EGB March/April 2016

VOLUME 13 ISSUE 2 MAR/APR 2016

OFFICIAL MEMBERS PUBLICATION FOR ENDURANCE GB

AHS PERFORMANCE AWA R DS NEW PRODUCTS

GROUP UPDATES

PAIRS PROFILES www.endurancegb.co.uk

Devoted to…

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CONTENTS

Views from the Chair 4 News 6 Ride Previews 8 Group Sites 9 SERC 10 Ride Organisers 12

14 Performance Awards 14 Technology 16 Our History 18 Veteran Feeding 20 New Products 22 Wrightfield Omar 28

Young Riders 30 Groups 32 Tried & Tested 37 Book Review 38 Management 40

EDITOR’S COMMENT

T

he weather has made a change for the better, the sun is shining more often, the days are getting longer, Easter has been and gone, summer must be in the offing…all good news!

Hopefully everyone has made a start to their endurance season? Mine officially started by TSing the inaugural Concrete Cows Ride in Milton Keynes. Seldom does one find an organizer with such enthusiasm and optimism, as well as such insistence on total inclusivity. The Parsler family made sure that everyone was catered for at this ride….and I take my hat off to them. It was a challenge to TS… and thankfully there were three of us working on the paperwork on the day, but it was worth it to see how happy everyone was at the end of the event.

And speaking of catering, that was pretty good too!

Going forward, it is a real pleasure to hear that the Golden Horseshoe will be back on the ride list for 2017. Another stalwart of the endurance world, Jo Chisholm and her family has stepped up to take that on…let’s hope lots of riders make the effort to support this iconic event as it enters a new era.

As the restructured Board settles into it’s role and the new Board members become acclimatised to their remits, there is news in this issue from the Marketing and PR committee, under the management of Harry Ingram, and there is an update from the International committee.

New Chef’d’Equipes have been appointed, and there is news of the plans for this year.

On another note it is with great sadness personally that I heard the news that Derek Francis and also Min Cullum, are no longer with us. Such great characters, and such a long history in endurance, we have lost great links to the very start of endurance in the UK. I would be happy to hear from anyone who wishes to share a memory of either of them.

I would also like to hear from you if you are bringing out a young horse this season; let us know your plans and aspirations.. it is good to see people and horses starting out, and follow success as the seasons progress.

I look forward to seeing many of you out and about as the season moves on… enjoy the countryside and your horses!

Cindy

Editor of Endurance Special thanks to our cover photographer West End Photography – CF Winter Amadeus and Pat Guerin 9th in 2015 PHA.

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VIEWS FROM THE CHAIR

VIEWS FROM THE CHAIR Dear Members, At last we are seeing the shorter daylight hours receding, giving us all a better chance to venture out on our training rides in preparation for the first compeition. Another endurance season is truly under way - how soon it seems to come around.

The early rides in March have been extremely well supported. Whilst this is very encouraging indeed, regrettably some rides have had no choice but to close their entries early, which means that some of our members have not been able to get going on their competitive season as early as they hoped. It is also good to see that the membership numbers are showing an increase of about 5% compared to last year, but of course it is early days yet.

I extend my gratitude to our local EGB Groups who have continued to work so hard to encourage their existing members and of course potential new members by organising social events, training events and training rides. Kerry Dawson, having taken up the role of Groups Director late last year, is keen to develop ways in which the Groups can exchange good practice and ideas that will help increase participation still further.

In my last Views from the Chair, I mentioned that the EGB Board was developing ways to promote the sport through other equestrian organisations. I am pleased to report that together with his team of committee members, Harry Ingram is moving forward with a number of initiatives to spread the word about endurance within the Pony Club, Riding Clubs and other organisations.

I must mention also that we do need to recruit more Technical Stewards who are able to support the ride organising teams and to administer the event on the actual day. We organised a training day at the end of March, both for existing Technical Stewards and for those who might be interested in taking up such a role in the future. If you have missed this training day but would still like to get involved, then please do get in touch with the EGB Office.

As always we depend so much on our volunteers to administer and run the rides, run the local Groups, contribute to the Committees that work with the Board - and of course the Board members themselves. Much time is given up by all to ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible during the competitive season. Thanks to you all.

And finally I must close with a “welcome back” message - to the Golden Horseshoe in 2017. I am indebted to Jo and Andrew Chisholm for taking up the considerable challenge of organising Golden Horseshoe starting in the 2017 season. Golden Horseshoe was my first attempt at 100 miles way back in 1992, so it is good to have it back in the calendar.

BOARD MEMBERS CHAIRMAN John Hudson 01398 332089 johnhudson@endurancegb.co.uk

SERC Representative Constance Newbould 0131 4452235 constancenewbould@endurancegb.co.uk

Vice Chair/ Finance Director Andrew Chisholm 01822 820565 andrewchisholm@endurancegb.co.uk

Welfare & Quality Director Brian Floyd Davies 01293 786253 brianfloyddavies@endurancegb.co.uk

Operations Director Sue Box 01873 832225 suebox@endurancegb.co.uk

Marketing, Communications & Sponsorship Director Harry Ingram 07793 813083 harryingram@endurancegb.co.uk

Company Secretary/Development Director Ann Dark 01380 818223 anndark@endurancegb.co.uk Groups Director and acting IT Director Kerry Dawson 07818 283144 kerrydawson@endurancegb.co.uk 4

Director of International John Robertson 01293 517495 johnrobertson@endurancegb.co.uk

Endurance OFFICE ADMINISTRATION Olwen Bryer Endurance GB Office, Abbey Park, Stareton, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2RP t: 02476 697929 f: 02476 418429 EDITOR Cindy Russell Green Farm Stables, Albyns Lane, Romford, Essex RM4 1RX t: 01708 688075 e: cindy@cynburstud.fsnet.co.uk PUBLISHER Matrix Print Consultants Ltd Unit C, Northfield Point, Cunliffe Drive, Kettering, Northants, NN16 9QJ t: 01536 527297 f: 01536 527294 e: info@matrixprint.com DESIGNER Matrix Print Consultants Ltd Rick Fraterrigo ADVERTISING Matrix Print Consultants Ltd Andy Etherton t: 01536 527 297 e: andy@matrixprint.com DEADLINES Copy Dates to Editor for future issues: Issue Issue May/Jun 2016 by 15th April Issue Jul/Aug 2016 by 15th June If you wish to advertise in the May/Jun 2016 issue, artwork deadline is 9th May. The views and opinions of the writers are not necessarily those of the editor, Matrix Print Consultants Ltd or Endurance GB. Endurance magazine is fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reproduced wholly or in part without the permission of Endurance GB and/or Matrix Print Consultants Ltd.

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Calls between 9am and 9pm only please. More details of committees and Board Member responsibilities can be found in the EGB Handbook

Official members publication for Endurance GB

Go,Go,Go on & on & on

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NEWS

ENDURANCE NEWS SUPPORTING RESEARCH On May 29th 2016 Iain Paterson will be running the Edinburgh Marathon in aid of the Moredun Equine Grass Sickness Fund.

This is a wonderful charity that is dedicated to supporting and advancing research and further improving the treatment of grass sickness.

Grass Sickness remains a major cause of mortality in horses and ponies in Britain with more than 95% of cases proving fatal.

Iain explained why he is working to raise awareness “Being in central Scotland I am very aware of Grass Sickness and my family has been involved in the development of a new vaccine in conjunction with the Animal Health Trust, Liverpool University and Fair City Vets. Some of our horses at Tannasg Arabians were involved in the very first trial of this new vaccine and we are continuing to support the vaccine through its trail stages.

A small number of chronic cases do survive with specialised intensive nursing and many have gone on to live a full working life, we are very lucky to have one of these survivors, CS Kismet. Since contracting grass sickness Kismet has come back to full work and is regularly racing over 80km with my younger sister and has been awarded AHS Premium Mare status. By running the Edinburgh Marathon, I am hoping to provide another level of support for this great charity. All donations are gratefully received and help make running the marathon even more worth it!”

Iain has set up a funrdaising page through JustGiving at the following address: justgiving.com/iainpaterson-equinegrasssickness

GROUP SPONSORSHIP ANNOUNCED The Lindum Group Endurance GB are very excited to announce that the group and its events will now be sponsored by Emerald Green Feeds.

The Lincolnshire based company says ‘The Emerald Green Feeds Team are pleased to announce that we are now the proud sponsors of the Lindum Endurance Group. It is our pleasure to be able to support such a great group of people with huge passion and knowledge for their sport. As this is our local group we will see firsthand the assistance our sponsorship will provide.

Many endurance riders already know the benefits of feeding a forage based

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diet and with our area of expertise being 100% natural forage feeds we are sure our partnership will be beneficial for both ourselves and the Lindum Endurance Group.’

Emerald Green Feeds Grass and Alfalfa Feeds are grown and produced on our family farm in the heart of Lincolnshire. As a family run business they take enormous pride in the feeds they produce, being of the highest quality, fully traceable and containing all natural ingredients All the groups events and participants will benefit from this sponsorship, look out for the added goodies that will be provided as a result of this generous sponsorship.

TOP FARRIER! Congratulations to Farrier Mathew Rees who won the Best Shod Horse Award at Barbury Castle Endurance GB Ride with Cwmceffyl Autumn Breeze owned

by Alison Smale. The Best Shod competition was sponsored by Goddard Farriery Services Breeze won a rug and Mathew a bottle of whiskey.

Owner and rider, Alison said, “Mathew is a fantastic farrier and takes great pride in his work which is always to a high standard. I always receive positive feedback when Breeze is checked by farriers at competitions. His winning shoes were handmade and his work always stands up well to endurance training and competition over the season, so I was thrilled that Mathew won in such a major national competition”.

Official members publication for Endurance GB

NEWS

NEW FEI JUDGES A very mixed group of riders of all levels and ages, plus current and future officials attended the two day FEI Judge Courses in March at the Endurance GB headquarters at Abbey Park. 100% passed which was testament to the knowledgeable and patient teaching of FEI Course Directors, Ian Williams and John Robertson.

The feedback has been excellent with many praising the course as “’informative” and “interesting”.

Young Rider, Charlie Chadwick, summed it up, “Thank you so much to everyone for making the weekend so enjoyable! I have had a truly brilliant weekend and for everyone who didn›t attend, I can›t recommend it highly enough!! So much fun too!”

Pictured with FEI Course Directors, Ian William and John Robertson, attendees: Abby Chisholm, Amber Barnicoat, Andrew Chisholm, Andrew Thorne, Ann Dark, Beth Stokes, Carri Ann Dark, Charlie Chadwick, Fiona Videla, Fiona Griffiths, Gill Brown, Harry Ingram, Kerry Dawson, Linda Cowperthwaite, Lynda Croft, Mel Bradley, Michelle Garner, Nicki Thorne, Sam Yates, Tess Wheldon and Tricia Hirst.

LINDUM

SPIRIT 2016 Due to circumstance totally out of our control, i.e. the Jockey Club rescheduling a race meeting on to what should have been Lindum Sunday, this years’ Lindum Spirit will now have to run August 3rd-7th.

Really sorry to disrupt everyone’s original plans but it was a choice of cancelling or moving and I hope that this will be the best decision! Rest assured we are already discussing dates for 2017 to ensure this mix up doesn’t happen again!

Please join us for the usual Lindum Spirit experience! Schedule available soon

PHOTO COURTESY OF PETER ORR

Derek Francis Many of you will remember Derek Francis as a colourful and knowledgeable character in endurance, for almost as long as endurance has been around, and it is with sadness that we learnt of his recent death. I am sure that many readers will be saddened by this news, and it is a great loss to the sport.

Min Cullum 3 April 1944 – 12 February 2016 PHOTO COURTESY OF CINDY RUSSELL

It is with great sadness that we learnt of the recent death of Min Cullum.

Many of you will remember Min well from EHPS days, she was quite a character in the endurance world and was extremely passionate about her sport.

Min was one of the founding members of the EHPS in 1974 and ran the first ever EHPS ride from Headland Warren on Dartmoor in that year. This was daughter Naomi’s first ever endurance ride at the age of 7 and Naomi went on to accompany her mother at many endurance rides. 1976 saw the first Challacombe ride held from the family farm in the hottest summer for years.

Min rode Prince Nazereen (known as Horace, whom she got from Wendy Dunham), successfully in the majority of the endurance rides she competed in as a member of the EHPS, and they did attempt the Summer Solstice in 1998, sadly not to finish.

Min was on the EHPS Council and was heavily involved with ride organisation as well as having a keen interest in horse welfare, and always encouraging youngsters coming in to the sport. In later years Min went on to become a Technical Steward enjoying the atmosphere of ride days from a different side.

Many will remember her as being very helpful, very persuasive with her arguments when she felt strongly about something, and loving a good old gossip about horses and horsey folk. She will be sadly missed.

Endurance March/April 2016 7

RIDE PREVIEWS

RIDE PREVIEWS Tugby – 21st & 22nd May 2016 Update by Chris Platts As you may have noticed in the fixture list, or on our website, this is the 25th year that I have organised the ride at Tugby, hence the anniversary label, and it will be the last time, as I am standing down as organiser after this year.

