As we celebratetheturnof the year,it’s time to review the challengesofthelast12months andourgoals forthenext.
We’vebeeninspired to seehow HOYS SEIB Racehorse to RidingHorse victor LotiInnes-Parrytransformed her ex-racerintoachampionriding horse,andher storyon page12will serve asinspiration foranyonewith ambitionsinthisdirection.If youliketheideaof workingwith an ex-racehorse,turn to page10where youwillfindinvaluable tipsfrom CornerHouse Vets onhow to approachwhat canbe a considerableadjustment to aThoroughbred’s wayoflife.
ambitions in this direction. If you like the idea of working with
We alsohave somegreatadviceon vaccinations, sarcoidsand winter tack care,plusgiftideasandapreviewofthespectacular LondonNew Year’s Day Parade.Are youplanning to go?
Lastbutnotleast, we have ourpopularpullout year plannerinthe centre pagesofthisedition.Enjoytheissue, have agreatChristmasand we willsee youin February. Heather
We’re givingonelucky readerthe chance to winthebrand-new LeMieux ProForm Pad, designed for peak performance and everyday comfort. You can winthe ProForm pad of yourchoice alongside a fullset of Grafter BrushingBoots.Don’t miss out,enter today!
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At the core of the ProForm Pad liesa cushioning foamlayer thatdelivers exceptional pressure distribution fora more balanced and responsive ride. The antibacterial, antimicrobial, and eco-friendly 100% bio-bamboo liningnaturally regulates temperature and wicks away sweat, keeping thehorse cool and comfortableinall conditions.
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Vaccinations
ByChristinaStuart BSc(Hons)BVetmed(Hons)MRCVS
Therearea rangeof vaccinations available forhorses to helppreventa varietyofdiseasessomeofwhich can belife-threatening.Theseincludeequineinfluenza, tetanus,equineherpesvirus(EHV),equine rotavirusand strangles.
Equineinfluenza
Whatisequineflu? Equineinfluenzaisahighlyinfectious viral respiratorydisease,characterised by feverand coughing, whichmayspread rapidlyamongsusceptiblehorses.Mildly affectedhorsesusually recover over2-3 weeksbutseverely affected casesmay take atleast sixmonths to recoverfull healthandperformancepotential.
Whichhorsesneedthe vaccination? AtAvonvale we recommendthatallhorsesare vaccinatedagainstinfluenza. IntheUK,horse racingandperformancehorse regulators insistuponinfluenza vaccination to helppreventdisruption to their events.If youareplanningon competing yourhorseitis your responsibility to check yourhorses’ vaccinations comply withthegoverningbodies vaccinationprotocol.
To protectagainstabortion caused by EHV, vaccinations shouldbegiven to pregnantmares duringthe5th,7thand 9thmonthsofpregnancy.
Equine Rotavirus
Whatisequine rotavirus? Equine rotavirusdamagesthe liningoftheintestines,inhibitingdigestionandabsorption of food.Itisoneofthemost common causes ofdiarrhoea in foalsless thansixmonthsofage. Foalsbecomeinfected whentheyingest materialsorlicksurfaces contaminatedwith infected feaces.
Whichhorsesneedthe vaccination? Pregnantmares are vaccinatedagainstequine rotavirus to protecttheir foalsfromsufferingdiarrhoeaorillnesscaused by thevirus. Pregnantmares are vaccinatedinthe8th,9th,and10th monthsofpregnancyinorderthattheantibodies canbe transferred to the foalviathemare’s colostrum.
Strangles vaccine
photocreditBHS
WhatisequineStrangles? Stranglesisahighly contagiousupper respiratoryinfection caused by abacteria called streptococcusequiequi.An estimated600outbreaks of stranglesoccur each yearintheUKalone. Historically therehasbeenproblemswithdevelopinga strangles vaccine. However, we nowhave anewprotein-based strangles vaccine,Strangvacwhichhasbeendeveloped.Aswithfluor Covid19 vaccines,thediseaseisnoteliminatedinall cases buthorsesaremuchless likely to showsignsofillness andsignsareless severe.Crucially,the rate ofabscesses developingis vastly reduced,whichinturnmeansthat
horsesaremuchless likely to become carriersofdisease. Itisimportant to note that vaccinatedhorses canbe differentiatedfromhorseswhichhave developedantibodies asa resultofdisease.Thismeansthattheblood test that is commonlyused to screenhorses for recent exposure to streptococcus equiequi canbeusedin vaccinatedhorses.It willalsonotinterferewithgutturalpouchscope results
Whichhorsesneedthe vaccination? Intheory,ifall horses werevaccinated,itmightbepossible toeventually eradicate strangles.However, thisisunrealistic,andefforts shouldbe concentrated to vaccinatehorsesatmedium to highrisk:
•Horsesatlivery yardswithmovementonandoffthe yard
•Horsestravelling to training, competitionor stud
•Horseswhicharethought to havecontactedaclinical case
Howoften? Vaccinationscheduleisas follows
• Primary courseof twoinjections4 weeksapart
• Withaboostergiven6-12monthslater, thisfrequency dependsonriskassessment by your vet
Vaccine Reactions
Asmallpercentageofhorses experiencea reactionafterbeing vaccinated. Common vaccine reactionsincludelethargy, fever andinjectionsitesoreness.These areusuallyshort-lived.If your horseappearsunwellthenspeak to your vet foradvice. To minimiserisks, avoid vaccinating 2-3 weeksbeforeimportant events,and reportanysignificant adverse events to your vet. Additionally,if yourhorsehas previouslyhada reactionthendiscussitwiththe vetprior to anyfuture vaccinationsbeinggiven.
