Your Horse April Issue

carl heSter

on improving your horSe’S S outline

Jason Webb

talks problem horses and his fear of jodhpurs!

aPriL 2013 issue 371

Be a Better rider, get the Best est from your horse

Stop him stressing the hands-on method guaranteed to calm

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Beat in ury

expert advice for a speedy recovery

ToTAl ConfidenCe

hack a nervy youngster n Conquer canter demons n mount without fear n

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TOTAL

CONFIDENCE

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

Richard moves Cody back and forward using pressure on his rope – a simple way to work on trust

your horse APRIL 2013

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Confidence skills for you and your horse this month

Beat his demons

Mount with confidence

Crack canter transitions

Breath to help you relax

Conquer hacking fears

Try groundwork

Be confident from the start

Learn to love every second with your horse with help from equine behaviourist and Your Horse favourite Richard Maxwell

A

s our journey to Total Confidence continues, it’s time to deal with those potential rider frighteners that often hide at the ‘easy’ end of the horse riding scale.

Take mounting for example.

Simple, right? Well you’d be wrong, it can be anything but simple if a spooky, fidgety horse sends your

nerves into frayed mode before you’ve even hit the saddle.

Luckily we’ve got the very best expert to help in the shape of equine behaviourist Richard Maxwell. Read on for his advice on coping with a variety of issues, from problems mounting to overcoming nerves once you’re on board – particularly in canter.

Before you hit the saddle

It’s important to know we have the full trust and control of our horses to build our confidence. Asking your horse to back up, come forward and move left and right from the ground is a great exercise to get him listening to you and to realise that giving in to what you want is a comfort to him.

For some of the exercises today, I’m working with Vashti MacDonaldClink and her horse Cody. Although Cody is well behaved, experiences with other horses have left Vashti scared to mount.

Start the exercise by using a pressure halter and rope over your horse’s bridle to give more control.

Eventually you should be able to do it without the halter and with your horse in his regular tack.

Like many horses, even very well-behaved ones, Cody initially fights against being moved around.

I’m going to continue to move him until he realises it’s more comfortable to do as he’s asked.

I want him to back up and come forward in a nice straight line and with a positive attitude.

He slowly realises what I want from him and understands that he w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

isn’t being punished, I’m simply getting him switched on and emotionally calmer. You’ll feel much more confident mounting when you know your horse’s is relaxed and listening – look for him lowering his head and sighing.

Once Cody is comfortable coming backwards and forwards, I want to try to move him left and right. Start by swinging the rope near his sides to get him to move. You should eventually be able to hover your hand over his sides to guide him in the direction you want him to go.

Repeat this exercise until your horse is calm and relaxed.

OUR EXPERT Richard Maxwell is a renowned horse behaviourist who describes his methods of treating equine behavioural problems as ‘practical horsemanship.’

He’s worked with thousands of troubled horses, helping them and their owners to overcome their problems. For more information visit www.richardmaxwell.com

Cody battles against Richard at first

APRIL 2013 your horse

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BETTER RIDING

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

your horse april 2013

page 38

Better outline

page 40

Get fitter

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page 44

page 48

add wow!

aim for lift off

This month in Better Riding 30 Private Lesson Stop him rushing his fences and find his balance and control 38 essentiaL know-how Carl Hester’s 3 easy ways to improve his outline

40 fit to ride Simple exercises to get you fitter and more confident 46 essentiaL know-how Add wow to his walk 48 getting Lift off Heavier horses can jump too!

Private Lesson Event rider Simon Grieve helps you handle a horse who rushes at fences, and shows how to develop his balance and control

Words Larissa Chapman Photography Matthew Roberts Circle work helps to get Gilbert warmed up and ready for the lesson

Meet the trainer Simon Grieve is a Leicestershirebased eventer who has built an excellent reputation as an event jockey and has a solid team of horses competing at BE90 to CCI****.

