Your Horse 379 november 2013
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HOW TO G GUARANTEE A HAPPY HORSE
Mary! king
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Why we’re inspired to ride! Guest editor Mary King joins other top riders, grooms and readers to reveal what sparked their passion for horses
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itting in Mary King’s kitchen (as you do!) chatting through this issue with our guest editor, the question of what she really wanted to see in the magazine came up. Her answer? A feel-good piece on what inspired top riders, grooms and Your Horse readers to get involved with horses. It turns out Mary was spurred on by the very same riders we’ve all known and loved for decades and, she told us, it still feels strange to her to think she’s ‘one of them’ Her inspiration came from an innate love of horses and a fascination with the celebrity riders she grew up watching
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– names like Lucinda Green (pictured below) and Mark Todd. “Riding’s just in my blood,” says Mary, whose career has seen her notch up five Olympic Games appearances, taking home one team silver as well as team bronze, not to mention countless wins at four-star level. “However, I’ve always taken my inspiration from watching other riders I admire. When I was younger, it was Lucinda Green (my heroine!) and Mark Todd I looked up to – they were both so calm and in balance. “Even now I watch William Fox-Pitt and Mark, as well as all the other top riders, to see how they’re riding and I have them in my mind as I ride.” However it’s not only the horse world’s biggest names who have galvanised us to take up the reins. For some, a chance meeting with Ruby Ferguson’s series of ‘Jill’ pony books in the school library led to a life-long love of horses, for others a ride on a friend’s pony was all it took to get them hooked. Whatever inspired you to get involved with horses, read on for a reminder of why they’re a part of all of us. You may find many of the thoughts ring true with you, too .
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For the love of horses
‘John Whitaker was my hero’ “My parents weren’t in the least horsey, but I used to walk past a horse on the way to dropping my brother off at playschool and I was soon obsessed,” says show jumper, eventer and YH Training Academy coach Jay Halim. “My first word was ‘pony’ and I begged mum for a riding lesson every week. As soon as I was old enough, I started working at the riding school at weekends, and eventually got my own pony at 15 – though mum had to take a second job at Sainsbury’s to fund it. She used to drive me to shows pulling the trailer (even though she was petrified of towing!), and as soon as I was old enough I started riding for a local dealer to get more experience. “The first event mum and dad came to watch me at was Blenheim Horse Trials and they thought every show had
Jay been obsessed by horses all his life
tradestands and crowds. When they later came to watch me at a small local competition they asked where all the shops were! “I went to my first international show in a trailer and stayed in a friend’s lorry. I remember John Whitaker was always my hero and it’s weird now to think that he’s my peer!”
Mary, seen here riding our cover star MHS King Joules, is still influenced by other riders
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November 2013 your horse
Photo: Neil Hepworth
At just 15.3hh, Brit (seen here with stablemate Prada, right) is the pint-sized star of Lucinda’s yard
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Eventing superstar
‘ Brit’s the legend in our family!’ From ugly duckling to Olympic medallist – who says dreams don’t come true? Lucinda Fredericks tells us how her quirky little mare became an eventing giant
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eadley Britannia (or Brit) is my horse of a lifetime. I’ve ridden lots of talented horses and hope I’ll be lucky enough to find more, but I don’t think there will ever be one who is so sound, so competitive and so special. Brit’s a legend on four legs – the only mare to win Badminton, Burghley and the Rolex Kentucky, the three top titles in eventing – and who helped me win an Olympic team silver medal in Beijing. But, just as important, she’s part of my family and, after 12 years, we know each other inside out. Who would believe that I could get so much from a little mare who everyone dismissed as being the wrong size, the wrong sex and even the wrong colour? It would be great to say that when she arrived at my yard in December 2001 it was love at first sight, but to be honest I didn’t take much notice of her. Emma Robson, a working pupil, had bought her to improve her competition record so she could sell her. Brit was a bit of an ugly duckling – no one, including me, thought she’d turn out to be a swan. She’s never been a classic beauty, but she’s workmanlike, with conformation that’s helped her stand up to the demands of hard work. Even now, at the age of 20, she looks amazing. But when she arrived, as an eight-year-old, she was just a
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little chestnut mare with a short neck who scurried over the ground. She’s three quarters TB and a quarter Irish Draught, by the eventing stallion Jumbo, and stands just 15.3hh, whereas most event horses are around 16.2hh. Her trot was – and naturally still is – more like that of a pony than a horse, and when she jumped she was just as unremarkable. Horses who have lots of talent often have quirks, especially in their early days. We found out that Brit had been difficult to back and also had a nappy streak, and although Emma did a great job, she was unreliable at water and had thrown in plenty of stops. When Emma emigrated to Australia, I was asked to improve Brit’s competition record and sell her. Our first event was an Intermediate class in March 2002, which we won – though I still didn’t think she’d turn out to be anything special.
