October issue of Your Horse magazine

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Sophie ChriStianSenSophie ChriStianSen"There's more to me than cerebral palsy!"

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The ride of your lifeDiscover how you (yes you!) can have a blast with the BHS on an incredible adventure overseas and raise vital funds for equine welfare in the process

Imagine cantering across rural Rajasthan, navigating tough terrain in an isolated corner of Patagonia or trekking through a mountain range in

Spain as the sun sets on the horizon, your friends around you. All this is possible with a little help from the British Horse Society so if you’re looking for a challenge that combines your love of riding and travel, look no further.

In 2000 the BHS launched its challenge rides initiative. The idea was to raise money for equine welfare through organised group rides in different locations around the world. Since then hundreds of people have taken part and today the rides operate in Bulgaria, Iceland, Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, India, Jordan, Peru, Spain, Morocco and Lesotho.

“We didn’t want people to just ride round

the block, we wanted to offer a real adventure, an incredible riding experience somewhere amazing in the world,” says BHS ride organiser Wendy Minor. “Since the very start we’ve seen a great response to all of our rides and find that people want to do them for the chance to ride somewhere exotic or to have an experience like none other they’ve had before. Many people have been on one of our rides, made friends and loved the experience so much that they’ve then booked onto a different ride together afterwards.”

Open to allWendy explains that the great thing about the BHS challenge rides is that anyone can sign up. “Riders don’t need to be experts,” she says, “they just need to be competent in

the saddle, willing to muck in, be enthusiastic and happy to ride different types of horses. The rides are most popular with women but we’d love for more men to come along and enjoy the rides with us too.

“The age range really varies so usually there’s a good balance of younger and slightly older riders that makes for a nice group dynamic. Sometimes friends do rides in pairs or groups, sometimes mother and daughter combinations will come together which is lovely,” says Wendy. “We’ve seen people make lifelong friends.”

How does it work?Sign up for a BHS challenge ride and you can expect your group to be made up of between 10-20 riders depending on the ride you’ve choosen. You’ll be supplied with all the

Step into the unknown!

Explore in Iceland

See India on horseback

Have fun, relax and ride!

w w w.yourhorse.co.uk october 2014 your horse

information you need including everything from a packing list to a handbook full of useful information.

“We invite riders to come to the BHS to meet us before their ride. That way we can answer any questions they have and ensure they know what they need to bring and what they should expect,” says Wendy. “Riders will be briefed before they go, then met at the airport on the day of travel.”

So what does it cost we hear you cry? Well, these rides aren’t just a hop and a skip down the road so don’t expect them to be dirt-cheap, and do keep in mind that you’re

paying for a once in a lifetime experience somewhere really quite incredible, as well as raising money for a good cause. “Registration for a ride costs £300 and that secures the rider’s place,” says Wendy. “On top of that, riders will need to make a payment covering their tour cost. This will depend on the ride they choose but as an example, our Spanish challenge ride costs £2,200 (plus registration fee) while our Rajasthan ride in India costs £3,300 (plus registration fee).

The total for all rides includes a minimum donation of £500 to fund the work of BHS Welfare. However, participants are encouraged to raise more, and therefore help more horses, if they can.”

Rides are six to seven days in length and while some will involve camping others will have accommodation – everything from mountain cabins to castles and even forts! Throughout your ride a team of people from the local area will be there to look after you. They’ll know the ride routes and the horses inside out so you can be confident that you’re safe at all times.

“Each day is organised in full and you’ll be accompanied by a BHS representative,” says Wendy. “Some rides are slower in pace,

which means people can enjoy the scenery and have a good chat.

I go on most of the rides with the groups – I feel

very lucky! My favourite is the Inca Trail ride in Peru, it is challenging but it’s so interesting. It really has a bit of everything.”

Why they matterAside from these rides

offering you amazing opportunities, they also help

fund Britain’s largest network of specialist horse welfare officers who assist thousands of horses every year. BHS Welfare also campaigns and educates on a variety of issues including ragwort, strangles and exotic diseases. Every penny raised by BHS challenge rides is spent directly on trying to make a difference to Britain’s horses.

Take in stunning views somewhere you’ve never been before

Wendy on her favourite BHS challenge ride – the

Inca Trail, Peru

YH charity special

See India on horseback

Have fun, relax and ride!

Enjoy your ride with friendsBecome part of a team

Ride stunning trails in Peru

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Exclusive competition

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Enter our competition and you could take home the prize of a lifetime, a horse, plus a whole host of other goodies

including an Equi-Trek Space-Treka worth more than £5,799

For some the dream of owning a horse never becomes a reality, as the expense of this life-changing purchase can be just too much to

manage. That’s why we’ve teamed up with some incredible sponsors to enable one lucky winner to finally realise their horse-owning dream! Win this exclusive Your Horse competition and we’ll help you buy your perfect horse to the value of £5,000 (paid for by the magazine). We’ll also give you all the help and gear you’ll need to get off to the best start with your new partner including a brand new trailer. Yes, you did read that correctly, we’ll give you a trailer!

