Spring Issue 346

UK’S

o.1 N EQUINE

MONTHLY MAG

43 pages of riding advice

expert adv ice and easy help you imp -to-follow exercises rove your to technique in the sad dle

42 Riding

Jane Baker

BHS SM, BHSII is a freelan ce riding instruct McTimoney or, animal therapist and Horse expert Your

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healthy

How you can banish vet bills and enjoy an action-packed year MASTERCLASS

Ditches, steps, water & corners

Tricky fences made easy with legend Lucinda Green

Fat busting S

Laura Bechtolsheimer

lim him down in ju st 6 weeks

“Alf’s my soulmate of the four-legged kind”

care

Prevent lameness ur yo all lve So s 11’ 20 t, Half pads on tes s with and hoof problems with ue iss e uin eq k loo st fir d an t, ki newest essential vet advice lp he rt pe ex r ou ots bo est at Tredstep’s lat

£3.80

• BANISH VET BILLS • XC MASTERCLASS • LAURA BEChtolsheimer interview • 2011 new kit • essential hoof advice • fat busting

Keep him

Q&As

Charles Wilson

is a natural horsemanship expert and riding instructor – visit www. naturalhorsetr ainer. co.uk

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care SPECIAL

gear

Wiola Grabow

ska is a rider and coach who believe s training the in mind and body of both horse and rider – see aspire-equestriawww. n.com

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Lucinda Green:

Jo Gumm

runs her own yard in Cambridgeshire . She competes in all disciplines but specialises in dressag e – www.jogumme r.co.uk

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B e a b e t t e r r i d e r , g e t t h e b e s t f r o m yo u r h o r s e

Q&A

Great advi ce to help you become a bette effective rider r and more

Spring 2011

Your Horse 346 SPRING 2011

Riding

IMPROVE YOUR RIDING SKILLS 43 pages of advice

Laura Bechtolsheimer

Sometimes I wonder if I met Alf too soon Words Rebecca Gibson Photography Matthew Roberts

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possible that’s seen her rise up aura became the youngest through the dressage rankings ever British Dressage Champion at the age of so quickly.

20 on her father’s GP horse Douglas At 26, Laura is now ranked third Dorsey. But it’s her partnership in the World Dressage Rankings with the charismatic Mistral Hojris, and, along with Alf, could well be or Alf as he’s known, that’s seen her Britain’s best hope of securing a break countless British and dressage medal at the London 2012 International records, including a Olympics. But, as she plays with hat-trick at the World Equestrian 17hh Alf’s muzzle over the stable Games (WEG) in Kentucky last year. door, she wonders whether she met The granddaughter the horse she describes as her of a billionaire property equine soulmate too early magnet and daughter of in her career. “I’m very a world class dressage lucky to have Alf now, rider, Laura is one of but sometimes I think o ide ev e th maybe I should have the most ambitious o Se vuid thcheLa rae SeeWat had him when I was people you’ll ever ra u La atch Wsw g your erin an r u yo g older and more meet. It’s this . in w er w an tions at w essw qu w. w w at s k/ experienced,” insatiable drive and on u ti o. es .c qu se yourhor o.u .crv sete w iek/ she says. belief that anything’s yo Bin raor urh Lau w ie LauraBinterv

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Turn over for Laura’s answers to your questions

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Riding

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fun cross-country Masterclass

Have

Stay safe, have fun and be confident across country with advice from world-class eventer Lucinda Green Words Imogen Johnson Photography Matt Roberts

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he adrenalin rush that comes hand-in-hand with cross-country isn’t every rider’s idea of fun, but it doesn’t all need to be fast, furious and verging on the edge of control.

Here former Olympic eventer Lucinda Green explains how to prepare for success and gain your horse’s trust over the scariest jumps and trickiest ground.

As the only rider to have won Badminton Horse Trials six times, on six different horses,

Lucinda knows that practising hard is the only way to ensure you jump clear and stay safe. So read on to find out how to build your horse’s confidence, improve his balance and conquer those dreaded rider-frighteners.

