Your Horse Issue 325

BODY PROTECTORS WE TEST AND RATE THE SAFEST & BEST

POSITION PERFECT Common RIDer faults SOLVED WITH JILL DAY

£8000+

WORTH OF PRIZES TO BE WON

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INSPIRATION FOR OWNING AND ENJOYING HORSES

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NTHLY BRITAIN’S BEST-SELLING EQUESTRIAN MO

UNDERSTAND YOUR HORSE

TENDON INJURIES

New hope from veterinary progress

6COUNTER

EXERCISES TO CRACK

CANTER

BILLY TWOMEY

Improve impulsion over and between fences

£3.70 ISSUE 325 13 August-9 September 2009

What we learnt from living with the herd

HYPNOSIS PUT TO THE TEST

How to find your hidden confidence real life ‘Disabled pony Headway helps humans in need’

YOUR HORSES

“Headway has the perfect CV The big heart and brave persona of Alison Rowlands’ disabled Pony Headway have earned him a role as mascot for a branch of the head injury association, headway!

I

heard about pony Headway when I was looking for a companion for my 15hh, blue and white Criollo riding horse, Chaco. Headway is an eight-year-old, 9.2hh tricolour South American pony who was imported from Argentina in a cargo of polo ponies. During the journey he was kicked in the head by a larger horse, which left him with facial paralysis down one side. So I swapped him for an old saddle I no longer needed – a deal both the importer and I were pleased with!

The blow left Headway blind and unable to blink his left eye. He can’t move his right ear or flare his nostrils – the latter makes

strenuous exercise difficult. He suffers some paralysis of the tongue and his mouth droops, so I have to take care what I feed him, and he sprays food around as he eats.

He makes horrendous wheezing noises when trotted on the lunge and he occasionally suffers from co-ordination problems – his legs will suddenly move in the wrong order, causing him to fall over, although this has become less frequent as he’s gained strength.

Pony Headway came to live with me in March 2007 and has developed into a confident, self-assured little chap.

His demeanour has improved further

YOUR MONTH YOUR CHAT ABOUT YOU AND YOUR HORSES

New column!

�After a 30-year break, 50-year-old Maggie Richardson of Enfield, Middlesex, started riding again and now owns her own horse. “Although he was quite poor when I first saw him, I fell in love with 15.3hh Thoroughbred Charlie,” explains Maggie. “We’ve been together nearly two years now and, despite his 25 years, he looks amazing and is enjoying life to the full! Recently we’ve been in the rosettes show jumping, have done a sponsored ride and joined a local riding club. We’re probably too old for this but we’re loving it!”

to be a mascot” since my vet and I decided it would be best to remove his damaged eye, which constantly ran the risk of infection, not helped by his inability to blink it. This was a difficult decision for me and I was indebted to the emotional support and knowledge of the members of www. blindhorses.org. However, the change in Headway has been so positive since the operation that I’m convinced the eye actually pained him and its removal has brought much relief.

Despite his disabilities, Headway really enjoys life and has a real ‘look at me’ attitude and sparky pony personality. He’s fearless around other horses, even those much larger than him, and I’ve even caught him pinching hay from another horse’s mouth!

I decided Headway has the perfect CV to be a mascot – he is small and sensible, loves people and wants to

be doing things. Consequently he’s become the mascot of the Hull and East Riding branch of Headway, the brain injury association.

Association Headway celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and is the UK’s leading brain injury charity for people with acquired brain injury – including people injured in riding accidents – providing help and support to those affected.

Pony Headway has already made appearances at some fundraising barbeques and garden parties, and will soon be visiting county shows and other local events to raise awareness of brain injury in humans and the role of the Headway association.

This little pony will never win a rosette for the things other ponies do, yet he is gentle and courageous, and a real winner in every other respect.

�Last year, stunning Friesian mare Femma was awarded the prestigious title of Model by the Royal Friesian Stud Book’s inspection jury – an accolade given to only a handful of Friesian mares around the world annually. Proud owner Tracey Venter of Greenbank Farm Stud in Cartmel, Cumbria, says: “Femma is currently in foal and has an embryo being carried by a recipient mare. Both foals are due next year.