However, this doesn’t mean that Tugby has to end too, providing that the venue owners, Mr and Mrs Wright are happy to continue, I will be happy to help someone to take on the mantle of organiser.

The basics are all in place, venue, names of the landowners over whose land the bridleways (that form the route) run, are all known, and the routes are all well established. So, if anyone feels they would like to take over for next year, please contact me and we can have a chat about it.

Back to this year – as this is to be the Tugby 25th Anniversary Ride, we want to make it a bit special. So we are going to make a weekend of it. On Saturday 21st May we are going to run a Fun Ride, which is being organised by Sheila Creasey and Pam

Heighton – they have lots of ideas for ‘fun’ classes of shorter distances, such as Fancy Dress, Best Dressed Rider & Lead Rein, just to mention a few! Keep an eye on our website and Facebook page to see what will be happening. We are planning to have special rosettes and are hoping that you will support the day and perhaps persuade some of your non EGB rider friends to come along and have a ‘fun’ day. There will be nothing of the ‘endurance’ element on the day – except perhaps for the organisers!

We will ofcourse be running our usual competitive and noncompetitive classes on the Sunday, so it would be possible to come on the Saturday, corral and camp on the Saturday night and take part in a class on the Sunday but just be aware that as we don’t have a separate field for camping, tents are not allowed.

I hope you will come and join us some time over that weekend and make my last Tugby Ride a memorable one. See you there.

4 for the North The Northumberland and Tyneside group are pleased to announce that the 4 For the North Series will continue for the 2016 season with a new sponsor for the long distance trophy!

The aim of the series is to reward the thinking rider and promote good preparation and skilled riding; riding at a speed suited to the terrain, avoiding elimination, and finishing with a low heart rate. Points are awarded using a variation of the French Formula, to ensure a level playing field. There are a number of qualifying rides in the series, with the best 4 results to count.

The series is split into two trophies. The Cottee Trophy, aimed at riders competing at rides of less than 50km, is sponsored by Viv and Graham Knight of Classic Upholstery and Foam. This trophy is open to Northumberland and Tyneside members only.

The Urban Horse Trophy is sponsored for the first time this year by Carolyn Hymers of Urban Horse, specialising in Endurance and Natural Horsemanship. This trophy is open to any rider and horse combination competing at distances over 50km.

For all qualifying rides visit egbnorthumberlandandtyneside.co.uk

NORTHUMBERLAND, ENGLAND

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Official members publication for Endurance GB

GROUP WEBSITES

NEW SEASON New website CROMWELL GROUP HAS A NEW LOOK WEBSITE Bella Fricker has been busy working on a brand new website for Cromwell EGB group. Take a peek at cromwellegb.co.uk The new website has taken on a turquoise colour scheme in line with the group’s brand recognisable strategy, to match their Inter-Regional Team colours. The group, which covers Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire is small and eager to increase membership hence the need for a more approachable and attractive website.

Bella said: “I’m really pleased with how the new website has turned out. It’s really colourful and hopefully easy to use and informative. I’ve tried to include as much as I could think of to attract a range of members from the happy hacker, to the riding club or pony club member, through to the Retraining of Racehorses (ROR) owner.

“I’ve worked a lot on the membership pages and the first ride pages. Over the next few weeks I want to add a ‘Helpful Articles’ section with lots of advice from a range of sources for new members. Our sport is so friendly and approachable in real life and I think that gets lost sometimes when it is written down. I must also say a big thank you to Sarah Robins who previously designed and looked after our website. I seriously appreciate the work involved now!”

The Cromwell Group’s next ride is the Milton Keynes Concrete Cows ride on 20 March. Entries are open, and there are prizes on offer from Equidgel for the Team Challenge and Veterans. Visit concretecowsride. wordpress.com for al the information.

NEW WESSEX GROUP WEBSITE! The Wessex group have a vibrant new website where members and visitors can easily access forthcoming events, contact the organising team, and read helpful articles. wessexendurancegb.com If you weren’t already chomping at the bit for the season to start, a quick tour of the Wessex group’s fresh new website will remind you that the sun will shine again, and you could soon be out there enjoying the rides put on by this sizeable group. The group covers Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire and offers members 10 rides during the year, as well as social events, including the end of season awards.

A peek at the Who’s Who page lets you ‘meet’ the committee and glimpse into their experience and enthusiasm, while elsewhere you can find practical tips and support to help newcomers feel more confident about map reading, ride procedure and vetting.

Webmaster Sarah Davenport has done a superb job and is really pleased with the overall look, saying: “I worked on it for approximately three months to get the look of the site right, which is the part I found most enjoyable, being the creative butterfly at that I am. We wanted to make it appealing to look at, easy to navigate and hopefully entice nonmembers to not be intimidated by the word ‘endurance’ and come along, enjoy the Pleasure Rides and hopefully join EGB. Time will tell.

“I am really looking forward to the start of the new season and getting my pony out on course, which I think can be said for him as well. I’m particularly interested to see how my little New Forest pony does in a whole season, as last year we only joined half way through the year and he did amazingly well. I cant’ wait!”

Check it out for yourself at: wessexendurancegb.com

Endurance March/April 2016 9

SCOTTISH ENDURANCE RIDING CLUB

A DAY TO REMEMBER SERC held its AGM in Perth on 21 February, attracting around 100 members, which is a relatively high turnout for recent years. With Chair Colin Sykes ably managing the proceedings, those present dispatched in short order the 23 proposed rule and constitution changes, a process that was helped by the lively debates on the Club Forum in the weeks leading up to the meeting. One of the changes passed by a large majority will enable the Club to put in place electronic and/or postal voting in the future – or indeed holograms if that is where technology is taking us... It is hoped this will not lead to a significant drop in numbers attending, as it is undeniably a convivial social event, and although it is focused on the past year, the AGM does seem to act as a springboard for the coming season.

One of the proposals that failed to garner enough votes concerned the perennially thorny issue of persuading members to help. This is not a problem confined to SERC or indeed to endurance. While the meeting veered away from making it a constitutional requirement that members help on the day at at least two rides a season, there is no doubt that some solution must be found, otherwise the future of the sport will be dependent on the same dwindling band of willing helpers turning out time and again.

As always, following hot on the heels of the AGM came the annual awards ceremony. Many of the major distance and points awards went to Argyll Branch’s Suzanne Taylor and her palomino PBA gelding Salsa Caramel (highest mileage, highest PBA points, highest veteran horse mileage, highest veteran horse points in 50km classes – plus a special 5000kms award). Also collecting the silverware was Lothian Branch’s Jill Calder (highest rider points, highest combination points from best four rides, and her Platinum Thistle award for 120kms in a day) with her two horses Just Silver and homebred Silvakhira.

Other major winners included: Anne Short, whose palomino gelding Sirnunn Golden Snowflake was the novice horse with the highest points; Jo McIsaac whose gelding Summertime (breed unknown) scooped the prize for, amongst other trophies, the horse with the most Gold finishes in 30km classes in the season – 15 in total; 13 year old Grainne Paterson, who was top junior rider by a considerable margin on CS Kismet; Robyn Jones, top young rider (17-21) on her mare Pippa; and Coolagoree Glen Thunder (Chris MacMillan) who was the only horse to finish the Golden Horseshoe on Gold in 2015. That, coupled with his achievements representing Scotland at Red Dragon, won him the highest annual points trophy.

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ABOVE (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): CHAIR COLIN SYKES WITH ANNE SHORT, JILL CALDER, ROBYN JONES AND SUZANNE TAYLOR

SEACLIFF IS ALSO RENOWNED FOR ITS GRASSY ENDRIGS

Official members publication for Endurance GB

SCOTTISH ENDURANCE RIDING CLUB

FANCY A TRIP TO THE BEACH? The season seems to have barely started and already we’re looking at looming closing dates for rides in June.

One of SERC’s most popular rides, Seacliff, is once again going to be a three-day event – 17, 18 and 19 June - and the organising committee are delighted to report that MarineCo have once again agreed to be the main sponsor this year. Having a major sponsor who is keen to support an FEI ride is a huge benefit, and helps the organisers to support riders, helpers and administrators.

Planning is well underway, and the tide tables for the beach section, which is approximately 1.5kms, along Peffer and Ravensheugh Sands sands have been checked and then checked again, in order to make sure riders are able to compete without worrying about wet feet!

In addition to the FEI 2* and 1* - with Young Rider classes at both distances - which are all held on Saturday 18 June, we intend to have a Pleasure ride on the Friday evening, with the National classes split over Saturday and Sunday. These include a 160km class with Elevator option at 120kms. Last year there were 15 entries for the FEI classes, which ensured a good competitive atmosphere.

Seacliff has, rightly, earned a reputation for its varied and scenic routes which allow riders to achieve good speeds, and if the weather gods are kind, so much the better. In addition to the beach, there are miles and miles of grassy endrigs and tracks. Normally all the gates are open. The area is steeped in history – if you take your foot off the gas for a while you can see castles, both ruined and inhabited, anti-tank landing structures, seabird sanctuaries, huge old mansion houses, old walled gardens – and evidence everywhere of the agriculture that is a hallmark of East Lothian.

The parking, camping and corralling areas are spacious, and easy to access for trailers and lorries.

There will be onsite catering and a hog roast is planned for the Saturday night.

Access is easy – Seacliff is 20 minutes off the A1, and if you’re coming north from, for example, Newcastle (103 miles), Manchester (240 miles), Norwich (350 miles) or Bristol (390 miles), it’s motorway and trunk roads all the way. SERC riders regularly come to Seacliff from as far away as Inverness, almost 200 miles on slightly more demanding roads. And you can be assured of a warm Scottish welcome even if we can’t guarantee the weather.

For more information, including route descriptions, accommodation suggestions and local facilities, please go to seacliff160km.webs.com or call Colin Sykes on 07464797207 or Francis Bakker on 07967413256.

THE GLORIOUS BEACH IS A MAJOR ATTRACTION AT SEACLIFF

A RIDE STEEPED IN HISTORY...

Endurance March/April 2016 11

RIDE ORGANSISING

WHAT DO WORDS CONVEY? A FLOCK OF SHEEP AND A HERD OF CATTLE – FAR BETTER THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE!

BARKSHIRE DOWNS RIDE ORGANISER KATE CURRY

A RIDE-FULL OF RIDERS – PANDEMONIUM, PHONE CALLS ABOUT LATE ENTRIES/CAN’T ENTER ON LINE ETC/ FINANCIAL SUCCESS!!!

AN APPRECIATION OF RIDE ORGANISERS – I DON’T BELIEVE THERE IS A COLLECTIVE NOUN, I’VE JUST INVENTED IT! But “YES” although often taken for granted, without those gallant folks who put their own and their families’ lives “on hold” for weeks and months before and after the event there would be no Endurance Riding and certainly no EGB. Wessex Group recently ran a meeting for its ride personnel and also for members keen to know a bit more about running a ride.

Collectively they came up, under 4 headings, with the following essential characteristics: • COMMITMENT (once the Ride Proposal is accepted there is no easy way out), Determination (not a job for quitters), Busy (they say if you want a job doing ask a busy person) but Selfless (looking to give back to EGB for pleasure gained from other’s events – past/present and hopefully future!)

• PEOPLE SKILLS featured prominently. Communication -after all there are loads of folks to negotiate with, influence or persuade – and of course to thank (landowners/farmers and helpers) after all the riders are long gone. It was also said that Ride Organisers need to be Approachable and Friendly, Calm, Patient and Diplomatic (but maybe these attributes are most needed by the Ride Secretary in the lead up to and on the day of the ride).A Sense of Humour is an essential survival skill (there is generally a lighter side to even the most dire situation – though often only seen on mature reflection).

• ORGANISATION is of course paramount, but preferably not to the extent of being a “control freak”. Ability to work to fixed deadlines, to forward plan, to multi-task (“a woman-skill” it was suggested thereby ruling out male Ride Organisers –to which John Hudson disagreed!!!) and to delegate (though difficult for “control freaks” and for some who have been badly let down in the past).

• CREATIVITY (difficult to find the right word to describe this attribute). It means Designing in the joy of the route, envisaging all possible problems and designing them out (otherwise known as ‘Risk assessment and Mitigation’). Liz Hinings suggested Mind-reading. And the vital skill - Flexibility to find solutions that work, under pressure and at the last moment, such as when routes become flooded or trees blow down, when you block the highway because you can’t get vehicles into or out of the sodden venue, when key personnel reckon they weren’t booked and when loos are delivered to the wrong site etc etc. Keep smiling!!!

So, in exchange, what do Ride Organisers long for? Simply, enough entries well ahead of the closing date, so that they can book the right resources, ensure the ride is viable, or even a financial success. Happy and smiling riders before/during/after the ride.

And no accidents or emergencies – it’s called cloud cuckoo land!!

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RIDE NOTICE BOARD PHOTOS COURTESY OF CINDY RUSSELL

Official members publication for Endurance GB

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T

he overall winner in the Endurance section for 2015 is CF Winter Amadeus and Pat Guerin with the Junior Winner Katie Bedwin, on Elayla and Burfield Goodie Two Shoes.

