Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 520 i Your Horse

WHEN FACED WITH a plethora of bits to choose from, with everything from Waterfords to Weymouths on the market, it can be easy to forget that, for some horses, a bit may simply not be the right way to go and so perhaps bitless could be the answer. But surely not for hacking out, over mile after mile of varying terrain? Apparently yes, and several of our #Hack1000Miles contenders confess that they have eschewed metal in the mouth and have gone with a hackamore (or similar), with one saying: “I had an opinionated cob who was much happier bitless. We did occasionally have arguments, but it was no worse than when he was in a bit.” We ask Jane Cumberlidge, an independent bit, bridle and saddle fitting consultant, all about…

The only charity working with equines in Gaza, West Sussex-based Safe Haven for Donkeys, needs donations to fund its vital work with the donkeys and horses who are providing a lifeline for people in the war zone. Since the Israeli-Palestinian conflict began last October, fuel and vehicles have become scarce and equids are now the main mode of transport, moving people, food, water and other essentials through the area and away from the conflict. Despite injuries from bombs, shrapnel and ill-fitting tack, as well as malnutrition, these donkeys and horses can't stop their work, and this is where the four-person Safe Haven for Donkeys team comes in. “We treat more than 100 donkeys and horses each week, offering help to any equid from our mobile clinic,” explained Andy Foxcroft, CEO.…

HACK 1000 MILES…

WORK HORSE balance Freelance photographer The performing arts snapper explains how she fell into her enviable day job, and came upon her horse, Ollie, who she took on during the Covid pandemic. My job… I'm a freelance photographer specialising in the performing arts. A major part of my job is production photography, which entails photographing a performance (theatre, opera, dance and anything in between), usually during a dress rehearsal. My production photos are used to promote the show, to illustrate reviews in the press, for archival documentation for the company and for the creative team staging the production. In practice, it involves lots of running around in the dark, tripping over theatre seats and cables. The other aspect of my work is promotional photography, which are posed photos that are…

PROBLEM: I can't seem to ride accurate figures — my circles are eggs. SOLUTION: Start and finish your circles when your body passes the marker. Use four cones to mark a circle and ride to that, so that you aren't riding eggs or rugby ball shapes. Ask someone to watch and help you spot when you get it right — and when it goes wrong. Additionally, know the size of the school and where each figure should be — it's mathematics, so if the arena is 20×40m and you are going to do a 20m circle, know the points in the arena that you need to hit. Look up and ahead at the next movement, not down at your hands. When you turn your head, your shoulders tend to follow…

Horses have apocrine sweat glands at the base of each hair and the gland secretes sweat into the hair follicle. Humans have both apocrine and eccrine sweat glands. Eccrine glands aren't associated with hair follicles and they secrete sweat directly onto the skin's surface. Horses rely heavily on sweating to control their body temperature in hot climates and/or after exercise. In fact, horses can sweat faster than any known animal, even accounting for the fact that they are large animals. A 500kg horse has around 5m2 of skin, whereas an SOkg person would have around 2m2, so although the horse is over six times heavier, it has only 2.5 times the surface area from which to get rid of heat. Whereas humans can sweat at rates of around 2 litres…

Ask The Experts STAY-AWAY SHOWS - JESS ERRINGTON says… Q I'm going to a stay-away clinic for the first time, and it will be my first time taking my horse away from the yard for such a long time. Do you have any tips on how to get him to settle in? He can be a bit stressy, so I'm nervous that he won't relax. Pip Gadenne, Derbyshire Jess says: Staying away for the first time can feel rather daunting, but with plenty of preparation you can hopefully remove some of the stress and enjoy yourself. I would always recommend trying to arrive a day before when possible, as arriving early gives you more time to focus on helping your horse to settle in. If this isn't possible, try to…

