HQ Magazine Issue 161A

SOUTH AFRICA’S PREMIER EQUESTRIAN MAGAZINE

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Hello, and welcome to this final edition of 2022!

We wish you, your families, and your horses a happy and healthy festive season.

It’s been a great privilege to work within the equestrian community and produce the magazine again this year. We are incredibly grateful for all of the support from our advertisers, without whom this publication would not be possible.

We’ll see you back here on the 1st of January, 2023!

Happy holidays!

Lots of love,

Dr Lizzie Harrison | Editor

Lizzie and the HQ team xxx

Cover photography | Merlynn Trichardt Photography Designer | Mauray Wolff

This November at Capital Stud has certainly been one to remember. From the results at Burlington Cup, to the hugely successful 2022 Capital Stud Hybrid Auction and nally the dominance of the Capital Stud horses at the United Aviation Group Grand Prix Tours, it’s been an incredible month to end an incredible year.

Nicole Horwood and Capital Night Star

THE 2022 CAPITAL STUD HYBRID AUCTION

Hybrid Auction

The Capital Stud team were privileged to welcome clients old and new back to their venue in Skeerpoort. This year the Stud introduced a brand-new format to South Africa, setting up the Auction at floor-level in line with international standards. This new format was elegant, atmospheric and had all the ingredients for a top-notch event; 80 tables set with white tablecloths, exquisite flowers and trees were all set at arena level giving a fabulous perspective of the Auction display. Congratulations goes to the team for the incredible decor and refreshing set-up of the arena offering a brand-new experience for the audience. The feedback was very positive from all those in attendance, and it seems this international Auction format will be here to stay.

The Friday night under-saddle presentation was attended by a large number of people, and provided very valuable insights into the quality of the young horses many of whom had already progressed considerably since the video sessions. At the end of the night, the anticipation for the day ahead was clearly palpable.

The 2022 Capital Stud

was a huge success.

“ My love for sport horses and my vision to see south african horses and teams competing at international levels has never been surer.”

- Henning Pretorius

The Saturday morning started with a buzz as excited bidders assembled for registration and the energy grew as the stallion presentation began. It was a treat to watch the stallions jumping, get closer to the future stars of Capital Stud and hear Henning’s insights and stories about each one. Impressive displays from Capital Impossible, Capital Cornet Blue, Capital Figaro and Capital Qorland had the audience’s full attention but when Aiden Lithgow introduced Capital Levubu the emotion in the room became charged. As Levubu entered the arena to the Hall of Fame Song by The Script, silence descended. This special stallion has really had a magnificent year, and his qualities are impossible to ignore. He has been likened to world-famous Cumano on multiple occasions and becomes more and more of an icon in the sport with every class he jumps. To see him jumping up close was a real privilege for all in attendance.

With a brief break before the bidding began, the sense of anticipation was running high. The next few hours saw all 37 horses sold to new homes, with bids flying back and forth between online bidders, from as far afield as America, and, of course, the bidders in the room. An average price of R411 000 was achieved across the lots, showing just how valuable this large collection really was.

Notable lots included Capital Denver (Diamant de Semilly x Mylord Carthago x Quidam de Revel), who reached the top price of R920,000. This youngster is full of blood and scope, and looks set to take his new rider to the very top. The seven Colnardo’s on auction all shared his characteristic class, rideability and scope – a top future is almost guaranteed with a Colnardo youngster. This first batch of Levubu offspring also performed strongly (Capital Laurentia, Capital Lailah, Capital Lavinia, Capital Lorenzo and Capital Lavanda), fetching an average price of R588 000. With time we are sure to see some very exciting results from this top class of young athletes, who take after their father in many ways. Finally, the exceptionally rideable Rendements attracted excellent prices, reiterating the popularity of this legend in the sport. With his first Auction horses from 2021 throwing all the right shapes in the arena, this much-loved stallion has proven his stamp in producing quality horses with superb temperaments.

Capital Stud wish to congratulate all successful bidders on the purchase of their young talented sporthorses, and thank all who attended the Auction both live and online. We are privileged and grateful to receive your support, as we continue to raise the standard in the sport. We wish all our horses and new owners a bright future and look forward to following your success stories over the coming months and years.

With our vision and the investment in the future of the horses we are breeding and producing, Capital Stud is going from strength to strength and Henning’s dream becomes more of a reality with every single step.

We are incredibly thankful to our exceptional young horses and the many adventures we get to share with them. We would also like to thank the entire team of caring and talented people from Summerhill Equestrian, who loved and attended to them in their formative years, and the Training Team at Capital Stud who have brought them to the point where they are ready to shine in their careers. It has been an extra special collection to work with, and we look forwards to seeing them take these next steps.

- Capital Stud

The weeks both preceding and following the Capital Stud Auction provided some affirming results to round out 2022!

BURLINGTON CUP

A weather delay for Burlington Cup created the ultimate lead up to the Capital Stud Auction with the Capital Stud horses winning the top classes in fine style. Thomas van Rijckevorsel and Capital My Lady convincingly took the 1.40m Championship win, with a lightning-fast jump-off on the Thursday before the Auction and Jorja Rohrich and Capital Don Costello won the title of the week – the much-coveted Burlington Cup – in the hours before the Friday night jumping display. Both of these partnerships evidence the quality of Capital Stud’s offering and the Team were particularly thrilled to see Jorja and Capital Don Costello win their first big title together.

Jorja Rohrich and Capital Don Costello

Thomas van Rijckevorsel and Capital My Lady

Jorja Rohrich and Capital Don Costello

THE UNITED AVIATION GRAND PRIX TOUR

The United Aviation Grand Prix Tour, on the weekend after the Auction, saw Nicole Horwood take both the UAG Diamond and Gold Tour Grand Prix titles in perfect style. Capital Hitoshi was back to his winning ways, seizing the UAG 1.40m Gold Grand Prix title with the only double clear in the class and Capital Night Star and Nicole got their first major title winning the UAG 1.50m Diamond Grand Prix. Capital Night Star is beginning to show just what he is capable of, and this title is sure to be the first of many. Nicole and her team are rewriting a classic with this incredible horse - another partnership for the history books.

As if winning the top two tickets for the show was not enough, Thomas van Rijckevorsel and Capital My Lady once again came to the fore for Capital Stud with a second place in the 1.40m UAG Gold Grand Prix. With an unlucky pole at the final fence in the first round, Thomas and My Lady put on an exceptional show in the jump off, setting an almost unbeatable target for the other riders in the class. Thomas and My Lady have really made the jump from the 1.30m/1.35m to the 1.40m classes seem easy, with a simple relocation from one set of podiums to the next. Congratulations on an incredible year.

Nicole Horwood and Capital Night Star

FINAL THOUGHTS

We are proud to see the consistency of our horses. The top classes have unequivocally proven their quality, and we are humbled by the response and growing interest in our Stud both in South Africa and overseas. As we begin our sixth year of Auction horses entering the arena, we feel enormously proud of what has been accomplished and excited for where we are headed in the future. We have a clear vision, and are committed to growing and investing even further in the horses we breed and produce. We would like to thank you for your support and for being part of the Capital Stud adventure. - Capital Stud Team

Thank you for an incredible year. We hope that this festive season is filled with joy, love and happiness for all.

Nicole Horwood and Capital Night Star

WHAT A YEAR!

CALLAHO’S HIGHLIGHTS OF 2022

Over the past few months, it has been our privilege here at HQ to really get to know the workings of Callaho Warmblood Stud. We’ve spent time with the team looking at how they raise their horses, back them, produce them and ultimately sell them on auction. It’s no secret to anyone who has read these articles that we’ve been absolutely blown away by just how thorough and professional this entire process is. No detail is overlooked, and the love and care that goes into creating these top athletes explains just why these horses perform as they do.

As we all know, Callaho’s impact on the sport is huge and continues to increase year after year. 2022 naturally proved no different, and it gives us great pleasure to share just some of the Callaho Warmblood Stud highlights from across the past 12 months.

We hope you enjoy this glimpse at the results of the hard work and dedication of the Callaho Warmblood Stud Team. Congratulations to all involved; this has been an incredible year!

Sport Highlights | SHOWJUMPING

The 1.50m classes welcomed a further eight Callaho partnerships to this pinnacle of the sport, making it a total of 18 Callaho combinations currently competing at the very top. The eight additions of 2022 are:

» Callaho Liantos & Tamara Rueda

» Callaho Consuri & Lara Neill

» Callaho Falvio & Martyn Swanepoel

» Callaho’s Larison & Chatan Hendriks

» Callaho’s Bolzano du Quinze & Gareth Neill

» Callaho L’Amour & Tracey Carney

» Callaho Lord Grannus & Pierre Bouwer

» Callaho Conzano & Jannie Kleynhans

Callaho’s Larison & Chatan Hendriks

Callaho Falvio & Martyn Swanepoel

Callaho L’Amour & Tracey Carney

Callaho Liantos & Tamara Rueda

Callaho Victory Love & Ziska Nel

Callaho Luca Vella & Tegan Bruyns

Callaho Conray & Ryan Wallbridge

Callaho Connor & Tanya Strauss

Callaho Laios & Alexandra Ric-Hansen

Callaho Lansink & Zandi Alcock

Callaho Casey & Georgia Scribante

»

In the United League of Champions Team Callaho consistently featured on the podium, and remained in the top three in the rankings from the very first show to the last. In the final at Summit Ridge Equestrian Centre, they placed third overall in what proved to be an exhilarating afternoon of showjumping in Johannesburg.