CF Winter Amadeus is the Overall pure Arab winner of the PHA for 2015, and wins the Dinsdale memorial Trophy, to be presented at Malvern on Saturday 30 July in the main arena during the AHS Show by the 2015 sponsor Judy Phillips of Sheer Versatility.

Anyone wanting a 2016 card needs to be a member of the AHS (starts at Bronze level for £25 a year), and then apply for the card from: pha@gadebrookstud.com.

Available free now.

WE ASKED PAT GUERIN ABOUT HER AWARD WINNING HORSE: C F Winter Amadeus 15:00 hh grey gelding Sire – Rumak Dam – Winter Persephone.

He was bred at Combe Farm Arabians. Born 25th June 2006. I bought him aged 8 in February 2014 and in July 2014 he did his first 32 km Graded Endurance Ride at the Foremark Ride achieving a Grade 1.

Encouraged by this I decided to attempt a Novice season of 10 rides, which he completed in grand style and won the Sheer Versatility AHS EGB Novice Endurance Award. He also came 3rd in the EGB National Novice Championship.

I upgraded him to Open at the start of the 2015 season and started with 40 km rides with a 66km at Cirencester and the addition of a number of multiple day events - 2 day rides of 72km at Royal Cranwell, 74km at Wharncliffe Chase, 84km at Cranwich and the 4 day 129km Wolds Challenge at Lindum.

He was successful in all of his events finishing with grades 1 or 2 in all of them.

This season I would like to attempt some 80km rides and ultimately upgrade to Advanced but I will start with 40km at Cannock Chase to see where that leads.

I have had regular weekly flatwork lessons since I bought him and he has made steady progress. I have entered a few unaffiliated dressage competitions gaining respectable marks but there is plenty of room for improvement. He also appears to enjoy jumping. I don’t think I am brave enough anymore to attempt a competition but who knows?

Mo, as he is known to his friends, is a strong and generally calm horse who benefits from a low heart rate and, so far, has demonstrated the ability to switch off after an endurance event. On most occasions he is a pleasure to ride and a delight to be around. I count myself very lucky to own him & enjoy his company.

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Official members publication for Endurance GB

OVERALL CHAMPION PAT GUERIN WITH CF WINTER AMADEUS. PHOTO COURTESY OF WEST END PHOTOGRAPHY

PURE BRED FINALISTS The Dinsdale Memorial Trophy for Pure Arabs 1st

2nd:

3rd

CF Winter Amadeus Elayla

720 points - owned by Pat Guerin 490 points – owned by Katie Bedwin

Binley Prince Salim Cumbria Kalila

490 points – owned Anne Brown 480 points – owned by Fiona Walling + Gemma Pearson

4th 5th

Eastworth Ahmoshini Guisburn Haneef

415 points– owned by Stuart Coombs 400 points – owned by Alison Ainsley

6th 7th

Kamillah Sophora

395 points – owned by Suzanne Duke 390 points – owned by Angela Fleming

8th 9th

Dantaes Inferno Marcus Aurelius

375 points – owned by Katharine Mieras 355 points – owned by Rowena Bertram

9th 10th

Zyta Sakeena Sky Zayin

355 points – owned by Gaynor Rose 335 points – owned by Paul Simmons

11th 12th

Aberllwyd Satra Kalish

330 points - owned by Karen Day 320 points - owned by Anne Brown

13th 14th

Maya Johaara Nahtalia bint Chatanz

320 points - owned by Carolyn Kokta 280 points - owned by Lesley Dunn

15th 16th

Remynisce 265 points - owned by Anne Brown Oakleaze Farm Czamak 250 points – owned by Louise Rich

16th 17th

Oakleaze Farm Cziko Marbon Tir Nan Og

250 points - owned by Louise Rich 240 points – owned by Claire Seaward

18th 19th 20th 20th

Oakleaze Farm Czako Oakleaze Farm Czelo Orlando Zayin Zachilles

230 points - owned by Sue Rich 205 points - owned by Sue Rich 195 points – owned by Gaynor Jones 195 points – owned by Paul Simmons

PART- ARAB FINALISTS: Westpoint Trophy for high points Part Arab to 1st Mellway Precious Rose 750 points – owned by Kay Curtis Reserve:Littletons Definately Maybe 520 points –India Duke 3rd Sirnunn Golden Snowflake 390 points – owned by Anne Short 4th Alys Estrella De Rock 375 points owned by Emma Daniel 5th Haida Suede 238 points owned by Caroline Belam 6th Avonbrook Odin 210 points – owned by Rowena Bertram 7th Avonbrook Silver Eagle 170 points – owned by Rowena Bertram 8th Avonbrook Silver Augury 165 points – owned by Rowena Bertram ANGLO-ARAB FINALIST: The Lady Yule Memorial Salver for the high points Anglo Arab Altivo 220 points owned by Susan Hawes COED-Y-FOEL BREEDER’S TROPHY To breeder of highest points PHA entrant by AHS Premium stallion: Pure Arab: BINLEY PRINCE SALIM

by Prince Sadik - Caroline Sussex Part Arab: AVONBROOK ODIN

by Marcus Aurelius - Rowena Bertram HIGH POINTS WINNERS IN AFFILIATED DISCIPLINES: High Points Affiliated Endurance: Cf Winter Amadeus Junior rider: Elayla + Katie Bedwin High Points Affiliated Dressage: Binley Prince Salim High Points Affiliated Ridden: Maya Johaara High Points Affiliated Racing: Zayin Zachilles High Points Affiliated Eventing: Dantaes Infrno High Points Affiliated Show Jumping: Mellway Precious Rose High Points Veteran: Eastworth Ahmoshini High Points member with More than one Horse: Katie Bedwin High Points d Versatile Horse Guisburn Haneef (3 Disciplines) High Points Gold Member Mellway Precious Rose HIGH POINTS JUNIOR CHAMPION AND WINNER OF THE FARENZA CUP 1st India Duke 905 points on 3 horses CONGRATULATIONS 2nd Katie Bedwin 845 points on 2 horses TO OWNERS, 3rd Amelia Zebedee 415 points RIDERS AND HORSES! 4th Elsie Mitchell 316 points Endurance March/April 2016

TECHNOLOGY

TECHNICALSUPPORT Technology means different things to different people; the dictionary definition is: 1. the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life, society, and the environment, drawing upon such subjects as industrial arts, engineering, applied science, and pure science.

2. the application of this knowledge for practical ends.

So, in looking at Technology for this feature, we have sourced some useful stuff for riders to know, or to learn from.

Time to carry a hoof boot on your saddle?

A

Member proposal on rest periods, passed at the AGM, now has far reaching effects…………..

In any class (CER/GER/PR), if losing a shoe results in the horse being ‘spun lame’ by the vet a compulsory 8 day rest period will be marked on their Mastercard by the Technical Steward.

This means the horse cannot start any EGB ride until 9 days have elapsed.

The 8 days rest following lameness or metabolic treatment by the vet will be added to new CER compulsory ‘distance-related’ rest periods (1233 days) and the total period will be written on the Mastercard. Similar rest

periods are recommended for longer GERs – but are not mandatory.

The moral of this new rule? Never take the risk of turning up at a ride with dodgy shoes and if you know your horse has the happy knack of pulling off a favourite good shoe think about carrying an emergency hoof boot to get you home safe – and sound!

So what and how to carry it? Many wise and seasoned endurance riders already carry a boot – perhaps keep an eye out and ask their advice?

Personal experience with my gangly youngster (who regularly pulls off front shoes in the field - even within 24 hours of being shod) convinced me

A matter of support

F

or all endurance riders, no matter what distance you ride at, good underwear has to be a must!

Earlier this year, Nikki and I decided to do the 65km at the War or Roses.

All went well for the first loop of the ride, Tink was going well, she seemed to enjoying the route and had only 16

try a selection of sizes of hoof boot from a friend with barefoot horses. I identified the correct fit, and proved that until next shoeing he could work perfectly well in 3 steel shoes and 1 boot. So I’ve invested in a boot for him, and now just need a saddle bag to carry it in! (Hint: A well-known supplier seen at major rides/AGM stocks and supplies these saddle bags on-line.) Then when/if he pulls a shoe during a ride I can pop the boot on, hopefully avoid lameness and the EGB 8 day standstill, and keep his Mastercard and record sheet clean!

By Bridget Brown

stood on me once in the vet gate – things were looking good.

During the second loop we were joined by Julie martin, whose company we enjoyed, all the horses went well together and took it in turns to lead.

As we came off a stretch of moor, Tink felt uneven as she started to trot along the road. Nikki and Kassy were

behind me at the time and very quickly spotted a stone wedged in her back shoe. We pulled up and I prepared to dismount to sort the problem. Trouble was, having not done to many rides at that point in the season, I was feeling somewhat tired so sort of rolled off her shoulder only to find that the middle of my bra managed to get caught in the Official members publication for Endurance GB

TECHNOLOGY

Never take the risk of turning up at a ride with dodgy shoes and if you know your horse has the happy knack of pulling off a favourite good shoe think about carrying an emergency hoof boot

clip on the top of Tink’s breast plate.

Now Tink may only be 14.2hh but the top of her withers is considerably higher than my boobs! And I can tell you I haven’t had that much uplift in many a long year!

Nikki and Julie were of great support (nearly as much as the bra!!) and fell about laughing at my predicament, becoming almost hysterical when they realised that I was in fact really quite stuck.

Thankfully Tink stood still at this point while I tried to assess the situation.

It wasn’t a busy road, but at that point there really was to many cars for me to be stripping off which was beginning to look like my only option!!

However wriggling out of my clothes and leaving them hanging from Tink’s breastplate for even a short time wasn’t really appealing. Eventually with great effort I managed to stand right on my tip toes and unhook myself but I am afraid to say the bar was somewhat stretched and the support needed wasn’t quite what it should have been for the rest of the ride Now any normal person would of thrown that bra out but some how it got washed and put away.

Lindum arrived and the usual rushing around at the last minuet eventually saw Nikki and I packed up and on our way.

I was riding third in the team spirit with Murphy and all was going well until about three quarters of the way round and all of a sudden my needed support suddenly wasn’t there – a strap had broken!

Now any lady of a certain age will know that this is not good.

Murphy was fired up and going at speed and my only option was to ride one handed while I held the other arm in a supportive position. Thankfully Murphy neck reins well and I finished the ride trying not to fall out of my t shirt.

The worst thing was I hadn’t brought a spare, but hay ho!! There isn’t much a girl can’t fix with duct tape and a bit of string!!! Well not quite I got some cotton and did a pretty good field repair which lasted till the end of our few days away Now any normal person would of thrown that bra out, but some how it got washed and put away Royalties arrived – how I ended up taking that bra I will never know!

Nikki and Chico and Zeph and I were attempting the 80km.

All went smoothly for the first loop, horses cruising, the going was good and all things were as they should be.

Vet gate 1 arrived and then disaster!

Nikki and Chico got vetted out!

Now this really was a disaster, Zeph doesn’t go on his own!

I gritted my teeth and bravely set off, got dumped just outside the venue and yes you have guessed it, support didn’t quite feel the same!

Not to be beaten I climbed back on and carried on, thankfully meeting up with Sarah Jasmine whom we rode with for the rest of the ride.

As we neared the second vet gate, support was defiantly not as it should be and I was once again riding one handed, Zeph neck reins as well.

Julie Martin was the timekeeper, as I rode in she fell about laughing.

Unbeknown to me my bra strap was hanging out of my t shirt sleeve and flapping about behind me.

“Do you not think” she said with difficulty “that you should get rid of that bra!”

Quick repairs in the vet gate (we are resourceful us endurance riders !!) and off we went on the third loop, much to Zeph’s astonishment.

This time the support was there alright but now the underwire was working its way out and digging in just where I didn’t want it to. No matter what I did with it, it wouldn’t go back into place.

Somewhat battered and bruised we finished the ride and got a grade 2 so it was worth it in the end.

Being a normal person!!!! I have now thrown the bra away!!!!!!

Endurance March/April 2016 17

PROFILE

Our History M

iss Kitty is a 15.1 TBx, bred by my long-time friend, Jenny Rand. She is 14 years old and her sire was Hi Nod, an accomplished TB racehorse. Her nickname is Skitty Miss Kitty as she can get quite anxious and excited. She is a worrier and doesn’t like change, although she has taken to travelling and camping and coralling brilliantly. I think taking part in endurance rides has helped her to grow up. She’s great!

I bought Kitty as a 2-year-old to be a companion to my then ageing (now late) Cob x Connemara ‘Jake’. Jake and I had a love hate relationship – I loved him – he hated me! However, we put up with one another for 24 years and by the time he passed away I thought he had begun to tolerate me. As Jake was getting older I started to ride Kitty, just hacks around the moors at my home. We live in a beautiful part of the South Pennines, near Wardle village and can literally set off riding and go for days and days.

