Your Horse April Issue

U K’ S

Your Horse 358 April 2012

“with time off he’s No.1 so cheeky” BEN EQUINE

MONTHLY MAGAZINE

MAHER on his top horse tripple x

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

24

hours in the life of an equine vet nurse scratch away

Improve your bond with mutual grooming

training clinics

Get your season off to a flying start

Try our insider tips and

enjoy every second

Sharpen those transitions with Oliver Townend £3.80

in the saddle

38 RIDING 21 CARE 19 GEAR PAGES

Jumping canter, riding tight turns and coping with spooky venues

PAGES

Groundwork, preventing ulcers and feeding cobs

PAGES

Overreach boots on test, kit to keep you and your horse dry and the best travel boots

April 2012

• ben maher celebrity interview • mutual grooming • enjoy your riding • training clinics • transitions with oliver townend

unsung heroes

Contents 58

Great advice to help you become a better rider from the horse world’s top experts, plus all the latest gear, must-enter competitions and loads more ON th e cove r

U K’ S

No.1

You r Hor

EQU INEY MON THL E MAG AZIN

se 358 Apri l 2012 £3.80

ns with oliv transitio

19

GeAR

er townend

t, kit boots on tes Overreach and your horse to keep you best travel boots dry and the

pAGes

April 2012

clinics •

le in the sadd

ON th e cove r

44 Training success

Alison Short reveals how to get the most from your trainer and your lessons

ON th e cove r

50 Private Lesson

International eventer Oliver Townend helps one reader unlock her horse’s dressage potential

64 Four exercises to improve your turns

Follow British Showjumping coach Candice Williams’ simple steps to improve your accuracy and speed

Shop online for you and your horse!

Our sister magazine Horse Deals has launched its own online shop full of equine bargains – to find out more go to www. horsedeals-shop. co.uk

The UK’s BiggesT for

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Breeding directory

all the contacts you need

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g • training your ridin

Sharpen those s transitioner with Olivnd Towne

y Njo e nd every seco Gro ulcers preventingg cobs and feedin

38 Riding Q&As

ON th e cove r

ISSUE 131 fEbrUary 2012

Get your to season off rt a flying sta

Try our ps and insider ti

ter, rid Jumping can and coping tight turns venues with spooky

34 Your Horse Clinic

Our expert tips will take the fear out of trying out something new with your horse

salEs magazinE

g • enjoy al groomin w • mutu y intervie

NG tRAiNiics cliN

Improve your bond l with mutua grooming

pAGes

ON th e cove r

58 Going somewhere different?

THE no.1 spEcialisT HorsE

er celeBrit

scRAtch AwAy

G 38 RiDiNing

Top trainers Matt Lanni and Caroline Moore show how the 3Ps - preparation, practise and positivity – will help you enjoy every second in the saddle

ON th e cove r

Horse deals

• Ben mah

24

cARe undwork,

24 On your marks for your best year yet

Expert help on jumping fillers, getting fit, lengthening strides and more

hours life of an nurse equine vet

pAGes

ON th e cove r

ON th e cove r

heRoes uNsuNG in the

21

Riding

Trainer Mia Korenika helps one reader establish her horse’s jumping canter

e off he’s “with tim ky” BeN p so cheeoN his to mAheRtRipple x hoRse

se u r hor f r o m yo e Best get th r ider, Bet ter

Be a

64

show tips for arabs Make your arabian top of the showing class this year

The righT sTallion

Our guide to picking the perfect stallion, whatever your discipline

h ToBago The Arabian stallion spicing up the sport t horse marke

plUs • Vet health ed

lyall’s

spotlight on spines • at home withWilson eventer nicola • new products

SUBSCRIBE TO Subscr HORSE AND GEYOUR grgeoot thmisinibCgehasethrlisesmBonenthtleyanDdelyouu’xell t as sure you never well as making CHARLES BENTT A m mag. The gold an iss your fave L E Y GROOMING SET Pro Deluxe set, d black Slip-Not practical and st worth £33, is ylish too – you’ ll be the envy of

86 All tied up?

Everything you need to know to beat Monday morning disease

92 Brain training

We show you a different approach to training your horse ON th e cove r

100 Care Q&As

Advice on avoiding rain scald, feeding cobs and more

ON th e cove r

106 Keep ulcers away

Preventing, diagnosing and treating ulcers

ON th e cove r

112 Mutual grooming

Top tips on how you can use it to improve your bond

GEAR ON th e cove r

132 Big test: overreach boots

We reveal which ones protect your horse the best

140 First Look

Every rider’s dream – a bespoke saddle (with or without bling!)

20

your yard!

