Your Horse March Issue

Your Horse 370 march 2013

iN w over

ticKets to see moNty roBerts oN toUr! enjoy every jump!

£4500

mary King & Ben maher

of prizes

tell you how

Be a Better rider, get tHe Best from your Horse • TOTAL CONFIDENCE • MARTIN CLUNES • ESSENTIAL WINTER CARE • TOP JUMPING ADVICE • LUNGEING AIDS

esseNtial wiNter care

Be a first aid pro n survive icy weather n stop colic striking n secure his turnout n

marCH 2013 £3.80

3 simple

stretches will supple him up

Lungeing aids Choose the right one for your horse

clydesdales are my guilty pleasure!

Martin Clunes

real life

CE DENBrilliant!

ONFIand CBlind TOTAL

www.yourhorse.co.uk

How horses can still succeed without sight

TOTAL

CONFIDENCE

our experts help you:

ok Keep him focused on you n Handle every spo r shy behaviou n Hack a nervy horse n Banish bol

n

TOTAL

CONFIDENCE

Expert advice to help you become a braver rider, feel safe and enjoy every ride

Like Steph, you can feel safe and secure through every spooky moment, whatever your discipline

confidence skills for you and your horse this month

adjust your seat

help stop spooks

Get him listening

face up to spooking

Stop him bolting

teach him respect

Beat the spooks with confidence Down-to-earth dressage star Steph Croxford helps you feel confident and ready to ride through every spooky spell

L

ast month, Natural Horsewoman Emma Massingale helped you feel at one with your horse using unique ridden exercises.

So now you and your horse are working in harmony together, it’s time to learn how to feel confident to cope with any spooky moments that arise. Steph, your coach this month, has a wealth of knowledge and experience with spooky horses. After spending a lot of time on the floor thanks to her lovely but spooky horse, Clyde, she hopes to share some top tips to help you stay confident in these situations.

“I’ve had to have real confidence over the years on my spooky boys, and I know what it’s like to have your confidence knocked after a fall,” says Steph. “Whenever you’re faced with a spooky situation, you can’t let on to your horse that you feel nervous or tense, as this will only make him worse – confidence is key. I hope these tips and advice will help you feel much more confident in spooky situations.”

So get ready to develop your confidence to manage those spooks and feel ready for anything, whether you’re in the school, on a hack, or at a competition!

Before you start your ridden work UnderStand hiS SpookS

It’s important to realise why your horse spooks in the first place. Most horses don’t spook to deliberately get you off – more often than not, it’s their flight response kicking in and they do it because they’re scared, nervous or in pain. This means it’s even more important that we don’t get angry with him or become tense, as this will only make matters worse.

Maintain hiS MentaL State

The mental state of any horse is hugely important, so make sure he gets plenty of ‘down time’ out in the field with his pals, which will help keep him relaxed.

eMBrace SUperStition

If there’s anything that makes you feel more confident while riding, then do it. For example, if wearing a back protector or air jacket makes

you feel more secure, then wear it. I like to use my ‘Sit Tight’ spray to help me feel more secure and confident in the saddle. I spray it onto my jodhpurs to help stop slipping and increase my grip, while still allowing freedom of movement.

conSider a caLMer

If your horse is particularly spooky and highly strung and you’re considering trying him on a calmer, then winter is the ideal time to experiment with this. It’s not a complete cure for all things spooky, but it might just take the edge off his fresh ways, and it’s always best to try these things out while you’re not in the middle of competition season. If a calmer does work for you, it might just give your confidence an added boost, knowing that you have some of his mad ways under control.

OUR EXPERT Steph croxford has achieved some amazing things in dressage on her horses Mr President and Clyde. Clyde’s no stranger to the odd spook (or five!), so Steph is the perfect expert to help you solve and deal with your spooky woes.

coming up On pages 25 and 26, Your Horse favourite, Richard Maxwell, helps stamp out hacking nerves and Instinctive Horse Trainer Melanie Watson will help teach your horse to respect your space.

march 2013 your horse

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BETTER RIDING

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

your horse march 2013

page 38

Stretch him out

page 40

Beat rearing

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page 46

page 54

Try polo

Perfect partners

This month in Better Riding 32

Private lesson Finding your balance 38 stretch him out Four easy ways to do it 40 stoP him rearing Six steps to success 44 essential know-how

How to enjoy jumping learn from Polo High octane lessons 52 essential know-how Effective lungeing 54 Perfect Partners Tips from William Fox-Pitt 46

Private Lesson Top dressage coach Jane Bartle-Wilson helps you find your balance, develop an even contact and improve your hand position Words Larissa Chapman Photography Matthew Roberts meet the trainer

Jane BarTLe-WiLSon is a renowned dressage rider and trainer with an impressive career.

She competed at the 1984 Olympics and has trained numerous well-known riders.

Based at the Yorkshire Riding Centre, she holds dressage and eventing clinics in the UK and abroad.

