Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 426 i Your Horse

Hello At a recent ‘supporter day’ held by Brooke, I was blown away by the passion and dedication of people who get behind this brilliant charity. Of course, in the UK we have lots of incredible equine charities: World Horse Welfare, Blue Cross, Redwings, HorseWorld are just a few and I love the work they all do. But for the moment I want to talk about Brooke. I was so inspired by the supporters at this charity event because I feel exactly the same way about working horses, ponies and donkeys abroad as they do. The difference is, despite being in a different country to these animals, they’re still doing something to protect and care for them. I’ve been on countless holidays where I’ve seen donkeys in less than perfect…

RDA Chairman Sam Orde (pictured left) has set off on a fundraising mission to raise £20,000 for the RDA’s new National Training Centre in Warwickshire – a facility for the training of volunteers and coaches from around the UK. ‘Sam’s Big Ride’, which will see her complete 18 rides or carriage drives through the summer, travelling an average of 15km for each ride. Along the way she’ll be joined by RDA members and supporters. “I’m really excited about the Big Ride RDA UK fundraising challenge for our important National Training Centre Project,” said Sam. “I’ll be doing one ride in each RDA region in an attempt to raise funds to put towards the £ 1.2 million needed for the project – every little helps!” There’ll be opportunities for a wide…

WE’RE SO HAPPY to welcome on board our #Hack1000miles sponsor SEIB Insurance because whether you only hack, compete, or do both, equine insurance is so important and with SEIB you can ride in confidence and with complete peace of mind. Having been in business for more than 50 years, SEIB introduced horse and pony insurance, horsebox and even property insurance that truly reflects the needs of the equestrian community. The rest of the market had followed and many of the introductions that SEIB made have now become the industry standard. Today SEIB continues to innovate, as horse owners and riders themselves, they know what insurance riders require, to remain protected and keep your horses healthy. “We promise to review your insurance and help you to make the right choice,” says…

MEET THE TRAINER TIM PAGE is a Honeychop sponsored rider. Despite not starting riding until the age of 12, he’s now a professional show jumper and ranked within the top 20 for Great Britain. MEET THE RIDER CANDICE POTTAGE is riding her horse, Stu. The pair compete in several disciplines, and Candice wants Tim to show her how to stop Stu becoming so long in his body when jumping. IF, LIKE RIDER Candice Pottage, your horse has a tendency to rush and become long in his body when jumping, it can be tricky to encourage him to engage his hindquarters and harness enough power to jump well. Here, we meet Honeychop sponsored rider Tim Page as he gives Candice a lesson. He explains three exercises that can help your horse…

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 (Issue 425 – for a back issue, call 01858 438884) Simon and Patrick, the maxi cob, use exercises to aid relaxation to produce freer movement PART 3 Better balance and coordination (This issue) Jackie, para rider and her horse Malley 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…

IMAGINE NO FEED bills for a whole year – yes, that’s right, nothing to pay on feed for 12 full months! In this amazing competition, Baileys is offering of you lucky people the opportunity to win feed for one horse for 365 days. The Baileys team are experts in equine nutrition and, being riders themselves, offer sensible, practical advice so your horse can perform at his best. Many top riders, including dressage rider Gareth Hughes and event rider Chris Burton, choose Baileys to keep their horses in top condition. Whether you have big competition ambitions or not, you still want your horse to look and feel his best, so his diet needs careful consideration. Even if your horse is such a good-doer he practically lives on fresh air, he still…

Steph Croxford is famous for being a down to earth and talented dressage rider who gets through each busy day because she’s a whizz at multi-tasking. She trains with Olympic rider Richard Davison. “When it comes to the management of my horses for soundness, I try to keep things really simple,” explains Steph. “I don’t have lots of time so I’ve learned to adopt routines that aren’t very time consuming but seem to work, my horses are very rarely lame. Even retired 23-year-old Mr President is still capable of a mad gallop round the field without any problems. I think the most important thing is to vary the exercise routine. I only school three times a week for about 30 to 40 minutes and I work on each movement for…

