X-Country Schooling Lucy Thompson gives help & advice on what to do in the early stages of training your exracehorse
Winter update Get up to date with what’s been happening with VBEventing
Feeding Advice What to feed your ex-racehorse
Also in this edition: Ever wondered what a day was like for your exracehorse before you got him & Dressage tips from Grand Prix Dressage rider Tina Atkins, plus much more about Thoroughbreds
Racehorse Retraining
Victoria Bax is the rider and trainer at VBEventing and she has taken her team of retrained racehorses from the early stages of retraining through to CIC International events. The main aim of VBEventing is to have a string of ex-racehorses that have been successfully re-trained and competing at the highest level of British Eventing. Many racehorses are simply not fast enough to make it on the track, yet have the ability, presence and attitude that make them model event horses. Victoria has helped a number of ex-racehorses start their Eventing careers and has given many fabulous horses that are not suitable or too slow for the track a second chance of being a success. Although VBEventing are not the only team to have competed ex-racehorses, VBEventing are the only people that solely compete Ex-Racehorses within British Eventing. VBEventing also aims to help interested owners to make the transition from having a racehorse to having a re-trained racehorse entering into a 2nd career and to provide useful and informative advice to people wanting to own an ex-racehorse. This magazine has been put together to hopefully inspire people to take on an exracehorse , but also to provide some helpful hints, tips and advice from equestrian professional who have previously re-trained racehorse for a 2nd career. The first issue has had over 5000 views from people all over the world and we have received some lovely comments and suggestions for future issues
We hope to see all of you out there competing your ex-racehorses during 2012. If you see us out and about come and say hello Victoria
Both Victoria and Jason would like to say a massive thank you to everybody that has helped to contribute to this e-magazine We are trying to make this as much about exracehorses as possible and hopefully give some insight and ideas for all those with a Thoroughbred If you have any ideas of what you would like to see in future issue’s then please do contact us via email or our facebook page We hope you enjoy reading it
Content Features
24 3
6 Back in the Saddle
32 Feeding your TB
A look at what VBEventing have been up to over the winter months with our team of ex-racehorses
Robert Fowler, Managing Director and co-founder of The Pure Feed Company, talks about the nutritional needs of thoroughbreds and whether, like us, they are what they eat.
14 Its a Dressage Thing
36 Jumping Training
International Dressage Rider Tina Atkins gives some advice on what to focus on with your new ex-racehorse
We get some hints and tips from Lucy Thompson on the first stages of jumping your ex-racehorse and taking him cross country schooling.
18 A Life in Racing
44 Thermal Imaging
Ever wanted to know what life was like for your beloved horse when it was Racing. Equine Management & Training along with Clive Cox and apprentice Jockey Lucy Barry give us an insight
We investigate what is a recognised branch of Veterinary Medicine, noninvasive in application with no physical contact made with the horse by the thermographer.
18
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36 Other Items
44
14
32
28 RoR
12 Support in 2012
Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) is British Horseracing’s official charity for the welfare of horses who have retired from racing.
New partners supporting VBEventing and our team of Ex-Racehorses
26 Healthy Environment
42 Digestive System
How to maintain and improve stable hygiene with Stable+ from Emvelo
Just like us humans, horses can benefit from probiotics or ‘friendly bacteria’
35 ESMA Awards 2012
48 Bedding
Don’t forget to vote for VBEventing in the Equestrian Social Media Awards
Are wood pellets a cost effective, dust free solution for horse bedding
Back in the Sa AFTER THINKING ABOUT WHAT I WOULD DO WITH MYSELF FROM WHEN THE 2011 SEASON FINISHED IT’S BEEN A BUSY FEW MONTHS FOR VBEVENTING AND THE 2012
WINTER MONTHS
SEASON IS NEARLY UPON US
So the plans for 2012 start with getting the horses back into work after their short winter break. Due to the high nature of the ex-racehorses, I am unable to leave any of my horses out of work for too long as they start to bec a handful to deal with from the ground. They all thrive on the work they get which is part of what I love about th racehorse; they are so willing to learn and get out there and do it!
Due to this fact they have not had too long a holiday over winter, more of a quieter time with more hacking and on schooling and jumping. Fortunately the winter has been rather kind to us so far, with only one day so far wh arena has been frozen and the roads to icy to hack out safely on. Because of this, none of them have lost too fitness which means I can get right back on and knuckle down to some good work sessions. I’ll focus on supple swing over their backs whilst on the flat and over fences, mainly because of the limited turnout I have available during the wetter months, I have to spend a little time loosening those muscles up again
addle
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Winter Update
DRESSAGE PRODUCT TESTING IN THE PRESS ESMA AWARDS
I had recently received my British Dressage Membership through the post, only to realise that Crysto, who is French bred I hasten to add, had been allocated 435 points and placed at Advanced level dressage! Considering he raced for the first 4 years of his life and has never had any kind of classical dressage training I thought this a little unfair, so I quickly contacted British Dressage and provided documents to prove his racing history and thankfully all the points have now been removed so we can now compete in the lower levels again. I don’t think it will be long before we rack them up again though if he keeps performing the way he does! For the winter before the new Eventing Season, we are competing in Elementary and I have been working on improving Crysto’s trot as at times he can become rather tense and then shortens his neck up too much, which in turn shortens his stride. I am so grateful to have my arena mirrors to check the horse’s way of going. I find that sometimes they can look completely different to how you think or feel they are going. So now I can get a judges view whilst riding! I am now trying out an “Equiami Combi” training aid. It has two parts to it which means it can be ridden in or lunged in. I have only tried it whilst lunging at present but am pleasantly surprised with the difference it has made in just a couple of sessions. I have never been one for using gadgets as much prefer the horse to “work” it out themselves in a way they find comfortable rather than forcing the issue. Whilst lunging I have only ever used side reins initially and then a few years ago I moved on to a “Lungie Bungie” which I have successfully used until now. Lunging is an important part of retraining the exracehorses as it is well known that they lack muscle along their top line as they have never been asked to use those muscles before. Therefore by giving them time to build up those muscles without the added pressure of carrying a rider as well is very beneficial. We are now also testing products within Eventing magazine so look out for our summary of Air Jackets for HITAir, Supplements for your Thoroughbred and clothing for everyday use
This winter has also been a busy time in writing blogs and articles to do with Ex- racehorse and also VBEventing. We were approached by a couple of magazines to write an article on buying horses from auctions as this is where we have purchased some of our racehorses from and you can see this in the February issue of Eventing Magazine I have also been writing blogs for The Pure Feed Company which are an update on our Winter preparation and is a typical day with VBEventing and our ex-racehorses http://blog.thepurefeedcompany.com I am also over the moon as I’ve been shortlisted in the final 10 for the category of “Amateur Rider” in the Equestrian Social Media Awards, so a voting plea to all with an ex-racehorse or part of the racing community – I would really appreciate people to vote for me! Please just go to http://www.equestriansocialmediaawards.com/voting and vote for Victoria Bax in category 6. Pure Feed have also been nominated so please do vote for this fab feed company too in categories 2 and 7 – best use of facebook and best use of social media by a feed company. Thank you!
2012 PREPARING FOR
January 1st means a return to fast work training for my team, which is completed along the all weather bridle track which is a short 10 minute hack away from my yard, a perfect distance for the warm up! I start with a slow canter and for a short period of time, with longer periods of walk and repeat the exercise three times. As the horses become fitter, the length of the canter increases as does the speed at which we are travelling and then length of the walk period decreases, but I still only repeat three times. Obviously at the lover levels of competing where Salto and Popps currently are, there is less requirement for them to be as fit as for the level Crysto is currently competing at. The first jumping sessions of the new year are usually quite exciting and I generally ensure that I am wearing my body protector and air jacket as a precaution! You can imagine not having jumped for a couple of months, the horses can certainly throw some shapes into the equation. I start with plenty of pole work and then build up various grid exercises but tend to keep them all at lower heights to start with. Once I have show jumped a few times and the horses are a bit fitter it is time to move onto the cross country schooling. The first session is completed in my arena with made up corners, coffins, arrow heads, skinnies etc. The next session is completed out on the cross country course which again is usually very eventful the first time out. I start with the smaller fences and combinations until the horses are feeling confident and then play around with the different types of fences, concentrating on steps, ditches and water.
