Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 533 i Your Horse

WHO HASN’T EXPERIENCED a setback? I’m sure if I posed this question to every reader of Your Horse, not one would admit that their life has been setback free. Perhaps they bought the wrong horse (I’m guilty of that one, as I have previously admitted) and failed to gel; maybe, despite many thousands of pounds spent on lessons, when they finally got to a dressage contest their horse threw his toys out of his proverbial pram and got himself eliminated; perhaps, after being bucked off for the third time, the rider really is experiencing frayed nerves. The thing is, we all suffer setbacks, whether equestrian- or life-related, such as being made redundant, being passed over for a promotion, or falling out with a friend. However, it’s not the event itself…

MEET THE EXPERT LOUISE ROBSON runs Thoroughbred Dressage, which she set up in 2012 with the aim of transforming racehorses into dressage and riding horses. Louise is also a successful dressage rider in her own right. She has ridden four former racehorses bred and owned by the late Queen Elizabeth II and is currently competing one of them, Quadrille, at Prix St Georges and inter 1. WHEN TAKING ON a Thoroughbred the first thing to bear in mind, whether they have raced or not, is that they are built to run. These are the words of Louise Robson, who runs Thoroughbred Dressage and specialises in helping equestrians repurpose these Ferraris of the horse world for new careers. “Clients always remark how well bred their former racer is, and I should…

How I make it work: My mum is my right-hand woman The single mother and marathon runner discusses the buzz of working in recruitment, loving animals and rescuing everything from horses to guinea pigs. My job… I wear lots of hats in my daily life, but my official job is in recruitment. I’m a business manager in a recruitment agency, overseeing the Permanent Division for Just Recruitment, an employee-owned agency that has offices in Essex and Suffolk. My job involves matching candidates with local businesses and, as a generalist agency, we support global manufacturers to small local companies and everything in between by providing them with the ideal talent. How I got here… I started my career working with horses. It was all I ever wanted to do when I…

TIPS FOR GOOD GRAZING “Before bringing a horse home, get the health of your soil and grass sward analysed,” advises Jonathan Holmes, an independent agronomist who also lectures in soil science and agriculture. He recommends that anyone looking to sow grass seed should analyse the soil type first to see what ratio of sand, silt and clay they have, so that they can match the grass species to the soil type. He cautions against ryegrass, though: “It’s full of non-structured carbohydrates which produce far too much energy for horses and exacerbate the laminitis risk. “The most cost-effective management strategy for any horse pasture is to harrow appropriately in the autumn and spring,” Jonathan says. “It rejuvenates microbial activity in the soil for the benefit of grass nutrition and productivity.” Jonathan…

Email your questions to yh.ed@kelsey.co.uk Simple solutions for horse owners RETRAINING EX-RACEHORSES Gillian Higgins is one of the world’s leading equine anatomy and biomechanics educators. The founder and principal lecturer of Horses Inside Out, she is an anatomist, biomechanist lecturer and author, and is passionate about horses and anatomy. Visit horsesinsideout.com RIDER EXERCISES Clare Gangadeen is the founder of RiderCise. As a human soft tissue therapist, avid rider and with over 19 years of experience in the fitness industry, Clare in known for her expertise in helping riders overcome their limitations in mind and body. She also offers expert coaching and bespoke programmes. Visit ridercise.co.uk PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY Carol Ramsden is a consultant in the Planning and Environment Team at Birketts LLP. Carol has over 30 years’ experience in…

An open gate could cause a legal minefield Q I own my own property with paddocks and a footpath runs through my land. This has never caused problems before, but the other day a walker left open one of the gates and my horse escaped and was injured on the lane by a passing car. Do I have any recourse in the law to get my vet’s bills covered as I self-insure? Jenny Hill, North Yorkshire Carol says: While the law may offer some recourse, there will be difficulties in (a) identifying the person responsible for leaving the gate open, (b) finding an address for that person to serve them with legal proceedings, and (c) proving causation. Assuming for a moment that you are able to identify and track down the…

MEET THE TESTERS Leanne Jackson owns and runs Eastwell Equestrian in Cambridgeshire. She competes in dressage up to Prix St George and intermediate 1 and is also a British Dressage listed judge and accredited coach. Louise Ward came to riding in her late 20s and is now a full-time owner of four ponies. She contests dressage competitions with Dylan, her Welsh section D, and they have enjoyed plenty of successes at My Quest and Team Quest competitions. Emilia Eggar events up to BE100 level with her two horses, Olive and Dawn. She had a successful 2024 season with several placings and is hoping to build on that further this year. Jo Meikle and her nine-year-old, 15.2hh Irish cob event up to 90cm level. Additionally, they love showjumping, dressage, fun rides…

