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November/December 2016
s a m t s i r h C y r r e M sh all i w o t y t i n is opportu nd New Year h t e k a t o t ould like appy Christmas a w g a M g a N a Very H s r e d a e r r u o
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02 ❘ NagMag
November/December 2016
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Contents
06
PAGE 04..................................... The Noriker – Hurst Green Shires now have a Tiger Noriker Colt
PAGE 05.....................................
EDITOR : Linda Warburton Email: info@nagmagmedia.com Tel: 01273 962069 / 07877 263276
Stable Maintenance – Advice from Sally Frost at NFF Ltd
PAGE 06..................................... Field of Dreams Part 4 – How to Build Stables and Arena by
12
Michelle Pearce
PAGE 10..................................... Ulcers in Horses – Advice from
PAGE 12..................................... Re-educating Racehorses – light on what your horse may be thinking
PAGE 16.....................................
The opinions expressed in this magazine, by contributors or advertisers, do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or editor or NagMag.
Equerry Veteran Mix – Feeding elderly horses and ponies this winter
‘Happy Holidays’ from Raife and his team
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Michelle Pearce sheds a little
Raife Tansey – A new sposor and
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Ron Fields at Ron Fields Nutrition
PAGE 19.....................................
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November/December 2016 NagMag ❘ 03
The Noriker – Hurst Green Shires The Noriker breed now comprises one of the largest draught horse populations in Europe
The Spirit of the Alps comes to Surrey
T
he Noriker Horse originated in the Central Alpine region of Europe around the Austrian region which was once known under the roman name of Noricum. Originally travelling from Greece as the Romans occupied the area, the horse that had been bred as a heavy war horse, being sure footed was fully suited to the mountainous terrain around the highest of Austrian peaks. A stud book was introduced about 400 years ago to contain the unmonitored breeding, closing in 1903, since which time the Noriker has been strictly a purebred. Although the breed survived the ravages of war and Industrial revolution, by 1970 it was falling into decline. Today there are around 10,000 Noriker in the Austrian countryside, most of which are working horses in the forestry industry. The Noriker breed now comprises one of the largest draught horse populations in Europe They are barrel shaped and sure footed with a great balance, standing at an average height of 15.1 – 16.3 hands. The neck is strong and muscular with a long shoulder, broad and deep chest, head of a draught horse with the grace of a Baroque and legs that are short and clean with little feathering. Colouring can be from Chestnut to bay, black to roan and the appaloosa also known as the Tiger. They have a calm and true disposition and make the ideal work horse or faithful riding horse. Now for the exciting bit – The lovely ladies at Hurst Green Shires in Oxted, Surrey, have taken delivery of a fine Tiger Noriker Colt. It is thought to be the first to be introduced to the UK, the other two in the UK being a gelding and a mare. This is a huge step forward for the breed and Hurst Green Shires are now on the lookout for a Tiger Noriker filly/mate to import for breeding. In the meantime, they would like to offer their Stallion for breeding – as the remarkable spots do pass on. NM
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November/December 2016
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By Sally Frost at NFF Ltd Now is the time of year to check that your stables are in a good condition to face the winter months
Stable Maintenance A
t first glance, a roof can look okay, but on closer inspection can reveal some unpleasant surprises. If you have a felt roof, check it is
secure. Any loose pieces of felt will catch the wind and could cause large areas to rip off. The felt should be held with lengths of timber which keep the felt place. If any of these are missing, they need to be replaced. Exposed to the elements, especially the hot sun we have enjoyed this summer, felt can become stiff and inflexible. If the felt is cracked it can allow water to seep in and potentially rot the timber roof lining. If you look up at the ceiling of your stable from inside the building and can see daylight, you definitely need to get this dealt with urgently. If parts of the boards have expanded or bubbled, that suggests a leak. Assuming your roof boards are not rotten, you can get the old felt taken off and replaced. If the underlining, timber below the felt, is rotten, there is more work involved to take this off and replace both the timber and the felt. It would not be possible to re-use the felt. It is important to address any rotting timber at the earliest sign of a problem. If not caught early, the rot can spread to the main structure of the building creating a costly job and the whole roof would need taking off and rebuilding. Apart from being unsafe, it can become a health hazard with damp stabling causing breathing problems for the horses. Do you have cobwebs in your stables? These can also harbour dust and it is worth removing them. Apart from anything, it’s not great having a large spider land on your head when you are mucking out! Around horses there tends to be a lot of liquid. This can sometimes sit in corners of the building and if it’s very acidic it can break down the cement between the bricks and cause any timber near the ground level to degenerate. Does your horse rub their bottom in the stable? Over time, a heavy horse can cause the walls to bow out if they continually rub in the same place. This can usually be fixed by a good stable company. Kicking horses can occasionally cause a
whole wall panel to shift slightly on its brick base and will need to be re-secured. When horses are waiting to be fed, it is not uncommon for them to kick the bottom of the
