HQ Magazine Issue 159B

DIGITAL ISSUE 159B | 2022

SOUTH AFRICA’S PREMIER EQUESTRIAN MAGAZINE

JUST THE TWO OF US SS22 COLLECTION ARRIVING IN JULY & AUGUST

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Welcome!

We’re delighted to have you here again for another issue of HQ Magazine.

Our ‘long read’ this month is on the recommendation made by the French House of Parliament to the Olympic Committee on creating an Olympics which prioritises equine welfare. The 46 recommendations are all outlined here and make for an interesting and thoughtprovoking read.

Our regular features are inside as always, including our ‘horse of the month’ features. If you believe your horse or pony deserves to feature in one of these articles, please contact lizzie@hqmagazine.co.za.

We’d love the opportunity to feature your special equine!

Our print edition is currently in production and will soon be on the shelves of our advertisers. For anyone looking to have their copy delivered, please check out the ‘Subscriptions’ tab on our website (www.hqmagazine.co.za). This edition is a limited special edition and features Pony Magazine in addition to HQ Magazine, so don’t miss out!

With that, we hope you have a splendidly horsey month and look forward to seeing you back here on the 1st of August.

Much love,

Lizzie and xxx the HQ team Dr Lizzie Harrison | Editor

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Designer | Mauray Wolff

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DIGITAL ISSUE 159B | 2022

IN THIS ISSUE 48

French Government Ask for an overhaul of equestrian welfare practices for the 2024 Olympics

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Does practice make perfect?

What it takes to become an expert

06 The measure of success

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In a league of their own

For Capital Stud

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Building a dream

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Raising champions

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Mare of the month

Gelding of the month

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Show rider of the month Darryn McIntosh

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FEI Africa Cup Vaulting Cup 2022 An event to celebrate

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Lightning bolt Polework variations

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Anatomy, Part 10 The Respiratory System

90 Zandi Alcock Talks Equaan 1000

Alberich 10 – it’s a 10 out of 10

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Making your hay count When times are tough financially

Assegai Quickstep

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Denton Horse Boxes

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Investigating IRAP What’s the hype about?

100 AskHQ Your equestrian questions answered

102 Products we love Shopping fun

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THOMAS VAN RIJCKEVORSEL & AMY HAY 2022 YOUTH EQUESTRIAN GAMES IN AACHEN

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At Capital Stud, it is not enough to believe you are on track. As a Stud, Capital emphasises objective measures of success as their means of evaluation; they realistically appraise their results against these measures and take on board the learnings to ensure continuous refinement and improvement. This is all set against the ethos that the horse comes first. Production must be thorough, the horse must be healthy, and the athlete’s enjoyment in their work is of paramount importance.

Achieving the goals that Capital Stud set for themselves is no mean feat, and with results coming in thick and fast, there’s nowhere to hide. Thankfully, no hiding is required in the case of Capital Stud, and some would argue a celebration is more than a little overdue!

Here we look at three of Capital’s measures of success over the past few months to see just why we can all be excited for the future of the sport.

HITTING THE 1.50S

The ultimate goal for most showjumpers in South Africa is to jump in the 1.50m classes. For the Stud, it is important to see that many Capital horses not only reach this level but stay and excel at this level. More than this, it is also important to see that as older horses move out of the sport, younger athletes come in to take their place.

In the past 12 months, Capital has seen the following horses and breeding stallions begin, continue and win in their 1.50m careers: Capital Colman Capital Levubu Capital Magic Boy Capital Night Star Capital Clarissimo Capital Homerus Capital Kronos Capital Don Costello Capital Chantilly Capital Chapman Capital Hitoshi It’s tough at the top, but the Capital horses are thriving, excelling and demonstrating exactly what the world’s best bloodlines can do.

Is Capital succeeding in producing top athletes? Unquestionably yes.

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KEEPING UP WITH THE BREEDING TRENDS

Capital Stud’s latest broodmare auction was a brave foray into the European scene. Refusing to allow South Africa to be left behind, Henning replicated the European model of broodmare sales and brought South Africa up to speed on the true value of a broodmare. Sixteen broodmares in foal to exceptional Capital stallions went under the hammer at the end of June. The white glove sale achieved an average price of R120,000.

As if this was not enough, the Stud has also brought in a collection of new stallions to add to the entourage of greats that already bear the illustrious Capital prefix. These stallions are, in the words of Dirk Zagers,

Set to be the future play-makers of the sport.

The foresight shown in the selection of these youngsters is inspiring, and these horses are sure to create serious waves across the country and further afield.

Is Capital Stud keeping South Africa up to date with breeding trends and bloodlines?

Absolutely.

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CAPITAL LEGACY - 2018 Capital Levubu x Untouchable x Cassini I Capital’s History JT Z - 2021 (a full brother to Hardrock Z) (Heartbreaker x Carthago Z x Rebel I IZ) Capital Voice van het Keizerhof - 2021 (Pegase van ‘t Ruytershof x Chacco-Blue x Berlin (ex Caspar) Capital V-Power van het Keizerhof - 2021 (Luigi Déclipse x Cassini I x Romino) Capital Very Cool van het Keizerhof - 2021 (Luigi Déclipse x Casall la Silla x Carolus) Capital Vegas van het Keizerhof - 2021 (Uricas VD Kattenv x Stakkato x Lord Caletto) Capital’s Emirates van Overis Z - 2020 (Emerald van ‘t Ruytershof x Pommeau du Heup x Ramiro Z) Capital’s Barnidin JT Z - 2020 (Baloubet du Rouet x Heartbreaker (Happy Days Z) x Carthago Z) NOTE: Happy Days Z is full sister to Hardrock Z Capital Udorado van het Keizerhof - 2020 (Grandorado x Heartbreaker x Burggraaf) Capital’s Tandoori Pommex Z - 2020 (Tobago Z x Golden Hawk x Rubens du ri dásse D’96) Capital’s Hermes Pommex Z - 2019 (Halifax van het Kluizebos x Emerald van ’t Ruytershof x Usha van ’t Roosakker) Capital’s Harton vd Berghoeve Z - 2019 (Heartbreaker x Diamant de Semilly x Atoucha van ‘t Roosakker) Capital’s Todos de Regor - 2019 (Chacco-Blue x Cento x Nabab de Reve x Qerly Chin) Capital Toulouse van het Keizerhof - 2019 (Diarado x Chacco-Blue x Berlin (ex Caspar)) Capital’s Jaures de Hus - 2019 (Baloubet du Rouet x Wandor Van Mispelaere x Cento x Usha van ’t Roosakker)

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ARRIVING IN AACHEN

The pinnacle of any rider’s career is walking into the arena at Aachen, and for Thomas van Rijckevorsel and Amy Hay this dream has just become a reality. Capital Stud are so proud that two junior riders of Capital Stud horses (Thomas van Rijckevorsel purchased Capital My Lady at the 2017 auction, and Amy Hay entered her first adult classes on Capital Lincoln) are currently competing in the Youth Olympic Games in this hallowed arena. They are there with the 30 best young riders in the world and they, without question, deserve their places. Henning’s vision is to see southern Africans compete at an international level, and in Aachen over the past few days we have seen this acted out. Capital Stud wish to congratulate Thomas and Amy and their teams on this outstanding achievement. These young people are truly the future of our sport.

In line with this achievement, it is also noteworthy that so many talented young riders are bringing on Capital horses to great acclaim and success: Jade Coetzee and Capital Hawk and Capital Houghton, Jorja Rohrich and Capital Hurley, Katelyn De Waal and Impangele Capital Cancoon and Lauren de Waal and Impangele Capital Cavalier, to name just a few.

Then in terms of combinations to watch out for we have Jade Anderson and Capital Kasane and Capital Holden, and Holly Smith and her Capital horses, especially her future partnership with Capital Clarissimo.

To see these young riders developing such partnerships with these talented young horses is exciting for the future of the sport.

Is the future of the sport bright for Capital youngsters and their talented young riders?

It certainly is.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

If you ask Henning, he’ll tell you there’s always more to do and more improvements to be made. He continues to seek out the best in the world and deliver it to South African equestrian sport. He never falls behind, because, as he says himself, “you have to keep up with what Europe is doing. You can’t sit still.” Yet, if one looks at the achievements of the past few months, it’s fair to say that Henning could probably take a holiday (or two). The Stud’s competition horses are climbing the ranks, the stallions and broodmares are ready to go, and the youngsters (both equine and human) are showing us all how it’s done. It’s passion and dedication that have brought Henning and Capital Stud to where they are today, and on behalf of the South African equestrian industry, we would like to say a huge thank you.

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HORSES IN BLACK & WHITE 14

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BUILDING A DREAM RAISING CHAMPIONS

Anyone who has ever had anything to do with Callaho knows that this enterprise is so much more than a family business. The passion that fuels the team, their dedication to breeding quality sporthorses and their commitment to growing the equestrian sport in South Africa are evident in every interaction with them. There is nothing cliched about it – Callaho is building a dream.

This dream begins with inspired yet proven breeding combinations. These horses are bred to be winners. And yet, Team Callaho is doing more than just breeding champions; they are nurturing, raising and educating them. This formula of unbeatable genetics and exceptional production explains why Callaho has so many equine athletes competing at the top of the game. These horses are not just bred to win, they are taught how to, and this education begins on day one.

HQ was fortunate enough to catch up with three members of the Callaho ‘development squad’ Carrie-Ann Bottom, Annette Rousseau and Graham Winn. These three individuals are part of the huge team at the Stud that are responsible for bringing these young horses to the point where they are ready to enter Ray Korber’s ‘finishing school’ in preparation for auction. We have been blown away by the dedication, attention to detail and thoroughness of the production process. Huge acknowledgement must go to every single person involved. From the Breeding Manager, to the Stable Management, Medical, Maintenance and Training Teams, there are so many players who are integral to the process. People may say that horses are not investments; Callaho Warmblood Stud is proving them wrong.

