Your Horse issue 320 sneak preview

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A LESSON WITH OLYMPIC EVENTER MARY KING

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INSPIRATION FOR OWNING AND ENJOYING HORSES

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£3.70 ISSUE 320 26 March-22 April 2009

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‘My horse looks freaky, but he’s a winner!’

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16 YOUR HORSE

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NEWS REPORT

Fit, healthy and being

slaughtered

With times getting hard, horses are becoming a luxury many can no longer afford, but they’re not being sold or put on loan, they’re being sent to slaughter.

I

n a world where meat is eaten every day we are well aware that animals are slaughtered, it’s nothing new and it’s not something set to stop. It is, however, difficult for many riders and owners to accept that horses are among the animals being taken to slaughter, especially if they are fit and healthy. After some careful investigation it has become clear equine slaughter isn’t just an emotionally driven topic for debate, it’s also a serious horse welfare concern.

As equine slaughter becomes an easy option for owners struggling for cash, the welfare of the horses has become a secondary factor.

It’s a money thing The credit crunch has hit luxury industries like horseracing hard and sadly it’s not just the owners, riders and spectators who are suffering as a result. The Daily Mail recently reported talking to one racehorse owner who made the decision to have his racehorse slaughtered, purely because ‘business was bad’. The horse was fit and healthy but a drain on funds. After calling the Midland Racehorse Care Centre (MRCC) in Ludlow,

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Pic: Animal Aid

Investigation by Imogen Johnson

Pic: Animal Aid

Pictures taken in an abattoir by Animal Aid

which was unable to take in the horse, the owner decided that slaughter was the only option. Here lies the issue of money. Unfortunately, not everyone was prepared for the hard times that have come with the recession. There are now a large number of horses being taken to slaughter because they can longer be financially cared for.

Jo White, World Horse Welfare’s director of campaigns and communications, said: “It’s a huge responsibility to own a horse, and people need to think really carefully if they’re planning to breed a foal for next year – will that foal have a real future and will it be cared for? It’s about taking responsibility.

“The current economic climate has hit many owners

hard and while the issue of slaughter isn’t a pleasant one, slaughter houses in the UK do offer a service for people who can’t afford carcase disposal.

From our perspective what we wouldn’t want to see is horses left in fields, neglected. But if they are to be slaughtered it’s extremely important that the animal’s welfare is top priority.”

At the slaughterhouse One British abattoir has claimed to slaughter around 750 racehorses each year and

many people have accused the racing industry of overproducing horses in the search for the exceptional – discarding any horse that doesn’t cut the mustard. The Your Horse team were shocked and saddened to read The Daily Mail’s article about the slaughter of fit and healthy horses. Surely we should be aware of what happens to horses behind the closed doors of abattoirs? It’s humane and quick. Isn’t it?

Serena Miller, manager of

Many were not ready for hard times – many horses are being taken to slaughter because they can no longer be financially cared for � YOUR HORSE 17

A loaded question

Ask our horses to load is going against all their natural instincts – convincing them to take this leap of faith requires patience and understanding

Horsecare Loading

A

lthough there are some confident horses who seem to look forward to travelling, for many the mere thought of it brings them out in a cold sweat. Our online survey revealed more than 60% of you regularly struggle to load your horse and more than 30% have, or know someone who has, resorted to sedating their horse to get him on board.

A horse who doesn’t load can be a huge problem. Not only does it limit your ability to get out and about to lessons, shows and events – it could be seriously detrimental to your horse’s health should he ever need to visit the vets. This is why it’s essential that all horses learn to load willingly.

Meet Vicki Loynton and Mel

none have succeeded. In fact, the last well-known trainer that came to work with Mel knocked her confidence so badly she won’t even use her field-shelter anymore.

“She’s now convinced that any sort of doorway presents a danger,” Vicki says. “It’s heartbreaking and I feel like I’ve let Mel down.”

On hearing Vicki’s story, Intelligent Horsewoman Zoe Chipman volunteered her services. Understandably, Vicki was nervous about letting anyone else work with Mel, but Zoe reassured her that she would be involved at all times and free to call a halt if she felt uncomfortable.

Getting her attention

To begin, Zoe shows Vicki how to make sure Mel is listening to her. She asks Vicki to walk Mel around at her shoulder, stopping when she stops and walking on when she walks.

She then gets Vicki to back Mel up, and ask her to move sideways away from gentle pressure.

Since Mel throws her head up when she panics, Zoe wants to see if she can get Mel to lower her head. By applying gentle downwards pressure she asks Mel to bow her head, which she does very willingly.

When Mel responds to her cues, Zoe is quick to praise her.

