Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 491 i Your Horse

I HAVE ALWAYS really enjoyed hacking — it’s my favourite thing to do with my horse. I especially like exploring somewhere new, when I’m under no pressure to be home by a certain time, and if we stumble across the odd log or ditch to jump it’s a bonus! I know my horse enjoys it too, because his ears are pricked forward and there’s a spring in his step. King’s only ‘quirk’ is his impatience, which isn’t very helpful at gates, and if I don’t get it open and closed promptly, it triggers lots of bouncing and squealing because he’d rather just keep going. So this issue is one of my favourites of the year: our #Hack1000Miles relaunch. We’ve rounded up some of the inspiring stories from our challengers (p34)…

THREE GENERATIONS REUNITED Three rare Suffolk Punch mares from the same family tree have been reunited at Easton Farm Park in Suffolk. Brackenhurst Hope, her dam Easton Ruby and grand-dam Easton Lily are vital to the breed, with fewer than 150 breeding females left in the UK. FASHIONABLE FEET Perfect for the warm weather ahead, these long riding socks are made from moisture-wicking bamboo fabric to keep your feet dry and comfortable. Available in burgundy and pink, or navy and yellow. Equus.co.uk RRP £10 MAKING A SPLASH The Original Pony Jet is an attachment for your hose pipe that makes washing your horse easier than with a sponge and bucket. Add your choice of shampoo to the attachment and the hose head will automatically run it through with the water.…

#Hack1000Miles has gone digital, and our online tracker — including overall leader board — is live now Create your account now at the link below Add your name, your horse’s name and a profile picture, and away you go — start logging your miles! Use a tracking app to record your rides so that you know how many miles you’ve ridden Your miles will be included in your own digital track Check out the overall leaderboard to see how other challengers are doing, and which place you’re in (but remember, it’s not a race!). You’ll find the latest hacking news here too Every time you update your mileage and hit one of our milestones, you’ll receive a congratulatory email. Great for motivation! Keep the tracker card included with this issue…

There are so many inspiring success stories that come out of #Hack1000Miles and not just for the amount of miles ridden, overcoming personal setbacks and barriers too. We celebrate some of those amazing challengers here ‘Feeling your mind clear is so important’ Samantha Ogden is restarting #Hack1000Miles after a tumultuous 12 months. “My mum was diagnosed with a brain tumour 10 years ago and it came back in 2020. To be honest, last year I thought the ponies were a burden but when we lost mum, I couldn’t have got through it without them. All of a sudden, they were the reason to get out of bed in the morning,” said Samantha, whose equine partners are Coco and Misty. “This hacking challenge has been on the backburner but I’m determined…

To enter, visit yourhorse.co.uk/win/horsefest491 WE HAVE FOUR pairs of weekend tickets up for grabs for HorseFest. Included in the prize is a car pass and the opportunity to bring your tent and camp overnight to enjoy the magical night-time atmosphere and entertainment. HorseFest, presented by John Oates Horseboxes, is designed to celebrate all things horse. A must-attend for all those horse fans with an interest in the equine world, HorseFest will bring together a magical mix of equestrian experts, elite riders and horse owners, to learn, have fun, celebrate and create special memories over a summer weekend. If eventing is your passion then there’s no better name than superstar Mary King, who will be sharing her skills and expertise that has seen her achieve so much in the sport. When…

It’s a goal Q Any tips for how I can set myself easy, achievable goals? I really want to try affiliated dressage with my mare this year, but haven’t even joined British Dressage yet. It all seems really daunting. Robina Hall, via email Jennifer says: The first thing I’d recommend is to get out and about to some unaffiliated competitions to get a bit of ring experience. A lot of British Dressage (BD) affiliated venues also run unaffiliated dressage, so that’s a really good start. You could also offer your time to write for some dressage judges, or help steward at shows, to get an idea of what the judges look for and how competition days run. Contact your local venues and they’ll usually jump at your offer to help.…

Many horses can now be seen donning an ear bonnet (or fly veil) when they are ridden. More than just a current fashion trend, using an ear bonnet does have benefits. They can help your horse to be less distracted in unusual surroundings. They also keep those annoying little flies and midges from getting in your horse’s ears and annoying him. Whether you use an ear bonnet to keep the pesky flies at bay while you’re hacking or to dull sounds in a busy competition warm-up arena, selecting the right one from the huge selection available for your horse’s individual needs is key. Features first A close-knit crochet fabric is used for the majority of ear bonnets with the ear part being made from a different material. Some manufacturers use…

