Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 425 i Your Horse

A 21-year-old rider from Cheshire has published a book, telling the tale of her horse’s journey from a broken leg to the finish line of her first endurance race. Katy Dixon’s horse, Amber, broke a leg in 2015. With support, Katy worked tirelessly to save Amber’s life, documenting every step – details she’s now published in her book ‘Forever Amber’. “I self-published the book through Amazon, but my intention was never to write a book,” she said. “My livery yard owner, Terri Hill, who helped with Amber’s nursing, suggested writing down everything we’d done. We thought it’d be useful should we ever be faced with a situation like Amber’s again.” Once Katy started writing, she quickly realised that this was more than a list of tips and tricks. Sales of…

EquiRatings, a ratings system made to measure and manage risk in the cross-country phase of eventing, reduced falls in Irish eventing at CNC2* during the 2015 season and is now gearing up to further improve safety and welfare in British Eventing. Used by Eventing Ireland for the first time during the 2015 season, the system helped to reduce falls at CNC2* by 66% and now British Eventing is preparing to trial the safety tracking system. Using unique algorithms and systems, EquiRatings is the world’s first dedicated equestrian data science company. The system assesses prior results, course strength and rider form to determine the outcome of future events. With every run, horses and riders build ‘data footprints’, which are used to create individual risk profiles on every horse at every level.…

Method behind the madness – Emma Massingale spring 2017 tour DATE 27 May WHERE Myerscough College, Preston, Lancashire COST £25 There’s an evening of fun and entertainment awaiting you as you watch Emma and her horses at work, rest and play as part of her spring tour. The show is designed to inspire you to follow your dreams and passions with your own horse. Emma is bringing a selection of horses and ponies along, including some of her 2015 Island Project ponies, Hewie the Highland from her recent adventure, her Shetlands Albert and Ernie, plus a couple of her sports horses, too. Emma will show you how to work with your horses at liberty as well teaching him moves, such as flying changes, teaching him to sit or even lie…

“FOR ME, FOCUSING on relieving tension, achieving thoroughness and maintaining an even rhythm has been the key for us moving from Prelim to Novice and now looking to move onto Elementary,” says Simon. “It’s taken a while for me to learn how to manage and organise Patrick’s power and enthusiasm while still having relaxation, thoroughness and rhythm. The exercises Alison uses have encouraged Patrick to allow me to ride both sides of him and to listen to his rider! “My goal for 2017 is to qualify for the regionals at Novice level. We’ll compete a little at Elementary level unaffiliated before entering some British Dressage comps and hope to qualify for the winter regionals at Elementary by the end of the year. “Patrick likes competing at dressage as he’s the…

SIX LUCKY READERS WILL EACH WIN: ✶ A Pair of Valencia boots ✶ A pack of three pairs of HKM socks A GREAT FIT AND stunning looks are what you want from a pair of leather riding boots, and the Valencia boots from HKM fit the bill perfectly. They’re made from soft, durable, full grain European leather and, with their elegant and flattering style, make for a pair of boots suitable for everyday use or competition. Comfort’s also key and the Valencia has this covered thanks to the elastic leather covered panel at the back, which allows the boots to follow the contours of your leg, ensuring you can flex and move without restriction. Elastic laces at the front of your ankle mean you can move your ankle comfortably and…

“Watch what he eats” “Observe your horse as he eats,” advises dressage rider Anna Ross. “My Grand Prix horse Die Callas picks out parts of her food and leaves others, which changes daily. We put each separate feed, such as nuts, mix, chaff and sugar beet, into different bowls so she can pick at what she likes most at that time. Also try feeding your horse after he’s been ridden and cooled off. He’ll be tired and less likely to worry about distractions. “Hanging a haynet outside his stable so he can watch while he eats is a great way to keep him eating. A good tip for feeding medication is to put it in a smaller ‘token’ feed before they have their normal feed. Make sure the feed is…

