Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 527 i Your Horse

OVER THE YEARS I’ve had many friends who ride horses, and not a single one of them hasn’t shown stoicism when taking a tumble. In fact, when I first had ‘lessons’ (ie, was let loose in a field and told to “hang on”) decades ago, if you fell off you were considered ‘pathetic’ if you didn’t climb straight back on almost regardless of what had happened. I still remember being hoisted back into the saddle after my first fall, aged about six, shaking like a leaf. I wonder how many fragile equestrian confidences were shattered for ever by such an approach. Fast forward many years, though, and very little has changed. Riders who could easily be concussed and suffering the effects of a nasty bang to the head still climb…

❋ The gallops aren’t something to fear — and they are for everyone. Once you learn how best to use them to serve your goals, you are sure to have the ride of your life. ❋ Enlist the help of a qualified coach to come and support you. You could also bring a confident friend on horseback as a calming companion. ❋ Consider trying out a heart rate monitoring tool for your horse so that you can make fitness sessions as effective as possible. Learning to evaluate the reports and stats will help you too. ❋ Every horse and rider is an individual so there is no one-size-fits-all method when it comes to fitness training. Becoming as knowledgeable as possible and assessing your horse accurately, though, is sure to put…

Caring for senior horses is a journey filled with love, dedication and unique challenges. Spillers understands the special place older horses hold in equestrians’ hearts, which is why the company has created the Spillers’ Super Seniors’ Club — a supportive community for horse owners who share the same passion for keeping their senior horses happy and healthy. Whether that horse is thriving in retirement, remains active, or is showing g signs of ageing, the team is available to provide expert guidance, practical advice and a platform on which to celebrate a horse’s golden years. Join today and connect with other horse owners. Visit the Facebook group Spillers’ Super Seniors’ Club to get started. Scan me…

Q I received a body protector as a Christmas present from my sister. She wants me to wear it while hacking and schooling at home, but I think that’s over the top. What should I do? Charlotte Bruce, North Yorkshire Claire says: Riding is a risk sport and many riders, myself included, have suffered serious falls and impacts when least expected. Mine have been when schooling in the arena at home and out hacking. We can’t predict when an accident is going to happen and so having protection and then leaving it in the tackroom is doing no one any good, not least yourself. Think how you would feel if you have consciously made the decision not to wear a piece of safety equipment and then you are injured, which…

FITTENING - GILLIAN HIGGINS says… Q My horse once had concussion/ tendon issues, so I’m nervous of doing fast work with him. However, he’s a little overweight and I know that he would benefit from being fitter. Are there any alternatives to fast work, or ways that I can work him to minimise the risk of exacerbating old injuries. Sarah Shaw, Norfolk Gillian says: There are a number of alternatives to fast work… 1 Swimming — This is effective at raising heart and respiration rates. Factors to consider are your horse’s posture and swimming style before you decide if it’s the right form of cardiovascular fitness exercise for him. 2 Aqua treadmill work — This is gentler and doesn’t prompt the same increase in heart and respiration rates as swimming.…

Q I have a four-year-old. What training aims would you suggest for soundness and longevity? Bella Brooke, Staffordshire Gillian says: With young horses it is important to do the right amount and the right type of exercise. A four-year-old won’t have finished growing and most certainly won’t be fully strong yet. A good guide for how much work to do with a four-year-old is no more than four sessions a week, and for a five-year-old no more than five sessions. For longevity the focus needs to be on the horse’s posture, making sure that young horses have good core strength and good lateral strength to support their posture. Very often young horses have a fabulous range of movement and they are very flexible and with good mobility, but this is…

Q I have recently brought my showjumper back into work, but he keeps catching jumps with his hoof, which he never did before. What can I do? Flo Lambert, Essex Denise says: Helping to improve your horse’s proprioception is key here. Simply explained, this is having awareness of his body and its movements, and any horse following an injury will have less proprioception in the injured area. One of the key benefits of kinesiology tape is the tape’s ability to improve proprioceptive feedback, which makes it an ideal tool to use in rehabilitation and training. In this instance, by applying K tape along your horses coronary band you are increasing the proprioceptive feedback to this area. The tape stimulates the mechanoreceptors in the skin which are responsible for sending information…