FEI COMPETITIONS

Callaho Laios & Alexandra Ric-Hansen

Callaho’s Casper & Kiara Burn

Callaho Lansink & Zandi Alcock

Callaho Luigi Vella & Erin O’Dwyer

Callaho Vidaro & Katie Loubser

Callaho Lisandor & Claudia Cloete Callaho

Highlights | AUCTION

» The sport performance highlights are exceptional in their own right, but when one considers the continued influx of Callaho Warmblood horse power into our sport, one can understand the level of excitement evoked by this unique Stud. Across both the 2022 Summer and Winter Auction editions the average price for the horses was a welldeserved R415 938 and the percentage of horses going to repeat buyers was a massive 60%, demonstrating not only the quality of these horses but the satisfaction of buyers with their previous mounts. This is a special time in our sport, and we look forward to seeing these youngsters ascending the ranks over the coming years.

»

All that remains is to congratulate all involved in making 2022 another remarkable year for Callaho Warmblood Stud. As HQ Magazine, it has been a huge privilege to be involved, once again, in documenting a further 12 months of exceptional achievements for the Callaho Team and wider family. Congratulations to all involved and thank you on behalf of the equestrian community, for making our sport what it is today. We eagerly await the next steps in the Callaho journey in 2023!

INTERVIEW: RHIANNON CECIL PHOTOGRAPHY: MERLYNN TRICHARDT PHOTOGRAPHY

Young Showjumper Profile

PHILIP BOTES

Despite being focused on his Matric this year, Philip Botes has continued to make strides in the showjumping world and is now a staple in the open classes with his giant steed, Kojac Van De Kornelishoeve. Coached by recent Derby winner Dominey Alexander, Philip is a talented and dedicated young horseman we should definitely keep our eye out for on the podium. He was kind enough to catch up with HQ and give us some juicy details on his career to date and his goals for the future.

HQ: How did you get involved with horses and riding?

Philip: When I was six, my granny worked at the library across the road from Byerley Park Stables. While she was at her book club, my brother and I would go across just to

be with the horses and give them a pat. I started riding there, and five years later, in 2015, I moved to Silvertree Stables, where I was coached by Michelle Dawson. One of her clients at the time, Alexander Nel, was selling his pony, Holy Smoke. Holy Smoke was fantastic and gave me all the confidence in the world. Those were some of the best years of my life, and in 2016 we ended up making the Gauteng Junior 80cm team.

HQ: Who was your first horse, and what was your journey like together?

Philip: I moved on to horses in 2017 when we bought the gorgeous Callaho For Play from Cameron Dawson. I believe certain horses come into our lives for a reason, and she

came in and taught me so much about riding. I never really thought about my seat or balance as a pony rider, but I learned to focus on those things with Play. We didn't go on and win everything in the ring, but she is, and always will be, 'my girl.' The lessons she taught me far outweigh a first-place rosette. She made me a better rider and helped me mature as a person.

Play is currently being ridden by Kirsty Jutzen and her daughter Kayelynn. I couldn't be happier seeing Play in Kirsty's care and the love they both have for her.

Philip: I stable at Cellehof stables and am coached there by Dominey Alexander. Dom's reputation in the industry precedes him, but the main reason I chose Dominey as my coach is the way he treated me when I met him. He took me seriously as a human being and, more importantly, as a rider. He has given me confidence I never knew I had,

and he believed in me so much right from the beginning. All I had to do was trust him; the rest is history. Dom has helped mould me into a person I'm genuinely proud of.

Dom's lessons are never the same, and he has a keen sense of intuition about his riders. You never have to tell him you're having an off day. He picks it up and adapts. He makes us laugh and tailors his coaching to each individual horse and rider. Each lesson is like a packet of wisdom; you always leave knowing more than you did when you arrived.

Karen, Dom's wife, runs the stableyard like a welloiled machine. You can't find the experience she has in the feeding and care of horses in any textbook, yet she still listens to us as owners if we have opinions about our horses' care. The grooms at Cellehof are incredibly knowledgeable, caring, and always eager to help. My two grooms, Knowledge and Professor, are the true heroes behind the scenes. The love they have for our horses is truly remarkable.

HQ: Who coaches you? What do you enjoy most about your lessons and your stableyard?

HQ: What difficulties have you had on your journey to where you are now? Did you ever think of quitting? What kept you going?

Philip: I have 100% thought of quitting. We often see the successes of other riders but not their failures, which can make us feel completely incompetent at times. Our sport is tough; we are dealing with living, breathing animals with their own personalities and quirks. When you get into a rough patch with them, there are bound to be collisions and moments when you feel so overwhelmed you just want to call it quits.

My love for horses and my stubborn streak kept me going. Horses are so intuitive, and the thought of abandoning them when things start getting hard is just not an option. When speaking to other riders, you realise you're not alone in your riding struggles. Showjumping is a challenge, and not everyone can do well all the time, so don't stop. You never know when things will start going your way.

HQ: Tell us a bit about your horses.

Philip: I'm currently riding two competition horses - Callaho Odin and Kojac Van De Kornelishoeve. They're both insanely talented and yet have completely opposite personalities. Odin is exactly like a teddy bear. He loves hugs and even falls asleep in my arms. He is by a Consuelo sire and definitely fits the stereotype of Consuelo offspring. He's spooky and incredibly quirky, but he has scope for days, is laser-focused, and is always eager to please when we're in the ring.

Kojac is my big boy and my heart horse. I've never bonded with a horse as fast as with Kojac. He's 17.3hh and loves to buck and play around in lessons, so I admit some people find him a little intimidating. I think it's his way of showing his passion for what he does. It isn't easy to put his personality into words because he truly is one of a kind. He is a brilliant teacher and will show you how proud he is of you with a flamboyant buck here and there. When Kojac is in the ring, he puffs out his chest and has the most magnetic presence. He is brave, kind, intelligent and affectionate - if he likes you. I owe him everything, and riding him is the best feeling in the world.

HQ : What are some of the best moments you've had in your career?

Philip:  Definitely when Kojac and I made the shortlist for the 2022 Youth Equestrian Jumping Challenge in Aachen. It was the first time I had ever competed in the main class of the day, and it was at the Stokkiesdraai Cup, where the top 16 shortlisted riders competed for a spot in the top 8. It was a fantastic experience and, ultimately, the push I needed. Having to go up a level height-wise really pushed me out of my comfort zone.  Another brilliant moment in my career was receiving my honours blazer for being awarded honours in equestrian sport, but some of my best moments aren't about accolades but about first times. Like the first time, I rode in the Bob Charter, or going to my first interprovincial in Shongweni.

HQ : Do you get show nerves? How do you stay focused in the Open classes?

Philip:  Of course, I get show nerves. I mean, who doesn't!? I use an amalgamation of techniques to stay calm. First, I always like to ensure I know the course like

the back of my hand, so it becomes second nature when I enter the ring. When the bell rings to close the course, I go to a quiet place, sit and close my eyes, and go over the course as if I were riding it. I also like to get on early and walk around in the warmup arena, so I can give my boys a slow, relaxed and stress-free warmup. When I'm in the arena on standby, I make a point of not watching the rider before me. I stay focused on myself and my horse.

I use a breathing technique where I inhale for four seconds, hold for four and then exhale for four. I repeat it four times. As soon as my bell rings, I put a smile on my face. I find it tricks my mind into calming down so I can enjoy the round.

HQ : Who are your idols in the sport?

Philip:  Internationally, Scott Brash, Pénélope Leprevost, Jessica Springsteen, Georgina Bloomberg, Laura Kraut, Ben Maher and Edwina Tops-Alexander. They have all enjoyed great success, but more importantly, because of their horsemanship and their adaptability when it comes to riding a wide variety of horses.

Locally, Dominey for his all-round embodiment of horsemanship; Lisa Williams for her meticulous care of her horses; and Kelly O'Connor for her position and style, as she always gives her horses every opportunity to put their best hoof forward.

HQ: Who has had the most impact on your journey to the open classes?

Philip: Definitely Dominey. When I arrived at Cellehof, he took me under his wing and became a real mentor to me. It's hard to think of one instance that's had a big impact on me; there are small pearls of wisdom in everything Dom says.

One glimpse into the impact he's had on my journey does come to mind; I was really struggling with one of his exercises and noticed the next lesson waiting, which made me anxious. I was already frustrated, and everyone seemed to be managing it but me. Dom just said, "Hey, Philip, it's ok. The other riders can wait because we all have those days where we can't get it right no matter how hard we try. Today you're struggling, but tomorrow it's going to be someone else, so relax and come again."

WHERE YOU CAN SPOT

Philip plans to be a lot more active on the competition circuit once Matric is out of the way. He plans to move to the 1.35m classes with Kojak and then up into the 1.40m classes, at least once, by the end of 2023. Philip plans to take Odin up to the 1.30m classes and work on solidifying his confidence at that height for a while.

HQ: What does your training schedule look like in a week?

Philip: If I don't have a show, my horses jump in lessons with Dom on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I have dressage lessons on Wednesdays with Debi Van Wyk, and on Fridays, I do fieldwork and take them to the track. Saturdays are either flatwork or fieldwork, and on Sundays, I take them for a walk.

HQ: What advice do you have for other young riders who aspire to jump at your level?

