Innehållsförteckning för Issue 468 från Your Horse

I’M A GREAT believer that you can learn so much from watching your horsey heroes. I count myself very lucky that with the job I have I’ve had the opportunity to meet some top riders and benefit from watching them both ride and teach others. It’s amazing what you can learn, observing the way they interact with their horse. I always come away from the day feeling inspired and with new exercises to try with my own horses. This is all great stuff, but new research shows that you don’t need to ride like the pros to be a good rider. There are lots of different factors that influence the way each of us sits on a horse. See our feature on page 50 to find out more. As competitions…

‘We’d tried every trick in the book’ This is 20-year-old rescued mini Ebby who I’ve owned for six years. In all that time my family and I have tried every trick in the book to gain her trust and allow us to catch her — alas, not even sitting in a small space with a bucket of food could entice her near enough for us to comer her with a lunge line! Well, I can’t thank Your Horse magazine enough for your clicker training article by Hannah Weston (issue 466). We took each exercise very slowly and, after two weeks, the result was unbelievable. Ebby will now come to me with confidence and put her nose into her headcollar for me to fasten. I will reinforce those steps on a regular…

Sunny skies Me with Incy. Lisa Edmonston, Scarborough Stealing the limelight Me and Banroc Bluebelle. Bryony Percival, York Ready for my close-up My mare Maisie. Charlotte carr, Birmingham Nosy boy Ben and I love a selfie. Amy Smith, Sheffield Gorgeous grey Here’s me with the lovely Juno. Amy Littlewood, Leeds Having a laugh Bob and I. Henri Senn, Oxfordshire Over the shoulder Posing with Tilly. Tracey Ann, Northamptonshire Cosy cuddles Henry Hoover and I. Katie Mortimer, Cumbria What a gent Appleby — a true gent and an absolute pleasure to be with. Georgie Lane, Devon Sid the kid Here’s me with my ex-racehorse Sid (aka Pauillac). Philippa Hyne, Devon Give it a rest My ex-racer Atia using me as a head rest. Bex Hallewell Hayward, Dorset Tongues wagging Dior and I,…

Digital X-rays and imaging are now virtually instantaneous. I remember my dad helping a vet to take an X-ray of a laminitic horse he was treating and having to wait for the vet to drive all the way into the nearest town to develop it. Now a vet can create an X-ray almost instantly and share it anywhere in the world. I’ve invested in a new system called Werkman Black for gait analysis. It uses high-precision sensors to digitally record the smallest hoof movements and timings during landing, stance, break-over and swing. Monitoring makes it possible to detect deviations at an early stage, thus enabling early preventive action. It gives farriers the ability to validate what we can see, which takes away the subjectivity. The Equinosis Lameness Locator, meanwhile, is…

WITH SO MANY different brands and types of hard feed on the market, it can be confusing knowing what to feed your horse. Not only that, but more and more horses are being classed as obese in the UK, so do they even need hard feed at all? “Recent studies suggest that weight gain more than doubles the risk of horses and ponies developing laminitis,” notes Clare Barfoot, marketing and research and development director at Spillers. “Excess weight can also have other negative consequences, from increasing the risk of insulin dysfunction to poor performance. “Therefore, the last thing an overweight horse needs is additional calories. In simple terms, an overweight horse is receiving excess calories, so rather than them being burned during exercise, they are instead stored as fat.” What…

When it all kicks off Q How do you treat a fairly straightforward wound caused by a kick in the field when the horse isn’t really lame and it’s not near a joint — a flesh wound from a shoe, for example? Alistair says... First, double check that the wound really is straightforward, as even very small wounds in the wrong place can be life threatening. If in doubt, check with your vet. If you’re sure that the wound is superficial and not in an area of concern, then the key is to keep it simple. I’ve seen owners put everything and anything on wounds, some of which actually slows wound healing. Disinfectants, antiseptics or concentrated Hibiscrub all slow down wound healing by damaging the tissue that is trying to…

The owner: Lexi James The horse: Kingdom Of Rust, a 13-year-old former racehorse The problem: Rust has been recuperating from a stifle injury Rust sustained a minor stifle injury in the spring and Lexi turned him away for three months. He’s now sound and feeling very full of himself, but Lexi says that although he is carrying enough condition, he is lacking a bit of muscle. She’s bringing him back into work gradually with a view to getting him fit for some autumn competitions, and wants to find a suitable feed to support him without blowing his mind or adding too many calories! Clare says: Rust is presently on good grazing during the day and is in at night with ad-lib hay. This will supply the calories he needs, but…

