A few taps on a touch screen is all that is needed to keep horse sport fans in touch with the action at the Europeans.
A mobile app will bring facts, statistics and real-time information about the FEI European Championships in Aachen this month (11-23 August) straight to your fingertips.
The free smartphone app – Aachen 2015 – features rider biographies, a site plan, the current programme and information on how to get there.
It will also have results, a public judging feature for the dressage and vaulting competitions and even a game.
The public judging feature will allow fans to rate competitors during the championships, creating an audience ranking list.
The “Karli’s Horseshoes” game, set in a virtual Aachen main stadium, will test who can throw Karli’s horseshoes closest to the target.
Users will also have access to photo and video galleries and background information on the competition.
It will also have further features added ready for the eventing Nations Cup competition also running at the German venue during the championships from 11-14 August.
Information from the cross-country phase will be displayed on the app in real-time.
As well as this, the technology also allows Europeans followers to “walk” the cross-country course, seeing photos and information about each fence.
This pilot project is being launched by the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e. V. (ALRV) and SAP in collaboration with NetAachen.
Frank Kemperman, chairman of the ALRV, said: “The app is super for finding one’s way around the showgrounds, it always offers up-to-date news and results.
“The audience judge is a particular highlight as it allows the visitors to assess the performance of the participants in the dressage and vaulting competitions in real-time.”
The app was jointly developed by the championships and software developers SAP.
There will be an option to rate the 300-plus shops on offer at the Aachen venue, which spans more than 20,000 square meters.
Medal tables, facts and figures will also be available on the general information page of the app.
Visit iTunes or the Google Play store to dowload the app for iPhone and android.
Police in Germany were in for a shock last week when they found a pony in the back of a car.
A woman was driving along an autobahn at Bad Oeynhau near Hannover when she was pulled over by police.
However, when police checked out her car — a Fiat Panda — they found a Shetland pony travelling in the boot. The pony was quietly sitting on a bed on straw in the hatchback of the car, much to the officers’ surprise.
Werner Otto, founder of German company OTTO Sport- und Reitplatz GmbH, explains why his family-owned business has Olympic fever.
H&H: We understand that at the moment you’re making the most of the opportunity to spend time with the Brazilians ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games as one of your construction teams is currently in Rio de Janeiro building the surfaces for the equestrian disciplines.
WO: That is correct. At the moment, all of us have the Olympic fever, so to say. We are building five outdoor arenas and one indoor arena with 33,400 sqm in total for the Games. We have already shipped about 40 containers with machines and material to the construction site. We sent our team of engineers who have already built surfaces in every corner of the globe. So, it is safe to say that we are prepared for the Games. And with the well-known prime quality of our surfaces, the Brazilians are too.
H&H: This project must be a great honour for you.
WO: Knowing that the people who are responsible for this project requested OTTO Sport by name means a lot to us, of course. After the positive experiences that were made with our system during the rainy World Equestrian Games in Rome 1998, the European Championship in Madrid in 2011 and during the World Equestrian Games in the legendary Kentucky Horse Park in 2010, the organisers appreciate our quality. We – myself, my children, grandchildren and our amazing team – really live our product. We love riding! So yes, we feel very honoured and are looking forward to the future.
H&H: How did you become who you are today?
WO: When a was a small child, my family sought refuge in Bavaria during the war. As a young man I started building tennis courts. However, being a farmer’s son – by the way my father was a carriage driver and riding teacher – my heart and soul were always with horses. My wife and I, and later also our children, are passionate riders. The more we engaged in that hobby, the more we were confronted with bad surface conditions, whether paddocks, outdoor arenas or lunging rings where water couldn’t drain and horses slipped. So one day I wondered if there was anything we could do about it.
H&H: So could you?
WO: Yes, we could, and our OTTO-PerforatedMat is proof. Simply put, our product is a very special kind of separating layer system, specifically designed for equestrian surfaces. There is a substructure underneath, a special sand footing on top and the mats are in-between. The latter keep the crushed stone drainage layer underneath and the sand on top. They are water-permeable with superfluous water draining considerably fast so that there are not puddles on the surface, even after days of heavy rain, as is common in many regions across the globe. Every rider knows: puddles do not only disturb – there are horses, which refuse the course because of that. Our OTTO-PerforatedMats do not only prevent horses from slipping, they also absorb the shock energy. This is absolutely vital for the horses’ health, especially when landing after a jump. Therefore, the surface is easy on the joints, tendons and ligaments.
H&H: You mentioned that you used to build tennis courts. Is it easy to switch professions like this?
W.O.: It was anything but easy. After all, the requirements are very different. I almost set the house on fire and drove my wife crazy when I experimented with different mixtures for the OTTO-PerforatedMats in our basement for nights.
H&H: What was so tricky about it?
WO: The material should neither be too hard nor too soft. So I cooked different kinds of synthetic material until I finally found the right degree of hardness. If you think of toxic fumes now, I can put your mind at ease. Our OTTO-PerforatedMats are regularly tested for environmental friendliness, tested by the German TÜV and our company is ISO-certified.
H&H: So how does your surface differ from what is typically seen in the English market?
WO: For the British market, it is tradition to use so-called wax surfaces. Our company does not use this additive when building equestrian surfaces. Again and again, visitors at fairs are surprised that there are alternatives to wax when they get to know our system. We rely on a geotextile-fiber-mixture. This composition is modifiable and can be adjusted to the needs of the individual rider and discipline. Well-known British equestrians such as Billy Twomey and John Whitaker are absolutely convinced of the quality of our products. They ride on our equestrian surface system.
H&H: Now, it is not just enough to have an arena built by experts like your company. The importance of eEasy maintenance must be another key factor.
W.O.: Absolutely. And we are happy to say that our system is really easy to maintain. Obviously, you have to remove manure and level and water the arena, that is just common sense. But with our system we keep the effort as little as possible. Not only does our special sand mixture save water, but also our OTTO-PerforatedMats save up to four litres of water due to cups on the upper side. Additionally, the installation height of the footing is not too high. All of this contributes to saving a lot of water and, therefore, reduces costs. Furthermore, we offer fully automated irrigation systems which you can even operate from your smartphone. Just push a button when you are still in the office and the system starts working. The OTTO-Ebb&Flow System which provides subterranean irrigation, is especially comfortable as it guarantees steady moisture in the footing. It is also possible to collect water in cisterns and to then use it for irrigation.
H&H: Apart from the Olympic Committee, we understand you’ve also convinced the Spanish Royals as well as the American horse behaviourist Monty Roberts and Olympia champions such as Klaus Balkenhol and Lars Nieberg of the quality of your system.
W.O.: That is true, but it does not mean that we accept only large orders or orders from famous equestrians. We are a fairly small family business with a passion for what we do. The size of an order does not matter. Plus, it has always been important to us that our system is affordable to everyone, a goal that we have definitely achieved.
H&H: Are there any places in England where Horse & Hound readers could go to look at your arenas?
W.O.: We will be in England for several upcoming events. But if you happen to be close to Hickstead, we recommend driving 10 km further to Hascombe Farms in Henfield – formerly known as Royal Leisure Center. There we had the opportunity to build several beautiful indoor and outdoor arenas, making our clients very happy. They tell us that anyone is welcome to have a look at their arenas.
