The outdoor floodlit arena with uPVC safety fencing, Andrews Bowen London Olympics 2012 surface and covered judges' box
Riders in the east of England have welcomed the opening of a new equestrian centre.
The indoor arena with Andrews Bowen ProWax surface and overhead judges’ box
Beechwood Equestrian Centre in Chelmsford, Essex, will host competitions across the disciplines as well as provide facility hire for groups and individuals.
The centre opened on Monday (12 October) and features a 60x25m indoor arena, a 60x30m outdoor arena, a viewing area and a restaurant.
The equestrian venue provides a much-needed boost for area, which recently lost two affiliated centres.
The centre has a full PA system including a sound system for dressage to music
Patchetts Equestrian Centre in Hertfordshire, which hosted both British Dressage (BD) and British Showjumping (BS) events, closed earlier this year(3 August).
Norton Heath Equestrian Centre in Essex also recently lost its BD affiliation (news 16 April).
“There are a really high proportion of horsey people in the area but equestrian centres are few and far between. It’s a 45-minute drive to the next nearest centre,” Katie Venus-Bishop, who owns the centre with her husband Paul, told H&H.
The Field during one of the last draws of the meet of the Fernie at Laughton near Market Harborough in Leicestershire, UK; on 8th March 2015
The leaves are turning, the nights are drawing in, the temperatures are dropping — and we couldn’t be happier. Autumnal colds and muddy gateways mean only one thing… opening meets are just around the corner.
Autumn hunting does a job, but we’re counting down the days for the real McCoy. And if you weren’t excited enough already, we’ve dug out nine photos of followers and hunt staff on flying form with breathtaking scenery thrown into the mix, that we can (almost) guarantee will give you the pre-season buzz…
1. The Fernie
A poster-worthy picture: the field during one of the last draws of the Fernie’s meet at Laughton near Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
2. The Dulverton West Foxhounds
Menacing skies: the Dulverton West meet at Molland, Exmoor in Devon.
3. The Quorn
What a sight: side saddle followers raise the glamour-stakes at the Quorn’s opening meet in 2012 at Kirby Bellars.
Simon Lawrance, MFH, four-star event rider and UKCC Level 3 coach shares his thoughts on how hunting can help your More…
4. The Cottesmore
Perfect timing: Nicholas Leeming, Phoebe Buckley and Eddie Ahern out with the Cottesmore, hunting between Burrough-on-the-Hill and Owston.
5. The Belvoir
Making light work of it: the Belvoir meet at Sheepwash, near Harby.
6. The Staff College and RMA Sandhurst Drag Hunt
Octavia Pollock flies over this fence in style, out with The Staff College and RMA Sandhurst Drag Hunt in Hampshire.
7. The Fernie
Pausing for the view: the Fernie’s meet at Laughton near Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
8. The Portman
‘Let’s go!': this combination are on flying form out with the Portman.
9. The Fernie
Rowan Cope, Master of the Pytchley, during the Fernie’s meet at Laughton near Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
Hunting mad? Don’t miss our special hunting issue of Horse & Hound magazine, which hits the newsstands on 22 October and is packed with cracking hunting ponies and the essential hunting directory
Top British event rider William Fox-Pitt has been taken to hospital after falling on the cross-country course at Le Lion d ‘Angers, France.
William was riding Reinstated in the seven-year-old CCI** class at the FEI/WBFSH world championships for young eventing horses. The horse was not injured in the incident at fence 20, an owl hole. The course was held for more than an hour while William received medical assistance before being transferred to Angers hospital.
William had already completed the course successfully on his first ride, The Soapdodger, who is currently in fifth place on the leaderboard. Michael Jung heads the competition after cross-country on Lennox 364.
William’s current condition has been described as stable. We will bring you more news as it becomes available.
As I write this, I’m some 35,000ft up in the air somewhere between Dubai and Singapore. It’s precisely 3.47pm on Saturday afternoon and I have absolutely no idea what time zone I am in.
We left our safe bubble in Newmarket yesterday around 3pm so as my brilliant mathematical skills calculate, we have been travelling for about 25 hours and my cankles are tell me so too.
Unfortunately Hilly (Fernhill Present) is like his mother and is developing cankles, aka swollen legs, too. There is nothing we can do on the plane unless an airline would like to fit in a horse treadmill in their business class area, which by the way I think would be a brilliant idea!!
Loading up at Heathrow
We arrived at Heathrow yesterday around 5.30pm and unloaded the horse equipment first to be security checked and loaded on to the plane. Here is a list of Hilly’s belongings:
Water containers (filled)
Fruit juice (to add to water as this helps him drink. His favourite is Robinsons Apple and Blackcurrant, but with NO added sugar. I don’t want him like a hyper child on the plane!)
Haylage
Readigrass
Carrots
His flying bag is packed with:
Lightweight rug
Bailer twine
Bucket
Front brushing boots (only for loading and unloading)
Sponge
Large syringe (if needed to syringe water down)
Spare headcollar and lead rope.
Silver tape (because this always comes in handy!)
Two main trunks containing:
Union Jack bunting (most important)
Saddles
Bridles
Buckets
Lunge equipment
Boots and bandages
Numnahs
Grooming kit
Spare shoes
Bridle and saddle hooks
Studs
Rugs!!! I love a good rug and Hilly has varied rugs from his breathable, latest technology, make them cooler, as cool as a slice of cucumber may look in a Hendrix Gin and Tonic (Yes, I’ve been on this plane too long) to rugs that make them shine to full blown suitable for use in the arctic rugs, that make them as nice and toasty to be as warm as a silly dog panting in front of the Aga.
What else do we have in the trunks?! I’m not entirely sure as I don’t have Jenny sat next to me you see. Jenny is catching a flight tonight to arrive in Sydney on Sunday. Only the professional flying grooms that work for IRT are allowed to fly with the horses. I’m very grateful that I received special permission to fly with Hilly, but unfortunately for me I have no side kick in Jenny. But the team on board with me are truly the best people in the world you could have to fly your horses.