Olympic event rider Tina Cook: Most horses feel different when you move from jumping on a consistent arena surface to grass. Ground conditions are ever-changing, so it makes sense to train on grass as much as possible. I share my tips on page 46. Dr Andrew McLean: Each horse’s sensitivity levels and preferences are different, and being predictable and consistent as a rider is important to them. I explain more about the theory behind how horses learn on page 62. Dr Judi Maxwell Stretton from Dodson & Horrell: Horses are designed to lose weight during winter before gaining it again in spring. I assess and body condition score three different horses and advise their owners accordingly on page 78. Grand prix dressage rider Kate Cowell: A tense horse doesn’t learn, but…

“When I think of the podium, I now wonder, did I go? Was that real?” THERE HAS BEEN a mini drama at Peniarth Bach Farm today. Billy, a French Bulldog, has a bad eye and Geoff Wilson, on attempting to apply antibiotic drops with no helpmate, has been on the receiving end of a rather sharp set of gnashers sinking into skin. Geoff, in fact, is currently en route to the doctors for a tetanus injection. Georgia Wilson, double bronze medallist at the Tokyo Paralympics, remains at home and, something of an open book, relates this tale of her policeman father’s close call with canine teeth and then goes on to explain that Billy “got an ulcer on his eye and he needed an operation at the vets. It’s now…

Keep your photos coming in to yh.ed@kelsey.co.uk Time for tea A cheeky feeding selfie while Sam enjoys his dinner. He’s a messy eater — bless him. Fiona MacDonald, Inverness Sleep time Prince loves nap time. In fact, he loves it even more than dinner time and that’s A LOT. These moments make the winter weather and early mornings so worth it. Jessica Sauvarin, Bucks Simply the best Teddy the Norwegian Fjord and me, after qualifying for the national My Quest dressage finals. Gill Moore, Powys A trip out This is me and Bear, taken on our trip to the vets. Jessica Taylor, Bucks Unbreakable bond This is Zeus (Westpoint Desperade) and my three-year-old son. Zeus is scared of his own shadow, but he adores my son, and vice versa. I…

JUST LIKE DASHCAMS are becoming the norm in cars, wearing a camera when you’re riding is also being encouraged. We all know that hacking out on the road can be a stressful experience — wearing high vis gear and your usual safety gear is a must — and now a good helmet camera will record encounters with other road users, good or bad, as well as capture the best bits of your ride. When you start looking for a hat camera, you’ll soon discover the choice is huge and you can find yourself becoming confused over which one will be best. Use this guide to help you choose a camera that suits your needs, without breaking the bank. What to look for As you’re looking through the features of each…

MEET THE EXPERT VICKY GOODY has been involved with the equine industry for over 40 years, as a groom, owner, rider, and business owner. Working on all aspects of horsemanship, she has a particular passion for turnout. Vicky has created a brand dedicated to grooming and turnout, with a range of products that can be used by everyone to create the professional look. Visit smartgrooming.co.uk ■ COAT CARE With spring comes shedding. Horses and ponies who have been left unclipped during the winter months will now have hair coming out in abundance. There are two ways of dealing with this; either clip the horse to remove it all, allowing the summer coat to come through more quickly, or use a variety of shedding tools to speed up the process. Although…

A gut feeling Q Are there any hard feeds that will help boost gut health and well-being, without having to buy separate balancers and probiotic supplements? Tracey Llewellyn, London Jo Palmer says: All Allen & Page horse feeds contain a blend of prebiotics and many also contain a probiotic to help maintain optimum digestive health. As the horse’s digestive system has evolved to digest a high fibre diet, the hind gut is populated by billions of fibre-digesting bacteria and other micro-organisms and the inclusion of prebiotics and probiotics in feeds can help keep your horse’s digestive system healthy and functioning efficiently. Know your stuff Prebiotics are non-digestible feed ingredients that support the digestive environment by acting as a food source for beneficial microbes. Mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are examples…

BITTING SPECIAL Essential guide to choosing the right bit for your horse ■ How to fit a bit ■ Common bitting issues solved ■ Understanding mouth conformation ■ How the main bit groups work ALSO IN THIS ISSUE ❋ Does your horse love you? Their emotions explained ❋ How to achieve a more secure and effective seat ❋ Top tips to being — and feeling — well prepared for a competition ❋ We celebrate The Queen and her love of horses ❋ What makes a horse good to hack — and how to teach your’s the skills required ❋ Bruised soles: why it can be more serious than you think — and how to prevent it…

