Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 524 i Your Horse

ANYONE WHO HAS attended Your Horse Live in the past will know what a brilliant show it is. The combining of a plethora of retailers selling everything from saddles to supplements with fascinating, funny (sometimes) and educational demos and masterclasses by the stars of the equestrian world make for a winning coalition. There is so much more, too, including the appearance of some of the most famous influencers in the industry — This Esme and Meg Elphick to name just two — legendary showjumper John Whitaker will launch his brilliant new book, while there will also be showing classes, heavy horses, donkeys and more for budding young equestrians than ever before. This year's Your Horse Live will also be a very special one for the Your Horse team as it…

A double bridle exerts less nasal and rein pressure than a snaffle when used by an elite rider, research has found. Equine biomechanics expert Dr Russell Mackechnie-Guire of Hartpury University led the research which recruited 13 pairs of dressage riders and horses competing at inter II or grand prix level. Two small electronic force mats were positioned under the horses' nosebands and the relative pressures exerted on the nose measured in sitting trot with the horse wearing a double bridle and a snaffle bit. “We found that in this group … mean nasal pressures were lower for the double bridle,” said Russell. A second study, led by Dr David Marlin, used the same horses and riders to measure rein pressure when using a snaffle or double bridle. It found that…

An Army horse who led the late Queen's coffin has become the 55th recipient of the PDSA Order of Merit, also known as the Animals' OBE. Lord Firebrand (above), known as Yogi, served for 10 years with the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery before retiring to the countryside with a former King's Troop officer in December 2023. Praised for his calm and reliable nature, Yogi participated in the full range of state ceremonial and public duty activities, including Trooping the Colour and the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations — where he was required to stand still for up to two hours.…

VET notes WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: ● What causes horses' teeth to become problematic ● The signs that something is amiss ● What actions the vet or dental technician will take DID YOU KNOW? Horses have up to 42 teeth. A horse's head is very heavy despite his thin skull bones, large air cavities (sinuses) and very small brain, which is the size of a man's fist. Their heads are heavy due to the large cheek tooth (premolar and molar) roots. DID YOU KNOW? A horse's dental reserve runs out between the ages of 30 and 40 when all his teeth fall out due to the very small amount of root remaining. In the wild many horses don't live this long. DID YOU KNOW? It is normal for mares not to…

Q My horse has a lot of feather. Does this protect her from mud fever or not? Sarah Martin, Northumberland George says: Whether heavy feathers are beneficial or not depends on the individual. Feathers are designed to protect the skin from the environment, but only until they go past the point of saturation. Once the hair is soaked it works against its intended purpose because the skin can't air and dry out. Good feather management is therefore key to ensure that this doesn't happen. Another factor with feathers is that other things can be confused with mud fever, such as feather mites, and these can cause itching and scratching that can result in small cuts that allow in bacteria, ultimately causing mud fever. If your mare is showing signs of…

Ask The Experts WINTER HACKING - LISA GILBY says… Q How canI get the most out of hacking during the winter? Due to work commitments I can only get out at weekends and I don't want my mare to lose any of the fitness I built up through hacking her over the summer. Stephanie Allan, Essex Lisa says: When you have limited time you need to be as organised as possible. Have as much ready in advance as you can, so the night before prepare things like haynets, feeds and your tack so that everything is ready for a swift start. You can also groom the night before. Doing this means that you can arrive at the yard, give her a haynet, tack up and go. When you get back, untack…

FEEDING - EMMA SHORT says… Q My horse is in his late teens and while he's well he is showing signs of Cushing's. I receive conflicting advice at the yard as to whether I should adjust his diet because of his advancing years and being a potential sufferer of this disease. Can you help? Jane Morgan, Warwickshire Emma says: Since horses age at different rates changing feeds just because they're in their teens may not be appropriate. In fact, the best advice is to continue to feed each one as an individual. While many horses continue to thrive into old age, as a horse gets older his digestive system can gradually become less efficient so he may no longer obtain the full nutritional benefit from the feed he is receiving. Most…

