EGB Mar/Apr 17

VOLUME 14 ISSUE 2 MAR/APR 2017 OFFICIAL MEMBERS PUBLICATION FOR ENDURANCE GB

Champion’s

Profile BIOMECHANICS

www.endurancegb.co.uk

FUTURITY GRADUATES

EQUIPMENT INFO

CONTENTS

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Views from the Chair 4 News 6 AHS Awards 8 SERC 10 Riding Clubs 12 BETA 14 Futurity 16 Mary Korn 18 Equipment 20 Profile 22 Transport 24 Health 27 Biomechanics 28 Saddles 30 Para Part 2 32 Retraining Racehorses 34 Groups 36 Young Riders 38 Management 40 Supporters Initiative 42

Cindy Editor of Endurance Cover Image: First rides, first rosettes of the season

EDITOR’S COMMENT

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he season has got underway with a few disappointments, some rides have had to be cancelled due to weather and / or ground conditions, but on the whole a successful start to the year.

Not only the rides that have started off well, but a good turnout and excellent discussions at the three Volunteer Conferences.

Organized by Kerry Dawson and Esther Young, these events were packed full of useful information and updates, with plenty of time for discussion too. Well located across the country, there was opportunity for all who were interested to attend.

In addition there has been an International squad update day, which is reported in this issue, as well as various Group training days around the country.

Keep updated on your local Group web pages, or on the EGB main website page.

The Board have been looking at ways to support and encourage membership of EGB and have come up with the Supporters Initiative, so we have more information about that and how it might benefit you, your crew, your friends and equally importantly, the volunteers who keep the events going. Please take a bit of time to read about it, then encourage others to look into it as well.

Some of you will have noticed an error with the front cover of the January / February issue of Endurance….right rider, wrong horse! However, to make up for this, we have an in depth interview with EGB Supreme Champion, Judy Holloway, with photos of the horse who partnered her, Aurontes, in this issue.

Additionally, as we are too early to have any results ready to publish, we have more pages to use for articles, including some great profiles, and some informative pieces to help

you support the health and welfare of your horses and yourselves. Do please read the Management Update pages, as they contain important information to take forward for the season.

This has been a great issue to work on…so many people have made the effort to send in articles, photos, information etc.

I would like to say thank you all of you, As I have said before, without contributions from the membership and the readers, the magazine cannot be relevant and topical. Please keep sending things to me!

I look forward to reading ride reports, profiles, training regimes etc over the coming weeks, and of course, your photos are always welcome too!

See you on the trail Cindy

Endurance Mar/Apr 2017

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VIEWS FROM THE CHAIR

VIEWS FROM THE CHAIR Dear Members Welcome to the new season – how soon the winter months pass by!

Once again, the early rides in March have been extremely well supported, despite the wet weather we have endured, as our members show how keen they are to get going at the start of the new season.

I was so sorry to see that Forest of Dean March Hares was cancelled at such short notice after the organiser and her team had put in so much hard work to run it.

Last year I mentioned that the EGB Board was developing ways to promote the sport through other equestrian organisations. I am pleased to report that this initiative continues and is gathering pace. A new league table competition is being introduced for Pony Club members to encourage more young people to enjoy our sport. The British Riding Club Team Endurance Championship is now in its 7th year and is attracting new teams. The Retraining of Racehorses Trophy is being promoted once again and there is great interest in shorter distance rides from the RDA. Endurance GB is very keen to continue to promote cross-discipline cooperation to increase participation in our sport. We will continue to work with our counterparts in other organisations and with the British Equestrian Federation to increase awareness of endurance and encourage riders from different backgrounds to give endurance a go. I ask all of you as members of EGB to seek out opportunities to promote endurance as a sport with an excellent welfare record here in Great Britain.

As always, we depend so much on our volunteers to administer and run our rides, run the local Groups and contribute to the Committees that work with the Board. Much time is given up by all to ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible during the competitive season. And of course, our team of Technical Stewards, some of them new to the role, will now be touring the countryside to help administer the rides on the day. Thanks to you all.

Finally, I must mention an extremely important subject that affects all of us – that is safeguarding of young people and vulnerable adults. Nicki Thorne, Director of Quality and Welfare, in conjunction with her co-Directors Kerry Dawson and Esther Young, has led a programme of education and training at the three volunteer conferences in February. It is very important that all of us continue to be vigilant and report any incidents that appear to be of concern to EGB’s Lead Safeguarding Officer no matter how trivial they might seem at the time.

Enjoy your riding everyone!

BOARD MEMBERS CHAIRMAN John Hudson 01398 332089 07779 797170 johnhudson@endurancegb.co.uk VICE CHAIRMAN Marketing, Communications & Sponsorship Director Harry Ingram 07793 813083 harryingram@endurancegb.co.uk Finance Director Sue Box 07867 512673 suebox@endurancegb.co.uk Company Secretary/Development Director Ann Dark 01380 818223 anndark@endurancegb.co.uk

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Groups Director and acting IT Director Kerry Dawson 07818 283144 kerrydawson@endurancegb.co.uk SERC Representative Constance Newbould 07973 726001 constancenewbould@endurancegb.co.uk

Endurance OFFICE ADMINISTRATION Emma Darwood Endurance GB Office, Abbey Park, Stareton, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2RP t: 02476 697929 f: 02476 418429 EDITOR Cindy Russell Green Farm Stables, Albyns Lane, Romford, Essex RM4 1RX t: 01708 688075 e: cindy@cynburstud.fsnet.co.uk PUBLISHER Matrix Print Consultants Ltd Unit C, Northfield Point, Cunliffe Drive, Kettering, Northants, NN16 9QJ t: 01536 527297 f: 01536 527294 e: info@matrixprint.com DESIGNER Matrix Print Consultants Ltd Sam Greenwood ADVERTISING Matrix Print Consultants Ltd Andy Etherton t: 01536 527 297 e: andy@matrixprint.com DEADLINES Copy Dates to Editor for future issues: Issue May/Jun 2017 by 30th Apr Issue Jul/Aug 2017 by 30th Jun If you wish to advertise in the May/Jun 2017 issue, artwork deadline is 30th Apr The views and opinions of the writers are not necessarily those of the editor, Matrix Print Consultants Ltd or Endurance GB. Endurance magazine is fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reproduced wholly or in part without the permission of Endurance GB and/or Matrix Print Consultants Ltd.

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Operations Director Esther Young 07454 929919 Email: estheryoung@endurancegb.co.uk Welfare & Quality Director Nicki Thorne Tel: 07917 094752 Email: nickithorne@endurancegb.co.uk Director of International John Robertson 01293 517495 07793 813083 johnrobertson@endurancegb.co.uk

Official members publication for Endurance GB

Calls between 9am and 9pm only please. More details of committees and Board Member responsibilities can be found in the EGB Handbook

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NEWS

ENDURANCE NEWS BLUE CROSS APPEALS FOR HORSE TOYS FOR RESCUED BODMIN PONIES

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lue Cross is appealing for horse toys to help enrich the lives of the young feral ponies being rehabilitated at the charity’s centre in Rolleston, Staffordshire.

Many of these ponies were taken in by the charity in a pitiful state of health, having been rounded up and left unclaimed on Bodmin Moor last autumn.

Tess Scott-Adams, the Rehoming Centre Manager at Rolleston explains: “With the young Bodmin ponies we have noticed that they spend a lot of time being destructive and play fighting. Less than a year ago they roamed freely across the moors, able to play in streams, and across a varied terrain of hills, woods and stony out crops.

Making the transition to a life of relative confinement is hard for them, no matter the excellent quality of the environment we are able to provide here at Blue Cross. Providing them with additional enrichment in the form of horse toys gives them something else to interact with and helps stimulate their inquisitive minds.”

Blue Cross is appealing for horse toys such as play balls, mouthing fence toys and also scratching mats. Treat based toys would not be appropriate as these ponies, as with all Blue Cross horses are fed a careful fibre base diet, low in starch and sugar. To find out more about how you can help support Blue Cross or give a Bodmin pony a home please visit www.bluecross.org.uk.

WEST END PHOTOGRAPHY UPDATE! The lovely Chris and Caroline at WEP are putting all rides this year online. This means that you can access photos that they have taken of you at rides, here: galleries.west-end-photography.co.uk WEP will be adding a pre-registration link to all booked rides, so riders fill in their email and WEP email them when the gallery goes live.

Chris Cole added: People can still contact us in advance if they would like to receive photos in the post as in the past. I know there are a lot of riders out there that quite like the envelope dropping through the letterbox..

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CATRIONA’S BEST WESTERN GB & MACMILLAN RIDE OF THEIR LIVES, YORK 2017

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ell what can I say; it’s certainly proving a challenge! The riding out is coming along, stirrups are getting shorter, speed control is improving, and I have ridden 15 different horses now and am starting to feel slightly less at sea.

Weekly sessions with jockey coach Russ Garritty have started at Jack Berry House and although still proving tough on the muscles, I’m gradually getting the hang of it and I don’t think Russ cries with despair quite so much any more…

Fitness training is progressing though frustration is figuring quite highly in the process and a fair few unplanned dismounts from the gym ball have occurred.

It seems to be my calves and triceps that are putting up the most protest at the moment,

though there are certainly days when it feels like my whole body is complaining about my plans!

A few days hill training down in the Quantocks for endurance allowed me the chance to pop in and see Nikki Malcolm and Nathan Sweeney at Horses First as they had very kindly offered their support in trying to teach me how to ride a racehorse. Thank you both ever so much, your coaching has massively helped me out on many occasions now and your patience was much appreciated.

The amount of support from people is proving amazing and I am very grateful to everyone who has donated so far and to all the people I have seen at the recent Cannock Chase ride who asked how training was going and also the generous

donations I received for Macmillan. Thank you to you all.

Please take a look at www. justgiving.com/fundraising/ Catriona-Moon to see how I am getting on and please consider donating. I hope you will never need Macmillan but sadly statistics show that we are all likely to deal with them one way or another through our lifetime. Please help support the amazing work done by Macmillan.

HILTON HERBS UNVEILS NEW MULTI-LINGUAL TRADE-ONLY WEBSITES Leading supplement manufacturer, Hilton Herbs, has recently unveiled four responsive e-commerce tradeonly websites for each of its key markets, the UK, USA, France, and Germany.

Existing Hilton Herbs retailers will benefit from extra discount when ordering online and the website is set up with a ‘quick-order’ page for speed and ease of use.

Retailers can also download product information, POS material and up-to-date price lists from the website. The public website with its wealth of product info and a new ‘cost-per-day’ function is just a click away and retailers can easily click back to the trade website to place their order. Retailers interested in stocking Hilton Herbs products can also apply to open an account via the

Official members publication for Endurance GB

website. All this from any kind of PC or mobile device!

Claire Peace, Retail Business Development Manager for Hilton Herbs says “I’ve had my own shop so I know how time-starved most retailers are, and how useful it will be for them to

be able to order whenever and wherever they want using a mobile device.”

For more information and details of introductory retailer offers please contact Claire Peace on Freephone 0800 294 1105 or email tradesales@hiltonherbs.com

NEWS

CAMPAIGNING PAYS OFF!

OUR SURVEY NEEDS YOU TO HELP GIVE HORSES A BETTER FUTURE When: 22 – 29 May 2017 Where: Online at www.bluecross.org. uk/NEHS What: A quick, anonymous survey

about your horse’s health Why: To protect the future health and

welfare of our horses and ponies Giving just five minutes of your time to participate in the National Equine Health Survey (NEHS) will help make a lifetime of difference to horses. Run by leading charity Blue Cross, in partnership with the British Equine Veterinary Association, NEHS is a unique opportunity for horse owners to give feedback about the health of their horses, ponies and donkeys so that the most common diseases and problems be identified, prioritised and addressed.

Over the past six years NEHS has developed to become one of the UK’s most important endemic disease monitoring initiative. The results are referenced in leading veterinary and equestrian publications and papers and are regarded as valuable benchmarks for our general knowledge of horse health.

Last year survey records were returned

for almost 17,000 horses ponies, donkeys and mules. and the six most notable disease syndromes identified (recorded as percentages of those recorded as suffering from health problems) were: Blue Cross Education Officer Gemma Taylor said: “Please put the date in your diary now and persuade your friends to do the same. The more data we can collect from the National Equine Health Survey the more robust our results will be, helping us to steer equine awareness, education and research to keep our horses healthier.”

Supporters of NEHS include the British Horse Society, Horse Trust, Redwings and the Pony Club. Zoetis UK Ltd and Dodson and Horrell are kindly supporting the initiative by helping Blue Cross cover the costs of running the scheme.

The next survey is planned for 22-29th May 2017. Visit www.bluecross.org.uk/ NEHS or email NEHS@bluecross.org.uk to register. If you take part you will have the chance to win some amazing prizes such as a pair of Lister Star Clippers and a pair of Burford Ariat Wellington Boots.

Riders and cyclists have safer riding routes following the opening of a new route.

Linda Warth, Cambridgeshire county access and bridleways officer for the British Horse Society, explained how the opening of a new route across Babraham Research Campus will have a positive impact” It is a

multi use route and the main use of the path is by commuter cyclists accessing Babraham from Cambridge.

But for walkers, riders and others the route now provides a valuable link to the Mile Track, off the A1307 which allows safe access to the miles of tracks provided by the Roman Road”

ROSTREAMER (PADDY) 2/4/83 – 25/10/16 Paddy had a long career hurdling and even longer one in Endurance.

Winner of the first Retraining of Racehorses trophy, in 2003 and again in 2004.

SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse 3 years running. He loved endurance, ears always forward.

With me for over 20 years and he will always be missed. Gill Burrows

NEW CAREER FOR MADJIN DES PINS Tricia Hirst has made the difficult decision to retire Madjin (Madjin des Pins) from endurance, he will now be starting a new career in dressage with Tricia and her daughter, Charlotte.

His outstanding endurance results have included the following: 2011 - 1st 120km 2* Haywood Oaks 2011 - 1st 160km 3* Dukeries 2011 - 1st 160km ER Red Dragon 2012 1st 120km 2* Haywood Oaks 2012 15th WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS UK at average speed of 22kph 2013 1st 120km 2* Haywood Oaks 2014 8th 160km 3* Monpazier, France Madjin has represented GB twice.

