Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 437 i Your Horse

Hello March is a funny time of year for horse owners. I always get here and breathe a sigh of relief – we’ve just about made it through winter – but the reality is that fields haven’t dried yet and grass still needs to grow. Suddenly I find myself with a horse desperate to get out of his stable and enjoy the warmer temperatures, but mud fever and lost shoes still threaten to ruin the fun. Sound familiar? Our feature on p78 is a must-read to help you through the seasonal change so that you come out the other side with a healthy, happy and, most importantly, sound horse for the summer ahead. The good news is that the clocks go forwards in a few short weeks and we can…

With over 600 outbreaks in the UK every year, strangles is a major concern for horse owners. Caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi, the highly infectious disease causes pain and distress and can, in some cases, prove fatal. Affected yards are often shut down for several months, but recent research could prove to be the light at the end of the tunnel. The Animal Health Trust, in collaboration with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, the Karolinska Institute and Intervacc AB, has developed a vaccine called Strangvac. So far it’s proved effective, protecting 80% of horses against strangles. “Strangvac is an extremely exciting vaccine,” explains Dr Andrew Waller, head of bacteriology at the Animal Health Trust. “The vaccine was designed using information from sequencing the DNA of Streptococcus equi and…

An app that allows horse lovers to track their rides as well as share pictures and videos with their friends is due to launch in the spring. Huufe, which will be available from Apple and Google app stores, is a social media platform that allows riders to build their own profiles and follow friends. Using GPS, the app tracks rides and has a safety feature that alerts emergency contacts should you have a fall. It also contains a calendar where you can store reminders for important events in your horse’s diary, including worming, vaccinations and farrier visits.…

As spring rolls around and horses are turned out more, an age-old question resurfaces: is individual or group turnout better? While individual turnout offers you more control over your horse and limits his risk of injury, there’s something to be said for the sight of a herd of horses, grooming each other and playing just like they would in the wild. And it seems Your Horse Magazine readers are divided too. Marilyn Roberts says: “After losing a horse because of a kick from another pony and another one fracturing her jaw, I prefer single turnout. They still see each other and interact, but safely.” On the other hand, Debbie Groom says: “I prefer group turnout. Horses are herd animals, love to groom and take it in turns watching when others…

One for the wall Thanks to the very kind man on the Your Horse stand at BETA who let me have this massive poster as a souvenir. I took it home to show Bella and she was very impressed to see herself on the front cover! Jo Taylor, Facebook #FirstTimeForEverything Just entered #YHGoalGetter! I love my little horse. Vicky Wansbrough, Twitter Reaching for the stars I’ve just entered the #YHGoalGetter competition with @DodsonHorrell@YourHorse. I really want to try to achieve my aim of a double clear at BE90 this season! Georgie Franks, Twitter Old timers Happy birthday to my ‘oldies’ Kenrick, who is turning 26 (left) and Nonchalant who is three years younger. Hester, Twitter Life hack! Save money on touchscreen riding gloves by making holes in your normal ones!…

WHEN DOES SPRING begin? That was possibly the most-asked question as winter dragged on, but according to the Met Office, spring begins on 1 March — hooray! This is such good news for horse riders everywhere, but especially our #hack1000miles challengers. Sunshine, warmer temperatures, longer days — and when the clocks change at the end of March we’ll finally all be able to look forward to some glorious hacking in the evenings. Remember, every mile counts and even a quick ride around the block is worth it. Did you know that if you ride just three miles a day, you’ll pass the 1000 miles finish post in a year? But it doesn’t matter how long it takes you, the main goal is to enjoy the challenge and the opportunity to…

1 He has completed six Badmintons and six Burghleys, his best placing being ninth at Badminton in 2004. 2 In 2005, he represented Britain at the European Championships at Blenheim riding Park Pilot. 3 Matthew was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2012 and drove himself to his GP’s surgery alone, without uttering a word to his family. 4 He suffered depression and admits there were times he considered committing suicide. 5 Matthew has around 20 horses to event this year and will donate prize money to the charities Mind and Orchid. He will also contest the Best Western Hotels and Macmillan Ride of Their Lives one mile one furlong flat race at York racecourse on 16 June to raise money for Macmillan.…

