November issue of Your Horse magazine

Your Horse 392 november 2014

r free 32-page expert feeding guide!

Yous e Hor "It has to be safer" Livieew Paul Tapner speaks out prevde! insi

on the risks of eventing

november 2014

get the best from your horse

£3.99

confIdence Issue

savvy hacKIng hacKI KIng

Clever ways to boost his bravery

www.yourhorse.co.uk

✦ you r horse li v e pr ev iew ✦ lucin da gr een gu est edits ✦ sav v y h ack ing ✦ tr av elling ✦ pau l ta pn er

Lucinda Green’s

conquer Xc fears

Andrew McLean shows you how

all aboard

We reveal the best way to travel your horse

inner city riders

The hidden yards helping city dwellers saddle up!

We help you spend wisely... �� Our pick of the 53 best layers, jackets & boots �� Seven products with amazing healing powers �� Lungeing aids tried, tested & rated by you!

The inner city provides a colourful, albeit unusual, backdrop to a daily hack

Urban equines

Inner city riding schools and livery yards may face their own particular challenges but they’re a crucial resource for individuals who wouldn’t otherwise be able to enjoy spending time with horses. We head into the city to find out more about urban riding Words LarIssa Chapman

Inner city riding

stepney Bank stables isn’t a conventional yard

I

f you live in a city it can be hard to get your horsey fix, but it is possible. We spoke to the professionals and riders of two horsey havens hidden in concrete jungles to discover more about the inner workings of these yards, the wonderful people they help and the role of urban riding schools on the future equestrian map!

Stepney Bank Stables, in Newcastle, and Wimbledon Village Stables, in London, are just two of the UK’s inner city riding establishments. They share a common goal – to bring the beauty and wonder of horses to those who wouldn’t ordinarily be able to make the journey out of town to a conventional yard and to give city workers the chance to keep their horses somewhere local so they can enjoy an after work escape on horseback.

Pulling up at Stepney Bank Stables, tucked away in the heart of Newcastle city centre, you’d be forgiven for

thinking you were dropping your car off at a backstreet garage. With an imposing viaduct, car park and sea of concrete structures surrounding it, you might wonder how on earth a working livery yard can fit into such a small space – but it does.

Stepney Bank is open seven days a week to provide high quality riding lessons to both children and adults; it also operates as a charity, providing opportunities for children and young people growing up in challenging situations to help give them confidence and gain qualifications and experience that will enrich their lives. And, because of its city centre location, the team can reach out to a large number of adults and children who need their help. Your Horse went along to meet the team at Stepney Bank, and the

“It’s so important that every child has the chance to experience horses“

It might be compact, but stepney Bank packs a powerful punch for rider and worker satisfaction

sara, Willow and yard worker Fran Norton

residents, to find out what life’s like on an urban yard.

How horses came to stepney Bank “Stepney Bank grew out of the city farm, based up the road. It started out as a fairly small-scale and simplistic riding project and ended up taking on a life of its own. Before we knew it, we were a full blown venture,” says young people’s project leader Sara Newson. “We acquired our top yard just up the road and started as an independent charity in 1992. Then in 2002 we managed to secure funding for our indoor school so we could provide lessons all year round, whatever the weather. We receive most of our money through grants, funding and generous donations from our supporters.

“I think it’s so important that every child has the chance to experience horses and riding, no matter where they live, and hopefully we can reach some of those children who wouldn’t otherwise have this chance.”

But the team at Stepney Bank don’t just stop at basic riding lessons. “We always strive to offer more than just riding, we hope to teach the children both social and employability skills.

November 2014 your horse

WIN A HORSE!

Win a ho and ama rse z prizes w ing or a massiv th e £16,957 !

Enter our competition to be in with a chance to win the prize of a lifetime, plus goodies including MUSTO gear and lessons with Zara Phillips and William Fox-Pitt

O

wning a horse is a challenge and a joy but, above all, it’s an incredible privilege and for some it simply never happens. That’s why we’re going to help one lucky reader to buy their perfect horse to the value of £5,000 (paid for by the magazine). We’ll also give them all the help and gear they’ll need to get off to the best start possible with their new partner. Could you be the lucky winner?

