Your Horse & Country Magazine

Autumn 2018

Raising the bar

With a world-class field at Blenheim

Dan & Dandi are back In the main attractions arena

SPECIAL EDITION

Food glorious food

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WELCOME & CONTENTS

The UK’s largest glossy equestrian and country lifestyle seasonal magazine!

4 Welcome

On the road

with Owens

10

Fantastic family getaways

40

Blenheim behind the scenes

Issue 19 | AUTUMN 2018

A glorious – if very hot – summer of eventing is coming to an end and autumn is around the corner. But there’s no need to be glum – Kathy Carter has a whole host of reasons why the “gilded” season is full of golden opportunities to enjoy ourselves both outdoors and in (Page 54).

Of course, there is still plenty of eventing action to be had with the spectacular Ssangyong Blenheim Horse Trials taking place from September 13 to 16. We speak to stable manager Zanie King to find out more about the work that goes on behind the scenes as thousands of riders and spectators descend on the beautiful estate as well as getting the lowdown on the entertainment, shopping and fabulous food on offer throughout the weekend (Page 40).

A broken collar bone means Mary King has been enjoying a spectator’s-eye view of some of the summer’s events, too – and with Emily on a winning streak there has been plenty to celebrate, they tell us on Page 87.

Autumn also means the kids are back to school and families are back into the routine of school runs, clubs, work and squeezing in precious time together. Why not plan your next family adventure now? Check out our guide to some amazing equestrian getaways that will make the perfect family break (Page 10).

Autumn is the perfect time to appreciate some relaxation at home. Perhaps you’re contemplating some changes – a new colour scheme, installing that range cooker or even remodelling the kitchen – or maybe you’re considering pastures new. We are delighted to bring you the first edition of Your Country Property, comprising stunning estates and dream homes for sale across the country as well as inspiring features and furnishings for your home (Page 22).

So sit back, dream and plan with Your Horse & Country Magazine!

Contents 22 10 Family adventures

Your Country Property

Horseback holidays that are great for kids, too, from rodeos to safaris.

66 Feed and bedding Maintaining your horse’s health and reducing the strain of mucking out.

Editor

Daniel Miller

Publishing Co-ordinator Lucy Sperring

Assistant Publishing Co-ordinator Clare Aris

Contributors

With special thanks to Mary King, Emily King, Dr Judith E J Maxwell BVSc, Shutterstock Images, the SsangYong Blenheim Horse Trials team and Adam Fanthorpe

Advertising

100 Vet’s advice Dr Judith E J Maxwell on the seven signs your horse may have Cushing’s.

112 Ahead of the herd From alpaca wool to horsehair jewellery, we predict this season’s trends.

Printed by Stephens & George

Hazel Lomas, Alice McHardy & Alex Williams

Editorial

Kathy Carter

Production

Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication YOUR HORSE & COUNTRY MAGAZINE shall not be made liable for any inaccuracies therein. The opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor/Publisher.

Joni Mann & Gary Burt

Contact Us

01454 318 780 info@yourhorseandcountry.com Brick House, 21 Horse Street, Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire, BS37 6DA

Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 3

The number one choice for bespoke, British-built luxury horseboxes Owens Horseboxes was founded more than a decade ago and since then this family business is proud to have grown to become the UK’s number one choice for bespoke luxury horseboxes.

With his own personally designed and coach-built horsebox, director Daniel Owen launched his business to offer horsebox hire along with repairs and servicing, using his extensive experience in the automotive and coach-building industries.

Based on their family’s established equestrian centre in rural Cambridgeshire, the young company grew from strength to strength very quickly, predominantly through positive word-of-mouth recommendations in the local area. Soon after, due to high demand, Daniel expanded the business to offer bespoke coachbuilt horseboxes. The rest, as they say, is history.

The company continues to grow with impressive momentum, and is now known as the UK’s number one choice for bespoke, British-built luxury horseboxes at affordable prices, providing a completely personalised service to their customers.

Owens have a total focus on customer service, product quality and, in particular, safety and design - something that British Olympic team event rider Sharon Hunt echoes.

“I was really impressed with Owens’ quality and the superb attention to detail,” she said. “My father taught me how to check for the quality of a build and this one really was exceptional. I also felt it was good value for money, but when comparing it to most of the other top brands out there, I could see clearly it was vastly better both in quality of build and also in price. Owens were also wonderful to deal with, explained everything in detail and have an extremely pleasant manner!”

I could see clearly it was vastly better both in quality of build and also in price. Owens were also wonderful to deal with, explained everything in detail and have an extremely pleasant manner!

Sharon Hunt, British Olympic team event rider

Spotlight on safety In the company’s early days, it wasn’t long before Daniel began to notice an alarming pattern in terms of the poor quality and safety of the horseboxes his customers brought in for repair and servicing. Today, with the rise of social media and some worrying viral videos, horsebox safety is being put under the spotlight – and quite rightly so!

That’s why Owens work hard to keep everything as transparent as possible, with expert advice available at the end of the phone at any time. Customers are also welcome to make an appointment to visit the factory for a free tour and a full, in-depth demonstration of the build process and the strict quality control procedures involved.

Every build comes with its very own pre-delivery inspection report, including measured vehicle weights, so you can be absolutely confident that no element of quality has been missed during the production. And for complete peace of mind, we also offer a 12-month comprehensive warranty on the build for the rare occasion that you do ever experience a fault. Owens treat their customer base like their extended family and so if there ever is an issue, the team works to resolve it as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Each horsebox is inspected by the Freight Transport Association for DEFRA Type 1 approval for UK travel to obtain a certificate in the owner’s name as standard with upgrades for EU travel available. All new chassis are inspected by the DVSA for VCA Type Approval, ensuring that their builds meet all current EU safety and environmental legislation.

Owens also work closely with each base manufacturer to ensure that they meet the required standards, and have opted not to set up exclusivity with any one brand, enabling Owens to offer both brand new and secondhand chassis across the range, providing the best choice to every customer.

Spectacular inside and out We all know how unpredictable horses can be and for this reason every aspect of Owens’ product range has been painstakingly engineered after years of development and investment into cuttingedge processes and materials to ensure that every horsebox stands the test of time – and, more importantly, horses!

We are proud to have been chosen as the official partners for both Shearwater Insurance and Equine Rescue Services, meaning that we can offer fantastic discounts to our customers to protect their new horsebox.

Emma Thorburn, Marketing Manager for Owens

Owens also have an in-house design service offering one-to-one consultations, mock-ups and bespoke designs customised to each individual customer’s needs. With Owens you really can create your very own dream horsebox – no request is too big or small. While Owens maintain that the most important aspects of the build are inside the vehicle, their expert craftsmanship and spectacular paint finishes mean that your horsebox looks as incredible on the outside as it is on the inside.

Emma Thorburn, Marketing Manager for Owens, said: “We don’t just ‘work’ – we live, breathe and put our soul into what we do, because we love it and are passionate about it. This industry isn’t just what we do – it’s who we are. When our customers buy from Owens Horseboxes they know that are going to be getting reliability, great quality and a personal touch, too.”

Over the last 18 months, the company has installed brand new production lines enabling them to have up to five horseboxes in build at any one time, still benefiting from a very healthy lead-time of around six months. The team have been careful to manage their growth, however, to ensure that they are still able to offer the same great personal service they set out to provide all those years ago.

Contact one of their team today for an unbeatable quote and join the many satisfied customers in the Owens family!

tel: 01480 891054 email: info@owenshorseboxes.co.uk visit: www.owenshorseboxes.co.uk

Are you sitting comfortably? …I’m going to tell you a story As we all know, caring for our horses doesn’t just involve ensuring tack fits correctly or stables are clean and tidy but just as importantly the food our horses eat must be of a high standard with the correct nutritional profile for the type of horse. Most bagged feeds on the market now must be produced to specific guidelines and as you would expect from a commercially made hard feed, the nutritional content and ingredients should be clearly stated on the packaging.

But what of forage?

The production of forage for the equine market is unregulated unlike the hard feed sector meaning absolutely anyone could make hay or haylage to sell and is under no obligation to state any additional information at the point of sale.

However, where does this leave you as a discerning horse owner who wishes to know how their horse’s forage is produced and its nutritional suitability?

You may wonder why this matters, after all hay and haylage is only made from grass!

Nevertheless, the quality, consistency and nutritional makeup of forage can vary enormously between producers and even batches. When considering that forage makes up the largest proportion of a horse’s diet (after grass) and that this portion contains the majority of dry matter and therefore energy and protein, we should be very bothered about the ‘goodness’ it contains, how suitable it is for our horse and how it has been produced.

But how can we find out about these factors if very little is available at the point of sale?

Well luckily a very interesting story can be told about your forage if you combine a thorough analysis, a little information from producers and a simple visual check of the forage.

This story will provide all the information you need to make an informed choice when purchasing. At Devon Haylage, I believe we have a duty to provide our customers with as much information as possible so that they have reassurance about the quality of our haylage. After all, anyone can make forage from their land and then advertise it for sale whilst providing no additional information at all, but would you feel confident buying a concentrate feed from an unknown source with no information available? Probably not!

Most small-scale producers will not necessarily thoroughly test their forage on an annual basis, it is usually left up to the customer. However, large scale producers should provide current and thorough dietary information because the nutritional makeup of the forage will vary between batches and year on year due to weather conditions and management practises.

Regarding haylage, the dry matter figure will tell you how much of your bale is water.

The more water present, the more of that haylage you will have to feed.

A high dry matter haylage (of around 70%) is more economical to feed and therefore better value for money.

If the haylage smells rancid or fishy, this could be an indication, often with very wet forages of clostridia bacteria or soil

contamination and should be avoided.

A good producer should send a sample on request, so you can check that it’s not too wet. Haylage should have a very pleasant smell but not be eye wateringly strong!

Looking at the crude protein figure alone will not tell us enough about the quality of that protein.

To find out how much ‘true’ protein is present in the hay or haylage, a thorough nutritional test should be used which looks at the nitrogen to sulphur ratio N:S. If this ratio is above 10 then this indicates poor protein quality and extra supplementation may be needed.

If the N:S ratio is high, and the protein level is above 12% then it would be worth asking the producer about their nitrogen fertiliser use as inappropriate application of this may allow excess nitrates to be present in the forage which have been linked to many health conditions. At Devon Haylage, this is one of the parameters we test, providing re-assurance that our haylage has been grown with carefully considered applications of fertiliser.

The fibre level can also be found through forage analysis or crudely by simply looking at a sample.

The presence of seed heads will show that the haylage or hay was cut at a late stage and so will be high in fibre, be wary of forage with no visible seed heads as this is likely to have been cut too early and so probably high in energy and protein.

Forage analysis will provide a more indepth answer by looking at the specific

Claire Burrow

types of fibre, fundamentally the older the grass is when it is cut, the more lignin it will contain which is undigestible to the horse and more of this type your horse will have to eat to maintain their weight. Again, visually checking and asking the producer questions regarding cutting date will allow you to build up a picture of the forage.

The levels of sugar and starch in forage are a very important parameter for many owners and is one of the main reasons for people contacting me at Devon Haylage.

Sugar levels in forage will vary greatly in response to grass species, weather conditions at harvest and grass drying time.

Ryegrass contains more sugar than other grasses and grass cut during drought conditions and dried very quickly results in high sugar levels. Much of the hay made this summer is delightfully dust free and sweet smelling but also has very high sugar levels even after soaking for many hours! Questioning the producer about conditions at harvest will give you an idea of what the levels may be, but rigorous forage testing is the only way to truly know if your hay or haylage is safe for a laminitic or metabolically challenged horse.

Quizzing producers on other aspects of their grassland management will help to further build the picture of the forage and its suitability. For example, the ratios of minor, major and antagonistic minerals in equine diets are highly important for overall health and wellbeing and can be affected by grassland management practises.

Commercial producers like ourselves will undertake a mineral analysis every year which provides customers with all the information they need should they wish to precisely supplement their horse’s diets in response to the specific Devon Haylage eaten.

Management practices that can influence the mineral profile of the soil and therefore the haylage include ensuring roots are not compacted or waterlogged, encouraging the correct pH of the soil and feeding the soil appropriately. Producers should be happy to share this information which will give you some idea about how well the land is cared for and in turn how healthy the grass is!

Other information that is useful to know when building up a picture of your forage is quite simply what species of grass the forage is made from. Forage sold as ‘meadow grass’ can be misleading as this could mean that it is just meadow grass that has seeded itself into a once more productive field of Ryegrass for example rather than a traditional mix of a wide range of meadow type grasses such as fescues, cocksfoot, foxtail and crested dogs tail to name a few. Forage made from Timothy grass is likely to contain the lowest sugar whereas forage made with Ryegrass is likely to contain the highest amount of

sugar and energy, so it is worth finding out exactly what the forage is made from.

It is also important to ascertain if the producer has total control from ‘seed to sale’ and doesn’t just buy in grass to then sell on as their own haylage.

At Devon haylage we are very particular about how our grass is grown and managed which allows us to produce a consistent product throughout the year, we never buy in grass or haylage and then sell it as our own. Understanding your forage producers’ principles will help you to determine how likely it will be that the forage you buy in September will be the same in quality and consistency as forage bought in March for example.

So, in conclusion, reading between the lines of the forage analysis and gleaning some additional information from the producer will allow you to be as informed as possible when sourcing the best forage for your horse. Having said all this, the high demands placed on all forage stocks following the hard Winter and Spring of 2017/2018 and then our very dry summer will mean that the demand will stay high, but the supply will be low resulting in a significant lack and therefore choice of forage for the next 18 months at least. So, although it is appropriate for discerning horse owners to be conscious and critical when sourcing forage, this year will be an exception, and many will be glad of any forage that is available!

For more information on our haylage or for a free sample please email claire@devonhaylage.co.uk.

devonhaylage.co.uk 01404 813100

Autumn Hello

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Memorable horse riding holidays in Costa Rica with award winning Discovery Horseback Tours

Owned and operated by Canadian couple Shawna and Rod, Discovery is the culmination of their dreams of spending a life with animals in the jungles of Costa Rica.

Whether you spend a few hours, or a whole week in their tropical paradise, they will share their love for their beautiful horses, and the wild animals that surround the Discovery ranch; in their company you can’t help but be filled with enthusiasm; it’s contagious! You will leave filled with the Pura Vida spirit.

“We vow never to put profits ahead of the welfare of our horses hearts, minds or bodies”

EXHALE

What better place to get away from it all than Costa Rica “Exhale” during our NEW week long vacation.

Checkout our website for more details.

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family Fabulous getaways

Rodeos, cowboys and safaris – why should adults have all the fun? Kathy Carter rounds up some of the best family-friendly horse-riding breaks.

H

orse-riding holidays certainly offer variety, excitement, the chance to meet new friends, and learn new skills. But many parents may be concerned that equestrian destinations aren’t always suitable or practical to take children along. On the contrary, a riding trip with a reputable host is a great way to expose children to new cultures and experiences – here, we share a selection of our favourite worldwide, family-friendly rides.

Kids’ rodeo in America’s Rockies The Elk Mountain Guest Ranch lies in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, at an elevation of 9,600 feet; the property overlooks the Arkansas Valley and the

snow-capped Collegiate Peaks. Horseriding is the main activity on this trip offered with tour operator Ranch Rider, the trails taking families through aspen forests and across open meadows. For the more adventurous, there is an overnight pack trip, and children have the opportunity to demonstrate their newfound western riding skills at the “Kids’ Rodeo”, the exciting event held at the end of every week.

Alternative activities include trap and target shooting, fishing, archery and mountain biking. A half-day whitewater rafting trip through the heart of Brown’s Canyon is also available.

Cost: Seven nights from £1,699pp (two sharing) and from £1,189pp (eight to

12 years) inc. accommodation, meals, most ranch activities and taxes.

Departures May 27 to August 26. Visit: www.ranchrider.com

Classical dressage in Italy’s Chianti country Here, guests stay at a rustic, family-owned villa at the heart of Chianti country in Tuscany where by day all the family can take laid-back, classical dressage lessons, and by night relax with chilled glasses of the local wine, before sitting down to enjoy a delicious, home-cooked meal, Italian

Following charming trails in Italy’s Arezzo with Responsible Travel, left; an Arabian adventure in Morocco with Equus Journeys, below

10 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

FAMILY GETAWAYS Riding in France’s flamingo country with Zara’s Planet; classical dressage in Italy’s Chianti country, right

Cost: Seven nights from £969pp (two sharing) and from £669pp (eight to 12 years) including accommodation, ranch activities, use of ranch facilities, and taxes. Departures June to September. Visit: www.ranchrider.com

An Arabian adventure in Morocco

family style. In addition to great flatwork riding lessons offered on this trip with tour operator Zara’s Planet, there is the opportunity to ride out to the local winery for some wine and cheese tasting, embark on some sight-seeing to the nearby towns of Florence and Siena, or simply relax by the pool, admire the Tuscan landscape, and read a book! This holiday is suitable for all, including mixed levels of riders and non-riders.

Cost: Seven nights from £1,025 per person sharing; children from 5-13 years receive discounts on half board.

Includes half board and all riding. Visit: www.zarasplanet.com

Trails and travel in Arezzo A further trip to this charming region in Italy is Responsible Travel’s week-long horseriding holiday to Montevarchi, based at Rendola Riding’s 17th-century farmhouse, boasting beautiful stables surrounded by olive trees. On this family holiday (children must be aged ten or over), the emphasis is on taking it easy; less experienced riders can have an assessment session to help choose their horse, of the 15 housed at the on-site stables, along with short lessons to boost their confidence before riding out. Over the course of the week, you’ll take part in three half-day rides and

two whole-day rides, which include a picnic lunch. You’ll never do the same ride twice, and the trails pass through beautiful and varied terrain, including vineyards, olive groves and woodland. There’s plenty to entertain the children when you’re not out riding!

Cost: From £699 per person per week sharing, including food and lodging.

Visit: www.responsibletravel.com

A Canadian cowboy retreat Nestling in Canada’s beautiful Saskatchewan River Valley, and overlooking the sandy shores of Lake Diefenbaker, La Reata Working Ranch is the perfect Canadian cowboy retreat. On this trip offered by Ranch Rider, guests can enjoy daily rides to explore the ranch’s 5,000 acres, the scenic trails taking you over Kyle’s rolling green hills to check on the herd. Western riding lessons, roping lessons and instruction in how to work the cattle are available; and the real cowboy dream offers the chance to camp out under the stars over the summer, on an overnight pack trip.

With the lake a stone’s throw away, there are also watersports-aplenty – including swimming, boating, waterskiing and fishing.

Located an hour from Marrakesh, this beautiful eco-lodge offered by Equus Journeys is the perfect place for families with children aged seven and over to holiday. Advanced riders may ride beautiful Arabian horses, while less experienced riders and children will be allocated suitable horses and ponies. Everyone can explore the exciting paths across the Atlas mountains, taking in the stunning views over the Tichka mountain pass. The horses are sure-footed and a pleasure to ride through the fragrant juniper and cedar forests. After a day in the saddle, you can relax around the pool or enjoy the many activities on offer at the lodge: zip lining, archery, mountain biking and abseiling, to name a few. You can opt for the comfort of a private lodge, or stay in one of the traditional Berber tents.

Cost: Four days from £480 per person; longer stays available all year round.

Visit: www.equus-journeys.com 

Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 11

C CU CUMUM M

EQUESTRIAN HOLIDAYS IN SOUTH WEST FRANCE

BR

R

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Dordogne Riding

S S SE SE ES

H E AV Y H I AN O BR I AN H E AV Y HOR BR I AN H E AV Y HO R

TH T TTHE L A K E D I S T R I C T TC HEE I C I R LLA R AK K EE DDI SI STT

Dordogne Riding has been offering wonderful horse riding holidays in this lovely part of France, near to Bergerac, in the Dordogne for over a decade.

The 18th century manor house which is your home throughout your stay,with a heated pool, tennis court and extensive gardens offers a unique ‘house party’ atmosphere, intimate, cosy, welcoming and relaxed and the food and wines are delicious The riding is superb on horses you would be pleased to call your own,through stunning landscape and architecture - some of the best in France Unbeatably flexible - you can ride as and when you like. For non-riders there is so much to do. This place is also very easy to get to, fifteen minutes from Bergerac airport or train station. An all inclusive price with free transfers from/to Bergerac means that there are no hidden extras Come and spend time riding with us, contact Jane Hanslip on 07768 747610 or +33 (0)6 32 62 43 15 or visit www.dordogneriding.com

TREGOYD RIDING CENTRE Enjoy some of the best mountain riding Wales has to offer on the Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons National Park.

Enjoy the spectacular scenery on one of our quality horses.

Choose from half or full day rides with the option of hacking for experienced riders. Pub or picnic lunches are included with the full days. For large groups (up to 48) we have a Bunkhouse and also on site a self -contained bungalow sleeping up to 9, suitable for individuals or family groups. Other accommodation is available locally. We are a BHS Approved Riding Centre and can offer a range of lessons tailored to your ability.

American Barn style livery also on site. @tregoydriders to find out about our Follow us on 60th Anniversary celebrations and competitions.

Visit

for a glimpse of the “Tregoyd Experience”

Tel: 01497 847351 info@tregoydriding.co.uk www.tregoydriding.co.uk Lower Cwmcadarn Farm, Felindre, Brecon, Powys. LD3 0TB. BHS, WTRA, AALA & Visit Wales approved.

Why not come ride the trails, direct access to the mountain from our yard so no roadwork!

