2
giFt ! e insid
2013 winter +care guide
BE a BETTEr rIDEr, gET ThE BEsT from your horsE
January 2014
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laminitis Inspiring real life stories of hope and recovery
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Your Horse 381 January 2014
32-page schooling guide e e r F s
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Why riding’s the best therapy Find out about the equine-based therapy that’s changing the lives of physically-challenged individuals and their families Words Larissa Chapman Photography Tom Calton
I OUR EXPERT Dr Valerie CooPer M.C.S.P. is a lecturer in physiotherapy at Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University in Scotland, a Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) Regional Physiotherapist, and also a member of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Therapeutic Riding (ACPTR).
t’s easy to take our bodies for granted. Basic tasks from dressing ourselves to walking are second nature, while simple pleasures like riding a bike and kicking a football come naturally. Now imagine a life where these things don’t come naturally, where you’re trapped in your own body, unable to move properly or do things for yourself. That’s what many children and adults with physical disabilities face on a daily basis. But thanks to our four-legged equine friends, many of these people are quite literally finding their feet again. Hippotherapy is a form of riding therapy that helps people build their core, manipulate their muscles and tap into their inner strength. It can help them learn to walk, move more naturally and do things for themselves. Believe it or not, it has nothing to do with hippopotamuses! Derived from the Greek word ‘hippos’ meaning ‘horse’, hippotherapy literally refers to treatment or therapy aided by horses. Originally developed to help people with physical disabilities, these days it’s branched out to help those who have learning difficulties too, but this tends to be known under the umbrella term, equine-assisted therapy. Read on to find out more about this amazing therapy and find out how horses have changed two little boys’ lives for the better.
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Hippotherapy Turn the page to find out how Jay’s time in the saddle has improved his life
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january 2014 your horse
CliCk &
WiN! www.yourhorse.co.uk/win
T
his is your last chance to enter 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
1 lucky reader will win this fantastic horsebox! host of extras and a full year’s road tax. 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.
WORTH A MASSIVE
ÂŁ30,950
Watch online Take a video tour round this fantastic horsebox at www. yourhorse.co.uk/win
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Competition
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, 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
How to enter For your chance to win this amazing prize: ● Go to www.winahorsebox.co.uk
and follow the instructions. Please note, special terms and conditions apply (see website for details) ● The closing date is midday on 2 January 2014 ● For more on the Equi-Trek range, call 01484 852121 or visit the website www.equi-trek.com ● Our Win a Horsebox competition is open to UK entrants only, who must be 18 or over and own their own horse
50 years of excellent service
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January 2014 your horse
Helping to lighten the load Take a tour of the globe’s working equines to discover what’s being done to support their efforts – and how we can make a world of difference to their lives
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horses in work
Morocco Moroccan ‘caleche’ horses provide a taxi service for tourists and locals on the busy streets of Marrakech. It’s a hard life for many carriage horses. Traffic accidents are frequent in noisy and crowded cities, while a lack of basics such as comfortable harness and regular watering stops makes the job tougher still.
Who’s there to help? Thanks to lobbying by SPANA, a new bylaw ensures that the 550 Marrakech caleche horses are now microchipped for identification and inspected regularly.
PHOTOS: SPANA/SuzANNe POrTer
echnology may have transformed our lives, but people in many parts of the world still rely on horsepower, and life is far from leisurely for the millions of horses, mules and donkeys who must earn their living. From herding cattle to hauling goods and carrying cargo, a horse is frequently the best – and often the only – way to get the job done. The sad fact is that many of these willing workers lead exhausting lives, made worse by the difficult conditions they must endure. Without the necessary money or knowledge, their owners are unable to provide even the most basic preventative care such as worming, correct farriery and well-fitting harness. Yet happy, healthy animals are more productive and can better support poor families. By setting up veterinary treatment centres and implementing local training programmes and simple healthcare initiatives, welfare charities are lightening the load for the world’s equine workforce in countries as diverse as Pakistan and Mexico. These charities need our support through donations and more, so read on to find out what’s being done to help the globe’s working equines – and how we can help to make a difference to their daily lives.