Tricia says of Majin “ He is such a gentle horse although at times he has been a very spirited ride and has pushed my riding ability to my limits at times. He now deserves a quieter life and I am hoping he will be with us enjoying life for many years to come.”

RESULT CORRECTION

PHOTO COURTESY DAVID SAUNDERS

Pippa Ogier Grange Girl (Ruby) Day 1 of Ridgeway Barbury Castle 31kms GER Novice Grade 3 Endurance Mar/Apr 2017

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AHS AWARDS

Endurance horse leads

Place

2016 Performance Horse Awards Pure Bred Arabians

1st

Silver Zourra

2016 Performance Horse Awards

2nd

Red House Romeo

W

4th

inners of the year-long ridden Performance Horse Awards for 2016, run by the Arab Horse Society, have been announced.

The high-points competition covers three sections, for pure Arabs, part-Arabs and AngloArabs and is free to AHS members. Results are calculated on scores from up to six disciplines - endurance, dressage, show jumping, eventing, racing and ridden showing.

Presentations will be made at the Arab Horse Society National Show in Malvern on Saturday 29 July.

The Dinsdale Memorial Trophy for the Champion Pure Arab goes to Silver Zourra for scores earned entirely in Endurance with owner Nicola Sherry. First-timer Redhouse Romeo, owned by Cara McKinnon, is in Reserve for the Gadebrook Trophy.

Versatile mare Mellway Precious Rose takes the Westpoint Trophy for Kay Curtis in the part-Arab section – for the ninth time!

The leading Anglo-Arab, Marlak Super Dude owned by Muriel Taylor with results in

Endurance and Dressage, wins the Lady Yule Memorial Trophy.

The leading Junior Rider, 16-year old Katherine Bertram from Avonbrook Stud receives the Farenza Cup - for results including endurance.

The AHS also honours High Points winners in affiliated disciplines including Endurance where the winner is Silver Zourra with gelding Remynisce in reserve, owned and bred by Anne Brown.

16-year old Oakleaze Farm Cziko wins the High Points Veteran award for his Endurance results with Sue Rich.

Coed-y-foel Arabians sponsors the breeders of high points progeny by AHS Premium Performance stallions, awarded to another Endurance horse, the pure Arab Summer Breeze by Al Sood.

Cards for the 2017 PHA, sponsored by Gadebrook Stud, are now available free to members from the AHS office: tel: 01672 521411 or by e-mail from pha@gadebrookstud.com.

For further information, contact Anne Brown, Council member, Arab Horse Society Tel 01832 358269

3rd

5th

Guisburn Haneef Cf Winter Amadeus Remynisce Zyta Orlando

6th

Summer Breeze Aberllwyd Satra

7th

Elayla

8th

Oakleaze Farm Cziko

9th

Khalifa Bj

10th

Madaaria

11th

Annia Aurelia

12th

Red House Lily Marlene

13th

Mill Starlight

14th

Oakleaze Farm Czamak

15th 16th

Crystal Flame Cumbria Khafifa Marcus Aurelius

17th

Vindetta

18th

Avonbrook Green Rose

18th

Marbon Tir Nan Og

19th

Cs Khan

20th

Binley Prince Salim

21st

Bint Irexandya

22nd 23rd

Bha Sultan S A Forbidden Spirit Kaalif Ah Bellynda

24th

Montanna

25th

Oakleaze Farm Czako

Place

Part Bred Arabians 2016 PHA

1st

Mellway Precious Rose

2nd

Littletons Definately Maybe

3rd

Prescoed Solomon

4th

Burfield Goodie Two Shoes

5th

Towerlanze Queen Of Passion

6th

Sirnunn Golden Snowflake

7th

Ravels Picasso

8th

Avonbrook Odin

9th

Avonbrook Silver Augury

10th

Avonbrook Silver Eagle

Place

ANGLO ARABIANS 2016 PHA

1st

Marlak super dude

2nd

Maraday mystaron

3rd

Littletons definate victory

4th

Meraldos

5th

Lyndston kytrina

6th

Barnwell drago

7th

Maraday monique

JUDY HOLLOWAY WITH AURONTES, AT LIONS TAIL SEPTEMBER 2016.

PHOTO ANNE BROWNE

CRABBET ENDURANCE AWARDS 2016 - CHAMPIONS ANNE BROWN (EXT LEFT) - REMYNISCE - AND JUDY HOLLOWAY (EXT RT) - AURONTES -

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Official members publication for Endurance GB

REMYNISCE COMPETING IN THE 80 KM CLASS AT KINGS FOREST, APRIL 2016. PHOTO, ANNE BROWN

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SALLY TOYE TAKES ON THE MONGOL DERBY WITH RiderCise

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entered the Mongol Derby and was accepted! Having got my head around this I now need to train for a 1000km race on semi feral ponies. I realised I had no clue where to start! I would need to be in the best physical, mental and emotional condition of my life!

I was lucky enough to be introduced to Clare Gandagreen, a Personal Trainer, Functional Coach and Soft Tissue Therapist with over 12 years experience in the fitness industry and 20 years experience with horses and the Founder of RiderCise.

RiderCise provides specifically designed Conditioning Clinics and Online Training Programs (via a mobile App) to improve rider fitness, mobility, agility, coordination, flexibility, strength and improve movements patterns which enhance riding balance and performance.

I have been lucky enough to secure a 6 month “Online Athlete Programme”.

The Athlete Programme has been designed around my specific needs. It is broken into training segments, each having

different objectives, such as base training or competition preparation. I am totally supported with this by regular contact and check-ins to discuss progress and needed adaptations to the programme. I also track my food intake daily to ensure that the correct micronutrients are in the diet so that I can perform.

I have been using the App for 2 weeks now and I am quite shocked at how I ached initially! It has been shown to me that my training has not been targeting the muscles I need. I have already noticed big differences in improved riding and today at Tilford over 66km I was less tired and more balanced. My core strength was much better too.

So it’s back to opening the App and going to my calendar to view my next workout. I don’t have to think about it at all as a cute man shows me how to do the exercises correctly at the correct intensity!! For example I’ve never done squats soslowly!! (As my bum told me the next day!!)

I am so excited at the results already and I am inspired to do more, I will keep you posted! I wish this had been around 20 years ago!!

Endurance Mar/Apr 2017

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SCOTTISH ENDURANCE RIDING CLUB

DIDN’T WE DO WELL!

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round 80 members attended the SERC AGM in Perth on 26 February, reports Alison Wilson. Fears that the introduction of electronic voting would depress the numbers attending in person proved to be groundless, and the hotel’s central location opposite the railway station also suited some far-flung members.

The official business of the day went smoothly, focused mainly on a long-overdue revamp of the Club’s rule book which had grown unwieldy arms and legs over the past 27 years. The new streamlined version received general approval and should make life easier for all. The only potentially contentious proposal – to change the ride year start and finish dates – had almost no support at all despite much lively Facebook discussion in previous weeks.

The outgoing Chair, Colin Sykes, reported on a successful year for the Club, the highlights being Seacliff, our FEI ride, and the Club Championships which had

proved popular despite their Highland location which had meant a long journey for southern members, turning the tables on many previous Championships located in central and south Scotland.

SERC had also had a successful campaign in Ireland at the Home International and Celtic Challenge (and hopes to perform equally well at Lindum this summer…).

Colin’s list of thanks reached Oscar-winner proportions and underlined the extent of the machinery needed to keep the show on the road, and included: General Secretary Lindsay Wilson, Treasurer Constance Newbould, Vice Chair Marina MacArthur, International Committee Chair Nancy Murdoch, Press Officer Alison Wilson, and the Central Committee that governs the Club.

Official business having been concluded in commendably quick time, proceedings moved on to the annual awards ceremony. This was preceded by a presentation by the SERC teams who had gone to Ireland to the Chef d’Equipe, Fiona

COLIN SYKES AND MARINA MACARTHUR

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Official members publication for Endurance GB

CHRIS MACMILLAN AND COOLAGOREE GLEN THUNDER (CREDIT KENNY MACARTHUR)

HOLLY ALGEO AND SIR NUNNS LADY SAMANTHA (CREDIT KENNY MACARTHUR)

SCOTTISH ENDURANCE RIDING CLUB

LIANNA BOURNE AND MOONLIGHT MYSTERY AT SEACLIFFE PHOTO FROM KRIS CLAY, TOPGEARPHOTOS.COM

Henderson, and International Committee Chair and team administrator, Nancy Murdoch: a beautiful bouquet for Nancy, and for Fiona a large canvas made up of photos taken at the St Patrick’s Coast ride of the riders and crews in action.

The awards started with presentations to the Pleasure riders who had taken up the challenge offered by the very popular Pleasure Series: successfully completing a ride at each Branch of the Club during the ride season and achieving an award relating to the number of Branches visited, from Bronze to Gold.

While it probably doesn’t do much for the Club’s carbon footprint, the Series has encouraged large numbers of Pleasure riders to venture far afield, try different terrains and make new friends. Glasgow Branch member Lianna Bourne managed a Gold award (8 Branches plus a Club ride) on two horses, which is an awful lot of travelling!

The big winners of the afternoon were Lothians’ Chris Macmillan and her Connemara gelding Coolagoree Glen

Thunder with five trophies outright plus a share in one for her Branch, and Argyll’s Suzanne Taylor with her PBA Salsa Caramel, who was awarded three trophies and her Platinum Thistle award for achieving 120kms at Seacliff. Other multiple winners included Arlene Parvin (Kingsmeadowhouse Magicmaker), Iain Paterson (Tannasg Primo Dancer), Alison Saunders (Cavatina), and Anne Short.

Amongst the many successful junior and young riders, 15 year old Holly Algeo was awarded the Anoushka Rising Star award, made annually to a junior or young rider who has demonstrated not only significant talent but also love of the sport, commitment and practice. Nominees are voted for by their peers. Holly and her palomino mare Sir Nunns Lady Samantha had a very busy year which included a trip to Ireland to represent SERC in the Home International.

The event concluded with a presentation to Colin as the outgoing Chair, made by his successor Marina MacArthur.

SUZANNE TAYLOR AND SALSA CARAMEL (CREDIT KENNY MACARTHUR)

THREE ‘D’’S FOR THE RDA!

D

eparting in August, Tayside member Karen Inkster, dog Pip and horse Connie plan to ride/ walk the Hebrides. They will be unsupported, carrying all camping and corralling equipment. As well as being an endurance rider, Karen is a Trustee of the Blairgowrie Riding for the Disabled, for whom she is raising funds. You can see more about her plans and donate on her Facebook page, The Deaf, the Daft and the Ditsy. (Pip is deaf, Karen will let you decide who the daft and ditsy are!)

Karen returned to endurance last year (after a 25 year gap) when she rehomed Connie, a 9yo Standardbred mare from Homes4Horses. Despite a setback when they both fell at the Broughton ride in July, the combination went on to achieve a Gold award in the Pleasure Series, accompanied to all rides by Pip.

Endurance Mar/Apr 2017

11

RIDING CLUB ENDURANCE

INTERCLUB TEAM SPIRIT

BRINGS SUCCESS AT BRITISH RIDING CLUB ENDURANCE FINALS 2016 Ann Raymont reports

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s most small Riding Clubs are aware, recruiting team members can be a challenge and for South Warwickshire forming an endurance team this season proved no exception.

When Gillian Hasberry, team manager for National Forest RC endurance team invited them to “join forces” and ride with them as an amalgamated team the offer was readily accepted. Two South Warwickshire riders, Ann Raymont and Lindsey Bones joined the members of the National Forest Riding Club to ride as the National Forest & Friends. Emails flew back and forth between team members and riders came together to complete 30 km qualifying rides over the summer including Cannock Chase, Wharncliffe Chase in Yorkshire, North Norfolk and Cirencester.

With the BRC finals at Lion’s Tail in September always the ultimate goal, Gillian Hasberry was an inspirational team manager organising entries, running an introductory endurance study day for Riding Club members and even a trip to the gallops to improve fitness.

Stapleford Park near Melton Mowbray was the venue for the finals on September 18th, a flat and fast ride incorporating parkland, minimal roadwork, toll rides and miles of glorious set aside. The weather was perfect and the riders arrived early to prepare for the pre-ride vetting and to meet as this was the first time they had all ridden together! The

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crew ( Family and friends ) who would be stationed at points along the 41km route, filled their car boots with water containers and familiarized themselves with the route.

Their role would be to cool and hydrate the horses on the move and vital to team success.

Team tactics discussed the National Forest & Friends made their way to the start line for a 10.30am start. With watches and apps set and maps at the ready the team lined up ready to go. With the clock about to start ticking there was a last minute hitch when the starter queried the team formation.

Thankfully the issues were soon resolved and they started the ride across the stunning parkland.

The route had to be completed in just over 3 hours with an average speed of 13 kph. As the route was level with plenty of opportunities to canter the temptation was to travel too quickly. The ground was variable, stony in places slowing the pace and tricky on field corners causing one of the team horses to slip whilst negotiating a bend and the rider to fall into a ditch.

She remounted and despite a painful and swollen ankle carried on bravely for the remainder of the ride.

Team members took it in turns to lead and the horses rode well together seeming rejuvenated after brief crewing stops to cool them. Riders took time to admire the scenic countryside as they continued to check their timing throughout the ride. Towards the end of the ride the pace was slowed and the

Official members publication for Endurance GB

team walked into the finish, along with their sister team, the National Forest Foxes. The clock stopped at just under 3 hours with an average speed of 13.98 k.p.h .This was a great result but now the crucial business of cooling the horses to reduce their pulse for the final vetting was to begin.

After 30 minutes of rapid cooling and trying to find shade to allow the horses to relax, all four riders presented their mounts to the vet for pulse check, trot up and general examination. What a relief when all four horses passed with good pulses! Now the riders and their crew could relax, chat and wait, in anticipation of the results.

