Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 484 i Your Horse

I HATE TO say it, but winter is just around the corner. As I write, my horse is grazing in the sunshine but it is chilly, and now that we’re into October the forecast is telling me to make the most of that sun. But I won’t dwell on the weather, because we all know it’s coming and as horse owners and riders we know we’ll knuckle down and plough through winter like we always do. The good news is, in this issue we have put together a summary of essential jobs to do now, which will help to make your horsey life a lot easier when the cold and mud really sets in (p80). We have also included a thought-provoking piece about light therapy (p72), and how some yards…

EMAIL US AT yh.ed@kelsey.co.uk Unfortunately, we are unable to receive any letters by post. We reserve the right to edit letters where necessary Our star letter from Mark Dabbs sees him win a Hooves & Love gift box. These gift boxes have been created with the horse lover in mind. You can choose from a range of products for both you and your horse. From jewellery to accessories to candles and skincare, all with an equestrian twist. Find out more at hoovesandlove.co.uk Fame at last Here’s a picture of me and a real massive star — not Oliver Skeete the former showjumper, but your very finest magazine taking centre stage! By the way, where did all his dreadlocks go, your readers may ask? While attending the London Film Fair I had…

A sticky situation Q My horse has been diagnosed with a locking stifle. What is this, and what are the treatment options? Angela Randall, Warks Gil says: The locking stifle is an evolutionary adaptation that allows horses to sleep standing up. When horses roamed wild this ‘locking’ of the joint meant that when a predator attacked, a horse could go straight into gallop, while other animals who had to lie down to sleep were left scrambling to their feet, and thus were an easier target. The stifle locks through one of the three ligaments that attach the patella — or kneecap — to the tibia slipping into a groove on the inside of the femur (thigh bone). In a normal situation, the stifle will only lock when the horse or…

Freelance gear editor Allison Lowther: Our buyer’s guide to the latest clothing for the season ahead is filled with inspiration for updating your riding wardrobe. Whether you’re in need of a new waterproof coat or a practical baselayer you’ll find a great selection here. Page 104 Freelance horse care editor Stephanie Bateman: To help you prepare for winter, we’ve put together expert tips and management advice to make the season easier for you and your horse. Page 80 Dressage judge and coach Nikki Herbert: Correct transitions are only ones that will help your — and the key is consistency. I share my exercises to help you sharpen your horse’s on page 48. Vet Sarah Hunter MRCVS: Neighing and whinnying aside, your horse’s body makes lots of different noises. Some are…

Could you rehome a rescued horse, pony or donkey and provide the safe, loving home that they deserve? Three donkeys who had such overgrown hooves they were struggling to walk are now recovering after intervention by The Donkey Sanctuary and the RSPCA. Gilly, Holly and Snowy were obese and struggling to walk on feet that were 10cm longer than a healthy length. “Even from a distance you could see how abnormally long the donkeys’ hooves were, making it difficult for them to walk naturally,” said Sally Bamforth, donkey welfare advisor. “It was the worst example of foot neglect I have ever seen.” After dedicated care, veterinary treatment and farriery, the trio have made good progress. “It’s incredible to see the transformation of the donkeys’ hooves. They are now moving about…

I’M STARTING TO notice how much my confidence is growing d I’m becoming more adventurous out hacking. I’ll even go as far as saying I’m enjoying it, too! I look forward to the days I ride Apache, which is in stark contrast to the beginning of the year when I had to psych myself up before even putting one foot into a stirrup. As my confidence grows, I find myself setting goals and starting to push my boundaries. This gives me a sense of achievement, which is very motivating — and that’s always a good thing when you’re trying to increase your total number of hacking miles. I decide to focus on going for longer rides and picking up the pace. No more hacking around the block without breaking out…

Horses are a ‘getaway’ for Dawn Morley, who offsets a high pressure role linked to the oil industry with eventing and dressage aboard chestnut mare Amier About my job... I work as a production chemist for Baker Hughes, which supplies chemicals to the oil industry. I’m responsible for sourcing, ordering and optimising the chemicals sent offshore to the rigs — there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to the various tasks undertaken in oil fields. I also plan and execute new chemical trials. It’s a varied and interesting role and occasionally involves rig visits for audits and to help out with the trials. How I got here... I enjoyed science at school and ended up in the lab of the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen researching soil, grass and trees. The institute…