Onlyhealthyhorsesshouldbe vaccinated.If yourhorseis showingany signsofbeingunwell,discussthiswith your vet prior to any vaccinebeinggiven.Itis recommendedthata horseisgivena coupleofquietdays afterbeing vaccinated, withnoheavy sweatingandonlylight work.
AbouttheAuthor:
ChristinaStuart BSc(Hons)BVetmed(Hons) MRCVS
Christinaqualifiedfrom Royal VeterinaryCollege inJuly 2024, gainingthe VialStBel Medalprize. Shecompleted herinternshipwith Avonvale andisnowdevelopingherskillsin generalpractice. Shehasaparticularinterestinbothstud work and dentistry.
Thisseason,whenmany ownersare trying to make forage stretchfurther, optimisingdigestivehealth canmake a tangibledifference. Horses witha balancedgut system tend to maintain weightmoreefficiently,showcalmer behaviourduringprolonged stabling and require feweradditional feeds to
stay inbloom.
Thisiswhere Equell’sethosbecomes especially relevant.Developedfrom decadesofhands-on experience, Equell was foundedonasimple principle:Ownersdeserve supplements madewithpurposeandintegrity, not overpricedproducts paddedwith fillers. Each Equellproductisdesigned to supportdigestion,metabolism and overall wellbeingthroughplantpowered, research-led formulationsthat respectboththehorseandthe owner’s budget.
Ina yearoffinancialpressure, the mosteffectiveapproach to winter feedingisn’tnecessarilyaddingmore, it’s makingsurethehorse canuse whattheyalready receive. Guthealth is central to thatefficiency. A wellsupporteddigestive systemallows horses to thriveonthe forage available, reducenutritional wasteand stay healthy, settledand resilientthrough eventhe toughest months.
Whenthegutthrives,thewholehorse thrives —andthiswinter,thatmaybe thesmartestinvestmentan owner can make
Getting your racehorseoff thetrackandinto work
A veterinaryperspectiveon rehomingand retrainingthe racing Thoroughbred
By Frankie TomlinsonMRCVS VeterinarySurgeon
Therearemany reasons to admirethe racing Thoroughbred-theymakeanamazingspectacleas they speeddownthetrack,andmanypeople fallin love withthese topequineathletes and want to helpthem transitionoutof racingandintoafulllife aftertheir racing career.Andsotheyshould.Therearemany pros toowning an ex-racehorse,butprospective ownersmustbe awareof thepotentialpitfallsthatareabundantand can easily take someoneunaware ofthem by surpriseandlead to these amazinganimalsbeingmis-labelledasproblematicor difficult.
Useatrustedsource
When consideringacquiringa racehorsefromtraining,it isalways bestto use reputablechannels,eitherthrougha registered rehomingagencyorcharitysuchas Retraining of Racehorses(RoR)ordirectlyfromthetrainer.Some trainerswill evenpartiallyschooltheiranimalswhiletheyare intraininginpreparation foralife aftertheir racing career is over,which canmakeamassivedifference. You canget directinformationabout yourprospectivehorse’s routine,
Youalso cantraceadirectline to whereyourhorsehas been,getting to knowtheirhistoryandbenefitingfrom transparencyonany knownissues, ratherthansourcing ahorsethathasbeenbouncedbetween owners,ending upatadealer’s yard.Many peoplewhogetahorsethis wayaresurprised by veterinaryorbehaviouralissues that haven’tbeenmentionedatthepointofsale,andwithsuch a convolutedhistorythere’sno way to tracebackwhena problembegan.
Have abudget
Historically,horsesfreshoffthetrack couldbeacquiredata fairlylowaskingprice. Whilethatpricehasgoneupin recent years,an ex-racehorse can stillbepurchasedata relatively low cost whenlookingatathleticaccomplishments related to theirage. Whilethisinitial cost maybelow, therearehowever other considerations.
commonlydevelop,suchasgastriculcers,kissingspines, poorhoof conformation, to namea few. Manysuchhorses will requireongoingphysiotherapyand farriery,anddon’t forgetthattheywillalso require retraining.Theyhave to learn how to usetheirbodyina verydifferent way to whatthey have beendoing fortheirentireathletic career,andthey won’t immediatelyslotintothisnew wayofmoving overnight.They willneedtimeandinmany cases,theknowledgeandskillsof an experiencedtrainer to helpthemfindtheirnewniche.
Not to blowanyone away,butallofthiswill cost money! Itissensible to keepthisinmindand even comeupwitha budgetthat youarehappy to spendonpotentialissuesso that youarenot takenunaware by problemsthatmay well cropup.Understandingthissothat youhave anideaofthese costswillbecrucial to thesuccess of your rehomingeffort.
