Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 474 i Your Horse

FEW THINGS RILE me like the phrase, “horses shouldn’t be on the road”. Not because people aren’t allowed to have their opinion, but because some of the people saying it feel that this means it’s OK to speed past horses without giving them enough room. Some will beep the horn, make hand gestures — or worse. It’s a total lack of appreciation for the human and equine life that they are putting at risk. I have experienced all of this over the years, but have always been lucky enough to ride sensible horses unfazed by the antics of other road users. Plastic bags in the hedge, though — well, that’s a different story. The British Horse Society is working hard to raise awareness among drivers about how important it is…

■ Always wear hi-vis — the more and brighter the better. Make sure you can be seen. ■ Ride with another rider if possible. ■ Tell someone where you’re going. ■ Carry a mobile phone that’s charged. ■ Don’t react to road rage: focus on keeping you and your horse safe. ■ Try to stay calm, even if you’re scared, as it may pass on to your horse. ■ Always thank a driver who makes an effort to pass wide and slow. ■ Be sensible: go on the road at quieter times of day if you can do so. ■ If you hear a vehicle approaching on a narrow road, get out of the way if you can: find a gateway, for example. ■ Use clear, well executed hand signals…

As we welcome in a new year now’s a good time to put down some aims and goals for the months ahead. Setting goals helps you stay motivated and gives focus to future plans for your horse. They don’t need to be big goals — setting small, achievable ones works just as well. For inspiration, we asked our Facebook followers what horsey goals they have for 2021... GO TO NEW PLACES To get the lad I’m working on out and about next year so he can enjoy himself.Kaz Taylor SET A NEW HACKING PB We are moving house in the new year and can finally have the horses at home. My only goal is to ride more and beat my previous Hack 1000 miles total.Lianne Skinner CEMENTING THE PARTNERSHIP To…

It’s important to know how long your horse’s stride is in order to space out the poles correctly. Distances depend on many factors, including the horse’s size, breed, stage of training and fitness. ■ Find your closed trot distance To work out what best suits your horse, begin with three poles that are each four-and-a-half of your heel-to-toe steps between them. If your horse is over 16hh increase this to five of your steps. Bear in mind that this is a rough guide. Ride through in trot asking a helper to make small adjustments to the distances as necessary until your horse trots comfortably through with his feet landing in the middle of the poles. Once you have found the correct distance, walk them on foot. This is your horse’s…

Show rider Amanda Firman lost more than eight stone to transform her experience in the saddle. She has ME and exhaustion was one of the reasons she over-ate. “I suffered from arthritis and could ride for about 10 mins before I was in pain and out of breath,” she recalls. Amanda tried slimming groups but eventually chose to have a stomach bypass, which she paid for privately. “It isn’t an easy option, but it was my decision for the welfare of my horse” she says. “It has made a huge difference. I don’t have arthritis anymore and I’m riding better. I have more energy, although it depends on how the ME is.”…

❋ It is important to constantly gauge how your horse is thinking, feeling and moving, right from the moment you hop on. ❋ Ask yourself does he feel stiffer on one rein? Is he reactive to my aids? Is he unwilling to move a certain way? ❋ Regular breathers are vital. Don’t ask anything of your horse during these phases, but take note of how long it takes for him to get back to the level he was training at before you took a break. This is a useful check of his general health and respiration. ❋ Spend lots of time in walk to start, and use this as a chance to assess your horse, both physically and mentally. ❋ Allow plenty of time to let your horse stretch and…

All our cobs are hogged, and we find they need redoing every month. Ours have fine hair and so it’s a quick job, taking around 10 minutes. It will vary depending on how much hair your horse grows. This is how to hog: ■ Make sure your horse is comfortable with the clippers. You do not want to be left with half a mane. Having a handler to help keep the horse still is useful. ■ Make sure the horse is secured, clean and dry, and your clipper blades are sharp. ■ Start from the withers and clip towards the poll, keeping an even line with your clippers flat on the top of the mane. ■ Aim to get all the way to the ears in one go. It might…

Just the way the cookie crumbles Q My horse generally has good feet, especially for an older Thoroughbred, but lately my farrier has described them as “a bit crumbly”. What should my daily hoof care entail to help with this? Her management hasn’t changed, so I don’t know why her feet would have deteriorated. Rachael Collinson, North Yorkshire Glyn says… Feet often do deteriorate with age. As the horse’s metabolism becomes less efficient, it’s harder to keep on condition, keep coats looking good and sustain the quality of the hoof horn. Many of the veteran feeds accommodate this by adding oils, joint aids and products like biotin to support hoof health. I feel hoof quality in older horses is more about their diet and overall wellbeing rather than just hoof-related products.…

