We’re delighted to have you with us, especially as we launch our ‘new look’ HQ. We’ll share the link to both the PDF and the new version for the next few months to see how you enjoy the new version before we transition over fully, but if you want to keep copies of our back issues of the previous format, please make sure to download them in the next few weeks from our ‘Past issues of HQ Digital’ tab on the HQ Magazine website (www.hqmagazine.co.za).
In this issue, we meet the exceptionally talented young rider Felicity Theunissen, we learn about the value of omega-3 as a supplement for respiratory health, we find out about the new online platform Equi-Exchange, look at the role of forage extenders and much much more.
We hope you enjoy this edition and look forward to seeing you in 2025 with our next edition.
We wish you and your four-legged families a wonderful festive season!
Lizzie and the HQ team xxx
Dr Lizzie Harrison | Editor
Cover photography | Ash K Photography
Equi-Exchange
An overview
Felicity Theunissen
Making her mark in the showjumping world
2024 in review
FEI World Cup Qualifier Series
2024 in review
Philip Smith Memorial Equitation Championships
How much is nutrition to blame?
Hoof conditions and the role of diet
2024 in review
Welcome to the World Cup!
Take a deep breath
The role of omega-3 in managing respiratory disease
An introduction
To equine gait analysis – Part 1
AskHQ
Your equestrian questions answered
Struggling with the hay shortage?
Forage extenders could be the answer
Christmas must-haves
Shopping fun
PHOTOGRAPHY: KAYEANP
Caitanya Chetty and Rachel Guthrie are the co-founders of Equi-Exchange, a brand-new site specialising in the sale of secondhand equestrian goods without the risk of scams. With a passion for making equestrian sport affordable, the two have created a platform unlike anything else out there for those looking to buy and sell secondhand equestrian products safely. We highly recommend you check out their site.
We caught up with the pair to learn more about this exciting new venture.
HQ: Tell us about Equi-Exchange. C: Equi-Exchange is a centralised marketplace for second-hand equestrian products. What sets us apart from social media and other platforms is that we have a trusted third-party Escrow account backed by Standard Bank. This is a game changer as it protects both buyers and sellers from scams. To explain the process simply, if a seller posts a saddle and someone buys the saddle, the buyer’s money gets sent to the Escrow account where it is held. Once the seller has shipped the item and updated to 'Delivered', the buyer will then receive a confirmation email to say,
‘Have you received your goods, and are you happy with the product?’ or ‘Submit an issue if you are unhappy with your product’. Once the buyer confirms they have received the saddle and are happy with it, the money is released from the Escrow account to the seller. However, if the buyer is unhappy, they can submit an issue, placing the money on hold until the issue is resolved or the saddle is returned. The money from the Escrow account is returned to the buyer in the case of a return. Basically we are taking social media shopping to another level in terms of security for both buyer and seller.
WHAT IS AN ESCROW ACCOUNT?
Escrow is an arrangement where a third party, such as Standard Bank, safeguards the buyer's funds until all the terms of the agreement between the buyer and the seller have been met.
The interface is like a regular shopping website. It’s exactly how you’d go onto any other tack store online to buy something. If you are looking, for example, for boots, all you do is click on the boots tab on the website and browse. If you like something, you add it to your cart, check out and pay through our safe payment process. So, it gives you the feeling of shopping brand new, but it’s more affordable as it is second-hand.
HQ: Why Escrow?
C: Escrow protects the buyers and sellers from being scammed. Sometimes, people worry that we are holding the money at EquiExchange, but we don’t see that money at all. It sits independently with Standard Bank, and our only role is to release it when confirmation is received that the buyer is happy. Standard Bank governs the rest of the process.
launched a month ago. We've got quite a few listings on the site, but people have yet to really start using it fully. We know it will take a bit of time for people to hear about us and realise the service we offer.
HQ: Can you talk us through the whole business model of EquiExchange?
C: So, Equi-Exchange has three aspects. The first is a free membership. We call it a membership, but basically, it involves an individual creating an account on to the system with their email address and password to get access to browse, sell, and buy on the site. It’s very simple and just like any other shopping experience.
The second part of Equi-Exchange is our premium boutique, which is a paid membership. This is for individuals with equestrian businesses, who do not have an online presence, i.e., they don’t have a website. Here, the individual pays a monthly subscription to gain access to a storefront on Equi-Exchange, where they can customise and create their own online store. They have their own URL that links straight to their storefront which they can share and send to their followers to drive traffic. It gives them the experience of having their own ‘website’ for selling either brand-new or secondhand. We wanted to include this part to support local equestrian businesses. Imported items are a lot more expensive, and our small local brands need support, so we wanted to offer this service to them. We understand building a website is expensive, so this provides a cheap and easy alternative. In doing this, we hope to create a community that shops with us and these stores through a centralised marketplace. Our goal is to create a one-stop shop.
The third thing that we are offering is advertising on the site, where individuals and businesses can buy real estate on the site in the form of different panels for different prices to advertise and promote their brands and products. The process is just as simple as online shopping, where you add the panel to your cart the way you would any product.
HQ: The website is incredibly impressive. How was the experience of putting all of this together?
C: To be honest, it was a brutal experience and a huge learning curve for both of us. Neither of us are developers, so we worked with one of my close friends, whom I’ve done business with in the past. He became our chief developer and worked closely with us to build it for us.
But, just like us, this is his parttime job, not his main job. That made it quite a struggle, and because of his limited time, a lot of the core build of the site was done in India. This made it cheaper and faster, but it still took a long time as we
It’s an amazing platform for the equestrian community to buy and sell equestrian goods. It’s safe and so easy to use! It’s impossible to get scammed, so one can feel safe buying any product off the site. It’s definitely a great space for our equestrian community.
– Shannon Wyndham-Quinn
were super detailed about what we wanted. We refined it over and over again to make it as simple and slick as possible, so it was really our edits that took everyone the longest time. When you go on social media to sell something, you literally slap on a picture, a few words and a price, and that is it. We needed ours to be as simple as that, and that took time.
We also wanted to personalise the site, so we wanted a brand ambassador to be the face and feature on the website. We’re working with Shannon Wyndham-Quinn, and we wanted her horses and pictures on the site so that it was relatable for riders. We did a photoshoot with Shannon, and then we sat for a long time, placing the images to to create the interface we wanted.
Finally, we tested and tested and tested. We went into so much detail. We bought and sold things to each other and our families and friends until, eventually, we were happy.
So, this entire thing took over a year to pull together.
HQ: How does the shipping work?
C: Shipping was quite a challenge because it’s a multi-vendor marketplace. We wondered about a centralised pick-up point, but that adds a security challenge, and we didn’t want that. So, Rachel navigated the shipping backend to create a drop-down list that the seller selects from. When the seller loads their product, they select how they will ship it and the total shipping is then added to their invoice total.
HQ: And can anyone upload a product?
R: Yes, but they have to be registered as a vendor, and the product will only appear on the site once we approve it. So, we look at everything that gets loaded, and if we see that the photos are low quality or the product is not suitable for our market, then we write back to the seller and tell them that. If the person then goes and takes better images and we are satisfied, we will approve it. We ensure products are only those of interest to equestrians, and that they are displayed at the highest quality possible.
HQ: Explain the situation for sellers.
C: Sellers get a whole dashboard where they can see their products, what they have sold, and their reviews. They also receive emails at every step of the process informing them that their product has been successfully uploaded, someone is viewing their product, someone has bought their product, etc. We ensure communication every step of the way. Sellers are also free to write to the buyer via the site if they wish to.
HQ: And for buyers…
In terms of costs for the seller, those fall under the buyer's guarantee fee. In summary, a seller will take home 92% of their product value. So, the remaining 8% is considered the buyer's guarantee fee, which covers the cost for the Escrow service and our admin fees. I know people find this a bit difficult, but 8% is super low compared to other places, and if you had to take the item to a second-hand tack shop, you’ve got exactly the same situation, if not worse. Sellers are also free to set their own price on Equi-Exchange, and we’re totally upfront about the 8%, so they can build that in to clear what they need to.