Our horses are our lives and everything we do is centred around them, so we’re always delighted to share what we have learnt about this amazing breed of horse.” Find out more at www.blackhorses.co.uk �The charity Horse Rescue Fund (HRF) in Beccles, Norfolk, took on nearly blind, abandoned, rescue case, Welsh pony Morris last October. But on examination by their vet at its Woodstock Farm centre, it became apparent his condition might be operable. A visit to the AHT in Newmarket confirmed cataracts in both eyes and, after surgery on one eye and a six-month recovery, Morris has now regained some sight and awaits surgery on his other eye. The HRF is currently raising the £2,700 needed to fund the other op. Morris can be sponsored at www.horserescuefund.org.uk

WE NEED YOU! Share your inspiring story or send us your news about you and your horse.

E-mail amanda.stevenson@ bauermedia.co.uk. Pics welcome!

YOUR HORSE 9

The British Horse Society Code of Practice for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies at Events � 7 Discipline of the Horse Any method used to discipline the horse should be proportionate and applied at the correct time. � 7.1 Use of the Whip � 7.1.3 The timing of the whip’s use is important – it should be used immediately when the horse has been disobedient.

For example, a horse that has refused a fence should not be reprimanded once he has turned away from the fence or, where the animal has run-out rather than refused, more than a couple of seconds after the rider has regained control. � 7.1.4 Riders using the whip to reprimand the horse should not bring their arm above shoulder height. The whip should land on the rump of the horse and not the flanks. � 7.1.6 The force with which the whip is used must always be proportionate and reasonable. Whip use that leaves a mark or breaks the skin is not acceptable. � 7.2 Use of Spurs � 7.2.2 Spurs should not be used to reprimand the horse.

Any such action will result in the rider being disqualified and reported to the show secretary/organiser.

NEWS REPORT

Should we ban punishment

with whips and spurs?

Are we beating and stabbing our horses as punishment for our own failings? A riding club in Norfolk thinks so – and wants to change the nation’s thinking Investigation by Justine Thompson

A

horse training club in Norfolk has sparked a national debate on equine welfare by calling for a ban on whipping and spurring horses in competition.

The call came from the Norfolk Horse Training and Equitation Club (NHTEC), which said whips and spurs should not be used in a competitive environment to punish a horse for nonperformance or misbehaving, for example, by refusing or running out at a jump.

Johanna Macarthur of the NHTEC asked: “How often have we seen riders at competitions spurring and whipping their horses after refusing a jump?

“There were plenty of examples of it recently at the Hickstead Derby, particularly with horses refusing to go down the bank – but it’s not the horse’s fault if he doesn’t understand our requests, or is frightened or confused, so why should he be punished? There is no room for anger in the training of horses.”

Denmark and Scotland have recently banned the use of

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whips and spurs as punishment, and the NHTEC says Britain, with its reputation as guardians of equine welfare, should follow suit.

Follow their lead?

Earlier this year, the Danish Equestrian Federation wrote to its officials to reinforce its stance on the whipping and spurring of horses at events.

This followed public outcry after a video aired on webbased Epona TV showed young riders beating their ponies viciously after refusing a jump and in the run-up to a second try.

In the letter it said: “The whip and spurs are not – and may not be used as – tools for punishment.”

The letter went on to say that new guidelines, with input from vets, were being drawn up but, in the meantime, riders should receive a warning or be banned from competition for brutal riding or the misuse of whips or spurs.

In April this year, Scotland also strengthened regulations to protect the horse from punishment. Independently of the rest of the UK, the Scottish Government came up with its Code of Practice

Spurs are for encouragement, not to reprimand the horse

Learning by association Equine scientists behind this call for a ban say Dr Andrew the use of McLean whips and spurs as punishment is counterproductive for a number of reasons, as well as being cruel.

Such a use is termed ‘positive punishment’, where positive is referred to as the addition of an adverse stimulus – whipping or spurring – after the event.

Dr Andrew McLean, who holds a PhD in horse training psychology and developed the Australian Equine Behaviour Centre, says positive punishment is ineffective in learning for the following reasons: � It tends to increase hyper reactivity, fear and stress

� It creates fearful associations with the punisher and the surrounding context � It causes the punished to be afraid to trial new responses However, whips and spurs can be sanctioned when used as ‘negative reinforcement,’ which is applying an aversive pressure during a behaviour (such as tapping your horse with the whip on the approach to a fence) and releasing it at the onset of the desired response (taking off).

Andrew said: “The trouble with whips and spurs in amateur hands is that anger and frustration may tempt riders to use them punitively”.

