july 2011 equi-ads

The UK’s No.1 Equine Health, Management and Training Magazine FREE

WIN!£600 worth of prizes with Parelli

July 2011

Core stability for the horse rider

the problems of being a good doer

Delving deeper into the Laminitis puzzle:

Training: How long will

it take?!

Training youngsters:

Lunging on two reins

British Eventing:

a quick guide to getting started

Roundness: from the

viewpoint of equine

psychology and behaviour

July 2011 - Equi-Ads - 1

Careers - Events - Healthcare

Contents

ENGLAND & WALES

Copy Deadline10th of the preceding month

Available on the 1st of the monthEqui-Ads is published monthly by:

Equi-Ads LimitedOffice 1, Tay View Estate,

Friarton Road, Perth PH2 8DGTo advertise, please call

01738 567700Fax: 01738 567776

www.equiads.netPlease send editorial to:Office 1, Tay View Estate,

Friarton Road, Perth PH2 8DGFax: 01738 567776

Email: [email protected]

Z-itch needs you!

Hard ground or just unsound?

Z-itch, the new pour-on solution designed to aid the control of sweet itch in horses, ponies and donkeys needs equines (and their owners) who have used the product, for their next advertising campaign.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response we’ve received from people

who have used the product,” says a spokesman for Z-itch, “but now we’re asking for images and testimonials from happy customers to feature in our next advertising campaign, we think it’s important for our potential customers to hear from our happy customers about their experiences, and what they do with the horses and ponies.”

Z-itch launched at this year’s BETA International and was quickly available throughout the UK though a number of leading retailers, and on the website www.z-itch.co.uk. The initial advertising campaign was designed to introduce the

product to the market.

“We love hearing about the positive influence Z-itch has had on our customer’s horse’s lives, and we’d really love people to be part of what we’re doing. We’re asking that people send an image of their horse, pony or donkey (who has been treated with Z-itch) to [email protected] with a bit about what they do and how Z-itch has helped. Every horse and pony featured in the advertisements will receive a free gift.”

For more information, see www.z-itch.co.uk.

Most people are familiar with Vetrofen from Animalife, the fast-acting highly effective devil’s claw alternative that works to support the body’s metabolic balance. It can enhance free moving mobility that can really take the edge of hard ground or existing movement in active or aging horses. It can be used in acute cases, long-term and or in tandem with Vetroflex.

So what is Vetroflex and why feed it along side Vetrofen?

“Use Vetrofen to maintain the body’s inflammatory response associated with

the stiffness and arthritis common with old age and, if needed, in parallel with Vetroflex to strengthen and protect the joint now and for the future whilst regenerating joint cartilage where damage has occurred , therefore reducing the likelihood of the swelling and stiffness in the first place or in the case of hard ground just simply taking it their stride.” Ask you local equine retailer today or visit www.animalife.co.uk with free nationwide delivery. Customer and retailer help and advice line 0845 365 0050

Fron

t Cov

er: P

am S

cott

- 0

7954

206

777

- s

cott-

eque

stria

n@ho

tmai

l.co.

uk

Careers 1

Events 1

Healthcare 1, 20 - 34

Feeding 2, 6,

9 - 29, 55

Photography 2

Tack and Turnout 2, 6 - 8,

44 – 48,

51, 49, 55

Livery 4, 55

Transport 4, 43

Field and Stable 4, 41 – 43,

53, 55

Celebrity Interview with Mark Todd 6

Parelli Competition 7

Verm-X Giveaway 8

Equine Therapy 8

Cereals 9

Dressage 12

Riding 14

Laminitis 18

Strangles 22

Worming 23 & 26

Supplements 24 - 29, 56

Core Stability 30

Equine Emergencies 32

Horse Behaviour 35

Insurance 35 - 39, 55

Horses for Sale 38

Training Youngsters 38

Training 40 - 43,

50, 56

Eventing 45 – 50

Horse Quencher Giveaway 50

Tried and Tested 51

Classical Riding 52 - 53

Dentistry 55

Directory 56

Feeding - Photography - Tack & Turnout

2 - Equi-Ads - July 2011

Good Apple UK Back OnlineGood Apple UK would like to apologise to everyone, including all of our consignors, for temporarily disappearing, but this was due to having a more sophisticated and better website built. They are back with a vengeance and have added a brand new horses and transport for sale or loan section, in which people can advertise for a small fee. They are also commissioning ‘equine’ jewellery.

In addition, they have just purchased a box trailer and kitted it with stock and are now attending shows. So do please let them know if you would like them to attend locally to you (distance permitting). They have had a terrific response to date and love the fact that they can now meet people face to face as well as selling and marketing online.

The Good Apple UK store is your shop front, and they couldn’t do it without you, so please check from time to time as new stock is always being loaded.

Contact: Debbie Hattan-NazarShah, [email protected]

Established 1990 – Hertfordshire based

The Haylage Co.The Haylage Co.20kg packs palletised 30/72 packs

A cost effective alternative to hay!• Rectangular bales from 270kg-500kg • Protein: 6-8% • Moisture Content: 27-30%

• Delivered: 2 bales to the pallet; Off loaded by driver/forklift; Fully wrapped on delievry; Open bales last 10 days before spoilage occurs; Prices on application

POLO FORAGE [email protected]

Mobile 07836 514 435 Mobile 07831 454 166www.poloforage.com


Competition - News

Livery - Field & Stable - Transport


An innovative new range of horse trailers from Titan Trailers

Built with fully galvanized steel frames, together with AL-KO Germany heavy duty axles and components, Titan horse trailers provide excellent value with no compromise on strength and quality.

Titan Trailers offer the strength and convenience of a lorry without the large running costs. With no hidden extras to pay for, all extensive trailer features are included in the list price.

The Titan Glacier horse trailers have a large spacious fully fitted living area, complete with gas hob and sink, sleeping for 3 and a leisure battery charging system. An internal door leads to the horse area with adjustable partitions, innovative swing out tack pack, unique, fully opening feed windows with drop down bars, a large rug rack with doors and a wireless camera system. Tack up and get ready inside your trailer in

comfort. The Glacier deluxe also boasts a fridge, microwave, TV/DVD and electric hook up.

Titan Alpine horse trailers are built to the same exacting specification as the Titan Glacier, without the bulkhead wall and fitted living, but with fitted cupboards to the front. This results in a shorter, lighter weight trailer, but with no compromise on strength and quality.

With both trailers the horses travel diagonally, facing the rear, the proven way your horse travels best. With 2 and 3 horse options, the trailers have substantial build quality, being of steel and GPR construction, and carry a three year warranty. Prices start from only £8500 ex vat.

For further information visit www.titantrailer.co.uk or call 01228 831228


Insert Category

Product Description Size/Price Qty Total (£)

EquiFlex – joint health care 1 tub @ £17.95

EquiMSM – joint health care 1 tub @ £14.95

EquiHoof – hoof health care 1 tub @ £15.95

Flexi-Joints (for dogs) tablets 120 tabs @ £7.95

FREE Postage and Packaging* FREE

Total order value £

EQA-UJY

To order by mail, please make cheques payable to ‘Healthspan Limited’ and post with this order form to: VetVits, PO Box 64, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 3BT. Prices featured are valid until 31.08.11. *Free postage and packaging applies to UK only. Allow 10 days for delivery. Calls may be recorded for training purposes. Our Customer Charter provides a no-quibble refund on our products and a guarantee that your personal data will not be passed on to any third party. †Last 3 digits on the back of your card. Should you not wish to receive any future product updates please tick box.

Name (Mr, Mrs, Ms, Miss): ...............................................................................................................................

Address: ..........................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................... Email: ...................................................................

Post Code: ..................................................................... Tel No: ...................................................................

Please debit my: Mastercard Visa Maestro Issue No/Start Date: ....................................

Card No: Security (CV2) Code:† ...............................Expiry Date: .....................................

Please contact me with information about your repeat order facility

WINNING COMBINATION for this season!

EquiMSM™ is the perfect partner to EquiFlex®, working together to support your horse. Why not try them both today?

VetVits is only available direct, so there are no middlemen or retail overheads and if you are not100% satisfied you can simply return the product for a ‘no quibble’ refund.

EquiFlex® 40% more glucosamine per scoop than standard glucosamine with our HCl form.

TAX FREE PRICES FREE P&P WITH EVERY ORDER*

FREEPHONE advice and ordering 0808 100 40 80 Online Shop www.vetvits.co.uk

VetV

its, P

O B

ox 6

4, St

Pet

er P

ort,

Gue

rnse

y G

Y1 3

BT. P

rices

val

id u

ntil

31.08

.11.

glucosamine with our HCl form.

2 months’ supply

£17.95

is the perfect partner to EquiFlex is the perfect partner to EquiFlex is the perfect partner to EquiFlex is the perfect partner to EquiFlex is the perfect partner to EquiFlex is the perfect partner to EquiFlex is the perfect partner to EquiFlex

newnew

EquiMSM™ MSM is a naturally occurring sulphur compound acting as a key structural component of joint cartilage and is the perfect partner to glucosamine. Our advanced Distil-PureMSM™ is made using a distillation process to ensure the purest product for your horse.

using a distillation process to ensure the purest product

2 months’ supply

£14.95

Equi-Ads EQA-UJY.indd 1 07/06/2011 16:03

Celebrity Interview with Mark Todd - Feeding - Tack & Turnout


Saving the Mouth

Celebrity Interview with Mark Todd

Following on from last months article which discussed rubs and sores on the lips, here is a bit which can help diminish these issues.

The Myler Combination bit has a curb strap and also a rope running over the nose. When the rider uses the reins the pressure which the horse normally feels first in the mouth is felt on the chin, then the nose and followed by the mouth. The nosestrap has a rawhide fitting which should be soaked in warm water and moulded to fit your horse. There is also a fleece sleeve available to maximise on comfort.

This bit has a variety of mouthpieces and two options on the cheek length but my favourite is the 04, the low port comfort mouthpiece with the short shank cheek. It is made from sweet iron (so it will oxidise and give off a sweet taste during use) and this cheek offers a good level of control.

It is suitable at almost every stage of training and as with any new piece of tack, should be introduced carefully and in a safe environment if the horse hasn’t experienced nose pressure (similar to that from the Dually halter) previously.

What is your proudest achievement in training/ competing to date?It’s hard to decide between winning back to back gold, winning this year’s Badminton, or buying and training the winning filly at the New Zealand Oakes. She was called Bramble Rose.

What do you look for in a horse?I look for an athlete, a good, big, generous eye, good conformation and for the horse to be well proportioned.

What is the thing you like most about training/competing?I love competing as I’m a competitive sort of person. I love training young horses, bringing them on and seeing them develop. It’s always good to go to competitions as it shows how well your training is working.

When did you first get involved with horses?All my life, I’ve been involved with them for as long as I can remember.

What is the funniest situation you have been in?I thinking riding around Badminton with one stirrup after my other broke has to be up there. It was a tough decision whether to pull up or keep going…

Who was your first horse?A 12.2hh pony called Shamrock, I borrowed him from a neighbour.

Why did you get involved in riding?Because I was mad keen on horses.

Have you had a favourite horse and how did you meet?My favourite horse was Charisma. I first saw him as a two year old when I was working on a farm. The next time I met him was when he was a ten year old and I was trying him for the woman who owned him.

What is the most dangerous situation you have been in?I’ve had a number of nasty falls.

Do you have any advice for novice eventers?Get the right sort of help and advice, it’s really important that you start on the right foot.

What has your career with horses taught you?Patience, level headedness, how to be a good winner, how to be a good loser and to expect the unexpected.

What is your pet hate?I don’t have one.

What made you want to be an Event Rider?I started out wanting to be a jockey, but I grew too big. I love the challenge of eventing and the thrill of cross country.

What is your biggest worry about the way the industry is developing?I don’t have a worry, I think it’s going along very nicely at the moment

What would you like to change in the horse world?The prize money levels.

What would you like to be doing in 5 years time?Having won the lottery, I’d like to be cruising on a nice boat.

If there was a horse past or present you wished you could own, what would it be?I would have liked to have owned Sea The Stars, an amazing racehorse who won a lot of money and was then syndicated to stand at stud. He was an incredible horse.

Golden OldiesThere’s a certain art to feeding older equines, it’s not just a case of upping the quantity of food they eat to help maintain condition, there are many other factors that should be considered.

Mitavite’s Golden Oldies has been designed specifically for the older horse. It is low GI and made using a highly digestible rice bran extract. It also contains increased levels of many of the nutrients required by older horses, such as Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Selenium, oils high in Omega 3, Calcium, Phosphorus and high quality protein. It also contains Dynavyte, a product that contains over 60 chelated vitamins and minerals in a bioavailable form.

In addition to containing key ingredients, Golden Oldies can also be softened into a mash for those who have problems chewing, ensuring that even horses missing teeth get everything that they need.

Golden Oldies is a complete food, it just requires the addition of fibre. It has low feeding rates meaning that one bag will last a long time, making it excellent value for money. A 20kg bag retails at £21.30.

Golden Oldies is just one product from Mitavite, the makers of Cool Performer and Power On, sponsor of Mark Todd and a number of other top riders. In fact, the company have been recently working with Mark Todd and Tim Price to film their cross country rounds at Saumur and Ballindenisk, something that has proven really popular with visitors to the company’s Facebook page. In addition to these videos, the Mitavite Minutes series sees Mark talking about a number of his top horses, and his head girl Charlie shows some top tips for superb turnout.

For more information and stockists, see www.mitavite.co.uk, email [email protected] or call 01285 648244. To like the Facebook page and see the company’s amazing videos, search for Mitavite UK.


Healthcare - News

Equine Therapy - Tack & Turnout - Verm-X Giveaway


Units 5/6 Sandtoft Industrial Estate, Sandtoft, Belton, Doncaster DN9 1PN

TEL: 01427 875 959

Open: Monday to Friday 8.30am-4.30pm, Saturday 9.00am [email protected] www.dodsonandhorell.co.uk

Ground Baits, Feed Pellets, Hook Baits all year round Stockists of Dodson and Horrell Horse Feeds

...Animal Feed, Animal Bedding and Equestrian Accessories.

PLUS 100s of other accessories available. Come and browse at

your leisure.

Natural Parasite Control for Horses and PoniesVerm-X natural parasite control for horses and ponies is available in powder, pellet and liquid formulations. All forms are equally effective, offering three different application options depending on your parasite control programme.

In this issue, we have THREE promotional horse packs of Verm-X to give away.

Each Promotional Horse Pack includes:• 2 x 250g Sachets of Verm-X Pellets

for horses and ponies.• Free double worm count packs (2

tests) from Westgate Laboratories Ltd

• A voucher code entitling you to £1.50 off your next purchase of any Verm-X product!

• A Free Mane Comb• A Free Any-Year CalendarAll in a colourful box for the special price of £23.90 – normal price £45.

To be in with a chance to win a Verm-X promotional pack, please send your name and address to Equi-Ads, Office 1, Tay View Estate, Friarton Road, Perth PH2 8DG or e-mail [email protected] with the subject of the e-mail marked as Verm-X giveaway.

For any further information or to find your nearest stockist please contact Verm-X on 0870 850 2313 or visit www.verm-x.com


Feeding

cont. on p.10

Cereals and their by-products: wheat

Hunter competition mix is key to success for Boots

Dr Derek Cuddeford, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh

Wheat may be regarded as the most important cereal of all. Most of the different forms of bread that we can buy are made from wheat flour and of course, bread itself is regarded as “The staff of life”. It is central to society and has been a staple in the human diet since time immemorial. The ability to sow and harvest cereals enabled the quantum change in society from hunter gatherer/herder to static dwelling and the development of communities. The Egyptians were baking bread before the 20th Century BC, the Greeks were known for their bread making and the Romans had public ovens together with their public baths (metaphorically speaking)!

There are many different types of wheat but they can be broadly separated into two groupings, the hard and the soft wheats. The former are high in protein (up to 15%) and largely used to produce flour that will be used in bread/pasta making and the latter tend to be lower in protein (~10%) but higher in starch and are mostly used for animal feed. Durum wheat is the hardest of the wheats and it has awns which are those spikey things that are on barley grain

Boots aka Merddog Mark is a 7 year old Welsh Section D that competes regularly at British Show Jumping events throughout the country typically jumping 1.10m – 1.25m courses. He is nervous in his general disposition and so finding a work / feed regime which keeps him calm but gives him all the energy required is never an easy task.

As Boots has very elevated and active paces he required a feed which would improve and enhance his stamina without sending his mind into orbit, something that his owners struggled to achieve with previous competition mixes. As Hunter Competition Mix is formulated with a high energy blend of cooked cereals, oils and proteins it is specifically formulated for horses undergoing strenuous work providing a well balanced supply of slow and instant release energy. Since using Hunter Competition Mix Boots energy level now is not only constant but always consistently high.

Providing optimum levels of micro nutrients along with quality digestible protein sources to help achieve correct bone, muscle and tissue growth and

support overall muscle tone and topline. With high oil levels not only for sustained energy but also to maintain good skin and coat condition. Fully supplemented with vitamins and minerals to provide your horse with all the essential nutrients needed for a fully balanced diet Hunter Competition Mix is ideal for everyday feeding.

For more information on Hunter Competition Mix contact Rowen Barbary on 01948 880598 or visit www.rowenbarbary.co.uk

before it is harvested; it is sometimes known as macaroni wheat. Coarsely ground it is used to make semolina but it is also popular for making various forms of pasta where it imparts its yellowy golden colour resulting from a carotenoid pigment called lutein.

