Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 478 i Your Horse

TO BE CONFIDENT you need to be brave and I’m not so brave anymore,” says former Badminton and Burghley champion Lucinda Fredericks, who was forced to end her eventing career earlier than planned after sustaining a knee injury in 2017. “I had one foot in the stirrup mounting a horse in Florida and the handler let go before I was in the saddle — the horse moved and took off. I was forced to bail and landed on my feet, which fractured my knee,” explains Lucinda. Lucinda still rides every day to help keep her business going but is careful which horses she rides, won’t jump and rides in a very controlled environment. “I don’t have the strength and mobility that I used to, but I know my limitations and…

MEET THE TRAINER Jockey turned showjumper turned eventer JOHN THELWALL trains riders and horses of all levels and enjoys producing youngsters. He has natural empathy with horses and this transfers to his students, filling them with confidence. AS A RIDER, it doesn’t matter what level you are, the ability to maintain a correct position in the saddle is essential. Your position for flatwork and jumping is something that you are constantly striving to improve, and it can be all too easy to slip into bad habits. These habits can affect your horse’s balance and make it difficult for him to perform the movements, or tasks such as jumping, easily. In the first part of this series, trainer John Thelwall discussed the jumping position in more detail. He explained that although there…

1 Smile — even if it feels false “It’s a good idea to smile when you are afraid. The more you force your features into a smile, the more dopamine gets released into your body, helping you feel calm,” says Aurélie. “Fake smiling may feel silly at first, but the benefits are real.” 2 Hum! Nerves sometimes cause riders to hold their breath — often without realising it — and a lack of oxygen in your body makes everything worse. Try humming when you’re nervous. You can’t hold your breath when you hum and it’s something positive to focus on. 3 Cry it out “Crying is one of our bodies’ ways to release the stress hormone cortisol, which is why we often feel much better after a big sob. By…

MEET THE EXPERT SARAH HUNTER MRCVS is an equine vet at Clevedale Vets in North Yorkshire. She graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 2012 and is currently working towards a certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring her local area through riding and running. POLLEN ALLERGIES ARE quite common in horses but present differently to the symptoms we see in humans. Pollens released into the air from plants and trees can find its way into the respiratory tract of the horse, causing an allergic reaction. Usually, the hairs in the nose trap pollen, preventing it from getting any further. However, if there is an overwhelming amount of pollen or if the horse is more susceptible to irritation from pollen, the airways become inflamed…

MEET THE EXPERT DR DAVID MARLIN is a scientific and equine consultant with more than 25 years’ experience in physiology and biochemistry. His main areas include exercise physiology, nutrition, fitness and training. He has worked as a consultant for British equestrian teams since 1994. HOW OFTEN HAVE you heard someone say, “riding on the road is good for strengthening a horse’s legs”? Road work has long been associated with getting horses fit - six weeks on the road being a common starting point. It’s a well discussed topic, but there’s far more to it than many riders think. “Long slow work is a good basis for increasing bone strength and muscular and cardiovascular fitness, and hacking out is perfect for this,” says David. “However, given the high prevalence of lameness…

Email your question to yh.ed@yourhorse.co.uk. Simple solutions for horse owners Meet this month’s panel of experts Preparing to compete again Charlotte Martin is a dressage/event rider. She has previously been selected for the BD under-25 Foundation Academy and the BEF Young Professionals programme for 2020-21. Feeding poor doers Jasmin Grogan BSc (Hons) is a fully qualified nutrition adviser. Coat colour facts Victoria Charlesworth qualified from The Royal Veterinary College in 2013. She is part of Hambleton Equine Clinic’s team of vets, providing specialist reproduction services. Cross-country issues Ross Middleton is a four-star event rider, a British Eventing accredited coach and Pony Club coach based in the north east. Visit: rossmiddletoneventing.com GOT A PROBLEM? Need an answer? We’ll know someone who can help Welcome to our Ask The Experts section. In…

