Horse Scene Magazine by Horse Scene

FRE

September 2011

The No. 1 NATIONAL magazine

Take charge With our ground control advice

Thinking of going bitless? 10 minutes with

Guy Williams

First time clipping Gait abnormalities explained The ultimate feed guide

WIN Over ÂŁ2,000 worth of prizes up for grabs!

Ahead of the herd

YOUR No1 FREE MAGAZINE The Old Tannery, 224 Spen Lane, Gomersal, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire BD19 4PJ T: 01274 878755 • F: 01274 878754

Editor Pascale Armitage pascale@horsescenemagazine.co.uk

Advertising Manager

Inside this issue... 4 ............ Horse talk 6 ............ Le er scene 8 ............ 10 Minutes with Guy Williams 10.......... Cubes v Mixes 12 .......... New on the scene 14 .......... Subscribe to Horse Scene

Caroline Ludkin caroline@horsescenemagazine.co.uk

Subscriptions subscribe@horsescenemagazine.co.uk

Contributors Dr.Hans Delaunois-Vanderperren Zoe Davies Laura Sanders Wendy Wainwright Ta ersalls

Published By MCL PUBLISHING

........ Token frenzy

16 .......... How clicker training can help you 18.......... WIN a full set of Equilibrium boots 20 ........ Take charge with our ground control advice 24 ........ First me clipping 26 ........ Buyers guide to clippers & trimmers 30 ........ Worming - fact or ﬁc on? 32 ........ Buying a horse from auc on 36 ........ Thinking of going bitless? 40 ........ WIN - Giveaways up for grabs! 42 ........ Vet on the scene 44 ........ WIN a FAL Pro Viking turnout rug

........ Why feed a lick?

46 48 52 66

........ Expert Q&A ........ Tried & tested....read our reviews ........ Ul mate feed guide ........ Tack room break

Cl P in ro ica ve lR nb es y ea rc h

© MCL Publishing all contents are copyright. All rights are reserved. No part of this publica on may be copied, stored or transmi ed in any form without prior wri en permission from the publisher. Whilst every eﬀort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted however caused. Contributed material does not necessarily reﬂect the opinion of the publishers. The Editorial policy and general layout of this publica on are at the discre on of the publisher. No responsibility can be accepted for ar cles, photographs or illustra ons whilst in transmission with the publishers.

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HorseScene 3

Horsetalk ‘Free Weigh Tapes’ for accurate worming

Have you become a fan of Horse Scene’s Page yet?

If not, your missing out on Merial Animal Health is offering a brand new special offer to encourage more accurate and efficient worming this autumn. Throughout September and October, while stocks last, when you purchase a tube of EQVALANÆ Duo you will receive a free weigh tape to help you accurately assess how much wormer your horse or pony needs. Product Manager Claire Edmunds explains: “It is essen al that your horse is dosed accurately according to bodyweight. Using too low a dose of wormer may speed up the development of resistance but on the other hand, giving too much wormer is unnecessary. The key to reducing the likelihood of resistance is choosing the right wormer, and then giving it at the correct dose and me. Knowing how much your horse weighs is key to ge ng the dose right.” EQVALAN Duo is licensed to treat more species and stages of parasite than any other spring and autumn wormer, including tapeworms. The weigh tape will be provided free when you purchase a tube of EQVALAN Duo within the promo onal period and while stocks last. For more informa on on accurate dosing and measurement, as well as how to take a SMART approach to worming, visit www.smartworming.co.uk and start your free online planner today.

Competitions & Giveaways Up to date news Gossip & discussions ...and much more Join us today and become part of our on-line team

Turn old in to Former barrister found guilty of causing new with Hoss unnecessary suffering to his horse Equine! A former barrister from West Sussex has been ordered to pay over £11,000 in costs a er neglec ng one of his horses. The case was brought by the RSPCA with the help of leading interna onal equine charity World Horse Welfare. Christopher Wilkins, 46, a Solicitor and former barrister, of Up Marden, West Sussex was found guilty on the 24th August 2011 at Worthing Magistrates of one offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 for causing unnecessary suffering to 'Angel', an eight year old 13.3hh bay mare. Wilkins was sentenced on the same day and received a £700 fine with a £15 surcharge, was ordered to pay £9159.99 in costs to the RSPCA, as well as an addi onal £1500 in costs. On 21st July last year World Horse Welfare Field Officer Ted Barnes received a call from a concerned member of the public about a horse in a field at Wilkins' property. Ted and RSPCA Inspector Becky Carter then visited the field belonging to Wilkins where they found 'Angel' who was very overweight, had extremely long feet and was suffering from Lamini s. Ted Barnes said "Angel was extremely overweight and her feet were in a terrible condi on when we first saw her and I was very concerned for her current and future welfare. "I am pleased that Mr Wilkins has been ordered to pay substan al costs as there was no excuse for allowing Angel to get in such a poor condi on. As a former barrister and trained solicitor, Mr Wilkins would have been aware of the consequences of leaving his horse in such a condi on and therefore should have known be er. "Angel's condi on was so severe that she s ll requires medical treatment more than a year a er she was taken into care." The court made a Depriva on Order against Angel meaning she will remain under the care of World Horse Welfare for the rest of her life and is currently being rehabilitated at our Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Sne erton, Norfolk.

4 HorseScene

Desperate to buy something new but not got the funds? Tack room burs ng with un-used items that could be put to be er use? Brand new equestrian retailer, Hoss Equine, is familiar with this and has created an online concept to enable customers to put their old equestrian items to a much more produc ve use! With Hoss Equine’s ‘New for Old’ scheme, it couldn’t be simpler to exchange un-wanted items for vouchers to spend on the brand new online shop! Customers are asked to fill out a quick form online and will receive a voucher offer within 24 hours. If they are happy with their offer they simply pop their items in the post, Hoss Equine will check them and an email voucher code will be sent within 24 hours. A er that it is simply me to shop from the huge collec on of brands available. Hoss Equine pride themselves on excellent customer service with fast delivery mes, a comprehensive collec on of goods for both horse and rider, and a bou que approach to online retailing. To find out more visit www.hossequine.co.uk

BE launch new and easy way to access quality coaching Bri sh Even ng recently recruited some well-known faces in the Even ng world to coordinate and lead a na onwide training and educa on plan for Even ng. Husband and wife team Eric and Lizzel Winter were set the goal of improving the structure of regional coaching for not only riders but also coaches, volunteers and oﬃcials. Crea ng a more comprehensive coaching framework has been no mean feat yet we are pleased to announce that later this year we will launch a ‘one stop shop’ website to access Bri sh Even ng quality assured coaching - it will never have been so easy to ﬁnd and access training! The process will be made even simpler by the fact that BE are recrui ng Regional Training Organisers (RTOs) who will ensure that there are plenty of opportuni es on the dedicated area of the BE website for members and non-members to access quality coaching in all three phases of Even ng across each region of the country; training will even be available to purchase online. Keep an eye on www.bri sheven ng.com to read more about the dedicated web area.

Surrey woman banned from keeping horses for five years A Surrey woman has been banned from keeping horses for five years following a convic on in August at Guilford Magistrates Court. Yve e Tilly, 39, of William Russell Court, St Johns, Woking pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Kev, a 25-year-old 17.2hh chestnut gelding, and Benson, a 15hh 17-yearold black gelding, were both found to be thin with a lice infesta on following a p off from a member of the public back in March. Mrs Tilly has also been ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work for each offence and pay £500 in costs. World Horse Welfare field officer Ted Barnes, who visited Murrys Lane in West Byfleet, Surrey where the horses were kept said: "Although she showed that she was very remorseful in court, it is good news that she will not keep horses or work in the equine industry for some me." Kev and Benson have been signed over to World Horse Welfare and are being rehabilitated at Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Sne erton, Norfolk.

Horse charity welcomes changes to Grand National Course World Horse Welfare welcomes the planned changes to the Grand Na onal Course and the considera on of improvements to the care of horses pre- and post-race announced today. They have been working with Aintree Racecourse and the Bri sh Horseracing Authority (BHA) on their review of the 2011 John Smith Grand Na onal mee ng to help advise on how the risks to horses and their riders can be reduced in this challenging race. Deputy Chief Execu ve of World Horse Welfare, Tony Tyler said: "We welcome the changes to the course and their considera on of improvements to pre- and post-race care of the horses which we hope will increase their safety and comfort. We are pleased that Aintree Racecourse and the BHA have listened to the views of a wide range of stakeholders including welfare chari es, and are ac ng on our advice." Aintree has announced that they will be making modiﬁca ons to some of the course fences, including reducing and levelling the drop at Becher's Brook, which should reduce the risk of horses falling. The charity also welcome their considera on of procedural changes to pre- and post-race care, including the introduc on of a new post-race washdown and cooling area. Aintree has also indicated that the pre-race parade could be shortened or removed en rely in unseasonably warm weather to avoid horses becoming uncomfortable before the race. Aintree have also said they will seek to communicate their welfare protocols more visibly to the media and public. Tony Tyler said: "We believe that the role of horses play in sport can be mutually beneﬁcial, but only if their safety and welfare are given the highest priority. Racing is never riskfree for horse or jockey, but by making these changes, Aintree is demonstra ng that they do care about horse welfare and we hope that next year's race will be the safest yet."

HorseScene 5

letterscene

Write to: Le er Scene, Horse Scene Magazine, The Old Tannery, 224 Spen Lane, Gomersal, Cleckheaton BD19 4PJ or email: le ers@horsescenemagazine.co.uk

The Starletter

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will win a pair of

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Joining a riding club has proved amazing I would like to write in and tell people that joining a riding club has been the best thing I’ve done! Towards the end of last year I was at the end of my tether with my youngster. I couldn’t go out and do a clear round small jumping course without being bucked off all the me. It started to scare me, but, I didn’t want to sell him, as I bought him to bring on and keep forever. A friend of mine suggested turning him away for the winter to give him a break and chill out me, which I did. 3 months out in the field passed, and it was me to get back on. He was brilliant considering he hadn’t been ridden for so long, so gradually I started building up our road work and light schooling. I was recommended by another friend to join High Fen Riding Club, which I did and it’s absolutely fantas c. I have met some amazing new friends and inspiring people that have given me so much confidence. We have been to regular training clinics that have benefited us hugely and I am now able to enjoy my horse again and regularly compete. We have moved up in dressage from Intro level to Prelim, and now compete in show jumping and cross country; recently coming 2nd in our first One Day Event. I would like to thank the riding club for their help, advice and inspira on; we absolutely love it. Sarah Law

To all drivers I find it very frustra ng that more and more road users have li le respect or are completely unaware of the sign to slow down! I have to hack on a main road to get to good hacking near me. Cars o en ignore the speed limit of 30mph and regularly pass doing 50mph. When I use the arm signal for slow down I either get some form of hand gesture, shou ng out of the window or the less aggressive but more stupid waving back and smiling! Do these drivers have no forward thinking? Does it not occur to them that even the best horse on the roads can spook in a flash and be out in the road! We riders are not asking them to slow down for nothing we are being sensible road users shouldn't they be too? I am lucky to have a horse that is not spooky or afraid of cars, despite being in an accident himself a few years ago. The driver was not looking where he was going and drove straight into my horses back legs. Amazingly Kengis (my horse) got away with cuts and bruises. The car on the other hand had to be towed away as it was a write off. If he had been going a bit slower and paying more a en on this would not have happened. Drivers please respect us on the roads. How would you feel if you killed a horse and rider for just being ignorant? Lucy Thompson

Check their credentials! I have recently had a horrendous experience at the hands of a so called equine professional. Recently, I purchased my first horse, a beau ful dark bay thoroughbred. A er a couple of weeks of owning him he started quidding his haylage, so I rang his previous owner who said that his teeth had just been done. I rang the den st who had previously a ended him and he came back out to see him. He worked on my horse with power tools and told me he would be able to eat normally again within a few days. When he was s ll quidding I called the vet instead, who told me my horses grinding surface had been removed and all the sharp edges le . I did some research on the equine den st and it turned out he didn't have the appropriate qualifica ons to work on horses with power tools. I had to call another den st out who was fantas c, he fixed my boys teeth and he is now ea ng fine. I would just like to warn other readers about checking out professionals first before le ng them loose on their horses. My boy has had a horrible experience, and I have since learned he is not the only horse this den st has done this to. Shelley Metcalf

This is my pony Dolly, who is blind in one eye. I have done a lot with her to make her easy to ride and she behaves perfectly when disabled children ride and groom her. Sent in by Rose Lewis

Hotshot

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Want to be next months HOT SHOT? send your picture to hotshot@horsescenemagazine.co.uk

6 HorseScene

Image courtesy of Kerry Bowness

Guy riding 'Titus' - a big star for the future!

10 minutes with... International Show Jumper

Guy Williams When did you start riding and what was your first pony? I started riding at 3 years old on a Shetland pony called Peter. How & why did you take the show jumping path? I followed my families passion for showjumping, my father jumped when I was younger so he taught me growing up riding ponies. What do you enjoy the most about your sport? Easy answer....winning, it’s good for me, my owners and my sponsors. Is there anything you would change about the sport? There needs to be more prize money, its difficult for people to get started in a sport where it costs a lot more to compete than you can poten ally win. I am fortunate now that I can compete in the Global Champions Tour which offers up to 100k for winning the GrandPrix! If only all shows were like that!

8 HorseScene

What has been the highlight of your career to date? Winning Hickstead Derby, I had tried for a few years. In the years running up to my win last year I had placings, but I ﬁnally got there in 2010. It was always a childhood dream and I would like to think we can do it again! Any career regrets or disappointments? Not really, I try to stay posi ve even when I get bad results. My horses are not machines and I can't expect them to win all the me. I always look to the future. What are your top horses you are currently riding and what makes your partnership work? With all my horses I try to understand how they like to go, that way we work together be er. Depardieu Van't Kizelhof (Zak) - I have had the ride since he was 6, so I know him really well. He has grown up with me and we have learnt each others strengths and weaknesses, and help each other out. He is my best hope for ge ng to the Olympics in 2012. Torinto (Eric) - well he’s just Torinto, he’s an out and out winner. He loves going fast like me, he has even got more fans than me on facebook! Deﬁnitely a keeper as he will always try for me, and he does love a parade lap! Titus - He's quite nervous but once you know how to keep him se led and relax into his jumping he turns into a jumping machine! He has been on the Na ons Cup team a couple of mes now and he is a big star for the future! Skip two Ramiro (Barney) - I know him inside out, having to jump the Derby a few mes really builds a strong bond. You have to know and trust each other to go down that bank as easily as we do!

