Innehållsförteckning för Issue 514 från Your Horse

AS THE WEATHER warms, ever more riders venture beyond the confines of their yard and find themselves hacking on Britain's roads. The BHS's new 2023 accident statistics certainly make for worrying reading (page 6) — don't they always —but there are ways that equestrians can be proactive if they can't avoid road riding. The first is to invest in a helmet camera — not inexpensive we realise, but it could ultimately help in the prosecution of high-risk drivers. The second is to upload any helmet cam video evidence while reporting a dangerous motorist, a near-miss, or even being hit by a vehicle, to the police system Operation Snap. However, when Your Horse conducted a poll to find out how many of our #Hack1000Miles challengers had used Operation Snap, it came…

Three things from the equestrian world that caught our eye PODCAST PROMISES LEARNING AND FIZZ A free podcast that marries together dressage training and polework, washed down with a glass of Prosecco, has received a warm welcome from riders of all abilities. ‘Poles, Piaffe and Prosecco’ is available on Spotify and Apple podcasts and is the brainchild of grand prix rider Katie Gilmour and Inspire Dressage polework guru Tania Grantham. The 10 episodes include insightful training tips, listeners' questions and special guest appearances. Readers are welcome to submit training and lifestyle questions for future episodes via email to polesandprosecco@yahoo.com or via Q&A or voice note on Spotify. DELIVERING POWER TO UKRAINE A huge fundraising effort by vets and the public to help horses and their owners caught up in the…

YOUR HORSE MAGAZINE meets KEEN RIDER AND horse rescuer Gemma Smith spent much of the festive season staring at a white ceiling pondering the “s*** show” fate had dealt her. The ceiling in question was inside Doncaster Royal Infirmary, where she had undergone a hip replacement and was in the recovery ward. But Gemma isn't beyond middle age and crippled with arthritis. She had breast cancer and towards the end of last year her oncologist delivered the unwelcome news that it had spread to her bones. By removing her hip, the doctors have thwarted the scourge in this particular joint, but this tenacious, cunning disease has also migrated to her pelvis, which current techniques cannot treat and so she is on targeted therapy. “They are hoping to slow the spread,”…

Horses for courses Q I want to try something new with my horse this year. A fellow livery suggested team chasing, but it looks a bit crazy to me. Is it suitable for a nervous rider, as well as my eight-yearold, 17.1hh Irish Draught? Kate Newton, Suffolk Roddy says: Team chasing has a reputation for being fast, furious and a bit nuts — and maybe at the top level that is justified — but at novice level it is very accessible to anyone who wants to have a go. In fact, it is open to anybody. If you have done a few hunter trials, one-day events, or you are regularly out in the hunting field and you want to try something a bit different, this could be just the ticket.…

Ask The Experts Q I have owned my mare for a year, but I've never really noticed any signs that she's in season. Is it normal that the signals aren't very obvious? Christina Gray, Shropshire Jenni says: Some mares can display subtle signs that they are in season, while others are more obvious. This is probably due to personality differences rather than hormone levels. The usual signs that a mare is in season include… ■ Seeking out male horses. ■ Displaying oestrus behaviour to male horses. ■ Squatting. ■ Winking. ■ Tail lifting. I have one mare who virtually never displays that she's in season, but I have had others who have been more obvious, so I wouldn't be too concerned. Petulant and prickly Q My mare gets really grumpy…

SURVIVING THE WINTER is all about having the right clothing, and waterproof overtrousers are simply a lifesaver on bitterly cold, wet days. These practical pieces of legwear not only keep out the wind and the rain while in the saddle, but they are invaluable on the yard, too, when dealing with wet rugs, hauling heavy buckets full of water (that never fails to splash over the edge onto legs) and brushing mud-coated horses. Thanks to this year's wet winter our team of testers has had ample opportunity to put six pairs of waterproof overtrousers to the test. They have been out in all weathers, riding and caring for their horses. They have assessed these pairs of overtrousers for fit and comfort both on board and on the ground. Read on…

