Louise was bitten by the horsey bug at age two, and has ridden and owned horses ever since, competing in eventing as well as enjoying training her horses – and herself: she’s a BHS Int SM.
Whether you’re mourning the passing of summer (despite its mostly terrible weather) or excited in anticipation of the change of season, autumn is definitely around the corner. I always think there’s something magical about September –cool, crisp mornings, followed by (if you’re lucky) sunny days. Good ground to blow away the cobwebs and still enough light to ride after work.
It pays to be prepared for what’s coming, and we have you covered with everything from clipping essentials (p106) to the best bedding options on the market (p129), via coat care (p68) and how to avoid autumn laminitis (p108).
If you’re planning an autumn competition campaign, Alison Buttery’s advice for managing show-day nerves will be invaluable – turn to p54 to learn more about the different techniques you can try. And if it’s your horse’s nerves you’re most concerned about, we explore how to make travelling a more relaxing experience for him, on p60.
Until next month!
Louise Kittle, Editor-in-Chief
Get set for winter with a subscription to H&R – delivered postagefree through your letterbox every four weeks –plus this gorgeous Coldstream gilet worth £84.99, on p112.
Finding the right bit can feel overwhelming, but there is expert advice at hand. Qualified fitter Freda answers some of your most common questions on p124.
Three short, simple exercises as part of a much bigger polework layout are Nina’s focus this issue. Turn to p32 to give them a try for yourself.
Water is the key to life, but do you know how to ensure your horse stays hydrated, spot signs of dehydration, or deal with them? Vet Ellie explains it all on p74.
From the importance of your fitness to how to prepare your horse for XC success, Tom’s tips will help with that really all-important final phase. Turn to p16.
How much does your horse really need to eat each meal? Nutritionist Jasmin explains how less is more when it comes to a balanced diet on p114.
If you find yourself wondering what it is that you should be achieving from a warmup, vet and eventer Jess is on hand to share her advice on p46.
In this feature. . . ➤ Improve your horse’s co-ordinationPhotos: Jon Stroud
Give your horse the ultimate workout with Nina Gill’s pace-perfecting polework exercises
dding polework to your horse’s exercise regime is a must, no matter your chosen discipline. Not only is it a fun way to test your skills, there are also an endless amount of layouts to try and benefits to take advantage of. So, why not give my giant layout a go to add some spice into your horse’s life?
➤ Make his paces more adjustable ➤ Transition training toolsNina Gill is a BHS Stage 4 Coach based in Warwickshire. She is the owner of Fancy Footwork Equestrian and creator of the Polework Patterns app.
Wormer resistance is a growing problem but it’s not too late to take action, says Claire Shand
Photos: Jon Stroud, Westgate Labs. With thanks to Westgate Labs for their help with this feature. westgatelabs.co.uk
What will we do when our wormers stop working? It’s a grim question with a grizzly outcome, and now experts are advising that if we carry on using wormers at our current rate, within a few years we’ll be facing this as a reality. In fact, the British Equestrian Veterinary Association (BEVA) reports that, at present, 11 wormers are given for every one worm egg count carried out on UK horses. We already know that regular testing helps us target treatments effectively and can reduce wormer use by 80%. This, in turn, slows wormer resistance in parasites, as well as being better for our horses, the environment and our pockets.
Don’t move your horse onto clean pasture immediately after worming. Doing so can increase the likelihood of resistance, as resistant worm strains will not be diluted by nonresistant ones.
Horses can die when overwhelmed by parasite damage. Previously, this was a sign of neglect or ignorance but it’s increasingly being seen in well-managed horses – and it’s a result of wormer resistance.
Claire Shand is a director at Westgate Labs, an award-winning veterinary laboratory specialising in parasite control for horses.There is some level of resistance to every one of the five chemicals licensed for horse use