R: You can pay as you would on any online store, and then your checkout will be the same as anywhere else. Once you’ve bought something, you can see your orders on your buyer's dashboard where you get all your detail related to the purchase, order status, seller's details, messaging platform and tracking details.
HQ: It seems super easy to use… R: It was non-negotiable for us. We wanted to create and design a website that was as simple, quick and easy to use as possible. If anyone has any questions, there's a whole FAQ section, and people are welcome to reach out to us at any time with queries.
HQ: What led you both to get into this? What are your backgrounds?
C: Basically, this is just Rachel and my passion project. We both come from very humble equestrian backgrounds, so buying second hand was the only option we had. In fact, my first pair of white breeches I bought for a show was at the Highveld Horse Care Unit, and I paid with a scrumpled-up 50 Rand note in my pocket. So, that's where I started. So, buying quality secondhand goods is very important to me,
and I wanted to remove the stigma of second-hand being somehow inferior. Equi-Exchange has an excellent interface, giving you the feeling like you're shopping brand new, but actually, it's second-hand.
I’m also passionate about the project because it reduces the waste of our consumer culture. Your old saddle might be getting dusty and just sitting around, but why not give it a second life? Sell it to someone who can use it for their equestrian pursuits.
R: The financial struggle in the equestrian world is very real. We love this sport so much and we just want to care for our horses as best we can and sometimes you just can't afford it with new stuff, like you really can't.
So, this is our way of providing the service we needed and, to be honest, still need today.
HQ: Are you both quite entrepreneurial?
C: I was going to go into medicine, and I didn't get in, so I did biomedicine, and I thought, okay, I'm going to specialise and then go into medicine. And in my third year, I got a very hectic medical scare with an autoimmune disease, and I went blind. So, I could not finish my fourth year to do honours because I was in the hospital; I had a catheter in my chest; it was just one thing after the other.
I've lost my sight in my right eye now, completely, because the pressure was so much when there was inflammation that it damaged the nerve. That means I could never work for somebody because I have to read at my own pace and work in my own way. So, I was kind of pushed into business, and luckily, I did have the backing and support to pursue it. I come from a family that does logistics and I thought I'd work in that field, so I bought my first truck while I was in the hospital, and my cousin put it in his fleet and ran it for me. When I came out of the hospital, I took it on and did it myself, and then, within two years, I had four trucks, and we were doing well. I was excited about life, and I was expanding the business,
and then the looting happened. Our trucks were parked at the LG Depot in Durban, and they were demolished. There was no depot left, just a few bricks. Insurance didn't pay us out, so it was just a whole lot of struggles. Over time, we came out of it, and we carried on, and then lockdown happened. By then, it was too much because we were still paying drivers, and the income was slow. I didn't want to dig a financial hole for myself that I couldn't get out of, so I sold the business and started again. We still have trailers and stuff, so I've been leasing out my trailers, and that's a good source of constant income, but I won't do the whole business again. Ultimately, I’ve really enjoyed the entrepreneur bit, but it certainly wasn’t my original intention.
R: I’m also not entrepreneurial. I studied financial sciences as my undergraduate and did my honours in financial management and only joined the workforce two years ago, working in the financial advisory division at Deloitte.
I’m not an accountant, though – don't put me down as an accountant! So, I work in corporate finance in the mergers and acquisitions division.
HQ: And do you have horses?
C: Yes, I have a Thoroughbred called African Flame, and his stable name is Simba. I’ve had him for a long time. I had many problems with him in the beginning, and I was told, you know, to get rid of this horse, but financially, I don't have that option, so I had to
push through. I've stuck with this guy, and it's been so worth it because we got through this difficult stage, and now he's amazing, and I love riding him. He's such a confidence-building horse.
R: I grew up in KZN, and my dad is the aspiring farmer type, so that's where it started with the horse riding thing. My older sister was the first one to start the obsession with horses, and being two years apart, it didn't take long for me to follow her. I did take a break during my studies, and afterwards, when I got a job, I knew something was missing so I got a TB off the track. She’s called Claudina and I’ve had her for almost two years now.
HQ: Well, we think you’ve got an amazing offering here. It’s incredibly impressive to see how well it works. We wish you all the very best!
C: Thank you! We believe in the product. We’re very passionate about it. We want to help other people like us in the industry and avoid them getting scammed. So many people are getting scammed
by buying on social media, and there is no way of getting your money or goods back in that situation. With Equi-Exchange, you can’t be scammed. If the seller doesn’t send the product, they don’t get their money. If the buyer isn’t happy, they get refunded once they return the product. It’s completely safe for both buyer and seller.
CLICK ON THE VIDEO LINK FOR A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE ON HOW TO REGISTER, LIST PRODUCTS, BROWSE AND BUY, AND COMPLETE AN ORDER.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Icelandic Horse can tölt.
The Icelandic horse has five gaits, including the unique ‘tölt,’ a smooth, four-beat gait that allows for faster, more comfortable travel.
•
TREATMENT OF HORSES MAINTENANCE AND INJURIES
ECB COLD SALTWATER HYDROSPA THERAPY • SOLARIUM
• BEMER VETERINARY LINE • EQUILIBRIUM MASSAGE PAD
• ECB INSTANT CRYOTHERAPY • OZONE
ANCA ROODE 082 736 0457 | ANCA@OGILVYEQUINE.COM
ROODESEN STABLES, SWAELTJIE AH, ZWAVELPOORT
PHOTOGRAPHY: KAYEANP
FELICITY THEUNISSEN
MAKING HER MARK IN THE SHOWJUMPING WORLD
Felicity Theunissen, at just 12 years old, is making her impact felt across the showjumping world. Jumping against pony riders, juniors and adults and topping plenty of podiums along the way, she’s a surefire bet for the future. We caught up with Felicity to hear about her string of horses, her plans for 2025 and how she fits it all in around school and other commitments.
HQ: So, first of all, tell us about your horses.
Felicity: Okay, so currently, I have two ponies, Coco Chanell and KEC Spirit. Coco is in the metres; she's very comfortable there. Spirit was jumping the Open Pony classes, but he got injured so he's just starting rehab.
Then, I have a few horses. I have Callaho Qui Cassa, who is a new horse for me. Currently, we are jumping in the 1.10m and we'll see how that goes.
I also have two young horses, Callaho Con’Quest and Callaho Simply Will. Simply Will just went into the metres. This (Post-Derby) was her first metre show. She had such a good, confident round, and it was her first time in the Bob. Connie also had such a good show; she's getting there. Then, I have a bigger horse called Seeis Montano. He's going to be my big horse for the future. Right now, Ashley Healy's helping me ride him a little bit. And then I have a horse that's at Neriske Prinsloo, Capital Clover. She is very nice, and we're trying to sell her.
HQ: What would you say has been the biggest achievement of your riding career so far?
Felicity: There’s been a few highlights, but definitely the highlight of this year was winning Gauteng Champs with my pony Coco, because this year was meant to be my last year on her, so it was definitely quite a big thing.
HQ: What got you into riding in the beginning? What made you choose this as your sport?
Felicity: So, my friend would go with her mum to the yard every day, and I would go with them, and I just got into it like that. Then I got my first pony.
HQ: Which yard did you start riding at, and where are you currently?
Felicity: I started riding at Glover Paddocks, and currently, I am at Ronnie Healy with my horses and Kincardine with Jo van Achterberg with my ponies.
HQ: How do you manage swapping between so many different types of horses?
Felicity: My horses do vary quite a lot in their way of going but my ponies are very similar in type. Coco is very spicy and very hot; she jumps better the hotter I can get her. This is the same with Spirit; the more I can get him to go for it and flow, the better he jumps. With Qui Cassa, I need to stay light and just let her flow. And then, with Simply Will, I do need to support her a bit more as she is a bit younger. With Connie, I have to be very confident in what I'm doing, like knowing where I'm going and what I'm doing. With Monty, we're getting there; I just need to be more exact on where I want to take off and where I want to land.
HQ: And how do you make that shift?
Felicity: I almost think of it as pulling the right book out of my pocket. So, I really have to think about who I’m going to ride and what I need to focus on. I particularly have to focus when moving between the ponies and the horses, as my ponies go very differently from my horses.
HQ: What's your favourite show to go to?
