Your Horse July Issue

WIN Harry Hall outfits

Your Horse 362 JULY 2012

UKs No.1 EQUINE MONTHLY MAGAZINE

Be a better rider, get the best from your horse

worth over £336

www.yourhorse.co.uk

Every type of fence explained REAL LIFE

‘Facebook found my stolen horse’ the mysterious muzzle explored

What it does, why it matters

AI N

I

N

G

AD

EMY

PLUS TR

• CROSS—COUNTRY made simple • muzzles explored • training academy • equine massage • coping with anxiety • showing

Crosscountry made simple

AC

my Training Acade ine videos Exclusive lessons and onl with Spencer Wilton and Jay Halim

Help your horse cope with separation anxiety

secrets of the show ring

What in-hand and ridden judges look for healing, bonding, soothing

Why a ten-minute equine massage works wonders July 2012

£3.80

Inside July 2012 page 10

Julie and Bo on winning form

page 16

Training Academy This month master stop, go, turns and simple changes

Every issue 6

In the spotlight The thrills of Polo in the Park 8 Hot topics What’s new in the equine world 10 Our horses What the YH team have been up to 13 Get involved Your views on the horse world 69 WIN! A course walk at Blenheim Palace Horse Trials plus Tri-Zone Airlite boots 103 WIN! A complete Harry Hall summer outfit 127 up for grabs We’ve got loads of goodies to give away including grooming products 146 In the hot seat... with Team GBR development sport psychologist Jennie Killilea

Features 62 Celebrity Interview Para-dressage rider Natasha Baker on not letting anything hold her back 70 the mini marvels Caring for miniature breeds 78 the day my horse was stolen How determination and the use of social media led to a happy ending page 62

Natasha Baker at home

Training Academy

page 32

10 pages of our exclusive lessons and online training

Series

with Spencer Wilton and Jay Halim starting page 16

Better Riding 32 private lessons Dressage rider Henry Boswell helps two readers solve their problems 42 conquer cross-country Expert advice to help you navigate a cross-country course, fence by fence 50 bending and flexion We demystify bending and flexion to help you master these movements 56 successful showing Find out how to make sure you and your horse shine in the show ring

Improving transitions

Subscribe today

and help your horse stay fly-free with this FREE Equilibrium fly mask worth over £28 go to page 30 page 108

Summer tops for a cool look

Horse Care 84 solving separation anxiety Help your horse break the bonds with his best buddy painlessly 90 massage for horses Easy-to-learn techniques that will benefit your horse 96 Caring for his muzzle We look at how one of your horse’s most important features works page 84

Helping him cope without his buddy

Gear Guide 108 Buyers’ guide Cool summer tops to wear with breeches or casual clothes 114 What’s new Great new products in the tack shops guaranteed to tempt you to spend 116 Big test Find out which products will keep your tack clean and supple – easily!

122 Bargain to blowout Gear to keep you cool this summer – whatever your budget 124 Our kit Three great products the YH team and our readers can’t live without

Essential Know-how page 136

How to stop him napping

Find out (or remind yourself) how to...

keep his hooves healthy this summer... follow arena etiquette...check if he needs another rug...stride a distance...make sure his field is safe...ride up and down hills safely...weigh him correctly...do a speedy groom...worm without fuss... solve napping niggles...hold him steady It all starts on page 128

Train with our experts for free

Training Academy Meet your expert trainers jumping

Jay Halim

Riding for: 24 years Current rides: VIP II, Who Boy, Master Eli Career highlights: Winning the 2007 Burghley Young Event Horse class on Eye Candy, top 5 placings at 1, 2 and 3 star, Foxhunter winner at the 2011 Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships, 3rd in the 2011 Grand prix at Hickstead Jay says: “It’s really nice to be involved with the Academy and to be able to share tips and ideas with the Your Horse readers that I’ve learnt along the way. Of course so many riders and trainers have valuable things to say (there are many roads to Rome!) but if I can offer even one new idea to help you with your horses that will be good enough for me!”

16 your horse july 2012

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

Dressage and jumping key skills this month

Perfect your turns

jumping

School with poles

Regulate his tempo

Make him wait

Control his stride

Develop his jump

AI NI

G

EMY

TR

N

AD

DRESSage

AC

dressage

Spencer Wilton

Riding for: 35 years Current rides: Zamboucca, Doogie, Super Nova Career highlights: Winning the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special in 2006 in Saumur with Dolendo, winning the National Champions in 2007 with Dolendo, winning the Winter Medium Open Championships in 2011 with Zamboucca Spencer says: “I’m really thrilled to be part of the 2012 Your Horse Training Academy - I’ve made plenty of mistakes over the years so the exercises I’m going to share with you all are the ones I’ve discovered and found to be really helpful with my horses over time and I hope you’ll find them useful too.”

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

july 2012 your horse 17

WORTH

Win a Horsebox

ÂŁ28,900

WIN EVEN MORE! As well as the fantastic Equi-Trek Sonic Horsebox, we’re giving you the chance to win prizes from our Win a Horsebox sponsors Petplan Equine, Musto and Animalife.

Performance Nutraceuticals

when performance matters

You could be the winner of this fantastic Equi-Trek Sonic Horsebox worth £28,900. See next month’s Your Horse to find out how

Subscription offer FYAA

The Editor says Yes! I’d like to subscribe to Your Horse for 1 year (13 issues) and receive an Equilibrium Fly Mask Annual Direct Debit - £44.50 Credit/Debit Card - £49.40 Size XXSmall Medium

YOUR DETAILS

Title Address

XSmall

Small

Large

XLarge

Initial

Julie Brown Editor of Your Horse

Surname

Why subscribe?

