When you wear a pair ofPikeur breeches, you willunderstandwhy the brandis the choice of somany of the world’s top professionals.
Renowned for its superbcut and exceptional fabrics,Pikeur clothingis a pleasure to wearanda true investment.
We have a pairof CandelaBreeches to give away.Oneof Pikeur’s most popular styles, the breeches have a high waist with frontslopingpockets andanedgedleg fastening. With a fullseatin a choice of applied siliconGrip or mock suede, the Candelaismade from a rangeof 4-way stretch, highlybreathable fabrics with a body sculpting effect
You willbeable to choosefrom a variety of workingand competition colours.
The Candela comes insizes 20” - 34” waist,withlongfittingsalso available RRP: £199.95
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A NEW SEASON N THE SADDLE I
HO RS E FI RST TH IS AU TU MN :
TA KE CO NT RO L OF PA RA SI TE RI SK WI THTE ST IN G
Asautumnarrives, Westgate Labsis callingonhorse owners to puttheirhorse’shealth first by reviewingparasite controland carryingouta wormegg count.The Horse First. EveryTime. EverySeason. campaignhighlightstheimportance of tailoringparasiteprogrammes to individualhorses,protectingboththeir wellbeingandtheeffectiveness ofvital wormingmedicines forthefuture. Theimportanceis compounded by the unusuallydrysummer weather we’ve experiencedintheUK.
“Many ownersaresurprised by the factors that canaffectahorse’sparasite risk,” explains WestgateLabsDirector, Kristy Hodgson.“Inour experience, anythingthatadds extrapressureon thebody,whetherthat’s underlying illness orenvironmental conditions, canmakeitharder forhorses to cope withparasitechallenge. Addin reduced grazingquality-somanypaddocks have been completelyburntoffthis summer-thathorsesarecropping nearer to thegroundandcloser to dung piles to find forage,andthechances of infectionarelikely to rise.
“Regular wormegg countsand tests,supported by riskassessment andgoodfieldmanagementlikepoo picking, reallyhelp.Monitoringegg sheddingmeanstreatmentsareonly usedwhennecessary. That reduces costs forthe owner,supportshorse health,andhelpsslowthespreadof anthelmintic resistanceacrossthe equinepopulation.”
WestgateLabssupportsuseofthe CANTERriskprofiling tool,developed by thepan-industrygroup, controlling ANTiparasitic resistancein Equines Responsibly,whichhelps owners understandwhethertheirhorseis low, mediumorhighriskofparasite infection.Byusingthisframework to informa test-basedparasite control plan, Westgate helps owners builda tailoredprogramme fortheirhorse before reaching fora wormer.
A Casein Point
Anna,adressageriderfrom Northumberland,shares howusing test-basedparasite control,supported by CANTERriskprofiling,has transformedherapproachwithher horse, Roo. Categorisedaslowrisk, Roo follows asimpleprogrammeof quarterly wormegg countsand twiceyearly tapeworm tests,addressing potentialencysted redworminthe lateautumn/winter by testingand/or treating.Heonly receives treatment when test results showit’s needed, protectinghimfromunnecessary medicationwhile keepinghim competition-ready.
“Thesupportfrom Westgate Labs hasbeensimple,understandable,and really reassuring,”says Anna.“Iknow I’mmakingtherightdecisions for Roo, andI’malsohelping to preserve wormingmedicines forthewiderhorse population.”
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 to offerambulat we’reready.
Clientcareisparamount to us,whichiswhywe have staffonsite 24 hoursa day, 365days ayear,lookingafter inpatientswithindividualtreatmentplans foreachhorse.
Happy Teeth=HappyHorse
Thebenefitof routinedentalvisits for yourhorse.
ByJulietteCarter, BVM, BVS, MRCVS
Having recentlygraduatedfromuniversitythissummer andbegundoing zonedays atthepractice, dentals have beenoneof my more commonvisits,andIhave evenhada few referral cases!
Thisarticleaims to highlighttheimportanceofhaving your horse’s teethchecked regularly,justlike wewouldwithour own.
Yourhorse’smouth
Whenthe vetor EquineDental Technician comesout to examineahorse’s teeth,theydoso by dividingthemouth intothe fourarcades (quarters).The toprightisknown as1,the topleftas2,thebottomleftas3andthenthe bottomrightas4. We typicallyseesharpenamelpoints onourmolars,whicharenumberedfrom6 to 11,withthe correspondingarcadeatthebeginning–creatinga3-digit number. For example,106 wouldbethefirstmolaronthe rightupperside,and111 wouldbethefinalone.
Ahorse’s teethwill continuallygrow throughoutitslife.Their chewingand conformation cansometimes lead to uneven wear,leavingthemwithsharpenamelpoints,hooksor ramps ontheir teeth.Thesesharppoints can causediscomfort to themouthand tongueand eveninterferewithperformance whenridden. Regular raspinghelpssmooththesepoints down,achievinga comfortablemouth forthehorse. Regulardental care canhelp to identifyissues suchas diastemas (gapsbetweenthe teeth), EquineOdontoclastic Tooth Resorption,Hypercementosis(EROTH),and caries. Diastemas can resultin foodaccumulatinginbetweenthe teeth,creatingtheperfectbreedingground forbacteriaatthe exposedgumarea.EROTHismost commonlyseeninhorses over15andthosewithchronicdentalissues.Itstreatmentis challengingasit’s aprogressive disease; earlydetection can helpmanagetheprocessbetter.
Improved comfortand efficiencyduring eating
Whenahorse’s teethareunevenornotaligned welltheymay havedifficultychewing.This canlead to undigested foodor decreasedintake. Insevere cases foodnotchewedproperly can causeanimpactionorblockagewhichleads to a colic episode.
Thepreventionofother complications
Misaligned teeth canlead to:
1. Painfululcersonthemouthor tongue
2.Bit-relatedproblemsdue to sharp teeth
3. Jawor Temporomandibularjointissues:improper wear canputpressureonthejawleading to long termpainor problems
Anotherbenefitisimprovedperformance and behaviour
Comingback to ourpointaboutriddenissues,somehorses indentalpain can exhibitbehaviouralsignssuchashead tossing, resistance to thebit,difficulty acceptingthebridleor
unwillingnessto eat.
Overall, we recommendthat yourhorse’s teethbe examinedand rasped every6 to 12months. Withmore frequentappointments forthosewithdentaldisease, roughly every3monthsuntilthe conditionisatasuitable managementpoint.