For more information, visit www.simongrieve. com

Get him on the ball Meet the rider

Like many horses Gilbert has a habit of going up a gear (or two!) when he knows jumping’s on the cards

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YoYo Farmer-DaY and her six-yearold horse Gilbert are a fairly new partnership who got together in September last year. They’ve been hunting and Yoyo wants event this season, but Gilbert needs a little help to develop his canter, improve his balance and stop rushing at fences.

If, like Yoyo, you find your horse is a little forward going and overenthusiastic when jumping, it’s important to start off your session with a really focused warm up.

Make the most of the space you have to ensure that he’s listening and on your aids. The arena that Yoyo and Gilbert are using today

is quite large, so Yoyo can use the space to put in plenty of circles and schooling figures, which will help.

Transitions are also useful to get your horse listening to your aids. If you don’t get as quick a reaction as you might like, give him a tap with your whip or a nudge with your legs to remind him just who’s in charge.

The lesson focus

● To establish a nice, rhythmical canter around a course of jumps ● To stop Gilbert rushing at fences ● To help both Gilbert and Yoyo remain in balance ● To build up a trusting partnership

april 2013 your horse

You, your horse and a gym ball – all you need to get fit to ride

your horse april 2013

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Boost your performance

Get fit to ride

Better Riding

We all want to be better, more confident, safer riders – here’s how a video camera, some simple exercises, a gym ball and a dash of honest self-assessment can help you get there Words Katy Islip Pictures Matthew Roberts

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OUR EXPERT joN Pitts is a human performance consultant with a background in neuroscience – how the brain works. He was part of Team GB’s World Class Performance Programme for the Beijing Olympics and now works with the Australian equestrian team.

Read more at www.fittoride.org

nyone who rides knows how physically demanding our sport is for both horse and human, but it’s only in recent years that performance assessment has come into its own and enabled many riders to really fine-tune their riding.

Fortunately for us, this level of support isn’t just restricted to

top-flight riders – thanks to modern technology, it’s now more accessible than ever, helping riders to become more effective in the saddle all the time.

Our expert Jon Pitts has spent years assessing the best in the business, and has developed a unique programme, called Fit to Ride, which helps riders of all levels understand how they influence

their horse both consciously and subconsciously, and gives them the mental and physical tools to improve so they can be better, more confident and safer riders. We’ve enlisted his help to show you how, with a few simple exercises and a bit of self-awareness, you too can be a more effective rider and help your horse perform at his best. Go on, why not get fit to ride?

1 How your body and brain react We all know that riding horses carries an innate risk element, but have you ever stopped to think about how this knowledge affects your riding? Jon says: “Riding is dangerous and pushes our bodies to the limit - it’s a physically

A camera will show exactly how you’re riding

difficult thing to do. Because of the danger, our brains can lie to us, so what you feel is happening isn’t what’s actually going on.

“For example, you may feel you’re sitting up straight, but your brain could have tipped you slightly forward so you can use your horse’s neck to balance in an emergency. The difference between the two – what you think is happening and what’s actually happening – is what’s called a perception gap, and it occurs because your brain is designed to keep you safe.”

Because it’s your subconscious mind that’s taking over, catching yourself making these changes is very difficult, which is where technology comes in. Through the use of video assessment and tools such as saddle pressure systems, which map how a rider’s weight is distributed, it’s possible to see where an individual’s natural imbalances fall. This in turn allows the rider to do a conscious reprogramming of the body and mind which enables more effective (and safer) riding.

Jon says: “Using video helps break down the perception gap

Review your footage honestly

so riders can see what’s happening and understand why. Then we do ridden work that allows them to atually feel what’s happening and to understand the difference. This then enables them to have a far greater conscious awareness of how their body changes and how their horse responds.

“To support this, we also use unmounted exercises that help riders explore and improve their own body balance, so they can become better, more confident and safer riders.”