The event had been kindly sponsored once again by KBIS British Equestrian Insurance and John & Jane Hudson Event Organisers announced the results. Due to tough ground conditions not all teams finished or passed the final vetting and the results had been calculated by speed and horses post ride heart rate.

The National Forest & Friends were surprised and thrilled to learn that they had come second having been just pipped to the post by The Cheshire Challengers (winners for the second year running) Frank (Ann Raymont’s mount) was also second individual scoring horse overall.

It had been a great day with new friendships made and proof that RIDE TOGETHER, TRAIN TOGETHER, COMPETE TOGETHER & HAVE FUN TOGETHER really works!

RIDING CLUB ENDURANCE

CHANGING DISCIPLINES TO SEEK SUCCESS

By Lindsey Bones

I

got into Endurance riding by accident; my original goal with my home bred horse was to event. After four years I realised that my horse will not go round a cross country course.

I was left with two options; A. sell my horse or B. find a new discipline.

Well; we all knew that selling my horse was not an option, so a new discipline it was. My thoughts were, what can I do which is fun but as a competitive rider will be competitive as well. That’s when I turned to endurances riding, still being able to canter round the countryside but knowing I was also working towards that goal of winning.

I have always enjoyed long rides but I really had no idea what to expect. Would my horse be fit enough, how is it scored and what kind of distances would we be covering?

My first ride took me to Cannock Chase, where we soaked up the atmosphere and were able to see horses of all different shapes and sizes. I presented my horse to the vet and we set off to complete our first 32km graded ride.

I knew we had to aim to move at an average pace between 10-13 kph but I had no idea what type of speed this would be.

On presenting my horse back to the vet I came back with a grade 3 result. The next day I felt as though I have never sat on a horse before, being in the saddle for nearly two and a half hours which wasn’t just a walk in the park. I hate to think how my horse felt!!

Throughout the season the sport took me to Tugby in Leicestershire, North Norfolk, Cirencester Park and Keysoe where I was able to complete my first 40 km. I never thought I would be travelling such distances! I always said to myself 50 miles is the maximum I would travel.

After always being disappointed with the letter ‘E’ next to my name when I went eventing, I suddenly found myself top of the leader board resulting in grade 1’s, my trainer commenting that my horse is looking the best she has ever seen her. Her physiotherapist stated the sport is working wonders for her body.

It appeared my horse Cleo and I have found a discipline we both enjoyed.

The whole year built up to the National Riding Club Team finals, being held at Stapleford Park at a ride called

The Lions Tail. Ann Raymont and I were teamed up with two other riders from the National Forest Riding Club. We had to complete the ride no faster than a speed of 13 kph but at the same time we must not be too quick as this would result in our horse’s heart rate being too high. It is important that our horses come back with a low heart rate when

presenting to the vet as this all counts towards that final score. The going was tough but had the perfect temperature.

Overall our team finished in second place out of 12 teams. What a result and what a year. Looking forward to next season already and who knows what part of the beautiful English countryside it will take us to.

NORTH NORFOLK RIDE - 18/19 JUNE 2016 LINDSEY BONES AND GOLDEN PRIDE

Endurance Mar/Apr 2017

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BETA

NEWS FROM BETA 2017 BETA International retained its reputation as the world’s leading trade exhibition for equestrian, country clothing, outdoor and pet products at the NEC, Birmingham, from 22 to 24 January welcoming 3,531 visitors* – 4,163 including re-entries – and almost 300 exhibitors from across the UK and overseas.

T

his event showcased some of the finest products and services available today, with many items unveiled for the first time.

Bit and bitting company Neue Schule announced its continued support for BETA International by signing as main sponsor for the next three years.

The Hub – a vibrant, new business theatre sponsored by renowned hat manufacturer Charles Owen – included sessions with the company’s managing director, Roy Burek, who looked at just what makes British safety brands some of the best in the word, and Neue Schule explored the importance of informed bitting and introduced Avansce, the company’s new sports performance monitoring division.

Mattie Batchelor and Marc Goldstein – aka Batch and the Pwoducer of Wocket Woy fame –brought hilarious antics and belly laughs to the hall as visitors and exhibitors gathered to hear their interview in The Hub. The two jockeys continued to spread good cheer throughout the halls and took part in a riding lesson on RoboCob, the mechanical horse, with Olympic silver medal-winning German event rider Julia Krajewski.

The Hub also featured presentations from BETA International’s chosen charities, the Riding for the Disabled Association and HorseBack UK, giving members of the industry a powerful insight into their work to improve the quality of human lives with the help of horses.

Visiting SQPS (suitably qualified persons) claimed eight CPD points by attending The Code in Practice – Keeping Yourself Compliant seminar, hosted by AMTRA secretary-general Stephen Dawson. BETAtrained City & Guild fitters benefited from up to five CPD points with Claire Williams’s seminar Safety Equipment Standards and Rules.

The Equi-Theme Fashion Show showcased a wide range of stunningly stylish equestrian, country and outdoor clothing. Buyers took their seats at the edge of the runway as clothing from sponsor Equi-Theme, House of Montar, Covalliero, Horseware Ireland, Baleno, Derriere Equestrian, Champion, Toggi and Fits Riding revealed their forthcoming autumn/ winter collections.

The spirit of competition always burns brightly at BETA International and this year’s Innovation Awards were keenly contested, as usual. Sponsored by Equestrian Trade News, the show’s official media 14

partner, they attracted a large number of Saddlers showcased the high standard of entries in each of the eight categories British saddlery with daily competitions A carefully selected panel of judges had for apprentices from the Saddlery Training the difficult task of deciding on the winning Centre and students from Capel Manor products. This year, the industry experts College. Sunday’s challenge to make a chosen for their specific skills were FEI noseband was won by Corrin King, with competition vet Lesley Barwise-Munro, second-year Capel Manor College student retailer James Edwards, of Devon-based Rachel Lok securing a clear win on Monday Acorn Saddlery, international event rider for her pair of plaited reins and Tuesday’s Piggy French, Dr Teresa Hollands, a senior competition to make a bridle headpiece teaching fellow in veterinary nutrition at the claimed by Grace Willsmer, a first-year University of Surrey, Ken Law, a horse riding student at Capel Manor College. safety practitioner and consultant, and Serena BETA International 2018 will take place Jones, retail director of Millbry Hill, North at the NEC, Birmingham, from 21 to 23 Yorkshire.

January. For information about exhibiting Winners were presented with their awards at the trade fair, contact James Palmer,

by ETN editor Liz Benwell and advertising telephone +44 (0)1937 582111 or email sales manager Nicki Lewis. They were: jamesp@beta-int.com.

Musto with a women’s lightweight Gore*Visitor figures awaiting ABC audit Tex tweed jacket (Country Clothing & Footwear), Trilanco with GastroKind (Feed & Supplements), Stable & Barn for its tack trolley (General), Harry Hall with a Protechmasta infrared rug (Horsecare Equipment & [horse] Clothing, Doggy Bag with its Doggy towel (Pet Products), Kask Spa for its helmet with merino wool padding (Rider Clothing & Footwear), Neue Schule with the Turtle Tilt Weymouth bit (Saddlery & Tack) and Harry Hall for the Masta Avante hi-viz WOCKET WOY MATTIE turnout rug (Safety & Security).

BATCHELOR AND JULIA KRAJEWSKI The Society of Master

Official members publication for Endurance GB

ENDURANCE EDITOR CINDY RUSSELL MEETS THE PWODUCER AND BATCH

FUTURITY

FUTURITY GRADUATES STEPPING UP THE CAREER LADDER!

By Jo Claridge

Is your horse a Futurity Graduate?

Are they registered with Endurance GB? Have they successfully competed at Endurance GB Rides?

If so this scheme is for you, or you could qualify with your young horse!

WHAT IS THE FUTURITY GRADUATE SCHEME?

It’s a new initiative to promote, recognise and reward Endurance horses who were evaluated at BEF Futurity Events and have graduated as 5+ year olds, registered with Endurance GB and are now competing successfully. Full details can be found below.

WHAT IS THE BEF FUTURITY EVALUATION?

In 2009 Endurance horses joined the established BEF Futurity Evaluation scheme aimed at spotting potential International and team horses. Foals to three year olds are inspected by one of the country’s best vets and are shown in-hand and free in an indoor school to demonstrate their paces. The number and age of Endurance horses entered from 2009-16 were (see graph 1): Horses are graded by an Evaluator who is experienced in breeding, training and competing in the relevant sport.

The grades reflect the criteria set by the BEF in conjunction with the different disciplines (Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing and Endurance) and result in Premium awards from Third to Higher First and Elite - the rarest and most highly prized. Premium scores for Endurance horses from 2009-16 were (see graph 2): Olympic Discipline Graduates were offered the Equine Pathway - available to four and five year old horses, supporting them with veterinary advice and training. Unfortunately lack of funding did not allow this for Endurance horses.

As an Endurance Evaluator I have been determined to ensure that our potential top quality horses receive proper recognition and, supported by my husband Peter and Rosemary Attfield, we have devised the Endurance GB Futurity Graduate Scheme which rewards our Endurance horses initially graded in the BEF Futurity Evaluations, who have then been registered with Endurance GB as Novices when they start their endurance careers. This illustrates that they are starting on the career that they were bred for. The 16

numbers of Futurity Graduates currently performing at the different levels are (see graph 3): We will be monitoring Graduates qualifying through the Novice, Open, Advanced and International levels, and Phoenix Field Arabians is sponsoring the Scheme by awarding rosettes to the owners of these horses as they successfully complete their first ride at each level.

These results will create a database of horses that are proving their ability and their bloodlines can easily be checked.

Many hours of work cross-checking the BEF Futurity results and the Endurance GB database of results will reward us with a valuable resource for the development of Endurance horses in this country. Top class competition requires top class equine athletes and any information on these is vital for the future of the sport.

Obviously the home, owner and competitor are equally important parts of the jigsaw but again support can be given in many ways by sharing experience. The possibilities afforded by this “tracking” are endless. Rosemary has kindly offered to award 3 cups (Gold, Silver and Bronze) to the high point winners in different categories of rides each season, but the logistics of where they are to be awarded have yet to be finalised. We were hoping to start the Futurity Graduate Scheme last year but we are delighted that it can finally be introduced this season.

So - if you are the proud owner of a horse who has participated in the BEF Endurance Futurity Evaluations and who is now a registered member of Endurance GB, once your horse has successfully completed competitive rides please do contact Jo or Rosemary with any information (and pictures) that can be used in future articles on their progress.

The horse qualification awards will be sent out later this year and it will also be useful for people to double-check that our details are correct.

This year’s BEF Futurity Evaluations will be held in August and disappointingly there will only be 9 venues this year, so if you are considering taking your youngster please do ensure that you enter on the opening date of 1st July as all the other disciplines will be vying for the precious places! Extensive information and a video showing what to expect are available on the BEF/British Breeding website www.britishbreeding.org.

Official members publication for Endurance GB

1 ENDURANCE ENTRIES IN FUTURITY 2009-16

60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Foal

One

Two

Three

Age

2 Endurance Scores in Futurity 2009-16 80

60

40

20

0

Elite

Higher 1st

1st

2nd

3rd

Premium

3 Futurity Graduates 2016 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Novice

Open

Advanced Level

International

For further information on the Endurance Futurity Graduate Scheme please contact Jo Claridge brightonwaterfarm@yahoo.co.uk or Rosemary Attfield horseygranny@btinternet.com.

We look forward to hearing from you!

FUTURITY

ENDURANCE GB FUTURITY GRADUATE SCHEME 2017

Aim: To encourage, recognise and reward the breeding and development of supreme equine athletes for Endurance competition and to increase the pool of top class National and International horses competing in Endurance GB.

Definition: Futurity Graduates are horses and ponies of foal to three year olds that been assessed in the Endurance section of the BEF Futurity Scheme Eligibility: Horses and ponies and/or their owners must be registered with Endurance GB

Award

Eligibility

Phoenix Field Endurance Futurity Perpetual Trophy

Foal to three year old horse or pony achieving the highest evaluation score in the BEF Futurity Scheme each season.

Rosettes Sponsored by Peter & Jo Claridge - Phoenix Field Arabians Novice Futurity Graduate Rosette

Graduate horse or pony successfully completing its first Novice Level competitive ride with Endurance GB.

Open Futurity Graduate Rosette

Graduate horse or pony successfully completing its first Open Level competitive ride with Endurance GB.

Advanced Futurity Graduate Rosette

Graduate horse or pony successfully completing its first Advanced Level competitive ride with Endurance GB.

International Futurity Graduate Rosette

Graduate horse or pony successfully completing its first FEI competitive ride.

Trophies to be awarded 2017 – Sponsored by Rosemary Attfield – Hornshill Bronze Futurity Graduate Trophy

For six year old Novice/Open horse or pony gaining highest number of points in Endurance GB competitive rides during the season – 4 best results less than 80km to count (at least 2 at Novice level).

Silver Futurity Graduate Trophy

For seven to ten year old horse or pony gaining the highest number of points in Endurance GB National competitive rides during the season – 5 best results to count.

Gold Futurity Graduate Trophy

For seven to ten year old horse or pony gaining the highest number of points in FEI competitive rides during the season.

BEF Futurity Evaluation Venues

14 Aug

Valeview EC, Leicestershire

OPENING 01 Jul 2017

15 Aug

Richmond EC, North Yorkshire

OPENING 01 Jul 2017

16 Aug

Myerscough College, Lancashire

OPENING 01 Jul 2017

18 Aug

The College - Keysoe, Bedfordshire

OPENING 01 Jul 2017

19 Aug

Writtle College, Essex

OPENING 01 Jul 2017

21 Aug

Tall Trees Arena, Cornwall

OPENING 01 Jul 2017

22 Aug

Hartpury College, Gloucestershire

OPENING 01 Jul 2017

23 Aug

Solihull RC, West Midlands

OPENING 01 Jul 2017

30 Aug

Catherston Stud, Hampshire

OPENING 01 Jul 2017

Endurance Mar/Apr 2017

17

MARY KORN

THREE HORSE TRICK

(THEY DON’T HAVE TO BE ARABS)

Mary Korn recounts her Endurance story.