144

112

CARE

SEE PAGE

142 What’s new

Great new equine products

144 Buyers’ guide to travel boots

Boots designed to help your horse travel safely ON th e cove r

150 Our kit

14 114 Be inspired!

Find out how top riders stay motivated through the good and bad times ON th e cove r

118 Life as a vet nurse

YH goes behind the scenes at Rossdales Equine Hospital

Great products our testers can’t live without

REGULARS

152 Bargain to blowout

6 Favourite ride Share one reader’s top ride in Windsor Great Park 8 The yard YH team news, Amersham update and War Horse artist 12 Letters Your views on the horse world 20 Subscribe today!

Great gift when you subscribe 69 WIN A lesson with Beverley Brightman thanks to HorseHage 110 WIN A dressage masterclass and LitoVet 129 Freebies We’ve got loads of equine goodies to give away 162 In the hot seat… ...with Team GBR farrier Haydn Price

Gear to keep you and your horse dry – whatever your budget

FEATURES ON th e cove r

14 Celeb interview with Ben Maher

Olympic hopeful Ben talks about his burning desire to succeed ON th e cove r

70 Unlock your positive power

Banish self-doubt for ever!

78 An amazing journey Celebrate your horse’s life from foal to OAP

The yard

Ben Maher

I always believe I can do better Words Katy Islip Photography Matthew Roberts

A

rriving at Elsenham Stud, Ben Maher’s impressive base in north Essex, we’re greeted with a cheery wave before the show jumper disappears to wind up a phone call.

Ushered in by secretary Fiona, we’re given a rundown on the joys of returning from a trip away – mis-timed central heating (power cut) and no milk (Fiona admits she forgot to buy some), before the key to managing Ben’s fearsome travelling and competition itinerary is revealed – three synched iPads: one for Fiona, one for the yard and one that travels with Ben.

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Before more trade secrets can be divulged Ben appears, bright-eyed and ridiculously bushy-tailed considering he stepped off a plane from Miami less than six hours earlier.

With under 24 hours before he flies to Zurich, ahead of another six-week stint in Florida, time at home is precious for the 29-year-old, but he’s happy to chat while Fiona ploughs through admin in the kitchen, occasionally breaking off to gently rib Ben or pose her own questions.

Ben’s enjoyed a fairly meteoric rise in the world of international show jumping,

going from his first European pony team gold to a place on the 2008 Beijing Olympic team in less than 10 years. At Beijing, he finished 20th in the individual competition, the second highest GB placing.

Following last year’s bronze European team medal, Ben’s got his sights firmly set on London 2012, and while he’s keen to stress life in the show jumping fast lane is harder work than the glamorous exterior implies, it’s clear he wouldn’t have it any other way.

So read on to find out more about this Olympic hopeful’s burning desire to succeed.

Ben with lovely grey Mr Bean, who’s resident at his Essex-based yard

Turn over for xxxx’s Ben’s answers to your questions

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Riding

you r hor se

On your marks, get set, go!

Get ready for your best year yet with a dash of the three Ps‌ preparation, practice and positivity

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Riding

10 steps to

training success Regular training can be a brilliant investment of money and time. The right trainer can transform the relationship you have with your horse, ironing out problems, strengthening the bond between you and helping you realise your riding dreams. Our expert Alison Short is here to reveal some of the secrets of training success and help make sure you get the most from your lessons Words Andrea Oakes

Meet the EXPERT Alison Short

Alison Short has been a freelance teacher for more than 20 years. She trained with Olympic dressage rider Doris Ramseier, before returning to West Sussex to apply her expertise to her own horses and those of her clients – some of whom have gone on to achieve regional and national dressage success. Alison recently launched iRide, instructional audio downloads that bring top-level tuition within the reach of every rider. To find out more, visit www.alisonshort.co.uk

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Riding

privaTe lesson With international event rider Oliver Townend

Good dressage looks effortless, but perfecting a “push-button” response requires consistency and patience in your schooling miserable weather and From his first taste of Fact file leads the way to his international competition Name: Oliver Townend spacious arena, as a teenager, Oliver Experience: Began his explaining he doesn’t Townend has never international career aged 13 as a member of the GB have an indoor school lacked the drive to pony eventing team. Won because he believes in succeed and is now a European Championship training his horses in the considered one of the gold medal at Pratoni in 2007. Won both same environment they UK’s best eventers.

Badminton and Burghley compete in – outside.

Arriving at his in 2009, and finished that Amy explains she and base, the attractive season at the top of the British Eventing points Ella began competing at Gadlas Farm in table. Finished in third BE100 last year and Shropshire, we place in the 2011 British successfully moved up find stable Eventing Rider Rankings through Novice to and is now aiming for the lads and London Olympics.

