Spring Issue 346

gear Q&as care

MASTERCLASS

Ditches, steps, water & corners

Riding

www.yourhorse.co.uk 25

42 Riding Q&A

43 pages of

riding advice

26 Xc fun hyhyhyhyhXxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx xxxxxxx

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expert advice and easy-to-follow exercises to help you improve your technique in the saddle

Great advice to help you become a better and more effective rider

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Photo of Lucinda Green: PetPlan Equine

Charles Wilsonis a natural horsemanship expert and riding instructor – visit www.naturalhorsetrainer.co.uk

Wiola Grabowska is a rider and coach who believes in training the mind and body of both horse and rider – see www.aspire-equestrian.com

Jane BakerBHS SM, BHSII is a freelance riding instructor, McTimoney animal therapist and Your Horse expert

Jo Gummerruns her own yard in Cambridgeshire. She competes in all disciplines but specialises in dressage – www.jogummer.co.uk

Laura Bechtolsheimer “Alf’s my soulmate of the four-legged kind”

FatbustingSlim him down in just 6 weeks

UK’S

No.1 eQUINe

MONTHLYMag

B e a B e t t e r r i d e r , g e t t h e B e s t f ro m yo u r h o r s e

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Half pads on test, 2011’s newest kit, and first look at Tredstep’s latest boots

Solve all your equine issues with our expert help

Prevent lameness and hoof problems with essential vet advice

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Tricky fences made easy with legend Lucinda Green

How you can banish vet bills and enjoy an action-packed year

Keep him healthycare SPecIaL

IMPrOVe YOUr rIDING SKILLS 43 pages of advice

14 your horse

See the videoWatch Laura

answering your

questions at www.

yourhorse.co.uk/LauraBinterview

Words Rebecca Gibson Photography Matthew Roberts

L aura became the youngest ever British Dressage Champion at the age of

20 on her father’s GP horse Douglas Dorsey. But it’s her partnership with the charismatic Mistral Hojris, or Alf as he’s known, that’s seen her break countless British and International records, including a hat-trick at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Kentucky last year.

The granddaughter of a billionaire property magnet and daughter of a world class dressage rider, Laura is one of the most ambitious people you’ll ever meet. It’s this insatiable drive and belief that anything’s

possible that’s seen her rise up through the dressage rankings so quickly.

At 26, Laura is now ranked third in the World Dressage Rankings and, along with Alf, could well be Britain’s best hope of securing a dressage medal at the London 2012 Olympics. But, as she plays with 17hh Alf’s muzzle over the stable door, she wonders whether she met

the horse she describes as her equine soulmate too early

in her career. “I’m very lucky to have Alf now,

but sometimes I think maybe I should have had him when I was older and more experienced,” she says.

sometimes I wonder if I met

Alf too soon

Laura BechToLsheimer

See the videoWatch Laura

answering your

questions at www.

yourhorse.co.uk/LauraBinterview

Turn over for Laura’s answers to

your questions


Riding

26 your horse


Have

cross-countrystay safe, have fun and be confident across country with advice from world-class eventer Lucinda Green

Words Imogen Johnson Photography Matt Roberts

fun

Masterclass

Photo of Lucinda Green: PetPlan Equine

the adrenalin rush that comes hand-in-hand with cross-country isn’t every

rider’s idea of fun, but it doesn’t all need to be fast, furious and verging on the edge of control. Here former Olympic eventer Lucinda Green explains how to prepare for success and gain your horse’s trust over the scariest jumps and trickiest ground.

As the only rider to have won Badminton Horse Trials six times, on six different horses,

Lucinda knows that practising hard is the only way to ensure you jump clear and stay safe. So read on to find out how to build your horse’s confidence, improve his balance and conquer those dreaded rider-frighteners.

It takes PractIce“Cross-country simply isn’t practised well enough, and far too often riders make the decision to enter a competition before they’re confident they can manage a full

course,” says Lucinda. “At a competition, the time for practice is over, and as pressure begins to mount mistakes are likely to be made by riders who are unprepared. The last thing any rider wants, when they’ve paid their entry fee and made the effort to travel to a venue, is to have refusals or run outs.

