Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 511 i Your Horse

ANYONE WHO HAS been involved with horses for several years is likely to have experienced a near miss on the roads, especially if they hack out regularly. I have certainly had my fair share of unwanted close encounters with vehicles, and the worst occurred several years ago while hacking out with my then 12-year-old daughter when an impatient young driver squeezed his car between her horse and a parked vehicle, missing both by the width of a credit card. Hat cameras weren't quite so popular at the time, but their use is inevitably growing among equestrians, and with good reason. Additionally, there is encouraging news this month in the form of a police initiative that should now make it easier to report dangerous drivers by submitting that hat camera footage…

June and her two companions were brought back to the yard, in the heart of the Kent countryside, where the team set about nursing them back to health. Jo Considine from the charity said: “June was so emaciated that she spent time living in our back garden — and house when she got the chance! With a lot of love and care she, and the other two youngsters, began to thrive and June has turned into the most gorgeous pony. She loves to be busy and is lucky that she has had some great riders to bring her on. June loves showjumping, cross-country and showing classes and has already collected first-place ribbons.” June now has a home for life at Team Tutsham, which is a multi award-winning registered charity that…

HACK 1000 MILES During the festive period Kirsty Davies takes on the role of Christmas ‘postwoman’ and hand delivers her cards. “I started delivering Christmas cards when I was 10 years old and got my first pony, Jake. My mum didn't want to pay for stamps for local friends — and who can blame her — and so she gave me some tinsel and a bag of cards and sent me on my way,” explains Kirsty, 30. “I could cover the ground faster than she could on foot and the tradition has continued ever since.” Every year Kirsty sets a date to hand out her cards and then, when the day dawns, she climbs aboard her own nine-year-old Connemara mare, Jinty, and heads out. “I pick a bright day and…

The term social licence comes from the mining industry and describes the ongoing acceptance of a company or industry's practices and procedures by its employees, stakeholders and the general public. In reference to horse riding, social licence describes the public's perception of the horse's use by humans. An increasingly urbanised population—which has no contact with horses — and the movement towards vegetarianism and veganism, coupled with bad publicity for racing, the Olympic modern pentathlon and other incidents, has changed the public's perception of riding and competing horses. The fear is that if this is allowed to continue the equestrian industry may lose its social licence to own, ride and compete horses. PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF RIDING IN THE UK ■ 20% don't support the involvement of horses in sport under any…

How I make it work: My groom, my husband and my mother all muck in and help The former insurance industry high-fiyer discusses her myriad horses, her breeding venture and her latest job at the company which manages the UK's Central Equine Database My job… I'm chief business officer and company secretary at Equine Register which manages the UK's Central Equine Database (CED) on behalf of the UK government. The company works to create a fully integrated digital platform that protects and supports all horses, owners, riders and industry professionals. I work alongside Stewart Everett, the CEO and co-founder, overseeing the operational units, including legal and compliance, technical, HR, marketing and customer services. I'm also responsible for the company's corporate governance. How I got here… I've always been passionate about…

Clyde – the gentle giant My husband Steve's gentle giant Clydesdale is called Clyde. He's 17 years old and stands at 18.2hh. We bought Clyde in February and he not only brings much happiness to our family, but he and Steve have a great bond together. In fact, Clyde has helped my husband's recovery from a breakdown. It has been so amazing to see how both of them have assisted each other. Amanda Bennett, South Gloucestershire Cheeky chappie This is Rocko, my 28-year-old, 16hh superstar. He's full of character and when I get him out of the paddock he can be a bit cheeky and full of energy. However, after our little ride and some pampering he becomes so calm and cuddly. Kim Coomber, Victoria, Australia Ruby is a real…

There are three words that are often talked about in relation to chiropractic that are less likely to be used in other therapies… ■ Restriction ■ Adjustment ■ Thrust “A restriction is where we can feel that themovement isn't within the normal range. Sometimes wemay find hypomobility [not enoughmovement], or hypermobility [toomuch movement], and where a joint is restricted this usually involves the former,” explains Catherine McArt. “Once a restriction is identified, we will then use an adjustment to restore mobility. This involves a controlled but fast directional thrust into the joint which stimulates a nerve response within the joint andmuscle receptors. “Think of it like rebooting the central nervous system,” saysWinston Williams. “We arewaking up the nerves that aren't firing and are stopping the joint fromfulfilling its function.”…

■ Poor performance. This might mean that the horse is reluctant towork, or simply not quite performing as well as he did before, perhaps withmore faults occurring during a competitive showjumping round. Out hacking he may be slower when going down hill. ■ Weakness or resistance in lateral work, which is often noticeable to the rider. This highlights the importance of the vet listening to the rider in cases of poor performance so that these issues can be picked up quickly and acted upon early to reduce impact. “A clinical examination, appropriate diagnostic tools, and a treatment plan tailored to the individual horse are essential for addressing sacroiliac joint issues effectively” ■ Intermittent lameness. This may be very subtle andmost commonly occurs in the pelvic limbs. It is often hard…