As Kyra Kyrklund so plainly puts it: “If you have a hammer in your hand, all your problems start looking like nails!”

YOUR HORSE 15

�

This month Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer Jill Day looks at each part of the body to show us how every limb plays its part in the perfect riding position Words Imogen Johnson

Head, shoulders, The expert

ďż˝ Name Jill Day Jill is an international Grand Prix rider and trainer who has represented Great Britain on nine separate occasions.

She retired from competing in 2002 after 30 continuous years and now concentrates on coaching other riders and training horses.

We focus on

FEET

knees and toes

BIT IMPROVE YOUR POSITION BIT BY ARMS

HANDS

LEGS

� �

Even the best riders can get hurt Our featured expert, Janice Rhodes, runs a Health and Safety Executive approved first aid course that is aimed specifically at riders. As no one is immune from suffering an accident, Janice counts top riders and trainers among her students. Most recently, Janice went to Britain’s top event rider William Fox-Pitt’s yard to run a first aid course for William, his wife and their groom. William said: “The practical approach to Janice’s course gave me the confidence to carry out first aid if I ever need to.”

✚

Yard safety

Would you know

what to do?

Horses may be worth the risk to us, but it makes sense to be prepared in case of accidents

R

iding is a high risk sport.

For every 350 hours spent in the saddle, a serious accident occurs. According to research by Stoke Mandeville Hospital, that makes horse riding 20 times more dangerous than riding a motorbike.

Much as we may like to think accidents won’t happen to us, or people we know, the reality is they can and they do. It’s possible that one day you’ll find yourself with a fellow rider’s life in your hands. The question is – will you be equipped with the skills and knowledge to help?

Ex-paramedic turned elite groom Janice Rhodes is campaigning for more riders to become qualified first aiders. To try to encourage more horsey people to undergo this potentially life-saving training, she’s set up a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) approved first aid course, aimed specifically at horse riders and people who work with horses.

“Yards and farms are high risk places to be,” Janice says. “It’s a fact that horse riding is a high risk sport.

Even on the ground horses can be dangerous animals – they don’t mean to be but they are. People who spend a large proportion of their time around these animals need to be prepared to deal with any situation that arises.

“Going on a first aid course doesn’t make you a paramedic but it will leave you better equipped to keep a casualty safe until the professional

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services arrive on the scene. The job of a first aider is to preserve life, prevent the situation from worsening and promote recovery.

“The first thing people attending my course are taught is how to take control of an emergency situation and make it safe,” Janice says.

“The acronym DRAB can be used to remember the crucial first steps.

DRAB stands for Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing. First and foremost you must remove any further risk of danger. Make the scene safe – safe for you, for the casualty and for anyone else who may be in the area. Next you should check to see if the patient is responding. If you get no verbal response you can try gently shaking the casualty’s shoulder to help you rouse them. You’ll then need to check that the casualty’s airway is clear and that they are breathing.”

Attending a hands-on first aid course is really the only way to learn things like CPR and how to put someone in the recovery position, but we asked Janice to talk us through some of the most common emergency scenarios and the actions a first aider should take.

turn the page

to find out how to deal with common accidents

YOUR HORSE 33

STARTING OVER YOU! THIS COULD BE

RIDER Iain WhitmoreCLINIC Kirby’s horse Stanza has done very little since backing, so now Iain is ready to bring her on, getting results from her is proving to be a real struggle Words Imogen Johnson

The pupils Ian Whitmore-Kirby and Stanza Stanza is an 11-year-old, 7/8 Thoroughbred mare, who I’ve owned since May 2008. She was broken and backed at the usual age but has done very little since, and last year she had a foal. I had to wait until the beginning of this year to wean her foal and I could begin to work her again.

I began by lungeing her for a week or so, with and without tack, before anyone got on her back. Now we can walk, trot and canter, but she never seems to settle into her work.

We have some very nice off-road hacking near the yard where I keep her and it would be nice to take advantage of it.

I could really do with some advice or pointers to help her to become steadier and more relaxed, and to think more about what she’s doing.

Spotting the issue Iain lunges Stanza before the lesson to warm her up, so when he gets on, Julie begins by asking him to work Stanza as he would normally while she observes.

“As you’re walking, try not to tense your lower back, Iain.

Loosen your rein slightly and relax through your lower body.

At the moment she’s tense, so she’s jogging, not walking.