Duane is the main man on board and he is the head flying groom – aka the boss for this flight. Luckily I’ve known Duane for years from the hunting field so he has some idea of my pernickety character and I trust his judgment above all else. I know he would always put the horses first no matter what, or who, stood in his way.
After we unloaded the horse’s equipment, the vet Amy Kelly, flying grooms and myself were were taken through the Fast Track security at Heathrow, still wearing our quarantine overalls (this is a partially good look). Hilly and the other horses were then driven around onto the runway in the lorry with Jenny and the other IRT grooms. I, as per usual, received the delightful frisk search much to Amy’s amusement and after I redressed myself with belt shoes and coat, we were back on our way to join the others.
Walking out onto the runway forecourt area was fairly surreal – seeing the horsebox parked up with jumbo jets taking off and landing next to it. Hilly traveled next to his flying companion in the horsebox on the way to the Heathrow. Normally you have three horses to one crate that boards the plane. This is economy class for horses. Hilly is flying with a space and a half and so is his flying buddy. This is called equine business class. Then first class is when a horse has a whole crate to itself. Normally stallions travel this way. I thought about having this for Hilly, but there are pros and cons to this. The pros are more room, therefore slightly better ventilation. The cons are they are by themselves for a long period of time and I personally thought for his mind set, it would be better for him to have a friend.
The horse Hilly is travelling with is a lovely very kind natured horse with adorable big eyes. Hilly made friends with him in quarantine. For legal reasons I am unable to tell you the horse’s name or who his owner is, but I can say he and Hilly are friends and they are getting along well.
The flight was due to depart at 10.30pm and we loaded the horses around 9pm onto their crates. The lorry was driven up close to the grate to act like a loading bay for the horses. This was to help ensure the horses were safe and did not become loose around Heathrow!
It was dark and most of the light came from the flashing lights going off all around from other vehicles and security. You could hear men shouting over the noise of the engines. The planes were taking off a stone’s throw away from you and the roar of the engines was spectacular. The ramp opened and Hilly looked out onto this strange landscape. He looked at me, then looked down the ramp of the crate. With one careful step off the lorry, he followed IRT groom John McGregor down the bay into his crate like a true professional. Jenny and I hung up his haynet straight away and offered him water, which he did not care for. All the crates have a good layer of shavings on the floor so the horses are happy to stale and the shavings help soak up the urea.
After all six horses were loaded into their crates, the crates were towed to the belly of the plane where they are lifted into the aircraft by a crane (pictured top). Jenny and Duane were inside the crate with Hilly to keep him calm while this was in process. I was waiting inside the aeroplane with Amy to check they loaded well from our end.
Once Hilly was safely secured, Jenny said her goodbyes to him and I and she was escorted off the runway and back to the terminal. I felt a little on my own without her, but I know we are safe hands.
The cargo area is kept as cool as possible for the horses. Their crates do get fairly warm and it is better to keep them cool rather than have them over heating and sweating adding to dehydration.
Hilly and the other horses travel naked. No travel boots. No bandages. No tail guard. Nothing apart from a headcollar. Travel boots or bandages heat the legs up over a long period of time causing discomfort and may cause sores through rubbing. The same with a tail guard. In my opinion you run more risk of injury and discomfort with travel boots/bandages, than you do travelling them without. I have never travelled any of my horses in travel boots or bandages for any period of time and I have never had a problem. Everyone is different and has different opinions, but this is how I do it.
On board Hilly is fed haylage, wet Readigrass and carrots. No hard feed. He has no way of moving about to help him to digest hard feed and therefore runs more risk of colicking. If you think about it it’s a bit like how we would feel if we ate a big meal on a long flight – it would sit a bit heavy in our stomachs. Saying that I just stopped eating the yummy chocolate biscuits Sue, the head of IRT quaratine, kindly gave to Amy and I as part of a delicious goodie bag full of treats!
The whole belly of the plane is cargo. We picked up more horses in Amsterdam and the other cargo area is filled with a very bright red shiny sports car and other big packages that are all very well wrapped up so you can’t really tell what they are.
Upstairs there are six seats. There are three IRT grooms, one vet, one groom we picked up in Amsterdam and me!
There are two pilots who change over at each stop. Each pilot we’ve had so far has been so friendly and polite and introduced themselves giving us a forecast for the flight ahead. They genuinely seem interested in the horses and what we are doing. This makes up our happy little family until Sydney.
We are about to land in Singapore to refuel and board more cargo, so I will keep you posted!!
Similarities between the signs of equine grass sickness (EGS) in horses and Alzheimer’s in humans have been found in a ground-breaking study.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies were hoping to find out more about the causes of EGS when they made the discovery.
They looked at nerve tissue from six horses that had died from the condition and found that it contained proteins commonly seen in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
“This is the first study to show similarities between an apparently unrelated neurodegenerative disease of large animals and human neurological conditions,” said Dr Tom Wishart from the Roslin Institute, co-leader of the study.
“Although the causes of these conditions are unlikely to be shared, the findings suggest that similar mechanisms could be involved in the later stages of disease.”
In total, 506 different proteins were found to be altered in nerve tissue from horses with EGS compared to those that had died from other causes.
Prof Bruce McGorum, who led the study, told H&H that they are still trying to find the cause of EGS.
He added that he is hopeful that data from the study can be used to develop a non-invasive test to accurately diagnose EGS before death, as this is often challenging.
The often fatal condition attacks nerve cells in horses and relatively little is known about it.
There are three types of the disease: acute (sudden on-set with colic-like signs), sub-acute (similar but less severe) and chronic.
Signs include abdominal pain, poor appetite, patchy sweating, increased heart rate and saliva, dribbling and depression.
It is most prevalent from April to September
A spokesman for The Equine Grass Sickness Fund, who funded the study, said that this is an exciting project as it ventures into “uncharted territory”.
“Although it does not help identify the cause of the disease, it furthers our understanding of the changes that take place within the horse,” he told H&H.
“If it helps lead to a non-invasive method of diagnosis in the live horse, that would be a major step forward.”
