Your Horse Lite

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Michael Eilberg Why Farouche is his horse of a lifetime

Be a better rider, get the best from your horsE

Revitalise Your Riding

Fun activities to rev up your routine

4

Steps to ‘On The Bit’

Laura Tomlinson tells you how

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SArcoid sos!

How to fight equine cancer

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Whether you want to discover new ways to have fun with your horse or find foolproof ways to improve your schooling or management skills, we’ve got it all! Plus every month we search high and low for the best horsey products around, put them to the test, then tell you which ones we think are worth your hard-earned cash.

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SOS!

With our handy visual guides we help you spot symptoms fast using advice from the best experts around. Just look out for our SOS! pages each issue and you’ll soon know your sarcoids from you skin problems!

Back to basics

Sponsored by Spillers our Back to Basics pages do exactly what they say on the tin - they refresh the essential horse care basics with step-by-step guides, easy-to-use information and useful checklists and more!

The Your Horse Open Clinic

Our Open Clinic resident experts bring you advice on everything mind, body and management related. Equine trainer and behaviour expert Jason Webb, vet Gil Riley and groom to the stars Jenny Ellis are on hand every month to help you banish your horse care problems and answer your questions. Plus with our free online Symptom checker you get immediate access to vet advice, when you need it and you can speak to our experts live in our free online web chats. It’s your one-stop clinic for vital care advice - don’t miss it!

Sarcoid SOS

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Understand these cancerous skin tumours with world-famous equine oncology expert Professor Derek Knottenbelt’s guide to detection and treatment Words Katy Islip Photographs courtesy of Prof Derek Knottenbelt

OUR EXPERT Professor Derek Knottenbelt is a professor of equine medicine at the University of Liverpool and a consultant at the University of Glasgow.

It’s really important to recognise the early signs of a sarcoid and take action – sarcoids are cancer. If you found a lump on your body you’d go straight to the doctor, but with horses people often turn a blind eye and wait for it to go away.

Although some sarcoids do self-cure, most will only get larger and more dangerous.

Use my quick-check guide below to spot sarcoids fast, but remember all treatment must be vet-guided.

Regularly check your horse for lumps or strange-looking patches of skin

Photo: matthew roberts

Act fast

Spot it!

OCCULT

VERRUCOSE

NODULAR

Early (or occult) sarcoid development is usually visible as a circular area where hair may be lighter coloured or thinner, which can look exactly like ringworm. The horse is likely to have some scaly skin cells on the surface, but if you palpate the skin you can often feel tiny little gritty bits, and these are sarcoids.

They occur most commonly on the face, armpit, inside thigh and groin.

As the name suggests, verrucose sarcoids resemble warts, with a more pronounced scaly surface than the occult form. A verrucose sarcoid can be small or enormous. Some may also have an occult rim around them, where the hair falls out, but this doesn’t always happen.

Nodular sarcoids present as lumps in the skin, often appearing around the eyes and inner thigh, either individually or in groups. Some may develop a verrucose crown where they come through the skin. Some are very definite and are enclosed in a little capsule, but others have multiple nodules and are very dangerous, because they have a root and can be extremely hard to treat.

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3 Laser One thing surgery I’m really fo Laser surgery clear on is Get the expert in can be used to that owners lp he to ed ne u yo remove sarcoids should never try to ur yo r fo you care in areas with a treat a suspected horse for life good blood sarcoid themselves, as supply, as it inhibits this will almost certainly bleeding. trigger changes which can be catastrophic. All treatment must 4 Bandage ligation be vet-guided. The top eight Bandage ligation sees the sarcoid treatments your vet will tied off to cut the blood supply, but consider are: it’s only effective if the band encases the whole tumour.

1 Surgical removal Some tumours can be surgically 5 Chemotherapy removed – if it works then great, Treatments range because it’s fast and effective. from injectable materials to topical 2 Cryogenic surgery This sees the sarcoid frozen off, but creams. Some are vet-only and others care must be taken to remove all the cancerous cells. If you leave one are owner-applied under veterinary cell behind that tumour is coming guidance. Anything else back, and is coming back should not be used - full stop. aggressively.

6 Monitoring Another treatment is to simply monitor the sarcoid and see if it resolves. Around 1% get better on their own, which is extraordinary. It means there’s something important we’ve got to find, which is what we’re working towards.