For more info, visit www.yrc.co.uk

meet the rider

as the lesson starts, Susan struggles to hold Zonni together

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SuSan PearT has owned 16.3hh, eight-year-old KWPN mare, Zonni for six years. The pair are working at Medium level dressage at home and compete at Novice level. They also event and compete at BE90 level. They’re a confident partnership, but Zonni can feel unbalanced at times.

Grab your horse’s attention At 16.3hh, Zonni is quite a big, long horse and Susan tells me it’s taken her some time to really find her balance, which is quite common for a lot of bigger horses. I think the best way to tackle this problem is to first get Zonni working genuinely forwards and into the rein contact so she carries more weight behind, which will, in turn, enable her to lighten in her shoulders.

To get started Susan needs to get Zonni focused and listening to her aids so an effective warm up is really important. For a horse like Zonni, the best way to start the warm-up is by riding different schooling figures, such as diagonal lines and serpentines. Riding these figures will help you with your steering and get your horse listening to your aids as well as preventing him from anticipating where you’re going next.

Susan’s doing a really good job and now that Zonni seems to be more reactive off her leg, we can start to ask her to collect and connect. She looks like she’s ready to stretch down and find a contact so Susan needs to keep her hands a bit lower and allow Zonni to stretch down.

From here the foundations for a positive session are in place so for more help with balance and contact read on.

The lesson focus

To develop an even contact and ride forwards into the contact ● To improve Susan’s hand position ● To get Zonni to sit down on her quarters and lighten in her shoulders ● To establish and develop balance ●

Schooling figures quickly get Zonni working in a better outline

march 2013 your horse

6

ways to stop him rearing

It’s the number one rider frightener, but our experts are here to help you cope – and to train your horse out of the problem

Words Andrea Oakes OUR EXPERT

T

here are few things as frightening as a rear – especially a full-on, vertical stand-up. It can pose real danger to both horse and rider, yet the problem can be tricky to deal with as supposed ‘cures’

are often controversial and conflicting. Join us as we take a look at why horses rear, and find out how we as riders can find a way forwards if the habit takes hold, in our 6-step problem-busting guide.

Joanna Day BHSI is the author of The Fearless Horse, and specialises in helping riders produce horses who remain calm and confident in every situation.

Visit www. fearlesshorse. co.uk

Jonathan Parrott is a competitor and trainer with extensive experience backing and schooling youngsters for all disciplines.

Visit www.jrp equestrian services.co.uk

Melanie Watson uses a range of training techniques, from Western to Natural Horsemanship.

Find out more at www.instinctive horsetraining. co.uk

your horse must understand your aids to avoid frustration

1 ask yourself ‘why?’

“Horses rear because it works,” says trainer Joanna Day. “It’s a scream – and a very effective one, as it terrifies everyone including horse, rider and onlookers.

“Usually they rear in selfdefence, in response to a perceived threat,” she adds. “This could be a sparrow in a bush or going down to the start on a cross-country course. Often the horse is sore or unschooled, so check everything from his teeth to his back before addressing the basics of schooling.”

Trainer Jonathan Parrott feels rearing is usually down to one of two things – heavy-handed riding or too much by way of bitting. “For a very strong horse it’s often the next step, as he tries to escape from the pressure,” he explains. “A rider indirectly balancing through the reins and hanging onto the

your horse march 2013

horse’s mouth will block forward movement, leaving him nowhere to go but up. If you shut the front door, all that energy has to go somewhere – and if he can’t run he’ll have no other option.”

Rearing can be an escape plan – an effective way of getting out of an unpleasant situation. A chance discovery that this works can soon lead to an established habit, especially if your horse has a controlling nature and learns to rear as a test of dominance.

The problem can also arise from frustration or confusion, most commonly if the foundations of good schooling are not in place.

‘Napping’, where your horse refuses to move forwards at all – typically past an object he dislikes or out of the yard – can develop into rearing if the root cause is not tackled. w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

Cope with rearing

Better Riding

Positive riding and an effective schooling plan will train your horse out of rearing

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march 2013 your horse

YH writer Katy attempts to marry her riding skills with hitting a ball

your horse march 2013

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Learn from polo

Better Riding

The game of kings Think polo is all about high-octane thrills? You’d be right, but you may also be surprised at how much you can learn from this exciting sport, as YH writer Katy Islip discovered Photography Julian Portch/AEPC OUR EXPERT

SaraH WiSeman is polo manager at the All England Polo Club (AEPC) and is one of the UK’s foremost female polo players.

I

’ve never been any good at ball games so, although I’ve been riding ever since I can remember, the idea of combining horses and fast-moving spheres is enough to induce a feeling of mild panic. I was always the kid who got hit in the face by the netball – ducking and trying to stay in control of a horse seem incompatible aims to me.

Despite this, when offered the chance to try my hand at polo at Hickstead’s All England Polo Club (AEPC) I found myself saying yes ridiculously quickly. I’m the first to admit I’m not going to win

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any equitation classes any time soon, so the less regimented riding style required for polo immediately appealed, plus I’ll use any excuse to mount up and have a laugh!

My excitement was tempered with the fear I’d soon be hitting the deck, but I arrived for my session brimming with enthusiasm. Apart from anything else, I was really interested to see what it would be like trying to master a new set of riding skills, from one-handed rein control to weight distribution and hitting the ball.

