October Issue of Your Horse

Your Horse 365 october 2012

FREE

36 PAGE GUIDE

FREE ExPERt FEED GUIDE WIN

a Horsebox!

be a better rIder, get tHe best from your Horse

• perfect manners • jumping confidence • grass sickness • training academy • feeding guide • win a horsebox • leg care

6

worth £28,900

steps to perfect manners

how to transform your horse from the ground

Lose your jumping nerves today surviving grass sickness tHere Is Hope: ‘my mare’s mIracuLous recovery’

training academy Exclusive lessons & online videos with Spencer Wilton and Jay Halim ✔ Prepare to compete ✔ Perfect your circles ✔ tackle water ✔ ride half-pass ✔ Clear angled rails

uK’s no.1 equIne montHLy

SYLVIA LOCH ON ROLLKUR

‘I’ll fight to my dying day to change the rules’

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tHe rIgHt beddIng sHape fLatterIng jods super suppLements

WIN

a hay steamer worth £894

Look after his legs How to HandLe Lumps & bumps www.yourhorse.co.uk October 2012 £3.80

Win a horsebox

Win this horsebox!

We’re bringing you the chance to win this incredible Equi-Trek horsebox, plus a safety themed prize package from Petplan Equine worth over £200!

WORTH

£28,900

Drive away in an equi-Trek Sonic horSebox

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his Sonic Horsebox is worth a cool £28,900 – and it could be yours if you enter our fantastic competition today!

The Sonic is compact and easy to drive and carries two horses in total luxury. It has the added benefit of a tack/changing/sitting area, with two saddle racks, two bridle racks and two coat hooks so you can carry all your equipment with ease, totally separate from the horses’ area.

There’s also additional storage over the cab. Equi-Trek has generously added a package of incredible extras including:

your horse ocToBer 2012

• Alloy wheels • Mud flaps • Head divider • Corner seat with storage • CCTV camera • Digital reversing camera • Padded partition • Padded walls • Extra height partition • Road tax until June 2013 As well as the fantastic EquiTrek Sonic Horsebox, we’re giving you the chance to win prizes every month from our Win a Horsebox sponsors Petplan Equine, Musto, Animalife and Kent & Masters.

How to enter

For your chance to win…

Go to www.yourhorse.co.uk/win and follow the instructions. Special terms and conditions apply. closing date is midday on 2 January, 2013. alternatively visit your horse Live at Stoneleigh Park on 10-11 november – the horsebox will be on show for you to have a look at and you can enter while you’re there (turn to page 88 for more info about this fantastic event).

• For more information on the Equi-Trek range of horseboxes, go to www.equi-trek.com or call 01484 852121 • Competition open to UK entrants only, who must be 18 or over and own a horse

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to take a sneaky video peek inside our prize horsebox, go to www.yourhorse.co.uk/ winahorsebox

WIn A SAFETy Prize PackaGe

This month we’ve teamed up with Petplan Equine to give two lucky readers a special safety-themed prize package worth over £200

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nsurance provider Petplan Equine is known for its specialist knowledge and fairness with claims. It offers straightforward cover with no hidden extras and its policies are flexible so you can select from a range of benefits to suit your needs. Plus, as long as your horse is insured before he’s 20, Petplan offers cover for illness up to 25 years of age.

Now Petplan Equine is offering two winners the chance to each

our prize includes

• 1 year’s BEIDS membership and a beiDS wrist band • A top of the range Equisafety HiViz jacket from their Polite range

Performance Nutraceuticals

when performance matters

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receive a complete HiViz set for horse and rider, plus a year’s membership with BEIDS, the British Equestrian Identification Service, an invaluable service for horse and rider – this allows you to register next of kin details and full medical records, so that in the event of a riding accident the emergency services know who to contact.

This fantastic prize will help to keep you and your horse safe riding out this winter.

• A HiViz wrap around exercise sheet • HiViz light weight harness, leg boots, martingale and tail guard and hat band

to enter, and for full terms and conditions, go to www.yourhorse.co.uk/win – closing date is 29 october 2012.