However, Devon and Cornwall police told H&H the cause of injury is “still being determined”.
“One thought is that it has been struck with a blunt instrument like a hammer,” a spokesman told H&H.
The police are now appealing for information, and are urging all horse owners in the area to be on their guard.
“Due to the severity of its injuries the 15-year old thoroughbred had to be put down,” police spokesman Steve Grant told H&H.
“We are asking owners of horses and livestock in the area to remain vigilant and to report anything suspicious.
“If any member of the public has any information relating to this crime, please contact police on 101@Devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk quoting crime reference CR/054196/15.”
Sports psychologist Inga Wolframm's latest book "Perfect mind: Perfect ride" tackles all aspects of getting in the right mindset for riding. Here she gives her expert advice for coping with competition day
You trained for it, looked forward to it, perhaps you’ve even dreaded it (at least deep down). Now it is finally here — competition day! And that can only mean one thing: it’s show time.
But let’s face, even though you enter a show out of your own free will, it can be something of a double-edged sword: the potential for lots of fun and utter humiliation combined in one neat package. At least that’s what that inner voice will keep telling you unless you teach it to do otherwise.
1. Learn to love it
A little flutter of nerves can be a very good thing. It makes you quicker in your reactions, helps you to focus on what matters most, prevents you from tiring easily and even makes you feel less pain. Rather than condemn it, welcome it. Appreciate that it’s the sign your body needs to pull out all the stops.
2. Remind yourself that you can do it
One of the conditions of being able to turn anxiety into a feeling that’s positive and helpful is to know you’ve got the relevant skills. How do you know? By having done it at home. And if you want to be absolutely sure you’ve got what it takes, make sure you train above the level you’re planning to compete at.
3. Don’t try and control the uncontrollable
Many people consider this the number one rule of mental skills training. All it means is that there is absolutely no point in worrying about the things that you can do nothing about on the day of the show. Focusing on elements outside of your control is wasted energy that you’d be better off spending on more important things, such as…
4. …controlling the controllables
It starts with seemingly mundane things such as having your times, your kit, the routine of how and when to tack up. Enough things can go wrong without your planning being one of them. So make sure you’ve got everything you need ready well before you leave. Also think of things that might go wrong when you get there, such as the zipper of your boot breaking or the weather changing just as you get there. While you can’t plan for every eventuality, having a ‘just in case’ kit stored away in your car or lorry will give you additional peace of mind.
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5. Set yourself goals
Remember, the best way to stay in control is to know exactly what it is that you want to achieve and how you are going to go about it. You want to ride a quiet test? Focus on keeping your joints (wrists, ankles, shoulders, etc.) supple and your muscles (upper arms, upper legs and so on) relaxed and ‘off’ the horse until you need to give an aid. You want to ride with more expression? Keep making sure your horse is ‘on’ the aids. Most importantly? Don’t just focus on these goals in your warm-up, but keep reminding yourself of what you want to do while in the ring too.
6. KISS – Keep it simple and specific
Try KISS – keep it simple and specific. Simplicity and specificity are key to knowing what you are supposed to be doing. So as you get on your horse, give yourself simple and specific instructions on how you intend to ride your test, the course, etc. You want your horse to be relaxed in the ring? Instruct yourself to loosen up through the shoulders and wrists. Your horse needs to move forward with more impulsion? Be adamant that your horse reacts to your leg the entire time while in the ring.
7. Distract yourself
Do you worry yourself silly about all the things that might go wrong in the ring? Can you picture everyone laughing their heads off at your poor performance? Are you convinced the judges hate your horse? Rest assured, these thoughts are normal — most riders experience them at one time or another. But they’re also unproductive and quite often end up undermining your performance. Rather than desperately trying not to think them though (which hardly ever works anyway), it’s best to simply try and accept that you do (something along the lines of ‘Hey, it’s part of who I am, but I’m not going to let it affect me.’) After that, move on and find something to do to take your mind off those negative thoughts. Playing a game on your smart phone, gossiping with a friend, and, while on board, focusing on what you are going to do and breathing correctly can work wonders.
8. Ignore others
I don’t mean all the time, of course. But while you’re tacking up, or already on your horse, you shouldn’t be watching or paying attention to anyone else, be that fellow competitors, judges, spectators. You can’t control them anyway — not what they’re doing or thinking, not what they’ll say to each other and not how they’ll score your test. Incidentally, it’s not always a good idea to watch other competitors beforehand either. If you only end up comparing yourself unfavourably, you should definitely leave it until after you’ve ridden.
9. Breathe!
Ever asked yourself how come you can ride for an hour at home without breaking into a sweat, but a few minutes in the ring leave you completely knackered? It’s because you forgot to breathe. Many riders will hold their breath for long periods in the ring, and, when they finally do take a breath, inhale into their chest cavity. The problem is, this type of – chest – breathing is very closely linked to the ‘fight or flight response’. Breaths are short, shallow and jerky. Muscles are tight, tense and ready to jump into action – not ideal when you’re doing a sport that, first and foremost, depends on fine motor control (i.e. small, very precise movements of your muscles). The answer? Remember to breathe into your belly, taking long, slow breaths.
10. Relax
Managed to control your breathing and need a bit more a challenge? All right, here goes. Work on relaxing your muscles on command. It’s important to first start practising at home, though. Work your way through all the major muscle groups in your body, one after the other. First, tense them as hard as you can, then simply let go – and feel the tension drain from your muscles. Combine with a trigger word, such as relax or chill. Eventually, your trigger and relaxation will become inseparable. Once you get to the show, repeat your trigger word as and when needed to remove any superfluous tension that might (will) distort communication with your horse.
11. Listen
The power of music — don’t underestimate it. The right tune can relax, stimulate, motivate, soothe, provide comfort or remind you of happy days. So why not come up with a competition play list? You’ll be able to magic yourself into the right state of mind at the mere touch of a button.
12. Focus
It’s one of the key elements to performance. Being able to focus. Attention, the right kind of focus, flow. When it happens, it’s magical. Creating it is merely a question of practice. Remember, focus is a bit like the beam of a torch, highlighting merely those elements important to your performance, but leaving everything else in the dark. Especially if you’re struggling to get into that focusing zone, you might want to make use of a trigger word or a pre-competition routine, which your body will automatically associate with the right kind of focus.
13. Use a routine
Using a series of pre-determined positive (!) behaviours, actions or thoughts that your body and mind have learned to associate with another set of actions, moods or behaviours, will always, without fail, provide you with a sense of security. Routines can involve anything from the type of music you listen to on your way to the show, the way you tack up your horse or the way you structure your warm-up. Just before you enter the ring, you might also want to run through a set behaviour, words or phrases, such as a short gesture meaningful only to you, a deep breath, a trigger word, a visualised scene, and, finally, the command for your horse to get going. As long as the routine is positive, helpful and enjoyable, you’re good to go.