‘For a horse who always gives his all, Michael knew that Louie wasn't quite right’ Up until recently, Beth Starkey's new mount, Monbeg Horizon (aka Louie), was lining up and contesting advanced horse trials classes alongside some of the best horses in the country. However, after a long stint of affiliated eventing with Michael Owen, who's mother, Heather, owns the nine-year-old bay gelding, the reins were passed to Beth at the start of this season so that the son of Luidam could enjoy a slightly slower pace of life at the lower levels. “I've known Louie since he was four and he's always'cocked'a leg walking out of his stable and also when changing onto a different surface. It hadn't affected his work until the start of this year when he…

Spillers is inviting owners of overweight horses and ponies to join its Spillers Slimmers'Club for support, advice and encouragement to help keep their horse or pony at a healthyweight. This motivating and friendly club provides practical support and camaraderie for owners of overweight horses and ponies to aid them on their weight loss journey. It provides information and advice, including weight loss tips, details of how to body condition score and how to useaweigh tape. OR SEARCH SPILLERS SLIMMERS ON FACEBOOK…

Ask The Experts Build up hacking confidence in tiny steps Q I've had some confidence knocks when I've been riding — like my horse spooking at heavy traffic and bolting at a motorbike backfiring — and now I'm so terrified, to the point where I force myself to go out on a hack and then cry and shake once I'm on the horse, even if nothing is happening. I then dismount and walk home and feel so embarrassed by the time I get back to the yard. Is there anything I can do to stop this fear? Kit Lambert, Bedfordshire Tracey says: Getting on and having a go is a tremendous feat, so well done for not giving up. There is no need to feel embarrassed. Most people wouldn't have…

To enter, visit yourhorse.co.uk/win/equipe511 THIS CHRISTMAS WILL be one to remember for two lucky Your Horse readers, who will each win a fantastic bundle of prizes from Equipe that includes… ■ A pair of Safety Stirrups ■ A pair of Stirrup Leathers ■ A Complete Care Leather Kit Feeling safe and comfy in the saddle plays a crucial role in boosting confidence, and the Equipe Safety Stirrup has been designed to address both factors. The stirrup, which is available in a selection of colours, has a mobile silicone arch, the upper part of which is engaged by a pin built into the fixed side which releases in the event of a fall, freeing the foot. The lower section of the silicone arch works to prevent the stirrup from loosening under…

Western rider Emma Chapman: We're always told not to look down when we're riding, but as humans we like to seewhat's happening. That's when groundwork is great because you can see what the horse is doing and know where his head or feet are, page 28 Veterinary physiotherapist Sinead Anglin: The intensity and frequency of workouts for veterans are individual to each horse, but if you aim for 30 minutes three daysaweek this should be sufficient to keep everything moving, page 32 Showjumper Pippa Allen: When riding a course, don't rush. A lot of riders try to speed on to the next fence, but they don't have the organisation needed, and the rhythm and balance then slowly begin to disappear, page 34 Equine behaviourist Emma Lethbridge: Systematic desensitisation is essentially…

Leicestershire Police has recruited a new team of volunteers on horseback to spot and report crime in the countryside. Twenty riders have volunteered to become the ‘eyes and the ears’ of the force to protect rural communities while out riding. They will also be asked to assist in rural crime prevention initiatives and local operations to develop contacts with farms and local businesses, provide advice to the public and increase feelings of safety by providing reassurance and visible patrols. Mounted volunteers co-ordinator PC Kelly Tones said: “The volunteers are a real asset to the rural team and the scheme will be an excellent way to further engage with our rural communities in the harder to reach areas. “They are also a crucial part of Operation Snaffle, which is the force's…

The opportunities for children to learn to ride and benefit from the emotional support that horses provide has nosedived as a result of spiralling living costs and a lack of staff. The British Horse Society (BHS) has revealed that at least 75% of riding centres across the UK are struggling to source the staff they need to run at full capacity, which is leaving centres at “breaking point”. According to BHS CEO James Hick, demand to attend a riding school and connect with horses has never been greater. “But without the qualified coaches and yard staff needed to run these centres, this demand is just not going to be fulfilled,” he said. As a result, the charity has so far seen a loss of 1.5 million opportunities for children to…

