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get the best from your horse ✦ cope with colic ✦ simple winter stretches ✦ equine stress ✦ spook-busting with richard maxwell ✦ winter riding
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Your Horse 396 March 2015
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101 ways to enjoy winter Tips to help you ride more, save time & revitalise your riding!
Total Confidence To ensure you’re brimming with confidence over every fence, Olympic rider and trainer Karen Dixon is on hand to offer her jumping advice and lots of confidence-boosting tips
Month 2 - Enjoy every jump
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OUR EXPERT Karen Dixon is a four-time Olympic event rider who competes, trains and produces young horses. She also retrains ex-racers from her yard in County Durham.
his year’s Total Confidence series is packed full of experts to help you conquer whatever’s holding you back. In this our second instalment, we’re tackling jumping with Karen Dixon. Being afraid of jumping is nothing to be embarrassed about or ashamed of, after all, it’s a pretty unnatural concept when you think about it. Leaving the ground on top of a four-legged beast with a mind of his own is a naturally a frightening prospect and it’s bound to send you into a bit of a spin. In our online confidence survey of more than 300 people, we asked you to share your most common jumping worries, and Karen is here to tackle them. From water jumps to falling off, we’ve got them all covered. “I know that jumping is a daunting prospect for a lot of riders, particularly the under confident ones,” says Karen. “But I hope I can restore confidence and bring the fun-factor back into jumping with my simple exercises.” Read on for Karen’s top tips.
Perfect your position In order to feel as confident as possible when jumping you must first ensure you have a secure, balanced seat and jumping position. To achieve this, stand up out of your saddle and shift your weight into your heels – remember not to grip with your knees. When you come to a fence, tip your shoulders forwards in front of the vertical and be sure not to let your legs slip back because this will unbalance you. It’s a good idea to practise this on the flat before you start over fences. A few circuits in walk, trot and canter in the jumping position during every ride is a great way to perfect it. Riding over poles will help to replicate the feeling of jumping without actually having to do it. This allows you to concentrate more on the quality of your position rather than the fence, which can boost confidence.
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Total Confidence
Practise your jumping position on the flat
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BETTER RIDING
photo: REX/Jon StRoud
Easy-to-follow expert advice for riders of all levels
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Page 37
Page 40
Learn to jump on a curve
Improve your connection
Page 44
Develop your balance
Page 46
sort out spooking
Ride to the beat
If you fancy putting a spring in your horse’s step this winter, why not try dressage to music? there are countless benefits, explains Alison Kenward
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OUR EXPERT aLIson KenwarD is BhS qualified and runs Solitaire dressage where she works with riders from all disciplines. Visit www. solitairedressage. weebly.com for more information.
EXpERt tIp
Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro in the world Cup Dressage Finals in Lyon, France, in april 2014, where they won gold
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dressage to music should be fun and can make you and your horse feel more relaxed as you work. For that reason, pick music you enjoy listening to and the whole experience will be a pleasure, not a chore.