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YEARS 0 – 3

Everything at Callaho begins with the foaling down process, which is attended by a member of the Callaho Stable Management team comprising Marike Swanepoel, Carrie-Ann Bottom, Tani Gerber and Johnny Smith. “We look after all the horses not in training. We’re there from birth until they are three or three and a half years old, and our role is very hands-on.”

“I learned my role through the support and mentorship of Marike Swanepoel, our Stable Manager here at Callaho who has been on the farm, working with the horses for almost 14 years now. Marike knows every single horse, their breeding and where they are at in their training, and we discuss each of them,” said Carrie-Ann.

I’m constantly aware that the youngster in front of me will be somebody’s sporting partner for the rest of their lives, so this work is critical.

She tells us, “My goal with the foals is to give them as many positive interactions with humans from as early an age as possible. I’ve seen how this lays down a foundation of trust, and we then just build on that existing foundation with every interaction we have with the young horse right up to the auction. From day two or three of life, we make sure we can touch them all over, and at one week of age, we can pick up their feet. We quickly move on to brushing them and checking temperatures daily. Essentially, we make everything a game and normalise all of the questions that we’re asking of them.”

“When they are first born, they go out in a herd with other mothers with young foals, and as they all mature, we move them into bigger paddocks. Our weaning process is very gentle in that we gradually remove the mares over time so that nothing else changes for the foals – they still have their friends, remain in the same paddock and stick to the same routine. Every day, we walk through the herd, take everyone’s temperature, and look at the feet. At this stage, my goal is that I can walk up to each foal and that they are happy to have me in their presence.”

“In terms of training, I consider every interaction with the horses an opportunity to train. Gradually as they mature, I ask more and more difficult questions, but from day one, I’m focused on good manners, leading well, moving through gates safely etc. I really believe that these manners stay with the horse for the rest of their lives and that the biggest favour you can do them is to instil these right from the beginning. I want to hand over horses who are safe, willing and happy to do their job. I believe that these youngsters are exposed to so many positive interactions with people in terms of handling that they are never surprised by the questions we ask them. This sets them up for success and creates the Callaho temperament.”

When asked what she loves most about her job, Carrie-Ann replies “I love seeing the foals learn and develop their personalities. They are all individuals, and we treat them as such. I get such a sense of pride when I see them go to their first show or win their first rosette. Every season I say to Marike that I can’t love the next crop of foals as much as I loved the last one, and yet somehow I do.”

Carrie-Ann Bottom 18

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YEARS 3.5 – 4.5

After their early years with Carrie-Ann, the horses move to their more formal training with Annette Rousseau and her team. “From three and a half years old, I work with them up until auction,” says Annette. “We follow a general process but tailor each programme to suit the individual horse – no two horses are the same, and it’s important to recognise this and adapt accordingly. I generally start with join-up and groundwork before moving on to the backing process. The backing process is usually straightforward after all of the handling from Carrie-Ann and the groundwork we do.”

“After backing, we do little bits of work, no more than 10-15 minutes at a time, to gradually build strength and avoid overfacing the horses. We start out in the lunge ring, with no contact. We move to the arena for a short time to develop steering, and then we start going out into the veld and tackling natural obstacles. These natural obstacles are things they will have encountered before in their paddocks, but we go slowly in the beginning. We might lead them over the obstacle, then ride them over the obstacle with a leader on the ground and then finally ride them over it independently.

There’s no rush, and we go back a step if we realise something is missing. In addition to all the natural obstacles, we’re so lucky at Callaho to have all of the potato fields, where we can take the horses for outrides. On these rides, they get exposed to everything you can think of; people are working in the fields, other horses are playing in the paddocks, and it’s not uncommon for a deer to run out of the bushes! We want the horses to be exposed to as much as possible and feel safe and confident that they can handle whatever is thrown at them.”

Marike Swanepoel

I really love my job. We get to see these youngsters develop, and Ian (Callender-Easby) allows us to take the time we need to with each of them. This bi-annual auction system is great because it allows us to take the time it takes with each horse. I’ve never been told to ‘get it done’ or ‘speed it up’. In fact, the best advice I was ever given came from Callaho: ‘How long does it take to train a horse? As long as it takes’. I’m so proud of these horses, and I know that we’re setting them up in the best way possible to achieve all they are meant to.

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At least twice a year, Graham Winn heads down from Johannesburg to observe the process and see where he can help. “I don’t feel I do an awful lot,” he says. “Carrie-Ann literally knows every single horse she cares for, and those youngsters run to her to have their temperatures taken and feet picked up. It’s remarkable! We can all learn something from Carrie-Ann and her intimate knowledge of each horse’s breeding and temperament – she misses nothing. Those horses are watched 24 hours a day.

They are valuable horses, but the level of care and attention is astonishing.”

“For many years now, I have been coming down to Callaho a few times a year to check in on the process and give input where I can. I must say though that each year, my role becomes smaller and smaller because of the exceptional handling these horses receive from birth and then Annette’s training. Annette is one of the most naturally talented horse people around. She downplays her abilities, but her work backing the youngsters is so gentle yet effective. She has an ability to read the horse and moves at their pace. To be honest, I’m learning as much as I’m teaching.”

When I arrive at Callaho, I’m shown a smooth working system. I’m often blown away by what the horses can already do! My main role is really to help Annette with any tricky training questions, and we bounce ideas off each other. Out of forty horses, we might have five or six that need a little bit more individual attention than the others. I just give another perspective, suggest some options, and we work from there. Often, these quirky horses turn out to be the most talented! I’m in constant contact with the whole team even when I’m not at the Stud, but my job with Annette is mostly just to tell her that her work is done, and she can relax.

Graham Winn

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Annette Rousseau

The Callaho environment is such a gift for these youngsters. Living in these big herds is so good for the horses – there are no better disciplinarians than mothers and herd mates. Having the space to move freely is also so important, and something very few places can offer. These horses really get to be horses, which sets them up for success later down the line. The natural obstacles and cross-country elements of the training are also so important. These horses have unbelievable natural balance and know how to look after themselves. The programme at Callaho never lets the riding ‘dominate’ the horse. These horses are genetically superior, and they need to retain their natural initiative – the cross country work is a key part of this. You don’t breed this kind of natural ability to then suppress it. Callaho cultivates the natural talent to create confident, assured performers.

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I really believe that you buy an investment when you buy a Callaho horse. Callaho has bred the best and is in a position to have the experts in their field do everything in a very controlled and correct way. This formula is unbeatable, and what you pay for a Callaho horse is a fraction of what goes into making them in those early years. They are constantly being produced from day one, and Callaho has mastered the art of production. That’s their secret.

IT’S THE PASSION

This degree of dedication and commitment to excellence is not a function of a well-run business or simple pride in a job well done; it’s part of an all-consuming passion for horses and our sport. Callaho horses are genetically imbued with greatness, but more than that, they are nurtured, trained and produced with real love. Callaho call it ‘breeding magic’, but it’s so much more than that. It’s passion; it’s a dream; and it’s a gift to South African equestrians.

This is our sport at its best.

NEXT EDITION

In our next edition we will be chatting to Ray Korber and several of the Callaho riders, who put the finishing touches to these remarkable horses before they embark on their auction journey. You don’t want to miss this.

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FOCUS

HORSES IN BLACK & WHITE

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HORSE AND RIDER

TEXT: GEORGIA HARLEY

Mare of the month ASSEGAI QUICKSTEP

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his month’s mare of the month is the lovely rising 12-year-old grey mare, Assegai Quickstep. This mare is ridden by her owner, Shannay Marais. The duo are currently competing in the 1.30m classes with the plan of being in the 1.35m classes next year and hopefully someday jumping the Derby. In fact, these two have already set foot in the Derby arena, the Bob Charter, and there were no problems - an excellent sign for a hopeful Derby competitor.

Quicks jumped everything without hesitation - the dike, the steps and the water.

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HISTORY This team went from jumping in the 1m classes together to now competing in the 1.35m. All of this was made possible through the tutelage of Ronnie Healy of RH Equestrian. RH Equestrian is also home to Quickstep as well as Shannay’s other horse, Callaho Lariscott and her pony, Lindt.

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It’s true love and partnership.

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HORSE AND RIDER

We have a bond unlike any other.

ABOUT QUICKS Quicks is a mare through and through. She likes things to be done her way, but as Shannay told us, “Once you get to know her, trust her, and believe in her, she will do anything for you. She has a big heart and will protect you with it”.

Shannay and Quicks understand one another. This is clear, and the results of the team speak for themselves.

When we chatted to Shannay, it was clear how much she has valued riding Quickstep. Shannay has learnt to ride a trickier horse through perseverance and grit. Every month these articles are testament to the fact that riding teaches you more than just equine skills – and this is undoubtedly the case for Shannay and Quicks. The pair have developed together, and the future certainly looks bright for them both.

BREEDING Quickstep is the daughter of the stallion that was imported and owned by Branic Stud, Quartz d’ Eclipse. Unfortunately, before he could show his true potential, he succumbed to African Horse Sickness. It was never in doubt, said Branic Stud, that “he had the potential to be one of the finest stallions imported into South Africa”. Looking at his pedigree,

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DID YOU KNOW? Quidam de Revel has a clone – Quidam de Revel II Z. it’s hard to argue with this statement; he is the direct son of influential sire, Quidam De Revel. Quidam united two of the most important lines in Selle Francais breeding, Jalisco B and Urial. He himself jumped at the Olympic level coming 4th in the individual jumping at the Barcelona Games, as well as producing over 165 offspring competing at the 1.60m level.

Some of the most famous of his offspring include Verdi TN, Nabab de Reve and Kashmir van Schutterhof. Kashmir is the father to the recent Gold Medallist, All In. Quidam’s mother, Dirka, was a small mare at only 163cm but jumped at the international level and won.

FUTURE As a wonderfully successful and admirable partnership, Quicks and Shannay are to be sponsored by Equestrian House as of the 1st of July 2022.