Intermediate level, lasses scoring a double clear braving first time out. However, she feels persistent drizzle to keep everything their dressage is lacking the polish required at this level, and worries shipshape, before Irish-born Ella’s lack of breeding we’re welcomed could be holding her back.

by Oliver himself.

With a wealth of experience to draw Your Horse reader Amy Jones is hoping on, Oliver’s perfectly placed to help Amy unlock Ella’s potential. As the Oliver’s expert tips lesson progresses, he helps Amy will help her fulfil her realise she shouldn’t talk her horse eventing dreams with down, as given the right support, her mare Ella.

Ella’s more than capable In true northern style, of holding her own.

Oliver ignores the

In true northern style, Oliver ignores the miserable weather and leads the way to his spacious arena, explaining he doesn’t have an indoor school because he believes in training his horses in the same environment they compete in – outside

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For more riding advice go to www.yourhorse.co.uk

Meet the pupil

Turn over to find out how Oliver helps Amy realise Ella’s dressage potential

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Riding

It looks scary in there!

If your horse turns into a nervy, hot-headed monster away from home, here’s how to take the stress out of training and competing somewhere new with our experts’ advice to help him relax and perform at his best Words Helen Milbank Photography Matthew Roberts

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Riding

4 exercises to

improve your turns in

show jumping When accuracy and speed count, make sure you’re a winner with our easy ways to a better, faster round

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Beforert You Stl sealection

A

al Using a sm set your of jumps, Candice as school up this suggests in . m ra g ia d

Pole/fence

F

Fence B

K

Fence

Pole

Fence Fence

Pole

E

Fence

Pole/fence

M

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C

Riding over a fence or two in the comfort of your arena at home is very different to riding a full course at a competition. Show jumping requires balance and skill, whatever level you’re competing at, and when you’re against the clock you need to be able to keep your cool around even the tightest of turns. The ability to tackle a sharp bend, then gather your horse up quickly to clear a fence will give you the winning edge – but cracking your turns can be tricky. To help, we’ve enlisted the help of rider and trainer Candice Williams, and here she give us four simple but effective exercises to keep you on your hooves around those hairpins.

Meet the expert Candice Williams Candice Williams BHSI and BS Coach is head of sport at Oaklands College in Hertfordshire, where she’s helped create a programme that focuses on preparing and conditioning young riders to form the Advanced Sports Programme for Equine Athletes. Contact her on 01727 737772 for details or email candice.williams@oaklands.ac.uk

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An

amazing

journey...

Words: Andrea Oakes

From his first faltering steps, your horse’s journey through foalhood to old age is a fascinating one.

There’s something to celebrate at every stage – and ways you can strengthen your relationship with your horse, whether he’s three or 33

F

rom bright-eyed and spindly-legged foal to wise old veteran, a horse’s life can span three decades or more. Those first tottering steps lead him on an amazing journey, through his early education learning about being around humans into his adolescent years when he develops new skills, including how to carry a rider. In his prime, he gains the strength and confidence to become a trusted riding companion, a show ring star or an equine athlete. Then he’s the schoolmaster, teaching us – before it’s time for that well-earned retirement. So come with us for the journey of his lifetime – packed full of insights to help you guide your horse in the right direction, whatever his age.

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A horse’s life

There are challenges and rewards at every stage of a horse’s life, from foal to OAP

pic

:B

L ob

an

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sh

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Ride without limits

Unlock the positive power of your mind with our expert tips and say goodbye to self-doubt and hello to confident riding

I

magine you had a friend who always pointed out the downside of every situation, who played on your fears by constantly asking ‘what if?’ and belittled your abilities whenever you tried to achieve your dreams.

Chances are you wouldn’t stay friends for long – but most of us are guilty of doing the same thing to ourselves, allowing self-doubt to creep

in just when we need to be at the top of our game, whether at a competition or out hacking.

We’ve brought together experts who can show you how to harness the power of your mind for positive ends.

Follow their advice and you’ll banish those negative thoughts, creating in their place a positive mental environment for achieving your goals – you’ll find the sky’s the limit!

