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dressage tests
Latest vet research
How to prevent and treat back problems
E SID INera EE FR ve prove your lat l mo s
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Gear RIDING Buyers’ guide to riding hats PLUS half chaps on test
35 pages of top advice including improving your canter, training young horses and western riding
Care
Feeding, fitting girths, plus expert behavioural advice
September 2011
Your Horse 351 SEPTEMBER 2011
WIN A
UK’S
The yard
LEE PEARSON
I don’t mind people staring Words Teresa Hollands Photography Matthew Roberts
A
n MBE, OBE, CBE and 28-times gold medal winner… Paralympic dressage rider Lee Pearson is quick to dismiss himself as an inspiration to both disabled and able-bodied riders alike, but it’s hard to escape the fact that his achievements are, for want of sounding repetitive, inspirational. From the day he was plonked on a donkey as a child (as he struggled to ride a pushbike), horses have played an integral part in Lee’s life. But it wasn’t until he was in his early 20s – inspired by the riders at the Atlanta Paralympics in 1996 – that he decided to make them his career. What happened next was a phenomenal string of gold medal wins at the Sydney, Athens and Beijing Olympics,
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countless triumphs as a para rider at World and European level, not to mention top-level wins against able bodied dressage riders riding Blue Circle Boy (Gus). With a ‘get on with it, you’ve only got one life’ attitude, Lee doesn’t linger on the details of his disability – he refers to it just long enough to explain that he’s encased in plastic from his hips to his heels after he was born with crippling deformities. And it’s this positive attitude that has seen him rise to the top of his sport. “I want to change people’s perception of disabilities by being and doing,” he says. “I don’t want to be an ‘inspiration’ as such – but I do want to change attitudes.”
Turn over for Lee’s answers to your questions
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AI N I
AD
TR
NG
EMY
Riding
AC
Your Horse
Training Academy Train with the experts for free
Welcome to the fifth instalment of our exciting Your Horse Training Academy – the free riding course that will help you become a better rider. This months our Academy chief instructors Richard Davison and his show jumper son Tom are your expert trainers, on hand to give advice in the magazine and online, with video lessons to download, homework suggestions, web chats and email support. And the best bit? It’s all free!
Sign up now!
It’s easy to sign up to the Your Horse Training Academy – and it’s all free! Signing up means you’ll get access to online training videos – plus you’ll get the chance to chat to other ‘trainees’ on the Your Horse forum, and get free email support, too. See www.yourhorse.co.uk/ta you r hor se
Don’t miss AN Y O
Train F ing AcTHE maste ade Subsc rclass my r enjoy ibe now ES! the Re a of mai nd courour train nder fantase – plus ing g to pastic gift. Tet a ge 20 ur n out m to find orE
Sign up now - it’s free! See below for details
Module 1
Develop the ideal position for flatwork and jumping Missed it? Call 0845 601 1356 for a back issue
Module 4 Polework & jumping Missed it? Call 0845 601 1356 for a back issue
Module 2
Module 3
Improve your horse’s way of going on the flat and over fences Missed it? Call 0845 601 1356 for a back issue
Ride the perfect circle, serpentine, shallow loop and more Missed it? Call 0845 601 1356 for a back issue
Module 5
Module 6
Develop your lateral work and improve your jumping technique
Improve your dressage score and jump clear
Issue on sale 8 September
Turn to page 28
Meet your expert trainers Richard Davison
has competed at the Olympics, World Equestrian Games, European Championships and World Cup Finals. “I’m pleased to be involved in this exciting new training concept,” he says.
Tom Davison
Richard’s talented son, Tom, is fast becoming a leading name as a rider and trainer – and as our Academy’s jumping expert he’ll be helping you go clear every time.
Module 5 Lateral work & improving your jumping In Module 5 of the Your Horse Training Academy learn how to use lateral work to improve your horse’s way of going on the flat, whatever level you ride at. Plus improve your style over fences, too, as our experts focus on the detail that will help you tackle refusals, run outs and spooky fillers. So turn the page and wel l let your Academy d on e! masterclass begin.
➤ Turn the page for Module 5 and get ready to learn from the best!
