Endurance Magazine Spring 2021

Veteran Care Expert Advice

Moving Forwards Together 2021 Handbook and Ride Previews Spring 2021

Official members' publication for Endurance GB

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04/02/2021 10:41

In this

Volume 18 – Issue 1

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Endurance GB Office Administration Endurance GB Office, Abbey Park, Stareton, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2RP t: 02476 697929 f: 02476 418429 Publisher

Unit C, Northfield Point, Cunliffe Drive, Kettering, Northants, NN16 9QJ t: 01536 527297 e: info@matrixprint.com Designed by Matrix Print Consultants Ltd Tolu Akinyemi Production Editor Matrix Print Consultants Ltd Catherine Baldock t: 01536 527 297 e: catherineb@matrixprint.com Advertising Sales Manager Matrix Print Consultants Ltd Andy Etherton t: 01536 527 297 e: andy@matrixprint.com Deadlines Copy Dates to Editor for future issues of Endurance: Summer by 30th April.

If you wish to advertise in the Summer issue, artwork deadline is 12th May. 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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Regulars 5 6 6 38 42

Future Focus Endurance GB Chair Phil Nunnerley

Endurance GB News New Board members

News The latest news and updates

SERC Scottish Standardbreds

Blog Bella Fricker on rider fitness

Features 15 Cover Photo Thoresby Ride Photo courtesy of David Saunders Photography

Follow us

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A chance to win VIP endurance view competition

Veteran Health Expert advice on veteran care

Nutrition A guide to feeding the veteran horse

Horse health A stable environment

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Endurance GB 10

International

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Ride preview

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Longevity

38

Office life

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Diversity

The latest on Pisa and Ermelo

History of King’s Forest

Veterans in endurance

Being Mr Endurance

@EnduranceGB EnduranceGB @endurancegbinsta

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Transport Travelling your horse safely

A sport with something for everyone

ISSN 2516-2349

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contents 10:41

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Future

Endurance GB Board of Directors

focus

Chairman, Policy & Governance PHIL NUNNERLEY T: 07860 323968 / 01761 221561 E: philnunnerley@endurancegb.co.uk Finance Director CHRIS WRAY T: 07856 500519 / 01600 860938 E: chriswray@endurancegb.co.uk

Phil Nunnerley Chair of Endurance GB

Groups, Health & Safety, The Office, Volunteering ROSEMARY HENDERSON T: 07894 477049 E: rosemaryhenderson@endurancegb.co.uk International Director, Development (Including Young & Junior Riders, Coaching, Futurity, Pony Club, Para) ROSEMARY ATTFIELD T: 07810 580880 / 01403 822567 E: rosemaryattfield@endurancegb.co.uk SERC Representative ALISON SEGGIE E: Alison.seggie@btinternet.com Vice Chair, Operations Director, IT and BEF Equality Action Team Representative ESTHER YOUNG T: 07454 929919 E: estheryoung@endurancegb.co.uk Sponsorship Director CLAIRE BARRY T: 07850 309 231 E: clairebarry@endurancegb.co.uk Communications Director KERRY DAWSON T: 07818 283144 E: kerrydawson@endurancegb.co.uk Welfare Director ANTONIA MILNER-MATTHEWS T: 07712 559256 E: antoniamilner-matthews@endurancegb.co.uk Safeguarding Director AMANDA WOOLCOMBE E: amandawoolcombe@endurancegb.co.uk Directors of Endurance GB are volunteers, so please be patient and considerate with any queries. Most Directors work full time elsewhere and are not always available during working hours. No calls before 9am or after 9pm please.

Dear Members, It’s been a tough winter and as I write this we are enduring ‘the beast from the east’, not this time the dreaded COVID virus, which is still with us, but snow and ice following on the heels of incessant rain and flooding. But snowdrops are in flower, and spring is around the corner, and with rapid progress on vaccinations we continue to be optimistic that the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown will allow us to get out and ride again.

There may be a delayed start to our 2021 ride season but thanks to hard work on the part of the Operations Committee and ride organisers we have a plan. Please recognise that as we share it, it comes with a warning as changes, often at short notice, may still be necessary in the light of the prevailing environment. We will undoubtedly also still need to respect restrictions, not least social distancing, and potentially limits on ride entry numbers.

But let's be positive and look forward to getting back in the saddle, enjoying ourselves and the company of our many friends again.

I would also like to take the opportunity to extend a warm welcome to two new members of the Board. Alison Seggie, chair of SERC, succeeds Constance Newbould as the SERC nominee. Also Claire Barry who has agreed to take on the sponsorship portfolio, working closely with ride organisers.

Phil 5

What's new at

Endurance GB “My goal as Sponsorship Director, as well as obviously helping the sport attract muchneeded financial support, will be to look at how we market ourselves more effectively to sponsors and look after them when they are on board. That means looking at innovative ways to tell the story of our sport, explaining all the routes in to involvement to new sponsors and offering them a greater understanding of endurance as a serious sport and some exciting ways to talk to this very committed and important market."

“I am looking forward to meeting our current sponsors to discuss how we can enhance their involvement and to working alongside the Board, ride organisers, our international committee and our communications team to reach out for new business opportunities.

I will also be looking at ways we can work with companies who may be keen to work alongside the sport through our Para riders and with endurance at Riding Club and Pony Club levels."

New Board members

a week, 33 weeks a year and I’ve still never hit a golf ball in my life!"

Endurance GB has two new board members who joined as Directors of the Board in in January. Television Line Producer and endurance competitor, Claire Barry (above), who has filmed at major endurance championships around the world, has stepped into the role of Sponsorship Director following the resignation of Shaun Walsh at the annual meeting for personal reasons.

“Eventually, I decided I never wanted to see Heathrow airport. On a Wednesday morning at 5am again I left the Golf Tour and moved over to Unreported World for Channel 4, and started sending everyone else off around the world for 5 years. In between these programmes I made various Dispatches and also my own programmes. I then worked with IMG helping them to win the FEI account which I set up and ran for two years: we covered all TV events run by the FEI around the world."

Claire’s TV career has spanned news and current affairs to sports journalism. After a decade with Anglia TV she went freelance working with many companies such as Sky Sports, BBC, Channel 4, IMG, Novel Entertainment and many others. She says: “I spent four years on the European Golf Tour for SKY Sports running the live gallery.

We were live for six hours a day, four days

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endurance news

“Horses are the big love of my life (along with my son of course) and I take part in endurance whenever I can. I have made programmes for SKY Sports and the internet channel Country Channel TV on Endurance, Eventing, Polocrosse, Jumping and covered racing."

Alison Seggie (top right), Chair of SERC, succeeds Constance Newbould in joining the Endurance GB Board as SERC representative.

Alison has been involved in Endurance riding since the early 1990’s – as a rider, crew, ride organiser, ride official and committee member. She has competed up to 60Km with two of her horses, a Thoroughbred cross and an Arab, both of whom are now retired. Her current competitive horse is, she says,“a very forward going” Highland pony called Pabbay.

They achieved their Bronze Thistle Final in 2019 and hope to progress on to 60km rides in 2021.

Alison says:“SERC is a much smaller organisation than Endurance GB, but we have an active network of branches from Orkney to the Borders who organise rides most weekends from March to October across the country. Two of my key aims when I became Chair were to encourage more junior members and to encourage more of our members to move onto competitive rides. In 2020 most of our season had to be abandoned: however, our active PR group have successfully managed to maintain engagement with our members through various on-line and virtual challenges.

“As a ride organiser I developed a 20km pleasure ride on a local farm into a two-day

regulars | endurancegb.co.uk

160km/one-day 120km ride based from the beautiful grounds of Scone Palace and Perth Racecourse.”

Alison has also travelled Scotland and officiated at a number of rides, in various roles including as a Chief Steward and, as a crew, she has supported Scottish riders at Home International and Celtic Challenge events across the UK and in Ireland.

In her working life Alison is a senior local government officer working in Economic Development and has extensive experience of external funding, project development and implementation across a wide range of activities and economic sectors. In addition, she has also represented the local authority and the wider public sector on a number of company boards. Alison adds: “I am very much looking forward to joining the Board of Endurance GB and supporting the development and growth of endurance riding across the country.”

In one other Endurance GB Board change, Rosemary Henderson has handed the reins of Health and Safety Director over to Amanda Woolcombe. Amanda is also Endurance GB’s Safeguarding Director and in her day job has significant experience in that arena as well as in Health and Safety so it is a real benefit to Endurance GB that she has kindly agreed to take on the role. Rosemary will remain on the H&S Committee to assist Amanda as well as retaining her other Endurance GB Directorship responsibilities covering Groups, the Endurance GB Office and Volunteering.

Upcoming Endurance GB rides We remain in very uncertain times and some of our earlier rides have rescheduled their dates.

We hope to be able to run some competitive events in April, Covid willing. The 2021 competitive ride schedule will be subject to further amendment, so please check the Endurance GB website regularly for updates.

The situation in relation to our early FEI rides remains unclear. As soon as we know when restrictions will start to be relaxed, we will be able to make a decision.

Thank you for your patience as we deal with the evolving situation.

April

May

Sunday 11th

Sat 1st - Sun 2nd

Bibury Salt Way Tilford GERs

Poplar Park Sandlings Ride

Sun 18th

Sun 2nd

Hardys Ride

Cerne Giant GERs

Sat 24th – 25th

Sat 8th - Sun 9th

Pembrey Country Park - hosting the Welsh Champs (TBC)

Sat 8th

Sun 25 Primrose Haytor

Foxdales Baileys Cheshire Forest Frolic

Sun 9th Forest of Dean Bluebell

Sat 15th Foremark Reservoir

Sun 16th Penpont Breamore Downs

Sat 29th -Sun 30th Avon Valley

Sun 30th Southdowns

endurance news

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Obituaries

The latest

news and updates Sheila Ludlow – Lindum Group

Yvonne Clark – Lancashire Group

Y

vonne learnt to ride as a child on arab stallions in the desert when her father was stationed overseas. She discovered endurance riding in 1991 and she spent several years competing her horses Pogo’s Wood (a stubborn coloured pony), Barty (an arab) and Brownie (ridden by Karen Swales) before becoming a keen volunteer. She was a technical steward for over 25 years and became an FEI Judge and Technical Delegate in 2009. She also served as Endurance GB’s Para-Equestrian Endurance Assessor and was very keen to help disabled riders access our sport.

including Group Secretary, Group Chair and Vice Chair. She spent several years on the EHPS Council and on the Endurance GB Board where she worked on the PR and Marketing Subcommittee and was Chair of Rides and Rules. She and Deb manned the endurance stand at Your Horse Live for a number of years, promoting the sport to the public in their characteristic yellow sweatshirts. John Hudson, former Endurance GB Chair, said "Spending time with Deb and Yvonne was always a pleasure and Yvonne was always very supportive of me as Endurance GB Chair"

Yvonne was a stickler for the rules and good governance and nothing got past her. She was very generous with her time and was caring, helpful and encouraging. No-one will ever forget the lovely little comments that she would write on vetsheets.

Yvonne's other passion was gardening, and she and Deb studied Horticulture at Myersclough College, culminating in achieving a Foundation Degree.

