Everything Horse UK magazine, January 2015, Issue 16 by Everything Horse Magazine

EVERYTHINGHORSE

Conditioning and Prehabilitation for Horse Owners • Must Have Products

WELCOME TO JANUARY’S MAGAZINE

THE FREE EQUESTRIAN NEWS AND ARTICLE MAGAZINE

5 minutes with...

JANUARY 2015, ISSUE 16

LUCINDA FREDERICKS

Simple Schooling Exercises PLUS...

‘Banish Boredom’ January 2015 • IssueBox 16 • Everything Horse UK Magazine with help from The Pony Club1

Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 16• January 2015

WELCOME TO JANUARY’S MAGAZINE

Everything Horse UK Magazine Everything Horse UK Magazine is a free monthly publication featuring the latest equestrian news, rider features and health articles. The magazine is available in print and as a digital publication. Check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for more information. Contact Information

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elcome to January's Everything Horse UK magazine, can you believe Christmas is over already? We hope you had a wonderful time enjoying celebrations with your loved ones. We can rest assured we’re now more than halfway through the dull weather following the winter solstice on the 21st December, from now on the days start to get longer, as we head towards the spring. We have a fantastic issue for our readers this month, starting the new year with an exclusive interview with no other than Lucinda Fredericks. Pictured on our front cover, Lucinda has been kind enough to let us into her life for this months '5 minutes with' feature. Michelle Woolrich continues her series of health articles, this month looking at bone injuries. Michelle touches on everything from 'what bone is' to the injuries that can occur and how the horse heals from a fracture. Anna Blunden has written a fantastic article on conditioning and prehabilitation for horse owners. In this illustrative piece, Anna goes over the different types of exercise owners can easily do from home including reflex and the ever popular carrot stretches (I personally can't think why these exercises in particular would be the horses favourite).

Harriet Morris-Baumber helps out with how to ride the three and five meter loops and explains how the serpentine really can be one of the most beneficial schooling exercises. Top International dressage rider, Hannah Biggs then continues our ridden section explaining what we can do to help resistance, stiffness and stress by looking at lengthened and shortened strides as well as other schooling exercises. The Pony Club are here once again with great advice on how to banish box boredom. The Pony Club are with us until spring helping our readers by providing a variety of stable management and riding articles. As always our magazine has lots more interesting articles inside which we hope you enjoy. Don’t forget to check out this month’s news section and Daisy’s monthly British Dressage report. Here's to a fantastic 2015 for all!

Editor Jennifer McAloon jennifer@everythinghorseuk.co.uk Advertising/Marketing advertising@everythinghorseuk.co.uk News Team Suzanne Ashton media@everythinghorseuk.co.uk

DISCLAIMER

Everything Horse UK Ltd endeavors to bring the reader accurate and up to date information from the equestrian industry. We may or may not agree with the information provided in this magazine, however we do aim to make sure it is relevant at the time of publishing. Images are provided by the content writers and Everything Horse UK Ltd will not be held liable for the use of images if copyright authentication has not been accurately sourced. Responsibility for Copyright authentication is left solely with the contributor. Should you have a dispute please contact Everything Horse UK, we will then be able to give details for the writer responsible for the issue of the images. Everything Horse UK Ltd strongly recommend you consult a qualified veterinary practitioner should you have any doubts over your horse’s health.

Suzanne

Do you follow us on Facebook and Twitter? You can find us on Facebook by typing Everything Horse UK Magazine into your search bar. We also love Twitter! Follow us on @everythinghors be careful NOT to add the e to horse as you won’t find us...

With limited daylight and less time to ride in the winter we've included a couple of ridden/training articles that look at particular exercises to make the most out of your time 'on board'. To start us off January 2015 • Issue 16 • Everything Horse UK Magazine

We’re always happy to hear from our readers and listen to their stories, so if you have something amazing you’d like to tell us about, then get in touch at media@everythinghorseuk.co.uk

CONTENTS REGULARS

SPECIAL FEATURES

. 5 Minutes with Lucinda Fredericks This month we were lucky enough to spend 5 minutes getting to know more about eventing legend, trainer and business woman, Lucinda Fredericks

. Equestrian News Indulge in the news you want to read about in our equestrian news section. This month we just love Kit Houghton’s picture of the Olympia 2014 Puissance winner, David Simpson

. British Dressage Report This month Daisy Jackson reports on the Junior and Young squad announcements, sports woman of the year and lots more

. Online Tools for the Equestrian Business After focussing on social media for the equestrian business, Emily Huxtable from Equine Events now turns her thoughts to the Internet, including the advantage of using Google+

24 HEALTH

. Banish Box Boredom The Pony Club are on hand with top tips and other interesting ideas to keep your horse from becoming bored this winter

. Conditioning and Prehabilitation for horse owners A fantastic article looking at the different types of exercises you can do with your horse when recovering from an injury, including the ever popular carrot stretch!

. Must Have Products A look at some of today’s most wanted products including the new rubber comb and items to keep you warm this winter

THIS MONTHS COVER IMAGE

. Mucking Out...Saving Time and Money Paul Groombridge from Aquamax talks about how to save time this winter when buying bedding and mucking out.

. What to look for in a Welly Alexandra Heard from Talolo Boots talks us through how to buy the perfect wellies this winter

. Tackling Winter Top show rider Robert Walker joins Everything Horse UK this month to give advice on tackling winter conditions with confidence.

. What to Feed the Leisure Horse Katie Williams MSc (Dist), senior nutritionist from Dengie explains the importance of fibre in the leisure horses diet.

. Bone Injuries Part 3 of Michelle Cheers musculoskeletal injuries series. This month Michelle looks at bone, what it is, how it repairs and how to avoid injuries

RIDING

. Loops and Serpentines Harriet Morris-Baumber provides advice on how to correctly ride a five metre loop and three loop serpentines to improve your flatwork

Lucinda Fredericks teaching a junior clinic onsite at Rosegarth image by Alex Kennedy 4

. Resistance, Stiffness and Stress Hannah Biggs is here to give an insight into how to solve common problems and overcome difficulties with movements Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 16• January 2015

ADVERTISE HERE Do you want to advertise your products or services in the Everything Horse UK magazine? We offer AFFORDABLE and REALISTIC advertising opportunities in the magazine and on our extensive equestrian media website. Prices start from ÂŁ18!! For more information and our 2015 media pack, please email our sales team advertising@everythinghorseuk.co.uk

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5 minutes with ...

Lucinda Fredericks

Lucinda teaching a junior clinic onsite at 6 Rosegarth image by Alex Kennedy

Everything Horse UK Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 16â&#x20AC;˘ January 2015

5 MINUTES WITH LUCINDA FREDERICKS Did you always plan to be an eventer or did you ever have your sights set on anything else?

I always wanted to event from the age of 9. Otherwise something to do with working in TV.

At what age did you start riding and do you come from a equestrian background?

I came from a non equestrian background with two older brothers who were not interested. My Mother did ride socially and ended up being my brilliant groom for many years.

As well as eventing you have a busy yard in Wiltshire, can you tell us a little more about the business you run?

It's full on at Rosegarth. Running the 50 acre property, managing 30+ horses [I do have brilliant, loyal staff], looking after Ellie and running her around is a full time job. Then there are all the clinics in the UK and abroad as well as keeping my wonderful owners, sponsors and syndicate members informed - again I have an amazing team in my office. I have a business plan and I stick to it! I have learnt a huge amount over the past two years and I feel quite liberated now with all my knowledge of everything.

Ellie looks like she's following in the footsteps of her mother, which is her favourite discipline and why?

Ellie really only likes to gallop and jump and is very brave. Whether she rides seriously is questionable as she is very keen on her singing and drama and loves to be up on the stage!

Can you tell us a little about the horses you have in at the moment?

I have five lovely 2 star horses for 2015, including Brit's kids who will be aimed at the 7 year old champs. I also have a 5 and 6 year old to bring on and sell.

You successfully coached Team Hong Kong to their first ever medal, how did you enjoy the experience and would you do it again? It was an amazing experience to go to Incheon in Korea. As I had a broken arm I went with the riders and ended up being there from the start which I believe made all the difference. We had a lot of fun too! The SJ riders helped on XC day so it was a real team effort. I am already booked for the next Asian Games as well as clinics in Hong Kong 3 times a year.

After selling Flying Finish in November, do you have another horse your hoping will bring you as much success? I hope Cos I Will will be my next superstar. It was a hard decision to part with Christi [Flying Finish] but I had no option and I now have secured a home for Ellie and myself.

What's your daily routine when at home?

Ideally, 8.30am Ellie to school, office till 9.30am, ride/teach/ yard/horses/, quick catch up in the office, collect Ellie, meetings/jobs/lessons, homework [always a struggle!] bath/supper/read with Ellie/TV before her bed at 9. Emails/ calls till 11pm Movie and bed by 12. I try to do clinics on a Saturday so I can do something with Ellie on Sunday.

What one piece of advice could you give to young aspiring eventers? Be polite!

What's the one essential piece of equipment you couldn't do without? My Phone

Many thanks to Lucinda and her team for taking part in this months Interview

Next month’s ‘5 minutes with’ star is Grand Prix dressage rider, Hannah Biggs

Lucinda coaching the Hong Kong Team to Bronze in Incheon at Asian Games January 2015 • Issue 16 • Everything Horse UK Magazine

Cos I Will competing at Chatsworth this year Image by David Sewell

David Simpson’s winning jump Image credit Kit Houghton 8

Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 16• January 2015

WELCOME TO JANUARY’S MAGAZINE

Irishman David Simpson Wins Alltech Christmas Puissance at Olympia The Christmas spirit spread quickly through the arena at Olympia, The London International Horse Show. Much to the delight of a full house, Irish rider David Simpson leapt to victory on his horse Richi Rich to claim the Alltech Christmas Puissance title for 2014. Simpson’s mare cleared the fourth and final jump-off at a height of 2.20m (7ft 3in) at Olympia.

