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THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE FOR BD MEMBERS | £5.00 | ISSUE 4 | 2020
DRESSAGE Looking forward
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IN THIS ISSUE...
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WELCOME
W
Jane Carley, Content Editor, British Dressage
MAGAZINE
6
News
9
Dressage saved me Louise Bell on career changes and identifying potential
30 Training for success Courses and careers with sports horses 36 Buzz off Understanding fly repellents 40 Taking care of teeth Good dental care 45 Golden oldies Nutrition for veterans 49 Business brief COVID-19 FAQs from BD partners Shearwater and HCR 51 Ask the expert Cycloidal therapy for riders 54 Riding requisites developing poise and body control 57 Beyond the comments Part II of Jane Kidd’s series on interpreting score sheets 65 Regional activity Contacts and Judges’ diary
Looking forward
ON THE COVER:
Louise Bell with Into the Blue, enjoying a stellar career change from the show ring to international dressage ESAVELIVE
A message from the Chairman
21 Weight watching Feeding dressage horses for performance
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# S TA Y S A F
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17 Keysoe inspires Winners in focus
DRESSAGE THE OFFIC IAL
From the editor
14 Twice the talent Combined training championships
e are slowly adjusting to the ‘new normal’ with the loss of competitions, clinics and the general social buzz of equestrian sport put into sharp perspective by the devastating loss and humbling acts of heroism around us. Many members will have been unable to ride or in some cases even see their horses, which only serves to reinforce how much they mean to us and what a huge part of our lives they are. But lockdown has also brought time for reflection, and first and foremost thoughts of our families and friends, which have been so critical to getting us through, even if we have to rely on ‘virtual’ contact. With less commuting or working hours and the lack of chores associated with competing (how long it takes to pack the lorry never ceases to amaze me!) we can also make time to reflect on our sporting goals and the progress we have made so far. Access to technology has never been better, so as a break from the obligatory online fitness classes, dig out your competition photos and videos and consider just how far you have come. If like most riders, you have a self-critical eye, make a plan for how you will focus on those areas for improvement once we are up and running again. Don’t forget you can access back issues of BD magazine from the website, so you can revisit articles featuring great training advice. British Dressage offers a wide range of training opportunities, from the regional camps to coaching qualifications (see our feature on P30), so maybe this is an area to add to your ‘when this is all over…’ list. Everyone will have a different path back to competition through getting horses fit again and refocusing on training, hopefully this will be soon. Finally, lockdown seems to have inspired a hitherto unheard of campaign of stable cleaning and painting, paddock maintenance, tackroom clearouts and general sprucing up. So when we are ready to start training and competing again we will have the benefit of the tidiest, most organised yards ever, which will surely stand us in good stead for better results! British
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67 BD Action BDHQ updates and members’ benefits 70 Dressage Days Paramedic Nicky Heale on getting a Welsh Cob to Grand Prix
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BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 3
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06/04/2020 13:27
A MESSAGE FROM
THE CHAIR
T
you very much for your .he coronavirus has support with this. disrupted all our lives and stopped so many things in We are also extremely grateful its tracks, including our to all of you who have supported us sport. I do hope that you by continuing with your subscriptions. and your families have remained well However, we appreciate this may not be and have no doubt you are longing for possible for those members who are facing the return to the days only three months serious fi nancial di culties on account of ago when riding and training your horse the crisis and we do hope you are all able to return as things begin to recover. was the most normal and enjoyable thing Finance Director Caroline to do and competing Godfrey recently set out and hopefully qualifying WE HAVE TAKEN how the ‘business’ of British were a motivating and OUR ROLE AS Dressage will be affected and inspiring challenge. the Board and team are doing As I write this we GUARDIANS OF their utmost to manage our are beginning to hope YOUR SPORT fi nancial stability despite the that there may be some fi nancial losses gradual easing of the VERY SERIOUSLY We have made use of the lockdown so that by the AND WITH GREAT help provided by government time you are reading this, – including the furlough DETERMINATION all of you may be riding scheme – to reduce costs again with a view to other AND I AM but our primary income activities starting up EXTREMELY of memberships and horse during June. registrations is greatly reduced The safety and health PROUD OF THE and other income such as of our stakeholders WORK THAT HAS entry levies and sponsorship has been our priority have largely stopped. The throughout this very BEEN DONE other challenge is that no one di cult time and will has an end date for the crisis so while we can continue to be at the forefront as we plan model against our own predictions, there is and manage the return to training and no certainty. We have made a commitment to competition as it becomes safe to do so. members to look at concessions in due course. As a core member of the British This needs to consider what is viable and Equestrian Federation we promoted their sustainable once we can act with confidence, position that riding should only take as this will be a substantial si figure sum of place where necessary and when safe to lost income. do. However experienced the rider and Earlier in May we launched our operational safe the horse there is a risk and things plan which, in essence, is our roadmap on can go wrong, so it was up to all of us how to get riders riding, coaches coaching, in the equestrian community to reduce judges judging and venues running. I hope the pressure on the NHS and other you have taken time to read through it as all emergency services by acting responsibly of us will be key to making it work, whatever and complying with guidelines. Thank
our role in dressage. We all have a part to play to fi nding a workable new normal innovation and fle ibility will be key Initially, the reason for competing may be more a measure of the progress of your training than as a means to qualify for a championships. As an organisation, it has required continuous planning for a number of different scenarios around an ever evolving situation. The team at BD, and the volunteers, have really pulled together to manage everything on your behalf. We have taken our role as guardians of your sport very seriously and with great determination and I am extremely proud of the work that has been done in these extremely challenging times to ensure that the business is viable and the sport is ready to go as and when it is safe for this to happen. We are hoping to see as many of you as possible at those events which we are able to run this year and then to enjoying the Olympics and new National Championships alongside the new Summer Petplan Equine Area Festival Championships that we’ve sadly lost this year, but can now look forward to in 2021.
Linda Whetstone
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 5
BRITISH DRESSAGE
NEWS GETTING US BACK IN ACTION
EQUESTRIAN RELIEF
The Board of Directors and Senior Management Team at British Dressage have been working with a number of consultation task force groups to produce an operational plan which outlines proposals to get all stakeholder groups back in action. The plan covers three distinct phases; response, resumption and recovery and how the organisation aims to meet the challenges presented in this ever-evolving situation. When we have a green light and it’s safe to do so, we have a progressive four step approach of ride > train > compete > qualify. Flexibility will be key and at the time of going to press, no timeframes have been put in writing. Visit the BD COVID-19 hub to read the summary and plan in full on britishdressage.co.uk
Team Dressage came an honourable 5th in the Equestrian Relief event, which raised £250,000 for NHS charities by inviting stars of equestrian sport to take part in challenges from running 5k to planking and a ‘bake off’. Team captain Richard Davison was our best performer gaining some high individual places.
IN MEMORIAM… Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer sadly passed away on 8 April. ‘Dr B’ as many fondly called him, was a well-respected figure in the world of dressage as a rider, trainer and mentor. Always keen to support up and coming talent, he is widely credited for launching the career of Carl Hester, giving him the ride on his most prized horse, the licensed Oldenburg stallion Giorgione, which gave Carl his first National Champion title and Olympic experience. In 1994, Wilfried took the ride back, going on to represent Britain at the 1995 European Championships and standing reserve for the Atlanta Olympics a year later.
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Wilfried mentored daughter Laura and was instrumental in her development as one of Britain’s leading dressage riders, winning Olympic team gold in 2012 with Mistral Hojris. Jennie Loriston-Clarke MBE, BD President, Chair 2007–2013 says: “Wilfried Bechtolsheimer was quite simply a tremendous supporter of British dressage. He’ll certainly be mourned the world over and is a huge loss to dressage. He fielded so many excellent ideas to improve the sport and the management behind it, he always had my full respect. His generous nature, extensive knowledge and ability to guide and lead will always stick with me. “He had an air of authority with a certain kindness, he was someone we all respected and held in the highest possible regard. He will certainly be sadly missed.” The thoughts of us all are with Ursula, Felix, Götz, Till, Laura and the family.
Gordon Berrisford Our thoughts are with saddler Sue Carson and family; her father Gordon Berrisford has sadly passed away at the age of 92. Gordon was a regular presence on the Sue Carson Saddles tradestand at dressage events and in the Central region until recent ill health, and a constant supporter of Sue in all of her endeavours. A perpetual trophy in his memory will be added to the region’s awards to recognise a supporter annually for their endeavours. Janeiro 6 The para dressage world has lost one of its equine legends as Janeiro 6 gained his passage over the rainbow bridge, aged 23. Rio, as he was known, was the partner of Sophie Christiansen and they stole the nation’s hearts with triple gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. A Danish Warmblood by Jacquare, Rio finished in the top three in every
#WEDNESDAYWORKOUT We’ve introduced a new feature on the website – #WednesdayWorkout for members to take part in at home for free, to help with your overall wellbeing during these difficult times. britishdressage. co.uk/news/new-memberwednesdayworkout-videos/
CPEDI competition with Sophie and won nine championship medals, eight gold and one silver. He was originally produced by Michael Eilberg with whom he won the Advanced Medium Open national championship in 2008. Few para fans will ever forget Sophie’s freestyle in London which set a record score of 84.75% and is still Sophie’s PB. Louis D’Or Henriette Andersen’s former top ride Louis D’Or has sadly passed away at the age of 23. Owned by Henriette’s long-time friend Paula Potter, Louis’s long and illustrious career spanned 12 years – from his first national title in 2003 when they won the Elementary Open at Stoneleigh, to his final international competition in 2014 at Barcelona CDI3*. They also made three consecutive appearances, from 2009 to 2011, at the Olympia FEI World Cup™ Qualifier, placing ninth, eighth and 15th respectively.
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BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 7
PHOTOS: KEVIN SPARROW
PROFILE.
DRESSAGE SAVED ME JUST EIGHT YEARS AGO, LOUISE BELL WAS AT THE TOP OF HER GAME IN WORKING HUNTER RANKS, NOW SHE IS COMPETING SUCCESSFULLY AT GRAND PRIX. STEPHANIE BATEMAN CATCHES UP WITH THE SHOWING PRINCESS-TURNED-DRESSAGE DIVA TO FIND OUT HOW SHE DID IT AND WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.
C
hatting on the phone to Louise just days after the country has gone into lockdown due to coronavirus, I’m surprised how upbeat and optimistic she is. “Looks like we’ll be doing lots of schooling then,” she laughs in her famous husky voice. It’s this stoic, determined attitude to carry on regardless that Louise is renowned for, and it’s almost certainly what has taken her to the dizzying heights of dressage in such a short space of time. For 25 years, Louise dominated the working hunter ring, winning every title there is to win, including the Horse of the Year Show, Windsor and the Royal International Horse Show. It was a challenge in Horse & Hound magazine in 2012 that set Louise on her new path. “As part of the switching disciplines feature, I had three lessons with Michael Eilberg,” explains Louise. “It was so much fun and I remember waking up a few weeks later and realising that I’d found my calling.”
ABOVE: LOUISE’S TOP HORSE INTO THE BLUE (DYNAMO), DESCRIBED AS ‘SOLID AND BUILT TO LAST’. LEFT: FROM SHOWING TO INTERNATIONAL DRESSAGE, LOUISE BELL’S QUIET DETERMINATION HAS SERVED HER WELL.
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 9
PROFILE.
I STILL LOOK FOR THE SAME THINGS IN A HORSE EVEN NOW – I LIKE A LEG IN EACH CORNER, GOOD FEET AND SOMETHING THAT LOOKS AT YOU IN A SPECIAL WAY. AS LONG AS THEY MOVE STRAIGHT AND HAVE A GOOD HINDLEG, THE REST WILL DEVELOP Louise spent the next four years training with Michael on her working hunter champion, Into The Blue, aka Dynamo. “I decided that I didn’t know how to ride and had to start again,” she muses. “That has been the most challenging of it all – relearning the basics he difference is that in showing you can cheat. You don’t want a horse that pulls in the contact because the judge wants a nice easy ride on a loose rein. In dressage, you can’t do that because if it’s not connected to the bridle, nothing is going to work. You need that hind end connection.” After years of training horses to be light in the hand, ouise admits to fi nding it di cult teaching them to take a contact. “It feels like a lot of kicking and pulling, and I don’t like it because it’s never been my way. I have to be careful with the young horses that I’ve got them in the right contact otherwise they are too light and soft,” says Louise. “There’s not much comparison between the two disciplines other than that ringcraft and showmanship is still vital in dressage.”
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Despite being horse mad, Louise didn’t come from a horsey family. She was si when she fi nally persuaded her parents to take her for riding lessons. “I was born and bred in London, so there wasn’t a lot of opportunity to ride back then,” tells Louise. “We moved from London to Loudwater, and up the road was a lovely place called Chorleywood Livery Stables where I used to have weekly riding lessons. I’d be up at 4am stood by the door fully dressed waiting for 7am when we could go to the yard, and I’d be there all day.” So, how did a city girl become so enamoured with horses? “Black Beauty was my inspiration, and I wrote to ‘Jim’ll Fix It’ many times to meet him,” laughs Louise. “Ironically, years later, I was in the 1994 Black Beauty fi lm, the one with ean
ABOVE: LOUISE TEACHING GROOM ISABEL BERNHARDT AT HER WARWICKSHIRE HOME. BELOW: LOUISE CONTINUED TO COMPETE FORMER SHOW HORSE DYNAMO IN WORKING HUNTERS UNTIL HE GOT TO PSG.
Bean. I was really sad when I realized there were five different Black Beauties At the age of 17, Louise went to work for showing producer Daphne Wyatt and her husband Neil, who introduced her to showing and breeding. “It was the best job ever,” says Louise. “I was basically their Girl Friday. I did the horses and cooked for them as well.” It was through her job with the Wyatts that Louise met her husband Robert Bell. “I moved with Daph and Neil to Warwickshire hunting country and that’s where I met Robert. Not long after, I started working part time for Robert doing second horses which evolved into producing young horses and doing working hunter classes.” Her beloved working hunter champion Rocky IV was originally bought for Ted Edgar to hunt. On Louise’s wedding day, Ted gifted the horse to her. “Even though he was really ugly and only three, I totally clicked with him,” says Louise. “After that, I went to Ted and Liz’s for training all of my working hunter career.” It was a career that was driven by Louise’s passion for perfection. “I found it really challenging to jump a serious course of fences – everything had to be perfect, which has helped with dressage.”