And these aren’t just any new wheels. This brilliant self-contained, rear-facing horse trailer, the Equi-Trek Space-Treka, is designed to carry all your equipment and two horses while remaining compact and easy to tow. It comes with a separate tack and changing area, fitted with saddle and bridle racks, and coat hooks.

Hassle-free loadingThe Space-Treka also features a low, wide, slip-resistant side ramp make loading much easier and safer. Plus, with its light, spacious Win A Horse is

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interior and safety loading doors to guide your horse in (reducing the risk of him stepping off the side of the ramp), it’s prefect for nervous loaders. Its partitions can even be adjusted to accommodate different sized horses and travelling styles.

Feel safe on the roadOnce your horse is on board you can hit the road, happy in the knowledge that he’s safe and comfortable as he travels facing the rear of the trailer (scientifically proven to be the preferred direction of travel for most horses). Plus, in the self-contained horse area – designed to protect him from traffic and wind noise – your horse will benefit from several windows for light and ventilation along with padded breast bars with an external release system.

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Trainingacademy

Month 4 Impulsion

Proudly sponsored by Albion Saddlemakers

your horse october 2014 w w w.yourhorse.co.uk

Improve your horse’s way of going on the flat and over jumps with expert advice from our coaches Laura Tomlinson and Jay Halim

This year’s Training Academy is guiding you through the scales of training with expert help from our coaches, Olympic dressage star Laura Tomlinson and international

show jumper Jay Halim. These six basic training requirements – relaxation, rhythm, contact or connection, impulsion, straightness and collection – are widely considered the building blocks of horse training and apply whatever your level or discipline.

So far, we’ve covered the first three scales: relaxation, rhythm and contact. These are often referred to as the familiarisation phase, where you

Enjoy audio downloads – download them at www.yourhorse.co.uk/ta

Watch free training videos – simply go online when you see this icon

Access your coaches – simply email them your training questions to getinvolved@ yourhorse.co.uk

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your Training academy planner

Here’s what we’ll be covering each month

MonTH 1 – Relaxation How to develop a flatwork routine and use basic pole work to keep your horse focused and relaxed (issue 388)

MonTH 2 – Rhythm Learn how to establish and recognise a good rhythm in walk, trot and canter on the flat, plus exercises to help you achieve that all-important canter rhythm to make jumping easy (issue 389)

MonTH 3 – Contact Establishing a good contact so your horse learns to carry himself in balance. Plus, the importance of having a correct, secure position when jumping (issue 390)

Missed an issue? call 01858 438884

MonTH 4 – Impulsion How to work your horse on the flat to achieve paces with energy and purpose, and how using simple gridwork can help improve impulsion

MonTH 5 – Straightness Using lateral work to improve straightness on the flat and how to use clever aids when jumping to keep you and your horse straight

MonTH 6 – Collection How to encourage your horse to take more weight on his hindquarters and lighten his forehand, plus how having an adjustable canter can help you ride a winning jump-off

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Impulsion is when your horse’s hindlegs push him forwards with energy and purpose

and your horse develop a basic understanding and confidence so he finds his natural balance when carrying you as a rider.

In this issue we move onto impulsion, where Laura and Jay will help you work and develop the power from your horse’s hindquarters.

Think of a horse taking off over a jump or a dressage horse doing extended trot across the diagonal of the school and you’re picturing impulsion. Impulsion describes the powerful thrust from the hindquarters that propels your horse forwards and when your horse has it, there’s an elasticity and spring to his movement and a longer moment of suspension.

Impulsion is created by training and is sometimes referred to as ‘contained energy’ – but it’s not to be confused with speed. If you push your horse to go too fast his steps will quicken, the moment of suspension is shortened and your horse will look like he’s running.


Invisible equinesWe’ve seen the pictures in the press, we’ve heard the pleas on TV adverts, but how much do we really know about working equines abroad and the challenges our charities face to improve their lives? Your Horse writer Larissa Chapman investigates

After attending the 7th International World Horse Welfare Colloquium in July this year, where experts

from around the world gathered to discuss the future of working equines and how to make their lives better, the Your Horse team was touched and inspired by what we heard, so we decided to dig a little deeper to find out more about the plight of working equines abroad.

We’ve been speaking to the people behind three of the UK’s biggest charities, the ones who head up the

projects, lead the campaigns and who come face to face with the sometimes horrific reality of working horses, donkeys and ponies overseas. We find out what life’s really like for working equines and the challenges facing those trying to help them and their owners to create a better way of life.

It’s time the silence was broken and these equines noticed – here, experts from World Horse Welfare, SPANA and The Brooke share their stories and explain how we can help alleviate these animals’ plight.

As you might expect, the problems

facing working equines abroad are far from simple, as our experts explain.

