December issue 393

Your Horse December 2014

eeer FR int

perfect his outline

Charlotte Dujardin shows you how in one quick session

W ct produe! guid

december 2014

get the best from your horse

£3.99

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✦ Hacking confidence ✦ Bonding witH Margrit coates ✦ LaMeness recognition ✦ staBLe toys ✦ winter product guide 2014

Transform your riding ek! in one we

We prove you can using nothing but groundwork

IT's TIme To T o play!

Our guide to the best stable toys spot the problem Vet Sue Dyson's guide to lameness recognition

Hack with confidence

Win! A neW sAddle Worth £1,500

Simple ways to handle his spooks

get inside his mind Animal communicator Margrit Coates tells you how

Saved from slaughter all that stood between these beautiful donkeys and certain death was a phone call, but now their future looks bright. We meet sam and Jack, and other equines given a second chance Words Katy IslIp

14 your horse December 2014

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Back from the brink

Grooms Claire (left) and rachel with sam and Jack

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sam (left) and Jack (right) grazing in their paddock – the pair are inseparable

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ooking at donkeys Jack and Sam grazing happily in their paddock, it’s hard to imagine them anywhere other than here, enjoying the autumn days and each other’s company. But a few months ago these healthy animals, aged just 10 and five, were about to be sent for slaughter, after their owners decided they wanted to use their grazing in north Wales for other purposes. The pair were only saved when an anonymous slaughterhouse worker called The Donkey Sanctuary asking the charity to step in, and thankfully its welfare team was able to persuade their owners to sign Jack and Sam into their care.

Tamlin Watson, The Donkey Sanctuary’s donkey welfare advisor for Wales, picks up the pair’s story. “The call came in on the morning of 25 July, from a concerned worker at the slaughterhouse who said they were reluctant to destroy such young and healthy animals. I was in south Wales and had to drive up to get Sam and Jack checked and signed over to us as quickly as possible as the owner wanted them moved within a couple of days.”

Arriving at the boys’ field, Tamlin found that although their grazing was lightly speckled with ragworth, the pair had been otherwise well cared for, with nicely trimmed hooves, good body condition and with a shelter to shield them from sun and rain.

Speaking to the owners, Tamlin asked why they’d decided to send the donkeys to the abattoir. ‘They just thought slaughter would be the quickest way to dispose of them,” she says. “I was surprised that anyone would choose to slaughter rather than rehome, but it wasn’t hard to persuade them to sign Sam and Jack over. I assured them that because the donkeys were so young and healthy we should be able to move them quickly, and made everything simple for them.”

With the lorry already on standby, once Tamlin’s assessment was complete the charity’s well-oiled team swung into action and within three days Sam and Jack were happily munching straw at the sanctuary’s headquarters in Devon.

settling in

The team immediately set about getting Sam and Jack comfortable in their new home.

“Both donkeys weren’t used to being handled much and they are still nervous but they’re gentle, and make a handsome pair,” says Tamlin, a qualified zoologist who’s worked for the charity since 2002. “By August they were in a mixed sex group in our isolation unit, where all donkeys spend time before they are declared ‘safe’ to go onto one of our farms.

They’re happy although a little skittish, and the grooms tell me Sam in particular has a good appetite!”

Among the team now caring for the donkeys in Devon is groom Rachel Hill, who is enjoying getting to know the boys as they begin to open up. She says: “Jack is the braver of the two and loves to have cuddles, but while Sam is a little more nervous of people he’s very inquisitive and likes to check out anything new we put into their shelter for them to play with – particularly old wellies!”

Fellow groom Claire Waldron adds: “Both donkeys are very bonded, they’re usually found roaming the field together and always have their breakfast next to each other. They love to go for walks and have a cheeky hedgerow snack.”

Looking to the future Once the boys have passed medical and behavioural assessments they can go out on the sanctuary’s fostering scheme, but if for any reason they aren’t suitable for this, they have a home for life at the sanctuary.

For Tamlin, who’s back on patrol in Wales, happy endings like this make all the difficult parts of her job worthwhile. “I feel so pleased that we have such a dedicated and professional team and that we were able to save the lives of these fantastic boys. They’ll be safe forever now,” she says. “I hope their story shows people that The Donkey Sanctuary is there for them, and will move heaven and earth to ensure the health and happiness of donkeys and mules.”

Sam and Jack’s story also highlights the knife-edge balance of equine welfare, where December 2014 your horse 15

10 E C L N nt HA AS ov ry N T em c C l E be ose ! r2 s 01 4

WIN A HORSE!