1 Care as you clean with grooming brushes featuring antibacterial properties. The leading KBF99 range from Vale Brothers (pictured) has been shown to kill 99% of bacteria while the brushes in the Charles Bentley Professional Grooming Kit feature Microban Additives – each brush has antibacterial protection built into the bristles. 2 If your horse’s mane or tail needs a little tidy up and he hates either being pulled, go for a pain-free approach to make the process easier for him. Some pro grooms swear by thinning scissors to do most of the work while others like SoloCombs – used to trim hair without pulling. You can also try gently breaking off longer hairs by hand wearing rubber gloves. 3 Tidying up hairy legs can be a nightmare if your horse…

AMANDA KIRTLAND-PAGE Is a riding instructor, confidence coach and rider. You can find out more about her work on her website at www.confidenthorserider.co.uk Recovering from a fall Q I had a bad fall at a competition and it’s really knocked my confidence. How can I tackle my nerves? Lorraine Barker, Daventry A It’s such a shame this happened. It’s one of those risks we take when riding and very often it leads to anxiety or even fear. Because of what’s happened, your ‘nerves’ come into play. Your unconscious mind is reacting to that past trauma and puts your mind and body on ‘high alert’, even when you think about riding. Thankfully, our unconscious can relearn that riding is fun again! The first thing is to go back quite a few…

JESS ERRINGTON Is Head Girl to event rider Harry Meade. She joined his team in 2008 and is highly respected in the equestrian world , winning the Team GBR Grooms Award in 2014. Keep him calm Q I’m planning on taking my horse to a competition for the first time this year. How can I make travelling a calm experience? Eve Smith, Daventry A If your horse hasn’t travelled much before, travel him with another, more experienced horse who’ll keep him calm and give him confidence. Try and create a relaxed atmosphere or environment by taking him on lots of small outings beforehand. This might be to schooling sessions or perhaps low-key unaffiliated events that put no pressure on him. These events will have a more laid-back and less buzzy…

10 BAGS OF TOPSPEC COOL BALANCER TO BE WON TopSpec Cool Balancer is for horses in light to medium work and helps to improve condition and topline without excess calories that mean your horse piles on the pounds. It contains all the necessary levels of vitamins and minerals for a balanced diet and, because your horse will utilise more nutrients from his forage because of the balancer, you can reduce the amount of concentrates you feed, too. Ten lucky readers are in with a chance of winning one 15kg bag. Find out more at www.topspec.com 1 SET OF CAVLOR PRODUCTS ON OFFER Cavalor make equine supplements and care products, and this set will help your horse look and feel his best. Take the stress out of situations with…

Associate editor Allison Lowther: Sweet itch is unbearable for many horses so I’ve found a selection of awesome products to help. Page 116 Writer & online editor Amy Moore: How might climate change affect our horses? I found out more. Page 86 Pass the remote! If you enjoy demos and learning from the pros, then you’ll love our new DVD Training with Laura Tomlinson. Follow her exercises to tackle common schooling problems AND there’s bonus footage from Your Horse Live, featuring Charlotte Dujardin, too. Find out more on page 20.…

The creators of a new survey evaluating tendon and ligament problems in horses and ponies are calling on owners with experience of equine tendon and ligament injuries to have their say. The survey by Applied Microcurrent Technology (AMT), the company that manufactures ArcEquine, will run until 5 June. Respondents are being asked about the incidence of these types of injuries, the mechanism of injury, severity, diagnosis, treatments, long-term management and also the frequency of re-injury. “The data will be used to evaluate current treatment options and rehabilitation protocols, together with supporting our work in developing and funding new veterinary clinical trials, which will include more in-depth evaluation of the use of ArcEquine microcurrent technology,” says AMT director of research and development, Jack Thirkell. The survey will be available both on…

THE COBS CAN! WORKBOOK by Omar Rabia Reviewed by Your Horse online editor and writer Amy Moore Think a piaffe is out of reach for your cuddly cob? Think again! This great book explains how to do all the fancy dressage moves and more with your horse and, as the proud owner of a cob, I’m feeling inspired! RARE TWIN FOALS If you haven’t seen the video BBC Look East shared of twin foals Tilly and Lilly yet, where have you been?! The pair, born to Welsh cob Rose, are said to have had a one in 10,000 chance of both surviving. YOUR HACKING PHOTOS With the spring well and truly underway, we’ve been loving seeing you all get out on your horses. Don’t miss your chance to sign up…