“The main problems are lameness, wounds, disease, malnutrition and

Sores from ill-fitting gear are some of the most common injuries affecting working equines abroad

Many animals abroad have to work in sweltering heat with minimal breaks, seven days a week

LiaM Maguire is the director of international work at equine charity World Horse Welfare. To find out more about World Horse Welfare’s work, visit www.worldhorsewelfare.co.uk

Dr anDrew Stringer is SPANA’s director of veterinary programmes. To find out more about SPANA, visit www.spana.org

Petra ingraM is chief executive of The Brooke. To keep informed about The Brooke’s work, visit www.thebrooke.org

OUR EXPERT

OUR EXPERT

OUR EXPERT


Working equines abroad

dehydration,” explains World Horse Welfare’s director of international work, Liam Maguire.

“Lameness is usually caused by incorrect or insufficient hoof care and this has the biggest impact on the horse and his owner, as he cannot work well if he’s lame. Wounds are usually the result of ill-fitting tack due to the frequently used ‘make do and mend’ strategies. Donkeys in particular don’t tend to show pain, so they often carry on working despite awful sores. Diseases are spread due to the lack of vaccines available and squalid

working and living conditions. Temperatures in some of these places can soar into the high 40s and with so many working animals, humans and waste in one area, it’s no surprise that diseases spread fast! A lack of available water troughs and inadequate nutritional knowledge all contribute to poor health and malnutrition.”

Another problem facing working equines, which will ring true with horse owners across the world, is colic. Dr Andrew Stringer, SPANA’s director of veterinary programmes, says: “Many colic cases are found in those animals who work collecting and delivering rubbish from the rubbish tips – quite often they’ll scavenge for food on the tip and end up ingesting plastic bags and other objects.”

Millions of people are reliant on their horses to make a living and feed their families, so improving the health of these working equines will not only benefit their lives, but the lives of the humans who rely on them, too.

As both Andrew and Liam agree, in the majority of cases these problems aren’t due to cruelty, but are simply down to a lack of resources, knowledge and understanding. More often than not, working horses are used by the poorest people on the lower end of the socio-economic scale, who struggle to feed and clothe their own children, never mind adequately provide for their animals’ needs, and this is why problems arise.

“We’ve witnessed people trying to treat their horse’s wounds with soil and engine oil,” says Andrew. “These people aren’t

Charities need to work alongside a variety of experts, including farriers

deliberately cruel, they simply don’t have the knowledge to treat them correctly.”

it’s a daunting challenge The number of working equines in need of help is colossal, and trying to reach them all to address the situation is a big job!

“We estimate that the world equine population is somewhere in the region of 112 million, and we imagine that’s a gross underestimation,” says Andrew. “So in comparison to the size of the world picture, charities are relatively small organisations and despite our very best efforts, we can’t solve everything.”

The biggest challenge facing charities is the lack of resources and governmental support. In a lot of countries, horses and working animals aren’t highly regarded so

‘It’s time the silence was broken and

these equines noticed’

world Horse welfare saddler Mark Fisher offers advice to

locals to keep their horses‘ backs in tip-top condition

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Easy-to-follow expert advice for beginners to advanced ridersBETTER RIDING

At the start of the lesson, D isn’t seeking a contact


PAge 46How to improve his jump

PAge 51get your horse up and off the forehand

PAge 53Male Vs female riders

PAge 45Build his strength in-hand

Dressage Masterclass

Alison KenwArd’s

every issue we give one reader a lesson with a pro – this month instructor and rider Alison Kenward helps nicola Crowther

to keep her young horse calm and relaxed in his work

Alison KenwArD is a UKCC l3 BHs stable Manager and intermediate instructor. she is the owner of solitaire dressage and resident coach at Keatinge Trakehner stud.

nicolA crowtHer imported her four-year-old Andalusian, entendido lXiV (d for short), 15 months ago from spain. He can be quite hot, so she wants to work on keeping him calm.

Meet thetrainer

Meet therider

I ask Nicola to warm up as she normally would so I can assess what the pair need to work on. As D is only four years old, I’m

not expecting everything to be perfect and I’ll be looking to see what areas we can improve on.

Nicola tells me D is much better on the left rein than the right, so this is something I’d like to address. It’s not uncommon for horses to have a preferred rein, and the key is to not shy away from working them on their bad one. The more practise your horse gets, the better and more comfortable he’ll become.

As this is only D’s second outing away from home I don’t want to push him too hard, but I will be looking to help both him and Nicola build their confidence in new places and make sure D is focused and working well. The key with any youngster is to keep him calm and relaxed at all times. I want D to go away from this experience loving his work and feeling positive about it.

I hope to show Nicola and D that you don’t have to be a really

established partnership to enjoy dressage, and that the skills they learn will be very useful in all aspects of their work together.

Like most riders, Nicola is a little tense at first and needs to be reminded to breathe. It’s important for her to stay calm and relaxed, and to breathe through her movements, or D will become tense and spooky. I’m looking for a nice, relaxed head carriage from D, and I can hear him breathing and snorting away which indicates he’s relaxed and ready to start work.

