Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 472 i Your Horse

WE’RE SPREADING CHRISTMAS cheer in this issue. It’s packed with great horsey gift ideas for all the family - yes, for the female readers among us that includes the important men and children in your life - as well as the chance to win one of each item in our festive giveaway (p98). As well as helping you write your Christmas list, of course Santa visiting means winter, bringing with it a whole host of things to think about when it comes to your horse (and that’s without mentioning a certain virus as well). That’s why this issue also has a winter health theme. Vet Leona Bramall shares insight into the most common reasons she’s called out to yards in winter. They’re all preventable, as she explains on page 66,…

MILES FOR MONEY IN BABY OLIVER’S MEMORY Becky Farr from Caerphilly is celebrating hitting the 1,000-mile finish line. She pledged to complete this year and raise money for four-month-old Oliver Vivian-Price, who was diagnosed with a rare brain condition and sadly died in July. “I’m good friends with Oliver’s family and seeing how much pain they were in made me want to raise money for such a worthy cause,” says Becky, who accrued £1,132 on board her gelding Zeus. The money goes to SmilesforOliver, a charity set up in the infant’s memory to support children with cancer and their families. “We started the challenge in January. When Oliver passed away we were at 700 miles and the thought of how he kept smiling throughout his treatment really kept me going.”…

Strange tastes Max eats random things — once he ate someone’s Apple watch. We joke that we’ll have to get him a Hannibal Lecter mask to stop him. Thankfully no injuries to his insides! Sophie Jasmine Payne, Facebook Best brew Nothing beats a post-ride cup of tea. Sophie Joy, Facebook No stopping me We came second in the showjumping championships so I’m going to pull a face whether you like it or not. Fleur Buxton, Facebook Sea view Henry and Raegan at Lytham St Anne’s beach Sarah Scott, by email Stella sunset A magical evening schooling my mare, Stella. Hannah Pont, by email Join us on facebookatfacebook.com/yourhorse Tweet us on twitter.com/yourhorse Follow us on instagram.com/yourhorse…

To enter, visit yourhorse.co.uk/bucas472 FIRST PRIZE* SECOND PRIZE* THIRD PRIZE* WITH WINTER JUST around the corner Bucas has put together an amazing prize package for one lucky Your Horse reader. Whoever wins this is going to have one very smartly dressed horse — he really will be the envy of his yard mates! There are also two fabulous additional bundles for the second and third prize winners. Bucas has been designing and making cutting edge rugs and other related equestrian products since 1981. The Bucas tradition is to produce pioneering intelligent horse rugs that use only the best technical fabrics and modern designs to ensure your horse is comfortable,…

Get to grips with grids Q What are the benefits of gridwork and can you suggest a simple grid to do at home? Miranda Friar, West Sussex Sarah says… Gridwork done correctly encourages your horse to engage his core and improve his flexibility. It can also be used to address specific jumping issues for different horses. For the rider, it helps you to focus on your position and balance, as the grid sets you up for a good stride to each fence. Get set up In terms of equipment, I prefer ground poles that don’t roll, so I like using half round poles or thin fence slats, which I paint white to improve visibility. Start by working over trotting poles. A sequence of three or four is ideal — never use…

Deputy editor Allison Lowther: If, like me, your schooling sessions can lack attention to detail, dressage pro Wade Barley uses a simple technique that will get you and your horse thinking. Give it a try - I’m sure you’ll be impressed. Page 48 Production editor Gill Shaw: Going on a guided ride is the perfect way to discover interesting new hacking routes. After the difficult year we’ve all had, it’s so nice to look ahead and plan new adventures. Page 10 Dr Kieran O’Brien MRCVS: Heavy downpours are a regular occurrence in the UK, and it’s interesting to learn how a horse’s coat is designed to help them deal with rain - often better than you might think. Page 78 ACPAT veterinary physiotherapist Gillian Tabor: Topline is so important in horses, and…

Ever wondered what happens to the rescued horses and ponies you read about in the news? Wonder no more… Four starving donkeys rescued during Storm Dennis in February are now thriving. Storm, Dennis, Marina and her foal Splash were rescued from a site in Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, as part of a joint operation between The Donkey Sanctuary, World Horse Welfare and the RSPCA. The donkeys were found living among barbed wire and shards of glass and had nothing to protect them from torrential rain and wind. Marina was in particularly poor condition. Her hooves were so overgrown that she was in pain even when standing still. She had sores on her face and legs, and lack of food meant she struggled to produce milk for her foal. “They were living among…