The charity has trained local farriers, provided water troughs and encouraged better care standards. A yearly competition rewards the owners of well-kept horses – an incentive that is also improving the welfare of the many mules that carry tourists into the country’s High Atlas mountains.
What we can do Offer non-horsey colleagues holidaying abroad a copy of SPANA’s Holiday Hooves Guide leaflet, which explains how to choose a horse, donkey, mule or camel that appears healthy. Find out more about SPANA’s work at www.spana.org
SPANA is striving to improve the welfare of Morroco’s caleche horses
Across the globe, charities estimate there are 100 million working equines
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Pakistan’s 4.7 million working equines are supported by a number of charities, including The Brooke
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january 2014 your horse
PHOTO: THE BROOKE
Horses of the world
Total Confidenc next month sees the start of our 2014 total Confidence series – back for its second year running and now bigger and better than ever! Whatever your riding and horse care issues, our panel of experts will be on hand to guide you through your confidence highs and lows. So meet the team who’ll be helping you and get set for a new, more confident you!
Lucinda Green
Photo: AdAm FAnthorPe
here to help boost your nerve when you’re riding cross-country is legendary eventer Lucinda Green mBe. With a wealth of World and european Championship medals (not to mention an olympic silver medal) under her belt, nowadays Lucinda is best known as a cross-country trainer and teaches riders of all levels all over the world. over the next six months she’ll be sharing her advice on ways to boost your confidence, over both cross-country jumps and over varying terrain. She’ll be tackling rider frighteners, riding through and jumping water, riding at speed, jumping a course and beating your competition nerves.
top trainer Sylvia Loch has been both teaching and training classical equitation since the mid-1970s and will be on hand during our total Confidence series to help you develop confidence through your seat. She has judged Lusitano and Andalusian horses all over the world and is an Accredited Instructor of Portugal – making her the only British person to be certified by the Portuguese national School of equestrian Art. Adding to her credentials, Sylvia is also the founder of the Lusitano Breed Society of Great Britain (1984) and subsequently founded the Classical riding Club in 1995. With such an impressive CV, Sylvia’s the ideal expert to help you improve your position, posture and security in the saddle. her advice will help you assess your position and how it affects your riding and confidence – and show you how to improve and be at one with your horse.
your horse JANuAry 2014
SyLvia Loch
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ce is back! nataSha Baker
As a performance psychology coach who’s worked with olympiclevel athletes, confidence guru Charlie Unwin understands the mindset of the average rider and the challenges and worries we all face. he’s built a reputation for being able to expertly help riders perform more consistently at competitions and thrive under pressure. over the past year, Charlie has worked with Grand Prix level dressage riders and four-star eventers, as well as ‘normal’ everyday horse owners. over the next six months you’ll have access to his expertise as he answers your confidence questions and guides you through the simple steps you can take to beat your demons – all using the power of your mind.
keLLy MarkS & roSie JoneS
COMINTG NEX ! MONTH As a double Paralympic gold medallist, natasha Baker is one of the best known riders on the Para circuit and a great expert to have on board for our new total Confidence series. After contracting a virus as a baby, natasha was left with limited movement in her legs, but she has never let this stand in the way of her riding and competing dreams. over the next six months, she’ll be sharing her techniques to help you cope after injury, or if you get a physical problem – working to fine-tune your communication with your horse. She’ll be explaining how to recognise your strengths, build self-belief, and beat competition day nerves.
charLie unwin
If you love Kelly marks’ Intelligent horsemanship training methods, you’ll love the advice we’ve got coming up over the next six months. Intelligent horsemanship recommended Associate rosie Jones – who’s one of Kelly’s star pupils – will be on hand to help Kelly answer your questions and tackle your confidence woes. over the next six months the pair will be helping you understand your horse and build a bond with him that will boost your confidence, whether you love to hack, compete or simply enjoy time together. Intelligent horsemanship is dedicated to promoting understanding and fair treatment of horses – and you can only benefit from Kelly and rosie’s advice.