Q I’ve seen ash listed in feed ingredients. What is this? Tina Carter, Devon Emma says: ‘Ash’ isn’t an ingredient or additive, but it gives an indication of the overall mineral content of the feed and is a measurement that is required by law, as part of the statutory statement, on every feed bag. It is determined by subjecting a sample of the feed to high temperatures in the laboratory. All of the organic matter — fibre, protein, starch, etc — will burn away leaving ash, which is comprised of inorganic minerals. The percentage of ash in the feed is calculated by knowing how much feed was burned in the first place and how much ash is left. The higher the percentage, the higher the level of minerals in the feed…

■ Ride Yorkshire — Mostly covers the Yorkshire Wolds area around York. Up to six people per ride. Entry fee is £32-£40, depending on whether parking and refreshments are included. There is also a list of horse and rider accommodation on the website so that visits can be extended. Ride Yorkshire is an equestrian access group that is affiliated to the BHS. Visit rideyorkshire.org/guided-rides ■ Dartmoor Guided Horse Rides — Covers the area around Haytor on Dartmoor. Two-hour guided rides cost £50 per person, and a full day ride with a pub stop for lunch is £120. Natasha has just started offering three-day riding holidays. dartmoorguidedridingholidays.com ■ Peak District Guided Horse Rides — Covers a wide swathe of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Rides start at £38.50 for up to 12 miles,…

Send in your pics! Trigger gets straight to the point This is Trigger, who is 11 and who I’ve owned since he was 11 months old. He’s a good old cob and my best friend (aren’t they all). He isn’t fazed by anything and we love horseback archery and are members of the Ribble Valley Mounted Archers. We took part in our first national championships last year. Lynsey Henderson, Lancashire #Hack stalwarts This is my lovely boy Dan, who is now 16. I’ve owned him for six years and we’ve done #Hack1000Miles three times and are well into our next 1,000. Danny is the sweetest boy who makes me very proud every time I take him out. Alison Roberts, Norfolk Star photo Tigger is a trooper This is Grace and…

❋ Encourage your horse to move forwards off your leg in the warm up so that he’s nice and uphill, which will give him more power and balance ready for when the jumps come out. ❋ Focus on that all-important jumping canter from the off and remember that it will feel powerful, so learn to embrace that power. ❋ Pop over an easy fence to begin with and position it to one side of the arena so that you can pick and choose between a short, collected run up and a longer approach. ❋ Don’t get hung up about the size of the jump. A tiny cross-pole will work just as well for this exercise. ❋ Once you feel confident that you can maintain a balanced rhythm over this fence…

IT IS LOVELY to give horses a break mentally and physically after a season of competing, or maybe many months of hacking — my horse, RCA Patron Saint (Paddy), really enjoyed his winter holidays — and when bringing any equine back into work taking it slowly is the key. Paddy’s first steps are short sessions on the walker and then I’ll start to introduce light flatwork before adding polework and small fences. Bear in mind that each of these stages takes a few weeks. It is essential to plan for several months in order to build up a horse’s muscles as well as his fitness levels to where they were last season. PROBLEM: I want to make a start on schooling, but I’ve no idea how long my sessions should…

Celebrating seniors TAKE A PHOTO of a horse at four and again at 14 and they could easily be mistaken for two different animals. But why does such a dramatic coat change happen to a minority of horses as they age? The base coat colours of horses are chestnut, bay and black, and these are governed by the interaction of two genes: melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) — which controls the production of red and black pigment — and agouti-signalling protein (ASIP) — which controls the distribution of black pigment. There are three versions of the MC1R gene and two of ASIP, so the mix of these determines the base coat colour of a horse. However, there are many dilution genes that dictate the exact shade and distribution of his hair…

Email your questions to yh.ed@kelsey.co.uk Simple solutions for horse owners Meet this month's panel of experts RIDER SAFETY Claire Williams works for the British Equestrian Trade Association with a focus on rider safety. She has played a role in the writing and development of safety equipment standards in the UK and Europe for over 20 years and advises riding organisations in the UK and around the world on the writing and updating of their safety equipment rules. FITTENING Gillian Higgins is one of the world’s leading equine anatomy and biomechanics educators. The founder and principal lecturer of Horses Inside Out, she is an anatomist, biomechanist lecturer and author, and is passionate about horses and anatomy. Visit horsesinsideout.com K TAPING Denise Cheese has just launched Equine K Taping UK Ltd, the…