stable door with their front foot. This can work the screws on the kick bolts loose to the point where they may fall off. In order to prevent injuries, it is crucial to make sure there are no nails or screws sticking out of the walls and that any chew strips are secured to keep sharp edges in place. If you are in the habit of leaving your stable doors open over the summer months, the doors might have dropped slightly making it hard to do the bolts up. This can be rectified without much problem. The last consideration is your floor. If this is made of old concrete and is starting to break down, you might prefer to cover it with rubber stable mats which would be cheaper than re-concreting. Rubber is easy to keep clean, warmer and more comfortable for the horse to lay on, once bedded up. If you need professional advice or help with the maintenance of your stables or are thinking of building new ones, contact NFF Ltd http://www.nffequestrian.co.uk/ stables-overview/ NFF Ltd. are designers, manufacturers and installers of timber buildings for work, garden and horses based at Horam, Near Heathfield, East Sussex. TN21 9HJ. 01435 813 535. NM
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November/December 2016 NagMag ❘ 05
How to Build Stables and Arena ❘ By Michelle Pearce
Field of Dreams Part 4
Preliminaries, Planning and Design
From design, planning, and finding contractors, to the day the diggers arrive to turn the earth, Michelle Pearce takes us through the essential preliminaries of building stables and arena at home.
A
s Spring became summer and the grass in our four acre paddock grew long and lovely and the horses grew large and lazy, and the view over the paddock became hot and hazy, I finally put pen to paper and started designing our stable yard and arena. However dry the earth and abundant the forage, I knew that time was no longer on our side and we needed to crack on with concrete plans for stabling and arena if we wanted to get the horses undercover before winter set in and be able to exercise them in all weathers. It was a little daunting looking at the field. It was rather lovely as it was. Did I really want to carve up that beautiful pasture? And where was it all going to go anyway? We were starting with a totally blank canvas – literally an empty field – anything could go anywhere – how do we decide? And what will it look when it’s done? Will it be a blot on the landscape or an attractive asset? How much mess will it make? How long will it take? How much will it cost? Where do I start? DREAM – spend time with pen and paper sketching out ideas and talking to family and friends about what you want in your equestrian set-up, and the pros and
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November/December 2016
cons of various locations on your land. Sketch out rough budgets and decide if you are going for a mini-Hickstead or something more humble. This is a really important part of the process and best done over months or even years, as even the best plans need to be dreamed, re-dreamed and finally dreamed again. I did many sketches of potential layouts and locations before I finally returned to the one I had done at the very outset. There were so many factors to take into account (including the all-important view from my husband’s shed), and time given at this stage, before any constraints of planning, budget or location reared their heads, was time very well spent. This process ends when you have rough sketches of your stable yard and arena, their approximate location and an initial budget forecast. PRELIMINARY RESEARCH – If you are in a conservation area, AONB, National Park or similar there may be restrictions which may make your plans harder to achieve, more expensive and more time-consuming. Look around to see if there are any precedents in your area for the kind of set-up you wish to create, and visit local yards to find out whether they came across any planning obstacles. Speak to your local horsey community about
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By Michelle Pearce
❘ How to Build Stables and Arena Blank canvas
what contractors have good reputations, and ring your local planning office for informal advice or arrange for a pre-planning meeting where you are able to discuss your ideas with an officer face to face. This could cost in the region of £200 and you will need to take along drawings of your proposals. The top tip I received from my informal chat with the planning officer was “Plan for what you need, rather than for what you want.” LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION – Where to locate your yard and arena is crucial. A level site will be easier to work than one which is sloped and if you are not going to become water-logged drainage must be a primary concern. Bear in mind accessibility to the house if you are building at home - the closer you are the more convenient for feeding horses in pyjamas, but in addition you will save on access tracks and utility supplies. Think about how you will have hay and bedding delivered and whether the farrier and the vet will easily be able to access your yard in their vans and cars. You will also want to consider proximity of your stables to your arena - the closer the better was the advice I received, both for winter turn-out and again to save on un-necessary tracks. Consider how your development will look within your landscape and how it will affect any views and take seriously the direction of the prevailing wind - you will want to face your stables away from the weather to ensure your yard is sheltered and your roof secure even if it means, like mine, your horses don’t have quite such a nice view! Planning will object to any development within five metres of trees (to protect their roots), further at times if the trees are significant or mature. In addition, leaf-fall will spoil the surface of your school over time so try to avoid designing it where this could be an issue. Think about location of hedges – you want to keep enough space for tractors to cut hedge lines, and most muck heaps will also need to be accessed for emptying.