WEARING RIDING GLOVES will protect your hands from rubbing and also provide good grip on the reins. There are lots of different ones available, and all are designed to offer a close fit on the palm to give you a good feel on the reins. Some riding gloves have an additional closure at the wrist or on the back of the hand. This ensures a neat and secure fit as well as making them easier to put on and take off. For durability, look for gloves with an extra patch between the little finger and ring finger — this is the part of the glove that can be subjected to extra wear as it is just where your reins sit. Our testers have put a selection of gloves suitable for…

WE ALL KNOW the importance of having the right bits of tack and riding wear to ensure both you and your horse are comfortable, but how much thought do you give to the underwear you choose? Being comfortable in the saddle whether you’re hacking out or schooling will help you focus and ride better. Let’s face it, there’s nothing worse than wearing the wrong underwear — it’s uncomfortable and distracting, and worst of all it can lead to rubbing and chafing. Why wearing a sports bra is important Horse riding is a high impact activity and results in a lot of vertical chest movement. Without proper support from a well-fitting sports bra riding can be uncomfortable, and result in lasting and irreversible damage to the breast tissue. The breast is…

NATALIE CLARK is a press officer, most recently working on BBC’s Comic Relief. She recently started riding again after a long break and her #Hack1000Miles partner is Apache. RECENTLY I REALISED that when you grow up riding and ride every day into your adult life there’s something you don’t think about: riding can be pretty scary. I learnt to ride as a child and won my first trophy aged three, albeit on the lead rein in a fancy dress class, but a trophy nonetheless! I represented the Pony Club in teams and evented up to BE100 level. I was brave — and fearless. I loved the feeling of excitement and anticipation while waiting in the cross-country start box on my ex-racehorse, who rarely kept all four hooves on the ground…

EMAIL US AT yh.ed@kelsey.co.uk Unfortunately, we are currently unable to receive any letters by post. We reserve the right to edit letters when necessary. Better safe than sorry My late wife, Linda, who died of cancer just over a year ago, was an experienced rider and had a horrendous hacking accident three years ago. She came off forwards, landing on a hard surface and breaking both arms. The ambulance crew and A&E doctor all said it was fortunate she was wearing a body protector, otherwise she may have suffered chest and internal injuries. The A&E doctor said that over the years he has treated a number of unnecessary horse riding injuries due to riders not wearing body protectors. I now always wear a body protector when hacking, even on a…

TOP TIP Filming on a mobile phone or iPad is fine. Hold it horizontally and angle the camera so it has a good view of the entire arena “The main benefit is being able to learn with and gain insight from people who are too far away to visit in person” A LITTLE OVER one year ago, it may have seemed unlikely that you could be coached by Olympic riders and highly qualified coaches from the comfort of your own arena. Covid-19 rules and multiple lockdowns brought plenty of challenges for horse owners, including how to access training sessions with restrictions on movement in place. However, technology has made having lessons possible. When Your Horse went to press, restrictions were beginning to lift and travelling to clinics and lessons allowed…

MEET THE TRAINER International showjumper MATT LANNI is a British Showjumping Level 3 Accredited Coach. He runs Halefield Stud, a training facility in Northamptonshire, and is supported by Voltaire Design, Lord & Lady Equestrian Clothing, LeMieux and Newbridge Sports Horses. SCHOOLING solutions WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: • Easy ways to gain control in all gears • Expert tips to boost your confidence on the flat and over jumps • How to work with a strong horse, not against him Hands up who’s battled with a strong horse? And keep your hand up if you won said battle? Chances are that’s not many of you. While our survival instinct may tell us to cling on tightly to a gung-ho horse in a bid to regain control, in reality this achieves little. “If…

MEET THE EXPERT CLARE DAVISON is an equine aromatherapist and runs Sasha & George Essential Oils. Having studied aromatherapy, Clare decided to source her own essential oils to be able to extend her services as an equine aromatherapist and create awareness of the benefits of essential oils for horses and riders alike. Facebook: @sashageorgeessentialoils An ESSENTIAL OIL is a concentrated compound extracted from a plant. Each oil captures the essential aspects of the plant - its scent, flavour and makeup. In the wild, horses self-medicate by sourcing certain vegetation and organic matter from hedgerows and other natural resources. Essential oils contain the same or equivalent compounds found in those plants but in a higher concentration. Essential oils can be presented to the horse, allowing it to self-select. From the selection…

