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✦ 2015 wall planner ✦ competing indoors ✦ winter health care advice ✦ Britain's police horses ✦ long Boots on test
Save time, ride more!
8
ways to make short work of yard chores
ride in harmony Improve your seat with one quick move
H o w to
Compete indoors with confidence
Have a happy, healthy winter!
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Your Horse 394 january 2015
ell F1R5 e Wa
Our expert guide to avoiding common conditions throughout the cold season WE CELEBRATE...
ESSENTIAL KIT...
EASy WAyS To...
✦ Britain's police horses ✦ Must have seat-savers ✦ Cope with box walking ✦ The loyal & loveable cob ✦ Long boots that last ✦ Plait manes like a pro
PHOTO: BOB LangrisH / YOur HOrse
Impeccably behaved, the brave and calm police horse has an important role to play
16 your horse January 2015
Celebrating horses
Life on the beat The majestic police horse plays a vital role when it comes to helping keep the peace with his gentle but powerful presence Words Lisa Burns
T
here’s something quite awe-inspiring about a row of police horses standing quietly in the middle of a crowd, whether it be at a football match, during a demo, or at a ceremonial event, such as a royal wedding or Trooping the Colour. In a potentially explosive situation, they can diffuse aggression and anger before it spills over into violence. “They’re fantastic for influencing a crowd in a calm way,” says deputy chief constable (DCC) Rod Hansen,
national lead for mounted policing. “The nature of the crowd changes, people pat the horses, there’s more smiling and the mood lifts. They have a therapeutic quality; they’re assertive, but not aggressive.” The surprisingly gentle strength of such large and impressive horses is something you can’t fail to notice when you see a police horse out on the beat. However, their apparent unflappability and capacity to stand still and relaxed for long periods of time, whatever the environment, is something that has to be taught. It’s a skill that those of us with highly-strung horses would love to emulate.
“They have a therapeutic quality; they’re assertive, not aggressive” Of course, not every equine can make a successful police horse. Some types, such as Warmbloods, just aren’t passive enough, others are the wrong build for the work. There are almost 300 horses in the UK’s mounted police, split across 12 units in England, Scotland and Wales. Most are Irish Draught or Irish Draught crosses, with a few Irish Sport Horses and Cleveland Bays for good measure, and all are at least 16.1hh. Often units are a mixture of mares and geldings, but in some instances a unit may consist solely of geldings – the Avon and Somerset mounted unit, for example, is composed of 12 such chaps, all bay. Colour is important – police horses tend to be bay, black, grey or chestnut, which creates a striking yet uniform January 2015 your horse 17
se Our Win a Hor prize package is worth a massive ÂŁ16,957!
Exclusive
competition
WIN A HORSE!
Entries for our competition are now closed and the hunt for our lucky winner is well underway. In addition to winning a brand new horse, they’ll also bag some truly incredible prizes worth more than £11,000, including training from British Eventing (BE) and bedding from Plevin
T
his December our Win a Horse finalists will undergo a day-long assessment at Summerhouse Equestrian Centre in Gloucester (www.summerhouseec.co.uk). We’ll be assessing their riding and horse care skills with the support of top trainers from Summerhouse Equestrian and Win a Horse Sponsors, Dengie, to determine who should be our lucky winner. Whoever comes out on top after our rigorous selection process will be able to buy their perfect horse to the value of £5,000, paid for by the magazine. Of course, we won’t leave them in the lurch when they make this big leap, we’ll be on hand to offer advice and support and they’ll receive some incredible prizes to help them get off to the best start with their new horse.