A seesaw ride! Brit certainly wasn’t the sort of horse I’d have bought. Because I’m tall, with long legs, I look for horses whose build suits my own. When I sat on her, there seemed to be nothing in front of me, because at that stage she didn’t have the muscular development to compensate for her short neck. Coming down to a fence was like sitting on a seesaw, facing the wrong way; you went up and came down again, but there was no nice length of neck in front of you to help you feel secure. Her jumping style wasn’t inspiring, either. Instead of taking you to a fence on a nice rhythmic stride, she pulled at the reins but didn’t feel as if she was going anywhere. When she got to the fence, it was a bit like sitting on a pogo stick, because rather than making a classic arc through the air, she went up but not out.
Lucinda and Brit on their way to victory at Badminton Horse Trials in 2007
Even today, Brit has her own style of jumping, though I’d be the last person to complain about its effectiveness! The difference between then and now is that over the years she’s learned to use her ability and power more effectively. A horse’s ‘engine’ lies in its hindlegs and hindquarters and, at first, riding Brit was like revving the engine without really going anywhere.
Lucky rejections I let people know she was on the market and a couple of people came to see her, but were distinctly underwhelmed. One rider, who has never lived it down, rejected her because she didn’t think she had a good enough jump. Another wanted her, but was looking on behalf of an owner. Fortunately for me, the owner didn’t want Brit because she has aural plaque – white patches in her ears that are apparently a reaction to fly bites. It means she doesn’t like having her ears touched and you can’t put a bridle on her in the normal way. Instead, we undo the cheekpieces and
November 2013 your horse
Photo: Kit Houghton/Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials
Words Carolyn Henderson
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here’s still time to join the thousands of readers who’ve already entered our amazing Win a Horsebox competition! Go online to enter, and you might be the lucky person driving this fantastic Equi-Trek Sonic Excel horsebox away next year, complete with a host of extras and a full year’s road tax.
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1 lucky reader will win this fantastic horsebox! Our Win a Horsebox competition is supported by some of the biggest names in the horse world, namely South Essex Insurance Brokers (SEIB), Musto and T.E.N. This month, find out more about SEIB’s 50th birthday celebrations (see right) and learn more about how the company came to be one of the UK’s leading equestrian insurers.
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The prize package This stylish Sonic Excel is new to Equi-Trek’s range of horseboxes and trailers, and it could be yours if you enter our fantastic competition today. The lorry carries two horses in comfort, with luxury touches including an in-built digital camera so you can keep an eye on what’s going on behind closed doors as you’re en route to competitions. Our prize has a package of extras including:
● A digital reversing camera ● A padded partition board,
with the option of an extra height partition if your horse is particularly tall, as well as a head divider for extra security ● Built-in storage seat,
How to enter For your chance to win: ● Go to www.winahorsebox.co.uk and follow the
with a lift-up lid for all your travel and competition essentials ● A vanity mirror (who wants to get out at a competition with a wayward hairnet?) ● Alloy wheels, and front mud flaps to help protect your lorry’s paintwork when you’re bumping across farmyards and other rough surfaces ● A year’s road tax
instructions. Special terms and conditions apply. The closing date is midday on 2 January 2014 ● Alternatively, visit Your Horse Live at Stoneleigh Park on 9-10 November. The horsebox will be on show for you to have a nose around, and you can enter while you’re there ● For more on the Equi-Trek range, call 01484 852121 or visit www.equi-trek.com ● Our competition is open to UK entrants only, who must be 18 or over and own a horse