VET notes WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: • What hoof wall separation disease is • Its symptoms • How it is treated MEET THE EXPERT SARAH HUNTER is an equine vet at Clevedale Vets in North Yorkshire. She graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 2012 and is currently working towards a certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring her local area through riding and running. WHEN SARAH CAWLEY’S Connemara gelding Cloudy went lame in the summer of 2019, she feared the worst. “Cloudy has always had problems with his hooves,” says Sarah of the now 13-year-old. “He would never keep shoes on and had very sensitive feet. In 2019, we had a really dry summer and Cloudy went lame — his hooves started to crumble.”…

Add these jobs to your yard diary/to-do list so that you’re ahead of the winter rush: 1 Weigh your horse and keep a record. This will enable you to monitor any changes, bearing in mind that some weight loss is natural and a good thing 2 Order your winter hay/haylage 3 Set a date to begin stabling overnight and build up to it slowly, don’t suddenly change your horse’s routine 4 Plan ahead for any changes in hard feed and do it gradually 5 Make sure your rugs are in good working order 6 Speak to your vet about blood testing for small redworm 7 Arrange a saliva test for tapeworm…

Feel the benefits Q What are the pros and cons of removing a horse’s whiskers? Liz Martin, York Justine says: Whisker removal is a contentious issue that divides the equine community. Some horse owners believe the whiskers on a horse’s muzzle and around their eyes look untidy; others see their removal as cruel and unnecessary. Here in the UK there is a long-standing tradition of removing whiskers for some showing classes. However, many competitors have reported on social media that they don’t trim their horses and that this hasn’t prevented them from winning or being placed in classes. It is vital to remember that whiskers are critical to a horse’s spatial awareness; removing them reduces their knowledge of the environment and therefore leaves them partially handicapped. This could affect their…

Heading for success Q Do you have any tips for bridling a headshy horse? Caroline Barnes, Carmarthenshire Michael says: Horses are naturally sceptical about being handled around the head and ears, and this is largely because many valuable senses that they need to survive — such as sight, sound and smell — are housed here. It’s not uncommon for horses to have a fear of having their ears touched, or to struggle with people who are too ‘in their face’. So you need to work on your overall relationship with your horse and slowly gain his trust. Balancing act Solving any problems involving a headshy horse relies on your ability to read the horse and understand how he’s dealing with each step of the process. Go in too hard and…

AIGLE PARCOURS 2 WELLINGTON BOOTS RRP £125 COLOURS Bronze, brown, black, green SIZES 4-12 AIGLE.COM A smart looking wellington boot that offers exceptional comfort, making them a great choice for yard work and country walks with the dog. To keep your feet happy, there’s a shock-absorbing insole and cushioning in the heel. There’s also a quick-drying lining and the sole offers cushioning and stability over various terrain. CALDENE WESTFIELD WELLINGTON RRP £99 COLOURS Green or chocolate SIZES 3-12 HARRYHALL.COM A good pair of wellies are a must for any horse owner, which is why these boots have been made from tough and durable rubber with a soft 3mm neoprene lining for the ultimate comfort. The Westfield wellies are perfect for mucking out, climbing up muddy fields or walking the dog.…

On sale 11 Nov 2021 +Our epic Christmas giveaway is back! ALSO IN THIS ISSUE ❋ Tom McEwen shares the jumping skills that earned him team Olympic gold ❋ Jonty Evans’ exercises to help steady a horse who rushes at a fence ❋ Winter weight loss: how much is acceptable? ❋ How to prevent an emergency vet call out this winter ❋ Different shapes to ride to revamp your flatwork sessions ❋ Vet notes: the debilitating condition that can affect any horse’s coronet band…

■ Nicola Wilson and JL Dublin are pictured powering over a water fence at the FEI European Eventing Championships on their way to team and individual glory (see News). The pair completed the cross-country course with 10 seconds to spare, and Nicola said the 10-year-old gelding, who was contesting his first championship track, “oozed class”. “He isn’t very blood, but he’s fit and gallops and stays well,” she said. “The course walked and rode very intense — it was fast and furious — but he gave me a super ride from start to finish.” JL Dublin was bought by Jamie and Jo Lambert and Deirdre Johnston as a four-year-old. “He’s always been exciting. He missed a bit of time when I injured my neck two years ago and then Covid…

CAN YOU SEE ME? Rider Eye has released a new high-vis tabard with LED lights both front and back. The tabards feature a reflective stripe and speed camera logo, as well as rechargeable LED lights. One size fits sizes 8 to 18. £48 ridereye.co.uk A ROYALLY GOOD OCCASION A special event will be held at Windsor Castle to honour the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Over 500 horses and 1,000 performers will create a 90-minute piece of arena theatre for 5,000 live spectators from 12-15 May 2022. It will also be broadcast on ITV and ITV Hub. platinumjubilee.com PINK FOR BREAST CANCER Fairfax and Favor has redesigned its Amira boot in a limited-edition pink colour and all profits made on its sales in October will be donated to Breast Cancer Now, in…