You need to ask for the tempo of the walk with your body and regulate the speed of her walk through the weight of your seat,” says Julie.

“She’s got a big walk, so try not to restrict her. You have to allow her to over-track because, at the moment, she’s under-tracking.”

The rhythm of Stanza’s walk is quite short and inconsistent so Julie encourages Iain to try to relax himself as he allows Stanza to do the same.

“You’re riding in strange circumstances so it’s understandable you’re a little tense, but already you’re both beginning to relax in the walk, which is exactly what we’re looking for.”

Creating contact At first the trot is unconnected

The expert Julie Rowbotham For 15 years, Julie trained in Vienna with the first chief rider of the Spanish Riding School, Arthur Kottas.

She returned to England as a freelance instructor, riding for Woodcroft Stud and training with Michel Assouline.

Now a group 2a British Dressage rider, Julie has competed internationally at Small Tour level and nationally at Grand Prix, and has students from Prelim to Small Tour level.

She has also written for the American magazine Dressage Today and is currently in the process of completing a book on dressage.

To contact Julie about training call 07794 550497 or email j.rowbotham2@btinternet.com 38 YOUR HORSE

www.yourhorse.co.uk

Riding Your Horse clinic

Stanza is very tense when Iain mounts and walks on

With the rhythm of Stanza’s walk improving as she relaxes, Julie moves on to Iain’s contact.

“Good. Stanza is walking in a proper rhythm now and she’s over-tracking by one and sometimes two hooves.

Stanza shows a better walk after she relaxes

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“What we need to do now is to encourage her to bend through and work in more of an outline,” says Julie.

Iain moves forward into trot and Julie reminds him to allow Stanza to stride out.

“Because her stride has been quite restricted until now it will feel strange when you let it out. It might feel like she’s trotting quite fast, but she’s a long striding mare and you need to let her work in the stride that’s natural to her. “ As the tempo of Stanza’s trot changes it’s clear how big her stride is but already she’s working in a better outline as she’s allowed to move freely.

“Think of the trot as four beats – one, two, three, four; one, two, three, four – and that’s how it must

stay,” says Julie, as Iain and Stanza trot around the school.

“Keep encouraging her to move forward into an outline with very gentle corrections, but still be saying to her, come on, we’re moving forward.”

Julie explains to Iain that he can use small nudges of his seat to ride Stanza forward combined with little massage-like movements on the rein to maintain the contact.

“Good, that’s great. You’re encouraging her to drop on to the contact there, so when she does drop down, be consistent with your contact and try to keep her there.

“When she goes behind your seat and lengthens, there’s no contact at all, and that’s why it’s so important for you to ride her � on,” explains Julie.

HOW TO

TAKE PART IN A CLINIC � If you’d like to take part in the Your Horse Clinic, email Imogen Johnson at imogen.johnson@ bauermedia.co.uk with Schooling or Jumping in the subject line, and tell us where it’s all going wrong for you. A solution could be just around the corner!

YOUR HORSE 39

horse Why does answers 1 QUESTION 3 EXPERT 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 Jane Baker

BHS SM, BHSII is a freelance riding instructor

Celia Cohen

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

Lizzie Drury

MSc RNutr, BSc (Hons) is a nutritionist for Saracen

Sarah Kreutzer

Beverley Brightman

is a Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer

Georgina Cotgreave

is an animal communicator

Malene JØrgensen is a vet and homeopath

Claire Lawrence

is founder of Learning to Listen

is a company nutritionist for Allen & Page

Claire Lilley

Richard Meers

is an international dressage rider and trainer

James Nash

BVetMed MRCVS is an equine vet

Gil Riley

DWCF is a registered farrier

is a vet and holds the RCVS Certificate in Equine Practice

Sarah Weston

Robert Whitaker

is an Associate of the Intelligent Horsemanship Association

International show jumper who rides for the British Team

Jo Whittaker

Katie Williams

is brand manager for Petplan Equine Insurance

42 YOUR HORSE

MSc (Dist) BSc (Hons) is a nutritionist for Dengie

Q

My TB has started chewing wood.

Why might he have developed this behaviour and what can I do to prevent it? I’m really worried about the harm he’ll do to his teeth.

Heidi Dean, on email

Behaviourist Sarah Weston says It used to be thought that horses started to chew wood as a result of boredom. However, it’s now thought that the cause is more complicated than this. Many people now believe that chewing wood is triggered by a lack of continuous fibre in the stomach.