The results of the study were published in the journal Molecular and Cellular Proteomics on 13 September.
Are you struggling to find the time (and daylight) to ride as winter sets in? As the light fades, we’re hankering after one of these properties with floodlit arenas.
1. Taintfield Farm, West Sussex
For you: a five-bedroom house with a groom’s annexe, swimming pool and a farm building with potential for conversion subject to planning. For the horses: a 30x50m sand and Pasada floodlit surface, and an American barn housing eight large internal stables with swivel feed bowls and an automatic watering system. Set in 17 acres. What’s the damage? £1.95m Agent: Churchill Country & Equestrian Telephonenumber: 01403 700222 Visit: www.churchillcountry.com
2. Cornish Farm, Wrexham
For you: a four/five-bedroom farmhouse with a detached two-bedroom annexe currently let to a veterinary practice. For the horses: a 20x60m floodlit arena with a silica sand and rubber surface, 14 stables and a pony box, plus tack and feed rooms. The land totals 16.2 acres. What’s the damage? £699,995 Agent: Jackson Equestrian Telephone number: 01743 491979 Visit: www.jacksonequestrian.com
As autumn dawns and the days get shorter and more dark, we're lusting after a property with a horse walker
3. Diddle House Farm, Kent
For you: a five-bedroom property built around an agricultural-style steel-framed barn, including a ground-floor annexe. For the horses: a 40x40m floodlit all-weather arena and 30 stables. Set in nine acres with a further 25 acres available to rent, and planning permission for the venue to run as a livery yard. What’s the damage? £1.295m Agent: Equus Country & Equestrian Telephone number: 01892 829014 Visit: www.equusproperty.co.uk
4. Roseholme, Suffolk
For you: a picturesque three/four-bedroom cottage in a sought-after village location, with a conservatory and double garage. For the horses: a 20x40m floodlit arena, extensive stabling, tack rooms and good local hacking. Set in four acres. What’s the damage? Excess of £565,000 Agent: ECR Properties Telephone number: 07767 327327 Visit: www.ecrproperties.com
Bred to event by Jan Whitehead, the horse found his forte on the hunting field.
Dai, who retired as a master of the Monmouthshire earlier this year, also let his son’s partner Tabby Prest borrow Dutch to learn side-saddle on.
“I rode him for a whole season side-saddle,” Tabby told H&H. “We both learnt together.”
With Dutch, Tabby became the first person to tackle the Royal Welsh inter-hunt relay riding side-saddle.
They combination also took second place in the Dianas of the Chase cross-country side-saddle race in 2014.
“Primarily, he was an amazing hunter who led the field flawlessly over all sorts of obstacles,” said Tabby.
“I have never seen him refuse a fence.”
She remembered how the first hunting fence she jumped side-saddle on him was a set of 1.10 rails — which he cleared with ease.
“He was really a horse for everybody — we are all predictably devastated,” she added.
The horse was featured in H&H’s report of the Meynell and South Staffs team chase, where the team came third in the open.
“My horse actually lacks turn of foot as he is part-warmblood — his grandsire was Dutch Courage — but he makes up for it with his turning and jumping,” Dai told H&H at the time.
Is your horse approaching his twilight years, or perhaps you are concerned about old age catching up with him? As cold, wet weather begins to set in, make sure you are prepared to keep your veteran healthy this winter. Lee Pritchard MRCVS, an XLEquine member, shares his advice.
1. Be vigilant for key signs of ill health, including lameness or stiffness, quidding (dropping food from the mouth) or struggling to eat. Deteriorating ability to rise to their feet, Cushing’s disease and lethargy or loss of appetite is also common in veterans.
2. Schedule regular examinations by your vet. Veterans who are tripping, stumbling or stiff may be suffering from orthopaedic ailments — such as arthritis, navicular, tendon/ligament problems — which can be managed, so don’t delay seeking veterinary advice.
Wave goodbye to lie-ins, crack out the handcream and get ready for rug dilemmas — autumn is back
3. Eye examinations are equally important. Gradual sight loss could mean it is inadvisable to ride your veteran and their management might need to be altered.
4. Older horses are more susceptible to respiratory conditions, particularly when stabled for longer periods during the winter. Simple management practices — including well ventilated stables, dust-free bedding and not mucking out or sweeping around them — will help keep respiratory problems at bay.
5. Dental checks are more important than ever, because loose teeth are painful and can become infected. Some teeth may fall out without you realising, meaning the horse’s diet needs adapting. Every 12 months is the minimum for younger horses, and your vet will advise the intervals to best suit your veteran.
6. Vaccinations are important but often neglected in veterans, particularly if they no longer compete or have been completely retired from ridden work. However, it is not uncommon for a veteran’s immune system to be compromised by their age, and unvaccinated horses become vulnerable if other equines on your yard are coming and going.
7. Foot care remains crucial, even if no longer wearing shoes, so that they do not become too long and unhealthy. A qualified farrier will aid in the detection, treatment and prevention of lameness.
8. Veterans are more susceptible to worm infestation, so frequent faecal worm egg counts and de-worming is vital.
Calling all budding writers and point-to-pointing enthusiasts! Horse & Hound is expanding its team of reporters to help us cover the fast-paced and adrenalin-fuelled sport of point-to-pointing during the 2015/16 season.
Could you interview an out of breath but elated jockey seconds after winning a race? Would you be the first person to pounce and get an owner’s immediate thoughts when their horse gallops across the finish line in front? Are you able to track down the trainer of the moment outside the paddock and get the low-down on their horse’s preparation?
You don’t have to be an experienced journalist, but you must be eager to get involved in the point-to-pointing world — if you are not already— and be fully conversed in all things horse.
This is a brilliant opportunity for you to boost your CV by learning journalism skills on the job. Or perhaps you have been enthralled by the sport of point-to-pointing for years and would enjoy reporting on something you love, and seeing your name in print.
H&H can offer you several reporting opportunities during the season, the chance to hone your skills with feedback from our in-house editorial team. Plus your name will be printed in the UK’s leading equestrian magazine and you will be paid for your work.