Crystal Ka
16’1”, 10 yr old, light bay - Crystal Ka was purchased (stable name “Crysto”) from a racing yard in Lewes, Sussex back in 2007 and we are still in contact with his old owner who had him as a racehorse . For 2012 we will of course be going to Barbury Castle again and will also be sustaining most of the year at Intermediate with a number of CIC & CCI 1* and 2* events. He is the one that has initiated my passion for retraining racehorses.
Popps Proncess 16’1”, 10 yr old, bay - We found Popps in a pretty bad way in a field in Kent and a major part of her re-training has been one based on trust. Not only being a racehorse Popps in her early life was sold on to a polo yard where again things did not work out for her and from what we can ascertain until coming to us she had never stayed in the same place for longer than 12 months. 2012 brings with it a great deal of anticipation with Popps as her winter training and conditioning work has seen her gain further, confidence, strength and suppleness as such we hope of moving up to BE Novice and complete a CIC 1* this year.
Salto Angel
16’3”, 6 yr old, dark bay - In under a year, since purchasing Salto at the Ascot Bloodstock sales, he has competed lightly, including winning local prelim dressage and completing a Burghley Young Horse Event class at Barbury International last year. The plan for him is to start his BE career at 90 level and swiftly move up through 100 level and onto Novice before the end of the season. VBEventing would love to hear from interested owners who would like to make the transition from having a racehorse to having a re-trained racehorse entering into a 2nd career. We are also available to provide useful and informative advice to people wanting to own an ex-racehorse.
I was looking to change feed for the New Year as, although we had some great results in 2011, I was looking for a more efficient, cost effective way to feed, that was also better for my horses. I spent a lot of time researching different brands and contacted a few companies, but from the information returned I decided that The Pure Feed Company was the best choice for me and my team of ex-racehorses. Feeding any animal is a minefield, but feeding super excitable, highly strung and super fit ex-racehorses really seems like a mission impossible; that is if you want them to keep condition on, stay calm for the dressage, careful for the show jumping yet be bold as brass on that cross country course! Fortunately I have received some super advice from The Pure Feed Company regarding winter feeding so far and am excited to be having one of the Pure Feed Team coming out to visit me and my team soon to give them a bit of a health check/medical where they will each be weighed and an individual feeding plan will be drawn up. This is something I am extremely looking forward to as I have never had this help at my fingertips before and have simply had to rely on finding out my own information with regards to the right and wrong feeds to be using.
VBEventing would like to announce that we are thrilled to have been chosen as an Ambassador for Protexin Probiotics. Our team of ex-racehorses will be using the Gut Balancer, Quick Fix and Acid Ease from the Equine Premium range . Thanks to Jonathan Nelson and the Protexin Team for their visit to us and the support during 2012 Probiotics in the Equine Premium range are specifically developed to survive transit through the gut and contain no known prohibited substances as defined by the Jockey Club and the FEI. The Protexin Equine Premium range contains high quality probiotics along with Protexins unique Preplex prebiotic; a food source that nourishes the friendly bacteria and supports beneficial bacterial growth. The Equine Premium range comprises of four products Acid Ease, Gut Balancer, Quick Fix and new Recover Aid
VBEventing S
Support Announcement
VBEventing are proud to announce that Barnsby Saddlery will be supporting us and our team of ex-racehorse during the 2012 Eventing season and beyond. We are delighted that all the team will benefit from the expert knowledge and support that Barnsby offer. One of the reason why we are thrilled to be working with Barnsby is that a particular problem people encounter with Thoroughbreds (exracehorses) is the nature of their conformation, in that they are very High Withered and difficult to saddle fit. Barnsby with its range of products and knowledgeable saddle fitters understand this and we believe, alleviate some of the problems that can occur from in the initial and ongoing development as the horse changes shape through new muscle definition as a result of the change of career. More announcements will be coming shortly, and in the future weeks we will show you the process of of how the team are measured for their saddles, through to them being made at the Barnsby factory and of course, finally competing in them
"We are very excited to have Victoria on the team and think she is a great asset. It is amazing what she does with her ex-racehorses whilst also having a full time job. She proves that with hard work, determination and an understanding husband, you can achieve anything. We look forward to working with her in 2012 and beyond." Lisa Davis - Lindholm International Sales & Marketing Manager
The main aim of VBEventing is to have a string of ex-racehorses that have been successfully re-trained and competing at the highest level of British Eventing. Many racehorses are simply not fast enough to make it on the track, yet have the ability, presence and attitude that make them model event horses. Victoria has helped a number of ex-racehorses start their Eventing careers and has given many fabulous horses that are not suitable or too slow for the track a second chance of being a success.
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Starting your ex-racehorse on the flat with Grand Prix Dressage Rider - Tina Atkins
www.tinaatkinsdressage.co.uk : m: 07770 663229 : info
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Tina has been Victoria’s dressage trainer for 10 years, and is an International Grand Prix dressage rider and is well known for her horse Swayze II, with whom she competed at the National Championship at every level from Novice to Grand Prix. Tina has also had a number of ex-racehorse that she has helped re-train, and competed. Over the next couple of pages Tina will explain the work that she has done with VBEventing and specifically on our new horse Salto Angel from the early stages of his re-training through to his first few competition outings. We hope that you find the hints and tips interesting as well as useful and help you get more out of the flat work with your exracehorse that improves on your competition scores. We will continue the training series in future issue, with more advice from Tina, so please let us know if there are any specific areas you would like us to cover.
Back to basic Getting started with schooling your Ex-racehorse.
Useful tip Although when you start schooling your exracehorse you are not dealing with a horse that has just been backed, you will still need to go back to basics. Past experience with TB’s that have raced is that they generally have a good temperament, are very trainable, can be sharp and are very sensitive so it’s very important that you are patient and don’t expect too much too soon.
If very fresh and you think they could be very lively then it’s a good idea to give them 10-15 minutes on the lunge before you get on the first few times. You don’t want to start off with a bad experience with the horse or rider getting frightened.
Once onboard, start by taking a soft even contact not necessarily expecting then to come into an outline but so you have a feel on their mouth. Ride them forward from your leg without nagging them. Work on a large circle in walk and trot. Try to maintain an even contact, keep the circle a good shape with the horse looking round the circle then go large working on straightness and bend through the corners and on turns. When you feel the horse is accepting the contact and going forward from you leg into it and if they are not in an outline then start feeling down the reins to encourage then to give and come rounder. Increase the pressure on the reins slightly and as soon as you feel them soften make sure you give straight away to reward them. It is important especially with TB’s that they don’t feel forced into an outline or blocked from going forward, otherwise it will lead to tension and then resistance. It you feel that your hors e is obedient and settled in the trot, then ask for canter on both reins. To start with ask for a canter circle and stay on the circle to help with balance and control. If you feel you have control and they feel balanced enough canter down a long side then back onto a circle and then forwards to trot. Remember to give your horse several breaks, including a walk on a long rein a stretch down and a walk out. Progress onto working on transitions; trot – walk, trot – canter, remembering it’s through repetition that they learn and always remember to praise them when they do a good transition. It they are going hollow in the upward transition, this generally means they are not off your leg enough so try and make them more forward off your leg before asking for the transition again. Always remember to ride them forwards in the downward transitions. Try to finish your schooling sessions with stretching them down in the trot so they really stretch their muscles over their backs and neck and finish with a good walk on a long rein.