FIBROBLASTIC

MIXED

MALIGNANT

Fibroblastic sarcoids are fleshy masses resembling proud flesh.

They can bleed easily, may be scabby, or have areas within them which change at different rates, especially following trauma. Sometimes they’re only on the skin’s surface, but some have a deeper root, requiring more complicated treatment. In all three milder forms of sarcoids, if you interfere they’ll turn fibroblastic.

Mixed sarcoids simply have two or more types of sarcoid within them, like the one pictured above which has occult, nodular and verrucose lesions. They’re thought to be a progressive stage between types. Almost every sarcoid is mixed, so we try to use that class only where there’s no predominant type. They can occur anywhere but are most common on the head, armpit and groin.

Any lesion which has spread extensively through the skin and deeper tissues is described as malignant. These sarcoids are rare, but more commonly occur on the elbow, inside thigh and face. They’re very aggressive, very invasive and extremely difficult to treat.

However, we don’t yet know why, but even malignant sarcoids don’t spread to the internal organs.

7 Radiotherapy Although effective, radiotherapy is rarely available for horses and is very expensive, with only a few centres in the UK currently offering it.

8 Immune methods For sarcoids around the eye, successful treatment has also been achieved by injecting the human tuberculosis vaccine (BCG), but this doesn’t work anywhere else, for reasons not yet understood.

SPILLERS® Care-Line 01908 226626 careline@spillers-feeds.com l www.spillers-feeds.com w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

your horse

7

Se N ct EW io n

Open Clinic Giving you exclusive access to the UK’s top experts in equine behaviour, management and vet care, our brand new Your Horse Open Clinic will help you to keep your horse fit, well and happy and save money on vet’s bills too!

Meet our experts Gil Riley manages the equine practice at Pool House Equine Clinic

Louise Jones is an equine nutritionist at feed specialists Dodson & Horrell

Jason Webb is a behaviour expert who runs Australian Horsemanship

Glyn Trundle is a farrier who runs Equity Shoeing and specialises in remedial work

Jenny Ellis has been a professional groom for more than 30 years

Penny Hollings is a top showing rider, trainer and judge

ttles entually se A splint ev visible bump into a hard,

And there’s more...

Join live web chats with our experts! This month Jason Webb will be answering your questions (see page 89 for details) Watch our how-to videos whenever you see this symbol

Spot the signs of a problem early with our handy symptom checker Got a question for an expert? Email it to us at getinvolved@yourhorse.co.uk

On-the-spot advice!

To bring the vet to you, we’ve teamed up with vethelpdirect.com - a free online symptom checker. To use it visit www.yourhorse.co.uk/ symptomchecker for free, on-the-spot vet advice.

8 your horse

Some splints result in lameness, which will be visible when you trot your horse up w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

Splints

uncovered

Vet Gil Riley explains how to spot, treat and manage splints and also how to prevent them

What is a splint?

A splint is an injury to the splint bone – a small, narrow bone that sits either side of the cannon bone in each of your horse’s legs and is attached to the cannon by a tough ligament called the interosseous.

It literally ‘splints’ the larger cannon bone, providing essential support, but can be damaged by concussive forces or a blow such as a kick from another horse.

A knock to the splint bone itself, or a tear to the interosseous ligament, will result in a ‘splint’, where the body – in a bid to repair the damage – forms new bony material, resulting in a permanent, hard, visible bump that’s no more than a cosmetic blemish once any pain and swelling’s subsided.

Poor conformation and excessive

work on hard ground, or a mixture of the two, are common causes, as concussive forces are driven up the leg, damaging the splint bone and its ligament.

As a rough guide, splints are split into five main groups: 1. True splint A tear in the interosseous ligament progresses to a bony injury. This is the most common type of splint.

2. Blind splint Swelling and inflammation occurs between the splint bone and ligament. This is difficult to detect, hence its name.

3. Knee splint Swelling in the upper splint bone, near the knee, results in oseoarthritis. This is rare.

4. Periostitis Usually the result of a direct blow to the splint bone.

5. Fractured splint The bone is actually broken.

Symptom checker Spot the symtoms

FREE vet advice!

packed with Your Horse is d advice you all the help an your horse need to keep althy and he d an y pp ha it’s all free!