Happy 50th SEIB! This year marks South Essex Insurance Brokers’ 50th birthday – and five decades on it’s still one of the biggest names in horse insurance Well known for its affordable, adaptable equestrian policies, SEIB can help protect your horse or pony, plus your horsebox or trailer (including breakdown cover), home, yard, liability, business, car and much more. It’s won every major insurance industry award for customer care, and prides itself on tailoring cover to properly protect its equestrian clients. SEIB specialises in niche markets, and most of the team own and ride horses, so understand the trials and tribulations involved! Hundreds of letters and emails are testament to the superb service offered to horsey clients, and the in-house claims team offer a sympathetic, personal service. “SEIB is also dedicated to putting something back into the equestrian community, particularly for grass roots riders,” says the company’s marketing manager, Nicolina Mackenzie. “I’m delighted to see former Search for a Star horses going on to compete successfully in the show ring, and support for our Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Championship is tremendous. Supporting this competition to win a horsebox is all part of SEIB putting something back, to help the grass roots rider.” For a free, no-obligation quote for everything equestrian – from your horse to your business – give SEIB a call on 01708 850000 or visit the website www.seib.co.uk
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November 2013 your horse
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TRAINING ACADEMY Every issue your Training Academy coaches Spencer Wilton and Jay Halim help you and your horse improve on the flat and over fences – this month, they help you both keep a cool head at a competition
Spencer and Jay with the lovely Badger, Jay’s five-year-old eventer
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A quiet graze, in-hand, can help settle a nervous or hot-headed horse
Make sure he has a comfortable journey They may focus on different disciplines, but if there’s one thing Spencer and Jay agree on, it’s that keeping your horse happy, healthy and relaxed en route to a competition is the key to getting the most out of him on the day. “Experience has taught me that the single most important thing you can do to ensure your horse performs at his best is to let him eat regularly,” explains Jay, who’s been busy all summer taking his new string of show jumpers around the show circuit. “Often, if a horse is hot-headed at a show it’s actually because he’s uncomfortable in his gut, as going for long periods without grazing can lead to ulcers and other digestive problems.
Watch online Watch Jay’s tips for a stress-free start to your competition day at www.yourhorse. co.uk/ta
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“I like my horses to keep eating on the lorry – they all travel with a haynet – and I hand graze them when they arrive. I always like to make sure they’ve got access to hay between classes, too. “When I arrive at a show the first thing I do is check the horses and open the lorry’s windows so they can get some air through. I then start sorting my gear out so I can get organised and see where everything is. I arrange my grooming kit, get my water buckets out and fill them (as it’s really important the horses have regular access to water), and give any real hot heads a calming paste if they need it. I always use NAF Magic and give it half an hour before the horse is going to be worked.” Allow time for a quiet hack when you arrive at a show to help your horse settle
Dealing with a hot horse “Lots of people ask me how I cope with a hot horse and my advice is to arrive in plenty of time so you’ve got chance to get him off the lorry and go for a nice quiet hack. Then pop him back on,” adds Jay. “Nine times out of 10 a horse will be a lot quieter second time off. If you can’t go for a hack, find a quiet area and school him for 20 minutes or, if you prefer, just hand graze him. In a nutshell, do whatever works for him. “I always like to tack up and boot up, etc on the lorry as I don’t like tying horses up to the side of the lorry. But that’s just personal preference. Once your horse has had his hack, graze or schooling session and he’s back on the lorry, let him have a drink, some hay and a chance to unwind. You can use this time to do his studs or ‘beautify’ him! “At this stage I’ll usually go and check the classes are running to time and, if I’m show jumping, go and walk the course. Finally, it’s important to allow yourself five minutes’ chill out time before you hop on board. I use it to get changed and check I’ve got everything. It helps me feel in control.”
Expert tip
A horse who’s happy to load and unload will take a lot of the stress out of competition day, so practise well in advance and work out what your horse prefers – be it travelling herringbone, forwards, in a lorry or trailer. For advice on dealing with a tricky loader, read our feature with Michael Peace in our September issue – call 0844 848 8872 for a back issue if you missed it
November 2013 your horse
BETTER RIDING
Easy-to-follow expert advice for beginners to advanced riders
This happy trio proves you can strike a balance between your horsey life and job as a new mum
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Page 42
Beat the hacking hazards
Page 45
Page 48
How a simulator helps your ridiing
Riding after a fall
Page 54
Private Lesson
And baby makes 3!