PROFILE.
Louise admits it was hard giving up the workers, but she knew that once she’d reached a certain point in the dressage, she couldn’t mix the two. “As soon as I got to Grand Prix, I knew I wasn’t going to do any more show classes,” Louise says. “I did workers with Dynamo until he got to PSG, and then I stopped. I’d given him more buttons than the judges knew how to deal with, and it wasn’t fair on him. I still jump him for fun, but we’ve found another world.” Alongside her perfectionism, Louise has an exceptional eye for a horse. “I always bought the right horse to start with, with fi rst class conformation, and that is what has helped Dynamo with dressage because he’s solid and built to last,” explains Louise. “I still look for the same things in a horse even now – I like a leg in each corner, good feet and something that looks at you in a special way. As long as they move straight and have a good hindleg, the rest will develop. You need that engine behind in dressage, because if the back end doesn’t work, the front end certainly won’t.” Louise hasn’t lost all connection with showing – she still breeds and produces working hunters and show hunter ponies, and teaches and judges showing. She has also bred a few of her own dressage horses. “Mine aren’t dressage-bred,” laughs Louise. “One of my top young horses Skyfall, an eight year-old mare, is by Cevin Z out of Rocky’s sister and I also have a Uthopia baby that is out of Rocky’s niece, called Peaky Blinder.” Despite her upbeat nature, it hasn’t all been a walk in the park. In 2002, Louise and Rob were involved in a horrendous lorry accident which shattered her left leg in 17 places from the knee down and saw her out of action for eight months. “I went into a major depression because I was told I’d be lucky to walk, let alone ride, and if I couldn’t ride, I couldn’t see the point in being alive,” says Louise. Despite the doctor’s fears, she had her leg put into a fi ator and that same year, she went on to win the working hunter title at HOYS with Out Of Sight. ABOVE RIGHT: THE EIGHT YEAR OLD MARE SKYFALL, LIKE MOST OF LOUISE’S HORSES IS NOT DRESSAGE-BRED, BEING BY THE SHOWJUMPING STALLION CEVIN Z. RIGHT: DYNAMO INVESTIGATES THE POSSIBILITY OF TREATS IN THE INDOOR YARD.
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 11
PROFILE.
Sadly, the bad luck didn’t stop there. In 2011, Louise nearly gave up everything after losing four of her top horses in the space of 18 months. t nearly finished me because couldn t cope with the loss and the pain,” she says. “One had colic, another had a hole in its intestine, one fractured its fetlock and the other died during fibrillation treatment got to HOYS that year and came out and said to Rob that I was done and wanted to give up. I’d lost my mojo completely.” Louise believes dressage was her salvation. “Dressage saved me in more ways than one,” she explains. “It has made my damaged leg stronger and it gave me a new challenge. I’m hugely grateful for it. I wouldn’t have met the horses or the people if I’d given up.” Despite the huge challenges, Louise has determinedly climbed her way up through the levels, taking Dynamo from Elementary to Grand Prix. A big turning point, she says, was competing abroad. “I’ve had to bust myself to get abroad to get the judges to know me. It’s almost like I’ve been serving my apprenticeship which I feel ve got to the end of now, she says y first team call up was at Hickstead CDIO in 2018, and I was the highest placed team member, which no one expected. It was phenomenal and felt like d finally made it! One of Louise’s dreams since starting her dressage campaign was always to get to Olympia, and in 2019, she achieved it. “Competing at Olympia was a total and utter dream and so much fun – it felt like I’d gone home,” she says. er sights are now firmly set on a European call up and of course, Tokyo, but however far ahead she looks, Louise never forgets what she’s been through to get here. “It’s those rare and awesome moments that keep you going through the hard times,” she says. “I don’t want to be rubbish, I want to be someone who the rest of the team can depend on, and I want to inspire others. It’s what I live for.” ABOVE: LOOKING BACK – LOUISE WON EVERY SHOWING TITLE ON THE CIRCUIT, AT SHOWS FROM HOYS TO HICKSTEAD AND WINDSOR. LEFT: WITH HUSBAND ROBERT, AND ZIINQUAZY, OWNED AND BRED BY ALISON WALTON, WHO LOUISE HAS TIPPED FOR STARDOM.
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BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 13
AN IDEAL FINALE FOR THE
Multitalented FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR, THE DUAL
DISCIPLINE IDEAL SADDLES COMBINED TRAINING CHAMPIONSHIPS CONCLUDED WITH A FINAL OF OUTSTANDING QUALITY. THE STANDARD, BOTH IN THE DRESSAGE ARENA AND SHOWJUMPING, WAS HIGH AND SIX WORTHY WINNERS WERE CROWNED AFTER A DAY OF THRILLING COMPETITION AT FIELD HOUSE EQUESTRIAN CENTRE, STAFFORDSHIRE ON SUNDAY 15 MARCH.
ABOVE: AN EXCEPTIONAL DRESSAGE SCORE OF 76.90% AND A FAULTLESS JUMPING ROUND GAVE COMPETITIVE AMATEUR SARAH THOMAS AND HER 17 YEAR OLD PARTNER, DAVIDOFF 84, A RUNAWAY VICTORY IN THE PRELIM 2/70CM CHAMPIONSHIP. RIGHT: JUST 11 MONTHS AFTER HIS LAST RUN, FORMER RACEHORSE POP THE CHAMPERS, RIDDEN BY KATHRYN PICKERING, HEADED THE PRELIM 18/80CM CLASS. “I USED TO RIDE HIM UP THE GALLOPS, AND HE WAS AS LOVELY TO RIDE THEN AS HE IS NOW,” SAYS KATHRYN.
PRELIM 2 AND 70CM 1. Sarah Thomas and Davidoff 84 2. Southerly Roberts and Must be William 3. Danielle Rhodes and Millfield Lancelot 4. Lucinda Huzzey and Mick 5. Alys Matravers and Fancy Pants
PHOTOS: EMMPIX
PRELIM 18 AND 80CM 1. Kathryn Pickering and Pop the Champers 2. Danielle Rhodes and Millfield Lancelot 3. Bex Slade and I Duno 4. Sarah Thomas and Davidoff 84 5. Emma Moore and U2
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(Dressage : SJ : Total) (76.90% : 0 : 223) (73.62% : 4 : 209.5) (73.28% : 4 : 208.5) (71.38% : 0 : 207) (71.38% : 0 : 207) (Dressage : SJ : Total) (72.69% : 0 : 189) (72.69% : 4 : 189) (71.35% : 4 : 181.5) (69.23% : 0 : 180) (68.85% : 0 : 179)
NOVICE 24 AND 90CM 1. Victoria Gregg and Langson Governor 2. Southerly Roberts and Just Like That 3. Kate Sanderson and Hillgarth Rachelian 4. Georgia Cathcart and Arleys Toyboy 5. Southerly Roberts and Tinx
NOVICE 34 AND 100CM 1. Joanne Brett and North Astor Cooter 2. Sally Crane and Cortynan Girl 3. Georgie Rockingham and September Song 4. Sarah Evans and Watermolen Winston 5. Victoria Gregg and Langson Governor
(Dressage : SJ : Total) (74.13% : 0 : 170.5) (69.57% : 0 : 160) (69.13% : 0 : 159) (68.04% : 0 : 156.5) (67.83% : 0 : 156) (Dressage : SJ : Total) (76.90% : 0 : 161.5) (75.00% : 0 : 157.5) (73.33% : 0 : 154) (71.67% : 0 : 150.5) (71.43% : 0 : 150)
BELOW: VICTORIA GREGG, WHO RUNS A TRAINING AND LIVERY YARD FROM HER CHELTENHAM BASE, CLAIMED THE NOVICE 24/90CM TITLE WITH HER 17.2HH BRITISH-BRED GELDING, LANGSON GOVERNOR (CARDUC X HAMILTON III). A 74.13% DRESSAGE AND A FAULTLESS JUMPING ROUND
ABOVE: A STYLISH JUMPING
SECURED THE PAIR VICTORY.
ROUND AND A SCORE OF 76.90% EARNED JOANNE BRETT AND HER HOMEBRED GELDING NORTH ASTOR COOTER THE NOVICE 34/100CM TITLE. “THE CHAMPIONSHIPS WAS OUR LAST COMPETITION BEFORE THE LOCKDOWN SO I’M GLAD TO FINISH THAT WAY.”
LEFT: EMMA SUTTON AND COLTSTOWN GLIDER IN FLIGHT: THE PAIR, WHO HAIL FROM THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN, BELOW: THE ELEMENTARY 50/100CM TITLE WAS DOWN TO THE WIRE WITH THE TOP
TOOK THE ELEMENTARY 42/90CM
FOUR WITHIN TOUCH AFTER DRESSAGE AND ALL JUMPING CLEAR, BUT EVENT RIDER
TITLE: “I COULDN’T BE PROUDER OF MY LITTLE HORSE,” SAYS EMMA.
GEORGIE ROCKINGHAM AND 11 YEAR OLD SEPTEMBER SONG’S DRESSAGE OF 70.54% GAVE THEM THE WINNING ADVANTAGE.
ELEMENTARY 42 AND 90CM 1. Emma Sutton and Coltstown Glider 2. Emily Watts and Rascalini 3. Victoria Gregg and Rock Supreme 4. Danielle Rhodes and Tiger Tim 5. Amy Small and Triumph VD Laarseheide Z
ELEMENTARY 50 AND 100CM 1. Georgie Rockingham and September Song 2. Sallyann Burns and After Darkness 3. Joanne Brett and North Astor Rossco 4. Emma Sutton and Coltstown Glider 5. Alison Unwin and Stanley Rongai
(Dressage : SJ : Total) (72.03% : 0 : 230.5) (73.91% : 8 : 228.5) (70.94% : 0 : 227) (73.44% : 12 : 223) (69.53% : 0 : 222.5) (Dressage : SJ : Total) (70.54% : 0 : 197.5) (70.00% : 0 : 196) (69.11% : 0 : 193.5) (68.93% : 0 : 193) (65.54% : 0 : 183.5)
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 15
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KEYSOE. Big Tour Gareth Hughes KK Woodstock
Big Tour
SUPER NOVA II (DE NIRO X
Spencer Wilton Super Nova II
WELTMEYER) LED THE CHARGE IN THE BIG TOUR. THE REIGNING OLYMPIC TEAM SILVER MEDALLISTS WON THE GRAND PRIX AND GRAND PRIX SPECIAL WITH 75.65% AND 76.80% RESPECTIVELY.
LEFT: EUROPEAN AND WEG TEAM MEDALLIST GARETH HUGHES AND THE KROLL FAMILY’S KK WOODSTOCK CELEBRATE A RUNAWAY GRAND PRIX FREESTYLE WIN. THE PAIR, WHO IMPRESSED AT OLYMPIA IN DECEMBER, PUT 76.35% ON THE BOARD.
KEYSOE INSPIRES
Big Tour Emile Faurie Quentano 2
THE FIRST BRITISH INTERNATIONAL OF 2020 TOOK PLACE AT KEYSOE CDI3*/CDIU25/CDIYJP (13-15 MARCH) BEFORE THE GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK BROUGHT THE FEI CALENDAR TO A HALT. WE CELEBRATE SOME OF THE TOP-PLACED COMBINATIONS FROM BOTH HOME AND ABROAD. Big Tour Sonnar Murray-Brown Erlentanz
RIGHT: EXPERIENCED BRITISH TEAM MEMBER AND MEDALLIST EMILE FAURIE CLAIMED SECOND IN THE GRAND PRIX FREESTYLE WITH BR HORSES' TALENTED QUATERBACK X DARTAGNAN GELDING, QUENTANO 2.
RIGHT: LARA BUTLER AND RUBIN AL ASAD,
Big Tour Lara Butler Rubin Al Asad
OWNED BY THE LATE DR WILFRIED BECHTOLSHEIMER, WERE HOT ON THE HEELS OF SPENCER WILTON IN THE SPECIAL WITH 75.12% – THE FIRST COMPETITIVE OUTING FOR THE PAIR SINCE ABOVE: ON A ROLL: FRESH FROM SUCCESS AT LE MANS AND LIER CDIS, SONNAR MURRAY-
THEIR OUTSTANDING
BROWN AND ERLENTANZ (BY LATIMER) TOOK SECOND IN THE GRAND PRIX (74.26%)
OLYMPIA
FOLLOWED BY THIRD IN THE GRAND PRIX SPECIAL WITH 75% PLUS.
PERFORMANCE.
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 17
PHOTOS: KEVIN SPARROW
RIGHT: SPENCER WILTON AND JEN GOODMAN'S
KEYSOE.
Small Tour
BELOW: ALEXANDER HARRISON AND DIAMOND HILL, WHO WERE ON THE LEFT: ANDREW GOULD
Andrew Gould
BRITISH TEAM AT THE 2018 YOUNG RIDER EUROPEANS, CLAIMED BOTH THE
AND BLUE HORS DEXTER
Blue Hors Dexter
U25 GRAND PRIX AND THE U25 GRAND PRIX FREESTYLE.
(DON SCHUFRO X BLUE HORS CAVAN) DOMINATED THE SMALL TOUR BY COMPLETING A PSG, INTER I AND INTER I FREESTYLE HAT TRICK. JO AND TERRY BARNETT-KNOTT’S GELDING IS AN EXCITING PROSPECT FOR ANDREW, WHO ACHIEVED SUCCESS ON YOUTH TEAMS BEFORE MAKING HIS WAY AS A SENIOR.
