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Issue number 632 May 2022 n Piggy March fitness n Feeding good-doers n Plaiting n Pippa Funnell: improve your horse’s focus n Gear guide n A-Z of flies n Happy travelling n Get back on after a fall n Allergies
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22 July – 18 August 2021
In this feature. . .
➤
Learn how Piggy gets her event horses fit
Get
ready to
As told to Kiera Boyle. Photos: Jon Stroud
I
rumble Is your goal to get your horse in peak condition this spring? Get the ultimate fitness tips from eventing legend, Piggy March
s this summer the one that’ll see you reach all the fitness aspirations you have for your horse? Whether you’re planning on getting him in shape for one-day events or you want him to be in the best condition possible for general riding, I’ve got plenty of advice to share. By strengthening and conditioning your horse using roads, hills and a regular riding schedule, you’ll be able to get him fit enough for whatever activity you wish to do with him.
Time it right
Once the eventing season’s over, my horses tend to have 6–8 weeks off so they can relax in the field and have
a break after all their hard work. Then, I’ll bring them back in around Christmas time and work them through January and February so they’re ready to go out and compete again come March. They’ll come in muddy and fluff y, so we get them cleaned up and put their shoes back on. Then they’ll go on the horse walker for a few days before we head out onto the roads. On this basis, I tend to allow 10–12 weeks to get a horse from the field to full fitness. However, this can vary a lot depending on the type of horse you have. For example, my horses stay well-conditioned and are returning to a level of fitness they’ve reached before, so it’s a lot quicker to bring a horse like this
back into work than one who’s not yet achieved this level of fitness. Plus, if your horse has had a longer period of time off, you’ll need to take things much more slowly, especially if he’s been out of work due to injury – in which case you should consult your vet before embarking on a new fitness regime.
TOP TIP
If your horse is building strength after an injury, booking him some sessions to go swimming or on the water treadmill can be an excellent way to build fitness. This is because it can provide a vigorous workout without added concussion.
TOP TIP
Even though I’m lucky enough to have access to beautiful gallops at home, I’m a strong believer that they aren’t a fitness necessity until you reach three-day event level.
20 HORSE&RIDER
In the saddle
➤ Plan
your horse’s fitness routine ➤ Improve his strength
Our expert
Piggy March is an International eventer who’s represented Team GB at several World and European Championships, winning European team gold and individual silver in 2021, as well as winning Badminton Horse Trials in 2019.
Our model
Cooley Kan-do (Gin) is an eight-year-old mare by Kannan. She’s currently competing at BE Intermediate level.
Starting point
By this point in the season, your horse is likely to already be in some level of work. So, identify where in this routine you believe your horse to be at and work from there. It’s worth erring on the side of caution, though – there’s no such thing as foundations that are too strong!
➤
HORSE&RIDER 21
In this feature. . .
➤
Help your horse become quicker on his feet
Off the
grid
Photos: Jon Stroud
Wondering what to include in your next gridwork session? We’ve got five different elements for you to try
A
re you tired of the same post-work training regime? Well, with the evenings growing lighter by the day, there’s no reason you can’t sneak some jumps into your sessions – so why not add gridwork into the mix? Your horse doesn’t have to be an established showjumper in order to benefit – grids can mean anything from poles on the ground to a more complex combination of cross-poles, uprights and oxers, which will help with a whole range of skills, including balance, impulsion and agility. Not sure where to begin? We’ve got five different grids you can set up over five sessions to help add a plethora of skills to your riding repertoire. Let’s get to it.
34 HORSE&RIDER
1. Pole position
Poles have boundless benefits when it comes to jumping, and there are several ways you can position them to help tailor your training. Riding over a line of poles is not only a great warm-up and stride tester before you build them up into fences, but also key for setting a good rhythm. You’ll need to set up a canter that you’re happy with before your approach, then test that your horse can maintain this rhythm down the line before adding in fences. Start with them placed one stride apart (2.7–3.4m), then you can increase the distance to two, three or even five strides to test how long your horse can maintain his rhythm for.