I

came into endurance riding at the relatively late age of 52, but there is no doubt in my mind that my twenty-five years in this sport has been a wonderful experience.

This has been made possible by a combination of three fabulous horses and the friendship, generosity and support of all those I have met along the way.

My first ride was in mid-Wales, on a horse called Bannow Bay. Like me, he never thought we would become an endurance team. I had picked him up from a dealer in Liverpool because I liked the look of this strawberry roan gelding. Also I felt sorry for him because he was thin and looked sad.

With a bit of Anglesey air and feeding up I soon realised he had potential and from the first ride together we bonded.

He had a massive high stepping stride (I wondered if there was some trotter in him) and he could outpace cantering horses at the trot.

We entered many rides together in the old BER A and EHPS. I completed my first 100miles in a day ride at Wincanton. Fortunately husband, Tom, got the endurance bug too and became willing driver, crew and general dogsbody.

Sadly Bannow’s action proved his undoing and after a few years together he developed arthritis, which put an end to his career. He had a happy retirement, hacking out gently. When he died, his last owner wrote a lovely obituary.

DINMOR DOUGALL SUMMER SOLSTICE 2006

found this black foal in a puddle. Tom carried him into the stable and he thrived. Dougall is the Celtic word for dark stranger and that seemed to be an appropriate name for him.

When he was born, the thought that he would ever do endurance was far from my mind. However, by the time Bannow went lame, Dougall was 4 years

Endurance riding is a great sport and 25 years competing has been wonderful but too short DINMOR DOUGALL ARRIVES

During this time we had bred a little horse called Dinmor Dougall. He is a cross between a Polish warmblood and a coloured vanner.

He was born on a dark stormy night.

We went out to check the mare and 18

BANNOW BAY, 1991

Official members publication for Endurance GB

old and being ridden regularly. I was stuck for a horse and decided to try out Dougall. He took to this discipline with no problem and soon became a very fit and sound endurance horse.

One of his plus points is that he has a slow heart rate and very quick cardiac rate recovery.

Once again we bonded. We went on to

MARY KORN

compete in many rides and he completed just under 4,000 kilometres before his retirement.

Among our highlights were successful rides at Alfred’s Tower, Cirencester, Red Dragon and our greatest excitement was winning the Golden Horseshoe in 2004.

At the age of 14 he seemed to lose his enthusiasm for competing and I decided it was time for him to retire. He now lives not far away from us and is happy to hack out regularly.

other. I am grateful to all those who have given their time organising rides and all the helpers, also to those who have crewed for me and spurred me on me to achieve my goals.

Most of all I want to thank all the riders who rode with me, who encouraged me and who unselfishly helped me when I got into difficulties.

I am very grateful to Topspec who sponsored me through thick and thin.

They did not give up on me even when I

was out of riding for 18 months due to a broken leg. Their confidence in me was great encouragement to get better and be back in the saddle and their products have kept my horses supremely fit.

Endurance riding is a great sport and 25 years competing has been wonderful but too short. I am sad that it has ended for me, but I have many happy memories and I wish good fortune to all those still involved and especially to those who are just starting.

INTRODUCING MISTER MYLO

Once again I was looking for a competition horse. Enter Mister Mylo.

He is best described as an Irish sport horse of uncertain ancestry. I liked the look of this coloured horse and I bought him with the idea of using him for hunting.

Dougall is the Celtic word for dark stranger and that seemed to be an appropriate name for him.

Unfortunately, on the day he arrived I had an accident on Dougall when he was forced against a wall by a passing car.

My leg was badly broken and I was out of riding for eighteen months.

When I was back in the saddle, Mylo and I started to get fit together and we were soon into the endurance scene again.

We had a lot of fun together, successfully completing many 2 day 160km rides and also representing Wales in the home internationals. With the three horses I think it was eight times. Mylo is a star and he helped me to eventually win the Spirit of Lindum after trying to do so seven times.

Now that my endurance days have ended, he is still looking for a rider to compete with him and in the meantime he hunts with the Anglesey Drag Hounds where he is called ‘smiler’ because that’s what he does. He also jumps and does some dressage, which is not his favourite occupation. He shares his paddock with one of our home-bred Connemaras and he is definitely the boss.

During 25 years in endurance riding I have met many fabulous people and made wonderful friends. I have learned that in this sport we all support each

MISTER MYLO AND MARY COMPETING AT ULLSWATER IN 2012 PHOTO FROM WEST END PHOTOGRAPHY

Endurance Mar/Apr 2017

19

EQUIPMENT

TRYING OUT THE VIEW RANGER Well that took the stress out of the day…!

Says Mia Tobitt……

I

crewed quite a lot several years ago, and remember the thrill of chasing your rider around, the anticipation, excitement and those long and often boring waits where you daren’t nip off to get a cuppa or for a call of nature as your rider will no doubt appear just then if you do.

But last year I agreed to crew a rider for her first 38km GER, and Lindsay (Robinson) introduced me to a whole new way of doing things.

Before the big day I downloaded the free ‘ViewRanger’ app and plugged in Lindsay’s email address and was amazed to find it pinged exactly where she was on a satellite image/map (she also has the app on her phone). I did so with some reservations as to how useful it would be, after all I had calculated her speeds and knew what times she needed to make each crew point by to make her target finish time, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to have if she didn’t show up as expected. At least I could look and see if she was still moving or know where to send the emergency services in the worst case scenario.

On the day of the ride, I got there first, but I was able to ping her on ViewRanger to see how far out she was without calling and distracting her whilst she was driving.

There was time for a little window shopping before she arrived, bonus!

20

Once the ride started I found the signal was a little patchy in places and the app doesn’t work without network availability, but even in Kings Forest if I just wandered about a little bit and got the tiniest bit of signal it was enough to get Lindsay’s ping.

Once I realized how accurate it was and felt happier to rely on it I even went and parked up in a nice shady area half a mile from the busy crew point to read my book, drink tea and nibble my snacks as I could see that she was miles out and I had loads of time to make it to the crew point, which also meant leaving more room for the racing crews to get in and out without falling over me waiting aimlessly. I could use it to help me locate crew points then just show up, set up, crew and leave knowing exactly when she needed me there which made it a very relaxing day for me.

I would definitely use ViewRanger for crewing again. It was just nice to know where the riders were, but also I think it’s a great idea for anyone who rides alone a lot at home. let’s face it, things can go wrong for even the best riders and it’s nice to know people can find you if it does. I don’t know how to use all its functions, but you can buy different types of maps for it (OS land ranger and explorer included) and log and track your routes to pull up at a later date or share with other people and it’s pretty simple to use.

Official members publication for Endurance GB

Certification Mark

Suitable for equines prone to gastric ulcers as part of a balanced diet

Our Healthy Tummy will give everyone a spring in their step

For the answer to ALL your equine feeding queries talk to a Dengie nutritionist today: DENGIE FEEDLINE: 0845 345 5115* • DENGIE ONLINE: DENGIE.COM *

Calls cost 2p per minute from a landline and 2.5p per minute from a mobile plus your phone company’s access charge.

PROFILE

EGB SUPREME Judy Holloway, shares some of her history and endurance ethos with Cindy Russell

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN ENDURANCE AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE SPORT?

I first got involved as a crew. I had always thought of Endurance as a sedate sport, walking and trotting around for hours.

Watching from a crewing point I thought it looked far more exciting and much faster than I had imagined and I also enjoyed the care of the horses involved.

I was given the chance to ride at a few events, got hooked, and in 1995 was the Riding Club Endurance Champion representing the East Cornwall RC. So in effect I have been in the sport since then.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO GET OUT TO TRAIN?

I am quite a self-motivated person and had always been told if it was a job worth doing, it was worth doing well. I also firmly believe if you want to succeed, the groundwork has to be done to enable your horse to cope with the requirements placed upon them in competition. It is also rewarding, the bond you develop with them and the mutual trust. On a lighter note it’s ‘the feel

CHAMPION

good factor’ when you come home from a lovely ride and relate all to a long suffering Hubby!

HOW MANY HORSES DO YOU HAVE AND HOW MANY ARE COMPETING?

We have a small stud with the aim of producing riding horses, hopefully endurance horses, for the future. Our stallion, Psaracen, is 56% Crabbet and also has Ben Rabba (which most of our horses have in their parentage) in his bloodlines, Harry, as he is known, is producing stock that will mature 15hh plus and they also have his wonderful temperament. So we do in fact have horses ranging in ages from a yearling, to my 23 year old former endurance horse, Bowdell Diplomat; it’s his job to look after youngsters now.

Hopefully, I will be competing two horses this season, Aurontes, and the first horse we bred, Nuraletta, she completed her first season last year, with the possibility of bring out one of the youngsters I am in the process of now backing.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED IN RIDING?

When as a family, we moved from the Lickey Hills near Bromsgrove, where I was born, to Kent onto the Romney Marsh for a couple of years. I was fortunate to meet and work for Mrs Beatrice Paine, at her Bowdell Stud. I had always been besotted with horses and this was my first job. Her stud groom taught me to ride and instilled into me the basis of my knowledge today.

When we moved to the West Country ‘Mrs P’ and I always kept in touch and in the 80’s we used to visit her most summers for our holidays. It was on one of those visits when she gave me the 3yr old un-broken gelding Bowdell Diplomat, Dippo was a grandson of Ben Rabba and together we had a wonderful career doing things I never

Judy Holloway stands Psaracen at stud. Harry to his friends, was bred by Bychan Arabians.

Sired by Psynergy out of Miss Aukubra, her sire was Aurabba who was by Ben Rabba.

Miss Aukubra’s dam, Bint Nefertiti, was by Aurelian, a Ben Rabba son.

Aurelian was the sire of Aurontes and most of Judy’s stock have Ben Rabba somewhere in their breeding.

Before Judy bought Psaracen, he had done a lot of showing in hand with perhaps his best being BAHPAC Champion in 2007.

He has the most wonderful temperament , which he passes onto his offspring.

22

Official members publication for Endurance GB

PROFILE

rides I would like to do, never make firm plans as horses sometimes have other ideas, then remember we do it for fun. So we go to rides, meet up with old friends and you always make new friends as you ride along.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OTHERS?

!

A SELECTION OF THE AWARDS COLLECTED IN 2016

thought I could achieve; 160k in a day and getting a Gold at the Golden Horseshoe Ride in both the Stag and the Horseshoe, this amongst many other achievements.

WHY ENDURANCE?

Over the years I had been very active within the riding club and competed in various events but with the horse I had at that time (I had broken and schooled myself) excelled at dressage and to that end I affiliated her and we progressed to elementary level before I lost her through colic. The rest is as first question.

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP AND WHAT WERE YOUR CAREER ASPIRATIONS?

I grew up on the Lickey Hills near Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.

When I was younger I worked with horses at various studs. Latterly I have worked as a domestic cleaner and still work a couple of days a week and of course we work with the horses at home as well as selling horse haylage which we grow on the farm.

My school reports always said ”if only she could think of something other than horses!”

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT?

Well, Woody becoming national champion, which was beyond my wildest dreams!

I had wanted him at some stage to finish in the top six , but to finish top! I still have to pinch myself! Also I think when you breakin and train your own horse then finally get to compete with some success, it is very rewarding.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT?

Perhaps not being 10 years younger to enjoy the young horses we have bred!

WHAT ARE YOUR AIMS FOR THE COMING SEASON?

Firstly that my horses, my husband and crew, VJ, and myself stay fit and well. I pencil in

I think with any horse and especially a young enthusiastic one, it’s easy to do too much too soon. With the horses I have introduced to endurance they have all had time to become established at one level before they take the next step up and as we progress up the ladder I have always worked on the basis that when they have done a bigger distance I will for their next ride just do a 32km so they can enjoy themselves.

We must remember that hopefully we will have our willing equine partner for many years, so sometimes patience is a virtue!

Lastly the horse never knows if they have passed or failed all they know is we are pleased with them so no matter how disappointed I am I always give the horse a big hug and a kiss before I thank my crew (Husband)!!

OTHER THINGS!

Aurontes was bred by ‘Mrs P’. He came to us as a yearling and we were going to sell him for her the following year but we bought him instead.

I backed him as a four year old but he didn’t compete until he was 6yrs.

Also without the support and help of VJ, Woody and I could not have achieved our success. He, along with Duke (the dog and Woody’s training partner and ‘safety blanket’) are a vital part of the team, thank you.

Endurance is without doubt the friendliest sport I have ever taken part in, crews will help other riders and riders also assist each other with help and advice. I have made many good friends through endurance and hopefully will make many more.

WHERE DO YOU KEEP THE HORSES?

We keep the horses on the farm and I love being able to look out of the kitchen window (on the rare occasion I am cooking!) to see the horses in front of me.

LONGEST DISTANCE RIDDEN?

I have done 160k in a day with Bowdell Diplomat, and Aurontes has done a number of 160k 2 day rides, but I suppose longest is Royalties 3 day 170k, but unfortunately we were vetted out lame at the end.

JUDY WITH AURONTES PHOTO COURTESY OF WEST END PHOTOGRAPHY

Endurance Mar/Apr 2017

23

TRANSPORT

THE BEST WAY TO TRAVEL WITH HORSES

A

s prey animals horses are naturally claustrophobic, and since most traditional horse trailers have a rear ramp with narrow stalls and a dark interior, resistance when loading is not surprising when every instinct is telling your horse to avoid dark and enclosed spaces.

Equally, bad experiences when loading or on previous journeys can leave a lasting impression. Thankfully there are many things that can be done to help reduce the stress and risk when it comes to travelling your horse.

Preparation and practice is essential: allow yourself plenty of time and never attempt to load a horse when you are in a hurry.

Look closely at the type of transporter you are using, and make the loading environment as appealing to the horse as possible. Also, if the horse is not relaxed and comfortable when in transit, it may cause some horses to not want to load again.

If you are loading a horse for the first time, ensure the partition arrangement is as inviting for the horse as possible by creating the maximum amount of light and space inside the vehicle itself. This is most easily achieved using a side-loading vehicle where the partition swings open fully whilst you are loading, and is part of the reason why the Blue Cross chose the Equi-Trek Space-Treka trailer: “The Equi-Trek trailer is an ideal solution for us” says Robert Webb-Bowen, Director of Equine Welfare at the Blue Cross, “these are very beneficial features when faced with transporting stressed or very ill equines”.