Because wheat is so important primarily as a food resource worldwide, it is traded on the international commodity markets. As a result of the interaction between global demand (human/animal food/alcohol and now biofuels) and harvest successes or failures in the main wheat producing areas of the World, we now witness huge swings in the price of wheat. The knock-on effect of this is that there can be large price variations in staples such as bread and pasta as seen recently across UK supermarkets. Of course, the animal feed industry is not immune from these price variations and this has been reflected in horse feed prices. Wheat prices have changed on a weekly basis by up to 50 pounds per tonne. Imagine how difficult it must be to price products and budget against a background of widely fluctuating raw material prices?

Wheat is a key component in all animal feeds, but so also are the byproducts of wheat manufacturing. For example, milling hard wheat to produce flour yields both wheat germ and bran. The extraction rate of flour (from the whole grain) is between 70 and 80% depending on the efficiency of the mill so there is a significant yield of byproducts for animal feed (300 to 200kg per tonne of wheat processed). If the byproducts are combined, they are sold as wheat middlings which are also known as wheatfeed, having a protein of about 18%. This mixture makes an excellent inclusion in horse compound diets and is much sought after by horse feed manufacturers although its dusty nature limits its use to pellets. The byproducts of milling can also be sold as separate, high-value entities. Wheat germ, which is the embryo, contains about 10% unsaturated oil but it can easily become rancid so great care must be exercised in the storage of wheat germ. Alternatively, the oil may be extracted and sold separately. Of course, wheat germ is well known as a potent source of vitamin E and


Feeding

cont. from p.9

folic acid and it is credited with many health giving benefits, even overcoming infertility although the latter has only been shown in rats........

Bran, which represents the seed coat of wheat, was traditionally fed by the miller to his draught horses, usually Clydesdales in Scotland, often leading to the problem of Big Head or Miller’s disease. This condition arose because bran contains a lot of phosphorus and little calcium thus causing a mineral imbalance in the diet that induced a calcium deficiency. This lead to calcium being “leached” from the non-weight bearing, facial bones where it was replaced with fibrous tissue that caused the head to swell. Nowadays bran is fed in limited quantities to horses although Big Head still occurs in some overseas countries as a result of imbalanced diets. Bran is frequently made into a hot mash with water to be fed as a laxative. Horses, unlike members of the human

race rarely become constipated but some owners feel the need to “purge” their animals rather unnecessarily I think. A “good clear out” is more likely to disturb the natural balance of microorganisms than to do much good to the animal. However, a bran mash is a very good vehicle for supplying medicine when deemed necessary by the vet. Bran comes in different forms but naturally it is available as small particles (think how small a wheat grain is) and is probably best used on your breakfast cereal as I think that the human need for this type of fibre is probably greater than that of your horse. It is often sold as broad bran for horses. This product is obtained by passing the small bits of bran through heated rollers with some moisture so that they stick together to form large flakes. Thus, there is no benefit in buying broad bran other than to reduce the dustiness of the small particles.

The domestication of horses and the increasing demands put upon them has seen a need for greater energy intake through their diet. Cereal grains and their by-products, for example oats, barley and wheat by-products such as wheat bran, may be the solution to this problem, and have become a common inclusion in many horses’ diets. Oats once made up about 31% of all equine feeds consumed, but this has now changed. Very few stables now rely on oats alone.

The majority of diets containing cereal grains are now fed through a complete ration hard feed, usually found in a cube or mix form. Techniques such as micronization or extrusion may be applied to process the cereal grains for their use in a compound feed. These complete rations provide all the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals in the correct quantities when fed to the manufacturers’ specific guidelines. This has created a more convenient feeding method, as it is easy to feed, provides a balanced diet and will be of consistent quality. However, very few people follow the guidelines strictly, as some horses and ponies may not be able to consume the volumes of compound feed required, plus owners like to mix different feeds together.

If cereal grains are fed in excess, they may alter the balance of digestive bacteria and gut flora, causing a build up of acid. This could

cause problems such as ulcers, colic and laminitis. The majority of cereals are now processed, in order to improve digestibility and feed efficiency.

Since the nutritional value of cereals and forage can vary greatly, and complete feed rations are not always fed to the strict guidelines, imbalances in essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients may occur. Therefore feed balancers, such as those in the Blue Chip range can help to restore any imbalances in the feed and help ensure a healthy digestive system is maintained. Blue Chip Pro performance feed balancer contains a prebiotic and the highest level of probiotics of any feed balancer. The probiotic used stimulates the growth of the ‘good bacteria’ involved in the digestive process, aiding fibre breakdown, nutrient absorption and the ‘mopping up’ of unwanted acids, enabling the horse to get the most out of its diet - meaning less hard feed may need to be fed. The prebiotic found in Blue Chip Pro is proven to remove the pathogenic (bad) bacteria from the digestive tract, leaving only good

bacteria. By combining a probiotic with a prebiotic, Pro ensures that horses on a high starch, high energy, competition/racing diet maintain a healthy, trouble free gut.

For more information on any of the Blue Chip range visit www.bluechipfeed.com or for feeding advice call 0114 266 6200.

Cereals, grains and their by-products

cont. on p.12


Feeding


Dressage

cont. from p.10

The starch and sugar content of wheat averages about 70% so it is widely used in the distilling industry for the production of grain-based spirits such as bourbon, whisky, vodka, etc., because it has a high yield of alcohol. Nowadays, this process has been extended to the production of ethanol as a biofuel which can be used as an alternative to petrol or mixed with it. One tonne of wheat will yield about 370 litres of ethanol which equates to 2.7kg grain/litre of ethanol produced compared to 10 to 12kg bananas/litre in St Lucia. The byproduct from processing one tonne of wheat is around 500kg of wet distiller’s grains which are composed of protein, oil, fibre and water. These grains are normally dried in combination with the liquid (“spent wash”) that remains after distilling off

the alcohol. This is a very good feed for horses containing about 30+% protein. Conventionally it has always been fed to cattle but not sheep. This is because if a copper still was used to produce the spirit the grains would be high in copper and thus toxic to sheep who, like goats can only tolerate low dietary levels.

Wheat has been subjected to industrial processes other than flour milling, designed to separate out its component parts, starch, wheat germ, gluten, fibre, and to manufacture other substances from these raw materials. One of the products arising from this processing is wheat syrup which can be used as an alternative to molasses in horse feed and which mixes well (no black patches!) imparting a nice golden colour to a coarse mix.

Of course, a major byproduct that arises from the growing of wheat is wheat straw. Straw will command premium prices over the winter of 2011/12 because the early drought caused cereals to form their seed heads prematurely and thus the stalks (straw) are very short. Wheat straw is the poorest of the cereal straws in nutritional terms and is thus normally only used for bedding. It tends to break up easily, be dusty and go “flat” when compared with a bed made from say barley straw. The latter seems to retain the integrity of its stalks and stays “fluffed up”. Owners often worry that their horses will eat their wheat straw bedding and develop colic. However, this should not occur if the horse is fed adequate amounts of reasonable quality forage; it would take a desperate horse to eat wheat straw bedding.

In conclusion, wheat grain together with the byproducts of wheat processing represent very important components of a horse’s diet but their availability and cost are subject to the vagaries of the global marketplace. Thus, it is becoming very difficult to forecast prices and budget accordingly. Although wheat is very important to the horse market its demand relative to other markets is trivial and lacks “commercial clout” so it may be a case of being content with the crumbs left over from the human food/fuel industry. Currently, animal demand for maize is facing stiff competition from that of biofuel/biogas producers in mainland Europe; farmers are being priced out!

The last report on the ‘conversion of Olenska’ ended with the first week of December 2010. If you remember that was the onset of the bitterly cold weather reminiscent of an Ice Age. With it came several dramatic changes. First of all the horses were no longer turned out, nor would they be until end of April beginning of May according to the yard owner, Christian Rawoo. That might have interesting consequences for a young mare!

However, the arctic temperatures had another unforeseen and devastating impact: my damaged left side seized up almost completely. Worse still within a couple of days despite wearing enough clothes to make Michelin man look anorexic I shook like a leaf non-stop the minute I stepped out of my heated car. Riding was out of the question. The idea of lungeing Olenska every day was untenable, as was daily loose schooling. Just as I was about to bang my head against a wall in despair Christian came to the rescue: he offered to ride her three or four times a week providing I exercised her on the ground the other days.

Christian trains with Danny Pevsner, an exponent of the classical school of training as practised by the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. Their philosophy is: slow, careful, systematic which allows the horse to mature physically and psychologically with minimal stress and likelihood of injury. Hence during Olenska’s first session with Danny all work was slowed down and I mean right down. Walk was not

to be interfered with instead “allow the horse to flow through the neck. Sit in the middle of the saddle, do not restrict with the reins, do not use legs, horse must find her own balance and self-carriage.” The same happened in trot. I began to worry about lack of activity but as Olenska settled into a slow even rhythm she looked completely relaxed and by Jove she carried herself beautifully. Mr Pevsner immediately took to her and felt she would make a good dressage horse. Wow! He advised to carry on like this without any canter work and certainly no lateral movements for the time being.

Now I would not dream of doubting the wisdom of an expert of his calibre but I firmly believe that any horse needs variety during their daily work especially in the absence of turn out and no hacking due to ground conditions. Firstly the horse’s brain enjoys stimulation just as their bodies thrive on different types of exercise. Secondly constantly doing the same type of work imposes repetitive strain on tissues which can lead to injury.

Olenska being spooky and quite forceful in resisting what she did not want to do definitely needed exposure to lots of situations for reasons of discipline alone. Experience has taught me that avoiding canter and the introduction to lateral steps causes problems in the long run. Therefore in discussion with Christian we decided to alternate between ‘Danny training’ and ‘our own ideas’. It is due to the latter that we discovered Olenska’s potential for

passage, lowering her quarters, easy flying changes and medium trot.

To add interest to lunge sessions I introduced trotting poles. They certainly upped the excitement factor dramatically. Under saddle she continuously ‘passaged’ over them with huge and rhythmic elevation which continued for three or four strides afterwards.

Canter posed several problems. a) she dropped out rather quickly, clearly a matter of lack of fitness. b) she also showed great sensitivity to the rider’s seat: the slightest movement and she threw in a proper flying change, great for the future but right now it was a distraction. c) canter from walk was easy but if asked from trot she offered medium strides instead, becoming irritated when Christian insisted on the transition.

Spookiness is typical of insecure and unconcentrated horses. Olenska began every work session being ‘looky’ and jumpy. Particularly the equipment in one corner of the indoor school created tension in walk and trot but in canter she actually gathered herself sufficiently to lower her quarters and rather than spin she jumped a quarter pirouette before rushing off. We discussed this with Danny Pevsner and reached the conclusion that her overall strength and stamina needed careful development. Hopefully this would reduce her back’s sensitivity so I could take over the ride again. In the meantime, weather permitting, I

would walk her out for warm-down after Christian had schooled her. This turned out a terrible idea. The moment I got on board she became fidgety, snatched at the reins and tensed all over. Ok, we decided, maybe it would be better if I warmed her up in walk for ten minutes. It was exactly the same - tension took over. Since I am one of those people who send horses to sleep the assumption had to be that Olenska was troubled by my tight left side. This was terribly frustrating. I had to seek medical advice if I hoped to ever ride her. Equally frustrating for her was the fact that she could not be turned out because she could never truly relax and be ‘just a horse’.

At the end of February 2011 the state of play was: one promising horse that could not get enough exercise and one owner with poor physical condition as yet undiagnosed. The options were a) send her away to be turned out, b) place her with a competition yard who also turned out, c) sell her and get a less high powered horse. I discarded the first two on grounds of finance plus the fact I’d still not be riding her myself. That left the third which I could not bear to even think about. The decision would have to be based on my medical report due any time now…to be continued.

Previous articles in this series can be found on the Equi-Ads website www.equiads.net in the featured articles section.

From show jumper to dressage horse (part 3)

Cora Roberts. Cora is a freelance instructor and lecturer. She has competed for many years in eventing, show jumping and dressage.


Feeding


Riding

Looking at collection- part two

As training progresses the horse should continue to develop a good self carriage as he builds the correct muscles to support himself and carry the weight of the rider. If the horse is taught from his earliest training to work with calm energy he will learn to work correctly through his back, enhancing the supportive muscles throughout his top line.

When you sit on the back of the horse, imagine your centre of gravity and balance is deep within your core. If you pick up the reins and immediately give your balance away to more pressure through your arms and hands, this disturbs the whole centred feeling for both you and the horse. When riding, visualize your balance in the basic position (see my previous articles) on the ground and try to emulate the posture and stance whilst sitting in the saddle. Allow your arms to hang down either side of your body in a natural way with weighted elbows and lightness in your lower arms and wrists. As soon as you allow your elbows and wrists to become tight, you will be giving a backward force onto the horse’s mouth.

If the horse is moving well forwards without pulling, try to maintain a light, giving and elastic connection with his mouth. Try to focus within the moment so if you feel any change in energy, the core breath can re-establish the connection you seek. You may need to reinforce core aids to be consistent so the horse can understand your leadership and power of intention. If the horse becomes tense, then walk for a few moments and sigh deeply, so he learns to work with a calmer attitude.

Encourage the natural head carriage which will not be fixed or in a frame. Each stride will propel energy through the spine which will slightly vary the natural position of the head. If the

head and neck are clamped down by the hands of the rider, this will cause tension and discomfort. The horse should travel with his head just in front of the vertical or on the vertical. He may also bring his head in a little deeper but this should be allowed and not forced. The position of the head is a reflection of the energy of the stride and his state of mind. Correct training enhances the true beauty of the horse, both from the inside and out. As the horse progresses, so his posture will be able to take more weight through the haunches and hind limbs. The contact for the rider will become more refined and light as the fore hand naturally elevates. A strong contact from the riders hands will not allow the lightness and natural lift of the forehand.

The power of impulsion

Impulsion, within the context of training, describes contained energy – rather like a coiled spring. The power of the hind limbs creates a rounded loin and back which produces elevation and cadence within movement. The shoulders become lighter which is the path to developing collection through a correct system of training. The neck should not be compressed in any way and the head should be placed within a natural self carriage near to the vertical or slightly in front, from a natural release of the poll area. This desired way of moving for the horse, can only be instigated from a willing mind full of vitality – yet producing calm and focused energy.

We are looking for energy but if the forward movement becomes too rushed or the paces too long, the horse will find it difficult to maintain his balance. The emphasis will then be tipped onto the forehand and the horse will struggle to maintain his equilibrium. It is fashionable to aim for bigger and longer strides but it is the balanced calm energy which produces the work to build a sound muscle structure for the athletic horse. Balance, with energy is the key.

When we are riding if we continuously ask for more energy, using strong legs, whip or spurs, then we need to review our methods of training so that ‘less will become more’.

The ‘art ‘ of riding in lightness is to work with the mind of the horse so that work can become ‘fun’, with discipline. If you are also in this frame of mind and enjoying your training, then he will be tuning into your ‘free spirit’.

Let us imagine a child at school, who is

attempting to learn a difficult, technical subject. The teacher who presents his knowledge with a blend of enthusiasm and imagination will be more likely to gain the willing concentration of a more relaxed and joyous student.

If we can influence the horse with a similar joy, his impulsion will become an expression of his confident, enthusiastic mind and not as a result of rider domination, suppression or force.

When the horse naturally begins to move the initial motion is from the head and neck. He must be allowed to move forward. When we ask him to move and then restrict his neck and head, we are giving him conflicting aids, which will become the enemy of elastic impulsion and true collection. Most problems encountered with neck carriage stem from a lack of propulsion from the hind limbs. How often have you seen riders pulling the head and neck of the horse into a tight contact and then kicking his ribs with legs and spurs. The horse receives conflicting aids. The riders hands are saying ‘you cannot move forward’ and the legs are instructing the horse to move away from the pressure. He has no place of comfort to go and the tension begins to mount. Movement becomes stilted and the rider then blames the horse for not working forwards. Some training methods embrace extreme methods of contracting the head and neck of the horse, almost towards his chest.

I don’t believe that we should need to ask the experienced veterinary surgeon or physiotherapist if this is an acceptable way of riding. When we see the expression of defeat and anguish in the horse’s eyes, this will give us the answer.

Riding towards balance and collection

Self carriage is gained through a system of warming up exercises which encourage the horse to produce a calm energy in his work. Our goals will be to achieve steady, submissive work from a highly active horse. The key to successful warming up will be to understand the nature and physical capability of your horse. Over a period of time you will find the routine which will best help your horse. For instance I regularly use lateral exercises in a steady walk to create more suppleness and engagement. These exercises are an excellent preparation for balanced and more collected work.

HOMEWORK : Practise riding from your

strong centre. Make the initial aid from your core.

Focus on building energy and lightly containing this feel within your reins and fingers.

When the horse relaxes down into your hands, relax your fingers and visualise the lightest of contact, whilst keeping the attention of your horse.

Jenny gives clinics with her Iberian stallions. Her book and DVD, ‘Ride From the Heart’ are available from her web site www.spanishdressagehorses.co.uk

If you missed any of the previous articles in this series you can find them on Equi-Ads website www.equiads.net in the featured article section.