It takes Practice

“Cross-country simply isn’t practised well enough, and far too often riders make the decision to enter a competition before they’re confident they can manage a full

course,” says Lucinda. “At a competition, the time for practice is over, and as pressure begins to mount mistakes are likely to be made by riders who are unprepared. The last thing any rider wants, when they’ve paid their entry fee and made the effort to travel to a venue, is to have refusals or run outs.

“The only sure way to be certain you can complete a cross-country course safely and successfully is to practise, practise, practise.”

Photo of Lucinda Green: PetPlan Equine

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Riding

Question everything

Joanna Jackson urges riders to question their every move to check that each aid hits the spot

Correct response

Claire Lilley explains how a soft contact is the result of your legs, hands and seat working in unison

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Fine-tune Learning how to refine your aids and work in harmony with your horse will take your riding to the next level. World-class dressage riders Richard Davison, Joanna Jackson and Claire Lilley explain how Words Imogen Johnson

Feel the pressure

Richard Davison explains why it’s important to analyse your leg aids

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ROM ABROAD F G IN

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Buying from abroad Words Andrea Oakes

Finding the perfect horse can be

tricky, especially if you’re looking for something unusual. While many riders will drive all over Britain to view prospective purchases, how many would be willing to extend their search overseas? Here we discover the ins and outs of buying horses abroad – and meet readers who’ve done just that

Riding

Bailey with owner Karen Lowe – taking up the fat-buster challenge

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Fat busters Set your horse on the path to a fitter future With up to half of Britain’s leisure horses now classed as obese, it’s time to flex our muscles as riders-turned-equine personal trainers. So meet the first on the treadmill – Your Horse reader Karen Lowe and her ‘cuddly’ horse Bailey

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exercised three times a week ur horses are getting fed just a handful of fat – and the Healt and chaff.

He basically lives problem’s growing h on fresh a l air and diet faster than their e rt Over w e alone won’t solve his waistlines. You might prone ight horses a to re condit a diabetes-li weight problem. What joke that your horse’s ion ca ll ke ed Metab he needs is an effective look is more cuddly olic Sy Equine ndr as well fat burning exercise than svelte but the as la m ome initis programme, alongside a latest research into the sensible diet, and to help health problems faced by we’ve enlisted the help of fat horses isn’t so funny and nutritional and exercise specialist it’s time we, as their riders, helped them lose the bulge with a targeted Clare MacLeod. Clare can help Karen develop a well-managed fat burning fitness plan. exercise programme that will build To get us started we’ve enlisted muscle, create a higher proportion the help of reader Karen Lowe of lean body tissue and, as a result, who’s keen to improve her horse increase Bailey’s resting metabolic Bailey’s health and physique. Like rate so he’ll be less prone to putting many owners, she knows her weight back on. six-year-old Appaloosa x gypsy cob The result? Karen will be on the is on the cuddly side of his ideal weight, but she’s at a loss as to what road to a fitter, leaner, healthier horse in just six weeks’ time. will shift it. He lives out, is

Meet the expert

Clare MacLeod is an independent Registered Nutritionist and equine health and fitness specialist. She has a Masters Degree in human and equine sports science and has worked for a leading feed and supplement company, formulating products and advising horse owners.

Now a published author, Clare is a consultant to the equine nutrition trade and works with owners to help them feed their horses in the optimum way.

She specialises in feeding for performance, and here she’ll be helping to set Bailey on the path to a fitter, healthier – and slimmer – future.