Enter our competition and be in with the chance of taking home your dream horse, plus incredible goodies including nutritional support and £800 of feed vouchers from Dengie

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wning a horse is truly lifechanging and with this exclusive Your Horse competition we’re going to help one lucky reader make that massive leap. Our winner will be able to buy their perfect horse to the value of £5,000 (paid for by the magazine) – and we’ll even give them an amazing prize package worth £16,957 to get them off to a great start with their new partner, including expert advice and support from Dengie.

Dengie’s top team of equine nutritionists will provide our winner with feeding advice and dietary support throughout the first year with their new horse. They’ll also continue to take care of the nutritional side of things as horse and rider progress. Add to that £800 worth of feed vouchers to be spent on products from Dengie’s great range of fibre feeds, supplements and balancers (pictured above) and our winner can feel confident that their new horse will be in good hands where their nutrition is concerned.

“We are thrilled that the Dengie prize package will get the winner off to a great start,” says Dengie marketing manager Lisa Wilson. “Our fantastic range of fibre feeds will help to make sure that this lucky horse remains in tip-top condition, with enough energy to fuel its workload – and it will be

fed exactly as nature intended! To own a horse of your own is the best feeling in the world, so we’ve got our fingers and toes crossed for everyone who enters.”

Our winner will meet the Dengie team when they, along with our other finalists, attend an assessment day at Summerhouse Equestrian Centre (www.summerhouseec. co.uk) on Friday 12 December. Here they’ll demonstrate their riding and horse care skills, and get a crash course on equine nutrition from Dengie’s nutrition pros. ●●Visit www.dengie.com to find out more about Dengie fibre feeds – and chat live to a nutritionist – or call the Dengie feedline on 0845 345 5115.

To enter the competition visit www.winahorse.co.uk and turn the page for more about our amazing prizes

Win A Horse is supported by

Our winner will get expert nutrition advice from Dengie

20 your horse December 2014

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Exclusive

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competition

December 2014 your horse 21

Proudly sponsored

by Albion Saddlemakers

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AC

Training academy cademy Month 6 Collection

The 2014 Training Academy is here to help you improve your horse’s way of going on the flat and over jumps

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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 considered to be the building blocks of horse training whatever your level or discipline.

In this issue – the final one in the 2014 Training Academy series – we move on to collection, which refers to the increased weight-carrying capacity of your horse’s hindquarters. Laura and Jay are on-hand to help you work on and develop your horse’s collection, whether you want to gain more marks in the dressage arena or knock seconds off your jump-off time.

It takes time to develop true collection as it can only be achieved with correct and progressive training and the correct muscle development. As your horse learns to collect, he’ll show increased flexion of his hind legs, and will step under his body with more engagement. This allows his forehand to lighten and his neck to be carried a little higher (still with his poll as the highest point), which allows him to move in balance and self-carriage in all three gaits and over fences.

24 your horse December 2014

Jay and Laura have loved being your training Academy coaches and in this, their last month, they help you achieve collection

your Training academy planner Here’s what we’ve covered...

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

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)

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 (issue 392)

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

missed something?

If you’ve missed any of the Your Horse Training Academy and want to catch up, you can! Simply call 01858 438884 for a back copy using the issue numbers above.

We’d love your feedback

If you’ve followed this year’s Training Academy, we’d love to hear how you’ve been getting on.

Email us on getinvolved@yourhorse.co.uk and your comments could appear in the magazine!

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Horses and the military

Horses helping heroes

Discover how a wonderful herd of horses are helping service and ex-service personnel get back to civilian life after the trauma of warfare

Words: Larissa Chapman PhotograPhy: Tom CaLTon

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ickleigh Royal Navy Royal Marines Riding Stables in Plymouth is surrounded by barbed wire fencing and has a distinctly military appearance – it’s certainly not your average yard.

Visitors must pass through the relevant security checks in order to make it to the perfectly formed stable yard inside the barracks.

This unique establishment is the last Royal Navy and Royal Marines riding stables and the only military stable to be a UK registered charity, supporting equestrian sporting activities for service personnel and their families.

The stable’s 20-strong herd of horses and dedicated staff offer riding lessons and work with those who’ve been wounded physically or mentally

from their time in combat – many of them amputees or those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – helping our nation’s heroes to heal.