HQ: What's your biggest goal for next year with your horses?
Felicity: My biggest goal for next year is to do really well in SA Champs. So, ideally, I’d like to win the SA Champs on my pony Coco and the 1.20 Junior Champs on Callaho Qui Cassa. Finally, I’d like to win Derby on both of them.
Felicity: I love an Easter Festival and an SA Champs, especially when we get to go to different venues. I love Derby, especially because the horses I do it on are so confident, especially when it comes to jumping in the Bob; they are so happy and excited when they get to jump on the grass. I must say that I also love President's Cup.
HQ: Is there an Adult show you are particularly looking forward to jumping?
Felicity: I definitely want to jump a few World Cups and a Derby. I’m excited for these already!
HQ: If you could choose any horse on the circuit today to ride, which one would you choose?
Felicity: I definitely want to ride Hannah Garton's horse, PMH Pollyanna. I really like her; she seems like such a nice ride. She looks like a quirky mare and I love that.
HQ: You’re certainly blazing quite the trail for yourself, but which rider would you say you look up to most in South Africa?
Felicity: I definitely look up to my coach, Ronnie; I love how he rides, and I love how patient he is with the horses.
HQ: How do you juggle school with having and competing so many horses?
Felicity: It's definitely a struggle. I've got quite a packed week since moving from ponies to horses. I do a lot of my schoolwork in the evenings, but I try to finish as much as I can at school, so I can focus my afternoons on the horses. On Monday, I have biokinetics and flatwork lessons. On Tuesday, I have lessons at Ronnie, and then on Wednesday, I have a jumping lesson at Jo with Coco and Spirit when Spirit is fit, and then flatwork lessons at Ronnie. On Thursday, I have jumping lessons at Ronnie and then on Friday, I normally hack all of them. This does vary
depending on my show schedule for the weekend, but generally that’s how I run the week.
HQ: What does a day in your life look like?
Felicity: My day usually consists of going to the gym in the morning. I wake up at about 5 and go for an hour. Then, I shower and get ready for school. I am at school from about 7 until half past 1. After that, I go straight to riding. I'll be home by about 6, and then when I'm home, I go shower, eat, study, and then go to bed.
HQ: And do you have any hobbies outside of riding?
Felicity: My main thing is riding, but at school, I do a little bit of athletics when I can manage it, and I do enjoy swimming a lot.
HQ: What do you want to do in the future?
Felicity: When I finish school, I want to go study. I either want to study law or I want to study medicine so that I can become a dermatologist. They're very different, but I’d be happy with either one.
HQ: Why Dermatology? This seems a very specific choice!
Felicity: I love working with skin, and I love the idea of surgery, but not the hectic stuff. Dermatologists also make a lot of money, and they are always really busy. It’s so hard to get
a dermatologist appointment, that I feel if I become a dermatologist, I’ll always have enough work to pay for the horses!
HQ: Any tips for other young riders?
Felicity: Definitely one tip is not to listen to a lot of people because people can be very harsh. And just stay humble, stay kind, and it will come eventually. I remember on Coco all I wanted to do was win a championship. Like last year, all I wanted was my points to go to the 1.10ms and it took many shows. It sometimes seems like the more you want it, the longer it takes to come, so just enjoy it and live in the moment.
HQ: Tell us about your sponsors.
Felicity: Currently I'm sponsored by Tech Stirrups, which is an overseas brand. Then I have a sponsorship with Equestrian House, and I have a new exciting sponsor coming up soon.
NEW PARTNERSHIP – CALLAHO QUI CASSA AND FELICITY
Callaho Qui Cassa and Felicity have recently formed a partnership. With Felicity’s record against the clock, this speedy mare has met her match! We’re looking forward to seeing more of the pair in the ring next year.
HQ: Tell us a bit about Qui Cassa and how you got the ride on her. Felicity: So, I got the ride on her because Hamza Minty and I are quite good friends, and he was her previous
owner. He saw me battling a bit with Monty, so he asked me to come sit on her, and I sat on her, and I just fell in love. She's such a quirky little mare, and she's got such a nice jump.
HQ: What part of her made you fall in love and decide this is your horse?
Felicity: She's just such a kind horse, and I don't know, when I get on certain horses, I just have like a feeling that this is the right one.
HQ: And what are your goals for her in the next couple of months and next year?
Felicity: My goal for next year is to win a few titles with her. By the end of next year, I want to be confidently jumping in the 1.30m classes with her. And by the end of this year, I want to get to know her a little bit and see how she is with different things so I can be prepared for 2025.
HQ: What's the best thing about her personality?
Felicity: She's small, but she's like a little firecracker. She looks so calm, but she’s like a little ball to ride. She bounces!
HQ: And then what's her stable name nickname?
Felicity: I call her Qui for short.
HQ: Thank you, Felicity, for taking the time to catch up with us and fill us in on all your plans for next year. We can’t wait to see you and your string topping the podium again in 2025!
Photography: Ash K Photography
DID YOU KNOW?
Internal parasites are very common in horses, and most horses will carry at least one type of parasite in their gastrointestinal tract, often without showing symptoms.
PHOTOGRAPHY: MERLYNN TRICHARDT
2024 IN REVIEW
FEI WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
SERIES
This year’s World Cup Qualifier Series title came down to the wire, with several riders just points apart ahead of the final leg. The Series was ultimately won by Kelly O’Connor aboard her world-class ride Capital’s Moonlight. The pair started the Series as relative underdogs as it was their first year contending at the World Cup level, but soon showed that their consistency and carefulness would pay off, finishing ninth at the second leg, and then on the podium at each of the remaining legs (third, second, second) to get them the overall win.
RESULTS
1st - Kelly O’Connor (60 points)
2nd - Tamara Rueda (58 points)
3rd - Dominey Alexander (57 points)
4th - Hannah Garton (55 Points)
The importance of consistency was moreover emphasised by the fact that only one of the top four ranking riders in this year’s WCQ series actually won a leg of the series on their nominated horse. Tamara Rueda, who had jumped three consecutive clear rounds in the first round of the World Cup but unfortunately found a rail in the jump-off, put in a speedy double clear at the Toyota Shongweni FEI WCQ to clinch her first WCQ win, and give us the only leg win of the top four finishers.
Dominey Alexander won the leg in Brits but on S’Oakley Z, rather than his nominated horse, Capital Kollier. Capital Kollier, the young son of Capital Kronos, had placed second in the two previous WCQs (which were incidentally the first time he had competed at that level!), so his selected nomination certainly made sense. Dominey still managed a fourth place finish on Kollier in Brits, which secured a decent haul of points, but had the win been aboard the Capital youngster rather than S’Oakley Z, he would likely have claimed the overall title.
Hannah Garton and PMH Pollyanna are well known for their consistency, and if there had not been a drop score factored into the final score, this pair may well have ended up on top! The pair jumped clear in the first round of three of the five qualifiers, but their quick ground speed and smart lines ensured they made the top 25% in another leg and placed just outside it in the other. This combination picked up an impressive two seventh places, a sixth, a fourth and a podium, finishing third at the final leg.
With 36 riders competing at the World Cup level this year, some incredible horsepower on show, and more exciting youngsters making the step up to the World Cup level, we are in for an exciting Series in 2025!
Airbag Vests
Optimized Protection, Light Weight, 4 Year Warranty, Safety Certified, Comfortable, Adult and Children sizes, Italian Fabric
Stirrups
Safety, Shock Absorption, Super Grip, Balance, available in Children Sizes, choose from Air’S, Soft Up Pro+, Soft Up Classic+
Helmets
Voronoï Carbon or Voronoï The helmet with increased Temporal Protection, Gloss or Matte, Navy or Black
Bringing you cutting edge products, focusing on Safety, Health, Communication, Performance and Technology
DID YOU KNOW?
A horse can’t breathe through his mouth. Horses are obligate nasal breathers, meaning they can only breathe through their nostrils, not their mouths.
DID YOU KNOW?
A horse’s teeth are naturally offset with a wider upper jaw and a narrower lower jaw. This helps them to chew but can lead to uneven tooth wear and dental issues over time. Regular dental care is vital in keeping their teeth healthy and ensuring they can chew comfortably and efficiently.