Philip: Gosh, I would say that Rome wasn't built in a day, so don't rush it. Take your time and solidify your confidence; if you feel like everyone is watching and judging you, they're not. As soon as the round is over, they've already forgotten about it. If horse riding were an easy sport, there would be ten times more people doing it.

UNDERSTANDING EVENTING IN THE UK

WITH ALEX MUNN

Moving to the UK in 2019 seemed super simple at the time:

• Hop on a plane.

• Muck out some stables.

• Ride some horses and groom for one of the best riders in the world.

Easy peasy, right? I couldn't have been more wrong!

ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND

I arrived at Fox-Pitt Eventing in the dead of winter in an unfamiliar environment - snow. Moreover, the rainy season happens to be over winter in the UK, which results in a lot of mud; knee deep, stodgy and sometimes partially frozen mud. Add some snow on top of this mess, and you have the perfect recipe for equine disaster. On snowy days, the

The show venues are BIG!

horses in work are restricted to the confines of the barn, walker and indoor school. We were instructed to throw salt down to melt the ice and snow blocking the walkways.

The horses out in the fields for the winter holidays get checked every day and given supplementary hay should they look particularly miserable. Every morning was a mission to smash all the ice that had formed on the top of the water buckets and troughs yard-wide and top up the hay as needed.

Thermals, five pairs of socks, a beanie, a scarf, gloves and several layers of waterproof clothes didn't seem to keep this South African warm, especially when it started raining. I had soon purchased several coats that I would rotate through over a couple of days to ensure I stayed dry and relatively warm. The wet ones hung over the radiator to dry. Luckily, as we approached spring, the temperatures gradually began to rise, and the prospect of my first season of British Eventing was my main source of motivation.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

As spring approached, the horses began to fall into a backto-work programme which loosely translated to two weeks on the walker, two weeks of hacking, two weeks of trot work, two weeks of canter work and then back to jumping. The Badminton horses were already in full work and gradually building up their gallop training by this time, of course, which involved reps up a mile-long gallop track on a fairly substantial hill.

The younger horses were treated to days out with crosscountry schooling, which provided my first insight into the standard and sheer scale of the eventing world in the UK. The training facilities within a two-hour radius of Fox-Pitt Eventing (FPE) were spectacular. Every style of fence and technical question at every height (70cm - 4*) plus all-weather crosscountry arenas fully installed with water jumps, banks, steps and ditches were the norm. The horses are always prepped and plaited the day before their event and spend the night with snuggly Lycra hoods, and leg wraps to keep them clean, although plenty of 4am leg washes definitely occurred!

FIRST SHOW

My first experience of a British event was fairly awful! The venue I went to was Tweseldown at which William had five horses to ride in one day in a range of different levels. It rained the whole day, and the temperature didn't rise above 5°C. I was terrified that I would do something wrong and totally naive about how the event day ran in terms of expectations and how the horses would respond to the weather. The venue was massive, nothing like the venues in South Africa, with grooms and riders using electric bikes to get between arenas and the lorry park! Our day ended, rather spectacularly, with our 26-tonne fully loaded horse lorry being towed out of the parking lot by a trusty John Deere tractor as the mud was just too deep.

HOW EVENTING WORKS IN THE UK

The levels in British Eventing are 80, 90, 100, Novice, Intermediate and Advanced. These are all national classes and equate to the international classes as follows: 105 = 1* (only short format), Novice = 2*-S, Intermediate = 3*-S and Advanced = 4*-S. The only way to run a long format is at an international event at the respective height. The qualification requirements for each level can be found on the British Eventing website:  https://www.britisheventing. com/compete/minimum-eligibility-requirements.

A handful of venues will run three or four events per season but most only host one big eventing festival, or fair. This attracts the general public as there is usually a large shopping area, which is referred to as 'the trade stands'. This makes hosting such events more affordable for the venues that only host one eventing show annually. The volume of sponsors and volunteers is incredible. Most venues can run up to 300 horses per day. Depending on the number of entries, each level is then subdivided into different pools or sections consisting of not more than 40 horses. There can be up to five sections of the same level that are run on different days, and all ride the same dressage test, the same showjumping track and the same cross-country course. The tracks and arenas get totally trashed in spring and autumn, so one always hopes to be early on in the day and weekend to avoid the sludge! Gaining a top 10 finish at a British Event is the main goal and something to be very proud of if achieved.

International events put all entries into one class but split the competitors onto different days for dressage and usually run over two days to accommodate the volume of entries. This means you can be in an international class with 200 other competitors, so a top-20 finish is outstanding! The difference between short and long formats is the same globally. Long formats are always

run over three to four days (2 days for Dr, XC & SJ). Short formats can be run in a single day or over a few days to accommodate entries but maintain the same order of events (Dr, SJ & XC). British events always run on a single day and follow the same order as short formats (Dr, SJ & XC). Trot-up is only required for long-format events prior to dressage and showjumping. There is a fantastic tradition in Britain of impeccable turnout and out-there fashion choices for every trot up, with sponsored prizes for the best dressed and best turned out. Many top riders receive fully funded outfits to wear at their respective trot-ups from top equine fashion brands.

FIRST 'STAY AWAY'

By the time I was chosen to go to a stay-away event, I was totally clued up on what was expected of me at events and the general jobs that needed doing while away. I was lucky enough to sleep on the converted couch in the living area of Kazu's lorry rather than camp, as it was still very cold

outside in April. Belton International Horse Trials was our first destination, and we were fortunate to stable off-site at a private yard belonging to a good friend of Williams. 3am starts and midnight finishes for five days on the trot were exhausting, but seeing the size of the lorries in the parking lot and all of the top riders warming up together was unbelievable. At this point, I was itching for my own horse and actually tried Basil in the Belton warmup arenas!

COMPETITION TIME

After a successful first international trip to Ballindenisk in Ireland, I returned to start my partnership with Basil and start competing myself. Due to my record from South Africa and Basil's existing qualifications, we were able to start at BE100. We finished 9th at our first event, which also happened to be at Twesledown! The rest is history, and you can follow Basil's progress up the grades by viewing his record here:  https://www.britisheventing. com/about/people-and-horses/horse-profiles/THE-SPICEMERCHANT-104886.

The wonderful thing about British Eventing is that there is an array of different events to choose from every weekend

from the beginning of the season in March to the end of October. If one has the means and motive, one could easily compete every single weekend in the UK in eventing. This is not recommended due to the wear and tear on the horses and, of course, the cost. It does mean, however, that planning an event season can be very fun as there are so many events to choose from. After having been in the UK for three eventing seasons, I am very aware of what each venue offers at different times of the year. Some venues may be too boggy in spring and autumn but perfect in summer. Others are too hard over the dry summer months. The technicality of each cross-country course also becomes more familiar. For example, I would never step a horse up a level at Tweseldown, as this venue is bright, bold and gets more technical as the season progresses. Instead, I would step a horse up at Aston le Walls.

I aim to run two events a month with my young horses, resulting in ± 14 events per season. The more established horses will run fewer but at the more prominent international events resulting in ± 10 events per season. Some events are used to get the horses going or keep them ticking over but are not treated as actively competitive

There’s nothing more satisfying than removing the piece of ice whole! Snow!

events. Therefore, riders will run slowly around the crosscountry to save their horse's legs for when it counts at a big international event. Harry Meade is a prime example of conservative cross-country riding. Not all riders follow the same method, and many go a whole season without incurring a single cross-country time fault. Long-format events/3 day events (DE) are usually at the peaks of a season. Generally, riders will aim for two long formats a year, one mid-year and one at the end of the year. Then if something doesn't go to plan, the riders reroute to other long-format events to gain qualification. Therefore, having plans A, B and C is vital for a season. Most riders in the UK give their horses time off after a long format or 3DE and then gradually build back up towards the next planned long-format. These breaks are usually two weeks, but this depends on the outcome of the previous event and any injuries sustained.

END OF THE SEASON

Many turn their horses away (out 24/7) for a couple of months over winter but some are too concerned about potential risk of injury so they keep their horses inside

24/7 with a walker programme. Horses in the UK go out overnight in summer and stay in during the day to avoid the heat (UK horses don't cope very well over 24°C). The opposite occurs in winter, when the horses are out during the day and in overnight to avoid the freezing temperatures. The horse blankets or rugs come in varying shapes, sizes and weights. These are brilliant tools to keep horses dry and clean on the foulest of days. The turnout routine is particular to the facilities available and the personality of the horse.

NEXT TIME

Next time I will explain what a typical day in both summer and winter can be like on a DIY yard in the UK, as well as explain the rugging system, dietary requirements and typical weekly routine for an event horse!

The mud is no joke in England!

ENJOYING THE HOLIDAYS

WITH YOUR HORSE

Riding is not the only way to have fun with your horse, and there are lots of benefits to spending time on the ground with your equine companion. Here we give you some ‘out-of-the-saddle’ ideas to help you enjoy your time together this December.

1. EXPLORE TOGETHER

Exploring new places with your horse in hand is an excellent opportunity to bond, help your horse get braver and allow him to take in new sights and sounds. If your horse is the nervous-type, take along a buddy horse or just go slow and explore new areas of the yard before venturing further afield.

DID YOU KNOW?

Horsemanship trainer Steve Halfpenny runs a ‘100 miles a month challenge’, where he challenges you and your horse to walk 100 miles together on foot. He believes this challenge helps your horse to become more confident, focused, brave and calm. It’s worth checking out, particularly if you’d like some support getting going with your horse on the ground.

