Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 454 i Your Horse

IF YOU HAVEN’T heard about the world’s fight against the massive issue of plastics pollution — where have you been? It got us thinking at Your Horse HQ, about all the plastic lying around our own yards and tack rooms and what the equine industry could do to help reduce it. On investigation, it turns out several companies are already doing a fair bit to cut back (p24). If you need inspiration for what you can do too (and why), input from your fellow Your Horse readers throws up some great ideas. One of my favourites is the feed bag upcycled into a shopping bag. I’ve always been terrible at throwing things away that “might” be useful, prompting a stack of old tubs in my tack room. They are great…

How can you help? ■ Thank drivers who pass wide and slow — if you do, they’re more likely to do the same for the next horse they see. ■ When riding on a narrow road, get out of the way as quickly as you can. For example, trot to the nearest gateway or move on to the verge, if it’s safe to do so. ■ Ride single file when you’re on a narrow, winding road so there’s more room for approaching vehicles to go around you. ■ Don’t react to any abuse an impatient driver may throw your way. ■ If possible, ride at quieter times of the day and avoid peak commuting times. ■ If you’re on a young or nervous horse, don’t ride him on the road…

Ex-professional flat jockey Charlotte Mitchell works as a Thoroughbred nutritionist. She owns two ex-racehorses and a spotted miniature horse. My job… I work as a Thoroughbred nutritionist for Spillers. I cover the whole of the east and south east, looking after all the racehorse trainers and studs in my area, and provide them with free nutritional support whenever they need it. I’ve been working as a nutritionist for a year and a half now. I love it. The highs & lows… The best things about my role are being able to help and be around horses every day, and working with people and trainers I’ve known throughout my racing career. Foaling time on Thoroughbred studs is a fab time of year — you can’t beat foal cuddles — and knowing…

We asked our Facebook followers how they recycle plastic. Here are their ideas… SIAN REEDS I had the same garlic tub until my boy passed away two years ago. I’d had it for as long as I could remember and I had him for 19 years. I just bought refills of garlic and popped them in. JESS KEMP My dad takes my old tubs. He’s a builder and uses them for all sorts of jobs, like holding and mixing paint. EMMA TAIT I make up sweet itch treatment (oil-based) and store it in an old tub. I also use them to store plaiting bands and treats. GEMMA PARRY I use empty supplement buckets for storing horse food, treats, cat litter and pony nuts. Small tubs are useful as water buckets…

IDENTITY CRISIS Mine is a Haflinger and normally just gets on with the job when showing, at clinics and so on. But bring in another Haffy and he’s all ‘what the hell is that?’ and makes to exit. Elly Koopman STRANGER DANGER Mine has an irrational fear of people crouching or bending over and just people in general that he doesn’t recognise. Stranger danger! Anna Hales NIGHTMARE Puddles, sparrows, butterflies, new sawdust, new grass, fresh air, her mane, her tail — pretty much life in general. Total night-mare. Cat Boxall HOP OFF My horse will spook at the little riverlets running down the roads after heavy rain. He tries to jump them all and we go bunny hopping down the road, making people laugh. Rita Walker JINGLE BELLS I had…

The key to riding any grid is a regular rhythm. If the canter becomes faster or slower, it affects the distances between fences. If your horse becomes keen, ask him to halt after clearing the last skinny. “Putting a halt in makes it clear that this isn’t a fighting exercise — you’re not going to pull on the reins through the grid — but the horse has to ask you what to do next, rather than assume he can bomb around the corner,” says Ros. This is important, because if you’re presented with a skinny on a turn, you need to remain in control after the previous fence, with your horse listening. “I still want to be on a longer rein, but the temptation is to shorten and gather them…

■ Creating your own definition of success will allow you to ride within a framework that is considerate of your own personal aspirations with your horse and takes into account the stage you’re at in your training. ■ It will hold you in alignment with your own values. ■ Success for you might look like a horse who’s attentive and relaxed. ■ Or, success might be focusing on your own horse and not allowing yourself to be concerned with what other people think. ■ However you choose to define success, make sure it doesn’t rely on other people or other people’s opinions, and holds you to a standard you have set for yourself.…