YOUR HORSE Live PROGRAMME WHAT'S ON & WHEN! What you need to know about the SEIB Main Arena All standard ticket holders will be required to vacate their seats and leave the arena at the end of each performance. This is to give as many people as possible a fair chance of watching a demonstration. Anyone wishing to watch the next performance will be required to rejoin the queue outside the arena. Standard seats are on a first-come-first-served basis and aren't guaranteed. Anyone wishing to have a guaranteed seat can purchase a Standard Plus or VIP seat. There is limited access to SEIB Main Arena seating once a performance has started. This is due to the disruption it causes to those already seated as well as horses and riders in the…

● Everyone's favourite Clydesdale, Hovis (left), is back by popular demand after a busy summer as Team GB's mascot at the Paris Olympics and writing a new book, Hovis' Friday Diary: What's the Story, Medal Glory 2022-2024, which he will be launching at Your Horse Live. The 22-year-old will be in the Rescue Village every day — and he may have a surprise planned too. He loves attention, so there will also be the chance to give him a pat and speak to his owner. All proceeds from the sale of his book, which is designed to make readers laugh and smile and possibly shed a tear, will be going to equine welfare charity Bransby Horses. ● RSPCA Kastone, whose story is one of rags to riches, will also be in…

For all the latest news from the horse world, visit yourhorse.co.uk ENTERTAINMENT Horsey set comes under the spotlight in Disney's reimagining of Jilly Cooper's Rivals Anyone who was a horsey teen or tween in the 1980s was likely to have been shocked and delighted in equal measure by the Rutshire Chronicles novels by Jilly Cooper. Starting with Riders, set in the world of showjumping, all the glamour, intrigue and naughtiness of the polo and Pimms set was laid out for incredulous eyes and possibly surreptitious reading. Now an eight-part TV series focussing on Dame Jilly's second 'bonkbuster' about the lives and loves of the rural well-to-do in fictional Rutshire is streaming on Disney+. Rivals, the follow-up to Riders, follows retired Olympic showjumper, now Minister for Sport, Rupert Campbell-Black and his…

Vets have reminded horse owners to watch out for sycamore seeds and acorns in their fields as both can prove fatal for horses. “Now is the time to identify sycamores in the vicinity of your horse's fields and predict the future risk,” said Lucy Grieve of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA). “Once the leaves start to turn and then drop it will be much more difficult to spot sycamores.” Sycamore seeds and seedlings contain the toxin hypoglycin A. When horses eat these, either by accident or because they are lacking other forage options, they can develop fatal muscle damage called atypical myopathy. “It is imperative to seek veterinary attention immediately if horses who have access to sycamore seeds show any signs of illness,” added Lucy. Signs of atypical myopathy…

Interacting with horses significantly boosts the life skills of young people, according to research by The British Horse Society (BHS) and The University of Buckingham. The study, which analysed equestrian-led educational programmes, such as the BHS' Changing Lives Through Horses, found improvements in six key skills areas for youngsters — communication, confidence, teamwork, responsibility, perseverance and relationship building. Horse-led activities also help people with autism to improve social functioning, goal attainment and empathy, as well as helping to decrease irritability and hyperactivity. Alison Blackmore, head of the Changing Lives Through Horses programme, said: “This is about more than just learning to ride. It's about helping young people find a place in the world.”…

KATIE WILLIAMS SAYS… 1 Horses are herd animals and so some form of companion will help them to feel settled in what may be a new environment. 2 Think about the horse's diet when he's out on grass. To maintain condition and muscle tone he will need quality nutrition. Avoid starch and cereal-based feed and instead use a balancer and some good quality chopped forage. 3 When your horse is out it is still important to maintain a routine. Visit him twice a day to check him over, make sure that he has access to water and feed him. Always check his feet and keep an eye out for mud fever and rain scald. 4 When horses are out full time there can be a lot of poaching around feeders…

Wolf teeth are the evolutionary remnants left over from a time when horses had larger mouths and more premolars. Over the years these teeth have reduced in size to be non-functional. They can range from being needle sharp and thin, or rounder with shallow roots to enamelled and larger mini premolars. They can sit in the inter dental space in front of the first premolars and are often unstable and can cause pain to the horse when he eats or especially when he has a bit in his mouth which may bang against these teeth or tooth. For this reason they are often extracted. This should be undertaken by a vet, with the horse sedated and local anaesthetic injected into the gums around the tooth. A blind ended wolf tooth…