MEET CONTRACTORS – Before you spend time or money on drafting scale drawings, it is a good idea to invite your chosen contractors to the site to talk your ideas through with the experts. You should be able to get rough quotes at this stage and speak to them about their availability – good workmen are
often busy so it’s worth getting pencilled in their diaries early to avoid hold-ups later on. At this stage you will also need to decide whether you are going to get a single contractor to do the whole job or if you are going to project-manage yourself. The second option can save money, but you will need time, tact and tenacity if you are juggling a lot of different contractors who are not used to working together. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS – It is worth checking to see if there are any legal issues you will need to deal with as part of your development. If you intend to pass utilities over or under someone else’s property (in our case we had to run them beneath the track owned by our neighbour), or if you need to drain onto them or into waterways, you may well need a Deed of Easement. This is a legal document drawn up by your solicitor clarifying
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Finding reputable contractors to do the job
November/December 2016 NagMag ❘ 07
How to Build Stables and Arena ❘ By Michelle Pearce
Initial drafts
the rights of both parties – generally a simple process but ensure you include it in your budget and start early as legal paperwork can be notoriously slow-moving. FIND A SURVEYOR Many people opt for a surveyor to submit their planning application for them. I chose this route as, with winter approaching, I could not afford the time for my application to be turned down simply because I had made an error on the forms or failed to anticipate a planning requirement. Choose a professional with experience of equestrian applications in your area and make sure they do a site visit to get a feel for your location and vision. Use their visit to put your ideas to the test – in their experience are your plans and proposals viable and do they foresee any planning issues? PRODUCE SCALE DRAWINGS Whether you apply to planning yourself or use a surveyor, you will need clear scale drawings of your proposed build to accompany your application. You can either draw these up yourself or get a draftsperson to do them for you. I was reluctant to part with yet another £500 so I did my own drawings – rather painstaking and not terribly professional, but once my surveyor had tidied them up somewhat, they passed the test. In addition, you will need to supply a site map and land registry location map with the proposed development
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November/December 2016
Final layout
site marked out in red. Your solicitor should be able to dig out copies of the latter. SUBMIT PLANNING APPLICATION – you will probably now be in a position to submit your application to planning. The sooner this is done the
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By Michelle Pearce
❘ How to Build Stables and Arena
Final details all need to be thought through ▲ Final drawings of stables for contractor to work from
better as it can take around eight weeks to pass through the system, assuming there are no significant queries or objections. Once the planning department has approved
your plans your planning notice will need to be displayed at the site entrance and will be open to potential comments or objections form parish councils, neighbours and the general public. So, here we are. Your planning notice is hanging on the gate. It flaps in the breeze a bit. Nothing much else happens. The Council hasn’t been in touch with any nasty news. The phone is quiet. There are no terrifying emails from angry residents. Your contractor is lined up. Dates are set. As soon as planning permission is granted he will be trundling onto your land with some of the biggest lorries and diggers you’ve ever seen. Time to start thinking about the practicalities of access – will he be able to fit in the gate? Where will you put the horses during the works? What provision do you have for wet weather – do you have some temporary tracking for vehicles to drive on should it be wet? Are tea and biscuits at the ready? Are we ready? Really? There, planning Permission granted. Green Light. Go Ahead. Fantastic! I wonder what happens next? NM
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November/December 2016 NagMag ❘ 09
Ulcers in Horses by Ron Fields
Equine Ulcers If you suspect your horse has ulcers, it is important that you ask your vet to investigate, not only for the sake of the horse’s welfare, health and safety, but also for the rider’s safety and welfare.
