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TakE conTRol Put an end to napping with advice from Jason Webb
Beat injuRy
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Your Horse 386 may 2014
REVEALED! ExpERt wAys to BAnish his hAcking fEARs
Stop hi StReSS m BEhAV ing
pRo BE iouR nh tELLs y ARt ou how
tRAin his BoDy & BRAin
Easy ways to develop topline, relaxation and balance on the lunge
Want a job helping horses? If you’d love a career in the equine health industry, we’ve asked the professionals to give you the low-down on how you can make your dreams a reality
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OUR EXPERT Emma Dainty is a chartered veterinary physiotherapist and member of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT).
nce upon a time, the only healthcare professionals your horse would see would be the farrier and the occasional vet, but today we’re lucky enough to have an array of well-trained therapists and experts on hand to help keep him sound and happy. This month, we asked Your Horse readers if they’d ever fancied joining their ranks*, and
a whopping 88% said they’d considered changing career, but cited the cost of re-training, worrying over whether they had the right qualifications and not knowing where to start as the reasons holding them back. We might not be able to help with a cash injection, but we have spoken to experts in the three most popular fields – equine physiotherapy,
equine nutrition and veterinary nursing – to give you a taste of what life on the job really entails, as well as information on how you too could pursue a career in each area. So if you’ve ever dreamed of leaving your desk behind and getting out there helping horses, read on to find out how you can make it happen. * Your Horse equine healthcare careers survey, March 2014
Help horses physically as an equine physiotherapist “From my teens I knew I wanted to do equine veterinary physiotherapy, but I was more than happy to qualify to treat humans first, which is very rewarding and also means I can help riders as well as their horses,” says veterinary physiotherapist Emma Dainty. “Treating people also helped me understand what normal tissue feels like and
how it responds, as well as get verbal feedback, which all really helped when I started animal work. “As a veterinary physiotherapist it’s not my job to diagnose a problem, but we work very closely with vets and often
assess patients together, which I really enjoy. I also work closely with other professionals such as farriers and saddle fitters, as well as owners or trainers – it’s a team approach.
if you find physiotherapy fascinating, it could be a potential career for you
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Caring for a living
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may 2014 your horse
Total Confidence As our confidence coaches continue their mission to boost your nerve on the ground and in the saddle, this month they’re on hand to offer advice on staying calm and in control at a competition, in the arena and out hacking Coming up this month
meet our confidence coacheS
Lucinda Green is an eventing legend and top trainer who runs XC The Safe Way clinics.
roSie JoneS is a Recommended Associate of Intelligent Horsemanship.
SyLvia Loch is one of the UK’s leading classical dressage riders and trainers.
nataSha Baker is a double Paralympic dressage rider and European Gold Medalist.
charLie unwin is an Olympic sports psychology coach with a special interest in riders.
Find out more about our coaches at www.yourhorse.co.uk/tc
24 charlie unwin helps you stay cool, calm and collected at a show 26 natasha Baker has advice to keep you supple and injury-free 26 Lucinda Green helps you tackle riding over rough terrain 27 Sylvia Loch explains simple, nerve-boosting exercises 29 rosie Jones gets you hacking with confidence – starting with simple in-hand work
Conquer competition nerves Competing can cause our emotions to bubble to the surface and our logical senses to weaken, making it hard to focus. Here Charlie Unwin helps you handle those feelings and stay in control For many of us, the pressure that comes with the buzz of a competition environment is enough to cause our nerves to take over. This means it can feel horribly stressful, but there are steps you can take to help keep everything in perspective. Under pressure, the emotional part of your brain (which is four times stronger and quicker than the logical part), takes control. So, as your emotional brain jumps into the driving seat, it becomes harder to relax and keep calm. The good news is that it’s not impossible to overcome these feelings. The key is to learn how to handle pressure, and to do this you can create a positive ‘bubble’ – namely, a consistent approach to competing that helps you thrive under pressure.
