Your Horse October 2010

Your

29 FIBRE FEEDS

in-depth buyers' guide to what's on the market

HORSE OCTOBER 2010 Br itain's best-selling equ estr ia n MOnthly

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a b e t t e r r i d e r , g e t t h e b e s t f ro m yo u r h o r s e

£3.80

Get online now at www.yourhorse.co.uk

the perfect

halt

10

Dressage star Claire Lilley shows you how

long boots Tried and tested

Newsve Excluesifuture

What's th ral for natu ? ip horsemansh

NEW LOOK

THE SCIENCE BEHIND MOUNTING

Plus Richard Maxwell sorts your mounting problems

Save £££s

Lots of money-saving vouchers inside

PLUS 64 page Riding

MAGAZINE inside Dedicated to improving your riding and training

WIN this EquiTrek horsebox worth £27,000

6

new sections inside

News - all the latest views Care - health and behaviour Gear - tried, tested and rated Compete - results and advice Offers - great bargains Horse Deals - horses for sale

18

News Report Investigation by Rebecca Gibson

“I SHOULD’VE

TAKEN A STEP BACK” As Pat Parelli admits he made a mistake at the Royal Festival of the Horse, Your Horse investigates where it all went wrong for the golden couple of natural horsemanship

YH News | News Report 19

C

entral to the philosophy of natural horsemanship is working with the horse’s instincts to create a willing partnership, but some have questioned how well recent demonstrations by the Parellis reflect this. The negative rumblings surfaced in March this year when a YouTube blogger posted a clip taken from the Parellis’ own Level 1 training dvd.

The clip, which has since received 44,000 views, shows Linda Parelli using her rope in an apparently aggressive manner to get the attention of an 11-year-old partially-sighted gelding called Barney.

The footage which forms part of the Parellis’ training programme has caused outrage among the equestrian community.

Hundreds of viewers felt moved to comment and a petition was set up to express their disgust. It was signed by 1,000 people in less than two months.

Sarah Deane, from Peterborough, was among those who signed it. She says: “I can imagine novice horse people copying this behaviour and causing real mental and physical damage to their horse.”

Nicola King, from Brogborough, adds: “I found the video repulsive.

big help

Many horse owners have improved their relationship with their horse using Parelli methods

A timeline of events 21 – 22 November 2009

The popularity of Parelli seems to be starting to dwindle with empty seats at the NEC arena during the annual UK Parelli celebration – in stark contrast to the packed stands of 2008

The fact that Linda is renowned for her horsemanship skills is even more sickening as those more ignorant will think it’s how they should treat their horse.”

Then, just as the furore surrounding the training video began to die down another controversy erupted – this time it was Pat Parelli at the centre of the storm.

During a demonstration at the Royal Festival of the Horse in July, he worked with Robert Whitaker’s show jumping stallion, Catwalk. Pat was trying to put a bridle on the horse, who is renowned for being very difficult to bridle.

Spectators who had come to see a display of natural horsemanship were shocked when the horse was twitched and hobbled.

Many branded Pat’s actions abusive and some voiced their opinions with their

feet, walking out when the apparently distressed stallion tried to escape back into the collecting area.

Immediately after the demonstration, the horse was checked over by an independent vet who was satisfied the horse’s welfare had not been compromised.

But as a direct result, 1,850 people joined a Facebook group called Parelli is neither ‘natural’ nor ‘horsemanship’. The Your Horse forum – and many others – has been buzzing with angry sentiment about the display. Amid calls for boycotts of future demonstrations Olympia quietly dropped the Parellis from its programme.

So what do the Parellis themselves make of recent events? In his most candid interview yet, Pat Parelli speaks exclusively to Your Horse about the lessons he’s learnt – turn the page to find out what he says.

EXPERT COMMENTS

Founder of Intelligent Horsemanship Kelly Marks

“We very deliberately called our organisation Intelligent Horsemanship because there’s a great deal of confusion about what ‘natural’ actually means in the context of horsemanship. The aim of Intelligent Horsemanship is not to criticise or dismiss any other organisation but to gather the best information we

www.yourhorse.co.uk

can to benefit the horse, but we’re very strongly of the belief that violence and any form of bullying is not the way forward.”

Founder of Enlightened Equitation Heather Moffett

“I think the Parellis have let themselves and their hundreds of thousands of followers worldwide down badly. I’m disappointed because they’re in a position

where they have the potential to better the lot of so many horses but they’ve failed miserably in my opinion.

“While I think there are a lot of people who’ve benefited from using Parelli methods, I think the Parellis have always had the tendency to take the levels of pressure too far. Using such levels of pressure as Pat did at the Royal Festival of the Horse, for novices to replicate with their own horses, was a big mistake.”