Matthew Daly Para-rider Matthew Daly is based at Scropton Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) centre with his horse, Womble. As his mother Glynnis Daly explains, having a team around Matt is helping him to achieve his riding goals. “Matt’s big interest is showjumping and he helped with the first para-showjumping league last year,” she says. “The team have helped him enormously. His trainer coaches Matt, rides Womble and also liaises with the equine physio and the saddle fitter. “The team at the RDA has always been supportive and are superb people. He couldn’t do it without those around him.” Terie Swaine When Terie’s pony was struck down with laminitis, her farrier, Dean Bland, worked with Terie’s vet. “I was regularly on the phone to both Dean and the vet,”…

1920s In the 1920s, Harlow Brothers began operations in the depths of the recession when brothers Reg and Vernon — who had been making ladders and wheelbarrows in the back garden of the family house — decided to go into business on their own. The business of making small sheds and chicken huts began in a field, which had been left to them by their mother in Long Whatton’s Hathern Road, and that’s where the company’s headquarters stands today. 1930s The business prospered and the thirties saw the brothers employing some 30 members of staff, mainly from the local village. Vernon Harlow’s poultry knowledge enabled the business to expand and he set up an accredited farm on the green at Long Whatton, where poultry houses were designed and manufactured. This…

MEET THE EXPERT HAYLEY WATSONGREAVES was crowned British Dressage supreme national champion last year and was a member of the British Nations Cup team in Aachen. Hayley trains and teaches from her base in South Gloucestershire. IT’S EASY TO UNDERESTIMATE the benefits of lungeing your horse. But not only is it an opportunity to work on the fundamentals of training, but it also gives you a chance to assess how your horse is moving from the ground. If you’ve got a youngster, lungeing will help him to recognise and adhere to your vocal commands when you’re next onboard. It also works wonders if you have a fizzy horse. Just a few minutes on each rein before your session will help to focus and make him more attentive to your commands.…

IN THIS UNIQUE, money-can’t-buy competition, two lucky Your Horse readers will win a package of training, advice, feed, top-quality gear and more, to help them achieve their training and competition goals in 2018. This month we reveal the Dodson & Horrell ambassadors tasked with making your competition dreams come true. It’s your final chance to enter and be in with a chance of winning this exciting prize. TWO WINNERS will receive all this: • £50 worth of feed vouchers for use on Dodson & Horrell’s Performance Range every month for a year – worth £600 in total • A visit from one of Dodson & Horrell’s equine nutritionists to help you tailor the ideal feeding plan for your horse • Dodson & Horrell branded gear, including a Le…

1 Choose really low sugar and starch feeds to maintain normal metabolic functionality. Some mixes and cubes will claim to be low in sugar and starch — and they probably are relative to other cereal-based feeds — but they may still contain between 12 and 20% starch. Dengie fibre feeds contain only 2%, which is truly low! 2 Monitor your horse’s weight by using a weigh tape and condition score regularly so that you spot changes early. If you notice your horse’s weight going up, restrict grazing using a muzzle, bare paddock or track system. 3 Weigh the hay/haylage you are feeding. If you’re not sure how much your horse or pony should receive, ask a nutritionist. 4 Soaking hay helps to reduce sugar content but doesn’t change the calorie…

WHEN CATHERINE MACE NELSON found her 16.1hh horse Jack in the field with a gaping wound, it was the small, seemingly harmless cut beneath it that caused more concern… “I’d put Jack out in the field overnight and went to check on him the next morning, but he was nowhere to be seen,” she says. “The other horses came to me, but Jack was in the next field with blood running down his hindleg. There was also a flap of skin hanging off. We think he’d backed into some barbed wire hidden in the hedge. “The vet cleaned the wound, but then spotted a puncture wound on the front of his hock, overlying his tibiotarsal joint. Alarm bells started to ring and we rushed him to the clinic. A long…

You wouldn’t think twice about wearing a support if you were injured, and a similar logic is now being used to treat leg injuries in horses. Equestride’s tendon support boots aid flexor tendon and suspensory ligament injuries by helping to resist the overextension of the fetlock when the joint is loaded. The boots are adjustable to adapt the level of support they offer as your horse recovers. “Our horse Tiger injured his tendon and vets recommended the normal procedure for a tendon injury – box rest combined with hand walking,” says equine behaviour expert Richard Maxwell. “I called another vet that I’d spoken to before and he recommended the Equestride boot. “Tiger was fitted with the boot and the vet said to work him, not in-hand, but ridden, starting with…