14. Be nice to yourself
Riders are possibly the most critical group of people I’ve ever come across. And that’s a good thing too – when you’re sitting on top of an animal with a mind of its own, you can’t afford to be complacent. But if being critical about yourself is all you do at a show, you’re missing the point… Too many riders keep telling themselves that they are ‘rubbish’, that they ‘don’t belong’, that they ‘might as well go home’. This kind of behaviour serves absolutely no purpose other than undermining your confidence (which is the last thing you need!). So try and be nice to yourself by complimenting yourself. And if you cannot bring yourself to come up with a compliment, at least think of something constructive to say!
15. Visualise
You might have been doing it for years without realising that it’s one of the most effective mental skills around: imagery. The ability to see yourself ride in your mind’s eye. But now that you know it works, it might be time to make the most of it. Use it to improve on current levels of skill, by seeing yourself perform a tricky movement. Or motivate yourself by imagining yourself perform faultlessly at the top of your game. Or picture yourself calm and serene, in the right mental frame of mind. By visualising a desired outcome you’re giving your mind and muscles a kind of ‘blueprint’ for the real action later on.
16. Forgive yourself
So you’ve made a mistake. Big deal… Seriously, even though it might feel like it at that particular moment, getting it wrong isn’t the end of the world. If you’re half way through your ride, give yourself positive instructions on what to do next. Afterwards, remind yourself that this was just another competition (no matter how important it was), and that you’ll simply work on it over the next few weeks. If this doesn’t sound acceptable to you, check your assumptions. You might be trapped in a dysfunctional thought pattern. So rather than making unreasonable demands of yourself, try and learn from your mistakes. Lastly, think of the big picture. You’re there, because you want to be.
17. Accept it
There’ll always be days when things just refuse to come together. It’s not your fault. In fact, it’s nobody’s fault. In the words of Mary King: “Highs and lows are part of horse sports. Try and simply accept them.”
18. Enjoy it!
You’ve trained, you’ve prepared, you’ve spent lots of money and put in oodles of time. Most importantly though, at the heart of it all, it’s about you and your horse.
This extract has been taken from ‘Perfect Mind: Perfect Ride’ by Inga Wolframm, published by Kenilworth Press (£16.95)
If you’re waiting for your results and wondering whether a college course will get you that dream job with horses, don’t miss our live careers web chat in association with Reaseheath College on Wednesday 12 August, 12 noon – 2pm.
Reaseheath’s senior equine science lecturer Kate Douglas-Dala, who has been involved in the development of Reaseheath’s degree programmes, and Jess Denham, who manages the college’s popular level 2 diploma in horse care, will be online to answer your questions on university, on-job training and life in the equestrian industry.
Both have extensive experience of working in the industry previous to joining Reaseheath. Kate, who lectures on horse nutrition, welfare and behaviour, was a veterinary nurse specialising in grass sickness cases at the Royal Dick Veterinary Hospital in Edinburgh. Jess was an equine yard supervisor at another college, responsible for the welfare and care of 40 horses as well as supporting students.
Kate has an MSc degree in equine science while Jess has a BSc(Hons) degree in equine studies. Both hold a PGCE teaching qualification and own their own horses.
Recognised as one of the UK’s leading specialist colleges, Reaseheath College in Nantwich, Cheshire, works closely with industry bodies to ensure that the skills of its students match the demands of the world of work. This ensures a high rate of employment for equine graduates and opens up opportunities for young people, whose practical skills and knowledge are appreciated by employers.
Reaseheath has invested £50 million into cutting edge technology and world class facilities on campus, with a further £30 million planned over the next four years.
Our equine students tell us they most enjoy:
Riding in our fabulous indoor arena or two outdoor arenas, all with synthetic surfaces
Working horses from the ground in our round pen, purpose built for natural horsemanship
Our range of 60 horses, in small yards and for all standards of riders
Flicka, our mechanical horse
Their supportive and experienced tutors and lecturers
Preparing for extra qualifications such as BHS exams and college certificates
Joining our Riding Club with its competitions and clinics
Helping to organise masterclasses and national shows or joining our arena team at the Horse of the Year Show and Bolesworth International Show Jumping
The individual dressage competition – which all four team members will take part in – starts today.
Meanwhile, Britain’s pony showjumpers took team gold earlier today on a score of 236.47.
Jodie Hall Mcateer on Tixylix, Jack Whitaker on Zodianne van de Doevenbree, Jessica Hewitt on Ammanvalley Santino and Charlotte Ash on Aughnashammer made up the medal-winning team.
Ireland, who finished just three faults behind, took silver with France in bronze on five faults.
And the eventing competition (6-9 August) is currently underway.
Phoebe Locke and Quay were the highest-placed British combination at the end of the first day of dressage yesterday (6 August).
The pair were in fifth place overnight on a score of 44.3pen.
The other British combinations taking part in the eventing championship include Phoebe Nicholson on Llanstephan Brenin, Harriet Wright on Foxtown Cufflynx, Saffron Cresswell on Cuffesgrange Little Ric, Jessica Thomas on Another Island and Thomas Tulloch on Spirit VI.
No one is going to complain when the sun is shining and we’re out competing — but it’s more important than ever to make sure that our horses are kept hydrated when the temperatures soar.
Dengie senior nutritionist Katie Williams gives some top tips to keep your horse healthy and hydrated after competition.
5 ways to keep your horse hydrated
1. Intense activity during competition or training will cause your horse to sweat and lose electrolytes. For effective rehydration, both water and electrolytes are needed. Adding an electrolyte supplements to your horse’s water is one way to achieve this, but if they refuse to drink the solution then you may have to try an alternative method.
2. Alternatively make feed wet and slushy if this is the only way your horse will consume the electrolytes. Adding soaked sugar beet is an easy way to do this and has the added benefit of supplying highly digestible fibre.
3. Fibre and oil are great ways to provide slow-release energy – and the oil helps to promote improved stamina, which is particularly useful for horses competing in endurance competitions or if horses are doing several classes in a day. Feeds that combine alfalfa and oil can have a calorie or energy value equivalent to a conditioning mix, but without the same level of starch.
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4. Fibre and oil feeds are ideal for maintaining or promoting weight gain in horses that can be over-excitable or prone to ERS (also known as tying-up). Adding a balancer or supplement designed for horses in hard work and feeding it at recommended rates will ensure essential nutrients are supplied at correct levels.
5. After competition, horses can remain very excited for a while and might be distracted from eating. It is important to try to tempt them to eat to promote good recovery. If the horse is having a rest the day after a competition, the emphasis should be on good levels of high-quality fibre sources (hay, haylage, alfalfa or sugar beet with oil) that will supply energy without significantly increasing the risk of digestive upsets. Essential vitamins and minerals are also vital to aid repair to tissues.
Britain’s hopes of qualifying for Rio have suffered yet another blow, as a third top horse has been ruled out of this month’s (19-23 August) FEI European Showjumping Championships.
Ben Maher’s top ride Cella has picked up a “minor injury” and is therefore not available for the British team.
Team GBR performance manager Di Lampard confirmed to H&H today (Friday 7 August) that Cella was definitely off the list, but that the injury was “not career ending”.
“This is obviously another huge loss and sad for Ben who had planned Cella’s preparations for the Euros to a tee,” she added.
Jane Forbes Clark’s 13-year-old grey mare was last seen at the Global Champions Tour (GCT) London leg (25 July) at Syon Park.