Assess yourself on video To see what’s happening when you ride, place your video camera at the end of the centre line, or rope in a friend to film you on a mobile phone. If you’re not working in an arena, just plot yourself a centre line running towards the camera

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and stick to it.

“Working on the centre line means anything that’s out of kilter becomes obvious very quickly,” explains Jon. “Riding towards the camera gives as accurate a picture as you can get.”

april 2013 your horse

your horse april 2013

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Get him jumping

Better Riding

Achieve lift off!

If your horse is a chunky monkey, don’t let this put you off starting his jumping education – use our expert tips from show jumper Matthew Lanni to get him off the ground in style

Words Katy Islip Photography Martyn Barnwell

I

OUR EXPERT MAttheW LAnni is a former senior British Nations Cup team member and is one of the original trainers who developed British Show Jumping’s accredited trainer scheme. Alongside his coaching training, Matthew teaches riders at all levels. For more information, visit www.halefield stud.com

ntroducing a young or inexperienced horse to jumping requires patience and confidence, but if he’s also a little on the heavier side you may find you need some extra oomph to help him with those first few fences.

We’ve recruited expert show jumper Matthew Lanni to help you introduce your horse to jumping the right way, using YH reader Emma Howat’s young horse as a great example. Whether your horse is a chunky monkey or a skinny minny, you’ll find Matthew’s advice will stand you in good stead.

With young or inexperienced horses, the key to successful training sessions is to keep them

short and not attempt too much at once. “If it’s all new to him, you have to be mindful of the amount you ask of your horse each time, as you don’t want to put him off.

When you’re starting out, don’t expect too much and don’t rush anything,” says Matthew.

The point at which your horse is ready to start learning to jump will depend on his individual development, but there are a few boxes you need to tick first.

“Before you even think about starting jumping, assess where your horse is in his basic paces (walk, trot and canter) and make sure he’s well established in each.

The more responsive he is on the flat the better,” says Matthew.

At four Missy is still far from physically mature

OUR RidER eMMA hoWAt brought her four-year-old 16.1hh Irish Draught x Percheron mare Missy along for our session with Matthew, as she wants to make sure she’s getting everything right as she starts Missy’s jumping career.

if your horse is chunky, like Missy, developing his jump might take longer than an average horse

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training heavier horses

Teaching a heavier horse to jump isn’t any more difficult than starting any youngster over fences, but there are certain things you’ll need to bear in mind. “Heavier and bigger horses take longer to develop and learn so you just have to be more patient and take more time with them,” says Matthew.

“Larger horses will also get tired more quickly, so keep sessions short and focused. Remember it will take longer for them to get fitter. As long as you bear these things in mind, you’ll get there in the end.”

You’re also better off working

in trot rather than canter when introducing your chunky youngster to jumps. Matthew explains: “It takes time for a larger or heavier horse to develop his balance, and it will take a lot longer for him to do this in canter. You’re aiming to educate your horse over fences, but why make it harder by also trying to educate him in canter over fences? If you use trot, when he’s ready to canter over fences he’ll already know what he’s doing, which will help you both. Trot makes things easier and calmer, so he can take everything in and learn.”

april 2013 your horse

Jason Webb

Our favourite Oz horseman talks about what brought him to the UK (well it wasn’t the weather) and why he plans to face his biggest fear – jodhpurs!

Words Larissa Chapman Photography Matthew Roberts

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t’s a decidedly dull and dismal day as we pull up at Jason’s Kent based yard, a far cry from the skies of Australia where our interviewee first laid down his equestrian roots, but our mood soon brightens as Jason’s lovely wife, Penny greets us at the gate with a plate full of cakes and doughnuts. Jason heads up from the school while his staff busy themselves around the yard and we settle down for a chat.

The outback Aussie and YH favourite took a punt on love and the UK when he moved over here in 2002. Since then his charming smile and laid-back demeanour, as well as the innate natural relationship he has with his horses, has won us over and his training business has gone from strength to strength.