Springtime laminitis risks Q How does the warmer weather affect grass, and is my pony at more risk of laminitis? Charlotte Milton, Berkshire A It’s good to be more aware of the laminitis risk as the weather starts to warm up and spring begins to bloom. This is because of changing sugar levels in grazing at this time of year, and it’s the carbohydrate called fructan that is usually to blame. Fructan facts Fructans are naturally occurring carbohydrates that are stored in plants. During daylight, grass undergoes photosynthesis to make sugars – sucrose being the primary output, along with fructose and glucose. Any excessive sugars are then stored as fructans. High fructan levels are associated with an increased risk and incidence of pasture-associated laminitis. They’re found in grazing when photosynthesis…

Tips to help build muscle QI’d like to build my horse’s muscle in preparation for eventing. In terms of feeding, what do I need to take into account? Margaret Darlow, New Forest A It’s important to understand that nutrition isn’t the only piece of puzzle when it comes to building muscle. You’ll also need to focus on fitness and training to build your horse’s strength. When it comes to feeding, the main ingredient for building muscle is protein. Your horse will obtain protein from a variety of sources in his diet, including grass, forage and hard feed. Some ingredients, such as alfalfa, are particularly abundant sources of protein. Protein is made up of amino acids, some of which need to be taken in the diet. These are called essential amino…

Showmaster teddy fleece lunge roller RRP: £29.90 SIZES: Pony, cob, full BUY AT: kramer.co.uk A padded roller lined with a cosy, soft teddy fleece for extra comfort. It’s fully adjustable and has 10 rings so you can long-rein or attach training aids easily if you need them. Shires Equestrian Products fleece-lined lunge cavesson RRP: £23.99 COLOURS: Black, blue, raspberry SIZES: Pony, cob, full, extra full FOR STOCKISTS: shiresequestrian.com A nylon web cavesson with synthetic wool fleece padding at the poll and noseband to help prevent rubbing. Cottage Craft Comfyweb lunge line with markers RRP: £22.99 BUY AT: harryhall.com This may look like any other lunge line, but take a closer look and you’ll see it’s a little different. It has 10m, 15m and 20m markers, making it easy to lunge…

Dublin Country boot socks RRP £5.99 JAZZ UP YOUR WELLIES These extra-long boot socks have a generous cuff, which you can fold over the top of your boots. They’re available in a great range of colours and designs and will brighten up your day. COLOURS: Orchid/navy, charcoal/ red, berry/blue, navy/sky SIZE: One size FOR STOCKISTS: dublinclothing.co.uk Stierna Performance riding socks RRP £20 REDUCES LEG FATIGUE These socks are designed to provide light graduated pressure for improved blood circulation and feature a mesh construction for maximum ventilation. They have a non-slip cuff to ensure they don’t fall down and an anatomical toe box for a unique left and right fit. COLOUR: Black SIZES: 35-37, 38-40, 41-43 FOR STOCKISTS: stierna.com Aztec Diamond Equestrian Coolmax RRP £6 FASHIONABLE AND FUNCTIONAL A…

Associate editor Allison Lowther: I’m constantly working on my position in the saddle, who isn’t? I found Sarah Payne’s feature on position fascinating and I’m using her exercises to help me keep improving. See page 46 Writer and online editor Amy Moore: I was shocked to hear about the use of donkey skin in cosmetics. We investigate this horrific trade and what one charity is doing to help. See page 12 Writer Stacey Carter: I’ve got a mare who can be particularly pushy, so I know that bolshie horses can be a nightmare! Our leading feature with Patrick Gracey will help make your life a lot easier by teaching your horse some good manners. See page 86 SUBSCRIBE  today and enjoy six months of Your Horse magazine for £23! Never…