PUT EMMA-STYLE observation into practice (minus the trackers!) and make an effort to observe your horse day-to-day. Ride in the morning, lunchtime and evening and see how different your horse’s mood is at these times – is he happier or more difficult? Are there times of the day when he’s always a little grumpy, or is he difficult to ride when other horses are being turned out or fed? This is all useful information for planning his day. When it comes to riding your horse, being able to time your rides around when he’s in the right frame of mind will foster his trust in you, his confidence and a willingness to work. Think about going for a run. If you struggle to run in the morning, but your running…

JODIE AMOS is an event rider, ranked in the top 100 riders in the UK . She grew up in France and returned to the UK in 2002 to study at university. Adding in a stride Q My horse always adds in an extra stride before a fence. What can I do? Tanya Green, Ipswich A I’d start with working on the quality of the canter. If your horse tends to pop in an extra stride, you need to work on being able to lengthen his stride, as well as shorten it. One exercise I like is to set up two poles on the ground with 22 paces between them (this should be five of his walking strides). Using this, I can play with the canter, eventually working my way…

NIKKI HERBERT Holds the BHSI, UKCC L3 Dressage and is an accredited BE coach and the Eastern Region’s National Coach Educator. She’s also an FEI 3&4* dressage judge. Improve his walk Q What exercises can I do to improve my horse’s walk? Emma Burgess, Bournemouth A First, watch your horse in the field to see how he walks naturally. There should be four separate beats, starting from the hind leg on one side followed by the foreleg on the same side, then the opposite hind and foreleg. The hind foot should land just in front of the footprint left by the front foot on the same side. Get him listening Start by asking your horse to move off your leg into walk and check you have an elastic, consistent rein…

To keep your boots in good condition – and make sure they last! – you need to look after them. Follow these simple steps to keep your leather boots looking good for the long run: • After every ride, remove dirt and grease using a damp sponge, then wait until the leather dries naturally. Never put damp boots next to a radiator as this dries out the leather and will make it crack. • Polish your riding boots regularly with normal shoe polish and keep the leather nourished using a good leather conditioner. • Use boot trees to help your boots keep their shape and store them away in a boot bag to keep them clean and dry whenever you’re not using them.…

QUINCY DIDN’T HAVE the best of starts to life. When he was only nine-months old, he was dumped with 60 other horses at Cardiff airport. Many of the horses were in poor condition and some needed veterinary treatment. Thankfully, the herd was rescued and Quincy, along with 22 of his pals, were taken into the care of Redwings. All of the horses were given the names of music stars from the 80s – with the five-year-old gelding being named after the producer Quincy Jones. The kindness and care of the Redwings team saw Quincy flourish into a friendly young pony and he was ready to find a new family to give his heart to. In the autumn of 2016, Hayley King and her seven-year old daughter, Mary, met Quincy –…

Schooling advice Rita wrote in after reading ‘How do I improve my horse’s topline’ on the Your Horse website “I’ve always found that the horse will lean on your hands, causing his neck to become resistant and stiff. I used to give and take with my hands. When the horse was leaning on the bit, I’d gently release the rein, then after a few short strides he’d lower his head into my hands, and I’d gently take back contact. This method may have to be repeated more than once, but it’s a lovely feeling, when the horse stays with his head lowered softly, listening to you. Remember, it takes two to pull and he’ll pull as long as there is something to pull on. Rita Walker Overbreeding concerns Ester wrote…

Throughout our #hack1000miles campaign we’ll be bringing you advice and info from our fantastic sponsors. Whether it’s advice to keep you and your horse safe on the roads or ideas for gear that’ll keep you comfy and visible all hack long, our sponsors have it covered. Here’s why they’re backing #hack1000miles: “Equisafety is world famous for hi-vis equestrian apparel. We’re passionate about rider road safety and thrilled to support this campaign and encourage more riders to enjoy the countryside.” Nicky Fletcher “This new campaign is for everyone, it doesn’t matter if you’re a happy hacker or if you compete in dressage, eventing or showing, everyone can enjoy hacking and #hack1000miles is a great way to encourage people to get out and about with their horses.” Nicolina Mackenzie “For nearly 40…