Overseeing the yard is exserviceman and stable management committee member, John Abey, who’s incredibly proud of the work they do.

the psychological benefits of horses

“We operate like a regular riding school, offering lessons and hacks around Dartmoor to all people whether linked to the military or not,” says John. “We also work closely with the local council and schools to support events and provide riding opportunities for local children and, amongst all this, we also offer injured

John has seen first-hand the healing power of horses

as well as the psychological benefits, time with horses can help improve service personnel’s physical well-being

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december 2014 your horse 33

BETTER RIDING

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

Groundwork is both fun and useful for you and your horse

PaGe 46

PaGe 44

Develop lunge like a pro

Improve his outline

PaGe 53

Improve your symmetry

Ready for a challenge?

It’s time to ditch the saddle and discover if seven days of groundwork could transform your riding and relationship with your horse. Find out how with help from our expert, Rosie Jones

Y OUR EXPERT RosIe Jones is a Recommended Associate of Intelligent Horsemanship with bags of experience in training tricky horses and helping you improve that much sought-after bond from the ground and on board. Find out more at www. intelligenthorse manship.co.uk

ou’d be amazed how many common riding and handling problems can be improved with a bit of attention from the ground, and with winter setting in and time in the saddle harder to come by, there’s never been a better time to give it a try. So I’m challenging you to leave your saddles in the tack room and take up your halters for seven days of nothing but groundwork!

‘Why?’ I hear you cry, would you spend less time in the saddle when you want to improve your riding?

Well there are many benefits to working from the ground – firstly, groundwork improves your bond because it allows you to work closely alongside your horse and reassure him as you go, helping to build trust.

Secondly, working from the ground allows you to see your horse’s way of

moving and his reactions to things in a way that you can’t from the saddle.

It also allows you to tackle problems and issues safely without the risk of falling off, so in many ways you can be bolder and more daring with what you try.

To prove it really works, I put three riders and their horses to the test using three simple, seven-day groundwork plans. Then, once back in the saddle a week later, I asked for their verdicts. Each combination represented a common problem from a lack of trust and manoeuvrability to spooking and horses who invade your space.

Read on to discover how are riders felt groundwork helped to improve their riding and handling, and to find a plan that could work for you and your horse. It’s time to get groundwork savvy!

December 2014 your horse 37

Simon Battram’S

Lungeing Masterclass Every issue we give one reader a lesson with a pro – this month dressage and lungeing expert Simon Battram helps Joanne Hobdell and her horse, tommy, improve their lungeing technique

Better Riding

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efore beginning a lungeing session, it’s important to ensure you’re wearing the appropriate safety gear, such as your riding hat and gloves, and you have the correct lungeing equipment for your horse.

Once ready, I ask Joanne to warm Tommy up on the lunge on both reins just as she normally would so that I can get a feel for his attitude and way of going. Like many horses, Joanne tells me Tommy can be a little sharp when out on a hack but quite lazy and switched off in the arena, so we need to address some of these issues today.

Meet the trainer

The lunge is a great way to tackle certain problems from the safety of the ground and allow you to get the basics in place. If, like Tommy, your horse has his own agenda on the lunge, this is likely to transfer into your ridden work.

Whatever issues your horse has, getting to grips with some of the basic commands and aids on the lunge should help.

As lungeing novices, I think Joanne and Tommy are doing well, but I’d like to work on getting Tommy a little looser, more relaxed and listening to Joanne so his reactions are quicker.

Simon Battram is an internationallyrenowned dressage rider and trainer who specialises in working in-hand, www.step intodressage.com

Meet the rider Joanne HoBdell bought her cob tommy in January after a 30-year break from horses. She wants to improve his response to her aids.

at the start of the lesson, Joanne is finding it hard to motivate tommy

the lesson focus

●●to get to grips with basic lungeing ●●Develop useful in-hand and

lungeing techniques

●●to help enthuse a lazy horse on

the lunge

Rupert travelled to Mongolia with his son Rowan to discover the healing powers of horses

your horse december 2014

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The Big Interview

“I love the healing power of horses” Rupert Isaacson has one simple mission in life – to bring the healing effects of horses and nature to autistic children and to continue improving life for his own son, Rowan.

YH writer Larissa Chapman discovers more about his heartwarming story

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ifelong horseman and devoted father Rupert Isaacson is the founder and driving force behind the Horse Boy Foundation, an organisation dedicated to helping children with autism, a developmental disability that affects how a person perceives the world around them and communicates with others. The foundation embraces the power of horses to bring joy and fun to children with disabilities, helping them develop and learn.