U25s Lewis Carrier Diego V
LEFT: LEWIS CARRIER TOOK TOP HONOURS IN THE U25 INTER II WITH HIS 2018 FEI YOUNG RIDER EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS PARTNER, DIEGO V (BY SPIELBERG).
Small Tour Jess Bennett
U25s
JB Dukaat
Alexander Harrison Diamond Hill
LEFT: FRANCE’S CAMILLE AUDO AND BEHROEZ (UNITED X GRIBALDI), WINNERS OF THE YOUNG RIDER INDIVIDUAL TEST. THEY ARE BASED IN WEST SUSSEX AND ACHIEVED TOP-15 PLACINGS AT THE ABOVE: JESS BENNETT AND JB DUKAAT (BY WESTENWIND) DELIVERED THREE HIGH QUALITY PERFORMANCES TO FINISH
2019 FEI YOUNG RIDER EUROPEANS IN ITALY.
SECOND ACROSS ALL THREE SMALL TOUR TESTS.
Young Riders Rebecca Bell Nibeley Union Hit
LEFT: REBECCA BELL AND NIBELEY UNION
Camille Audo
HIT (NIBELEY UNION JACK X SANDRO HIT),
Behroez
OWNED BY CAROLINE BELL, WON THE YOUNG RIDER TEAM TEST ON DAY ONE. PICTURED DURING HER FREESTYLE – REBECCA, WHO’S READING ENGLISH AT OXFORD, WAS ON THE BRITISH TEAM WITH ‘UNA’ AT THE 2019 FEI YOUNG RIDER EUROPEANS IN ITALY.
18 // Issue 4 2020 // BRITISH DRESSAGE
Young Riders
KEYSOE. Juniors Jessica McConkey
Young Riders
Lady Gaga
Caitlin Burgess Chocotof
LEFT: CAITLIN BURGESS AND HER LORD LEATHERDALE SON, CHOCOTOF. THE DEVON-BASED 18 YEAR OLD PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS TO WIN THE YOUNG RIDER FREESTYLE ON 72.38% AT HER FIRST CDI AT THE LEVEL. “IT WAS THE PERFECT WAY TO FINISH THE WEEK,” SHE SAYS.
Juniors Maddy Frewin Woodlander Rhythm n Blues
RIGHT: THE JUNIOR TEAM AND JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL TESTS WERE SPEARHEADED BY GREAT BRITAIN’S MADDY FREWIN WITH CHRISTINE KIRK’S WOODLANDER RHYTHM N BLUES (BY WOODLANDER
ABOVE: OUT AHEAD IN THE JUNIOR FREESTYLE WAS JESSICA MCCONKEY
ROCKSTAR).
AND HER 2018 AND 2019 FEI JUNIOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM RIDE, LADY GAGA. THE EXPERIENCED CAMPAIGNERS’ EXPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE TO AN ORCHESTRAL ED SHEERAN-THEMED PROGRAMME WAS AWARDED 73.41%
RIGHT: GERMAN WORLD NUMBER ONE PONY COMPETITOR
Ponies
SHONA BENNER WITH DER
Izzy Lickley
KLEINE SUNNYBOY WE. THE PAIR,
Mister Snowman
Ponies Shona Benner Der Kleine Sunnyboy WE
TRIPLE BRONZE MEDALLISTS FROM LAST YEAR’S FEI PONY EUROPEANS, SCORED A HAT TRICK AT KEYSOE CONCLUDING IN AN OUTSTANDING FREESTYLE TO AN ADAPTATION OF QUEEN HITS FOR 76.45%.
LEFT: IZZY LICKLEY AND MISTER SNOWMAN, WITH WHOM SHE CAME TENTH IN THE FREESTYLE AT THE 2019 FEI PONY EUROPEANS, WAS ON THE HEELS OF SHONA BENNER ALL WEEK. THEY EARNED 74.70% FOR THEIR GREATEST SHOWMAN-THEMED FREESTYLE TO PROUDLY TAKE THEIR PLACE ON THE PODIUM.
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 19
20 // Issue 4 2020 // BRITISH DRESSAGE
FEED AND WEIGHT MAINTENANCE.
WEIGHT WATCHING IS YOUR HORSE FIT, WELL-CONDITIONED OR SIMPLY OVERWEIGHT? BARBARA YOUNG FINDS OUT HOW TO WEIGH UP A WELL-BALANCED DIET FOR THE OPTIMUM TOPLINE AND PERFORMANCE.
W
hile most owners can recognise if their horses suddenly drop weight, identifying and managing unwanted weight gain, which is equally as unhealthy, can be more di cult Experts agree that the challenge is to understand healthy condition and not to confuse fat with topline “Many dressage horses are good doers and so even though they are training and competing on a regular basis, they’re still able to maintain body condition and in many cases are actually overweight,” explains Lizzie Drury, Senior Nutritionist at Saracen orse eeds “A good doer that is working hard does not necessarily need a high energy/ calorie concentrate feed as these just exacerbate the weight issue hat s more important is to ensure that the horse has a balanced ration of vitamins, minerals, quality protein and antioxidants to stay healthy, allow muscle to repair and recover and to provide support for the immune system but without an e cess of energy Lizzie says that the biggest misconception is interpreting what correct topline actually looks like “Isolating one part would be the assessment of the condition over the top of the neck crest orrect topline, and therefore muscle, develops underneath the nuchal
ligament, which you should be able to feel at the top of the neck near to the poll and then follow down the neck “Anything that is on top of that ligament is fat, not muscle, and this often gets confused leading to horses being described as having a good topline, but which are in fact overweight!” Lizzie points out that many feed companies and vets will offer advice and demonstrations on how to body condition and cresty neck score correctly “However, there is still a huge number of owners asking for advice on social media forums which leads to confusion and may not benefit the horse Katie Grimwood, Nutrition Advisor at Baileys Horse Feeds, agrees there is still misunderstanding about fully balanced diets “Good quality forage should be the basis for every horse, together with the recommended amount of an appropriate mix, cube or balancer to provide what s lacking in forage, she e plains eeding rates are carefully calculated to meet daily requirements for vitamins, minerals and protein, when fed alongside forage, and, in the case of mixes and cubes, additional calories when those supplied by forage are insu cient ABOVE MAIN: BALANCING NUTRITIONAL NEEDS, CONDITION AND ENERGY LEVELS IS A CHALLENGE FOR OWNERS OF DRESSAGE HORSES. ABOVE INSET: GOOD QUALITY FORAGE SHOULD BE THE BASIS FOR EVERY HORSE.
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 21
FEED AND WEIGHT MAINTENANCE.
She cautions that when less than the recommended amount is fed, generally to control the horse’s calorie intake, the horse will miss out on the other essential nutrients with potentially detrimental effects Katie explains it’s also quite common for owners who have identified a problem with their horse, such as poor hoof growth or lack of muscle, to turn to a ‘sticking plaster’ supplement without considering the horse s overall diet first “This often leads to multiple supplementation and a complete imbalance, which does little to help correct the perceived problems and may even cause other issues ooking at the horse s base diet fi rst will often highlight the deficiencies or imbalances behind a problem and addressing this, by ensuring the diet is fully balanced, will often negate the need for additional supplementation any also believe that correct training alone will build the correct musculature, but without su cient levels of the correct protein building blocks amino acids in the diet, this will be an uphill struggle Lizzie Drury explains that horses which are naturally good doers will do well on a feed balancer fed in con unction with optimum forage intake BELOW: CAREFUL MANAGEMENT OF NUTRITION IS VITAL WHEN TRAVELLING
PHOTO: TANJA DAVIS
TO COMPETITIONS OR STAYING AWAY.
ABOVE: FEEDING RATES ARE CALCULATED TO MEET REQUIREMENTS FOR VITAMINS, MINERALS AND PROTEIN, WHEN FED ALONGSIDE FORAGE, AND, IN THE CASE OF MIXES AND CUBES, ADDITIONAL CALORIES.
“Even elite competition horses will stay happy, healthy and perform and recover well on just 600 grammes of balancer, salt and electrolytes plus forage, she e plains “Many of the horses I see which are lacking in energy are actually carrying too much body condition and once they have lost the e cess weight their energy levels increase atie agrees that when it comes to balancing work with diet to avoid fatigue, a shortfall of vitamins and minerals may result in lack of energy his may be the result of the horse not being fed the manufacturer’s recommended levels of the rider’s chosen mi , cube or balancer ince these nutrients are involved in metabolism and the release of energy from the diet, as well as general well being, a shortfall can leave the horse feeling lacklustre, lazy and lacking stamina “Once the diet is adjusted to ensure that optimum levels of nutrients are being fed either by increasing the amount of mi cube to recommended levels or by topping up the diet with a low calorie balancer the horse feels much better in itself and more capable of performing which translates as an increase in energy Katie explains that for the really good-doer, forage intake may need regulating to control calorie intake s an absolute minimum, of bodyweight should be fed as forage per day this may need feeding in small meals and in small-holed nets to make it last longer and keep the horse chewing for longer Each horse (and rider) is an individual, with some being sensitive to quick release energy sources, such as micronised cereals, and some needing them in order to add sparkle to their performance Equally, some riders like buzzy horses, while others prefer them with a calmer outlook
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24 // Issue 4 2020 // BRITISH DRESSAGE
FEED AND WEIGHT MAINTENANCE.
“While the perception might be that dressage horses can be allowed to carry more condition than say an eventer, our aim should always be for an optimum condition score, whatever the discipline.” Careful management of nutrition is also vital when travelling to competitions or staying away. Although many show no outward signs of stress, horses take on a different eating pattern due to disruption to their routine and some may become reluctant to eat. Katie suggests that if the timetable allows, a horse could receive a small midday compound feed if he normally gets one, providing he has time to digest it before strenuous work or the journey home, while access to forage should also be allowed. “On returning home, normal routine should be maintained; feeding a bran mash in anticipation of a day
LAMINITIS RISKS When it comes to overweight horses, a major concern is the risk of developing laminitis, especially among breeds such as warmbloods, natives and cobs, which tend to be good doers. Clare Barfoot, Marketing and Research and Development Director at Spillers, explains: “Horses usually get fat because they receive more calories/energy than they burn through exercise, keeping warm and just the daily energy required to keep them alive (basal metabolic rate).” “If your horse needs to shift some pounds, you’ll need to reduce the calories in his diet and ideally increase calories burnt through exercise. Grass can be a massive contributor to daily calorie intake and so the first strategy should be to restrict grazing.” Clare also suggests switching to a lower calorie feed such as a balancer which is concentrated in vitamins, minerals and protein, but won’t contribute significantly to unwanted calories. “Sufficient quality protein in the diet is essential for immunity, tissue repair and to maintain and develop muscle tone and some balancers are specifically formulated for horses on restricted calories.” • Want to find out more? For yards with 10 or more horses, Spillers will provide a weighbridge, condition scoring and dietary evaluation service free of charge. Contact Spillers Care-Line on 01908 226626 or visit www.spillers-feeds.com
off is the kind of sudden change that his gut bacteria will not appreciate. “Depending on the quantity and type used, hard feed can be reduced to a maintenance level, but remember that after a tough competition, the horse needs to replace nutritional reserves so recovery may take longer if rations are significantly reduced She also recommends that as far as possible, normal compound feed amounts and meals should be maintained both on competition days and while staying away or those that back off their feed, feeding a balancer is recommended to provide essential protein, vitamins and minerals in a small manageable volume.” “This helps support wellbeing, metabolism and performance, even if the horse will not consume the volume of hard feed and calorie levels that he would at home.” ffering as many small meals as possible will encourage feed intake by not over-facing the horse, while additions such a high fibre nuggets, treats and herbs may tempt fussy feeders.” Nutrition helplines: www.saracenhorsefeeds.co.uk, 01622 718487 www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk, 01371 850247
ABOVE: FAT IS MOST OBVIOUS IN PARTICULAR AREAS AND SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH MUSCLE. ABOVE INSET: BALANCERS ARE CONCENTRATED IN VITAMINS, MINERALS AND PROTEIN BUT WON’T CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO CALORIES.
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 25
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26 // Issue 4 2020 // BRITISH DRESSAGE
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PRODUCT WATCH.
PHARMAPLAST ULTIMATE TOPLINE is suitable for horses in a variety of workloads from light to hard to help support overall condition, topline and muscle development. The targeted formula is sugar-free and non-heating, containing essential amino acids as well as selenium, vitamin E and linseed for coat condition and topline maintenance. PharmaPlast benefits from high specification ingredients, which can be found on the website, with a banana flavouring to tempt fussy feeders. BETTA Life supports CleanSport. RRP: £39.99 FOR 750G (1 MONTH SUPPLY) bettalife.co.uk
FEED & WEIGHT
PRODUCT
WATCH
MAINTENANCE NAF FIVE STAR OPTIMUM is concentrated and easy to feed, available in a palatable pellet with optimal supplement specification and a great flavour. Optimum is formulated to complement a high fibre, low concentrate or performance diet and optimise the nutritional value of every daily feed ration. When a daily feed is not necessary, Optimum can be simply given on its own. RRP: £29.99 FOR 3.7KG naf-equine.eu/uk
METASLIM is specifically designed for those challenged by weight or metabolic issues, including those affecting their feet. It aims to optimise blood sugar levels and aid insulin effectiveness. Suitable for horses and ponies prone to laminitis, overweight equines and those with fat pads and crests. MetaSlim is palatable and pelleted for convenience. RRP: £35.00 FOR 10KG simplesystem.co.uk
NAF SLIM is a natural and highly palatable weight management supplement, designed to provide essential micro nutrients to those on a restricted diet. The blend of ingredients works with metabolism-boosting marine extracts to provide essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, all sourced from nature. Slim works to promote wellbeing while supporting healthy weight loss naturally. RRP: £31.99 FOR 3.3KG | naf-equine.eu/uk
SHAPE-UP BALANCER Shape-Up is a low calorie balancer suitable for 'good doers' in need of weight management. This low starch, high fibre ration contains a source of Omega-3 fatty acids to support overall skin and joint health, while the Acid-Buf and mycotoxin binder help maintain a healthy digestive system. Shape-Up also contains added cinnamon for antioxidant support and a healthy hoof package providing the recommended daily intake of biotin. RRP: £19.50 FOR 20KG | saracenhorsefeeds.com
DENGIE PERFORMANCE FIBRE is a high-energy, high-fibre feed that’s built to encourage fussy feeders. The inclusion of grass, blended with nutrient rich alfalfa, provides a natural sweetness that’s complemented by a light molasses coating and added spearmint oil to offer a highly palatable, soft and easy to chew feed. Providing 12MJ/kg of DE, naturally low in starch at 1.5%, the straw-free formulation means it is more digestible, promotes respiratory and digestive health and provides a source of quality protein for topline and muscle tone. RRP: £15.55 FOR 20KG | dengie.com
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 27
PRODUCT WATCH.