The winner will also benefit from two expert lessons, one each with William Fox-Pitt and Zara Phillips, both MUSTO ambassadors. What better way to get to know your new horse’s way of going than with the help of two of the UK’s very best riders? Both of the lessons will take place at

William and Zara’s own yards in Dorset and Gloucestershire and will be scheduled early in 2015.

But that’s not all! Along with superstar tuition, MUSTO will also help the winner to choose their own brand new riding wardrobe from their equestrian range, which includes styles from Zara’s ZP176 Collection.

The MUSTO outfit will include a waterproof and breathable outer layer, insulating middle layer, high wicking base layer, as well as a choice of breeches. In fact, the complete outfit will be worth a whopping £500!

Does this all sound too good to miss?

Of course it does! So make sure you enter online today at www.winahorse.co.uk ●●Discover more about MUSTO at www.musto.com

Win A Horse is supported by

w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

Exclusive

w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

competition

November 2014 your horse

AI NI

G

AD

TR N

EMY

Proudly sponsored

by Albion Saddlemakers

AC

Training academy Month 5 Straightness

your horse november 2014

w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

The 2014 Training Academy is here to help you improve your horse’s way of going on the flat and over jumps, with expert advice from our coaches Laura Tomlinson and Jay Halim

T

his year’s Training Academy is guiding you through the scales of training with expert help from our coaches, Olympic dressage star Laura Tomlinson and international show jumper Jay Halim. These six basic training requirements – relaxation, rhythm, contact, impulsion, straightness, collection – are widely considered to be the building blocks of horse training, whatever your level or discipline.

In this issue we move onto straightness and Laura and Jay are on hand to help you develop it. If your horse is straight, his hind feet will track

in his front hoof prints whether he’s on a straight line or on the curve of a circle.

Straightness is necessary for your horse’s weight to be evenly distributed over the two halves of his body. It’s developed through correct training over time, and is achieved by suppling both sides of your horse’s body equally.

Most horses actually start off ‘crooked’, favouring one rein or side, just as we’re right or left-handed. During our training we’re aiming to correct any crookedness. This not only makes work easier for your horse, but will also contribute towards his long-term soundness.

your Training academy planner 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 (issue 388)

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 (issue 389)

MonTH 3 – Contact

Straightness is key for flatwork and jumping

Establishing a good contact so your horse learns to carry himself in balance. Plus, the importance of having a correct, secure position when jumping (issue 390)

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 (issue 391) Missed an issue?

call 01858 438884 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

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 – email them your training questions to getinvolved@ yourhorse.co.uk

w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

BETTER RIDING

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

Arnie is wary of the ditch at first and leaps high over it in a panic

This month’s YH guest editor Lucinda Green says:

I think Andrew is an extraordinary individual. With zero hocus pocus, he understands horses and their reactions so well that he can, in a remarkably short time, help them overcome a variety

of problems. Working with him I am constantly amazed at his calming nature and its effect on the horses with which he deals, and that’s why I was so keen to get him working with Eleanore and Arnie to help them tackle Arnie’s ditch fears.

PAGe 43

PAGe 44

Improve your riding with equipilates

Gain confidence out hacking

PAGe 49

Improve your balance

AndrEW McLEAn’s

Cross-country Masterclass Every issue we give one reader a lesson with a pro. This month equine science and behaviour expert Andrew McLean helps Eleanore Kelly’s horse conquer his fear of ditches

I Meet the trainer Andrew McLeAn developed and runs the internationally recognised Australian Equine Behaviour centre.

He has a Phd in equine cognition and learning, visit www.aebc.com.au

ask Eleanore to warm Arnie up around the cross-country fences as she normally would. Like many horses, Arnie is afraid of ditches, but in order to avoid going over them, Eleanore tells me that he often rears up and this is becoming a bit of an issue. Once she’s warmed up, I ask Eleanore to remove Arnie’s martingale to help with the rearing. If you have a horse who rears, you need to be able to open up your reins to turn him and hopefully prevent the rear.

This will be a lot easier with the martingale removed as your reins will be less restricted.