“The only sure way to be certain you can complete a cross-country course safely and successfully is to practise, practise, practise.”

Riding

Correct response

Claire Lilley explains how a soft contact is

the result of your legs, hands and seat

working in unison

Question everything

Joanna Jackson urges riders to question their

every move to check that each aid hits

the spot

36 your horse

Learning how to refine your aids and work in harmony with your horse will take your riding to the next level. World-class dressage riders

richard Davison, Joanna Jackson and Claire Lilley explain how

Words Imogen Johnson

Fine-tune

Feel the pressureRichard Davison explains why it’s

important to analyse your leg aids

WWW.yourhorse.Co.uk 37

Passport to successBU

YING FROM ABROAD

120 your horse

Words Andrea Oakes

Buying from abroadFinding the perfect horse can be tricky, especially if you’re looking for something unusual. While many riders will drive all over Britain to view prospective purchases, how many would be willing to extend their search overseas? Here we discover the ins and outs of buying horses abroad – and meet readers who’ve done just that

Riding

Bailey with owner Karen Lowe – taking up the fat-buster challenge

48 your horse

With up to half of Britain’s leisure horses now classed as obese, it’s time to flex our muscles as riders-turned-equine personal trainers. so meet the first on the treadmill – your horse reader

Karen Lowe and her ‘cuddly’ horse Bailey

Our horses are getting fat – and the problem’s growing

faster than their waistlines. You might joke that your horse’s look is more cuddly than svelte but the latest research into the health problems faced by fat horses isn’t so funny and it’s time we, as their riders, helped them lose the bulge with a targeted fat burning fitness plan.

To get us started we’ve enlisted the help of reader Karen Lowe who’s keen to improve her horse Bailey’s health and physique. Like many owners, she knows her six-year-old Appaloosa x gypsy cob is on the cuddly side of his ideal weight, but she’s at a loss as to what will shift it. He lives out, is

exercised three times a week and fed just a handful of

chaff. He basically lives on fresh air and diet alone won’t solve his weight problem. What he needs is an effective fat burning exercise

programme, alongside a sensible diet, and to help

we’ve enlisted the help of nutritional and exercise specialist Clare MacLeod. Clare can help Karen develop a well-managed exercise programme that will build muscle, create a higher proportion of lean body tissue and, as a result, increase Bailey’s resting metabolic rate so he’ll be less prone to putting weight back on.

The result? Karen will be on the road to a fitter, leaner, healthier horse in just six weeks’ time.

The noT-so-cuddLy facTs• Equine obesity is a growing problem. Alarmingly, recent research at the University of Nottingham’s school of Veterinary Medicine and Science suggests that up to half of all leisure horses are obese. The research also found owners are continuing to under-estimate their horses’ weight• In questionnaires sent to leisure horse owners registered with Oakham Veterinary Hospital in Leicestershire, 160 owners were asked to body fat score their horses. One in five said they thought their horses were overweight or obese. But when 15 of these horses were physically assessed for condition by researchers, it was found several owners had significantly under-estimated their horse’s weight, suggesting the number of overweight or obese horses could be as great as 54%

Meet the expertClare MacLeod is an independent Registered Nutritionist and equine health and fitness specialist. She has a Masters Degree in human and equine sports science and has worked for a leading feed and supplement company, formulating products and advising horse owners.

Now a published author, Clare is a consultant to the equine nutrition trade and works with owners to help them feed their horses in the optimum way. She specialises in feeding for performance, and here she’ll be helping to set Bailey on the path to a fitter, healthier – and slimmer – future.

HealtH alertOverweight horses are prone to a diabetes-like

condition called Equine Metabolic Syndrome as well as laminitis

Set your horse on the path to a fitter future

FatFat busters

WWW.yourhorse.co.uK 49

Riding

4exercises toStrengthen your horse’s topline

Simple steps to help your horse develop a strong, supple back

68 your horSe

For your horse to perform at his very best, he needs to have a strong back, no matter what it is you’re doing with him. Strong back muscles will enable him to carry his rider with ease, achieve balance and rhythm, and stay in a consistent outline throughout each pace and transition.