Email your questions to yh.ed@kelsey.co.uk Simple solutions for horse owners MUD FEVER George Worden MRCVS qualified from the University of Nottingham in 2017. As an Advanced Practitioner in Equine Medicine his focusses include (but aren't limited to) gastroscopy, respiratory disease and airway endoscopy, cardiology, infectious diseases and colic. Visit cliffeequine.co.uk WINTER HACKING Lisa Gilby isa BHS APC Level 4 Senior Coach and Centre10 Advanced Coach. She has worked in the equestrian industry for over 30 years and is now a freelance coach in North Dorset, offering mounted and dismounted sessions, including for mindset and confidence. Visit Lisa Gilby Equine Coach on Facebook. ARENA EVENTING Marie Ryan MSc isa BHS Stage 5 Performance Coach and rider, BE Master Coach, Centre10 Advanced Coach and former event rider. She has coached riders from…

Q In the past I've removed the scabs when my gelding got mud fever, but should I be doing so? Amanda Reid, Cheshire George says: What to do when the scabs come is a huge debate. The thinking behind removing the scabs is to let the skin air, and as the bacteria is more exposed it is less likely to thrive and survive. Some people like to remove the scabs while washing the legs, while others use clingfilm to wrap the leg and sweat the scabs off beneath boots or a light bandage. Both approaches are fine, but you have to be aware of not reopening healing wounds. If you're washing the legs it is fine to use Hibiscrub once or twice, but overuse can dry the skin and so…

Q I hate riding in cold and wet weather, and I'm lucky to have access to an indoor school so I don't often have to, but my horse loves hacking and quickly goes sour if we school too often and don't hack regularly. What can I do to motivate myself? Rachel Wood, Hampshire Lisa says: Hacking isn't much fun for many riders in the winter, so you're not alone, but if hacking is important you need to have a plan. Work out what times you'll be able to ride, such as before or after work and at weekends, and then out of those when you can hack. You have to be dedicated and sometimes that means riding out regardless of the weather. First of all, make sure that you'll be warm…

Q I gave arena eventing a go last year, but I found it quite overwhelming, especially walking the course as it was very busy with lots of fences. Do you have any tips? Mary Peters, Norfolk Marie says: Firstly, find a course map to study and secondly check what time you can walk the course for your class. You're going to need to walk the course twice. The first time you will be walking it to familiarise yourself with the pattern of the fences, as well as what is outside of them that your horse might find spooky. Be mindful, too, of the space before and after each fence. On your second walk you're going to walk the line you would like to take. Picture yourself riding into each fence and…

What prompted you to take up riding? My mum, Jeanette (also known affectionately as Hobbit because she's shorter than me), was always very horsey and I just loved horses from a young age and wanted to be around them — despite being allergic. I started riding a friend's pony at three, after which I got my own, Barney, a grey Welsh section A who was a real character. What has been your most memorable equestrian moment? It has to be riding in front of Badminton House the first time I competed there in the Grassroots Championships in 2019. It had always been my dream to ride there, but having had a rough time duri my debut visit — when I fell off Bear — going back in 2022 with Jam…

YOUR HORSE Live PROGRAMME WHAT'S ON & WHEN! ALL ABOUT Ben Atkinson's demo… 'Going slow gets you there faster'… “In a world where time is precious, many horse lovers can forget to live in the moment and enjoy the journey. I show how adopting a slower pace and a calmer mindset can get you and your horse to your goals faster,” says Ben. ALL ABOUT Sam Dracott's demo… Sam Dracott is a highly skilled UK-based registered farrier with 12 years' experience. He showcases the artistry of his daily work on popular social media platforms like TikTok, stagram and YouTube (see page XVIII). “At the How To Yard I'll be educating owners on all things farriery, including what to do in an emergency—such asa twisted shoe— how to look after the feet…

YOUR HORSE Live PROGRAMME WHAT'S ON & WHEN! *A two-minute silence will be held at 11am on Remembrance Sunday.…

LAURA COLLETT 1 I'm a fan of the US medical drama Grey's Anatomy. I have DVDs of every series and watch them in the lorry during quiet moments when away at shows. I've seen all 21 series and I'm currently working my way back through them all again. While I love TV, I hate reading. The only thing I really read as a kid was Horse & Hound and I can't remember any books from school — not that I went to school very often — and I'm not the type to take a book on holiday. Instead, I lie on a beach and do nothing. 2 If I go away during the winter, I'll either go skiing or somewhere hot, the latter being my favourite at the end of…