What do you look for in a horse? A horse that wants to win, and they have that drive which makes my life a lot easier! A brave horse that loves their job is essen al for me. What are your aims for 2012? I would love to be selected for London 2012, and I feel Depardieu (Zak) has the ability to jump the Olympics. He is only an 8yr old but most deﬁnitely one of the best horses I have ever ridden. I would love to think I have the next Milton on my hands! Where is the best place your career has taken you? Dubai on the Na ons Cup and Global Champions Tour. Do you have a favourite event and why? Hickstead, I have been compe ng there since I was a child. It’s a great ring, all my family come and even my 5year old daughter competes there. I have also had some good wins in the Interna onal Arena - it’s just a great show. What’s the best prize you have ever won? I have won two cars before, but nothing was as good as winning the Derby trophy. Do you have any other hobbies? I enjoy gardening, and most importantly spending me with my family and teaching my 5yr old daughter Maisy to ride, even though I have to say, she tried to canter on her own the other day and scared me to death! Who do you admire in the horse world? Peter Charles and Michael Whitaker, the class is never over ll Michael has been in. If you could compete any horse, who would it be and why? Hickstead, he is a phenomenal horse who wins everywhere and I think he would suit the way I ride.

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Do you s ll have any training and who trains you? Not really, other riders give you ps when you’re at a show, but I’m compe ng too much to have training at home. I spend more me training other people these days than myself!

Guy riding Depardieu (Zak) - his Olympic hopeful

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CUBESVMIXES Zoe Davies Msc.Eq.S.,R.Nutr.

The range of concentrate feeds available for horses seems to expand on an almost daily basis. Walk into any feed supplier today and you will see rows upon rows of stacked horse feeds from which to make your choice. Names vary from cool feeds, working mixes and cubes to condi oning feeds, calming feeds and even an -tying up feeds! There are coarse mixes, cubes/pellets, fibre feeds and balancers. How do you make a choice? Horses are herbivores designed to extract energy from forage and this should therefore be the basis of every diet. Forage can o en supply and indeed over supply all the calories horses need par cularly pasture in the summer. If horses aren’t working hard or breeding etc, forage may provide enough protein, vitamins and energy. However you would need to know the forage contains enough minerals and this varies depending upon soil etc. It is therefore o en prudent to feed either a forage balancer or a broad spectrum supplement with forage. If forage is not providing enough calories, horses will find it difficult to maintain weight. This is o en the case if horses are working at medium to hard level. Horses will then need a compound feed to provide more energy or calories to help maintain weight and condi on. Concentrates are simply feeds containing high or “concentrated” energy levels and can include compound feeds and cereal straights, such as oats and barley. All cereal grains are very high in starch. Starch consists of long chains of glucose molecules strung together and it is broken down to glucose by enzymes in the horses diges ve system. Coarse mixes tradi onally contain higher levels of cereals and therefore starch. Some cool mixes may actually be as high as 30% starch! Other ‘mixes’ may contain chaff (fibre) with reduced cereal levels and so will be lower in starch. It is important to check this if you are looking for a low starch feed! Some mixes now contain more oil and fibre and very few cereals. Concentrate feeds has been tradi onally used for decades as a part of a horse's diet, but some mes they may cause health problems. When forage is some mes restricted and high levels of high starch concentrates fed for example racehorses in training, this diet may then create condi ons for gastric and colonic ulcers. This is because vola le fa y acids (VFAs) and other fermenta on products of starch in cereal grains may cause damage to the lining of the stomach, resul ng in gastric ulcers. Higher levels of starch seem to result in more damage. If feeding cereals or high starch coarse mixes it is now suggested that you feed no more than 0.5kg per 100kg bodyweight in any one feed. When feeding high cereal starch concentrates there is an increased risk of hindgut acidosis, colic and lamini s. Horses diges ve tracts are simply not designed to cope well with significant quan es of this type of diet. However that being said some

10 HorseScene

horse owners become very concerned about sugar forge ng that this is a necessary and common ingredient of pasture and forage. In fact, glucose is the main fuel source for brain and hoof ssue. Horses grazing pasture will naturally eat the sugars contained therein. These are not dangerous but a natural part of the diet of the healthy horse. Sugars provide energy but are also the basis for some other important substances in the body such as glucosamine which is needed for joint health. It is important to note that this is for the healthy horse or pony, not those suffering from lamin s or with metabolic disorders that may need to have their sugar intake reduced. There is tremendous varia on between individual horses as to blood sugar and insulin response to a cereal feed. It is true that certain breeds of horses and ponies are not gene cally geared to ea ng cereal grains or high-sugar forages. However these are in the minority. Nature has provided most horses with ways of helping them handle the feast or famine of food in the wild. There is usually too much to eat in the spring and summer and not enough to eat in winter. This is why most horses put weight on in summer to carry them through the hard mes of winter! The problem for horses today is that they tend to be in ‘feast' mode all the me, and o en are not working off the high intake of calories. The horses’ body runs out of room to store the excess sugar and stores it as fat. Further glucose intake is then not driven into muscle cells because it is full of the storage form of glucose namely glycogen. Over a period of me this may eventually result in metabolic syndrome. However, many horses do work hard and need some starch and sugars to maintain muscle glycogen stores to fuel exercise. Researchers in USA found that feeding a hardworking horse a very low starch/sugar diet resulted in muscle glycogen deple on within three days. Those horses had reduced performance, were more prone to fa gue, and developed behaviour problems. As men oned previously many horse owners become obsessed with “low sugar” or “low molasses” feeds. Molasses does contain 40% sugar, but the inclusion rate of molasses in feeds at 3-10% is actually very low whereas the sugar levels in spring grass can be high in comparison. It is important however, to find out from the manufacturer what the starch level is in the feed, as this informa on is o en not on the bag. Also for horses and ponies that need a low starch diet, check the ingredients of

the feed and avoid the obvious cereals such as oats, barley, maize and even wheat but also wheat middlings, milk powder and grain products or byproducts. Look for oil and fibre sources instead. Cubes and pellets are usually lower in starch and higher in fibre as they can use a greater range of ingredients. Fibre sources and higher oil levels mean that some cubes can also be low or high in calories or energy. Some cubes contain as li le as 7% starch compared to most coarse mixes at 20-30%, this is truly a none hea ng feed as it is the cereal starch which tends to make some horses and ponies “hyper”. Oil is a good and more concentrated source of energy and two cups of oil is equivalent in calories to 1.5kg oats or 1.2 kg maize. Although oil is a concentrated energy source useful for pu ng weight on a horse it is important to remember that extra an oxidants may be required such as vitamin E with higher oil diets. Although ingredients for coarse mixes are mostly whole i.e. they may be treated, cooked, micronised etc but not ground down, ingredients for cubes and pellets are ground to a powder before being pelleted. The benefits of feeding cubes is that horses cannot pick out ingredients and leave others. The ingredients they tend to leave in the manger are the very small pellets which contain the vitamins and mineral premixes, arguably the most important ingredients! To summarise it is important to first of all check if you need to feed concentrates or if the forage is supplying the horse with its energy needs. If it is, then feed a mineral source such as a balancer or broad spectrum supplement and if not then look very carefully at the ingredients and nutrients supplied before choosing a compound feed. To produce a visually appe sing coarse mix inherently means high levels of cereals and therefore starch. Some cool mixes are very high in starch and are therefore not really “cool’! Unfortunately the tradi onal feeding of straights and cereals is now no longer scien fically recommended as more knowledge regarding nutri on of horses becomes available. You could say though that these were used for genuine hard working horses whether pulling ploughs or carriages or hunters. It is now very important to accurately assess how much feed your horse or pony needs (if any) and match the feeding programme to condi on and workload!

New

on the

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Stylishly 'tempt'..ing

Limited edition

The new ''Dublin Tempt Tall Boots'' are a stylish addi on to the Dublin range. These elegant tall boots are suitable for casual or riding wear and are made of a so casual leather. The full cow suede leather lining is complimented with a tartan fabric cuﬀ, which teamed up with the RCS footbed, provides comfort. Featuring a fashionable top boot design with stylish tassel zip and contrast s tching. Created to look great and feel comfortable, no ma er what your riding style. Available in sizes 4-8 in black or brown and are priced around £159.99. For more informa on visit www.dublinclothing.com

The ''Mountain Horse Liberty'' is this winters one-oﬀ, limitededi on fashion jacket from Mountain Horse. The beau ful quil ng and ﬂa ering cut belies the fact that this jacket is made in a tough, water-repellent nylon and has a lightweight padding for warmth. Available in sizes XS-L in olive or orange. For more informa on contact 01462 432596 or visit www.mountainhorse.co.uk

Farmers with attitude Horses With A tude have launched a new fun clothing and gi s range, 'Farmers With A tude' to their range. Available to all ages, the range includes hoodies, baseball caps, bags, baby tees & shoes, mugs and mousemats - all with a farming theme. Just some of the slogans; Always First To The Baa, Born To Farm, Love-A-Bull and Full Of Bull are just some of the fun prints among the range. To view the full range visit www.horseswitha tude.co.uk

12 HorseScene

Clear spine

Keep him warm & snug The new 'WeatherBeeta Windsor Combo Heavy' is made from a stylish 420 Denier diamond quilted polyester outer with extra warm 400g of Polyfill with hygienic 210T Nylon lining. The new WeatherBeeta Windsor Combo heavy also features the easy to use Quick Clip front chest closure and fillet string, with addi onal loops for op onal leg strap op ons. Available in sizes 5'0-7'0 in purple/silver and is priced around £89.99 For more informa on or to find your nearest stockist visit www.weatherbeeta.com

The HyWITHER range has been designed with just that! A high wither and a clear spine, oﬀering an excellent ﬁt. The ''HyWITHER Compe on All Purpose Pad'' is a quality plain co on square, ideal for that smart compe on look. The saddle cloth is very durable and incorporates 1'' quality straps with velcro closures. Available in cob/full in black or white and is priced around £20.99 For more informa on visit www.ba les.co.uk/hyspeed

Wide horse? Finally, a new range of ‘Bates Wide Saddles’ specially designed for the increasingly popular broader horse breeds. The range delivers a level of comfort and contact never previously experienced in wide saddles and includes the Bates WIDE (All Purpose) and Bates WIDE Dressage Saddles. Underneath the finest quality European leather, the saddles offer instantaneous comfort, a seamless transi on and unrivalled close contact. The deeper seats, combined with the adjustable Flexibloc System and revolu onary girthing systems also provide greater security and stability for a well balanced, central rider posi on. The saddles offer tremendous support for the broader horse through an anatomic tree, wide chamber and the most generous panels ever created. World-leading performance systems CAIR and EASY-CHANGE Gullet System WIDE offer a fully adjustable customised fit, even weight distribu on and fluid cushioning. To view the new range visit www.batessaddles.com

Designed for comfort All Saddle Solu ons have launched a new range of smart and sophis cated bridles that offer the perfect balance between style and performance, without breaking the bank. Designed with comfort in mind, the combina on of a padded headpiece, browband and noseband, along with an integrated headpiece which is shaped to fit around the horse’s ears, ensures a perfect fit without pressure points or unnecessary bulk. Made from the finest English leather and are available in black or havana, with cavesson or flash nosebands. For more informa on visit www.allsaddlesolu ons.com

S U B S C R I B E T O D AY

Horsescene FRE

agazine TIONAL m e No. 1 NA

Th r 2011 Septembe

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10 ams Guy Willi

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First time clipping rmalities Gait abno explained ate The ultim e id u g feed

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How to Enter: To be in with a chance of winning, collect the ''tokens'' from the September, October and November issues. Once all 3 tokens have been collected, send them along with your name, address and contact number to: Token Frenzy, Horse Scene Magazine, The Old Tannery, 224 Spen Lane, Gomersal, West Yorkshire, BD19 4PJ Please visit our website for full terms and condi ons.

How Clicker Training CAN HELP YOU

Have you ever had a trainer or teacher who motivated you to do better, get to class on time, show them your achievements? What you were getting from them was approval - positive reinforcement. You enjoyed being with them and learning from them and that left you wanting more. That deﬁnitely sounds like the rela onship we want with our horses. We want them to greet us when we arrive, show-oﬀ what they’ve learned, love spending me with us and learning new things.

How do you achieve that relationship ? What we’re aiming for is a rela onship where our horse is willingly working with us, is enthusias c, a horse we no longer have a problem catching, no longer naps on hacks or fusses at compe ons, is jumping that extra cm, performing that dressage move perfectly and so much more. This is the rela onship we get with clicker training.

‘Treats’ don’t have to be carrots, apples or mints they can be ponynuts, ﬁbre-nuts, grain. You don’t have to buy anything special as treats. If you have a horse on a diet; take their treat ra on from their daily food ra on leaving them the remainder for dinner.

The sky is the limit With clicker training we learn to communicate more eﬀec vely with our horses, understand what mo vates them and respond to the feedback they give us. As such, clicker training helps our horses to trust us more. When this happens we begin to get that rela onship where the sky is the limit for what we can achieve as a partnership. By understanding what mo vates our horses we can use this to our advantage in training, especially clicker training, and achieve that willing engagement and coopera on. With willing partners the training becomes more fun and with the clicker you can start to tackle

16 HorseScene

those unwanted behaviours such as napping. You can break through the glass ceiling in the scores you get at compe ons and start to really explore more advanced training. A wonderful side eﬀect of all of this is the look this brings to the partnership. Horse and handler look united, like they can take on and achieve anything. They dance together.

How to be the motivating trainer You can easily learn to be like the trainer who mo vated you with clicker training. You can learn to create this rela onship with your horse through clicker training. Think about a me when you were asked to do something, maybe some chores for your parents. Here are two diﬀerent ways to ask you to help; “I’ll nag you un l you wash the dishes”, and the other; “if you wash the dishes I’ll take you to your riding lesson”. Scenario 1 is use of what is known as a nega ve reinforcer (taking something unwanted/unpleasant away). You’re likely to give in and do the dishes just to get the nagging to stop. It’s the only way to make something unpleasant go away. Scenario 2 is a promise of a reward (posi ve reinforcement): I’ll give you your favourite thing if you help me out. You will be willing to do what is asked of you, as opposed to feeling forced. To get our horse mo vated to willingly work with us, to be enthusias c about jumping higher, working in collec on, you need to be using scenario 2 (clicker training op on). We need them to know they’ll be rewarded for a job well done, so we “click” and give a treat.

