Equi-Ads January 2011

July 2009

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

FREE January 2011

In this issue

and more...

What to do about the hay shortage

Linking posture to performance

Equine dentistry – what should you expect

Pilates for equestrians

Riding holidays

Win 50 bags of Littlemax fine shavings worth £400

With correct core breathing

32

Breathe life into your riding…

9

20

24

26

30

We’re offering Equi-Ads readers an exclusive opportunity to win 50 bags of LITTLEMAX – our new Fine Shavings.

LITTLEMAX Fine Shavings are purpose made to

provide your horse with an ideal bedding – dust free,

natural, hygienic, comfortable and supportive. But

they also provide busy owners with a bedding that is

as easy and quick to use and maintain as possible,

long lasting, compostable and great value for money.

This competition is open to anyone over the age of 18 and resident in the UK. It is not open to employees or suppliers of BEDMAX Limited or Equi-Ads, or members of their families. The winner will be picked from all correct entries and will receive vouchers for 50 bags of LITTLEMAX, to be collected from their closest supplier. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into with regard to entries or the selection of the winner. BEDMAX Limited and Equi-Ads cannot be held responsible for any entries that for any reason fail to reach us before the closing date. Entries close on Friday 25th February 2011. The winner will be drawn on Monday 7th March 2011 and informed by email.

WIN 50 bags of LITTLEMAX with Equi-Ads

F i n e S h a v i n g S

www.littlemaxshavings.com

WIN To ENTER our special

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please go to:

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436_11_BEDMAX_EquiAds3.indd 1 13/12/2010 10:46

41

January 2011 - Equi-Ads - 1

Health Care - Stud

Contents

ENGLAND & WALES

Copy Deadline10th of the preceding month

Available on the 1st of the month

Equi-Ads is published monthly by:

Equi-Ads LimitedOffice 1, Tay View Estate,

Friarton Road, Perth PH2 8DG

To advertise, please call

01738 567700Fax: 01738 567776

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

Friarton Road, Perth PH2 8DGFax: 01738 567776

Email: [email protected]

Healthcare 1 – 8,

20 – 25, 46

Stud 1, 33

Holidays 2, 30 - 33

Livery Yards 2

Holly Davis 4

Snooperstar 6

News 8

Feeding 8 – 20

Hay shortage 9

Alfalfa 14

Physiotherapy 20

Worming 22 – 23

Equine Dentistry 24

Tack & Turnout 25 – 27,

43 – 45

Pilates 26

Horse Behaviour 28

Riding 32

Horses for Sale 33

Insurance 33 – 35,

42, 46

Philosophical 36

Transport 36 - 37

Field & Stable 36 – 42

Directory 46

What’s On 48

A breath of fresh air from Horslyx

Win a rug with Randale Stud!

Respiratory Horslyx is a nutrient rich lick containing menthol, eucalyptus and aniseed all of which assist in keeping the airways clear of mucus whilst soothing any respiratory irritation. The unique combination of ingredients helps horses to breathe more easily and reduce the stress caused by respiratory compromise.

Respiratory Horslyx is supported by the Horslyx high specification vitamin, mineral and trace element package, which includes generous levels of the powerful antioxidants selenium, Vitamin C and Vitamin E, together with chelated copper and zinc, which helps to support and maintain a strong immune system, therefore maximising the ability to fight any infectious challenges and aid healthy lung function.

Ideal for horses and ponies who suffer from RAO (formerly known as COPD), dry coughs, dust or hay fever type allergies, as well as those needing support when competing and doing fast work. The palatable formula is unique to Horslyx and does not contain any artificial colours or preservatives and is free from prohibited substances

as defined by the Jockey Club of GB and the FEI. Horslyx also conforms to the new UFAS BETA NOPS code designed to reduce the risk of naturally occurring prohibited substances (NOPS) in equine feeds.

Already used and trusted by many horse owners, Victoria Windley has found Respiratory Horslyx to be invaluable for her mare and would not be without it. “Bella, has always suffered from COPD (RAO) and at times had attacks so bad the vets had to be called to help her,” she says. “Two years ago I bought her Respiratory Horslyx purely as a treat. I noticed

after one week that I had not heard her cough at all when before, even on a good day, she would always have the odd cough. After the lick ran out I noticed her coughing again.”

“I was dubious that Respiratory Horslyx could have stopped the coughing having spent a lot of money trying every other product available but the next day I bought another tub and from that day on she has never looked back. Bella has now not had

an attack for two years and never coughed once, she is even now (touch wood!) eating good quality dry hay and bedded on straw

again which saves me so much time and money. Instead of funny tasting nasty medicines and injections Bella now has her yummy Respiratory

Horslyx instead. It can’t be better than that for your four-legged friend.”

To read more feedback on Respiratory Horslyx visit: www.horslyx.com or telephone: 01697 332 592 for more information.

Respiratory Horslyx is available in 5kg and 15kg weatherproof tubs, priced around £12.70 and £24.40 respectively.

Randale Stud is offering Equi-Ads readers the chance to win a fabulous Randale fleece cooler sponsored by mypetblankets.com

Simply log on to our website www.randalestud.com to find the answer to the question below and send your answer along with your name, address and rug size to:

Rug CompetitionRandale StudStud FarmNorth GrimstonYO17 7HP

Randale Stud stands two full Irish Draught and one Irish Sports Horse stallions at its picturesque base near Malton, North Yorkshire.

The stud’s three stallions range from 16hh to 17.1hh and will add bone and great temperaments to any mare.

Senior stallion Creevagh Diamond Pride already has youngsters on the ground and is producing exceptional all-rounders and quality competition horses.

Question: Who is stallion Creevagh Diamond Prides sire?

Health Care - Holidays - Livery Yards

2 - Equi-Ads - January 2011

Detoxifying for 2011

Jump For It Training Breaks

How about a ‘Detoxifier’ like Restore for your horse this year?

It is very trendy these days to have a ‘detox’. But does a horse need one too if they do not drink alcohol and eat excessively in the holidays ? Our answer after 20 years of experience is a resounding yes. A routine detoxifying course does wonders.

Detoxifying is really all about helping support the liver. The liver is the factory of the body and makes so many foods that the rest of the body desperately needs. When the liver is working properly it is also much easier for the body to get rid of bad things that have been eaten or that have accumulated inside the body. Bad things may be residues from

wormers, pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers etc.

The product RESTORE is really the ultimate detoxifying liver tonic and can be used at any difficult time of the year. We normally advise that people use Restore routinely at the change of season and January is a particularly good time if the product has not been given before.

If you want to keep your horse really healthy a regular course of Restore as winter starts, as spring starts, as summer starts and as autumn starts will do wonders. All that is needed is a 500ml bottle. For even more help you can use a 1L bottle at the full rate of 25ml twice daily for 3 weeks.

This year we are introducing our special trial size of 250ml which is more than enough to demonstrate Restore’s good effects.

In some special situations Restore as a liver tonic may be used very usefully for longer periods at the maximum level. This is usually when specific help is needed in order to maintain good liver function.

What does Restore liquid do as a detoxifier?

1. Helps with general fitness, and sense of well being

2. Works overnight and very quickly

3. Maintains a great liver

4. Supports the strong natural immune system

5. Helps the digestion get into normal balance

6. Helps the body naturally expel toxinsIn general we advise that for a complete nutritional approach you try feeding regular courses of Restore with a strong mineral vitamin formula like GlobalVite and a good source of omega oils such as FlaxOil.

For more details please see www.globalherbs.co.uk or call Global Herbs on 01243 773363

This spring Jump For It at Abbotsholme Stud are running specialised Training Breaks to help you develop your partnership with your horse, and make progress towards your goals. Come and exceed your expectations with one of our specialized training breaks in an idyllic country setting, with as much or as little tuition as you wish.

These short breaks are available at weekends or weekdays according to

demand and can cater for individuals or groups. We can help you improve your riding, cement your partnership and move up the competition ladder with our highly motivational training programme which includes confidence coaching and performance analysis.

We provide a combination of flatwork lessons, to improve your horses response and obedience; jumping lessons, focusing on improved performance and increased confidence and lunge lessons to improve your position, posture and self awareness. The breaks are run by Beverly Ryan, a UKCC qualified coach, who specialises in helping riders overcome nerves and improve their jumping. Jump For It also bring in specialised experts to create a varied training plan and the courses can include clinics such as Fit To Ride, Lindsay Wilcox Reid and Movement with Thought.

Fit to Ride clinics video riders individually and use this to analyse ridden work followed by a session on the fitness balls.

Post clinic, each customer will then get sent a copy of the film and a short write-up about themselves and a progress plan.

The aim is then for riders to go away and work on the issues identified using the exercises given and see an improvement. We have previously run Fit To Ride clinics and found them very enjoyable and informative. Everyone who came said that they felt it had benefitted their riding and were keen to book another session. Lindsay Wilcox Reid’s clinics aim to improve your balance, effectiveness on the horse and relieve tension. She also runs dismounted EquiPilates sessions on the wooden saddle horse to perfect your position and increase your core stability. Becky Britchford runs dismounted Pilates and Movement classes that aim to make riders more aware of their own bodies and the effect that they have on them. Once a rider is more aware of their own body then their awareness on the horse is dramatically improved. Becky also offers sports massage to sooth any riding aches!Guests have a choice of spacious modern bedrooms, as well as a bathroom, kitchen, gym and Pilates studio. Your stay includes breakfast and lunch and we can recommend several good quality local pubs and restaurants for dinner.

There are several different breaks available at Abbotsholme Stud including:. Confidence Break. Eventing Break

. Show jumping Break

. Posture and Position Break

. Flatwork break

. Relaxed Break

All breaks are subject to availability, book well in advance to ensure you are not disappointed.

Individual requirements can be tailored to you and if you would like to discuss your options then call Beverly on 07758 310595. For more information about Jump for It visit www.jumpforittraining.co.uk.


Competition - News

Health Care - Holly Davis


To contact Holly please email her on [email protected]

or telephone 01994 241 255

Effective Communication with your horse.Whilst many of us have developed a good bond and understanding with our horse, there are those that wish they could take it even further, whether this be from a self confidence level whilst riding, or even wishing that we could actually understand what our horse is thinking and feeling, to enable us to make their lives better for them.

Whilst we all have the ability to communicate with our horses on a subtle level, we do it to varying degrees. Or to put it into riding terms some of us will be Grand Prix dressage riders whilst the rest of us are content to remain happy hackers. Whatever the level of our communication with our horse, I think we would all agree that there is always room for improvement. Horses without a doubt are exceptionally sensitive, both mentally and physically. They can easily feel a fly land on them or the slightest shift in weight of the rider. How many of you have gone to see your horse after an argument with another person or at a time of upset and had your horse react differently towards you? Those of you that have seen

that change in your horse will understand only too well their ability to recognise both positive and negative emotional states. With this in mind, it stands to reason that horses have the on going ability to constantly be aware of our emotional state and the changes in it, all the time that we are with them. With the busy hustle bustle of life we are often preoccupied with other issues, whilst we are with our horse and not fully mentally with them much of the time during general care time such as grooming. For our horses, this can be extremely frustrating, as it is during these times that much of their subtle communication is going on.

How aware are you of your own thoughts and feelings and how they affect not only your physical body but also the emotional state and behaviour of your horse.

There are some simple steps that you can take to allow yourself to feel how your body changes during ‘thinking’ times. This will also enable you to experience what your horse is feeling from you, that may explain why and how they have developed certain behaviour issues or aggressive behaviour in some cases.

. Whilst sitting at home, close your eyes, relax and listen to your own heart beat for a few minutes.

. Now think of spending quality time with your horse, just standing in their stable stroking them. Does your heart rate change? Do you feel any concern or find yourself smiling?

. Next imagine riding your horse. Does your heart rate raise, does your body feel a little rigid or are you enjoying the thought of riding your horse?

. If you heart rate rises during any of the above or you sense any tightening in your body showing that the thought is causing some stress, try breathing out and then taking some deep breathes. Allow your heart rate to slow down, relax your body and try again, this time being more aware and taking things slowly. This will allow you to work out exactly at which point the stress is being felt and may even help you to control it in the future.

All of the above short exercises will give you a good foundation for experiencing how your thoughts around issues concerning your horse can affect you and your horse. Over the past twelve years that I have been working as an Equine Communicator, I have come across no end of horses whose owners feel their horse has a behaviour problem.

Nine times out of ten the horse doesn’t have a behaviour problem. They are either reacting to something that the rider or owner is doing or even correctly carrying out a request that is being unknowingly given. Everything that we say and do in the company of our horses is giving them information that they then choose whether or not to react to. This can easily been seen by the way some horses relax and gravitate more to some people more than others. Studies have already shown that when alone with our horses and relaxed, both ours and our horses’ brainwave states synchronise. This means that just by relaxing, slow breathing and enjoying slowly brushing our horses can quite literally help their minds to slow down and their bodies to relax.Next month we will be exploring further into how to effectively communicate with our horses as a way of understanding their thoughts and feelings and how we can help remedy problems that they are experiencing.

Holly teaches workshops in Animal Communication and Hands on Healing for Horses. If you have a horse yard or if you run a riding club and would be interested in co-ordinating a workshop please contact her for details on 01994 241255 or email [email protected]

If you have any medical concerns regarding your horse’s health please contact your local vet.

Holly Davis

Mud BewareMud is always a problem to some horse owners. No matter how hard some people try their horses still get into problems.

The problem is often how resilient the skin is on affected horses. If the skin is strong and healthy then a horse will not have problems in muddy conditions.

Mud-X is a strong product from Global Herbs that helps the skin get into great form and fully protect the body. It also challenges those elements in the mud that cause problems and supports a strong normal immune system. You can see that Mud-X is doing a good job because when being fed

a horse’s coat will become shiny and more healthy looking.

So try feeding this formula if you are in trouble this winter and watch out for the shiny coat.

Mud-X comes in powder and in syrup. The syrup is designed for maintenance all through the winter and the powder for the most difficult times. A Mud-X cream is also available for difficult areas.

For more info call Global Herbs on 01243 773363 or view website at www.globalherbs.co.uk


Insert Category

Health Care - Snooperstar


A Christmas horse tale...Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Except that is for a certain naughty baby pony called Maurice, chattering excitedly to his long-suffering neighbour Snoopy.

Snoopy stood with eyes closed, willing his noisy tormentor to go to sleep but Maurice was far too excited wondering what Father Christmas was going to bring him. He had asked for some horse biscuits, carrots, Polo mints and more horse biscuits. Snoopy sighed, there seemed to be a recurring theme with Maurice. It was hardly any wonder he was a little on the plump side.

Snoopy didn’t want to disappoint Maurice, but he had overheard The One With Money, aka Scrooge telling Mum that there would be no presents for anyone this year, especially the horses as ‘those money-eating machines have practically cleared us out.’ Snoopy didn’t like Scrooge. He was mean and grumpy and was always complaining about how much money Mum spent.

Eventually Maurice tired himself out and collapsed in a heap on a big pile of shavings, snoring his head off and dreaming about Polo mints.

“At last,” thought Snoopy. “Now I can get

a little bit of shut eye myself.”

No sooner had he nodded off than he was awoken by the sound of bells, and footsteps crunching through the snow. Always alert and ready for danger, Snoopy leapt to attention, peering into the darkness to see what was about to try and eat them all. He was just about to scream to wake up the others when a figure appeared at his stable door, dressed in red, with a face full of white fluffy fur, much like his own.

“Good evening Snoopy,” said the figure. “Do you know who I am? I need you to help me save Christmas.”

Snoopy blinked at the plump character, stood in front of him. “Are you? Father? Christmas?” he stuttered.

The red-clad figure nodded and patted his tummy. Snoopy thought that he must like his grub too, much like Maurice.

“Your reputation precedes you Snoopy. I have heard all about the adventures of your alter ego Bounceypants, and I need you to help pull my sleigh tonight. I am one horse short and without you, Christmas will have to be cancelled.”

Snoopy frowned, well as much as a horse can frown that is. “But I thought your sleigh was pulled by Reindeer? Dasher, Dancer and co. and of course Rudolph? Why do you need me?”

“The reindeer thing is an urban myth Snoopy. The truth be told, the fame went to Rudolph’s head and he was impossible to work with. That coupled with the introduction of the Reindeers’ Trade Union and work-to-rule, it was all more bother than it was worth. I toyed with the idea of splashing out on a 4x4 but the fuel emissions damage the atmosphere even more than a flatulent reindeer. So I opted for horse-power.

“I hand-pick the best horses for my team, those at the top of their discipline, known for their fantastic movement and intelligence. This year’s team includes Moorlands Totalis, picked for his grace and elegance, Kauto Star for his speed and stamina and Ladina B, for her ability to leap huge walls in a single bound. Unfortunately Ladina B can be a bit temperamental so she keeps up the rear of the team. She can be a bit handy with her heels sometimes.” he sighed.

Snoopy stood, eyes as big as saucers. “But Father Christmas, I can’t be in your team, I don’t wear shoes any more, not since Mum retired me.”

“Don’t worry about that young lad,” said Father Christmas. “You won’t be needing shoes where we are going. In fact after the unfortunate incident of Christmas 2004 involving one of the Budweiser

Clydesdales, a particularly loosely tiled roof and the resulting anti-social behaviour order, it’s actually preferable that you don’t have shoes on.

“Now come on Bounceypants, we don’t have time to stand here chatting, we’ve got presents to deliver!”

Father Christmas undid the bolt of Snoopy’s stable door and gestured towards his waiting sleigh-mates as they stood in the yard, snorting white breath into the air. Father Christmas hitched Snoopy to the front of the sleigh, singing, ‘Bounceypants with your fur so white, won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?’ as he tapped instructions into his Tom Tom.

Snoopy was a little bit unsure what to do, but Totalis gave him a nudge with his nose and stamped his hoof. Snoopy mustered all the energy of Bounceypants that he could and leapt in the air. He found it surprisingly easy to fly even though Mum had been telling him for years that he seemed barely able to keep his feet on the ground.