With a background in pre-training homebred racehorses and huge success in polocrosse, Jason has combined his knowledge, skills, raw passion and commitment to the job and brought them together in his Australian Horsemanship business. He trains many young and problem horses and helps them and their owners to forge a better, safer relationship.

Move aside Jason Donovan, we’ve got Jason Webb. We quizzed OUR favourite dashing Aussie on everything from riding and his career, to his favourite meal and his guilty pleasures, so sit back and enjoy!

WATCH OUR EXCLUSIVE VIDEO Head to www.yourhorse.co.uk/jasonwebb for a tour of Jason’s yard, to meet some of his horses and to see him answer our quick-fire questions!

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The Big Interview

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april 2013 your horse

your horse april 2013

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Protecting our horses

Watching over them The West Yorkshire Police HorseWatch scheme works tirelessly to protect the county’s equines. We went behind the scenes to see first-hand the inspiring work they do Words Larissa Chapman

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f, like me, you’ve never really been sure what HorseWatch does, let’s first clear up a few things. Many people think it’s just an equine version of ‘Neighbourhood Watch’, the voluntary organisation that encourages people to keep an eye out for problems in their own area. But as HorseWatch liaison officer Julie Hansord explained, there’s much more than that to HorseWatch.

I visited Julie at her base at Bradford police station where she told me: “Horses have the right to live a life free from, hunger, thirst, discomfort, pain and injury. With rehoming centres at crisis point, HorseWatch schemes work very hard to keep relationships with local horse owners positive and to improve the safety and welfare of horses all over the UK. “They’re designed to provide a way of connecting members of the equestrian community, improving security, safety and communication and to reduce rural and equine crime with members talking about issues and their concerns in the local area.”

With the support of regional police forces, HorseWatch schemes across the UK are run by a delegated coordinator who is backed up by willing volunteers from the equine community – people like you and me. Turn the page to find out what HorseWatch does for our horses on a daily basis.

Get involved HorseWatch liaison officer Julie works closely with RSPCA officers to protect horses

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To find out more about HorseWatch and to see if there’s a group in your area, visit www.ukHorseWatch.org.uk This is the website for the UK HorseWatch Alliance and has links through to local websites.

april 2013 your horse

Help us fund their future Meet Teddy and Klyde – two Horse Trust residents who desperately need our help – and join our fund-raising efforts as we pledge to build them a new home

L

ittle and large as we like to call them – aka 19hh Klyde and diddy rescue pony Teddy – desperately need our help, so here in the Your Horse office we’ve been stepping up our fund-raising efforts in a bid to secure them a new home.

Our target? To raise the £5,000 needed to buy the pair new stables as The Horse Trust battles to rebuild its Home of Rest

in Buckinghamshire and continue to support the scores of horses, ponies and donkeys in its care.

The charity needs help to fund a major re-build, as time has taken its toll on the centre’s rehabilitation yard. And we’ve been so impressed with your fund-raising efforts so far, we thought it time we did our bit. Cue plans to run, ride and grab the gaffer tape (really!) to raise funds.

Let the pounds roll in!

over to you

SiLence iS goLden

First to step up to the fund-raising bench is YH writer Larissa Chapman.

Her challenge? To not utter a single word for a full working day.

A bit of a chatterbox (Larissa was once quoted as saying ‘why say in 10 words what you can say in 10,000?’) this ban on the spoken word will come as something of a shock. But keen to enjoy the silence, both the YH team and our surrounding co-workers are digging deep. Eager to get in a few words before her enforced silence, Larissa says: “Anyone who knows me knows this is going to be a challenge!”

It’s oh so easy to sponsor Katy and Larissa and donate to the appeal (see below). If we’ve inspired you to arrange your own fund-raising challenge, let us know (our contact details are on page 16). We’ll feature our star fund-raisers in future issues!

We need to fill this carrot!