ATA GLANCE Essential show information ● Shop & Drop After shopping until you're nearly dropping, to save lugging those heavy bags why not use the Shop & Drop facilities (located at the entrance to the SEIB Main Arena or just behind the LeMieux stand and next to the VIP lounge) to store purchases. It costs £2 per drop, with profits going to the Your Horse Live Rescue Village charities. Space is limited, and bags are left at the owner's risk. ● Where to eat There are lots of grab and go coffee and treat stands around the shopping halls, or why not dine al fresco between Hall 1 and Hall 3 (near the Rescue Village) where there will be an extensive selection of catering vans and a bar. Beside the…

YOUR HORSE Live PROGRAMME GAYNOR COLBOURN SHARES a few striking similarities with the legendary 18th century composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven. First and foremost, the German virtuoso demonstrated a talent for music at an exceptionally tender age, just like Gaynor, who was only two when she began to play her sister Christine's piano. By the age of three, when she could barely even reach the pedals, she was awarded a Grade 5 certificate, and, in a virtually unprecedented achievement, she passed Grade 8 aged just seven while her peers were struggling to even play a note on the recorder. “It was fairly unheard of in Britain,” she states, referring to her Grade 8 accolade as she sits at home at two of her Korg keyboards (which are much loved…

New guidelines for prescribers of equine worming products have been created to fight anthelmintic resistance and make the routine worming of horses at set times of the year a thing of the past. CANTER (Controlling antiparasitic resistance in equines responsibly), a group made up of vets, parasitologists and other experts in the field, has drawn up advice to support vets, pharmacists and suitably qualified people (SQPs) as they prescribe worming products. The recommendations include encouraging horse owners to use pasture and horse management strategies to reduce parasite burdens; to monitor parasite burdens with faecal egg counts (FECs) and to look at the parasite burden of each horse rather than treating them en masse.…

Little Pepper was skinny and heavily pregnant, with overgrown hooves and a lice burden when she came into the care of HAPPA in early 2023. The 12.2hh mare had been living feral in a large herd on the Welsh Commons and was left to breed unchecked. She gave birth to filly foal, Salt, in May at HAPPA's base, Shores Hey Farm in Burnley. The HAPPA team was unable to get close to Pepper for months until she had weaned her foal. Tessa Spencer has cared for six-year-old Pepper throughout her rehabilitation and she said: “When Pepper first arrived at HAPPA she was terrified of people due to being feral and unhandled all her life. These nerves manifested in aggressive behaviour, such as striking out with her legs and lunging at…

How I make it work: I have some helpful friends at the yard and sometimes my parents assist too The University of Birmingham employee explains how she juggles a full-time job with her own craft business and an Anglo Arab she has owned for 17 years. My job… I currently work in the Birmingham Business School at the University of Birmingham as an industry engagement officer. My main role is to facilitate company projects for Business School students to work on instead of a traditional research dissertation. I recruit the companies, deal with the applications and support both the companies and the students during the projects. It's a great job as I essentially get to chat to people and build relationships all day. However, my real passion lies with horses…

For a horse who is stressed or unhappy, turning him away isn't necessarily a cure because, as soon as he's brought back into his work environment, the same problems will recur. Instead, it is important to identify what is causing the horse to be stressed, and make sure that his working life is as natural as possible. “If you have a horse with a learnt behavioural response to a particular issue — perhaps he bucks in response to being asked to move into canter — turning him away for a few months won't magically make him stop doing this. You have to understand the root cause of the issue before you can solve it,” says Kayna Prescott. “For example, imagine your horse is chronically stressed because he spends a lot…

STABLE VICES | PREVENTION OR CURE? YOUR HORSE'S CARE HORSES WHO HAVE unwanted behaviours such as wind-sucking, crib-biting and weaving are often met with disdain in the equestrian world. Some riders wouldn't dream of picking up the phone to discuss a potential new purchase if the advert read 'crib-biter'. They would simply move on even if the rest of the description meant that the horse in question was perfect for their needs. So why are stable vices, or stereotypies as they are also known, so frowned upon and almost given leper status in some quarters, and what exactly are these vices? Vices in the spotlight Defined as repetitive behaviours with no obvious goal and function, stable vices include… ■ Crib-biting — The horse sets his incisors into a horizontal object,…