THE DESIGN OF stirrups has changed considerably over the years. The traditional stainless steel Fillis stirrup iron is no longer your only option when it comes to buying a new pair of stirrups. Browse the internet or look in any tack shop and you’ll find a variety of different types to choose from. Manufacturers have spent years developing different designs and the result is some quite futuristic-looking stirrups, with all manner of features that claim to improve your riding and help you maintain that perfect lower leg position. There are even stirrups that can relieve pressure in your knees and ankles for a more comfortable ride. To find out more, we asked you on our Facebook page to tell us what make of stirrups you use and why. Here are…

If you’re looking for transport on a budget, then a used trailer can be a good choice. Here are our tips for making a successful purchase: ■ Make sure that you inspect it thoroughly or get someone more knowledgeable to do this for you. ■ Do what you can to check it’s not stolen. ■ Insist on viewing the trailer from a company or home address, not in a car park or service station. ■ Lift the mats and check the condition of the floor and ramps, prodding and poking to check for any softness. Rotten, moist or damaged floors are dangerous. ■ Check that the socket connecting the trailer lights to the car isn’t corroded. ■ Take a look at any hinges and springs — have they been greased…

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Are metal shoes the right footwear for your horse? We delve deeper into this controversial subject ❋ Olympic event rider Andrew Hoy helps you to jump clear every time ❋ Understand your horse’s temperament and reap rewards by tailoring your training ❋ Lumpy legs Vet advice on identifying and dealing with common luimos and bumos ❋ Weekly workout plans to improve fitness and keep him trim ❋ Tangle-free tails Our test reveals which detanglers work the best Win a lesson with Emily King…

Features editor Stephanie Anthony: If you or your horse struggles to find the confidence to hack solo, don’t worry. We explain the techniques you need to finally crack riding out alone. Page 10 Freelance features writer Julie Brown: I met the loveliest Connemara called Smokey. He was at eventer Sharon Hunt’s yard having a cross-country lesson as he’s a bit too whizzy! Find out which exercises helped to calm him down. Page 34 Showjumper Joe Davison: Whatever discipline you do, suppleness and flexibility are key areas of your horse’s training. I share with you three leg-yield exercises that you can easily incorporate into your everyday schooling. Page 48 Equine psychologist Ross Cooper: Has your horse ever done something completely out of character? Discover more about the reasons why he behaves like this and how…

1 Have a nanny horse It’s sensible to hack out with other horses first if you’sre on a youngster or one who’s anxious or lacking confidence. Take a calm, reliable horse and rider with you and go on a short, quiet route. As your horse’s confidence builds, you can start walking further and further apart. 2 It’s not you, it’s me… Sometimes another rider may have better luck getting your horse to hack alone. Even if the end result is the same, a second opinion can help to uncover things you maybe hadn’t considered. A new rider with a different approach or riding style, or someone with experience of working with nappy horses, can turn a hacking negative into a positive. 3 Hack happy Make getting away from the arena…

BEST KNOWN FOR their striking coat pattern caused by a genetic mutation called the leopard complex (LP), Appaloosas have been around for millennia. They are depicted in prehistoric cave paintings in Europe, and were a popular choice in North America, particularly with the Nez Perce people. In fact the breed’s name likely relates to the Palouse River area where the Nez Perce lived — settlers referred to them as Palouse horses, which then became Appaloosa. The Appaloosa’s skin is mottled with patches of white and dark pigmentation that give the appearance of splotches or spots. These markings occur across the body in a small number of distinct patterns, depending on the horse’s genetic make-up. Their manes and tails are usually sparse and the hooves are often vertically striped, with a…

■ The first RaceRunner was developed by Danish inventors in 1991. ■ It is a custom-built tricycle ‘learner bike’ that has no pedals, so you use your feet, but there is a chest support which the user can lean on. ■ Because it doesn’t require balance to operate it, the RaceRunner is perfect for a wide range of disabilities, from amputees to those with arthritis and cerebral palsy. ■ RaceRunning has become an international disability sport, with competitors taking part on athletics tracks. ■ RaceRunners are expensive — around £2, 700 — so Kyrby Brown is currently trying to establish a pilot project to make them available for hire. For more information, visit racerunning.org.…

On the management side, several studies show that similar brain chemicals (opiates) are released during certain stereotypical behaviours, such as crib-biting or weaving. These behaviours have been cleverly identified by some horses as a means of self-soothing when under stress by getting their fix of dopamine. What were once considered unpopular vices in horses are simply their coping mechanisms, and it is now considered inhumane to physically prevent the horse from carrying them out, by using a cribbing collar for example. Interestingly, some top riders are known to value the intelligence and sensitivity of such horses so much that they actively seek to buy them and are completely undeterred by this otherwise undesirable behaviour in a competition horse. Stress-induced chemicals, such as adrenaline, also have an interesting effect on learning…