MEET THE TRAINER ALISON SHORT is a British Dressage (BD) judge and freelance dressage coach. She’s worked with riders up to BD Championship level. She loves working with riders so they can achieve their goals, no matter what those goals are. More details at www.alisonshort.co.uk IN THE SECOND part of our new Hairy Hopefuls series, expert trainer Alison Short works with maxi cob, Patrick, who can receive mixed reactions from the judges. He can get tense, which impacts on the quality of his paces and his ability to produce true medium strides. Here, Alison chooses exercises that encourage Patrick to follow the bit and soften his topline, as well as working on his relaxation. You can incorporate these exercises into your warm-up routine and you’ll soon have a relaxed, supple…

Racehorses are the elite athletes of the racing world and, as such, they have a highly specialised diet. After retiring from racing, though, thoroughbreds are highly adaptable and can perform in a wide range of disciplines. This transition from racing involves major changes to your horse’s diet and routine so they must be managed carefully. “My first port of call would be Dodson & Horrell’s Build Up Conditioning Cubes,” says Harry. “After training, racehorses can tend to be lean and light in condition. This feed, along with Dodson & Horrell‘s Alfalfa Oil Plus, really help with condition and won’t make him too buzzy.” Racehorses are typically fed large amounts of cereal-based feeds alongside a lower forage intake to provide the calories they need to perform, and they often have limited…

WHEN STEPH FROUDARAKIS bought her ex-racehorse in 2010, she had no idea how the gelding’s diet would affect his skin. “My mum and I bought Tizer in the December, with the goal that we were going to compete him. Everything was going fine until the beginning of spring when he suddenly came up in hives. We didn’t initially get the vet out, but started a trial and error phase. We changed everything, from his bedding to his feed and even which field we kept him in! “Nothing was working, so we called the vet out and they gave us Piriton, but still the hives remained. After this, the vet tried giving Tizer a steroid injection. “While the hives disappeared within 24 hours, we were still no closer to finding out…

“SHE WAS TIP-TOEING ON BURNING ROCKS” BEING TOLD YOUR horse has laminitis is every owner’s worst nightmare. Here, Ashley Newman tells us her story. “My New Forest pony, Venus, came into my life in December 2015. She was a tad scruffy, a bit green and had an appetite to match her weight, which was 595kgs! I increased her workload and things started to look up. We dabbled in low-level dressage and jumping. “In June she went lame. We decided to rest her, but there was no change so we called the vet. It turned out she had a flare up around her sacroiliac region. Her back was treated and things seemed better, but a week later she was lame all round, had swollen legs and roasting-hot feet. She couldn’t walk…

If dressage isn’t already your thing there are plenty of ways to see if it could be the sport for you. If you have a horse, try to find a local dressage trainer who could give you a lesson to go through the basics. If you don’t have a horse, book a lesson on a schoolmaster at a reputable equestrian centre. Both options will give you a feel for dressage and what it requires – if you love it, great! If you don’t, no harm done because it’s great to try something new every once in a while. If you’ve already got the basics under your belt and want to push that little bit further, a British Dressage (BD) Class Ticket might be the next step. British Dressage Class Tickets,…

SARAH KEARNEY Is a nutritional advisor at Dodson & Horrell. She holds a First Class BSc (Hons) in Equine Science and is studying for a Masters degree in Equine Science. Understanding amino acids Q What are essential amino acids and how can I make sure my horse is eating the correct amount? Katie Spencer, Frome A There are 22 amino acids that play different roles in the horse’s body, from providing the building blocks of muscle to maintaining nervous system health. Ten of these are called essential amino acids and they are: • Lysine • Methionine • Threonine • Arginine • Histidine • Phenylalanine • Typtophan • Valine • Leucine • Isoleucine These essential amino acids must be provided from your horse’s feed. Unlike the other amino acids, these cannot…

HORSES OFTEN become fussier as they get older and this can be because of pain, illness, dental problems or gastric ulcers. Jane says her vet has given Victor a clean bill, apart from some worn teeth that make it more difficult to eat hay. While Jane is supplying Victor with the right nutritional balance and quantity of soaked high fibre nuts and alfalfa to make up for winter’s lack of grass and his reduced ability to eat hay, she explains that he often refuses to clear his bowl and that he’s losing weight. Jane mixes the nuts and alfalfa together with water and some sliced carrots and gives Victor four meals a day. It’s possible he’s in discomfort when chewing the alfalfa, as the stems can be sharp in the…