Whenever I’ve watched polo I’ve always been astounded at the

sheer speed of play, with ponies and riders shooting here, there and everywhere, turning on a sixpence and niftily avoiding opponents, but thankfully the introductory session kept things a bit more sedate for us newcomers.

It was a great session. I came away with weary thighs and a sore arm, but I also gained much more awareness of many aspects of my riding, from my position and balance to my mental attitude.

Read on to find out more about polo and what it has to teach all of us riders – you may even end up wanting a go yourself!

march 2013 your horse

Becoming perfect partners Top eventer William Fox-Pitt offers his advice to help you forge an effective relationship with an unfamiliar horse

F

OUR EXPERT William Fox-Pitt is one of the world’s best eventers, and has clinched virtually every title. He holds the record for the most wins at Burghley Horse Trials (six).

Read his blog at www. petplanequine. co.uk/events/ williams-blog.asp

ew riders can get on a strange horse and instantly feel a connection. For the vast majority of us, a new horse spells a ‘getting to know one another’ phase as we work out each other’s quirks.

This is the case for Your Horse reader Cassie Fox, who was lucky enough to win a lesson with eventing champion William Fox-Pitt in a competition run by Petplan Equine. Her own horse was out of action due to injury, so her sister lent her striking Polish Warmblood, On the Grog (or Grog for short) for the occasion.

At 13, this talented all-rounder is a dab hand at dressage, show jumping and hunter trials, but as Cassie’s only ridden him a handful of times, their partnership’s yet to be established. Add to this a

four-hour journey to William’s Dorset-based yard, and it’s credit to Grog’s laid-back temperament that the sudden change of both scenery and rider doesn’t appear to faze him.

In a bid to give Cassie and Grog the best chance to relax before they head to the arena, William suggests a short hack before their lesson. This is routine for all William’s horses to give their muscles time to stretch and ensure they’re in the best mindset ahead of a training session.

Now with both horse and rider fit and ready for action, it’s time to head for the school for William’s expert advice on how to: ● Assess a new horse’s personality and quirks ● Learn to get the best out of him ● Fine-tune your tack and equipment for best results

OUR RidER Cassie Fox is a budding eventer who won a lesson with William in a competition run by leading equine insurance specialists Petplan Equine. Here, she’s riding On the Grog (or Grog for short), a 13-year-old Polish Warmblood.

after a hack, Grog and Cassie are ready to work

your horse march 2013

Cassie and Grog’s new relationship needs a little fine-tuning

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William Fox-Pitt

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Better Riding

march 2013 your horse

photo: Maria Slough

Martin with his horse, Chester

your horse march 2013

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The Big Interview

Martin Clunes

the much-loved actor and British horse Society president reveals his passion for horses and penchant for slightly stubborn Clydesdales Words larissa Chapman

M

ention the name Martin Clunes and most people will think of the hugely popular TV series Men Behaving Badly or Doc Martin – what may not spring to mind are the words ‘horse fanatic’. But with his Dorset-based home over-run with equines, including a herd of mini Shetlands, away from the cameras Martin’s a true horse lover, who loves nothing more than training his slightly errant Clydesdales.

We were keen to discover more about Martin’s equestrian exploits, but with a punishing schedule he’s a tough guy to pin down. Sitting at my desk, staring at the clock like a woman possessed as the minutes tick by to 2.30pm, I feel a sudden rush of excitement and a tinge of nerves. I’m due to receive a call from the man himself. There’s a buzz around the office as everyone awaits the call – my colleagues are keen for me to put their questions to him.

As time ticks on, I’m starting to worry it isn’t going to happen, then finally, the dulcet drone of the phone echoes around the office. It’s been in the pipeline for some time, but finally the day has come to quiz Martin on his life as an actor and horse lover.

Ever since The British Horse Society (BHS) made the surprise announcement back in June 2011 that it was appointing Martin as its President, we’ve been dying w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

to know how he developed his love for these magnificent creatures and how they’ve shaped his life so far. We are, of course, also going to find out if there’s a new series of Doc Martin on the horizon.

So read on to find out more!

Have you always had an interest in horses or did it come to you later in life?

I guess I have two different answers to that question. My earliest memories are from when I was just a nipper. My sister had riding lessons and I used to watch

‘Galloping round the mountains was such fun – until I fell off, that is’ her ride every weekend. I later had a few lessons myself when I was about eight, but not particularly regularly.

I came back to horses later in life while I was working in a theatre in North Wales. As is the case with most theatre productions, our performances were in the evenings, which left a lot of time for us to fill during the day. A couple of the actresses rode, so I used to go riding with them during the day. It mainly consisted of galloping around the Welsh mountains which was so much fun, well, until I fell off that is. I ended up coming off during

one of our rides. It was quite a big fall and I must admit it put me off for a while. I did ride again, but only ever in a controlled environment and I didn’t seek it out.

I’m now into horses mainly because of my wife, Philippa and daughter, Emily.

Emily is 13, but she’s been riding since she was two and as we live on a farm with more than enough room, we decided to get her a pony.