What prompted you to pursue a career as an artist? I have been drawing horses since I was six. I sold my first drawing for lOp when I was 10 and I haven't stopped since. I was the senior art scholar at St Paul's Girls’ School and so was encouraged to pursue a career in art. I attended Chelsea College Of Arts and then set myself up as a freelance portrait painter. I started specialising in animals 20 years ago. I can draw humans, but animals are my preferred subjects. After all, a horse will never tell me that I made his bum look too big. What subjects have you painted over the years? There are so many, but they include eventers, horses of The Household Cavalry, field ornaments and…

Anyone can report an incident or a near miss to the BHS — you don't even have to be a member. You can do so via the charity's online form, or by downloading the Horse i app via the Apple Store or Google Play on your mobile phone or tablet. Any of the following should be reported: An unplanned event that has resulted in a rider or handler feeling concerned (such as being verbally abused). An unplanned event that has resulted in a horse reacting in an unsettled way (due to excessive noise or a vehicle passing too fast or too close, for example). An unplanned event that has the potential to cause injury to a rider, handler, or horse even though they may not have (a near miss). An…

MISSED A PREVIOUS PART? Buy Your Horse back issues at shop. kelsey.co.uk/issue/YHR VET notes WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: ● What equine recurrent uveitis and immune mediated keratitis actually are ● What causes these diseases ● The telltale signs ● How they can be treated ● All about eye removal MEET THE EXPERT LUCINDA TICEHURST BSc BVMED Sci Hons BVM BVS MRCVS founded LT Equine Veterinary Services in 2020 having graduated from Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science in 2014. Based in Northamptonshire, LT Equine is a first-opinion, ambulatory equine veterinary practice. Lucinda is passionate about all things equestrian and currently owns five horses who she trains and competes in a variety of disciplines, including point-topoint racing and side saddle. For more information, visit LTequinevet.co.uk THE EQUINE EYE is a marvel…

Aural plaques may respond to anti-viral cream Q What exactly are ear plaques? I was told that I shouldn't try to remove them from my mare, but won't they spread? Jacqueline Poole, Fife Hilary says: Equine aural plaques are caused by a papilloma virus spread by biting flies. They don't generally bother the affected horse and can't be removed manually. They are similar to warts. The use of fly repellents and stabling the horse at dawn and dusk to prevent fly feeding is recommended. Once they develop they may respond to a specific anti-viral cream which can be prescribed by your vet. A not-so-sweet itch Q My horse has started coming in from her field and immediately scratching her tail and quarters on her haynet. Her skin looks a little…

MEET THE EXPERT Emma Short BSc (Hons) has a varied role at Baileys which covers the provision of feed advice for horse owners, working on specialist feeding programmes for larger yards and professionals, and providing technical support for the sales and marketing teams. Emma is keen to apply new research through Baileys product development, as well as via educational talks to owners, associations, vets and retailers. Owners may need to use trial and error to tempt a fussy feeder Q My mare tends to drop weight during the winter, but she's really fussy and I struggle to get her to eat enough to maintain condition. I'm so worried about her and would really appreciate some advice. Cinny Foreacre, East Sussex Emma says: Some horses are fussy about the flavour and…

The senior mare came into the centre's care last February after being passed from pillar to post. “A lady on the Isle of Wight had driven up north to view her for purchase, but she was in a dreadful condition — thin and underweight,” explained Zoe Parks, a trustee of the registered charity which was set up in January 2021 to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome equines in Hampshire and the surrounding counties. “She took her home, but then realised what a challenge and expense it would be to try and rehabilitate her, so she asked us to step in.” On arrival at the charity's base, Magic was wormed, de-loused and had a full set of bloods taken by a vet. “We were keen to find out if she had any…

If you experience an incident while riding on the road, you need to report it immediately to the local police force that covers the area where it occurred. Bear in mind that if your horse is kept at livery, or you have ridden a long distance, this may not be the same police force that covers where your home is. Operation Snap has an online form to report an incident and submit evidence. To find it, visit the website for your local police, or search its name and the words ‘Operation Snap’ on Google. Mandatory details you need to provide include: ■ Your name, address and contact details. ■ Location, date and time of the incident. ■ Registration number of the offending vehicle, as well as its make and colour.…