Breathe life into your riding Jenny Rolfe

The horse displays his natural talent for collection

Remember the basic position

Try to maintain a light, giving elastic connection

Collection is built from a series of warming up exercises

December 2010 - Equi-Ads - 15

Joni Bentley


Feeding


Feeding - Health Care


Laminitis

Endo what; delving deeper into the Laminitis puzzleDr Teresa Hollands BSc (Hons) MSc (Nutrition) PhD R.Nutr starts to put the pieces together to build a better understanding of the biology behind the problems of being a good doer

‘Laminitis Awareness 2010 and 2011; the first Endocrine Event of the decade’

Psst, have you heard that much of the new research into laminitis is happening right here in the UK and that’s why some of the leading scientists from the RVC, London; Liverpool Vet School and Edinburgh Vet School joined forces with Dodson & Horrell, BHS, World Horse Welfare for the first ‘Endocrine Event’ last year.

Having looked at the broad picture of laminitis in April, we are now going to look at the pieces of the jigsaw that make up the picture in more detail; remembering of course that we don’t have the full picture yet, as some pieces are still missing!!

Piece 1

66% of laminitis is pasture associated.

It is very easy to make the assumption, reading the above fact, that grass must be the cause of laminitis. However an association doesn’t always mean that there is a cause and effect. Think about the way we keep horses today compared to when they were work animals. Most of our horses and ponies are now kept out at grass for a minimum of 50% of their time, and if it was simply grass that was the cause, then all good doers out at grass would get laminitis but in fact only 7% of our horses and ponies are diagnosed with laminitis. Imagine that all our horses were kept stabled and were good doers; we’d be looking for something in the stable that was the cause! It might turn out, as research progresses, that

something in grass might be the last straw for laminitis susceptible animals i.e. the final trigger; but all the other factors need to be in place first.

The biggest problem with grass is the excess calories it provides to horses and ponies in light work. Over time this results in comfortably cuddly horses, with the excess calories being laid down as fat.

Piece 2

Equine Metabolic Syndrome is on the increase and

with it associated laminitis.

Why has the word ‘endocrine’ or ‘metabolic’ started to be used when we discuss Laminitis?

Researchers now know that fat produces substances which act in a similar way to hormones (hence the name endocrine) and change the metabolism of the overweight animal in both ourselves and our horses. The changes result in insulin resistance, chronic inflammation and a continued release of these substances. All these together over time, affect the epithelium (lining of the blood vessels) and one day, you and I might have a heart attack or a mini stoke and your horse might develop pottery laminitis.

Equine or Human Metabolic Syndrome describes obesity or adiposity, chronic inflammation and insulin resistance. In people these characteristics make us more susceptible to heart attacks or strokes. A 20% reduction in body weight can reduce this risk by 40%. Over 50% of all cases of hypertension are simply due to being overweight. (a)

Work supported by The Horse Trust at the RVC showed (c)

1. that the risk of laminitis increased by a factor of 6 for every increase in fat score over 3 (out of 5 modified score)

2. 26.9% of horses/ponies had chronic musculoskeletal conditions and this also seemed to be associated with fat score with the risk increasing 2.5 per unit increase of fat score

3. 5.6% horses/ponies were affected by skin conditions. There seemed to be an association between body fat and dermatological conditions with the risk increasing 5 times for every increase in fat score over 3.

Osteoarthritis symptoms are worse in men and women with a BMI over 25. Excess body weight stresses joint cartilage. Skin problems are worse in overweight people, (b)

It is possible that horses that were previously fat continue to have this underlying problem with their metabolism that reappears if they suddenly put on weight after a week on calorie rich grass especially if they haven’t been ridden during that week.

For the jigsaw to make sense we have to remind ourselves of the picture on the front of the box and the real focus should be the end result which is a change in blood flow to the foot

There are 3 main mechanisms/causes that result in blood flow changes and within each mechanism there are several different triggers.

Mechanism 1 - Traumatic/MechanicalBadly shod feet, uneven weight bearing or repetitive trotting on hard ground will all affect blood flow to the foot over time. Traumatic causes could be thought of being similar to hitting your thumb firmly and persistently with a hammer and the resultant blood blister and inflammation; mechanical causes could be thought of as getting pins and needles because your shoes don’t fit properly.

Mechanism 2 - Systemic InflammationStarch overload, endotoxaemia, post colic surgery, retained placenta, liver problems all cause inflammation in the body and these cause endotoxaemia and inflammation which affect blood flow quite rapidly, often within 12-48hrs and the laminitis is dramatic and sudden. The horses are ill, have increase heart rates, depressed and ‘hosepipe’ diarrhoea. Think of this mechanism as being similar to a tooth abscess or an infected cut or even gangrene.

Mechanism 3 - Metabolic/endocrineGood doers, Cushings, overweight and obesity are all associated with insulin resistance and chronic inflammation,

Photo courtesy of World Horse Welfare

© Professor Chris Pollitt

Piece 1

Piece 2

Piece 3


Health Care

New brand, new packaging, same original recipe!NoBute the leading alternative to Bute, that does not contain Phenylbutazone, has been given a new look with an extensive branding and packaging makeover for the whole range. NoBute has been a popular natural joint comfort for equines for the last 14 years. The complementary liquid feeding supplement offers a genuine alternative to the pain relief drug Bute. NoBute is produced from natural ingredients, it does not contain Phenylbutazone and therefore does not produce the side effects associated with Bute and can be legally used by competing horses and ponies. The NoBute range of natural products includes; NoBute (a natural comfort for joints), NoBute Premium (repairs and maintains cartilage, joints and coat), NoBute Navilam ‘O’ (to assist the laminae, pedal bone and navicular) and NoBute No Wheeze (to soothe the respiratory system). “It’s an exciting, new development

for us” said Paul Westcott, Managing Director of the Animal Health Company who own and manufacturer the NoBute range. “We wanted the new look to reflect the quality of the products and the high esteem our customers hold them. The NoBute products are some of our most popular and we wanted to introduce the new NoBute image first as we are currently working on new brands and packing for our other products for equines, canines and pets which will follow shortly.’ Consumers will start seeing the NoBute range’s new look in the shops from June and new adverts are already appearing in the press! Log onto www.equinehealthandherbal.co.uk to find out more about NoBute.

and (in EMS, the presence of cytokines, substances produced by active fat) cortisol or stress may also be involved. These factors all affect blood flow to the foot over time. The laminitis is often mild and you might describe your horse as pottery on an on and off basis. Researchers have shown that a reduction in fat in people and horses reduces chronic inflammation, insulin resistance and cytokine production; therefore reducing the risk of heart attacks or laminitis. Think of this as being similar to a heart attack or a series of small strokes, all the biology is the same and the blood flow changes aren’t triggered by what you have eaten today but your lifestyle, genetics and diet over a long time ‘To prevent your horse getting laminitis, you have to think what caused it and then treat the cause, you need to remove the cause at the same time as the symptoms are treated; do not treat every case the same’ Dr Cathy McGowan; Laminitis Awareness 2010, 2011.

Piece 3

The bacteria in the horse’s small intestine ferment

fructans and it is unlikely that enough fructans reach the hind gut to have a detrimental effect on the fermentation

Fructan research was based on the thought that the hind gut was still the

trigger of grass related laminitis. We now know that this is not the case and it is the change in metabolism that is related to most laminitis seen in the 21st century; it is unlikely that the mechanism is linked to systemic inflammation i.e. fructans are not linked to the hind gut.

Research done in Germany (d) and France (e) has shown that the bacteria in the horse’s small intestine ferment fructans, and substances called volatile fatty acids not glucose are absorbed from the small intestine. They also showed that there were no dramatic changes in the hind gut when the horses were fed the fructans. More recently the French (f) have shown that giving fat horses fructans reduces insulin resistance and fructans are used in human nutrition as an aid to reduce diabetes.

There is also a big difference in the way that starch and grass is consumed by our horses. 0.5-1.0kg of starch is fed as a meal and (0.5kg-1kg of oats provides this amount of starch) is eaten within 20-40minutes; fructans were drenched as a large bolus in the experiments straight into the horse’s stomach and 3-4kg were fed within an hour to stimulate meal feeding of starch.

But fructans are found in grass which is trickle eaten and on mixed pasture the horse will eat 4.6g fructans per hour in the summer and 50g fructans per hour in the winter which is between 100- 1000 times less than in the experiments.

cont. on p.22

cont. from p.18


Health Care



cont. from p.20

Strangles - A Simple Equation

Help keep your laminitic Safe & Sound.

“Don’t panic, don’t panic Captain Mannering”“Calm down dear, it’s just a commercial, or PMQ’s”“Oh my God, they’ve killed Kenny”

Recognise any? Folklore phrases that have seeped into our national conscience. Then we have the real killer: “We’ve got strangles, everyone run for their lives, burn the place down, find the perpetrator, build a pyre, tell my husband/children/wife I love them and never meant it to be this way.” I hate to belittle any disease, especially one where the animals can be truly sick, have life long consequences and can kill but to give advice to our Private Pikes, instead of panicking, do as every emergency situation demands first. STOP. Then think. Yes strangles is a highly contagious disease ranked amongst the three most significant

respiratory infections in the world and is one of the most commonly diagnosed bacterial disease in horses with UK estimates of between 200-400 outbreaks a year. Importantly the death rate is less than 1% (complications are approximately 10%) and importantly because of its ubiquity, you are probably going to meet it at some point. If you haven’t, you are probably simply living in ignorance (and it’s better to be that way.) Given that around 10% (i.e. if you have 10 horses on your yard, it’s likely one has strangles) of horses are carriers and harbour the infection with no external signs intermittently shedding the bacteria for months providing a source of infection to others and are frustratingly difficult to diagnose it is perhaps not so surprising that outbreaks occur. So why the pandemonium?

It’s as recognisable as E = MC². It is Risk = Hazard + Outrage.

Which means that when hazard is high and outrage is low, people under react, but when hazard is low and outrage is high, people over react. Realistically true hazard from Strangles infection is low, a low death rate, and a low complication rate. Compare this to dental abscessation in horses, a similar death rate but a very high complication rate, why don’t we all get excited about this one? It is because we understand the latter whereas with the former, we often don’t know where it has come from, how long it will take to resolve and how we will be rid of it? I guess this is where I come in, or vets in general come in, to provide peace of mind with a piece of our mind.

So Strangles is caused by the bacterium, Streptococcus equi, it is unique to the horse family and is seen in horses of all ages with the horses ill for 1-2 months although in group outbreaks the disease will almost certainly be present for much longer. It is spread by Direct contact: horse-to-horse including carriers and by Indirect contact: water, tack, clothing, stable equipment and even stable cats and dogs!

There are 5 forms of the disease and each may co-exist

1 Typical strangles (enlarged bursting lymph nodes, nasal discharge, fever, inappetence)2 Atypical strangles which is more flu like3 Bastard Strangles affecting up to 10% of horses with systemic abscesses

Do you have a horse or pony that’s prone to laminitis? If so, Dodson & Horrell Safe & Sound has been formulated specifically with the laminitic horse or pony in mind. Global research suggests that once your horse/pony has had laminitis, the likelihood is that they will get it again, therefore providing your horse with the most appropriate diet is more important than ever.

Safe & Sound is a low calorie, low sugar and low starch feed enriched with vitamins, minerals, biotin, yeast, MSM and herbs. The feed also offers a bespoke antioxidant package to

neutralise free radicals as studies have shown that laminitics have three times the levels of damaging free radicals when compared to non-laminitics.

Safe & Sound is available in an 18kg bale and retails at between £10.45 - £11.20 per bale.

Dodson & Horrell Ultimate Balancer

Whether your horse is a ‘good doer’ or a horse that relies on a concentrate diet

to maintain weight and condition it is essential that he receives the correct levels of vitamins and minerals. Dodson & Horrell Ultimate Balancer is a high specification feed balancer which provides your horse with those essential vitamins and minerals, in a low intake formulation that is suitable for all horses and ponies. RRP: £32.25 Feeding guidelines: 100g per 100kg bodyweight.

Dodson & Horrell Equi-Bites

Do you want to be able to give your horse or pony a treat that’s low in calories but fully supplemented with vitamins and minerals? Dodson & Horrell Equi-Bites are the answer! Ideal for leisure horses that are at grass or in work, Equi-Bites are an ideal and convenient source of daily vitamins and minerals which can be fed from the hand.

For friendly, expert and practical feeding advice, give the Dodson & Horrell Nutritional Team a call on 0845 345 2627. We’re available between 8.30-5.00 Monday-Friday. or visit www.dodsonandhorrell.com

Ben Sturgeon, BSc, BVM&S, Cert EP, MRCVS

Remember laminitis shares the same biology to a stroke or heart attack in people; it’s just that the target organ is different. It is difficult to predict when a heart attack happens; however it is easy to pick out a person at high risk. But even a high risk person eating loads of doughnuts doesn’t suffer a heart attack in the next 24hrs; neither do fructans cause a horse to go down with laminitis.

Heart attacks in humans are seasonal with an increased incidence in spring and winter (g). Coronary events, both fatal and non-fatal, were 20–40% more likely to occur in winter and spring than at other times of the year (i). Coronary deaths were more likely to occur on days of low temperature. However, it does seem that if there aren’t seasonal variations in weather then these differences disappear (h) It has also been shown that the effects of cold weather on heart attacks increase with age; maybe that’s why we are seeing more laminitis in the winter than ever before (j)

It is highly probable that the reason that our horses get laminitis is because several trigger factors are involved but what is becoming more and more clear, is that these trigger factors aren’t a problem unless your horse is comfortably cuddly.

To return to the jigsaw the triggers are the bits of jigsaw that finish off the

picture, but the main body of the picture is the fat horse, if your horse isn’t fat then there is no longer a jigsaw!

Check out the Dodson and Horrell website to see how to fat score your horse and if you want to know more about the researchers doing the work on laminitis, then follow the links on www.dodsonandhorrell.com(a) American Journal of Nutrition(b) Obesity and dermatology; Clinics in Dermatology, Volume 22, Issue 4, Pages 303-309 N.Scheinfeld (2009)(c) Epidemiology of Equine Obesity; Preliminary findings Salonen, L., Hollands, T, Piercy, R.J. and Verheyen, K.L.P. (2009)(d) Coenen M, Mosseler A, Vervuert I. Fermentative gases in breath indicate that inulin and starch start to be degraded by microbial fermentation in the stomach and small intestine of the horse in contrast to pectin and cellulose. J Nutr 2006;136:2108S–2110S.(e) Respondek, F., A. G. Goachet, F. Rudeaux, and V. Julliand. 2007. Effects of short-chain fructooligosaccharides (fructans)on the microbial and biochemical profiles of different segments of the gastrointestinal tract of horses. Pferdeheilkunde 22: 146-150.(f) F. Respondek, K. Myers, T. L. Smith, A. Wagner and R. J. Geor, Dietary supplementation with short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (fructans) improves insulin sensitivity in obese horses J. Anim Sci. 2011. 89:77-83(g) Rumana et al (2008) American Journal of Cardiology.(h) Cardiology 1998;89:277-282(i) Int. J. Epidemiol. (1993) 22 (4): 632-636.(j) Aging affects the cardiovascular responses to cold stress in humans; J Appl Physiol 107: 1076–1082, 2009.


Health Care - Worming

4 Purpura haemorragica which is a serious but rare consequence where blood vessels are damaged

5 Carriers, perhaps the most important. The longest a horse has been known to be shedding after disease is 5 years but as this particular horse is still alive, carrier status may persist even longer than this.

So what should you do in an outbreak? Five things,

1 Stop - avoid panic, retributions and all other madness.2 Early detection - swabs should be taken to confirm the actual bacteria, no point panicking till you need to.3 Strict quarantine and isolation - suspect horses should be held 10-25 metres separate, strict disinfection

procedures should be put in place.4 Cessation of all horse movements – close the yard (not a legal requirement, a nice thing to do for your neighbour and the definite back stabbing and various blame that always results).5 Separate horses into groups

• Red – infected, clinical signs• Amber – in contact• Green – not exposed

Horses should be separated into groups depending on risk of exposure to strangles. Ensure all personnel understand the groups and do not themselves move from red to green groups or allow horses to transfer easily. If a horse in the amber group spikes a fever or shows other clinical signs then it should be moved to red. 6 weeks after the last clinical sign then testing can begin for carriers. Serology (blood sampling) for screening of horses in amber and green followed by Guttural Pouch Lavage/washes (as a detection and treatment) for all horses in red and positives in amber and green.

Vaccination for strangles has been recently re-introduced, given my insistence that strangles is not all that bad why would anyone vaccinate? Simple economics. Strangles outbreaks are massively expensive, not just for an owner who may need intensive treatment for their horse, but also for a riding school or livery who cannot open its doors for a sometimes disproportionate length of time (for the apparent seriousness of the disease.) Given that strangles outstrips flu infections by 4 - 5 : 1, and given that a huge swath of the horse owning public vaccinate against flu (despite the Jockey Clubs antagonistic rules and stewards), it is clear vaccination does work.

But any horse’s vaccination programme (for strangles to tetanus) should be based on the risk of infection (relatively high), definitive health risk (relatively low) and economic consequences (from low to sky high and life changing). I am in danger here of slipping into the realms of a salesman or an advertising dream, you may or may not have heard of the Puppy Dog technique.

It is used to sell everything from Life Insurance to Canned Tuna, basically if we believe we are soothing our fevered brow by purchasing a product designed to help us or another species, especially one like Puppies or Dolphins then we are likely to do it. Problem is I’m a scientist, a sceptical one yes, and you are a savvy consumer. You need to take a cold calculated risk, problem is if you’re wrong, or just in the wrong place at the wrong time, likelihood is outrage is gonna be high and your peril is up for grabs.