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HORSE AND RIDER

TEXT: GEORGIA HARLEY

Gelding of the month ALBERICH 10 - IT'S A TEN OUT OF TEN

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lberich 10 (Albie) is owned and ridden by Imogen Hilterman. This lovely, tall, 10-year-old gelding was purchased in 2019 in Germany. He has a unique marking on his face which Imogen fondly refers to as his "simba smudge". This duo are based at Burlington Stables and coached by Anne-Marie Esslinger.

HISTORY Albie happened to be the last horse Imogen was to try at Hilmar Meyer Sporthorses. As he walked in, Imogen had

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a good feeling, and after a very short 10-minute ride, she was on the phone with her mom to say she had found the horse of her dreams.

After Albie arrived in South Africa, the team needed some time to get to know each other and learn all the buttons, but still, progress was swift. After a little while in the 1.20m and 1.30m classes, they moved up to the 1.35m classes and even snatched a second place in their first class. And the plan is, of course, to keep going! Imogen hopes to jump confidently around the 1.40m and even the

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No horse has given me so much confidence

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HORSE AND RIDER

He has made my dreams come true

1.50m tracks, and with his sire scoring a 10 for scope, Albie seems like an excellent partner to reach that goal.

PERSONALITY Imogen describes Albie as a "giddy goat". He is a horse full of contrasts and contradictions. As one example of his quirks, he can make a lot of noise if a horse leaves the arena but similarly can get a huge fright if a horse comes too close to him in the warm-up.

Albie's playful, giddy side, unfortunately, got to the better of him when in 2021, he was hacking and leapt in the air and landed on a rock. However, with the work of Dr Mike Ross and the team at North Rand Animal Clinic, he made a full recovery.

BREEDING – THE FOUNDATION IS STRONG Superior Equine Sires described Alberich 10's sire Asti's Amsterdam as having "a fantastic genetic makeup". This is abundantly clear when you look back at his pedigree and see two very well-known foundation stallions, Alme and Cor de la Bryere.

Cor de la Bryere was one of the greatest stallions of all time. He revolutionised showjumping breeding, not only as a sire but as a sire of sires and a dam sire. Alme, like

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Cor de la Bryere, needs no introduction to the breeding world. He is, in fact, known as the "father of world breeding" and is the grandsire to another foundation stallion, Quidam de Revel.

Asti's Amsterdam completed his 30-day performance test in 2004 and achieved a very impressive 10 for scope, 9.25 for style and 8.24 for his overall mark. These marks proved accurate when he went on to win the Hanoverian Free Jumping Competition in 2005. Not only was he a champion, but one of his progeny was the Champion Show Jumping Foal in Donnenburg and scored a 9 for movement and suppleness. This quality is a clear stamp he passes on to his offspring and is evident in his son Alberich 10.

Roeschen, Alberich 10's mother, is by yet another foundation stallion, Raphael. Raphael was the 1981 Reserve Champion of Oldenburg Stallion Licensing and third at his stallion performance test. He was a better breeding stallion than competitor, having few competition results himself but having produced 22 licensed stallions.

FINAL THOUGHTS This gelding has already made Imogen's childhood dreams come true, but we feel certain there is more to come for this duo in the very near future.

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HORSE AND RIDER

TEXT: TARRYN STEBBING

Show Rider of the month DARRYN MCINTOSH

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hilst Darryn has owned and ridden many successful horses in the past, her current ride is Equifeeds Panama Man, with whom she successfully won the title of this year’s Royal Horse Show’s Supreme Open Show Horse.

Based just outside of Pietermaritzburg, Darryn not only competes herself but is also a Candidate National Showing Judge.

be to always give yourself enough time to turn your horse and yourself out, as there is nothing worse than running out of time and going into the ring flustered!

WHAT IS YOUR TOP TIP FOR SHOWING? Goodness, there are so many, but I think my top one would

YOUR GREATEST RIDING ACHIEVEMENT? Winning SA Champs on my horse Cape Fard in 2007.

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YOUR FAVOURITE CLASS TO COMPETE IN? Definitely the Show Hack class. I just love the elegance and the beauty of a hack.

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PLEASE COMPLETE THE SENTENCE: Never would I ever…in the ring Never would I ever rain on someone else’s parade - never overtake another competitor to block them from the judges or overtake too closely so that you upset their horse. You must always be respectful of your fellow competitors.

very busy and allows me the freedom I need to work with my own horses.

DO YOU WORK WITH HORSES FULL TIME? AND IF NOT, WHAT DO YOU DO? Yes, I run a small livery yard from home, which keeps me

YOUR LIFE MOTTO OR A QUOTE THAT YOU LIVE BY? Never ever give up!!

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YOUR FAVOURITE HORSE TO DATE? I actually have two, Cape Fard and Fisherton Flyer. I’ve been privileged to own and ride these two most incredible horses!

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HORSE AND RIDER

TEXT: TAMRYN GONZAGA

FEI Africa Cup Vaulting Cup 2022 AN EVENT TO CELEBRATE

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HORSE AND RIDER

Julienne Polchet, Lia Van Zyl, Goldi Goodman, Giana Gonzaga

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ver the weekend of 30 April – 1 May, Vaulting South Africa and the organising committee from the Gauteng Vaulting Council had the pleasure of hosting the FEI Africa Cup Vaulting Cup at the Equidome in Kyalami. Almost 70 athletes representing South Africa, Mauritius, and Zimbabwe trained and competed over the jam-packed five-day event that consisted of three days of coaching clinics and two days of intense competition.

Highlights of the pre-show clinics were coaching sessions from World Equestrian Games gold medalist and Italian vaulter Silvia Stopazzini and FEI 4-star judge Dalibor Blazek from the Czech Republic, a lunging clinic presented by Lillian Moller, an exercise and conditioning clinic given by recognised Physiotherapist Floyd Lebatie, a Dance session with Candice and a Horsemanship clinic

by Kelly Slater.

These clinics not only provided an opportunity for vaulters to learn from world-class coaches but also to upskill local judges, lungers, officials and parents through both the active and theoretical sessions. The sport has thankfully seen an increase in numbers in the last few years (this despite COVID), and these clinics certainly assist in raising the standard of vaulting not only in Gauteng but the other provinces and neighbouring countries.

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Giana Gonzaga

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HORSE AND RIDER

Erin Muller/ Jordan Wright (Pairs)

Khwezi Magagula

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HORSE AND RIDER

Jordan Wright & Dimitra Michalakis

Shannon Roberts, Kyla Pretorius, Jennah Mynhardt, Catherine Mynhardt

RESULTS The competition was stiff in the team categories: • E GRADE TEAM – Won by South Africa (Giana Gonzaga, Goldi Goodman, Lia Van Zyl & Julienne Polchet) • D GRADE TEAM – Won by Zimbabwe (Ashley Luphondo and Siyavuya Mgulwa) • C GRADE TEAM – Won by South Africa (Shannon Roberts, Catherine Mynhardt, Jennah Mynhardt & Kyla Pretorius) HQ|159B

• 2-STAR TEAM – Won by South Africa (Jordan Wright & Dimitra Michalakis) • WALK PAIRS TEAM – Won by Mauritius (Eden & Gabrielle Marin)

Julienne Polchet, Goldi Goodman, Lia Van Zyl, Giana Gonzaga

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HORSE AND RIDER

Some SA Squad team members

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HORSE AND RIDER

Siyavuya Mgulwa

In the Individual categories: • Top E-Grade individual: Tamara Lee Hogerzeil (South Africa) • Top D-grade individual: Siyavuya Mgulwa (Zimbabwe) • Top C-Grade individual: Jenna Mynhardt (South Africa) • Top 1-star individual: Callum Flanagan (South Africa) • Top 2-star Individual: Jordan Wright (South Africa) • Top 3–star Individual: Melanie Harcourt–Cooke (South Africa) Among the South African A-team, Jordan Wright scored the highest score of the event (7,538), followed by Giana Gonzaga (6,932).

INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATION In conjunction with the Africa Cup, VASA and Gauteng Vaulting also hosted an International Qualification, an FEI CVI 1* Competition which lends itself to the more senior and experienced vaulters looking to qualify and compete internationally.

The following vaulters qualified for their FEI CVI 1-star – achieving scores > 6.50.

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Jenna Blaauw

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HORSE AND RIDER

VAULTING Vaulting provides an excellent foundation for any other equestrian discipline and is a fantastic way for young children of all backgrounds to develop muscle tone and equestrian skills. It has been described as gymnastics or dance on the back of a walking/ cantering horse that is centrally controlled by a professional lunger in the middle of a +/- 20m circle.

For an athlete, it requires the development of core strength, balance, suppleness, and fitness, while at the same time, a very close bond or harmony with the horse is of paramount importance.

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Siyavuya Mgulwa & Ashley Luphondo

FINAL THOUGHTS Both events ran exceptionally smoothly, with both shows culminating in many friendships across provinces as well as our neighbouring countries. The Nations evening bore testimony to the sportsmanship among the athletes, and the cultural dance exhibited a really fun ending to the event.

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L I G H BOLT N I N G POLEWORK VARIATIONS

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T

his super simple layout involves just four poles but can be ridden in numerous ways. The exercises can be done in-hand, or ridden at walk, trot and canter.

BENEFITS • Improves accuracy • Helps to increase inside bend and flexion, improving overall suppleness • Increasing hindquarter engagement VARIATIONS You can ride this layout in a variety of different ways (as seen here). The great thing about this is that your horse must pay attention to your instructions rather than anticipating the next step.

As always, the goal is to keep your shapes accurate and symmetrical and ensure your horse is picking up his feet over the poles.

With time you can raise some of the poles onto Rotovettis, but you should keep all poles on the ground until your horse has mastered the exercise.