Off to a flying start
EvENtINg AdvIcE
For training tips from BE coach Lizzel Winter turn to page 42
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Within the amazing Win a Horse prize package our winner will benefit from free British Eventing (BE) membership for a year, as well as training and support from a British Eventing accredited coach. The new partnership will receive monthly training sessions with their new coach for four months, plus £200 worth of additional training vouchers to help them continue with their education. If and when our winner feels ready to compete, they’ll have loads of options to choose from, such as the introductory level of competition, the EquestrianClearance.Com BE80(T) classes
As a member of British Eventing, our winner will be able to enjoy competing with their new horse
Win A Horse is supported by
January 2015 your horse 21
BETTER RIDING
Easy-to-follow expert advice for beginners to advanced riders
At the start of the lesson, Minnie is in control, poking her nose out and running
26 your horse January 2015
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PAge 32
save time on yard chores
PAge 38
PAge 36
succeed indoors
ride with accuracy
PAge 48
improve your seat with one quick move
Julia Dungworth’s
Dressage Masterclass
Every issue we give one reader a lesson with a pro. this month event rider Julia Dungworth helps Kelly Davies improve her horse Minnie’s engagement and suppleness
A
meet the trainer JuliA DungworTh is an international event rider who has competed up to four-star level. she has a number of young horses she’s producing through the levels of eventing, and also trains riders.
s I watch Kelly run through her usual warm-up, I notice that she’s using too much leg. All that this common habit is doing is pushing Minnie down onto her forehand, so we need to work on encouraging Minnie to use her hindquarters more. Once she’s more engaged she’ll take more weight behind and lighten the forehand. There are various exercises that I use to achieve this, and the best one involves using lots of transitions. As we’re still warming up, I’d like Kelly
to ride some simple transitions between walk and trot. As she’s riding each transition I’d like her to think more about pushing Minnie back onto her hocks rather than just making her round. This is a common problem - as riders we become too fixated about where our horse’s head and neck is when really we need to focus on what’s happening behind us, ensuring our horse is using his hindquarters to push himself forwards into a consistent contact to achieve a true and correct outline. At the moment, Minnie tends to stick her nose out in the transitions, but as Kelly keeps riding this exercise on both reins, we’re starting to see an improvement. Once Minnie is using her hindquarters correctly, Kelly will find Minnie’s frame will become consistent in all paces and during transitions too.
The lesson focus
●●to work on transitions and
meet the rider Kelly DAvies has had her nine-year-old mare, Minnie, for just over a year. they compete in British Eventing competitions at novice level. Minnie has lovely paces, but can take time to relax.
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using lots of transitions between walk and trot, Minnie starts to lighten her forehand
leg-yield to improve engagement and suppleness ●●to focus on the importance of working your horse from his hindquarters into the contact ●●to recognise how the rider’s position can help influence your horse’s way of going
January 2015 your horse 27
Beat the clock! Discover eight easy ways to make short work of yard chores and find out how you can make more time to enjoy your riding this winter
32 your horse January 2015
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Better Riding
T OUR EXPERT Rachael Finch BHSII is a British Horse Society accredited trainer based in Lincolnshire. She specialises in developing confidence and harmony between horses and riders of all ages and abilities, and with five horses of her own, she’s also an expert at saving time!
ExpErt tIp
Most horses do less work during winter, so you’ll need to alter your horse’s feed. Fibre is so important, and I prefer ad-lib hay to lots of hard feed. I feed for temperament as well, which usually means nonheating feeds for calmer riding.
he extra chores that come with the darker months can mean it’s harder to get as much time to ride as you’d like, and the shorter days and bad weather can also stymie your best intentions. To help you save time and spend more hours in the saddle, we’ve asked trainer and multiple horse owner Rachael Finch to share her advice for running a slick operation around the yard and getting the most out of your riding. Get going – the clock is ticking!
You may find it easier to focus when working your horse in the morning
1 Plan every detail
By spending a few minutes getting organised ahead of each week you’ll be amazed how much more you can do, so look at what you’ve got coming up and plan your riding around other commitments. “Have an idea about whether you’re going to ride in the morning or evening,” adds Rachael. “I ride in the morning because I can get my horse groomed the night before, so when I arrive I can crack on, ride and then turn out. It’s also easier to make more time in the mornings as you can always get up earlier. If you have to, you can muck out at night, but if you ride after work and your horse comes in caked in mud you’ll have to spend ages brushing him, which reduces your riding time. After a long day at work it can be hard to focus or give things the time they need. So it’s better to start early than finish late.”
2 Be weather-wise
Don’t forget to factor the weather forecast into your planning. “It’s easy to get into a routine of riding on set days,” says Rachael, “but you can just change your mind if the weather’s bad – your horse isn’t going to care!”