Important If you horse doesn’t understand what you asking of them, never force them to do it and NEVER lose your patience. Ease off with what you are asking, go away and do something else and come back to what you were doing, and always really praise
Your ex-racehorse has started his 2nd career, but have you ever wondered what his life used to be like. With thanks to Clive Cox, Lucy Barry and Equine Management & Training we get an insight of a racehorses life from foal to track
A
Life in Racing
If you have a horse of your own, or are responsible for looking after one on a daily basis, you will be aware of the work involved to do the job properly, so with lads and lasses having 3 and often 4 horses to look after and ride, it is little wonder that daily life is like a military operation. Life in a racing yard is structured; there is a routine which the horses get used to so this is why they should be given plenty of time to adjust to their new life outside of racing. So let’s take a closer look at the life of the thoroughbred racehorse.
Once foaled, often a month does not elapse before the mare is covered again; breeding is a very commercial enterprise and it can be appreciated why some people equate it to factory farming! Obviously if the foaling has not taken place at a stud where one of the standing stallions is going to be used, Mum has to be taken for a visit to her selected date, with foal-at-foot in tow, so baby becomes accustomed to loading and travelling at a very young age.
The thoroughbred breeding season runs from February to July; however as all racehorses have their official birthday (like the Queen, they have two) on 1st January, the aim of breeders is to ensure that foals are born as early in the year as possible so they have as much time as possible to mature. Flat bred racehorses typically go to the Sales as yearlings so prior to this they will have been taught to lead in hand + have a bit in their mouth, tie up, have rugs on, have their feet picked up (some may even be shod) and also often are lunged, so much gets crammed in to a young life. Once purchased at the Sales they find themselves thrust into racing life – at around 18 months of age. Some will go to yards which specialise in backing young thoroughbreds and preparing them for “life proper” in a racing yard whilst others will go directly to trainers where this is done in-house.
Flat-bred horses usually run as two year olds, but remember that they are not necessary actually two years old in terms of how long ago they were born. This means that some are running at 22 and 23 months of age – particularly if they are aimed at winter all-weather racing - so they will have been backed and galloped even earlier. However carefully these young thoroughbreds are managed, such regime must take its toll both mentally and physically on some. This regime also means that very young minds are conditioned imprinted – so it is only to be expected that they need time to mentally accept any changes outside of the routine they have known from such a tender age and this should form a big part of your re-training at the initial stages. For the National Hunt horse, provided of course he is not aimed at the flat first, then he can take things a bit more leisurely for another year as life for him begins a bit later on.
The length of time taken to effect the backing process varies from trainer to trainer; for some the process takes little over a fortnight whilst other trainers are happy to take a bit longer. Although most yards do long reining work, it is nothing like the sort of long-reining associated with other horses. All that is basically taught is to turn left and right, stop and start; there is nothing taught in terms of outline or acceptance of contact as there is no requirement to do so.
One myth that must be dispelled is that of racehorses not hacking out – most have to hack to the gallops so they are used to going out in open country. Granted most will see little or no traffic, apart from Newmarket horses. However they are usually in a group (known as a string) and invariably play follow-my-leader.
Once young thoroughbreds have been backed – this usually being done in a round pen or lunge ring - they usually go out in the company of an older horse to “learn the ropes” and get used to cantering beside another horse (termed “upsides). To begin with work is usually on a level gallop in a steady canter, whilst the young horse settles and learns his trade, and becomes stronger. He will also be introduced to the stalls, firstly by just walking through them and then learning to stand in them for a few minutes. As fitness levels increase so does the work load with canter work taking place not only over longer distances but often on gallops that have an incline –all good for cardio-vascular fitness. The young horse will then be given what is termed “fast work” where his speed is put to the test. For the flat horse this involves “jumping off” and galloping over 2/3 furlongs; this prepares him for racing. He will be taught to listen to the commands of his jockey so that he knows the difference between cantering with others and then being asked to stride on and leave the others – that winning burst of speed! There will also be practice at jumping out of the starting stalls, a good start being critical especially in sprint races. Of course the exact process varies trainer to trainer and some do advocate a little flat work to help build muscle and teach the horse to carry itself a little better which actually aids performance.. Henrietta Knight is perhaps most well-known for this.
The training process then continues to comprise of a work programme designed to bring the horse to the peak of his fitness and be ready to race. The amount of work each horse gets will vary depending on the individual and that is where the skill of the trainer comes in – to work out what each horse needs in order to keep him in top form without burning him out. The training process also involves the horse being taught to pull or lean against the rider’s hands.. They are also taught that when the reins are shortened and the rider takes his weight out of the saddle, it is time to go faster! Any walking and trotting is done with the horse on a loose rein so he is not used to any bit contact (or very little) in these gaits.
Like trainers in any other sport racehorse trainers have at their disposal all manner of equipment and facilities to assist in the training process; thus we not only have horse-walkers, but there are massage machines, solariums, treadmills, hydrospas, swimming pools, weighing machines and trot-up pads. Life on a racing yard starts early in the morning as there is much to get through. The horses are given a hard feed prior to exercise (hay/haylage is given after a horse has worked), then there is mucking out, exercising (usually comprising 3 or 4 “lots” or strings) and all associated yard duties, including
The horse destined for jump racing, whether hurdles or fences, he has to learn to jump as well as gallop. Racehorses must not lose time in the air so they are not taught to round up over fences but to remain as flat as possible. Trainers are not too worried about what the legs do as long as the undercarriage comes down on the landing side so if a horse trails a front leg or jumps by flicking his front feet forwards (often seen in hurdlers) no-one is worried as long as the horse remains on his hooves on the landing side. Depending on a horse’s speed and ability, he may remain a hurdler, but most horses progress to at least a period over fences even if they then come back to hurdling.
The racing life of a flat-bred horse is much more short-lived than his NH counterpart, particularly if they have won some significant races and so have a stud value, their racing lives usually coming to an end as 4 year olds, but sometimes 5, and often as young as 3. Of course some only remain in training for a season if they show no form so leave the environment as 2 year olds. NH horses traditionally race for longer periods as speed is not so critical, jumping ability and stamina being the criteria. It is not at all uncommon to see horses running at 10, 11 and 12 years of age (and indeed there are older ones) if injury has not taken its toll.
some horses going on the horse-walker and fitting in a “breakfast break” for the staff, as well as another hard feed for the horses - all before lunchtime as typically yards have 2 or 3 hours quiet time in an afternoon so that the horses can rest – as can the lads and lasses – before a resumption of duties, termed “evening stables” at around 3.30pm when grooming begins, stables are picked out and the horses double-checked for any swellings, etc. which may have appeared since morning exercise. During this period some horses may be led out and have a pick of grass or be put on a horse-walker for a while. Any horses that have been turned out are brought in and cleaned up. The trainer checks up on each horse prior to feeding, at around 5.30pm.
It is customary for the same lad/lass to look after the same horse during its time in a given yard. This allows them to build up a thorough knowledge of their charges and more readily pick up on the most subtle of signs that all may not be well. Obviously the exact routine varies yard to yard and allowance also has to be made for visits from farriers, physiotherapists, vets, etc. Then of course there are racedays. For any horses racing on a particular day, their routine will be structured around the time of the race so that plenty of time is allowed for the journey and for an early arrival at the track to allow him chance to relax.
