Pippa Funnell on her passion for horses
HORSE B e a b e t t e r r i d e r , g e t t h e b e s t f r o m yo u r h o r s e
Confident rider How you can develop a
positive mental attitude
Cross Country Advice
Arena schooling with Olympic eventer Mark Kyle
YOU must TRY
western RIDING Learn all the essential skills of this fun and exciting discipline
WIN A DAY WITH
ELLEN WHITAKER
One-to-one coaching from the international show jumping star
mEmory boosters
How to train your brain and win more classes
£3.80
• be more confident • Try western riding • Indoor XC Training • Memory skills for dressage success • Wellies on test
Be a more
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Gear
RIDING Care
Which wellies to wear 37 pages of top advice on this winter. PLUS XC softening, counter-canter, boot Buyers’ Guide striding & much more
Winter brain training for your horse. PLUS vet advice on treating abscesses
February 2011
Your Horse 343 February 2011
Your
“I’m not in it for wins”
PIPPA FUNNELL
I’m not in this game simply for the wins Words Rebecca Gibson Photography Mark Manning
P
ippa Funnell looks anxious. She’s the only event rider to have conquered Burghley, Badminton and Kentucky to secure the Rolex Grand Slam, and yet it’s there in her eyes – a flicker of nerves that suggests homebred four-year-old Billy on Form could prove a handful today. Pippa had been missing from the top of the sport for several years due to a lack of horsepower, but 17hh chestnut Redesigned has seen her catapulted back into the limelight. The recent World Equestrian Games saw Pippa, with the relatively inexperienced nineyear-old, make a shock return to the GB squad. Five years without a top horse has done nothing to diminish Pippa’s passion and, despite the fact horses have been her bread and butter for more than 30 years, she still has a child-like passion for them. “I’m not in this game simply for the
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wins,” she explains. “For me the enjoyment comes just as much from producing horses who are capable of competing at the top level.” As Pippa takes a rather fresh Billy on Form to warm up in the round pen away from all the other youngsters, it’s clear that as much as Pippa loves producing her own horses, she needs to do it. She’s a rider who likes to know the horse beneath her inside out and has to believe the horse has what it takes to make a four-star cross-country course feel easy. Along with show jumper husband William, Pippa runs two yards, which hold a total of 70 horses at any one time. For most eventers the winter is a time to take a break from the saddle but for Pippa it’s a time to focus on the young guns who have just been backed. There couldn’t be a better time for us to ask her the questions you want answered.
Turn over for Pippa’s answers to your questions
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Riding
Your first steps to
Western riding Western riding expert Shane Borland gives you the perfect introduction to this exciting style of training and riding your horse. You don’t need to be a cowboy to enjoy it and there are UK-based instructors dotted all around the country to inspire you even more. So, if you’ve ever wondered what western riding is all about, wonder no more
Meet Shane
Photos Matthew Roberts
Shane spent many years playing polo and polocrosse until he found western riding. Amazed by the horsemanship and the skill of the Quarter Horse breed, he knew it was a riding style he had to try. Soon Shane was representing South Africa at the World
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Reining Masters in 2005 and at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen in 2006. In 2008, he ended the season as British Reining Year End High Point Champion, among other accolades. In 2010 he competed at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.
In the sliding stop, the back comes up and the hindquarters come underneath the horse
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Care
VETADVICE
Bursting out all over
Abscesses are a pain in every sense of the word... Vet Gil Riley helps you deal with them quickly and effectively, so you have your fit, happy horse back in no time Withers Words Helen Milbank
Fistulous withers are characterised by painful, pus-filled wounds and swelling in the area
Tooth
Just like us, horses can suffer a tooth abscess after a root becomes infected, often resulting in nasal discharge
Throat
Abscesses in the throat area are commonly linked to strangles and can lead to trouble swallowing
Hoof
Hoof abscesses are common after a puncture wound to the foot, or if infection penetrates the weaker white line
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For more vet advice go to www.yourhorse.co.uk
A
s someone who’s recently had to cope with the worry – and a hefty vet’s bill – after my horse got an abscess in both hind feet at the same time (cue a trip to the local tack shop to panic-buy its entire stock of Vetwraps) I know how painful they can be. An abscess can strike any horse, at any age and at any time, and it usually means a vet visit, or three, to treat. But learning how to spot the early signs, and having a first aid plan ready to swing into place, will help you deal with the problem quickly and efficiently. With the right treatment your horse will be happy and healthy again in no time, and so to help us form a plan of ‘abscess action’ we’ve got advice from one of the country’s leading vets, Gil Riley.