In 2012 Jenny twisted my arm to enter a local pleasure ride; I talked my good friend Nicky Clark into going with me. We spent weeks convincing ourselves that none of us were fit enough. So we were more than pleasantly surprised that we survived and loved it, the rest as they say is history! 2013 and 2014 found us bitten by the ‘bug’ and travelling out more often and further afield (the rule was less than 80 miles away) even camping and corralling at Cheshire Frolic and Cumbria Challenge, dragging families and dogs along with us. Around this time, we met Cath and Jamie Houghton when we were all helping at a local Lancashire Group pleasure ride.

As youngsters Jamie and Cath had the horse bug but, as with all things, work and families took over. However, families grow up and after Cath had been given the all clear from breast cancer she took up riding again. With the help of their livery owner, Ryelands Max a Million, to give Max his full title, came into their lives on New Year’s Eve 2012; a 17.2 Irish Draught X, with only a stable rug to his name.

Cath started competing him at dressage and Jamie would hack him out. On a sunny day in April, Max and Jamie wandered into the Ulnes Walton Wander Lancashire EGB ride, because when Max decides he going somewhere there is no stopping him. Everyone was really friendly and explained what endurance was. Jamie and a good friend entered their 1st pleasure ride at Waterside Parishes at Knott End near Fleetwood...... That was it, no turning back.

We called ourselves the Lancashire Musketeers! Although the 2014 season ended early for me as the pain got the better of me and I finally gave in and had a hip replacement, tut, so inconvenient… so many rides to go to. 2015 was a different kettle of fish completely, Nicky encountered problems with not 1 but both of her horses, and Cath had a horrific fall from her horse on the beach and had to be airlifted to hospital…

So the 2 remaining musketeers joined forces, not to let the side down and entered the new Pleasure Pairs class with EGB. We set off with a short list of new places we might like to see, no plan, just a list. We travelled far and wide, the 80-mile travel limit had disappeared and it was down to how long the horses could travel in the box and still compete. We saw the most amazing places, met some wonderful new friends and made lots of memories and ended up with a longer list than we intended!

My favourite memories from 2015 include the venue at Harwood Dale, the views were amazing, they felt like they were on top of the 18

By Pleasure Pairs winner Sarah Bamber

world; the routes at Lions Tail were fantastic, they just went on and on; camping and corralling as it threw it down at Cumbria Challenge.

Jamie’s favourite ride of the season was Royalties. It was the 1st time Max had been corralled, and the 1st time they rode on their own without Miss Kitty. Max enjoyed it that much they had to wait by the bridge for 25 minutes before coming back into the venue.

THERE WERE A FEW CLOSE CALLS DURING THE SEASON: Cumbria challenge - Max slipped on the bridge, went with a crash and landed on top of Jamie! Boy was I glad to see them both get up, unscathed bar a few bruises, and passed vetting.

Later in the year I had my own flying lesson at the Manifold Ride in Derbyshire. We were cantering merrily through a lovely field when Kitty suddenly spied a pile of white feathers on the floor, off she shot sideways leaving me hovering horizontally above the ground, nothing but fresh air between me and a dozen cow pats!

That could have been a very smelly ride home, but I managed to do a snow angel impression and missed them all. On each occasion the other one stayed firmly on their horse and asked “You ok? “Do you really want me to get off? how about you open that next gate while your down there? Well seeing as you’re already off why not? Good way of testing for broken limbs?

Looking back the funniest weekend of the year was when Jamie had to get off Max twice on the Saturday Barton pleasure ride to drag Max through a ford, only to go to the Nottingham EGB Clumber Park ride on the Sunday and having to walk through another ford.

Jamie and I ended the season with a 40km pleasure ride completing in 11.7kph at Royalties.

Less than 2 weeks after Max and Kitty’s success disaster hit; Jamie and Cath were informed by their livery yard that Max had been stolen from the field, however it got worse; he hadn’t been stolen, Jamie and Cath found him trapped in a ditch. After 4 hours the vets, local farmer and 3 fire engines managed to extricate Max from the ditch; luckily he only suffered from deep bruising.

On 23rd January the 2015 the Lancashire endurance season results were presented and Jamie and I couldn’t have asked for more!

Both Max and Kitty were fantastic over the year, during the 2015 season they completed over 2000km, and were successfully vetted 94 times.

They rode in Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Merseyside, Teesside, North Yorkshire, and West Riding The families spent nearly a month in the horse box/van. They learnt that Max doesn’t like pigs, and Kitty doesn’t like whatever Max is running away from.

None of this would have been possible without the long suffering partners Cath Houghton, Justin Bamber and Alice Bamber as well as all the fabulous ride organisers and volunteers.

In October I sent in the National Pleasure Pairs card – which at this point was worth more than gold to us. Amazingly we won, we couldn’t believe it. The perfect finish to a brilliant year.

2016 is looking promising for us all with both Cath and Nicky back to riding and travelling, so watch this space, we don’t have a plan, but we might have a list!

Official members publication for Endurance GB

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WEST END PHOTOGRAPHY

She is a worrier and doesn’t like change, although she has taken to travelling and camping and coralling brilliantly. I think taking part in endurance rides has helped her to grow up. She’s great!

VETERAN FEEDING

Advancing Years

DO THEY ALWAYS MEAN A CHANGE OF FEED?

Article by Emma Short BSc (Hons)

H

orses, just like people, are living longer these days, with many enjoying healthy, active lives into their late twenties.

As owners, the most common problem we face is deciding when our horses are “old” and when, or if, they require a diet designed specifically for the older horse.

Just like us, horses age at different rates and feeding a horse a “veteran” feed just because he is about to have his 16th birthday may not be appropriate. So probably the best piece of advice you can follow when faced with feeding an older horse or pony is simply to treat him or her as an individual, just as you would any other in fact.

WHEN SHOULD I FEED A SENIOR FEED? As a horse gets older his digestive system becomes less efficient so he may no longer obtain the full nutritional benefit from the feed he gets. If you notice that he’s not looking quite as good as he did on his current feed, now could be the time to step up to a specially formulated “veteran feed”. These are designed to provide readily digestible, non-heating calories so should promote a little more condition than a high fibre, low energy feed and help to give the older horse just that little extra he needs to stay looking and feeling good. If however your horse or pony is still looking good and performing well on his current diet, there is probably no need to change; you will soon know, if he starts to lose weight and condition, that it is time to change.

all year round. If this is the case then a conditioning feed is the most suitable, and cost effective, choice. These are more energy dense than a veteran feed so will contain more calories per kilo to help promote weight gain.

This means that you should not have to feed bucket loads of feed to get a result but do remember to watch the amount of chaff and/or sugar beet you add to your concentrate – the horse’s stomach has limited capacity and too large a volume of feed in one go could over load the system and cause digestive problems. You will get better results feeding a conditioning feed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations than by adding barley, sugar beet etc to your existing feed.

Oil is also a useful concentrated source of non-heating calories but must be added to the feed in quite large quantities (1/2 – 1 pint/day) to make a significant contribution to the overall energy level of the diet. Of all the vegetable oils available which can be fed to horses, soya oil has been found to be the most beneficial, as it has an excellent balance of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

Omega 3 fatty acids are known to have anti-inflammatory properties whilst soya oil is particularly high in linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid which must be present in the diet to promote good coat and skin condition. There are high oil supplements on the market which are less messy to feed than straight oil and which may contain additional vitamins and minerals to support utilisation of the oil.

WHAT IF HE’S REALLY LOST WEIGHT? Although weight loss is usually associated with the onset of winter, some older horses struggle to maintain weight and condition

AND IF HE’S OVERWEIGHT? Many older horses remain “good doers” throughout their lives and must be fed and managed accordingly. Keeping

20

calorie intake down is a priority but this should not be at the expense of the other nutrients required to make up a balanced diet. Naturally, fibre is vital for the healthy functioning of the digestive system and should remain the basis of the horse’s diet.

However, older horses especially need a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals to maintain their health and wellbeing and this can best be provided by a balancer rather than simply by feeding a handful of mix or cubes.

Compound feeds are formulated to be fed in greater quantities, so a handful will not provide sufficient nutrients but will provide a few extra calories which a good doer doesn’t really need. The recommended quantity of a balancer will provide less than a quarter of the calories than the recommended quantity of a senior feed, whilst delivering a balanced diet to ensure that good health and condition are maintained.

COMMON PROBLEMS - LAMINITIS Even if your horse or pony has never had laminitis in his younger years it does not mean that he is still not vulnerable now that he is a little older. There are many different causes of laminitis but poor feeding management is one of them and nutrition-related laminitis can be caused by a starch overload, from feeding excessive quantities of cereals, or by a fructan overload from pasture.

If your older horse or pony is a good doer, or is known to be prone to laminitis, then good management is essential, including maintaining fibre intake whilst being watchful of calorie intake from grazing and hard feed. Feeding a balancer will help provide essential nutrients without additional calories, whilst a laminitis prone Official members publication for Endurance GB

horse which needs to gain condition can be fed oil, or a high oil supplement, as a safe source of non-heating calories.

CUSHING’S DISEASE (PPID) This is most commonly associated with older horses and ponies and stems from the growth of a tumour on the pituitary gland, situated in the brain, and which causes hormonal disturbances. Although dietary management will not cure Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), it can help by giving the horse a chance of a ‘normal’ healthy life. Horses suffering from PPID exhibit a number of symptoms including a coarse wavy coat, excessive thirst coupled with excessive urination, increased appetite without corresponding weight gain, loss of muscle and top line and, most importantly, they are more susceptible to laminitis.

For those with secondary problems such as laminitis it is important to feed a diet low in starch and fructan, as discussed above, and for those who are struggling to maintain condition, high fibre, high oil feeds will provide the necessary conditioning calories while avoiding excess cereal starch.

Correct nutrition is vital to provide support to the weakened digestive and immune systems and it may also be worth considering the use of prebiotics and probiotics, especially if the animal is receiving medication. It is also important to feed small regular meals, as the horse can be sensitive to surges of glucose from a large meal, which he I may not be able to deal so effectively when suffering from this condition.

LOOSE DROPPINGS As the older horse’s digestive tract is not

as efficient in dealing with change, and is more susceptible to disruption, adding a prebiotic to the diet when making any changes in feed or routine should help the horse adjust more smoothly. Prebiotics help by feeding the beneficial bacteria in the hindgut which are involved in fibre digestion and B - vitamin production but also responsible for keeping harmful bacteria at bay. By keeping the gut healthy we can help combat any disruptions and keep our horses happy and healthy for longer.

POOR TEETH Loose and worn teeth can make it difficult for oldies to chew properly, causing them to drop bits of food and be unable to digest and absorb the vital nutrients supplied by it. This may be one reason why your horse or pony is not thriving even if you are feeding him the correct diet. The most difficult problem, presented by horses whose teeth are really failing, is making sure they are able to eat sufficient fibre to maintain a healthy digestive system.

Teeth should be checked regularly but once it has reached a point where the horse can no longer chew hay, alternatives will need to be found. There is now a multitude of grass, straw or alfalfa based chaffs on the market, which may be easier for an older horse to chew, alternatively high fibre cubes and soaked beet pulp are good fibre sources.

Coarse mixes and cubes can be soaked in warm water to soften them whilst there are also conditioning cereal meal products available which can be made into a highly palatable mash; these are not fully balanced feeds though and must be fed alongside a balancer or vitamin

and mineral supplement. Bran can be useful to encourage palatability and carry supplements or medicines but there are much better sources of fibre around these days.

JOINT STIFFNESS As with humans horses suffer from aching and stiffening joints and find it more difficult to be as athletic as we want them to be. Over the years it has become increasingly popular to feed supplements, herbal remedies and nutraceuticals to prevent or lower the chances of this happening. Supplements and feeds containing ingredients such as MSM (methylsulphonylmethane), glucosamine and chrondroitin sulphate are thought to help by reducing joint inflammation.

These supplements can be very beneficial, although it is wise to check the inclusion rate in some products as there may not be sufficient to have a considerable effect on joint health.

Specific joint supplements, that you add to your concentrate ration, may be preferable to an “all inclusive” feed, as you can make sure that your horse or pony is receiving the correct dose each day for maximum effect.

For practical, no obligation advice contact Baileys Horse Feeds on 01371 850247 or nutrition@baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk.

Endurance March/April 2016 21

NEW PRODUCTS

WHAT’S

NEW?

A look at the Innovations and Awards at 2016 BETA, and some ideas that will help around the yard and out riding.

BETA , the annual Trade Exhibition for all things ‘horse’ was held at the NEC a month earlier than it’s traditional date of mid February, and it did seem to make a difference. There seemed to be a more vibrant atmosphere, and a more diverse set of trade stands taking part.

As usual, a day to look around was not really enough, but making the most of what was on offer was important, and the time sped by, looking at new ideas, watching the Awards presentation, listening to some talks, catching up with friends and colleagues.

In this feature we aim to give you an over-view of the show, and some insight into what was new and what was interesting.

New products highlighting the very best in craftsmanship, design, technology and invention were celebrated in the BETA International 2016 Innovation Awards during this year’s trade fair at the NEC, Birmingham, on Monday 25 January.