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Swelling If your horse develops a swelling over a bony lump on the inside or outside of his lower leg, that’s only sore when you touch it, chances are it’s a true splint, especially if there’s no break on the skin.

Lameness If your horse is very lame (especially if a lump has formed on the outside of his leg) he may have fractured his splint bone due to a kick or knock.

Call the vet!

If you spot the symptoms above, if lameness is marked, there’s a deep cut or puncture wound to the area, or you’re worried about the size, location and type of swelling, it’s time to call your vet.

your horse

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Prevention

As the majority of splints are the result of trauma or concussion, common sense is key to ensure your horse doesn’t do too much on hard ground.

Conformational defects, such as angled cannons (which should be straight), will predispose your horse to the problem, and it’s important to ensure his hooves remain well balanced. Poorly bred horses who’ve inherited conformational defects, overweight horses, and those who do a lot of roadwork are more at risk. But, for many, splints are simply a rite of passage – and a largely unavoidable fact of life.

Treatment

Some splints develop pain-free, while others result in lameness that’s usually resolved within three to four weeks on box or field rest and a short course of bute. If the splint bone’s actually fractured, healing will take longer and surgery may be required.

Checklist If you’re travelling a young ✓ or novice horse to his first show, take an experienced ‘nanny’ horse ✓ When you load your horse up, tie him short enough to ensure he can’t get at the horse next to him, but still allowing him freedom to move his head ✓ Being tied up for long periods can affect your horse’s airways so keep your horsebox windows open while you’re parked up at a show to allow air to flow through. The same goes for your trailer

Q

My horse fractured his splint bone and, after four weeks’ box rest with his leg fully bandaged, he still appears lame. Is this normal?

Kate Heaps, North Wales

Gil says: A Your vet is the best person to answer this question, but heavy bandaging and box rest for up to six weeks is common after a splint fracture, especially if the damage occurred higher up the leg. After this time your vet will re-X-ray the area and be able to give you a better idea of what’s going on. If the fracture occurred lower down the leg, any splinters of bone may have to be removed surgically as the area simply won’t heal without this intervention.

Top travel checks

A successful competition day starts from the moment you leave the yard, so to arrive at the venue with a happy and relaxed horse a few simple checks are all you need to remember. Read on for groom Jenny Ellis’ top three…

Amazing videos!

tic Watch our fantas s on Horse Care video e or your smart phon lutely so ab r ute mp co free!

Make sure his travel boots or bandages fit well before travelling

Better Riding in Your Horse!

Improve your riding with advice from the best riders and trainers in the world – only in Your Horse!

Get advice from pros like Mary King!

Learn from Jay Halim and Spencer Wilton

Fancy training from the likes of Carl Hester?

Amazing experts

Every month our Better Riding section delivers everything you need to improve your riding and get the very best from your horse. And we speak to only the very best riders and trainers in Britain and beyond to get you the help and advice you need. From Mary King and Ben Maher to Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin – you can look forward to their handy hints and words of wisdom in Your Horse.

Training, designed for you!

Our six-month series the Your Horse Training Academy is designed to help you reach your riding goals and boost your horse’s performance.

We’ve even hand picked the Academy coaches - dressage star Spencer Wilton and eventer and show jumper Jay Halim - to ensure they’re the right people to offer you amazing advice, exercises, and training videos and, new for 2013 free audio downloads! Turn to page 18 for a little taster of the 2013 series so far.

Be part of it!

Have a look through the pages of Your Horse and the riders you see taking part in our Private Lessons and training features are people just like you. We invite Your Horse readers to not only tell us what they want to see in Your Horse, but also to be in Your Horse! Fancy being a model or getting some training from a top rider?

It’s easy to get involved, just email us at getinvolved@yourhorse.co.uk and we’ll get back to you. your horse 7

Do you find yourself gazing in awe at the likes of Laura Tomlinson as she achieves that ‘on the bit’ action?

Well here’s the lady herself to help you achieve it too

‘On the bit’ explained

E our expert Laura Tomlinson is an international dressage sensation (we knew her best as Laura Bechtolsheimer before she married polo player Mark Tomlinson in March this year). Laura took team gold and individual bronze at the London 2012 Olympic Games on her horse, Mistral Hojris (aka Alf).

