Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 455 i Your Horse

IF, LIKE ME, you love to know what exercises the professionals use to train their horses, you’re in for a real treat this issue. From the world of eventing, we have two of the very best. First, Zara Tindall shares with us how she teaches her horses to jump skinny fences with ease. Follow her progressive way of training and you’ll be brimming with confidence as you set out on your next cross-country round (p34). Then from one former eventing world champion to the current title holder, Ros Canter. In this issue, Ros pushes you out of your comfort zone at home — something I know I need from time to time — to help you perform at your best in competition. Her seemingly straightforward exercises will really challenge both…

HOOF HEALTH Scientists reveal new theory about hoof disease New light has been shed on a crippling hoof disease in horses, thanks to research undertaken at the University of Nottingham. The scientific study reveals clues about the causes and potential treatment of specific hoof diseases, including the ‘Aladdin’s slipper’ conformation and the potential onset of laminitis. It challenges the traditional perception that weight is necessarily a significant risk factor. The researchers completed a field study of 129 horses, using 3D ‘Synchrotron’ imaging techniques, paying particular attention to hoof growth rate, weight-bearing and misshapen hooves. Their results indicate where the stress in hoof growth originates and how hoof misshaping is linked to the asymmetrical design of equids’ feet, coupled with an inability of the biological growth stress to compensate for this…

1 Common Riding is one of the oldest equestrian festivals in the world, dating from the 13th century. 2 The Scottish Borders has over 350km of waymarked horse-accessible trails. 3 The Borders has produced more top jockeys and riders than anywhere else in the UK. 4 Evidence of the horse in the Scottish Borders goes back to 80BC with the (failed) attempts by the Romans to subdue the North. 5 The Scottish Borders has more horses per head of population than anywhere else in the UK.…

THE SUFFOLK PUNCH is an English breed of draught horse which, for hundreds of years, was used on farms, particularly to till the fields. The breed is unique in its shape and can only be ‘chesnut’ in colour — traditionally spelled without the middle ‘t’. The shade can vary from rich, dark liver to a light mealy colour, occasionally with a white star, but no other white markings. It’s almost certain that the genes for its very large size came from Belgium. Every Suffolk horse can be traced back to one stallion, known as Crisp’s Horse of Ufford, foaled in 1768, giving the Suffolk Punch the earliest stud book of any heavy horse breed. The Suffolk Punch is unfortunately now the rarest horse in Britain, but it has a dedicated…

■ MGH TOKYO PHIL — Home bred by Wings, an AES stallion by Manhattan, MGH Tokoyo Phil is out of a Thoroughbred mare called Sudoko. The eight-year-old is owned by Karla Wheatcroft. “He’s a flashy mover, a careful jumper and very good cross-country,” says Lucy. “He’s a laid-back character, so he could do with discovering a bit of urgency, but he doesn’t really have a weak phase.” ■ HHS NOBLE CALL — An eight-year-old gelding by Heritage Fortunis, HHS Noble Call was bred in Ireland and launched his eventing career last year. “He showjumped until he was six and has already been well placed in intermediates. He’s a fantastic cross-country horse, but he’s a little tricky on the flat as he can get distracted,” notes Lucy. “He’s an out and…

1 Douglas Bay Horse Tramway first opened in 1876. It closed for a period during the Second World War. 2 It has changed ownership twice since then and became at risk of closure again following financial loss in 2015. More than 2,000 people signed a petition to save it. 3 The tramway is a 3ft narrow gauge, double track that runs down the middle of the road. 4 It is the world’s last remaining 19th century original horse-drawn passenger tramway. 5 A similar horse-pulling service also exists in South Australia. 6 Passengers pay £1 per round trip. 7 There are currently 16 tram horses, who work from May to November. There are also 13 youngsters in training.…

Splish splash Clocking up a summery 10 miles at the beautiful Rademon Estate for some endurance training. @emma_hayes.endurance, Instagram Dinner time Maximus loves munching on his favourite food — haylage. He even eats it with his eyes closed, enjoying the sun. Bethany Horn, by email Say it with flowers My pony Glen has a love for cow parsley and likes to bring us bouquets of it. Lottie Pezzotta, by email That’s my name Neptune approves of his new stable sign as spotted in @yourhorse magazine, courtesy of @notonthe highstreet. @alisonkenward, Instagram Inspiration strikes My grandparents were having a clear-out when I spotted an old wine rack. My mum loves her horsey lotions and potions so I thought it would make great storage for them. Now we can see what we’ve…