6 March 2010 A clip of the

Parellis’ training DVD is posted on YouTube. Linda Parelli’s actions are widely condemned and concerns are raised about what such footage teaches the inexperienced target audience

9 – 11 July 2010 Pat Parelli

does a demonstration at the Royal Festival of the Horse with top British show jumper Robert Whitaker’s stallion, Catwalk. While working with the horse for two hours Pat resorts to twitching and hobbling him

10 July 2010 An anti-Parelli Facebook page – Parelli is neither ‘natural’ nor ‘horsemanship’ – is launched

July 2010 The Parellis are

dropped from the Olympia programme. The Parelli team were due to put on an evening performance for spectators but are no longer expected to form any part of the show. Olympia organisers were still seeking a replacement act at the time of going to press

12 August 2010 An online petition signed by 1,000 people calling for a boycott of Parelli is sent to equine organisations asking them to think twice before working with Parelli

 Persuasion

Parelli practitioners use a ‘carrot stick’ to help simulate how horses interact

v

28

.For more vet advice gwww.yourhorse.co.uk

ILLUSTRATION RICHARD TIBBETTS / ANTBITS ILLUSTRATION

No Rein -back Symptoms are provoked by making the horse move backwards

Shivers

Expert advice on how to spot the signs and manage it

I

f there’s one thing you can say for certain about shivers, it’s that nothing’s for certain.

It’s a nervous abnormality, or dysfunction of the nerve, that manifests largely in the hindlegs, which twitch and ‘shiver’ when lifted. There’s no definitive known cause, no

known cure or treatment, and while draught-type breeds tend to be most commonly affected, finer Thoroughbred types can suffer, too.

While it’s a progressive condition, with symptoms usually worsening over time, the severity and rate of progression varies – some

Meet the equine vets

Charlie Briggs

is a vet at Hale Equine Vets in Wiltshire – she has worked at various large equine referral centres and is a keen horsewoman, having owned horses and competed all her life

Gil Riley

is based at the Pool House Veterinary Group and Equine Clinic in Staffordshire – he has recently acted as British Team Vet at the International Driving Trials in Germany

Your Horse October 2010

horses are able to lead a full and active life for several years while others deteriorate fast.

When the horse is on all four legs he may appear perfectly normal, but each case is different and it’s the vet’s job to work with the owner to develop ways to manage the condition.

The veterinary tick list Symptoms

Horses with shivers will typically snatch up a hindleg when asked to lift it and hold it to the side as it trembles

Cause

No known cause, but theories include trauma, disease and physiological abnormalities that affect the nervous system

Prevention

It’s impossible to prevent, though research hints at a genetic cause, so don’t breed from affected horses

Management

A sympathetic farrier who allows extra time will play an important role in a sufferer’s management

www.yourhorse.co.uk

YH Care | Shivers 29

nerve damage Most experts agree that the cause is neurological - but theories abound as to how the nerves get damaged

z New

20 page

DOn’t panic!

section

Shivers is thankfully a rare condition and sufferers can often continue in some form of ridden work

Tail signs Horses with shivers may raise and quiver the tail simultaneously

Who’s the daddy?

Hard to diagnose Symptoms are often intermittent, making a diagnosis difficult in milder cases

In large amounts Usually the bigger the horse, the more likely he is to suffer with shivers

www.yourhorse.co.uk

Although yet unproven, many experts believe there’s a genetic link to shivering, so don’t breed from an affected horse

Working from behind Usually both hindlegs are affected

No foot no horse As it gets harder to pick up the hind feet, the horse becomes more prone to problems like thrush



Your Horse OCtober 2010

38

Find out about the science behind mounting on page 70

check mate

Richard Maxwell shows you how to cope when faced with a horse who doesn’t want to be mounted Words by Rebecca Gibson

Trainer profile

Richard Maxwell, aka Max

Having worked with the Household Cavalry and then later with Monty Roberts, Max has experienced both conventional and natural methods of training.

Although he’s never consciously tried to merge the two, over the years he’s found himself taking the best of both methods to develop his own style of horsemanship, which he says is best described as practical horsemanship. At the crux of all of Max’s training is developing a willing partnership.

Your Horse SEPTEMBER 2010

www.yourhorse.co.uk

YH Care | Practical horsemanship part 2 39

T

en-year-old Dutch Warmblood George has had mounting issues since Christine Heath bought him two years ago. But over the last few months the problem has spiralled to the point of being dangerous.

“In the beginning I didn’t see it as a major issue,” says Christine. “It would take me five or 10 minutes of faffing to get on each day but I always got on in the end. I developed all sorts of tactics, at one stage I would crouch and creep up the steps of the mounting block, then when this didn’t work I’d pin George between the mounting block and a fence line so I could get on.”

But when George started to take off as Christine put her weight in the stirrup to mount, what had previously been viewed as a quirk became a much more serious problem.

“The first time it happened I was at a cross-country competition on my own and had to ask a friendly bystander to hold George for me,” recalls Christine. “But just as I was throwing my leg over his back, he took off at a gallop, knocking the poor lady holding him over and causing me to fall off.”