Zoe hopes this training will come in handy later on if Mel starts to throw her head up.

Ever since 16.3hh, TB x Clydesdale Mel came crashing down the ramp of her trailer into Vicki’s life, she has refused to load. Vicki has tried every trick in the book to persuade Mel there’s nothing to fear, but a year later she’s still having none of it.

“Mel was broken as a five-year-old and was then left in a field until she came to me last April,” Vicki says. “She’s now nine, but, for her age, she’s very inexperienced. Her journey to me was her first taste of travelling. It was a long trip and probably quite a traumatic experience, not least because she left behind everything she’d known her whole life.”

Stuck at a yard with limited facilities, Vicki’s desperate to get on the road. “Within weeks of getting Mel I bought a brand new trailer so we could travel to local yards for lessons,” Vicki says. “But the first time I tried to load her, I knew we had a problem. Mel would happily walk up the ramp, but would throw her head up as soon as I tried to get her in the trailer.

She’d then hit her head, which would cause her to panic.”

Vicki has enlisted the help of all sorts of experts, but so far

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� YOUR HORSE 25

Expert advice on how to get that winning edge in the show ring 34 YOUR HORSE

pic: The Event Photographer

The judge

How to wow the judge As a rider or owner who loves showing, it can sometimes be hard to accept that your efforts have been in vain if you’re on a losing streak. So we’ve asked expert Jo Bates to explain what the judges really want to see, and what can separate the best performances from the very worst.

T

here may be plenty of rules to follow, but showing is just as much about winning over your judge. Top show rider, producer and judge Jo Bates is well placed to give expert advice and tell you what the judges really want to see.

Jo produces top show horses and has experience as a successful dressage rider, trainer and judge.

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She’s seen how showing can be judged from the hopeful seat of her saddle to being in the tough position of judge.

“At the end of the day, presentation can be the difference between winning and losing. You might see a very well-educated horse creep to the top of the line up, while a better bred horse doesn’t,” she says.

“It often depends on what your judge likes. It is important to work on getting your points at home by building on your horse’s strengths – that’s how you create a winner.”

Some riders will exit the show ring feeling disheartened and even hard done

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by. They’ll leave classes empty-handed having put in a great deal of effort and time and not understand why. If your horse’s breeding, conformation, turnout and performance tick all the boxes, should you be graceful in your defeat or disgruntled because you think you had the top horse?

“In the UK, Warmbloods are becoming much more accepted in showing, but there are some people who simply can’t stand them. I’ve heard some people say: ‘Oh god, that’s a Warmblood,’ just before I’ve entered a ring, but that’s the way it is,” says Jo. “You go to a show to be judged by a judge, so that’s what you should expect.

Everyone has different likes and dislikes, that’s just the way the world works. So, you have to accept that some people won’t like what your horse has.”

But, as Jo explains, even if you feel at a loss, there are still ways to learn and improve. Good breeding and perfect

conformation don’t have to be the be-all and end-all. There are ways to improve your horse’s chances that don’t involve giving up and trying something new!

“A good looking show horse can have fantastic breeding and when you see it you can think, wow that horse has carried on the great characteristics of its sire.

And, yes, generally better breeding does mean better movement and looks.

“However, as judges, we’re looking for more than just that. As far as the overall package is concerned, we want to see a horse walk into the ring who oozes presence, has a great walk and gives an absolutely effortless performance.

“We want to see the horse move and think he looks light, easy and beautiful – just like a graceful ice skater, show horses should be dancing around the ring.

“When judges get on to ride the horse, they like to feel safe and comfortable, not like they’re perched on top of a Christmas tree! They should feel able to put their

YOUR HORSE 35

�

horse answers Leading trainers, instructors, feed experts and vets, along with riding legends, offer you free, professional advice – whatever the problem Rebecca Gibson

Horse Answers editor � Send your question to Horse Answers at the Your Horse address, or email yourhorse@bauermedia.co.uk

MEET OUR EXPERTS Beverley Brightman

is a Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer

Celia Cohen

Msc Vet Phys, BSc Physio, ACPAT(A) is a chartered physiotherapist

Ellie Hoyes

Emma Case

BSc (Hons) is a nutritionist for Baileys Horse Feeds

Gayle Hallowell

is a vet from the Royal Veterinary Hospital

Sarah Kreutzer

BHSI BSc is a higher education tutor at AskhamBryan College

is founder of Learning to Listen

Claire Lawrence

Claire Lilley

Carol Mailer

Harry Meade

is a nutritionist for Allen & Page

is an experienced show jumper and trainer

is an international dressage rider and trainer

is a rising eventing star

James Nash

Carol Putus

DWCF is a registered farrier

is a homeopath and NLP practitioner.