YOUR HORSE HAS three basic paces — walk, trot and canter. Within each of these there are a number of different gears for you to experiment with — training your horse to collect his canter, or float across the arena in an extended trot, is the aim for many riders. However, you don’t need to be a budding dressage diva to train your horse to perform these movements correctly. Riding your horse up and down the gears in each pace will help to improve his suppleness, engagement and strength, which all means you’re developing his paces to the max, while also helping to keep him healthy and sound. This ulitmate guide takes you on a journey through each of the paces and how to ride them. Walk Walk is a…

■ Using poles with coloured stripes makes it easier to judge whether you’re jumping straight. Aim for the central stripe. ■ Take a short break before starting a new exercise so that your horse can process what he’s learnt. Walk around the arena or do a couple of figure of eights, but keep the walk active. ■ Get your horse used to working in an arena containing jumps, even if you don’t plan on using them. Work around them. ■ Walk the courses you set up at home as you would at a competition. Not only will this ensure you’re not making the course unnecessarily hard for your horse, it’s also great practice for competitions.…

There is scope to give Ruby more freedom in her head and neck to improve the quality of movement. The aim is to increase her ability to elevate the base of her neck, and flex and side-bend her upper neck. By raising the base of the neck, she’ll be able to support and lift her thoracic spine (the area underneath the rider). This will also help stimulate her abdominal musculature. Both suggested exercises can be done in the stable. Five minutes, twice a day, could be more worthwhile than time spent using a training aid. Exercise 1 Stand by your horse’s shoulder and hold the withers. Gently rock the area towards you, backwards and forwards and side-to-side, rocking gently and slowly. This motion stimulates the proprioceptors, improving your horse’s balance.…

Joint inflammation (synovitis) can be caused by hard ground, and the associated jarring of joints causes pain and lameness. Horses’ joints have developed to handle concussive force, with cartilage providing a cushion on the two bone ends that come into contact within a joint. Straight joints, such as coffin joints, knees and hocks, take a lot of force from the ground and are more likely to develop issues such as arthritis, one of the most common causes of lameness. Cartilage is a smooth, resilient and elastic tissue that absorbs forces. In the early stages of arthritis, cartilage becomes damaged, so the joint can no longer absorb forces as effectively. Diagnosis & treatment X-rays can confirm the presence of arthritis, but may not be sensitive enough to identify mild forms of…

BIOSECURITY COMPRISES steps taken to prevent an infectious disease being brought onto a yard, or steps to prevent a disease spreading within or off the yard. Biosecurity at shows is hugely important as at these events a huge number of horses of unknown health status are mixing and then travelling back to their yards, potentially taking disease back with them and therefore spreading disease. The equine influenza outbreak earlier this year highlighted the risk of diseases spreading at competitions, with racing cancelled for six days in February. It followed the diagnosis of equine influenza on a racing yard in Cheshire, including a horse that had been racing in Scotland. Many diseases — including equine influenza and the equine herpes virus — can be transmitted via airborne spread, direct contact or…

Hot weather p94 Alistair Love is an equine veterinary surgeon from Clevedale Vets in North Yorkshire. He holds the RCVS certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice, specialising in equine practice. TREC p96 Evie O’Keeffe is a TREC trainer based in North Yorkshire, who runs clinics for all levels of ‘TRECcies’. She has been involved with TREC since 2004 as a competitor, judge and organiser. Road riding p98 Alan Hiscox is director of safety at The British Horse Society. Prior to this, he served 26 years in the Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch and 14 years as chief equitation officer at the Met’s training school. Confidence p100 Sue Gould-Wright is a qualified sports massage therapist and rider confidence coach. Based in Suffolk, she works with clients on all aspects…

Scary statistics Q Stories on social media have made me terrified of riding on the roads. Is the number of accidents really increasing and, if so, why? Or is it just that incidents are being reported more? Lizzie Whiteread, Gloucestershire Alan says... Riding on the roads does occasionally challenge both horse and rider, but by ensuring you are constantly aware of your surroundings — what’s up ahead, behind and alongside — this allows you to prepare and plan where and how you ride. Taking appropriate training and knowing you are in control of your horse means you’ll enjoy your ride more. However, the British Horse Society has indeed seen an increase in the number of incidents reported to horseaccidents.org.uk in the last year. Story behind the numbers We shouldn’t ignore…

