Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 419 i Your Horse

Hello It doesn’t take much to get me blubbering, but this month one of my writers truly reduced me to a sniffling mess… through the power of her writing I might add. After reading her feature on the horses of war I felt sad and moved in equal measure. I know as much as the next owner what an amazing connection you can have with a horse, so reading how soldiers cared for their horses, in even the toughest of times, and what they meant to them was truly moving. We forget that so many wonderful animals lost their lives alongside soldiers during wartime, but while those brave horses might be gone, like the soldiers who loved them they’re certainly not forgotten. In fact, a Mongolian mare called Seargant Reckless…

It’s good news for Shetland breeders! A diagnostic DNA test for a potentially fatal disorder that’s often seen in the breed is now available, as researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and the Uppsala University have managed to identify the genetics behind the disease. The test for ‘skeletal atavism’ can identify carriers, allowing breeders to select only healthy ponies to breed from. Foals born with skeletal atavism have malformed legs and, as they grow, the angle of their legs worsen, which leads to many ponies having to be put down. “Obviously, it’s highly desired from a welfare point of view to ensure no affected foals are born,” says Sofia Mikko of the Animal Genetic Laboratory at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. “By testing all breeding stallions the…

LEARNING TO FALL by Anne Clermont Read by: Your Horse reader Stephanie Johnson Brynn is all set to leave the world of show jumping behind to pursue her life as a vet, but a tragic accident means her family – and her horses – need her more than ever. Learning to Fall is a drama-packed novel that gives an insight into the world of show jumping. A KINGDOM IN A HORSE by Maia Wojciechowska Read by: Your Horse reader Anne Dickinson This book, whch was first published in 1965, is a charming story about how one horse called Gypsy brings three unlikely characters together. It’s a sweet short story that beautifully illustrates the joy of owning a horse. VALEGRO – THE LITTLE HORSE WITH THE BIG…

Who’s got a funny face? Mo poses for a funny selfie after our hack – in exchange for a carrot. Edina Lukács, via email A winning moment Me and my pony Jet winning at our first ever show. Daina Smith, West Yorkshire It’s a tiring life being a horse Phoebe pulls a big yawn, showing off her perfect white teeth. Abi Pipes, Suffolk Off-duty snap I catch a quick selfie with a Liverpool police horse. Ela Owen, via email At ‘X’ make sure I stop! Helpful Honey memorises the dressage test for me. Claire Gray, via email Move over, IÕm the star hereÉ Paddy likes to be centre of attention. Trisha Hart-Sayers, via email OAP-ony At 24, Verdun still thinks he’s a youngster out on hacks. Donna Hughes, Swansea Oi,…

Exercise 1 This exercise encourages your horse to trot in a consistent rhythm and teaches you to ride straight and in balance. SET IT UP: In a straight line (like a ladder!), lay out five trot poles (four heel-to-toe steps apart). Leave a four-stride gap then lay out another five trot poles (four heel-to-toe steps apart). a) Begin on the left rein in trot and start to ride a figure of eight. b) As you make your change of rein on your figure of eight shape (see diagram, right), you’ll turn onto your line of poles – ride straight down them. c) Turn onto the right rein and repeat going the other way. REPEAT: Twice on each rein, or until your horse happily goes over the poles in both directions.…

Keep exercise fun Using poles might be a completely foreign concept if you’re a dressage rider, but variety is the spice of life! Changing your horse’s routine keeps it interesting for him (and you) and gets him using different muscles, too. Build up gradually Listen to your horse and don’t push him too hard. Strength training is tough so build the work up gradually. Approaching it this way will mean he’ll be more interested the next time. Get him thinking Practising different exercises with your horse stimulates and encourages him to think more independently. This is especially useful if you have a horse that relies on you too much.…

HAVING FINALLY FOUND Grouse, Lauren’s enjoying life with her new Highland pony sidekick. “I’m a bit biased but Grouse is literally the coolest pony ever,” gushes Lauren. “He hasn’t batted an eyelid at anything since I’ve moved him onto my yard. He hacks out by himself or with others and he’s always happy to lead the way. I’ve also taken him for some lessons. He loads perfectly and is always really good.” But finding Grouse wasn’t easy. Lauren visited a number of horses, had two vetted before Grouse and at some points thought she’d never be able to spend her Win a Horse prize fund but, when she saw Grouse, it was love at first sight. The pair have quickly gelled and even Lauren’s much-loved retired pony Sir Todd has…