January 2015 • Issue 16 • Everything Horse UK Magazine

After going head-to-head with one of Belgian’s top riders, Karline De Brabander on Fantomas de Muze, the enthralled crowd was silenced with the dramatic display of riding skill. Alltech wishes to congratulate David Simpson and his mare Richi Rich on a well-deserved win.

Daisy Jackson’s

British Dressage Report

t has been another incredible month for Charlotte Dujardin and for dressage in the UK after she gained another award - Sunday Times and Sky Sports Women of the Year. If that wasn’t enough Charlotte was also nominated for BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Unfortunately Charlotte wasn’t so lucky with her second nomination and didn’t win the award.

him and there was a bit of a rumpus to say the least ... this was very scary, so both were castrated! I thought that if I gelded him he would lose his sparkle but I have found he has become easier to ride and now has a better contact. I had previous trouble competing in a double bridle but I was placed at the Nationals and now he is competing all the time in a double.

Things have slowed down on the circuit towards the end of the year so it was good to have Bury Farm High Profile Show to focus on. I caught up with Tahley ReeveSmith who won the Inter I with 70.66%. Tahley explains the story behind her gelding Special and the problems that they have overcome;

“I also compete him barefoot, I am lucky with the hacking where I live, however he previously kept getting cracks from his coronet band, after trying every vet and numerous farriers I found Sam Head who is amazing and keeps him on the road. I am trained by Carl Hester and have started having Roland Tong to keep me on track. Both have been so generous with their knowledge. At home we are working Grand Prix but still finding it difficult getting more than three or four one time changes but I am sure it will come and we have the entire winter to crack them. After all we only

“I have owned Spech since he was four years old; I bought him in Holland, although he was bred by Paul Schockemöhle. He was a stallion less than a year ago; until my other stallion decided to get in with

started asking for them about a month ago. Currently I am self funding, fitting in plenty of teaching and riding, including three schooling liveries.” As well as Tahley, the talented combination Maisie Scruton and her Sandro Hit mare Hot Chocolate 43 banked a win at Bury Farm on one of their very first Prix St George tests. Having been selected for the World Class Development Programme the combination are now aiming for the Young Rider European team next year. I managed to catch up with Maise; “I was over the moon with it! This is our third year together; Chocolate is now 17 years old. She was previously with an Italian rider Chiara Prijs Vitale and went to the Junior European championships in 2012 with her. My future plans are to begin competing at Young Rider Level and hopefully to gain a place on the YR European Team 2015! I am proudly

Photo from Nationals of Tahley ReeveSmith and Special Image credit Jenny Nathan

Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 16• January 2015

BRITISH DRESSAGE REPORT sponsored by Childeric UK and Selwood Equine and I am very grateful to them both for their kind support! Also I am very excited and honoured to be accepted onto the World Class Development Programme and am really looking forward to working with their huge team of professionals!’ Another fantastic win at Bury Farm was from the combination Paul Hayler (our new BD director of training) and Lonswelt. This wonderful stallion has yet to be beaten at this level and took the Medium freestyle with 68%. Paul has been training Lonswelt since first purchasing him with Peter Spence as a 3 year old. The NAF products supported rider has been riding the 6 year old for the last 3 years. In this time they have claimed the 4 year old National Champion title, won the semi finals International 5 year old class at Hickstead and went on to be placed 3rd in the Finals. After their previous successes it is no doubt Paul has aims for this Londonderry x Weltmeyer/Donnerhall stallion to become a successful Grand Prix horse and they certainly seem to be on track. Paul also commented that his sponsors, Prestige, have provided saddles and bridles which have improved his horse’s performance considerably. Paul has been sponsored for many years now by Prestige Saddles.

Maisie Scruton and her Sandro Hit mare Hot Chocolate

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January 2015 • Issue 16 • Everything Horse UK Magazine

EQUESTRIAN NEWS

Animalife supports Nicole Pavitt

Animalife, the creators of Vetrofen and Vetroflex, are proud to announce their sponsorship of talented, South East based show jumper, Nicole Pavitt. Animalife have consistently proven their dedication to supporting equestrian talent across a range of disciplines and are pleased to add Nicole Pavitt to their team of sponsored riders. Nicole joins a host of Team Animalife riders including showjumper Trevor Breen and dressage riders Gareth and Rebecca Hughes, as well as the ever-growing team of amateur riders who represent the brand at grassroots level. 26-year-old Nicole had an excellent showjumping career on ponies and has since continued to go from strength to strength. In 2014 alone Nicole has won fifteen major classes including the Welsh Masters 5 Year Old Final, the Ladies Grand Prix Championships, the Winter Grade C Final and the South of England Grand Prix. Nicole is now planning ahead for another successful year in 2015.

the wide range of Animalife products, but particularly love using Vetrofen, as it helps to keep my horses in winning form!” The team at Animalife are looking forward to supporting Nicole as she continues to progress and make her mark in the field of show jumping. “Nicole’s talent and dedication to the sport has been clear from the onset,” says Ross Riley. “Nicole is also passionate about maintaining exceptional performance levels, which aligns with the Animalife principles and ensures that Nicole stands out as the perfect representative for our products.” To keep abreast of Nicole’s progress, like Animalife on Facebook for exclusive updates and blogs - https://www.facebook. com/animalifeuk. Call 0845 365 0050 to find your local Animalife Accredited Retailer or order online at www.animalife.co.uk (subject to delivery charges).

Tuffa Footwear sponsors endurance rider Carol Chapman Tuffa Footwear is delighted to announce its sponsorship of Carol Chapman, a local endurance rider who’s risen up through the ranks and represented England in August 2014. Carol was first introduced to endurance some eight years ago and was hooked from the first ride. Six years ago, she bought Silver Prince Sadik, a then four year old who had recently been broken to ride. At the age of five, he was registered to compete and so the duo’s competitive career began. Since Carol registered Silver Prince Sadik, they have covered over 1000km competitively together with EGB. This summer saw Carol take part at the Home Internationals in Scotland, representing England – a competition that the England team won. “I have worn Tuffa boots for many years and have found them to be the best and extremely comfortable, so it’s lovely to be sponsored by a company that I feel I know so well” says Carol. “I wear them around the yard, for training, for competing and general use…and I’m also taking my Endurance Riding Trainers when I go to India in January to crew for a fellow endurance rider who’s participating in a race ride. I currently have three different styles in use and would highly recommend them to anyone, whatever discipline they compete in. I am very grateful that Tuffa decided to sponsor me.”

“I am delighted to be a part of Team Animalife,” says Nicole. “I am a huge fan of

One of Tuffa’s most popular lines, the Endurance Boot, is worn by Carol and is ideal for endurance riding. For more information see www.tuffaboots.com or call 01953 880914 Nicole Pavitt image credit www.esphotography.co.uk

It’s all in the news...

If you have a news story you would like to share with our readers then please email our news team on: media@everythinghorseuk.co.uk 12

Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 16• January 2015

WELCOME TO JANUARY’S MAGAZINE The largest horse rescue and rehoming charity in Britain announces collaboration with Retraining of Racehorses World Horse Welfare and British Horseracing’s official charity, Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), have agreed to collaborate on a pilot scheme that would see the international charity retrain ‘vulnerable’ former racehorses at its Norfolk Rescue and Rehoming Centre, Hall Farm. The aim is for World Horse Welfare, who are independent welfare advisers to the British Horseracing Authority and the International Equestrian Federation, to use its expertise in preparing horses for new lives in loving homes and rehome them through its rehoming scheme – the largest of its kind in the UK. The pilot is being completely funded by RoR and this service is in addition to World Horse Welfare’s existing UK rescue and rehoming operations. World Horse Welfare’s Chief Executive, Roly Owers, says: “Racehorses are generally extremely well cared-for, but after they leave racing they can be as susceptible as any other horse to the vagaries of the market or uncertain futures if they cannot find good homes. World Horse Welfare is adept at helping vulnerable horses make the transition to new environments, so it was natural to want to apply this expertise to help former racehorses. We can provide them with the retraining they need, and find them new homes – but as World Horse Welfare will retain ownership of the

horses (as we do with all of our horses), they will have a safe and secure future with us. We see this as an excellent way to expand the offering of our rehoming scheme – rehome a Thoroughbred to ride and some companion Shetlands at the same time. It is also a demonstration of our support for the responsible use of horses in sport – and we really hope it is a success.” The charity says that if the pilot is successful it is very possible that the scheme could extend to its four Rescue and Rehoming Centres across the UK. The idea is to increase the geographical spread so that former racehorses can be available to more of the charity’s experienced re-homers. RoR Chief Executive, Di Arbuthnot, says: “In recent years we have seen a notable increase in the value of and demand for former racehorses as more and more people have become aware of their versatility and the activities available to them across a range of disciplines from dressage to polo. At RoR we have always sought to ensure there is a safety net in place to catch any vulnerable or unwanted horses in time to help find them a safe and secure home. So, in addition to the centres that already receive RoR funding, we are delighted to be working with World Horse Welfare and to be able use their extensive experience and expertise. The goals of both charities are the same in terms of wanting to ensure that those animals which provide so much pleasure on the racecourse are suitably catered for when their racing career is over. “What RoR was lacking was an even geographical spread of locations equipped and resourced to deal with former racehorses and we hope this pilot scheme will in time open the door for RoR to work with all of World Horse Welfare’s Rescue and Rehoming Centres.”