Nerve block Q I constantly let myself and my horse down at competitions. At home, in lessons, we produce nice performances, but my nerves are ruining our competitive chances. My legs turn to jelly and I can barely think straight, so I forget where I’m going and ride badly. Watching back videos is embarrassing. I know I’m better than this — please help! Vanessa Mills, Oxford Sue says... You’re far from alone in suffering from competition nerves; even top-level riders get the same jelly legs and mind in a muddle. We need to understand there’s a particular part of the brain causing these reactions and that you can regain control when ‘she’ starts to take over. A quick look at the evolution of the human brain can help us to…

Features editor Stephanie Anthony: I was lucky enough to take a trip to the Scottish Borders recently and experience the fabulous hacking this beautiful region has to offer. Find out more about my travels on page 10. Freelance features writer Julie Brown: The supplement business is booming and joint care supplements are especially popular, but do we really understand which to use and why we use them? I explore this fascinating subject on page 124. Eventer Zara Tindall: Skinny fences are part and parcel of most cross-country courses. If this obstacle is your nemesis, try out my simple exercises to boost you and your horse’s confidence so you’re ready for your next competition. Page 34 Vet Ryan McCarthy MRCVS: The warmer weather means more time to spend out and about…

What better way to rack up the miles than with a dedicated riding holiday with your best equine buddy? We asked our #Hack1000Miles challengers if they’ve ever been on a hacking holiday. This is how you voted: “I rode through Thetford Forest and across Holkham beach in Norfolk this May, and I’ve done several other hacking holidays on my older mare in the past. I’m hoping to try some other different places soon with my friend Carla.” Claire Seaward “I’ve ridden part of the Pennine Way, the Ridgeway, Radnor Forest and Thetford Forest, as well as joining up the Icknield Way, Swanns Way and Three Shires Way. We do B&B with the ponies en route — it’s great fun.” Sue Squirrell “I’ve been to the Cotswolds four times — there’s…

❋ In 1966, there were only nine Suffolk Punch foals registered. ❋ The county is renowned for something called the Suffolk Trinity — the Suffolk horse, the Red Poll cow and the Suffolk sheep. ❋ One of the most important uses of the Suffolk horse nowadays, from a purely commercial point of view, is crossing the breed with Thoroughbreds to produce hunters. ❋ The Suffolk Horse Society holds an annual Suffolk Punch Spectacular (1 September at Marks Hall near Coggeshall) and a ploughing match (6 October at Bucklesham).…

In addition to the retired tram horses, the Home of Rest for Old Horses also takes in ex-riding ponies and donkeys. While all are left to build their own friendships within the herds, the tram horses tend to stick together. “Many will have worked together and are reunited when they arrive with us,” says Jill. An unlikely friendship has formed between retired tram horse Tim, 25, and the oldest resident, 39-year-old Shetland pony Dougal. They are inseparable and wherever Tim goes, Dougal is never far behind. Allowing the horses to develop their own friendships in a natural environment ensures the Home of Rest remains a calm, stress-free environment for residents and visitors alike.…

HERD BOUND They will get used to being alone if you keep at it. One of mine is quite herd bound and I had to walk him away in-hand until he was out of sight and hearing of his herd. He’s lots better now. Jacqui Trim-Tupper A NEW START My mare and her field buddy were inseparable — they would go mental without one another. In the end, I decided to separate them and we moved stables so she could see other horses. I was dreading it, but it worked like a dream — she’s a different girl now. Teri McNeil OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND My retired Thoroughbred mare is super-needy. She shouts and runs around like an idiot when I take my other mare in, even if…

Understanding how your horse’s eyes being on either side of his head affects his jumping ability is imperative, says Mark. ■ “A horse can see through 340 degrees, but not 10 degrees directly in front, or 10 degrees directly behind,” he explains. ■ “This means that as he gets to within 10-12ft of the fence, he can’t see the part of the fence he’s jumping and so he draws more information from the sides. ■ “If the fence is a skinny, it’s harder still for your horse to read because, at best, he only sees it out of one eye and can see just a wide open space with the other. ■ “Skinnies are used regularly on cross-country courses at all levels, so in the pursuit of safety and success,…