Our series comes to life next April with our new event Total Confidence Live! More details next month • Got a question for our experts? Email it to us at getinvolved@yourhorse.co.uk w w w.you r hor se .co.u k
JANuAry 2014 your horse
Stay calm and focuSed before a competition
Keep your youngSter’S training on tracK
Better Riding
Be your own coach
No instructor? No problem! Three top trainers share simple techniques and tricks to help you shape your schooling sessions Words Andrea Oakes
OUR EXPERTs
Yogi Breisner was a top rider before turning to coaching. As chef d’equipe to the British eventing team, he has led our eventers to a string of Olympic medals.
Charlie hutton is based at the Talland School of Equitation. He rides and trains dressage horses at international level and teaches riders of all abilities.
maKe every Schooling SeSSion count
amY stovold is a dressage rider who competes regularly on the international scene and is tipped for the top with new ride Debonnet.
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othing beats regular instruction with a good coach to keep your riding at its best. But what happens if your trainer is away, or a lack of time or money means a lesson is out of the question? Don’t panic! With the right preparation you can still make good progress, as our top trainers Yogi Breisner, Charlie Hutton and Amy Stovold explain. Here’s all you need to know about going it alone, from motivating yourself before a show to shaping your schooling sessions for success, starting with Yogi’s advice to help you stay cool and confident during your pre-competition prep if you don’t have the benefit of a trainer’s help. “It’s natural for nerves to set in as a competition approaches,” says Yogi. “Many people start to panic that things don’t feel quite right, but the most important thing, as a rider, is to stay the same. “Ideally, you’ve already organised a programme with your trainer that you can work on at home. The key is to stick to it – be prepared to be flexible and tweak the plan depending on how your horse is feeling that day or how he worked the day before, but don’t move away from it too much in the run-up to the event. “An organised rider will be very clear on their short, medium and long-term objectives. These will be very individual to a particular horse, but the general aim is to work to a balanced and varied programme that incorporates schooling, jumping and fitness work. Things should not change drastically before you compete – there’s no need for exercise peaking or tapering unless you’re doing a three-day-event – so something like a one-day event should fit into your normal routine. “As you work towards a competition, be aware of your own temperament as a rider. Assess
a knowledgeable friend can act as your eyes on the ground
whether you’re inclined to underdo or overdo the training and how you tend to react to the prospect of competing. To help keep a clear head, make notes about how the horse performs each session to plan ahead for the next. Keep a record year in, year out, too, so you know which pre-competition programme works best for him.”
‘eyes’ on the ground “You’ll need to practise your dressage test or certain aspects of your cross-country or showjumping, but it’s not always easy without ‘eyes on the ground’ to give you feedback,” says Yogi. “This might be a good time to make use of videoing, perhaps asking someone to film you so you can analyse things later. Maybe a knowledgeable friend can observe you as you run through a test. “Don’t be tempted to try anything new or more difficult at this stage. During the run-up to a competition you should consolidate what you already know and build confidence, so don’t do anything you wouldn’t do if your coach was there. It’s important to prepare not just the physical side of the horse but his mental attitude, too, so it’s vital to keep a level head. Be patient, don’t panic and never lose your temper – if things aren’t working in a training session, count to 10 then look for something that’s going to make a difference and work on it.” January 2014 your horse
Mix it up! If you find yourself lacking motivation or inspiration for your winter riding, spice up your week with our suggestions from father and son team Richard and Tom Davison
OUR EXPERTs
RichaRd davison is a dressage rider and four-time Olympian, most recently competing at the London 2012 Games. He’s been competing internationally for 30 years and has previously served as the British World Class Performance Manager and British Dressage team captain.
