Endurance GB November/December 2019

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Winter Care & Management Forage and feed

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Celebration edition

November/December 2019

Official members' publication for Endurance GB

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In this

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

issue

Publisher

Unit C, Northfield Point, Cunliffe Drive, Kettering, Northants, NN16 9QJ t: 01536 527297 e: info@matrixprint.com Designed by Matrix Print Consultants Ltd Alex Morris 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: January/February by 10th January. If you wish to advertise in the January/February 2019 issue, artwork deadline is 21st January. 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.

Cover Photo Christmas stocking

Follow us on Social Media Twitter @EnduranceGB

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Regulars 4 6 8 48

Future Focus Endurance GB Chair Phil Nunnerley News

Group updates and a competition

Endurance GB News

The latest from the AGM and Board

SERC

The Scottish Team at Red Dragon

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Features 10 12 14 16 37 38 40 42 44 46

Photo from Shutterstock

by LiliGraphie

Volume 16 – Issue 6

Celebration

Forage Explained

Mycotoxins and the Horse

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Saddle Fit

Member Case Study

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Mud Fever

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Hay Replacers

Endurance Essentials

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Winter Safety

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Bits for Endurance Male Focus

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29 30 33

Facebook @EnduranceGB Instagram @endurancegbinsta

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National Awards 2019 results

Supreme Champion Judy Holloway

Young Rider Award Saffron Bishop

British Young Rider Maddie Pomroy

Novice Ride Champion Jenny Newby

Senior Grand Prix Award Nikki Malcolm

Highpoint Male Rider John Black

Young Rider Tribute Katie Bedwin

Junior Champion Award Ella Pomroy

Veteran Champion Valarie Bradshaw

Open Ride Champion Emma Martin

ISSN 2516-2349

contents

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Future Focus Phil Nunnerley New Chair

Dear members, I am delighted & honoured to be writing this as your new Chair. It was lovely to see many of you at the AGM and Awards dinner to celebrate the numerous successes achieved this year. My thanks to everyone involved in organising the event for all their hard work.

It has been a year of much change within the Board and my thanks go to Rebecca Kinnarney for working so tirelessly whilst Chair; to Sue Box and Ann Dark who subsequently stood in & John Robertson who has stood down after many years of service to Endurance GB. All will be sadly missed from the Board. One of my aims is to ensure stability of the Board which, apart from myself, includes new Directors Rosemary Attfield, Chris Wray and Antonia Milner-Matthews. All three have a wealth of experience and knowledge between them.

The AGM advised that Endurance GB made a small loss in 2018. More detail about finances was requested. I believe it important for members to understand our sources of income, how it is spent and therefore the need for not just increasing income but also exercising prudence over all spending if we want our society to be sustainable. Chris & I will work on providing more detail for you.

As you will know, our sponsorship contract with HPower expired in August. We are looking at a new sponsorship model for the future which may include HPower but also allows for other major sponsors to come on board.

2019 was a successful season with increased national ride entries. These rides cannot run without the incredible hard work of our wonderful Ride Organisers and army of volunteers to whom I say a heartfelt thank you. Endurance GB is not alone in seeing fewer people volunteering so we must ensure we cherish those putting their hand up to help so they in turn encourage others to join the fun and learn more about our sport. If you feel you can help in any way please contact your local Group. Our aim is to maintain endurance riding as a sport available and welcoming to all, with a wide programme of events.

Last but by no means least, what an incredible achievement by our International team at the European Championships in August. Well done to everyone involved in that success!

I wish you all an enjoyable & successful season in 2020 & look forward to meeting many of you at our events.

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future focus

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Endurance GB Board of Directors

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 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 & Insurance CONSTANCE NEWBOULD T: 0131 445 2235 M: 07973 726001

Vice Chair, Operations Director, IT and BEF Equality Action Team Representative ESTHER YOUNG T: 07454 929919 E: estheryoung@endurancegb.co.uk Communications Director & Sponsorship KERRY DAWSON T: 07818 283144 E: kerrydawson@endurancegb.co.uk Disciplinary, Welfare and Safeguarding ANTONIA MILNERMATTHEWS T: 07712 559256 E: antoniamilner-matthews @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.

endurancegb.co.uk

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“Extra water to help keep them hydrated on long rides!”

It is essential that endurance horses are well hydrated and have plenty of energy to ride long distances.

Allen & Page feeds provide my horses with all the energy and power they need to perform without making them fizzy.

The soaked feeds also provide extra water to help keep them hydrated on long rides!

– Carol Chapman on Silver Prince Sadik (Prince)

QUICK SOAK

60

seconds!

The Quick Soak Fibre Provider Low starch and low sugar (7.5% combined) suitable for laminitics

High in fibre can be fed as a partial hay replacement

Low calorie / energy level ideal for good doers

Fully balanced with vitamins and minerals

Contact our award-winning helpline for more information and nutritional advice 902 | helpline@allenandpage.co.uk 01362 822 90

www.allenandpage.com

The latest

News and Updates WIN! Naturally nutritious Dengie Pure Grass

We’ve teamed up with Dengie to offer three lucky winners a bale of their new Pure Grass. Simply answer the question below:

Dengie Pure Grass has an energy level of? a) 8MJ/kg b) 5MJ/kg c)10MJ/kg

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he 2019 2019 British Equestrian Trade Association National Equestrian Survey has shown that once again Dengie is the UK’s favourite horse feed! The survey also revealed a marked increase in horse owners feeding fibre-based diets.

Dengie, is delighted to introduce NEW Dengie Pure Grass, a naturally nutritious 100% chopped grass feed with absolutely nothing else added!

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news

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Made from pure, British grown grasses including Fescue, Rye and Meadow Grass, Dengie Pure Grass is soft, easy to chew and highly palatable. It is also extremely versatile being suitable to use as a hay replacer or extender to provide more enrichment in the stable as well as bulking out the bucket feed.

The grass in Dengie Pure Grass is harvested early to ensure it is highly digestible making it very sympathetic to the horse's digestive system. Pure Grass is free from artificial flavours, preservatives, alfalfa, molasses, coatings and straw making it an ideal feed for horses with food intolerances. The natural sweetness of the grass also makes this a great feed to tempt fussy feeders. This exciting new addition to Dengie’s already extensive range of high-fibre feeds gives horse owners an alternative of a superior quality consistent feed.

Send your answer to feeds@dengie.com (Closing date 15/01/20) For help and advice on all aspects of feeding call the Dengie Feedline: 01621 841188 visit the website www.dengie.com

Endurance GB responds to FEI rule changes

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ndurance GB has issued a response to the new FEI Endurance Rule Changes voted in by an ov overwhelming erwhelming majority at the FEI General Assembly in Moscow yesterday.

Esther Young, Endurance GB Operations Director said: “Endurance GB is extremely pleased that the new FEI rules have been passed with such a strong majority, as it shows the level of support worldwide for a real culture change in the sport.

“We are disappointed that the compromise position on Young Rider weight was not agreed, but we are very glad to see that there is now more emphasis on the horse and rider progressing as a partnership, and that there are increased penalties for excessive speed. We also welcome the increased clarity on rest periods.

“Our thanks go to Endurance GB member and vet, Sarah Coombs, who has chaired the FEI Temporary Endurance Committee to reach this point, to Iain Graham, Acting Chief Executive of the British Equestrian Federation, who represented the Endurance GB position in Moscow, and to the Endurance GB and SERC members who provided such valuable feedback and opinion on the proposed rules.”

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Horse and Hound awards

South East Group

K

erry Dawson reached the finals of the Horse and Hound awards in the Prime Stables Volunteer of the Year category, and attended the Horse and Hound gala dinner on 4 December. This was, we believe, the first time that Endurance GB has been represented at the finals of the Horse and Hound Awards. Kerry said "I was honoured to be nominated for this award, and although I didn't win, it meant a lot to see our sport up there on the big screen with the 'conventional' equestrian disciplines. I felt that I was representing all of our volunteers, without whom we simply could not function. Thank you to everyone who nominated and voted for me". me".

W

e are so proud to have Rosemary Attfield in our group who was fortunate to be successful in securing one of the prestigious places on the BEF’s National Development Programme for Coaching Excellence.

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North & East Yorkshire Group

It is with our deepest sadness that we share the sad loss of one of our fellow Endurance rider Christine Golding.

Amendments to the National Trophy Results

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s a result of data errors in EGB’s computer records, the following National Trophy Results have changed.

Ross Trophy Sheer Bliss, owned by Sallie Dudley and ridden

by Jade Edwards, is now in third place. Our apologies to Sallie and Jade for the error.

Also, we extend our apologies to Anne Brown and Susan Hawes, the owner and rider of Remynisce respectively, who, as a result of another data error, have now slipped from 3rd to 5th place in this trophy.

Cairo Trophy The second-placed horse, Krakatau ridden by Linda Cowperthwaite, was incorrectly registered as a Part-bred Arab on EGB’s records rather than as a Purebred, so has been removed from the Cairo Trophy. As a result, Croftys Springtime Frost ridden by Julie Banks is now shown in second place and MK Marcella ridden by Rachel Pemberton is now shown in third place.

Krakatau now appears in the results of the Mesaoud Trophy, but is not placed in the top three.

Christine and her horse Timmy were loyal supporters of endurance, especially the North Yorkshire group. She was always the first to arrive at rides, offering her help to anyone in need. Christine had the biggest smile which she greeted you with and was a truly wonderful person. She also had a lovely grey Arab mare called Nemshozar, that she had recently introduced to endurance.

Our popular Weald Trophy winner this year is Gail Jupp and HB Alban Discovery. Gail has had a great season with this lovely young horse and we are sure they’ll go on to have a great season in 2020.

As a Group we ran 14 rides across the region this season, all of which were well supported.

Thank you must, as always, go to our Ride Organisers and volunteers, without whom there wouldn’t be any rides.

The South East did well at the Inter-Regionals in Cirencester, finishing 3rd, an amazing result against very stiff competition from all the other groups. Thank you to all the crews and helpers that supported our riders and Rosemary Attfield for putting together such a great team.

As the 2019 season has come to an end, we celebrated with a fantastic array of trophies and rosettes at our BAM Awards & Dinner and their very worthy winners.

She will be sadly missed, and our thoughts are with her family.

Important news for Junior and Young Riding members

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rom the 2020 season, the cut off dates for the move from Junior Riding Member to Young Rider Member will be changing.

• S enior Riders will be deemed to be Senior Riders from the year in which they turn 26.

• J unior Riders will be deemed to be Junior Riders up to and including the year in which they turn 13.

This brings Endurance GB's domestic criteria in line with some of the other BEF disciplines and will enable riders up to the age of 25 to enjoy Young Rider discounts and to take part in Young Rider activities.

• Y oung Riders will be deemed to be Young Riders from the year in which they turn 14 through to and including the year in which they turn 25.

Please note that the FEI will have different criteria, and that anyone entering an FEI event will need to comply with the new FEI rules to be published shortly by the FEI.

news

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What's new at

Endurance GB Annual General Meeting

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ndurance GB has seen both membership and competitive ride entries increase from 2018 and interest in the sport continues to grow.

The governing body for the sport in England and Wales reported back to members at its annual meeting held at the Village Hotel in Coventry on Saturday, 23 November.

Esther Young, Endurance GB Operations Director, outlined how membership as a total across all categories had risen during the year by six per cent over 2018, from 1831 in 2018 to 1943 in 2019. Members’ online accounts with EGB, who include registered ‘Supporters’ as well as members, rose by 46 per cent from 2594 in 2018 to 3776 in 2019. While in Wales, which played host to the Home International at Red Dragon, as well as staging a Welsh National Championship at Pen Ddol y Gader, and for the first time an FEI competition at Wentwood Forest, membership went up by 50 per cent from 88 members in 2018 to 132 members in 2019. However, the impact of the early season equine ‘flu outbreak was seen in a 25 per cent fall in Pleasure Ride entries and a 16% drop in Associate members. This was focused on the first quarter of the season with entries picking up in the latter part of the year. There was increased participation across Endurance GB’s social

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endurance news

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media channels. Meanwhile the sport in the UK attracted positive attention from the successful hosting by Euston Park of the first FEI European Endurance Championships in the UK for 23 years, at which the British team came fifth, one of only two teams to get four horses round.

Esther Young said: “Encouragingly, active participation in the sport grew despite a poor start to the year due to the ‘flu outbreak which hit many early season rides. What was most encouraging was the success of the new Foundation Graded Endurance rides which provided growth at grass roots level and demonstrated that there is a healthy future for Endurance in England and Wales. The link between joining and taking part is strong, underlining the clear pathway and support offered to new riders across our community, this also bears out the sport’s reputation in this country as friendly, welcoming and inclusive from grassroots to senior level.”

Graded Endurance Ride (GER) entries were up fifteen per cent on 2018, rising from 3308 in 2018 to 3799 in 2019, with Competitive Endurance Ride (CER) numbers growing by two per cent. The largest increase being for entries to novice rides which were up by 33 per cent.

Acting Chair until the close of the AGM, Ann Dark, told the meeting: “The ‘flu outbreak was handled well at every level through the sport and there was great teamwork throughout what could have been a disastrous period of uncertainty. We complied in full with the BEF and Animal Health Trust requirements.

Everyone pulled together and our ride organisers, ride secretaries and IT team have been amazing.”

Members heard that a new IT system will come on board for 2020 and the focus will be on building a sustainable financial organisation through a new sponsorship model shortly to be unveiled. The additional challenge of ‘volunteer burnout’ at all levels is something experienced across amateur equestrian sports but the arrival of ‘fresh legs’ at Board level to take the sport forward into a new decade was welcomed at the annual meeting.

Two rule change proposals were accepted for the 2020 season. Novice riders will now be required to complete five novice rides before they upgrade to advanced, which will enable them to increase their knowledge and experience before asking more of their horses. The other change involved removing a mandatory elimination from the outside assistance rule, which will now enable a set of penalty guidelines to be produced for technical stewards, enabling them to take mitigating or aggravating circumstances into account when considering rule breaches.

There were five nominations from members to become Directors for the five places on the board available. The new Board of Directors will be Rosemary Attfield, Kerry Dawson, Rosemary Henderson, Antonia MilnerMatthews, Phil Nunnerley, Chris Wray, Esther Young and Constance Newbould (SERC appointee). The Chair of Endurance GB for 2019/2020 will be former Lloyds Bank Director Phil Nunnerley who was chosen by fellow Board members at the first meeting of the new Board held on Sunday 24th November, with Esther Young as Vice Chair. Ann Dark very sadly stepped down at the board meeting.

Elizabeth Peplow

endurancegb.co.uk

The Endurance GB Board

“I am honoured and delighted to take the Chair of Endurance GB. I recognise the challenge that goes with the role in leading Endurance GB and do not underestimate the responsibility both I and the Board have in ensuring we continue to offer the support which allows our members to enjoy their sport at all levels. I would like to express my thanks to Ann Dark for stepping into the role of Chair over the past six weeks. We are a membership organisation and I, and what is a talented Board, recognise that we are accountable to the membership and this underlines the importance of two-way communication.