ressage to music, also known as kür, has been growing in popularity in recent years. We’ve been wowed by top riders like Charlotte Dujardin and Laura Tomlinson who have demonstrated it with such skill and helped to bring dressage to the masses with their incredible routines to music. Members of the public can now often be heard referring to the sport as ‘the one with the dancing horses’. But even if you’re not Charlotte Dujardin, there are plenty of benefits that come with adding music to your normal riding routine. In addition to improving rhythm and relaxation, it can give you and your horse a new lease of life when exercising – it’s a great way to boost motivation. It can also enhance the overall look of your performance, not to mention that it’s a great way to have some fun with your horse. Dressage trainer Alison Kenward first got the dressage to music bug after watching a demonstration at Asprey Riding Club in 2005. “I asked the presenter, Felicity Scott, how I could get started and she told me to just go for it”, says Alison. “I borrowed some music from my trainer and after riding to it a few times, I found that I loved it.” Keen to progress, Alison got her own music commissioned by dressage judge Roy Tipping. “I rode to that music for quite a while before watching Emile Faurie (below). I loved the music he rode to and felt a real connection with it so I spoke to him to ask for advice. He put me in touch with music producer Nick Reeve, who came to watch me ride my horse. He asked me what feeling I got when I rode, the emotion I felt, and the words I used were joyous and happy. He filmed me riding so he could analyse what music would fit best with me and my horse. The results were fantastic – I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to have fun with their horse!” Turn the page for Alison’s top tips. march 2015 your horse 33
Ride out those spooks! During winter some fresh or spooky behaviour is often to be expected but here to help you maintain calm and control as your ride is expert trainer Richard Maxwell
T OUR EXPERT RichaRd Maxwell is a horse trainer and qualified Masterson Method practitioner. He believes in taking the best out of natural and traditional horsemanship to come up with effective training methods. Find out more at www.richardmaxwell.com
he cold, crisp winter air can encourage the most laid-back individual up onto his toes, while the horse deprived of sufficient turnout time to burn off excess energy can soon develop cabin fever. This is why many horses become more animated during the winter months. Some become a nightmare to hack, shying at every blade of grass or seemingly scared of their own shadows. For others, the
winter competition scene with its indoor venues is enough to bring on a snorting, spooking refusal to go anywhere near those dark corners. Having enjoyed a long summer of riding on a loose rein, a lot of riders find the wintertime behaviour change quite hard to handle. The good news is that a few simple techniques will enable you to take charge of any spookiness and regain confidence and control in the saddle.
Rehearse your response in advance Dealing with a spooking horse starts long before you meet a scary object. Rather than waiting until you’re in that situation before doing anything about it, the more effective approach is to have the groundwork in place and some tactics at the ready. Reconsider your definition of a ‘calm’ horse – often a horse is not calm, he’s just switched off and not engaged with the rider. When something like a
a small spook can lead to a big panic so stopping it before it starts is key
46 your horse MArch 2015
flapping plastic bag switches him on, he becomes opposite to normal, like a Jekyll and Hyde character. Faced with a horse prancing sideways with his head and tail held high, many riders become paralysed and are unable to think of using movement as a way to regain control again. Using movement means being able to manoeuvre each end of the horse, both separately and together. You don’t have to be a dressage diva to master the basics of control – just a few simple moves can make all the difference. Alongside developing a controlled walk, trot and canter, it’s useful to work on some lateral flexion where the horse is asked to bend through the neck in each direction. You can then introduce a basic turn on the forehand and a turn on the quarters. You don’t need a school to work on these movements – a quiet, grassy field with a hedge or fence will do. For the turn on the forehand, first ride alongside the hedge, keeping it on your left, and ask for halt. Position your left leg behind the girth and ask for a slight left bend, maintaining a steady contact on the right (outside) rein. Now use your left leg to ask your horse to step to the right with his hindquarters. Practice a few steps, before circling around and reversing
the aids to turn his quarters in the other direction. For a turn on the quarters, the forelegs are encouraged to step across as your horse pivots on his hind end. Ask for a little at first, praising your horse if he manages a step or two. These key components can be mastered with practise and will make a big difference to your winter riding. It’s all about making sure your horse is paying attention to your aids rather than whatever it is that’s bothering him. It makes perfect sense to rehearse. If your horse knows what to do when you put your inside leg on and ask for some bend, he’ll feel more confident under your control. w w w.you r hor se .co.u k
Better Riding
conquer every spook with some simple ridden techniques
101 ways to enjoy winter We’ve gathered the best tips from our friends in the horsey world to help you discover easy ways to ride more, save time and revitalise your riding!
Be an early bird
Ride in the morning whenever you can, before the dark and cold put you off for the day. You’ll really feel like you’ve achieved something. YH reader Alex France, West Yorkshire
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Winter riding Get in on the horsey action
Keep busy by getting out and about with your horse or on foot. Check out what’s on in your area throughout winter at www.horseeventsuk.com YH reader Sally Shepherd, Essex
Keep things interesting
If your horse is stabled, enrich his environment as much as you can. Do this by ensuring a companion’s in sight to keep him calm, hanging veg such as swedes and carrots to alleviate boredom and taking him for walks in hand to offer a change of scenery, stretch his legs and improve his circulation. Jenna Martyn at the Blue Cross
“My tip for winter survival would be to emigrate, rider or build an indoor school!” Event Jonty Evans Plan ahead
GIve It some welly Invest in a pair of Le Chameau wellies – warm and waterproof!