For more information about petplan equine visit www.petplanequine.co.uk

ocToBer 2012 your horse

Train with our experts for free

Training Academy PART FIVE

Meet your expert trainers

jumping

Jay Halim

Riding for: 24 years Current rides: VIP II, Who Boy and Master Eli Career highlights: Winning the 2007 Burghley Young Event Horse class on Eye Candy; top five 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: “This is an exciting month as we’re heading onto a cross-country course to tackle some new things and to put into practice everything we’ve worked on to this point. Don’t forget – if you have any questions just get in touch. Turn to page 30 to find out how.”

your horse ocToBer 2012

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Dressage and jumping key skills this month

Perfect your circles

Ride centre lines

Start steps

Tackle real skinnies

Introduce water

TR AI NI

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G

EMY

Begin half-pass

jumping

AD

DRESSagE

AC

DRESSagE

Spencer Wilton

Riding for: 35 years Current rides: Zamboucca, Doogie and Super Nova Career highlights: Winning the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special in 2006 in Saumur with Dolendo; winning the National Championships in 2007 with Dolendo; winning the Winter Medium Open Championships in 2011 with Zamboucca Spencer says: “The past few months have flown by and it’s now time to tackle half-pass and put in place some final preparations.

Before you know it we’ll reach the final month of the Training Academy and be heading to a competition where I hope all your hard work pays off!”

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ocToBer 2012 your horse

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

Better riding

This month

ĂŞĂŞ

your horse ocToBer 2012

page 34

Eventer David Gatherer offers jumping advice

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page 45

Schooling advice from Heather Moffett

Inside Better Riding

page 51

Ride like a pro

34 Private Lessons Meet two riders keen to get out on the cross-country course, but in need of some schooling advice first 45 excLusive exert! From trainer Heather Moffett’s popular book Enlightened Equitation 51 ride Like a Pro… Top riders and trainers offer their favourite pieces of advice to help improve your performance on the flat and over jumps

Private Lessons

The Your Horse Private Lessons follow two pupils having lessons with one trainer. Each has different issues they want help with

MEET THE TRAINER DaviD GatHERER is a four-star international event rider. He was the British Horse Society (BHS) Scottish instructor of the year 2011, he’s a British Eventing (BE) accredited coach and one of the under 18s BE coaches for the Scotland region. He works fulltime in a non-equestrian role, which makes his horsey achievements even more impressive.

LEssoN 1: NovIcE MoRaG SMitH and 12-year-old Thoroughbred, James, are just getting back into jumping. It’s years since Morag jumped so she needs help to re-build her confidence before tackling solid fences. James jumps quite long and can often get a little onward after fences, which unnerves Morag, so she needs David’s help with this.

LEssoN 2: AdvANcEd RutH YounG and nine-year-old Holsteiner, Bem, are just starting to enter the world of cross-country.

They’ve tried their hand at JumpCross and have had a great time schooling over some solid fences, but now they need to tackle solid fences out in the open and, with David’s help, Ruth’s hopeful that they can do it.

Lesson 1: novice - Morag and JaMes

the warm-up Morag has lost her confidence when it comes to jumping so David is starting her off with show jumps rather than solid fences. He plans to do cross-country schooling exercises but over the safety of show jumps.

“Right Morag, I want to you warm up as you normally would so I can have a good look at you and James. At the moment you’re riding quite long, so before we go any further, let’s shorten your stirrups to give you more balance over fences.

“Now that I’ve seen your trot, pick up your canter and really get him moving off from your leg. Good!” w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

Lesson focus l To control James’s speed l To build Morag’s confidence l To practise a few cross-country schooling techniques

ocToBer 2012 your horse

PIC: Dr Carole Baker

Better Riding Enlightened Equitation

Heather riding her PRE Lusitano Reno

Interaction with the horse’s movement H We bring you an exclusive excerpt from classical rider Heather Moffett’s popular book eather Moffett’s definitive riding book Enlightened Equitation has now been revised, with 100 extra pages and new photographs.

A classically-trained rider, Heather explains in her book how to achieve the classical seat and refine your aids. This month we begin with the rider’s interaction with the horse’s movement.

HEatHER says...

The most important part of learning to ride – as I’m sure any novice rider would agree – is learning to stay on board, yet the actual method of doing so is never w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

really explained. ‘Sit deeper’, ‘Go with the movement’, and ‘Relax your back’ are all instructions that pupils receive, yet to a novice such statements are about as meaningful as if they were spoken in a foreign language. ‘Sit deeper’ usually means that the student stiffens and tries to sit more heavily in the saddle, bouncing as a result.

‘Go with the movement’ and the pupil tries too hard, moving about more than is necessary. ‘Relax your back’ implies that the rider should collapse the ribcage and become floppy. ‘Follow the movement’ is another favourite, but ‘follow’? Surely if you are following something, you are behind it?!