The final straw came when Christine fell off at home and tore a ligament in her lower back. That was eight weeks ago and she hasn’t ridden George since.

“It’s taken so long for the ligament to start to heal that I don’t want to risk getting injured again,” says Christine.

“My husband has been riding George for me, but the mounting problems have continued.”

Christine is one of hundreds of people who turn to Max for help when their mounting problem becomes unmanageable.

“I get a call every other day from someone struggling to mount their horse,” says Max. “And as in George’s case, by the time they come to me, the behaviour is usually ingrained. The horse has been displaying the evasion at some level for months or even years.

The owners accept it because it doesn’t seem to be a big problem – it’s not like bolting or rearing. But the best time to tackle the issue with your horse is when it first starts. Once the behaviour has become a part of your horse’s daily routine you may need the help of a professional to help persuade him to change his ways.”

The best time to tackle the issue with your horse is when it first starts



www.yourhorse.co.uk

Your Horse SEPTEMBER 2010

70

Richard Maxwell helps a horse who doesn’t want to be mounted – page 38

1

2

Mounting pressure We’ve assumed for years that mounting from the ground isn’t good for our horses – now there’s scientific evidence to back this up.

So what is the best way to get on?

3

Words by Allison Lowther

4

Photography CENTAUR BIOMECHANICS

The science bit

The mounting sequence is translated into a pliance image, showing areas of low and high pressure

5 Your Horse OCTOBER 2010

6 www.yourhorse.co.uk

YH Gear | Mounting research 71

GearResearch NOWHERE TO HIDE!

The system can detect any pressure from rider, saddle or saddle pad and how this impacts on the horse

No Waiting time

Results are sent directly to a PC for immediate analysis

Sensitive touch

T

he Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) recently spent a day scientifically testing and researching different ways of mounting. Equine and human physios would be quick to say mounting from the ground isn’t recommended but, as horse owners, it would be great to know what is the best way to mount – and now this research gives us the answers.

WEll fitting saddle

A slender sensor mat is used that contains more than 200 sensors

The pliance system

T

he SMS used a pliance system to carry out and record the results of its testing. The pliance system is a sensor mat with more than 200 sensors in it. The mat is placed under the saddle directly on to the horse’s back. Readings are sent to a computer via Bluetooth. As each test is carried out the readings are analysed and displayed as three moving graphs and colour images

front

front

on the computer.

‘Hot’ red or pink areas indicate harmful pressure points. The pliance system gathers data at all paces and during jumping. Some saddle makers are now using the pliance system when designing new saddles.

proportion of the mat is coloured, The SMS had three aims showing good for this testing: panel contact  To establish the effects with the horse’s of different types of back and a good mounting weight-bearing  To establish the effects area. The hotter of different riders when the colour the mounting higher the peak  To establish the best way pressures to mount – here light blue (140psi) is the highest colour recorded, which shows a low peak pressure.

The image on the right The images left show two tells a different story – the pressure readings from two pressure distribution is different saddles. asymmetric left to right and The one on the far left shows also unbalanced front to back. the pliance reading from a A smaller proportion of the mat well-fitting and well-designed is coloured, showing a much saddle. You can see that the smaller contact area. The pink colours are even on the left and and red readings indicate high right throughout the whole length pressure points, which could of the saddle, showing balanced cause problems for the horse. pressure distribution. A large

Aims of the test

How to interpret the pliance readings LEFT

RIGHT

BACK

www.yourhorse.co.uk

LEFT

POORLY BACK fitting saddle

RIGHT



Your Horse OCTOBER 2010

a horsebox n i W W 22

Win fantastic prizes every month with Your Horse..

elcome to the latest in our exciting Learn and Win series. Here’s how it works. Over the next few months, you’ll have the chance to improve your riding and learn some new horse care skills with our short but perfectly formed expert features. Nothing new there I hear you say – but that’s where you’re wrong. With each feature you’ll also get the opportunity to win some fantastic prizes from Dodson & Horrell, Petplan, Tekna, Chestfields and Musto,

finishing in December with the big one – the chance to win the Equi-Trek horsebox you see here. Someone is going to have a very happy Christmas!

The horsebox will be out and about over the next six months so watch out for it on the road and at events. If you spot it, let us know. See below for how to enter.

All about the Equi-trek Sonic horsebox The Sonic is compact and easy to drive and carries two horses in total luxury. It has the added benefit of a tack/changing/ sitting area, with two saddle racks, two bridle racks and two coat hooks so you can carry all your equipment with ease, totally separate from the horses’ area. There’s also additional storage over the cab.

Equi-Trek has generously added a package of incredible

extras to our Sonic including:

WORTH

£27,000

• Alloy wheels • Mud flaps • Head divider • Corner seat with storage • CCTV camera so you can watch the horses in transit • Digital reversing camera • Padded partition • Padded walls • Extra height partition • Road Tax until May 2011

HOWTO ENTER

Go to www.yourhorse.co.uk/win and follow the instructions. Special terms and conditions apply. Closing date is 1 December. Alternatively visit Your Horse Live on 13 and 14 November at Stoneleigh Park – the horsebox will be on show for you to have a look at and you can enter while you’re there

For more information on the Equi-Trek range of horseboxes, go to www. equi-trek.com or call 01484 852121

Are you fit for the road?