A lack of fibre causes an excess of acid in the stomach and can lead to gastric ulcers.

Recent veterinary surveys have suggested that in excess of 90% of racehorses and 65% of leisure horses, kept in for a significant proportion of their day, suffer from gastric ulcers. Chewing stimulates the production of saliva, which neutralises the acid in the stomach, and it’s thought this is why some horses chew wood when there’s a lack of alternative forage available.

The best way to prevent horses from developing the habit, which is what it s are may become, is to ensure Mineral lick nting e v re that they have plenty of p f o a way ing from w turn out and sufficient e ch d o o w r nutrient fibre in their diet – not boredom o cies just to satisfy their deficien nutritional needs, but the need to be chewing throughout a large proportion of the day, too.

While there’s a small risk of damage to his teeth, which may become excessively worn, you should certainly talk to your vet about the risk of harm to your horse’s stomach.

14 pages A 44 Behaviour

including

She chews her fieldmates’ manes and tails 45 Riding How to battle back pain 47 Riding How can I stop her leaning?

48 Complementary Homoeopathic remedies to aid healing 50 Horse care Preparing for long journeys 51 Feeding The science behind joint supplements 52 Behaviour My mare is so stressy when turned out in the field 53 Legal How to challenge an insurance policy exclusion 55 Riding Introducing half-pass

Top tip

celebrity

56 horse answers

Top show jumper Robert Whitaker guides you over reader

58 horse answers Please help me to perfect my sitting trot!

Wood chewing can quickly become a habit

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horse answers

he chew wood?

The vet

Nutritionist

Richard Meers replies There are a few theories as to why your horse might be chewing wood. The most widely accepted theory is that it’s due to boredom. Providing 24-hour access to hay, mineral licks and treat balls may reduce the incidence of chewing, but this environmental enrichment is often unrewarding as a component of the behaviour being displayed is learned. This is often the case in racehorses or ex-racehorses that are used to spending a large percentage of the day stabled and will chew wood because they have always chewed wood. In these cases it is very difficult to prevent the chewing and, despite being in a field full of grass, these horses can often be seen chewing at fencing rails. In these cases it may be necessary to coat the stable door or fencing rails with a deterrent such as Cribox.

A second theory is that chewing is due to mineral deficiencies and your horse is attempting to correct this deficiency by chewing wood.

Obviously stable doors and fence posts will not provide these minerals, but your horse doesn’t know that. If you think this may be the case, try providing a mineral lick or have your vet take a blood test to test for any deficiencies.

Claire Lawrence advises Horses have evolved to spend most of their day eating and, if they’re unable to do this, it can lead to frustration and boredom. The ideal solution is to turn your horse out with companions, which will enable him to spend time eating and interacting with other horses as would happen in the wild.

If it’s not possible to give your horse 24-hour turnout, ensure that he has ad-lib forage. Regular exercise, stable toys and breaking your horse’s daily feed ration into several smaller meals will also help to keep him occupied.

There is some anecdotal evidence to suggest that a vitamin and mineral deficiency may lead to wood chewing, although this is more likely to be linked to a lack of fibre in the diet. However, to maintain good health, it’s advisable that you provide your horse with the vitamins and minerals he requires.

Generally, wood chewing doesn’t pose a great risk to the horse’s health, but there’s a small chance of splinters becoming embedded in the gums or further along the digestive system.

There have also been reports of large fragments of wood causing a blockage of the oesophagus and, in determined wood chewers, it can lead to abnormal wear of the teeth.

A

A

Use a schooling whip to tap the horse on his resting leg

RIDING

How can I teach him to stand square?

Q

Whenever my gelding halts, he rests a hindleg.

He does this all the time, including when tied up in the yard. I want him to understand that when we’re doing dressage he has to use all four legs. How can I train him to stand properly when I’m in the saddle?

Susan, on email

Beverley Brightman says To achieve this you’ll need a schooling whip and preferably a mirror. If your horse rests the same leg all the time, carry only one whip, but if he alternates carry two. To begin with, ride your halt transitions from walk and, as he goes to rest the hindleg, give him a gentle tap with the whip on the offending shoulder. As long as he responds and puts weight on all four legs, don’t worry if he’s standing square at this stage. Pat him and tell him he’s a good boy.