2. SCRATCHY SPOT

Horses are sociable creatures and love mutual grooming sessions. You, too, can be your horse’s mutual grooming partner, so find those spots where he loves to be scratched the most!

Favourite spots tend to be on the withers, the top of the neck or around his tail. You’ll know when you’ve hit the right spot as he’ll start to give you some signs he’s enjoying it, like quivering his lip or softening his eye. Just beware – he may even try to return the favour, and ‘scratch’ you back, and his teeth can give you a pretty vigorous groom!

3. MAKE SOME TREATS

Get creative and make or bake some treats for your horse. For example, you could thread a piece of string through some root vegetables like carrots and turnips and hang them from the rafters in his stable, place apples in his water bucket, or hide bits of carrot in his haynet or around his paddock.

NOTE: Although it’s nice to be able to treat our horses, overfeeding them will lead to weight gain and the health issues that go along with this. Never feed too many treats in one go, and always use treats that are high in fibre but low in sugar.

4. PAMPER HIM

If it’s been a while since your horse had an at-home ‘spa day’, then embrace the warm weather and indulge your horse with some pamper time. Give him a bath followed by a thorough groom, and maybe even trim his mane and tail!

5. SPOOK BUSTING

The more your horse is exposed to, the less spooky he’s likely to be under saddle. A great activity for the holiday can therefore be exposing your horse to as many weird and wonderful objects as you can find –umbrellas, flags, inflatable balls and tarpaulins all fit the bill! Just make sure you don’t over-face your horse. You want to allow him time to accept new sights and sounds and reward him for his bravery – you don’t want to be ‘forcing’ him to be okay with these new objects, and you certainly don’t want him to shut down to cope with the sensory overload!

World Cup football, here we come!

DID YOU KNOW?

Salt water can reduce inflammation, accelerate healing, draw out infection and increase circulation!

6. SWIMMING TIME

If your horse is a water baby, find a nearby dam or river and take him for a paddle (provided it is safe to do so!) Alternatively, if you are lucky enough to live near the coast, take your horse to the sea where he can benefit from the many healing benefits of seawater and splash around to his heart’s content.

7. THE POWER OF OBSERVATION

Watching your horse interact in the paddock or even in the stable can be such a valuable exercise in learning about your horse, his preferences and his personality. Notice how he interacts with his friends, how he plays, and what does and doesn’t bother him! Finding the time to do this throughout the year can be a challenge, so make the most of having the chance to sit back and just watch your horse be a horse!

INTERVIEW: SYDNE YORKE-HART

ISAAC’S INSIGHTS

SHOW TIPS

Isaac from Lavender Hill Stud gave us his top show tips, and we loved them. Thank you, Isaac!

5 TIPS FOR SHOW PREP

1. To make sure the horse is mentally ready, from my side as a groom, I always have to work with the rider to know how each and every session of riding goes before the show. I know my horses well, and I know if and when they are ready for the show mentally and physically.

2. I always bathe my horses before a show; I always want them to look perfect and smart.

3. I always talk to my horses; this is my way with them. I talk to them and cuddle them a lot more before a show. This is my way of preparing my horses for what they must do at the show and making sure they are ready.

4. I then make sure all tack/equipment is clean, and all grass and water (our own water from home) are ready to go into the truck. I like to make sure we have everything we will need.

5. I always make sure my horses are neat and ready for the show earlier in the morning on show day.

5 TIPS FOR BEING AT THE SHOW

1. Before taking the horses off the truck, I check all of my horses to make sure they are healthy after travelling. I check for any injuries or anything like that.

2. When I know my horses have travelled well and I take them off the truck, I make sure they have lots of water, grass and shade. I have to give them their special treats and cubes as well, as a treat from me.

3. After I know what time my rider wants to get on and is riding, I then plan my day and everything the horse needs before they ride. I like to give the horses a lot of grass and some lucerne before they ride for a little energy.

4. When I sit with my horses at the show, I have to communicate with my horses before I start getting them ready. I like them to stay as relaxed as they can be. I talk to them the whole time to keep them relaxed.

5. I help my rider tack up and go with the rider to the arena to make sure they both have everything they need. My horses always get a special treat after they ride, no matter the performance of the horse; I like to reward the willingness of the horse no matter what. I always want to appreciate them and what they do.

5 TIPS AFTER THE SHOW

1. I check my horses at home before I offload them to make sure they have travelled safely.

2. I hose their legs down to make sure they have cooled down completely.

3. I like to take my horses to the paddock for a little bit of time, even if it is just for 15/20mins, to let them have fun and stretch their legs.

4. After my horse is back in the stable to relax, I always like to take some more time to treat them and appreciate them when we are back home, no matter what. The performance is always a bonus for me, as long as they are happy.

5. I get ready to feed the horses for the night to allow them to relax. When we get home from the show, I just want my horses to feel free, so I don’t like to do too much with them after they get home.

Professional Farriers (SAAPF)

THE

AN OVERVIEW

SAAPF officially launched in 2012 and has grown from strength-to-strength over the past decade. This growth is attributable to the Association’s commitment to advancement in knowledge and skill levels amongst the members and the transparency of its agenda and constitution.

[SUBHEAD] WHY WAS SAAPF FORMED?

The Association was formed because there was a desperate need in South Africa for a representative Association focused on education for farriers. Development and planning for this set-up took approximately two years, with models taken from various farrier associations worldwide and tailored to suit the uniquely South African farriery dynamic.

WHO WERE THE FOUNDING MEMBERS?

WHAT IS IT THAT THE SAAPF STANDS FOR AS AN ASSOCIATION?

The SAAPF stands for the upliftment of our craft through competitions, clinics, educational opportunities, and exams (including higher exams) for our members. This commitment to education means there are more qualified, knowledgeable, and skilled farriers in South Africa than ever before.

The South African Association of Professional Farriers was the brainchild of Robbie Dawson DipWCF and Robbie Miller AWCF.

WHAT EXAMS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH SAAPF?

FITS (Farrier International Testing System) since 2010

In 2009, Chris Gregory FWCF ASF CJF, owner of the Heartland Horseshoeing School in Lamar, Missouri in the USA, and the author of ‘Gregory’s Textbook of Farriery’ wrote an exam which included a practical, theory and forging aspect for the Brazilian Farriers Association.

Robbie Miller contacted Chris and asked him to bring that exam to our country. This was the birth of the Farrier International Testing System, which is now written in approximately 8 or 9 different countries. The first exams were held at the Graham Beck Skills Centre outside of Robertson in the Western Cape in 2010.

Robbie is the Chief Examiner for FITS in South Africa and examines internationally. There are three levels to the FITS exams, which include the entry-level Certified Farrier (CF), the Certified Professional Farrier (CPF), and the Advanced Skills Farrier (ASF). All levels have the abovementioned aspects, increasing knowledge and skill requirements.

WCF (Worshipful Company of Farriers) since 2018

The SAAPF has provided the opportunity to host the

Worshipful Company of Farriers (WCF) and their exams here in South Africa. History was made in 2018 when the first WCF exams were held on South African soil, an incredible achievement considering that the WCF was established in 1356.

As a side note, British Farriery is the benchmark by which the global community measures itself.

We have hosted the Company on two occasions to date and have numerous members who now hold the Diploma of the Company (DipWCF). This is a higher education NVQ level 3 qualification. In addition, two of our members, SAAPF President Johnny Murdoch and Vice President Robbie Miller, hold the Associate (AWCF) OFQUAL level 5, an undergraduate degree in Farriery.

FUTURE FOR THE ASSOCIATION AND ITS MEMBERS

The SAAPF is currently in the process of becoming affiliated with CEEPSA, which is the Council of Equine and Equestrian Professionals of South Africa, which will provide solid professional recognition for our members and encourage CPD through continued educational opportunities.

HOW WOULD IT BENEFIT HORSE OWNERS IF THEIR FARRIERS WERE ASSOCIATED?

The benefit of using a member of the SAAPF is the assurance that they are all about continuing education and skill development. All exams, competitions, and clinics are CPD events, and we encourage our members to earn their annual quota of Continuing Development Points.

HOW MANY MEMBERS DOES THE ASSOCIATION HAVE?

Currently, there are 34 members throughout SA.

To become a member, Whatsapp:076 098 7744 or email Samanthanolan426@gmail.com or saapffarrier@ gmail.com.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO BECOME A MEMBER?

Any farrier or apprentice is eligible to become a member. We do have a code of conduct that should be adhered to

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A FARRIER?

Becoming a farrier is a fantastic life choice. The industry takes you all over the show and through many different experiences.

To become a farrier, ask the SAAPF for an approved training farrier (ATP) in your area; CPF or higher would be best.

By joining an approved training farrier, you will be exposed to the correct learning channels.

WHAT ARE THE BEST PARTS OF THE JOB?

For many farriers, the best part is seeing a lame horse walk out sounder/ sound after being worked on. It is also a proud moment to see the horses you work on competing. And we play with fire and bash hot steel with a hammer.

WHAT ARE THE MOST CHALLENGING PARTS OF THE JOB?

Some of the most complex parts would be working with unruly horses. It hurts.

That’s why a clean and safe place with ample lighting is always greatly appreciated.

Farriery is a very physically demanding job that takes some getting used to.