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hether you have specific goals for your horse or just want to keep him fit and flexible through the winter, having a weekly plan for your riding really helps. This doesn’t have to mean grinding through the same old things week in, week out, however – after all variety is the spice of life. Our dressage horses will train in the school no more than four days a
week, and will hack and do pole work alongside faster work to build and maintain the fitness they need. We’ll plan each week to take everyone’s schedules into account, as well as the weather forecast, but we stay flexible as both can obviously change! Try our training suggestions and keep your winter workouts interesting and effective, so you and your horse hit the ground running next year.
Use a set point such as a fence post to measure his responsiveness
Session 1: Flatwork and transitions for accuracy and responsiveness
Tom davison is a former member of Team GB’s U21 show jumping team and is a UKCC Accredited Coach. Alongside his training work, Tom is heavily involved in the competition, management and production of the Davison family’s young dressage and show jumping horses. * Read more about Richard and Tom at www.davison equestrian.com
Transitions are the most important part of training a horse, so we ride them every day – they’re where you achieve responses from your horse. It’s also important to keep how you use your transitions interesting so your schooling stays fresh and engaging for you both. An exercise we use is working between canter and trot on a 20m circle. Ride two circles in canter, one in trot, then back to canter, making the transitions as you cross the centre line. Aim to be as accurate as possible. When you’ve got the hang of this, try reducing the trot to three-quarters of a circle, which brings your transition back a quarter-circle each time. It’s
your horse January 2014
a great test for your concentration and accuracy, so it’ll help you when you’re riding tests or jumping a course. Another good transition exercise is riding trot to walk down the long side, assessing how far you travel from the moment you give the signal to your horse to the point he makes the transition. Do this on both reins as it’s likely he’s more responsive on one than the other. When you’ve worked out how long it’s taking, adjust when you ask so you can be really accurate – your transitions should happen as your leg passes the arena marker. If it takes him 2m to respond, ask 2m before the marker. The more you focus on being accurate, the more responsive he’ll become, so there are benefits for you both.
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Better Riding vary your winter riding on a daily basis to keep it interesting
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January 2014 your horse
‘You’re never too old to learn’
We meet three older riders who are loving their horsey lives – and discover why riding seems to be even better when you’re in your 50s and beyond! Words Sam Lewis
Learning to ride is better when you’re older Learning to ride in your 50s is a feat in itself, but Ella Davies went one step further and left her job as an NHS nurse to study to become an equine lecturer “I remember being besotted with horses from the age of six,” says Ella. “My parents couldn’t afford to buy me a pony, so I used to drag my sister two miles over some fields just to pat a horse on a farm nearby. Sometimes I visited my grandfather on the farm where he worked and he would pop me on top of one of the Clydesdales who were kept to plough the fields. They were huge, but I was never afraid. “As an adult I was always too busy working to pursue my passion. I worked for the NHS in various posts but, in 2005, I became so stressed as a senior nurse I decided to leave. “I went to an open day at Kingston Maurward College with the intention of signing up for a horticultural course, but ended up spending more time talking to a Scottish lady, an equine sports psychologist called Anne Keen, on the equine stand next door. I told her I’d always wanted to work with horses and she persuaded me to become a voluntary worker at the college. At the age of 54, I suddenly found myself driving a 50-mile round trip every day to sweep, make tea or muck out. I did anything I could to make myself useful. “After three or four weeks, I began riding
lessons, mostly on ex-competition horses, with the help of some really good instructors armed with incredible patience. I was nervous riding some of the horses – there was one who used to tank off in the arena! But although I had some hairy moments, I somehow managed never to fall off. “It was a good laugh – my husband was learning too, and actor Martin Clunes was also taking lessons at the same time, so you can imagine the banter. I think we’re all a good example of how horses can get under your skin later in life. “As a voluntary worker, the college paid for me to do my British Horse Society (BHS) Level 1, 2 and 3 Horse Owner’s Certificate, as well as my BHS Riding and Road Safety Test, and BHS Stage 1 Horse Knowledge Care. I became hooked and went on to take teaching qualifications and become a horse care lecturer. Finally I was being paid to work with horses. “In 2008 I bought a stunning 10-year-old, 14.2hh Connemara pony who I kept on working livery. He was so beautiful, but he was a cheeky chappie and I just wasn’t confident enough at that time to keep him in check. I had my first and only fall with him and broke my wrist – suddenly I became aware of my age. It broke my heart but I found him a great new home early in 2010. “The college then lent me an old 16.2hh