Whether you’re lucky enough to win our fantastic Equi-Trek Sonic Horsebox, or just want to keep your faithful old truck on the road, follow our tips for safe travelling

01 Beware of breakdowns

It’s stressful enough to break down in a car – add to that the worry of being in a lorry with a live animal on board and your blood pressure’s likely to rocket faster than the cars whizzing past as you’re stuck on the hard shoulder.

Full breakdown cover is vital, so look for a company that specialises in horsebox cover.

A Google search will come up with a list of contacts, including the Organisation of Horsebox and Trailer Owners (call 01488 657651 or visit www.ohto. co.uk) and Equine Rescue Services (call 01300 348997 or visit www.equinerescue.co.uk).

Ring round for quotes and check what services are included – most will offer roadside repairs, recovery and overnight stabling if it’s required.

CHECK IT OUT

Never overlook the pressure or state of your tyres

02 Get things rolling

Regular trips to the local tyre centre or garage forecourt to check your tyre pressures is important. Drive around with wrongly-inflated tyres and you run the risk of the lorry not handling properly, excess wear on the tyres, and you’ll also see your diesel bill increase (under-inflated tyres mean you’ll use more fuel to maintain the same speed as when they’re the correct pressure).

Regularly check the tread on all tyres, including your spare, and look for signs of cracking or perishing, too.

How to enter Go online to www.yourhorse.co.uk/win and get your entry in today

in partnership with IT’S TEKNA LOGICAL !

YH News | Learn and win 23

& a whole lot more TOP TIP

✔

Keeping your fuel tank half full is a good habit to get into, and means you won’t have to worry about finding a garage if you have to use the lorry in an emergency

General stuff Keep everything in good working order

03 General maintenance

No vehicle can be expected to lie dormant for weeks then spring into action the moment the key turns, so get into the habit of starting up your lorry on a regular basis, even if it isn’t going anywhere, and letting it idle for a few minutes.

Regular checks are a must, too, to help ensure a smooth start on competition day. Check the battery and its connections, the oil, radiator coolant and brake fluid levels, keep all relevant moving parts well greased, and check that the lights and indicators are in good working order.

Most importantly, keep your lorry regularly serviced – at least annually but more if you do a lot of miles.

04 Stay legal

If you passed your driving test on or after 1 January 1997, your driving licence won’t allow you to drive a horsebox on a public road without passing the required tests for category C1 vehicles (those between 3,500kg and 7,500kg). To double check you’re legal to drive, visit www.direct.gov.uk

05 Keep it clean

Cleaning out the lorry might be the last thing you fancy after a long day, but floors soaked in horse poo and urine will quickly rot, so it’s important to lift any rubber matting, remove soiled straw, etc, and let the floor air between uses.

in partnership with

� IT’S TEKNA LOGICAL !

50

www.yourhorse.co.uk For more gear reviews go to......

z New

30 page al l zip pe d up

section

Ta ke car e wit h you r zip and it will las t a lot long er

10

and e S o f t o rta bhle f t m r o e c s o ft

T h e h e r, t h e le a t r it is t o h o u t e a s iek in – w it b rea e r s ! b li s t

pairs of long riding boots put to the test Words by Allison Lowther

Your Horse october 2010

www.yourhorse.co.uk

YH Gear | Big Test boots 51

Riding boots on test 1 Fuller Fillies Show Boot /Field Boot 2 Toggi Calgary Boots 3 Ciao Bella Milano 4 Sergio Grasso 2500 Vicenza Boots 5 Mountain Horse Supreme High Rider 6 Mark Todd Long Leather Riding Boots 7 Tretorn Advanced Performance Boots 8 Shires Norfolk Field Boots 9 Dublin Enchant Boots 10 Tuffa Derby

BigTest The test

The testers

Ten pairs of long riding boots were tested against the following criteria

For this test we asked a number of readers and the YH editorial team to wear the boots for riding and competing

Fit and comfort

Our testers assessed how well the boots fitted and how long they took to break in. They also considered how comfortable the boots were to wear and ride in

Performance

What did the boots look like – were they for everyday riding, competition, or both? Our testers also considered how well the boots performed and if they lived up to the manufacturers’ claims

Value for money

Our testers evaluated their comments on fit, comfort and performance in relation to the price, to decide whether the boots are good value for money. Would they recommend them?