creating your positive ‘bubble’
Learn to handle the pressure of a competition atmosphere and channel it into excitement, rather than nerves
your horse APrIL mAy 2014 2014
Building your bubble begins ahead of competition day, starting with rest and sleep. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s lights out at 7pm the night before, as many people find it hard to sleep on the eve of a big day, but in the week leading up to it try to ensure you get plenty of sleep. Next, be sure to back up your rest by staying well hydrated, as dehydration can upset the balance of minerals (ie salts and sugars) in the body, and if you’re feeling weak or lightheaded you’re unlikely to be able to perform at your best. Once you’ve started to build your bubble this way, and followed the breathing exercises explained on the right, you’ll find it easier to calm your thoughts and handle pressure. w w w.you r hor se .co.u k
Total Confidence
Back up your breathing exercises by listening to a particular piece of music as you ride – even pro riders like Ben hobday (pictured here) use techniques like these to get focused
relax and breathe
Many riders struggle to relax as a result of not breathing properly, so reinforce your positive ‘bubble’ with some simple breathing exercises. Try breathing in through your nose for five seconds and out through your mouth for five seconds, as controlling the rhythm and rate of your breathing can help to regulate your heart beat too. As you breathe in and out, focus on relaxing your neck and shoulders, letting them soften, before also relaxing your torso and legs. You can do this in and out of the saddle to create conditions that will help you think clearly and stay relaxed on the big day, or combine the technique with a piece of music that puts you in a positive frame of mind. Listen to your chosen track just before you compete to calm your nerves and focus your mind.
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mAy 2014 your horse
Lauren with her Burghley 2011 horse Zero Flight – the pair were placed in the top 10
The Big Interview
“I’d love to get on a British team” This is set to be a big year for eventer Lauren Shannon, as she reveals plans for a new yard, promotes her eventing business and gets set to conquer the UK competition scene Words Larissa Chapman Photography Matthew Roberts
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t’s a bumpy ride down the drive to Lauren Shannon’s house as extensive building work at her new yard busily rattles on around us. Stepping inside her home, we’re greeted by five very excitable dogs of all shapes and sizes and welcomed by the lady herself and her grooms. Despite the building site outside, the house is a calm oasis with high ceilings, exposed beams and eclectic artwork. After just five minutes in Lauren’s company, it’s clear she doesn’t cut the usual ‘horse mad’ figure we so often see. There’s no question she’s a passionate and successful horsewoman, but she’s also a fresh take on the professional rider image. With her bright blue beanie hat worn on a slant and her blonde locks poking out of the end, she wouldn’t look out of place on the slopes of Val d’Isere or down on the beach with the surf bods.
The American twang in Lauren’s accent tells of her years growing up in Utah, and her passion for all things outdoors, from skiing to mountain biking, shows hidden depths. As we settle down with our cup of tea, I’m intrigued to find out more about Lauren: what it was like growing up in America, her life with horses – and her hopes for 2014. After all, from setting up her own business and producing horses to four-star level, to clinching a top 10 spot at Burghley Horse Trials in 2011 and completing an English and business degree at Loughborough University, it’s fair to say she’s achieved more than most people do in a lifetime, all at the tender age of just 26. So what makes this talented and determined rider tick, and how has she coped with the pressures of this tough sport? Turn over to discover the answers. May 2014 your horse
BETTER RIDING
Easy-to-follow expert advice for beginners to advanced riders
At the start of the lesson it’s clear Bubbles enjoys her jumping, but she can get too keen and take off too early
your horse May 2014
PAge 41
Improve his halt
PAge 42
Top riders’ favourite training tools
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PAge 46
get your horse focused
PAge 53
Spook-proof him the Met police way!