Sharing the roads Since lockdown we’re encountering many more cyclists who don’t know how to approach horses. Our horses are good, but I won’t be taking my youngster out on the road yet as I don’t want to end up in a hedge! More awareness is needed. Emma Stuart, Facebook ‘Fit Not Fat’ protest My ‘owner’ is lucky to have a handsome, sparklingly brilliant spotty pony (me). She buys your magazine, then tells me what she’s read. I’d just like to discuss your ‘Fit Not Fat’ campaign. My lockdown plan was to get fat on tasty spring grass, but now she’s looking at me and thinking about lungeing, exercise and things that aren’t fun. I should be part of the editorial team to make sure these ideas are squashed! Risingroosevelt, Instagram Painting…

LATERAL WORK IS great for promoting suppleness and elasticity, and it’s one of the key training exercises I use with all my showjumpers. The cornerstone of lateral work is leg-yield. Apart from achieving greater athleticism, leg-yield allows you to ride deeper into your corners while schooling, make more use of the arena when jumping, and it helps your horse to develop a straighter jumping technique. In fact, all variations of leg-yield assist when it comes to keeping your horse on any given line or even keeping him straight on the approach or landing to each fence. To help specifically with this, I like to incorporate leg-yield before or after a single pole, cavaletti or small jump. MEET THE EXPERT JOE DAVISON is an international showjumper who has represented Great Britain…

SPLINTS ARE BONY enlargements (exostoses) of the interosseous ligament that connects the splint bones to the cannon bone. Inflammation and mineralisation of the ligament causes a surface bone reaction to the splint and cannon bones, resulting in the development of small to large bony lumps which can be felt around the splint bone region of the lower limb. Splints can occur throughout the year, but there is a higher incidence during the summer months. For the most part, splints are cosmetic blemishes that don’t interfere with a horse’s long-term athletic ability. However, some can result in significant lameness, especially in the immediate injury period or, in rare cases, where there is impingement of the suspensory ligament. Each limb has two splint bones: the medial (second metacarpal bone, MC2); and the…

Water ahead! Q My 16-year-old Thoroughbred jumps pretty much everything in sight at home, including cantering straight through huge puddles after heavy rain. However, 20 penalties is a consistent theme at competitions. A pattern is forming where she will stop at any fence immediately before a water jump. How can I train this out of her? Will says... Get a little bit inventive. Perhaps if you have somewhere that floods or there’s standing water in the arena after it’s rained, place a jump before the puddle so that your horse becomes used to jumping with water on the landing side. You can then slowly move the fence closer to the puddle/standing water until you’re almost jumping into the water. If you have any safe rivers/ponds, or if you’re close to…

Q Right tools for the job I’m fairly new to riding and about to part loan a horse. My only responsibilities outside of riding will be grooming and turning out, but there are so many different types of grooming brush that I’m confused. What should I have in my grooming kit and what order should I do everything in? Jess says... I don’t tend to have hundreds of brushes, just the basics: ■ A good flick brush (much like a dandy brush) ■ A relatively soft body brush ■ Plastic curry comb ■ Tail brush ■ Long plastic mane comb ■ Hoof pick and hoof oil. Beauty regime I start by using my flick brush all over the body, including the head and legs. I always untie my horses while…

For a chance to get your hand on these goodies*, enter at yourhorse.co.uk/468 12 2KG TUBS OF TURMERAID TurmerAid, from The Golden Paste Company, is a natural turmeric supplement for horses that supports healthy joints, aids digestion and promotes a healthy skin and coat. The only pelleted turmeric supplement on the market, TurmerAid is carefully formulated with key ingredients for maximum absorption and bio-availability. The complete turmeric pellet contains a minimum 5.1% curcumin, yucca, black pepper, linseed and apple cider vinegar. The yucca is added to aid digestion and have positive effects on the microflora that occur naturally in the horse’s gut. Find out more at goldenpastecompany.co.uk 18 BAGS OF ROWEN BARBARY CONDITION & PERFORMANCE Eighteen lucky readers will each win a bag of Rowen Barbary Condition & Performance. This is…

LEMIEUX MESH RIDING GLOVE RRP £24. 95 COLOURS Black, navy SIZES S — XL BUY AT lemieuxproducts.com These gloves are lightweight and low profile, with excellent feel. The flexible mesh back and perforated palm provide superb breathability and sensitivity on the reins. With wrap around supportive cuff closure, this is the perfect competition glove. DUBLIN MESHBACK RIDING GLOVES RRP £26.99 COLOURS Navy, black, purple SIZES XS — XL BUY AT dublinclothing.co.uk These gloves are perfect for everyday use during the warmer months. Designed with style in mind, they have a synthetic suede palm for security and a mesh back that allows air to flow over your hands, keeping you cool as you ride. ROECKL LAILA RRP £32.50 COLOURS Black, white SIZES 6 — 8.5 FOR STOCKISTS roeckl.de A light and airy…

