Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 521 i Your Horse

THE OLYMPIC GAMES brought triumph for Team GB's equestrian squad, with a glittering haul of medals that included team gold for the eventers as well as the showjumpers (page 6). If ever a fillip was needed it was this one, coming as it did just days after one of the greatest bombshells ever to hit the equestrian world, with the release of the now infamous video of Charlotte Dujardin whipping a horse, for which she subsequently apologised. The once lauded dressage star is now provisionally suspended awaiting the outcome of an investigation by the FEI (page 8). It can be easy for riders who never aspire to the lofty heights of World or Olympic glory (which is most of us, after all) to say, "what has all of this got…

Veterinary experts are investigating the causes of the life-threatening condition colitis in the UK horse population. Colitis is an inflammation of the large colon and sufferers have diarrhoea and rapidly become dehydrated. The condition can lead to severe shock, multi-organ failure and death. There are many potential causes, including a variety of bacterial and viral infections, but most research into colitis has been conducted in North America and some of the triggers that cause it there aren’t present in the UK. This is why a team of researchers led by Tim Mair of Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic aims to find out what causes it in UK adult horses. Tim said: “Acute colitis accounts for around 5% of admissions to referral hospitals. And of those who are referred with it, half…

THE STORY REALLY started in Aberdeenshire when Kate Jackson, Vanir Kamira’s breeder, bred her dam. Fair Caledonian (Georgia) was a Thoroughbred out of Kate’s Fair Words, by Dixi, born in 1995, and Kate admits: “I was a little disappointed. She was tiny, fine-boned and a bit of a weed. She matured incredibly slowly, but had super conformation so I showed her once or twice in hand. One kind Scottish horseman once told me, ‘One day, that little horse will make you famous’!” Georgia wasn’t what the market was looking for at the time so Kate took her when she moved to Ireland, enduring a certain amount of derision from Irish horsemen because of her size. Several asked what on earth Kate had kept her for. The mare never grew beyond…

With thanks to the team at Winters Equestrian Cross Country, near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire, which is available for individual and group hire on an hourly basis. For more information, visit wexc.co.uk ❋ Safe, effective cross-country riding starts with a positive mindset. Think forwards, keep your horse on your aids and don’t forget to have fun. ❋ Ask a good instructor to join you during cross-country training and avoid tackling anything that is too technical until you’re confident it is well within your capabilities. ❋ Take the worry out of corners by thinking of them in terms of a showjumping spread, and remind yourself that the jump is only as wide as the point you’ve chosen. ❋ Decide which part of the corner you’re going to jump, rehearse your line…

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 ata healthy weight. 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 usea weigh tape. OR SEARCH SPILLERS SLIMMERS ON FACEBOOK…

Q My horse has never been on a walker before. What should I expect the first time he uses one and is there anything thatIcan do to prepare him so that he doesn’t get too scared? Rebecca Lewis, Bedfordshire Mary says: In order to give your horse a good experience put him on the walker behind another horse rather than on his own as having a friend will make it a less isolating experience. I walk into the cage with any new horse, giving him a carrot and ensuring that all is well and assuring him that he has no reason to feel nervous. Most horses cope well. Seeing another well-established and calm horse in the cage in front will create a herd environment and make things less alien, too.…

Q Do horse-walkers cause horses to become stressed? Jayne Brown, Lancashire Mary says: Stress should only be caused if the walker environment is stressful in some way. I have found that most horses have a positive experience in both mind and body when on a horse-walker, but care needs to be taken to ensure that the experience is positive. To do this never leave the horse on the walker for longer than 15 minutes on each rein. Always give him a friend to walk with and, if the weather is extreme and therefore wind and rain are creating noise, be respectful of your horse’s feelings as this can be unsettling. Additionally, if he’s tacked up for the session, ensure that the reins are tied up in the throat lash and that…

In partnership with Q I’m trying to get my youngster to engage her hindquarters more and a friend suggested that K tape could help. Is this true? Petra Campbell, Ayrshire Denise says: Yes, K tape can definitely help in your situation. Firstly, applying a muscle activation taping on the medial gluteal will help to fire up this muscle during exercise. At the same time, it will also help with communication with the brain. By stimulating receptors in the soft tissue, K tape assists with laying down new neural pathways, helping to create new and correct patterns of movement. As proprioceptive feedback enhances your horse’s awareness of her body, the tape acts as a constant reminder to the brain that the muscle is there. This means that it is less effective…

