Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 462 i Your Horse

WORK/LIFE BALANCE is a phrase we hear a lot these days. Add a horse or two and you can find yourself perfecting the art of juggling. This is fine up to a point and most of us learn to just get on with it and cope, but sometimes this juggling act can have a big impact on you and your horse. I’ve learnt over the years that if I’m going to ride during the week I need to do it before work. If I try to train after work it rarely ends well, as when I’m tired, I struggle to focus. I’ve also been to competitions not fully prepared and have come away extremely disappointed with the results. Having the right mindset is crucial for success and by using some…

TREASURED MEMORIES This rustic wooden 6x4in photo frame can be personalised to include a message of your choice hand-engraved into the wood for a beautiful natural effect. RRP £13.49 etsy.com BRUSH UP This good quality, medium-sized dandy brush with vibrant red bristles and a personalised reverse makes a great gift for a horse-mad friend. RRP £16.50 etsy.com CONFIDENCE BOOST The ‘Brave Pants’ candle from Flame and Tonic is for those days when you need a dose of bravery before getting on your horse. The hand-poured soy wax candle is scented with uplifting bergamot, orange and mandarin, plus 10% of the proceeds go to Ash Rescue Centre in Dartmouth, Devon. RRP £12 etsy.com…

I wouldn’t dream of not being insured. You never know what’s around the corner. Even with the most straightforward horse, things can go wrong. Anna Dawson-Jones I have BHS Gold, which includes third party cover for my horses. My oldie isn’t insured for vet fees, but the others are. I can cover his ‘normal’ vet costs from savings and I wouldn’t put him through a big operation like colic surgery anyway. Claudia Nacke I have always had insurance — I think picking the right one is key. The most important aspects for me are public liability cover and vet bills. Diane Fowler I don’t insure, but I do put money away each month to ‘self-insure’. Nikki Murphy Absolutely, yes — public liability, vet bills, anything going for us. Hacking is…

Writer Lorna Gray owns a retired dressage horse and a traditional cob. She’s also the publisher behind former champion eventer Polly Williamson’s bestselling book Where did I go? Rediscovering my identity, lost after a traumatic brain injury. My job... I run a small book publishing business in Gloucestershire called Crumps Barn Studio. My passions are equine and farming memoirs and poetry. I’m also an author of vintage mysteries. I’ve been working with books in one form or another for about seven years. They’re an addiction. The ups... The best part about publishing is the extraordinary stories people can tell. They don’t have to be famous or to have changed the world; they just have to be passionate about what they do. For me, the moment their email pops into my…

‘Whiskers and all!’ Further to your article on whiskers in issue 459, I compete at the highest level of side-saddle and this season is the first season I've left whiskers on. Previously I've always taken them off for showing. Now there is too much scientific evidence to do otherwise, hence they stay on. I’m interested in science and biology and studied equine science at university. The scientific evidence suggests that removing whiskers is/can be detrimental, and the fact that removal of whiskers has been banned in other countries due to the evidence is something we can’t ignore. My horse Cow Pony (stable name Bertie) looks just as elegant with his whiskers on, and it hasn't affected his results — Bertie was side-saddle horse of the year, whiskers and all! Chloe…

Grooming marvellous My daughter Hannah — and friends — in Norway, where she’s a groom at the Norwegian Polo Club. She loves her job and the family she works for. Amanda Ackerman, Solihull Deer friend I love my girl Bambi with all my heart. Lisa Whitbread, Somerset Now we see you! Peeking through Ziva’s ears. Becky Draycott, Lincolnshire Supporting role This is Olly, our little miniature mascot for Pony Club. Amy Louise Humphrey, Pembrokeshire The good life This is me and my retired boy Roscoe. Rebecca Herbert, Northamptonshire Sunny days Me and my Dexter. Emily-Louise Ion, Hampshire A spring in her step This is my beautiful mare April. She’s 18 years old and just loves life! Stephanie Lycett, County Durham Mr moustache Here’s lovely Little Buddy. Charlie Jefferies, Oxfordshire The…