These prestigious industry awards, sponsored by BETA International media partner and leading trade title Equestrian Trade News, are open to all exhibitors entering products that have not been launched on to the market more than 12

months before the 2016 trade fair.

The judges were online retailer Anna Franklin, of Franklin & Billard, veterinary surgeon Peter Wright, of The Yorkshire Vet TV fame, SMS saddle fitter and owner of Buckaroo Equine Nicola Barry, international dressage rider and trainer Michel Assouline, Pony Club CEO Pip Kirkby and independent equine nutritionist Catherine Hale.

“This year’s Innovation Awards attracted a large number of entries across each of the eight categories,” said BETA International organiser Claire Thomas. “It was refreshing to see so many truly original products highlighting the strength of the trade. I am sure that our judges had a challenging – and enjoyable – day selecting the winning entries and our thanks go to them for all their hard work. We also send our very best wishes and congratulations to those who have been successful in securing an award.”

Those that won a trophy are entitled to use the Innovation Awards winners’ logo in their marketing over the next 12 months.

THE 2016 INNOVATION AWARDS WINNERS ARE: PET PRODUCTS Winner Company: Absorbine/WF Young Product: ShowSheen Woof Pouf Description: The Woof Pouf, providing 16 baths, contains Ordenone soap beads that lift odour and wash it away.

Judges’ comments: This is a simple and practical idea, does what it says and is wellpackaged and good value.

Highly commended Company: Petface Product: LokTop mealworm bird feeder Description: This large-capacity wild bird feeder features a patented locking-lid mechanism that is released only when the handle is folded all the way to the back position, helping to deter unwanted predators from stealing food. The unique platform with hood keeps food dry and fresh, and protected from wind, while the hooped perch allows access to all garden birds.

Judges’ comments: This excellent product is well-designed, attractive, robust, user-friendly and reasonably priced. A good idea!

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Official members publication for Endurance GB

NEW PRODUCTS

COUNTRY CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR Winner Company: Zamberlan/Snugbug Product: Goodyear Welted Icona range – Florence (high), Siena (mid), Cortina (low) Description: Zamberlan/Snugbug has combined its heritage of hand-building mountain hunting footwear with the technique of Goodyear welting to produce a stylish casual range of footwear that is technical, hard-wearing and good-looking.

Judges’ comments: Investment has clearly been made in the construction of the boots, leading to high-quality and hard-wearing products. The labelling is very informative, too.

Highly commended Company: Rockfish Wellies Product: Rockfish Wellies Description: This year, Rockfish introduces the innovative “rubber compound” to its whole range to deliver not just high-performance, but also much lighter boots – with the decrease in weight not compromising performance or comfort.

Judges’ comments: The lightweight material is innovative and, with its good packaging, should be attractive to retailers.

GENERAL Winner Company: Solar Technology International Product: Solar arena light Description: This solar-powered floodlight system provides an easy-to-fit, mains-free solution for horse manèges, training areas, yards and sports fields. Supplied with a bracket and fixings, it can be clamped on to any scaffold pole. Six units, operated by a sensor or remote control, will illuminate an area of 40 x 20m for up to six hours.

Judges’ comments: This is a brilliant but simple idea and an innovative, practical and affordable product that is easy to install. It uses modern technology in a fresh way to offer an alternative form of lighting.

Highly commended Company: Horseware Ireland Product: Horseware HorsePal temperature and humidity monitor Description: This innovation allows you to read the temperature and humidity inside your horse’s rug in real time from your smartphone by downloading the app.

The sensor, initially available as a stand-alone product, will be built into rugs in future. It sends data to the app, which combines this information with the three-day weather forecast to make an intelligent recommendation.

Judges’ comments: This is a really exciting innovation that has clearly come about through significant investment. We can see how this idea will develop in future.

Endurance March/April 2016 23

NEW PRODUCTS

RIDER CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR Winner Company: Horseware Ireland Product: AA Platinum Motion Lite jacket Description: Horseware Ireland’s first competition jacket in the AA Platinum range features an elegant design and cut taken directly from its classic Italian AA jackets and is machine-washable and quick-drying, with no ironing needed. It claims to be the most lightweight and breathable competition jacket ever.

Judges’ comments: We love the innovation, beautiful fit and extremely lightweight and breathable qualities.

The jacket far exceeds its hanger appeal.

Highly commended Company: Ariat Europe Product: Ariat ladies’ Caldo jacket This athletically styled waterproof stretch jacket features synthetic insulation for maximum warmth without bulk, Ariat’s V3 technology in the shoulder, contrast lining, adjustable collar and cuffs, and a removable, oversize hood to fit over a riding hat.

Judges’ comments: The jacket has a lovely fit and great design, with excellent attention to detail and innovative fabric. Really smart and practical, it is equally wearable away from the yard.

SADDLERY & TACK Winner Company: HRP Equestrian & Wing Saddle Pads Product: HRP Pressure Reducing Wing Saddle Pads Description: These saddle pads exert no pressure behind the saddle during trot and canter, and significantly less pressure for other gaits compared with conventional pads. There are various styles for the different equestrian disciplines.

Judges’ comments: It is lovely to see a scientifically based, broad-appeal product – in so many styles.

Highly commended Company: Neue Schule Product: Turtle Tactio bit Description: This product is designed to accommodate the larger or sensitive tongue with supreme comfort and encourages acceptance of the bit and rider instruction. The flattened undersides of the cannons, with anatomyinspired recesses, are held parallel to the tongue whatever the riding activity.

Judges’ comments: We loved seeing a product where horse welfare and comfort are the paramount concerns – along with inspired innovation.

Official members publication for Endurance GB

NEW PRODUCTS

HORSECARE EQUIPMENT & [HORSE] CLOTHING Joint winners Company: Matchmakers International Product: Fieldmasta 200g turnout rug with 350g fixed neck Description: The No Mane Loss Clever dome neck on these turnout rugs provides complete coverage, takes pressure off the mane and increases air circulation to prevent hair follicles becoming starved of oxygen and falling out. The articulated full-neck design relieves pressure on the withers and allows the neck cover to stay in place while the horse grazes. An anti-rub lining and tri-vent shoulder gusset give an enhanced fit and freedom of movement, preventing rubbing on the shoulder.

Judges’ comments: The neck design is brilliant, the quality excellent and the price competitive. Matchmakers seems to have thought of everything!

Company: Treehouse Product: AeroChill cooling boots Description: Featuring HyperKewl, a non-toxic, super-absorbent polymer fibre used by Formula 1 drivers and military special forces, the boot has a quilted fabric that ensures after-work evaporation and cooling for up to 10 hours, increasing recovery time. The product, available in a range of sizes, is simply soaked in water for two minutes, reusable and durable.

Judges’ comments: The fantastic technical features allow an amazingly long period of cooling. The well-designed boots, which are versatile and easy to use, come in very striking packaging and are competitively priced.

SAFETY & SECURITY Winner Company: Klick and Ride Product: Klick and Ride Description: This stud system for horseshoes offers an easy application with no threads or screwing in needed – simply click in the studs and go, using a quick, easy and safer application.

Judges’ comments: This product is innovative, great quality, comes in a handy case and has good market appeal.

Highly commended Company: HackCam (Gizapaw) Product: HackCam horse exercise coat Description: The horse coat features a glow-in-the-dark strip that is also reflective.

It has detachable tail flaps to enable changing of the wording or the HackCam MUVI PRO tail sleeve can be used instead. It comes in a range of sizes, with a free detachable LED flashing light.

Judges’ comments: The reflective strips are goodquality and the product has broad market appeal. A good idea.

FEED & SUPPLEMENTS Winner Company: Horseware Ireland Product: Horseware Nutri-Lick Description: Horseware Ireland offers a palatable lick with 60 to 70 per cent less sugar than comparable products on the market while still managing to prevent crumbling during use and storage. It also leaves more room for the extra nutrients that have been included.

Judges’ comments: This product with low levels of sugar is very innovative because molasses is used not only to sweeten and increase palatability, but also to hold the lick together. Horseware has developed a method of reducing the molasses but maintaining the integrity of the lick and palatability – and a product that will appeal to the horse owner, too.

25

NEW PRODUCTS

WHAT’S

NEW?

WHAT ELSE WE LIKED THE EQUIMEDPAK WWW.EQUIMEDPAK.COM

MOUILLERE…OVERSHOES WWW.MYMOUILLERE.COM

“A ready stocked ‘grab and go’ travelling essential” Medical emergency kit for horses in a back pack.

Thoughtfully designed, it even has a phone charging device a part of the pack, so that you can talk hands free to the vet at the site of the emergency.

The company is currently offering the fully equipped pack at a cost of £70.83.

A really useful piece of kit, containing everything you would need for an emergency, big or small. Worth considering for your crew car or your yard, or lorry.

Check out the website or Facebook for more information.

Protect your shoes and improve your security walking on slippery or wet ground, and keep your feet warm and dry at the same time!

Such a simple idea, but delivered with such style and elegance!

These overshoes can be rolled up so they are neat and tidy and easy to transport…they fit over shoes or boots, so ideal to have at a venue when you are getting in and out of the lorry or car and don’t want to keep changing your shoes.

Made from thermoplastic rubber, these look like ideal kit to carry with you!

More information from www.mymouillere. com

ELECTRIC FENCE TURN OUT RUGS WWW.GUARDIANEQUESTRIAN.COM These are a brilliant concept…can’t think why no one has come up with this before…maybe they have, and I haven’t seen them?

Guardian Equestrian were showing a range of these rugs, which essentially allow the current from an electric fence to pass through the rug and have an effect on the horse.

I am sure there are many of us who have horses that disregard the electric fencing as soon as they have rugs on; this is the answer to that problem!

There is a layer of fabric in the chest area of the rug that picks up the pulse from the fence and transfers it directly through to a soft inside strap where the horse feels the same effect from the fence as they would if they were not wearing a rug.

More information and prices etc at www.guardianequestrian. com NOBLE OUTFITTERS WWW.NOBLEOUFITTERS.CO.UK An innovative company providing a wide range of clothing at very reasonable prices! They also sell various items of useful kit, including the Wave Muck Fork, which we have put on Tried and Tested, the results of which are in this issue.

The range of clothing uses modern technical fabrics to deliver versatile performance tops, from gilets to jackets and everything in between, plus socks gloves and riding tights.

The socks are particularly interesting, with a very fine material making up the leg, then an extremely comfortable padded foot base, so excellent for long hours with your feet in boots or stirrups. Very supportive and comfortable.

The riding tights look fabulous too, with neat styling and useful pockets and flat seams.

Once again, check out the website to see what is available, and current prices.

HACKCAM – HI-VIS WITH A CAMERA WWW.HACKCAM.CO.UK Given how vulnerable horses and riders are on our highways these days, this equipment could be really useful to riders. Combining really good quality hi-vis clothing, with small cameras that will record events that occur as you are riding. No need to have the camera phone on, no need to attach something too bulky. This company put cameras on the back or front of a tabard or jacket, high or low, and even on the tail bandage of the horse.

With fluorescent / reflective items ranging from tabards to coats, hat covers to tail bandages and even boot lights…you should be able to find something of use here. Check out the website at www.hackcam.co.uk FINALLY, KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR THE HARRY HALL SERIOUS ABOUT SAFETY ROAD SHOWS. WWW.HARRYHALL.CO.UK They will be coming to a venue near you over the course of the next few months and are an opportunity to get involved and engaged with safety. Get your hat checked, check out Hi vis equipment, join in the quizzes and competitions on offer. With more than 40 venues throughout England and Scotland, there should be one near to you.

More information at www.harryhall.co.uk Official members publication for Endurance GB

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OBITUARY

Wrightfield Omar Rassendyll (Azah X Tahzay) Basra (Paguerra X Sayonara) 95.17% Crabbet Many readers will have met or heard of Cheryl Wallace and Wrightfield Omar.

Resplendent in green and yellow, Cheryl and Omar have competed at rides the length and breadth of Britain. Sadly, Omar is no longer with us, and Cheryl has written an appreciation of his life.

Omar was born on the Black Isle in the Scottish Highlands on June 3rd 1990. He came into my life on May 16th 1994 as a lightly backed curious youngster. I’d started doing some competitive Endurance riding with my Standardbred and felt the need for an Arab. My husband had just been made redundant and what better way to spend his redundancy!

But before we could commence his training, he needed a Tie Back operation - the only horse I’ve ever had vetted pre purchase and now he needed a major operation ....

With no insurance and now £700 lighter, we began what was to be the best time of my life.

Living on the West coast of Scotland, 20 miles south of Glasgow after 3 seasons competing with SERC we decided to try some different rides and visit warmer climates....On asking Bob where this place is and that place is, I soon discovered that EVERYWHERE is “just down the road” I can actually drive for 7 hours with 3 lines 28

of road numbers scribbled down and get myself to a venue 300 plus miles away -Just down the road!

We always thought it was highly amusing when we walked about the venues with Omar naked and Bob and I in T-shirts and shorts whilst everyone else had rugs on their horses and jumpers and often jackets on themselves... talk about getting acclimatised.

