Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2015 i Your Horse

BACK IN JULY, the Bransby Horses team was asked to assess a coloured cob tethered in a park. When the team arrived, the cob appeared healthy. However, as they approached all wasn’t as it seemed. There was a bad smell in the air and the team realised it was coming from the horse’s head. His head collar had been so tight it had cut into his neck, leaving a large infected wound, and the team was unable to remove it without medical help. The police were called to assist in the removal of the horse, named Melvin, and transport was arranged at once. Upon arrival at the animal reception centre, Melvin was assessed by a vet under sedation because the wound was so painful he was reluctant to let anyone…

OLYMPIA HORSE SHOW A real Christmas extravaganza! DATE 15-21 December WHERE West London, Hammersmith COST Tickets vary in price, starting at £15, call 0871 230 5580 The London International Horse Show Olympia promises to deliver the best equestrian Christmas party, and this year’s highlights include a return performance from world-famous horse whisperer Jean-Francois Pignon with his Liberty Horses. You can also enjoy watching The Musical Ride of the Household Cavalry, The Shetland Pony Grand National, The Kennel Club Dog Agility and the Christmas finale to get you in the festive spirit. i For more information, visit www.olympiahorseshow.com Olympia schedule • Tuesday 15 Evening, Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Grand Prix • Wednesday 16 Evening, The Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Freestyle to Music • Thursday 17…

Double trouble My 12-year-old daughter Mia with her horse Charlie Jo Lumb, Wiltshire She’s a star I lease an amazing mare named Petra. This was taken right before our second ever ODE and first time around an 80cm course! Theresa Freeman, Oxfordshire Following in my footsteps Here’s my two-year-old daughter, Elise, who loved her first trot on my Mum’s lovely Arab mare, Asti. Toni Hayzen, Wiltshire Pearly whites My inquisitive mare Mabel showing us her new set of teeth coming through. Karen Gradon, Nottinghamshire Bonding together This is my six-year-old Irish Draft X horse share, Sully. We’re having lots of fun riding together as well as doing clicker training. Lena Franke, Monmouthshire A real softie Sandy loves a good cuddle. Andrea Kunz, East Yorkshire Such a poser I love my…

MEET THE EXPERT CELIA COHEN is an ACPAT chartered physiotherapist and equine pilates practitioner. For more information, email Cjcohens@hotmail.com PILATES HAS BECOME an increasingly popular way for riders to improve their own fitness, but it can also be used to benefit your horse too! In human sports medicine it’s been proven that strengthening core stabilising muscles can reduce injuries and enhance performance and the same is true for horses. Doing certain exercises will strengthen your horse’s core, improve his balance and, in turn, improve his ridden work. The exercises in this workout should be done using a headcollar or lunge cavesson and lunge line. You can use a lunge whip to direct your horse’s hindquarters as you would when lungeing. I don’t advise using a bridle and bit as you…

ONCE YOUR MIND’s in the right place and you’re more aware of what you’re doing as you ride, you’ll be better equipped to give your horse clear and effective aids. Ensuring that your riding is consistent and focused is the way to a more ‘rideable’ horse. A ‘rideable’ horse is one who you know where all his buttons are, and he knows what the buttons mean – it’s a bit like driving a car, you don’t have to think about changing gear, you just do it and the car responds. When you’re out of sync with your horse, or not communicating, it’s like getting in the car turning on the radio only for the windscreen wipers to come on! Yogi suggests key areas to perfect your riding: Help him understand…

1 Plan for success I find it helps to make a plan of what you’d like to achieve with your horse and put a realistic timescale in place too. Also, it’s essential that your mind is completely focused when you’re riding. If you’re distracted or tense in your riding position, this will have an influence on your horse too. 2 Have eyes on the ground Having a friend on the ground while you’re jumping can be really valuable, offering help and advice when needed – or you could ask them to film you, so you can see for yourself how you’re doing. They’re pretty handy for altering the jumps too! 3 Keep training simple Just because you’re jumping, don’t over-complicate things – remember to keep it simple. Use the exercises…

The condition Mud fever is a skin condition in horses that’s caused by a common bacteria, called Dermatophilus congolensis, which thrives in muddy and wet conditions. The condition is mainly found on the back of your horse’s pasterns and bulbs of his heels but it can also be present on the lower limbs and even as rain scald on the body. The severity can range from mild with a few scabs to a severe deep infection with limb swelling and oozing discharge. Many bacterial and fungal organisms are able to live on the surface of healthy equine skin without any problem, but issues start to arise when the skin becomes damaged or weak in damp conditions. Mud fever can also be present at different times of the year, such as…