On the pull Q How do you pull manes and tails properly?Erica Moody, Devon Jess says… Pulling manes and tails takes practice, especially tails. Manes, I would say, are easier, so start with them. The principle is the same for both, however. Pulling manes To take thickness out of a mane, take a mane comb and a grab a small amount of hair from underneath the mane. Backcomb the hair up and then pull quickly downwards, allowing the hair to come out. The less hair you take at a time, the less discomfort your horse may experience. If you just want to pull the mane shorter, I tend to use my fingers only to pull the hair out. The main thing is to move up and down the mane, so that…

Even with the best of handling, in certain situations some horses can be stressed or frightened, and become difficult to handle. Sometimes all that’s needed to help calm the situation is a distraction. The Handsfree Handling headcollar offers a humane solution for horses that are tricky or tense when they need to be still for being clipped or shod, standing on a lorry at shows, or being treated by the vet. This product is the brainchild of southeast-based registered farrier Danny Eades. He was trimming a nervous three-year-old Thoroughbred’s feet and it occurred to him that what would really help is a simple way of diverting the horse’s attention but keeping the horse as relaxed and as still as possible. Five years of design and development later, the result is…

CAVALOR MUDOC RRP £30 FOR STOCKISTS zebraproducts.co.uk A fast-acting care product that contains more than 10 essential oils such as aloe vera, lavender, eucalyptus and tea tree. The combination of antiseptic properties and wound healing and analgesic properties supports the welfare of the horse. Also, the moisturising effect of the cream helps reduce the formation of scar tissue and the coat will grow back faster. ROBINSON ANIMAL HEALTHCARE ACTIV SCRUB RRP AROUND £10 FOR STOCKISTS robinsonanimalhealthcare.com An antibacterial scrub and cleansing wash that’s ideal for battling the harmful bacteria that thrive in wet, muddy conditions in the winter months. Mild and gentle, Activ Scrub is perfect for removing scabs and dirt to help keep skin healthy. NAF MUD GARD SUPPLEMENT RRP FROM £30.99 FOR 690G FOR STOCKISTS naf-equine.eu/uk Feeding a…

Freelance gear editor Allison Lowther: Horses have an amazing ability to make you feel better when you’re having a bad day. They offer so much more than that though, including valuable life skills. Read more about this on page 22. BHS Stage Four coach Nina Gill: Polework sessions can be really exciting to ride and give your horse a full body workout when you’re inventive with the exercises you do. Try mine on page 34. Olympic medallist Sharon Hunt: Cold, wet and dark days are not the most inspiring for riding, so being more creative with what you do while you’re in the saddle will help. I share five ideas for freshening up your sessions on page 50. Show horse producer Natalie Reynolds: Heavier horses have their own particular management. I love my cobs,…

HOODIE FOR BROOKE Yorkshire-based writer, entrepreneur and Brooke youth ambassador Hannah Russell has released this practical hoodie featuring a donkey on the front to help raise much-needed funds for Brooke. From each sale, £5 goes to the charity. £45 officialhannahrussell.co.uk/Shop HORSE TIME This fantastic clock doesn’t just tell you the time, it also features horses in various poses and will look great on your living room wall. If you’re a dog lover, K9 Clocks have a great range of clocks that feature different dog breeds too. £39.99 k9clocks.com AN ORGANISED 2021 Your last chance to get your hands on the gorgeous Your Horse calendar and save 20% off the price. It features stunning images from our library plus there’s plenty of room to write in all your horsey appointments. £8.99…

HAFFY AND I take part in our first yard fun day, wearing our best matchy-matchy for fun. We start the day by going on a treasure hunt. Haffy is really well behaved, and unfazed by the randomly placed objects and pictures hidden in the trees. In the afternoon we have a go at an obstacle/agility course, which involves such tasks as walking over tarpaulins and under a scary, flappy archway, plus weaving in and out of cones. I decide to enter Haff in-hand as I am unsure how he will find it, but to my delight we come third. Since then we haven’t done a huge amount of hacking, focusing on schooling instead. Since owning Haffy I haven’t had the confidence to ask for canter — previously he would buck…