Carol Mailer’s
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Show Jumping Masterclass every issue we give one reader a lesson with a pro – this month Carol Mailer helps Cathy scott improve her horse’s canter to stop her taking off too early so they can jump clear every time
Bubbles gets off to a good start, landing in the middle of each bounce
Meet the trainer CArol MAIler is a show jumping coach and author of several training books. Her latest, Fooproof Jumping exercises (£17.99), can be bought from www. halebooks.com
Use a basic grid to help find your rhythm
Meet the rider CAThy SCoTT and her eightyear-old TB mare, Bubbles, both enjoy their jumping. This enthusiasm can mean Bubbles takes off early which, as the fences get bigger, will make it difficult for her to jump cleanly and make distances more difficult
At the start of the lesson Cathy tells me that while Bubbles loves her jumping, her enthusiasm can make her canter a bit too fast and flat. So to start the session I set her off down a simple grid of five cross-poles, set at 12ft apart. This is a good place to start
The lesson focus
●●Warm up over a basic
five-fence grid to help develop an energetic and correct canter rhythm ●●Use a grid of three fences to check you can maintain a good quality canter and find the optimum take-off point ●●Focus on riding in a consistent rhythm around a course of jumps
as it encourages riders like Cathy to ride in a good quality canter. I’m looking for Bubbles to land in the same place between each fence. As Cathy approaches the grid off the right rein she needs to remember to make her approach straight and keep her inside shoulder up. To begin with she drops her right shoulder, which encourages Bubbles to be a little careless with her inside front leg. The second time is much better, and the rhythm through the grid is even. On the third go, Cathy’s a little too relaxed at the first fence, so I remind her to keep riding forwards from her leg into her hand. It can be all too easy when things are going well to ease off a little, but it’s vital to remain consistent in your riding so your horse finds it easy to jump cleanly. May 2014 your horse
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Better Riding
Police horses are trained using simple techniques we can all recreate in the arena, as our expert explains
Bombproof your horse the Met Police way! Trainer to the Metropolitan Mounted Police Unit, Adam Mills, knows what it takes to create a bombproof horse, and here he reveals his training secrets so you can stay safe too
P OUR EXPERT AdAm mills has worked as a trainer for the Metropolitan Mounted Police Unit for 20 years. He has also run livery yards, worked in the racing industry and trained alongside top riders. For more on the unit, visit www.met. police.uk
eople the world over are always amazed by the courage and calmness of Britain’s police horses, and nothing is more challenging for a flight animal like the horse than patrolling the streets of London. At the Metropolitan Mounted Police Unit it’s our job to train rookie horses and turn them into the exceptional animals we see working in the Capital. I firmly believe most horses are capable of behaving well in scary situations, provided they undergo the correct training and desensitisation, and here I explain the techniques you can use to give your horse confidence when the pressure’s on. The good news is you don’t have to jump through fire or offer to steward at a local football match to make him bombproof!
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School for control In order to ask your horse to do something he’s unsure of, you need to be in control, have him listening to your aids, keep him straight, engaged, and be able to control his paces. Schooling for all these elements will also flag up any behavioural issues that need work, giving you chance to rectify them before you leave the comfort of your arena. Here at the mounted unit, schooling forms the foundation of our horses’ work as it’s crucial we have control at all times. If you’re worried about your horse’s level of training, enlist the help of a good instructor and make sure the basics I’ve listed here are in place before you progress. Also ensure your horse will stand when asked. This can be useful in any situation, from waiting
A well-schooled horse will be easier to control
to cross a busy road to standing before going in the ring at a show. Next time you’re schooling, try randomly asking your horse to stand for a minute before walking on again to instil patience. Without this basic training in place, you’ll rely solely on your horse’s good nature to ensure you stay out of trouble, so ensure you have control before heading out on the roads. May 2014 your horse
Put him on the road to recovery Getting your horse back to full fitness after injury can be a daunting task, so we’ve enlisted McTimoney animal therapist Emily Graham to share her simple, six-week recovery plan for you to work your horse through at home
R OUR EXPERT Emily Graham uses McTimoney treatment combined with massage, mobilisations, stretching and laser therapy to help horses and dogs who are suffering from musculoskeletal discomfort. Find out more at www. emilygraham.co.uk
ehabilitating your horse after an injury is an individual process, as different injuries and different horses will require a unique training programme put together specifically for them by their vet and qualified therapist. However, as a general rule, most post-injury workout regimes will consist of a six-week schedule, made up of a variety of gradual fittening exercises. So, whether your horse is coming back from injury or you simply need some fresh and effective fittening ideas, read on for my six-week plan. Broken into three simple stages, you can follow the plan in full or cherry-pick the exercises that work for you and your horse.