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HORSE AND RIDER

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NEWS

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NEWS

French Government ASK FOR AN OVERHAUL OF EQUESTRIAN WELFARE PRACTISES FOR THE

2024 Olympics T

he French Parliament have produced a report asking the Organising Committee of the Olympic Games for a complete overhaul of the rules regarding the equestrian sport. This request has completely bypassed the FEI and gone straight to the Olympic Organising Committee. The aim of the report and its requests are to make Paris 2024 the Olympic Games of equine welfare.

The report puts forward 46 recommendations to improve welfare across all disciplines. Covering all aspects of the sport, and every discipline, including Pentathlon, the recommendation is to strengthen or change existing rules, return to the old teams' format, invest in new technologies and standardise checks.

There is a long section on the use of equipment, including banning the use of draw reins, the use of gag bits in the cross country, and the use of elevator bits with

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martingales. They ask for a review of nosebands (including cranks and grackles) and for noseband tightness to be checked using the ISES taper gauge at the nasal plane.

They would like a ban on riders using hyperflexion anywhere on the showground, referring to hyperflexion as 'any head and neck position where the nose is behind the vertical.'

The report also recommends a ban on the use of the whip more than once per event and more than twice during the warm-up. They further want to prohibit an overly constrained posture and authorise riding without spurs in dressage.

They also ask for an Independent Welfare Committee of purposely trained vets and stewards to be put in place, with access to 24/7 surveillance video recordings from everywhere on the grounds. They also call for better veterinary and medication controls, including a mandate for EHV vaccination.

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NEWS

These recommendations are all just recommendations, not mandates, but coming directly from the French House of Parliament, they hold weight.

The report begins by listing the 46 recommendations and then goes into the background and context in which these recommendations were written.

Here we look at the 46 recommendations. Thank you to Horses and People for translating the report into English.

EQUINE WELFARE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES “Incidents and accidents marred the equestrian disciplines of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, provoked public and media outrage, and prompted some animal rights organisations to call for a ban of equestrian events at the Olympic Games.

To avoid such drastic measures, it is essential to implement new measures that favour the welfare of horses for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

It is essential that this global event becomes an opportunity to raise equine welfare awareness among the

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general public and professionals, and it must be nothing other than a source of pleasure for the horses, riders and spectators.

Following the discussions that took place during many interviews, we are formulating 46 recommendations for the organisers of the equestrian events of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, recommendations that are equally applicable to all equestrian competitions beyond the Olympic Games.

These recommendations were reviewed by the people and organisations interviewed.

They have no regulatory mandate but constitute an inventory of the opinions of experts and equestrian professionals.

It is up to the Organising Committee of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and it alone, in conjunction with the various organizations interviewed, to decide on the future of these recommendations.”

The 46 recommendations below are taken directly from the translation by Horses and People:

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NEWS

CONCERNING THE FACILITIES RECOMMENDATION #1: Provide relaxation areas (grazing areas, lungeing and exercise areas, galloping track, paddocks, etc.) in sufficient quantity and surface area to be accessible to horses as needed, while respecting a controlled environment that guarantees the safety and biosecurity that are essential in competition.

RECOMMENDATION #2: Ensure that horses are housed in boxes that are large enough (4m sides minimum), high enough, well ventilated, even air-conditioned (according to FEI rules), with a comfortable, non-slip and easy-to-clean flooring that can accommodate the bedding that is familiar to each horse.

CONCERNING FEEDING RECOMMENDATION #3 Ensure a sufficient supply of hay (roughage) to allow feeding several times a day, even ad libitum, and according to the needs of each horse.

RECOMMENDATION #4 Strengthen the surveillance of control teams already provided for by the FEI, in particular, with regard to the alert criteria in terms of health, wellbeing or dangerous riding practices.

Set up a “Welfare Committee”, made up of independent experts authorised to move freely throughout the Olympic site of the equestrian events, as part of a special “Equine Welfare at the Olympic Games” mission.

RECOMMENDATION #5 Remind participants and inform the public that the entire equestrian competition precinct is under 24/7 surveillance by purposely trained veterinarians and stewards, and that recordings of the video surveillance is undertaken by an independent company, to any consultations on request, in particular that of the “Welfare Committee” RECOMMENDATION #6 Apply the existing rule which states that when leaving the arena or competition area at the end of the events, no one can access the horse before it is checked by the FEI steward in charge.

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CONCERNING TACK AND ARTIFICIAL AIDS RECOMMENDATION #7 Improve the controls against the excessive tightening of nosebands and curb chains.

Provide a more calibrated check, performed randomly during training sessions and systematically when entering or leaving each event, using a 1.5 cm ISES taper gauge placed on the nasal bones (which allow one adult finger to slide between the noseband strap and the hard nasal bone) and apply a penalty in the event of an infringement.

RECOMMENDATION #8 Review the list of tack which, by its creative design or manufacture, can cause harm and discomfort to the horse, and prohibit its use in competition, in particular nosebands that increase the capacity to tighten (crank, lever, grackle, double, etc.) as well as flash nosebands in all disciplines.

Create a positive list of authorised nosebands.

RECOMMENDATION #9 Prohibit the use of elevator/gag bits on cross country, particularly when combined with a grackle or flash noseband.

RECOMMENDATION #10 Prohibit the use of tandem/combination bits, bits with twisted or double mouthpieces, and all bits that do not align with equine welfare, and create a list of authorised mouthpieces.

RECOMMENDATION #11 Prohibit the use of martingales together with an elevator (gag) bit throughout the entire Olympic Games grounds.

RECOMMENDATION #12 Prohibit the use of running reins (draw reins) throughout the entire Olympic Games precinct.

RECOMMENDATION #13 Prohibit the fitting of tendon boots on the hindlegs by extending the FEI rules already in place for young horses, to all horses in all disciplines.

Increase control of the tightness of fetlock boots and review their authorisation to reduce their use.

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RECOMMENDATION #14 Organise a tabletop check of the tack and protective equipment of each horse with video recording, and before the events.

RECOMMENDATION #18 Systematically check the conformity of the rider’s artificial aids (spurs, whip), as well as the horse’s tack and protective equipment, as provided for in the regulations.

RECOMMENDATION #15 Prohibit the use of the whip more than once per event and more than twice during the warm-up. The use of a whip more than once per event and twice during warmup will result in a sanction or even disqualification. Video surveillance will be used as evidence if necessary.

CONCERNING VETERINARY CARE AND CONTROL RECOMMENDATION #19 Remind everyone that the fight against doping is the priority of all international competitions and that the rules prohibit the use of horses who have undergone any type of neurectomy, at any level, whether chemical or surgical.

RECOMMENDATION #16 Authorise riding without spurs in dressage, as is the case in all events.

RECOMMENDATION #17 Prohibit belly bands (bands that protect the horse from the spurs).

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RECOMMENDATION #20 Increase the random use of hyposensitivity, hypersensitivity and thermography tests to check at least 10% of the horses after each event. Work to optimise and validate these tests as perfectly reliable, standardised (specificity and sensitivity) and reproducible before the 2024 Olympic Games.

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Impose a clinical veterinary examination and a doping control test on any horse that tests positive for one of these three tests, and regulate for the disqualification of both horse and rider.

RECOMMENDATION #21 Conduct longitudinal monitoring of horses in preparation for the Olympic Games and provide for anti-doping samples between 1 month and 15 days before the veterinary visit prior to the events.

RECOMMENDATION #22 Prohibit all intra-articular injections, whatever the nature of the product injected, 14 days before the official start of the competition and until the end of the event, with no possibility of exceptions on this rule.

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(register of the care and treatment administered to the horse throughout their career) and present it at the preevent veterinary control.

RECOMMENDATION #24 Ensure that all medication brought in by the attending and/ or team veterinarians are properly controlled on arrival and on departure, and are traced by keeping a controlled register, administered exclusively in the clinic and only when necessary by authorised attending veterinarians under the responsibility of the FEI Veterinary Commission.

RECOMMENDATION #25 Expand the call for tenders and increase the number of analysis laboratories for the Olympic Games, in addition to the five establishments already selected by the FEI and, if necessary, provide for a comparative test phase.

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RECOMMENDATION #26 Mandate vaccination against rhinopneoumonitis (Equine Herpes Virus) in accordance with the protocol validated by the responsible veterinary authorities.

This is in addition to the existing regulatory mandate for equine influenza vaccination as a condition of entry into the Olympic Games precinct.

RECOMMENDATION #27 Remove from competition any horses with a medical history that is not compatible with an optimal state of health (e.g. a history of bone, ligament or muscle injury resulting in long periods of inactivity), which is necessary for participation in the Olympic Games.

This optimal state of health will have to be verified in advance by the FEI Veterinarians.

RECOMMENDATION #28 Systematise the video recording of veterinary controls (pre-competition checks and sensitivity tests) to enable viewing the slow motion control on request in case of suspected lameness, in the event of a dispute or subsequent accident, and for educational purposes.

RECOMMENDATION #29 Impose the immediate stopping of a ride at the slightest trace of blood on the horse and eliminate the horse from the rest of the competition.

RECOMMENDATION #30 Allow horses and their teams to arrive at the precompetition stables in the Olympic Games precinct at least 15 days before the competition, giving them time to rest after transport and acclimatise to the conditions before the competition begins.

CONCERNING DRESSAGE RECOMMENDATION #31 Enforce the prohibition of intentional or unintentional infliction of unnecessary suffering or discomfort, and of an overly constrained posture or frame.

Prohibit flexion of the neck that places the nose line behind the vertical (“hyperflexion”) throughout the Olympic grounds and apply sanctions with immediate effect for all equestrian disciplines.

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CONCERNING SHOWJUMPING RECOMMENDATION #32 Return to the pre-Tokyo Olympic Games showjumping format of 4 rider-horse pairs per team, with a drop-score.

RECOMMENDATION #33 Accept the French Equestrian Federation’s (FFE) request to reschedule the individual event after the team events.

RECOMMENDATION #34 Organise events involving showjumping in daylight, while avoiding the hottest periods of the day.