1 He has a degree in agricultural science from the University of Western Sydney and he started a diploma of education. Realising that he would never teach, he gave up the latter. “It’s the only thing I ever quit,” he says. 2 After university, Paul ran a successful fencing company that even erected fences at the Sydney Olympic venue. At one point his firm employed 20 staff. 3 He got to know the Olympic landscapers and ended up driving a water tanker at night to irrigate the site in the build up to the Games. 4 He first came to the UK in 1999, and worked for event horse owner Angela Scott. He would sometimes drive Angela’s daughter, Genevieve, to school, as well as Genevieve’s friend — Laura Bechtolsheimer! 5…

Keep your photos coming in to yh.ed@kelsey.co.uk Family photo Never work with animals. Me with my horse Cheyenne and my dogs Freddy and Oscar. Yvonne Lambert, Co Wexford Look, no ears! Putting on her best face for our selfie is my horse Kelly, aka Grumpy Cow Cathy Burrows, Dumfriesshire What’s so funny? Redheart Reflection, aka Marty, my pure-bred Appaloosa, finds something very funny. Lian Wood, Cambridgeshire Selfie problems Trying to get a selfie but your arms are too short and his head is too big! This is Malachite, or Mali to his friends. He and his little Welsh sidekick Fifi pony have kept me going since my cancer diagnosis and chemo. Chell Ward, Telford Toasting a win My favourite selfie of my best friend Helen, horse of a lifetime Jasmine,…

On non-trail-hunting days, Laura gives the horses a quick brush over before they are ridden to get rid of the worst of the mud. “I clear the areas where the tack goes so they are comfortable being ridden,” she says. “If they are really muddy, we use a rubber curry comb to get the mud off and then give them a good flick off with a dandy brush. We use a plastic curry comb for manes and tails. If they look really dusty, a damp cloth will remove excess dust. “They are turned out again after riding, so I don’t go into too much detail getting them show ready.” Laura likes to use her hands as well as her brushes when she is grooming. “I use my hands to pick…

You can encourage your horse to take in more water by doing the following: 1 Provide constant access to clean, fresh water. Buckets or automatic drinkers should be cleaned regularly to avoid dirt and grime building up. 2 Ensure the horse can always access the water — this may be harder for him if the field is boggy or he is worried about bullying from a field mate. 3 On particularly cold days, check troughs or buckets regularly to ensure that the water hasn’t frozen over. 4 Make sure there is enough food available in winter especially, as most of the horse’s water will be absorbed from the food. Less water will be consumed from hay compared to grass, so the horse will need to take in more water through…

✘ Don’t suddenly turn away a fit horse — a sudden change of diet and routine can predispose to colic. A gradual reduction and change of management is better ✘ Don’t just leave your horse in the field with the same rug on — they still need to be thoroughly checked daily, whether working or not. ✔ Be prepared to get your horse fit gradually after a holiday — short cuts and speeding fitness programs up predisposes them to injury. ✘ Over-rugging and overfeeding are always to be avoided, but be especially careful if your horse isn’t work, especially if they could do with losing a few pounds. ✔ If you’re unsure about your horse’s holiday requirements, seek veterinary advice.…

■ As the horse trots there is a small amount of passive flexion and extension through the thoracolumbar and lumbosacral regions. ■ As he pushes up into the moment of suspension (images 1 and 4, below) the abdominal contents, approximately 150kgs in a 500kg horse, push up against the underside of the back and cause it to flex. ■ As this happens the longissimus dorsi muscles contract to counteract this upward pressure and limit back flexion. ■ Conversely during stance (images 3 and 6) the weight of the abdomen pulls down on the back, causing it to extend. ■ At this point the abdominal muscles, particularly rectus abdominis, contract to counteract the extension. ■ Adding the weight of the rider will reduce passive flexion and increase extension.…

1 Keep on top of any emerging problems, such as itchy skin, scabs, and skin infections. If in doubt, speak to your vet. 2 Treating problems early helps prevent the condition worsening and any secondary infections occurring. 3 Stable stains are always best removed on a daily basis, especially with greys, otherwise they can become a permanent addition. There are various whitening shampoos available. 4 When preparing to clip, make sure the coat is clean and free of grease. 5 Be aware of any scabs on the legs before clipping so as not to damage the skin. 6 If your horse is clipped, rug accordingly for warmth and to maintain coat condition. Rugging also reduces the number of times you need to clip. 7 Beware over-rugging though as it’s uncomfortable…