Ella’s tips for older riders ●● Don’t fall in love with the first horse
you see. Seek advice as to whether he’s the right horse for you. ‘What’s in brain goes down the rein’, so find a horse you trust ●● Don’t be frightened to admit your faults – voice concerns to your instructor, ask for help when you need it and go at your own pace. It’s an individual thing ●● You may not be fit when you first start
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riding, but this will increase a lot as you progress. Rhythm, balance and breathing can be tricky when you’re older, but keep trying and it will improve ●● Never say never. Pursue your dreams no matter how old you are ●● If you’re stressed, spend time around horses. Get to know them, spend time on the ground with them and you can be amazed at what they give back. I gave them love; they gave me back my sanity
Riding’s therapeutic, says Ella
schoolmaster who helped me regain my confidence. Eventually I decided to quit lecturing and spend more time enjoying the horses and retirement. “My husband visited another fabulous riding centre nearby – Bovington’s RAC Saddle Club – and fell in love with an ex-cavalry horse called Drummond. He suggested we shared him and although it wasn’t love at first sight for me, especially as he once tried to buck me off, I really adore him now and we have an incredible bond. “I ride around three or four times a week, hack out, have lessons and plan to compete at Prelim dressage. But most of the time I simply enjoy spending hours grooming Drummond. It’s so therapeutic. I think learning to ride is best in some ways when you’re older. Being retired affords you the time and pleasure of actually studying your horse more. We have mutual trust and respect for each other – something I may not have appreciated at a younger age.” w w w.you r hor se .co.u k
PhotoS: IaN LeNtoN
Better Riding
At 62, Ella’s formed a fantastic bond with ex-cavalry horse Drummond
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january 2014 your horse
Roly stands proudly with Stan, one of World Horse Welfare’s permanent residents
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The Big Interview
“There’s never been so much ignorance” Roly Owers talks about being Chief Executive of one of the UK’s best-known equine charities, World Horse Welfare, his passion for horses, the reasons behind the growing number of abuse cases and the future challenges Words Larissa Chapman Photography Matthew Roberts
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s we hurtle headfirst into yet another bitterly icy winter, more and more horses are being left out in the cold as the grass fades and the winter feed bills rocket. Charities are already stretched to breaking point and with an influx of needy horses predicted to swamp rescue centres over the coming months, we caught up with Roly Owers to find
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out about the challenges faced by those on the frontline fighting against horse abuse and neglect. Pulling up at World Horse Welfare’s head office in Norfolk it’s a beautiful picture as we make our way down the winding drive. Horses are grazing with the sun on their backs and the place is bustling with members of the public fussing over the four-legged residents.
When we reach the office, Roly bounds down to greet us with such enthusiasm, we immediately feel at home and welcomed into the World Horse Welfare brood. As we settle down in his office, I prepare to quiz him on everything from his childhood to some of the most memorable cases of his career at the head of the World Horse Welfare charity. January 2014 your horse
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The Editor says
All year round hi-vis is an essential bit of kit for every rider but now, as the darker nights creep in and dreary weather hampers visibility out on the roads, it’s more important than ever. To help you and your horse stay safe we’ve joined up with the HyViz team to bring you this top quality HyViz package so you can be seen, head to toe! Subscribe today and get the adjustable HyViz Mesh Waistcoat (CE marked and certified to BS EN1150) and the matching hat- and armband. With fab features such as silver retroreflective tape and a phone pocket on the waistcoat you’ll feel safe and visible, whatever the weather. imogen Johnson, Editor
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January 2014 your horse
Back from the brink!
