"I want one more big win" John Whitaker reveals his plans to retire
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Your Horse 390 september 2014
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Your sport needs you! Running any equestrian event requires an army of helpers, so ahead of this year’s Burghley Horse Trials, we meet some of the volunteers who make it such a success and find out what you could gain from giving your time too Words KaTy IslIp PhotograPhy MaTTHew RoBeRTs and KaTy IslIp
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Vital volunteers
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e all love our sport, and a day or weekend out at a major equestrian competition, whatever the discipline, is often a highlight of the summer months. But behind the spectacle and thrill of seeing beautiful horses and talented riders in action lies a finely-tuned organisational machine, putting months of planning and preparation into practice to ensure a safe, enjoyable and successful event for everyone. A vital part of this machine is a dedicated team of volunteers, all giving up their time and expertise to fulfil every manner of job, from collating scores to writing for judges, managing collecting rings and fence judging. Within the UK’s exciting competition calendar, events don’t come much bigger than the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials – the international four-star event that takes place each September within the stunning grounds of Burghley House in Lincolnshire. Each year at least 1,000 volunteers spend up to five days helping the event run smoothly, and since Burghley is pretty much on the Your Horse doorstep, we thought it was high time we met just a few of the amazing team. From the buzz of being at the heart of the action, to the responsibility of working in a team and the satisfaction of a job well done, they reveal why volunteering gives back much more than you put in.
getting involved Many of Burghley’s volunteers have been helping there for years, having originally begun offering their time at lower level events, as long-term volunteer Pauline Brownlow explains. In the 1980s, while helping out at Belton Horse Trials, she met event secretary Anne Whitton, who went on to become part of the official Burghley team. “Having got to know Anne at Belton, she knew I had experience of volunteering,” says Pauline, herself a former eventer. “One year, the Burghley team had a volunteer vacancy for ring two, and Anne called me and asked if I wanted to stand in. I did, and I’ve been part of the stewarding team ever since.” Fellow volunteer Jane Ellis, whose current roles include chief dressage steward and manning the cross-country holding box, joined the ranks of the Burghley volunteers through her involvement with the local Pony Club. “My first Burghley job was helping with the cross-country scoring back in the
1980s, when we still had Pony Club messengers riding round collecting the scores,” she says, and from there she began stewarding the Pony Club jumping classes before joining the dressage team in the mid-1990s, where she’s been ever since. Inside the main arena is Julie Connell, who’s been part of the team for at least two decades and has fulfilled tasks as varied as co-ordinating the timings of the nowdiscontinued steeplechase section to her present roles which include writing for dressage phase and running the site-wide shuttle services for riders, trainers, grooms and officials. “I’m very lucky because I write for the president of the ground jury, who heads up the official Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) team, which oversees the whole competition,” she says.
giving your all Although Jane’s first love is dressage – she’s a listed dressage judge in her spare time – her list of other duties at Burghley is varied. “I start on the Wednesday helping oversee the horse inspection and liaising with FEI stewards so that everything runs on time. It’s very busy with all the horses about, and everyone works hard to keep everything calm and safe because some of them can be real characters!” she laughs. During the dressage phase, she and her team-mates keep riders aware of their timings during working in, help the FEI teams check all bits are legal after each test, look after the ground jury and more. “We also liaise with the grooms and trainers, helping with queries and last-minute issues – we once even had to call the farrier up because someone lost a shoe 10 minutes before their test!” Jane says. Down at ring two, which has hosted the Jane Ellis joined the Burghley team through her involvement with the Pony Club
Volunteers like Pauline Brownlow are part of the team working hard to make Burghley brilliant
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pHoTo: MaTTHew RoBeRTs
Burghley volunteers in numbers An incredible amount of work goes on during the Burghley weekend – much of it done by an army of more than 1,000 volunteers. Here’s a breakdown of those who give up their time to ensure you enjoy yours: • Fence judges 110 • Cross-country personnel 50 • Dressage personnel 20 • Pony Club team jumping/British
Young Event Horse ring 30 • Medical 60 (not including vets or horse ambulances, which are paid) • Sunday main arena party 30 On top of this, a further 500 people volunteer with Stamford XT to work as marshalls, plus 250 with the Red Cross and 50 with St John’s Ambulance. For more information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk
september 2014 your horse
Great horsey holidays on home soil! Whether you’re after an exhilarating adventure or a gentle meander on a schoolmaster, we’ve shortlisted a selection of UK holidays each with something different to offer