SYNOVIUM® HIPPOCHOL 1l (10-day course) helps to support healthy liver and kidney function, aiding in optimal metabolism. It can be used to combat the effects of stress and environmental factors that your horse is exposed to daily, whilst helping to ‘reset’ the entire body. Hippochol provides the correct levels of choline and methionine to support liver function and recovery.
LOW STARCH EVOLUTION New Ease & Excel cubes help supply elevated levels of slow-release energy for condition or performance. From a low starch, high fibre formula, they are ideal for sensitive horses with minimal starch intake, and are designed to support healthy gastric and digestive environments and muscle function. Ease & Excel Cubes are fully balanced with performance levels of vitamins and chelated minerals, plus grapeseed extract. RRP: £14.00 FOR 20KG | baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk
RRP: £31.00 FOR 1L synovium.co.uk
MUSCLE FUEL optimises muscle growth, repair and maintenance. Containing ProEquitin®, it helps the horse to reach maximum performance potential whilst stimulating muscle building and development of topline. Muscle Fuel is designed to ease lactic acid build up and muscle fatigue, whilst aiding faster muscle recovery post-exercise. RRP: £74.99 FOR 2.45KG | feedmark.com
ROWEN BARBARY READYFIBRE MASH takes five minutes to soak, forming a healthy, soft and textured mash. ReadyFibre Mash is ideal to feed to help maintain the fibre content of a diet. ReadyFibre is made from 100% high digestible fibre and is cereal free, with a very low starch and sugar content – an extremely versatile product. RRP: £12.02 FOR 20KG | rowenbarbary.co.uk
TOPSPEC PERFORMANCE LITE FEED BALANCER is designed for horses in medium to hard work that do not require any extra muscle development or topline, possibly because they are receiving top quality forage. It provides a broad-spectrum supplement and many specialised elements including a hoof supplement and antioxidants, on a low-calorie, low sugar/starch, cereal grain-free 'non-heating' base. RRP: £27.75 FOR 15KG | topspec.com
SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF has a new improved recipe for an even lower starch and sugar content making it a safer choice for good doers, horses prone to laminitis and those in light work. It contains a full blend of vitamins and minerals, plus 15mg of biotin per 3kg serving, which is proven to support hoof health. Approved by the Laminitis Trust, it can be fed on its own, alongside a balancer to extend eating time or as a hay replacer. RRP: £13.75 FOR 20KG spillers-feeds.com
WELLHORSE LEISURE is formulated to meet the demands of the leisure horse. It meets the NRC (National Research Council) and BASF (Animal Nutrition) recommendations for vitamins and microminerals. In addition to vitamins and minerals, it also includes a source of highly bioavailable D-Biotin (also known as Vitamin H or Vitamin B7) to support hoof growth, skin and coat condition, as well as containing an innovative protected live yeast and a mycotoxin binder to support a healthy GI tract. RRP: £24.99 FOR 1.3KG | sciencesupplements.co.uk
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BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 29
ON THE RIGHT PATH WITH HUNDREDS OF TRAINING COURSES AND PROGRAMMES ON OFFER, DECIDING ON AN EQUESTRIAN CAREER ISN’T EASY, BUT GET IT RIGHT, AND IT WILL SET YOU UP FOR A SUCCESSFUL
W
LIFE-LONG VOCATION. STEPHANIE BATEMAN DELVES INTO THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE.
.hether you want to become a professional rider, yard manager, or coach, there’s myriad courses, apprenticeships and training programmes on offer to help you get there. Making the right choice is vital to success, so it’s worth taking a look at what’s out there and picking the route that best suits you. “It’s about managing people’s expectations and opening their eyes to possibilities in the industry,” says Charlotte Osborne, BD’s training and education manager. “We are conscious that there are a lot of courses to choose from, so it’s important to provide clarity and help people make informed decisions.”
The routes that young people take today are considerably different. “Young people today are seriously entrepreneurial in terms of wanting to set up on their own,” adds Charlotte. “Many seem to bypass the fundamental step of basing themselves at a big centre, learning under expert tutelage, in favour of pursuing their entrepreneurial ambitions. On the job, practical training where young people can get support from the proprietors at centres such as Talland, Ingestre etc is exactly what they need to get a solid grounding for a future in the industry.” Riders are specialising at a younger and younger age, with members of BD as young as six taking part in dressage, but this
means they sometimes miss the grounding they would receive by first taking part in Pony Club activities before later graduating to an Olympic discipline. “It’s vital that we educate and influence them, or we could end up with a massive skills gap. That’s why we offer courses like the BD Youth Horse Care so they aren’t missing out on those skills. It’s about finding a way to support their riding careers via long-term sustainability in the industry.” For the more mature members (19+), BD offers the Young Professional Programme. “It’s not a formal qualification but is based on developing business knowledge and skills such as managing tax, insurances, employment contracts, contracts
with owners, the legalities of leasing a property, marketing and sponsorship,” explains Charlotte. With colleges and universities offering an abundance of courses with attractive titles, it’s hard to decipher what is really going to benefit you in the long term. “A top tip is to check that these courses actually have an industryrecognised qualification built into the programme, because people can spend three or four years studying for a degree but not actually come out with a qualification that member bodies would recognise,” warns Charlotte. “It’s about checking what your aspirations are, working backwards from there and making sure that the course will give you the necessary qualifications.”
EDUCATION.
HARTPURY UNIVERSITY & COLLEGE
ABOVE: COURSES TRAINING FOR A CAREER IN THERAPY ARE INCREASINGLY POPULAR.
BD TRAINING Being a member of BD means you have access to a whole range of training and education opportunities, regardless of your chosen path. Members can pick and mix from a selection of voluntary, professional and rider development opportunities from ages 6-25 and upwards. Here’s are a selection of courses on offer FOR RIDERS: • Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) Run by Haddon Training, this programme provides employed young riders from 16 upwards with the support they need to be the best. Not only will you be coached by world class trainers, but you'll also have access to a range of additional skills including; career planning, physical health, performance psychology, communication and managing the media. • Work-Based Apprenticeships British Dressage has also formed a partnership with Haddon raining to offer work based, government funded Level 2 and Level 3 Apprenticeships, which
are designed to help young people gain a good grounding in the practical skills, experience and knowledge needed to work in the equine, and specifically dressage, industries. • Diploma in Sporting Excellence The Diploma in Sporting Excellence is co-ordinated by Hartpury College, and it works towards a Diploma in Sporting Excellence worth 64 UCAS points. Selected coaches encourage, support and nurture athletes through their elite development. Riders will complete shared core modules, as well as specialist training in their chosen discipline and home visits with their allocated mentor. • British Dressage Horse Care Improve your knowledge, skills and horse care with the British Dressage Horse Care course. The programme is designed to help you learn the fundamentals in caring for horses. This new course is a mixture of online and practical learning modules, which aims to boost the care skills of our BD Youth members and beyond.
LEFT: THERE'S A WIDE CHOICE OF TRAINING PROGRAMMES ON OFFER FOR THOSE AIMING FOR
Renowned for its outstanding equestrian facilities, Hartpury offers a variety of courses to suit you whatever your chosen career. If you want to develop your strengths as a competitive rider alongside studying, Hartpury’s Equine Academy enables you to have lessons on your horse scheduled around your teaching with access to world-class coaches and unrivalled facilities. Here’s a small selection of courses on offer: FOR COMPETITION GROOM/YARD MANAGER: • FdSc Equine Performance This practical course will give you the experience required to progress into hands-on yard management, top-level groom roles or coordinator positions within an organisation or industry governing body. You’ll focus on maximising equine performance through training, management and nutrition. FOR COACHES: • BSc Equestrian Sports Coaching This course is ideal for those who want to help get the best out of the horse and rider partnership, coaching and teaching at novice or professional level. Develop your own coaching practice alongside learning how sports psychology can get the best from the rider, as well as how performance analysis can refine the horse-rider partnership. FOR BUSINESS: • BA (Hons) Equine Business Management This three-year course is ideal
ABOVE: COURSES ARE AVAILABLE TO EQUIP STUDENTS FOR LIFE AS A PROFESSIONAL RIDER, INCLUDING DEVELOPING BUSINESS SKILLS.
for those who want to pursue their equine interest alongside gaining commercial experience. Study business, finance, people management, marketing and strategy. Experience successful event management, delve into branding, media and sponsorship, or explore the sport and hospitality industry. FOR PERFORMANCE AND REHABILITATION: • Bsc Equine Performance and Rehabilitation This four-year course includes a one-year industry placement and is ideal for those who are passionate about equine performance and rehabilitation. This programme incorporates practical competencies including ground schooling and equine performance analysis, and learning about anatomy, veterinary science and nutrition. For more information, visit: hartpury.ac.uk
A CAREER WITH HORSES.
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 31
EDUCATION.
MOULTON COLLEGE
ABOVE: IT IS POSSIBLE TO FOCUS STUDIES ON COACHING AND GAIN BD QUALIFICATIONS.
FOR COACHES: • British Dressage Coaching Certificate The British Dressage Coaching ertificate (endorsed by ) is a government recognised qualification accredited by st sport that provides a recognised stamp of quality coaching across all sports around the e offer the British Dressage oaching ertificates at both level and level 3 • National Development Programme for Coaching Excellence his course is relevant for coaches working with adults and
young people who participate in equestrian sport for competitive recreation motives oaches wanting to join this programme will be ambitious and already have success in getting more people participating in equestrian sport and retaining them by creating en oyable coaching environments • Youth Assessor Coach Training his is targeted training for those wanting to be involved with the development of young riders or as to meet the pre requisite requirements for a British Dressage Youth ssessor oach
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY There are a variety of equine programmes at RAU, offering students a range of options to cover the business side of horses as well as the everyday management, such as: • BSc (Hons) Bloodstock and Performance Horse Management The RAU’s specialist Bloodstock and Performance Horse Management course will teach you all you need to know about training, breeding, management and enterprise. • BSc (Hons) Applied Equine Science and Business Gain a solid grounding in both scientific and business skills and grasp the growing number of opportunities available through our network of industry contacts.
As well as benefitting from a blend of practical exercises and academic knowledge, you will gain essential experience with a work placement. • BSc (Hons) International Equine and Agricultural Business Management Become a multi-skilled graduate with a thorough grounding in agricultural and equine developments, equine science, business including marketing, finance, law and negotiating skills. You will also delve into the changing dynamics of the UK horse industry, as well as international equine business and science, covering Northwest Europe, the USA, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia. For additional information, please visit: rau.ac.uk/equine
32 // Issue 4 2020 // BRITISH DRESSAGE
The equine courses at Moulton College ensure students gain industry relevant experience as well as background theoretical knowledge, to prepare for a career with sport horses. • Extended Diploma in Horse Management Moulton offers both a Level 3, and Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horse Management which provides students with an improved understanding of the care and welfare of performance horses. Students learn topics including equine health and husbandry, care of the competition horse, horse behaviour and riding. • Equine Performance and Therapies For students who wish to continue their studies, Moulton College offers a university level course in Equine Performance and Therapies. This course provides students with a deeper understanding of nationally recognised equine therapies, preparing students for a career focused primarily
on supporting the health and wellbeing of horses. For more information, visit: moulton.ac.uk CASE STUDY Ellie Hopkins, a graduate of Moulton College, works at DMF Eventing in Northamptonshire, a company specialising in producing and competing event horses. Following on from her studies, Ellie is now the Head Girl at the company and her role encompasses a range of different yard duties, exercising the horses, and preparing the horses for competitions. “Alongside a course in equine management, I think that the most important attributes required to make it into the equine industry are being hard working and fully dedicated to the care, wellbeing and performance of horses,” Ellie says. “Being able to enter a job already having work experience is vital – this is something that Moulton College was able to offer me during my time studying.”
BELOW: EQUINE MANAGEMENT COURSES MAY BE SPECIFICALLY TAILORED TO THE CARE AND WELFARE OF PERFORMANCE HORSES.
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BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 3 2020 // 35
FLY PROTECTION.
BUZZ OFF! IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN – ALONG WITH LONGER DAYS AND HOPEFULLY MORE SUNSHINE, SUMMER BRINGS FLIES. THE NAF ADVICE TEAM OFFERS SOME TIPS ON CHOOSING AND USING FLY PROTECTION.