Long boots can be a real investment – we take the guesswork out of buying for you

What to look out for sh ap i n g

03

can give an eleg ant app earanc e

01

04 02

05

How we score 10 – Perfect 9 – Excellent 8 – Very good 7 – Good 6 – Fairly good

scoring system

5 – Average 4 – Below average 3 – Poor 2 – Very poor 1 - Don’t waste your money

Fit and comfort Performance Value for money

Example verdict www.yourhorse.co.uk

New

  

23/30

1 Leather outer Choose the best quality leather you can, it may be more expensive but if looked after should last for years. Softer leather will break in quicker and is normally more comfortable 2 Rear zip This makes putting on and taking off the boots much each easier.

Go for a quality YKK zip 3 Popper fastening This gives a neat and tidy appearance at the top of the boot. Some boots have a side adjustment to give a better fit but still look neat 4 False laces These can, if elasticated, allow more give around the front of the ankle, making the boots more comfortable to wear 5 Spur rest Most long boots have these – designed to keep your spurs in the correct place on your boots

The awards Winner The boots that performed the best in all our criteria Best Buy The boots that offer great value for money and performance Recommended The boots that performed well in our test

Your Horse October 2010

29 60

See our Essential Feed Guide supplement - free with this issue of Your Horse

fibre feeds for healthy horses Fibre should form the main part of your horse’s daily ration. Fibre feeds come in a number of different forms – we guide you through what’s available

Your Horse OCTOBER 2010

www.yourhorse.co.uk

z New

30 page

YH Gear | Buyers’ Guide to fibre feeds 61

section

Buyers’Guide Feeds featured

Graze-On

TopChop Lite

Mollichaff Veteran

Hi-Fi Original High Fibre with Apple Cubes

Super Fibre Pencils

FibrePlus cubes

GWF Fibregest

High Fibre Complete

Lucie Nuts

Fast Fibre

Fibre-Beet

Re-Leve

Cool Fibre

Conditioning Easy Rider Fibre

Feed ‘n’ Fibre

Care ‘n’ Condition

Safe & Sound

Mollichaff HoofKind

Mollichaff Calmer

Pure Equilibrium Working Mix Low Energy

Equilibrium Medium

Happy Hoof Healthy Hooves

Fibrecare Mix

www.yourhorse.co.uk

TopChop Alfalfa



Re ad on to fin d out mo re

Oat and Barley Free Mix

Your Horse OCTOBER 2010

82

Improve your lower leg position – see page Rm116

WALK TO WIN

Course walking is about more than just remembering which jump comes next. As our resident show jumping expert Carol Mailer explains, planning your round well could give you the winning edge when competing Words by Rebecca Gibson

A

go round the track I tend to give realisation a running commentary and nag that had been them to ride better before any nagging at mistakes occur. It would be one Carol for of my stock phrases to tell them some time before they set off, ‘See if you came crashing into focus as she can keep me quiet’. They rarely stood watching a novice show manage to do this, however jumping competition recently. hard they try, and I nearly As rider after rider made silly, always feel the need to shout avoidable mistakes, it became more instructions en route clear that they were riding before anything goes wrong round the course without any and they end up in a muddle. sort of pre-formed plan.

But by teaching in this way I’ve Carol decided more needed been neglecting the need for the to be done to educate riders riders to learn to in preparing for think about how their rounds. to ride the “I’m as guilty as course for the next trainer themselves.” of nannying my In a bid to students,” says improve her Carol. “I’ve students’ always started course with a bit of grid Carol is walking work to warm up a leading show jumping skills, Carol and then, before now sends them I allow my pupils trainer with more than 30 years’ experience off to pace the off to jump a helping riders to improve course and course, I call their performance. She has discuss their them in and written an internationally thoughts before warn them what acclaimed book on the subject and is a regular they even get to look out for. on our horse answers on their horse.

“And, of panel of experts.

“This gives me course, as they

Meet the expert Carol Mailer

Your Horse OCTOBER 2010

the opportunity to recognise how well they’re reading the track and whether they can see where the particular difficulties lie,” she explains. “I want to know that the riders are thinking for themselves and aren’t relying on me to tell them how to ride.”

As well as assessing her students’ ability to read the course and plan their round, Carol has been looking at how well they’re able to put their intentions into practice.

“Some riders made the course walk comments look very professional on paper but it was almost like trying to pass an exam,” says Carol.

“They wrote what they knew I wanted to see but didn’t ride it quite as carefully as it was written. The theories were nearly all solid, but putting them into practice was another thing entirely.

“Several riders knew what they meant to do, but forgot once they got on their horses,” explains Carol. “Straight lines were planned but not ridden.

Dog legs were planned and ridden as curves, resulting

in run outs. Everyone recognised on paper that the gate or collecting ring was a danger area, but so many riders failed to generate enough power to leave the comfort zone without loss of energy, although they had definitely planned to be extra vigilant as they walked.

“Even if they realised that the related distances might not quite suit their particular horse’s stride, either a little short or a little long, they forgot to steady up or push on in the relevant place.

“Listening to what the riders think before they ride gives me far more insight into the difficulties they may be finding at shows and it’s very rewarding to encourage them to have confidence in making the right positive choices, both before getting on the horse, and then as they actually ride,” says Carol.

