Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 513 i Your Horse

FOLLOWING THE EXCESSES of the festive season — or even too much time spent in front of the TV—the New Year is inevitably the time when most horse enthusiasts set resolutions to do new things. That is why the theme of this issue is ‘New year, new you’, because the weeks before the onset of spring offer the perfect opportunity to perhaps sign up for a new equestrian sport, try a different training schedule, or simply work to improve your own technique in the saddle. With that in mind, we bring you the first part ofanew series with RiderCise® founder Clare Gangadeen, who explains the importance of core and how to strengthen it (page 30), which in itself is something that is so simple to do but at the same…

Horse owners have been urged to play their part in helping to combat antibiotic resistance by not hoarding previously prescribed medicines“for a rainy day”. The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has issued a stark warning amid concerns that some antibiotics are no longer working. Former BEVA president David Rendle said: “Giving random, left over, or old antibiotics to your horse for a suspected infection is irresponsible and potentially dangerous. It could make things worse as they might not be the right type of antibiotic for that infection and could contribute to the problem of resistance.” The BEVA is asking horse owners to give any leftover antibiotics back to their vet when they are next visiting. “It is crucial not to throw old medicines away in the rubbish or flush them…

Welsh ponies Sapphire and Jewel were barely a year old when they were found abandoned, weak and emaciated in March 2021 on one of the commons in South Wales. A passer-by and her son saw Sapphire in a ditch unable to stand. Jewel was standing over her. The young boy took off his coat and put it over Sapphire to keep her warm until help arrived. The duo contacted the Welsh Pony Rescue and Rehoming Charitable Trust and staffcame and collected the fillies. The pair was then transferred to B&W Equine Hospital where they stayed for several weeks. Sapphire needed a blood transfusion and help getting to her feet every day. Once she was strong enough she was transferred to the charity’s yard where she was fed, walked and cared…

■ Provide pain relief—Which is obviously good welfare. ■ Sedation—They can facilitate the safe handling of the horse for nerve blocks and treatment. ■ Place local anaesthetic blocks (sensory and motor). The horse then can’t feel his eyelids and can’tmove them. ■ Apply topical anaesthetic in the eye to remove pain from the outer eyeball, conjunctiva and associated structures. ■ Examine the globe, eyelid, third eyelid, conjunctiva, orbit (bone cavity that houses the eye) and skull. ■ Pupil dilation— They can use medication to open the pupil so that the interior structures of the eye can be visualised better. ■ Perform an ophthalmoscopic exam to examine the interior of the eye which includes the cornea, lens, vitreous, retina and optic nerve. Quick action, aggressive and frequent treatment and intensive monitoring is essential…

Ask The Experts Numerous injury types can benefit from work in the gym Q I’ve ridden for years and have suffered froma wide variety of accidents in that time when the horse has usually come off better than I have! I’m interested in finding out what types of injuries can be rehabbed with resistance training to see if mine qualify, or equally what injuries shouldn’t be rehabbed with such training. Chloe Jones, East Sussex Chrissy says: Strength/resistance training can be adapted for various injuries, and this includes, but isn’t limited to… ■ Orthopaedic injuries — Fractures, ligament tears and joint dislocations. ■ Soft tissue injuries — Strains, sprains, and tendinopathies. ■ Neurological injuries — Nerve injuries, strokes, or conditions such as multiple sclerosis. ■ Chronic pain — Conditions like osteoarthritis or…

Ask The Experts Body condition scoring the whole horse gives a better idea of fat coverage Q I have been advised to body condition score my good doer and use a weigh tape regularly to monitor his condition through the winter, but I’m a bit confused as to which body condition scale to use. Imogen Davies, Powys Emma says: The numbered body condition score (BCS) systems are designed to help bring some objectivity to assessing a horse’s condition by giving a numbered scale. Two systems are used, and in the UK one is numbered 0 to 5 and the other 1 to 9. The mid-point on each of these is considered ‘good’ or ‘moderate’, where the horse is neither overweight nor underweight. The 1 to 9 system allows for a…

YOUR HORSE’S GEAR BIG TEST | EXERCISE SHEETS WHEN THE WEATHER is less than favourable but a horse still has to be taken out and about, for fitness or simply to get him out of his stable foracouple of hours, an exercise sheet will prove to be an essential part of his armoury This versatile type of rug will cover the horse’s hindquarters and offer protection from the elements while also keeping his muscles warm. Exercise sheets are generally used during the winter months and are particularly useful on clipped horses. Some rugs are made from breathable materials to help regulate the horse’s temperature and keep him comfortable, while others may also have a waterproof outer to ensure that he stays dry in the rain. Our team of testers has put…