Get your horse back to full fitness with ease thanks to our simple, expert guide
Better Riding WEEks 1 - 2
Build strength On this page we’re focusing on the first two weeks of your regime, where your main aim is to develop your horse’s walk and build his strength. Poles on the floor will get your horse thinking and using his core muscles
Stay in walk to start
Begin your session on a loose rein and walk your horse on a fairly large circle around your arena or schooling area. How he feels and what sort of injury he’s recovering from will determine how long you need to keep him in walk. If you feel as though he’s struggling under saddle at first, consider lungeing him for half the session in order to reduce the pressure on his back. You’re looking for him to accept your weight and
carry himself with a soft neck. This doesn’t mean he needs to take a contact, but a soft and low head and neck carriage is ideal, and correct self-carriage is the foundation of any fittening programme. Your horse should be able to manage this walk exercise without altering the pace of the walk. If he’s struggling to achieve self-carriage then slowing the walk down should help. Use 20m circles as a tool – as he bends, he should naturally find it easier to take his head down.
Use poles for balance
The use of poles on the floor is a great way to get your horse thinking about where he’s putting his feet and to teach him to balance. Poles require your horse to engage his core muscles to balance properly and this, in-turn, will help him develop strength. Start with the poles flat on the floor scattered in a random, unrelated order, or in a simple straight line, and ask him to walk over them calmly and sensibly. As you reach weeks three and four you can consider raising them for a greater range of movement but keep in mind that whenever you start something new, begin with 10 minute blocks and build your time up gradually.
Beginning your session on a loose rein will help your horse stretch down over his back
Work his hind legs
Once you’ve worked on and got to grips with the previous two exercises, you can start to spice things up by positioning your poles on a circle. Start with a 20m circle and reduce the size as your weeks of training progress. Simply introducing a slight bend while asking your horse to step over the poles will encourage his hind legs to step under and through, thus improving his strength.
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may 2014 your horse
Off the Track
Rebuilding your ex-racer Get your ex-racer’s body in the right shape to handle his new life as a riding horse with help and advice from Kath pinington of the Lancashire-based thoroughbred rehabilitation Centre
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OUR EXPERT Kath Pinington has evented to four-star level and is the yard manager and trainer at the thoroughbred rehabilitation Centre (trC) in Lancaster – a charity dedicated to racehorse welfare, ex-racehorse re-training and re-homing. Visit www. thoroughbred rehabilitation centre.co.uk
nce you’ve brought your new ex-racer home, have him settled on the yard and all the necessary health checks have been made, you’re then ready to begin his re-training. A horse off the track will probably be lacking muscle and topline, so in order to develop this and help him become supple, balanced and strong, lungeing will now become your number one training method! To help you get started, in this instalment of Off the Track I’ll talk you through the early stages of lungeing and look at the different stages of development your horse will go through, using some horses in training at the TRC as examples. Before you get started, keep in mind that it’s possible your horse won’t have been lunged before. If, when you put him on the lunge for the first time, he’s a bit fresh, don’t
panic – he’s not being naughty. Flighty behaviour, or cantering around like a loon on the lunge, is just an ex-racer’s way of coping with the new experience, and it could take a little time for him to settle as his brain takes in what’s happening. What’s important to note at this stage is that if this behaviour is too much for you to handle and you simply can’t cope with it, an ex-racer really isn’t the horse for you. This can be tough for some riders to accept, but in order to give your horse the best possible chance to transition to life as a riding horse there’s no skipping this stage. It can be tough, and it can take time, but until you’ve completed it, your horse isn’t ready to be mounted or ridden. If you think you can handle it, then read on to see how your horse could soon start to look, and discover how to move his training on. Fast or fresh behaviour on the lunge should be expected, and met with a calm reaction
ExpErt tip
if you don’t have bags of experience lungeing horses, but are keen to do your ex-racer’s re-training yourself, arrange to have some lessons lungeing a schoolmaster with an expert to guide you first.