“I still can’t keep quiet as they go round the course as I feel the need to keep reminding them what they’ve already planned to do on foot, but it’s as a reminder, not a fresh instruction.”

www.yourhorse.co.uk

YH Compete | The art of course walking 83

Now it’s your turn to put your course planning skills to the test Carol’s designed a challenging course of 12 jumps with various pitfalls for you to identify. Write a couple of sentences about how you would prepare for each fence, then discover if you’re setting yourself up for a fall, or walking to win

www.yourhorse.co.uk

Your Horse OCTOBER 2010

The only reason not to be on your

horse, is to be at 13 & 14 November 2010 Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire

Don’t miss the best equestrian event of the year. Packed full of celebrity demonstrations, expert advice and extensive shopping – if you love your horse, you'll love Your Horse Live!

Lucinda n & Clayto ks Frederic

Celebrities

Advice

Shopping

Save £££s book in advance Book now and save on gate prices

Call 0844 581 0770 www.yourhorselive.co.uk quote YH-MAG

All bookings are subject to a £1 transaction fee. Terms and conditions apply. See website for full details.

V Dh nt SA UN o ym POver e

Win a supply of Vetroflex – see RM 46

HORSE

10% OFF Swish Equestrian’s travel fleece rugs!

E S

Offers Your

Welcome

We love our readers – and to prove it we’ve joined forces with some of the horse world’s best-known feed, bedding, clothing and grooming product manufacturers to bring you our new 5-page section full of the biggest money-saving deals on offer this month. So save £££s on all your horse gear and more!

New

5 page section

Available until 12/10/2010 Swish Equestrian is giving Your Horse readers 10% off the price of its travel fleece collection – this includes the Swish Travel Fleece and the Swish Luxury Show Fleece.

The Swish Luxury Fleece is made from high quality, breathable fleece and features two chest straps and a hidden surcingle. It’s great for travelling and looks stunning at shows too.

To claim your discount simply enter the discount code F10 at the checkout on www.swish-equestrian.co.uk For more information see www. swish-equestrian.co.uk, or call 01904 704264 Only available while stocks last

This month’s

top

FREE RAMbo optimo RUG LINER

money saving deals

comfort 01 Riding Great offers on riding underwear – stay comfy in the saddle!

VALID until 15/10/2010

is up 02 Grub Save pounds on supplements to keep your horse healthy

for less 03 Style Kit you, and your horse, out in the latest gear at guilt-free prices

Special offer – FREE Rambo Optimo 200gm rug liner worth £46.00 with every turnout rug (RRP £299.00) rug purchased from www. thesaddleryshop.co.uk, subject to stock.

The Horseware Ireland Rambo Optimo turnout rug is the very latest in horse rug technology. The articulated

pivotal dart is positioned in just the right place to allow your horse to move freely - the front of the rug will move, turn and extend to follow his movement and the back of the rug will sit firmly in position without pulling forward or slipping. The Optimo 200g liner attaches securely inside the Optimo rug.



04 Great gifts

Gifts for you and your horse including lovely jewellery

05 Be safe be seen

Hi vis bands for your horse ready for the winter

www.yourhorse.co.uk Your Horse octobER 2010

Welcome

to your new 64 page Riding magazine... h t n o m y r eve e s r o h r u o y h t d i l u w o e c u o fre y on i t c u r t s n r i e t r d i e r p r x e t e t e e h b a e All t b u o y p l e h o t d e e n r eve

Here’s a taster of what’s in this great new magazine! on sale September 9



FREE every month inside HORSE Your

Riding magazine New

64 page magazine

Exclusive

NEW magazine

dedicated to improving your riding and training

+

The best expert and celebrity

instructors inside ● Simple yet effective exercises for all levels of skill ● Tuition tailored to suit your needs

PLUS

8 pages of horses for sale Check out all the latest performance horses to hit the market

CONTENTS How to ride accurately Rm03 Preparing for cross-

country Rm10 Get the perfect lower leg Rm20 Forwardness with Steph Croxford Rm24 Four exercises to improve halt Rm42

starting on the next page 

Rm42

Riding magazine Ride a square halt 8

Halt Ride the perfect

Simple steps to help you stop in style

Perfect symmetry Your horse needs to take his weight on both hindlegs equally

You need to prepare your horse just as you would with any other downwards transition Your Horse OCTOber 2010

www.yourhorse.co.uk

Riding magazine | Square halt Rm43

z New

64 page

Don’t slump!

Sit up straight and tall – and don’t lean to your favoured side – it’s easy to unbalance your horse by slumping!

magazine

Words

Helen Milbank

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t’s easy to disregard the halt as nothing more than the moment your horse comes to a stop, but there’s an art to riding a good square halt, and therein lies the key.

You need to think of it as a movement in itself and ride it right up to the very

moment that your horse stands still.