Having fun with friends Bring your friends and your horses to enjoy a three-day, all inclusive horse party and riding adventure down in Devon. Liberty Trails offers a combination of days in the saddle, luxury accommodation and small exclusive groups lead by local guides who’ve ridden over Dartmoor all their lives. You can look forward to riding through some unforgettable scenery by day and luxury ski chalet-style service by night in a beautifully appointed cottage in the heart of Dartmoor. Whether you want to ride 10 miles a day or 34, you’ll go at your own pace, crossing magnificent, wide open plains. Then, at the end of each day, you’ll ride back to your private yard where your horsey au-pair will have everything ready for your horse’s comfort
Have a great time with friends
so all you have to do is relax and unwind in the peace and quiet of your cottage, just a few minutes’ walk away. Holiday type: Bring your own horse Accommodation: Five-star catered cottage and purpose-built stabling Location: Devon Cost: Prices start from £350 per person based on a group booking of eight horses and riders Website: www.libertytrails.co.uk
Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Dartmoor
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Beautiful British breaks
Pack up your riding kit and head off on a horsey holiday
Get lost in the beauty of the South Downs Way
Enjoying nature at its finest Whether you’re in need of a well-earned holiday or are looking for something more adventurous, the Paddocks Stables is an ideal location for both. Situated just 25 yards from the South Downs Way in the heart of the South Downs National Park, there’s plenty to explore in this designated Area of Outstanding Beauty. The trail stretches over 100 miles from Eastbourne, in Sussex, to Winchester, in Hampshire, making it ideal for riders looking to head out on the trail. Guests at the Paddocks Stables are treated to country style accommodation and horses stay in purpose-built stabling in the yard. Holiday type: Bring your own horse Accommodation: B&B and stabling for horses Location: East Sussex Cost: £50 per person for you and your horse per night, all bedding and hay included Website: www.thepaddockstables.co.uk
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september 2014 your horse
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Training academy Month 3 Contact
The 2014 Training Academy is here to help you to improve your horse’s way of going on the flat and over jumps, with expert advice from our coaches Laura Tomlinson and Jay Halim
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ontact is usually only talked about for dressage and flatwork but it’s an important part of training if you jump, too. Being able to ride your horse into a consistent contact will help you to jump both cleanly and comfortably. It forms the third stage of the scales of training, which our Training Academy coaches Olympic dressage star Laura Tomlinson and international show jumper Jay Halim are your horse september 2014
guiding you through this year. Invented almost a century ago in Germany, these six training requirements of relaxation, rhythm, contact, impulsion, straightness and collection are considered to be the basic building blocks and foundations of horse training (see diagram right) whatever your current level or discipline. This issue, Laura and Jay help you understand and develop the contact between
you and your horse. This is the soft, steady connection between your hands and your horse’s mouth. Your horse should work rhythmically forward from your legs and seat into the contact. A correct, steady contact allows your horse to find his balance under the rider and find a rhythm in each of the gaits. The poll should always be the highest point of his neck, except when your horse is being asked to w w w.you r hor se .co.u k
your Training academy planner Contact or connection is the result of your horse working forwards into a consistent and even feel on the reins
Here’s what we’ll be covering each month
MonTH 1 – Relaxation
How to develop a flatwork routine and use basic pole work to keep your horse focused and relaxed. If you missed month two (issue 389) order a back issue by calling 01858 438884
MonTH 2 – Rhythm
Learn how to establish and recognise a good rhythm in walk, trot and canter on the flat, plus exercises to help you achieve that all-important canter rhythm to make jumping easy. If you missed the first month (issue 388) order a back issue by calling 01858 438884
MonTH 3 – Contact
Establishing a good contact so your horse learns to carry himself in balance. Plus, the importance of having a correct, secure position when jumping
MonTH 4 – Impulsion
How to work your horse on the flat to achieve paces with energy and purpose, and how using simple gridwork can help improve impulsion
MonTH 5 – Straightness
Using lateral work to improve straightness on the flat and how to use clever aids when jumping to keep you and your horse straight
Scales of Training CoLLeCTIon (Increased engagement, lightness of the forehand, self carriage) STRAIgHTneSS (Improved alignment and balance) IMPuLSIon (Increased energy and thrust)
stretch forwards in a longer and lower frame. The contact should never be achieved through a backward action of your hands; it should result from your horse working through from behind with a driving hind leg. It’s not just about his mouth, but involves the whole of your horse working forwards into the bridle – sometimes contact is referred to as connection, which can help you understand what you’re trying to achieve. w w w.you r hor se .co.u k