January 2015 • Issue 16 • Everything Horse UK Magazine

Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging Reaches New Milestone with 50,000 scans Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging continues to see success with its standing equine MRI scanner, as MRI is now considered a best practice for diagnosing lameness in the equine foot and lower limb. Hallmarq’s innovation has revolutionized veterinary care for horses. It is an easy, reliable diagnostic tool that provides vets with the information they need. In the last year alone, the company has recorded almost 10,000 standing MRI scans helping quickly achieve their current 50,000 scan total. Since the introduction of standing MRI (sMRI) in 2003, veterinary surgeons using the Hallmarq system have learned how lameness originating in the equine foot (sometimes termed navicular syndrome) can involve many different bones and soft tissue structures. Conditions that were barely recognized in the past can be seen using MRI, and are now understood to underlie many otherwise puzzling lameness cases. "Today," says Tim Mair, BVSc, PhD, MRCVS and Hallmarq's first customer, "MRI is our first thought for lameness located to the lower leg when there are no obvious changes on x-ray or ultrasound". Peggy Sproats would like more vets and horse owners to think the same way. Owner of the 50,000th horse to be scanned, 16hh Connemara x TB gelding Bracken, told Hallmarq "Bracken has been a good all-rounder, competing at Riding Club level Dressage, showjumping and cross-country, but he became lame at trot following work in preparation for a one-day event. My vet did discuss MRI at the time, but I was a little reticent and so after joint consultation we decided to try a period of rest. After that he was continued...

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WELCOME TO JANUARY’S MAGAZINE nerve blocked, x-rayed and rested again for several months without getting any better." "When we did decide to refer him to MRI," she continued, "we understood how severe his injury was immediately, and if I was in the same situation again I would want to go to MRI much more quickly. MRI gave us a very clear picture, without it everything was just under the umbrella label 'navicular syndrome'. Bracken has a severe flexor tendon lesion. Now we know what it is we will follow our vet's advice for treatment, but he will probably not return to full work and is likely to be retired for hacking on our farm." Dan Brown, BVSc, MRCVS, and Business Development Director at Hallmarq's US office, says “Lameness specialists across the world appreciate the diagnostic benefits of MRI. Radiologists and MRI specialists interpreting images from both sMRI and high field down systems report the same high proportion of diagnostic results in both types of scanner. But when you consider the risks of general anaesthesia, 50,000 sMRI scans is significant not only in the number of lameness cases that have been solved but also in the number of horses imaged safely." "Owners are much happier to see their horse awake and standing up during the scan, he adds, "and some examinations, like racehorses shortly before a race, or repeated MRI scans for monitoring elite competition horses during the show season, would be out of the question if down scans were the only option.” Hallmarq founder and director Nick Bolas, D.Phil, who worked with the company's development team to design a safe, convenient, effective and affordable scanner, says "Horses are anatomically well adapted to standing still, even when asleep. Our focus for the standing MRI was on safety for the horse, ease for the vet and a tool that could help provide answers for the owner. We wanted equine MRI to move out of the research environment into the clinic. Now with 50,000 scans and 75 scanners in 22 countries, I think we can safely say we are well on our way.” To find out more about Hallmarq, its products and locations of standing MRI machines, visit www.hallmarq.net.

European riding helmet standard withdrawn

industry has now received news that this option has been retracted. This means that manufacturers will need to re-certify their BS EN 1384 hats to the revised specification sooner than expected.

The EU Commission has announced that the European equestrian riding helmet standard BS EN 1384 is to be withdrawn from the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ) at its next publication. This means that hat manufacturers will no longer be able to CE-mark their hats using this standard and will need to recertify to a specification currently being developed.

As a result of these recent changes, the disciplines and riding bodies within the UK will be reconsidering their hat rules for the future. Full details of the changes currently available are listed below.

The withdrawal of the standard has no effect on riding hats already on the market. Once a hat has been manufactured to a standard, it will not become "non-standard" after withdrawal and can continue to be sold and worn. If riders have hats certified to EN 1384, they can continue to use them unless stated otherwise by rules of competition. The existing EN 1384 standard is currently in the process of revision. The withdrawal is due in part to the European working group responsible for the hat standard failing to reach an agreement on this overdue revision and subsequently causing the commission to take this drastic step. The draft proposal for the revision to EN 1384 has to go through the laborious procedure of comment and review, and it is still unclear when the final version will be published. An interim specification is being developed by a group of EU test houses and notified bodies (VG1) that will span the gap with a new specification. We expect to have this confirmed within the very soon.

British Eventing will permit BS EN 1384 hats in 2015 but not thereafter. All hats will be re-tagged in 2016, at which stage none made solely to BS EN 1384 will be tagged or permitted for use. British riding clubs will permit BS EN 1384 hats in 2015 but not thereafter. All hats will be re-tagged in 2016, at which stage no hats made solely to BS EN 1384 will be tagged or permitted for use. Pony Club will permit BS EN 1384 hats in 2015 but not thereafter. Full details of the revised hat tagging procedure will be communicated to the membership and volunteers shortly. • • •

British Dressage will permit BS EN 1384 hats in 2015 but not thereafter British Showjumping will permit BS EN 1384 hats in 2015 but not thereafter British Horse Society will permit BS EN 1384 hats in 2015 but not thereafter. From 1 January 2016, hats made solely to BS EN 1384 will not be permitted for use in BHS-approved centres

In future, CE-marked riding hats will have to be successfully tested and certified against an alternative specification to allow CE certification to continue. Companies can choose which they use and could include the new VG1 specification, the revised EN 1384 once published and PAS 015. Riding hats cannot be CE-marked solely to Snell, ASTM F1163 or AS/NZ 3838: 2006 without additional testing. The EN 1384 and thus the BS EN 1384 specifications have proved to be a popular standard throughout Europe, with wide appeal, and have saved many riders from head injury or death. Although initially being promised a period of transition by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the

15 January 2015 • Issue 16 • Everything Horse UK Magazine

Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 16• January 201515

EQUESTRIAN NEWS Equimins Launch New Straight Herbs Range Equimins is delighted to welcome 23 new additions to its range of equine supplements – all of which fit in the Straight Herbs category. The Straight Herbs category contains a range of natural products including Turmeric, Chamomile Flowers,

Dandelion Leaves, Milk Thistle Seed, Rosehips, Slippery Elm and more. “Herbs are becoming more popular, and it’s easy to see why,” says David Willey, Managing Director of Equimins. “They’re natural and can be very useful when it comes to supporting the body. We include herbs in many of our products, but the demand for ‘straight herbs’ has grown a lot recently, so we’ve provided a range to fulfill this need. Turmeric in particular is very popular at the moment, and getting herbs like this from a trusted source is important to our customers. With all supplements, it’s important that the quality is there – you need to trust what you’re feeding.” As per all the other products in the Equimins range, the quality of the raw ingredients is high and the cost per day is modest because of this. Prices for the Straight Herbs range start at just £3. For more information see www.equimins.com, email sales@equimins.com

Wiltshire Event Rider selected for World Class Squad Wiltshire based event rider Flora Harris has been selected by the British Equestrian Federation to become a member of the World Class Development programme, The programme is lottery funded through UK Sport and is designed to select and support talented riders and combinations that have the ability to deliver medal winning performances on the world stage for Great Britain. “I have just returned from two amazing and very inspiring days at the World Class Induction. I am feeling very motivated and excited about the future!” says Flora. “A big thank you to UK Sport, The National Lottery and British Eventing for providing me with this wonderful opportunity. I also must say a huge thank you to everyone already involved with Flora Harris Eventing, there is no way we would have got this far without you!”

para-equestrian dressage. All those selected will have access to top coaches, specialist nutritionists and experts in sports science and psychology. At just 26 years old, the dedicated equestrian already has some significant achievements and placings under her belt, competing at the highest level on a number of her home produced horses. With previous wins at CIC and CCI** level, 2nd and 4th place finishes at CIC*** and CCI*** as well as an incredible 2nd place at Blair Castle international CCI*** in 2014, Flora is certainly one to watch for future Team GB selection. As well as becoming a World Class squad member herself, Flora has also trained a number of horses for selection onto the World Class Equine Pathway, a programme aimed at identifying horses with sufficient talent to be considered as potential Olympic class rides.

Bolesworth International offering the hottest tickets Bolesworth International is set to reaffirm its standing next summer among showjumping's biggest and brightest new shows. Having attained prestigious four-star international status, many of the world's leading riders are expected to compete in the stunning grounds of Bolesworth Castle in Cheshire - home of the Barbour family for more than 150 years - from June 18-21. Bolesworth will be a shop window for the sport, especially with its staging coming just two months before the 2015 European Championships in Germany, when Great Britain will attempt to secure prized Rio 2016 Olympics qualification. William Whitaker, a member of the legendary Whitaker showjumping dynasty, won last year's headline grand prix class, and he continued that outstanding form by landing the recent Stuttgart World Cup class. With more than £250,000 in prize money on offer, visitors to Bolesworth can expect to witness world-class showjumping at the sport's elite level, while a number of two-star classes also feature on an exciting Bolesworth schedule, together with national and amateur classes. Tickets are now available, starting at £12 per person per day for grandstand seating, with a superb "buy one get one free" offer running up until January. That offer applies on a daily basis to grandstand seating, general admission (£12), Saturday night's eagerly-awaited music concert and general admission (£25) or concert only (£20), plus a £30 four-day pass. And Bolesworth’s renowned hospitality packages will once again whet the appetite starting at £150. Other hospitality and ticket packages available. For more information please visit www.bolesworthinternational.com

This year’s intake of 49 talented young riders represents the largest since the programme’s inception and includes athletes from eventing, showjumping, dressage and the Paralympic sport of 16 January 2015 • Issue 16 • Everything Horse UK Magazine

Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 16• January 201516

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South Essex Insurance Brokers Relaunch Brand Nationwide

Brokers, with a new logo and marketing campaign. The company re-brand reflects the fact that SEIB is a national company and provides insurance throughout the UK and also places business internationally.

