HQ Magazine Issue 163B

Dear readers,

Welcome to issue HQ163b! As always, we’re thrilled to have you with us.

The observant amongst you will have noticed a slight shift in the design of our digital magazine last month, and this month we further advance the transition to creating the most easily readable yet unmistakably HQ-feeling publication. We want to ensure that you can read HQ wherever you go, so optimising readability for phone screens has long been a priority. We hope you enjoy the new look and feel!

Despite the new design, the content remains of our usual standard. This edition, we have a feature on the stunning exhibition of Hilary O’Leary’s equestrian photography at the FotoZA gallery, ‘Celestial Equus’, which we highly recommend you visit.

We also attended the Groundwork to Grand Prix clinic hosted by Jonathan Fickling of Shady Grove Stables and Siobhan Records, Grand Prix dressage rider. They have produced a recording of the event that we suggest everyone takes a look at. It was a great learning experience for our team; there was something for everyone.

Other features include a look at the use of boots in our sport, a guide to nutrition for optimal hoof health and a continuation of our 'Crucial Conformation' series.

Dive in and let us know what you think of the new look. We hope you love it as much as we do!

Lots of love,

Lizzie and the HQ team xxx

Dr Lizzie Harrison | Editor

CONTENTS

Ignite your equestrian journey

At the School of Equine Management Excellence Open Day

HQ Pro NEW Celestial Equus

A captivating exhibition of fine art equine prints

The mid-year reset

Assessing your progress at the halfway mark

Groundwork, Part 6

Yield the hindquarters with a direct feel

Groundwork to Grand Prix

A crucial new series

To boot or not to boot

The essential question

Feeding the hooves

Nutrition for hoof health

Crucial conformation

Part 5: The forehead, the poll, the eyes and the ears

AskHQ

Your equestrian questions answered

THE BEST WAY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE IS TO CREATE IT.

IGNITE YOUR EQUESTRIAN JOURNEY

AT THE SCHOOL OF EQUINE MANAGEMENT EXCELLENCE OPEN DAY!

UNLEASH THE POWER OF KNOWLEDGE AT SOUTH AFRICA’S PREMIER EQUINE COLLEGE

The School of Equine Management Excellence is one of the most prestigious equine colleges of its kind in the world. Based in the heart of KZN horse country, the school is situated in the grounds of the magni cent Summerhill Equestrian Estate in Mooi River. The property is imbued with a captivating history, woven with tales of illustrious heritage, and has stood as a home for numerous renowned and in uential Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods, representing the top bloodlines in the world. The School offers students a unrivalled hands-on experience, uniquely covering all aspects of both Warmblood and Thoroughbred stud management and breeding.

Graduating students of the School’s one year course excel in the industry, proving themselves again and again as the best candidates for the top jobs. Students from the School of Equine Management Excellence are hot commodities in the horse industry, not only here not only here in South Africa, but all over the world.

Set yourself up for a long and illustrious career in the equine industry with the School of Equine Management Excellence.

BE WHERE EXPERTISE AND PASSION CONVERGE

Unleash the power of knowledge at South Africa’s premier equine college. Step into the realm of equine excellence, situated in the heart of KZN horse country, within the prestigious Summerhill Equestrian Estate. Immerse yourself in the world of top-tier Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods, as you embark on a transformative educational experience.

UNLEASH YOUR GLOBAL EQUINE NETWORK

Forge connections that span continents. Graduating from the School of Equine Management Excellence opens doors to a world of opportunities. Our esteemed graduates are in high demand not only in South Africa but also across the globe, from Australia and England to New Zealand, America, and beyond. Join our international equine network and expand your horizons.

DWELL WHERE CHAMPIONS ARE NURTURED, NOT JUST BORN

Become a leader in the equine industry. Our graduates consistently rise above the competition, establishing themselves as industry frontrunners. Be the candidate that top employers seek, armed with the expertise and practical experience that sets you apart. Write your success story as you make an indelible mark on the equine world.

Attending

the course at Summerhill opened so many doors for me and I will forever be grateful for what I learned there. – Jason May 2012

Summerhill prepares you to look at every aspect of the equine, racing and breeding industry and to see it at an in-depth level; it’s really special.

I am so grateful for Summerhill.”

– Taubin Grove 2018

Photo: Cumani Racing

CLICK

OPEN DOORS

Embark on a transformative journey with the School of Equine Management Excellence. We proudly anticipate the upcoming announcement of an exclusive partnership with the renowned National Stud in the UK. Under this programme, the highest-achieving student would be granted an opportunity to live and work at The National Stud in Newmarket for three months. There you would immerse yourself in a world-class equine environment and gain invaluable international exposure.

Our cutting-edge curriculum paves the path to success. Delve into the intricacies of equine management, as each module meticulously hones your skills. From comprehensive horse handling techniques to strategic stud management and advanced equine reproduction, our CEEPSA-accredited modules ensure you are prepared to excel in every aspect of the industry.

LEARN FROM THE BEST

THE CURRICULUM

The School’s curriculum, which is underwritten by the Council Of Equine and Equestrian Professionals of South Africa (CEEPSA) equips graduates with the required skills to successfully move into managerial positions within the equine industry.

Students attend theoretical lectures and receive extensive practical experience. This ‘hands on’ approach is critical for learning. Although the curriculum is formally structured, due to the nature of horses, each day brings new learning opportunities and the students are very much a part of these.

During the course, students are required to complete speci c assignments individually and in groups and do presentations on these.

The curriculum covers all aspects of the strategic, practical, and nancial demands of a sophisticated equestrian business which is based around the calendar of the horse. This year long certi cate course comprises of three CEEPSA-accredited modules, which each student completes:

HORSE HANDLING & SALES PREPARATION

This module covers general horse knowledge, equine behaviour, practical horse handling, stable management, grooming and tack. It also includes sales preparation with emphasis on the Thoroughbred, with students attending at least one Thoroughbred sale. Towards the end of the course the students will also attend the Capital Stud Warmblood Auction. This equips the students with the ability to participate in and ultimately run sales, a crucial part of the business, later on in their careers.

STUD MANAGEMENT

This module is considered the weightier one of the three as it covers equine and staff management, veterinary care, farriery, dentistry, nutrition, pasture management, backing of the young horse, transportation of horses, pharmacology and biosecurity, to name just a few. An accredited Level 1 First Aid course is also offered. Students are given the opportunity to attend The Hollywood Bets Durban July as well as visiting other equestrian institutes and events. This module equips candidates with all the knowledge they need to be the top equestrian managers of the future.

EQUINE REPRODUCTION

This module coincides with the equine breeding season (September to March). It covers both Live Coverings as well as Arti cial Insemination (AI), stallion and mare preparation, gestation, foaling and breeding techniques. Through this module students become familiar with the techniques involved in running a successful breeding operation. This module is a rm favourite for many of the students.