Juggling a baby and a horse (not literally!) can be tough, so our expert and new mum is here to help you get the balance right
A OUR EXPERT Etti dale is a chartered physiotherapist and event rider. As a rider, horse owner, physiotherapist, and new mum to four-month-old baby Archie, she’s well equipped to offer advice for during and after pregnancy from her professional and personal experience.
s Zara Phillips’ baby bump spent more time in the headlines during its first trimester than most of us will in adult life, its mum-to-be has had to cope with much speculation about how her newborn will go on to impact on her equestrian life. All expectant mums like Zara, whose lives involve horses, have to find a way of striking the balance between horses and a baby, but with tips, advice and some secrets about juggling your bundle of joy with your steed, you can make the transition with ease. My first top tip for anyone who wants to get back in the saddle quickly after giving birth is to stay as fit as possible during pregnancy. Whether you carry on riding or not is totally up to each individual, but plenty of walking and pregnancy classes like yoga or Pilates should do the trick. These classes are designed to maintain your flexibility and core muscles, which are crucial when riding. They also teach you some relaxation skills, which may come in handy during labour, too!
Listen to your body Posture and correct lifting techniques are extremely important through pregnancy as your ligaments become stretchier to prepare for labour and this means that you’re in danger of over-stretching the tissues, making it harder to get back in shape for the saddle after birth. Looking after a horse when pregnant can cause a number of pregnancy-related musculoskeletal w w w.you r hor se .co.u k
issues. You may not be able to do all the mucking out or riding that you usually do and you may need to call on others for help. If you’re in any pain, you should speak to a women’s health specialist immediately to make sure you aren’t damaging yourself. Most riders put up with the odd pain here and there, but during pregnancy it’s advisable to listen to your body, as damaging yourself will make labour and then looking after your baby much more difficult and could lead to long-term problems.
Riding after a birth Every pregnancy and birth is different, and what you’re physically able to do after your baby is born will directly relate to what sort of labour and delivery you have. If you have a normal delivery, then you’ll obviously be able to get back to things quicker than if you have a caesarean section. However, the most important exercise to get back to once you’re ready is walking. It may sound boring and ‘nonspecific,’ but walking is a fantastic all-over body workout and can be done at whatever intensity is comfortable. Even someone who’s had a caesarean should be starting to take gentle walks after the first week. Walking should also fit nicely with your schedule of looking after baby, as a bit of fresh air and pram pushing works wonders to get them off to sleep. Start with five or 10 minutes on relatively flat ground and work up gradually to longer and faster walking with added hill-work when you’re ready. November 2013 your horse
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Horseless workout! Simulators let you improve your riding without having to worry about your horse. YH writer Katy Islip went along to see how we can all benefit
In a simulator session YH writer Katy could work on her position and aids – minus a horse!
OUR EXPERT Heather Moffett is a classicallytrained rider who trains all kinds of horses, including Iberians. Her best-selling book Enlightened Equitation, was recently revised and updated. For more information on Heather and her simulator courses visit www.enlightened equitation.com
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f your early riding education was anything like mine, the stop-go aids consisted of pull and kick, while steering was a simple left or right on the reins. While I’ve improved on this vastly over the years, I know I still have a lot to learn! Now, thanks to the expertise of straight-talking classical rider and trainer Heather Moffett, I’ve ironed out a few kinks. Thanks to a simulator session with her, I learned so much – no horse required – and now feel I’m improving each time I ride. If you’ve never experienced an equine simulator, read on to find out what you too could learn. Heather’s teaching is based on the idea of a rider moving with their horse, working as one and making everything comfortable for both. “You have two sides to your seat, and your horse has two sides to his back. Put two and two together in synch and you’re in business!” she says. To help my fellow Walking with your hands on students and I your hips gives a feel for the understand, Heather ridden pelvic movements explains some
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simple dismounted exercises. “When we’re riding, our pelvis should be moving as it does when we’re on foot, only on your seat bones rather than your feet. Walk is the same as us walking, sitting trot is the same as us running and canter is the same as when you skip like a cantering horse,” she says. I put my hands on the front of my hip bones and feel the small advances each side of my pelvis makes with each stride, which makes me more aware of the automatic movements of my body and helps
me understand how I can synchronise them with a horse. Repeating this with my hand in the small of my back lets me feel it working and flexing, which Heather explains is also important for effectively absorbing your horse’s movement. The feet-to-seat bone translation also works for turning your horse, as Heather explains. “People are often taught to mirror their horse, turning their shoulders with his, but think about how you turn on foot – you don’t start by bringing your outside shoulder round. The first thing you’ll do is turn your inside foot, then your leg and then your hip. On the horse, it’s your seat bone that takes the place of your foot and acts first.” November 2013 your horse
Riding after a fall Our expert guide will help you regain your confidence and bounce back after a tumble Words Andrea Oakes Photography Matthew Roberts
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OUR EXPERT Charlie Unwin is a performance psychology coach. Find out more about him at www.performance legacy.com
ur guest editor Mary King is no stranger to nasty falls, having parted company with a couple of her top horses at events this season. But while the pros might make it look easy to bounce back (eventer Kyle Carter, pictured above taking a tumble at Burghley Horse Trials, was soon back in the saddle eventing at four-star level), rebuilding shattered nerves and making a successful return to the saddle can be a challenge. It’s natural to feel a little
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apprehensive after an accident, but understanding exactly what happens in the body and the mind can help you conquer those post-fall fears. Here, performance psychologist Charlie Unwin explains how, with the right approach, you too can regain your riding confidence.