Often racehorses are not officially named until nearing the time for entry into their first race but there are strict rules on this so an owner cannot always name a horse as he or she wishes. A name can be no longer than 18 characters (so none of the silliness that exists in the world of showing!), nor can a name of a major flat or jump race winner be used twice (even if that horse has passed away), so there will never another Desert Orchid or Shergar – not by name anyway! And obviously no names are allowed that could be construed as being obscene or offensive whether in meaning or pronunciation. Weatherbys are not just responsible for issuing Passports; indeed they oversee a considerable amount of administration and one of the duties is regarding the naming of horses as they have to approve submitted names. Racehorse owners must register a set of colours (or “silks�) for the jockey to wear which obviously allows horses to be easily identified during a race. In the UK the colour(s) and patterns also have to be approved
Clive Cox trains Flat and National Hunt racehorses at Beechdown Farm Stables. Beechdown Stables enjoys a peaceful location on chalk downland above the famous racing village of Lambourn in Berkshire. The continuous flow of winners on the track has seen an increase in numbers and a new American-style barn was completed early in 2006 to add to the already superb, private facilities that Beechdown has to offer.
Take a look at the typical day of a racing yard with Lucy Barry. Lucy is a Stable Apprentice to Clive Cox in Lambourn and is currently leading the charge of the new wave of female professional jockeys Lucy Barry, already a previous winner of 2010/2011 'Hands and Heels' All Weather Series has regained a Racing Excellence title by winning the 'Hands and Heels' Apprentice Training Series 2011 title. Lucy has already ridden for a variety of trainers on the flat although she is based full-time with Clive Cox who gave her a job last autumn. If Lucy continues her current progress we may well be adding her name to those of Turner and Gannon the two elite lady riders of the moment. Those looking for horse racing betting tips should keep an eye on her.
Wednesday 25�� January (work morning) 5.00am Head lad feeds all the horses 5.10am My alarm goes off, I get up and get ready for work 5.30am I leave the house. 6.00am I arrive at work, Beechdown Stables on the Lambourn Downs, my boss is racehorse trainer Clive Cox. I get a head collar, fork and muck sack and muck out my four allocated horses. I check their rugs make sure they are not too warm and give them fresh water. 6.45am I tack up my first horse. 7.00am The first lot of 25 horses pull out for exercise.
Firstly we walk and trot around the indoor school, Clive Cox will check how each horse looks and how they are moving and then he will proceed to give us all our instructions. The horses canter most days, but the main work mornings are on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Today is work morning and we will exercise the horses in pairs or in threes, they will have a warm up canter followed by sharp exercise upsides over four furlongs, although we will be galloping it will not be at full race speed (unless we are out of control) this is saved for race days. We go back to the indoor school to be sure the horses are all sound and happy after their work. 7.45am We bring the horses back into their stables, sponge their girths, give them a quick brush, pick out their feet and put on a light sheet. They then have their hay. 8.00am The second lot pulls out and the routine as before. 9.00am Breakfast break. As I am riding regularly in flat races I need a close eye on my weight, so breakfast for me is a weetabix with skimmed milk and a black coffee. 9.30am We tack up again and the third lot pulls out 9.45am. After riding out there are plenty of yard duties to be done, sweeping the yards, putting on rugs, some of the horses maybe on the horse walker if they have just a run and or having a couple of easier days. We may have to turn others out in the paddocks and some may have magnetic rugs on to give them a massage. The Head Lad will check all the horses in case they require any specific medication. All the tack is cleaned daily, all the stable rubbers and girth sleeves are washed daily. The feed trolleys are filled and the tackrooms cleaned. 12 noon The horses are fed 12 noon -4pm We have a break, however if I am racing I will be away from the yard for the remainder of the day and sometimes into the night! 4pm
Evening stables begins. We muck out our four horses, groom them thoroughly (we all have our own individual kitbag), their manes and tails are brushed out, hoofs picked out and oiled. Check they have the correct number of rugs for the weather, clean their eyes and noses and dock and then give them hay and fresh water, the water buckets and feed mangers are scrubbed clean. Clive will check all the horses.
5.30pm The yards are swept and made tidy again and all the horses are fed. Just before I leave the yard I check that all the stable doors are closed properly. It’s 6pm and I am ready for home. *
Obviously if we have runners at the races the horses will be away from the yard, they will arrive at the racecourse 3 hours before they run and we make them comfortable in their stables, 1 hour before the race they are led out and 15 minutes before the off the jockey is legged up and fingers crossed we have a winner. The horses leave the racecourse 1 hour after they run and arrive back to a clean and tidy stable with a big feed and plenty of hay and water.
T
he Retraining of Racehorses(RoR) is a charity established in 2000 whose aims are, first, to raise funds within Racing to provide and maintain facilities for the reception, care, retraining and re-homing of former racehorses and, secondly, to raise the profile of ex-racehorses within the wider equestrian world in order to promote their adaptability to other equestrian pursuits and, thirdly, to work towards achieving an equilibrium between the demand for exracehorses and the number of horses leaving racing that are suitable for a second career. An objective of the charity is to promote former racehorses in other sport horse disciplines. In general thoroughbreds have an even temperament, are athletic, versatile and highly intelligent and with the right care and retraining, a former racehorse can be extremely rewarding. Many have gone on to be very successful in Eventing, Dressage, Show Jumping, Showing, Endurance and Polo or are simply hacking around the countryside
Here at VBEventing, we are big fans of the work of Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) and there role as promoters of ex-racehorses is to make sure that people are educated / aware / informed of both the joys and responsibilities of owning an ex-racehorse, Visit the RoR's website - if you own an ex-racehorse or are thinking about it then it's well worth visiting www.ror.org.uk . Their comprehensive site is packed with fantastic information through from care and retraining to the latest information including dates and news about the three RoR eventing series. Another important part of the RoR site is the facility to register an ex-racehorse online to qualify for the RoR Series. Owners with exracehorses not competing in the RoR Series are also encouraged to register their horse, as are visitors to the site who are interested in owning an ex-racehorse.
Show you love your Ex on Valentine's Day….of course, your ex-racehorse! In no more than 25 words tell the RoR why you love your ex-racehorse (max 25 words) and e-mail your very own valentine message to RoR at info@ror.org.uk before midnight on 13th February 2012. Every entry will go into a prize draw for a chance to win themselves a RoR jacket! Plus, the top ten loving quotes will be featured on our website and receive an RoR DVD.
RoR Education Events The RoR's How to Retrain your ex-racehorse demonstration events and clinics provide a great chance to see first hand some of the UK's top coaches working with a group of mixed ability ex-racehorses. Coming up soon: ● Inspiration at all levels from BE Accredited coach Caroline Creighton on Sunday 19th February at Stretcholt EC, nr Bridgewater in Somerset more ● Great advice from top international eventer Nick Gauntlett on Saturday 10th March at West Wilts Equestrian Centre, Holt in North Trowbridge more ● Two showing demos with 2011 winner of the SEIB/RoR Racehorse to Riding Horse Show, Champion Katie Jerram on Friday 9th March at Crow Wood EC, Royle Lane, Burnley in Lancashire, as well Friday 23rd March at the Scottish National Equestrian Centre in West Lothian more ● "A unique chance to see how to initiate a transformation in your relationship with your horse with Gary Witheford on 27th March at Sparsholt College in Winchester. Gary specialises in Natural Horsemanship and the Call up Technique. More
Wouldn’t mind taking him Eventing
KAUTO STAR
……
………… Enough said!!!!!
Feed for Speed Pure thoughts on feed management for Thoroughbreds At little over two years old, The Pure Feed Company is a relatively new player in the equine feed market. However, this small company is growing fast and their distinctive approach to feeding is having a dramatic impact on the health and performance of a growing number of horses around the country, from top class competition horses to the family cob.
once their racing career comes to an end. The Thoroughbred, although sharing the same physiology as other horses, seem to have a far greater sensitivity to stimulation than other breeds, whether that is in the form of outside environmental stimuli or the reaction to feed and management practices that are in place to facilitate the training regime.