Stage 1 A multiple choice questionnaire. Stage 2 (If you’re successful in stage 1): a further questionnaire online. Stage 3 (If you’re successful in stage 2): Eight candidates will be selected for an assessment day at Summerhouse EC in Gloucester on 13 March, 2017. Stage 4 (If you’re successful in stage 3): Three finalists will be chosen by our judges, who’ll visit them to see where the horse would be kept if they won. TERMS CONDITIONS ENTRANTS MUST BE AGED 18 AND OVER, BASED IN THE UK AND THE HORSE MUST BE FOR THE ENTRANT THEMSELVES, NOT A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER. ENTRIES CLOSE 8 FEBRUARY, 2017. SEMI-FINALISTS AND FINALISTS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAVEL AND EXPENSES TO THE ASSESSMENT DAY. FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY - PLEASE READ THESE…

The condition Atypical myopathy – also known as seasonal pasture myopathy – is a highly fatal muscle disease that occurs in the UK and northern Europe. Although the disease has been around for over 90 years, cases have become more common in recent years. For a long time, vets recognised that affected horses often grazed in fields surrounded by trees with dead leaves and seed matter, and that often they weren’t fed any extra hay. This pattern led vets and researchers to suspect that the cause was an ingested toxin. Horses with atypical myopathy have an impaired ability to produce energy in the mitochondria (energy factories) of muscle cells. The cause of this catastrophic muscle cell damage is a toxin called hypoglycin A. In the UK, eating seeds or seedlings…

SPILLERS Alfalfa-Pro Fibre is a conditioning alfalfa blend with oil. Low in sugar and starch, it can be fed alongside a balancer or compound feed. It helps to build condition and slow eating time to support gastric and digestive health, with added vitamin E to give antioxidant support. www.spillers-feeds.com WINERGY Equilibrium Growth is designed for growing and performance horses, and was one of the first products in the UK to gain the BETA EGUS Mark. Its low sugar and starch formula supports digestive and muscle health, and it’s suitable for those prone to ulcers as part of a balanced diet. www.winergy.com Baileys Ease & Excel is a low starch feed that’s suitable for horses prone to gastric ulcers. Its high digestible energy level is delivered by oil and fibre, and…

SARAH BUTLER is a nutritionist who helps develop the Blue Chip Feed range of supplements and balancers. Find out more at www.bluechip feed.com Probiotics explained QI’ve noticed a lot of balancers contain a probiotic. How do these benefit my horse? Gillian Grisham, Oxfordshire AProbiotic yeasts have a thick cell wall, which allows them to travel through your horse’s digestive tract to the large intestine, where they’re then utilised. They need to be fed daily in order to ensure they’re replenished, which promotes the growth of fibre-digesting bacteria. These bacteria help your horse to make the most of the feed you give him. As the probiotic yeast is a living microorganism, it contributes to the ‘gut flora’, which increases gut motility and nutrient absorption. However, not all probiotics are equal in…

DI FISHER Is an SMS qualified saddle fitter and, together with her husband Mark, is the owner of Woolcroft Saddlery, www.woolcroftequine services.co.uk When to call your saddle fitter Q How do I know when my saddle needs checking? Freddie Redden, Hereford A There are a number of reasons that could suggest you need to get your saddle checked. Some of these may include: • The fact you’re struggling to maintain your position in the saddle • You feel your horse may be restricted in some way • Your horse’s saddle no longer feels correctly balanced • You feel the saddle is moving around too much • The panel of your saddle has become uneven, hard or lumpy If you’re concerned, call a local Qualified Saddle Fitter (QSF) out to investigate…

1 Position the bradoon over the weymouth so you’re putting ‘one’ bit into your horse’s mouth. Slide the bits in carefully so you don’t bang his teeth. 2 Adjust the bradoon so it just wrinkles the corner of your horse’s mouth. The weymouth should sit just a little lower in his mouth. 3 Fasten the throatlash so you can fit four fingers between the straps and your horse’s cheekbone, in the same way you would a normal bridle. 4 Check the noseband is straight. Once fastened, you should be able to comfortably insert one finger between the noseband and your horse’s face. 5 Run your thumb under the headpiece to check for any pressure points. Also run your hand under the cheekpieces to ensure they’re not too tight. 6 The…