Yvonne co-organised the Moors and Dales ride with Bridget Brown, which evolved into an iconic 100 miles in a day competition around the North Yorkshire Moors. Bridget says: "Yvonne was truly dedicated to the sport of endurance and I remember the time we came up with the mad idea to run a 100 mile circular route round North Yorkshire Moors. We spent many hours pouring over maps and then either walking or riding the route. One particular very cold and windy, wet day David, Yvonne's late husband and I walked over Bloworth crossing, we were sodden and freezing, and so pleased to see Yvonne at the bottom of Ingleby Incline with hot coffee and Boost bars, she had been babysitting a very baby Nikki Brown in the car. I can never eat Boost bars without remembering that day."

Yvonne carried on working till five weeks before her death. Our thoughts are with Deb, who has lost her best friend and soulmate, and with her other family and friends. Yvonne’s daughter Ginny said "For us, she will be always be remembered for being caring and strong and ultimately the bravest lady we knew.”

Sheila Ludlow passed away in hospital on Saturday 26th September last year after fighting two long-term conditions.

Sheila organised the Auriols ride from Tetford and Salmonby in the Wolds since its inception, where her home-made cakes and desserts became legendary. Sheila regularly officiated at endurance competitions across the Midlands and East of England including at Cranwell, Newmarket and Thoresby Hall and she also organised the Sand and Seals CTR on the Lincolnshire coast and many social rides under the Endurance Horse and Pony Society.

Esther Young commented “Sheila was a larger than life character who gave so much to our sport. We will miss her very much indeed and her passing leaves an enormous hole in our Endurance family.”

In 2001 Yvonne moved in with Deb Bennett and the two of them became inseparable, travelling the country officiating at national and FEI rides.

Yvonne spent over 25 years on various group committees, carrying out a number of roles

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news

Yvonne (left), sadly passed away on the 2nd October 2020.

regulars | endurancegb.co.uk

International News The International Committee is very excited that we will have at least eleven riders and horses to select from for the Senior Team with a further nine or ten combinations just requiring to successfully complete two three star competitions. All being well and Covid restrictions permitting, we shall be fielding a team for the Europeans at Ermelo from the 6th September onwards of five senior riders with their Chef d’Equipe, Fiona Bloom and her management team.

Riders and horses up for selection already qualified are Carmine Villani with Nigel and Najar Ruspine plus others residing in the USA, Rachael Atkinson on Tannasg Psyches Realm, Kate Atkinson on DNS Ronaldo, Annette Masterson on Shoshana and Nikki Thorne on Kamillcia. We then have a further five requiring just one more successful three star before the 5th July. They are James Dickinson on Magdy, Chris Wray on Peponi, Nikki Malcolm on Oso Spiralling Wind, Laura Graham on Warrens Hill Farrah, and Fiona Griffith on Balishla with a further nine combinations waiting in the wings requiring two three star competitions to qualify to compete.

We then have one definite qualified rider in Saffron Bishop on Ty Shute Golden Savannnah with possibly two other young riders forward for their World Championship at Ermelo on 1011 September with their Chef d’Equipe Andrea Champ and her management team.

The International Committee is very aware how much it costs to compete at this level as the riders are totally self-financing for any championships. This is a huge cost which includes paying for themselves, horses, crew, and to cover travel, accommodation, entry fees and incidentals and then dividing the cost of management between the team members. The Committee is very keen to take the best Britain can field not just those who can afford to go.

The International Committee have emailed all the Groups to ask if they would be willing to fund raise for the championship teams by running activities such as raffles, bib money, training rides etc. as they did for Kentucky a few years ago. We also need to give a huge thank you to our International Management Team members who have given talks by Zoom with the revenue going into the international pot to support our teams.

We are also delighted to have re-established a Development Squad with Andrea Champ as Chef d’Equipe supported by her management

team. We are hoping they will go to Fontainebleau in France in early October. We have sixteen riders who have put their names and their horses forward for the Development Squad which is very exciting. More of this in future magazines.

I want to finish by thanking everyone who is involved in supporting our international effort either working on the International Committee, as selectors or working as part of the team management, to those who are fundraising in support and finally to all those riders

who have put their name forward for a team.

Finally do remember I am always happy to answer any questions or worries you have. You only have to email me and I will try and answer within twenty-four hours. I wish all members, grass roots (it may be you trying for a team in the future) and upwards a happy and successful endurance season once we can start.

Rosemary Attfield, Chair of International

international news

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Championships

Will all roads

lead to Ermelo?

W

hen the FEI announced back in June 2019 that both the Senior FEI CEI 4* European Championship and the FEI CEI 2* World Championship for Juniors and Young Riders had been assigned to the Netherlands, noone foresaw the significance of Ermelo, scheduled for 6-11 September, writes Elizabeth Peplow.

of his compatriots at 19.44km/hr. Also of note was a fine performance by the Irish contingent of Tom Macguinness, Hilda Donahue and Martin McNamara who finished in 12th, 13th and 14th placings.

She says: “We thought long and hard over which 160km competition to go to and also given last year’s restrictions, whether we could train for it with the lack of competitions on offer but we love a challenge and it was a huge gamble.

Linda Cowperthwaite with Krakatau (pictured far right), was the sole British contender at the pre-ride and sadly they made their exit at vetgate three.

“Ermelo offered good going and a large entry as a test event. We are experienced at travelling to Europe and the venue at Ermelo is in the

With the Senior World Championships in Pisa still scheduled for May but looking uncertain at the time of writing, Ermelo, is looking to add a dose of certainty to the international calendar this year.

And the endurance world could not be descending on a more beautiful harbour than the Veluwe, an 1110 kilometre-squared region of forests, hillsides, woodland, heathland containing some of Europe’s largest sand dunes. Footage from the test event on 2 October produced some magical, feelgood misty morning poster/video-footage that would inspire anyone, rider or not, to find out more about this incredible sport, so there is a great deal of potential in marketing appeal to contribute in building the base of endurance.

At the test event, French riders occupied the first four placings, with Jean Philippe Frances and Bolt de Venelles (pictured right) cruising home ahead

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international

endurance | endurancegb.co.uk

grounds of the KNHS, the Dutch Equestrian Federation and you’d be hard pressed to find a better equestrian centre. It offers superb facilities which all count after a long journey and at a CEI * event. Knowing your horse has the best environment on offer, makes for a chilled team.

“With extra Covid restrictions, the organisers created a very different route from the previous year. They had a very limited area to plan the route over and you were limited to only one crew on course, one person in to the vetting and two people to crew. The wash and rest areas were in two places which meant a lot of walking and carrying, but for the horses it gave them a quiet rest area with grass to graze on. The cooling area and trot up are in super large allweather arenas. With such good level constant surfaces in the trot up lane, it enables a good active trot for the horses and there is no room for error.

“The organisers did a fantastic job of course design for the test event track given they had such limited access to the local area. Basically, they had one 30km loop with one crew point plus a water point on route. We rode the first loop clockwise, then the same loop but anti clockwise and so on and the final 2 loops with a 10km section removed making them both 20km.

This was excellent thinking from the organisers as doing the course in reverse gave each section a whole different feel and the course never felt repetitive. The course is one of the best I have ridden with forestry and open heath land mostly sandy going. Some areas of deep sand had to be ridden sensibly with the horses balanced but we both thoroughly enjoyed our 90km. To me it flew by and felt like I’d only ridden a pleasure ride. It was good to be at the test event and we shall continue to aim for 160km and follow our dream of hopefully gaining our qualifications and making the GBR squad in 2022 fingers-crossed!”

While all eyes are on Lausanne…

This double championship is likely to be the first major test of the new streamlined international governance of the sport along with the a new broom at the top with the appointment of Christina Abu-Dayyeh as the FEI’s Endurance Director. The 31-year-old has been Secretary General of the Royal Jordanian Equestrian Federation since 2017 responsible for the management of all equestrian disciplines in the country. She has a political background by way of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada and a Masters in Management and International Business from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

“We are very happy to welcome Christina Abu-Dayyeh to the FEI to take on this really important role,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina

Ibáñez said. “The discipline of Endurance needs strong governance and we are confident that Christina is the right person to deliver the right mix of firmness and tact. Her knowledge of our sport in the Middle East, where Endurance is such a key part of the local culture, has given her a crucial insight and a vision that will undoubtedly benefit both the FEI and the discipline itself.”

“One of my proudest achievements at the Royal Jordanian Equestrian Federation has been creating open lines of communication and the transparency that was needed to inspire the trust of the community and stakeholders, which ultimately gave me a credible voice to move the sport forward in Jordan”, Christina Abu-Dayyeh said. “Leaning in and actively listening to those in the field who have mastered so many elements of it kept me humble.

Ms Abu-Dayyeh says of her experience with Jordanian endurance: “I was aware that our Endurance Officials were having trouble fulfilling their crucial role of officiating at events and quickly realised that the main issue was miscommunication and the athletes’ lack of education on the rules. We made a huge effort to improve the knowledge base of our athletes, educating all stakeholders on the technical aspects of the sport and what it means to be a true horseperson, with the result that numbers increased by over 120% for our national rides.

“I believe that education and communication with the athletes and their entourage are key to improving horse welfare in the discipline internationally, continuing the fantastic work already done by the Endurance Temporary Committee.”

Another leading woman in the sport also set to be wielding significant influence internationally for the next four years, is our own Sarah Coombs, Chair of the Endurance Temporary Committee, who has been appointed Deputy Chair of the new five strong Endurance Committee. This will be a reduced and, the FEI believes, more agile body, the FEI signalling further than it might have gone in the past that it means business by indicating that the restructuring was “to allow for a special focus on a discipline that requires stringent oversight”.

Images courtesy of Muriëlle Mulder, a professional Dutch photographer and official event photographer for the Championships 6-11 September.

Endurance stole her heart and capturing its moments has since become her passion. For more information, please email info@muriellemulder.nl

international

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King’s Forest

Riding through

History

From historic monuments to rare flora and fauna, the magnificent King's Forest near Bury St Edmonds has it all.

Named to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary in 1935, this section of the vast Thetford Forest covers nearly 6,000 acres of pine and broadleaved woodland. For the sport, having access to this little piece of heaven offers not just magnificent going, but the infrastructure and support needed to make it a key date for riders at all levels. Organiser alongside husband Paul, Dianne Luke takes us behind the scenes…

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I

moved to Suffolk in 1977 after completing my degree to take up a teaching post, bringing with me my two horses, one of whom I’d had since I was 13. Several years later we bred from the mare and two became three.

Unfortunately, my old horse got Cushings and my mare, laminitis within two months of each other and I lost them both. This left me with the mare we had bred, half TB, quarter cob and quarter hackney. With only one horse left I really did want to do something with her and

endurance | endurancegb.co.uk

a friend told me of a long distance riding group that was setting up and so I went along to the initial meeting (which was held in candle light due to a power cut) and before I knew it I was on the committee of the newly formed Anglian Distance Riders.

ADR originally put rides on for BHS and then British Endurance Riding Association (BERA) and Endurance Horse and Pony Society (EHPS).