YOUR HORSE MAGAZINE meets INTERVIEW AS A CHILD Caroline Debisi Ogunshola loved Saddle Club. She sat transfixed in front of the TV as the stories involving Lisa, Carole and Stevie played out, as the girls rescued horses, took tumbles, climbed back on board, improved their technique through lessons, won rosettes in competitions and even, once, battled with snakes. It was an unexpected fascination as not a single member of Caroline's family was remotely interested in equines. They never discussed horses. They never contemplated lessons. They had never encountered a horse while on a holiday. They hadn't ever got close enough to stroke one. They had never once put their foot in a stirrup and climbed into a saddle. “I had lived in Welling [in the London Borough of Bexley] since I…

PART TWO FOR ANYONE WHO loves to ride, if their core doesn't function optimally in the saddle then no matter how hard the rider tries they will constantly struggle to improve their riding performance. Functioning optimally means that all the muscles that make up this vital core (Your Horse, Training/RiderCise® February) must work together at various intensities simultaneously. Most people consider that they have good posture, especially those who are active and care for and ride horses. As we get older, and with the stresses of life, our posture can become compromised. And because the human body is so incredible these changes are often gradual. This means that we won't necessarily realise that our posture has altered and is no longer considered ‘good’ posture. The truth is, most people, including…

Melissa Denton's Welsh section D, Mayesmoore Selwyn (aka Kola), was a demon in the showjumping ring and was a considerable rosette collector. Melissa bought him as a four-year-old, produced him herself and the pair became regulars on the unaffiliated jumping circuit. Life seemed good and straightforward until one morning Melissa found that her gelding's right eye was weeping and closed. She called in vet Lucinda Ticehurst and Kola was diagnosed with uveitis. “After months of topically managing his eye and several recurrent episodes it became clear that his sight was significantly compromised,” says Melissa. “It explained why he was sometimes clumsy and would knock into things.” Kola's weeping symptoms improved, though, and his problems were controlled with daily eye drops, but after nine months there were further signs of deterioration.…

Ask The Experts In partnership with Baileys HORSE FEEDS Q Myself and a few other liveries at my yard have become a bit concerned about a certain horse. He is quite obese, and his owner has been feeding him ad-lib hay over the winter so he hasn't lost any weight. We tried speaking to her once, but she didn't really listen. What should we do? Joy Brookes, Nottinghamshire Francesca says: This is a very delicate situation. Everyone has their own way of feeding their horse, which is fine until it becomes a welfare concern. I would recommend approaching the yard owner to express your welfare concerns about the horse rather than speaking to his owner again yourselves. It is a conversation they should lead. When opening up this type of discussion,…

ENDURO FIT EQUINE RIDE TRACKER APP PRICE £249 (Enduro GW Equine Heart Rate Monitor); app is free to download ENDUROEQUINE.COM This equine ride tracker helps to monitor the health, wellbeing and fitness levels of a horse. The Enduro Equine FIT Ride Tracker App comes with a comprehensive range of features that allows the user to see their ride history; it shows distance, duration and activity; as well as the amount of calories burned; gait detection and live location tracking. All of this information can be linked to and displayed on a smartwatch so that the wearer can see exactly what is happening as they ride. For riders keen to monitor or improve their horse's fitness further, there is the option to buy the Enduro Equine GW Heart Rate Monitor and…

ACORRECTLY FITTING breastplate will help to hold a saddle securely in place and stop it from slipping backwards. This piece of tack is especially popular for eventing and showjumping, where there is a greater risk of slipping and sliding. Traditionally, breastplates were made entirely from leather, but now other materials, such as elastic, are often used. Just like any other item of tack, a breastplate must be fitted correctly if it is to help, not hinder, a horse. It should be snug enough not to catch a hoof when jumping, but not so tight that it rubs or restricts the equine's movement. No matter what job the horse is doing, the breastplate should be as comfortable as possible. Once fastened, the rider should be able to pull the breastplate up…