LeT Your feeT do THe TaLking

Pledging to do something slightly more calorieburning is YH writer Katy Islip, who’s in training for the Adidas 24-Hour Thunder Run. The clue’s in the name, but yes you really do run for a full 24 hours, albeit in relays. And while Katy’s gung-ho about the thought of losing a night’s sleep, we hope Teddy and Klyde spare her a thought when they’re tucked up in their new stables!

We’re off to a steady start!

donate at: www.horsetru or text ‘HTTX01 £5’ to 70070 (text

Helping The Horse Trust Teddy nearly died after he was left abandoned on a roadside at just eight weeks old. Found starving and alone, with no sign of his mum, the odds were against him. But the staff at The Horse Trust refused to give up. Thanks to their round-the-clock care, he slowly recovered from his ordeal. Now he’s happy and healthy – but in need of a new dinky stable to suit his size.

Former police horse Klyde served with the Cleveland Police Mounted Section before retiring to the care of The Horse Trust – and, at 19hh, was thought to be the largest in the force. So mammoth is his stature he simply can’t fit in any of the Trust’s current stables – which is why we’re determined to buy him a new one that’s more befitting his frame!

st.org.uk/teddyandklyde

onLY £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 and £10)

klyde and Teddy pose with The Horse Trust’s angela andrews

WaTcH our Video

We spent a day behind the scenes with Teddy and Klyde – watch our video from the day at www.yourhorse.co.uk/ teddyandklyde

Gaining your horse’s trust and respect is at the core of an effective relationship

your horse april 2013

Improving your relationship

Gain his trust Do you want to be the owner your horse would choose for himself? If the answer’s yes, read on to find out how to gain his trust and achieve a fun, successful partnership Words Andrea Wady Pictures Simon Hipperson

W

hat are you greeted with when you get to your horse’s paddock – a friendly whicker of recognition or a hastily retreating rear end? If it’s the latter, chances are you need to work on your relationship with your horse to gain his trust. After all, this is the core of an effective working relationship, whether you’re planning to event at Advanced level or hack round

the countryside safely together.

The good news is it’s easy to hone your friendship skills and earn your horse’s respect. A good starting point is to take a cold, hard look at how you behave around your horse and see life from his side of the leadrope. Ask yourself, am I all work and no play? How many of us head straight to the yard after work, run around the field trying to catch our horses and, when we eventually do, pop a headcollar on, groom them, throw on a saddle and head straight to the school?

If this routine rings a bell, it’s easy to understand why our horses

often don’t associate us with anything they particularly like or want (unless it’s feeding time) and may be less than willing to come and participate. Imagine if the shoe was on the other foot. If your ‘friend’ came round every day and all they wanted was for you to help them with a problem, something you didn’t particularly enjoy.

How long would it be before you were hiding in the kitchen and not answering the front door? Not long!

Try following our fool-proof plan and you’ll transform yourself into a friend worth having, and your horse into a happy, willing partner.

Expert advice on buying wisely

� BUYERS

GUIDE

page 88

Gear we love

page 92

Hand care

The right show jacket will help you wow the judges

your horse april 2013

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page 100

New saddles

page 104

Money-saving tips

This month in Buyers’ Guide 80 Competition jaCkets Find the right one for you 88 gear we love Must-have kit from the YH team and readers 92 Hand & lip Care The best winter protectors

100 new saddles Four new saddles with the latest innovations 104 money-savers 10 tips to save your cash 108 first look The latest gear out there§

Competition jackets We all know that looking good and feeling comfortable boosts confidence – so follow our expert tips to find the show jacket that will make you feel like a winner from the off

N

othing beats good preparation and training when it comes to upping your marks as you trot down the centre line towards the judge, but a well-fitting competition jacket will go a long

way to helping you make a great first impression.

There’s a huge choice of show jackets, with ranges that come in all shapes and sizes but it’s all too easy to get drawn towards a style you’ve seen other riders wearing,

or a particular trim you find attractive. What you should be doing when you’re buying a jacket is finding the one that flatters you, so read on for our guide that will help you choose the right shape to make the most of your assets. oUr eXpert

What’s your body shape?