Horse: Molly Mai Specifics: 16.1hh, nine-year-old bay mare Owner: Claire Wall Equine osteopath Claire Wall bought the former racehorse Molly Mai, then six, from a local trainer for her daughter to ride at Pony Club fixtures. However, Molly has had issues with her teeth, plus she was suffering from a worm burden and had ulcers. She also had a crooked pelvis. She proved a little tricky behaviourally as well, bucking, rearing and being ‘joggy’ on grass. Claire says: “It’s been an uphill battle at times and it was apparent that Molly hadn’t been ridden out alone before she arrived. “I probably shouldn’t have bought her — I call her my midlife crisis — but she’s such a dude. She lives out 24/7 with our other ex-racer and is far happier than when…

Keep your photos coming in to yh.ed@kelsey.co.uk Yearling yarns Apache is a yearling who turned one at the beginning of April. She’s a Blagdon Cob and my husband bought her as a present for my birthday. She was unhandled and timid so I’ve been working on headcollar training and leading and getting her used to touch and being brushed. Shauna Fowles, Kent PJs and ponies This is me and Badger enjoying an early morning PJ selfie. He’s a six-year-old gypsy cob who I’ve owned since he was a year old. To say that he’s been a challenge (and still is at times) would be an understatement. He’s a cheeky chappie, still very young in his ways, but very much loved. Natasha Martin, Derbyshire Star photo Ned’s a selfie star Ned…

MEET THE EXPERT KYLIE RODDY is a five-star eventer who completed Badminton in 2022 and finished fifth at the Pau CCI5* in 2023. Kylie is a qualified Fellow of the BHS. She runs a livery and competition yard in Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire, as well as an equine water treadmill. She also successfully retrains young racehorses, including those belonging to Adrian and Maggie Smith. Anyone who takes on a former racehorse will find plenty of useful information on the Retraining of Racehorses (ROR) website — ror.org.uk. Sections include rehoming and sourcing, welfare and education and training and competitions. The latter covers eventing, showjumping, dressage, showing, polo and endurance, plus horseball, hunter trials, polocrosse, combined training, Western riding and the free ROR Ridely Hacking Challenge. Who knew that there were so many disciplines…

■ “Banish negative self-talk — We all have negative thoughts and that’s not the problem. It’s what you do with them that matters. A definite no no is allowing these thoughts to become negative ways of thinking or speaking about yourself. If the negative thoughts do come, let them; even say “hi” to them if you need to. Then remind yourself that this is just a thought, not a fact. Just because you think it, doesn’t mean that it’s true. Instead, ask yourself if you can see it another way.” ■ “Create a positive support system — When a setback does happen — and sometimes they’re big, like serious injuries — surround yourself with people who lift you up. Seek out moments of fun and joy, even if they’re not…

The time comes when letting a horse go is the kindest thing to do. Euthanasia is a final kindness afforded to the UK veterinary profession as it prevents the prolonging of cruel situations and unnecessary suffering of our equine companions. The tricky question, though, is: “When is the right time?” In reality this is unique to each horse and his owner. Some horses live for being ridden and become difficult to handle when they aren’t in work, while others live happily in retirement for years. Welfare diaries are a useful way of assessing a horse for his overall wellbeing to help ensure that euthanasia occurs at the right time. This may consist of 10-20 questions with yes/no answers. A vet can help to compile the questions. When there are more…

Q Who is liable for veterinary and medical costs during the loan period? Emmeline Hannelly says: This should be clearly outlined in the loan agreement. Typically, routine costs, such as farrier and vet visits, are the responsibility of the loanee, while the owner may cover larger medical expenses. However, every arrangement is different, and it is crucial that both parties agree on these terms before finalising the loan. Unexpected veterinary costs can become a major source of conflict if not discussed in advance. For example, if a horse develops lameness or colic, who will be responsible for treatment costs? Will insurance cover major procedures, and if so, who is responsible for paying the premiums? These are all key questions that should be answered before the horse is loaned out. Agreement should…

Planning permission is required by anyone constructing equestrian facilities, and in some cases even just using the land to keep horses. “We find that many people don’t realise this,” says Eleni Marshall, director of The Equestrian Planning Consultancy. “Often they’ve purchased land with a property that is categorised as agricultural, but horses can’t come under the definition of agriculture if they’re being fed and cared for in a manner that’s living on the land rather than living off of it. “Any new permanent building or stabling within a field will always require planning permission as a building is, by definition, development,” adds Eleni. “However, in some cases, field shelters don’t require planning permission, but they must be truly mobile and moved on a regular basis. They should also be capable…