Q I had a bad fall last year and want to invest in a standard protector or an air jacket. Which do you advise? Linda Watts, Kent Claire says: Thinking of your body protector as the seat belt in your car and your air vest as the air bag may help you to decide. Your body protector offers continuous protection, whereas an air vest offers protection only when triggered to do so. Therefore, your body protector will offer you protection at the first level, whether on the ground or in the saddle, while an air vest comes in as the second level of protection, as you need to be thrown off a horse for it to inflate. Therefore, for falls during which you tumble with your horse (such as a…

Q Does cardiovascular fitness matter? I don’t event or race my horse — we are just happy hackers who enjoy some riding club activities — but I have been advised that doing some fast work would be good for him even though it’s not necessarily needed. Why is this? Liz Cooper, Co Durham Gillian says: Cardiovascular fitness matters for a number of reasons. There’s the feel-good factor for starters. We all know as humans that when we exercise it releases endorphins that make us feel good, and it’s the same for horses. It is also good for the metabolism and for all the systems of the horse to be fit, but I think from a riding perspective and musculoskeletal health, cardiovascular fitness matters because a fit horse will have a…

KINESIOLOGY TAPING - DENISE CHEESE says… Q My mare has stifle issues and my vet has advised that I need to work on the muscles that support her stifle. Can kinesiology tape help? Teresa Martin, Powys Denise says: The horse’s stifle is equivalent to the human knee. It is a complex joint that flexes and extends the hind limb and helps to support the horse’s weight when standing, as in the ‘stay apparatus’. If the muscles that are responsible for movement and supporting the stifle are weak, this can result in an unbalanced horse and a horse in pain or discomfort. A targeted programme that includes equine kinesiology taping can really make a difference. The main advantage in using kinesiology tape (K tape) is that with one application you are…

Q This year I’m planning to attend some two- and three-day events. The problem is that my mare gets very stiff in her hindquarters after jumping. I’ve read that K tape can help to reduce muscle tension, so I’m wondering if this is something that I should consider using? Charlie Harris, West Sussex Denise says: As we know prevention is better than cure, and helping your horse’s muscles recover between event days will ensure that they can give their best when needed. When muscles get stiff they contract, which causes tension, and this leads to the area feeling tight and uncomfortable, or possibly painful, ultimately resulting in a reduced range of movement and performance. By applying kinesiology tape to the affected area a therapist can help the muscles to recover…

Q My horse can get a bit stressy and occasionally gets quite itchy. How can I work out if he’s allergic to something in his diet? Sally Vardy, West Midlands Emma says: We’re all aware of the dramatic and potentially drastic reaction that the human body can have to certain foods, but true feed allergies in horses are quite rare. Hypersensitive reactions to substances that don’t involve the immune system are more common, and these may be referred to as ‘intolerances’. They can result in many and varied symptoms which may not necessarily in the first instance be attributable to a feed-related issue and, as such, can be hard to diagnose. Firstly, check that your horse’s diet is fully balanced and is meeting his nutritional needs. This means feeding the…

4 RYDALE BUNDLES FOR ADVENTUROUS PUPS Get set for any adventure with Rydale’s threepiece bundle that is suitable for dogs of all shapes and sizes. Four lucky winners will each net a TikTok-viral Yapham Dog Fleece, a must-have for unpredictable weather. Designed to keep furry friends warm and dry, its clever design protects their chest and belly from muddy splashes. There is even reflective piping for exploring in low light conditions, maximising visibility. Each winner will also receive a Yapham Rope Lead and Collar, making walkies better than ever. From the calmest of companions to the most excitable of pups, this bundle will put the fun into every outing. Find out more at rydale.com ❋ Worth £55.97 each 2 MACKEY WICKLOW 50G TURNOUT RUGS Horses will be protected from the unpredictable spring…