From January 2015 South Essex Insurance Brokers will be known as SEIB Insurance

“SEIB has grown steadily over the 50 years it has been in business and has nationwide clients in a number of niche

Izzy Taylor Strengthens Event Team After Successful Season Following her best year ever leading event rider Izzy Taylor continues to strengthen her growing team of event horses with support from Jocelyn Riley and Equestrian Direct Surfaces. As a producer of world class event horses and a keen event rider, Jocelyn has followed Izzy’s rise to prominence closely and decided to support the talented Banbury based rider with two new rides under a joint partnership. Having enjoyed a very successful season Izzy finished in fifth place in the British Eventing rankings list, and 17th in the FEI World rankings as the third highest British rider and highest ranked British female. Izzy will be campaigning the five-yearold gelding, Direct Cavalier, a grandson of Cavalier Royal out of a Touchdown mare, who has already proven to be a promising star for the future.

Her second ride is the four-year-old gelding, Direct Casino, by Casino out of the Irish mare, Diamond Double. Said Izzy: “I am delighted with the new partnership with Equestrian Direct Surfaces, and am really excited for the new season. The two new additions to the team come with the pedigree, the talent and the temperament to really go up the grades. “The Flexiride surface I have is fantastic and with a yard of 25 horses the right surface is crucial to their fitness and performance. There is no weather condition during winter that prevents me from being able to ride as Flexiride is both absorbent and frost resistant. For me the Flexiride surface ticks all the boxes.” Said Jocelyn Riley of Equestrian Direct Surfaces: “We are very pleased to be sponsoring Izzy and are excited for the new season following the horses. She is at the top of her sport and on great form and we are delighted to supporting such a talented rider.” For more information contact Equestrian Direct Ltd on 01564 794020 or visit www.equestriandirectltd.co.uk

business sectors. Our policy of providing the excellent service that you would expect from a local broker is still at the core of our business, and we continue to handle claims and enquiries in house for some sectors. We have frequently had our name referred to in the short form of SEIB, and it is a natural progression to formalise this in our brand to reflect our position nationally in the market”, said Barry Fehler CEO. Since Barry Fehler started the company over 50 years ago, the business has developed a reputation for service, claims handling and employing customer focussed staff that understand the specialist needs of their customers in the niche markets within which it operates. SEIB offer the services of a local broker on a national scale, well known for their equestrian insurance products there is much more to the company than just equine, including private hire, rural taxis, funeral directors and the diverse insurance requirements for any small to medium sized business in the UK. Cover is available for horses, veterinary fees, equestrian business, horseboxes and trailers and equestrian liability. The company is the preferred equine supplier for BIBA and offers a range of products through nationwide intermediaries. SEIB also provide the member benefits for British Horse Society, World Horse Welfare, British Showjumping, Arab Horse Society and insure Redwings too. SEIB is wholly owned by specialist insurance group Ecclesiastical who are themselves owned by a registered charity. Earlier this year, the group set itself an ambitious goal to give £50m to charity over the next three years and in 2014 £16.5m has already been donated from its profits. SEIB is well known for its support of charities and will have a key role to play in Ecclesiastical reaching this target. For more information, visit www.seib.co.uk or follow us on facebook www. facebook. com/SEIBltd or on twitter @SEIB_ Insurance Image: Barry Fehler, SEIB Insurance Brokers CEO

Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 16• January 2015

EQUESTRIAN NEWS Exciting future for the Trailblazer Championships Norman Bargh, a founder Director of the Trailblazers Championships, and fellow Director, Wilf Hobson are delighted to announce that after a long involvement with the SEIB Trailblazers series and the Nettex Trailblazers National Finals that they are to pass over the reins to show organiser Kelvin Bywater and the team from Show Direct. After many extremely pleasurable years running the Championships Norman Bargh says “We’re are extremely pleased that Kelvin Bywater of Show Direct Ltd will be taking over the management of the Trailblazers Championship series and finals. We feel it is time for new blood to help progress the series and feel Kelvin has many of the same principles that have helped to develop the Trailblazers series over the years”. The 2015 Trailblazers Championships will be organised by Kelvin Bywater and his team. “This is an exciting opportunity and we are looking forward to a long association with the Championships. I have known Norman for over 25 years and I look forward to a continued association and will be looking to innovate not to re-invent” says Kelvin. “We will confirm the 2015 championship final dates in January 2015, but all the qualifying classes that have been taking place in 2014 will form part of the schedule for the 2015 Championships”. Show Direct Ltd are the show organisers of the Blue Chip Winter Show Jumping Championships, which hosts a five day show jumping final in April each year for competitors at all levels who have qualified at one of the 280 qualifiers held all over the country. They are also the show organisers for the Winter Dressage Championships and National Dressage Championships, which they run on behalf of British Dressage. Kelvin has been involved with equestrian competition all his life, competing at local shows while growing up. He is an International Show Jumping Course Designer and has been involved in the organisation of many national and international shows over the past 20 years.

forward to the long term development of this important series and want continue to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for competitors. As with the Blue Chip Winter Show Jumping Championships, the aim will be to provide quality competition at all levels with the feel of being at a prestigious and special Championship. Finally, but most importantly, I look forward to meeting many of you at the 2015 Trailblazers Championship Finals”.

Two up and coming show jumpers join Equilibrium Products’ team of sponsored riders Equilibrium Products, the company behind Tri-Zone boots and the Equilibrium Therapy Massage Pad add two new show jumpers to their impressive team of sponsored riders. Young riders, Holly Gillott and Daniel Moseley join long term sponsored rider Daniel Neilson to boost the number of young international show jumpers sponsored by this award winning company. Holly Gillott, currently ranked 21st in the UK, has been on great form this year with her top horse Dougie Douglas representing GB in four Nations Cup teams, helping them to victory in Odense and individually winning the Grand Prix at the same event. In recognition of Holly’s talent she has just been selected by the BEF for the World Class Development Programme 2014-2016. Holly says, “I am very excited to be working with such an innovative company. We have been using Equilibrium products for some time and have been very impressed with all of their products, most especially the

boots. They are so light and comfortable for the horses to wear and don’t irritate their legs. “ Daniel Moseley is the youngest first British male rider to take home the famous Queen Elizabeth’s II cup title at the age of 21. He represented GB in his first Senior Nations Cup at the age of 20, continuing on to be a member of the U21 European Championship team in Jardy, France. Originally based with William and Pippa Funnell, Daniel set up on his own in 2012 and now runs a successful business from his Lincolnshire yard. Daniel says, “ I am so pleased to join Equilibrium Products as a sponsored rider. I have been using Tri-Zone boots for a while now on all of my horses for everything from jumping and hacking to exercising and even in the field as they are so easy to wear. The Equilibrium Therapy Massage has made a big difference to the horses’ performance in the ring – it travels with me and the team to all the shows now!”. Laura Cutter, Marketing Manager at Equilibrium Products says, “We are extremely proud to welcome Holly and Daniel to our team and look forward to supporting them in what promises to be exciting times ahead for these two young talents”.

Show Direct has always aimed to provide professional, well organised and polished events. Kelvin says “I am delighted and honoured to become show organiser for the Trailblazer Championships and look January 2015 • Issue 16 • Everything Horse UK Magazine

Conditioning and Prehabilitation for Horse Owners Just as building your core muscles can help improve your riding and muscle control, it also reduces back pain and this is also true for the horse. Making sure that your horse is fit enough for the work that is being asked of it is generally well known among horse owners and riders.

Everything Horse UK Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 16â&#x20AC;˘ January 2015

HEALTH: CONDITIONING AND PREHABILITATION FOR HORSE OWNERS

mproving your horse’s fitness, termed conditioning, is important to carry out when increasing your horse’s workload. However, within therapy circles, both animal and human are the concepts of rehabilitation and prehabilitation which takes the concept of conditioning further and includes exercises to improve core strength. This in turn allows the athlete to work and compete with a reduced risk of getting injured in the first place. Conditioning plans for gradually introducing increased amounts of work for the horse concentrate on conditioning the cardio vascular system; the benefits of this are increasing lung capacity, reducing recovery times post exercise and building muscle mass. Gradually increasing the work a horse receives gives the body time to respond to the workload and can help prevent over use, strain injuries and conditions such as tying up. The musculoskeletal system will also become conditioned and the major locomotor muscles will get stronger, reducing the likelihood of injury when, for instance, going over varied terrain.