ABOUTTHE AUTHOR: JulietteCarter
BVM,BVS, MRCVS JuliettejoinedHookNorton Veterinary Groupafter graduatingfromthe UniversityofNottingham.During herstudies, shecompletedEMSand isnowafullyqualified vet.Withherenthusiasm, attentiontodetail,anda realdrivetolearn,Julietteis readytomake a greatstarttoher veterinarycareer. Outsideof work,Julietteisjustasactive—whether she’straininghard forhernextpowerlifting competition,onthehockeypitch,orenjoyingthe countrysidewithherthree blackLabradors. If you seeheroutonthe roador at thepractice, dostop andsayhello, she’slooking forwardtomeetingHNVG clients,andanimalstoo!
Castrationinhorsesistheactof removingthe testiclesandassociated structures from colts and stallions,thuscreatingagelding (a neutered malehorse).Mostmales aregeldedbetween6months and3 yearsofage,atthisagetheprocedure carries thelowest risk.Inthisarticle we willgothroughthe castrationprocessandlookatthe complicationsthat canoccur–some commonlyandsome very rarely.
Inmost cases castration canbeperformedunder standing sedation.Inorder for castration to besafelyperformed standingthe coltmusthave twopalpable testiclesandbe sufficiently wellhandled to settleundersedation.In very unhandled coltstheiradrenalinelevelsaresohighasa result ofunfamiliarhumaninteractionthatthesedative drugs arenotable to achieve maximaleffect.Itisalsopreferable for colts to have hadtheirprimary courseof tetanus vaccination (two vaccinesamonthapart)prior tocastration. Ideally castrationisperformedinacleanarea,this canbea stablewiththebedup,aclean yard area ora drypaddock. Castrationisbest performedinSpring andAutumnwhenthepaddocksare reasonablydry andtherearenot toomanyflies.Minimisingmudand flieswill reducetheriskofpost-operativeinfection.
isan extensionoftheabdominallining.The vaginaltunicis incisedsothatthe testicleandepididymis canbe exteriorized. The testicleandepididymisareattachedatbothends,on onesideisa vascularportion containingthebloodsupply, attheotherendisanon-vascularportion containing the vasdeferens (tubethatsemenpassesthrough)and testicularligament.The vascularandnon-vascularportions areseparatedprior to transectingwithemasculators.
Onceasuitablearea hasbeenidentifiedthe colt canbe sedatedandathoroughpalpationofthescrotum can take place to ensure2descended testiclesarepresent.In younger coltsitmaynotbethat easyto visualizethe testiclesas theycanbequitesmall,so palpationundersedation canbenecessary to confirm that2arepresent. Following palpation,and confirmation that standing castrationis sensible,the coltisthen administeredpain relief(nonsteroidalanti-inflammatory drug–usuallybute)and antibiotics.Thescrotumis cleanedwithadilutehibiscrub washprior to injectionoflocal anaestheticdirectlyintothe testiclesandscrotalskin.
Emasculators arethespecialsurgical toolused for castrationinhorses.Theyprovidebothclampingandcutting actionatthesametime.Theemasculatorsareplacedon the vascularportionfirstandheldinplacefor3–5minutes to ensuregoodclottingwithintheblood vessels.The emasculatorsarethenplacedonthenon-vascularportion for aminute to detachthe testicleanditsassociated structures entirely.Thesameprocedureisthen carriedoutonthe othersideofthescrotum to remove thesecond testicle. Following castrationthere shouldnotbeanythinghanging outoftheincisions,butthere maybeasmallamountof blooddripping.Aslongas you can countthedrips(not so fast as to create a streamofblood)thenthisisnotof any concernandwill stopshortlyaftertheprocedure. We generally recommendthatthegelding remaininthe stable (or verysmallpaddock) forthenext12– 24 hours
prior to beingturnedoutinasmallarea. Preferably wewould likefreshlygeldedmales to move aroundalittle to prevent swellingandprematuresealingofthesurgicalincisions, whilstnotallowingthem to exercise excessively.The vetmay prescribea courseofantibiotics andanti-inflammatories, thiswilldependonthe weatherandground conditions,the sizeofthe testicles removedandtheageofthegelding.
Itisimportant to rememberthatgeldings can still covermares forup to 6 weekspostcastration,so must notbeturnedoutwithmares immediately.
Complications
Common complications following castrationinclude bleedingandinfection.Ifthegeldingisallowedinto too largeanarea orisparticularlyfractiouspost-opit can disruptthebloodclots formedatemasculationand cause bleeding.Mostofthetimethisbleedingisself-limiting, butiftheyarebleedingina steady stream youshould calla vet.Occasionallyitisnecessary to re-sedatethe geldingandattempt to clampthebleeding vessels.
Rarecomplicationsincludethe formationofascirrhous cord or eventration.Scirrhous cord iswhere aninfection establisheswithinthespermatic cord,thisisthesevered endofthe vascularornon-vascularportionsleftbehind. Thisinfectiontracksinternallyintothegroincreatinga non-healing woundanddischargingtract.Ascirrhous cord cangoundetected forseveral weeks (occasionally years) post castration.Itistreated by surgical removalofthe
infectedtissue undergeneral anaesthesia. Thankfully scirrhous cord is rare,itismore likely to occurin olderhorses (those gelded over2 years ofage),wherethe blood vesselsand testiclesarelarger. Eventrationis the exteriorization ofthesmallintestinefrominsidetheabdomenoutthrough thescrotalincisions.Thescrotumdoes communicatewith theabdominal cavity,andthereisapassagebetweenthe twoviatheinguinalring.Inolder stallionstheinguinal ringsare largerastheblood vesselssupplyingthe testiclesarelarger,thusincreasingtherisk. Eventration is very rare,ifitdoesoccurit canbe fatal,ashorses affectedneedimmediateabdominalsurgery to correct. Bothscirrhous cord and eventrationaremorelikely to occurinolder stallions,whichiswhy we generally recommend standing castration take placeprior to 3 yearsofage. Ifitisnecessary tocastrate a stallion over 3 yearsofagethisissaferperformedundergeneral anaesthesiaina sterileenvironment,however, older stallions canbe castrated standingaslongasthese increasedrisksareappreciated by all concerned.
AgingGracefully: Keeping yourhorse happyandhealthyintheirolder age
ByJenniferDawMA VetMBMRCVS
Thanks to advances inmanagement,nutrition,and veterinary care,horses andponiesarelivinglonger than ever.Ensuringtheymaintainagoodqualityoflife intheirlater yearsis essential forthe welfareofthesegolden oldies.Ashorsesage,they canbecomemoresusceptible to certainhealth conditions.However, preventative care, early recognitionofclinicalsigns,andprompt veterinary treatment canhelpidentifyandmanagedevelopingissues. Withthoughtfulenvironmentalmanagementandappropriate veterinarysupport, you canhelpprolong yourhorse’s comfort andqualityoflife.