The pair had been out competing this summer, starting at Windsor and then Aachen.
They also jumped at the GCT in Cannes and Paris prior to London. In Paris they won a CSI5* class, dead-heating with Egypt’s Karim El Zoghby and Amelia.
Ben declined to comment to H&H about the injury.
Ben impressed when he jumped Diva at last week’s Nations Cup at Hickstead, but it’s not currently clear whether they are in contention for a place on the Europeans team.
“I thought Ben and Diva were outstanding,” said Di after last week’s performance. “Diva is very unexperienced at [championship] level though. We were looking forward to having Cella on the squad.”
This is the second championship disappointment for Ben and Cella.
The Europeans are the final chance Britain has to qualify for Rio 2016, after injury and dismal performances at last year’s World Equestrian Games left the country without a spot.
John’s form this year had suggested him as a strong contender for the Europeans, with Nations Cup team victories and solid performances on the GCT.
Just a week before that, Scott Brash revealed to H&H that he would not be jumping his top ride Hello Sanctos, should he be selected for the team, but that he was putting nine-year-olds Hello M’Lady and Hello Forever forward.
It was not in the horse’s “best interests” to contest both the Europeans and the final leg of the Rolex Grand Slam in Calgary (9-13 September) — where the pair stand to win a €1million bonus.
The Europeans team is expected to be revealed after Dublin Horse Show, giving selector Di time to assess riders during the Nations Cup this afternoon (Friday 7 July).
Much to the delight of a jubilant crowd, Ireland triumphed on home turf during an exciting Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup and lifted the prestigious Aga Khan Trophy at Dublin Horse Show.
The quartet comprising Bertram Allen (Romanov), Greg Broderick (MHS Going Global), Cian O’Connor (Good Luck) and Darragh Kenny (Sans Soucis Z) pretty much swept the floor with their rivals from the outset, producing three first-round clears. Pathfinder Bertram knocked a pole with the Billy Twomey-owned stallion but it did not change the team’s position at the top of the leaderboard throughout. They were the only team to finish on four faults after the second round, resulting in no jump off.
“My horse is experienced so it suited him to go first. I’ve done a lot of jumping all over the world but to win in front of a home crowd is a dream come true,” said 20-year-old Bertram.
Team mate Greg was making his debut appearance in the class and produced the team’s only double clear, riding the nine-year-old gelding.
“I’m on top of the world. He’s only a young horse but has a fantastic attitude – some horses shrink in that arena but he seemed to grow,”he said.
With the European Championships in Aachen now visible on the horizon, Ireland’s Chef d’Equipe Robert Splaine is in a somewhat envious position.
“I’m feeling good – we’ve been building to this day for a while. These Nations Cups are not easy to win at all, the boys definitely earned their dinner tonight,” he said. “We are very capable of being competitive at the Europeans and the Olympics if we qualify.”
The Dutch team settled for runner-up spot, finishing on eight faults, while the Swiss riders scooped the third podium position.
The British team looked to be in contention after a promising first round. Scott Brash and Robert Whitaker both pulled clears out of the bag, leaving the team in third going into the final second round. Scott and the nine-year-old mare Hello M’Lady went on to pick up four faults in the second round. Robert and Catwalk IV followed up their clear round with eight faults. Michael Whitaker (Cassionato) knocked a pole and picked up a time penalty in each round.Things didn’t go to plan for Spencer Roe, he collected a handful of penalties strewn out across the course with Wonder Why, resulting in him being the drop score. The team finish sixth with a combined 23 faults.
Today’s result will certainly be food for thought for Chef d’Equipe Di Lampard, who will be announcing her team selection on Monday (10 August).
For a full report on Dublin Horse Show, don’t miss next week’s issue out on Thursday 13 August.
Socks’ owner Derek Gray said the horse has taken the training in his stride.
“I’ve been looking after the horse on the Lonach march for the last two years, taking over the role from my father who had done it for over 40 years before that,” he said.
“Having reared Socks since he was a yearling, I will be extremely proud to march alongside him on games day.
“There’ll be a few carrots close at hand to keep him sweet and ensure he behaves himself and doesn’t end up in the beer tent with all the other Highlanders.”
The Lonach Highlanders, established in 1823, are believed to be the largest body of non-military men to carry ceremonial weapons in Britain.
They march in full highland dress, armed with traditional Loachaber axes and pikes on games day.
Traditionally, a horse and cart followed the highlanders on their marches to carry their weapons.
“The debut of a new horse is always special and we hope Socks will have a long association with the Lonach Gathering,” said Jennifer Stewart, secretary of the Lonach Highland and Friendly Society.
“The sight of 220 Lonach Highlanders and the massed pipe bands leading the Lonach horse and cart onto the games field in such a stunning setting is a sight to behold.”
This year marks the 174th games and other attractions include highland dancing and athletics.
Up to 10,000 visitors from across the world attend the games.
With the start of the 2015/16 team chase season just three weeks away, it might be time for you to look for your new partner in crime. Whether you’re looking to start out at novice level, or take on the big guns over some open courses, here’s our pick of team chasers for sale on the Horse & Hound website this week.
Take a look at this week’s selection of team chasers for sale on horseandhound.co.uk:
1. ‘Very safe jumper’
Height: 16.3hh
Age: 11
Gender: gelding
Selling points: “A fabulous hunter who would certainly make a good team chaser. An ideal novice rider’s horse for point-to-point or hunter chase races. He has never fallen and has won and been been placed in point-to-points and National Hunt races both in the UK and Ireland. No vices, sound, easy to to and easy to ride in races.”
Selling points: “‘Paddy’ is a true Irish gentleman who is well schooled, with good movement and conformation. He has mainly been used as a lady’s side saddle horse for hunting and hunter trials but has also been hunted by men. He is a confidence giver to jump and is never strong or silly in open spaces. Hacks alone and in company, always in a snaffle.”
Selling points: “‘Rosie’ is a one of a kind, perfect hunter. She has done pretty much every job on the hunting field, from leading kids at the back, to whipping in, and even hunting hounds. She has immaculate manners and will cross any country; ditches, wire, five-bar gates, hunt jumps and hedges. You name it, she’s done it. She is a serious confidence giver on the hunting field and has also evented to BE100 level. No vices.”
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4. ‘Horse with big engine’
Height: 16.2hh
Age: 11
Gender: gelding
Selling points: “This horse will jump whatever you point him at. He is an upstanding middleweight horse with a light snaffle mouth and is very light on his feet. He would make an ideal gentleman’s hunter and team chaser. He is good to do with no vices.”
Selling points: “This thoroughbred ex-racehorse has evented to novice level BE and has been placed at BE100 level. He won the intermediate pairs class at the Meynell Team Chase, leading throughout and has a super gallop. Snaffle mouth and good to clip and shoe etc.”
Selling points: “This thoroughbred gelding has hunted one season with the Tynedale and two seasons with the Meynell. He has whipped-in and also done gate shutting days. Last season he team chased as part of the Dapper Dobbins team at the Pytchley (intermediate), Cotswold (open) & Bicester (open) . Happy to lead or follow. Good to hack, shoe, clip etc. He has clean limbs, lives in or out and is easy to do.”