Consider changes to the schedule depending on the weather.

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CONCERNING CROSS-COUNTRY RECOMMENDATION #35 Improve the protection of horses by fully checking their clinical condition before deciding whether or not to allow them entry to the Olympic Games.

RECOMMENDATION #36 Continue to support equipment manufacturers who work on horse protection as well as those who work on rider protection. Collaborate on the development of better leg protection for horses for 2024.

RECOMMENDATION #37 Equip the cross-country course with 100% of obstacles designed to collapse in the event of a fall or impact.

CONCERNING THE PENTATHLON RECOMMENDATION #40 Implement all FEI safety and welfare rules for the Pentathlon Equestrian event and take into consideration the feedback from the working group involving the FEI and the FEI Veterinary Commission.

RECOMMENDATION #41 Assign a different horse to each rider to avoid multiple rounds.

RECOMMENDATION #42 Draw lots for the horse 24 hours before the event, so that every rider-horse pair can get to know each other.

RECOMMENDATION #38 Check that the design of the obstacles complies with the regulations and that the profile, the angle of attack, the top or any other area does not have any right angles or protruding parts.

RECOMMENDATION #43 Lower the height of the obstacles to 110 cm maximum.

RECOMMENDATION #39 Assess the quality of the cross-country course surface using validated measuring tools and test new, patented equipment for the evaluation of cross-country course surfaces in the various equestrian disciplines prior to the events.

TO MAKE THE PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES THE OLYMPIC GAMES OF EQUINE WELFARE RECOMMENDATION #44 Create and apply an “Equine Welfare” scoring for the Olympic Games, explaining it to the media and the general public as a ranking for “benevolent sport”.

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RECOMMENDATION #45 Use the evaluation frameworks validated by the equine industry to award an “Equine Welfare” score at the Olympic Games, and entrust this mission to the “Welfare Committee” composed of independent experts who will carry out their work on site and via video surveillance.

RECOMMENDATION #46 Make the Paris 2024 Olympic Games the Olympic Games of equine welfare, by applying the Equine Welfare Charter and Good Practice Guide produced by the FNC (Federation Nationale du Cheval), l’AVEF (Association Vétérinaire Equine Française), FFE (Fédération Française d’Équitation), France Galop, the GHN (Groupement Hippique National) and Le Trot.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION “Respect and the welfare of horses in competition is under increased scrutiny by animal welfare organisations, the public and industry.

The Tokyo Olympic Games gave a very poor public image on these issues.

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The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be particularly closely watched and must therefore be irreproachable in their handling of equine welfare.

Many of the recommendations in this report are dependent on the evolution of the FEI’s rules for equestrian events.

It is therefore essential, that the 2024 Olympic Committee takes strong measures alongside the FEI and the FFE to guarantee the sustainability of this sport, and that societal acceptance of the constraints imposed on equine athletes can be in line with the evolution of our society, which appears to be increasingly sensitive to the respect of animal welfare.

These recommendations will probably seem excessive to some professionals and insufficient to some animal protection groups. This undoubtedly means that the cursor is well placed, reasonable and not excessive. A balance that would allow horses, riders, teams, organisers and France to enjoy a wonderful Olympic Games in Paris 2024, placed under the sign of the well-being of horses.”

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HORSE AND RIDER

TEXT: RYAN TEHINI

DOES PRACTICE REALLY MAKE PERFECT? WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME AN EXPERT

I

n his bestseller Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell posits that it takes 10 000 hours of practice to become an expert or master in any field. This means that assuming you train for two hours a day, five days a week without fault, it would take you approximately 19 years to become an expert/master of the equestrian discipline. In introducing this rule, which has gained significant popularity since the release of his book, Gladwell cites many studies from a variety of fields – including music, sport, and academia. This begs the question, does it really take 10 000 hours of practice? And if not, how does one become an expert or master of a discipline?

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A PROVOCATIVE GENERALISATION One of the studies cited by Gladwell in his book was conducted by Anders Ericsson, who later called Gladwell’s theory “a provocative generalisation”, and believes that there is far more to becoming an expert than the number of hours used to hone the craft. Ericsson noted that a number of the top musicians in his study had not put in 10 000 hours by

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the time they were considered masters, while others had put in significantly more practice hours before achieving the same level. As such, he dismissed Gladwell’s theory as being totally arbitrary and said that while it provided some guidance, and a broad outline of what is required, it is not based on anything substantial and is used mainly because it is catchy and easy to understand.

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This however, does not entirely discredit the 10 000 hours theory, as it still nonetheless provides a decent outline of the requirements for an ordinary person to become a master at a craft. Still, if the premise of the theory is believed to be somewhat true, two of the main concerns regarding the theory remain unanswered - firstly, not all practice is equally helpful, so what kind of practice should make up my 10 000 hours? And secondly, one can overpractice and burn out, so how long should it take me to put in the 10 000 hours in a sustainable manner?

NOT ALL PRACTICE IS EQUAL One of the main arguments outside of the 10 000 hours rule with regards to mastering a craft, is that the quality of the practice matters significantly more than the quantity.

For example, imagine you spend one hour practicing your ride on your own one day, and then the next day you spend an hour practicing one-on-one with an expert coach who is giving you pointers the entire time – are these two practices equal? It is more than likely that you will get far more out of the second practice than the first. This is one of the main flaws underlying the 10 000 hours theory; a variety of practice is required in order to become a master of something. This variety includes time in competition, training on your own, general bonding with your horse, mental training, instructor-led training and an abundance of other elements, the respective weights of which are entirely dependent on your individual requirements as a rider. For example if you battle with competition anxiety, a mental training regimen will immediately make all your other training sessions far more valuable, than if you were simply to keep pushing through. Similarly, if you are struggling to decipher where in your ride things are going wrong, an instructor-led training session will ensure that further training is not in vain.

This illustrates the importance of deliberate practice within the sporting realm, it is not simply enough to put in the hours, one needs to identify the source of errors, tailor their training around fixing these, and ensure that feedback is sufficient to improve (this can be internal feedback or that which is provided by a coach).

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THERE IS SUCH A THING AS TOO MUCH PRACTICE As we noted above, training can be effective and ineffective, depending on how it is conducted. Effective training differs from ineffective training in a number of ways, but one of the most significant differences, is that effective training is extremely cognitively demanding. This cognitive demand means that there is a finite amount of effective training that we can do per day, before it starts to

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HORSE AND RIDER

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become unproductive, or even damaging. We only have so many cognitive resources per day, and these deplete as the day goes on, and are only replenished through nutritious eating, and proper sleep. As such, how much you can train per day will depend entirely on what the rest of your day looks like, as well as how long you have been competing in the sport. Recent research indicated that, as a guideline, novice athletes who are still learning something new at every lesson should train for approximately 1 hour a day, while experienced athletes can train for up to 4 hours per day. The reasoning behind this discrepancy is that training is slightly less cognitively demanding for experienced players per minute, than it is for novice players; this is because the experienced player is in a familiar situation, has done this many times before, and is typically working on one thing at a time as opposed to multiple things.

the more emotion you feel during a lesson, the more likely it is to be retained in your long term memory.

Secondly, mental practice is vital, and an incredibly powerful tool. You are unlikely to meet a professional athlete, who does not engage in mental practice. In fact, the studies that explore the effectiveness of mental practice are significantly more conclusive than the studies investigating any other forms of practice.

Lastly, invest in the single biggest proponent of practice – motivation. It is not easy to bring yourself back to practice every day, particularly if you have had a bad practice or competition recently. Therefore, it is vitally important to look after your mental health, allowing yourself to maintain motivation over time. If you find yourself lacking motivation, see the January issue of HQ, where techniques to maintain motivation were discussed in-depth.

HOW DO I GET THE MOST OUT OF MY TRAINING? In order to get the most out of your training and to ensure that it is effective, it is important to know that emotions play a critical role in learning – our brains make use of past emotional knowledge in order to guide your process of reasoning while in the arena. As such it is very important to avoid the old adage of “keep your emotions out of it”, as

TAKE HOME MESSAGE While it might not take 10 000 hours to become an expert rider, you will surely not regret striving for that goal, and putting in that amount of work. Just remember as you do, to ensure that the training is effective, does not continually deplete your cognitive resources, and incorporates a variety of training techniques to keep you interested, motivated, and on an upwards trajectory.

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The Ranch Equestrian Center is the only venue of its kind in South Africa, situated on The Ranch Resort, a 4* hotel and game conservancy in the magnificent bushveld of the Limpopo Province.

The resort boasts 3 restaurants, 2 bars, a spa and fun for the whole family, including a 12 hole, 3 par golf course; and game drives and horseback safaris through the 1000 hector game conservancy.

Competitors and members never need to leave the property. All needs are met here!

Attend a show or clinic or book your family holiday and stable your horse for the duration to keep up your training at the Equestrian Centre.

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H O R S E A N D YA R D

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D

enton Horse Boxes was finally established in 2018 after five years of research, planning and design.

Andrew Oliff and Alex Leith, both passionate equestrians, started the business after noticing a gap in the market that needed to be filled.

“We wanted to find an alternative to towing a horse box.

With South African roads being as they are towing just isn’t as safe and easy as it should be. We looked to Europe to

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see what they were doing there to cope with their small, winding lanes and found various options, which we looked into,” says Andrew.

“These vehicles were perfect for our purposes but importing them from Europe just wasn’t viable, so we set about making our own version here in South Africa, in line with European standards. Our first boxes are now out on the roads, and people love them.”

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H O R S E A N D YA R D

WHAT MAKES DENTON DIFFERENT When you choose to own a Denton Horse Box, you buy much more than a horsebox.

“When people invest in one of our boxes, they are buying into our passion for horse safety, comfort, rider convenience, rider safety and outstanding quality. Our boxes are built locally, and whilst they meet the European standards, they are adapted to fit with our South African road conditions and also accommodate all facets of the South African equestrian lifestyle! We build quality boxes, which is why we manufacture our boxes onto brand new Mercedes Benz chassis, which have superior power, braking and safety standards.”