What motivates horses Food definitely mo vates horses, food mo vates every living creature as it is essen al for life (a primary reinforcer) and so we use it in clicker training. The one advantage we have with feeding horses in clicker training is that their diges ve system is perfect for trickle feeding. Scien fic research shows that once an animal understands that the click means ‘yes’ the pleasure-seeking circuit in the brain is ac ve during problem solving and shuts off when they hear the click and get the food reward. This research tells us clicker training is not about the food! The horses are actually ge ng a kick out of the mental s mula on. “Hand-feeding horses makes them bite” is a myth I o en hear. In actual fact, one of the reasons some horses bite is when hand feeding is done poorly. Poor hand feeding can cause frustra on and it’s the build-up of frustra on that has poten al to create a biter. Clicker training has actually been used to resolve severe bi ng problems in horses. If set up correctly, food in clicker training can be used to mo vate our horses, it’s a win-win situa on; our horses are designed to trickle feed and it mo vates them.

Teaching step by step Now that we have mo vated horses, clicker training can help us be consistent and clear as we teach our horses step by step. We split a behaviour into a series of small behaviours. Each step is a goal in itself and when we achieve a goal we feel rewarded (are reinforced) ourselves. Achieving goals is as good as a click for the handler. By aiming for small clickable goals we make our major end goal more achievable. With each goal achieved we tell the horse they got the right answer they are mo vated to offer it again, bigger and be er. So, that first step around the corner without napping, that first me over the higher jump, that first correct step of the dressage move you have struggled with for so long…reinforce them (click and treat) and your horse will offer it again and again, bigger and be er.

Amanda oﬀers clicker training clinics and lessons throughout the UK as well as distance educa on. She also specialises in problem behaviours and so if you have a problem with your horse please feel free to contact her or visit www.smaarthorses.co.uk

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Tri-Zone Airlite Tendon Boot - one of the lightest showjumping boots available Incorporates a substan al tendon protec on system. Not only are there 2 shock absorbing layers of EVA to reduce the risk of concussion injuries, the vulnerable tendon area is also protected by a tough polycarbonate layer which can withstand penetra on. Laboratory conducted tests prove them to be one of the most protec ve boots on the market today.

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How to enter: Send your name, full address and contact telephone number on a postcard to: Horse Scene Magazine, The Old Tannery, 224 Spen Lane, Gomersal, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, BD19 4PJ or email your entry to win@horsescenemagazine.co.uk Closes: September 27th 2011. Please see full terms and condi ons on our website.

18 HorseScene

TAKE CHARGE with our

ground control advice Bargy behaviour is not only annoying, but it can be dangerous too! Here, Laura Sanders BHS AI, INT. SM explains how to take charge of the situation...

Having a horse that barges into you when you lead or handle him is a serious ma er. Horses and ponies of any size are strong, heavy animals and one that is ‘doing his own thing’ can be both a frightening and poten ally dangerous experience for even the most conﬁdent of handlers. Your horse may be behaving like this for a number of reasons, he may never have been taught to lead; he has learnt that he can and it’s not yet been corrected; excitement/anxiety and of course, dominance. Awareness of the herd mentality is fundamental to correc ng and training your horse. Through the use of calm, asser ve training he will understand that you are the herd leader and develop a mutual respect for one another.

Ground Control Exercises

Establish your space We are aiming for the horse to lead politely next to us, without being too close, at our speed, with the rope loose and for him to stop and walk-on when asked. Ul mately, we want the horse to lead as if there is no rope at all, and then we know he is accep ng us as his leader without us having to tug him around to get his obedience. Here’s how to teach your horse to stay out of your space…

1 It is important to firstly ensure you have good, well fi ng equipment. A strong headcollar and long rope may be all that is required. However, some horses will need something slightly stronger such as a snaffle bridle or a pressure halter to allow the handler to keep control during training. It may be helpful to seek advice from a reputable trainer who can assist you, not only in choosing your horses tack but also to help with the training.

2 Start by working with your horse in his stable. Your horse should be totally comfortable with your presence around him. Have your horse on a headcollar and rope and move him forwards and backwards towards you. He should do this willingly inside his box whilst also stepping sideways and moving around you as you work. Gaining his trust in the stable will allow for much be er control and understanding outside.

3 Teach your horse to yield to pressure. Using your hand placed on his shoulder, girth area or chest, gently push your horse un l he steps sideways or backwards. If he resists, the

pressure must be built up in order to get a reac on. Stay calm and repeat the exercise. As soon as your horse steps away from you remove the pressure and praise your horse. If your horse invades your space you should push him away. Repe on is the key here for your horse to learn that he cannot smother or squash you. He must learn to stay a respec ul distance from you unless invited into your space. It may be necessary to be very firm at mes, even using a firm poke with a finger/ or short crop on his shoulder to get his a en on if your horse just leans on the pressure from your hand.

4 Once conﬁdent that your horse accepts these methods in the stable the same exercises should be repeated in the school/ yard or enclosed area. Encourage your horse to ‘follow your every move’ using lots of transi ons from walk to halt, backwards and sideways. Keep his a en on with lots of praise and encouragement from your voice. Prac ce leading your horse from both sides. It will vary the work and help with his evenness under saddle.

5 Teach your horse to lunge. If he doesn’t already, lungeing is a great way to help your horse learn that he can move away from you when asked. He will gain conﬁdence being out on his own. If your horse already lunges, ensure he is listening to you. He should move easily away from you onto a large circle without falling in closer. Keep the lunge whip pointed toward the girth or shoulder to help with this. In the halt, approach him ﬁrst so that he lets you into his space and not the other way round.

HorseScene 21

2 Keep your body language relaxed. When your horse has stopped s ll, relax the rope and yourself. If the handler is tense and nervous the horse will copy your energy and want to get going much sooner. If the horse moves ﬁrst ask for a few more seconds of clear halt before allowing the horse to move oﬀ again.

3 Treats can be useful with some horses or in difficult situa ons when it is impera ve that the horse stands s ll. However I find that this can cause some horses to fidget more in their quest for treats or again become bargy, invading your space. Use treats sparingly so they do not become relied upon.

Wai ng game Some horses are fine to lead, but fidget as soon as you want them to stand s ll. We want to teach the horse to stop and stand a polite distance from us when we stop walking. Here’s how to teach your horse to stop when asked… 1 Pa ence. Prac ce only asking your horse to stand s ll for very short periods of me at first. Maybe even for only a few seconds, before asking your horse to quietly walk on. The me spent standing s ll can gradually be increased as your horses pa ence does. Make sure you are the one to break the halt. This will teach the horse that he needs to wait for you to tell him to move.

4 Keep your horse well exercised. Your horse ﬁdge ng may be him telling you that he has loads of pent up energy that he needs to use. Ensure your horse gets plenty of turnout when possible and a varied exercise program. Prac ce standing s ll for longer periods of me a er your horse has done a li le exercise. He will ﬁnd it a lot easier and learn more quickly.

5 Give your horse lots of praise. Most horses are happy to stand s ll for quite a while if they are ge ng a li le fuss. Staying calm and quiet with a few strokes or a rub of the head will also allow this to translate to the show ring if that’s something to aim for.

Respec ul in walk

Pushing ahead

Some horses tend to barge when led in walk, pushing into you with their shoulder or chest.

Forward going or tense horses o en pull ahead when being led; they forget the handler is on the other end of the rope, the handler gets dragged along and barged by the horses belly or even his hind quarters. Because horses are so strong, once they are pushing well ahead, it can be nearly impossible to bring them back by pulling on the rope.

Here’s how to get your horse walking beside you and at a safe distance… 1 Always make sure you walk at the horses shoulder or just behind. If you get too far ahead of him he may try to barge you out of the way, poten ally knocking you over. Each me you feel the horses creeping towards you, into your space, push his neck or shoulders away ﬁrmly. Use your hand as a claw and nip your horse on the neck as if you were another horse bi ng him.

2 Carry a short crop; this will help to establish a good distance between you and your horse with a visual barrier. Hold the crop at your horses shoulder level so he can see it and if necessary a sharp tap on the shoulder should keep him away. The crop should never be used on the horses head or top of neck for fear of catching the eyes or making him head shy.

Here’s how to keep your horse beside you and keep him there... 1 Using a stronger halter may help. Horses learn with a combina on of pressure and release, praise and reward. Having him in a pressure halter or leading in a snaﬄe bridle may do the trick. A few sharp tugs when your horse gets strong will soon teach him not to drag you along.

3 Having a loose rope contact will help. With a diﬃcult horse it is easy to become tense and try to restrain them before they have even done anything, maybe even pulling their head towards you. Keep the horses head straight ahead, trust him and walk purposely forward to your des na on.

4 Assert yourself. Stand tall and step into your horses space regularly as you walk along. If your horse is dominant he will soon learn that he can move you out of the way easily. Using your voice ﬁrmly and raising your arms conﬁdently will give the impression that you can stand your ground and discourage your horse from barging you.

2 Teach your horse to lunge easily. Have him on a long rope and when he goes to drag you, quickly send him around you in a circle. Keep his back feet moving away from you for a few turns then stop your horse and ask him to again walk beside you calmly. You may need to repeat this many mes un l he learns that taking oﬀ with you is fruitless.

3 Carry treats or food with you. For some horses knowing there is a tasty treat wai ng for them is enough to keep them with you and prevent them running oﬀ.

4 Take your me. If the horse tends to drag on the way to 5 Lead your horse from both sides. Most horses are generally led from the le (near side) and will have learnt to barge you in walk easily from this direc on. By leading him from the other side you may ﬁnd he is not so strong and conﬁdent and less inclined to barge with the other shoulder.

the field, take a different route. Walking zig zags, turning circles and walk/ halt transi ons will keep your horse busy and take the focus off of his des na on.

5 Praise your horse for walking nicely and he will want to stay with you. Build up a partnership based on trust and mutual respect. Your horse will look to you as his leader so be sure to give him the guidance he needs for you to work together.

22 HorseScene

First time clipping Introducing clipping for the ﬁrst time needs to be done with patience, care and knowledge; here we ask Caroline Lockhart BHSII & BHSSM, Equine Advisor to Wahl UK, for advice on making the ﬁrst clipping experience safe and positive for you and your horse….. 1

Before clipping your horse its coat should be as clean as possible and laid, achieved by grooming and rugging. Correct grooming degreases and promotes oils in the coat, helps desensi se delicate areas on the horse and promotes access to diﬃcult areas such as the head, armpits, stomach, ﬂanks and between the hind legs. Laying of the coat, by means of rugging, ensures a cleaner cut when clipping.

2 Make sure the area you are going to work in and the clippers are safe. Use circuit breakers on mains clippers, remove water buckets, haynets, stable and grooming equipment from the immediate vicinity. If clipping within the stable, ensure the door is securely shut and that the area you will be working in is well lit and ven lated. 3 When introducing a young or shy horse to the clippers, try to think of it from the horse’s viewpoint – there is the sound, the smell and the vibra ons to consider. Introduce clippers where the horse feels safe and secure, such as his stable, and not during an exci ng part of the day (feeding or turnout me). This should be done as part of a regular rou ne before any clipping commences. 4 Try to allow the horse to smell and feel the clippers with them turned off, rubbing them over their coat in the direc on that the hair lays everywhere you intend to clip. A er oiling the clippers, turn them on and, without a emp ng to clip at this stage, rub them over the horse’s shoulder and neck to help desensi se the horse. With nervous horses do this o en before a emp ng to clip. 5 You will need a relaxed and confident assistant at the horse’s head posi oned on the same side of the horse that you are working on, to prevent the horse moving into you should the need arise. Maybe the horse will need to wear a snaffle bridle for control, but a head collar and lead rope is preferable. 6 When the horse seems rela vely calm, introduce clipping ac on, which should be close to the skin moving against the lay of the coat. Start at his shoulder, preferably his le , and with medium strokes work towards mid neck. Some horses may be spooked by the sight of their coat falling to the ground – this can be eradicated by catching it with your free hand. 7 The lines that you use will depend on which clip you want – to begin with choose one as minimal as possible, as this can always be developed into a larger clip approximately one month later. Use clean and well oiled clippers, to prevent the clipper heads over- hea ng as this will make all the difference to your horses’ clipping experience. If you are unsure of their temperature, place the clipper blades on the back of your hand to check. 8 Do not feel that you need to clip your horse in one go – take your me. Reward the calm horse by taking breaks with the clippers turned off as you will then be nurturing calm behaviour. Be confident in con nuing when the horse shows signs of nervousness un l he shows a li le improvement, then reward that. Be sensi ve with the clippers in difficult areas of the horse (armpits, stomach, flanks and all areas around the head). 9 If you need to use distrac ons such as food, do not feel that you have not succeeded in your goal, as food is one of the horses’ essen al requirements for wellbeing. However, only use food to reward good behaviour. If you do get into difficul es that you are unable to overcome seek professional advice or assistance, to enable you to clip your horse in the future. Wahl UK offer a huge range of clippers and trimmers, many of them with noise and vibra on reduc on, perfect for clipping youngsters, nervous horses or when introducing clipping for the first me. Visit www.wahl.co.uk to view the range.