Supplements

Supplements: sorting the wheat from the chaffAli Howe, Equine Business Development Manager, LitoVet

Dietary supplements are used widely to support various aspects of equine nutrition and health. Their ingredients range from straight-forward vitamins and minerals, to specific substances including nutraceuticals. Some

of these ingredients are proposed to maintain one or more of the body’s physiological processes or structures e.g. the digestive system, joints or the respiratory system. A supplement usually has active ingredients such as live yeasts for the digestive system, GOPO® for joint function, vitamin C for respiratory function or biotin for hoof quality and growth. These active ingredients are responsible for the beneficial properties of a particular supplement but there may also be carrier ingredients that allow the actives to be delivered in a practical form.

There are so many supplements available, with most making some sort of beneficial claim to the end user. This makes the whole area of supplementation an information minefield for horse owners, who may find it very difficult to sort the wheat from the chaff. Horse owners can be faced with a wide choice of supplement brands even for a single issue such

as maintenance of joints. Personal recommendation can be helpful, but bear in mind that the placebo effect, or in other words the desire to ‘see a difference’ can be strong. Looking for some good scientific data that supports a product or its major ingredients is a more intelligent approach. Nutritionists and vets would agree that where statements are made claiming to maintain health, some data or other evidence to support these claims should always be expected by the customer. Unfortunately the number of companies that invest in the scientific research to support the efficacy of their products is relatively low. To complicate matters further as with most things not all research is equal; that is there can be good research and weak scientific research. In this context, the expression that there are “lies, damn lies and statistics” is not said without meaning and any supporting science for a product or ingredient must be robust.

This makes the choice very difficult for horse owners, as most of us are not equipped with the skills to discriminate between lacklustre and good scientific data. I will try to offer some pointers in the paragraphs that follow to help horse owners navigate their way through the supplement maze.

Medicinal claims are not allowable Irrespective of what science is available, a company is not allowed

to make what are termed medicinal claims about a supplement product, unless they possess a veterinary marketing authorisation (VMA), which the vast majority do not. VMA’s require an extensive number of trials to scientifically prove both the efficacy and safety of a product to a similar level to a pharmaceutical drug. Manufacturers cannot therefore suggest that a supplement cures or treats a disease. Most supplement manufacturers embrace this legislation by claiming maintenance of health such as respiratory health and horse owners generally get the gist of it. This is especially so where there is a clear, definable and scientifically proven link between diet and the development of a particular disease e.g. laminitis or gastric ulcers. In this instance pragmatism by the VMD has allowed products to be advertised as suitable for ponies at risk of or prone to laminitis, or for horses at risk of gastric ulceration assuming that they provide appropriate ingredients. Further insight into the accepted and discouraged language can be found on the VMD website under Industry info: non medicinal products.

Published scientific research strengthens the marketing messageResearch in humans or other animals on the product or individual active ingredients may suggest that the product will be beneficial in horse. In some instances, this can be

strengthened by a meta-analysis in humans, which involves a published independent evaluation or conclusion to a series of trials. Ideally, however some horse specific data will be provided by the manufacturer. Companies who spend part of their product budget on research trials in horses to provide supporting data for their particular product should be applauded.

As a consumer, we should be looking for data from a trial that has been ‘peer reviewed’ or critically evaluated and the data published in a well-known scientific or veterinary journal. This should give us reassurance that the data is fairly robust. Ideally, the trial will have been carried out in a large number of horses, although in horse research any number above 6 is unusual. Horse numbers are crucial as they increase the chance of achieving that elusive statistically significant result. A small horse group can mean that a statistically significant result cannot be delivered even in a product that is honestly beneficial unless of course the expected effect is very large. For GOPO®, a statistically significant effect on markers of inflammation was achieved by using a group of 44 Standardbred trotters. With respect to the live yeast Saccaromyces cerevisiae CY1026 repeated studies in smaller groups of horses have

Mobility Horslyx is a research proven, nutrient rich lick containing optimum levels of Glucosamine HCI, MSM and Omega Oils, all vital to support and maintain healthy joint function. The high specification vitamin, mineral and trace element package - which incorporates Vitamin C, Vitamin E and selenium - supports the body’s ability

to absorb the vital nutrients, helping maintain a strong immune system and promote overall health and vitality.

Simple and easy to use, Mobility Horslyx offers horse owners a unique method of feeding for healthy joints, plus the opportunity to balance any deficiencies in their forage and grazing. In addition,

Mobility Horslyx contains a unique Healthy Hooves formula containing Biotin, Methionine and Zinc to encourage healthy hoof growth. Costing from just 40p per day based on the recommended intakes of 15kg Mobility Horslyx

for the average 500kg horse, Mobility Horslyx is a highly palatable choice for all equines - even those on a restricted diet - providing owners with a fuss-free, economical, healthy feed containing no artificial colours or preservatives.

Mobility Horslyx is available in 5kg and 15kg, weatherproof tubs, priced

around £12.70 and £24.40 respectively.

For more information visit: www.horslyx.com or telephone: 01697 332 592.

cont. on p.26

Forage balancer and joint support from just 40p per day


Health Care - Tack & Turnout

Mouth bruised from pinching bit


Feeding - Health Care - Supplements - Worming

cont. from p.24

shown consistently positive results on digestive function which should also give us confidence of its efficacy. Likewise, there are several studies that report the beneficial effect of biotin on hoof quality.

Species specific results are importantWhilst data from other species including humans is useful, we shouldn’t assume that an ingredient will behave the same way in the horse. Lack of absorption from the digestive tract is often the downfall of many a promising ingredient. Creatine, for example is an ingredient that has clear beneficial effects in human athletes, but has repeatedly been shown to have extremely poor absorption in horses and no absorption equals no effect. Another example of why horse specific studies are very important is the recent published report in the British Medical Journal on glucosamine and chondroitin, which emphatically stated that they were not beneficial for joint disease in humans. So whilst the same may be true in horses, this report should at least put the spotlight on horse supplements containing either ingredient to provide robust data to support their continued use in horses.

Level of active ingredients

Horse owners are also advised to scrutinise labels carefully, or to ask a company what the level of a particular active ingredient a supplement supplies per day. This is because a certain level will have been used in any supporting research and it is important to determine that both the composition of the marketed supplement or the level of the main active ingredient is similar to that used in the research trials. If different, the company should be able to provide good justification for the difference. Biotin provides a good example of this as many supplements marketed to support hoof horn quality actually provide a much lower level of biotin compared to that in the scientific literature.

Whilst data and scientific studies are not obligatory in the supplement market, they really form part of the whole due diligence process in ensuring that products are firstly safe for use in horses, but secondly are honest in the way they are marketed. The bottom line being that they allow us the consumers to look beyond a brand image, glossy adverts and nice packaging.

LitoVet, from Lanes Health, is the only equine supplement in the UK that contains GOPO®. One of the main active components found in the Rosa Canina rosehip, that can help to maintain, soundness, suppleness and mobility in equine joints and joint tissues.

LitoVet was clinically trialled in 44 performance horses before being brought to market, despite GOPO® being clinically proven in extensive human trials.

The published independent double-blind placebo trial, was undertaken on horses in active trotting training as they often develop early osteoarthritis as a result of their intensive programme. All horses were based at the same yard and put on

a standardised training regime.

Tests following the trial showed that the body’s natural repair processes were more active in the horses taking LitoVet than those on the placebo. Those on LitoVet also recorded significantly higher levels of vitamin C than the placebo group.

Of the trainers, 70% said horses appeared more lithe, supple and easier to work the day after strenuous exercise.

The patented process used in the production of LitoVet ensures that GOPO®, the component responsible for the main healing effects, is not depleted or damaged. LitoVet® is 100% plant-based and does not contain glucosamine or chondroitin.

For further information on LitoVet please visit www.litovet.co.uk or call 01452 524012.

Pernamax Green Lipped Mussel (GLM) supplement provides one of the highest natural sources of Omega 3 for your horse.

Omega 3 essential fatty acids are integral parts of

the cell membrane of every single cell

in the body and are key for healthy joints, balanced immune and nervous systems, healthy skin and general well-being.

For further information on the natural products in the Ruggles & Stopitall Ltd range, visit www.karenruggles.co.uk or call 01823 259952.

LitoVet

Stiff Joints – Is The Natural Key Omega 3?


Health Care


Classical Riding - Education - Health Care

A Truly Comprehensive Supplement

Keep your horse calm and carry on!

MOST owners want to make sure their horse or pony is receiving all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals they require to lead a healthy, happy life. TopSpec Comprehensive is a granular supplement that contains a top specification broad-spectrum supplement plus several specialised supplements, for example, a superb hoof supplement, generous levels of anti-oxidants and sophisticated digestive aids.

This means that it is the most fully-comprehensive supplement that can be bought and it can successfully be fed to every horse or pony on any yard.

TopSpec Comprehensive supplement has been designed to supplement the rations of all horses and ponies simply by adjusting the rate at which it is fed and the products it is fed with.

As it contains insignificant calories it is one of the products that is recommend for good-doers, including many native ponies. When mixed with a little chopped forage it is a good way to ensure a good supply of micronutrients for those horses and ponies that convert feed so efficiently that any concentrate feed would make them overweight. It can also be used in this way to help controlled weight reduction and can be used highly effectively for horses and ponies susceptible to laminitis. Supplied in 3kg, 9kg and 20kg tubs.

For further information contact TopSpec on 01845 565030 or visit www.topspec.com

If you have administered, or are planning to administer a calmer to your horse, have you thought about exactly why you are doing it and what you hope to achieve? Using products that specifically target the problems could save you money and help you reach peak performance sooner than you thought!

Forest Farmacy has created a range of organic, natural calmers based on flower essences which work to target fear and nerves emotionally without detracting from physical performance. Winning Solutions are available in drops or spray form which work in a two pronged effect. The spray targets the olfactory system and releases endorphins to calm and soothe while the drops flood the body through the mucous membranes via the mouth.

They require no loading dose, contain no prohibited substances and do not take away your horse’s sparkle. Unlike any other calmer on the market they have also been designed to use on riders.

The problem... Headstrong moody mare? Irritable? Aggressive in the stable or when handled? Forest Farmacy’s Winning Solution... Angelic Mare

The problem... Uptight in the collecting ring? Highly strung? Nervous? Anxious? Forest Farmacy’s Winning Solution... Perfect Performance

The problem... Won’t stand still? Tense and spooky? Extreme fear and anxiety? Forest Farmacy’s Winning Solution... Evening Performance

The problem... Loses confidence when lots of horses are working in together? Goes into themselves at a competition? Lacking in confidence?Forest Farmacy’s Winning Solution... Top Class

The problem... Stressed whilst travelling? Won’t load in to a trailer or horsebox? Tucked up? Scouring?Forest Farmacy’s Winning Solution... Box Up-Travel Ease

For more information and to see the whole range of Winning Solutions Calmers, visit www.forestfarmacy.com, call 0330 100 5266 (free from mobiles) or 0800 970 9421 (free from landlines). Join our community on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest news, testimonials and get access to exclusive competitions www.facebook.com/forestfarmacy.


Horse Behaviour


Health Care - Physiotherapy

Core Stability for the Horse RiderCore stability and core strength are terms that are widely used in current literature but do you know the difference between the two terms?

For a Chartered Physiotherapist core stability means the ability to be strong throughout controlled movement. Strong ‘core’ muscles should support and control the trunk, pelvis and back, allowing the larger, global muscles to produce the large movements of the trunk and the arm and leg muscles to do the job of controlling the limb movement. The core muscles can be strong however if they cannot maintain that contraction throughout the full movement they control, or if they don’t switch on and work quickly enough, you will not have good core stability.

The core muscles of the trunk include transversus abdominus, the segmental spinal muscles (including multifidus), the pelvic floor and the diaphragm. These muscles are all involved in controlling local stability and are sometimes referred to as antigravity muscles. They all attach directly to the spine and do not produce any significantly large movements on contraction but provide support and small ‘fine tuning’ movements.

Global strength muscles include the internal and external oblique abdominal muscles, rectus abdominus, quadratus lumborum and some of the spinal muscles. When these muscles contract, large movements of the trunk occur (e.g. a sit up or bending to the side). It is the production of large movement rather than fine control and support that is the difference between core strength and core stability.

For the core muscles to perform correctly there needs to be the correct balance between length and strength of muscles. Both pain and asymmetrical tasks or jobs can affect this balance of length and strength and also the timing of recruitment of the muscles.

A horse rider needs to have the ability to independently control seat, legs, trunk and arms to give the correct aids to the horse. It is also important to have the small fine movements of the pelvis and trunk to absorb some of the forces coming up through your horse. This absorption of forces allows the rider to sit more quietly and softly and stops the rider rigidly bumping around. To achieve this balance the rider needs to have symmetry through the right and left sides and the front and back of their body. If there is a weakness, tightness or problem with timing and recruitment of the muscles the core stability muscles will not work correctly. This

will cause other global muscles to work in an altered way and in turn affect how you move on your horse and therefore how your horse moves and performs.

Unfortunately this balance and symmetry needs to be worked on constantly. If you have a horse that is unbalanced or not symmetrical this will affect how you move and therefore affect your symmetry. Other factors such as repetitive task whether at work or within your daily life e.g. mucking out, will all influence how you move and therefore the recruitment of your core muscles.To get the most appropriate core exercises for your own problems you can contact a Chartered Physiotherapist who will assess your core stability. Below are a few pilates based exercises you can try at home to work on your core muscles and symmetry of movement.

Exercise 1 – Scapular movementThis movement is important to keep a soft and fluid movement through the reins to the horse’s mouth while maintaining good upper body posture.Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor. Point your hands up towards the ceiling as in picture (a). From this position, push your arms further up towards the ceiling. Now pull your shoulder blades together to bring your arms back to the starting position, keeping your arms straight throughout.

Repeat this movement about 8-10 times. Both hands should move at the same pace and the same distance. The overall movement is small, your hands will only move up and down a few inches.

This exercise can then be progressed to standing (picture b) holding some resistance band in each hand as you would hold the reins. Gently squeeze the shoulder blades together (picture c) and then relaxing them. It is important that during this exercise you maintain a good length between your shoulders and ears, reducing the use of the upper trapezius muscle.

Exercise 2 - Spine twist

This exercise mobilises through the

thoracic spine which is often an area of stiffness. It also helps to improve sitting posture and therefore the rider’s seat.

Sit on a gym ball (picture d) or on the floor with your legs crossed (picture f). Make sure you are sitting in a neutral pelvic/lumbar position. To check this, place your hands under your bottom, you should feel your sit bones here. Arch and slump a little through your lower back, you should feel these sit bones move backwards and forwards. Stop when you feel they are pointing down directly towards your hands. This should roughly be your neutral position.

Place the palms of your hands together and then rest your thumbs against your breast bone. Throughout this exercise,

keep your chin in line with your hands.As you breathe out, twist round to the right (pictures e & g), trying not to change the weight through the right and left sit bones or collapse down. Breathe in at the end of the movement, then return to the middle as you breathe out. Repeat to the opposite side. Repeat 3-4 times in each direction.

Exercise 3 – Pelvic dissociation (Roll up)

It is important for the rider to be able to dissociate the pelvis from the ribs to allow for absorption of the forces up through the horse. This exercise is especially good for riders who do not move well with the horse or who ‘bump’ around in trot.

*DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS EXERCISE IF YOU HAVE ACUTE LOW BACK PAIN, ACUTE DISC PROBLEMS OR SACROILLIAC PROBLEMS. IF YOU TRY THIS EXERCISE AND IT GIVES YOU WORSENING LOW BACK PAIN, PLEASE STOP EXERCISE IMMEDIATELY*

Kim Gunstone, Chartered Veterinary Physiotherapist

A

B

C

D E

F G

H

I


Health Care

Sit on a chair (picture h) or gym ball (picture j). Sit ‘on top’ of your sit bones in a pelvic/lumbar neutral position as in exercise 2. Sit tall as if you have a helium balloon gently pulling you up through your head. Stretch your arms out in front of you, keeping a good space between your shoulders and ears.

As you breathe out, roll off the back of your sit bone (pictures i & k). The shoulder and ribcage should not move. As you breathe in, gently return to the starting position. Repeat 8-10 times.

The movement of your spine is very small in this exercise.

In conclusion, core stability is important to allow the rider to move fluidly in a balanced way with the horse. Many different things affect the core stability

including injury and pain, muscle length and repeated, asymmetrical tasks throughout the day. Core stability exists alongside core strength and both are important. However the two terms should not be interchanged as they refer to different muscle groups that perform different tasks within the body. By improving your core stability you can help improve your own movement and performance and also help enhance the movement and performance of your horse.

Kim GunstoneChartered Veterinary PhysiotherapistACPAT Cat ABSc Hons PhysiotherapyPg Dip Veterinary Physiotherapytel: 07912378934email:[email protected]

J K


Health Care

Fine Fettle Feed launches professional size Fine Fettle™ Fly-Gon - 500ml

Horse and Rider first aid kit

Equine EmergenciesIn this issue leading animal healthcare specialists Robinson Animal Healthcare provide some advice on how to deal with Equine Emergencies away from home

Fly-Gon is an anti-feedant fly spray that plays a major role in dissuading midges from biting horses.