Graduation is held in December after all nal assessments have been completed successfully.

SAVE THE DATE: FRIDAY 13TH OCTOBER

Mark your calendar and prepare to unlock the door to your equine future at the School of Equine Management Excellence Open Day. Discover rsthand why our graduates go on to thrive after completing their education.

>> CLICK HERE to register and recieve all our lastest news and information

Alternatively, RSVP to the school@capitalstud.com

If this date does not suit you we will be happy, where possible, to offer an interview and tour of the stud on a date that suits you. This can be arranged privately through Lara Coulon on +27 82 837 7920.

Magic happens when you combine your passion and career. Summerhill has always had a special place in my heart; I am very excited to be back where it all began after all these years and be a part of the team’s new ventures. – Lara Coulon 2012

WELCOME TO THE NEWEST ADDITION TO THE HQ COLLECTIVE - HQ PRO.

Focusing on the best of the best both internationally and locally, this new platform will keep you up to date with the big happenings here and overseas.

Join the conversation today, to follow the highs, the lows, and the action behind the scenes.

It’s all for the love of the sport.

WBFSH TOP 10 SIRE RANKINGS 2022 FOR SHOWJUMPING

In order to create these rankings, the points of all the progeny in the final WBFSH Breeder Rankings are added for each sire, and the top 100-ranked sires are published. Over the course of the year, data is continuously cleaned and unknown horses identified, such that they can contribute to both the studbook and these sire rankings. The rankings are updated on the 1st October every year.

30

695 POINTS

2021 RANKING: 1st

Stallion | 1998 | Brown | 1.72 m

CHAMBERTIN x CONTENDER x GODAVARI XX

Approved sons: 110 | 1,60m (Jumping): 193 | 5 star Eventing: 1

SOUTH AFRICAN SHOWJUMPERS WITH CHACCO-BLUE BLOODLINES

Callaho’s Con Gusto JT Z

Capital’s Todos de Regor Capital’s Chacco Bella JT Z (full sibling to Callaho’s Con Gusto JT Z)

334 Epomein Rivendell Blu

Locarno Chacoelo

Locarno Chacco Top

KP Chacco Lemon

Capital’s Cornetblue Floreval Z (damsire)

Capital Moonlight (damsire)

Capital Toulouse (damsire)

KP Bandit (damsire)

The Burgh’s Diacca PS (damsire)

WELL KNOWN STALLIONS BY CHACCO-BLUE Chacoon Blue

Offspring of Chacoon Blue in SA:

• Capital Cadman (Chacoon Blue x Capital Chana (Colnardo)) – 2023 Auction

• Capital Calvert (Chacoon Blue x Capital Hope (Hotline)) – 2023 Auction

• Seeis Stud in Namibia regularly use Chacoon Blue semen

28 432

2021 RANKING: 2nd

POINTS

Stallion | 1991 | Brown | 1.73 m

LE TOT DE SEMILLY x ELF III x AMARPOUR XX

Approved sons: 289 | 1,60m (Jumping): 190 | 5 star Eventing: 2

SOUTH AFRICAN SHOWJUMPERS WITH DIAMANT DE SEMILLY BLOODLINES SB Diabab Nova Zonnestraal’s Domino XIV

Capital Denver KP Dreadnought Landor’s Diamily Oeshi Van Het Netehof Nova Zonnestraal’s Domino XIV

Dante Quidam

Alchemy Dijon 334 Callaho Vidante (damsire) Callaho Ras Tafari (damsire)

WELL KNOWN STALLIONS BY DIAMANT DE SEMILLY Dominator 2000 Z

Offspring of Dominator 2000 Z in SA:

• Danone Z

• Don Quichot Z

Emerald

Offspring of Emerald in SA:

• Willow El Choku Z

• Capital’s Emirates

• Capital’s Hermes (damsire)

Elvis der Putte

Offspring of Elvis der Putte in SA:

• Martini Ever Scott

• Martini Emiscott

• KP Extra Z

Quickly de Kreisker

Offspring of Quickly de Kreisker in SA:

• Capital Felicity

15 489 POINTS

2021 RANKING: 4th

Stallion | 2000 | Grey | 1.71 m

CARTHAGO x JALISCO B x FURY DE LA CENSE

Approved sons: 42 | 1,60m (Jumping): 50 | 5 star Eventing: 1

SOUTH AFRICAN SHOWJUMPERS WITH MYLORD CARTHAGO BLOODLINES

Capital Night Fire

Capital Kalahari

Be Happy Lande

Capital Ladonna

Capital Lavanya

Capital Melissa

Capital Claribell (damsire)

Capital Catori (damsire)

Capital Denver (damsire)

Capital Harvard (damsire)

Capital Ayden (damsire)

Capital Callaway (damsire)

15 198 POINTS

2021 RANKING: 14th

Stallion | 1992 | Dark brown | 1.72 m VOLTAIRE x NIMMERDOR x LE MEXICO

Approved sons: 183 | 1,60m (Jumping): 175 | 5 star Eventing: 1

SOUTH AFRICAN SHOWJUMPERS WITH KANNAN GFE BLOODLINES

Theseus

KP Kraken

KP King Kong

Brandenburg Knight Rider

Brandenburg Keep The Faith Kitana

Fidji du Roset

Kingston G

Branic Knight Rider

Maxstar Kontaire

Kaprisch DBH Z

Callaho Kublai Khan

Callaho Kalinka

Capital’s Figaro D’isigny

Capital Kingsland

Diamonds Kalaya

Capital Kenia Z

Capital Kasane

Kygo M53

Emerald Isle Karpathion

Kannandrum

Kontaire

Nova Zonnestraal’s Rivendell Kite Runner

WELL KNOWN STALLIONS BY KANNAN GFE

Ulhan du Temple

Offspring of Ulhan du Temple in SA:

• Rivervale’s U4Me

• Callaho Uhlana Du Cella

14 893 POINTS

2021 RANKING: 6th

Stallion | 1996 | Dark brown | 1.70 m

HEARTBREAKER x JOKINAL DE BORNIVAL x LURANO

Approved sons: 76 | 1,60m (Jumping): 107

SOUTH AFRICAN SHOWJUMPERS WITH TOULON BLOODLINES

Capital Night Star and Capital Magic Boy (full brothers by Toulon)

Illiano

Tilou FZ

Ginabella v/d Dennehoeve (Elkasun Stud broodmare)

WELL KNOWN STALLIONS BY TOULON Belmondo (SA)

Offspring of Belmondo in SA:

• Capital Rutherford and Capital Cashmere are out of a Belmondo mare

• Diamonds Belmonté

• Branic Believe in a Dream

14 690 POINTS

Approved sons: 214 | 1,60m (Jumping): 95 | 5 star Eventing: 2

13 569 POINTS

2021 RANKING: 5th

Stallion | 1992 | Grey | 1.70 m CAPITOL I x LORD x SACRAMENTO SONG XX

Approved sons: 61 | 1,60m (Jumping): 141 | 5 star Eventing: 1

SOUTH AFRICAN SHOWJUMPERS WITH CARDENTO 933 BLOODLINES

Hummer van het Bevrijdthof Cassius Clay

Nova Zonnestraal’s Carrara de Paep Z

Gondor Constantine

KP Coraline Z

Dante Charlie’s Touch

Carlaka de Paep Z

KP Nectar (damsire)

KP Q-Estelle (damsire)

KP Inferno (damsire)

KP Emerald Blue Z (damsire)

WELL KNOWN STALLIONS BY CARDENTO 933

Dakar VDL

Offspring of Dakar VDL in SA:

• Landor Daenerys

• Back on Track Nathan

13 001 POINTS

2021 RANKING: 12th

Stallion | 2004 | Brown | 1.76 m

CLINTON x TOULON x CALYPSO III

Approved sons: 36 | 1,60m (Jumping): 27

SOUTH AFRICAN SHOWJUMPERS WITH ELDORADO VAN DE ZESHOEK BLOODLINES

Eldo 334 Elijnn RBF Z KP Endorphin KP Elixir Z

WELL KNOWN STALLIONS BY ELDORADO VAN DE ZESHOEK

Grandorado TN N.O.P

Offspring of Grandorado TN N.O.P in SA:

• Grand Gambit CC (yearling)

• G-Kenichi

• KP Globetrotter

• 334 Larona

• Plasticolors Masterbatch Lee-Royden

12 438 POINTS

2021 RANKING: 7th

Stallion | 1990 | Brown | 1.74 m

QUIDAM DE REVEL x ARTICHAUT x BEL AVENIR

Approved sons: 72 | 1,60m (Jumping): 129

SOUTH AFRICAN SHOWJUMPERS WITH NABAB DE REVE BLOODLINES

Nordic Z

Goeffie van Het Cauterhof

Napoli VH Oudland Z

Nickelback D’Íve Z

Lexus van het Hertenrooi

Napolitano Z

Fiorenza

Goeffie van het Cauterhof

Berlioz des Hauts Droits

Capital My Friend (Capital Marvin and Capital Mon’Ami 2023 Auction)

Capital Lavanda (damsire)

Capital Hawk (damsire)

Capital Randall (damsire)

Capital Kingsland (damsire)

Origan van den Bisschop (damsire)

SD Diabab (damsire)

G C S Max Origan van den Bisschop (damsire)

Omini de Muze (damsire)

WELL KNOWN STALLIONS BY NABAB DE REVE

Glasgow van’t Merelsnest

Offspring of Glasgow van’t Merelsnest in SA:

• Jorella VG

• Landor Glorious

• Lorelock Giselle

• Data Sciences Gringo de Thurin Z

Vigo D’Arsouilles

Offspring of Vigo D’Arsouilles in SA:

• Capital Obama

• Callaho’s Equinox (damsire)

11 058 POINTS

2021 RANKING: 11th

Stallion | 2004 | Grey | 1.70 m

MR. BLUE x VOLTAIRE x LE TOT DE SEMILLY

Approved sons: 50 | 1,60m (Jumping): 40

SOUTH AFRICAN SHOWJUMPERS WITH ZIROCCO BLUE VDL BLOODLINES

Go to Blue Capital Quality Capital Pyros Kwibi

PHOTOGRAPHY: HILARY O'LEARY

Equus Celestial

A CAPTIVATING EXHIBITION OF FINE ART EQUINE PRINTS

Step into a realm where the majesty and beauty of horses merge with celestial wonders, as the highly anticipated exhibition "Celestial Equus" takes centre stage. This captivating collection of fine art equine prints offers a unique and awe-inspiring exploration of the equine world, blended with celestial elements that evoke a sense of wonder and enchantment.

Sponsored by Canon and printed using their cutting-edge wide-format printer, the ImagePROGRAF PRO6100, these extraordinary prints showcase the artist's vision with unparalleled clarity, colour, and precision.

ARTISTIC VISION AND INSPIRATION

Celestial Equus pays homage to Hilary O’Leary’s deep admiration and fascination with horses, capturing their grace, power, and ethereal beauty. The exhibition explores the relationship between human and horse and aims to capture the essence of these extraordinary beings in celebration of their intertwined historical significance as mankind's incredible partners.

The intention behind this collection was to encapsulate the instinct, connection and unwavering courage of the equine spirit in all its glory, as it is this that has evoked our deep bond with them. This collection is a testament to their role in shaping civilisations and the gratitude we owe them for their invaluable contributions.

PRINTING EXCELLENCE WITH CANON IMAGEPROGRAF

PRO-6100: The prints featured in Celestial Equus are brought to life using Canon's state-of-the-art wide-format printer, the ImagePROGRAF PRO6100. This exceptional printer represents the pinnacle of printing technology, delivering stunning results that astound even the most discerning art connoisseurs. With its exceptional colour accuracy, expanded colour gamut, and impressive resolution, the ImagePROGRAF PRO-6100 elevates the art of equine prints to new heights.

The ImagePROGRAF PRO-6100 boasts remarkable performance, capable of producing prints up to 1.5 metres wide, enabling the artist to showcase their work on a grand scale. Its advanced LUCIA PRO pigment ink system ensures rich and vibrant colours that remain true to the artist's original vision. Combined with the printer's highprecision mechanical platform, the ImagePROGRAF PRO-6100 delivers prints of exceptional quality, showcasing every intricate detail and capturing the essence of the equine world.

EXHIBITION DETAILS AND ONLINE GALLERY

Celestial Equus will be on display until the 15th of July at FotoZA Gallery in Rosebank Mall, allowing art enthusiasts, equestrians, and admirers of fine art to immerse themselves in this magical experience. The exhibition seamlessly blends equestrian splendour and enchantment, encapsulating them in each captivating print.

For those unable to attend the exhibition in person, an online gallery provides an avenue to view and even acquire these extraordinary equine prints. To further enhance the experience, a range of printing options and sizes are available, allowing collectors and art enthusiasts to select the perfect rendition of these celestial equine masterpieces. For more information on printing options and sizes, please contact Hilary O’Leary on hilaryoleary@gmail.com or 076 519 5308 .

CELESTIAL EQUUS

Celestial Equus is a unique exhibition that pushes the boundaries of equine art, fusing the earthly beauty of horses with the cosmic wonders of the universe. With Canon's sponsorship and the remarkable performance of the ImagePROGRAF PRO-6100 wideformat printer, each print radiates exceptional clarity, colour vibrancy,

and attention to detail. Whether experienced in person or through the online gallery, Celestial Equus promises an extraordinary journey into a world where equine elegance and celestial magic converge.