24 HorseScene

Buyers Guide to

Clippers&Trimmers CLIPPERS Lister Shearing Legend The most powerful motor in the range combined with a slim line, mul -posi on grip give the power of a full size clipper but the comfort of a medium. Due to its rubber mounted motor and superb blade ven la on, this clipper runs quietly and with minimal heat and vibra on. The Legend will quickly and eﬀortlessly clip even thick or dirty coats. Comes in a carry case with oil, brush and screwdriver. Priced around £320.00 Liberty The robust and lightweight Liberty clipper is easy to use and available with a choice of three power supplies, enabling it to be used in any loca on. Suitable for use on many types of large animals, it features reduced noise and vibra on levels for more relaxed clipping. The Liberty has no air ﬁlters to clean making it a very low maintenance clipper. Features a patented ven lated head to prevent the blades and head from ge ng hot and causing discomfort and an overload switch to protect the motor from damage in the event of a jam. Comes in a carry case with oil, brush and screwdriver. Priced around £393.00 To view the full range visit www.lister-shearing.co.uk

Masterclip

Liveryman Harmony The Liveryman Harmony is a two speed ba ery clipper. It comes with a wide medium and a wide ﬁne blade for clipping and a narrow blade from trimming It provides 3 hours of clipping me from a 2 hour charge, there are no trailing leads allowing the user to move around easily. The Harmony features pre-tensioned blades for ease and convenience. It is extremely quiet and lightweight making it ideal for nervous or young horses. Priced around £215.00

Red Rocket The Red Rocket has a Strong 90 wa permanent magnet motor. It is extremely quiet making it ideal for young or nervous horses. It has a narrow body making it comfortable to hold. Ideal for medium duty usage with cool all day opera on. Presented in a hard plas c storage case, complete with A102 blade, oil and cleaning brush and 12 months warranty. Priced around £335

To view the full range visit www.eddiepalin.com

26 HorseScene

Hunter The Masterclip Hunter is a mains powered, 200w heavy duty horse clipper. With its fast cu ng speed, this clipper makes light work of all over body clipping. Weighing in at only 1kg, the Hunter is a lightweight and easy clipper to use, oﬀering fast and hassle free horse clipping every me. The perfect choice for compe on horses that need to be clipped on a regular basis. Included in the price are two sets of blades, clipper oil and a 48hr delivery. Priced around £169.99 including vat

Ranger The Masterclip Ranger is a heavy duty horse clipper with a 120w motor. This mains powered clipper has a very fast cu ng speed, which means that it will clip through anything that gets in its way, including the hairiest of cobs or even a horse with cushings. Also ideal for hogging and hairy feathers. Included in the price are two sets of blades, clipper oil and a 48hr delivery. Priced around £139.99 inc vat To view the full range visit www.Masterclip.co.uk

Wahl Avalon This affordable, cordless horse clipper is designed to meet the needs of today’s equine enthusiasts. Compact, well balanced and lightweight, it provides 2.5 hours of quiet, low vibra on clipping. Perfect for use around young or nervous animals, it fits comfortably in the operator’s hand and is easy to manoeuvre in those difficult to reach areas. The Wahl ‘cool running’ Snap-On blade system eliminates the need for blade alignment and tensioning and ensures ease when cleaning, oiling and changing the blades. The though ul design has posi oned the air intake at the rear of the clippers to avoid clipped hair blowing into the face of the operator. Fully recharged in just 3 hours, this machine is ideal when electricity is not readily available, or it may be beneficial to take the clippers to the horse, without the worry of a mains cable. Priced around £239.99

Ar ko Ergonomically designed to ensure the user’s comfort, this mains clipper is lightweight and easy to hold. The angled posi on of the blade and compact design ensure it will manoeuvre easily into those awkward areas that cause diﬃcul es for larger clippers. Supplied with a snap-on, pre tensioned wide steel blade, and a storage case plus oil and hygienic spray, this is an ideal product to learn the basics of clipping and trimming. Driven by a 45w rotary motor, the Ar ko features quiet, ‘cool running’ technology and high performance cu ng. The ability to interchange blades enables the easy transi on from clipper to trimmer. Priced around £143.00 To view the full range visit www.wahl.com

www.masterclip.co.uk Quality horse clippers at affordable prices Our knowledgeable and friendly team are here to advise on which clipper is best for your needs, whether you are clipping a hairy cob or competition horse. Heavy duty horse clippers start from £139.99 and our prices include 2 sets of blades, clipping oil, VAT and 48 hour delivery. 1 year warranty on all products. Based in Prices Leicestershire, from offering service £54.99 and repair to all Masterclip clippers for total peace of mind.

5% discount with this advert. Use promotional code HSM5 at the checkout.

www.masterclip.co.uk Tel: 0845 2000 258

TRIMMERS Lister Shearing

Wahl

Libre o The Libre o Super Trimmer

Adelar Cordless Horse Trimmer This trimmer stands

oﬀers three power op ons to give you the freedom to purchase a trimmer which perfectly compliments your trimming demands and environment. The Libre o is lightweight and compact for comfort and although designed for trimming, it is powerful enough to do a full clip. The Libre o is also ideal for removing hair before veterinary procedures. Features a quite motor for relaxed trimming, thee power supply op ons and a snap on washable ﬁlter for easy maintenance. Comes in a carry case with oil, brush and screwdriver. Priced from £157.00

Legato + The Legato + is a rechargeable cordless trimmer which features an easy to use switch to adjust the cu ng length, elimina ng the need for mul ple blades. The Legato + has minimum noise and vibra on levels, making it ideal for removing hair from sensi ve areas such as around the ears and nostrils. The Legato + can also be run directly from its charger when the ba ery is low. Comes in a carry case with, four hair length guides, oil, brush and a screwdriver. Priced around £84.00

To view the full range visit www.lister-shearing.co.uk

alone in its class for performance, versa lity and power delivering unbeatable results every me. Designed to meet the needs of every horse or pony owner whether they are top professionals or single horse owners, this li le machine will never disappoint. Whisper quiet with almost unno ceable vibra on, the trimmer cuts through all coat types, eﬀec vely removing hair from legs, head, face and ears; but powerful enough to hog a mane. Perfect for young or nervous horses it’s an ideal introduc on to stress-free trimming and quickly becomes an indispensible tool in any grooming kit. Supplied with two rechargeable ba eries, capable of 120 minutes trimming me, the Adelar can be used anywhere at any me. Encompassing Wahl’s ‘cool running’ technology, the fully adjustable Snap-on, rust resistant blades require no alignment or tensioning. Priced around £117.99

Pro Series This highly versa le machine benefits from 45 – 55 minutes cordless opera on but, should the job take longer than planned, it may equally be powered from the mains. The quiet yet powerful 2.4v rotary motor will effortlessly cope with trimming tasks around the face, head and legs and the compact size makes it easy to use in any situa on. Benefi ng from selftensioning and snap-on blades, it is simple to maintain and clean, whilst a range of blades increase the flexibility of this highly popular trimmer. Priced around £55.99. To view the full range visit www.wahl.com

Masterclip Showmate The Masterclip Showmate is a lightweight cordless horse clipper that comes with two rechargeable ba eries. Weighing in at only 225g, this superb clipper is ideal to use in all those awkward areas that the heavy duty clippers cannot reach. Perfect for all delicate areas and very handy for all show prepara on including ears, poll, whiskers, heels and fetlock. The Showmate comes in a smart aluminium style box for easy storage. Also included are a set of ceramic blades and four comb a achments, oﬀering a variety of cu ng depths. Priced around £54.99 To view the full range visit www.Masterclip.co.uk

28 HorseScene

Equine worming or FICTION ?

FACT Development of resistance to equine wormers is both inevitable and irreversible. We need to take ac on NOW to slow down the rate of this development and maintain wormer efficacy. With new research and changing approaches to worming, it’s some mes difficult to know how to effec vely manage your horse’s worming programme right now, whilst also ensuring that the available worming products will s ll be effec ve in the future. Merial Animal Health, manufacturer of EQVALAN and EQVALAN Duo, presents these commonly held beliefs about worming horses to help you separate fact from fic on. N All horses kept together should be FICTIO

wormed together Trea ng all horses with the same product at the same me means that some horses may get wormed unnecessarily. It is es mated that in many groups of horses, only 20% of the group will carry 80% of the worm burden. Merial recommends crea ng a worming strategy for each horse to determine the true need, and only worm an individual as needed – if a worm egg count (WEC) is under 200 epg (eggs per gram), it may not be necessary to worm that horse at that me.

N Horses should be moved to clean FICTIO

pasture straight a er worming In the past, a dose-and-move strategy was recommended to help reduce pasture contamina on. However, experts now consider that this strategy contributes to higher rates of resistance in parasites. This is because, when horses are moved to clean pasture, the only worms that are passed out through dung are the surviving ones that are resistant to treatment, and these won’t be diluted by a popula on of sensi ve parasites.

N WECs iden fy all worms FICTIO

A WEC is a microscopic examina on of a dung sample from a horse, to iden fy and count the number of roundworm eggs present. WECs help iden fy which horses are aﬀected and need treatment, but do not iden fy immature or encysted worms or tapeworms, so treatments should be planned into your horse’s worming programme if you believe they may be at risk from these worms. It’s not necessary to eradicate all worms Horses have evolved with their worms, and a small worm burden is not associated with FACT

30 HorseScene

loss of condi on or any clinical signs of illness. Addi onally, trying to eradicate all worms can actually contribute to the growth of resistance. Leaving some horses untreated (based on a WEC result under 200 epg) contributes to ‘refugia’; that is the popula on of worms either inside the horse or on the pasture that are not exposed to treatment. Maintaining refugia is good, as this sensi ve popula on poten ally dilutes the numbers of resistant parasites and may slow down the development of resistance. Worming at fixed intervals is no longer recommended In the past, owners were advised to schedule worming treatments by the calendar at fixed intervals. However, it is now recommended that worming treatment should only be given to horses with a proven worm burden, as determined by a posi ve WEC. Remember that some horses will also require addi onal strategic treatments which will not be iden fied using a WEC FACT

large a dose of wormer to a horse will not deliver any extra beneﬁt. Use accurate dosing based on the weight of your horse, calculated either using a weighbridge or a weigh tape. N A strategic approach to worming FICTIO with WECs and targeted treatments

is expensive and diﬃcult to manage Incorpora ng WECs into your worming programme at the me when re-treatment would normally be due will determine the worm burdens of each horse and will help you iden fy which horses are the high egg shedders. Trea ng only these horses will reduce the number of wormers you use and should reduce the total costs of your worming programme. Your horses’ worming programme can be easily managed at www.smartworming.co.uk where a FREE interac ve planner allows you to keep track of all your horses, their WECs and treatments and will also remind you when the next WEC/treatment is due. FACT

Tapeworms are a common, hidden and harmful parasite Tapeworms are a common parasite in the horse. While signs of infec on are not obvious and o en go undiagnosed, tapeworms can cause poten ally serious health problems including colic, irrita on and inﬂamma on of the intes ne, especially the colon. It is therefore advised that owners consider trea ng their horses for tapeworm twice yearly, in the spring and the autumn. FACT

N Pasture management is not FICTIO

important to help control worm burdens Poo-picking regularly (twice weekly) is one of the most eﬀec ve ways to control worms. Parasites on the pasture are ingested by grazing horses, so removing them is a prac cal way to reduce pasture infec vity. Co-grazing with sheep or ca le may also help – the majority of equine parasites will not survive being eaten by these species. Rest the pasture if you can, and only harrow in hot, dry weather.

N All horses need one tube of FICTIO

wormer Giving a reduced dose of wormer increases the risk of resistance because the worms may be exposed to the wormer at a level that does not kill them, but allows them to develop resistance. Addi onally, giving too

All new arrivals should adhere to a new arrival/quaran ne policy It is advisable to quaran ne all new arrivals for at least 48 hours. New horses with unknown worming histories may bring worms into a suscep ble popula on and poten ally introduce resistant strains. Assess the parasite status of new arrivals with a WEC and ELISA blood test for tapeworm, and treat before allowing them to mix with other horses. N Resistance to worming FICTIO

treatments isn’t a big problem Maybe you’ve seen no evidence of resistance to wormers with your horse. However resistance to all the main classes of equine wormers has been documented across the world, and at present it is irreversible. Once resistance has developed, it cannot be eradicated or reversed. This could lead to dangerously high worm burdens that cannot be treated, with all the health problems associated with parasites. Taking ac on NOW is the only way to ﬁght back against equine wormer resistance, and keep our horses healthy now and in the future.

Find out more about SMART worming and set up your own free planner online at www.smartworming.co.uk

SALES

fever

Are you thinking of buying from an auction? There is an almost irresistible urge in all of us not to miss a bargain, but buying from an auction comes with both advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to approach the process with total conﬁdence and a little thought beforehand will ensure that you come home with a bargain and not an expensive mistake.

Look before you leap Before a ending a sale there are a number of things you can do to top the odds in your favour. Send for a catalogue and read it carefully, par cularly the condi ons of sale.

Look out for: • • • •

What does and does not cons tute a warranty How long the warranty period lasts Condi ons under which a warranty does not apply Note how soon the auc oneers must be no ﬁed of a mis-descrip on or breach of warranty

32 HorseScene

Buying at auc on can have many advantages, but it can also be rife with risks if you are not fully aware of all aspects of the auc on procedure. One of the most common factors that can be overlooked is the auc on fees, which can bring up the price of the transac on considerably. Some auc ons will look to add addi onal fees to the cost of a sale. Fees may also be subject to VAT. Therefore, it makes logical sense to check ahead with the auc oneer before bidding as to all sale condi ons – otherwise you may not be ge ng the value for money you expected. Once you have read the catalogue you may think there are horses/ponies entered which will suit you. If this is the case and you normally have your horses insured, speak to your insurance

broker about cover on any poten al purchase. Ideally this should be from the fall of the hammer, if the horse you have successfully bid for gets kicked as it is led out of the ring, it is yours. You must s ll pay for it, even if it has a broken leg and has to be destroyed!

3. 'Poten al' before an ac vity usually means the horse hasn’t done it yet and 'great poten al' implies that although he hasn’t done it, he might be good at it if he does.

4. Assurances that the horse 'will make' or 'is sure to' are only opinions Another thing to do before a ending the sale is to do some research on any poten al buys you have seen in the catalogue. Ask around and find out if anyone knows of the horse, the internet is a good place to start. If it is supposed to have been hunted, pony clubbed or used for riding ac vi es you may be able to find out what reputa on the horse has. A horse or pony which is affiliated or is said to have money on its card can be checked out with the BSJA for example although it should be remembered that a horses past record will only tell you what it has done, not that he can s ll do it. If the height of your prospec ve purchase is of great importance, it's wise to take a measuring s ck with you. Descrip ons of height, along with age, sex and colour rarely cons tute a warranty if they are incorrect so, the best course is to check yourself. Its also good idea to find out what me purchases have to be removed by and what arrangements need to be made before paying.

Catalogue jargon Animals who sound perfect for your needs will almost certainly not turn up, be sold before you get there or bear no resemblance whatsoever to their descrip on!

and could be wrong.

5. Other poten ally misleading statements are things like 'used in a riding school', 'ridden by children', 'never lame' or 'ideal lead rein pony'. None of these form a warranty, but can be used to give the impression of one. A horse can be used to demonstrate faults of conﬁrma on and s ll be truthfully said to have been used in a riding school. Likewise the horse that is never lame may be blind in one eye and the pony that is so good on the lead rein may bomb oﬀ the minute you let go of his head.