Signsofolderage
Everyhorseisindividualandtheiragingisno exception. However, thereareclinicalsignsthatshouldbemonitoredin theolderhorse.Manyofthesesignsaresomewhat expected inolderhorses,butsome canbeindicatorsofunderlying health conditions.
Signsinclude:
• Weightloss
• Lethargy
•Struggling to eatordropping food (quidding)
•Dull/hairy coat
• Poorskinquality
• Reducedimmunity
•Lameness
•Muscleloss
•Hoofproblems
Many ofthesesigns canbechronicandgraduallyincrease withtime,soanannualhealthcheckwith your vetisagreat way to spotpotentialissuesearly.If younoticeanychanges in yourhorse— especiallysuddenorsevere ones —it’s alwaysbestto getin touchwith your vetassoonaspossible forprompt examination.
Dentaldisease
Horsesarenaturally stoiccreatures andoftendonot exhibitsignsofpainordiscomfortuntilasevere problem develops.Indeed,somemayneverdisplay overtpain.Thisis particularlythe casewithdentaldisease.Dentaldisease can affecthorsesofallages,butashorses agetheycanbecome
moreprone to itsdevelopment.Horses teetharenaturally wornastheychewand to compensate forthis,the teeth continuouslyeruptthroughouttheirlifetime.However, as horses reacholderage,the reservecrownbelow thegumline effectively‘runsout’. This canleave teeth worn,loose,or prone to more problemssuchas:
Inolderhorses,slow eatingmayoftenbemistakenas“just oldage,” butit canactuallybeasign ofdentalpain. We recommendhorseshaveregulardentalchecks every 6 to 12monthsthroughouttheirlives to ensureprevention ofdentaldiseaseandprovide earlyinterventionifnecessary. Thisshouldbeperformed by a veterinarysurgeonora registeredequinedental technician. Routinedental work helpsidentifywhenfurtherdiagnostic workis requiredsuch ashead x-rays oruseofanoralscopeorifmore veterinary interventionis required,suchas tooth removalordiastema widening.Thisenables early recognitionofpotentialdisease and avoidstheriskofmore complicated concerns, keeping yourolderhorse eatinghappilyandpainfree.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA)isinflammationofjoints,a common causeoflameness anddiscomfortinhorses.This canaffect allhorsesbutaswithhumans,itoccursmore commonlyin olderage. OA isaprogressive disease, caused by gradual degenerationofthe cartilageinjoints.Asthejointfunction is reduced,this resultsinpainandinflammation, causing stiffness and reducedmobility. Performancehorses thathave previouslybeeninheavy-duty workorthosewithprevious injuriesaremore commonlyaffecteddue to increased wear and tear.Themost commonlyaffectedjointsarehighmotion joints,includingthehocks, fetlocks, carpi,and stifles Signsof OAvaryfrommild stiffness undersaddle to more severe symptoms,includingmuscleatrophy,lameness,and difficultygettinguporlyingdown.
Althoughthereisnocure for OA,management canbe implemented to slowthedegenerationandmaintain your horse’s comfort foraslongaspossible. Regularlameness assessmentallows subtlechangesof comfort to benotedas
Razzleis26 yearsoldand regularly competingwithhisjockey,Daisy. soonaspossible,this canbeincludedinannualhealthchecks with your vet. Your vetmayperformflexion testsontrotup oradvisediagnosticimagingif OA issuspected.Ifnecessary, changes to exercise,turnout,ormedication canthenbe implementedbeforethedisease escalates Managementofthedisease focuseson reducingthe progressionofdiseaseandminimisingpain. Treatment optionsinclude:
•NSAIDs(non-steroidalanti-inflammatories): such asphenylbutazone(“bute”)ormeloxicam, to reducepain andinflammation.
•Intra-articular (joint)injections: corticosteroidsor hyaluronicacid to improve comfortandmobility.
If younoticeanyofthesesigns,it’simportant to speakwith your vet.Diagnosisisusuallymade by takingabloodsample to measure ACTHlevels.Iftheselevelsarehigh, your vetmay recommend startingtreatment.
Themost commontreatment forPPIDispergolide (availablein tabletorpaste form).Althoughthisisalifelong medication,itisoften veryeffectiveat controllingthe diseaseand cansignificantlyimprovethequalityoflifeof olderhorses Regularblood testsareneeded to ensurethe medicationdoseis correctand working well.
Alongsidemedicaltreatment,supportive care isalso essential.Managementof weight, routinedental care, and routine farrieryarealsoimportantinmanagingPPID symptoms. Withgood veterinarysupportand consistent
management,manyhorses withPPID can continue to live active, comfortablelives wellintotheirlater years.
EquineMetabolic Syndrome
In contrast to PPID, EquineMetabolic Syndrome(EMS)is a reversiblediseasesimilar totype2diabetesinhumans. Itischaracterised by insulindysregulation,abnormal fat deposits,andincreasedlaminitisrisk.Allages ofhorses can beaffected,oftenshowingdifficultyinlosing weightdespite dietmanagement,lethargy, and recurrentlaminitis.EMSis diagnosed by measuringinsulinandglucoseintheblood. Weightmanagementiscrucial forEMSasthiswillimprove insulinsensitivity. Thisismanaged by increasing exercise, reducing calorieintake, andmedicationifnecessary. If you have any concerns yourhorsemaybeaffected by EMS, itis bestto talk to your vet.
Preventionisbetterthanthecure!
Worming
Ashorsesage,theirimmune systems canbecomeless effective, makingthemmore prone tocarryingahigher wormburden. Regular faecal wormegg counts(FWECs) throughoutthe yeararethebest way to identifywhen wormingisnecessary, ratherthan relyingon routinedosing. This targetedapproachhelpsprotect yourhorsewhilealso reducingtheriskof resistance towormingproducts.Speak to your vet foradviceonthemost suitable wormingprogramme for yourhorseand formanagingparasites withinaherd.
EquineAsthma
Respiratorydiseaseisfrequentlyseeninolderhorses, particularlyequineasthma (alsoknownas recurrent airway obstruction).Thisisachronicdisease caused by environmentalallergens,includingdustandpollen. Thoseaffectedmayshow signsoflabouredbreathing, coughing,andnasaldischarge.Goodmanagementisa critical componentinthe controlof respiratorydisease. Usingdust-freebedding,maximisingturnout,andsoaking hayarebeneficialmanagement strategies.Insome cases, managementchangesmaynotbeenough,and your vet may recommendmedicationssuchasbronchodilatorsor corticosteroids to keep yourhorse comfortable.