A
s horse owners we all want our horses to be healthy and happy all of the time. In reality, however, this doesn’t always happen and quite often our horses go through periods of poor performance, develop musco-skeletal problems, have poor quality hooves, have problems with saddle fit or become bad tempered or sensitive when saddling or girthing up. Did you know that all of these could indicate problems with your horse’s gut and could indicate the presence of ulcers? Equine ulcers can be notoriously difficult to diagnose, particularly in the early stages of development. They are increasingly being recognised as a major causal factor for a range of clinical and non-clinical symptoms. Studies have shown that about 90 percent of racehorses have ulcers, particularly gastric ulcers. Most performance horses have gastric and/or colonic ulcers. Increasing numbers of leisure horses have gastric and/or colonic ulcers. Foals are also susceptible to ulcers. Equine ulcers cause painful lesions in the lining of the gut and there are two types of ulcer; gastric which occur in the stomach and colonic which occur in the hindgut, specifically in the colon. They can range from mild to severe. Recognised clinical signs of ulcers include:
■
Dull dry coat that does not shed well
■
Resistance to grooming
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Irritability and mouthiness
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Slow and picky eaters
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Resistance to having hooves handled
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R esistance to stretching forward of the front limbs
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R esistance of stretching rearwards of the hind limbs
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Swollen sheath or mammary glands
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Refusal of mares to nurse a foal
■
Reluctance of stallions to mount a mare
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H orses which stand base narrow showing reverse palmar angles and crushed heels on hind feet and dished toes with high heels on front feet
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P oor quality hooves – ulcers compromise the metabolism, which in turn impacts the integrity of the hoof wall, laminae attachment, quality of the wall frog and sole
■
E motionally ‘shut-down’, dull eyed and disinterested
Poor performance
■
Problems with saddle fit
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Reduced appetite
■
Sensitivity being girthed
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A ltered temperament – difficult to ride, bucking, refusing at jumps, sour attitude
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Weight loss
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Teeth grinding
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Colic
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Diarrhoea
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Crib biting
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Peritonitis and death
■
More subtle signs that may indicate the presence of ulcers in horses and that are often overlooked include: ■
Muscle pain
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Back and vertebral pain
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P endulous abdomen (may be more indicative of hind gut ulcers)
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No wonder then, that performance and behaviour in all types of horses declines with ulcers. Imagine your own body with stiff painful muscles or having a sore back, there is no way you would be able to run as fast, turn quickly or jump as high, nor would you want to and the same is true for our horses. It is important to note that each horse is an individual and as such symptoms can be specific to the individual. They may show a range of the above symptoms, which may vary at any one point in time depending upon the cause of the ulcers. NM
CONTACT DETAILS For more information please contact one of the friendly nutritionalists at Ron Fields Nutrition Contact No : +44-1432-851111 Email: ron@ronfieldsnutrition.co.uk Website: http://ronfieldsnutrition.co.uk/
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ULC30 Plus For all horses Scientifically designed to assist healthy stomach and digestion. Completely safe for use in all horses including performance horses. Assists in preventing TETCHY HORSES when tightening the girth strap. Helps alleviate sensitivity when GROOMING. Maintains HIND GUT DIGESTION. Used by many TRAINERS and recommended by many FARRIERS. Testimonials available but if you have any doubts try a FREE SAMPLE and see the difference yourself. ONE OWNER HAS RECOMMENDED IT AND COMMENTED: “AT LAST I HAVE MY LOVELY HORSE BACK” Tel: 01432 851111 Email: ron@ronfieldsnutrition.co.uk Before
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After
November/December 2016 NagMag ❘ 11
Zuwaar
Mumtaz Begum
Re-educating racehorses ❘ By Michelle Pearce
What’s in that Beautiful Head of yours, Racehorse?