Postcode Email* Telephone

Mobile*

* Please enter this information so that Bauer Consumer Media, the publisher of this magazine, can keep you informed of newsletters, special offers and promotions via email or free text messages.

You may unsubscribe from these messages at any time.

DELIVERY DETAILS (if different, ie purchased as a gift).

Title Address

Initial

Surname

✔ Introductory gift ✔ Spread the cost ✔ Hassle-free

Email Telephone

7 2 4 0 9 6

✔ Free delivery ✔ Straight to your door ✔ Exclusive subscriber rewards ✔ Best offers straight from the publisher

Why pay by DD?

Postcode

Originator’s Identification Number

It’s that time of year when your horse’s turn out could be spoilt by those pesky flies – and they always go for the eyes! This great fly mask will be just the thing to stop them annoying your horse. It’s easy to put on, with Velcro fasteners and can be adjusted to fit round his head.

Our offer to you

Please pay Bauer Consumer Media, Direct Debits from the account detailed in the instructions subject to the safeguards of the Direct Debit Guarantee.

Account Name Account Number You r

xwELL rd MA rIcHA YOU TrAIN pE HELpSHOrSE TO cO YOUr HIS pHObIAS wITH

Hor se 360 MAY

Name and Address of Bank

2012

w w w.yo

• Perfect

Postcode

hackiNg • esseNtia

Date

Valid From

Mastercard

/

Issue Number Date

Bauer Consumer Media, publishers of this magazine, would also like to keep you informed of special offers and promotions via post or telephone. Please tick the box if you do not wish to receive these from us or carefully selected partners

To view how we store and manage your data go to

www.greatmagazines.co.uk/datapromise SEND TO: Please include completed coupon and cheque if appropriate with the magazine name on the back.

Magazine Subscriptions, FREE POST, EDO3995, Leicester, LE16 9BR

Terms and conditions Subscriptions will start with the next available issue. The minimum term is 13 issues. This offer is open until 12 July 2012 and is only available to the first 115 new UK subscriptions received across all offer codes starting with FY. Please allow up to 28 days for delivery of your gift. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

We reserve the right to send you an alternative gift of similar type/value. We also reserve the right to reclaim the gift/value of the gift if you cancel your subscription before the end of the agreed term as stated above. Calls from a BT landline will cost no more than 4p a 8/2/11 09:10:30 MagForm.indd 1 minute. Call charges from other landline providers or mobile phones may vary. Order lines open 8am-9.30pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-4pm (Sat). UK orders only. Overseas? Phone +44 1858 438824. Calls may be monitored or recorded for training purposes.

o.u k

Be a better rider, get the best from your

www.yourhorse.co.uk

horse

TRECtastic

perfect partnerg

rid Better reins w Using dra advice Eventing care Horse ng g spooki u Tacklin nt mares u Pregna de Gear gui e tack car u Top breaking und u Gro The truth about grooming u

The sport that really is for all

with re-homin

Put the brakes on

Tried and tested fly care

headshaking

Stop him g pulling, rushin & bolting

OnE BORn

EvERY ling E BeminUt ring foaling

Fuss-free in th rin g guide Our glitte wing gear to sho

Train wsith the star

ING drIv wITH ell Boyd Ex NG

all For

frEE!

ns and online exclusive lesso im Part one of our ncer Wilton and Jay Hal training with Spe

May 2012

AC

£3.80

13 CARE

eXeLL

/

Delta

to find ay everyd skills for er every rid

r se .c

T RAI N I

IAL ESSENT Ow KNOw-H The only place

u r ho

DOn’t miss OUR NEW six-mOnth tRAininG ACADEmY INSIDE uu

bEST..

THEfO r. Find your ing

• TREC • TRIED AND TESTED FLY

tion New sec

with Boyd

Maestro

e

• HEADSHAKING • FUSS-FREE FOALING

an healthy

• driViNg

Visa

Signature

x ISH bO bANT UES , rES bL thinking Keep him d happy

iNg gear

from my debit/credit card:

Card Number Expiry Date

hacking

• show adVice

Please debit £

hors

u

pseurmfemcetr BrakiNg

I enclose a cheque/postal order for £ made payable to Bauer Consumer Media Ltd.

yo u r

tips for

rest •

PAYMENT DETAILS

from

25

ioN • BoX -how sect L kNow

Direct Debit Guarantee. • This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits. • If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit Bauer Consumer Media Ltd will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request Bauer Consumer Media Ltd to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request. • If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by Bauer Consumer Media Ltd or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society. - If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when Bauer Consumer Media Ltd asks you to. • You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.

est the B , get

SPENCER AND JAY • REHOMING

summer

Signature

er r rid

EQUINE MONTHLY MAGAZINE

• TRAINING ACADEMY 2012 WITH

Bet te Be a

UKs No.1

EMY

UK’S

AD

No.1

EQU INEY MON THL E MAGAZIN

Your Horse 361 JUNE 2012

Sort Code

issues of Your Horse

✚ Equilibrium Fly Mask

June 2012

£3.80

All for only

£44.50

Equilibrium Fly Mask

when you subscribe to Your Horse

Total package worth over ÂŁ78

Subscribe today Online www.greatmagazines.co.uk/yourhorse Telephone 0844 848 8872 (quote FYAA) Post Please complete the coupon