Phil Nunnerley Chairman, Policy and Governance

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Vice Chair, Operations Director, IT and BEF Equality Action Team Representative

Chris Wray Finance Director

Rosemary Attfield International Director, Development (including Young & Junior Riders, Coaching, Futurity, Pony Club, Para)

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Disciplinary, Welfare and Safeguarding

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SERC Representative and Insurance

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Constance Newbould

ssue – n e

Meet the new Board

ex t i

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Antonia Milner-Matthews

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New Chair Phil Nunnerley

Kerry Dawson

Communications Director and Sponsorship

“Understandably, with a long career in financial services, I realise that we must ensure we balance our books to be financially strong and sustainable. I am excited about the future and look forward to meeting many more of you in 2020.” t is s

Rosemary Henderson

Groups, Health and Safety, EGB Office and Volunteering

I have been involved with endurance for many years as crew, principally to my partner Rosemary Henderson. I have also helped at many rides in a variety of roles and appreciate we all depend on the many volunteers, without whom we would struggle to provide the wide ride programme which we offer.

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Esther Young

endurance news

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Forage

Explained

Ask the expert

T

here are many forage options available to horse owners, being aware of the differences as well as the pros and cons of each will help make an informed decision as to what is the ideal option for your horse and set-up.

What forage options are available?

Grass Grass is the most natural feedstuff for horses and a well-managed pasture can be an economical source of high-quality feed and provide the most natural feeding environment wandering around in the fresh air, grazing with their heads down. Under some circumstances pasture can meet most of the horse’s nutritional needs. However, this is dependent on the level of work the horse is doing and the quality of the pasture as well as access and availability. In addition, forage nutrient content will vary with seasons and weather patterns. It is highest during spring and autumn when there is a flush of grass growth from increasing ambient temperature and/or rainfall. Mature or dormant grass has much lower energy and protein content and

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nutrition

Becky James, MSc Co-author of the first published research into Haygain steamed hay and Technical Director at Haygain.

overall digestibility when compared to a lush, growing spring pasture. The concentration of some minerals also decreases with plant maturity. Given this change in pasture quality, if horses are kept on pasture alone it is best to regularly analyse the nutrient content to ensure their nutritional requirements are being met.

Conserved Forage Grass can be conserved to feed over the winter months when fresh forage is limited either due to lack of quantity or shortened time at pasture as a result of weather or ground conditions.

Conserved forage will always have a lower nutritive value than the corresponding fresh forage for a number of reasons. These include loss of nutrients from respiration, microbial metabolism and differential loss of nutritional leaf material during the conservation process.

Hay is the traditional means of conserving forage and is dried to more than 80% dry matter (DM).

It can be classified into two categories, seed hay, which is generally composed of one or two specially sown grass species and meadow

hay, which is a mixture of different grasses and other herbage in permanent pasture. It is usually dried in the field although some is dried in barns where fans reduce the field curing time.

Hay is preserved by drying to a level which discourages microbial growth. However, ideal weather conditions for hay making are not always possible, especially in the UK resulting in hay not always being dry enough.

Another means of conserving is to wrap the forage in plastic, this is known as haylage and usually has a DM of 50-70%. It is preserved through lactate fermentation, which lowers the pH to a level of 4.5 or less that prevents growth of undesirable micro-organisms via the airtight wrapping.

NB: Minimum forage recommendations are usually provided on a dry matter basis, as a horse will eat to satisfy his dry matter needs (therefore would consume greater quantities of a wet haylage as compared to a drier hay).

Results reported on a ‘dry matter’ basis tend to be more commonly used as it allows for a comparison to be made between forages.

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Forage replacement options such as short chop fibre feeds

Chopped oat straw and alfalfa chaffs are a useful way of feeding different types of fibre and allow the owner to feed a “bucket feed”. However, they shouldn’t replace the long-stemmed hay or haylage part of the diet as it wouldn’t satisfy the horse’s need to chew and for some owners the cost of this may be too high.

"The nutritional and hygienic quality of forage is highly variable" Selecting your forage

A basic practical assessment can be made initially but laboratory analysis is the only accurate way to assess forage samples for nutritional and hygiene quality.

Initial Assessment 1. Visual assessment should include: • the right shade of green colour • relative abundance of seed heads to help determine maturity • species composition • presence of noxious and toxic weeds • visible foreign bodies.

When assessing haylage the integrity of the wrap should be checked as aerobic spoilage will occur if it is punctured.

2. Smell: it should appear fresh, often sweet-smelling. It should not smell musty.

(Avoid inhaling too deeply!)

3. Scrunch the hay in your hands: if it’s hard and spiky this indicates mature, stemmy grass. Softer hay usually indicates a younger grass although texture does vary between species. Assess the leaf:stem ratio. If you want an energy dense forage then you want high leaf:stem ratio, if your horse requires lower energy levels then a coarser, more mature hay with high stem:leaf ratio.

The energy or calories that a forage supplies are typically reported as digestible energy in megajoules per kilogram (DE MJ/ Kg). In the UK, hay values can range from 4-10MJ/Kg and haylage from 6-12MJ/Kg

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Forage by nature is extremely variable.

The nutritional and hygienic quality of forage is notoriously highly variable and is affected by a number of factors including grass and soil types, stage of maturity when cut, weather conditions and ambient temperature during hay making to name just a few.

drained site, that doesn't leak and has good ventilation. Wooden pallets are an ideal base to store hay as they keep it off dirt or concrete floors which can absorb moisture up through the hay, encouraging mould growth and decreasing the hygienic quality.

Choosing a forage suitable for your horse will depend on the type – is he a good doer or do you struggle to keep weight on, how hard is he working? Remember forage should make up the majority of every horse’s ration so considering what nutrients it supplies will determine what additional feed is needed. A nutritionist can help you fine-tune his diet.

It’s important to note that any conserved forage exposes the horse to high levels of respirable dust including mould and bacteria, especially when fed in an enclosed stable environment and compared to fresh grass.

Soaking is sometimes used to dampen down the dust, but it also leaches the nutritional value of the hay and is known to lower palatability and increase bacteria.

Once you’ve chosen the most appropriate forage for your horse, how you store it could affect the quality too. While haylage can be stored outside, make sure it is not damaged by wildlife or machinery moving it. It’s very important to protect hay from the elements by storing it under cover in a building located on an elevated well-

Clean, palatable Forage

While haylage is generally lower in respirable dust than hay, both hay and haylage benefit from high temperature steaming.

This is proven to reduce up to 99% of respirable dust and kill mould and bacteria while retaining the nutritional value of the forage and improve palatability.

References Moore-Colyer, M. J. S., J. L. E. Taylor, and R. James. 2016. The effect of steaming and soaking on the respirable particle, bacteria, mould, and nutrient content in hay for horses. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 39:62–68. doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2015.09.006.

nutrition

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Mycotoxins

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and the horse In this issue Alltech’s European Technical Manager, Dr Helen Warren explains all about mycotoxins and the horse.

Did you know?

M

ycotoxins are stable, toxic chemicals produced by some types of mould growth under certain conditions and can occur in growing, harvested or stored cereal and forage crops. One of the key difficulties in identifying risk is that mycotoxins can be present without the presence of mould.

Equally, not all mould growth indicates the presence of mycotoxins.

Horses are exposed to mycotoxins via feed materials and grazing, as well as bedding. This latter is an important consideration and one that’s often over-looked.

"Horses are exposed to mycotoxins via feed materials and grazing, as well as bedding."

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horse health

Acute mycotoxicosis (mycotoxin poisoning) is rare in the UK and the more likely scenario is chronic exposure to low levels of multiple mycotoxins presenting an ongoing challenge.

Mycotoxicosis has the potential to suppress the immune system and has been associated to a wide range of conditions, from general lack of form, hypersensitivity and loss of wellbeing, through to colic, liver damage and even

death. Horses ingesting mycotoxins run the risk of suffering from poor condition, lethargy, depression, lameness and sometimes death.

There are three major groups of moulds that produce mycotoxins affecting horses and other animals: Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium.

The first is a field-borne mould meaning the mycotoxins are usually present when the crop or forage is harvested. The latter two are usually formed during storage. For example, Penicillium mycotoxins can be seen in poor quality haylage, especially if air has penetrated the wrap.

Effects in the horse vary across the mycotoxin groups but most have some immunosuppressive effect. Clinical effects can be reduced feed intake, growth and body weight. A particular group of Fusarium mycotoxins are the fumonisins to which horses appear the most sensitive species.

Exposure to certain levels of fumonisins can result in a condition called equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) characterised by depression, ataxia, abnormal behaviour,

endurancegb.co.uk

head pressing and often death. The liver can also be involved and horses generally die within hours of clinical signs. However, this condition is rarely seen in the UK. High-risk groups for mycotoxicosis include horses whose immune system may already be under pressure: broodmares, youngstock, veterans, performance horses, those in poor condition, poor health or recovering from illness, for example. Mycotoxins have also been mentioned as a possible factor in Grass Sickness.

The concern for horses in relation to mycotoxins is predominantly the effect that consistent, low level exposure may have on athletic performance and breeding capability without the appearance of any specific symptoms and the relative ‘safe’ level of mycotoxins allowed within the diet is unknown.

sample analysed for mycotoxins can detect low levels of a range of different mycotoxins.

Mycotoxins are very stable, toxic compounds.

Weather or environmental changes, including drought, excessive rainfall or sudden frosts, temperature or humidity changes, can affect their prevalence.

There are various areas to think about with regards to minimising the risk of mycotoxin contamination. Feed is obviously a critical factor and simple steps, such as using haylage within 2-3 days, checking for mould and storing feed in cool, dry conditions can help reduce the risk of exposure. Heating in haylage is an indicator of aerobic spoilage and affected material should be disposed of.

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Grazing should also be considered. Plants that are stressed are more susceptible to mould infection and thus are at increased risk of mycotoxin contamination. Over grazing and poor management of paddocks can stress the grass plant, thus increasing the risk to the horse of mycotoxin exposure.

As awareness of the threat from mycotoxin contamination has substantially increased in the equestrian community, it’s now increasingly common to try to quantify this threat using commercially available tests. The ability to detect and quantify multiple mycotoxins in single samples, such as hay or grass, allows Winter often poses the greatest problem us to better understand mycotoxin exposure. and soil structure may be at risk. Avoiding As animals are usually exposed to low levels of your paddocks looking like they’ve just been multiple mycotoxins rather than high levels of just one, hence, it’s important to ensure that any ploughed is certainly a key goal! ad-EGB-nov-dec-issue-188x133-FINAL-V1.pdf 1 3/12/19 18:30

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General hygiene of the horse’s environment and equipment also goes a long way to reducing the threat of mycotoxins by decreasing the growth of the parent moulds.

Cleaning water and feed buckets, disinfecting stables and equipment, as well as checking there is adequate ventilation in stables and barns should be regularly carried out.

However, as contamination is unavoidable, one option would be to include a mycotoxin adsorbent, such as Alltech’s Forage Guard in the horse’s diet. Forage Guard is a natural feed material produced from yeast cell wall and micro-algae, which specifically binds mycotoxins and removes them from the gut.

The active ingredient in Forage Guard has a substantial and broad-spectrum capacity to rapidly bind multiple mycotoxins. It offers many advantages over the alternative - clay binders - which require high inclusion rates and can also remove key nutrients in the diet.

Horses cannot avoid exposure to mycotoxins but with good management practices and the dietary inclusion of a proven mycotoxin adsorbent it is possible to significantly reduce potentially harmful effects.

For further information please visit www.lifeforcehose.co.uk

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Seasonal change and

saddle fit Beatrice Blakeman is Vice President of the SMS. An SMS Qualified Fitter, she owns and runs Crewe Saddlery, working alongside her team of 3 SMS QSF’s

Ask the expert

F

or most riders, whether at the top of the sport or having completed their first season, Winter brings change in how we manage and ride our horses - and that will affect saddle fit.

Why have your saddle fitted?

Throughout the year horses change shape frequently. There are many reasons for this, including:

changes from loop to loop. In fact, research has shown us that the profile of the horse’s back changes after just 30 minutes of work.

Saddle, girth and pads should be fitted regularly to accommodate changes to allow the horse to use their body properly and in comfort.

This ensures the best performance and it also means we meet the welfare needs of our horses.

• Seasonal changes • Management - for example, diet and the balance of time spent grazing to being stabled • Stress – for example, a change in yard or field mate, travelling • Activity, including the type, frequency and intensity of training and ridden work • L ameness or sickness, which may change how the horse uses their body With so many changes that affect the shape of the horse and how they use their bodies a saddle that fitted last year, or even at the start of the season, may not fit now. Riders of longer distances will know that saddle fit and balance

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welfare

endurancegb.co.uk

What about the rider?

The saddle is also fitted for the rider – the shape of the seat, position of the stirrup bar, flap angle, and even knee block placement are individual to each rider. An unbalanced rider may: • • • •

Develop back or joint pain Lose confidence in themselves as a rider Affect the fit or stability of the saddle A symmetrically compress the panels of the saddle • Affect how their horse moves A professionally fitted saddle works for both horse and rider and helps maintain an effective partnership.

How often should a saddle be fitted?

We recommend an appointment is made with a Qualified Saddle Fitter at least twice a year, but every 3 months is ideal. Tack fit assessment should be a part of your regular care routine, like footcare and body work, with a budget set aside for regular checks and adjustments.

If your horse has had soundness issues, is coming back into work, or is competing at a high level more frequent visits are key to support full and comfortable development.

Regular saddle checks are also important for the safety of horse and rider. Your Saddle Fitter will carefully check stitching, fastenings, and materials for signs of wear and tear. This period can also be a good time to have your saddle sent away for repairs or reflocking and you can continue working your horse in-hand.

Why use an SMS Qualified Saddle Fitter?

Rigorous training & assessment An SMS QSF will have completed in-depth training and practical experience over a minimum of three years before sitting their examinations in order to gain the globally respected City & Guilds qualification.

What can you do right now?

• Be alert to any changes in body shape, behaviour or movement of your horse • Check all tack for worn stitching and material, being careful to spot any hard or rough areas • Consider how your ridden work may change over Winter: – Will there be more work in the school, for example?

.

Comprehensive procedures The Society adapts its training content and method so that it is always current and correct, developing standardised systems or checklists so that no essential part of the fitting process is missed.

Continued training and learning The best saddle fitters never stop learning and this one of the things they love about their work.

SMS QSFs must attend a Refresher course every two years and complete a set level of Continued Professional Development.

High standards of service with a Code of Conduct Registered SMS QSFs agree to abide by a stringent Code of Conduct and the Society also offers a complaints process if you need help resolving an issue.

Your appointment: what to expect from your SMS Qualified or Master Saddle Fitter.

Saddle fitting is complex as it must find the optimum fit of a usually non-moving article between two moving and independent bodies. The professional approach is systematic so that every element affecting fit is addressed, often working with Coaches and other equine professionals.