King’s originally started off as a pleasure ride and then very tentatively 27 years ago started as a competitive ride. One year I offered it to BERA and the following year to EHPS and so it continued until the formation of Endurance GB. Each year I added a longer distance, all along the graded lines and so it grew from the 20-mile class up to the dizzy heights of 50 miles. Then the phone call came from Stevie Martin who had seen I was offering a 100km class and she asked if this could be changed into a race ride for a selection ride for the British Team.

It was this ride that really saw King’s move up a league. I received a call a few months before the ride from a lady in California and was quizzed about the track, the weather, the purchase of feed and I have to admit that I really thought it was a hoax phone call. Could anyone really consider flying their horse that distance to take part in King’s? Apparently so, and with her horse, vet and crew travelling separately from Brazil, Dominique Freeman arrived. Fortunately for her the ride

was successful and although she crossed the line holding hands with two other riders, she gave Legacy that extra little push to ensure she was awarded first place.

The following year, in 2004 Euston Park hosted its first FEI. This was, as King’s had been until now, a national ride but Sue Meadows had been approached by John Robertson to ask if an FEI could be incorporated into the event. And so began, Euston in August, and never had ride organising been so much fun. It was obvious from that point on that King’s would become an FEI event and from 2005 onwards there has always been at least one FEI King’s Forest Ride.

The venue for King’s has since rotated over the last 15 years to six different locations, but each one has had direct access into the forest and consequently the route has always offered the same excellent going.

Some years have proved more difficult than others in sorting a route when harvesting is happening or a protected bird species arrives and takes up residency in the middle of the best tracks, or a well-used crew point suddenly becomes a site of historic importance, but there is enough of King’s to usually find a solution.

The rides of 2013 were ones to remember. The Spring ride took place the week before Easter and it snowed nationwide, seeing the 120 entries

reduced to 40 brave souls most of whom were entered for the 1* and 2* event. The morning of the ride Karen Collier left with the farmer’s son to spray blue paint on the snow which had fallen to a considerable depth overnight, covering 120km of arrows on the ground. This became a 32km loop while I went and marked a smaller loop in red, and although for the first and only time King’s loops were repeated, the ride went ahead. Every competitor passed, not one drop of water was used and all said it rode magnificently.

The stewards and officials froze despite hot water bottles down trousers and cherry brandy being drunk around a brazier. Three months later at the inter-regional and National Championships, King’s recorded the hottest day of the year and a tanker of water costing £1200 was fortunately brought in at the 11th hour.

The Summer King's Forest Ride of 2019 saw us celebrate its 25th year. With more than 150 riders over the weekend and classes covering every distance and combination of one, two or three days' riding, from a 10 mile pleasure to the 3* 160km, I believe King’s reached its pinnacle.

Riders from Great Britain competed against those from Spain, Ireland, Switzerland and the UAE. The coming together at the H Power sponsored BBQ gave the event the feeling of friendship and riders, vets and officials who were there at the start contemplated where and how quickly a quarter of a century had gone.

So what can riders expect?

The overriding desire has been to keep King’s as a friendly ride. It has to be as professional in its set up and conduct as possible, but the atmosphere has to be such that everyone, no matter what their standard is welcomed and valued.

Understandably many riders may be anxious preride and it is important that their concerns are dealt with in a sympathetic manner.

Crewing is easy at Kings as it is basically along one of two roads. Although it would be good to add a few extra crew points it simply is not possible and there are more than the required amount.

Stewards must be appreciated as must officials all of whom give up their time freely.

Louise Rich and David Yeoman enjoying the magnificent going

The route: King's must be one of the few rides where the whole route could be cantered bare foot. The going is magnificent. The route is devised in such a way to keep the loops as far away from one another as possible and although this takes extra time with marking, keeps the riders much safer at the event as there is less chance of meeting and clashing with riders from different classes. Each track is walked, ridden and driven before finally deciding on the route to create the best possible course. A track which rides well one year may have changed by the next and a parallel track may be superior.

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Anna Bridges Best trip: “King’s always holds such poignant memories for me. It's where Sam (Crystal Wissam) often seems to have his best results - he did his first racing finish there many moons ago, won best condition in the National Championships and also where we secured our WEG 2014 qualification - in 34 degrees, that was a long day! It was also my first competitive ride back after having George, Sam stormed round the FEI2* 120km in to first place - more than I could have dreamed of as a come back!

What I love the most: “The absolute lynch pin to the success is Di and Paul Luke, along with their incredible team. Everything is so well organised, you just know it will all be on point and everything will run like clockwork.

“I will never forget being at my penultimate vet gate with Sam, just 20km short of our WEG qualification. The day had been unspeakably hot, hitting 35/36 degrees at times. And just as we received the all clear to go out on our final loop, Di appeared with some elderflower lemonade and scone for me... a heroine coming through the heat haze!

Anna Bridges with Crystal Wissam What the riders say: Louise Rich: Best trip: “My results at King’s Forest have covered many wins on different horses. OakleazeFarm Czamak has won a 1*,2* & 3* there all within an-18 month period. OakleazeFarm Cziko has also had successful completions there.”

What I love the most: “I absolutely love the forestry and the consistency of the route you can get a good rhythm which is always good for horses on a longer distance.”

Top tip: “My tip for a successful completion at King’s is self-control! King’s is a route that speed can take over as you can just keep cantering. It is very easy to get carried away and go too fast.”

Nicki Thorne: Best trip: “I’ve been lucky enough to have quite a few good results at King’s. In July 2018 I was first and the only finisher in the FEI 3* 160 on LM Bolena - but due an issue with an error on course and marking, it is only recorded as FNR with the FEI but to me she was a superstar winner and I loved every second of it. I have also won the FEI 3* 160 there in July 2015 on LM 42, who also won the FEI 1* there in April 2017 too.

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ride preview

What I love about it: “I love the atmosphere there - it’s so well organised by Di Luke and her husband Paul - they put their heart and soul into and it shows! I love riding in the forests - they are beautiful in all seasons and it’s so much fun to ride with good going for the horses which is a massive comfort factor when you are competing.”

Top tip: “It’s the perfect venue to take a young, up and coming endurance prospect with plenty for them to take in; a large venue, often a good few gazebos (!) but with a careful and welcoming approach where a little patience for a 'fresh' horse is always given.”

Top tip: “My top tip would be to just go and enjoy everything about it, pass or fail I’ve always had a brilliant ride there.”

Katie Bedwin: Best trip: “I’ve been very lucky to have some good results at King's Forest over the years especially in the CEI 2* including 1st with Elayla in 2014, 1st with Burfield Goodie Two Shoes in 2016, 3rd with Penhwnllys Samala de Mons in 2018 and 3rd with Aberllwyd Ibn Phariz in 2019.”

What I love the most: “I love the atmosphere of the ride; it is always so well organised and such a lovely route, you know you are going to have a good weekend!”

Top tip: “There are quite a few turns in the forest, and they can come up on quickly, so it’s imperative to keep your horse balanced and working from behind, to reduce the chance of injury from slips and trips.”

Images courtesy of David Saunders, who first began photographing horses back in 1999, at the Young Riders European Endurance Championships in Germany. Since then, he has specialised in equestrian events all over Europe, including our very own iconic rides such as King’s Forest, Golden Horseshoe and Red Dragon, capturing horses and riders at the peak of their ability.

For more information and bookings, please visit: www.saundersphotography.co.uk

endurance | endurancegb.co.uk

A chance to win!

VIP endurance

view competition

E

ndurance GB has teamed up with VIP Equestrian to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a VIP saddle pad worth £137.50 and cover shot position for the Autumn edition of Endurance magazine. The successful 2020 competition saw hundreds of entrants sending in breathtaking scenes whilst out exploring on horseback, with the winning image receiving over 2.9k likes over social media.

Many endurance riders use the Great British countryside to train with their equine partners and VIP Equestrian has challenged readers to share their finest endurance views.

Rules: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Photo must be a view through (between) horse's ears. No selfies/mirrors.

Images should be of high quality (above 2MB) and portrait format.

Leave space at the top for the heading and make sure it is very sharp.

Include horse/rider details and image location.

2020 winner - Eden Markl riding Lux Rising Sun (Patrick) at St Johns Chapel, North Pennines.

How to enter:

Send in your finest view photo to kerrydawson@endurancegb.co.uk Terms: Whilst the copyright of the photo will remain with the photographer, Matrix and Endurance GB reserve the right to use the image in connection with Endurance magazine, for promotional purposes. Images should be of a good size and resolution and original material. Entrants are permitted to send in more than one image. Images must be received by 30/04/21.

What makes the VIP different?

VIP’s unique raw material is called VEteq and is usually found in the human medical industry. Unlike other gel saddle pads, it is a viscoelastic polymer and on a molecular level, looks like honeycomb. Under pressure regardless of what forces are applied, the bobble design ensures uniform thickness and no bottoming out. Foams, memory foams and wool can deform over time in response to a rider's weight and horse's way of going - this can have further deleterious effects on the straightness of the horse and symmetry of the rider. VIP is ultra-durable and retains amazing protective properties.

The VIP is a great interface between horse and rider. Scientific testing puts VIP first in class for reduction in both peak and mean force (impact), for temperature regulation and reduced friction (sheer force). It is not sticky and can be used directly on the horse’s back or between saddle and saddle cloth and at 8mm it does not alter saddler fit. 90% of stockists are physiotherapists, saddlers and veterinary surgeons, recommending VIP worldwide, after seeing massive improvements in their clients’ horses’ softness in the back and an improved willingness to go forward. VIP has received many endorsements from professional and amateur riders for protection, prevention and cure of back and gait.

VIP is unique: • • • • •

• • • • •

Maintains shape under extreme and prolonged compression Soft, flexible and seamless with no pressure causing trims Moulds to your horses back A thin film gullet eliminates pressure on the horse’s spine Bobbles increase surface area, alleviating pressure points and evenly distributing weight Non-sticky, does not cause friction or pluck hair when removed Rigorously tested worldwide in 40 years of scientific research Universally trusted in human clinical and sporting settings Draws and disperses heat, regulating temperature Hypoallergenic, easily cleanable and does not support bacterial growth For more information please visit: www.vip-equestrian.com

competition

15

Spotlight

Photo courtesy of IndiePics

Veterans

in endurance Beth Langley is a full time Physiotherapist but her true passion is training endurance horses. Since starting the sport aged 8, Beth has represented Team GBR and competed on the World Endurance stage. Beth shares practical advice on promoting longevity and training with Endurance.

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longevity

endurance | endurancegb.co.uk

I

’ve had Tissy in my life since I was 10 years old so that’s 20 years this year, she had a turbulent start with some life threatening injuries but came out the other end fighting, little did we know the toughness she displayed during that time would be her legacy.

Tissy and I started our endurance journey together in 2005 and we went to our first European Championship in 2008 in Spain, followed by our first World Championship the year after in Hungary. Over the years since we’ve competed together for Team GBR five times including my first Senior Championship at the 2014 World Equestrian Games. I am so proud that the horse that gave me my first Young Rider cap was also the horse to take me to get me my first Senior selection. She’s taken me to places I would have never been otherwise and we’ve made lifelong friends all around the World.

At 23 years young she’s still just as up for an adventure and she certainly hasn’t slowed down, however we have had to change a few areas of her management. From about the age of 16 she needed more time for recovery between sessions, she could still train as hard but not as frequently. So, we changed from a

4 days on and 1 day off system, to training on alternate days.