Brooke has launched a collectable pin badge to honour the millions of horses whose lives were lost in the First World War. The pin badge, which is part of the charity’s ‘Every Horse Remembered’ campaign and depicts the campaign’s logo, will raise funds for working horses, donkeys and mules all over the world. British event rider Harry Meade was recently named as an ambassador for Brooke’s campaign. “It’s so important to honour the bravery of the millions of horses who served alongside our soldiers in world war one,” he says. “I’m supporting Brooke’s Every Horse Remembered campaign to help them reach £1 million in tribute to our war horses and to raise awareness of today’s working animals around the world.” Visit thebrooke.org…

PODCAST: CONNECTION TRAINING Hannah Weston chats to #HorseHour about using a positive reward system to build trust between you and your horse. She explains how to tackle issues like spooking and having a pushy horse. www.horsehour.co.uk THE LOST WAR HORSES OF CAIRO, THE PASSION OF DOROTHY BROOKE, by Grant Hayter Menzies This biography tells the story of Dorothy Brooke, founder of equine charity Brooke, Action for Working Horses and Donkeys. After discovering thousands of former British horses left behind after war in Egypt in 1930, she creates an organisation to help them. VITALITY BRACELET by Pegasus Jewellery Pegasus Jewellery has created a bracelet to combine glamour with therapeutic benefits (and it looks pretty nice next to a pair of riding gloves too). It uses magnets to…

1 Go on fun rides Dates are being released and there are plenty all around the country to look forward to. These are often an opportunity to ride in places that otherwise aren’t open to horse riders (thanks to friendly farmers) and many include cross-country jumps. But if jumping isn’t your thing don’t let it put you off — just go around them and enjoy yourself. 2 Ride somewhere new Whether it’s a fun ride or boxing up to a new place to hack, a change of scenery is exciting for both you and your horse. So get out there and explore the UK. 3 Get your friends over and hack together Forget ladies who lunch — we’re all about humans who hack! Get a group of your friends together…

“There were times that I wanted to give up on horses and on life. I would have been happy to walk off and shoot myself with a 12-bore” MATTHEW WRIGHT’S LIFE seems to consist of two halves. There is Before Cancer and After Cancer. The Matthew from Before Cancer is the self-confessed bad lad; the one who was intolerant, unfeeling, sharp and short-fused. Coiled like a spring, it would only take an ill-timed word, an insignificant incident, a snide glance to unleash his inner devil. Then there is the Matthew After Cancer. The man who is sympathetic, empathetic, considerate and calm. The Matthew who would happily try to help someone who is suffering as he has suffered. “Having cancer has changed me. I’m a different person,” says the 35-year-old event…

WITH EQUINE ENTHUSIASTS scattered across the globe it comes as little surprise that the equine world has acquired such an extensive vernacular. As a proverb from 1662 says: “Let him that would be happy for a day go to the barber; for a week marry a wife; for a month, buy him a new horse.” It’s certainly true that horses play a vital part in our wellbeing — it’s even said that the Queen prefers them to humans. As the following shows, the horse world uses precise terminology. Bracketed dates indicate when the words were coined. Fossple (Cumberland dialect 1783) — the impression of a horse’s hoof upon soft ground Trizzling (Devon dialect) — the slow, lazy trot of horses Skewboglish (Lincolnshire dialect) — of a horse: apt to shy…

ONE LUCKY READER WILL WIN: ✶ A private lesson with James Sommerville* ✶ 24 bags of Speedi-Beet or Fibre Beet* ✶ Saddle pad ✶ Softshell jacket ✶ Gilet and cap 20 RUNNERS UP WILL WIN: ✶ A bag of Speedi-Beet or Fibre-Beet ✶ Cap IF YOU’RE KEEN to sharpen your riding skills or want to move up the ranks in eventing, what better way to kick things off than by training with a rider who’s at the top of the sport? We’ve teamed up with British Horse Feeds and are offering one lucky winner a private lesson with James Sommerville. The 28-year-old has contested Badminton CCI4* and has a myriad of three-star placings under his belt. You’ll visit a yard in Yorkshire (exact details to be arranged between you and…

MEET THE EXPERT GEMMA PORTERRAWLINGS is a BHS stage 5 coach in complete horsemanship. She also runs GPR Equestrian Services, offering tuition, BHS exam training, equine sports massage and livery. THE ARRIVAL OF spring can often feel like the light at the end of a very long tunnel after months of mucking out, wading through muddy paddocks and defrosting frozen troughs. Once the clocks go forward, your horse has more opportunity to feel the sun on his back, nibble some grass and muck around with his mates — and you can finally get in some much-needed riding. “Spring is generally a time for upping your horse’s workload and turning him out for longer,” says Gemma Porter-Rawlings, a BHS stage 5 coach and yard manager in Cambridgeshire. “It can be tempting…