12 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine – HOLIDAYS

FAMILY GETAWAYS

A boutique country house in France’s flamingo country If you are looking for something unique, there is no place like the Camargue in France; a wetland delta, teeming with wild bulls and flamingos; here you will also find the unicorn-like Camargue horses. At this beautiful house-hotel holiday offered with Zara’s Planet, you will stay in stylish rooms and eat delicious homegrown and made meals. During the day, you can ride out through the wetlands on the hosts’ homebred Camargue horses, spotting bulls as you go, and even try your hand out at being a gardian (French cowboy) for the day, rounding up the bulls. There are some pretty nearby towns to visit, plus beach trips and the chance to relax at the pool with a book, while the kids swim. Suitable for all, including mixed levels of riders and non-riders.

Costs: Five nights from £1,195 per person sharing, kids from 3-10 years receive discounts on half board.

Includes half board and all riding. Visit: www.zarasplanet.com

A Spanish haven in the foothills of the Pyrenees This holiday, offered by Responsible Travel, takes place in the volcanic countryside close to Girona in Spain, with a characterful three-star country hotel as its base. There’s an excellent choice of horses, from youthful stallions to experienced mares, including a pony suitable for kids under five; so it’s ideal for both families and inexperienced riders. Led by experienced equestrian coach Rafa Rodriguez, you’ll go on excursions in the local hills, and kids and adults alike can be coached in the skills of dressage, jumping and western. The Catalan landscape is a dream for horse riding, and you can ride in the foothills of the Pyrenees, or even take a trip to a local river, where you can swim with your equine friends. When out of the saddle, there’s mountain biking, quad-biking,

 WIldlife tracking in South Africa with Equus Journeys rope courses, kayaking, and even Spanish lessons.

Cost: From £618 per person sharing for a week-long stay, B&B. Visit: www. responsibletravel.com

An Irish retreat where horses come too For families based in Ireland, Castle Leslie Estate in picturesque Glaslough offers the chance to bring your own horses and ponies as part of their BHS-approved Hotel for Horses package, staying at the venue’s Old Stable Mews. The estate has created a special two-night package for guests, which includes accommodation and a full Irish breakfast in Snaffles Restaurant at the Lodge, plus a 60-minute guided ride on the estate as part of any organised group ride. The accommodation is set within a picturesque cut-stone courtyard in the prestigious Castle Leslie Estate – a rare blend of contemporary elegance and Victorian craftsmanship. The fully-restored coach-house offers luxury self-catering accommodation within a short stroll of the main hotel. Dogs are also welcome.

Cost: from £617, based on two adults,

two children and two horses only. Visit www.castleleslie.com

Wildlife tracking in South Africa With this trip offered by tour operator Equus Journeys, you can visit Horizon Ranch in South Africa’s Waterberg mountains, where riders of all ages and ability can ride with giraffe, zebra and antelope in a private reserve. Spend your days tracking down the local wildlife and learning about the bush, or try some of the other riding activities at the ranch. Engage in a game of polocrosse or try your hand at western games; experienced riders can also give the bush cross-country course a go. Of the almost 90 wonderful horses and ponies available, all are bomb-proof.

Stay at one of the private cottages at the main lodge, or go for the full “Out of Africa” experience in a comfortable safari tent.

Horizon Ranch is located in a malaria-free region, and is home to non-dangerous game only, for a safe environment.

Cost: A full week from £1,373 per person. Visit: www.equus-journeys. com  Prices for all trips EXCLUDE flights, transfers and gratuities, unless stated.

Do check with your supplier regarding the recommended age stipulations – most providers agree that young riders should be at least seven to eight years old as a minimum, although guidelines do vary, according to the trip in question.   Discover the volcanic countryside surrounding Girona in Spain with Responsible Travel, far left; horses come too at Castle Leslie Estate in Ireland’s Glaslough, left

Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 13

Ranching and adventure holidays in USA & Canada With over 25 years’ experience, American Round-Up offer the widest choice of ranching and riding holidays in the USA and Canada, along with horsemanship clinics, pack trips, horse and cattle drives, fishing, white water rafting, wildlife viewing & fly-drive holidays.

Part of the Frontier Travel group, the UKbased American Round-Up staff have visited most of the ranches represented and offer a selection of holidays suitable for beginners or experienced riders , be it singles, couples or families. Your choice of ranches is tailormade based on your requirements and riding experience, with accommodation ranging from rustic to luxury.

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Dude Ranches are geared to catering for a wide variety of interests and include a full weekly programme with additional activities to riding such as hiking, swimming, mountain biking or rafting, so are ideal for families.

Working Ranches raise livestock and crops but guests have become a major part of the operation. There is the chance to become real cowboys, learning to drive cattle or horses, brand and rope steers, eating round a camp fire and possibly sleeping under the stars.Â

Guest Ranches are designed primarily to care for guests and horses are often the only livestock. Riding is emphasised but other Western activities are available on an informal basis such as fishing or hiking.

Such is the breadth of the product on offer, American Round Up offers you riding holidays all year round. The cooler, mountainous northern regions are open May to the end of September; here you can enjoy stunning scenery and wildlife in the likes of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Oregon & California plus British Columbia and Alberta in Canada.

From October to April, why not take advantage of a winter sunshine break in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas? For a family holiday with a difference, head to Arizona for the October half term.

Every holiday provided is tailor-made to suit you. Choose your holiday with or without flights and add other hotel accommodations, car hire, motorhomes or motorbikes for a complete bespoke holiday in the USA or Canada.

www.americanroundup.com

Tel : 01798 865946

https://twitter.com/Americanroundup https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ranch-and-Adventure-Holidays-in-USA-and-Canada-with-American-Round-Up/155075591196183

explore Rajasthan

embrace Tradition

“The trip was a dream ~ so much more than we could have imagined” PALACE TO PALACE ~ You may have heard of the ‘Golden Triangle’ - well with Horse India you ride the bit in the middle! Travelling by Marwari horse your senses are awash with the colours, sights and sounds of India. Join us to stay in old country palaces, dining on the roof by candlelight and under the stars.

DESERT DUNES ~ Chat around the camp fire with shepherds and camel herders, ride over the dunes, see chinkara gazelle and watch 50,000 Demoiselle Cranes come in to feed - a truly awesome sight!

Ride with us to canter along sandy camel tracks, canals, sand dunes and lakes - your Marwari horses await!

WHAT TO EXPECT ~ A riding holiday with Horse India will find you staying in old Palaces, bespoke haveli Hotels or re-creating the ‘days of the Raj’ by camping in their Maharajah ‘shikar’ tents - complete with decorated bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms and real beds - royal style ‘glamping’ in stunning locations!

THE HORSES ~ Marwari horses have curly ‘lyre’ shaped ears that rotate 180 degrees and touch at the tip! They are desert horses, ‘slight’ in build, and stand 15hh - 16hh, spirited but safe, but more importantly, * you cannot ride this breed outside India.* photographs copyright Horse India Ltd. by Ignacio Alvar-Thomas

experience Marwari

ride with

Horse India

Ride through magical rural Rajasthan ~ feel the spirit of the unique Marwari horse as you discover history, culture, forts and palaces by retracing old routes through the forests and lakes of the Aravalli Hills and by riding over the sand dunes of the Thar Desert.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS ~ Experience the famous horse and camel fairs of Pushkar, Balotra and Nagaur, take the toy train through the unspoilt Aravalli hills.

We have a fabulous range of holidays to suit all budgets, some are date specific but others can be taken at any time. Book now for a holiday of a lifetime! * WHO: solo travellers, couples, friends, clubs, groups, fundraisers, families, children and non-riding partners * WHAT: Some rides are date specific, we ride on average 25-30km/day or 4-6 hours riding/day * WHERE: Equidistant between the blue city of Jodhpur, the lake city of Udaipur, and within easy reach of the pink city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, INDIA * WHEN: The best climate is September to April * DETAILS: info@horseindia.com tel: 07726 930231

LEOPARDS & LAKES ~ Ride from the magnificent Kumbhalgarh Fort through the shady Ghanerao forest of the Aravalli hills to Jawai reservoir in search of wild and free roaming Leopards!

Horse India offers an informative riding holiday experience, combining history, tradition and culture through our knowledge of the landscape, its people and, of course, its unique indigenous Marwari horses.

www.horseindia.com

Horse India Ltd. Registered in England & Wales No. 10163578

“wonderful horses and such attention to detail�

Dogs for Good is the chosen charity for this year’s Blenheim Horse Trials.

Come and see us at Stand 11 and find out how our dogs make life-changing differences for people with disabilities.

dogsforgood.org | 01295 252 600 Registered Charity Number for England and Wales: 1092960.

18 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

Focus On:

Eland Lodge Equestrian Situated in beautiful Staffordshire parkland, Eland Lodge Equestrian caters for all lovers of the countryside and equestrians, from those who ride for leisure to the professional competitor.

Established by John and Veronica Coupland in 2004, Eland Lodge has grown from its humble beginnings to become one of the UK’s most trusted equestrian establishments.

So what’s on offer?

Horse & Rider Facilities Eland Lodge is a venue that’s proud to support entry level and grassroots equestrian sports.

Stables & Livery The on-site BHS approved full livery yard offers clients 5* horse care and training facilities, designed to help each individual achieve their equestrian goals.

Step out onto the 65-acre Cross Country course and you’ll find full BE standard tracks ranging from 70cm to BE Novice, with an all-new 50cm track being added for 2019, all designed to help train and encourage every horse and rider.

Meanwhile, if you visit the 4,000m2 Andrews Bowen Pro Wax Arena you might find a course of BS showjumps, smartly boarded dressage arenas, or even an arena eventing course.

Equestrian & Country Store No equestrian centre is complete without a shopping haven, and Eland Lodge certainly doesn’t disappoint!

Based in a beautiful converted brick and beam barn, the large equestrian and country store has something for everyone.

From equestrian and country clothing to safety wear, equipment for your horse and even something for your dog.

Competitions and Events

If it’s a bit far to travel, rest assured you won’t have to miss out on the amazing shopping experience - all the products you can find in store are available online too. And with next day delivery as standard, it’s almost like being there.

www.elandlodge.com

With a full events calendar running all year round, Eland Lodge offers everything from unaffiliated dressage, showjumping, eventing, hunter trials and arena eventing competitions to BD, BS & BE events.

They also run the National Hunter Trials Championship Series & Finals and host Pony Club Regional Championships.

The shop offers a full range of brands from affordable everyday quality, through to luxurious premium clothing and competition wear.

For those of us who like to shop until we drop, a comfy seat, freshly ground coffee and a slice of Veronica’s famous homemade cake is available to refresh your spirit in the cosy coffee shop.

Their experience and passion is evident throughout, so whether you’re just starting out or you’re a top level professional bringing your horses up through the ranks, you’ll be treated to the same professional care and attention.

Eland Lodge Equestrian, Newborough Road,Draycott in the Clay, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 5HD | Telephone: 01283 575856

Lucknam Park FIVE-STAR EQUINE ESCAPES Located near the historic city of Bath, Lucknam Park is a magnificent Palladian mansion dating from 1720. Maintained as a family home until 1988, it then opened its doors as one of the UK’s top country house hotels. With 500 acres of beautiful parkland to explore, 35 horses for all capabilities, an outdoor arena and cross country course, Lucknam Park is the perfect location for an indulgent equestrian escape. The distinguished hotel boasts 42 individually styled rooms and suites, Michelin star dining in Restaurant Hywel Jones, casual all day dining in The Brasserie, an award-winning spa, cookery school, family play facility and a three bedroom country cottage. Lucknam Park is truly one of England’s finest hotels, providing 5-star luxury at every turn. To book: call + 44 (0) 1225 742 777 or visit www.lucknampark.co.uk.

20 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

The commission to paint the 2017 Badminton Horse Trials Winner, Nereo, ridden by Andrew Nicholson.

Last summer, I was delighted to be introduced to Deborah Sellar - known as Libby, owner of the international event horse, Nereo, at the private viewing of an exhibition in London, organised by The Discerner, the London Gallery who represent my artwork.

Libby Sellar, from New Zealand, expressed an interest in commissioning a portrait of her Event horse, Nereo, in honour of his long career and outstanding scope of talent and achievement. Having won many international championships, ridden by the New Zealand rider, Andrew Nicholson, their win at Badminton Horse Trials last year, was particularly special, as Nereo was 17 years old at the time.

Libby visited my studio in Oxfordshire, to see examples of my equestrian portraiture, showing the wide range of drawn and painted medium I employ, and discuss ideas. She particularly liked the informal but dynamic style of my watercolour paintings, and so we started from there. She had brought along a range of course photography, but as always, it is also enormously important for me to actually meet and spend time with the horse. So I went to meet Nereo at Andrew Nicholson’s yard in Wiltshire, to observe, take photographs and make rough sketches.

Afterwards, back in the studio, I sketched out some compositional, actual size layouts

in pencil, and sent these to Libby for her approval.

The final choice was for a large scale watercolour, with multiple images, to include a vignette of Nereo's head, against a suggested landscape, with two smaller scale vignettes to the right, portraying him in dressage and cross country action. Libby’s brief was for me to capture his personality, and also the quirky markings (white spots and patches on his face and hindquarters), and an overall feeling of light and movement within the painting. I enjoyed enormously meeting Nereo and having the opportunity to study this remarkable horse from life. And when Andrew led him out for me initially, I have to say the hairs stood up on the back of my neck. Utter Respect! The Nicholsons were hospitable and accommodating, with Lily, their daughter patiently leading Nereo out repeatedly for me to observe him at close quarters.

The portrait was completed early this year, just before Nereo was retired from international competing. Libby tells me that at his retirement announcement, Andrew led Nereo out at Badminton Horse trials, to a standing ovation and cheers, from the crowds, a fitting tribute, that Nereo very much enjoyed! It was an absolute pleasure, indeed an honour, for me to paint this remarkable horse.

MELANIE WRIGHT EQUESTRIAN ARTIST

Melanie Wright has an established reputation as a contemporary equestrian, portrait and landscape artist. Originally from North Yorkshire, she trained at Heatherleys School of Fine Art in London, and has, since 2008, been based in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.

She is a familiar sight sketching at equestrian sporting events, including National Hunt and Flat Racing, Polo, Dressage and Eventing.

www.melaniewrightartist.co.uk t: 01608 643546 e: melaniewrightstudio@googlemail.com

Welcome to the first edition of

Your Country

Property Your Horse & Country Magazine is very excited to bring to you a host of luxury properties and estates for sale across the country, coupled with inspiring ideas for your interiors. Whether you are looking for the perfect fitted kitchen or a stylish range to really complete the heart of your home, we aim to tempt you with creativity and style!

P

erhaps you are looking to upsize from your current property or maybe you are on the lookout for the perfect investment opportunity.

Whichever it is, you are almost certainly asking yourself whether now is the right time to be buying property in the UK. With uncertain economic times ahead, Brexit and interest rates all on your mind, it can be difficult to allow yourself to let your heart go and fall in love with bricks and mortar, to take your money out of the bank or borrow and commit it to luxury living.

The truth is everything is relative; is the time ever right, or do you have to strike while the iron is hot when you find your perfect property?

The Brexit vote caused a slump in house prices, a large blip in property sales and, of course, a fall in the value of the pound. The question of whether or not it’s

the right time to buy or sell your house in the UK depends on what type of house buyer you are.

UK house buyers For your average UK citizen, it does seem that now could be a good time to get on the property ladder, if you can! Prices remain strong with the average house price only falling 2% since the vote. Even during the worst recession in history prices fell 15%, only to quickly bounce back and continue to rise. This might seem to suggest that prices aren’t going to fall further and waiting longer to get onto the property market may only cost you more when you eventually can. Also, interest rates are low despite August’s rise. Even if they do rise further that probably won’t halt the increase in house prices, as prices continued to rise at a

* Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage

22 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine – YOUR COUNTRY PROPERTY

rapid rate years ago when interest rates were far higher. Essentially, the constant race to own property and the limited housing supply, particularly in urban areas where they can’t possibly build more, should continue to push prices up.

In summary, it seems it has always been the right time to buy a house in the UK, if you are able to! The biggest challenge lies with first-time buyers who don’t have the Bank of Mum and Dad to rely on and face the almost impossible task of saving a large deposit while living in rented accommodation. They must also achieve a sufficient income to meet loan to equity mortgage requirements.

What needs to be highlighted to those among Generation Rent who wish to become house buyers is that time is of the essence. While many lenders have extended their age limits to satisfy

A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

Should overseas investors buy in the UK? For the overseas buyer the UK property market has long been seen as a safe haven for investment that can provide great returns. Many people were spooked by the uncertainty of exiting Europe, but it appears that these fears have subsided to an extent and there are some great reasons why now could be the right time to buy a property in the UK: 1. The value of the pound – The pound is at its lowest rate compared to the dollar in years after it fell sharply following the Brexit result and hasn’t really recovered.

At the time of writing, the exchange rate stood at $1.29 to the pound. It could be a great opportunity to buy cheap and make a substantial profit from the dollar when values have the potential to return to a similar level to 2014, when it was around $1.70 to the pound, or even the levels seen in 2007, when it was over $2 to the pound. That could be a profit of 50% to 60% without property prices even increasing.

2. There are more properties currently for sale – Since the decision to leave the EU there are currently 2% more homes for sale. At the same time the number of transactions has fallen, meaning that there is likely to be a number of homes that have been on the market for longer than the seller intended and some opportunities to grab a bargain.

3. There is still a discount available due to Brexit – Property prices across the UK are down 2%. This isn’t a massive reduction but it’s small enough to not cause concern about the housing market and a sign that property in the UK should continue to be a safe bet. n For more information on finding the perfect property, we would suggest getting in touch with Hamptons International, at www.hamptons. co.uk

demand for “later-life” borrowing, allowing people to borrow into their 70s, 80s and even 90s, if you don’t want to be paying a mortgage long into retirement, the earlier you can get on the property ladder the * Mortgages are offered subject to status, terms and conditions apply

better to keep monthly repayments as low as possible. Our advice would be to talk to your broker, lender or advisor to look at the options available and for full terms and conditions.

This article is compiled by Your Country Property. It is not intended as financial or legal advice. Always seek professional guidance on investments.

sponsored by : BRYANT ASSOCIATES Wealth Management - Est 1995 www.bryantassociates.co.uk

YOUR COUNTRY PROPERTY – Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 23

sponsored by

BRYANT ASSOCIATES Wealth Management - Est 1995 www.bryantassociates.co.uk

Coppice Farm, Akeley, Buckingham

The Coppice Farm is a stunning modern house with comprehensive equestrian facilities and land Situation: This substantial modern property was completed in 2012 by the current owners offering spacious and versatile family living, with 4 bedrooms and a one bedroom annex. The property benefits from superb equestrian facilities and grazing land. L shaped range of traditional stables including: Three stables, foaling box and store room, Newly constructed bespoke building: Four Monarch stables, feed room, tack room, washing and toilet facilities, secure storage area/ workshop with mezzanine floor above. 60 x 20 fully drained Elmtree manège along with Monarch horse walker (for 5 horses) and lunge ring.

The yard area sits adjacent to an existing bridleway giving easy access onto the paddocks contained within this lot and excellent riding beyond.

The land is ideal for equestrian usage but also provides some area of amenity.

Guide Price £2,250,000 Your may be repossessed if you do not&keep up repayments on your mortgage 24home | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse Country Magazine

A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

Master bedroom suite with dressing room and ensuite | Three further double ensuite bedrooms | Modern stable building

This property is available to view on

Your Horse Country Magazine AUTUMN Thinking of selling your property?

Call &us on 01454 318 780 2018   |  25

sponsored by

BRYANT ASSOCIATES Wealth Management - Est 1995 www.bryantassociates.co.uk

Hedge Farm, Godalming, Surrey

An outstanding Grade II Listed farmhouse believed to be dating back to 1468.

Situation: The 12th Century village of Thursley lies to the west of the main London to Portsmouth road and at its heart sit the Three Horseshoes pub, a village hall, nursery school and cricket pavilion. The National Trust and Thursley Nature Reserve own much of the surrounding woodland, heath and farm lane. It also lies within The Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The area is extremely popular for its wide range of public schools both boys and girls, including Aldro, Barrow Hills, Bedales, Charterhouse, Cranleigh, Edgeborough, Frensham Heights, Guildford High School for girls, Prior’s Field, Rodborough College, St Catherine’s, St Hilary’s, St Edmund’s, Royal Grammar School (Guildford) and Wellington College.

Guide Price £2,750,000 Your may be repossessed if you do not&keep up repayments on your mortgage 26home | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse Country Magazine

A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

5 Bedrooms with 2 bathrooms | Manege | Oak framed guest house and separate Groom’s cottage | Garden paddocks and woodland | approx. 17 acres

This property is available to view on

Hamptons International is a premier estate and letting agent based in London UK with over 140 years experience. www.hamptons.co.uk

Your Horse Country Magazine AUTUMN Thinking of selling your property?

Call &us on 01454 318 780 2018 | 27

Create your own

Grass trimmer FSA 56

Hedge trimmer HSA 56

Award winning garden tools from STIHL. Work your magic on the garden with a little help from the STIHL COMPACT Cordless Power System. Lightweight, quiet and powerful, there’s a quality tool for every domestic gardening task from trimming hedges to sawing wood,

from clearing leaves to cutting lawns.

And the long lasting battery system can be swapped effortlessly across the entire STIHL COMPACT range.

One system, seven tools, it’s the simple way to get great gardening results.