HATS OFF ■ Traditionally, the type of hat worn when riding indictated relationship status — single ladies would wear a bowler, while married women wore a silk top hat. ■ In the show ring, a collar and tie is worn with a bowler. With a silk hat (only to be worn after midday) you wear a cream four-fold stock and white stock shirt. ■ You can also wear a hard hat in showing classes and a hard hat should be worn for jumping. ‘GO’ BUTTONS ■ Cane/crop Ths side-saddle cane is slightly stiffer and thicker than the usual riding crop/ whip. The cane/crop replaces the rider’s right leg, so it’s always held in the right hand. The cane is used to apply pressure and to tap your horse’s right flank.…

Tom is using these exercises to teach his five-year old gelding, Just In Time (Bentley). “He’s a bit of a slow starter and, when jumping, horses need to be ready for anything. So in Bentley’s training, I focus a lot on teaching him to speed up his reaction times,” explains Tom. “He’s a smaller horse than I’m used to, so I keep an eye on my body position and make sure I’m not leaning too far back or forward.” Tom summarises that the most important thing for any horse when jumping, regardless of his age, is going straight. It’s a skill that must be taught early on and correctly, and continually worked on throughout your horse’s career.…

Around 90% of laminitis cases are associated with an underlying hormonal conditiion such as Equine Cushing’s disease5 , so it’s important to recognise the signs of laminitis promptly and test for underlying hormonal diseases such as Cushing’s. Recent research shows laminitis is not always easy to spot6 . Signs such as a horse being “footy” on hard ground when turning, being sore following farriery, or the appearance of divergent hoof rings are often missed.…

DR KATHRYN NANKERVIS  set up the Equine Therapy Centre at Hartpury University in 1999 and oversees all the commercial and research activity within the Equine Therapy Centre and the Margaret Giffen Centre for Rider Performance. Osteopath LIZ LAUNDER  has been involved in the investigation and treatment of injury in horses for nearly 30 years. She treats many of the Equine Therapy Centre’s inpatients and outpatients on a referral basis. For more information, visit hartpury.ac.uk/commercial/equine/ the-equine-therapy-centre .…

■ Uphill: If your horse is uphill (the withers are higher than the croup, coupled with a high-set on neck), lowering the head may not be as effective in lifting the thoracic spine behind the withers. ■ Downhill: Here, the croup is higher than the withers. The neck may be low-set on, too. Essentially, a big engine on a small front can work well, but the pressure on the joints may lead to joint and/or suspensory problems in time. It can also mean your horse is permanently on the forehand. If he’s downhill because he has a low-set on neck, he may find it hard to flex the base of the neck. ■ Croup-high: Horses who are croup-high (above) will be less effective in lifting the back and supporting the…

Follow these management tips to help reduce hard-ground related injury: ■ To keep hooves at their best, pick your horse’s feet out daily and apply hoof moisturiser. Moisture in the hoof capsule will improve its flexibility and shock absorption. ■ If your horse has worked on hard ground, cold hose his legs for 10 minutes or use ice boots or wraps for at least 15 minutes. ■ Ensure he’s fit before working him on hard ground. Interval training is useful and trotting poles/raised poles improve the range of motion in the joints. ■ Water treadmills can help improve joint function and flexibility, as well as encouraging your horse to work straight and engage his core. ■ Working regularly on roads and hard ground does not harden bones, joints and tendons,…

Summer dangers Q I’m new to horse ownership and am looking forward to spending the summer with my horse. However, I’m worried about making ‘rookie’ mistakes that might cause unintended suffering. What do I need to be aware of? Eve Bell, Essex Alistair says... There are a few things to look out for in hot weather, some more obvious than others. You should certainly consider the following. Hot stabling and transport Most horses are turned out over the summer, but if your horse is stabled or travelling, you need to monitor the temperature, ensure plenty of ventilation and introduce fans if necessary. As a general rule, 25°C takes a horse beyond the thermoneutral zone, where his ability to control his own temperature through movement, eating, drinking and so on, becomes…