6. Ask speciﬁc ques ons eg “is it quiet to ride?” etc or “is it fully warranted?” Ask for it in wri ng if the answers diﬀer from the catalogue descrip on! This is not to say you should never buy an unwarranted animal, but accept that if you do so you are taking a greater risk and set your price accordingly.

Get a good look Make sure you walk around the sale pens before the lots you are interested in go through the sales ring. This will allow a closer inspec on and if the owner is present at the lot pen, to ask ques ons.

1. You need to read between the lines of a catalogue descrip on as sellers can exaggerate the good and play down or forget to men on the bad. If a horse ‘IS’ good to box, clip, catch, shoe; ‘IS’ quiet to ride, good in traﬃc, a good hunter or a winner at anything and ‘IS’ sold sound and free from vices, the catalogue will almost certainly say so. Work on the assump on that if it doesn’t say it is, it isn’t. Look out for qualifying phrases like 'believed sound' – this could mean the owners think there horse is sound or that they know it isn’t but want you to think it is and buy it.

2. 'Has' before some ac vity usually means the horse either hasn’t done it o en or wasn’t very good at it i.e. 'has hunted', 'has been driven' or 'has been in harness'. This last phrase incidently, does not necessarily mean the horse/pony has actually pulled a cart.

It’s sad but true, but some unscrupulous sellers will give horses calming drugs before an auc on. A horse may appear ‘bomb proof’ at the auc on, but once the drugs wear oﬀ you may have a very diﬃcult and dangerous horse on your hands. Private sellers can drug horses too, but if you suspect drugging this can easily be picked up in a prepurchase veterinary exam. Vices such as cribbing, weaving, box walking, refusing to load, bi ng, kicking or other undesirable behaviours may not be apparent in the sales pen of an auc on. Ask the owner ques ons and if need be ask them to put it in wri ng that the horse is vice free.

HorseScene 33

Look for any swelling or warm spots star ng from the nose to the tail. Run your hand down all the legs and equate appearance and the feel of the le and the right. Review the overall shape of its body including the quality of coat and feet, and check out if they are shiny or dull and the toes are trimmed or chipped. A er checking its physical form including muscular scenario, check its mental facul es, is it cheerful and bright or depressed and frightened?

Trying horses If there are trial facili es, watch the horse you are interested in walk and trot away from you and back to you to see if he is straight. Take note of his a tude. It is understandable for a youngster to get upset and excited in strange surroundings but, if an older, experienced horse is ge ng hysterical it could indicate problems in the future. Always see a strange horse ridden before you get on it. Look to see what type of bit is being used and consider your own level of horsemanship against that of the person riding before moun ng anything that looks wound up. A few minutes to see what sort of ride he gives you and what his mouth is like is all you need. Remember you are not trying to school the horse or show everyone how well it goes for you (if it does go well for you, get oﬀ straight away, you don’t want other people to see it going well and push the price up!)

Rescuing horses An animal that is very thin may have been on poor grazing and not fed very well, be over worked or worm ridden. However, poor condi on can also be a symptom of more serious ve nary problems due to an a empt to make the horse quieter to ride. Restoring to good health a horse bought in pi ull condi on can give great sa sfac on but be warned, it can take a long me, cost a lot of money and is not always successful. It is highly advisable to avoid anything with a sno y nose and a cough as it could be the ﬁrst signs of ﬂu or strangles. Remember – a sick or unsound horse is never cheap, whatever the price.

Buying tack and equipment If you think you may buy tack or horse clothing from an auc on, arm yourself with a tape measure and your horses exact measurements. Sizes are not always marked and if they are, they may not be accurate. Get to the sale early enough to examine tack carefully before the bidding starts. Bridles are o en made up of spare parts, not always the same size: look at the s tching and buckle tongues and see that the head piece is not torn through or cut short where it a aches to the cheek pieces. Bits should always be examined for worn joints and sharp edges. Make sure cheeks on Pelham bits for example are not bent and rubber bits are not split or chewed, allowing the central chain to become rusty.

Set your price

Check that reins are a pair, have their studs or buckles and billets and have not been chewed or repaired.

If you decide to bid, set your price at a slightly odd ﬁgure. Many people may decide there limit is £450 or £500, so by se ling on £455 or £505 you may just outbid them. If the horse does not reach its reserve it is some mes worth following the vendor out of the ring to ask the minimum he will accept. The prospect of taking the horse home again o en inspires a more realis c valua on of it.

With saddles make sure the tree is sound and not twisted or crooked. There should be no give in the front arch and very li le in the seat, look to see if the s rrup bars are in good order and girth straps are intact and securely ﬁxed. Check for a matching pair of s rrup irons and leathers. If the saddle needs re-stuﬃng take the cost in to account when deciding your maximum bid.

Homeward bound It is o en possible to find someone already at the sale to transport a horse home for you. Ask at the office or have it announced over the tanoy. Every horse should be le with a head collar and lead rope but, don’t expect anything else. So, its a good idea if you are planning to buy, to take some travel clothing with you just incase. You must pay for all purchases in full and collect pass out slips for them before a emp ng to leave the sale yard. If the horses previous owner is s ll with him, take the opportunity to ask about his normal diet, tack, rou ne, likes and dislikes and when he was last wormed ect. When you get home resist the tempta on to call your friends to come and admire your new purchase, let the horse se le in first and its also a sensible precau on to keep him away from other horses for a few days so he can be wormed and checked for any diseases.

Rugs should be inspected for wear, tear or badly done repairs which could cause rubbing. Make sure turnout rugs have their leg straps and any other ﬁ ngs and with all rugs ensure the front fastenings are okay. Its a sensible precau on to treat any second hand tack, rugs etc. with a fungicide wash to avoid risk of ringworm. Electrical goods such as clippers should have the cable closely examined for damage. If trodden on by a horse the outer cable can be split, leaving wires dangerously exposed. If there is a socket available ask to see if they work. Treat with suspicion any electrical equipment with the plug removed. Having examined everything you might bid on, make a note of the lot numbers and how much you are prepared to pay. It is all too easy to forget which of the 20 bridles you were interested in when they have been moved around and you are stuck behind a crowd of people.

warning bells ring if ct in st in r u yo w llo REMEMBER Fo 34 HorseScene

- avoid it

Thinking of going

BITLESS?

Wendy Wainwright from Bitless Horse tells us why going bitless can improve your communication with your horse and how to choose and introduce a bitless bridle…. The last decade has seen an increase in the variety and availability of bitless bridle designs. There are now over 20 diﬀerent bridles available, many of which demonstrate an innova ve approach to this method of communica on. This has allowed bitless bridles to emerge as a real alterna ve to bi ed bridles. 5 reasons to go bitless: • Improved communica on between horse and rider • Be er respira on • Less discomfort • Freedom of movement • Fewer behavioural problems

Bitless bridle styles It can be diﬃcult to know which bitless bridle is best suited to both your riding style and to your horse, so here we group products in terms of the ac on on the horse and to describe how each group of products func on.

Bosals The main iden fying feature of this group is that the reins are a ached at a single point behind the horse’s jaw and neck reining is the favoured method of guiding the horse. The ‘Western Bosal’ is a rawhide loop which sits on the nose and is balanced by the ﬁador in order to create the correct eﬀect and is typically used for star ng young horses in western riding. The ‘Rope Hackamore’ consists of a rope halter with the reins

36 HorseScene

a ached to the knot behind the chin. It produces a mild ac on on the nose and is usually favoured in natural horsemanship methods (including Parelli) as it is a simple transi on from the rope halter used for groundwork. The ‘Half Bosal Riding Halter’ is an enhancement of the Rope Hackamore. The rope-bound noseband is more rigid to give the bridle stability and enable clear communica on, whilst s ll being so er than rawhide.

Mechanical hackamores Mechanical Hackamores, which include the German Hackamore and the Blair’s Pa ern (also known as the English Hackamore) all employ leverage in their ac on. Pulling on the rein causes the shanks to pivot, applying pressure on the poll, nose and chin. The severity of the ac on is increased by the length of the shanks. The amount of force created by the leverage that these bridles produce has the poten al to be severe and care must be used as in extreme cases horse’s noses have been calloused from the pressure and even the nasal bones have been damaged.

Bridles using pressure on the poll, nose and chin The ‘Equibridle’ has a plain leather strap across the nose and a curb chain with a leather guard. The cheekpieces are rolled leather and pass around a pulley situated at either side of the noseband and then to the reins. The purpose of the pulleys is to distribute the contact on the poll, nose and chin.

The other two bridles in this group are the ‘Meroth’ and the ‘Indian Bosal’ which have a similar ac on to each other in that the noseband con nues and crosses behind the jaw before passing through loops or rings on the opposite side of the nose, where it is a ached to the reins. The Indian Bosal is tradi onally made using rope and whereas the Meroth makes use of leather with a short sec on between the side of the nose and the ring that the strap passes through.

Crossunder bitless bridles This last group of bridles cons tutes most of the development that has occurred in the last decade. These bridles are easily iden fied by the straps which cross from just below the ears and pass under the jaw to the side of the nose on the opposite side of the face. The main reason for this is that the bridle contacts around the whole head with a gentle ac on, as opposed to contact being concentrated on specific areas. The simplest, and most popular, of these is the ‘Dr Cook Bitless Bridle’ which has been in produc on for almost ten years, and is available in a variety of sizes and materials. The ‘Nurtural No-Bit Bridle’ has two addi onal dis nc ve features - the noseband is lined with a textured rubber (to help with horses who throw their head up or lean a li le on the bridle) and has the circle x (a circular sec on that the cross straps pass through that sits under the jaw and keeps the cross straps on the widest part of the face). This prevents the straps twis ng and fully ghtening around the face which can be helpful with sensi ve horses. The ‘Orbitless Bridle’ is designed to produce the most vesa lity of all the bitless bridles while retaining excellent release proper es, it is designed to have a neutral state. Comprising of ellip cal sidepieces the noseband and chinstrap can be moved to give a greater emphasis on the nose or on the poll. The rein posi on can be altered from a simple sidepull through varying degrees to a strong ac on. The ‘LG Bridle’ (Happy Wheel) consists of a leather noseband and either a chain or leather chin strap. The wheel allows different se ngs ranging from a side pull ac on, to varying degrees of nose, chin and poll contact, through to an ac on similar to a mechanical hackamore, via a shank a achment.

At a glance Most horses respond to contact in diﬀerent ways, some do not like contact on the poll, some prefer the feel of contact around the nose and others like the feel of bridles where contact is distributed around the whole head. The variety of bridles currently available means that there should be a bitless bridle to suit almost every horse, rider and ac vity. The following table lists all of the bridles men oned and their main contact points, for comparison.

Simple and mild bridles The ‘Sidepull’ is available in a wide range of materials and conﬁgura ons. In its simplest form it can be described as a bridle with rings at either side to which the reins are a ached. Its ac on is similar to a aching reins to either side of a headcollar and acts by using the reins to pull the head towards the direc on that the rider wants to go. The ‘Dually’ is similar to a headcollar with a second noseband made of rope which passes through rings on either side. The noseband has rings at each end that a ach to the reins, providing contact with the top and sides of the nose. The Dually is not typically used for riding but is some mes used in conjunc on with a bi ed bridle to aid a young horse with transi on from a halter to a bit. The ‘Enduro Bridle’ is similar in appearance to a halter, with the addi on of rope loops at each end of the noseband, to which the reins and chinpiece are a ached. As the reins are not a ached to solid rings any ac on on the rein causes the chin piece to li and contact with the back of the jaw. It provides a gentle and subtle cue that produces a posi ve response in many horses. The ‘Callisto Bridle’ is a simple yet cleverly designed bridle. The reins a ach to a chin strap which is designed to have pressure over the nose and/or under the chin depending on how the reins are a ached. The bridle is designed to have good release and no poll pressure. Rope based bridles such as the ‘Training Halter’ produce a sidepull ac on incorporated with a rope halter.

Pressure around the nose The ‘Scawbrig’ consists of a straight noseband and a chin piece which passes through rings on either side of the noseband and back to the reins. The main ac on it has is to ghten on the back of the jaw, but also produces some ghtening around the nose.

Areas where the bridle produces contact Bridle

Nose

Chin

Poll

Western Bosal

Rope Hackamore

Half Bosal

Mechanical Hackamore

Equibridle

Orbitless Bridle

LG Bridle

Sidepull

Dually

Enduro Bridle

Wholehead

Scawbrig

Indian Bosal

Meroth

Dr Cook Bitless Bridle

Nurtural No-Bit Bridle

HorseScene 37

Selec ng a bitless bridle The horses comfort and your riding style are just two of the factors that can aﬀect the choice of bitless bridle that you use. It is a good star ng point to discover which contact areas your horse responds to and how subtle you are with your signals. To help in the decision making process we look at the diﬀerent factors involved. These can be categorised into ac vi es, horse characteris cs, current bridle and behaviour, training and experience and rider characteris cs.

Rider characteris cs – Experience and confidence are the main factors which can affect a bitless bridle choice. An inexperienced or unconfident rider will probably not be comfortable with a rope hackamore or mild bridle and may prefer the stability and control of a more suppor ve bridle. Some riders perceive that using a bitless bridle will result in a loss of control and this can be a daun ng experience. One way to overcome this is to ride with a bitless bridle underneath a bi ed bridle and gradually use the bitless bridle more and more un l they feel confident enough to remove the bi ed bridle completely. All of the factors have been considered individually here in order to explain them, but it is the combina on of these factors which gives the overall picture and formulates which are the most appropriate bitless bridle styles. It should be remembered however that there are no hard and fast rules and every horse is an individual. The examples given here are only indica ons of typical horse’s reac ons and provide a star ng point for people wishing to explore bitless bridles further. Paying a en on to your horse’s reac ons will help you decide if a bridle is suitable or otherwise.