Landor Stud's Luke Skywalker (Luxius x Rendement)
Landor Stud's Lazarus (Luxius x Spartacus TN)
Landor Stud's Phoenix (Nondeju Jw x Gipsy King du Coty)
Landor Stud's Pablo aka: Pour Moi (Nondeju Jw x Spartacus TN)
Landor Stud's Chewbacca (Carrera VDL x Gipsy King du Coty)
Landor Stud's Glorious (Glasgow vh Merelsnest x Lindenberg)
PHOTOGRAPHY: MERLYNN TRICHARDT
2024 IN REVIEW
PHILIP SMITH MEMORIAL EQUITATION CHAMPIONSHIPS
One of the highlights of the Easter Festival hosted at Kyalami Equestrian Park each year is the Philip Smith Memorial Equitation Championships (PSM). This unique event is one that every aspiring young rider dreams to compete in, never mind win!
of equitation to South Africa. Her aim was to improve the standard of riding throughout South Africa through competition that provided constructive feedback to riders who often had no regular access to correct coaching.
While this year’s Philip Smith Equitation Championship was the 23rd annual running of the event as it currently runs, it was developed and adapted from the National Equitation Championships that ran from 1971-1981 and the Witwatersrand Agricultural Society (WAS) Supreme Equitation Championship, which ran from 1982 to 2000. Charlotte Stubbs, when questioned on what it would take to win the National Equitation Championships, said that "hard work would be essential”, noting also that “the prestige of winning would be enormous for both riders and the instructors". This most certainly was the case then and still is today.
THE COMPETITION TODAY
Although the format of the competition has changed twice since its inception, it is still a competition that tests the Juniors who qualify on their flatwork and jumping abilities, as well as their versatility and capacity to handle an immense amount of pressure and stress. All these skills prepare the youngsters for futures at the very top of the sport.
The Philip Smith Memorial Championship is an invitational event. The four highest-placed
The four riders contending for the title each complete a unique (and secret) flatwork test on their own horse and each of the other riders' horses. This year’s test included dressage elements that you would find in a Medium dressage test, one-
handed work, no-stirrup work, canter loops to the centre line as well as leg yield to the centre line and back, 10m canter circles and even a flying change. Scores are not released after Phase 1, so everyone is left in a state of anticipation for the coming Phases!
another day, is the jumping phase; similarly, the riders ride each of the four horses initially through a grid (with one hand and no stirrups) and then jump a short course set at 1.15-1.20m which includes a triple combination.
This year, Phase 2 was relatively uneventful in the sense that there were only a few rails here and
which made for a very nervewracking wait while the final points totals were calculated. As expected, it was a very tight finale with only 11.5 points (out of a possible 4800) separating first and second place! For the first time since 2012, and only the second time in the history of the PSM, a male rider won the title!
THE RESULTS
1st – Daniel Beddow coached by Jess Fourie (Western Cape)
2nd – Hamza Minty coached Chad Cunningham (KZN)
3rd – Katie Franck coached by Joanne Van Achterberg and Kelly Slater (Gauteng)
4th – Juliana Haden-Smith coached by Joanne Van Achterberg and Kelly Slater (Gauteng)
Our 2024 PSM Championship winner, Daniel Beddow, described his win as “a dream come true”. He advised future PSM contenders to “take their time and enjoy every moment because before you know it, it’s all over. Put any mistakes behind you and move on because you won’t know how many points each rider has until the end.”
THE 2025 PHILIP SMITH MEMORIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2024 SA Open Equitation Champions saw 32 contenders vying for not only the title, but hopefully their ticket to the 2025 Philip Smith Memorial Championships. The top placing riders from SA Champs that
we will hopefully see contending to be the 24th PSM Champion are Alexandra Ric-Hansen, Hamza Minty (for a second time), Olivia Roberts and Adrienne Macdonald-Hutcheson, but invitations are still to be accepted and confirmation awaits. Stay tuned!
Photography: Kay Photography
PHOTOGRAPHY: PIX BY ALEX
TIME TOGETHER IN 2024.
Rainer Korber and 334 Mister Twister 5
Chatan Hendriks and Callaho Larison
Nicole Horwood and Capital Impossible
Kelly O’Connor and Capital Moonlight
Thomas van Rijckevorsel and Capital My Lady
Ashlee Taylor and Largo S
Chani Swanepoel and Nickelback D’Ive Z
Courtney Webber and Opal de la Bastide
Dominey Alexander and S’Oakley
Leona van der Merwe and 334 Callaho Vidante
Jodi Ambrose and Callaho Casco Grey
Kayla Gertenbach and Callaho Conzano
Tracey Carney and Callaho L’Amour
Alexandra Ric-Hansen and Callaho Laios
Laurence Mowatt and Callaho Lorenzo
Dominey Alexander and Capital Kollier
Stacey Lee Weston and Lua de Mel
Nicola Sime and Rivendell Lamborghini
Nicola Sime and Rivendell Quintessence
Photography: Kay Photography
TAKE A DEEP BREATH
THE ROLE OF OMEGA-3 IN MANAGING RESPIRATORY DISEASE
Equine respiratory diseases are a major concern for many horse owners, as they can significantly affect a horse's performance, quality of life, and longevity. Managing respiratory health in horses is, therefore, a critical aspect of equine care, especially in the case of equine asthma (previously known as inflammatory airway diseases (IAD),
recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)). While traditional treatments involve the use of bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and environmental management, recent research highlights the potential of omega-3 fatty acids as an effective supplement in the management of these conditions.
WHAT ARE OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS?
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential, meaning they must be provided by the diet. They are polyunsaturated fatty acids that play a crucial role in maintaining various physiological functions as well as being known for their anti-inflammatory properties.
Omega-3 fatty acids consist of three types: ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). While ALA is primarily found in plant sources (such as flaxseed), EPA and DHA are abundant in fatty fish and certain
marine organisms. ALA needs to be converted by the body into usable forms, which can be largely inefficient and thus, the same level of benefits may not be seen when compared to the benefits found in giving preformed supplementation of EPA and DHA.
While horses naturally consume some omega-3s from fresh pasture, the levels are often inadequate, especially in stabled horses or those on hay-based diets. This is where supplementation becomes important.
THE ROLE OF INFLAMMATION IN EQUINE RESPIRATORY DISEASE
Many equine respiratory diseases are characterised by chronic inflammation of the airways, leading to symptoms such as coughing, nasal discharge, laboured breathing, and poor performance. This inflammation also leads to excessive mucus production, airway constriction, and damage to the lung tissues over time.
Traditional treatments, including bronchodilators and corticosteroids, as mentioned above, often focus on reducing inflammation and managing environmental triggers like dust, mould, and poor air quality. However, long-term use of medications like corticosteroids can have side effects, making natural alternatives like omega-3 fatty acids an attractive option for horse owners seeking to manage chronic respiratory issues in the long term.
HOW OMEGA-3S HELP COMBAT RESPIRATORY INFLAMMATION
Omega-3s work by modulating the body’s immune response and reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are proteins that contribute to inflammation. This reduction in inflammatory markers can help alleviate symptoms and improve lung function.
A study performed by Nogradi et al., 2014, showed that horses’ respiratory conditions benefited from daily supplementation with DHA as part of a low-dust diet. After a two-month period, these supplemented horses saw a 60% improvement in cough score and
an almost 50% decrease in respiratory effort. Supplementation also gave a modest improvement in the health of the lower airways.
Researchers also found the incorporation of DHA and EPA into the body at valuable levels did not occur until 60 days after supplementation was initiated (Christmann et al., 2021).
This was further supported by a 2023 Kentucky Equine Research report that indicated blood levels of EPA and DHA increased 178% and 102%, respectively, within the first month of supplementation and continued to climb to 313% and 197% by 90 days.
EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID
Therefore, it must be noted that supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids must be part of an ongoing management plan for optimal results to be achieved.
CHOOSING A SUPPLEMENT
When choosing an omega-3 supplement for a horse with respiratory disease, it is important to select high-quality products and ingredients. Oils derived from marine microalgae sources are highly sought after as they contain EPA, DHA and a natural antioxidant called Astaxanthin.