Get more from every training session
Spot this logo and it’s time to go online. Your Horse Training Academy members will have exclusive access to free training videos at www.yourhorse.co.uk/ta with new videos added every month. Pay attention at the back of the class! Every time you spot this logo it’s homework time. Our experts will give you simple, easy-tofollow exercises and ideas to help you improve between modules.
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Riding
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The
trust
GET YOUR HORSE STARTE D IN C RO S S COUNTRY
Baby steps to
cross-country success Words Larissa Chapman
Want to take your first steps crosscountry on a young or inexperienced horse, but unsure where to start? We’ve enlisted the help of top rider and trainer Tiny Clapham to help guide you through
G
oing cross-country for the first time can be a daunting prospect for a horse, especially if he’s young and inexperienced, or spooky and unsure of himself by nature. So if you’re about to introduce your horse to solid fences, it’s important his first few times cross-country are a real confidence-booster.
To help you get started we’ve enlisted the help of eventing legend Tiny Clapham. She’s helped hundreds of horses tackle everything from ditches and logs to water fences and sunken roads with confidence, and she joined Your Horse readers Flora Young and Simon Grace to give them the benefit of her wisdom. Find out how they got on over the page.
www.you r hor se .c o.u k
Riding
4 exercises to
improve your horse’s trust These exercises will improve your relationship with your horse, whatever your discipline
T
rust is the fundamental foundation that every horse and rider needs in place before they can progress and build on their training. A crucial element of building trust is getting your horse to feel safe with you and to listen to what you’re asking – he needs to trust you enough to listen to you, even when he feels in danger. Horses are flight animals and we need to be able to control this. Here our expert David Deptford, who has a wealth of experience in training horses, shares four simple exercises that everyone can achieve.
eo See the rvwid ebsite
Head to ou se.co. w w w.yourhor av id D e se to st u uk/tr on ti in ac
These are fundamental exercises that every horse and rider can achieve you r hor se
The
Meet the expert David Deptford
trust
David has been riding Western since he was eight years old. He is recognised as a leading UK breeder and trainer of Quarter Horses. With numerous wins in the show pen, he has been a member of the British Reining Team on many occasions, most recently in 2008 where he was the trailblazer for the team that narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the first World Reining Championships. David doesn’t specialise in any one event – he has competed both in the UK and overseas with halter horses, western pleasure and all-rounders.
FACT
As David is a Western rider he doesn’t wear a conventional riding hat butwe always recommend you wear one
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The
trust
LET ME BE YOUR
hero
Words Imogen Johnson
We meet some amazing people whose lives have been changed by horses and find out about the couple who have made it all possible w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k
Rider confidence
Trick of the mind
Discover how to suppress your inner demons using nothing but your brain Words Imogen Johnson Photography Mark Manning
Meet the expert Vicky Smith
Vicky Smith, a personal and corporate people development specialist, has been a nervous rider for more than 20 years. Too afraid to hack out, let alone compete, Vicky’s riding eventually became confined to the indoor school. In order to face her fears she turned to her corporate people
development specialism in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and now competes at Medium level dressage – she’s even fulfilled her lifelong dream of jumping a cross-country course. So sure these NLP techniques can help anyone, Vicky’s spent the last seven years working with nervous riders as the founder of Inspirational Riding Solutions (IRS).
For more information visit www.inspirationalridingsolutions.com
Most riders experience a loss of confidence, a pang of fear or a wave of nerves at one time or another, but for some the problem can become long-term. With the help of our expert Vicky Smith we tell you how to restore your confidence with some simple techniques, using nothing but your mind
M
Afraid but unsure why?