Next up, I’d like Eleanore to remove her spurs and pick up a whip. I want her to practise tapping Arnie very gently with the whip just behind her leg until he moves forward.

A gentle rhythmical tap/vibration until he moves in the right direction is all that’s needed. If he goes backwards, she should continue with the tap and only release it once Arnie has moved forwards – he needs to understand that the whip is asking him to move

Meet the rider eLeAnore KeLLY rides Arnie, who was bought to be a dressage horse but showed great jumping potential.

The pair hope to get eventing, but Arnie can be pretty nappy and has a strong aversion to ditches.

Andrew removes eleanore’s martingale to ensure her reins aren’t restricted

forward. Once he’s learned to move away from the whip, this can then be used as an effective back up of Eleanore’s leg over fences and as a way to move Arnie forward when he’s backing up and threatening to rear.

Many riders use a whip to back up their leg, but until your horse knows to move forward from it, it can’t work as an effective back up. I want Eleanore to ride around using the subtle whip tap to ensure Arnie quickens off it without any use of her legs. Once these basics are in place, I think we’re ready to tackle that troublesome ditch.

The lesson focus

●●To tackle a variety of ditches ●●To learn skills to help

conquer each one

Andrew asks eleanore to warm Arnie up as she usually would

●●To prevent rearing

and napping

November 2014 your horse

So much more than just a hack...

Our experts reveal why riding out is just as important as schooling, from helping him be footsure to increasing fitness and boosting bravery

S OUR EXPERT Ben HoBday trained with William and Pippa Funnell and is regarded as a rising young star of the eventing world. He’s now enjoying major success at many European and National Championships, including Best Under 25 at Burghley Horse Trials 2012.

ometimes, when time is short and demands are high, it can be tempting to think that it doesn’t matter if you don’t take your horse out for regular hacks. After all, you can save so much time and trouble by just saddling up and schooling your horse in the arena for half an hour. Afterwards you can tell yourself that your horse has had his exercise, pat yourself on the back for having done your bit for the day and dash off to the next job on your very long ‘to do’ list.

However, according to our experts, hacking is vital to a horse’s physical and psychological wellbeing.

Furthermore, if you hack out regularly over different terrain and introduce your horse to a variety of natural obstacles and challenges, you can actually develop a real competitive edge over riders who rarely leave the ménage and boost your horse’s bravery to boot.

Take away the pressure

OUR EXPERT Lucinda Green has enjoyed a fabulous career as a three-day eventer, winning the prestigious Badminton Horse trials a record six times on six different horses.

Lucinda has represented Great Britain on many occasions, including the 1984 Olympic Games and is now a commentator, journalist and innovative trainer.

Top three-day event rider Ben Hobday says: “Variety is the spice of life and I like my horses to be hacked out two to three times a week. We use hacking to help get the horses fit and give young horses confidence, but also to give horse and rider a bit of down time.

“On a hack you can work on your horse’s general fitness and stamina without the stress or pressure that can occur when you are working on things in the arena.”

Your Horse’s guest editor Lucinda Green agrees entirely, adding: “My horses are hacked out at least twice every week, but preferably four times.

It’s not good for a horse to be just ridden round and round in circles all the time and getting out does wonders for his confidence.

“I live in Hampshire where there is some really lovely hacking to be had, but for people that aren’t so lucky it really is worth the effort of putting

your horse November 2014

w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

Better Riding

use the great outdoors to get your horse thinking for himself

w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

November 2014 your horse

Enjoy 13 issues of Bentley grooming Your Horse Editor Imogen Johnson says Cracking open a brand new grooming kit is a great feeling so if yours is past its best, or you fancy a spare for the lorry or yard, this one from Bentley is jam-packed with fab goodies we know you’ll love. So don’t miss this brilliant opportunity to get one free AND save money on your subscription to your favourite equestrian mag too!

THREE GREAT OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM...

BEST DEAL

SAvE UP TO 46%

Print only from just £25

Subscribe today and get a Bentley grooming kit worth £39.99 plus 13 issues of Your Horse delivered straight to your door.

You’ll save up to 10% when you pay by annual Direct Debit.