Heather is renowned for her various teaching methods

october 2012 your horse

WIN

a lesson with show jumper Peter Murphy and TopSpec feed

Worth

Your Horse has teamed up with TopSpec to offer one reader the chance to win this fantastic prize

The prize consists of: • A lesson with international show jumper and trainer Peter Murphy • £500 worth of TopSpec feed • 20 runners-up will each receive a bag of TopSpec Cool Balancer

£1,500

Peter Murphy riding Del Fuego to win the speed class at Wolverhampton racecourse

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here’s nothing like learning from the best, and that’s what this prize offers one lucky reader. Our winner will get the chance to visit Peter’s yard and have a lesson on their own horse from one of the best show jumping coaches around.

Peter, who is sponsored by TopSpec, has had a very successful career in the world of show jumping, winning both team and individual gold medals at Junior and Young Rider Championship level.

He’s now an accredited British Showjumping coach and trainer to the British Eventing Team helping the World Class squad.

He and his wife Eleni, who’s also an international show jumper, run their own yard in Lancaster providing training, livery and many other facilities for riders and horses.

As well as the lesson, the winner will be able to choose feed from the TopSpec range, and benefit from its expert nutritional advice.

Twenty runners-up will each receive

a bag of TopSpec Cool Balancer, designed for horses and ponies who need extra condition but no ‘fizz’.

TopSpec Cool Balancer provides a very palatable, safe and effective way to improve condition and topline without adding excess calories to the diet.

It’s a non-heating, cereal-grain-free formula, with low levels of starch and sugar, plus good quality protein. It stimulates weight gain while delivering a formula that not only avoids exciting horses but also includes ingredients that may reduce anxiety and help them relax.

It’s ideal if you want to give your horse ad-lib forage balanced by smaller hard feeds and it improves the amount of nutrients your horse can extract from his feed so the amount of concentrate can be reduced. This benefits digestion and is a more natural way of feeding, leading to a more relaxed horse.

For more information please contact the award-winning helpline on 01845 565030 or visit www.topspec.com

To enter visit www.yourhorse.co.uk/win

and answer this question...

Which TopSpec feed gives horses condition without fizz a) Cool Balancer b) Cool Runnings c) Cool Dude Closing date: 4 October 2012 Terms & conditions: The winner is responsible for transport for themselves and their horse to Peter’s yard and any accommodation necessary. For full terms and conditions go to www.yourhorse.co.uk

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ocToBer 2012 your horse

Celebrity interview

Sylvia Loch

Leading classical dressage trainer Sylvia Loch talks about her horse-mad childhood, meeting the Queen and hula-hooping Words Larissa Chapman Photography Matthew Roberts

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ulling up at Sylvia’s home and yard nestled in the rolling hills of the beautiful Kelso countryside, for once in my life I’m genuinely speechless. As we come slowly up the winding drive and see her commanding house with creeping ivy around the windows, I feel as though we’ve been transported to a bygone era and I half expect to be greeted by Jeeves.

We head over to the front door where not a butler but a buoyant and cheerful Sylvia greets us with her two dogs, Topaz and Noodles. We head inside where her house is just as impressive with an eclectic mix of family photos, knickknacks and vintage decor. Lovely as it is, Sylvia soon explains its drawbacks – the heating bill for one!

Sitting by the Aga chatting about her most recent work and glancing at the papers scattered across the tables, it’s easy to see Sylvia’s passion for writing and the commitment she has to sharing her knowledge and experience.

She has an impressive career in dressage spanning many decades before leaving the competition scene behind in the 90s. Since then, she’s spent her time writing, training and teaching all over the world. She’s one of the UK’s leading classical dressage trainers, author of seven published books on dressage, your horse october 2012

founder of The Classical Riding Club (Independent Partner of the BHS) and now, Honorary President of the Lusitano Breed Society of Great Britain. In short, she’s a well-respected figure of the equestrian community with a fiercely loyal following and it’s a real honour to have the opportunity to speak to her in her own home.

We settle down in her living room to discuss her hectic career, her time in Portugal, her love for Lusitano horses and her most embarrassing moments.

Tell us about your early riding memories and what ignited your passion for horses?

I was brought up on a farm so I was surrounded by horses and other animals.

We had two gorgeous, working Clydesdales on the farm – I used to love sitting on their backs and watching them being groomed. Unfortunately the farm became too much for my father and we had to sell up and move to Edinburgh when I was about six. We missed all the animals and couldn’t wait to leave the city.