However, although he’s ready to work, he isn’t seeking a contact at the moment so this is something I’d really like to crack in the lesson.

the lesson focus●● To help your horse relax and

work well in new surroundings●● To help him focus and

improve his way of going●● To try new exercises like

leg-yield and shallow loops

nicola walks D round and helps him become familiar with his new surroundings

your horse october 2014 w w w.yourhorse.co.uk

Develop the foundations for better jumping without leaving the ground!

Better Riding


Flatwork for jumping You don’t need to leave the ground to improve your jump, so we’ve asked five top trainers to help you do it with their best jump-boosting flat work exercises

T aking off too early, refusing a fence, jumping the fence without your horse, having poles down... sound familiar? We’ve all experienced

those frustrating and sometimes painful show jumping woes, but you’ll be pleased to know we’ve got a number of easy solutions to get you and your horse flying

in harmony over fences time after time. We’ve enlisted the help of five top show

jumpers and trainers, who share their flatwork secrets to give you and your the horse jumping confidence you’ve been dreaming of. Read on to make sure you go clear around your next course with their expert flatwork help and advice.

Perfect your control and turns over polesCandice Williams BHSI is a British Showjumping coach and head of sport at Oaklands College in Hertfordshire. Here she helps you crack your turns.

“Being able to ride with accuracy and control is vital when jumping and this exercise can really help,” says Candice. “To set up, place four poles on your track at A, B, C and E (as shown above). These will help you with your straightness and accuracy.

“Ride over the poles in walk, trot and canter on both reins, then vary the exercise by riding over the centre of the poles, then the far right of the poles, then the left of the poles. This is important to establish whether

your horse is travelling straight – his quarters should be following the same track as his forelegs on a circle or in a straight line.

“Once you’ve mastered this you can introduce transitions using the poles as a point of focus. Vary between making upward and downward transitions before and after each pole – this is another check and test of control and will help you when you come to jump. At this point, many horses benefit from incorporating smaller circles over the poles which will vary in size depending on his stage of training and balance. You can add to the exercise by riding different schooling figures and introducing more poles in the centre of the arena – this will help with control on your turns.”


Awards 2014Every year we put together the

monthly issues of Your Horse magazine, something we couldn’t do without the help and support of

our loyal readers, experts and equestrian stars. For that reason we think it’s about time we paid homage to some of the very special people who make the creation of your favourite equine magazine possible, and we need your help to do it.

We’ve put together six strong categories in order to find everything from your favourite Your Horse expert to the most memorable cover stars of the last 12 months... and we’d like you to help us find the winners!

How to cast your voteVoting for the awards opens on 28 August 2014. Simply head online to www.yourhorse.co.uk/yhawards to do it or scan the QR code below – it’ll take two ticks! The winners of each category will be unveiled in Your Horse issue 395 (February), on sale 18 December.PLEASE NOTE: For category 5 we’ll need you to email your nominations – check out how to do that over to the right.

We simply couldn’t make Your Horse magazine without all of the incredible experts who share their time and their expertise with us – they’re fantastic and we bet you have a few favourites of your own too. That’s why we want to ensure

the experts you trust are recognised in this special category.

Head online to www.yourhorse.co.uk/yhawards to vote for the expert you love to hear from each month. We can’t wait to see who comes out on top!

The equine charities in the UK do so much for horses here and around the world and we’d like to celebrate their work with this special award. There are plenty to pick from so check out the nominations and let us know which charity you think has really gone the extra mile this year.

We all love to watch talented pro horses and riders in action at events across the country (while secretly wishing we could do what they do!).

So if you’re a super fan of combinations like Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, Andrew Nicholson and Avebury, Catriona

Moon and Leila or Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz, let us know!

Pick your favourite combination from our lengthy list or, if can’t find the combo you want, select ‘other’ and tell us who it is. The combination can be from any discipline – if you love them, they count!

3. The ultimate Your Horse expert

1. UK charity of the year

2. Best horse and rider combination

Is Laura Tomlinson your favourite dressage guru?

Is Michael Peace your top behaviour pro?

Do you always look to vet Gil Riley for advice?

So many donkeys, horses and ponies need help from charities – it’s time to say thanks!

Are you in awe of Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz?

Would Andrew Nicholson

and Avebury get your

vote?

Awards 2014Awards 20142. Best horse and rider combination

Are you in awe of Nicola Wilson and Opposition

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Awards 2014 Help us crown the equestrian stars of 2014 with our brand new Your Horse awards

Each month one YH reader and their horse become a cover star and while they all make it look so easy, the job isn’t all glitz and glam. Our cover stars have to be ready to shoot whatever the weather and require plenty of patience as there’s a lot of repetition involved. However, we

think you’ll all agree that over the last year they’ve done an amazing job. We’ve picked 12 cracking cover shots for you to choose from so head to www.yourhorse.co.uk/yhawards for instructions on how to vote for your favourite and help us crown your cover star of the year 2014!

If you know someone in the equine world who’s really made a difference to your life with horses, or the lives of others, then we want to hear from you. Perhaps they’ve helped someone overcome their fear of riding or maybe they work somewhere that makes riding possible for many people? If they’ve helped or inspired people in your equine community then we want to know about them.