ConneCTIon (ConTACT) (Acceptance of the bit through acceptance of the aids) RHyTHM (With energy and tempo) ReLAxATIon (With elasticity and suppleness)
MonTH 6 – Collection
How to encourage your horse to take more weight on his hindquarters and lighten his forehand, plus how having an adjustable canter can help you ride a winning jump-off
get more from your coaches Enjoy audio downloads – download them at www.yourhorse.co.uk/ta Watch free training videos – simply go online when you see this icon Access your coaches – simply email them your training questions to getinvolved@ yourhorse.co.uk
BETTER RIDING
Easy-to-follow expert advice for beginners to advanced riders
The sky’s the limit – you can do it all when riding bitless
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Page 52
How to keep your golden oldies active
Page 55
Teach rein-back
Page 61
get a lazy horse moving
Page 62
Improve balance and rhythm over fences
Benefits of riding bitless Simply by removing your horse’s bit you can strengthen your bond with him, improve your riding and ensure he’s pain-free. Our experts show you how to reap the rewards of doing just this
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OUR EXPERT JoHanna MacarTHur is a trainer and secretary of the Norfolk Horse Training and Equitation Club. Read more at www.horse trainingclub.org
OUR EXPERT WIllIaM MIckleM is an international coach and speaker, author of the best-selling equestrian book, ‘The Complete Horse Riding Manual’, and inventor of the popular Micklem Multibridle. Find out more at www.william micklem.com
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ention going bitless to most riders and an expression of fear is usually the initial reaction. ‘Remove my bit? But how will I stay in control?’ But according to experts, going bitless transforms your riding, boosts your bond and, when ridden correctly, control shouldn’t be an issue. So to help you understand the benefits and determine if bitless could be right for you, we’ve enlisted the help of trainer and bitless enthusiast Johanna MacArthur and inventor of the popular Micklem bridle, William Micklem, to shed some light on this revolutionary way of riding. With so many benefits attributed to going bitless and top riders like USA show jumper Laura Kraut riding bit-free successfully, there’s never been a better time to try bitless! Bitless riding’s popularity has soared over the past few years, with more and more riders willing to give it a try. “There are just so many advantages but it’s important to remember that using a bitless bridle isn’t a replacement for good riding or training and it may not suit every horse,” says Johanna. “However, most horses love it, particularly those who have behavioural issues associated with being bitted. Bitless riding makes you consider your riding and helps you to build a stronger partnership with your steed. Rather than aimlessly pulling and tugging on the reins, it forces you to ride more with your seat and other aids and helps you build that trust as you learn how to keep control without a metal
going bitless can help improve your bond with your horse
bar connecting you.” Many bitless bridle converts talk of their horses going forward for them because they understand what is being asked, not because of force, which helps to show empathy and build that much sought-after bond. In her work, Johanna has helped more than 150 horses switch to bitless and through her role as secretary for bitless riding club, the Norfolk Horse Training and Equitation Club (NHTEC), she’s seen as many as 400 successful conversions. “Anyone who has even the slightest riding niggle with their horse should give bitless riding a try,” says Johanna, “If you understand how horses learn and behave it’s very simple to try and you might find it’s just the ticket to solve your problems.” september 2014 your horse
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september 2014 your horse
“I’d like one last fling in the top 10” Show jumping legend John Whitaker might be thinking about slowing down but he’s not quite done competing yet! YH writer Larissa Chapman went along to find out more about our favourite taciturn Yorkshireman, his future plans and what makes him tick Photography Matthew Roberts
inset Photo: BoB Langrish
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tepping on to John Whitaker’s yard in the heart of the Yorkshire countryside, I’m greeted by an incredibly laid-back John who leads me to the garden so we can have a chat. As we wander round the back of the house, John points out some fresh hoof prints on his lawn. It seems one of his horses had quite a time of it last night, escaping from his stable for a nocturnal adventure. “Of all the places he could have gone, he chose the garden. We believe he then jumped the wall and headed onto the road,” says John nonchalantly. “Thankfully he just milled around outside and was found safe and well by a fellow horse rider this morning. There’s not a mark on him, it’s amazing!” Preparing himself for the interview, John scatters some Jamie Oliver cushions on the garden furniture before stretching out, ready for our questions, but it’s not long before we have to cease proceedings. John’s off to help start a temperamental lorry then, mechanical disaster averted, he jogs back up the garden and resumes his relaxed position. As I sit next to this show jumping legend, renowned as a man of few words, I wonder how much I’ll find out about the man himself. I want to know how the Whitakers came to be the prolific equestrian family they are today and what made John consider a career with horses – I find it hard to imagine a show jumping world without the Whitakers, it’d be a bit like the music industry without the Jackson Five. “My mother encouraged me and my brothers to ride. She persuaded our father to buy us a horse and we lived on a farm so it was easy for us to keep one,” says John. “I learned to ride by playing around really, nothing too structured or serious. We loved everything from hacking to jumping your horse september 2014
