Your Horse Issue 327

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£2000 of Masta rugs

BURGHLEY horse trials Meet the vet, farrier, plumber and 7 more who make it happen

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INSPIRATION FOR OWNING AND ENJOYING HORSES

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NTHLY BRITAIN’S BEST-SELLING EQUESTRIAN MO JUMPING SPECIAL

Jump more clears

The perfect approach Banish nerves Reach new heights Tips for first-time jumpers

VICE SQUAD Latest research helps you cope ON THE UP

TEAM GB

Can we win in 2012?

SHOW GUIDE

JORDAN’S TRAINER

ANDREW GOULD

On leg-yield, transitions and stretching EXCLUSIVE

MONTY ROBERTS Answers YOUR questions

bridles

Choose what’s kindest for your horse £3.70 ISSUE 327 8 October-4 November 2009

Bob Langrish

London 2012 Could Team GB finally top the podium?

With 1,000 days to go until the 2012 London Olympics, we investigate whether Team GB has what it takes to bring home gold Investigation by Rebecca Gibson

O

lympic team gold has eluded the British equestrian squad since the early 70s when the eventing team dominated the sport, winning two consecutive gold medals. The British show jumping squad has secured

16 YOUR HORSE

just one team gold since the Olympics began way back in 1912, and the dressage team have never really threatened in the history of the Olympics, leaving the Germans to win an astonishing seven consecutive dressage team golds.

So where have we been going wrong and what are we doing to turn things around in time for the London Olympics?

Five times Olympian Mary King believes the British Eventing Team could have won any, if not all, of the five Olympics she’s been a part of.

“I went to every Games thinking we could return gold medallists,” she says. “I think this is a realistic view, but unfortunately things have gone against us in recent years, so we haven’t actually come back

with better than silver while I’ve been competing. I don’t think we’ve done anything wrong, the fact is you need to have a bit of luck to win.”

Well aware that 2012 is likely to be her last Olympics, although careful to rule nothing out, Mary would desperately love to add Olympic gold to her list of achievements and thinks it’s

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NEWS REPORT

Kit Houghton

After a good start, Team GB fell apart at the Alltech FEI Windsor European Show Jumping Championships

Emma Hindle’s Lancet 2 will be almost 20 by the time the London Olympics come round

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than it was back in the glory days of the 60s and 70s when Britain were on top of the podium twice.

“A lot more nations are realistically competing for medals,” Yogi says. “But when you’re competing at such a high level, it’s not meant to be easy.

If we’d dominated the sport for the past 30 years, I think something would be seriously wrong with the health of the sport. The fact that there are so many teams fighting for medals these days shows the sport is thriving and this has to be a good thing.”

Unfortunately for the British Show Jumping Team, the recent Alltech Windsor European Championships proved to be a haunting reminder of their experiences in Beijing last year, where the team went from hero to zero in a matter of days. At the Europeans the team put in a strong first round performance and were lying in second place going into the final round but, one by one, the team fell apart to end in a dismal sixth place.

No doubt the team will be dusting themselves down and hoping they can replicate the miraculous turnaround in fortune demonstrated by the Italian show jumping team. In a matter of weeks the Italians

Home-grown talent The World Class Programme was established by the British Equestrian Federation in 2002 with the sole aim of improving Team GB’s chances of winning medals on the world stage. The programme’s mission is to identify talent, maximise potential and deliver success. Riders are reviewed on a six-monthly basis, with targets and Carl Hester objectives being set sold his Olympic horse and funding to assist Escapdo to the with achieving these Netherlands aims agreed.

Within the programme, primarily funded by the National Lottery, there are three pathways designed to work alongside one another. One of these focuses on developing promising young riders, another assists horse-and-rider combinations already competing on the international stage and – established just two years ago – the Equine Pathway aims to identify and support horses with medal winning potential. The programme works with the riders and owners to help them maximise the horse’s achievements and encourage owners to keep their horses with British riders – something that has been an issue in the past.

Back in 2005 Carl Hester was made an offer he felt he couldn’t refuse for his top horse Escapado. Even though Escapado was in his prime and Carl described him as his horse of a lifetime, he sold his Olympic and European Championship partner to the Netherlands.

It was a difficult decision for Carl, who was torn between keeping his top horse, and building a yard that would allow him to develop and train a new generation of world class horses. It’s hoped the Equine Pathway will prevent such sales in the future.