NB: Horse & Hound has not checked the accuracy of the claims made in these adverts and cannot be held liable if the information included above is inaccurate in any way
I have said before in this column that a championship is a separate class and you have to find something extra. By definition, a supreme championship takes it to the limit, as this year’s Royal International proved.
All credit to Jayne Ross on supreme champion Time 2 Reflect — but I know she’ll agree that Jordan Cook, reserve on his small hack, Fleetwater Xecutive, gave her a close run for her money after they finished on joint marks and prompted a two-horse ride-off.
As an amateur, Jordan brought this horse through from the Search For A Star series and then served his professional “apprenticeship” with Pearl Underwood. He’s worked hard and should be an inspiration to all amateurs dreaming of making showing a career and hitting the big time.
Congratulations, too, to the Eddis family and their supreme pony, the 133cm working hunter Beat The Boss. It’s rare for a worker to take this title, especially in such strong company.
The horse working hunter champions, Katrina Braithwaite on Kilderry Rupert, deserved their accolade. They jumped a fabulous clear and the horse has a great attitude. Katrina produces him from home —more proof that amateurs can beat professionals.
Coping with change
British Skewbald and Piebald Association day saw a total of 245 entries; the smallest class had 18 forward and the largest, 47. Some classes did their go-round in one ring, then were switched to another for the judge’s ride section. I hear some riders felt this unsettled their horses, but it kept classes running to time.
At this level, horses should adapt to different surroundings and I’m told the second ring was quieter — which should have been an advantage. Changes always spark some complaints, but you must have new ideas and I bet that next year, riders will accept the set-up. The alternative might have been to cut down on the number of qualifying places, which would have been far more unpopular.
The Ponies (UK) Dalkeith young riders M&M classes give young riders the chance to compete within limited age groups, without adults. Apparently some competitors would be happier if a marks system was used, so riders have a better idea of what judges were looking for.
Riders get used to the British Show Pony Society and National Pony Society marks systems, and many amateurs tell me they like to see where they can improve their ride marks. I grew up in the days before marks, so it isn’t something I get hot under the collar about.
As a judge, it can be useful to make notes when you have a big class, so you don’t miss entrants who deserve to be moved up. But at a show of this calibre, top judges are quite capable of working without marks — though organisers might want to think about it if there’s sufficient disquiet.
Finally, we should thank the stewards and officials; too often they are unsung heroes.
Georgie Spence and Wii Limbo finished 23rd at last year's Burghley Horse Trials. The four-star eventer will be out of action for the next fortnight after a riding accident
So you’ve decided to take the plan and build your own arena. To avoid the common pitfalls, we have spoke to the expects to find out how to build a riding arena and what are the key points you need to consider before taking the plunge.
1. Location
If building a riding arena will be part of a bigger equestrian project, consider the whole layout upfront.
“You don’t want to compromise on the best solution,” advises Charles Britton, who runs the 36-year-old equestrian facilities company of the same name.
“Authorities are typically not keen for facilities to sprawl over too large an area, so putting it nearer to existing facilities will always make it easier to secure support,” he says.
While hedgerows and trees can provide shelter from prevailing wind, most installers advise steering clear because of the problems created by falling leaves and roots — while planners also object to the impact on mature trees.
Soil conditions can also be a consideration.
“An arena can be built on almost any ground, but if there are difficult conditions — for example if it’s rocky or boggy — then it is going to need more investment in either equipment or materials, so if there is an alternative position, consider it,” advises Charles. “Similarly, if you can’t get at least eight-wheel tipper lorries to the site, costs will be greater for smaller lorries or re-handling of materials.”
“Don’t worry too much about earthworks,” notes Total Equestrian Construction’s Steve Keen. “People are concerned if they have a slope that it will be expensive, but usually it’s the cheapest part.”
2. Size
The most popular arena size is 40x20m, while those dedicated to dressage may opt for a 60x20m layout. For jumping arenas, extra width is recommended.
“Even 40x25m makes a difference to where you can site jumps, so I always advise people to go for the extra five metres if they can,” says Steve.
Charles Britton also suggests being clear on how the arena will be used.
“Some uses are better served by another, separate facility. If you do a lot of lungeing, the arena can potentially be harmed by intense, concentrated activity. You may be better off having a separate lungeing arena, perhaps making the main arena a bit smaller to fund it.”
Take a virtual tour round event rider Piggy French’s beautiful Leicestershire base
3. Base and drainage
The base is unquestionably the most important aspect of an arena build. If it isn’t constructed properly, the arena surface will never perform as intended and pooling water and soft spots will result.
“When you build an arena, only the surface and the fencing should need changing when they reach the end of their life expectancy, nothing else,” says Jackson Arena’s James Alford.
Different installers have different approaches to the structure of drainage — and it is an area for the expert to advise — but don’t skimp on stone or membranes.
“The key issue is hard limestone for the drainage network. It’s clean and it keeps the drains clean,” says James.
Leisure Ride’s chief executive officer Ross Hemming agrees: “You want the stone to be as hard as possible — limestone or granite work best, and it needs to be evenly compacted.” Having a suitable top membrane is also important to prevent puncturing.
“We recommend a minimum of 300g per square metre Newton tear strength,” Ross adds.
4. Surfaces
With such a wide range on offer — and many differing opinions as to what works best — choosing a surface can be a minefield.
Should you opt for woodchip, PVC, rubber-mix or sand and fibre?
“It is the one question that everyone gets hooked up on, yet it’s just a part of the whole decision process,” says Charles. “We would always stress though, don’t compromise on the rest of the structure to install a top-price surface — it won’t work.”
For most people, the primary factors influencing surface choice are budget and the level and type of use.
If you want to get a feel for the type of ride you are looking for and what would best suit the requirements of your discipline, try to see a surface in work rather than just viewing samples.
Most people installing an outdoor arena opt for a sand-based surface, and Ross has some basic advice: “The sand is most important thing. The surface will always ride deep if it’s wrong. You need angular, high-quality silica sand, not round grains. Damp binds the angular grains together.”
“Good” going on natural turf is considered the best surface for a horse, and this is what additives to sand are trying to mimic.
“Fibres of the right consistency will emulate turf’s root structure,” Ross explains.
Sand and rubber is a popular budget surface, whereas at the other end of the spectrum there is wax.
Wax surfaces were pioneered by Martin Collins Enterprises more than 30 years ago and are designed to provide the most consistent ride — although with greater capital outlay.
“Wax makes a surface behave as though it’s wet and minimises dust. It also repels water, which makes the arena less likely to freeze,” says Martin’s son Nicholas.
“It gives you finer control to create the ride you want — a surface should have controlled movement, balancing hoof stability and support with ‘give’.”
It is wise to remember that the “perfect” surface arguably does not exist and that maintenance will always be key.
“Everybody wants a surface that you don’t have to maintain, that doesn’t freeze in winter or need watering in summer,” adds Ross. “You can’t have a very low maintenance surface without giving up something else — usually performance.”
5. Planning permission
Most arena installation companies offer a “turn key” solution that includes handling the process for you. However, if you are going it alone, it’s useful to be aware of the issues that are most likely to concern your county council. The planning permission process can take up to three months.