If you are interested please email Horse & Hound’s point-to-point editor, Aimi Clark, on aimi.clark@timeinc.com by Friday 6 November. Clearly state why you would make a good reporter, and send an example of a 200-word point-to-point report that you have written. This can be from a fixture you attended last season, or a rewrite of a report we printed last year.
Remember to include your name, where you are based and the fixtures you could attend for Horse & Hound (including dates) during the 2015/16 season.
Sometimes it helps to have rules to live our lives by — and so here's our take on the 10 commandments...
1. Thou shalt worship no other horse but thine
Although ‘worship’ is a strong word, considering his performance at your last big show. That said, you did say a prayer as he hurtled towards that last huge fence….
2. No false idols, such as the German eventing team
Sure, they’re awesome and sort of super-human, and their horses are the nuts. But let’s support our own home-grown talent.
3. Thou shalt not take the judge’s name in vain…
…even if you do normally score sevens and eights for your extended trot and this time you only scored a five.
Might as well face it, you're addicted to horses. If perusing the H&H website wasn't enough of a giveaway, here More…
4. Remember the day of your next farrier/dental/vet’s appointment
God may forgive you for having a memory like a sieve, but your farrier probably won’t. Write it down on your calendar and underline it in red, lest you forget.
5. Honour thy mother and father…
…even though your mum’s only comment about your beloved horse is ‘he’s terribly big, isn’t he? Aren’t you scared of him? I do worry about you getting hurt.’ Which is actually really annoying.
6. Thou shalt not kill your partner/friend…
…when they confess they were so busy putting that photo of you being dumped in the water on Twitter that they completely forgot to video your fabulous showjumping round on their phone.
7. Thou shalt commit to that fence your horse has locked onto…
…because he’s going to jump it one way or another and it’s definitely better if you’re still on his back while he does it.
8. Thou shalt not steal…
…from your friend’s supply of hay because you’ve run out and haven’t got time to nip out to get some more just now.
9. Thou shalt not bear a grudge at thy friend…
…for continually pinching your hay when she runs out. After all, you do the same to her.
10. Thou shalt not covet…
…thy yard-mate’s beautiful new flashy warmblood. Actually, thou shalt. And thou dost!
JUMPING
CHI GENEVE
14/12/2014
PALEXPO
GRAND PRIX ROLEX
Scott BRASH - HELLO SANCTOS
A pioneering system to help the wider public understand showjumping is to be used at the CHI Geneva this year (10-13 December).
The system was created by PlayfulVision, which is based in Lausanne, and will be used during the TV broadcasts on the main screens at the showground, as well as via the internet.
It will be used in the Rolex Grand Prix — the first leg of the Rolex Grand Slam.
At the end of the competitions, a chart will allow a comparison of the performance of the top two riders in the class.
The time, the distance travelled, the number of strides taken and the average speed will be displayed on screen, with the aim of providing a better understanding as to how and why the competitors were placed in first and second position. The errors made, if any, will also be analysed.
A view of the two rounds of the two best riders of the class — horse tracking — will allow for a visual comparison of the lines each rider chose.
“This innovation will provide a new insight to showjumping and help [the public] to understand more precisely the subtleties of the sport,” according to the developers.
The technology has previously been used in volleyball and tennis.
“One of our key strengths is the fact that we can adapt this technology to multiple environments and different sports,” David Kappeler of Playfulvision told H&H.
Between six and eight cameras are used in the arena.
“Over the past few years, we have been partnering and working with major international sport federations to help them promote their events as well as to increase their fan engagement. Our partnership with Geneva is our first significant step in the domain of equestrianism and will be soon followed by others,” he added.
Sophie Mottu Morel of CHI Geneva said the show was “thrilled to offer this novelty” to spectators and competitors.
“The collected data will provide a new view of showjumping. Typically with a jump-off, it is not always easy to explain precisely what allowed one rider to be quicker than the other,” she added.
“The statistics provided by this system and the visual superposition of the courses should help bring answers.
“This data will not only be useful to the public and the competitors, but also to the TV commentators during broadcasts. This solution has real added value and is a huge step forward in the use of technology in our sport.”
Moving house and divorce might be deemed the most stressful lifetime events, but surely the hunt for the perfect pony is a close runner-up... Kate Flynn takes us on the next stage of her turbulent journey to find the ideal 13.2-14.2hh confidence-giver for her daughter
Having spent several months on the search for a pony, I was beginning to get a fairly finely tuned idea of what we were looking for.
By now, we had seen the flighty, the fun loving — read fizzy — the misunderstood, the misnamed and the misplaced.
Trawling the internet was becoming a bad habit, and one that was also one of the most frustrating.
But after yet another trawl, up popped Honey, a smart little New Forest pony who seemed to tick all the boxes.
Cutting to the chase — Daughter and I rocked up to a dairy farm with two small ginger boys grinning at us at the gate.
Honey was tied up outside her stable. She was a poppet. A kind eye, lovely conformation, friendly disposition. This was a great start. Tacked up and with a toothy, over-large carrot-topped lad on board we set out for the field.
Thinking of investing in a horse with a conformation quirk? Andrea Oakes finds out what to consider before you take More…
‘Huge tick in the box’
As we walked out of the yard, a milk tanker had just arrived and proceeded to reverse towards where we were standing. Honey stood stock still whilst this relatively behemoth vehicle beeped and shunted its way towards her. Huge tick in the box!
Out in the field, Honey was put through her paces — such as they were. It was quickly clear that the young lad was a “booter and hooter”, kicking hard, shouting and jumping up and down on her back as she made her way across the rutted field.
I winced, but kept quiet. Best we get Daughter on board to save the pony from any further laddish riding. Gently squeezing forward … nothing happened.
Several more polite requests were met with little response.
“Give ’er a boot t’getter gooin’” yelled the Mum in a powerful Wolverhampton accent.