YH reader Rebecca Murray Johnson, West Yorkshire
Louise Clinton, country clothing designer at Musto
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YH reader Sophie Louise Bohme, Hertfordshire
Feed enough forage It’s easy to misjudge how much hay you’re feeding but a set of luggage scales will help you get it right and ensure you’re feeding enough. richarderp, YH forum user
Beat the cold cold toes and fingers are the worst but thankfully a clever company called keis has come up with heated gloves and insoles – amazing! check out the keis range at www.keisapparel.co.uk
Make a plan for next year, decide on your riding goals for 2015 and start moving towards it. Practice starts now. Event rider Julia Dungworth
FInd your perFect jacket I love my Musto Spectator coat. The flattering fit and feminine style look great, and the down filling means it’s ideal for spectating as it offers unbeatable warmth. It’s like wearing a sleeping bag!
rIde In comFort Pop a hot water bottle in your body protector before wearing to soften it up, otherwise it’s like wearing armour made out of steel!
“For protection, try applying a little Sudocrem to heels that are prone to chapping.” YH reader Vanessa Lowther, Lincolnshire
Groom with care remove mud from hard to reach areas such as the face, ears and poll using pimple palm gloves – great for headshy horses!
Share yard duties
Alternate your am or pm duties with a friend to save time and money! YH reader Sian Nash, Warwickshire march 2015 your horse
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS HORSE?
Reward for anyone who can help us find this horse
CALL 0800 LOST HORSE
Stolen horses
The missing Finding the stable empty or field gate open is the stuff of nightmares but it’s also a shocking reality for some of us. We find out what to do should the worst happen Words AndreA OAkes
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e’ve all seen the heartwrenching posters in feed stores and the desperate appeals on Facebook. How many of us have quietly thanked our lucky stars that we’re not the ones searching for a horse or pony that’s seemingly vanished? Julie Blake knows first-hand the horror of turning up at the yard to find her pony gone. Cecil, her month-old mini Shetland foal, was apparently snatched from his mother’s side in Hertfordshire one night last August. “Julie called me early one morning to tell me that Cecil was missing,” explains Steph King, a close friend of Julie’s who’s helping with the search. “I rushed to the yard and the police had been called. We took Cecil’s mum Tweeny around the fields to look for him and later searched on horseback.” Police forensic work, local poster campaigns and press coverage have produced nothing in the way of leads – neither has a Facebook campaign that quickly went viral. “We’re not sure of the chances that Cecil is still alive,” adds Steph. “Tweeny was calling out for him and running around for days, but his dad, Percy, took it worse. Julie still cries a lot – we both do. You just have to hope that he’ll turn up.”
Is horse theft on the increase? Cecil remains on the Stolen Horse Register (SHR), an online listing of missing equines. Operated by freezemarking firm Farmkey Cecil’s mum Tweeny was distraught after her foal was taken
and used by police forces and equine security scheme Horsewatch groups around the country, the SHR is the nearest thing to a national database and a vital line of enquiry if an animal is lost. Scrolling through the SHR brings up an array of sizes, types and breeds. Around 20 equines were reported missing in 2014, just nine of them recovered. Since 1981, the SHR suggests that 495 horses have been stolen and 259 of these found. So is horse theft on the increase? Obtaining concrete figures is difficult as the SHR relies on owners reporting theft to them, yet many of the Horsewatch groups are not seeing numbers rise. “I don’t think horse and pony theft is increasing,” says Wendy Taylor of Thames Valley Horsewatch. “The animals taken are, more often than not, the type which do not need a lot of looking after – indigenous breeds, such as Shetlands and cobs.”