“For equestrian builds, it’s worth contacting your local planning authority before doing anything else. They can tell you what is more likely to be acceptable,” says Gill Davies from Martin Collins operations.
One of the most common areas of compromise is lighting, which can pose aesthetic considerations as well as troubling neighbours.
“When siting an arena, it’s worth considering if there is traffic passing on a nearby highway that might prevent you installing lighting,” says Charles.
Modern LED lights mounted on the fencing rather than a pole can provide a work-around.
The location of drains is also important.
“Some councils want to know where the outfall is — it may be going into a ditch adjacent to a road or impacting a neighbour’s land,” says Ross.
When building in an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), aesthetic considerations can be of high importance.
“We currently have a build in Malvern where the client wanted light coloured sand but the council wanted the surface toned down,” says Ross.
“They didn’t want bright white in the middle of a green field. We managed to source sand from a different region — it was still silica sand but darker.”
6. Finishing touches
Fences
If you are installing the fencing yourself, do the job properly to ensure longevity.
“We always concrete the fencing in because if you don’t, within a couple of years it will bow out and look horrible,” explains Ross. “We also re-treat the bottom of our fence posts with bitumin before putting them in the ground.”
Ross also advises not skimping on kickboards.
“We have stone that comes under the kickboard as they are more likely to rot in contact with soil. You need a height of 13-15in of timber to prevent surface loss,” he adds.
Charles Britton cautions against pitting budget against safety.
“Fence height is important — a flimsy fence that is too low can actually be a danger. We
recommend 4ft 6in above the top of the riding surface, which is about 5ft 6in out of the ground,” he says.
Gates
If you want to practise dressage test riding, a central entrance on a kickboard arena might be the option for you. Otherwise, Ross advises that gates are best located offset or in the middle of a long side.
“We will never put a gate on the centre line. If a gate is left open, a naughty horse on the centre line will be out of the gate and gone. We also try not to put them in a corner for the same reason,” he says.
Mirrors
Universal advice for installing mirrors is that in order to avoid glare, you should check the direction of the sun at the time of day when you are most likely to be riding.
They should be angled towards the ground and attached to a framework rather than directly to fencing.
7. The cost
Unsurprisingly a number of factors will impact the cost, but as an example, Jackson Arenas quotes £19,500 plus VAT for a “budget” arena.
Most arena installation companies strongly caution against cutting corners, as many lower-cost fixes will only shorten the lifespan of the arena or take additional expense to remedy later on.
For those on a tight budget, there are some areas where you might make savings.
“Cut your size, not your budget,” suggests Charles.
“If you want a big arena but can’t afford it yet, and it is a site requiring cut and fill, have it levelled ready for a big arena and extend later.”
James Alford believes some savings can be made on the finishing details.
“The only place where you can really save money is fencing,” he says. “Sometimes it’s an option to use round machine posts, which are quicker to put in. A fence isn’t essential — you could just have kickboards.”
While it is better to install your chosen arena surface from the beginning — as taking up and replacing a surface results in added costs later on — if you are building on a budget, having a long-term plan to upgrade is a possibility.
“It might be worth putting up with a surface that isn’t your first choice for a couple of years,” advises Ross. “If you buy good quality angular silica sand to begin with, surfaces can be improved with the right fibre.”
This article was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (6 August 2015)
And the rider has now qualified for this year’s National Dressage Championships.
“Fairytales can happen,” she told H&H.
Jo was riding at her yard near Edinburgh on 21 December when she fell from her horse Corchapin.
She was in hospital for around nine weeks, but was discharged in March. In April she was back in the saddle for the first time, taking it slowly at a riding school in a “safe situation”.
She said at the time: “My body felt like a beginner again but it’s a start and the desire is still there.”
Although based in Scotland, prior to the accident Jo continued to train with her former employer Carl Hester in Gloucestershire.
While she was off her horses were campaigned by another of Carl’s pupil’s, Kate Cowell.
“Corchapin returned home from Gloucestershire at the beginning of July,” said Jo.
Last weekend (1-3 August) the pair competed for the first time since the accident at the Scottish Regional Championships at Cabin EC, Aberdeen in the advanced medium.
“We won both the advanced medium 98 warm-up with 73.55% and the advanced medium open regional championship with 73.16%, which qualifies us for the British Dressage National Championships at Stoneleigh in September,” she added.
“It has been a long journey but so many have helped me along the way. It all seems slow but steady progress is being made.
“I ride at home and teach around doing my rehab work and exercises and yard work.
“Up till then I hope to do a few competitions locally and after the Nationals start training with Carl again.”
Jo was on her own when she fell, so no one is clear exactly what happened, but she was found shortly after the accident unconscious in the school. She had been wearing a crash hat.
“She was due to teach someone after she’d worked her horse, and she was found unconscious on the ground. The horse had sand on his knees and on his saddle so we assume he must have fallen,” her mother Flora told H&H at the time.
“It all happened really quickly. Jo always wears a helmet, thank goodness, as it could have been so much worse without that hat.”
If horses are your passion, there’s no better place to study than Hartpury. Providing you with opportunities and facilities that you won’t find elsewhere, you do really get more than just a degree at Hartpury.
Whether you want to work with horses or just want to keep your horse with you and enjoy our outstanding equine facilities while gaining a first-class education, our courses can open doors to your dream career.
If you’re waiting for your A-level and BTEC Diploma results right now, we wish you the very best of luck!
But it’s worth remembering that if your results don’t quite match your expectations or hit the mark, there will still be lots of options for you to explore.
We have places available on a number of our equine courses – from Equine Science to Equine Performance and Equine Business Management.
And if you don’t get the points you need to start on a full honours degree right away, our foundation degrees could offer the route you need, with lower entry tariffs and the option to top-up to the full honours degree after two years of study.
To find out more about Hartpury and whether it could be right for you, why not visit our dedicated webpage at www.hartpury.ac.uk/clearing
Alternatively, you can call our clearing hotline 01452 702345.
“Hartpury provides the ideal training environment for people to start their career in the industry. I’m proud to be part of the college and working with the next generation of riders.” Carl Hester, Hartpury Elite Dressage Coach and Olympic Gold Medallist
Choosing Hartpury for your degree
Choosing Hartpury for your equine degree means studying in a unique specialist environment, where educational opportunities are provided for all within world class facilities, supported by outstanding staff and significant equine industry links.
Set in beautiful rural Gloucestershire and close to both Cheltenham and Gloucester, we’ve invested more than £50million in our campus over the past 10 years.
And we’ve got a great track record in giving our students the skills they need to get their dream job.
94.4% of our graduates are either in work or further education six months after graduating.
Some equine students will use their qualification to progress into general graduate career paths relating to teaching, sales, law, business management and veterinary, keeping horses as a hobby.
Others move quickly up the equine career route; using the experience they gain at Hartpury to move into jobs in equine health, performance, welfare and business throughout the UK and internationally.
Everywhere you look at Hartpury Equine, you will see high quality facilities and equipment designed to aid student learning, provide outstanding competition opportunities and to help horses in all forms of their development and wellbeing.