3 Prepare the night before Leaving everything ready at the yard the night before makes things much quicker each morning. “Even having just one less job to do in the morning
Setting aside time for proper grooming sessions will equal a healthier horse and a stronger bond
will help,” says Rachael, “so have your hay ready and consider having a container of water outside his stable so you’re not waiting for buckets to fill up. Come the colder weather, wrap these containers up indoors so they can’t freeze. The only thing I don’t advise doing ahead of time is making up feeds, as you always want them to be fresh.” This kind of preparation will also help you bond with your horse. “Grooming the night before you ride isn’t just a great time-saver, you get to spend time with your horse, which is very important. Remember, grooming isn’t just a quick flick over – it’s important for muscle development and encourages a good blood supply to help promote condition,” says Rachael.
4 Stock up on haynets
Filling all your haynets for the week at a weekend keeps mess to a minimum and saves precious minutes. “If you haven’t got enough nets, refill the empties on a night when you’re not riding,” adds Rachael.
5 Make tasks work for you It makes sense to do certain tasks sequentially – like mucking out before you sweep up – and planning like this will give you more time in the saddle. “I like to ride first, then when I’m mucking out the horses are finishing cooling off, then they have their breakfast and go out,” adds Rachael. “If you run out of time you can finish mucking out at night.”
6 invest in time-saving kit “Rubber matting allows you to save time with half beds, and you should always work tidily, so there’s less sweeping up to be done,” says Rachael. “If you’re going across the yard don’t just carry one thing, tidy other things as you go.” w w w.you r hor se .co.u k
Blitz through timeconsuming jobs like haynet filling en masse
7 avoid the gossip squad
Don’t be afraid to politely make it clear to others on the yard you’ve got things to do. “It’s easy to end up chatting, but getting there early will mean you can crack on,” suggests Rachael. “Alternatively, explain you have to talk and work, or ask if you can chat later, and don’t feel bad.”
8 Share jobs with friend
Another way of keeping things sociable while still getting your jobs done is to take turns with a friend, so one of you mucks out while the other schools or hacks, or get them to help you school by putting out poles or jumps. “This is especially helpful if you’ve got a friend who doesn’t have their own horse. Often, people like helping and it gives them more experience,” says Rachael.
Turn over for ways to make every ride count... January 2015 your horse
Real life With the help of her performance coach James De Mountfort, Julie is embracing her new para dressage career
“I’m doing things I never thought possible!” After suffering a fractured back, Julie Daly defied the odds to get back in the saddle and now says the future’s bright as she makes a brave journey into the world of para dressage
J
ulie had it all, a bespoke yard, a beautiful home, a 21-strong herd of horses and a fantastic team around her, but on an ordinary April morning in 2008, everything changed. In a freak riding accident, Julie fell from her horse, suffering injuries that would change her life forever and threaten her riding goals. Little did she know the terrifying changes she faced would end up being some of the best she’d ever experience. Despite coming from a non-horsey family, Julie was completely addicted to horses from a young age. For years her horsey passion grew and grew until, like many young girls, she hit 16, discovered boys and decided to give up on horses altogether! She went on to become a powerful businesswoman and later met her husband, Michael. Together they moved to Milton Keynes where they w w w.you r hor se .co.u k
bought a house with land – perfect for keeping horses, and with that Julie’s childhood riding passion was reignited. “Re-entering the horse world was quite daunting at first. After such a long break from horses it seemed so much had changed since I was last on the scene,” says Julie. But, despite this initial ‘fish out of water’ feeling, Julie was soon back in the thick of horsey life with a herd of horses and a new love for in-hand showing. “I knew I didn’t want to jump or anything high-octane like that because I knew I wouldn’t bounce like I used to so in-hand showing seemed like the way to go,“ she says. “The very first horse I bought was a beautiful palamino called Chance, he was such a star and we won lots of classes.” Julie had a variety of other horses of all shapes and sizes and travelled the country
Julie and Chance pictured here at their first in-hand show after the accident
january 2015 your horse