Gil Riley

Jo Whittaker

is a vet and holds the RCVS Certificate in Equine Practice

Claire Willcocks

is product manager, Fort Dodge Animal Health Equine Practice

46 YOUR HORSE

is brand manager for Petplan Equine Insurance

16 pages

including

48 Vet

Why is she bleeding?

50 Riding Perfect medium trot 51 Horse care Organising worming 53 Feeding Prolonging working life 54 Horse care Will a physio help?

55 Riding I need a fitness plan 56 Riding Remembering the course 57 Behaviour How to fit a breastplate 58 Horse care Win a back massage pad 59 Horse care Shoeing problems 61 Vet Can I ride my ‘wobbler’? celebrity

62 horse answers

Rising star Harry Meade on your cross-country problems reader

64 horse answers

Will I be able to compete my mare when she’s in season

1 QUESTION 3 EXPERT ANSWERS

Living with a laminitic Q

For the past two years, my Shetland has developed laminitis in the summer. How can I reduce the risks of her getting it again this year, and can you tell me how to spot the early signs so I can stop it taking hold?

Amy, on email

The vet Gayle Hallowell says There are many factors that can contribute to the onset of laminitis.

Obesity increases the risks, so make sure your pony is not overweight. Increasing concentrations of fructans in the grass can also be a factor. These are highest during the day and lowest at night, so try grazing your pony at night and stabling her in the day. In addition, limiting your pony’s access to rich grass is essential. Using pasture that has already been grazed by horses or sheep can be beneficial, as can ‘strip’ grazing.

In terms of spotting the early signs, monitoring how your pony moves is vital. At the first sign of stiffness, rocking, or reluctance to move, she should be box-rested and your vet called immediately. Hoof temperature is unreliable.

What is much more evident is an increase in pulsation in the digital arteries. The easiest place to feel these is on the inside and outside of the leg, at the level of the fetlock. There should always be a slight pulse here – at a rate of about 44 beats per minute – but it will pound in the starting phase of laminitis.

A

www.yourhorse.co.uk

horse answers Restrictive grazing is a must for laminitics.

LEGAL

Should I adjust my policy?

Q

Because of the credit crunch horses are devaluing rapidly.

What does this mean in terms of insurance value? Should I adjust my policy and insure my horse for a lesser value than last year? And if the worst did happen under my current policy, would I still get the value insured?

Mardy, www.yourhorse.co.uk Jo Whittaker says It’s important to keep up to date with the current values of horses in the market. One of the best ways to do this is to read the horses for sale sections in Your Horse and other magazines and look for horses who are similar to your own. If the values are significantly different to the value you have insured your horse for, then you may want to contact your insurance company to discuss reducing the amount.

But remember, if you insure your horse for a lesser amount than he’s actual worth, your ‘death from illness and injury’ cover can be affected. This means if your horse does die, you would only receive the sum you insured your horse for.

Vet fees are an additional optional benefit available, which would allow you to claim up to £5,000 every year.

A

The nutritionist Emma Case advises From a nutritional perspective, the main causes of laminitis are an overload of starch from cereal grains, or an excess of fructan from grass. It’s important to minimise both the starch and sugar in your Shetland’s diet.

However she still needs a balance of quality protein, vitamins and minerals. I would suggest feeding a balancer such as the Baileys Lo-Cal or chaff-based products such as Spillers Happy Hoof. As laminitis stems from the disruption of hindgut bacteria, you could add a digestive enhancer such as probiotic or yeast to her feed.

If your Shetland requires additional calories, then adding oil is the safest and most effective way of encouraging weight gain. You can either add straight oil such as corn, soya oil, or an oil-based supplement such as Saracens Equi Jewel or Baileys Outshine.

You’ll need to manage her access to grass.

Fructan levels tend to be higher when it is cold but sunny, because the grass can’t grow, but still produces fructan. So on bright frosty mornings, wait for it to warm up before turning out.

A

The farrier James Nash replies Although there are no warning signs in the feet prior to an attack of laminitis, your farrier is often in a good position to help. He will see your pony every six to eight weeks, so can monitor any weight changes – because you see the pony everyday it may be more difficult for you to see this. For ponies who have the most common, carbohydrate-induced laminitis, keeping down weight is the best way to stop attacks.

Farriers are also important in managing the damage done to the feet of laminitic ponies.

The laminae that die during bouts of laminitis are never replaced, so hooves must be well looked after. Following a bout of laminitis the pony’s hooves can continue to grow at three times the rate of normal hooves for many months. Regular trimming is required to stop the heels becoming too long and keep the dorsal toe pared back as much as possible.