Ask The Experts PROPERTY - SARAH JORDAN says… Q I’m now in a position to purchase an equestrian property, but I’ve no idea what to look for and I’m really worried about making the wrong decision. Can you help? Sasha Hamblin, Herefordshire Sarah says: There are many things to look out for when buying equestrian property and below are the main elements to consider before making any purchase… Given how busy and dangerous Britain’s roads have become, one of the top priorities when buying an equestrian property is that it has either immediate or nearby access to a bridleway network, or that it features a private right of way that joins the property up to where you intend to ride. You will want to avoid having to ride your horse…

Ask The Experts FEEDING - EMMA SHORT says… Q My pony usually lives out 24/7, but I’m planning to take him to a camp for a few days where he will have to be stabled. We will be training twice a day and he is usually fed one small feed of chaff and a balancer. How can I help to prepare him and his diet for this change of routine? Sally Millican, Northumbria Emma says: If at all possible you should make some changes in the run up to the camp to help your pony adapt to the few days when he will be kept stabled rather than turned out. Firstly, depending on how much grass you have — which will influence your pony’s appetite for it — it will…

A QUALITY COOLER rug is a versatile addition to any tack room as it can turn its hand to a wide variety of jobs. Firstly, it can help to dry off a horse after he has been washed down following exercise. It can also double up as a lightweight travel rug to help him stay at a comfortable temperature while he’s on the road. Gone are the days of ‘thatching’ a horse, or covering him in something resembling a string vest — cooler rugs have come a long way and manufacturers employ a variety of technical fabrics that cleverly wick away moisture from the horse’s skin to help cool him and keep him comfortable. Your Horse’s pool of testers has been busy trying a selection of coolers to help readers…

YOUR HORSE’S GEAR ON TREND | HALF PADS WEATHERBEETA MEMORY FOAM SHIMMABLE HALF PAD RRP £64.99 COLOURS Black, white SIZES Pony, full WEATHERBEETA.CO.UK A suede topped, soft and breathable anti-slip saddle pad that offers extra protection to the horse’s withers and back, this shock-absorbing half pad has a memory foam inner and is designed to help distribute pressure evenly. It also includes eight memory foam shims to adjust saddle fit at the front and back according to the horse’s shape. HY EQUESTRIAN FAB FLEECE HALF PAD RRP £35.99 COLOURS White, brown, black SIZE One size HY-EQUESTRIAN.COM A smart, soft, fleece-lined half pad with a clear spine that looks and feels just like real sheepskin, the Fab Fleece is durable, washes well and dries fast. It offers cushioning against impact while also…

Your Horse readers are taking the ‘be safe, be seen’ slogan to heart and like to mix and match their hi vis to ensure that they stand out on the roads. A poll of Your Horse #Hack1000Miles challengers showed that yellow (left) is still the most popular colour (29% of those polled), followed by orange (27%) and pink (23%). However, some prefer to mix their colours (15%) and 1% said that they change their hi vis according to the season. TRAINERS TO OPEN THEIR DOORS DURING NATIONAL RACEHORSE WEEK More than 130 racing yards, studs and retraining centres will open to the public during National Racehorse Week (7-15 September). Bookings are now open, with 1,200 free tickets up for grabs to visit top yards, including those of Nicky Henderson, Kim…

Send inyour pics! The fabulous four Inmy quartet of pictures ismy new filly foal, Rori, with my husband, Trevor (below left). Rori is such a character and her mum, River, is so in love with her, as are we. River (below right), my Irish Sport Horsemare, absolutely loves a selfie and plenty of treats, too. I’ve had her for three years and she keepsme on my toes. She was bought for my husband, but he had a motorbike accident in 2022 and so I put her in foal last year to the Irish Draught Aye Aye Skipper due tomy lack of time. My handsome gelding Bobby (bottom left) has been withme for four years and we do everything together, frombeach rides to enjoying a pint and Polos at our local…

Email your questions to yh.ed@kelsey.co.uk In partnership with Simple solutions for horse owners Meet this month's panel of experts HORSE-WALKERS Mary Frances BHSII, BHS SM is the chief executive of Moorcroft Equine Rehabilitation Centre. She has spent most of her life training horses and has also specialised in physical discomfort in the horse dictating its behaviour. Visit moorcroftracehorse.org.uk EQUINE KINESIOLOGY Denise Cheese is from Sussex Equine Massage Therapy. She specialises in equine kinesiology taping and isa finalist in the category Equine Therapist of the Year 2024 in the Equestrian Business Awards. Visit sussex equinemassagetherapy.co.uk PROPERTY ADVICE Sarah Jordan is a partner and head of rural law at Moore Barlow. She advises rural businesses and landowners, including equestrian property owners, on the sale, purchase and letting of equestrian property. Visit moorebarlow.com…