WeightManagement
Although we seeourhorses everyday, it canbedifficult to assess changesintheir weightuntildramaticchangesare evident. Regularbody conditionscoring canhelpmonitor changesintheir condition,andisideallyperformedmonthly orseasonally. Takingprogressphotos canbe reallyuseful intrackingobjectivechanges. Tracking weightinthis way helpshighlightwhenfurtherinvestigationmaybeneeded— whetherthat’sunexplained weightloss,gradual weightgain, orchangeslinked to underlying conditionssuchasEMSor PPID.
GoldenOldies
Preventionisoftenbetterthancurewhenit comes to age-relateddiseasesinhorses.Byputtingthoughtful management strategiesinplace —from regularhealthchecks
anddental care toweightmonitoring,jointsupport,and parasite control— you canmaximise yourhorse’s comfort andhelpthemthrive wellintotheirsenior years.
Everyhorseisdifferent,andtheirneedswillchangeasthey age. Workingcloselywith your vetensures anyissues are pickedup earlyandmanagedeffectively. Withtheright care, ourgoldenoldies really canenjoyhappy, healthy, andactive later years.
Asalways,if youhave any concernsabout yourhorse, it’s bestto seekadvicefrom your vet.
Malibu,20 yearsold,ishappilyenjoyingaslower pace oflifeinhis retirement.
Ice celebratedher29thbirthdayinJulythis year!
Thisis28 yearold Williamwhois still regularly eventingwithhisjockey!
Caramelis20 yearsoldandis stillcheekyas ever, regularly competingat area level forridingclub.
HAY SHORTA GEADVICE: B HSURGESHORSE OWNERSTOACTNO W AN D PLANAHEA D
Amidgrowing concernsaround reducedhaysuppliesand risingprices,BritishHorse Society(BHS)isissuingadvice and tips to helphorse owners/carers throughthewintermonths.
Thisguidance comesasthe BritishHayandStraw Merchants’ Association(BHSMA) reportsthat bigbalehay standsatan average £91 per tonne,whichisa£20increase onthesameperiodin2024
GemmaStanford,Directorof Horse Care and Welfaresaid: “Unfortunately,thepressures ofa continueddry,hotsummerareleading to farmersandhorse ownershaving to supplementtheiranimals’ feeding withhayalready. We understand the concernsthis raises forhorse owners, especiallyas farmershave nochoicebut to increasehayprices atatimewhenthe cost-of-living crisis remainsa constant reality.
Ouradviceis to planaheadand take actionnow to makesure your suppliesaremaintainedas wellas maximised.Thinkaboutthewinter monthsandask yourself, ‘howmuch haywillIneed,doIhave somewhere it canbesafely storedandwhatis my budget?’Beingpreparednow could goalong wayinthemonthsahead.
BritishHorseSocietyalso advises: Lookat your contacts: if youalreadyhave agoodhay supplier,get yourorderinnow. Otherwise, we urge you to seek recommendationsand startmaking enquiries.Iftherearemultiple owners ona yard usingthesamesupplier, this canmakedeliveriesalot easier.
Explore your storageoptions: buyinginbulkbeforethe startof wintermayprovideabufferagainst anyadditionalpriceincreases, however, limited storage canbe problematic.Speak to reputable suppliersandaskifthey’re happy to store pre-purchasedhayorfuture ordersanddeliveratalaterdate.
Maximise yourgrazing: setout awintergrazingmanagementplan andmakeanyimprovementsduring thedriermonths.Havingamud managementplan, especially forhigh trafficareas, canhelp to support your pastureduringthe wettermonths.
Feedaccording to yourhorse’s individualneeds: thewinter monthsprovideanopportunity for horseswhoare overweightorobese to lose weight,asnatureintended.If daily caloriesneed to be reduced for weightloss,thinkaboutslowing you horse’s eatingthroughenrichmentand slow feederhaynets. Lookat feeding lower calorieoptions too,to help preventlongperiodswithout eating.
If yourhorsedoes struggle to maintain weight,speak to anutritionist who cansupport you to create a feedingprogrammethat’s best suited to yourhorsewhilst keeping to thebudget youhave available. Invest inhayscales: ideally, horsesshouldbeprovidedwithas muchhayastheywill eat,butthis canlead to wastedhayandpotential over-feeding. Fora verysmall cost, invest insomescales toweighoutthe amountofhay yourhorseneeds.
Lookathay replacement options: many optionsare available
whichwillprovide yourhorsewith their essential forage requirements and canbeused to replacepart oftheirhay ration.Thisincludes choppedchaff,soakedsugarbeet, grassnutsandfibre feeds.
If yourhorseis overweight,check theproducts to prevent feedingany unnecessaryoilsormolasses.It’s important to alsointroduceanychanges to yourhorse’sdietgradually over10-14 days to help reducetheriskof colic. Reduce wastage: ask yourself howmuchhayendsupon yourmuck heaporgettinglostinthemud.If you’re throwinghay away,lookat alternativemethodsof feedingsuch ashaynets,largerbucketsorhay bars,andspecific feeders.Thesealso have thebenefitofslowingdown the rate of consumptionandsome willmimicnatural eatingpatterns.
Havingpallets available to lift thehayupofftheground canalso helppreventanyspoilagefrom waterrun-off,grit,mudor rain.
Gemmaadds:“If you’re findingit difficult to meetpriceincreasesand struggling to meet costsofferedin yourliverypackage,speak to your yard manager/ownersooner ratherthanlater. Discussionsonanypotentialpayment planor reductioninliveryservices may beoptions available to you.Theremay alsobeotheropportunities for you to helpcut costswithout compromising yourhorse’shealthand wellbeing.”
If youhave any concerns for ahorse’s welfareor wouldlike adviceabout your ownhorse, BritishHorseSocietyoffers afreehorse care and welfare helplineat 02476840517or email welfare@bhs.org.uk.
To donateor to findout moreaboutBHS’s welfare workgo to www.bhs.org.uk
LES S FORAGEDOESN’THAVE TO M EAN LE SS FIBRE
Goodnutritionis essential for equinehealth,and forage forms the foundationofmosthorse andponies’diets. Traditionally, hayhas servedastheprimary foragesource next to hard feeding,butdue to factors likethe recenthotsummer, cost,and evenanindividualhorse’shealthneeds, alternatives oftenmustbe considered.
Preparing forthe coolermonths Winterbrings extrachallenges to horse owners: colder temperatures, dampness,minimalfreshgrassand limitedturnoutperiods,whichleads to additional foragesuchashaybeing consumedashorses requiremore energy to maintain conditionand body temperature. Duringthisperiod, especiallyafterthedrysummerof 2025,hay canoftenbeofapoorer nutrientqualitywithlowersupplies availableathigherprices.