All boxes are manufactured in Johannesburg, where Andrew and Alex are based. This allows them to be handson throughout the process, and monitor progress closely. In their own words, “We are dedicated to providing the African market with a quality product with our industry leading warranty and service plan.”

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FINANCING Denton Horse Boxes have teamed up with Kuda Insurance to offer a finance plan for anyone wishing to purchase one of their boxes.

CUSTOMISE YOUR BOX Not content to have superior driveability, safety and comfort, Denton also offer various options for customising your horsebox to fit your specific needs. In fact, the options are fairly limitless. The boxes come equipped with tack storage, a cupboard for show jackets and boots and grooms’ seating, but should you require something extra, Denton are there to help. “We understand that everyone is different and has different priorities when it comes to their horsebox. We’re happy to get creative and kit the horsebox out with everything you might need,” says Alex.

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H O R S E A N D YA R D

THIS IS HOW DENTON DO DENTON HORSE BOXES

THE FUTURE “Currently we’re manufacturing two berth boxes, but from later this year we’ll be launching our first four berth trucks and all going well 8 berth trucks in 2023. These larger ‘trucks’ will still maintain all of the Denton features, but simply accommodate more horses,” says Andrew. “We’ve had lots of enquiries about bigger boxes, and we’re excited to be getting them into production.”

FINAL THOUGHTS To have a product of this quality manufactured here in South Africa, with endless options for customisation is a dream

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CONTACT US Tel: 083 397 9752 Email: info@dentonhorseboxes.co.za come true for many equestrians. Towing is a stressful, but necessary, part of the equestrian lifestyle and these boxes give peace of mind (and five star luxury) for those who invest in them. We feel confident that Denton’s Horse Boxes will go from strength to strength under the guidance of these two passionate entrepreneurs. They have found a true gap in the market, and filled it in style!

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Transport your horses, in our world class Denton Horse Box! Proudly manufactured in South Africa to international standard. Our boxes are made to order, and are built on brand new Mercedes Sprinter chassis, which allows our vehicles to come with warranty and a service plan. The boxes are two berth, with saddle racks, bridle hooks, storage space and seatings for your grooms. There is also the option to customize by adding numerous extras.

www.dentonhorseboxes.co.za 072 695 8975 | info@dentonhorseboxes.co.za

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H O R S E A N D H E A LT H

TEXT: HANNAH BOTHA, MSC EQUINE SCIENCE, EPOL NUTRITIONAL ADVISOR

MAKING YOUR HAY COUNT WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH FINANCIALLY

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ith ever-increasing prices, we are all looking for ways to cut costs, but one area that we should never skimp on is our horse's hay supply.

Forage is a vital part of the horse's diet, as it provides a valuable portion of the daily energy requirements and is essentially what the horse is designed to eat.

Forage serves to help sustain a healthy digestive environment and produces heat during the fermentation process that breaks down forage in the hindgut. This heat production aids the horse in staying warm and comfortable in cooler temperatures. Fibre (a large component of forage) can also increase the horse's water intake. This fibre produces a unique water reservoir in the hindgut, which can prevent dehydration and electrolyte loss during strenuous exercise or during hotter times of the year.

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In summary, forage is a vital component of the diet and cutting back too drastically could lead to digestive issues, costing you more in the long run. So, in times when hay is at a premium, or you simply can't get enough, how can you stretch your hay further, and what options are there to reduce wastage?

ARE YOU FEEDING THE CORRECT AMOUNT? The average horse should be provided with 1.5% of his body weight in forage dry matter per day. However, for those needing to gain weight or those in higher need life stages (lactating mares, for example), 2-2.5% of body weight may be needed. However, good-doers needing to lose weight may need to consume only 1% of their body weight per day.

These variations in amounts show the importance of performing a body condition score and accurately assessing the horse's workload, as this will ultimately determine how much they receive and if their forage needs are met correctly.

It is worth investing in a hanging scale which you can use

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to weigh your hay net, as this will allow you to accurately measure how much hay is being fed to avoid over or underfeeding.

CONSIDER HAY TYPE AND QUALITY Hay prices vary throughout geographical regions, dependent on the type of hay grown in each area. To avoid higher costs, look for locally grown hay, and consider if it is necessary for every horse to have the same hay. For example, lucerne can often come at a premium price and perhaps the good-doer that receives a slice per day just for a 'treat' could do without. This would save lucerne for those horses that could benefit from it more, such as horses suffering with ulcers.

Also, not every horse may need the same quality of hay.

For example, you could save your A grade hay for those who are young, old, pregnant, lactating or who need to gain weight. It should be noted that the term 'quality' here refers to the nutritional value. All horses should be provided with well-stored hay that is free of mould, dust and other contaminants.

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Good-doers may benefit from feeding lower-quality hay to reduce the overall calorie content of their diet. More mature cut hay can be beneficial in these situations, as it will provide a good fibre content without the higher calories of other hays.

Jansson et al., 2021 showed that replacing 50% of a horse's daily allowance with good quality straw could be beneficial in prolonging feeding time without increasing the risk of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (a previous concern of researchers). This shows that using forage alternatives may be an option for some horses. An alternative like this would need to be introduced gradually over time to ensure that the digestive wellbeing of the horse is not put at risk, and it should also not be the only forage source in the diet.

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CONSIDER A HAY EXTENDER Forage extenders are designed to replace a portion of the forage in the horse's total daily diet in times when hay or grazing may be of poorer quality or not available at all.

Forage extenders are available in many forms, such as chaffs, cubes, soya hulls and beet products.

Forage extenders such as hay cubes can be used to stretch hay in many situations, such as: • for horses with respiratory problems as they limit their exposure to the inhalation of dust.

• for horses struggling with inflammatory disorders of the bowel where long-stemmed hay can cause irritation.

• for horses with dental issues that struggle to chew and digest long-stemmed hay and chaffs.

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• f or hard-working horses who can sometimes lose their appetites during competition leading to a reduced intake of forage.

BUY IN BULK Buying in bulk does have the advantage of allowing you to buy at a set price without worrying about monthly increases. However, you need to keep in mind that you should only buy what you need. Nutrient levels in stored hay decrease over time, and by the time hay is 12 months old or older, additional support may be needed to meet basic daily requirements of some nutrients.

SQUARE VS ROUND BALES Small square bales are easier to store and handle as they can be kept inside and don't require machinery to move.

For the individual horse owner/small yard, they are also easier to feed.

Large round bales do have the advantage when feeding larger numbers of horses. However, wastage is often higher as the outer layer is not typically eaten well, and if feeding in the paddock, significant amounts are trampled into the

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ground. Pulling hay off a large roll when filling up hay nets for smaller numbers of horses can also be highly wasteful.

Round bales may need to be stored outside, which exposes them to the elements, and when left out in paddocks, this could increase the risk of mould and other toxins developing. Only consider round bales if the herd is big enough to consume them within a few days.

Regardless of the bale size, hay wastage can be costly for any size operation, so taking the time to minimise losses can be highly valuable.

CONSIDER HOW YOU FEED YOUR HAY When we look at reducing hay wastage, it's important to consider how and where you provide your horse's hay. The aim should be to prevent hay loss by keeping it off the ground or stable floor, reducing the risk of contamination.

Using hay feeders or specially designed feed bins can reduce wastage by up to 85%.

The more common feeders are hay nets and hay racks/ bins. Nets have the advantage of coming in different hole sizes, with smaller-sized holes being useful for slowing a horse's feeding rate. This can be useful for good doers,

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where a reduced amount of hay must be stretched over longer periods. Slowing feeding rate can also help improve digestive health, especially in situations where a continuous flow of ingesta is important, such as assisting in the management of gastric ulcers. Whichever feeder you choose, it should not, however, be frustrating for the horse.

Hay racks can be useful as they are generally larger and allow more hay to be provided. This can be helpful if you cannot visit your horse several times a day to refill a net.

Racks and nets should be placed at heights whereby the horse has access but can't get caught in them.

The higher position, however, does mean that there is a more unnatural neck position which can have repercussions on the horse's back position and jaw angles according to research by Raspa et al. 2021.

Feeding on the ground, although it is generally considered to be the most wasteful, does have the advantage of allowing the animal to adopt a more natural grazing position. If stalls are kept clean regularly, there should be no issue with feeding in this way.

For those feeding outside, consider placing something under your feeder or find a feeder with an inbuilt tray to help capture fine leaf matter (which is highly nutritious), such as is produced when feeding lucerne.

MANAGING PASTURES Proper pasture management can mean better grazing for your horses and reduced hay costs.

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It can be a challenge to maintain healthy pastures that provide high-quality forage. A good place to start is to speak to your local grass specialist/seed merchant to choose a grass suited to your climate and soil conditions.

This allows the best chance of producing a good yield of grass throughout the year.

Horses tend to overuse certain parts of pasture, literally eating favourite areas until overgrazed, which can allow for weed encroachment. Having a rotational grazing plan/system in place and correct fertilisation and weed control will serve the horse owner well. Proper pasture management will ultimately allow for nutritious grazing to be provided, allowing yards to rely less on conserved forage.

RESEARCH ARTICLES NOTED Jansson, A., P. Harris, S.L. Davey, N. Luthersson, S. Ragnarsson, and S. Ringmark. 2021. Straw as an alternative to grass forage in horses: Effects on postprandial metabolic profile, energy intake, behaviour and gastric ulceration. Animals (Basel) 11(8):2197.

Raspa, F.; Roggero, A.;Palestrini, C.; Marten Canavesio, M.; Bergero, D.; Valle, E. Studying the Shape Variations of the Back, the Neck, and the Mandibular Angle of Horses Depending on Specific Feeding Postures Using Geometric Morphometrics.