Expert tip

Don’t ride your horse on the bit for too long to start with – he needs time to develop his muscles to be able to hold that position. Let him relax on a long rein and stretch his muscles out for a few minutes before picking him back up again.

12 xx your your horse horse

veryone knows that getting horses to work on the bit looks good and does good, helping them to carry themselves correctly and show off their best outline.

What it looks like

The key is to create enough impulsion from behind to get your horse working forwards into a contact. You’re aiming for a secure contact and for his neck to be in a nice round position – his poll should be the highest point and his nose should be slightly in front of the vertical.

How it feels

If your horse is working on the bit correctly, he should feel ‘with you’ – you should be able to alter his speed without too much change in his shape or the connection you feel down the reins. He should be responsive to your aids and go nicely forwards when you put your leg on, and he shouldn’t hang on your arms.

Amazing experts! or Whether dressage ing th ur yo is g jumpin to – or you just want we hack out safely – find the very best experts to help! w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

Better Riding

4 steps to on the bit While keeping your leg on, close your fingers around your reins until he brings his head down (try not to fiddle too much with his mouth – aka the seesaw action!) You’re aiming to keep a nice, even contact on both reins, think 70% leg and 30% hand.

If you feel his head coming up, don’t move your arms and pull him, just be patient and continue riding him forwards into a secure, consistent contact.

Once you feel the connection through the reins, give him a pat and reward him for it, but don’t drop the contact. Maintain the contact with your outside hand and gently give with your inside hand to pat him.

Laura shows us how it’s done at the London 2012 Olympics

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your horse

xx

Photo: Bob langRish

Ride your horse into a forward working trot and allow him to really swing through his back.

Proudly sponsored by Albion Saddlemakers

3 steps to effective training

A great exercise if your horse is supersensitive, in leg-yield your outside leg creates a forward feeling

Essential checks to ensure your horse has got a grip of the basics from your Training Academy coach Spencer Wilton Good for lazy or sharp horses

1

Test his reactions

How your horse reacts to your leg is key. When you put your leg on you should get an instant reaction – it’s vital he’s in front of your leg – and a horse who’s too sensitive is as much of a problem as one who’s not sensitive enough. As soon as you hop on board ask yourself: does my horse respond the instant I put both legs on? Does he react to alternate inside/outside leg aids?

If he’s too sensitive l Try transitions within the pace or a few small steps of leg-yield (see pic, left) – anything that requires you to use your leg in a positive way l Remember, everything you do with your leg needs to have a ‘dullness’ to it. Imagine it’s simply resting on your horse’s side and try to maintain a quiet, consistent connection

Your inside leg asks for, and creates, a sideways feel

If he’s lazy l Use little kicks that finish with your legs away from your horse’s sides and avoid nagging l Imagine your legs staying ‘alive’ – if they feel dead you’ll get a dead reaction

e chap The handsom re is his he g in rid Spencer’s ucca, bo m top stallion Za on the w ly nt ce re who s at Prix St George emier Pr ge lle Co e Th oe in League at Keys Bedfordshire!

14 your horse

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Free audio downloads!

Good for problem spotting

2

dio Download free au ining lessons from Tra es Academy coach d Jay Spencer Wilton an Halim on www.

Gauge his mood

Those first few steps as you go into rising trot are a good test of how your horse is feeling. Does he spring into trot, soft and submissive in the contact, swinging through his back? If so, this shows everything is as it should be, though some horses will need time to loosen up and get their brain in gear.

a yourhorse.co.uk/t

If he’s not on top form l Keep to a routine for every training session.

Obviously this will change slightly from day to day, but the pattern needs to remain consistent l Ride small, gentle transitions within the pace, literally half a gear change at most, to get him thinking forwards off your leg and into your hand l In a bid to ride your horse forwards make sure you don’t throw him onto his forehand, but instead stay balanced up and down the gears l Go large at first as this is easier for your horse than working on a circle

The first few steps of trot are a test of how your horse is feeling

Good for stiff horses

3

Take control

Feel you need to boost your control and help a stiff horse relax and supple up? Shoulder-fore is your new best friend – where you bring your horse’s outside foreleg very slightly in off the track (think shoulder-in but with less angle). It helps you control your horse’s shoulder (essential for any turning movement), test his straightness and impulsion and engage his inside hind. Try it first on the long side in walk, trot and canter. When you feel more confident, ride it on the inside track, away from the support of the fence line.