JASON WEBB is one of the UK’s leading foundation horse trainers. To find out more about his work, visit www.yourhorse manship.com Ways to avoid tacking-up woes Q I can’t get the bit in my horse’s mouth when I’m putting the bridle on. He clenches his mouth shut and lifts his head out of reach. Why does he do it and how can I stop him? Sophie Raymond, Essex A Your horse could be doing this because he doesn’t like the way the bridle’s being put on. If he puts his head up, you need to keep it up. Keep the bit under his lower jaw until he gets tired and tries to bring his head down. Let him bring his head low and then rest before repeating. To help your…

CAROLINE MOORE FBHS has produced and ridden horses up to four-star level. She’s the British Eventing National U18 coach and Junior Team coach. Competing during the winter season Q What indoor events are available to compete in over winter to keep my horse active? Raquel Johnson, Hereford A Arena eventing offers lots of opportunity to compete for keen eventers. These differ in style from venue to venue so go to one that suits you and your horse. Some are run with time penalties, others with style marks or just clear rounds. Most have an outdoor part to them, which is run on a surface throughout the winter. This is a great way to keep your horse fit until the eventing season starts. If you can’t get out to a competition,…

5 FLY AWAY SETS WORTH £63 EACH This Fly Away set contains six products to keep your horse in tip-top shape. Every Day Tangle Away will help you achieve tangle-free, conditioned manes and tails, while Seal to Heal deters flies, keeps bacteria out of wounds and assists healing. Germ Away is a bacteria-killing barrier control, Max Strength Fly Repellent offers protection against all flying and biting nasties, and Anti Parasite Spray rids animals of all types of biting and sucking lice, mites, midges, ticks, mosquitoes and black flies. Aloe vera gel helps maintain healthy skin. We have five sets to give away. www.flyaway.ltd.uk 3 SHIRES HIGHLANDER ORIGINAL 300 COMBO RUGS WORTH £80 EACH This heavyweight rug will keep your horse cosy, dry and free to move. The 300g polyfill is…

Nothing beats crisp, frosty mornings at the yard – but only if you have the right kit to keep you snug. We love Swedish clothing company Uhip’s new range of jackets that will keep you warm, dry and comfortable in the saddle. The Classic Jacket (pictured) is nicely nipped in at the waist, has a rain resistant outer and excellent thermal properties that will keep you warm down to -15°C. Lightweight and not at all bulky to wear, other clever touches include handwarmers that leave your fingers free for adjusting tack or rugs. But here’s the really clever bit. Combine this jacket with Uhip’s Thermal Rain Skirt and your thighs are protected from the elements too. A zip at the front and rear allows you to ride in comfort, and…

SHIRES MERIBEL BOOTS £54.99 TOASTIE AND WARM Make cold feet a thing of the past with these cosy, faux fur lined boots. As the temperature drops, these practical synthetic suede boots will ensure your feet stay comfortable and warm all winter long. COLOURS Brown, grey SIZES 36 to 42 CONTACT www.shires equestrian.com HARRY HALL DARTON YARD BOOT £60 PRACTICAL WITH CLASSIC LOOKS If a traditional jodhpur-style boot is your favourite, then look no further than this waxed leather pull-on boot. Practical enough for all your daily yard chores, but with a great stylish look, too. COLOUR Brown SIZES 3 to 12 CONTACT www.harryhall.co.uk MUCK BOOT BREEZY ANKLE BOOT £70 A WELLY BOOT, JUST SHORTER A modern twist on the traditional wellington boot, this ankle boot is available in…

Presuming your horse is lame because of a problem in his foot is a common thought, however, results from the latest National Equine Health Survey (NEHS) found that lameness is three times more likely to be caused by conditions in the limb rather than the foot. The survey is run by the Blue Cross and of the 18% of lame horses recorded, 13.5% of these were suffering due to conditions such as osteoarthritis in the limb, compared to just 4.5% that were experiencing lameness due to conditions of the foot.…

Liz Pears and her horse Statham Nautilas have had a successful 2015 with the North Lincs Riding Club, most recently winning the Dodson and Horrell 100 Eventer Challenge at Blenheim with the only team on zero penalties at the end of the day. Ann Hiles took part in a monthly mentoring session run by Wittering Academy Riding Club with her horse Maisy. Riders practised working on the flat, achieving a correct balance and rhythm and riding over trotting poles. Congratulations to International Horse Agility Club member Judith Knight and rescue pony Blue Cross Bart, on winning both Open and Liberty classes at the Berkshire Horse Agility Group’s competition day at Bluey’s Polo Club. Want to see your club featured here? Get in touch with your club news by emailing…