A new online support group, MumsVet, which aims to help equine vets who juggle work with family life, has been developed by four working mums (pictured below). With women making up 55% of equine vets – and more and more of them searching for a greater work-life balance – the new group is hoping to offer help and advice. MumsVet will provide blogs, podcasts, webinars and useful links to help British Equestrian Veterinary Association members who face pregnancy or parental leave. “I want our profession to progress, but we need to harness working mums’ experience – not shut it out,” says equine vet (and busy mum) Sarah Gasper. Find out more about MumsVet at www.beva.org.uk/Home/Careers/Mumsvet…

A major study by Oxford University and the racing industry on jockeys’ short-and long-term health has been launched, with more than 125 retired jockeys taking part, from both the flat and National Hunt fields. “Racing is a high risk sport, so understanding both the risks for injury in current jockeys and the long-term problems in retired jockeys is incredibly important,” says racing ambassador for the study, Willie Carson OBE. It’s hoped the findings will improve jockeys’ health by implementing new strategies to support their well-being and safety.…

SCAN THE RESULTS from many major equestrian events and it’s clear there’s little separating young from old. Competitors such as Mark Todd (60), Anne Dunham (68), Mary King (55), Bettina Hoy (53), Nick Skelton (58), Tim Stockdale (52) and John Whitaker (61), all hit the leader board on a regular basis and show no signs of slowing down any time soon. In fact, in the UK, 37%* of female riders are aged 45 and over, something of an anomaly at the top level in other mainstream sports. Take the gymnastics in Rio – the oldest Olympic gymnast was 41-year-old Oksana Chusovitina, from Uzbekistan, which made her six years the junior of Team GBR rider Pippa Funnell. And it’s rare to find a professional footballer at the top of their game…

Will Furlong is based at Ingram’s Eventing in East Sussex and combines his eventing career with working alongside his family business breeding event horses. As an important member of Albion’s hugely talented team of sponsored riders, Will emphasises that Albion is unrivalled in the market. “Comfort, balance and technology are imperative for a successful performance and I know this is achievable when I ride in Albion,” says Will. “My Revelation Cross Country Saddle is practical and stylish; giving a ‘close-contact’ feel without compromising comfort.” Will chooses to ride his mare Elstar in the Albion Revelation Cross Country saddle (as seen in the main picture on page 26). This unique saddle offers superb comfort for both horse and rider and high quality British manufacturing, which justifies its popularity among amateur and…

No matter how bright and sunny it is, as the team at Your Horse have said, always wear high-vis gear – it can give drivers three seconds of extra reaction time. Although many riders think they don’t need to wear it when they’re riding off-road, research from the Ministry of Defence shows helicopter pilots can see a rider in high-vis gear up to half a mile sooner than those without. This means they can avoid flying over you, or find you easily if you’re injured. As a minimum, riders should wear a high-vis jacket or tabard, and horses should wear leg bands. It also goes without saying that riders should wear a hard hat at all times. Always be prepared The British weather is unpredictable, so check the forecast before…

MEET THE EXPERT ANDREW GOULD is one of Britain’s leading dressage riders and trainers. But away from his yard, Priory Dressage, he likes to take his kids go-karting! A BALANCED HORSE IS a happy horse, so if yours has trouble staying straight down the centre line, or falls out on his circles, try these simple exercises. To improve balance it’s essential that you teach your horse to carry less of his weight on his forehand by transferring it to his hindquarters, which will lighten him in front and make him more supple. It’s important your horse is warmed up correctly and cooled down properly after this workout to avoid injury or strain. Test his balance with transitions The easiest and most effective way to train your horse to find his…

Discover a non-invasive imaging service that assists lameness investigation, and could help you get to the bottom of your horse’s niggling performance issues Ever wondered If a change in your horse’s behaviour or a reluctance to perform is due to pain? or has your horse been struggling with a non-specific, low-grade or difficult to diagnose lameness? If so, the team at Syncequine may be able to help. Specialising in clinical standard physiological imaging (more commonly known as thermography) Syncequine works in conjunction with vets to support investigation and to assist diagnosis. The service is used by many vet practices to identify pathology and localise areas of autonomic dysfunction. As the technology doesn’t require sedation it can be a good place to start before further investigation. Spinal conditions, arthritis and the…