Easy-to-follow expert advice for beginners to advanced riders

Better Riding

32 your horse july 2012

page 42

Navigate your way on cross-country

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

This month

page 50

Master bend and flexion

32 Private lessons Trainer Henry Boswell helps two riders at different levels solve their problems 42 Conquering cross-country Fence by fence advice to help you navigate your way round a cross-country course 50 bend and Flex Taking the mystery out of bending and flexion 56 successful showing Follow our expert tips to find out how to wow the judges in the show ring

page 56

Shine in the show ring

Private Lessons

The all-new Your Horse Private Lessons follow two pupils having lessons with one trainer. Each has different issues they want help with. Our riders are Claire Deuten and Sarah Beveridge and our expert is dressage rider and trainer Henry Boswell

MEET THE TRAINER

LESSON 1: NOVICE

LESSON 2: ADVANCED

Henry Boswell has won two National Championships, competed at five European Championships (ponys/ juniors/young riders) and won two European team bronze medals. Henry has competed internationally at Grand Prix level and is a Group 1 rider.

For more information visit his website www. henryboswelldressage. co.uk

Claire Deuton is an event rider and runs a yard in Oxfordshire. Her horses range from youngsters just starting to event up to Advanced level.

In this lesson Claire rides Bailiey, a five-year-old gelding owned by Ian Kerr.

Bailiey, who is just starting his eventing career, has a tendency to go on his forehand. Claire wants help getting him to take more weight behind, and improving his transitions.

Sarah Beveridge has done some eventing and unaffiliated dressage, giving her lots of confidence. She’s concentrating on dressage at the moment and plans to enter some affiliated competitions. Pancho is her first horse, he’s 13 and evented up to Intermediate level before she got him. He gets very tense in the warm-up and Sarah is keen to learn how to tackle this.

Lesson 1: novice – Claire & Bailiey

First impressions and focus for the lesson

Bailiey needs to take more weight behind

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

“I’d like you to warm up as you would do normally,” says Henry.

“This will give me a chance to watch you and Bailiey. I’ll be able to make some assessments and find out the areas we need to work on for the rest of the lesson.

“Work him in walk, trot and canter

on both reins for me. He looks nice and manoeuvrable and he has three nice paces. He’s still a little weak behind and I can see he does like to drop onto his forehand.

“We can work on all of this and hopefully improve his way of going during the lesson.” july 2012 your horse 33

Better Riding Conquer cross-country

Between fences 1 and 2 The

1 FENCE 4

2

4

Make sure you’re straight, keep your contact and ride forwards

first few fences are straight forward, be positive and get into a rhythm

start

FENCE 7 Ride positively through the water

Fence 6

Steady here, you want your horse to just pop this one

BEtween fences 4 and 5

5

3

Push on between these fences, but bring him back in plenty of time – this fence needs impulsion not speed

finish

7b 6

7a FENCES 18 and 19

19 18

You’re nearly home, but don’t relax too much until you’re through the finish

Cross-country mapped out

FENCE 17

Leg on and keep your contact

Pop the roll top and splash confidently through the water with our guide to navigating your way round a cross-country course with rider and trainer Barrett Watson

W

e’ve not yet seen an equestrian sat-nav but we have got the next best thing with our cross-country map, designed to give you tips and pointers for tackling a course

1

10a

2

10b

42 your horse july 2012

plus a video of the ridden route to bring it all to life.

Read on for Barrett’s step-by-step guide to everything from your landing and rhythm to your speed and balance as he helps you ride this course clear.

3

11a

4a

11b

12

4b

5a

13

5b

14

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

17

FENCE 8

8

9

A nice ‘let-up’ fence – enjoy it

FENCE 9

FENCE 10

Ride the middle of this fence

10

Maintain your rhythm and balance between these two elements as the ground is undulating

our expert Barrett Watson is a rider and trainer based in Suffolk. He’s spent many years eventing and show jumping and works with riders and horses at all levels. ucca.

FENCE 11

Accuracy is needed here, look up and ahead so you stay straight

11

FENCE 12

You’ve got plenty of room to get yourself straight for this one

12

13

16 FENCEs 15 and 16

15

14

Enjoy these two!

FENCE 13

This one is straightforward but be in balance on landing ready for the sunken road coming next

FENCE 14

Maintain your contact and be positive

5c

6

15

7a

16

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

7b

17

8

Our rider, Steph Cason, wore a head cam when she and Harland tackled the course. To see how they got on, go to www. yourhorse.co.uk/ ridingxc or turn to page 48 for a QR code link The course plan 1. Hanging log 2. Log pile 3. Log rail 4. Mushroom, two steps up 5. Tyres, ditch, log 6. Blue roll top 7. Step into water, ramp out, triple brush 8. Brush roll top 9. Corner 10. Double of log tables 11. Skinny tyres combination 12. Off set logs 13. Barrel 14. Sunken road and house 15. Log pile 16. Palisade 17. Ditch palisade 18. Ski jump to barrel 19. Rabbit

9

18

19

july 2012 your horse 43

Better Riding Understanding bend and flexion

Bend and flex

Correct flexing and bending equals a horse who’s easier to ride. Here, dressage rider Daniel Timson shows you how to get it right

B

end and flexion are essential for riding correct school movements such as circles, serpentines and lateral work. They’re also necessary for riding balanced corners, turning onto the centre line, riding across the diagonal – movements found in all dressage tests, that’s why it’s so important to get them right. Dressage rider and trainer Daniel Timson is here to help take the mystery out of bend and flexion making it easier for us to understand, ask for them correctly and improve our horse’s way of going. Bend and flexion are just as important for jumping – if your horse is supple and responsive, riding a course of fences is much easier..