Daughter moved off, but was having trouble staying on board — the close contact saddle was as slippery as a skidpan, and Honey was bewildered by the quiet riding style and off-centre rider. Wolves Mum came up with the idea of sticking a saddle cover on the saddle to limit the slippage – you may not be surprised to learn, it didn’t work…
Loving the temperament, we really wanted this pony to be the right one, so we persevered and some jumps were set up. Daughter set to in the approach.
‘Daughter was exhausted’
But try as she might, Honey would not strike into canter on either leg. Forty minutes later, Daughter was exhausted with the sheer effort of trying to make this pony go forward. She had managed to get it over some fences, each time knocking them down with a consistency that was quite remarkable.
“Aw, she never normally knocks them down,” said Wolves Mum, whose desire for us to like the pony was palpable.
As sweet as she was, Honey was never going to make the showjumper we had hoped for, and explaining this we politely made our departure.
Back at home, the pony’s reluctance to go forward troubled me and against my better judgment, thinking of the lad’s exuberant riding style, I decided to ring the owner and ask whether she had ever had its back checked.
“Nah, and I’ve got someone else coming tomorrow,” said Wolves Mum, unconcerned. I made some “good luck” type comments and put the phone down. It was no more than I expected, and I sincerely hoped Honey found a new home very soon. Next!
Feeding a good doer can be a real challenge. One day he's looking great, then seemingly overnight, he turns into a chubby Thelwell pony. How did that happen? It could be due to one of the following reasons...
1. You’re feeding too much for his workload
Calorie-counting is the same with horses as it is with humans — if they take in more calories than they burn off, they’ll put on weight. A 500 kilo horse in hard work will burn nearly twice as many calories a day as his mate who weighs the same, but is ridden lightly twice a week — 34,500 calories as opposed to 20,000, according to Dengie equine nutritionist Tracey Hammond. You need to make sure your horse is receiving the right amount of feed for his weight and workload and no more, or he’ll gain weight. Most of the feed companies contain detailed information about this on their websites.
2. You’re feeding incorrectly for his breed
Native breeds have evolved to be good doers, making the most of poor quality grazing. “Natives generally require feeds of a lower calorie level as they maintain their weight easily, but they still need lots of fibre to maintain digestive and behavioural health,” says Dengie’s Tracey Hammond.
“Starving them is definitely not what needs to happen — we just need to feed lower calorie fibre sources. While native types don’t tend to require additional concentrate feeds to provide calories, what they do need is a balanced diet,” she adds.
“UK pasture can easily exceed energy requirements of most horses at rest or in light work, but it doesn’t supply everything that they need in that it tends to lack trace minerals, for example copper, zinc and selenium. If they are on a hay only diet, this can also extend to a lack of vitamins and good quality protein as well. So for native types that hold their weight well, a feed balancer or vitamin and mineral supplement with a small amount of low calorie fibre feed is really all they need in addition to grazing and hay.”
We talk you through the dos and don'ts of feeding the performance horse for optimum condition with the help of More…
3. You’re feeding incorrectly for his age
Feeding young horses correctly is important to ensure they grow at an appropriate rate. “The most important thing when feeding youngstock additional calories is that we ensure that the diet is completely balanced at all times,” says Briony Mitchell, equine nutritionist with Bailey. “The majority of growth and development problems occur when there is too much energy/calories going into the diet and not sufficient levels of vitamins, minerals and quality protein. Ideally you would want to keep youngsters in relatively light condition (4-4.5 out of 9) as this reduces the amount of pressure and strain on growing joints and limbs.”
Equally, once your horse starts to age, you may find he needs more calories to maintain his condition as his ability to chew hard feed may be impared by dental issues. Also the digestive system of the older horse tends to be less efficient at processing feed. However, not all horses need a ‘veteran’ mix, so monitor their condition and speak to a nutritionist if you need advice on what best to feed your older horse.
4. You’re feeding too much for the time of year
In spring and summer, grass is richer; in winter, it’s poorer and sparser. According to Allen & Page, in winter, your horse will use up to 80% of his feed energy to keep warm, and his weight may drop accordingly. However, most horse owners prefer their horses to maintain a steady weight throughout the year. Condition score your horse regularly so you know whether he needs more or less feed, as the level required will fluctuate with the seasons.
5. You don’t know what he weighs
Horses in light/medium work need to consume 2% of their body weight in mainly forage (70-100% of their food intake) a day, says Tracey Hammond — and if you don’t know how much he weighs, how do you know if he’s getting that, too much, or too little? Invest in a good weigh tape or take advantage of the weigh bridge services that some feed companies offer.
6. You’re not weighing his feed
If you have a horse that’s prone to piling on the pounds, it’s not good enough just to fling some feed into a bucket and hope for the best. You need to be strict with him — and yourself — and weigh his feed. As a rule (as stated above) a 500 kilo horse needs 20,000 calories a day in order to maintain his weight. There are approximately 7-8 MJ (or 2,000 calories) in a kilo of good quality hay according to Tracey Hammond, so if you’re stuffing his haynet with 10 kilos of hay each night, he’s already receiving all the calories he needs just for maintenance — and that’s before you include any grass or hard feed. If you’re worried about him scoffing his hay ration in under an hour and standing with an empty net for the rest of the night, then invest in a trickle net tto encourage him to eat more slowly.
7. You’re feeding too much hard feed
According to Dengie, research conducted in recent years suggests that many diseases including laminitis, colic, gastric ulcers, Developmental Orthopaedic Disease (DOD), Equine Rhabdomyolysis Sydrome (ERS) and Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM) are linked to high starch diets, which is why a “fibre revolution” has begun. Many feed companies now offer fibre-based feeds among their products.
8. All hard feeds are not created equal
Once you’ve worked out how many calories your horse needs for his weight, breed, age and level of work, then check the calorie intake he’ll receive from his hard feed as the different types and brands vary enormously.
9. Your grass is too good
Grass can contain a lot of sugar and calories, particularly in summer. You may need to reduce or cut out hard feed altogether to take this into account. If you do decide to cut back on your horse’s hard feed ration, consider feeding a balancer or all-round vitamin and mineral supplement instead to ensure your horse still gets all he needs to remain healthy.