Over the last 3 years we’ve also had to change her diet. Her teeth are deteriorating and she has arthritis in her jaw so she’s now on a diet of sloppy Baileys Ease and Excel nuts and Performance Balancer rather than her Endurance mix. Over winter she struggled to keep weight on as haylage became difficult to chew so she now has a forage replacement of British Horse Feeds Fibre beet and Speedi beet and is stabled at night so she gets a chance to eat it (my geldings would have the lot if I tried to feed it in the field), but for the last 22 years of her life she’s been out 24/7.

Her tack has also had to change a little bit as she’s aged, the arthritis in her jaw has caused two golf sized balls over the joint which meant a browband was no longer comfortable. I switched to a bridle without a browband and changed from a two part to one with bit hangers.

Tissy’s main achievements in her later years were winning the Red Dragon two day 160km and receiving Gold at the Golden Horseshoe two day 160km. Tissy was 20 years old when we tackled the Golden Horseshoe and the ride was ideally suited to her small, sure footed

Name: HS Ametista (Tissy for short) Age: 23 years Breeding: Bred by Halsdon Arabians (Platoon x Awangarda) Total KM: 3,440km Career Highlight: How do you pick one! I have been blessed with a horse whose whole career has been a highlight and every time I think about it I can’t believe how lucky I have been to partner with such an extraordinary mare.

We have represented Wales, Great Britain at Young Rider and Senior level, competed at the World Equestrian Games, won a European Championship medal, got Gold at the Golden Horseshoe, met the Queen after coming 2nd at the Royal Windsor Horseshow, won Red Dragon and been all over Europe.

Future plans: Tissy is enjoying her life retired from FEI but she’s still ridden every week, still loves new trails and does not act her age! Her main job now is as a kind of ambassador for the sport of Endurance. We’re trying to increase the exposure of the sport we all love by starting our YouTube channel (Beth Endurance), last year Tissy was ridden by Esme Higgs of ThisEsme and the video now has over 250,000 views.

frame. Tissy’s secret weapon has always been the speed in which she can come down hills and her ability to pace up them. Coming from Wales we had trained on hills our whole life and practised riding to effort, so keeping a steady pace uphill and usually faster down, this helps preserve energy and maintain a higher speed.

Tissy can maintain her balance at a canter down the Red Dragon hill like it’s the easiest thing in the world.

My plan and hope is that Tissy will continue to be ridden for as long as she enjoys it. I’ll take her out for the odd ride and a handful of social rides over the year. At the moment she’s trained 2-3 times a week, a mix of lunging, schooling and hacking just to make sure she maintains her muscle bulk and fitness. I’ve found that the older she gets the harder it is to get her strong and fit so instead of giving her 3 months off, like she had every year at the end of the season up until she was 20, she now steadily ticks over so that we minimise any muscle and fitness loss. I still give her two weeks off every 6 weeks to ensure she gets some downtime (not that she particularly likes downtime).

When I’m asked what I think made her so good for so many years, the real answer is pure luck mixed with raw talent and the best training and management I could give her. I have been so lucky to have such a talented and tough little mare, I’m unlikely to ever have a horse like her again. But I do believe there were a few things that stacked the odds in her favour.

•

We did very minimal miles, both in training and competition. I kept the training intensity high but the duration fairly low, rarely training over 20km. We selected only a handful of rides to do a year, for my selection for WEG we did only two rides that year, the 160km in April and then 160km at the Championship. The most amount of rides we ever did in a year was 6 and the most mileage was 534km.

•

She had at least 4 weeks off after every ride of 80km or more and 2 weeks off for any ride below 80km.

•

I have always ridden to the stats of a ride (or as best as I could). Tissy usually has a slow first loop and then starts to pick up the pace from there. I rode to a plan, based on how fit I knew she was and what I thought we were capable of: that plan could get us 50th or 1st place and that didn’t matter, it was just riding my plan, if it was good enough on the day great, if it wasn’t I knew I’d done my utmost to get the best result at that time and keep my horse safe.

longevity

17

Training

Tissy was on a one day on and one day off schedule in preparation for the Golden Horseshoe ride, her training was broken down into blocks of 4 weeks and I planned a 3 month training cycle running up to the event. Year on year Tissy got easier to train and to reach her peak fitness, in her prime it took 6 weeks to peak for an event, the more training they have under their belt and the better foundation of training they have, the easier it is to get them fit again.

However in her late teens, due to needing more recovery, the time it took to get her to peak fitness doubled.

slow bits and ended up with an average speed of 12.6kph.

I omitted any speed work from my training for Golden Horseshoe as it was just not needed. I planned to ride at around 13.5kph so that we had a little leeway for crew points, gates and any

Make sure you practise your gates! I truly believe that Tissy’s skill at gate opening improved our speed considerably.

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longevity

Photos courtesy of David Saunders Photography

The first 4 weeks consisted of pessoa lunging, hill walking with a band system (I have a 200m hill outside my yard we just walk up and down.

Up is great for glutes and down is good for their thoracic sling) and long slow hacks. The second block then swapped the hill walks and with ridden hill training at trot. The third block removed the lunging and replaced it with hill canters. So our training schedule looked like: 20km hack, hill trot work, hill canter work. For the trot work I walked back down the hill, for the canter work I cantered both up and down. Her training then tapered in the two week run up to the ride and she had the week before completely off.

endurance | endurancegb.co.uk

NEW

EASE&EXCEL CUBES

Loved by

s n a r e t e v Meg, 23 years old

on Ease & Excel Cubes EASILY SOFTENS TO A TASTY MASH FUSSY / VETERANS POOR-DOERS / LACK CONDITION FIZZY / STRESSY  LOW STARCH & SUGAR  High fibre & high oil  Complete with vitamins & minerals  With flavours of essential oils For your free sample: Baileys Horse Feeds Tel: 01371 850 247 (option 3) info@baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk

MADE IN OUR OWN

UK MILL

19

Ask the experts!

Caring for the

older horse

Our horses are an important part of the family and just like humans, they are living longer and healthier lives than those before them. If managed correctly, many horses continue to be active and competitive well into their late teens and early twenties and endurance horses are no exception.

Endurance magazine has teamed up with a panel of experts to discuss the challenges faced when caring for the older equine and what extra precautions could help keep them on top form for longer.

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horse health

features | endurancegb.co.uk

Stronger for longer

Our Experts

Laura Tollit BVSC MRCVS is an equine vet and IVCA veterinary chiropractor, with a special interest in lameness and poor performance.

Deborah Leabeater, MSc, CBiol, MRSB – Lead Nutritionist at Equine America (UK) Ltd., providing a range of pioneering and tailored supplements, to help achieve optimum health and performance.

The British Association of Equine Dental Technicians (BAEDT) promotes the professional training of technicians and promotes the need for equine dentistry to the general public.

Becky Grant, an equine policy administrator at KBIS British Equestrian Insurance, joined the team in 2016 and is the proud owner of an 11-year-old thoroughbred.

Q: I am considering taking on a slightly older horse who has previously competed up to advanced level endurance.

What are the pros and cons?

There are certainly many pros that often outweigh the cons when taking on an older horse. Many older horses need to slow down a little and cannot maintain their previous pace of life. This said while they are no longer competing at advanced they are far from ready to retire and can give another competitor several more years of fun .The most obvious advantage is their wealth of experience both day to day and in the competition environment. This can be an advantage both if you are looking to start out and compete at a lower lever or if you are

looking to move up a step. The horse will usually have a proven competition record so there isn't any question whether they will take to the sport and you can hit the ground running with the aim of having a fun filled season ahead.

In many cases you will be able to get in touch with previous owners, allowing you to suss out any quirks, or establish the horse’s favourite ways of doing things, or the best way to manage his health or certain environments.

Having a team of professionals surrounding you is very important with all endurance horses, or indeed in any equine sport, particularly with the older horse. By working together with your vet, farrier, physio/chiropractor, saddle fitter and dentist any subtle changes can be detected quickly and help to improve ongoing performance.

Unfortunately there are also some downsides to take into consideration. The older horse will have many years of wear and tear on their joints, often resulting in degenerative joint disease or arthritis. Access to previous history can certainly help in these cases as well as working alongside your team of professionals, in particular your vet. Changes such as these may be managed through the use of joint medication, corrective shoeing, supplements and careful training programmes but are very case dependant.

Veterans will need longer to reach peak fitness, may take a little more time to warm up at the start of the ride, and also longer to recover post ride. This just takes a little planning when you organise your diary.

Some of the above (such as medications, supplements and any additional therapies) does come with added costs. Don't let this put you off, the fun and experience that you can have with a veteran, and the enjoyment they get in their twilight years often outweighs the downsides!

horse health

21

Q: My 16 year old gelding has been diagnosed with low grade arthritis in his hocks.

My vet has advised that he is fine to continue his endurance workload (mostly straight lines and up to 64km), but is there anything else I can do to support him and slow down the process?

Degenerative joint disease or arthritis is one of the factors most likely to limit the working career of horse and ponies and occurs when the degree of wear and tear, a direct trauma, or the abnormal loading arising from poor conformation, all result in more damage than the body can repair.

A healthy joint is where two bones meet, and each end is covered with a layer of spongy, elastic, shock absorbing cartilage, which cushions the impact of work, especially on hard ground.

Cartilage is made from a collagen framework, filled in with water-retaining compounds called glycosaminoglycans or GAGs, which provide further elasticity and shock absorption. GAGs include chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid, and in a young, healthy horse, these GAGs are produced from building blocks or precursors supplied in the diet.

The healthy joint is encased in a joint capsule, containing synovial or joint fluid, to bathe and nourish the joint (cartilage has no blood supply, and relies on synovial fluid for nutrients to

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horse health

keep it healthy and repaired). Synovial fluid, which contains the GAG hyaluronic acid, should be viscous and elastic, and provides further lubrication and shock absorbing properties to the joint.

However, in older horses, the degree of longterm wear and tear, possibly coupled with earlier joint injuries, years of working on hard ground, or poor conformation, can all result in the ability to repair the joint being overwhelmed. The cartilage becomes thinner, less elastic and pitted, and the synovial fluid becomes less viscous, providing poorer shock absorption, and pain will result. The efficiency of the repair process will also reduce with age, so pain and lameness become apparent as the joint damage progresses.

Fortunately, early intervention, discussion with

your vet and nutritional support can all help to reduce the impact of degenerative joint disease in older horses.

Supplements providing collagen to support the cartilage framework, hyaluronic acid to help maintain the viscosity of the joint fluid, key amino acids such as glutamic acid, and trace minerals such as manganese to provide building blocks for the horse to produce his own GAGs, or the provision of the GAGs themselves, will be beneficial in most cases. Supplements may also include plant based or natural anti-inflammatories and antioxidants such as Boswellia, MSM and Turmeric. Glucosamine is another key component for joint health, helping to stimulate GAG production, and can either be made by the horse if the correct building blocks are provided in the diet, or it may be included in a supplement.

Cartilage is made from a collagen framework, filled in with water-retaining compounds called glycosaminoglycans or GAGs

features | endurancegb.co.uk

From inside out Q: Last year, my 15 year old Welsh Cross had a very mild bout of laminitis, as we approach Spring, what can I do to reduce the risk of this happening again?