Celebrating horses
Lest we forget the horses of war
In August 2014 military and ex-military personnel saddled up to ride a famous route of war
On a ride like no other, the people and horses who fought and died in the First World War are remembered. Here we learn about the War Horse Ride and what it felt like to be part of it
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ne hundred years ago, back in 1914, the Great War began. It became the last conflict where horses would play a vital role on the front line. Each day, soldiers and their steeds would wake to a barrage of bombing and fighting, life and death. Now, in an effort to ensure their lives, and what they did, are never forgotten, something called the War Horse Ride takes place in France. First ridden in 2013, the War Horse Ride was to be a fitting tribute to the men and horses on all sides, as well as an effort to raise money for the Not Forgotten Association (NFA), a charity set up in 1920 to help ex-servicemen and women. This year, the ride took place for a second w w w.you r hor se .co.u k
time and saw military and ex-military personnel saddle up to ride a route now known as The Retreat from Mons, which was ridden by those who fought in the war. We wanted to know how it felt to be part of such an important ride, so we asked the expedition’s travelling vet, Sally Hodgson, to write a personal diary along the way. “It might seem odd to commemorate a retreat. Mostly we celebrate the anniversaries of military victories,” says Sally, “but the rear-guard actions fought by the British cavalry during the retreat from Mons in 1914 delayed the advance of the German army for long enough to save Paris.” The retreat was the last major military action
to involve cavalry and the route they took was re-traced to create the War Horse Ride. “The ride was such an impressive sight,” says Sally. “Thirty five riders, all in period uniform, were accompanied by a 1915 horse-drawn wagon and 1914 field gun. I felt so lucky to join them and formed part of a support team, which quickly became known as ‘the militia’.” Sally and her team provided the horses, horse transport, vet and farrier cover, and mechanical and technical support. A pair of horses pulling the General Service (GS) wagon, and a gun-team of six horses, were also their responsibility. Turn the page to read more about this incredible tribute ride. January 2015 your horse
Enjoy
for a y
Your Horse Editor Imogen Johnson says: This year choose a gift that will last beyond Christmas! A subscription to Your Horse magazine is the perfect way to treat one of your horsey friends or family members. Plus, their copy will be delivered direct to their door every month – that means less time queuing up in the shops and more time riding. What’s not to like?!
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Subscriptions will start with the next available issue. Offer closes on 31/12/2014. After your first direct debit payment your subscription will continue at the price you paid on this offer every 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. 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 geographical location in the UK. For overseas enquiries, please contact +44 1858 438884. You may get free calls to some numbers as part of your call package – please check with your phone provider. Order lines open 8am-9.30pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-4pm (Sat). Calls may be monitored for training purposes.
CALL 01858 438884 58 your horse January 2015
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Total Confidence Over the next six months this series will be working hard to fill you with confidence and inspire you to get the most out of every minute with your horse, whatever your discipline or experience
O
ut of the 300 horse owners and riders who took part in our online confidence survey*, more than one third of you said confidence issues were the main barrier preventing you from enjoying your horse to the max. Our survey also highlighted the things you worry about most when riding and handling your horses. Armed with this information, we took stock
of your concerns and used them to set out our 2015 Total Confidence series and ensure we can help you to grow as a rider. And, to support us in our mission, we’ve brought together a team of six amazing experts. They’ll give you all the tools you need to combat your confidence woes and enjoy every second on the ground and in the saddle, from jumping, feeling in control,
riding on the roads and riding in open spaces, to conquering a new environment or getting back on board after an accident. Here, ahead of month one - on sale 18 December 2014 - we’re kicking things off by introducing our experts, so read on to learn who they are, what they do and how they’ll be helping you throughout the series.