Once you’ve got this sussed in walk, you can also try halting from trot. But before you do so you need to make sure you have your horse well connected. He needs to be working from his hindlegs to your hands – this will help him to remain in balance as he halts.

If possible, it would be useful to have someone on the ground to tell you when your horse is resting a leg. Leaning over to have a look yourself will upset his balance and make things worse.

A

�Buy advance tickets at discounted prices!

Amazing shopping, celebrity appearances – and more! See www. yourhorselive.co.uk

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� YOUR HORSE 43

62 YOUR HORSE

www.yourhorse.co.uk

! d l wi Horsecare Living with horses

Born to be

g to Listen, to in rn a e L f o r e d n u fo tzer, We visit Sarah Kreu plest things early in life can make or m find out how the si tch them at liberty to learn from a break a horse. We w improve our communication skills nd their interactions a

S

arah takes us to visit Milford Stud in Ilton, North Yorkshire. Here Kim Money, breeder of Welsh Section Bs, allows us to sit in her fields and simply observe her horses.

“All the foals I breed are born out in the fields and, apart from being checked by the vet, they’re then not handled until they’re weaned,” says Kim.

Words Imogen Johnson Pictures Matthew Roberts

“Obviously they see me when I check them every day, and they get used to me, but I don’t approach them. I don’t put head collars on them and pull them around – I let them come to me if and when they’re ready.”

Sarah explains we’ll spend the day observing these horses and the way they live together. We’ll see how they interact and how their natural instincts kick in when things around them change. It’s an unusual treat to be able to sit in a field where the horses are mostly unhandled and still finely tuned to their natural instincts, so we’re excited to see what happens.

We sit down in the grass and watch as Sarah explains how everything we witness can be used to understand our horses better.

The expert

Sarah Kreutzer

Sarah has an amazing understanding of horses and humans alike. Her desire to help both in their ability to communicate and coexist is the reason she’s able to make her school and training centre, Learning to listen, a huge success. Many people visit Sarah and her team wanting to learn how to communicate with horses and humans more effectively.

For more information go to www.learningtolisten.co.uk

Curious creatures “The first thing you’ll notice today is that all the horses we’re watching have manners. They’re very polite and extremely inquisitive, but their natural instincts still tell them that we’re meat-eating predators and to be wary of us. The foals are particularly cautious because they’ve not yet been handled,” says Sarah.

We place a brightly-coloured, patterned blanket on the ground, and immediately the mares and foals want to see what it is. They sniff and bite the rug, pawing at it with their hooves. They walk over it and move it around and, after checking that it’s nothing dangerous, they relax.

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Jasmine takes a shine to Sarah’s Bracelet

YOUR HORSE 63

�

Body

Armour

With safety at the top of our priority list, we’ve put a number of body protectors to the test

The test FIT Our testers considered the fit and feel of each of the body protectors, taking into account the weight, adjustability and how easy it was to put on

PERFORMANCE How did the body protectors feel to ride in on the flat and over fences? They considered freedom of movement and breathability

VALUE FOR MONEY Our testers evaluated the price of the body protectors, bearing in mind their comments on fit and performance

The AWARDS The body protector that performed the best during our test based on the fit, performance and value for money

This goes to the body protector that offers great performance and value for money

The other body protector in our test that performed well in our test 70 YOUR HORSE

THE

TEST Body protectors The testERs All of our testers are full time event riders or ride young horses. They all want a high level of safety and protection from their body protector. In addition, comfort and ease of movement is hugely important, but they also want to look neat, tidy and stylish.

Our testers mainly wear a body protector when they’re competing or schooling cross-country, but also wear them when backing youngsters. The body protectors were worn for anything from 15 minutes to two hours.

Sarah Cohen

Sarah is a professional event rider, who trains around 10 event horses, competing from Intro with the young horses up to four star level.

Simon Grieve

Simon is a freelance rider and rides between six and 14 horses a day. He currently competes approximately 10 horses of various experience from Novice to Advanced level eventing.

Laura Rowbotham

Owns three event horses and competes at Intro to Intermediate level. She also rides and competes for other owners.

Laura has been riding for about 15 years, since she was a small child, and has been competing nearly as long.

Wendy Felton

Wendy is a professional rider, currently producing young horses at a well-known event yard. Wendy can ride between five and eight horses a day.