If you are aware that your horse has even mild endocrine problems such as Equine Metabolic Disease (EMS), insulin resistance (IR), or may be showing signs of Cushings Disease – sometimes known as Pars Pituitary Intermedia Disease or PPID – then do have a conversation with your vet to check blood levels of key hormones etc, as these conditions can all trigger laminitic attacks, and may require medication.

Most owners are aware that they need to reduce the levels of sugars and starch as well as overall calorie levels in the diet of horses and ponies prone to laminitis, and of course Spring grass will be very high in some sugars.

Now is the time to plan how you can manage your grazing, ideally with a track system to encourage exercise rather than just strip grazing to reduce intake and if necessary, think about investing in a well-fitting muzzle.

Try to keep up with a regular exercise programme – hopefully easier as Spring approaches and the evenings become lighter, as exercise is vital for overall health and to help reduce the incidence and severity of laminitis attacks.

You are likely to need to reduce the amount of feed as the Spring grass provides more calories, but don’t forget to add a broad

spectrum, everyday vitamin and mineral supplement, as key micronutrient intakes may be reduced as you feed less in the bucket.

Targeted nutritional support for key metabolic areas in horses and ponies prone to laminitis such as insulin metabolism, hindgut metabolism and hoof health will also be useful - look out for supplements containing cinnamon (a source of key trace mineral chromium), chastetree (for endocrine

support), magnesium, folic acid to support blood vessels, pre and probiotics for gut health, as well as biotin, zinc and methionine to support hoof health.

If the worst happens despite your best efforts, look out for rapid nutritional support from supplements containing high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients for immediate support, often provided in an easy to feed liquid form.

Now is the time to plan how you can manage your grazing

horse health

23

Long in the tooth!

Q: When do a horse’s teeth stop erupting?

Horses are what is known as ‘Radicular Hypsodonts’ and as such their teeth constantly erupt throughout their lifetime, meaning they won’t stop erupting. However, this rate of eruption will slow as horses age, and as their teeth continue to erupt, they naturally taper as they get closer to the apex (root) of the tooth. This tapering leads to a more triangular shape of the teeth at the occlusal (chewing) surface and this can often lead to more gaps between the teeth, we call these senile diastemata(ta), which simply means old age gaps. These diastema (if there’s only one) or diastemata (if there’s more than one) can lead to painful trapping of food between the teeth and potentially cause periodontal disease and loosening of the affected teeth. In one study it was found that gum disease was present in 80% of horses over the age of 20-years-old. and antiinflammatory ingredients for immediate support, often provided in an easy to feed liquid form.

Q: What are the common dental problems seen in the equine veteran?

Dental disease in older horses is well documented.

The chance of your horse developing disease within his or her mouth increases as they pass the age of 15 years old. As previously stated, gum disease was found to be present in 80% of horses over the age of 20, these kinds of figures highlight the importance of regular check ups for the veteran horse, and we would recommend that all horses over the age of 15-years-old should be receiving checks from a qualified dentist or vet every 6 months. As veterinary care of horses has improved, so has the average age of the horse population and therefore we are seeing a greater number of age-related problems within equine dentistry. One of the commonest problems we see is that the chewing surface of the tooth becomes limited in horses over the age of 20-years-old, this will then go on to affect the horse’s ability to masticate (chew) long fibre forage e.g., hay or haylage. If this is not managed properly this can go on to have severe consequences for the horse. Another disease that we see with increasing frequency in the veteran is ‘Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis’ or EOTRH. This is a painful, deteriorating condition that predominantly affects the incisors but can also affect the canines and to a lesser extent the first premolars. This causes the teeth to become mobile and sore and can often lead to problems for the horse with grazing. If we suspect EOTRH in your horse, we will refer you

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horse health

back to your veterinary surgeon for further work and possible treatment. The key to managing the older horse’s mouth is regular check-ups and carrying out small amounts of work where possible. Some of the teeth will be slightly mobile as they are older. It is important to pay attention

to this when rasping teeth. If your horse cannot cope with eating their normal feed and forage then it may be that you need to change the diet, this can be achieved by working alongside your veterinary surgeon and an equine nutritionist where necessary.

features | endurancegb.co.uk

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25

Peace of mind Q. At what age is a horse classed as a veteran (is there a maximum age) and will I require a special policy?

At KBIS we understand how important our horses are to us. We aim to reflect this in the cover we offer so we can continue to provide peace of mind for our clients in their horse’s later years.

Instead of offering a specific veteran policy, we are able to continue to cover horses on our standard horse insurance up to and including 30 years of age. Veterinary Fee cover is available for accident, sickness and disease up to and including the age of 25 years old, where cover for accidental external injuries is available for horses up to and including 30 years old.

Q. Are there any insurance exclusions or requirements for a veteran horse?

There are no specific restrictions for a veteran horse to be insured with us. Unlike other insurance companies, the horse does not need to have been insured with us before a certain age to be able to benefit from the range of cover options available for veteran horses. As a standard across all equine insurance policies, all pre-existing conditions are not covered. A copy of your horse’s veterinary history will be requested and once received and reviewed exclusions for the preexisting conditions will be placed on your policy. Exclusions will also be included on any subsequent documentation you receive to make it clear and provide certainty (i.e. you know exactly what you are covered for and what limitations are placed on the policy). We are happy to discuss whether any exclusions may be placed when providing a quotation so you have the full information available to you to decide on the cover that is right for you and your horse.

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horse health

features | endurancegb.co.uk

Horse Insurance Flexible Cover, Trusted Service.

What optional covers do KBIS offer with veteran insurance?

At KBIS, there are a range of options available to veteran horses. Mortality cover is available for horse’s up to and including 30 years of age. If you are looking for full veterinary fees for your veteran horse, mortality cover must be included. Aside from this, the mortality section provides cover for death theft and straying. Restrictions are placed in regards to the maximum value they can be insured for, decreasing as the horse gets older, however, if you feel your horse is worth more it is an option for our team to refer it to Underwriters, where each horse is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

You can also choose to include veterinary fee cover for accidents, sickness and disease on the policy for horses up to and including 25 years of age.

Before the age of 16, there is a choice of up to 10 different veterinary fee options depending on the horse’s value and the activities he is used for. From 16 years of age, the most comprehensive veterinary fee option available is £3500 per incident, including an allocation of £500 for complementary treatment and £250 for hospitalisation costs. This is level of cover is available until the horse reaches the age of 20. At 21, the most comprehensive vet fee option still provides cover for accident sickness and disease, but is reduced to an annual limit of £3000 limit for veterinary fees only, rather than an incident limit. Once the horse has turned 26 years old, all cover is reduced to accidental external injuries only.

Alternative cover options include our standalone vet fee options. One of our most popular policies is our unique Catastrophe Cover which is available for horses up to and including 20 years of age. It can be purchased as a standalone vet fee cover from just £300, providing a £7500 limit in the policy period for accidental external injuries involving and open wound, plus 3 major surgeries; colic surgery, pastern and pedal bone fractures, and joint and tendon sheath flushing as a result of sepsis.

For horses up to and including 30 years of age, our Open Wound Only vet fee cover is available from less than £225 per year. This option provides cover for accidental external injuries involving an open wound with a limit per incident of £3,000.

Policies can also include Public Liability cover at £1, £2 or £3 million to protect you against claims made by any third parties for bodily injury or property damage. This will also extend to anyone riding or handling your horse with your permission as long as they are not being paid. You can also choose to include Personal Accident cover as well as having the option to include your tack and/or trailer all on one simple policy.

Contact us for a quote.

0345 230 2323

kbis.insure/yourhorse KBIS Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (300861)

27

Top tips

A guide to feeding the

veteran horse

Joanna Palmer BSc (Hons), Equine Nutritionist at Allen & Page Quality Horse Feeds offers her top tips for feeding veteran horses.

The Problem

Endurance horses come in all shapes and sizes …. and ages! Modern veterinary care and management practices mean our domesticated horses are living longer than ever before, with many remaining active and competitive well into their twenties and endurance horses are no exception. When it comes to fuelling your veteran through training and competitions, correct nutrition can be the key to success and longevity.

Feed according to individual needs

Although it can be tempting to treat a horse as a veteran simply because they have entered their late teenage years, it is important to only feed according to each animal’s individual needs and to pay close attention to your horse's condition

28

nutrition

Monitor weight and body condition score to avoid placing additional strains on the horse’s body and joints and energy levels. It is well recognised that as horses age, the efficiency of their digestive system declines and the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream is reduced. Whilst this means some older horses are more likely to lose weight and a change to a more nutrient dense and higher calorie feed may be required, others will remain good doers for their entire lives.

features | endurancegb.co.uk

Choose a veteran feed with low starch and sugar levels

Most feeds marketed for veterans tend to be higher in calories (energy) than standard maintenance feeds. This can be ideal for those horses that need a little more help to maintain an ideal body condition score than they perhaps did, but keep in mind that not only is the energy level of the feed important, the type of ingredients used in the feed to provide that energy is also crucial for health and performance.

When considering a veteran feed, look for those that are high in fibre and oil as these are good sources of slow-release energy. Avoid veteran feeds that contain whole cereal grains including barley, oats and maize for fast release energy which can have a negative effect on some horses’ behaviour and can increase the risk of laminitis and colic.

When looking for a medium/high energy feed, avoid whole grain cereals and instead choose one like Veteran Vitality, which has an energy level of 11MJ/kg – ideal for weight gain and also to fuel long distance exercise where stamina is vital.

For good doers showing no signs of unwanted weight loss in their latter years, offering a low calorie feed such as Veteran Light will provide all the benefits of a specific veteran feed, with a lower energy level of just 8MJ/kg – perfect for those watching their weight.

When fed at the recommended amount for your horse’s size and workload, balanced veteran feeds will contain all the essential vitamins and minerals horses need. Boosted levels of natural antioxidants vitamins C and E will support the immune system and help protect cells from the damage that is caused by free radicals. These free radicals are produced by many chemical reactions in the body, particularly during exercise. Feeds containing a

probiotic and blend of prebiotics will aid good digestive health, allowing veteran horses to gain the maximum nutrition from their feed.

Maintain fibre intake

Fibre is the most important source of energy for endurance horses, whatever their age. When fibre is digested by microbial fermentation in the hind gut, volatile fatty acids (VFAs) are produced which are used by the horse’s body as a source of energy in the presence of oxygen. The slow process of fibre digestion means that VFAs continue to be absorbed long after fibre is eaten. This energy is available to the horse for a long period of time during exercise – perfect for fuelling the long distances endurance horses cover in training and competition.

Fibre requirements for veteran horses are usually met with regular daily access to grazing and offering ad lib hay or haylage when stabled and out in the field when grazing is poor.

However, whilst your veteran endurance horse may still have as much energy and enthusiasm for his job as a horse half his age, the natural wear on his teeth and subsequent reduced ability to chew normal fibre sources may be having a serious impact on his health, condition and performance. It may be necessary to introduce a hay replacement feed into your horse’s diet to ensure essential fibre intakes are maintained. Soaked feeds can be fed as a partial forage replacer, offering fibre in a form that is easy to eat and digest.