Soon Snoopy and the team were galloping through the sky, Father Christmas shouting encouragement, the jingling of the bells on the sleigh as they made their way across land and sea. They delivered presents to all the houses they visited, stopping occasionally to munch a carrot, thoughtfully left for them by the sleeping children. Snoopy watched as Father Christmas scoffed his hundredth biscuit of the evening adding to his portly frame. “Just like Maurice,” he sighed.

Father Christmas and his team of equine stars worked tirelessly to finish their delivery of gifts before the morning. They had nearly finished the last of the houses when Snoopy enquired if there was a gift for Mum in the sack. Father Christmas quickly scanned the list and nodded. “Yes, I have a couple of requests from her – a pair of Louboutins, Johnny Depp and some chocolate. Even Father Christmas

has some limitations,” he said, rolling his eyes.

Snoopy noticed a smaller sack of presents sitting at the back of the sleigh. “Who are those for Father Christmas?” he asked.

“Ah, those gifts are for the ones on the naughty list. The European Court of Human Rights introduced a rule several years ago which says that I have to give everyone a gift, no matter how badly behaved they have been throughout the year,” he sighed.

“I keep special presents for the naughty ones.” Father Christmas smiled with a wicked glint in his eye.

The presents all delivered, Father Christmas guided Snoopy and the team back home, just in time for breakfast. Snoopy returned to the yard, crept past his snoring stable-mates and back into his bed. He had had no sooner closed his eyes to have a little nap after his exhausting night, than he was woken by the excited chattering of Maurice.

“He’s been! He’s been!” he shrieked.

Snoopy opened one eye, watching Maurice as he rummaged in his stocking for the tasty treats he had requested.

“What’s this?” frowned Maurice, pulling out a bright pink Lycra rug with his teeth. “I didn’t ask for this?”

Snoopy closed his eyes and sniggered to himself. That would teach Maurice not to annoy him all year. Father Christmas is always watching and taking note.

So next Christmas Eve, when you are all tucked up in bed, waiting for Father Christmas and you think you can hear the sound of bells and the clatter of hooves, listen very carefully and you might also hear the faint sound of a certain grey gentleman screaming, ‘yeeeeehhaaaaaa!’


Health Care - Insurance - Livery Yards

Feeding - Health Care - News


Pack up your Horse Quencher in your holiday-bag and smile, smile, smile

Lincoln Competition Winners!

Equestrian design outlet store opens its doors

A natural high quality forage for horses and ponies

Smiling isn’t something that comes easily to anyone who has ever taken a horse on holiday and knows how stressful it is when the horse decides that it won’t drink ‘strange’ water.

When your horse won’t drink, you end up spending the entire holiday worrying about dehydration instead of relaxing and enjoying yourself. Indeed the ‘holiday from hell’ may even start en route, with your horse not wanting to drink on the road. And then when you get to your horsey holiday paradise, whilst the days may bring more saddle time for you, all the extra activity can make for a very thirsty horse with the effects having devastating results on his health if he is reluctant to drink and something isn’t done to replace the fluids he loses through exercise. And then there’s the worry of him helping himself to strange puddles and ponds with ground water containing contaminants such as alkali, lead, arsenic, organophosphates and chlorinated hydrocarbons and a variety of

equine diseases including rhinopheumonitis, influenza and strangles, which can be transmitted via unknown communal watering troughs.

All of the above is not meant to scare you from taking your horse on a trip. However, you need to be aware that holidaying with your horse can disrupt normal patterns of water intake.

Horses are creatures of habit and if things change they can get upset. If horses won’t drink water when they need it, they can run into serious problems with dehydration and gastro-intestinal disturbances such as

impaction colic. Unfamiliar surroundings can be unsettling and water is likely to have

a different taste and make horses reluctant to drink. The average

horse jogging for 25 minutes during summer conditions

can lose up to 25 litres of sweat over several hours and serious cases of dehydration have killed horses in as

few as two days.

While the best way to get your horse to drink when away from

home is to bring your own water, this isn’t a

practical solution when going on holiday and

when your horse can drink 7 gallons a day or more.

Adding Horse Quencher to home or ‘foreign’ water will keep your horse drinking during and after a vacation.

Horse Quencher looks like muesli and when you put it into a bucket of water, it gets horses drinking immediately. The product comes in handy, portable tubs and easy-to-use sachets and is ideal for convincing your otherwise fussy friends to drink water no matter what the source. Horse Quencher is available in four flavours: apple, mint, butterscotch and root beer, and makes for inexpensive ‘holiday health insurance’ to have on hand so you are ready when you need to get your horse to drink.

Don’t let dehydration spoil your dream horsey holiday. Pack Horse Quencher. It is one holiday essential you don’t want to ever be without.

For more information tel: 01842 879161 or visit www.horsequencher.co.uk

The 5 lucky winners of the Lincoln Competition, which featured in our November 2010 issue are:Kate Hall, Haswell, County DurhamMiss L Pearce, West Mersey, EssexMrs W Whithead, Norwich, NorfolkMarion Herbert, Hildenborough, Kent Pip Fields, Dagenham, Essex

Congratulations to all our winners and thanks to all our readers who took part!

One of UK’s biggest designer equestrian distributors has opened its very own designer outlet shop based at the company’s premises just 11 miles outside of Chester. The Zebra Designer Outlet Shop is finally open and if you thought the January sales were the place to head, then think again because at their new shop, there are designer bargains to be had ALL year around.

Just like designer fashion stores, the Zebra Designer Outlet Shop is no different when it comes to always having great stock left over after the season has finished. Focusing solely on end of line and clearance stock, the new shop offers you the perfect environment to shop with some fantastic offers across rider and horse brands. Equestrian fashion and competition wear brands Kentucky, Kyra K, Gersemi, Sprenger Bits, Equipe Saddlery, Amerigo Saddlery, Konig Boots, Fleck Whips, Schwenkel Gloves and Bucas Rugs are to name a few.

Offers for January include Kentucky Full Seat Breeches at £69.00 (normal RRP £169) and Konig Boots reduced from £769.00 to £150.00!!

The shop is open from 9.30 -5pm Monday – Friday and if you fancy a yard shopping outing, late night and weekend openings can be arranged for groups of 10 and more by prior notice.

So if you have been saving your pennies and pounds for the January sales, then beat the crowds and bag a bargain at the new Zebra Designer Outlet Shop!

Telephone: 01352 763 350 for further information.

Alfalfa Oatinol has natural super fibres that encourage microbial digestion. This high quality forage contains high levels of digestible protein, vitamins and calcium.

For all the nutritional elements of Alfalfa Oatinol to be utilised they have to be absorbed from the horses’ digestive tract. Oatinol supplies specific nutricines to maintain gut cell integrity, maintain the lining of the gut, support the immune system and aid the absorption of nutricines, vitamins and trace elements.

Alfalfa Oatinol also contains the Oatinol delivery system to maintain a healthy digestive tract and a high rate of absorption of essential nutricines, vitamins and trace elements.

For more information on the nutricines within Alfalfa Oatinol or to order, please visit: www.gwfnutrition.com or call GWF Nutrition direct on 01225 708482.


each other, a bit like a ball of string so you have to go round in ever decreasing circles. This is no good if you are using haylage as it spoils because the whole outer surface is exposed for days if feeding just one horse. Two hundred kilos of haylage goes a long way! My solution would be to use Hesston bales. These are either rectangular or, can be obtained in square form. They range from the enormous (1.2m wide, 1.3m high and 2.5m long) rectangular form to the more manageable midi square type (1.2m x 1.2m) and thence to the mini-Hesston (0.8m x 0.8m). So long as you have space for delivery and storage (dry storage necessary if you have hay or straw Hesstons) and outside space to store haylage in Hesstons then this format is ideal. This is because the material is packed in “slices” just like small bales so you only have to open one end and then remove the “leaves” as required. For haylage it is very

Surviving this winter is proving to be quite a challenge. We all need all the help we can get! Hay Bar truly comes to our rescue.

Keeping a horse stabled for long periods of time - it is important that we feed in the natural way as this helps to slow down their intake and keep the airways and the sinus draining down. Feeding from the floor helps to ensure that their teeth are evenly worn and that they are using the correct back and neck muscles as they feed in the grazing position.

Filling hay nets is a job we all dislike and it is also very time consuming. All time that is saved during these short winter days is very precious. Mucking out time is also reduced as there is less time spent trying to sort out the mixed forage and bedding. This in turn helps

to keep the costs down as any form of waste is proving to be very expensive this winter. Both forage and straw supplies are very low, due to the bad growing season last spring and we must all do what we can to conserve these limited supplies.

Hay Bar is now widely used in top competition, livery and veterinary yards where it is recognised as the correct and most efficient way of feeding. It is available for horses and ponies in the traditional black and in posh pink for the childrens’ ponies. The initial outlay is soon recouped by saving our precious forage and bedding. The Hay Bar system is truly part of our survival kit this winter.

For more information telephone 01723 882434 or visit www.haybar.co.uk

Feeding

What to do about the hay shortage…

Hay Bar comes to the rescue

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

The year 2010 has been noteworthy for the unworthy practice of “hay rustling”. I think this is probably the first time to my knowledge that there have been significant thefts of hay from all sorts of different places such as roadsides, farms, charity institutions and so on. Hay is a bulky commodity and if you wish to snaffle a few hundred small bales then you need a lorry and if you are into big bales then you need a mechanized loader as well in order to handle up to 300kg bales! This type of theft is hardly subtle and you would think that someone might notice this type of clandestine operation.

Why has this year been special? A combination of most unusual weather conditions started in 2010 with a prolonged cold spell with a lot of snow, followed by a late spring and an unusually cold May so grass growth was very late. This was inconveniently followed by a drought so that the major grass growing period was damned and thus little material was harvested. Later it just rained and rained so all in all it was a lousy year for forage production. Nett result is that small bale hay prices went through the roof, often selling at £6 per bale. This was followed by straw shortages and consequently small bales of straw could be bought for about £3 a bale. Effectively, a 600kg horse will eat five small bales of hay (~20kg/bale) a week costing the owner £30, about two and half times the cost over winter 2009/2010!

An obvious way to reduce forage costs is to move to big bales which are always cheaper pro rata than small bales but of course this is not easy if access/storage/etc is very limited. Unless one is of Amazonian proportions then manual handling of big bales can be a nightmare especially for the “one horse” owner whose facilities are likely to be restricted; possession of a tractor makes all the difference! However, the type of big bale makes a big difference to ease of handling. Big round bales are very difficult to handle because they are made by wrapping layers around

cont. on p.10

easy to reseal the end of the bale once opened so there need be no spoilage.

Of course, one can think laterally! Horses are designed to chew their food over long periods of time, salivating all the while. This activity is normally achieved by providing grass in summer and hay in winter but if the latter is in short supply what alternatives can be used. The most obvious choice would be quality straw as other conserved forages such as dried grass or alfalfa are expensive when compared on a weight for weight basis. We know that straws are not brilliant nutrient sources but they do provide for that essential need to chew. Nutrients can be obtained from other sources. To give you a simple example, mix alfalfa and straw (preferably spring barley) in the proportion 50:50 on a weight basis you will produce a mixture with the feed


Feeding

cont. from p.09

With ever growing concerns about a lack of good quality forage this winter, it is more important than ever to ensure your horse’s diet is supplemented with necessary vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

Forage is a vital part of the horses’ diet, particularly during the winter months when grass is scarce and

stabled time is increased. Horse owners may unfortunately be faced with the prospect of feeding poorer quality forage and looking for alternative fibre providers this year so offering a cost effective, balanced, vitamin, mineral and trace element package can help give peace of mind that horses are maintaining the vital nutrients they require for optimum health.

Feeding Horslyx can not only balance the deficiencies in forage, but also provide a trickle feeding pattern to promote gut health and reduce boredom, as well as provide an economical method of feeding all horses and ponies, even those prone to weight gain.

Horslyx provides a comprehensive nutritional package to combat seasonal health worries, including optimum levels of natural anti-oxidants to help boost the immune system, a high oil content to promote a shiny, healthy coat and a unique healthy hooves package to maintain horn quality throughout the year.

Horslyx is available in four formulations enabling horse owners to provide targeted, balanced nutrition in one

tub. Respiratory Horslyx contains menthol and eucalyptus to help horses and ponies cope with a compromised respiratory system. Mobility Horslyx contains optimum amounts of MSM, Glucosamine and Omega oils to support healthy joint function. Garlic Horslyx helps ward off insects and maintain a healthy internal system whilst Original Horslyx simply balances and offers all round nutritional support.

Horslyx is available in weatherproof 5kg and 15kg tubs starting at around £9.80 and £21.25 respectively.

For further information tel: (01697) 332 592 or visit www.horslyx.com

value equivalent to average quality hay if not better! Of course, one would need to check out the cost of the raw materials to see if it were cheaper to do this than buying straight hay. Some feed manufacturers produce such mixtures but you are paying them to mix it and then distribute it to a wholesaler who then has to take a profit. You can mix and match forages depending on what is available. For example if you have a jolly local farmer who grows maize then getting your hands on some forage maize would be a great way of providing quality forage. Many horses in mainland Europe are fed maize silage and do awfully well on it and there are unlikely to be any respiratory challenges emanating from mould spores compared to hay won under less than perfect UK harvesting conditions. Other materials that contribute fibre for chewing are of course the byproducts

from the productions of sugar (sugar beet pulp), flour (cereal bran of wheat, oat and maize origin), soya meal (soya hulls) and beer and spirits (brewers and distillers grains). The latter may be available locally near breweries/distilleries and can be fed fresh or after being ensiled.

Another approach is of course to use straw as the foundation of a diet to provide fibre for chewing and to top it up with a commercial balancer or a normal horse concentrate. The latter need only cost £7/8/9 for a 20kg bag depending on exactly what you buy. However, when comparing this cost with a £6 bale of hay at the same weight you must remember that you are buying a high quality concentrate full of protein, vitamins and minerals and no mould spores. A bag of feed is easy to store and handle compared to hay, it is easier to measure out and there is no

wastage! Some high fibre hay replacers do not need a separate forage source and cost little more than hay but are of course fortified with vits and mins and are thus far better value and safer for your housed horse. Alternatively, I could suggest that you generously bed your horse on very good quality straw and just feed it some of the commercial horse feeds that I have talked about. In other words the horse will “graze” its bedding getting as much forage as it wants. If the bed is clean, mould and spores are absent then the nasal passages can drain as the position of the head will be more “normal”. Many people practice on-floor feeding with great success. I have seen Przeswalski horses fed hay scattered over wooden branches so that they have to carefully pick it out from the “woodwork” thereby taking plenty of time to eat their forage allocation. On-floor feeding allows this opportunity if you mix up some straws

to encourage some selection, provide some occupational therapy as well as providing that necessary fibre.

Finally, take a look around where you and your horse are living and see what other forage sources may be available. Be prepared to try an approach other than the traditional that is based solely on hay. Sure, horses need fibre but hay is not the “be all and end all” and other diets can provide both appropriate nutrients and the “satisfaction” normally obtained from eating hay. You could of course try the extreme and move your horse to Ireland where grass grows most of the year. This action is favoured by some Finnish Trotter owners who winter their youngsters on the Emerald Isle and currently it would help the Irish balance of payments. Some racehorses are wintered in Dubai but it is not for the grass!

Elim-a-Net reduces hay wastageFeed your valuable forage the efficient way this winter.

With forage shortages and price increases this season, we know you won’t want to waste a single blade of hay or haylage. Elim-a-Net™ is a simple, inexpensive method of reducing waste by 65%. Research studies carried out by Parell Products have shown that using an Elim-a-Net™ instead of a standard haylage net can save around £91 in a year for one horse! More than just a small holed haynet, Elim-a-Net™ has a unique Inner Net Design to help prevent rapid forage consumption and

excess wastage, encouraging a natural trickle feeding pattern which aids digestion. Elim-a-Net™ is available in 3 sizes and starts at just £8.99.

For further information tel: 07715 172 470 or visit: www.parellproducts.com

Horslyx helps with hay shortage


Feeding


Feeding

SPILLERS® help elderly mare get back in shape

Login Lucky Lad’s tremendous first season

In The Pink Powder, the best feed balancer you can buy!

SPILLERS® were contacted recently by the devoted owner of a 35-year-old mare who has been in the same home for 32 years. Rhian Lewis from near Swansea in South Wales, wanted to thank the feed manufacturer for helping to get her part-bred Welsh cob Leah back in shape when she worryingly began to drop weight last winter.

Rhian’s parents bought 15hh Leah for her back in 1978 when Rhian was 15 years old and Leah was a spritely three. She was Rhian’s first horse after progressing from ponies and over the years the pair went on to make a formidable partnership in local working hunter, riding horse and show jumping competitions. In 1988 when Rhian studied to be a riding instructor, she even took Leah with her to train at the BHS headquarters for three months. Such is Leah’s exuberance for life that when she did her last veteran class, aged 26, she was eliminated for bad behaviour!

Rhian said: “I am so lucky that Leah has remained largely sound and healthy all her life. I didn’t actually retire her until she was 29. I started feeding SPILLERS® Senior Conditioning Mix five years ago and Leah always looked a picture but at the beginning of last winter I was alarmed when she started to lose condition. My vet suggested I should ring the SPILLERS® Care-Line for advice. They recommended that I should add SPILLERS® Conditioning Fibre to her feed. Three months later,

after one of the harshest winters we have had for years my vet was astounded by the improvement in Leah’s condition - no mean feat at the grand age of 35!”

SPILLERS® Conditioning Fibre with extra soya oil and protein is highly palatable and contains a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals to provide more nutrition than any other chopped fibre blend. SPILLERS® Senior Conditioning Mix is for those who need a little extra help to maintain their weight and topline. It contains small, easy to chew particles and has all the extra vitamins and minerals your older horse or pony needs, including glucosamine, to help him or her stay in the best of health.