W
e have all experienced the irritation fl ies and midges create n some cases, insect bites leave our horses with unwanted lumps and bumps due to their body s natural reaction to defend them from foreign attack he common question asked is hich fly spray do use n truth there is no simple answer t is important to have a product that is legal, safe and effective fter that it is down to personal preference, both for you and your horse owever, there are a few key indicators to look for irstly, it is important that your product is legal ll equine fly repellents are regulated under law and must be either approved or authorised he purpose of this is to protect you, your horse and the environment legal fly repellent product will have an approval number such as E or an authorisation number such as displayed on the label his ensures you are using active ingredients known to be effective, and products which are monitored for safety
COMMONLY KNOWN INGREDIENTS DEET (Di ethyl m toluamide) is one of the most well known active ingredients for fly repellents, formulated for use by soldiers in the ungle in t is not e actly understood how DEE actually works, but recent research has suggested that it masks 36 // Issue 4 2020 // BRITISH DRESSAGE
ABOVE: FLIES CAN CAUSE MISERY FOR HORSES IN SUMMER.
the odours emitting from our skin by reducing their volatility anufacturers include various active ingredients at different concentrations enerally, the higher the inclusion rate of the active ingredient, the more effective the product t is important to understand that DEE repellents designed for use on people may not be safe or legal to use on your horse Eucalyputus citriodora oil is a naturally derived oil with proven insect repellency Permethrin and Cypermethrin are active ingredients found in some equine fly repellents on the market hese products are not approved for topical application to the horse other than as agreed by the eterinary edicines Directive, due to their high to icity Permethrin and ypermethrin work by targeting the nervous system and creating paralysis or worse when the insect lands hese compounds are to ic to both fi sh and cats, so caution would be advised when using around your horse particularly if your yard relies on an e cient feline for rodent control Citronella oil has traditionally been used to deter insects, however its legal status for this has never been established in terms of e cacy and safety, and therefore no product based on citronella oil can be marketed as a fly repellent his has led to confusion, with some people thinking it is banned for competition use, but that is not the case itronella products are safe and legal to use, both generally and under E rules they simply can t be marketed as a fly repellents
he same applies to a number of other traditional essential oils, which sometimes leads to riders e perimenting with homemade fly repellents, however this is something we would strongly advise against Essential oils, in particular, can be very aggressive, causing severe reactions on some horses any contain skin sensitiser to which you or your horse may react e suggest that it is best to trust the professionals and buy a commercial solution small hour patch test should be carried out before application of any new product, simply due to the unpredictable nature of allergies
APPLICATION POINTERS n terms of the best application method, a spray usually offers the most effective coverage and is easiest to use reams and lotions are also available for horses that do not like sprays aution must be taken around the more sensitive areas such as between the hind legs and around the teats of a mare who may be feeding a foal at foot emember if using a sponge or cloth to apply a DEE based product, to choose one made of natural fibres hile DEE is proven to be safe for application to skin and natural fibres, it will attack some plastics and manmade fibres or the same reason, if decanting your DEE based spray from a larger bottle, always decant into a dedicated DEE fly repellent spray bottle
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BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 37
PRODUCT WATCH.
PRODUCT
FLY PROTECTION ULTRASHIELD® INSECTICIDE AND REPELLENT is used to protect against irritating and biting insects. With the active ingredients permethrin and pyrethrin, UltraShield can provide instant ‘knock-down’ when insects come into contact, as well as a long-lasting protective ‘shield’. Now with an updated shape and spraying mechanism, the new bottle provides an ergonomic grip, plus a vertical and horizontal fan spray option, for upsidedown usage and hard-to-reach areas, ensuring every last drop is used.
GLADIATOR FLY MASKS are super tough and durable whilst offering comfort for your horse. The strong black UV protective mesh is ultra-strong making this mask great for turnout, and the dark colour blocks harmful UV rays. It provides a generous fit over the eye darts to give a stand-off over the face. Along with soft, breathable bamboo lining strips across the brow and nose, this helps to prevent rubbing and ensures clearance across the eyes. Grey 3D carbon mesh upper allows for plenty of airflow to keep your horse cool and the forelock slit offers increased comfort. RRP: £32.50 HALF FACE OR £34.50 FULL FACE | lemieuxproducts.com
All day protection against flies and insect menace. RRP: FROM £17.99 naf-equine.eu/uk
BOETT BLANKET AND HOOD is designed to form a close-fitting barrier to protect from biting insets that cause sweet itch. Both are made from unique, tough, breathable fabric that is treated with a water and grease repellent. It comes in two parts – the rug with integral neck and adjustable belly shield. There are 17 sizes and three colours available. RRP: BLANKETS FROM £165.50, HOODS FROM £63.57 | itchyhorse.co.uk
38 // Issue 4 2020 // BRITISH DRESSAGE
NAF OFF EXTRA EFFECT Pink is in, flies are out. RRP: FROM £14.99 naf-equine.eu/uk
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HY ARMOURED PROTECT FULL MASK with ears and nose offers protection from flying insects by covering the ears, eyes, face and nose. Made from lightweight mesh material and a bamboo lining. The mesh panels also protect from UV rays, making it ideal for horses with sensitive skin, who are more susceptible to the sun. Including a faux fur panel on the brow band and soft fleece edging, this fly mask will be comfortable to wear all day. RRP: £28.99 hy-equestrian.com
We're here to help... I want to personally reassure you that SEIB Insurance Brokers are taking all necessary steps to ensure that we are here to support you through this Coronavirus pandemic. Our teams continue to work remotely and have SECURE access to files, systems and emails. We will be able to continue to respond to you as usual. You may speak to a different member of the team but we promise to do everything we can to keep you protected in these troubled times. Please do not ignore your insurance, let it lapse or leave a claim outstanding. Don't add to your troubles, we are working hard to keep you covered as circumstances change daily. Whether you would like a quote for your business, your horse or your home. If you just need advice or want to make a claim, please get in touch #SEIBhere2help Stay Safe.
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BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 39
DENTITION.
TAKE CARE OF THE TEETH CONTRARY TO THE SAYING ‘DON’T LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH’, THERE IS A LOT THAT CAN GO WRONG IN A HORSE’S MOUTH AND MANY HORSES WILL DISGUISE THEIR PAIN AND SOLDIER ON REGARDLESS. HELEN TRIGGS TALKS TO EXPERTS TO IDENTIFY THE BEST DENTAL REGIME FOR HORSES AS THEY AGE.
G
ood dental health can be achieved with a programme of monitoring, treatment and an appropriate feeding regime. Veterinary equine dental specialists have a range of treatments at their disposal which weren’t available in the past from oral e tractions, fillings, to root canals and complex surgery. Horses have been able to resume their competition or pleasure careers, which would not have been possible in the past. An example of what can go wrong is Nadine Gregory’s horse Woodhams Dexter. He was discovered to have a tooth abscess despite displaying almost no outward clinical signs e was competing and eating ust fine udden onset facial swelling would improve with antibiotics and then reoccur. Following a CT scan, Dexter was referred to Chris Pearce, who runs a specialist equine veterinary dental practice in Dorset, and his rotten, abscessed tooth was discovered. Only removal or root canal treatment could solve this kind of problem as the tooth was so diseased. The tooth was removed under standing sedation and Dexter was soon back on track in his dressage career. Like humans, some horses have better quality teeth than others. “Even young horses can develop abscesses,” comments Chris Pearce. “There’s good evidence that horses eat around problem teeth and don’t show outward clinical signs. Although weight loss and ridden behaviours can be signs of dental issues, many are in excellent body condition and competing well, even with advanced dental problems.”
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ome horses are more prone to fractured teeth than others. I treated one horse recently with seven fractures. We extracted one tooth, but others were saved by drilling and filling while some needed no treatment If the teeth aren’t looked after and inspected on a regular basis, how your horse accepts the bit and performs under saddle can be affected, as well as impacting on the nutrition they receive from their feed ore inner cheeks and inflamed gums are some of the more common problems that can be avoided with good practice.
STARTING OFF RIGHT Horses’ mature teeth will continue to grow throughout their lives. The action of chewing (sideways and up and down) should prevent them growing too long. However, for many reasons, growth may not be even and action has to be taken to keep them balanced and remove any sharp edges. A foal’s mouth should be checked to ensure there are no abnormalities. Deciduous or milk teeth are replaced with adult teeth at between four and five years old he incisors (front) teeth are designed for cutting forage when grazing. Behind them is the interdental space where the bit sits and behind that premolars and molars which grind up the food before swallowing. ABOVE: THE HORSE’S MATURE TEETH WILL CONTINUE TO GROW THROUGH ITS LIFE, ALTHOUGH THE ACTON OF CHEWING SHOULD PREVENT THEM GROWING TOO LONG.
DENTITION.
Male horses also typically have canines next to the incisors and some horses (of either sex) will also have wolf teeth – additional very small teeth which sit in front of the premolars. Horses are designed to eat a wide variety of forage which requires them to use the full range of movement of their jaw. The action of chewing forage grinds down the teeth evenly and prevents excess growth. Humans have changed their diet so animals are grazing on softer forage and are fed concentrated feeds which require less chewing. Research has shown that this is more likely to result in sharp edges and hooks forming.
ESTABLISH A ROUTINE
ABOVE: CALCIUM IS IMPORTANT FOR DENTAL HEALTH, AND ADDING ALFALFA TO THE DIET CAN BE HELPFUL IF IT IS DEFICIENT. BELOW: CHRIS PEARCE, WHO RUNS A SPECIALIST EQUINE DENTAL PRACTICE, PERFORMS AN EXAMINATION.
PHOTO: CHRIS PEARCE
Dental routine is important. “In a perfect world, owners would have their horse’s teeth checked every six months between three and six years of age and then go to every nine months. If there are no problems by the age of nine, you could move to an annual plan,” recommends Alex Jessett, a qualified equine dental technician (ED ) t s better to treat the teeth frequently and only do a little adjustment than to leave it longer so the teeth require more work.” hoose an ED or vet with proven skills and qualifications check that the ED is a certified member of the British ssociation of Equine Dental echnicians (B ED ) or the orld ide ssociation of Equine Dentistry ( ED) This ensures they have received training and are subject to continuous training and monitoring.
ED s can perform routine checks and rasping (but not sedation, extractions or more complicated procedures which MUST be carried out by a vet). When they encounter a problem outside their remit, they will refer to one of the specialist vets now working in the dental field good vet or ED will analyse problems and pick up on any pathology that is developing,” says Alex. “Regular maintenance helps maintain the teeth in good condition as any sharp edges and tartar can be removed.” There are a number of conditions where veterinary intervention may be required. Dressage horses are living for longer so are likely to have more issues with teeth and gum disease. Diastemas – abnormal spaces between teeth – can develop and trap food which may lead to gum infection. Wolf teeth may be fractured in contact with the bit and need to be removed by a vet. If the upper and lower aws are misaligned, molar hooks can occur Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (E ) is a disease of the incisors in older horses t is a painful progressive disease for which the only treatment is the removal of the affected teeth when it becomes advanced. “Horses manage without their incisors very
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 41
DENTITION.
well but a potential problem for the dressage rider is that the tongue may protrude a little while being ridden,” says Chris. Regular dental checkups identify any emerging problems and in between, correct nutrition can help keep the mouth healthy. Hay and grass are better for teeth health than processed feeds because the action of chewing takes longer and promotes better tooth wear. Katie Williams, Product and Technical Manager at Dengie Feeds emphasises the importance of feeding a diet high in forage and in which calcium/phosphorus ratios are balanced ost horses diets will contain su cient calcium but if it is deficient, add alfalfa to the feed, she advises. “This is particularly important for young horses and breeding stock and there is evidence that use of omeprazole for ulcers can deplete calcium.” orrect bit fitting is also important he variation in the gap between the front and back teeth is different for every horse,” says Lindsay Middleton of Zebra Products, UK distributor for German bit brand, Sprenger. “So it is essential the bit is not fitted too high or too low which could interfere with the teeth.” LEFT: A FOAL’S MOUTH SHOULD BE CHECKED TO ENSURE THERE ARE NO ABNORMALITIES. ABOVE: THE BIT SHOULD NOT BE FITTED TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW AS THIS COULD INTERFERE WITH THE TEETH.
CASE STUDY Malene Garfield-Davies’ 11-year-old, Dourados (Woody) was nine when his problems arose. “My horse is such a healthy animal, but like we all do, he has an Achilles heel – his teeth. My vet discovered a draining hole from an abscess on the top of his gum from his incisors during a routine dental check the summer before last. I called out dental specialist Chris Pearce to deal with it. He tried to do what he described in layman’s terms as ‘root canal’ treatment. He x-rayed and found that my horse’s front tooth was rotting because a splinter from a baby tooth was embedded in the gum and had caused an infection. In the end, the tooth had to be extracted.
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C
LANDS ROW AL NT A H
The other incisor was also compromised and had root canal treatment. “Unfortunately, the second incisor also didn’t make it and it was decided it was best to remove it. So now he is a toothless wonder. He has no front teeth but it doesn’t bother him. For the record, I have learned from this that horses rarely show dental pain. My guess is that in the wild, they could have it all the time, so their brains are designed to cope.” The good news is Woody is thriving after his extractions and made his debut at Prix St Georges earlier this year. LEFT: MALENE GARFIELD-DAVIES’ HORSE DOURADOS HAD TWO INCISORS REMOVED DUE TO INFECTION BUT STILL COMPETES SUCESSFULLY.
SPRING / SUMMER
COLLECTION
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 43
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NUTRITION.
FEEDING GOLDEN OLDIES RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT OLDER HORSES CAN BENEFIT FROM A REVIEW OF THEIR DIET TO CONTINUE LIVING LIFE TO THE FULL IN THEIR GOLDEN YEARS, SUGGESTS BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM, ANIMAL HEALTH LTD,
I
MANUFACTURER OF EQUITOP MYOPLAST ®.
t’s no secret that the population of older horses appears to be increasing, with many continuing to be active well into their twenties.1 As horses age, they may become less e cient at digesting protein and fibre with the result that the absorption of vitamins and minerals, particularly phosphorus, can be reduced.2 Factors such as worming history, dental condition and the horse’s health status can all have an impact on the e ciency of digestion and absorption of nutrients from their diet. Likewise, as horses age, their dental health can decline resulting in sharp, worn, loose or missing teeth meaning that they may find chewing more di cult, further reducing their digestive capacity. Older horses can also develop Cushing’s disease (PPID) or laminitis which will also influence their dietary requirements. Dietary protein provides a vital source of amino acids which are
the building blocks of protein manufacture and repair in every cell of the body. Twenty-two amino acids are needed to build protein, and whilst some of these can be made by the body (nonessential amino acids), others cannot so must be provided in the diet (essential amino acids).