Here’s what our customers say –

“It is the most effective fly spray I have ever used. My horses out at grass have never been happier.”Rupert Arnold, Chief Executive of the National Trainers Federation

“This is brilliance in a bottle! The first product I’ve ever used that really defeats midges.”Pam H, Dressage Rider and Judge

NEW! Fly-Gon 500ml = RRP £14.98, 1 litre = RRP £29.00.

Order today from www.finefettlefeed.com, call 01600 712496

Robinson Animal Healthcare manufactures a ‘Horse and Rider First Aid Kit’ containing essential items and is suitable for use at equestrian events.

For further information please contact Robinson Animal Healthcare on 01909 735000 or visit www.robinsonhealthcare.com

If you and your horse compete away from home it is vital to be prepared for all eventualities. Horse events can often become unpredictable, despite careful planning. In such a busy and novel environment it is not uncommon for a horse to act out of character. By taking all possible steps to protect yourself and your horse the risk of accident or injury should be significantly reduced.

However, should an emergency situation occur the necessary preparation will ensure you are able to deal with it effectively and calmly.

Preparation must begin at home. Before travelling to an event check all equipment is safe and in good repair. You should also check both human and equine first aid kits to make sure they are complete. Once you are confident all items are present, pack them in an easily accessible place and make sure everyone is aware of the location. It is a good idea to talk to your veterinary surgeon if you are unsure about any equine first aid procedures. Make sure you have the knowledge and the correct equipment to deal with a first aid

emergency.

When you arrive at an event you should take the time to find out where the first aid point is located. There will also be a vet and farrier either present or on call, make sure you are aware of the contact procedure. You should also carry details of your own veterinary surgeon and farrier in case they need to be contacted, either to arrange an immediate visit upon your return or to consult for advice.

When an emergency situation does arise following these steps will help to prevent further problems;

• If your horse is loose alert organisers immediately so they can announce it on the tannoy system and secure the area until you are able to catch your horse. • Remove the horse from any immediate danger to prevent further injury and ensure it is held securely.• Calm the horse and make sure you do not panic.• Assess the situation quickly and contact the on duty veterinary surgeon if necessary. Alert organisers

and request assistance if you need it. • Remove or loosen any restrictive tack.• Move the horse to a safe area where it is unlikely to be injured should it go down. • If possible move the horse to a quiet area or return to the familiar surroundings of your horse box and other travelling companions. The horse should only be moved if it is possible to do so without causing distress or further injury. • Providing hay can also be a good distraction and help the horse to calm down in less serious situations.• Get your first aid kit or send someone that knows where it is kept to retrieve it.• Get help before attempting to treat or evaluate a wound. It can be difficult and very dangerous to try to inspect or clean the wound without someone to hold the horse. You cannot help your horse if you are seriously injured yourself. • If awaiting the veterinary surgeon avoid treating the wound with any products as it may complicate matters further. You can begin to clean wounds to save time should it need to be stitched or apply pressure to any profuse bleeding.• If it is not necessary to call the veterinary surgeon and you are confident to treat your horse using your first aid kit continue to do so once the horse is calm and secure.

If you are ever in any doubt about treating an injured horse call the veterinary surgeon immediately.

For further information please contact Robinson Animal Healthcare on 01909 735000 or visit www.robinsonhealthcare.com

Knee wound

Joint puncture


Health Care

NaturalintX - the new name in equine first aid. NAF, pioneers in natural horse health, have turned their expertise in natural equine care to first aid, with the launch of NaturalintX…

Within the new NaturalintX first aid range you will find a choice of veterinary approved, 100% natural dressings for wound management, together with naturally formulated applications to support the healing of minor wounds, cuts, abrasions and strains.

The hero product of the range is the NaturalintX Poultice

A 100% natural, veterinary approved poultice for use on minor wounds and abrasions.

The NaturalintX Poultice is formed from multiple layers of 100% natural cotton wool, with a low adherent, non woven wound facing to help minimize disturbance and trauma caused to the wound when the dressing is changed and a fine polythene backing sheet to help retain the moisture and warmth of the dressing and serve as a protective barrier against external contamination.

The Poultice comes as a single 41 cm x 21 cm pad which can be cut to the precise size and shape required

to ensure maximum comfort and protection. It can be applied in three different ways depending on the nature of the wound to be dressed – either as a hot, cold or dry poultice dressing – and secures with a NaturalintX Wrap.

Also available is the NaturalintX Hoof Poultice - a 100% natural, veterinary approved poultice for use on minor wounds of the foot; and designed to comfortably fit your horse’s hoof, reducing preparation time and enabling ease of application.

RRP: NaturalintX Poultice: £4.99Naturalintx Hoof Poultice: (Pack of 3 dressings) £5.99

NaturalintX is the new name you can rely on to care for your horse, naturally…

For more details about the new NaturalintX natural first aid range please go to your local NAF stockist or visit the website www.naturalintx.co.uk Alternatively call the NAF Freephone Advice Line: 0800 373 106.


Health Care - Insurance

Taking your horse away from home brings greater risk of emergencies

Likit Treat Bars

When travelling with your horse you need to take extra precautions because it can be exposed to a lot more risks. Whether in the company of new horses, or stabling in new or temporary facilities, being in a new environment can be the catalyst of

injuries and illness. Petplan Equine, the UK’s specialist equine insurer, provides flexible policies that give you financial security and peace of mind in these situations. This means in the event of the unexpected happening you’ll be able to get your horse the best possible treatment without having to worry about the financial cost, so you can be back riding with your horse in no time. For further information on Petplan Equine visit www.petplanequine.co.uk

Likit Treat Bars are now available in a handy new value pack containing four assorted flavours. The delicious bars are moulded - just like a chocolate bar - so you can break off a piece whenever you want to give your horse a treat. Horses who love Likits will adore the tasty Likit Treat Bar, which can be used as a reward for being caught in the field, when loading in the trailer, or during training sessions. The mouth-watering formula is also ideal for promoting

saliva production when mouthing youngsters or before riding. Likit Treat Bars come in re-sealable pocket-sized packs and are the perfect way to show your horse or pony how much you care. The new value pack contains mint, apple, carrot and cherry flavours and

costs just £3.50. Contact Westgate EFI on 01303 872277 for stockists and information or visit www.likit.co.uk


Insurance - Horse Behaviour

cont. on p.36

EQUESTRIAN jargon can be very confusing to not only non-horse people (including some television commentators) but also horse people themselves. Most of us know what we mean, and other people know what we mean, but sometimes I think we all think we know what we mean when really we don’t – if you know what I mean. What I mean (I think) is that many equestrian terms give an impression of something different from what should be conveyed.

Take the term ‘roundness’. We all know what it means, don’t we (I think)? It conveys a picture of a horse or pony going ‘up to his bit’ (that’s another one) with his topline (and another) smoothly curved, his neck rounded in an upward arc and his head ‘tucked in’ to some extent. And that is all some people look for, or know to look for, instructors, trainers and experienced riders included. In fact, it is a small part of what should be the whole picture of the horse, assessed from tail to nose. Many people today look only at the neck and head of a horse and if this dual structure is rounded in any way, correctly or incorrectly, they exclaim how beautifully ‘rounded’ he is.

If you watch a horse at liberty in his field, you can’t help but notice that he does not go in a rounded outline or posture except for a few short moments prancing and playing with his companions. So why do we so seek to achieve roundness under saddle? Crucially, how do we achieve it?

‘Get his head in!’To answer the second question first, many people achieve it simply by pulling the horse’s head in with the bit, sometimes so much that the poor horse has to shorten his neck in towards his shoulders to try and escape the painful bit pressure on his mouth. This is natural behaviour from a horse being subjected to what I call physical abuse. To the semi- or un-knowledgeable who have been conditioned by modern attitudes, this looks superb.

To those who know a bit or a lot more, this is clearly not roundness and is pretty upsetting to see. The throat can be compressed to the point where the horse has trouble breathing properly, a give-away being skin creases at the throat and often at the withers. The salivary glands can be painfully squashed, also the tongue (remember

the ‘Blue Tongue’ affair). We will never achieve anything worthwhile, beautiful or superb by force. And it is unethical.

EngagementTo answer the first question, we seek to achieve roundness under saddle because roundness of the whole horse, not just the head and neck which need an element of freedom, indicates a horse who is using his hindlegs well forward under his body, powerfully thrusting himself and his rider up and forwards. This is known as ‘engagement’; it requires strength to propel the horse’s own body plus the weight of rider and saddle – and some modern saddles are very heavy which is surely a backward step in design.

Such a horse flexes at the croup (the lumbo-sacral joint) to tilt his pelvis under. Because those vital hindlegs are joined to it at the hip joints, this longitudinal flexion brings them under as well, so they reach more forward. It causes the back to lift (try it yourself on all fours) and, provided they are free to do so, the neck and head to move out and down or, in a more advanced (stronger, better-balanced) horse, to stretch and arch forwards and up with the head carried so that the front of the face is ‘in front of the vertical’, which means just in front of a vertical line dropped from the horse’s forehead to the ground. With increasing strength and balance, brought about by correct work – see later - the shoulders and withers rise, too. No compression, no force, just exhilaration and beauty.

Many believe that ‘round’ applied to the neck and head means that the horse tucks his chin in so that he is behind the vertical. The word actually applies to the whole horse. His topline (quarters, loins, back, withers and neck) should look rounded and gently undulating, curved from the root of his tail to his poll due to correct carriage and muscle development. Even with a rider, you should be aware of his back generally being raised, his quarters rounded slightly under and his neck rising and stretching smoothly out of his shoulders and withers.

So, we can see that there is a lot more to roundness than just the appearance of the head and neck. Horses who are pulled and held in by the reins/bit are not truly ‘round’ because the rest of their body almost certainly will not be

Roundness Part 8A series by SUSAN McBANE discussing equestrian principles from the viewpoint of equine behaviour and psychology


Horse Behaviour

being carried and used as described above.

Wriggling out of itFor one thing, strong pressure on a snaffle bit and especially on a curb bit to achieve this effect causes severe discomfort and even pain. Most horses will tense their bodies and hold and use them in any way they can to avoid this pressure. This is not evading: it is a natural survival tactic. Horses may use what is called ‘compensatory movement’ to try to make themselves more comfortable, altering their stride pattern and maybe but not always appearing lame, coming behind the bit and over-bent, going above the bit or ‘poking his nose’, squirming around, not ‘going forward’ or actually going backwards and, the more spirited ones, bucking, kicking out or rearing. It is surprising how little pressure distresses and worries some horses.

When a horse has learned from experience that no matter what he does he cannot escape the pressure because of ‘firm’ riding, he may sink into a state called ‘learned helplessness’. He can still feel the pain but tolerates it because he has learned that nothing he does relieves it. This must be hell on earth for him.

Compensatory movement itself causes pain as the horse has to move unnaturally, using and straining muscles not meant for that particular movement. This can lead to injury and unsoundness. Even after recovery, some horses get into the habit of moving wrongly and need careful, patient rehabilitation to restore good action.

A strong structureThe reason we want a horse to raise his back is because it needs to be braced slightly upwards to safely carry the weight of a rider. Under weight, the spine of an uneducated or unfit horse sags a little downwards from its natural slight, upward bow or arch. This bow is a very strong structure, used by architects and engineers, much better able to support weight from above and below (rider, heavy abdominal contents) than a straight one.

Horses who go with their backs down, their hindlegs out behind, their heads and necks up and their noses poked are uncomfortable and at risk of back and hindleg injuries due to the stress and strain of carrying weight in this position as well as having to work and push themselves and their riders forwards. Their faces usually show their discomfort as does their gait, which is short, maybe choppy and stilted. They do not accept the bit, are not able to move well, not in good control and feel

awful to ride. They are far from ‘round’, of course.

The answer to this situation is definitely not to force the horse’s head and neck ‘down and round’ with equipment. Force, particularly whilst the rider is still on top driving away to get the horse to go ‘properly’, is only going to distress the horse more, trigger avoiding action if this is possible or break the horse’s spirit. Here’s how to get a horse correctly ‘round’:

What to doFirstly, assess your horse’s conformation and action, with expert help if you don’t feel confident about it, such as from a vet, physiotherapist or chiropractor. If your horse falls short in these respects, don’t despair unless the faults are extreme. Accept that he may never go as well as a well-conformed horse who moves well, but realise that his faults can all be improved by correct development of the right muscles and, as far as the legs and feet are concerned, by a farrier who is knowledgeable, skilful, caring and conscientious.

Contrary to popular opinion, even after maturity a really good farrier can improve a horse’s feet and action whether or not he is shod, and make him more comfortable and, therefore, able to move better, using the right muscles for whatever you are asking. Conversely, a sub-standard farrier can easily and quickly send a good horse wrong.

If it’s bad news after your assessment, have a stiff drink and work with your expert/s in devising a programme of the work needed to correct and comfort your horse. To help you, I recommend a super little book, ‘Practical Steps in Rehabilitating Your Horse’ by vet and complementary therapist Sara Wyche (Crowood Press), written and copiously illustrated clearly and aimed at ‘ordinary’ owners. Horses like to feel strong, agile and comfortable because it makes them feel good, independent and safe. For both of you, it’s well worth acquiring the knowledge and taking the time to strengthen him correctly.

Horses with an established habit of moving incorrectly, either to avoid pain and discomfort or because their rider always requests such movement, may need the carefully supervised use of particular exercises or a correctly-fitted chambon or Gogue combined with leading out in hand, correct, careful, steady lungeing or, if you’re agile enough, long-reining, and correct riding when ready.

If your horse presents you with none of the above problems, has good conformation and action, have a

celebratory drink instead. If you aren’t sure how to get him to engage, move his weight back to lighten his forehand and become round largely of his own, natural accord, the following methods, properly carried out, will achieve all this for you. Be assured that ‘driving him up to the bit’ will have the opposite effect.

Know your basicsThe muscles and other soft tissues you need to develop and strengthen in your horse are those which will enable him to lift his weight back a little off his forehand, to save his forelegs and make him less inclined to lean on the bit or mouth it excessively because he is out of balance (on the forehand) or you are taking too much of a hold on it. Be hind-end orientated rather than front-end obsessed. Those muscles are those of his back, belly, loins, hindquarters and thighs.

Your object ultimately is to have him taking more weight on his hindquarters and legs which provide the carrying and pushing power, rather than the forehand which controls the direction. The feel you must aim for is one of surging power from behind the saddle lifting and pushing your seat up and forward in an arc, like a sports car or power boat. Have this feel constantly in mind. Once you start to get it, you will see and feel that your horse will naturally start to round himself up, to lift his withers and shoulders and become light in front because he is balancing more on his hind end, in self-carriage because you aren’t pulling or blocking him.

The horse balances using his neck and head. When he can move his weight back a little, due to increasing strength, he will use his head and neck to counter-balance his new weight placement and body control, and the way he does that is to push his head and neck forward and down. Try this, too, on all fours; bring your weight back on to your knees by bracing and lifting your back up and back, and you will find, if you are relaxed in front, that your neck and head will naturally drop a little. This will also show you how hard it would be to do this if your rider were restricting your head. You’d soon be in pain all over.

Your seatYour responsibility is to ride in a well-balanced, independent, classical seat so that your weight and movements do not interfere with your horse and you can give your aids from a secure, stable base – see my articles on this in the December 2010 and January 2011 issues of ‘Equi-Ads’, available in the website archive.

The movementsThe basic movements for strength, lift

and balance are transitions within the gait (correctly-performed lengthening and shortening of stride keeping the same rhythm), transitions between gaits (halt-walk-trot-canter, when ready, and back again), turns on or about the haunches/walk quarter-pirouettes (because the horse has to lighten his forehand in order to move it round), bringing the forehand round in front of the haunches when doing corners or changes of direction so the outside foreleg comes closer to the inside one (same reason), and shoulder-fore and shoulder-in (which lighten the forehand and strengthen the back end).

Circles can be damaging and frightening if too small and done too fast. At first they must be 20m or more, and in walk, gradually progressing to trot and carefully asking for smaller circles. As soon as your horse starts feeling awkward or heavy on a circle it’s probably too small or being taken too fast. Check your own upright, central balance

You need a good surface to ride on and a classically-trained teacher for best results. Keep the contact light but in communication. Certainly, you need independent hands capable of being still and maintaining a steady, consistent contact.

You’ll be stunned at the new zest for life this work and way of going produces in your horse. He will become brighter and calmer, stronger, energetic and enthusiastic. Assuming good management, he will love his life and this will even affect his relationships with other horses because he will be confident, content and strong.

SUSAN McBANE has an HNC in Equine Science and Management, the Classical Riding Club Gold Award and is an Associate (practitioner) Member of the International Society for Equitation Science as well as author of 44 books. Contact her for lessons in Lancashire and neighbouring areas by ringing 01254 705487 or emailing her on [email protected]. Her website is at www.susanmcbane.com.

cont. from p.35


Horse Behaviour - Insurance


Horses For Sale - Training

cont. on p.40

Training the young horse progressively - Lunging on two reins Heather Gwillim

Going on from my last article on lunging work with your young horse, the reasons for lunging horses are many, but the main reason is the start of the work to train your horse for his future career. With young horses I think there is an advantage to lunging with two lunge reins as this makes it easier to progress to basic long reining and gives you more control; however before we

can progress to this once your horse is lunging well on one rein you have to get him used to wearing either a roller or a saddle. If I am working my youngster to prepare him for work under saddle and if I have found no problem with the horse when he has been introduced to rugs and I have been training him from a foal to accept me flapping things around him etc. and I am happy that we already have a good understanding, I would probably go straight to the saddle. Always remember to wear gloves and boots and possibly a hard hat for safety when working with young horses .The first time I put a saddle on a horse I always do it in our arena and I would have a lunging cavasson and rein on the youngster so that I am able to step back and send him away from me if there is a problem when you fit the saddle. Some people would put the saddle on in the stable and there is a

good case for doing this but I prefer to do it where there is more room and safe footing and usually if a horse is going to react to the saddle that will happen when they start to move, so you may find everything has gone well until you lead them out from the stable and if you have a problem then, the footing could be unsuitable or there may be a shortage of room to get out of the way and if the person leading the horse lets go, you could end up with a horse bucking around a concrete yard close to other stables or walls that might cause an injury. I therefore prefer the manége.