“You’ll only stay motivated if your goal is truly compelling. How much work are you able to put in? Factor this in when you set your goals to make sure you’re being realistic” WORKING TOWARDS achieving a goal is powerful and motivational and a great way to ensure that you’re progressing in the right direction. Don’t make setting goals a chore or over-complicated, though, as this will just delay you or put you off altogether. Instead follow our three-point plan for guaranteed success. 1 Choose one thing If your riding goals run over two sides of A4, your goal-setting strategy has gone a bit skew-whiff. Don’t worry; it’s perfectly normal to get carried away like this — setting new goals is exciting, right? But the more goals you have, the…

Avoid killing the canter Q My instructor always warns me not to ‘kill the canter’, but I’m not sure how I’d be causing this or how to avoid it. What exactly does he mean? Madeline Welland, Derby Philippa says: ‘Killing the canter’ basically means shortening the canter, usually by unnecessary use of collection aids beyond the most desirable and optimum canter for jumping. The reasons for this might include: Favourite leg Q What should I do when riding horses who consistently favour a leg and end up on the wrong lead mid-course? Nadine Black, Frome Philippa says: To address this issue, practise riding down the quarter line over a single pole halfway down. Do this in a good jumping canter and ride a quality turn at each end, paying particular…

Team player Q How does an everyday rider get involved in polo? Laura Carnegie, Ripon Claudia says: There are over 600 polo establishments in the UK that teach polo. The majority offer polo taster sessions, which see you playing polo within a couple of hours. Most clubs are members of the sport’s governing body, Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), which oversees coaching in the UK. In general, polo coaches are hugely enthusiastic about the sport and their passion for polo is infectious. Find your nearest club and just give it a go — you’re guaranteed to have a brilliant time! Career change Q What is the typical background of a polo pony? Becka Mills, Powys Claudia says: Polo ponies can be of any breed or combination of breeds, but many have…

WORLD-CLASS CROSS-COUNTRY action on the beautiful Chatsworth Estate awaits the winners of this fabulous competition from leading feed manufacturer Dodson & Horrell. The Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials runs from 15-17 May 2020 and five lucky Your Horse readers will have the chance to spend the day there. Each prize includes four tickets for Saturday 16 May and a course-walk with a Dodson & Horrell Brand Ambassador, such as Tom McEwen, Piggy French, Harry Meade, Laura Collett or Willa Newton, who’ll share their tips on how to ride the renowned CCI4*-S course. The winners will then watch all the top eventing stars in action as they compete in the magnificent Peak District setting in front of Chatsworth House. They will also receive expert nutritional advice specific to their…

“Wish’s behaviour with the vet — and in particular, having her routine jab — had become increasingly difficult,” says Allison Lowther, Your Horse acting editor. “Each year her reaction was getting more extreme. She’d rear up and generally be very difficult. “Thankfully, in 2018, vet Mark Bowen had the honour of vaccinating her. He took his time with her and used clicker training. Quite quickly Wish became more relaxed and after about 45 minutes of working with her he was able to vaccinate her. “He suggested I should continue with this type of training to help break the cycle of behaviour, so I went along to a clinic with a South African trainer called Jenku Dietrichsen. I explained the reasons for going and we started off with some general groundwork…

AFTER OONAGH O’BRIEN realised that her Grade B showjumper Cody, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse, wasn’t lying down in his stable, she introduced rubber matting and it made a huge difference. “It was actually the Trackener that alerted me to the fact that Cody seemed to be very restless at night,” said Oonagh. “Just before I was sent the Trackener on trial, Cody was kicked in the shoulder by another horse. He was very lame, could barely stand on the leg and I was really worried about him. Thanks to the amazing Cork physio Rory O’Brien and plenty of rest, though, he made a full recovery. “It was during this time that I noticed his sleep pattern was really erratic. He would lie down for just a few minutes and…