OPTIMUM TIME The optimum time for working a horse on the lunge is 20 minutes (10 minutes on each rein). This will give you enough time to work on forwardness and transitions. Encouraging roundness Q I have bought a Pessoa to encourage my horse to stop going hollow on the lunge. How should I use it properly and what should I be encouraging her to do other than simply going round and round? Mandy Barnard, Wrexham Ruth says… First, ensure that the Pessoa is fitted correctly. 1 Fit the lunge roller, then place the sheepskin section close to it over your horse’s back. 2 Your horse should be wearing his bridle, ideally without reins. Pass the Pessoa lines through the rings on the roller and attach the bit clips to the…

The owner: Tamara Strickland The horse: Justice, a six-year-old 16hh ex racehorse The problem: Justice needs to gain weight and muscle tone Justice is being brought back into work having had time off for a mild tendon injury. He needs to regain his muscle tone and Tamara has noticed that he’s losing weight in the colder weather. Tamara hacks or lightly schools most days. Justice is turned out every day on reasonable grazing and has ad-lib haylage overnight. On the 1-9 body condition scoring scale, he’s around 4, so Tamara is right to think about extra feeding. Justice will also benefit from a good balanced diet over the winter in preparation for Tamara’s dressage plans next year. A low starch, high quality, protein conditioning feed will give Justice ‘safe’ calories…

Have you always been around animals? Yes, I was brought up in a family where animals were always part of our lives — cats, dogs, horses — and my first pony when I was five was a grey called Minnie. She was a classic, naughty little thing. There’s never been a time when there hasn’t been that sort of commitment in my life. You’re the only woman to have ridden at Badminton and the Grand National — which one meant more? Aintree was an amazing story. When my grandfather died, he left a couple of horses he’d bred to my mum. One was Bold King’s Hussar and he left notes saying things like, “I can see his white face landing over Becher’s [Brook]”. He was in training with Gee Armytage…

A HORSE WITH SUBSTANCE, activity, stamina and a temperament that is unsurpassed by any other breed of horse.” This is how the Cleveland Bay Horse Society (CBHS) summarises the Cleveland Bay. Thought to be the oldest pure breed of horse in the UK — it dates back well before the CBHS was set up in 1884 — Cleveland Bays are the epitome of an all-rounder and can be found competing in most disciplines all the way up to Olympic level. Ferdi Eilberg, for example, competed Arun Tor to grand prix level dressage, and Danielle Heath has piloted the part-bred Oathill Take The Biscuit to numerous showing titles, including the hunter tricolour at the Royal International. In the Middle Ages, the breed was used for pack and pillion work and carried…

Paul is proof that even elite riders can have accidents while hacking. He recommends the following: ■ Always wear a crash hat. ■ Always tell someone where you’re going and how long you will be out. ■ Always take a phone with you. ■ Have the What3words app on your phone, and something like the Find My iPhone app. The former enables you to tell emergency services your exact location, while the latter means family can trace you. ■ Set up a safety protocol. “We have one that dictates as soon as you fall off, even if you are OK, you must phone back to the yard and notify someone,” says Paul.…

EMAIL US AT yh.ed@kelsey.co.uk Unfortunately, we are currently unable to receive any letters by post. Deciding when it’s time to move on I wanted to get in touch and cover a sad topic we may all face one day — the loss of a beautiful companion, our horse. In late September I sadly had to say goodbye to my 26-year-old horse Wigwam. After 16 amazing years together, that fateful day arrived sooner than I ever imagined. A loss no one can describe. After a few weeks, I began to wonder if I would ever be ready to share my life with a horse again. I began to think, how do you know when you’re ready or how long should you leave it until the search for a new forever horse should…

Victoria Dorman chooses not to ride one of her horses as she is a “heavier rider”, but hopes her youngster, who will mature to around 17hh, will be more suitable. In the past Victoria has experienced varying treatment at riding schools. While running an equestrian society she had to inform members they were not allowed to take part as staff objected to their size, and at another she was told she must lose three stone to ride in an event, in front of other customers. She has also been assigned horses for whom she felt she was too big, and refused the ride. “I am probably my own hardest critic and have not ridden horses capable of carrying me,” she says. “But I don’t regret my time in riding schools.…

RIGHT NOW, CHANCES are your horse is spending more hours inside, and with time of the essence due to shorter daylight hours you need a handy toolkit of ideas to get him warmed up and supple as quickly and effectively as you can. Here to help is dressage rider and trainer Lili Brooksby-Dalby, who’s on hand to ensure your next schooling session is a success from the moment your horse steps out of his stable. Whether he’s five or 25, it’s hugely important that he’s fully warmed up and able to carry himself correctly before you start to ask for more strenuous moves. So let’s get this schooling party started: next stop a more responsive, engaged and supple horse… SCHOOLING solutions WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: • How to assess how your…