1 Position feed and water against a wall. 2 Avoid trimming sensory hairs, such as the whisk ers. 3 Make the environment safe by padding door edges and using safe fencing and so on. 4 Turn out in a small, le vel area with a single quiet companion. 5 Place a bell on the c ompanion (or foal if a broodmare) so that your horse can keep tabs on them. 6 Keep to a familiar environment and routine. 7 Avoid exercising in noisy/ windy conditions. 8 Use signage to make other people aware they must avoid sudden noises or mo vements. 9 Use talking, touching and training to help your horse understand his environment.…

Roof over his head Q Do I need planning permission to erect a mobile shelter for my gelding in his field? Cara Davis, Little Ayton Fenella says... The need for planning permission for mobile stables and field shelters, usually on metal skids, is the subject of much debate owing to a number of conflicting appeal decisions. Whether you need to make an application rests largely upon the degree of permanence of the shelter proposed. If it can be moved easily, or is moved regularly, you may not need to apply at all. However, if some sort of base has been laid, it’s connected to services such as water or electricity, or is fixed to the ground, it will need permission. If what you really need is a permanent building in…

Career change QI’m considering a complete career change and want to work with horses, but I only seem able to think of really obvious career paths, like being an equine vet or a yard worker. Please can you can give me an overview of the other categories within the industry I could explore and potential job options? Lucy Jones, Gloucestershire Emma says... There are a whole host of different career options available within the equine industry, depending on whether you want to be on the practical side and dealing with horses themselves, or on the more commercial side. Hands-on jobs Looking at the practical side, you could work on a yard or as a rider, or consider one of the many other roles, such as equine vet nursing or becoming…

The next time you’re buying a set of protective boots, do a bit of research first. Check out the materials that are being used — do they really do what the manufacturer claims? Here’s a handy checklist to run through. By buying a set that has these four features, you’re doing the best you can to protect your horse’s vulnerable lower legs from injury. 1 Flexibility Rigid or inflexible boots may restrict joint movement, which can affect your horse’s stride and performance and possibly even compromise tendon function. Boots need to allow as much freedom of movement as possible while still providing enough protection. 2 Weight and ability to hold water The more weight that’s added to your horse’s leg, the more effort he’ll need to use to move it,…

Deputy editor Allison Lowther: Foot balance is something all horse owners should want to learn about. I’ve seen first-hand with one of my own horses the effect that out-of-balance feet can have on performance, followed by the transformation when the feet are corrected. It’s amazing. Page 80 Features editor Stephanie Anthony: Statistics surrounding the number of road accidents involving horses are pretty scary if you’re a rider. So, what can we do to help keep ourselves and our horses as safe as possible on the roads? We’ve explored this on page 10. Equine mental skills coach Jane Pike: Competition nerves have the ability to undo all your hard work, leaving you unable to perform as well as you do at home. I’ve explained how to take back control on page…

PERFECTLY ORGANISED What better way to make sure you get those #Hack1000miles rides into your busy schedule than with the Ponies Desktop Weekly Planner by Thelwell. RRP £9.99 amazon.co.uk IT’S A VET’S LIFE Julian Norton, star of Channel 5 TV series The Yorkshire Vet, relays some of the highs and lows he faces daily in his working (and personal) life. Horses, Heifers and Hairy Pigs: The Life of a Yorkshire Vet is a warm and often very funny memoir. RRP £5.89 (paperback) amazon.co.uk PARTY TIME Buying a gift for a horsey friend? The perfect wrapping paper for a horse lover, this design features watercolour illustrations of partying horses. Includes two sheets of paper and two tags. RRP £4.45 amazon.co.uk…

Unfortunately, accidents do happen. We asked our #Hack1000Miles challengers if you’ve ever been involved in one while riding on the road. This is how you voted: Thankfully, the majority say no, but nearly a quarter voted yes. “I was almost home when a car with a bike on the roof came towards us at speed. My horse panicked, reversed into my friend’s horse, reared and spun left, jumping a hedge. In the field, he reared again, spun right and I came off. He re-damaged a ligament and was off work for six months.” Chell Ward “A fast car came around a blind bend on a country lane, skidded when he saw us and braked, causing my horse to spin and fall on the road. Luckily, I was wearing a body…