"If a horse is stolen, as its owner you’ll be the best investigator to find him" David Collings of Hampshire Horsewatch agrees. “There’s not really the large-scale market for stolen horses that there was 10 years ago,” he says. “Fortunately, it’s not a
Cecil’s disappearance remains a mystery
volume crime. We do sometimes see the theft of smaller horses around Christmastime, perhaps stolen to order, as they can literally be picked up and put in the back of a transit van or an estate car. But as for the bigger ones, the old-fashioned way of making off with them in the middle of the night is not something we see on a national basis.” The relatively low figures may be scant consolation for desperate owners still searching. Can they rely on much police help if they believe their horse has been stolen? Force resources have been pared back, explains David, meaning that officers simply don’t have the luxury of going out looking for missing equines. “You’ll be asked four questions by the police: are there any suspects, any witnesses, any CCTV footage or any scenes of crime (forensics) evidence,” he says. “Sadly, horses are very vulnerable once left in a field or stable. The answers will probably be negative, so no further enquiries will be undertaken. If a horse is reported stolen, as its owner you’ll be the best investigator to find it.”
spreading the word Ellen Blight found herself in the role of investigator when her daughter Kaylee’s thoroughbred gelding Arrius disappeared from his field in summer 2013. The search started around local fields and spread w w w.you r hor se .co.u k
MArch 2015 your horse
“Losing Wild Lone was devastating” Event rider Harry Meade reflects on a turbulent year and explains to YH writer Larissa Chapman why he’s looking to the future with a renewed zest for life
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arry Meade is recovering from a roller coaster few years. Since his life-changing rotational fall at Wellington in 2013 where he shattered both elbows, Harry’s been forced to contemplate a change of career away from horses and has travelled the long road to recovery. He’s defied the odds to get back in the saddle and ride competitively once again, but in August 2014 he tragically lost his beloved four-star horse, Wild Lone, who collapsed and died at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Yet, despite a year littered with lows that would leave most of us ready to take an indefinite break from the sport, Harry is as positive and driven as ever. His beautiful Wiltshire yard is like something from a holiday postcard. Our introdcution over, I’m eager to discover how he’s remained so positive through testing times.
"It felt like we’d lost a member of the family" “The last 12 months have been anything but normal,” says Harry. “Losing Wild Lone was devastating on so many levels. I’d had him for such a long time, it felt like we’d lost a member of the family. We all do the sport because we love horses, so to lose one is just awful. Naturally it was an upsetting time but I knew I had to look to the future and plough on for the good of the team. He’s deeply missed by everyone and I don’t think you ever learn how to cope with these things but you must learn to look to the future. “The support I’ve had from fellow riders, family, friends and anyone who follows me 66 your horse March 2015
has been overwhelming and so touching. It makes me realise what a fantastic bunch of people I have around me and how great the eventing world can be.” Losing his beloved horse came just 12 months after a devastating fall caused two shattered elbows. This looked set to end Harry’s career and he faced the prospect of being permanently deformed and potentially unable to ride ever again. “My recovery’s on-going and something I’m determined to conquer,” he says, “but when the accident happened I couldn’t see how on earth I was going to get through it. Doctors told me I may never ride again and all I could think was ‘what about the business and the people who rely on me?’ It was certainly a challenging time.” Facing an unexpected change of career is a daunting prospect for most professionals, but particularly for an event rider with such passion and a deep-rooted background in the horse world. “I found myself lying in my hospital bed, dreaming about all the things that would no longer be possible and wondering how this could happen, but I soon pulled myself together and tried to be pragmatic about the whole situation. I have a young family to support and although I didn’t give up on the notion of riding again, I was entertaining the idea of potentially having to do something else. I thought about becoming an international coach to pay the bills.” After such a traumatic fall it’s understandable that Harry might have blocked out some of the details from that day. He tells me it’s still all a bit of a blur. “As soon as my palms hit the floor I felt my elbow explode and I knew I’d done something terrible,” he says. “It was excruciatingly painful. I was all set to have prosthetic elbows put in place
Big Interview
PHoto: MattHEw RobERts
Harry and Wile Lone at Burghley Horse Trials 2012
Enjoy 13 issues of Bentley Grooming Your Horse Editor Imogen Johnson says: At this time of year a good grooming kit is essential so if you fancy a new one, this kit from Bentley is jam-packed with fab goodies we know you’ll love. Don’t miss this opportunity to get yours and save money on your subscription to your favourite equestrian mag, too!