To ask for shoulder-fore… l Prepare your horse in the corner of the school with a 10m circle l As you complete the circle, maintain this inside flexion – but carry on down the long side l Your inside leg encourages your horse to carry on straight along the track l Your outside rein controls the angle and speed, while your outside leg plays a supportive role

Problem buster If you’re struggling When viewed from the front, your horse’s inside hind should be seen to fall between his fore legs w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

Shoulder-fore is a quick and easy way to assess how your horse is moving, and if he can’t achieve it you need to question why. His saddle could be pinching or he might be sore over his loins, so ask your vet or saddle fitter for advice.

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15

Ready to re-discover what riding is all about? Here’s some fun activities to help you rev-up your riding routine TRY HORSE AGILITY

Obstacles range from the simple to the challenging

Photo: Bob Atkins

NA

E INTER

TH

TY CLUB

Only a headcollar and leadrope is permitted in classes

Have a go!

Check out The Horse Agility Club Great Britain (www. thehorseagilityclub.com) for details of upcoming events and video competitions.

Sue Jeggo guides Lilly on to the podium, one of the Horse Agility obstacles

ILI

TEST OF CONTROL

tried it with my cob, Lilly, and she loved it,” says Your Horse L HORS ONA E reader Sue Jeggo.

TI

AG

Think agility classes are only for over-active Collie dogs? Think again! Horse agility is gaining in popularity across the UK, with clubs springing up faster than you can say ‘jump that hoop!’. Popular with owners of the smaller breeds, as well as everyday riders, more and more owners are appreciating the relationshipboosting benefits of training your horse to go in, around, over and through a range of obstacles. “I

Photo: Sarah Davies, Horse Tails Photography

Revitalise your riding

Horse agility classes range from ‘starter’ level to ‘wild agility’, pictured here

Photo: Sarah Davies, Horse Tails Photography

You can give your horse a welldeserved day off and still rejuvenate your riding – this time on another horse. “A different horse gives a different perspective,” says top dressage rider and trainer Charlie Hutton.

“Regardless of his standard, you can always learn something.”

“You’ll soon find out if you’ve got into bad habits with your position or aids,” he says. “Or perhaps your horse has become lazy, because you’ve been micromanaging his faults. If you’re riding a schoolmaster you’ll hopefully experience what it’s really meant to feel like.

Have a go!

Visit www.bhs.org.uk or www. abrs-info.org to search for approved riding schools that have schoolmasters

Practise your aids on a schoolmaster who can tell you when you’re getting them right (or wrong!)

Aim higher Find new and exciting ways to enjoy your riding with our inspiring features

In a test you’re asked to ride dressage movements, then pop one or two fences w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

DISCOVER PRIX CAPRILLI What better way to liven up dressage if you’re a little wild at heart than by adding jumps?

Named after Italian rider Frederico Caprilli, the father of the forward jumping seat, it’s a fab way to have fun with your horse. Tests are judged on movement, impulsion, submission and riding, and the jumps simply shouldn’t interrupt the flow of your performance.

“I’d recommend it to anyone!” says Your Horse reader Emmie Foxall, who tried it with her horse T-Jay. “We were doing well at affiliated Novice level dressage but had a go at Prix Caprilli at the East Shropshire Riding Club fun show in 2009. T-Jay adores jumping, so putting them together was entertaining and good fun!”

The jumps are only small so anyone can have a go

Have a go!

Google ‘prix caprilli’ for sample test sheets to try at home and to find centres that put on the tests. your horse 17

Go xc!

For access to acres of farmland and jumps, check out www.ukchasers. com

Boost your riding skills while exploring pastures new

HIT THE TRAIL What better way to blow away the cobwebs than with an exhilarating hack? But be adventurous by boxing up and riding somewhere totally new.

“The whole benefit of riding is being able to go out and enjoy the countryside,” says event trainer Annette Philpot. “A change of scenery is so good for stuffy horses who don’t want to go forwards.”

Ask horsey friends if they’d be willing to share transport with you to a new location.

But before you strike out in a different direction, Annette suggests a few safety considerations.