VB Eventing spoke to Robert Fowler, Managing Director and co-founder of The Pure Feed Company, about the nutritional One and the same? needs of thoroughbreds and whether, like us humans, they Despite the thoroughbreds obvious sensitivities, the fact are what they eat. remains that all horses of every breed share a common evolution and all have evolved to be a hindgut fermenting A breed apart? herbivore that can utilise a diet high in fibre. This For over 300 years, we have been breeding the physiological fact led to the horse having to forage for thoroughbred horse to race; to go faster, stay further and up to 18 hours a day in the wild, in order to be able to to win. The selection for breeding has consume enough of the low
solely been based on speed, with other factors bred into other breeds being ignored, such as docility and trainability. This has resulted in a magnificent speed merchant but one who, in the wrong hands, can be difficult to train and manage outside of the racing world. Having said that however, with the right management and training these horses can be terrific competition horses outside the racing world,
quality fibre that was available to provide sufficient nutrition for maintenance, growth and reproduction. And when we look at the digestive tract of the modern horse, we see at every stage that it is perfectly formed for trickle feeding on a diet high in fibre, right from the mouth and the teeth right through to the large intestines, where microbes breakdown the ingested fibre so that the horse can use its stored energy.
Got a feeding question? We’re here to help. Simply call 0117 230 0027 to speak to our equine nutritionist
Feeding and managing any horse, but probably the Thoroughbred in particular, in any other way than how it has evolved to live will have a detrimental impact not only upon how that horse performs, but also on its long term health. Thoroughbreds in racing have traditionally been given a diet that is almost completely the opposite of what they need to stay healthy in the long term, a diet that is low in fibre and high in carbohydrate, which is starch and sugar to you and me. This type of diet can lead to problems at every stage of the digestive system and can lead to underperformance and significant and ongoing health issues such as colic, gastric ulcers and tying up. The equine digestive system The horse’s teeth grow continually throughout their life, which tells us that they have evolved to be worn down by the near constant grinding in chewing high fibre forage. Grains, sticky course mixes and pellets are no challenge to these teeth and are chewed and swallowed very quickly, which result in very little wear on the teeth. This lack of wear manifests itself in sharp hooks and edges which then have to be artificially ground down by either the vet or the equine dentist, all at a cost. Another important role that chewing has is that it causes the production of saliva. In the horse, this saliva plays two vital roles; firstly in lubricating the feed to ensure it slips down the oesophagus easily and secondly to act as a buffer to the acidic gastric juices that are constantly produced in the horse’s stomach. In this way, saliva acts as a primary prevention force for the now very common problem of gastric ulcers. The horse’s stomach is relatively small and is only about the size of a rugby ball. However, as the horse is a trickle feeder and eats small amounts pretty much constantly throughout the day in the wild, the stomach doesn’t need to be big. As a result, a horse’s stomach would never be much more than 2/3 full at any one time and would never be completely empty. Contrast this with the way the modern racing Thoroughbred is fed, with large, grain heavy meals and then very little in the way of forage in between. It
is no surprise then that some estimates indicate that over 80% of racehorses suffer from gastric ulcers. The small intestine is where most protein, starch, sugar and fats are digested. Here there is a constant release of pancreatic juice which helps with the breakdown of food materials, but obviously when there is no feed present this will instead go to work on the lining of the small intestine and cause further problems. When starch is digested in the small intestine it is taken into the blood stream and is then available as an energy form to the horse. This is what is often referred to as the heating effect of a feed and this quick release of energy can, particularly in the Thoroughbred, lead to excitable behaviour which can so easily be avoided by choosing a feed with a low starch content (under 10%). Since the starch content of grass is very low, horses are not well adapted to digesting it. Consequently, large meals that are high in starch should be avoided. Another problem with feeding a high starch diet is that it can pass too quickly thorough the small intestine and so move through into the hind gut in an undigested state. This can alter the pH in the large intestine and create an environment which is too acidic for the beneficial bacteria responsible for the breakdown of the otherwise indigestible structural carbohydrates ingested found in hay and grass. This acidic environment can destroy these beneficial bacteria which will not only lead to a reduction in the ability of the hind gut to break down the all important fibrous components of the diet which could predispose a horse to colic, but will release endotoxins into the blood which can result in laminitis. Through evolution, the horse has formed a mutually beneficial association with micro-organisms which are present in the horse’s large intestine and these micro flora are able to ferment and breakdown the tough plant cell wall, which otherwise the horse would be unable to digest. This process takes place in the hind gut of the horse which amounts to around 60% of the horses entire gut volume. The result of this fibre breakdown is volatile fatty acids (VFAs), the
Or go to www.thepurefeedcompany.com for free diet plans for your horses
slow release energy form that horses have evolved to use and which are an energy source that will not cause the horse to become excitable or highly stung. In summary, although the Thoroughbred has been bred for centuries with just one aim, to make him run as fast as he can, he is still essentially the same as all other horses in respect of his evolution and physiology. Consequently, if you want to get the very best out of this great breed whether on the race track on the dressage arena, then it is essential that you use correct management and especially feeding techniques, which to try to mimic the way the Thoroughbred’s mind and body are hard wired to live. Try to make sure he has access to forage for as much of the day as possible, to ensure that he can trickle feed throughout the day. Any additional hard feed should be as high in fibre and low in starch and sugar as possible and use alternative, safe energy sources to ensure that the energy the horse derives from its diet is the form that he has evolved to utilise for optimum health and performance. When taken off high starch, low fibre diets even the most temperamental, highly strung Thoroughbred can become much more manageable and way healthier to boot, all of which can only help to enhance performance, both on and off the track. The Pure Weigh to better feeding Just as it is for humans, a horse’s weight is a key indicator of ongoing health and fitness, with each horse having an optimum weight range according For more information on The Pure Feed Company or for a free feeding plan for your horse, check out www.thepurefeedcompany.com, Tel: 0117 230 0027 or email info@thepurefeedcompany.com. You can also become a fan The Pure Feed Company on facebook at www.facebook.com/ThePureFeedCompany
to his or her size, type and work level. If a horse’s weight fluctuates from this optimum by 15-20kg in either direction (which is less than 5% of the total body weight of an average sized horse), then exercise performance will be reduced and the horse may be unable to reach his full potential. With the needs of the horse placed firmly at the heart of the Pure Feed philosophy, The Pure Feed Company offer a mobile Weigh-in service. This mobile weigh bridge travels to yards around the country, offering customers the opportunity to have their horses weighed easily, accurately and on an ongoing basis to ensure that they receive all the nutrients they need for optimum health, condition and performance. Weighing your horse 2-3 times per year will give you the knowledge and insight that could make all the difference to your horse’s health and wellbeing. The Pure Feed Company also provide free equine nutritional advice and are always on hand should you have any questions or queries. All products in the Pure Feed range are very low in starch and sugars and thereby supply calm energy to your horse and help to prevent a multitude of problems, including laminitis, gastric ulcers, azoturia and excitability. Pure Feeds include Profeed prebiotic and brewers yeast for improved digestion, are free from whole grain and molasses and are fully balanced with optimal levels of vitamins and minerals.