Back in the saddle Q I was always a confident rider but, after a 12-year break, I’m feeling very apprehensive about starting again, even though I’m desperate to have horses in my life once more. What advice can you offer about building my confidence from scratch? Harriet Bracknell, West Sussex Sue says... Taking a break from riding is a common occurrence, as is the feeling of apprehension when you do make the decision to get back in the saddle. There are quite a few different ways we can approach your nervousness, but we also need to explore where it has come from. A lot of changes have no doubt happened in the 12 years — you probably have more responsibilities than you had before, for example, so it’s important that…

Test report: My horses are usually fussy, but they eat every bit of their SPILLERS® HAPPY HOOF® Molasses Free. The smell is lovely and their bowls are licked clean, they enjoy it that much. With the low sugar and starch content, it’s great for my good doer who is able to still enjoy a great-tasting chaff, and with the added biotin, it’s good to know my horses’ hooves are being cared for from the inside out. Feed Fact File: SPILLERS® HAPPY HOOF® Molasses Free is a blend of soft fibres, garlic and oil and a high level of biotin (5mg per kilo) to support healthy hoof growth and contains no added sugar. It can be used as a partial or total hay replacer and is approved by The Laminitis Trust.…

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Most breastplates also have a martingale attachment. There are two types — running and standing. Both are designed to stop your horse putting his head up too high. RUNNING MARTINGALE: Each rein passes through a ring on the martingale. The martingale shouldn’t pull down on the reins — if it does, the length is too short. Remember to fit rein stops too, so that the martingale rings don’t slide up to the bit rings. STANDING MARTINGALE: This is a single strap that attaches to the back of the noseband on your bridle. It’s very important this isn’t too short — when unfastened, the strap should reach up to your horse’s throat.…

■ We use 4Cyte on both our showjumpers and racehorses and have seen a very positive difference — Beth Smart ■ Turmeric paste for arthritis in one horse and as a preventative measure for a showjumper. Also fenugreek to complement the turmeric — Ais Ni Haodha ■ The efficacy in humans is questionable and, as a surgeon told me, for a horse you’d need a massive dose over a long duration to be worth it. Best thing for bone health is calcium/ vitamin D, low-impact or weight-bearing activities and swimming — Mary Lloyd ■ Ten years ago, my 15.1hh cob became stuck with his hock between the top two bars in a metal gate. He fell over with his hock still stuck. He survived and I’ve fed a joint supplement…

HOW OFTEN DO you pull up after a showjumping or cross-country round and think “that didn’t feel as easy as it does at home”? The difference is that at home, you’re not putting yourself under the same level of pressure to perform. The solution? Putting pressure on yourself when you’re training, so that when little errors creep in, you learn to ride through them. The answer isn’t correcting your horse every single time; it’s working together to manage the situation and feeling equipped to cope with the unexpected. This was a key message delivered by eventing world champion Ros Canter in her ‘4 years to 4*’ demos. The following exercises will help you achieve this. EXERCISE 1: CORNER TO CORNER This exercise appears simple, but it’s physically demanding and hard…

■ The first thing you’ll notice are the pommels. The top one is called the queen and the bottom is the leaping head. Sidesaddle technique is to hook your right leg over the top of the queen, with the leaping head curving over your left thigh. ■ Both pommels help keep you safe and secure in the saddle and are usually adjustable. There are a range of pommel styles — pictured (left) is a block head. ■ The stirrup comes in various styles. The photograph shows a Champion & Wilton-style saddle with its own stirrup. The hook where the stirrup is fixed detaches if the rider is unseated. Safety stirrups with a detachable base can also be used to prevent the rider’s foot getting stuck. ■ Another unique feature of…

They may not be on your to-do list, but Tom is an advocate of flying changes. “Rowland Fernyhough [a highly experienced Olympic and Nations Cup team member] taught me not to be afraid to do a flying change early in a horse’s training,” says Tom. “It can be good to see if they can do the difficult thing first.” It’s important that there is no pressure placed on your horse though. If he doesn’t understand what you’re asking of him, don’t panic. Trial and error, particularly with young or inexperienced horses, isn’t always a bad thing. “Don’t stress and start worrying — that will make your horse stress and worry,” adds Tom. “The earlier you start work on this the better, so you’ve plenty of time. “Never be afraid to…