Prehabilitation The term prehabilitation means going through the process of rehabilitation to help prevent injury from occurring in the first place. The main result of prehabilitation for horses is to strengthen the core muscles. If the core muscles are properly strengthened and conditioned the horse is better set up to avoid injury. Increased core strength will help the horse deal better with being ridden, helping them to carry the rider with ease and prevent back pain, it can help prevent a horse from breaking down early with conditions such as arthritis and non-specific back pain or reluctance to work. A horse with a well-conditioned, strong core will be able to avoid doing the splits when slipping or will be able to “save itself” from a fall if, for instance, slipping or hitting a jump cross country or put hacking. Enjoying a good massage

Rehabilitation is the process that owners, trainers and therapists use to bring a horse back from injury. First the horse receives appropriate veterinary care for the initial injury and supportive care to give the site the best chance to heal. This is followed by a conditioning program to bring the horse back into working fitness. Detailed here are a few simple exercises and small changes to your daily management routine that can have a big impact on the working life of your horse; this comes under the umbrella of prehabilitation. Grooming for massage In days gone by people would make a hay wisp and use this to beat against the horse’s large muscle groups, look in any old horse management book and you will see instructions on how to make these. A more effective (and modern) way to achieve similar results is to use a rubber curry comb. Every horse owner should have a rubber curry comb in their grooming kit. The curry comb can remove dried mud from hocks, knees and fetlocks without hurting the horse or pulling the hair, it also helps remove dead coat out when shedding, especially useful if your horse is too sensitive to use a striping comb. It also works to give your horse an all over body massage and is extremely effective to use between physical therapy treatments to help extend the benefits of the treatment and prevent small muscle knots from forming. Use it in big circles, pressing

into your horse’s muscles on the neck, lower shoulder and back. Use a zig zag pattern over the hind quarters and outer thigh. Because the rubber curry comb is soft it won’t hurt if you go over a bony area, but it is best to avoid these areas, as shown in the photo, for the comfort of the horse. Use this routine as part of your daily grooming, it will help increase circulation to the skin and help give a lovely shiny coat, your horse will really love it and it is an easy way for horse owners to give an effective massage. The curry comb is really useful if your horse wears a rug at this time of year to help keep the skin in tip top condition, preventing dry scurfy skin and helping to relieve any itches your horse may have under the rug. If your horse is really sensitive and doesn’t like being groomed much, start off with a light pressure for the first week or so and gradually increase the pressure you use, you will be surprised that they may actually start to enjoy being groomed. Carrot stretches and stationary reflex stretches Carrot stretches have been proven to mobilise the spine, reduce pain and increase tone in the deep postural muscles

January 2015 • Issue 16 • Everything Horse UK Magazine

of the back, the very deep muscles that control the posture and stabilisation of the spine. See photos for carrot stretch postures on the next page. Reflex stretches take a bit of practice, but they help to fire the nerves involved in contraction of the core muscles, helping to wake these muscles up and stretch the lumbar spine. Often physical therapists will use reflex stretches at the end of a treatment to stretch certain muscles and cause the core muscles to fire, aiding in changes that occur in the body after a treatment and helping to lengthen the effectiveness of the treatment. Practiced regularly they can really benefit the horse’s core muscles. Simple reflex stretch If it is safe to do so, stand behind your horse with him standing square, press firmly with your fingers about mid-way across the gluteal muscles (see photos on the next page for details) and run your fingers back towards you passing either side of the hamstrings and pressing in firmly as the muscles curve in above the hind leg. This will encourage your horse to arch its back and tuck the pelvis under, 21

Carrot Stretches

Reflex stretch start - only ever stand behind your horse if it is safe to do so

Neck Stretch

Carrot stretch nose to fetlocks

Press in and the horse should round over the croup

stretching the lower back and firing the core muscles. Be careful not to put too much pressure on when pressing in at the top of the leg at first, as this may cause your horse to kick, go light to start with and try again if there is no response. The response is often small when the muscles of the hind quarters are tight or the horse is stiff through the lower back so don’t overdo this.

Carrot stretch nose down and to the side Carrot stretch nose to chest

For more information on this Hillary Clayton and Narelle Stubbs have released a book and DVD explaining these exercises and more, it is available from the British Equine Veterinary Association online bookshop, entitled Activate Your Horse’s Core, it is a useful tool for all horse owners. Simple Groundwork. It is always recommended you wear an approved riding hat when taking part in any of the activities described here. Working from the ground Working your horse from the ground is a great way to prepare for ridden work and enables you to watch how they move. Research has found that groundwork exercises help your horse feel more relaxed once you get in the saddle. The first simple exercise is leading your horse in a small circle. As long as you can lead your horse safely in hand then this exercise is great, it helps encourage the horse to take more weight on the inside hind-leg and to step under themselves correctly. In turn, this will encourage them to lift their backs and strengthen the core muscles. I have used this in the rehabilitation of lots of horses and it really helps them before more

Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 16• January 2015

HEALTH: CONDITIONING AND PREHABILITATION FOR HORSE OWNERS

Good body position on a small circle with body bending round and head low Stepping with the inside hind leg towards the centre of the body demanding exercises are undertaken, it is a great prehabilitation exercise. You don’t need any fancy equipment, it works just as well in a headcollar, or a bridle can be worn. First ask the horse to SLOWLY walk around you in a circle, if your horse needs a bit of help at first then make the circle bigger and walk next to him, if your horse can walk in a small circle slightly away from and ahead of you then all the better. Watch the inside hind leg and gently adjust the head towards the inside or outside of the circle very slightly by shortening or lengthening the rope to get the inside hind leg to step up towards the middle of the belly. As long as the horse’s back and neck are not restricted then they will be able to lower the head naturally and walk with their neck horizontal to the shoulder. This exercise helps to strengthen the hind leg and stretch the back. The horse should be walking slowly, but in a regular rhythm on a 5 or 10 meter circle. Only do a half to a whole circle to start with and build up to 10 circles over the course of a few weeks. At first, be sure to stop when your horse steps correctly, even if it’s just the one step, give him praise and a rest so that he knows what you are aiming for then try again. Make sure you do this in both directions, you may find at first that your horse seems to bend to the outside of the circle in one direction, ignore this as the exercise will

correct it, just focus on the inside hind leg and make sure it steps towards the middle of the belly. Practice this everyday if you can, before or after you ride, it only takes a few minutes and gives big rewards in the long run. This exercise forms the basis of therapeutic lunging, ensuring the horse moves correctly on a circle without the need for restrictive gadgets. As the horse progresses and can hold the exercise on a 5 meter circle for 10 laps, stepping correctly with each step, then the circle can be made bigger by a couple of meters at a time. If the horse starts to “lose form”, then make the circle smaller again and continue the exercise. Eventually the horse will be able to move on a 20 or 25 meter circle, stepping correctly towards the middle of the belly, with the head held low and the body curving to follow the arc of the circle. Therapeutically, I would wait until the horse is able to do this in walk before asking for trot on a larger circle. Backing up Backing up SLOWLY will encourage your horse to round his back and tuck the pelvis under as he steps back, it also helps the horse to carry weight on the hind legs, helping to strengthen them, especially the gluteal and quadriceps muscles. Start this exercise in hand before moving onto doing it whilst ridden. Standing in front of and to the side of your horse use gentle pressure on the

January 2015 • Issue 16 • Everything Horse UK Magazine

headcollar to ask the horse to step back, do not apply too much pressure or the horse will lift his head and hollow his back which is the opposite of what you want to achieve. Make sure the steps are slow and in a straight line. If your horse is a bit weak on one side he will tend to step back in a curve towards the stronger side, try standing on the same side of his head as the direction he tried to veer to, this often helps the horse to move back in a straighter line. Take a step then stop, ask the horse to step forward, pause, then ask again. Eventually your horse will be able to back for a few steps in a straight line. If you are using positive reinforcement, move your target back towards your horse’s chest, when he steps back and touches the target reward him and continue to build the exercise. This is excellent at helping to stretch the lower back and take weight on the hind quarters as the pelvis tucks and the back rounds. Once your horse can do several steps with ease in a straight line try backing up a slight incline, this will increase the stretch, then up a hill once your horse can back up the incline with ease. Think about how people move when they practice Tai Chi, the slower and more purposeful the movement the better at strengthening the muscles.

Banish Box Boredom! Winter can be a frustrating time for horses and owners, with the weather conditions meaning it is not always safe or practical to ride or turn horses out. Horses can become bored and isolated if stabled for long periods of time, sometimes developing vices as their environment does not allow them to perform normal equine behaviours. These vices can not only lead to the horse displaying health and behavioural problems if the causes are not addressed, but may also cause damage to the stable from chewing and kicking. Preventative measures, such as anti-weaving grills and cribbing straps, are readily available and can provide short term fixes in extreme cases but do not solve the underlying problems associated with stable vices. The solution is to keep the horse in a way which imitates their natural environment as closely as possible.

Exercise Exercise is vitally important for horses for a number of reasons, but this time of year it is crucial that those who are stabled 24 hours a day get the opportunity to stretch their legs as often as possible. If you are unable to ride because of poor weather, or because of boggy, hard or slippery surfaces, leading the horse around the yard or arena, or grazing him in hand is a good way to give them a change of scene. If safe to do so, turning the horse out in an arena, enclosed yard or barn will also give them the opportunity to walk around.

Did You Know? Remember when you do get back in the saddle, your horse might be a little sharper than normal!

Horse walkers can also be useful to exercise sensible horses in the winter if you have access to one. If a walker is used, you must ensure that they are worked equally on each rein and that the surface is safe for them to walk on.

Top Tips

• I bought my pony a stable mirror and it had a massive calming effect on him • I graze my horse in hand every night after school so he can have a pick at the grass • I love giving my pony extra attention over winter by grooming her thoroughly every day. She seems to enjoy the fuss! • We have a radio playing at our yard which helps keep the horses and ponies occupied • My pony loves apple bobbing! • I hide carrots in my pony’s haynet • We make fruit and vegetable kebabs using baling twine and hang them in the stable • I hide treats around the stable for him to find • Our yard has chickens, cats and dogs roaming about so there is always something for them to watch!