Visit stihl-magic.co.uk or pop into your local dealer for a demonstration of our award winning products. *The STIHL COMPACT Cordless tools shown above start from £199 including battery and charger.

Leaf blower BGA 56

The STIHL COMPACT cordless garden range from

£199

Find your local dealer at www.stihl-magic.co.uk

*

YOUR COUNTRY PROPERTY – Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 29

sponsored by

BRYANT ASSOCIATES Wealth Management - Est 1995 www.bryantassociates.co.uk

Field Farm Stud, Malmesbury, Wiltshire

A superb opportunity to take on and potentially grow an established equestrian business.

Situation: Field Farm Stud is in a quiet rural setting, close to the Wiltshire/Gloucestershire border between the villages of Minety and Ashton Keynes, located some 7 miles east of Malmesbury and approximately 6 miles south of Cirencester. There are primary schools in Ashton Keynes and Minety and the former offers local amenities including a community run store, public house and a parish church. The towns of Cirencester and Malmesbury, together with the major centre of Swindon (16 miles), provide extensive shopping facilities/amenities and inter-city rail services from Kemble Railway Station to London Paddington in approximately 80 minutes. Easy access to both the M4 and M5 motorways provides fast links with the centres of Bath, Bristol and also London.

Guide Price £1,350,000 Your may be repossessed if you do not&keep up repayments on your mortgage 30home | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse Country Magazine

A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

Floodlit 60mx30m ‘Andrew Bowen’ arena | Three bedroom barn conversation | 12 loose boxes | Four bay horse walker | 55 acres

This property is available to view on

Hamptons International is a premier estate and letting agent based in London UK with over 140 years experience. www.hamptons.co.uk

Your Horse Country Magazine AUTUMN Thinking of selling your property?

Call&us on 01454 318 780 2018 | 31

“a present for life” “Alibaba” ~ the first Marwari ~ orders taken ~ shipping worldwide ~

www.horseindia.com/bespoke photographs by Kyle Stevenson for Horse India Ltd

Less HouseMore Home

Shop 24/7 or find your local store at

www.charliesdirect.co.uk Visit us In-Store in: Aberystwyth, Carmarthen, Shrewsbury, Queensferry & Welshpool 32 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine – YOUR COUNTRY PROPERTY

Call us today on 0117 9716475 or 01454 319019

or visit our website www.jmibathrooms.co.uk

Bathroom and fitted kitchen design & installation

sponsored by

BRYANT ASSOCIATES Wealth Management - Est 1995 www.bryantassociates.co.uk

Ballards Lane, Oxted, Surrey

A detached, 6 bedroom, country residence dating from the 1920’s Situation: The property stands at the head of a prestigious, private residential lane on the outskirts of the popular village of Limpsfield which has a shop/post office, public house, golf club, cricket club and a well known tennis club. Nearby are the wide open spaces of Limpsfield Chart and the town of Oxted which has a wide range of shopping facilities, shops, coffee bars and restaurants. Oxted Station has fast train direct services to London Victoria (40 mins) and London Bridge (33 mins). The locality is renowned for its choice in schooling at both primary and secondary levels and includes nearby Hazlewood Prep School, Oxted, Caterham and Woldingham School.

Guide Price £2,000,000 Your may be repossessed if you do not&keep up repayments on your mortgage 34home | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse Country Magazine

A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

Adjoining Limpsfield Chart Golf Course | Six bedroom detached family home | Gardens in total approx. 2.15 Acres (0.87 Ha)

This property is available to view on

Hamptons International is a premier estate and letting agent based in London UK with over 140 years experience. www.hamptons.co.uk

Your Horse Country Magazine AUTUMN Thinking of selling your property?

Call &us on 01454 318 780 2018   |  35

sponsored by

BRYANT ASSOCIATES Wealth Management - Est 1995 www.bryantassociates.co.uk

Oaks Road, Croydon

A 6 bedroom family house set in an idyllic elevated position and stunning views Situation: Set in beautifully maintained grounds on a prestigious residential road, the property is ideally located opposite the woodlands of Addington Hills and overlooking Shirley Park Golf Course to the rear. Bus routes, the tramlink at Lloyd Park and also East Croydon Station with fast and frequent train services to London & Gatwick are all in easy reach. Croydon has excellent shopping facilities including The Whitgift Centre with superstore shopping on the Purley Way. Local schools nearby include Royal Russell, Croydon High, Whitgift, Trinity, Coloma Girls & Shirley High.

Guide Price £1,480,000 Your may be repossessed if you do not&keep up repayments on your mortgage 36home | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse Country Magazine

A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

Over-looking Shirley Park Golf Course to the rear | Opposite the woodlands of Addington Hills | Six bedrooms | Three Bath/Shower Rooms (One En-suite)

This property is available to view on

Hamptons International is a premier estate and letting agent based in London UK with over 140 years experience. www.hamptons.co.uk

Your Horse Country Magazine AUTUMN Thinking of selling your property?

Call &us on 01454 318 780 2018   |  37

You’d shop for the perfect shoes, why not shop for the perfect trees?

Choosing the right tree for your garden or landscaping project is a very individual experience.

What tree you want will depend upon a number of different factors, including the size of your garden or landscape, aesthetic considerations (such as stunning summer flowers or autumnal colours) and soil condition - not to mention personal taste!

provide shade for your horses you will want to steer clear of species like Sycamore that contain toxins.

The tree selection process We strongly recommend personal selection of the trees that will be incorporated into your landscape, particularly if you are choosing a memorial or legacy tree. This helps to give an idea of their scale and how they will look in the finished landscape. It also serves as a mood board, leading to other ideas and possibilities!

Another important factor is why you are choosing to plant in the first place. There are many uses for trees, from lasting memorials to screening or framing a view, and each may prompt a different specimen depending upon the look you want to achieve.

For example, if you are planting a tree to celebrate a significant event, or in memory of a loved one, you may wish to plant a large, feature tree in an open space that proudly commands the landscape, but remains delicate and pleasing to the eye. Or if you are planting trees to

The first stage in any tree selection and planting project is a chat with our team. If we have not visited your site before, or there are some technical logistics to deal with, then one of our experts will come and assess what needs to be done to bring your project to life. We can

38 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

also make recommendations based on your requirements.

The size of the tree depends on the access to the intended location.

The largest trees we can offer are over 10 metres tall (or rather 10 metres long when they arrive on a lorry!) and will need large pieces of equipment to get them from the lorry to the planting hole. This is where a site visit by one of our tree planting specialists can help guide you through the process.

At Glendale Civic Trees, we source trees from a number of UK-based and European nurseries. A nursery visit can last from several hours to several days, depending on the location and what you want to achieve. Prepare to be inspired by the wide-range of species, shapes and forms on offer.

For more info tweet us @civictrees.

Our recommendations for autumn colour Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood) This is a vigorous deciduous conifer with foliage that fades from bright green to a coppery-pink in the autumn.

Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip Tree) The arresting soft-yellow coloured leaves of the Tulip Tree mark the beginning of autumn. This tree is quite tolerant of pollutants making it ideal for urban projects.

Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweet Gum) This tree features glossy, five-pointed leaves that turn a vibrant red in autumn. It is a beautiful tree and the perfect farewell to the summer.

Quercus palustris (Pin Oak) This Oak grows quickly forming a straight trunk with handsome, horizontal branches. Its smooth leaves are bright green in summer, turning to a deep red in autumn.

It is a grand tree, ideal for creating eye catching avenues.

Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple) This small deciduous tree is well-known for its beautiful autumn foliage in hues of scarlet and bronze. We recommend investing in a green-leafed specimen to make the most of the colour change.

Growing the tree is only half the story At Glendale Civic Trees we believe a tree is only as good as the way it is handled, planted and maintained. We have been supplying, planting and relocating mature and semi-mature trees with precision, care and attention, since 1963.

Quality is essential from the start of any tree planting venture so we always ensure our trees are sourced from leading growers.

Our team are passionate about what they do and technical experts in industry leading techniques for relocating large, delicate trees from one location to another before successfully replanting.

With over 50-years of experience creating landscapes with instant impact and maturity, an exceptional finish is guaranteed.

Visit civictrees.co.uk/tree-planting today or email info@civictrees.co.uk

Supply | Plant | Relocate

Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018   |  39

Raising the bar at

Blenheim

SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials are back and better than ever – Your Horse & Country Magazine goes behind the scenes to find out more.

40 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

N

ever content to rest on its laurels, SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials is always striving to improve what it can offer visitors. Better and more varied choices of food; more chances to ride your own horse in the unique atmosphere of one of the world’s major equestrian events; improved shopping;

BLENHEIM PALACE HORSE TRIALS 2018

Photos: Adam Fanthorpe

more top international horses and riders to watch; more entertainment for children and families: SsangYong Blenheim Palace 2018 is all set to be a cracker!

The event, which takes place in the remarkably beautiful grounds of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, home of the dukes of Marlborough, runs from September 13-16 this year. It is Oxfordshire’s largest sporting event, and has excellent transport links Whether you choose to camp onsite for the duration of the horse trials – which is great fun – or just visit for a day, there is so much to watch and do.

There are two days of cross-country; the horses in the CCI3* tackle Blenheim’s exciting track on Saturday, September 15, and the CIC3* for eight- and nineyear-old horses, which is renowned for showcasing the most exciting future stars in Europe, has its cross-country phase

on Sunday, September 16. Dressage for the international classes takes place on Thursday, September 13, and Friday, September 14, and there is showjumping on both weekend days as well as crosscountry.

All phases have excellent viewing for spectators. The Marlborough Pavilion, alongside the main arena, has the palace as a backdrop and offers excellent food and drink in comfort and style. And perhaps buying a Picnic Pass is the best way to enjoy the cross-country – from the banks of the River Glyme you have superb views of all the action.

Opportunities for amateur riders SsangYong Blenheim Palace was the first major horse trials to offer amateur riders a

multitude of chances to compete alongside their sporting heroes. Over the years, these opportunities have kept expanding.

The Dodson & Horrell-sponsored Eventer Challenge classes are always a sell-out. On Thursday, September 13, and Friday, September 14, Pony Club and riding club teams compete in an arena eventing-style competition – the fences are a mix of showjumps and portable crosscountry fences – at 90cm and 100cm level. And on Sunday, September 16, there are classes for individuals at both 90cm and 100cm.

The atmosphere around the Bladon and Hensington arenas, where the Dodson & Horrell Eventer Challenge classes take place, is great – there’s a really friendly, supportive feeling round the rings. And it’s a very short walk to the shopping 

Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 41

BLENHEIM PALACE HORSE TRIALS 2018

village and the main arena, so competitors and supporters can keep abreast of the international competitions and enjoy being part of such a special event.

Those who fancy something a little less competitive can sign up for the Fun Ride round the stunning Blenheim Palace estate and grounds. This always fills up very quickly, so those who want to take part should get their entries in as soon as possible!

The new RoR (Retraining of Racehorses) dressage championship in the Attractions Arena on Thursday, September 13, is likely to be very popular. There are three classes – Prelim 19, Novice 38 and Elementary 45; to qualify for the championships on Thursday, September 13, competitors must submit three dressage sheets for the level of class they wish to enter with the required minimum percentages (66% prelim, 64% novice, 64% elementary).

These can be from unaffiliated or affiliated competitions.

Behind the scenes with Zanie King

Izzy Taylor Star of SsangYong Blenheim Palace 2017 Izzy Taylor’s victory at SsangYong Blenheim Palace last year was particularly special, as she lives just a few miles from the event on the outskirts of Bicester.

Riding Sophie Dodd’s 11-year-old gelding Be Touchable, Izzy put up an outstanding performance to clinch victory in the final of the valuable Event Rider Masters series of CIC3* classes.

“I first rode at Blenheim in the Pony Club team showjumping competition years ago, and it was always a huge ambition to compete in the international event,” explains Izzy, 34. “I first rode in the CCI3* in 2009 and finished third, which was amazing. I was riding a horse called Briarlands Matilda, who is owned by Guy Avis, the secretary of the local Heythrop Hunt, so there was a lot of support and it was a very special result.”

Briarlands Matilda was the first horse with whom Izzy represented Great Britain at senior championship level, and the pair were placed at both Badminton and Burghley.

“I always love riding at Blenheim,” says Izzy. “A lot of the time my friends and family [Izzy has two children – Lily and Freddie] can’t come to the events I am riding at, but everyone comes to Blenheim. To win here last year in front of them meant an awful lot.”

Izzy has had a great 2018 season so far. She won the CIC3* at Bramham in Yorkshire with Be Touchable, and took the CCI3* at Tattersalls in Ireland on Call Me Maggie May. She is definitely planning to be back at SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials in September, and is aiming horses at both the CIC3* for eight- and nine-yearolds and the feature CCI3* class.

42 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

“The horses are the easy part – it’s the people I find exhausting!” says Zanie King with a laugh.

Zanie has been SsangYong Blenheim Palace’s highly efficient stable manager for the past three years. She has exceptional depth of experience in the world of eventing – she is a former head groom to Pippa Funnell, ran a successful competition yard with her husband (and Blenheim CCI3* winner) Chris King for several years, and is now Laura Collett’s travelling head groom and manager of Laura’s eventing business. This means she is well-known and well-respected within the sport – and perfectly equipped to deal with any issues that might arise in Blenheim’s stable complex during the event.

“Before I became stable manager, I worked in Blenheim’s organising office for a summer, and I had helped Holly Farr, Bramham’s stable manager, so I had seen how it was done from the best,” says Zanie. “If you are used to running a yard, it’s like that times 200!”

At the beginning of each year Zanie makes sure of her team – she has two assistants during the event, and there are two people in charge of the important task of parking the competitors’ lorries.

“Then, when the entries close, around the beginning of August, I can start to do my job,” she says. “I have a spreadsheet of all the 200 or so stables, and every competitor will have requests regarding stabling. I go through their requests, and

Photos: Adam Fanthorpe

look at who has stallions, or needs to be on the end of a row, or next to a certain horse, or not as the case may be, and I start allocating stables accordingly.

“The plan changes all the time right the way up to the start of the event, especially as Blenheim does accept changes and substitutions up to the last minute.”

The stables themselves are built by Woodhouse the week before the horse trials. Zanie comes in to check that what she has on her plan is what is there in reality. There are six veterinary boxes with rubber flooring, and between two and four isolation stables on the outside of the perimeter of the stabling area. Zanie sets up the vets’ office, which is next to her own, and makes sure that it has the correct supplies.

“I normally move into the site on Sunday night, and my assistants either join me then or the following day,” she says. “We put the two free bales of shavings that each competing horse receives outside each Stable manager stable, which is fairly labourZanie King intensive, and put all the horses’ names on the doors. We check that each stable is safe for horses, and that the perimeter is secure. We ensure the water points are in the correct places and that they are working properly, and build the muck-heaps.”

Each competitor receives a comprehensive information pack, which includes their numbers, and Zanie and her team make these packs up.

Zanie admits that it is quite a stressful u

“

I don’t get many hours’ sleep that week – I am woken up if there is a problem with a horse or a problem in the lorry park – but that’s the job and I take pride in running a smooth ship

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BLENHEIM PALACE HORSE TRIALS 2018

job: “I make sure that the set-up is as secure and as professional an environment as possible and that takes a lot of work and attention to detail,” she says. “I am the main point of contact for riders, grooms, owners and a host of other people associated with each horse, and liaise between them and the event officials,” she says.

Competitors – particularly from abroad – start arriving at the beginning of the week, but they aren’t allowed into the official event stables until there is an FEI event in situ.

The stable complex is open from 6am until 11pm, although on Sunday morning, with the final horse inspection looming, a signing-in system operates that allows them earlier access if necessary.

Zanie personally does late-night checks on each horse, filling up water buckets if needed, once the stables are closed.

“I don’t get many hours’ sleep that week – I am woken up if there is a problem with a horse or a problem in the lorry park – but that’s the job and I take pride in running a smooth ship,” says Zanie.

She can’t leave on Sunday night until the last horse has departed, and she and her team pack up the office. The stabling company comes in the following morning to remove the stables and remaining bedding – and very quickly the busy, bustling event site is returned to tranquility and green fields.

Brilliant entertainment in the Attractions Arena SsangYong Bleheim Palace Horse Trials’ Attractions Arena has been a cherised part of the event for more than 10 years now, and its packed three-day programme (Friday to Sunday) is better than ever in 2018.

On Friday, there is a dressage to music display from Alison Kenward, and the superb Cherwell Valley Riding Club team will show off their perfectly synchronised quadrille.

The side-saddle ladies from A Bit On The Side – favourites at Blenheim – are always impeccably glamorous and very entertaining, and Richard Maxwell’s trailertraining demonstration is fascinating and instructive, as is “spook-busting” with Ginny Oakley.

There’s high-octane action from the British Tent Pegging Association – their skills and accuracy are breathtaking. The same could be said for the Pony Club mounted games competitions – how we wish we were ever that athletic!

Don’t miss our dog agility displays, or the team from the Thames Valley mounted police.

Saturday’s entertainment is headed by the extraordinary BMX trick-riding team.

Watch their gravity-defying stunts and marvel at their skills! A Bit On The Side are back, as are the Cherwell Riding Club quadrille team and Ginny Oakley.

SsangYong Blenheim Palace’s supported charity for 2018 is Dogs for Good, which provides assistance dogs to people with physical disabilities and children with autism. Their demonstration team will be showcasing how the dogs are trained and the specialist help they can give to someone with disabilities.

And anyone who has ever suffered from competition nerves should come and listen to the Rezone Coaching – Pressure to Power masterclass, which explains how to get yourself into the right mindset to achieve eventing success.

BMX trick-riding is back in the Attractions Arena on Sunday, as are the Cherwell Riding Club quadrille team and A Bit On The Side. A special addition on Sunday is Box Clever Flyball, one of the fastest-growing canine sports in the UK. But the crowds around the Attractions Arena will be at their biggest during the Masters’ Gate-Jumping competition.

Masters and field masters of local hunts will go all out to see who can jump the highest over a five-bar gate – you won’t believe how high the gate will get and how competitive they are with each other!

A late addition to the weekend schedule is an act that proved incredibly popular in 2017 – Dan and Dandi. Former jump jockey Dan Fortt toured with Giffords Circus for two years, and when he left, Dandi, the pony with whom he had performed, came with him. Their bond is 

Family fun The SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials is a fantastic day out for family and friends. Picnic passes (available on Saturday, September 15 and Sunday, September 16) are a cost-effective way to visit the event and offer brilliant crosscountry viewing opportunities.

The weekend is a haven for children, with visits from Tractor Ted, a climbing wall and extensive soft play areas. Four-legged family members are also in for a treat with the ever-popular “have a go” dog agility arena.

The Attractions Arena offers a full complement of entertainment. BMX trick riding, tent pegging and fly ball

will satisfy those with a need for speed and the Masters’ Challenge is sure to set pulses racing! Every year the challenge attracts some of the very best masters of foxhounds and field masters from around the country to come and prove to the expectant Sunday crowds that they’re the boldest over an everincreasing five-bar gate – previous years have even seen an impossibly elegant and extremely brave side saddle entrant!

Dan and Dandi, of Giffords Circus fame, are back by popular demand and have an exciting new routine of tricks ready to entertain. Be prepared for a fiery finale!

Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 45

incredible – watch them demonstrate their amazing tricks and don’t be surprised if there’s a fiery ending to the show!

Delicious food Foodies will have their taste buds satisfied when visiting the food walk, which is back by popular demand following its introduction in 2017. Take a stroll through the market-type stalls, which present a selection of delicious artisan foods and fine produce from all over the world. Discover fresh antipasti and naughty treats from brands such as Pudding Lane and local winner of the BBC’s The Apprentice, Ridiculously Rich.

The event’s new collaboration with Freemans Event Partners means that food is taking precedence site-wide in 2018! Food courts will offer everything from jerk chicken to wild salmon and buttermilk burgers to gourmet meatballs.

Whether you want to indulge in something hearty or be good with a light and healthy snack, you’ll find a plethora of options in each of the conveniently located food

p There is superb viewing for spectators for all phases of competition at Blenheim – why not pick up a picnic pass for the cross country?

Outstanding shopping Shopping can be a hassle. But at the SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials, it is pure pleasure. Visitors can take their time to wander round the superb variety of quality shops in the relaxed atmosphere and stunning setting of the grounds of Blenheim Palace. It really is an indulgent shopping experience like no other.

There are more than 200 excellent trade stands in the shopping village – none of which you would see on the average high street. It is the perfect chance to browse for a bargain – for you, your house, your horse or your dog! Stock your autumn wardrobe with brands such as Fairfax & Favor, Chatham and Crew Clothing, while canny Christmas shoppers will love the fantastic range of unique, handmade accessories on offer at shops such as Foy & Co and Atlas & I. For dog owners and horse owners – and pony-mad girls and boys – the range of canine and equestrian kit, equipment and clothing is outstanding. Visit some of the country’s most reputable saddlers, including long-standing event partners Townfields Saddlery and Ayr Equestrian.

For the third year, the Town & Country Pavilion will be in its central location at the heart of the shopping village and will be bringing the best of British brands and

46 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

p There are more than 200 trade stands to browse at Blenheim, offering clothing, gifts, accessories and canine and equestrian kit you won’t find on the high street

BLENHEIM PALACE HORSE TRIALS 2018

Timetable

Watch WEG at SsangYong Blenheim Palace

courts. Along with quality, innovative food and drink options, Freemans are ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. All food courts accept contactless payments and provide WiFi hotspots for event visitors, so you can relax and catch up with all the latest competition action while enjoying a delicious lunch.