1. Durham AE. Endocrine disease in aged horses. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2016;32:301–315. 2. McFarlane D. Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2011;27:93–11. 3. McGowan TW et al. Prevalence, risk factors and clinical signs predictive for equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in aged horses. Equine Vet J. 2013;45(1):74-79.). 4. Ireland J et al (2014). Comparison of owner reported health problems with veterinary assessment of geriatric horses in the UK. Equine Vet J. 5. Karikoski NJ et al (2011). The prevalence of endocrinopathic laminitis among horses presented for laminitis at a first-opinion/ referral equine hospital Domestic Animal Endocrinology 41. 111-117. 6. Pollard D et al (2017). Assessment of horse owners’ ability to recognise equine laminitis: A cross sectional study of 93 veterinary diagnosed cases…

Athena is crooked in a straight line. The right side of her pelvis — and therefore her back — is lowered on the right-hand side as a result of the right hind travelling towards the midline, instead of following the right forelimb. We need to move the right hind laterally (to the right) away from the midline. This movement pattern is common in horses with hock discomfort.  Veterinary intervention alongside targeted exercise and physical therapy is usually more beneficial than exercise alone. Athena’s saddle ahould also be checked by a qualified saddle fitter to ensure it is balanced and does not compress the muscles behind the withers. Exercise 1 Putting the right hind behind the right fore by asking her to move sideways to the right in exercises such as…

Karen Simons has owned 10hh Shetland/British spotted pony cross Ruby for five years. Ruby was severely obese when Karen got her and this caused pedal bone rotation, chronic laminitis and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). Her hooves were in poor condition too. Karen’s farrier has done an excellent job of correcting the rotation, but Ruby’s hooves were still very weak and crumbling. “She couldn’t cope on hard surfaces and was often sore after exercise on hard ground, even just at a walk,” explains Karen. “I wanted to try a supplement to improve the quality and strength of her hooves and a friend recommended one that she had tried. Within three weeks, Ruby’s hooves were stronger and in a much better condition, thanks to the added biotin. She’s now been on the…

Ringworm Ringworm is the most common fungal infection of horses in the UK. Contrary to the name, it’s not caused by a worm and does not always present as a ring. Initially, the hair falls out and leaves a sore, which develops into the classic grey flaking lesion. The lesions can be any shape and appear anywhere on the body, though they often occur on the limbs and face. Ringworm is more common in younger and older animals, as well as horses with a compromised immune system for whatever reason. It’s usually diagnosed by its appearance, but can also be confirmed by looking at a hair sample under a microscope. Laboratories can also grow the fungus from samples or look for the presence of its DNA. Ringworm is highly infectious…

GOT A PROBLEM? Need an answer? We’ll know someone who can help Welcome to our Ask The Experts section. In the next nine pages, we solve your horsey dilemmas by taking them to those in the industry who know best. This month’s panel (left) answer your questions about road riding, confidence, TREC and hot weather. Email your question to getinvolved@yourhorse.co.uk. Proud sponsors of Ask The Experts, spillers-feeds.com…

TREC newbie Q Our riding club is holding a TREC day shortly, but I’ve no idea what it’s all about. Can you explain what we’ll likely be doing? Emma Stone, Portsmouth Evie says... There are three phases to TREC and your training day may incorporate one or all of them, so you’ll need to check with the organiser and trainer about their particular plans for the day. The training available will depend on the facilities. You could be doing any or all of the following, the titles of which are abbreviations of their full French names. POR — ORIENTEERING POR is a form of orienteering — copying a route onto a blank map, then navigating your way around it with optimum speeds for each section. You will need to recognise…

1 If I hurt myself, I can’t look after my family. 2If I fall off and have to take time off to recover, I’ll be letting my employer and colleagues down. 3 I’m self-employed, so I can’t afford to take time off. 4I feel guilty spending time and money on myself. Write yourself a list like this, then go through it as if you were reading a friend’s answers and trying to show them their concerns are unfounded. By working through your list, you’ll see that there is always a way to overcome your perceived consequences.…

Your stirrups play a key role in helping you feel safe and secure when riding. Many new designs use clever features to improve your position, while a number have additional safety features that mean your foot is released from the stirrup in the event of a tumble. The new Rid’Up stirrup is a little different from some of the others you may have seen, as it has a hinged junction with the stirrup leather. This unique mechanism is based on proven ski-binding technology (the device that connects your ski boots to your skis). This offers several benefits: ■ It allows you to maintain a correct position in the saddle. ■ Promotes a secure but flexible leg. ■ Enables more precise aids to be given. ■ Provides security in normal use,…