Changeable bridle The Mountain Horse Donnerwetter Multi Bridle is pretty versatile – you can use it as a double or a regular bridle. Made from English leather, it features a padded noseband, which has detachable padding in black or white leather, or natural lambskin options. It’s also got a stylish-looking curved browband and an anatomical headpiece for comfort. PRICE £249 CONTACT http://shop.mountainhorse.se Waterproof and super breathable This may look like any other waterproof jacket but Rohan’s Vapour Trail has an internal ‘Barricade’ membrane that responds to humidity. In other words, the harder you work, the more it breathes. PRICE £135 CONTACT www.rohan.co.uk Two-tone boots These bespoke boots from The Spanish Boot Company bring together complementing shades. You can choose from four colour combinations and partner with a leather sole, flat…

WHETHER YOU’RE A regular competitor or enjoy nothing more than a leisurely hack out with the team from the yard, finding a good quality (and well-fitting) pair of boots will make your time in the saddle safer and more comfortable. Invest in the right pair of boots now – and take care of them! – and they’ll last you for years to come. There are two key styles of long leather riding boots on the market – field boots or dress boots. Field boots have lacing at the ankle for improved comfort and fit, which makes them more flexible and suitable for all kinds of riding and jumping. Dressage boots (or dress) are traditional boots popular for use in dressage, showing and hunting. Both are available as pull-on boots, but…

Ariat Vortex PRICE £449.99 COLOUR Black SIZES 3 to 81/2 A top-notch performancer, with NITRO and Shock Shield technology; a Duratread outsole; stretch lining and elasticised panel; behind-the-knee mobility curve and full-length zip. And the flashy heel? A lightweight Pebax frame for heel and mid-foot stability. www.ariat-europe.com HKM Valencia Boots PRICE £158.95 COLOURS Black , brown SIZES 34 to 46 (6 different height/ width combinations) A great all-round, leather boot. The full-length, rear zip and elasticated insert ensure a great fit, while elastic laces provide flexibility and the breathable leather lining wicks moisture. www.hkm-sports.com Tredstep Donatello SQ Field Boot PRICE £239.99 COLOURS Black, brown SIZES 36 to 45 in various widths and heights This boot is handcrafted using full-grain nappa leather. It features side spur rests, a rolled toe cap…

“As soon as I saw him, I knew he was the one for me” AFTER HER ELDERLY pony, Milo, passed away last year, Sara McComb took the plunge and went in search of a rescue horse. “I’ve always supported the work of rescue centres and when Milo passed away, leaving my four-year old cob, Texas, on his own, I decided to look into getting a rescue of my own,” says Sara. “I spoke to volunteers from my local centre, Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary (CLAS). They put me in touch with a lady looking after a 14hh coloured cob. “Patch had been rescued from the side of a mountain in the middle of winter. He was starving and unhandled but, since his rescue, he’d been gelded and had started his education.…

An equine vet in Surrey is preparing to launch a brand new cider created using one of the only horse-driven apple presses in the country. Pat Sells, resident stud vet at the successful Chasemore Stud in Cobham, Surrey, has been working with the stud’s stallion ‘teaser’ cob Tom, to bring an age-old tradition to life creating small batches of Horse Kick Cider. “Tom’s job as a teaser at the stud means he’s always a little quieter in Autumn, so we thought it might be nice for him to do something different with his time,” says Pat. “He drives the press and is really fond of the work.” Tom’s also the resident blood donor at Chasemore, allowing Pat to bank plasma for the newborn foals in the Spring. All in all,…