Q I have my first overnight competition coming up and I'm very excited but quite nervous that I'll forget something. What are the must-haves that I should list so that nothing gets left behind? Daisy Brown, Shropshire Jess says: I definitely recommend writing a big list of what you will need — and that's what I tend to do. I sit down when I have time on my hands and think through everything that I will require. I think about things in categories and work from there. For example, I event and so I start to note down which tack items I'll need for each discipline — so for the dressage test, for example, that will be a saddle, girth, numnah, bridle, warm up boots, etc. I then do the…

Q My horse and I generally go clear over a course of showjumps, but we're often out of the ribbons because we go too slowly. How can we find the right speed to be a bit more competitive? I think the problem might stem from me getting a bit nervous about my horse taking off with me as he can be a bit spooky in new, busy places. Meg I homey, Norfolk Leanne says: The average speed for British Showjumping classes at club level (60cm-1m) is 300mpm, and 300mpm is roughly 1.5 furlongs per minute. To help you get into the correct speed, try practising at your local gallops. Set a stopwatch and try to ride 1.5 furlongs in 1 min. This will give you an idea of the speed…

Q I have been doing some research online about electroacupuncture, and it sounds fascinating, but how is it different to regular acupuncture and on what occasions could it be used to help my mare who has had time off recently and is suffering from muscle atrophy? Christine Langley, Cheshire Kayleigh says: Acupuncture, also known as dry needling, uses solid 0.3mm wide needles inserted into muscles to elicit a chemical response (see Your Horse/Spring/Care/ Keeping Him Comfy). A step up from this is electroacupuncture which involves attaching a small current to the needles, so it can be beneficial for stimulating the nerves still further. I use electroacupuncture in about 10% of the cases I treat, usually for the likes of the rehabilitation phase post pelvic fracture when the horse is suffering…

Allison Lowther is the freelance gear editor for Your Horse magazine. She owns two horses — a retired 29-year-old Irish Sport Horse called Jester and a 20-year-old Hanoverian mare called Wish. Helen Milbank has owned her 14hh piebald cob, Tom, since January 2020. He is a 23-year-old ex-riding school I pony who now enjoys hacking and light schooling. Helen shares him with her 14-year-old daughter, Georgie. Katie Throup and her 19-year-old Irish Cob x Thoroughbred, Roger, love dressage and compete at elementary and medium level. Leanne Jackson owns and runs Eastwell Equestrian in Cambridgeshire. She competes to Prix St Georges and intermediate I level. Anna Blacklock owns nine horses, including home-breds, some golden oldies and a miniature Shetland. All are kept out 24/7 so she is out in all weathers…

YOUR HORSE'S TRAINING DRESSAGE | SENSATIONAL CIRCLES MEET THE EXPERT Grand prix dressage rider and breeder BECKY MOODY has represented Great Britain internationally since her junior days and she was recently selected for the British team heading for the Paris Olympic Games with her top horse, the home-bred Jagerbomb. Becky runs Moody Dressage in South Yorkshire with her sister, Hannah. RIDING A CIRCLE is an important skill to master, particularly for anyone who wants to improve their dressage marks. The perfect circle isn't easy to ride, though, as getting the horse to be correct in his shape, and with uniform bend throughout, is hard. However, circles are a great training tool with many benefits to the horse. Riding a good circle not only helps to improve a horse's suppleness, but also…

Sometimes it's tricky to know how best to handle difficult situations, so here are a few things to try to avoid… 1 Ignoring the horse's body language. ”Watch your horse for any signs that he's uncomfortable — tension in his face or body, an elevated head position, or fidgeting — are early signs that he isn't happy,” says Loni. 2 Rushing the process. ”It's tempting to do everything as quickly as possible if we're finding it difficult, but it often makes us and the horse more stressed, so it's negative for everyone.” 3 Resorting to punishment. ”Shouting or physically reprimanding the horse are types of positive punishment — the addition of something unpleasant — to try and decrease a behaviour, but this only increases arousal and makes more negative associations,” says Loni. ”The…