Q A friend at the yard has told me that my horse walking in circles on the walker regularly may cause problems for him. Is she right? Diane Armstrong, Cheshire Mary says: You are right to raise this query as ona walker a horse is performing a continuous circle so care must be taken when it comes to any injuries or ailments he may be suffering from, or have had in the past. Short rather than long, protracted sessions are therefore essential, while changing the rein regularly is also recommended. If this isn’t possible within the 10-minute session, the next time make sure that your horse goes around the opposite way. Monitoring your horse after each session on the walker will tell you if it is having an adverse effect…

Ask The Experts EQUINE KINESIOLOGY - DENISE CHEESE says… Q I’m really interested in the benefits of kinesiology (K) tape and have tried to use it several times in different areas on my horse, but it never stays on longer thana day, and sometimes less than that. What am I doing wrong? Also is it something that I would only be able to use in the summer as I don’t clip my horse in the winter. What happens to K tape when it rains, for example? Debbie King, Berkshire Denise says: A successful K taping outcome relies on the tape being applied effectively and correctly. There are a number of tips and techniques to remember when applying K tape, plus common mistakes to try and avoid. Firstly, your horse needs…

Q My gelding has just recovered from a sacroiliac injury, and although he’s been signed off by the vet I’m really worried about travelling him anywhere. Someone at my yard said that she had read an article about the Canadian Olympic team putting K tape on their horses prior to travel, and so I was wondering if this could potentially help my horse. Paula Dutton, Gwent Denise says: Standing in a trailer can be hard work for horses. Recent studies have confirmed just how much effort it requires for horses to balance and stabilise their bodies during transit. The sacroiliac joint (SI) sits deep in a horse’s body as part of the pelvis and plays an important role in stability, support and the transmission of forces between the hindquarters and the…

In partnership with Q My ex-racehorse has had a year off to fully recover from an injury and I’m just bringing him back into work. He seems to have got quite fat, with a big belly, although I can just see his ribs. What should I feed him to build topline while trying to slim him down at the same time? Sophie Salter, Kent Emma says: Without seeing your Thoroughbred it is hard to judge his condition, but a big belly doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s overweight, especially as you say that you can see his ribs. As a guide, when body condition scoring, we advise that ribs shouldn’t necessarily be seen but should be easily felt, so it sounds as though your horse has what might be termed a…

Leanne Jackson owns and runs Eastwell Equestrian in Cambridgeshire. She competes to Prix St Georges and intermediate I level. Sallie Hinks began riding in her 40s and she has owned Dolly, a 16.2hh Irish Draught mare, for just overa year. Vanessa Lowther has three horses — two ex-racehorses and a home-bred warmblood cross — who she keeps on DIY livery. She competes in all disciplines and is out and about most weekends riding at clinics or in competitions. 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 Wish, a 20-year-old Hanoverian mare. Emilia Eggar events up to BE100 level with her two horses, Olive and Dawn. She had a successful season in 2023 with…

What sparked your interest in health and beauty? I suffered from eczema as a baby and acne as a teenager, and in later life I was diagnosed with psoriasis and urticaria. These experiences sparked my interest in health and beauty and I went to college to study beauty therapy, with the course including everything from make up to accounting. Additionally, I took my horse, Zara, to college, transporting her between the DIY stables at home and the DIY stables at the college, which I helped to run while living on the premises. From a young age I worked with horses to pay my way. Having a passion costs money, and it always drove me to work hard. Following college I went on to hold senior positions in prestige spas. My…

The halt seems simple enough, but a surprising number of horses aren’t able to do this simple exercise correctly, whether in hand or under saddle. With many the problem starts in the yard, stable, or paddock. People groom their horse, for example, and while he stands tied up they allow him to push them. From every sort of training the horse learns, and a horse acts the way he has learned. Horses are motivated by what brings them safety, comfort and food. As a result, they remember which actions have brought them these things and they will repeat them over and over. Once it is ingrained in a horse that certain actions bring him what he’s after, it is hard to convince him otherwise. It then will take time and…