Spine
Abscesses along the spine can be difficult to treat as gravity’s against the drainage process and the area will need to be flushed out
Body
Any injury that punctures the skin can lead to an abscess if infection gets in, leading to pus and inflammation
Your quick guide to abscesses Cause
Infection, which is attacked by the body’s own defences, leading to inflammation and pus
Symptoms
Swelling and pain. All abscesses, whether in the foot, throat (as is common in cases of strangles) or elsewhere in the body, result in huge discomfort as inflammation and pus cause the abscess to press on the surrounding tissues and nerves
Prevention
While abscesses as a result of injury are hard to avoid, a good hoof care regime will keep the hoof capsule as strong and effective at preventing infection as possible, helping to reduce foot abscesses
Treatment
Bursting – or lancing – the abscess is vital to drain pus and help the body to heal from within
Gut
Strangles can, in rare cases, turn into bastard strangles, where infection reaches the lungs or intestines
Illustration Samantha J Elmhurst BA Hons, www.livingart.org.uk
If an abscess forms, the foot must be pared back to release pus, and the abscess allowed to drain, using a poultice
Abscesses in the hoof are common following a puncture wound
Once the foreign object has been removed, the area is at risk of infection, leading to inflammation and pus
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A more confident you starts here! Here’s our guide to helping you develop a positive mindset that will guarantee a fun and fulfilling 12 months with your horse. So sit back, relax and follow our advice on everything from fragrant flower remedies to self-help DVDs
I
f you’re happy to leap on any horse and face the challenges of roads/traffic/the odd cross-country fence without a care, then consider yourself darn lucky. For the vast majority of us riding means fun, well, most of the time, tinged with the odd pang of nerves and self-doubt. We’re famed for letting niggling ‘what if…’ thoughts crowd our heads and worrying we might damage ourselves as we hurtle over fences. But it needn’t be that way. Sure, riding’s risky, but 99% of our fears
are unfounded. We imagine scenarios that rarely happen and transmit nerves to our horses that needn’t be there. The good news? All this is about to change. Switch to a positive mindset the next time you’re in the saddle and you’re guaranteed to have more fun. Here you’ll find all the expert advice, brain training ideas and inspiration you need to change the way you feel about riding – for good. It’s easier than you think to become a more confident, fun-loving rider, so let the good times roll!
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Gear
20
EDITED BY ALLISON LOWTHER
pag s o REVe IEWSf & GEA R
Whether you’re in the market for new winter wellies, cross-country boots, ways to save cash or you just love to shop, then read on ...
120 Big Test: Wellington boots “Easy to wear in a variety of weather conditions, wellies should keep your feet clean and dry whether you’re at the yard or out walking the dog – take a look at our test to find out which ones take top spot” Allison Lowther, Gear Test Editor
126 What’s new
All the latest goodies for you and your horse – colourful ways to stay warm on the yard, bamboo base layers, a new way to carry water, great new boots and much more
The scores
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Waste of money Very poor Poor Below average Average Fairly good Good Very good Excellent Perfect
129 Buying a grooming box
We take a look at three of the best on the market – you’ll struggle to choose!
130 Long term tests
Gear we love – this month a great way to keep your horse’s shoes on, over trousers, top socks and a hood for a mud monster.
132 Buyer’s guide to cross-country boots
Our guide to what to look for, and what’s available to keep your horse safe
138 Offers
Four pages of money-saving deals from some of the top equine companies
The awards
We take our testing very seriously – look out for the Your Horse awards in the mag, and as swing tags on products in the shops. If it’s good enough for an award, it’s good enough for your hard-earned cash. Only awarded to the very best products in our comprehensive gear tests
Products that offer great value for money and perform well.
A product that performs well, but just missed out on the winning position
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Competition
Win a day with
win
Perso nal advice f one o rom f UK’s t the op fema le sho w jumpe rs
Ellen Whitaker
Here’s your chance to win a day at Arena UK – a premier equestrian competition centre based at Grantham, Lincolnshire – with help, coaching and advice from top show jumper Ellen Whitaker. Ellen has show jumping in her blood – she’s the daughter of Carol and Stephen Whitaker, and the niece of international riders John and Michael. Often seen wowing the crowds from the back of the
feisty but undeniably talented mare Ladina B, Ellen is currently ranked fifth in the UK and is working hard to achieve her goal of attending the 2012 Olympics. Ellen will be on hand to walk the course with you and to help you warm up your horse for the competition – you must be able to compete at 95cm. You may bring a guest.