He loved the heat and whilst doing rides in Scotland, most people were pouring water over their horses, we had Omar wrapped up in 3 Thermatex rugs and took him home covered in dirt and sweat to wait till the next morning to wash him at home...

Omar’s career spanned from 1995 until 2013, he competed each and every season with the exception of 2001 (foot and mouth). Together we completed 8811 very happy kilometres, all over the UK. He did exceptionally well in race rides - he was never the fastest across the ground (why waste energy) but could present at a vet gate almost immediately, passing many horses that were in front of him. We completed 20 race rides being placed in the top 3 in 13 of them .

ALWAYS IN THE PLACINGS We completed our first 80km ride at Sledmere in Yorkshire in September 1998. In 1999 we entered the amazing world of Race rides, our first experience was a Tyro for horses that had never raced before, at Thoresby Hall in Sherwood Forest, Nottingham - 22 starters. It was such fun! Although Omar never went at any sort of speed, he left them all standing at the vet gates! We raced the last 5 miles for 3rd place, and 3rd place we secured by a whisker over the line.

He was rarely out of the top 4 places, including 2 wins that are very special to me, winning the 100km at Market Rasen in 2000 and again in 2008 - it is very rare to have one’s names engraved on a cup 8 years apart!

Official members publication for Endurance GB

AT RED DRAGON, PHOTO COURTESY OF WEST END PHOTOGRAPHY

In 2000 he was diagnosed with a grade 2 heart murmur, nothing to worry about.

As he had also got years upon years of fitness his heart skipped beats as it didnt need those beats and this was always a bonus in a vet gate.... (his lowest recorded heart rate was 15). In August that year we completed 240km over 4 days (65k, 65k, 65k + 45k) in the heart of Sherwood Forest, an amazing achievement. 15 horses started and only 3 finished - Omar was 3rd and also won the coveted Best Condition award. He was missed out in the mention of the ride in Horse and Hound and my husband said what does it matter what people know as long as we know!

2004 was yet another awesome year.

After a couple of 30km and a 50km rides we raced the 85km at Alnwick -15 started, 12 finished, a few of the Scottish folk were in our class and Omar again left them at the vet gates, coming 2nd .

2 weeks later we drove the 10 hours to Cirencester to have a bash at the 160km class, starting at 5.30am -Omar somehow didnt fancy that ride and pulled a hind muscle very shortly into our ride.

By 6.30am we were back at the venue in scorching heat....(we returned another twice to that ride and produced another 2 fails ....he really didnt fancy it much!!!)

2 weeks later we completed the 167km over 3 days at Lindum with 18 starters, coming 2nd also racing in the last few miles... 2 weeks later we completed the 100km at Cumbria Challenge coming 6th with 20 starters, and 2 weeks after that we completed the 160km over 2 days at the Scottish Championships coming 3rd with 9 starters! (Ironically the only ER in

COMPETING AT DIALSTONE, PHOTO COURTESY OF WEST END PHOTOGRAPHY

Scotland Omar ever did) 2005 saw us complete the 124km class at Lindum, finishing with a badly burst knee after sliding along on a grass verge before the last vet gate... I’d told my riding companion Lesley Caswell to leave us once it happened out on course as I was all set to retire, but Omar thought differently.

VETERAN CHAMPION 2008 we started off with a 40km at Durham Valleys and 2 weeks later went to Haywood Oaks to complete the 80km class coming 4th with 14 starters......but one of my most memorable achievements was completing the 101km, coming 2nd, at Puddingstone ride in Norfolk on the Sunday and the following Saturday --6 days later...winning the 102km class at Lindum. In the same year we made our first trip to the Red Dragon taking 13th place in the 80km on the Saturday -25 starters and completing the 40km on Sunday to gain 3rd place in the Dragons Tail class....Omar was crowned EGB Veteran Champion that year and placed the following two years .

In 2010 aged 20 he was crowned the winner of the Northern championships, a 2 day class of 110km up on the wild moors and hills of Thirsk, 13 started, the results based on speed and heart rate ....

In 2012 we travelled all over Scotland to complete our Gold series Pleasure ride achievement, even driving a round trip of 500 miles to ride 12 miles...and only competing in one competitive ride of 65 km at Lindum on the Sunday after completing the previous 4 days pleasure

riding, winning the Multi days award.

In July 2013 at the age of 23 we completed the 2 day 80 km ride at North Norfolk then we went to Market Rasen to compete in the 108km competitive ride over 3 days. My farrier put a set of handmade shoes on him, complete with pads that he always wore - we won best shod (this set of shoes adorns Omar’s top stable door). On day 2 it was hot with barely any breeze and Omar wasn’t himself on stretches of the ride. He always struggled with his airway slightly (from the tie back op) and on a humid airless day it was made more difficult for him.

I got off and walked with him for a while, then he picked up and we carried on. He vetted fine, but Lucille the vet wanted to tell me something but said she would tell me the next day... Day 3 we finished safe and sound, all vetted, and as my husband led Omar away from vetting I asked Lucille what it was she had to tell me. I can still hear her words to this day... “I dont think you should ride this horse again.”

And I didnt ...at 23 years he looked amazing but his heart was failing .

He lived happily at home having a beach outing in the summer of 2014 with my yearling till I said goodbye to him on 27th January 2016.

Together we went places I had only dreamt of.

I’ve met some fantastic people and made life long friends, I’ve travelled and driven the length and breadth of the UK - I owe this all to WRIGHTFIELD OMAR .

Til we meet again. Cheryl

Endurance March/April 2016 29

YOUNG RIDERS

2016 Young Riders Camp UPDATE Arrivals for Camp will be on Sunday 14th August and it will finish on Friday 19th August.

If you have any questions about junior and young rider camp, please contact youngriders@endurancegb.co.uk You can also keep up to date with news via our Facebook page @endurancegbyoungriders, ‘Endurance GB Young Rider Camp’ events page on Facebook and/or via Twitter.

WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT FROM CAMP? My name is Ella Bunting and I am 18 years old, just entering my 5th season competing in Endurance on an Arabian mare named EAS Boadicea (aka Eba) who I have on loan. Our biggest achievement so far was winning a young rider FEI 1* at Barbury Castle in 2014 and our aim for this year is our first FEI 2*!

Last summer I made what I thought was the very brave decision to take a then 9 year old Eba to Endurance Young Rider camp, which was a first time for both of us. I am so glad that I did! I was very nervous beforehand as I didn’t know any other young riders going and I’ve never been the most

SPILLERS NUTRITIONIST GIVING ADVICE AFTER WEIGHING ALL OF THE HORSES INDIVIDUALLY

confident of people, but I felt welcomed into the group the second we arrived and I can honestly say I’ve made some friends for life. The group was a mixture of ages and abilities but everyone was so understanding, especially when Eba had a few little moments which I had been dreading! Due to this I feel camp has improved my confidence both in riding and as a person, and because of the encouragement from everyone I feel I joined in with everything and did a lot more than I was expecting to do - especially in our schooling lessons with Helen Blair and Rachael Atkinson, and I now use lots of the manoeuvres we learnt in training at home.

But it’s not all about the riding! In fact, I’m still planning on going this summer even if it’s during a time when Eba is off of work. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed as much as I did running around on our orienteering challenge! I also feel like I learnt loads from all of the people we had come in to give talks and demonstrations, especially the talk from a Spillers nutritionist as she was talking specifically about your own horse. It was a week full of horses, laughs and cake - what more can you want!

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SETTING OUT ON THE MOCK ENDURANCE RIDE

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GROUPS

Cheshire Group Riders share the love on a chilly Valentine’s Day! Liz Finney organised a super day of training for EGB (Cheshire) members at Dean Valley Equestrian Centre, near Stockport, with a full card of experts on hand to help riders make those pre-season adjustments in and out of the saddle.

R

ides of three all enjoyed 45 minute morning sessions with each expert in the comfort of the indoor arena. Schooling was under the tutelage of Rachael Atkinson, international rider, former British team member, and UKCC level 3 endurance coach. She guided everyone towards riding in improved balance, picking up on those pesky bad habits and weak spots.

Jackie Lockett, international competitor and equine thermographer, explained the use of thermography to detect and monitor problem areas. Equine physiotherapist Andraya Hiscock gave each horse a check up and talked riders through suitable Pilates for Horses exercises to incorporate into their regime.

Nutritional advice and weight checking was carried out by Caroline Dickens of Baileys Horse Feeds. The afternoon was then given over to a short session on the gallops, asking riders to judge their horse’s pace, before advice on vetting procedure for the less experienced riders. Here two riders share their experiences.

ALWAYS SOMETHING TO LEARN Experienced competitor Karen Corr has 20 years of the sport under her belt, but laughingly said: “How does anyone spend Valentine’s day? Training her endurance horse, of course! There’s always something new to learn or fine tune and the training day itinerary appealed as it was jam packed.

“I woke up to snow at home in Burnley, but fed and turned out the other horses, packed up, loaded Lottie (real name Riyah Raquassah) and dragged my partner Bond out of bed to join me. Our first session was schooling and Lottie can be a madam depending on her mood; she is becoming well-known locally for her airs above the ground at dressage competitions. Apart from one buck, she was well behaved and the other two horses were very well mannered.

32

“We worked on increasing suppleness and thoroughness from behind, spiralling in and out on a circle in trot and canter in sitting seat and forward seat to assess the effect on the horse’s balance. Rachael’s eagle eye picked up on my hand position as well as ensuring I sat upright and straight. These corrections made a huge difference to Lottie’s way of going.

“Outside, Caroline weighed each horse and compared the actual weight to a weight tape reading. Due to Lottie’s shape there was only a 2kg discrepancy; she was conditioned scored as 5, just right, and we discussed her dietary requirements.

We are fortunate enough to be sponsored by a feed company but it was useful to hear another considered opinion and talk about the best way and time to administer electrolytes.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THERMOGRAPHY? “It was interesting to hear Jackie describe how thermography can be used, specifically to detect injuries and saddle fitting issues early. She talked us through full scans and all the external considerations to note when using thermography, such as prior exercise, rugging and travelling. Our last session indoors was Pilates for Horses with Andraya. I have read a lot on this subject and routinely do ‘carrot stretches’ with Lottie, however, having someone that can tell you if the horse is doing the movements correctly, and that can guide you, was really useful. We then did some pole work in-hand, aimed at encouraging the horse to use and develop their core muscles.

“Not everyone stayed for the session on the gallops as it was bitterly cold. I thought Lottie may be tired after all the concentrating but she was raring to go.

Paired with Tania Fitton and her lovely Standardbred, Cyril, we set off. I could hear Cyril snorting behind me but the gap between us soon widened as Lottie

cat leapt, bucked and plunged with excitement to catch up with the horses in front. I think we managed to canter four or five laps but she had wound herself up and I had to stand with her in the trailer to calm her down. Bond talked to some of the newcomers about trot ups and vetting procedures while I settled my horse, ready to travel home.

“It was great to see the full range of experience and ages of horses and riders.

Everyone got into the spirit of it to get the most out of the day. I would encourage all regional groups to host a day like this out of season. It has definitely helped motivate me to enter my first ride of the season and plan my training accordingly.”

WHAT DID PEOPLE THINK? First time member Larissa Burnett thoroughly enjoyed the day, saying: “Being a lone ‘newbie’ to endurance, it can be daunting attending events such as this, where you don’t know anyone. I loaded my Arabian mare Grecian Moon onto the box and set off from North Wales as the sun cleared the top of Hope Mountain, and I thought about what the day would hold.

I need not have worried; everyone was friendly and helpful, offering to hold Moon for tack changes between sessions.”

“The morning sessions were excellent, providing lots of information, exercises and ideas to take away, specific to me and my horse. Even our schooling session went well and that’s usually a weak point for us. The afternoon provided some much needed vetting practice, something I had not done before; I learned that my version of trotting up ‘straight’ needed a bit of adjustment! But my worries about Moon not liking a stranger wielding a stethoscope proved groundless. She was a little fresh on the gallops, but it gave me a good idea of the consistent speed I will be looking for on my first ride. Now, where’s the ride diary?”

Official members publication for Endurance GB

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South East Group

Report by Trilby Herriott

Celebrating a flashy Arab and a hairy Welsh Cob from the South East Group.

Two amazing horses – two amazing achievements

A

t the end of the 2015 Endurance season two very different horses from the South East Group each celebrated impressive personal milestones. The flashy chestnut Arab, Cardinal Panache, attained his 8,000km distance award. The slightly hairy Welsh Cob, Gwibedog Bethan, completed a shade under 2,000km of GER’s and PR’s with the proud boast of having never once failed a vetting or been retired on course in ten years of competing.

CARDINAL PANACHE On 13th September 2015 Julia Harman piloted Cardinal Panache (Casper) around the 40km circuit at College, Keysoe to take him over 8,000 competitive kilometres and the attainment of his EGB 8,000km award.

