Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 448 i Your Horse

ACCORDING TO A survey carried out by the British Equestrian Veterinary Association (BEVA) in 2014, working as an equine vet carries the highest risk of injury out of any civilian profession. Nearly half of injuries occurred while the horse was held by their owner and leisure horses accounted for just shy of 40% of the injuries caused — legs, hands and heads being the most vulnerable body parts. It makes you stop and think, doesn’t it? Calling the vet is part and parcel of owning horses. In fact, it’s so routine it’s easy to forget that our pride and joy — who has a mind of his own and probably weighs around half a tonne — is capable of endangering human life. Especially when he’s scared and in pain. There…

TYPE ‘TOTAL AREA of the UK’ into Google and the answer is more than 94,000 square miles. What it can’t tell you, however, is where the little-known, best bits are. Nor can it narrow it down to which of these are best explored on horseback. So what did we do? We asked you, our #hack1000miles challengers, and you nominated all your favourite routes and areas to ride a horse. We’ve showcased as many as we can in these pages. If you’re looking for inspiration for new places to ride, or seeking ideas for where else to visit and explore, prepare to be informed by your fellow hackers. Your Horse’s editor, Aimi Clark, nominates Roadford Lake (main photo) in Devon as her favourite riding spot. “The best thing about Roadford is…

THESE SMALL, CUTE equines are the only truly wild horses in the world. They have been driven to the edge of extinction and back, but their future is still far from guaranteed. The Przewalski’s horse was discovered by westerners at the end of the 19th century, when Russian explorer Nikolai Przewalski visited China. He was presented with the skull and hide of a horse shot on the Chinese-Russian border and a zoological examination found the remains were those of a wild horse. It was given his name in honour and is pronounced “Sha-val-skee”. The Mongolians, however, have always called these horses Takhi, which means ‘spirit’ or ‘spiritual’. They regard Przewalski’s horses as man’s messengers to the Gods and it is taboo to kill them. During the late-18th century, the number…

Riot helped us achieve our dreams I got my pony Glynwyn Predicts a Riot in 2012. I have borderline personality disorder and depression, but he’s better than any therapy. Riot is the reason I get up every morning with a smile on my face. We’ve been through so much together, from starting out at local level workers to competing at county level. My twin brother Chris also rides with the Crosby Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), which has helped with his communication and confidence. Chris suffered severe brain damage due to being deprived of oxygen in the womb, and has severe learning difficulties. He’s always watched me compete with Riot, and they have such a special bond; Riot really looks after him. I wanted to be able to help…

Dressage debut My beautiful mare Queenie at our first competition. Sarah Noble, via email Horsing around My horse Asbo really loves my jokes! Lorna Elliot, via email Smiles all round My lovely horse Jack, showing off his best side. Rachel Haylock, Cambridgeshire Anything you can do… My teenage daughter and her teenage pony love taking a selfie. Lindsay Harris, Worcestershire Going out out My pony Prince was very excited to go to his field. Denni Taylor-Jones, via email Family portrait With my two boys, Jason and Fergus, who are my world. Fiona Johnston, Moray Picture perfect Me and my mare Ellie — she loves having her photo taken. Rowena Murray, Shropshire “I can take it from here, Mum” Me and my boy Hennessey — he likes to help me lead…

Vet safety has become the subject of a fair amount of academic research as we try to understand the reasons and look for common themes, so we can take preventative measures to better assess our risks and help keep us safe. The statistics from a 2018 paper are a definite cause for concern. It was calculated that over a 30-year working lifetime, a vet might sustain between eight and nine injuries that require treatment and time off work, equating to one injury every three years and seven months (Parkin et al, 2018). Clearly injuries can happen working with horses at any time in any situation. The statistics show that: 48 % In of cases of injury to vets, the horse was being held by their owner Injuries still happen when…

Paul Smith, an equine vet and director at North West Equine Vets in North Yorkshire, recalls one particular incident with a racehorse. “I was called to see a horse with an inch-long cut to his face,” remembers Paul. “As he was due to race the following day and the wound looked small, I thought I might be able to clean and staple it without needing to sedate him. He was really good for me as I gave the wound a vigorous clean, so I thought he would be fine to apply a few staples I injected some local anaesthetic in the wound edges, and then we applied a twitch to keep him calm while I stapled the wound. “I put the first staple in, and in the blink of an…