ost riders come to me following an incident such as a fall or bad spook. Negative experiences such as these can lead to uncontrollable nerves and even fear, but quite often we’re not aware of the original cause of our worry. My job is to help riders remove the layers of negative emotions, behaviours and beliefs
created at the time of the event and beyond, freeing them of their emotional baggage and allowing them to achieve their goals. I do this using a dual approach: ● Firstly by working with the unconscious mind ● Secondly by creating practical tools and strategies
Boost you confidencer Get top advice at this year ’s fantastic event on 12-13 Novembe r For ticket details see pages 72-7 3
Care
In deep
Poor rider posture, ill-fitting tack, failure to warm up correctly… all can put the health of your horse’s back at risk
VETADVICE
Beat back pain As riders we can have a huge effect – both positive and negative – on the health of our horses’ backs. Here Charlie Briggs explains the latest veterinary research to help your horse stay happy and sound Illustrations Samantha J Elmhurst BA Hons, www.livingart.org.uk
T
he equine back is a powerful yet sensitive structure, which bravely puts up with the unnatural strain of carrying a rider. It rarely complains, but when it
does it can cause a serious headache for both horse and rider. Until recently, research into back pain lagged behind more ‘fashionable’ conditions. But it deserves our full attention as it’s the
one area of the horse that we as riders can have a profound effect on – both positive and negative. It’s important to treat your horse’s back with care and attention, and neglect it at your peril!
Meet the expert Charlie Briggs
Charlie is an equine vet who works for the Hale Veterinary Group in Wiltshire. She’s also team vet for the Great British Endurance Development Squad and a keen horse rider.
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The nuts and bolts
The equine spine is relatively rigid from the withers to the pelvis, but it can bend small amounts up, down and side-toside, as well as twisting on its long axis. The relationship between the anatomy and movement of the spine is complex. The powerful epaxial muscles sit above the spine and extend the back (ie, cause it to hollow). There are also muscles on Sacroiliac ligament
the underside of the spine (sublumbar) that flex the back (arching it). The head is supported by a long band called the nuchal ligament, which runs from the back of the skull and attaches on the neck vertebrae, withers and shoulder blade; it continues along the midline of the spine as the supraspinous ligament. When the neck is lowered, it creates tension within the nuchal
ligament, encouraging the spine to flex. In addition, the bands of abdominal muscles help to flex the spine. The relationship between the muscles and spine and how this alters movement is the subject of much research. When breaking down four common actions to identify the muscles involved (see below), even the most basic interpretation gives a sense of its complexity.
Nuchal ligament
Epaxial muscles
Sublumbar muscles Gluteal muscles
External abdominal oblique
Hamstrings Internal abdominal oblique
Rectus abdominis
Relaxed outline
Collected trot
Jumping
Hollow
As the diagram above shows, when the horse is in a relaxed outline, the neck is extended and there is some tension in the nuchal ligament, encouraging flexion in the spine. The sublumbar and abdominal muscles are working to flex the spine, and the epaxial muscles are relaxed.
This is a complicated and powerful manoeuvre. The gluteals and hamstrings help push the horse off the ground, and this requires flexion of the spine, helped by contraction of the abdominal and sublumbar muscles. There is more movement behind the saddle and through the pelvis, which can increase the risk of sacroiliac strain.
Research has shown that trot causes extension and flexion of the back as the legs move symmetrically. As the head is held closer to the vertical, increased tension in the nuchal ligament helps flex the back. The abdominals contract to flex the back, and sublumbar muscle contraction brings the hindlegs under.
The large epaxial muscles are contracted, which extends the spine. The head and neck is raised, so the nuchal ligament is slackened. The abdominal muscles are less engaged and the hindlegs can’t come under the body. This position puts a lot of pressure on the epaxial muscles and predisposes them to tightness and muscle strain.
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Care
The
trust
Spook-proof your
dressage diva How to get a sensitive dressage horse to take a more laid back approach to life in the competition arena
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Meet the trainer
Carrie Adams is a British Dressage group two rider who combines dressage with natural horsemanship. After working closely with Monty Roberts, she now combines the two disciplines to provide a unique form of training from Centre Lines, her dressage yard near Newark. Visit www.centrelines.co.uk or, to find an Intelligent Horsemanship practitioner in your area, visit www.intelligent horsemanship.co.uk
MEET THE SPOOKY DIVA
Tino is a Belgian Warmblood owned by Your Horse reader Nicky Higgins. He’s a talented dressage prospect – but his spooky behaviour is spoiling his chances in the ring
T
he best dressage horses are often sharp – this means they’re sensitive to their rider’s aids but it also means they’re prone to being spooky. Not only does spooking cause a momentary lack of focus but it also causes the horse’s blood to fill with adrenaline and his muscles to become rigid with tension. Tension is the enemy of every dressage rider because it makes it impossible for the horse to use himself properly and performing the required test movements will be a battle. This means spooking can be extremely costly to the competitive dressage rider who has just a matter of minutes to show the judges what they can do.