The not-so-cuddly facts

• Equine obesity is a growing problem. Alarmingly, recent research at the University of Nottingham’s school of Veterinary Medicine and Science suggests that up to half of all leisure horses are obese. The research also found owners are continuing to under-estimate their horses’ weight • In questionnaires sent to leisure horse owners registered with Oakham Veterinary Hospital in Leicestershire, 160 owners were asked to body fat score their horses. One in five said they thought their horses were overweight or obese. But when 15 of these horses were physically assessed for condition by researchers, it was found several owners had significantly under-estimated their horse’s weight, suggesting the number of overweight or obese horses could be as great as 54%

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Riding

4 exercises to

Strengthen your

Simple steps to help your horse develop a strong, supple back For your horse to perform at his very best, he needs to have a strong back, no matter what it is you’re doing with him. Strong back muscles will enable him to carry his rider with ease, achieve balance and rhythm, and stay in a consistent outline throughout each pace and transition.

The more you can do to strengthen his core muscles the better – and there are plenty of things you can do to help.

We’ve teamed up with dressage trainer Carrie Adams to show you four simple exercises to help you develop a correct and strong topline.

Going up a hill while adopting a forward seat will allow your horse to lift his back, helping to strengthen the essential muscles in this area

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horse’s topline Meet Carrie

Carrie Adams is a British Dressage group two rider who combines dressage with natural horsemanship. After working closely with Monty Roberts, Carrie combines these two disciplines to provide a unique kind of training from Centre Lines, her dressage yard near Newark. Carrie has trained many horses to championship level and is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to getting the best from both rider and horse.

To get in touch with Carrie visit www.centrelines.co.uk

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Care

VETADVICE

Beat arthritis

Arthritis is the most common cause of lameness, but there’s lots you can do to prevent, treat and even reverse the symptoms if it’s caught early enough. Vet Charlie Briggs is here to help you wage war on this debilitating condition.

Charlie works for the Hale Veterinary Group in Wiltshire and is also the team vet for the GB Endurance Development Squad

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on’t be fooled into thinking your horse will be reaching for a Zimmer frame by the time arthritis sets in. Whether you own a six- or 16-year-old, this debilitating disease can affect your horse at any time.

But the good news is that a diagnosis of

arthritis doesn’t necessarily put the kybosh on your plans for competition success, or even just a happy ever after for you and your horse.

Here we look at the current thinking for preventing and treating arthritis to help your horse stay fighting fit for as long as possible.

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Care moston comAm LTH HE L EMS B O R P LVED! SO

Banish vet bills Care special

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Essential advice to keep your horse healthy and enjoy an action-packed year

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obody wants to worry about their horse becoming ill or injured, we’d rather just enjoy our time with them and try to put any niggling concerns to the back of our minds.

But if you take time to think about the way you manage your horse now, you could prevent trouble before it arrives.

Being proactive means your horse will enjoy a healthier life – and your bank account won’t take such a hammering from preventable,

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and often expensive, vet bills.

We’ve asked our experts about some of the most common complaints horse owners have to contend with throughout the year, and they’ve revealed some startlingly simple tips to help avoid them.

So read on to find out how to prevent common injuries, stop illness and disease in its tracks and enjoy a happy, healthy horse all year long (and have fun spending all the money you’ll save).

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Gear

BigTest

Half Pads We’ve put 12 half pads to the test so you don’t have to. Read on to find out which are best for everyday and competition use

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For more gear reviews go to www.yourhorse.co.uk Half pads have become increasingly popular and there are now a large number to choose from. The idea of using a half pad is to reduce the amount of bulk under the rider’s leg, giving a closer contact with your horse. However, most riders use them with a thin saddlecloth for appearance and to keep the half pad clean. For our test we had a number of sheepskin half pads and others made from a shock absorbing material.

We used three testers – Vanessa Lowther used the half pads on her two horses, Gus, a 16.3hh TB eventer and Charlie, a 16.3hh TB mare who is coming back into work after having a foal.

Your Horse editor Julie Brown tested them on her four-year-old KWPN gelding Bo and Your Horse gear editor Allison Lowther used them on her seven-year-old Hanoverian mare Wish and 16-year-old ID x TB Jester.

Our testers assessed each half pad under the following criteria Fit Our testers considered the overall fit of each half pad, how easy it was to fasten to the saddle, and its appearance Performance Did the half pad do the job and live up to the manufacturer’s claims? Did the half pad stay securely in place – and what does the pad look like now?