The
pure Feed Company
We are very pleased to announce that VBEventing have been shortlisted in the final 10 for the category of "Amateur Rider" in the Equestrian Social Media Awards, so a voting plea to all with an ex-racehorse or part of the racing community, I would really appreciate people to vote for Victoria Bax. The winner will be found through 30% of public votes from now on until the 10th February and the other 70% is made up of Equestrian PR representatives. So if we keep you amused, entertained, informed through our facebook, twitter, e-magazine, LinkedIn or YouTube we would really appreciate your votes and help us further support the Thoroughbred. Many Thanks for taking the time in supporting us
Also don't forget: Binky Cook in section 12 (Talking Animal) who works with Thoroughbreds with Fred & Rowena Cook) The Pure Feed Company in sections 2 & 7 (Facebook & Feed company)
SO YOU HAVE GOT YOUR NEW EX-RACEHORSE AND HE HAS SETTLED IN AT HOME WHERE YOU HAVE STARTED HIS RETRAINING AND HE HAS GOT TO GRIPS WITH WANT IS NOW REQUIRED OF HIM. DURING THE NEXT FEW PAGES WE GET SOME HINTS AND TIPS FROM LUCY THOMPSON ON THE FIRST STAGES OF JUMPING YOUR EXRACEHORSE AND TAKING HIM CROSS COUNTRY SCHOOLING. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO PREPARE HIM FOR THAT FIRST EVENT
J Cross
Salto Angel (Salto) was the new addition to the team last year and came from the Ascot Bloodstock sales in early January. 2011. He was bred in France and brought over to the UK in 2009 where he had just 5 races. During the early stages of his re-training we started lunging him, before quickly moving onto some basic ridden schooling and some road work. During 2011 Salto was taken to individual dressage shows, Clear round Show Jumping and Hunter Trials. He also competed in the BYEH class at Barbury Castle Horse Trials (see issue 1) Salto will now start his new career in earnest and we are excited about what the future may bring for him as he has shown a great attitude to work with natural movement and boldness. With Lucy we are now putting all of this together and will keep you updated with his progress during the year.
Have a plan in mind As with all training there are basic ground rules that must be adhered to consistently. With retraining Racehorses, rational, flexible adjustments to rules often need to be added to accommodate your individual horse. Understanding how your racehorse sees the world is very important, never presume the racehorse will react in a certain way because of previous training or because other, non-raced horses do - each are individuals. To be successful racing, your horse needs to lengthen and lower its frame creating a long lower stride and bascule that covers the maximum ground possible. No wonder patient training and time are necessary for your horse to understand slow elevation, suppleness and a bouncing not overly pushing hind leg action. During the first year of re-training confusion and lack of understanding can cause confidence issues (for both horse and rider) or result in blatant defiance (the horse) or frustration and bullying (the rider). Repetition is the answer. Bear in mind you are training a track runner to become a gymnast.
Working with Salto and Vicky. Salto is very laid back, bold and trainable in general. There are areas that need attention. Luckily Vicky is good at understanding Salto’s needs, weaknesses and reactions.
Jump Training & s Country Schooling
Lucy Thompson Had great Eventing success including 3 gold medals and representing Ireland as a senior. Lucy became Open European Three Day Event Champion 1995 - 1997 Lucy competed at Badminton nine times with her best placing of 8th and never being out of the top 20. She was awarded the Armada Dish for successfully completing on 5 separate occasions Lucy also has a wealth of knowledge on Thoroughbreds and has been my jump trainer for that last 7 years
Show Jumping
At the start of the lesson, Salto was very full of himself and was jumping ve in order to engage Salto’s hindlegs and encourage him to take more weigh the fence rather than across it.
Important areas are;The quality of the canter, keeping a “spring like” hind leg action and a round engaged shape to his outline. Improving Salto’s concentration, lateral suppleness and reducing his reliance on Vicky’s rein contact for balance. A bascule that covers less distance but keeps the highest point in the middle of the fence not after the fence Improve his attention so we reduce Salto’s “fun to run” no need to listen moments With a canter pole 3 metres from
“Putting our plan together”
the vertical we try to define a
We discuss the importance of a deeper take-off point in the same rythmn, and how to achieve this without having to “strangle the canter”
clear area for take-off. Despite staying in a good rhythm Salto does not rock back onto his hindquarters resulting in an untidy front leg action. He is surprised by his hindleg power and how quick he has to be in front. We add, circles, change of
Salto is quicker in front, still running a bit deep, and relying on Vicky’s reins to restrain him.
pace and canter to walk transitions to improve his collection and suppleness.
Salto gets the message, deep take-off, neat front leg action and less reliant on Vicky’s reins.
Jumping oxers - this helps all horses to memorise how much their forelegs must do to clear a fence. I often use a very narrow oxer with a higher back rail. When returning to jumping a vertical with a place pole we know the neatness in front will only happen when he rocks back pretake-off, allowing room and time for the front legs to be neat.
Important areas are;● The quality of the canter, keeping a “spring like” hind leg action and a round engaged shape to his outline. ● Improving Salto’s concentration, lateral suppleness and reducing his reliance on Vicky’s rein contact for balance. ● A bascule that covers less distance but keeps the highest point in the middle of the fence not after the fence ● Improve his attention so we reduce Salto’s “fun to run” no need to listen moments
ery long and flat, so Lucy worked me through the following exercises ht behind so that he could rock back and power himself UP and over
X-Country
A cross country canter is very natural for the racehorse, even though they think we are very slow! The added space and turf under their feet can encourage unruly behaviour. Salto, being laidback is very cool about it all. The only issues we have are the persistent need to be supported by Vicky’s rein contact and learning new techniques for unfamiliar fence questions. We decide that a slow canter (canter being the easiest and most practiced pace for all racehorses) is the best approach to fences.
When asked in a slow canter to drop down a small step Salto hurls his body in the air leaving as much air and distance between him and the step as possible! We repeat, praising and slowing his approach until he is less exaggerated. Repetition helps him to understand the question and find a less exaggerated way to negotiate the step.
Still a bit unsure up steps Salto overeacts a little, but giving any fence more room if in doubt is an excellent trait. He organises his hind legs well by the end and shows a very definite, defined take-off and landing action.
Having jumped many single fences well, we practice walk, trot and eventually canter through water. It is important that we establish a fear free attitude to all questions that seem odd to the horse. He can do the task anyway he likes as long as eventually he finds the most efficient way.
By the end of the session Salto, Vicky and I are delighted that a step into water only needs to be dropped off, and Salto wonders why he made such a huge leap earlier, when the question is so simple.
All the pictures from training sessions that you have seen on the previous few pages were taken from our schooling sessions at Littleton Manor Equestrian Centre Over the past four years the farm has undergone a process of consolidation, planning, construction and now opens its’ facilities to the public to aid and promote equestrianism in all disciplines in the south of England. VBEventing have regularly used the facilitates to aid in the training and development of our ex-racehorses. We believe it to be one of the best venues in the South of England. Apart from individual sessions Lucy also holds a number of clinics at LMEQ on a frequent basis
Gallop hire – £15 per horse
Dressage arena hire - £15 per horse
SJ Arena hire - £20 per horse
XC schooling hire - £25 per horse
Lunge pen hire - £10 per horse
Grass Arena hire - £15 per horse.
Facility Hire All the facilities at Littleton Manor Equestrian are available for hire. They can come at a standard rate (see babove) or if you have specific requests or would like a tailor made package please contact us direct and we will do our best to help. Discounts may be available for bulk booking or for the use of several facilities at once, ie; why not bring an advanced horse to do your canter work and some youngsters to x-country or show jump school at the same time?. Anyone using facilities will have to sign a disclaimer, which you can find on the LMEQ website
Prepare to be
amazed!
iders R e r u is e L d n ssional a e f o r P , s t is p a ine Ther u q E y b d e s r Endo Victoria Bax (VBEventing) & Ex-Racehorse. Popps Princess
Please visit www.equiami.com for a new video Are you brave enough‌ To ditch the draw reins? Scrap the side reins? Get rid of old gadgets Embrace a new concept in training aids and be reward by top-line and engagement with softness and swing. Now used & endorsed by many top riders and equine therapists What ever your pleasure or discipline, Equiami training aids Help you get the very best from your horse, improve your performance and make your riding more enjoyable this season & beyond e: enquiries@equiqmi.com t: 01584 891049 w: www.equiami.com
EquiAmi: working in harmony with horse and people
VBEventing would like to announce that we are thrilled to have been chosen as an Ambassador for Protexin Probiotics. Our team of ex-racehorses will be using the Gut Balancer and Acid Ease from the Equine Premium range .