For friendly feeding advice please telephone the SPILLERS® Care-Line on + 44 (0)1908 226626 or send an email to [email protected]. For further information visit the SPILLERS® website at www.spillers-feeds.com

2010 was a tremendous first season for Lyndsey Birtwell’s five year old stallion Login Lucky Lad, when what began as a quiet introduction to the show ring became a series of prestigious Championships and a successful trip to The Horse of the Year Show!

Only backed at the end of 2009 by Lyndsey, Login Lucky Lad, a part bred Welsh section D standing 14.2hh, was graded as a stallion in March and went to his first show in May. He is shown in unplaited ridden native classes and stood Champion at the Great Yorkshire show, claimed both Novice and Open Championships at the CHAPS Championship Show and qualified for the Horse of the Year Show, where he delighted connections by finishing fourth.

Login Lucky Lad has been produced and ridden by 15-year-old Lucinda Elliot, based in Co Durham, as Lyndsey is expecting a daughter, a sister for three-year-old Brodie. Lyndsey says, “Lucinda has done all the schooling with him and she’s a really quiet and confident rider. She was recommended by friends and I’ve become good friends with her mother now; we all have a great time.”

“We weren’t intending to do much with him, but he qualified for HOYS straight off and has done incredibly well. He’ll definitely be doing more showing this year and we’ve already had a lot of

interest in him as a stallion.”

Lyndsey lives in Darwen, Lancashire and has owned coloured horses for almost 10 years. She still has the ride on another successful coloured stallion Gitano Sincero Caballero although she sold him to Ursula McGuinness, the owner of Moor View Equestrian Centre in Darwen.

Now 12, Gitano Sincero Caballero is a 14.2hh traditional gypsy cob and has qualified for the Horse of the Year Show for the last seven seasons. “It takes four people four hours to prepare him for a show”, explains Lyndsey, referring in part to his fabulous flowing mane.

Lynsey’s other coloureds currently include two yearling fillies and a gelding. In the past, she was very successful with the mare Romany Girl, standing third on one of their three Horse of the Year Show appearances.

Talking about the appeal of coloureds, she says, “They are ‘sane’ to work with; I used to have show hacks and they were much more difficult. The lovely temperaments they all seem to have make them easy to manage and my youngstock do very well living out.

“The older ones are turned out a lot and I feed haylage when they’re stabled. They all get sugar beet and Blue Chip Original, which I’ve always fed, as even though they are coloured, I can really tell the difference it makes to their coats. We’ve never had problems with feet, they always look bright eyed and are obviously really well. I feed Original all year round and they always eat up. I’ve never thought about feeding anything else as when you find something as good as this, there’s no reason to change.”

Make In The Pink Powder part of your horse’s daily diet this winter and keep him in tip top condition...

The only really concentrated feed balancer you can buy, In The Pink Powder is a completely unique formula. A scientifically balanced combination of live yeasts, probiotics and protein designed to optimise gut function and balance the diet, allowing your horse to fully utilize his feed intake and gain maximum benefit from his ration.

Feed In The Pink Powder for under 44p per day* and save money, not once but twice…

In The Pink Powder is the most cost effective, concentrated feed balancer you can buy.

Secondly, because In The Pink Powder helps your horse to maximise the feed value of his concentrate diet, you can feed less, saving you even more money. RRP: 700g (30 days supply): £14.45; 1.4kg: £25.95. Larger sizes available.

*Cost based on rrp of 1.4kg feeding a 500kg horse 24g per day.

For more information please call the NAF Freephone advice line: 0800 373 106 or visit www.naf-uk.com


Feeding


Feeding

The benefits of feeding AlfalfaAlfalfa is widely used for horses and ponies around the world as it offers not only high quality fibre but lots of valuable nutrients too. Dengie’s Senior Nutritionist Katie Williams M.Sc. (Dist) R Nutr, explains why this plant can make such a valuable contribution to a horse’s nutritional requirements.

Alfalfa, also known as Lucerne, is a perennial legume related to the pea and bean family. It’s Latin name Medicago sativa meaning medicinal cultivated plant, gives some indication of its potential health benefits and how highly it has been regarded historically.

Alfalfa is one of the world’s oldest forage crops. It is thought to have first been discovered by the Arabs, who claimed it made their horses strong and swift. The name ‘alfalfa’ is thought to originate from the Arabic ‘Al-fac-facah’,

which literally translates as ‘the best kind of fodder’.

Alfalfa was the principal fodder for the cavalry and chariot horses of the ancient Persians, Greeks and Romans, and was introduced to Britain in the mid 17th Century. It is now becoming increasingly popular as more people recognise the nutritional benefits of alfalfa to equine (and human) health.

Energy from fibre Alfalfa is probably most commonly recognised as a source of fibre for horses. The horse is designed to eat large amounts of fibrous material including grasses and herbs and so feeding fibre is vital for maintaining good digestive health. Fibre is broken down by micro-organisms in the hind gut, which then release volatile fatty acids that, when absorbed, provide the

horse with immediate slow-release energy or can be stored as fat for later use. The fermentation process in the gut also generates heat thus helping to keep the horse warm.

An excellent source of digestible fibre, alfalfa can be used to provide slow-release energy at a level that will sustain a horse in light to medium work. At 10MJ DE/kg, feeding alfalfa is comparable to providing a low energy mix, and if oil is added the energy value increases to 12.5MJ. This ability to meet the energy requirements without having to use cereals helps to reduce the risk of digestive upsets such as colic and laminitis, and should also avoid over-excitable behaviour.

Fibre feeds such as alfalfa don’t overload the digestive system in the same way that cereal-based feeds do

and so can be fed in larger quantities. The greater chew time is highly beneficial, for as well as fulfilling the psychological needs of the horse, the saliva generated buffers the acid in the stomach and helps keep the gut functioning normally. This can also help to reduce the risk of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome.

Independent research carried out at Texas A&M University showed that feeding alfalfa reduced the incidence of gastric ulcers due to its natural buffering capabilities and was more effective than grass based forages. The researchers recommended using alfalfa any time cereals are fed to counteract the extra acidity generated.

Low starch and sugar A diet that is low in both starch and in sugar is particularly recommended for

December 2010 - Equi-Ads - 15

Joni Bentley

New Dengie Molasses Free – because your horse is sweet enough!

certain types of horse – such as those who are overweight or those suffering from laminitis. Alfalfa is naturally very low in starch and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) such as sugars and fructans. It is this natural feature that makes alfalfa the ideal base to feeds for horses and ponies prone to laminitis.

Quality proteinAs a legume, alfalfa is able to take nitrogen from the air and convert it to protein with the aid of ‘nitrogen fixing’ microbes in its roots. It is no surprise then that alfalfa contains relatively high levels of quality protein, and as an added bonus does not require nitrate fertilizers – making it easy to grow and more environmentally friendly.

Protein is made up of building blocks called amino acids, some of which are essential to the horse’s growth and development. All horses require protein. Breeding animals and youngstock have the greatest requirements, but adult horses need essential amino acids for developing muscle tone and for enabling muscle function. Because of its relatively high protein content, alfalfa is ideal for helping to build a good top line, and when combined with oil it provides the same amount of energy as a conditioning or competition mix. It can therefore make a really valuable contribution to a working horse’s energy and protein requirements.

Minerals and vitamins Providing the horse with calcium is crucial to supporting the structural integrity of bones and hooves, and is particularly important in the diet of

breeding animals and youngstock. If the required calcium is not provided through the diet, the horse’s body will source it from elsewhere – usually from calcium deposits in the bones. This in turn may lead to a decrease in bone density, and will lessen the amount of calcium available for muscular contraction during exercise.

Alfalfa is renowned as an excellent source of calcium, containing almost three times as much as grass. Furthermore, as alfalfa is a plant, the calcium is more easily available to the horse than that from inorganic sources such as limestone flour, on which many supplements are based. Cereals are low in calcium but high in phosphorous and so feeding horses on a diet based solely on grass hay and grain can lead to an inverted calcium–phosphorus ratio. Alfalfa – which itself has a ratio of about 5:1 calcium to phosphorous – can be fed to counter this imbalance.

The healthy option If forage availability is an issue for you this year you may already have considered including more alfalfa in your horses ration to increase their fibre intake. You may not have considered though, that as it is also contributing towards your horses energy requirements you can reduce or remove the cereal feeds you are using thereby saving a few pounds and providing a healthier diet for your horse.

To find out more about alfalfa and Dengie’s range of feeds visit www.dengie.com or call the Feedline on 0845 345 5115.

Dengie is pleased to announce the launch of its brand new range of molasses free chopped fibre feeds. Designed to cater for horses that require a very low sugar diet, Alfa-A Molasses Free and Hi-Fi Molasses Free are ideal for horses and ponies prone to conditions such as laminitis and metabolic syndrome.

These two new feeds are sure to be popular with even fussy feeders – extensive trials have shown that despite being low in sugar, there is no compromise on taste thanks to the inclusion of palatable herbs fenugreek and mint as well as pellets for added interest.

Both Alfa-A Molasses Free and Hi-Fi Molasses Free provide high levels of fibre that prolongs chew time, a

dressing of soya oil for a shiny coat and natural vitamins and minerals for good health and condition. It should be noted that they are straight feeds and so a broad spectrum source of vitamins and minerals should be fed alongside such as a Dengie Balancer which are also molasses free.

For more information visit www.dengie.com or call the Dengie Feedline on 0845 345 5115.


Feeding

Haylage BalancerAs the winter progresses our horses have to spend more and more time in their stables. So, it’s up to us to make sure they are kept as happy and as comfortable as possible. To ensure this, its vital they have a happy, healthy gut.

If you feed haylage, feed Haylage Balancer…Why? To help your horse thoroughly digest and maximise his intake, allowing him to gain full value from the haylage eaten, and to help keep him comfortable.

What is Haylage Balancer?... An advanced, totally natural, nutritional support formula that will help neutralise and absorb excess acids in the gut, whilst slowing down the rate of passage of partially digested food through the gut, thus maximising the digestion of roughage.

The benefits…Feeding Haylage Balancer will help to settle the gut by minimising the production of acid and any potential acidic build up. So, your horse will become more comfortable, happier and able to fully enjoy his haylage.

There are other advantages too - you

may find you can cut back on the quantity of hard feed given, you could find your horse will be cleaner in his stable, saving you time and money on bedding…so, not only will your horse be happier so will you!

So, for many reasons the wise choice this winter is to feed Haylage Balancer.

Note: While Haylage offers many advantages, it does have drawbacks - it tends to be richer and more heating than hay, plus it’s more acidic. These issues can be associated with gut upset (often noticed by loose recurrent droppings, or uncomfortable, unsettled, possibly stereotypic behaviour).

Haylage Balancer retails at: 1.8kg (30 days supply): £16.95; 3.6kg (60 days): £23.95; 9kgs (150 days): £47.95

For further please call the NAF Freephone Line: 0800 373 106 or log on to www.naf-uk.com

Indulge your horse this winter, feed ReadyFibre Mash

Essential Fibre for Winter Feeding

With temperatures looking set to remain very cold well into the New Year what better way to help warm your horse up than by feeding a high fibre mash, soaked with warm water if possible, as part of the daily diet.

ReadyFibre Mash is more than just a warming feed though; made up out of 100% high digestible fibre it is a very versatile, highly palatable product that will help increase the fibre content of the horses diet, whether stabled or living out this winter. Due to the high fibre content ReadyFibre Mash can be used as a forage replacer which is extremely beneficial for older horses that struggle to chew and digest long stem fibre as within 5 minutes of soaking a natural, healthy soft textured mash is formed that is very palatable.

By feeding ReadyFibre Mash as part of your horses daily diet you will not only be helping to increase the fibre content of your horses diet, but will also help to increase water intake.

Maintaining ample water intake is critical to ensure the health of your horse during cold weather, as low

water intake is directly related to the increased incidence of impaction colic. ReadyFibre Mash must always be fed soaked and is an ideal product to use when trying to increase your horses water intake, remembering that a horse will always prefer warm water over cold. Fresh clean water should be available to horses and ponies at all times and any ice that forms in water tubs should be removed.

With a very low level of starch and sugars and no cereals it provides a low energy, non-heating diet ideal for horses that tend to get anxious when stabled for long periods of time or those that suffer from laminitis. This helps make ReadyFibre Mash perfect for everyday feeding.

For more information contact Rowen Barbary Horse Feeds on 01948 880598 or visit www.rowenbarbary.co.uk

During the winter, the shorter days mean you may not be able to exercise your horse as much as during the spring and summer, but it’s vital that, even when stabled, he should be encouraged to follow his natural trickle-feeding pattern with plenty of fibre. The digestion of fibre produces slow release energy and is neccesary for the retention of water and electrolytes. A lack of fibre can lead to both physical and behavioural problems, therefore it helps maintain a healthy gut - essential for your horse’s general health and well-being.

Badminton’s Fibre Rich range offers you a choice of high fibre feeds in different product forms to meet your horse’s winter needs. They take the worry out of feeding and provide your horse with the correct balance of fibre and feed.

• Badminton Care ‘n’ Condition combines long fibre and a tasty oat-free mix. It has a high oil content for bloom and condition and high quality protein for muscle development and recovery. It’s ideal for all horses and ponies in medium work or in need of conditioning. It is also excellent for veterans and convalescents.

• Badminton Feed ‘n’ Fibre combines long fibre from pure natural dried grass with a quality cool mix. It’s ideal for horses in light to medium work.

• Badminton Easy Rider, combines long fibre with a feed pellet containing vitamins and minerals. This low calorie, low sugar feed is ideal for horses under a laminitic programme. It contains no alfalfa or barley, so is suitable for horses with an intolerance to these ingredients.

• Badminton High Fibre Complete is low in starch and sugar and therefore ideal for good doers, overweight horses and laminitics.

For more information on the Badminton Fibre Rich Range, log onto www.badmintonfeeds.co.uk or call them on 01425 658450


Feeding


Feeding

TopChop Lite and TopChop Alfalfa

Top tips from Top Spec on feeding during freezing conditions

Fibre-Beet for Condition Fibre-Beet is a formulated blend containing all the benefits of the original Speedi-Beet product with added high quality Alfalfa for condition. Alfalfa can help with topline and that extra finishing touch for competition horses or simply in maintaining weight and a healthy, shiny coat.

Fibre-Beet is soaked and ready to feed in only 45 minutes in cold water or 15 minutes in hot water.

It is available from all leading wholesalers in easy to handle 20kg bags and costs around £9.90.

For more information on Fibre-Beet contact British Horse Feeds on 01765 680300 or visit www.britishhorsefeeds.com

TopChop Lite and TopChop Alfalfa are both pure and natural fibre products.

These unadulterated chops have been developed to offer horse owners a molasses-free, user-friendly chop that can be fed with other TopSpec products, providing a complete feed for all horses and ponies.

TopChop Lite is made from alfalfa and oat straw, with a light dressing of soya oil and real mint. It is ideal for good doers that need their weight controlling.TopChop Alfalfa is made from alfalfa and also has a light dressing of soya oil and real mint. It is ideal for working horses, broodmares and youngstock.

TopChop Lite Features:• Made from high temperature dried British alfalfa and high quality chopped oat straw with added real mint to improve palatability. Very lightly dressed with soya oil so that alfalfa leaves can be included in the chop. • Contains no molasses or any other sugar coating.• Exceptionally low in sugar and starch (including fructans).• ‘Non-Heating.’• The alfalfa provides a natural source of anti-oxidants.• Dust-extracted.• Contains no preservatives or artificial additives or colourings. • Non-GM formula.

TopChop Lite is of similar nutritional value to average quality hay but contains less sugar. The composition

and consistency of this product make it ideal for horses and ponies prone to, being treated for, and recovering from laminitis. However it is suitable for all horses and ponies and perfect for good-doers and others prone to weight gain.

TopChop Alfalfa Features:• Pure high-temperature-dried British alfalfa with added real mint to improve palatability and lightly dressed with soya oil so that alfalfa leaves can be included in the chop. • Contains no molasses or any other sugar coating.• Very low in sugar and starch (including fructans).• Alfalfa provides a natural source of anti-oxidants.• Dust-extracted.• Contains no preservatives or artificial additives or colourings. • Non-GM formula.

It is ideal for horses and ponies needing to gain weight and for all breeding stock because of its good quality protein, low starch levels and high levels of bio-available calcium.

TopChop Lite 15kg £8.95 / TopChop Alfalfa 15kg £9.95

For free nutritional advice please contact the Multiple Award-Winning Helpline on (01845) 565030 or visit www.topspec.com

For horses and ponies living out

• Ensurewaterisavailableas constantly as possible. At least twice a day break ice, add hot water or do whatever you can to provide drinkable water. Horses will not drink snow!

• Providegenerousamountsofhayorhaylage at least twice daily. When grazing is covered by snow or frozen hard, it is essential to provide a source of fibre for the microbes in the horse’s hindgut to digest. As they digest the fibre they provide a constant source of fuel for the horse and the fermentation process literally warms him up from the inside out. This is perfect central heating and far kinder for your horse than giving him a hard feed made with hot water which is of little benefit.

Remember that your horse would normally graze for at least 16 hours a day so try to provide at least enough hay or haylage to keep him eating for that long if he cannot graze.

• Balancehisforagewithafeed balancer or supplement.In order to provide essential micronutrients feed either a suitable feed balancer or supplement mixed with damp chop.

• Onlyprovideatraditionalhardfeedif your horse is used to receiving one.To suddenly introduce significant quantities of hard feed when the microbes in your horse’s hindgut are not used to digesting them risks colic. However if he normally gets a hard feed it is safe to continue or even feed up to 25% more providing you do not exceed his stomach’s capacity e.g. 2kg per feed for a 500kg horse.