What horses do you have at home?

We have quite a few at the moment. A few years ago, one of my wife’s friends told me she’d found ‘the perfect horse for me’ if I wanted to buy one, and I replied with ‘thanks, but no thanks’. It wasn’t until I then took a job over in New Zealand and flew the whole family out there that I changed my mind about getting one. We decided to go on a family hack while we were out there and we enjoyed it so much that, before I’d even dismounted, I told my wife to call her friend and tell her I’d have the horse.

We now have quite a herd going on.

There’s my horse, Chester, our retired horse Bee and her daughter Alice, who is Emily’s horse. We have an RSPCA rescue horse called Connor and a herd of miniature Shetlands. We have another called Nito who is Emily’s wonder horse, we have a Lusitano called Ben, but he isn’t actually living with us just at the moment, and of course I have my two lovely young Clydesdales, Ronnie and march 2013 your horse

Teddy and Klyde need your help!

Horse Trust residents Teddy and Klyde desperately need new stables and with your help we’re on a mission to pay for them – have you donated yet?

A

month has passed since we launched our Horse Trust campaign - we hope you’re all busy planning how you can raise money for it (read about our plans next month)! We’re confident that together we can raise the £5000 needed to buy Teddy and Klyde their new stables.

What’s it all about?

The Horse Trust has been hard at work since 1886, and to this day its Home of Rest in Buckinghamshire continues to provide specialist retirement and respite for up to 100 horses, ponies and donkeys at a time. Inevitably, over the years time’s taken its toll on stables and buildings. Leaking roofs and rotten walls have been patched up to best effect, but temporary fixes are simply no longer sustainable or cost effective, leaving the charity in desperate need of help to fund an essential re-build. That’s where we come in. There are thousands of Your Horse readers out there and we on the Your Horse team are confident that together we could be a fundraising force to be reckoned with. So we’d love your help to raise enough money to build two of the stables the Trust so desperately needs – one for Teddy and one for Klyde. Let’s meet the boys who need your help.

Little Theodore, fondly known as Teddy, had a tough start in life when he was abandoned on a roadside in Buckinghamshire at just eight weeks old.

He was discovered starving and alone with no sign of his mum, extremely underweight and riddled with worms. The odds were against this little chap but with round-the-clock care from staff at The Horse Trust, Teddy won the hearts of everyone he met as he slowly recovered from his ordeal. He loves cuddles and whinnies whenever he hears footsteps near his stable. Now he’s happy and well but in need of a smart, dinky stable to suit his size and style so he can live his life as the happy chappy he’s shown he can be.

tEDDY

Donate at: www.horsetru

£1 will do but if you’re feeling generous please dig deep

your horse february 2013

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Helping The Horse Trust

Affectionately known as ‘Klydascope’ or ‘Stranton’, Klyde came to The Horse Trust in July 2012 from the Cleveland Police Mounted Section. At 19hh he was thought to be the largest police horse in the country and is now the largest member of The Horse Trust herd! In his policing days he was ridden at hundreds of football matches, led numerous parades and even appeared on the TV programme ‘Flog It’ where the host was allowed to ride him! Now Klyde is bursting out of his current stable and needs a new one that’s big enough to keep him in comfort!

We need to fill this carrot!

KlYDE

£5,000 £4,500 £4,000

PHoToS: © JuLIe BAdrICK, INTerNATIoNAL equeSTrIAN SPorTS MedIA

£3,500 £3,000 £2,500 £2,000 £1,500 £1,000 £500

ust.org.uk/teddyandklyde

p – each month we’ll show you how much we’ve raised w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

february 2013 your horse

Reach for the stars!

Planning ahead is the key to making this the year you achieve your riding goals – follow our top tips to find success in 2013 words Katy Islip

A

OUR EXPERT Charlie Unwin is a performance psychology coach who works with athletes including top flight riders. He runs regular rider workshops – visit www.performance legacy.com/ equestrian for more information.

little ambition goes a long way, but to make your dreams come true you need to set yourself goals that will help bring you success.

To help you do just this, we’ve asked performance coach Charlie Unwin for his advice. Plus, to inspire you, we tell you what the YH team’s ambitions are for the next 12 months – find out how we get on in Our Horses every month – and we also look back at some of your 2012 achievements.

why goals are important

It’s all very well trundling through life dreaming of riding a footperfect dressage test or galloping

make this the year you achieve your goals and enjoy every single bit of your riding

down the beach, but you need to do more than imagine it if your dreams are to become reality.

Setting goals, then working out what you need to do to achieve them, will help you bring your dreams to life, as well as measure and recognise your success.

When it comes to setting future goals, Charlie says the past is a good place to start. “I get people to recognise when they’ve previously set really effective goals which have brought results. Everyone has things they’ve achieved, whether in their riding, work or education, and it’s good to reflect on this as a starting point.