Prioritisehealth
Racingthoroughbredswillentertrainingata very young ageandspend yearstraining to maximisetheirspeedand endurance. Issueslikegastriculcersorhindlimblameness are notuncommonasa resultofthis very earlyintensivetraining. Thebreedalsohas certainpredispositions-thoroughbred horseswillhave smallerspaces betweentheirdorsalspinous processeswhen compared to otherbreeds, for example, and their feetareoftensmall,withthinsolesandlowheels.When lookingat rehominga racehorse, itisimportant to remember thatsomeoftheseissues maybe relevant to your ownhorse. Aclear5-stage vettingisnotaguaranteeof completehealth, butitisagoodsnapshotofwhere yourprospective horse’s healthiscurrently,andwillflagupissuesthat youmayneed to considerwhenthinkingabout yourhorse’schangeof career.
Itisimportant to rememberthe essentials to healthonce your ex-racehorsehasarrivedandissettlinginto your yard. Correctsaddlefitisvital,aswithachangein workand disciplinetheirbodieswillchangeshapeanddifferentmuscles developthat coulddrasticallychangethefitoftheirsaddle. Be prepared to regularlyhave thesaddlefitassessed to ensure thatthehorse remains comfortableinitsback.
Similarly,havingthehelpofnotjust the vetand farrier, butalsoamusculoskeletalpractitionersuchasa registered physiotherapistwillbean excellent way to ensurethat your horseadapts well to theirchangeincircumstances.Ensure thatthe teetharechecked by a vetor registeredequinedental technician (withtheBritishAssociationof EquineDental Technicians, BAEDT, or WorldWideAssociationof Equine Dentists,WWAED) to ensurethat yourhorsehasthebest chanceofsuccess
Co-ordinatingtheeffortsbetween your vet, farrier,dental technician,physiotherapistand yourselfsothat everyoneison thesamepageand working toward thebest health for your horse canbechallenging,butalsolead to somespectacular improvementsinahorse’shealthandhappiness.
Gettingused to new experiences and routine Asensibleapproachis to allowthesehorses time to adjust to theirnewenvironment, to adapt to theirnew routineand experiences.ManyThoroughbredswillhaveexperienced limitedturnoutandbeunused to being away fromother
horses forlongperiods.Agoodideais to getfromthetrainer theirnormal routine,andifitissubstantiallydifferentfrom what youaregoing to bedoingwiththem,allowingtheman extendedperiodof4-6 weeks to adjust.Givingthemsome timeofffrom workandallowingthem to relaxandsettle rather thanpushingthem straightintotheirnewlineof work can alsohelp youget to know eachotherand establishabondof trustthatwillserve youboth wellin yourfutureefforts towork together.
Working togetherand retraining
It won’tbegroundbreakingnews thatthereisn’tamagic methodwhich works forallhorsesandthatwillinstantly insert yournewhorseintothe role you expect.Apatientand methodicalapproach to findwhat yourhorseisinterested inandwill excelatwilloftenserve youbetterthantrying to fittheminto yourideaofwhatthey ‘should’bedoing. Considering eachhorseasanindividualwillprevent your expectationsfrom causinggreatfrustration.Somehorses will exceljumping,andtransitionsmoothlyintoalifeof fence hopping,othersmay take to flatworkanddressage,orbe overwhelmedwhen takenouthunting by the stopandgoof theday. Itmay take youbothsometime to adjust to thenew lifethat youhave together,andfindwhat youbothenjoy. Rememberhowtheyhave beentrained toworkinthepast, anddon’t expectwhattheyarenowbeingasked to do to be instantlyacceptedandperformed. Teachingthempatiently fromthe startwiththehelpofan experiencedtrainerwillallow youboth to flourishandfindanactivitythat youbothenjoy. Itisapotentiallylong road to embarkonwhen youdecide to adoptan ex-racer,andthereare certainlypitfallsandsetbacks to watchout for, butif youknowwhat to be awareofand can plan to take thesein your stride,an ex-racehorse canbecome a wonderfulpartner foralmostanyendeavour.Theirhonesty, energyandwillingnessto try canmake themand youan unbeatable team.
HereatCHN,when we hear dream cometrue stories, we love to publishthemasinspiration to ordinaryhorse ownersandriderswithbig ambitions to fulfil.Suchisthe storyof Loti Innes-Parryandher ex-racehorseJeff (aka AsISeeIt),whothis yearbecame Racehorse to RidingHorseChampionsatHOYS Lotiisa farrier,and wasuntil recently basedinOxfordshire, whereshebecame partofthe fabricofhorse community lifeinthe county. Herpartnerinthe ring,AsISeeItis fondlyknownasJeff. Heis by KingsTheatre, wastrained by Harry Fryand cameoutof racingwhen he was 9, having won1 Point to Point and2hurdle racesand£17,781in total.
Loti takesupthe story: Well,it’s truewhattheysay. It reallyistheArenaofDreams!
I still can’tquitebelieve the result we hadatHOYS,butit’s an experience Iwilltreasure forever. Ipinch myself frequentlythatIgot to experiencethat dayinthe wayIdid-with overwhelming feelingsofjoy, abeautifulsashandatrot downthat centreline to theinfamous winner’smusic.WhataboyJeffis-he reallymade my dreams cometrue.
Theday started very early,asitalways doesatHOYS.Ourarena familiarisation
wasat05:25,andJeff tookitallinhis stride.Itisaseriouslybuzzyatmosphere intheAndrew BowenArenaduringthe familiarisation,butit causednoissues for Jeff.Along walkback to the stables,some treats anda rest for my boy, andit wastime forsomebreakfastbeforethebig event.