The more you can do to strengthen his core muscles the better – and there are plenty of things you can do to help. We’ve teamed up with dressage trainer Carrie Adams to show you four simple exercises to help you develop a correct and strong topline.

Going up a hill while adopting a forward seat will allow your horse

to lift his back, helping to strengthen the essential muscles in this area

Strengthen your horse’s topline

www.yourhorSe.co.uk 69

Meet CarrieCarrie Adams is a British Dressage group two rider who combines dressage with natural horsemanship. After working closely with Monty Roberts, Carrie combines these two disciplines to provide a unique kind of training from Centre

Lines, her dressage yard near Newark. Carrie has trained many horses to championship level and is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to getting the best from both rider and horse. To get in touch with Carrie visit www.centrelines.co.uk

Care

114 your horse

VETADVICE

Beat arthritisArthritis is the most common cause of lameness, but

there’s lots you can do to prevent, treat and even reverse the symptoms if it’s caught early enough. Vet Charlie Briggs is here to help you wage war on this debilitating condition.

Charlie works for the hale Veterinary Group in Wiltshire and is also the team vet for the GB endurance Development squad

WWW.yourhorse.Co.uk 115

Don’t be fooled into thinking your horse will be reaching for a Zimmer frame by the time arthritis sets in. Whether

you own a six- or 16-year-old, this debilitating disease can affect your horse at any time.

But the good news is that a diagnosis of

arthritis doesn’t necessarily put the kybosh on your plans for competition success, or even just a happy ever after for you and your horse.

Here we look at the current thinking for preventing and treating arthritis to help your horse stay fighting fit for as long as possible.

Care

84 your horse

Banishvet bills

Nobody wants to worry about their horse becoming ill or injured, we’d rather just

enjoy our time with them and try to put any niggling concerns to the back of our minds.

But if you take time to think about the way you manage your horse now, you could prevent trouble before it arrives.

Being proactive means your horse will enjoy a healthier life – and your bank account won’t take such a hammering from preventable,

and often expensive, vet bills. We’ve asked our experts about

some of the most common complaints horse owners have to contend with throughout the year, and they’ve revealed some startlingly simple tips to help avoid them.

So read on to find out how to prevent common injuries, stop illness and disease in its tracks and enjoy a happy, healthy horse all year long (and have fun spending all the money you’ll save).

essential advice to keep your horse healthy and enjoy an action-packed year

in 2011

most common

HEALtHPRoBLEms

soLVED!

care special

GearGear

132 your horse

BigTesT

Half PadsWe’ve put 12 half pads to the test so you don’t have to. read on to find out which are best for everyday and competition use

For more gear reviews go to www.yourhorse.co.uk

WWW.yourhorse.co.uk 133

Half pads have become increasingly popular and there are now a large number to choose from. The idea of using a half pad is to reduce the amount of bulk under the rider’s leg, giving a closer contact with your horse. However, most riders use them with a thin saddlecloth for appearance and to keep the half pad clean. For our test we had a number of sheepskin half pads and others made from a shock absorbing material. We used three testers – Vanessa Lowther used the half pads on her two horses, Gus, a 16.3hh TB eventer and Charlie, a 16.3hh TB mare who is coming back into work after having a foal.

Your Horse editor Julie Brown tested them on her four-year-old KWPN gelding Bo and

Your Horse gear editor Allison Lowther used them on her seven-year-old

Hanoverian mare Wish and 16-year-old ID x TB Jester.

Our testers assessed each half pad under the following criteria Fit Our testers considered the overall fit of each half pad, how easy it was to fasten to the saddle, and its appearance Performance Did the half pad do the job and live up to the manufacturer’s claims? Did the half pad stay securely in

place – and what does the pad look like now?