“Think about what made you stick to those goals and how you

Achieve your goals

Horses surviving sight loss

Blind faith With the loss of sight comes great fear and confusion, but these heart-warming stories prove horses are incredibly adaptable and can cope with blindness amazingly well Words Katy Islip Photography Simon Hipperson

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or a prey animal like the horse, the loss of any of the senses, but perhaps particularly sight, can leave them feeling hugely vulnerable. However, it’s possible for horses to successfully adapt to both gradual and sudden blindness. Much depends on the individual temperament and the circumstances, but with time,

care and patience, many blind and partially-sighted horses can live happy and active lives.

We’ve delved into the inspiring world of equine blindness to bring you these stories of horses who have successfully made the transition.

From a completely blind former film and stunt horse who still happily hacks

out and performs in demonstrations, to two classically-trained stallions who continue their work and three ‘regular’ riding horses still out there enjoying themselves, these tales show there’s life after darkness falls.

Turn the page to read about these amazing equines – be warned, you may need a tissue handy!

Film horse Diablo has adapted to blindness thanks to his bond with owner Dylan

WIN

Competition

One reader will win prizes, including a course walk with Tina Cook, worth over £1,000

Tina Cook with Miners Frolic

Kit your horse out with a new rug like Tina’s

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our Horse has teamed up with Jumper’s Horse Line (JHL) to offer one lucky reader the chance to be taken on a course walk at Badminton Horse Trials with top eventer Tina Cook.

A member of the Silver medal winning team at London 2012 and former European Champion, Tina is one of our most popular and well established event riders. One lucky winner and a friend will get one day tickets to Badminton where they’ll meet Tina and join her to walk the course at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2013*. This is an amazing opportunity to see these awesome fences first hand and hear how Tina will tackle them.

In addition, while at Badminton Horse Trials, our winner will be expertly fitted for a Gatehouse riding hat of their choice worth up

collection includes rugs for all seasons, as well as leather and webbing tack and accessories.

The Gatehouse range offers riding helmets to suit every discipline, including the famous HS1 Jockey Skull as worn by Tina and many of her fellow event riders. The HS1 is approved to Snell E2001; the highest riding helmet safety standard currently in manufacture.

Designed to be lightweight, flexible and breathable to maximise comfort, the Rodney Powell Elite X2ESP Body Protector is manufactured in heat responsive foam and offers enhanced protection over the spinal area over and above that required in testing.

Four runners up will receive a JHL bridle worth £70 and a leather headcollar worth £36 for their horse.

Get a new JHL bridle for ● For more product information, your horse visit www.wefi.co.uk

to £145, as well as a Rodney Powell body protector worth up to £150. On top of this, their horse will be kitted out in JHL rugs to the value of £150, a JHL bridle worth £70 and a JHL headcollar worth £36.

JHL has been producing quality horsewear at great prices for more than 15 years so you can be confident that your horse will be kitted out in style. The JHL

To enter visit www.yourhorse.co.uk/win and answer this question At what event did Tina receive her team Silver medal?

a. Badminton b. Burghley c. The Olympics Closing date 21 February 2013 Terms and conditions *Entry tickets will be for one of the dressage days – Friday 3 May or Saturday 4 May – as determined by Tina Cook (according to her dressage times).

Transport costs and grandstand seating not included. For full t&c visit www.yourhorse.co.uk/win w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

march 2013 your horse

Make horses pay!

Time to re-train?

Are you stuck in a job rut? Would you rather be working with horses?

Don’t despair, it’s never too late to change, as the readers here prove Words Carolyn Henderson

Dreaming of being a vet – you could make that dream come true

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t’s never too late to learn.

That’s the message from the many colleges and universities offering equine, animal health and even veterinary science courses.

“There are always roads back to education,” says Jane Hart, higher education equine and animal admissions officer at Writtle College in Essex.

“I’m a good example. I worked with horses for many years, and when I was 35 someone suggested I did a degree course. I thought this

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was ridiculous and that I was far too old (and what would I do with my daughter?). But I came to Writtle, though I could barely switch on a computer, and came out the other side, and I’m still here!”

There’s a huge range of courses open to mature students, from short or part-time ones to full-time degrees. Some have strict academic entrance requirements, though if your school exam grades aren’t good enough there are mainstream courses to get you to the starting gate. Other courses require no more

than the desire to learn and the commitment to work.

So what are you waiting for? Over the next few pages we’ll explain how to kick-start your learning goals, make the switch back into full- or part-time education, juggle family life and potentially stretched finances – and achieve the equestrian qualifications or lifestyle change you’ve always dreamed of. So be inspired by the stories of our readers who have already achieved their lifetime’s ambition – to work with horses!

Mature student?

A mature student is 21 or over.

Different colleges have their own standard entry requirements for courses. However, most will consider mature students on an individual basis, so it’s worth asking however good or bad your qualifications .

march 2013 your horse

Expert advice on buying wisely

� BUYERS

GUIDE

your horse march 2013

page 94

New feed

page 102

Top fleeces

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page 106

Audio training

page 108

The right girth

This month in Buyers’ Guide 88 Lungeing aids Find out which is the best one for your horse 94 first Look An innovative new feed 98 HigH-tecH HeaLing Drug-free faster recovery

102 our pick of tHe fLeeces Which ones are the YH team recommending to you?