WHY SHOULD THE LEVEL OF PROTEIN FED TO OLDER HORSES BE INCREASED? As the horse gets older they are likely to need a higher dietary protein intake compared to their younger companions to compensate for the reduced e ciency of digestion 2 It is important that dietary protein is readily digestible.3 Enzymes, found in the small intestine, are needed to break up the complex structure of dietary protein in order for it to be absorbed. This process becomes more ine cient with age. There are a number of amino acids, such as lysine, that
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 45
NUTRITION.
cannot be synthesised by the horse and must be supplied in its diet. Oats, barley and sugar beet are poor sources of essential amino acids so supplementing your horse’s diet with a ready supply of bioavailable amino acids – such as Equitop Myoplast® – can help support protein metabolism in older horses.
WHY IS MUSCLE MASS AND TONE OFTEN REDUCED IN OLDER HORSES? As horses grow older they are likely to undertake less exercise and this, combined with agerelated changes, may lead to a gradual decline in muscle tone and mass. At this later stage of life, it becomes even more important to ensure that your horse’s nutrition accurately reflects their dietary requirements, not just in terms of volume, but also in balance and quality. Age-related reduction in the absorptive capacity of the gut also has to be considered when building a ration for your horse. Ensuring your horse has a balanced supply of high quality and bio-available amino acids
in their diet can help support the maintenance of good muscle mass in older horses.
WHY DOES FORAGE FOR OLDER HORSES NEED TO BE CHOSEN CAREFULLY? Forage is an important feature in the horse’s diet as it helps to maintain digestive health and contributes to overall wellbeing.4 However, maintaining adequate forage intake can be problematic in older horses where dental health may be compromised or where underlying respiratory disease is present. Evidence suggests that horses may be more likely to develop respiratory allergies as they get older, including including severe equine asthma (formerly RAO or COPD)5. Good quality clean hay is therefore important to maintain respiratory health. If the horse is finding chewing di cult perhaps due to poor dentition, soaked or steamed hay can be easier, or short chop alfalfa can be used to replace part of the hay allocation. When a horse or pony has lost many of his teeth, eating hay is sometimes no longer possible
so other fibre sources such as soaked sugar beet, or high fibre cubes can be useful to ensure adequate fibre intake
HOW CAN YOU ENSURE YOUR OLDER HORSE RECEIVES ENOUGH ENERGY IN THEIR DIET? Even though the horse may still be being exercised regularly and may be competing, they are unlikely to need a ration that is high in carbohydrate or starch rich cereals.2 Concentrate feeds that are high in digestible fibre and oil are often more appropriate for older horses as their level of exercise is reduced. Oil can provide the horse with more than twice as much energy per kg than carbohydrate from starches, which helps to maintain their overall body condition. It also contains fatty acids which have been suggested to have a range of benefits for older animals
WHY MAY ANTIOXIDANTS BE OF HELP FOR OLDER HORSES? Free radicals are highly biologically active by-products of many normal metabolic
processes, however they are also implicated in the progression of numerous ailments including respiratory and inflammatory joint disease. Ensuring a rich supply of dietary antioxidants is good practice in older horses, as they are thought to help neutralise free radicals. Feed ingredients such as alfalfa, rosehip and ricebran contain a complementary mix of natural antioxidants which can be beneficial to your horse as part of a balanced diet.
SOURCES 1. McGowan, C.M. and Ireland, J. (2012). Health and welfare of ageing horses. www.vettimes. co.uk/article/health-andwelfare-of-ageing-horses 2. Geor, R.J., Coenen, M. and Harris, P. Equine Applied and Clinical Nutrition: Health, Welfare and Performance. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2013. 3. Hodgson, D.R., McGowan, C.M. and McKeever, K. The Athletic Horse: Principles and Practice of Equine Sports Medicine, 2nd Edition. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1994. 4. Worth, M. The Horse Nutrition Handbook. Storey Publishing, 2010. 5. Léguillette R. Recurrent airway obstruction--heaves. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2003 Apr;19(1):63-86, vi. Further information available from Boehringer Ingelheim, Animal Health Ltd, Email: vetenquiries@ boehringer-ingelheim.com LEFT: HELEN GRIFFITH AND 19 YEAR OLD GALWAY FOXY, WINNERS AT THE NETTEX VETERAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019, SHOWING THAT OLDER HORSES CAN CONTINUE TO FLOURISH COMPETITIVELY.
46 // Issue 4 2020 // BRITISH DRESSAGE
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BUSINESS BRIEF.
CAN I REDUCE OR CANCEL MY HORSEBOX INSURANCE WHILE WE ARE UNABLE TO COMPETE?
COVID-19
QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, BD PARTNERS SHEARWATER INSURANCE AND HARRISON CLARK RICKERBYS ARE PROVIDING ADVICE ON TOPICS THAT MAY AFFECT BRITISH DRESSAGE MEMBERS. HERE’S JUST A FEW FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.
WILL MY BRITISH DRESSAGE PERSONAL ACCIDENT POLICY STILL COVER ME IF I HAVE A RIDING ACCIDENT DURING THE GOVERNMENT’S LOCKDOWN? Shearwater: The Personal Accident cover that Shearwater provides to British Dressage members offers cover whilst the member is engaged in a horse-related activity, during the course of your membership. It’s not restricted to accidents whilst taking part in BD a liated events or training f the government restricts the riding of horses, yet you decide to ride anyway, then cover would not be available in the event of an accident. However, until the government specifies that riding is forbidden cover will continue as normal. Details of the Personal Public Liability and
Personal Accident Insurance can be found at britishdressage. co.uk/membership/ member-benefits/memberinsurance.
CAN I STOP WALKERS USING A RIGHT OF WAY ACROSS MY LAND? HCR: Unfortunately, it’s still a criminal offence to obstruct a public right of way, even at times like these. While increasing amounts of legislation are coming forward to address the issue and concerns arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of public rights of way has not become a priority. Everyone should be exercising common sense, but also real consideration for their neighbours. A friendly discussion might help parties to come to an understanding about how rights can be exercised carefully so as not to cause concern.
by theft, accidents involving employees and the need for temporary trading premises in certain circumstances. Only a very small number of businesses have the cover that specifically provides for contingency business interruption arising from notifiable diseases, such as Covid-19, where their premises have been contaminated. This is not a common addition to commercial policies.
Shearwater: Depending on the nature of your policy, you may be able to remove business usage temporarily. Unfortunately, there are no options for fire and theft only’ policies for horseboxes. Whilst it’s understandable that horse owners are looking to reduce UNTIL THE costs, we do hope that the closeGOVERNMENT down will only be temporary, and we SPECIFIES encourage owners to consider whether THAT RIDING they will need to IS FORBIDDEN use their lorry in INSURANCE the event of an emergency.
COVER WILL CONTINUE AS NORMAL.
HOW DOES SOCIAL DISTANCING WORK FOR LIVESTOCK OWNERS IN REGARDS TO VETS AND CONTRACTORS?
HCR: The government issued specific advice to farms and vets on 7 April 2020. The advice, relevant to anyone visiting or working on farms, said that farming and maintaining animal welfare are important, and can continue if done in accordance with social distancing guidelines wherever possible.
DOES MY BUSINESS INSURANCE/VENUE/ YARD INSURANCE COVER ME FOR LOSS OF INCOME IF I’VE BEEN FORCED TO CLOSE? Shearwater: Standard commercial insurance policies provide cover against a wide range of risks, including damage caused by fi re, flood, losses
IF MY BUSINESS HAS HAD TO CLOSE AS A RESULT OF COVID-19, WHAT BUSINESS RATE RELIEF COULD I BE ELIGIBLE FOR?
HCR: As a result of Covid-19, the government has forced many businesses to close. In addition to other measures the government has brought in, businesses in certain sectors will be eligible for some form of rates relief in the 2020/2021 tax year. The business sectors and types of businesses affected are laid out on the Covid-19 hub on the Harrison Clark Rickerbys website which covers practical advice for business people and directors on how you can protect your business from the effects of ovid including furlough, funding and cash flow, commercial property, contracts, insurance and employer matters. Please visit hcrlaw.com/sector/ covid-19 or ring the Covid-19 free helpline on 08000 862819.
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 49
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50 // Issue 4 2020 // BRITISH DRESSAGE
ASK THE EXPERT.
Re-set
FOR RIDERS EQUISSAGE CYCLOIDAL VIBRATION THERAPY (CVT) HAS BEEN SHOWN IN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH TO BENEFIT SPORTS HORSES AND CAN HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON RIDERS TOO. HELEN PENNY REPORTS ON HOW PHYSIOTHERAPIST JANINE MIDGLEY HAS ADVANCED ITS USE AND WHAT SHE FOUND WHEN TREATING WORLD CLASS PARA RIDER CHARLOTTE CUNDALL.
A
s someone whose life is focused on improving movement in humans, Janine Midgley began to wonder whether the benefits she saw using a cycloidal vibration therapy (CVT) unit from Equissage on her three ex-racehorses might be seen in people. The Pulse Hand Unit delivers cycloidal (three-way) vibration therapy (CVT) to specific areas of the body Janine has spent more than four years working on potential applications, and the results have changed her professional practice.
As a human physio, Janine specialises in connective tissue and fascia. She has found that using connective tissue massage coupled with CVT from the hand unit has given an immediate result in many cases. It is something she wanted to try with British Equestrian World Class Para rider Charlotte Cundall. aving suffered two spinal in uries (see panel), Charlotte has physio support from the World Class programme, alongside her home team physiotherapist, but says she can often become tight, which affects her riding This is something Janine is convinced she can help with. “Being able to use CVT has BELOW: JANINE'S INITIAL ASSESSMENT IDENTIFIES
JANINE MIDGLEY
MANY PROBLEMS
Janine set up The West Yorkshire Physiotherapy Centre 21 years ago, specialising in treating high performance sportspeople and people with physical dysfunctions. She represented Great Britain as a junior in athletics, then at the World Jet Ski Championships, and now has three exracehorses, competing in dressage and RoR showing.
LEFT: PHYSIOTHERAPIST JANINE MIDGLEY SPECIALISES IN TRAINING
CHARLOTTE IS ALREADY AWARE OF.
ABOVE: CHARLOTTE’S SACRAL FASCIA IS TIGHT.
changed how we work; the vibration is deep and I use it to relax the muscle. Once it’s relaxed, I can ‘grab’ the fascia and move it gently – it can stick like Velcro, which means muscle won’t slide. Once the fascia is released, it will be like taking the handbrake off, and muscles can work properly.” Janine’s initial assessment of Charlotte identifies many problems she is already aware of – weakness on her left hand side, right foot pronation and a forward rotation on her right hand side. However, a check for pelvis symmetry reveals her right hand side is locked, and her legs are found to be a slightly different length, probably from the falls er sacral fascia round the in ury sites is also tight, which is something Janine expected to fi nd, and her sacroiliac oint on the right side has no fle ion An assessment on the centre’s horse simulator confi rms this think you are using your back a lot, rather than your abdominals or glutes. You are also riding with a twist, and I can see you have little or no power in your left leg.” our physios have done a great ob, but my ob is to activate muscles and try to get your body into the optimal position. Your pelvis should be level, but the chances of that
HIGH PERFORMANCE SPORTSPEOPLE.
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 51
ASK THE EXPERT.
HOME USE While Janine’s years of experience mean she can achieve results which would be impossible for most, she is an advocate of riders using CVT kit on themselves, and Charlotte has been using her Equissage Pulse at home since the treatment. For all riders, Janine says it can have a positive effect: “It is great for general use for aches and pains, and will help recovery. It is especially good if you are a bit sore having fallen off, and it will also help reduce muscle soreness after you’ve worked particularly hard.” LEFT: JANINE WORKS TO HELP CHARLOTTE’S FOOT POSITION.
after falling off are almost zero our strong right hand quad is holding you, which means there is rotation your left seat bone is forward and inferior, so down, and the right is backward and up, so you have more more weight through the left, and the muscles are compensating ith the simulator on a downhill horse setting, harlotte asks for an e tension, but the pain kicks in and she braces against it he also confi rms anine s suspicions that half pass is one of the things she fi nds most di cult
could see that everything ust ammed when you were on the downhill horse it was like a handbrake he muscles you are using ust now have no endurance think your right hand side is doing everything anine e plains that she will be using the unit, connective tissue massage techniques, and fascial wa which is used to help protect the skin he likens the treatment to peeling layers off an onion a gentle approach which will not cause inflammation
s she treats, she focuses on areas specifically involved in riding, working to get more mobility in the sacrum, as well as on the tight right psoas, which she says will be pulling harlotte to the left fter treating specific areas, anine checks progress by repeating some earlier tests here s an improvement but they also highlight underlying areas which require attention owards the end of the session, harlotte gets back on the simulator, and says she can feel a difference in her ability to take the horse to the right feel like can open the left leg a bit more t s also easier to sit to the canter he true effectiveness of something is putting it into practice, says anine ide your horse long and low when you get back on use your seat to collect and to focus on the gears within paces ou should feel a noticeable difference sitting trot should be much easier, and your core should engage, so canter will be better ABOVE MAIN: CHECKING FOR PELVIS SYMMETRY. LEFT: THE EQUISSAGE PULSE HAND UNIT IN USE.
52 // Issue 4 2020 // BRITISH DRESSAGE
ASK THE EXPERT.
CHARLOTTE CUNDALL Yorkshire-based Charlotte was an eventer competing to 4* (former 3*) level, and point to point rider. However, two falls resulted in spinal injuries, the first in 2007, followed by another in July 2010 which required lengthy treatment. Following her recovery, she was graded and began competing in Para dressage in 2014, reaching a world ranking high of 5th in Grade V in 2019. She has numerous Para and able bodied wins, and is competing at PSG/Inter I.