ABOUT HILARY O’LEARY

Hilary's fine art photography journey began in Zimbabwe, where she immersed herself in wildlife photography, earning recognition for the compelling stories depicted in her images. Hilary's remarkable achievements include prestigious accolades such as the Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year, LEICA Shot of Excellence, and BBC Wildlife Photographer Of The Year People's Choice Award, which celebrated its 50th anniversary with over 42,000 entries. Notably, she also won the Conservation Award in San Francisco, showcasing her commitment to preserving the natural world through her captivating visuals.

Beyond her accolades, Hilary's work has garnered attention and admiration from esteemed organisations. She has been featured by United for Wildlife, The Royal Foundation, WWF, Wildlife Geographic UK, Projects We Love, WildAid, and Greenpeace, further solidifying the impact of her photography.

Hilary played a role in the successful fundraising campaign "Remembering Rhinos," raising collectively over 947,500 GBP for conservation. Her collaboration with The Royal Mail, selected for a Commemorative Sheet and First Day Cover led by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, underscores her significant contribution

in bringing together wildlife charities from around the globe.

Currently, Hilary is focusing on equine sports photography in South Africa, working closely with renowned sporthorse studs and elite competitors. Her dynamic style captures the power, grace, and spirit of these majestic creatures. Her love for the unusual and unexpected, coupled with her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact, sets her work apart.

Visit the online gallery

HORSE AND RIDER

mid-year RESET

ASSESSING YOUR PROGRESS

RE-EVALUATE

By the time we get to the first of July, we should have a feel for how the year has been progressing. This makes this period the ideal time to sit down and evaluate your achievements and the challenges you are facing. What has worked for you and your horse, and what hasn’t? What are you enjoying together, and what is simply making your riding stressful? Adjusting your goals from this point is far easier than setting them from a blank slate, as we often do in January, so look at where you are at and begin there.

A key point to bear in mind at this step is to be kind to yourself. Whether you have exceeded your own expectations or underperformed against your goals, you need to be patient and understanding with both yourself and your horse. Every wrong turn or misstep is a learning opportunity, so don’t beat yourself up but objectively evaluate where you are and what needs to change.

RETHINK

With six months ahead before the end of the year, try and adjust your plans to make the most of the next six months. Be realistic and commit to making achievable changes within the next few months.

Whatever you decide, you will need to establish habits to achieve your new plans. Whether you want to improve your relationship with your horse, get

you both fitter or reach the next level in competition, you will need to put routines in place to make the next six months successful.

Break your goals down into small steps and lay them out over the next six months. Keep making steady progress towards them by chipping away at each small piece, and you’ll be proud of where you end up in December!

RESET

While realising your goals didn’t work out quite as planned for the first part of the year can be demoralising, life isn’t all bad! Be grateful for the learnings of the past six months, and maybe even write down all the moments of the past six months that you are either proud of or grateful for.

Then look ahead positively with your newly amended goals in mind and get excited for what the next six months will bring for you and your horse!

Groundwork

PART 6

YIELD THE HINDQUARTERS WITH A DIRECT FEEL

Over the past few months, we’ve received an increasing number of questions about getting started with groundwork. Whilst we advise that an instructor helps you to get started, there are a few basics that you can teach at home that ultimately form the foundation of all groundwork activities. Over the following few issues, we will look at these basic building blocks of your groundwork toolbox and help you to build a solid foundation for your in-hand work.

This issue, we look at one of the most useful exercises for moving your horse around, the hindquarter yield.

YIELD THE HINDQUARTERS WITH AN INDIRECT FEEL

In this exercise, you will need to ask your horse to step away from you while keeping his body softly flexed around you and his front legs relatively still. Using an indirect feel means that you do this exercise from a distance without touching your horse. So, without touching, you will ask your horse to step his hindquarters away from you and turn to face you (you might know this as a turn on the forehand). If you can control the hindquarters in this way, you can move the whole horse.

HOW TO DO THE EXERCISE

• Stand about 1.8 metres from your horse’s shoulders, facing him and run your hand down the lead line to ask him to bend his head and neck towards you. Turn to look at his hindquarters.

• Walk towards his hindquarters in an arc while maintaining the lateral flexion in the neck. NOTE: Be careful in doing this not to pull the horse’s front end towards you.

• Keep focusing your energy towards the hindquarters, and if this does not cause him to step across with his hindlegs, then start to rhythmically move your stick or the end of your rope towards the hindquarters.

• As soon as he offers a single step, reward him and pause.

• Over time you can build up the number of steps until your horse can execute a complete turn and turn to face you.

POINTS TO NOTE

• When starting, just ask for one step. As soon as he takes that one step, release.

• Be effective and walk towards him purposefully, but don’t be aggressive or chase him. You do not want to make him defensive about this exercise.

• Practice equally from both sides.

• The further the horse steps under with his inside hind leg, the more elastic and supple he will become.

TROUBLESHOOTING

• If your horse goes forward around you, rather than stepping sideways with his hindquarters, lift your rein hand. This should lift his shoulder and change his weight so he is less inclined to move forwards. Also, make sure that your energy is

going through his hindquarters, not behind them, as this will also serve to drive him forwards.

• If he falls in on his shoulder, make sure you are not pulling on the rope. Using your hand to support the shoulder, or even flicking the end of the rope towards his shoulder, can help encourage him to remain upright.

HORSE AND RIDER

• If he swings away from you too vigorously, he probably feels defensive, so he is reacting rather than responding to your request. Spend some time rubbing him all over while in lateral flexion. Then ask him again once he has relaxed.

• If he doesn’t move his hindquarters, apply rhythmic pressure by tapping lightly towards his hindquarters using the stick or rope. As soon as he

moves, release the pressure and reward him.

• If he pivots around the outside foreleg, he is travelling backwards. This is probably because he feels defensive, or you are too far forwards.

• If he braces his body and turns his forequarters away or his hindquarters towards you instead, you probably don’t have enough neck bend.

BENEFITS

Disengaging the hindquarters takes the horse’s forward power away, so this exercise can be used to stop him, make transitions and also calm him down in difficult situations.

HOW TO MAKE THE EXERCISE MORE DIFFICULT

• Once your horse understands this exercise completely, you can try

to do it starting from a metre or two in front of him and causing him to yield his hindquarters just by looking at them without moving your feet. This is also very useful for straightening a wonky backup!

NEXT TIME

In our next issue, we will look at yielding the forequarters with a direct feel.