MEET THE EXPERT PATRICK GRACEY is a recommended trainer for Intelligent Horsemanship and works with horses with a whole range of difficulties. He particularly enjoys helping problem loaders. HAVING A HORSE who barges, runs off, spooks all over you or plants when you’re leading him is frustrating and, if you happen to get in the way, can be a safety issue too. But it shouldn’t be this way and if your horse is too hard to handle, then it’s time for change. Patrick Gracey shares four easy to follow exercises to alter your horse’s behaviour for good. Why horses become unruly It can be too easy to put up with a horse who is a bit of a bull on the end of a lead rope, mostly because we don’t…

A risk of infection? QA new horse at our yard has had strangles in the past. Is there a risk he could still be carrying it, and what signs do I need to watch out for? Daisy Grier, Carlisle A Once a strangles infection has cleared the horse should be clear of the disease. However, a small proportion of horses become carriers. In these cases, the bacteria that causes strangles lives within the guttural pouch and can’t be attacked by the immune system. The guttural pouch is part of a small tube at the back of the horse’s throat called the eustachian tube. Bacteria within this pouch will intermittently be shed by the horse through nasal discharge, but very often carriers actually don’t show any visible signs at all, and…

Hormonal support QI have a moody mare who struggles to control her hormones. She can be quite aggressive towards other horses. Is there anything I can feed to help with this? Anastasia Parker, Cambridgeshire A Moody mares can be a real handful, so finding a supplement that helps is often the Holy Grail. Mares are seasonally polyestrous, which means they have several periods of oestrus when they are sexually receptive to the stallion throughout the year. There is a period of sexual inactivity in the winter months called anestrus, before they restart the cycle again in the spring, when the day length gets longer. During this transitional phase, a mare’s behaviour may noticeably change as oestrus is erratic. After this transitional phase, when the mare’s cycle settles down to a…

1 Before using any training aid, make sure your horse is physically able to do what’s being asked. Using any gadget when he has an underlying problem won’t help at all. 2 Read the instructions before using the lungeing aid so you understand how it works and how to fit it. If you’re unsure, ask for advice from your trainer first. 3 Always start with the aid on the loosest setting so your horse gets used to wearing it. Adjust it gradually. 4 Don’t expect miracles. Any lungeing aid will only work if your technique is up to scratch. Keep him moving forwards on the lunge and work him evenly on both reins. 5 Keep your sessions short to avoid injury and gradually increase the length of time you use…

‘She’s been my counsellor and a shoulder to cry on’ WHEN CLARE REEVES was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer last April, she’d owned her 14.2hh Connie-cross-cob mare Frankie for less than a month. But by strengthening their bond and committing to the Wobbleberries Challenge (where riders attempt an 80cm British Eventing Class in memory of Hannah Francis and raise money for her charity, Willberry Wonder Pony), Clare has found a way to stay positive. “My cancer is grade 3 and aggressive. So far I’ve had eight chemotherapies, two surgeries, a double mastectomy and a reconstruction,” says Clare. “Frankie has been my only escape and I don’t know how I’d have coped without her. When we bought her, I hadn’t ridden for over 25 years. I rode as a child…

This year sees the launch of an annual safety week for riders, highlighting the importance of correctly fitting and up-to-date safety gear. BETA Safety Week, which has been launched by the British Equestrian Trade Association, will run from 28 April to 6 May. During the week, riders will be encouraged to visit their participating BETA retail member to get their safety equipment checked. Clare Williams of BETA says: “Although there are other safety awareness-raising initiatives in existence, there’s nothing that really stresses the importance of a riding hat or body protector’s provenance, fit, correct fastening or appropriate safety standards. BETA is perfectly placed to do this and we’ll be using all our expert knowledge and resources to get the message across to riders.”…