CHANCES by Ruth Saberton Read by Your Horse writer and online editor Amy Moore CHANCES follows the story of Amber, a troubled 15-year-old. The teen has given up on her dreams of horse riding, but when she’s placed with a foster family in the countryside, life takes an unexpected turn when a beautiful Arab horse arrives next door. WIN A SIGNED COPY! For your chance to win, visit www.yourhorse.co.uk/win DIY BOREDOM-BUSTER Make your horse a treat and keep him occupied at the same time with a fun, two-minute video tutorial from the RSPCA. And yes, horses like bananas! Find the video on Youtube online at: https://youtu.be/Sl5fmBMzeo8 RAINBOW-COLOURED BITS Having a multi-coloured bit may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but these new rainbow-gloss mouthpieces from EvoEquine have certainly…

Problems with drivers Having read your article on hacking problems in a recent issue, I’d like to share my experience with you. Myself and a friend were hacking along a village road to get to some off-road riding. The road is 60mph but is still a small village road. We saw an oncoming truck overtaking a van (which had slowed down for us). We gave the truck the hand signal to slow down, but instead of slowing, he sped up and mocked our hand gesture as he flew passed us laughing! I had a hat cam on and duly reported it to the police with footage as proof, but was told that the law is open to interpretation to how fast and wide you should pass a horse, there are…

Caroline Baker Age: 26 Location: Durham Experience By loaning, sharing or riding for friends, Caroline’s managed to do a bit of everything – show jumping, one-day events, pleasure rides and more. She’s also completed work experience placements with pro show jumpers – sometimes riding between five and 14 horses a day – and she’s worked as a groom. Why me? “Winning would mean I’d get the first-ever horse I could call my own after 19 long years of loaning, sharing and grabbing rides where I could,” says Caroline. “I’ve ridden and worked with anything and everything that’s become available to maximise my knowledge and experience and I’ve loved every minute. The dream ”I’d aim to purchase a younger horse so that I can go on a journey with him and…

PART 1 Self-carriage (Issue 424 – for a back issue, call 01858 438884) Traditional coloured cob, Martini, and her owner Kim work on lightening the forehand and engaging the hindquarters to help boost self-carriage PART 2 Lose the tension (On sale 6 April) Simon and Patrick, the maxi cob, use exercises to aid relaxation to produce freer movement PART 3 Better balance and connection (On sale 4 May) Para rider Jackie and her horse, Mali, focus on improving rider coordination and working to a more correct contact PART 4 Channel his enthusiasm (On sale 1 June) Sarah and her native pony, Jack, look at ways to contain his willingness to work so he lifts his forehand to produce more elastic paces…

Find it, fix it! Solve common schooling problems with advice from Paul Hayler FIND THE PROBLEM Striking off on the wrong canter lead means that your horse is making the transition to canter with his inside hindleg, rather than the outside. His outside front leg will be leading the canter and he’ll be bending around your outside leg, rather than the inside. Struggling to strike off on the correct lead could mean that your horse is lacking balance in the trot and may not be supple enough over his back or ribcage to bend correctly around your inside leg. WHAT TO AIM FOR When your horse strikes off on the correct lead leg, he’ll be striking off with his outside hindleg, and leading the canter from his inside front leg.…

MEET THE EXPERT HELEN MATHIE is an ACPAT physiotherapist, and former BEF Para-dressage physiotherapist. Helen is qualified to treat both humans and animals, and she’s a British Dressage/ RDA National Classifier. THESE EXERCISES ARE all done in walk and will help to improve your horse’s balance and strength. Walk is really useful for getting your horse to use his back correctly, while reducing force placed on his joints. It’s also easier to correct abnormal movement patterns and re-train muscle memory in walk as the large limb muscles don’t overpower the rest in this gait. Before you start working on the exercises below, walk your horse around for about five minutes to get him warmed up. Improve his rhythm Set out eight poles in a straight line (pictured right) with 4ft…

This year, for the first time ever, one fence on the Badminton course won’t be the brainchild of the course designer himself. Instead, the last fence will have been designed by a member of the public and chosen from a final 10 put to the public vote. “The last fence had rotted out. It had probably been on the course for a decade and when they’ve been there for 10 years you’ve seen enough of them and it’ s time to move on,” says Eric. “I suggested we run a competition that anyone could enter. It could be a school kid from two miles up the road to a four-star designer from Australia – they can all have a go.” The whole team backed the idea and in January the…