Kit Houghton

about time the British Team had a taste of success.

“I know it doesn’t work on the basis of what’s fair, but I really feel like it’s about time we had luck on our side. We haven’t won for a long time now and I feel like we, more than any other team, really deserve to win a gold medal.

“Things are looking very positive for 2012,” she says.

“Rider-wise we’re very strong and have lots of promising young riders coming up through the levels, but to win gold you need to have the best horses, too.

“I think keeping good horses in this country and not allowing them to get sold abroad will be crucial to the outcome of 2012. We also need to make sure there’s the support in place for owners to ensure that when good horses come up for sale, we’re in a position to snap them up.”

Mary admits getting on the top step of the podium won’t be easy. “All the European nations have upped their game in recent years and the Germans, who have always been strong in the dressage phase, are now catching us up in the show jumping too.”

British Eventing Team coach Yogi Briesner thinks the competition is much stiffer

YOUR HORSE 17

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Burghley’s We meet

ey Burghl SPECIAL

34 YOUR HORSE

Burghley is a time for top quality eventing, shopping, great food and time with friends – but not for the people behind the scenes. While we’re enjoying ourselves, thousands of people are working hard to make it happen. We introduce you to some of these people and find out what the event is like for them

superstars

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YOUR HORSE 35

new look SECTION

horse answers

1 QUESTION

3 EXPERTS ANSWER

Leading trainers, instructors, feed experts and vets, along with riding legends, offer you free, professional advice – whatever the problem. 12 pages including: Rebecca Gibson Horse Answers editor

Horse ownership is one huge learning curve – no matter how much you know, there’s always something new just around the corner. This month’s Horse Answers covers everything from keeping condition on your horse this winter to rugging up and keeping arthritis at bay.

MEET OUR EXPERTS Jane Baker

BHS SM, BHSII is a freelance riding instructor

Clare Barfoot

BSc (Hons) RNutr is a nutritionist for Spillers

Emma Case

BSc (Hons) is a nutritionist for Baileys Horse Feeds

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

Gayle Hallowell

Ellie Hoyes

is a vet from the Royal Veterinary Hospital

BHSI BSc is a higher education tutor at AskhamBryan College

Sarah Kreutzer

Claire Lawrence

Claire Lilley

Celia Cohen

is founder of Learning to Listen

Martin Pate is a

is a company nutritionist for Allen & Page

Lisa Pritchard

is an international dressage rider and trainer

Beth Pummell

solicitor at MJP Law in Dorset

is a level II Centered Riding instructor

PhD, CPsychol is a chartered sports psychologist

Gil Riley

Katie Williams

Charles Wilson

is a vet and holds the RCVS Certificate in Equine Practice

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

MA, BHSAI is a natural horsemanship expert

44 Horse care My horse box walks – why is this and how can I stop it?

45 Riding

I need help to combat my nerves and ride a dressage test like I do at home

47 Riding

I can’t keep my lower leg still and am marking my horse!

48 CLOSE-UP Horse care

An old injury has left my horse with a weak pelvis – how do I strengthen it?

50

CLOSE-UP

Behaviour I need help dealing with a bargy youngster

51 Legal

A colt broke into my mare’s field – am I entitled to a paternity test for the foal?

53 Feeding

DON’T MISS celebrity

54 horse answers reader

56 horse answers 44 YOUR HORSE

g Weightapin g once n ri o sc condition l allow you il w t h ig n s a fort ny change to detect a ickly than qu much more g on your in by just rely ne eye alo

My Thoroughbred prefers wind-sucking to grazing!

Laura Bechtolsheimer answers all your questions on dressage

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

Top tipand

� Tickets are on sale now! www.yourhorselive.co.uk has all the latest details for the equine event of the year!

My gelding pees before and after riding – should I worry? www.yourhorse.co.uk

horse answers

When should I increase his feed?

Q

How do I know when to increase my TB’s feed for the winter and how much extra to feed? Last year I struggled to keep weight on him, despite giving two large feeds.

Amy, on email

BAILEYS NUTRITIONIST Emma Case advises If you know your horse doesn’t hold his weight well, gradually change your feeding regime in the autumn to prevent weight loss. A common mistake is to just feed more of the existing ration. However, this is usually ineffective since the horse’s digestive system functions most efficiently on small volumes of feed at regular intervals. A far more effective approach is to give a conditioning feed that will provide a much more concentrated form of energy and nutrients.