This regular trimming will not only keep the pony as comfortable as possible, but will also help to reduce long term damage.

A

Looking through the classified sections of equestrian magazines will give you an idea of the current market value of your horse

�Online help For more advice on riding, horse care, health, behaviour, complementary therapy – or anything else horse-related – go to

� www.yourhorse.co.uk

YOUR HORSE 47

66 YOUR HORSE

www.yourhorse.co.uk

look Get the celebrity

Stars’ grooms unveil their secrets.

Do top riders’ grooms have all the latest products and innovative technologies to get celeb horses looking fantastic, or do they use old-fashioned tricks of the trade? Your Horse spoke to five grooms

✃

all working for top British riders to find out how they achieve that squeaky clean, brand new look with every horse, every time. After some gentle persuasion they revealed their grooming secrets.

Elodie Frost Rider: Sharon Hunt

E

lodie Frost is currently head girl to Sharon Hunt and, having groomed for Chinese rider Alex Hua-Tian she has plenty of tips and tricks up her sleeve.

What’s the most important thing to you as Sharon’s groom?

“Preparation is really the most important thing. Sharon is quite particular and likes everything to be well prepared in advance where possible, whether it’s feeding, rugging or grooming. If I’m prepared, I can ensure that each horse is looking well and feeling well all the time.

“Sharon’s also really hands on which is great because there needs to be a good relationship between horse, rider and groom. It’s not like a normal horse owner relationship all the time, so the horse needs to have a routine that allows them to understand who is who in their life. They need to be able to trust both groom and rider. There are lots of riders who don’t spend much time with the horses on the

ground. It’s refreshing to work for someone who isn’t like that.”

Are there any products you always use?

“I use Quic Braid spray and without it I don’t think I could plait anymore – it’s brilliant. I know lots of people use gels but I find they can get quite sticky and messy. Quic Braid doesn’t.

“Also, I have a bit of a thing for a purple powder product. You dissolve it in warm water and use it as a shampoo. It’s great for greys.

Sharon doesn’t currently have any grey horses but I’ve washed many and it’s worked really well.”

Elodie couldn’t remember the name of the purple powder product she uses (or perhaps she was trying to keep her top tip relatively secret?) but we found a great one at www. supremeproducts.co.uk Just dissolve ¼ to ½ a level teaspoon of the Blue Rinse crystals into a two-gallon bucket of warm water. Use as a shampoo or a final rinse. Price 30g £8.50 or 60g £15.50.

Above: Sharon Hunt at the 2008 Olympics pic: Bob Langrish Right: Elodie Frost

Tips or tricks you can share?

“To get a horse ready for dressage I’d wash them and clean the tack the day before. Then it’s a case of plaiting, brushing and tacking up.

If I’m plaiting a horse the night before a competition, I use a cut down pair of tights to put over the top of each plait, banding them all down so they stay neatly in place and stop the horse rubbing them.

“Apart from that, getting top horses, like Sharon’s, looking perfect just requires a great deal of hard work. There aren’t many short cuts (apart from the odd helpful product) just plenty of washing, brushing and combing.”

YOUR HORSE 67

�

76 YOUR HORSE

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THE

TEST Girths

It’s a

cinch We buckle up to bring you our big test results on a range of girths.

The test

The AWARDS

DESIGN AND FIT We consider the design, shape, weight, fastenings, breathability, quality, materials and overall fit of the girths, judging each one on its own merits

The girth that surpassed on all counts of the test

PERFORMANCE Was the saddle secure with the girth in place? Did it have the stretch factor? Was it comfortable, user friendly, durable and easy to clean and maintain

The girth that offers great performance and great value

VALUE FOR MONEY Our testers evaluate the performance, design and fit in relation to price and weigh up whether they think the girths offer good value for money

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We highlight the other strong performers in the test

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YOUR HORSE 77

pic: Bob Langrish

84 YOUR HORSE

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On winning form Horsecare Electrolytes

Words Helen Milbank

It’s important to help horses who are working hard to fight dehydration and fatigue from the inside out. Our guide to using electrolytes explains how…�

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YOUR HORSE 85

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100 YOUR HORSE

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Horsecare Back pain explained

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Do you suffer from a bad back?

Well, you might not be the only one. More and more horses are being diagnosed with back pain.

We investigate what, if anything, can be done…

Most of us accept that our modern lifestyles increase the likelihood of back pain, but now it seems the demands we place on our horses may be

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condemning them to a similar fate. Your Horse vet Gil Riley says he’s seeing more horses suffering from a bad back.