• Donotsuddenlyintroducecerealstoa horse’s feed.If you do not normally feed cereals or cereal-based compound feed do not suddenly introduce them as you again risk digestive upset, especially when forage intake is limited as the microbial balance in the hindgut will be disturbed. If you normally feed a cereal based feed you may need to feed less if you cannot supply ample forage.

• Donotsuddenlyrugupawethorseor pony.Native ponies and others living out without rugs are best left to use their coats as nature intended, just ensure ample hay/haylage. If you are already

using rugs then check that they are not damaged/leaking.

For stabled horses and ponies

• Ensurewaterisavailableas constantly as possible.It may mean going back to buckets!

• Donotturnoutunlesssafetodosoand well rugged up.A sand school is great in cold weather and an indoor school that you can access is perfect in severe snow or ice but most horses and ponies are best kept safely indoors if turn out poses any risk.

• ProvidegenerousamountsofhayorhaylageProvide extra hay or haylage to counteract boredom and replace the nutrients that might have been gained from grazing.

• Balancehisforagewithafeed balancer or supplement.In order to provide essential micronutrients feed either a suitable feed balancer or supplement mixed with damp chop.

• CutoutallotherhardfeedEven if your horse is able to have a short buck and a kick in a suitable safe place he is unlikely to be in normal work and, unless he is, you need to cut out his hard feed until he can return to work.

• Donotturnhorsesorponiesproneto laminitis out on cold, frosted grass. Limit turnout severely on cold, bright days, even when the frost has gone.

The free TopSpec Multiple Award Winning Helpline is open in all weathers! Please feel free to call 01845-565030 for any help you need. The picture is of ponies being fed hay in the snow this morning at the TopSpec Research Unit at Middle Park Farm.


Feeding - Health Care


Physiotherapy

Veterinary physiotherapy: Optimising equine performance.Linking Posture to Performance Jo Paul, Chartered Veterinary Physiotherapist

The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT) celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. To celebrate this, Scottish ACPAT members will run a series of articles entitled Veterinary Physiotherapy: optimising equine performance. This series will cover anatomy of the horse and how the horse should move, how the rider affects the horse and will show you how to enhance your horse’s movement.

Postures I have had many discussions with numerous horse people and vets over the years and one thing that no one seems to be able to fully agree on is horse conformation. Most people can agree that a particular horse is ‘pleasing to the eye’ or a ‘nice stamp for the job’, but when asked exactly what they like it is difficult to always come to a consensus. Just stand and listen to comments outside a showing ring!!

When a Chartered Physiotherapist assesses your horse the main part of that assessment is to assess his movement. They use their skill to assess if he moves optimally considering his conformation e.g. the Shetland pony and the Dutch Warm Blood have the same component parts but you don’t expect to see them covering the ground in the same way.

If the horse is not moving optimally, it is our job to work out why and try and correct that with treatment.

However before we even start assessing movement we should be able to look at a horse and guestimate the expected movement potential for his conformation. Otherwise how do we know the horse is moving abnormally if we have no clue of his normal?

The next problem is to decide if a horse is moving in a particular way because he always moves like that, in which

case he may have been developing a problem over a number of months or years, or if he is moving this way because of a recent injury.

This is where conformation differs from postural types.

The postural type is the posture that your horse has adopted due to conformation and stresses like injuries, type of tack, foot balance and training methods. It is a map of the history of your horses’ movement patterns. The movement pattern your horse adopts to achieve the tasks asked of him will dictate the way he moves and performs. Skill is required to assess the difference between the ACTUAL conformation of the horse, which is his shape as a result of genetics and nutrition, or ACQUIRED conformation or posture which results in adapted muscle lengths and strengths causing altered joint positions due to adopted movement patterns.

There are 3 main postural types with a number of sub groups describing if the effects of the postural type are symmetrical or if they are different on each side of the horse. It is useful to know about the 2 most common ones, imaginatively named Type A and B! Type A is the most common as the horse adopts this due to many stresses. Type B, the next common, is often caused by pain or weakness in the back. Then there is Type C, which is often the result of hind limb pathology or weakness.

If a horse has been moving in a particular way for more than 3 months his muscle shape will reflect that, and there may be a muscle imbalance around a particular joint. If the horse has been moving in that way for more than six months the muscles that are stabilising the joint will be fairly well developed and this tells us the horse has not been working to his full potential for that length of time


Health Care

Nature’s medicine chest in a tub!

or longer. This information should fit with the history the owner has given or helps if the horse is new to the owner and history is scanty. All this helps to construct an individual treatment programme specifically for your horse.

The rehabilitation programme for Type A, B and C are vastly different so if you have a horse that falls into one type or another this would apply to your normal management and is often the basis of how one technique will work with one horse but not another.

Type A have weak and elongated abdominal muscles [grass belly], with an extended or hollow thoracic and lumbar spine. The position of the spine will restrict lateral bend through his back. Weak abdominals can be due to surgery or pregnancy but more often will be caused by the horse not working through his back properly, therefore he becomes sore and restricted in his back and does not use his abdominals properly to support his trunk.

This position of the trunk will put the lumbosacral junction into extension and tip the pelvis forward. This makes it especially difficult for the horse to canter and jump, but also to swing his hind legs forward underneath him properly in any gait. So this horse will start to adapt muscle balance in his hind quarters that support him in a shorter stride that pushes him forward when his hind legs are out behind him. Typically the gluteal muscles on the top of the quarters and semimembranosis and semitendinosis running down the side of the tail will be well built up but the biceps femoris muscle, running from the back of the sacrum all the way down the hind quarters to the stifle, will be weak and lose bulk.

This means this horse will start to feel strong in a step that is short and

powerful, but the range of movement that allows the hind leg to come under him will be restricted.

This affects the performance in two main ways. Firstly he can not use the large hindquarter muscles efficiently to propel him forward so they fatigue quickly, and he has to push forward more with the lower limb which will increase the concussion through the joints of the lower limb. Secondly, because he does not step under far enough, he can not take enough weight on his hind limbs to lighten his forehand.

As he has to take more weight on his forehand, the muscles around the scapula will adapt to stabilise the scapula more on the ribcage, but at the expense of the movement of the scapula. Typically the cervical trapezius and thoracic serratus ventralis will shorten and strengthen, to clamp the scapula to the ribs. This will result in a straighter angle of the scapula in stance. This affects performance in three main ways. Firstly because the shoulder is straighter, the length of step in front is shorter - ever ridden a horse with lots of activity behind but it doesn’t result in a good medium pace? Secondly it is more difficult for him to adjust his balance on uneven or deep ground. Lastly because the abdominals are weak and the junction between the ribs and the scapula is restricted, it is difficult for him to lift the ribs up through the scapula to give you a rounded outline.

Finally the Type A will have a ewe neck tendency and become stiff in his poll. This happens because there is so much weight on the forehand the horse has to set his poll and use the brachiocephalic muscle along the bottom of his neck to help pull the front leg forwards. This adaptation may make the horse

cont. on p.22

HerbiLIX low sugar licks from Brinicombe Equine not only supply nutritious vitamins and minerals, but also a powerful herbal blend. Says Hermione Perry MSc, Equine development manager for Brinicombe Equine. “The modern horse is deprived of vital plants and herbs from traditional hedgerows and grazing, especially when stabled during the winter. Historically, horses would have selected specific plants to maintain health, and we feel that horses of today should still be benefiting from natures medicine chest. HerbiLIX, like many other Brinicombe Equine formulas, contains our unique Devon Bank™ blend which includes herbs such as nettles, cleavers

and dandelion with benefits including support of the liver, immune system and blood. Another benefit of providing Devon Bank™ in our HerbiLIX licks is the delicious aroma and palatability achieved without high levels of molasses and sugar”

For further information on HerbiLIX, and other Brinicombe Equine supplements please Tel 08700 606206 or visit www. brinicombe-equine.co.uk


Health Care - Worming

unsettled in his mouth and appear head shy.

Often with work these horse can lose the obvious grass belly but the other areas remain out of balance and when the horse is let down the belly returns within a few days. Type B also have dysfunctional abdominal muscles but this time they are constantly in to much tension [herring gutted] and hold the gut, thorax and spine in a stable but restrictive position. This posture can be adopted because of a primary back pain, gut

pain or over working when still weak.

These horses find lateral bend very difficult and tend to corner like a bus by swinging the quarters out or shoulders in.

They often have good muscle balance over their hind quarters because they are able to bring their hind leg forward and underneath them. Apart from the stiffness through the trunk they often perform very well especially as jumpers. The main problem is in the fixed posture of the pelvis. This means to perform optimally the horse has to push off more using the lower hind

limb, therefore he predisposes himself to soft tissue injury behind.

In front the muscles around the scapula are often weak as there is not much for them to do as stabilisers and balancers. This again takes away protection from the structures of the lower fore limb, predisposing the horse to forelimb injury.

Type C is a bit of a mixture of A and B, with the abdominals toward the front of the trunk and the pectorals presenting weak and elongated and the muscles around the lumbar spine locked on [tucked up]. The performance of these

horses usually depends on which hind limb pathology is present but typically, they just do not fulfil expectation and underperform. In the later stages they show up lame behind.

The identification of these types are important as part of a whole assessment, next month I will discuss the gait assessment in relation to the postural adaptations.

Jo Paul - Contact 01368 830633 or www.werc.co.uk - Based in East Lothian.

cont. from p.21

The New Year’s resolution every horse owner should make

Blue Chip joint RLF ‘broke new ground’When it comes to your horse’s health

make sure you are always prepared for every eventuality. Prompt first aid treatment can significantly reduce damage, healing time and scarring. Robinson Animal Healthcare is the leading expert when it comes to wound care and would recommend that all owners make the following New Year’s Resolution:

Be Prepared – Make sure you always have access to a complete first aid kit at home and when away at competitions.

The Horse and Rider First Aid Kit is available in an easy to carry kit bag and contains Animalintex, Veterinary Gamgee, Wound Dressings, Equiwrap, Vetalintex Wound Hydrogel and Safety Scissors. Also for the rider a FastAid essentials travel pack is included for minor cuts and grazes.

The Horse & Rider First Aid Kit retails at around £24.95.

Robinson Animal Healthcare has a wide range of products for all your first aid requirements.

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

Providing nutritional support for the joints of working horses and ponies has been the subject of extensive research for a number of years and most experts agree that joint supplements are beneficial to joint health and long term soundness.

When equine researchers identified one particular species of rosehip - Rosa canina - as a powerful natural supplement for joint comfort and mobility, Blue Chip developed the first supplement incorporating an extract of Rosa canina, its liquid Blue Chip Joint RLF, which won a BETA International Innovation Award when it was launched.

Joining the recent debate on speculation raised by one study in humans questioning the efficacy of glucosamine in particular, Blue Chip Managing Director Jem Clay confirms, “The formulation of Blue Chip Joint RLF also includes pharmaceutical grade glucosamine HCL, hyaluronic acid, organic MSM, Yucca schidigera, organic manganese chelate and vitamin C and we do not intend to change that on the

strength of just one trial in humans. The transposing of data from one species to another is not reliable and current comment has to be viewed in context, alongside a background of other trials that have not come to the same conclusion.

“At Blue Chip, we were the first to use Rosa canina, because we were so impressed with the trial data in horses and developed the formulation of Blue Chip Joint RLF based on a desire to produce the most comprehensive joint support product available. The research carried out on the individual ingredients by eminent equine research teams around the world remains convincing and we advise that horse owners should think carefully before moving away from these ingredients that are routinely used by leading international riders acting on expert veterinary advice.”

Blue Chip Joint RLF is available in 1 litre bottles costing around £45.00.

For more information, contact 0114 266 6200 or visit www.bluechipfeed.com


Health Care - Worming

New Year resolution with Ruggles & Stopitall Ltd Most of us make our New Year Resolutions with very good intentions but a few weeks down the line we’re back to our old habits again!

Ruggles & Stopitall Ltd can offer a resolution that could prove to be invaluable to both you and your animals as well as being easy to stick to – ‘Choose natural whole health for all-round savings’.This might not sound very exciting but

once you have discovered the benefits and cost-efficiencies that certain all-natural products can bring, you probably won’t want to use harsh, chemical-containing products again!

Ruggle-it is a pioneering hypo-allergenic shampoo and 100% natural vegetable oil blend that is free from nasties such as Parabens and Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, and even better, it can be applied to most types of animals from horses to

hamsters as well as humans. It can also be used on an incredible 18 different issues from itching, hair loss, mud and fungus to crusty lumps, mites, mossies and head lice, etc.

Used in tandem with a high quality pre and probiotic such as Protexin to actively encourage ‘friendly bacteria’ for optimum internal health, you can expect some amazing results. Whether the situation is humans living full-on and busy lifestyles, or animals on cereal/rice diets, or for all living creatures after antibiotics, chemical applications, stress (travel or home related), illness and worming, etc, Protexin probiotics can play vital roles .

They can help the body to calm an

over-active immune response for itching and environmental sensitivities or help re-boot the immune system when struggling with seasonal issues such as muddy/wet environments. All health challenges can negatively affect the natural balance of gut bacteria which in turn can play havoc with the immune system.

So why not turn over a new leaf for 2011 and empower the body to be ‘naturally well’?

For details on the full range of naturally inspired products at Ruggles & Stopitall Ltd as well as very impressive testimonials, please visit www.karenruggles.co.uk or call 01823 259952


Health Care - Teeth

Equine Dentistry: What should you expect?

The science bit behind Rockies’ licks

Ben Sturgeon, BSc, BVMS, Cert EP, MRCVS

Routine dental care is undoubtedly one of and if not the most important aspect of your horses health and well being. It not only allows your horse to eat efficiently and without pain, it also enhances performance, promotes longevity without even mentioning preventing dental and oral disease. If nothing else it is the one thing an owner can do each year to confirm and aid their horse’s well being. But to do this costs you some money, generally not a lot, but it is your money and that is becoming increasingly prayed upon and that is worrying.

Over the recent few years the equine dental industry has undergone a seismic renaissance; equipment, techniques, knowledge of conditions and their treatment are on an upward exponential curve and a number of organisations dedicated to equine dentistry have appeared with a seemingly ever increasing number of equine dental professionals, both veterinary and non-veterinary available. Whilst I know and work with many non-veterinary equine dentists and personally rate their work, I have also found standards do vary wildly along with ideas and practice and it is no wonder it is very difficult for a horse owner to get sensible, unbiased and good advice. This is entirely understandable when most owners won’t be aware of any differences between vets and equine dentists or if they do then there is confusion over exactly what non-veterinary persons are able to do or perhaps more importantly legally able to perform. Vets, through their training and qualifications are legally permitted to perform any diagnosis or treatment on animals and most dental procedures fall under the category of “Acts of Veterinary Surgery”. Believe it or not I know how to anaesthetise, pull teeth and even

amputate limbs and could do it on a human but guess what, because I don’t have the right “paper work”, I’m not allowed, and that sure protects you. The same principle applies to your horse’s mouth and your hard earned cash.

Rasping a horse’s teeth using hand instruments is not classed as an Act of Veterinary Surgery and requires no formal training or qualification and this has led to many self titled ‘equine dentists’, suggestive of a higher level of qualification where none actually exist, setting up and “practising”. A human dentist has a 5 year University degree and swears an oath similar to vets and doctors promising to care for patients; most equine dentists have no formally recognised qualifications at all. There are however, two exceptions to this outside of vets – The British Association of Equine Dental Technicians (BAEDT) and the World Wide Association of Equine Dentistry (WWAED) who both produce a training structure with examinations which are recognised by both DEFRA and the RCVS.

On consultation with the above authorities the profile of equine dentists was examined and currently 3 categories of qualification and practice are identified:

1. Allows procedures by any lay person without training or qualification: a. Rasping of enamel overgrowths using hand tools b. Removal of tartar c. Removal of loose caps not attached by ligaments d. Rounding of first cheek tooth (bit seating)

2. Allows procedures only by members of BAEDT or WWAED: a. All of the above and

b. Examination, evaluation and recording of dental abnormalities c. Removal of loose teeth or fragments not attached by ligaments d. Removal of wolf teeth under veterinary supervision e. Use of motorised equipment in sedated horses

3. And finally procedures only allowed by vets: a. All of the above and b. Extraction of diseased teeth using instuments c. Widening of spaces (diastema) between teeth d. ‘Blind’ wolf tooth extraction e. Fillings f. Root canal fillings g. Any surgery of the sinuses and head

So if you are paying good money it should not be unreasonable to equate value for money with level of evaluation, therapy or follow up. I have always been amazed that any equine dentist or vet feels that they can not only adequately evaluate (i.e. look) but also treat any dental disorders without the use of a gag. The commonest areas I find with problems are the inner most (i.e. back teeth) parts of the mouth. This is on average 1 and a half feet in from the front of the hores’s mouth and completely inaccessible in 99.9 of horses without use of a gag. This is number one on the “are they doing it properly” list? Furthermore, anyone concerned with providing proper care and the appropriate therapy should not simply shove a rasp in and waggle it around. Evaluation to identify the need for treatment and level of it can only be achieved by use of gag, dental mirror, torch, pick and fingers; numbers two, three, four and five and please note we haven’t got anywhere near lifting a rasp

yet. I don’t care how long your dentist’s been at it, this is the bare minimum. Once it is established what your dentist is capable of or allowed to do, once you have observed proper evaluation of your horse’s mouth and dental arcade, only then can therapy be instituted. This may mean simply rasping, certainly this doesn’t need a vet but neither does it mean 10 minutes and all done. BAEDT dentists’ recon on approximately 8 – 12 horses treated per day and even with electrical/mechanical rasps this figure only increases marginally. Doing a whole yard of 20+ horses in one morning is simply not done, and if it is, you are.