Born in London, Rupert spent much of his childhood hunting, eventing and doing everything he could to get as much time as possible in the saddle. Now based across the pond in Texas, international time zones were coordinated to arrange a transcontinental chat about how the Horse Boy Foundation

Rupert wants to continue helping other children like his son, Rowan

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The Horse Boy Foundation brings the joy of horses to children with autism

came into being and Rupert’s hopes for the future.

“My parents weren’t horsey at all but my aunty married into a horse-mad family so I spent most of my childhood riding around the Leicestershire countryside with her,” says Rupert. “I loved riding and horses but I never necessarily saw myself working with them in any way other than as a hobby. As I got older I trained as a journalist, reporting on issues affecting indigenous tribes in Botswana – it was pretty heavy stuff and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

“It was after my son, Rowan, was diagnosed with autism in 2004 that my life took a very different turn and brought me back to horses.

Autism means Rowan finds it hard to express himself and almost impossible to communicate with people,” Rupert explains.

“When he was younger I noticed he was a lot more comfortable when he was outside surrounded by nature, so I tried to spend as much time outdoors with him as possible.

We would often sit in the garden and watch the neighbour’s horses over the fence in the next field. Rowan always wanted to get close to them, but I sadly assumed it would be unsafe for him to be around horses because of his disability – how wrong could I be?

“One day he snuck off through the fence when I wasn’t looking and I found him in the field with the boss of the herd, a mare called Betsy. It was mind-blowing, I could see the bond he had with her and the difference her presence had on his autistic tendencies.

I went on to spend more time with Rowan and our neighbour’s horse and I decided to take him riding – I used a Western saddle so I could sit behind him and it was then that I got the first ever verbal expression from him. I had the equestrian knowledge and december 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!

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ONLINE www.greatmagazines.co.uk/yourhorse 62 your horse december 2014

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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 20/11/2014. From £25 price relates to 6-montly Direct Debit payment option.

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 (approximately) 2p to 10p. Cost from mobiles per minute (approximately) 10p to 40p. Costs vary depending on the network. For full terms and conditions visit: www.greatmagazines.co.uk/offer-terms.html

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december 2014 your horse 63

HORSE CARE

Keep your horse healthy and happy

Margrit believes it’s possible for all of us to better understand our horses

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Tackling bad behaviour

How to guard against tetanus

Page 77

spot the tell-tale signs of lameness

Page 81

Coping with death

Step inside your horse’s mind Horse communicator Margrit Coates explains her inspiring life’s work and reveals how you can tap into your horse’s thoughts and strengthen your bond WorDs AndreA MCHugH

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f you’ve ever looked at your horse and wished you knew what was going on in his mind, then take heart because horse healer and communicator Margrit Coates believes that this is entirely possible.

Furthermore, she believes that with practice and commitment anyone is capable of achieving this, and the benefits can be great.

“Emotions get buried deeply within our horses – tuning into them intuitively can be the catalyst for a new beginning,” she says.

We explore Margrit’s personal journey into animal communication and reveal how you too can use what’s she’s learned to tap into what your horse is thinking and deepen your bond.

Healing energy Whatever your background and stance – sceptic or believer – Margrit believes we can all access and use our personal energy.

“Everyone has the potential to tap into their inner source of healing energy,” she says.

“Since I started working as a horse healer and communicator in 1999 I’ve done thousands of consultations and each one has Margrit’s life’s work has been animal communication

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been unique and enabled me to learn. I’ve experienced the sensation of healing energy many times and I’ve often tried to analyse it, but in truth nobody on this planet can really understand it. What I do know is that everybody can choose to tap into this energy, listen to their intuition and channel their gut feelings for good. Everyone has the capability to be a healer, gain their horse’s trust and deepen their communication with them.”

“Everyone has the capability to be a healer and gain their horse’s trust” Margrit is passionate about horses and helping them, and in 2001 published her first book, Healing for Horses. More books have followed and Margrit regularly receives emails and letters from all over the world from people who have completely changed the way they think about their horses.

Her personal journey is as inspirational as it is remarkable.

“My childhood was one of extreme poverty,” explains Margrit. “I was a post-war child and my mother was from East Prussia, but I was brought up in Hull. Our family had absolutely nothing. I used to see people riding horses in the park and was completely mesmerized by these amazing, majestic animals. I dreamed of having riding lessons, but we needed money for food and it didn’t happen. Years later when I left college I moved to the countryside and lived near a farmer’s wife who hired out horses for lessons. I went every weekend and spent all my time with the horses. I fell in love with

a big grey cob called Blue and spiritually I felt I’d come home.”