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Care
On test
Samples of readers’ hay and haylage were tested to find out how forage quality varies across the UK
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N O Y A H
TEST
We went behind the scenes at Dodson & Horrell feed manufacturers to ‘gatecrash’ its hi-tech lab for the day and analyse readers’ hay and haylage samples from across the UK. Our mission? To discover how Britain’s mixed bag of weather affects hay quality, whether you’re on the Yorkshire Dales or in a rainy Scottish field Words Helen Milbank
F
irst drought then a deluge of rain – it’s fair to say the typical British summer is enough to turn even the most optimistic of farmers into a nervous wreck. But as rumours abound that this summer’s early drought, combined with last summer’s monsoon, has led to dwindling hay stocks, should we be worried? And is our ‘interesting’ climate adversely affecting the quality of hay? To find out, we enlisted the help of Dr Teresa Hollands and the experts at Northamptonshire-based Dodson & Horrell feed manufacturers and asked them to analyse readers’ forage samples to create a ‘hay map’ of the good, the bad
and the dusty. We also quizzed them about the best way to feed forage, whether your horse is a good-doer or gung-ho competitor.
And the forecast is…
“The weather patterns we’ve seen of late are for colder winters, drier springs and wetter summers, and this has a cumulative effect,” says Dr Teresa Hollands. “With the colder winters the grass doesn’t start growing as early as you might expect (grass needs higher than 6ºCaa to grow) and if the ground’s frozen this effectively becomes a frozen drought. Follow this with a dry spring and there isn’t enough moisture in the
ground for the grass to reach any height, so it isn’t possible to get an early crop of hay. If farmers do manage to get an early silage or hay harvest, and the dry weather continues, the grass doesn’t grow in time for a second cutting. “When the inevitable happens and it rains all summer after a dry start, this is great news for the grass, which grows like the clappers, but then you have a situation like last year when it was too wet to harvest – and any that is cut is often dusty. It’s a vicious circle! Of the farmers I’ve spoken to this year who’ve managed to get a cut of hay, the general consensus is that the quality’s good – there’s just not much of it.”
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Lunchtime enables riders to relax and to share ide as in an informal setting
It’s all smiles as the riders prepare for their next lesson and training advice
HOLIDAY WITH YOUR HORSE
Carry on camping! Fun, educational and a great way to bond with your horse, Andrea Oakes packs her bags and explores the campfire camaraderie of adult riding camps Photos Matthew Roberts
I
at showgrounds and equestrian venues t’s holiday-time – but how many nationwide, offering everything from horse owners have the budget for intensive dressage tuition to Trec training globetrotting? If lessons and livery and pilates sessions. Camp has become the bills have stretched your finances, ideal horsey getaway for riders of all ages the chances are you’ll be looking for a and abilities – the perfect place to cheaper alternative to sunning yourself broaden your equestrian horizons on a foreign beach or sipping or simply to enjoy a change cocktails by the poolside. of scenery with your horse. The good news is that the And if the word ‘camp’ hot holiday choice for riders There’s no n conjures up memories of this summer is a far more about a eed to feel ne tt r your ow ending a cam vous nights under soggy canvas affordable option. A little less p on n – ther e others and stodgy food, it’s time glamorous, maybe, but you in the s ’ll be many a m everyo to think again. Hotel or bed can take your horse with you ne is th e boat and er and breakfast accommodation and spend some quality time a good e to have time is often available for those with him. You’ll meet likewho’d prefer not to rough it in minded friends and you might a tent or a horsebox, while barbecues, even learn something new. Welcome pub meals and professional catering mean to the world of the adult riding camp. you’ll be dining in style. Adult riding camps are springing up
Did yo know u ?