For those that are celebrating, why not

There’s no better place to watch the action from the World Equestrian Games (WEG), which takes place at Tryon, North Carolina, than at SsangYong Blenheim Palace.

Several of Blenheim’s most recent winners and highly-placed competitive partnerships are expected to be representing their countries at WEG – come and cheer them, and all your other favourite horses and riders, on while surrounded by the “eventing family”.

The event is screening the cross-country from WEG live on the evening of Saturday, September 15, in the Marlborough Pavilion in a party atmosphere with American-style food and drink.

Thursday, September 13

Photos: Adam Fanthorpe and HFP Photography

Photos: Adam Fanthorpe

treat yourself to a three-course lunch or champagne afternoon tea in the main arena-side Marlborough Pavilion? Sit in style in the ringside pavilion and watch the dressage and showjumping action before hitting the shops again!

RoR dressage championships

13 Friday, September 14 Alison Kenward – dressage to music Cherwell quadrille A Bit on the Side British Eventing masterclass British Tent Pegging Association Trailer training – Richard Maxwell A&W dog agility Spook-busting with Ginny Oakley Blenheim Paws Trials – Adams Agility Pony Club Games Thames Valley Police

Saturday, September 15 BMX trick riding Rezone Coaching – Pressure to Power A Bit on the Side Dogs for Good demo team Cherwell quadrille A&W dog agility Dan & Dandi Spook-busting with Ginny Oakley British Eventing masterclass

Sunday, September 16

quality. Town & Country is a luxury lifestyle magazine, offering an insider’s view of high society, high fashion and high culture.

The pavilion will reflect the publication’s core values and themes, including art, jewellery, beauty, fashion, country pursuits, pets, travel, property, interiors and entertaining. A true celebration of British craftsmanship, heritage and quality, the pavilion offers visitors a luxurious

shopping experience featuring a carefully curated selection of brands.

Visitors often shop tlil they drop, so why not support the event’s nominated charity – Dogs for Good – and use the popular shop and drop facility, which is conveniently located next to the Marlborough Arena grandstands. n

BMX trick riding Cherwell quadrille Box Clever Flyball Dan & Dandi A Bit on the Side Gate-jumping competition

For full programme details, further information and to book tickets, visit www.blenheimhorse.co.uk

Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 47

p John Horrell with the 100cm Eventer Challenge-winning Cropthorne Riding Club team – Tracey Paxton on Kiwi, Ross Paxton on Majik, Verity Roberts on Pia and Yvonne Goss on Jaffa Photos: Nigel Goddard

Rising to the

challenge The Dodson & Horrell Eventers Challenge at the SsangYong Blenheim Horse Trials is a fantastic opportunity for ambitious event riders to compete at a prestigious event. Your Horse & Country Magazine finds out more.

C

urrently in its ninth year, this popular competition sponsored by Dodson & Horrell is aimed at amateur competitors and includes classes for riding club and Pony Club teams, and for individual competitors at both 90cm and 100cm. The competition offers riders the chance to compete at Blenheim Palace during the International Horse Trials.

The “Derby-style” competition held in the Bladon and Hensington arenas, is a grass arena-based test involving a challenging course of showjumps and cross-country fences that culminates in a

5cm higher “Joker” showjump. The course is built by Blenheim’s international course design and build team Evans Jumps.

From modest beginnings What started as a small showjumping competition with just 20 teams is now a hugely competitive event that sees almost 1,000 riders competing over three days. Gail Ambrose organises the event alongside Paul Hayhurst.

“I’ve been involved with the eventer challenge at Blenheim for 10 years,” says

48 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

Gail. “It used to be a showjumping event that invited 20 teams who would compete once in the morning and again in the afternoon. Now we have 84 teams of four on Thursday and Friday for the Riding Club and Pony Club events, and 300 individual entries for the Eventers Challenge on the Sunday. Having three different sections at two levels means there are a number of different ways for people to get involved in the competition.”

Gail believes there are several reasons why the event is so popular. “It’s arenabased without the dressage, which makes

BLENHEIM PALACE HORSE TRIALS 2018

it a very simple concept for people to understand and follow,” she says. “As long as you can jump, anybody can do it. It’s an amateur competition that allows grassroots riders to compete at a prestigious event, and it’s very competitive and extremely popular. Our entries open and we are full within about three hours. Competitors come from countrywide to compete here.

It’s just fantastic.”

is testing, and some people are just happy to complete, but there are always a few individuals that really shine on the day.

“What I look for when judging is the harmony between the horse and rider. The winning teams always look very smart and prepared, and ride winning rounds with their game heads on.”

“This is an event that is very close to our hearts,” comments Gemma Schwarz, Head of Marketing at Dodson & Horrell. “Every year it is always such an exciting event and the action draws us all in. It makes us very proud to see the amateur riders who fit in their riding and training around full-time jobs and family commitments compete at such a prestigious venue.

“We can’t wait for Blenheim and look forward to supporting this brilliant event.”

What’s involved in organising such a busy event?

“It’s slightly easier for us to organise (compared to a normal one-day event) because it’s an arena-based competition, so it’s enclosed and all in one place, which also makes it better for spectators to follow,” Gail explains.

“It is a big event to pull together but we have a brilliant team of volunteers which anybody can apply for. I also have my own team, several of which have been with me from the very start.

“That’s why I love Blenheim so much – it’s that camaraderie and the fact that we all want everyone to have a great time. I also love the site and what Blenheim has to offer as an event – there is so much going on.”

Gail says the event wouldn’t be possible without the loyal support of long-term sponsors Dodson & Horrell: “Dodson & Horrell are incredible. They make sure that every single competitor in all three sections gets a prize, regardless of their performance, and they’ve been with us from the very beginning, helping us to grow.”

Kay Graves has been the style judge in the Bladon Arena for the past 10 years and says it has been a privilege to participate in the event at Blenheim.

“The venue is just wonderful, and the amateur riders really step up their game riding in the eventer challenge. The course

Yvonne Goss Member of the winning 100cm riding club team in 2017 “I was in the winning Dodson & Horrell Riding Club 100cm Eventer Challenge at Blenheim, and Verity Roberts, Ross Paxton and I all had double clears to finish on a zero score.

“I was riding my homebred ROR horse called Untilla Legend (Jaffa). He only raced once as he suffered a hairline

How to qualify and enter Any number of Pony Club and riding clubs teams can enter, but the event is nearly always oversubscribed due to its popularity, and classes are restricted to 42 teams, with four riders per team.

The Dodson & Horrell Riding Club and Pony Club Eventer Challenges take place on Thursday and Friday, September 13 and 14, and the individual eventer challenges take place on Sunday, September 16. It is judged on an optimum time and faults – whoever is closest to the optimum time with the least number of faults is the winner. There is also a prize for the most stylish rider.

To qualify, combinations must have achieved a minimum of ten foundation points across a minimum of two events at the level of competition they wish to enter between August 1, 2017 and July 31, 2018. All UK events hosting BE90 and BE100 sections are qualifying venues.

fracture on one of his fore legs on the gallops and then did the other leg in a bumper race. My son Jamie was going to train and ride him in point-to-points, but as he showed us he had other abilities, I took him on.

“I compete him in riding club area competitions doing 100cm showjumping and Eventer Challenges. He is also an open team chaser and lead horse for the Fox Grant team. This year he also won the Ledbury Golden Button Hunt Ride.

“The Dodson & Horrell Eventers

Challenge is a competition that I look forward to competing each year, and I have ridden there for 15 years now! The course is beautifully built with decent questions but not too demanding. I had a lovely ride round last year, albeit a little all over the place because Jaffa is very forward going.

“The atmosphere and just being able to compete at Blenheim is magic. It really is a very lovely competition to be involved with, and our team are looking forward to holding on to our title again this year!”

Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 49

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The season

Autumn seems to bring out the melancholy side in our songwriters – but for Kathy Carter it’s a golden opportunity to celebrate what makes us happy

A

utumn – a favourite time of year, for so many countryside lovers.

Japanese multimedia artist and writer Yoko Ono wrote eloquently about the seasons, with the following stanza: “Spring passes and one remembers one’s innocence. Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance.

Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence. Winter passes and one

54 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

remembers one’s perseverance.”

Her words sum up well the cyclical nature of the seasons, as well as alluding to the seasons of our own lives!

Perhaps Ms Ono means that autumn reminds us of what nature offers; almost bringing us back down to earth after summer’s fun and frolics, and preparing us for the harder winter that’s waiting for us, just around the corner. There’s certainly

AUTUMN

 Celebrate togetherness this autumn with a walk, top, and enjoy the season’s golden glow, above much to be admired in autumn, which runs from mid-September to mid-November, in terms of the leaves turning golden brown, seasonal trees bearing their delicious fruits, and the sun getting low in the sky as the nights start to draw in, wrapping us in golden shards of light.

Forever autumn The Moody Blues’ song Forever Autumn is a favourite for many, thanks to its moving lyrics about a lost love: “The summer sun is fading as the year grows old; and darker days are drawing near – the winter winds will be much colder, now you're not here.

Through autumn's golden gown, we used to kick our way; you always loved this

time of year. My life will be forever autumn, ‘cause you're not here.”

Another famous song, Nat King Cole’s Autumn Leaves, also talks of loss with the lyrics: “The falling leaves drift by my window, the falling leaves of red and gold. Since you went away, the days grow long, and soon I'll hear old winter's song. But I miss you most of all my darling, when autumn leaves start to fall.”

While containing beautiful lyrics, these songs do allude to the fact that autumn is a melancholy season; perhaps due to darker days and fading sun. Songwriters love to write about summer sun, romance and positivity in the preceding season, but

almost universally give autumn a sadder tone.

However, autumn is probably one of the most beautiful seasons, and the perfect time to be inspired and celebrate relationships. Autumn often brings a warm glow, from a visual perspective – a bewitching, golden light, especially when one is out enjoying nature. It’s sometimes called the gilded season for this reason, as in autumn, planet Earth tilts as it orbits the sun, sending us rays of light (in our part of the world) that are longer and more slanted, casting beams with less “glare” and longer shadows. So, autumn is definitely a time for reverence but also celebration and positivity. 

Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 55

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AUTUMN

Dates for the diary

The Peak District and, inset, a ploughing contest

If you’re looking for activities to undertake this autumn in Britain, or events to visit, there’s certainly lots of choice to be had!

We have chosen a selection of events here for your diary, that celebrate the inclusivity of Britishness – they do sound wonderful, with something for everyone to enjoy: The Peak District Challenge – Peak District SEP The weekend-long Peak District Challenge consists of an array of walking and running routes – there’s plenty to choose from, from 10-100km routes. The event includes the 25km Copper Challenge, traversing riverside paths and hilly crags with some of the best views in the Peak, and the Back Before Dark Challenge – a 10km run with the sunset as your deadline; perfect for first-timers. See www.peakdistrict-challenge.com

21-22

Isle of Wight Literary Festival, Isle of Wight OCT This event honours the great literature that is said to be inspired by the island; Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll, John Keats and, perhaps the island’s most famous poet, Lord Alfred Tennyson, lived and spent time on the Isle of Wight. Visitors can enjoy guest speakers from various

11-14

Cowes Harbour in the Isle of Wight

literary circles, writing workshops, music performances and poetry recital evenings. The ideal way to be a culture-vulture! See www. visitisleofwight.co.uk British National Ploughing OCT Championships & Country Festival, Austrery, Warwickshire Watch around 250 top plough-men and women from all over Britain competing in ploughing competitions, with the victors going on to contest the 2019 World Ploughing Contest, European Reversible Ploughing Championships and the European Vintage Ploughing Championships. The perfect day out for farming families, with plenty for younger visitors to see, too. See www.ploughmen.co.uk

13-14

Huddersfield Contemporary Music NOV Festival, Huddersfield The UK’s largest international festival of new music is an annual festival consisting of approximately 50 events, including concerts, music-theatre, dance, multi-media, inspirational talks and film. It aims to provide life-changing and unique artistic experiences to “as wide an audience as possible”, and is proud to be a unique platform for what’s

16-25

described as “experimental music”.

A chance to broaden one’s musical horizons, perhaps? www.hcmf.co.uk The South of England Winter Fair – South of NOV England Showground, Ardingly This popular fair includes what’s described as enchanting entertainment, live music, fantastic food offers and inspirational shopping. Marketed as a magical retreat with gift ideas, artisan and street food and drink, as well as live music and street entertainment, it is held early enough in the year to get you prepared for Christmas in plenty of time! www.seas.org.uk/winter-fair 

24-25

Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 57

AUTUMN

Colourways and interior design If you’re staying in instead of venturing out to one of the events we’ve suggested, and are considering updating your interiors, why not choose some cosy autumnal touches, to make your home uber-inviting as the nights draw in?

This season, interior designers are trying to capture the gilded season with harvestinspired colours; e.g. earthy browns, sky-blues and golden yellows. This year there is an abundance of hygge (pronounced hue-guh – the Danish word for a cosy lifestyle), and copious amounts of raw materials and textures like wood and linen on show. We will also supposedly be looking out for special, handmade arts and crafts to give our space a homely feel, and many of us will be getting into crafting, to personally make something individual for our homes.

Accessories-wise, owls are set to dominate again, with cushions, picture frames, artwork and even clothing bearing the image of these special birds.

Colour-wise, in the home and within our autumn wardrobes, we can expect to see a palette of what the colour aficionados at Pantone describe as including: Valiant Poppy, a brave and outgoing red shade that’s “effusive in its allure”; Nebulas

 Hygge is huge this season so get cosy – surround yourself in autumnal hues and natural materials at home, right Blue, a thoughtful, twilightesque, starryeyed blue; Ceylon Yellow, a savory and spicy yellow with an exotic touch; Martini Olive, a smooth, sophisticated khaki green; Russet Orange, a “forest floor orange”; and Mellow Rose, a beloved traditional English shade with “unexpected intrigue”.

These colours (except perhaps for the poppy shade, as this plant blooms in late spring and early summer) epitomise the

beautiful, nature-led colours seen in autumn, from the blue of the sky and the dark green of the woodland floor, to the yellow, green, orange and reddish-pink hues we enjoy as the trees change colour.

This warm palette certainly puts us in mind of rich, comforting colours, and cosy evenings indoors!

Leave your ivy to flower in autumn An autumn staple for our TV at this time of year is definitely the BBC’s Autumnwatch. Last year, the team explained that although autumn is a key time to prepare the garden for winter, including pruning and digging up annual plants, there is one plant that we should think twice about cutting back; ivy.

This is because as the autumn nights draw in and the temperatures start to drop, ivy is one of the few plants to come into flower. The late season nectar makes it one of the most important food sources for bees and lingering butterflies, to help them get through the coming winter.

The ivy berries that appear during the late winter months provide a vital food source for garden birds, and the

58 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

dense ivy leaves provide much-needed shelter for small mammals through the colder months. So, even if an ivy plant is totally out of control, we should hold off cutting it back until the berries have all been taken, the Autumnwatch team advises.

The website www.gardening knowhow.com suggests waiting until next year, trimming ivy before new growth appears in spring, using a mower, hedge shears, clippers or trimmers to keep the plant tidy.

Visit www.bbc.co.uk for details of Autumnwatch’s scheduling, and to watch a video called “Autumn Pruning – you should leave this plant to flower” to learn more about the importance of ivy for British wildlife. 

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www.bubbletowing.co.uk e: info@bubbletowing.co.uk | Your t: Horse 01454 884244 & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 61

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Don’t keep your horse waiting

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64 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

Fast Fibre® The Quick Soak Fibre Provider A diet that is high in fibre and low in starch and sugar benefits many horses and Fast Fibre is the ideal quick soak fibre feed to have in your feed room. Whether your horse or pony needs a simple low calorie bucket feed just to provide essential vitamins and minerals or a partial hay replacement, Fast Fibre can help meet their nutritional needs.

Fast Fibre is a low calorie/energy feed, making it suitable for good doers and with a very low starch and sugar level it is also ideal for those who tend to be excitable on other low energy feeds. It is well recognised that the relatively high starch and sugar levels of more traditional feeds can lead to fizzy

and excitable behaviour, but keeping the starch and sugar levels of your horse’s diet as low as possible can have a positive effect on behaviour.

Fast Fibre is the perfect choice for any horse or pony prone to, or at risk of developing laminitis as its combined starch and sugar level of just 7.5% falls below the 10% level that is recommended as safe for laminitics.

With a high fibre content of 26%, Fast Fibre is also particularly useful as a partial hay replacer, or fibre top-up, for horses and ponies who struggle to chew due to worn or missing teeth. Fast Fibre is quick and easy to prepare and its unique recipe enables it to be soaked in

under a minute so you can be sure that your horse’s feed is always fresh! If a horse is not getting enough fibre in his diet, he will lose weight regardless of how much high calorie 'bucket' feed he may also be given. Horses that do not eat enough fibre are more likely to develop serious problems, including gastric ulcers and colic. A lack of fibre can also cause behavioural problems, including aggression, grumpiness and crib biting due to the horse’s inability to fulfil natural feeding and chewing behaviours.

Fast Fibre is an ideal choice of feed for horses that need an additional source of fibre.

A balanced diet made simple.

Fast Fibre is free from barley and molasses and doesn’t contain any whole cereal grains or alfalfa, making it ideal for horses and ponies who suffer from intolerances to these common feed ingredients.

Being fully balanced with vitamins and minerals (when fed at the recommended amounts for your horse’s size and work load) means

Fast Fibre can be fed completely on its own and there is no need to add anything else to your horse’s feed. Fast Fibre contains no artificial flavours; instead we only use natural herbs for a natural flavour. Mint and fenugreek are included for their well-known properties and to ensure it is appealing to even the fussiest of horses.

Fast Fibre contains FOS (Fructooligosaccharides) and MOS (Mannanoligosaccharides) prebiotics to help maintain a heathy digestive system and linseed is included as a source of omega 3 fatty acids for all round good health and coat condition.

For more information on feeding Fast Fibre visit: www.allenandpage.co.uk

Or call our friendly, award-winning nutrition helpline on 01362 822902, email us at: helpline@allenandpage.co.uk or find usYour onHorse Facebook @allenandpagefeed & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 65

Feeding in the

fall

As summer turns to autumn, many horse owners are preparing for the colder months and hoping to maintain their equines’ health.

Here, Kathy Carter offers some answers to some frequently asked feeding questions.

Can I turn my horse out on frosty autumn grass?

This very much depends on whether the horse is laminitis-prone. On a sunny day, frosty grass may contain very high levels of fructan, a type of carbohydrate, during mid-morning, and could be risky for laminitisprone horses or ponies. Fructan concentrations are higher in autumn, as they can be produced through photosynthesis, the chemical change that occurs in the leaves of green plants. (The Laminitis: Grazing Risk Monitoring Service is a useful phone-app – see laminitis-risk.com – that helps users monitor weather conditions and laminitis risk.) Putting supplementary hay or

66 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine – FEED & BEDDING

AUTUMN NUTRITION

haylage out will help reduce the amount of potentially high-fructan grass consumed, if owners are concerned. But in general, frosted grass is safe to eat, as it’s rapidly warmed in the horse’s mouth during chewing and mixing with warm saliva.

Should I feed less haylage than hay, in a comparable ration?

People used to limit haylage, perhaps because in its early development it was higher in energy. Giving insufficient haylage results in an (undesirable) comparable drop in the animal’s fibre intake. Today’s branded haylage is still very palatable, so horses may eat it more quickly, potentially leading to boredom and stereotypical behaviours. Haylage contains considerably more water than hay, so in fact we need to feed about one and a quarter times as

much haylage as hay. In fact, haylage can be seen as preferable to hay, as the quality is consistent and it’s less dusty.

Should I cut down the feed, if my horse looks fat?

Used by some penny-conscious livery yard owners as justification to reduce feed-spend, the appearance of a larger equine belly does not necessarily equate to carrying fat. A better assessment of fat composition is looking at the animal’s ribs, as well as the hindquarters, crest of the neck, and over the flanks. What we are looking at when we see a “grass belly” is exactly that – a full tummy.

simply overfeeding calories to an equine that is not adequately exercised; e.g. the calories-in versus calories-out ratio is imbalanced.

The starch in oats is more digestible than in other cereals, so it’s possible that this relatively faster release of sugar into the blood (as the starch is digested) gives some susceptible horses a flush of energy. Therefore, if the owner is a particular fan of oats, they can be fed – splitting the feed into smaller meals or portions may reduce the amount of sugar released into the blood. (Also see “Crude 

Do oats make horses hot-headed?

Oats are calorific, and any “hotheadedness” is likely to be from

Understanding equine nutrition terms Foxed by the complicated feed labels?

Here’s some information on what each term means, in relation to horse feeds:

nitrogen in the sample taken; it is simply an estimate of nitrogen content.

Acid detergent fibre (ADF) Digestible Energy (DE) This term relates to the energy that is available to the animal, via digestion. The more work your horse is in, the more digestible energy he requires. DE is the gross energy of a feed, minus the “waste” energy content, e.g. what’s lost to the faeces and urine.

This is a measure of fibre, consisting mainly of cellulose and lignin. Cellulose is fermentable by microbes in the large intestine, while lignin is entirely indigestible. As ADF increases, the ability to digest, or the digestibility of the forage, decreases.

Macrominerals Crude fats and oils This relates to the total amount of fats and oil in a horse feed. Scientific consultant David Marlin states that oils are fats that are liquid at room temperature, while fats are solid at room temperature. He advises that it’s possible to feed horses relatively high amounts of fat (three to four times their normal intake in common feeds), as oil is a safer source of energy than starchy cereals, and less likely to cause hindgut disturbance. Oils such as linseed, sunflower, corn and soya contain a lot of beneficial fatty acids.