It is also always worthwhile to look for products that contain additional Vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps neutralise free radicals produced during fat metabolism. These free radicals can cause damage to cells, and therefore, the more fat in a diet, the greater the need for antioxidants such as Vitamin E.
Dosage recommendations for
DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID
supplements can vary depending on the severity of the condition, the horse's size, and other dietary factors. Consultation with a veterinarian or nutritionist is always recommended to determine the appropriate dosage and ensure that the supplement fits into the horse's overall dietary plan.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Omega-3 fatty acids offer a promising avenue for managing equine respiratory disease. They provide a natural and effective way to reduce inflammation and improve lung function. While they may not replace traditional treatments entirely, omega-3s can be a valuable addition to the management plan, especially for horses with chronic respiratory inflammatory conditions.
In our next issue, we explore the role of Vitamin E and its importance for horses in managing these and other conditions.
DID YOU KNOW?
Horses have 16 muscles in each ear. Horses can rotate their ears to pick up sounds from any direction, helping them to assess the environment without moving their heads.
STRUGGLING WITH THE
HAY SHORTAGE?
FORAGE EXTENDERS COULD BE THE ANSWER
With the effects of low rainfall lingering, the quality of hay and grazing remains low across South Africa. This, combined with the increased pricing of hay, makes finding reliable and affordable forage sources, and thus supplying adequate forage to your horse, a real challenge at this time of year.
FORAGE
Forage (hay and grazing) is a vital part of the horse’s diet as it provides a valuable portion of the daily energy requirement and is essentially the food that horses were naturally designed to eat. The greater the quantity of forage consumed by the horse, the less likely it is that you will need to feed large quantities of concentrates.
Forage also serves to sustain a healthy digestive environment by keeping the microbial population of the gastrointestinal tract working optimally. Limiting or removing forage can thus disrupt the gastrointestinal system, leading to issues such as colic and gastric ulcers.
Fibre (a large component of forage) can also increase water intake by the horse, producing a unique water
reservoir in the hindgut, which can prevent dehydration and electrolyte loss during strenuous exercise or in hot climates.
Forage is, therefore, crucial for maintaining the health of the horse. The average horse requires at least 1.5-2% of their body weight in forage per day. A 500kg horse, for example, would require at least 7.5-10kg of forage per day to remain healthy.
WHAT ARE FORAGE EXTENDERS?
Forage extenders (also known as hay replacers) are designed to replace a portion of the forage in the horse’s total daily diet in times when hay or grazing may be of poorer quality or not available at all.
WHAT FORAGE EXTENDERS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE?
Forage extenders are available in many forms, including super fibres (soya hulls and beet pulp), but hay cubes are often their most popular due to their versatility and lower cost.
Hay cubes are a great solution all year round, especially for horses with loose, damaged or lost teeth who might struggle to chew longstemmed forage such as hay. It is often thought that chaff is the ideal solution for these ‘dentallychallenged’ equines, as chaff most closely resembles hay, but for horses without teeth, cubes, pellets, and chunks are often easier to consume. This is because the fibre length in these cubes is shorter on average and thus easier to consume.
Cubes also lend themselves to soaking, allowing a horse with significant dental issues to slurp up the food and swallow. As these horses tend to be unable to consume much grazing (even though they may have their heads down nonstop), they won't generally gain much nutritional benefit or be consuming nearly as much grazing as you may think. Due to this, the water content of their diet is often reduced, so in these cases, soaking hay cubes can also supply more water, providing a solution to this issue.
Horses with issues such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) may be unable to consume high levels of hay due to the higher levels of dust and spores, which can negatively affect such conditions. Steamers are a great option here as they significantly reduce levels of dust and small particles. However, they can be prohibitively expensive and forage extenders provide another excellent option for these horses.
High-performance horses can also benefit hugely from forage extenders. Hardworking horses can often lose their appetites for larger-volume ingredients such as hay. For example, in racehorses that are fed larger amounts of concentrates, the amount of hay consumed may not be enough to ensure an adequate fibre intake. Some horses, when they are at shows or competitions, may also not
consume the amount of hay they have at home due to the change in routine and increased anxiety levels. In these cases, a forage extender may be an ideal way of ensuring adequate fibre intake with a relatively low-volume ingredient. Forage extenders are also easier and more convenient to transport and store, making them ideal for the sports horse with a busy competition schedule.
For working horses or those needing condition, looking for a forage extender product containing additional lucerne and/or oils may be of benefit, as these will generally have a higher energy/calorie value. This might mean that you can replace some of the grain from the diet. Grains can make some horses ‘hot’, and reducing the amount of grains fed and replacing them with slow-release energy sources such as fibre and fat can greatly help reduce digestive issues and improve behavioural challenges.
When choosing a forage alternative, be sure to look at the crude fibre content and check the ingredient list to ensure that it contains mostly hay. Some cubes can have added ingredients such as grain, and thus, the fibre portion of these types could be reduced to insufficient levels. Cubes that are mostly hay will have a crude fibre content within the 20-30% range.
HOW MUCH CAN I FEED?
The answer to this question is dictated by the circumstances in which the horse finds himself, as horses are all individuals. Contacting a nutritional advisor for help is best; however, the following three points should be considered for the use of forage extenders:
1. If the grazing is not of good quality but the hay is, then the need to use forage extenders is reduced as more hay can be fed to compensate for the poor grazing.
In these cases, 500g-1kg per day of a hay extender should be more than adequate, especially if concentrates are also being used.
2. If hay and grazing are both of poor quality, then 1-4kg per day of a forage extender can be fed together with concentrate feed (if needed).
3. If no grazing or hay is available, forage extenders can be used as a replacement and be fed at up to 1% of body weight for short periods.
However, it’s preferable that 50% of the horse’s daily forage amount always comes from long-stemmed hay. Long-stemmed forage provides the horse with much-needed chew time. Chew time not only mimics the natural feeding behaviour of the horse but also ensures adequate saliva is produced (horses only produce saliva when they chew, unlike humans). Salvia helps to lubricate food swallowed and also helps to buffer stomach acid. The more the horse chews, the more saliva is produced, and the more acid can be buffered, which is ideal for those struggling with gastric ulcers.
Horses are designed to eat small amounts of feed over the whole day. When forage extenders are fed,
consumption time is faster as the horse requires less chewing time than he would for long-stemmed hay. It is for this reason that feeding of forage extenders is recommended to be spread out across the day in small meals. This feeding recommendation will also help to avoid boredom.
If you are feeding a forage extender as the sole forage source without additional concentrates, consider adding in a balancer to ensure your horse is covered in terms of daily vitamins and minerals, as forage extenders don’t contain additional pre-mixes. The reason for this is that it allows them to be fed in larger amounts without oversupplying nutrients.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Forage extenders can be a life-saver during times of poor grazing and hay shortages, but they also have a much wider role throughout the year for horses with poor dentition, sporthorses in competition, horses needing to put on a little condition,
horses with behavioural challenges as well as various other equines. We highly recommend you look into the options available and chat with your equine nutritionist about the place for these forage extenders in your horse’s diet.
DID YOU KNOW?
Your horse’s diet should have more zinc than copper (ideally a ratio of 4-3:1) to support enzyme functions and help maintain healthy hooves and coat.
HOW MUCH IS
NUTRITION TO BLAME?
HOOF CONDITIONS AND THE ROLE OF DIET
It’s incredibly common for owners to reach for a hoof supplement in times of ‘hoof crisis’, but does this approach really work, and what role does nutrition really play in the acute situation? Here, we examine many of the most common hoof conditions and how they may interact or be impacted by a horse’s diet.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Firstly, it’s important to understand that the horse’s conformational structure, their genetics, their overall health, the terrain on which they work, the correctness of the work, the hygiene of the stables and paddocks, the work of the farrier and the frequency of hoof maintenance, are all going to have a greater impact on the hoof than nutrition. Focusing on nutrition at the expense of any of the above will likely prove futile in the fight against hoof disease.