W
ith autumn drawing to a close, many horse owners and riders are awaiting the onset of winter-fresh horses. That nip in the air can bring a new spring to the step of even the quietest ride, and the ex-racehorse has a particular reputation for being sharp and potentially explosive when frost is on the ground or the east wind blowing. My little Zuwaar is no exception. Although generally a quiet-mannered thoroughbred, he is also capable of what we could term ‘racehorse behaviour’ – ie when “an intelligent animal becomes hot-headed in a flash, can be impatient to crack on with whatever the job is and can be a bit of a stress head.” Susie Conroy, owner of two-time winner Love Pegasus. Lizzie Bennet owner of Ndola, (grandson of Epsom Derby winner Shirley Heights) shares these sentiments - “Dolz certainly can be a two season horse! In summer I can practically ride on the buckle [but] in winter his energy is limitless; our usual hacks suddenly become the most exciting things ever and the tiniest thing can set him off.” Love Pegasus is another barometer who “definitely reacts to colder weather, rustly leaves, wind – more sharp, spooky and on his toes.” Wendy Fleet, owner of Mandy’s
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November/December 2016
Mantino, who’s racing glory was his third place in Arkle at Cheltenham, is “much more on his toes in the autumn and winter when the weather is cooler and the ground soft. For such a noble beast the mere sight of a slightly darker leaf in the grass or a pile of logs is enough to blow his brains.” Wendy attributes this seasonal change to Mandy’s training routine “Turned away in the summer months and brought back into training in September to race until April.” The fright and flight instinct described above is natural to all horses “Even though horses have been domesticated for thousands of years, we have done little to dummy down their instinctive behaviour. Although their predators are few and far between, their instincts tell them to fear for their lives at every waking moment because around every corner or down any new path, there may be lurking a predator waiting to eat them for lunch.” Julie Goodnight, Horse Psychology and the Language of Horses. This instinct is often particularly marked in thoroughbreds, who have been selectively bred since the 17th century to accentuate their desire and ability to react and run. They are a hot-blooded breed (as opposed to cold-blooded draft stock or cross-bred Warm-bloods) originating from covering native British mares with
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imported Arabian, Barb and Turkoman stallions. However once their days on the track are over these beautiful horses can in many cases become intelligent, athletic riding horses and loyal friends. The primary focus of any re-training programme should be time and patience – time for previous racing history to be gently over-laid with new training, time to develop trust. If we consider how hard it is for us humans to overcome old habits and thought-patterns, we can begin to understand what this might mean for ex-racehorses. To make the job more challenging still, “Horses are usually considered to have memories second only to elephants.” Professor Mervin Bradley of Animal Husbandry from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Furthermore, each horse is an individual and needs to be approached as such – what works for one may not resonate with another as Fred and Rowena Cook write in their seminal book on reeducating racehorses – “Training horses requires not only patience but also flexibility, and a trainer must always be prepared to change tactics, adapting to suit the individual.” The first step in communicating with your horse is to learn to read their body language and to control your own. Horses instinctively mirror the emotions of the animals and humans around them, communicating their state of being with their whole body from head to tail. A frightened horse will elevate his head, tense his ears, raise and stiffen his tail and hold his breath, all designed to communicate the
❘ Re-educating Racehorses Love Pegasus
Ndola
By Michelle Pearce
threat of danger to other horses in the herd. On the other hand a relaxed horse will often sigh, drop his tail, lick and chew, the ears will be relaxed and head bobbing towards the ground demonstrating that he is feeling safe and content to accept sub-ordinance. Lizzie Bennett has learned to interpret Ndola’s behaviour over the six years she has owned him – “He’s a sensitive soul and I have come to read him very quickly. Sometimes he’ll just be hungry and therefore furious, so I fill and haynet and leave him. Ten minutes later he’ll be at peace with the world….Sometimes I’ll be trying to muck out and Big Bad Dolz will keep resting his head on my tummy waiting for more snuggles – it’s not great for getting your job done but its super cute.” There is a wealth of information on gaining such trust from our horses, in a paper by Julie Goodnight called Horse Psychology & the Language of Horses, where she elaborates on this relationship between ourselves and our horse based on their own instinctive means of communicating with the herd. “A horse will notice your posture, eye-contact, your foot movements, the elevation of your shoulders, the tone of your voice and the rhythm of your breathing. Be aware of the actions on your part and know that you are constantly communicating with your horse through your own body language. If your horse takes a step towards you and you back away, you have just told him he is in charge.