If your horse displays any symptoms of colic, call your vet immediately. Early signs ■ Less enthusiastic about eating or not eating at all ■ Passing fewer droppings than normal ■ Quiet and lethargic ■ Looking around at his flank, kicking at his belly or pawing the ground Progressive signs ■ Patchy sweating ■ Attempts to lie down and roll ■ Lying on the back ■ Fast, shallow breathing with flared nostrils ■ Spasms of severe pain that cause violent rolling and groaning ■ Distension of the abdomen…

Weight: 372kg Forage: 1.5kg hay (she won’t eat more than this and can struggle to chew it) ■ 1.5kg Dengie Hi-Fi Molasses Free ■ 1.5kg Spillers Happy Hoof ■ 500g (dry weight) Allen & Page Fast Fibre All split into frequent small meals Turnout: Restricted grazing during the day Hard Feed: 250g (dry weight) Speedi-Beet ■ 250g Spillers Happy Hoof ■ ½ tbsp salt STACEY EDMUNDS HAS owned 13.2hh, 31-year-old Welsh cross Mystique for 28 years. During this time they’ve done everything together from hacking and pleasure rides to local shows. Mystique is now retired, but Stacey works hard to ensure all her dietary needs are met. A couple of the challenges that Stacey works hard to control are Mystique’s weight, especially as the mare also suffers from EMS and…

The penetration of a foreign body into a joint, carrying with it bacteria, mud and hair, can result in a massive inflammatory response causing non-weight bearing lameness to occur within just a few hours. If the penetration is relatively small, with no foreign material left inside the joint, it may be possible to manage it by flushing fluid through while your horse is standing, and by injecting antibiotics. However, if there is gross contamination, a general anaesthetic and endoscopic examination of the joint to remove the foreign material will be required, as will anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. If left for longer than 48 hours, complications can occur, so a potentially septic joint needs urgent attention.…

Groundwork p94 Tristan Tucker is a renowned trainer, working with riders at all levels. He focuses on helping horses achieve relaxation and confidence through his training method, the TRT method. Conditioning p96 Harriet Morris-Baumber is an event rider and coach who has been training with Christopher Bartle for the last 13 years. She has her own extensive training facilities in East Yorkshire. Physiotherapy p98 Lee Clark is a chartered physiotherapist and ACPAT physiotherapist. He’s provided therapy for horses and riders at European and World Championships and the London Olympics. Rugging p100 Clare Silke is product innovations manager at Horseware Ireland. She has a background in fashion design and business and specialises at Horseware in rug design, healthcare and technology products.…

Keep it round Q I’m trying to build topline and strengthen my horse’s quarters. Will cantering when out hacking help or hinder this? I also live in a very flat area, so how can I build his quarters without relying on hill work? Flick Haggerty, Norfolk Harriet says... All work that encourages the horse to work round over his back and engage his core and hindlegs will build topline, whether this is hacking, schooling or jumping. However, if you’re out hacking and cantering along any old how, then yes, you could be having a detrimental effect on the topline muscles. Think to yourself, “What would the dressage judge say to this canter?” This will allow you to be more aware of your horse’s shape and way of going and,…

THE RIGHT CLOTHING can make being out in all weathers that little bit easier. This is especially true when it comes to riding jackets. To survive whatever winter throws at you, a good quality jacket that’s warm, waterproof and comfortable to wear in and out of the saddle is essential. Our tester for the past three months has been out in all weathers, morning and evening, putting a selection of jackets through their paces while doing general yard chores and riding. Each jacket has been assessed for its fit, performance and whether our tester considers it value for money. Read on to see the results and find out which comes out as best in test. How we score Each jacket is marked out of five for fit, performance and value…

Deputy editor Allison Lowther: I’ve ridden my fair share of wobbly centre lines and wonky halts. I’ve discovered the only way to improve is to practise, practise, practise! If you’re regularly disappointed with the marks you’re receiving, dressage judge Alex Gingell has some easy to follow advice to up your marks. Page 58 Acting online editor Julie Brown: I love that we can compete indoors during the depths of winter. But being inside changes everything (well, our horses think so anyway), so we asked eventer Barry Meningen how best to prepare. Page 44 International dressage rider Charlie Hutton: When you apply your leg, your horse must react immediately by going forward. If there is any resistance, you need to act now. Page 52 Biomechanic anatomist Gillian Higgins: Sitting on a…