We moved back to the country when I was eight and it’s fair to say that from then on I went horse ballistic. I was taught to ride by two people who weren’t instructors but were prepared to allow a keen youngster to ride out with them. It was a good way to start and very soon I

Sylvia in her home in the Scottish Borders w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

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

september 2012 your horse

Discipline swap

A change is as good as a rest What happens when you ask a world champion carriage driver and one of Western riding’s leading lights to give each other a crash course in their discipline? We thought we’d find out…

Words Katy Islip Photography Martyn Barnwell your horse OCTOBER 2012

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here’s a saying you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but with horses you never stop learning. However, does that mean you can master something new in just a few hours? To find out, we challenged driving star Boyd Exell and Western expert David Deptford to swap places for an afternoon, with each giving the other the benefit of their expertise while also cutting them no slack – were they up to the task?

As experts in their own fields, there’s nothing these two don’t know about their own disciplines, but how would they get on trying something completely new.

When the Your Horse team arrives at Boyd’s Leicestershire yard, we find David

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deftly parking his impressive trailer before Boyd himself arrives at the helm of a four-in-hand.

As the introductions flow, David and Boyd are soon chatting away and the questions about each other’s disciplines start flying thick and fast – David’s fascinated by Boyd’s harnesses and carriage, while Boyd’s keen to know what he should wear and what to expect when he hops into the saddle of Jays Smokin Story, David’s gorgeous 14-yearold Quarter Horse stallion and one of the UK’s leading sires.

After a quick cuppa, it’s time to find out as the gauntlet is thrown down for our discipline swap – turn the page to see how our plucky horsemen get on.

MEET THE EXPERTS

Boyd ExEll is eight-time British national champion, the current world four-in-hand champion and four-time FEI World Cup driving champion.

Find out more at www. boydexell.com

david dEPtford is a leading Quarter Horse breeder and trainer and is a regular member of the British Reining Team. Find out more at www. sovereignquarterhorses.com

OCTOBER 2012 your horse

Real life: Surviving grass sickness

your horse ocToBer 2012

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‘I love seeing her grazing, it’s been such a long time’ Grass sickness can be a killer, but with dedicated nursing, horses with the mildest form can survive. Reader Samantha Luther tells how she saved her mare Whinnie Words Katy Islip Photography Matthew Roberts

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horse out grazing should be the most normal sight in the world for an owner, but watching my lovely five-year-old mare Whinnie enjoy the grass in her paddock is something I feared I’d never see again.

In May this year, Whin fell desperately ill with grass sickness – a condition I’d heard of but knew very little about. Since then I’ve learned so much about it as I’ve helped her fight for life. Thankfully Whin seems to be winning that fight now, so I’ve chosen to speak about our experiences to try and help educate other owners about the condition, as well as give people hope that it can, sometimes, be overcome.

Love at first sight

I first saw my TB x cob Whinnie when she was just six days old and just fell in love – her breeder knew the type I like and she was right! She came home at six months, and since then, she’s only left home, my husband Pete’s farm, when she went away to be backed.

Before she fell ill, Whinnie was shaping up well for my aims of doing BHS Trec, riding club events and perhaps some county showing. Then on 16 May this year I realised something was wrong – she wouldn’t eat her hard feed and was tucked up. In the evening she began showing signs of colic – pawing the ground, looking at her abdomen, trying to get down and suffering muscle tremors around her stifle.

The emergency vet gave her painkillers and took some blood to run tests as he wasn’t sure what was going on, and Whin seemed to improve overnight. The next day all the symptoms returned but by the w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

Whin shows the ‘elephant on a tub’ stance often seen in grass sickness cases

time the vet arrived she was bright and alert again, so she was given more painkillers and we were left in limbo waiting for the blood test results

the doWnWard sPiraL

Over the next two weeks Whinnie went downhill fast, losing so much weight and looking very unhappy and depressed. For about a week she ate hardly anything, then thankfully I was able to get something proper into her, but only feeds that came in small pellets.

We still didn’t know what was wrong, so I did some research and began to fear it was grass sickness. At this point I felt pretty hopeless, as like many people all I knew about the condition was that it was awful. I called my usual vet Emma Houghton and explained what I was thinking, and she came straight out and agreed – she’d seen it during her training and recognised the signs.

It was frustrating to have waited for a diagnosis, because if we’d had it sooner I could have started the grass sickness feeding regime sooner and possibly ocToBer 2012 your horse

horse care

Keep your horse healthy and happy

This month

êê

page 86

Are you and your horse the right fit?

Getting your horse’s teeth checked is a job for the experts!

your horse october 2012

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page 99

What’s that lump?

page 90

Manners, please!