Support for amateur riders I was wondering how many grass roots riders out there know about The LegUpforTalent SponsorMeDirect Programme? I’ve recently achieved my ‘star’ status and it’s a very exciting time for me to be part of this programme. I’m a 45-year-old amateur rider with commitment, passion and ambition. Recently I found my horse of a lifetime in an ex-racer called Alfie. Alfie’s not only given me confidence but has excelled in his new life as a dressage horse. We’ve qualified for the Intro and Prelim Retraining of Racehorse Finals for the second year running and have competed in our first ever British Dressage Regional this month, as well as the Badminton Grass Root Dressage Finals. The programme uses social media to provide an opportunity for establishing and developing…

• LISA HOBDAY – Ben’s mum “We’re a positive family so we try to focus on the good things to see us through the hard times. Obviously Steve (Ben’s dad) and I have had our ups and downs through it all but you keep yourself busy so you don’t dwell on it too much. Ben thought his treatment plan would be similar to the one I had when I was diagnosed with breast cancer but it was completely different. I was still able to go about my life in a relatively normal way, whereas his has been intense, meaning he has to rest. He also has to be within 30 minutes of the hospital in case of infection or raised temperature, which was a bit of a shock at first…

MEET THE EXPERT DIANE FOLLOWELL is the only classical dressage trainer in the UK, and one of just a handful worldwide to have had Nuno Oliveira as a mentor. Since studying with him, she has worked with hundreds of riders and their horses, using trusted techniques to improve their performance and their bond. Visit www.classicalriders.info EXPERT TIP To generate a little more push forward in the lengthened steps it can be helpful to stand slightly more aligned to your horse’s quarters rather than in line with his saddle. ONCE YOUR HORSE has a good, steady trot rhythm on a large circle and can maintain this rhythm when the circle is reduced in size, you’re ready to develop collection. Use small circles to ask for more energy within the same trot…

MENTION AN ANIMAL helping in a rescue mission and the image that springs to mind is a dog bounding ahead of people on foot, sniffing out where the missing person might be. Imagine this scenario but replace the dog with a horse. This is what New York-based investigator Hayley Lippman is hoping for in the future, and over the past three years she’s been researching whether it’s possible. Horses are prey animals with a sensitive sense of smell, which helps keep them alive in the wild by locating predators as well as vital food and water – so using their sense of smell to locate people does seem logical. Where it all began When Hayley was young her mum asked her to bring the horses in from the fields behind…

MEET THE EXPERT JUSTINE HARDING is a journalist and behaviourist with a life-long interest in horse behaviour and is passionate about improving horse-human understanding. She holds an MSc Equine Studies, MSc Clinical Animal Behaviour and a BSc (Hons) Psychology. IT’S EASY TO forget that our perception of the world is very different from that of our horses. After all, our actions and behaviours are all guided by our senses. But what if our senses and our horses’ senses are telling us different things? Sense organs are filters, so any animal, including humans, only ever receives a fraction of the information constantly available. This prevents the brain from being overloaded and allows identification of the sensory stimuli that are most relevant to that species’ well-being. Humans, more closely linked to primates…

WHEN IT COMES TO your horse’s respiratory health, prevention is definitely better than cure. So to help you avoid common problems it’s helpful to understand a little bit more about how the equine respiratory system works. To get the facts, we spoke to equine vet Rosie Naylor who is studying for her PhD at the Royal Veterinary College in London. Rosie describes horses as ‘obligate air movers’. “This means they have to breathe through their noses,” she says. “The upper airways involve everything that happens from the nose downwards and the lower airways are the more intricate aspects of the respiratory system, such as the alveoli (air sacks) deep in the lungs. In the upper airways, your horse will breathe air in through his nasal passage, it will pass down…

GIL RILEY is the managing equine vet at Pool House Equine Clinic. For more information visit www.poolhousevets.com/Equine Dealing with puncture wounds Q What should be the first call of action that I take if my horse comes in from the field with a puncture wound? Amanda Brookes, Lincolnshire A With horses, wounds are one thing in life where we can certainly agree that size doesn’t matter! That’s because a large wound can be of no great concern other than healing time, whereas a puncture wound might have devastating consequences and can even result in the death of the horse. How is that? Well, infection in a horse’s joint is an emergency situation because within hours the joint can become so heavily contaminated by the bacteria growing there, that it’s impossible…