Fibrous feed stuffssuchasgrass, chaff,hayandhaylage,arecrucial elementsofanequinediet.Inthewild horsesnaturallygrazeup to 20hoursa day. Asturnoutdecreasesandhorses spendmoretime stabled,access to goodquality foragebecomes evenmore important.
Thiswintertheremaynotbeenough traditional forage available-thisis where wetfibre-basedmasheslike Speedi-Beetand Fibre-Beetareagreat supplementaryfibrefeed.Nowisthe time to considerhow youwillfillthe gap.
Whether yourhorseorpony isa goodorpoordoer,energy-densealfalfa isbothpalatableand easilydigested. Itprovidesqualityprotein containing aminoacids formuscle toneand function,withaddedoatfibre.Fibre Beet’s conditioning formulaenables you to feeditinlargerquantities,should you wish to,andhastheaddedbenefitof peppermintandbiotin forhooves and coat.
Speedi-Beetisahighlynutritious, beetpulp feed,withnoaddedmolasses andlowsugar. Thissuperfibre feed isquicksoaking,makingittime efficient.Ithasahigh water capacity for hydrationand canbeusedwith warm water to make itmorepalatablein cold weather.Speedi-Beetalsoprovidesslow releaseenergywithoutthefizz.
Plus,if youhave a veteranhorsethat struggles to chewlongfibres likehay, you canincreasetheamountofSpeediBeetthey eat,ensuringtheymaintain highenoughfibrelevels to keepthegut workingeffectively.
Whichprovidesmorebenefit to yourhorse?
Accessto grassandhayisvital for ahorse’sdiet,ensuringa continued
Furthermore, just1kgofdry weight Speedi-Beetor Fibre-Beetwill replace up to 1.5kgofhaywhensoaked. We advise feedingitinsmallermore frequentmealsacross severalmeals to mirrornatural feedinghabits.
Withthe expectedshortageofgood qualityhaylagethiswinter,bothBritish Horse Feedsproducts areagreat alternative, which canmaximisefibre intakewhenother foragemaybein shortsupply.Whethersupplementing or replacing forage,theyarea versatile solution for everyhorse owner.
12/10/2025 WinterDressageSeriesat Seechem Equestrian Centre, Alvechurch, Birmingham. Tel:01214452333 www.seechemequestrian.com
12/10/2025DiddyOne Day Eventat SolihullRidingClub, FourAshes Road, Bentley Heath,Solihull, West Midlands, B938QE. Contact:01564770180 www.solihullridingclub.co.uk
12/10/2025British EventingOne Day Event at Swalcliffe Park Equestrian,Grange Farm, Swalcliffe,Oxon, OX155EX. Contact:01295 780206 info@swalcliffeparkequestrian.co.uk www.swalcliffeparkequestrian.co.uk
18/10/2025 Working Equitation League ShowatBeechwood EC,TheWheatsheaf Centre, Main Road, Rettendon Common, Chelmsford,EssexCM38DY. Contact: 07510621428info@beechwoodec.co.uk www.beechwoodec.co.uk
30/10/2025Unaffiliated&British DressageatSolihullRidingClub, Four Ashes Road,BentleyHeath,Solihull, West Midlands,B938QE. Contact:01564 770180www.solihullridingclub.co.uk
02/11/2025SeniorBritishShowJumping Cat1atStourportRiding Centre, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcs, DY139JD. Contact:enquiries@stourportridingcentre. co.ukwww.stourportridingcentre.co.uk
02/11/2025UnaffiliatedShowJumpingat BeaverHall Equestrian Centre, Bradnop, Leek,Staffordshire, ST137EZ. Contact:01538304433 horses@beaverhall.co.uk www.beaverhall.co.uk
02/11/2025Berkshire County RC Open WinterUnaffDressageseries ChampionshipShowat FairoakGrange Equestrian Centre, Ashford Hill,Berkshire, RG198BL. www.berkscountyrc.co.uk
12/12/2025British EventingOne Day Event at Swalcliffe Park Equestrian,Grange Farm, Swalcliffe,Oxon, OX155EX. Contact:01295 780206 info@swalcliffeparkequestrian.co.uk www.swalcliffeparkequestrian.co.uk
13/12/2025BritishDressageat West Wilts EC,Nr Trowbridge, BA146QT. Contact: 01225 783220info@westwilts.com www.westwilts.com
SUNDAY 14THDECEMBER
14/12/2025DressageatBurstow Park Equestrian Centre, Horley, Surrey,RH6 9TF. Contact:01293 279924 Office@Burstowparkridingschool.com www.burstowparkridingcentre.com 14/12/2025DressageatBurstow Park Equestrian Centre, Horley, Surrey,RH6 9TF. Contact:01293 279924
In2009 my belovedmareGem, withwhomIdidlow-level eventing, hunting,unaffiliatedshows andfun rides wasinjured. Withtheintention ofbreeding myselfan eventhorse/allrounder,Imadethedecision to puther in foal to WestonJustice, a15th/16th TB.
On23rdMarch2010High Court Harry(Harry) wasborn. We allmissed hisbirthashe came two weeks early andthemare wasnotshowingany signsofimminent foaling.Harry wasa veryfriendly foalwho wasinto everything! At fourmonthsoldI took Harry to theBEF Futuritygradings, wherehescoredahigher1stinthe Eventingsectionandhescoredthe highest vetscoreoftheday!
Harrylivedout 24/7 formostofhis youngerlife, keeping everythingas naturalaspossible.Whenhe was2 yearsold,Iused to take him forshort in-hand walksaroundthevillage,so by thetimeIgotonboardhe wasused to traffic.Having workedin racing yards formany yearsI was confidentwith handling youngsters,soIbrokehim
in myself.Itriedlungingbuthedidn’t reallyunderstand,soattheendof winterinhisthird yearIjust tackedhim upandgoton!Hedidn’tbatan eyelid!I turnedhim away,andmid-springinhis fourth yearIagain tackedhimupand went forashort walkaroundthevillage. BythispointGemhad returnedfrom beingoutonloan to afriendwhobred another foal,so forHarry’ssecond ever ride my mum came over forherannual rideandshe rodeGemandI rodeHarry, upontotheBurton Dassetthills.A real familyaffair!