Horse hair can be used to assess exposure to toxins, such as heavy metals. It is also possible to take longer hairs from the tail or the mane and analyse them for a history of medications, such as bute. Sections of hair closest to the body indicate the most recent medications, while those at the tip may represent those given 6-12 months previously. As such, the hairs can be cut into short sections and a pattern of medication use can be established over time. This may be useful in legal challenges over accidental doping, intentional historical medication abuse, or in cases where it is suspected that a horse may have been medicated at the time of sale. Hair can also be used to look for genes associated with the glycogen…

Email your questions to yh.ed@kelsey.co.uk Simple solutions for horse owners ANGELA RUDRUM Bit fitting: Angela Rudrum is a qualified specialist bit fitter who has worked in the equestrian industry for 35 years. She has worked with numerous riders, and holds clinics and educational talks for British Dressage, The Pony Club and riding clubs. Visit equinebittingsolutions.co.uk JESS ERRINGTON Stay-away shows: Jess Errington is head girl for international event rider Harry Meade, who she has worked for for 17 years. She previously had roles with Jeanette Brakewell and Tim Stockdale, and won the Team GBR Grooms Award in 2014. LEANNE HESLOP Showjumping: Leanne Heslop is a BHSII, BS and FEI accredited coach based in North Yorkshire who has been training horses and riders for over 25 years. She specialises in coaching showjumpers…

Q I've seen on social media a few people mentioning bit tape and bit butter. What are they and do I need them? Nicole Payne, Cornwall Angela says: Bit butter can be a useful tool if your horse has a dry mouth, or has experienced rubs from a bit. It can help to keep the skin around the lips soft to prevent cracking. Some horses with fleshy lips may have drier lips and so could benefit from extra care in this area. However, if your bit is causing rubs and sores, it might not be the right fit, so consider a change, or book a consultation with a bit fitter to discuss. Bit tape is often used to soften the feel of a metal bit in the horse's mouth and…

Q My horse can be quite a picky eater and drinker when she's away from the yard. I would like to take her to a stay-away show in a few weeks, but I'm concerned that she won't eat or drink enough. Do you have any tips for keeping her hydrated? Debra Marshall, Herefordshire Jess says: Some horses can be funny about eating or drinking when away from home, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve to remedy this. Feed wise, I always take a bag of mash. If I have a fussy eater who goes off his feed, this tends to get him eating again as I make it with warm water so that it's more enticing. This will be the go-to food if he suddenly becomes picky…

SHOWJUMPING - LEANNE HESLOP says… Q Doubles are my worst nightmare. I always have the second part down because it feels as though I can't keep my horse together enough and he goes flat in between, either knocking down a rail from the second element or refusing. I'm starting to have quite a mental block and I almost sense defeat when I see one on a course now. What should I do? Sophie Cooper; Leicestershire Leanne says: If you feel as though your horse is getting flat between a double, it sounds like he's landing too far in after the first element and is therefore struggling to make the distance to the take-off point for the second part. If he's landing too steeply or close to the second element, this…

Ask The Experts ACUPUNCTURE - KAYLEIGH BARKER says… Q I retired my 22-year-old horse last winter and I've noticed that he seems to be a bit more stiff and slow now, especially in the mornings when I let him out into his field. He also doesn't play as much any more and he seems a bit 'down'. Could acupuncture help? Jessica Clarke, Northumberland Kayleigh says: I treat a lot of older horses, and acupuncture can certainly help to keep them more comfortable as they start to struggle with age-related stiffness, which might be the problem with your horse. For instance, I treat a retired event horse who occasionally hacks out. He used to be quite the escape artist, but he hadn't broken out of his field for five years —…

Q I've been reading a lot about the use of acupuncture on horses, and as it sounded like something that could help mine, I booked her in for a treatment. The vet didn't seem to put in that many needles, however, and she turned them only occasionally. What was actually going on? I left feeling really confused. Lucy Reed, Norfolk Kayleigh says: During treatment a therapist will tend to agitate the needles a little, so they might twist them or re-direct them slightly. This increases the effect that they have on the fascia. When a needle is inserted into an activated myofascial trigger point there is a reaction called 'tissue grab! This is the fascia literally twisting around that needle. The fascia is a bit like clingfilm that is wrapped…