Animals 2021, 11,763. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ani11030763

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Part 10

Anatomy

The Respiratory System T

he respiratory system is made up of the lungs and all the passageways that are connected with them, including the nose, pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe) and bronchial tubes.

THE FUNCTIONS OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM The functions of the respiratory system are: • To provide the body with oxygen via the blood • To remove carbon dioxide from the blood • To remove excess water from the body • To enable the horse to use his sense of smell • To allow the horse to communicate vocally (neighing, snorting and squealing)

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Oxygen is essential for life; cells need a continuous supply of it to enable them to release energy from nutrients.

One of the two waste products from this process - carbon dioxide - is poisonous to cells and must be removed quickly and efficiently. The respiratory and circulatory systems working together are therefore responsible for supplying oxygen and removing the waste products (carbon dioxide and water).

DID YOU KNOW? The lungs are the only part of a horse’s body through which the whole volume of blood passes: the entire 40 litres will travel through the lungs every 30 seconds.

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HOW IT WORKS Air enters the respiratory tract through the nostrils, as the horse cannot breathe through his mouth. On its way through the nasal cavities, the air is filtered by tiny hairs (cilia), which remove any dust or solid particles so that the air that reaches the lungs is as clean as possible.

The mucous membrane which lines the nasal cavities performs the same function. The air is then warmed by the convoluted turbinate bones, which are found in the nasal cavity, and passed down through the pharynx, the larynx and the trachea. The trachea then divides into two bronchi, each one passing into a lung.

The lungs are the main organ of respiration. They are large, spongy in texture and shaped to sit next to other organs in the chest cavity. A smooth, slippery membrane

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The airways divide as shown on this diagram.

Larynx

Trachea

Bronchi

called the pleura covers the outside of the lungs and the chest cavity wall. Between these two lined structures is a small space containing pleural fluid. This is a lubricant preventing the lungs from being damaged by friction as they expand and contract when the horse breathes.

Inside the lungs, the bronchi divide into bronchioles which, in turn, sub-divide until they are tiny and end in millions of air sacs called alveoli. It is inside the alveoli that the exchange of gases between the blood and the lungs takes place.

The alveoli have very thin walls (semi-permeable membranes) through which oxygen from the air inhaled by the horse can pass. The walls of the capillaries which cover the alveoli are also very thin, allowing the oxygen to then

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DID YOU KNOW? The fact that the epiglottis is normally tucked behind the soft palate means that vomiting would be a problem for the horse; if he did vomit, the contents of his stomach would pass down his nose. enter the capillaries. Inside the capillaries, oxygen diffuses into the red blood cells and is then carried around the body in the blood to where it is needed.

Waste products such as water and carbon dioxide pass out through the walls of the capillaries into the alveoli via the semi-permeable membrane, to be expelled from the body when the horse breathes out.

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Deoxygenated blood

H O R S E A N D H E A LT H Air in and out

An alveolus CO2

Alveolar wall O2

Oxygenated blood

Capillary

Red blood cell

CONTROL OF BREATHING The breathing process is governed by the sympathetic nervous system and is outside of the horse’s control.

To enable the horse to inhale, a vacuum is created within the chest cavity by the contraction of the intercostal muscles – which control the ribs – and the diaphragm. This causes the chest to expand and the air pressure inside the alveoli to drop. Air then rushes into the lungs, and the muscles relax, allowing the chest cavity to return to its normal size, pushing the air out of the lungs as the horse exhales.

A resting horse will breathe at a rate of 8-16 breaths every minute. This respiratory rate is governed by two factors – one chemical and the other mechanical.

THE CHEMICAL FACTOR Sensors constantly check the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood in the large arteries and inform the brain if carbon dioxide levels rise. If these levels rise, the brain will increase the rate at which the horse breathes, increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood until the correct balance is restored.

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H O R S E A N D H E A LT H Groups of alveoli

THE MECHANICAL FACTOR The mechanical act of movement also controls the horse’s respiration rate, as the same muscles which extend the foreleg also help to expand the ribcage. The horse’s need for oxygen is greatest when he is cantering and galloping, so at these paces, his breathing is synchronised with the movement of his legs, allowing the maximum expansion of the ribcage and, therefore, the maximum intake of oxygen.

The horse will breathe in as his foreleg is extended forward and out as his foreleg touches the ground. The lungs of a galloping horse will expand to four times their resting size in order to supply his body with the oxygen it needs.

THE LARYNX The larynx, or voicebox, is located at the beginning of the trachea or windpipe. It is a rigid structure whose walls are made of cartilage lined with mucous membrane. This rigidity is to prevent the larynx collapsing when the pressure in the lungs changes as part of the breathing process.

The mucous membrane lining the larynx is raised on either side to form vocal cords, which vibrate as air passes over them, producing sounds such as neighing, squealing and whinnying.

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When the horse breathes in, the cords fold back to allow air to pass freely down the trachea to the lungs. When the horse breathes out, the cords relax. Occasionally, one or other of the cords will be damaged, and unable to retract, which interferes with the flow of air as the horse breathes in – producing the noises known as ‘whistling’ and ‘roaring’.

THE PHARYNX The pharynx is a chamber at the back of the throat. Both the oesophagus and the trachea open into this space. The epiglottis (a large leaf-shaped piece of cartilage) and the soft palate (a long muscular piece of tissue attached to the hard palate) are therefore needed to prevent food from entering the lungs during eating. When the horse is breathing, the trachea is open to allow the free passage of air; the soft palate is hooked back behind the apex of the epiglottis; and the oesophagus is closed by the arytenoid cartilages.

When the horse is eating, on the other hand, the muscles at the root of the tongue lift up each time he swallows a mouthful of food. This pulls the larynx forward and down so that the apex of the epiglottis can seal the trachea. At the same time, the soft palate moves upwards to open up the oesophagus; this also seals off the nasal passages.

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HORSES IN BLACK & WHITE

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H O R S E A N D H E A LT H

TEXT: EQUIPROVET

Zandi Alcock TALKS EQUAAN 1000

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WHO ARE YOU, AND WHAT DO YOU DO AS AN EQUESTRIAN? I’m Zandi Alcock, and I am a showjumper.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU GIVE YOUR HORSES EQUAAN 1000?

Once a week.

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOUR HORSES TO US. I have a Warmblood, Tack N’ Togs Callaho Lansink, who I jump in the 1.40m classes. I also have a Thoroughbred, Favour The Bold, who I jump in the 1.35m classes.

WOULD YOU ADVISE GIVING YOUR HORSE A LOADING DOSE OF EQUAAN 1000 WHEN STARTING THE PRODUCT? Yes, it just gives the horse a boost, and it shows you just how well the product actually works.

WHAT JOINT MAINTENANCE PRODUCTS DO YOU USE FOR YOUR HORSES? I use Equaan 1000 as well as Hyaluronic Acid injectables from EquiProVet. HOW LONG HAVE YOUR HORSES BEEN ON EQUAAN 1000?

About six months.

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HOW DO YOU USE THE PRODUCT, AND DO YOU FIND IT EASY TO ADMINISTER? When you first put your horse on Equaan 1000, you give a loading dose of 3 x ovules for the first week. From then on, you give 1 x ovule a week. You must ensure you only insert the ovule into the rectum once your horse has manured.

To insert the ovule into the rectum, you place your index

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and osteoarthritis and supports soft tissue (tendons and ligaments).

HAVE YOU FELT AN IMPROVEMENT IN YOUR HORSES’ WAY OF GOING SINCE STARTING ON THE PRODUCT? Definitely! At President’s Cup, I had no choice but to jump four days in a row because I had a qualifier for the Youth Equestrian Games as well as the accumulative Open Junior President’s Cup the following three days. I gave my horse Lansink a preshow loading dose, and he won not only the Qualfier but also the overall Junior President’s Cup and felt his loosest and best on the final day!

WHEN COMPETING, DO YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO DO A PRE-SHOW BOOST OF EQUAAN 1000 FOR MULTI-DAY SHOWS? I only do this for shows where my horses are jumping excessively over a short period of time, like three days in a row (or four days in a row in the rare instance I mentioned above).

finger at the bottom of the suppository and place the tip of the suppository at the opening of the anus.

The suppository should be positioned horizontally.

You then apply some pressure and keep your index finger in place for a bit to make sure the suppository is fully in and that your horse doesn’t push it back out. You should watch your horse for five minutes after inserting the suppository, and if they manure, you just reinsert it. In summary, it is very easy to administer.

HOW DOES THE PRODUCT WORK? Equaan 1000 has multiple benefits. It works as a joint anti-inflammatory helping with joint pain and mobility. It also helps to enhance the quality and viscosity of joint fluid improving joint movement and reducing pain. It also boosts new collagen production, helps prevent degenerative joint disease

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AND WHEN YOU HAVE A MULTIDAY SHOW, ARE YOUR HORSES AS ENERGETIC, LOOSE AND SPRINGY ON THE FINAL DAY AS ON THE FIRST DAY? Lansink jumps his best on our final day at a show and is his loosest through his body. Bold runs out of energy quickly at shows, so he doesn’t feel the most energetic on the final day, but he’s jumping oxers better than he ever has.

WHEN RECOMMENDING THE PRODUCT, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN USING EQUAAN 1000?

I’d say that the proof is in the pudding. My horses are jumping incredibly throughout shows and training.

They’re feeling the loosest and strongest they’ve ever felt. So why not use Equaan 1000? It’s only going to improve your horse’s well-being, so it’s definitely worth giving it to your horse.

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EQUAAN 1000 - The one to BEAT!

“Keeping performance horses sound, happy and injury free, is a skill on its own. Sport horses are expensive to keep and take years to school and build relationships with. That is why it is so important to preserve them for as long as possible.

EQUAAN has been a game changer for me. The horses feel great on it and knowing that I do what I can to preserve their careers, is a comfort for me as a rider.