Keep your photos coming in to yh.ed@kelsey.co.uk Photo bomb Trying to get a selfie after a ride with Tilly the cob, but my two-year-old part-Irish Draught wanted to be in on the action as well. Jennie Daniels, Warwickshire Hug time This is Colours, my 25-year-old part-cob. He decided to hug me rather than pose for a selfie. Stella Whitby, Devon My angel Me and Louie, a 10-year-old part-cob, part-Clydesdale. He’s an angel and an absolute people pleaser. Annabelle Patten, London Soul mate Me and Barney, my share horse. I feel very lucky to have him. Nursing through Covid, this boy has kept me sane. Elaine Holman, Cheshire Competition success Syd is six years old and this was taken on our one-year anniversary after a dressage competition, where despite a very…

Dodson & Horrell is passionate about happy, healthy horses and our experienced nutrition and technical teams are on hand to support owners with their horses’ diets. All horses are individuals and whether they may need more energy or have too much, have a clinical concern, need to gain weight or, as covered in this feature, need to get back to a healthy weight and body condition, D&H can help. We know how difficult it can be to keep track of and keep on top of your horse’s weight, particularly with those who are good-doers, and we have a range of helpful tools including weight trackers, body condition scoring pointers, feeding advice guides and ‘how to’ videos from our nutrition experts. For supportive feeding advice, contact our friendly D&H Helpline team…

1 PREPARE GATEWAYS Bring in footing material for paddocks, confinement areas and other high-traffic regions. Laying down some kind of footing material — usually sand, crushed rock, or a type of wood product — will help eliminate mud and cut down on erosion. 2 CHECK GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS Now is the time to check your gutters and downpipes, make any repairs and clear debris such as fallen leaves. There’s nothing worse than a leaking or blocked gutter that drips freezing water down the back of your neck. You could even store your rain water in butts to soak your hay or wash out wheelbarrows and tools. 3 PREPARE FOR A BLACKOUT Do you have a flashlight hanging in easy access locations or a battery-powered headtorch in case of an electricity…

On an even keel Q My horse is stiff as a board on the left rein but fine on the right. How can I help even her up? Daisy Smith, Devon Vikki says: First, check that you and your saddle are centred, and if you’re unsure, get a qualified saddle fitter to check for you. It’s also worth stressing that your horse’s back should be checked to make sure his stiffness on one rein isn’t a result of discomfort. A good UKCC coach should be able to check that you’re sitting centrally too. With regards to exercises to help, think of the stiffness on the left more in terms of the buttons not working quite so well on the left-hand side, while your mare has the natural ability to stretch…

HAVING THE RIGHT clothing makes being out in all weathers that little bit more bearable. Thanks to the use of modern materials the choice of practical clothing is huge, but if you buy a few key items, you’ll stay warm and dry. Layering is the best way to cope with changeable weather – starting with a base layer and adding a sweatshirt or gilet if you feel chilly. For wet and colder days add a waterproof jacket, not forgetting a good pair of waterproof over-trousers or breeches to keep your legs protected. Here’s a selection of clothing to help you layer up, or down, depending on the weather this autumn. ELITE Venture Long Coat RRP £179.95 COLOUR Graphite, navy SIZES XS-3XL EQUETECH.COM A long and versatile coat with a satin…

WORKING YOUR HORSE through the winter months with a thicker coat can lead to him sweating more. This can make coat and skin care tricky. That’s why many horse owners choose to clip their horse’s coat. Removing part or all of his winter coat will make him more comfortable and makes it a little easier to take care of too. Our testers have tried out four sets of clippers on several horses with different coat thickness to find out which produce the best results, and they recommend. How we score: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Each set of clippers is given a mark out of five for ease of use, end result and value for money. This gives an overall value out of 15. LISTER STAR CLIPPER RRP£258 LISTER-GLOBAL.COM EASE…

What made you decide to be a broadcaster? Apparently, I said that I wanted to be a newsreader aged six. However, I also wanted to be an actress and I appeared in ITV’s Dramarama in the 1980s and also in the BBC’s Tenko. I left school at 16 to pursue my eventing dream, working from my parents’ livery yard, but I struggled for money and so returned to studying. I ended up reading English at Cambridge. While there I earned a half blue for winning the University Equestrian Championships. Afterwards, I did a postgraduate diploma in broadcast journalism at Highbury College, Portsmouth, and my first ‘job’ was a work experience role at BBC Radio Jersey. My uncle lived on the island and I stayed for two years before transferring to…