Image: Likit Products

The Pony Club asked its Members how they prevent their horses becoming bored when stabled. Below is a list of suggestions to help your horse beat the blues this winter:

Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 16• January 2015

WELCOME TO JANUARY’S MAGAZINE

Banish Box Boredom! Forage and Feed Horses living in the wild spend a large proportion of their day grazing, and their stomachs have adapted to digest small amounts of food eaten over several hours. In the stabled horse, feeding small amounts of hay or haylage at regular intervals throughout the day helps keep them occupied for longer and simulates their natural behaviour grazing in a pasture environment. Some owners use a small mesh hay net (or two nets, one inside the other) to extend stable activity and help aid digestion, although recent studies show that feeding forage in this way does not always slow the rate of intake. Instead, creating multiple feeding stations around the stable provides horses with the opportunity to display more natural feeding behaviour and helps to slow them down because they have to move about. Hanging a hay net in the centre of the stable (if it can be hung so not to endanger the horse) can also increase the amount of time the horse takes to eat. Licks can also be useful in the stable; not only to relieve boredom but to provide nutrients and extend the time spent licking and chewing, similar to grazing behaviour. Hanging a swede can do the same, provided the horse doesn’t eat it all in one go or become frustrated by it!

Did You Know? Image: Likit Products

• Regular grooming gives the stabled horse some much needed interaction and helps maintain good circulation and coat quality • Feed types and quantities may need to be altered as horses will be doing less exercise!

There is a wealth of toys and snack balls available which can be filled with sliced carrots, apple or swede, treats, nuts or pellets. These reduce boredom by trickle feeding the contents and encouraging the horse to forage for food as he would if turned out. They can also help increase fibre intake if being used as part of a feeding plan.

The Pony Club

January 2015 • Issue 16 • Everything Horse UK Magazine

aving y dge from about me and nter and

Mucking out... Saving you time and money!

here’s no doubt about it, winter can be expensive. When horses come in at night, the grass stops growing and lush fields become brown or white, horses cost more, whether this in terms of bedding, hay and feed…or time.

the money it costs day to day and the time it takes to muck out. Aquamax produces a wood crumble bedding that’s economical to use and easy to manage. Here, Paul Groombridge from Aquamax talks about how to save time and money on bedding this winter and beyond.

If your horse lives in a stable during the winter, you’ll need to invest in bedding of some kind to help keep him comfortable and prevent injury. The bedding you choose can have a huge impact on the money it costs you initially,

Winter savings, when it comes to bedding at least, can be broken into three categories: things that save you time, things that save you money...and things that save you both! Here, we have a look at how to save this winter.

Top tips to save the day! 1.

2. 3. 4.

5. 6.

Buy in bulk. This can save you money, time and stress…yes, treble the joy! It can save you money because some companies will discount for bulk buys, say, if you buy a pallet of bedding. You might even find you get extra benefits like free delivery. If you don’t need all the bedding you’ve ordered, look to team up with people on the yard, so you all save. As for how it saves you time, getting a large quantity delivered means less trips to the tack shop. And also means a saving in fuel costs too. And, when the snow’s falling or the horses have to spend longer in than you like, you’ll have your bedding ready to help you cope, without any stress. Work out the cost per week…don’t just look at the cost per day. If you’re looking at economical bedding, don’t just look at the bag price! If you’re serious about saving money, ask how many bags the average person uses per week and compare that figure. How much waste? Some bedding generates a lot more waste than others…more waste = more trips to the muck heap…this will cost you time. More wheelbarrows of muck on the muck heap = bigger muck heap…which means a greater cost to clear it. Manage it. The day to day management of your bedding can save you a huge amount of time. If you’re able to skip out each day and do a ‘proper muck out’ once a week, that’s going to save time over a bedding that needs a full muck out each day. This will also save you trips to the muck heap which will save you more time! Keep it tidy. If you can, do your best to skip out as often as necessary when the horse is stabled, especially for prolonged periods like if he’s on box rest or if he can’t be turned out due to the weather. It’ll help you keep the bed cleaner, prevent droppings being trampled in, and it’s just better all round. Would mats help? Matting can reduce bedding costs and time spent mucking out. There is of course the initial investment, but worth it in the long run.

All the points above should be considered along with a very important one, and that’s the horse’s health. For example, buying cheap bedding that’s full of dust could compromise the horse’s respiratory system, which is false economy on every level. Skimping on the volume of bedding (depending on the type as some bedding is much more stable than others) could lead to injury if the horse exposes concrete flooring and hurts himself. It’s essential to consider the full picture at all times. Aquamax wood crumble bedding is virtually dust free, naturally removes the smell of ammonia and most people use less than a bag a week, due to the management style. In addition, it’s incredibly quick to muck out and minimal bedding makes it onto the muck heap, saving you pounds! To find out more about Aquamax, see www.aquamax.co.uk 26

Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 16• January 2015

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What to look for in a Welly W ith the wet, muddy weather we’re experiencing at the moment, there are few equestrians who won’t be wearing their wellies for a good portion of the day. Here, Alexandra Heard from Talolo Boots talks us through how to buy the perfect wellies this winter…

There are shelves full of wellies available, whether you go to your local tack shop or you look at the virtual shelves online. It can be really tricky to find the right boots for you, but here’s our guide, which we hope will help you. What are you going to use them for? Yes, to wear in the mud, but really think about it! If you’re looking to ride in your wellies, you need to be very aware of the soles you need – they might not provide the grip of other boots, but they will need to be stirrup friendly. Looking to wear your wellies in the coldest winter weather? You might want to consider neoprene or lined wellies for extra warmth. Equally, if you’re hoping to wear them for the school run and popping to town in the wet, you might be looking at something a little different. Some wellies are perfect for a range of activities, but it’s worth thinking about before you buy.

Brought to you by Talolo Boots

in fact, a pair of funky boots can cheer up a dreary day (and a dreary outfit!). Experiment with something a bit different and embrace colour – let’s be honest, there’s enough grey and brown around on a murky winter day! Fabulous fit. In addition to leg shape, the general cut of the welly can vary. You can get full length, welly shoes, mid calf length…and even cowboy style. Some are easier to put on and take off, look better with more fashionable outfits and some are purely practical…there’s a great choice. Test them. If you order online particularly, test the fit indoors before you venture outside…and keep the tags on! Check for fit as soon as you get them, and make sure you wear the socks that you’re likely to wear with your wellies in ‘real life’. Establishing that there’s a problem when the wellies are clean and in saleable condition is much more cost effective than having to sell on a worn pair because they’re giving you blisters! If you test drive your new wellies in a store, wear the socks you’re likely to wear and walk around in them to get a feel for the fit.

Talolo Boots makes cowboy style wellingtons, complete with a small heel, pointed toe and flattering close design. They’re ideal for time at the yard, walking the dog, the school run, festivals and more! Talolo has just announced sponsorship of event rider Bonnie Fishburn, which is a really exciting step for the company. Talolo Boots’s cowboy wellies are available in three printed styles and high shine mock snakeskin, prices start from £32.

Know your leg shape. There are many different styles of welly, and some are designed for specific leg shapes. There are a number of wide fit wellies for those with broader calves, and long/ slim fit for those with longer, thinner legs. It’s also worth thinking what you’re going to wear them with. If you wear them on the yard with jodhpurs but also tuck your jeans in them when you walk the dog, a gusset or a wider fit might help accommodate both needs. Colours are cool. There’s no rule that you have to pick black or green wellies… 28

Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 16• January 2015

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TRAINING: LOOPS AND SERPENTINES Simple Schooling Exercises with Harriet Morris-Baumber

Loops and Serpentines Here Equestrian.com sponsored rider Harriet Morris-Baumber provides advice on how to correctly ride a five metre loop and three loop serpentines to improve your flatwork.

5 Metre Loops

The 5 metre loop is a relatively simple, but a very useful exercise. It can be used in many ways, when you start to ride as an aid to help with steering and balance. When more advanced it can be used in walk, trot, or canter either to leg yield from and or to the track, and at canter to give a feel of counter canter on the return to the track. The movement is very good as a starter after you have warmed up trotting around the arena and across the centre. It will prepare your horse for circles and exercises to follow. You will need to ride deep into the corner of the arena before you enter the long side.

5 metre loops can be carried out from either direction on either side of the school. At the first letter entering the long side, ride gently out 5 metres, the furthest point of this loop should be parallel to ‘X’ before riding back to the track at the last marker where the loop finishes. Ride into the corner to define the movement.

of the arena. It is important that the horse is straight for a stride or two before he is expected to change bend. At this point the rider must sit and change diagonal in preparation for the change in direction. Throughout the exercise, the horse must remain in rhythm and change flexion without resistance or stiffness.

It is important to ride a smooth curve, with the correct bend and to stay focussed throughout the movement.

Think about how you will ride the movement before you begin. The serpentine can either begin at ‘A’ or ‘C’. Divide the arena into three equal parts to get the dimension right.