The number of feeds you can fit into one day will largely determine how much feed you can give your horse, as each meal

A

should be no larger than 4lb (1.8kg). If you need to give more feeds and are struggling to fit them in yourself, try asking other people on the yard to put a lunchtime or late feed in for you.

Another beneficial addition to the ration is to add oil or an oil based supplement like Bailey’s Outshine or Saracen’s Equi Jewel.

Oil provides a very condensed form of calories without significantly increasing the volume of feed, making it an ideal top up when meals are limited.

Try to source the best possible hay or haylage you can, as this will also help to increase your horse’s calorie and nutrient intake.

ALLEN & PAGE NUTRITIONIST Claire Lawrence says Many horses lose weight as winter sets in and, if you know your horse struggles to maintain weight, it’s particularly important to be vigilant and spot the first signs of weight loss. When you see your horse every day it can be difficult to notice these signs until significant weight loss has occurred, which is why regular weightaping and condition scoring can be invaluable.

When weightaping ensure your horse is standing square, on a level surface, and that the weightape is snug behind the elbow area and behind the withers. The weightape should be taut, but not tight.

A

It’s also important to monitor your horse’s condition. Condition scoring works on a 0 to 5 scale with 0 being very thin and 5 being obese. Ideally your horse should have an average condition score of 2.5.

There are three main areas to condition score – the neck and shoulders, body barrel and quarters. When condition scoring the neck, the top of it should be firm – a wobbly neck indicates excess fat. When running your hand over the shoulders they should be easy to feel. The ribs should be easily felt, but not visible, and the quarters should make a semi-circle shape. Give each area a score out of five and then divide the total score by three to get the overall score.

SPILLERS NUTRITIONIST Clare Barfoot replies During the summer months, most horses’ energy and protein requirements will be met through grazing; however, as winter approaches the quality and quantity of grass declines. Grass only grows when the air temperature is consistently above six degrees Celsius, which is why in temperate climates you get a seasonal pattern of grass growth.

In order to make up for this shortfall in grass supply, conserved forage such as hay or haylage should be fed to supply the bulk of the fibre in the diet. However, just like

A

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grass, the nutritional value of hay and haylage can’t be guaranteed and for this reason, even if your horse or pony is a good doer, you’ll need to provide an appropriate prepared feed.

The other main reason that horses require extra feed in the winter is that, as the temperature drops, they need more energy to maintain their body temperature.

During an average British winter a horse may require 15-25% more energy than in the summer, although this will depend on the breed, whether or not they are clipped, and how much they are rugged up.

YOUR HORSE 43

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ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

JUMPING

Leap of faith

E

ven if you don’t have a competitive bone in your body, the ability to ride over a jump is an essential skill to have – if only so you can cope with a log or ditch out on a hack. Jumping requires rhythm and balance, and a secure seat and position. You should enjoy an improvement in your ability in all these areas on the flat, too, when you master the basic skills needed to safely negotiate poles or obstacles on your horse.

For some novice riders, having a go at jumping is a natural progression as their riding skills develop. For others – especially as we get older – it can be a daunting step and even a step too far. If this describes you, see our nerve busting panel on page 65.

Still want to take up the challenge?

Here’s how to do so and ensure you enjoy the results.

Taking the plunge How does a novice rider gauge when they’re ready to jump? Answer the following questions to see if you are ready to take the leap:

Learning to jump is a fantastic riding skill to have, and is fun and fulfilling if approached correctly – even if the thought of it fills you with dread beforehand! Here’s how to take up the challenge with confidence

illustration: Graham Gaches

1

62 YOUR HORSE

Keep your weight through the leg and begin to open your knee and hip joints for the ascent

� When you ride, can you control your speed and steering? � Can you stand up in your stirrups and retain your balance without hanging on to the reins? � Are you able to canter independently and safely?

If your answer to all of the above is yes, you’ve reached the necessary level to try jumping. For novice riders, learning to jump on a genuine schoolmaster is the ideal. If your horse is as novice as you when it comes to jumping, consider letting an experienced rider progress his training before you take the plunge on him. A novice rider will undoubtedly interfere with a novice horse’s jumping education and, to really progress, his training needs to be as trouble-free and consistent as yours.