Digital only from just £25

Choose this option and you’ll get a Bentley grooming kit worth £39.99 plus 13 issues of Your Horse delivered straight to your iPad/ iPhone so you can read Your Horse anywhere, anytime!

Print, iPad & iPhone from £30 This option offers a Bentley grooming kit worth £39.99 and 13 issues of Your Horse magazine, plus you get it on your iPad/ iPhone, too. Pay by annual Direct Debit and save up to 46%.

ONLINE www.greatmagazines.co.uk/yourhorse your horse November 2014

w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

f and get a g kit worth £39.99 GIFT WORTH £39.99

TERMS & CONDITIONS: Subscriptions will start with the next available issue. Offer closes on 19/10/2014. After your first direct debit payment your subscription will continue at the price you paid on this offer every 6/ 13 issues thereafter unless you are notified otherwise. You will not receive a renewal reminder and the Direct Debit payments will continue to be taken unless you tell us otherwise. If the offer is oversubscribed we may send you an alternative gift of equal or greater value. Cost from landlines for 01 numbers per minute are (approximate) 2p to 10p. Cost from mobiles per minute (approximate) 10p to 40p. Costs vary depending on the . For full terms and conditions visit: http://www. greatmagazines.co.uk/offer-terms.html

CALL 01858 43 8884 w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

LINES OPEN 8AM-9.30PM (MON-FRI), 8AM-4PM (SAT) QUOTE REF: JAAA

November 2014 your horse

“Thanks to my horses, I’m skint!”

Witty Aussie event rider Paul Tapner spills the beans to YH’s Larissa Chapman on his first love... forensic science! Plus, he gives us the lowdown on the financial challenges of owning horses, as well as his hopes for the future and safety of eventing PhotograPhy Tom CALTon

Paul shares a moment with top horse Kilronan

your horse November 2014

w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

The Big Interview

S

tepping onto Paul Tapner’s Yard in Wiltshire, I hear an Australian accent coming from the outdoor arena, “Bring him round to that fence again!” I turn in the direction of the voice and spy our interviewee astride a horse, teaching a lesson in the sunshine. We quietly approach the group, not wanting to disturb proceedings, but Paul welcomes us in and urges us to sit down while he finishes up.

Watching him in action is a real treat and Paul’s dry wit and sarcastic humour tickle everyone. Once the lesson is over, Paul leads us back to the house for a cold drink.

“I could really do with a shave,” he laughs, “I look a little dishevelled.” He leaves the room and reappears a short while later looking clean shaven, and carries our drinks out to the patio to begin the interview.

Upping sticks and moving to the other side of the world sounds like a daunting process and I ask why Paul decided to take the plunge and pursue a career with horses.

“People might be surprised to hear that I didn’t always want to be a professional rider, I still don’t,” Paul laughs. “I wanted to be a forensic scientist. I’ve always loved horses, but I knew I’d be skint if I tried to make a career out of it. Apparently, when I first started school as a child we were asked to draw a picture of the pet we wanted, and I drew a horse. For as long as I can remember I only ever wanted horses to be a hobby. On a recent trip back to Oz, I found a piece of paper from my past that essentially changed my life forever and prevented me from pursuing the forensic science dream. I first got the offending piece of paper around the time I was doing the equivalent of my A-levels back in Australia, which stated that I needed 86% to be able to progress to study forensic science and I wasn’t hitting that target, I was working at about 66%. Feeling disappointed, I accepted that I was never going to make it and decided to pursue agricultural science instead. I only needed about 50% to pass so I thought ‘sod this, I’m easily working at that level’, and I spent the next year or so messing around and having fun. At the end of it all, I came out with 83%, just 3% off what I needed to pass and progress down the forensic science route, so if I had got my head down and worked I’m sure I could have made the grade. I was pretty frustrated but it was too late by then and I went on to study agricultural science.

“As I progressed with my studies they naturally led me to work with all kinds of agricultural animals, including horses, and before I knew it I was exactly where I didn’t want to be – skint and trying to make a career out of riding! My parents were very supportive of my decision but they weren’t horsey at all so I had to learn fast and work things out for myself. Thankfully we lived near a real hotspot for equine talent in Australia at the time and I managed to gain experience, which stood me in good stead.