3 Loop Serpentines

This is one of the most useful and beneficial schooling exercises. By changing direction and bend, the horse is flexing one way and then the other, transferring the weight-carrying inside hind leg from side to side. A serpentine consists of three equal-sized loops which extend to the opposite sides

Make a clear difference between riding the loops and riding the corners. If starting the serpentine at ‘A’ ride deeply into the corner just before ‘A’. At ‘A’, technically, the serpentine begins, so the next corner should be ridden as part of the loop. At the furthest point of the loop touch the

The 5 meter loop is a relatively simple exercise that can be used to help with steering and balance 30

Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 16• January 2015

WELCOME TO JANUARY’S MAGAZINE

track for one stride before bending off the track again. Head across the arena, changing diagonal over the centre line, before proceeding on to your second loop. Continue your way down the school until you have completed three loops. At the top of the arena, ride the last turn as part of the loop, completing your serpentine at ‘C’. Return to the track and ride into the next corner to define your movement. Once the horse is able to perform a 3 loop serpentine correctly, he can be asked to make more loops. This makes the half circle tighter so demanding more bend. The horse can also be asked to complete the serpentine at a sitting trot once he has warmed up. For further information visit www.equestrian.com

January 2015 • Issue 16 • Everything Horse UK Magazine

Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 16• January 2015

WELCOME TO JANUARY’S MAGAZINE

Solving Problems with Hannah Biggs

Resistance, Stiffness and Stress TOP International dressage rider and trainer Hannah Biggs is here to give an insight into how to solve common problems and overcome difficulties with movements, courtesy of her sponsor HAYGAIN hay steamers. Successful dressage rider Hannah Biggs is having a great season with wins at top competitions, throughout the country. Partnerships between horse and rider can be testing at times. Here Hannah will look at the basics, to ensure resistance, stiffness and stress is never an issue. “If problems start to arise with your horse, the first things to look at are the horses back and teeth. These could be causing pain and be the underlying problem to any issues you are facing,” explains Hannah. “I believe that you should tackle problems simply before they arrive and ensure you work on the basics, so problems further down the line do not arise. When lengthy and correct preparation is done movements will be easy. Hannah’s care, attention to detail and straightforward outlook really pay off in the arena. Whether young or old, balance and stretches are very important, to prevent difficulties with movements or cause injuries. Horses should have time to relax and enjoy life, so all the horses on Hannah’s

January 2015 • Issue 16 • Everything Horse UK Magazine

yard go out every day, to let them stretch and move naturally. Before riding the horses they often have leg stretches and use massage rugs. “Lunging is very useful for training; my advice is always be positive and work at the horse’s pace. When riding, a simple technique for helping with balance and avoiding stiffness is to allow your horse to have true bend, stretching the poll and neck, letting them give through the body. This will help the horse to feel more prepared for work, increase suppleness and ease resistance to more difficult movements. “Varied work will help avoid a horse getting fed up and lacking interest. As well as schooling, during the week I go hacking or jumping, to mix up the work.” Riding should be enjoyable. These techniques will help prevent a stress-full environment for both horse and rider, and make riding a pleasure, not tense and hard work. Remember if you are in a bad mood, it will reflect on the horse.

Lengthened strides that are fast and flat

If your lengthen strides are fast and flat consider what directions you have been giving to the horse to get this result? To avoid lengthened strides that are fast and flat, work more on the collection, it is not about getting faster and faster. When your strides tend to get fast or flat, don’t put both your legs on and

TRAINING: RESISTANCE, STIFFNESS AND STRESS hope it improves. A half-halt in the corner before will help the horse understand to step under and rebalance. Use your legs, seat and shoulders, but keep your hands soft. When the horse is sitting and engaging more, he can respond to the legs on a forward aid, which should make the powerful hind legs correctly lift the forehand and power from the back to cover more ground.

Corners, circles and turns that lack bend

When a horse is lacking bend, it means it is not working correctly. Bend should require the horse to deliver power from the hind legs along the curve of the corner, circle or turn. A common problem, if your horse needs more bend, relates to the fact the horse is falling out through the shoulder or falling in like a motorbike. If this is the case and the horse is not working fully, teach yourself and the horse to understand that two legs on means forward and one leg on means use the same side hind leg more actively. Practice this principle, by giving the horse time to go around corners with balance, keep the impulsion going, enough to pick up the inside hind leg and step under it with each stride. Maintain energy but don’t rush. Use your outside rein to ensure the horse doesn’t fall out through his outside quarters. Keep your inside elbow in and soften the inside hand once the horse is accepting the flexion in the jaw, but keep your inside leg on the girth so the horse doesn’t fall in. Making sure you are sat straight and not leaning in, encouraging the horse to balance themselves. Correct bend will ensure your horse maintains elasticity and strength, which will help balance and control. If the horse is working through his body correctly it will lower the risk of stiffness and less wear and tear.

With special thanks to Hannah and her sponsors Haygain

Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 16• January 2015

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What to feed the ...

Leisure Horse In this, the first of our three part series, Katie Williams MSc (Dist), senior nutritionist from Dengie explains the importance of fibre in the leisure horses diet.

Fibre stops the fizz explains Kate, a highfibre diet can be the key to a calmer, happier horse. Winter’s short days and long nights with restricted turnout for many leisure horses and ponies can result in over-exuberant behaviour. Making sure you give your horse the correct feed is essential because serving up the wrong one can make the situation much more challenging. Think controlled energy Fizzy behaviour is usually caused by too much energy – or the wrong type of energy. Energy comes from many different sources and is classified as either slow- or quick-release energy. Energy from fibre is described as slowrelease, ideal for those horses in light work. This is mainly because fibre is joined together by complex bonds that can be broken down only by bacteria and other micro-organisms living in the hindgut. Fibre can take several days to be processed by microbes, which explains why the horse is so dependent on a healthy population of bugs. Without them, the horse wouldn’t be able to access the energy in fibre. Imagine how much weight you would lose if you

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couldn’t access the energy in at least half of your diet. With cereals, it’s entirely the opposite situation because the starch they contain provides a quick-release source of energy. This is because it can easily be broken down by enzymes, which the horse produces in its small intestine. Food reaches here relatively quickly and, depending on various factors such as the type of food consumed, usually passes through to the hindgut within a couple of hours. The energy from cereals arrives in the horse’s bloodstream much quicker than energy from fibre. Different fibres A wide range of substances can be grouped under the umbrella term “fibre”. These include cellulose, hemi-cellulose and pectin, and they are found in varying degrees in different fibrous feedstuffs. They also range in digestibility. Some are broken down more easily than others by the microbial population in the gut. For example, sugar beet is considered to be highly digestible, whereas straw is more indigestible. Indigestible fibre can be useful for good doers, as it provides more chewtime without calories. Fibre going further Because fibre provides slow-release energy, it is the ideal way to provide energy while keeping the risk of overexcitable behaviour as low as possible. You might be surprised to learn that fibre can provide as much energy as mixes and cubes but without the starch or fizz factor.

contains the same level of energy as a cool mix or pasture mix at 10 MJ/kg. This means there is no reason you can’t feed a chopped alfalfa fibre feed instead of a mix or cube. Because a chopped fibre would also contribute to the horse’s overall fibre requirement, you could make some handy savings by reducing the amount of hay or haylage you have to feed, too. Oil is another slow-release energy source and, when combined with good-quality fibre – Alfa-A Oil, for example – can provide as much energy as a conditioning mix but without the fizz factor associated with cereals. It is possible, therefore, to promote weight gain even for horses that are stabled and on limited exercise, both from a health and behaviour aspect. Because most chopped fibre feeds are straights, it is recommended that a broad spectrum source of vitamins and minerals is used alongside them to balance the ration. For further information on winter feeding and general nutrition, telephone the Dengie Feedline on 0845 345 5115 or visit www.dengie.com and chat live to a nutritionist.

When a horse is in light or inconsistent work, over-excitable behaviour can occur due to a number of factors. Feeding a high fibre diet can help keep these situations under control. Alfa-A Original, which contains chopped alfalfa with molasses, for example, 36

Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 16• January 2015

WELCOME TO JANUARY’S MAGAZINE

January 2015 • Issue 16 • Everything Horse UK Magazine

Musculoskeletal Injuries: Part 3

Bone Injuries Pain due to a musculoskeletal injury is the most common cause of performance loss in horses, early diagnosis and treatment will improve the long term outcome. This is the third in a new series of articles by Michelle Woolrich, animal musculoskeletal physical therapist, looking into the main types of muscloskeletal injuries that can occur in our horses; tendon injuries, muscle injuries, bone injuries, and ligament injuries. This will help owners understand how this type of injury occurs, how they heal, how they are treated and rehabilitated, and how they can be avoided. This month continues with bone injuries.

Everything Horse UK Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 16â&#x20AC;˘ January 2015

WELCOME TO JANUARY’S MAGAZINE

January 2015 • Issue 16 • Everything Horse UK Magazine

What are bones?

The horses' body comprises of approximately 205 bones. Bone is a lightweight but very strong rigid tissue that comes in all shapes and sizes and is mainly made up of an osseus tissue matrix, calcium and collagen. There are 2 types of bone; spongy (cancellous) and compact (cortical), both vary in structure.

Bone Injury

There are many problems and diseases that can affect the bone, the most common problem being a fracture. Bones can fracture in several ways, but the two most common are by applying significant force to the bone (direct trauma, e.g. a kick or fall), or by repetitive low grade trauma sustained over a long period (stress fracture).