Value for money Considering what our testers thought about the fit and performance of each half pad, they assessed whether it was good value for money and whether they’d recommend it to you

What to look for Material

Sheepskin is a popular choice – it allows air to circulate and absorbs shock to help eliminate pressure points. Other materials include gel and neoprene, which again can help absorb shock, helping to keep your horse comfortable

Shape

A half pad that’s shaped to follow the contours of the horse’s spine will fit better and will sit nicely up into the gullet of the saddle

Care

Always follow the washing instructions on each individual product. Sheepskin is hardwearing – but you do need to care for it correctly

Fastenings

Make sure you can secure the half pad safely in place. Go for straps that adjust easily and are long enough to fasten around your girth straps. Velcro is a popular choice

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Gear Ragwort facts

Learn to identify ragwort in its early stages of growth by its rosettes of ragged leaves that grow close to the ground before they shoot up, thicken out and flower into flat-topped, yellow, daisy-like clustered heads It’s essential to destroy this weed before it seeds – seeds can lie dormant for up to 20 years Every flowering ragwort plant can produce around 150,000 seeds, which have a 70% germination rate From late June onwards, ragwort is in full flower During autumn and winter, small rosettes and seedlings are easily visible. Remove them or spray them as soon as you see them Horses will need to be kept off sprayed areas It’s hard to remove ragwort by hand – you can easily break the root system so you leave some of the plant behind Any ragwort you remove needs burning – don’t just put it on your muckheap!

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Rag wo ans as wel er to hum always cov – s horses wear glove d n a g up dealin when it w h it

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Ragwort control miniguide

How to effectively remove this unwanted pest of a plant

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Fynalite Multi Weeda £22.99

This handy tool is designed to remove weeds with the minimum of fuss and damage to the ground.

Ideal for use in the field or garden, it easily removes the most difficult and toxic weeds including ragwort, thistle and dandelion.

The Multi Weeda is perfectly balanced, strong and lightweight.

Contact www.fynalite.co.uk or 01789 764848

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Rag Fork £28.95

The Rag Fork is easy to use and removes the whole ragwort plant quickly and easily. It’s available in two heights – the 90cm version comes with a T-shaped handle, while the longer version, which is 102cm long and has a soft grip D-shaped handle, is ideal for taller people.

Contact www.ragfork.com

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Barrier H £45/5l

This product can be used all year round and is available as a ‘ready to use’ 5L with spray gun applicator.

It’s fully licensed, environmentally friendly agricultural herbicide, which destroys ragwort in record time.

Simply spray the ragwort and keep animals off treated areas for two weeks or until the plant is completely dead and any remaining debris is removed.

Contact www.ragwort.com or 01953 456363

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“ We love horses” Whether you’re in it for the adrenalin kick or affection of a glorified lawn mower, there’s one thing that unifies all us riders – an unconditional love for our horses. Here five owners explain why they mean so much Words Helen Milbank Photography Tom Critchell, Matt Roberts and Tim Mellin

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Care

at heart

It seems hard to believe the hairy happy hacker you ride out on was once a wild animal just like these – or at least his ancestors were!

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Words Larissa Chapman

hen it comes to our horses’ health and happiness, nature still calls. Here our experts from the worlds of holistic therapy, natural horsemanship and nutrition

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help us understand how horses in the wild keep themselves happy and healthy, and why it’s important we try to replicate this to keep our horses fit and well in body and mind.

Photo: ŠTim Flach

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NEXT MONTH in Your Horse O n SAale L OO H SC TRAINING NEW PRIL 21

Start our riding course

Module One: Top riders Richard & Tom Davison develop your riding techniques with lessons to improve your position for all disciplines

Win more rosettes

All you need to know for show jumping, dressage, eventing, endurance and showing success

Get a grip

Lightweight riding gloves put to the test

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Pic www.hor sehero.com

Dressage trainer Conrad Schumacher on his life with horses

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