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November/December 2016 NagMag ❘ 13
Earidbaard
Mandy’s Mantino
Re-educating racehorses ❘ By Michelle Pearce
© Craig Payne
Victory Sign
If you get scared, tense your muscles and hold your breath, your horse will mirror your actions and instantly become frightened. If you are not alert and aware of your environment when handling a horse… he will know you are not in charge and will feel compelled to step into the leadership role….[Indeed] the desired relationship between horse and human is that of a herd of two.”
Some gestures horses use to communicate PAWING frustration, desire to move forwards SNAKING lowering head, nose pointed out, teeth barred – dominant herding behaviour MOVING HIP TOWARDS THREAT / COCKING A FOOT becoming defensive, thinking about kicking TOSSING HEAD HIGH, NOSE MOVING IN CIRCULAR MOTION defiance TAIL SWISHING discomfort, irritation, anger NICKER come closer to me WHINNY a social / searching call SNORT / BLOW alarm / serves to alert other horses “it should be taken seriously as a sign that the horse if feeling trapped and alarmed and may become reactive.” SQUEAL defensive warning / threat
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November/December 2016
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By Michelle Pearce When working with thoroughbreds who may have suffered stress in the past, learning to read their body language and to control our own can have profound effects. “A horse can relax in the presence of strong leadership; knowing that he is being taken care of and will be safe and comfortable….For a horse to accept a human as leader, that human must be able to control the horse’s space, maintain discipline in the herd and must never betray his trust by causing him fear or discomfort.” Lizzie Bennett has made a real journey with her Ndola who she describes as having “trust issues” and who was known on the yard as The Dark Lord. His issues were particularly apparent when he first started sessions with his physio – “At first he was a bit aggressive and he never wanted to submit, as if he sensed submission would make him weak. Now, however after several sessions, he’s got a lot better and submits way more easily and trusts her to make him feel better. ..He’s actually the most affectionate horse I have ever been around.” However not all thoroughbreds are hot-headed, or particularly complicated. Mumtaz Begum, once a race horse now a highly successful RoR show horse who also does dressage, side-saddle and hunting, is, in the words of her owner Susie Flook, “a very calm, even-tempered, willing beautiful girl – does nothing stupid at all, a pure delight.” Liz Ortac who is honoured to be the rider of and “slave to” Victory Sign, a 16 year old Irish bred ex-hurdler, also has little typical “racehorse behaviour” to report. On the contrary “Vic’s favourite pastime is to stand still with eyes gently closed. He is a firm believer in saving energy,… He never has changes of temperament with the seasons, but will have about three mad days throughout the year, which he likes to surprise me with.” Regular turn out seems to be key to keeping many exracehorses happy and in winter this can prove a challenge. Imperial Ruby, owned by Sar Cassidy-Hill and ridden in the RoR show ring by Southerly Roberts, never took to racing and “only ever shows race horse moments if he has had his turnout limited which luckily isn’t too often.” Not so for Victory Sign, however, who “appears to have no qualms about staying in and in fact this year is actively refusing to be turned out, even on the nicest of days (not too hot, not too cold, not wet or windy).” and would much rather be back in his “man cave”! And so we have it, the onset of winter, the return of the dark nights and for many of us fathoms of mud. It seems that many ex-race horses become sharper and more spooky at this time, but not all. Turnout seems to be important for most, but again not for all – yes you Victory Sign! – and some would suggest that seasoned racers
❘ Re-educating Racehorses If the horse makes an action to
which the human reacts, the horse is in charge; if a human makes an action to which the horse reacts, the human is in charge Julie Goodnight