10. You’re buying the wrong hay
“If you have a good doer, you need to choose the most suitable forage possible — a late cut, coarser hay/haylage will typically be less nutritious than an early cut forage,” says Briony Mitchell. “In addition to this, or if you can’t find a more suitable forage, you can soak the hay for 14-16 hours to leach some of the goodness.”
11. You’re trying to starve him into being skinny
Horses can’t do ‘crash diets’ any more than humans can. In fact, they’re designed to trickle feed, which means they need an almost constant supply of forage for their digestive system to work correctly, says Briony Mitchell. If you withhold food from them, they may develop ulcers, and may also gorge quickly on food when presented with it. Any dietary changes need to be introduced gradually and over a significant period of time to be effective.
12. He’s a good doer
Some horses just seem to get fat on thin air. If your horse seems to be putting on weight despite taking all the precautions above, then speak to your vet, as he may need to have a special feeding programme devised for him. Being a good doer can also present a problem in competition horses, as feeding them for their level of activity can provide too many calories and cause them to gain weight. One solution is to feed less hard feed and a good balancer instead, suggests Briony Mitchell.
The course was held for more than an hour while William received medical assistance before being transferred to Angers hospital.
“William has suffered a head trauma, but is otherwise fine. He is comfortable and stable under sedation and will be under constant observation,” read a statement on Saturday.
This morning (Monday, 19 October) a spokesman for British Eventing told H&H there was “no change” in William’s condition and that he remains “under observation”.
“William had a good night and remained stable and under sedation; he will undergo further tests later today,” the spokesman added.
“On behalf of the Fox-Pitt family and their support team at home, William’s wife Alice Fox-Pitt would like to express her thanks to everyone for their support and well wishes, it means a tremendous amount to them all that everyone is thinking of William.”
Alice has travelled to France to be with him.
Willliam, who currently stands at number three in the world eventing rankings, had already completed the course successfully on his first ride, The Soapdodger.
His last win was at the CIC3* at Hartpury in August with Bay My Hero.
Are you looking for a new show rug that's sure to turn heads in the lorry park? If the answer is yes, then these will leave you spoilt for choice
Horseware Rambo Diamanté Show Rug
Made from a wool-like outer this show rug has high wicking properties ideal for keeping your horse cool. This rug offers ultimate luxury, with a cord trim, a leather front closure, a padded wither area and added diamante sparkle detailing.
WeatherBeeta’s Show Sheet is a stylish and durable cotton drill show rug ideal for travelling or for warmer days. Features include smart two tone binding, nylon lined shoulders to prevent rubbing, fleece wither protection for comfort, twin chest straps, cross surcingles and fillet string.
Lined with advanced Welltex fabric and infused with ceramic particles, this rug is designed to support circulation, which can relieve tension, maximise performance and help avoid injury. This smart rug is ideal for travelling or at shows, helping to keep your horse cool, calm and relaxed.
This rug is a smart practical cooler. It combines the wicking stay-dry fabric from the Bucas power cooler on the upper part and the Bucas fly mesh fabric on the lower part. It is the perfect lightweight cooler for warm competition days or travelling. The stay-dry upper part will dry the horse and keep them comfortable and the lower mesh part will help keep the horse cool, while allowing air to circulate easily.
For the competitive petites, Horseware’s Amigo Petite Show Rug will have them looking smart from the moment they step off the lorry. Made from a high wicking and breathable wool-like outer, it’s perfect for customizing with gorgeous leather front closures, decorative double cording trim detailing and a hidden surcingle for a secure fit. The perfect rug for a championship feel.
This sumptuous rug is manufactured in cosy polar fleece fabric that wicks moisture away from the horse and helps retain warmth, making it ideal for travelling, shows and everyday use. Features include an adjustable surcingle, twin breast fastenings, filet string and Sherpa fleece detailing on the neckline.
Fibre, provided by forage, should be the basis of every horse or pony’s diet, but we can’t rely on this to provide all the essential nutrients needed for health and well-being. That’s why it’s highly recommended that some form of supplementary feed is given alongside forage to supply what’s missing – and more, if the horse is working hard or has increased requirements.
Many choose a so-called “fibre feed”, which will provide additional fibre calories but some of these don’t contain the necessary added vitamins and minerals needed to supply the horse with a fully balanced diet. A fully balanced diet is one which provides all the energy (calories), protein, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients your horse needs to maintain condition, fuel work and stay healthy.
Most chaffs and alfalfa products are not fully balanced and those that are need feeding in considerable volumes to supply the minimum daily requirements a horse requires. Baileys offer a number of other ways to feed additional fibre, to that provided by forage, and we can also supply the other essential nutrients your horse or pony needs.
A different way to feed fibre…
To good-doersWhat can be higher in fibre than a net of hay or haylage? For good-doers this may need soaking to reduce water soluble carbohydrate (wsc) content and stalkier, later cut forages may also be advisable as these tend to be less nutritious. This will enable you to provide your horse with fibre to chew on and keep the gut healthy, while keeping calorie intake to a minimum.
The missing essential nutrients can then be supplied by Lo-Cal balancer, which contains quality protein, for muscle tone, and a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals, without the calories associated with a traditional mix or cube. You can feed this with a little Light Chaff, for more chew time while, again, limiting calorie intake.
For those who like to feed beet pulp but are wary of its calorie content for good-doers or laminitics, soaked Speedi-Beet is also ideal fed with Baileys Lo-Cal balancer. One balancer mug of Speedi-Beet soaked with four mugs of water produces a Stubbs scoop-full for a horse to chew on, but still provides fewer calories even than a scoop of Light Chaff.
To those needing a low starch diet
For horses who need additional calories alongside forage, but need to avoid too much cereal in their diets, Keep Calm is an ideal choice. This high fibre, quick-soaking feed is fully balanced with vitamins and minerals and designed to maintain condition while helping encourage a calm temperament.