Small steps to a big goal Having set a goal of jumping 1m by my 50th birthday (having never ridden before), I achieved jumping 70cm. Since then I’ve continued to have weekly lessons and have even competed at a local dressage competition, coming third in my class and winning a rosette. I’ve also been jump training and completed a full 13 jump course during a recent lesson, which culminated in a final jump of 1m – achieving my goal before my 51st birthday. I’m now planning to compete in a jumping class along with more dressage. I think the key to success is to set yourself achievable goals and move forwards, celebrating each small success, learning from instructors and horses alike. Additional support from reading articles in Your Horse has…

We are delighted that Martin Collins is our official Training with Laura Tomlinson DVD sponsor and throughout the DVD you’ll see Lara Griffith riding horses Ampy and Kristjan on a Martin Collins surface at Laura’s beautiful Gloucestershire yard. “A good quality surface is hugely important when you’re riding and training top-class dressage horses. We train on a Martin Collins surface at home, and to compete at a venue on a Martin Collins surface is fantastic, as it gives me the confidence that we can perform to the very best of our ability,” says Laura Tomlinson of her various Martin Collins surfaces.” Setting the standard Martin Collins began developing innovative, synthetic surfaces for equestrian use more than 30 years ago and today Martin Collins Enterprises is the industry leader and innovator…

MEET THE EXPERT ANTONIA BROWN is a BHSI and is based in Northamptonshire, where she produces and sells young dressage horses. When Antonia’s not out competing, she spends her time coaching riders of all levels. USING THE SAME warm up, whether you’re at home or a competition, will instantly help your horse relax because everything you ask him to do will be familiar. Try not to spend too much time in walk – if he’s feeling particularly tense get him moving forwards. Start on the rein your horse finds the easiest, he’ll be more relaxed and willing. Soften the ribcage In trot, on a 20m circle, ask your horse to move away from your inside leg and then outside leg, gently encouraging him to give and soften through his ribcage.…

“WHEN I’M RIDING Malley I feel on a par with everyone else and forget about my disabilities. My weekly lessons with Alison combined with her support have helped me achieve so much and I continue to improve. My hopes for 2017 are to get out competing at Elementary level, as well as in para-classes. “My lessons are so much fun and I go home after each one with exercises I ride when I’m on my own. Together with the help of my sharer, Ellie, and careful management, Malley is fit and happy. Ellie does the things I can no longer do such as jumping. He’s ridden five to six days a week, we like to keep his work varied and it’s so important to keep him mobile at his age…

MEET THE EXPERT TONY WELSH is a veterinary surgeon and a senior member of the veterinary team at the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the sport’s governing body in the UK. Visit www.british horseracing.com for more details. WATCHED BY AROUND six million people every year, horse racing is the UK’s second most popular sport after football. Action-packed and unpredictable, it can certainly divide opinion. While some view it as the thrilling sport of kings, Before the race Every race meet starts in the same way – runners must arrive 45 minutes before their race and pass through a series of checks as they enter the racecourse. “This is for security and equine welfare reasons, to give us the chance to observe horses coming in and ensure they’re sound and fit,” says…

The condition Sweet itch, also known as pruritus, describes the sensation experienced by a horse in reaction to an underlying cause, most commonly the saliva from Culicoides midges. In a similar way to people reacting to some insect bites, there’s an intense desire to itch the affected area. It’s an allergic reaction and is a condition that’s particularly prevalent in native breeds, but can affect any horse, regardless of breed, type or age, and with varying degrees of severity. The most severely afflicted horses will scratch and scratch until they’ve rubbed skin raw and this can lead to secondary infections. Unless action is taken, this can become a cycle where the itching progressively causes greater trauma. Other less common causes of sweet itch are hypersensitivity to some feeds and reactions…