NATURAL GROOMING BEHAVIOURS

Grooming is important for maintaining coat and skin health, and for building and maintaining social bonds within groups of horses. Horses maintain their own coat health using self-grooming techniques, and then mutually groom other horses for bonding and assistance in getting to hard-to-reach spots. This mutual grooming is also called allogrooming.

MUTUAL GROOMING

Mutual grooming not only allows horses to reach areas of their bodies they can’t reach themselves, but also facilitates the exchange of odours between horses, a

key element of recognition and bonding. This mutual grooming has been shown to reduce heart rate when conducted in certain parts of the mane and withers. Grooming of the withers by humans has a similar calming effect.

Mutual grooming begins as early as the first week of life, but tends to peak in the second and third months of life, a period in which foals seem to find physical contact intensely pleasurable. To begin with, the foal’s mutual grooming partner is his mother, who may dismiss other grooming partners if her foal attracts her attention by attempting to groom her.

Although some mature horses will never groom another horse, most will regularly indulge in this sort of activity with their favoured herd mates. Generally speaking, regardless of age, females spend more time mutually grooming than males. Mutual grooming partners tend to be preferred associates, who occupy a similar rank in the herd. Mutual grooming usually starts near the top of the neck and moves back to the withers, the shoulders and then the tail-head. Sometimes the horses will change sides along the way, but commonly just the one side is groomed. Mutual grooming sessions generally last around three minutes.

SELF-GROOMING

Self-grooming really brings out a creative streak in our horses as they seek to use their hooves, mouths and any objects they can find in their environment to relieve irritation. Foals self-groom up to 12 times per hour, compared to adults, who self-groom only one to two times per hour. This is thought to be due to the greater flexibility of the foal’s body, allowing him to self-groom more areas, more easily. Self-grooming tends to peak with the shedding of the winter coat.

In this vein, scratching and grooming by humans can act as a great primary reinforcer and really help to

NOTE

Any excessive scratching and itching should be reported to your vet, as it can be a sign of sweet itch, or another skin condition requiring attention. The quicker you can break the itch-scratch cycle in these horses, by treating the source of the problem, the less likely the scratching is to become a habitual behaviour.

consolidate the horse-human bond. However, we need to be aware of the different sensitivities of different horses, and also on the different parts of the body of an individual horse. Some horses simply do not enjoy an intense scratch, while others do, and some like to be scratched on their mane, but not on their tail. It is important that we watch our horses to see what they enjoy and what they don’t.

SELF-GROOMING TECHNIQUES

RUBBING

Rubbing involves using either a fixed object or the horse’s muzzle. The muzzle is used to reach places such as the body or the forelegs that are hard to rub against fixed objects in the environment. In terms of fixed objects, some horses will use low branches to rub their backs, or will walk forwards and backwards over tall vegetation to rub their underside. Rubbing of the dock of the tail or the mane, however, remains the most common, and typically occurs against any fixed object, like a tree or the wall of the stable.

SCRATCHING

This involves turning the head and neck to the rear and then using the hindlimbs to scratch parts of the head and neck. This is more common in foals than adults, but the behaviour is retained by quite a few ponies. Some ponies, particularly those with an skin condition, will in fact put their whole pastern into their mouth and nibble on the limb.

ROLLING

Rolling is considered a method of self-grooming. The preferred surfaces on which horses roll are sand, fine dry soil and sometimes mud. This explains why horses in a field tend to select the bare patches of ground on which to roll, often near gates or near water troughs. Interestingly, more than 80% of rolling occurs where another horse has rolled, so the function of rolling is believed to be the opportunity to deposit the scent of another horse all over their body. As mentioned earlier, scent is vital for horses in recognising other horses and also in forming bonds.

In rolling, the head and neck help to propel the horse from side to side. Similarly, lateral bend of the vertebral column and thrashing of the hind legs seem to help the horse to balance himself on his back. Rolling horses will usually return to the same side that they started lying on. Horses tend to find rolling very satisfying.

SHAKING

Shaking is another behaviour that is widely considered by equine behaviourists to be a form of self-grooming. Shaking is most commonly seen after untacking, rolling or lying down. It involves coordinated contraction of the superficial musculature. The neck is lowered and the front legs spread prior to shaking.

NIBBLING AND LICKING

The use of teeth in body care varies from rhythmic scratching by the upper incisors, to small bites. While the areas that can be reached by the teeth include the sides and loins and even the hindlegs, the forelegs seem to receive a lot of attention from the mouth. The forelegs are

also the main site where horses tend to lick themselves. Licking is not overly common as a method of grooming, but on the front legs horses do seem to engage in this behaviour. Foals also frequently lick as a method of grooming.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

There are two important take-home messages from this article. Firstly, that we should not restrict our horse’s natural instincts to self-groom and allogroom, provided they are safe. If scratching becomes excessive or the behaviour you are seeing is unusual for your horse, then your vet should be consulted, but generally speaking, if a horse wants to roll in a dusty patch or if they want to nibble on each other’s withers, we should allow them to do this for both social purposes and skin health. The second takeaway is that we can build a great bond with our horses through scratches and grooming sessions. In fact, the scratches on the withers are purported to be powerful enough as primary reinforcers that some horses prefer them to treats!

FEEDING

TEXT: HANNAH

BOTHA, MSC EQUINE

SCIENCE, EPOL NUTRITION ADVISOR

THROUGH THE POINTS TO CONSIDER

HOLIDAYS

The December holidays are finally upon us! For many, that means a well-deserved break for both horse and rider; for others, it means more time to ride, and so the workload increases.

Assessing and altering your horse's diet prior to making changes in workload will ensure that all the essential nutrients are fully covered to maintain his overall health this holiday.

INCREASED WORKLOAD FOR A FEW WEEKS

If you are going to be riding a lot more over the holidays, it's likely your horse will need additional feed during this time. All horses should receive at least 1.5% of body weight per day of forage (hay, grazing, hay cubes etc.) This could be increased to 2% should your horse be working harder, or you could look at changing a portion of his forage to a higher calorie forage such as lucerne or a high fibre cube to add extra calories without increasing the amount of forage fed.

For those not on concentrate, it may be worth adding in a balancer. While this won't give additional energy/calories, it will ensure your horse receives all the essential vitamins and minerals he needs when moving up a workload level. For those receiving a concentrate, all that's likely to be needed is a small increase in the amount fed alongside your horse's normal daily portion of forage.

TIME OFF: ONE DAY - ONE WEEK

For this length of time off, there is no need to reduce or change the horse's feed, especially if the horse's rest period can include some level of activity such as lunging, use of a horse walker and/or extra turnout time.

However, if an individual is prone to weight gain or excitability, then reducing the horse's concentrate feed

slightly may be worthwhile. For example, a reduction of 15-20%, which is around 500g-700g for a horse on 3.5kg per day, may be all that's needed.

TIME OFF: TWO – FOUR WEEKS

As it is still a relatively short time off, and changes should always be done gradually, it may not be worthwhile changing to a different product (especially if the current diet works well), so the safest option would be to simply reduce the amount of concentrate feed.

For this length of time off or for cases where the horse is being fed a concentrate that is higher in cereal grains, the reduction may need to be around 30-50%. This will lower the starch and sugar content of the diet to minimise excitability and the risk of the horse becoming 'tied-up' or experiencing digestive upsets. This risk is further reduced if the horse gets a good amount of paddock time on his rest days and, of course, adequate forage per day. When cutting back by this larger amount, it may be worthwhile adding in a good quality balancer to ensure that the horse still gets all the nutrients he requires.

If the horse is not only excitable but also struggles to maintain weight, then reducing the concentrate portion while increasing the roughage portion (this could be made up of hay, grazing, chaff, hay cubes, or beet products) may be a better way to go as it ensures your horse gets the calories required, without the added fizz.

If the horse is not in a high level of work and therefore doesn't get much concentrate feed, the need to reduce may not be as great; in fact, your ability to reduce anything will be fairly limited, and balance can be happily maintained by reducing the daily concentrate intake by only 20-30%.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I RUN OUT OF FEED?

Honestly, it's not such a huge deal. Yes, disrupting the horse's routine and dietary plan is never ideal, but the horse isn't going to be too concerned if hay is provided.

Often, we obsess about what's going in the bucket but forget that the horse's diet shouldn't be made up of concentrate feed alone but rather should be made up of forage (hay and grazing) with concentrate provided to make up for any nutrients not supplied by his forage. If the horse is going to miss out on a meal or two, then simply ensure he has ad-lib access to hay 24/7. You can also consider adding some of this hay to his 'bucket' along with any extras like supplements, carrots etc., so that he is fed at a normal time under similar conditions. This will help to reduce the stress associated with a change in routine.

If your horse is already getting ad-lib hay, then perhaps he can have some extra time in the paddock to ensure he can eat as much grass as he likes before coming into his stable. Alternatively, if he is happy and used to being out, he could stay out 24/7 in his paddock to allow him to graze constantly.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS NO STOCK OF MY FOOD?

We all know that sudden changes to a horse's diet are not a good idea, and so if your horse is only going to miss a meal or two, it's not worth changing feed as it takes the horse's digestive system 7-10 days to adapt to something new in the diet, and so sudden swaps in feed could put the horse at risk of digestive upset. In these cases, follow the instructions above to make up for the meal or two they miss.