To make your nomination, email [email protected] with ‘YH Awards’ in the subject box. Please tell us who you’d like to nominate and why in no more than 100 words. Attach a high res photo (the biggest file size you can find) and supply us with your contact telephone number. Need help making your entry? Call 01733 395052 and we’ll help you through it.

6. Product of the year

5. Your horsey hero

4. Cover star of the year 2014

There are certain products us horsey folk simply couldn’t live without and while the members of the Your Horse team could write you a long list ourselves, we want you to tell us which equine

products are your absolute favourites. So, whether it’s a rug or a pair of breeches, a grooming tool or a riding hat, let us know the full name of the product (and its brand) that gets your vote.

Are you unable to leave the house without your waterproof?

Are you lost without favourite rug?

Is your saddle your most prized possession?

Awards 2014


“ Jumping feels like heaven on earth”Despite being registered blind, Karen Law is making waves in the sport of show jumping. Here she tells her inspirational story and explains how riding has changed her life

Horses have been my life-long passion, and one of my earliest memories is waiting at the windowsill for the rag and bone

man so I could go out with my mum Gladys and feed his horse Elvis a piece of bread.

I was born with a condition called bilateral coloboma, which meant my eyes didn’t develop properly in the womb. Then when I was three, I had an accident and lost what sight I had in my right eye, eventually being fitted with an artificial one. My remaining vision is very limited – it’s like looking down a straw. I can only see a few feet and make out general shapes and colours, but nothing peripheral.

My restricted sight never dampened my enthusiasm for horses and, by the time I was four, Mum was taking me for lessons every Sunday. When I was eight I got my first pony, Chester, and we had a lot of fun together, including gymkhana games where my dad Stan would run with us, describing where the potato or flag was so I could grab it! When my nana died I got my next pony Bluey with some money she left me. Bluey was great friends with Chester until he sadly had to be put to sleep.

A new stage of lifeI continued throwing myself into my riding, but everything changed when I was 15 and left school. I’d always hated it and wanted to start work, which meant affording a horse of

my own just wasn’t possible. So I found a new home for Bluey and lived without horses, forging a 34-year career in the NHS – I work in an eye clinic close to my home in Offerton, Stockport. I’ve always had loads of support from my colleagues and the doctors, especially Richard Brown, my eye consultant. He understands what my sight is like and thinks it’s great I get out and do things.

When I got divorced at 42 I bought a house that needed lots of work, and found a short-term housemate to help. By chance he was a riding instructor and our chats got me thinking about horses again. I found myself back in the saddle, and through the team at the Mid Cheshire Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) I met a lady called Pam Rigby, who as I progressed decided I needed expert help with my jumping.

A professional eyePam got in touch with a show jumping trainer called Adrian Marsh, who owns Heathcroft Stud in Warrington, and arranged for him to see me ride. He usually trains people with their own horses and I’d

Para show jumping facts●● There are five grades of rider

classification in the UK, IJ to VJ according to the severity of the rider’s disability. Visually-impaired and blind riders fall under grade IVJ

●● Para show jumping officially became an RDA activity in 2011 and the charity and British Showjumping (BS) have just run the fourth annual para show jumping classes at the RDA National Championships. BS also has coaching and rider training pathways to encourage more people to get

involved in para show jumping●● Fences in the first rounds of para

jumping competitions are between 70cm and 90cm, rising by up to 10cm for jump offs

●● Para show jumping is practised in many countries, most notably in France where classes are held alongside the FEI competition at La Baule, with competitors following a guide riderFind out more about para show jumping at www.rda.org.uk and www.britishshowjumping.co.uk


Blind faith

Karen Law hasn’t let her visual impairment stop her pursuing her passion for show jumping


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your horse OctOber 2014

Keep your horse healthy and happyHORSE CARE

Restore the harmony in your life and feel confident caring for your horse

OctOber 2014 your horse

Page 71Banish wormsfor winter

Page 72Conquer his fear of clipping

Page 73Protect his tendons

Easing your care worriesResearch by Petplan Equine has revealed the seven biggest concerns for UK horse owners. We help you tackle them all

We’re all individuals, but when it comes to caring for our horses, our concerns are often the same. Petplan Equine, the UK’s

leading equine insurance provider, conducted an online survey of 1,235 people, whose responses generated a guide to the average horse owner in the UK. Here’s what they found… she’s female, aged 40-49, in full time employment and spends up to 39% of her income on her horse. She’s been a horse owner for more than 10 years and has one horse, plus a dog and/or a cat. She spends two to four

hours a day with her horse, which is part-stabled at a DIY livery yard, and rides four to six days a week. She mainly hacks with some dressage, has access to bridleways and an arena and would travel up to 25 miles for a competition or activity – sound familiar?

Whether you fit into this category or not, many UK horse owners have been affected by the recent recession and the two greatest concerns for them in 2014 are the cost of keeping a horse and vet fees. If these concerns ring true with you, then read on for expert advice on how to alleviate them.