“I came over to the UK in 1999. I never particularly wanted to be based over here permanently, it just sort of evolved that way. w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

November 2014 your horse

The Te a m i T l u n a i r T s eque ience! exper

ce Advan price: ticket*

ÂŁ17

-9 8NOV

Dont miss out! Book your tickets no

If you love your horse

you’ll love your horse lIve Treat you and your horse to a bargain!

• With over 300 exhibitors all in one place, you’ll find some amazing deals you can’t afford to miss

• Plus expert demonstrations from top celebrities including Carl Hester MBE and advice and talks in the Equine Learning Zone

Shopping

Carl Hester MBE

Norbrook Rescue Village

ow: 0844 581 0770 or www.yourhorselive.co.uk

Book your tIckets now

Advance tickets available from

£17

*

* Plus £1.50 fulfilment fee per booking | FREE Parking

HORSE CARE

Keep your horse healthy and happy

Have our horses started tipping the scales too far?

your horse November 2014

Page 64

the best way for him to travel

Page 69

selling a difficult horse

Page 72

Keep him cool

Page 76

Preparing for Bonfire Night

A weighty issue New research has found that almost a third of our horses and ponies are overweight. Katie Williams, of Dengie, explains what the obesity problem means for the future of our horses

A

OUR EXPERT KatIe WIllIams MSc (Dist) is the Technical Manager at Dengie Horse Feeds. Find out more by visiting www.dengie.com

s an equine nutritionist I spend a lot of time weighing horses. During the summer I saw many equines on 24/7 turnout with a body condition score of 3.5 or more (on the 0 to 5 scale) when the ideal would be 3. It was then no surprise to read in two recent studies – Risk Factors Based on Owner-reported Body Condition Scores published in Equine Vet Journal (April 2014) and Outdoor Living of Domestic Horses by Sarah Giles (March 2014) – that obesity levels in the UK equine population are at 30%. Put simply, we have a seriously weighty problem on our hands.

In one of the studies, almost 16% of horses and ponies were reported to have had a history of laminitis. This is

*BriTiSH EquiNE VETEriNary aSSociaTioN (BEVa) STuDy 2005.

It’s vital to ensure our horses get enough work to prevent unnecessary weight gain

w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

a considerably higher statistic than the 7% of the population said to be affected by laminitis in a 2005 study*.

Look carefully into the findings of the incidence of laminitis in just the overweight horse and ponies, rather than the whole population, and the number increases to 21%. That’s one in five overweight horses and ponies being likely to succumb to laminitis.

The issue is clear – if your horse is overweight he’s much more likely to be prone to conditions such as laminitis, just as overweight humans are more at risk of heart attacks and other serious conditions. So why are so many of our horses putting on weight at a seemingly shocking rate?

Native breeds have evolved to eat a lot to survive

Understanding the risks Well, there are a number of factors that can contribute to weight gain in horses, such as being overfed and underworked but, as the new research suggests, a horse’s breed can also have an impact on his susceptibility to weight gain. For example, prior to domestication, native horses and ponies were designed to live off poor grazing, travelling miles across the land with a herd. However, now that we’ve domesticated these ponies we pop them in paddocks with lots of lush grass and restrict their movements, so inevitably the pounds begin to pile on.

Unfortunately, a lack of understanding of what this all means for our horses then further complicates the issue. I often hear owners say their horses ‘live on fresh air’ and, more often than not, the horses they’re referring to are native or cob types. Research within the Outdoor Living of Domestic Horses study by Sarah Giles speaks volumes and has shown that these horses are more than 13 times more likely to be overweight than lightweight breeds.

This clearly demonstrates how significant breed is as a risk factor for obesity. In the same way, many owners will describe their horses as ‘good-doers’, a term used to label horses and ponies who can get a lot from little feed and again, it’s the native origins of these horses and ponies that are often behind this efficiency.

Having evolved on the Highlands, islands or moors where the available nutrition is generally poor and the going is pretty tough, our native breeds are hard-wired to know that they have to eat a lot to obtain what they need to ensure they survive.