Inside Horse Care 80 dental care Find out why it’s essential to look after your horse’s teeth – and how to do it 86 the right saddle Is your saddle too big for his back?

90 improve his manners Six in-hand exercises to make your horse easy to handle 99 look after his legs Find out what those lumps on his legs are, and what to do about them

Inside the equine jaw

From his incisors to his premolars, your horse’s teeth all play an important role – find out what they do and how to care for them Words Imogen Johnson Photography Matthew Roberts

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his month we’re looking into what happens to your horse’s teeth from birth to old age and getting you clued up on dental ageing, common problems and essential dental care with advice from equine dental technician (EDT) Jonathan Keen.

Natural development When he’s five, your horse’s teeth are still largely buried deep within his jaw. These teeth erupt at a rate of 2-3mm per year, wearing themselves down as a

self-sharpening mechanism, until he’s 18-20 when the eruption rate slows and eventually ceases. If he lives out in a field of coarse grass, the eruption process can happen quite naturally, but due to the way the majority of us keep our horses it’s much more difficult for them to wear down their teeth at the necessary rate – eating soft grass, soft hay, wearing bits and time in the stable are all contributing factors to this problem. Turn the page to find out more about your horse’s teeth and to learn how you can ensure his pearly whites stay in excellent condition.

oUr eXpert JoNAthAN KeeN is a qualified Equine Dental Technician who runs Pimbury Equine in Gloucestershire

You can see Jonathan at Your Horse Live later this year (10-11 November) in the Q&A Live area – he’ll be there to talk you through everything you need to know about your horse’s teeth and to answer your questions. For more information about Your Horse Live or to book your tickets visit www. yourhorselive.co.uk or see page 104.

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october 2012 your horse

Horse Care The right saddle

Are you the right fit?

You might be the ideal height and weight for your horse, but are you the correct seat size in relation to the length of his back? Jo Greenfield explains why this is key to a healthy, successful partnership Words Jo Greenfield Pictures Jo Greenfield and Matthew Roberts

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here are many things to consider when buying a new horse, but the question of whether or not you’re physiologically compatible is often largely ignored – even though this is key to your future success together.

You’ll give a great deal of thought as to whether or not your prospective mount is the height and type you’re looking for, but would you ever consider whether you’re the right seat size in relation to the length of his back?

Sally Cartwright is a Society of Master Saddlers qualified saddle fitter who specialises in remedial fitting for horses who’ve had training or behavioural problems, either because of previous saddle fit issues or back problems. She’s been a saddle fitter for 10 years, based at Beaver Hall Equestrian

OUR EXPERT

THE AUTHOR

SAlly CArTWrIghT is a Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) qualified saddle fitter who specialises in remedial fitting.

To find out more about her work visit www. saddleryservices. co.uk

Jo grEEnfIEld is a therapeutic bodywork practitioner who treats both horses and humans. She helps riders improve their body awareness. Find out more at www. equestrianbodyworx.co.uk

your horse october 2012

Most English Thoroughbreds are croup-high and short in the back

Centre in Staffordshire, where she works alongside a team who offer rehabilitation to injured sports horses.

“Modern sports horses are being bred shorter in the back than ever before and the new trend in retraining ex-racehorses is also causing problems in this area,” explains Sally. “Most English Thoroughbreds are croup-high and short in the back to some extent, even after remedial training. They can only usually carry a 16½in saddle – yet many riders who take them on as projects need a 17½in to 18in saddle.

“The bottom line is that the saddle shouldn’t block the horse’s natural range of motion.”

As Sally explains, the most common symptoms of an ill-fitting saddle are varied, including: ● Bucking ● Intermittent lameness ● Short choppy strides ● Stiffness on either the left or right rein

Intermittent lameness can be a sign of an ill-fitting saddle

● Poor engagement ● Difficult transitions ● A disunited canter, taking up the incorrect lead, refusing to jump “Put simply, these issues wouldn’t occur in a horse who was allowed to move naturally, and the saddle should allow this, even with the added burden of a rider,” Sally explains. w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

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october 2012 your horse

Horse care Improve his manners

Mind your manners Manners maketh man, goes the saying – and the same is true for horses. Make your horse a delight to handle with these six simple in-hand exercises Words Katy Islip Photography Simon Hipperson

your horse ocToBer 2012

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W OUR EXPERT Diane ThurManBaker has been using traditional Portuguese classical training methods for 25 years. She and her sister Angela Fois run Turville Valley Stud in Oxfordshire.

hether you’ve got a comely cob or a strapping Warmblood, a horse is still a horse – large, strong and prone to being opinionated at times. If he doesn’t respect you on the ground, it’ll make dealing with him that much harder and stressful, not to mention dangerous if he doesn’t pay attention to your personal space or always heads to the field at warp speed.