Borrowing or having lessons on a horse who’s experienced, willing and forward-going over fences will pay dividends. You’ll develop the necessary skills quicker, gain confidence and have fun. A reliable horse will enable you to concentrate on improving your own ability, rhythm and balance, without having to worry too much about the horse underneath you.

A harmonious partnership Finding an instructor who you trust and who inspires confidence is essential when learning to jump. Sympathy is also a must, but at the same time you need to

Keep your upper body over the horse’s centre of gravity

2

First time riders TOP TIP To test a saddle’s fit, try standing in your stirrups for a few trotting strides to see if the saddle feels comfortable and supportive in front and behind be challenged if you’re to improve, without being over-faced. Gentle progress is key.

Remember, horses can be unpredictable so even a competent trainer can’t always ensure things will go smoothly, even with the most steady of mounts. What counts is that you finish each training session on a high note, enjoying yourself and looking forward to the next session. If you don’t, ask yourself what’s going wrong and, if necessary, try another instructor!

The jumping position The jumping rider maintains a balanced, harmonious and secure position in the saddle by adopting a more forward position, both over the fence and on the flat between fences, sometimes referred to as the light seat position. To adopt this you must shorten your stirrups several holes to suit (normally between three to five). Stirrup leathers shouldn’t be so short that you can’t balance when riding a turn or apply your leg aids effectively, but short enough to enable you to fold and use your

3

Get geared up The rider

A girth with elasticated inserts will allow the horse To enable your horse to jump, more freedom of movement you need to be in consistent over fences, but may need to balance so you don’t hinder his be used with a breastplate to natural movement. To achieve stop the saddle slipping back. this harmony you need to keep Stud guards offer additional your centre of gravity in line protection, preventing horses with his, and this means going from knocking into themselves with the movement of the when they tuck their feet up. horse and adjusting your A correctly adjusted weight accordingly, so your running martingale riding clothing needs to be will aid steering and control, isn’t necessary – a good GP comfortable, and tops and and provide a handy neck (general purpose) saddle will jackets must allow freedom strap for the rider in an be adequate for any novice. of movement through your emergency. Alternatively, Choose one with forward cut shoulders. Wearing a body use just a neck strap. and padded knee panels to protector is recommended Bridging reins can be a accommodate your knees in – choose one that’s light, useful addition to your kit list. the jumping position.

Some flexible, well fitting and They help a rider maintain saddles also have small thigh doesn’t restrict movement. an even contact, and regain rolls behind the leg and these An approved hat or helmet is, balance and lost contact can provide riders with of course, a must. should they drop the reins, or additional stability.

Ensure any Choose short or long riding boots with a non-slip sole and knee and thigh blocks suit your fall on to their horse’s neck.

Front protective particular shape. lots of flexibility around the boots and overreach Stirrup leathers should ankle joint – look out for types boots should be worn be strong and not too thick or that lace around the ankle. to prevent injury from your long – you don’t want lots of Ensure long boots or chaps horse treading on himself spare leather flapping around allow a close leg contact with on landing. Hind protective as you jump or lots of bulk your horse. or fetlock books can be under the saddle flap. Use worn to prevent brushing safety stirrups – there are A specialist jumping saddle many designs to choose from. injuries behind.

The horse

Close your knee and hip joints over the top of the fence

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4

Open the hip joints on descent

5

Start to readjust your balance

YOUR HORSE 63

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

JUMPING

T

here’s absolutely nothing wrong with feeling nervous on a horse, especially when faced with the additional challenge of jumping fences. Loss of confidence can hit any of us.

Even with no obvious cause, there’s always a reason for your fear if you look deep enough and the first step in tackling jumping nerves is to find out

66 YOUR HORSE

exactly what’s happening, says equestrian coach and NLP trainer Jo Cooper.

“Everyone’s aware that having a bad fall or being bolted with can damage confidence, but it can be a lot more subtle than that,” she says. “When I’m working with someone, there’s an element of detective work involved to identify exactly what triggered the problem. Often an incident

has been long forgotten and just bringing it to mind can help. If something that seemed irrational can be understood as a logical response, it’s often easier to deal with.

“For example, jumping is something riders rarely do alone, and having other people present – rather than the actual fences – can frequently be a factor. Think back to your early jumping lessons – was there a

bullying instructor, comments from people you didn’t get on with in the group or a horse you were afraid of? Perhaps you felt uncomfortable about being judged by the more confident riders, or your instructor, family or spectators?