Its low starch, low sugar formula makes it suitable for those prone to laminitis (unless they are overweight when they’d be better off with Lo-Cal balancer) and supports a healthy gastric environment. For harder working horses, Keep Calm can be topped up with Performance Balancer and Outshine high oil supplement to meet their increased requirements.
To horses at rest or in light workSome horses need the combination of additional calories and other essential nutrients supplied by a fully balanced mix or cube. New formula High Fibre Complete Nuggets contain highly digestible fibre sources, including alfalfa, and their chunky nature gives horses plenty chew on.
They are fully balanced with vitamins and minerals so will provide a low energy fully balanced diet when fed at recommended levels. Everyday High Fibre Cubes are a more traditional option, and contain additional oil to support a shiny coat, while quick-soaking Keep Calm is also an excellent option.
To poor-doers or “fibre-fussers” Fibre is essential for gut health and digestive efficiency. For those who aren’t good eaters of hay or haylage, alternatives are necessary to increase fibre intake and encourage natural foraging behaviour and chewing. Baileys Alfalfa Plus Oil supplies highly digestible fibre plus quality protein and is ideal for those who need a little help to maintain condition.
Fibre-Beet is also an excellent option and, like Alfalfa Plus Oil, can be fed in a separate trug or bucket from the horse’s mix, cubes or balancer. Fibre Plus Nuggets will tempt most horses and can be fed on the floor or in boredom balls as a tasty forage alternative without added vitamins and minerals.To veterans Failing teeth can leave aging equines struggling to chew hay or haylage so easier-to-eat alternatives are necessary to help maintain fibre intake. Keep Calm will provide a fully balanced high fibre diet alongside other fibre sources, like Alfalfa Blend, Light Chaff or Alfalfa Plus Oil.
High Fibre Complete nuggets will also soften easily with water, to ease consumption, as will Fibre Plus Nuggets, which will act as a partial forage replacer. Speedi-Beet is also an ideal starch-free, low sugar source of highly digestible fibre and could be mixed with chaffs, like Light Chaff or Alfalfa Blend, to offer a “haynet in a bucket”.
So, if you’re wondering what to feed alongside forage this winter, there are loads of fibre-based options to provide the additional calories but make sure you supply what’s lacking in forage to ensure your horse or pony isn’t missing out.
Former team manager and chef d’equipe of the senior British showjumping teams Ronnie Massarella has died aged 92.
Ronnie, who led Britain to victory many times around the world, died yesterday (Sunday, 18 October) due to ill health.
He managed the team for 30 years and under his leadership the Brits won silver at the 1980 alternate Olympics at Rotterdam and at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
Ronnie was also at the helm when the team won gold at the 1979 World Championship and the 1985 European Championships. The team also took silver at the 1983 Europeans.
“Ronnie was a true gentleman in every way and was the best ambassador our sport could ever have,” Nick Skelton told H&H.
“I was lucky enough to travel the world with him for 22 years along with John and Michael Whitaker and he was like a second father to us.
“Ronnie had a great following worldwide and was always welcomed by every show organiser and chef d’equipe alike. He was great fun to be with and was always in good spirits.
“I have hundreds of stories to tell but one was sticks in my mind was in 1980 at the Rotterdam alternate Olympics. I was fifth to go in the team competition and was standing at the entrance to the ring watching the first four come out.
“Two came out on stretchers and the other two were leading their horses. He put his hand on my knee and said ‘now then lad, go out and enjoy yourself’. I looked at him and said ‘You’ve got to be ****ing joking!’ But I did and we won the silver medal.”
In 1982 Ronnie was appointed OBE for to services to British showjumping.
He retired from his role in December 2000 after the Nations Cup final.
Ronnie was also honorary vice president of British Showjumping (BS). He was awarded the BS lifetime award at the BS awards in 2001.
“It is very sad news. What a man, he was the best chef any country ever had,” said rider Geoff Billington.
Aside from showjumping Ronnie grew the family business Massarella Catering Group. It started out as an ice cream company, founded in 1860, which developed into a catering business operating 150 sites including cafes and restaurants around the UK.
He leaves four sons Michael, Mark, Stephen and Jeremy and 12 grandchildren. His wife, Edna, died in 2012 aged 86.
Ronnie was part of the golden era that included Milton.
“Milton gave me my greatest years in the sport and he and John [Whitaker] were the perfect ambassadors for British showjumping. Milton had something no other horse had,” he told H&H last year.
You think you're doing everything right to optimise your performance in the saddle — but are you compromising your safety without even realising it? Check out our list of simple mistakes, from not drinking enough to not replacing your riding hat
1. Too many sit-ups
Equestrian athletes are prone to lower back pain, due to the stresses we place on this area. We are often told that developing core strength is important for correct posture and control in the saddle – but if you’re experiencing lower back pain, doing sit-ups can exacerbate the problem rather than help it, explains sports coach and founder of The Equestrian Athlete Plan (www.theequestrianathleteplan.com), Matt Luxon. “Sit-ups actually place massive compressive forces on the spine and over time actually force the discs out of the gap between the vertebrae,” he warns.
2. Not drinking enough water
If you’re dehydrated before you ride, or become dehydrated during riding, toxins can build up in your muscles leading to pain, and you’re at risk from headaches, asthma, constipation, joint pain and even depression, says Matt. He recommends that riders drink one litre of water per 50lbs of body weight each day to stay properly hydrated while exercising. And if you’ve been drinking alcohol the night before, then you’ll need to drink even more water, whether you feel hungover or not.
Sometimes it helps to have rules to live our lives by — and so here's our take on the 10
3. Skipping meals
It’s all too easy to forget breakfast if you’re up and out early or competition nerves kill your appetite. But you won’t perform at your best if you’re feeling faint and dizzy from lack of energy – and it may compromise your safety. “Aim for three main meals and two to three snacks per day so that you eat every three to four hours for slow-energy release and increased metabolism,” advises Matt.
Head injuries present a big risk to riders, so if you’re wearing a hat that doesn’t meet the current safety standards, doesn’t fit, or may have some internal damage from a previous fall, you’re taking a big gamble.