Having fought their way back from severe illness and injury, we celebrate the stories of three horses who are proof that, with the right care and support, miracles can happen Camilla Caldwell & Sundance
From heartache to hope
The happy sight Camilla feared she’d never see
Three years ago, Camilla Caldwell’s life was rocked when happiness turned to heartache. Just weeks after celebrating the fact that her former rescue horse, Sundance, was in foal, her mare fell victim to a nasty bout of colic. Rushed into surgery with a twisted gut, the prognosis was poor. Vets feared Camilla would lose her beloved horse on the operating table and, even if she survived, there was little hope for her unborn foal. But Sundance defied the odds. Not only did she survive the operation, she went on to give birth to a beautiful, healthy filly. “I was beside myself at the thought of losing my best friend,” says Camilla, who lives in Hampshire. “But Sundance is an absolute trooper and her baby is nothing short of a miracle. “We were told Sundance had less than a 50/50 chance of survival after colic struck and her gut twisted. She’s quite a nervous character as she didn’t have the best start in life. When a storm blew down a huge oak tree in her field, the stress and panic brought on colic. My vet gave her antispasmodic drugs and pain killers, but when there was no improvement she was rushed to Liphook Equine Hospital for surgery, a two-hour journey away.
“We had a sleepless night while Sundance was in surgery. Vets told me it was unlikely she’d survive and held even less hope for her foal – but she did pull through and spent two weeks in the hospital recovering. “Because all the focus was on Sundance, I had little hope that her unborn foal had survived, and it wasn’t until she came home again that we got her scanned. I braced myself for bad news, but there, blinking away on the screen, was a little heartbeat! Now that same little heartbeat is a strapping three-year-old filly and Sundance has been a fab mum. “We faced heartache again this year when Sundance contracted peritonitis as a result of adhesions from her colic surgery – and again she was desperately poorly. But we managed to nurse her back to health for a second time. She’s a true fighter!”
Sky takes her first ever steps
Camilla’s tips for coping with colic ● Take the recovery process slowly
and be guided by your vet. Sundance had eight weeks’ box rest in total after surgery and then turnout in a very small paddock ● If, like Sundance, your horse is very stressy, try to keep his routine as steady as possible ● Keep a close eye on your horse’s feeding regime. I’m always careful that any changes are made very gradually for fear of upsetting her digestive system
your horse January 2014
Horse Care Body
Despite having life-saving surgery while in-foal, Sundance defied the odds to give birth to a healthy filly
BUYERS’ GUIDE
Expert advice on buying wisely
An exercise sheet can help your horse stay dry and comfortable whatever the weather
your horse january 2014
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PAge 120
PAge 122
Tack room essentials
Leather care
PAge 128
PAge 130
3 of the best socks for riding
New gear in the shops
the test pUt to
Exercise sheets Find out which of the six exercise sheets we tested is the best to help your horse stay warm and dry on his winter rides
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whether you’re hacking out on a chilly, rainy day or waiting between classes at a competition, a well-fitting, waterproof exercise sheet will make it more bearable and comfortable for your horse and keep him warm and dry. YH Buyers Guide editor Allison Lowther and writer Larissa Chapman have been testing six wrap-around exercise sheets while they’ve been hacking and schooling, to see which one works best. they looked at the fit of each rug, particularly how easily and securely it fitted around the saddle. they also looked at whether the rugs lived up to the manufacturer’s claims and assessed their overall performance at keeping their horses warm and dry. Read on for their report to see which exercise sheet they’d recommend your horse wears this winter.