If you only have access to a rear loading trailer you can remove the partition to increase your horses confidence whilst

loading, however for safety reasons you must never travel a horse without a partition. Instead give your horse more room by selecting a vehicle with a fully adjustable partition to allow them to spread their feet apart or stand at an angle in order to balance themselves.

Opt for a full height ramp which provides a shallow and more inviting ramp angle whilst ensuring there is not too greater step onto the ramp itself. In addition ramp safety doors on either side of the ramp will help to guide the horse up the ramp and into the vehicle, thus preventing them from stepping off the side of the ramp and reducing the possibility of injury.

Side-loading trailers or horseboxes with low, wide ramps and windows all around increase the feeling of internal space. This helps to make loading easier and safer as the horse is encouraged to enter a space that is light and airy, with less feeling of confinement.

A side-ramp which is situated on the offside of the vehicle when the horse is travelling backwards is preferable because it ensures the handler remains between the horse and the exit at all times. This reduces the risk of being trapped in a confined area with a horse that is nervous or excited. Also as most horses are more accustomed to being led from the left side, it will help to instill greater confidence in the horse and handler when loading. Unloading the horse is made easier because the horse exits the trailer by walking forwards down the wide ramp, eliminating the need to turn in a tight space.

Internal configurations can vary greatly and will have a significant effect on your horses willingness to load. Many horse trailers

still travel horses facing forward, however research published by the Veterinary Record into the effects of transporting horses forwards or backwards have shown this to be significantly more stressful than travelling rear facing. This is because when the brakes are applied when forward facing, the weight of the horse is thrust forwards causing them to constantly brace to remain in balance, or else risk injury to the vulnerable head and neck areas.

Conversely in a rear facing vehicle, the horse can balance naturally, adjust easily to changes in direction and speed and on deceleration they can comfortably rest their hindquarters on the bulkhead. This makes travelling significantly more comfortable and less physically demanding on your horse by reducing the effort required to balance. Most larger horseboxes and some trailers are stalled in a herringbone fashion, but it is again important to ensure that the stalls are positioned so the horse is slightly facing towards the rear of the vehicle in order to aid their natural balance.

Ensure that your horse has sufficient space when travelling, and if you have an adjustable partition (as is available across the entire Equi-Trek range) use it to allow your horse room to adjust himself on the journey. Unfortunately most rear loading trailers do not currently offer the facility to adjust stall size, but travelling a large horse in a confined space will almost certainly lead to increased stress on the horse.

One of the biggest causes of horses becoming unsettled whilst in transit is down to poor ventilation and consequently overheating. As well as ensuring all the windows are open, fitting a good quality ventilation system such as the Flettner 2000 Roof Ventilator will extract excess heat from your horsebox in warmer weather as well as removing moisture and unpleasant odours.

To provide a comfortable journey, ensure your horsebox or trailer is of solid and sound construction, with an aluminum floor covered in a good quality, nonslip rubber flooring, and a ramp with a durable rubber surface. Suspension is very important and even more so when travelling livestock. The independent swinging arm suspension on Equi-Trek trailers was specifically selected over the old fashioned leaf spring suspension for its smooth and quiet ride quality as well as its exceptional stability.

It is essential to tie your horse up securely on a relatively short lead rope whilst in transit. Avoid the use of bailer twine which

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Official members publication for Endurance GB

TRANSPORT may break resulting in a loose horse who is more likely to panic by trying to turn or escape the vehicle whilst in transit.

Avoid horsebox conversions which may have a window between the cab and horse area. Not only is this extremely dangerous should your horse kick out whilst you’re travelling, it also poses a distraction to the driver who might be tempted to look behind them rather than at the road ahead.

Instead opt for a dashboard mounted camera system which offers a much safer means of monitoring your horse whilst you are travelling.

Unfortunately accidents can happen, and in some cases spooked horses may panic and decide to climb or jump over the breast bar.

To discourage such incidents, never leave the rear door or jockey door open when you have horses on board. However should such an event occur, the Collapsible Breast Bar System which is fitted as standard on

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Official members publication for Endurance GB

all Equi-Trek models has an external release system which means that the breast bar can be dropped to the floor without having to enter the vehicle and risk further injury.

Once your horse is loading happily, move onto short journeys and remember that the abilities of the driver can make or break a good traveler. Think about the ride for the horse and take extra care when accelerating, changing gears and braking – do it as smoothly as possible to minimise discomfort to your horse. Remember, your horse can’t see where you’re going and will be sensitive to sudden, jerky movements. You might find is useful to imagine you have a glass of water balanced on your dashboard and the aim is not to spill any of the water through smoother and more gradual manoeuvring.

Plan ahead and leave yourself plenty of time so that both you and your horse are happy to travel and arrive your destination feeling comfortable and relaxed.

Tom Janion, managing director Equi-Trek Limited, founded the horsebox and trailer company alongside his father Raymond in 1999.

The company set out to improve the traditional style of trailer which it felt lacked the sophistication, safety and accommodation required by today’s modern equestrian. They designed the unique side-loading horse trailer which benefits the horse in every way and also provides high levels of owner’s accommodation. Equi-Trek are now the largest producer of horseboxes and trailers in the UK and the only British company to manufacture a complete range of horse transport from lightweight, towable trailers up to 26 tonne motorised horseboxes for over 10 horses.

HEALTH

WHAT TO DO AFTER A THERMAL SCAN FOR LASTING RESULTS By Diana Robinson

W

hat is to be done after a Thermal Scan? All professionals have their own ways of presenting, dealing with, and interpreting the facts - all owners have the same choices. Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

No statement could be more inspiring to motivate us and ensure that we educate ourselves for the benefit of our horses or those in our care.

The equine body is a very complex entity.

Trillions and trillions of separate cells all battling to be brought together to provide harmonious communication within the outer covering, the skin. This, the largest organ of the body, is also a truly fascinating and complex structure, it tells the story of the living world within. Thermal imaging captures the story from the temperature changes reflected on the skin, it being the universe that echoes the condition of the living world within and indicates the areas that need closer examination. This is where it becomes more complex for the horse is a master at compensation. A miracle in creation, or its own worst enemy, one may ask.

Perfect health, or as close as one can get, I believe, starts with solid foundations. Skeletal symmetry. This has become more apparent to me not only with my own horses but with the many hundreds I have scanned.

Maximum mobility can only be achieved when all the working parts of the skeleton are unified and in the correct position. Minute ‘subluxation’ of any joint can cause mayhem to this inner world without us knowing.

A horse can compensate to alleviate this discomfort for years until the knock-on effect is too difficult for it to deal with any longer.

Then we know! It shows in the varying

forms of behavioural changes or a series of progressive evasions or other forms of ill health.

A few examples of this are: a thermal image may reveal inflammation all the way down the Thoracic spine and over one shoulder.

This is the knock-on effect, the whole thoracic spine and shoulder did not need adjustment, only 2 vertebrae and a rib were slightly ‘out’, but of course there was tension in the series of associated muscles, tendons and ligaments involved and placed stress on the opposite hindquarter to the shoulder that showed stress.

A group one racehorse I scanned was found to have 9 skeletal subluxations upon scanning. He was still racing but his results were getting more disappointing. After all points had been adjusted, followed by a few physio sessions, he went on to win again.

An FEI Endurance champion, still racing, being placed and into his 5th season of competitive Endurance racing was being plagued with undiagnosed ‘iffy’ lameness from time to time. I was asked to scan at the venue staging the FEI race. I scanned him twice. The first time, the day before the race 6 hours after he was off loaded and again when he hobbled in after the first leg. The scans revealed nothing major before the race.

In discussion with the FEI Vet we established no definite diagnosis from the first scan.

We were flummoxed, he had scanned and X-rayed the leg previously and had found no arthritic changes to the joints and no calcification of lateral cartilages either. He was vetted sound. After a couple of hours of rest, I scanned him again and we discovered his weakness lay in a subluxated coffin joint which only terrorized him over certain terrain and it was that terrain he had raced on earlier.

From this experience, I learned to look for the simple before the complex! Subluxations can be misleading and confusing, it thus becomes a combined effort of investigative procedures to relieve the horse of the physical angst it was experiencing, as we gratifyingly discovered.

The knock-on effect in his case had been subtle, the long process of deterioration and the war within had not moved to other parts yet, his fitness levels were excellent and his body was mostly supportive, but gradual deterioration

of the fetlock joint would have probably taken place.

By interpreting the reflection of the world within the skin, Thermography can establish the source/s and the knock- on effect/s and thus advise whom the horse should be referred to first. For Example, if the scan reveals the horse has a subluxation of the Pelvis, the lumbar spine may be involved too, the Thermographer would recommend the joints of the whole region be checked. In the case of the Endurance horse, all he needed was a simple Chiropractic adjustment to rectify the problem. If, however, there had been dramatic changes to the knee or fetlock in that one leg, showing minimal changes to the other after being disqualified, the Vet would have obviously investigated further.

When there is subluxation of joints with tension placed on muscle, ligaments and tendons, it is essential to have the adjustment followed by some form of muscular relief within 48 hours post adjustment, and a temporary change in the training program.

It is then advantageous to have the horse scanned 3 months later, this establishes that all adjustments have remained in place and/or the treatment has been effective. This should be indicated on the Thermal report, keeping the ultimate well-being of the horse as first prize. A dis-ease is never a disease of one individual part.

My personal regime is: Consider form to function first! Ensure skeletal alignment checks are done twice a year, ensure you have a conscientious farrier, that dentistry is done once a year, the horse has regular massage, nutritional requirements are professionally addressed, saddles and bridle are correctly fitted and comfortable for horse and rider, (an unbalanced or unfit rider plays havoc with a horses back) the horse has adequate rest, social life, shelter and warmth, has a carefully planned fitness regime that is varied and fun, (yes, horses do like to think!) but perhaps the most important: be observant, fine tune yourself to your horse for a harmonious relationship where all secrets are shared and you, as his rider, are as fit as he or she is! I always recommend that horse owners engage in good home courses, particularly engaging in passive stretching and simple massage techniques to use on their own horses/s, it can save one fortunes, but better still, it develops an incredible bond between you.

Equine Thermographer, Equine Muscle Massage Therapist, KT Therapist and Equine Behaviour Specialist.

Web: www.hallmarkequestrian.com Email: diana@hallmarksvcs.co.uk Phone: 07506540760 Endurance Mar/Apr 2017

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BIOMECHANICS

EQUINE ENERGETICS AND LOCOMOTION – WHAT ARE THE LIMITS?

By Dr Martin Moore

M

ost of what we know about the science of sport horse energetics and locomotion has come from studies between the 1980’s and 2000’s.

All bipedal and quadrupedal mammals (and many reptiles and birds) exhibit similar patterns of energetics and locomotion when covering the ground. Gaits change as speed increases/decreases, e.g. walk to run in humans, and walk to trot to (lope to) canter/gallop in horses, and are triggered by internal signals to maximise locomotive stability and optimise energy expenditure.

As a human, you, the reader, can experience this on a gymnasium treadmill.

Increase the treadmill speed from a brisk walk at about 5kph to between 6 and 7kph, but stay in walk. After 1 minute at that speed of walk note your Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE). Take a 1 minute break then repeat, but in this case, break into a jog at the same point between 6 and 7kph. After 1 minute of that jog note your RPE. You should find it

lower than when you forced a walk.

The speeds at which gaits change depend on “athleticism” and breeding of the individual animal, by ground conditions including incline/decline, by “fight or flight” responses, by weight burden and, in the case of a horse, by rider signals and training, such as collected and extended strides, etc. As a guide, gait transition speeds in horses occur, naturally, in the ranges: Walk Trot @ 5.5 to 8.5kph Trot Gallop @ 16 to 22kph (decreased by ~2kph on a 10% incline) Locomotion in all animals is energetically expensive, requiring high metabolic energy inputs which rise rapidly with increasing speed. Metabolic energy production is maintained at rest and quite high levels of exercise by the same process. Nutrients (from food) in tissues is “burned” with Oxygen carried by blood circulation to produce Carbon Dioxide and water, removed

“downstream” in blood circulation by gas exchange in the lungs and excreted as sweat and urine.

This is called the Aerobic Energy Supply.

It is limited by the limits of heart rate and respiration rate. Maximum rates of oxygen demand for Aerobic Energy vary in animals from 4 to >50 times resting levels. A comparison of the physiological demands of Aerobic Energy Supply for horse and human is shown in Table 1.

The ability of the Aerobic Energy Supply to satisfy locomotive energy demand in horses as distance and speed increase is further restricted because a decreasing proportion of the total energy is converted to forward locomotion of the horse, as shown in Figure 1. There comes a point at which the efficiency of the locomotive energy conversion causes the Aerobic Energy Supply to be insufficient to support increasing speed.

When energy demand exceeds the Aerobic Energy Supply, Anaerobic Energy Supply mechanisms are triggered.

Table 1. Physiological Parameters of Aerobic Energy Demands in Horses and Humans

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ANIMAL - ACTIVITY

HEART RATE, BPM

STROKE VOLUME, L

RESPIRATORY RATE, L/MIN

OXYGEN DEMAND, ML O2/KG/MIN

HORSE AT REST

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1.0

30

2-4

HORSE – INTENSIVE EXERCISE (E.G. @44KPH)

210-250

1.7

240-425

60-200

HUMAN – AT REST

45

0.1

4.5

4

HUMAN – INTENSIVE EXERCISE

190-200

0.2

8-40

50-90

Official members publication for Endurance GB

BIOMECHANICS

Figure 1. Total Aerobic Energy cost (dashed line) and for Locomotion (solid line) vs Speed

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AEROBIC ENERGY COST - J/KG/M

25

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15

10

5

0 10

20

30

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SPEED - KPH

Anaerobic Energy Supply mechanisms do not use oxygen and they can be activated very quickly. These mechanisms utilise intraand extra-muscular glucose and glycogen, breaking them down into lactic acid. There are about 45kg of this “fuel” stored in a healthy and fit 450kg horse; but, once it is used it cannot be immediately replenished, and the damaging lactic acid by-product must be excreted from muscle tissue.