Meet the EXPERTS Charlie Clare Barry Unwin Goldie Cridland Charlie Unwin is a performance psychology coach who works with athletes including top flight riders. He’s running a series of competitive rider workshops over Easter. for details visit www.performance legacy.com/equestrian

Clare Goldie is a master practitioner of neurolinguistic programming (NLP), hypnosis and Time Line Therapy. She also has more than 20 years’ experience as an equestrian trainer. Find out more at www. empathyrider.co.uk

Barry Cridland is a motivational coach and sports hypnotherapist who helps athletes including show jumpers achieve their goals. For more information visit www. dreamtime-hypnosis. co.uk

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Care

VETADVICE

Help your horse avoid that Monday morning feeling‌ Deep gluteal muscle Head of femur

Medial gluteal muscle

Tuber coxae (point of hip)

Internal abdominal oblique

Semitendinosus muscle (hamstrings) Semimembranosus muscle (hamstrings)

Patella Quadriceps

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If you’re tied up in knots over ‘tying up’, vet Charlie Briggs offers advice on preventing it – and what to do if it does strike

Meet the expertS

Charlie Briggs Dr Richard Piercy Charlie is an equine vet who works for the Hale Veterinary Group in Wiltshire. She’s also team vet for the GB Endurance Development Squad

Dr Richard Piercy, veterinary expert in neuromuscular disease at the Royal Veterinary College

Illustrations: Samantha J Elmhurst BA Hons, www.livingart.org.uk

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Care

Brain training for horses Discover a different way to teach your horse the basics using equitation science Words Lisa Ashton

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Meet the experts

Dr Andrew McLean Lisa Ashton Dr Andrew McLean has a PhD in equine cognition and learning and has been an accredited riding coach for over 25 years.

He developed and manages the Australian Equine Behaviour Centre (AEBC), the internationally recognised horse training and behaviour modification centre in Australia.

Andrew has written a number of top-selling books. For more info visit www.aebc.com.au

Lisa works closely with Andrew and has the International Certificate in Equitation Science from the AEBC. As the director of EquiSci, Lisa delivers clinics throughout the UK and Europe. She’s also the International Society for Equitation Science education officer. For more information, visit www.equitationscience.co.uk

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Care

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VETADVICE

Help your horse stay ulcer free It’s a condition that affects racehorses, performance horses and even once-a-week hackers, but equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) often goes undiagnosed, its symptoms mistaken for bad behaviour. However, the condition is detected by a simple endoscopic examination, and there’s lots you can do to help prevent it happening. Here’s how, from the experts at Merial Animal Health Keep him eating

Horses are designed to trickle feed little and often, and offering ad-lib forage is vital for their gut health. Allowing your horse to stand in his stable for long periods with nothing to eat puts him at risk of gastric ulcers

Spitting image

Several litres of saliva are produced as your horse chews to lubricate food as it travels down his oesophagus – and this saliva helps neutralise stomach acid (a major reason why time without food can lead to digestive problems)

Keep your horse’s body working as it should by feeding ad-lib forage

What is EGUS?

EGUS is surprisingly common and can affect any horse, from racehorses to once-a-week hackers. Put simply, gastric ulcers form in the stomach – often as a result of a high-concentrate, low forage diet – resulting in pain and discomfort.

An unnatural diet is the main culprit.

Horses evolved to be trickle feeders, designed to eat little and often with free access to grazing 24 hours a day,

interrupted only by bouts of sleep and the occasional flee from predators.

In contrast, many of today’s horses are stabled, especially over the winter months, and given two or three cerealbased feeds a day, often with small amounts of forage or limited grazing time. This can result in long periods with little or no food intake – and therein lies the danger.

An important feature of the horse’s

stomach is that gastric acid is secreted continuously, whether or not he’s eating.

A horse who’s constantly grazing as nature intended on hay, haylage or grass has a high average stomach pH, resulting in a nice, healthy environment.

However, if a horse doesn’t eat for several hours, this continued secretion means the pH can fall rapidly to a dangerously acidic level and ulcers may begin to develop.

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Motivation

Don’t stop

believing

Photo: Fiona Scott-Maxwell

To ensure you stay on top of your game in 2012 read how these celeb riders remain motivated through the highs and lows of their careers

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nce e d fi n Co ecial Sp

Motivation is the driving force needed to achieve our goals – but it’s easy to lose and hard to maintain. To find out what drives them to keep going, even when they feel they’re at rock bottom, we spoke to eventers Jay Halim and Sarah Cohen, para dressage rider Anthony Dawson and endurance rider Karen Jones

International eventer and show jumper Jay Halim

J

ay Halim has a successful career in both eventing and show jumping, working hard all year round to ensure he’s always focused, but he admits it can be hard to maintain that when things go wrong.

“I really had to work hard to stay motivated last year. I had some great results and rode some really good horses, but some of those have now been sold or become injured.

“Being short of horses made 2011 really tough for me – I still feel like I’m waiting for horses to come along and complete my string and it just doesn’t seem to be happening at the moment.