Thinking Forward

Flexion and bend work together – you can have flexion without bend but to have bend you need flexion too. Whether you are asking your horse for flexion or bend, it’s vital to remember they both come mostly from your leg – you must have forward motion and your hand needs to support/ back up what you are asking, indicating to your horse what you want him to do.

Flexion

Lateral flexion is where your horse is straight through his body and with his head turned sideways (left or right) at the poll so you can just see his eye or nostril.

Flexion is used mainly as a preparation for exercises, changing direction and for lateral movements such as leg-yielding and shows us our horse will yield through his poll

our expert

Daniel Timson is one of the UK’s leading dressage riders. His professional dressage career started in the early 90s competing as a Young Rider and achieving great success representing Great Britain several times. Daniel then spent over three years in Germany furthering his career by working as a rider for Olympic Gold medalist Klaus Balkenhol at the German Olympic Training Centre in Warendorf. He has competed successfully up to Grand Prix as a Senior rider both nationally and internationally.

You must be riding your horse forwards before asking for bend and flexion 50 your horse july 2012

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

Bend

True bend is when the whole horse bends forming a uniform arc from his poll to tail so he’s flexed and also bent through his ribs

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

july 2012 your horse 51

Better Riding Successful showing

Shine in the show ring Aim for showing success with our expert advice for impressing the judges

Pic: BOB LANGRISH

Words Katy Islip

T

he wonderfully varied world of showing offers something for everyone, from show ponies to hunters, cobs and Mountain and Moorland beauties. Whether you enjoy ridden or in-hand showing,

56 your horse july 2012

or a bit of both, that red rosette is fiercely contested, so we’ve asked showing experts Heather Phillips and Nigel Oliver for their advice on the best ways to prepare to help you and your horse shine on competition day.

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

july 2012 your horse 57

Celebrity interview

Natasha Baker

Para-dressage rider Natasha talks about coping with her disability, her hopes for London 2012, her horses and the people who’ve supported her along the way

Words Larissa Chapman Photography Martyn Barnwell

I

t’s easy to take things for granted and get caught up in the doom and gloom of horse ownership – early mornings, water-logged fields and yard politics – so I feel privileged to meet someone as inspirational and positive as para-dressage rider, Natasha Baker. She confronts life with a smile on her face, a can-do attitude and never lets anything get her down – she puts a lot of people to shame.

We meet Natasha and her mum, Lorraine, at their family farm in Middlesex, where a jolly Natasha and her dog, Poppy, greet us.

Natasha is a grade II para-dressage rider and is in the World Class Performance Squad. She’s already had resounding success on the dressage circuit at just 22 and is aiming for London 2012 Paralympic selection.

After contracting a virus as baby, Natasha has limited movement in her legs but has always kept the belief she can do anything she wants in life – an attitude that helped her to achieve great success and happiness.

What are the key differences between how you and an able-bodied person ride?

Essentially from the waist down I’m useless, so I have to fine-tune my horses.

They need to be able to adapt to me and, 62 your horse july 2012

while other riders will use the whole of their body to ride, I focus on my seat and voice aids. It’s so important when I’m choosing a horse that he’s trainable and has the potential to adapt to me and my way of riding.

It can take me a year at a time to find the right horse – it took me three trips to Europe and 22 horses before I found Ludo and more than 22 horses before I found JP. I’m a great believer in fate and that everything happens for a reason and most of my horses seem to find me.

Can you tell us about the horses you have at the moment and any little quirks they have?

I’ve had the ride on the lovely Woody since September 2006 – he taught me so much but he’s now retired. I bought Bam Bam in August 2011, he’s my horse of the future and I see so much potential in him. Then there’s Ludo who I’ve owned for two years but due to injury I’ve only competed him a few times.

Finally there’s my gorgeous boy, JP – he was previously owned by FEI dressage and event rider and judge Christian Landolt, who bought him to event but he wasn’t bold enough cross-country. I’m aiming JP at future European, World and Paralympic Games.

My horses all have their own little quirks and personalities but the ones that spring to mind are Bam Bam – he loves to w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

‘There are so many opportunities out there – I’ve never let anything hold me back’

Turn over for Natasha’s answers to your questions w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

Keeping miniature horses

Mini Marvels For some they’re the perfect equine partner, for others they’re an unexpected challenge. We look into the benefits of owning miniatures – and find out why many end up in the care of charities

A

musing, mischievous and insanely cute – miniature breeds always provoke the coos from the crowds but as endearing and adorable as these little characters are, it’s important to remember that they’re still horses and require just as much care and attention as a regular-sized equine. Here, we talk to charities, vets and owners to find out the logistics of keeping a marvellous miniature.

70 your horse july 2012

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

It can be all too tempting to mollycoddle miniatures w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

july 2012 your horse 71

Everything for you and

YOUR HORSE SEE BRITAINS BEST IN ACTION HEADLINING AT THIS YEAR’S EVENT

● Mary King

● Ben Maher

● Carl Hester

● Charlotte

Dujardin

BOOK NOW SAVE £££’S

PLUS Live Demonstrations ● Q&A Live ● Celebrity signings & talks ● Shop till you drop All tickets subject to £1.50 booking fee per ticket CALL 0844 581 0770 yourhorselive.co.uk Quote YH01

WIN

A Harry £336 Hall Outfit Wor h Ovet r

Your Horse has teamed up with Harry Hall to offer six lucky readers the chance to win one of these fantastic new outfits for summer

The complete outfit consists of:

The Harry Hall Grizedale jacket • Kirkby rugby top • Eskdale hoody • Millom polo top • Chester breeches • Shiny wellies • Legend embossed riding hat • Crotchet-backed riding gloves The Harry Hall Legend embossed riding hat is a BSI Kite marked, lightweight riding hat conforming to EN1384 guidelines. It has front ventilation and a Coolmax moulded padded inner for comfort. It’s elegantly finished with a soft microfibre covering and embossed animal print section. Colours: Black, grey Sizes: 6⅞–7½ The new Grizedale belted jacket is stylish, lightweight and showerproof – an essential item on the yard or in the saddle. Colours: Ruby, black Sizes: S-XL The new Millom cotton short sleeved polo top is a classic must-have. Colours: Candy, navy, poppy Sizes: S-XL Harry Hall branded Shiny wellies. Colours: navy, ruby Sizes: 3-8

The crochet-backed leather gloves are practical and smart with leather palms for a good grip. Colours: Cream, green, maroon, navy Sizes: S-XL The Eskdale is a classic fit hoody, ideal for every day, not just around horses. Colours: Poppy, navy Ladies sizes: S-XL

The 100% cotton jersey Kirkby striped long sleeve rugby top should be part of everyone’s wardrobe. Colours: Navy, candy, grey marl Sizes: S-XL

The Chester ladies breeches are traditionally styled and lightweight – ideal for summer weather.

Colours: White ivory, beige, black, chocolate Sizes: 24in-34in regular

For further information please contact Harry Hall on 01274 711101 or visit www.harryhall.co.uk

To enter visit www.yourhorse.co.uk and answer this question...

What is the name of the Harry Hall breeches? a) Chester b) Charlie c) Chance Closing date: 12 July 2012 Terms & conditions: If the product is not available a suitable alternative will be provided. For full terms and conditions go to www.yourhorse.co.uk

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

july 2012 your horse 103

Real life

Reunited – Sarah with her beloved Rosie 78 your horse july 2012

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

‘I knew in my heart she’d been stolen’ When Sarah Nettesham’s horse was stolen, the outlook was bleak, but sheer determination and the use of social media produced extraordinary results Words Andrea McHugh

M

y horse Rosie was stolen from her field after 7pm on 15 January,” says owner Sarah Nettesheim, who lives in a quiet Lincolnshire village just two miles from Rosie’s paddock.

“My friends Gemma Sewell and Jaime Willans keep their horses in a nearby field and when they visited them the next morning, they realised something was wrong as my other two horses were whinnying and galloping around, which was very unusual.

“When I arrived and the girls told me Rosie was missing, my first reaction was she had broken the fence and got out.

We walked round checking the field and discovered that part of the electric fence and the wooden posts had been deliberately damaged. It seemed the thieves had led Rosie away through some woodland at the bottom of the field.

“In my heart I knew she’d been stolen, but I didn’t want to believe it. I rang the police to report her missing, and while I was on the phone, Gemma and Jaime posted news of the theft on Facebook.

I felt terrible as I waited for the police to come.

“I bought Rosie in August 2011 and she will be 20 this year. She lives out and when she was stolen she wasn’t freezemarked or microchipped. I felt incredibly guilty because she depended on me and I felt like I’d let her down.

It was winter and I worried the thieves would dump her rug and she would be cold and uncared for.

“As well as Rosie, I have a 27 year-old w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

part-TB mare who is retired and a little cob called Angus who is on loan. I got him when my previous horse died, but he wasn’t as experienced as I needed him to be at that time and I’d lost confidence, which is where Rosie came in. I fell in love with her at first sight – in fact I’ve never bonded with a horse as quickly.

She’s so good and immediately gave me back my confidence, so I was really enjoying riding again.

“It was the fact that Rosie was so good that made her easy to steal. My other two horses would never go off with strangers in the middle of the night, but Rosie was trusting, and very easy to load.

“The police took down the details and I stayed looking for Rosie all day because going home meant admitting she was gone. I was convinced she was hiding and if I could only look hard enough I would find her. When I eventually got home I checked on Facebook and discovered so many messages from friends and also people I didn’t know. One of these was the Lincolnshire Horsewatch coordinator who suggested I set up a dedicated Facebook page, which I called ‘Help Find Rosie’.

“By coincidence, Jaime had the same idea and set up another Facebook page for Rosie and between us we acquired about 600 supporters in a week. Rosie’s previous owner gave me some great photos to post and luckily she’s very distinctive looking, with wall eyes and one white ear and one black ear. So many people became involved in the search and someone even created posters for me – we covered the entire country in hours. july 2012 your horse 79

horse care

Keep your horse healthy, happy page 84

PIC: WILDLIFE GmbH / Alamy

Solving separation anxiety

84 your horse july 2012

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

page 96

page 90

The muzzle explored

How to massage your horse

This month

Solving separation anxiety 84 If your horse has a problem leaving his friends, we have expert advice to help you solve this tricky problem Massage for horses 90 Easy-to-learn techniques to help you give your horse a relaxing massage YOUR HORSE’S MUZZLE EXPLORED 96 Find out how this important feature works – and how best to care for it

Solve separation anxiety If your horse is overly attached to his buddy, getting out and about can be hard – equine behaviourist Emma Massingale provides her expert advice for tackling separation anxiety

Words Katy Islip

A

s herd animals, horses love company, but when your horse becomes so dependent on his friends he can’t cope without them it can become very difficult to handle him, let alone enjoy your riding.

Our expert Emma explains: “All horses suffer from separation anxiety to some degree, because it’s not natural for a horse to go somewhere on his own.