The Anaerobic Energy Supply is the natural “energy of last resort” for prey and predator animals to achieve successful “flight” or “a kill”. However, for sport horses Anaerobic Energy becomes important at high locomotive speeds. The average muscle glycogen utilisation from studies on a range of horses demonstrate that the “AerobicAnaerobic Threshold“ is crossed at about 40kph, as shown in Figure 2.

Data for Aerobic and Anaerobic Energy demands in horses provide a scheme for “partitioning” and illustrating energy utilisation during sport-related exercise, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Energy Usage

¢ Aerobic Energy ¢ Anaerobic Energy 100% 90%

These illustrations are indicative and should not be relied upon to represent the actual speeds and partitioning of energy utilisation in modern competition or for any particular horse. The record speed for a thoroughbred racehorse over 400m is 71kph, at which a very small part of locomotive energy could be supplied aerobically. And, over even shorter distances speeds of 88kph have been recorded, and a distance of 7km has been covered at a 40kph gallop, close to the nominal anaerobic threshold.

In endurance competition we are also seeing distances (loops) of 20km being covered at speeds just below the anaerobic threshold; in achieving this, the partitioning, as above, would be much more weighted to anaerobic energy utilisation, perhaps coming close to exhausting the horse’s anaerobic fuel store. A theoretical upper limit estimate of the distance the “average” sport horse might be able to cover relying on anaerobic energy “fuel” as a function of speed and the average data for measured “records” are shown in Figure 4.

The theoretical estimates must be regarded as the absolute upper limits for long distances. They assume high energy conversion efficiency, ideal and flat going, and that data from short distances will apply over much greater distances. However, these estimates suggest the energetic speed limit for a 100km endurance (race) ride would be about 37kph. This is a possibility that needs further examination with regard to specific endurance horse preparation and training regimes for the high speed endurance competition. Perhaps more important, is consideration of the mechanics of musculoskeletal impacts with increasing speed and distance, the singular and repetitive forces on equine athlete muscle and bone.

Figure 4. Theoretical (solid line) & Observed (dashed line) Distance-speed Energetic limits

80% 70%

1000

60%

30%

1000

20% 750

10%

SPEED - KPH

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endur ance ure ha cking

se y cour

flat ra ce

flat ra ce

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1.6km

please

50

80km

40

cross c ountr

30

1km fl

g flat ra ce

0

400m

umpin

250

at race

0%

500

Show j

ANAEROBIC ENERGY COST - J/KG/M

40%

DISTANCE EQUIVALENT ANAEROBIC ENERGY STORE - KM

50%

Figure 2. Anaerobic Energy Cost vs Speed

100

10

1

0.1

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 SPEED - KPH

Endurance Mar/Apr 2017

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EQUIPMENT

SADDLING UP – AT LAST! Finding the right saddle can be a huge challenge, as Nicky Moffatt discovered earlier this year with her extra wide Welsh Cob. Here, she shares her story and advice for others in a similar situation.

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hree years ago, a friend and I rescued a Welsh section D, who was left in a field, deemed as being ‘not good enough for the show ring’. I fell in love with Beauty immediately and set to work to transform her from a thin, gangly three year old into (hopefully) a nice all-rounder. And so far, she hasn’t let me down.

What I didn’t bargain for was her incredible change in shape when she began to ‘blossom’. As Beauty put on condition, she became wider and wider, to the point where my beloved wide Albion saddle no longer fitted her.

I set about looking for a new saddle, asking for advice on forums and talking to various experts along the way. Of course, as is always the case when you seek advice, you receive 100 different answers from 100 different people and before long I became overwhelmed.

It didn’t help that my budget was somewhat limited so I was looking for the impossible, I just didn’t realise it at the time.

MAKING SENSE OF IT ALL

THE COMFORT CADENCE MONOFLAP DRESSAGE SADDLE

THE ROAD TO NOWHERE

I put out a request on social media. ‘Seeking extra wide dressage saddle for my flat-backed cob’. I was inundated with photos of saddles that looked hopeful, so I spent the next few weeks driving to pick up a variety of makes to try on Beauty, only to return them the next day. They were mostly too narrow and the only one that was wide enough moved all over the place when I rode in it.

A month later, during which time the pony and I were getting fatter and more unfit, I decided I had exhausted this route and that the sensible thing to do would be to call out a saddle fitter who had a whole range of saddles I could try. I spoke to a lovely lady who assured me she had several so she came out to see us, armed with potential purchases.

I ended up buying a saddle, despite the fact I wasn’t very keen on it. I think it was more out of desperation than anything else.

In my humble opinion, it sat on her, rather than around her, and I felt more like I was on a boat than riding a pony!

The saddle fitter was incredibly helpful and kind and took the saddle back, giving me a full refund. She also said she would keep an eye out for something suitable.

However, by this point, I was seriously starting to consider bareback pads, simply riding bareback or following an in-hand showing career. It appeared there wasn’t a saddle in the world within my budget that would fit Beauty!

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SCHOOLING IS FUN AGAIN!

I CAN HACK OUT FOR HOURS AND STILL BE COMFORTABLE.

Official members publication for Endurance GB

After spending the next few weeks drowning my sorrows by eating too much chocolate and drinking too much wine, I did some online research. It’s amazing what you can find when you Google ‘saddles for hippopotamuses’!

Joking aside, I came across The Saddle Exchange Saddling Solutions and checked out their stunning range of saddles, which were completely out of my budget.

However, reading more about their products, I knew they would have a saddle to fit Beauty. I went to bed that night thinking long and hard about my options.

The truth was, I had already spent over £100, not including all the fuel driving back and forth to pick up saddles and boxes of chocolates I’d bought to say thank you to people for letting me try their saddles, yet I was still without one.

Option number one: I can continue down the same route and try lots more saddles, in the hope one will fit eventually. However, I had already tried most of the well-known makes on the market and even the extra extra wide ones weren’t the right fit. This wasn’t an appealing option for me.

Option number two: I could do in-hand showing with Beauty or buy a carriage and drive her. Neither of these options were very appealing either.

Option number three: I could find the money from somewhere and buy the right saddle. After all, it would last me years – my pony’s lifetime maybe – and then I would be able ride again, so that’s what I decided to do.

THE RIGHT RESULT

I called Gini from Saddle Exchange Saddling Solutions the next day and told her all about my dilemma. Gini was incredibly helpful and said she would come out in two days time to see Beauty. That just about gave me time to sort out some funds with the bank, too.

Looking on the company’s website, I was keen to try the Comfort Elite Cadence Mono-Flap Dressage Saddle because I loved the look of it and from what I could tell, it would be great for Beauty, too. Plus, a mono-flap would mean no extra bulk added to an already wide pony and a short rider.

The second the saddle went on Beauty’s back, I knew it was the one. I felt this immense sense of relief and actually, by this point, a little close to tears.

Since buying the saddle, I haven’t looked back. If you’re wondering what’s so great about it, there are several things. Firstly, it

EQUIPMENT sits still on her back and doesn’t rock, like most of the other saddles I tried. Secondly, it sits well clear of Beauty’s shoulder and her lateral work has suddenly improved no end.

Thirdly, it’s probably the most comfortable saddle I have ever sat in! I just love it and am so happy to have a solution at last.

ENDURANCE MATTERS

Saddle Exchange Saddling Solutions don’t only make saddles for extra wide cobs like mine, though. Despite being a relatively new company, they have all shapes and sizes.

Gini tells me she sells many saddles to endurance riders and I can see why, after riding in one. There is no expense spared when it comes to rider comfort and my cob seems pretty happy in it, too.

Unlike the tough crowd of endurance folk out there, I only ride for 45 minutes four times a week (oh and we go for an hour’s hack at the weekend). However, rewind six or seven years and I took part in the Golden Horseshoe Ride on Exmoor, completing 25 miles on Nic Wigley’s mare Zara one year and 50 miles on Nikki Routledge’s mare Mimi two years later.

That’s pretty tame compared to those completing several rides a year, but I did realise the importance of having a comfortable saddle when going those distances.

Fortunately, I was well looked after on both rides and any aches and pains were due to my lack of fitness, rather than saddle discomfort.

And now, if for any reason Beauty and I take up endurance riding instead of dressage, we are happily kitted out for a change of discipline, too.

YOU CAN EVEN ADD A BIT OF BLING!

HELPFUL HINTS The whole experience has been a big learning curve for me and while many horse owners are lucky enough to find standard sized saddles to fit their horses, I would urge those who can’t to learn from my experience.

HAPPY RIDER; HAPPY HORSE

Save yourself hassle and wasted money by contacting a company that makes specialist saddles for the type of horse you need to fit.

It’s not just about the width or length of the saddle, but also the shape of the tree is essential, too.

Be prepared to up your budget if necessary. I spent a lot more on a saddle than I originally set out to, but I now have one that will last me years and I can ride again.

Trust your gut instinct. Don’t buy a saddle you don’t like, as I originally did. If you’re unsure, say no and try a different source.

THE SADDLE FITS BEAUTY PERFECTLY.

PARA PART 2

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE - PART 2

Continuing the story of Rebecca Northover's journey in Endurance

T

hen Kal had a few hiccups with field injuries caused by other horses, a kick caused a minor fracture to his stifle. It was just one of those field accidents when playing - so a lot of box rest and rehab later he went back out in the field for him to get kicked in the knee and need an operation to remove a 50p sized bone fragment.

More rehab! So that was half of 2014 and 2015 out of action. This was along with nearly losing Zeus to Atypical Myopathy in the Autumn of 2014 and sitting with him for many nights monitoring drips etc until he was well enough to travel the 6 miles to the vets for several days as an inpatient. I was then rehabbing what looked like an RSPCA case horse, but he came back over the winter nearly as fast as he’d gone downhill.

I carried on competing Zeus who was really loving the sport. He is a handful at events, and I try to be on the ground with him as short a time as possible as I’m better off controlling him from the saddle.

In 2016 I joined a programme called Leg Up For Talent (LUFT), which is a social

THE MIGHTY ZEUS!

media based sponsorship/PR opportunity. I got my first sponsor, Suz Crichton-Stuart of a Holistic Solution who does Equine Touch therapy and has really helped Kal with muscle building and recovery from his strenuous events, then Aganippe Transport and Services and T3 Alva products (grooming products) came on board and are benefitting from the access to over 50,000 equestrians in the South East that the LUFT programme offers them with weekly lifestyle posts from myself.

Recently I have signed two new sponsors who I am proud also to be working with, StreamZ Global who provide a revolutionary magnetic therapy system called, EquiStreamZ, DogStreamZ and YouStreamz, I have certainly seen the benefit these products are having already and it’s early days. Zeus is no longer having to wear bandages when stabled at night as his legs no longer fill and my left, regularly dislocating ankle, looks more normal than the swollen blob it was.

Also a huge thanks must go to Horizon mobility for sponsoring me a very expensive off road scooter so that I can get about at venues.

This will mean I will be able to visit Kal in the corrals, get to the secretary, attend awards ceremonies and of course visit my pals around the venue. Really looking forward to being mobile this season.

2016 was another high/low season. All started well but after 40km at Poplar Park, Zeus pulled up slightly lame, a rarity in such a strong stoical horse. He seemed ok though and I had an 80k to ride on Kal the next day. The thought of riding 120km over 2 days was daunting enough only to find the course was riding very long and both horses are such opposites to ride.

But somehow I survived and although Zeus was vetted out I rode over 120km. Back home and I got the vet out to Zeus, not very lame, not sore to touch so scan next week. It turned out what the vets had previously thought were windgalls were in fact thickened Annular ligaments and it would require surgery. This was a difficult decision in an older horse and after much discussion with various vets and the insurance company agreeing to cover it, we went ahead with the surgery. It wasn’t straightforward, the op took longer than expected. I was watching from the viewing area. The ligament was very calcified and difficult to release, then recovery didn’t go as planned. Zeus took a long time to get up and once he did he had a tremor in his shoulder, then he got C-Diff and had to be in isolation and wouldn’t eat. I really thought I’d done the wrong thing but he has bounced back now thanks to being at a specialised rehab yard for 3 months on box rest. Zeus is progressing well with Liphook being pleased with last check up and scan so he has begun ridden walk work until his

PARA PART 2 next scan in March.

The rest of the season of 2016 with Kal was fabulous. We had fun with 3 days at Cirencester, several 2 day and 1 day 80kms and then Trilby Herriot and I somehow talked each other into going to Royalties for the 3 day 172km classes. We had ridden together a couple of times through the season and knew our horses got on well - wow what an experience that was. It ended up with me passing and gaining a second place, unfortunately for Trilby her horse failed the final vetting on day 3.

Kal’s now feeling rather well and is loving exploring from our new 5* yard near Horsham. Zeus is frustrated at only being allowed to walk for 35 mins a day (building by 5 min per week) but is grateful for finally being allowed out in the field with Kal, they had both missed each other. I am hoping that for 2017 Zeus will be able to do a few PRs and even maybe the odd GER. Kal and I are looking forward to possibly the GHS and at some point attempting a 2 day 160.

Highlight of 2016, Coming 2nd in the 172km class at Royalties with Kal. Highlight of endurance career - 1st 80km on Zeus, I was in tears of happiness just to prove the naysayers wrong and achieve it, I wasn’t sure myself I could do it!

Feeding regime - both boys are such opposites in everything including feed.

Zeus survives on Alfa chaff, micronised linseed and beet with salt and lo-salt for e-lytes, biotin and cortaflex for his joints. And I never have a weight issue whatever his workload.

Kal seems to suit endurance mix and conditioning cubes, a handful of Alfa before work and in his feeds with sugar beet and we are just adding stabilised rice bran to see if that will help maintain his weight as his workload

increases over the spring... his supplements are, salt, lo-salt, biotin, and glucosamine .