YOUR HORSE'S GEAR ON TREND | FLY GELS AND LOTIONS BITEBACK PRODUCTS SUPERFLY ULTIMATE STRENGTH INSECT REPELLENT GEL RRP £19.99 for 500ml BITEBACKPRODUCTS.CO.UK This insect repellent gel creates a protective shield from biting bugs while also soothing and calming the horse's skin. Its ingredients promise to provide long-lasting protection from midges, mosquitoes, black flies, stable flies and horse flies. LINCOLN ROLL-ON FLY REPELLENT RRP £4.99 for 50ml LINCOLNHORSECARE.COM This handy and easy to apply roll-on fly repellent contains a combination of gentle and yet effective ingredients. The water-based formula with additional moisturising agents can be applied quickly to those tricky to reach areas. CARR & DAY & MARTIN FLYGARD EXTRA STRENGTH GEL RRP £9.95 for 250ml CARRDAYMARTIN.COM Based on the same formula as Carr & Day & Martin's fly spray, this…

What are your earliest horsey memories? When I was very small, myself and my best friend, Ellen Barber, used to roam free around the fields with our ponies. What was it like to grow up as the daughter of a famous trainer? When I was very young I had no idea that dad (Paul Nicholls, 14 times champion trainer) was famous in the horse world. I discovered that as I grew older. To me I was simply a little girl living the dream with loads of horses just outside my back door. Which horses have made a mark on your life? Naturally, horses such as Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Kauto Star and Denman, who were on the yard when I was between 10 and 12 years of age, made a…

Some horse owners are going without food and heating to feed their horses, while others are even cutting back on regular farriery to make ends meet, a survey has shown. The National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) has released the findings of its cost of living survey saying it reveals “a worrying picture”. More than 6,000 horse owners across the UK took part, and 81% of respondents confessed to being worried about rising costs. One wrote:“I can't afford to call vets out of hours any more. I rent a field and can't afford a proper horse shelter or stables. I can't afford the farrier regularly any more.” Another said: “Everything has increased, resulting in it becoming impossible to continue to keep my horse in work, so she's now been retired to…

To enter, visit yourhorse.co.uk/win/DefenderBurghley520 ❋ FIRST PRIZE* The lucky winners will each receive… • A family season pass and car pass. • One place on a course-walk (Thursday and Friday only). • A special Burghley goody bag. YOUR HORSE HAS teamed up with the Defender Burghley Horse Trials (5-8 September) to offer two lucky winners a family season pass and car pass, with one place on a course-walk (Thursday and Friday only), and a special Burghley goody bag to take home. The Defender Burghley Horse Trials is undoubtedly the autumn highlight of both the British equestrian scene and the rural social calendar. The central focus is the CCI5* — the ultimate test of horse and rider — and Defender Burghley is cherished by the world's elite equestrian athletes for its legendary…

To enter, visit yourhorse.co.uk/win/FirstAidKits520 FIVE LUCKY HORSES will thank their winning owners when they receive this fabulous prize of a Horse First Aid Kit and access to an online training course, delivered by a qualified vet from NKC Equestrian Training, each worth £366. The Horse First Aid Kit contains all the items that an owner needs to keep their horse happy and healthy, all in one place. Horses inevitably injure themselves, and as a horse owner it's important to be prepared to deal with minor cuts and scrapes. The Horse First Aid Kit contains items to clean a cut, products to dress a wound, plus poulticing materials and a thermometer for checking a horse's temperature. The kit, which can be used at home or when away, is conveniently contained within…

Have you ever been told that a quick fix to overcoming fear is to trick yourself by saying that you're excited? Well, this might not be the clever hack you think it is. ”A lot of people say that fear and excitement are the same thing, and while they are physiologically because they produce the same sort of hormones, they're actually not,” says Jenni. ”The reason you can't kid yourself is because the difference between the two is that when you're excited your brain has gone back to past experiences and remembered that they were good and wants them to happen again, creating a picture of a desirable future.” Doing this also discounts your valid feelings: there's nothing wrong with being nervous or worried — it's just your brain's way…