Sedation is the final controversial point. I sedate the vast majority of horses I see for dental care (routine or not), yes some can have their teeth rasped without but evaluation without it is, in my opinion, nigh on impossible. Next time you go to the dentist try letting him or her examine you and treat you whilst you walk around, preferably chewing gum. I know sedation adds £20-30 to the bill but without exception this is money well spent – a less stressed horse, full critical evaluation identifying and recording problem areas are so important not just for the top class dressage horse but right down to the aged crock; treatment then and only then is aimed not just at waggling a rasp around and removing a few sharp edges but returning the mouth to as near normal as possible, and this includes doing absolutely nothing. If you don’t want your money, please send it to bensbeerfundformadowners.com it will be greatly appreciated.

It may seem that giving your horse a lick is something designed to amuse or reward him and, indeed, Rockies’ licks do both of these things. The element that some people fail to appreciate is that a lot of careful planning, tests and trials go in to creating the Rockies range as John Main Technical Manager explains.

“Magnacalm is our latest product and whereas many people see conventional supplements as more ‘scientific’ than licks, I can assure you that a lot of thought, reading and research goes in to our range. Magnacalm is a great example.

The horse’s daily magnesium requirement (grams) is clearly laid out

in the USA National Academies “2007 Nutrient Requirement of Horses”. The more work a horse does, the more energy it uses and along with the increased stress involved, this results in a doubled daily magnesium requirement.”

But it’s not just Magnesium requirements that increase with workload: “In parallel with the horse’s daily magnesium requirement doubling as work rate increases, the salt demand also escalates even more rapidly. In fact, NRC data confirms that the horse with an intensive schedule requires four times as much salt as a horse of the same weight that is on a basic maintenance diet.”

With the increase in demand for both Magnesium and salt, Rockies’ Magnacalm could very well hold the answer to any potential issue: a free access mineralised magnesium salt lick like Rockies’ Magnacalm can also help to make up the deficit of these major minerals in the working horse. A voluntary intake of 50 grams of the self-service product supplies 7.5 grams of magnesium that is the difference in requirement between a resting horse and a stressed horse in relatively heavy work! Unlike most other Rockies, Magnacalm isn’t, basically, a high salt product. The major ingredient, magnesium content from a variety of palatable sources, is supported by new ingredient cerelose dextrose for

improved product utilisation by the horse or pony.

“Finally, since neither magnesium or salt is stored by horses for future quick release, this means both of these essential minerals do need to be fed on a daily basis”

Rockies’ Magnacalm is available from all Rockies’ stockists.

To find out more about Rockies and Magnacalm, see www.rockies.co.uk or call 01606 595025.


Health Care - Tack & Turnout

Abbey and Hilary Vernon - Bitting and Dentistry ProblemsHere bitting experts Abbey and Hilary Vernon explain the importance of regular teeth checks and using a suitable bit...

You need to have your horse’s mouth checked by a Vet that specialises in Equine Dentistry or an Equine Dental Technician at least once a year. It is generally regarded as good practice to have young horses teeth checked every six months until a routine has been established and it is apparent that the checks can stretch to 9 or even 12 months for the individual horse in question.

Be guided by the person booked to do the work. These checks should start from the earliest age so that a young horse firstly gets used to having a check and if anything needs correcting this can be done easily at an early age rather than waiting until some thing like a wolf tooth gets really large and established and needs surgery to remove it. With a young horse you need to know that the mouth and teeth are forming properly so that the process of bitting will be a pleasant one or if there is a larger problem with a little thought, and possibly specialist treatment and the right bit things can proceed as normal.

The frequency of the checks is important because of the fact that the horse’s teeth continue to grow throughout its life and the direction that the horse’s molars grow in. The molars do not meet evenly so are worn away leaving sharp edges, on the outside edges of the upper teeth and the inside edges of the lower teeth. In the early stages this probably only means slight discomfort, and some bruising. But still resulting in an uncomfortable mouth for bitting purposes. If allowed to go unchecked the tongue and cheeks can be badly bruised and cut taking time to heal, and causing unnecessary mouthing and bitting problems. In severe cases of neglect the jaw can be pushed out of alignment taking months of correction and pain to get back to normal if indeed that is possible.

Sometimes the pre molars do not meet evenly so that the top pre molar over hangs the bottom pre molar, this means over time if not corrected the top pre molar grows down in a sort of ice pick shape which is very uncomfortable and sharp.

Signs that teeth may need immediate attention are as follows.

• General resistances to the bit where none previously existed. • Obvious discomfort when a cavesson noseband is done up tightly, causing the horses cheeks to be pressed onto the sharp edges of the teeth. • Reluctance to have the sides of the face handled. • Head Shaking • Constantly working the bit in the mouth • Quidding: i.e. partially chewed food falling from the mouth and a general inability to eat up as normal• Lastly in time, loss of condition.

To make sure that your Horses mouth is always in the best condition book regular dental checks. Check your horse’s mouth each time you ride or groom to make sure that there are no injuries or bruises.

Make sure that your bit is in good condition and not old and worn and is smooth to the touch and symmetrical in its construction.

The horse’s mouth is vitally important to the way the horse reacts to being handled and responding to signals as it is ridden so it is very important to make sure it is as well maintained and as comfortable as possible.

For more information on Abbey Bits and The Hilary Vernon Informed Bitting Collection contact Abbey on 01565 650343 or visit www.ridingbitz.com or www.equestrianknowledge.co.uk

Hook on a pre molar

Mouth bruised from pinching bit


Pilates - Tack & Turnout - Training

Pilates for EquestriansOver the next 12 months we will be running a series of extracts from “Pilates for Equestrians” by Liza Randall. Initially we will examine the principles and later provide a variety of exercises for readers to try themselves.

Liza was trained by Lynne Robinson and her highly skilled Pilates teacher-trainers at the London Body Control Pilates Association (BCPA). She was then mentored by chartered physiotherapist and Pilates teacher Kate Fernyhough in Staffordshire – an inspirational teacher who first introduced Liza to Pilates following an accident. Liza then went on to teach at Pilates studios in London, Warwickshire, Cheshire and Northamptonshire and took her final exams to achieve her full qualifications as a Level 3 Pilates coach with the BCPA. With an interest in coaching sportsmen and women, particularly equestrians, Liza founded Panacea Pilates and now teaches Pilates to professional and amateur riders alike in Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, as well as eventing her own horses in her spare time.

As riders, we take great care of our horses – with vets, equine physios, farriers and other specialists and trainers on hand. They spring into action at a moment’s notice if we think there is anything wrong, or if we are not achieving our riding goals. But what about the rider’s physical and psychological needs? More and more, athletes are realising the benefits from improved core stability, which can be achieved through Pilates. Olympic skiers, rowers, rugby players, triathletes and jockeys have all tried it and triumphed, and so include it into their conditioning programme. This is not just to improve their performance on the day, but also to help prevent injury by targeting the deep postural muscles that balance their body. Regular riders now have the opportunity to add a Pilates workout to their daily routine and enjoy its benefits for life. Once you have the Pilates principles and basic exercises off pat, you’ll be amazed at how much better you will feel overall; you’ll begin to walk tall and hold yourself with more presence, benefiting

from increased strength from the inside out.

Pilates is a simple concept, which centres on core stability. And for riders it makes sense, as the same principle applies to the horse. To give a horse lift and strength so that he can engage his hocks and shoulders correctly, his powerhouse, or abdominal muscles must be engaged and then he can become round and ‘through’ and soft in the back. A hollow horse is simply not using his muscles correctly – the same comment can be applied to a person.

The best thing about Pilates is that it is for everyone – regardless of your age, physical ability or size.

So why is Pilates of use to horse riders? As a rider, you need to be able to control your horse, a powerful but sensitive animal, with just a twitch of a muscle here or a shift in weight there. A rider needs to be strong from the inside out, with the ability to engage deep postural muscles for ultimate grace and flexibility in the dressage, stability and power in showjumping and quick reflexes, strength and endurance for successful cross-country riding. Apart from the obvious physical benefits such as increased tone, a longer, leaner body, more flexibility and a better sense of awareness in the saddle, Pilates relaxes the body and mind and encourages the rider to breathe for maximum efficiency.

The Pilates Principles for RidersWhen it comes to horses, we have the scales of training, which are our basic ideals and foundations upon which riding is based – Pilates is the same. Whatever method of Pilates you choose to practise, you will come across similar

principles. The main ones applicable to riders are: Centring; Breathing; Flowing Movement; Alignment; Co-ordination and Precision; Relaxation and Concentration; Stamina. If you find an exercise difficult, come down a level and re-examine the main principles, just as you would revisit the scales of training when learning a new movement with your horse.

Next month we will look at the main principles in more depth.

If you can’t wait to see the next instalment in Equi-Ads, Pilates for Equestrians by Liza Randall is available from Kenilworth Press at RRP £19.95.

Email: [email protected] Tel: 01939 261616 www.countrybooksdirect.com

Copyright © 2010 Liza RandallStudio Photography by Simon Lusty; mounted and other photographs by the author and Karl Randall

Line illustrations and cartoons by Dianne Breeze

Extract courtesy Kenilworth Press, an imprint of Quiller Publishing Ltd

Liza and Rose


Clinics - Clippers - Health Care - Tack & Turnout

Winter ailment woes soothed the natural waySave 15% on Winter Skin Care Pack with Vine Herbal

Mud fever, rain scald, cuts and bruises are troublesome and can really have a negative affect on your horse. Vine Herbal is doing a promotional winter offer saving you 15% on an essential range of products. These products have been selected especially to help ease these common ailments and take the stress out of the coming winter months.

The Winter Skin Care Pack includes: Marigold Cream, Comfrey Cream and Skin Care for a fabulous £29.99. This is part of a special winter promotion saving you 15% off the recommended retail price. This offer is running till the 31st January 2011.

Comfrey Cream is a natural cream to soothe minor horse injuries, cuts and sores and help support the skins natural healing process. This cream can be used to aid the healing of cuts, bites, sprains, bruising and arthritis.

Marigold Cream is a cream to support the natural healing of minor horse injuries, bruises and sores. It is an ideal product to be kept in every tack room as uses include; minor cuts, bites, skin irritations, seasonal related ailments such as mud fever, cracked heels, sweet itch and irritated skin.

Skin Care is a herbal skin supplement to help you care for your horse’s skin if they suffer from seasonal irritations,

fungal or bacterial infections and sensitive reactions. The unique formula uses herbs that have gained a reputation through time for their use with inflammation, allergies and other skin problems.

Vine Herbal produce a range of natural herbal supplements designed for your animals from horses to dogs; which utilises nature’s power to aid and support the animals system naturally. If you are looking for products to support skin care, digestion, performance, fertility and wellbeing Vine Herbal may give your animal that extra helping hand.

Vine Herbal products can only be purchased online at www.vineherbal.co.uk.


Horse Behaviour

An independent seat – and hands Part 2A series by SUSAN McBANE dealing with equestrian principles from the viewpoint of equine behaviour and psychology

Last month I discussed various aspects of having an independent seat and hands and how having them, or not, affects equine behaviour respectively for good or bad. This month, I’ll recap one important point – many horses are frightened by their riders falling off and those who purposely remove their riders because of previous bad riding become confirmed in their successful technique. Neither situation makes for a good relationship or creates a good riding horse. It is also potentially dangerous.

This month we’ll concentrate on giving you, the rider and/or trainer, the kind of seat which is a time-proven, firm foundation for all kinds of riding. It will make you much more likely to stay on, enable you to ride your horse so that both of you are comfortable and confident (assuming comfortable tack) and to use your aids effectively and humanely. This kind of seat reassures horses and vastly improves their behaviour, and I’d like to reassure you, in turn, that it is quite attainable for any rider who has an open mind and positive attitude so that they can learn something a little different and put it into practice all the time. In this way, their horse knows he can trust his rider and does not have to defend himself against her inappropriate actions, as well as trying to do what she is asking at the same time – a tall order for any horse.

ONLYHALFWAYTHEREThe seat or position was described last month and is basically the traditional classical seat which so many people think they adopt but do not, and it is not their fault if they have not been taught properly. It is based on normal, good posture and balance, is very adaptable and effective.

We have all heard that there should be a straight, vertical line dropping from the ear, through the shoulder and hip and passing down the back of the heel to the ground – ‘shoulder, hip, heel’, we say. There should be another straight line from the elbow, through the hand to the horse’s mouth – ‘elbow, hand, horse’s mouth’. This is all fine as far as it goes, but the true classical version goes a bit further. We say ‘ear, shoulder, hip/elbow,

ankle’. Your shoulders and elbows are pushed back and down, your back is straight and erect, neither hollowed nor rounded, your breastbone is raised and your seatbones always pushed forward towards the pommel which counteracts the tendency of the horse’s movement to send you back. Your ankle joint is directly below your hip joint. The elbow/hand/horse’s mouth line still applies. These are your default or HQ criteria which you adopt most of the time and to which you always return.

Very few people actually maintain even the basic shoulder/hip/heel position (although many genuinely think they do) so when a teacher adds the emphases and refinements of the full classical seat and puts them into it, their first reaction is often: ‘Oh, that feels weird, I can’t ride like that.’ Remember that anything new feels strange at first but practise really does make perfect: you’ll soon get used to it. Even after one lesson, conscientious riders remark how much more part of their horse they feel, how much safer and more comfortable, and how much more attentive and calm their horse is.

FIRST,YOURSADDLEYour saddle for flatwork and low jumps should have the deepest part of the seat in the centre with the stirrup bars far enough back to allow your feet to remain naturally underneath your body. If the bars are too far forward, the stirrups, hanging directly underneath them, also will hang too far forward and will constantly pull your feet forward out of position. It is awkward to have to keep holding them back to counteract this yet if you don’t you will be constantly pulled out of balance.

STANDOVERYOURHORSE!It could help you if you think of the classical seat as more like standing over your horse than sitting on him. The base point of the balanced position is your two seatbones, the lowest part of your pelvis which you can feel in the saddle directly under your torso. Mount your horse, quit your stirrups, let your buttock and leg muscles go completely loose and let your legs drop loosely right down your horse’s sides with your toes pointing naturally downwards. Stretch up from your waist with a straight back.

Now wriggle your seat about a bit to find your seatbones, which might feel further forward than you expect. Then sit on them, lightly, and NOT back on your buttocks which will send your feet forwards. With your horse standing on a long rein, and with your elbows back on your hips, not in front of them, so your upper arms drop naturally vertically down, keep still and relaxed, sit up and get used to the feel of this position and balance. The next refinement, which increases your security and seat contact, is to widen your seat. This sounds strange because the pelvis has no moveable joints in it but it does have a socket on each side, into each of which fits the rounded top of a bony prominence at the head of your thigh bone called the trochanter. The trochanter slants upwards and inwards and, together, its rounded top and the socket which receives it (your hip joint) are called a ball-and-socket joint. Ball-and-socket joints are very mobile and the position of the trochanters adds another benefit. They enable you to widen your seat.Sitting as described above, gently rotate your hip joints forwards slightly so that the trochanters angle your thigh bones outwards a little, giving you a slightly, but significantly, widened seat base. You can feel the extra contact and security as soon as you do it. Your left hip rotates clockwise (to the right) and your right hip rotates anti-clockwise (to the left). This also places your inner thighs closer to the saddle flap, and makes your knees and feet point more to the front, giving you closer contact, better balance and more security. This, again, feels a little strange at first but riders quickly feel the benefit of it. Combined with the dropped, loose buttocks and legs and the stretched-up torso, you will soon realise how much more stable and adhesive your seat is.

Even at this stage, standing still, horses notice the difference. Their ears often flick back to you and they might stand to attention and listen as though expecting some action.

DON’TBEHARDONYOURSELFYou must never force your position. Just tell your body that this is how it is from now on, and remind it constantly, and it will soon form good habits.

Never do anything to cause yourself pain as this means you are close to injuring yourself. Whoever coined the phrase ‘no pain, no gain’ should be shot.

If you start to ache a bit from unaccustomed use, stop, sit on your buttocks (that’s right) and raise your knees up to the pommel. Then start again when you’ve had a break. Your tissues need to ‘get fit’ as in any physical activity, and these breaks enhance the process.

Riders often don’t regard riding as an athletic pursuit (and good riding is also an academic one). Your body won’t perform if you don’t operate it. Sitting on your horse any old how doesn’t cut it, as most horses show by their behaviour and way of going. A balanced seat even in a balanced saddle has to be worked on (although complete beginners of any age often adopt it instinctively), but it does become second nature quicker than you’d expect. Block the intrusion of your old habits sneaking back and nag yourself to do it right. We all have to learn to teach ourselves as we ride otherwise we don’t even keep up to scratch, never mind improve.

Now, still without your stirrups and your horse still on a long rein, give him either a light tap with your whip just behind your leg or a gentle but definite squeeze with the inside of your calves (not your heels as this is pretty crude and will raise your legs). In walk, stay really loose and dropped from the seat down and let your seat swing with the movements of your horse’s back, allowing it to rise and drop on each alternate side as the horse moves. Stretch yourself straight up from the waist and drop down from the waist so that you are almost stretching yourself apart. Keep your head, shoulders and whole upper body STILL, absorbing the movement only from the waist down. This gives you a stability your horse will be relieved to recognise and, believe me, he will work better and more confidently.

TAKEUPYOURSTIRRUPSOnce you’re getting the hang of this,


Horse Behaviour

adjust your stirrups so that the tread touches your ankle bone with your legs still dropped, then put your feet in them. Keep your hips slightly rotated and your legs down, allowing your ankle joint to flex so that your weight drops down through your heel. Your ankle joint should be directly beneath your hip joint with the tread of the stirrup under the ball of your foot, so that your toe is slightly raised. Glance down at your knees and you will probably just see the very toe of your boot – no more. Let your legs be down and gently close to your horse without actually exerting pressure.

Using your calves or a whip-tap, walk on again, getting familiar with this relaxed but ‘held’ position. Keep your elbows back on your hips and let your horse swing along on a long rein. If you allow your elbows to come forward you encourage your body to come forward, too, and might start to slouch, so this crucial balance is lost.