For the best possible protection Tony Palkowski, chief technical engineer at Champion, advises buying a hat with a Kitemark and getting it professionally fitted.
“A Kitemarked riding hat offers additional safety reassurance as it is tested on a continual basis, with every batch produced passing through the British Safety Institute’s rigorous testing system for each of the four main areas of testing: penetration, shock absorption, harness strength lateral deformation and stability,” he says.
“Aside from the standard that the hat is certified to, it’s important to ensure that the hat you choose fits properly and is comfortable for different head shapes and even within one brand, different styles of helmet may fit slightly differently.
“To help make sure you choose the best hat for your head, it’s essential that your hat is fitted in store by a qualified hat fitter as they will be able to guide you as to the best style and fit for your head shape and riding requirements.”
5. Not checking your tack and equipment regularly
It should be second nature to check the stitching on your stirrup leathers, girth straps and girth buckles, as well as keeping an eye on rein billets or buckles when you are cleaning your tack. But if you know you haven’t been as fastidious about this recently as you should be, make time before you next ride to do so.
Having your stirrup drop off your saddle – or even completely losing your saddle when your girth gives way – is not a situation anyone wants to experience, especially as it’s perfectly avoidable.
A “hapless” pair of escaped cobs have made a full recovery after being rescued from a swimming pool in Dorset earlier this month (11 October).
The coloured horses, named Elvis and Alfie, broke free from their field and fell into the water.
Credit: Dorset Fire and Rescue Service
Firefighters were called to the pool in Factory Lane, Duntish, near Sherborne, by the horses’ owner Roison Tallbott.
Fifteen crew members worked to free the horses, who were sedated by vet Peter Sclater of Sclater Equine Horse Vet.
Credit: Dorset Fire and Rescue Service
“With the grass being greener on the other side of the fence, the pair of juveniles escaped their field overnight,” he said.
“When Roisin, a new mum with a 10-week-old baby, went to check on them, she found them grazing happily in her garden. With further merriment in mind they rounded the bend in the garden and found themselves faced with the swimming pool.
Credit: Dorset Fire and Rescue Service
“Alfie, the larger skewbald chap, somewhat unwisely decided to make his escape via the swimming pool — perhaps the duck weed may have played a part in his decision. He made a large leap and splashed into the pool’s deep end where he paddled furiously to stay afloat.”
Credit: Dorset Fire and Rescue Service
Elvis is believed to have fallen into the pool while trying to stay near his fieldmate.
Roisin managed to get head collars on the pair and lead them to the shallow end before they were lifted to safety.
Credit: Dorset Fire and Rescue Service
“An animal rescue crew from Poole worked with a retained crew from Sherborne to free the horses using rescue strops and an animal slider board,” said a spokesman from Dorset Fire and Rescue Service.
“After cutting away a significant section of undergrowth and shrubbery to make access, the crews worked with a vet to sedate the horses before safely removing them from the pool.”
The horses were taken back to their field and are recovering well.
Roisin shared her gratitude to the rescuers on the fire services’ Facebook page.
“This still has me in tears, ” she wrote. “Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart. I don’t know what I would’ve done if anything bad had happened to them.”
I really enjoyed the recent CDI in Saumur — it was a bit like “BD on the Loire” with so many Brits there. I’ve been to the spring show and thought the autumn one was smaller so was surprised to find 39 in the grand prix.
The indoor school rode “hotter” than I expected, but there’s nothing to dislike about the place: an historic venue, chandeliers in the indoor school, men in uniform and great food and wine. The only problem was dragging the team out of the wine caves for long enough to watch the competition.
I was pleased with Cassie (Die Callas) — it was exciting to get our first nines together for the trot half-passes and good to gain another 70% internationally. Our second place in the grand prix special won us more wine!
I went to Saumur via a “practice show” in Holland. It’s a clever idea. You can ride your test with your trainer talking to you on an earpiece, the judge will give you a test sheet at the end as usual or can talk into your video camera as you go and you have time to repeat something if it goes wrong. And it’s cheap — I rode the grand prix and it cost only €15 (£11). It was like a who’s who of Dutch dressage with Anky van Grunsven, Imke Bartles and Glock riders there, and I think it would be a good idea for show centres in the UK to adopt. We already run them at my yard on a monthly basis.
The “under-25 grand prixers”, however, represent us well, with Alex Hardwick the top-ranked Brit at number eight in the FEI world rankings. Ryan Todd and Bobby Hayler both rode at the very competitive Rotterdam CDI this year, with Ryan scoring over 70% and Bobby gaining from her international experiences to go on to a great result in the grand prix at the nationals. They are a bijou but successful group; hopefully more will join them.
Bring on innovation
I’m looking forward to hearing the news from this year’s Global Dressage Forum (26-27 Oct). Ideas from there are sometimes adopted by the FEI and if they are rules they can be picked up by BD and affect us all.
I wish the rules on bitting would be reviewed to become more universal. We recently had an informal meeting at my yard to discuss the use of snaffle bits with a small port to allow the horses more tongue room. Several horses seemed more comfortable in these type of bits, which are allowed under Danish, Dutch, American and Canadian national dressage rules, but not UK or FEI.
Innovation is good as it improves the sport and the welfare of the horses by causing transparency and discussion in our subjective sport. Tradition shouldn’t stifle this.
onto this strange landscape. He looked at me, then looked down the ramp of the crate. With one careful step off the lorry, he followed IRT groom John McGregor down the bay into his crate like a true professional. Jenny and I hung up his haynet straight away and offered him water, which he did not care for. All the crates have a good layer of shavings on the floor so the horses are happy to stale and the shavings help soak up the urea.
On board Hilly is fed haylage, wet Readigrass and carrots. No hard feed. He has no way of moving about to help him to digest hard feed and therefore runs more risk of colicking. If you think about it it’s a bit like how we would feel if we ate a big meal on a long flight – it would sit a bit heavy in our stomachs. Saying that I just stopped eating the yummy chocolate biscuits Sue, the head of IRT quaratine, kindly gave to Amy and I as part of a delicious goodie bag full of treats!