A CRUCIAL NEW SERIES

To continue on the groundwork theme running through our past few issues, we were thrilled to be invited to attend the inaugural Groundwork to Grand Prix (G2G) Clinic, hosted by its founders Jonathan Fickling of Shady Grove Stables and Siobhan Records, Grand Prix Dressage rider. This unlikely pair – one dressed in baseball cap and jeans, and the other decked out in all her dressage bling – came together due to their shared belief in the importance of groundwork training for ALL horses, not just those in the 'natural horsemanship' sphere.

The assembled audience, again as varied in discipline as their hosts, were treated to a morning of learning quite unlike anything we've seen in a long time (in a very good way!). Jonathan and Siobhan explained the theory behind their work and the fact that despite their varied backgrounds and interests, they both apply exactly the same principles and often the same exercises before they begin riding for the day.

The first demonstration horse introduced to the group was Capri, Siobhan's Grand Prix horse. He was used to demonstrate Siobhan's work on the ground with him before she gets on each day. This was fascinating to see, and many in the audience were surprised to hear that despite Capri's advanced level of schooling and performance, Siobhan still begins with groundwork.

The second horse was an entirely different prospect; he was a young horse with anxiety about various issues, including separation from friends, new venues and shows in general, that neither Siobhan nor Jonathan had ever worked with before. Together they worked the horse, with Siobhan ultimately getting on and displaying a relaxed walk, trot and canter with soft one-rein stops.

With the overall theme of this clinic being a basic introduction to the groundwork principles and a discussion of the concept of a one-rein stop for safety, there isn't a rider out there who can't learn something from diving into the recording of the event.

The recording is available at x, and we hope you'll check it out.

To whet your appetite for both the video content and the next legs of the G2G series, we thought we'd leave you with our top takeaways from the event:

THE RECORDING IS AVAILABLE HERE , AND WE HOPE YOU'LL CHECK IT OUT.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, A RELAXED HORSE IS A SAFE HORSE!

YOUR HORSE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO SELFREGULATE, I.E. TO GET A FRIGHT AND BRING HIMSELF DOWN FROM IT. SELFREGULATION CAN BE TAUGHT THROUGH GROUNDWORK, MAKING ALL THE WORK YOU SUBSEQUENTLY DO WITH YOUR HORSE SAFER AND BETTER.

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A HORSE HAVING AN ISSUE WITH A PARTICULAR OBJECT IS OFTEN NOT ABOUT THE THING ITSELF BUT INSTEAD ABOUT THE STATE OF HIS 'WORRY CUP'. EVERY HORSE, JUST LIKE EVERY HUMAN, CAN HANDLE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WORRY. THIS IS THE VOLUME OF THEIR WORRY CUP. OVER TIME, AND WITH TRAINING, THE PEOPLE AND HORSES GET BETTER AT EMPTYING THEIR WORRY CUP 'AS THEY GO' RATHER THAN CONTINUOUSLY FILLING IT UNTIL IT EXPLODES.

IN THE CASE OF A HORSE, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT OFTEN ISN'T, THEN, ONE SPECIFIC THING THAT CAUSES AN ISSUE. FOR EXAMPLE, YOUR HORSE MAY SEE FOUR PLASTIC BAGS ON HIS OUTRIDE, AND EACH ONE ADDS A LITTLE WORRY TO HIS WORRY CUP, BUT IT IS THE FIFTH PLASTIC BAG THAT CAUSES HIS WORRY CUP TO OVERFLOW, LEADING TO THE 'EXPLOSION' OF ENERGY. IN THIS SITUATION, WE TEND TO GET ANGRY, FEELING THAT OUR HORSE 'IS FINE WITH PLASTIC BAGS', SO IS BEING 'NAUGHTY' TO REACT TO THIS ONE, BUT THIS SIMPLY ISN'T TRUE. IT IS JUST THAT HIS WORRY CUP COULD TAKE FIVE PLASTIC BAGS BEFORE IT OVERFLOWED.

IF YOU CAN TEACH YOUR HORSE TO SELFREGULATE, HE CAN KEEP HIS WORRY CUP QUITE EMPTY BY 'COMING BACK DOWN' AFTER EVERY SMALL FRIGHT, MEANING IT NEVER FILLS TO THE POINT OF 'EXPLOSION'.

YOU CAN'T DESENSITIZE A HORSE. THERE ARE TOO MANY OBJECTS IN THE WORLD FOR THE HORSE TO BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO. INSTEAD, YOU NEED TO BUILD THE HORSE'S CONFIDENCE AND ABILITY TO SELF-REGULATE IN CHALLENGING SITUATIONS. FLOODING THEM WITH EXPOSURE TO EVERY 'SCARY OBJECT' YOU CAN THINK OF IS NOT THE ANSWER!

GROUNDWORK IS NOT ABOUT CREATING A 'DEAD' HORSE. YOU WANT A RESPONSIVE HORSE, I.E. A PERFORMANCE HORSE. YOU JUST DON'T WANT A REACTIVE HORSE, I.E. A DANGEROUS HORSE. GROUNDWORK HELPS TO REDUCE REACTIVENESS BY TEACHING THE HORSE TO SELF-REGULATE.

THE TOP PEOPLE IN THE SPORT FOCUS ON THE BASICS AGAIN AND AGAIN. THE BEGINNERS CONCENTRATE ON THE TRICKS AND NEVER HAVE GOOD ENOUGH BASICS IN PLACE TO REALLY EXCEL.

EVERY RIDER SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH THEIR HORSE ON THE GROUND. THE G2G TEAM REGULARLY ENCOUNTERS RIDERS WHO CAN'T EVEN BRIDLE THEIR OWN HORSE YET RIDE AT A REASONABLY HIGH LEVEL; IF YOU'RE UNABLE TO WORK ON THE GROUND AND DO THE BASICS LIKE BRIDLING, YOU REALLY HAVE NO PLACE BEING ON A HORSE.

YOU NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THE HORSE AND ASSESSING, 'WHERE IS HIS MIND?' IS HIS MIND BACK IN THE PADDOCK WITH HIS FRIENDS? OR IS HIS MIND WITH YOU? IF HIS MIND IS NOT WITH YOU, HE IS NOT A SAFE HORSE FOR YOU TO BE ON. EVEN IF YOU ARE A STRONG ENOUGH RIDER TO CONTROL YOUR HORSE'S BODY SO YOU 'FEEL SAFE', IF HIS MIND IS NOT WITH YOU AND YOU JUST HAVE HIS BODY, HE CANNOT PERFORM WELL AS RELAXATION IS NECESSARY FOR A GOOD PERFORMANCE, AND RELAXATION REQUIRES BOTH MIND AND BODY TO BE ALIGNED.

NO RIDER SHOULD EVER HAVE THE PLAN TO 'HANG ON AND HOPE'.

IF YOUR PLAN IS TO 'HANG ON AND HOPE', YOU HAVEN'T DONE THE GROUNDWORK OR PUT THE BASICS IN PLACE.