could have an engrained memory from training days that winter is the time to run. As our ex-racehorse may become a little more exuberant over the winter, it is useful to remember the wisdom of Fred and Rowena Cook that our “horses don’t just ‘misbehave’ to annoy us.” – there is something else afoot – something fundamental and instinctive is rising in them – it is the call of the wild perhaps, the memory of the heard or the track - it is a highly sensitive and intelligent animal being what it first and foremost is – a horse. So hang onto that halter rope, sit tight, and if the wind has whipped up a frenzy remember to become still, take a breath and take a moment to ask – What’s in that Beautiful Head of yours, Racehorse? With many thanks for all those who contributed to this feature – your testimonials about your ex-racehorses were heart-warming, inspiring and full of love. Thank you. NM
ABOUT MICHELLE PEARCE Michelle Pearce is a freelance writer and a rider who was brought up in Hong Kong in the 1970s riding polo ponies and ex-racehorses. She runs Honeys Green Osteopathic Clinic, in Sussex, with her husband Michael, has three growing-up children, dog, horse, pony and too many rabbits and a new venture Life Stories – personal compilations of memories and photographs. Please e-mail or pm via Facebook to find out more. michellecpearce@live.co.uk.
REFERENCES www.JulieGoodnight.com www.equinetraining.co.uk
Tel: NagMag on 01273 962 069 or email: info@nagmagmedia.com
November/December 2016 NagMag ❘ 15
Equerry Veteran Mix
Feeding Veteran’s This Winter
E
querry Veteran Mix is specially designed for elderly horses and ponies that need to gain weight and condition. Maintaining condition and nutrient absorption are two of the
difficulties faced by most veterans, especially during the winter months, so making the right choice of feed is vital. Formulated with high levels of protein to promote muscle tone and topline, Equerry Veteran Mix also contains oil and linseed to improve condition and ensure a shiny coat. Made from highly digestible cereals to improve digestive efficiency and including yeast for a healthy digestive system, as well as raised levels of Vitamin E, an important antioxidant. Added vitamins and minerals including magnesium make Equerry Veteran mix the ideal feed for your faithful equine friend this winter. Equerry Veteran Mix - 20kg size - £13.25. To find out more about the Equerry range of horse feeds visit www. equerryhorsefeeds.com or telephone 01845 565640.
HORSES WANTED FOR WORKING LIVERY We are looking for horses 15hh and over to join our happy team helping train students towards professional qualitifications. Hadlow College’s superb facilities include: • 30m x 60m & 20m x 60m Indoor Arenas • Large Outdoor Arena • Well Kept Stables • Good Quality Turnout • Cross Country Course • Off-Road Hacking Our friendly qualified staff offer excellent standards of care and supervision. Working livery costs £40/week during College term time. Owners are free to ride any weekday after 5pm and at weekends.
For more information call 01732 853257 Hadlow College, Tonbridge Road, Hadlow, Kent, TN11 0AL.
16 ❘ NagMag
November/December 2016
Are you ready to rock ’n’ roll? Call Steve on 01273 845617 For availability visit www.firetones.co.uk
For Advertising Opportunities visit www.NagMagMagazine.com
Showtime FORTHCOMING EQUESTRIAN EVENTS IN YOUR AREA – NOVEMBER 2016 If you have some news about forthcoming horse events then email us with your stories and photos. Also, if you would like to promote your event in the magazine or on our website please email details to: info@NagMagMedia.com or alternatively call us on 01273 960 069
Black Horse Shows
Golden Cross Equestrian Centre
n www.blackhorse1.co.uk
n www.goldencrossec.co.uk
Schedules for local showjumping shows in Kent.
Brendon Pyecombe
n www.brendonpyecombe.co.uk
Centre in Pyecombe, Sussex, holding affiliated and unaffiliated showjumping events.
BSJA Area 46
Showjumping shows, training and livery near Hailsham, East Sussex.
Hickstead – All England Jumping Course
n www.hickstead.co.uk
Showjumping, polo and weddings in West Sussex.
Honnington Equestrian Centre
n www.bsja-area46.co.uk
Area 46 showjumping website for BSJA members in Sussex.