106 audio training An instructor in your ear 108 buying a girtH Our guide to getting it right

Better lungeing The right lungeing aids will improve your horse’s overall way of going. We look at five to help you pick the right one

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hether you’re in the market for a set of side reins or a chambon, the most important point to remember when using a new lungeing aid is to introduce it gradually, starting off with it quite loose until you know your horse is happy. Remember that a training aid may ask your horse to use muscles he’s not worked for some time. This

side reins WhAT Are They?

These are probably the most commonly used lungeing aid and are usually made from leather or webbing. They attach to your girth or roller, run along each side of your horse and fasten to the bit rings.

There are three main types: 1. Complete leather or webbing – these have no give and some horses may set themselves against them.

2. Leather with a rubber ring insert (donut) – these have some give in them but tend to be less forgiving than an elastic insert.

3. Leather or webbing with an elastic insert – probably the most popular choice, they allow some give which some think most closely mimics the rider’s contact.

hoW do They Work?

Side reins work by encouraging your horse to work into a contact, but shouldn’t restrict or fix him into an outline. If he raises his head beyond a desired point, the side reins put pressure on the bit.

This acts on the bars and the corners of his mouth, encouraging him to lower his head when the pressure is released. As with any of these lungeing aids, to work correctly your horse needs to be working forwards into the contact – without this, muscle development won’t happen.

FiTTiNg Advice

side reins encourage your horse to work into the contact

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Side reins should be adjusted so that both are equal length. Where you attach them is open for debate but it’s important not to position them too low as this can

means he’ll tire easily, so only lunge for short periods with frequent breaks.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that any lungeing aid will only work effectively if your technique is up to scratch – it’s important to keep your horse moving forwards on the lunge. If you’re inexperienced, ask someone more knowledgeable to help you and show you how to do it effectively.

encourage your horse to go over bent and fall onto his forehand. Side reins are there to mimic the contact you’d have if you were riding, so some like to attach them quite high on the girth straps where they’re in a similar position to where your hands would be.

An easy way of getting the correct length is to adjust them so the clip reaches the bars of the bit, before attaching them to the bit rings. When your horse is working forwards into the contact they should be the right length.

It’s always best to start with the reins too long and shorten them if you need to.

The BeNeFiTs

Helps establish a consistent contact Develops topline muscle ● Improves suppleness through his back ● Encourages a consistent, steady outline ● ●

commoN proBlems

For side reins to work correctly they need to be adjusted to the correct length – if they’re too long, your horse won’t have a contact to work into which may cause him to become long and hollow – he won’t work through his back so his topline and suppleness will show little improvement.

Too short and they’ll force him into an incorrect, over-bent outline with a tight neck and tense back which may result in him becoming reluctant to go forward.

Available from Your local tack shop or search online march 2013 your horse

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We recommend

Buyers’ Guide

Fab fleeces

It’s getting chilly outside so Buyers’ Guide editor Allison Lowther and the Your Horse team have been testing new fleeces for fit, style and value

How we picked our favourites I’m a sucker for a good fleece. I admit I have quite a collection but for me they’re the ultimate in comfort clothing. They’re versatile – you can wear them on their own on warmer days, or use them to layer up as it gets colder. They’re getting much more stylish and fashionable every year, making them the must-have item for the yard or at home.

I gathered the YH team together with the objective of picking our favourite fleeces – the ones we’d recommend to you this winter. We looked at 14 different fleeces in detail, taking into account the style, fit, and price of each.

We all noted down our initial thoughts then we each picked our favourite two fleeces. It came as no surprise that the

Ariat’s Kemi Microfleece Zip Jacket £39.99 ★★★

B e st f or

style

YH team saYs

This is a goodlooking, lightweight fleece and we liked the full zip. The shirred collar and sides make this look different from the others we looked at and they also give it a nice shape and style. The sleeve length isn’t overly generous but the overall fit is good. We feel it’s one to put layers on top of rather than underneath as it’s designed

to be close fitting. It feels nice to wear and isn’t restrictive for yard work and riding. This type of fleece is great for schooling in – it’s easy to remove if you get too hot. We also like the zip pulls which are a smart detail.

same fleeces were picked by several team members.

Finally, after several hours, some raised voices and strong opinions, we managed to narrow it down to our favourite eight.

Here are those eight, and why we picked them – we hope you agree with our choice.

Mountain Horse Belmont Cozy Fleece £56.95 ★★ ★

B e st f or

YH team saYs

This fleece is so soft – it feels gorgeous and most of us couldn’t stop touching it! It fits nicely and is super cosy – we all feel this one would be a popular choice for those rare lazy days at home when you just want to lounge around in comfort clothing.

It’s nicely shaped and is cut slightly longer at the back so it keeps your lower back well covered. It has a slightly longer zip than

comfort

some of the other ¾ style fleeces, making it easier to put on and off.