GIft WortH £39.99! TERMS & CONDITIONS: Subscriptions will start with the next available issue. Offer closes on 12/02/2015. After your first direct debit payment your subscription will continue at the price you paid on this offer every 13 issues thereafter unless you are notified otherwise. You will not receive a renewal reminder and the Direct Debit payments will continue to be taken unless you tell us otherwise. If the offer is oversubscribed we may send you an alternative gift of equal or greater value. Cost from landlines for 01 numbers per minute are (approximately) 2p to 10p. Cost from mobiles per minute (approximately) 10p to 40p. Costs vary depending on the geographical location in the UK. You may get free calls to some numbers as part of your call package – please check with your phone provider. Order lines open 8am-9.30pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-4pm (Sat). Calls may be monitored for training purposes.
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f and get a g Kit worth £39.99 Three amazing options to choose from… BEst DEal Print & digital package savE MorE – from £55 tHan 46% Our best offer this month! Get a Bentley grooming kit worth £39.99 plus 13 issues of Your Horse delivered straight to your door, plus downloadable versions for your iPad/iPhone – you’ll never be without your copy of Your Horse! Save more than 46% when you pay by direct debit.
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March 2015 your horse 71
Defence, attack or mischievous? What does your horse’s behaviour really mean? Equine behaviourist Dr Debbie Marsden helps you understand the differences between aggressive, protective and cheeky actions
I OUR EXPERT Dr Debbie MarsDen is an equine behaviour consultant with lifelong practical experience of working with horses. She has a PhD in animal behaviour, husbandry and welfare and loves exploring how instinct influences behaviour. Find out more at www.debbie marsden.co.uk
ExPErt tiP
As flight animals, horses will always run from danger and will only use defensive aggression if they absolutely must. if your horse begins to show defensive aggression when nothing untoward has happened, it can signal a physical problem or illness so speak to your vet.
f your horse starts to display unsafe or unsual behaviour, it’s vital to know why so that you can efficiently resolve the issues behind it. However, correctly interpreting equine behaviour can be a tricky thing to do. So, to help you unravel the mystery behind your horse’s behaviours we’ve brought in equine behaviour pro Dr Debbie Marsden. Debbie explains that there are different types of behaviour to
consider – defensive and aggressive. Both of these can be easily misinterpreted and it’s this misinterpretation that can result in a response from us that’s counterproductive. Debbie also says that a lot of negative behaviour is labelled as a ‘bad’ personality trait when, in reality, it’s simply the horse’s way of trying to escape a situation in which he’s uncomfortable. “By learning how to read your
horse effectively, you can begin to know what to look for,” says Debbie. “For example, your horse’s tail is an excellent flag to signal how he’s feeling, as well as tension around the lips and muzzle. If you watch your horse closely, then you’ll begin to see patterns emerging in his behaviour and can successfully diagnose what’s behind his actions.” Here Debbie looks into common behaviours to help you recognise and understand them all. Good or bad, it’s important to understand what your horse’s behaviours really mean
Horse Care biTiNg aNd facE PUlliNg
Biting is a nasty and dangerous behaviour that can be very difficult to remedy if your horse gets into the habit. It’s most definitely a pro-active and assertive behaviour because your horse is choosing to face you and by doing this he’s showing you that he feels confident enough to stand his ground rather
than take flight, which is what you would see in a defensive behaviour. Some horses will pull faces and threaten to bite while being tacked up, groomed, or perhaps handled by the farrier or vet. In these instances your horse is performing a learned behaviour, and it definitely doesn’t always mean he’s in pain of any kind. More often than not, your horse has learned that
by making faces and snapping, the process is slowed down and he is awarded a delay in the operation. If your horse does this I’d advise ignoring him as much as possible instead of interacting with his naughtiness – just handle him carefully and get on with the job you’re doing.