“First, make sure you’ve got full control in an enclosed arena,” she advises. “Go with 18 your horse

suitable brakes, not your dressage tack, and keep the group small. If your horse tends to be nervy or nappy, find a friend with a rocksteady horse to join you.”

You’ll both enjoy some time in the great outdoors, whether it’s at the beach, over farmland (with the permission of the owner), along new bridleways or just exploring somewhere you haven’t been before nearer home.

Have a go!

Grab an Ordnance Survey map or look online for route-related inspiration. Try www.EMAGIN.org or www. horseswelcome.org if you need a horse-friend B&B to stay in en route.

Riding somewhere different will keep both you and your horse stimulated

Win, spend & save Flick through the pages of Your Horse and you’ll find offers,discounts and opportunities to win amazing prizes here there and everywhere

WIN!

From a brand new horsebox or a course walk with a top rider to grooming products and riding holidays, we’re always on the look out for amazing competition prizes we know you’ll love. Entering is quick and easy, just head to www. yourhorse.co.uk/win

Get out there We search for fab events each month, tell you when and where they and get wheeling and dealing to find you great discounts, ticket offers or special incentives!

ONLY IN Your horse!

Get involved Find out about new and exciting things to see and do on our Get Involved pages and check out our amazing offers that will help you to have a go, get involved or try something new – every month!

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17

Advertising feature

Advertising feature

Michael Eilberg As an exciting 2013 season beckons, the dressage star talks candidly about his life with horses, and how the dressage arena nearly lost him to the show jumping ring Words Larissa Chapman Photography Matthew Roberts

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coring an impressive 72% in his first ever dressage test, Michael Eilberg was on the road to stardom right from the start, following in the footsteps of his famous rider and trainer father Ferdi. It’s hard to believe what he’s already achieved at just 26, going from being a newcomer on the World Class Development Squad in 2009 to a 2012 Olympic Games hopeful.

Perhaps best known for his partnership with stunning chestnut mare Woodlander Farouche, winner of the 2012 six-yearold Young Horse World Championships, Michael’s name is regularly splashed

across the horsey headlines, so we decided to drop in for a chat to find out more.

As we arrive at the picturesque Eilberg family home in Redditch, the sun is shining, trees are full with blossom and in hot pursuit of his two dogs, Rocky and Cody, Michael strides down the gravel drive to greet us. He’s happy and relaxed, and it doesn’t seem possible he’s just completed a 14-hour journey from a dressage event in Germany.

We head over to the school, sit ourselves down in the sunshine and begin quizzing our interviewee.

Michael and his horse of a lifetime, Farouche, share a special moment 24 your horse

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Your Horse features explained All work and no play makes us a very dull bunch so to make sure our readers are entertained every month we search high and low for features that will make you smile, chuckle and love horses just that little bit more!

The big interview

We speak to top riders to get all the horsey gossip and go behind the scenes at their yards and homes, armed with your questions!

PLUS

There’s nothing quite like a dose of inspiration and we love hearing stories from real riders and horse owners. Whether you’ve turned an ex racehorse’s life around, reached you riding goals despite the odds or nursed your horse back from the brink – you can find stories like yours in Your Horse! To tell us your own story, email us at getinvolved@yourhorse.co.uk w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

You’ve just got back from representing Team GBR at Hagen – how was it?

It was great, apart from the very long drive. I took Half Moon Delphi and Marakov with me and I rate them both very highly. Hagen is a busy event and there’s a lot to cope with, but I was really pleased with how both horses handled it.

It was a long drive home and I think Half Moon Delphi is a little tired now. She needs to become accustomed to travelling longer distances.

What’s the most interesting comment you’ve ever had on a test sheet?

I remember receiving one particular comment after a test with Farouche at Hickstead and it just said ‘wow!’. I think they said if they could have given me an 11 for one of my movements they would have done, so that was pretty cool!

I believe my percentage came out at 99.9% or something like that.

Farouche is more than capable of getting 10s in all three gaits.

Michael started his career as a show jumper. He’s seen here riding a horse called Liandro five years ago

‘Dressage suits my perfectionist mentality’

I had quite a bit of success, taking a Gold medal for England at the Home Pony International at Wales and West, but then a series of events led to my move.

I had a riding job fall through and a cluster of horses who seemed to go lame at the same time, so I decided to keep myself You started as a show jumper, so busy by riding some of the why did you change to dressage? dressage horses at home.