Photo Simon Palmer
The prize
Ellen Whit aker and Ladina B shared first place at this year ’s Horse of the Year Show Tagg Puissance
day for the winner A and a guest at a show at Arena UK (days will be restricted to fit in with Ellen’s schedule) Ellen Whitaker will walk the course with the winner and work with them to warm the winner’s own horse up in the collecting ring, prior to competition, and offer advice throughout Entry fee and lunch, will be provided
Ellen met the crowds and signed autographs at Your Horse Live this year
To enter visit www.yourhorse.co.uk and answer this question
Ellen is the daughter of which Whitaker brother? a) Stephen b) John c) Michael You must own a horse and be able to compete at 95cm. Closing date is 31 March 2011 For full terms and conditions please see www.yourhorse.couk/ellencomp
Care
PRACTICALHORSEMANSHIP
Brain training for your horse Keep your horse’s mind active this winter and prevent him from turning into a frustrated hooligan. Practical horseman Richard Maxwell shows you how Words Rebecca Gibson
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hen exercising becomes impossible and long hours stood in a stable become the norm, Max believes it’s the horse’s brain that needs working, not so much his body. Max has spent much of his life working with horses who other people have given up on or labelled as dangerous. His work has focused on understanding the thought process behind the unwanted behaviour displayed. Rather than simply punishing the horse, Max
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changes his thought process so that the unwanted behaviour becomes redundant and the horse becomes a willing partner. Max believes these same principles can be used to keep your horse from becoming difficult to manage this winter. Here he explains how you can make your horse feel like he’s been worked hard in small snippets of time. “Winter is a tough time to be a horse owner. Hammering rain, gale force winds, plummeting temperatures and dwindling daylight hours are enough to sap the motivation of even the most committed of riders,” says Max. “But people don’t make it easy for themselves. They set themselves unrealistic goals to ride for hours every day in an attempt to physically tire the energy out of their horse. But my work with so-called problem horses has led me to realise that when a horse gets fresh, it’s his brain that needs working, not his body.”
TRAINER PROFILE Richard Maxwell aka Max
Having worked with the Household Cavalry and then later with Monty Roberts, Max has experienced both conventional and natural methods of training. Although he’s never consciously tried to merge the two, over the years he’s found himself taking the best of both methods to develop his own style of horsemanship, which he says is best described as practical horsemanship. At the crux of all of Max’s training is developing a willing partnership. For more information about Max’s training visit www.richardmaxwell.com, email richardmaxwell19@aol.com or call 07764 404723
For more training advice go to www.yourhorse.co.uk
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2010 01
02
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More than
15,000
of you enjoyed Your Horse Live!
With a record attendance of 15,226, over 300 horsey stands and umpteen top celebrities wowing the crowds with special demos, Your Horse Live! 2010 proved a roaring success. Here’s our special gallery round-up of the great event. And turn the page to find a very special early bird ticket offer for 2011!
Ellen Whitaker
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The top show jumper made a surprise appearance on Sunday to meet her fans
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01 Eventers Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks meet fans and sign endless autographs 02 The breeds village was as popular and busy as ever 03 A touch of Covent Garden at Stoneleigh with live sculptures giving visitors the odd shock
Beverley Brightman says
The atmosphere was electric this year
Geoff Luckett
Geoff demonstrated his immense speed jumping skills on a number of horses
04 Giving the dressage riding simulators a go in the Improve Your Riding zone 05 The chance to shop til you drop is a major plus at Your Horse Live 06 Celebrities took to the stage to answer questions during the twice daily Riding Question and Answer panels 07 Guido from the Rockin’ Horses Stunt Show lives life on the edge to bring great entertainment to the packed main arena 08 Lucinda and Clayton brought a little music to the show, playing their new single to the audience – it’s available to download now and it’s pretty darn good!
Maria Eilberg says
This was my first visit and I loved it
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09 Some of the 15,000 visitors make their way between the halls on the look out for great demonstrations and fantastic shopping
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Plus
• Equine acupuncture • Trimmers tried and tested • Your horse care and riding problems solved by our panel of experts • R iding advice from the world’s top trainers • Gear news and reviews • Learn about laminitis Janua • Moneyry 27 saving offers
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