■ Limit the amount of trotting on roads to five minutes a day ■ Walk as much as you want on roads ■ Use a variety of surfaces - road, arena, tracks, all-weather ■ Doing three or four sessions per week is sufficient for increasing fitness ■ Increase work gradually ■ Try to avoid uneven or very deep surfaces, or surfaces that change dramatically from hard to soft, or even to uneven ■ Boots and bandages protect - they don’t support. Don’t overtighten as this will do more harm than good ■ Cool hot legs with ice boots or cold hosing for 20 minutes ■ Spend longer warming up in cold weather Did you know? Roadwork does increase bone strength, but you only need a few minutes of trot each…

SIGNATURE MOVES This bespoke boot allows you to create a boot just for you. The Signature Jumping Boot from Cavallo is made from full grain soft calf leather with a high-quality calf leather lining. The partial Cavagrip lining inside the boot provides close contact with your horse, and elastic inserts and a long back zip ensure the best possible fit. RRP from £635 FOR STOCKISTS zebraproducts.co.uk BE SAFE, BE SEEN Hi-vis clothing is vital at all times. The DVR Style Vis Signature Triangle Recycled Hat Silk is handmade using 78% recycled ocean plastics. The bright colour will not fade, and the stretchy material holds the silk securely in place. RRP £30 BUY AT dvrequestrian.com ACCURATE TRAINING Leading showjump manufacturer Jump 4 Joy has launched a new Shoulder Brush Corner fence.…

For all the latest news from the horse world, visit yourhorse.co.uk RARE BREEDS Suffolk foal gives new hope for vulnerable breed A Suffolk Punch foal has been born in Yorkshire for the first time in 40 years. Sally and Toby Bates’ White Rose Phoenix (‘Pheo’), by Colony Cuthbert, is named after vet Phoebe O’Sullivan, who carried out his dam Holbeache Mirabelle (‘Miri’)’s artificial insemination procedure last year and cared for her throughout the pregnancy. The vet from Rainbow Veterinary Hospital, part of VetPartners, was on the end of the phone when the mare foaled. “Sally put her phone on speaker and laid it in the straw, then described everything she could see,” said Phoebe. “I was also listening out for Miri’s breathing and after 20 minutes I could tell the…

MEET THE TRAINER TRACEY COLE is a certified master practitioner and coach of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), Time Line Therapy® and hypnotherapy. A former scientist and schoolteacher, it was Tracey’s need to build her riding confidence that led to her retraining. She works with people with any issue that requires a change of mindset — such as stress, depression, phobias or anxiety — including riders of all levels. traceycolenlp.com I LOVE THE SENTIMENT that we can develop strong and lasting bonds, relax our horses and allow them to just ‘be’ as we tootle down the lanes. I often ask riders who say their horses are spooky, “What were you thinking and feeling when your horse did X?” Horses have minds of their own and there are those who misbehave with even…

WELL, HERE’S TO you Mr Robinson! That’s Tom Robinson, former event rider, who no longer cares about winning rosettes or chasing silverware. Twenty years battling bipolar disorder and an extreme upswing into mania have prompted his priorities to turn turtle. “Getting out of bed and through a day is enough for me,” he says. “What’s important is helping other people.” While there is James’ Place (in London and Liverpool), Sean’s Place (Liverpool) and Jane’s Place (Burnley), one day Tom intends that there will be a Tom’s Place in southern England, set up in memory of his friend, event rider Tom Searle, who took his own life in 2017, and for Tom himself, a survivor. These Places are venues where those feeling overwhelming despair and having life-ending thoughts can go and…

Always a hot topic, and thankfully there are now a number of alternatives to pulling a mane, but which do Your Horse readers opt for? We asked our Facebook followers for their thoughts on this topic and what they do to keep their horses’ manes and tails looking neat and tidy. HE NODS OFF My 24-year-old pony goes to sleep and his top lip wobbles… but another hates it! Victoria Poole NO PULLING FOR ME I trim my youngster’s mane with a solo comb by back combing the ends and cutting. No pulling or pain. Happy horse, happy owner. Helen Plant THINK OF YOUR HORSE I use a solo comb and have done for years. I wouldn’t want my hair pulled out so why would you do it to your…