In the saddle
➤ Create
a better quality jump ➤ Improve his canter
The power of poles Poles can be a useful tool while you’re jumping, too. For example, if your horse tends to rush towards a fence or loses momentum in the middle of a grid, placing a pole per stride in between will help encourage him to move evenly to the next. If you struggle to see a stride, using a placing pole one stride away from the first fence will help your horse meet it correctly. Plus, putting a pole one stride after the final fence is a great way to help prevent your horse from rushing away on landing and maintain a rhythm.
➤
HORSE&RIDER 35
Perfect
plaits
Polishing up on your plaiting is the ultimate way to take your horse’s turnout to the next level. Find out how with our handy step-by-step
B
BEFORE
eing able to create neat and tidy plaits is a skill that needs a little practice to perfect. The stunning braids so often splashed across social media don’t come about overnight – but don’t let professional-looking plaits feel totally out of reach. With our simple and easy-to-follow guide, you’ll be perfecting them in no time.
Kitted out
Photos: Jon Stroud
Before you start, ensure you’ve got your equipment ready. You’ll need a... small metal mane comb sponge bucket of water or plaiting spray needle and thread or plaiting bands pair of scissors sturdy grooming kit, block or step to help you reach the top of your horse’s neck
Need some help taming your horse’s mane? Check out H&R’s top tips for trimming and thinning in the April 2022 issue, available to buy at horseandrideruk.com/shop 106 HORSE&RIDER
AFTER
Step one
TOP TIP
If you plan to wash your horse’s mane before plaiting, make sure you do it at least a few days beforehand. This gives it the chance to regain some natural oils, making it easier to grip.
Having made sure your horse’s mane is suitably trimmed and thinned, you’ll need to wet the hairs first. This will help you grip the strands and create tighter plaits, which will give you a smart finish and ensure they stay in for the duration of your competition. Simply sponge water onto your horse’s mane until it’s wet through – use warm water if it’s a cool day to make sure he doesn’t get cold and start fidgeting.
Management know-how
TOP TIP
If plaiting’s going to become a regular occurrence, it’s worth spending some time teaching your horse to stand quietly while tied up. This will make plaiting much quicker and easier.
Step two
Next, comb the mane through until it’s tangle-free, but don’t be tempted to speed up the process by using a mane and tail detangler because this will make the hair slippery and difficult to grip. You can also pull stray hairs as you go to make sure the mane’s level and a similar thickness throughout.
OPTICAL ILLUSION
Larger plaits in the centre of your horse’s neck will give the illusion of a stronger topline. Fewer plaits can make a long neck look shorter, whereas more can help lengthen a short neck – you’ll need to play around with the pattern so you can find what looks best on your horse.
Step three TOP TIP
Keep your bucket of water and sponge to hand so you can regularly wet the mane if it dries while you’re plaiting.
Next, use your comb to section the mane into evenly sized bunches. It’s helpful to measure each section against your comb to help you keep them the same size all the way down your horse’s neck. Use plaiting bands to bunch each section of hair to keep it out of the way as you plait – you could also use a clip to section the hair away, too. Bunching the hair before plaiting will help you make sure you have an odd number of plaits down the neck before you start, too.
Nothing odd about it
Why do riders tend to plait in odd numbers? Well, it’s all down to tradition. In days gone by, horses were typically shown with either seven or nine plaits along their neck, plus one for the forelock. However, the idea that a horse should have a set number of plaits is nothing more than folklore. Nowadays, riders do tend to stick to around 7–11 (plus the forelock), but it’s more important that you tailor the size and number of plaits to suit your horse’s conformation and comfort. Even when it comes to showing, the judge is unlikely to mark you down for having the wrong number – not least because it’s doubtful that they’d have the time to stand and count! The overall picture is far more important, so go with whatever works for your horse.
➤ HORSE&RIDER 107