Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 497 i Your Horse

THERE HAVE BEEN so many poignant scenes over the past few weeks since the death of Queen Elizabeth II (Tribute, page 6), but perhaps the most touching of all was the appearance of her Fell pony, Carltonlima Emma, standing quietly with head groom Terry Pendry as the funeral cortege made its way through the grounds of Windsor Castle. Her Majesty enjoyed many hacks aboard Emma up until recently, and any pictures that appeared in the press did wonders for the profile of this beleaguered breed. Our late monarch was a champion to so many horses over her nine decades, including the Cleveland Bay, whose survival story is documented on our website yourhorse.co.uk. It is hard to imagine anyone who has done more for the horse and, indeed, will ever do…

The equestrian community is facing a shortage of equine flu vaccines, according to the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA). Manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim has suffered distribution issues with its Proteq product and has stated that no further stocks will be able to be supplied before the end of October. Vets will, however, still be able to get hold of Prequenza (from MSD) and Equip (Zoetis). The BEVA has recommended that leisure owners with horses in low-risk categories (such as adult horses who are mixing rarely or only occasionally with others) whose boosters are due imminently, should defer them by up to three months, up to a maximum of 15 months since the previous one. Those who defer are advised to follow with a booster within nine months to ensure that the…

How I make it work: Being organised and having help from family members, including my husband, Dan Ruth Godfrey is a solicitor, as well as chair of Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA)'s West Mercia region. Her eventing ambitions were cut short by a rotational fall in 2006 which left her with restricted mobility, but she has since competed in Para and RDA dressage competitions My job… I am head of litigation at law firm Star Legal Group Thomas Horton Solicitors, a job I started recently. I specialise in rural, property and equine-related matters, something I have done for the whole of my 15-year legal career. I'm also chair of the RDA's West Mercia region. This is a voluntary role which brings me into contact with many other fantastic volunteers,…

YOUR HORSE'S CARE MUD BUSTING I PADDOCK MANAGEMENT In partnership with MUD. IT IS surely one of the worst elements that horse owners have to deal with over the winter months. Not only do our beloved four-legged friends seem to enjoy being covered from head to foot in it, meaning hours of grooming, but they are also amazingly adept at turning a carpet of green into a brown swamp in a matter of days. Winter weather, including rain, snow and ice, plus the constant tramping of our horse's hooves, can all damage paddocks, leaving them unusable and in need of plenty of tlc. Aside from looking pretty awful, muddy fields can also have health implications for horses who spend hours standing in wet mud for long periods. Bacteria and fungi found…

‘We installed hardstanding around the gates’ Bishop's Stortford-based dressage rider Alex Hardwick has implemented a few changes to her paddocks to help her get through the taxing winter months. Alex loves turning out her horses, even on wet days, and has a saying: “A muddy horse is a happy, safe horse.” As a result, she has invested in hardstanding around the gates of her winter fields. “This has proved to be brilliant,” she says. “I've also done other small things, like having the water trough placed away from the field gate to prevent a lot of traffic in this area. “I've placed big metal hay racks by the fence line in the fields, and these result in less hay wastage and no risk of it being trampled by a stampede…

CHIEFTAIN (AKA CHIEF) Breed: Irish Sport Horse/Hunter Height: 16.3hh Age: Eight Job: Hunts and does dressage at home. Clip: A traditional hunter clip with a half head suits Chief as he can get warm throughout the winter season. GUINNESS Breed: Irish Cob Height: 16.2hh Age: 10 Job: A seasoned hunter who regularly jumps 1.30m. He is the yard favourite. Clip: This starts with a chaser or Irish clip, leaving some warmth over his back, but Guinness is eventually fully clipped as this helps to manage his legs, which can become feathery. GRANSHA LAD (NASH) Breed: Irish Sport Horse Height: 15hh Age: 19 Job: Nash has won up to novice level in dressage, completed at BE100 level in eventing, as well as showjumped. Clip: Nash suits a trace clip that can…

Ask The Experts Am I covered? Q Do I need insurance to try a horse I'm thinking of buying? Steph Rossett, Pembrokeshire Daniel says: As much as you don't have to have insurance to try a horse, it is always advisable that any rider carries their own public liability and personal accident insurance. In the event of an accident, they would then have their own adequate level of protection should they be found liable in the event of an accident and claim. When trying a horse, a rider could ask the owner for details regarding the level of insurance they hold — whether they have liability insurance for riders other than themselves riding their horse, or whether vet's fees cover would be extended in the event of an accident if…