MEET THE TRAINER HELEN RENNIE is a Rider Psychology Coach at Rezone Coaching with extensive experience working with riders at all levels and across all disciplines. Helen has delivered talks and workshops to thousands of riders around the world and is the author of Transform Pressure To Power. She is motivated by a love of transforming the confidence and focus of riders so they can enjoy riding and competing their horses. Visit rezonecoaching.com ANXIETY IN RIDERS is a very common problem and, as is often the case with anxiety, it presents itself in a number of ways. For some people it’s over-thinking things, for others it’s doubting themselves, and for others it’s worrying about what might happen. It doesn’t just affect competition riders; it can affect riders at all levels…

MEET THE TRAINER AURÉLIE SEGUIN is an instructor at Ferm de Gué equestrian centre in Normandy, France. She specialises in coaching riders through fear, using knowledge of horse and human emotions and psychology. Working with the principles of nonviolent communication, she has trained thousands of riders via YouTube, online courses and her blog. Visit adadamondadou.com. A LOT OF RIDERS struggle with nerves and anxiety but, according to mindset coach Aurélie Seguin, many are reluctant to confess to suffering with them. She recognises that being told to brush ourselves off and keep a stiff upper lip, “like a good rider would”, after a fall or a scare isn’t helpful. Despite fear being a totally natural part of riding, it results in riders beating ourselves up as ‘irrational’ or ‘stupid’ when we…

MARES GET SOME pretty bad press. Many horse owners have a love or hate mentality when it comes to female equines. I’m firmly in the ‘love’ camp. I’ve owned three mares and feel my best partnerships have been with them compared to geldings. With an estimated 300,000 mares in the UK* and 93%** of mares in general showing undesirable behaviour when in season, it’s easy to see why owning a mare can prove to be challenging to say the least. Where the behaviour is extreme it’s not unheard of for a mare to be asked to move to another yard, and situations like this can seriously hinder your enjoyment and ability to bond with your mare. However, there are solutions, as discussed at Nettex’s Miracle Mare webinar in March. These…

Essential oils enter the body by absorption through skin or inhalation through the nose. Through this system the effects of the oils can be seen much quicker than anything ingested, as it bypasses the digestive system. Essential oils absorbed through the skin allow the molecules to enter the bloodstream and the benefits take effect promptly. Through massage, this absorption is increased as this process increases the circulation, allowing better absorption of the molecules. When essential oils are inhaled, the airborne molecules of the oil interact with the olfactory organs and can interact with the brain almost immediately. The inhaled molecules can also interact with the respiratory system via the lungs. Essential oils can also be very effective with the emotional brain, or limbic system. The limbic system is connected to…

MEET THE EXPERT PENNY BAKER is a field officer for World Horse Welfare. She was an RSPCA inspector for 12 years and received the Anderson Plume award in 2008 for her successful investigation work. She became an equine specialist officer and worked on large equine cases, feral horse round ups and attended UK horse fairs such as Appleby, Stowe and Wickham. She joined World Horse Welfare in 2017 and covers Hampshire, Dorset, and Wiltshire. EQUINE OBESITY IN the UK isn’t anything new. We have seen consistency in overweight and obese equines coming into our farms over the past several years. This is a worrying trend because the issues that are often attached to being overweight, such as lameness, laminitis and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), are all long-term, potentially life-limiting issues.…

With health and well-being at the forefront of all horse owners’ minds, anything that helps you improve this is always welcome. One current welfare topic is that of equine obesity, and this problem is something that needs to be taken very seriously. As we move into spring and the grass quality improves now is the time to monitor your horse’s weight carefully. You may also be planning on competing, so building up fitness will help to avoid injury. To help you better understand your horse’s health and fitness there’s a clever new device available. Based on extensive research and development, the Enduro Equine Fitness Tracker is an easy-to-use solution that provides you with an insight into your horse’s health and fitness. The tracker includes a smart fabric girth sleeve, known…