HOOF CARE
Ultimately, hoof health is an area where preventative maintenance pays dividends in your horse’s physical well-being and performance ability, as many soundness issues
and body soreness can be traced back to issues with the feet. Horses’ hooves grow continuously, and our responsibility as horse owners is to maintain their feet through routine, consistent trimming or shoeing and daily hoof hygiene practices. A good rule of thumb is to have your horse’s feet trimmed every five to six weeks. There are exceptions to this rule, of course, so depending on the horse, the environment, and the lifestyle, some horses may need to be on an every four or five-week schedule, while others may be fine on a seven to eight-week schedule. Your farrier or vet will be best placed to guide you on the schedule your horse requires, bearing in mind this schedule may need to be altered with lifestyle and diet changes.
DID YOU KNOW?
Horses with good nutrition generally require more frequent hoof care than horses with poorer nutrition.
DID YOU KNOW?
Changes in nutrition, lifestyle and health status will all be reflected in the hoof growth from that period.
WHY IS NUTRITION IMPORTANT IN HOOF CARE?
The reason nutrition is important for hoof care is that the horse’s body partitions nutrients in a ‘survival first’ pattern. Therefore, if the diet is limited in certain areas, the body is going to prioritise that nutrients go to the bodily functions that are required to sustain basic life. It is only after the foundational elements are covered that the body allows extra nutrients to go towards ‘secondary’ functions like skin, hoof, mane and tail health.
By way of example, many owners notice that their horse grows more hoof in summer than in winter. One reason for this is that dormant pasture has less nutritional value than lush green pasture. So, when the horse is on lusher grass in the paddock, they are likely consuming more energy, more omega fatty acids and more vitamins than when they are on little grass/grass hay, allowing the hoof to grow more rapidly. On the other hand, a horse with a very consistent diet with the same hay and grazing all year round will have more consistent hoof growth over the course of the year.
WHICH NUTRIENTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR HOOF HEALTH GENERALLY?
Biotin, copper, zinc, lysine, and methionine are all major players in helping a horse grow a quality hoof wall and increase sole depth.
However, it is important to note that even with these additions, a hoof can take 12 to 14 months to ‘grow out’ completely. During this time, the only thing you can impact with these supplements is the quality and sometimes the speed of the new growth; the old growth will remain unchanged. Therefore, we cannot expect a new diet or supplement to fix existing hoof structures.
In summary, tackling a hoof problem is about playing the ‘long game’, i.e., consistency and doing the right things every day to eventually move your horse forward.
Buying a supplement as a ‘quick fix’ for an acute hoof issue will not make the difference you are looking for. Instead, good hoof care and longterm supplementation are the ways to improve hoof health and reduce the incidence of ‘crises’.
CONDITIONS AFFECTING THE HOOF AND THE IMPACT OF NUTRITION.
SOLE BRUISES
Sole bruises are a common cause of lameness. They occur when a horse steps on a hard object like a rock and pushes it hard enough against the sole that it causes the tiny capillaries under the sole to rupture. This can be very painful for the horse. In fact, a severe bruise can lead to an abscess, which then needs to be drained, poulticed, etc.
Unfortunately, there’s nothing that nutrition can do for a horse with a sole bruise, but if you provide all the major nutritional building blocks for a strong hoof wall and thick soles, your chances of sole bruising become lower because the soles are stronger, thicker and deeper and, therefore, able to withstand a little bit more pressure.
As discussed above, biotin, copper, zinc, methionine and lysine are the key nutritional players for quality feet, but these can only have an impact if the foundational diet is solid. If your horse is prone to sole bruising, add these ingredients to their daily maintenance diet, and you should see changes once the old hoof tissue has grown out. Supplementation must then be maintained, in some cases, for the rest of the horse’s life.
ABSCESSES
In simple terms, an abscess occurs when bacteria get trapped inside the hoof wall. The bacteria enter through vulnerable points in the hoof, for example, gaps in the white line, nail holes, cracks, etc. The hoof is a very dense structure with almost no room to accommodate swelling, so as the infection takes hold and pressure builds, the horse becomes obviously lame and is in severe pain. A farrier
or vet will need to drain the abscess to relieve the pain, where possible.
The bottom line is that nutrition doesn’t cause abscesses. A stronger hoof may be more resistant to weaknesses and floors that allow bacteria to enter the hoof, but again, this is part of a preventative maintenance plan, not the treatment of an abscess.
DID YOU KNOW?
Thrush can also affect horses living in dry conditions.
THRUSH
Thrush is the necrotic, smelly, black hoof rot that can be seen around the frog and in its crevices. This situation develops when the feet are not cleaned out often enough, and wet material like mud and manure gets packed into the feet. This moist, anaerobic environment allows pathogenic organisms to thrive and infect the external tissues in the bottom of the feet along the frog.
Again, nutrition can’t cure thrush, but it can play a role in prevention by ensuring that the sole has all the building blocks necessary for a strong and resilient frog. Biotin, copper, zinc, methionine, and lysine will all help build a stronger frog.
Ultimately, though, the key to preventing thrush is regular hoof care, clean stables and paddocks, and keeping the feet clean and dry so that pathogenic organisms cannot multiply.
WHITE LINE DISEASE
White line disease, also known as seedy toe, is similar to thrush in that bacteria and fungi invade the foot. However, this time, the invasion destroys the tissue behind the hoof wall. Initially, the condition becomes evident through a powdery appearance developing on the inner surface of the hoof.
White line disease typically has to be treated by your vet or farrier by removing infected hoof tissue, treating the hoof with antiseptic and then, in particularly bad cases, hoof resection may need to be performed. This condition can spiral out of control quickly, so contact your farrier or vet as soon as you notice any signs.
Again, nutrition doesn’t play a massive role in acute white line disease. Preventative maintenance is key and involves keeping the feet clean, dry, and trimmed so they don’t develop cracks or crevices, which bacteria and fungi can use to gain access. A good-quality hoof supplement containing the ingredients mentioned above may assist in the long term by creating stronger, healthier hooves, but it will not impact the acute situation.
HOOF CRACKS
Hoof cracks can be either horizontal or vertical. Vertical cracks, especially though originating at the ground, are typically caused by poor quality hoof, overgrown feet, infrequent trimming, and white line disease. Vertical cracks that start at the coronary band and move down tend to be due to trauma or conformational faults within the leg. Horizontal hoof cracks tend to be due to trauma or abscesses. They are considerably less common than vertical cracks.
A whole article could be written on the subject of hoof cracks, but for the purposes of this article, nutrition can undoubtedly help reduce the incidence of hoof cracks over the
long term, but nutrition is not the only cause of hoof cracks. Again, hoof supplements will only have an impact once the old hoof horn has grown out, so hoof supplements are not going to ‘fix’ a hoof crack in the immediate term. Hoof cracks require appropriate care and attention from a management standpoint, and your farrier has to make sure the hoof is balanced, particularly with regard to toe length.
As noted above, foundational nutrition must meet the horse's needs, and then the addition of biotin, zinc, copper, lysine, and methionine can help improve hoof horn quality and thus reduce cracking.
LAMINITIS
Laminitis is certainly one place where nutrition can be a cause. It is not the only cause, but it is a major one. Laminitis, as a term, means that there is inflammation within the foot, or more specifically, inflammation within the sensitive laminae that connect the coffin bone to the hoof wall. So, horses can develop sudden laminitis from nonnutritional things like running high fevers, working on hard surfaces, or compensatory weight bearing on one limb due to lameness. Laminitis can also arise in the case of hormonal and metabolic issues such as Pars Pituitary Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), formerly known as Cushing’s Disease. However, many cases of laminitis are directly due to nutrition.
Nutritional causes of laminitis include excessive sugar intake from concentrate overload (either gradually
or through binging), excessive sugar intake from green pasture, excessive sugar intake from treats, and consumption of toxic plants and grass clippings, to name just a few.
Sugar hides in places you least expect, like green grass, oats, concentrate, corn, barley, and many horse treats, so owners need to be alert to the sugar levels in their horses' diets. This is particularly the case for overweight horses, horses with metabolic conditions and ponies, but ultimately, any horse can develop laminitis, so monitoring sugar levels is important for all equines.
In high-risk cases, work with a nutritionist who can help ensure that the diet is in check and that the sugar and starch levels are appropriate for the horse’s lifestyle and workload.