Q My mare struggled with mud fever last year and I'm determined to go a whole winter this time without her getting it. Do you have any advice on preventative measures? Jennifer Robertson, Cambridgeshire George says: Prevention is always better than cure, as the saying goes, so trying to get ahead of the game is hopefully going to save your mare from going through bouts of mud fever again. In a perfect world we want to keep the skin functioning normally by making sure that it is properly dry for a few hours per day. However, we live in the real world with the British weather, so inevitably there will be times when the skin can't function normally or you can't get your horse out of the mud for more than…

Q I've hada go at arena eventing a couple of times, but I always feel so unprepared and stressed while everyone else looks so calm and confident. What can I do to try to help me calm down so that I enjoy the experience more? Jane Evans, Powys Marie says: It's brave of you to admit to this, but one of the first things that will boost your confidence and quell those nerves is to ensure that your horse is rideable, moves forward off your leg, is capable of making gear changes, and can shorten and lengthen his stride. Knowing that you have control over him and can work as a team is the key to feeling ready. Being prepared can also thwart anxiety, so pack everything the night before so…

Your Horse Live, proudly brought to you by Kelsey Media, also the owner of Your Horse magazine and digital channels, is finally here. Welcome to our 2024 show. We are so happy that you have made the journey to Stoneleigh Park to join us. If you have been to the show before, welcome back, or if you're a first timer, get set for an amazing day. Your Horse Live is the only place that you can watch and learn from top riders, gain valuable practical skills in the How To Yard, shop until you drop at the UK's biggest equine shopping village, get involved with interactive talks on the Horse & Country TV Stage, rub shoulders with celebrities in the Red Gorilla Meet & Greet, get up close and personal…

● The Heavy Horse Village will be full of the giants of the equine world that everyone loves. Watch the fascinating demos (on Friday and Saturday) which will include preparing a heavy horse for the show ring, braiding and harnessing up. ● On Sunday at 12.45pm in the SEIB Main Arena the audience will be treated to the Heavy Horse Parade that will showcase the versatility of these breeds. See, among others, a Clydesdale being ridden (piloted sidesaddle by Sally Langley), Shires pulling the Hook Norton Brewery dray, and Fred the Suffolk and Cracker the Percheron sporting harness and being shown in-hand. A black Shire (above) belonging to Thwaites Brewery will also be driven in a two-wheeled cart. This is definitely a spectacle not to be missed.…

YOUR HORSE Live PROGRAMME WHAT'S ON & WHEN! *A two-minute silence will be held at 11am on Remembrance Sunday. Meet Harlow Luna White and her ponies On Saturday and Sunday there will also be an exclusive meet & greet with Harlow Luna White and two of her ponies. There are two sessions per day, from 10.30am and from 2.30pm, when guests will be able to grab a selfie with Harlow and her ponies plus a signing. This is a free-of-charge ticket-only event which is either pre-bookable before the show or 60 tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis from the Your Horse stand (M01YH) in the marquee.…

NICOLA WILSON 1 At school I was the child who would always be standing up at the end of spelling tests because I had done so badly. I was told that I was “thick” and “lazy”, and by the age of seven I still couldn't read. I was also put back a year, which, as a small child, is very hard to understand. It had a big impact on my life and made me question myself and how I fitted in. My mum realised that something wasn't right and ultimately I was diagnosed with dyslexia. How I was treated at school made me want to prove everyone wrong and I went on to receive an award for services to the school, plus I headed to university to study. Although by…

SAM DRACOTT 1 Not many people know that my mum, Brenda Dracott, was a carriage driver who took part in driving trials. At one point she had four carriages, but I never got a chance to do driving as she got rid of her big horses when my two brothers and I came along. As kids we had ponies, although, having said that, my eldest brother, Thomas, gave up before he had barely begun, with only Adam, my middle brother, showing enthusiasm like I did. I did everything in the Pony Club, from showjumping, eventing and dressage to mounted games, and from there I progressed to eventing horses up to intermediate level until the age of 19 when I gave up after starting my farrier's apprenticeship. I also had a…