MENTION THE WORD mosquito to anyone, and they’ll probably groan in disgust. Nearly all of us have encountered them. They’re the small, annoying creatures that treat you as an all-you-can-eat buffet when you’re hosting a summer barbeque or trying to relax on holiday. Here in the UK, they’re not something we usually worry about (especially when it comes to our horses), but could that be about to change? While horse flies and midges are the sworn enemy of the summer, recent research from the University of Liverpool has suggested that mosquitoes could be closer to our four-legged friends than we originally thought. To find out more, we track down lead researcher and equine vet Gail Chapman to explain what’s going on. So what’s changed? Unless you’ve been living under a…

LUCY WALTON Is a product specialist at Neue Schule. To find out more, visit www.nsbits.com My mare is fussy in the mouth Q I own a five-year-old mare, who was broken last summer. I’ve had her teeth checked and she’s had a new saddle fitted. I’ve tried a flash noseband and a grackle but the tighter it is, the more she fiddles. I’ve also tried loose-ring snaffles, straight bars and French links. She’s always had a tendency to stick her tongue out and has quite a small mouth and a low palate. Do you have any ideas that I can try? Vikki Wraight, by email A Tongue evasions are sometimes down to habit, stress or more often than not , discomfort. If you can make her comfortable in the mouth…

TRACEY HAMMOND MSC is a nutritionist at Dengie Horse Feeds. She has an MS c in equine science and, when not working, loves hacking out with her horse, Polo. Is garlic safe? Q I’ve always fed my horse garlic when it gets warmer as I thought it helped with flies. I’ve recently heard that this is a myth and garlic is actually bad for horses. Is this true? If so, is there anything I can give my horse to help keep the flies at bay? Sarah Gray, Harrogate A Garlic is one of many herbs routinely used in horses’ diet, even though there’s little research specifically in horses to demonstrate benefit. Recent research has found that, at high levels, garlic supplementation causes Heinz body anaemia in horses. The levels used…

A lightweight layer Perfect for schooling in, the Cavallo Ivy jacket is made from a breathable bi-elastic stretch fabric that allows complete freedom of movement. PRICE £119 CONTACT www.zebraproducts.co.uk Cross-country protection The contoured ARMA Cross Country Boots feature tendon shields and padding to offer 360-degree protection to your horse’s lower legs, as well as a breathable cooling system for his comfort. PRICE £43.50 (front) £41.99 (hind) CONTACT www.shiresequestrian.com Colour coordinated The ANKY Saddle Pad has a silicone grip print on both sides to prevent your saddle from slipping, while a breathable Coolmax lining keeps your horse comfortable. You can also complete your look with a set of fleece ANKY bandages in a variety of matching colours. COLOURS Denim blue, desert palm, poppy red, blue marlin, sparkling silver, piscina, pretty pink,…

CONSTANT SCRATCHING CAN make the warmer months a misery for your horse if he suffers from sweet itch, which is caused by an allergic reaction to the bites of the Culicoides midge. There’s no cure for sweet itch, but there are things you can do to make him more comfortable. The three most commonly used ways to minimise your horse’s reaction to midge bites is to use a specially designed rug, apply a soothing lotion and feeding a supplement to support your horse’ s immune system and skin. In this month’s Buyer’s Guide, we’ve picked products from each of the three categories to help you pick a combination that’ll help make the months ahead RUGS Bucas Sweet Itch Rug PRICE £130 www.bucas.com This rug’s confusing zebra stripe is scientifically…

A website offering horse owners and equine vets access to the latest research and resources on common emergency conditions is launching with a special colic focused campaign. VetReact, set up by a research group at The University of Nottingham’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, will launch with a national campaign by the Nottingham Vet School and British Horse Society. ‘React Now To Beat Colic’ aims to help horse owners spot the early signs of colic, seek early diagnosis and treatment. “Colic continues to be one of the most dangerous conditions in the animal. At least one in 10 of these cases may become critical and up 80% of these end in the death of the horse,” says Dr John Burford from the Nottingham Vet School. Visit www.react.vet for details.…