DuringHarry’s fourth yearImainly hackedoutandhada fewlessons withlocalinstructors,andintroduced him to jumping.Whilstbeingasaint onthegroundandgoodinall ways, undersaddleI wasbeginning to realise thathe was very talented,butsharp withit!WhenHarry was5 yearsold IjoinedCROWNridingcluband took partinclinicsand,began competing fortheclubas wellaslocalunaffiliated competitions.Iwilladmithehadthe looksand everyonesaw thepotential hehad to bea top-classhorse, butI was very keen to producehim myself undertheguidanceofinstructors With oneinstructorsayinghemayhave been oneofthesharpest horses shehad ridden!Histrademark wasspooking andspinning,soIdefinitelyhada challengebeinganamateurbringing himon. We hadourupsbut we also hadsomespectaculardownsalongthe way, often resultinginmeendingupon thefloor!Harryhadcharacterandsoon becameaCROWNridingclub favourite, althoughour consistencyletusdown, onsomeoccasions wewouldbeup
GemwithHarry as a foal
theleaderboard,andotheroccasions I wouldbeonthefloorafter fence3! Sometimesjustgettinghimnearajump wasamissioninitself,butIpersevered aswhenIbredHarry, oneof my main aims was to qualify forBadminton Grassroots,oraNationalChampionship ofsomedescription.
WhenHarry was7 yearsold we had amixedseason, we hadprogressed to competingat90cm.I was falling offalotless,buthe stillhadsilly spooks resultingin extrapenalties or eliminations.Hismain fault washis sharpness and over-activebrain,sohe wassuperspookywhichmeantgetting himintheringwithspooky banners ornear fences withfillers wasa real challenge.Inhis7th yearHarry rose to fame (wellkindof!)asheappearedon thefront coverofCHN,butapicture doesn’tshowthewhole story,as soonafterthe awesomephoto was taken wewere eliminatedasHarry spookedandI felloff two fences from home!HealsobecametheHOYS merchandisemodelandappeared inH&H forhis roleina Wocket Woy sketch!(https://www.facebook. com/bsnationalchampionships/ videos/1066272310204292)
We alsofinallymadeit to Badminton (wellthefunrideanyway!).
InHarry’s8 yearold year we competedina fewODE’s,finishing8th inthe90cm2day eventatStoneleigh, as wellas competingintheRidingClub showjumpingat RockinghamHorse Trials.Inthesummerofthis year,while outhackinginthe Cotswolds, two minutesfromourtrailers, we hada caraccident.Harryspookedatsome sheepwhichsuddenlymovedas we were walkingalongasingletrack road. Unbeknown to Harry (andme)atthis precisemomentasilentelectric car haddecided to comepast, resultingin meendinguponthe roofofthe car, dentingallthepanelsandsmashingthe
windows. We were bothlucky to walk away withminorbruisinghoweveritdid setour confidencebackwhenhacking. At theendofhis8th year,whileHarry wasgoing well,Ihadaniggling feeling inthebackof my mindthathe wasn’t quite100%right. Afterphysioand vet investigationsitturnedoutHarry was bilaterallylameinfront,withsevere bruisingofthebonesinthefront feet. We alsodiscoveredanoldfractureinhis witheranda fewclosespinalprocesses inhisback.ThismeantHarryneeded timeoffsoI wasadvised to turnhim away for fourmonths,butIdecided to givehimafullsixmonthsoff.During thistimeI was verygrateful to my livery yard owners forlettingmeride their fantasticmare Molly,whileHarry recuperated.
2019-Gettingbackonboardafter sixmonthsoff wasnotsomething Iparticularlylooked forward to,as Harry wasahorsewhoneeded to be workedmostdays to keephisactive brainoccupied.Bringinghimbackinto workdid resultina fewtumbles,a few involved calling my livery yard owners to say‘Harryisonhis wayhome’.On each occasionwithouthesitationtheyjumped inthetruckandmanaged tocatchhim beforehegotintotrouble.SoIquickly becamebannedfromhackingon my own!Harry’s rehabinvolvedattending Arden Equinepool fora fewsessions as wellas regularphysio.The rest of the year wasaquietone; wetookpart ina fewlow-key ridingclub stressless dressage competitionsand camehome witha coupleof red rosettes.
Overthe earlypartof2020I focused onimprovingourshowjumping, regularlyattending eveningclinics andbeginning to feel wewere making progress,jumpinga coursewithouta stop, spookorspin.Andthen COVID came. Eventhoughthere wasno officialbanonriding,knowinghow spookyHarry wasIdecided to not rideandturnedhim away untilthings were alittlemore certain.I wassingle atthetimeandhavingHarry wasa realsaviour forme,havingagenuine purpose to leavethehouse eachday andspendingtimewithhimoutin thefieldsandfreshair. Aftergetting HarrygoingagainintheMay/June (and clingingon fordearlifeintheprocess) itbecameapparentthatHarry wasnot 100%again. Vetinvestigationsshowed thathe wasshowingsignsofarthritis inthehock,soaftersomemedicationI
couldgentlypickhimupagain.
Between2020and early2022 we hada fewquieter years,mostly schooling,hacking(in company!)and attendedclinicsandlessons,as wellas doinga fewridingclub competitions pickingupa few rosettes alongthe way. Early2022IenteredaODEat Offchurch,thefirstevent my Fiancé came to watchmeat,andit resulted inamuchimproveddressagescore, a poleor2inthe SJ andhe was storming the XC until we got to fence5 (where my Fiancé was standing)and wewere confrontedwithapig wearingclothes, haha!As you canimaginethis was far toomuch forHarry to take inand we parted ways not evena strideafter landing!The rest ofthe year wasquiet onthehorsefrontasIgotmarried andthen foroursinsmovedhouse4 timesbefore we movedintoourcurrent propertyinApril2023.
ImustadmitI was excitedand apprehensiveaboutthemove as we were movingoutof Warwickshire to the Worcestershire/Herefordshireborders soI washaving tostartfromscratch finding farriers, vets, feedsuppliersetc. ButI was excitedas we hadboughta propertywitha coupleof stablesand land,so my dreamshad cometrue, lookingoutthebedroomwindowand see my homebredboylookingbackat me.I wasalsoapprehensiveas we did nothave anarena,so my main way of exercisingHarry wouldbehacking, on my own!Idoknow my old yard owners (whohadbecomelike family afterbeingtheirlivery fornearly20 years)were quite worriedaboutthis, butIknewIhad to getonwithit. To my amazement,Harry wasbeginning to feelalittlemore confidenthacking,
Oops,ontheflooragain! Photo by 1st ClassImages
thinkingabout stressfulsituations before reacting,whichmeantI couldbe prepared forthespookwhichused to follow. NotlongaftermovingIjoined Bromyard &DistrictRidingClubandI tookpartina fewclinics.AsI wasnew to theclubIgave instructors thefull lowdownonourpast, warningthem that we arenotthemost consistent andare veryspookysoneed to take thingsslowly. Well,since themove Harryhasmadea fooloutofme,hedid notputa footwrong,notonespook, spinandhardly touchedapole!The club were looking forward to mejoining the teams,andthenJuly2023I found outI waspregnant.Soallourprogress wasonceagain stoppedinitstracks.I decided to turnHarry away and roughed himoffuntilI couldrideagain,soHarry becameaglorifiedlawnmower for7or somonths.