Both horses are fittened with lots of LSD (long slow distance) work, usually 4 days a week with 1 schooling or lunging session. I like trotting up long hills like the zig-zags at Box Hill on the north downs (which was part of the Olympic cycling route). I am looking to increase to 1 session of canter work per week if I can find somewhere suitable locally to the new yard. Most of my direct hacking has always been slow terrain but I am gradually exploring our new area and hopeful we might stumble across some good ground.

Funniest thing to happen in endurance - I caught up on track with a rider who after about 10 mins of riding together asked what the popping/cracking noises were, I replied oh it’s just my hips and knees popping in and out. Needless to say she turned a bit green and suggested I went on ahead.

Worst thing to happen (but also brought out the best in others!) - whilst in Norfolk at I think my 2nd or 3rd endurance ride we were only a few Km’s from the end, it had been raining all day and we’d come down a hill to a bridge that was washed down sand on top of metal.

Walking over the bridge Zeus’ legs went from under him and he fell, landing on me. There were several riders behind who helped me back on from a stump and made sure I was ok. I knew I’d dislocated my shoulder and that Zeus’ grazes were bleeding but we had to get back to the venue so I tucked my arm in my jacket like a sling and walked him back. My crew

helped me present to the vets straight away as I wanted Zeus’ wounds checking asap, no thought of the actual vetting procedure or what his HR might be. The vets declared him sound and helped to wash off his fairly minor grazes and passed him. I went to the secretary’s tent to ask for the riders who had assisted me to get a time allowance. The first aider was there and was concerned about my now blue/purple hand. I politely brushed him off making sure the secretary had the riders details before going back to check on Zeus and to use the side of the trailer to relocate my shoulder - just as the medic reappeared looking worried. Next thing I know there was a big yellow helicopter landing at the bottom of the venue field - all I could think was “they’ll cause an accident landing that here”, only for an orange jump-suited chap to come running over to me. I convinced him I wasn’t going for another helicopter ride and agreed (reluctantly) to go by land ambulance to the local ED to get checked over. The only issue was I had no money until later in the week, and only enough fuel to get Zeus home not to get crew to collect me from the hospital later as well and he was as broke as I was. These days I ride on a shoestring budget. The RO offered me cash if I wrote her a cheque, such a kind and trusting offer so I finally went with the land ambulance, but not until they had waited for the TS to work out we had got a G1. It turned out not only had I dislocated my shoulder (which I’d put back myself) but I’d cracked 4 lumbar vertebrae - the one question I’m always careful NEVER to ask a Dr is ‘when can I ride again?’. If they don’t stop you, you aren’t going against their advice. This experience really got me hooked into endurance as I’d never met such a lovely, helpful group of people in all my horse years.

SUCCESS AT THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE, WITH KAL (ON LEFT)

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RE-TRAINING RACEHORSES

Arabian History CHANGES CAREER Foaled: 2007 Sire: King Mambo Dam: Weekend in Seattle

By Claire Freeman

I

have owned Arabian History for 5 years now, I saw him for about 10 minutes, rode him out in company for half an hour and brought him home from Darley Re-homing (Now Godolphin) Newmarket the next day. He was a great big gangly 4 year old who had been bred in America, raced once at Nottingham in the 5.25 finished 5th ridden by Frankie Dettori and then had a knee problem……like a lot of racehorses. He had successful keyhole surgery on his knee and has not looked back.

My one stipulation on taking him on was that he must hack out on his own…….this is what I do, and he did!

I christened him Frankie which seemed appropriate, and hoped that I could stick on him as well as his namesake. We started work together as if he had just been backed. He couldn’t trot a circle without falling in or out!

So lots of very basic schooling wherever I could manage it – I have no proper school so corners of fields were pressed into use, I greatly believe in schooling whilst you are hacking out – they don’t get bored and nor do I! From first meeting Frankie he has an amazing temperament, he just tries to please…….can be a bit of a boy sometimes …….but no malice about him at all. I have really benefitted from him being professionally handled from birth, he was obviously taught the basic manners to prepare him for the sale ring etc., and then having flown the world he seems to take most things in his stride. Having said that you always have to let him know who is boss, as he has such a brain he would quite quickly take over!!

My thanks go to the skill of Jo Brisland at Godolphin rehoming who matched me to Frankie and offered all the support I might need in getting to know him, and to this day are still just at the end of the email.

competing in endurance. I am often amazed at how tough these thoroughbreds are. I have only ever had a problem if we have lost a shoe, and once poor chap he ran a flint into the sole of his foot, but with poulticing he was sound again in under a week. Fitness wise, I have never got to the bottom of him, and although we have only competed to 80k he has done some at amazing speeds.

Thoroughbreds who have raced are used to a routine and have usually become quite laid back regarding the atmosphere at a racecourse.

So when you arrive at an endurance event it is so quiet and peaceful they feel at home, and of course they are not primed up full of oats!!

To date Frankie lives out all summer on good

grazing – lots of clover – and half a bucket of more fibre. I still find it hard to believe how much work he achieves on so little, and still maintains condition.

A huge debt to my crew who are there with drinks and sloshes whatever the weather. Karen and Hilary Carr for their constant interest in our progress and so supportive. Ride organisers and stewards who must spend hours planning these events.

My thanks to Retraining of Racehorses and the Jockey Club who sponsor the RoR trophy for endurance which Frankie won last year. He also finished 7th in the senior championship for 2016, so possibly beat some good Arabs too!!

2013 We competed in 5 events at novice level, 4 grade 1, 1 grade 2 2014 Upgraded to open 4 events 3 grade 1, 1 grade 2 2015 At open level 7 events 5 grade 1, 1 completion, 1 fail.

2016 Upgraded to advanced level, 9 events, 6 grade 1, 1 grade 2, 2nd in a race and one fail.

I always turn Frankie away for 3 – 4 months through the winter, and start with 6 weeks walking in the new year.

Having got Frankie fit, I often think he is like a good racehorse, he doesn’t show me much at home, and I am left wondering ‘is he fit enough’ But at an event he seems to revel in the atmosphere and is just happy to get on with the job and see what’s round the next corner!

It would be so good to see more ex-racehorses 34

Official members publication for Endurance GB

CLAIRE FREEMAN AND ARABIAN HISTORY ENJOYING ENDURANCE. PHOTO COURTESY OF WEST END PHOTOGRPAHY

GROUPS

SOUTH WEST NEWS

T

he South West Group have been busy so far this season, we have held 2 well attended Training Days, the first in Cornwall in January with experienced endurance Vet, Ruth Varcoe, talking about how important correct hoof care is in the endurance horse.

Nicky Sherry gave an excellent informative talk on what inspires her with crewing tips, looked at her different horses and how she adapted to help get the best out of each horse.

Ros Boisseau, a chartered Physiotherapist and qualified Pilates instructor spoke at both days “Maximise your horse’s performance - how rider position and fitness can be improved by Pilates’.

At the second training day held in Devon in February, as well as Ros once again speaking about rider position and fitness, FEI vet Kieran O’Brien presented ‘Keeping Horses - can we do it better?’ making us all think more about how the way we keep our horses at home can affect their athletic performance.

EGB Supreme Champion 2016 Judy Holloway’s husband and crew VJ gave a

delightfully good humoured insight into crewing for Judy, with many crewing tips.

Thanks must go to Jo Claridge, Jeff Varcoe, Stevie Martin, Jan and Andy Prettejohn as well as the speakers giving their valuable time at these two training days.

A small informal training day was also held at host Freya Gallachan’s home on various navigation devices and apps, given

by Tim Fowler, an experienced cyclist who has great experience of these devices, helping riders choose the best one for them.

Along with the unmounted training days, we have so far had 2 Pleasure Rides, Hallworthy (near Camelford) and Colquite (near Bodmin) with a full entry of members and non-members enjoying the rather bracing weather.

At the time of writing the next Pleasure Ride is Okehampton, Dartmoor, on March 12th. These rides have all had full entries, which is an encouraging sign for the popularity of endurance riding in the SW, with the SW National Competitive Ride season kicking off with Wadebridge Ride on 26th March.

MUDDY BOOTS AT COLQUITE (PHOTO, TRACY WILSON)

ATTENDEES AT THE TRAINING DAY

Cromwell Training Weekend 21st – 22nd January 2017

C

romwell EGB Group hosted a training weekend on the Edgcote Estate near Banbury on the 21st and 22nd January.

The training was open to both group members and non-members and overall we had about 15 participants, some travelling from as far as the other side of London! Over the two days three different activities were offered – a hack through the beautiful estate of about 10 miles, a session on the gallops and an hour’s lesson with instructor Sarah Gairdner of Danesmoor Sport Horses.

Participants chose which activities they wanted to take part in, some doing all three activities whilst others chose just to do one or two.

Out route marking on the Friday evening some of the tracks were quite wet and there was concern that it might become very muddy for the horses.

However, Saturday morning dawned crisp and cold with a heavy frost which presented us with other problems than the anticipated wet going! We had to postpone the start time of the first horses and riders heading out on the hack to ensure the tracks were safe, and some

VIEW FROM THE YARD ON THE SUNDAY MORNING

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people arrived significantly later than planned due to the road conditions.

The hack wound its way through grassy sections of the estate, gravel tracks and encompassed some local roads and villages. We had been given special permission to access certain parts of the estate that aren’t normally accessible to the public. The training ground was varied with some excellent hill work which everyone seemed to enjoy and it gave an excellent training opportunity ahead of the forthcoming season.

Sarah Gairdner ran the lessons in the brilliant indoor school – although it was still rather chilly inside! Sarah’s runs Danesmoor Sport Horses and has a background in Eventing, she was part of the BE Young Rider squad and has worked her way up to 3* Level. Sarah’s tuition was aimed at each individual and so the lessons were different for each combination. Some people were working hard on lifting their horses off the forehand – an essential for any endurance combination! Whilst others worked on gaining confidence with their four legged partners, encouraging the horses to move forward and increase their impulsion – another essential whilst out on the endurance track.

The gallop sessions took place on the oval gallop track on the estate and were run by Cromwell Chef d’Equipe Anna Williams. The gallops are a mile long loop with a slight undulation. Just like the lessons, these sessions were aligned to the combinations’ fitness levels and experience levels. With such a wide mix of participants it was important to cater for everyone. For some, this was their first time on the gallops and the main focus was getting their horses to listen to

BECCA PARSLER WITH SHADE AFTER THEIR GALLOPS SESSION

their riders and work on responsiveness and a steady and calm approach to their work. For others who were slightly further on in their training plan the focus was more on the value of cardiac training and what heart rate monitors and GPS monitors can do for us in the fittening process.

Danesmoor Horses were also able to offer us overnight accommodation which meant some of the participants stayed for both days and were able to really make the most of the excellent facilities on offer. The weather stayed dry all weekend and despite the challenges of the arctic temperatures things ran smoothly! There was one issue with a trailer lock seizing

LESSONS IN THE INDOOR SCHOOL

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CONTACT US t: 0845 5570725 e: sales@urbanhorse.com www.urbanhorse.com

Official members publication for Endurance GB

up overnight due to the cold, and other participants had to use their precious tea to melt a field gate padlock so they could get their horses out! But all in all it was a successful weekend and we hope our participants went away with some more knowledge, some ideas to use in their final training ahead of the season and most of all, a big smile on their faces – for both two legged and four legged participants!

Edgcote Estate offers various facilities that are open to the public – details can be found on the following website: http://www.danesmoorsporthorse. co.uk/facilities.html

JO MCCORMAC WITH TIA ON THE GALLOPS

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North & East Yorkshire Group AWARDS Report from Nikki Brown TOP TEN OVERALL DISTANCE Penny Tinkerbell’s Image Flynn Benjana Llanfyllin Roseanna Rico Esta Artisan

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think January has got to be the worst month! We have all got over the Christmas fun and now it is time to start bringing some money back into the bank account as Santa seems to have forgotten!! On top of everything else that goes on in general life there is the exercising of some rather bouncy horses usually in driving rain. We do this for fun honestly?!!

Well I for one was so pleased January is also the month to go to our (North and East Yorkshire) annual AGM at the Feathers in Helmsley. After going over any recent rule changes, a summary of our year and then asking the question as to whether anyone had any matters they wanted to discuss, we then went on to the handing out of the MANY awards.

We have awards for people at all levels and it is so nice to see people new to the sport getting something, as well as people who compete at the higher levels.

One of my favourite awards of the night has to be the Wobbly Trophy! This is for the worst hard luck story. The stories we have had over the years have been hilarious and this year was no different!!

To make our awards night extra special Peter Wright (from the Yorkshire Vet) very kindly came along to hand out prizes, and have his photo taken LOTS of times. Maybe having a celebrity handing out prizes was why we had such a fantastic turn out of around 70 people, whatever the reason it was a well supported night and gave many people (new and old members) the enthusiasm and motivation to work though the winter blues!!

I have included just some of our results below, not all of them as it would take me all night to list them and probably take up far too many pages in the mag!!

Buzz Lucy Locket THE AWARD WINNERS!

I would however like to say a special mention to Helen Ward who won the Veteran Trophy for the fifth time with her amazing horse Wayside Falcon who is now at the grand age of 32!!

That is one amazing achievement and hugely deserved!!

Mistletoe

NORTH YORKSHIRE GROUP SPECIAL AWARD Ann featherstone JUST A TROPHY Award to a horse (only) in its first season of competition Mistletoe – linda birkitt GOING SOLO TROPHY Awarded to the horse and rider combination both in their first season of competition Tyler – debbie sadler BENJAMIN CUP For riders between 8 and 13 years. Awarded to the highest distance in all types of rides.

Cleo – jamie shores

PHOTO BY ANDREW RAY OF MARIMAGES.CO.UK

Helen Ward and Wayside Falcon. Who is 32 won the Pleasure Ride Veteran Class, for the 5th year, which included a bag of Winter Health Mash given to the Group by Dobson and Horell.

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YOUNG RIDERS

MEET THE REPS! North Representative Kate Atkinson.

Age: 19 Local Group: Lancashire Group of Endurance GB “I have been competing for 11 years, nationally and internationally.

My greatest achievement was representing Great Britain in the European Championships 2012 in which we achieved Team Bronze position.

Outside of endurance I am a veterinary student at Liverpool university.