Our star letter from Jayne means she’ll receive a bag of Blue Chip Lami Light Feed Balancer, the ultimate diet balancer. Providing all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients your horse needs, it’s whole cereal and molasses free, and naturally low in starch and sugar.Visit bluechipfeed.com. ‘We probably hacked 20,000 miles’ As a recent newcomer to Your Horse magazine, may I congratulate you and fully endorse the reasons to Hack 1000 Miles. Just before Christmas, I had to put Gem, my ‘old girl’, to sleep at the age of 33. I’d had her from a foal and from day one she’d been out along the roads and lanes. Not only was this good for me, but it made Gem a totally bombproof pony you could take anywhere. We’d hack to shows…

As a short rider on large horses, Ros says that riding with a longer rein is the most effective way to stay in control. “I ride with a long rein when I’m jumping so that I can keep my body more upright in the air,” says Ros. “It enables my eye to stay up and my body stays balanced whatever happens.” Folding low over your horse’s neck and throwing your hands towards his ears is unnecessary. “If a horse is strong, or refuses, the rider looks for more control by going to their hands. But short reins mean you steer with your hands, not your eyes and body.” It takes two to be strong and pull — both you and your horse. “If you shorten and pull, the horse has…

One way to instantly turn your self-talk around is to become aware of the questions you are asking yourself. Empowering questions give you instant ammunition to blow any deflating or demoralising thoughts out of your brain space and channel them in a more useful direction. Empowering questions are questions that are solution-focused. They create a sense of resourcefulness and lead to constructive action. For example: ■ What does my horse need from me in this moment? ■ What do I need to focus on right now to move me forward? ■ What is it that I can control about this situation? Attempting to simply stamp out unwanted thoughts is often ineffective and akin to running in endless mental circles. Instead, get into the habit of replacing unhelpful thought patterns with…

Consider the type of canter you need from your horse for jumping. The smart and more condensed canter you would use in dressage isn’t right for showjumping or cross-country. Flatwork and jumping canters are different, so be careful not to jump from a dressage canter. It can sometimes be tricky to distinguish between the two, but they require different approaches. “You want a forward, active canter. It doesn’t have to be the prettiest, that’s not what we’re looking for here. A jumping canter needs to have energy.”…

■ His peripheral vision enables him to see 350° around him, as well as the sky above and the ground below at the same time. ■ In addition, he has 65° binocular vision in front of him — that’s better than a dog. ■ The horse’s only blind spots are directly above, beneath and behind him. ■ Binocular vision in front allows your horse to judge distance, known as depth perception. Horses lift their nose to look at distant objects or turn to face something that attracts them. ■ Much of a horse’s field of vision is monocular: he only sees through one eye at a time. ■ The horse’s brain has evolved to cope well with information from each eye independently. ■ This means he’s good at using other…

■ 1 First, make sure legs and fetlocks are dry and clean, as any mud and grease will quickly clog up your clipper blades. If you haven’t washed your horse’s legs for some time, it would be worth doing this a few days before the show to ensure that the hair is clean. You can use a dandy brush on really muddy legs, but in most cases, a body brush is ideal for working through the hair in preparation for clipping. ■ 2 Rest your clippers on your horse’s shoulder before running them in your hand down his leg. This is so that he can feel the vibration before you attempt to clip his leg and allows you to gauge his response. If he stays calm and isn’t bothered by…

DR KATHRYN NANKERVIS set up the Equine Therapy Centre at Hartpury University in 1999 and oversees all the commercial and research activity within the Equine Therapy Centre and the Margaret Giffen Centre for Rider Performance. Osteopath LIZ LAUNDER has been involved in the investigation and treatment of injury in horses for nearly 30 years. She treats many of the Equine Therapy Centre’s inpatients and outpatients on a referral basis. For more information, visit hartpury.ac.uk/commercial/equine/ the-equine-therapy-centre .…