Apple

If you have an apple-shaped figure, you’ll have broad(er) shoulders compared to your (narrower) hips.

You’ll tend to have slim legs and thighs, while your abdomen and chest will look larger compared to the rest of your body. You’ll tend to put weight on around the abdomen, chest and face.

peAr

If you’re pear-shaped, your hip measurement will be greater than your bust. The distribution of fat varies, but you’ll tend to put it on your buttocks, hips and thighs first.

As a rule, if you’re this shape you’ll tend to have a (relatively) larger rear, thicker thighs, and a small(er) bosom.

HourGlAss

Curvy hourglass women go in at the middle – their hips and bust almost of equal size, with a narrow waist. If this sounds like you, any fat distribution will tend to be around both your upper and lower body, not your waist.

AlIsoN Nye-WArdeN is a dressage rider and the owner of online shop Dressage Deluxe.

Her staff aim to provide exceptional products and continue to expand their range, bringing you top quality products with a personal touch.

go prepared to fittings It’s worth wearing your show shirt when you go try on a new jacket – that way you’ll know it fits correctly, is comfortable and the two look good together.

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april 2013 your horse

HORSE CARE

Keep your horse healthy and happy page 120

Healthy hooves

page 122

Stop him stressing

Get under his skin Your horse’s muscles do a lot more than just move him from A to B – discover how they work and how to keep them healthy

Words Katy Islip

OUR EXPERT jane kinG is an equine vet who deals with a huge range of horses and ponies at the Westmorland Veterinary Group in Cumbria, which is a member of the XLVets group. Find out more at www. westmorland-vets. co.uk and www. xlvets.co.uk

M

uscles are the pistons of your horse’s body, firing away to create his movements as well as keeping his posture stable and pumping everything from food to waste products around his body.

Hidden away as they are, it can be easy to under-appreciate your horse’s marvellous muscles, but without them you wouldn’t have much of a horse at all. Our expert vet, Jane King, says: “Whatever discipline we use our horse for, from hacking to winning the Derby, we’re completely reliant on his muscular system for him to be able to complete the tasks we ask of him. So it’s up to us to do our best to look after those muscles to keep them firing on all cylinders.”

We’ve recruited Jane to explain what your horse’s muscles are made of, the jobs they do and how you can help keep them healthy, boosting his overall wellbeing and helping him stay in tip-top condition.

aRTWORk © 2013 Wendy Amaral, Inky Mouse Studios.

To see more of Wendy’s work visit www. inkymouse studios.com or use the QR code below

your horse april 2013

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page 130

Beat injury

page 134

Fighting grass sickness

This month in Horse Care 112 magnificEnT mUsclEs Caring for this vital area 120 EssEnTial knOw-hOw Help hooves survive winter 122 sTOP him sTREssing Seven steps to calmness 129 EssEnTial knOw-hOw

Tidy up your feed room 130 back On TRack Help him recover from injury 134 gRass sicknEss Help beat this disease 138 EssEnTial knOw-hOw Beating field anxiety

The superficial muscles This diagram illustrates your horse’s superficial muscles, the ones necessary to power his movement. These make up just one group of the many different muscles your horse needs to live – one part of an extremely complex system. To get to grips with which muscles groups do what, and to understand how his amazing system of muscles works, turn the page to discover what’s really going on underneath your horse’s skin.

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april 2013 your horse

Stop him stressing 7 easy ways to ease your horse’s anxiety – all with the power of your touch

Head By simply stroking your horse’s ears it can help calm him and lower his heart rate

Neck Relieving tension in his neck can help a spooky horse

By using simple touches, you can make a huge difference to your horse

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OUR EXPERT Sarah Fisher trained with Linda Tellington Jones, and runs the teaching centre for the Tellington Touch Equine Awareness Method (or TTEAM) and TTouch at Tilley Farm in Somerset.

horse who’s tense, anxious and unpredictable can make his owner’s life pretty stressful, something’s that all too familiar to Your Horse Buyers’ Guide editor Allison Lowther. Her horse Jester has always been an anxious sort, prone to spinning round out hacking if he spotted something he didn’t like.