“As dressage riders ask for greater collection and eventers ask for increasing feats of agility, the horse’s body has to cope with more and more tasks that it’s simply not designed for,” Gil says. “In particular the joints that anchor the pelvis to the horse’s spine are relatively small so, when the rider generates impulsion in the hocks, these joints are put under a great deal of strain.

“Clearly the effects of this are greatly reduced if the horse’s muscles have been strengthened through careful training. But, the danger

arises when horses are asked to do more than their bodies are ready for, and I feel this is increasingly becoming a problem as more riders seek to attain the same levels of collection as international dressage stars.

“However, there’s currently no evidence that proves whether the incidence of back pain is actually on the increase, or whether more cases are being diagnosed due to the better tools and equipment now available to vets,” Gil says. “It’s probably a bit of both, as it’s certainly true that horses who would once have been considered naughty, or even written off, are now being diagnosed and treated for back pain.”

YOUR HORSE 101

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Cool,calm collected

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Beat stress and anxiety, alleviate tension, improve concentration and banish PMS with our guide to calming and hormonal supplements for horses and ponies ďż˝

Buyers’ guide Gold Label Valerian- Officinalis Relax Free Calmer Supplement £10.50 for 400g £27.29 for 5kg � Contact 01303 872277 or www.goldlabeluk.com

� Contact 01253 888188 or www.trilanco.com

This natural formulation has been developed to benefit nervous and excitable horses without infringing international rules. Gold Label’s Valerian-Free Calmer contains the essential amino acid L-tryptophan which has a calming effect on horses when used at a high rate of inclusion. The supplement also synergistically combines natural B group vitamins riboflavin, thiamine, nicotinic acid and dried hops.

Key features A powder feed supplement alternative to Valerian-based calmers, to placate nervy or excitable horses.

Relax herbal supplement stimulates the horse to face difficult and stressful situations in a calmer manner. A mix of herbs, many of which have calming effects, this supplement helps horses during moments of intense pressure, such as at competitions, during travel or training.

Key features A balanced content of vitamins and minerals contribute to lower levels of stress and higher levels of performance.

the key

to a calm horse Domestication and modern horse management aren’t really conducive to having an unstressed horse! Long periods of time kept in the stable, box or trailer travel and hectic competition and show schedules, are just a few examples of how our management of horses is extremely unnatural and can stress them out on a regular basis.

A sound understanding of the horse’s natural behaviour and psychology, combined with good and sympathetic management, goes a long way down the road to owning a happy and calm horse.

However there are times, particularly after prolonged periods of anxiety, that extra assistance may be needed. There are a wide range of products that offer varying degrees of relief to your horse in times of trouble and stress.

What to look out for

Super Codlivine Stress-Less £11.65 for 1L

Lincoln Valerian Cordial £9.54 for 500ml

� Contact 01522 529206 or www.battles.co.uk

� Contact 01522 529206 or www.battles.co.uk

Stress-Less is a special blend of five highly refined natural vegetable and herbal oils with established benefits. Extracts of chamomile, ginger, celery, hops and sunflower oil are combined to form a stress-busting liquid that assists in overcoming behavioural problems. Regular use can help cope with problems associated with travel, competition and digestive imbalances.

Key features This Valerian-free liquid feed supplement provides support for nervous and excitable horses during times of stress, without impairing performance.

A blend of valerian oil and linseed oil, Lincoln Valerian Cordial benefits horses who are nervous or stressed. This natural and palatable liquid herbal supplement should be incorporated in the horse’s feed. As with all supplements that contain valerian, it should not be used when competing under FEI or Jockey Club rules.

Key features Economical to use, a 250ml bottle of Lincoln Valerian Cordial will last approximately 30 days.

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Calming supplements are available in granule, powder, liquid and paste formats.

Most are added to feed although the latter are administered orally by syringe. Some herbal and aromatherapy essences come in dropper or spray versions, providing an instant solution when tensions arise!

Today’s calming products range from the traditional to the space age. There are herbal mixes – many herbs are believed to be excellent at combating stress. There are magnesium-based powders and liquids, which replace the diminished mineral to restore a level of calm in the horse’s body, and blends of essential oils and aromatherapy. A more modern development is a NASA-pioneered CSO2 liquid which increases oxygen levels, thus giving a calming effect, aiding and renewing focus and performance.

When making your choice, don’t forget to take into account how quickly you want the calmer to take effect and how long you want it to last. And be aware that some products have a sedative effect on your horse which could prove dangerous if used when training, exercising or competing. If you’re competing under FEI, Jockey Club or BSJA rules, certain substances are prohibited such as valerian.

� YOUR HORSE 111