Value for money Considering what our testers thought about the fit and performance of each half pad, they assessed whether it was good

value for money and whether they’d recommend it to you

FasteningsMake sure you can secure the half pad safely in place. Go for straps that adjust easily and are long enough to fasten around your girth straps. Velcro is a popular choice

What to look forMaterialSheepskin is a popular choice – it allows air to circulate and absorbs shock to help eliminate pressure points. Other materials include gel and neoprene, which again can help absorb shock, helping to keep your horse comfortable

CareAlways follow the washing instructions on each individual product. Sheepskin is hard-wearing – but you do need to care for it correctly

ShapeA half pad that’s shaped to follow the contours of the horse’s spine will fit better and will sit nicely up into the gullet of the saddle

Gear


3

2

1

Be warned

Ragwort is very harmful

to humans as well as

horses – always cover

up and wear gloves

when dealing

with it

Ragwort facts Learn to identify ragwort in

its early stages of growth by its rosettes of ragged leaves that grow close to the ground before they shoot up, thicken out and flower into flat-topped, yellow, daisy-like clustered heads

It’s essential to destroy this weed before it seeds – seeds can lie dormant for up to 20 years

Every flowering ragwort plant can produce around 150,000 seeds, which have a 70% germination rate

From late June onwards, ragwort is in full flower During autumn and winter, small rosettes and

seedlings are easily visible. Remove them or spray them as soon as you see them

Horses will need to be kept off sprayed areas It’s hard to remove ragwort by hand – you can

easily break the root system so you leave some of the plant behind

Any ragwort you remove needs burning – don’t just put it on your muckheap!

1 Fynalite Multi Weeda £22.99

This handy tool is designed to remove weeds with the minimum of

fuss and damage to the ground.Ideal for use in the field or garden, it easily removes the most difficult and toxic weeds including ragwort,

thistle and dandelion. The Multi Weeda is perfectly

balanced, strong and lightweight.Contact www.fynalite.co.uk

or 01789 764848

2 Rag Fork £28.95

The Rag Fork is easy to use and removes the whole ragwort plant quickly and easily. It’s

available in two heights – the 90cm version comes with a

T-shaped handle, while the longer version, which is

102cm long and has a soft grip D-shaped handle, is ideal for

taller people. Contact www.ragfork.com

3 Barrier H £45/5lThis product can be used all year round and is available as a ‘ready

to use’ 5L with spray gun applicator. It’s fully licensed, environmentally

friendly agricultural herbicide, which destroys ragwort in record time.

Simply spray the ragwort and keep animals off treated areas for two

weeks or until the plant is completely dead and any remaining debris

is removed. Contact www.ragwort.com

or 01953 456363

Ragwort controlhow to effectively remove this unwanted pest of a plant

miniguide


”“

whether you’re in it for the adrenalin kick or affection of a glorified lawn

mower, there’s one thing that unifies all us riders – an unconditional love

for our horses. here five owners explain why they mean so much

Words Helen Milbank Photography Tom Critchell, Matt Roberts and Tim Mellin

We love horses

Care

106 your horse

It seems hard to believe the hairy happy hacker you ride out on was once

a wild animal just like these – or at least his ancestors were!

Words Larissa Chapman

at heartWhen it comes to our horses’

health and happiness, nature still calls. Here our experts

from the worlds of holistic therapy, natural horsemanship and nutrition

help us understand how horses in the wild keep themselves happy and healthy, and why it’s important we try to replicate this to keep our horses fit and well in body and mind.

OnSaleaPRIl 21

neXT MOnTH In YOuR HORSe

SubScribe now to get a euro-Star PoLo SHirtSee page 20

new training ScHooL

Start our riding course Module One: Top riders Richard & Tom Davison develop your riding techniques with lessons to improve your position for all disciplines

WIn MORe ROSeTTeS

All you need to know for show jumping, dressage, eventing, endurance and

showing success

GeT a GRIP

Lightweight riding

gloves put to the test

eXcLuSiVeinterView

Dressage trainer Conrad

Schumacher on his life

with horses

Pic w

ww

.hor

sehe

ro.c

om

Spring Issue 346

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Transcript of Spring Issue 346