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Lungeing your ex-racer correctly will help to set down the essential foundations needed for his re-training
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May 2014 your horse
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may 2014 your horse
HORSE CARE
Keep your horse healthy and happy
Choose a safe route, hack out with a quiet companion – and give your horse every chance to feel confident on the roads
Proud sponsors of Horse Care Back to Basics your horse may 2014
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Help your horse relax
the fibre journey
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Hoof care advice
Keep your yard healthy
Help him cope on the roads After an accident or close shave on the roads it can be natural for your horse to find hacking out again stressful and scary. Melanie Watson explains why and how she helps horses recover
OUR EXPERT Melanie WatSon is the founder of Instinctive Horse Training in Yorkshire, where she specialises in helping problem and young horses. Find out more at www.instinctive horsetraining. co.uk or search for Melanie S Watson on Facebook.
T
he roads can be a challenging environment for any horse, whether they’ve had a scary incident or not, as it’s easy for them to feel trapped between hedges, pavements, cars and buildings. They aren’t in the middle of a field where they can see clearly, which is how, as a prey animal, the horse keeps himself safe. Feeling trapped heightens their awareness – not just of traffic but everything around them, from birds to dustbins and people shutting doors. As many of us will know, once this starts it tends to escalate and it’s very hard to defuse the situation. If you and your horse have been unfortunate enough to be involved in a road traffic accident,
or his behaviour on the roads has become extreme, always seek professional help. The trauma a horse has been through is no different to post-traumatic stress disorder in people, and isn’t something you can safely resolve yourself. When you get help, it’s important to be around for as much, if not all of the work with your horse. You have to share that journey, even though you’ll be terrified because you’ve had a hard time too. Understanding how it’s possible to break down the fear your horse feels will help you appreciate why it’s become such an issue for him, and also shows you that however bad it’s got, there can be light at the end of the tunnel.
Understand what happens when instinct takes over On the roads, if something happens there’s often nowhere to go. Horses are like us and will do anything to get away when they feel their life is at risk – they lose rational thought
Surroundings such as hedges can leave a horse feeling trapped
and their flight instinct takes over, with their stress hormone levels going sky high, removing the ability for cognitive thought. This is why frightened horses can end up trying to climb through hedges or spinning round and bolting. As well as being terrifying and dangerous, these are all negative reinforcements, where the horse learns that behaving like this means he gets away. Horses can also come to blame their riders – we’re behind their eye-line and could be considered a threat. If you fall off, or worse are dragged, that’s another negative reinforcement because
your horse learns running away got rid of the problem, ie you. The more emotionally fragile a horse is, the more things will affect him – he’ll be scanning for danger all the time, will be inattentive to you and won’t be able to relax. He’ll also be quicker to return to flight as a way of not coping. If a horse has had a problem in traffic once, when a similar situation arises he simply thinks he’s going to die, and will think back to what worked last time. A horse in this state won’t see he has half the road, he just knows the bus is coming, it’s big and it’s probably going to kill him!
SPILLERS® Care-Line 01908 226626 careline@spillers-feeds.com l www.spillers-feeds.com may 2014 your horse
Feet First in association with
Take steps now to protect your horse or pony from laminitis – for life
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Horse Care Management
Tackle laminitis head on in 2014! As our Feet First campaign continues to spread awareness of this devastating and potentially fatal condition, we’ve got the experts at SPILLERS to answer all your laminitis questions so you can protect your horse or pony for life
L
aminitis is a metabolic condition that is expressed in your horse’s feet, and can vary in severity from a mere hint of lameness to a potentially fatal rotating and ‘sinking’ of the pedal bone. As laminitis develops, the structures that bind the pedal bone to the hoof wall start to fail, leaving this bone vulnerable to movement.
For many years laminitis was labelled a condition of fat, hairy ponies who’d over-indulged at the ‘all-day grass buffet’ – but don’t be fooled. It can strike any horse or pony, at any time, including competition horses, broodmares and racehorses. New research has revealed a potential link between laminitis and abnormal insulin
dynamics (the hormone that controls blood glucose) and inflammation caused by obesity, leading experts to believe over-indulgence of grass alone may not be totally to blame. Even in its early stages laminitis is a debilitating condition, with horses soon hopping lame, so it’s important to know how to spot the signs.