Mike Mills Mike — aka the man in orange — and his mare Jess’ journey included 24 miles in the annual Man v Horse race in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales. “Jess always looks after me,” he says. Anne-Marie Cronin A few days after starting the challenge, Anne-Marie slipped over and damaged ligaments in her knee. “I had to mount from the wrong side and plod along in walk. But every mile counts – even slow ones!” Emma Hayes Emma’s horse Yassa was off games for a while due to collateral ligament injury, but stablemate Duke stepped in to clock miles while he recovered. “We rediscovered our love of exploring and won the Top Pleasure Ride trophy for Northern Ireland.” Elaine Rannie Elaine hacked 1,000 miles on her three Icelandic ponies, Sara,…

❋ Przewalski’s horses are short and muscular, reaching around 13hh ❋ Their coat colour ranges from brown to dun, with a pale underbelly and muzzle ❋ A dark dorsal stripe runs from the mane to the tail, which is black -ish in colour ❋ The mane is short and s tands upwards ❋ Przewalski’s horses have 66 chromosomes, compared to domestic horses who have 64 ❋ They are a wild horse and beha ve like one, having never been domesticated ❋ Przewalski’s horses live in small family groups — one stallion, between one and three mares and their offspring For more information visit takh.org .…

Smiles all round We love this picture — the smiles show how much joy horses bring our way. @reinandshineequestrian, Instagram Starting ’em young Proof that Your Horse magazine can be enjoyed by all ages: Amelia Fletcher gets stuck into a recent issue! By email Artistic spillage Spilling your tea and coffee horse-style. @wrightcoffeeart, Instagram On the up Great day, having a lesson with @sharonhunt11 for a feature in @yourhorse magazine with@martin_collins_enterprises. @pony_nuts, Instagram Dubai on horseback Amazing ride this morning with @ aljiyadstable and my lovely Elodie. @ amysworld.tv , Instagram…

You know that your own posture can affect your performance, movement, symmetry, breathing, comfort and muscular skeletal health, and it’s exactly the same for your horse. To help improve your understanding, try this: 1 Sit on the edge of a seat. 2 Tilt your pelvis as far forward as you can, extending and hollowing your back. 3 Look up at the ceiling and push your shoulders back so you’re extending your back as far as you can. 4 Now add some lateral flexion — take your left armpit towards your left hip and then repeat on the right. 5 Now look straight ahead and tilt your pelvis the other way. 6 Straighten your spine and flex it a bit so you can feel your abdominals recruit. 7 Now repeat number…

“There’s lots you can do at home to prepare for jumping at an indoor competition, and I want to share one of my favourite exercises with you,” says Barry. “You only need five sets of wings and 10 poles, but it allows you to practise different aspects of jumping that will really help once you’re in the ring.” To set up this exercise, place a cross-pole on the centre line towards the A end of the arena, a double cross-pole towards the C end of the arena, and two other crosspoles placed either side of this at an angle (see diagram, left). The three fences at the C end should be three strides away from the one at A. Set up the cross-poles at a height your horse is capable…

❋ ONE READER WILL WIN* : ■ A pair of Medici riding boots ■ A Solo Vision competition jacket ■ A pair of Solo Extreme competition breeches ■ A pair of Symphony Azzura breeches ■ A Solo Air competition shirt ■ A pair of Jumper Pro gloves ■ A Flex belt ONE LUCKY READER is going to get 2019 off to a great start when they win this amazing riding outfit from Tredstep. This top-to-toe selection of riding wear will have you looking and feeling the part whether you’re competing, riding in the arena or out hacking. The outfit includes: A pair of Medici riding boots from The Renaissance Collection. These beautifully sculpted boots, with a unique curve pattern, will enhance the shape of your leg, giving a close-contact feel.…

Louise Pailor manages a team of equine nurses, nurse assistants and grooms at Wright & Morten Equine Clinic at Somerford Park in Cheshire. “Safe working around horses is second nature at the clinic; it’s just how we do things around here,” says Louise. “We make sure that everybody handling horses wears a hard hat and steel toe caps, and gloves for lungeing — it’s a necessity. “We train our team to assess every situation and speak out if they feel it’s not going the right way. We tell them not to be scared to say if they are not comfortable in any situation. Hopefully that way we can reassess any situation with safety as our top priority. “If we ask a staff member to get a horse for us, the…

Weight: 452kg Forage: 8kg hay Turnout: Around 7.5hrs during the day in winter Hard Feed: 1kg Spillers Senior Complete Care Mix ■ 500g Dengie Hi-Fi Original ■ 54g Science Supplements Well Horse Veteran Balancer ■ 1 tbsp salt OXNEAD ACT ONE (Tom) is a 14.3hh, 20-year-old Haflinger performance stallion owned and ridden by Claire Brown. To date he has done a lot of showing and has been the National Haflinger Supreme Ridden Champion four times. He also competes side-saddle both nationally and internationally and has taken Claire to two reserve sidesaddle rider of the year titles. Recently, Tom has been competing in British Dressage and was second in the 20 year-plus category at medium level at the BD Veteran Horse Associated Championships. He is healthy, active and thoroughly enjoys life.…

