-known horses in this time. One of these would be Happy Times (Sam Griffiths’ 2011 Badminton ride, who finished 4th). “It used to be that people thought horses went to auction because they couldn’t be sold privately, but this is not the case with our Stars of the Future auction, quite the contrary, the horses that appear are selected, we choose the horses that are sold.” The Stars of the Future auction is far removed from what many people think of as a ‘horse auction’. Horses attend an assessment day where Richard and a team of experts (in the UK) and agents abroad, choose which horses they will sell. Horses are x-rayed and vetted before the auction and there are conditions of sale in place to help protect both the buyer and the seller. “Auctions are different to buying privately, as there isn’t a trial period and when you’ve paid for the horse, it’s yours,” says Richard. “But we work very hard to put conditions in place to help people sell their horse to the right person and to help every buyer find the right horse for them.” “It’s not uncommon for people to travel to see www.horsedeals.co.uk
horses prior to the auction, giving those who like the option to try horses at home, a chance. “Of course, another huge benefit of auctions – especially for the young competition horse – is that potential owners get to see how he or she responds to a totally alien environment. Some horses that are sold at our sales can travel from right across Europe,” says Richard.
Happy Times
Ruth Wollerton bought Happy Times from auction as a four-year-old, before selling him on to Sam Griffiths as a six-year-old. Happy
Auctions are a great place to buy, as long as you do your research beforehand Victoria Bax, event rider wasn’t Ruth’s first auction purchase and certainly won’t be her last. “I knew Happy Times before the auction,” says Ruth, “and I’d found out quite a lot about him. On the day, I
saw Matthew Lannie jumping him over some fences and that confirmed that I wanted him.” While Ruth had done the research and seen Happy in action prior to the auction starting, she also went to see the vet, which is a step that can’t be overlooked. “Horses at auctions of this kind have been vetted and x-rayed, but people must not assume that this means they’ve passed. I always go and see the vet with the lot numbers I’m interested in and speak to them about the horse, the x-rays and any defects. Just because a horse trots up sound, that doesn’t mean that it’s problem free, that’s what x-rays are for.” Ruth doesn’t believe that auctions are a place to pick up ‘cheap’ horses: “The amount I paid for Happy is similar to what I would have expected to pay if I’d bought privately. “One of the great things about auctions is that you get to see a number of quality horses in one place, which saves travelling. On that day I bought another horse, called Ich Heisse Peanut, who has also done well. “ However, while Ruth selected Happy from a number of horses and she had done her research, this did not guarantee that Happy would turn out to be the star he is today:
The Stars of the Future auction has run twice a year, for the past 14 years
JANUARY 2012 Horse Deals
MY PERFECT HORSE
Laura Bechtolsheimer
Dressage star Laura Bechtolsheimer doesn’t have far to get her perfect horse – it’s her own Mistral Hojris [Alf]. “He’s athletic with amazing swing in his body and a good brain” she said, “and we have such a good, strong partnership and know what each other is thinking. I have so much confidence in him, and in Grand Prix dressage he’s extravagant and accurate with no weaknesses.” In looking for her ideal, Laura likes her horses “Big, well-built, strong, big hearted with good conformation that gives them the ability to last longer and on the sharp side with a good brain that always wants to please. “It’s so much easier to teach them when they are genuine triers, and with big paces and extravagance, it is the rider’s job to shape them.”
Alf is my perfect horse, we know what each other is thinking Laura Bechtolsheimer
JANUARY 2012 Horse Deals
Tel: 01733 468000
MY pERFECT HORSE
Myperfect horse Guy Williams
We all dream of the perfect horse, even top riders – but what do our celebrities look for in their perfect mount, and which horse do they covet
Show jumper Guy Williams, renowned for his speedy prowess, is to the point. “A winner” he said, “nice, looking, careful and fast.”
Spencer Wilton Dressage star and Horse Deals columnist Spencer Wilton is still searching for his perfect partner after owning his first pony aged 12. “He was Mr Shandy, a palomino, and I’ve been looking for the perfect palomino ever since” he said, tongue firmly in cheek – “so my ideal would be a palomino Uthopia [Carl Hester’s latest dressage star].” Spencer’s number one priority in looking for his ideal is surprising – conformation isn’t top of the list. “It’s important that the horse is self-motivated” he explained, “Horses that don’t have the desire to move are difficult to ride. “Natural suppleness is essential, as is a willing, helpful temperament, but perfect conformation is difficult to insist on. Many top horses don’t have amazing conformation, but they can work with their bodies to produce the goods anyway.”