ELEANOR FROST is an equine sports massage therapist based in Nottingham. Massaging through the winter months Q In winter, if I’m not riding or competing as much, do I still need to maintain a massage programme for my horse? Sophie Jackson, Northamptonshire A Anytime is good to massage your horse! The most effective way is to integrate some techniques into your everyday routine with your horse, such as when bringing in at night. If your horse is in light work, practise massage once or twice a week. If his workload is more demanding, he’s likely to benefit from a daily session. Massaging pre-exercise stimulates circulation to prepare the horse for athletic activity. It doesn’t replace a correctly timed warm-up and stretch protocol, but assists in delivering more blood, oxygen and…

In the hood Wrap up warm in this British Eventing Sherpa Hoodie – a perfect additional layer to wear at the yard or when riding. PRICE £69.99 CONTACT www.equestrian.com Comfort for your horse The English Hunter/Jumper bridle with flexi noseband and the English Dressage bridle (above and right) with comfi noseband have been designed by Linda Parelli. Both have a padded crown with ear-contoured design for comfort. The English Hunter/Jumper bridle comes with the newly designed flexi noseband, which is elasticated to fit snugly without restricting your horse’s mouth. The English Dressage bridle is designed with the comfi noseband for a more traditional dressage style with two elastic inserts and a padded chin piece for comfort without restriction. PRICE £150.39 (£112.79 for Parelli members) CONTACT www.parelli.com Heading out Great for…

Keep the dirt and wet out Using turnout boots can help to keep the wet and mud out. They must be close fitting and cover the vulnerable heel and pastern area. Wrap it up to dry Keeping your horse’s skin dry will help stop mud fever. Try not to wash his legs too often and use bandages or wraps that wick moisture away from your horse’s legs. Cleaning Thoroughly clean the affected area with a medicated shampoo or antibacterial wash. Waterproof his legs Applying a barrier cream will protect your horse’s skin from the wet and prevent mud fever from developing.…

IT’S NEVER BEEN done before, but world number one Scott Brash has won the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping at Spruce Meadows in Calgary. In order to win the prestigious prize of €1m a rider has to consecutively win show jumping’s three major grand prixs, which take place in Geneva (December), Aachen (May) and Spruce Meadows (September). What made Scott’s win even more special was that he won all three events riding his star horse, Hello Sanctos, owned by Lady Kirkham and Lord and Lady Harris. Scott’s been on a winning streak since he was given the ride on this special gelding, back in early 2012, and hasn’t looked back since. He’s been world number one for almost two years, only having a brief spell off the top spot when…

WE’VE GOT A great prize for you and a friend to experience and get you in the festive mood Ð a VIP day at the London International Horse Show Olympia. Three winners will each receive a pair of tickets to watch all the action on 21 December in the main arena, a meal for two and a goody bag courtesy of Verm-X. The prize* will allow you access to the afternoon performance with entry into the showground from 9am. Plus six runners up will each receive the new Verm-X Intestinal Health Pack for horses and ponies, which contains two 250g packets of Verm-X and a worm count kit providing your horse with six months cover. Olympia is the ultimate celebration of equestrianism where the very best riders from around the…

A bit about Yogi Breisner YOGI BREISNER is Team GBR‘s eventing manager, as well as being British Eventing’s national coach, and training many jockeys and National Hunt racehorses. Before turning his attention to coaching, Yogi was a member of the Swedish eventing team and won European team gold in 1983. He also finished in the top 10 at Badminton Horse Trial four times. THE ART OF training and riding horses is often over complicated, and with so many different training methods around, it’s no wonder that some riders lose their way and feel they’re not progressing. At the 2015 Centaur Biomechanics Rider Confidence Conference, trainer Yogi Breisner shared a number of methods that we can all use to improve the way we think as riders. He also explained key areas…

MEET THE EXPERT ADAM TREW is an international event rider who has competed successfully up to three star level. A relevant newcomer to eventing (turning professional only in 2011), he has a number of horses at his yard in Kent who are progressing through the levels of eventing. For details about Adam visit his website www.treweventing.co.uk WITH YOUR HELP we’ve designed this year’s Training Academy to help you improve your riding skills and your horse’s way of going. Our team of Olympic riders and expert trainers will help you overcome the various issues you’ve told us you want to work on. This month we help you improve your jump training, whether you’re an out and out lover of jumping and compete most weekends – or jump for fun at home…