However, because of the world our horses live in, most have a job, even if it’s simply going for a hack, and they have to be prepared for that.”

Although it can be very stressful for both horse and owner, separation anxiety can be resolved, but Emma stresses the level of success you’ll have depends on your approach.

She says: “Horses are what you make them. They learn best through training, and it’s better to have this in place from a young age – the sooner they learn their friend will come back, or will still be there when they come back, the better.”

Here Emma gives advice on identifying, preventing and addressing separation anxiety so your horse is a confident and independent individual, whatever you do with him.

What is separation anxiety and how can I spot it?

It’s natural for horses to want to be together – but you need your horse to be able to cope with doing things on his own.

Signs he’s suffering from separation anxiety are fairly easy to spot, especially if you know him well. “Often it starts with a call here and there, or your horse’s head comes up and he looks more worried than he does in company,” says Emma.

“It can be a very slight thing, like his w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

Spotting the signs of separation stress HEAD

Watch to see if he holds his head up longer than normal – this can show he’s on high alert

EYES

Is he looking more worried than usual? Watch for the whites of his eyes showing, or wrinkles appearing above his eyes

MUZZLE

Signs of anxiety may include increased calling or tension around his nose and mouth

head staying up longer than normal, or he starts being a bit less obedient – for example being more bargy when you’re leading him. He might also be anxious at being away from home, when the reality of being alone and having to be brave starts to worry him.”

Emma explains it’s more common to see strong bonds between mares, especially between an older mare and a younger companion, and herd ranking can also play a part, with lead mares

often unwilling to be separated from their second-in-command.

She adds: “Horses of a similar age tend to pair up more and geldings also pair bond, again according to age.”

In overly-attached horses, their reaction to being separated can be violent and distressing to witness. They can call incessantly and throw themselves around in a blind panic, risking injuries, damaging their surroundings and sometimes making it july 2012 your horse 85

Horse care Learn how to massage

Hands-on support

Simple, easy-to-learn massage techniques can benefit your horse and improve your bond with him Words: Larissa Chapman

90 your horse july 2012

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

W

e can all appreciate the benefits of a relaxing massage after a hard week at work, and it’s no different for our horses.

Whether they’re out competing every weekend or simply grazing in the field, a regular massage will help relieve any underlying tension, boost circulation – as well as improve the bond between you and your horse. It’s also a great way to learn more about your horse’s body and identify any lumps, bumps and tender bits so you can spot when something’s not right.

Massage techniques are easy to learn, as we discover when we chat to equine sports massage therapist Angela Lumsdon.

What is massage?

Massage isn’t a new technique – in fact it’s one of the oldest therapies around. As the many benefits of this therapy are being rediscovered, its popularity is growing, not only for humans but also for our equine friends.

However, it’s important to remember that massage isn’t a cure for all injuries and ailments and should never take the place of proper veterinary care.

OUR EXPERT Angela Lumsdon trained through The Institute of Complementary Animal Therapies (ICAT) gaining a diploma in Equine Sports Massage Therapy. She’s also attended a number of courses with equine body worker Jim Masterson and is currently working towards a qualification in Equine Touch.

For more information, take a look at Angela’s website: www. stability-equinemassage.co.uk

What are the benefits?

Massage is great for reducing stress, enhancing relaxation, relieving muscle tension and spasms, improving circulation and improving muscle tone. When combined with passive stretching techniques, it can also help with joint flexibility, stride length and your horse’s overall range of movement. “It’s the gateway to your horse’s body,” explains Angela. “It allows you to ensure

spot when your horse needs massage therapy

‘You can’t go far wrong with massage – your horse will let you know what he likes and dislikes’ w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

l Nips, kicks and appears grumpy when the saddle comes his way l Refuses to stand still or dips his back when being mounted l Stiff or struggles to bend l Bucks or rears uncharacteristically l Shows difficulty in engaging or working in an outline l Shows short, choppy or uneven strides or changes canter lead

l Rushes or stops at fences he would normally have cleared If you’re worried about any of these signs, or your horse’s behaviour changes suddenly for the worst, ask your vet for advice and if he agrees, maybe it’s time to contact a massage or other equine body worker to see if he can be made more comfortable.

july 2012 your horse 91

Horse care Caring for the muzzle

The muzzle explored

We delve deep into the inner workings of one of your horse’s most important features

S

oft, velvety, prickly, hairy, smooth… every horse has a muzzle but how much do we really know about them? They all look very different, but their function remains the same. We speak to equine vet Becky Lees of The Scarsdale Vet Group in Derby to discover how our horses’ muzzles work and the best ways to care for them.

THE NOSTRILS

1

The nostrils are the muzzle’s biggest and most important feature and some believe they can make or break a horse’s expression.

Their unique shape is imposed by supporting cartilages, which create the ‘false nostril,’ a blind-ending (with no known function) that isn’t possessed by any other species.

THE SKIN

2

The skin on the muzzle is thinner than elsewhere on the body with little hair coverage making it incredibly sensitive and perfect for feeling around for food.

MOUSTACHE

3

Some horses have magnificent moustaches. These are more common in heavier breeds like

cobs and those adapted to living on mountainous terrain where food is sparse. The moustache hair grows to prevent the sensitive muzzle area from becoming rubbed and sore when grazing.

THE LIPS

4

The lips have a light covering of short, fine hairs that have a velvety texture. They’re very mobile and sensitive and are used in the selection and taking of food.

The lower lip is joined to the chin, which is made up of a pad of fatty fibrous tissue.