GIVING BACK TO MY HORSES IS IMPORTANT TO ME” - Belinda Martin

NO MESS, NO FUSS, NO WASTAGE - Assists in the prevention of osteoarthritis - Acts as an anti-inflammatory - Protects cartilage - Increases joint metabolism and fluid - Increases quality and viscosity of joint fluid - Only one ovule a week for maintenance - 3 ovules is a pre show boost - 1 ovule aids post show recovery - Safe for ulcer prone horses - Assists with the integrity, nutrition and health of soft tissue and fascia

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H O R S E A N D H E A LT H

INVESTIGATING ®

IRAP

WHAT’S THE HYPE ABOUT?

M

ore and more riders are investing in IRAP® treatment for their horses. But what is this treatment, how does it work, and which horses can benefit? HQ investigates…

NORMAL INJURY PROCESS When a horse’s joint becomes injured either through physical or chemical means, the body’s normal repair process includes the release of pro-inflammatory chemical mediators that can actually accelerate damage to the cartilage and joint. These mediators include a chemical called interleukin 1 (IL-1), which binds to the IL-1 receptor on the surface of the joint and is responsible for causing ongoing inflammation, pain and lameness.

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Osteoarthritis continues to worsen due to the proinflammatory mediators like IL-1.

As tissue damage increases within the joint, additional IL-1 is produced, perpetuating the cycle of inflammation and resulting in further osteoarthritic change.

Structure of Interleukin-1

INTERLEUKIN-1 Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a pro-inflammatory protein that is found in increased quantities in diseased joints, such as those suffering from osteoarthritis. IL-1 is a potent chemical signal that activates many of the elements of the pathway of inflammation. The release of IL-1 and other proinflammatory chemicals, therefore, leads to inflammation and further disease. In the case of joints, IL-1 production results in cartilage damage and worsening osteoarthritis.

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WHAT IS IRAP®?

IRAP®, which stands for Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein, was originally developed in Europe and has been used extensively in Germany. It is an anti-inflammatory treatment for joint disease in horses that works by counteracting the pro-inflammatory cascade triggered by the protein interleukin-1.

IRAP® works in the horse by blocking IL-1 from binding to its receptor at the site of injury or disease. In this way, it stops the cascade of inflammation triggered by IL-1 and slows the progression of osteoarthritis.

HOW IS IRAP® ADMINISTERED? A typical treatment with IRAP® begins by drawing approximately 50ml of blood from your horse. This autologous blood (blood from your own horse) is then incubated overnight in a syringe that contains pre-treated glass beads designed to isolate and amplify the horse’s naturally occurring IRAP®. The IRAP® is then concentrated by spinning in a centrifuge and is sterilely prepared into HQ|159B

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DEGENERATIVE JOINT DISEASE Degenerative joint disease (or osteoarthritis) is one of the biggest causes of poor performance and a decreased competitive career length in horses. This is true for all types of equine athletes, whichever discipline they compete in.

Both young and old horses can be affected by degenerative joint disease resulting in a loss of athletic ability and the need for possible early retirement.

Degenerative joint disease is usually the result of one of several factors, which can include poor conformation, advancing age, hard work, lack of conditioning, previous trauma, developmental disease and multiple physiological factors.

The clinical signs of degenerative joint disease include lameness, poor performance, stiffness, and joint swelling. These signs are the result of synovitis (inflammation of the joint lining) and progressive cartilage damage within the joint.

Articular cartilage typically has a smooth surface and is a critical component of joint stability and fluid motion. It is also resilient and acts to absorb the tremendous amount of force exerted through movement. Damage to cartilage initiates a cycle of inflammation and pain, increased inflammatory protein production and thus further cartilage degeneration causing the clinical signs to worsen. This process can become a vicious cycle if not treated and arrested quickly. Over time, bony changes occur, which show up as abnormalities on radiographs (X-Rays).

Conventional therapies for osteoarthrits (in no particular order) include rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, intraarticular (joint) injections with hyaluronic acid and corticosteroids, certain intramuscular and IV agents, oral supplementation with products like glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate, and extracorporeal shockwave therapy.

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Healthy cartilage (left) versus diseased cartilage (right) in osteoarthritis.

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individual dose syringes for injection back into the horse.

These syringes are stored in a freezer until they are ready to be used. IRAP® is typically injected into a joint once every 7-10 days for 3-5 treatments in total. The most significant effects tend to be seen after the second and third doses. Rest is usually recommended for at least 5-7 days following injection, as per your vet’s instructions.

NOTE: Joint injections come with a risk of joint infection, which can prove fatal. Therefore, joint injections should only be used as a last resort when other alternatives have been explored.

WILL IT HELP MY HORSE? IRAP® has had some very encouraging initial results, suggesting that it improves lameness and decreases joint swelling. However, as with all treatments, it will not be successful in all cases. It is likely that other therapeutics may also be needed in conjunction with IRAP® therapy to treat horses with osteoarthritis.

NOTE: IRAP® cannot reverse any permanent damage that often exists in joints with osteoarthritis but may serve to prevent further inflammation and reduce the progression of the disease.

WHAT IS IRAP® USED FOR? IRAP® is used for: • Cases with lameness isolated to specific joints that demonstrate mild to moderate radiographic signs of degenerative joint disease. These cases tend to respond the best to treatment with IRAP. • Horses with joint disease who have failed to respond to other more traditional joint therapies like antiinflammatories.

• Post-surgical joint therapy in cases with focal cartilage damage or after arthroscopic removal of chips.

• Horses with synovitis (inflammation of the joint lining).

CAN I COMPETE? There are currently no restrictions on its use in competition, other than it cannot be administered on the day of the competition. However, competition rules do change, so owners are advised to check with their regulatory body for the most up-to-date information.

NOTE: Horses usually require rest and hand walking for several days after any kind of joint injection, so IRAP® would usually be administered well in advance of a competition.

IRAP® is not recommended for use in tendon sheaths or bursae, in bone cysts, in horses with advanced osteoarthritis or in joints where there are bone fragments, fractures, meniscal or ligamentous injuries.

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FINAL THOUGHTS IRAP®is another therapy to be added to the battery of tools to combat osteoarthritis in the horse. IRAP® is very exciting because of its potential for a long-term impact on osteoarthritis by stopping the inflammatory cascade.

The research on IRAP® is ongoing, but the results to date have been very encouraging. For more information and to assess the suitability of the treatment for your horse, chat to your vet.

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YOUR EQUESTRIAN QUESTIONS ANSWERED

How can I go about strengthening my lower leg?

Many of us have issues with our lower leg when riding. It might be that we struggle to keep our heels down, or our lower leg slips back when jumping or even that we regularly lose our stirrups. The four exercises outlined here are great for strengthening your legs and establishing them as the base of support.

EXERCISE 1: ON THE EDGE This exercise is particularly valuable for those of us who struggle to keep our heels down. Stand on the edge of a step with your heels hanging off the edge. Lightly rest one hand on the wall if necessary to maintain your

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balance. Then keeping your back straight, flex your ankles to allow your heels to drop below the level of the step. You should feel your calf muscles stretch. Hold this position for about 10 seconds, then step off the stairs and rest for a moment. Repeat this ten times.

EXERCISE 2: TWO-POINT With your body balanced, come out of the saddle into a two-point position. Initially, do this at a walk while you get the hang of the exercise. As you lift out of the saddle, drop your weight equally into both heels and rest your legs against your horse’s sides. Keep your hands off the neck to ensure you only balance with your legs.

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Q&A

sitting back down in the saddle or resting your hands on the neck. If your upper body tips forward, backward or sideways, restore your balance and continue.

Over time as you get stronger, you can progress into trot and canter, doing plenty of transitions and turns in two-point position to test your balance and leg stability.

The goal is for your legs to eventually stay in place without you having to think about it.

EXERCISE 3: RISING WITHOUT STIRRUPS Rising trot without stirrups is an excellent exercise to strengthen your lower leg position. It is a surprisingly challenging exercise to do, and you will find that your knees slip down the saddle within minutes. When this happens, practice lifting your knee in the saddle. This is the same motion you need to make when trying to relocate your stirrup, so you are practising something valuable whilst also getting stronger.

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NOTE Before beginning these exercises, you must ensure that your stirrup length is correct for you. If you constantly lose your stirrups, have trouble keeping weight in your heels, or your leg slips behind the girth, and your upper body tips forward over a jump, then there’s a decent chance that your stirrups are the wrong length. A correct, solid lower leg is essential because it gives your whole position a foundation, but without the right length of stirrups, this can be impossible to achieve.

The general rule of thumb for riding on the flat is that the stirrup irons should hit your ankle bones when you sit in the saddle with your feet out of the stirrups and your legs stretched long against the horse’s sides. If you’re on a narrow horse who doesn’t have much curve in the barrel to take up leg length, then you might need to shorten your stirrups a hole or two.

Alternatively, if you’re on a wide horse, you might need to lengthen your stirrups slightly to stretch around his belly.

For jumping, you simply need to put your stirrups up from the flatwork position by one or two holes.

on our position while someone else is in charge of the horse.

Specifically, the longe is a great way to practice the twopoint position at the walk.

With your attention solely on body posture, you should easily detect if your upper body tips forwards when your lower legs slip backwards and if your body tips backwards when your lower leg comes forward. In this position, you need to keep your legs directly underneath you, regardless of what your upper body might be doing. As your get stronger, you can start to exaggerate the two-point position by bringing your chest closer to your horse’s neck. You can then try leaning from side to side over his neck. The more you change your centre of gravity, the more secure your lower-leg position will be!

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THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT BOOT AIR

Using magnetic therapy these boots provide natural support to the suspensory ligaments, resulting in increased blood circulation as well as an anti-inflammatory effect.

www.tackntogs.co.za Tel: (011) 468 1824 or 0861 midfeeds Emergency: 082 499 8684 Email: orders@midfeeds.co.za Address: 63 Karee Rd, Cr of Main Road, Blue Hills, Kyalami.