A coupleofhours went by.Igot myself ready,andJoBates,Jeff ’s producer over thelast year,gothim ready to thehighest standardasshealwaysdoes.Helooked absolutelybeautiful-quiteliterallydazzling fromhead totoe. I rememberlookingat himandthinkinghowluckyI was to be ridinghimatHOYS.Anotherlong walkup to theArena,andit wastime toworkin. Again,he feltsuper.He wasso calmand collected,notlettingtheatmosphereget to him.I told myself to justenjoyitandthat there wasnopressure. We were ridingwith somesupersmart combinationsinthat ring,sothere were no expectationsatall. In wewent.Thego round wasabitof ablur….Idon’t rememberitall,butIdo rememberthe feelingthatJeffgave me. Forahorsewho cansometimesneedalittle bitofhandholding,he feltso confident. It feltlikehe took my handthatday, and carriedmearoundthearena tellingme “We’ve gotthis!”. To thenbepulledin5th, next to some really wellknownhorses was awininitself forme.I wassuperthrilled.
Time came fortheridejudge to geton;a nervewrackingmoment.JoandI watched eagerly yetnervously-butthere wasno need.Jeffproducedalovelyride forthe Judge;sowillingandattentive to allof hisaids.Hebehavedimpeccably,listening toeverythingaskedofhim. To lookback overJeff ’s journeyisa testament to him. Frombeing verynervousintheringand not wanting tostand, to beingso confident yet calmandmannerlyisjustincredible.It wasajoy to watchhimflourishoutthere. Duringtheprizegiving,I feltallkinds ofemotions.I wassoproudandhappy withhowhe’ddisplayedhimself,I would have beenhappywithanyplacing.Asthe numbers were getting calledlowerandlower downtheline, I told myselfthathehadn’t beenplacedthistime, despiteourbest efforts.I wasabitdisappointedbecause ofhow wellhe’dbehaved,butIthought to myselfthatthere’salwaysnext year. To thenhearournumberbeing called outastheHOYS SEIB Racehorse to Riding HorseCHAMPION wasquitehonestlymind blowing.Ihada coldshivergothrough my bodyandan overwhelming feelingofpride andelation....and tears...lotsofhappy tears! Whilst receivingour rosettes andsash,I wasquitehonestlyindisbelief.I remember itall feelinglikeablurandlikeIhad to keep pinching myself.Atruemagicalmoment. I still feelahugeamountofgratitude towardsJeff formakingthatmoment happen forus.A realonce inalifetime experience withthemostlovingand kindhorse-howluckyamI?
Thedreamdidn’t endthere, withus returning to boththe TopSpecandthe Andrew BowenArena fortheSupreme FinalonSunday. Whatan evening we had,linedupnext to the rest oftheHorse Championsfromthroughoutthe week.I feltthatthere wassomethingquitesurreal about my little ex-racehorse standing next to someofthe country’s topshow horses.WhilstI wasbeyondnervous to do my showinfrontofthejudges, my competitorsandthespectators,I reallytried to enjoyitandsavourthemoment.Jeff willnotbeallowed to return to HOYS now thathehas wontheR2Rclass,somaking memories wastheprioritythat evening. Andthat’s certainlywhatIdid.Ilook backatphotosfromHOYS andallofthe emotion comes straightback.I can still feelthemagicofthatday, andIdon’t thinkIwill forgetthose feelingsany timesoon.I can’tthankJeffenough.
Aspecialthank youalsogoes to Jo Bates forhertireless and expert work withJeff overthelast year.Hedidme, Joandthewhole teamsoproud!
LotiInnes-ParryandAsISeeItatHOYS 2025 Photo by 1stClassImages
Forage you can count on
WINTER-PROOFYOUR LEATHERTACK
Adviceandphotos by theSocietyofMaster Saddlers
Tackcleaningmightnotbethe most glamorousjobon your winter yard list,butit’s oneof themostimportant.The cold,damp monthsare exactlywhen yourleather tackisatitsmostvulnerable.Here, TheSocietyofMaster Saddlersoffer itsadvice on keeping yourleather tackinthebest possible condition.
Thewinter conditionsoffluctuating temperatures and wet weather can quicklyleaveleather weakandpotentially unsafeifitisn’t cared forproperly.
Leather,afterall,isskin.Itneeds regular care tostay supple, strong andsafe to use. Poorlymaintained tacksoonbecomes hardandbrittle, whichmayrubsensitiveareasof your horselikethegirth,but canalsolead to cracksand worst still–itbreaks.
TakingGood Care of Your Tack
Howoftenshould youclean your tack isa commonlyaskedquestion.Ideally, dirtandgreaseshouldbe removedafter
everyride,withaleather conditioner orbalmappliedatleastonce a week. Athorough weeklyclean,which includes strippingdownthebridle and removing stirrupleathers –gives youthechance to check stitching, bucklesandtheleatheritself.If you noticesplittingorloose stitching, alwayshave itinspectedand repaired by aSocietyofMaster Saddlers Qualifiedand Registered Saddler. Cleaning your tackneedn’tbe complicatedandit’s easyto getinto a routineofdoingitafter everyride.