Bare Bones of the Matter is an online documentary series that explores the challenges horses face in today’s world. Using Freddie Fox and his skeleton as a case study, equine anatomy and biomechanics specialist Gillian Higgins shares his story alongside top equestrian professionals. Visit horsesinsideout.com/bbom Time for turning Q My ex-racer leans in like a motorbike rather than staying upright on turns. Why does this happen and how can I improve it? Dawn Browne, Dumfries and Galloway Gillian says: When a horse leans in it is often due to a lack of lateral stability and a reflection of his inability to bend through his body. To understand this further you need to look at why your horse is doing this. Naturally, when we think about an ex-racehorse he will have done…

A ‘tucked up’ appearance can come from a lack of fibre in the diet Q My horse is turned out 24/7 and is usually blooming on just a balancer, but this year she isn’t doing so well and is starting to look ‘tucked up’. I’m worried that she’s going to drop even more weight soon, too, as I’ve been stepping up her workload. What should I do? Jane Johnson, Cambridgeshire Lucy says: In some areas of the UK, grass growth has been impacted by this spring’s warmer weather conditions and lack of rain which has affected the nutritional benefits our horses are getting. Because there has been little grass growth there is less fibre but more stressed short shoots, and these tend to be more calorific and even have a greater…

WEATHERBEETA DUBLIN BREATHABLE SLEEVELESS TOP RRP £29.99 COLOURS Dusty rose, blue SIZES X small – X large WEATHERBEETA.CO.UK This slim fit style top features Comfort Dry Technology for moisture control which helps to keep the wearer comfortable all day long. Perforated panels placed where they are needed the most enhance breathability and airflow while also adding style. The front collar is seamless, while the neck closure is zipped. Additionally, this top offers UPF 50+ sun protection. FELIX BÜHLER FUNCTIONAL TANK TOP GRACE RRP £14.90 COLOURS Smoky blue, jade, mahogany, navy, pastel blue, powder rose SIZES XS – XL KRAMER.CO.UK A tank top style garment with a mesh insert at the back make this a great choice for riders on hot summer days. It is made from a breathable and quick-drying functional material for all-day…

For all the latest news from the horse world, visit yourhorse.co.uk EQUINE COMMUNICATION New ethogram reveals that horses communicate emotion through facial movements Horses use facial expressions to communicate not only with each other but with humans and other mammals, according to scientists from the University of Portsmouth. The researchers have created the first anatomically based descriptions (ethogram) of equine facial behaviour, showing how horses use their faces to communicate emotions like playfulness, aggression, curiosity and attention. Using the Equine Facial Action Coding System, the researchers catalogued 805 facial displays across 22 distinct behaviours, ranging from friendliness to conflict. And many of them are similar to those exhibited by primates and other mammals, showing a level of common language. “This is the first time we’ve been able to systematically document…

Horse: Bert (unnamed on his French passport) Specifics: 16.3hh, seven-year-old bay gelding Rider: Shiralee Swan Photographer Shiralee Swan bought Bert from Newmarket in 2022. She spent a period getting him used to life outside of racing before slowly bringing him back into work. Shiralee says: “Bert spent eight months out in his field by day and in at night to allow him to get used to a new routine and for us to get to know each other. He learned how to move over in the stable when I asked, to back away from the door when requested and to be loose in the stable while I’m in there. “On the way to the field we would practise how to stand when asked. I would step away to the end of the…

Caring for senior horses is a journey filled with love, dedication and unique challenges. Spillers understands the special place older horses hold in equestrians’ hearts, which is why the company has created the Spillers’ Super Seniors’ Club — a supportive community for horse owners who share the same passion for keeping their senior horses happy and healthy. Whether that horse is thriving in retirement, remains active, or is showing signs of ageing, the team is available to provide expert guidance, practical advice and a platform on which to celebrate a horse’s golden years. Join today and connect with other horse owners. Visit the Facebook group Spillers’ Super Seniors’ Club to get started.…

The cost of the horse, the vetting and the transport may leave the purchaser’s bank balance somewhat depleted, and if the horse doesn’t come with much of a wardrobe from the vendor perhaps buying second-hand is the way to go. Some tack shops have second-hand sections, or alternatively there are plenty of sites online, such as eBay and Facebook Marketplace, while apps like Equipt offer thousands of items for sale. While it may be difficult to locate the desired colour, and items may show signs of wear and tear, it will save money until the coffers have been built up again.…

Ride from your shoulder girdle for steady hands Q My riding coach is always telling me to keep my hands steady, and although I think that I am, I still struggle. Are there any exercises that would improve my hands? Andrea Dawson, West Sussex Clare says: Keeping your hands steady, level and soft while remaining stable and safe in your seat requires you to ride from your shoulder girdle, not your arms. These simple exercises will soon give you steady hands… EXERCISE 1 SINGLE ARM ROW This exercise focuses on strengthening the shoulder girdle of one arm independently and this will allow you to improve your rein connection and the communication with one rein. How to do it 1 Place your hand flat on a chair and take a staggered stance…