Reading your editor’s letter in April’s issue of Your Horse, I found that your experiences rang so true for me and my first horse, too. Gold arrived in my yard without a stitch of tack or clothing. He was a liver chestnut, 19-year-old ex-steeplechaser! Don’t let age put you off – he could outrun all others on the yard. I was a straight-from-the-trekking-centre hopeful. Our first ride was terrifying. Not only did I have the wrong bit and saddle, but I was so tense that it must have been very uncomfortable for gold. I wouldn’t give up on him though, as I was worried Gold would be put to sleep if I did. He was the most loving horse and he was mine – goofy teeth, knock knees and all!…

Find it, fix it! Solve common schooling problems with advice from Paul Hayler FALLING ON THE forehand is a common problem as horses naturally carry two-thirds of their weight in their front end, and adding a rider to the mix can make matters worse. Teaching your horse to lift his forehand takes time, but is well worth the effort and can help you to achieve that perfect bouncy canter as he brings more weight onto his hindquarters. Are you ready to give it a go? FIND THE PROBLEM If your horse is falling on the forehand, his shoulders and neck will be lower than his croup. When it comes to thinking about your horse on the forehand, Paul suggests picturing a wheelbarrow. Like a wheelbarrow, most of his weight is…

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 THIRD part of our Hairy Hopefuls series, expert trainer Alison Short works with para-rider Jackie Lambert and her horse Malley. Jackie has had two mini strokes and three hip replacements, which has left Jackie with a lack of movement in her right side. Here, Alison uses exercises that help you stay as straight in the saddle as possible, and also focus on improving your coordination, as well as focusing on encouraging your horse to relax through his back and engage his hindquarters to…

TOGETHERNESS, THAT hard-to-describe-in-words bond between an owner and their horse is at the very heart of our relationship and our passion for what we do. We give our all to him, he gives back whatever we ask without question. And it’s all the more amazing because neither of us speaks the other’s language. As owners, the one thing that matters most is our need to have a strong and loving relationship with our horses. We witter away, wondering if he likes us or whether he’d rather be with someone else. Well, fret no more – we’re starting to find the answers. To start, let’s consider how many times you’ve watched a horse and owner on a yard and thought, ‘what a great relationship?’ and how many times is the opposite…

LUCINDA TICEHURST is a vet at Town & Country Equine Vets, in Leicestershire. She’s sponsored by SyncThermology as a point-to-point jockey. Riding in season Q My mare becomes very sensitive when she’s in season. Why is this and will riding her cause her pain? Anne Wood, Carmarthenshire A When mares come into season, they’ll have significant hormonal changes that can result in discomfort and mood swings. These changes coincide with a rapid rise in oestrogen and the egg being released from the ovary (ovulation). A ‘normal season’ shouldn’t prevent your mare from being ridden comfortably, but a sudden and severe change in temperament is likely to be pain related and this should be investigated by a vet. They can determine when your mare’s ovulation is and whether the behaviour changes…

SUZANNE DAY-ADAMS’ pony, Fancy, is prone to laminitis. Studies have shown that ponies turned out without a muzzle can consume up to 5% of their own bodyweight in grass, which is more than twice as much as they need. Suzanne is already restricting Fancy’s time out at pasture and using strip grazing, but she could consider turning her out at night when the grass contains less fructan (storage form of sugar). She could also try a grazing muzzle – this can reduce intake by up to 80% but it must be properly fitted and she must let Fancy get used to it before leaving it on for long periods. Regular exercise will help keep Fancy’s waistline in check. When the grass is at its most lush, Suzanne may need to…

Charles Owen Leather Look Ayr8 with Piping Price £252-£302.40 IF IT’S GOOD ENOUGH FOR CHARLOTTE D… The Ayr8 blends exceptional safety technology with elegance. Available in microfibre suede or leather look in a variety of colours and piping colours, so you can match your outfit. Kitemarked to PAS015:2011, VG1 01.040 2014-12, CE marked to VG1 01.040 2014-12 and certified by SEI to ASTM F1163-15. CONTACT www.charlesowen.co.uk Uvex Suxxeed Glamour Price £399.95 GLAMOUR BY NAME, GLAMOUR BY NATURE You’re sure to turn heads in this fabulous looking hat from uvex. If brown and gold aren’t your cup of tea, it’s also available in black, silver, blue or blue/silver. The size can be adjusted for perfect fit by adjusting the dial at the back of the hat. The Glamour is BSI…