Lastspring2024,Igotbackonboard andbeganhackingoutagain.Luckily thistimeIhadmeta fewlocalriders whoall escortedmeso my fist few hacksasafirst timemum were stress free.Ihaddecided to take thefull12 monthsmaternityleave, withtheplan ofmakingthemost ofitanddoinglots ofhorseyactivities. SadlyHarryhad otherplans,after3monthsofbeing backin workHarry wasn’trightagain. SuspectingapulledshouldermuscleI gave him4 weeksoff.Duringthistime Harrydecidedhe wasboredinasmall fieldonhis ownanddecided to tryand playwithhisfriendsthroughthe fence. Anemergency calloutandseveral stapleslater,Harry wasluckynot to have cutthroughanymajor tendonsor ligaments.Onceallhealed, early Winter Igotbackonboardandhe stilldidn’t feelright,sofurther vetinvestigation pointed to aflare upinhisfront feet. His feet were medicatedagain,and by early2025 togetherwiththe vets, we decided to gentlybringhimbackinto workandseehowhe went. At thetime he was technicallynot100%right,but gentlyhacking (thistimehe was well enoughbehaved to hackon my own) anda fewlightschoolingsessions he strengthenedup.EndofMarchI competedinaridingclubdressagearea qualifier,while we didn’t qualify forthe championships,othermembersofthe clubdid. Sadlysomemembers were unable to attendthechampionshipsso I wasaskedifI wouldlike to compete. Of courseIleaptatthechance (evenif it wasa3hourdrive to ArenaUK)as
finally my dreamshad cometrue, to competeataNationalchampionships on my homebred!While wewere nowhereonthe LeaderboardI still camehomewithabigsmileon my face! Howeverour storydoesnot stop there!Overthe yearI continued to
attendclinicsandlessonswithlocal instructors, varyingfromflat work to SJ.InJulyI waspersuaded to enter theridingarea clubdressageongrass qualifier.I wasunsureastheground washardandwithHarry’s previous feetissuesIhave to avoidhardground. I tookpartin two tests;afterhaving a stressfulmorningandunexpectedly having to take thebabyalongwith me,I came2ndinboth my tests!I was thrilledasdressagehasneverbeen my forte, howevertheseplacingsmeantI haddirectlyqualifiedasanindividual to theBRCNAF5*Championshipsat LincolnshireShowgroundinAugust. So my dreams reallyhad cometrue, we have qualifiedonour ownmerit. Betweenthequalificationandthe championshipsItried to ridewhenI could,butadmittedlysincebecominga motherridinghasbecomea rarityand sometimesonlymanaging to rideonce a week,ifthat.HoweverI continued withhavinglessonswhenI could fittheminandIalso wentalong to Bromyard &DistrictRidingClub camp the weekbeforethechamps.
SallywithherBabies
Itravelledupthenightbeforethe champs (Ourfirststayaway show) andhadaleisurely,childfreemorning. After my firsttest I wassurprised to find myselfin5thplaceoutof 17 people withascoreof 67.95%.WhenI found outthe resultsI wassoproudof my specialboy, but realitysoonkickedin asI realisedIhad to learn my second test!I wasthefirstto gointhearena for my second test,and to my surprise I wassittingin1stplaceon68% for almosthalftheclass.Ihonestly could notbelieve it.Ibegan to packupslowly asIhadalongjourneyhomebut kept an eyeonthelivescores,Ihaddropped to 3rdplace, butI was stillecstaticas 3rdplacemeantariddenpresentation. AsIgotthelast fewthings together there wasonemorescore to comein, andthenfinal results. SadlyIhadbeen pippedatthepostandfinishedin4th place, sonoriddenpresentation for me.ButI was overthemoonandhada little tearin my eyeonthe wayhomeat what we hadachieved.Meand my little homeproduced,homebredboyhad finishedinthe topfivein twonational championshipclasses.SomethingI dreamedof15 yearsago,butasthe years went by,IthoughtIhadbitten offmorethanI couldchewwiththis ‘not foranamateur’horse (asI was toldmanytimes overthe years),I really didn’tthinkit would everhappen.
To topoffouramazing year, recently wewere partoftheridingclub team forthe Evoke90cm Eventerchallenge atBlenheimInternationalHorse Trials.Somethingwhichhadbeenon
ourbucketlist for years,butourlack of consistency, spookingandinjury issuesmeantitdidn’tlooklikeit would everhappen.Intherunup to the competitionI was verynervousand whileon topofthe world followingour dressage results,I washavingamajor confidencecrisiswhenit came to our jumping. Earlierthis year wewere flying andI wasenjoyingandprogressingon from eachlesson we had.InAugust my confidencegot to meandI felt wewere missing stridesand catleaping.I was almostonthe vergeofnot wanting to
go to Blenheim,howeverafterlotsof encouragementfrom fellowridingclub members, familyanda fab few XC & SJ lessonsintherunupI was feelingback ontrack.
AndboyamIglad wewent! We hadthebest daywith my fellow team members,allsupporting eachother andcheering eachotheron.My round wasnottheprettiest but we got round andonly rolledonepeskypole.I wason cloudninewhenIpulledup, completely outofbreathbutsohappyandenjoyed what we hadjustdone. We hadjumped onBlenheimturf!While we didn’t get any rosettes (apartfromthebeautiful completion rosettes!)I wenthome feelingsohappyI couldburst withpride for my specialboyandwhat we have finallyachieved,15.5 yearsafteritall began.
2025hasbeenthebest year for me by farin termsofwhat we have achieved,andattimesIthoughtdays likethese wouldnever comebutIhope our storyshows thatgoodthings do eventually come to thosewho wait,alongwithabitofhard work, determinationandperseverancealong the way!
NowwhatshallIaddon to my list for 2026?
Enjoyedthis story? Wantus to publish your story? We’d love to hear from you.Email h.dodd@centralhorsenews.co.uk
ABBEYENGLAN D LOOKINGTO CELEBR AT E THEWORLD’ S BESTUPAND-COMINGCRAFTING TA LEN T
AbbeyEngland,aleading internationalsupplierof premiumartisanleatherwork andequestrianproducts and tools to theUKandbeyond,isproud to onceagainbehostingthe AbbeyEnglandScholarship,and islooking fornewapplications for its2025/2026programme.