THE MUCOUS MEMBRANES

5

The mucous membranes that line the inside of the mouth are salmon pink in colour and contain many blood vessels, so will bleed heavily if cut.

WHISKERS

6

The positioning of the horse’s eyes on either side of his head means he has blind spots and for this reason he has special whiskers on the muzzle and chin to help him to feel around for food and prevent him from bumping his nose and chin. The removal of these tactile hairs is controversial but horses can, and do, adapt.

The mucous membranes are salmon pink in colour

96 your horse july 2012

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

1

5

2

4 3

6

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

july 2012 your horse 97

Expert advice on buying wisely

gear guide

page 116

Big Test Tack cleaning

This month

buyers’ guide 108 Great summer tops to keep you cool what’s new 114 The hot new products to hit the shelves Bargain to blowout 122 Top gear to help you and your horse keep cool this summer Our kit 136 Essential gear the YH team and readers can’t do without

what to buy

Summer tops Look great this summer – we’ve chosen a selection of cool summer tops which will look great with breeches or casual wear

108 your horse july 2012

Townend You2 polo shirt £34.99

Cavallo Tima £55.50

Colours Pink dust/melange grey, navy/Windsor white Sizes 8 to 16 Contact www.battles.co.uk/townend

Colours Coral, denim, white, rose, papaya, navy Sizes 8 to 22 Contact 01352 763350 or www.zebraproducts.co.uk

This relaxed style shirt has a quality feel in feminine baby pink and grey tones

A lovely lightweight top in a summer colour that’s on trend

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

Gear guide

Caldene Clove £29.99

Cavallo Tami £49.50

Colours Lavender, magenta Sizes S, M, L, XL Contact 01274 711101 or www.caldene.co.uk

Colours Coral, navy, black, off white, Sizes 8 to 22 Contact 01352 763350 or www.zebraproducts.co.uk

Some subtle bling on the motif adds a dash of glamour to this simple pastel polo with contrasting piping

Super lightweight with funky detailing – in coral it’s a great one for brunettes

KP Equestrian T-shirt £20

Ariat Bella rugby top £42.99

In true KP style, this basic t-shirt with a longer length delivers on both the pink and the bling!

In classic colours and rugby top style, this top would be great for the yard or casual wear

Colour Raspberry Sizes 8 to 14 Contact www.kpequestrian. com

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

Colours Red, navy eclipse, canary Sizes XS to XXL Contact www.ariat-europe. com or 0845 600 3209

Mark Todd ladies polo shirt £23.99 Colours Rosebud/black, chocolate/duck egg (unisex polo available in black/rosebud) Sizes Ladies 8 to 18 Contact 01303 872277 or www.wefi.co.uk We like this simple style in a burst of bright colour

Toggi Verity £32.50 Colours Buttermilk, cherry, navy, pink, slate Sizes 6 to 20 Contact 0113 270 7000 or www.toggi.com With a stylish buttoned V neck and piping detail to the sleeves, this Toggi will be great for everyday wear

Harry Hall Skelton polo £31.99 Colours Candy, coral Sizes S to XL Contact 01274 711101 or www.harryhall.co.uk

The bold contrast of blue and pink works well on this polo and there’s a nice stripe detail under the collar july 2012 your horse 109

Gear Guide

116 your horse july 2012

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

BIG TEST

We test the best leather care products for you Find out which ones will help keep your tack clean and supple quickly and easily

W

e all know the importance of looking after our tack – after all it’s expensive and with the right care it will give years of use.

Tack cleaning isn’t always top of our list of things to do, but there’s a wide variety of products to help make light work of it.

What to look for Ease of use

Our testers commented on how easy each product was to use/apply to their tack, how much was needed to get the desired result and whether any instructions were easy to understand and follow.

Effectiveness

Our testers assessed how effective each product was and if it did everything the manufacturer said.

They also considered what their tack looked and felt like after using each product and how long the effect lasted.

Value for money

Finally, taking into account their comments and feedback on ease of use and effectiveness, our testers decided whether they thought each product offered value for money and whether they’d buy the product again or recommend it to you.

Equipe Soft Clean £14.99 for 500ml Ease of use

●●●●●●●●●●

Effectiveness

●●●●●●●●●●

Value for money

●●●●●●●●●●

Total

20/30

This is very easy to use – simply put some solution on a cloth and apply to your leather. I had to use quite a lot but it rubs in easily and dries quickly.

It worked very well on normal dirt but struggled to move grease and sweat even after a second application. The leather needed to be pre-cleaned to shift grease and sweat before using the Soft Clean to get the best result.

Leather was left feeling soft but looked quite dull.

I found this to be reasonable value for money as it works well on daily dirt but you need to use quite a lot to get a thorough clean.

Tested by Teresa Contact www. zebraproducts. co.uk

clean their tack every day with a thorough clean and condition once a month. Allison cleans her tack two or three times a week.

All our testers are keen to find products which are quick to use and they all want their tack to look clean and supple for as long as possible afterwards.

Equimins Leather Conditioning Cream From £4.39 for 250g Ease of use

●●●●●●●●●●

Effectiveness

●●●●●●●●●●

Value for money

●●●●●●●●●●

Total

21/30

This cream is applied using a cloth and then buffed with a clean cloth making it quite time consuming. However, it’s very soft so it’s easy to apply and left the leather feeling supple .

You don’t need to use a lot – in fact if you applied too much the leather felt sticky. The results didn’t last for long and needed applying regularly to keep my tack looking good. I found it worked best on boots and shoes rather than tack. Although it’s not expensive, it isn’t one of my favourites.