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It’s time to do a spo t of jumping and to brush up on your technique
Camp has become the ideal horsey getaway for riders of all ages and abilities w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k
Gear
BigTest
Half Chaps 10 pairs of half chaps are put to the test so we can recommend which ones you should buy
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For more gear reviews go to www.yourhorse.co.uk Half chaps combined with jodhpur boots are a popular choice with riders instead of long leather boots. Michelle Wright has put 10 pairs of chaps to the test for us. Michelle works with horses full time, spending a lot of the day wearing half chaps. Two measurements were sent to each manufacturer (calf at the widest point and length of lower leg). All the chaps included are off-the-peg sizes and were sent in by the manufacturers based on Michelle’s measurements. For
our test she wore the same pair of traditional style jodhpur boots and assessed each pair of chaps under the following criteria. Fit/comfort Michelle assessed how well each pair of chaps fitted and how comfortable they were to ride in. She also considered how easily they fitted over her jodhpur boots and what the fastenings were like to use. Were the chaps quick and easy to put on and take off? Performance Michelle considered if each pair of
half chaps lived up to its manufacturer’s claims. She also assessed their overall performance, considering what they were like to ride in and what condition they’re in now, after several months of use. Value for money Finally, considering her comments on fit, comfort and performance, does Michelle feel they are good value for money? Would she buy them again or recommend them to you? Alison Lowther gear test editor
What to look for
Elasticated insert Material
You can choose from a variety of different materials – suede is common and is usually tough and long-lasting; leather is a popular choice and when teamed up with a good quality pair of jodhpur boots can look as smart as long leather boots. You can also go for a synthetic material; some of these are breathable, helping to keep you cool and comfortable
Shaping around the top of the foot
This is there to help the chaps fit comfortably and easily over your short boots. Some manufacturers will make this out of elasticated material to give a flexible fit
These normally run down the back or side of the half chaps. They help the chaps fit snuggly and comfortably around your leg
Inside panel
Some half chaps will have a panel down the inside of the chap, which will stop your stirrup leather from pinching your leg and also make them a little more durable, as this is the area that gets the most wear
Fastenings
The zip will run either down the side of each chap or the back. There may also be a strap at the top of the chaps to help hold them securely in place or a popper fastening at the bottom to help keep the zip done up
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On Sale 8 SEP T
rt of our Module 6 In the final pa y, m fantastic Training Acade d Tom rd an chief instructors Richa improve Davison tell you how to mp clear d ju your dressage score an
Anna ross-davies Gary the foal says hello
International dressage star Anna celebrates her new arrival as Gary the foal makes his debut appearance
I
am a granny! I’m proud to announce that my foal has (finally) been born three weeks late, out of my broodmare Shimmer. He’s called Gary and his father is the lovely Showmaker who stands here in the UK. Gary is Shimmer’s second foal and she seems rather fonder of him than she did her first one. She didn’t really have the hang of the whole motherhood concept the first time and kept walking off and leaving the foal with any other horse who was interested in it. The poor thing ended up being brought up by a neighbouring two-year-old. This did mean weaning was extremely stress-free, though, as they had each forgotten the other one existed by that time. I was away teaching when the great event finally took place, but I’ve met
Gary the foal now. I’m excited by the whole concept of it and am looking forward to bringing him up at Cholderton so I can get to know him better. Following my unscheduled time off (readers of last month’s article will know that I carelessly failed to keep the
I’ve just returned from the beautiful Barbury horse trials where I helped a lot of riders, but the dressage arenas were over a mile apart. I’m knackered! Note to self – must get fitter. But when? Are gyms open at midnight? I’ll put it on the to do list… It’s that time of the year again with the dreaded Regional Dressage Championships coming up where horses and riders can qualify for the biggest party of the year – the National Dressage Championships in September. I’m attending two Regional Championships to help my clients. As a trainer this is one of the most stressful times of my year as I am well aware of how much those qualifications mean to my clients. Riders – do spare a thought for us sweaty-palmed trainers – watching you all go in is far worse than riding ourselves!
I’m proud to announce that my foal has (finally) been born three weeks late, out of my broodmare Shimmer
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horse between myself and the ground and injured my back) I’ve been out and about teaching flat out. The eventing season is in full swing now as well as the dressage season so I’m starting to wonder how I ever found the time to ride in the first place!