On the other hand, if feed will be in short/no supply for several weeks, then yes, it may be wise to start something new. However, you must take time and introduce this new feed slowly over the 7 – 10 days needed to adapt.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The end of the year can see changes in your horse’s routine and also your feed company’s opening hours. The best thing you can do is plan in advance and chat to your Equine Nutritionist if you have any concerns.

TEXT: GEORGIA HARLEY

BODY SCORING YOUR HORSE

USING HENNEKE'S SCALE

Body condition scoring, or BCS, is the subjective measure of the quantity of adipose tissue (fat) across multiple areas of the horse to give an overall indication of the horse's weight status. There are two main body condition scoring systems used in the horse – one runs on a 1-5 scale and the other on a 1-9 scale. Here we look at the second of these scores, called the Henneke Body Condition Score. In the Henneke system, the body score is totalled across six locations on the horse, with a score of 1 being assigned to areas with no fat covering and a score of 9 being assigned to areas with excessive fat covering; the average score across the six regions is then calculated.

THE SIX LOCATIONS

• Along the neck

• Over the withers

• Behind the shoulder

• Over the rib cage

• Along the back

• Around the tailhead

There are essential things to look out for in each region.

1. Along the neck

As part of the BCS, you feel along the neck to assess the amount of fatty tissue present. A good test to conduct is the 'wobble test', where if the neck is very 'wobbly', it will score higher. Likewise, if the neck has a cresty appearance, it will also score higher. In contrast, a hollow neck scores much lower on the scale.

2. Over the withers

Over the withers, you need to assess the amount of fatty tissue present. Very thin horses will have clearly visible bony structures and accentuated withers. Overweight horses will have bulging, fatty withers.

3. Behind the shoulder

Behind the shoulder, you can feel for any fat pockets. Fat pockets in this region cause the horse to score highly on the BCS. These fat pockets are easy to identify as they feel 'squishy' to the touch.

4. Over the rib cage

With the ribs, you need to both palpate and examine. If the ribs are visible before touching the horse, the horse automatically scores below a five and below 'ideal condition'. Fatty tissue over the ribs, on the other hand, gives the horse a higher score.

5. Along the back

To feel this area, you want to place your hand flat on the horse's back and run your palm back until the point of the rump. In a horse with the ideal condition, your hand will run flat along the back. A thinner horse will have a prominent spine, and a fatter horse will have a sunken spine surrounded by fatty tissue.

6. Around the tailhead

When assessing the tailhead, it is essential to look for fat directly on each side of the tail. The horse is overweight if this region feels very squishy and there are visible fat deposits.

THE MEANING OF THE FINAL SCORE

Out of the nine scores, there are six dangerous scores. Scoring between 1 and 3 is dangerous as the horse is too thin or even emaciated, and scoring between 6 and 9 is dangerous as these horses are obese. Both horses who are too thin or too fat are at risk of major health issues.

Score 1 - 1.5 – Danger zone

This horse is emaciated. You can virtually see each bone of the skeleton. The danger in this situation is a desire to feed quickly to put on weight. Unfortunately, these horses are so emaciated that they are at risk of refeeding syndrome. Refeeding these horses is, instead, a long-term process and should be done in conjunction with your vet.

You must watch out for fatty withers.

Here you see the channel over the spine caused by excess fatty tissue.

A cresty neck is visible here.

Some horses can take six months to achieve an average weight, whereas others take well over a year. Each horse must be treated as an individual.

Score 2 - 2.5 – Danger zone

Although these horses are not showing every single bone, there are still many on view. This horse is slightly more covered, but most of the above still applies.

Score 3 - 3.5 – Danger zone

These horses are still at risk but have a lower chance of refeeding syndrome when food is given to them; however, one must still be cautious. They have a bit more coverage, but the points of the hips and rump will be seen, and all ribs are visible.

Score 4 - 4.5 – Lower end of ideal

This score is just less than ideal; ribs are showing, but very few. These horses may have reasonable-looking rumps but still have a certain hollowness to their general appearance. Many fit Thoroughbreds hover around this score.

Score 5 - 5.5 – Ideal

At this ideal score, no ribs are showing, but there are no fat deposits.

Score 6 - 6.5 – Upper end of the ideal

These horses are a tad fleshier than the horses that sit at the ideal score, and they have a certain roundness to their rumps. This is the highest score at which a horse can still be considered to be of a healthy weight.

Score 7 -7.5 – Danger zone

This score takes us into the other end of the danger zone. These horses are a ticking time bomb. Fat, if not attended to, interferes with hormone release as well as metabolic processes and can lead to a whole host of health conditions. These horses will look undefined, and parts of their anatomy will have a 'marshmallowy' feel.

Score 8 - 8.5 – Danger zone

Ribs are difficult to find on these horses. Due to the weight, they have developed a grove down their backs. There are many fatty deposits.

Score 9 - 9.5 – Danger zone

These horses have no definition and again feature a deep groove down their backs. This zone is highly unhealthy for a horse.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Body Condition Scoring is a valuable way of monitoring your horse's weight and health status. Calculating your horse's BCS every month or so can give you a very clear indication of how your horse is doing and whether you need to be speaking to your vet or equine nutritionist about making changes to the diet.

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There'ssweet…nothing

…ABOUT SWEET ITCH

Summer seasonal recurrent dermatitis, generally referred to as sweet itch, is a common and debilitating skin disease. It is caused by an allergic reaction to the bite of the  Culicoides midge, which is the midge that carries African Horse Sickness (AHS). All horses are bitten by this midge over the course of the year, but just like with AHS, only some horses develop sweet itch.

PATHOLOGY

The  Culicoides midge mostly feeds at dusk and dawn in warmer weather and breeds in wet conditions. This allows them to thrive in southern Africa's spring, summer and autumn months, which is why the condition is most prevalent at these times. Symptoms of the disease most commonly start to appear at the end of spring and continue into autumn. However, in a few cases, the condition can be present almost all year round, with last year's symptoms barely disappearing before the condition flares again the following spring.

When the  Culicoides midge bites a susceptible horse, a local allergic reaction occurs to a protein in the saliva of the midge. The protein is essentially harmless, but in horses with the allergy, it causes the immune system to overreact and attack its own skin cells. It is the damage caused by this attack on the skin that leads to the symptoms of sweet itch. Sweet itch is, therefore, fundamentally a problem of the immune system and, as such, is very difficult to treat successfully.

The most affected areas in cases of sweet itch are under the mane, at the root of the tail, on the ears, along the neck, on the forehead, around the withers and across the hindquarter. However, in severe cases, the condition also appears along the midline of the belly, the saddle area, the sides of the head, the sheath or udder and the legs. In fact, the condition can really affect just about any part of the horse's body when severe!

Animals who are predisposed to sweet itch will start to show signs between one and four years of age in most cases. Older animals who show the disease for the first time are thought to do so because of some outside stressor which impacts the immune system, such as moving to a new home or experiencing an illness or serious injury. However, in both younger and older horses, the major contributing factor to developing sweet itch is obviously the prevalence of the midge in the area.

While immensely distressing for the affected horse, sweet itch is not contagious. One or more animals in the same stable yard may have the condition, but this is simply due to environmental factors (the high burden

of  Culicoides midges) and the fact the condition is common in the equid population!

DIAGNOSIS

If you suspect your horse or pony has sweet itch, you must get a proper clinical diagnosis from your vet. Diagnosis should not be difficult, especially with the disease being seasonal. Still, a formal diagnosis does eliminate other causes of similar symptoms, which are more easily treatable, like lice and ringworm.

CHARACTERISTICS

Sweet itch is characterised by intense itching, causing the horse or pony to vigorously rub or scratch the affected parts of the body on anything they can get access to. If there is nothing convenient to rub on, they may even pull themselves along the ground to scratch their belly or sit like a dog and wriggle around on the floor to scratch their tail. Alternatively, they may bite their flanks and the base of the tail and scratch their manes and ears with a hindfoot. Sufferers frequently pester their paddock mates for extra

mutual grooming or may pace up and down continuously until they get access to something to scratch on. Vigorous tail swishing or excessive rolling is also seen.

Constant scratching and rubbing over time causes the skin to thicken and the hair to become broken and fall out. It is not uncommon for the condition to worsen each year until, eventually, the skin is so damaged that the hair no longer grows back. Constant damage to the hair may also result in the hair growing back white, so if you are buying a horse over the winter months when you are less likely to

see active disease, check for white hairs in the mane or tail as this may suggest a case of chronic sweet itch that is just less obvious in the cooler months.

Other symptoms of sweet itch include flaky skin and weeping sores, sometimes with a yellow crust. Secondary infection with bacteria, viruses or fungi can affect these sores if they are not kept clean. If you suspect a secondary infection, you must contact your vet to get the area treated.

IMPACT ON PSYCHOLOGY AND PERFORMANCE

Aside from the physical signs of the condition, the psychological impact on the horse can be huge. Suffering from sweet itch is a pretty miserable predicament, and horses with sweet itch need help to minimise their symptoms and lots of TLC!

Symptoms of sweet itch can cause some horses to lose their ability to concentrate. These horses typically become lethargic and yawn a lot or become fidgety and restless. They often lose interest in their work, and their performance deteriorates. Tack can become unbearable for them, and insects buzzing around can set off a bout of head shaking. With all of this extra stress, it is not unusual for these horses to drop weight and lose condition.

NOTE

Avoid spraying fly sprays or applying ointments on broken or damaged skin. This can be painful for the horse and also result in other issues, including chronic scarring. Check with your vet how to manage the damaged areas of skin and follow their advice.