THE WARNING SIGNS that Merlin, a six-year-old Warmblood gelding, may have had a gastric ulcer included reduced performance and a change in behaviour when ridden. He also resented being tacked up (in particular having his girth done up), was reluctant to go forwards when ridden, and would throw in the odd buck too, which was very out of character. Merlin’s saddle fit had recently been checked by a master saddler and he received regular routine physiotherapy sessions. He was otherwise reported as fit and well. A physical examination — including back palpation and assessment for lameness — revealed nothing abnormal. Gastroscopy was recommended as the next logical step and this revealed two erosive lesions on the upper glandular mucosa leading to the pylorus. There was no evidence of squamous ulceration.…

Most owners find it impossible to keep an eye on their horse 24/7 or have someone to watch them all the time. CCTV can be useful, but it doesn’t monitor your horse’s activity levels, heart rate or sleep patterns. However, there’s a clever new device available that can keep a watchful eye on him. Trackener is a 24-hour equine remote monitoring system that provides you with information on your horse’s activity, sleep, location, heart rate and more, giving you peace of mind wherever you are. It can even alert you in case of a critical problem like colic. Trackener is a simple, easy to use device with inbuilt GPS and motion sensors. It comes with a bib with a pouch to hold the device, a belt with a heart rate…

SEALSKINZ WATERPROOF COLD WEATHER BEANIE HAT RRP £25 COLOURS Navy blue, black, grey, neon yellow SIZE S — XXL BUY AT sealskinz.com This lightweight beanie has been a godsend this winter. It’s lightweight and waterproof, and warm but not too warm. It’s a great option to wear at the yard and more practical than a hood on your jacket. CHARLOTTEDUJARDIN COLLECTIONREVERSIBLE HEADWARMER RRP £45 COLOURS Beige/natural taupe, beige/navy SIZE One size BUY AT annabelbrocks.com This super-stylish headwarmer is the perfect choice if you’re out for a walk with the dog or spectating at an event. It’s comfortable and cosy — plus your hair doesn’t have that ‘I’ve been wearing a hat look’ when you take it off. STIERNA STELLA BEANIE RRP £20 COLOUR Grey SIZE One size FOR STOCKISTS stierna.com…

HORSES, AS WE all know, can be unpredictable and riding is never going to be seen as a low-risk sport. Head injuries present the most serious danger, so always wear a protective hat to the latest standards when riding — and preferably when handling your horse too. When it comes to safety there should be no compromise. Developments in materials and design mean that most hats are now lightweight and well ventilated to keep your head cool — and they look good too. When you buy a new hat, you need to consider what you do with your horse. If you compete, you’ll need to make sure that your new hat conforms to the regulations and rules of the relevant governing body (see panel below). The right fit Comfort and…

Features editor Stephanie Anthony: How well does your horse sleep — and why does a lack of sleep matter? Learn more about the importance of your horse’s siestas and what you can do to ensure he gets enough shut-eye. Page 92 Freelance features writer Julie Brown: The mind is a wonderful thing, but it can sometimes get in the way of progress — it’s wired that way. Our feature on how to change your mindset to one that mimics that of a pro is fascinating. Page 22 Equine behaviour consultant Justine Harrison: Taking time out to watch you horse is invaluable and his body language can tell you lots about his mood. In the first of a two-part series I explain what your horse’s facial expressions mean. Page 80 Fred…

Well, Deb and I with Bert and Marley have done it! We had a few hiccups initially — like forgetting to put the tracking app on, and a technical meltdown causing about a month’s worth of data to be lost — but the challenge is complete. We actually got to 1,000 miles on Boxing Day — this is us at the top of Old Pale at Delamere Forest. We’ve enjoyed every single minute. Next we’re going to see if we can complete 2,000 miles by this time next year.” Cheryl Senior…