a lot of horses get into the habit of pulling faces, which can be threatening to handlers
While biting in the field may be playful, it’s very dangerous around humans
NibbliNg
it may look cute, but nibbling can turn very quickly turn into biting
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While not many horses are real biters, there are a huge number of horses that nibble and peck at their handler. This is actually a behaviour that’s widely misunderstood by owners. Nibbling, not to be confused with mutual grooming, is a confident and socially assertive behaviour that signals your horse is trying to affirm his dominance. Essentially, he’s trying his luck and testing what he can get away with. When a horse nibbles, sniffs, or licks you between the waist and the knees, he’s actually experimenting with your response and deciding whether he should show real aggression.
March 2015 your horse
Open C
Exclusive access to the
Every issue the Your Horse Open Clinic helps you interact with top experts in equine behaviour, management and veterinary care – and it’s all absolutely free. If you have a question or a problem, simply get in touch and we’ll do the rest! This month our experts help you to: ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
Boost your bond p89 Support winter skin p91 Understand gastric ulcers p92 Get answers to your feeding questions in our expert Q&A p94
inStAnt AdvicE onlinE We’ve teamed up with the online symptom checker service vethelpdirect.com. Run by qualified vets, the service is easy to use and totally free. To give it a try, just visit our website at www.yourhorse.co.uk/ symptomchecker
How it works
You’ll be asked to select from a drop-down list of symptoms, then given immediate advice on if, and when, you should call the vet. It only takes seconds and it’s all part of our Open Clinic service!
3 top wAyS to lEArn Join live web chats with our experts and ask them your horse care questions Watch our how-to videos to help you learn whenever you see this symbol Got a question for an expert? Simply email them in to us at getinvolved@yourhorse.co.uk
Your connection with your horse should be based on meeting his needs – after that the rest comes naturally
Clinic
mEEt OUR EXPERts
Gil Riley is the managing equine vet at Pool House Equine Clinic
e best horse care experts
Jenny Ellis is a top groom with more than 30 years of experience
Jason Webb is a behaviour pro who runs Australian Horsemanship
Boost your bond Q
I’ve had my horse for a couple of months and am worried we’ve not really bonded yet – he’s my first so I’ve nothing to compare against. How can I tell whether we’re really connected or not? Callie Bond, Sussex
Trainer Jason Webb says: A When considering horse-human relationships, firstly we need to look at what bonding is. In this instance, bonding can be described as a ‘force or feeling that links people’, or in this case, a person and a horse. How strong this bond is will depend on how comfortable you are around each other and the understanding you have between you. If you’re comfortable around each other and your horse understands and is prepared to follow your lead, then you’ll develop a strong bond. However, if the opposite is true and your horse feels uncomfortable in your presence, or doesn’t understand your lead, then you won’t develop much of a bond at all. Developing a strong bond with your horse is important as it’ll affect everything you do with him, from handling him on the ground to training, hacking out and competing. Like all bonds, the more time and energy invested the stronger the bond becomes.
horse you’ll see the opposite. He’ll be consistent in his behaviour, he’ll be willing to perform and try hard for you, he’ll be more attentive, patient and more relaxed when you’re around him, too.
JAsOn’s mEtHOd It always amazes me how a herd animal like the horse learns to fit into our human world. However, it’s important to understand that, like humans, horses have different characters and that the bond between any one horse and any one human will therefore vary. Some horses will form a stronger bond with you if you
actually do a little less. A common reason for not being able to bond with a horse is approaching them with human emotions such as love and anger, so when you’re around your horse you need to keep these emotions in check. Remember, the first and most important thing that helps you create a strong bond with your horse is providing for him – food, water, shelter, grooming, turnout etc. There are exercises that you can do to improve your bond but more than anything else, horses most appreciate a calm, consistent and decisive human!