“Seeing someone else fall can sometimes be as bad as falling yourself, as although they probably got over it and worked through their resulting

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Confidence

Fight the fear Too scared to enjoy your jumping? We have the answers

confidence issues, you didn’t!

Some people have had a bad experience with a previous horse who used to stop or run out and they react to the possibility that their current horse may do the same thing.

This affects their riding and often makes the horse do exactly what they fear.

“In some cases, a crisis of confidence may be a reaction to other issues in your life, which

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have nothing to do with the horse, and are more to do with the fact you are feeling emotional and vulnerable.

Work stress, relationship problems and grief, for example, can all affect you. Being kind to yourself and putting your riding challenges on hold for a while as you deal with these issues may be the answer, even if it’s the last thing you think you should do!”

It’s useful to identify exactly where and when your jumping nerves occur.

“I’ve helped people who were genuinely terrified by the mere thought of jumping, and even found the idea of walking over a pole too scary, but most riders are scared of a specific aspect of jumping,” says Jo. “Their fears are more likely to be related to a particular height or type of fence, the approach,

the warm up, or sometimes a certain venue.

“Some event riders who are quite happy to gallop around a huge cross-country course get nervous about the show jumping, so it’s clearly not the fence size or speed that scares them. They can be anxious about the technical aspects of having to see strides and ride related distances accurately with many spectators close by.”

YOUR HORSE 67

�

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

JUMPING

MIND OVER MATTER

Your Horse reader THIS Jo Langley bites O C ULD BE the bullet and reaches RIDER new heights CLINIC

YOU!

Riding Your Horse clinic

Y

our Horse reader Jo Langley has lost all confidence and even trotting poles fill her with fear, so she’s set herself a goal she hopes to achieve with the help of up-and-coming show jumper Nicola Sheard.

It’s a Your Horse Clinic with a bit of a twist!

Horse and Rider Jo Langley and Max

the goal

To ju p a course m o f f o fences m ur re than 1ft o i n height

I have a combination of problems and I thought this clinic would be a fantastic opportunity for me, but I didn’t for one second think I’d get picked.

I’ve no confidence when jumping whatsoever and really I’ve no idea why as I used to jump 4ft with ease. But now, if I even see anything over six inches from the floor, I go to jelly. I’d love to overcome this and be able to jump on my new boy, Max. He’s an ex-Grade A show jumper so he knows his job and he’s much more experienced than me, but because of this he jumps every fence as if it’s 6ft, rushes terribly and has absolutely no brakes, so I never feel as though I’m in control. I’d do anything to be able to take him over a course of show jumps of a reasonable height, without worrying, but at the moment poles on the ground are a big enough challenge for me.

I’ve totally lost my nerve.

The expert Nicola Sheard Nicola has her own show jumping yard in Leeds where she offers full or competition livery with excellent facilities. Nicola takes horses in for schooling and sales preparation, teaches pupils from Novice to Intermediate level and rides for a number of owners. She recently won the Tri-Zone Newcomers second round, qualifying for the Horse of The Year Show, and she’s been selected for the British Equestrian Federation’s Regional Foundation Squad for the North of England with her horse Just Call Me Max.

To contact Nicola call 07708 520021 or visit www.nicolasheardequestrian. co.uk

Getting to know your instructor The first lesson with a new instructor is always a little daunting, especially when your lesson revolves around your biggest fear. So, because Nicola was aware that Jo’s jumping problems stemmed from a lack Break the ice before you get to work

of confidence, she thought it would be a good idea for them to meet before the Your Horse Clinic took place.

“I called her and asked her to come over to meet me with her horse Max. We had a chat and

broke the ice before Jo had her first lesson with me. It’s important to feel comfortable with your instructor, especially if you’re struggling with your confidence, so we just worked on some simple exercises to get the ball rolling,” says Nicola.

During the first lesson it became clear just how nervous Jo really was. Even a pole on the ground was too much for her to begin with, so Nicola stuck to flatwork exercises to establish the problem and calm Jo’s nerves.

“Max seems to have a habit of pulling on the reins to lower his head, and because Jo’s position was weak she kept losing her balance. Feeling so unbalanced and insecure in her position meant she ultimately felt like she had no control, so we worked on her position to improve this,” says Nicola.

Nicola helped Jo to change her position, which gave her an immediate confidence boost.