1 It’s not uncommon for a rider to get nervous when they’re forced to ride a naughty horse, so eliminate the risks as much as possible by lungeing a fresh horse before getting on, or making sure he’s been turned out before you ride. Don’t over-do the lungeing — the last thing you want is to make your horse even fitter. A quick five-minute spin on the lunge to let him work off any tension should do it. 2 When you’re riding a fresh horse and feeling nervous, remember to breathe. Breathing deep and slow can help you calm down. Try singing while you ride to help you relax, too. 3 Ride with others who can offer moral support and advice if things start going haywire. You’ll instantly feel more…

It’s simple really — if you don’t look after your horse’s legs, you won’t be able to ride him. Here are some of the golden rules to keep in mind: ■ FITNESS — is your horse capable of doing the job you’re asking of him? ■ GROUND CONDITIONS — what’s it like underfoot? Be extra careful on hard, rutted ground and boggy ground ■ PROTECTIVE WEAR — are you booting up? Seek advice on which boots best suit your horse’s needs ■ WARM UP — you wouldn’t walk out of your house and immediately run as fast as you can, as far as you can, so don’t expect your horse to either ■ WARM DOWN — dedicating the last section of your ride to walking will help your horse’s body…

Wild horses… Q My 16hh cob X sports horse can’t be trusted on the ground. He will drag people wherever he wants to go and has injured both me and my friends in the past. What training do you suggest? Maisie Little, Leicester Tristan says... Horses that behave in this way have never been taught how to take responsibility for their own space. Owners need to move away from the idea that it’s up to them to ‘manage’ their horse — he has to learn how to manage himself. Putting any kind of restraint on a horse won’t make him take more notice of you in the long run, and can actually make his reactions worse. Instead, we need to create some clarity for him by relieving him of…

Tale of two treatments Q What’s the difference between what an equine chiropractor and an equine physiotherapist could do for a horse with a sore back? Emma Jones, Tiverton Lee says... The difference between an equine chiropractor and physiotherapist will vary depending on the individual and the training route they’ve taken. As little as 15 years ago, there were far fewer routes to becoming either. When I qualified 23 years ago, for example, the main route into equine physiotherapy was to complete a three-year degree in human physiotherapy, practise on people for two years, then complete a further two years’ training to become a veterinary physiotherapist. There are now numerous other, much shorter routes to the same qualification. From my understanding, the treatments applied to a horse’s back are…

Front strap fit Q I waste hours of my life tightening and loosening the front straps on rugs. Where should the front of the rug sit and how tight should it be without creating pressure or restricting movement? Too loose seems to cause rubbing too. Help! Joanne Proctor, Dorset Clare says... Fit and style of front straps vary across different rug types and brands but, as a general guideline, the top front strap should align with the top of the horse’s point of shoulder. There are several key areas to check to ensure the optimum rug fit when fastening front straps: 1 Withers: Rugs should sit slightly ahead of your horse’s withers, the optimum distance being between two and four inches. 2 Holes: The fabric at the front should…

CALDENE SAVELLI LEATHER GLOVES RRP £40  COLOUR Navy SIZES S-L BUY AT harryhall.com Super soft and smart leather gloves with Thinsulate lining to keep your hands warm even on the coldest days. Also, there’s no need to repeatedly take your gloves off, as these are equipped with touchscreen fingertip technology, so you can unlock and use your phone with your gloves still on. WOOF WEAR WINTER GLOVES RRP £29.99  COLOUR Black SIZES XS-XL BUY AT woofwear.com The HIPORA waterproof and breathable membrane in these gloves will keep your hands dry, and with an extra-long cuff and warm 80g cotton insulation your hands will be toasty too. The gloves also have a silicone grip print to ensure the best possible grip. MARK TODD WINTER GLOVES WITH THINSULATE RRP £2O.99  COLOURS Black,…