The steps of an appointment are listed below. An appointment to assess or adjust an existing saddle will take around 1.5 hours, and longer when selecting a suitable new saddle or for remedial fitting. A new or reflocked saddle should be re-assessed after around 20-30 hours of riding.

1. A full history is taken of injury and illness, and notes made of current and planned activity and concerns about behaviour, training or movement • We also ask about rider injury or physical We issues that affect riding

– How will this change how your horse uses their body?

– Will your requirements of the saddle change?

• Look after yourself – consider what bodywork or training you may need • Make an appointment with an SMS QSF to ensure you have correct saddle fit to start your Autumn/Winter riding

2. Conformation, condition and gait are assessed • The horse must be sound to continue the fitting • Best done on a clean, flat area with good lighting 3. A full set of templates are taken • This helps to identify asymmetry and changes over time 4. Static fit is assessed • Have your girth and preferred saddle pads ready 5. The selected new, or adjusted, saddle(s) will be assessed in all gaits to assess fit for both horse and rider • Dynamics can change considerably from static to ridden, so ridden assessment is an essential part of the process • The fit of the bridle may also be considered

Teamwork

Endurance is a team sport, with crew just as important as the rider in keeping the horse well.

The same is true for saddle fitters – sustained good fit is only possible when working with a horse who has regular bodywork, good foot balance and appropriate diet, and is sympathetically trained with a balanced rider.

Likewise, your Coach, bodyworker, Farrier/ Trimmer, and you the rider, need a well-fitting saddle. Your SMS QSF will work alongside your other equine professionals.

If you are unsure about the fit of your saddle, please contact your original Saddle Fitter. If asked to check a saddle within 6 months of purchase, your SMS QSF will always refer to the original Fitter. As your horse can change rapidly, especially with a well-fitting saddle, and only a small adjustment may be necessary to get you moving in balance once again.

welfare

15

Photo courtesy of Farlap photography

Case study

I

purchased my part bred Arab, Raffa as a backed young horse, “sold as seen” in 2015. As soon as I started work with him it was clear he was not happy about being saddled up and mounted. This was demonstrated as a fear of being saddled up and moving away when approached with the saddle.

In addition, he would not stand still to mount and once mounted would rush forwards. So, after assessment and treatment by our ACPAT registered physiotherapist, we then sought the expertise of a saddle fitter.

For a short period of time and with a new saddle, Raffa was no longer worried about saddling up, he did however continue to rush forward when mounted. However, after about three months he started showing signs of increased fear of saddling and the rushing off became even more turbulent.

The saddler advised the saddle would not need re-flocking until 6 months, but on another visit from the physiotherapist it was clear he was showing signs of back soreness. The physio felt the saddle did need re-flocking as it was compacting down. The saddle was re-flocked but unfortunately Raffa's symptoms did not improve.

After some deliberation by myself and the physiotherapist, we both agreed that the saddle flocking felt “lumpy”. Therefore, a second opinion was sought from SMS fitter, Steve Sturgess, who fitted Raffa with an air flocked adjustable saddle. After some more physio and work, Raffa's symptoms improved. However, despite the physiotherapist being happy that he was no longer in pain, he continued to rush off when mounted and this was becoming more and more dangerous. I had one fall whilst trying to mount that resulted in hospital treatment. Due to the rushing off, I struggled to use a mounting block, but I knew long term we had to address this, as not using a mounting block would only cause more back problems long term.

So, after another assessment from the physiotherapist and the Vet to confirm Raffa did not have any physical ill health, I sought the expertise of a trainer to help with mounting.

The trainer used very gentle but effective 3 minute interval sessions with Raffa standing at a mounting block. Very quickly with the training this improved, however he would still rush once I sat in the saddle. We tried many techniques to help address this and eventually the trainer advised trying to give him a treat as soon as you sit in the saddle. Due to the rushing off, initially this had to be someone on the ground, but after just a few attempts this worked. The trainer also suggested I should not rush to leave the yard immediately after mounting, because riding

16

welfare

.

Signs of poor

saddle fit

out as soon as possible was adding to Raffa's worries. So instead, we would just sit and have a chat before leaving the yard.

compliment me on how well Raffa stands still, and yet they have no idea of his history!

Very quickly I was able to give Raffa his treat once I mounted, instead of someone on the ground. We then progressed to trying this out and about at different venues to give us both confidence. Very quickly I felt so confident that Raffa was much happier with this process.

You will see me at endurance events with my pocket full of treats for mounting, people often

Horses will communicate signs of pain and these can be interpreted as behavioural problems/issues, resistance or evasions. We owe it to our horses to investigate any signs of discomfort at the earliest opportunity.

Victoria Queen

endurancegb.co.uk

Photo courtesy of Dave Saunders

Supreme Champion Judy Holloway

.

‘I owe it to my horses

and my crew’

Along with being Supreme Champion for 2019, Judy Holloway collected a string of awards at the gala dinner including Veteran Rider, Jasper, Cotswold, Ross, Mesaoud and Senior Championship trophies. When asked for the secret of her success, she modestly put it down to her horses and great crew. We find out more...

Who is your crew Judy?

I am crewed by my husband VJ, who is ably assisted by number one crew dog Duke!

How long has VJ been crewing for you?

We have been together since 2006 and VJ encouraged me to start competing again, which l did in 2007 and he has supported me ever since.

18

spotlight

How do you approach preparing for a ride?

Like most endurance riders the day before leaving we are busy packing things we need and numerous things that we might need, just in case!

Then it's tack cleaning, washing and titivating my horse as l like to look well turned out.

Getting on the road

If travelling long distances we will share the driving and on arrival VJ sets out the corral and l sort out the trailer and get the kettle on.

For rides we can do in a day, on arrival the horse is unloaded and VJ is attached to the end of the lead rope to go for a walk and a graze, sometimes he talks more than grazing!!

Me? Well, l muck out the trailer and go to see the secretary, check the notice board and have a little natter, it’s what it’s all about remember we do this for fun.

Planning crewing points

When the maps arrive, we study them and decide on crewing locations. VJ then works out his route and writes his directions down, in writing only he can decipher!

If we are staying the night before the ride, we both check the route, this means he knows where he is hopefully going to crew and l get to see parts of the course.

How do you manage the vet gates?

If we are doing a distance requiring a vet gate and the venue has a vet hold area, VJ will take water containers, buckets and saddle stand to his selected spot. When he returns from crewing and he is eagerly awaiting my arrival, he will carry over the feed and rugs not forgetting our most vital piece of equipment, the stethoscope.

Tell us what is in the crew car?

Apart from the water containers, bucket, sponges and sloshes, VJ always carries a small funnel to replenish sloshes if needed. A first aid kit is also on board. A plentiful supply of rugs and a box with just about every replacement for anything a horse or rider could possibly need.

Feed for the horse and sugar beet is also aboard.

Not forgetting the Jelly Babies for the rider!

Then we get to the crew’s needs, wet weather gear and wellington boots. We also have to feed the crew so in the cool box he will have some sandwiches and various other goodies just to tempt him, plenty of water bottles and also a couple of Bonios for said crew dog!!!

One other thing he also has is a small container of fuel, just in case.

In the vet gate

As it's only VJ and myself we share the jobs. once through the vetting successfully, Nuraletta, or Foalie to her friends, is offered her feed and she is also washed off as required; VJ will then let her wander about nibbling at the grass.

Meanwhile l will change the numnah, wipe the girth off and get something to eat but not being a great feeder it's not normally too much! Then I sit down if time allows and check the map for the next loop. I will tack Foalie up myself before we are off again.

Who does the trot up?

This is my job as the crew claims to be unsound!!!!

Is a good crew key to success?

Without VJ as my crew l could not have achieved what l have. He is always 100% behind me, on the very hot days we endured in the summer, he would appear in places where we had not prearranged with water and sloshes for both the horse and me.

Being married we know each other well, which also means knowing when to speak or stay silent.

Furthermore, the two horses l competed on this year are both homebred so again he knows them

.

VJ also won the Borthwick Back-up Trophy Awarded to the most competent back-up crew or person in the current season

well. So pass or fail we are a team together.

When competing we do work well together, sometimes things might get a bit tense but no more than that.

What are the key qualities for a good crew?

We all need the support of our crew for the welfare of our willing equine companion and someone who wants to be as successful as the rider will go the ‘extra mile’ to achieve it.

VJ or any crew member is just as important as the rider and probably, as far as the horse is concerned, more so. We, as riders, all know that the horse thinks they know best and could do far better without us interfering but they need their ground support team.

Is crewing as good as competing yourself?

Well l started my endurance journey as a crew and yes in a different way it is as good as competing yourself, you want the horse and rider to be successful and you are vital in this aim.

Meet Judy’s horses

• Nuraletta [Foalie] is 10yrs old • Rabbalina [Midge] is 8 yrs old The two horses l competed on this year are both home bred Arabs. Both are by Nur-al-ain who was also the sire of my first endurance horse Bowdell Diplomat.

Best results?

Nuraletta finished 4th in the Senior Championship in 2018. This is her first season at Advanced and she continues to amaze me. We finished the season at Revesby doing the three day 120k where she had another grade 1 but her best result would

have to be her first two day 130k at Cirencester where she again achieved a grade 1.

Rabbalina had her first season competing this year and she did five rides at 32k and had four grade 1’s, getting better and more confident at each ride so l am looking forward to next season with her.

How would you describe their temperaments?

Nuraletta was rejected by her mother at birth but had an amazing ‘will to live’ and despite not knowing her mother she is definitely her mother's daughter. Patience doesn't come easy to her and she is always on a mission to get somewhere.

Rabbalina was always bold as a foal and seeing something different would have to go and look but she has a dislike of men! She and VJ had a slight disagreement when she was young and she has never forgiven or forgotten so in her eyes all men are the same!

What are their strengths and weaknesses?

Nuraletta's strenth is that she will never give in, despite her small stature and slightness so, as a rider l am always aware of not over facing her, she also has a very good low heart rate. Her weakness would be her willingness to give you everything, also her inability to ‘switch off ’ after a ride early in the season. I suppose l don’t call her my pocket rocket for nothing! Rabbalina is showing a great deal of promise but it’s still very early days. As with Nuraletta she also has a low heart rate, she loves going off and exploring the countryside and despite her aversion to men she tolerates VJ at Ride Parties. Her weakness at the moment is men!

spotlight

19

Endurance GB International Performance Recognition Award to:

Dr Sue Taylor-Green Memorial Trophy

Seniors for competing at the European Championships at Euston Park Tannasg Psyches Realm

Rachael Atkinson

Shoshana

Annette Masterson

Dns Ronaldo

Kate Atkinson

Warrens Hill Rubyn

Sarah Rogerson

Boston Bay Cup Awarded to the horse registered at Wetherbys gaining the most points in all types of rides 1st

Magic Powers

Awarded to the novice horse / novice rider combination achieving the highest total performance formula score in five Novice Foundation Graded Endurance Rides during the current competition year. Rides completed under Try Before You Buy or Club basis can be included. Open and Advanced horses are not eligible.

1st

Tourlough Lad

Charlotte Freeman

157.11

2nd

Amanda Wolf

Ella Rogers

126.12

3rd

Scooby

Sarah Connelly

109.25

.

Pleasure Pairs Trophy Awarded to a pair of horse/ rider combinations registered for the competition which gains the most points in national Pleasure Rides run by Endurance GB or SERC.

Valerie Anne Bradshaw

2098.5

1st

2nd

Buzz

Robert Blane

916.5

3rd

Beths Choice

Lynn Harvey

906

Jac Bint Irexandya

Barbara Baker Karen Burch

312

Sam Weller Trophy Awarded to the horse / pony gaining the most points in Graded Rides of 45km or less.

Points from longer rides do not count. Novice horses are not eligible.

Ross Trophy Awarded to the most successful horse / pony bred by its current owner who must be an Endurance GB member 1st

Nuraletta

Judy Holloway

2858

2nd

Ty Shute Golden Savannah

Saffron Bishop

2398.5

3rd

Sheer Bliss

Jade Edwards

1856

1st

Vlacq Iceni

Anne Walton

754

2nd

George Bush

Dominic Smith

597

3rd

Surplus to Requirements

Laura Graham

574.5

Peter Ball Trophy Awarded to the Junior Rider gaining the most points riding more than one horse

Pitchford Trophy Awarded to the registered pure bred British Native Pony gaining the most points in all types of rides.

1st

Clonmore Treasure

Antonia Milner Matthews

2nd

Prince Caspian lll

Isobel Fleming

816.5

3rd

Ballydoolagh Alfie

Jeni Gilbert

598

1768

1st

Redwings Milky Way Cloverleas Mantilla

Ella Pomroy

1318

2nd

Dutchdream Spetter Dukes Mountain Masterpiece

Suzi Todd

1071

3rd

RSPCA Bunny RSPCA Magic

Scarlett Chapple

386

Snowflake Trophy

Lesley Nott and Firebird collected their 5600km Distance Award

Awarded to the horse / pony and Junior Rider combination gaining the most points in Graded Rides of 45km or less.

1st

Heatherglen's Madeliene

Lois Cooper

469.5

2nd

Mitsubishi Mouse

Katie Barton

372

3rd

Pizwell Nessy

Elizabeth Stanley Whiteley

369

Pickreed Masterpiece Trophy Awarded to the Veteran Rider aged 60 or over gaining the most points in all types of rides.

20

results

1st

Nuraletta

Judy Holloway

2921

2nd

Aberllwyd Femme Fatalle

Kathy Carr

2384.5

3rd

Lva Troy

Susan Scarborough

1988

The Young Rider Championship Award (Nippa Trophy) was won by Ty Shute Golden Savannah ridden

by Saffron Bishop. Ty Shute Golden Savannah sired by Chantanz, also topped the Arab Horse Society performance Scheme Endurance Awards. Saffron talks about her passion for endurance.

How did you get involved in endurance?

I’ve been involved in endurance pretty much since I was born, as both my parents Tristan and Sarah and my sister Rachel, have been competing since the late nineties. I’ve been very lucky to have the support of my parents which has allowed me to train and compete while having a busy academic and work schedule. I wouldn’t say the success we’ve had recently has been my own at all, as endurance is very much a team sport and the achievements of the last couple of years are shared between the whole team.

Are you involved in other horse sports?

I’ve never been involved in the Pony Club or any other horse sports, mainly because I think an endurance horse is trained specifically for long distance racing, and as a result to ask them to compete in another discipline could potentially overload their joints and increase the risk of injury.

Tell us about Ty Shute Golden Savannah

Ty Shute Golden Savannah AKA ‘Timmy’, or more recently ‘Timmy the tank engine’, is a 14.3hh pure bred Arab out of World Championship level mare Safwa, by endurance

.

Photo courtesy of West End Photography

Young Rider Championship Award Saffron Bishop

Timmy

the tank engine

stallion Chatanz. He was born in 2009 and is homebred which makes our relationship that bit more special as I have known him his whole life.