“It’s important for you to remember that on the flat you need to work in a three point position, which means keeping your shoulder, hip and heel in line. Also, keep your thumbs on

top, sit deep in your saddle and make sure your reins are short enough. Don’t let Max pull you forward because this is when you lose your balance and the control,” explains Nicola.

Jo had a second lesson with Nicola where she worked on her position and by the time the Your Horse clinic came around she felt ready to attempt some jumps.

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!

�

Pic: Mariska de Hoogt

Monty Robert’s secrets revealed

The man who reads horses Xxxxxx

Monty Roberts has spent his entire life learning to communicate with horses. Here, in a rare interview, the American horseman takes a break from his training and rehabilitation work to answer the questions of YH readers

M

Q A

Do you believe you were born with a special ability to relate to horses, or do you think it’s something you developed over time?

Kayla, by email

I guess I would have to say ‘I don’t know’. Working with horses always seemed easy to me, but I don’t know if I was born with a special gift. I began showing horses in competition at the age of four and I suppose, in a lot of ways, it was easier for me to think in the world of horses than the world of people.

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Pic: Monty and Pat Robert’s archive

onty first discovered the language of equus as a young boy. Fascinated by the wild Mustangs running free in Nevada, he spent hours watching the feral herds interacting with one another, and learnt to listen to their non-verbal language.

Rejecting his father’s violent training methods, Monty realised he could use what he had leant from the wild herds to develop a new way of training that relied on gaining the trust of the horse. He worked to build a relationship with his equine students, similar to that of the herd leader, and soon found that the horses chose to be with him, without any need for force or trickery – Monty dubbed this new form of training Join-Up. Over the years, Monty has proved the success of his methods by winning countless awards, but this never distracted him from his ultimate goal to rid the horse world of violent training practices. Since the launch of his first bestselling book – The Man Who Listens To Horses – the concept of Join-Up has become a world-wide phenomenon.

After all these years, Monty is still determined and more motivated than ever to make sure his message is heard and understood by as many horse owners as possible. At 74, he’s still putting on demonstrations, leading guided tours around his Santa Ynez Valley training facility, and generally doing everything he can to encourage a greater understanding of horses.

At the age of four, Monty already felt more comfortable around horses than people

� YOUR HORSE 81

Horsecare managing vices

The vice

squad

Vices can be frustrating and downright difficult to deal with – our experts show you how to cope

W

hat does a horse have to worry about?

Not too much, you’d imagine, as he stands rugged up and warm in his stable awaiting his evening meal. But while he may not be fretting about mortgage repayments or his next career move, the stabled horse could well be feeling strain of a different sort. Unable to exercise his freedom or indulge his natural urges, he might seek to relieve the stress caused by confinement or isolation by developing his own coping mechanisms.

Some horses become more anxious in the stable than others. An inability to cope with restricted movement, food or social contact, can lead to undesirable behaviours such as crib-biting (or cribbing), weaving, wind-sucking and box walking. These stable vices have commonly been regarded as some fault or misbehaviour on the part of the horse, rather than a result of the unnatural environment he’s kept in. Most treatments have used physical intervention to prevent the

88 YOUR HORSE

Words by Andrea Oakes horse carrying out the repetitive activity, such as foul-tasting pastes to deter the crib-biter from latching on to parts of his stable, door grilles to stop the horse weaving from side to side, and tight-fitting neck collars that make it harder for the wind-sucker to gulp down air.

These habits have now been more fairly labelled stereotypies – behavioural sequences that are repetitive and consistent, with no obvious function – and are thought to indicate unsuitable management.

Instead of merely addressing their symptoms, modern thinking seeks to better understand the cause of these stereotypical behaviours in an attempt to create more effective methods of relief. Given that they’re often almost impossible to eradicate once established, the promising news is that further research could even prevent these behaviours from taking hold in the first place.

Risk factors Daniel Mills, professor of biological sciences at the

University of Lincoln and a leading international authority on animal behaviour problems, believes that it’s important to assess each behaviour in isolation.

“It’s not an advantage to muddle them all together with one single cause,” he says. “The word ‘vice’ has been used as blanket description to cover all horses thought to be bored or sour, but it’s about understanding the individual.

“There are not only differences between forms of vice, but also within a form itself. With weaving, for example, there’ll be different factors that affect different individuals.”

So why does a horse develop a certain behaviour? According to Professor Mills, it’s a combination of the horse’s genetics, his life history and the environment he lives in.