Ash Ash is simply the total mineral content of the feed. It’s attributed as “ash” because when forage is assessed, it is burned at high temperatures, and the residual minerals are then determined.

Crude protein (CP) Crude protein is the estimated protein in the feed determined by the amount of

Macrominerals are required in small amounts in every horse’s diet. They help to metabolise nutrients, maintain connective and joint tissue, aid in oxygen transport and they have an antioxidant role. Macrominerals include: calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulphur, potassium, sodium and chloride.

Microminerals The microminerals are the minerals whose daily requirement is less than 1mg to 100mg – they include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride and selenium. These minerals are vital to the development of the skeleton, muscular and nervous systems, and hoof and hair growth.

Starch Starch is a carbohydrate substance obtained chiefly from cereals. It is broken down in the small intestine to provide quick release energy. See also NSC, below.

Fibre Fibre is the most important part of a horse’s diet, as we have discussed. Fibre is a structural carbohydrate which is broken down slowly in the large intestine by bacteria. Hay and/or haylage form the basis of a high-forage diet.

Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) NSC is the amalgamation of watersoluble carbohydrates (primarily sugars), plus starch content – so it is the fraction of a feed that contains mostly simple sugars and fructans; see below. It is recommended that horses sensitive to glucose (e.g. those with equine metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and Cushing’s disease or PPID) be fed a lowNSC diet, e.g. less than 10%.

Fructan Fructan is a type of carbohydrate indigestible in the small intestine, but readily fermented in the large intestine.

Fructans can be associated with laminitis, when consumed in high amounts.

Vitamins Vitamins are classified as either fatsoluble or water-soluble. The major fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E and K; they’re stored within the fat deposits of the body. The main water-soluble vitamins include thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, and folic acid.

They play a multitude of roles within the horse’s body.

FEED & BEDDING – Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 67

68 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

AUTUMN NUTRITION

fats and oils”, in the panel on Page 65, as oil is a “safer” source of energy than starchy, cereal-based feeds.)

Should I feed a higher-energy feed in autumn and winter?

Colder temperatures do increase the number of calories a horse needs to maintain body weight, but the feed should match the horse’s fitness, workload and temperament, and fibre should form the basis of the diet, to avoid increasing the risk factors for digestive disturbances.

As there’s less nutrition left in the grass in autumn and through winter, horses living out full-time will need their grazing supplemented with forage, and most likely hard feed too (even just chaff and a balancer – see below), if working.

But we’re not necessarily looking for a higher-energy feed, per se. For horses in harder work, however, the answer is

yes, we should feed a higher-energy feed in late autumn and winter, to maintain body condition as the temperatures drop

and the grass’s nutrition fades, and also to give sufficient energy for working and competing.

Supplementary feeding Feeding supplements to horses became popular in the 1980s and 1990s, when fortified mixes and cubes also became more prevalent (although, arguably, the first supplement was Equivite, a vitamin and mineral mix for horses, created as far back as 1929).

Interestingly, the first cod liver oil product for horses, Super Solvitax Pure Cod Liver Oil, was launched in 1935; however, it would take a further 50 years for supplements to be more widely used, with the yeast culture Yea-Sacc launching in 1983, and Feedmark’s Steady Up calmer following three years later in 1986. NAF’s methyl sulphonyl methane (MSM) joint supplement followed in 1988, with Equilibra’s Equine Feed Balancer (Gro-Well) launching in 1989. From then on, a steady influx of products came to the market, mainly falling into either the “broad spectrum supplement” category, or as additional

products targeted to specific equine health issues.

Comparing balancers and broad spectrum supplements Balancers and broad spectrum supplements are certainly similar, although they do serve different purposes.

Balancers are nutrient-dense horse feeds that aim to improve feed utilisation; they’re often pelleted, and usually provide a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals and protein, as well as ingredients targeted to specific areas of health (e.g digestive health/ joint support). They are generally fed in higher volumes than supplements.

Supplements are given at much lower feeding rates, maybe a fifth as much in terms of quantity, and they usually provide fewer of the macrominerals than balancers. Supplements tend to have even lower energy levels than balancers, and do cost less!

Autumn feeding Whether or not you need a supplement or balancer depends on your horse’s diet, as most compound feeds are fortified to provide a complete nutritional ration, if fed at the recommended levels. As an example, “good doers”

fed just forage would benefit from a balancer, perhaps with a handful of chaff for palatability, to increase their nutritional uptake; but horses fed a branded, fortified feed are unlikely to need extra supplements for general health.

However, if there’s an extra need for further nutrients for wellness elements like calming, hoof health, joint mobility, digestive health, breeding and coat health, then a targeted supplement may be worthwhile. The choice is incredibly large with hundreds of products available, so do speak with your local feed store or a feed and supplement manufacturer, to discuss your horse or pony’s needs.  PROMOTION

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FEED & BEDDING – Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 69

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hoosing your horse’s forage should be the most important feed decision you make, as up to 100% of the equine diet should be provided by forage.

Hay can often contain dust and mould spores and soaking and steaming is timeconsuming and not always successful. The nutritional quality can vary a great deal, too, and a typical hay sample can contain around 10% sugar.

Big bale haylage is designed to be fed whole in the field and can be difficult to handle and break up. The quality can be variable and unless you are feeding several horses or ponies, there is the chance of wastage as a bale should be consumed within a week before it goes off.

Unlike most haylages, HorseHage bagged forage is not re-wrapped. It is highly compressed down to half its size and packed into heat-sealed,

the sugars in the grass to break down, reducing the acidity level and giving it a sweet smell while preserving the grass.

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FEED & BEDDING – Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 71

When choosing a hard feed in readiness for autumn and winter, it can be difficult to know what will suit you and your horse. Most of us feed to keep our horses feeling and looking well, whilst providing just the right energy for work. This is a balancing act to get right as seasons change, particularly if your horse has metabolic health issues like laminitis or Cushing’s. If you need feed to provide condition and health as well as useable, trainable energy, CoolStance Copra Meal fits the bill.

CoolStance Copra Meal is a unique feed made entirely from coconut white.

With naturally low starch and sugar levels, less than 11% NSC* and high coconut oil and digestible fibre, it is a great feed for all horses and ponies as well as being suitable for horses needing low starch diets like those suffering from laminitis or Cushing’s. It’s a great way to put on condition without excitability that could be associated with grain-based diets. Soaked to feed and energy dense, a little goes a long way!

One of the things we love about CoolStance Copra Meal is how simple and uncomplicated it is, just 100% white part coconut that has been dried, heated and pressed to extract some coconut oil… milled to a meal… soak, stir, feed! That is the secret of its success and why it suits such a wide variety of horses from racehorses to riding ponies, show ponies to eventers, cobs to Arabs, veterans to hunters. Though not a formulated complete feed it is naturally suitable as a sole hard feed for most horses in light or moderate work.

CoolStance is 10% coconut oil providing cool energy, glossy coats plus weight gain and condition. Coconut oil delivers energy uniquely – muscle glycogen created by MCT** fats found in coconut oil is more available than from other oils, improving stamina and quickening recovery rates. Some fatty acids in coconut oil possess antimicrobial and antiviral properties and may assist the immune system in fighting viral and bacterial challenges, leading to improved overall gut health and wellbeing.

Coconut oil is amazing stuff but not so easy to feed on its own as it is solid at room temperature! That is why we have developed a unique powdered coconut oil that is easy to feed, even on the coldest morning. Add to your horse’s feed for a coconut boost or add to CoolStance for increased benefit.

A simple, no filler, chemical-free, totally natural, 100% coconut feed. Available in the UK for more than 15 years, word has been steadily spreading - coconuts are the way to go. *NSC – Non-structural carbohydrates **MCT – Medium chain triglycerides

72 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

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FEED & BEDDING – Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 73

BEDDING

Bedding

life

hacks

Our horses’ comfort is worth every bit of effort – but there are ways to make mucking out much less of a chore, writes Kathy Carter

O

ne average horse produces around 40-50 lbs of dung daily, or around 7.5 tonnes annually. That’s a lot of muck – and the bigger the horse, the more the workload! Add this to the volume of horse bedding that we all get through, and there’s no denying that mucking out a stabled horse is a massive time and financial investment. Here are some life hacks, to help reduce the burden!

1

Really assess your horse’s stable style, and choose your bedding according to how and where he sleeps or lays down, where he urinates, etc, as opposed to just what bedding you’re used to, or what everyone else uses. If he’s supermessy and churns up the bed, he will be super-messy with any bedding, so you may be better off with something cheap like straw. (Check: is he churning the bed because it isn’t deep enough, and he’s getting uncomfortable?)

horse. Check local selling websites for second-hand pieces.

4

The horse’s bed doesn’t always have to fit the “bedding at the back, space in front of the door” model of creating a stable bed. Where does the haynet hang, for example? Why not turn the bed around, so the hay falls to the floor and not on the bed? Also, where does your horse rest when he’s standing?

Try to give him bed to stand on, instead of the floor.

2

Play around with “blending bedding”.

For example, could you use an expanding, wood-pellet base underneath a more moveable top layer, like shavings?

3

Always use rubber matting if you can – it really does help reduce mess, aids drainage and is comfy for the

74 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine – FEED & BEDDING

5

Repair any worn, paint-peeling or rough forks and brooms with cohesive veterinary bandages wrapped around the area, and use these sticky dressing wraps around the handles and parts that you hold, for extra hand comfort.

6

Make sure you use the right tool for the job! For example, shavings forks and muck forks are designed for the bedding in question.

7 8

Keep a small skip (or skep) bucket by the stable with a pair of rubber gloves, for those quick tidy-ups.

Note when your horse urinates, and try to catch it in the skip bucket!

It can become a daily routine, to save on bedding.

9

For shavings beds, head down to your local DIY store for galvanised welded wire mesh panels – these are panels of small-squared mesh, used u

Types of horse bedding l Rubber matting is highly recommended – it provides a non-slip base for other bedding on top, and aids drainage. l Wheat straw is a cheap bedding and rots down well, but is best suited when kept well mucked and skipped out. Some straw contains excessive levels of fungal spores. It can also be smelly, so not so great if you’re heading elsewhere after the yard! l Bagged, chopped straw bales are quick and absorbent – some are even treated with formulations to aid equine respiration, and may be steam-sterilised.

Platinum Plus Wood Pellets are a great alternative to traditional bedding. Find us online, at a stockist, or face-to-face at our SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials trade stand. We’ll be opposite the Blenheim Arena, where you can also meet our miniature Shetland Eddie.

l There are multiple wood-based products available, including dust-extracted, baled wood shavings, dried, shredded, wood fibre bedding, pelleted wood products that are part-soaked prior to use, and dried wood pulp bedding.

These all generally make good deep littered beds, and have low dust levels. l Shredded paper is relatively dust free and may be obtained cheaply – it has high absorbency levels. l Baled, chopped cardboard is low-odour, high-absorbency and a good “green” bedding product. l Dried hemp is an increasingly popular bedding choice, and is readily available in dust-free bales.

FEED & BEDDING – Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 75

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76 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine – FEED & BEDDING

BEDDING

for building fruit cages and bird aviaries.

Lean one panel against the stable wall and throw your shavings fork of horse poo against it; the shavings fall through back onto the bed, while the poo rolls to the floor, ready for collection. (Any similar household or DIY item with small-squared mesh that’s smaller than horse droppings works similarly.)

10

It’s important to save time for most of us, so keep a hoof pick clipped to the outside of the stable door, so you can pick out the feet before the horse leaves the stable, to cut down on mess.

11

Along the same lines, if you have DIY tools, consider fixing lowprofile, bristle broom heads upside down in the doorway, so they fit flush next to the stable door when it’s shut. They can be trimmed to a few inches in height if you can’t find low-profile broom heads. This helps “brush” the horses’ feet as they walk out of the door.

12

Similarly, a piece of rubber matting cut to 3-4” in height and the width of your stable door can be placed as a “lip”, again fitting flush to the stable door when it’s shut, to keep bedding in the stable and reduce mess – ideal if your yard is at a windy location.

13

Store your utensils neatly, by hanging a wooden pallet on the wall; the channels in pallets

work well for storing handled items.

14

Try to buy your bedding in bulk – can you share with other horse owners, or free up more space so you can store more? Or could you keep some more at your home property?

Delivered bedding in bulk is usually cheaper. If you have hay delivered from a farmer, check to see what else they could deliver too, e.g. straw bales.

15

If you use straw, find out if large Hesston (sometimes called Heston) bales are available, as

they may be cheaper. These generally are anywhere between 250kg and 500kg, as opposed to a small 20kg bale of straw.

16

Check your stored, baled bedding to ensure there are no holes, and keep it covered with tarpaulin if you can if there are no undercover yard areas. This saves on wastage.

17

Consider stabling your horse for less time, turning out for as much time as is convenient and relevant for the horse.

Mucky facts Manure removal Horse manure produced by livery yards should be disposed of via a registered waste carrier. (Manure from horses kept privately near a residential property is classified as household waste.)

surface waters. Permanent muck storage areas should have an impermeable sloping base for “effluent” collection. Temporary muck heaps should be sited at least 10 metres from a watercourse.

Composting Composted muck can be spread on resting fields at the property; advice varies but, typically, muck will have disappeared from the surface of the paddock within around two to three months, and chain harrowing boosts break-down. Many people are concerned about spreading worms; however, the heat generated from a well-managed composting process should kill off parasite larvae before the muck is spread.

Fertilisation Gardeners often love horse manure, preferably with plant-based bedding – such as straw or hemp – that’s been rotted for around six months.

Storage Whether commercial or private, horse muck must not pollute ground or

Burning Burning manure piles is not recommended, due to the fire risk.

Also, burning waste can be considered at worst a legal offence, depending on the type of property, and at best, an offensive nuisance. n

FEED & BEDDING – Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 77

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Tired of spending precious time mucking out… …lifting heavy and awkward rubber mats… or not happy with the quality of matting already in place with it curling, lifting or breaking up?

T

he Mayo Horse Comfort Stable Mattress Range is becoming increasingly popular in the equine community, providing the perfect solution for stable flooring. The entire range is made from an incredibly durable closed cell foam completely devoid of any fillers – the only range available on the market which is 100% pure.

The Mayo Mattress is the number one customer choice presently, with it being a bed as well as flooring. There is no loose bedding required from a comfort and warmth perspective, only enough to absorb any moisture – which means dramatic savings on rising loose bedding costs as well as reduced time mucking out.

“ The Mayo Mattress is perfect for equine use. After wasting money on cheaper mats, I was unsure of what matting to go for, I called Mayo and their friendly informative staff invited me to their showroom to see their products.

I chose the Mattress, it is as luxurious as it sounds, lightweight and easy to install.

You don't actually need a lot of shavings/straw, if any, as the Mattress is so supportive.

I certainly will be reducing the amount of shavings I use.

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- Lynne Grimmant

Horse owners with Mayo beds in place have reported relief in common issues such as laminitis, swollen hock, lameness and capped elbow. The entire range is also extremely lightweight, so easy for an individual to lift or move as and when needed - unlike a heavy rubber mat!

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FEED & BEDDING – Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 81

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The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today As I write this, here in East Anglia, it has been 40 days since we last had any rain. My horse paddocks are parched, dry and pretty brown. When it cools down and rains the grass is going to spurt and become rich again. We have checked our electric fence and posts in the yard, they are ready to set up a smaller paddock. We can then restrict the grazing down when it suddenly all turns green and lush again. I do have a feeling there will be increased levels of laminitis this autumn due to sudden change in our horses diets when we get that long awaited rain.

I know with the very hot conditions it is far from our minds to think about getting our yards and equipment ready for winter. But what could be better in these really hot and dry conditions we are having to get ahead of the game.

If you’re like me, your horse’s rug is currently in your storage room where you put it in the spring complete with its hairs and dirt.

Using our “Rug Clean” product, cleaning your rugs yourself couldn’t be easier. If you are lucky enough to have an industrial size washing machine that’s fabulous. But our “Rug Clean” is still effective on bacteria even with a cold hand wash. I still wash all my horses’ rugs and numnahs myself, by hand, well feet actually! I boil the yard kettle a couple of times, we only have a cold water tap at the yard, using a cut down 200 lt barrel, I ¼ fill it with hand warm water and a glug of our “Rug clean” and give it a mix. I use a rubber

block style dog brush to remove as many hairs stuck into the fabric of the rug that I can, it really works. These dog brushes are great for getting hairs out of fabric on sofa’s and car seats too! I lay the rug out on the yard and brush away. Using a hose with cold water I spray the rug to remove any loose dirt, a dandy brush, or small yard brush are great to help remove surface dirt too.

Then put your rug in the waiting warm water. The best way I have found is to trample the rug with my feet, think traditional grape squashing. Definitely a shorts and bare feet job, you will get dirty, but can hose that off. Then leave the rug to soak for half an hour, then tip some of the dirty water out, top up with more water do another feet trampling in the tub before removing the rug and hanging it over a gate or fence. Get your hose and spray turning the rugs as you go to remove the detergent, then leave to air dry.

It’s also the weather to give your stables a good clean and disinfect. Remove everything from your stable, including any rubber matting. Give a good brush down over the walls and floors. Then dilute your disinfectant as advised on the label. Our “Defence 7” disinfectant is on the DEFRA approved list of disinfectants and can be diluted up to 1:100. Remember to put your wellies back on for this though, disinfectants are not for bare feet. Then spray or slosh and brush the disinfectant into all areas including the walls. Leave it to soak in then rinse away and squeegee the excess water.

Tel: 01787 476400

We have great kennel squeegees which are thick double bladed rubber, perfect for around your yard.

Now to your tools and yard equipment, you don’t think to clean your mucking out fork do you. By doing so we can also check on the condition of our tools to see if any replacements or mending is required. Clean out your empty feed bins and take advantage of the weather to dry them out. Using our “Quip Clean” makes really light work of all this cleaning. I get the feed bins outside, put 1 bucket of hot or cold water in each along with ½ cup of “QuipClean”.

Then add in feed scoops, grooming brushes etc and leave to soak for about 5 mins, then remove the added items and sponge then rinse off the dirt, sponge out the feed bin and leave all to dry off outside, the dirt really comes off that easily. It is even safe to use on your bit, leave it to soak, than sponge off and reattach to your bridle ready for use.

Check your electrics, and lights down at your yard before the nights draw in, so any bulb replacements and repairs can be done before the winter months.

Believe me mucking out early in the morning using your phone torch tucked into your bobble hat to get some light is not the best.

www.animal-health.co.uk Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 83

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84 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

We’ve got sweet itch covered The Boett Blanket was designed in Sweden 25 years ago. Having been continuously developed it is still at the forefront of the market.

Vets highly recommend it as one of the most effective treatments for sweet-itch and some insurance companies will pay for them as an alternative therapy. They are also recommended for the protection of horses with sarcoids and more widely used as a very effective fly rug.

The blanket is used worldwide and is made from a unique light but strong breathable fabric which midges cannot bite through. The fabric has a “parasol effect” that keeps the horse cool in full sun so overheating does not occur. It has water and grease repellent properties. If you have any questions on the management and treatment of sweet itch, call our National Sweet Itch helpline on 01352 840333.

BE SAFE, BE SEEN

Bio-Plus Capsules for Equine and for Dogs and Cats The Bio-Plus capsules belong to a family group of “immune modulators” that work by sending signals to the immune system to respond more efficiently. They contain natural bio protein derived from heat killed bacteria and beta-glucan, a proven natural support to the immune system.

Bio-Plus capsules were trialled for eight years and are proven to be safe with no side effects. Owners who have used BioPluscapsules to support the immune system are reporting that the severity of conditions i.e sweet itch, COPD and sarcoids improve with the ongoing use of the capsules.

The development and science behind this product and the work of Professor Stanford (BioEos) can be seen on this link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh6lj4D4-f0  Visit www.itchyhorse.co.uk for more information or to buy.  Call the National Sweet Itch Centre on 01352 840333 or 01352 771718.

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Call 01352 840 333 / 01352 771 718 Email info@itchyhorse.co.uk Visit www.itchyhorse.co.uk 85 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

Arena Mirrors The Ultimate Training Aid

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KEEPING UP WITH THE KINGS

I had a sad start to May, making the big decision to sell Billy. Charlotte East, a talented young rider from Somerset, has bought him. I find it hard selling my homebreds, but he has gone to a perfect home. I have told Charlotte that she mustn’t beat me too often! Liz Young, the lady who sponsored Billy, has kindly changed her sponsorship to Joey now.

Bobby and Joey went well at Aston Le Walls the week after Badminton, after which Emily and I headed off to the lovely Chatsworth Horse Trials together where Bobby did his first ever advanced class (and it was my first advanced for three years!). Stopping off at Ferdi’s for a dressage lesson on the way helped us perform a smart dressage test of 29. A couple of showjumps down in the big atmospheric main ring wasn’t too bad, and a brave, willing XC round made me feel that I potentially have a top horse in the making.

Both Joey and Bobby then had happy runs around the intermediate at Tweseldown, finishing second and eighth respectively, before heading off across the Irish Sea to Tattersalls CCI**. It is a long journey to Tattersalls from Devon, and it is imperative

Kick on

with the Kings to really look after horses well on a long journey to help them perform at their best at the event. On long road journeys, as well as offering them water regularly, keeping them at a comfortable temperature and giving them small feeds at the times they are used to eating, I like to stop every five hours approximately at a suitable place where we can safely unload them, let them walk around, graze and hopefully drink.