All British horse sport bodies are examining their rules to see if they can make welfare improvements. ■ Only cushion-type padded whips are allowed in British Showjumping competitions, in British Riding Clubs (BRC) jumping competitions and the jumping phases of British Eventing (BE) competitions. ■ From 2024 riders in BE competitions will be disqualified for hitting the horse anywhere on his body except the shoulder. ■ BRC has banned riders from using the whip at all after a refusal or elimination. ■ From 2024 it will no longer be mandatory to wear spurs in FEI dressage competitions.…

ALL ABOUT RHEA FREEMAN RHEA FREEMAN is a social media expert and Meta lead trainer who is also an award-winning PR adviser. She works with equestrian brands, associations, federations and riders, and also guest lectures at two universities. Rhea produces an awardwinning weekly podcast called The Small & Supercharged Podcast on which she shares social media and PR tips along with stories from equestrian and country brands. Visit rheafreemanpr.co.uk, or find her @rheafreemanpr on Instagram. VLOGGING CONTINUES TO be a great way to share stories and potentially grow an audience on social media. However, how does anyone interested in becoming a vlogger even start? And how long does it take to grow an engaged, loyal following (and a strong subscriber base)? Vlogging or video content continues to climb in popularity.…

Lisa Ebdy's French trotter gelding, Chester, first saw animal chiropractor Gill Maybury in 2019 after he tried to avoid a puddle and slipped up a bank, “nearly doing the splits”. He was 19 at the time and enjoying a quieter life hacking and doing low level dressage and showjumping with Lisa, having showjumped to Grade C level in his younger days. “He had been having regular physio treatments, but when my physio came to see him after his slip she recommended that I get in touch with Gill,” explains Lisa. “Chester was dipping away with his left hip and tending to swing his left hind out to the side.” Gill explains that chiropractic can be particularly effective for treating acute, traumatic injuries. “When a horse suddenly slips or falls he…

Email your questions to yh.ed@kelsey.co.uk Simple solutions for horse owners Meet this month's panel of experts Fitness Chrissy Hawkins is an online strength coach who works with equestrians to help them improve their riding position, strength and confidence. Visit chrissyhawkins.com Rider confidence Tracey Cole is a trainer and master coach of neurolinguistic programming (NLP) and hypnotherapy, specialising in equestrianism. Visit traceycolenlp.com Icelandic horses Jemimah Adams is amember of Team GB for Icelandic horses, as well as the education trustee for the Icelandic Horse Society of Great Britain (ihsgb.co.uk). She also trains and teaches with the breed. Feeding Emma Short BSc (Hons) provides feed advice for owners, works on specialist feeding programmes and offers support for Baileys’ in house teams. Visit baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk GOT A PROBLEM? Need an answer? We'll know someone…

Buying power Q I fell in love with Icelandic horses while on holiday in Iceland a couple of years ago and have been thinking about buying one. How difficult are they to source in the UK, and where should I start to look? Heather Davies, Co Antrim Jemimah says: There are Icelandic horses for sale in the UK, and they are listed on the Icelandic Horse Society of Great Britain (IHSGB) website and on the IHSGB Facebook group, plus other individual groups on the social media platform. Sometimes horses aren't openly advertised for sale, so it can be a good idea to contact the IHSGB, or post a Facebook call out if you are actively looking to buy one. It is recommended to try as many as possible before you…

SHIMMER AND SHINE Adding a bit of bling and sparkle to a horse's bridle has never been easier thanks to this beautiful collection of Swarovski browbands from Finesse Bridles. The browbands are available in a variety of stone colours to suit all tastes and coat colours. RRP from £107.50 ZEBRAPRODUCTS.CO.UK EVERYDAY PROTECTION The lightweight and sleek Sculpt Back Protector from Champion is ideal for hacking, schooling, showjumping and for extra protection while bringing on young horses. It is aimed at riders who are seeking an added level of protection for lower risk equestrian activities and it has been manufactured to the EN1621-2-2014 motorcycle standard. The Sculpt Back Protector features a smart Union Flag on the back and a zip front, which makes it as easy to put on as a…

The majority of livery yard owners would support the licensing of yards and similar equestrian establishments, according to a recent survey conducted by SEIB Insurance Brokers Ltd and LiveryList. Of the 420 survey respondents, almost 60% said that they would be in favour of a regulated licensing system. Consultation on the issue is underway in Scotland and proposals for the rest of the UK may follow. The exact process and criteria for yard licensing has not yet been revealed, but there will be a strong emphasis on equine welfare.…

Most riders have some special Christmas traditions or seasonal celebrations that they follow every year. Some head out for a Christmas morning ride or join a Boxing Day hunt, while for others the festive season is a time for friends and family and so the horse is left to spend a few content days grazing in his paddock. For yet others, Christmas is a time to spread cheer and connect with the local community — and what better way than on horseback? ‘IT'S THE ONLY TIME OF YEAR I DON'T WEAR HIGH VIS – BUT I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD MISS ME’ Hannah Leslie hails from a family which loves the festive season, and she goes all out every year to celebrate. “We all go over the top for Christmas.…