Take action if laminitis strikes In a recent YH reader survey*, almost half of you told us you wanted advice on what to do if your horse is diagnosed with laminitis. Here, SPILLERS nutritionist Clare Barfoot shares her coping strategy: ●●Call the vet straight away if laminitis is suspected as it should always be treated as an emergency. Corrective shoeing to reduce the risk of the pedal bone moving is always more successful when done immediately, so ask your farrier for help too ●●Provide a deep, clean bed, ideally shavings over rubber matting, to help support your horse’s hooves ●●Remove him from any grazing and follow your vet’s advice as to when it’s safe to turn him out again ●●If your horse is overweight put him on a strict calorie controlled, forage-based diet. It’s advisable to have your forage analysed, especially for water soluble carbohydrate.
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Alternatively, soak hay overnight in tepid water to reduce the sugar content, but don’t soak it for too long in particularly warm weather as the bacterial load may increase ●●In order to supply an appropriate, balanced diet, choose feeds that are approved by The Laminitis Trust as these will have met strict criteria making them ideal for laminitis-prone horses and ponies, or consider a low-calorie balancer * Your Horse Feet First survey, February 2014
which is where your body’s unable to control glucose and insulin,” explains Clare. “It’s been suggested that a similar condition may occur in horses and is a key factor in Equine Metabolic Syndrome (or EMS).
OUR EXPERT Clare Barfoot BSc (Hons), RNutr is a registered equine nutritionist and Research and Development Manager for SPILLERS®. For more information visit www.spillersfeeds.com
The latest research
Our online survey also showed that 70% of you wanted to learn more about the latest research into laminitis and its causes, so we asked Clare to highlight the key factors. “In humans, over-eating or eating the wrong foods can contribute to diabetes,
If you suspect laminitis your first move should be to contact your vet
may 2014 your horse
Is your horse at risk? Find out if your yard is an equine disease risk and learn how to protect your horse with advice from a specialist team of vets
K
nowing how to keep your horse safe from the risk of disease or infection is the best way to ensure he stays protected from any contagious diseases. Using this helpful guide – which has been designed by the vets within a specialist group called XLEquine – you can risk assess your yard, spot potential problems, create a plan to help prevent disease outbreaks and go on to ensure the health and wellbeing of your horse and any others on your yard. To begin the process, you need to identify any risks your yard presents. So discover what risk category your yard falls into – low, medium or high – using the simple scoring system over the page, and to make the most of this guide: ●●Answer each of the 11 questions over the page as honestly as possible ●●At the end, calculate your score by adding up the points you get for each of your answers (these are the numbers in the brackets after each answer) ●●Once you know which category you fall into, look through your answers to see which areas present the most risks ●●Use the rest of this feature to find out what actions you can take to reduce risks on your yard, with advice from the experts at XLEquine
Introducing XLEquine
This feature is brought to you by the experts at XLEquine. This specialist division of XLVets is an established group of practices working together to deliver a high quality of veterinary care. Currently XLEquine has 35 members across the UK, ranging from large equine referral hospitals to mixed veterinary practices incorporating over 120 equine vets. As a group of independently owned veterinary practices the XLEquine team works together sharing knowledge, experience and skills to deliver the highest quality equine care to their clients. To find an XLEquine practice in your area or for more information visit www.xlequine.co.uk
your horse May 2014
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Horse Care Management
Answer the questions over the page to risk assess your yard and help protect your horse from disease or infection
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May 2014 your horse
Open C
Exclusive horse care ad
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: ✦ Take charge of napping p109 ✦ Get to grips with studs p111 ✦ Grass sickness explained p112 ✦ Summer skin Q&A p114 ✦ Coping with a broken hock p119
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!
4 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
As well as being frustrating, napping can be frightening, which is why it’s important to nip the problem in the bud
Clinic
dvice from the UK’s top experts
mEEt OUR 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
Take charge of napping If your horse has a tendency to nap, it can highlight a lack of trust in your relationship. Behaviour expert Jason Webb explains how to address the problem so you can get out there and have fun
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apping is the term used to describe the behaviour your horse shows when he refuses to go in the direction you, his rider, want. The first sign is having to keep using your leg in order to get him moving forward. You may also find he starts to spook more often, and this often develops into him ‘planting’ his feet or spinning away. You can tell the difference between a genuine spook and evasive napping by your horse’s ears. If he’s spooking, his ears will be pointing forwards and you need to be sympathetic with him, whereas a napping horse will generally have his ears pointing backwards, and to deal with this you need to be more assertive in your riding. There are two circumstances in which a horse will nap; either he’s worried about where he’s going so he refuses to go forward, or he’s thinking about wanting to go back to where he’s come from. Both situations indicate a lack of trust and respect for his rider as the horse isn’t willing to take on new challenges with you, or is seeking comfort by wanting to return to familiar surroundings.