YOUR HORSE'S CARE BRIDLES | ACHIEVING THE PERFECT FIT MEET THE EXPERT KELLY JONES is a master bridle maker and qualified bridle fitter who is based in West Sussex. She crafts made-to-measure bridles from fine English eather, working with five-star eventers and international dressage stars through to leisure riders and everyone in between. Kelly recently designed an online portal to allow owners to accurately measure their horse for a new bridle, and she conducts Zoom calls to troubleshoot issues. Visit kellyjleather.co.uk WHEN WE ARE on the hunt for new tack there is rightly much focus on getting saddle fit just right. Most riders want their horse to be as comfortable as possible and are keen to avoid the issues that poor saddle fit can create. However, in recent years there has…

Ask The Experts BITTING - ANGELA REDRUM says… Q My horse evades the contact by tossing his head in the air when we do movements he finds tricky, such as learning shoulder-in and leg yield. Could changing his bit help with this? Hannah McCarthy, Lancashire Angela says: A change of bit can definitely help in this situation. Some horses use evasion when they become frustrated with learning, but it can also indicate that they are uncomfortable. Changing to a more comfortable and communicative bit can help him to understand what you are asking him to do. If the problem persists, it may be wise to seek advice from other professionals, such as your vet, physio, dentist and saddle fitter, to check for any other factors that could be contributing to…

Q My first stay-away show is coming up and I wondered what the protocol is for looking after my horse and her interacting with other horses? Also, how can I make sure that I stay on top of biosecurity measures? Alison Hudson, Somerset Jess says: Most venues will clean and disinfect stables before you arrive, but for peace of mind you can also do this yourself before you put your horse into the box. You could keep a small bottle of spray disinfectant and give the stable walls a once-over, but check the manufacturer's instructions as some disinfectants need to be left for a set period of time before a horse can use the stable. Remember to take your own feed and water buckets, and have a spare on hand…

Q I have a new horse and I'm really struggling with my jumping position in the saddle. He has quite a big jump and I feel like my legs swing back and I lean on the reins too much. How can I find my balance? Jane Saunders, Rutland Leanne says: There are three components to a balanced jumping position… 1 An independent seat and hands: You want to have a seat that can be light and off the horse's back, as well as the ability to sit and connect with the saddle, all while remaining soft with your hands. 2 A strong and stable core: This is the'tree trunk'of the rider. 3 A secure, relaxed and effective leg position. There are two exercises that are vital for showjumping riders… EXERCISE 1: RIDING…

Q My vet recently suggested acupuncture as my 10-year-old gelding has started to headshake. Will it work? Alicia Mills, Lincolnshire Kayleigh says: It is assumed that headshaking is caused by a form of neuralgia — pain of the trigeminal nerve. Because it is caused by nerve pain or irritation, electroacupuncture has been shown to be very effective. When I worked at the Royal Veterinary College, we used percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS).This takes many hours, though, and the horse needs to be sedated. It must also be done in a hospital environment. Some successes have been reported with PENS, but it is time-consuming and expensive. While horses also need to be sedated for electroacupuncture treatment — as you are putting needles in their heads and running a current through them…

YOUR HORSE'S GEAR BUYER'S GUIDE | SUMMER ESSENTIALS THE LONG, WARM, sunny days of summer offer the perfect excuse to spend more time with a horse, whether for exploring new territory on hacks in the countryside, heading to a showjumping or dressage competition with intentions of beating the opposition, or indulging in a leisurely grooming session. Summertime also brings certain challenges. Surviving the hot, sizzling months with horses involves tweaks to management routines that will ensure that the horse is kept hydrated, is protected from insects and the sun, as well as the impact of riding on hard ground. Thankfully, there are myriad products available that can make summer that little bit easier and more enjoyable for owner and equine. Buzz off An important aspect of summer care is protecting a…