Carron Nicol
Warwickshire-based sport horse dealer and show jumper Carron Nicol has produced several International prospects before selling them on – including Billy Twomey’s Blue Thunder and Fantasia – now with Spain’s Manuel Anon. And Carron looks for specific traits. “A kind temperament, willing, not lazy and possessing good conformation – the horse doesn’t have to be good looking, but it does need to be well put together” she says, “I want a good, straight mover with a good trot, not short or dishing, and a good canter that it can jump out of.” Carron doesn’t have to think far to name the horse she most covets – Fantasia, a mare possessing an exceptional, exuberant and ultra-careful jump. “I miss her so much. She was sharp, willing and forwardthinking, and always looking for the next fence.” www.horsedeals.co.uk
Lynn Russell Top show cob producer and dealer Lynn Russell knows exactly what she doesn’t want! “Not a horse that naps or rears or bucks; one I can get on and it doesn’t disappear in the opposite direction to where I want to go, and one that I can’t stop!” she states firmly, “I’ve had all of those lately.” So what does she look for? “A horse that moves well, is comfortable with good, correct conformation” says Lynn, “and preferably not a chestnut or a mare! A lovely dapple grey would be nice.” Lynn considers herself lucky to have owned her perfect the horse – Polaris, the prolific winning champion show cob. “He combined all of the above” she said, “An exceptional mover, lovely character, well put together and he won masses for me.” JANUARY 2012 Horse Deals
Do calmers really work and when should you use them? Horse Deals asks the experts
A horse can pick up on nerves and a worried rider often makes a worried horse.
calmers
Cool, calm and collected W
hen a horse becomes stressed or frightened, his instincts kick in. His natural reaction is to try and escape from whatever worries him, whether he’s reacting to a new environment, competition or travel stress, box rest or challenges in his education. At best, it can make him inattentive or spooky. At worst, it could make him a danger to his rider, to others and to himself. With time, training and the right management, most problems can be resolved, but many riders now find that nutritional support can help. Supplements to promote calmness have become big business, with formulations ranging from plant extracts and minerals to a protein found in milk. While there is little scientific evidence to show whether or not particular ingredients work in horses, there are plenty of anecdotal reports to suggest that the right calmer could help keep you and your horse on track.
Trials and tribulations
The scarcity of clinical trials comes down to cost and doesn’t mean manufacturers lack confidence in their products. Economics dictate that while tests can be funded in the agricultural animal sector, the same resources are not available in the equine one. When Dodson & Horrell developed Take Control, a supplement designed to be fed two to four weeks before a change in situation or event, it incorporated bio-available magnesium and calcium, anti-oxidants, apple fibre and lecithin as part of the formula. “We looked at it purely from the nutritional point of view,” said nutritionist Dr Teresa Hollands. “When poultry and pigs are intensively farmed, they get stressed, so we looked at things which have been shown to decrease stress in other species when measured as a behaviour.” Dr David Marlin, who developed the Science Supplements range, carried out a double-blind placebo controlled trial at Hartpury College to assess the effect of ProKalm on 16 horses. The result was that horses fed ProKalm – which is based on plant extracts - settled quicker and concentrated better than those fed a placebo, though those handling and feeding the animals did not know which ones were getting the real thing. www.horsedeals.co.uk
The big picture
Responsible manufacturers agree that there is no such thing as a magic supplement that will turn a fizzy TB into a placid hack. You need to look at how you keep your horse and you also need to be honest about your own temperament and ability. We all know that horses react to their riders’ and handlers’ demeanour. Some people have a naturally calming effect and others do the opposite and even if you think you’re staying calm, you might be giving out different signals. Even good riders can have bad days. If you feel stressed because of other things going on in your life, or competition nerves make you tense your muscles and/or take fast, shallow breaths, your horse is going to pick up on it – and inevitably, a worried rider or handler makes a worried horse. Make sure behavioural problems do not have a physical cause. Is your horse in discomfort or even pain? Is he stressed because he doesn’t have enough turnout time or because you’re feeding too much hard feed and not enough
It might be that a calming supplement can be the final piece in the jigsaw when you want to solve a problem, but it’s unfair to expect it to work alone. forage? Could he have gastric ulcers? Does he understand what you’re asking and has he been introduced to new experiences correctly? Is he associating something such as travelling with previous bad experiences? As Dr Marlin points out, even one-off bad experiences can leave a legacy. For instance, a horse who has been involved in a road accident may become stressed on future journeys. It might be that a calming supplement can be the final piece in the jigsaw when you want to solve a problem, but it’s unfair to expect it to work alone.
RESCUE SPRAY: If the problem stems from your nerves, try a human calmer!
TAKE CONTROL: Take Control is designed to be fed two to four weeks before a change in situation or event.