With someone else holding the youngster’s head let him first have a look at the saddle cloth you are going to use. I always keep this to a simple padded saddle cloth at this stage, I then rub down the neck and over the withers with this and then simply place it on the youngsters back ready for the saddle. Then holding the saddle cloth in place with one hand I hold the saddle up for the horse to have a look at, then keeping it close to the horse I slip it into place on the waiting saddle cloth. I now hold the saddle in place and gently rock it a small amount from side to side always being ready to slip saddle and cloth off if the horse becomes worried. Providing the youngster stays relaxed the person holding the youngster’s head checks that everything is as it should be on the offside and then quietly passes the girth to me (a good guide to make sure that the girth will fit round your horse is; if when it is hanging down from the saddle it reaches the horses fetlock it should fit around his middle.) I gently put a very small amount of pressure on the girth to let the youngster get used to the girth being there. As long as your young horse stays relaxed I then do the girth up, not too tight. The youngster is then walked quietly forward; do recheck the

tightness of the girth, as it must be tight enough to keep the saddle in place. If all is well you can send the young horse out on a circle in walk and begin to lunge him. I tend to let them walk a few circles until they are completely relaxed and then you can ask them to trot; some horse will just simply trot and you can lunge them as usual on both reins with no problem at all. However a percentage of young horses will react to the feel of the saddle moving on their back as they go into trot and start to leap about and perhaps buck, this sort of reaction is not unusual so just try to keep them going forward and stay with them as best you can, this is always easier the smaller the area you are lunging in, they will relax and trot normally usually within a few minutes and then you can just lunge on both reins as normal. You may have a few training sessions with your horse leaping about with the saddle on, although usually most horses learn very quickly that the saddle is not a problem to them. Do be careful that the saddle is fitting your horse comfortably. Once the youngster has settled down and is working happily on the lunge with the saddle on and with the stirrups pulled down, you can introduce the second lunge line. Being able to lunge with the stirrups down is important for two reasons, in the long term it will have helped the horse get used to feeling something hanging down where your


Insurance


Training

cont. from p.38

leg will be when you start to ride your horse and in the short term you are going to thread your lunge lines through the stirrups when you are lunging on two reins and later long reining. You no longer attach a lunge line to the centre ring of the lunge cavasson; attach the first lunge line to the left ring of the cavasson, then place the second lunge line over the seat of the saddle

and thread it through the stirrup and then attach it to the right ring of the cavasson. I then thread the first lunge line through the left stirrup. I am now standing on the left side of my horse with a lunge line from the left ring of the cavasson that goes through the left stirrup and then to my left hand and the other lunge rein in my right hand goes over the seat of the saddle through the right stirrup to the right ring on the cavasson. I then send the horse forward in walk, as he walks out and away from me on a left handed circle I lift the right lunge rein over the cantle of the saddle and let it slip down over the horse’s quarters to rest just above the hocks. As right at the beginning of training your horse to go on the lunge we started in the stable attaching our lunge rein to the cavasson and then walking around the back of the horse and gently pulling our horse in a circle your young horse should be accustomed to feeling the lunge rein around his body already so there shouldn’t be a problem, however be prepared for the horse to react by leaping forward or kicking at the lunge rein the first time he feels it slip down to just above the hock. Make sure you have stepped smartly away as you have sent him forward in walk. As you have two reins and you can use the rein that is going behind your horse to encourage him to move forward, you probably will not need to carry a lunge whip if you are finding it too much of a handful with the two lunge reins. You can now lunge as usual, the only difference being when you change the rein you will do so in walk by pulling evenly and firmly on the outside rein as you lengthen the inside rein at the same time. To help you achieve this, the first couple of times you try it always ask for the change of rein as you are approaching the arena wall or fence. I have always found this method to work very well and it means you also have the added advantage of being able to correct a horse from cutting in on a circle by

using the outside rein too. I have also found as the horse becomes more practised you can let him go straight for a while before completing the change of rein. Lunging like this will lead you on naturally and gradually to long reining at a later date. All of this work teaches your horse to understand the direction we wish him to go in and to give to pressure and by doing all of this training off the cavasson you have taught him how to turn before you even consider using a bit. These are the methods I have found work best for me, you may decide you would prefer to start with a roller instead of a saddle. If I am starting a horse I don’t know very well I would start with a roller too. You also need a roller if you are intending to teach your horse more than the basics on the long reins. If you are going to teach shoulder in and half pass and do canter work you will have to use a roller as this will keep the reins in the position of a riders hands and allow you to use more sophisticated aids to communicate with your horse. Going back to teaching your

horses basic long reining for directional commands some people find it easier to have the inside lunge rein going directly from the cavasson ring to their hand while the outside rein is threaded through the stirrup as it makes it easier to keep the horse on a circle which is true, that is a plus point for this method but a down side of using the long reins in this way means you have to stop every time you change the direction the horse is going in to adjust the reins accordingly. As I have already taught my horses to give to pressure I have not had a problem with both reins threaded through the stirrups. If you are having a problem then you may have to have the inside rein coming directly to your hand without passing through the inside stirrup until your horse has understood the lesson . Once he is going well you can change the rein frequently in your fifteen minute training session without a problem. In my next article I will cover introducing the bit to your young horse.

EQUIDO – Horsemanship for the 21st CenturyThe continued success of Equido as an alternative training qualification has prompted the publication of a second book by Morag Higgins, Equido – Horsemanship for the 21st Century. This is a fully illustrated guide to understanding the philosophy and ethos behind the Equido system and will help the reader get to grips with the concepts of this innovative new way of thinking and working with your horse. It is an ideal text book for students already studying the system or for those wondering if they would also like to embark on this life changing journey called Equido. In

an easy to read format with beautiful photographs to accompany the text, this latest publication is thought provoking and inspirational. Equido – Horsemanship for the 21st Century will shortly be available via Kindle, along with Morag’s first book Bruja. For those of you wishing to place an advance order for hard copies please contact the publisher direct:- Fisher King Publishing Ltd.

t: 0845 504 6535 m: 07738413262 www.fisherkingpublishing.co.uk


Training - Stables

Get connected with Parelli ConnectIf you haven’t already heard from a friend or seen it online, Parelli Connect is live and waiting for you to sign in today!

Parelli Connect is a free social networking site for existing Savvy Club members and new members to share their experiences and gain lots of free benefits.

Parelli Connect offers a FREE 30 day trial to new members, plus FREE access to the Parelli Level 1 Educational Program.

Complete with personal and horse profile pages, progress journals, interactive task-lists, instructional videos and more, Parelli Connect is not only a virtual learning assistant packed with how-to videos but also a way to locate horsemen in your area and “friends you haven’t met yet”.

Newcomers familiar with Facebook, Twitter and other social media applications will feel right at home on the new web site.

There are already a lot of Parelli staff, instructors, and members inside Parelli Connect sharing their daily updates and horsemanship, including Pat and Linda who are actively posting daily updates with their horses for you too.

Parelli Connect is a place where you can involve your horse’s journey too and have fun posting and commenting with people just like you.

The site allows you to tell your horse’s life story by creating a profile that includes biography, photographs, name, breed, colour, sex, height, weight, Horsenality™, Parelli Level and birthday.

Once your horse’s profile is complete, you will receive a list of suggested tasks and activities to help develop your skills and progress. When you complete and check off items on this list, it automatically posts to your horse’s profile!

In addition to the wonderful learning opportunities that Parelli Connect provides, you can network and socialize with friends online by updating your status, commenting on a friend’s status and seeing what others are up to with their horses. Interested in getting together with others in your area? Simply connect on the site and make plans for your next horse-related get-together!

Gain inspiration, support and encouragement while receiving personalised direction from the site in what tasks to do as you progress through Levels 1 to 4 based upon on the Parelli home study Pathways DVDs.

Visit www.parelliconnect.com to find out how to access the site pages to create your own personal free account and accounts for additional members.

We look forward to meeting you inside!


Arenas - Field & Stable - Training

New title sponsor announced for 2011 Hartpury

Arena Mirrors now offer Mirrors on a STAND

Hartpury College is delighted to announce that NAF are the new sponsors of their International Horse Trials! So put the date in your diary, the 11th – 14th

August 2011, and make sure you join us to watch equine sport at its best, you’ll be treated to a mix of CCI*, CCI** and CIC*** competition.

Says Tracey Lloyd, Sponsorship Manager for NAF, “We are delighted to be associated with such a prestigious International event as Hartpury. It draws

riders from Novice level all the way through to Advanced, which is important to NAF as we are great believers in supporting equine sport at all levels. We acknowledge that so many eventing competitors are loyal users of our products and this sponsorship gives us an opportunity to show our appreciation and to support those who support us. We have been keen to support British Eventing

in a similar way to how we support the other equine disciplines. Now, as title sponsors of the NAF Five Star International Hartpury Horse Trials we have achieved this aim.”

Learning from your mistakes is an important part of the development process, whether this is in day to day life or in riding. Now, Mirrors for Training has created a way to help those on a more modest budget or school in an unfenced arena, learn using a moveable arena mirror on a stand. The moveable arena mirror enables the rider to position it where they want, perhaps to study a specific movement or see what happens in a particular area. The flexibility in the mirror’s positioning means that it can also be moved around the arena, or removed and protected during the winter months. Better still, for those on a budget, this flexible approach means that one mirror may be adequate for the rider’s needs.

“Mirrors are a huge asset to training,” says Andrea Miles from Mirrors for Training, “and we believe that this option is great for those who really want a mirror, but can’t have them all around their arena, for whatever reason. Whilst these mirrors are moveable, there’s no compromise on quality and they are suitable for indoor and outdoor use, making them even more adaptable.” The moveable arena mirrors are 8ft x 4ft and are made from 6mm safety-backed mirror, supplied in a metallic frame, feature an integral stand and are secured to a specialist, no maintenance, plastisol coated galvanised frame and backing. They are available for £470 each.

T: 01902 791207 M: 07737 [email protected]


Field & Stable - Training


Eventing - Tack & Turnout

Whose Saddle is it Anyway?!Looking at the pros and cons of ‘Constructive Saddling’ part 1 of 3, Lesley Ann Taylor

What..... you might reasonably ask....... is ‘Constructive Saddling’ anyway! It is a term used to classify a particular approach to designing, making, ‘fitting’ and using riding saddles. An approach that commits to keeping the health, and comfort of the ridden horse as its key focus, over-and-above any other consideration. This is not always an ‘easy-ask for companies and individuals who make a living from the saddle industry. In order to stay in business, they have to rely on convincing horse owners and riders to part with their hard earned cash, so it is understandable that it is the person who is standing with a credit card in hand, who tends to hold all the aces when it comes to making the final decision about which saddle they are going to buy. It is for this reason, that the horse owner is treated as the primary customer. Nothing wrong with that, you might think...........but it is a bit of a slippery slope when it comes to taking care of the horse. When you start working with the commitment to put the horse 1st; thinking of the horse as the primary customer, it leads to very different behaviours and conclusions. The horse industry has become........well, a full blown industry! There is no other word for it. In the past forty to fifty years, the number of people who have found themselves in a position to actually own a horse of their own has grown massively. This created the potential for many businesses to start and thrive, because there has been an ever growing number of consumers who want horse related equipment, horse related books, help from instructors, farriers, tack shops, veterinarians, therapists, insurers etc. Before the second world war, horses used for sport and leisure like hunting and racing, were owned by wealthy people who employed other, very

knowledgeable, people to manage them. Beyond the landed gentry, horses tended to be used as working animals, owned by farmers and other tradesmen who had grown up with horses where skills and knowledge had passed through generations. In either case, the horses were, on the whole, being managed by people who had a wealth of knowledge and experience. After the 1960s, new opportunities for people to own horses sometimes came at a cost to the horses themselves because so many of their owners had no previous experience of managing a horse and very little knowledge. In the 1970s things, arguably, got even more challenging when the traditional way of training new BHS instructors and grooms dramatically changed. Until this time, those of us who were horse mad enough to want to make a career from working with them had to go through several, realistically tough years working in proper yards as working pupils. This meant we had access to people and situations that taught us, hands on, what it is like to take responsibility for the care of multiple horses. Dealing with their needs through the different seasons, with the help and experience of the farrier, veterinarian etc. Developing skills in observation, and noticing when a particular horse was on good form or not. Those of us who went through this, often tough, training can think ourselves very fortunate, because without realising it, we were acquiring skills and habits that are rarely taught these days. For many of us ‘old codgers’, the creation of new college courses to get students through their BHS qualifications seemed to be a retrograde step that changed the horse industry, almost overnight. With their creation and popularity, many beautifully run, but small, yards that had been responsible for turning out brilliant horsemen and women, could not get working students and many of

them could not afford to run their yards without them. Hundreds of them simply closed down and all of their wonderful teaching and training methods were lost forever. College training for those who want to make a career in the horse industry has gone through much improvement since its invention, but can never replace a long term apprenticeship in a well run yard. Forgive me if I seem to be digressing from the title of this piece, but as you will see, if you hang in there...... it all connects in the end! Paul Belasik made use of the wonderful term ‘deep knowledge’ in one of his books, to convey the value of knowing and understanding horses through many years even generations of interaction and experience. Not just information learned from books, DVDs and the unchallenged opinions of other people. In the 1960s and 70s, when real knowledge, experience and skill had become diluted in the horse world; when uneducated opinions and trends, began to create demands for new

products that were far removed from anything that supported the needs of the horse, the creation of what we refer to as, Defensive Saddling began to take form. Defensive Saddling gradually became the most common type of saddling and then the only way of saddling that was on offer to most horse owners. The problems that this was causing for horses were deep and far reaching, but were going unnoticed. Then, one day back in 1993, the British horse world and the saddle industry were rocked to their roots by the first of three magazine articles by a small organisation called BALANCE who had quietly been doing research into this very issue. In the next issue of Equi-Ads, we will explain what happened and explain the differences between Defensive Saddling and Constructive Saddling and how they impact on the health, soundness and performance of the ridden horse.



www.midkinleith.comWide range of quality tack & clothing at

bargain pricesSpend over £50 for FREE Delivery

Pro Event SaddleAll Saddle Solutions’ Pro Event Saddle features a forward cut saddle flap, and a clever design that helps the horse move freely through the shoulder and in the back, of maximum benefit when galloping and jumping. For the rider, the Pro Event features a semi-deep seat and interchangeable knee blocks to help provide tailored support, enhancing stability in the lower leg and seat, encouraging a more secure and effective position All saddles are crafted to fit both horse and rider, providing a bespoke fit. The saddle can be adjusted to make sure it fits the horse’s changing shape through age, condition or fitness, meaning that an All Saddle Solutions’ saddle should fit you and your horse for life.

The Pro Event Saddle is available with flock or Flair air adjustable system, in super soft double oiled English leather for £1350, or in luxury calfskin for £1550. Swarovski crystals can be inset into the cantle for an additional £50. Premier Jump The Premier Jump is one

of All Saddle Solutions’ latest additions to the range and features the popular mono-flap close contact design. The Premier Jump has been created with a carefully shaped knee roll, designed to give maximum security when riding with shorter stirrups, making it an ideal cross country saddle. The close contact, mono-flap design allows the rider to be more in tune with the horse’s movements, having less ‘bulk’ than a conventional saddle. The saddle uses All Saddle Solutions’ innovative design to fit behind the shoulder, giving the horse maximum freedom when galloping or jumping. As with all All Saddle Solutions’ saddles, the Premier Jump can be adjusted as and when required to cater for a horse’s changing shape. In addition, it’s available with flock or Flair air adjustable panel system, in super soft double oiled English leather

for £1350, or luxury calfskin for £1550.

For more information, visit All Saddle Solutions’ www.allsaddlesolutions.com or call 07970 558437.


Eventing

To BE or not to BE…a quick guide to getting started British Eventing

Funnell Leather Cross Country Boots New For 2011

Fiona Reed

Whether previously competing at unaffiliated or Riding Club/Pony Club events, or maybe in one or two of the disciplines required for British Eventing, many riders will think about competing at a BE (British Eventing) Event.

With the backing of teams of organisers, course builders, judges and many other helpers who are experienced at all levels including at International events, this gives all riders, including those at grass roots levels, safe, varied and well built cross country courses, venues out of reach of many smaller organisations and show jumping and dressage with panel judges and qualified course builders.

Over recent years additional classes have been introduced to encourage both new riders and also young horses into affiliated competition. The Pre-Novice class has been established for many years, but the Intro class was also added to the schedule and within the last few years these two classes have been renamed the BE100 & BE90 respectively, denoting the height of Cross Country course fences of 100cm and 90cm and the new BE80(T) class with an 80cm maximum is the latest addition to the range, bringing an ideal competing opportunity to the younger horse and those very new to the sport.