GOT A PROBLEM? Need an answer? We’ll know someone who can help Welcome to our Ask The Experts section. In the next nine pages, we solve your horsey dilemmas by taking them to those in the industry who know best. This month’s panel (left) answer your questions on property development and planning, using studs, hydrotherapy and careers in the horse world. Email your question to getinvolved@yourhorse.co.uk. Proud sponsors of Ask The Experts, spillers-feeds.com…

Testing the water Q I’d love to watch my horse swim, but I’m not sure how he’d react to it. If I took him to a centre with swimming facilities, what can I expect to happen? Olivia Black, Leicester Jessica says... As we all know, predicting how a horse might react when faced with a new challenge is near impossible. Even a horse you know well may surprise you. When it comes to swimming, it’s important to try to ensure your horse’s first experience is a positive one. What to expect Swimming pools in the UK are generally housed inside a barn-type building, where the horse can be walked around first to be familiarised with the surroundings, the new people and the strange smells. Most pools have a loading bay…

Becoming a nutritionist Q I’m really interested in equine nutrition and would love to work in this field, but I only have GCSE level science. Would I have to go back and study A level sciences, even a degree, or are there other routes I can take? Maggie Willoughby, Dorset of roles may well have completed an equine science degree, but there are plenty of ways in which you can do this. It would be worth contacting your local equine colleges to see what courses are on offer, what the entry requirements are and whether the course can be done as distance learning. There are also some equine nutrition courses online, which could get you started without you having to enroll on a full- or part-time course at a college.…

BACK ON TRACK ROYAL TENDON BOOTS RRP £79 COLOURS Black, brown, white SIZES Cob, full FOR STOCKISTS backontrack.com/uk These robust tendon boots combine essential leg protection with infrared technology. They have a hardwearing TPU outer and a thick, soft, perforated neoprene inner for extra ventilation. They’re lined with Welltex fabric to provide maximum benefit to the circulatory system, supporting muscles and joints and aiding suppleness and mobility. The boots distribute pressure evenly and absorb impact, making them perfect for use during exercise or competition. VEREDUS CARBON GEL VENTO SAVE THE SHEEP TENDON BOOTS RRP £179 COLOURS Black, brown SIZES M — L FOR STOCKISTS zebraproducts.co.uk The Veredus Carbon Gel Vento Boots feature double ventilation and Save The Sheep lining — a techno faux sheepskin material that is free from any…

“I would love to rescue a Shire horse — it’s on my bucket list” How did you become interested in animals? I don’t really remember a specific moment, more just an absolute fascination with animals and nature throughout my entire childhood. It culminated in me growing up surrounded by a whole menagerie of pets and spending weekends and school holidays at the local riding stables. Do you ride? I did — my Granny was an avid horsewoman and I think, looking back, she probably played a huge part in encouraging my interest. I was always happiest just plodding around — I never wanted to take it beyond the basics. I enjoyed being in the company of the horses more than riding for sporting achievement. Have you ever owned a horse?…

“I MET JO when she was a pony rider and it was obvious even then that she was very polished. In competition she was always neat, tidy and precise. Some people shout about their goals, but not Jo. She was the most quietly but fiercely determined person I’ve ever met. “When Jo came to work for me, she was the standout student. She worked so, so hard. Some people are born ‘old’ – I mean this in the nicest possible way — and Jo understood responsibility, even as a teenager. “I had a shock when  I saw her ride for the first time after her accident. I had no idea what she was having to come back from. My original job in England was at The Fortune Centre of Riding…

This is the life… …lying here in a beautiful resort in Costa Rica with my favourite magazine. Jayne Flynn, Facebook Every little helps Evie Toombes and therapy pony Jay. Caroline Toombes, Facebook The circle of life Preston pretending to be an extra in The Lion King. Rosie McGrath, Facebook Out and about Tara is 29 years old this year. She has recently retired and is still enjoying life, going for walks in the fields. Amy Huddleston, Facebook Does not compute I’m not sure what was going through Mitse’s mind here! Abigail Feeley, Facebook Join us on facebook at facebook.com/yourhorse Tweet us on twitter.com/yourhorse Follow us on instagram.com/yourhorse…