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Body protector standard

The current standard is BETA 2000 and all the body protectors in this test conform to this and to Level 3 (see below). This meets all the requirements of the European EN 13158:2000, which insists on annual retesting of garments to ensure consistency. In March a revised standard was introduced, BETA 2009, which is being phased in gradually.

“This is not a new body protector standard but a revision to the existing one,” said Claire Williams, executive director of BETA, the association that developed and administers the BETA body protector standard. The revision has been drawn up by the European Standards Committee (CEN) of which BETA is a member.

“Riders need have no concerns about buying a body protector that will shortly be defunct.

Garments made to the revised standard will be gradually phased in as older ones are replaced over time. When it’s eventually decided to withdraw the BETA 2000 standard, plenty of notice will be given to riders, retailers and riding organisations.”

There are three levels Level 1 (Black label) Provide lower level protection only considered appropriate for licensed jockeys.

Level 2 (Brown label)

These provide a lower level of protection than normal, only considered appropriate for low-risk situations.

These DO NOT include riding on the roads or other hard surfaces, jumping, riding excitable or young horses, or for inexperienced riders.

Level 3 (Purple label)

These protectors provide a level of protection that’s considered appropriate for normal riding, competitions and working with horses. Protectors of this level should prevent minor bruising that would have caused pain and stiffness, reduce significant soft tissue damage and prevent a limited number of rib fractures.

Correct fit Always follow the fitting instructions on your body protector – BETA recommends wearing a protector over light clothing for a good fit. Once fitted you should wear it for at least 10 minutes to allow the foam to warm and mould to your body shape. Sit on a chair or saddle to mimic your riding position and move about as if you’re riding in it to check the feel and fit. You may need to try on several different makes or styles before you decide on the right one for you. Visit www.beta-uk.org for further details on fitting a body protector.

Please note Body protectors won’t always prevent serious injury.

BETA recommends you should replace your protector after three to five years or if it has been involved in a fall. The impact properties of the PVC nitrile foam will begin to deteriorate and won’t provide you with the same protection level.

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The expert

� Name Sharon Shinwell Therapist and author of the Confident Rider Series CDs, and co-author of the Ride With Confidence book

78 YOUR HORSE

haron Shinwell is a qualified hypnotherapist and psychotherapist who has devoted the past 10 years of her life to helping anxious riders overcome their fears. Having owned horses for 20 years, she’s able to draw on her own experiences to offer specialist hypnotherapy tailored to the needs of the horse rider.

“Hypnosis is a very effective tool that can be used to help people change the way they think and feel about situations that have proved problematic in the past,” Sharon explains. “It opens the mind to suggestion.” But Sharon is keen to point out that even in a deep hypnotic trance you’re still aware of the suggestions being made and able to reject anything that doesn’t fit in with your own personal set of values. “Contrary to what’s portrayed on television, a hypnotherapist can’t make you do anything you don’t want to,” says Sharon. “If they could, you’d have hundreds of rogue hypnotists out there, ordering people to rob banks!”

The first time Sharon meets with a client she simply talks to them about the issues they’re having. “It’s crucial that I get a good understanding of how the individual perceives the problem in their own mind’s eye and how it makes them feel,” Sharon says. “Using what they’ve told me, I then write a personalised script.”

Sharon explains that the more specific the script is to the individual and their particular problem, the more effective it will be.

“Once I’ve written the script, I ask the client to lie back on the couch and relax.

It’s important they’re in a calm, peaceful environment, as this will help them to drift into a hypnotic trance. Once hypnotised, the conscious part of the mind will be dampened down and I can speak to the subconscious part that’s less critical and more open to suggestion.

I then read the script. This is carefully crafted using the same language the client used when describing their problems, but with a much more positive spin. By using the client’s own language, the script has much more resonance, as it’s almost as though they’re listening to themselves.

“In a nutshell, hypnosis is all about tapping into the subconscious part of the mind,” Sharon explains. “Here, free from the critical analysis of the conscious mind, changes can be more readily accepted. It’s all about planting the seeds for change and developing a more positive outlook from the inside out.”

This all sounds great, but we wanted to see for ourselves whether hypnotherapy is really the magic cure it appears to be.

We challenged Sharon to help three Your Horse readers overcome their confidence issues, and she had just two weeks to help them turn things around.

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Riding We put hypnosis to the test

Does We’ve all seen the TV shows where hypnotists claim to help people quit smoking or lose a stone, but could hypnotherapy be used to set nervous riders free?