Like any affiliated sport, there are many rules by which you must comply to ensure safety of horse and rider and for even and fair competition. BE Eventing is no different, and all the rules should be read thoroughly before embarking on your first competition, along, of course, with adequate training.

Membership and Horse Registration is the first requirement, although at the lower levels Day or Training Tickets can be purchased which gives membership, registration, insurance and eligibility to compete for one competition only. Ideal for a taster before embarking on full annual membership commitment. All competing horses must also be fully vaccinated for Equine Influenza according to the FEI & Jockey Club regulations, so if not already done then your horse will need to start on a vaccination programme. There are stipulations as to how soon after starting the programme that the horse can compete so check the ruling thoroughly and plan ahead. Your horse must also be a minimum of 5 years old except for the BE80(T) class where 4 years can compete after the 1st May.

Once the above paperwork is sorted, you will want to look at what are compulsory items of equipment, what you feel you might need for you and your horse, and what are the current fashion ‘must – haves’ that you would like to add to you and your horse’s wardrobe so you look and feel the part!!

Essential kit for safety is a kite marked hat that must be worn at all times when mounted for BE80, BE90, BE100 & BE100plus competitors and when jumping for all classes. If you are competing in a BE event for the first time, or with a new hat, you will need to take it to the secretary/organiser before competing to have it ‘tagged’ as being approved as the correct level of protection. This is required even if already tagged as approved by the Pony Club or any other organisation. Body Protectors are also required for XC and

must be labelled as Level 3 protection. Inflatable Air Jackets are permitted but must be used in conjunction with an approved body protector.

There are pretty precise rules on colour of hat for dressage and jumping phases, colour of boots, who can wear jodphurs and jodhpur boots etc, so it is worth consulting the rule book in detail before your first event to ensure you don’t have the embarrassment or stress of being incorrectly dressed.

A medical record card (provided by BE when you first become a member) must be worn when going Cross Country, and is usually worn on the arm or lower leg.

Of course there are also the long list of compulsory, permitted and not permitted items of tack and equipment. Dressage rules are similar to those of BD (British Dressage), but vary on one or two points, so again check the rule book where there is a very useful table of what must, can and cannot be used for lungeing, in the warm up, dressage, SJ & XC phases.

English style saddles are compulsory in all phases. Flash, grackle & dropped

Pippa Funnell and William Funnell had significant input in creating a new range of boots for 2011 under the Tagg Equestrian brand. The set of cross country boots was created with the Tagg Equestrian designer using in particular Pippa’s years of experience at the top of the sport of Eventing.

The boots are practical, stylish and easy to use, offering complete protection to both the back and front legs. They have an innovative strapping arrangement, using no elastic which can easily stretch particularly when wet, allowing the boots to twist or slip down. They

are quick and easy to get on and off the leg with centred Velcro straps which return through a metal dee to get the boot quickly on the leg and secure, which is then backed up with additional buckle and strap fastenings.

The boots are formed from full quality leather outer which reinforces with additional leather pads to offer greater protection, with a compressed neoprene lining. They are

light, hardwearing and built to last and are very easy to clean.

Available in both front and the longer hind design in full size in dark brown leather.

RRP Front £65.00 and Hind £75.00 per set.

Tagg Equestrian 01636 636 135 www.taggequestrian.co.uk

cont. on p.48


Eventing

Hit Air UKThe latest equestrian airbag technology is now available for riders in the UK! The light-weight, discreet design - that inflates outwards for comfort and safety - is proving popular with riders of all disciplines, from hacking to the more extreme discipline of eventing.

The vests are incredibly comfortable to wear and provide leading-edge shock buffering protection to the neck, spine, lower back, chest and vital organs when inflated. The inflation is automatically triggered in the event of a fall, when the horse and rider become parted.

Phillip Dutton (Olympic Gold medalist) says: “I am really excited about the new technology of the Hit-Air vest. I have researched other protection on the market and believe that Hit-Air is the best. I feel confident that I will be more protected when I have a fall and believe that this is the way of the future!”

The range includes both adult and children’s sizes. To place an order or find out more call 0845 894 2868 or visit www.hitairuk.co.uk


Eventing - Training

cont. from p.46

nosebands can be used (with a snaffle) for the dressage phase and nose nets, ear covers and fly fringes are permitted in all three phases. Snaffle bridles only are permitted at Novice levels and below and the rule book carries diagrams of those allowed. If you are currently riding your horse in a bit that is not permitted for the dressage phase then finding one that is allowed that he goes well in is an urgent requirement so you can school and have him happy in the new and permitted equipment in plenty of time before competing. Unlike BD, although you can work in with a schooling whip, but you may not carry one once you have entered the arena, you also have to ride your dressage test from memory as callers are not permitted.

Tack for show jumping and cross country is far more encompassing with very few restrictions. Boots and bandages are not compulsory but are strongly recommended for the health and safety of your horse.

So, we have our list of must haves, and not allowed, so now need to think of what we would like to have to make life easier, safer, smarter, more comfortable and of course more fashionable for you and your horse!!

At the more expensive end of the scale, there is the wish list containing the super-duper deep seated dressage saddle and the close contact jumping saddle. Not essential though, as there are plenty of good scores in all three phases ridden in a GP saddle. For leg protection for your horse, a good set of brushing boots and a pair of over-reach boots are perfectly adequate for

both jumping phases, but many riders prefer open fronted or tendon boots for the show jumping phase feeling that the horse will be more careful if it can ‘feel’ a pole. Fetlock boots behind are also favoured. A change of tack will then be likely for cross country where more robust boots are better for protection against the solid fences. The new technology of air-flow boots are now very popular offering cooling to the tendons as warm tendons and ligaments are far more prone to injury. Boots are also available that offer support under the fetlock and over the sesamoid, and others that offer reinforced strike pads on the shin and down the tendons to protect from higher over-reaches. Over-reach boots have moved on from the basic rubber bell shaped ones that you had to fight with to pull over the hoof, but are available as the petal sectioned ones often favoured for show jumping, and shaped ones that will not fold over on themselves or swivel around the foot. To finish off the leg protection many riders also like to apply grease to the front of all four legs, from forearm/stifle right down to fetlock, for cross country, to help slither over a fence in the event of an accident or close shave. Studs and stud holes are also an essential bit of kit. A range of studs are available from small pointy ones for hard, greasy ground to big square jobs for deeper, wetter mud. The debate of how many studs per foot is another matter, and of personal preference as to whether you have a hole/stud in each heel, or just on the outside heel.

Another saddlery favourite in the eventing world at the moment is the three point breast plate which spreads the pressure more evenly than the older

fashioned hunting breastplate and the breast girth, and takes any pressure away from the windpipe area so as not to compromise the horse’s oxygen intake over the cross country course.

For yourself, you may care to use more modern technology in safety wear for cross country and invest in an inflatable vest, or at least some personalised colours on your standard body protector, which can be made up to order and with matching silks for your hat. Good grippy gloves are also an essential item especially when riding a very sweaty horse cross country or in the rain. A ‘beagler’ hat, either off-the-peg or made-to-measure will have to wait until you are riding at Novice level or above.

Other bits and bobs for the lorry can range from major investments such as massage pads to warm your horses muscles up and down before you start and after you finish, and to various

washes to removes salts and sweat from his skin after cross country. There are many of these on the market and most contain tea tree oil to give protection against infection for any undetectable little skin graze or cut, and peppermint to give a cool fresh feel to the skin. There are also a plethora of cooling agents and cool boots for the tendons to protect from any heat or minor injury. These vary from washes, to clay or paste applications to wraps and boots that can be soaked in water, kept in the chill box or activated by exposure to the air.

So, if you fancy giving BE Eventing a bit of a go, read the rules (available on www.britisheventing.com), enjoy your shopping for all the bits and bobs you need and would like, and get training from a reputable coach to ensure you have an enjoyable and hopefully successful foray into affiliated level competition. ....... and of course, let Equi-Ads know how you have got on!

Ice Cool - therapy for tired legs...Ice Cool has been developed to naturally cool, soothe & tighten sore, tired legs & tendons following strenuous exercise.

Supporting cool, hard legs is an essential pre-requisite of any performance horse in order to be able to work consistently. Ice Cool

is a highly effective 24 hour cooling clay containing a blend of natural clays, together with Witch Hazel & Arnica, both well known for their naturally astringent qualities. Their cooling actions work together with the tightening effects of the natural clays to soothe any resultant soreness, tighten the tendons, ‘harden’ the legs and help

eliminate any potential ‘filling’ of the lower limb.

Ice Cool is also really ‘cool’ to use – its easy to apply and even easier to wash off!... it readily rinses away under a cold water hose.

RRP’s 3kg - £ 16.95. 6kg - £28.50

For more information please call the NAF Freephone Advice Line on 0800 373106, email [email protected] or log on to www.naf–uk.com



The Mudtek™ Antibacterial Bandage Pad is the perfect product to apply before or after competition, with bandages as appropriate.

It is made from three layers: a polyester inner, Zorflex® activated carbon layer, and an absorbent fleece foam layer. It’s the Zorflex® that makes the difference.

Zorflex® is an activated carbon fabric that has a permanent electrostatic charge, which draws molecules and charged particles into it. Bacteria are charged particles and are drawn in to the fabric, immobilised and removed from the substrate which means that they die. The addition of microscopic particles of metallic silver enhance the antibacterial qualities of Zorflex®, speeding up the time it takes for the bacteria to die.

This has proven to be very effective against several types of bacteria. The integration of Zorflex® into a bandage pad means that it can be used with stable/travel and exercise bandages, but brings many additional benefits. The Mudtek™ Antibacterial Bandage Pads can also be cut to size and washed as required.

Each Mudtek™ Antibacterial Bandage Pad is 40cm x 50cm and retails at £22.00.

For more information on this amazing range, see www.fabteksolutions.com, email [email protected] or call 07794094011.

Mudtek Antibacterial Bandage Pad


Eventing - Horse Quencher Giveaway - Training

Nupafeed Riders Dominate in Saumur!

Do You Have A Drinking Problem?

We would like to say a big well done to Clayton Fredericks, winner of Saumur CCI*** in France.

Nearly 150 riders representing 17 nations competed at Saumur in the 26th year of the competition. But Saumur has mixed memories for Clayton, who had a triumphal win on Ben Along Time in 2006. Two years later, however tragedy struck on the course when his horse Nullarbor collapsed and died on the course.

This year Clayton was riding Bendigo, owned by Edwin and Peta McAuley, who had travelled from Hong Kong for the event.

Clayton and Bendigo III went out in front after the dressage, on a score of 41.40, and the pairing proved to be untouchable

from there on. Clayton told us afterwards: “It’s not often you come out of the dressage test knowing you’ve nailed it, but it happened this time.”

A hard-fought clear cross country round, and finally to the showjumping left Clayton the ultimate victor. ‘This also means that the Bendigo has now qualified for the Olympics which is a major hurdle to get over so we are keeping our fingers crossed for next year!’ said wife Lucinda.

Piggy French was not far behind in third place on DHI Topper W, one of only three horses to go clear cross-country inside the time. This follows a strong second at Badminton riding Jakata. Proof (if we needed any) that Piggy really is one of the best and we are very proud to be part of her ever strengthening team.

It’s a fact – many horses refuse to drink when they need to most, especially in times of sickness, stress, competition or travel. Odds on you’ve seen it with your own horse!

Now, whenever you need to, you can entice your horse to drink a bucket of water simply by adding new Horse Quencher.

Horse Quencher is an all-natural product that simply gets the horse to drink water immediately. It is not an electrolyte but can be used in conjunction with electrolytes to increase electrolyte acceptance. The product is suitable for use under FEI rules, making it ideal for equines that are reluctant to drink at competitions or events.

For more details, and to order online, go to www.horsequencher.co.uk or call 01842 879161.

To be in with a chance of being one of the 7 lucky readers to win 4 sachets of Horse Quencher, simply tell us a flavour of Horse Quencher?

To enter - send your answer, along with your full name, postal address and day time telephone number to [email protected] or to Horse Quencher competition, Equi-Ads, Office 1 Tayview Industrial Estate, Friarton Road, Perth PH2 8DG. Entries close 31st July 2011.


Tack & Turnout - Tried & Tested

Count down to showtime!the hooves (perfection in a can: no mess and so quick to use) and I blend my make-up sticks for a perfect colour match for enhancing or concealing any blemishes.

Good luck at all your shows – remember with a little insider know-how and the right grooming products you could be beating me!

Lynn Russell

The Lynn Russell Signature Collection is culminations of Lynn’s desire for top notch products with the advanced technological expertise that UK company Net-Tex provides. The Lynn Russell 50% Extra Range takes the most popular items and offers them with 50% free!! Whilst Finishing Touch

Spray and Make-up ensures that your horse or pony has those extra little touches which make the difference between showing enthusiast to showing star!

Photography: Bob Atkins

For further information please telephone: 01474 813 999 or visit www.net-tex.co.uk

With The Net-Tex Lynn Russell Signature Collection…

If your summer competition schedule includes a spot of showing, then who better to advise you on your turnout than top show rider and producer Lynn Russell who has over 20 years experience producing horses at top level including The Royal International, Windsor and Horse of the Year Show?

In this feature Lynn gives her top tips on preparing your horse in the countdown to your class.

The day before:To get those white socks bright, grey coats gleaming and coloureds sparkling, I use Quick Bright (a whitening shampoo). Apply neat directly into a wet shower puff, work into the grubbiest bits and leave to soak –then rinse off with dazzling results. Stubborn stains need immediate action. Heavy Duty Stain Remover is the ‘Mr Muscle’ of stain removers and works brilliantly on those hard to shift stains. For daily stain removal, QuickStain should be worked into the area, left for 10 minutes and washed off. I use it everyday to help prevent stains building up.

I always clean and check my tack thoroughly each time after use, as it’s important to check for wear and tear. Quick Tack Leather Spray is brilliant for blitzing that greasy, grey film you find on the inside of your own boots – Especially important if you are showing your horse in-hand or when you have to trot your horse up. Make sure that you give your tack some extra TLC the day before and pack the lorry full of the essentials, so that you are not panicking on the morning of the show, especially if you have an early start. Leave valuables locked away then all you need to do is load these and the horses onto the lorry in the morning.

The morning of the show: Most showing or dressage classes require you to plait your horse with the exception of cobs, pure bred Arabs, mountain, moorland and natives. Plaiting the right way can really improve your horse’s neck. Spray Quick Plait on before you start, comb through and divide up the mane starting at the top and secure the bunches with elastic bands. Once plaited and the ends secured with elastic bands comes the needle and thread stuff. Double the plait back under itself and push the needle from underneath through the top of the plait and down

the middle of the plait to the bottom, then push the needle back into the very top of the plait and gently pull the needle through. The plait will start to curl up and guiding with your finger and thumb you can position the plait to where it needs to sit on the horse’s neck.

At the show ground:You can use quarter marks to show off your horse’s muscled rump, or if you have a rather “unfurnished” horse you can improve the look with quarter marks which help “fill in” dips. Prepare the area for quarter marks by using a light spritz of Finishing Touch and with a soft body brush sweep the brush down from the dock along second thigh. Then take the brush sweep up from hip and down, cutting across your previous sweep – this will create a ‘tooth’ effect. Shark’s Teeth and Chess Board patterns are generally used on hacks and riding horses.

Just before you step into the ring:When it comes to making those last minute touches, you have to arrive at the showground prepared and armed with your stash of essentials.When it comes to adding sparkle to your performance, a final mist of Finishing Touch gives the coat a gorgeous gleam. For that extra special look, I use Quick Gloss on

Perfect plaits

Shiney tack is an essential for the showring

Shiney hooves

Lynn Russell

Tried and TestedSnuggy Hoods Bug Body

The new Snuggy Bug Body is the latest in the Snuggy Hoods range and I have to say it did not disappoint. It arrived quickly and was a prefect fit, however if required Snuggy Hoods do offer an alternation and repair service on all of their rugs. I have found the Snuggy Hoods Bug Body to be very versatile and have been using it as a cosy under rug or on it’s own to keep away those pesky flies and midges, it is also ideal in helping to protect against the suns rays. The Snuggy Bug Body has also had an added bonus for me in keeping my lovely grey pony, that always

manages to get those stains that only grey’s can get, clean and shiny. For further information visit www.snuggyhoods.com or email [email protected] or call 01225 783399.

Classical Riding


How long will it take? Anne Wilson

obviously not working. Perhaps it’s better to be determined to be patient!

It usually takes even longer to re-train, both horse and rider, than to train from scratch. For a rider to unlearn bad habits is difficult, even for very experienced riders, but it can be done.

Horses mature at different rates and differing ages. Irish Draught and their crosses are noticeably later than some other breeds. They often don’t stop growing in stature until eight or even nine years old. How can one possibly think of jumping anything more than a slightly raised pole, or performing flying changes before a horse has matured?

Time taken, or given to the horse at this stage is almost always more than repaid later in the horse’s life. My own mare, Lucy, is now 23 years old and is extremely supple, strong, fit and keen to work. When she is working most people would think she is half her age. She certainly feels more supple than a lot of horses half her age. This is not by accident, and not by any super-human ability on my part, but simply by following classical principles.

Another mistake which is all too easy to make is that of accepting too much from a young very athletic, possibly large horse. It’s all very well accepting what

a young horse wants to give you, but it’s a fine line between that and asking too much. In cases such as this, it is easy to temporarily forget how young and unfit the horse may be. What he can do easily when at liberty in the field, may be too much for his young joints when carrying a rider.