Scratch don’t pat When patting your horse you might be saying ‘well done’ but your horse could perceive it as being hit. Instead scratch him at the base of his neck which lowers heart rate - a sign of relaxation. Successful training has resulted from using just wither-scratching as a reward. Keep calm Horses read tiny changes in each other’s facial muscles and have great touch sensitivity, so even slight muscle tension can be detected. In one study, riders were told something scary would happen while on board (even though it never did). Not surprisingly, their heart rates increased, but so did their horses’. Psychic or just sensitive? Wise words Horses readily learn words through repetition, and voice pitch may help differentiation, but voice tone has no inherent meaning to…

SNOT - THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY If you’re worried that what’s coming out of your horse’s nose isn’t normal, here’s a quick guide to help you know when it’s time to call the vet. Clear or white: Keep an eye on his breathing; if his respiration rate increases and he’s coughing, it’s because he has an excess of mucus that his lungs are trying to get rid of. This condition would require treatment from a vet. Yellow out of both nostrils: Depending on the rest of your horse’s symptoms, this could indicate anything from an allergy to strangles. If he’s under the weather, such as not eating his tea, listless or not performing as well as he normally does, call the vet. Yellow out of one nostril:…

REBECCA STOJAK is a solicitor at law firm Shakespeare Martineau. For more information visit www.shma.co.uk Right of way on roads Q Do horses have right of way when out on the roads? Allison Wright, Cheshire A The Highway Code gives guidance on how various road users should safely use highways and byways but does not confirm that a horse has priority or right of way. Ultimately all road users have a duty of care to each other to act in a safe manner and do their utmost to avoid endangering other road users, regardless of who has right of way. Section 215 of the Highway Code sets out how road users should act when there’s a horse on the road. It confirms that drivers should “take great care” and “treat…

Your Horse reader Helen O’Connor, from Yorkshire, has asked how she can minimise sugar intake in her horse’s diet. Healthy, fit and exercised horses should cope with sugar in their diet with no side effects. However, those that are overweight, unexercised and/or prone to conditions such as laminitis should have their sugar intake limited, particularly from water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) found in grass, hay and haylage. Tips Restrict access to grass by strip grazing, using bare paddocks or introducing a grazing muzzle Have your hay or haylage analysed for WSC and opt for the lowest value Soak hay to reduce WSC content Reduce the use of cereals such as those found in compound feeds Feed a short-chop forage replacement SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF® Molasses Free is a brand new low-calorie fibre blend…

War veteran Hugh Forsyth (pictured left) was suffering from post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety after serving on the army bomb disposal team in Bosnia and Northern Ireland. After six years of successful therapy, Hugh had improved but not fully recovered, so he turned to Sun Tui and the IFEAL team. “The therapists had done a great job,” says Sun. “Hugh was stable but, in finding this stability, he’d become very controlling and had made the decision that he would never work again.” So when Hugh asked for Sun’s help, she taught him how to work with the horses to try and find the Hugh he had left behind when a bomb killed his friends in the war when he was just 18. During his contact with the horses, Hugh experienced…

IT CAN BE DIFFICULT to stay clean and tidy when horses are involved, add in a little rain and wind and it’s near impossible to keep warm and dry at the yard and when riding. This is when a pair of overtrousers can come into their own – they’re great for adding an additional layer for warmth, as well keeping the wet and dirt out. Our team of testers, who all keep their horses on DIY livery, have put six pairs of overtrousers through their paces for yard and ridden work. Read on to find out which ones are their favourites. Mark Todd Reinga PRICE £79.95 COLOUR Navy SIZES 8 to 18 MANUFACTURER SAYS Lightly padded for warmth with Taslon panels for durability. Reflective logos and piping, leg zips with…

>CREAMS Equimins Mud Slide Lotion PRICE £7.50 for 500ml This combines the traditional ingredients of pig oil (to create a barrier) and sulphur (a very effective antibacterial agent). www.equimins.com Equine America Magic Mud Formula Ointment PRICE £16 for 400ml A soothing anti-fungal and anti-bacterial cream for itchy, flakey, scabby or cracked skin. www.equineamerica.co.uk NAF Mud Gard Barrier Cream PRICE £21.50 for 1.25kg A rich, nourishing cream containing MSM to support healthy skin and hair growth, and rosemary to soothe sore areas. www.naf-equine.eu/uk Forever Living Aloe Propolis Creme PRICE £15.56 for 113g Combines aloe vera, bee propolis and camomile to help soothe irritation and heal skin. www.towia.flp.com Safe-Care Equine Soothing Barrier Cream PRICE £9.99 for 1kg A mild soothing emollient that not only aids natural healing, but also helps to protect…