1 Soaring vets bills “If your horse needs veterinary attention, you should never delay treatment,” says vet Stuart Thorne from Fellowes Farm Equine Clinic in Cambridgeshire, “but there are a few things you can do to help ensure he stays fit and healthy.

“Up-to-date vaccinations help keep your horse’s defences strong and protect him from infections, while regular dental checks will identify any potential problems that can be treated before they become a major issue.

“Many veterinary practices carry out zonal visits, where they see a number of horses in one area on a certain day, thus reducing the call-out fee. Alternatively, try to match up with other people on your yard and split the call-out fee.

47% of horse owners are

concerned about the cost of vet fees

“Most feed companies offer free advice whereby you can find out what the best diet for your horse is, and how much of it to feed per day. Feeding a balanced diet and keeping your horse’s weight in check should help ensure he’s fit and healthy.

“Take advantage of a free visit scheme if you are lucky enough to have a practice that provides it, and some veterinary practices even hold first aid evenings where horse owners can go along and learn about everything from wound care to poulticing. These evenings are usually free and are a great way to get access to lots of knowledgeable people.”

Up-to-date vaccinations help keep vet bills at bay

Horse Care Body


Protect his tendonsProviding the spring in your horse’s step, tendons are vital yet vulnerable structures. Vet David Rutherford explains how they work and how you can minimise the risk of an injury

DaviD RutheRfoRDis a veterinary surgeon at Fellowes Farm Equine Clinic in Cambridgeshire. He has a particular interest in lameness and surgery. Fellowes Farm is part of the XLEquine veterinary group. Find out more at www.fellowes farm.com and www.xlequine. co.uk

OUR EXPERT

Tendons connect muscle to bone and are incredible structures. Designed to store elastic energy, they work like

springs, stretching and recoiling to allow a horse to move at speed with relatively little effort from the upper leg muscles. All the lengthening and contracting tendons do means they’re constantly working close to their limit and injuries are common, as expert vet David Rutherford explains. “Although there have been significant advances in veterinary science and training methods, tendon strains are still a common problem, representing 43% of all injuries to event horses in training,” he says.

To help you best protect your horse and keep him sound, we’ve asked David to explain more about tendons, what puts them at increased risk and his advice for reducing the chances of your horse having a problem.

Common digital extensor tendon

Attached to muscle at the top of the cannon bone, this tendon runs down the front of the leg and attaches to the front of the foot. Non weight-bearing, its job is to pull the leg forward ready for each stride, and if it’s damaged (usually through direct trauma) the prognosis is usually good as the horse can cope without it.

superfiCial digital flexor tendon (sdft)

This starts higher up the leg as muscle and once below the fetlock it splits in two and attaches on the inside and outside of the pastern. Like the DDFT (see below), as the muscles contract it stores and releases energy to push the horse forward. Like the suspensory ligament, it also stops the fetlock flexing too far. It’s the most commonly injured tendon in the horse, usually through fast weight-bearing exercise.

deep digital flexor tendon (ddft)

Starting higher up the leg as muscle, the DDFT runs down the back of the leg into the foot, where it attaches to the pedal bone. Its function is to store the energy generated as the leg moves forward and then use it when the foot hits the floor to propel the horse forward. It’s most commonly injured through a strike injury, and is most vulnerable where it changes direction at the fetlock and also where it attaches to the bottom of the pedal bone.

inferior CheCk ligament

This runs from the bones at the back of the knee, down the cannon bone to join the deep digital flexor tendon, which it supports.

suspensory ligament

Ligaments attach bone to bone, and this one runs from the top of the cannon bone, splitting to attach to the sesamoid bones on the inside and outside of the leg, which in turn are stabilised by the annular ligament. Other ligaments run to the pastern and the whole unit stops the fetlock over-extending when the foot hits the ground.

extensor branCh of suspensory ligament

With one on the inside and another on the outside of the leg, these branches of the suspensory ligament join the sesamoid bones to the pastern.

each structure in the lower leg has a job to do, often under extreme pressure

DiD you know?Laboratory testing has shown that the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) can be stretched by 15-17% before it’s damaged. However, other tests have shown that during galloping a horse’s SDFT is naturally stretched by 16%, putting it at immediate risk of tearing.

w w w.yourhorse.co.uk october 2014 your horsew w w.yourhorse.co.uk your horse october 2014

Rug Guide 2014

The perfect fitAn ill-fitting rug can do more harm than good and end up being a costly waste of money, so make sure your horse’s fits perfectly with our easy to follow tips

Rug fitting

Watch online

Head online to www.yourhorse.co.

uk/rugfitting or scan the QR code below to watch how to fit a rug

Proud sponsors of The Rug Guide 2014

Telephone number: 02033 554129Website: www.horserugs4u.com

Cross surcinglesMost modern rugs use cross surcingles to help secure them in place. The cross should lie in the middle of your horse’s belly and the straps should be adjusted to allow a hand’s width between the surcingle and your horse’s belly.

Length of rugThe rug should reach to the top of your horse’s tail; if it doesn’t, it’s too small, which leaves some of his quarters exposed to wind and rain.