CLIP CLOP KEYS Take your horse with you everywhere you go with this cute horse keyring. You can personalise the colouring to make it the double of your own ponio. RRP £4 besthandmade.co.uk SHAKE YOUR POMPOMS Stand out from the crowd with these bright and beautiful riding hat covers. Available in a range of colours and designs, including hi-vis options, you can even buy extra faux fur pompoms to turn heads wherever you go. RRP £18 pompops.co.uk SHARE THE LOVE Know someone who’s back out competing? How about sending them this thoughtful card, designed and produced in the UK by artist Jo Burrows. Featuring a red satin rosette, they’ll feel like a winner no matter what! RRP £3.50 gallopguru.com…

Appaloosas typically stand at 14-15hh. The Appaloosa was named the official state horse of Idaho in 1975. They can be red roan, blue roan, bay roan, grey, dun, palomino, chestnut, cremello, buckskin, black, browndarkbay or bay. The breed registry recognises several coat patterns, including: Thehaunchesareallwhite, or they are white and speckled with dark spots. Thebodyis mainlywhitewithdarkspots. Thebodyisdarkwith white spots or flecks, especially over the haunches. Whiteanddarkhairsmingle to create a mottled appearance.…

Rosey Fisher is an A&E doctor who juggles a busy job with her 22-year-old pony, Jovi. She lives in rural Northumberland, where she and her young-at-heart 14.2hh equine enjoy hacking and jumping. Work life… My job involves being the front line face for any patient attending the A&E department in a hospital in North West England. I see everything from twisted ankles, cuts and head injuries to major traumas that have occurred on the nearby hills and on the motorways. We also receive patients by air ambulance and search and rescue teams. I always wanted to be a doctor, but I wasn’t going to get the grades I needed at school so I studied physiotherapy first. I then worked as a recruitment consultant, but it wasn’t really my thing and,…

1 Don’t scrimp on your horse’s farriery — keeping on top of deviations is the best way to ensure that your horse stays sound for longer. 2 Speak to your farrier if you have a problem or a concern about your horse and listen to their advice. 3 Be on the lookout for any minor deviations in the quality of your horse’s hoof and how he performs. The sooner you recognise an issue, the sooner it can be rectified. 4 Ensure that your horse is ready for a visit from the farrier with clean, dry and picked-out feet. To find a qualified farrier near you, visit farrier-reg.gov.uk.…

Daisy, a five-year-old Irish Sport Horse, was taken to Oakhill Equine Referral Clinic for further investigation and treatment to a medial splint on her left fore which her owner had noticed 10 days earlier, says Rosie Owen, equine surgery specialist. The splint was sited in the mid third region of the bone. Daisy was examined fully, including palpating the splint thoroughly, and this revealed a warm, hard swelling that was painful when palpated. The suspensory ligament border lacked definition, which raised concerns that there was ligament impingement. Daisy had long toe, low heel conformation and, at walk, landed lateral hoof wall first (showing lateromedial imbalance). In trot it was apparent that Daisy was suffering from mild left fore lameness on a straight line and moderate lameness on the lunge on…

White speckles Q I recently bought a saddle that seemed to have good clearance of my mare’s withers, didn’t block or nip her shoulder and didn’t extend beyond the last rib. The girth sits in the right spot, it looked level and she seems to go really well in it. However, I’ve noticed some white hairs (like a peppered effect) coming through on her loins. Could the saddle be causing this and what might the solution be? Another change was the use of a new sheepskin half pad under her previous saddle. Could that have anything to do with it instead? Di says… You have mentioned several of the points that a saddle fitter looks for when assessing the fit of a saddle. However, we also have to consider tree…

Don’t lose your head! Q My mare always seems to end up with mud all over her belly and between her back legs and teats. I don’t want her to be dirty or sore, but she hates being brushed or touched in that area. Do you have any tips for keeping her clean and not getting my head kicked off? Jess says... My tip would be to try to wash the mud off, rather than wait until it dries and brush it off, as this will be less painful for her. You could also hot cloth wash your horse on a daily basis with some baby oil in the water. This will also help to loosen any stuck-on mud. Any products that make your horse’s coat look shiny will help…

Hannah successfully used INDIBA therapy on Merlin, an 11-year-old Welsh section D x Irish Draught/Thoroughbred gelding who damaged both hind suspensory ligaments while turned out in his field last August. “Before his injury, Merlin and his owner, Jackie, were enjoying taking part in Your Horse magazine’s #Hack1000Miles challenge, studying horsemanship at clinics and camps, and going on beach rides. Merlin also plays a vital role in Jackie’s registered charity, Centred Horseplay, for which he is a therapy horse (centredhorseplay.org.uk). “Steven Walsh from Summerhill Equine Vets was called out when Merlin wasn’t quite right and, after a lameness work up and scan, Steven identified severe damage to the mid portion of both hind suspensory ligaments. “Initially Merlin underwent a course of shockwave therapy, but on completion of the course, the follow-up…