Month 1
Stay in control with Rosie Jones
your horse January 2015
*Your Horse surveY conducted online witH 300 participants, october 2014
Regular Your Horse expert Rosie is a Recommended Associate of Intelligent Horsemanship. She has a wealth of experience in training tricky horses and, because more than 40% of you who took our survey said you’d like a stronger partnership with him, she’ll be helping you to improve that sought-after bond with your horse on the ground and in the saddle. She’ll offer up handy techniques to give you more control in a variety of situations, including everything from leading to mounting and more. “I’m so excited to be part of the Total Confidence series again,” says Rosie. “I think every horse owner should experience a strong bond with their horse and be free from worries.” To find out more visit www.rosiejoneshorses.co.uk or www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk
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Total Confidence Month 2
Soar over every fence with confidence
Conquer your jumping fears with Karen Dixon Karen is a four-time Olympic event rider who now competes, trains, rides and produces young horses. She also retrains ex-racers from her yard in County Durham. She understands that leaving the ground in any capacity can be terrifying for many people, so in month two of our series she’ll be helping you to tackle your jumping issues head on. From those rider frightener fences, such as water and ditches, to a fear of falling, we’ve got it covered thanks to Karen’s expertise and guidance. She says: “Jumping can cause problems and evoke fear for many riders but hopefully I can share some skills and techniques to get people soaring confidently over their fences every time.”
Month 3
Stay safe riding on the roads with Melanie Watson Melanie runs Instinctive Horsemanship in East Yorkshire. She specialises in training problem horses, breaking young horses in and teaching others. Melanie knows that staying in control of a living animal alongside other road users can feel like a challenge for so many of us – even unpredictable and downright dangerous – but it needn’t scare the living daylights out of you. In month three, Melanie will be guiding you through riding on the roads, helping to build your confidence so that fear of spooking and riding alongside traffic starts to drift away. “Having the confidence and skills to ride your horse out on the roads will go far to ensuring you and both stay safe,” says Melanie. “Sadly, there are so many riders out there who don’t know how to handle the roads and who, as a result, don’t feel confident enough to leave the yard which is such a shame. “I hope to help ensure that Your Horse readers don’t find themselves falling into that category!” To find out more about Melanie and her work, visit her website, www.instinctivehorsetraining.co.uk
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Month 4
Get back on board after a bad experience with expert advice from Wendy Jago Wendy is an executive coach and author who writes about coaching and communication issues for both professional and self-help readerships. She enjoys looking at the way horse and rider communicate with and understand each other. Wendy is also a regular rider and a British Dressage judge. If you’ve suffered an injury or had a bad experience while riding, the chances are you’ll feel as though you have a physical and
mental mountain to climb to get back in the saddle. Thankfully, in month four, Wendy is on hand to help you climb this metaphorical peak and get you back on board brimming with confidence. “I’m so pleased to be a part of the Total Confidence series and hope I can help many riders get their confidence back,” she says. “Horses are unpredictable and sometimes things happen, but fingers crossed I can give people the confidence to work through this.” You can contact Wendy by email, wendy@pivotalcoaching.co.uk
Don’t let a bad experience get you down – get back in the saddle!
January 2015 your horse
The joy of cobs Sadly often underrated, the humble gypsy cob actually has a huge amount to offer. Hardy, talented and beautiful, we explore why a versatile cob could be the perfect equine partner Words AndreA OAkeS
W
ith full mane, tail and feathers flying, the traditional gypsy cob has always been an eye-catching sight. Yet, while these fun and multi-talented all-rounders have long been a hot favourite with Your Horse readers, in recent years the breed has been hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Over-breeding and abandonment have left thousands of traditional gypsy cobs without homes. As welfare centres struggle to deal with unwanted animals, we felt it was time to take a look at what makes these characterful cobs so special. Originally bred by in the UK and Ireland to pull the wagons of travelling families, the traditional cob had to be hardy, fearless, intelligent and powerful – yet docile enough for the whole family to handle. This willing and unflappable temperament remains the hallmark of a true cob. “I’ve always found them incredibly easy to be around,” says Andrea Betteridge, director of the Traditional Gypsy Cob Association (TGCA) and a lifelong fan. “They’re very tactile and non-demanding, bred over generations for their stamina, strength and versatility.” According to Andrea, the traditional gypsy cob is a true breed – and one whose profile is at an Cobs often have great suspension in trot, and clever schooling will work to their strengths
all-time high. “There’s a lot of focus on the breed at the moment,” she admits, explaining that the TGCA is now a registered breed association and the only official organisation for traditional cobs. “Interest worldwide is massive. Breeding is popular, but welfare societies are inundated with cobs for rehoming and they’re doing a fantastic job. We’re trying to educate people to be responsible in their choices and not to encourage irresponsible breeding. As with any horse, it’s important to do your homework before you buy.”