Make sure that you and the company you choose adhere to the government’s latest guidelines on group gatherings. “Covid-19 regulations are something we are always thinking about. The government’s guidelines change often, so don’t be caught out,” warns Danielle Rowles. “My group sizes are a maximum of five people (plus me) and I always remind people that they must follow the guidelines. If they have any Covid-19 symptoms or have been in contact with someone who has, they don’t come. “You are naturally a distance apart on horseback, but be mindful when you’re together before or after the ride. Wear a mask if you’re indoors and sanitie your hands regularly.” ■ Check the latest government advice at gov.uk/coronavirus.…

Riding establishments that offer equestrian activities for those from black, Asian and ethnic minority communities, as well as disabled people, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds and those with long-term health conditions, could be eligible for a cash injection. Sport England has awarded £150,000 of National Lottery funding as part of its Tackling Inequalities Fund to assist establishments over the hardships caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Awards will range from £300 to £10,000. Sport England’s chief executive Tim Hollingsworth said: “The Tackling Inequalities Fund is supporting the valuable community infrastructure that is so important in keeping the nation active. We know from our research and data that there are existing inequalities between groups when it comes to activity levels, and Covid-19 has re-enforced these.”…

1 Be realistic Are you a similar size and therefore able to ride the same type of horse? It’s not just height you need to consider, but also how much spark the horse has and how strong he becomes when excitable, for example. If you have a long list of requirements, be realistic about how many boxes one horse can tick. 2 Manage expectations If you want to hack and your child wants to compete, it could be a dream arrangement. But what if you both want to compete - at different levels - or a competitive horse for you is too hot for a novice child to handle? 3 Prepare to pay more Chances are you’ll need a good quality all-rounder with a proven ridden history. You know the…

CHRISTMAS EVE RIDE I love a Christmas Eve ride around the village on my horse Tom, with both of us draped in tinsel. Also, every year his nan and grandad make him a stocking out of an old sock filled with apples and carrots. Helen Milbank TREAT TIME Opening his Christmas present last year — a new feed bowl and some treats. Jane Hall ONE FOR HIM, ONE FOR ME I always buy horse things for my horse and I get given horse-related presents myself. Yvonne Lambert TINSEL TOWN I always buy a horsey advent calendar for my horse Mac, and his Christmas present every year is a box of Stud Muffins. I decorate his stable with tinsel and ride over the festive period all glittered up with tinsel and…

Be patient! Muscle doesn’t happen overnight. Visible muscle changes take a good six to eight weeks. You increase the number of muscle fibres that work inside the muscle to start with, which is why you get an apparent increase in strength and function, but the development of muscle is a much slower process. 4 REASONS WHY TOPLINE IS LOST ■ Pain and change in movement ■ Nutritional issues ■ Exercise (lack of/wrong) ■ Saddle fit/rider issues 3 SIGNS YOU’RE OVERDOING IT ■ Stiffness ■ Behavioural changes ■ Lack of progress…

■ Imagine that you are riding your horse when you’re long-reining, so always look ahead at where you want him to go. Drive your horse to where you are looking. ■ By ‘drive’ I mean use your voice and a little encouragement by giving the long-lines a gentle shake on your horse’s side where your leg would go. ■ You can tell that your horse is forward because he will be tracking up. You should feel as if you are marching with purpose — with that comes the straightness you’re after.…

Dressage tests p86 Richard Baldwin is an FEI (International) Eventing judge and British Dressage List 1 (grand prix) judge. Richard has ridden and trained horses and riders at all levels within eventing and dressage. Improving your jumping p88 Sarah Tubbs is a respected Level 4 coach and coach educator for British Showjumping. She is based at her facility, Marwood Equestrian, in the north east of England. Double bridles p90 Diana Fisher is a Society of Master Saddlers master saddle fitter and qualified bridle fitter, and chair of the SMS research committee. She’s also a British Dressage UKCC Level 3 accredited coach. Buying horses p92 Rebecca Stojak is an associate solicitor specialising in equine law at law firm Geldards LLP. If you have any equine law queries, email rebecca.stojak@geldards.com or call…

Double action Q What special action does a double bridle have that others don’t? Bea Kelly, London Diana says… The double bridle has a combination of two bits — a bradoon (snaffle) and a curb. The bradoon acts directly on the tongue, the bars of the mouth and the lips. It is the main rein for steering and restraining the horse. The curb should lie just below the bradoon and should be 0.5cm narrower. Curb it The action of the curb is determined by the size and shape of the ‘port’ — the curve in the middle of the bit. A larger port allows the tongue to move into it, which, in turn, would put more action on the bars of the mouth, whereas a lower port puts more action on…