RiderCise® founder Clare Gangadeen: A rider’s weak core can cause the horse to hollow, to be behind the leg, to drop his inside shoulder, rush or slow and lose rhythm and balance and even show abnormalities in his gait, page 30 Event rider Kitty King: I would advise extreme caution when long reining a horse of any age. Young horses especially have quick reactions that mean the handler must be in the right position at all times to avoid getting the reins tangled or themselves kicked, page 36 International showjumper Antonia Platt: It is perfectly normal for horses to nap occasionally. Maybe they have been standing around the show ring and the thought of going and doing some work doesn’t appeal. Take it as an opportunity to come up with…

We are moving closer to the holy grail of preventing and treating tendon and ligament injuries. This was the message delivered by the new president of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), Prof Roger Smith, who recently shared 13 articles on the subject in the Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ). As guest editor, Roger selected articles from the past five years to show progress in three key areas: pathophysiology — understanding why injuries occur and how they heal; progress in regenerative medicine; and uncommon tendon and ligament injuries. “The field of tendon research is generating a healthy amount of quality research to counter the commonly held belief that there is nothing better than a double helping of God and time,” he said. Prof Celia Marr, editor of the EVJ, said that…

BAN ON LIVE EXPORTS ONE STEP CLOSER A new Bill to end the export of livestock for slaughter has been introduced into Parliament and marks a significant milestone for animal welfare. The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill will ban live exports of horses and others, including cattle, sheep and pigs, for slaughter and fattening from Great Britain. Live exports in other specific circumstances, for example, for breeding and competition, will still be allowed provided the animals are transported in line with legal requirements aimed at protecting their welfare. IT'S HOLIDAY TIME! Horses from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) were relocated last month from the capital to the Defence Animal Training Regiment (DATR) for their annual winter break. Over 150 horses were transported to Melton Mowbray for some well-deserved rest…

Ask The Experts Comparison is the thief of joy Q My mind tends to wander when I compete and I look on other riders as better than I am. What should I be focusing on? Maxine Mills, Edinburgh Emily says: Your focus should be on the task in hand rather than on the outcome. This means that you should compare your current performance to your own previous performances. This increases the amount of control, confidence and motivation that you have. When we are in a competitive setting competing against other riders we can’t control the amount of skill they have or the effort they put in, only our own. If we start to compare ourselves to them our perceived ability becomes fragile. One moment you may be easily better than…

YOUR HORSE’S GEAR ON TREND | WARM HATS AND HEADBANDS AUBRION FLEECE LINED BOBBLE HAT RRP £16.99 COLOURS Ink, taupe, green, black, cherise SHIRESEQUESTRIAN.COM This snug bobble hat, which has a smooth knit outer, a neat turn up and an inner fleece lining to protect the wearer against the wind and cold, will keep heads cosy on the yard. A faux fur pom-pom and subtle leopard print give this hat a fun feel, too. DUBLIN RIB KNIT HEADBAND RRP£20.99 COLOUR Ink WEATHERBEETA.CO.UK A super smart headband that looks great at the yard or when walking the dog, the Dublin Rib Knit features a seed stitch and is lined with a soft micro polar fleece. It is also knitted with a touch of wool for luxurious warmth. FELIX BÜHLER STRETCH BEANIE LANI…

An iconic event featuring the world’s largest gathering of Shire horses is set to return to Staffordshire Showground for the first time in five years. The National Shire Horse Show will take place from 8-10 March and promises a packed schedule of in-hand, ridden and in-harness classes during which visitors can marvel at spectacular brewery drays and horses bedecked in stunning harness. The National Shire Horse Show is thought to be one of the oldest almost continuous horse shows in the world, having been held for the first time in Islington, London, in 1878. It has been hosted at only a handful of venues in the UK since then. This year it will be returning indoors. Victoria Clayton, CEO of the Shire Horse Society, said: “We can’t wait to return…