For all the latest news from the horse world, visit yourhorse.co.uk EQUINE HEALTH Owners buying equine medicines from websites are committing crimes The dangers of illegally buying prescription horse drugs online have been reiterated to horse owners after the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) seized a large consignment of unauthorised horse drugs destined for UK sites. In October and November last year the VMD and Border Force seized 13,000 unauthorised ulcer medicines due to be sold online in the UK. The omeprazole and sucralfate drugs were being advertised and sold via a Facebook group and a website, which now claims a stock shortage issue due to high demand. A VMD spokesperson said: “We believe that it is crucial for equine veterinarians and horse owners to be aware of this situation to…

CAROLINE SETON’S RECOLLECTION of the incident eight years ago in a sand school that left her with severe concussion is hazy at best. She remembers being aboard her 17.2hh eventer Lucido, and that their purpose that morning was a little jump schooling. After warming up, she steered her imposing equine, who had been imported from Namibia, around a corner to take on an innocuous oxer. At that point, though, things began to go wrong. “He stumbled and then put in an odd stride into the fence, stopped and got caught up in a pole,” she explains. “I virtually rotated off of him, doing a kind of forward somersault, and I landed on the back of my head. Lucido then fell on top of me.” Having briefly lost consciousness, Caroline lay…

How I make it work: By having a strong work h k ethiic, pllus support ffrom my parents, partner and boss. The product development lead discusses her hectic schedule, the loneliness of working from home, and enjoying time in the saddle after work. My job… I’m head of product and global hosting at Cavago, the online equestrian booking platform. This means that I lead on all product development, including management and development of the website, which as Cavago is the equivalent of ‘booking.com’ for the horse world, is pretty huge. In addition, there is the development of apps, new features and new projects. My day involves everything from marketing to HR, plus the various things in between. I’m based in Bedfordshire, but I travel to Portugal and other countries to…

■ Nikki Ryan’s Appaloosa Abbey drastically changed colour between the ages of four and seven, losing the solid colour on her neck to become fully leopard spotted, with a grey mane, tail and legs. ■ Tatanka was black at 18 months old, with a few flecks of white hair, but now at seven he’s a dapple grey with dark points. His sire was a black Friesian and his dam a grey Percheron, according to his owner, Karen Arkle. ■ Euan was mouse brown when young, says Kathryn O’Connor, but now he’s grey. ■ Appaloosa cross Reuben, who belongs to Rebekah Wilson, has changed from chestnut to snowy over the years due to the leopard spotting gene. ■ When Hannah Mitchell bought Bertie aged seven he was piebald, but the slow-greying…

RIDER SAFETY - CLAIRE WILLIAMS says… Q I do lots of competing with my horse. Are there any rule changes surrounding safety equipment that I should be aware of this season? Debbie Buckland, Dorset Claire says: It is always wise to check with the disciplines directly as to whether there have been any rule changes, not just involving safety equipment but also tack and accessories. When it comes to riding hats and body protectors, there have been quite a few changes over the last couple of years as the riding disciplines have brought their rules up to date and removed some of the older standards. You will be relieved to know that there are no significant changes this year. This shouldn’t, though, stop you checking your equipment at the start…

Q I’m really strapped for cash and can’t afford to replace my safety equipment. Do I need to worry? Becky Wright, Cumbria Claire says: Like any products that are used regularly, even safety products made to standards specified by our riding bodies need to be looked after and will wear out over time. Hats are, in effect, single-use items — in that once they have suffered an impact, the expanded polystyrene (EPS) inside the hat -which does the work of providing protection to your head and brain, will no longer provide that protection and will need replacing. Think of the EPS as microscopic bubble wrap. Once burst they won’t reinflate and so will no longer be able to protect as they did before. Daily wear and tear also means that…

Q I’ve heard it said that variety is important in training horses. Why is this and do you have any suggestions for introducing variety to my mare’s workload? Jill McCallum, Co Down Gillian says: Variety is massively important for reducing the risk of injury and improving general musculoskeletal health. Always working the horse on the same surface, in the same outline and performing the same movements will put specific structures under the same stresses. Within your weekly and monthly training sessions you need to plan what the focus for each day is going to be, and make sure that there is time for stretching sessions, when you may work in a different outline, maybe focusing one day on working the horse long and low, on lateral suppleness, bending and stretching…