It’s not surprising Hartpury is very proud of the equine graduates we produce…
“Being a Hartpury graduate gave me an enormous grounding that has stood me in good stead throughout my career. Not only was the academic programme excellent, the additional opportunities available to gain real life experience was priceless. Today, Hartpury continues to prepare students well for the modern equestrian industry, and their graduates hold key positions throughout the equine world.”
Amanda Bond, CEO for British Dressage and Hartpury graduate
World class opportunities: only at Hartpury
As Europe’s largest equine education centre, Hartpury attracts the very highest calibre lecturers, researchers and coaches and enjoys long-standing partnerships across the equine industry.
In fact, every year Hartpury hosts riders, trainers and industry leaders from 20 different countries at its three equine festivals.
It was at Hartpury that Charlotte Dujardin set a new British freestyle record just three weeks before winning two gold medals at London 2012.
In Horse & Hound, Charlotte Dujardin said of her Olympic experience: “Backstage at Greenwich it was just like Hartpury — all the regular crew were there.”
Hartpury students experience all of this first-hand and so much more!
Our facilities
Hartpury’s unique equine environment provides students with access to world-class facilities, which include the indoor championship arena, outdoor and indoor arenas, cross-country courses, stabling for 230 horses (including student livery) and its own dedicated equine therapy centre.
This September sees the opening of our rider performance centre, the first of its kind in the UK. At the Margaret Giffen Centre for Performance in Equestrian Sports you’ll be able to access facilities and professional therapists to help enhance your performance and provide you with even more opportunities to apply the theory you learn in the classroom in a practical session.
The facilities are key to the student learning experience. They are available for work experience, for students to compete in events and for research projects.
Hartpury prides itself on ensuring that equine facilities are available to all students, and staff can also book them for teaching and assessment. While we constantly strive to ensure that our facilities are of the highest standard, we are in no way elitist.
Hartpury supports all equine students to experience aspects of the ‘real equine world’, whether that’s timetabled practicals, work experience, volunteering, making the most of our extensive business contacts and accounts, conducting research or attending the national conventions we host.
Lord Coe, chairman of the London 2012 organising committee, said:
“Hartpury’s facility is a state-of-the art competition venue and teaching facility… that is an asset to equestrian sport both at community and elite level.”
Qualifications in equine
Hartpury provides a variety of equine programmes ranging from foundation degrees through to masters qualifications. We encourage our students to stretch and challenge themselves, illustrated by excellent progression rates between levels and programmes.
For students who recognise themselves as practical learners, we offer two foundation science degreess, each designed with different career paths in mind. These programmes include work experience, which help students gain relevant skills and knowledge of the work environment and further support their degree education. Both programmes offer part-time options if preferred and progression routes onto a bespoke top-up honours degree programme.
Hartpury offers both bachelor of science and bachelor of arts honours degrees, which can be completed in three years (full-time). In addition, our unique one year top-up honours degree enables foundation degree students to study for a further year to gain an honours degree qualification.
Our students are equipped with the ability to problem solve using newly developed skills, ideas, research and equipment at the forefront of the equine field.
My decision to study at Hartpury was based on the incredible facilities here, especially the Equine Therapy Centre. I volunteered there in my first year and was lucky enough to get offered a job in my second year which is giving me invaluable experience. I also keep my horse onsite, which helps keep my training and competition up to scratch while I study.
Erin Ronan | Foundation degree in Equine Performance
Meet Hartpury graduate, Rachel Kent: Sponsorship co-ordinator at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern, Worcestershire
About my job I manage about 50 different sponsorship accounts for four different major shows across the year. The accounts I manage are incredibly varied — some are equestrian, some agricultural, some sporting and some are from very different industry sectors like building management, educational institutions and clothing brands.
Why I went to Hartpury I chose Hartpury because it allowed me to do a foundation degree in equine performance with a sandwich year incorporated and I was really keen to gain valuable work experience alongside my studies. When I returned from my sandwich year, I chose to stay at Hartpury and top-up to the BSc equine management degree. I then went on to do my masters in sports business management and that progression route from foundation right through to masters suited me perfectly. It enabled me to focus in on my areas of interest, hone so many different skills and gain a really wide variety of work experience. The opportunities at Hartpury are limitless.
My most memorable experiences at Hartpury So many! Endless memories of barbecues, movie nights and enjoying the sun in the beautiful grounds, not to mention trying to balance study with nights out!
Using my degree at work I use what I learned during my studies at Hartpury every day, especially from the practical side, like delivering presentations to members of the board. Equally, I learned a lot about putting packs together for sponsors during my masters in sports businesmanagement. Time management and organisation is a huge part of any job role and Hartpury helped me with that by always giving me a full plate!
How I got into the industry I’ve always been interested in agriculture, but I didn’t want to spend my career in wellies! I worked within the marketing team at Hartpury and that opened my eyes to more career possibilities. Networking was also key and it’s such an underrated skill. If you’re interested in working for someone, make use of the skills you already have, and follow them on Twitter, like them on Facebook and add them on LinkedIn.
Advice for graduates While you’re at university, get as much work experience as you can. It’s the only time in your life where you have a guaranteed income from your loan. Use the extra time to get part-time jobs or voluntary roles in environments you wouldn’t normally put yourself into – you might find that you like them! Finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you’re interested in a career find out as much as you can about it. Preparation is key!
For me, there is no better job or career than the one I have chosen. Those who choose to work with what they love, don’t work a day in their life!” There really is no place like Hartpury.” Charlie Bays | Professional showjumper, instructor and Hartpury graduate
It’s summer holiday time! For non-horsey people, this means drinking margaritas on a sandy beach while reading trashy magazines. But for us horse owners, it means staring sadly at photos of our equine companion (let’s call her Blossom) on our iPhone and wondering if we can risk getting out our blindingly white legs (they haven’t been out of breeches all year) without dazzling everyone else round the pool. Sigh!
If this sounds familar, you’ll also know that you’ll miss your horse because…
1. It’s the competition season! OK, so your partner/friend/mum was probably right that those £99 flights to Magaluf were an absolute bargain, but it means you’re missing that show you’ve been looking forward to for ages, and you know you’d totally have cleaned up this time. You and Blossom were so ready for it.
2. Nobody can look after your horse like you can. You’ll probably come home to find she’s got thrush, or strangles, or some other terrifyingly Mediaeval-sounding disease. Deep down you know this isn’t really true, but you still worry about it.
3. You’ve got a really important competition coming up. She’s bound to lose all fitness and muscle tone in the week that you’re away. She’ll just be a shapeless, untoned, unrideable blob by the time you get back. Damn it, why haven’t horses evolved enough to use mobile phones yet? You’d feel so much better about leaving her if only you could talk to her every day. Hang on, perhaps this new app might help?
4. Your horse gets you. For some unfathomable reason, your partner/friend/mum keeps changing the subject to Kerry Katona’s latest marriage breakdown every time you try and start up a conversation about William Fox-Pitt’s chances at Burghley or the merits of the Cheltenham gag over those three-ring bubble bits. It’s just rude, frankly. Blossom would never treat you like that.