Deep connection Always aware of a deep connection with animals, Margrit was frustrated that her early career path wasn’t connected to this.

When redundancy from a stressful job in marketing occurred she leapt at the opportunity to study complementary therapies and open her own practice. At first she treated people but it wasn’t long before a client asked her to give her horse healing and was so impressed with the results that soon more referrals came her way.

“I decided to specialise in animal healing, but soon realised there was absolutely no information anywhere,” recalls Margrit.

“I wrote a synopsis for a book and sent it to lots of equestrian publishers but each one rejected the idea. Then one day I was in my garden drinking tea and sitting quietly with my cats when I heard a distinct voice from one of them telling me to go back indoors, pick up a book, look at the publisher, and the rest would follow. The suggestion was so strong that I followed it. The book I randomly chose was published by Random House, so I printed the synopsis and sent it there. Two days later I received a call from a very shocked editor who said she’d just come from a planning meeting in which she’d voiced her idea for a radical new book on animal healing and there on her desk, on top of a huge pile of ideas, was my synopsis!”

Tuning in to horses The rest, as they say, is history and Margrit now helps thousands of horses and their owners all over the world, although she no longer has her own horses.

She explains: “The world’s horses are mine to help and I feel extremely blessed to do December 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: ✦ Tackle attention seeking p85 ✦ Get the perfect clip p87 ✦ Understand mud fever p88 ✦ Improve your bond p90 ✦ Cope with pyometra p93

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

Attention-seeking behaviour like pawing can become very annoying!

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

Have I got your attention now ?

If your horse has little ways of getting himself noticed, it can begin to grate. Jason Webb explains how to tackle his attention seeking and the importance of changing your own behaviour, too

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ttention-seeking behaviour in horses can be compared to attention seeking in any other animal or, indeed, humans! It generally stems from the anticipation of wanting something, be it food, an activity, company, or to be somewhere else. For a horse, this may be out in the field with their mates, and this anticipation can manifest itself in all sorts of antisocial and annoying behaviour, including whinnying, pawing at the ground, fidgeting when tied up and kicking at the stable door (particularly when food is around).

Generally speaking, these behaviours are learned over time, usually as a result of too much ‘routine’. For example, if a horse is fed in the same place every day, at exactly the same time, he learns to anticipate what’s coming and will become impatient for his ‘reward’ – in this case his food, just as if you always canter in the same spot on your local bridleway, your horse will soon start to fidget and become impatient if he’s not allowed to do so.

In most cases these behaviour patterns are made worse by our own actions. In our time-pressured lives it’s often easier to give in and provide the ‘quick-fix’ solution. If a horse is pawing at the ground at feeding time, or kicking at the stable door, it’s easier to just feed him to stop the racket! And it’s often much easier just to let your horse canter up the bridleway than to try to cope with him fidgeting (and much more fun!). Unfortunately though, these actions just serve as positive reinforcement and won’t help in the long run.

What’s interesting to note is that some horses are more prone to attention-seeking behaviour than others, and those which are a bit insecure or more highly-strung may well develop these problems more quickly.

JAsOn’s mEthOd

The key to tackling attention-seeking behaviour is changing your routine. When feeding, try to vary where you give the feed. This may include tying your horse up in the yard. It’s also important your horse learns to wait for his feed rather than diving into it. Always get him to step back and wait

Did you know?

Attention-seeking is all part of herd behaviour and dynamics, so it’s important to be aware of the interaction between yourself, as a handler, and your horse, and to recognise how this may influence behaviour patterns, and remember – prevention is better than cure!

a few seconds before you allow him to put his head down.

If he pushes forwards, push him back until he stops, then release your pressure. You need to change your horse’s mind – he needs to earn his feed, rather than taking it for granted, which may take several repetitions to establish.

When your horse is tied up, try to ignore impatient behaviour and reward him when he’s been standing quietly.

Slapping or pushing a horse, or fussing over him every time he displays attention-seeking habits, will only reinforce this behaviour. An analogy would be the attention-seeking toddler – if you respond to every demand, you make a rod for your back. You have to be patient to deal with impatience.

However, if you have to move your horse while he’s fidgeting, untie him but get him to wait a few seconds before moving off, which may involve having to step him backwards as explained before.