Protexin’s Equine Premium range are products desi specifically to deliver probiotic benefits to your hors
Each product features a high quality probiotic, as w Protexin’s unique PreplexTM prebiotic; a food sourc nourishes the friendly bacteria and helps them grow effectively.
We thank the Protexin Equine team for there support during 2012
And each product features a different probiotic stre or formulation, in order to help in the various differ situations that might affect your horse.
To help your horse benefit from the Protexin Equine Premium products
‘Friendly Bacteria’ for your Horse
Visit the website at: www.protexin.com or call: 0800 328 5663 (UK) Don’t forget to use the VBEventing discount code when placing your order
10% Discount when using the VBEventing discount code ZVBE0001
Just like us humans, horses can benefit from probio or ‘friendly bacteria’. Like us, their system needs he breaking food down into digestible substances – he which comes from the many billions of beneficial bacteria that colonise the gut.
A healthy gut can also mean a healthy immune syst So making sure your horse has its full complement o friendly bacteria – a balanced gut ‘microflora’ – me you are helping to promote its inner health.
Sometimes a few billion is just not enough...
The friendly bacteria are constantly under threat of depletion by: ● Natural wastage as food passes through ● Stress – from competition or travel ● High energy diet (insufficient fibre).
Which means it is important to keep the ‘friendly bacteria’ topped up, or to have a means of boosting them in response to specific situations.
Protexin, the leader in animal probiotics, brings you Equine Premium range - products designed to be e to feed and palatable for your horse, which deliver right probiotic benefit in a range of different situati
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Quick Fix
Gut Balancer A probiotic powder that can easily be added to feed. Use daily to encourage normal digestive function and to ensure the level of good bacteria are constantly topped up. Alternatively, use during times of mild stress or digestive upset to help maintain a good balance of bacteria in the gut and support your horse’s natural immunity. Available in 300gms & 600gms for occasional use, and 3kg & 6kg for regular use.
A highly concentrated probiotic paste flavoured with tasty peppermint for easy application. Can help rapidly reestablish your horse’s gut microflora over short periods of higher stress such as travel, worming, competition or racing, or when your horse has a change of environment or diet. Can also be used as an aid to maintain appetite. Available in a handy 30ml syringe for six days’ use.
Acid Ease Equine Premium Acid Ease is a high fibre, probiotic antacid pellet that helps reduce the incidence and severity of the gastric ulceration that can often follow high cereal diets, exercise and stress. Can also help as an occasional aid to efficient digestion. Available in a handy 10kg tub for ongoing use when required.
Recovery Aid Equine Premium Recover Aid is a short course of 14 or 28 days to aid recovery following: ● Strenuous exertion such as a race or competition ● A long journey ● Viral illness or hospitalisation. It can also be used pre-race or competition to ensure the horse is on top form.
Veterinary Equine Management and Training Based on the Cambridgeshire borders just outside Stamford, Fred & Rowena run Equine Management and Training . Their business name is a perfect job description as they cater for every aspect of a horse's physiological, psychological and physical welfare Both Fred and Rowena Cook have extensive experience and expertise working with all types of horses from the various equestrian disciplines whether it be ground training, backing, schooling and jumping young horses or re-schooling and corrective training for older horses. Over recent years more and more horses off the track have benefited from their retraining and progressive schooling programmes, subsequently taking up new lives hunting, show jumping, eventing, dressage etc.
Training Consultants for the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) Consultants to Equissage Authors: "Re-Educating Racehorses - A Life After Racing" Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) HELPLINE Telephone - 01780 740773 Email - asktheexperts@ror.org.uk
They asses each horse and every aspect of its management in very minute detail - absolutely nothing is over-looked, addressing where necessary what may seem to others to be inconsequential issues but which all actually play a part in affecting a horse's capacity and willingness to perform. As their website clearly states, EMT philosophy is to train horses in such a way that they enjoy their work - so that they are keen and enthusiastic; this is not just achieved by correct training but also by attention to every element of a horse's life.
Imaging EQUINE MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING EXPLAIN WHAT THERMAL IMAGING IS AND WHY THEY RECOMMEND YOU DO SO TOO. With the Eventing season all set to commence at the beginning of March event riders up and down the country are busy getting their horses ready to run. The usual preparation starts with management checks comprising dental attention, saddle fitting checks and a visit from a physiotherapist - and hopefully a chiropractor too as a physiotherapist cannot work to correct any spinal misalignments which can occur just as readily whilst a horse is having his winter break as they can whilst actually competing. As the level of vascular work increases with more intense schooling, jumping training and more canter work, diet plans are tweaked, shoes get stud holes and sessions with trainers are stepped up. The excitement builds and entries are done. However there is one other service that does not feature on the list of many people prepping for the season - that of Veterinary Thermal Imaging. Would you know if your horse has any tendon damage until you detected heat or a swelling? Would you know if your horse is developing an abscess before it goes lame? Would you know if your horse had any subtle injury that was beginning to cause a compensatory way of going. That’s where VTI comes in. So what is Veterinary Thermal Imaging? It is a recognised branch of Veterinary Medicine, non-invasive in application with no physical contact made with the horse by the thermographer. Put very simply, an infra-red camera is used to measure radiation which is naturally emitted from a horse as part of its physiological processes. The camera converts this into electrical impulses which are displayed on the camera monitor as coloured images. The images build a map (known as a thermogram) of the horse’s skin surface temperature, such temperature reflecting any changes in blood flow. The heat detector in the camera can pick up the most minute of temperature differences throughout the body – actually changes of less than 0.05 so is 40 times more sensitive than our hands! The thermal patterns displayed are then analysed to detect any abnormalities. In a healthy horse the thermal patterns will be completely symmetrical, but they become asymmetrical in “problem” areas. Any physiological changes which occur are a direct response to any disruption within the body and can be detected by the slightest thermal change as soon as any structure becomes stressed. In clinical trials this has been proven to be up to three weeks before anything visibly manifests. VTI also highlights sites of old injuries.
Veterinary
Imaging
What are the benefits of using VTI? The list is endless but in brief, VTI has been scientifically proven and provides many benefits, each significant in their own right: ● VTI is considerably cheaper than any one single veterinary investigation ● A horse does not need to be sedated; as long as he can stand relatively still for a few minutes at a time that is fine. ● You can have your whole horse "imaged" or just specific areas. ● The thermographer travels to you With the costs of having any investigative veterinary work carried out being so high and usually involve travelling to the Equine Clinic, more and more people are turning to VTI in instances when their horse just doesn't feel quite right but don't know why. Vast sums of money can be easily spent slowly ruling out specific conditions whilst with VTI the cost of having a horse imaged from nose to tail is a fraction of vet costs. (approximately £200). It must also be remembered that often in the case of horses, there is more than one issue contributing to the cause, or there are secondary issues, the identification of which all add to veterinary costs. So if your horse should start to behave in a way that is not usual for him, his stride pattern alters, he struggles with lateral movements, becomes stiff on one rein, starts refusing to jump, backing off the contact or just does not feel right, etc., if you cannot see anything glaringly obvious, and your EDT and Saddle Fitter have ruled out any problems, why not call in a thermographer to see what is going on so that information can be passed to your vet, if necessary?