Casper (Sire Manichee, dam Ashmary) was born on 20th May 1995 at Gilly Payton’s home near Hassocks in the middle of a dinner party. He’s 90% Crabbet, 10% Old English. He was bred

by Ashmary’s owner Mandy Keepax specifically for endurance.

Julia had had to retire her horse Danny Boy and responded to an advert in the South East Newsletter in August 1999 for a just backed four year old Arab – she came home with Casper, her first Arab, and an amazingly successful and close partnership was born.

In 2000 they completed some pleasure rides, the 2001 season was lost to foot and mouth, 2002 they started getting serious.

Aged 7 Casper completed his ten novice rides gaining 9 x Grade 1 and 1 x Grade 2 – finishing 3rd in the National Novice Championship and winning the South East New Horse Trophy.

Their 2003 season didn’t start until June as Casper had had a

bit of an accident cross country in the spring which resulted in 16 staples in his left knee and even more in his right axilla. There were initial fears that that was the end of his endurance career – how wrong they were!

Casper’s endurance career spans 14 years and isn’t over yet.

His incredible achievements are further down this article.

Casper has often competed at Novice dressage, scoring in the 70’s and being placed every time out. Particularly sweet success for Julia after always getting funny looks in the warm up arena as she prepared her little 14.3 hh pocket rocket in amongst all the huge dressage horses. He once scored a 9 for extended trot and a 3 for halt in the same test from Marietta Fox-Pitt (that’ll be the endurance genes coming out then…).

In 2007 Julia had bought another youngster by Manichee (Simeric Solaman aka Milo) and by 2013 was competing both Milo, in his Novice year, and Casper herself at different rides.

By 2014 it was getting increasingly difficult and costly to compete them separately. Viv Coleman offered to help out and crew, having retired her own horse. Julia had a very different suggestion – ride Casper. Well no one in their right mind is going to refuse that dream offer are they? So 2014 and 2015 saw Julia and Viv, very obviously enjoying eating up the kilometres on their matching half-brother chestnuts out and about on the enduro circuit.

Between March 2002 and October 2015 Casper has covered 8,068km competitively. 161 starts – 67 Grade 1’s, 30 Grade 2’s, 7 race rides and a Gold at the Golden Horse Shoe.

Casper won the 65/65 trophy at North Norfolk three years running (2007, 2008 and 2009) and completed the Lindum

E N D U R A N C E C H AT

170km in 2007 and 2009, 100km at Kings Forest in 2008 and came 2nd in the Veteran 83km ER at Cirencester in 2014.

NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS Senior Championship

2007 - 5th, 2008 & 2009 – 6th

Mesaoud Trophy

2008 & 2009 – 3rd

Green Dragon Team Award

2008 – 3rd , 2014 – 3rd

Mira 1st Season Horse Championship

2002 – 3rd

This little horse has been a stalwart member of Julia’s family for sixteen years now and was even a pageboy at her wedding.

Matt is very understanding about Julia’s ‘other man’.

Casper is a total sweetheart, hardly ever does anything wrong and is really easy to ride and to crew for. Julia’s father Ray has crewed them every step of the way making it a real family affair.

Casper can be a little grumpy about being touched and can try to nip when his girth is done up, but that’s all in the vices department. He has come to an agreement with the osteopath and now, finally, begrudgingly admits, in his old age, that actually a relaxing massage is rather nice.

Cardinal Panache is currently standing at an impressive 11th place out of the 62 horses who have completed 5,000km or more in the EGB All Time Distance League Table.

GWIBEDOG BETHAN Gwibedog Bethan was retired from competition at the end of 2015 aged 19 having completed a very different career to Cardinal Panache. Bethan has completed just under 2000km in a mixture of graded and pleasure rides, which in itself is nothing

Whatever your level from newbie to international. Come and share your endurance experiences, ask for advice and keep up to date with everything endurance on our friendly forum. All welcome. Run by members for members. And it’s totally FREE!

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outstanding. The fact that she did this without ever once failing the vet or retiring in ten years is indeed an outstanding achievement.

Gwibedog Bethan, a Welsh cob mare was born in 1994 (Sire Minafon Ap Dafydd / Dam Gwibedog Eugene) Bethan came from the Eppynt mountains just north of Brecon, bred by Iorwerth Davies who had retired from running trekking holidays and still kept a few mares. Sue Cooper contacted Iorwerth to see what he had available and then set off to Wales. Two hairy blonde mares with a foal between them came up over the hill, Iorwerth jumped about and waved his cap in the air to get them moving, and Bethan’s big trot was switched on - WOW! Not to mention the tail up in the air and the flying mane and feathers!

Iorwerth was anxious to keep her blood-line going and as it was obviously going to take time to get this wild welsh pony civilised Sue agreed he would get her covered by a local stallion he liked and although Sue would not be wanting to keep the foal there would be a chance of someone else carrying the line on. Bethan and Baby Bump came South in July 1998, with stern instructions “not to give her anything to eat” as Iorwerth had been very distressed by the number of good ponies sold off the hill farms to England, overfed and subsequently dying of laminitis, and a crisp new fiver for “luck money” (which Sue still has, just in case!).

Breaking Bethan in was a very gradual process, starting by just walking her out to see things she’d never met before and teaching her voice commands. She was friendly and basically co-operative but nervous, and the big issue was getting anything tight done up round her! She produced a lovely palomino filly foal in May 1999.

Sue finally backed her bareback as the girth could still be an issue on a bad day! Foot and mouth restrictions held things up again but they finally made their long-distance debut at Tilford in 2002.

Trotting was always the best pace for Bethan – Once when riding with someone with “all the gear” Sue was asked if she realised her pony could trot at almost 20kph! The waistline has always been a battleground, strip grazing or pre-grazed fields are order of the day. But sound every time out, sometimes making the vets smile and jump out of her way as she trotted a little too enthusiastically straight at them.

Bethan’s amazing ‘no fail’ record has inspired Sue to create a new award for the South East Group as she felt that this was a very worthy achievement, not only by her but by others, that deserved recognition and would apply to all levels of the sport, including hairy ponies carted around in rusty Transits. Bethan’s Gold Awards will be awarded to those horses in the South East who complete seven rides or more (GER and CER) in the current season with no fails or retirements on their mastercard from 2016 onwards.

PHOTOGRAPHS (FROM LEFT): AN AMAZING PARTNERSHIP – PHOTO BY AL WEBB PHOTOGRAPHY | NORTH NORFOLK RIDE 2009 BY WEST END PHOTOGRAPHY THE SECOND DAY OF THE 130KM (65/65) TWO DAY RIDE, WHICH CASPER WON FOR THE THIRD TIME IN A ROW IN 2009 | NEWLY ARRIVED BETHAN WITH SUE COOPER

GROUPS

Derbyshire Group

Report by Sarah Wright

A

t the end of last year the Derbyshire committee concluded that we really didn’t have an evidencebased clue of what our members wanted – other than rides. The committee is very small, so knowing what members want is important and means we can target our time, as most of us are busy working or Mums or both.

We put together a questionnaire and handed it to all people attending the presentation evening (members or not), posted it on our website and on our Facebook page. We had a good return of 57 responses and although most members wanted something we were thinking of, the big one was social evenings.

(55 out of 57 responses).

So our first social night was organised at The Anchor in Tideswell, for the last Thursday in February. We chose the venue from members’ suggestions, but have already agreed to rotate

our evenings around our large membership area. Always the last Thursday in the month so we can feedback the following week to our committee meetings (first Weds of the month) and respond to anything that is discussed.

The first meeting was lovely – 8 members plus a non member who soon joined!! It was great to catch up with each other as you just don’t get chance for a proper chat at a ride. The room at The anchor was set aside just for us and the fire was stoked.

Conversation flowed and everyone laughed a lot. Topics ranged from general riding, to what endurance actually entails, to sheep, children, nights out and so on. Our new member rides a quarter horse so we are now enquiring about the link between the AQHA and endurance….watch this space. Our next social night is planned – we’re off to Matlock on 31st March.”

Northumberland and Tyneside

T

he Northumberland and Tyneside Group kicked off their 2016 season with their Annual Introduction to Endurance Event on Thursday 25th February.

The event was well attended by both current and prospective members. Chairman Paul Axcell began the evening with a talk on starting out with Endurance which included useful information on how to prepare for your first ride and what to expect when you get there. There were also many opportunities for people to ask questions to find out more.

After a short refreshment break, Aimi Duff of Scott Mitchell and Associates Veterinary Practice took the floor and led an interesting talk on Equine stomach ulcers in both performance and leisure horses. She spoke about causes, prevention and diagnosis as well the treatment options available. She then answered questions on how we could alter our feeding regime, if necessary, to prevent stomach ulcers occurring. One point she made during the talk that I took away with me is to give a range of ‘foraging’ type food during the night if your horse is stabled to provide a varied night time diet. After all, we do this in vet gates all the time so why not as an everyday practice.

Night time foods she recommended was hay, oat straw, chaff such as Hi-Fi Lite or using a hay block to increase chewing and consumption time.

Carolyn Hymers, from Urban Horse, also set up a stand to showcase the range of specialised endurance tack and accessories. Urban horse is a local online equestrian business set up by Carolyn herself in 2010 specialising in endurance and barefoot riding. Carolyn has supported many of our local rides, including the Hexhamshire Trophy Ride and Northern Championships. This year she has also kindly agreed to be our new sponsor for the longer distance 4 For the North Trophy, now re-branded the Urban Horse Trophy.

The Northumberland and Tyneside Group’s next event is the Harwood Forest ride on the 13th March.

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Official members publication for Endurance GB

TRIED & TESTED

TRIED &TESTED THE WAVE FORK FROM NOBLE OUTFITTERS nobleoutfitters.com

W

alking past the Noble Outfitters stand at BETA, my eye was caught by a colourful mucking out fork, that looked lightweight and unusual.

On further investigation, I discovered that this is the Wave Fork. It can be produced in a variety of colours and colour combinations, and has a very long handle, ideal for taller people and has moveable hand grips on the handle, making it very versatile.

After some discussion I decided to have one of the forks on trial to see how well they stand up to work in the yard.

My fork arrived at the end of January and has been in use every day since. We bed our horses on wood pellets or straw and woodchip, so the mucking out for the different types of beds varies. The pellet beds are basically thoroughly skipped out every day, but the wet is only taken out periodically. The straw beds are completely mucked out every day, except for one, which is deep littered.

When the fork first arrived I was quite excited about having a lightweight fork to use, especially one with a ‘basket’ effect, meaning that more droppings could be carried in it. Initially, I was disappointed…I found it very different from the fork I had been using, and it felt awkward…so I left it for a few days.

Deciding that I must make a proper effort to use the fork, I took it up again, and over the course of a few days, I got more used to the way it works, and the best way to work with it.

Now, I think it is a really useful tool to have on the yard. At first glance it does not appear to be very substantial, but looks belie the strength of the tines and the basket. They bend and accommodate weight, but don’t break. The handle is customizable, because the grips can be moved up or down to suit where you want to place your hands…all in all a versatile piece of kit!

I would recommend that you give it a try!

TECH SPEC: The Wave Fork: An innovative breakthrough in stable management, clean stables with ease using the lightweight customisable Wave Fork, which comes with a five year guarantee! £39.95. One size, multiple colours available.

FEATURES & TECHNOLOGY • 5 year guarantee • Made in the USA • Aircraft grade aluminum handle built for lightweight durability for your equestrian gear needs • Adjustable grip on handle for personalized comfort • Copolymer plastic resin tines bend but don’t break • Outer tines form a basket for maximum load • Tines interchangeable for replacement or customization • Intelligent rail set design for maximum durability Endurance March/April 2016 37

BOOK REVIEW

Katie Jerram’s Modern Horse Management

Katie Jerram and Carolyn Henderson Published 28-08-2015 £ 22.50 ISBN 978-1-908809-27-8 Published by J A Allen www.allenbooks.co.uk

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FROM THE SHELF

A

nother book on horse management? Well, yes…and a very useful one at that!

In this ever-changing world, the era of kids helping at the local stables in return for free rides, is long past, as are the unseen benefits of that way of doing things, where children learnt by watching and helping, by being given jobs to do, and being told how to do stuff by people who had been doing it all their lives.

Although this may have improved some safety aspects and other things, it means that children and young adults, as well as non-horsey parents, have to find a way to learn about horses and their care.

Of course there are many books, videos etc out there, but this book really does cover areas that others may neglect.

A good size of book to have in the hand, and to share with another reader at the same time; the pages are well laid out with excellent photographs and annotation.

The authors have taken account of modern innovations in rugs and bandages, looked at technical improvements in fabrics etc, and incorporated their use and care into the text.

I particularly liked the first chapter, A Blueprint for Modern Management, where there is discussion of why and how we keep our horses as we do, and how to ensure that we make the best choices for their care and welfare, utilizing the best resources that we have for this.

The second part of this chapter also gives sound safety advice that it would benefit all of us to read!

There are the usual, expected chapter headings, ranging from Feeding to Grooming, Clipping, Rugs Boots and Bandages, Fitting Tack etc, but within these headings the authors have thought laterally and given far more depth and insight than a simple horse care manual usually does.