Useasoftclothorspongedipped into warm(nothot) water, wrungout thoroughly, to wipe away mudand grease. For stubbornpatches,adrop ofmild washing-upliquidin your water works wonders.Always allowleather to drynaturallybeforeapplyingaquality conditionerorbalmsparingly. Letit soakin,thenfinishwithapolish. Whenit comes to choosingproducts, look forthose containingnatural ingredientssuchasbeeswax,lanolin, or tallow. Thesemirrorthe fats and greasesusedinthe tanningprocess, helpingpreserveleather’snatural qualities.Steerclearofpetrochemicals, liquidcleaners,ortraditionaloilslike neatsfoot,theymaysofteninitially but weakenleatherfibres overtime.
Battlingthe WinterDamp
Oneofthebiggest enemiesofleather duringwinterismould.Itthrives in damp, cold conditionsand canquickly spreadbetweenpieces of tackifleft
unchecked. Preventionis keyandwhere you store your tackhasabigimpact. Keep tackata constant temperature. Ifpossible,useasmallthermostat heaterordehumidifierin your tack room to preventthedamp.
If you can’theat your tack room, keeping your tackathome forthe wintermonths couldbeagood idea.Makesure youdon’t store itnear radiatorsorin overlyhot
Youmayberidingless inthewinter butit’s stillimportant to check your tack regularly.Spottingmould earlyprevents lastingdamage.Ifmoulddoesappear, remove itimmediatelyusing warm waterandasponge (anold toothbrush isgreat forgettingintothosetricky spots).Thenapply conditioner to restoretheleather’sbalance.
Dealingwith Wet Tack
Winterhackingoftenmeanssoggy tack.If yourbridleorsaddlegets soaked, resisttheurge to dryitquickly by aheateror radiator.Instead, take itallapart,cleanoffdirtandgrease withadampspongeandallowit to dryslowlyat room temperature. Oncedry,applyanatural conditioner orbalm to bothsidesoftheleather. Thismayneed to bedoneseveral times to restoresuppleness
Storing Tack Correctly
Whennotinuse, how you store tack reallymatters.Bridlesshould be keptneatandtidy by fastening thethroatlashthroughthe reinsand
wrappingthenosebandaroundthe outsidebeforehangingonabridle hook. Saddlesshouldsitonaproper rackwithpadding, covered by a breathablesaddle cover. Neverpile girths,saddlecloths,ordampitemson topasthey canencouragemouldandif left forlongperiodsdistorttheleather.
Protect YourInvestment
Winter conditions canbe toughon leather,butwiththeright routine, your tackwillnotonlysurvivethe seasonbut stay safeand comfortable for years to come. Regularcleaning, carefulproductchoiceandsmart storagearethe essentialsof good tack care all year round.
Formoreinsightsvisit
www.mastersaddlers.co.uk
Fromlamenessinvestigations to surgery, frompoor performance workupstodentistry —ourclinicprovides acalm,professionalenvironmentwhereyourhorse’s carecomesfirst. We alsocontinue to offerambulatory visits,butwhen more isneeded, we’reready.
surgery,frompoor workups to dentistry —ourclinicprovi acalm,professionalenvironmentwhereyourhorse’s alsocontinue offerambulat we’reready.
Manyhorse ownerswillhavefoundthemselves ina familiarscenario-theyaregroomingtheir horseorperhaps tacklingthehairybusiness of winterclippingand comeacrossanewskinlumplurking amongst yourhorse’s coat,orperhapsanoddpatchofhair thatdoesn’tlookquiteright.Next comestheplethora of questions-what causedit,howlonghasitbeenlurking there, shouldI worryaboutit,andhaven’tIgotapartused tubeofsomethingorotherinthebackofthecupboardI can putonthat. Welldon’tpanicsarcoidsare commonandin most casesmanageablewhendealtwith early.Thisarticle willgothroughwhat we think causesthem,thedifferent typesandhow we mightthinkabouttreatingthem.
Whatisasarcoid?
Sarcoidsarea typeofskintumourwhichonlyoccursin horses,donkeys, zebrasand hybridsofthesespecies.Soas not to unnecessarily worryanyoneitisimportant tostate earlyonthattheydonotspreadinternallyinto yourhorse. Sarcoidsarehoweverlocallydestructive, putdowndeep roots,don’tlikebeingdisturbedand can comebackbigger and strongerifnotdealtwith correctly.
We currentlythinkthatbovinepapillomavirusisimplicated inthedevelopmentofsarcoidsbutthe relationshipis complexandnotassimpleas causeandeffect.Studies have shownthattherearegenetictraits whichincreasethe riskofahorsedevelopingsarcoids,iftheyencounterbovine papillomavirus.Fliesarehighlylikely to beinvolvedin spreadingsarcoidsaroundthehorseandpossiblybetween susceptiblehorses.
Commonthingsare common,andsarcoidsare by farand away themost common formofskinmass.Many cases aregivenapresumptivediagnosisbasedonthephysical appearanceanddistributionofthelesions. Samplingisnot frequentlyundertaken, especiallyiftreatmentisnotgoing tostart straight away,sometimestheprocessofsampling aggravates asarcoidmakingitgrow faster. Lesions removed by lasersurgeryshouldalwaysbesent for testing
atthelab to confirmthediagnosisandinformthe vetabout whethersafemarginshave beenachieved.