QUITTOR
Quittor is the term used to describe a chronic infection of the collateral cartilage. This is the area just above the coronary band. Again, this is not a nutrition-related condition and is typically caused by an outward injury that allows a route of infection to penetrate the collateral cartilage, and that infection develops and persists. Ultimately, horses can have many outward ruptures of infection if the disease is not attended to.
SIDEBONE
Sidebone is where the collateral cartilages ossify and harden on either side of the coffin bone. This
can be very painful for some horses, but others will have sidebone that never affects them and is found ‘incidentally’ on an X-Ray. Sidebone is generally due to concussive forces, so it occurs more in heavy horses who work on hard surfaces. It commonly occurs in the front feet, particularly in showjumpers. Again, nutrition is not going to make a huge difference here. Still, adding anti-inflammatory agents such as omega-3 fatty acids and green-lipped New Zealand mussels and reducing inflammatory agents like iron and sugar can play a small role in managing the inflammation that leads to the ossification of the cartilage.
NAVICULAR
Navicular syndrome, also known as caudal heel pain syndrome, is the inflammation or degeneration of the navicular bone and its surrounding tissues. It is most common in the front feet.
Sadly, navicular is a progressive disease, meaning it worsens over time and can become very painful. The cause of navicular is not known, but it is thought to be related to genetics, poor conformation of the foot or distal limb, irregular farrier care, unbalanced hooves or just generally poor shoeing practices. The only thing that nutrition can really offer in these causes is some natural anti-inflammatory support. Examples of suitable products include New Zealand green-lipped mussels and omega-3, which are both potent anti-inflammatories.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Ultimately, the main role of nutrition in hoof conditions is preventative maintenance. Foundational nutrition needs to be correct and adequate, and then the addition of biotin, copper, zinc, lysine, and methionine can help with hoof quality and growth. Adding anti-inflammatory elements into the diet and keeping inflammatory elements like iron and sugar as low as possible can help in some conditions like navicular and sidebone. Still, generally, in acute situations, the major focus needs to be on proper hoof care and management.
DID YOU KNOW?
Horse hooves are made from keratin. Keratin is a protein and, in humans, helps form the hair, nails and skin.
TEXT: CHRISTIE WOLHUTER, BIOKINETICIST AND FOUNDER OF EQUIBIO
AN INTRODUCTION TO
EQUINE GAIT ANALYSIS
PART 1
Visual assessment of equine movement and lameness, colloquially known as ‘eyeballing it’, has been done for hundreds of years. However, research has shown that even the most
experienced vets differ in their opinions on visual assessment of lameness, especially on a circle and the more subtle the lameness, the more difficult it is to detect with the naked eye.
DID YOU KNOW?
Groundbreaking studies using equine movement analysis are now being used extensively. Just some of the questions examined include:
TECHNOLOGY
The technology available to study equine gait has improved significantly over the last ten years. Various methods are now available to measure how a horse moves and the interpretation of the measurements produced can be used for several purposes, not least biomechanical research and lameness examination.
• How a horse actually jumps.
• The forces imposed upon a horse’s limbs during different gaits.
• The impact of circles on the symmetry of a horse’s movement.
• The way a mounted rider affects a horse’s spine.
OPTICAL MOTION CAPTURE
Many advanced research labs and veterinary clinics started by using infrared cameras to detect reflective markers placed on the horse at strategic locations on his body. The computer then detects these signals and determines the marker's position in three-dimensional space [2]. These systems are known as Optical Motion Capture (OMC) systems. Unfortunately, however, they are expensive and require extensive training to use, but many labs have invested in them.
INERTIAL MEASUREMENT UNITS
Advances in technology have led to the increased use of sensors known as Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). These units track changes or asymmetries in a horse’s gait through the placement of small wireless skin-attached sensors. These sensors measure acceleration forces and angular velocities without the need for infrared cameras, allowing portable, noninvasive monitoring of equine gait during walk, trot, canter, and even while ridden [3].
An example of Optical Motion Capture analysis (OMC) [2]. Research conducted by Byström et al. (2023). Open Access.
Attachment sites and the number of sensors used in each study vary, but in general, they are placed on the highest point of the horse’s sacrum (tuber sacrale), the two sides of the pelvis (tuber coxae), the head (poll), the withers and the forelimb.
For instance, The Lameness Locator® by Equinosis uses three sensors placed on the top of the horse’s pelvis (tuber sacrale), head (poll) and right forelimb.
MARKERLESS TECHNOLOGY
Sleip AI has developed markerless technology that uses cellphone video footage to track and monitor asymmetries in various gaits. This software is easy to use, and the owner can send the footage to their vet for the app to analyse.
WHAT IS THIS TECHNOLOGY MEASURING?
These tracking tools are significant for owners and vets because vertical movement asymmetries of the horse’s head and pelvis have been shown to be relatively sensitive measurements for detecting fore and hindlimb lameness [5].
This means that the head nod and shortened hind limb stride can now be measured with much greater accuracy than the naked eye can detect, and thus, lameness can be measured with much greater accuracy.
DID YOU KNOW?
The motion detection software can also help eliminate the unnecessary nerve blocking of multiple joints on multiple limbs, as the primary lame limb is often identified pretty quickly by the software.
When vets then administer nerve blocks to numb a section of the limb temporarily, they are then able to repeat the test with the tracking software and see if there are genuine improvements, i.e. reductions in the asymmetries picked up by the software. If the asymmetries persist despite the nerve block, this is a good indication that the lameness is caused by another region higher than the previously blocked region.
REFERENCES
This can prove quite a long and complicated process of elimination, but it is a very sensitive way to attempt to detect where in the body the issue is arising.
FINAL THOUGHTS
In our next issue, we will unpack the analysis of the results provided by movement tracking/lameness detecting software and how to interpret these findings.
1. Hammarberg M, Egenvall A, Pfau T, Rhodin M. Rater agreement of visual lameness assessment in horses during lungeing. Equine Vet J. 2016;48(1):78–82.
2. Byström, A., Hardeman, A.M., Engell, M.T. et al. Normal variation in pelvic roll motion pattern during straight-line trot in hand in warmblood horses. Sci Rep 13, 17117 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44223-2
3. Crecan CM, Pestean CP. Inertial Sensor Technologies - Their Role in Equine Gait Analysis, a Review. Sensors (Basel). 2023 Jul 11;23(14):6301. doi: 10.3390/s23146301. PMID: 37514599; PMCID: PMC10386433.
4. Mackechnie-Guire, Russell and Thilo Pfau. “Differential Rotational Movement of the Thoracolumbosacral Spine in High-Level Dressage Horses Ridden in a Straight Line, in Sitting Trot and Seated Canter Compared to In-Hand Trot.” Animals: an Open Access Journal from MDPI 11 (2021): n. pag.
5. E. Persson-Sjodin, E. Hernlund, T. Pfau, P. Haubro Andersen, K. Holm Forsström, A. Byström, F.M. Serra Bragança, A. Hardeman, L. Greve, A. Egenvall and M. Rhodin. Withers vertical movement symmetry as a useful supplement for localization of the primary lame limb in horses. Equine Vet J. 2024;56:76-88
6. Rhodin M., Egenvall A., Haubro Andersen P., Pfau T. Head and Pelvic Movement Asymmetries at Trot in Riding Horses Perceived as Sound by Their Owner. Equine Vet J. 2015;47:10–1.
4YO GELDING:
Rivervales I’m All Yours/ Callaho’s For Joy (direct dam line of numerous 1,50m horses such as Callaho Fiorella, Callaho Lexington)
Pegase van't Ruytershof/ Berghof Eragon (dark bay colt)
Up To You GFE/ Candy de Nantuel GFE (bay filly)
Kobalt VDL/ Ubergabe (grey colt)
Grandorado TN/ Callaho’s For Joy (bay filly)
Photography: Kay Photography
EQUESTRIAN QUESTIONS ANSWERED
My horse is overweight, and with the rain and fresh grass, I’m worried the situation will get worse, or that he will develop laminitis?
Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for your horse’s overall well-being, as obesity can lead to serious health issues like laminitis, joint problems, and metabolic disorders. If you’ve noticed your horse is carrying excess weight, there are several steps you can take to
help them shed those extra kilograms in a safe and effective way. Here are some important strategies:
1. Consult your vet
Before starting any weight-loss programme, it’s a good idea to consult your vet. They can assess your horse’s overall health and determine if there are any underlying conditions (like Cushing’s disease or insulin resistance) that could be contributing to weight gain. They can also help you set realistic goals and provide a tailored plan.
2. Adjust the diet
Changes to the diet should be made gradually and ideally under consultation with your vet or equine nutritionist.
Reduce calories: One of the most effective ways to help your horse lose weight is by cutting back on their caloric intake. If you’re feeding concentrate, reduce the amount or consider switching to a balancer. Always ensure that the primary source of nutrition is hay, which is high in fibre but lower in calories. Choose the right hay: Not all hay is equal. Goodquality grass hay is lower in calories than legume hay (like lucerne). When choosing hay, opt for grass hay with a low sugar content. If your horse is prone to laminitis or has metabolic concerns, ensure the hay is not too rich in starch and sugar. You can also soak hay for an hour or so before feeding it to reduce sugar content.
NOTE: Horses should have access to hay 24/7 to maintain their gut health, even if they are on a weight-loss programme.
Use slow-feeders: If your horse tends to eat too quickly, or if you need to restrict their intake, a slow-feeder or hay net with small holes can help. This encourages the horse to eat slowly, which can keep them satisfied for longer while consuming fewer calories.
3. Exercise more
Increasing exercise is key to helping your horse burn off excess calories. Start with moderate exercise and gradually increase the intensity and duration. Keep in mind the horse’s age, fitness
level, and any pre-existing health conditions. Cross-train: In addition to riding, include a variety of activities such as lunging, long lining, hacking or groundwork. For horses that are not yet in regular work, building up to daily exercise with consistent, low-impact activities can be helpful. As your horse gets fitter, consider adding more challenging work like hill work or short bursts of canter.
4. Control access to lush grazing
Pasture access can sometimes be a hidden source of excess calories, especially in the warmer months when grass is rich in sugar. If you have access to a lush pasture, limit grazing time and consider using a grazing muzzle. This allows your horse to eat slowly and helps reduce the amount of grass they can consume. Alternatively, you can strip graze, where you rotate grazing areas to prevent overconsumption of rich pasture.
5. Ensure access to fresh water
Sometimes, horses that are losing weight or on a restricted diet may drink less water. Ensure that your horse always has access to fresh, clean water. This is especially important if they are working harder or if they are on a higherfibre diet, which requires more water to aid digestion.
6. Monitor weight regularly
Regularly monitoring your horse’s weight is important to track progress and ensure they’re losing weight at a healthy pace. You can use a weight tape or, for more accurate measurements, weigh your horse using a scale. Keep a record of their weight so you can make adjustments to their diet or exercise programme if necessary.
7. Be patient
Weight loss in horses, as with humans, takes time. Avoid drastic measures that could harm your horse's health. Rapid weight loss can lead to muscle loss and other health issues, so it’s important to set gradual, realistic goals. Aim for
a steady, consistent reduction in body condition over several months rather than quick fixes.
Key takeaways:
• Consult a vet to rule out any underlying health conditions.
• Reduce calorie intake by limiting highenergy feeds and choosing lower-calorie hay.
• Increase exercise gradually to help burn off excess weight.
• Monitor weight regularly to ensure the plan is working.
• Control pasture access by using grazing muzzles or limiting grazing time on rich pasture.
By combining a carefully controlled diet, regular exercise, and patience, you can help your horse shed excess weight safely and effectively. Keeping your horse at a healthy weight not only improves their quality of life but also reduces the risk of long-term health problems.
GLOVER PADDOCKS WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU A BLESSED FESTIVE SEASON
What are the differences between jumping, dressage and general purpose (GP) saddles?
Here's an overview of the key differences between these three types of saddle:
Jumping saddles
Purpose: Jumping saddles are designed for showjumping or cross-country, where the rider needs to maintain a secure and balanced seat while navigating jumps.
Key features:
• Flatter seat: Jumping saddles typically have a flatter seat that allows for more freedom of
movement, enabling the rider to rise out of the saddle over fences and shift their weight forward for proper jumping posture.
• Forward knee flaps: The flap is usually angled forward, which allows the rider to maintain a more natural forward position, especially over jumps.
• Shorter stirrup leathers: Riders often use shorter stirrup leathers to keep their legs in a more forward position for jumping, enhancing their ability to stay with the horse's movement.
• Thinner panels: The panels are generally more contoured to accommodate the horse’s back and allow closer contact with the horse, which helps with communication during jumps.
Dressage saddles
Purpose: Dressage saddles are designed to facilitate the precise, controlled movements required in dressage competitions. The saddle encourages a deep, centred seat for the rider, promoting balance, stability, and proper posture.
Key features:
• Deeper seat: Dressage saddles have a deeper seat that provides the rider with a secure and balanced position. The depth helps maintain the rider’s posture and encourages better alignment with the horse's movement.
• Straight flaps: The flaps are generally straighter compared to jumping saddles, as dressage requires the rider’s legs to be in a vertical position. The straighter flaps also serve to show off the movement of the horse’s shoulders.
• Long knee roll: One distinct feature is the substantial knee roll that supports riders’ knees, promoting proper leg positioning by preventing any forward sliding
• Longer stirrup leathers: Dressage saddles are typically paired with longer. stirrup leathers, encouraging a longer leg position, which is key for maintaining proper leg contact and using subtle aids.
General purpose saddles
Purpose: A GP saddle is a versatile saddle designed to meet the demands of both dressage and jumping disciplines. It’s a hybrid model, ideal for riders who compete in multiple disciplines or seek a saddle that offers a balanced position across various types of riding.
Key features:
Conclusion
• Medium seat depth: GP saddles usually have a medium-depth seat, offering a balanced feel that’s not as deep as a dressage saddle but more supportive than a typical jumping saddle.
• Moderately forward flaps: The flaps of GP saddles are often less forward-facing than those of jumping saddles but more angled than those of dressage saddles.
• Medium knee roll: The GP saddle has a medium-sized knee roll, which provides support without restricting leg movement.
Each saddle type serves a distinct purpose tailored to the rider’s discipline. Jumping saddles are optimised for dynamic, forward movement over jumps. Dressage saddles focus on providing a secure, deep seat to support the precise, controlled movements required in dressage. GP saddles offer versatility, bridging the gap between dressage and jumping, making them ideal for riders who participate in multiple disciplines. Understanding the differences between these saddles helps ensure that both the rider and the horse have the proper support for their specific needs.
This gelding emanates quality. He is fine and refined with near perfect conformation, bright as a button and with a naturally uphill and forward way of going.
Ever inquisitive and alert, he is intelligent with a friendly disposition and a beautiful temperament.
His grandsire, Johnson is currently World’s No. 1 ranked dressage stallion on WBFSH. His damsire is Astrix who was World No. 1 ranked five and six year old stallion.
Salieri, also in his lineage was a producer of both Olympic show jumping and dressage progeny.
JJ was recently placed 2nd in the Loose Movement Competition for 3 year olds, acquiring scores of 8 for trot, 7.5 for canter, 8 for type, and 8 for overall impression. This boy is bred in the purple for dressage, but also shows a good, consistent jump. We believe he is bold enough to also be an eventing prospect.
DID YOU KNOW?
Horses can’t vomit. This is due to the anatomical design of the equine gastrointestinal tract. Firstly, the muscles of the equine lower oesophageal sphincter are much stronger than in other animals, making it nearly impossible for the valve to open under backward pressure from the stomach. Also, the equine oesophagus joins the stomach at a much lower angle than in many animals, so when the
stomach is distended, as with gas, it presses against the valve in such a way that it holds it even more tightly closed. And, located deep within the rib cage, the equine stomach cannot be readily squeezed by the abdominal muscles. Finally, horses have a weak vomiting reflex—in other words, the neural pathways that control that activity in other animals are poorly developed in horses, if they exist at all.
Christmas must-haves
Sleeveless Mesh Competition Shirt in Maroon
The brand new Equestrian Stockholm Saddle Pad Luxe by Edwina Tops-Alexander