After the lorry is cleaned out, we load them back up and carry on the journey. Sam Ecroyd, Emily’s boyfriend, is five hours from Devon, and very near the road to Holyhead, so is extremely conveniently situated to give the horses a break on the way to Ireland!

At Tatts I had a silly mistake with Joey XC by jumping too strongly into the final water, which made the turning line to the ‘B’ element too difficult. I rode Bobby better and had a great clear round in both the XC and showjumping. He had also done a smart dressage test, but it was a few unnecessary time penalties on the XC which kept him out of the top 10 (I was dawdling and enjoying myself too much!).

The three-day events (CCIs) are always great fun and are what we look forward to during the busy one-day event season.

The Irish CCIs are always great fun with plenty of opportunity to work your horses correctly, but also to relax, socialise… and to party!

What a fabulous end to the spring season with Emily and Jane Del Missier’s Dargun winning the U25 National Championships at Bramham three-day event! I was so proud of how Em rode in each phase and thrilled with how well dear Dre coped with the length and intensity of the 3-star XC course.

Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 87

KEEPING UP WITH THE KINGS

ON THE MOVE After Bramham, Emily made the big decision to move up to Sam’s yard in north Wales in June. He has great facilities, which include an indoor school, which has been so wonderful for them to work the horses in during the intense sunny weather we have had. I will certainly miss Em, but saying that we will be seeing each other at many events through the autumn. I’ve always encouraged her to be independent, and we seem to be forever WhatsApping and FaceTiming. The wonders of modern communication!

I drove the old lorry with the last three horses and the rest of Emily’s kit up to her new home mid-June. Sam and Emily were following a couple of hours behind me in her car. When I set off from home I started to feel sick and, half an hour into my journey, I actually started to be sick.

By the time I got to north of the M4 I had been sick five times (luckily I had taken a handy bowl to keep by me while I was driving!) and was feeling awful, and so weak.

I stopped off at a motorway service station, phoned Em to let her know I couldn’t drive any further, and to stop on their way by so Sam could do the second half of the journey. A couple of weeks later I received a parking fine for exceeding the two-hour time limit on parking at the motorway services. I’m appealing the charge!

TIME OUT When the weather at last started improving in May and the ground began to dry up (gosh, all that mud and wet seems a long time ago now!), it was very satisfying getting out my Logic roller and topper and tidying up all the fields. I do love everything smart and tidy! I spray the docks with a knapsack sprayer, and then top the paddocks fairly often during the summer.

We poo-pick the paddocks around the yard but in the larger fields, where the

88 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

youngstock are, I used my Logic spring tine harrow to help spread the droppings and remove the dead grass when the field was being rested.

The foals are growing up rapidly. In fact, I must start calling them yearlings now! A scan has revealed Tess is pregnant to Van Gogh, which is exciting (first time of trying this year… hooray!), and at last we have managed to get Zara pregnant to Ramiro B. She had to be artificially inseminated four times before she took.

AT HOME In June I was asked by Liberty Trails to host a group of people on a ride across Dartmoor for two days. The scenery was spectacular, horses were lovely and the guests were great fun! We stayed at the Bovey Castle Hotel, which was complete luxury, especially having been living in my horse box for the previous three weeks!

Having had my mistake with Joey at Tattersalls, I decided it would be a good idea to give him a little run in the intermediate at Nunney Horse Trials. Being in the lead after the dressage and with a good clear showjumping round I thought we were in with a winning chance but, alas, a fall resulted in me breaking my collar bone. So annoying but luckily Joey was fine. When you have a fall at a BE event that results in an injury, the course doctor gives you a letter saying that you are not allowed to compete again until you are deemed fit by another doctor. I was grounded for eight weeks because I had broken my collar bone at both ends and in a dangerous place, over the aorta.

KEEPING UP WITH THE KINGS

With all the dreadfully hard ground which can do so much harm to the horses’ legs, being sidelined maybe has been a blessing in disguise. I’ve become very good at strimming, gardening and painting one-handed! It’s also giving me time to “tame” the five yearlings. Each morning when I give them their Baileys stud balancer I spend time scratching them, putting headcollars on and quietly teaching them to pick up their feet.

I was very disappointed to miss riding at the wonderful Barbury Horse Trials. With Bobby and Joey both qualified for the British Intermediate Championships at Gatcombe it was sad to not be able to compete at that wonderful event. Fingers crossed that by the time I hope I will be signed back on, the rain will have arrived!

During my time off I took Bobby and Joey up to Emily and Sam’s so they could be kept in work before I get back on track. I went to Aston Le Walls with Em and watched her have a super advanced win with Dre, his first event back after his Bramham win in June.

I then went to Osborne Horse Trials on the Isle of Wight. What a fabulous time we had at this new event, made even better by Emily finishing second on Quinlan Z, who looked very confident and happy.

Em kept riding the crest of the wave when she competed the following weekend at her first British Open Championships at Gatcombe, finishing an awesome fourth on Dre (and second best British rider). It was so exciting - what a proud mummy I am!

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www.mirrorsfortraining.co.uk Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 89

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90 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

KEEPING UP WITH THE KINGS

We had a great end to the spring season at all of the wonderful three-day events. These international shows are the highlight of the year. They are the events we all prepare our top horses for - their fitness, training and all of our team’s efforts revolve around being in peak condition for these select few competitions.

The first of the spring three-day events was at Houghton Hall up in Norfolk. I had Dargun entered for the CIC*** and the plan was to use this as a warm-up run for Bramham CCI***, which was taking place a couple of weeks later. I performed just his dressage, as I felt it was a good for him to experience the atmosphere of a big competition without the added pressure and strain on his body from running cross country. This all went to plan - he did a lovely, relaxed and focused test of 29, which left us in the top ten.

The following week we headed out to Ireland to compete at Tattersalls, where I had two horses competing - Quinlan Z, who was contending his first CCI**, and Kings Rose, competing in her first CCI*. Quinn performed a lovely dressage test of 32 - a couple of green moments put us just out of the top few placings to sit in fifth place going into the cross country. He went on to deliver a fantastic cross country round around a tough CCI**. Unfortunately, we had a slight misunderstanding, about four offences from home, at the influential water fence. He took a big jump in, then was unable to keep focused on the angled brush coming out of the water and ended up just cantering past. When I re-approached the brush, again on the angle, he completely locked on, jumped it beautifully and carried on like nothing had happened. I know that really he didn’t do anything naughty or learn to run out - it was purely a babyish mistake where he was unable to focus quickly on the fence. He was very sound on the Sunday morning at the vet’s inspection and finished off Tattersalls with a fantastic clear round showjumping.

Rosie was a little bit cheeky in her dressage!

She performed a nice test for her first CCI* but the atmosphere did make her a little bit jolly and therefore caused a couple of small mistakes to score 34. Still, I was very pleased with how all of her lateral work is progressing. She, as well as Quinn, was extremely good cross country but also

picked up an unfortunate 20 penalties. The mistake happened very early on around the course where she got spooked at the crowds being close to the string. As she galloped to fence two (a plain wide fence) she all of a sudden found the spectators extremely frightening and stopped about 30 metres away from the fence! It was quite amusing actually - poor little Rosie!

She then flew around the rest of course with ease. She went on to jump very well in the final showjumping phase, with just one unlucky rub on a fence. It was a shame not to finish in the top few, but despite being a little green here and there I was generally over the moon with how she felt around her first big interactional.

A DREAM RESULT We then headed back to the UK for the wonderful Bramham Park, which hosts the prestigious Under 25 National Championships. Dargun was an absolute superstar from start to finish - he performed one of his best dressage tests to date of 25.5, which put us at the top of the game.

The cross country course was one of the biggest and toughest tracks I have ever ridden around. Not only are the jump obstacles themselves tricky, the terrain is extremely undulating and one of the hardest that our sport offers. You really need your horse to be in peak fitness.

Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 91

KEEPING UP WITH THE KINGS

Dre was a little warrior. He galloped from start to finish, remaining bold and brave through the big water complexes, huge ditches and was also super-focused and straight through the more accuracy-testing combinations. He was full of running and finished the course clear inside the time to keep our lead going into the final showjumping phase! I really couldn’t quite believe this; I still to this day couldn’t be more proud of how he tackled the course.

He then felt fresh and sound on the Sunday at the final horse inspection, and now it was time to really focus everything on the final phase. I was on 25 and second place was on 26 so it really was very tight at the top with no room for error in the final showjumping.

Dre felt the best he’s ever felt and jumped around a tough track just like a normal one-day event. He pulled out a fantastic clear inside the time to retain a lead in the CCI*** and we were crowned U25 National Champions! I was quite gobsmacked.

Bramham is such a prestigious event, one which I have attended since I was a small child with my mum, so to actually compete here, win and be crowned Under 25 National Champion on Dargun, a horse so close to my heart, was just beyond all of my dreams. It was also fantastic for my whole team - Dre’s incredible owner Jane and for all of my grooms, sponsors, owners and,

obviously, my amazing mum. None of this would be possible without their help.

MAKING A LEAP I then had a very exciting change, moving my base up to North Wales to live with my boyfriend, Sam Ecroyd. We’ve now settled in very well - my two grooms, Sophie and Becca, have come along with me and have been a very instrumental part in my move and a monumental part of my career.

I think it must be something in the Welsh air because the competitions I’ve done since living up here have gone better than I could have ever imagined! My young horses have been performing very well. Marco (Amore JG Z), who’s owned by a very special long-standing owner, Patrick Beresford, competed in his first five-year-old BE100 class at Stafford, where he did a couple clear to finish second and qualified directly for the five-year-old national championships at Osberton in October.

Dre then had his first run back since Bramham at Aston Le Walls in the Advanced Under 25. He performed a stunning test of 28 followed by a great quick double clear, to win his first event back. It was great to feel he was still so confident and happy after contending the biggest event of his career.

Emily riding The ‘Your Horse & Country Magazine ‘Hobnob’ Syndicate’s Hobby

92 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

I then was very lucky to head to Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight, for a showcase event. The shorter format - more condensed dressage, showjumping and cross country phases - really sped it up and made it much more appealing and easier to understand for spectators. I took Quinn for the CIC** and he did a sweet test, followed by a beautiful speedy double clear to finish second in the prestigious new event! It was such a stunning show set at Queen Victoria’s house, running through her grounds and right by the sea. It really was like something from a film!

My younger horses then headed to Cholmondeley Castle and again we were lucky enough to have a wonderful show.

Rosie was fantastic and performed a stunning 18 dressage followed by a lovely double clear to take the win in one of the Novice sections. Hobby was also very, very special and performed a 28 dressage

KEEPING UP WITH THE KINGS

and a very classy double clear to win his Novice section. I was over the moon with Hobby and it’s great to now get the results I know he’s always been capable of. Marco did a beautiful 25 dressage in B100, and a double clear to finish second in his B100 section. I’m very excited for his future - he is only five and feels like an old pro already.

I then was very excited to head back to one of my favourite events on the calendar - Gatcombe Park, which hosts a very prestigious British Open Championships. I had Dargun in the British Open, against the world’s top riders. He did one of the best tests he has ever performed, but unfortunately was slightly tightly marked and I felt his score didn’t quite reflect the quality of his work. But sometimes these things happen and you can’t do anything about it. The only thing you can do is perform as well as possible in the other two phases. The showjumping was very influential and talented Dargun focused immaculately on a tough up-to-height course and pulled out a superb clear inside the time.

Gatcombe is known to be one of the toughest cross county courses in the world. It is extremely hilly and undulating and it takes the fittest and strongest of horses to run competitively around Captain Mark Phillips’ track. Dre was an absolute superstar and fought yet again like a little warrior from start to finish, trying his absolute heart out to deliver a quick and clear cross country time to keep us in fourth place. We finished the second highest British rider and also won the leading U25 prize!

Events like this are extremely special… moments you treasure for a life time.

We have a busy few months ahead, with the focus now on all of the autumn internationals. Fingers crossed the horses stay sound and happy, and that we’re able to stay on our winning streak!

Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 93

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Everything you want from a leading equestrian and country lifestyle magazine, Your Horse & Country Magazine gives you the very best in terms of editorial and advertising, whether it’s our in-house vet Dr Judith Maxwell on seasonal equine health care or six-time Olympian Mary King and world-class young event rider Emily King, both sponsored by Your Horse & Country Magazine, in our exclusive rider feature Keeping Up With the Kings. You can ensure that that you never miss an issue with this great subscription offer.

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Professional Clipping and Trimming with Clipping plays an important role in maintaining a horse’s wellbeing and performance.

A horse that works throughout the winter and has a reasonably heavy coat may benefit from clipping, either in part or in full. Clipping usually takes place between the end of September to beginning of October but you can give your horse several clips throughout the winter. If your horse is competing throughout the year, you may find it best to clip all year round. This makes it easier to maintain the coat and is particularly beneficial if, like Tim Stockdale, you are competing in warmer climates and you need to keep your horse cool and minimise sweating.

According to Tim, when it comes to clipping and trimming it is vital that you take your time. Smooth and long movements give you the best control and helps to avoid patches. Let the clipper or trimmer do the work for you and avoid using too much force. Do what you can to reduce stress for the horse. The Wahl Avalon has an ultra-quiet, low vibration motor, so is perfect for use around nervous animals.

With the Avalon, you get 2.5 hours of cordless capability, so you have plenty of time to perform a full clip - it’s important not to rush, especially if you are new to clipping. Using the body strap allows the user to move with the horse and manoeuvre to reach those more difficult areas. Ensure that you are oiling your blades every 5 to 10 minutes and are using a clipper with a cool running blade system, like the Avalon.

Once you’ve completed the clip, use a smaller, cordless trimmer such as the Wahl Pro Ion for areas such as the legs and head. The taper control means you can adjust the blade down to 0.8mm, allowing you to get closer to the skin than a clipper would. For Tim Stockdale, an important element of his management is keeping the horses looking smart, so trimming is imperative.

Tim recommends starting at the bottom of the leg, using the Wahl Figura’s adjustable blade will give you full control. The ergonomic design with antislip grip also helps for trimming awkward areas like the legs.

Keep your blades in good condition by cleaning out any hair. Blades that have been used a lot can blunt and will then begin to pull at your horse’s coat, so after a few uses ensure they are sharpened. After grooming, always brush and bathe the horse to get rid of excess hair and any residual clipper oil so that the horse is left feeling comfortable and not itchy.

We pride ourselves on being professional, when someone tells us our horses look professional it’s the best compliment you can get. Using Wahl products helps us to achieve this and look the best they possibly can.

Tim Stockdale

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VET’S ADVICE

 Discomfort in their feet or excessive sweating, right, are issues that should prompt a call to the vet about getting a Cushing’s test

with Dr Judith E J Maxwell MRCVS BVSc Bsc (hons)

Cushing’s: can you spot the clues?

It’s the time of year when Cushing’s disease will be most apparent. Dr Judith Maxwell looks at the seven signs that your horse is suffering.

C

ushings (or PPID) is a disease that affects horses all year round, but our animals demonstrate the effects of raised hormone levels the most in the autumn. Vets pick up new cases during this period because this is when the hormone we are testing for in Cushing’s-positive horses goes up with the shortening day length.

If you have a horse over the age of 16, you should consider testing them for Cushing’s in the autumn if you are seeing any of these seven symptoms:

1

Hypertrichosis

This is a very fancy word for a change in the hair on your horse’s body. A lot of the time the first signs are a failure to shed

their “grass belly” so quickly or are getting cellulitis or pads on their hind quarters. Some of the time they will have visible ribs but then have fat pads on their back, which are sometimes called kidney pads. All in all, the dipped back and bigger belly is what might make you start to think that your horse is looking older, which is the classic loss of muscle and increase of fat caused by the Cushing’s hormone.

4

Laminitis – or pain in the feet

Your horse may be barely able to walk or just seems “footy” – in discomfort – after being trimmed or re-shod. All of these issues should be looked into if it is not the normal behaviour of your horse.

2

the last season’s coat completely, so you are left with guard hairs or “cat hairs”. But you can also see, especially on the legs, that there is a curly appearance coming on the back of the leg and the hair is generally thicker and there seems to be more of it.

 Thicker hair – especially on the legs – is one of the seven signs of Cushing’s

3

Abnormal fat pockets

My number one is over the tops of your horse’s eyes, where you can see these bulging fat pads sticking out. Often people will see horses that tend to not lose

100 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine – EQUINE HEALTH

Sweaty Betty

Most of the time, an increase in sweating will be not noticed until you really look at the skin and see the driedon salt crystals. With the change in coat mentioned above, your horse will be more prone to getting too hot as it effectively has too many jumpers on. Hence the reason it is often a good idea to clip them year round. PPID also triggers a sweat response due to the nature of the hormones that get elevated, so sometimes the horse will be sweating and cold.

VET’S ADVICE

get your result back, it will then be time to decide if you need to start treatment or not. Sometimes you are in the grey zone, and it may be worthwhile waiting and seeing what the result is like in six months’ time, rather than jumping straight in and treating. This is particularly true if the horse is undergoing a stressful event that might have adversely put its stress hormones up – for instance, a foot abscess has just been dug.

There is also another test available called a TRH stimulation test, which can be performed if you keep getting inconclusive tests from your first blood sample.

Treatment

5

Increased drinking and urinating

6

Poor performance

7

Infections that they can’t seem to shift

Now not many of us will recognise that our horses are drinking excessively as they are normally out in fields with automatic drinkers. However, when they do come in during the autumn, this is when we will begin to notice that the bed is wetter than normal, or that you are getting through more bedding. This telltale sign is another trigger that should get you reaching for the phone and booking in a Cushing’s blood test.

Your horse might seem to have generally lost its sparkle. Some riders are much more aware of this than others, as horses – just like people – can have variable energy levels. But if you are noticing you are kick, kick, kicking and getting nowhere it is time to consider why. While on ridden work, I would also consider testing if your horse is resisting trotting on hard surfaces and becoming picky about stony, uneven ground and drop fences as it could be there is underlying foot pain.

Now, this can start with an annoying cough that just won’t leave, to a grumbling snotty nose that lingers on. In the majority of older horses that have teeth problems and sinus problems, all stem from the fact that their immune system is not functioning properly and therefore the infection is not being fought off properly so drags on. Teeth and foot infections would be my biggest triggers as a vet outside of laminitis to test for Cushing’s.

Testing Really it is quite simple to test for this disease – you phone your vet and ask them to come out and take a blood sample for you, they will process it and get you the result. The most helpful thing you can do is visit the talkaboutlaminits. com website and complete and print off your free lab test voucher! This blood test (in which about 5ml of blood is taken from the jugular vein in your horse’s neck) is best taken in autumn; well, really anytime when the day length is shortening, so from August to December. When you

Thankfully there is treatment available for this disease. It is called Pergolide, which is also known by its tradename Prascend.

Most small horses start on half a tablet a day and the larger ones on one. They will eat it in their feed, or sometimes if they are picky you might have to resort to a treat. Once treatment has started you should get your vet to retest in about four to six weeks. Once the dose is settled and the hormones have come down, you should start to see a big improvement in all the symptoms mentioned above.  For further information, go to www. talkaboutlaminitis.co.uk or pick up the phone and talk to your vet.

 A simple blood test can establish whether your horse has Cushing’s; special feeds such as Dodson and Horrell’s CushCare Condition, above, have been designed to boost health in older and laminitis-prone horses EQUINE HEALTH – Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 101

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Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 102

ARCEQUINE SEES EXTRAORDINARY GROWTH IN THE VET AND THERAPIST MARKETPLACE AS MICROCURRENT THERAPY GOES MAINSTREAM. Years of research and development have paid off for ArcEquine, the world’s smallest wide spectrum microcurrent device that offers a drug-free, non-invasive approach to pain management and tissue repair. Whilst growth has been fuelled by significant global distribution deals, the single largest area of expansion has come from vets and therapists, buying into the technology and using it as standard treatment.

Sales Director Lee Brearley explains;

‘It’s no longer an unknown novelty because you can’t argue with results. Equine vets are seeing these with their own eyes, so confidence is surging. In addition, our Business Services unit has a fantastic range of bespoke deals aimed purely at professionals and this increased support has made a big difference.’

Due to the patented way the ArcEquine delivers the currents, the device doesn’t need to be near the injury, and wherever a repair is required, it will kick start the ATP production process, enabling the body to treat more than just the original injury. It’s especially effective on high inflammatory conditions.

Lee added ‘whilst there’s always initial scepticism with cutting edge tech, I think Arc4Health, our human version, certainly changed perceptions when it won certification as a Class 2a Medical Device across Europe. This obviously requires evidence and if anything, we want the same stringent standards in the Equine world, but this is unfortunately not the case yet.’

ArcEquine works by replicating the body’s own bioelectrical current. When damage occurs, the animal’s natural current is hindered, reducing the ability to produce ATP (AdenosineTriphosphate) within the cells.

ATP is essential for the flow of vital nutrients through the cell walls, and when this stop, a build-up occurs which we know as inflammation, and pain.

By introducing an external current, ArcEquine can increase the production of the body’s ATP by up to 500%, fuelling increased metabolic activity and kickstarting the flow of nutrients when the body is least equipped to do so itself. The earlier the repair starts, the earlier it’s finished with secondary benefits being far less scarring and stronger end results.

To get yours, call 01580 755504 or visit www.arcequine.com Case Study TENDON INJURY

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103 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

Case Study OPEN WOUND

Dec 2013

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How fertile is your soil?