Horses that frequently fall into this category are the Iberian breeds. Because of their natural conformation, they are almost born ‘uphill’, i.e. with weight on the haunches, rather than on the forehand. They find lateral movements easy, and to start a young horse in shoulder-in say at three or four in hand is good, providing not practiced to extreme. But one must resist the temptation to do too much lateral work as soon as the horse is backed, especially in trot. I have seen many horses started in this way that seem almost incapable of going forward and straight, and their tendons can be strained if not brought to these exercises through the proper channels of forward, straight, calm and rhythmic.

Another breed which is often pushed too far too fast is the ever popular Warmblood. They have naturally flamboyant action and this is all too often exploited. They are pushed into

I wish I had a pound for every time someone has said this to me with regard to their riding/training. The simple answer is ‘as long as it takes and it doesn’t matter a jot how long that is’. I need to enlarge upon this for the sake of anyone who is not acquainted with classical principles, or the teaching of the masters. For centuries the great riding masters all over the world have said the same thing in different ways; namely that the training of the horse must not be rushed and enough time must be taken for each individual horse and this amount of time may differ depending on the aptitude, mental attitude, breeding, age, fitness, etc. of the horse.

The same applies to a large extent, to the training of the rider. A human athlete wouldn’t expect to start training for a marathon a few weeks before the event, if they had never run competitively before. To build up strength in muscles and joints, without straining them, takes much longer than that.

The Spanish Riding School of Vienna reckon on an average of eight years to train a young stallion; and only then do they begin teaching the ‘airs above the ground’ to those stallions strong enough and who have an aptitude for that work. They don’t start any training until he is five years old. At the age of five he is developed enough to begin his training, but in most cases a horse of five is still growing so his training needs to proceed slowly and gently, so as not to strain developing joints, tendons and muscles. The very long and obviously happy working lives of the Lipizzaner stallions at the SRS is testament to the benefits of this system of training. It is not unusual for them to live into their thirties and the last time they came to this country a 27 year old stallion thrilled the audience with the beauty of his presence and performance.

Therefore it is evident that anyone who boasts that their horse is at intermediate dressage level, eventing or show-jumping at the age of five or six are doing untold harm to the long-term prospective health of their horse. This is something to be ashamed of, not to boast about.

I quote from a recent article by Sylvia Loch – “Fashions may change by the day, but flesh and blood, muscle and joints, and the inner complications of the equine mind remain the same. What was appropriate in Xenophon’s time is just as applicable today. What might take a master horseman eight years to achieve in former times, cannot and should not be any different in the modern age.”

In relatively recent times, the motto of the famous former director of the Spanish

Riding School, the late Col. Podhajsky, was “make haste slowly”. A more recent director, Arthur Kottas is fond of saying “take time, but don’t waste time”.

Here’s what McTimoney Chiropractor, Dana Green has to say on the subject - “Nature designed the horse’s back to carry its large gut. If a young – or even an unfit horse is subjected to the rider’s weight before the back muscles are strengthened two things can happen: he can brace his muscles and become tight or his spine can hollow under the load. Is it any wonder that there is a considerable increase in ‘kissing spines’ in dressage horses? Should we really be asking a four-year-old to do sitting trot? Or jump a 1m course? And, at any age, horses need slow, steady increments of work if they are to avoid joint and tendon problems.”

With all this established knowledge already entwined in equestrianism; how have things become so different today? I often find it incredulous that I am frequently asked the question of ‘how long will it take, say to teach my horse shoulder-in’. The length of time taken is dependent upon so many things; the aptitude of the horse and rider, both in body and mind; the strength, flexibility and stage of training of the horse and so on. But one thing I can say for sure is that if you try to rush or force it, you will take longer in the end and will most likely never achieve a true and flowing movement at all. In addition you will do untold damage to your horse along the way.

So why are people in such a rush today, and why is it often thought of as admirable to do things quickly? I can only think that this is partly because of our busy modern lifestyles, and people striving for goals; setting themselves targets which should never be there in the first place. If only people would realise that the journey is just as important, if not more so, than the destination. To train a horse correctly takes not only a lot of time, but patience, dedication and the humility to realise when one has made a mistake; to not be upset by it, nor to upset the horse by it. Horses are very understanding and forgiving. If they have never been unfairly reprimanded when things go wrong, they will not be upset when something doesn’t work. The thing to do is to take a step back; work on an already established movement and come back to the stumbling block with a fresh approach (hopefully having worked out where the mistake lies, which is normally with the rider) without expecting miracles. When one has this patient outlook it is amazing how many times the miracles do appear. Determination is all very well, providing it doesn’t entail trying something again and again which is

Levade (an air above the ground) at the Spanish Riding School - These airs above the ground are only performed by the stallions

who have an aptitude for them and are not attempted until after the initial eight years or so of training is complete - photo

courtesy of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna.

Cont. on p. 53


Classical Riding - Field & Stable

trot extension before they know how to collect and take weight behind, and before they are strong enough behind to do so. This is a big mistake, and combined with the still, sadly prevalent practice of overbending the head and neck, is the reason for many of these horses to break down at an early age; when they should only just be coming into their prime.

In many cases the above practices are carried out, not by cruel or uncaring people, but by people who do not have an understanding of the equine body or mind. They follow the examples of many of the top competitive riders of today, instead of the classical riding masters whose methods have stood the test of time for centuries.

One thing which often confuses people is the fact that huge advancements are sometimes made in the horse’s training, i.e. learning of a new movement in walk, with ease and without strain, and then there is often no further advancement for a long time. This can dishearten the trainer who asks what they are doing wrong, or what is wrong with the horse. The answer usually is “nothing on both counts; it’s just that the horse needs more time before he is ready for further advancement, and this is a time to consolidate what has already been learnt.”

I am not against competition, but I am against competition at the expense of the well-being of the horse. I am sorry to say that today most people do compete at the expense of the horse; believing that grand prix riders and gold medallists must surely know what they are doing. Perhaps they do know, but only care about winning medals? There are some competitors who are brilliant, caring riders, who have been able to combine classical principles with the demands of competition. The late Reiner Klimke was one such person, who was an extremely successful competitor and a true classicist. It is a source of great disappointment to me that he is no longer here and that more people do not look to him for an example rather than some other competitors.

The system of judging also needs to be addressed and brought back into line with the rules of the FEI, as at the moment these rules appear to be flouted by all but some good judges. In dressage competition it should be recognised that no horse should be in a round outline in the Elementary stage, and far more could be done to penalise overbending of the head and neck in general. These principles apply equally in all disciplines.

IN CONCLUSION you should be proud if you and your horse are taking time to come into a good outline; that you are waiting for him to ‘come onto the

bit’ instead of forcing him, and that you are giving the amount of time needed for any goal which you have set. If you are mocked by your peers, or even instructors, take no notice. Be strong and work without instructors of this kind. Tell your peers that Rome wasn’t built in a day and that both you and your horse are enjoying the journey, even if you never get there – but be assured you are more likely to arrive there than they are!

The Spanish Riding School of Vienna are due to perform at Wembley Arena, London, in November this year. The School needs our support at this difficult time - please go to my website to see how you can support the school with just a signature - no money required - www.classicalridingannewilson.com click onto the ‘Help the Lipizzaners’ link at the top.

Anne Wilson, who is based in Bedfordshire, is a Classical Riding Trainer. She is an author and co-publisher of Tracking-Up, a quarterly independent equestrian magazine, obtainable by subscription (see the advert in this issue). Also author of ‘Riding Revelations – Classical Training from the Beginning’ – www.black-tent.co.uk Anne can be contacted on Tel: 01234 772401 website: www.classicalridingannewilson.com

Cont. from p. 52

Product focus: Licensed Fly Repellent

Direct from the lab, IV Horse’s team of experts give their advice on spotting unlicensed fly repellent that could be potentially harmful to you and your horse.

It’s that time of year when flies, midges and other little biters rear their ugly heads, just in time to make our horses’ (and our) summer a misery! But, just before you venture out on the annual trip to buy your favourite fly repellent, it’s worth bearing a few details in mind, so you and your horse are protected against potential allergies and ill-health.

Did you know: all shop-bought fly repellent must be licensed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)? The ‘HSE Control of Pesticides Regulations’ (COPR) relating to fly repellent were drawn up in November 2003 and came into effect in September 2006, but these important rules may have passed some horse owners by. Even in 2011, unlicensed fly control formulations that breach these rules can still be seen on retailers’ shelves and for sale online. Care should also be taken when purchasing unmonitored home-made lotions and potions, which may use potentially harmful ‘active’ ingredients or incorrect

quantities of previously unrecognised ingredients; all of which, if offered for sale, should have been approved and licensed.

The COPR regulations outlaw the sale of any fly repellent containing prohibited ingredients, where they form an active part of the formulation, for use on your horse. Citronella Oil, Eucalyptus Oil and Lavender Oil are just some of the prohibited ingredients, which are banned when they constitute an active part of the formulation. All fly repellents for use on horses must be fully licensed by the HSE before sale, and you can help them by reporting any unlicensed products seen offered for sale. Just visit www.hse.co.uk for further information on reporting unlicensed products.

Here’s our handy guide to key labelling elements you should be looking for when choosing a licensed fly repellent product:Licensed products should have a licence number clearly stated on the bottle. This is required by law.More specific statutory details required by law should be clearly displayed in a box of information on the front or rear of the product, separate from more standard safety and ingredients information.

Contact details for the company manufacturing or marketing the product should be clearly visible on the front or rear of the product.The amount and name of active ingredients contained within the product should be clearly referenced in a different section to a standard ingredients section.

Although not obligatory, advertising and promotional literature for a fly repellent product should endeavour to make reference to HSE licensing in order to reassure customers of its quality. Be cautious if no mention is made!

At IV Horse, the Grooming and Maintenance collection of products not only adheres to all relevant regulations and laws, but utilises approved products in highly effective, unique formulations. The Fly Repellent range, for example, is developed and tested in Scotland, where the midges are particularly mean! Where designated for use on your horse, IV Horse Fly Repellent is fully licensed by the HSE and uses only approved ingredients as the active component in the formulation.

Certain other ingredients which can and are used in the range are utilised as ‘marker’ or carrier ingredients, primarily to help in application and to ensure even coverage. The IV Horse Lemune Plus Fly Repellent version, for example, enables you to smell and see where the fly repellent has been applied to the skin.

Lemune Oil, a key ingredient in Lemune Plus, was researched and developed over a number of years as a substitute for Citronella Oil in preparation for the introduction of the HSE regulations. Through our own rigorous in-house tests, consumer StableLab testing initiatives and magazine tried & tested features, we’ve found IV Horse Lemune Plus Fly Repellent to be one of the most consistent and effective fly control formulations on the market, working for longer between applications for enhanced protection. Visit the StableLab site (stablelab.4horse.co.uk) to read what many of our satisfied customers think about it!

Find out more on IV Horse Fly Repellent and the full IV Horse range at www.4horse.co.uk Alternatively, get in touch with IV Horse on 01888 544261 or by email on [email protected].

Create a Healthy No-Fly Zone for You and Your Horse this Summer!

Tack & Turnout



Dentisty - Feeding - Field & Stable - Insurance - Livery - Tack & Turnout

Dental disorders such as sharp enamel points, hooks and calculus build up are all relatively common occurences but if left untreated they can lead to more serious abnormal wear conditions.

The surface of horses’ teeth have an inclination of between 10 and 15 degrees, maximising the surface area to effectively grind their food. If this angle increases above the normal range it is a condition known as shear mouth, causing decreased movement of the lower jaw against the upper jaw leading to enamel overgrowths. Shear mouth is easy to prevent through regular dental exams.

A single missing tooth can cause serious problems for horses. If a tooth is absent, there is no surface to wear down the opposing tooth, leaving it to erupt into the space left by the missing tooth. The erupting tooth will continue and eventually reach the gum, causing

inflammation and even damaging the jaw bone. This condition also means that the movement of the jaws is reduced, leading to the formation of hooks and ramps. Regular rasping of the erupting tooth is essential to prevent it from causing problems. Wave mouth and step mouth affect entire rows of teeth and both seriously reduce the movement of the jaws. Wavemouth, when seen from the side, shows a wave throughout the arcades; the lower premolars show a decreased height, rising up around the first molars then down into a slight valley before ending on a hill at the third molar. The pattern is reversed for the upper jaw. In most cases, a step mouth presents a noticeable increase in height of the last premolar and first molar, creating a ‘step’ across the arcade. Both of these conditions need to be treated in stages to balance the mouth out.

What are some less common dental disorders?Harriet Cater BSc. Eds

Save Time • Save Effort • Save MoneyEquimat - the original interlocking Stable Mat used and recommended by Tim Stockdale

The Black Mat - Warm, Comfortable, Easy-clean, Budget Priced Stable Matting

www.theblackmat.co.uk

www.equimat.co.uk For your nearest stockist:t: 01536 513456 e: [email protected]

“Worth Every Penny”

Reasons why Animal Friends has the Feel Good FactorAnimal Friends insurance believes in the Feel Good factor which is why they are the only insurance provider to use their own profits to support animal charities throughout the world.

Benefits of Animal Friends equine “pick and mix” type policies include:• Insure a horse or pony from 30 days

to 25 years of age.• Veterinary fees up to £5,000.• Up to 100% Permanent Loss of Use.• Mandatory cover on any horse

insurance policy covers death, theft and straying.

• Public liability cover up to £3 million should your horse kick another horse in the field or a car whilst out hacking.

• Tack and saddlery can also be covered on your policy.

• Personal accident is an additional benefit which you can chose too.

As many of you will have more than one horse or pony, they also offer a 10% discount for anybody who takes out two or more policies with them.

Animal Friends are proud to announce that they have recently launched the £1 million charity challenge. They have made it their mission to donate £1 million from their own profits and up to 1000 man hours by the end of 2012. Through the use of Facebook and YouTube, they hope to engage and interact with their customers and animal lovers alike – even giving customers the chance to vote on which charities get the money!

Remember, each time you take out a policy with Animal Friends you are not only insuring your horse; you are helping less fortunate animals all over the world. Now that really is something to Feel Good about!

Directory - Field & Stable - Supplements


CrematoriumHorse & Pony CremationGenuine Individual Cremation.Leyland & Cheshire Pet Crematorium.Tel: 01772 622466

ProPerty abroadBrittany & NormandyCardyke Overseas PropertiesProperties suitable for horses at a fraction of UK prices.Tel: 01775 630 008

SaddlerySOUTH EASTAndrew Reilly SaddlersSpoods Farm, Tinkers Lane, Hadlow Down, East Sussex TN22 4ET. Tel: 01825 830484.

WormingEASTRegular worm egg counts can save money! 6-8 weekly spring through autumn £5 each. Church Farm FEC [email protected] or 01728685638

direCtory

If you’re looking for a supplement to feed a horse or pony that is prone to or at risk of laminitis, Rockies’ LaminShield is a great product to consider, and the delivery methods mean it’s really easy to feed.

Rockies are best known for their high quality licks, and that’s one of the delivery systems for LaminShield. Supplied in a 5kg or 2kg lick, LaminShield contains elevated levels of four different types of palatable, bioavailable Magnesium, as well as three types of Alltech Bioplex®. In addition, thanks to the way LaminShield is made, the manufacturing process keeps licks free from molasses and calories, whilst not compromising LaminShield’s longevity, allowing it to be fed in a free access manner.

For those who prefer, LaminShield Pure provides a measured dose of four types of Magnesium and three types of Alltech Bioplex®, in single use sachets. One sachet contains enough to supplement a horse up to 500kg bodyweight.

For more information, see www.rockies.co.uk, [email protected] or call 01606 595025.

How does your horse have his?

CONDITIONSOF PUBLICATIONAll material submitted to Equi-Ads will be subject to the following conditions. The placing of an advertisement or editorial copy will bedeemed to be an acceptance of these conditions.1. Typewritten contributions accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope for return are invited, however, no responsibility will betaken for photographs, transparencies, illustrations or literary contributions.2. The publishers cannot accept liability for any loss suffered directly or indirectly by any readers as a result of any advertisement ornotice published in this magazine. Nor do they accept liability for loss arising from the non-inclusion or late publication of anyadvertisement.3. All advertisements are accepted subject to our standard conditions of trading (a full copy of which is available by sending astamped addressed envelope to the editorial offices.)4. The publishers reserve the right to refuse, amend or withdraw any advertisement without explanation.5. Cancellation must be received in writing 14 days prior to the publication date.6. All copyright reserved by Equi-Ads. No part of this publication may be recorded, or reproduced in whole or in part without thewritten permission of the publishers. Equi-Ads is a registered Trade Mark, which is the property of Stable Productions.7. The opinions expressed in literary contributions are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher.8. The publishers reserve the right to revise advertisement copy to conform to the standards of Equi-Ads’ house style.9. Advertisers should notify the publishers of any errors immediately after the appearance of the first insertion to allow subsequentinsertions to be corrected. The publishers will not accept responsibility to correct all insertions ordered if the error is not reportedimmediately after the advertisement’s first appearance. Furthermore we trust that advertisements comply in all respects withobligations and duties to 3rd parties e.g. rights relating to Copyrights, Intellectual Property, Trade Marks and this list is notexhaustive.10. The advertiser warrants that his advertisements comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice and do not contravene theTrade Descriptions Act 1968.

july 2011 equi-ads

Documents

customers horses

positive influence zitch

control of sweet itch

happy customers

aging horses

potential customers

edge of hard ground

case of hard ground