The resilient nature of the gypsy cob is legendary Although the true gypsy cob is typically black and white, Andrea points out that solid colours and markings are permitted. “The breed should be celebrated in all its colours,” she says.
show-ring superstars
While sure-footed cobs are an obvious choice for hacking, it’s a big mistake to think of them as mere plods. It’s true that they can make fantastic fun rides,
yet high-profile examples such as dressage superstar Tiger Tim (read more over the page) are out there proving that they can also have real athletic potential. Whether you plan to jump, hunt, event, drive or show your cob, it’s all about enhancing his strengths and recognising his weaknesses. “Cobs often have amazing suspension in the trot work,” explains dressage trainer Alison Short. “Walk is often weakest, however, and they can sometimes ‘pace’ – or lose the natural rhythm – if asked to stay in a contact in walk. Rounding the back can be difficult if the pelvis is very sloping in angle, and maintaining cardiovascular fitness can be a challenge as they tend to have bursts of energy before requiring a rest. “It’s important to understand your cob’s biomechanics to maximise his schooling without the risk of repetitive strain injuries,” adds Alison. “Set simple and achievable goals, encouraging muscular development that is physically correct to ensure his long-term soundness. Circuit training in the school and hill work will help build his stamina and create hind limb and topline muscle. Keep his work varied, too, avoiding deep going that will encourage him to ‘paddle’ rather than develop groundcovering paces.” In lower-level dressage, Alison feels that the breed can even challenge the Warmblood. “I’ve seen a good gypsy cob beat more quality-bred horses,” she says. “Their rhythm is often so regular, like a metronome. “Whatever his breed, a wellproduced horse with correct paces will showcase good training and can be very rewarding to judge.”
Health matters
The resilient nature of the gypsy cob is legendary. They’re known to be good-doers, surviving on minimal rations and withstanding harsh weather without complaint. But what 60 your horse January 2015
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Celebrating horses
Traditional cobs are beautiful, hardy and can be talented athletes too – what more could you want?
HORSE CARE
Keep your horse healthy and happy
External checks Don’t fall victim to lice Lice infestations are common in late winter and early spring, particularly in hairier breeds. They’re almost always associated with intense itchiness and affected horses often rub off large patches of hair and can traumatise the skin leaving sores. Lice are just visible to the naked eye so take a close look at your horse’s skin and you might be able to see them moving. The worst affected areas are likely to be his mane, forelock, lower neck and the base of his tail.
Sandy’s essential actions
✓ Use louse powders containing permethrin to kill the lice. These can be applied to other horses to reduce the risk of lice being transferred to them ✓ Rugs should be washed or treated with powder or spray
Check him for thrush Thrush is a smelly and unpleasant bacterial infection in your horse’s frog and, surprise, surprise, it's usually more common in damp, dirty conditions in the wintertime. To keep it at bay inspect and pick out your horse's feet daily so you can spot any problems early. Hind feet are more susceptible than front ones so be especially vigilant when checking those and keep your eyes (and nose) peeled for any black, foul smelling discharge around his frogs.
Sandy’s essential actions
✓ If your horse gets thrush, move him to a clean and dry environment ✓ Pick out his feet daily and scrub affected frogs with dilute iodine or other antiseptic solutions
Wage war on mud fever Wet and muddy conditions are ideal for mud fever and any horse can be at risk of this unsightly and painful condition. It’s caused by the bacteria Dermatophilus congolensis, which lives on your horse’s skin and becomes prevalent in wet and muddy conditions. Keep an eye out for it by looking for matted areas of hair containing crusty scabs - small, circular, ulcerated, moist lesions beneath scabs are a sure sign of the condition. Also watch out for heat, swelling, pain and lameness.
Sandy’s essential actions
✓ To prevent it, provide a shelter or hard standing area to keep your horse off mud ✓ Make sure to keep his legs as clean and dry as possible
Proud sponsors of Horse Care Back to Basics 64 YOUR HORSE JANUARY 2015
W W W.YOU R HOR SE .CO.U K
PAGE 68
PAGE 71
How to treat rain scald
The role of equine slaughter explored
PAGE 74
Thermal imaging explained
PAGE 78
Help him cope with separation anxiety
Watch out for rug rubs Sores and rubs increase in the wintertime as your horse is heavily clad and layered with rugs to keep him warm. No matter how well fitting his rug, rolling and running around the field can cause it to move. Rug rubs can be painful for your horse and have the potential to worsen if left untreated.