Lordington Park Agronomy’s Jonathan Holmes puts a client’s field to the test

O

ver the millennia the mineral particles that created our soils will have experienced different weather patterns, therefore the proportions of sand, silt and clay will vary widely. The fertility of a soil will be dictated by the combination of mineral variability and the inherent variability in the main soil components.

Not many world soils can be described as having a high level of natural fertility.

Most are at best reasonably fertile, or poor. High fertility soils have largely been formed by ancient alluvial deposits of river mud and organic material.

The five main components of soil are: 1. Mineral particles derived from rocks by weathering.

2. Soil air – both oxygen and carbon dioxide which help microbes to survive.

3. Soil water – containing dissolved nutrients.

4. Living bacteria that help with plant decomposition.

5. Organic matter – broken down into humus for plant utilisation.

The soil texture refers to the relative proportions of sand, silt and clay that it contains. This is then defined as a soil type i.e. silty clay loam. Loam is a mixture of sand and silt, with a low proportion of clay.

Because of their minuscule size (less than 0.002mm), clay soils have the largest surface area, followed by silt (0.002-0.5mm), then sand (0.05-2mm).

Clay and silt have a negative charge on their surface, while sand is inert. Because of their huge collective surface area, clay particles generate a strong negative charge in the soil. Most plant nutrients are cations and have a positive charge.

This positive charge then binds them to the negative charge on the clay and silt particles in the soil, retaining them in the soil colloid for the plant to utilise.

Organic matter also has a predominately negative charge, and

therefore helps to retain nutrients in the soil for plant utilisation. Not only does the organic matter provide a food source for the worms and other soil organisms, but as the organic matter decomposes it slowly releases nitrogen and phosphate for the plants to use.

A soil with a high clay and organic matter content will have the potential to be highly productive, and this combination of fertility factors is defined as the Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) – the soil’s ability to retain and release positively charged nutrients called cations. This soil would have a high CEC (greater than 25meq/100g soil).

Conversely a soil that is predominately inert sand with little organic matter will have a low CEC (9-11meq/100g soil).

The higher the CEC of a soil, the more nutrients it is likely to hold and the higher its fertility level (Fullen & Catt, 2004) Plants obtain many of their nutrients from the soil via an electrochemical

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www.lordingtonparkagronomy.co.uk 104 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine – EQUINE HEALTH

PROMOTION

process defined as cation exchange.

Nutrients that are held by charges on a soil are termed “exchangeable” as they become readily available to plants (Rowell, 1994).

The pH of a soil will further affect which nutrients can be exchanged, as the pH alters the electrochemical process in the soil. A pH outside of the neutral range of 6.5 to 7.0 will increase the electrical charge in the soil, which effectively means that the nutrients are adsorbed (stuck on the outside of) the soil colloid.

Once these soils’ variability is understood then a management strategy can be created that complements the soil type. Whatever the soil type, mismanagement can rapidly deplete the soil fertility and create an unproductive environment for any crop to grow in.

Recently I was asked to generate a Sward Improvement Plan for newly acquired land near Aylesbury. The area historically has a high calcium content, and I was hoping that the land had not been purchased from an arable farmer!

If the land had been ploughed by the farmer, then the valuable clay and silt content of the soil would have been sieved out (never to return) and lumps of calcium would have been brought to the surface. Few crops will grow sustainably in that.

Once I saw the field it was obvious that it hadn’t been touched for years.

Thankfully there were few docks or nettles to contend with, but plenty of chamomile daisies and the odd cornflower to greet me. It was mostly populated by unproductive meadow grass species, interspersed with cocksfoot and sheep’s fescue grasses.

Once I started digging holes it was apparent just how fragile this soil environment was.

samples, too – worms are the soil’s natural garbage recycling experts. The analysis confirmed this potential with a CEC of 31.4meq/100g. This is rare, and exceptional for a calcareous soil.

The levels of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi I found must have built up over decades to colonise the soil and increase the nutrient exchange capacity to this level. This high level was replicated across the rest of the field. An organic matter level of 11.9 per cent also indicates that the natural cycle of growth and decay has been taking place for a very, very long time. In comparison, the average arable UK soil will only have two to three per cent at best.

The results revealed there are a few nutritional problems to rectify, but a gentle management strategy with minimal intervention is the key to maintaining this amazing level of fertility.

Further investigation of the field, while watching a Muntjac deer, produced some even more intriguing results. The bottom end of the field had a large population of cocksfoot Dactylis glomerata. This must have been introduced by people with foresight in the distant past, as cocksfoot’s deep root mass and natural ability to withstand drought meant that it was ideally suited for forage production on these soils.

Because of its robust nature and consistent feed value, cocksfoot began to be sown widely in the UK from the early 1800s. I have always been a great advocate of cocksfoot (much to the annoyance of the ryegrass advocates!) as it withstands all the vagaries of the great British weather and plays a significant part in restructuring soil to the benefit of both nutrient exchange and nutrient retention. The deep root mass also creates an environment that encourages the retention of the humus that the worms and bacteria have created, which

consequently increases the productivity potential of other less robust plant species.

In my experience a soil sample with such a good analysis of a CEC of 31.4meq/100g was unusual, but a soil with a CEC of 40.1meq/100g is exceptional! That was the analysis from the soil in the area with the cocksfoot and serves to demonstrate just how much this grass species contributes to sustainable grassland productivity.

The soil around the cocksfoot’s roots had less sand and more silt than the earlier sample, but that difference alone can’t account for the significant increase in CEC. To increase productivity for the new sward, the field will need an application of magnesium and phosphate to encourage the development of the new roots and increase photosynthetic activity. Magnesium also encourages phosphate absorption, so both will encourage development in the new grass species. Both nutrients will be applied once the bespoke grass seed mixture has been slot-drilled this autumn.

The magnesium will also balance the calcium/magnesium ratio in the grass so that the horses will be eating nutritious grass instead of the current grass filled with lignin – similar to tree bark.

Once established, the new grass should be able to access the phosphate from the organic matter.

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) Interpretation (Area with large population of cocksfoot)

CEC: 40.10meq/100g

p Reasonably dark – indicating a good level of organic matter The soil had not been disturbed for decades, which is a good indicator of future productivity potential. There were satisfying levels of worms in all

Soil type: Clay loam

Exchangeable calcium (Ca) Exchangeable potassium (K) Exchangeable magnesium (Mg) Potash/magnesium ratio Calcium/magnesium ratio Organic matter Phosphate (P) index

31.4 meq/100g 0.31 meq/100g 1.06 meq/100g 0.3:1 29.6:1 13.8% w/w 0

pH: 6.7 Good Low Depleted Very low Very high Excellent Too low for productivity

EQUINE HEALTH – Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 105

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107 |

The

Power of Poo â&#x20AC;&#x201C; opening the can of worms The importance of diligent parasite monitoring and targeted worm control should not be overlooked as part of a routine healthcare programme for your horse.

Whilst large worm burdens can go unnoticed, they also have the potential to cause serious health complications, some of which can ultimately prove fatal.

Detecting the presence of worms is the first line in enabling appropriate treatment and management to be implemented.

One of the cheapest, simplest and least invasive ways to monitor your horse for parasites is by performing regular faecal worm egg counts (FWECs). In this test, a sample of your horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faeces is carefully examined for evidence of worm eggs, and the type of eggs found are identified.

The FWEC test is effective at picking up the major pathogenic worms that may

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Meet the worms - and why you don’t want them there!

LARGE STRONGYLES

– large redworms

• Adults reside in the large intestine and feed on the gut lining. This causes damage, bleeding and bruising.

• Immature worms can burrow into the blood stream and migrate to other organs in the body. If they become lodged in the mesenteric vessels supplying the gut, they cause inflammation (verminous arteritis), impede blood flow and deprive the affected part of the bowel of oxygen, causing it to die off. Blood vessels may also rupture, resulting in severe haemorrhage. This may present as colic, or in severe cases can result in death.

SMALL STRONGYLES

– small redworms, cyathostomes • Adults and developing larvae reside in the large intestine. The larvae can

encyst in the intestinal wall and enter a stage of arrested development.

If all worms are present in encysted form, an FWEC may be low as there are no adult worms producing eggs.

• Mass emergence of the encysted worms causes substantial damage to the gut lining, resulting in inflammation and haemorrhage. This may present as weightloss, diarrhoea, colic, anaemia, protein loss or peripheral oedema.

Mass emergence of worms can prove fatal in up to 50% of cases.

ASCARIDS

– roundworms

• Adults live in the small intestine, competing directly with the host for digested nutrients. This leads to weight loss, ill thrift and a poor coat.

• As young horses develop their own immunity to ascarids, spontaneous parasite expulsion and death of the worms can cause intestinal blockage.

This may result in colic, gut rupture and occasionally death. Surgery may be required to clear the blockage.

TAPEWORMS • Adults reside in the small intestine, caecum or.at the junction between the two (ileocaecal junction). Heavy burdens may cause a blockage, which presents as colic. A tapeworm impaction may need surgery to resolve.

• Low tapeworm burdens will be undetected in a FWEC. There are additional saliva and blood tests that can be run to rule out the presence of tapeworm in your horse.

• During their life cycle they migrate through the body, which can cause damage to the liver or lungs (parasitic pneumonia) in the process.

To FWEC or not to FWEC? For the sake of a (hopefully gloved!) handful of horse poo, an FWEC can provide a multitude of benefits:

Written by: Charlotte Frost MA, VetMB, MRCVS

FWEC TEST - cost £5.00 NAME

ADDRESS

• Healthy horses – better coat condition and weight, feel better internally, less likely to die from an unexpected worm associated incident • Save money – less money spent on unnecessary wormers for horses that don’t require them, less money spent on colic surgery from undetected worm burdens, less money spent on providing enough food to feed your horse alongside it’s worm collection • Yard hero – make sure your horse isn’t the one spreading worms around the yard • Feel involved – you diligently pick up all your horses poo anyway, may as well put it to use!

CONTACT TEL. NO.

EMAIL

NAME OF HORSE

AGE OF HORSE

DATE OF SAMPLE

PAYMENT METHOD VISA

M/CARD

SWITCH

No VALID FROM

So don’t delay, FWEC today!

LAST WORMING DATE (approx)

ISSUE No

EXPIRY DATE SECURITY CODE

Send your completed form and payment to:-

Bourton Vale Equine Clinic, FWEC test,

Wyck Rd, Lower Slaughter, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL54 2EX

✃

110 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

Your H&C_quarter page Autumn 2018_Horse and Country Magazine 26/07/2018 14:46 Page 1

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111 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine – EQUINE HEALTH

From ‘opera gloves’ to alpaca wool, Kathy Carter shares the autumn trends that will keep you...

herd ...ahead of the

I

t’s the tail-end of the horse trials season and if you enjoy shopping at these illustrious events, you can’t fail to be impressed by the exciting ranges available. Equally, the bricks-and-mortar countryside stores have a wonderful selection of autumnal fashion ready to tempt you on their rails! So, here we outline ten purchases that you should be keeping an eye out for to stay ahead of the fashion crowd this autumn.

Capes

London Fashion Week predicted that capes would be Big News for this season, with Vogue magazine hailing them “the most literal manifestation of a solution: super hero capes”. Equestrian and countryside retailers and manufacturers have proven the fashion editors right!

Tweed is probably the most popular material for a country-set cape, and is super smart and hard-wearing, while mohair and cashmere are also popular choices, and fibre-blends are also widely used. Look out for faux-fur accents, and dainty raspberry pink threads in the tweed patterns.  Clockwise from top left: Softly Softly alpaca fur collar; Forever Heart necklace

by Tail End Jewellery; Feather pocket square by Bhoid; belts from Peachy Belts; alpaca shawl by Softly Softly

112 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine – FASHION

Headscarves

A variety of fashion houses have recently pinpointed headscarves as de rigeuer accessories; and of course, it’s Her Majesty the Queen’s favourite head gear.

Her Majesty wears hers in the classic “vintage wrap” style, covering the whole head. For Fall 2018 Fashion Month, the headscarf re-emerged on major runways in New York, London, Milan and Paris as a must-have item. However, today’s headscarf wearer seems to use the accessory as more of a hair-scarf, or headband, tied at the nape of the neck, to drape around one’s shoulders. Look out for statement colours and bold prints.

Fur, feather and fauna prints

If you see a blouse festooned with pheasants or feathers, and a scarf decorated with dainty leaves, snap them up, as this season these classic “countryset” items are set to become wardrobe staples. They’re effortlessly chic, and a patterned scarf or shawl easily doubles up as a wrap, headscarf or even sarong, if required. Along the same lines, you may see more items like traditional silk squares and shawls festooned with a single animal or fauna image, like Hermes’ iconic Robe du Soir horses’ head silk scarf, which has influenced many highstreet designers.

AUTUMN FASHION

Long gloves

For anyone attending a ball or society event, long “opera” gloves are a musthave this season. The opera glove emerged in the Regency era, and was later popularised in film; think Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, and later, Princess Diana. In 2018, actresses Margot Robbie and Nicole Kidman have both been seen modelling this glamorous piece of evening wear. While white was usually the colour of choice for the long glove in the movies, an off-white or ivory is usually preferred these days for formal wear. Chanel has recently influenced high-street brands with its brightly coloured fuchsia versions – although we wonder whether the traditional equestrian community is more likely to rock a classy, neutral-coloured pair in black, grey or brown satin.

Alpaca wool Fashion and lifestyle bible Tatler suggested always packing an alpaca wool garment for a shooting weekend, for warmth and fashion savvy – and we can see why.

Lulu Phipps, who last year launched her business Softly Softly, selling luxury alpaca products from both her own alpacas and

sourced from the finest manufacturers around the world, says this luxurious fibre is known as the “the fibre of the gods” and “the gold of the Incas”.

“Alpaca wool is incredibly warm, whilst also being lightweight and beautifully soft. Interestingly, it is the second strongest natural fibre to silk. It is also hypoallergenic, due to the lack of lanolin, and therefore especially appealing to those people with allergies to sheep’s wool,” she explains. At her base at Lusi Alpacas in Northamptonshire, Lulu has focused on breeding alpacas that carry fine, soft fleeces. “We’re known for producing high quality yarns, coat fabric and even gentlemen’s ‘super 120’ suit fabric, produced by blending alpaca with merino wool and silk.”

Felt hats and fedoras

A felt hat goes beautifully with chunky sweaters, scarves, and ankle boots in autumnal shades, either in a floppy style, or as a more tailored fedora “titfer”. Felt options tend to be popular and costeffective, being made from a blend of pressed wool and synthetic fibres.

However, pure wool versions, with their higher price-point, may be longer-lasting and do hold their shape well.

Keep your horse close to you

Beautiful belts A smart belt will really add a splash of colour and individuality to your outfit. Zoe Gibson, founder of Peachy Belts, hit upon the idea of creating sumptuous jeans belts with interchangeable buckles, using the finest, Italian vegetable-tanned leathers and solid pewter and brass buckles. She says anyone wearing jeans without a belt is missing a major accessory opportunity.

“A belt really lifts an outfit, and can be coordinated with your accessories. This season, crocodile and ostrich embossed patterns are proving popular. Ladies often love to wear a belt with Swarovski-adorned embellishments – it’s a great way to add some sparkle, in a modern, tasteful way,” Zoe states.

“I also love to see individual-looking belts adorned with animal decorations, like our pheasant, fox, horse and steer buckles,” she adds. “Generally, I’d say that belts are one of the most versatile items for our wardrobes. I live in my jeans, and know what a massive difference a good belt can make to them; people do not notice the state of your jeans when you have a nice belt and buckle on,” Zoe continues. “With the option of changing the buckle, you can totally change the look of the belt; I 

Look good feel good with Cool Equestrian. Visit our website for our stunning seasonal collections and competition wear for horse and rider. Find our exhibition stand at an event near you!

Visit www.coolequestrian.com or call Louise on 07789 403701

Stunning custom made horsehair hair jewellery in sterling silver, 9ct gold & leather.

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FASHION – Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 113

Katia Alexandra www.katiaalexandra.co.uk 07398349298

Beautiful Bespoke Millinery and Headwear Katia Alexandra Company Visit us at Blenheim - Stand no 32

Visit us at Burghley Horse Trials, Rural Crafts near the Food Walk

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114 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine – FASHION

AUTUMN FASHION

will often go from a classic everyday type of buckle to a Swarovski crystal buckle for evening – a clean shirt, and off you go.”

Zoe adds that fashion-wise, purple is a strong colour this autumn. “We have a purple suede belt in our collection that works so well with all greys, blues, blacks and browns. Zebra print is a quirky choice, and adds a dash of vitality to any outfit. Zebra print works with just about any colours, although I would avoid busy patterns with it.”

Bespoke jewellery “A custom-made piece of horsehair jewellery can finish off an outfit with a very personal touch. Horsehair jewellery has a powerful and sentimental story behind it that can create a fascinating talking point,” explains Alison Dadley-Webb, of jewellery designer Tail End Jewellery. “Eye-catching statement pieces such as our Forever Heart necklace, with inlaid horsehair, can create interest and intrigue from fellow equestrians, as well as setting off the neckline on the outfit,” she explains. “This year, the rose gold is proving very popular, sparkling in the pretty autumn light.”

Snaffle bits are still one of the most popular designs to be incorporated into equestrian jewellery. “Its iconic shape and tactileness is instantly recognisable,” Alison continues. “Combine this metal embellishment with two custom-made horse hair braids, and you have the ultimate, unique and personalised bracelet that cannot found on the high street!”

Elsewhere, there’s a range of traditional equestrian and countryside items available – think cosy quilted gilets, leather country boots, and smart luggage that gives a nod to the Royal Air Force’s centenary year, with military-style embellishments.

Smart leather handbags

There’s seemingly two ways to wear a bag this year – extremely big, or extremely small! Satchel-style bags, drawstring totes and traditional totes are all popular this season; as are the simple flap-bags in natural leather tones, perhaps embellished with low-key clasps and magnetic fastenings, often with equestrian and countryside elements, like snaffle bits. Beltbags – modern updates on the bum-bag – are also back in fashion, and are a good way to own a quality leather accessory without splashing out on a more expensive handbag.

The luxury scarf

Scarves are the fashionista’s go-to accessory, and never really go out of fashion; there’s a scarf for every budget, from cost-effective cotton and synthetic blends to luxury cashmere and silk; and many different ways to wear them! In terms of choosing your scarf, look towards nature this season, with feathers and other beautiful patterns from flora and fauna inspiring the design.

 Top: Bhoid Tay Silk Scarf in Dawn is a luxurious finishing touch; above: the everpopular snaffle bit horsehair bracelet from Tail End Jewellery

Lovely leggings Horsey ladies can’t fail to have noticed the trend for riding tights or leggings this year. These are flattering riding trews more akin to your fitness-wear than thicker breeches. Our top pick are the Kingsland Ariston leggings – riding tights in a highgauge compression design that offer good shape retention, with four-way stretch; ideal for the changing seasons.

Dressage rider Louise Metcalfe, of high-end retailer Cool Equestrian, loves the breeches.

“They have a wide, elasticated waistband, magically staying up without wrinkling whether riding or going about your day.

“They are also compression leggings, boosting circulation and said to make your legs look ten years younger! What’s not to like?” she says. 

For dressage glitz…

or for everyday breeches or jeans.

Peachy Belts, handmade Italian leather belts with detachable buckles make the perfect present.

Worn by top eventers Pippa Funnell and Nicola Wilson.

Come and see us at Burghley Horse Trials in the Country Living marquee to view our new winter range – plus some great reductions on seasonal lines – but come early as stock is limited!

www.peachybelts.co.uk Tel: 01664 454994

follow us on or for news on competitions and special offers

FASHION – Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 115

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117 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

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FOR EXAMPLE An empty 3500kg horsebox normally weighs about 2500kg, leaving 1000kg for the driver, passenger, horse, tack etc. Many of these horseboxes are stalled for two horses, and that can be a big problem. If you are overloaded and have an accident, your insurance will be invalidated, and you could be facing a number of offences, both overloading and licence ones.

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Rural planning advice I

n the UK, planning permission will be required for all types of development including the erections of new buildings and the change of use of land. But what happens when works are carried out without the benefit of planning permission? It is possible to be granted a Certificate of Lawful Use or Development (CLUED) for a change of use of land or buildings which has been carried out more than 10 years ago, for buildings which have been substantially completed for in excess of 4 years and for a dwelling which been used as such for over 4 years.

More often than not, these cases only come to light when a neighbour has informed the council of a breach of planning control. Unauthorised development can go unnoticed for several years but once the council is notified the problems begin.

The Local Planning Authority’s enforcement team may then serve a notice to the property owner informing them of the breach. At this stage, the sensible option is to instruct a planning agent to help deal with the issue and ensure that the situation can be made lawful.

If a building is equipped with the essential facilities required for day-to-day domestic living and can be described as a dwelling for at least four years then its occupants are entitled to apply for a Lawful Development Certificate. The certificate will confirm that the dwelling can be occupied lawfully.

One of the biggest stories to hit the press in recent years is that of Robert Fidler who built a four-bedroom turreted house which he hid behind hay bales for seven years. Mr Fidler clearly thought that he would get away with the four-year rule and be allowed to keep his castle, however following a lengthy legal process

was forced to demolish the property in 2016 to avoid jail. The crucial issue in this case was that, with the hay bales in place the dwelling was substantially completed and Mr Fidler knowingly set out to deceive the local authority. The Localism Act allows for a local authority which has become aware of a development that has been deliberately concealed to apply to the magistrates’ court for a planning enforcement order.