Ac vi es – What ac vi es you and your horse par cipate in can influence which bitless bridle is most appropriate. Most bitless bridles are suitable for hacking and general riding. However if dressage is your main ac vity, unless your horse is well schooled with a good degree of self carriage a rope hackamore or other light bridle is not the most helpful whereas an LG bridle or sidepull may be more suitable. Those who par cipate in cross country and jumping may find the crossunder bridles the best choice. Horse characteris cs – The factors which can influence the bitless bridle choice in this category are the horse’s sensi vity, confidence and how forward going they are. These are all rated 1-5 with 1 the weakest and 5 the strongest ra ng for that characteris c. Horses who are very forward going o en respond well to crossunder bridles or hackamores. A horse that is not forward going may find a hackamore too strong and need something milder. A confident horse will probably accept any bridle equally well whereas a horse that lacks confidence would more likely prefer the support of the LG bridle, cross under bridles or a well fi ng sidepull. Sensi vity is an interes ng characteris c. More and more o en it is common for very sensi ve horses to dislike the feeling of anything ghtening around the head. For these types of horses, sidepulls or mild rope bridles are usually more easily accepted than crossunders or Indian bosals. Current bridle and behaviour – One of the considera ons taken into account is which bridle or bit the horse is currently using, if they show signs of bit discomfort and what those signs are. Possible signs could include headshaking, pu ng the tongue over the bit, teeth grinding and s cking the tongue out. Other behaviours which have been documented as reduced or eliminated with use of bitless bridles are also noted. These include bucking, rearing, napping and bi ng. This informa on helps to give an overall picture of the horse’s reac ons and responses. Training and experience – What level of training the horse is working at and if the horse has been previously ridden in a bitless bridle are also considered. Horses which have had some experience of Natural Horsemanship techniques o en understand the concept of pressure and release which is a main feature of most bitless bridles. It is common for followers of Natural Horsemanship to use rope hackamores as this is an extension of the rope halters used in training. Young horses with li le training or experience usually prefer a more stable and suppor ve bridle than horses where the training is well established.

38 HorseScene

Introducing a bitless bridle It is advisable to introduce the bridle through groundwork, preferably in an enclosed space, at first to familiarise the horse to the ac on of the bridle. Some horses accept them straight away with no trouble while with others it takes a li le longer for them to be comfortable. Fit the bridle according to the fi ng instruc ons making sure everything is comfortable for the horse. Start by standing next to the horse’s le shoulder, pick up the le rein and ask the horse to flex their head to the le . As soon as the horse shows the slightest movement, release and praise. Gradually increase this un l they bring their head round to you, remember to praise and keep the aids as light as possible. Repeat on the right hand side. By doing this exercise not only have you familiarised the horse to the lateral ac on of the bridle but have also started to teach the one rein emergency stop which is a very useful tool for all bridles but an essen al one for rope hackamores. Next progress to long reining in the bitless bridle, use lots of turns, circles and transi ons. You could also incorporate polework, a slalom of poles or small jumps to test the turns, transi ons and to make it a more interes ng experience. Con nue with this stage un l the horse is happy and confident with the bridle before progressing to ridden work. When riding in a bitless bridle for the first me, again use turns, circles and transi ons in an enclosed space un l you and the horse are confident before progressing to hacking, jumping or faster work For more informa on or to purchase/hire a bitless bridle visit

www.bitlesshorse.co.uk

Closing date: 27th September 2011

Giveaways Vetrofen 90 Sachet Pack

MaxaFlex

One lucky winner will receive a 90 sachet pack worth £149.99. Vetrofen is the No1. Natural Bute alterna ve that’s fast ac ng, safe for long term use with no side effects and no banned substances. Contains a proprietary blend of plant extracts with a strong an oxidant effect, assis ng the body’s inflammatory response, naturally suppor ng be er joint and muscle movement now and for the future. Vetrofen works wonders long term for s ffness and arthri s or short-term for relief from a strain or bruising.

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1 up for grabs!

5 up for grabs!

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Adelar Trimmer & Pocket Pro Set One lucky winner will win this fantas c trimmer set from Wahl. Included in the giveaway is the Adelar Trimmer, designed to meet the needs of every horse owner whether they are top professionals or single horse owners. It stands alone in its class for performance, versa lity and power, delivering unbeatable results every me. You will also receive a Pocket Pro Timmer, a handy compact trimmer suitable for use around the face and head, which can be easily concealed for nervous horses.

1 up for grabs!

Snuggy Jams Hood, Rug & Travel Boots Set The Snuggy Hoods Snuggy Jams compromises of a hood and rug made of so polar fleece, giving nose to tail coverage. Ideal for keeping the coat looking healthy and shiny or to help keep winter coats under control. The hood has a built in mane saver and ears and the rug has a built in belly band. Also included in the prize is a set of Snuggy Travel Boots, made from so polar fleece they offer important protec on from knee to hoof and ensure legs remain clean.

How to enter:

please send a postcard marked with the product you would like to win, along with your name, address & telephone no. to: Horse Scene Magazine, The Old Tannery, 224 Spen Lane, Gomersal, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire BD19 4PJ or email your entries to: win@horsescenemagazine.co.uk Please note: Entries will not be accepted without a telephone number and full address. Please allow 28 days for delivery. See full terms and condi ons on our website.

40 HorseScene

on the

Vetscene

NORFOLK

By Dr. Hans Delaunois-Vanderperren, DVM, CertEM(StudMed), CertEqSc, GespPD, MRCVS, DipEqSc

EQUINE VETERINARY SERVICES

Guide To Gait

Gait abnormalities are mostly located in the h Stringhalt A jerk, a jump, a hop with the hind legs tucked up high. Similar to the func on of strings on a marione e, stringhalt seems to make horses yank their legs up and halt them there momentarily before taking their next step. If me doesn't cure it, the prognosis is poor. Stringhalt appears to be an age-old disease in horses and other hooved animals. Descrip ons of the disease date back to the Renaissance. William Shakespeare has even been credited for the name of the disease (as a varia on of the term "springhalt," from Henry VIII). Stringhalt is an involuntary hyperflexion of one or both hind limbs in which the degree of flexion can be quite variable, with the most exaggerated cases kicking the abdomen. Backing or turning the horse can exaggerate this hyperflexion. Mild cases can perform normal ac vi es without consequence, but more severely affected horses can have difficulty moving. This condi on usually occurs spontaneously and is thought to be a neurologic problem, although no specific cause has been iden fied. Severe cases might warrant a surgical procedure called a lateral digital extensor tendonectomy (cu ng the lateral digital extensor tendon). There is also a stringhalt-like condi on ini ally reported in New Zealand and Australia as "outbreaks," where mul ple cases occurred in pasture mates. While no defini ve cause has been found, there appear to be risk factors. This form of stringhalt is usually found in horses grazing rela vely poor pastures during late summer or early autumn of a dry year, usually with flatweed (Hypochaeris radicata), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and/or Malva parviflora present in the pasture. Australian stringhalt also can affect laryngeal func on, crea ng a roarer (laryngeal hemiplegia) in some cases. This type of stringhalt has recently been diagnosed in the mid-Atlan c states of the USA, with the same flatweed present in the affected pastures. Some researchers have evaluated medical

42 HorseScene

management, and they believe that gradual recovery is usually the norm, but it might take up to two years. Shivering Shivers was discussed in depth in a previous Vet-Scene ar cle. Shivers has been recognized by horse owners for more than a century, and refers to a chronic nervous or neuromuscular condi on that in a 1962 text was stated to be "as common as dirt." This was referring to the period when dra horse popula ons were much larger than today. This rare neuromuscular disorder is characterized by uncontrolled spasmodic contrac ons of muscles of the hindlimbs and tail. The forelimbs, head and neck are rarely affected. Clinical signs may vary, but a spasmodic contrac on of specific muscle groups usually occurs. The episodes are frequently brought on by stress or excitement. Walking the horse out of its stable in the morning o en ini ates signs. Affected animals may flex a hindlimb in a manner resembling stringhalt. The hindlimb is held in a fully flexed and slightly abducted posi on. Spasmodic contrac on of the gluteal and flexor muscles of the limb produces the “shivering” of the muscle bellies which gives the disease its name. The leg may be held in this posi on for several seconds to even minutes. In severe cases the signs may be bilateral causing the animal to collapse behind. The animal will also be reluctant or unable to back-up. The cause(s) of this condi on is unknown and there is currently no effec ve therapy. Some days are be er than others for some shivers-affected horses. In general, this is considered a progressive, debilita ng disease with a poor prognosis. Clinical signs eventually increase in frequency and severity, and muscle was ng and weakness worsen. The course of the disease can progress rapidly or take as long as 24 years to render a horse incapacitated. Euthanasia may be elected.

Abnormalities

hindquarters of the horse and occur very rarely. Fibro c myopathy Fibro c myopathy is iden fied by the mechanical gait created when the hamstrings (semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris) have been injured and heal with a dense scarred area. This scarred mass restricts the normal elas c property of the hamstrings, limi ng the forward mo on of the limb at the end of the stride. This creates a slapping of the foot to the ground. Injury to these muscles can result from a kick, violent contrac on from sliding stops, catching a foot in the halter and aggressively a emp ng to remove it, or injec on reac ons. Diagnos c ultrasound can help evaluate muscle injuries and document the extent of the lesion. Treatment should be directed at reducing the scar forma on or revising the scar (crea ng a remodeling response). Some clinicians inject triamcinolone intralesionally to modify the scar. Severe, long-standing cases might require surgical correc on in the form of myotenotomy (debulking) or a tenotomy (cu ng the tendon) of the tendinous inser on of the semitendinosus muscle. Upward fixa on of the patella Upward fixa on of the patella is another gait abnormality of the hind limb with varying degrees of clinical manifesta ons. A normal horse can rest the limb by incorpora ng the stay apparatus of the pelvic limb, in which the quadriceps muscle group locks the limb by contrac ng and pulling the patella proximally (upward) over the medial trochlear ridge of the femur. Clinical signs occur when the patella catches in this posi on intermi ently or constantly. Therefore, the gait abnormality associated with upward fixa on of the patella occurs during the ini a on of the stride. Severe cases might not be able to move the limb out of extension, and end up dragging the limb. Circling, walking up and down hills, and pushing the patella into this posi on while asking the horse to step forward might exacerbate the condi on. This condi on is most commonly caused by changes in exercise pa erns. Poor condi oning (especially in younger horses) and changes in the level of training (especially reduc ons in the amount of training with an increase in stall me) can increase the severity and occurrence. This gait might occur more o en in horses with straight conforma on of the pelvic limb, and in some instances there might be a gene c component (especially in ponies and miniature horses). Treatment is generally directed at correc ng the primary cause. In most cases, conserva ve management--a controlled exercise program-should be a empted first. Management should emphasize improving the horse's condi on to increase muscle tone while avoiding condi ons (deep sand foo ng, etc.) that might perpetuate the problem. If training has li le effect, then counter-irritants (iodine in almond oil) can be injected around the ligaments. As a last resort, medial patellar desmotomy (severing of the medial patellar ligament) might be required to release the locked patella.

Loose patella The condi on of loose patella has been associated with laxity of the patellar ligaments. The patella is looser than normal, resul ng in soreness in the s fle and secondary back soreness. It is probable that there is no primary problem of the patellar ligaments and that the problem is one of lack of condi oning in the quadriceps femoris musculature with subsequent loosening in the patella. An intermi ent unilateral subluxa on of the patella with spontaneous reloca on can also occur. Horses will o en move fairly normally only to suddenly lose their extensor support when the patella displaces with the leg only be able to extend once the patella spontaneously relocates into its normal posi on. A complete displacement or luxa on of the patella usually results in an inability to extend the s fle, while a persistent lateral subluxa on presents much like a horse with upward fixa on of the patella: the limb is held in extension and when the limb is advanced, an awkward swinging gait with toe dragging occurs. Treatment depends on the severity of the condi on and is similar to the treatment of upward fixa on of the patella. Sources: 1 2 3

Diagnosing Hind Limb Gait Abnormali es by: Rich Redding, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS Stringhalt in Horses by: Christa Lesté- Lasserre Adams’ Lameness in Horses.

HorseScene 43

WIN

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How to enter: This compe on can only be entered on the ‘’Horse Scene Magazine Facebook Page’’. Come and join us and be in with a chance to win this fantas c prize.

WHY FEED A LICK? Because modern day grazing and feeding is a far cry from that of our horses’ ancestors, there are many valuable vitamins, minerals and trace elements missing from the diet. This can compromise your horse’s natural ability to maintain op mum health and result in deficiencies in the diet. For this reason it is important to ensure your horse’s diet is balanced with all the necessary nutrients to retain all over health, from strong hooves and a shiny coat to ensuring the correct vitamins and minerals are available to enable feed u lisa on and an efficient diges ve system. With cost playing an important role in horse management, the use of a free access, nutrient rich lick is already demonstra ng huge benefits. A well formulated lick, for example Horslyx, contains op mum levels of nutrients to balance the deficiencies found in forage and grazing, leading to a healthier, happier horse, whilst adding negligible calories to the diet. The inclusion of vital vitamins and minerals and trace elements, including an -oxidants and ingredients to boost skin, hooves and overall condi on, means that horse owners can offer comprehensive nutri on in one simple tub. Par cularly during the winter me when turnout is limited and stable me is increased, feeding a lick, such as Horslyx can help relieve

boredom and stress as well as encourage a more natural, trickle feeding pa ern which aids diges on and extends ea ng mes. When fed at the recommended amounts alongside the correct quan ty of good quality forage in many horses there is no need to feed addi onal hard feed making licks, like Horslyx, a simple, me saving, cost effec ve and complete feeding system. The availability of specialist supplements and high quality licks without chemical hardeners, binders or fillers mean you can add extra nutri onal support for specific needs – including joint care, respiratory support or help with deterring flies. The result is an economical feeding method which gives owners peace of mind that their horse is receiving the correct balance of nutrients to maintain op mum health. Horslyx is available in four different formula ons, Original, Respiratory, Garlic and Mobility allowing owners to feed specifically to their horses’ requirements in one cost effec ve, easy method. Horslyx is available in 5kg and 15kg weatherproof tubs, plus 80kg in Original only, with prices star ng at around £9.80.

For further informa on contact 01697 332 592 or visit www.horslyx.com

& ? QA

Got a ques on? email: expert@horsescenemagazine.co.uk

HOOF ABCESS

My horse is shod throughout summer but has a break through the winter as I do not ride her. Her shoes are normally taken off from the end of October until the end of February. The problem is whenever I do this she always gets hoof abscesses. Why is this happening and should I just keep her shod all the time to stop it happening?