This is one of the more expensive fleeces but we feel it’s worth it.

ariat saYs

Lightweight easy-care microfleece ●● Full length zip ●● Shirred collar and side panels

mountain Horse saYs

●●

The shirred side panels give this fleece a stylish look

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Colours Sapphire, grenadine Sizes XS to XXL Contact 0845 600 3209 or www.ariat-europe.com

Super soft snuggly teddy fleece ●● Long zip ●● Internal wind flap ●●

A longer zip make this fleece easier to put on and take off

Colours Classic brown, dark navy, snow white Sizes XS to XXL Contact 01462 432596 or www.mountainhorse.co.uk march 2013 your horse

your horse march 2013

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Buying a girth

Buyers’ Guide

The right girth Our guide to choosing and fitting a girth will ensure you get the right style, size and materials to suit your horse

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ou might think that simply buying the right size of girth is all you need to consider when you’re in the market for a new one – after all, its job is pretty simple, namely to help keep your saddle securely in place. But the latest research has

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shown that the way your girth is cut, and the material it’s made of, can help or even hinder your horse’s way of going, as well as his performance. Luckily, we’re on hand to help guide you through the girth buying maze, with the latest news, advice and products to help you choose wisely.

march 2013 your horse

HORSE CARE

Keep your horse healthy and happy page 124

Beat colic

page 130

Field security

A good first aid kit is a must for all owners

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page 132

page 138

Head shy horses

Bad habits

This month in Horse Care 116 First aid tips Basic advice to help you cope with common problems 122 EssEntial know-how Coping with icy ground 124 how to avoid colic Keep your horse healthy

130 EssEntial know-how Keep your paddock secure 132 hEad shy horsEs Top tips to help you deal with this problem 138 EssEntial know-how How to beat ‘bad’ habits

Equine first aid Knowing some basic medical care will enable you to assess and deal with common problems – read on for our expert advice Words Katy Islip illustrations Patrick Latham

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orses are generally pretty hardy creatures, but when injury or illness strikes you need to know you’re doing the right thing, at the right time, to give him the best chance of recovery. By being prepared, brushing up your first aid skills and learning what’s

normal for your horse, you’ll be better able to cope in an emergency. We’ve enlisted expert vet Dr Debbie Archer to help you be prepared and know when you need to call out the vet, as well as how to deal with some common equine health issues, so you can feel confident caring for your horse.

Working out what’s normal

If you know what’s normal for your horse, it’ll help you spot health problems earlier. Ideally, you should be checking your horse morning and night, taking off his rug and giving him a quick all-over inspection. Getting into a routine will help you with this – the first thing to do is make sure he looks and is behaving normally, with no signs of lameness. See if he’s done the usual amount of droppings and has eaten his feed, then move on to his once-over.

Starting with his head, check his eyes, nose and mouth for any discharges or signs of blood, then look down his neck, back, sides and the inside of the top of his legs, checking for any swellings or cuts.

Finally, feel down each leg and look for cuts or dried blood, then pick out his feet. If you think he’s a little off-colour, checking whether his temperature, pulse and respiration rates are normal can be useful – if you’re not sure how to do this your vet can show you.

oUr EXpErt Dr DEBBiE ArcHEr is senior lecturer in equine soft tissue surgery at the University of Liverpool’s equine hospital. She’s a keen rider with nine years’ experience as a treating vet at three-day events, a role she also filled at the London Olympics. Her book First Aid for Horses is on sale now - find out more at www. vetinfomadeeasy. net

Knowing your horse well will help you monitor his health

what’s normal For yoUr horsE Temperature: 37.5-38.5˚c Pulse (at rest): 28-44 beats per minute Breathing rate (at rest): 8-14 breaths per minute

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march 2013 your horse

Sharp changes in weather and routine can result in colic

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Vet advice

Horse Care

Stop colic striking this winter Take action now to ensure your horse avoids colic this winter. Follow our expert advice to help guarantee your horse stays healthy all season long

ouR eXPeRt

Words Andrea Oakes

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olic can be a worry at any time of year, but winter brings more than its fair share of equine tummy troubles. Cold, wet weather often means extra time indoors, and the added dietary disruption can result in a recipe for digestive disaster. From mild, gassy rumblings to full-blown intestinal blockages, colic comes in many forms, the most complicated of which require surgery and can prove fatal.

Thankfully, simple preventative measures can reduce the risk of winter colic, and vet Becky Lees is here to tell you more about its causes, common symptoms and how to keep belly ache at bay.

So read on to discover: l Why winter is a danger time l Possible causes of colic – and how to help prevent them l How to spot the signs l What to do if your horse suffers a bout of colic l Steps to ensure your horse’s gut stays healthy all season

Becky LeeS is a vet based at the Scarsdale Veterinary Practice in Derbyshire, which is part of the XL Vets group.

Becky has a particular interest in internal medicine and equine geriatrics and, when she’s not working, she enjoys competing in affiliated dressage with her Hanoverian gelding Markie.

extra time indoors can disrupt your horse’s feeding regime

Why danger lurks Sudden drops in temperature, mud-laden paddocks and icy conditions all have an impact on our horses’ day-to-day lives, and it’s this potential chopping and changing of routine, especially when it comes to feeding, that poses the biggest risk to horses prone to colic. “We know that sudden alterations in diet contribute to colic risk,” Becky explains. “Changing the type of concentrate or even the batch of hay or haylage you’re feeding over the winter months can trigger digestive troubles. A diet that’s high in concentrates can also be problematic, so always feed according to the amount of exercise your horse is getting and

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aim for a high-fibre, low starch diet that best suits the equine gut.