When hacking, a whip can perform a role unrelated to riding, according to #Hack1000Miles stalwart Rosie Martin. “I find a whip useful for opening and closing gates, and moving undergrowth and tree branches out of the way of my face while hacking out,” says Rosie, who at the time of writing had racked up 1,272 miles since April on Larry and Darty. “I don't use spurs,” she continues. “It has never actually occurred to me to do so. They are just not on my radar. “As for a whip — it depends on the need. I have two horses and I carry a whip on one and not the other. I use it as an extension of my arm to tap or tickle my cob, Larry, who sometimes needs a…

To enter, visit yourhorse.co.uk/win/haybrook511 YOUR HORSE HAS teamed up with Haybrook & Co to give away one Bounce Tack Locker, worth an incredible £1,680 and which will provide the perfect solution to travel and competition tack storage problems. The Bounce is a single locker with the added benefit of a detachable top, box for extra storage. It encompasses a lockable front door, drawer, mirror, bridle hooks, puncture-proof wheels, detachable top box with gas strut door and adjustable pullout saddle racks. The locker is fully ventilated, lightweight for transportation and it comes in a wide array of colours (below right). Why tack lockers are brilliant Horse owners who find themselves out and about with their horse and trailer are probably struggling to fit everything into their car, and no doubt they…

In Western there are three different leg positions and each controls a different part of the horse. Think of it as each being a button on a TV remote control that changes the channel. ■ Position 1: Slightly further forward than where your leg naturally wants to hang in front of the girth. This position controls the horse's shoulders.■ Position 2: This is where your leg naturally hangs, near the girth. This position controls the horse's ribcage.■ Position 3: This is slightly further back and similar to where you would put your leg back to ask for canter. This position controls the hips.…

CASE STUDY 1 Since being diagnosed with kissing spines at the end of 2021, Bronia Hill's 13-year-old eventer, Albert, has been on a rollercoaster road to recovery, but chiropractic treatments have played a key part in his comeback. “I know from my own experience that chiropractic works, but I have certainly felt the benefit in Albert,” says Bronia. “At first his kissing spines was managed by medicating into his back, but the effect of these injections only lasted three months each time so we made the decision to operate. He was off work for four months and then I had six months of slowly building him back up. “Once he had done his initial rehab it was a case of making sure that he really used himself correctly going forward,…

‘West Cork Flash recovered so well from a sacroiliac issue that I now ride and race him side-saddle’ Lucinda Ticehurst's horse, West Cork Flash, was a racehorse until the age of 13. Originally racing under rules, Lucinda purchased him as a schoolmaster point-to-pointer and they enjoyed three years racing together. After Flash had been retired from racing and switched disciplines, his muscle mass changed and he started to struggle in canter transitions and around small circles. Previously he had been able to do tempi flying changes and canter for days. He also bucked a couple of times and so this dramatic change warranted investigation. “The clinical signs, along with the discipline change and altered physical muscle mass, indicated discomfort in his sacroiliac joint,” says Lucinda. “His previous job, age and…

A group of researchers at Michigan State University, USA, have identified abnormalities in the brain of horses with shivers. They compared horses with shivers to normal horses and showed that the shiverers had suffered from a deterioration of cells within the part of the brain called the cerebellum. These Purkinje cells are responsible for inhibiting movement of the legs. Therefore these abnormalities seen in the brain of horses with shivers may be allowing their legs to make these abnormal movements.…

Ask The Experts Strength training will aid riding ability Q I've been told that doing resistance/strength training can improve my riding. Is this true and if so how will it work? Janice Morris, Somerset Chrissy says: This type of training has been brought in alongside traditional styles of training in many sports already and horse riding is no different. There are a number of ways that this type of training can improve your riding. It works by… ■ Strengthening your body — this will enable you to give your horse better aids when riding. ■ This improved strength will also help your balance and ability to grip the horse. The latter is possibly the most important strength training as it helps to prevent injury. When we strength train we build…

A solution for good doers who need more energy Q My cob is prone to putting on weight, but she tends to lack energy. What sort of feed could I consider inorder to give her extra sparkle without the calories? Ruth Johnson, Hampshire Emma says: First you need to be sure that your cob's current diet is fully balanced and providing all the nutrients that she needs to feel well and do her work. If she isn't getting the full recommended amount of a mix, cube or balancer, she will be missing out on vitamins andminerals, many of which are involved in metabolism, and so she could be feeling lacklustre as a result. Balancers are ideal for good doers, like your cob, as they provide essential protein, vitamins and minerals…