TREATMENT

The key to managing sweet itch is prevention and persistence. Preventative environmental measures to reduce exposure to the midge are certainly the most effective. However, you will still need to be diligent in applying treatments and fly sprays regularly to get the condition under control.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

There are several measures you can take to reduce the midges' access to the horse, which is ultimately the most important arm to treatment. Firstly, horses must be removed from areas near woods, ponds, lakes, rivers, standing water, wet ground or rotting vegetation, as these are the main breeding grounds for the midge. These areas should also be avoided when riding. An ideal location for

the horse is, in fact, an exposed windy area, as the midges cannot fly in windy conditions.

It is for this reason that fans in the stable can really help these horses by keeping the midges at bay. The fan should be directed towards the door or window to prevent the midges from flying in and accessing the horse. It is important to note that fans must be securely fastened and well out of the horse's way to avoid injury.

Rugging the horse with a lightweight rug that has a hood and covers the belly is also helpful. Many tack shops stock specific blankets for this purpose.

Finally, fly repellants with midge repelling action should be applied all over the body, usually twice a day.

PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT

If the allergic reaction is severe, vets can prescribe systemic corticosteroids to minimise the issue. However, these drugs only bring temporary relief and carry the risk of nasty side effects, including laminitis. Similarly, some vets will prescribe antihistamines (specifically hydroxyzine), which have been shown to be of benefit in some cases of sweet itch. Steroid and antihistamine creams can also be used, and some people have experienced good results with these.   Antibiotics may be required in cases where the skin has been broken and become infected.

OTHER OPTIONS

Certain creams and oils can reduce the itch but need regular application. Some horses experience relief from

cold hosing and ice packs on the affected areas. Finally, many alternative therapies are purported to help, and it's worth discussing these with a specialist.

You must not expect any of the above treatments to be effective immediately. Horses who have suffered from sweet itch have often become habitual scratchers; therefore, it will take a while to break the itch-scratch cycle.

SUMMARY

With sweet itch, there are no cures and no quick fixes, and even a short exposure to a few biting  Culicoides midges can result in weeks of itchiness. Throughout the main 'biting' season, preventative measures must not be relaxed if the programme is to successfully control the condition and minimise discomfort. This is time-consuming but must be done to achieve the best outcome for your horse.

IN SU SPENSE

UNDERSTANDING SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT INJURIES

The suspensory ligament is one of the most common soft tissue structures to be affected by injury in the horse. This ligament plays a significant supportive role in the horse's lower leg, so injury to this structure can prove devastating.

THE SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT

The horse's suspensory ligament runs from just below the hock or knee and extends down the back of the cannon bone before attaching to the sesamoid bones at the back of the fetlock. It runs as one single band of tissue until about two-thirds of the way down the cannon bone, at which point it splits into two branches. Ultimately, there are three separate portions of the suspensory:

1. The proximal suspensory ligament

2. The suspensory body

3. The suspensory branches

Each portion of the ligament has individual characteristics and sustains different injuries.

INJURIES

The  proximal suspensory ligament most commonly develops proximal suspensory desmitis (PSD). This inflammation of the ligament occurs due to an accumulation of damage over time, normally caused by the repetitive overload of the ligament. Unfortunately, in an athletic horse, it can be hard to avoid this injury due to the type of work we tend to ask them to perform. Having said this, this injury is more likely to occur in some horses than others due to conformation, discipline, level of work, exercise surface and the intensity of work. This disease process is more common in horses that are asked to 'sit' on their hindlimbs and collect.

Another less common injury of the proximal suspensory ligament is an acute tear of the ligament. This is normally also the result of overstrain. It tends to cause more severe lameness than PSD.

The  body and branches of the suspensory ligament often sustain sudden onset injuries due to overstrain or trauma. There may be a tear or a hole in the

ligament when it is examined with an ultrasound. These injuries are less common than PSD, and they tend to occur in showjumpers performing at a higher level due to the increased strain on the ligaments. These injuries can be made worse by uneven exercise surfaces and poor foot balance.

SIGNS OF INJURY

Horses with PSD are often reported to have been performing poorly. They may have started refusing jumps, not wanting to go forwards when ridden or struggling to do their lateral work. In some cases, lameness will be the presenting symptom. Due to the location of the ligament, swelling is very rarely seen on clinical examination, but in some cases, placing pressure over the area can elicit a pain response.

In cases of suspensory body injuries, horses are often lame with a swelling of the affected limb at the point of the injury. In the early stages of the injury, there may also be more generalised limb swelling.

Correct foot balance is important for horses with all horses but particularly those with suspensory issues.

DID YOU KNOW?

Horses performing at a high level of work at a young age are often more likely to develop PSD than those given time to mature before being asked to perform the same movements.

PROXIMAL BODY BRANCHES

Proximal suspensory ligament Suspensory body Suspensory branches

Suspensory branch injuries may or may not be associated with lameness. More commonly, there is localised swelling associated with the injury that is easily palpable due to the superficial nature of the ligament.

DIAGNOSIS

All suspensory ligament injuries are diagnosed in a similar way. A clinical history will be taken, and a physical examination performed. The reported issues from the rider

may give clues, as may the physical examination.  The next stage usually involves nerve blocks to confirm the site of pain. This is most applicable to cases with PSD because there are unlikely to be localising signs. This process involves incrementally blocking structures in the limb, generally starting at the bottom and working upwards until the lameness has resolved. In cases where the suspensory body or branches are injured, and there is obvious swelling or heat in the region, nerve blocks

WHAT ARE ORTHOBIOLOGIC TREATMENTS?

Orthobiologic treatments are products made from the horse's own blood, which is concentrated down to collect the growth factors and cells responsible for aiding healing in the body. These are then injected into the damaged area to promote betterquality healing. These agents do not, however, dramatically reduce the rehabilitation time.

may not be necessary, and ultrasound might be the most appropriate next step.

Ultrasound is the most helpful imaging tool for suspensory ligament injuries. Ultrasound will give information about the lesion's location, size, severity and age. The ultrasound results often also determine the treatment method for the horse. Often both hind or both front legs would be scanned to check for similar damage on the other leg.

In some cases, it may also be recommended to assess the injury with MRI, which gives further information about the injury. This is very difficult to arrange in South Africa, so it is likely that ultrasound will be the main diagnostic modality.

TREATMENT

For PSD, there are two main treatment options. The first is surgical and involves cutting the small nerve branch that supplies the top of the suspensory ligament and the connective tissue that sits next to it to reduce compression. The second is much more conservative and involves shockwave therapy and local treatment with steroids.

Suspensory branch and body injuries, on the other hand, are treated differently. Cold hosing or icing of the affected limb is beneficial in the early stages. Further treatment for mild cases includes rest and controlled walking exercise. More severe cases can be treated with injections into the damaged area with orthobiologic drugs like plateletrich plasma (PRP), which aims to improve the quality of the healing within the ligament. In addition, high-powered laser therapy (Class 4 high-powered multi-frequency laser

the horse. With PSD, it is said that 70% of horses treated surgically and 40% of horses treated medically return to their previous level of competition. The prognosis is more guarded in cases with straight hocks or more severe lameness or ultrasound findings.

Re-injury to the proximal suspensory ligament is less likely theoretically due to the nature of the injury. Rather

than re-injury, it is more common to have a reoccurrence of lameness or poor performance. The risk of this depends on the chosen treatment method – surgical management often offers a long-term solution, whereas conservative treatment tends to last between 6 and 12 months.

The prognosis for suspensory branch and body injuries is more dependent upon the severity and type of injury. These injuries usually require the horse to have more time off and careful rehabilitation as they are more prone to re-injury. Following injury, these areas are also more likely to develop scar tissue, which is less elastic than the surrounding tissue and can predispose to more injuries above or below the site of the previous injury.

PREVENTION

Several steps can be taken to reduce the risk of suspensory injuries, such as:

• Good foot balance, achieved through correct and regular farrier work, will prevent undue strains on the ligament.

• Avoiding riding on deep, rutted or uneven ground.

• Careful training to avoid too much repetitive strain.

• Ensuring an appropriate fitness level for the work performed, as well as ensuring that supporting musculature is in place through correct training.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Suspensory injuries, while slow to recover from, don't have to mean the end of a horse's career. By managing the horse holistically and carefully, you can substantially reduce the risk of injury in the first place, and by promptly contacting your vet if you have concerns, you can improve your horse's outcome. Finally, by working closely with your vet and managing rehabilitation sensitively, you can give your horse the best chance of returning to good athletic function.

HANDLING HOOVES

TEXT: CHRISTINE PINNA

IN THE WET SEASON

With the large amounts of summer rain recently arriving, many horse owners will be looking at their horse's hooves while biting their nails and praying for dry weather. But is there something that we, as horse owners, can do to help prevent the inevitable thrush, cracks and chipping that tends to occur in these wetter months? Absolutely! While the solutions are not foolproof, and we may need to accept that we can't manage to keep every horse's hooves 100% over the wet season, there are some things we can try.

PLAN YOUR PADDOCKS

If you have the option, try utilising paddocks on higher ground or in areas where the soil drains more easily. If your horses have free access to dams, it will be best to corner them off at this time and possibly even long term. I have found that the absolute worst hooves belong to horses with free access to a water source, particularly dams. While healthy populations of 'wild' horses will have a big drink and perhaps enjoy some sweet grass growing around the water's edge before moving on, our often already overfed domestic horses can be found browsing for long periods on delectable pond weed, keeping their hooves wet for far longer than is ideal. The consequence is usually frogs that wither away or deeply infected cracks, seedy toe and thrush.