John with Milton at his competitive best
and gymkhanas, you name it. I used to sit in my classroom at school staring out of the window wishing the day would end so I could get home and ride. I think another big factor that cemented my passion for riding was seeing it on TV. They used to air show jumping a lot on the BBC. It was prime-time television and helped to inspire many youngsters – we looked up to the likes of Pat Smythe and Harvey Smith and wanted to be just like them!” With two brothers, Michael and Steven, also riding to a high level, I wonder how competitive the Whitaker household became before big events. “We always have and always will back each other,” says John. “We never begrudge each other a win because we know how hard we worked to get there. Our mother tried to keep us on the straight and narrow when we were younger, and I
think she managed it most of the time.” John is perhaps best known for his partnership with one horse in particular, the famous grey, Milton, who held the nation’s hearts well beyond the end of his competitive career. “Milton was a really exceptional horse and I was incredibly lucky to have him. He originally belonged to the late Caroline Bradley who died very suddenly. After her tragic death, her parents thought she would like me to have him, which was a real privilege, and I think he did her proud. “My other top horse, Ryan’s Son, was just coming to the end of his career at the time and I class myself as incredibly lucky to have met and ridden both of them,” John says affectionately. “I don’t think I’d ever find another horse like either of them
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The Big Interview
After 40 years in the industry, John’s contemplating a future out of the competition ring
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september 2014 your horse
Your turnout traumas solved Safe, relaxing turnout time is key to your horse’s mental health, so help him enjoy every second in the field with our expert’s five golden rules
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OUR EXPERT Claire llewelyn BHSii is a rider and trainer with years of experience helping many highly-strung competition horses relax in the field. She has worked at some of the top eventing yards and taken on a number of retired four-star horses.
volution has been kind to horses – it’s made their needs pretty simple. Whether it’s their role in life to jump round Burghley or spend 24 hours a day in the field, they all have the same checklist for a contented life: sufficient food, water, and a safe paddock to relax in for some or all of the time, with other horses nearby to chill out alongside. But of course, being the complex characters they are, one horse’s idea of what makes for happy turnout will differ from the next. For example, buy a continentally-bred warmblood who’s spent most of his life in a stable and he’ll have a very different mindset when he’s turned out compared to a Connemara who’s always lived a semi-feral existence with a big herd for company. The trick is to get to know your horse’s quirks and adapt his field
arrangements to suit, so he can graze contentedly and relax mind, body and soul as the field gate shuts behind him. Here to remind you of the golden rules of happy, safe turnout is rider and trainer Claire Llewelyn, who’s taken on a number of top-level competition horses and helped them adapt to extra time in the field and a more relaxed way of life for their retirement. As Claire explains: “Every horse is very much his own person, and while it’s true they all need time in the field, how this time is managed is hugely dependent on the animal’s personality, his past experiences, his lifestyle and the facilities you have to hand.” So read on for her five golden rules to guarantee your horse stays safe in the field, makes friends and can graze worry-free.
a few simple steps will help your horse enjoy life in the herd, as nature intended
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Horse Care Management
a quiet companion can help a new horse settle in
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1 Make safe introductions “Whenever you’re introducing a new horse to an established herd your first priority should be his safety,” says Claire. “The last thing you want to happen is for him to get injured as he tries to escape a marauding group. “If you’ve just bought a new horse, find out as much as you can about his previous living arrangements. Is he used to living in a big herd? Is he dominant in the field? Is he happy to be pushed around? Does he prefer his own space or a strict daily regime? “If your horse is going to be turned out with just one other, start
by hand-grazing them together so you can watch their body language. Progress to letting them graze in adjoining paddocks so they can get used to each other’s company in a safe environment. “If your yard doesn’t offer individual turnout, and you’d rather your horse was in a field on his own to start, ask if you can section a bit of the field off with electric tape (it’s important it stays well charged) and ensure there’s a safe place to get him in and out. If he prefers company, ask if there’s a quiet, amenable horse he can pair up with until he learns the lie of the land.”