“Think about relaxing; if you tighten, you won’t be able to breathe properly, and then you won’t be able to absorb the movement as your ‘springs’ will have gone.” Janine also gives harlotte some specific stretches to carry out – and warns that when she has treated riders, their horses will usually need physio too as they will have become used to compensating for their rider’s imbalances. Charlotte sums up the treatment: “This session has been an eye-opener. Usually, everything is focused on my back, but this has been a different way of looking at things, and it feels really good.” *This feature was undertaken in February 2020, before any Coronavirus restrictions. LEFT: AN ASSESSMENT ON THE HORSE SIMULATOR CONFIRMS
AFTER TREATMENT “After my treatment with Janine I felt like it was a bit of a ‘re-set’. I went home to ride and consciously thought about how I was sitting and being more aware of where my body was positioned. “I realised that due to the nature of my injuries, and associated pain, I often brace against the movement so I was really trying to think about how I could absorb it in a more efficient way to help performance. “I was amazed with some of the results we achieved during treatment, which reduced stiffness and increased flexibility in areas in which I was extremely tight.” ABOVE INSET: JANINE SWITCHES THE SIMULATOR TO ‘DOWNHILL MODE’ WHICH CAUSES CHARLOTTE TO BRACE.
MANY OF JANINE’S OBSERVATIONS.
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 53
RIDING REQUISITES.
BALANCING ACT IF LIFE IS A CONSTANT BALANCING ACT, THERE’S CERTAINLY NO LET-UP IN THE SADDLE. ACHIEVING PERFECT POISE AND PRECISE BODY CONTROL IS THE DRESSAGE RIDER’S ULTIMATE AIM, SOMETHING TO STRIVE FOR OVER A LIFETIME, WRITES ANDREA OAKES.
F
rustratingly, balance cannot be forced. Reaching that point of equilibrium, the apparently effortless state of remaining in complete harmony with a moving horse, has been described as a lightbulb moment. hen you finally find your centre of gravity and you re properly balanced, you just know,” says Jasmine JacksonLloyd, a gymnast, stunt rider and classical dressage student t feels as though you re doing nothing The good news is that better balance is something we can all work towards, even when we re not in the saddle nd it s well worth the effort, according to trainer ndrew Day he rider s seat and position are so important in dressage, allowing us to maintain balance over the horse, to unify with his movement in all three gaits and to give effective aids, he e plains “Only once we achieve stability without gripping with the knee and calf is it possible to communicate with and train the horse through an accurate pressure-responserelease process.” t goes further still, says ndrew rider who needs to rely on grip is behind the point of
BEING BALANCED MEANS YOU CAN GIVE YOUR HORSE THE TINIEST OF COMMANDS WITH YOUR SEAT, BUT HE’LL BE ABLE TO TELL EXACTLY WHERE THEY’RE COMING FROM 54 // Issue 4 2020 // BRITISH DRESSAGE
balance over the horse s centre, he says his will inhibit the horse s ability to carry himself correctly, potentially damaging his movement and adversely affecting his back and joint health. If the rider maintains stability through balance alone, the horse s haunches can relate correctly to his own centre of gravity – so he can lift himself upwards and carry himself forwards with greatly enhanced movement.” For Jasmine, who has ridden for racehorse trainer ndrew Balding and now performs with he Devil s Horsemen, developing balance means being body aware. “When I left racing, I trained in aerial silks and hoops,” she says, e plaining that this acrobatic discipline involves twists, turns and falls while suspended in air s became more aware of my whole body, I could isolate certain areas and that really helped my riding. I could then make the tiny movements needed to give more subtle aids, while remaining stable.” So how can we boost our balance, without going to such acrobatic e tremes “Riding is unusual in it requires us to be balanced on a moving being,” says Jasmine, who is honing her stuntriding skills for live displays and filmwork ince a horse has a mind, we can t look at him as merely an object. We can never predict his movements, so we have to adapt to them and be versatile to changes in his rhythm.” ABOVE: PILATES EXERCISES SUCH AS THE GLUTE BRIDGE CAN HELP TO STRENGTHEN CORE MUSCLES. RIGHT: YOGA STRETCHES MUSCLES AS WELL AS USING THEM.
TRY SOMETHING NEW “My dressage instructor always told me that if you erase the horse, you should be left with a vertical line connecting your ankle, hip, shoulder and ear – a position that looks a bit like a quarter squat,” says Hannah, who explains that the key to balance is identifying where your centre of gravity falls. “The challenge is to maintain this through the horse’s dynamic paces.” “Try holding a quarter squat position on a hover board or a Bosu ball, to practise maintaining the position on an unstable surface,” she adds. “Another fun activity is slack-lining, which involves balancing on or walking along a length of flat webbing tensioned between two anchors. Not only is this a good outdoor exercise, it’s a real test of patience, body awareness and focus.”
“All balance comes from our core,” she adds, referring to the ‘girdle’ of muscles that comprises not just the abdominals but all of those that attach to the spine. “All kinds of core-conditioning exercises will help, but especially those that give you an all-body workout and incorporate an element of active stretching.” This active stretching and strengthening develops the dynamic balance needed in the saddle, where we must constantly readjust on an unstable platform. “Exercise that makes you think about what you’re doing is good,” says Jasmine. “Running will help, or any kind of dance, because learning a dance routine will challenge you mentally as well as physically. Yoga is useful, as you’re stretching muscles and using them at the same time – perhaps a downward dog to an upward dog, followed by some leg lifts behind.” [try YouTube for examples] “Symmetry is important,” adds Jasmine. “If you don’t exercise outside of the saddle, some of
your muscles will be naturally stronger than others. It’s vital with any conditioning work to develop both sides of the body equally, targeting specific areas that need strengthening.” Once in the saddle, explains Jasmine, balance will come easier if you think of all the muscles in your body as having equal tension. “The spine is naturally strong, so try to relax your back and bring more focus to your core so it has the same tension,” she says. “Being balanced means you can give your horse the tiniest of commands with your seat, but he’ll be able to tell exactly where they’re coming from.” Hannah Lesbirel competed in track athletics and a liated dressage before qualifying as a personal trainer She agrees that riding balance requires complex skills such as co-ordination, control, mobility and core strength. “Any movement that occurs through our upper and lower body extremities, such as giving a half-halt or asking for canter, has the potential to destabilise our position,” she says. “Our core muscles must therefore be both strong and mobile, so that we can move freely and with control of the horse’s movements.” Hannah recommends Pilates exercises to strengthen the full range of core muscles. “Try glute bridges, thinking about curling your tailbone upwards and squeezing your glute muscles, and flutter kicks while maintaining the belly-button-into-spine position,” she says. “Another useful one is a wall sit, keeping a 90 degree angle in the legs while squeezing a pillow or ball between your knees.” “A good Pilates teacher will be dedicated to improving the body’s alignment and focusing on breathing patterns, fle ibility and stamina, she adds t s all very beneficial for riding.” BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 55
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DRESSAGE TERMS.
PART 2
BEYOND THE COMMENTS OUR NEXT INSTALMENT OF PUTTING IN PERSPECTIVE SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS WE GET ON A DRESSAGE SHEET LOOKS AT THE HORSE’S FOREHAND – THE POLL, BEND, HEAD POSITION – ALL KEY INDICATORS TO A JUDGE. JANE KIDD HELPS UNRAVEL SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND HOW TO HELP CORRECT THEM WHEN WE’RE BACK OUT RIDING AND COMPETING.
T
he forehand is where many people look fi rst to assess how well a horse is working. owever, in most cases it s only an indicator of the quality of the way of going he greatest influence on the way the horse is going is most often in the hindquarters, the powerhouse, which was looked at in the previous article in this series in ssue here s value in looking or feeling what is happening in the forehand as long as the rider or trainer takes into account the whole horse, and what s going on in the hindquarters and back, before making corrections udges are trained to look at the powerhouse before deciding on the mark and comments
ABOVE: THIS YOUNG HORSE HAS ITS POLL AS THE HIGHEST POINT HELPED BY ITS GOOD BALANCE WITH THE HINDS WELL ENGAGED. BELOW: AN ARCHED NECK WITH THE POLL THE HIGHEST POINT IS AN OBJECTIVE OF THE FEI. TO ACHIEVE THIS HIGH NECK POSITION AND MAINTAIN AN ARCH COLLECTION AND ENGAGEMENT ARE NEEDED, AND AT LOWER LEVELS THE NECK IS MORE HORIZONTAL.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: POLL NOT THE HIGHEST POINT he fi fth principle of the E s guidelines states that the poll should be the highest point of the neck his is one of the most controversial guidelines as for many horses their necks and aws, particularly stallions, are shaped so that it s very di cult or even impossible to achieve f riders and trainers try to achieve it by lifting the neck, the danger is that the vital arch of the neck is lost, the back tightens and the horse cannot work through ith the increasing importance given to a swinging back and throughness leniency towards this guideline is allowed and the highest point of the neck ust behind the poll is acceptable Possible corrections: the classic way to lift the poll is to engage the hinds more so that the whole of the forehand is lightened Patience is needed as this can take time, particularly with a weak young horse f the lower poll is a form of resistance, positive forward riding or a momentary hitch upwards with the outside rein may be effective he rider must check if their rein contact has a forward light tension ABOVE: THIS HORSE APPEARS TO BE THROUGH AT THE POLL, NOT SHOWING ANY TIGHTENING OF THE MUSCLES BUT REMAINING SUPPLE IN THE POLL
“POLL NOT THE HIGHEST POINT”
AREA. THE WHITE FLUFF IN THE MOUTH INDICATES A RELAXED JAW.
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 57
DRESSAGE TERMS.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: NOT THROUGH AT THE POLL It’s vital that the momentum generated in the hindquarters doesn’t meet any blocks or any resistance over the back and neck and through the poll to the mouth. These areas need to be supple and any tightening at the poll restricts ‘throughness’. It will also restrict the horse’s ability to fle when it pivots at the poll to turn the head to one side. Possible corrections: improvements are based on making the poll suppler. Horses that have a thick throat may fi nd this more di cult than horses that have a more refi ned, clearly defi ned one assage the rein contact
to ask for fle ions to one side then the other, but without a bend and only so far as when the rider can ust see the horse’s eye. As is almost always the case, an answer lies in the hindquarters. Work on the balance so the horse takes more weight behind and with each hind taking an equal step forward so the weight does not fall to one side. RIGHT: AT THIS MOMENT IN THE CANTER SEQUENCE ALMOST ALL BUT COLLECTED HORSES DIP TO FALL BEHIND THE VERTICAL. IT IS ONLY FOR AN INSTANT, IT IS NATURAL TO THE CANTER AND DOES NOT LOSE MARKS, UNLIKE WHEN THE HEAD STAYS BEHIND THE VERTICAL.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: BEHIND THE VERTICAL
that this happens, whether it s momentary or permanent and how sheer the angle is. econdly, how this affects the whole horse This happens when the noseline of the f the back is still supple and swinging, horse’s head falls behind the vertical. whether the hindquarters are engaged and It’s an easy fault to notice but a much working well and the shoulders are light more di cult one for the udge to give an and free he udge has to take all these appropriate mark irstly, it s the amount factors into account and a horse that is behind the vertical might be given a good mark if everything else is working well and it only happens for a short time. t might be given an insu cient mark if it s way behind the vertical, on its forehand and the back is stiff here is no automatic mark for a horse that is behind the vertical. Possible corrections: if the rider is pulling back or taking a strong contact then an easing of the contact, giving and retaking the reins, a brief and gentle hitch with the outside rein can help. In the longer term, work on engaging the hindquarters so the shoulders are lightened and the horses works “BEHIND THE forward into the contact. Transitions VERTICAL” and riding more forward are particularly beneficial e ercises LEFT: A HORSE THAT IS BEHIND THE VERTICAL MAY WELL WORK WELL IN TERMS OF MOST OF THE SCALES OF TRAINING. THIS ONE LOOKS ACTIVE AND SUPPLE. JUDGES CREDIT THESE PLUSES BUT BECAUSE AT THE MOMENT IN THE PICTURE IT IS OVERBENT, MARKS WILL ALSO BE LOST.
58 // Issue 4 2020 // BRITISH DRESSAGE
JUDGE’S COMMENT: DEEP IN FRONT/ OVERBENT
“DEEP IN FRONT/ OVERBENT”
A horse working deep or overbent is an e treme e ample of being behind the vertical. The head and neck have dropped and curled under. Unless it was momentary there is no possibility of a good mark, but how low a mark will depend on the way the rest of the horse is working. Possible corrections: build up the strength of the horse, improve its balance and as for behind the vertical.
BELOW: THIS HORSE SHOWS NO SIGN OF TILTING AS THE EARS ARE ON ONE HORIZONTAL. IT ONLY TILTS IF ONE EAR COMES LOWER THAN THE OTHER. IT IS FLEXING TO THE RIGHT, KEEPING ITS NECK STRAIGHT AND ROTATING IN THE POLL AREA.
DRESSAGE TERMS.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: HEAD TILTING When viewed from the front, if the horse tilts the ear on one side, one side of the head will be lower than the other and the horse is not working evenly into the contact. Often riders try to correct this with the reins and this can give short term improvements. However, the usual source of the problem is in the hindquarters when one hind is not working forward in the same way as the other, or in the back when one side is not as supple as the other. Possible corrections: it’s best for the focus to be on the hindquarters, to improve the balance and get more of the horse’s weight onto them and for the hinds to step forward more evenly. RIGHT: ONLY IF THE HORSE IS ENGAGED TO SHOW AN UPHILL TENDENCY, OFF THE FOREHAND AND THE SHOULDERS LIGHT CAN A HORSE COMPLETE A GOOD CANTER PIROUETTE.
“UPHILL TENDENCY/ ON THE FOREHAND/ ON THE SHOULDERS”
JUDGE’S COMMENTS: UPHILL TENDENCY/ON THE FOREHAND/ON THE SHOULDERS The essence of dressage is to get the horse more muscled, suppler by transferring the weight back onto the hindquarters and so making it more balanced. These comments are rarely made against a young horse that’s weak and is having to adjust to carry the weight of the rider.
Progressively the weight on the shoulders, on the forehand and the lack of an uphill tendency is corrected by increasing the engagement, strength and athleticism largely through transferring the weight backwards. Possible corrections: Transitions, forward riding and a progressive build up of strength are key. LEFT: THIS HORSE IS SHOWING A UNIFORM BEND THROUGH ITS WHOLE BODY SO IT CAN FOLLOW THE LINE OF THE CIRCLE.