The fear factor Hitting the deck can hurt and while bumps, bruises and broken bones can heal, the psychological effects of a heavy fall may last far longer. Some riders find themselves unable even to
contemplate getting back on board, while others lose their competitive edge or never fully regain their riding nerve. We can all relate to an element of ‘fear factor’ setting in, but why is it that our thoughts can grow out of all proportion and have such a powerful effect on our actions? In a nutshell, our brains consist largely of two parts – the emotional and the logical. The emotional brain helps us respond to danger. It’s designed to make decisions to protect us, w w w.you r hor se .co.u k
Better Riding
Kyle Carter parts company with Madison Park at Burghley Horse Trials back in 2011
that’s a type of fence, a venue or a but, once this part of the brain kicks particular horse. It takes you to a in, it can outweigh the logical brain room in your mind that represents and cause problems. that fear, where it packs the A phobia is an example of how memory into a box. the emotional brain can twist or Fear is the strongest human exaggerate bad experiences, emotion, so while good memories rendering the logical brain useless. will be packed into small boxes, Whether it’s a real fear, such as being a bad experience like a fall will be bucked off again out on a hack, or packed into a massive, fluorescent the imagined terror caused by seeing orange box marked ‘danger!’. a spider in the bath, the cause The moment you come is the same. back to that place or Response to fear has experience, it’s like such a strong effect walking back into that we can’t think that room – and the logically. A bad fall Learn how to fall only thing you’ll serves to make us safely with our video notice is the one use our emotional guide – visit www. big box. Your brain, drawing yourhorse.co.uk/ fallsafely emotional brain will blood and resources be blind to all the from other areas and things that have gone reducing our ability well, telling you to focus to think clearly and on the bad experience. stay focused. So our brain is warning us of I liken our minds to a series potential danger, but how does of rooms with each representing this manifest itself elsewhere? a memory. The brain connects fear For a start, your breathing may of danger to whatever it noticed become shallower and you’ll develop at the time of the incident – whether
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Mary’s view “My advice for getting back in the saddle after a fall? Ride a reliable and quiet horse. Part of you might feel ready to jump back on and get straight back to business, but my advice is to start off quietly, working your way back to normal until you feel like your confidence is back. The next most important thing is to be positive. Try not to dwell on your fall – look around you and see that other people are riding every day.”
tension in your muscles. This tension may creep up, perhaps starting a few days before we have to face our fears by re-mounting the horse that we fell from or re-jumping the fence that caught us out. Your mind will keep going off at a tangent. You might also get quite withdrawn, or keep needing to go to the loo. Sound familiar?! It may come as no surprise that this distracted state can have a negative impact on your horse. He just wants clear direction, to know what his job is, and that’s why we have to learn to manage this fear effectively.
Expert tip
To help you feel prepared for a fall should one happen, The British Racing School offers fall training courses, using an equine simulator. The next course is on 10 December in Newmarket, priced at £75 per person. Call 01638 665103 for details.