Ask The Experts Feel the stretch Should you pull a horse's legs forward once you have tacked up to ensure that the girth is comfortable? I've always been taught to do this, but no one else at the yard ever does it. Pat Higgins, Dorset Tricia says: I agree that this appears to be something that is routine for some and not for others. Personally, I don't believe that it's necessary, but it doesn't do any harm either, so if you want to carry on then do! The theory behind pulling the leg forwards after tacking up is to make sure that there is no skin being pinched — which was more likely to happen with the old string girths of the 1970s and ‘80s. However, it would still make…

Author Grace Olson Women have said that my book [The Yard: How A Horse Healed My Heart] is helping them. It's making them realise that it's OK to be depressed as a mum. It's also made people return to riding, page 14 Event rider Gemma Stevens: You will need to approach arena eventing as you would true cross-country with a skull cap, body protector and a horse who has experienced cross-country fences before, page 38 Dressage trainer Vikki Hayton: If your horse has quite a hot temperament, think positive, take a deep breath and channel your horse's enthusism in the right direction with lots of work on a circle, which will naturally slow him down, page 40 Vet Imogen Burrows: Providing more food for the good doer with an inherently…

TikTok was taken into the care of Here4Horses, a registered charity based in Co Durham, in May 2022, writes Sonja K Steiner. Purchased as a yearling in January 2022, as a companion for a veteran pony, Sophie, his nervous and flighty behaviour made him unpredictable and dangerous and so his owner kept him alone in a stable for almost five months. Once alerted to TikTok's plight, Here4Horses swiftly dispatched one of its volunteers to assess the situation. For TikTok this help couldn't come soon enough as his feet had grown long and distorted and he was walking on his heels. He had also outgrown his headcollar, which had embedded itself in the skin on his face, and the subsequent wounds had become infected. The owner, who was in her 80s, realised…

Laugh a minute Finn, my five-year-old Gypsy Cob (possibly crossed with something), loves to snuggle up and make me giggle. Kirsty Clarke, Aberdeenshire Super snorer This is my daughter, Meghan, with the sevenyear-old Crunchie, who has been with us for just over a year. They love doing flatwork, poles and dressage and have just started jumping. He's mostly known for his adorable personality, although his snoring is unbelievable. Hazel Jones, Cardiff Drumming up support This picture was taken earlier in the year and shows me and my cheeky baby, Drummer. He's a two-year-old Highland pony who I bought not long after losing my elderly Highland mare. He gives me a reason to smile, even during low moments. Sarah Blundell, Lincolnshire Baby love My two colts were born in June and…

YOUR HORSE'S CARE LAMENESS | GAIT ANALYSIS In partnership with LAMENESS | GAIT ANALYSIS NO HUMAN IS perfectly symmetrical and nor is a horse. We all have a preferred side or a hand that we write with, and horses are no different. Therefore it follows that most horses are slightly asymmetrical. However, when these asymmetries go beyond certain parameters it could be a sign that something isn't quite right. Until recently vets have assessed a horse's movement visually. Research has now shown, though, that the human eye is only capable of capturing images at a rate of 15 frames per second, which can be limiting in terms of making a consistent and objective evaluation of a horse that is walking or trotting in front of them. This is where technology can…

In partnership with Email your questions to yh.ed@yourhorse.co.uk Simple solutions for horse owners Meet this month's panel of experts Riding advice Pippa Dixon is a Bedfordshire-based four-star eventer who works with riders of all levels to build their confidence and experience (see pippadixon.com). Equine insurance Daniel SimpsonBohen is commercial director at specialist horse insurer Shearwater Insurance (see shearwater-insurance.co.uk). Schooling advice Nikki Barker is an international dressage rider and trainer who is based near Newmarket. Find her on Facebook at Nikki Barker Dressage. Saddle fitting Tricia Bracegirdle is director of Childeric Saddles UK and is Childéic's senior saddle specialist. Find out more at childericsaddles.co.uk GOT A PROBLEM? Need an answer? We'll know someone who can help… Welcome to our Ask The Experts section. Over the next nine pages we help to…

Ask The Experts TOP TIP Ask for a little outside flexion as you ride each straight line to help prevent your horse falling out through his shoulder, or vice versa if he's falling in. Listen up Do you have any tips for encouraging my horse to listen and stay straight in the school? He is so easily distracted. Maggie Gayner, Lincolnshire Nikki says: I'm a big fan of riding lots of shapes in the school. It's easy to get stuck in the habit of only riding three-loop serpentines or figures of eight when, in fact, there are lots of shapes to try, from diamonds to squares. Diamonds First, ride a diamond shape off the track, so your ‘diamond’ sits in the centre of your school, with each of the four…