RUSTLER, A SIX-YEAR-OLD American Paint Horse was found in his field by his owner Alicia exhausted and in severe pain. “We were so keen to save him and get him to Liphook Equine Hospital we had to lift him into the lorry as he was so weak,” says Alicia. He lay quietly in the horsebox and, on arrival at Liphook, was lifted (thanks to many pairs of willing hands) into a stable. Rustler was diagnosed with atypical myopathy and treated with anti-inflammatory pain killers and morphine. He also received antioxidant medication and intravenous nutrition and fluids. At first he could only stand for a few minutes at a time, but after three days of dedicated nursing and 24/7 monitoring, Rustler was able to walk out around the yard – a…

ROSIE JONES Is a Recommended Associate of Intelligent Horsemanship and has worked and trained with practitioners in the UK and abroad. A confidence boost Q My horse is nervy around people and seems frightened of his own shadow. How can I increase his confidence? Rachel Hagan, Shropshire A First, check your horse’s work, turnout and feed regime – and ask an equine nutritionist for advice on the latter. As a general rule, he should be getting as much fibre as possible, so start by providing ad-lib hay and turning him out lots. If your horse is ridden, reduce the intensity of his workload, but double the time he actually spends working. So, for example, do one-and-a-half hours of steady work that he finds quite easy, such as a relaxing hack…

CAROLINE MOORE Is a British Eventing accredited coach who’s produced horses up to four-star level and ridden at Burghley. Preparing for success QI’m hoping to compete in the Baileys Jumping in Style series this winter for the first time. Any advice? Ava Derry, Cumbria A In preparation for these classes I’d familiarise your horse with some indoor show jumping to get him used to tighter turns, fences coming up quickly off the corners and brighter fillers. Next, practise difficult turning lines to the jump, as well as water trays and corners to get him used to the ‘indoor cross-country’ feel. Keep your fences small and build up gradually with guiding rails if your horse is young or inexperienced with narrow fences. Try to work him in different lengths of canter…

JENNY ELLIS is travelling groom to dressage rider Richard Davison, and has years of experience of caring for competition horses and keeping them looking smart. Brightening the coat Q I’ve clipped my horse but his coat looks dull and scurfy. Any advice? Briony Miller, Stafford A To help improve a dull coat use a rubber curry comb in a circular motion over his major muscle masses, such as his quarters. Then use a dandy brush to follow the direction of his coat. A body brush can then be used in circular movements all over his body. Finish this process off by brushing in the direction of his coat hair. You can also use this brush on his legs. There’s a great saying that I go by, which is ‘look after…

5 CHANCES TO WIN BLUE CHIP ORIGINAL FEED BALANCER AND A CAP Five winners will each receive a bag of Blue Chip Original Feed Balancer and a Blue Chip cap (worth £49.95 in total). PLUS! Five runners-up will each get a £10 voucher to redeem against anything in the Blue Chip range. Blue Chip Original is made of whole cereals and molasses-free. It has been developed to help maintain optimum health and well-being in all horses and ponies as it combines carefully formulated levels of vitamins, minerals and nutrients with a probiotic digestive supplement. It helps ensure horses remain happy, healthy and sound. Find out more at www.bluechipfeed.com 20 CHANCES TO WIN HI-FI MOLASSES FREE OR ALFA-A MOLASSES FREE We’ve got 20 bags to give away of either…

Relief for sore joints The YUMOVE Horse Active Joint Patch from Lintbells can quickly help to restore mobility. Apply the patch to any sore or stiff joints and let the ingredients (omega-3, green-lipped mussel, hyaluronic acid and menthol) get to work, providing natural relief in just 30 minutes. PRICE £14.99 CONTACT www.lintbells.com Style with added warmth A must-have for the months ahead is a good quality riding jacket, and the Noble Outfitters Cheval Waterproof Jacket is sure to fit the bill. A great looking and practical jacket for riding and yard work, it will keep you warm and dry. PRICE £109.95 CONTACT www.nobleoutfitters.co.uk Bring on the rain! The Equipel range of rain-proofing products will make soggy saddles and rain-soaked show jackets a thing of the past. It works by creating…

Wave Fork Price £39.95 contact www.nobleoutfitters.co.uk Ease of use Nice and light to use. The long, adjustable handle meant it was comfortable to hold, and moving bedding was quick. Effectiveness The outer tines form a basket to pick up droppings, while the plastic tines are close together so bedding doesn’t fall through. A bit of shaking is needed to save clean bedding. Value for money It’s pricey, but it does have a five-year guarantee. Premium Chip Fork Price £17.99 contact www.shiresequestrian.com Ease of use Light and comfortable to use, making it easy to move shavings. The long handle meant I didn’t have to bend my back too much. Effectiveness It has a good size and shape. Picking up droppings is easy, but clean shavings don’t fall through the tines easily.…