TreatmentOptions:What
Really Works
There isnosinglecure forsarcoids—what worksbrilliantly foronesarcoidmightnot work foranother.As vets we will help youchoosethemethodthatsuitsyourhorse’ssarcoid type,location,and temperament.Thislistis by nomeans exhaustivebutgives anideaofsomeofthemorecommon options.
Topical cytotoxiccreams
•Theseoftenneed to beapplied by a vetbecauseofthe chemicalsinvolved,buttherearesomemildercreamsthat canbesafelyapplied by ownersifthesarcoid typeandhorses temperamentaresuitable.
•Thelesionis removed straight away andthereisaperiod ofaftercareneeded to allowthe wound to heal over6-8 weeks.
•Suitable for well-definedlesionsinareaswherethere are nounderlyinganatomical structures that we are concerned
aboutoperating over.
Intralesionalinjectionsof a cytotoxicdrug:
•Sometimessuitable for smallnodularlesionsaround the eyes wheresurgical treatmentoraggressive creamsare toohighrisk.
Ligation:
•Placingaligatureor elastratorbandaroundalesion to constrictthebloodssupply.
Figure5-Thelaserisused to cauteriseandcutaroundthe sarcoid,aiming to take amargin ofvisiblynormalskin toreduce theriskof regrowth.Due to this andtheelasticityoftheskinthe defectalwayslookslargerthanthe sarcoidwhich was removed.
•Thisisaneconomical optionbut canbeeffectiveand suitable, correct caseselection forthis typeoftreatmentis essential.Pickingthewrong type oflesion to band could resultinaggravatingthelesion.
•Shouldalwaysbedone by a vetandthehorsegiven sedationandpain relief.
Remembertheseareskintumoursandneed to betreated assuch,things to avoidinclude:
• Watchingasarcoidgrow,hopingitwillslow downor regress. Treatmentofsmallsarcoidsis easier, less invasive, cheaperand requires less timeoutof work.
•Self-treatingwith over-the-counterproducts without seekingadvicefirst,atbest theseoptionsareunlikely to be effectiveand,insome cases, causedelayandaggravationof alesionleading to morecomplextreatmentatalater stage.
So,if youspotanewlumporoddpatchon yourhorse, don’t worry, take aphoto, andask your vet forguidance. With good care andtherightinformation,themajorityof cases can betreatedandmanagedsuccessfully.
ABOUTTHE AUTHOR: TomRighton
HNVGDirector,BVSc,MRCVS TomjoinedHookNorton Veterinary Groupin2014andthePractice Partnershipin2022.Havingpreviously workedinamixedpracticein Worcestershire, Tomjoinedusto work solelywith ourEquine Team. Tomhasspecialistinterestsin orthopaedic&lamenesscasesandisoneofthe key vets forlasersurgeryandsarcoid removal. Tomis alsocurrentlystudying forhisadvancedpractitioner certificateinEquineOrthopaedics at theUniversityof Liverpool,alongsidehis workat HNVG. Tomhasa young family,andhiswife,Lotty,isa Vetin ourSmallAnimal Team. Tomenjoys gettingoutinto thecountrysideonhis roadandmountainbikesand followingtheNationalHunt Racing& Pointto Point seasonsinhissparetime.
ler,sp ecialisi ng in hand made made-to-meas ur ebridles,1:1 /Group Brid le FittingConsultations (within a30mileradiusofDY7 5HF), and leat herworkalterations andrepairs www.Ladysaddler.co.uk 07717393932
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18/01/2026Unaffiliated&British DressageatSolihullRidingClub, Four Ashes Road,BentleyHeath,Solihull, West Midlands,B938QE. Contact:01564770180 www.solihullridingclub.co.uk
Notallequinejointsupplementsare thesame,in fact theydifferenormously in thelevelsof theactiveingredientscontainedin them. A topqualityjoint supplementshouldcontainnotonlyagoodlevelof Glucosaminewhichisa relativelycheapingredientbutalsohighlevelsofChondroitin,HAandMSM. Premier FlexHAispossibly thehighestspecequinejointsupplementtoday!
“Ok firstly I’mnotone to writereviews,butheregoes. I soundcrazy, but thissupplement hasmecryingwith happiness I can’t evenbegin to explainhow thisproducthasnotonly changedmyhorsescomfortlevelbutalsomymindset Myhappy, cheekyandverybeautiful cobisback to himself ...Thanksyou to whoeverdeveloped thisproduct, youwillnever trulyknow howmuchofanimpact youhavemade?? I hope thisworks foryourhorseaswellasithas formine.” HappyCobOwner, Lancashire
365COMPLETE
365Completeisasuperbhighspecbalancer thatgoes farbeyondnormal vitaminandmineralproducts.365Completeincludeseveryvitaminandmineral ahorseneedsandthesemineralsunlikemanyproductsareprovidedinchelated formwhichmakes them farmoreabsorbable.365Complete alsoincludespre andpro-biotics(guthealth),MSM(joints,skin,breathingetc)andbiotin(feet).