I cannot, here, tell you everything you need to know but you can get much more information from my books, ‘100 Ways To Improve Your Riding’, ‘Revolutionize Your Riding’ and ‘Horse-Friendly Riding’. The key is, become a still, erect and moulding rider, only giving aids when necessary so that your horse understands that you actually mean something. This removes confusion and gives him confidence to comply readily.

This upright seat is used for walk, sitting trot and canter, with refinements for each gait. For rising trot, lean forward from your hip joints, not your waist, keep your back flat and your shoulders just over your knees, keep those legs dropped and spread your weight by taking it down the whole of your thighs, not just on your stirrups. The bodyline now is shoulders/knees/feet.

Instead of performing ‘up, down’, use the movement known as the ‘pelvic tilt’ so essential to gymnasts and dancers. Tilt the pubic bone (the lowest, front part of the pelvis) forward as the horse’s movement sends you up on the ‘rise’ and let your body drop gently with a tucked-under bottom on the ‘sit’, so you are barely doing anything, dropping the legs and staying much closer to your horse. So, it’s ‘tilt, tuck, tilt, tuck’ rather than up and down. Remember – practise makes perfect!

Rising trot without stirrups is similar, and won’t be hard if you have mastered taking your weight more down the inside of your thighs, without letting your knees block the drop of your legs. It is most useful to know this when you lose a stirrup!

The pelvic tilt is also used for sitting trot, so your pelvis is tilting forward and up in the moment of suspension, and straightening out again as the horse lands on each diagonal. The beauty of it is, if you stay soft but held, the movement just happens without your doing much, especially if you lean back just a touch so that your shoulder blades are just behind your hips, and keep the gait slow at first.

In canter, you also use the pelvic tilt but in a more diagonal move, because you sit with your inside seatbone very slightly forward – right fore leading, right seatbone forward and vice versa.

INDEPENDENT HANDSIn trot, many riders let their hands go up and down with their rise and sit, or if they bounce in sitting trot. This must feel really awful to the horse and causes tension and anxiety plus a poor way of going. If you trot as described, your body movement will be much reduced, but you can stop any up-and-down movement of your hands by keeping them the same distance above the pommel. As you rise, how ever little it is, leave or push your hands down slightly to keep them still, at their same level, regardless of your body movement. Temporarily, try fastening two strong rubber bands to the front dees of your saddle and hooking your little fingers through them, so you’ll feel when your hands move too much.

A tip to tell whether or not you are correctly absorbing the movement or going up and down too much is to look at the brim of your hat. If it’s going up and down so are you but if it stays fairly level you are probably doing a good job.The security afforded by the seat described will automatically mean that you do not need to resort to your hands to keep you on in an emergency – you can just use them as aids to direct your horse.

GALLOPINGANDJUMPINGFor galloping, shorten your stirrups to a helpful length, keep your feet under your knees with your stirrup leathers vertical (not angled forward which will destroy your balance and probably make you hang on to your horse’s mouth) and lean forward, with a straight back, from your hip joints with your shoulders above your knees - shoulders/knees/feet. Try to keep your body and particularly your head still but not rigid, so that the horse is working under you but you are riding along on an imaginary straight line, letting your hip, knee and ankle joints flex and absorb his movement. Try it and you’ll see what I mean and get the hang of it. Keep your legs dropped.

The jumping technique was described and explained last month but the essentials are to keep your feet under your knees and, on take-off, push your seat well back, fold down your upper body from the hip joints with a flat back, as though trying to touch the horse’s crest with your breastbone, and follow down with your hands towards the horse’s mouth.

MOVINGONThese techniques are explained fully in my books and in older classics such as ‘Understanding Equitation’ by Jean Saint-Fort Paillard, ‘Modern Show-jumping’ by Count Ilias Toptani and ‘Training Showjumpers’ by Anthony Paalman. The fact that some modern teachers will pooh-pooh these older books should not deter you from acquiring the seat they promote, which enabled truly world-class riders to jump fences around six and seven feet (5.4-6.4m) regularly and safely, giving their horses maximum freedom and keeping them in work for years due to the lessened stress occasioned by the horses’ free use of their bodies at a time of maximum effort, when they can least take being interfered with by their riders.

When you ride as described above, your horse will be calm, active,

interested and obedient provided he understands your aids.

It is interesting to note that the new and ground-breaking discipline of Equitation Science (visit www.aebc.com.au) recommends a policy of ethically-trained freedom for the horse and classical techniques for the rider. The results are improved performance, increased safety, balance, ethical riding and humane treatment. Horses are calmer, co-operative, more ‘trusting’, perform better and altogether become the kind of riding horse we all, surely, should love.

SUSANMcBANEholdstheClassicalRiding Club Gold Award, an HNC in Equine Science and Management, is co-founder of the Equine Behaviour Forum and an Associate (practitioner) Member of the International Society for Equitation Science. Best known as an equestrian author and publisher (see www.tracking-up.com), she also teaches and trains in Lancashire and surrounding counties. Contact her on 01254 705487 or [email protected]. Her website is at www.susanmcbane.com


Holidays

Classified - News

6 - Equi-Ads - June 2010

Ever fancied going for a really long ride on your horse – like a thousand miles? Last summer, Kate Godfrey did just that, riding the hill tracks and drove roads of Scotland with her two Highland geldings. This month, she reveals the secrets of a well- planned expedition.

I’ve spent years exploring Scotland’s fabulous landscape on horseback. My special interest is the drove roads which stretch from the far north right down to the Borders. However, like most people, my wanderings were confined to the odd week or two, fitting in around the demands of work, family and all the other animals which we keep at home on the family farm in Perthshire.

At the end of every trip came a longing for more, for longer, for further, for higher. Finally I came to the decision that I was just going to do it: after all, I’m not getting any younger, and neither is Doogs, my companion on so many delightful expeditions. A thousand miles seemed a nice round number, which I imagined would take around three months, allowing us time to explore at a reasonably leisurely pace. I also decided to raise money for the international training arm of World Horse Welfare: my farriers, the Balfours from Tealing, are long-standing supporters of the charity and do inspiring work with horses in developing countries.

Along with Doogs, now 15, I intended to take his younger brother Yeoman, aged

6, for his first really big adventure. Both geldings are home bred and have the characteristics I was looking for on this long ride. Both are strong and sound, sensible when faced with strange sights and sounds, and have the stamina to cope with daily travel of between twenty and thirty miles. There is a great advantage in having two ponies – they definitely enjoy one another’s company and settle well at night in strange places. My intention was to mostly ride Yeoman (as a relative youngster and one with opinions at that, I felt he was better where I could keep an eye on him) and use the sensible, experienced Doogs as a packhorse. Every so often, I swapped them over, which gave them a fresh perspective, and meant they were using slightly different muscles too – an advantage on a long ride.

The planning for the trip took nearly a year. This included planning my route on maps, and where possible speaking to landowners whose land I intended to cross. This has always been my preferred method: nothing worse than riding twenty miles up a glen and coming to a locked gate or landing in a bottomless bog! Because of the length of the trip, I intended less intrepid off-roading than usual – picking their way across unmarked ground is very hard on a horse, as well as taking much more time (as slow as half a mile an hour, when the terrain is really poor). As well as drove roads, our route included disused railway lines, Roman roads, estate tracks, forestry tracks, coffin roads and part of the Sustrans cycle path network. Occasionally we had to use back roads to get tracks to join up,

but there are plenty of places to ride!

Not one landowner (over a hundred of them) was anything other than completely helpful and supportive. Some were particularly appreciative of being contacted in advance – as I was crossing hill ground during the grouse and stag shooting seasons, it was really in everybody’s interests to know what was going on. An additional advantage was that I was often offered somewhere to camp – and even in some cases a bed, a meal and a bath – which turned out extremely welcome in what was to be the wettest summer for years (up the west coast, we ‘enjoyed’ 34 days of continuous rain).

As departure day grew closer, I felt organised: the ponies were fit after three months of conditioning, my route was more or less sorted, and my gear was organised. Doogs carried most of it in my faithful Trailmax panniers, sourced in the States years ago and veterans of some rough treatment! In the past I have used them on a stalking saddle, ideal for the packhorse job but heavy. Doogs never seemed to mind, but I did, when I had to lug it around at the end of the day. For this expedition, I had been trialling a Barefoot Cheyenne from Horse and Harmony – and it turned out to be perfect for the job, never shifting under a load and very comfortable – Doogs was to complete the trip without a mark on him. Another key piece of equipment was a folding electric corral. This lifesaver enables us to set up camp anywhere, even on open hill ground, folds down small and only weighs 2.5kg.

As a lone traveller, I carried a satellite location system which fitted neatly into a pouch on Doogs’ headcollar. This meant that friends could track my progress from their computers –and a safety feature since I could be located easily in the result of an accident – well, at least Doogs’ headcollar could! I also carried a mobile, but found it only worked about 30 % of the time – I would often breast a hill to be met with a barrage of texts and voicemails.All the planning couldn’t account for the morning, a few days before departure, when I went out to the field and found Yeoman completely unable to put his hind leg to the ground. Disaster! It was clear he wasn’t going to be able to set off, but I hoped that he might regain soundness to do at least some of the journey. As it turned out that’s what happened – but in the meantime, what to do? I mentally scanned the herd at home. With eighteen of them, there should be plenty of choice, but one by one they were discounted by virtue of being too old, too young, with foals at foot or for being off-the-track thoroughbreds! That just left Ladybird, a Welsh Section C who we had recently gained legal ownership of, having been abandoned with us some months previously. Rather to her surprise, she was designated ‘alternative pack pony’ with a grand total of four days of training and a set of shoes nailed on for the first time in her life... so much for the months of meticulous planning!Next month, Kate is on the road with her ponies. If you’re interested in finding out more about this type of riding, watch out for Kate’s book ‘Discover Off-Road Riding – A Practical Guide’ which is written in collaboration with Shonagh Steven BHSII, and is due to be published later this year.

The 1000 Mile Ride - Kate Godfrey

EQUAug10-E.indd 6 22/07/2010 11:39

Holidays at home and abroad

A little piece of heaven

With the long nights, short days and poor weather of January to deal with, horses knee deep in mud and summer seeming a long way off, it is no wonder that our minds tend to drift off dreaming of the summer and holidays.

Although some of us may be happy with a lazy couple of weeks sunning ourselves on a sandy beach, many of us horsey folk prefer a more active and adventurous vacation.

With such a fabulous choice now available, why not combine the love of the horse with a trip away from our regular routine.

At home or abroad there are now as many choices for Horse Riding Holidays as for the more run of the mill sun, sea and sand varieties. With basic weekend B&B for you and your horse to top of the range exclusive tailor made expeditions.

For those who do not wish to venture to foreign climbs, there is a plethora of choice within our own shores. From the Highlands of Scotland to the Welsh Valleys, the moors of Bodmin and all in-between. For those who like their independence and their own company, plan your holiday with your own equine friend along one of the many routes now laid out in some of the most beautiful countryside. The Access committee of the BHS has worked wonders in co-ordination with many other bodies and have dozens of trails outlined on their website as well as publishing a guide to horse B&Bs en-route.

The more adventurous may prefer to travel around the world to take advantage of the better weather, wide open spaces and varied cultures and to experience the scenery, lifestyle and wildlife from all continents. The choice

is almost unlimited, as with bucket and spade holidays, with options of cost, distance, climate, style, quality, length of time and excitement.

From ranch holidays herding cattle and horses in North America , riding through the Camargue in Southern France on their indigenous white horses, trek through the wild and remote Mongolia, Safari in Africa, gallop the Pampas in South America, get close-up to the geysers in Iceland, gallop along the beaches of Mozambique, follow Inca Trails in Peru, ride the curly-eared Marwari horses through Rajasthan, experience the beauty of the Jordanian desert on spirited Arabs or you could choose from the awesome scenery of the Connemara trails, the excitement of the chase by following hounds out hunting or the relaxation of a luxury Castle or Stately Home in Ireland.

The majority of riding holidays are governed by the rider’s ability and level of fitness with many of the wilder and longer excursions only suitable for the Intermediate or Advanced riders with a decent level of riding fitness. If holidaying as a group or family, particularly of mixed abilities, then maybe a holiday centred on one base is the best option with trail rides, lessons and alternative activities to suit all ages and levels. For the more advanced equestrian an expedition ride is an exciting and unique experience to treasure as a holiday of the lifetime. Riding for up to 7 or 8 hours each day, staying at a different base each night, including some camping, travelling along many ancient routes through different terrain to your eventual destination. Travel some of the most amazing trails in the world, with fabulous adventures available through the Chilean mountains and glaciers, cross the Andes with Argentinean gauchos, ride high through the Canadian Rockies or follow the old cattle drove routes through Arizona.

Mounted Safari holidays bring the love of the horse together with the beauty and love for all other animals, and with the fabulous choice of African Wildlife including the ‘Big Five’ Game animals. Accommodation varies from luxury

lodges to campsites, and safaris can be static with daily excursions or moving safaris, riding through the bush daily from one camp base to the next.

For those who would like to use their holiday time to improve their equestrian skills there are wide ranging options to hone your abilities in many disciplines. Classical dressage in Spain, Show Jumping in Italy, Cross Country in Ireland or Polo in Argentina – what better way to enjoy the pleasure of learning with the beauty of some of the most stunning surroundings in the equestrian world? Staying within the confines of the UK, there are now many Adult Camps available on various levels and discipline specific. The joys and fun of Pony Club Camps can now be relived in a more adult version!

With horses embedded in the culture of almost every corner of the world, it is no wonder that there are so many holiday options available. What better way to view the scenery and countryside unique to each and every nation than from the back of a horse. Riding many different breeds of horses, mostly native to the region and in saddles and tack most unlike our own, the common love and respect for horses brings a special bond between guests and their guides give an insight into the culture and sociology of the host country that would be hard to find on any other form of holiday.

For those wishing to use their holiday to help others, there are horse charities such as the British Horse Society and

In the heart of the world renowned Cape Winelands in South Africa lies a little piece of heaven. With many years of experience, Louis and Colleen together with their happy team, share their love for travel, wildlife, sun, sea, food, wine, nature and most of all horses with everybody that has the same blood running through their veins. They host unsurpassed riding holidays in the

vineyards and orchards surrounded by the majestic mountain that encamp the Stellenbosch-Franschhoek region. The variety of rides and activities are endless and opportunity for lessons combined with day excursions make for perfect riding holidays.

For more information see www.capewinelands.co.za

Fiona Reed

cont. on p.32


Holidays

Swap Your Riding Boots for Cowboy Boots

New equestrian escapes from Ranch Rider

Working and competing within the Equestrian profession can be a hard slog throughout the year, so when it comes to holidays think Top50Ranches.com.

Whether you are a dedicated riding instructor or a professional rider at the top of your game, why not try a whole new riding experience whilst relaxing and taking time out from the hectic schedule at home.

With true, quality riding opportunities at the forefront of the guest experience, the top ranches provide a range of riding categories from cross country and trail riding to cattle and horse drives.

Top50Ranches.com showcases a range of working ranches that offer unique opportunities to live and help out on a

real working ranch.

Guaranteed to bring back the fun of riding and the feel of freedom as you gallop across the sweeping landscapes chasing those pesky cows.

Bonanza creek, Montana, offers the experience of cattle work twice a week, whilst The Hideout, Wyoming, offers a taste of luxury combined with the real ranch experience of working with cattle.Many of the Top50Ranches offer daily cattle work, with cattle drive weeks, branding weeks and tailored group weeks catered to exactly what you want.

Beaumont High Country Experience, New Zealand, offers something a little bit different being a working sheep ranch, including roundups and mountain riding.

Whether you choose to ride out against the backdrop of the breathtaking Andes in Argentina, discover the wide-open spaces of North America on horseback or take a swift canter across the African savannah, you won’t be disappointed.

Still largely dependent on the cattle industry, Kansas’ landscape is dotted with numerous working ranch stays. At the Moore Ranch, doctoring, tagging and branding are all part of the seasonal programme, and visits to local rodeos are included in the holiday (7-nights from £835pp).

For a heavy dose of culture, there is always neighbouring Oklahoma. Home to more Native Americans than any other state, its festivals and pow-wows reflect the destination’s distinctive heritage. Tomahawk lessons and story telling with Moses Little Bear are just some of the highlights at Tiger Mountain, an optional visit to Geronimo’s grave and overnight stay in a real teepee rounding off the ranch

experience (7-nights from £969pp).

When it comes to challenging terrain Argentina is hard to beat, and no more so than on the new “Across The Andes To Chile” pack trip. Departing from the Huechahue Estancia, riders will spend up to eight hours in the saddle each day – traversing the Andean Steppes, passing through Indian reservations and encountering magnificent rocky gorges, before reaching the Chilean Puente Barras (9-nights from £2,995pp).In Africa riders can choose between luxury bush homes (from £1,479pp) and family cattle ranches (from £990pp). And for the more adventurous there are always Big Five mobile safaris in Botswana’s ‘Land of Giants,’ the lion, cheetah and elusive leopard adding excitement to any horseback journey (7-nights £2,100pp).

Ranch Rider; 01509 618811; [email protected]; www.ranchrider.com.ATOLPROTECTEDNo4660ABTA96395/V9150.

Spring Creek Ranch, Colorado, is like no other and can offer an intimate ranch experience solely for your group. This working cattle ranch can be your own private ranch complete with a guide for the week. You can cook for yourself, enjoy eating out, or book a private chef as well as enjoy any outside attractions.

Each Top50Ranch is unique in some way, whether in its riding opportunities, natural surroundings, owners & staff, or the unique activities they offer.

Every ranch featured is researched in

full detail and reviewed and highlighted with full honesty. Each of our ranches offers a memorable experience - from ranching first to pure luxury.

Or if you want pure luxury with the freedom to ride and no work, check out Top50’s Guest Ranches, some of the best in the world!