Snuggy Hoods Turn Out Hood From £85 DESIGNED FOR TURNOUT This will help protect your horse from the elements. It will keep his neck and mane mud-free, and is made from a water repellent and breathable material, with a shoulder lining for comfort, plus a self-fixing surcingle. COLOURS Black, navy SIZES XXXS to XXL CONTACT www.snuggyhoods.com Ekkia Neck Protector £18.90 KEEPS HIM CLEAN AND COSY This full-length neck protector is made from polar fleece with a nylon lining to help keep your horse clean and warm on those chilly nights. Around the poll the protector is elasticated, which helps prevent it slipping. COLOURS Navy, black SIZES Cob, full CONTACT www.ekkia.co.uk Rhinegold Satin Lycra Neck Cover £21.50 GIVES A SECURE FEEL This stretchy neck cover is a good option if your…

This year’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials played host to World Horse Welfare’s Invisible Horse Sculpture Trail – and now all 14 works of art are up for auction. Seen by thousands at Badminton, the sale of the sculptures will raise money for World Horse Welfare. Each was designed by a different artist or top rider in a bid to tell the story of one of 14 horses who were rescued by the charity. “It’s fantastic that people now have the opportunity to give a home to one of these unique sculptures,” says World Horse Welfare Director of Fundraising Emma Williams. “I’m sure they would make an exciting addition to any home, garden, office or yard.” Visit www.worldhorsewelfare.org/the-invisible-horse-trail…

Head and neck anatomy DATE: 3 December WHERE: Hartpury College, Gloucester COST: £210 This hands-on course is run by Horses Inside Out expert and remedial therapist Gillian Higgins. www.horsesinsideout.com Seasonal health DATE: 7 December WHERE: RVC, Hertfordshire COST: £10 Vets from the Royal Veterinary College will offer advice to help keep your horse fighting fit throughout the year, with tips on worming, vaccinations and dental care. www.rvc.ac.uk/cpd The science of motion DATE: 16-18 December WHERE: Keysoe, Bedford COST: From £40 (in advance) Run by event rider Jean Luc Cornille, this clinic explains a new approach to therapy, which aims to tackle injuries by identifying abnormalities in a horse’s gait. www.organisedequestrian.com…

My friends Carol Dodds and Paul Vejins got married in September at the beautiful Doxford Hall in Northumberland. Carol’s a wonderful, generous person and a dear friend, so my friend Calvin Moore and I wracked our brains to arrange a wedding day surprise for her that she’d truly remember. We decided the one thing Carol would love most would be to have her 17hh Irish Draft, Roscoe (who’s very much the other man in her life) at her wedding. We secretly arranged to have Roscoe driven up to the venue fully plaited, wearing a sash to match Carol’s colour scheme. After the ceremony the wedding party and guests took to the lawn in the sunshine with a glass of bubbly as the Master of Ceremonies announced the bride and groom.…

RIDING ISN’T JUST about mental ability, of course. The old grey cells may keep us in the game for longer, but we can’t ignore our fitness levels as time passes. It’s up to us to make sure we’re in good enough shape to keep on riding. “Riders are athletes and are required to be fit in relation to their riding level,” says equine and human sports massage therapist Janet Luck. “Not only is this important to prevent injury and improve balance, but it helps a horse’s movement too.” Many pro older riders, including Nick Skelton, use the gym daily and combine riding with other forms of exercise to stay on top form, but there are other things you can do to keep your body in good nick. “Many riders have…

1 Start with your strengths Focus on your strengths first when making a training plan as it helps you recognise and remember your strong points. If you’re an accurate rider, always make a plan based on accuracy. This focuses you on what you can do, making you feel confident. 2 Set clear goals Select clear and simple objectives that are achievable but also require your focus. For example, ensuring you ride straight after every fence. Don’t try to do too much – your brain can only process one thing at a time and trying to focus on too many things will knock your confidence. 3 Measure your progress Having set an achievable goal, judge yourself against it. If your goal is to achieve clean transitions, then measure yourself against how…