I want to carry on being a rep this year to try to encourage as many young riders to get involved in our sport as possible, and to try and give advice if anyone wants it.”

Introducing your regional Representatives for the Junior and Young Riders.

Following the national AGM in November, where the Young Riders held their own meeting to organise the coming year, we are delighted to introduce the people who are representing and supporting Young and Junior Riders around the country for 2017.

South Representatives, Katie Bedwin.

Age: 19 EGB Group: Endurance GB South East (official) “I have been competing in endurance for 11 years, with various horses. My greatest achievement was 2nd in the CEI 3* 160km at Haywood Oaks in 2015 and being Young Rider Champion in 2015 and 2016. I have several horses to compete in 2017, with two of them already at FEI level. I am currently studying at university, on a Paediatric Nursing course - so I understand the struggles of juggling exams and horses! In 2017 all my horses have different goals, with my ultimate dream being to take Elayla to the Worlds in Italy.

I have learnt so much through working with the other young riders, and I’m really keen to ensure all young riders have the best experience possible in the sport.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF EVELYN RADNAI

Charlotte Chadwick.

Age 16 Local group Endurance GB - Endurance GB - Derbyshire Group “My name is Charlotte Chadwick and I am 16 years old, living and training in Staffordshire. I am currently studying Equine Management at Rodbaston College. I have 3 horses of my own, which I complete in 40km rides to FEI2* 120km. My local group is Derbyshire group, which only has a small number of junior and young riders so I am passionate to make Endurance a more well known sport in my area. My greatest achievements have been representing Team GBR at the European Championships in Portugal, 2016 as well as winning the FEI2* 120KM at Euston Park 2016.”

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Official members publication for Endurance GB

YOUNG RIDERS

Young Rider Chair, Beth Stokes.

Age: 21 Local Group- Leicestershire and Rutland “I have been competing in endurance for 9 years and have been part of the young rider committee since 2013, firstly as the Midlands Rep, then as Chair. I have also organised Young Rider Camp for the past two years. Outside of endurance I am studying a law degree and I graduate this year. I love endurance and have met some of my best friends through being part of the endurance community. The horses and people are fantastic and I am keen for as many junior and young riders as possible to join the sport and to love not only competing, but also being part of the wonderful Endurance GB community! If I can help you in any way, please get in touch or come and say hi when you see me out and about!”

Midlands and Wales Representative, Rachel Judson.

Age: 18 EGB group: Leics & Rutland Endurance GB “Endurance has always been a huge part of my life. Before the age of 14, I would spend most of my days crewing my aunt Larissa on our 14.3hh Arabian, Ben Shah. Over the last four years of competing I have achieved some great success within the endurance discipline.

My most memorable moment, would be when I completed and placed 4th overall in the Little Dragon. Another proud moment was winning the Belmore Junior Trophy from the Leicestershire Group for the second year running. Next year I hope to compete in my first FEI 1* with Ben, and begin training with my new mare HS Pieride. Within the years I have left being a young rider, my main ambition is to achieve a place to compete at the World Championships with HS Pieride.

As a representative of the Young Riders I aim to encourage as many young people as possible to come and join our sport, and hopefully love it as much as we do. EGB Young Riders is made up of numerous, friendly and supportive members – it is where I have made many lifelong friends. Outside of Endurance, I study equine rehabilitation and therapy at Moulton College.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF EVELYN RADNAI

We also have a number of riders who have volunteered to form a J/YR fundraising committee this year; this is led by Philippa Jupp, who has kindly agreed to support the J/YRs with this. There will be numerous activities organised by the committee this year in an effort to raise money to go into the ‘YR fund’ and benefit as many J/YRs as possible. Please support their efforts when you can - they make delicious cakes that will be on sale at rides during the year! A special mention to Alicia Reeves who has organised two successful bake sales at her local Derbyshire rides.

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MANAGEMENT

New for this year: New National Championships

N

ew for this year, we are piloting an expansion of the existing 160km national championship ride to also include parallel championships at the shorter distances. This is based on an idea submitted by Annie Joppe (thank you Annie!) and we hope that if it is successful we will be able to develop it further.

The championships will move around the country each year, so if you are a ride organiser and think you might like to host the championships in a future year, please do get in touch. For this year, the championships will be held at Red Dragon, to celebrate the ride’s 40th birthday.

So, how will they work? To be eligible, riders must be full or life members of EGB. Unfortunately, club members, SERC/ ILDRA-only members and associate members are not eligible. Horses must hold a logbook and be registered with EGB to compete in the current year.

Invitations to take part in the championships will be issued automatically once the horse and rider have completed the qualification criteria as a combination in the current season.

QUALIFICATION CRITERIA FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS NOVICE LEVEL RIDES

The qualification criteria for the novice level final will be 3 x novice GERs, 30-45km inclusive. At least one of the GERs has to be ridden at 11kph+ Horses and riders do not have to be registered as novices, but they must have done the requisite novice GERs this season as a combination. Open GERs and try before you buy rides do not count.

The final at Red Dragon will be a 50km GER, with placings to be determined using performance formula.

Awards will be given at the final for: The overall winner of the performance formula class The highest placed first season novice horse/novice rider combination The highest placed first season novice horse.

Please be aware that if entries for the novice final become excessive, we may need to ballot

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the entries in which case first season novice/ novice combinations and first season novice horses will get priority.

OPEN LEVEL RIDES

The qualification for the open level final will be 3 x open GERs, 40-68km inclusive. At least one of the GERs has to be ridden at 12kph+, and at least one of them has to be 56km+ in a day.

Horses and riders must be registered as open or advanced. Novice GERs do not count. Multi day rides (eg 64km made up of 2x32km) do not count unless one of the days is 40-68km.

The final at Red Dragon will be a 65km GER, with placings to be determined using performance formula.

ADVANCED LEVEL RIDES

The qualification for the advanced level final will be 2 x rides of 63-80km (+/- 5%), one of which much be 80km (+/5%). GERs and CERs will count.

Horses and riders can be open or advanced level during the qualification period but they must have registered as advanced by the time they take part in the final. Multi day rides (eg 80km made up of 2x40km) do not count unless one of the days is 63-80km.

The final at Red Dragon will be an 80km CER. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

The qualification for the 160km national championships will be one ride of 80km+ (+/- 5%) Horses and riders must be registered as advanced during qualification. Multi day rides do not count unless one of the days is 80km or over.

The final at Red Dragon will be a two day 160km CER. The Young Rider championship has to be 120km in a day, which cannot be incorporated at Red Dragon, so for this year the Young Rider championship will be held at Kings Forest. In future years we would love to hold all the championships together, but it will depend on the venues and the available routes.

This is a pilot, and we would welcome your feedback on the competition and the qualification structure as the year goes on, so please e-mail operations@endurancegb. co.uk with your comments.

Official members publication for Endurance GB

GOLDEN HORSESHOE RIDE 20/21 MAY 2017 UPDATE

By Jo Chisholm

There is plenty of activity going on behind the scenes with the GHS Organising Committee with plans now being firmed up ready for the ride in May. Volunteer Co-ordinator Tess Chisholm has been tenacious in her mammoth task to find enough helpers for the event; Sponsor Officer Annie Joppe has been successful in finding sponsors for 3 of the classes so far; the new Website and Facebook pages are up and running and will be constantly updated with news and information as it becomes available; Facilities and Venue Manager Andrew Chisholm is working on the venue layout and facilities; Course designer Barbara Wigley has mapped a route and is constantly monitoring conditions (Tarr Steps once again had been washed out by a flooding river Exe!), keeping in touch with landowners, as well as advising Jo and Andrew on many aspects of running this ride, with a very busy hotline between them!!

Deborah Colling will be in charge of Trophies and Awards; and of course Liz Hinings will be posting entries onto the new website once entries open, and she will be in the Marquee over the weekend of the ride, along with the youngest Chisholm, Abby, to help keep results updated in real time.

The plan was to start modestly this year so that the new Organising Committee could find their feet, so there will be 4 classes – The 160 km 2 day Golden Horseshoe Class; 120 km 2 day Exmoor Stag Class; 80 km 2 day Exmoor Hind Class and the 24 km Fawn Pleasure Ride. More details and entry forms for these classes can be found on the website: www.goldenhorseshoeride.co.uk and for further news, information and interesting recollections and photographs from previous Golden Horseshoe Rides see our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ GoldenHorseshoeRide/

MANAGEMENT

INTERNATIONAL SQUADS DAY- FEBRUARY 2017

O

n the 18th February, Endurance GB’s International Committee held a ‘meet-up day’ for both International Squads, at Abbey Park.

The International Committee, Squad Management Teams and many riders and crews attended the day. The day was for riders who are currently CEI 1* qualified or above and there will be other events later in the year for those who have not yet started their FEI qualifications.

The day consisted of a welcome from EGB’s Director of International, John Robertson, before the Chef d’equipes, Jo Chisholm and Liz Finney, addressed the riders and met with their separate squads.

Hannah Kelly, International Squad Vet, then gave an interesting and informative talk on training endurance horses and the various techniques that can be used.

Young Rider Squad Vet, Tom Eaton-Evans, then discussed keeping horses healthy in the run up to championships (and other major competitions) which provided useful tips and information for all.

Fuelled by a very tasty lunch, the afternoon sessions began with a session on ‘how the physio can help your horse’ by Katie Dorman, International Squad Physio. Katie gave the riders lots to think about, which was followed by Kelvin Lymer, International Squad Farrier, who discussed the importance of hoof care, another interesting talk with lots of great tips for riders to take away.

Each of the talks focussed on a different subject and provided lots of useful tips for the riders to use at home, there was plenty of time left for questions and answers at the end, which the International Committee and Squad Management Teams were at the front to answer. The day was a great start to the season and has laid the foundations for what will hopefully be a great year for the British endurance teams.

A huge thank you to all those who attended the day. If you would like to know more about the

International Squads and/or put yourself forward to be on a squad, please see the International pages of the EGB website. There you will find information on the two squads, the management teams, the qualification process and you can download an expression of interest form. The website pages will be updated regularly so please have a look at them from time to time for new information.

SAFEGUARDING

A reminder from Nicky Thorne

I

t is very important that all of us continue to be vigilant and report any incidents that appear to be of concern, no matter how trivial they might seem at the time. Any concerns should be raised in the first instance to the Lead Safeguarding Officer.

Heather Weston has very kindly agreed to continue in this role until her replacement is confirmed, we are in the final stages of recruiting a new LSO whose details will be publicised as soon as possible.

We also request that all Ride Organisers pay special attention to the section on Safeguarding when carrying out their Risk Assessments and during their EGB Events.

Please note especially the links to The BEF Safeguarding Policy for Children and Young Adults, the BEF Safeguarding Policy for Adults, The Missing Children and Young People Policy, and The Lead Rein Policy please be sure that you have read these as there are changes and additions to the policies for 2017. In addition it is mandatory to ensure The Parental Consent Form 2017 is correctly completed for any riders under the age of 18. We will continue to focus on this area going forward, and you will start to see additional communication from Nicki Thorne and the LSO during the coming months.

WHAT DOES EGB’S INSURANCE COVER GIVE ME? Nicky Thorne sets out some Frequently Asked Questions QUESTION 1 I understand that as a full member my EGB insurance covers me for riding in non EGB events. Could you confirm this to be correct and that if I ride in a non EGB ride I will be covered under the EGB Horse and Rider Insurance please?

ANSWER Kbis confirms that the policy covers the Personal Liability of the member in respect of all of the horses that they own as long as they are not used for commercial purposes.

QUESTION 2 One of the benefits of full membership is third party insurance all the time compared to Associate Members only getting third party at rides. My husband & I have several horses between us, one is now too old to do Pleasure Rides but the others will be/do go to rides from time to time. If we are full members does the third party cover all of our horses, even the old one who just hacks out locally?

ANSWER Kbis confirms that the policy covers the Personal Liability of the member in respect of all of the horses that they own as long as they are not used for commercial purposes.

QUESTION 3 What is Personal Liability Insurance ?

ANSWER Personal Liability Insurance covers you should you be held liable for third party property damage or bodily injury as the owner of the horses.

QUESTION 4 I am based in the UK, but one of my friends is based overseas. Are they still insured with their EGB membership?

ANSWER Kbis covers members (who have paid their fee to EGB) who are domiciled overseas whilst they are temporarily visiting the UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands or Republic of Ireland. We do not cover them at any other time.

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SUPPORTERS INITIATIVE

INTRODUCING THE SUPPORTERS INITIATIVE

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n a move designed to make Endurance riding more inclusive and to validate the key role played by supporters of the sport, Endurance GB has launched a new initiative proposing that non-riders, who are nevertheless involved in endurance at all levels, register and become a Supporter. This new category is aimed at, but is not exclusive to; support crews, officials, volunteers, riders not competing due to injury or other reasons, and parents.

There is no cost associated with registering, and the benefits for Supporters will include an e-version of the Endurance GB magazine and two FREE affiliated ride entries under the Try Before You Buy scheme. It’s hoped the new initiative will give an identity for key supporters ensuring they are not left on the periphery of the sport they enjoy so much.

The Board of Endurance GB believes that Supporter registration will give the society a better picture of the true participation in the sport of endurance riding. After all, on the day of a competition, there are far more people who could be classed as ‘active participants’ than just the riders.

John Hudson, Chairman of Endurance GB, commented that ‘launching a new category for Supporters will aid Endurance GB’s mission to become a more inclusive

society and is a significant step forward in terms of tracking participation. The new category will also enable us to better understand who the volunteers are in our sport and help us recognise their contribution which makes the sport what it is today.’

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Official members publication for Endurance GB

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Fast Fibre®- The Quick Soak Fibre Provider • Super fast soak, in just 30–60 seconds • High fibre, low calorie, low in starch and low in sugar* • Suitable for horses and ponies prone to laminitis • Ideal for horses with dental problems • May be fed as a partial or complete hay replacement • Barley and molasses free *When compared to traditional diets with comparative energy levels

For friendly and helpful advice, contact our award-winning nutrition helpline today on 01362 822 902 or email helpline@allenandpage.co.uk Quote Ad Reference: STW Fast Fibre QS

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