Tempted? For more information or to start your booking for a Ranch holiday of a lifetime visit www.top50ranches.com


Horses for Sale - Riding

cont. from p.30

World Horse Welfare (formerly the ILPH) who offer holidays each year to those who can raise a minimum amount of funds. Their websites will show the holidays available in the current year and the donation required. These are ideal for those wishing to put something “back in” and for those who would otherwise be travelling alone as all other guests in your group will be likeminded and with a common interest.

As with all forms of holiday, there is a huge diversity of cost, from basic budget B&B not too far from home to exclusive tailor-made holidays in some of the most stunning places on the planet. Whatever your budget and style of holiday, your ultimate enjoyment will be dependant on your research and selection of a holiday that suits your standard and fitness of riding. Be honest in the assessment of both ability

and fitness of all members of your party as overstretching of your abilities will inevitably slow you down, cause soreness and stiffness and affect your ultimate enjoyment. Take consideration of other interests of your party, they may not all wish to play horses 12 hours a day, think of the standard and style of accommodation you would all prefer, whether roughing it in basic camping or chalet sleeping arrangements excites

you, or whether the luxuries of a lodge is more your scene, all aspects of the holiday need to be considered. Select a specialised travel agent to guide you through the minefield of choice, they will have visited and experienced all the holidays they offer and can advise you on a holiday that you will remember for the rest of your life.

IntroductionThis is a series of articles which will help to transform your relationship with your horse, through techniques of core breathing.

This journey of enlightenment for me, began many years ago as I was training Delfin my beautiful ex bullfighting Spanish stallion.

On one particular day, when we were working in our outdoor school, Delfin was totally inattentive to my usual aids. My frustration grew and my aids became much stronger. He was more concerned with some mares in a nearby field and he was just not willing to listen to me. After several minutes of total inattention, I gave a deep sigh of despair. I then took a deeper inward breath followed by an outward breath and immediately I felt a change. Delfin was tuning in to ME, listening and responding. He moved forwards from my outward breath and as I inhaled, he came back to halt. I was amazed and then repeated this way of breathing, with the same results. I decided to finish the session of training on this more harmonious note and wondered if Delfin would respond in a similar manner again.

I experienced huge anticipation before my next ride, but I tried to be calm and attentive to focus on my core- breathing. Delfin again, responded immediately and I felt a huge feeling of elation as this highly sensitive, intelligent horse was trying to teach me a crucial lesson on how to match his sensitivity. He was well advanced in his dressage training and many people said that they could watch him all day such was his great charisma.

Over many years I have continued my exploration and now help to empower riders from across the world, to feel the power of breathing and energy exchange to create a deeper connection with the horse.

CORE-BREATHINGCorrect core breathing is similar to filling a glass of water - from the bottom to the top. Once the glass is full you empty it from the top to the bottom. This is similar to our pattern of breathing as we breathe air in from our core which fills our upper body. The outward breath releases through our upper torso and flows down into our core.

In this way balance and energy flow can be controlled by breathing which will assist the horse in his own self-carriage. Try this exercise, which demonstrates how core breathing can create more energy. Pick up a ball and throw it to a partner with no focus at all, on your breathing. Before you throw the ball again, take a deep inward breath as you prepare to throw the ball. Then exhale strongly and direct the energy towards your hand as you release to throw the ball. As you direct the energy from your breath into your arm, the ball will be thrown with much more intense power and speed.

If we can influence energy when throwing a ball, through focus on our breathing, how much more can we influence a sensitive horse.

COREBREATHING-BUILDINGYOURAWARENESSJust begin by focusing for a few moments on your core- breathing.Take a deep breath inwards, beginning in your core, allowing your stomach to inflate and fill with air (as if inflating a balloon.) Allow the breath to flow filling the lungs with air.

Take the breath into your spine and shoulder blades which will enhance mobility of your shoulders and prevent tightness. Place a hand on either side of your rib cage and feel the inward breath inflate the rib cage wide and full. Keep your sternum (breast bone) relaxed. Then breathe out naturally relaxing and releasing throughout your body.

The inward breath will influence the rider in the following ways:

• The chest will expand and widen, the abdominal area inflates creating more stability and power.• The body is re-charged with vital energy• The spine will strengthen and lengthen- giving stability to your upper body.• The thigh will strengthen, stabilising the seat.• The body will naturally re-balance• The DEEPER inward breath is the essence of the half-halt in training.

The outward breath will send a ripple of energy down, through the spine. This releases the lower back (below your waist) a movement similar to sitting on a swing and pushing it forward. This is far more subtle. Allow the release of the pelvis and the energy from the outward breath to encourage forward movement from the horse. You can practise this whilst walking and feel how the body naturally ebbs and flows with a focus on core- breathing, like a wave in the sea.

MAKINGTHECONNECTIONWhen we are fully aware of our thoughts, body language and breathing we can communicate with the horse in a most profound way, connecting with his world. Our busy, over active thoughts can become more tranquil

as we connect through core-breathing with the ‘here and now’ and allow our mind to be, just in the moment. In this way we learn the personal power of just feeling, being and allowing. Just think for a moment how much we rely on using arms and hands. From the time we wake up in the morning we are making breakfast, driving a car, then shopping, cooking and looking after our horses. We are constantly using our hands to connect, yet when we sit on the back of a horse, we need to think of an initial connection from our seat and core. It is too easy to ride the horse using too much strength through our arms.

Within our busy lives we are full of concerns and plans, often multi tasking. To truly connect with the horse, our mind needs to be more calm and focused. Breathing awareness is the

Breathe life into your riding by Jenny Rolfe

cont. on p.34

Take a deep outward breathe- as you throw the ball

Horse owners need to be aware of the danger posed by poisonous tree branches becoming within reach because of heavy snow fall.

The warning comes from The British Horse Society, following the tragic death of a horse in Scotland as a result of yew poisoning.

Sue Kilby, Welfare Representative on the BHS Scotland Committee, explains: “A heavy fall of snow can change the configuration of tree lines and woods and hungry, curious equines will snatch at any foliage that comes within reach.

“We would urge all horse owners to be

alert to this unexpected sort of danger - fallen electrical cables are another hazard that we need to look out for in this type of weather.”

A list of commonly found toxic trees is available from the BHS pasture management advisory leaflet available from https://www.bhs.org.uk/Horse_Care/Horse_Care_Advice/Publications

Snow brings added dangers to horses


Insurance - Stud


Insurance

cont. from p.32key to support a relaxed mind which encourages the horse to want to be with us. We are offering him a place of security where a relationship of trust and harmony can be built.

My articles will teach a system of total body awareness ‘top to toe’ to help you to become more tuned into a natural posture for riding, enhanced by core breathing.

Homework: Just spend some time

walking – be aware of your core breathing – become aware of your posture – feel the ebb and flow and energy of your breathing. This will become your connection with your horse.

Jenny gives clinics with her Iberian stallions. Her book and DVD ‘Ride From the Heart’ are available from her web site www.spanishdressagehorses.co.uk or you can telephone her on 01769 540774

Awareness of core-breathing enhances natural posture and self carriage- for horse and rider


Holidays - Training - Transport


Field & Stable - Philosophical - Transport

cont. on p.38

Intelligence or instinct?Anne Wilson

A lot is talked about the intelligence, or lack of it, as opposed to the instinct of the equine species. Some behaviourists and scientists insist that horses do not possess too much intelligence, being incapable of reasoned thought; others believing the opposite - I agree with the latter!

But how about the intelligence, or lack of it, in humankind? This is an aspect of horse training/riding which is often taken for granted. It is often said of a bad rider ‘Oh how stupid he is!’ Intelligent thought seems to be the aspiration of most riders and it is generally assumed that if you have this ability, you will be a good rider/trainer.

Unfortunately, I don’t believe that it is anywhere near as simple as this. I have seen so many highly intelligent people who seem totally incapable once mounted upon a horse. They often lack feeling, empathy, co-ordination and a sense of timing. These are among the most difficult people to teach, since they understand the principles, but cannot seem to put it into practice. Of course this is not necessarily the norm for an intelligent person, but I have experienced this scenario many times, even amongst professional horsemen. People who know all the biomechanical movements, including names of bones, muscles, tendons, etc., and can run rings around me when it comes to quoting long words on how the horse works, but still they just can’t ride well. I have asked myself this question many times, in an attempt to help these people to become better riders.

Thinking Too MuchIt is possible that they ‘think’ too much; thus not allowing their natural

feelings and connection to the horse to guide them.

Practice without theory is always insufficient but theory without practice is useless.

As soon as one sits upon a horse there should be an instinctual feeling of connection to that animal. After riding the horse for a few minutes a ‘feeling’ rider will gain a feel of that particular horse’s rhythm, how his back and quarters move, etc. If, however, he becomes too intent on theory, then much of the natural feel is not allowed to flow. For instance, if the rider’s right leg is used behind the girth in a nudging movement, the horse should move his quarters to the left. If this does not happen then some otherwise intelligent riders seem to be nonplussed. There are of course a number of reasons why the horse may not respond to this aid. Maybe he has never learned to move away from the unilateral leg aid or maybe he has a physical problem in the back, hip or hind legs which is deterring him from complying with this request. The feeling rider can often feel where the problem lies. There is much to be said for ‘gut feelings’ when it comes to problems of this nature; especially if the rider knows the horse. However, highly intelligent people are perhaps more used to problem solving in a more computerised type of way – press button A and the result is B. Since riding involves another sentient being it is much more complicated than this. Riding not only involves the laws of nature, balance and gravity, but I believe that there is a spiritual element which often comes into play.

Mind to Mind Communication – Is It Possible?

So many times I have been riding in the arena and my horse has begun to prepare for a movement, say turning right, when I have only just decided to do that and have made absolutely no physical aid to request it. I have tried this in lots of different points in the arena, so that she is not merely ‘doing what we normally do’. She also seems to know when I am about to ask for canter, long before I actually change my body to the canter position. I definitely believe that there is something else going on other than just physical aids, and maybe this is what is lacking in the ultra intelligent rider who may not allow these thoughts or feelings to flourish; relying too much on logic and theory.

Of course some highly intelligent people are exceptional riders. Perhaps these are the people who have the ability to allow their natural instincts to flow. Perhaps they can switch their minds from logic to instinct as and when needed, possibly without even realising it.

Anne with Lucy-Lou, performing shoulder-in


Field & Stable - Transport

Equitrace - will keep water flowing to your horses this winter!Equitrace from Trace Heating Services is a fantastic product which will stop your pipes from freezing this winter, and for many years to come.

Are you tired of lugging water about in the frost and snow then Equitrace is the answer. Equitrace is an effective plug in electrical heater cable, which is easy to install for all plastic and metal pipes and is also economical to use as it switches on automatically at 5 degrees C. To make things easy you can install

the cable yourself or have a qualified electrician install it for you.

All you need to do is measure your pipe and select the kit to suit, ensure you have an adequate electrical supply, and that the socket is weatherproof.

For more information on how to stop your pipes freezing and how to install your Equitrace call Amanda on 01484 851 450/ 0845 241 5625 or visit www.traceheatingservices.co.uk


Field & Stable

cont. on p.39

cont. from p.36

Good Riders Do Not Necessarily Make Good Teachers

On the other side of the coin there are many excellent, successful riders who turn to teaching when their competitive career has reached its pinnacle. Often I see lessons where the instructor simply cannot help the pupil to ride a certain way. It seems obvious to me that although they can do it themselves, they don’t actually know the intricacies and small nuances of body movement which allow them to ride the way they do. In other words, they don’t actually know what they are doing! I

don’t mean to deride these people, and it certainly doesn’t mean that they are stupid, but they obviously don’t realise how much their riding depends on their instinct. They usually have a huge amount of natural ability, but unless they have an understanding of the theory behind what they are doing, they cannot be of much help to their pupils.

I recently watched a lesson given by an exceptionally good rider. The horse was carrying his head too low. The rider’s natural instinct was to lift the hands slightly. The instructor

corrected this and told the pupil to lower the hands to just above the withers. When the instructor mounted, he instinctively lifted his hands to encourage the horse’s head up; obviously without knowing that he was doing so. The horse responded well but this left the pupil a little confused.

Conclusion

Just because someone may be lacking in IQ does not mean that they cannot be good empathetic riders. However, it may mean that they will find the theory of advanced

movements hard to grasp, but when they do manage to understand it, their natural ability can be a real boon.

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


Clipping - Tack & Turnout


Field & Stable

BEDMAX supports Retraining of RacehorsesBEDMAXShavings,theUK’sforemostprovider of bespoke dust free bedding, has announced its support for British Horseracing’s official charity for the welfare of ex-racehorses, Retraining of Racehorses (RoR).

BEDMAX are to be the title sponsor of the 2011 Racehorse to Eventer Series, to be known as the “2011 ‘ Bedmax/RoR Racehorse to Eventer’ Series”. This series will incorporate up to 30 events throughout the UK including Floors Castle in May and the Hendersyde Park Horse Trials in Kelso in August.

The main aim of the RoR charity www.ror.org.uk is to give former racehorses a better life after racing. It supports extensive retraining facilities and highlights the adaptability of these horses to other equestrian activities. In addition, it offers a well established programme of competition sponsorship and clinics to educate and improve riders on handling former racehorses.

Di Arbuthnot, RoR’s Director of Operations, tells us why this support from BEDMAX is so important: “RoR is delighted to have BEDMAX on board to help sponsor this Eventer series in 2011. The help of industry partners such as BEDMAX enables the charity to raise greater awareness of the benefits of having an ex-racehorse to an even wider equine audience.”

BEDMAX Shavings www.bedmaxshavings.com are produced to create optimum welfare for horses and the company is already the main provider of bedding at many of the UK’s leading events including Badminton, Braham and Gatcombe.

BEDMAX Managing Director Tim Smalley explains the reason for this collaboration: “BEDMAX has always had great support from the racing industry ever since we began manufacturing it in 2000. Trainers, studs and racecourses were among the first to recognise the clear benefits of our shavings so we are delighted to be giving something back to the industry by supporting Retraining

of Racehorses. RoR is helping to make sure that thousands of ex-racehorses get the best chance of a second career and are helping owners to make the most of their horses’ potential.

At the same time, we hope that the BEDMAX/RoR Racehorse to Eventer Series will encourage more ex-racehorse owners to try eventing, because it has proved to be a great second career for many ex-racehorses. It’s the perfect way to explore and develop a horse’s capability in all the different disciplines. William Fox-Pitt proved that this year again by winning Blenheim on an ex-racehorse. Not everyone can compete at that level, of course, but we hope that our ‘starter’ series will inspire more owners to give it a go.”

In addition to the RoR’s own prizes, the winners of each section will receive 10 bales of BEDMAX with the overall winner receiving 50 bales. These classes will be separate at 90 and 100 events with points awarded on the BE foundations system. The highest placed ex- racer with the most BE points for 2011 season will be presented with their award at the Sport Horse Dinner in January 2012.

BEDMAX was founded to create the best quality bedding possible for horses in terms of health and comfort. Its bespoke shavings are made from sustainable British pine which has natural antibacterial qualities. The company now supplies customers with its original BEDMAX Shavings throughout the UK, Europe and the Middle East, and for those who prefer finer shavings they have just launched LITTLEMAX Fine Shavings: www.littlemaxshavings.com.

Full details about the 2011 BEDMAX/RORRacehorsetoEventerSeriescanbe found on ww.ror.org.uk

Further details about BEDMAX and LITTLEMAX and the location of stockists are available on: www.bedmaxshavings.com.


Field & Stable

We’re offering Equi-Ads readers an exclusive opportunity to win 50 bags of LITTLEMAX – our new Fine Shavings.

LITTLEMAX Fine Shavings are purpose made to

provide your horse with an ideal bedding – dust free,

natural, hygienic, comfortable and supportive. But

they also provide busy owners with a bedding that is

as easy and quick to use and maintain as possible,

long lasting, compostable and great value for money.

This competition is open to anyone over the age of 18 and resident in the UK. It is not open to employees or suppliers of BEDMAX Limited or Equi-Ads, or members of their families. The winner will be picked from all correct entries and will receive vouchers for 50 bags of LITTLEMAX, to be collected from their closest supplier. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into with regard to entries or the selection of the winner. BEDMAX Limited and Equi-Ads cannot be held responsible for any entries that for any reason fail to reach us before the closing date. Entries close on Friday 25th February 2011. The winner will be drawn on Monday 7th March 2011 and informed by email.

WIN 50 bags of LITTLEMAX with Equi-Ads

F i n e S h a v i n g S

www.littlemaxshavings.com

WIN To ENTER our special

LITTLEMAX / Equi-ads

competition online

please go to:

www.littlemaxshavings.com/win

436_11_BEDMAX_EquiAds3.indd 1 13/12/2010 10:46

Field & Stable - Insurance


Cosy bedding for winter warmth!

Helping to clear the winter blues…

Nothing beats the look of a lovely cosy straw bed – however mucking it out can quickly break the romantic bubble! Belvoir Bed provides horse owners with the fluffy, cosy and warm straw bedding – without the disadvantages!

Made from top quality chopped wheat and rape straw, Belvoir Bed is the ultimate combination of tradition and innovation providing a soft, comfortable and cosy base along with exceptional absorbency, minimal ammonia levels and virtually no dust.

As an added extra, Belvoir Bed contains an exclusive natural formulation ensuring it is packed full of health benefits. The principal ingredient in the Belvoir Bed treatment is lemongrass which is a non toxic and non irritant plant that gives off a pleasant, subtle, lemon smell without the potency of citronella. In addition, Lemongrass has powerful anti-fungal properties to help reduce moulds and spores and antiseptic benefits to help protect against contagious diseases and viruses.

Belvoir Bed is quick and easy to muck out, rots down within 2 – 3 months and ultimately saves time and money. Costing from just £4.90 plus VAT per bale – it is possible to save pennies and create comfort for your four legged friend!

Belvoir Bed is only available to buy direct in a minimum quantity of one pallet.