JAsOn’s mEthOd
letting him have time to think about napping. The key to this is to ask him to move forward with a gentle squeeze. Give him a second or two to respond and if he doesn’t, reinforce your ask by tapping him with your whip. Remember, when using a whip you must be prepared to tap as softly as possible – but also as hard as necessary to get a response. When you get that correct response, relax and let your horse travel forward.
Did you know? making your horse go up a gait whenever he’s feeling behind the leg will get him more forward-thinking. If his walk is slow, use your leg as I’ve described here and make him trot for 10-15 paces. Or, if his trot is lazy, canter for 10 strides. With repetition he’ll become more forward, but remember to use your whip to reinforce your leg rather than kick endlessly.
The best way to resolve napping is to recognise the signs and nip it in the bud before it gets too engrained in your horse’s psyche. Becoming more assertive will help prevent napping, and the two main areas to work on are your ability to move your horse’s hindquarters left and right, and making sure your cues for forward are clear so you get an immediate response from your horse. The ability to control your horse’s hindquarters is necessary to allow you to realign your horse should he drop his shoulder and try to nap home. It also takes away his power, as a horse who is crossing his hind legs and pivoting round his inside foreleg cannot spin or run away. Ensuring your horse responds immediately to your cue to move forwards means you’re limiting the chance of you nagging him with your leg or THE nEw boy! Jason helps you introduce your horse to a herd
may 2014 your horse
Settling in at a new yard takes time, but the right place will soon feel like home
your horse may 2014
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Love your new yard
New yard, new start
It can be tricky enough to make smooth transitions in the arena, but what about when it comes to moving yards? We’re here to help you tackle the most common issues and fears so you and your horse will feel at home in no time Words Sam Lewis
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wning a horse may be a dream come true, but for some, the process of finding the right livery yard – and settling in there – can be a nightmare. “It’s a bit like finding your kids a new school, but worse,” says YH reader Susan Russell, who’s had ponies and horses on livery yards in both the UK and Germany, depending on where her Armed Forces husband has been based. “There are so many practical and emotional aspects to consider when you move somewhere new. I’ve been to yards where they haven’t consulted you about the health and welfare of your horse and those that make you feel segregated or are too quiet,” she says. “Everyone’s different, but I like a big yard where there are plenty of activities, approachable staff with heaps of knowledge and a fun and friendly atmosphere.” The place Susan’s now happy to call home for her horse is the Armour Centre Saddle Club in Dorset, run by Stephanie Buchanan who, thanks to her 22 years’ experience in running a livery yard, knows a thing or two about both what to look for and how to make yourself feel at home quickly.
to the area, local vets and riding clubs are good places to call for tips. “When you visit a potential new yard you can tell a lot by looking at the horses – are they happy and well? Do their coats shine?” says Stephanie. “You want the horses to have good manners, but I like to see them alert with a bit of personality — it’s good to see them being a bit playful with individual characters. If something doesn’t strike you as right, trust your intuition rather than risk a move to somewhere that’s not going to be right for you or your horse.” While it’s natural to take a cursory look at the tidiness of the yard, there are more important things to consider, like the quality of the stabling and whether your horse will get enough time to be a horse. “You want a good grazing regime where the fields are rested, treated and well maintained,” says Stephanie. Susan agrees the turnout arrangements are important. “Ask how much daily field time each horse has,” she urges. “In Germany my horses only got a couple of hours a day and it wasn’t long enough.”