The owner: Josh Nixon The horse: Nutmeg, a 15-year-old Welsh section A driving pony The problem: Nutmeg is prone to laminitis Clare says: As Nutmeg has had laminitis in the past, Josh is right to address the issue of her weight now as being overweight can increase the risk of laminitis. Nutmeg is turned out during the day and Josh says the grass is sparse, but she is a good doer and is clearly getting extra calories from somewhere. Ideally, Josh should restrict her time at grass or use a grazing muzzle to reduce grass intake. She will need non-grass turnout or stabling for the remainder of the day. Josh should also resist the urge to put a rug on Nutmeg unless it’s really cold — this will help her burn off calories to keep…

STAY CALM eCalm is a non-magnesium natural calmer developed by leading veterinary surgeons and scientists. It has proven results and has been shown to influence the natural gut microbiome which, in turn, supports calmness and wellbeing. It also maintains a healthy skin and coat. RRP £37.99 (1kg tub) FOR STOCKISTS nettexequine.com IT’S IN THE BAG The stylish LeMieux Luxury Canvas Grooming Bag is ideal for travel or home. It has adjustable velcro partitions inside, plus internal and front pockets for extra storage. RRP £49.95 FOR STOCKISTS lemieuxproducts.com SING A RAINBOW Two new organic cotton sweatshirts have joined the Annabel Brocks Rainbow Collection, which supports and raises money for NHS Charities Together. Available in light or dark grey, the relaxed fit sweatshirts feature rainbow elbow patches in non-toxic inks. Inspired by…

Have you always loved animals? I think I was born an animal lover, but when I was four years old we got a blue Great Dane puppy called Lulu and she really kicked it off. She was ‘the one’ - to this day the best dog I’ve ever known. She was like my sister. What inspired you to become a vet? The first time we took Lulu to the vets I pestered my mum to let me go too. I met the vet, Mr Benson, and he was amazing. He became my mentor and has seen me go from 3ft-nothing, saying I wanted to be a vet, all the way through to today. What were your expectations of the job? I was inspired by the James Herriot-style vet, driving round…

Bear in mind the following when deciding where to ride: 1 Do your research. Look online, check out social media and get recommendations from other riders. 2 Be honest about your ability. Not being truthful about your riding experience and confidence (and your horse’s) is frustrating for your fellow riders and can be dangerous, too. Being honest enables you to be placed in a group with similar level hackers which is more fun and better value.’ 3 Check what you’re signing up for Do you want an all-day hack or a few hours? Varying terrain and countryside can be hard work (think opening gates/ ducking under branches, for example) so you need to be fit and comfortable for the duration. As does your horse! 4 Enjoy yourself. All the tricky…

FINLAND IS HOME to only one native breed of horse - named, appropriately enough, the Finnhorse - so it’s no surprise that this striking and versatile equine was declared the national horse of Finland in 2007. The breed was developed in the country’s dense forests and snowy pastures into a strong, hardy, surefooted companion who was equally at home as a farm horse, riding and cavalry mount, sled and carriage horse, and as a harness racer - in 1817 the first trotting races were held on the ice of the Aura River. Today the Finnhorse is highly prized for its ability in trotting races and is said to be the fastest coldblood in the world. There has been a Studbook for the breed since 1907, with a distinction drawn as…

How I make it work: Having a flexible employer and living virtually next door to the yard Karen Abrey has spent more than 20 years working for the Environment Agency. A relative latecomer to riding, she finds that time spent with her gypsy cob Pippin is the perfect antidote to a demanding role. Work life… I’ve worked for the Environment Agency (EA) for 21 years across a variety of roles, including as a freshwater ecologist (working with macro-invertebrates and fish). Around 15 years ago, I started working in Water Resources, which balances the needs of the environment/ ecology with those of people and elements like drinking water, agriculture, etc. When I met my husband, Graham, 12 years ago, I moved from Devon to Somerset and became senior water resources officer.…

Walk this way Q What does a dressage judge want to see from a free walk on a long rein in terms of aids and the horse’s response? Savannah Taylor, Devon Richard says… Judges want to see the horse being allowed to stretch forwards and down, but critically, the horse should be ‘seeking’ the contact into a longer rein contact. The rider should also allow the horse, through their seat, to move with freedom and relaxation through the body, resulting in as much ground cover with their steps as possible. As a result, the horse should be moving through a relaxed, supple frame while maintaining consistency of tempo. A soft contact should remain - the horse takes this forwards to a longer neck and rein so the rider isn’t simply throwing…

As advertised Q I am looking at putting my horse up for sale. How important is the information that I include in the advert? Sarah Sheridan, Kent Rebecca says… The advertisement is extremely important. Often people don’t realise that anything stated in an advert — even if it’s only on social media — can be relied upon by buyers. As a result, the seller can be legally accountable for what they have said if they sell a horse knowing the advert is not accurate, since the buyer may have relied upon their misrepresentation. This is true for both dealers and private individuals. A seller cannot tell half-truths (for example, ‘My horse is good to hack out’) when what the seller actually knows is that their horse is only good to hack…