In fact, research has shown that pony breeds can consume about 5% of their body weight as dry matter in a 24-hour period alone.

In a domestic setting, where the nutritional value of food –such as improved pasture – is much higher, combined with the naturally high consumption rate, it’s no surprise those horses and ponies end up gaining weight.

November 2014 your horse

Back to Basics

Moving in the right direction Travelling our horses can be a necessity so with cameras, a willing horse and owner, plus the help of our expert, we investigate which mode of travel is best for our equines

T OUR EXPERT Dr DaviD Marlin obtained his PhD at Loughborough University after studying the responses of horses to exercise and training at the world famous Animal Health Trust in Newmarket. His company Science Supplements was set up in 2003. www.science supplements.co.uk

here are a number of ways to travel your horse, from forwards to backwards and even on a sideways slant (herringbone style), but which one is best for your horse? We investigated with guidance and advice from our expert, Dr David Marlin.

Our investigation began with an on-board experiment. We found willing volunteers – Debbie Alderman and her six-year-old Irish Sport Horse

Chocolate – then rigged up cameras in three different modes of equine transport: a trailer, a 7.5 tonne lorry and a 3.5 tonne lorry.

We hit the road to film Chocolate on his travels in each vehicle around a specifically designed route, which contain plenty of twists and turns.

We wanted to see how relaxed and balanced he was in each position and, of course, we made sure he had plenty of rest and recuperation time

in between his journeys to keep him fresh and happy, and to ensure our research is as accurate as possible.

The resulting video evidence (highlighted in photos throughout the feature) offered some really interesting results and insights. So read on to find out what happened during our investigation and for a raft of travel tips to help you ensure your horse’s journeys are stress-free every time.

PHoTo: YAY MeDiA AS / ALAMY

YH THanks thank you to Chocolate and his owner Debbie Alderman for their help, as well as Grange Farm, in Cambridgeshire, for helping us access the transport we needed, www. grange-farm.co.uk

We find out what’s really going on in the back of your lorries and trailers!

Proud sponsors of Horse Care Back to Basics your horse november 2014

w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

Horse Care Management

Watch online Check out our videos of Chocolate on the move at www. yourhorse.co.uk/ travelling

Chocolate tries out a forwardfacing trailer for size…

Forward-facing travel put to the test There are many modes of forward-facing transport out there, and most horses tend to cope pretty well with them, but research has shown that travelling forwards isn’t the preferred direction of travel for many reasons. David explains, “travelling forwards can cause your horse discomfort, particularly when you brake because he’ll take the full

force of this on his chest as he’s forced towards the bar at the front of the trailer in the direction of travel. There’s not a lot of fat or padding in that area and pressing onto the chest cavity can be very uncomfortable and restrictive for him.

“Facing the direction of travel can also leave your horse feeling exposed to injury

...and we’re off!

as he leads with his head, which is one of the most vulnerable parts of his body.”

What we found When travelling our guinea pig, Chocolate, in the forward-facing trailer, he had a very high head carriage and spent a lot of his time whinnying and looking around, seemingly very aware of the cars coming up behind the trailer. He didn’t seem overly comfortable and keeping his balance was tricky – his chest pushing up against the bar on numerous occasions.

The one positive that the trailer had over other modes of transport was the air circulation – Chocolate was less sweaty getting off the trailer than he had been getting off the more closed modes of travel.

he seems a little uneasy about the approaching traffic behind him

SPILLERS® Care-Line 01908 226626 careline@spillers-feeds.com l www.spillers-feeds.com w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

november 2014 your horse

Horse Care Management

‘Help, I can’t sell my horse!’

No one wants to advertise their horse as ‘not suitable for novice owner’, but if he’s got a problem, you’ve got to be upfront. We explore how to find good homes for difficult horses Words ANdreA OAkes

S

elling a horse is never easy, but seeing him head off with excited new owners can make saying goodbye that bit more bearable.

With luck he has the prospect of a loving home for the next chapter in his life, while you have the money you hoped for and some priceless memories.

However, this whole process can be far more fraught if the horse has a problem.

