Horse&Rider Magazine – April 2020

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Burton Mary King Chris

itt Fox-P m Willia TRAINERS

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POSITIVE MINDSET

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HIS BEST

VETERAN CARE:

Growing old gracefully

5 March – 1 April 2020

PACES yet!

ON TEST:

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Issue number 604 April 2020 n William Fox-Pitt’s warm-up n 15-minute schooling exercises n Boost your horse’s paces n Overcome napping n Sweet itch n Feeding oils n Kissing spines explained n Veterans

The UK’s best-selling equestrian monthly

The ultimate

sweet itch

Train better

survival plan

ALL ABOUT

S L I O How, when and why to feed

STEP UP your

SHOWING

hack safer KISSING SPINES explained

WHY YOUR HORSE NAPS and how to fix it

In this feature. . . ➤ Devise the perfect competition day warm-up

Warm up like

William

Nail your showjumping warm-up every time with top eventer William Fox-Pitt’s golden rules

As told to Bethany Searby. Photos: Daydream Photography

W

hether your showjumping warm-up comes after the dressage phase in a one-day event, or is in preparation for the first of a few rounds, your time is precious. These vital minutes in the collecting ring need to unlock the perfect way of going for the course that’s to follow. Looking pretty as you warm up isn’t the most important thing – save that for dressage – however, set your horse up to be responsive, supple and well-balanced, and a pleasing picture will follow. Having a tried-and-tested, adaptable format you can use anywhere will ensure you’re ready and focused for whatever’s in store on course, every time.

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Our expert

William Fox-Pitt started eventing at the age of 15, and was the first British eventer to become World number one.

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Our model

Grafennacht (Lillie) is a 17.1hh, seven-year-old mare by Grafenstolz.

Owned and bred by Susan Eggleton, she made her CCI3* debut in 2019.

In the saddle

➤ Optimise

your horse’s performance ➤ Compete with confidence

HORSE&RIDER 19

Winter PART FIVE

inspirati n As told to Louise Kittle. Photos: Jon Stroud

with As we count down the last few days until the clocks change and all horsey folk breathe a sigh of relief, our winter training series comes to an end with four fabulous, fun and inspiring exercises from our brilliant trainers

24 HORSE&RIDER

I

n the final part of the series, our coaches Mary King and Chris Burton are back to share more of their favourite exercises to develop your horse’s way of going, build muscle tone and, ultimately, gain higher marks. It’s almost time to get out there into the competition arena and put all that you’ve learned into practice – so good luck from all at Baileys and Team Horse&Rider!

➤

In the saddle

Our models

Our experts

Chris Burton A regular Australian team member, Chris has competed at two Olympic Games and lifted the Burghley trophy in 2016. In 2018, he won the Event Rider Masters series.

Mary King A prolific British equestrian, Mary has won two World Championship gold medals as well as silver and bronze Olympic medals – including team silver at London 2012.

Caliber Royale is a nineyear-old Holstein stallion owned by Guy Bloodstock Ltd. Athletic and versatile, he has evented up to CCI1* and is now showing great talent for showjumping.

King Robert II is a nine-year-old gelding competing at CCI4*, having come eighth at Tattersalls in 2019. A five-star hopeful, Bobby is owned by The Kings Group syndicate.

Kings Tilly is a five-yearold full sister to King Robert II. Owned by Hannah Lord and Jane Hamilton, she’s competed in age classes and with the aim of progressing through the international classes.

Made by horse owners for horse owners In association with

baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk HORSE&RIDER 25

Photos: Bob Atkins. With thanks to the Animal Health Trust for their help with this feature, aht.org.uk

Our expert

Frances Henson MA VetMB PhD DipECVSMR is Head of Equine Orthopaedics at the Animal Health Trust, with more than 20 years’ experience in treating poorly performing or lame horses.

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Ask a vet

Kissing spines:

explained

Kissing spines are a common cause of back pain in horses, but modern treatments have a high success rate, as vet Frances Henson explains

K

issing spines, also known as over-riding dorsal spinous processes, refers to a condition where the dorsal spinous processes of the thoracic or lumbar spine make contact.

Your horse’s back has 18 thoracic vertebrae and five or six lumbar vertebrae. These vertebrae are specialised in each region to support the horse’s musculature and allow co-ordinated movement. In the thoracic region (under the saddle) and lumbar region (loins) the vertebrae have particularly elongated vertical protrusions called dorsal spinous processes (DSP) to which the muscles that extend the back are attached. The interspinous ligaments run between the DSP, holding them in position.

In normal horses, there’s space between each one.

However, in some, the DSP are too close and make contact, leading to inflammation and pain and, in some cases, fusion of the bones.

Lateral X-ray of the DSP of the thoracic vertebrae T9–15.

The DSP aren’t touching and there’s a clear space between them.

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