It was my parents and I who broke him at the age of five, and he has only ever been ridden by myself and mum (although she chooses not to as he is a spirited little guy!). Timmy is such a character and has a real personality - I think of him more like a big dog, as he is so loving and trusting of us. It’s quite difficult to explain the kind of relationship I share with Tim, as I don’t think I ever have nor will again have the same level of trust between myself and a horse. To ride, it’s like second nature now, he’s very quirky!

Although a little gem the majority of the time, Timmy does have his moments where all sense seems to go and we end up charging off into a random field! (usually when there are pigs around, he is most definitely not a fan!). Every single one of these aspects of Tim make him a very tough little cookie and a wonderful horse to compete in endurance.

What are your highlights of 2019?

This year’s highlight would definitely have to be his third place in the 120km 2* at Revesby Park.

We came first after a very close race all the way!

It was the first time I’d really trusted myself to ask him for more, but it was an incredible feeling to get his response of ‘yes let’s go!’. The King's

Forest 2* was also a big highlight as he achieved another podium in a very strong field of horses.

The end of our season was amazing at Hanslope.

This was a very exciting race and racing finish and showed that Tim could turn up the pace!

Finishing off the season, I never expected to be high up in the points rankings and it was very much a surprise considering at the start of the season the aim was the qualify for Championships not to go for the YR National Championships! Winning this and being Reserve Supreme has been the icing on the cake.

What do you enjoy about the sport?

I enjoy being able to spend hours riding my pony. To be honest that’s what it’s always been about for me, having a good chat with the pony and seeing what happens as the day goes on.

I enjoy the racing side of Endurance, as being naturally quite a competitive person, this does bring a lot of excitement to the rides!

What are your plans for 2020?

Next season I expect will be a bit quieter, as I am going travelling in South East Asia from January to April. I hope to continue Timmy’s racing career and may possibly look to tackle the next stage, a 160km.

spotlight

21

Distance Rider Trophy

Royal Lord Trophy

Awarded to the Senior Rider gaining the most points in Competitive Endurance Rides in the current season riding more than one horse.

Awarded to the horse / pony, 7 years old and over, competing in their first season at Open level, and gaining the most points in Graded Rides of 65km or less..

Clonmore Treasure Yawl Hill Big Yin Rosie’s Diamond Yawl Hill Maverick

Antonia Milner Matthews

2nd

HS Emerillon HS Sharman Kazeme El Mystral

Sue Box

1686

3rd

CD Bellatrix Vlaq Journeyman Polaris Vlacq Elladora

Georgina Vaughan

1566

1st

Collee Trophy Awarded to the horse / pony and Junior Rider combination in their first year of competition, gaining most points in all Graded Rides.

1st

The Jazzman

Faith Clarke

2nd

Rexon Solitaire

Beth Rice Evans

3rd

Angus

Charles Mcdermott

1st

Nightfire Hallelujah Louis

Julie Martin

1763

2nd

Lowmilbourne Earl

Emma Martin

104

3rd

Oakthwaite Aurora

Laura Hindle

761

1986

.

Jasper Trophy

Awarded to the horse / pony gaining the most points in their three best Graded Rides. Points from all classes at Golden Horseshoe do not count.

1st

Nuraletta

Judy Holloway

1322

2nd

Magic Powers

Valerie Bradshaw

1142

3rd

Sheer Bliss

Jade Edwards

1110

111

104 36

Cotswold Trophy Awarded to the pony (14.2hh and under) and Senior Rider combination gaining the most points in all types of rides.

1st

Nuraletta

Judy Holloway

2858

2nd

Clonmore Treasure

Antonia Milner Matthews

1768

3rd

Kaalif

Anja Ward

1469

Ragham Trophy Awarded to the horse / pony ridden by Young Rider(s) gaining the most points in Graded Rides.

1st

Sheer Bliss

Jade Edwards

1856

2nd

Clazzic R

Rachel Judson Ella Bunting

916

3rd

Aryzona

Abigail Cooper

Regent Trophy Awarded to the unregistered horse / pony gaining the most points in all types of rides.

1st

Oso Spiralling Wind

Nikki Malcolm

2158

2nd

Nightfire Hallelujah Louis

Julie Martin

1763

3rd

Cabirat Larzac

Harry Ingram

1260

Mesaoud Trophy Awarded to the Pure-Bred Arabian gaining the most points in all types of rides.

1st

Nuraletta

Judy Holloway

2858

2nd

Ty Shute Golden Savannah

Saffron Bishop

2398.5

3rd

Aly's Estrella De Rock

Ella Bunting

2166

Talisman Trophy Awarded to the horse / pony achieving the fastest speed in a 1-day 160km Competitive Endurance Ride in the current season.

Tannasg Psyches Realm

781

Cairo Trophy

Awarded to the Part Bred Arabian gaining the most points in all types of rides.

1st

Sheer Bliss

Jade Edwards

1856

2nd

Croftys Springtime Frost

Julie Banks

1398.5

3rd

Mk Marcella

Rachel Hannah Pemberton

1208.0

Rachael Atkinson

590

Windard Best New Horse Trophy Awarded to the horse/pony gaining the most points in Competitive Endurance Rides in its first CER season.

1st

Krakatau

Linda Cowperthwaite

1248

2nd

Cabirat Larzac

Harry Ingram

1010

3rd

Mellway Royalblue Diamond

Abigail Chisholm

886

Broadstone Charade Trophy Awarded to the horse gaining most national points since first registered with EGB at least 10 years ago and competing in the current season. The horse must be registered for the current season and will have competed in at least one graded or competitive endurance ride.

Cardinal Panache

22

results

Julia Harman

Mellor Young Rider Trophy Awarded to the Young Rider gaining the most points in Competitive Endurance Rides riding more than one horse.

1st

Aberllwyd Ibn Phariz

Katie Bedwin

2702

British Young Rider Champion Maddie Pomroy

Life in the

.

fast lane

Endurance GB Young Rider Champion Maddie Pomroy looks back at a whirlwind year and the lessons she has learned

T

his year has been the biggest learning his curve in the sport yet. With both some fantastic highs and equally matched lows, I experienced getting both my best results and worst results so far in endurance competition.

Spool back earlier in the year to King’s Forest where Odie and I had an amazing time coming second in the FEI 2*YR. As we were the first British combination to come over the line it gave us the title of British Young Rider Champion which was amazing!

Photo courtesy of Dave Saunders

Odie then had a well-deserved break after this, but we were soon back out for a bit of fun around Poplar Park, we did a 64km at around 13kph and had company from Keighley Pomroy with AJ. Odie had nothing to prove so I didn't see any need to rush.

That ride went well and how I wish I used the same tactic for the Euston Park Masters which were next on our list. As he did so well at King's Forest, we decided to try another two star at Euston Park. This was going to be bigger and better than any other ride I had been to before, so I asked Roz Plail (Odie's owner) for advice and prepared for an amazing opportunity.

However, on the day, things didn't go to plan and I made a huge error in judgement. Odie is such a speedy horse and he feels so amazing

when he just flies around a course, but I should have slowed him down. He started to feel odd on the third loop (100km in) and when we got back to the venue he unfortunately failed and had to have a trip to treatment. It's not something I'm proud of but it has really taught me that speed isn't everything and I'm really going to take this on board in the future. This was effectively the end of the season for us, so even though it wasn't the best finish to year one of Odie's two years with me, I came away with a lot to think about and a lot to work on.

Currently, Odie is in light work. We're just taking things easy and I'm really trying to change the way we work together by having more control, instead of allowing him to take me around the ride. This new approach is not to his liking though as he is never impressed by going 'slow'. After Christmas we're going to start introducing pole work into training and trying to collect him up a bit and make him have to concentrate on something other than hacking. However, next season isn't too far away and I have yet to even look at what rides could be a possibility to go to, I think we're just going to take it in our stride and just aim for a nice season where we can both have fun ready for when Roz takes him home! He's an amazing horse and who knows what's in the future for us next season, I guess we'll all just have to wait and see!

spotlight

23

Green Dragon Lane Team Award

Teams of Three

Awarded to the team of 4 horses, of which one nominated horse will only count rides of less than 48km, gaining the most points in all types of rides.

Awarded to the team of 3 horses gaining the most points in all types of rides.

2nd

3nd

The Three Amigos

5974.5

Aberllwyd Ibn Phariz

Katie Bedwin

1956.0

Aly’s Estrella de Rock

Ella Bunting

2166.0

Magdy

James Dickinson

1790.0

The Dartmoor Divas

Kate's Mates Simeric Solaman

Ella Bunting

887.0

Dromasque

Saffron Bishop

639.0

Orel

Kate Curry

315.0

.

4698

2nd

1841

The Real Housewives of Cheshire

716.5

C F Winter Amadeus

Pat Guerin

288.0

Orlando

Gaynor Jones

128.0

Karactacus Potts

Anna Collins

300.5

Utopie de Soult

Jo Chisholm

425.0

Mellway Royalblue Diamond

Abby Chisholm

1114.0

Nuraletta

Judy Holloway

2858.0

Rabbalina

Judy Holloway

301.0

LB Armani

Sarah Ainsworth

206.0

3606.5

Kalish

Richard Allen

0.0

Bright Dawn

Sue Loveridge

0.0

The Gadebrook Guys and a Gal Kaalif

Anja Ward

1532.0

Remynisce

Victoria Ward

1208.0

Samba B

Susan Hawes

742.0

Mandarine

Sarah O'Neil

124.5

John Yeats Memorial Bursary

A £100 bursary to be presented annually to a Young Rider to have reached 14 years but not to have attained his/her 19th birthday on 1 January in the relevant competition year Suzie Todd

Alec McGuiness Memorial Trophy

An award to the “Unsung Hero”, that is someone who has given unfailing service to Endurance GB by way of help at rides or assistance in any other way or ways Stevie Martin

The Alec McGuinness Memorial Trophy is the special award presented by the Board of Directors to someone who has given unfailing service to Endurance GB by way of help at rides or assistance in any other way. This year it was presented to Stevie Martin. Stevie, who has retired this year, has been a Technical Steward for many years and has trained and mentored most of the Technical Stewards currently on the circuit. Over her long career as an Endurance GB volunteer, she has also organised several rides and has served on the Board of Directors.

Although she is taking a step back from here on in, she will still be found helping at her local rides.

24

1st

results

3nd

The Likely Ladies

206

Young Rider Grand Prix Trophy Awarded to the horse and Young Rider combination gaining the most points in Competitive Endurance Rides in the Endurance GB Ride Programme. Best three scores to count.

1st

Aberllwyd Ibn Phariz

Katie Bedwin

1626

2nd

Aly's Estrella De Rock

Ella Bunting

1594

3rd

Ty Shute Golden Savannah

Saffron Bishop

1478

Senior Grand Prix Trophy Awarded to the horse / pony & rider combination gaining the most points in Competitive Endurance Rides in the current season.

1st

Oso Spiralling Wind

Nikki Malcolm

1728

2nd

Clonmore Treasure

Antonia Milner Matthews

1538

3rd

Silver Zourra

Nicola Sherry

1450

Photo Courtesy of David Saunders Photography

1st

Novice Ride Champion Jenny Newby

From the track

.

to the trail

Nicsar Diamond Jubilee (Jasper) owned by Nicola Buchan and Sarah Innes and trained by Adam Newey, has enjoyed a successful career on the Arab Racing circuit, securing two wins, three second and three third placings from 20 starts. In his first endurance season, he won the Novice Championship at Boyton Hall ridden by Jenny Newby. Adam talks about Jasper’s success and how he approaches working across the two codes‌

How did you prepare Jasper for endurance?

Jasper's training for endurance this season has not changed from his race training, starting with such short distance rides.

Lunge work to begin, followed by steady hill work gets a good base line for fitness. With only two races in the Arab Racing season where he could be competitive as a stayer, we started his season doing endurance. He did have one race on the track mid-season and sprint work ready for that race to make sure his wind was clear. I hoped he could combine both disciplines, but it was agreed to focus on the endurance.

Arabians are thinkers who need to stay calm to be at their best. I feed a non-heating condition mix with bulk dependant on the individual needs. Jasper is a 'good doer' so I just wanted him carrying slightly more condition than the racers to be at his best.

How did you plan Boyton with Jenny?

The Boyton ride was not on the table until it was confirmed Jasper had qualified. The fitness work was already done, and Jasper was eased down in work to make sure he was not "over cooked". Jenny and I discussed the ride and she researched previous years' times to get the correct paces and executed it perfectly.

You've described Jasper as 'a nice laid back stallion and a pleasure to train'. Is he a future endurance star?

His owners Sarah Innes and Nicola Buchan obviously hope so as Jasper has always shown endless stamina. I understand what he has achieved in his novice season is just the beginning of his endurance career and he will find next season much tougher. We will get him fit and healthy and I will do all I can to help him progress.

How did you get involved in endurance?

Several horses in my care now and in the past have been doing endurance for over ten years, mainly under the ownership of Linda Cross.

Several ex-racers started their endurance careers at my yard before going on to an endurance trainer. Many started their endurance careers with Malcolm Greenaway after we discussed any individual quirks. Between us we trained a Southern Champion and Malcolm has been invaluable in advice for endurance.

Since I started training racehorses, endurance has always been an avenue for extending the careers of horses, with me in the background. I'm not keen on sitting on a huge saddle for hours! I am planning more rides next season as the Arab racing opportunities have decreased by 70% in the last couple of years and the horses need targets.

What cross over is there between racing and endurance?

Understanding Arabians, keeping them healthy and getting the fitness in place is the key to achieving results. I used the same formula for endurance as it is basically a race to prepare the individual for, but over longer distances. If a racehorse is not fit, it's more likely to get an injury or not perform, hence fitness to do the task is imperative for both codes. Recovery between a race or ride is just as important or their careers would be short lived. Finally you need patience for each individual to gain an understanding of what is being asked of them until it’s second nature and when all this is done results hopefully follow.

Is there anything from endurance that you take back into racing?

Endurance is a far calmer atmosphere than racing so I will be switching a few more of the racers to try both codes as I feel it could help chill the more highly strung types as well as prepare them for ongoing careers.

What next for Jasper next season and where do you see him going in the sport?

Jenny will ride Jasper as long as she wishes, going forward a ride at a time to see how far Jasper can progress.

spotlight

25

Senior Grand Prix Nikki Malcolm

Riding

.

like the wind

Nikki Malcolm has had a brilliant season with OSO Arabians OSO Spiralling Wind collecting not only the Southern Championship but the Senior Grand Prix awarded to the horse and Senior Rider combination gaining the most points in Endurance GB Competitive Endurance Rides in the current season and the Regent Trophy for the the unregistered horse/pony gaining the most points in all types of rides. She explains her approach and reveals how much she owes to Khartoum, who reached the 4000km milestone this year

S

piral came over from Australia last March to train with me with the ultimate goal of Australian young riders being able to qualify for the YR World Championships.

OSO stud and its owner Linda Mars have shown great faith in the sport of endurance in the UK to give me this chance to produce the horse and make their dreams come true using EGB rides.