Breaking the cycle
When you’ve taken an overall view and, if necessary, asked your vet’s advice, you’ll be in a much better position to look at calmers. By making sure all the basics are in place, you’ll also give whatever you try a better chance of working. If a product doesn’t seem to work, check that you’ve fed the correct dosage. Some need to be fed on a loading dose to start with or in larger amounts when you know you’re about to face a particularly stressful situation. This can then be reduced to a maintenance dose. It’s also worth asking the manufacturer for advice, which should be available by phone or email. Most supplements are designed to be mixed with feed. If your horse turns up his nose, add a tiny amount to start with and gradually buildup to the required amount. Make sure the product you choose is competition legal and doesn’t contravene FEI rules. The list of prohibited substances is available on the FEI dedicated website, www. cleansport.org Do you want a general calming effect or just for specific situations? Some companies offer products for both scenarios; for instance, NAF says a syringe of its Instant Magic can be given before an event which you know will be stressful. Are you addressing the right problem? For example, if your mare becomes stressed when she is in season, or you have a gelding with stallion tendencies, you may find that JANUARY 2012 Horse Deals
Supporting British Breeding www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk
stallion special
Part one
Stallion special All you need to know for the 2012 season Inside:
• The best of British: • The top stallions of 2011 • Studs that hit the headlines • The stock to look out for • Talking Trakehner • Meet Treliver Decanter
Picture by Tanja Davis www.tanjadavis.com
www.horsedeals.co.uk
january 2012 Horse Deals
British bred success Supporting British Breeding www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk
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Horse Deals takes a look at the stallions, studs and stock that hit the headlines in 2011
reeding a horse may seem easy, but breeding a great horse – who has all the necessary attributes to get to the top of its game – isn’t so simple. Thanks to the wonders of AI, stallion and mare need never meet, but this has meant that the tricky task of finding the right stallion has become even more challenging now geography is no limitation. Despite having easy access to horses in Europe and further afield, there are a great many British success stories, involving British sires and dams, who have created British superstars.
Eventing In 2010, the British Eventing Stallion rankings stated that British bred Jumbo was top of the Top 20 Sires for seven and eight-year-olds. Jumbo himself, was a high level performer, being ridden by Andrew Nicholson up to Advanced level, but his offspring have excelled themselves further. It’s difficult to pick which ‘line’ to follow in the Jumbo story, as there are many of them. Andrew Nicholson is now successfully competing at Advanced level on Henry Tankerville, whose sire is Jumbo. Horse Deals columnist, Lucinda Frederick, has had great success on Headley Britannia, who was bred at the Headley Stud and is also by Jumbo, out of Alan’s Bambi. Med Night Mahout is by Jumbo, out of Medinight, and has progressed up to Intermediate level. During the first few years of this 16h stallion’s competitive career, he was ridden by Mary King. Mary King is very much at the top of her game, thanks to a team of strong horses, including homebred Kings Temptress. Kings Temptress is dam to Mary’s homebred, Everys King, whose sire is Med Night Mahout. Originally ridden by Mary, january 2012 Horse Deals
Everys King is now ridden by Emily, Mary’s daughter and is doing very well at Novice level. “I only breed from British and Irish horses, as I believe they make the best eventers in the world,” says Tessa Spencer, owner of Med Night Mahout. “Even the very best event riders can, sometimes, read a fence incorrectly, and I find that with a British/Irish horse, you should come out the other end in one piece. I believe that they can think for themselves. Some of the native breeds and draught horses can be quite sharp, sensitive and tough, as well as having a tremendous work ethic and being highly trainable.” Eventing has changed over the years and, with the long format no longer running, the kinds of horses that have started to appear on the circuit have changed a little. “You find that many horses now have warmblood lines because they can have more cadence and elevation in the dressage phase,” says Tessa, who is proprietor of Cliveden Stud. “It seems to be more of a fashion at the moment, but some of these horses just don’t have the stamina. They weren’t bred for British
British and Irish horses make the best eventers in the world Tessa Spencer eventing, for undulating terrain and riding cross country. If horses find something easy, like riding hilly tracks, they are likely to stay sound for longer. My old eventer was just like that, he had tremendous stamina, it made no difference to him whether you were going uphill or downhill, he just stayed in the same relentless rhythm. He was full of courage and
Kings Temptress is dam to Mary’s homebred, Everys King
that never say die attitude. Something I’m yet to come across in many warmbloods.” As for the future of British breeding, Tessa thinks that things could go full circle. “There are a number of equestrian establishments running unaffiliated three day events using the original long format. They are proving very popular and are always over subscribed, with long waiting lists. People love these events, as they have a different focus to the events of today. “My old event horse Stevens Boy was featured on the front cover of an Australian equestrian magazine from 1992, with the caption ‘Great British Event Horses – where do they get them?’ I think it’s a shame that people look outside the UK for stallions before looking inside, at some of the great and successful lines we have here. There are lovely event stallions available from great blood lines such as Major Cruise who is by Cruising.” Tel: 01733 468000
Next month in On sale 31 JANUARY
PLUS inion
Expert op m from Tea , Fredericks on t Spencer Wilew and our n s breeder column
part two
Stallion special
How to pick the perfect stallion • The must-have guide for anyone looking to breed a future champion • The ultimate breeding directory
Showing your Arabian explained ●
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Meet H-Tobago, the Arabian stallion who has conquered the sport horse market
Bumper property special
• Find your dream home, whatever your budget • A day in the life of an equestrian estate agent • Planning questions answered