One of the most common queries that we are asked at The Rural Planning Practice relates to the change from agricultural to residential. This will require the use of aerial imagery to show that the land has been used for domestic, rather than agricultural, purposes for over 10 years. It will often be necessary to provide photos showing the land being used for recreational purposes which could include activities such as playing cricket, tennis and entertaining friends and family. For the council to be satisfied of this they will

Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 124

often ask for a Statutory Declaration and Exhibit to be sworn and witnessed by a solicitor. The key issue relates to the use of the land.

In planning speak there is no definition for the word “curtilage” and rather, the land should be classed as or domestic use.

There are several recent High Court judgement cases which seek to disprove the “curtilage definition” and give considerable food for thought when establishing what is actually being applied for. The implications for these types of certificate being granted are substantial as the use of the land as domestic opens the opportunity for residential development as gardens are classed as brownfield, the use of which for houses is encouraged in sustainable locations. As a result, Local Planning Authorities are becoming increasingly reluctant to grant permission for this.

One successful case study where we achieved a Certificate of Lawfulness for a client was in South Gloucestershire

District Council. We were approached by a client in 2016 after receiving an enforcement notice from the council for the erection of buildings without planning permission. Overtime our clients eventing business had grown, and without applying for planning permission, he had added facilities to support this. This included stables, a horse walker and several outbuildings. Staff flats had also been added into the internal stable yard and our client had converted a barn into residential use for his own family. It was vital for his business and livelihood that we achieved retention of the buildings on site and we prepared two separate applications; a Certificate of Lawfulness and a retrospective planning application.

We could demonstrate that many of the buildings on site had been in existence for over four years or change of use for ten years and this was confirmed by detailed shown through photos and aerial photography as well as other documents and press cuttings.

125 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

The rules for Certificates of Lawful Use or Development (CLUED) are relatively simple, the onus is on the applicant to prove that on the ‘balance of probability’ the change of use has occurred. Aerial photography showing the implemented change is a useful tool, as are photos showing the use taking place. The importance of keeping records of receipts and orders becomes apparent in this case also and letters from friends, family or anyone who has witnessed the change of use taking place will strengthen the argument.

The Rural Planning Practice are experienced rural planners. We have offices in Cirencester, Gloucestershire and Cranbrook, Kent and would be delighted to assist with any planning queries you may have.  Tel: 01285 719568 (Cirencester) 01580 201888 (Cranbrook) Email: office@therpp.co.uk

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Whatever your stabling requirement

Scotts has the solution S cotts of Thrapston can supply a range of stable doors and windows for your stable refurbishment, or development, as well as a host of other accessories. Our extensive product range can be purchased off the shelf or specified to your own individual requirements.

If you are looking to refurbish existing timber stables, but want to upgrade the quality of finish using our premium doors and windows we can work with you to match existing door frames and windows. With over 98 years of joinery experience, we look to supply the highest quality windows and doors, to various specifications and sizes, to suit your equestrian facility.

We are currently working with the Ride High Charity to refurbish one of their old stables with a new pony height door and bespoke window with internal grille.

Our quality doors will complement both brand new buildings in brick and block as well as period stable blocks in brick, timber or stone. You can choose to colour match with your properties paint work for a cohesive look to your stable and home, and assist with planning in Areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).

The standard stable doors are lined to the

inside of the bottom door with galvanised steel and have a deep door capping to prevent chewing.

The accessories pages on our website make it easy for consumers, builders and architects alike to specify our products in their design and stable refurbishment projects.

Our website allows users to review the various items along with providing comprehensive technical details for each product and an estimated price.

Browse the accessories range for further details as well as more finishing touches including weather vanes, clock towers and saddle horses. These final touches can make the difference to the look of your yard and it is worth researching what works best for your setting.

Pinterest is becoming a popular medium for obtaining ideas and looking for new inspiration and we have a selection of images on our Equestrian Pinterest board to get you started.

■ Contact a member of the Sales Team on 01832 732366 or info@scottsofthrapston.co.uk to discuss your requirements.

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BUILD IT – Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 127

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If the answer is yes, think carefully and ensure that you plan it well, remember to take into consideration everything from drainage requirements for the arena through to what surface is best suited for you and your horse as the surface can have a significant impact on your horse’s performance.

If you are not sure on quantities required for your arena or would like some friendly advice on the best surface product to use for your arena, we are always happy to help. Our online DIY shop allows you to purchase everything you need to build your own from geotextile membranes, silica sand, stabilising fibre or wax coated products etc. with delivery throughout the UK on anything from a pallet to full lorry loads.

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If you would rather not have all the hard work of a DIY arena, and would prefer to have your arena constructed by a reputable team of skilled arena builders, then we can also offer the full package.

After an initial consultation with yourself, discussing your arena requirements, and what size arena and surface type would be best suited for your preferred riding discipline. Hymas Arenas, can do everything from preparing and submitting a planning application (including drawings etc) and consulting with the planners on your behalf, right through to constructing a top quality arena to suit your preference/ requirements.

For more information on Arena Construction, Arena Surfaces, Groundworks, Fencing etc. contact us at

www.hymasarenas.co.uk Tel 01845 501793

129 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

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Welcome to Winning Post Consultancy We are a specialised company with over 25 years’ experience in constructing All Weather Riding Arena’s and Gallops, working in some of the best yards in the business.

Riding Arenas and Gallops From small private clients to professional Equestrian Centers both our indoor and outdoor riding arenas are given the same meticulous attention to detail.

We offer a free site visit, anywhere within the UK to determine the exact requirements for your project. This includes a full site survey, with details of the design, planning, sighting, drainage, base construction, fencing, and the Riding Surface itself.

Every stage of the project is fully explained to give you the Riding Arena you want.

All this information is used to provide you with a competitive quotation, along with a 5 year guarantee.

After acceptance, work commences using the latest machinery and laser levelling technology operated by our own fully trained team.

Within a short period of time your arena or gallop will be completed.

Sportrack Synthetic Riding Surfaces Our range of synthetic surfaces covers all aspects of the market and each equestrian discipline is catered for.

Sportrack Eco-Ride Sportrack Eco-Ride, a premixed surface containing specially cut synthetic fibre blended with multi washed silica sand. This is our entry level surface and is ideal for the livery yards where a surface is needed for different abilities.

Sportrack Pro-Mixed Sportrack Pro-Mixed is our premier dry mixed surface containing equestrian approved multi washed and blended silica sands accurately mixed with our specially manufactured synthetic fibres to produce a surface which is used in competition venues and professional yards Sportrack Waxed This surface is based on washed and blended silica sands, with a combination of synthetic fibres, blended with a hot wax coating. This is an ideal surface for indoor schools,lung pens and gallops.

Sportrack Pro-Waxed Our top of the range surface where horses work on the surface. High graded, washed and blended silica sands, mixed with specially cut synthetic fibres, coated with a hot wax coating. Installations include, racing gallops, polo, showjumping and dressage establishments.

Sportrack Stabilishing Fibres As well as premixed surfaces we can supply Sportrack Stabilishing Fibres to add to existing sand surfaces. These specially cut synthetic fibres will enhance any existing surface, adding stability. Delivered on pallets anywhere in the UK, this is a very cost- effective way of improving your riding school.

Sportrack Complete Fibre This is nothing but synthetic stabilising fibres laid on top of a geotextile membrane and compacted to a finished depth of 150mm. This gives a very cost effective surface.

Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 130

 Full Gallop and Riding Arena inspections and reports.  Complete construction of new Gallops, Canter Tracks and Riding Arenas.  Refurbishment of existing Gallops, Canter Tracks and Riding Arenas.  Supply of Sportrack Synthetic Riding Surfaces (Premixed and Waxed).  Supply of Sportrack Stabilizing Fibres, Equestrian Grade Silica Sand and Rubber Crumb.

Should you need any advice on the construction or surface merits please talk to us. We are proud of what we build for your enjoyment. For more information please visit our website or check out our most recent work on Facebook or phone us.

131 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

PROMOTION

What effect is your surface having on your horse?

Why you should consider a fibre additive for your arena

I

t is well known that the surface you ride on has the potential to influence the performance of your horse. There may be one or two arenas that spring to mind where you felt your horse performed better or simply found it easier to work on. Did you know the surface you use will also have an effect on the long-term soundness of your horse? During a 30-minute schooling session of mainly trot work, each of your horse’s limbs will strike the ground approximately 2,500 times!

Clearly, there are significant implications with regard to the potential impact your surface can have on your horse, which highlights the importance of using the correct materials when installing an arena.

It is the functional surface properties that will influence performance and injury risk and these are mainly determined by the surface material used within the arena.

But what are functional surface properties? These include cushioning, impact firmness, responsiveness (how springy a surface feels) and grip (Hobbs et al., 2014; Equine Surfaces White Paper*) and they ultimately influence the vertical and horizontal loads and accelerations experienced by the horse during the hoofsurface interaction. There is an optimal range that exists for each property and it is this that will create the difference between a safe riding surface that enhances performance and one that may be of detriment to your horse and its long-term orthopaedic health.

The uniformity of these properties within an arena is also extremely important. Lots of variations in the surface properties caused by factors such as the weather, arena use and poor drainage have the potential to induce stride to stride changes in the biomechanical response of the horse, which will inevitably affect performance and increase the risk of injury. Regular levelling with custom-made equipment to reduce variation across an arena is therefore an essential part of any maintenance programme.

So how can you reduce the risk of surface-induced problems and create more favourable riding conditions? The addition of fibre to a surface can help reduce surface compaction and stabilise the surface material, which improves performance. Beta-Ride® has been successfully used in arenas for different disciplines. Its unique blended mix of polypropylene, polyester and nylon fibre can help to optimise an arena surface with

correct maintenance. Once mixed into a surface, the fibre can reduce the impact firmness, which will dampen damaging peak accelerations that oscillate through the limb during hoof impact. What is more, Beta-Ride® has the ability to improve surface cushioning by reducing concussive forces yet still provides enough support for the horse to work on top of the surface. If you find your surface riding deep or heavy, this suggests it is unable to support the peak loads generated during particular activities such as jumping or during canter work and your horse will have to increase its muscular effort to sustain the same movement, which can lead to fatigue-related injuries. If this

108 2017 Your Your Horse Horse & & Country Country Magazine Magazine 132 || SUMMER AUTUMN 2018

relates to your arena, even if it is just at certain periods throughout the year, you may want to consider adding fibre such as Beta-Ride®.

You may be happy that your surface provides sufficient support but do you find it responsive enough for your horse? Does it feel active and springy or quite dead to ride on? A surface that is responsive and aids the propulsive phase of the gait will certainly improve performance. Fibre can improve surface responsiveness by increasing the amount of elastic recovery, which is the amount of surface that rebounds when the horse’s hoof leaves the surface. This is something you can look for next time you are watching a

“

surfacethat that AAsurface responsive isisresponsive andaids aidsthe the and propulsivephase phase propulsive thegait gaitwill will ofofthe certainlyimprove improve certainly performance performance

changes in the functional surface Fibre acts to reinforce the surface material, tochanges in the functional surface Fibre acts to reinforce the surface material, toproperties.

Dani presented her Masters which reduces the amount of surface properties. Dani presented her Masters which reduces the amount of surface research at the 2014 International Sports movement and improves grip. research at the 2014 International Sports movement and improves grip.

Engineering Conference and other work Lots of food for thought next time you Engineering Conference and other work Lots of food for thought next time you related to rider preference at the 2014 are riding or watching a horse work in related to riderConference preferencefor at Equine the 2014 are riding or watching a horse work in International the arena! If you are not happy with your International Conference for Equine the arena!

If you are not happy with your Exercise Physiology. Away from the current surface and want a surface that is Exercise theand current surface and a surface is researchPhysiology. world, DaniAway loves from to ride supportive, able to want dampen impactthat shock research world, Dani loves to ride and supportive, able to dampen impact shock and improve responsiveness all year round competes her horse in British Eventing and competes her horse in British Eventing and and improve responsiveness all year round British Dressage competitions. then contact Beta-Ride®Pro Equestrian British Dressage competitions. then contact Beta-Ride®Pro Equestrian Services.

Services. * Reference: Hobbs, S.J., Northrop, A., Mahaffey, There are lots of fibre additives on * C., Reference: Hobbs, S.J., Northrop, Martin, J., Clayton, H.M., Murray,A.,R.,Mahaffey, Roepstorff, There are lots of fibre additives on the market, so why is Beta-Ride® C., Martin, J., Clayton, H.M., Murray, Roepstorff, L. And Peterson, M. (2014a).

Equine R., Surfaces White the market, so why is Beta-Ride® L. And Peterson, M. (2014a).

Equine Surfaces White different? The stabilising fibre uses Paper. FEI Publication. http://www.fei.org/fei/about-fei/ different?

The stabilising fibre uses Paper.

FEI Publication. http://www.fei.org/fei/about-fei/ publications/fei-books 100% new material, is OVAM (European publications/fei-books 100% new material, is OVAM (European Environmental Standard) approved and Environmental approved andDue comes with a Standard) 100% satisfaction rate. comes with a 100% satisfaction rate. to its unique blend, moisture retentionDue is toimproved its uniquebyblend, retention is up to moisture 3% and its insulating improved byhelp up to and freezing. its insulating horse in your arena! Riding on an arena properties to 3% reduce With horse your Riding onwill anincrease arena properties help to reduce With that in has no arena! elastic recovery correct maintenance, thisfreezing. enables the that no elastic recovery willthe increase correct maintenance, this enables thehas amount of energy lost to surface arena to remain stable under lots the of theand amount of energy lost toofthe surface to remain stable under lots of in increase the amount work required arena conditions.

Beta-Ride® is supplied and increase the amount of workofrequired conditions.

Beta-Ride® supplied in If from your horse.

The addition fibre not bales for installation intoisnew arenas. from horse.

The addition of fibre not bales for installation new available arenas. Iffor a onlyyour helps to support the horse vertically you don’t have the into finances only to support the horse vertically you don’t have the finances available for a buthelps also horizontally in relation to grip. complete refurbishment, Beta-Ride® can but alsoon horizontally in relation to grip. refurbishment, can Sand its own allows too much hoof slip, complete also be mixed with otherBeta-Ride® surface materials Sand on its own toodoes much slip, also mixed othertosurface materials especially whenallows dry and nothoof provide Pro equestrian surfaces andbe used as awith top-up rejuvenate especially when dry and does not provide Pro equestrian surfaces and used as a surface top-up to rejuvenate enough resistance while pushing off, your existing and enhance its enough while off,balance your existing surface and enhance its turningresistance or jumping.

Thispushing will affect performance. beta-ride.co.uk turning or jumping. will of affect balance and can increase This the risk tripping, performance.

Dr Danielle Holt beta-ride.co.uk info@beta-ride.co.uk and can increase the risk tripping, ultimately increasing theof risk of injury and Dr Danielle Holt Dani’s Phd was in the study of info@beta-ride.co.uk ultimately the risk injury and affectingincreasing the confidence of of your horse.

Dani’s Phd was the studyofofthe horse investigating thein response 01269 595 064 affecting the confidence of your horse. investigating the response of the horse 01269 595 064 Your Your Horse Horse && Country Country Magazine Magazine SUMMER AUTUMN 2017 2018 || 109 133 Your Horse & Country Magazine SUMMER 2017 | 109

Quality, comfort, craftsmanship and customer service – that’s the Hancox promise

We are a leading manufacturer of premier stables and stabling products. Visit our website and see the quality of our work

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enquiries@withingtonhill.co.uk

www.withingtonhill.co.uk CJ Arenas will construct or build either block stables or wooden stables to meet your requirement (subject to correct planning permission)

• Post and rail fencing in either straight or half rounded finish

If you are looking for a West Country based company to construct a quality riding arena or horse stabling, then look no further

• Any size sand school can be constructed to meet your requirements • All riding surfaces are available, Refurbishments to existing sand schools • All site work undertaken and completed by CJ Arenas in the Devon and Cornwall area

Visit www.cjarenas.co.uk

or call 07813 574160 for more information or a no obligation quote 134 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine – BUILD IT

Equestrian Rubber Sale 20mm Rubber chip

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BUILD IT – Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 135

20mm Rubber Crumb

Perry James

The low maintenance all weather surface

Equestrian Arenas Whether you are looking for a new build manage or a complete refurbishment, Perry James Arenas offers a one stop bespoke tailored service from conception to completion.

20MM RUBBER CRUMB is the most economic and

versatile surface available in the market.

RUBBER CRUMB does not freeze easily and is an excellent all weather surface that will not rot or blow away.

It is ideal for turnouts, horse arenas and gallops.

RUBBER CRUMB is environmentally friendly, extremely cost effective and is virtually maintenance free.

It provides exceptional cushioning qualities to help reduce the risk of potential injury or lameness.

Perry James Arenas are a highly run professional business dedicated to creating bespoke indoor and all weather outdoor arenas and other finest equestrian facilities that will be built to last and guaranteed to stand the test of time.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions. We are always happy to visit and offer advice and provide you with a price for your project. We look forward to your call.

Visit our website for more information:

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WE ONLY DELIVER IN SCOTLAND

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email: info@angusrubbercrumb.co.uk

www.mayfield-engineering.co.uk  Manufacturing a range of Arena Levellers for all surfaces

 Specialising in robust designs ideal for large

establishments, professional arenas and gallops

 Models also available for Quads, compact tractors and garden tractors

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Affordable quality that speaks for itself…

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CALL US TODAY 01453 511400 From leaky roofs to rotten ramps we offer a repair/refurbishment service to all parts of your horsebox plus servicing, repairs, pre mots

MACWET GLOVES PROVIDE: Incredible touch and feel you won’t realise you’re wearing them!

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CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY EQUIPMENT, MACHINERY AND TOOLS

CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE

ALDERSHOT EQUESTRIAN LEADING SUPPLIERS OF EQUESTRIAN PENS, TREADMILLS, EXCERCISES AND MORE

Our customers represent the complete spectrum of the equestrian world, from large professional yards with over sixty horses to individuals with two to three horses. As well as supplying equipment for all sizes of sports horses, we design and make pens, horse walkers and treadmills for ponies and miniature horses.

For customers who have specific requirements, a difficult site or need to make use of an existing building, we will design a product that meets their needs.

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140 | AUTUMN 2018 Your Horse & Country Magazine

SERVICES

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PROMOTION

Finding a Home for a Working Cat S NIP was formed in 1983 to solve feral cats fighting, calling and producing endless litters of kittens on the streets of Islington.

Over three decades we have evolved into a charity that specialises in finding a future for London’s feral cats and cats that don’t want to be handled.

There is cat overpopulation in inner cities all across England and Wales and too many kittens are born to too few good homes. The future for feral or very timid cats can be bleak as most charities don’t have the resources to find ANIMAL WELFARE farm homes and deliver and set up release pens, so SNIP specialise in finding homes outside the city for them.

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SNIP ferals are from various charities including RSPCA, Brooke is the largest working equine Cats Protection and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. They are welfare charity thelife world. neutered, healthy and ready toinstart again as working cats enjoying the countryside.

Our 2018 campaign, Every Horse

Carol Bailey, manager of Farm Club, has taken in 11 ferals Remembered, marks the First World from SNIP over the last two years on her two-acre site in St War centenary, remembering the Ives, Cambs.

There are horses, dogs, goats, sheep, heroic working equinesandofguinea the past, chickens, pigs, rabbits, ducklings pigs on the site, and wherebuilding families can farm life,those learn skills and aexperience better life for enjoy the animals. Farm Club has professional vermin of the future. control but Carol has noted a significant decrease in rodents since locating the cats around the separate plots, planting areas and stables around the farm in a well-managed release pattern. Carol first heard of SNIP from a poster in her local feed merchant and had been thinking about getting some cats to deal with rodent control.

FEI

“When I called SNIP they made it easy to understand their process, what to expect, how to feed, release and introduce them onto a farm with lots of other animals. You are bound to have questions about bringing ferals into stables and farms but we received great advice and service from the start. What really impressed when the cats were delivered was that the cats were in excellent health and had been fully vet-checked and had all their flea and Join us as the offi cial charity for worm treatments and jabs. The rehoming team brought lots of equipment – cages, World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 (WEG) food and bedsSeptember etc. – they took all the worry out of setting 11-23 them up and it’s easy from there, just feeding and changing Olympia, International Horse Show litter the for two weeks until release.

The cats are real 17 – 23 December characters, some we see more of than others but they are playing part on the farm and doing a great job!”

Findall out moretheir at www.thebrooke.org

orSNIP search us on with a full starter pack (large cats for are delivered release pen, bed, food and litter tray) to give them the [photo credit]comfy ©Brooke/Freya Dowson best possible start in their new home.

A barn or stable that Brooke is a registered charity in England and Wales (1085760). Also registered with the Fundraising Regulator. is dry and comfortable where the cats can see and smell

their new territory to acclimatise is important. They stay in their release pen for approximately 14 days and need fresh food and clean water once or twice a day and fresh litter in their tray. Our service is free but we always welcome donations to keep us going and we’d love to hear from anyone who would like to help us with fundraising events and appeals.

■ Contact SNIP on 07830 387130 visit www.snipcats.org or follow SNIPcats on facebook ■ Carol’s Farm Club is in St Ives, Cambs www.farmclub. co.uk

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Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2018 | 142

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THE NEW MUSSO TOUGH ENOUGH TO HAVE A 7-YEAR WARRANTY

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Warranty covers 7 years or 150,000 miles. Prices are correct at the time of going to print but may be modified or changed at any time.