“Feeding plenty of hay or haylage will help keep his gut moving and also alleviate any boredom – just be careful that your horse isn’t eating his bedding, too,” adds Becky.

“Something inedible such as shavings can be preferable to straw if he’s prone to stuffing himself.”

Becky also urges extra caution if flooded or frozen fields are making winter turnout tricky.

“Horses who have no pasture time or have recently had their grazing reduced are at an increased risk of colic, mainly due to a lack of moisture in the diet,” she explains.

“To help combat this, try to find some daily turnout, even if it’s only for a few hours, and be sure to monitor how much your horse is drinking, especially while he’s stabled. Reduced water intake increases the likelihood of all colics, especially impaction colic.”

If you’re making winter management changes that might upset your horse’s digestive system, Becky recommends adding probiotics to your horse’s feed to help keep a sensitive tummy settled.

Look for probiotic feed supplements containing sacchromyces cerevisiae (commonly called Yea-Sacc1026), an ingredient that aids digestion.

It’s Cold outsIde! Frosty grass or snow can be a shock to the system, but can freezing weather actually cause colic? “The biggest danger is not the cold weather itself but the changes in management that tend to accompany it,” says Becky.

“Some horses can be sensitive to frosty grass, which may cause gassy colic. Lack of water is a real issue, along with the sudden and dramatic changes in diet and exercise.”

march 2013 your horse

Help a head shy horse Our behaviour experts will help you understand the psyche of your head-shy horse, and work to overcome the problem Words Larissa Chapman OUR EXPERTs

MicHael Peace is a specialist trainer who works with young and problem horses at all levels and from all disciplines. His Think Equus philosophy is for people who want to improve their horsemanship and maximise their relationship with their horse. Visit www.thinkequus. com Michael is in the Your Horse Hot Seat this month – read what he has to say on page 146

SaraH HallSWortH works at Redwings Horse Sanctuary, where she helps change the lives of horses and ponies who’ve had a rough start in life. Sarah’s seen her fair share of head shy horses over the years and knows what special care and attention they need. Visit www. redwings.org.uk

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f your horse is head shy, even the simplest tasks can be a chore, from grooming to tacking up, to putting on a headcollar or even a simple cuddle.

But for most head-shy horses, there’s a very good reason why they don’t like this area to be handled, and it’s up to us to win

back their trust and help them overcome their issues.

Top horse trainer Michael Peace and Redwings Horse Sanctuary centre manager Sarah Hallsworth are here to help you unravel the reasons behind this behaviour, and give you tips on how you can regain your horse’s trust.

WHy iS He Head SHy?

handling and have a higher tolerance level than older horses, but if they’re pushed too far and the fear instinct is set, it’s very hard to reverse this.”

“A lot of the horses I meet are often head shy because they’ve suffered ill treatment,” adds Sarah, who faces many head-shy issues as Redwings’ centre manager. “Many of the horses we see have had their ears or noses twitched, some may have been smacked around the head and others may have had their ears cut for identification when they roamed the moors.

“Unfortunately for some horses, these issues can’t be fixed because the fear instinct is too deep routed.

For these horses, once they’ve learnt and practised this fear instinct, it’s instilled in them forever and trying to get it out of them is difficult. However, for less extreme cases, there are some tips and tricks that can help to win their trust.”

“Before you can start to win your horse’s trust and help him overcome this problem, it’s important to work out why he’s head shy in the first place,” explains Michael Peace. “In my experience, most head-shy horses have suffered some sort of rough handling in the past, and it’s usually a psychological problem for them. In most of these cases, it’s possible to work with him to win back his trust, but it takes time.

“If a head-shy horse has sustained an injury to his head or has issues with his sight, or ears (such as ear mites), then the best course of action is to seek advice from your vet to investigate these problems further. However, in my experience, the majority of cases are down to rough handling and mistreatment as opposed to medical issues.

“Younger horses are likely to be a little more forgiving of rough

it takes time to win a horse’s trust

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Head-shy horses

Horse Care

calm, sympathetic handling goes a long way to alleviating his fears

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march 2013 your horse

Next month in

On sale 21 Feb

In Better Riding

If your horse is on the chunkier side find out how you can give him some lift with jumping advice from trainer Matt Lanni. And, fitness expert Jon Pitts helps you get fit in the saddle!

In Horse Care

Read our guide to your horse’s muscles, find out about the latest grass sickness research and learn how you can protect your horse from this terrible disease

In Buyers’ Guide

We help you pick the right showing jacket for your shape, give you tips to save money in 2013, see which gilets and waistcoats we think you should buy plus more!

Big iiouer exw teeet berhv iWn pert av m e t to find ou Jason Webb his life more about and horses

CONFIDENCE TOTAL

In month four Richard Maxwell gives you essential techniques to try on the ground and when riding to help you conquer your confidence worries!