Of course, it’s a pressure but also a privilege for me and we are blessed with some great ride organisers and venues within Endurance GB. This year we successfully qualified 20-yearold Australian rider Emzy Dimech using Royal Windsor 120 as her qualifier for the Young Rider World Championships.

“The Southern Championship was a chance to keep Spiral mentally in tune as he enjoys his ‘away days’. As a team we were experimenting with presentation times in vet gates, trying to save valuable minutes that could make all the difference in a close race. We took a lot of valuable lessons away and it gave us a two

26

spotlight

minute lead out onto the last loop which he breezed round and cantered on the bridle all the way to the line with excellent recoveries.

“Spiral then had an outing at Euston Park [where the pair came 32nd in the CEI 2* 120km] to soak up a busier atmosphere and deal with all the flags and vetting marquees that he will come across at a championship but the majority of training was done onsite using our two top class gallops and excellent Dorset countryside.”

Next up was the altogether different challenge of Red Dragon. “It’s not an easy task to prepare a horse for Dragon and I certainly wouldn’t want to be nursing a tired horse round a second day so I put so much thought and prep into it and look for tiny improvements that can be made as it all adds up and aids performance.

I look at myself critically, work hard to get stronger and fitter in my legs and core, have osteopath sessions to improve my balance and keep me even, stop drinking any alcohol in the lead up to the event, supplement my diet with vitamins if I’m not eating my five a day.

I make sure the days leading up to race I’m fully hydrated and sip electrolyte drinks throughout the day, the same as I will when I’m in the race.

I like to keep my mind sharp during ride day.”

“Spiral definitely knew he was coming in for a win at the end of the Dragon when he galloped over the line. He has really proved himself as an 80km horse with 100% success rate this season and the logical progression for him next season will be a one-day 160km, but we will regroup with Linda and Amanda on this. For now, we have a field at home which we rest for the winter and it is shoes off time and a chance for them all to graze as a herd for three months which they love.”

Explaining her approach, Nikki says: “The horse I believe has four main points to consider: respiratory system, core strength, cardio fitness and active hind quarters.

“I work specifically on these points with both physical exercise and sound stable management, I’m not tempted to do vast amounts of hill training later in the season when the horses are fit and conditioned and most importantly sound - I want to keep it that way. So we focus on just doing quality work often thinking outside the box a little. Then we have the confidence that the job is done, allow the tapering to take effect and the body to repair and strengthen as I’m sure many a horse leaves its race behind on that last hill at home.

“The last piece of the jigsaw, I’m not sure you can teach, the ability to get on a horse and fill it with confidence, lead it about like the race is already won, have complete and utter faith that it’s absolutely got this. No getting obsessed with who’s in the race and what they have or haven’t done in the past, just be quiet and cool about it let that horse know you believe in its ability, that feedback to the horse gives them such a rush of confidence it’s amazing what they’ll find for you, I’ll often pat one down the neck and whisper to them how nice it is for everybody to turn up to see you today. Perhaps that sounds a little daft but perhaps it works? And yes, sure you may be on your own for periods of the race but I’ll have enough enthusiasm to get us both through because you can’t re write it, the race is on the path you put it on... think fast, improvise when needed, “nearly” doesn’t count in this game.

Maybe it’s the right way, maybe it’s not? But it’s worked for me.”

Saluting King Kharts

After notching up 4000km, Khartoum is truly a world class horse of a lifetime. Nikki Malcolm explains how much she owes to the feisty star bred by the late Cheryl Logan At the end of 2008 after winning a third 160km race at Red Dragon I’d decided to take a break from endurance as a career. I hadn’t fallen out of love with it but I was in my 20’s and wanted a new challenge. I’d always enjoyed riding work with Arab racehorses so decided to go into the Thoroughbred racing industry. It suited me and I fell in love with both the horses and the group of people I spent the next three years with.

During that time we had huge wins for a small stable including Cheltenham and Ascot winners (courtesy of Irish jockey Nathan Sweeney who is now my long term partner) and an Irish Grand National winner. Riding that class of horse and testing your nerve progressing to schooling over open ditches and fences gave me such a buzz that I couldn’t really see myself ever switching back to endurance again. I’ve always been a brave confident rider and I was in my element having that tested by the trickier horses.

During the quiet months between April and September we’d be given the option of the summer off and I had done a deal with a local eventing lady that I’d exercise a couple for her in exchange for four stables which I filled with breakers and ponies to keep myself ticking along. Khartoum was one of those ‘ponies’. He had been bred for the sport by the late Cheryl Logan who was sadly taken far too soon by cancer. Cheryl had brought a 17hh black TB mare of American breeding from Ascot sales to put to her 14.2 stallion Khairho, himself a successful 160km horse. Khartoum was one of these offspring and a character from the early days. Badly scarring his pastern in a gate accident as a yearling meant he would be undesirable to the Anglo Arab showing world and his feisty attitude meant he’d be hard to place in the ridden world but he was tried by a few riders for endurance. He got rid of a few

riders and knocked the confidence of others while his antics weren’t considered safe around young families especially his full-on toddler tantrum impression, so he was on a slippery slope of being passed about and he’d become quite a frustrated little horse.

I loved his spice and despite a fall early on I never felt over-horsed. I was being paid to find him a new home and some of the trials with riders who came to look at him were frightening so I’m not sure how we avoided accidents and but needless to say, I couldn’t find a buyer. He’d squeal and swing his tail about like a helicopter if people tried to ‘cuddle’ him and he didn’t seem suitable for much. Add to that a failed vetting, lame on three out of four flexion tests and his future was uncertain.

.

But I was loving flying by the seat of my pants with him on a daily basis. To me, he was world class and I knew that based on my past experience of riding horses that had won medals in championships and at prestigious races such as Florac. The conclusion was that the owner and I agreed I’d not send the month’s training invoice and the horse was signed over in my name.

Khartoum was what I needed to fall in love with the sport again and I was key for him being able to do the only thing he wanted to do - run with fire in his belly and a rider who’d just sit there and trust him to get on with it. He’s the most well balanced and naturally athletic horse you’d ever sit on - he took the last downhill mountain climb at Red Dragon in a canter when it’s not uncommon for people to dismount and lead. He was well in the lead in the race but had spotted a pleasure rider at the bottom and just launched himself towards them like a scene from a western. The worst thing I could do was interfere with him, so I just enjoyed the adrenaline buzz, the fear and excitement all rolled into one. I pulled up just before the pleasure rider and politely asked permission to pass before letting out a huge whoop of joy! He just loves that sound we are on the same level me and Kharts

After notching up 4000km, Khartoum is truly a world class horse of a lifetime.

and that’s why we’re so suited together. I just have to think it now and he does it! We have had ten years of making memories and he has notched up a stupidly impressive record of wins and titles, never missing a season, always being ridden competitively but given plenty of rest and after care, never having many runs each season.

It is hard to pick out favourite races but winning the 130km Cheryl Logan Memorial Trophy was so important to me. I just wish Cheryl could have seen what a horse he has become. Also special was his National Championship win in a 160km FEI 3* which led to a World Championship selection. But my favourite race wasn’t a win, it was a second place in a FEI 120km competition at Ermelo in the Netherlands. On the last loop there were five riders from different nationalities including myself and Kharts winging it round the forest sand tracks with the horses just loving life. All five horses had been managed perfectly throughout the race and all were hungry for a win. The kick back consisting of sand and mud from the other riders was impossible to avoid on the single file tracks to the finish and with no goggles and no option of Kharts slowing down due to riders on his tail I had no option than to close my eyes and try to steal a peak occasionally.

The feeling of complete trust was being tested to the max and it felt amazing at least until I took a downwards sideways glance at Kharts to see that he too had gone for the closed eyes option!

Based on that evidence I took a pull and lost the race by a neck but the five of us all passed that final vetting and shared the most incredible high that will stay with me forever.

In later years aged 20, he very nearly won the AHS marathon just being beaten by a horse who was less than half his age but easily galloping clear of the rest. This season aged 21, he’s been helping with our business ‘Stride Ahead’ as we’ve been leading babies around 40km rides. The youngsters always seem to behave around him as he has real leadership qualities that horses instantly pick up on and gain confidence from. He’s amazing at this role but continues to be borderline unrideable on home turf, also often hunting people out of his paddock with his rear end if they want to change a rug or put a fly mask on. He tolerates me in all situations but I understand who the boss is - we won’t change him now and to be fair why would we want to?

Collecting his 4000km Achievement Award has brought back so many memories. This horse has literally been part of the most important chapter in my life so far and thanks to him I have found friends for life like his loyal crew members and enjoyed the time spent with my sister who became his number one fan on race days. He's more than just a horse to us, he’s symbolic of my journey as a person and hopefully, continued success in life. Long live King Kharts.

spotlight

27

Photo Courtesy of David Saunders Photography

After 25 years in endurance, Janthea Newman clinched The Novice Champion (Mira Trophy) with GL Destiny’s Angel.

Janthea gave special thanks to her husband Charles and friends for their help and support throughout the season. Find out more about Janthea and Angel in our Jan/Feb issue!

The Whitbridge Merlin Memorial Trophy

156

Angels Twilight Spirit

Madison Pomroy

The Vlacq Khamul Memorial Trophy Awarded to the highest placed horse / rider combination, UK based (living and training in the UK) in the FEI World Open Rider rankings.

177

Tannasg Psyches Realm

Borthwick Back-up Trophy Awarded by the Board of Directors to the most competent back-up crew or person in the current season VJ Holloway

National Assistance Award

.

Novice Championship – Mira Trophy (Reserve Max Shield)

Awarded to the highest placed horse / Young Rider combination, UK based (living and training in the UK) in the FEI World Young Rider rankings.

Rachel Atkinson

A perpetual award to the “Unsung Hero”, someone who has given unfailing service to Endurance GB by way of help at rides or assistance in any other way or ways Di Luke

Rosettes Direct Award

Awarded to the champion novice horse / pony gaining the most points in GERs in their first season entering in rides of no more than 45km.

1st

G L Destiny's Angel

Janthea Newman

642

2nd

Bahlarina

Karina Cane

638

3rd

Oakthwaite Rhuaridh

Raymond Davison

625

4th

Lhp Esther's Caazino

Lesley Nott

613

5th

Penrhiwarwydd Beau-Jangles

Hilary Cuming

592

6th

Topend Lancealot (Al)

Stephenie Duxbury

578

Veteran Championship – Silverling Flint Memorial Trophy Awarded to the champion veteran horse / pony (18 years and over) gaining the most points in all types of rides. (Winners of Manar & Annual Points Award Shield are ineligible) 1st

Magic Powers

Valerie Bradshaw

2098.5

2nd

Silver Zourra

Nicola Sherry

1972

3rd

One Way

Valerie Chaplin

1065

4th

Basford Showman

Amber Sole

916

5th

Beths Choice

Lynn Harvey

906

6th

Velvet Echo

Lesley Ann Parker

879.5

An award to the “Unsung Hero”, that is someone who has given unfailing service to Endurance GB by way of help at rides or assistance in any other way or ways Jacky German of the TRF

Young Volunteer of the Year An award for a Junior or Young Rider aged 21 or under who has given unfailing service to EGB by way of help at rides or assistance in any other way Katie Bedwin

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results

Adonis Trophy Awarded to the horse / pony gaining the most points in Competitive Endurance Rides in the current season. Three best scores to count.

1st

Aberllwyd Ibn Phariz

Katie Bedwin

1626

2nd

Magdy

Nikki Malcolm

1614

3rd

Aly's Estrella De Rock

Ella Bunting

1594

Photo courtesy of Event to Event Photography

Highpoint Male Rider John Black

Advancing

.

against the odds

Endurance GB’s new Advanced National Champions are Liverpool-based John Black and his 11-year-old Arab CA Jalmeer (Jam). John and Jam won their title at the FEI CEI 1* 80KM class at Boyton Hall, held on 15th September. The Advanced Championship is open to qualifying riders with the fastest speed in a national or FEI class.

J

ohn started in the sport four years ago ohn and has overcome the odds to achieve his Advanced Championship win. He was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2016 and continued to compete achieving an 80km graded ride, despite needing a life-saving kidney transplant in March 2017. The operation meant an enforced break from the sport before bouncing back to win his first CER at Royalties last year. We asked him about his year.

Looking back what were you hoping for from Endurance?

I entered my first CER at the end of the 2018 season at the Royalties ride and won the race.

I planned on entering a few more CER’s in 2019 with the goal of becoming FEI qualified.

How did you prepare for the season?

Jam had his eight week break at the end of the 2018 season. After this, we started with long walks for four weeks and gradually built up the intensity with hill work for stamina and fast work at the beach and local gallops.

Where did your season begin and how did you progress?

Our first ride of 2019 was Pembry where we entered a two-day 80km GER. Jam felt amazing both days and we came away with a G2. We had a great ride and we will be back in 2020. Once Jam is at ride fitness, he will generally maintain his fitness through competing

but we do interval training at the local gallops and beach. Jam will see the physio after each ride over 60km and he will have between one to two weeks off to rest in the paddock and generally be a horse.

You have described Jam as being quirky but having a big heart?

After Pembry we entered eight other rides. The highs were winning the Advanced Championship and taking first place in the CEI 1* at Boyton Hall.

The low was then getting spun at Euston as I felt I had let Jam down. He picked up an unlucky flint and punctured his heel, however he saw the vet and was sound before we set off.

I took Jam on loan in 2015 as a boisterous seven year old. The first day, we went for a hack and he bucked me off three times. After the third buck, I got back on and he seemed to realize that I was not going to give up. From there, the rest as they say is history. Every now and again he can have his moments, however he has so much heart to give. Jam is barefoot and that can sometimes present a challenge. However, I think it would be a shame to have him shod just to enable us to get better results. Having a happy horse who enjoys his job is more important.

Talk us through your Advanced Championship win

What do you feel endurance has given back to you?

What were the highs and lows?

I did not know we had qualified for the Advanced Championships until I received the email and thought we had no chance of winning against the other qualifiers. My aim was to set out with the starters and let Jam find and go at his pace. At the final crew point, Shaun (my crew) told me that that I was out in the front along with another rider (Liz Ashmead with Warrens Hill Zaheen). Liz and I agreed to ensure the compulsory walk section towards the end of the final loop and to take care through the ford, only then would we go for a racing finish. Heading for home, Liz was ahead of us by a length and a half, I gave Jam a big pat and said, “go on son” and he seemed to go into turbo charge, finishing almost a length ahead. I was so proud and felt very emotional after the final vetting, even the vet president gave me a hug.

Endurance gave me a goal to work towards and a sense of focus when I was ill. Endurance gives me sense of determination, achievement and teamwork. I particularly appreciate the encouragement from other members and have made some good friends. I also have a fantastic crew in Shaun (Walsh) who is always there for me. We work together as a team and he always pushes me. Jam and I would not have achieved what we have done without him.

What are your goals for 2020?