Feed soaked feeds

A feed that soaks with water to form a soft, easy to eat, palatable mash is often relished by older horses regardless of the number of teeth they have and reduces the risk of colic and choke. Soaked feeds also offer the added benefit of increasing a horse’s water consumption, something that is invaluable to the hard-working endurance horse. Veteran

horses can be reluctant to drink enough water, particularly in the winter. Feeding a soaked hay replacer or bucket feed can significantly increase their water intake, which helps to keep the digestive system hydrated and able to function efficiently.

Take ailments into consideration

Sadly, with advancing age comes the increased likelihood of veterinary issues, many of which can be exacerbated by the horse’s diet. Whilst an increase in the protein content of the diet is beneficial for some veteran horses to help them maintain a good body condition, any horse with liver or kidney problems will require a low protein diet in order to reduce the strain placed on the already damaged organs.

Any horse or pony that is at risk of laminitis or any other metabolic disorders should only be fed feeds that are very low in starch and sugar (ideally below 10% combined). All veterinary issues need to be taken into account when choosing suitable feeds to ensure that the diet is suitable

Make dietary changes gradually

To minimise the risk of digestive upset, make any changes to the type and quantity of your horse’s feed gradually over the course of at least 10 days. This is good feeding practice whatever your horse’s age, but as veterans tend to have more sensitive digestive systems than younger horses, they are more likely to suffer from problems such as colic and loose droppings if dietary changes are made too quickly.

Ensure adequate water intake

To prevent dehydration, familiarise yourself with how much water your horse normally drinks in a day. You can then carefully monitor intake as training intensifies and ensure that your horse is drinking enough whilst competing and away from home. Some horses can be put off drinking water from an unfamiliar source, so it can be beneficial to take water along with you when away competing.

For more information on feeding the veteran endurance horse visit www.allenandpage. co.uk or call the friendly nutrition helpline on 01362 822902

Soaking using warm water also releases more flavours from the feed

nutrition

29

Winter Woes

A Stable

Environment Haygain is a global science driven company dedicated to equine health with products including hay steamers and stable flooring, both solving issues that come with the domestication of the horse.

L

imited turnout, endless rainy days and deep mud all make winter management of horses a very different routine to the spring and summer months. With horses usually spending more time being stabled over winter, preventative measures are vital to minimise the chance of a range of health issues developing.

Our horses’ prehistoric ancestors would roam freely and always be outside, so prolonged stabling becomes a very unnatural environment for them to be in, and physiologically they are not equipped for this lifestyle. Spending extensive time within the confinement of four walls means horses are more at risk to developing respiratory and musculoskeletal problems such as equine asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), osteoarthritis and joint diseases, because of poorly ventilated stables and hard, unsupported flooring.

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horse health

The Equine Respiratory & Musculoskeletal System

Horses are obligate nasal breathers meaning they only breathe in and out through their nostrils, passing the oxygen to the pharynx and larynx where the airways narrow and is the most significant site of airway obstruction even in a healthy horse. Then the air passes down the trachea/windpipe and to the lungs, so essentially this tube is the main passage for oxygen to get to the lungs. If any part of this “respiratory chain” becomes damaged each part will struggle to work efficiently and correctly, causing loss of function and poor circulation of red blood cells into the muscles.

Horses rely on their respiratory systems to fuel their cells mitochondria which use oxygen to release energy stored in sugars and fats, meaning they are unable to perform as well as they should.

The conformation of the horse is complex thus making them prone to injury and lameness if steps are not taken to minimise the risk. Hard stable floors put excess pressure and strain on the horse's body, which could lead to stiffness and inflammation of joints, osteoarthritis, ligament and tendon damage, and hoof pain.

The Dangers of Dust

As lovely as the thought of a deep, fluffy, cosy bed is for your horse, this is the worst thing for their respiratory health as you will be exposing them to thousands of dust particles. Selecting a dust free bedding will help but the whole concept of a deep, fluffy bed can be costly in terms of supplying and muck heap removal, as well as taking a lot of time to muck out thoroughly.

Spending more time in the stable can also pose a risk to human health due to dust particles and bacteria from urine and moisture releasing

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harmful ammonia gases that irritate both equine and human lungs, and thus impair human lung function also. Ammonia can cause irreversible health problems that will greatly affect both horse and human performance, so it is important that you and your equine are in contact with it as little as possible when in the stable environment.

Rubber Matting vs ComfortStall Rubber matting is usually the “go to” to make stables more comfortable, however many people do not realise it is only 3% softer than the concrete it covers. ComfortStall by Haygain is a veterinary approved stable flooring that is orthopaedic, fully sealed and impermeable that supports both the horse’s musculoskeletal and respiratory health. Co-developed with Cornell University Veterinary Hospital, New York with the goal to create a unique and durable flooring system that provides a cost-efficient way of providing horses with optimum comfort.

The orthopaedic padded design of ComfortStall means only a small amount of dust free bedding would be needed to ensure urea is soaked up, so there is no need for thick dusty stable bedding as the flooring itself offers better

Tips for managing the stabled horse

•

•

•

Feed your horse small, regular meals that are nutritionally complete to ensure their digestive systems are not affected by the change in routine and environment.

Ensure clean, fresh water is always available. If automatic drinkers are used, they must be cleaned and checked regularly, especially during the freezing winter months.

Regularly groom your horse as it not only improves the bond between you and your equine friend, but it promotes circulation that encourages muscle development and tone.

comfort than even the thickest of beds. This said, ComfortStall can reduce the amount of bedding you need to buy by up to 75%!

Unlike other rubber matting systems that you must fit together with multiple mats, ComfortStall has a fully sealed impermeable Ironclad Top Cover. This ensures that there are no gaps, joins or seams that bedding and bacteria can get stuck in. This is a gamechanger making it quicker and easier to do an entire

•

•

•

muck out because only a small amount of bedding is used, and as the top cover dries quickly it means regularly disinfecting the matting system is not a mammoth task.

As a unique surface that offers comfort, support and anti-slip properties it is no wonder it is used by renowned veterinarians, professional riders, horse owners and trainers all around the world.

Ask an equine physio for some stretches you could complete that will ensure your horse remains supple and comfortable despite spending more time indoors.

Ensure your stable is dry, warm, and well ventilated.

As they are naturally herd animals, a horse stabled alone may develop stable vices such as box walking, weaving and windsucking. If possible, ensure your horse can see other horses.

For more tips and advice please visit www.haygain.co.uk

horse health

31

Practice makes perfect

Travelling your

horse safely

I

f you own horses, there’s a good chance they will need to be transported at some point. There are many things to consider when travelling our equine friends, from loading and travelling problems, to vehicle checks, breakdown cover and insurance queries. With the majority of the country still on lockdown and restricted movement, this quieter period is an ideal opportunity to overcome any travelling issues and ensure a smooth journey once the season starts.

The travelling learning process Encouraging a horse to leave its companions and home environment to enter the confined space of a horse box or trailer is quite a big ask. We then compound the issue by

A massive thanks to our amazing contributors who provided the expertise for this feature.

Esther Groen is an international endurance rider and part of the Dutch national squad.

Through her business, Groen Equestrian, Esther offers a broad range of services both online and personal, and helps with problem solving.

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transport

introducing limited visibility, uneven movement, noise and engine smells! The actions of loading and travelling go against a horse’s natural instincts. They need confidence and trust in their handler in order to do it.

Before you start, check your horse’s basic groundwork is sufficiently established. The horse needs to be able to focus on the handler and the task required. Check your horse can do the following:

The majority of horses are easily adaptable and cope well with all kinds of situations. Their ability to cope depends on various factors such as age, temperament and past experiences and is also largely determined by how they are handled and managed through the learning process. The horse needs to have faith in their handler and not be rushed through the process and over faced. The trick is knowing when to apply more pressure and when to stop or even go back a level. Small steps and a consistent approach are vital.

•

Walk calmly in hand, stop when asked and then walk on again.

•

Walk in hand and then turn right and left.

•

Walk in hand over basic obstacles or through a narrow space.

Hamish Gillanders of hghorsemanship is an experienced horse trainer and a natural teacher, specialising in young horses. He has also represented the UK and Scotland in Polocrosse at Open level.

Jenny Lee is an equine bodywork practitioner and a member of the South East branch with her Arab gelding Blue. She has competed for team GB at canicross (cross country running with dogs).

These should be achieved without the horse dragging behind or barging ahead of the handler.

You want the horse to respond to body language and move willingly and intuitively.

Tom Janion, Equi-Trek Managing Director, first sat on a pony at 18 months old. The equestrian family started the company back in 1999 bringing modern, innovative and functional designs.

SEIB Insurance Brokers have been providing horse trailer insurance for over 50 years and offer a wealth of knowledge and experience on travel safely.

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Moving up through the levels 1.

The process starts at wherever the horse is comfortable or at least will accept without taking flight. At the most basic level this will be at the loading stage. Common issues that arise involve either the horse refusing to load or, loading but then wanting to charge straight off again. You do not need to tie up your horse or shut the partition/doors.

Make sure they have a clear escape route so they can make a panicked exit if necessary.

Use a long line so you can gather them back up and reload.

2.

You can now add a little more pressure by loading and then closing the partition. Stay in there with the horse for two minutes, on the other side of the partition, if safe to do so. To challenge the horse further you can tie with a quick release that you can untie safely.

3.

Load, tie up and shut the partition and the door. You may have a person left inside, on the safe side of the partition, to help ease into this next step. Start slowly extending the time that the horse is inside.

4.

As level 3 but you turn the engine on.

Again, you may need to have a person on board to reassure your horse when moving up to this level.

5.

It is here that you gently roll the vehicle

Case Study

Blue is a six year old Arab. He travelled to a new home from Cornwall, where he walked calmly off the ramp after seven hours and strolled into the field to graze. He then travelled in the same vehicle with a companion for a few short trips. All was going well until his first solo travel. He was agitated at being shut in and once in transit called out to a horse hacking along the road. Soon after he reared up and was travelling on his hind legs for a few minutes. On arrival, he was frightened, soaked in sweat and desperate to get out. Since, he has loaded well, with food, and travels calmly with a companion but hasn’t travelled solo.

forward a couple of metres, stop and then roll forward again. Gently increase the distance that you roll forward.

6.

A short drive of 5 minutes ideally on a smooth surface. Try to avoid a pot holed track or bumpy field. Slowly increase the time up to 10 minutes.

Within each level you can add or remove pressure, but you need to watch your horse’s reactions and use your common sense. Do not move on unless your horse is fully confident and comfortable with the existing level. Always try to finish on a good note and keep your end goal in sight. One of the best ways to reward your horse during training is to unload and leave him or her alone for a few minutes to relax and process.

In cases like this it is vital to get a full history of events and circumstances from the owner and any previous owners. Seeing the horse and handler interact is also most informative and it is important to understand both characters involved. It can be impossible to guess what triggers changes in behaviour, but a long journey combined with a new home can knock confidence.

Blue and his new owner had not yet built up a trusting, respectful relationship and their groundwork needed improving. While some of his behaviour was quite dominant, his underlying confidence was arguably fragile. When

Points to Remember •

The safety of you, as the handler, and secondly your horse is the highest priority.