Finding any home – let alone a devoted, long-term owner who will cherish him as you have – is not quite so easy if behavioural issues make him less than perfect. It leaves you asking a difficult question when you

can’t, hand on heart, say he’s 100% in every way... what are his prospects for future happiness?

A tough decision Problems come in many shapes and sizes.

Perhaps your horse has handling issues that make life awkward, such as being hard to clip, shoe or load. Maybe he’s spooky, strong or nappy? Worst of all, he could be dangerous

– terrified of traffic or with a habit like rearing that puts riders at risk.

We all know that horses have their own particular quirks, but you can’t advertise your horse as a flawless character if he has one of these behavioural issues, and making the decision to sell such a horse can require some soul-searching. Some riders feel they’ve reached the end of their tether and are tired of sinking time and money into a something so difficult.

Others have become scared of their horse or recognise that they’re out of their depth, yet feel guilty about letting him down. Then there are those who’ve put up with bad habits themselves but fear that no one else would take on such a challenge.

Finding a loving new home for a tricky horse may take time but it is possible

w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

November 2014 your horse

8-9 November 2014 Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire

Jason Webb

Lynn Russell

Ben Hobday

Rosie Jones

Paul Tapner

Alison Kenward

Photo: flare PhotograPhy

PHoto: BEF/kit HougHtoN

Carl Hester

Luma the Lion

PHoto: ES PHotogRAPHY

Inside this preview 114 Meet the stars of the Main Arena 117 Discover who’ll be demonstrating in the Nettex Arena 119 Check out what’s on in the Equine Learning Zone 121 Head to the Norbrook Rescue Village, find out what’s happening on the Your Horse Stand and shop ‘til you drop!

Your Horse Live is the only event on the equestrian calendar to bring you celebrity demos, one-to-one expert advice, shopping and the chance to meet amazing horses and riders.

With the return of some old favourites and plenty of new acts, too, make sure you don’t miss Your Horse Live 2014, book your tickets today at www.youhorselive.co.uk!

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: ✦ Handle his head with ease p79 ✦ Care for your leather p81 ✦ Understand strangles p82 ✦ Get out there Q&A p84 ✦ Cope with colic p86

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

Small steps in training will help your horse accept you handling his face

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

Handle his head with ease Delicate and vulnerable, it can be hard for a horse to allow you to touch his face. Jason Webb explains how you can help your horse accept having his head handled

S

ome horses are more naturally sensitive than others, but all will be protective of their head.

You have to remember that, as prey animals, horses have acute senses that they use to keep them safe and will often see, hear and smell things that we as humans don’t notice!

A horse who is really reluctant to have his head handled will try and resist by putting his head up in the air, shaking

Did you know?

Remember that changing habits doesn’t happen overnight! to break a habit you will need between 25-30 consecutive days of using a replacement behaviour before it starts to become ingrained.

it or by moving away from you. This can lead to bridling issues and difficulties with general handling such as administering fly spray and wormers, brushing his face and cleaning eyes and ears, all of which you need to do to keep him healthy and well cared for.

JaSOn’S mEthOd

As with all things, prevention is better than cure! Therefore, whenever you’re handling your horse’s face, and indeed other sensitive areas such as his belly and legs, do so in a calm, consistent and decisive way and view it as part of his general training. If you start small and take your time in order for him to stay relaxed and happy with what you’re doing, it’ll pay off in the long run. Use your common sense when you’re trying to administer things such as fly spray; put it onto a cloth and start by wiping on his neck before moving onto the face, leaving the ears, eyes and nose until last when he is completely accepting of the cloth. Another good tip is to avoid squashing his ears when you put a halter or bridle on as this is a sure fire-way of developing problems with headshyness; rather let your bridle out a few holes so it slips on over his head with ease.

A handler may also exacerbate a problem with face handling without realising it by reinforcing the idea that the problem goes away when he resists in this way. For example, if you go to wipe your horse’s eye and you manage to get one quick wipe in before he sticks his head in the air, he associates putting his head up high with you leaving his eye alone! The next time you go to try and handle his face he’ll remember that last time he stuck his head in the air you stopped annoying him.