Here our expert, classical trainer Diane Thurman-Baker, divulges her top in-hand schooling tips for

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teaching good manners, from giving you room in the stable to being led politely. She says: “Manners come from a horse who’s aware of both his and your space and you both know where you stand.”

At her stud, Diane uses these exercises to train all her young horses, as well as help older horses learn or relearn what’s acceptable.

She says: “It comes down to safety.

It’s far better they learn manners so you’re not telling them off every day, and that they’re aware of the boundaries and understand what your body language is

communicating to them.”

You can’t tell a horse off for everything he does wrong, she adds, so it’s important to know his character and recognise how much he’s pushing you – you don’t want to squash his personality by being too strict.

Whatever you want to improve, Diane says you’ll achieve your goals with patience and repetition.

The time frame will differ from horse to horse, especially if the problem is learned bad behaviour rather than natural exuberance, but if you’re consistent, he’ll get there.

ocToBer 2012 your horse

Horse care Look after his legs

What’s that lump?

Our horses’ legs are prone to the odd bump, but when is a swelling nothing more than a blemish – and when is it time to call the vet? We’ve got expert advice to help you spot, and deal with, these lumps Words Helen Milbank Pictures Matthew Roberts and Bob Langrish

S

OUR ExpERt CHARLIE BRIGGS is an equine vet who works for the Hale Veterinary Group in Wiltshire. She’s also team vet for the GB Endurance Development Squad.

plints, curbs, windgalls, thoroughpins and spavins – all words that can send a shudder down the spine of any horse owner. But not all these are serious problems, as vet Charlie Briggs explains. Read on to find out what all these words really mean, and what’s the best course of action to take when you find a lump on your horse’s legs.

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october 2012 your horse

WIN

a Haygain hay steamer

Your Horse has teamed up with Propress Equine to offer two lucky readers the chance to win a hay steamer and other equine goodies

The prize consists of: • An HG-600 Haygain hay steamer • A saddlecloth • Hay bag and hay knife

WORTH £894

Using a Haygain helps your horse’s respiratory health

Y

our horse needs a healthy respiratory system to perform to his maximum ability so you might be shocked to know that 80% of horses stabled part of the time have some airway inflammation, even if they don’t show any symptoms. In addition, more than one in six horses suffer from respiratory disease that severely affects their health.

Haygain hay steamers can provide the ideal solution. The patented method steams the forage at over 100˚C, drastically improving the hygiene quality in just 50 minutes.

It incorporates a unique design that penetrates the centre of the hay, distributing the steam evenly from the inside out.

This, combined with a thermallyinsulated chest, means it reaches high enough temperatures to kill mould, fungal spores and bacteria.

The result is a sweet-smelling, palatable forage that’s completely clean and safe to feed.

The revolutionary concept has been researched, developed and tested at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. Findings prove that 1g of untreated good quality hay will contain around 7,750,000 spore colonies. Using a Haygain

reduces that number to virtually zero.

Recent studies have shown that haylage steamed in a Haygain is not only cleaner than a freshly opened bale but has an increased shelf life too.

The HG-600 can take half a bale, hay nets or hay wedges and is ideal for

smaller yards and for use away at competitions. It’s durable and easy to move around.

For more information contact HAYGAIN on 0333 200 5233 or visit www.haygain.com

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

What percentage of stabled horses have airway inflammation? a) 10% b) 80% c) 120% Closing date: 4 October 2012 Terms & conditions: For full terms and conditions go to www.yourhorse.co.uk

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october 2012 your horse

Expert advice on buying wisely

GEAR GUIDE

page 114

First look

This month

êê

BIG TEST

your horse ocToBer 2012

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Inside Gear Guide

page 118

Buyers’ guide to bedding

106 BIG TEST 12 pairs of long casual boots are put through their paces 114 fIRST look We explore a new range of supplements from Animalife 116 WhAT’S nEW The latest gear to hit the tack shop shelves 118 BUyERS’ GUIDE Advice to help you choose the right bedding 124 oUR kIT Gear that’s been used, abused – and loved – by the Your Horse team

page 124

Our kit…

Long casual boots We’ve put 12 pairs of stylish boots through their paces to see which ones you should be wearing this autumn and winter, whether you’re at the yard or round town

L

ong casual boots are an increasingly popular choice for yard wear, instead of wellies.