Ask The Experts HORSE-WALKERS - MARY FRANCES says… Q I keep my horse on a yard where there is a horse-walker. I haven’t been tempted to use it until now as I ride him a lot, but I have to go into hospital for an operation and will be out of the saddle a while, so it might be the perfect solution. What, though, are the benefits of using a horse-walker? Cindi Walker, Derbyshire Mary says: There are benefits to using a walker if care is taken and careful thought is given to each horse’s specific needs, and there is no reason why, in your situation, usinga horse-walker wouldn’t work well. Other benefits besides use when the rider is sidelined include… ■ A walker can be a safe place to…

In partnership with Q I’m moving yards and have the opportunity to take my horse on the walker that’s there.I have used one once before, but basically I don’t have a clue what tack he should wear, if any, and how long I leave him on for? Jenni Taylor, Angus Mary says: There are two types of walkers, one that is covered by a roof and therefore keeps out the rain, and another that has no cover and therefore horses will get wet if the heavens open. Presumably you have found out which type is installed at your new yard. Additionally, I would politely enquire whether the walker is included in the yard’s insurance policy so that any accidents — which are rare but which do nevertheless occur from time…

Q I’ve had my mare for three weeks. She passed a five-star vetting, but she does have a sore back from a previous ill-fitting saddle. I’m now waiting for her new custom-fitted saddle to arrive and would like to know if there’s anything I can do in the interim to help her feel more comfortable and speed up the healing of her bruised muscles? Sandra Southgate, Hampshire Denise says: Some of the great benefits of K tape are pain relief (ask any human who has been taped) and the ability to speed up healing. In this instance I would apply a muscle relaxation technique with the taping, which works by decompressing (creating more space for) the tissue. This reduces the pressure that pain receptors experience, stopping pain signals being sent…

Q My gelding has just been diagnosed with mild kissing spines and I’m now rehabbing him. I’ve heard that K tape could help, but I’m wondering if it’s a safe option? Brenda Beattie, Rutland Denise says: Kissing spines is sadly a common condition whereby the spinous processes can be very close together, touch, or even overlap. There are a few different tape applications for this condition that you can try. The tape will create more space in the underlying tissues and this will help to relieve strain along the spinous processes and will also help to relax the back muscles and offer crucial pain relief, too. Although this is a safe and holistic option, I strongly advise you to consult with your vet to ensure that your horse has reached…

In partnership with Q I’m looking to purchase some land and turn it into an equestrian property. Can I do this? Emily Pritchard, Dorset Sarah says: This is certainly possible in theory, but you will have to undertake a series of checks before you can proceed with this plan. There are many questions to consider, which include… Do you have the necessary finances to invest in this project? Often people fall in love with the land, but the home that comes with it needs, let’s say, some TLC to get it up to standard. This can be costly, so make sure that you are clear about your budget. Is the land boggy in the winter, making it unsuitable for winter grazing, and does it therefore require drainage works to make…

Q Linseed seems to be very popular as a feed for horses and I notice that it’s often included in mixes and cubes, so what are its nutritional benefits and do I need to feed it to my horse? Janet Spicer, Leicestershire Emma says: Linseed is an oil-rich seed that also has a reasonable protein content and it provides good levels of omega-3 fatty acids which are often lacking in diets where grass intake is limited. It must be cooked and was traditionally boiled, but is now commercially micronised to enhance the availability of its nutrients. Once micronised it may be ground and sold as a ‘straight’ feeding stuffor combined with other ingredients in compound feeds (mixes, cubes, or balancers). Linseed meal — which is what is left once the…

HEAD FIRST The Revolve X-Air NovaMips Jockey Helmet from Champion offers top rated safety, cutting-edge injury protection and a head-turning glitter finish. This mediumprofile jockey skull features the integrated Mips safety system, a four-point perforated leather harness and the X-Air ventilation system to help keep the wearer cool. The liner is also removable and washable to ensure that the helmet remains fresh and clean. The Revolve X-Air Nova Mips Jockey Helmet conforms to British PAS 015 2011 and VG1 01.040 2014-12 safety standards. RRP £263.99 CHAMPIONHUB.COM WHY COMFORT IS KEY P-Block from Global Medics will support a horse’s joints, tendons and muscles during and after hard training and competition. This performanceenhancing product is formulated from a combination of MSM, glucosamine sulphate and a range of plant-based ingredients with antioxidant effects,…