“It’s horrible when your horse gets injured. Last year I qualified for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) with Adagio III. It would have been

are just non-ho unavoidable so rsey ba m a c kg a n d s I focus on things tarted r round when h iding that are within my e was seven reach and that I can work on.

“I’m always looking to improve myself and stay at the top of my game. As well as being an eventer I also compete to a high level in show jumping, especially in winter – it keeps me going and ensures that my eye stays on the ball.

“I had some international shows lined up this winter so that’s one of the ways I’ll kept my motivation up outside of the eventing season.

“I’m hungry to be number one and I love what I do, which drives me to stay positive and on track. For me, it’s also important to have a social life – life is too short to be stressed all the time!”

Jay loves eventing, but also competes to a high level in show jumping (see pic opposite) to keep his eye on the ball

Photo: Nigel Goddard/KSDigital Photography

I’m hungry to be number one

my first HOYS appearance so it was a big one for me.

“I took Adagio to Tattersalls International in May 2011 where he was brilliant. We were overnight leaders, but he didn’t trot up on the Sunday – and, just like that, our HOYS plans were over. Adagio had been so fantastic all year and it was just so upsetting.

“I’m ultra fussy about my horses’ management and always do my best to ensure they’re the best they can be. But over the years I’ve been forced to come to terms with the fact that some horses will break along the way, regardless of how well you look after them.

“Some days I can get down about things. I used to be a lot worse but now I really push myself to think positive and look ahead – some things

Did yo know u ?

Jay cam e fro

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Behind the scenes at Rossdales

Access all areas Your Horse Deputy Editor Imogen Johnson visited world-famous Rossdales Equine Hospital in Newmarket to experience a day in the life of an equine veterinary nurse Words Imogen Johnson Photography Matthew Roberts

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Competition

Win

a dressage masterclass and LitoVet

Y

our Horse has teamed up with the makers of joint supplement LitoVet to give one lucky reader the chance to win a twoday masterclass with AM Dressage trainers Adam Kemp, Matt Frost or Justine Sole. Our winner will also receive a LitoVet branded polo shirt and jacket as well as a four-month supply of LitoVet for their horse. Three runners up will each win a two-month supply of LitoVet, a branded polo shirt and the opportunity to attend the masterclass as a spectator.

The winner will have a private lesson on their own horse each day and the chance to watch other riders’ training sessions. AM Dressage, based in Gloucestershire, has become one of the UK’s leading training establishments.

Taking a holistic approach, it concentrates on the horse as much as the rider, recommending a range of strategies for getting the best from each partnership. This includes supplementing the horses’ diets with LitoVet to help maintain soundness, suppleness and mobility.

LitoVet is a scientifically proven, awardwinning joint supplement which helps your horse’s natural recovery processes. It’s the only supplement in the UK that contains GOPO – a unique key active component derived from specially cultivated rosehip and Rosa canina.

It’s high in bio-available vitamin C, which is essential for the health of cartilage, ligaments, tendons and muscles.

For more information on LitoVet visit www.litovet.co.uk or call 01452 524012 and for further information on AM Dressage, visit www.amdressage.com

AM Dressage trainer Matt Frost

To enter visit www.yourhorse.co.uk and answer this question LitoVet is the only supplement in the UK to contain what?

a) GOPO b) DOPO c) POGO Terms and Conditions The winner will be given the opportunity to state with which AM trainer they would like to take their masterclass however, this will be subject to availability and in the event that the first choice of trainer is unavailable, training will be offered with another.

The prize must be taken by 31 December 2012. The winner will be responsible for their own and their horse’s transport to AM Dressage, and their own accommodation. AM Dressage will provide accommodation for the winner’s horse. Closing date 22 March 2012

Gear

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Overreach boots Overreach boots are designed to protect your horse's heels from nasty injuries. Find out which of these 12 pairs our testers would recommend you use on your horse

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On Sale 22 MA R

NEXT MONTH IN Your Horse Have fun in the saddle this spring • Find out why pleasure rides are a must try event for all horses and riders • Add some fun to your summer with an adult riding camp – find out what’s on where this year • Learn how to get started in dressage to music with advice from music maestro Tom Hunt • Uncover the secret to jumping doubles and triples with ease • Discover the ins and outs of sharing horses with our real life story • Learn all there is to know about equine film stars

PLUS...

e ura Renwick helps onate La r pe m ju ow sh p to st Priv See how ping skills in our late rider fine tune her jumepth guide to improving your Lesson, enjoy our in-dfind out how and why to feed seat and weight aids,if worm counting is for you ad-lib hay, and learn 1 you r

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DON’T MISS Our 64-p ag

Gear Guid e Spring all the kit e featuring you horse nee and your d fo warmer m r the onths ahead