MY LITTLE RIDING CHAMPION Intended for all riding fans, this game allows you to build a relationship with your chosen horse, practise management skills, do lots of hacking and enter all types of competitions, without even leaving the sofa. RRP £39.99, amazon.co.uk THE WORLD OF HORSES Bob Langrish’s World of Horses is a collective work from the photographer who’s travelled six continents in search of the most compelling horses in their natural habitat. Foreword by Jane Holderness-Roddam. RRP £30.99, amazon.co.uk SAVED FROM A CAR BOOT Gary was a helpless young foal when he was found crammed into the back of a car with a group of youths. Rescued by the police and handed to the Blue Cross he was in a sorry state. But, six months on, look at him…

Sign up at hack1000miles.co.uk  and you’ll benefit from our monthly newsletter, exclusive competitions, giveaways and much more. ■ Buy an exclusive #hack1000miles rosette and badge at yourhorse.co.uk/shop-hack. Prices from £2. Wear with pride! ■ Join our private Facebook group, Hack 1000 Miles, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@YourHorse) and Instagram (@yourhorsemagazine). ■ Share your hacking photos with us and use the hashtag #hack1000miles — you might feature in a future issue of Your Horse.…

Kate Heidukewitsch, 58, is a part-time Macmillan nurse who works two days a week in Nottingham. She lives with her husband Steve and their two Border Collies in Mansfield. She owns one horse and competes in dressage. My job… I’m a Macmillan Specialist Nurse based in Nottingham. Many people assume Macmillan staff only go on house calls, but I work solely in the hospital. Here I’ll see cancer patients at any time during their illness, from diagnosis to the terminal stages. I help them throughout their treatment, including with any specific symptom problems, as well as assisting the doctors. There are 14 on my team and between us we cover two hospitals in Nottingham. How I got here… After qualifying as a general nurse in 1981, I worked in a…

If you’re a little saddle sore one day, there are plenty of other things to do: ■ Head to a nearby hot springs Valley View hot springs, an hour’s drive from Zapata, have breathtaking views of the Sangre de Cristo valley. Bring your swimsuit. ■ Stock up on western gear Cowboy boots and apparel at Big R in local Alamosa. Bring plenty of dollars. ■ Explore hiking trails A nature guide can take you on a tour to see the local flora and fauna. Bring your camera and bear spray. ■ Visit Zapata Falls At 9,000ft up a rocky, dusty road, this is the ultimate in peace and panoramic views. Bring sturdy waterproof boots. ■ Enjoy a massage Indulge in treatment from a local masseur in the comfort of your…

WEAR IT! It’s so important for horse riders, but also for cyclists. So many seem to wear dark clothes, which is OK on closed roads but totally unacceptable on public roads. My daughter always wears hi-vis when hacking. Self-preservation! Ian Kirk BE SEEN Hi-vis is very important, even on quiet lanes or moorland where there isn’t much traffic. Not only does it make you visible to other road users, but also to rescue crews if the worst happens. Le-Anne Bradbury MAKE IT LAW I think it should be law for horse riders, bikers, cyclists and anyone walking or running, especially where there are no pavements. Katie Dawson McDermott IT’S CRITICAL Unless you are riding in an arena or out at a competition, hi-vis is critical because it’s how people can…

❋ These exercises highlight whether you’re riding accurate turns and how straight your horse is, as well as encouraging you to steer from your outside aids. ❋ Looking up and ahead sounds simple, but it really will transform your ability to ride accurately. ❋ Keeping it simple with polework helps you iron out any problems with your position before you move on to jumping fences. If you have a habit of leaning in, ride in a light seat on the corners to make you aware of what your upper body’s doing.…

1 Spend time in walk: a longer walk and a shorter walk, as well as lateral work. This is a great way to warm up before moving on to your main work in a schooling session. 2 Use lateral work to encourage him to relax if he’s tense. The action of stepping across and under his body is great for improving his posture. 3 Canter, as this gets your horse’s back really moving and the blood pumping, helping to warm his muscles up. All horses benefit from cantering early on in their training session; the trot always looks more forwards and expressive afterwards.…

JUMPING A CLEAR ROUND, whether that’s showjumping or cross-country, can mean the difference between a win or a place. In any phase, having focus and rhythm is key. To achieve this, you need to make sure your horse is straight and that you have full control of his shoulders. At any level, basic polework is the best way to get a feel for your horse and understand the aids needed to gain control and maintain a straight line. The following exercises are designed to keep your horse focused on you and help you to establish the perfect jumping rhythm. Before starting any of these exercises, always ensure that your horse is fully warmed up. EXERCISE 1 This exercise is designed to help you get a feel for controlling your horse’s…