They’ve also become a fashion accessory, worn with jeans to spectate at competitions, walk the dog, go shopping or even to the office.

The choice has increased, with most major manufacturers producing at least one style, if not more. Members of the YH editorial team and readers have tested 12 pairs of boots to see how they coped with different conditions. Each pair was assessed under the following criteria: Fit/comFort Our testers assessed how well the boots fitted and their overall appearance. They also considered how comfortable they were and how long they took to break in.

PerFormance Our testers considered whether the boots lived up to the manufacturer’s claims. They also looked at durability and the condition they were in after being used for several months.

Value For money Finally, taking into account their comments on fit/comfort and performance, our testers considered whether the pair of boots they had were good value for money and if they would recommend them to you.

What to look for Fastenings

Simple pull-on boots are quick to put on and take off. But if you struggle with this style, some boots have laces down the side or straps around the calf, to help you get the best possible fit

Sole

Boots with good tread and soles will help you feel safe and secure on all sorts of terrain including muddy fields. Good quality soles should prove to be long lasting and durable

Outer material

This is usually leather but some will also use suede or nubuck. Think about how easy these materials are to keep clean and how much care they need. Find out if the outer material is waterproof or water resistant and consider where you’re going to wear the boots – at the yard or just casually

Lining

Try and pick boots which have a breathable lining – it will help keep your feet feeling fresher especially if you’re wearing them for long periods of time.

Some boots will have an insulated lining – great if you suffer from cold feet during the winter months

The scores

The awards

We’ve scored all the sets of boots out of 10, based on how they matched up to the fit, comfort, performance and value for money criteria. Here’s what our scores mean: 5 Average 10 Perfect 4 Below average 9 Excellent 3 Poor 8 Very good 2 Very poor 7 Good 1 Waste of money 6 Fairly good

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

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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

ocToBer 2012 your horse

Gear Guide

Choose the right bedding With winter fast approaching, it’s time to think about your horse’s bedding – a smart choice will make mucking out more bearable! Gear editor Allison Lowther guides you through what’s what in the world of bedding

your horse ocToBer 2012

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buyers’ guide

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aving owned horses for too many years to mention, I’ve seen quite a few changes in the way we manage them. Bedding in particular has changed considerably over the years – the choice is huge and it can be difficult deciding which one’s best.

There are pros and cons for all of them – on the whole it comes down to personal preference. To help you decide, here’s our guide to some of the different types available, what they’re made of and why they might help you save time, effort and money, while keeping your horse healthy and comfortable.

Points to consider

Choosing the type of bedding most suitable for you and your horse depends largely on your individual circumstances but it’s worth taking a few moments to consider the following practical and health implications

Price When you’re comparing prices, it’s advisable to look at not only the price per bale, but also the cost of bedding for your horse per week or month. What often appears to be a cheap price per bale may not be as cost effective as a more expensive product because you may end up using twice as much!

Usage rates How much bedding you use will depend mainly on how absorbent it is and how messy your horse is in his stable. An absorbent bedding will usually mean you use less. This can also mean you remove less dirty bedding when you’re mucking out, resulting in a smaller muck heap.

Edible bedding Another very important factor is whether your horse will eat the bedding or not. Straw is quite palatable w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

and if he eats too much it could cause his waistline to expand! Almost all other types of bedding are either inedible or difficult to digest, so eating it may cause colic. To make it less palatable some manufacturers spray a coating onto the bedding.

Dust Dusty bedding can be an irritant to your horse causing respiratory problems and allergies. Allergic reactions to stable dust, mites, mould and pollen can cause long-term, irritable coughs which are difficult to treat. Horses with allergic coughs run out of breath, lose appetite and condition in the same way as a horse with a viral infection. It’s the smaller dust particles that are the most dangerous as they’re easily inhaled into the respiratory tract and affect the lower airways. ocToBer 2012 your horse

Essential everyday skills for riders of all levels

essential know-how

This month

êê

Never be baffled by your instructor’s jargon again

your horse ocToBer 2012

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Inside Essential Know-how

page 132

Get the correct canter lead

129 JaRGon BUsteR Find out just what all those terms your trainer uses really mean 130 siGnal yoUR intentions Our guide to making sure other road users know what you’re doing 131 spURRed on Why and how to use spurs correctly 131 nUmnah vs saddlecloth Clear up any confusion about these two

similar, but different, pieces of kit 132 Get the coRRect canteR lead Expert advice on how to feel for this without taking a sneaky peek 133 hat fittinG GUide A correctly fitting hat is an essential when you’re around horses 133 adJUst yoUR Reins Two ways to shorten your reins while staying in control

10-minute jargon-buster!