Bone healing

Fracture healing is influenced by a variety of factors and the stages are distinct but do over lap. The Inflammatory phase – immediately after fracture Damage to the blood vessels causes bleeding which forms a blood clot (haematoma). The cells in the clot die, except for fibroblasts which replicate. The fibroblasts and inflammatory cells infiltrate the bone forming granulation tissue. Using anti-inflammatory or cytotoxic medication during this 1st week can alter the inflammatory response and inhibit bone healing so is not recommended. The repair phase – the callus develops The haematoma formed initially serves as a structure in which the callus forms. As long as the bones are properly positioned or aligned together, bone cells will lay down new tissues on the repair site to replace

Bone Marrow

Blood clot

The function of bone is to: • • •

Support and protect the body, such as the ribs and sternum protect the heart and lungs, the skull protects the brain and the vertebrae protect the spinal cord. Provide levers for muscles to attach to (via tendons), to enable locomotion with the help of the joints (where two bones meet held together by ligaments) that allow the movement. To produce red bloods cells, many types of white blood cells and provide reservoirs of minerals and fat.

the fractured fragments. Blood vessels are also formed. Fibroblasts in the granulation tissue develop into chondroblasts and lay down a stroma that supports vascular growth and forms cartilage. Other cells on each end of the gap (fracture) form cartilage and woven bone to fill the space, which continue to grow until they unite. A collagen matrix is laid down and mineralised which forms the soft fracture callus around the repair site. This callus is very weak in the first 4 to 6 weeks so requires adequate protection. If disrupted, ossification may not occur prolonging healing and causing deformities.

The osteoblasts form new lamellar bone on the surface of the matrix in the form of trabecular bone. Eventually, all of the woven bone and cartilage from the original callus is replaced by trabecular bone. The ossified callus forms a bridge between the fracture. Then trabecular bone is reabsorbed by osteoclasts and osteoblasts deposit compact bone to replace it. Eventually, the fracture callus is remodelled. The final product is a mechanically stable bone similar to its original form and strength.

Treatment and rehabilitation

Long gone are the days where nearly every horse with a fracture was put to sleep, with advances in modern veterinary and medical science, a fracture doesn't necessarily mean the end for your horse. Treatment, healing and prognosis is dependent on:

The remodelling phase – the healing bone is restored to its original shape, structure, and strength The remodelling phase is approximately 70% of the healing time. Remodelling occurs slowly over months/years and is facilitated by mechanical stress placed on the bone. As the fracture is exposed to loading forces, bone is laid down where it is needed and reabsorbed from where it is not. The weak callus is replaced by strong bone material (lamellar or mature bone). The cartilage and the woven bone is replaced with lamellar bone. The lamellar bone begins forming soon after the collagen matrix becomes mineralised. The mineralised matrix is penetrated by channels of vessels and osteoblasts.

Inflamatory Phase Fibroblasts replicate

• • •

•

Which bone has fractured The type of fracture – open, closed, chip, greenstick etc. The location of the fracture on the bone i.e the mid portion of the bone or the head of the bone, is the joint involved etc. The size and temperament of the horse – as the horse must be able to bear weight on its fracture, horses with a lower bodyweight heal better, foals and pony's do remarkably well.

Late Inflammatory phase

Repair Phase

Osteoclast

Fracture site

Cartilage formed by granulation tissue

Callus Woven bone Cortical bone

Osteocyte

Collagen

Re-vascularisation organises the clot

Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 16• January 2015

Remodeling Phase

New bone is being laid down where it is needed Woven bone and cartilage is replaced by trabecular bone

For all fractures stability is very important, so box rest is vital. Sometimes the fracture is cast the same as for a human as the horse needs to be able to weight bare. Most vets do attempt to perform surgical repair if the fracture is below the knee or hock, the joint is not involved and the bones are not too displaced, these have a good prognosis. The prognosis for hind limb fractures is much better than forelimb fractures. Regrettably, for some horses euthanasia is the kindest option due to the type and location of the fracture meaning that even after healing the horse would be in long term pain with a severely reduced quality of life. With the majority of fractures rehabilitation is a long process, involving gradually loading the bone to strengthen and remodel it, encouraging it to be laid down in the correct places where it is needed, and at the same time strengthening the tendons, ligaments and muscles that atrophy through lack of use while the bone is healing, taking care not to overload the bone weakening the structure and taking healing back a phase.

Avoiding bone injury

Micro damage fractures can be avoided by following a carefully designed fitness plan and not pushing horses bones beyond their physiological limits. However, most other fractures are completely accidental and therefore are very difficult to avoid. Ensuring your lorry, field, stable etc. are all adequately maintained can help to eliminate some things that may give rise to an accident but unfortunately you can never completely control their environment.

Online tools for your equestrian business; There’s always a ‘Plus’ in Google +

By Emily Huxtable from Equine Events UK

It can be tricky to know where to start when writing a column about social media. There are so many mediums nowadays to use to represent your brand. The two powerhouses of social media have a huge reach…500million users are registered to Facebook and a formidable 232million on Twitter. You would think that between to two of them, they would have far and away the largest reach to your audience.

potential customers. The wonderful thing about Google+ is that whatever you post in these communities or circles(publically only that is) gets instantly indexed into the Google search engine. Blogging is made easier with Google+ and everything you blog is also added to the search engine. Therefore, if you write a blog on ‘Training the young event horse’ or then your blog will be listed in the search results of anyone looking to bring on a young eventer. A really easy way to get your brand or you as a trainer out there online and in front of your potential pupil. The primary function of Google+ is connecting the user with their main interests. Not necessarily subjecting them to content from their friends and colleagues they may not want to see. It’s not hung up on keeping you in touch with your closest real life contacts – Google know many people use other social media for this. Therefore more of the posts featured on a users homepage will be from their most loved interests.

The wonderful thing about Google+ is that whatever you post in these communities or circles (publically only, that is) gets instantly However, there is indexed into the Google one company that search engine! rules to roost when it comes to the potential reach of your brand.

Google

Google currently boasts a search total of on average 3.5billion per month! That’s 40,000 search queries every second, and makes Google the most used website in the world. As part of the Google package, which includes other online tools such as Gmail and YouTube, is Google+. Google+ is the social side to Google. It works similarly to all the other social networking sites; you create a profile, connect with friends and colleagues, create a page for your business…except Google+ has one thing that all the others don’t have… the worlds most powerful search engine behind it. This means that when you list your self or your business publically on Google+, Google picks up on it too. As a rider or brand, you can join communities which could hold

So there we have it. Before you go and schedule your next Facebook post or Tweet to hundreds of followers, make sure you take a look at Google+ and all it could do for you and your business. To get going or to find out more information on how Google+ could help your business please visit https://plus.google.com or type in Google+ to your search bar.

Tackling Winter with leading show rider

Robert Walker During the winter months many show horses are turned away for a well deserved break. In this issue Black Country Saddles sponsored show rider and producer Robert Walker looks at caring for the show horse or pony over the winter months.

Everything Horse UK Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 16â&#x20AC;˘ January 2015

fter HOYS, most of my horses go back to their owners for a rest. I think it is important that horses get a break, along with the rider, to keep them fresh. For the few horses that stay, I like to turn them out for a few weeks at the very least. It is important, however, that you do not completely forget about them whilst they are outside, especially as the weather worsens as horses can lose a lot of condition whilst wintering out, making it harder to prepare them for the competition season. Sometimes a change is as good as a rest. Hunting is my passion during the winter and taking a show horse hunting on a slow day can be beneficial to their education as well as acting as a sweetener for them. Hunting can teach a horse manners and to go sensible when other horses are around. When I am getting a young horse ready for competition, I try to take them to a lot of unaffiliated competitions indoors, to give them time to become accustomed to a different and a competitive environment. After Christmas I clip my horses so they are ready for the early qualifiers. Once this has been done the horse needs extra rugging, care and attention. I also start riding and schooling my more established horses again. As the weather starts to become colder and wetter over the winter months, paddocks turn to mud baths and this is when the problems start. The effect of mud on your horse can go from unsightly mud clumps and the loss of mane and tail to broken skin causing soreness and lameness. Therefore it is vital to treat your horse with care during the winter months. Horses exposed to a muddy environment are more susceptible to mud fever, which can be a time-consuming and difficult

condition to treat. The skin and underlying tissues become inflamed which leads to the skin swelling, stretching and weeping; cracks appear, hair falls out and hard scabs form. All horses can be affected, but particularly those with long hair around the fetlock are at risk. Back legs are more prone to mud fever than front legs and horses with thin skin, white heels or a lot of feather are also more likely to be susceptible to the condition. When the legs and feet are constantly exposed to wet and muddy conditions horses can also develop thrush, an unpleasant bacterial and fungal infection of the horse’s frog. Cracked heels are also a common problem for horses and ponies during the winter months. They usually occur in horses which are turned out in a paddock, but a few wet muddy rides out can also trigger the problem. Washing a horse’s legs can also cause cracked heels if the legs are not dried thoroughly. This equine skin condition occurs in the hollow of the pastern where the horse’s skin is particularly delicate. Horses with white legs are more likely to

January 2015 • Issue 16 • Everything Horse UK Magazine

suffer from cracked heels. The first signs of cracked heels are scurf and scabs in the hollow of the pastern. Don’t just look, but also feel for these every time that you pick you horse’s feet out. When the scabs fall off, painful cracks will show underneath and may cause your horse to go lame. Turnout rugs can be quite heavy which means mane near the withers and middle of the neck are more prone to thinning and the chest area and around the shoulders often suffer from rubbing – so take extra care and watch for signs before it is too late. Mud deposits in the mane and tail can be uncomfortable for a horse but can also lead to hair loss due to excessive brushing during grooming. Therefore it is a good idea to look after the mane and tail carefully to keep it lustrous and full, ready for next year’s show season. For more information on Robert Walker’s sponsors, Black Country Saddles please visit www.blackcountrysaddles.com 43

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Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 16• January 2015

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New Snowdon Range by Tottie Ladies £11.99 & junior £10.49. Snowdon Scarf £18.99. visit www.tottie.co.uk

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The Equetech Riding Hat Thermal Liner

PDS Pink Diamond Belt RRP: £59.00 visit www.gfsriding.co.uk

RRP: £16.95 visit www.equetech.com January 2015 • Issue 16 • Everything Horse UK Magazine