1

Rider

Sharon helped Amanda to picture her perfect hack

� Name Amanda Hine � Horse Tyler

Age: 47

TURN THE PAGE to see how Amanda gets on www.yourhorse.co.uk

YOUR HORSE 79

Seeing double Expert advice on introducing your horse to a double bridle

W

e gave one reader the opportunity to visit dressage rider and trainer Claire Lilley for expert advice and assistance as they introduced a double bridle to their horse. The lucky reader was Deborah Powell, who got in touch with us at Your Horse for the chance to visit Claire with her horse Dotty.

“Dotty is now five and coming on in leaps and bounds. She has a lot of potential so I’d love to help her fulfil it in the dressage world,” says Deborah.

“We’re currently competing at Prelim level so we’re not quite ready for the double bridle, but it would be fantastic to have some help from Claire to introduce one so that, when we’re ready, we’re prepared.”

Claire begins by running through the double bridle and its features with Deborah.

“When I did my Pony Club B test I remember being told to put a double bridle on my horse for the first time,” says Claire.

“My instructor told me to imagine that instead of a bit in the mouth, there was a razor blade, and I’ve never forgotten that. It’s a good way of illustrating how careful you have to be when riding in a double bridle.

They need to be treated with respect and ridden with the lightest of hands.”

Introducing a double bridle with Claire Lilley Different types To begin with, Claire shows Deborah the differences between three double bridles, to illustrate how much their design can vary.

“Double bridles aren’t simply the same from one to another, and it’s important to recognise the different features and fixtures they can have. Different designs can have a huge effect on the way each bridle works,” says Claire.

The shank

A fixed A sliding shank shank

The shank of the curb can be fixed or sliding and of varying lengths.

A sliding shank allows the curb to move slightly as the bit is tipped when the rider takes up the contact.

This is less precise than a fixed shank but a much milder action. Shanks that are shorter in length also have a milder action.

The curb & port

A small port

The action of the curb asks the horse to flex, while the thickness of the mouthpiece varies from bit to bit, as does the port in the centre. A forward-slanting port can provide more room for the two bits to sit together nicely in the mouth, be comfier on the tongue (especially in a more fleshy mouth) and should not touch the roof of the mouth.

Ultimately the type of curb you need depends entirely on the make-up of your horse.

Generally, the thicker the curb mouthpiece the milder the bit, and a high port makes the bit more severe, but it really depends on your horse. A smaller mouth may require a thinner curb and smaller port, while a larger mouth may benefit from a thicker mouthpiece and wider port.

The snaffle, or bridoon The bridoon is a smaller version of a snaffle bit and its action asks the horse to lift his head. Commonly a single-jointed, loose-ring snaffle is used, but an eggbutt version can also be used. A double-jointed bit with a lozenge will sit neatly in the port of the curb for a more comfortable fit.

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Curb chain The curb chain should lie flat in the chin groove and a padded chain cover can be used for extra comfort. Curb chains can have forward- or backward-facing hooks, but Claire advises that forward-facing hooks are a better choice, as backwardfacing hooks can become caught in the horse’s lip when putting the bridle on.

to find out exactly how to hold double reins

YOUR HORSE 87

THIS O C ULD BE

!

U YO PRIVATE LESSONS

Help me get the impulsion needed for jumping

� Your problems solved with our one-to-one training sessions Words Rebecca Gibson

The trainer � Name Billy Twomey � Experience A crucial member of the Irish Show Jumping Team, Billy is one of the most talented young riders on the international circuit. He trained with Michael Whitaker as a teenager and since then has enjoyed great success in his competitive career. At the beginning of 2008 he suffered a fall that proved fatal for his horse Pikap but, after six months out of competition, Billy returned at the Horse of the Year Show where he won six classes.

The rider and horse � Name Abigail Alliss � Experience Our Ultimate Year winner, Abi has owned five-year-old ID/WB Darcy for two years. Although Darcy has a nice jump when loose schooled, she has a tendency to leap over even small fences when ridden. She also has a rather unnerving habit of putting her head down and bucking after the fences. Abi has considered sending Darcy away for some intensive jump training but is hoping that, with Billy’s help, she’ll be able to bring Darcy on herself.

92 YOUR HORSE

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Riding Private Lessons WIN THE

ULTIM ATE YEAR WITH YOUR HORSE

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to find out how riding ‘without legs’ helps!

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