I was jumping for most of my My sister, Maria has always young rider career, going to work focused on dressage, but we for the legendary Tim Stockdale. happened to get a few horses who were perhaps a little too much for her in terms of their size. I started riding them and took them to a few shows.

Half Moon After a while, my dad Delphi resting in told me he thought I her stable after a should take the long journey back from Hagen in Germany

Michael with his horse, Torino.

They’ve both made the leap from jumping to dressage

plunge into dressage, so I did!

I got 72% in my first ever test a nd I thought, ‘Well Maria usually gets in the 70s so I guess that’s pretty good’ and the rest, as they say, is history.

I think that dressage also suits my perfectionist mentality because you really have to let it consume you to understand it.

How do you and Maria decide who rides which horses?

I seem to ride a lot of mares. I don’t think I consciously prefer them, I just seem to get on with them, and the mares I’ve had so far have been fantastic. They

Michael and his sister Maria (riding Woodlander Rockstar) gave a brilliant demonstration at Your Horse Live in 2010

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With a father and sister excelling in dressage comes added pressure to win

A diddy Michael on his diddy Shetland, Midnight Cowboy!

have their moments, but I find that as long as you’re clear and you both know where you stand, you can have a little more fun with a mare.

Do you remember your first pony?

I certainly can. Maria, my younger brother Luke and I all used to share a fantastic Shetland called Midnight Cowboy who could jump a whole cross-country course at a very fast trot. We later moved onto a Mountain and Moorland pony called Peanuts.

After him, Maria got a dressage horse, while I got a fantastic little Michael and the family dogs, Rocky and Cody

jumping pony called Beau.

All the family ponies were either rescue ponies or passed on from friends.

Can you tell us about some of the horses you have at the moment?

I suppose Farouche is who I’m best known for and she’s the biggest star on the yard. She’s seven now and I’ve had her since she was four. She’s a very special horse and I feel very lucky to have her. I’ll be incredibly fortunate if I ever have anything even close to her again.

I also have Half Moon Delphi and Marakov as I’ve mentioned who

Michael rode Woodlander Wavavoom at Your Horse Live in 2010

are both doing really well at the moment. I have another horse called Torino who is such a lovely chap and so easy to do in every way. He moved over from show jumping to dressage with me and he’s taken to it exceptionally well.

What qualities do you look for in a dressage horse?

I like a supple horse with good rhythm who is loose in the back and naturally built uphill. I feel this determines whether a horse is an athlete or not.

I then look at the way he or she can handle those mechanics and paces and whether I’ll be able to work with them. Of equal importance, I look for a good nature and temperament.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

My dad’s given me loads of great advice over the years, it’s hard to remember it all. Something that I always say when I teach is ‘the longest road is the shortest in the end’ which basically means, there’s no point cutting corners because you always need to come back to the basics in the end.

Describe yourself in three words Perfectionist, dedicated, fair.

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your horse 27

The Your Horse Buyers’ Guide explained Times are tough and the best equine products don’t always come cheap so that’s why our Buyers’ Guide tells you which products we’ve tried, tested and recommend to you.

Plus we spend our days hunting high and low for the best new products around so you’re the first to see all the latest horsey gear.

Our Buyers’ Guides tell you everything you need to know about a product before you buy it from prices and materials to pros and cons. Our tests challenge manufacturer’s claims, work products hard and sort the best from the worst

Have your say

Your opinion matters to us, so if you’ve got some gear you can’t live without, or a product that’s not quite hit the mark we want to know about it. Send your gear reviews to us at getinvolved@yourhorse.co.uk it could end up in the magazine and you’ll be in with a chance of winning a prize!

Buyers’ Guide

Used and approved Products the Your Horse team and our readers have tried, tested, used to death and simply can’t live without!

Kadence Stikki Bum jodhpurs £49.99

● Used by YH editorial assistant Becky Statham ● Used for hacking and schooling for nine months These jods look really good and fit well thanks to a bit of stretch in the denim material. The synthetic suede seat has some unusual little silicon pimples – very different to other jods I’ve had. They’re really comfortable to wear and you can’t feel the pimples when you’re riding but they definitely help you feel secure in the saddle without being restrictive. My horse, Lottie, can be spooky out hacking but when she has tried to whip round, the jods have helped me stay in position, safely in the saddle. I like these jods a lot – and the price is great too.