OUR EXPERT Stephanie Buchanan runs the Armour Centre Saddle Club, a BHSapproved riding school and livery yard in Bovington, Dorset. She set it up 22 years ago and over the years has helped scores of horses and riders feel at home. Find out more at www. racsaddleclub. co.uk
Finding the right yard
Of course, before you can settle in you’ve got to find your new yard, and when you’re looking for one, Stephanie says reputation is paramount. “You tend to know if a yard is good by word of mouth, so ask around – your instructor and horsey friends are good places to start,” she says. If you’re new w w w.you r hor se .co.u k
Many a good yard is found by word of mouth, so ask around
may 2014 your horse
BUYERS’ GUIDE
Expert advice on buying wisely
Softshell jackets, like this Tiffany jacket from Mountain Horse, are comfortable and breathable
your horse May 2014
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The latest gear
Saddlepads on test
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Our pick of competition wear
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Seasonal essentials
Get technical
A breathable softshell jacket is a must as the weather improves, and our guide to high-tech materials and features will help you buy with confidence
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oftshell is the term used to describe jackets that are more flexible and comfortable than the stiff, crinkly, waterproof ones (called hardshells) we grab to keep the elements out. A softshell jacket will combine many of the benefits of its waterproof counterpart – often being windproof and water repellent – while being fully breathable too.
The clever softshell material uses a special stretch woven fabric with a tightly layered weave and durable water repellent (DWR) treatments to help keep the wind and rain at bay. This means it keeps the weather out like a hardshell jacket, but breathes like a fleece – so you won’t get nearly as sweaty during a tough schooling session and will stay a more comfortable temperature.
Softshell jackets are already commonplace in many other outdoor sports, including sailing and running. But this high-tech fabric is now taking the equestrian world by storm too, with some jackets designed to be used as part of a layering system, or on their own, and softshell materials breaking into the competition world as lightweight, breathable show jackets become all the rage.
Casual and practical Softshell jackets are flexible and stretch naturally as you move, which is just what you need when you’re in the saddle or working on the yard. They’re designed to
be close fitting without leaving you feeling restricted in any way, making them a popular choice for schooling as they look smart as well as being practical.
Horseware Polo Gisele jacket £59.95 while a smooth outer is complemented by a lovely soft anti-pilling fleece on the inside.
This stylish jacket takes its inspiration from the fast-paced sport of polo. Shaped front panels give it a flattering shape, and a generous collar helps keep the wind out.
Sizes XS to XXL
Sizes XXS to XXL
Mountain Horse Tiffany jacket £99 This clever jacket is packed with extras to make riding more comfortable, including a two-way zip and a concealed drawstring at the base. The jacket has two front pockets and rubber cuff fastenings for a close, snug fit,
May 2014 your horse
the test put to
Dressage saddlepads We help you find a dressage saddlepad offering the ultimate in comfort, fit and style all rolled into one
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well-fitting saddlepad should complement your saddle, be comfortable for your horse and look smart to boot. Luckily, there’s a huge choice of pads available, so to help you pick the right dressage saddlepad for you and your horse, we’ve tested six to find the best for fit and appearance under saddle for both every day use and competing. Our tester was Lincolnshire-based dressage rider and coach Yvette Daish, who tested each of the pads on her 13-year-old A good saddlepad should look great, fit well and keep your horse comfortable under saddle
your horse may 2014
ID x TB gelding Minty, who competes at British Dressage Medium level. To enable Yvette to test each pad in consistent conditions we carried out a live test. During our test, Yvette schooled Minty in all paces for approximately 20 minutes, wearing each of the saddlepads in turn. She assessed each one for its fit under the saddle and whether it stayed in place while schooling. She also considered the shape and look of each pad. Read on to find out which she rated as the ultimate ‘best in test’.
Buyers’ Guide
Watch online Watch our live saddlepad test at www.yourhorse.co.uk/ saddlepad or scan the QR code below
Next month in Your Horse, we explore the disciplines! on sale 8th May
Better Riding
Horse Care
• Prepare for the show ring • Unique riding challenges you’ll love! • Tips to help you improve your cross-country position
• Health-boosting alternative therapies uncovered • Easy to follow fitness advice for every discipline • Hacking Q&A special
Buyers’ Guide • Essential cooling products for summer • Grey shampoos put to the test • Three unbeatable hoof care products
Don’t miss our amateur attempts at the disciplines you love!
Plus! The YH team have a go at
carriage driving, horseback archery, horse boarding and more!