Hostedannually,thisacclaimed scholarshipisdesigned to celebrate and showcase talentedmakers andcrafters, fromsaddlersandleatherworkers, attheoutsetoftheir careers.Now initseighth year,theAbbeyEngland
Scholarshipprogrammeprovides successful candidates with£500 worthofproductfromthe company’s website, forthem to invest inquality tools to helpthemdeveloptheirskills.
Thewinnerwillalso receivean additional£200 to coverthe cost of travel expensesandaccommodation to attendtraining coursesandmaster
classes to enhancetheirknowledgeand networking,suchasAbbeyEngland’s upcomingMasterclassworkshop, to be heldonThursday 27 November2025.
The workshopwillbehosted by mastersaddlerMBEGodfrey Morris, atthe Walsall LeatherSkills Centre. Thiswillbeauniqueopportunity forattendees to learnfromoneof themost respectedfigures inthe craft. Withdecadesof expertiseand apassion forsharingknowledge, Godfrey Morriswillguideattendees throughthe techniquesandtraditions thathave shapedtheindustry.
ThisMasterclass willbeopen to all AbbeyEnglandcustomers,as well asthe overallScholarshipwinner, and10otherScholarshipapplicants. Asspaces arelimited,tickets will beallocatedonafirst come,first servedbasis,andallthoseinterested inattendingshouldapply,withthe successfulnamesdrawnat random.
This year’sAbbeyEngland Scholarshipwinnerwillalso receive expertadviceandonlinesupport for theirbusinesses,viaAbbeyEngland’s socialmediachannels,atacrucialtime intheirprofessionaldevelopment.
Applicantsare required to complete a submission form,detailinginnomore than500 wordswhythey want to be considered.Theapplicationshouldalso includeaphotooftheapplicantand examplesoftheir work,showcasing products suchassaddles,headcollars andbridles andbespoke leather fashion purses,shoes,bags,clothesandbelts, whichmaythenbeusedonAbbey England’ssocialmediachannels.
Last year,nearly40applicants submittedtheirentries to the scholarshipprogramme,showcasing products frombespokeleather equestriansaddles,headcollars and bridles to fashionpurses,shoes,bags, clothesandbelts.Thewinner, Katy Warrinersaid:“WinningtheScholarship gave mea real confidenceboost,and italsodeepened my connectionwith AbbeyEngland,whichhasbeenat theheartof my supplychainfrom dayone.AbbeyEngland’shardware isthebest for my harness andbridle
workandknowingI’m workingwith top-notchmaterialsmakes allthe difference to thefinalproduct.
“The recognitionI’vereceived asthewinnerofthe2024/2025 Scholarshiphasopeneddoors, started conversations,andinspiredme to share my craftmoreopenly.Mostof all,it’s remindedmewhyIdowhat Ido—thejoyofmaking,thehistory in every stitch,andbeingpartofthe communitythat keepsthesetraditions alive. Forme,it’s beena yearofgrowth, gratitude,andgraft,andif you’re thinkingaboutapplying forthenext AbbeyEnglandScholarship,go forit!”
AbbeyEngland’sCEORichardBrown willonceagainbejudgingthis year’s entries.He comments:“Wearealways soinspired by theentries we receive, and wecan’t wait to seethepassion entrantshave in keepingaliveheritage skillsinnewand exciting ways.”
“Thisindustrythrives onthis passion,and we arelooking forward to celebratingthepeoplebehindthecraft asmuchasthecraftitself.Igreatlylook forward to reviewingthenewentries.”
If youare interestedinapplying for this year’sscholarship,or forfurther informationonAbbeyEngland, visithttps://www.abbeyengland. com/scholarship-2025
CA REERSINTHEEQUINEINDUSTRY START AT SHUTTLEWORTH COLLEGE’SEQUINECENTRE
If you’ve everdreamed of working with horses,Shuttleworth College’s Equine Centre isthe perfect place to take your firststep— or stirrup Into theworld ofequine careers. Combining a professional setupwith a warm, family atmosphere, the centre provides students with everything they need to succeedintheanimal careindustry
RachelGabeEquine Programme Manager, explains:
“We prideourselves oncreating an inclusive andsupportive environment where everyone feelswelcome and part of our family. Here,students notonlygain theskillstheyneedbut also buildfriendships and a senseof belongingasthey progress. ”
Students atthe Equine Centre benefitfromhands-on learning experiences, includingpreparing horses for competitions,perfecting ringcraft techniques,and
developinghigh standardsof stable management.These practicalskills are essential for success intheequine world.
The centre alsoboasts astateof-the-art mechanicalhorse, giving studentsa safe andinnovative way to refinetheirridingskills, improve technique, andbuild confidence beforeworkingwithlive horses
“We also workcloselywithindustry professionals to complementthe training students receive on-site,” Rachel continues.“Ourannual Professionals’ Day, for example, gives students theopportunity to learndirectly from a rangeof experts,includingsaddlefitters, physiotherapists, vets, farriers,and equinenutritionists. Thisnot only enhances theirknowledgebutalso openstheir eyes to the manycareer opportunities beyondthe stable.”
Withindustry standard facilities,
Areyoupassionate abouthorses and dreamofacareer in theequineindustry?
AT SHUTTLEWORTH COLLEGE, WE PROVIDE THE PERFECTENVIRONMENTTO TURNYOUR PASSIONINTO A PROFESSION.
experttutors,and valuable networkingopportunities, Shuttleworth College’s Equine Centre istheidealplaceto launch a rewarding careerintheequine industry
For more information,visit: www.bedfordcollegegroup. ac.uk/shuttleworth
Trainingasasaddlerallowsyou to developoneofthefinest heritagecrafts
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advise, andadjust saddlefit—always withequine welfareatits core AnotheroptionistheAssured CertificateinBridle Fitting(ACBF), an18-monthprogramme combining onlinelearningandpracticaltraining. Successful candidatesachieve registrationasaQualifiedBridle Fitter. AqualificationfromtheSociety ofMaster Saddlersismore thana certificate, it’s agateway to a career wherecraftsmanshipmeets purpose, andalwayswithhorse welfareas the focus.Whethersupporting grassrootsridersor workingwithelite competitionhorses,Society-trained professionalsareshapingthefuture ofequine care withskillandintegrity. If you’re seekingaprofession thatbalances artistry,science, and equine wellbeing,theSocietyof Master Saddlersis ready to help andguide youon your way. Discovermoreat www.mastersaddlers.co.uk