We will be aiming to improve our presentation times, complete a CEI 2*, complete a ride abroad and complete a novice season on Jam’s full brother Merlin. But most of all, enjoy another great season.

spotlight

29

Photo courtesy of West End Photography

Young Rider Tribute Katie Bedwin

Bitten by

.

the bug

K

atie was born at the Royal Surrey atie in Guildford on March 12 1998.

She was an easy baby but always alert during the day. As her grandmother I was lucky enough to live next door. This proved to be very fortuitous as Lucy (her mother) was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis almost as soon as Katie was born.

Once Kate was walking, she toddled over next door saying “mum’s bones were bad”, so she would eat and stay with me for the day!

For Kate’s first birthday I bought her a Shetland pony called Pocket from Wales who was described as a pram on legs! She was ideal and Kate learnt to walk holding her tail and was soon being led round the lanes and fields on Pocket. By the time she was two she was riding round the school on an inner circle behind the ‘big girls’ Fiona Bloom (nee Hamilton) and Ali Ingram (nee Beet) joining in the lessons and watching others.

Ali used to pull her up and down in trot and it was not long before Katie could rise to the trot happily on Pocket or anything else. She joined the Chiddingfold branch of the Pony Club at two, loving the rallies. Her awareness of endurance also started early - my lurchers also had to have

30

spotlight

Katie Bedwin took this year’s YR Grand Prix, awarded to the horse and Young Rider combination gaining the most points in Competitive Endurance Rides in the Endurance GB Ride Programme as well as the Mellor and Adonis Trophies awarded to both the YR and any rider gaining the most points in Competitive Endurance Rides riding more than one horse. She also picked up the Saddlers, Premier DE and Green Dragon Lane Team awards. Her mentor, Rosemary Attfield charts her grandaughter’s early success…

their pulses taken regularly with Katie stating they were under 64 and ready to go!! She was keen to emulate her mother: Lucy would have been short listed for the Endurance Europeans when it was held in Britain in the 90’s, her Aunt who evented and all of the endurance riders in the yard.

Just before her third birthday, her mother and I went to look at Welsh mountain ponies at Lapstone Stud Bishop Waltham. Katie informed the owner “Horsey Granny would want to see the unbroken ponies run up to see how they moved.” We decided on the 11.2hh Laptone Patina the same age as Katie and took her home to be backed. Needless to say, Katie was the first one on her. Patina stayed with us until Katie was eight. With Patina, Katie had taken part in her first pleasure/training ride aged five and between them they were successful in first ridden, cradle stakes, mini jumping and one day events and lots of endurance rides up to 50km.

They successfully completed the Red Dragon 40km class when they were both eight. From a young age, they came on the downs and beach exercising with the rest of the Hornshill endurance horses being prepared for anything up to 160km competitions. When Kate was not competing, she would accompany us and crew.

By the time Katie was seven we started looking for an unbroken Section B Welsh and

by Christmas we had bought a three year old dun called Anri Loucette or Annie. Once again Katie, with my help from the ground, backed and schooled her. By the time Annie was six she was winning 13hh working hunter pony classes, dressage, Pony Club eventing and jumping. Kate did her first 64km endurance ride on her along with many other successful endurance events.

When Kate turned eleven, she was desperate to compete at Ludlow 80km GER. Annie had a bruised sole so she asked to ride my 15.2hh Burfield Red Dragon. I arranged to crew and for her to ride with Susan Thomas. She set off and I was pleased her parents could not see Dragon’s airs above the ground prior to starting!

Dragon and Kate flew up the first hill and had to wait at the top for their escort and happily went through the first vet gate. It started to rain on the next loop and they were beginning to get rather slow and I could see them being out of time so at the next crew place I suggested they might retire if they could not go faster. With that Kate gave Dragon a kick and off they went at speed! I am afraid to say they came into the second vet gate a little ahead of their escort and well within the speed. They both finished successfully and Susan said without Kate she would have retired not finished. They all looked like drowned rats!!

Photo courtesy of West End Photography

The following year in 2010 Kate, now 12, and Dragon completed ten rides together successfully and won the Pony Club Championships Advanced class. Once again that Autumn we had decided to look for something larger and unbroken that Katie could bring on while still riding Dragon for experience.

Elayla was found on the internet only five miles from Hornshill. She was a 15hh three year old purebred chestnut Arab mare whose Grand Sire was Ben Rabba, a performance line.

She had been Reserve Champion at Devon County as a two year old and was really out of our price range but undaunted off Lucy and I went. The only way we could see her move was to have her chased! The owner had only had her a few months and Elayla had obviously taken charge. They had had her for sale for several months and were fairly desperate to see her gone. I said I liked her but could only afford around half what they were asking and they agreed, providing I picked her up that day. She certainly needed boot camp for a few months. Kate could neither lead or groom her. By January she was better behaved and I spent many hours long reining her round the school and through the woods. By the end of March she was ready to back which Katie did with no problems. That year they completed a couple of short pleasure rides successfully and Kate adored her and a partnership was born. The following year in 2011, Katie took Elayla successfully through her novice season with seven rides winning the Open Pony Club Champs at College in August. The 2012 season was momentous, Elaya and Katie duly completed their 64km and two 80km graded classes the next year, with Katie turning 14, they were both now qualified to compete at FEI level and to begin an exciting new phase of their endurance career.

.

Katie has always been supportive of other young people and has a huge ethos for hard work

Rosemary says: “I think having her mother Lucy really very bad with rheumatoid arthritis from an early age it has made Katie responsible, understanding and caring from a very young age. She has always been brilliant and supportive of other young people. She has always had a strong character and strong feeling of fairness along with a true love and care for her horses. She is very organised and has a huge ethos for hard work.”

"We certainly couldn’t have achieved what we have without the unfailing support of my sponsors and supporters. Phariz is fuelled by Baileys Horse Feeds, in particular Ease and Excel, which is perfect for excitable horses, requiring calories for performance. Alongside his daily hard feed, Phariz has Feedmark supplements, in the form of their Bespoke All-In-One, tailored to include Best-Flex HA for his joints and Replenish for electrolytes. We have the expertise of ACPAT Physiotherapist, PhysioFi, Fiona Bloom, to support both horses and humans, at home and at competitions.

Biomechanics assessments by Equilaterals allows my whole team to assess Phariz’s gait, my symmetry and make small performance enhancing changes. Phariz is fitted with a Stride Free Saddle and I have to thank KM Elite Products and my saddler Ellie Martin from Bespoke Saddlery, for introducing me to these amazing saddles."

Katie Bedwin

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31

Jeffmaur Trophy

Platinum DE Award presented by Ann Dark

Awarded to the horse and male rider combination gaining the most points in all types of rides.

Awarded to the senior rider gaining the most points in UK FEI rides on more than one horse, UK-based and training in the UK. Only one ride of 80km to count, the remainder to be 120km or over.

1st

Ca Jalmeer

John Black

1745

2nd

Magdy

James Dickinson

1520

3rd

Cabirat Larzac

Harry Ingram

1260

Tannasg Psyches Realm

Rachael Atkinson

840

Premier DE Award presented by Ann Dark Awarded to the young rider gaining the most points in UK FEI rides on more than one horse, UK-based and training in the UK. Only one ride of 80km to count, the remainder to be 120km or over.

Phoenix Field Endurance Futurity Trophy

.

Presented by Dr & Mrs P Claridge. Awarded to the Endurance GB Member whose horse (foal to 3-year-old) receives the highest score in the Endurance Discipline of the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Futurity Evaluations during the year.

1st

CD Electra

Georgina Vaughan

2nd

Hadiya

Anne Brown

3rd

Azura Magic

Julie Hill

Retraining of Racehorses Endurance Championship

1st

Abseil

Tracy Sieminski

425

2nd

Ignacio Zuloaga

Vanessa Woodhouse

259.5

3rd

Estfahan

Herbie Owen

195

Awarded to the ex-arab racehorse gaining the most points in all types of rides.

The horse must have raced at least once to be eligible.

1st

Hamdaany Zaid Almaha

Nathan Sweeney

2nd

Mellway Royalblue Diamond

1444

The Saddlers Award

Abigail Chisholm

1114

3rd

Orel

Kate Curry

1085

1156.5

1st

Aberllwyd Ibn Phariz

Katie Bedwin

2980

2nd

Ty Shute Golden Savannah

Saffron Bishop

2501.5

The Para-Equestrian Endurance League (sponsored by TORQ Fitness) 1st

Kirsty Wiscombe

866

2nd

Tracy Thompson

674

Red Sands Award Awarded to the highest place horse in the Novice Championship ridden all season by a novice rider in their first season of competition with Endurance GB 1st

Endurance GB FEI Championship

Katie Bedwin

Presented by the Worshipful Company of Saddlers. Awarded to the high point young rider 25 and under during the current season. Best 8 rides to count.

The winner receives a saddle and reserve receives a head collar.

Awarded to the horse registered at Wetherbys and with Retraining of Racehorses gaining the most points in all types of rides. Horses must have raced at least once to be eligible.

G Putnik Trophy

Aberllwyd Ibn Phariz

Topend Lancealot

Stephanie Duxbury

578

1st

Clonmore Treasure

Antonia Milner Matthews

1538

2nd

Ty Shute Golden Savannah

Saffron Bishop

1370

3rd

MK Marcella

Rachel Pemberton

1208

The Endurance GB FEI Championship awarded to the horse/pony and rider combination gaining the most points in FEI classes run under the auspices of Endurance GB went to Antonia Milner Matthews and her Connemara Pony Clonmore Treasure.

32

spotlight

Photos courtesy of Dave Saunders

Awarded to the horse / pony and rider combination gaining the most points in FEI classes run under the auspices of Endurance GB

Veteran Champion Valerie Bradshaw Val Bradshaw’s remarkable 24-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Magic Powers won this year’s Veteran Championship, Silverling Flint Memorial Trophy. He has also collected the Boston Bay Cup, awarded to the horse registered by Wetherbys gaining the most points in all types of rides.

Tell us about his first ride

Magic Powers' first ride was back in April 2004 at the Balanced Horse Feeds Easter ride over 32km where he achieved a grade one. He completed two rides in 2004 and two in 2005.

He then had a break until May 2012, aged 17.

getting them fit takes more time. However, a good diet is also important for complete well-being. He is fed Dodson and Horrell Staypower cubes, Allen and Page Veteran Vitality, sugar beet, and Emerald Green Feeds' alfalfa nuts.

What was his first win and best result?

Tell us the secret of your incredible partnership?

More than a

touch of magic

What is the most challenging aspect of competing a veteran?

When he was 3 and in training with the late Mr GB (Toby) Balding he sustained a broken pelvis, which causes him to be slightly asymmetric when trotting. Remember that he/she is a veteran and

Junior Champion Award Ella Pomroy

I

got involved in endurance four years got ago when my sister and cousin had grown out of Milky Way. I started off doing 16km pleasure rides when I was nine years old, mixing with the odd 32km.

I had been to many of the rides before because I had crewed for my grandma and sister from an early age. Endurance has been in my family since I was born as my grandma competed on her Welsh PB. This season has been my biggest season yet as I was given the opportunity to compete at the Pony Club Championships once again and also to ride my first 80km GER.

Milky Way (aka Lumpy) is a Welsh PB from Redwings Horse Sanctuary who was rescued from the Welsh Marches in 2004.

He is a 13hh gelding, who at sixteen years old is still willing as ever to go and compete at his favourite rides. He has started and finished all his rides except one this year. Lumpy is a very calm pony, yet excited to go out to new places.

My plans for next year are unclear but I’m just going to see how the season goes. Hopefully next year will be just as amazing as 2019 has been!

I have ridden Magic Powers since he was a yearling and when the opportunity came, I bought him before going to the sales at the age of four. We have great weekends away, catching up with friends, and competing with my best friend. We just love each other.

What are your plans for him next season?

I had planned on retiring him, however he will be leading the youngsters over small distances. Unless he tells me different!

Photos Courtesy of Davis Saunders Photography

.

His first win was Retraining of Racehorses in 2014, finishing second in 2012 and third in 2013.

His best result was finishing 4th in his first 80km FEI at Royalties in October 2017, aged 22 and he has covered 3,587 km to date.

Over the moon

with Milky Way

This year’s Junior Champion Award (Merrie Trophy) went to Redwings Milky Way ridden by Ella Pomroy. Ella tells us about her season. The combination also picked up the Junior Saddlers Awards and Ella tells us about their season.

spotlight

33

Photo Courtesy of Davis Saunders Photography

Open Champion Emma Martin

Fit

for an Earl

Tell us Emma, how did you get involved with Endurance?

I was introduced to horses and Endurance by my mum, Julie Martin, at a young age and began riding at four and did my first competitive ride when I was eight on my 12hh pony Sandpiper. I completed five successful seasons on Piper with the most memorable being the 100-mile Summer Solstice ride when I was 12 years old.

Alongside endurance competitions, I competed in various Pony Club activities with the Vale of York Pony Club. When I grew too big for Piper I began riding my first Arab, Ridel, who excelled at jumping. I had a break from Endurance due to University, working abroad and travelling, however, in 2004 I bought my first horse a 15.3 hh Arab who competed up to 80 km. I have competed most seasons ever since on a number of horses of my own, Julie’s or friends, competing up to 120 km FEI.

Introduce us to Earl:

His sire is an Appaloosa and dam a Polish Warmblood.

34

spotlight

.

I was not actively looking for a horse, however in the autumn of 2008 a friend showed me a picture of an eight year old gelding for sale which caught my eye with the view to event him. Earl was advertised at 16.1hh and was shown to be jumping nicely round a 90cm course. When we went to see him, we were greeted by a 17hh giant! This was Earl, an 8-year-old Polish Warmblood. He had done very little and was quite green but I liked him immediately. I liked his conformation and his nature. His feet weren’t great but that could be sorted. His trot up was not brilliant but I wasn’t buying him for endurance was I?! His paces were lovely and he was responsive. I liked him so he joined the Martin family.

First steps:

Earl was rather chunky when he first came so I took it easy with him in the beginning and concentrated on building up a relationship with him as he could be a bit nervous at times but generally his temperament was laidback. Earl was soon losing his fat and gaining muscle and our amazing farrier sorted out his feet, so I

Emma Martin and her stunning Appaloosa/Polish Warmblood Earl were the winners of the 2019 Open Championship held this year at Boyton Hall, the Lavenham Ride in September

decided to take him to a Hunter Trial where we came first in the pairs class and 6th in the 80cm individual class (with over 50 in the class). I also took him on a few group social rides as part of his fitness programme which he seemed to do with ease. He had his teeth done, back checked, saddle checked and body work done so he was set for 2019. Early in the year we had a setback as during a jumping lesson Earl decided he wasn’t right for the jump and stopped but I didn’t and landed at the far side of the jump. Earl must have thought if she can do it so can I and followed me but unfortunately one hoof landed on me.

This resulted in a fractured pelvis and so our plans for the year were revised as I would be out of action for a while.

Adaptable all-rounder:

Earl has shown that he is adaptable and able to participate in a variety of activities including dressage, arena eventing, hunter trials, show jumping, hunting, and endurance. He attracts attention wherever he goes because of his unusual colouring.