YOUR HORSE'S GEAR WHAT'S NEW? | NEW PRODUCTS THE BRIDLE WITH ECO CREDENTIALS A classic bridle with a modern twist that is perfect for competitions and everyday use, the Cottage Craft in Harry Hall's ergonomic bridle range features anatomically shaped, padded headpieces to distribute pressure over the poll and around the ears. Designed in the UK, these leather bridles have been crafted from soft eco-friendly vegetable tanned leather, with the range consisting of three styles: flash, grackle and cavesson (Pictured). All are available in black or brown, and are supplied with a reusable bridle bag. RRP £64.95 HARRYHALL.COM BLITZ THOSE STAINS Cavalor Bianco Spray contains white powder that is activated when sprayed on stains. Its high-quality silicones keep dirt from attaching to the coat, allowing for easy removal with a cloth,…

AS THE DAYS shorten and temperatures drop, factors such as time spent stabled and slower grass growth will have an impact on any horse's feeding regime. But how do winter changes affect veterans specifically, and how does each animal's lifestyle add to the elements that must be considered by the owner? Feeding active veterans As grazing quality declines during the winter months, supplementary forage and a greater reliance on bucket feed is necessary to help keep older horses at their ideal body weights. As horses and ponies age, their digestive systems become less efficient. This can make them more prone to losing weight and it often means that they need a higher energy/calorie diet, particularly if they are in regular work. Even if your veteran has maintained weight well on…

CAPTURED ON CAMERA PHOTO: HENRYDALLALPHOTOGRAPHY.COM VIA GETTY IMAGES 1926-2022 THE OUTPOURING OF national grief following The Queen's death, on 8 September at the age of 96, with hundreds of thousands queuing to file past her coffin as well as travelling to London on 19 September when her funeral took place, confirmed, if confirmation were needed, her role in history as the people's monarch. But, as well as being a friend to all peoples during her record-breaking 70-year reign, The Queen was a lifelong animal lover, regularly pictured with her beloved Corgi dogs, or sporting a beaming smile while stroking a prize-winning horse to whom she had just presented a rosette. It is impossible to imagine any person before, or into the future, doing as much for equines and equestrian sports,…

KING OF THE ROAD This eye-catching trailer was put up for sale on Facebook recently by Tash Ivings. She wrote: “Very reluctantly for sale! Massive eye-catcher and one of a kind. I've driven it once and since I picked it up [from the resprayers] everyone was looking and smiling and I've had loads of compliments.” But before you rush to social media to take a look and put in an offer, as Your Horse went to press the trailer has been sold, subject to collection.…

YOUR HORSE'S CARE CLIPPING STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE In partnership with CLIPPING ENSURES THAT horses in work through the winter won't get too hot while being exercised or when competing. Sweaty horses will need to be washed down afterwards, and horses with long, thick coats will take hours to dry, putting them at risk of chills if left to dry naturally in cold weather. By contrast, however, a clipped coat will dry in minutes. Which clip you give your horse depends on workload and hair thickness. “Clip according to the horse, and bear in mind that you can take more off, but you can't put it back on,” says event rider Emily Galbraith. “As a rule, most horses are fine with a half head clip. Full face clips are only for those very…

LAMENESS | GAIT ANALYSIS In partnership with These days professionals have a veritable treasure trove of systems available to assist them in assessing gait abnormalities and asymmetries in horses, including… A state-of-the-art solution EquiGait, a UK-based company, provides state-of-the-art gait analysis solutions for vets and professionals. The system consists of a wireless inertial measurement unit (IMU) that is used either while the horse is in-hand, on the lunge, or being ridden. This offers unimpeded access to all the limbs as the sensors are attached to the upper body of the horse. The system outputs numerical data and graphs to help inform the vet/ professional who can then make a swift decision, either on the diagnosis of a lameness, or how a horse in rehabilitation is progressing. The system, which comes…

Ask The Experts Back on track I have owned my six-year-old Connemara gelding since he was four. For the first couple of years he was great, but now I find that he's challenging me more. It feels as though he's going through his teenage years! He has started napping on hacks and spinning and it is really starting to rattle my confidence. How can I get our relationship back on an even keel? Lila Hammond, via email Pippa says: Lots of horses go through a ‘teenage’ phase and can try to test you, and this can be very unnerving. If you're having problems with napping out hacking, especially if your horse has developed the habit of spinning and turning for home, it would be a good idea to hack out…

Ask The Experts Time for a check-up How often should I have my saddle checked? I've been riding in it for three years and I haven't had any problems, but my friend says that I should have it routinely inspected every year. Eddie McNeil, West Sussex Tricia says: As a general rule, there are two reasons for having your saddle checked, so if you can tick ‘yes’ to either of these then I would suggest that you get an expert out to take a look: 1. Is it due as part of your regular checks of your horse and his equipment? Quite often people have a list of things they do regularly — teeth, saddle, equine physio, and so on. As with all such things, having your saddle checked is…