'HANGING ON AND HOPING' IS A SIGN THAT YOUR HORSE'S MIND IS VERY MUCH ELSEWHERE AND YOU ARE JUST DEALING WITH HIS BODY.

WHEN TRAINING YOUR HORSE, YOU NEED TO FOCUS ON MAKING THE RIGHT THING EASY AND THE WRONG THING HARD. MAKING THE RIGHT THING EASY MAKES THE HORSE MORE LIKELY TO DO THE 'RIGHT THING', THUS SETTING HIM UP FOR SUCCESS!

HORSES COMMUNICATE THROUGH BODY LANGUAGE, SO BE AWARE OF YOUR OWN BODY LANGUAGE AND THE INTENTION BEHIND IT. HORSES ARE MASTERS AT READING YOUR INTENTION, SO ENSURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT INTENTIONS WHEN YOU ASK THEM TO DO SOMETHING. IN THIS SENSE, IT IS WORTH ALSO REMEMBERING THAT WE ARE PREDATORS WORKING WITH A PREY ANIMAL, OFTEN USING LEATHER (I.E. THE SKIN OF OTHER PREY ANIMALS) TO CONTROL THEM, SO OUR INTENTION NEEDS TO BE VERY CLEAR FOR A HORSE TO FEEL SAFE WITH US.

THE EQUIPMENT YOU USE DOESN'T MATTER, SO DON'T GO OUT AND BUY A MILLION TOOLS. THE PERSON USING THE TOOLS AND THEIR INTENTION WHEN USING THE TOOLS IS WHAT MATTERS.

IF YOU PICK UP ON THE REIN AND YOUR HORSE MOVES FORWARD, HE IS NOT BEING 'DIFFICULT'; HE HAS SIMPLY BEEN TAUGHT THAT REIN CONTACT MEANS FORWARD. INSTEAD, YOU NEED TO EDUCATE YOUR HORSE SO THAT REIN CONTACT ENCOURAGES HIM TO ASK, 'WHAT DO YOU NEED?', NOT SIMPLY ANTICIPATE WORK.

ALL WORK YOU DO ON THE GROUND MUST BE REPEATED ON BOTH SIDES, I.E. YOU NEED TO TEACH THE HINDQUARTER YIELD ON BOTH SIDES, NOT JUST ONE.

HORSES ARE NOT PERSONAL; THEY DO WHAT WORKS. YOUR HORSE IS NOT OUT TO GET YOU. HE IS SIMPLY FOLLOWING THE STEPS HE HAS LEARNT OR SOMETIMES BEEN TAUGHT, TO AVOID PRESSURE.

BOOT

OR NOT TO THE CRUCIAL QUESTION

about the latest research but have chosen to 'stick with what we know' or follow the fashions in our barn.

In this article, we're going to take a look at the pros and cons of using boots for our horses. We'll look at the positives and the negatives in the hope we can all make more educated decisions about when and how to use boots for our horses.

The primary function of any type of boot is to provide protection from trauma. Some horses that are very narrow chested, or don't have the straightest legs, will interfere or strike the inside of one leg with the foot of the opposite leg. Others may overreach, striking the heel of a front foot with a hind foot when they take a step. This kind of trauma is more common when

a horse is young, green or performing lateral movements – especially when they are first learning. There's no doubt that, in these instances, boots provide valuable protection.

Boots will also protect your horse's legs from external sources of trauma –such as knocking a pole when jumping or from bushes and rocks when out in the country. They may even serve to prevent ticks from attaching to your horse's lower legs.

Finally, some evidence supports the theory that boots can provide proprioceptive feedback to your horse - meaning they can help him develop better coordination by stimulating messages to his brain about where his feet and legs are in space. A recent study showed that musculoskeletal asymmetry was improved by using a single bell boot on the weakest leg, suggesting that boots might become important tools in rehabilitation.

THE DOWNSIDES OF BOOTS

One of the major issues with boots is their fit. If poorly fitted, boots can easily cause trauma to the skin because of rubbing or pressure damage. At best, skin injuries of this nature are painful and irritating for the horse. At worst, these types of injuries can lead to more serious problems, such as cellulitis, if bacteria enter the underlying tissues.

Sweating under boots can also lead to skin irritation or skin infections –especially if the boots are not kept clean, and the legs are not cleaned after work.

The current main concern, however, comes from recent research highlighting the potential negative effects of boots on tendons and ligaments. The increase in leg temperature that boots cause is suspected to be a risk for cell damage in the leg, particularly with regard to ligaments and tendons in the area. In the laboratory, temperatures of approximately 47 degrees Celsius can induce cell death of tendon cells.

HORSE AND RIDER

Considering that even in horses without boots, tendons can easily reach temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius during heavy work, especially during hot conditions, it is clear why boots are a concern.

Your horse depends on airflow across the skin for temperature regulation, and boots or bandages that insulate the legs can result in a temperature increase of as much as 30%, taking the leg temperature over the deadly 47 degrees.

In the studies conducted to date, boots with heavy fleece linings and polo bandages were the type of leg protection that led to the greatest increases in temperature. Boots with openings that allow for better airflow, such as those constructed from meshlike materials, will help keep potentially damaging temperature increases to a minimum.

protect his legs from trauma, the good news is that there are steps you can take to minimise the risk of permanent damage. Firstly, you can remove the horse's boots from his legs once you no longer need them in the session, giving his legs a chance to cool down while you walk him out. Secondly, studies do indicate that damage to tendon cells can be reversed if tissues are cooled down immediately by icing or cold hosing the legs after the bandages or boots are removed.

SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

So how do you protect your horse's legs from trauma without putting his tendons and ligaments at risk of heat injury?

The following four factors will help you decide when and how it's best to boot.

1. TRAUMA RISK

• Is your horse base narrow or very toed out, putting him at high risk for an interference injury?

• Is he a very young horse just starting training or just learning lateral movements?

• Does he have a very long stride and a tendency to overreach?

• Is he jumping over obstacles in this particular session?

If the answer is yes to any of these questions, your horse's legs may be at risk of traumatic injury, and protection in the form of boots should be considered.

If you answered no to all of the above, leg protection may not be necessary at all, or at least not for the session you are about to ride.

In essence, it's not an all-or-none decision. Sometimes boots will be the right answer, and sometimes they won't!

2. AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

If your horse would benefit from boots on a particular day, note the ambient temperature. On very hot days, skip boots if you can get away with it and opt for a less intense training session that would reduce the risk of trauma. If you must work hard when it's hot outside, select a pair of well-ventilated boots that allow good airflow. It is also wise to ice or coldhose the legs after work.

HORSE AND RIDER

NOTE

Some horses are sensitive to certain materials, such as neoprene. If you notice that your horse's skin looks uniformly irritated under the boots, consider finding a pair made from different material.