Tested by Teresa Contact www. equimins.com or 01548 531770

The awards

The scores ●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●

We’ve tested 16 products to help find the best one for you. Our testers were YH reader Teresa Lowther, the team at Woodcroft Stud and YH gear editor Allison Lowther. Teresa cleans her tack each time it is used, with a thorough clean once a month. The Woodcroft Stud team have nine horses ridden daily and

Perfect Excellent Very good Good Fairly good Average Below average Poor Very poor Waste of money

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

We take our testing very seriously – look out for the Your Horse awards in the mag, and as swing tags on products in the shops. If it’s good enough for an award, it’s good enough for your hard-earned cash Only awarded to the very best products in our comprehensive gear tests

Products that offer great value for money and perform well

A product that performs well, but just missed out on the winning position

july 2012 your horse 117

Essential everyday skills for riders of all levels

essential know-how

128 your horse july 2012

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

page 129

Make sure he’s turned out safely

This month 129 SUMMER hoofcare Keep your horse’s hooves in top condition 130 Arena etiquette Find out the rules of the track 130 is he hot or cold? How to tell if he needs his rug on or off 131 striding a distance Get it right when you’re show jumping 131 field safety Make sure his turnout time is risk free

132 riding up and down hills safely Top advice on tackling hills 134 weigh it up A better way to check his weight 134 day to day grooming Dealing with the essentials when time is tight 135 fuss free worming Top tips to get that wormer down 136 napping Find out how to get your horse moving forwards again

Summer care for healthy hooves

Summer weather plays havoc with hooves. Farriers Jodhi Beard and Matt Eastwood’s advice will keep them in top condition

T

he purpose of your horse’s hooves is to absorb shock from impact with the ground.

To do this efficiently the hooves need to be balanced and in good health. So shoeing, diet and hoof management are all essential if you want the best for your horse’s feet, limbs and joints. When looking at your horse’s hooves in summer check for cracks, loose nails and loose shoes.

KEEP A REGULAR SHOEING CYCLE

Hooves can swell in the wet and shrink in the dry causing nails to loosen, shoes to fall off and hooves to crack. Keeping up with his regular shoeing cycle will help keep shoes on and hooves intact.

TAKE CARE ON HARD GROUND

Remember that, in summer, fields can be as hard as the roads. So take extra care, particularly if riding an unshod horse, as you don’t want his hooves to crack or your horse to go lame through jarring.

WATCH OUT FOR WEAR AND TEAR

Extra care is needed to keep his hooves healthy in summer

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

inset Pic: bob langrish

Dry, hard ground is abrasive and a lot of wear and tear can cause a normally unshod horse to need shoes. So be vigilant and ask your farrier for advice if you’re unsure.

KEEP HOOVES SUPPLE AND ELASTIC

Kevin Bacon’s hoof dressing is a great product. It replaces moisture that can be lost through shoeing and rasping, helping hooves to stay supple and elastic, therefore preventing splits and cracks.

DON’T BELIEVE THE MYTHS

Some people believe that soaking his hooves in water can help when the ground is dry, but that’s not the case. Hooves like consistency, so going from very dry to very wet conditions is not ideal.

KEEP A BALANCED DIET

Jodhi feeds her horse Naf’s Pink Powder. If your horse has a balanced diet, he should produce horn sufficiently, but if it’s lacking in anything or you can’t feed the required amount due to weight gain issues etc, this supplement will make sure he’s getting what he needs.

SUPPLEMENT HIS DIET

The foot gets its nutrients from within, so feeding your horse a hoof supplement such as biotin could help.

SWAP THE FIELD FOR THE SCHOOL

Consider doing more work in the school when the ground is particularly dry.

KEEP DIRT AND BACTERIA AWAY

When hooves shrink and shoes become loose in drier weather, gravel and dirt can become lodged between the shoe and the hoof causing bacteria to multiply.

CONSIDER USING HOOF OILS

A BALANCED FOOT In the wild, horses continually wear their feet down in a way that suits their own conformation and weight bearing requirements.

We have stopped this natural process, but making the best of your horse’s feet is easy with the help of a good farrier and careful hoof management.

A good hoof should be smooth with no cracks. Good front feet are rounder in shape to carry weight while hind feet tend to be narrower at the toe, straighter in the quarters and are designed for propulsion.

Hoof oils can act as a barrier to prevent the hooves from losing moisture, but they won’t add a great amount of moisture. july 2012 your horse 129

Next month in

On sale July 12

Everything you need to enjoy a day trip with your horse plus a look at some of the best riding routes in the UK

G

EMY

AD

T R AI N I N

AC

At home with Mary King as she talks everything from the challenges of her career to date to what she was like at school and her passion for food

Training Academy part 3 More from your chief instructors Spencer Wilton and Jay Halim as they help you progress your training onto flying changes for dressage, riding dog-leg turns, landing on the right lead and rhythm and straightness for jumping

Anna Ross-Davies helps you achieve lift off with her top advice for bringing your horse off his forehand

We look inside the hoof to understand its structure, what can go wrong and how to prevent problems

Discover how travelling affects his joints, breathing and hydration

Catching problems solved - why your horse won’t be caught and what to do about it!

Gear

We put stirru p to the test and s showcase a ra ng of fly masks e

w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

2

extra

Issue two

First for buying and selling

Sell your horse fast and easily with our new complete package One price and your ad stays online till sold

Find your next perfect partner with Horse Deals

16 pages packed full of everything equine from horses to property Just a taste of what’s for sale every month in Horse Deals magazine or online at

www.horsedeals.co.uk