If the rug extends beyond the top of his tail, it’s too big and may slip and cause discomfort.Withers

The rug should fit approximately 2in to 4in in front of your horse’s withers so it doesn’t cause pressure or rub in this sensitive area.

Leg strapsThese two straps help the rug stay in the correct place on your horse. To fasten, pass the left strap around your horse’s left leg and clip onto the D-ring on the left side. The right strap passes around his right leg, loops through the left strap and fastens to the right side. Once fastened the straps should be adjusted to allow a hand’s width between the strap and your horse’s thigh. If they are too tight they’ll rub and restrict his movement. If they’re too long your horse could get his legs caught in them when he’s rolling or lying down.

By using our annotated diagram you’ll be able to kit your horse out in comfort in a well-fitting rug. But, before you head online or to the

shops to make your purchase, be sure to measure your horse carefully using a tape measure or piece of string. Simply put one end of the tape in the centre of your horse’s chest and the other end on his buttocks, where you’d expect the rug to finish (rugs are sized in centimetres, inches or feet and inches). Then, once you’ve bought your rug, take it home and try it on your horse over a clean summer sheet, don’t remove any of the tags and keep your receipt just in case you need to exchange it. Happy shopping!

ChestThe fit of your rug around the shoulders and chest is important so your horse can move freely. Adjust the front fastenings so the rug sits in front of the withers, not behind, or it’ll pull back and rub. Both the upper and lower chest straps should be on the same buckle hole.

You should be able to slide your hand inside the rug, down the side of his shoulder and around to his chest. Your hand should move freely and easily without restriction. If it feels tight, the rug is too small. If it feels loose and baggy the rug is too big.

46rugs, hoods and bibs to

choose from!

Our easy to follow guide to rug fitting will ensure he’s wearing the right size

Find out about the great range of stable rugs available to keep your horse cosy

Invest in a quality turnout and he’ll stay warm and dry in the winter weather

Using a hood is a great way to keep him clean in his stable or during turnout

Banish unsightly rubs with shoulder savers and bibs, and keep his coat looking great

On those really frosty nights using an under rug will help keep the warmth in and the cold out

106 Fitting tips

109 Stable rugs

115 Turnout rugs

120 Bibs

122

Hoods

On those really frosty nights using

124 An extra layer

RUg gUIde 2014Your 16-page guide to the best rugs and hoods for winter

Proud sponsors of Rug Guide 2014

Telephone number: 02033 554129Website: www.horserugs4u.com

Every issue the Your Horse Open Clinic delivers vital equine

behaviour, management and vet advice, absolutely free, and this month our experts

help you to:

✦ Saddle up with ease p77 ✦ Care for his hooves p79✦ Understand kissing spines p80✦ Rehabilitate your horse Q&A p82✦ Cope with a seizure p84

Join live web chats with our experts and ask them your horse care questions

Watch our how-to videos to help you learn whenever you see this symbol

Spot the signs of a problem early with our handy symptom checker

Got a question for an expert? Simply email it to us at [email protected]

Open ClinicExclusive horse care advice from the UK’s top experts

4 top wAyS to lEARn

To ensure you’ve got access to vet advice whenever you need it we’ve teamed up with the free online symptom checker service vethelpdirect.com. This clever service, run by qualified vets, is easy to use and totally free. To give it a try, just visit our website at www.yourhorse.co.uk/symptomchecker for free, on-the-spot expert vet advice.

How it worksYou’ll be asked to select from a drop-down list of symptoms, then given immediate advice on if and when you should call the vet. It only takes seconds and it’s all part of our Open Clinic service!

inStAnt AdviCE onlinE

Tacking up should be a simple process for you both

Gil Riley is the managing equine vet at Pool House Equine Clinic

Jason Webb is a behaviour pro who runs Australian Horsemanship

Jenny Ellis is a top groom with over 30 years ofexperience

Open ClinicExclusive horse care advice from the UK’s top experts

mEET OUR EXPERTs

HEAdS Up Jason helps you handle his head confidently

Saddling up made simple

If your horse is tricky to tack up it can leave you feeling stressed before you’re even on board. Jason Webb explains how you can retrain your horse so he happily accepts his saddle

Some horses will fidget when you’re tacking up, stepping away when you go to put the saddle on or sticking their head in the air to make putting the bridle on as difficult as possible. These annoying

habits have been developed as avoidance tactics by your horse and indicate a lack of respect in you, his handler. Alternatively, he may start to get nervous as you approach with the tack and will plant himself or ‘freeze’, and once you have the saddle on will display behaviours associated with being cold backed. In these cases, your horse is carrying a lot of tension which needs to be released, preferably before you put the tack on and certainly before you mount!

There could well be a physical issue behind such behaviours so it’s best to have your horse’s teeth regularly checked by an equine dental technician or vet, have your saddle and bit fitted correctly and have your vet check there’s no underlying soreness in his back or neck. If your horse is particularly grumpy about being saddled it may be worth investigating him for gastric ulcers.