Colette’s Horse and Dog Shows
n www.honnington.com
Riding school, liveries and showjumping in Southborough, Kent.
Nelson Park Riding Centre
n www.cbequine.co.uk
n www.ridinglessonsthanet.co.uk
Horse and dog shows in Kent and Sussex.
Training and showjumping events near Birchington, Kent.
Coomblands Equestrian
n www.coombelands-equestrian.co.uk A cross-country schooling course open from January to November.
Crockstead Equestrian Centre
Petley Wood Equestrian Centre
n petleywoodequestrian.co.uk/
Located in the heart of the beautiful east sussex countryside near battle and hastings.
Plumpton College
n www.crocksteadec.co.uk
A new Cross Country Course designed and built by Scott Brickell.
Duckhurst Farm Show Centre
n www.plumpton.ac.uk/
The College, in Plumpton East Sussex, specialises in land-based courses and hosts regular events.
Sands Farm Equitation Centre
n www.duckhurst.com
BSJA show jumping centre in Staplehurst, Kent.
Eaglesfield Equestrian Centre
n www.sandsfarmec.co.uk
Events and liveries at Horsham in West Sussex.
Wellington Riding
n www.eaglesfield.net
Showjumping shows and livery at Ash, near Sevenoaks, Kent.
n www.wellington-riding.co.uk
Set in 300 acres of the Duke of Wellington’s beautiful Hampshire estate
Felbridge Show Centre
WPSportHorses
n www.felbridge.net
n www.wpsporthorses.co.uk
Showjumping events in East Grinstead, Sussex.
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November/December 2016
Training and schooling near Uckfield, East Sussex.
For Advertising Opportunities visit www.NagMagMagazine.com
By Raife Tansey ❘ Raife Tansey: Showjumper
It’ll soon be Christmas A Raife and his team have a brand new sponsor to announce plus it’s almost time for a well earned rest.
t the beginning of September we were joined by a new member, a 16.3hh grey mare called Jump for Joy who is training with us for a few weeks and is now available for sale.
She is a lovely 7-year-old, and true to her name, she has been an absolute joy to have. She is great to jump and I will be sad to see her go. Also the beginning of the month saw Spyder and I go to Arena UK. We had a great five days there, Spyder jumped really well each day and qualified for the 1.20 Grand Prix in the main arena. It was undoubtedly the biggest course we have jumped to date and Spyder did really well with just four faults. I have also had some great training this month with Derrick McCoppin of Showjumping Vision on all three horses, Spyder, Sienna and Jump for Joy, who we call DeDe. I also have a new sponsor to announce this month, Shakhura Sports Massage, who has been very supportive to all the members of Team Tansey including myself, so big thank you to Melissa Biggin and Shakhura. I would also like to thank Dawn Stagg from Stagg Cold Laser Therapy for, and Minkeys Tweed for all their continued support, especially at shows, where I take all three horses, with a great round from Sienna and a double clear for DeDe, so a good day. Hoping with the weather now becoming that much colder and wetter, to start attending more indoor jumping, before I give the horses a few weeks well earned rest, turned out over Christmas to recharge the batteries before starting again next year, with the hope of maybe being able to take Spyder to Spain next year for the Sunshine Tour. NM
CONTACT DETAILS To follow Raife Tansey Showjumper, please find me on FB at www.facebook.com/ RaifetTanseyShowjumper/
The Arundel Equine Hospital STUD SERVICES BEVA accredited practice for AI – chilled and frozen semen Many years experience Walk-in service for natural cover Embryo Transfer CEM accredited lab Mares can be boarded and taken in from all over south of England Specialised foal care Stallion sub-fertility assessments 24 hour dedicated stud vet emergency call out and hospital care
GENERAL SERVICES RCVS accredited Tier 3 Hospital Full surgical facilities Bone scan Mobile and hospital based full digital diagnostics On site lab Referrals taken Pre-purchase examinations Sport Horse poor performance investigations
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Caring for and about horses
Tel: NagMag on 01273 962 069 or email: info@nagmagmedia.com
November/December 2016 NagMag ❘ 19
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20 ❘ NagMag
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