The power of herd dynamics
Assessing your bond There are several signs a horse may show if the bond with his rider or handler is lacking. He may be inconsistent in attitude and behaviour from one day to the next, or be inattentive, unwilling or impatient. In some cases horses may even show aggressive tendencies, the first sign of which is a horse pinning his ears back at you. On the flip side, if you’ve a strong bond between yourself and your
Horses are herd animals and for their survival they look to stay within a group, with a distinct hierarchy – generally from strongest to weakest, both mentally and physically. this is why leadership is so important in creating a lasting bond between horse and handler because this determines the level of trust and respect he has for you, which in turn determines how well he’ll perform for you.
StAnd Still! Jason helps a reader teach her horse to stand politely
march 2015 your horse 89
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cross-country show Jump
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in our dressage clinics you could boost your marks, prepare for future competitions or up your confidence with one of our coaches Alison Short, Hannah Biggs or Wendy Jago.
if you love cross-country choose from Jon Pitts and Flora Harris, Karen Dixon, Lauren Shannon or Mark Smith to help fine-tune your approach and getaway so you can tackle varying terrain with confidence.
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in our show jumping training classes, international show jumper Laura Renwick and top trainer Mia PallesClark (nee korenika) will help you improve your show jumping technique.
Don’t fancy bringing your horse? Come as a visitor instead! Tickets start from just £12* *show entry subject to booking charge, clinic places are subject to additional costs
Explore hidden routes
Neglected and forgotten bridleways across the UK are in danger of disappearing forever. Here’s how to uncover hidden tracks and secure better, safer riding routes you can enjoy for years to come Words ANdreA McHUgH
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Uncover hidden routes
I
f you ride in an area where the lack of bridleways means you’re regularly forced to hit the roads and negotiate heavy traffic, it’s time to turn detective. With a bit of sleuthing, you may be surprised to find several overgrown, neglected bridleways on your patch that have long since been forgotten, or downgraded to a footpath, and with a bit of team work you could soon be out enjoying them. But unless riders like us take action, and soon, these forgotten rights of way will be in danger of disappearing for good. The year 2026 is the cut-off point for any UK bridleways that have been wrongly classified, or are not formally recorded on the Definitive Map as a bridleway or restricted byway. After this
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date – just 11 years away – they’ll be forever scratched from the record books, something the bridleways and access officers from the British Horse Society (BHS) are fighting hard to avoid. The reason? Well, in 2000 the Countryside and Rights of Way Act was introduced, and section 53 of this law provides the 2026 cut-off date. This means many historic routes that have been used by horse riders and carriage drivers for hundreds of years will be no more, unless they’re formally recorded. Those most at risk are tracks that exist in law, but have dropped off the radar. A tree may have fallen, riders stopped using the route, it became overgrown and no-one took action to clear it. Perhaps a route crosses farmland, but is always so
Are the routes you enjoy recorded as bridleways?
heavily ploughed it’s easier to nip round the road way than use it. Or a bridleway may have been incorrectly recorded as a footpath. Whatever the reason, the BHS is keen to spread the message that you either use it or lose it.
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the test put to
Stable rugs
Keep your horse snug and warm whatever the winter throws at you in a cosy, heavyweight stable rug. Here’s our pick of the best available
A
s the temperature drops, it’s time to drag out those stable rugs to make sure your horse stays warm. to find out which of this season’s options do the best job, we asked event rider Julia Dungworth and her team (Megan Crowson, Kate Jackson and Sarah Duffin) to test six heavyweight stable rugs. All of them had either an integral neck or removable neck cover. the horses who tested the rugs were all fully clipped and have worn them over the past three months for at least 12 hours at a time. Each rug was assessed on how well it fitted and whether it move or rubbed. our testers also considered how durable each one was and whether it kept each horse warm. Finally, testers discussed the price of each rug and whether they’d recommend their friends to buy one. turn the page to read their verdicts.
Look out for winners
Winners of our product tests receive this special Your Horse award. So, if you see it when shopping online or on products in the shops you’ll know we’ve given it our seal of approval and it’s worth your hard-earned cash!
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Buyers’ Guide
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