NO MATTER WHERE in the world you go there are always horses. Horses of all shapes, sizes, colours and temperaments doing all manner of jobs, from pulling carriages, to carrying heavy loads, herding cattle and, of course, hacking. Whatever form hacking takes, whether in lands as far afield as Iraq or Iceland, it is a fantastic way to spend time with a horse, to build a partnership and to enjoy the great outdoors. So what is the hacking really like in Ireland, Sweden, the United States of America, Australia and India? Ireland Anne-Marie Cronin grew up in Ireland, and has lived in both the north and the south of the country, originally hailing from Dublin. She moved to Co Limerick 23 years ago, and even though she is now just…

The Leslie family, which can trace its ancestry back to Attila the Hun, has had a love of horses for centuries, long before members moved to Ireland in 1665. In fact, the Leslie motto is ‘grip fast’, which originates from a famous horse journey undertaken by Bartholomew Leslie with Margaret, Queen of Scotland, who was fleeing from enemies, riding pillion on the back of his horse. The queen fell off while fordingariver, but Bartholomew threw her the end of his belt, told her to “grip fast” and saved her life. Horse holidays at the family’s Castle Leslie Equestrian Centre in Glaslough (which is sited close to the border with Northern Ireland), haven’t quite been running since this time, but the estate hasalong history associated with all things equine (and is…

Tetley brews up a success story Tetley is my second loan horse who I took on last June. He’s helped me to turn my life around and also lose more weight. Since I got him I’ve lost over a stone, but in total over the last four years I’ve lost 16 stone. Tetley has helped me to get fitter and healthier every day. He’s my soulmate and best friend and I love him like he’s my own. Donna Louise Lytollis, Northumberland Laugh a minute Natalie, my daughter who is 10, is pictured with her very special pony, Lavender, who is more than twice her age at 21. We have owned Lavender for three years, and despite her age, she shows no signs of slowing down. They are members of the…

YOUR HORSE’S CARE VET NOTES | EYE DISORDERS VET notes WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: ● The possible knock-on effects of an eye injury ● Other common eye conditions ● How the problem is diagnosed ● Potential treatments THE EQUINE EYE is particularly prone to injury due to its location, prominence and size. In contrast to human eyes, horses’ eyes have mainly peripheral vision, with limited forward sight and a large blind spot mid forehead. There are three common disorders that are often linked… 1 SUPERFICIAL CORNEAL ULCERATION—Ascratch on the outer layer of the eyeball is the most common type of eye injury. Why/how does it happen? ■ Trauma— while grazing hedges. ■ Poor eyelid conformation and eyelash orientation. ■ Reduced tear function/blinking (check the other eye). ■ Foreign bodies. A corneal ulceration…

Simple solutions for horse owners Meet this month’s panel of experts Riderrehab Chrissy Hawkins is an online strength coach who works with equestrians to help them improve their riding, as well as recover from injury. Visit chrissyhawkins.com Riderconfiidence Emily Catford is a human soft tissue specialist, animal physiotherapist and sport scientist who specialises in mental toughness and NLP. Visit psycheand physique.com Horsebehav viour Lucy Butt has a bachelors degree in equine behavioural science and over 15 years of experience as an equine behaviourist. She works in Essex and beyond. Visit lucybutt equinebehaviourist.com Fee eding Emma Short BSc (Hons) provides feed advice, works on specialist feeding programmes and provides technical support for Baileys’ teams. Visit baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk GOT A PROBLEM? Need an answer? We’ll know someone who can help… Welcome to our…

Ask The Experts A gradual separation of mare and foal can decrease the stress response Q I haveafive-month-old foal and my friends are telling me that I need to wean her. I would prefer to wait until she’s a bit older as I have read that early or traumatic weaning can cause issues. Is this true, and how should I go about weaning when the time comes? Fiona James, Devon Lucy says: It is accurate that early or stressful weaning can cause stereotypies (wood chewing, crib-biting, box walking, etc) and health issues later in life. My advice would be to trust your own views and wait until your foal is slightly older in order to help avoid these complications. There are a variety of factors to consider when weaning a…

YOUR HORSE’S GEAR BUYER’S GUIDE | SLOW FEEDERS AND TOYS IN AN IDEAL world our horses would live totally natural lives. However, circumstances don’t always permit this, especially in the winter months when the fields are wet and muddy and grass is in short supply. This often results in equines being stabled for long periods — an enforced routine that can lead to frustration, boredom and increased stress. Fortunately, there is a wide range of products available to help alleviate these issues, provide enrichment and ensure that a horse’s digestive health doesn’t suffer. From slow feeders that mimic a horse’s natural foraging instinct by making his food ration last longer to stable toys such as licks or stuffed toys, there is a raft of options on the market to help keep…