MEET THE EXPERT MIA PALLES-CLARK is a show jumper and coach who’s based in Suffolk. A talented lady, she can teach in fluent German, and regularly rides and trains at Oakland Stud, visit www.oaklandstud.com IF YOUR HORSE sometimes struggles to bend, or feels heavy in front, you need to work on his suppleness. The more supple your horse is, the easier he’ll find it to perform lateral movements, and you’ll notice how much lighter and easier he feels in your hand when he’s jumping. Here are two easy exercises that I find are quick and easy to set up. EXERCISE 1 Engage his hind leg Riding over poles through a corner encourages your horse to really get his hind legs underneath him, which helps to improve his suppleness and also…

A new Champion hat For reliable protection, our winner can choose a new hat from Champion’s PAS 015 hat and helmet range, which includes: • The Champion Ventair Deluxe skull cap, as worn by many of the world’s best riders • The new Evolution Pro • The Evolution Couture with Swarovski crystals and a mock-croc finish • The X-Air Plus See the full Champion range at www.championhats.co.uk A range of Rambo goodies The team at Horseware will supply our winner’s lucky new horse with a range of awesome goodies including; a Rambo Duo turnout rug (pictured), a Rambo Air Max Cooler, a Rambo Fly Buster with Vamoose, Rambo travel boots and a Rambo head collar. Visit www.horseware.com  to see the full Horseware range. Horse food Ð…

1 First, don’t be tempted to hose your horse’s legs off as mud fever isn’t actually caused by bacteria in the mud, as was once thought, but by opportunist skin bacteria already on his legs. Research has now confirmed that the wetting and chilling effect of hosing allows the bacteria to penetrate the skin and invade the deeper layers, causing mud fever. 2 If your horse is stabled at night, apply soft indoor leg wraps directly on top of his muddy legs. These wraps will warm up his legs, wicking away the moisture and drying the mud. The next morning, remove the wraps and brush the dried mud off the legs with a stiff brush. Brush any dried mud off the inside of the wraps, then leave to dry for…

GIL RILEY Is the managing equine vet at Pool House Equine Clinic. For more information on the practice visit www.poolhousevets.com/Equine Spotting and avoiding colic Q My horse has started to come in at night and displayed colic-like signs after two or three days of his new routine. After talking to my vet and walking my horse in-hand the colic passed. What could have caused it? Anna Wilson, Northants A It sounds as though your horse had a mild form of spasmodic colic, and this can occur for a number of reasons, including: Grass intake – if the colic signs appeared after turnout, your horse may have eaten too much grass, or his grass may have been too rich. This can cause gassy colic, which is often short-lived, but painful for…

TOM BEECH BVSc MRCVS EDO is a vet and an equine osteopath EDO. He’s a member of the International Register of Equine Osteopathy EDO® and Worldwide Alliance of Equine Osteopaths. Find out more at www.theosteopathicvet.co.uk Why osteopathy is a useful therapy Q What is equine osteopathy? Cathy Carlisle, Lincolnshire A Human osteopathy was created in the 1890s and has been steadily evolving ever since. It’s a manual therapy that aims to improve the mobility and function of all parts of the body, be that the skeleton, muscles, ligaments, joints or organs. It has been known for a long time that all body systems are intrinsically linked, and so they all must be functioning correctly. A problem in one system can often cause problems in another, so the whole body must…

ALEXA THOMSON’S 15HH coloured cob Ralph was a little on the round side coming into winter last year. Like many natives, Ralph is prone to weight gain and every spring Alexa finds herself letting his girth down yet another hole! Determined to use winter to her and Ralph’s advantage, Alexa set out to slim Ralph down. Less rugs, less feed As autumn turned into winter Alexa didn’t give in to the temptation to pile on the rugs. Instead, she kitted Ralph out in a simple, lightweight rain sheet – enough to keep him snug while allowing him to burn more calories in order to keep himself warm. In addition, after having Ralph’s hay analysed, Alexa sought out the expert advice of an equine nutritionist. She was advised to give Ralph…

Harold Moore Stable & Yard Broom PRICE £22.99 CONTACT www.haroldmoore.co.uk Ease of use Lightweight and easy to use with a good length handle. However, I did find the screw-in handle became loose on a few occasions. Effectiveness The softer bristles don’t work as well on cobbles, and the angle of the head meant the broom worked better when pushed away from me. Value for money This does a great job, and there’s nothing much not to like, but it did struggle with an uneven surface. Fynalite Yard Broom With Scraper PRICE £26.50 CONTACT www.fynalite.co.uk Ease of use The angle of the head makes it easy to use and puts less strain on my back. It’s lightweight and the longer grip handle was secure to hold. Effectiveness The stiff bristles meant…