For the first four rides of the season he did not have a wee from leaving the yard to returning to the yard and this included one 66 km ride.

This started to worry me but on the fourth ride he rode with field mate, Louis, and he did his first wee before the first vetting and since then has had a wee when at the vet holds and at the end of the ride. He now needs to learn to wee when out on course if he needs to go.

How many endurance rides do you do?

This year Earl was restricted to 450 km as it was his first season so I had to plan my season accordingly. Because Earl is nine and physically developed I decided to fast track him, so after his first three successful rides at Novice, he upgraded to Advanced and he then did his first 66 km at The Wirral. In all we did 8 rides this season.

Back in the saddle:

Following my accident I was keen to get back in the saddle and return to jumping and entered a local hunter trial which attracts a lot of competitors run by the Badsworth and Braham Moor Hounds. There was an optimum time and riders were not allowed to wear watches. I was nervous as this was my first competition since the fall. We finished one second under the optimum time winning the class. I felt back on track, however my passion for Endurance took over and I did very little jumping over the endurance season until very recently when I represented my local riding club, Ackworth District Riding Club at Northallerton Equestrian Centre in the Arena Cross. Earl did a lovely clear but we went too fast, several seconds over the optimum time.

What does a typical season involve?

Although I have not done as many competitions during the Endurance season with Earl, I had monthly flatwork lessons and would spend time schooling, jumping and lunging at home. I found it hard to fit in (and afford) to compete in other disciplines during the endurance season due to him having rest periods after rides and then preparing him for the next ride. Taking him to local farm rides is a good opportunity to train for endurance competitions and also pop a few fences.

.

Photo courtesy of Andrew Youll Photography

But he does have his quirks:

"The variety of activities keeps him interested" Which is your favourite?

I love King's Forest for the endless canters and lovely going but then I also love Cumbria for the challenging terrain and fantastic views.

What is Earl’s best performance?

Winning the Open National Championships class finishing with a 47 heart rate at 13.9 kph on a very hot day.

What do you think competing in a range of sports gives to Earl?

To bring this unlikely horse through so well in his first season is very satisfying. It seems that his training schedule of hacking, lunging, jumping, pleasure rides, hunting with the bloodhounds, schooling, dressage and jumping lessons has worked well to get this giant fit and in shape.

The variety of activities keeps him interested and has developed his physique.

As well as winning the Open Championship at Boyton, Emma Martin and her mother, Julie Martin, got 2nd and 1st in the Royal Lord Trophy for the highpoint horse in its first open season.

How does it help your endurance?

Having lessons in flatwork and jumping is good for my riding position and balance and the skills can be transferred from one discipline to another and allowing me to help the horse at all times.

How does endurance contribute to your competitiveness in other sports?

I think competing in endurance from an early age instilled a competitiveness in me and a love for the cross county section of eventing. My knowledge of caring for a horse after competing has been useful when caring for Earl and other horses after they have been hunting or round a cross country course.

spotlight

35

Junior Championship – Merrie Trophy (Reserve Zarpa Trophy)

Senior Championship

Awarded to the champion horse / pony ridden by Junior Rider(s) gaining the most points in Graded Rides.

Awarded to the champion horse / pony, ridden by senior member(s) gaining the most points in all types of rides.

1st

Redwings Milky Way

Ella Pomroy

1251

1st

Nuraletta

Judy Holloway

2858

2nd

Dutchdream Spetter

Suzie Todd

721

2nd

Magic Powers

Valerie Bradshaw

2098.5

3rd

Pizwell Nessy

Elizabeth Stanley-Whiteley

572.5

3rd

LVA Troy

Susan Scarborough

1988

4th

Silver Zourra

Nicola Sherry

1972

4th

Heatherglen's Madeliene

Lois Cooper

469.5

5th

Inferno

Alex Tennant

1902

5th

Irshaad

Tronari Baker

454

6th

Star Hill Sapphire

Claire Mellor

1859.5

6th

Mitsubishi Mouse

Katie Barton

372

.

Young Rider Championship – Nippa Trophy (Reserve Pixie Trophy)

Overall Champion – Manar Trophy (Reserve Annual Points Award Shield)

Awarded to the champion horse / pony ridden by Young Rider(s) gaining the most points in all types of rides.

Awarded to the overall high point horse / pony of the year gaining the most points in all types of rides.

1st

Ty Shute Golden Savannah

Saffron Bishop

2398

1st

Nuraletta

Judy Holloway

2858

2nd

Aly's Estrella De Rock

Ella Bunting

2166

2nd

Ty Shute Golden Savannah

Saffron Bishop

2398.5

3rd

Aberllwyd Ibn Phariz

Katie Bedwin

1956

3rd

Aly's Estrella De Rock

Ella Bunting

2165

4th

Sheer Bliss

Jade Edwards

1856

4th

Oso Spiralling Wind

Nikki Malcolm

2158

5th

Angels Twilight Spirit

Madison Pomroy

1068.5

5th

Magic Powers

Valerie Bradshaw

2095

6th

Elayla

Katie Bedwin

1036

6th

LVA Troy

Susan Scarborough

1988

36

spotlight

Photo Courtesy of Davis Saunders Photography

As ever, Endurance GB is extremely grateful to all our sponsors, not only for their support throughout the year, but also for their support at the Annual Awards.

Winter care

W

inter can be a real challenge for horses and their owners.

The days are shor t, the nights are long and we have to cope with whatever the weather decides to throw at us. One of the biggest concerns over the winter months is the never ending wet and mud, which can weaken your horse's skin allowing mud fever to strike.

Mud fever is principally caused by a bacterium known as Dermatophillus congolensis that penetrates damaged or softened skin and thrives in wet conditions. It is usually seen in the skin around the lower leg and fetlock however can occur higher on the leg or belly. Ordinarily the bacteria live happily on skin without any issue. However, any break in the skin allows the bacteria to enter then dermatitis sets in.

Mud fever is seen as painful scabs and matted hair, potentially leading to lameness. Prolonged wetting from muddy conditions in the field can weaken skin allowing entry; but so too can an unbalanced diet effecting skin integrity, extended training sessions, abrasive bedding, and any minor nicks and cuts.

While it can be seen in any animal, those with thin skin and white legs do seem to be particularly prone. Older horses are also predisposed to the condition and those with heavy feathers.

Performance horses can be badly affected even by mild cases of mud fever, particularly if they are required to perform for a long period of time. Endurance horses are a key example, and aggressive treatment and prevention are essential for these equine athletes.

.

Mud fever

management Branwen Griffin BA(Hons), is a Nutritional Advisor for NAF and heads up NAF’s Customer Support Team. She loves helping horse owners with all their nutrition and care enquiries and competing her ex racehorse.

Prior to the onset of wet and muddy conditions strengthen your horse's skin from the inside out. Improve the diet of your horse by choosing a natural supplement based on antioxidants and ensure that supplement also includes nutrients to maintain skin strength, such as bioavailable sulphur (MSM), zinc and amino acids.

Supporting the body from the inside out will help maintain the body’s own defences.

Check legs daily and quickly treat any minor abrasion with wound cream.

Bring your horse in regularly and ensure they have adequate clean, dry bedding.

Liberally apply an effective barrier cream to clean, dry legs before turnout or training sessions in wet, muddy or sandy conditions to minimise bacterial attack.

Opinions are divided as to whether to wash legs when they come back from the field. It is thought that both wetting and chilling are key triggers, so when you wash legs regularly ensure they’re thoroughly dried too. Alternatively, you may wish to apply wraps or bandages over the muddy legs, which keeps them warm; simply brush dry mud

off in the morning and reapply your barrier cream before turnout.

Should you find signs of mud fever, treat immediately. Closely clip the area, allowing easy access and air to circulate, then very carefully remove the scabs. Never pick off dry, hard scabs as this leaves an open wound allowing bacteria in, and is likely to be painful for the horse. Wash the area with a natural anti-bacterial shampoo, before rinsing with clean water. For persistent scabs apply a soothing cream containing MSM or Zinc and poultice overnight, which should soften the scabs making them easier to remove.

Once the scabs are removed and the area cleaned, ensure the legs are carefully dried using disposable paper towelling to avoid cross contamination, then apply a topical antibacterial wound cream.

Remember if you are concerned always seek veterinary advice.

With winter management and care your horse can trot towards the warmer, drier days of Spring with a clean pair of heels!

horse health

37

Hay replacers

Feeding a high-fibre

.

diet

Telissa Blowers BSc (Hons) Equine Nutritionist at Allen & Page Quality Horse Feeds addresses the benefits of feeding a high fibre diet.

H

orses are grazing animals that thrive on a high fibre diet, eating long forage such as hay and haylage. In the wild, horses would need to graze for 18-20 hours a day roaming across plains. Although horses are now domesticated, they should still have long fibre available at all times to mimic their natural grazing behaviours.

Fibre will fuel a fermentation process within the hindgut, helping to maintain a healthy digestive system but also helping to keep the horse warm, which is particularly important during the winter. If a horse does not consume enough fibre in the diet, this could cause him to drop weight. Monitoring the number of droppings your horse does each day will give you a good indication if he is consuming enough forage; fewer droppings will mean less hay is being eaten which is the first tell-tale sign that difficulties have arisen. If your horse struggles with long forage or if he is stabled through the winter it may be beneficial to provide him with an easy to eat forage replacement such as Fast Fibre to ensure he still gets enough fibre in the diet. Fast Fibre is a quick soaking, easy to eat, high fibre mash and with its specialist formulation can be used as a partial forage replacement or top-up, making life easier for those who struggle with long forage.

38

nutrition

Hay replacers are often thought of as only suitable for the older horses with poor teeth (which is very common!), but this isn’t always the case. Some horses may have been through invasive surgery whereby long-stem fibre, for the time being is unsuitable or, in other cases, the horse may be fussy with consuming enough forage. When the season starts again, endurance races take part all across the UK (and the world!), it may mean horse and rider will be required to stay away before, during and after the event so this may be the case! Horses can be very sensitive to the slightest of changes and even water from a different place can be one of these changes or even being fussy with eating if they take time to settle. Providing a soaked, high fibre feed, at home and while staying away will not only ensure they are consuming enough fibre but will ensure the horse is continuing to take in fluids, aiding hydration.

Always remember when feeding a hay replacer, it is important to confirm the recommended feeding amounts for the horse before feeding to ensure they receive suitable quantities of vitamins and minerals. Feeding recommendations will vary depending on the manufacturer, the horse’s size and how much forage the horse usually consumes.

When feeding a hay replacer such as Fast Fibre, it is important to make sure the horse takes as long as possible to finish so we can ensure he is eating for longer. A few tips to help are: • Divide the horse’s daily ration into as many meals as possible • Ideally, split each meal into several smaller ones around the stable or field to encourage natural grazing behaviours • A large, flat stone can be placed in the middle of the feed bucket, so the horse has to eat around the feed, thus slowing him down.

Always remember when feeding a hay replacer, it is important to confirm the recommended feeding amounts for the horse before feeding to ensure they receive suitable quantities of vitamins and minerals. Feeding recommendations will vary depending on the manufacturer, the horse’s size and how much forage the horse usually consumes.

endurancegb.co.uk

A really useful “piece of kit” for the Endurance Rider!

The Turtle Tactio™ with Flex™ Jumper

The Tranz Angled Lozenge Universal

.

Want to know more? Check out the Neue Schule Website at www.nsbits.com

Samba B

15hh Arab Stallion standing at stud in Northumberland 2012 / Bay / SCID, CA, LFS, OAAM clear Licensed stallion with proven fertility. Stud Fee £350 Natural and Frozen Owner: Sarah O’Neill Contact Tel: 01661886042 Mobile: 07910747910 Email: fenswood@btinternet.com Website: www.sambabarabianstallion.co.uk

Higher First Premium stallion Samba B. Top yearling in the BEF endurance futurity 2013

Sambist

Jazmyn

Balaton Stihia Kasadi Sophy

Menes Panagia Topol Sapina Taqah Anna Rose Hucklebury Fynn Nigella

Samba B’s sire, AHS Premium Stallion, Sambist, was top long distance champion and racing sire.

He was a multiple Classic Winner and retired sound after 6 years with 18 wins, 7 second places and 8 thirds internationally. Sambist was an AHS Premium stallion and earned the title Arab Racehorse Sire of the Year 13 times. He was famous for being the most correct and most sound Arabian Racing Stallion.

AHS Premium Mare, Jazmyn, had dressage wins at Preliminary, Novice, Elementary and Medium levels and was 5th in the 1999 Open Novice British Dressage championships. In hand, she won at the Suffolk County show, and was champion at the Norfolk and Suffolk show.

Samba B achieved the coveted Higher First Premium award for each of the three times he presented at the British Equestrian Federation Futurity Awards in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Then, at the age of 6 years he won the BEF Futurity Graduates Bronze section, for 6 year olds. Samba B successfully represented Home International squads in 2018 and 2019, is competing at Advanced level endurance, and is FEI qualified. Samba has an excellent temperament and personality.

Frozen semen available from Stallion AI Services www.stallionai.co.uk or natural cover at Fenswood Stud, Northumberland.

Product range

F

rom humble beginnings in a small factory in Sydney, Australia in 1962, Zilco has grown and evolved and now exports synthetic saddlery products all around the world.

Following the success and popularity of the initial lightweight, synthetic racing products, the owner of Zilco, Tony Strachan, soon realised the wider-reaching potential of these revolutionary synthetic materials across the equestrian world.

Guided by the expertise of our worldwide staff, we have branched out and now manufacture products for many specialised equestrian disciplines, including Racing, Carriage Driving, Harness Racing, Monté Trot and of course, Endurance. Over the years, we have seen the demand for Zilco tack develop and increase, as equestrian consumers have embraced the benefits of synthetic materials, over traditional leather.

We know that Endurance riders are very much in tune with their horses, and our tack is designed with that relationship in mind.

We appreciate that time and money is at a premium and riders need to know that they can rely on their tack in any situation.

Whether you choose our Marathon, Deluxe or new Ultra bridle, all of them offer easy conversion from bridle to halter; great when out competing, or just for everyday convenience.

As well as bridles, we offer a range of other products and accessories, including bitless bridles, hackamores, breastplates, martingales, various rein options and saddle pads.

Earlier this year, we launched a campaign to find an Endurance ‘Brand Ambassador’ to work closely with us in trialling and developing our products. We were keen to really engage with the requirements of our users, in order to produce the best possible equipment for their needs. We were so overwhelmed with the talent and passion out there that we actually ended up selecting two brand ambassadors (if we could, we would have chosen even more of you!), Fiona Griffiths and Talitha Bakker.

.

Zilco's

Endurance Essentials

Sally Unwin is the European Sales Executive for Zilco Europe, looking after sponsored riders and working closely with the network of Retailers. Sally has a keen interest in Eventing, competing locally with her cheeky horse Harry.

Top Products Pick

R Grip Reins

These reins are made from 19mm webbing and feature lightweight, yet strong stainless steel rein snaps for quick and easy fitting/removal.