The horse track system or Paddock Paradise with pea gravel and Mud Control Mats that keep the horses out of

the mud while protecting the ground from excess wear can be the perfect solution if you are living in a particularly wet area and find yourself ready to pull your hair out when the rain starts falling.

DO ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GREAT FOR HYGIENE

If you have chosen to stable your horse, are both manure and urine removed thoroughly from the stable daily? Is there plenty of thick and clean bedding? It may be worth popping into your yard first thing in the morning to see what the situation looks like so that you can decide if you should make some adjustments to your horse's living arrangements. This may mean improving the current state of hygiene, increasing the living area by adding a run onto the stable or letting your horse live out with access to a shelter.

Whether you see problems or not, a daily or twice-daily disinfectant can go a long way in helping to avoid issues that come from invasive bacteria and fungus in the foot. Try this simple recipe:

• 500ml unfiltered apple cider vinegar

• 10 drops tea tree oil

• 10 drops oregano oil

• 10 drops eucalyptus oil

Shake thoroughly and spray under the hooves as well as into cracks twice daily.

Thrush.

TIGHTEN UP THAT DIET

We hould all know by now that the bulk of a horse's diet should be comprised of quality roughage, but did you know that certain types of grass can contribute to hygiene issues as well as cracks? In my experience and according to feed analyses, oat hay can be particularly high in sugar. Much like candida in humans, fungi and bacteria thrive in a sugary environment. Other grasses can also be a problem, like Kikuyu, but I find that oat hay is the biggest culprit. Many times over the years, I've seen good hooves deteriorate suddenly - becoming flared, cracked and thrush-ridden when previously there were no problems. This has left me completely baffled until I have found out that the owner had changed the horse's roughage from lower-sugar eragrostis or teff to oat hay.

What about the concentrates you feed? Don't just read the bag; have the food tested by an independent nutritionist who is familiar with the NRC guidelines and can help to advise you on the most suitable feed for your horse. Or perhaps you can speak to the nutritionist and consider mixing your own feed and adding a custom mineral mix. This seems to yield the best results as far as healthy bodies and hooves go.

A basic supplement containing copper, zinc and magnesium can do a great job of strengthening hoof walls making them more resilient to cracks. Avoid supplements with added iron as this interferes with copper and zinc absorption, and there is often far too much iron in our grass, hay and bagged feed as it is.

WATCH OUT FOR LAMINITIS AND ABSCESSES

If you don't know how to check for a digital pulse, speak to your vet or hoofcare provider and ask them to show you where to find one. This will be most easily detected if your horse has just exercised or is unsound and the hoof is affected. A digital pulse should not be detectable in a sound horse that hasn't been exercised recently.  Detecting a pulse can give you a clue as to whether your horse is developing an abscess or another hoof problem such as laminitis. If you have an overweight horse that could be prone to laminitis, you may want to monitor his response to lush summer grazing. Often, even in horses carrying an average amount of weight, a pulse may be detectable in all four hooves as a response to an influx of sugar in the grazing, usually after a rainy day once the sun is out. Armed with this knowledge and being more attentive, one can prevent problems from occurring by keeping your horse off grazing during those times and rather feeding soaked low-sugar roughage such as eragrostis or teff. Ideally, your roughage should be tested so that you know what you're working with.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While you may find the wet season overwhelming and you may not be able to implement every change that your horse needs, try to do what is in your control even if it seems small – even small changes can make a difference.

CHRISTINE'S APPROACH OPINION

TO THE WET SEASON

Some of my ideas here may be unorthodox and even unproven, but I am merely sharing what I do for my own horses. I take a holistic approach to hoofcare and find that the wet season isn't such a problem when I do.

I start with this entire routine in the wet season, which is summer for us. I live and tend to work in many tickheavy areas, and having noticed a correlation between poor hoof quality amongst horses that suffer from repetitive biliary, I looked at what I might be able to do to offset these effects with my own horses. I found and now use a blend of herbs that has multiple uses, including assisting with tick-borne illnesses; these herbs also have antifungal and antibiotic properties, which I really appreciate as itchy skins are rife here and appear to be fungal in nature at times.

When the dry season arrives, I might put this product on hold for a few months and replace it with a liver aid product. The herbs used in these products have been studied carefully and have proven properties. I once had a horse with severe liver damage and all of the symptoms that go with it, but after four months of using the liver aid product, when the vet re-tested his liver, it had almost fully regenerated. At the same time, the hoof issues, skin issues, and diarrhoea finally disappeared after years of trouble. This was a huge eye-opener for me.

I use a detox product instead of, or as well as, the liver aid product, in some cases, to counteract the effect of toxins in my horses. Our horses are exposed to so many toxins throughout their lives ranging from pesticides in their feed, to air and water pollutants, to topical

insecticides and many more. I like to offset any o this exposure as best I can by using a detox product, even though I am already very mindful about what goes into and onto my horses.

Finally, I will do a worm count towards the beginning of spring and decide whether I need to use a dewormer or not to avoid giving unnecessary chemicals.

So far, these efforts have served my horses and me well, and we have had very few hoof problems. Hoof health really does come from within!

SADDLEFITTING BASICS

Tree points allow freedom for the shoulder blade to move

There is a dip in the centre of the seat

The arch of the saddle has clearance

The panels and tree rest evenly on the muscles

The channel is clear of the spine

GOOD FIT

GOOD FIT

The dip in the seat at the back, tips the rider backwards

Pressure on the spine

TREE TOO WIDE

UNBALANCED BACKWARD

The dip in the seat is too far forward, tipping the rider forwards

Tree points dig into the muscles

The saddle rides too high in front and is therfore unstable

TREE TOO NARROW

UNBALANCED FORWARD

Too much padding raises the cantle too high

?My horse makes very tense and sudden downward transitions into the walk. What can I do to make them a bit smoother?

Tense transitions can occur for many reasons, but it is absolutely essential first to rule out any pain issues. You don’t want to be schooling your horse through discomfort, so make sure you chat with your vet, dentist, physio and saddle fitter as you see necessary. Once your horse has the all clear and you are confident he is comfortable, you can work on your transitions using ‘half transitions’.

Half transitions are when you do all of the preparation for

your downward transition, see how close you can get to walk without actually walking, and then trot again. These are a great way to freshen up your schooling sessions and can be a bit of a game if you think of them as a test of both of your reactions. Once you can do these half-transitions without any sudden changes of pace, try riding a full transition, but still with the option to ride forwards again like in your half transition. If you don’t like the preparation for your transition, don’t do it and return to the trot. If you do like the preparation, then go ahead with the full transition. If you continue to always ride your transitions with the opportunity to change your mind, you’ll quickly find they become more gradual, controlled and less tense.

I’m really struggling with my horse’s training. I’m too embarrassed to admit to anyone that I’m having trouble, but I can tell the other liveries at our yard judge me when my horse plays up. I don’t know what to do and feel like giving up. Do you have any suggestions?

We’re sorry to hear you are struggling at the moment! We all go through this at points in our riding careers, and admitting you need help is really nothing to be ashamed of. Here are a few tips for getting you back on track:

1. Get your horse checked out by a professional  –To rule out pain as the cause, the first ports of call should be your vet, physiotherapist, dentist and saddle fitter. Having a professional support team behind you will help you feel confident that you’re being fair to your horse and, hopefully, also provide you with a clear set of steps that you can take to move forwards.

2. Book some lessons  – Once your horse has been given the all-clear from a pain and health

perspective, enlist a qualified riding instructor to help you. Being supported by someone knowledgeable and experienced will help you feel more confident. You can either take some lessons or have the instructor ride your horse for a while to iron out some of the schooling issues.

3. Talk about it  – It can be very tempting to put on a brave face at the yard and pretend everything is fine, but this doesn’t help you to get the issue resolved. It can be really beneficial to talk to a horsey friend, whether at your yard or elsewhere, who has gone through something similar. You might be surprised to find out how many others feel the same way as you!

We hope these tips help you to start enjoying your riding again. This is a common problem; you shouldn’t judge yourself for feeling this way. We believe that when you start reaching out to others about your difficulties, you’ll find that many of them have had or are having similar experiences that can help you get through this patch and return to the sport you love!

Mirrors are handy and can act like your eyes on the ground to not only see what your horse is doing but also to correct yourself. You can use them in so many different ways, and they can help you to see what you are feeling in the saddle.

One of the best uses for mirrors in the flatwork context is for straightness or riding lateral movements. To practice, try riding towards the mirror to help you see your horse’s frame, your angles and your position in the saddle. You can then make any corrections necessary! This will also help you get a visual of what you feel when you ride these

movements so that you know how to correct them even without the mirrors.

Mirrors are also great for practising those allimportant halts and learning to feel if a halt is square. Practise in front of the mirror until you can feel (without looking) if your horse is standing square or not.

Another great exercise is to draw or tape a line across your collarbones. This can allow you to see if your shoulders are level and correct them when they are not. There are obviously many variations you can try with this technique, and all of them will help you develop much better body awareness in the saddle.

Essentially, mirrors have many uses and are an excellent schooling tool. Enjoy using them!

How do I use mirrors to improve my flatwork?

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