JasOn’s mEThOdIf your horse comes back with a clean bill of health, you need to retrain him to get rid of the habit of fidgeting while you saddle up. If you feel he’s displaying a lack of respect rather than being nervous about the process, you need to work on getting his attention back each time he steps away from you. You can do this by immediately pivoting your horse so he finishes looking at you. Then let him stand a while before approaching with the saddle again. It may take a few goes until he stands still but if you keep repeating this pattern he will soon learn not to fidget or step away.

Alternatively, if you feel your horse is worried by the tacking up process (or is cold backed), it’s important to release the tension before you attempt to put a saddle on. Flex his head and neck to the side then put your hand on his ribcage and push him so he steps his hind end round.

october 2014 your horse

Did you know?Remember that every time you tack your horse up you are training him. habits take a lot longer to break than to form, so make sure your horse behaves how you want him to every time you handle him.

You’ll find that a horse that’s tense will tend to plant himself and not move and you may even feel a spasm in the muscles over his ribs. Keep working on this pattern on both sides of your horse until he steps over freely before approaching with the saddle. Then put the saddle on with the girth done up gently. Each time you shorten the girth, repeat the exercise until you feel he is free and relaxed enough to mount. This process won’t stop him from being tense and ‘girthy’ straight away but if you do it every time before and after you saddle him up, you’ll find the problem will disappear.

your horse OctOber 2014

“ Riding frees me from my disability”Paralympic superstar Sophie Christiansen tells YH writer Larissa Chapman about her life with cerebral palsy and how the condition has shaped her impressive riding career Photography Tom Calton

Arriving at the South Buckinghamshire Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), where our interviewee’s talent was

nurtured and developed, I’m captivated by the beautiful surroundings. In the distance I see her walking towards us – she has cerebral palsy in all four limbs and her speech is also affected. But the first thing you notice when you come face-to-face with para dressage rider Sophie Christiansen isn’t her disability, but her smile. I’ve never seen a photograph or interview in the press where Sophie isn’t beaming from ear to ear, and today’s no different. After joking with her carer, Charlotte Home, and her friends on the yard about her punctuality (apparently it’s a miracle that she’s made the interview on time), we retreat to the outdoor arena and have a chat in the sunshine.

Sophie’s determination to succeed in life is obvious. It’s an attribute that probably helped ensure her presence here today – she overcame a raft of life-threatening conditions as a tiny newborn. “I was born two months premature with a condition called quadriplegic cerebral palsy. I also had a collapsed lung, suffered a heart attack, blood poisoning and jaundice. My parents were called into the hospital on three occasions because doctors thought I was going to die,” Sophie recounts. “They believe I twisted my umbilical cord in the womb which starved my brain of oxygen, causing the problems.”

Sophie, 26, refuses to be defined by disability and makes light of people’s incorrect assumptions about her. “Most people assume I’m stupid when they first meet me. Because I’m physically handicapped they think I must be mentally handicapped too, but I’m certainly not.

I often get people in bars and clubs thinking I’m drunk too, because of the way I walk – but I can see the funny side.”

Graduating from Royal Holloway University with a first class degree in Mathematics and a first class Masters in the same subject, Sophie is currently holding down a part-time, high-powered internship at the global investment banking firm, Goldman Sachs.

“My colleagues are so driven and ambitious, I like being surrounded by people like that,” she says. “I need to be challenged both physically and mentally and I feel having a job alongside the horses helps me to do this and keeps me focused. I particularly love maths because there’s no ambiguity, you’re either right or wrong and that suits my logical brain.”

Horses, Sophie’s other passion, first entered her life as a child. “As with a lot of para riders, I came to riding as a form of physiotherapy,” she explains. “My physio believed in the benefits of horse riding and I was taken to my local RDA centre – Warfield RDA with my primary school and then Rocking Horse RDA in Woking – during school time as a form of PE lesson. I’m very sporty anyway and enjoyed a variety of sports at school, including hockey, but I fell over quite a lot – balance wasn’t my strong point!

“Riding horses is the only time that I feel truly free from my disability. The constant movement of the walk is very comfortable and makes me use my body correctly, while it frees my mind so I can forget my stresses and worries. I found normal, conventional physiotherapy pretty boring and always looked forward to my riding lessons. I started riding when I was six and by 13, my local club realised I had potential, but they

OctOber 2014 your horse

Sophie with her Olympic gold

medal-winning horse, Rio

The Big Interview

on sale25 Sept

Gain confidence outside the arena and enjoy every hack

Lucinda and Andrew McLean show you how

The eventing star reveals all in his Big Interview

Powerto heal

Discover the products with special healing

powers

Find out what’s on at Your Horse Live this November in our special 9-page show preview!

• How to keep your horse cool and hydrated • Read our Buyers’ Guide to autumn essentials• Get your free 32-page feeding guide

Plus!

Next Month in

8-9 November 2014 Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire


8-9 November 2014Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire




Lucinda Green guest edits!

Hacking matters

Conquer XC fear!

Paul TaPner

Confident travellingtravelling

Help him feel safe while on board

Documents

October issue of Your Horse magazine