November 2013 your horse
Emily King Eventing’s next big thing talks about growing up under the watchful eye of proud mum Mary and her respect for her HGV-driving super gran Words Helen Milbank Photography Matthew Roberts
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hen you’ve competed at four-star level in-vitro (Emily’s mum, our guest editor Mary King, won gold at the European Championships in 1995 while five months pregnant with her), destiny suggests you might grow up wanting a pony. But at 17, and with a European junior silver medal already in the bag, it’s clear Emily’s inherited more than a passing interest in all things equestrian. With a string of top horses, including Clayton Fredericks’ former mount Brookleigh – his reserve horse at the London 2012 Olympics – and her sights set firmly on the European Eventing Championships in France (as this issue went to press four of Emily’s best horses were named for the event), there may well be two Kings eventing at the Rio Olympics in 2016. So what’s it like growing up as part of the über successful King clan? And what are her eventing hopes and dreams for 2014 and beyond? To find out we joined Emily at the family’s newly-renovated Devon yard, while Mary hovered in the kitchen doing her competition entries online and younger brother Freddie had a quick game of table tennis with their farmer dad David (who’d taken a rare afternoon off). As you can see from the pics over the page, new puppy Barney had to join in too, and who were we to complain? The life of a YH writer’s tough!
The Big Interview
Emily with 10-year-old Mr Hiho (or Zippy), her Junior European Championship horse
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Why Your Horse? We deliver advice from the best riders in the world and find the right experts to help you develop vital horse care skills so you can keep your horse healthy and happy for life!
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HORSE CARE
Keep your horse healthy and happy
You can strengthen your relationship with your horse by connecting with him on an emotional level
your horse November 2013
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Help your horse be happy
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Get his feed right
Eye Health SOS
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Tackle biting
Boost your connection
Does your horse always seem to know when you’re having a bad day? Equine communicator Margrit Coates explains how you can use his ability to tune into your emotions to improve your bond
R OUR EXPERT Margrit Coates is a worldrenowned equine healer and communicator, and the author of six books including Horses Talking and Connecting with Horses. Margrit gives private consultations and teaches workshops. Visit www. thehorsehealer. com for more information
Expert tip
If you’re worried about your horse’s behaviour, check for signs of pain before anything else. Once any issues are eliminated, you can look at your own energy and the way you connect with him.
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enowned animal communicator Margrit Coates believes she was born with psychic senses which have given her a unique ability to tune into the feelings of animals and hear messages direct from them. This fascinating and rare gift has led her to develop her ability to communicate with horses and other animals through what can only be
described as light touches over the animal’s body. So, while we all wish we could know what our horses are thinking and feeling, Margrit really can! Here she shares her understanding of the equine psyche, offers you tips to developing a better connection with your own horse and, over the page, we talk to a reader who swears by Margrit’s methods.
Understanding the equine senses Horses are naturally intuitive and as prey animals they’re hugely sensitive to their environment and the ‘energy’ around them. It’s hard to explain the exact meaning of energy – but every person has it, and horses are more in tune and aware of whether your energy is positive or negative which can, in turn, impact on their behaviour around you. For example, a nervous rider naturally harbours a negative or nervous energy which can be felt by their horse and be displayed outwardly as the rider yanks on the reins, holds their breath, or tenses and grips with their legs. This sort of behaviour unnerves horses, usually resulting in spooky or ‘naughty’ behaviour but it can be easily reduced. If you’re not a nervous rider it might be that a challenging day at work is enough to create negative energy. Getting into the saddle in a harassed and fraught manner will only bring problems, as heart vibrations indicating stress come through your hands and can be felt by your horse through the reins.
Your horse can tune into your emotions even as you ride
Whatever sends your energy sky-high, there’s no place for pretending with horses, who are extremely intuitive and know when something’s not right. Even if you’re pretending to be happy and calm on the outside, they’ll know. To lessen your negative energy you need to put your body and mind into ‘neutral’ – a state of calm and relaxation that should help you to connect with your horse in a more positive way. Turn the page for Magrit’s advice on how to do this. November 2013 your horse
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Treat your horse to a gorgeous new bridle like this Sabre Cordoba English Snaffle – a bargain at £152.99!