Q My horse has been suffering from mild headshaking and I’ve heard that kinesiology tape can offer relief. Is this true? Anne Griffiths, Swansea Denise says: There are many causes of headshaking, and each case will differ in severity and symptoms. Affected horses shake their heads to try and relieve their symptoms. Headshaking is a complex condition that vets are still researching, but it is believed that most cases are linked to the trigeminal nerve that is situated in the horse’s head. By K taping the pathway of this nerve therapists can decompress the area, helping to reduce symptoms and pain, which are distressing for horse and owner. It can also have a calming effect on the horse. There are currently very few scientific studies on the various treatments available,…

FEEDING - EMMA SHORT says… Q My horse is prone to tying-up and I’m confused as to what to feed him. Fiona Browne, Herefordshire Emma says: While feed may not be directly implicated as an initial cause, diet is most definitely key to the management and prevention of tying-up. The common advice is to reduce compound feed intake, but the aim is to minimise the starch content of the diet (generally from cereals), while meeting the horse’s nutritional needs. Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, for example, are essential to support healthy muscle function and recovery from exertion, so a fully balanced diet must be fed at all times to ensure that optimum levels of these nutrients are consistently supplied. This can be achieved by always ensuring that the recommended amount of a…

Q Even though my elderly pony is prone to laminitis, I like to get her out to grass as much as possible, but what time of day is the best in terms of grass sugar levels? Ginny Smith, Somerset Emma says: Fructans (sugars produced by grass) not only provide calories but, when consumed in excess, can also upset the microbial balance in the hindgut, which may lead to laminitis. A horse or pony who is very prone to laminitis should avoid grazing when grass fructan levels are at their highest, and this includes… ■ Afternoon and early evening -Fructan levels tend to rise during the day, peaking in the afternoon to early evening and they then decline overnight. ■ When the night-time temperature drops to 4°C or below — Grass…

SHIRES ARMA DELUXE MUD SOCKS RRP £35.99 per pair COLOUR Black SIZES Small pony, pony, cob, full, extra full SHIRESEQUESTRIAN.COM These mud socks are ergonomically shaped to ensure a close, comfortable fit, giving maximum protection against mud fever. Made from dense neoprene that offers protection from bumps, airflow perforations aid ventilation to avoid overheating. RHINEGOLD BREATHABLE NEOPRENE TURNOUT BOOTS RRP £30.50 COLOUR Black SIZES Pony, cob, full, extra full RHINEGOLDEQUESTRIAN.CO.UK A neoprene protection turnout boot with a contoured fetlock and brushing protection, these also provide defence against mud fever. The breathable ventilated neoprene keeps the horse’s legs at a comfortable temperature. EQUILIBRIUM EQUI-CHAPS CLOSE CONTACT CHAPS RRP £54.99 COLOUR Blue SIZES S – XL EQUILIBRIUMPRODUCTS.COM These chaps are made from a perforated neoprene to help keep the legs cool while…

RUGGLES HAY SLOW FEEDER FUN AND FLEX 22CM BALL RRP £29.95 RUGGLES-HORSE-RUGS.CO.UK The Ruggles Hay Slow Feeder Fun and Flex 22cm Ball is especially designed to help a horse eat slowly, in part to relieve boredom. The ball can be filled with hay, vegetables, or a combination of both. Hang it in the stable and it will keep a horse busy for hours. The ball is made of natural rubber that is soft and flexible. It comes supplied with a nylon strap with loops for easy hanging. KERBL HORSE STABLE TOY RRP £18 ZEBRAPRODUCTS.CO.UK This natural fibre-filled horse toy is made with a suede cover and is available in zebra, llama, or bear designs. It is intended to provide a good distraction for horses who tend to spend lots of…

Did you have a horsey childhood? I can’t remember not having ponies, and all of them had quirks and memorable characters. During World War II, when petrol was tightly rationed, we went everywhere by governess cart or on our ponies, several of whom were traffic shy. Whenever we saw an American 3-ton lorry thundering along, we hurriedly looked for a refuge, often in someone’s garden, until it had gone past. Our father was in the Royal Horse Artillery, and when we travelled to wherever he was stationed in Britain, the ponies came by train, together with a nanny goat whose milk was valuable because of food rationing. She would jump on to the kitchen table for my mother to milk her. Ponies and clothes were handed down in the family…