MEET THE EXPERT PAULINE SMITH is a senior nutritional advisor at Dodson & Horrell who regularly helps owners with tricky feeders. PICTURE THE SCENARIO: You know your horse is hungry but as you drop the feed bucket into his stable, he turns his back as if you’ve just offered him a bowl of poison. We’ve all been there and it can be so frustrating, especially if your horse is a poor-doer or a competition horse who needs the energy or one that you’re trying to get medication into. The trick is to try and keep him interested in his feed and we’ve spoken to a nutritionist and three top riders who’ve all had loads of experience coaxing even the fussiest horse to eat up. Why the fuss? Horses are fussy…

DR KEESJAN CORNELISSE is an XL Equine vet and works at Calweton Vets in Cornwall. He has published studies in peer-reviewed veterinary journals. Swollen teats Q My mare’s teats seem to have become swollen recently and she seems particularly sensitive. What could be the problem? Fiona Bryant, Rutland AI’m assuming your mare isn’t about to foal within a few weeks or doesn’t have any nearby infections or injuries (such as hindlimb cellulitis) that could be causing an inflammatory reaction in her udder. In healthy horses, certain parts of their diet should be considered, especially red clover and soy, because these can contain oestrogen-like substances (called isoflavones) that hormonally stimulate the udder. If your horse is older, don’t rule out Cushing’s disease. This condition isn’t always recognised, but some older mares…

REBECCA STOJAK is a solicitor working for Shakespeare Martineau. She advises on disputes arising from all aspects of horse ownership. Find out more at www.shma.co.uk Can trainers sell horses? Q I’m buying a horse whose trainer is selling it on behalf of the owner. Is this legal? Can the trainer write me a receipt on the owner’s behalf? Linda Etchells, Daventry A trainer selling a horse on behalf of the owner is legal and they can sign a receipt (and even the contract) on behalf of the owner of the horse. The trainer would be the owner’s agent. It’s important you do your homework before buying the horse though, and that you make sure that you know who the owner is. Ensure that you have the owner’s contact details and…

1 MARK TODD COMPETITION JACKET TO BE WON Look and feel the part when you’re out competing this season in a super smart Mark Todd Competition Jacket. There are a number of different styles to choose from, each manufactured in technical fabrics with four-way stretch for total comfort and freedom of movement. The jackets come with either zipped pockets and mesh panels for increased ventilation, or the more traditional style with Alcantara and piped trim on the collar and pockets. Find out more at www.wefi.co.uk 2 RAINBOW GLOSS COLLECTION SETS UP FOR GRABS The EvoEquine Rainbow Gloss Collection is sure to turn heads and you could win a bit, a set of spurs and a pair of stirrups. This unique range of bits, stirrups and spurs have a…

So, you’ve bought your shiny new boots and brought them home, but here comes the slightly uncomfortable bit. Breaking your boots in can be a bit of a pain – literally. And it’s the backs of your knees and ankles that will suffer with blisters and rubbing until the leather starts to soften, drops and shapes to your legs. Field boots, once you wear them in, can drop between one to two inches, but dressage or dress boots are usually made from much stiffer leather and don't tend to drop as much. These boots were made for... The best way to break your boots in is... yup, you guessed it, get walking! Try wearing them around the house for an hour to get the leather moving – walking up and…

Cavallo Inka £145 FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT The Inka is a lightweight yet high performance jacket made from Cavallo’s unique bi-stretch CAVASHELL material. This provides a comfortable fit, while also being windproof, water repellent and breathable – just what you need on those unpredictable spring days at the yard. COLOURS Silver, night blue SIZES 34 to 46 CONTACT www.zebraproducts.co.uk Rhinegold Delaware £37.50 FUNCTIONAL AND AFFORDABLE A lightweight and waterproof jacket, with a smooth nylon quilted lining for blocking out the wind on a blustery day. Two short side zips allow freedom and comfort when you’re riding, plus there’s hi-vis tape along the shoulders for increased visibility. It also has a fleece lined collar for comfort. COLOURS Black, yellow SIZES S to XL CONTACT www.rhinegold.eu Georgia in Dublin Dublette £155…