How do I prepare for a visit? There are just a few simple guidelines to follow: ● "The horse must be stood in a draught free environment ● "The horse should be out of direct sunlight. ● He should not be groomed in the two hours previous to VTI consultation and ideally have rugs removed so there is no influence over the body temperature. However if this is not feasible because of cold conditions, etc. to leave the horse un-rugged, then the thermographer is able to make due allowance for this in the overall analysis of the results as obviously with the rugged horse his general body temperature is going to be higher. This however is where the skill and experience of the thermographer comes in. ● Ideally a large stable (12 x 12 is a little too small) or barn should be used as the thermographer needs to be able to move safely around the horse. ● The floor should be swept back so that the horse is on a level surface.
Veterinary
Imaging
So how does VTI help in Event Horse Prep? Of course it is not possible to prevent certain injuries occurring even with the upmost care and attention but if you could see that a problem was brewing, then at least you would be in a position to significantly reduce the risk of it getting worse by easing back on the work load for a bit, adjusting your programme, seeking very early veterinary intervention, and so on. With eventing being such an expensive sport, you want to be in the best possible position to get your runs throughout the season.
IThis image shows a pre-clinical tendon lesion (the yellow “blob” part way up the leg). The tissues are in a state of anatomical disruption so the body immediately starts to pump more blood to the area in an attempt to repair the early damage. At this stage a change in fitness regime or competition schedule may be all that is needed to avert 6 months of box rest.
We would strongly recommend that at the beginning of your prep routine you have your horse “imaged” or at least his back and lower limbs so that you know everything is 100%. You could then elect to have this done again prior to your first event, or say, after the first so that you not only know that your horse was really fit to run but he is fit to run again! Most people rely on their farrier to correct any significant foot imbalances. However many horses do still actually have a very slight imbalance to some extent, and whilst such imbalance may seemingly be of little or no consequence for the general riding horse or for horses that are working on good, level surfaces, nonetheless there is as knock-on effect up the full length of the leg. Granted, this does not sound much to worry about, but when your horse has just galloped over several miles of undulating ground and tackled 20+ fences, some with drops, all the leg structures will have been put under strain, so even a slight imbalance can suddenly become a significant issue.
This image illustrates medial lateral hoof imbalance. Such imbalance places strain on the collateral structures along the inside of the pastern and ultimately affects the whole limb.
Veterinary
Imaging
Throughout training and competition the musculature will be subtly but constantly changing thus possibly affecting saddle fit; VTI allows this to be checked at probably less cost that calling in your saddle fitter to check it!
Even the fit of your saddle can be checked with VTI. This image illustrates a saddle that is bridging.
Some horses are much more sensitive in the mouth than others which can of course result in various contact issues as well as other manifestations. Such sensitivity also means the smallest alterations in jaw alignment can become quite an issue under saddle. VTI lets you know what is going on.
Whilst this image shows a rather extreme case of asymmetry, even a small hook may cause inflammation which VTI will detect.
Here at Equine Management and Training Veterinary Thermal Imaging provides us with a very useful holistic tool to assist in more readily assessing the horses which pass through the yard. Armed with the information VTI provides us we can either call on other practitioners to work with us, if warranted, or formulate the ideal working programme for the individual so that we can ensure physical health and well-being throughout training, something we are extremely passionate about.
For further information, contact: Fred and Rowena Cook Helen Morrell at www.vtiuk.com RoR Training Consultants Equine Management and Training www.equinetraining.co.uk
Wood Pellet Bedding. Do you really save by paying less? The picture below shows ½ kg of well known bio fuel wood pellets on the left and ½ kg of Five Star pellets on the right. Kilo for kilo you get 33% more Five Star pellets in a bag.
After soaking for five minutes, the difference in volume becomes more clear
and after tipping out, the Five Star pellets have produced 43% more bedding than the bio fuel
FIVE STAR bedding is made from pulverised, untreated virgin softwood wood fibres, a by product of the forestry industry. The fibres are screened to 3mm-5mm particle size, dust extracted in a cyclone then sterilised with steam. The fibres are then pressed into pellets under high temperature and pressure, reducing the moisture content to less than 4%. These pellets are then screened and de-dusted twice more and then finally vacuumed before packing.
This makes Five Star better value than even the cheapest bio fuel wood pellets – and you don’t get this.
FIVE STAR bedding is made from wood flakes with most of the water extracted, so it has a very high capacity for absorption, but just as you need to dampen a dry cloth before you wipe up a spill, FIVE STAR needs to be re-hydrated to maximise its rate of absorption.
We found that ½ kg of CEN/TS 14961 standard bio fuel pellets produced two litres of bedding material and 320cc of dust as fine as flour - shown in the glass on the right. That’s over 13% dust by volume. In a full bed made with eight bags, that means 77 litres, or more than six buckets of dust in your stable.
In its dry state the 15kg bags of FIVE STAR bedding are easy to handle. In its rehydrated form the bedding has a full fluffy texture which will support the horse and will not compact down with use.
Five Star pellets are made specifically for horse bedding - not for burning. We can’t give away all our secrets, but you can see the difference in the pictures. Per litre of bedding, Five Star costs no more than bio fuel pellets, but comes with extra benefits: 43% more absorbency, a 43% thicker and springier bed, a far nicer colour and no dust*.
FIVE STAR bedding is made to our strict quality standards resulting in a consistent product. Try FIVE STAR FIVE STAR bedding is easy to test in one or two stables without making a major financial commitment - just email to find out more:
*if the bedding is managed following our guidelines
You can buy cheaper, but can you buy better? We think not.
www.fivestarbedding.co.uk
Telephone: 01732 863116 Mobile: 07973 848365 Email: martin@fivestarbedding.co.uk
PC Paddock Care
Tel: 07967 940220
Based in Essex and covering the whole South East including Essex, Kent, Suffolk, and Hertfordshire, Paul Cutting of PC Paddock Care provides professional, reliable, low-impact agricultural contracting for all types of grassland. Whatever the size and nature of your land, and wherever you are, we have the equipment and the expertise for all your land management needs. Whether it is a ½ acre pony paddock, a stud farm with many horse paddocks, a large country estate or the restricted rural highways and byways of the County - all can be professionally managed and maintained by PC Paddock Care
Weed control Weeds in a paddock are at best unsightly and an unproductive use of your land. Spraying weeds not only improves the appearance of your paddock but also increases the amount of grazing available for your horse, spraying is recommended at least once a year.
Topping
REPAIR PACKAGE To repair damaged ground and re-establish areas that have low grass yield.
Regular topping of the grass encourages the production of young sweet shoots that horses enjoy to eat. Paddocks are best topped at least once a month during the season.
Tine Harrowing
Rolling
Rolling
Levels out any unevenness caused by poaching and firms up the ground to reduce further damage by hooves and gently crushes the grass crowns which encourages the grass to spread and maximises its growth
Over Seeding
MAINTENANCE PACKAGE To maintain a good grass sward and keep weeds out. Topping
Harrowing This removes the old dead grass letting it breath again, removal of this thatch is desirable at least once a year.
Fertiliser
Tine Harrowing Fertilising Weed Control
Grass is the best and cheapest food for your horse and like your horse the grass itself needs to be fed the correct nutrients. Our recommendation will take into consideration the size and breed of your horse plus soil type and how to use the paddock. Poorly managed pastures provide insufficient feed with low nutritional value. The right paddock management is therefore critical for maintaining a healthy, vigorous pasture. This benefits the horse, the owner and the environment.
Contact Us Email: pcpaddockcare@gmail.com
Tel: 07967 940220
Supporting the Team in 2012
VB Eventing can be found at: White Elm, Pudsey Hall Lane, Canewdon, Essex SS4 3RY Lessons , Schooling or Re-Training can be booked by either email or phone: vbeventing@yahoo.co.uk or 07899 801045
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2012 Price Taruff