A: Craig D’Arcy answers…. There are various ideas which spring to mind with this ques on but without a li le more informa on I cannot give you a defini ve answer. You state that the horse gets hoof abscess when the shoes are taken off for winter. The first point I would look at is does this occur within the first few weeks of removing the shoes. This could be due to the horses feet becoming bruised due to the removal of the shoes and the sole and frog suddenly having to bear weight. The feet could become bruised and this could become infected and therefore form an abscess. The shape of the feet can cause certain horses to be more suscep ble to bruising. If the horse is flat footed rather than a vaulted sole would lead to more bruising and possible abscessing. If you are turning the horse out in the field, the feet over winter can become saturated whilst standing in mud. This so ening of the horn can cause access for bacterial infec on to the frog and surrounding ssue. We have for the past two years had some very harsh winters including some long spells of frost making the ground very hard again leading to bruised soles. Snow lay on the ground here in Lancashire for a couple of weeks and I was called to a horse that

46 HorseScene

had bruising on all four feet due to snow being balled up in his feet whilst turned out. This if una ended could lead to an abscess. If when your horse goes lame get your vet to check if the abscess has been from a puncture wound or from infected bruising. If it’s from a puncture wound find the offending item in your field and remove. If none of the above items are applicable then perhaps your barefoot hoof management may be at fault. The removal of the shoes from a horse over winter s ll necessitates regular visits by your farrier as the hoof is s ll growing. The hoof capsule if le to overgrow can distort and the laminae and white line become distended. This could increase the risk of abscesses. If your horse has had lamini s in the past then the laminal tearing and distended white line can lead to penetra on of gravel into this area leading to an increased risk of abscessing. Your farrier/vet will be able to advise over the merits of leaving the shoes on this individual horse. I would point out that the money saved by removing the shoes will be swallowed up by vet visits to dig the abscess out of the horses foot.

EARLY ACTIVITIES

Q: I have a 3 year old mare that is going to be broken to ride next year. In the meantime are there any games or activities I can be doing with her?

Meet our experts...

Laura Sanders answers..... Keeping a 3 year old can be a frustra ng me. Your horse is no doubt convinced that she is a ‘grown up’ whilst you know that she cannot yet be ridden. She will be ge ng stronger, be very inquisi ve and eager to learn new things. Assuming you have had your youngster a while, it is essen al that she has all the necessary manners in prepara on for being backed next year. Your horse should lead well in hand from both sides, e up quietly and pick up all four feet easily for both you and the farrier. In hand showing is a great way of introducing your youngster to the big wide world. A short trip on the lorry or trailer, having been bathed, groomed and prepared will encourage pa ence and good manners, whilst giving her something to ‘think about’ A bridle will need to be introduced at this me, along with travel boots or bandages, rug and quite possibly a roller if not already done so. Prac ce walking, tro ng in hand and standing up square. Depending on how physically developed your 3 year old is will decide how much you can do with her at this stage. If she is big and strong some light lungeing or long reining in the school will be fine. Ground Poles can be added for your horse to walk over when confident. Once your youngster is bridled, a walk up the road (if it is quiet) will encourage them to be bold and trust in the handler. Be careful not to overload her brain with too much informa on. Some horses are easily accep ng, whilst others can take more me to adjust. Whilst these exercises seem fairly rou ne to us, if it the first me your horse has been asked to do it they will be worn out both mentally and physically. Crucially, remember to be pa ent. You have come this far with your young horse and in no me at all she will be under saddle and the training can con nue. Give her lots of praise when she gets things right and of course give her free me in the field with her friends so she can play, grow and be a youngster for a li le while longer.

CHEWING THE LINE

Q: My 5 year old mare always chews her lead rope when she is tied up. Her teeth are checked every 6 months so why is she doing this and how can I stop her?

Dr. Hans Delaunois- Caroline Moore Vanderperren, FBHS, Bri sh Even ng & DVM, CertEM (StudMed), GespPD, MRCVS, DipEqSc

Bri sh Dressage Accredited Coach

Craig D’Arcy

Julia Gray

FdSc AWCF Registered Farrier

PGCE, BSc (Hons), BHSAI Head of Equine At Myerscough College

Kay Howard

Zoe Davies

Qualiﬁed Saddle Fi er and Master Saddler

MSc.Eq.S,R.Nutr. Consultant Equine Nutri onist

Kate Coles

Sarah Weston

Associate Of The BSc (hons) Supplement Intelligent Horsemanship Specialist Associa on & Animal Behaviorist

A: Sarah Weston answers…. There are a number of reasons why you horse might chew her lead rein. Originally it may have provided comfort when she was teething or just given her something to do especially if she was bored or stressed; many horses feel more vulnerable when they are ed up. However, there may be no nega ve reason other than she likes doing it. Nevertheless it may well be serving a purpose now in that it is a rac ng your a en on and possibly delaying you doing less comfortable things like tacking her up or vigorously brushing her. It's worth analysing it to see if there is a deﬁnite trigger and then looking at whether you can eliminate that trigger by brushing her more slowly and deeply, pu ng the tack on more gently or changing where you e her up. You could always hold her in hand instead if you use a 4 metre rope. If you want her to stop you could try making a distrac ng noise which should cease the instant she let's go of the rope. However, please be very careful that you don't frighten her so that she pulls back against the rope and always make sure that she is ed up to a proper bungee e up rather than to something which has no give.

Jamie Anderson

Laura Bateman

Breeding Specialist

BSc MSc, Psychological Therapist specialising in Rider Psychology

Laura Sanders

Nicola Sheard

BHS AI, INT. SM Interna onal Groom

Professional Show Jumper and Trainer

tried&tested Dublin Tempt Tall Boots

These stylish tall boots are made from really so leather and are extremely comfortable to wear. They have a lovely slim ﬁ ng look and are made very well with some great features, sweat control lining that wicks away moisture keeping my feet dry, enhanced cushioning across the en re foot area, padded cushion heel and an an -bacterial/an -fungal lining. They are perfect for casual ou ngs or for riding and the look of them is beau ful, they have a suede leather lining with a tartan fabric cuﬀ, contrast s tching and a stylish tassel zip. These boots have been made to last and priced at £159.99 are a real smart bargain. For more informa on visit www.dublinclothing.com

Ariat Waterproof Team Jacket I am very impressed with this blouson style jacket as it cks all the boxes, it is waterproof and wind resistant and very breathable. It even has zipped seams under both arms which, when opened, reveal a breathable mesh gusset that keeps you cool and comfortable all the me. It is very lightweight to wear and does not restrict your movement at all. As an extra bonus it has fashionable reﬂec ve details at the back yoke and back sleeve seam which is great and I love the style and design of the jacket, it ﬁts beau fully and the Ariat embroidery running down the right hand sleeve really adds to the a rac on. Another unbelievable advantage is the jacket is very reasonably priced at £79.99 I would highly recommend this jacket. For more informa on visit www.ariat-europe.com

Jeffries Premier Patent Bridle This bridle oozes class and my horse looked a million dollars wearing it. It is beau fully cra ed and the leather is very so and supple. The slo ed headpiece allows the nose band head strap to run over the top of the padded headpiece for maximum comfort and the headpiece is shaped to provide extra comfort for the horse’s ears and poll area. The noseband is also so ly padded and the bridle sits perfectly without rubbing anywhere. The patent noseband and browband really set this bridle off in style and offers a 'smart compe on look'. This bridle is definitely something special and I had so many comments at compe ons too – so it must have looked really good! It is now one of my prized possessions and I would recommend this bridle to anyone who wants their horse to be comfortable while looking good! For more informa on visit www.ejeffries.co.uk

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N.E.W Moulded Tendon & Fetlock Boots When jumping, protec on for my horses legs is paramount and these boots definitely offer that! They not only look really smart but, they perform very well too. They are easy to put on and fasten with two double straps - once on they stay in place very well. They offer excellent protec on to vulnerable areas and the hard leather tendon guard offers even more added protec on. The perforated, breathable neoprene lining stops the legs from over hea ng, keeping my horse comfortable and there were no debris inside the boots a er wearing. Another great bonus is you can even put them in the washing machine too so, they are really quick and easy to keep clean and come up as good as new. This set is a great buy for anyone who wants to give their horse the best protec on possible in comfort. For more informa on visit www.newequinewear.co.uk

Head first into safety By George Gorman, inventor of the rider safety aid “Wearing a helmet… should be implemented any me when mounted, all over the world.” Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace ‘declined to comment’ a er her majesty the Queen was pictured on a horse wearing a headscarf and no helmet earlier this year. Aside from wearing helmets, there are of course other safety products that are widely used by riders, such as body protectors and air jackets. In addi on, there are specially-padded jackets, safety s rrups, high visibility wear and ligh ng products that all help reduce the risk factors for accidents, or reduce the likelihood of injury in the event of a fall. Showjumper Susi Rogers Hartley, who competes in able-bodied showjumping classes and also Para jumping classes, as she is paraplegic, advocates riding with an RS-tor rider safety aid – the product may be used in all show jumping compe ons by all riders. At the recent RDA Na onal Championships, Susi won the Grade 1 show jumping sec on (70cms), and says the RS-tor rider proved invaluable. “It enables me to stay si ng up, no ma er what direc on my horse Seamus, who is a real spinner and spooker, goes in. At the RDA Championships, I could nip in and out on the sharp turns without coming out of the ‘side door’,” she states.

We all know horse riding is dangerous – but for most of us, we simply balance dangerous ac vi es against the risk factors present. For example, we wear a seat belt in a car, and check the road before crossing as a pedestrian. Where horse riding is concerned, there are of course many safety precau ons that can be taken – however, falls and accidents s ll occur. At Badminton Horse Trials, this year, three riders fell badly, despite being highly experienced - Elizabeth Power, Camilla Spiers and German rider Ingrid Klimke were all taken to the local hospital, whose staﬀ are presumably used to seeing riding boot-clad people pacing the wards each April. Fast-paced sports have a high correla on with injury rates, in any sector. Unfortunately, it is diﬃcult to fully assess the amount of horse riding accidents that occur on a large scale; and to date, there is no formal register for equestrian injuries. However, Kathryn Doodson, a student at Leeds Metropolitan University, is currently colla ng data for a web-based Major Independent Study (MIS) called the Equestrian Injury Knowledge Mobiliza on Database. Visit www.equestrianinjuries.org. In addi on, Bri sh Horse Society has an Accident Repor ng Website at www.horseaccidents.org.uk that invites people to report equestrian related incidents. With the resul ng data, the charity aims to “lobby those who can make changes”. Many studies point to the fact that head injury is the most common reason for equestrian-related admi ance to hospitals; famously, American dressage rider Courtney King-Dye fractured her skull a er a fall from a horse in early 2010, when she was not wearing a helmet. Wearing approved helmets has been shown to reduce the rate of injury, and American dressage guru Michael Barisone, a member of USEF’s High Performance Dressage Commi ee, has stated that:

50 HorseScene

Oxfordshire-based Susi is fron ng a photo compe on to raise funds for a new electric wheelchair for her. Winning photos will be used on a 2012 equestrian calendar that will be available for sale in due course. Susi is invi ng people to submit a high resolu on photo that shows themselves safely enjoying their horse-riding; any discipline / ac vity applies! Images can be emailed to: rstorfacebook@gmail.com, together with a cap on for the photo, and your name and contact details. Closing date is 31st October. “Professional and amateur images are welcome,” Susi explains.

The

Feed Guide

Forage/Hay Replacer

Dodson & Horrell KwikBeet

Rowen Barbary ReadyFibre Mash

A fast soaking un-molassed sugar beet suitable for all horses and ponies including those at risk from lamini s. If your horse has diﬃculty chewing hay or haylage, KwikBeet can be used as a par al forage replacer. Priced around £10.00

A highly palatable mash, ideal to use as a hay replacer for horses that are stabled for long periods or those that have difficulty ea ng long stem fibres. Made up of 100% high diges ble fibre it is a versa le, highly palatable product. Priced around £9.42

High Fibre HorseHage

TopSpec FibrePlus Cubes

A dust-free bagged forage made from selected ryegrasses which have been allowed to mature before harves ng to a ain higher ﬁbre, lower protein and lower energy levels. It provides an excellent forage for leisure horses and ponies, na ve ponies, veterans, and those that are res ng, convalescing or lamini c. Priced around £7.75

An excellent highly diges ble ﬁbre source with added ingredients to allow a li le muscle development and func on. Ideal for GoodDoers because it has a DE of only 9MJ/kg and when soaked they are a perfect hay replacer for elderly horses and ponies. Priced around £8.95.

GWF Alfalfa Oa nol Contains natural super ﬁbres that encourage microbial diges on and the ‘oa nol’ delivery system to maintain a healthy diges ve trace and a high rate of absorp on of essen al nutricinces, vitamins and trace elements. Priced around £11.00

HorseScene 53

Veteran

Dodson & Horrell Sixteen Plus Mix Dodson and Horrell Sixteen Plus Mix has been formulated to help combat weight loss through ageing and includes its very own musculoskeletal support package with added glucosamine to aid movement and s ﬀness associated with ageing. Priced around £11.85

GWF Fibregest A ‘non soak’ condi oning feed that combines diges ble, super soluble ﬁbres derived from cooked sugar beet pulp, alfalfa and lean black oats, together with added seaweed meal, bioavailable minerals, vitamin E and oa nol. Priced around £11.20

Mollichaﬀ Veteran A high ﬁbre forage mix designed to complement or replace the en re forage ra on where necessary. It contains linseed oil for Omega 3, soya oil, plantbased an oxidants, ne le and mint plus added vitamins, minerals, salt and bio n. Very palatable and is ideal for elderly equines and those which are unable to consume long forage. Priced around £7.60

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Rowen Barbary Senior Support A low energy high ﬁbre feed designed for older horses at rest or in low level work. With Glucosamine HCL, Bio n, Yeasacc, high levels of Vitamin E, Spearmint and Garlic, Senior Support is packed full nutrients of to meet the extra nutri onal requirements of the veteran. Priced around £12.18

TopSpec Senior Feed Balancer Designed for elderly horses, it is the first and only feed balancer to include the scien fically recommended rate of glucosamine to help maintain mobility. It combines the benefits of a joint supplement with a veteran-specific feed balancer. Priced around £42.95.