Unbreakable bond Ollie and I. He is my horse, I am his human. Danielle Brooks, by email Nice to see you Magnum and Freya reunited after a holiday. We don’t know who missed who the most! Allison Underhill, Facebook Shake it off Layla's pony Twiglet — cheeky and confident. Lee-anne Simpson, by email Join the club Anyone else remember these? I'm going to have it inlaid into a keyring! Fiona Mackinnon, Facebook Hands on help John enjoying some Reiki after a hack. Maddy Freeman, Facebook Join us on facebook at facebook.com/yourhorse Tweet us on twitter.com/yourhorse Follow us on instagram.com/yourhorse…

Healthy, happy feet Q My horse’s hoof horn quality is quite poor and his hooves split easily. Are there any dietary changes I can make to help strengthen his feet? Dawn Sissons, Harrogate Glyn says: Hoof health is dependent on many factors, not just diet. Other factors that influence hoof quality are age, wellbeing and breeding. Below are some factors we can consider and manage: ■ Turnout conditions. ■ Working environment (arena surface) and road work (concussion). ■ Stable management and the type of bedding used — even with rubber matting, adequate bedding is still required to soak up urine so horses aren’t standing in wet all the time. ■ Good hoof hygiene — picking out feet regularly and applying topical treatments as necessary, such as hoof conditioners, purple spray/iodine…

Chukka’d in at the deep end Q I’d love to try polo, but feel a bit daunted by the fast pace and skill on show. What level of riding ability is required and what skills would I need to learn to be relatively successful? Emily Docherty, Horsham Claudia says: Anyone can try polo — no riding ability is necessary and all the skills can be learnt together. The riding style is more Western, with very different commands to traditional English riding, so complete beginners won’t feel out of place as established riders will also need to master this new way of riding. The most important thing is not to be scared of sitting on a horse. Cruise control The polo ponies will go at the speed that is best for…

Impulz De B is a seven-year-old gelding. Owned by Sara Lucas and Antonia Brown, he’s competing at medium level dressage and was placed at the nationals in 2019. Everyone who meets him falls instantly in love! Your Horse would like to apologise for the picture used in the last issue in the feature on cold-backed horses. The image used was for illustrative purposes only and did not show a horse that is cold backed.…

Connemara cross Tia was pregnant when she came into the care of the Scottish SPCA’s Aberdeenshire Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre in December 2018 after her owner could no longer care for her. Her colt foal Sulley was born at the centre last May. It was the only home he had ever known until the pair got the best early Christmas present and were rehomed with leukaemia survivor Alex and her mum Ria at the end of last year. Ria said: “Alex was diagnosed with leukaemia around 10 years ago and it was a very difficult time for us. Thankfully she was given a clean bill of health and is looking forward to her 10 years in remission in 2021.” “Alex has always loved animals — we all do —…

■ Think of your horse’s long-term health — Insuring your horse when he’s younger and healthier means that he’s less likely to have preexisting conditions and will therefore be better protected. ■ Maintain your horse’s day-to-day healthcare — This is vital, both to help look after your horse and to give him the best quality of life, as well as to ensure that you have fulfilled your policy requirements. Ensure your horse has received any vaccinations required and that you have taken all reasonable steps to maintain his health and avoid injury, illness, loss or theft. ■ Don’t forget veterinary fees — These aren’t necessarily included in a standard horse insurance policy, but cover for vet fees can be added. ■ Price versus cover — Horse insurance policies will include…

1 During an extraordinary purple patch in the early 2000s, the former European Young Rider Champion became the first eventer ever to win the lucrative Rolex Grand Slam of eventing. She also won back-to-back European Championship titles and consecutive Badminton trophies among numerous other victories. 2 She was made an MBE for services to equestrian sport in 2005. 3 She does 30 minutes of Pilates most mornings before leaving the house. “I do it because I want to give my horses the best chance I can.” 4 Pippa is mentor and trainer to the Windrush Equestrian Foundation, set up to fill in the missing training gap for talented young event riders aged 21-25. It was a legacy left by Sir Roger Moore’s stepdaughter Christina Knudsen who had a passion for…