Emily Cole is an equine illustrator who is well known for her range of equestrian-themed items — from stationary to clothing and homeware — which have a healthy helping of horsey humour. My job… Although I’m an equine illustrator, in reality, my job title should probably be ‘business owner, heading stock management, event planning, office cleaning, product designing, accounting, dog cuddling, tea drinking and occasionally a bit of drawing or colouring’. Having said that, I love my work. I specialise in equestrian humour. Most of what I do centres around illustrating the highs and lows of life with horses. My illustrations start out in a sketchbook and sometimes go to print, but I also translate them to products. I have been involved in advertising campaigns, magazine features and commissioned work.…

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS increase with workload and even when you’re “just” hacking, you want your horse to have the energy to enjoy your ride and the nutritional support to recover well ready for the next one. A first step in ensuring a horse’s diet is meeting his requirements is to assess his workload. In the UK, the National Research Council (NRC) has calculated horses’ minimum nutrient requirements, according to bodyweight and differing work intensities. It is these scientifically determined nutrient levels that feed manufacturers work to when formulating feeds, and so it makes sense to have a look at how the NRC defines light, moderate and hard work (see box, below). Increasing requirements The important point when assessing workload is to be as realistic and objective as you can and avoid…

Riding advice Jennifer Green is an accredited BHS Senior Coach who also offers staff training and consultancy to riding centres and coaches. See Facebook.com/TheEquineConsultant Legal advice Jodie Seddon is part of law firm gunnercooke’s equestrian team and an international showjumper and eventer, find out more at gunnercooke.com Travelling advice Tom Janion is chief executive of family-owned company Equi-Trek, the largest horsebox and horse trailer manufacturer in the UK. equi-trek.com Feeding advice Jo Palmer has a BSc (Hons) in agriculture with animal science and is a member of the Allen & Page nutrition team. Her experience as a nutritionist helps guide horse owners on feeds and feeding.…

Time to hit the road Q Our trailer’s been sitting in the yard all winter. What basic checks should I be doing to make sure it’s safe and roadworthy before using it again? Emma Chambers, Lincolnshire Tom says: First, ensure the tread on the tyres meets the minimum legal requirement and also check the tyre pressure. Perished and cracked tyres are very common and it is important to ensure the tread is to the legal guidelines. Tyres must have a continuous tread depth of at least 1.6mm on cars, light vans and trailers, across the centre three-quarters of the width and all around the circumference. Correct tyre pressure for each individual trailer can be found in the manufacturer’s handbook. Check too that the wheel nuts and bolts are tightened to…

For a chance to get y our hands on these goodies*, enter at yourhorse.co.uk/win/491 6 ROWEN BARBARY PRO ULTRA DUOS Six readers will each win two bags of Rowen Barbary Pro Ultra. Rowen Barbary Pro Ultra helps to supply instant energy suitable for horses who are naturally laid back. Linseed and soya oil alongside quality protein sources help ensure optimum condition, providing a source of slow-release energy to support stamina. Calcareous marine algae and Yea-sacc 1026 are added to support gut health, along with a full complement of B Group Vitamins to help reinvigorate horses feeling run down. Find out more at rowenbarbary.co.uk ❋Worth £34.52 each 3 PAIRS OF HARRY DABBS CLOSE CONTACT STIRRUP LEATHERS Three readers will each win a pair of Harry Dabbs Close Contact Stirrup Leathers. These…

BLACKDOG EQUESTRIAN BIOMECHANICS ANALYSIS free to DOWNLOAD; monthly subscription £9.99 (basic), £17.99 (pro) Annual subscription £100 (basic), £ 180 (pro) BLACKDOGEQUESTRIAN.COM Simply film a horse and rider from the side using your smart phone. Upload the video to this cloud platform through the app, wait a few minutes and receive detailed analysis of the rider’s position and the horse’s movement. Get exercises, stretches and plans specifically to help improve your position. HARRY HALL RIDING APP FREE TO DOWNLOAD; £2.99 per month for SafeRide (Free to Harry Hall One Club members) HARRYHALL.COM This app is packed full of features, free to use and tracks your rides. You can track your distance and speed, you can even add pictures and videos. While out hacking, the LiveRide feature can share your location in…