5. Horse kisses. OK, so some people might say ‘reaching over to take a Polo out of your hand’, but to you they’re a ‘horse kiss’ and you’re sticking to that.
But on the other hand, perhaps you won’t miss…
1. Getting up early every morning. A lie-in once in a while is a beautiful thing, although you wouldn’t want one every day.
2. Not wanting to risk a hangover because you’re riding early next morning. You can drink as many Vodkatinis as you want, for once. Hic!
3. Mucking out, poo picking, in fact anything and everything poo-based, basically. Everyone needs a break from poo once in a while.
4. Cracked hands and chipped nails. You can get a manicure in the hotel spa, safe in the knowledge you won’t immediately chip the polish trying to prise open a supplement tub. It’s the ultimate luxury for the horsey person.
5. The opportunity to get those milky white legs brown and make all your horsey friends jealous. Now’s your chance. Seize it! Although in fact, no-one will actually see them once you get home because you’ll be straight back in your breeches.
Think of My Little Pony and images of rainbows, stars and a haze of pastel colours probably spring to mind. Think again.
In celebration of International Day of Friendship last week (30 July), a selection of famous pals have been given a horsey makeover.
Sesame Street’s Bert and Ernie, Clueless’ stylish Cher and Dionne and Transformers’ Bumblebee and Optimus Prime are among the new releases from the franchise.
Complete with spiky hair, stripped tops and Ernie’s iconic monobrow, the Sesame Street characters stand out among the new arrivals.
Television favourites from the past, such as Laverne and Shirley and I Love Lucy’s Lucy and Ethel also now have equine counterparts.
But the franchise is no stranger to the big or small screen.
A television show bringing the plastic ponies to life was first aired in 1986 and last year saw the release of the second My Little Pony film: Equestria Girls – Rainbow Rocks.
As well as the new collection of pony figurines, an animated series focusing on friendship has been made.
Created by global companies Hasbro and generationOn, the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic series features the core My Little Pony cast.
The initiative invites children and their families to celebrate friendship with acts of kindness and volunteering.
Uveitis is a generic term used to describe inflammation of the blood vessels and vascular tissues within the eye.
In the horse, the disease can separately involve the front of the eye (when it is termed iridocyclitis) or the back of the eye (chorioretinitis), but in many cases the entire eye is affected to some extent.
The inflammation can arise from trauma or blood-borne infection, but in the horse the disease is most commonly endogenous — meaning there is no identifiable external cause. In these cases, evidence is mounting that the disease has an autoimmune origin.
This arises when the normally low-key immune responses within the eye — maintained that way to avoid triggering inflammation likely to damage the very sensitive and vision-critical structures — fail to recognise these ocular tissues as “self” and mount an aggressive response against them.
What causes this failure to recognise “self” is unknown, but it seems probable that in some cases, infection can initiate the disease by altering the immune signature of the eye tissues. The vigilance of the horse’s immune system does the rest.
Is bacteria to blame?
Scarring of the eye
The infection currently receiving most attention as a likely cause of equine uveitis is leptospirosis.
In central Europe, where uveitis is reported to affect some 10% of horses, the Leptospira bacteria are implicated in up to 80% of cases. In the UK, the disease affects less than 0.2% of horses. The Leptospira types usually associated with the disease are absent from our wildlife population (the most important reservoir for infection), contributing to reduced incidence.
However, uveitis was once very common here in the UK and its prevalence among cavalry horses around the time of Waterloo was about 5%. Interestingly, in the mid-19th century a law was enacted in the UK preventing equines affected with the disease from entering horse shows, effectively removing these horses from the breeding pool. This may be largely responsible for the welcome decline in the disease over the past 150 years.
Recent studies have shown that there is a breed-related susceptibility to the disease, with warmbloods and appaloosa types being particularly affected. In the latter, the disease can take an insidious course, frequently grumbling along undetected.
However, it is highly likely that there are more and as yet unrecognised causes of uveitis in the horse, with each causal pathway leading to the same outwardly similar clinical presentation — inflammation within the eye.
A recurring problem
Tube system designed to apply medication onto the eye remotely
When it is recurrent, the disease is called equine recurrent uveitis. This is the common form in mainland Europe.
In the UK the disease is less commonly recurrent, which could reflect a genetic tendency within our horse population towards restoring the immune mechanisms in the eye to their normal low-key status after a single episode of the disease.
The structures within the eye are highly sensitive to injury or disease and have limited capacity to recover their original transparency or light-capturing functions.
Iridocyclitis, where the disease affects the front of the eye, is the most common presentation and is typically very painful. The horse’s eyelids may be tightly closed with evidence of marked tearing, while the cornea may appear opaque or reddened.
This is a real emergency in every sense. The earlier the diagnosis, the much greater the likelihood of successfully treating the disease — and the far lower the chance of long-term damage in the eye.
Unfortunately, the insidious disease seen in appaloosa types and the form of uveitis that affects only the back of the eye are not particularly painful, meaning these conditions often go undetected until the eye is irreversibly damaged.
Once the initial disease has settled down, the eye is left with signs of “healed” damage. These can range from being only detectable on biomicroscopic examination through to blind, internally scarred eyes with extensive cataracts present.
After the initial episode of acute disease, there is no reliable means of predicting its recurrence. If the disease is shown to be associated with Leptospira, which requires laboratory testing of samples of fluid taken from the eye, experience from continental Europe suggests recurrence is more likely. Similarly, where the disease initially affects only one eye, there is no means of predicting whether the opposite eye will be affected.
Experience in the UK indicates that if either event has not occurred within one year of the disease first appearing, then the chances of these events happening lessen significantly. However, lifelong vigilance for signs of recurrence is required.
Treatment challenges
Effectively treating the acute disease requires anti-inflammatory medication delivered directly on to the eye, in addition to anti-inflammatories and pain suppressants given by injection or in the horse’s feed.
Administering medication on to the eye is usually resented because of the pain, and failure effectively to medicate these cases is a common cause of what seems like treatment failure. For this reason, vets often fit a delivery tube through the eyelid to allow administration of medicines without going near the eye, and may hospitalise the horse for treatment by dedicated nursing staff.
Most eyes will get better with aggressive treatment, but some seem to respond temporarily or not at all. Frustratingly, that is the nature of this complex disease. In “healed” eyes, there is no means of removing the damage caused by the acute disease.
Recently, methods of surgically implanting medication delivery devices directly into eyes have evolved. These are used in recurrent disease to reduce the frequency and severity of episodes, in some cases eliminating them.
Where Leptospira is proven to be involved, surgically removing the vitreous gel from the back of the eye may help prevent recurrence — although most eyes will subsequently develop cataracts.
A blind eye, particularly where uveitis is recurrent, is best removed for the welfare of the horse.
Users will also have access to photo and video galleries and background information on the competition.
The app was jointly developed by the championships and software developers SAP.
Jodie Hall Mcateer on Tixylix, Jack Whitaker on Zodianne van de Doevenbree, Jessica Hewitt on Ammanvalley Santino and Charlotte Ash on Aughnashammer made up the medal-winning team.
The Lonach Highlanders, established in 1823, are believed to be the largest body of non-military men to carry ceremonial weapons in Britain.