Selecting the optimal boots for the job can also help. For example, if your horse overreaches but doesn't tend to interfere, consider bell boots to protect his heels instead of a full set of boots. Similarly, open-fronted boots are important for jumping as they provide heavy protection for tendons and ligaments but allow the horse awareness of the poles.

4. BOOT MAINTENANCE

If your horse needs boots and you've selected the best ones for the job,

the final step is to keep them clean! A build-up of dirt on the boot's inside surface can increase the risk of rubs, and micro-organisms in the soil or footing where you work can increase the chances your horse will develop infections in his skin. If your boots are secured with hookand-loop closures or buckles, ensure these attachments are still functional to reduce the risk of boots slipping or rotating on the leg and causing injury. Finally, when boots wear out –replace them!

THE BOTTOM LINE

The booting situation is not simply black or white. If your horse is at risk for trauma to his lower legs, whether due to the way he moves, the environment where he works, or the discipline he competes in, there is no doubt that boots are important.

However, boots can also do more harm than good, so on days when you don't need them or when you can use them for less time, it's advised that you take advantage of this.

Finally, cold hosing or icing the legs after a heavy work session, whether using boots or not, is an important part of the cool-down process.

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FEEDING THE HOOVES

NUTRITION FOR HOOF HEALTH

Many horse owners are plagued by hoof issues like chipping, cracking, slow growth and general softness, and whilst there are a multitude of factors that can contribute to these problems, nutrition is definitely a key one to address.

Here we give you a brief rundown of the nutritional elements necessary for optimal hoof health.

IT ALL STARTS WITH ENERGY

When looking at your horse's nutrition, the first point to consider is the amount of energy in the diet, i.e. are your horse's caloric needs being met? When a horse is deficient in energy, their body prioritises the basic functions necessary for survival which can leave hooves lacking. Yet, when a horse is oversupplied with energy, he is at risk of becoming obese and developing laminitis. As with all things, therefore, balance is the key!

When additional energy is required in the equine diet, adding an energydense fat source (vegetable oil, flax seeds or soya) is a good way to increase caloric content without increasing sugar levels. In relation to hoof health, fats in the diet have been suggested to play a role in improving the hoof wall barrier.

PROTEIN - THE MAIN COMPONENT OF THE HOOF

As a significant portion of the hoof is composed of the protein keratin, it should be no surprise that protein is needed for strong hoof growth. Proteins are composed of many amino acids, and for the horse, ten of these amino acids are considered 'essential'. This means that they must be supplied by the diet as the horse's body cannot produce them itself. So, when creating a diet to support hoof health, the horse's protein requirement must be adequately met, including the specific requirements of each of the ten essential amino acids.

TOP TIP

Regular body condition scoring of your horse is a good way to assess how well your horse's energy needs are being met by their current diet.

NOTE: It is important to remember that the hoof takes time to grow, so diet changes take time to reflect. Don't be too impatient; stick with the dietary programme and monitor the response after a few months to get an idea of whether you are heading in the right direction.

addition of linseed or canola meal.

However, as with most other nutrients, too much protein is not healthy either. When protein is oversupplied in the diet, the horse will excrete the excess nitrogen and urea in urine. If not cleaned sufficiently regularly, the increased urine can lead to wet ammonia-laden beds that can damage the hoof wall.

hoof health include copper, zinc, calcium, phosphorus and vitamin B7 (biotin).

Zinc and copper both play a role in keratin protein synthesis and in forming the bonds within the keratin. Calcium is important for cells in the hoof horn; it has been reported that the hooves are weaker when there is a lack of calcium in the diet.

Additionally, when discussing minerals, it is important to consider the ratios in which they are supplied, not just the individual quantities. For example, if phosphorus is over-supplied in the diet, the calcium-phosphorus ratio is affected, ultimately reducing calcium absorption.

Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin, and plenty of research suggests a positive role for this vitamin in hoof health. Since biotin contains sulphur, its main function is in strengthening the connective tissue in the hoof wall.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

Ultimately, a variety of factors play a role in hoof health, but avoiding chipping, cracking, softness, and slow growth certainly requires good nutrition. If your horse has poor hoof health, it is worth speaking to an equine nutritionist to ensure their diet is balanced. They will also be able to recommend supplements that can add any extra ingredients your horse might need for optimal hoof health.

Crucial conformation

Part 5: The forehead, the poll, the eyes and the ears

When choosing or evaluating a horse, there are many factors to consider: breed, breed type (how the horse embodies the characteristics of his breed or type), pedigree, colour, temperament and personality. However, the most important element is the conformation, particularly if you want the horse to have an athletic career or breed. Choosing a horse based on an understanding of conformation makes it less likely that you will endure the disappointment or heartbreak of a career-ending injury or early loss of use due to arthritis or injury.

A horse with good conformation has no apparent faults that detract from his general appearance and function. Crucially, however, conformation is not just about looks but also about suitability for the job the horse will be asked to do. Some of the 'rules' of conformation are based on pure physics – structural strength, leverage forces and proper angles, for instance – and these help us understand why some horses stay sound, and others do not.

Of course, some horses with poor conformation go on to be winners, but these are truly the exception to the rule. Most of the best equine athletes possess certain qualities of good conformation that enable them to perform at a higher level. Generally, the horse with good conformation and proper body and leg angles experiences less wear and tear on joints and other structures. He is more apt to stay sound and perform well during a long life of athletic service than a horse with serious conformational flaws.

In our last issue, we looked at the overall conformation of the head of the horse. Here we dive in-depth into individual areas and features, including the forehead, the poll, the eyes and the ears.

DID YOU KNOW?

Horse people usually prefer a horse with the eyes set wide apart, at the corners of a wide forehead, to optimise their vision. Horses in careers that require good forward vision, e.g. showjumping, may, however, do a little better if the forehead is narrower and the eyes are closer together.

FOREHEAD WIDTH

A wide forehead is desirable because eyes set wide apart allows for better peripheral vision, and a generous, roomy throatlatch gives more space to accommodate the windpipe.

Horse people have always believed that a wide forehead is an indication of intelligence because, presumably, a broad, flat forehead allows more room for the brain. However, sinus cavities, tear ducts and air passages are all housed by the skull, and much of the space behind the forehead is actually devoted to sinus cavities, not the brain. The brain is located deep in the skull between the bases of the ears, so it is somewhat unlikely that a wide forehead actually indicates a ‘bigger’ brain.

However, a wide forehead is also often indicative of hot blood from the Arab – the breed well known for intelligence and a people-oriented personality - so there may be some truth to the wide forehead/ intelligence link.

Conversely, a narrow forehead is often thought to correlate with cold blood, which is traditionally considered less intelligent.