Charlie rides lots of lateral movements, such as leg-yield and shoulder-in, when working on forwardness, especially in walk. “Horses don’t naturally have impulsion in walk, whereas in trot and canter they do. So, if you have the horse in front of your leg in walk, it will be easier to achieve and maintain the same in trot and canter,” he explains. “When a lot of people do lateral work they use their leg the entire time. You should be able to place your leg behind the girth, apply it and, when the horse moves over, release it. This sounds simple, but it takes practice.”…

TYPE 1 Healthy and happy The first type is slightly older, but happy and healthy. They hold their weight well and are still enjoying ridden activities with ease. In fact, their owner probably hasn’t really noticed any difference, but is wondering if they should do anything differently. If your horse fits into this category there are still a few things you can check. First, is your horse receiving the manufacturer’s recommended quantity of hard feed? If not, he may not require the additional calorie intake, but consider adding a balancer that will make up any shortfall in the vital vitamins, minerals and amino acids he’s getting. It’s very important that your horse is receiving the necessary nutrients in his diet, and a balancer is a great way to achieve this.…

Other things to bear in mind are that some older horses may start to lose their place in the pecking order and, if they are being bullied, may not have the opportunity to get to the forage you are putting in the field. Make sure forage is spread around so everyone has an opportunity to eat. Owners are very keen to bump up the calorie levels with hard feed, but if your horse is really struggling to take a good amount of forage in, he will struggle to maintain weight however calorie-packed the hard feed, so rectify this first. Opt for a digestive aid Over the course of your horse’s lifetime, damage caused by parasites can start to affect him. This can hinder his digestive tract, leaving scars and reducing…

Once your horse is happily advancing on objects with a good posture, you can create circles on the lunge where the object appears in front of him and he needs to remember the posture and deal with the object without you being in front. This is especially useful for when you’re on his back. Again, any movement towards the object should be rewarded by letting your horse move away immediately. The objective is to get him to realise: “When I do this, I can take on anything!” Horses grow addicted to feeling confident, because it’s the best way to feel.…

Rug ravagers Q Is there anything I can apply to my horse’s rug to stop another horse biting and ripping it? Daniel Welbury, Willaston Clare says... First, the nature of the biting should be investigated to see whether your horse is being bullied or if it’s just playfulness and mutual grooming. Second, rather than applying a product to the outer fabric of the rug, it’s worth checking the type of fabric the rug is made from. Know your deniers There have been significant developments in the fabrics used in modern turnouts, with an array of tear strengths that can protect against biting and nipping. Denier is a unit of measurement that indicates the thickness of individual threads used in the makeup of fabrics. The higher the denier count, the…

We need five horse owners to sign up to trial a bag of new SPILLERS® Senior Super-Mash and five more to trial SPILLERS® SPEEDY-MASH Fibre. We want feedback, straight from the horse’s mouth and we’ll publish some of your comments later in the year. About the feed… New SPILLERS® Senior Super-Mash is the ultimate senior mash for condition and gut health. High in fibre and molasses-free, it also contains gut support from live yeast, MOS and FOS. It’s ideal for senior horses who need a little more energy to maintain or build condition. SPILLERS® SPEEDY-MASH Fibre is a fast-soaking sugar beet blend that’s high in fibre, low in starch and molasses-free. It’s suitable for every horse including good doers and those prone to laminitis. Both soak rapidly to form a…

The Zerofit Heatrub range of base layers are designed to help control your body temperature so you can stay warm and comfortable. A traditional base layer seals in body heat, whereas Heatrub products work differently. They seal in all that important body heat, while also creating their own heat due to the unique properties of the ‘double loop’ fibres that are built into the inner part of the garment. These provide ‘friction heating’: as you move, this generates heat. There are four innovative base layers in the range: ■ Zerofit Heatrub Move (below right) promotes both warmth and temperature regulation. Designed for more athletic activities, the unique fabric has a cooling two-layer construction, which wicks moisture away from your body to ensure you stay warm and comfortable. ■ Zerofit Heatrub…

WET AND MUDDY fields often mean your horse has restricted turnout and needs to spend more time in his stable. Or maybe he still has turnout, but grass is in short supply. Both can lead to him becoming frustrated and, in some instances, stressed. If so, it’s time to invest in a stable toy to help keep him occupied and relaxed. HAYGRAZER PLAY RRP £29.99 BUY AT haygrazer.co.uk The simple design of the HayGrazer Play makes your horse’s hay last longer. The top holes are slightly larger so your horse can pull hay out easily at first. Once this portion of his hay is gone, the holes in the bottom half are smaller, which slows down the rate he can eat. To make it last even longer you can…