For more information tel: 01772 877 897 or visit: www.belvoirbed.co.uk

Zebra products have teamed up with KBIS British Equestrian Insurance to provide some winter cheer by offering online KBIS customers the chance to win some exclusive products during January and February.

If you take out a riding and competition policy online during these two months you will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win one of eleven products worth up to £290!

During January Zebra products will be giving away a Bucas Power Turn Out Extra, with neck cover, worth £290 - the ultimate winter turnout rug, together with five Bucas Power Coolers, a must for your horses wardrobe with its multiple uses.

In February they will then be taking care of the rider, making sure that they are fully prepared for the winter weather by offering KBIS customers the chance to win one of five Gersemi NorNor blouson jackets. Gersemi is the equestrian fashion brand of the moment and this jacket offers both style and practicality, retailing at over £70.

So if you have recently purchased a new horse or your policy is up for renewal visit www.kbis.co.uk to obtain a quote and

if you proceed with cover you could be lucky enough to win one of these fantastic prizes.

Further information about the offer can be found on the KBIS website or visit www.zebraproducts.co.uk to find out more about the products available.


Field & Stable

Tack & Turnout


WINTERPROMOTION

NORMAL PRICE £19.99

NOW £13.99INCLUDING P&P

Transport your Smelly Dirty Rugs with ease The SMUG Bag makes it as easy as 1, 2, 3

one

three

SMUG BAGS

WWW.SMUG-BAGS.COM

The SMUG Bag has a 100% waterproof lining designed to keep the wet stuff in or the wet stuff out! There are

sturdy handles to allow ease of carrying that can easily be slipped over your shoulder.

The dimensions of the SMUG Bags when folded ready for transporting are 26.5" high and 36" wide.

To order a SMUG Bag simply visit our website and place your order or send a cheque made payable to Stable Productions stating the amount of SMUG Bags you

would like to order along with the colours to;

The SMUG Bag Company, Cotton Farm, Windyedge, Perth, PH2 0PW

Open the

SMUG Bag and

lay it down

Zip up your SMUG Bag and off you

go to the cleaners

two

Place your dirty rug in your SMUG

Bag

Keep summer coats going through the winterHere are a few tricks of the trade to help your horse’s winter coat look healthy and retain its summer shine. Now we are in the thick of winter, if our horses are in work they will most likely be clipped; coats can look dry and dull. They won’t if you have the right gear of course!

To turn dull winter coats into sleek, shiny ones, the team at Snuggy Hoods decided nose to tail coverage was needed. It was the answer to stopping the winter coat growing and ruining the summer sheen we work so hard to achieve! They came up with Snuggy Hoods ® Snuggy Jams©.

Snuggy Hoods Snuggy Jams Set is a matching hood and rug set (which can be bought separately). It’s made of soft polar fleece and gives all over coverage – including ears and belly

When we clip our horses, few of us realise how much heat is lost through not covering the belly and the ears. In the Jams hoods, ears are standard and the rug has a built in belly band which is also available in Turn Out fabric. The fastenings are Velcro, the rugs have a padded wither and the hood is lined with a silky shoulder and mane saver©. To make sure the rug has a truly snug fit the rear is elasticated, it’s breathable and machine washable with an optional zip in the hood. In fact, once your horse starts wearing Snuggy Jams you will wonder how you ever managed without them! They are available in all sizes and a variety of colours.

The Snuggy Hoods Turn Out Hood © has been protecting horses and ponies from the elements since its inception 15 years ago. Just when you think this super time

saver couldn’t get any better, Snuggy’s has upped its game and given you more.

Having listened to customer comments, they’ve added an adjustable nose for a better fit, a ‘no seam mane line’ and ‘water repellancy’ as well! This is along with the ‘shoulder lining’ and ‘self fixing surcingle’. It means you are getting a better hood at one RRP for all sizes (miniature to heavy horse). Why not add ears to give you even less to do on a cold muddy day!

Here’s Snuggy’s tips from the top: When turning your horse out use the Snuggy Jams rug alongside the Turn Out Hood for all over protection from the elements.

Snuggy Jams rugs are the ultimate under rug. With full belly coverage in either fleece or Turn Out fabric, it keeps your horse or pony’s tummy warm and clean, preventing hairy, cold, muddy tums and giving you more time to enjoy your horse.Finally, as horse people, Snuggy’s understands that horses will be horses, (and ponies will be ponies) They have an ‘in house’ alteration and repair service ensuring that your hood will NOT be a one Season wonder.

For further information visit www.snuggyhoods.com or call 01225 783304.


Tack & Turnout

What’s the difference between the French Link and other links available?The French link is widely seen as a kind mouthpiece and is often an improvement from the horse’s point of view than the traditional single joint.

However, there are many different thickness and sizes of French Link available and they are rarely scaled in relation to the bit size. When a contact is taken, the thinner edge of the link and the loops on the arms can dig into the tongue and often cause bruising and rubs.

Bit design has evolved dramatically in recent years and links including the lozenge (Neue Schule, Sprenger) and the revolving barrel (Myler) are now widely available. The Neue Schule lozenges have a very smooth profile

and are often therefore much more comfortable on the tongue as there is nothing that can dig in. This is also the case with the revolving barrel – both of these mouthpiece types are popular choices for the owner who is trying to increase the horse’s comfort (and often subsequent performance).

To see the full article, visit the Bitting Advice section on our website www.horsebithire.co.uk or call Gail for further advice on 07789 587302

Like Horse Bit Hire on Facebook to be in with a chance of winning our January Draw.

Directory - Health Care - Insurance


Crematorium

Horse & Pony Cremation

Genuine Individual Cremation.Leyland & Cheshire Pet Crematorium.Tel: 01772 622466

Horse Transport

South CentralHoofmove Horse TransportTheault horsebox 2x17.2hh. Very low ramp. Fully insured. Defra approved. Established 2001. Monty Roberts schooled driver. 24/7.

www.hoofmove.co.uk [email protected] 0845 0620088 or 07958 701651

Property Abroad

Brittany & NormandyCardyke Overseas Properties

Properties suitable for horses at a fraction of UK prices.Tel: 01775 630 008

Saddlery

South EastAndrew Reilly Saddlers

Spoods Farm, Tinkers Lane, Hadlow Down, East Sussex TN22 4ET. Tel: 01825 830484.

Worming

East

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

DirectoryCortaflex

Kelly Marks Intelligent Horsemanship Courses as popular as ever!

As recently reported on national television, in newspapers and on the radio chondroitin and glucosamine has been clinically proven not to work on people with arthritic joints; so it is reasonable to assume that if it does not work on people then it will not work very well for horses.

Unlike most joint supplements Cortaflex does not rely on large and difficult to absorb chondroitin and glucosamine molecules, it is a unique formulation that has been clinically proven to increase joint mobility. Force plates & infra red camera’s were used in the double blind study to ensure the findings were accurate.

No other joint supplement has this clinical proof.Since the study Cortaflex has been improved by the addition of Hyaluronic acid and ASU.

Cortaflex 908grm £59.99 for a 4month supply = under £15.00 a month.

Cortaflex HA Solution 946ml 2months supply = £26.00 a month.

Cortaflex is also available forHumans, dogs and cats.

For more information see www.cortaflex.co.uk

In spite of a world wide recession and two of the harshest winters recorded, Kelly Marks’ Intelligent Horsemanship courses are filling up as quickly as ever.

Former student and now Intelligent Horsemanship Recommended Associate Sarah Weston who trains horses in the New Forest says “Although it’s great the courses have an indoor school for the practical work as well a great classroom it’s undoubtedly the quality of the teaching that makes them the most popular horsemanship courses in the UK.”

“As well as the lectures each student gets one on one instruction by an experienced instructor who don’t just teach well, they also use their practical horsemanship skills on a regular basis to go out helping people with the different challenges they have with their horses. There’s a variety of courses and most people start off just wanting to have a fun and educational week learning more about horses, you get others who later want to build on what they learned and even choose to make horses a career like me. I have to admit I don’t earn as much as I did as a barrister but I’m far, far happier!”

Courses include the Five Day Foundation, Horse Psychology, Foal Handling, Feeding and Nutrition, The Horse as an Athlete, Handling the Untouched Horse, Loading the Less Easy Horse and for more information on Kelly Marks courses or upcoming touring with Monty Roberts go to www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk or ring 01488 71300

More information on Intelligent Horsemanship Recommended Associate Sarah Weston go to

www.sarahweston.co.uk or www.logicalhorsemanship.co.uk Call 01725 512434 / 07871 252954


Directory - Tack & Turnout - What’s On

Insert Category

48 - Equi-Ads - June 2010

Insert CategoryWhat’s On

CentralREGULARS

Tues Eve, S/J Knebworth SJ,Manor Field, Park Lane. 2nd Saturday of each month Antrobus RC Open Dressage, Yew Tree Farm, Nr Northwich. Tel: 01606 891033.Every Day Dean Valley Farm Ride, Dean Valley Farm, Cheshire. Tel: 0161 4391945.Every Saturday, Heavy Horse Club, Milton Keynes Museum, 07889 339551

NorthREGULARS

Every Weds Evening, S/J Horses and Ponies, Barton EC, Preston. Tel: 01995 640033.Every Weds Dressage Unaff Rossendale & Hyndburn EC, Accrington. Tel: 01706 213635.Every Thursday Senior BSJA, Hollingworth Leisure Park, Milnrow, Tel: 01706 644484Every Friday SJ Unaff Rossendale & Hyndburn EC, Accrington. Tel: 01706 213635.Every Friday Evening SJ Unaff Indoor, Mill Lane Stables, Selby. Tel: 01757 702940.Every 3rd Sunday in March - Sept, Rossendale Valley RC Show, Rawtenstall, Lancs. Tel: 07976 056677.Every Month Dressage Camp, Mill Lane Stables, Selby. Tel: 01757 702940.Every Day Dean Valley Farm Ride, Dean Valley Farm, Cheshire. Tel: 0161 4391945.Every 2nd Monday, Virtual RC meets in Chester.

South CentralREGULARS

Monday evening class,Contessa EC. Tel: 01920 821792.Tuesday Evening Advanced Dressage class,Contessa EC. Tel: 01920 821792Tuesday 12-8pm, Clear Round SJ,Hoplands EC. Tel: 01794 388838Wednesday Evening Novice Dressage class,Contessa EC. Tel: 01920 821792Winchester RC, weekly dressage and S/J Clinics for all abilities on Tuesday eve & Thursday mornings, WoodhamsFarm Equestrian, Kings Worthy.Thursday Evening Jumping class,Contessa EC. Tel: 01920 821792Friday Evening Kids Club,Contessa EC. Tel: 01920 821792Saturday - Heavy Horse Club, Milton Keynes Museum, Tel: 07889 339551SJ Clear Round 10am-2pm,West Wilts EC, Trowbridge. Tel: 01225 783220Wylye Valley PC Evening Rally 6pm,West Wilts EC, Trowbridge. Tel: 01225 783220

South WestREGULARS

Monday – Dressage Clinic with Julia Buckle, Shannonleigh Stables.Every Monday - Bournemouth Horse Ball Club Training,Stocks Farm EC. Tel: 01202 57028Every 2nd Wed, Dressage,St Leonards EC. Tel: 01566 775543.

Wednesday - Jumping (Lwr/Higher), Badgworth Arena, Nr Axbridge, Tel: 01934 732543Wednesday – S/J Clinic with Sarah Scott, Shannonleigh Stables.

EastREGULARS

Monday Evening Class, Contessa RC, Colliers End, Tel: 01920 821792Tuesday Evening Dressage Class,Contessa RC, Colliers End, Tel: 01920 821792Thursday – Contessa Club Night,Contessa RC, Colliers End, Tel: 01920 821792Friday – Kids Club 5.30pm, Young Riders Club 6pm,Contessa RC, Colliers End, Tel: 01920 821792Saturday / Sunday – Kids Club,Contessa RC, Colliers End, Tel: 01920 821792

South EastREGULARS

Tuesday to Thursday, Vicki Thompson Dressage Clinic,Oldencraig EC, Lingfield, Tel: 01293 8224142nd Tuesdays + Last SaturdaysClear Round SJ, Ingleden Park EC, Tenterden, Tel: 01580 765160Wednesday, Clear Round SJ, Blue Barn EC, Tel: 01233 622933.Thursday evening SJ Unaff, Duckhurst Farm. Tel: 01580 891057.Thursday evening, Sam Ray SJ Clinic,Oldencraig EC, Lingfield, Tel: 07787 575475Every 2nd Thursday (starting 19th July), Beginners S/J Evenings,Newthorpe EC, Newthorpe. Tel: 07917 303000.Tues-Sun, Group&Private lessons for adults&children, Badshot Lea EC, Kiln Cottage. Tel: 01252 312 838.

SAT 1ST JANSnr Int / Amet, Duckhurst Farm,Kent Tel: 01580 891057

SUN 2ND JANTrailblazers, Duckhurst Farm,Kent Tel: 01580 891057Vicky Thomson Dressage Clinic,Oldencraig EC. Tel: 07774 211640SJ Damian Charles Clinic,Oldencraig EC. Tel: 01342 833317

MON 3RD JANColette’s Unaff SJ, Blue Barn,Tel 07949 096086Jump Clinic, Oldencraig ECTel: 01342 833317

WED 5TH JANClear Round Jumping, Limes FarmEC, Kent Tel: 01303 891222Vicky Thomson Dressage Clinic,Oldencraig EC. Tel: 07774 211640

THUR 6TH JANFlat Work Clinic, Oldencraig ECTel: 01342 833317

FRI 7TH JANFiona Foy Clinic, Fortune Centre,Bransgore Tel: 07968 059434

SAT 8TH JANFiona Foy Clinic, Manor Farm,Teffont Magna Tel: 07968 059434Pony Aff, Duckhurst Farm,Kent Tel: 01580 891057Natural Horsemanship Clinic,Nr Lewes Tel: 01342 825453

SUN 9TH JANDressage, Dairyhouse Farm, Altrincham Tel: 07766 078745Dressage, Limes Farm EC, KentTel: 01303 891222Snr Int / Amet, Duckhurst Farm,Kent Tel: 01580 891057Vicky Thomson Dressage Clinic,Oldencraig EC. Tel: 07774 211640

MON 10TH JANFiona Foy Clinic, Wokingham EC,Chapel Green Tel: 07968 059434Jump Clinic, Oldencraig ECTel: 01342 833317

WED 12TH JANClear Round Jumping, Limes FarmEC, Kent Tel: 01303 891222Vicky Thomson Dressage Clinic,Oldencraig EC. Tel: 07774 211640


FRI 14TH JANHorse Sales, Duckhurst Farm,Kent Tel: 01580 891057

SAT 15TH JANSnr Int / Amet, Duckhurst Farm,Kent Tel: 01580 891057

SUN 16TH JANSJ, Avon RC, BristolTel: 0117 9590266Colette’s Indoor SJ, WillowFarm Kent Tel: 07949 096086Trailblazers, Limes Farm EC, KentTel: 01303 891222Trailblazers, Duckhurst Farm,Kent Tel: 01580 891057Vicky Thomson Dressage Clinic,Oldencraig EC. Tel: 07774 211640

MON 17TH JANJump Clinic, Oldencraig ECTel: 01342 833317

TUES 18TH JANSnr Int / Amet, Duckhurst Farm,Kent Tel: 01580 891057

WED 19TH JANClear Round Jumping, Limes FarmEC, Kent Tel: 01303 891222Dressage, Duckhurst Farm,Kent Tel: 01580 891057Vicky Thomson Dressage Clinic,Oldencraig EC. Tel: 07774 211640


SAT 22ND JANPony Aff, Duckhurst Farm,Kent Tel: 01580 891057

SUN 23RD JANTrailblazers, Limes Farm EC, KentTel: 01303 891222Snr Int / Amet, Duckhurst Farm,Kent Tel: 01580 891057Vicky Thomson Dressage Clinic,Oldencraig EC. Tel: 07774 211640

MON 24TH JANFiona Foy Clinic, Wokingham EC,Chapel Green Tel: 07968 059434Jump Clinic, Oldencraig ECTel: 01342 833317

WED 26TH JANClear Round Jumping, Limes FarmEC, Kent Tel: 01303 891222Vicky Thomson Dressage Clinic,

Oldencraig EC. Tel: 07774 211640


FRI 28TH JANFiona Foy Clinic, Fortune Centre,Bransgore Tel: 07968 059434Snr Progressive, Duckhurst Farm,Kent Tel: 01580 891057

SAT 29TH JANFiona Foy Clinic, Manor Farm,Teffont Magna Tel: 07968 059434

SUN 30TH JANDressage, Avon RC, BristolTel: 0117 9590266Snr Aff SJ, Limes Farm EC, KentTel: 01303 891222Trailblazers, Duckhurst Farm,Kent Tel: 01580 891057Vicky Thomson Dressage Clinic,Oldencraig EC. Tel: 07774 211640

MON 31ST JANJump Clinic, Oldencraig ECTel: 01342 833317

WED 2ND FEBVicky Thomson Dressage Clinic,Oldencraig EC. Tel: 07774 211640

THUR 3RD FEBFlat Work Clinic, Oldencraig ECTel: 01342 833317

SAT 5TH FEBDriving Show, Duckhurst Farm,Kent Tel: 01580 891057Natural Horsemanship Clinic,Nr Lewes Tel: 01342 825453

SUN 6TH FEBSnr Int / Amet, Duckhurst Farm,Kent Tel: 01580 891057Vicky Thomson Dressage Clinic,Oldencraig EC. Tel: 07774 211640SJ Damian Charles Clinic,Oldencraig EC. Tel: 01342 833317

MON 7TH FEBFiona Foy Clinic, Wokingham EC,Chapel Green Tel: 07968 059434Jump Clinic, Oldencraig ECTel: 01342 833317

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Equi-Ads January 2011

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Transcript of Equi-Ads January 2011