With this in mind, if your horse starts to resist, either by stepping away from you or sticking his head in the air, simply leave your hand in the air near his face and wait for him to relax and lower his head. At this point, lower your hand, let him rest and then repeat. Horses find it hard to keep their head in the air so he’ll begin to associate this form of resistance with being uncomfortable.

BUild His trUst Jason reveals ways to boost your bond

november 2014 your horse

BUYERS’ GUIDE

Expert advice on buying wisely

A popular choice among Your Horse readers, side reins can help you to develop your horse’s topline on the lunge (cost from £12)

your horse november 2014

w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

PAge 101

gear Lucinda green couldn’t live without

PAge 102

PAge 104

Products with healing powers

Autumn essentials

PAge 110

New in the shops

the test pUt to

Aids for lungeing To help you pick the best lungeing aid for your horse, we asked your fellow readers which one they’d recommend you use

L

ungeing can be an effective way to work your horse from the ground and there are many different aids that can be used to help him go correctly, whether it’s to teach him to go in better balance, encourage a longer, lower outline or help him to take a better contact. We asked you, the Your Horse readers, which lungeing aids you use.

Out of 100 readers who responded to our online survey, 99% of you lunge your horses, with 46% of you using this method once a week, and 82% of you use a lungeing aid to help encourage your horse to work correctly.

If you’re in any doubt about how to use a training aid, we always recommend asking a knowledgeable trainer for help.

3

2

4

1 6

5

Which aids are Your Horse readers using?

1 Side reins ......................................... 34.44% 2 Chambon.......................................... 3.33% 3 EquiAmi ............................................. 12.22% 4 Pessoa................................................. 37.78% 5 Libby’s Lungie Bungie..... 11.11% 6 Harbridge training aid.... 1.11%

Side reins Side reins (shown left) clip to the bit rings and run straight back on either side of your horse, attaching to your girth or roller. They usually have elastic inserts and help your horse establish and accept a contact. They also help to develop topline and improve suppleness of the back, too.

You said

I use side reins very loose just to encourage the horse to seek the bit but

w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

not to force the head into position.

I don’t want to over flex. I use it to help the horse find their own balance without having to worry about the rider’s balance. The brand of side reins are Tory leather with elastic.

Bonnie smith, usa Using side reins have helped my horse relax more on the lunge.

I find them quick and easy to use.

Paula Frazer, Northants

november 2014 your horse

Step into autumn Whether you’ll be spending time in the saddle or at the yard prepare for the chill of autumn with our pick of 53 fantastic layers, breeches, jackets, boots and accessories

Barbour

Tack shirt £69.95, Cavalry gilet £109

Barbour

Ferndown wax jacket £229

PK Sport

Udonis softshell jacket £110, Nangano cotton polo shirt £56, Uniek breeches £89, Vingino vest £89 (insert, below)

your horse November 2014

w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

Buyers’ Guide Ariat (left)

Lowell top £44.99, Ashley Vest £69.99, Olympia Marquis Knee Patch breeches £149.99, Glacier Tall Insulated Boots £259.99, Gem fleece £44.99 (inset, below)

Gersemi (right)

Olivia functional jacket £69, Camilla sweater £44, Sigyn breeches £50

Shires Equestrian and Bridleway Bridleway Banbury contrast stitch jodhpurs £31.95, Shires Team fleece £19.99, Shires Team thermal gilet £39.99

Harry Hall

Ford fleece £34.99, Latton jacket £69.99, Queenbury jodhpurs £34.99, Hartford jodhpur boots £54.99 November 2014 your horse

Next Month in

Get your

fRee copy * of the Your Horse Care Guide

on sale 23 Oct

paRt 1

*grocery exclusive AvAilAble in Tesco, sAinsbury’s, AsdA And Morrisons

Revitalise your relationship With Rosie Jones’ seven-day groundwork challenge

The man behind The Horse Boy

We interview author Rupert Isaacson

Saying goodbye

How to cope with losing a horse

Plus!

• Easy ways to de-stress your horse • Hack your ex-racer with confidence • Our guide to stable toys & shape-flattering riding wear