Mark todd Waterproof Exercise Sheet £47.95 This sheet has a good shape and depth. It fits well around the saddle and it’s nicely cut away where the rider’s leg sits. The soft fleece lining was thick enough to keep the horse warm even on chilly mornings. The outer material has proved to be waterproof and was heavy enough not to flap in the wind or when cantering. This sheet was well made and performed well and is the one Allison and Larissa recommend.
Sizes 4ft 6in to 5ft Contact 01303 872277 or www.wefi.co.uk
Masta Zing Ride-on Exercise Sheet £48.50 The cut of this exercise sheet was different to the others and wasn’t as deep, but it did look smart. However, the fit wasn’t as good as some of the others and, once fastened at the wither, some of the touch-and-close material was left exposed and caught on gloves when riding. It met Masta’s claims of being waterproof, breathable and to keep the horse comfortably warm, despite being a light weight.
Sizes S to XL Contact 01274 711101 or www.masta.co.uk
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january 2014 your horse
Cloning uncovered
Seeing double As William Fox-Pitt’s famous Tamarillo is cloned, the creation of geneticallyidentical horses is back in the spotlight. We explore how the process works, and the questions it raises
I OUR EXPERT Eric PalmEr is the CEO of French cloning firm Cryozootech, which has created equine clones of famous horses including show jumper Gem Twist. Go to www. cryozootech.com to find out more.
f you could conjure up an exact replica of your horse, would you do it? While the cost of cloning means there’s little chance of the average owner resorting to this method of replacing a beloved horse, for the lucrative top-end breeding market the gains are clear, especially after international competition rules were changed to allow clones and their offspring to compete. In the case of event horse Tamarillo, the reported £104,000 cost of creating his clone ‘Tomatillo’ was borne by a syndicate of shareholders, but if the foal goes on to fulfil his breeding potential the returns have the potential to be massive. Cloning may have the ring of the laboratory to it, but in nature
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organisms have been cloning themselves for billions of years. Plants which send out runners that become new plants are creating clones – examples include strawberries, onions, potatoes and grass. In mammals, natural clones occur in the form of identical twins – they’re genetically different to their parents, but have the same genetic make-up as each other. Lab-made clones have only one genetic parent, and the first equine clone, a Haflinger foal called Prometea born in 2003, was even carried by her genetically-identical surrogate ‘mother’. But Prometea’s birth came after more than 300 attempts yielded just 14 viable embryos, and of the four placed into surrogate mares, Prometea was the
only one to survive to full term. As well as the difficulties faced in the creation of clones, there have been concerns about both the ethics involved and their long-term health, as some in species, including cattle and sheep, clones have shown increased rates of heart, lung and other organ problems. Equine clones have yet to show signs of illness, but with the oldest still only 10 years old the possibility of future health issues lingers. However Prometea has appeared to develop normally, and in 2008 gave birth to a healthy foal named Pegasus via artificial insemination. Her creator, Italian professor Cesare Galli, said the pregnancy and birth was the final proof of her normality, but only time will tell. january 2014 your horse
Next month in On sale 26 Dec
Better Riding ● Winter hacking special
● Get fit to ride in the New Year ● Equine conformation:
the good, the bad, the ugly, explained!
Free with Your Horse! Your 32-page schooling patterns pocket book
Horse Care ● How your horse learns ● Mounting made easy ● How hard feeds
affect behaviour
Buyers’ Guide ● Winter jackets tried and tested ● Our guide to riding hats
● The winter gloves you’ll
be desperate to buy
Plus...
● We spend 24 hours in equine
A&E & investigate rogue traders in the horse world!
Don’t Miss!
All THE bEsT biTs frOM Your Horse live 2013!
WINTER caRE guIdE Essential horse care advice
Take a look inside for tips and advice on feeding for a fit but calm horse, finding the right rug, feed balancers, grooming for a healthy horse plus more!