In a square halt the horse takes weight evenly on all four legs with a leg at each corner. To ride this successfully you need to prepare your horse and give him every chance to balance himself correctly, just as you would with any other downwards transition.

With practice you’ll

develop the skills to set your horse up correctly for the halt, and learn to feel when one or more legs are slightly trailing and be able to correct this.

But, most importantly, being able to ride the perfect halt will have a knock-on effect on other aspects of your schooling and help to improve your upwards, as well as downwards, transitions.

The exercises 4 simple exercises

to help you halt correctly, with advice from top dressage rider and trainer Claire Lilley

1 In-hand work 2 Rehearse the halt 3 Shoulder-in 4 Figure of eight

Meet the expert

Claire Lilley

On the straight and narrow You can’t expect your horse to halt square if you don’t ride him into it straight

www.yourhorse.co.uk

An international dressage rider and trainer, Claire trains riders of all levels at the Claire Lilley Training Centre in Wiltshire, following the classical principles of The Scales of Training. Join Claire to help celebrate the launch of her new book The Scales of Training – an evening demonstration – on Thursday 30 September at 7.30pm, at Crofton Manor Equestrian Centre, Titchfield Road, Stubbington, North Fareham, Hampshire PO14 3EW Visit www.clairelilley.com or call 01380 812483

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Your Horse OCTOBER 2010

Rm32

Riding magazine Equine Balance

Equine Balance This cutting edge therapy helps improve the performance of both horse and rider by releasing tension held deep within the musculoskeletal system

Mind and body

In EBT, the energy flow is as important as the muscular structure

Your Horse OCTOBER 2010

www.yourhorse.co.uk

Riding magazine | Equine Balance Therapy Rm33

z New

64 page magazine

Words

Rebecca Gibson

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quine Balance Therapy (EBT) has only been around for a few years but it

already boasts some extraordinary success stories. Your Horse writer Rebecca Gibson went to meet co-founder Julie Houghton to see if the small changes EBT aims to achieve really could make all the difference to your riding.

Partnership

The rider is mounted while she and her horse are treated

SEAT BONES

Need to be even to achieve perfect balance

www.yourhorse.co.uk

Your Horse OCtoBER 2010

Rm20

Riding magazine Improve your position

z New

64 page magazine

Perfect pins Riders at the top of their game offer essential advice for developing lower leg position Words

Imogen Johnson

T

op riders Lucy Wiegersma, Becky Moody, Lynn Russell and Beccy Broughton tell you how to improve and maintain your position from your knees to your toes with some sound advice and simple exercises

Your Horse october 2010

www.yourhorse.co.uk

Riding magazine | Improve your position Rm21

 Three-day-event rider Lucy Weigersma

C

urrently ranked number four in Great Britain, three-day-event rider Lucy Weigersma has the tough task of varying her position to succeed in dressage, show jumping and cross-country. For her, the lower leg has an important part to play, and using it well requires balance and stability.

Lucy’s comments

Generally you need to think of the lower leg as a channel for gravitational pull, through which you should push as much weight as you can, down and through the foot. This is a much more logical way to think of lower leg position, rather than constantly trying to work out how to adjust it, which tends to confuse riders who end up gripping at the knee

Lucy demonstrates a strong leg position

Exercise 1

Leg pivot

For cross-country, a good, strong lower leg position, which enables you to distribute your weight evenly through your feet, is essential if Use you don’t want to fall your off! It also has a huge lower effect on your horse’s leg as way of going. a pivot I generally advise using the lower leg as a pivot for your body weight – like a stabiliser.

Just ensure that you don’t grip at the knee!

Find your feet

When I show jump, I have a lot less of my foot through the stirrup. I tend to ensure that the stirrup is just in front of the ball of my foot, enabling me to push more weight down through my heel. When I ride cross-country I do what you’d call ramming your foot home! Having more of my foot through the stirrup gives me more stability and means there’s no chance I’ll lose my footing.

If I’m going down a drop or when I need to adopt more of a safety position, I’ll use my lower leg as an anchor, sending my weight down the stirrup.

Maintain a secure foot position

www.yourhorse.co.uk

To work on your balance for all disciplines, but especially for jumping, this exercise is just what you need.

• Ride with short stirrups in your schooling area and practise standing up while riding several circuits of the school, all the time allowing your weight to drop down through your foot. With this exercise you can get used to the feeling of using your lower leg as an anchor and work on your balance

Exercise 2 In dressage the same principles for maintaining Ride a good lower leg without position apply stirrups but with a much on the stiller leg. You lunge still need to be able to put the weight through your foot, but in this discipline your core and seat do much more of the work. You should be able to relax your lower leg, push down through the heel, while maintaining a degree of movement in the leg to be able to perform the aids. So, to work on your lower leg position on the flat, you can’t beat working on the lunge.