Katie Jerram is one of Britain’s best known and most successful show producers, but has far wider equestrian experience than this, and runs a BHS approved training yard.

Carolyn Henderson is the author of more than thirty books and numerous articles over her journalistic career.

This book will help readers, riders, horse keepers and parents both expand their knowledge and question their way of doing things, empowering them to make changes with confidence and understanding.

Highly recommended reading!

Official members publication for Endurance GB

ADVERTISING FEATURES

CAIRNGORM 100 JUNE 25TH 2016

LES SPARKS AT CAIRNGORN 100 (2015, AS FEATURED IN EGB MAGAZINE VOLUME 12/ISSUE 5. PHOTOGRAH COURTESY OF ROSELYNE O’NEIL.

Now taking entries for 2016!

Contact Penny on cg100entries@ btinternet.com or visit our Facebook page at Cairngorm 100 or the Website www.Cairngorm100.co.uk Distances 100 mile, 70 mile, 50 mile all linear and possibly a 30 mile loop.

RUWAIS BOLERO DANCES TO THE TUNE ENDURANCE horse Ruwais Bolero is fighting fit thanks to a change in his feeding regime.

Owned and bred

by Pauline Holloway and ridden by her granddaughter Daisy Strang, she describes Ruwais as a ‘good, sound horse’ who was ‘not always producing optimum gut sounds at the vet gates.’

In a bid to try and solve the problem Pauline decided to look into Ruwais’ diet and she put a call in to the TopSpec feed helpline.

After a long chat with one of the nutritionists Pauline started to feed him TopSpec Comprehensive Feed Balancer and TopSpec UlsaKind Cubes.

Said Pauline: “The feed really has made a big difference to Ruwais. After we started Ruwais on his new feeding regime he received almost all A’s for metabolics at the vet gate and we now feed our all horses on TopSpec.

“This season Daisy hopes to get Ruwais FEI qualified and to compete at 3* level.

He is now 14-year-old and they have developed into a great partnership after Daisy took over the ride from her sister Victoria.

Ruwais and Daisy had a fantastic 2015 season finishing first at King’s Forest 80k, Cranwich 139k and the Royalties 172k.

At the EGB National Awards, Daisy and Ruwais

also won the Top Part Bred Arab, Top Home Bred Horse and finished Reserve National Young Rider Champion.

PRIZE DRAW If you would like to try Top Spec Balancer with your horse, enter our Prize Draw to win a bag.

Two readers will win a bag of Balancer.

Just send your name and address and contact details to: TopSpec Draw, Green Farm Stables, Albyns Lane, Stapleford Tawney, Essex RM4 1RX or email magazineeditor@ endurancegb.co.uk

Entries to be received by 30th April 2016.

MANAGEMENT

INTRODUCING THE INTERNATIONAL SQUAD MANAGEMENT TEAM commission vet at many International events.

Farrier - Kelvin Lymer – Endurance Equestrian Team GBR Farrier since 1992 at multiple World Equestrian Games , European Championships, World Endurance Championships and World Cups, plus one of only 3 official farriers at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

DEVELOPMENT SQUAD

SALLY HALL WITH BARN OWL. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ERIC JONES

Endurance GB is very pleased and excited to share with you the news that the International Squad Management Team has two new Chefs d’Equipe on board for the 2016 season, with the recruitment of Sally Hall and Jo Chisholm.

Another relationship is being cemented with vet, Sarah Coombs BSc BVetMed MRCVS agreeing to continue working with the Squad after coming on board again last year for the EEC in Slovakia.

SENIOR SQUAD Chef d’equipe - Sally Hall - UKCC Endurance Coach and proprietor of Urchinwood Equestrian Centre.

Previously a member of Team GB several times, including Team Gold at the European Championships in Morlaix, France, 1995.

Vet - Sarah Coombs BSc BVetMed MRCVS - 4* FEI Endurance Vet and has been involved in Endurance since 1987 when she started endurance vetting in New Zealand. Since then, she has travelled as Team Vet with endurance teams on numerous trips abroad and has been involved as FEI treatment vet and

40

Chef d’equipe - Mary Stubbs – An Endurance competitor for 20 years, Mary has completed 6,500 kms successfully.

She has been Chef to the Development Squad for 3 years.

Farrier – Harvey Lymer DipWCF – Known to many as the son of our long-standing Senior Squad farrier, Kelvin Lymer, Harvey was obviously introduced to Endurance at a young age but is an accomplished farrier in his own right. In 2013 he won the European Championship for apprentice farriers held in Denmark. He has been working with the EGB International Squad for some years, including travelling to France with the Development Squad in 2014.

YOUNG RIDER SQUAD Chef d’equipe – Jo Chisholm – Jo has been a prolific competitor for nearly 20 years and has completed a staggering 11,492 kms at all distances, including FEI classes. Many of you will remember her horse, Grey Medlar, who received many accolades during his 15 year career. Jo is a very active contributor to Endurance.

Amongst the many positions she has held, she was Assistant Chef d’equipe for the GBR Senior Team in Dubai in 2005. She is very much looking forward to working with our Young Riders.

Vet - Tom Eaton-Evans MRCVS – Tom has worked at Newmarket Equine Hospital for his whole career. Based in the headquarters of flat racing, he

has developed an interest in equine sports medicine and the transport of performance horses around the world. He is an FEI 4* Treatment Vet, with considerable experience in the management of Endurance horses.

Farrier - Glyn Trundle AWCF – Glyn is a Master Farrier and approved Training Farrier. He has been working with EGB’s Young Rider Team since 2011, attending European and World Championships.

PHYSIOS TO THE SQUADS Lee Clark MCSP, SRP, BSc (Hons) - Qualified Human and Animal Physiotherapist. Lee has an arsenal of additional skills including Kinesiotaping, Acupuncture, Laser Therapy and Osteopathic Manipulation.

Katie Dorman BSc (Hons), MCSP – Katie works alongside Lee and is a chartered physiotherapist with an HND in Sport and Exercise Sciences. She is used to working with riders and is also a qualified Pilates instructor

2016 KEY DATES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SQUADS ‘DRY RUN’ FOR THE 2017 EUROPEAN ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM 19th to 21st August EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR YOUNG RIDERS AND JUNIORS, RIO FRIO, PORTUGAL 2nd to 4th September WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS, DUBAI, UAE 10th to 17th December

Official members publication for Endurance GB

MANAGEMENT

INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR – 5TH NOVEMBER 2016 The International Committee of Endurance GB are pleased to confirm the date for our International Seminar. It will be held on Saturday 5th November at the NAEC, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire.

The theme for this year is about reaching for and achieving your POTENTIAL and will be designed to give you food for thought over the winter.

We are thrilled to confirm that the world renowned consultant equine cardiologist, Dr LESLEY YOUNG, BVSc DVA DVC DipECEIM PhD MRCVS, will be joining us as a key speaker. Her talk will be focussed on ‘Training the Heart to its Potential’.

We are also very excited to give you details of another key speaker, GEMMA PEARSON, BVMS Cert AVP (EM) MRCVS. Not only is Gemma a vet but she is also an eminent Animal Behaviourist. Her talk, ‘Nature or Nurture’ will intrigue and inspire you.

She will look at the mental attributes which are desirable in the Endurance Horse and how an understanding of equine learning can maximise a horse’s potential.

The Seminar is aimed at those interested in future team participation but will be open to (and relevant for) all levels of competitor. Everyone is welcome. Register your interest by emailing the Endurance GB office: enquiries@endurancegb.co.uk

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE UPDATE The International Committee have hit the ground running in 2016 and are very much looking forward to the future.

There is a feeling of new vigour and commitment coursing through the Committee.

The new Committee have a wealth of international experience and are working closely with an excellent group of Squad Management Team members.

Many have had years of experience working with our international teams and bring some very valuable skills, plus we have some new faces to introduce fresh ideas. We are all committed to the progress of our international riders and their success in international team competitions for 2016 and beyond.

Our first face-to-face joint meeting of the IC and SMT was held on the 28th February. The group came together with a common goal – to provide

opportunities for our members to progress and use everything at our disposal to tap into their potential for the benefit of Endurance Team GB. It was an extremely positive and productive meeting. We have produced a programme of assessments and training for the year, but we are also looking forward to 2017 and towards WEG in 2018.

Riders who join the Squad can benefit enormously from the expert advice they will receive from the SMT. Being part of the Squad entails hard work, as success at international level does not come easily. Being a member of the British team is a real honour and 100% commitment to the success of the team as a whole is required, but we will endeavour to make it a very positive experience.

EGB International Committee

EGB KEY DATES 2015 RECEIPT OF FEI & MAJOR RIDE PROPOSALS 31st August RECEIPT OF MEMBERS’ PROPOSALS FOR AGM In writing to Company Secretary at Stoneleigh Office by 5pm on Friday 16th September NOMINATIONS FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS In writing to Company Secretary at Stoneleigh Office by 5pm on Friday 16th September RECEIPT OF NATIONAL RIDE PROPOSAL FORMS 14th October CLAIMS FOR DISTANCE AWARDS 21st October GROUPS MEETING 22nd October RIDE FIXTURES MEETING 23rd October NOMINATIONS FOR UNSUNG HERO, JOHN YEATS BURSARY & YOUNG VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARDS 28th October ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Daventry Court Hotel 19th November Daventry NN11 0SG 12 noon (unless otherwise advised) BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS Sunday 15th May 2nd July 24th September 19th /20th November

Endurance | May/June 2015 41

MANAGEMENT

MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS & SPONSORSHIP Report by Harry Ingram The MarComms committee covers such a wide area, but our main focus is to return growth to the society, something that has been lacking for a number of years. Growth can only take place if we retain our existing membership and so we are also tasked with improving communication and increasing participation.

One of the first actions for the committee is to spread the word about endurance and work to improve the image of the sport in the press. There is no doubt that the sport has been shrouded in controversy over the last year.

More people than ever have heard about the sport…. for all the wrong reasons!

John Hudson and I met with Horse & Hound’s Print Editor and News Editor in December to discuss the coverage of Endurance in the magazine. We chose to target H&H first, as they are one of the most prominent equestrian, editorial magazines on the market. During our time with them we discussed at length the issues in the Middle East and EGB’s stance on this. We made it clear that a differentiation had to be made between the style of endurance in Group 7 and endurance in the UK, where we have an impeccable welfare record. We asked for them to bear this in mind when covering endurance, for the sake of balance.

When the latest controversy broke, H&H were able to run a parallel story on EGB partnering with the Animal Health Trust to look at health issues in endurance horses in the UK. This was a great step towards balanced coverage for the magazine, which hopefully goes a small way to separating Endurance GB from some of the issues.

Sadly Endurance will only get 5 pages of ride reports in the magazine…. a year!

42

This has been based on surveys of what people want to read and sadly endurance didn’t score well. We have to work with what we have got and we will ensure key rides in the UK are covered well throughout the year. It wasn’t all bad news though as there are opportunities for us to input elsewhere, such as; suggesting experts for articles, features on endurance horses for the ‘Horse Hero’ section, features on endurance riders in the ‘riders in focus’ section etc. We are already working more closely with H&H following the meeting and will continue to build this relationship so we can partner on as much as we can moving forward. Please get involved with endurance content online and in the press and do what you can to increase its exposure so H&H (and others) can see the benefit in taking the time to publish it.

Part of our communication strategy moving forward will be to increase our email contact with members and nonmembers. We have done a number of ‘join-now’ campaigns, highlighting some of the key reasons to give endurance a go. We have kept in contact with those members who haven’t renewed so they know what their missing! We’ll also be utilising email to promote rides and offers throughout the year, so stay tuned for more! I am delighted that early joining figures have been particularly positive, and am hopeful that we can keep momentum going so final figures for the year remain positive.

The Board have made a strategic decision to focus on three third parties that we think have the potential to grow the membership of Endurance GB. They are: • Retraining of Racehorses - there are 11,000 horses registered with ROR

• The Pony Club - 50,000 members in the UK • British Riding Clubs During the year we will be ‘targeting’ each group and creating bespoke campaigns aimed to promote the benefits of endurance riding to each. The reason a Pony Clubber may do endurance will be different to that of a Riding Club member, so we will research each and ensure our approach is focussed.

Throughout the year we will also be doing our best to support Ride Organisers promote their ride. There are already a number of advice documents available, but as a starter for 10, here’s 3 top tips to promote your ride: • Develop a list of local press contacts and send them regular updates - find interesting stories local to you that are likely to get you some coverage; • Ask the professional photographer covering the ride for a few images you can use to promote your ride. An image can paint a thousand words and good photography highlighting the beautiful terrain for example is a great way to attract more to come along; and • Utilise all the channels that are on offer social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter), the website, the blog, riding calendar and the magazine to promote your ride.

Ultimately the committee are there to help - so get in touch for more, or if you have any questions.

Thank you to all the people who have fought off the negativity to promote the joys of riding with Endurance GB. I hope we can all work together to keep the momentum going. harryingram@endurancegb.co.uk

Official members publication for Endurance GB

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