“You can’t do this on your own,” says Julie. “There’s no magic tap you can turn on that gives you more hours in the day to spend time with your horse and also have the relationship and success you crave.” Time has to be made. The simplest way is to stop doing some things and prioritise your riding. Be prepared to make changes — just trying to shave a few things here and there won’t make a big enough difference. Consider getting some help. It might cost money, but it could be cheaper than extra training or having someone else ride your horse to keep him competitive. Some things to consider are: ■ Get a cleaner. ■ Never go to the shops again — do everything online. ■ Have feed…

To bute or not to bute… Q My 15-year-old Thoroughbred mare is starting to show stiffness and puffiness around her hocks and fetlocks. I don’t like the thought of her being in any pain. Can I manage this with bute? If so, how would it work and what are the pros and cons? Shirley Groves, Ipswich Caroline says... The first consideration in this case is to accurately diagnose the cause of the stiffness and puffiness. There are a number of different reasons why horses might present with these clinical signs, including muscle soreness, laminitis and infectious causes. So, in the first instance, I would advise you to contact your vet so that they can carry out a full clinical examination of your mare. This may include nerve blocks if lameness…

When looking at a potential new horse, try to be objective and realistic about his foot and lower leg conformation. Low heels and brittle hooves are the main downfalls. The heel height from the coronet band to the ground should be approximately one third of the toe height. If it’s less than this, there’s a greater chance that you’ll experience difficulties with soundness and shoe retention. Long, sloping pasterns also have a detrimental impact on hoof conformation as they overload the already potentially weak heels.…

The owner: Maddie Garston The horse: Nightingale, an ex-racehorse turned riding club all-rounder The problem: Nightingale has gastric ulcers and has been losing weight Maddie has had Nightingale for a year. She has always been a fussy, sharp, sensitive mare and Maddie struggles to keep weight on her. Nightingale has been diagnosed with gastric ulcers and is on a course of treatment from her vet. She is turned out during the day with a companion and has good quality ad-lib hay in the stable at night. Maddie feeds her twice daily with a conditioning mix bulked out with a straw-based chaff. Clare says: The gastric ulcers may be the reason why Nightingale is sensitive and picky with food, but now that she is having treatment she should be starting to…

Squamous ulceration is graded on a scale of 1-4. There is, inevitably, a degree of subjectivity with ulcer grading. Traditionally, glandular ulcers were also graded on a 1-4 scale. However, these days glandular ulcers are more correctly described based on their actual location, number and appearance.…

BIZZY BALL RRP £29.99 (lick included) COLOURS Hot pink, aqua FOR STOCKISTS bizzyhorse.com This multi-functional stable toy can be suspended from the ceiling, used with the Bizzy Wall Bracket (sold separately) or simply placed on the floor to alleviate boredom in the stable or paddock. The tasty, long-lasting refills are available in three flavours to encourage interaction and keep your horse’s interest. HAYGRAZER PLAY RRP £55.99 BUY AT haygrazer.co.uk The simple design of the HayGrazer Play makes your horse’s hay last longer. The top holes are slightly larger so that he can pull out the hay easily at first. Once this portion of the forage is gone, the holes in the bottom half are smaller, which slows down the rate at which he can eat it. To make his hay…

GATEHOUSE CHANTILLY RIDING HAT RRP £110 COLOURS Black, navy SIZES 54cm — 61cm FOR STOCKISTS gatehouserange.co.uk This smart new riding hat is extremely lightweight and allows good levels of ventilation to help keep the wearer’s head cool. Conforming to PAS015 and VG1, the hat features a leather harness, plus a removable and washable liner for improved hygiene and comfort. It comes with a padded storage bag. ONEK DEFENDER AIR RANGE RRP £230 COLOUR Black SIZES 51cm — 62cm FOR STOCKISTS facebook.com/justtogs The Defender helmet carries the PAS015 standard and uses a breakthrough air system technology for the perfect fit for non-standard head shapes. It features a moisture wicking and anti-microbial quick-dry liner, plus multiple air vents for added comfort. Swarovski crystals and a matt outer create a stylish look, and…