Lungeing is an asset to your tool kit in the winter when horses are fresh or need reminding of their manners. You can also observe your horse moving and can use this to plan your schooling sessions. Is he engaging, bending his hocks, tracking up, falling in or out, supple? Lunge with two lines so you can control his balance, speed and frame and any silly behaviour. It also makes changing the rein easier and safer. If he’s spooky or silly use the energy to get a better frame and create engagement.…

Clip your horse appropriately for his workload. If he is going to live out and is only in light work, a small trace or bib clip is sufficient. If he is in hard work and stabled, a full, hunter or blanket clip is Feed to your horse’s workload. Overweight good doers don’t need excess energy in the winter. Allowing them to use their excess fat to keep warm will follow their natural weight loss cycle. After-exercise coat care is just as important as pre-exercise coat care. If your horse has sweated, sponge or hot cloth the sweat away before it dries as it can irritate the skin if left on. If you do have to get your horse’s legs and feet wet at night, dry them thoroughly with a towel.…

Diamond, a 13-year-old part-Welsh, has really struggled with winter hydration in the past. For two consecutive years, the mare showed a change in behaviour, becoming dull and depressed and suffering from impaction colic. She responded well to the colic treatment at first, but signs recurred over the winter months. Diamond’s owner also noticed a reduction in drinking on these occasions, particularly when the temperature dropped below freezing. It was recommended that her owner added hot water to buckets to bring it to a lukewarm temperature for drinking and Diamond started to consume more normal volumes of water again. Her owner has continued to add hot water several times each day, and has not reported any further problems.…

The first Covid-19 lockdown was a classic example of horses having enforced holidays, with many owners choosing to stop riding for a number of weeks, particularly as there were no competitions to aim for. In this situation, how quickly do horses lose fitness? “There will start to be a drop in fitness from as early as one week of rest, but they don’t truly let themselves down until at least six weeks in, when the body then really starts to heal,” says Lucinda. “If your horse was at peak fitness and you gave him a few quieter weeks of hacking and light schooling, it wouldn’t have too much of an impact on his fitness.”…

Microchip matters Q My new horse has a microchip number on his passport. My name is on his passport as owner but do I need to do anything with his microchip details, and if so, what?Gregory Jones, Anglesey Sophie says… No, you don’t. When you send your horse’s passport and passport update form to your Passport Issuing Organisation (PIO) they will update both their records and the Central Equine Database. The new owner is responsible for changing the ownership in the passport with the relevant PIO within 30 days of completion of the change of ownership, or face penalties. Consider registering the chip We would recommend, though, that horse owners make sure their microchip is registered on a Defra compliant database (for a list of them, see: gov.uk/get-your-dog-microchipped). That way, anyone…

AMIGO REFLECTECH COMPETITION SHEET RRP £124.95 COLOUR Grey/black SIZES S-XL FOR STOCKISTS horseware.com This sheet is made from an innovative, durable, waterproof and breathable outer fabric that incorporates an interwoven reflective yarn. It also has reflective strips at the front and back corners, and on the tail flap. The contoured shape sits neatly around your saddle. The elasticated front and top closures give your horse freedom of movement while he’s being worked. WEATHERBEETA THERAPY-TEC FLEECE RRP £59.99 COLOUR Black/red/silver SIZES S-XL BUY AT weatherbeeta.co.uk Designed to just cover the horse’s quarters and finish behind the saddle to avoid interfering with your leg aids, this soft fleece sheet includes ceramic fabric technology to reflect the horse’s own body heat. To secure the rug there’s a touch-tape strap that attaches to the…

1 The earlier you spot any signs of skin infection the easier and quicker it should be to get it under control — so check your horse’s legs daily for signs. 2 Keeping your horse’s legs dry is key to treating mud fever. 3 If your horse has a lot of feather, consider clipping the area to make it easier to keep clean and dry. 4 To clean any affected areas,use an antibacterial wash or medicated shampoo. Thoroughly dry the area after cleaning. 5 Removing scabs is key to starting the healing process but can only be done when they are soft and easy to remove, otherwise it will be painful for your horse. 6 Applying a barrier cream can keep moisture out, stop infection and encourage healing. 7 Call…