Condition Dodson & Horrell Build & Glow A high calorie weight gain supplement designed to be added to an exis ng feed. Build and Glow contains a beneﬁcial blend of vegetable oils providing a slow releasing energy source ideal for horses being prepared for sales, the show ring or compe on. It is equally suitable for horses that struggle to maintain condi on. Priced around £23.65

Mollichaff Condi on A highly diges ble, high fibre, high oil and low starch mix, which contains a balanced blend of alfalfa, dried grass, oat straw, fibre pellets, barley, soya flakes, soya oil and mint as well as Yeasacc® and a prebio c, plus vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Suitable for encouraging weight gain, especially those that struggle to maintain their condi on. Priced around £10.50

Pure Condi on Packed with natural condi oning, this ﬁbre based feed is packed with op mum levels of vitamins and minerals, and has the correct cool energy required for excellent condi oning without the usual behavioural problems associated with high starch diets. Indeed it only has 7% starch yet an energy level of 13 mj/kg to produce truly fantas c performance and condi on. Priced around £12.95

Rowen Barbary Show ‘n’ Glow With high levels of oils, this feed will help ensure excellent overall condi on, encourage weight gain and improve topline whilst perfec ng a great coat bloom. Yeasacc is included for op mum diges on along with high levels of Vitamin E and added Spearmint and Garlic for palatability. Priced around £12.54

TopSpec CoolCondi on Cubes Cereal-grain-free, they have a good condi oning index of 12.5MJ/kg as fed, yet are ‘non-hea ng’ allowing horses to look good but focus on the job in hand. Priced around £11.50

Performance Dodson & Horrell Fibre Performance A complete forage-based mix designed for horses and ponies in medium to hard work. Fibre Performance provides energy from both long ﬁbre and cooked cereals. It also includes added B vitamins, electrolytes and herbs suitable for dressage horses, racehorses, show jumpers and event horses. Priced around £12.25

Pure Racing A high energy, fibre based feed that has been specifically formulated to provide the high performance compe on horse with all the nutrients and energy required for peak performance. Contains a blend of grass fibre, full fat soya and bruised oats for sustained and controlled performance, a high specifica on of vitamins and minerals to meet increased requirements, as well as Profeed and Brewers yeast to support the diges ve system. Priced around £12.25

GWF Engergest 16 A high energy feed for all hard working horses. Contains minimum diges ble starch to maximise glycogen, fast release energy reserves and a high oil content to help establish good fat reserves for the supply of slow release energy. Priced around £13.00

Rowen Barbary Growth ‘n’ Performance A highly palatable blend of cooked cereals, diges ble proteins and oils designed to provide the correct propor ons of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium required for young horses s ll developing. Op mum levels of micro nutrients are supplied alongside quality protein sources to help achieve correct bone, muscle and ssue growth. Priced around £12.76

Mollichaff Barley-Plus A natural, non- hea ng feed made from extruded whole barley and whole linseed, with added limestone flour and salt, offering all the benefits of a tradi onal boiled barley and linseed mash, but in a convenient form. It is ideal for horses and ponies with increased energy requirements for growth or condi on and any horse or pony that is in moderate to hard levels of work. Priced around £9.20

56 HorseScene

TopSpec Comprehensive Feed Balancer A very ﬂexible, nutrient-rich feed designed to balance the ra ons of most horses and ponies simply by adjus ng the rate at which it is fed and the products it is fed with. It contains several supplements combined with a feed designed to promote muscle development and func on. Priced around £36.95

Good Doers Dodson & Horrell Safe & Sound A palatable, nutri ous feed that has been formulated to meet the requirements of equines that may be prone to Lamini s. low in calories, starch and sugar as well as containing addi onal beneﬁcial ingredients such as bio n, yeast, and MSM. Priced around £11.20

Rowen Barbary ReadyMash A highly palatable, natural fully balanced mash suitable for those needing a high ﬁbre, low energy diet providing an excellent source of slow release energy from the structured ﬁbre. Priced around £11.06

Mollichaff HoofKind A complete fibre-based concentrate feed with added bio n designed for the nutri onal support of equines prone to lamini s. It is low in starch and sugar, high in fibre and does not contain any cereals. Ideal for lamini cs and also makes a great choice for good doers. Priced around £7.70

TopSpec Lite Feed Balancer Designed for good-doers in light to medium work. It combines a broad-spectrum supplement and a hoof supplement with a high-ﬁbre, excep onally low calorie feed. Priced around £25.95

Pure Easy A low energy feed, suitable for equines that carry too much weight, are at risk from lamini s and those that are in li le or light work. It supplies all the vitamins and minerals required in a small convenient feed. Pure Balance has been added to supply not only op mum levels of vitamins and minerals but Profeed and Brewers yeast to ensure that there are excellent condi ons in the hind gut for ﬁbre diges on. Priced around £11.35

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Poor Doers Dodson & Horrell Build Up Condi oning Mix A complete feed, formulated to support weight gain and condi on in adult horses and ponies. It provides a good source of quality protein to aid muscle development, as well as addi onal B-vitamins, magnesium and yeast. Priced around £12.50

Rowen Barbary ReadyMash Extra A palatable mash containing high levels of essen al oils and milk powders for horses that need a higher calorie diet for condi oning and controlled weight gain, whilst providing an excellent source of slow release energy from the structured ﬁbre. Priced around £12.78

Pure Condi on Packed with natural condi oning, this ﬁbre based feed is packed with op mum levels of vitamins and minerals, and has the correct cool energy required for excellent condi oning without the usual behavioural problems associated with high starch diets. Indeed it only has 7% starch yet an energy level of 13 mj/kg to produce a truly fantas c performance and condi on. Priced around £12.95

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TopSpec Super Condi oning Flakes This cooked muesli is 25% more condi oning than tradi onal mixes and cubes because it is highly concentrated with a condi oning index of 16MJ/kg as fed. Although it is full of naturally oil-rich ingredients it is very palatable. Priced around £14.45

Stud and Youngstock Dodson and Horrell Mare and Youngstock Mix

Rowen Barbary Stud Mix

Speciﬁcally formulated to support the needs of your Na ve, Part-Bred and Warmblood broadmare in late gesta on and your young stock in the early years of life. Also suitable for stallions, it provides good levels essen al vitamins and minerals as well as high quality protein. Priced around £11.55.

Using highly diges ble ingredients that are balanced to provide concentrated sources of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals Rowen Barbary Stud Mix is especially formulated to meet the higher nutri onal demands of broodmares during pregnancy and lacta on. Priced around £11.48

Mollichaff Extra A high quality chaff combining wheat straw, a unique, low sugar dressing, limestone and a specially formulated mineral and vitamin supplement. The added minerals and trace elements are selenium, copper, magnesium, manganese, iodine and iron. The vitamins are A, B1, B2, B6, B12, D3, E, niacin, pantothenic acid, folic acid and bio n. Together these benefit the condi on of all horses and ponies, especially breeding and young stock and those on a low concentrate, high forage diet. Priced around £6.50

Pure Stud Formulated to meet the nutri onal needs of working stallions, pregnant & lacta ng mares, as well as their youngstock. With elevated levels of vitamins and minerals you can rest assured the horse will be receiving all the nutrients, while also beneﬁ ng from Profeed and Brewers yeast to ensure that there are excellent condi ons in the hind gut for ﬁbre diges on. Priced around £12.65

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TopSpec Stud Feed Balancer Designed for broodmares, youngstock and stallions. It contains several supplements combined with a feed designed to promote muscle development and func on. (A broad-spectrum supplement is backed up by others including a superb hoof supplement, generous levels of an -oxidants and sophis cated diges ve aids). Priced around £27.95

Light Work

Dodson & Horrell Leisure Mix Dodson & Horrell Leisure Mix fully comprehensive low calorie, low intake mix suitable for horses and ponies at maintenance or in light work that maintain their condi on well. Priced around £9.40

GWF Fibregest A ‘non soak’ condi oning feed that combines diges ble, super soluble ﬁbres derived from cooked sugar beet pulp, alfalfa and lean black oats, together with added seaweed meal, bio-available minerals, vitamin E and oa nol. Priced around £11.20

Rowen Barbary Calm ‘n’ Easy A highly palatable coarse mix containing all natural ingredients especially formulated to meet the full requirements for horses that need a low energy, non-hea ng diet. Priced around £9.30.

Medium Work Dodson & Horrell Pasture Mix The UK's leading course mix, suitable for horses and ponies in light to medium work. Pasture Mix is an a rac ve muesli, comprising of a mixture of micronised cereals and grass ﬁbre pellets. Formulated to provide op mum nutri on it also includes carrots, garlic and mint. Priced around £9.80

GWF Tiger Oats The complete medium energy, non hea ng feed for performance horses. Oﬀers a palatable, low starch, high oil, high ﬁbre energy feed. Priced around £12.20

Pure Working Contains energy derived from soya oil and super fibres such as micronised un-molassed sugar beet pulp, which will give sustained, controlled power and condi on. Designed so your horse can be fed how he has evolved to eat – with a high fibre, low sugar and low starch diet, ensuring excellent hind gut health and holis c health benefits to the horse. Priced around £12.35

Rowen Barbary Leisure Horse A highly versa le mix that is well balanced to provide medium energy levels sourced from diges ble ﬁbres and cooked ﬂaked cereals. Suitable for horses in light to moderate work. Added soya oil for coat and skin condi on Leisure Horse will provide your horse with all the essen al nutrients needed for a fully balanced diet. Priced around £10.62

Mollichaﬀ Alfalfa Oil Made from UK-grown alfalfa mixed with high quality oat straw mixed with a generous dressing of soya oil giving it an energy level similar to that of a medium energy coarse mix. It is suitable for horses and ponies requiring increased condi on or energy. It contains no molasses and its high palatability makes it suitable for fussy feeders. Priced around £11.00

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TopSpec LeisureTime Feed Balancer Designed for horses and ponies kept for leisure and in light to medium work. It contains a broad-spectrum supplement and a pure, protected yeast combined with a feed designed to promote muscle development and func on. Priced around £28.95

Hard/Fast Work Dodson & Horrell Staypower Muesli Suitable for horses and ponies in hard work Dodson and Horrell Staypower Muesli provides both fast and slow release energy from ﬁbre and oil, making it ideal for horses and ponies that are compe ng in stamina disciplines such as even ng, driving or endurance. Priced around £12.05

Rowen Barbary Hunter Compe on A high-energy blend of cooked cereals oils and proteins formulated to provide a well balanced supply of slow and instant release energy for horses in hard work. Quality diges ble proteins sources are combined with op mum levels of micro nutrients for horses that excel in the area of sustained high performance. Priced around £11.94

TopSpec Turbo TopSpec Turbo is the ul mate high performance blend with 35% more diges ble energy per kg than quality oats. It consists of specially grown and uniquely prepared High-Oil Oat Flakes and Full-Fat Soya Flakes, with added limestone and salt. Priced around £13.95

Box Rest/Convalescing

Balancers

Dodson & Horrell Convalescent Diet

Dodson & Horrell Ul mate Balancer

An a rac ve muesli that has been developed to support the nutri onal requirements of horses and ponies on box rest or recupera ng post-surgery. Convalescent diet is also free from oats and contains high levels of an -oxidants to aid recovery. Priced around £10.85

A high speciﬁca on, low calorie, low intake feed balancer suitable for all horses & ponies including lamini cs and non thoroughbred breeding stock. Ul mate Balancer can be fed alone or as an addi on to a concentrate feed. Not only does it provide op mum levels of vitamins and minerals, Ul mate Balancer also contains several other beneﬁcial ingredients including; Bio n, MSM, Mobility herbs and Yea-Sacc. Priced around £32.75

Mollichaff Calmer A complete feed that ensures that all nutri onal requirements are met, whilst providing a calmer supplement to help keep your horse relaxed and quiet. Importantly, the energy levels in Mollichaff Calmer are also low. It contains a balanced blend of fibre pellets, oat straw, dried grass, herbs, soya oil, vitamins, minerals, limestone, trace elements and elevated levels of magnesium along with a carefully formulated combina on of camomile, lemon balm and mint, to help relax your horse. Priced around £8.70

GWF Equilibra 500 Maintains a high level of natural gut func on to allow horses to maximise the nutrients from what they eat. Equilibra 500 lays the founda on for healthy performance, vitality and condi on. Priced around £23.99

Pure Balance A feed balancer containing op mum levels of vitamins, minerals and essen al amino acids along with a unique combina on of Brewers Yeast and a pre bio c consis ng of short chain Fructo-oligasaccharides (FOS) to give improved health and vitality, improved condi on and topline, improved bone and hoof quality, improved gut micro ﬂora and an improved immune system. Priced around £27.50

Rowen Barbary Forage ‘n’ Fibre The palatability and “non-hea ng” characteris cs of Forage ‘n’ Fibre together with its close analysis to natural forages make it suitable for daily use for horses on box rest. Containing all the essen al nutrients required for general health and vitality with high ﬁbre levels to maintain gut health. Priced around £8.56

TopChop Lite An alfalfa/straw chop again lightly dressed with oil and real mint. Priced around £9.45

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TopSpec Comprehensive Feed Balancer A very ﬂexible, nutrient-rich feed designed to balance the ra ons of most equines by simply by adjus ng the rate at which it is fed and the products it is fed with. It contains several supplements combined with a feed designed to promote muscle development and func on. A broadspectrum supplement is backed up by others including a superb hoof supplement, generous levels of an oxidants and sophis cated diges ve aids. Priced around £36.95

Food Intolerance Dodson & Horrell Equine Sensi ve Formulated for horses and ponies in light-medium work, Equine Sensi ve is a Barley and Molasses free extruded nugget suitable for those suscep ble to feed intolerances or prone to excitable behaviour, muscular disorders and/or diges ve problems. Priced around £12.95

Rowen Barbary ReadyFibre Mash Containing no cereals, alfalfa, barley or wheat whilst being very low in starch and sugars it is an ideal product to use if you suspect your horse to have an intolerance. Made up of 100% high diges ble ﬁbre it is par cularly valuable for horses requiring a diet that is sympathe c on the diges ve system. Priced around £9.42

Contacts Dodson and Horrell Tel:0845 3452627 or visit www.dodsonandhorrell.co.uk

HorseHage/Mollichaﬀ Tel: 01803 527257 or visit www.horsehage.co.uk

GWF Tel: 01225 708482 or visit www.gwfnutri on.com

Pure Feed Tel: 0117 230 0027 or visit www.purefeedcompany.com

Rowen Barbary Tel: 01948 880598 or visit www.rowenbarbary.co.uk

TopSpec Tel: 01845 565030 or visit www.topspec.com

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