If you, like many of us, have been riding for years and still get thrown by the odd technical term, or you’re just starting out in the equestrian world, check out our jargon-busting guide and be in the know…

CoNtaCt

When your instructor utters the ‘contact’ word you might assume she’s talking about your rein contact, but there are actually three points of contact (the reins, seat and legs) and all are important lines of communication – and two-way communication at that.

It’s a mistake to think of riding as a one-way street, with you simply relaying instructions to your horse.

Instead think of your three points of contact as a way to feel what he’s telling you, as well as relay what you want him to do.

CouNter-CaNter

Put simply, in counter-canter you’re asking your horse to canter on the opposite leg. For example, if he’s on the left rein, you want him to strike off and canter on his right leg on purpose. Provided he’s balanced and relaxed in true canter, it’s a good test of whether he’s submissive and truly through.

Eventers and pure dressage riders ride counter-counter in some Novice level tests, and the judge will be looking to see whether your horse is able to stay relaxed and in a rhythm on the ‘wrong leg’. If he can achieve the correct bend in both true and counter-canter they’ll be even more impressed.

LiGht iN your haNd

In basic terms, this is simply an indication that your horse is carrying himself correctly – he needs to be balanced and engaged, with the muscular strength to carry himself correctly. If he’s on his forehand he’ll feel heavy in w w w.you r hor se .c o.u k

your hands and schooling will be much harder work.

LiGht vs fuLL seat

Ride in a light seat and your weight’s distributed through your legs, while your seat maintains a light contact with the saddle. In a full seat, your upper body’s weight is supported through a supple, straight back (useful when you need to maintain balance through a corner, for instance).

You may also be asked to ride in a half seat. Then your weight’s in your legs and your seat’s clear of the saddle (when riding between cross-country fences, for example).

submissive

Your horse is said to be submissive when you have his full attention and are able to manipulate his body. He will be listening intently to you and what you’re asking. He should be balanced and respond to your aids promptly and willingly. He should also become lighter in your hand.

If you’re struggling to achieve submission, leg-yield and transition work can help to get him listening and concentrating.

simpLe ChaNGes

The aim of the game of a simple change? To change leg, in canter, through walk or trot. Imagine you’re cantering on the right rein and have been asked to ride a simple change, through walk, between E and B. Still in canter, you turn at B, make a transition to walk before X (you’ll be told

how many strides of walk to ride), then strike off into canter on the opposite leg and change the rein.

In a test situation, the upwards transition to canter is a way of showing the judge your horse is truly off your leg and listening to your aids. Throughout this exercise, it’s vital your horse is light in your hand and sharp off your leg, while staying balanced, soft and relaxed through each transition – don’t let him collapse on to his forehand in the downwards transition.

Eventually, simple changes lead to flying changes, but progress at your own speed and start with simple changes through trot, as this is easier than through walk.

throuGh

The German word for what we refer to as ‘throughness’ in dressage – durchlässigkeit – doesn’t directly translate into English. But it has been interpreted in a number of ways including the use of phrases such as ‘the supple, stretched and unblocked state of the horse’s musculature’, ‘permeable and open to passage’, ‘showing an absence of resistance to the rider’s commands’ – among others.

truLy off your LeG

When your horse is truly off your leg, it basically means he keeps travelling forwards in the gait you’re in without being nagged or prompted. He’ll be full of impulsion and willing to go forwards without you having to work too hard. ocToBer 2012 your horse

Next month in

On sale Oct 4

We interview dressage star Richard Davison fresh from the Olympics and discover what 2013 holds for him

PLUSE rug

E get your FR our guide and Y Horse Live ! programme

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AD

T R AI N I N

In Horse Care read the latest findings on laminitis and see how one Your Horse reader got on during a clipping course at Writtle College!

EMY

Join us at 2012 The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials with event rider Ben Hobday as we discover what it’s really like behind the scenes at this incredible event

AC

In our Better Riding section we bring you advice on riding the perfect halt, jumping young or inexperienced horses with expert advice from event rider and trainer Nick Turner

We meet the horses and people who’ve achieved what they never thought possible – read their amazing real life stories!

Training Academy part 6

It’s the end! Our super training series draws to a close as Spencer Wilton and Jay Halim show you how to conquer at competitions