Sound familiar? Over the years, Jester’s behaviour has become progressively worse, and with no physical reason to be found, Allison decided to retire him.

Now, at 18, and with the weight of the world on his shoulders

your horse april 2013

(despite having his every need catered for), Allison’s desperate to ease Jester’s troubled soul and help him enjoy life. Cue Tellington Touch Equine Awareness Method (or TTEAM) practitioner Sarah Fisher – an expert in helping horses learn to cope with the stresses of everyday life. After just a few hours in her company, Jester started to look and feel more relaxed. Read on to find out why his introduction to the TTEAM approach was so successful – and how just seven simple techniques, easily incorporated into your horse’s daily routine, can help him chill out and cope with life.

All about TTEAM The method was created by Linda Tellington-Jones to address the general wellbeing of your horse – his body, mind and spirit – using groundwork, ridden work and special touches, know as TTouches. See opposite page for more on TTouches.

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Hands-on help Belly Working on his back and belly encourages him to stretch and relax from poll to tail

The Clouded Leopard, seen here, is the simplest TTouch to learn

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Horse Care

Tail How your horse holds his tail will tell you a lot about his mood and tension he may be carrying in his back

First get to grips with the basics

The TTEAM method is based on TTouches – a series of specific circles, slides and lifts on, and with, your horse’s body made with your hands and fingers that influence his nervous system.

The best thing about the TTEAM approach – and especially TTouches – is that it’s so easy to try. To get started, Sarah explains the basic TTouch, the Clouded Leopard. This forms the basis of all the other TTouch moves and methods, so you need to get familiar with it.

Placing your fingers on your

horse, for example on his neck, hold them in a slightly curved position. Imagine a clock face with your fingers at six o’clock and guide his skin around the clock, continuing to nine o’clock (a circle and a quarter) – each circle needs to be roughly the size of a 10p.

Lift his skin up rather than drag it down, gently push it around, pause, then release. Next slide your hand along a little to a new area and repeat. Keep the movement slow and think of moving his skin over the underlying muscle.

Once you’ve got the hang of this basic touch, you can move on to the TTouches over the page. april 2013 your horse

Nurse your horse back to fitness the right way and you’ll be enjoying your riding sooner than you think

your horse april 2013

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recovering from injury

horse care

Get him back on track Grappling with ongoing lameness and wondering how you can get your horse to recover from injury quick-sharp? We’ve got expert advice to help Words Andrea Oakes

Our eXpert GrAce MuIr specialises in turning damaged horses round and getting them back on track. She’s rehabilitated hundreds of injured racehorses, helping some return to a successful racing career and preparing others for a completely different competitive discipline or for a more leisurely lifestyle. Grace heads HEROS, the Homing ExRacehorses Organisation Scheme – see page 43 for more on this.

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t’s always a worry when your horse is injured and off work, but he stands a much better chance of coming back sound if he’s nursed back to fitness correctly. While the road to recovery can seem a long one, the right care and rehabilitation programme will help him recover from injury and enable him to stay happy and healthy in the process.

An experienced equine vet will be able to give an exact diagnosis of the problem

the right Back up Access to good facilities such as a manège and regular turnout will be invaluable as your horse recovers. If your current yard is too basic, consider moving him to one that has what you need.

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Here to help you make sure your horse recovers is Grace Muir, who has helped horses with a range of serious injuries, such as brokendown tendons and high suspensory ligament damage. Even when it’s obvious there’s a problem but its exact cause is a mystery, the solution remains the same – helping your horse learn to trust that he can move without pain.