Horse Care Management
Feeding made easy Get your feeding just right, whatever challenges you face, with help and advice from Lorna Edgar at Baileys Horse Feeds
W OUR EXPERT Lorna Edgar BSc (Hons) is a field-based nutritionist for Baileys Horse Feeds who visits horse owners to review their horses’ diets and make practical recommendations. For more information visit www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk
hile you can’t alter your horse’s temperament or type by changing his feed, your choice of feed and the way you offer it can affect his condition and energy levels. You need to take into account what you do with your horse, and what you want from him. What’s right for one horse and rider might not be right for another – for example, a novice rider might feel much happier if their horse wasn’t bursting with energy while a more experienced competitor might want much more ‘get up and go’ from their horse. Our expert, Baileys’ nutritionist Lorna Edgar, has plenty of hands-on experience as an international polo and event groom and understands the challenges faced by professional riders such as our guest editor Mary King, who she visits regularly. Here she looks at the most common extremes of condition and temperament and how you can adjust your feeding programme to achieve the result you want.
Help your horse stay fit and get the most from life with the right feed
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November 2013 your horse
Open
Exclusive horse care
Every issue the Your Horse Open Clinic delivers vital equine behaviour, management and vet advice, absolutely free and this month our experts help you tackle: ✦ Biting behaviour P91 ✦ Winter stabling P93 ✦ Worming worries P94 ✦ Your bitting queries P96 ✦ Gastric ulcers P101
instant advice online To ensure you’ve got access to vet advice whenever you need it we’ve teamed up with the free online symptom checker service vethelpdirect.com. This clever service, run by qualified vets, is easy to use and totally free. To give it a try, just visit our website at www.yourhorse.co.uk/symptomchecker for free, on-the-spot expert vet advice.
How it works
You’ll be asked to select from a drop-down list of symptoms, then given immediate advice on if and when you should call the vet. It only takes seconds and it’s all part of our Open Clinic service!
5 top ways to learn Join live web chats with our experts and ask them your horse care questions Watch our how-to videos to help you learn whenever you see this symbol Spot the signs of a problem early with our handy symptom checker Got a question for an expert? Simply email it to us at getinvolved@yourhorse.co.uk
Horses use biting to move each other, and to move us too
Clinic
meet OUR EXPERTs
e advice from the UK’s top experts
Gil Riley is managing equine vet at Pool House Equine Clinic
Jenny Ellis is a top groom with over 30 years of experience
Jason Webb is a behaviour pro who runs Australian Horsemanship
Beat his biting Behaviour expert Jason Webb reveals why some horses may resort to biting and how you can take steps to resolve it
H
orses use biting as a way of moving another horse and as a way of social climbing – the biter is showing dominance. When they do it with us, it starts with a rub or step into your space, then a lick or bump. They’ll do things that seem quite cute, but the next thing you get is a little nip, as they try to move you. Some horses do this because they’re naturally quite mouthy, while others get irritated into it by people who aren’t very effective on the ground. When they ask the horse to move, he feels he doesn’t really have to, or moves only reluctantly. This shows you’re not moving his feet freely, there’s resentment of what’s being asked and a bit of a bad attitude that manifests itself as this aggression.
Did you know? You can enter your horse’s space whenever you choose, but he’s not allowed to enter yours unless asked. Take care to set these boundaries and stick to them.
NEXT MONTH
Why biting begins
Aggressive horses can be born with these tendencies, but for others it’s circumstances that bring it out. For example some may become aggressive at feed time because to them, you have their food but are lower in the pecking order. Whatever the cause, aggressive horses aren’t easy to handle, but it only becomes learnt behaviour if you confirm these tendencies are acceptable by moving away from any sort of aggression, teaching him how to get relief from whatever was happening.
jason’s method
To put an end to biting you have to affect your horse’s feet and make him think ‘if I try and bite they’ll make me move’, which he won’t want to do as it’s harder work than standing still. So much about biting is to do with personal space, so first you need to master having your horse stay relaxed when standing at least an arm’s length away from you. From this position he can’t bite you without
Aggressive tendencies become a problem when a horse learns he can use them to get his own way
moving so when I’m tackling biting, I use a 12ft leadrope on a rope headcollar. You can also use tools such as a pole or a bag tied to a schooling whip, to help motivate your horse to move. Work in an area where he’s got room to move, and don’t tie him up at first. Agressive horses want to come into your space because they want you to move, so if he tries to step forward and nip you, stop him making that step by asking him to move away. Do this by waving the end of your rope or using your pole to bump him. When you do this it’s important he moves immediately and does so freely. When he’s doing this, bring him back to where you started and let him rest for at least 20 seconds before you return to what you were originally doing. If he attempts to nip again, repeat the process. By continuing to check his feet each time, eventually you’ll see the biting go away.
stay protected
If your horse tries to bite you when you do things such as tightening his girth, you can protect yourself. Hold your elbow up and out so he can’t get you - this won’t stop the problem but it will help keep you safe.