september 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 to: ✦ Help him meet strangers p91 ✦ Discover hedgerow snacks p93 ✦ Understand what atypical myopathy is all about p94 ✦ Get your horse fit to ride Q&A p96 ✦ Cope with a serious wound p98
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
If your horse is accepting of new people it makes caring for him much simpler
Clinic
dvice from the UK’s top experts
mEEt OUR EXPERts
Gil Riley is the 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
Getting used to strangers
Some horses are one-person ponies but at times it’s necessary for someone new to handle them. Jason Webb explains how you can help an unsure horse cope with strangers
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ome horses may be distrustful of strangers as they may make an association with some past mistreatment they’ve had. However, I often hear phrases such as, “he hates men so he must have been beaten by one in the past” or “he’s terrified of strangers so he must have been badly treated at some stage in his life” and while this may be the case with some horses, many that display this type of nervousness are just naturally more suspicious than others. This is
a very natural state for a horse as they are prey animals who have to rely on their flight instinct to survive, and they need sympathetic yet calm, consistent and decisive handling to help them overcome it. The other reason may be that some horses get very used to one handler and one environment and their world is thrown into confusion when they are taken away from home or handled by someone who has a different manner. Suspicious, nervous horses tend to fidget and never seem completely relaxed. They may develop problems being caught or being tied up. In short, they’re always looking for an escape route! This can make it very difficult for equestrian professionals such as vets, dentists and farriers to carry out their work safely and efficiently, let alone those handling him on a daily basis.
JasOn’s mEthOd
Did you know? Remember, horses have a highly developed sense of smell so make sure he also gets used to the different smells involved with shoeing, dentistry and vets!
The best way to avoid these sorts of problems is to expose your horse to as many people as you can when he’s younger, or indeed if he’s an older horse with an ingrained problem, without putting him in a situation where he feels uncomfortable. For example, when farriers, dentists and vets come onto the yard, tie your horse up near other horses being treated and when they are finished ask the equine professional to go and say hello to them. When they do need to be treated or have their feet trimmed, untie them and stand with them while it’s being done in order to keep them calm and to avoid them pulling back from the fence. If you do all this and your horse still wants to get away from a ‘stranger’, the worst thing you can do is to try and hold him in place. This will increase his anxiety and claustrophobia until he explodes. The best thing you can do is to let your horse move in a circle so he’s under control but letting all the adrenaline dissipate. Once he starts to relax, ask him to stand again and let the ‘stranger’ approach again. Keep up this pattern until your horse is settled and happy with the ‘stranger’.
tACKinG Up Follow Jason’s handy tips and make life easy
september 2014 your horse
the test put to
Breeches Most horse owners live in breeches, so it’s essential they’re comfortable (especially in the summer), durable and good value for money. Find out which ones came out top in our test
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our Horse Buyers’ Guide editor Allison Lowther tested a selection of breeches suitable for everyday riding. She wore them for general yard work, flatwork schooling and hacking, and assessed each pair for their fit, comfort and value for money.
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Buyers’ Guide A well-fitting, comfortable pair of breeches will mean you can get out and enjoy riding
Equetech close contact breeches £66.95 Pros These breeches fitted nicely and were a flattering shape. I liked the secure feel the full seat gave me in the saddle, they also didn’t feel as bulky (as Equetech claims) around the knee area compared to other breeches I’ve worn. The elastic side hem panels meant there was no need for Velcro and it gave a close-fitting finish down my calf for a great fit inside my long boots. Cons The elaborate regency style embroidery on the back yoke (see picture) isn’t really my taste, but some will love the added detail.
Sizes 24in to 34in Contact 01296 688966 or www.equetech.com
Ariat Olympia breeches full seat £125 Pros A lot of thought has gone into the design of these smartlooking breeches. The elastic ‘V’ panel in the back of the waistband ensures you’re comfortable and have total freedom of movement, just as Ariat says. The Clarino full seat felt soft and stretched nicely when moving plus Ariat’s Calf Fit System gave a good fit inside my boots. Cons There’s really nothing not to like about these breeches, apart from the fact that they’re one of the more expensive pairs in our test.
Sizes 24in to 36in, regular or long Contact 0845 600 3209 or www.ariat-europe.com
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september 2014 your horse
Next month don’t miss our charity special
on sale 28 August
• We investigate the plight of working equines abroad
• Find out why you should bag your place on a BHS charity ride
• Discover the weird and
wonderful things charities are doing to fight the equine cause
Better Riding • Lift his forehand in one easy 30-minute session
Horse Care • Protect his tendons with our expert advice
Buyers’ Guide • Get great gear and donate to charity – all at once!
YH awards We reveal the categories in our brand new awards!
PLUS! Don’t miss our 16-page Rug Guide
FEATURING: fitting advice, what’s new, handy hoods, shoulder-saving bibs and more