Tom is riding 10-year-old Tempo, who he’s hoping to take to Blenheim. “Tempo has a lot of potential, but he gets excited and tends to rush when jumping.” Tom tries to maintain a balance between keeping Tempo steady, yet soft in his hand. “I jump him at home in a pelham,” says Tom. “But normally I try to avoid this and jump horses in a snaffle. It’s best to keep things as simple as possible at home. “Today’s exercises are great for horses that are speedy jumpers as it makes them think. It includes things they might spook at or try to avoid, but they have to learn to jump straight, no matter the distraction. “After a couple of goes, Tempo started to listen to me and what I was…

We’ve heard of implants for humans — and now horses can benefit too. An eyeball-shaped implant has been developed to support the structures of the eye socket and give a more normal appearance after the eye has been removed. The surgeon is careful to preserve the sensory whiskers around the eye and, where possible, the upper eyelashes, as these give the horse valuable sensory information once vision from that side is gone. Horses receive antibiotic and pain medication and often recover within a few weeks. ■ Further reading: Huppes et al. BMC Veterinary Research (2017) 13:155 DOI 10.1186/s12917-017-1069-5…

“Assess the wound and call your vet for advice if necessary” IT’S A WELL-KNOWN fact that horses are accident prone and, as a result, wounds are unfortunately extremely common. While many wounds are insignificant, some inconspicuous-looking wounds can have far more serious consequences. THE SIX TYPES OF WOUNDS SEEN IN HORSES: ■ INCISED: a cut with clean, straight edges. It may bleed frequently, but generally heals quite quickly. ■ LACERATION OR TEAR: the edges are torn and irregular in shape and there are often skin flaps with a limited blood flow. ■ ABRASION: a superficial wound, such as a graze, which does not fully penetrate the skin. ■ PUNCTURE: can be much more serious than it first appears, with a variable depth of soft tissue penetration, but a small skin…

Development & planning p98 Fenella Collins MRICS is head of planning at the Country Land and Business Association (CLA). The CLA represents 30,000 landowners in England and Wales. Hydrotherapy p100 Jessica York PhD is an equine hydrotherapist who oversees the hydrotherapy centre at Moulton College. She develops rehabilitation programmes for all visiting horses. Using studs p102 Harriet Morris-Baumber is an international event rider and trainer. She has completed CCI4* events at Bramham and Blenheim and has trained with Christopher Bartle for the last 13 years. Careers with horses p104 Emma Dyer is the founder of specialist recruitment agency Equine Careers. Emma helps the equestrian industry’s key movers and shakers fill their company vacancies.…

It’s a minefield! QI’m venturing into eventing this summer. What type of studs should I use — and how many? Annie Pankhurst, Exeter Harriet says... Studs are like handbags and shoes — you can never have too many! There will always be one that gets dropped in the long grass or lost while competing. I prefer to have two in each foot as then the horse has equal grip on both sides of his hoof, which prevents excessive twisting of the foot. Stud type As a general rule, smaller, pointier studs are for harder ground and larger, chunky ones grip better on softer ground. In certain specific conditions, particularly when there’s been a deluge of rain on hard ground, you may need large, pointy studs to go through the slippery…

Did you know that the biggest risk factor for laminitis is weight gain and grass can be a major contributor? Grass starts to grow actively when the soil temperature consistently reaches 5°C and it can be highly calorific. For every kg (dry weight) eaten, your horse could be munching 500g of water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) containing up to 75g of sugar. Consider removing high risk horses and ponies from pasture altogether and feed them a suitable forage/short-chopped fibre instead, preferably one that has been approved by The Laminitis Trust. SPILLERS® HAPPY HOOF® is a low calorie, short-chop forage containing all the vitamins and minerals needed for good health. SPILLERS® HAPPY HOOF® Molasses Free is a blend of soft fibres, garlic and rapeseed oil and a high level of biotin (5mg per…

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