Rearing explained Jason explores why horses rear and how you can tackle this dangerous habit
BUYERS’ GUIDE
Expert advice on buying wisely
What you wear under your riding clothes is as important for comfort and style as what you wear on top
your horse November 2013
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Tweed is back
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Top horse boots
New in the shops
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The gear we love
Essential undies!
You’ve got all the right riding gear – boots, breeches, hat, but don’t forget your underwear! Here’s why a good sports bra and pants are essential for comfort in the saddle
W
e’ll all happily spend a fortune on day-to-day riding gear but how many of us simply overlook the importance of a good set of underwear to ride in? The right sports bra and pants will not only make your riding gear look better, but will also provide comfort and essential support as you ride. Fortunately, underwear manufacturers have designed brilliant sports bras and pants which are great for riders. So to find sports bras that give the best support, and comfortable undies that can’t be seen through your breeches, read on.
A sports bra is a must even for light riding activity
Do you really need a sports bra? If you ride horses, the simple answer is yes. Scientific research shows that you may cause permanent and irreversible damage by exercising without a well-fitting sports bra and that includes riding activity. Your bust is only held in place by skin and the suspensory Cooper’s ligaments around it. When your bust moves, these stretch and can result in a permanent droop! By wearing a correctly-fitted sports bra, you can reduce the risk of these ligaments stretching while ensuring maximum support and comfort. This doesn’t just apply to ladies with larger busts – even if you have small breasts, the ligaments will stretch over time and the only way to stop this is to support them with a correctly-fitted sports bra. Sports scientist Dr Joanna Scurr has been carrying out research into sportsrelated breast movement at Britain’s first Research Group for Breast Health at Portsmouth University, and works with bra manufacturers to help design and test sports bras. She found that our breasts move an average of 10cm in three directions (up and down, side to side and forwards and
backwards) while running. Her research also showed that an encapsulated sports bra will reduce breast movement by up to 73%, compared with running braless.
Which sports bras work best? There are two major bra designs – the compression bra, which flattens the breasts, and the encapsulation bra, which contains moulded cups that keep each breast separate and allows independent movement. Dr Scurr’s research showed that an encapsulation bra provides the best support for women doing exercise. This is because each breast moves independently and, while compression bras flatten the breast to the chest wall, limiting the bounce up and down, they don’t provide as good support as a bra with separate cups when the breast moves back and fowards or side to side. The best sports bras for horse riding are those that provide maximum support, often called high impact. You also want to choose one that’s a good shape and looks good when you’ve got your competition jacket on. November 2013 your horse
9-10 November 2013 Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire
Inside this preview
Back and better than ever!
129 Welcome and ticket information 130 Meet the stars of the Countrywide Main Arena 133 NEW Introducing the Norbrook Rescue Village 134 Win and learn at the Your Horse stand 136 Meet the stars of the Countrywide Arena Two 138 NEW What’s on in the Equine Learning Zone 140 It’s the Hickstead Horse Feeds Horse Answers Zone!
Your Horse Live is the only event in the equestrian calendar to give you celebrity demos, one-to-one expert advice, unbeatable shopping and the chance to meet some amazing equines face to face. With more experts than ever before and some exciting brand new zones, this year’s show is shaping up to be the best yet!
16 page
essential guide to the rugs you’ll need to keep your horse cosy and warm through winter 2013
Winter
Rug Guide 2013
Next month in
On sale
31 Oct Better Riding ● J umping advice from
eventing star Tina Cook ●H ow to succeed in indoor jumping ●T he benefits of bitless riding explained
Horse Care ● E x-racer behaviour
explained ● K issing spines uncovered ● O ur guide to feeding through the winter
Buyers’ Guide ● C hristmas gifts for every budget! ● S tain removers on test
● E ssential kit for winter competitions
Plus...
● P ara stars share their training secrets! ● H ow you can compete from home!
Don’t Your 2014 winter gear guide + free mini horse care guide! Miss!