Box walKInG Jason on keeping your horse calm in his stable

december 2014 your horse 85

Off the Track

OUR EXPERT Kath Pinington is the yard manager and trainer at the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre (TRC) in Lancaster – a charity dedicated to racehorse welfare, ex-racehorse retraining and rehoming. www. thoroughbred rehabilitation centre.co.uk

Into the great unknown Help your ex-racer enjoy hacking out with advice from retraining expert Kath Pinington of the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre (TRC)

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efore you can explore the countryside and venture onto roads and bridleways, you’ll need to have built the essential foundations necessary to hack your ex-racer safely and with confidence. Ultimately, you need to

96 your horse DeCember 2014

be sure you have control, which means being able to move your horse from your leg (particularly your right leg when hacking on the roads). It also means being able to stop him and to have control of his neck and hind quarters because this

will play an important role in your control if your horse is spooks.

If you’re confident all these riding tools are in place then you’re ready to hack out and, to help you do it safely, here are my tips and advice on tackling common problems.

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With a little work and training you can enjoy hacking your ex-racer with confidence

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DeCember 2014 your horse 97

The place To waT

ConfidenC

Total Confidence Live proudly sponsored by

The show will be held at the South of England Showground, West Sussex

www.totalconfidencelive.co.uk

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Come as a visitor or bring your own horse to take part in our expert training clinics and learn from the best riders, trainers and coaches in the UK. Whether you need help to boost your nerve in the saddle or want to feel more confident when it comes to horse care, this is the event for you.

horse Care village

Visit our informative and interactive vet, feeding and tack & turn-out zones, featuring practical demonstrations by the best experts in the UK with real horses. Also benefit from one-on-one chats with equestrian professionals and confidence coaches to help you with all your horse care concerns.

live demonstrations

Watch and learn from incredible demonstrations by top riders, trainers and behaviourists in our Main Arena.

expert training CliniCs

Book in and bring your horse along to one or more of our training clinics with expert coaching from the best riders and trainers in the UK. Choose from cross-country, dressage or show jumping, receive on-the-spot feedback from our star trainers, and gain valuable experience and confidence with helpful tips and training advice that you can use at home.

shopping

Browse hundreds of trade stands in the shopping avenues to find the best products and bargains of 2015 and meet horses in need of re-homing in our Rescue Village.

A greAt dAY out for All Horse lovers all this and more from only £12!* *ShoW enTry SUBjeCT To fULfiLMenT ChArge, CLiniC pLACeS And SUBjeCT To AddiTionAL CoSTS

BUYERS’ GUIDE

Expert advice on buying wisely

102 your horse December 2014

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Behind the scenes at albion

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First look at a new trailer

gear to flatter your shape

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Stable toys

the test pUt to

Clippers Planning to remove your horse’s winter woollies?

Find out which clippers will do the best job!

C

lipping some, or all, of your horse’s winter coat will help to stop him sweating while working, and also make the job of grooming him quicker and easier. It’s important to buy a set of clippers you can trust to do the job well and stand the test of time.

To find out which clippers on the market are worth parting with your hard-earned cash, event rider Julia Dungworth and her groom, Sarah Duffin, tested six sets, assessing each one for their design, ease of use and performance.

“When clipping my horses, it’s really important to me that the clippers I use make the job quick and easy – especially when I have four or five horses to clip on a regular basis,” says Julia. “For me, this means I want

the clippers I use to be lightweight, easy to hold and durable. They also, of course, need to give a tidy finish.”

To keep the conditions of the test controlled, Julia and Sarah used each set of clippers on the same day and on the same horse – Rodney, a 16.2hh hunter. Rodney has a relatively fine winter coat and is generally good to clip, making him the perfect model for the job.

To carry out the test, Julia chose specific sections of Rodney to clip so that she and Sarah could test each set of clippers on the same areas each time. For example, both testers used the clippers on an area of Rodney’s quarters, neck and on his sensitive, fiddly bits, such as elbows and face.

Turn the page where Julia delivers their combined verdicts.

Meet the testers Julia Dungworth is an international event rider, who has competed and a variety of horses at a number of different levels, including four star.

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Sarah DuFFin is a professional groom. She is currently based in Leicestershire, where she’s kept busy working in a private hunting yard.

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Next Month in

on sale 20 Nov Get your free Copy * of The Ultimate Horse Care Guide part 2 *grocery exclusive AvAilAble in Tesco, sAinsbury’s, AsdA And Morrisons

Beat the clock Clever ways to find more time to enjoy your riding

Christmas Gifts Galore

Prepare to blitz your Christmas shopping with our fab guide!

Plus!

• Our guide to competing indoors this winter • How thermal imaging could help your horse • We reveal what life’s like for police horses • Coping with separation anxiety in horses