“There are risk factors within an individual, and there are also well-recognised risk factors relating to lifetime experiences,” he explains.

“The manner in which horses are weaned is one area gaining increasing attention.

� www.yourhorse.co.uk

Vices have commonly been regarded as some fault or misbehaviour on the part of the horse, rather than a result of his environment

turn the page to discover types of stereotypical behaviour

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YOUR HORSE 89

DON’T MISS

ANDREW AT YOUR HORSE LIVE! �

Andrew will be making an appearance at this fantastic equine event on both days!

See www.yourhorselive.co.uk for full details

96 YOUR HORSE

www.yourhorse.co.uk

THIS COULD BE

!

U YO PRIVATE

Riding Private Lessons

Help me take charge of my giant horse LESSONS

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

The trainer � Name Andrew Gould � Experience Andrew is one

of the country’s most promising dressage riders. He’s competed on five consecutive Young Rider European Championship teams and been part of the World Class Potential Squad for the last three years. He’s hit the headlines for training model Katie Price, but is also dressage trainer to eventers Emily Llewellyn, Sienna Myson-Davies and Sharon Hunt.

The rider and horse � Name Anna Ryland � Experience Anna brought

Dutch warmblood Arnie as a 17hh five-year-old and planned to event him. In the three years she’s owned Arnie, he’s grown to a shocking 18.2hh. He’s now too much horse for Anna to jump so she’s been focusing on dressage with him. Anna has done a few Prelim and Novice tests on Arnie, but finds he can be quite obstinate and difficult to manage.

www.yourhorse.co.uk

YOUR HORSE 97

�

Choose a bridle to suit your horse’s head shape

The BIG read

Bridle wear We all know the importance of a correctly-fitting saddle but how much attention do we pay to the fit of a bridle?

A

badly-fitting bridle can cause discomfort and prevent your horse from concentrating and

understanding your aids clearly. The design of bridles has changed in recent years with more attention focused on the horse’s comfort.

A cob looks better in a bridle with wide straps

Comfort concept

Designed with the horse’s comfort in mind, the Elevator Bridle was created by Lorraine Green of Horsesense Saddlers after her talented horse wasn’t performing as well as she hoped.

The Elevator Bridle relieves pressure to the horse’s sensitive poll area. Nerves and blood vessels that feed the brain are located in this area. It’s also where meridian lines run – one of the areas to which they connect is the kidney area, exactly where the saddle and rider sit.

Horsesense has produced a bridle that features a cushioned underpad on the headpiece and a shaped headpiece to allow room for your horse’s ears to move freely. To reduce pressure on the poll area the headpiece has crew holes either side to allow a thinner noseband strap to thread through and over the top of the poll.

Snaffle bridle with a cavesson noseband £156, flash noseband £166.

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Fitting a bridle

A well-fitting bridle will encourage submission and acceptance of the bit without putting undue pressure on your horse’s head. Take a few minutes to check the fit of your bridle so your horse’s comfortable and you’re not inadvertently causing him any pain or discomfort.

You should be able to slide a

finger under the bridle, all over your horse’s head. If the bridle is too tight, it will be uncomfortable and may cause resistance when you’re riding.

Bridles usually come in pony, cob or full sizes. If you can’t find one that fits perfectly you may have to mix and match pieces from two different bridles. Ask an experienced friend or instructor to help if you’re unsure.

Different styles and materials Traditionally, bridles are made of leather but there are increasingly large numbers of synthetic nylon and leather-look styles available, which can be cheaper and easier to care for.

It’s always worth bearing in mind when buying a new bridle that synthetic tack has a much higher breaking point than leather.

Another consideration is the shape and type of head your horse has.

A chunky, cob-type horse tends to have a large, broad head, which is best suited to a bridle with wide straps and noseband.

Similarly, a fine Arab or show

horse’s head will look better in a more delicate bridle with thinner, more detailed leather.

Leather tack needs to be regularly cleaned and oiled to keep it supple, while synthetic nylon tack should be routinely washed to prevent deterioration of the material.

There are a wide range of products available to care for your tack, from convenient wipes that are great for day-to-day cleaning, to saddle soaps and tack conditioners for a more thorough clean. Specialist synthetic tack cleaners are also available for leather-look tack.

The headpiece is softly cushioned

� YOUR HORSE 117