Sandy’s essential actions
✓ Always ensure his rug fits correctly – check out the Your Horse expert video guide to fitting rugs at www.yourhorse.co.uk/rugfitting ✓ Make sure under rugs are properly secured and lying smoothly on his skin ✓ Remove and reposition his rug daily to ensure it’s in the right place ✓ A daily grooming session will keep his coat healthy and allow you to spot any sore or bald patches fast ✓ Pay particular attention to his wither and shoulder areas as these usually bear the brunt of rubs
Essential winter health checks To help you protect your horse's health from the inside out equine vet Sandy Baird describes the winter conditions he most commonly sees as and the actions you can take to keep them at bay
SPILLERS® Care-Line 01908 226626 careline@spillers-feeds.com l www.spillers-feeds.com W W W.YOU R HOR SE .CO.U K
JANUARY 2015 YOUR HORSE 65
The place To waT
ConfidenC
total Confidence live is proudly sponsored by
The show will be held at the South of England Showground, West Sussex
www.totalconfidencelive.co.uk
n
Tch, lisTen, learn and ride
ewBr a ev n d en t
Ce guaranteed s A brand new, totally interactive event Join u... brought to you by Your Horse magazine f or
r e a de offerr
only £10 *
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 – see Jason Webb, Melanie Watson and the team from the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre 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. You can receive on the spot feedback from our star trainers - choose from cross-country with Karen Dixon, Jon Pitts and Flora Harris, dressage with Alison Short, Hannah Biggs and Wendy Jago or show jumping.
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.
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Horses through F
or thousands of years equestrian history has been inextricably linked with our own. Technology may have transformed our modern world beyond belief, but the close relationship we share with our horses is one thing that’s remained constant since the days of our earliest British ancestors. Horses have served alongside humans for more than 4,000 years, helping us work the land, win wars and powering our industrial progress. We’ve exploited their strength and speed as a means of transport and, increasingly, enjoyed the many opportunities they’ve afforded us for sport and recreation. Where would we be without them? Just as we’ve shaped the horse into distinct equine breeds and types to suit these varied roles, horses have helped shape
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the world we live in today. Join us for a brief gallop through history to find out how.
Prized possessions Our horses may be our most prized possessions, but how many of us would try to take them into the afterlife? The fashion in the Iron Age was to be buried with your horses and chariots, along with tack and grooming tools, as an offering to the gods. These burial sites are among the earliest evidence of the British population as keen and proficient horsepeople. By Roman times, many thousands of cavalrymen were riding on a saddle with four ‘horns’, or pommels. But the idea of the stirrup had yet to be developed – which could make for a bumpy ride! Nigel Amos, of historical re-enactment group The Conroi, explains that stirrups
appeared in Europe around the fifth century. “The word ‘stirrup’ in Anglo Saxon means ‘rope step’,” he says. “This indicates that it was a mounting aid rather than something used for riding. In fact, most people rode without a treed saddle until around the year 1000 AD. The stirrup became popular shortly after that time, with the Normans, enabling the rider to develop a much more stable seat – especially when fighting in heavy armour.” During the Roman era and the centuries that followed, the horse became more than just a military machine for Britain’s bloody battlefields. “The horse was the number one way to travel,” adds Nigel, explaining that equines weren’t used for agriculture until the 12th century. “People generally only rode if there was a reason to go somewhere, such as serving the lord or delivering his w w w.you r hor se .co.u k
PHoTo: © RobeRT HaRding PicTuRe LibRaRy LTd/aLamy
Celebrating horses
The Bayeux Tapestry depicts the 11th century Norman conquest of England. The 70m long tapestry gives us an insight into the size and shape of horses in medieval times
history
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Jousting was part of Europe’s first professional sport
PHoTo: neiL buRy
business as a messenger. The common folk could have had horses, but they rarely had need for them and there was no time for leisure activities.” So what were these horses like, by medieval times, and who was riding them? “There were very few people at that time – around three million – and probably the same number of horses,” says Nigel. “The horses were strong but in no way ‘carty’. They were short-backed and quite finelybuilt, and we can tell from the Bayeux Tapestry that they were around 14hh.” The showcase of equestrian skill was the joust. Brandishing combat spears and without the benefit of plate armour, knights galloped straight towards one another in this competitive duel. “Surprisingly, more knights died from falls than being injured by weapons,” says Nigel. “The joust was how