THE POLL

The poll should be well defined, extending up as a definite prominence, contributing to the size of the brain cavity. A wide poll is typical with a wide forehead, with

the base of the ears far apart rather than close together. A narrow poll and forehead are more typical of a donkey than of a horse.

NOTE

Eye size is actually consistent in horses; it is the bone structure surrounding the eye that gives the appearance of large or small eyes.

THE EYES

The eyes should be large and dark-coloured, ideally. In some horses, part of the iris is lacking colour, or the whole iris may be colourless; this is called a

walleye. A colourless or ‘blue’ eye with no pigment, which is sometimes seen if a horse has a white face marking around the eye, is more sensitive to light and prone to sun damage.

Large eyes, set wide apart, are often thought to denote intelligence and trainability, whereas so-called pig-eyes may indicate stubbornness. A pig-eye is small, set back in the head and often accompanied by thick eyelashes. A horse with pig eyes has a narrower field of vision, so it may, in fact, be that horses with pig eyes are more nervous and less willing simply because they don’t see well.

The upper eyelids should have dense tufts of eyelashes to keep sweat and dust from getting in the eyes. The lower lashes are usually thinner but longer to keep dust and foreign material from blowing up into the eye.

A NOTE ON VISION

If you are considering purchasing a horse, ask your vet to check both eyes. An eye problem can make a horse difficult to train and ride. He will naturally be more wary of his surroundings as he cannot see them properly. If he is constantly spooky or jumpy or keeps swinging one ear back and forth more than the other, this may be an indication of issues with his sight, as he is trying to compensate for the lack of vision with his hearing.

FAULTS TO AVOID

Some horses have eyes that are not set properly; one is set at a different angle than the other (traditionally called a gotch eye). This may not be immediately apparent when examining a horse, especially from the side. A horse with this problem may spook a lot or bump into things because their vision is not entirely normal. There are four common ‘gotch’ eyeball positions:

ONE EYE POINTED OUT

One of the most common gotch eye positions is one eyeball pointed out (looking out to the side) more than the other. This hinders a horse’s ability to focus properly on objects because the abnormal eye cannot shift to look forward. The horse will not see something as quickly on the side of the gotch eye as he goes past it as he does on the normal side. For example, a rock may not come into focus on his abnormal side until he is quite close to it, and he may suddenly spook when he becomes aware of it. A horse with this issue may be skittish.

ONE EYE TURNED DOWN

Another abnormal eye position is one eye turned downward. The horse struggles to see things out to the side. He may focus on ground-level objects on that side and be unaware of the obstacles that are higher up. The eyeball is turned down, with a portion of sclera showing between the iris and the upper eyelid.

ONE EYE TURNED UP AND OUT

The opposite problem is a horse with one eyeball turned upward and outward, preventing him from seeing the ground on that side. His eyeball would be constantly rolled back and up, enabling him to see his rider but not the area in front of him or where he is walking. This condition can make him ‘spooky’ on his bad side. The white of the eye will be showing between his iris and the lower eyelid.

CROSSED EYES

A few horses are cross-eyed, which can interfere with proper vision. The horse may be uncertain of his footing and may not want to cross a bridge or step over a log or any other obstacle that would normally offer little challenge. He constantly sees double when trying to focus on something in front of him until he turns his head to one side.

THE EARS

The ears should be set just below the level of the poll at the top of the head, in a position where they can be rotated forwards and backwards to collect all sounds from the greatest possible area. Active ears are a sign of intelligence, alertness and interest in what is going on. They can, however, also indicate nervousness.

Many horse people prefer finely formed, small- to medium-sized ears, but ear size has no bearing on horse’s ability. In fact, large ears can actually help to lose heat during exercise through the network of blood vessels there that run close to the skin.

Ears that are very large or very small may make a horse’s head look too small or large in comparison, so carefully evaluate the relation of the size of the ears and the head to get a true sense of head size. Otherwise, ear size is not an important factor in overall conformation and should not be considered a fault.

NEXT ISSUE

Now that we have examined the features of the top half of the head, we will be moving onto look at the muzzle, mouth and teeth in our next issue.

BY HILARY O'LEARY

YOUR EQUESTRIAN QUESTIONS ANSWERED

What length should my stirrups ideally be?

If you're hacking or just doing some flatwork in the arena rather than focusing on dressage or jumping specifically, you should aim for your stirrups to be ankle length. To achieve this, take your feet out of the stirrups and let them hang

loose against the saddle. You want the stirrup bar to be level with the bony protuberance of your ankle when it hangs straight down.

FOR JUMPING

If you are jumping, you ideally want slightly shorter stirrups to make it easier to get out of the saddle and transfer more of your weight into your heels to

give you a more secure position over the fences. If your stirrups are too long, your leg will likely swing back over jumps, or you'll struggle to get into a good jumping position or light seat.

Classically, it is advised that your jumping length should be two holes shorter than your flatwork length, and this does seem to work well for most people. If you start jumping much bigger fences, you may need to go a bit shorter, but you'll work out what feels best with trial and error.

FOR DRESSAGE

You'll want slightly longer stirrups if you're riding in a dressage saddle or doing full dressage schooling, like lateral work. Greater leg length allows you to ride dressage movements more easily; plus, short stirrups can force your knee past the straight flaps of a dressage saddle.

A good starting point is to go one hole longer than the ankle. Eventually, with practice, you'll probably end up with your stirrups level with the sole of your boot. Don't rush to make your stirrups too long, however, as this can cause your lower leg to swing, making you unstable in your seat. As you get a better dressage seat, you'll find you naturally want a longer stirrup length.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER

Regardless of discipline, your stirrups need to be the right length for you, your horse and the saddle you are riding in. You need your knee to fit comfortably in the fold of the knee flap without jutting forwards, and you want to be able to use your legs on your horse's barrel so your leg aids are effective. Finally, you need to make sure you feel comfortable and safe; if you don't feel secure and stable, you simply won't be able to ride the way you want to!

Why do people feed their horses rooibos?

Rooibos (Aspalathus Linearis) is unique to South Africa and has always been known to be healthy. However, the benefits of rooibos have far surpassed anyone’s expectations!

Initially rooibos was only used in tea, and whilst it is still used in tea today, the uses of rooibos are now far more extensive.

Rooibos leaves and powder are available to buy in bulk and can be fed to horses to help with a variety of health-related problems.

Rooibos has proven helpful for treating stress, allergies, inflammation, skin irritation,

gastrointestinal issues and obesity, and is also good for general coat care and boosting the immune system.

Regular feeding of rooibos is believed to reduce the risk of a horse developing cancer or heart disease, and is suggested to prolong your horse’s lifespan.

The main benefits are thought to be the result of the flavonoids in rooibos, particularly Aspalathin which is unique to rooibos. Flavonoids are potent antioxidants (free radical scavengers) and support the body’s defences by protecting cells from free radical damage during oxidative stress.