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29/01/2026BritishDressage Winter Area Festival(29th1st)at Parwood Equestrian Centre, WestwoodLane, Normandy,Surrey,GU32JE. Contact: 01483616313bookings@parwood.co.uk www.parwood.co.uk
29/01/2026Unaffiliated&British DressageatSolihullRidingClub, Four Ashes Road,BentleyHeath,Solihull, West Midlands,B938QE. Contact:01564770180 www.solihullridingclub.co.uk
FRIDAY 30TH JANUARY
30/01/2026BritishDressageatBeech Tree Farm,Badgworth Equestrian Centre, Badgworth,Axbridge, BS26 2QU. Contact: 07989 320978 www.badgwortharena.co.uk 30/01/20263 DaySeniorBritish Showjumping(29th-31st)atBury Farm Equestrian Village,Mill Road,Slapton, Nr LeightonBuzzard,Buckinghamshire, LU79BT. Contact:01525222114 www.buryfarmestates.co.uk
01/02/2026OBHArea Quallifer Spring Festival SJ ShowatBury Farm Equestrian Village,Mill Road,Slapton, Nr LeightonBuzzard,Buckinghamshire, LU79BT. Contact:01525222114 www.buryfarmestates.co.uk
01/02/2026JuniorBritishShowjumping at CCR Equestrian,Chambers Farm, Brookthorpe,Glos,GL40XA. Contact: 07787083390info@ccrequestian.com www.ccrequestrian.com
It’s verynearlythattimeof year again.Atimewhenthearea justdownfromTheRitzHotelin Londonbecomesa temporaryhorse village forthose everydayhorses andriderswhotransformfromthe ordinary to the extraordinary.Amida blazeof colour,theyridewithAllThe Queen’sHorsesand wowthehuge Londoncrowdswholinethe routeof the LondonNew Years Day Parade. This yearisparticularlyspecialas the Paradeis celebratingits 40th birthday. The Parade startedoutas the Lord Mayorof Westminster’s Big Paradein1987withjust2000 performers.Ithasnowgrowninto aglobal eventwithmorethan8000 performersfromtheUK,USA,Europe andbeyond,includingcheerleaders, dancegroups, stuntdisplays,giant balloonsandfloatsfrom London boroughs.Over500,000peopleline the2.2mile routeandtheatmosphere isincredible.Itis televised worldwide and watched by about500million
viewers each year.Ithasbeen renamed this yearasthe London Parade.
AllTheQueensHorseshave been apartofthisamazing event for fourteen years startingin2012.The horsesectionoftheparade wasthe brainchildof CarolineMarshwhose inspiredvisionofhorsesparticipating inthisglobalspectaclehasbecome a wonderfuladdition to a fantastic daylooked forward to by somany.
The Parade routebeginsattheRitz andproceedsthroughPiccadilly, Regent Street,StJames, PallMall, Trafalgar SquareandWhitehall.Thehorses then branchoff to HorseGuards Parade, ridinguptheMall to Buckingham Palacewheremany photosareare takenoutsidethoseiconicgates
Takingpartasahorseandrideris not forthe fainthearted;thecrowds arehuge,andthedayislong.Starting very earlyinthemorningandfinishing arounddusk,participants experience aboutfivemilesof walking,alot ofhighfiving,interactingwiththe
Howoftendo youget to ridethrough thecity of LondonandupTheMall to Buckingham Palace? Ittrulyisis aonceinalifetimeopportunity.
To apply to ridewithAllTheQueen’s Horsesinthe London Parade2027 please contact London.ATQH@OUTLOOK.COM Website: www.allthequeenshorses.co.uk
WANT TO SPECTATE?
If you wouldlike to spectate atthis wonderful event you candoso for freealongthe Parade routebutdoget there earlyasitfillsup veryquickly. Grandstandseats canbebooked onlineat Londonparade.com
Photos by JoMonck
Wordsandpictures by JoMonck
NUTRITIOUSAND TASTY HORSETREATS TO HELPYOURHORSE “CHILLOUT”
with Ashwagandha andB Vitamins
Equine Synergy BE COOL COOKIES are special treats, arespecialtreats, containing Ashwagandha and B Vitamins. These cookies containingAshwagandhaandB Vitamins.Thesecookies were designed for nervous horses or horses facing new, weredesignedfornervoushorsesorhorsesfacingnew, challenging or stressful situations. challengingorstressfulsituations.
Take these tasty treats to competitions or when travelling thesetastytreatstocompetitionsorwhentravelling and help your horse to andhelpyourhorseto “Chill Out!” “ChillOut!”
With Adaptogenic herbs, WithAdaptogenicherbs, BE COOL COOKIES are great aregreat for anxious horses or horses with excessive flight instincts foranxioushorsesorhorseswith excessiveflightinstincts and “stressy behaviours”. and“stressybehaviours”. A calm horse means a happy horse... and a happy rider!!! Acalmhorsemeans ahappyhorse...and ahappyrider!!!
COOL COOKIES
MOUNTAIN HORSE
DOUBLE WAISTBAG
Lightweight waterproof softshell waistbagwith two zippered compartments. Adjustableelasticbeltallows for waistorcrossbody wear. ReflectiveMHlogoadds visibility.
Absorbine’s rangeofSilver Honeyproducts forthe care of minor woundsandsensitive skinincludeMudDefense, HygienicShampoo,Spray Gel andOintment. Availableat your localequestrian retailer.