The fIrsT sTep

Grace’s advice here centres on helping ex-racers, but her steps to success apply to any horse from a dressage diva to an everyday riding horse. “First get an exact diagnosis using an equine vet, rather than one at a mixed practice – they see far more cases in the equine world and therefore have more experience,” she says.

If you’ve owned your horse for a while, you might already have a good idea of what the problem is or how he got his injury. But if you’re taking on an injured ex-racehorse, it may be harder to reach the correct diagnosis.

“Most horses leave racing with some kind of physical problem – some are lame on every leg,” says Grace. “Use a vet who knows racehorses and has experience of working with them. If you can afford to investigate every nook and cranny then do so, but it’s unlikely that you’ll want to spend thousands of pounds on expensive scans and other diagnostic tests if you bought your horse cheaply off the racetrack. In that case, time will be the biggest healer.”

If you’re planning a noncompetitive career for your ex-racer, Grace advises giving him recuperative field rest. “Let your horse have some time out,” she says. “Feed him well, look after him and keep his feet properly trimmed, but give him time to recover before assessing his soundness again.”

One of the most common – and feared – causes of lameness is tendon trouble, but Grace says this is a very treatable injury that can heal well.

“Many horses finish their National Hunt career with a tendon injury,” she says.

“Depending on its severity, it’s probably one of the cheaper things to put right. It’s also often possible to rehabilitate the horse for an athletic future, so people shouldn’t shy away from taking on an ex-racehorse with damaged tendons. Sometimes a year of recuperation is all it takes.” april 2013 your horse

Next month in

On sale

21 March

CONFIDENCE TOTAL

In month five of Total Confidence, para dressage rider Susanna Wade will inspire you to feel confident in the saddle, whether you’re at the peak of physical fitness or recovering from injury

In Better Riding

Ride more, stress less!

Why horses are th e best therapy, and how you can improve you r physical, mental and emot ional health – just by hopping on board

● Discover how to channel your horse’s energy if he tends to get a bit hot under the saddle as springtime approaches, and learn the science behind an effective warm up as our experts explain how to make the start of every schooling session or hack really count ● Plus we’ve got advice from the legendary Whitaker family as they share the secrets of their success, and we chat to top eventers to help you get this season off to a winning start

In Horse Care

● We reveal the essential ‘five-a-day’ your horse needs to stay fit and healthy all year round, and take an in-depth look at his joints in a bid to avoid common problems and maintain a spring in your horse’s step ● Plus there’s advice on how to cope with everything from sweet itch to laminitis, and tips to help you combat your horse’s biggest fears

In Buyers’ Guide

● We reveal the latest equestrian products to hit the scene after the horse world’s biggest trade fair, BETA, and round up the gear the Your Horse team and you can’t live without.

PLUS!

Our 48-page Spring Gear Guide is your ultimate guide to this season’s best rider clothing.

WIN Win tickets to the brilliant Houghton Horse Trials

O

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The Houghton International Horse Trials started in 2007 and has since grown to attract around 380 competitors from 18 nations running at 3 levels - CCI*, CCI** & CIC***. The event itself not only offers a weekend of great of equestrian sport, but also the chance to visit a

Competition

Win Equilibrium Tri-Zone boots plus tickets to Houghton International Horse Trials, worth £500

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hugely popular and historical venue.

Houghton Hall was built in the 1720s in Norfolk by Great Britain’s first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole. It’s now the home of the Cholmondeley family.

Houghton International offers a fantastic fun day out for all the family with a variety of attractions and over 70 trade stands. The winners of our fantastic competition can enjoy a picnic with family and friends in this beautiful setting with special access near to the water jump during the cross-country phase on the Saturday - an amazing prize for any eventing fan. ● To find out more about Houghton

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a. 2001 b. 2007 c. 2012 Closing date 21 March 2013 Terms and conditions Winners are responsible for their own transport to Houghton Hall.

For full t&c visit www.yourhorse.co.uk/win w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

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EQUILIBRIUM® APrIL 2013 your horse