The domestication of the horse changed the course of human history. Here we explore the debt we owe our fabulous four-legged friends
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The Big Interview
“I love the precision, control and power” Dressage rider Hannah Biggs’ star is rising, and she’s got her eyes firmly on the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Your Horse writer Rebecca Statham went to find out more about this exciting British rider
H
annah Biggs has sampled the delights of equestrian life in Hong Kong, trained in Germany and has been based in England for the past 17 years, flying the flag for Britain in the dressage world. As a member of the world class development programme and with Emile Faurie as her trainer, she’s got big dreams, Rio 2016 being one of them. In September, Hannah experienced her first ever international victory at Saumur, the CDI 3-star competition in France – a nice confidence boost as she continues her Olympic training. Pulling up at Hannah’s immaculate Dorset yard, it’s obvious her business is well-organised – not a thing is out of place. I find Hannah making tea in the kitchen, taking a quick break after a jam-packed morning. “I ride in the morning and then fit lessons in throughout the afternoon, it usually works well that way,” she says, explaining that she’s taken the afternoon off for our interview. I congratulate her on and success at Saumur, and it’s clear her win with her top horse, Weltzin, is still fresh in her mind. “Winning my first international Grand Prix Freestyle in Saumur was incredible,” she says. “I was over the moon with Weltzin after we’d finished the test as he put his heart into it, I was even more
Hannah and her top horse Weltzin, on whom she recently rode to victory at Saumur
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the test put to
Long casual boots Looking for a stylish and practical alternative to welly boots this winter? Our test reveals which ones will keep your feet warm and dry whether you’re on the yard or out and about
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fter years in wellies and muck boots it seems us horsey folk are now far more in favour of long casual boots like those pictured above. And, rather than wear them solely for yard duties, many of us pair them with our jeans to do everything from spectating at competitions to walking the dog and doing the shopping. But, whatever you wear yours
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for, it’s important they’re comfy, hardwearing and worth their price tag. So, with many to choose from we’ve put a selection to the test. All claim to have special features and we wanted to see how they coped in different conditions and over time. Our testers included one member of the Your Horse team, your Horse readers and a selection of horse owners from Grange
Farm Equestrian Centre in Peterborough. They considered how well the boots fit, their overall appearance, how comfortable they are, how long they take to break in, whether they’re suitable for yard and casual use and if those labelled as waterproof actually are! Finally they considered if the boots they tested offered value for money and if they’d happily recommend them to you. w w w.you r hor se .co.u k
Buyers’ Guide
Look out for winners
Winners of our product tests receive this special Your Horse award. So, if you see it when shopping online or on products in the shops you’ll know we’ve given it our seal of approval and it’s worth your hard-earned cash!
JustTogs Montreal Country Boot Tested by Kate Jackson These boots look great worn around the yard and, around the foot, they’ve been extremely comfortable from day one. The leather around the top of the boots took bit of breaking in and was a little uncomfortable at the back of my knees until the leather softened. Inside you can feel that the boot is built up slightly on your instep which gives a nice amount of support and additional comfort. All-in-all I think these are a great pair of boots at a very reasonable price too. Colour Brown Sizes 3 to 9 Price £89
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Ride with confidence Expert advice to help you maintain control
Next Month in
on sale 18 Dec
ToP TRAINING TIPS FRoM CARL HESTER
The best experts, riders & products – chosen by you! We reveal the winners of the Your Horse Awards
HoW To… Ride the perfect winter warm-up
Get inside his mind
Teach your horse to trust
Plus! • Turnout boots tried, tested and rated! • Understand your horse’s back and how it works • We interview pro event rider Francis Whittington