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 4 2020 // 59
DRESSAGE TERMS.
“MORE/ NOT ENOUGH/ TOO MUCH/ NO BEND”
JUDGE’S COMMENTS: MORE/NOT ENOUGH/TOO MUCH/NO BEND
The bend looked for is uniform along the horse’s whole body, with the rider’s inside leg at the centre. A bend centred and hinged at the withers is incorrect and has detrimental effects arious movements require a certain amount of bend, on a circle around the circumference of the circle, in a half pass along the line of the diagonal so that a steep half pass as in Grand Prix will require much more bend than a half pass in the Medium test where the angle is shallow. Sometimes no bend is specified, ust fle ion, as in the leg yield where the head (not the neck) is slightly turned in the opposite direction to that which the horse is moving Possible corrections: The most important scale of training needed for bend is suppleness. Exercises that help this include stretching forward and down, leg yielding, depending on the level of training the lateral movements, and, as usual, transitions LEFT: SHOULDER IN IS ONE OF THE LATERAL MOVEMENTS THAT HELPS TO MAKE THE HORSE MORE SUPPLE, TO BEND MORE EASILY AND IF USED THOUGHTFULLY TO BEND MORE EQUALLY TO BOTH SIDES.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: TIGHT IN NECK
JUDGE’S COMMENT: MORE CARRIAGE This is the posture of the horse, its outline, and usually refers to the forehand when the neck is not arched, but hollowing, is short, deep, overbent, on the forehand or behind the vertical t s important to distinguish this 60 // Issue 4 2020 // BRITISH DRESSAGE
from self carriage which is described by the FEI as a state in which the horse carries itself in a balanced and unconstrained manner, without taking support or balancing on the rider’s hands. Possible corrections: most of the above e ercises for the faults mentioned above will help
The goal is an arched supple neck and this is at risk if the neck is tight he other ma or defect of such a neck is that it will block “TIGHT IN the energy generated in the hindquarters NECK” going through to the bit and the hands. Possible corrections: It depends on the cause. If it’s mental, then the horse needs to be reassured and familiarized with what is scaring it. If it’s physical, then suppleness worked on in the ways suggested for bend are likely to help.
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NORTHERN RDO: Alex Phillips M: 07495 013192 E: alexandra.phillips@ britishdressage.co.uk
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RDO: Nadine Murray M: 07557 233219 E: nadine.murray@ britishdressage.co.uk Chairman: Tim Downes 07775 797484 Coaching: Jane Critchley 07966 865604 (South) Alison Calvert 07980 886004 (North) Rider training: Jackie Crombie 07816 216594 BD Youth: Sue Blackshaw 07528 570681 Judges: Denise Glanville 07966 303633 Brenda Pamplin 07415 203766 Para: Alison Ramseir 07809 456296 Marketing: Contact RDO
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RDO: Vanessa Archer M: 07398 763414 E: vanessa.archer@ britishdressage.co.uk
Chairman: Samantha Osborn 01428 656188 Coaching: Emma Butler 07843 585504 Rider training: Emma Roche 07789 740006 BD Youth: Jane Lewis 07749 450862 Judges: Yvonne Huber 07933 133132 Para: Joyce Wood 07949 035021 Marketing: Caroline Gibson 07795 035581 Sam Mabb 07971 871888
Chairman: Mike Mullis 07706 940315 Coaching: Amanda Leaker 07980 309398 Rider training: Bethan Powell 07545 082247 Helen Hopewell 07971 490038 BD Youth: Kelly Bergheim 07792 735909 Megan Roberts 07807 053246 Judges: Dianne Breeze 07491 531953 Para: Tracy Ormrod 07973 616497 Marketing: Jen Smithson 07900 993223 Cethin Ravenhill 07974 900941 Quest: Lorry Davies 07940 449002
JUDGES’ DIARY
Important information: To remain on the Judges Panel, all judges must attend one judge training seminar at the correct level every year. Only in exceptional circumstances will this be waived. If you’re unable to fulfil the above requirements, you must write to the office stating your reasons for not attending, following which, you may request dispensation to attend at a different level at the discretion of the Training and Education Manager. To apply to become a Trainee judge visit britishdressage.co.uk/judging/how_to_become_a_judge. To remain a Trainee judge in 2020, candidates must attend an induction day, and are then required to attend one seminar every year. For judge training dates and further information on upcoming seminars and induction days, please see the BD website. Please note that the new exam policy is now in place, so any judges wishing to upgrade must have been at their current list for a minimum of one year before coming forward. PRINCIPLES OF JUDGING SEMINAR Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October at Myerscough College, Lancashire Featuring Clive Halsall, Peter Storr and Jo Graham, the 2020 Principles of Judging Seminar will include sessions for Trainees, List 6, List 5, List 4, List 3 and List 3a judges. Details about the format of the day will be released closer to the date. Keep an eye out for ticket sales coming soon. INDUCTION DAYS Details of induction days will be available on the regional Bookwhen pages, as and when dates are confirmed.
REGIONAL SEMINARS Details of regional seminars will be available on the regional Bookwhen pages, as and when details are confirmed. Central Region bookwhen.com/bdcentral Eastern Region bookwhen.com/bdeast Southern Region bookwhen.com/bdsouthern South West Region 16 June, List 1, 2, 2A with Stephen Clarke at Knockdown, Tetbury, Glos bookwhen.com/british-dressagesouth-west
Wales Region bookwhen.com/bd-wales North West bookwhen.com/bdnorthwest Northern Region bookwhen.com/bdnorthern Scotland Region www.bookwhen.com/bdscotland Reminder: It’s a compulsory requirement for all judges to attend a minimum of one seminar at the relevant list per year. PART 3 EXAM DATES 23-24 June – Richmond EC, North Yorks (Novice – Advanced Medium) 15 July – Sparsholt College, Hants (Novice – Advanced Medium)
26-27 August – Chard EC, Somerset (Novice – Medium) 3 September – Scottish National Equestrian Centre, West Lothian (Novice – Medium) All candidates have been contacted directly regarding the cancellation of the Part 3 examination at Kingswood and the FEI Part 3 examination at Somerford Park (both in May) due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Those booked onto either will be offered an alternative date later this year, possibly rolling over to 2021 if necessary.
For more information visitbritishdressage.co.uk/judging/judge_training and to book: bookwhen.com/britishdressage
All dates are subject to the status of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Please keep an eye on the British Dressage website and social media channels for the latest updates and arrangements. For the most current dates, please refer to the regional Bookwhen pages which can be found on each regional web page: https://www.britishdressage.co.uk/regions/
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BD ACTION.
BRITISH DRESSAGE
ACTION
KEEP UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LATEST NOTICES, NEWS AND VIEWS FROM BRITISH DRESSAGE AT BRITISHDRESSAGE.CO.UK
BD YOUTH HORSE CARE PROGRAMME – SENIORS INVITED TO REGISTER Did you know that the British Dressage Youth Horse Care Programme is also open to over25s who want to develop or refresh their stable management skills? If you’re over the age of 25 and would like to put your horse care knowledge to the test, then this is for you! The British Dressage Horse Care programme, sponsored by Dengie, is designed to help youth riders learn all the fundamentals in caring for horses. Focusing on four key areas: nutrition, grooming, wellbeing, and tack and dress, the new course is a mixture of online and practical learning modules, which aims to boost the care skills of BD Youth members. Starting with the Introductory Horse Care Certificate, progressing through to Advanced, the five tiers are linked to the BD Youth squadding levels, with fast-track to the appropriate level for those already holding a certificate in horse care, such as
Pony Club or BHS exams. The Sport England-funded course is carried out via an online learning platform, with practical assessments commencing from this summer, and riders need to have begun in order to be eligible for regional teams in 2020. Riders must start at the Introductory certificate – working their way up to the relevant level, depending on the level they’re squadded at. Those who already hold a Certificate in Horse Care (such as Pony Club or BHS exams), should contact their RDO or Hannah James, Youth Development Officer at hannah.james@ britishdressage.co.uk The Introductory, Preliminary and Novice Certificates are live online, with Intermediate and Advanced due to launch in December. Those over the age of 25 may start directly with the Novice certificate. Bookings can be made online and the registration fee is just £5 per certificate. Please visit: britishdressage.co.uk/ get-involved/bd-youth/ british-dressage-horse-care
BRITISH DRESSAGE OFFICE Essential contacts For the full list of BD Office staff, visit britishdressage.co.uk Main switchboard: 024 7669 8830 Fax: 024 7669 0390 Executive: 024 7669 8844 Education & Development: 024 7669 8833/024 7708 7809 BD Youth/u21 International: 024 7669 8840/834 Membership, Horse Registrations & Results: 024 7669 8832/836 Quest: 024 7669 8845 Sport Operations: 024 7669 8827
Judges: 024 7669 8831/024 7708 7801 Senior International: 024 7669 8835 Para & International: 024 7708 7803 Fixtures: 024 7708 7804 Championships: 024 7669 8846 BD Shop: 024 7669 8830-press 1 Finance: 024 7669 8838/841 Marketing: 024 7669 8819 Communications: 024 7669 8842/839 Sponsorship & web ads: 01608 676180 Magazine advertising: 01242 259245
BD YOUTH 2020 Foundation Academies For B, B+ and A Squad riders who are active in their region. Selected riders will receive coaching and performance development sessions, both mounted and unmounted, over two two-day camps running through autumn/winter. If you are a B, B+ or A Squad rider, are actively involved in your region and competing at Elementary level, this could be for you! Foundation Academy applications are open until Sunday 19 July 2020. All information can be found on britishdressage.co.uk/get-involved/ bd-youth/youth-academies along with the application form. If you have any questions about the 2020 entry criteria please contact Hannah James, Youth Development Officer at hannah.james@britishdressage.co.uk
List 4, List 3 and List 3a judges. Details about the format of the day will be released closer to the date. Keep an eye out for ticket sales coming soon.
JUDGES – PART 3 EXAM DATES All candidates have been contacted directly regarding the cancellation of the Part 3 examination at Kingswood and the FEI Part 3 examination at Somerford Park (both in May) due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Those booked onto either will be offered an alternative date later this year, possibly rolling over to 2021 if necessary.
JUDGE AMENDMENT In the last issue of British Dressage, Carol Brady (List 4), from the Central Region, was incorrectly listed as being based in the North West.
PRINCIPLES OF JUDGING SEMINAR
JUDGE RETIREMENT
17-18 October at Myerscough College, Lancashire Featuring Clive Halsall, Peter Storr and Jo Graham, the 2020 Principles of Judging Seminar will include sessions for Trainees, List 6, List 5,
Jo Black (List 3), from Devon, has retired from the Judges Panel. British Dressage would like to thank Jo for all her hard work and support over the years and wishes her all the best for the future.
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DRESSAGE DAYS.
DRESSAGE DAYS Q&A MEET NICKY HEALE Nicky Heale and her 13-year-old Welsh section D gelding Retanach Request hit the headlines in February on making their Grand Prix debut. After successfully scaling the ranks, and with multiple championship appearances along the way, Retanach Request (Rocco) became the first Welsh Cob in Scotland and one of only a small number worldwide to reach Grand Prix. Nicky also competes Verity Jenner’s Oldenburg mare, Furstinclaire, and qualified for a total of seven classes at the 2020 NAF Five Star Winter Championships and Petplan Equine Area Festival Championships. We caught up with Nicky, a Paramedic with the Scottish Ambulance Service, who lives in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, with her fiancé Nick Veitch.
competition centre where he had been bought as a project. He was five and very nervous of strangers I couldn’t get anywhere near him in the stable but under saddle he felt so safe and my confidence grew
WHAT WAS YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF HORSES?
WHEN DID YOU FIRST KNOW THAT DRESSAGE WAS FOR YOU?
WHAT ARE HIS STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES?
I was brought up on an estate in Sale, Manchester, with a family that were completely un-horsey. From as early as I can remember, every birthday and Christmas I asked for a pony. Eventually, my father gave in and took me to the local riding school in Carrington for lessons. I remember during one lesson all the leaders emptied their pockets of coins before they started to run. I thought the emptying of pockets meant canter.
In the past I worked in eventing yards but I was never very good at it. Showjumping scared me. I think my last indoor showjumping season finished me off ronically however, my first fall occurred after I converted to dressage!
Undoubtedly his strength is in his trainability. He still gets very nervous of things like flower pots and tight spaces, and can pretty much spook at anything! Dressage stewards were once included but he has made friends with most of them now.
HOW DID YOU FIND ROCCO? Whilst recovering from a simple fall (in walk!), from my young dressage horse suffered an open distal Tib and Fib fracture. The break was very serious, fortunately the surgeons managed to save my foot. I needed something small and safe to get riding again. Rocco was at our local
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IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS, DID YOU EVER THINK YOU WOULD GET HIM TO GRAND PRIX? Absolutely not! I was asked what was his purpose was in his vetting, I replied up to Medium or maybe Advanced Medium dressage? The vet giggled at my very ambitious intentions!
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR THOSE CONSIDERING THIS NATIVE BREED? There is no doubt that they are an incredible, versatile breed, but not necessarily an easy option.
WHO HAS BEEN MOST INFLUENTIAL IN YOUR RIDING CAREER? Verity Jenner. I’ve been at Verity’s yard since 2001 and she has given me countless amazing opportunities. Verity has an incredible eye, not only for ‘eyes on the ground’ but for a good horse. Her knowledge of breeding is outstanding. She saw a video and loved Rocco’s strong, quick hind leg.
AS AN NHS FRONTLINE WORKER, HOW HAS THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK IMPACTED YOUR LIFE? Work was a little stressful at the start as I don’t think anyone was properly prepared for the impact this was going to have. Nowadays, I smell more of disinfectant and hand sanitiser than horse plop! I’m very lucky to be on a private yard with no liveries so even with all competitions cancelled I am still able to keep the horses ticking over. This is essential for Rocco as he gets a little feral if left out of work for too long.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS. Determined. Positive. Driven.
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