Colour: Black denim Sizes: 10 to 18 Contact: www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk

Using the Micklem bridle produced a happier horse

Micklem Bridle £120

The Stikki Bum jods provide added stickability!

Bucas Irish stable rugs £69 (50g), £80 (300g)

● Used by YH Buyers’ Guide editor Allison Lowther ● Used for two years I have two of these rugs, one lightweight (50g insulation) and one with 300g of insulation.

I can’t fault their fit, which is why I like them so much. The shoulder darts are positioned perfectly so the rug doesn’t move and,

because of this, they haven’t rubbed at all. The outer material is proving to be durable too while the nylon lining helped keep Wish and Jester’s winter coats looking great. They didn’t seem to be quite as dusty as normal so both needed less grooming and their coats had a great shine to them.

Colour: Navy with navy/silver trim Sizes: 5ft to 7ft Contact: www.bucas.com

The best gear!

An excellent fitting rug that keeps coats looking shiny

The Your Horse ers team and pro rid ar tel you which ge ck really does the tri

● Used by YH reader Sara Metcalfe ● Used for over a year for hacking and schooling I bought the Micklem combination bridle after reading about it on forums and based on William Micklem’s reasoning behind it. My horse, Comet, crossed his jaw during flat work, was anxious and put his tongue over the bit. The Micklem bridle revolutionised his way of going – he’s much happier and accepts the contact. My other two horses also go well and seem more comfortable in the Micklem. My only criticism is the leather could be a little softer.

Contact: www.horseware.com Facebook “f ” Logo

CMYK / .eps

Products you love On Facebook we asked which gear you can’t live without?

Nicki Broadbent, North Yorkshire: Silverfeet Hoof Balm keeps my horse’s feet in good shape through the wet winter and stops them drying out in the summer. It’s so easy to use and isn’t messy to apply. The anti-bacterial properties also help keep thrush away.

Irene Benk, Bedfordshire: My Roeckl gloves are a godsend. They’re so light I forget I’ve got them on, but they also provide great grip on the reins.

Holly Paine, Sussex: The EquiCloth is great for getting a shine on my horse, tack and riding boots

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Buyers’ Guide

In the shops now We’ve hunted high and low for the best horsey products around – here’s our pick of the bunch this month

Bed down Tropibed’s new bedding is 100% natural and made from coconut husk. It absorbs nasty odours plus up to six times its own weight in liquid. It’s totally biodegradable and a natural soil conditioner – perfect for spreading on your land after use in your stable. A 20kg bale will cost £7.50.

Amazing gear!

Contact www.tropibed. co.uk

The Your Horse ngs Buyers’ Guide bri t you all the lates gear for you and your horse

2-in-1 boots!

These waterproof Ariat Stormstopper countrywalking boots are practical, stylish and safe for riding in. Ariat’s Advanced Torque Stability Technology (ATS) in the soles reduces fatigue in your feet, lower legs and back. Choose from navy or brown, all for £99.99.

Contact 0845 600 3209 or www.ariat-europe.com The special footbed supports and cushions the foot The sole’s layered design provides shock absoption, stability and maximum resistance to wear

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Sparkle and shine

Swarovski crystals add a hint of bling to the new Gatehouse Conquest ZC riding helmet. With its handy washable wicking liner, vents to maximise airflow and top notch safety standard (Kitemarked and tested to BSEN 1384), it’s worth its £299 price tag. Available in navy, black, or grey suede-effect.

Contact 01303 872277 or www.gatehouserange.co.uk

Happy hooves

Dengie Healthy Hooves Molasses Free contains all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals your horse needs to keep his feet in the best condition. A splash of rapeseed oil has been added to replace the molasses so, with low levels of starch and sugar and high fibre, it’s a safe option if your horse is prone to laminitis. A 20kg bale costs from £12.19 to £12.89.

Contact 0845 345 5115 or www.dengie.com

Healthy gut Nettex Gut Balancer is a fast and effective product containing a concentrated yeast culture to keep your horse’s gut healthy.

A 750g tub (approx 30 days supply) costs £19.99.

Contact 01634 257150 or www.net-tex.co.uk w w w.you r hor se .co.u k

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