Horses are fun but loading a frightened or reluctant horse is risky. Don’t be afraid to seek professional help.

•

To travel well a horse needs to load well and then unload calmly without rushing. Do not advance until this step is ‘nailed down’!

•

Travel training is an ongoing process.

Keep alert to their behaviour and if they start showing anxiety when travelling or reluctance to load, then address it and practise it.

travelling with a companion Blue could take confidence from them but travelling solo meant that his ‘safety blanket’ had been ripped away.

Separation anxiety could be a strong contributing factor and should be addressed first. Start the travelling learning process once he is able to calmly leave the yard for a walk/hack.

Proceed slowly but with intent, don’t be downhearted if progress is sporadic - reward with plenty of rest breaks for reflection. A horse’s goodwill is like a bank account – if you keep taking you can get overdrawn. Rest breaks allow your horse to top up their psychological bank account!

transport

33

A safer journey!

Reducing the

Stress

A

s many of us frequently travel horses to endurance competitions or to the vet/farrier, it is important to remember that transport can have effects on health, welfare and performance, even for horses that appear to travel well. The good news is there are many things you can do to reduce and even eliminate factors that may impact your horse negatively.

Travel can result in dehydration, increased stress responses, weight loss, respiratory and gastrointestinal issues. It is generally considered that any journey under three hours long will be unlikely to affect performance and carries a small risk to health.

To ensure travel goes smoothly there are

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transport

several things to consider, starting with your horsebox or trailer. First of all, any form of transport must be suitable for your individual horse (horse’s size, weight, loading behaviour and preference for orientation must all be considered). Around two-thirds of horses when travelled loose adopted a rear facing position and several studies have shown that generally horses travel better (lower heart rate, fewer impacts and fewer losses of balance) when rear facing. Many horses don’t load well with a split half ramp as there is too much for them to process all at once – not only are they stepping on to the ramp but they are also putting their head into the horse box and moving straight inside. A low and inviting full ramp allows the horse to get all four hooves onto the ramp before going inside,

breaking the process down. Safety doors either side of the ramp are important and so is a heavy duty slip resistant ramp with treads.

Also a lot of horses prefer a side loading ramp as the space they are being asked to go into is open and inviting.

It goes without saying that all horseboxes and trailers must be correctly maintained and serviced in line with the manufacturer’s warranty. Regular checks must be made to tyres, brakes, fluid levels, windscreen wipers, lights, battery, flooring and ramp. Once you are confident your vehicle/trailer is safe for the road and suitable for your horse, you can start to think about how to make each and every journey as comfortable and stress-free as possible.

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Trailer insurance explained Trailer Security Insurers will expect some security on the trailer; use a wheel clamp, hitch lock or ball clamp.

These are vital security measures that must be in place for trailer insurance to be valid. It is likely that the insurer will also want to know the serial number of the trailer before placing it on cover so have this with you when applying for cover.

Many equestrians own horse trailers as a cost effective alternative to a horsebox. It is important to be fully protected with a comprehensive horse trailer insurance policy, including appropriate breakdown cover to keep both you and your horses safe should something go wrong when you are out and about.

Due to the pandemic, some trailer owners may think they do not need to insure it or even choose to cancel or not renew the policy as your private car covers the aspect of liability for towing; however, there are many reasons to have trailer insurance too. Thefts are the second largest cause of horse trailer insurance claims after accidental damage and it is likely that this will continue, despite current circumstances, theft can be extremely costly as the trailer is unlikely to be recovered.

Insurance Cover and Trailers Trailers are usually insured for liability, fire, theft and accidental damage plus breakdown but not contents. It is advisable to insure the horses separately particularly if they are out and about a lot. The tack and saddlery can be added to a horse policy or could possibly be covered on the household but it is imperative to check with the insurer to understand the extent of the cover purchased.

So many people are at home in lockdown that you might expect that thefts would have stopped too; unfortunately, this does not appear to be the case.

Thieves are still operating and are unlikely to be following the social distancing advice issued by the Government; sadly, they are more than likely to be looking at less busy yards as an opportunity.

Breakdown From breaking down with a horse on board to preparing to travel ahead of a big competition, horse owners can face many unique problems.

Use a breakdown service that can deal with horses on board that not only protects the trailer but the towing vehicle, even if they are not attached to each other. What’s more, this add-on needs to handle transportation or accommodation for passengers and horses if repair at the roadside is not possible.

Standard breakdown cover will possibly transport people and vehicles but is unlikely to take care of the horses.

Another consideration is public liability insurance for the trailer when not attached to the towing vehicle. This should be included automatically within a trailer policy and is very important element. For example, a trailer could roll down a hill or cause injury while not attached to the towing vehicle so standalone liability cover should be a priority.

Top Travel Tips •

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Don’t rush your loading and allow plenty of time so your horse is calm and relaxed when setting off Make sure you have planned your route in advance and have a Satnav or a map in case of road closures Drive as smoothly as possible with gradual acceleration/deceleration and gentle braking.

Aid hydration by providing a soaked haynet during transport, this will also help with air quality Ensure there is good ventilation in the horse area

References

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•

•

• •

Open all available ventilation even in winter and rug your horse to maintain a reasonable temperature - Don’t over-rug – sweating due to excess heat is worse than a horse that is a bit cool.

If you are travelling in summer or on a hot day try to travel at the coolest part of the day Use a dust free bedding material during transport to help soak up any urine and reduce the irritating effect of ammonia Take your horse’s temperature before travelling to make sure he isn’t unwell Always carry extra food and water (for

Waran, N.k., Robertson, V., Cuddeford, D., Kokoszko, A. and Marlin, D.J. (1996) Effects of transporting horses facing either forwards or backwards on their behaviour and heart rate. Veterinary Record, 139, 7-11.

Clark, D.K., Dellmeier, G. and Friend, T.H. (1993) The effect of orientation during trailer transport on heart rate, cortisol and balance in horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 38, Issues 3–4, 179-189

•

•

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horses and people) in case your journey is delayed Make sure you have a basic equine first aid kit on board to treat any minor injuries For long journeys make stops to offer food and water and untie your horse’s head to give them a chance to stretch down which may help to clear the airways Arrive at your destination in plenty of time to allow the horse to relax and get used to his new surroundings before you tack up to ride

Gibbs, A.E. and Friend, T.H. (1999) Horse preference for orientation during transport and the effect of orientation on balancing ability. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 63, 1–9 McGreevy, P., Waran, N.K. and Weeks, C.A. (2012) Welfare issues related to transport and handling of both trained and unhandled horses and ponies. Equine Veterinary Education, Volume 24, Issue 8, 423-430

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35

credit Kris Clay/TopGearPhotography

Scottish Standardbreds

A change

of pace

36

serc

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credit Kris Clay/TopGearPhotography

C

What is a Standardbred?

Standardbred horses are well-muscled.

They have a body that is longer than average, a bit heavier than a Thoroughbred in comparison, and powerful shoulders that are supported by solid legs. They are best known for their abilities in harness racing, since the Standardbred is effective at trotting or pacing.

"Standardbreds are horses with an extra gear – the pace " Standardbreds are horses with an extra gear – the pace - so naturally they have all the other ‘regular’ horse gears.

The Standardbred's strong work ethic, good feet, consistent trot, physical versatility and flexibility with being handled by many different people make them ideal for endurance riding, where versatility, strength, and a cool temperament are a must.

credit Peter Orr

Standardbreds have been a prolific breed

credit West End Photography

heryl Wallace is perhaps best recognised for her long partnership with her chestnut Arab, Wrightfield Omar, but a constant thread for the past 30 years of her riding life has been her affection for Standardbreds.

in Scottish endurance since the mid 1980s.

Glasgow Branch in particular was renowned for having more Standardbreds in their membership than any other breed at one time - so you can imagine my joy when I joined in 1991 with my 5 year old Standie, Del Boy Sand, to discover that at that time two well-known members were doing amazing distances with their Standardbreds.

Carol Imrie from Glasgow and her 11 year old Regal Adios were at the height of their career, coming 5th at the 164km Summer Solstice ride in June and in 1992 they travelled to Holland to Exloo as part of the British B team completing 130km, and also competed at the Red Dragon 2 day 160km later in that year. (The second well-known member was Linda Hannah with William Adios.)

So why a Standardbred?

Why not? If you want to get out and have fun with a horse that is hard wearing and does not mind trotting for miles as opposed to cantering - although lots of owners spend time schooling for the canter whereas some Standardbreds do canter freely.

They range in height from around 15 to 16hh. They are loving, level headed, loyal companions that aim to please. They are as tough as nails and give you their all. Similar to Thoroughbreds, they are mainly bred for a job on the track and many can be purchased for very little money. They aim to trot a mile in just under two minutes not that speed is required to compete in

Opposite:Cheryl Wallace with Nitevision Top: Cheryl with Rodney Bottom: Mairi Black with Del Boy Sand

endurance - but a good hard set of limbs, feet and large lungs do help.

Their main colour is bay with little or no white - no mud fever and no sunburn is a joy ...

As to what to feed, how to keep them and how to train them - like any breed, every horse is different and what works for one may not work for another.

Having lost my second Standardbred, Rodney, in 2011 at the age of 20, who competed at 80km rides, I felt five years was too long without one in my life, despite owning two Arabs. My current boy is a whopping 16.2hh …. not my usual height of horse, but priced at £450 four years ago and in need of his forever home - Nitevision was certain he did not want to go racing - I brought him home, had his shoes taken off the next morning as my horses are all barefoot, and - despite his wonky front legs, odd feet and clicky back legs - together we have fun. Not the perfect endurance horse conformation-wise, but for me he was never intended to climb the distances. He adores being around people and tries with everything you ask of him - even the odd jump, although it has to be 65cm before he will make a jump shape ....

What more could you want?

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37

Office life “I have not seen another endurance person since I saw Rosemary Henderson in the office back in January 2020, and before that it was at the Annual General Meeting in November 2019. My sofa has become my office and it is quite a weird feeling. I have found it all quite hard.”

The first lockdown coincided with a number of personal challenges including his grandmother’s diagnosis with cancer.

“I have like everyone really struggled at times.

When my nan was diagnosed with terminal cancer we just wanted to spend as much time with her as we could and it wasn’t possible.”

As restrictions started to lift over the summer, Darren was able to return to work part time in August. He used his spare furlough time productively, discovering green fingered talents and revamping the garden at home.

“We grew vegetables and flowers and it was lovely and then when restrictions eased, I was given a Merlin pass and was able to spend time at their attractions including Alton Towers and Warwick Castle.”

Being

Mr Endurance

F

or many members, Endurance GB’s administrative officer, Darren Butler, is the friendly voice on the phone or via email who will sort out any issues from how to join for new members right up to FEI ride entries for overseas riders. Here he tells Elizabeth Peplow about his role.

Ask Darren Butler to walk you through the process of competing abroad as a UK-based overseas rider and he will calmly explain the various hoops involved, ask him to talk you through the finer points of a horse, and he will freely admit, he is not a horseman. The 32-yearold former health officer with Nuffield Health, has however become Mr Endurance in just three

38

spotlight

short years since joining Endurance GB, becoming an adept sports administrator with a certain fondness for our slightly off-the-wall sport.