(and ahint of BlackPepper)
Equine Synergy JOINT COOKIES JOINTCOOKIES are Turmeric-richcookies to maintain free Turmeric-richcookiestomaintainfree movement and mobility and keep your movementandmobilityandkeepyour horse “Movin’ and Groovin” “Movin’andGroovin”.
Spoil your horse with these easy to carry, Spoilyourhorsewiththeseeasytocarry, tasty equine cookies. tastyequinecookies.
“Movin’ and Groovin” JOINT COOKIES “Movin’andGroovin”JOINT ... Yummy treatsand healthy, comfortable joints. Yummytreatsandhealthy,comfortablejoints. What more could your horse ask for? Whatmorecouldyourhorseaskfor?
Be Cool Cookiesaredelicioushorse cookies designed forequineanxiety, whichmay be fedapproximately30minutes before a stressful event.They canalsobe fed regularlyasatreat,andthe “adaptogenic” propertiesanddeliciousflavourmakethem a valuable toolin calmingand rewarding yourhorse,sothat you caneliminate unwantedhabitsandassist yourhorsein learningnewbehaviours.
Movin’andGroovin’Joint Cookieswill provide yourhorsewithallthebenefits of Turmericand Curcumin. Keep your horse’smobilityatitsbest by offeringa treatofthese tastyequine cookies,whilst maintaininghealthierandmorecomfortable joints.
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GemmaJ Robin LocketNecklace
Keep yourmosttreasuredmemoriesclose to yourheart withthisenchanting robinlocketnecklace. Beautifully craftedin recycled sterlingsilverwithdelicate14ct rose gold vermeildetailing,thischarmingpiece captures the spiritoftheBritish countryside. The sweet robinperchedonitsbranchisa symbolof hopeand renewal,makingthislocketameaningfulgift forsomeonespecial—oraprecious keepsake for yourself. Openthe18mmlocket to tuck away tinyphotographsof lovedones,creatinganintimatepieceof wearableartthat tells your story. £86.00
HihoSilver TwistedSnaffleBracelet
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OUTTOPASTURESOY CA
Designed by EmmaLawrencewitha collaboration ofartwork featuringhand-drawn equestrianillustrations. FragrancedwithPink GrapefruitandLily,theyareaperfectgift fortheequestrianenthusiast. DiffuserRRP£15.95/ Soy CandleRRP£12.95 www.elico.co.uk
Itiswithgreatsadness that we announcethepassingof Daisy Sadler,80from Lower Tadmarton, nearBanbury,on Friday3rdOctober. OriginallyfromBowness on Windermere, Daisymoved to Tadmartonin1997.
‘Daisy’,orSueHalkyard asshe was knownbeforemarryingAutofarm founderJosh Sadler,diedpeacefully athomeaftersufferingfroma long-term respiratory condition. She wasbotha verypopular,anda prominentmemberoftheOxfordshire communityandwillbedeeplymissed.
Inthe1970sand1980s,sheachieved greatsuccess inthemotorsport disciplineoftriallingbutafterpartially losinghersightshe switched to horsesbuyingherfirst heavyhorse–Sydney. Aftertrainingthehorses to pull a waggonshe startedabusiness ‘Syds Plods’whichbecamea featureoflocal shows, weddingsandchildren’sparties.
Daisy wasa verythoughtful carer for thosethatneededitinthe community as wellasatireless supporterof charities.In2018,afterhearingabout the LongRidersGuild,shedroveher waggonona1,000-milejourney. This wasn’therfirst plod. Two yearsbefore, she’dgone to theLakeDistrictandback –butthat wasamere500-miletrip!
Attheageofseventy-three, Daisy setoutfrom Tadmartoninherbrightly paintedgypsy waggonpulled by her two gentleBelgiandrafthorses,Olive andArthur, withherloyaldog Tad besideher.Hergoal was extraordinary: to travelallthe way to The Kelpiesin Falkirk–the world’slargestequine sculpture-andbackagain.
It wasn’t easy;there were longhills, wild weatherbothhotand cold,and the constant care ofheranimals.There were brusheswiththelaw (travelling theA1at4am),atrickyuturnina cul-de-sac(RetfordinNotts,had to callthelocalfirebrigadeand6firemen turnedup….)and evengoingthrough roadworksjustasthelightschanged before realizingshehadgonethewrong way. Andof course,many, manymedia interviews. Daisy evengotamention by GrahamNortonon Radio2. Everywhereshe went, kindness followed.
Shewillbedeeplymissedin thesurroundingarea.She wasan incredible,kindandlovinglady who stoically continuedfighting herillness untilthe veryend. Herfuneral tookplace on 17th November,withherfinaljourney seeingher twocurrenthorses carryher fromherhome to theNaturalBurial Groundin Tysoe, witha few stopsat a coupleofpubsalongthe way. That wouldhave beenperfect forher!
Ontheir way to raising 27,000 for theBrain TumourCharity
GRAFTONEQUINE BEREAVEMENTSERVICES
Whenthetimecomes,beitplannedorunforeseen circumstances,wewillmakeitaseasyaspossible. Onephonecalland wewillmakeallthearrangements. Therearethreetypesof service available: 1) IndividualCremation2) CommunalCremation 3)EconomicCollection All servicesavailable 7daysaweek,24hours aday For more informationpleasecontact MICK Telephone: 07710 694338 www.equinebereavementservices.co.uk