• With someone lungeing your horse, ride without stirrups. This exercise is used by lots of tops riders (I really should do it more often) and helps to remove the reliance of the inner knee and inner lower leg

INFO A good workman never blames his tools Some riders may argue that without the best saddle, the perfect position and performance is simply unattainable. However, your saddle shouldn’t be a reflection of current trends.

Paul Belton, the owner of Albion Saddlemakers, believes that being truly comfortable in your saddle is the only way to achieve the best position.

“At the moment there’s a big trend in the UK to ride very deep and very straight. In Germany, however, you see more riders with their upper thigh more forward and their knee more angled backwards. By stretching too much, as is the trend in the UK, you might look prettier in the saddle, but you might also weaken your aids,” he explains.

“Eighty per cent of the saddles we make have a customised element to them and we’re happy to accommodate. There’s no reason why the saddle you choose cannot be suited to you and your horse independently, and you certainly shouldn't have to sacrifice one to please the other.”

Paul advises that the saddle you choose should be built around how you feel best – under no circumstances should you change your position to suit a saddle. ”Saddle designs are evolving as disciplines and the anatomy of the horse evolve. The best way to find a saddle that aids your position and performance is to trust your instinct and go with what feels right.”

Vanessa Fairfax of Thorowgood explains that without a balanced, comfortable and properly fitting saddle, achieving the correct leg position will be hard.

“It’s vital that your saddle is balanced on your horse. If, for example, your saddle is too narrow, you’ll end up getting tipped back, having to fight against your horse to maintain your position,” she says.

Thorowgood saddles come with moveable side, knee and calf blocks, which can be used to help train the leg.

“If you’re used to hacking it can be difficult to change from a GP leg length to a dressage leg length. Moveable blocks can help to make this transition easier.”

Your Horse october 2010

Riding magazine | Improving accuracy Rm03

Riding magazine Improving accuracy z New

precision 64 page

Ride with

Words

Imogen Johnson

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F

magazine

Whether you’re hacking, schooling or competing, it’s important to be able to put your horse exactly where you want him. Dressage rider and trainer Juliet Penwarden presents 19 ways to improve your accuracy

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K

E

X

20m circle

15m circle 3 loop serpentine

10m circle

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www.yourhorse.co.uk Your Horse octoBER 2010

Riding magazine | Competition Rm31

Riding magazine Competition

Win T op veteran King Solomon III crowned his glory days with a team silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

With his rider Mary King they were a formidable partnership and, now 22, Solly is still competing at Advanced Medium level dressage with Paula Lee who rides and looks after him at her home near Exeter.

Solly is fed TopSpec Senior Feed Balancer, which helps to keep him supple, mobile and in the best of health.

TopSpec is well known for its range of feed balancers and innovative horse feeds, and now, thanks to TopSpec, one lucky winner will get the chance to meet and have a ride on Solly, depending on their experience.

The winner will also receive six months’ supply of feed from

A ride on Olympic silver medallist King Solomon III

✚ TopSpec Senior Feed Balancer

TopSpec including TopSpec specification allows elderly Senior Feed Balancer, TopSpec horses to utilise far more Super Conditioning Flakes and nutrients from the forage and TopChop Alfalfa. straights in their diet, which often means that their hard • TopSpec Senior Feed Balancer feed intake can is designed for elderly horses be reduced with many who have reduced mobility resulting benefits • TopSpec Senior Feed Balancer combines the benefits of a feed balancer and a joint supplement and is highly cost-effective It’s the first • TopSpec Senior and only feed Feed Balancer is balancer to include a very palatable the scientifically recommended rate of non-heating feed. glucosamine to help It contains several maintain mobility. supplements that This rate is 10g of provide the levels glucosamine per of micronutrients 500kg horse per day and digestive aids normally only found in high quality specialised supplements – so there’s no need to feed further supplements • This superb

THE PRIZE

One lucky winner will have the chance to visit and have a ride on King Solomon lll, near Exeter, plus six months supply of TopSpec feed including TopSpec Senior Feed Balancer, TopSpec Super Conditioning Flakes and TopChop Alfalfa 14 runners up will each receive a bag of TopSpec Senior Feed Balancer

HOWTO ENTER

Complete our entry form on page Rm58 or visit www.yourhorse. co.uk to answer this question In what year did King Solomon lll win a silver medal at the Athens Olympics? a) 2000 b) 2004 c) 2008

Solly still competes with Paula

You can

WIN! Enter now

Terms and conditions The visit will be on a mutually convenient date at Paula Lee’s yard near Exeter.

The winner will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation arrangements if required. The ride on King Solomon III will be dependent on the winner’s experience. For full terms and conditions see page Rm58

For more info, call the TopSpec Helpline on 01845 565030 or visit www.topspec.com www.yourhorse.co.uk Your Horse OCTOBER 2010

Your

HORSE

FEED guide 2010

I ncluding * T he modern rules of feeding * What 's new in the world of feed H ow your horse works from teeth to tail *

* F ree

with

Your Horse

issue

339