“I tell friends who I work for and they are amazed that horses can go so far in a day. They ask if it is safe, and I explain all the measures we have in place and how well the horses are looked after,” says Darren, who lives 15 minutes from the office, in Leamington Spa, with his partner Dave.

Darren worked full time for Endurance GB until Covid-19 struck and was furloughed when the scheme was announced by Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor.

Currently Darren is working part time for Endurance GB and has been helping pull the ride schedule together. Darren will be involved in helping arrange the ‘virtual’ volunteers conferences and as the season opens up, he’ll be there to deal with ride related queries.

One of his major roles of the year is normally organising the gala dinner which usually runs in conjunction with the AGM. “It’s a great opportunity for me to meet everyone involved with the sport, from the riders to ride organisers and volunteers.”

Darren also hopes to add attending a few more rides to his ‘to do’ list in 2021. “So far I have only been to Thoresby in Nottinghamshire and I really enjoyed getting involved, handing out bibs at the start and going round the route to hand out water to the stewards at the checkpoints. It gave me a real feel for the sport and what goes on which you can’t pick up so easily sat at a desk.”

“One or two of the members were saying in 2019 they want to get me on a horse, but luckily Covid stopped that,” he laughs.

Darren can be contacted via enquires@ endurancegb.co.uk. His office hours are currently Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 09:00 – 17:00. Tuesday and Thursday from 09.00 – 12.30.

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Diversity in sport

Endurance GB

celebrates equality milestone

E

ndurance GB has joined British Dressage and the British Horse Society in achieving the foundation level of the Equality Standard for

shared with stakeholders 3.

is aware of its current profile and position in terms of equality.

Achieving our Equality Standard for Sport foundation level is a significant milestone, but it’s just the first step,” said Phil Nunnerley, Chair of Endurance GB.

Sport.

The standard is a framework that assists sports organisations to widen access for under-represented individuals, groups and communities, and to reduce inequalities in sport and physical activity. It is built around developing both the organisation and the organisation’s services, and has four progressive levels – foundation, preliminary, intermediate and advanced.

Endurance GB’s Operations Director Esther Young said that the sport has worked to develop policies, make changes to practices, and produce a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate that the organisation: 1.

demonstrates a clear commitment to equality

2.

has a policy for equality which has been

The portfolio of evidence submitted by Endurance GB was assessed by British Equestrian and externally assessed by an independent external verifier.

“I’m very pleased that Endurance GB together with British Dressage and the British Horse Society have had their portfolios assessed and can demonstrate that they are working at the foundation standard,” said David Butler, Head of Participation at British Equestrian.

“The member bodies share British Equestrian’s commitment to equality and diversity, and are united in making equestrianism an activity open to anyone who wants to be involved, in whatever capacity and level they want to take part. They also share our desire to encourage even more diversity in equestrian participation.”

“Accessibility and inclusivity at all levels are central to the ethos of Endurance as a sport and it is vital that we remain true to this by continuing to adhere to the values of diversity and equality in everything that we do".

Esther Young added: "We are delighted to have achieved the Equality Standard in Sport foundation level. Endurance riding is already a friendly and inclusive sport, and working towards this award has enabled us to bring all of our positive achievements in the para equestrian endurance space together with the other diversity strands and protected characteristics".

“We have worked closely with the British Equestrian’s other sporting disciplines to share best practice and we have improved the governance structures that sit around our Equality Policy. Achieving the foundation standard is just the beginning and there is still a long way to go – our next steps will be to develop an Equality Action Plan to ensure that we are doing everything that is within our gift to remove barriers to participation."

Photo courtesy Harry McMillan/Peak Photography

The Equality Standard for Sport is managed

by UK Sport and the Sports Councils for the four home nations, and was first launched in 2004. It was later relaunched in 2012 to reflect the latest equality legislation.

Several other federation member bodies are in the process of achieving the foundation level of the Equality Standard for Sport.

British Equestrian currently holds the intermediate level and is working towards the advanced level.

diversity

39

Diversity in endurance

We have more in common with each other than that which divides us Esther Young, Operations Director and endurance rider gives her personal perspective on why the sport has inclusivity and diversity at its heart.

W

hen I was asked to write a piece of commentary on the Equality Standard, I had two angles I could take. I could take a very dry and academic stance, or I could write from the heart. I'm afraid I've gone personal. Because this is personal, and it can only be personal. It's about how all of us fit into this crazy, eccentric sport and how we can encourage others to join us.

What is it they say? We are all in the same storm but we are not all in the same boat.

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diversity

Your mileage, and views, may vary, but what follows is the view from my boat.

Increasing our understanding of equality and inclusion is even more important in these Covid times. The pandemic has not affected people equally. I take my hat off to anyone trying to navigate the pandemic with children, balancing home schooling with trying to earn a living. Those in front line services and public facing roles have had to put themselves in harm's way to keep the country running. People are losing their

livelihoods, and their lives. The disease itself has a disproportionate effect on those with underlying health conditions and on older people, and the impact varies by ethnicity too.

It was a joy to pull together all the evidence of good work that we have done in the Equality space over the last few years and I was so pleased when we achieved the Foundation Standard. We have a lot to be proud of. But we also have a long way to go. We do still have big gaps, and making ourselves more accessible and welcoming for people who

endurance | endurancegb.co.uk

might fall through those gaps will have positive benefits for anyone joining or participating in the sport, regardless of their background.

Visibility is important

It is very difficult to be what you cannot see.

It's not impossible, but it is so much easier if someone else has blazed a trail before you. So yes, while your differences shouldn't be anyone else's business, we do need trailblazers to make things easier for those that follow them and to dispel any preconceived ideas. It enables others to see something that they can identify with.

When I first started Endurance riding nearly 25 years ago, I remember going to my first AGM and Dinner. I'd come from the 'conventional' world and had grown up under Section 28. I didn't fit in with the 'normal' equestrian scene and I struggled with social interaction. I'd been bullied at school and work. And then there, at my first AGM, was an out gay woman in a leadership position just getting on with it with no-one batting an eyelid. I think that was the first time it really hit home to me that I truly had found a sport where I could be myself.

Finding where you belong

Then the other year I finally went to the doc about my anxiety. I've always had it - periods of intense hyper focus followed by feeling completely overwhelmed. To which the doc kindly explained that it wasn't traditional anxiety, it was likely an autistic meltdown.

Then everything else added up - my inability to keep eye contact, my lack of house training, my complete inability to recognise anyone even if I've known them years, always feeling like I hadn't been given the same instruction manual for life that everyone else had. But it also explained my apparently guru like tendencies and my ability to quickly understand complex processes and legislation and to explain them to others.

I then twigged how amazing this sport is for those of us who are neurodiverse - another reason I had felt so at home. The obsession with maps. The diligence over the horse's fitness. The maths. The route planning. The rules. The solitude. The people you meet on the trail who you can just talk to without having to keep eye contact with them. The fact that everyone wears their own distinctive style and colours which makes them easy to spot (and no-one is going to judge you for not recognising someone without their riding hat on....). No wonder I felt like I'd found where I belong.

A sport with something for everyone

The beautiful thing about Endurance is that it does have something for everyone. Every single person out there on the trail from 16km

to 160km has an inspirational story to tell.

There have been times when most of the international team have had underlying health issues which would technically qualify them as disabled if they were so inclined - the determination which keeps you going through health issues is the same determination which will get you across the finish of a 160km. Our inclusivity and diversity, and our eccentricity, is a massive selling point for our sport and we are a very attractive prospect for those who maybe don't fit in elsewhere.

So whilst you might not think that you personally have much to offer in terms of diversity, believe me you do. The most important thing that we can do to promote our sport is for us all to tell our own individual stories. Whether that is overcoming health obstacles, balancing childcare, picking yourself

up from a dark place in your life, competing whilst studying, competing on a shoestring, making a new start in a different area of the country, rehabilitation of a horse, making your first steps into the FEI world against the odds - those stories are all inspirational.

Get the message out there to those looking in so that instead of thinking 'Oooh, no, I couldn't do that', they think 'I can do that, and I will'.

Diversity is intersectional - no one fits nicely into just one box. By sharing those inspirational stories, you are breaking down barriers and leaving breadcrumbs for the next set of trailblazers to follow.

And yes, if you are talking to me at a ride and I'm looking a bit blank, it's not personal, I just won't have recognised you so please drop your name into the conversation!

diversity

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Not just the horse!

How fit do you

need to be?

I

feel quite strongly that we should all be fit to ride. What that constitutes for each of us will vary a fair bit, as well as just ‘how fit’ you need to be to go the distance. As quite obviously you don’t need to be quite as fit to ride a 32km at 10kmph compared to a 120km at 18kmph…

The types of exercise and quantity you do will also depend on preference, how much time you have to give and what your aims are. For many FEI riders, making weight (75kg for senior 3*, 70kg for senior 2* & 1* and 60kg for YR class) is a key consideration so there are riders that are aiming to increase their weight and those that are looking to decrease it too. Obviously, for some riders, their height is a big restriction in making weight and so it’s just about optimizing their weight as best they can. I am a firm believer that a horse will have an easier time carrying a strong balanced rider no matter how much they weigh.

For this reason, I focus a great deal on strength, balance and mobility work as well as more targeted ‘endurance’ work. For me this is longer distance cycling and rowing as I am lucky enough to have a rowing machine at home. Whilst cardiovascular fitness is of course important, and it’s a good idea to raise your heart rate enough to feel out of breath at least a couple of times a week, for the most part endurance riding at a steady trot/canter should certainly not have you anywhere near to feeling out of breath. You should be comfortably able to maintain the pace all day long without ever really raising your heart rate (bar moments of extreme adrenaline such as the start line or near miss situations!).

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blog

When I am in the height of the season I will aim to complete 10 pieces of exercise per week. Just over half of those will be matwork or strength focused sessions and only take between 3040mins to complete. The main focus is glutes and hip mobility as these are the key stabilisers for staying in the saddle as well as more general core. This will involves a lot of: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Plank (high and low) Side plank Dynamic plank Plank jacks Plank shoulder taps Roll outs V sits Crunches Bicycle crunch Russian twists Heel touches Swimmers legs Bridges/hip thrust Scissors Toe taps Leg raises Clams Supermans Mountain climbers Squats Squat jumps Squat hold Bulgarian split squat Deadlifts Sumo deadlifts Lunging Crab (monster) walk Step ups

A lot of these will be performed with resistance bands, weights or even on the exercise ball or foam roller.

I’ll then aim to do one or two sprint/explosive/ max HR/interval type sessions which could be a circuit involving some of the listed exercises, or it could be running or on the rowing machine.

The remaining sessions will be more endurance focused so longer distance, ‘steady-state’ work where it will be more duration focused than specific speeds. When competing regularly I find I don’t need to fill in the gaps with so much of my own endurance training as I naturally end up doing this at rides. I can then do more matwork and less km on the bike and rowing machine.

For me, the take home message is to do what you can. Ideally if you are looking to compete at 80km + level I do think you should commit to at least three sessions a week and the more the better. However, a couple of quality sessions a week focusing on strength & mobility will be far better than nothing at all! So even if you don’t currently do any exercise, make a start – you won’t regret it!

Bella x

regulars | endurancegb.co.uk

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