BUDDY WAS JUST 18 months old when he was found in Bristol in January 2011. He’d been living in a small paddock behind some houses and was only discovered after he escaped and collapsed in a neighbouring garden. His owner had covered him in a rug to disguise how emaciated he was – at 108kg, he weighed just a third of his ideal body weight. There was no time to lose and Buddy was taken to equine rescue charity HorseWorld, where staff worked around the clock to save his life. Closer inspection showed that he was not only severely underweight, but also riddled with redworm and suffering from severe diarrhoea. He was given six blood transfusions and hooked up to a drip to keep him alive. He had to be…

After a 38-year break from riding, I decided to jump on-board again. I needed a new hobby where I could get fit, have some fresh air and improve my wellbeing – and riding ticked all those boxes. So, at 52, I started taking riding lessons. Early in 2016 my partner Chris got me thinking about having my own horse again. We have a fabulous livery yard on a private estate across the road from our home and they had space for me, so I started my search. I wanted something over 16hh and heavyweight, a happy hacker, who’s bombproof and my budget was up to £5,000. Tricky I know! I scoured the adverts online, contacted a few sellers, and then out of the blue my neighbour (an extremely experienced equestrian)…

One of the worst physical legacies of Matthew’s cancer treatment was weight gain. He ballooned from a svelte 11st to 16½st, felt unfit and struggled with the tough demands of training and competing numerous event horses. Since receiving the all-clear last year, and entering the Best Western Hotels and Macmillan Ride of Their Lives one mile one furlong flat race at York racecourse in June to raise money for Macmillan, Matthew has found himself motivated to shed the pounds. “I’ve already lost three stone on my own, simply by burning off more calories than I put in,” he says. “If you’ve got no willpower, don’t bother. “I now lead a more healthy life,” adds Matthew, who is such a keen and competent cook that he appeared on Channel 4’s Come…

1 Be accurate: 15m circles must be 15m, not 18m or 16m. 2 If your horse has three good paces, show them off by giving him enough energy and freedom to move forward. 3 Look up where you’re going. 4 If you’re asked to halt for four seconds at C, make sure you count steadily to four. 5 Remember to smile – you’re meant to enjoy it! 6 However good or bad your test is, use it as a benchmark for improvement. 7 Practise getting a square halt every time when you’re schooling at home. 8 When you’re halting on the centre line in a test, try first and foremost to get a straight halt. Judges sat at C can’t always see if it’s square. A halt that’s not square…

The condition Puncture wounds occur when a sharp object penetrates the full thickness of your horse’s skin, potentially damaging the structures beneath. Foreign bodies and bacteria can also enter his body, meaning there’s a high risk of infection. Puncture wounds can be caused by anything from a splinter to a kick from another horse with clips on his shoes. The most important thing to consider is the injury’s location. A wound on your horse’s body is much less likely to be serious than one over a joint. If bacteria is given direct access to a joint following a puncture wound, infection can quickly establish itself (usually within 24 hours), and if left untreated can lead to the horse being euthanised. Symptoms With puncture wounds, size doesn’t matter – it’s important…

Post-surgery stretches Q My horse has recently had spinal surgery and I’ve been told to do stretches by my vet. What stretches should I do? I’m worried about him overdoing it. Mark Nind, Sussex A The type and frequency of stretches that you will need to do after your horse has had spinal surgery will depend on many things. These include the age, type and expected workload of the horse, type and extent of surgery, and overall condition of the horse and its stage of recovery. It is possible to overstretch joints or soft tissue if the tissues are not accustomed to moving through that range. Some horses are generally more flexible, or stiffer, than others, just like their riders. Therefore it’s a good idea to know what is normal…

This revolutionary stable flooring system has been developed to enhance your horse’s health. Haygain, well known for its range of hay steamers, has turned its focus to stable flooring and launched a revolutionary product, the ComfortStall. Its Orthopedic, Sealed Flooring System was co-developed with Cornell University Veterinary Hospital (one of the best verinary hospitals in the USA) and combines three key vet-recommended components that will benefit both you and your horse. 1 Orthopaedic precision foam forms the heart of ComfortStall. It provides a cushioned and shock-absorbing core to support joints, tendons and ligaments, resulting in less fatigue for your horse. It also offers thermal insulation for warmth, keeping damp to a minimum and providing plenty of give when your horse lies down. 2 The IronClad TopCover provides a stable and…