The grips are made from soft, pliable rubber grip that is extremely comfortable in the hands and offer excellent wet weather grip.

Fiona has a wealth of experience on the endurance circuit, including riding her home bred horse to become the highest British horse on the FEI standings in 2018. Despite a busy day job of running a popular riding and trekking stables nestled in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Fiona still finds time to train her 5 horses.

40

promotion

endurancegb.co.uk

New Ultra Range

“My favourite item is the Deluxe Endurance Bridle. It is very easy in use, as you just click the bridle on to the halter when you want to ride and click it off when you are in the vet gate.” - Talitha Talitha owns and runs an Arabian Stud which breeds horses for showing, as well as various disciplines under saddle. Talitha has had considerable success competing in international endurance competitions with her homebred youngstock, including several FEI endurance events across Argentina, Brazil and Europe.

The Stud is home to 20 horses and Talitha will be bringing her top horses, AES Bisiriya Hlayyil and ASE Falaree slowly back into competition this season, following time away from the circuit due to both mares having had foals last year. Both horses competed at national events in Holland and Germany this season with the target of FEI races at the start of next season, striving towards their goal of riding at the European Championships in 2021.

Benefits of Synthetic Tack

Based on feedback from our customers and Brand Ambassadors, we have been busy developing our new super-lightweight ‘Ultra’ range which features:

.

•

A new lighter weight halter/bridle combination with fine strapping made from matt finish PVC coated webbing with white PVC waffle padding.

•

The bridle features quick release snaps on cheeks to allow for easy conversion from bridle to halter.

•

The range has plenty of room for adjustment to fit a wide variety of horses and comes with stainless steel fittings for added strength and durability.

•

The Ultra range includes bridle, breastplate, martingale and reins

“I love my endurance bridle- it's so easy to keep looking clean and very easy to use in a vet gate.

The Zilco range is tough and smart” - Fiona

Our Endurance bridles are manufactured from strong and durable woven webbing, coated with a co-polymer and combined with strong stainless steel fittings. These materials are super easy to maintain; simply dip in a bucket of water and wipe down; no need for laborious polishing! This is not only a great time saver, but also advantageous in preventing the spread of infection on yards. Our materials also maintain flexibility across a broad range of temperatures, making them ideal for riders across the world.

Breastplate Pressure Relief Pad

Designed to fit on a variety of breastplates, either at the chest, or the shoulder. Made from Zilco's durable waffle outer to protect against wear, and lined with washable synthetic fleece to protect against rubbing. Its three hook and loop straps will adjust to different strap widths and stay securely in position.

Double Drink Bottle Bag

Comes with two 600ml plastic drink bottles in an insulated bag on one side, and two zip up pockets on the other.

You can view the full range of Zilco products at zilco.net If you would like to contact us, please drop us a line to sales@zilcoeurope.com

promotion

41

Winter hacking

Be safe,

Tip Ensure your garments are kept clean, as a dirty one will not be as effective - make sure you follow correct washing instructions too.

.

be seen

H

orses seem to enjoy hacking out and about as much as we do, but do you know the benefits they can achieve?

Hacking can aid fitness work and improve stamina and walking and trotting steadily along the roadside can help strengthen tendons and ligaments. Hill work builds strong muscle, develops balance and conditions the horse’s heart.

Riding on a variety of surfaces helps your horse with balance and coordination, as they develop an understanding for how different ways of going feel under foot. More open spaces allow you to work on balance in faster paces while narrow tracks can improve leg to hand coordination from the rider and balance concentration for the horse.

However, if you have a young, inexperienced or nervous horse, hacking out with a sensible experienced buddy can give lots of confidence and offer safety for you in case of an accident

Did you know that the sun’s ultraviolet rays react with the fluorescent colours making them appear to glow therefore increasing daytime visibility? This effect is much stronger in poor light conditions such as in fog, at dawn or towards dusk. Fluorescent fabrics look exceptionally bright because of the way they absorb and emit different kinds of light.

However, these do not show up in the dark.

So, to be seen at night your apparel must include some form of reflective properties.

But, put the two together and you’ve got the ideal garment. One that can help increase visibility in dull light, or even normal light where people glimpse it and slow down in preparation.

Have you ever thought about the hi-vis scenario from a driver’s position?

What is the first thing they notice when approaching you and your horse from the front? Yes, you the rider and your horse’s head – so use a high visibility noseband or ear guard and perhaps a neckband on your horse, and a hatband (highest part visible) and jacket, waistcoat/gilet for yourself.

However, if the driver is approaching you from behind, the most noticeable thing would be your horse’s rear, the tail and you. If you are wearing products as mentioned earlier you would be visible, so ideally the horse could wear a fluorescent tailguard, a pair, or two, of leg bands as the movement of the horse’s legs will catch the eye of the driver much quicker, plus a sheet or saddlecloth will also help.

Be Seen, Stay Safe and Enjoy Your Ride. www.equisafety.com

When out hacking, whatever the weather though, please ensure you can be seen.

Drivers do not differentiate between summer and winter, so if they can’t see you during the summer then they certainly won’t see you during the winter, therefore they need visual help all year round.

42

safety

endurancegb.co.uk

Since 1976

.

For Forage Since 1976

TEL: 01803 527274 www.horsehage.co.uk

HorseHage & Mollichaff

BETA N O

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100% Quality

rtified Ce

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BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN MARK WESTAWAY AND SON MANUFACTURERS OF HORSE FORAGE

Ask the expert

Popular Bits

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for Endurance On the Neue Schule website we have a detailed questionnaire that can be filled in and sent through to our advice team, who will then provide assistance in finding the right bit for you and your horse. We also run a very popular advice line for those who would prefer to talk their issues through with a bitting expert. Our website also features articles and blogs that answer popular bitting questions, lets you know which events you can find us at and keeps you up to date with our fantastic sponsored riders and ambassadors.

When advising riders on bits and bitting it is vital that riders can answer basic questions about their horses’ mouth. In order to do this, riders need to keep on top of their horse’s mouth management. Mouth management is vital as it allows riders to ensure that their horses mouth is healthy and monitor any changes that occur, such as the development of a rub, an ulcer or a cut. It is important to regularly check the horse’s mouth throughout the training process, as well as throughout the competition.

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The Neue Schule Team - A team of dedicated horse lovers, headed by the Founder, Heather Hyde.

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Poll Compression (N)

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t Neue Schule we have a team of experts that advise on all disciplines and levels. Owing to this we are very aware of the requirements of our Endurance riders are, from the amateur to the professional. Although at the high levels we are mainly catering for the Arab, we do advise on the wide variety of breeds now involved in this sport.

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0 20 40 60 80 Rein Tension (N)

When checking the mouth, it is important to turn the corner of the lip out so that any hidden rubs are made visible, as well as carefully checking the inner cheeks for any injuries. The lips should also be examined by turning them out so that the inside can be seen. The bars should be examined for any cuts or bruising, or

any bony abnormalities. This can be done by gently running a finger along them in order to feel for any bony bumps or lumps. Many of the hot-blooded horses such as Thoroughbreds and Arabs that are used in endurance have sharp, angular bars which can make them prone to bruising. The tongue must also be checked

endurancegb.co.uk

regularly, as this acts as a cushion to protect the sensitive bars. Don’t just check the edge of the tongue, check the top surface and underneath the tongue also as these are common areas for ulcers and injuries to occur. Don’t forget to check the upper palate also, as this area can become sore with ported bits and thick bits. It is important to remember that mouth issues can occur for many reasons, not just because of the bit, and it is important to book in with a qualified equine dentist or veterinary dentist at least once a year. Often what may appear to be a bitting issue is actually a dentistry issue!

Neue Schule has conducted poll pressure research on all its bits to show what percentage of rein tension pressure travels to the poll. This has helped us to categorise or bits in terms of speed control, which in turn has helped riders and owners select a bit that will help them.

All our bits in our Product Guide and on our website have been given a poll pressure value between -1 (for poll relief) and +4 to indicate the level of poll pressure this bit provides.

Many of our bits, such as the Universal and

the Jumper, have multiple poll pressure values.

This is because this bit cheek has multiple rein settings that can affect the amount of poll pressure given. This can be particularly useful in Endurance, where the horse may require more speed control or head-carriage at the beginning of a competition in comparison to the end of a competition. Cheekpiece rein settings can be easily adjusted at a checkpoint, allowing for the appropriate level of speed control for the specific section of the ride.

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When a bit that employs poll pressure is used it is often beneficial to utilize a broader bridle headpiece that is cut away from the ears. As many of the Endurance bridles are made from synthetic material with a narrow headpiece a lightweight, breathable poll pad can be used instead. This helps to cushion and evenly distribute the pressures over the poll, providing comfort to the horse.

However, we don’t just have to utilize poll pressure as a means of control in the horse.

Some horses can be very poll sensitive, and this can be true of the hot-blooded Endurance-type horses. Research by Neue Schule has shown that the Baucher, also known as the Hanging Cheek, relieves poll pressure instead of causing it as many of us thought in the past. This can be an extremely beneficial cheekpiece for horses that are sensitive over the poll. When combined with the Neue Schule Waterford mouthpiece, the Waterford Baucher can offer a greater degree of speed control whilst avoiding pressure over the

poll. The Neue Schule Waterford mouthpiece differs from the traditional Waterford in that it has a LipSMART™ lip-shelf, which offers a smooth surface for the lip to sit. This helps to prevent rubs at the corner of the lip, which is an issue many riders find when using the traditional Waterford mouthpiece. The Neue Schule Waterford often ‘saves the mouth’ as the horse will respect and respond to a lighter rein aid. Many horses prefer the flexibility of this mouthpiece, although it is not recommended for the novice rider or green horse.

Neue Schule also offers a range of comfortable loose ring and fixed cheek snaffles that increase in ¼” inch increments from 4” to 7”. This helps you to find the optimal fit for your horse, reducing the risk of the bit sliding through the mouth and causing rubs, or pinching at the corner of the lip. Visit our website at www.nsbits.com to find out more about our exciting range and how we can help you and your horse.

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Taking the trail

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Harry Ingram England

Male focus

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n the second part of our series on male riders enjoying success in the sport, we meet former Endurance GB board member Harry Ingram. Based in Surrey, Harry and his wife, ex–British team member Alice (nee Beet), train their horses in and around the Surrey Hills where they have the perfect terrain for conditioning the equine athlete for stamina and endurance. While Harry never managed to break through as a young rider, he has enjoyed a number of successes in the UK including winning twice at both Euston Park FEI 2* and Hayward Oaks CEI 2*. He was on the British team at the FEI European Championships in Brussels in 2017 and was the first Brit home, taking 17th slot with Warrens Hill Chayze

Q: How did you get involved in the first place?

A: I fell into endurance when my next–door neighbour (Pat Guerin) spotted I had a grey Arab as my first horse. She didn’t hang around in sharing copies of the Endurance magazine and swiftly taking me under her wing and off to my first pleasure ride. I was attracted to the sport by its lack of conformity in a world of ‘my little pony’ and white jodhpurs!

Q: Were there any other horse/non horse sports you went into/might have gone into?

A: As a young boy I had tried my hand at swimming and then skiing, but nothing quite compared.

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Q: Did any male role models in the sport (other horse sports too) inspire you and why?

A: When I joined the sport in 2006 I looked up to the likes of Philip Hirst who was representing Team GB alongside my future wife–to be (Alice Beet) in Bahrain. I also looked abroad to see endurance as a male dominated sport – the likes of Juma Punti Dachs, Sheikh Hamdan, Jean Philippe–Frances to name a few who back then were leading the sport. It was a clear signal to me that whilst Endurance GB was predominantly female, at the top level there was a rebalancing of gender and so that is where I aspired to be.

Q: Are you conscious of competing in a sport where women compete equally and in fact in Europe, dominate the sport in terms of numbers?

A: I think it is a sport where apart from weight differences, generally speaking gender plays no role and is equally challenging to both sexes. As a younger teenager it is hard to break free from the expectation you should play football, rugby and drink beer... I found it hard to depart from the norm and particularly to explain to my male peers why I rode horses and competed against a lot of women!

Q: Are there any aspects of the sport/competing/training where you think men would have a different approach to women?

A: I don’t believe gender should impact any given approach, but I believe it’s proven that male riders are more likely to push horses in races. Certainly, between Alice and me, I am the one that's pushing on during rides and Alice telling me to slow down – we often meet in the middle somewhere!

Q: Do you see this in your own experience, competing on teams etc?

A: The only thing I will say is that just like the board of a plc company, we need balance!

Q: What have you learned from the women in your life about the sport?

A: Compassion. Alice reminds me every day that it is the horse above all else. They are cared for as pets and trained tentatively with plenty of rest.

Q: How do you keep fit/train?

A: Alice and I run a couple of times a week and other than that we get fit from training the horses.

Occasionally I will do some weight training to fix some bad posture or build my core strength.

Q: What would you say to encourage other men (of all ages) to get involved in the sport beyond crewing?

A: I would say that endurance is just as thrilling as any male–dominated sport out there and not to be afraid of stepping into a sport which is still more female–dominated in the UK. Look overseas and look to the top of the sport and you will find more balance.

endurancegb.co.uk

by storm

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Tom MacGuinness Ireland

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om MacGuinness the 68 year old founder of Horseware made headlines in 2019 with his first FEI CEI–3* 160km win, scored with his 11–year–old chestnut gelding Horseware Sasha D’Aillais at the 25th anniversary Endurance GB FEI King’s Forest Ride. Tom then finished eleventh in the FEI Endurance European Championships at Euston Park in August with Horseware Siglavy Bagdady.

The next day in the FEI 120km Nations Cup, Tom led his Irish team to fourth place with Chamaille Des Aubus. He finishes this season in 36th place on the FEI world rider rankings.

Q: So how did it all begin Tom?

A: It was by accident really. I had a plan to compete at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy and I tried reining, but I found it boring. So, I went to Uruguay and tried a 20km ride which I enjoyed. From a fitness point of view, it is an aerobic sport and suits my personality and physique.

Q: Were there any other horse sports you have tried?

A: I’ve tried many equestrian sports and enjoyed relative success in show jumping, polo and evented at 2* level. When I started endurance, I thought I’d find it boring, but it is the complete opposite.

Q: What do you enjoy most about the sport?

A: It is the time with the horse. The courses differ from each other, so I have to figure out how best to navigate it and pace appropriately.

You are in great countryside, with little time to look at the view, you are so focused on getting up that next hill or what’s around the next bend.

Q: How do you approach each ride?

A: Although you are in the saddle for eight to

10 hours, each section is different in terms of approach. When competing in a warmer climate, you might want to go faster over the first loop during the cooler part of the day or you might be starting off the in the dark and have to go carefully over difficult terrain.

Q: Horseware was official clothing supplier at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, tell us about your experience:

A: Tryon was a beautiful course, with forest tracks unlike Normandy with lots of stones, narrow lanes and deep sand on the beach. It was all set to be an amazing competition. Everything was great about it, apart from the start and then it descended into complete confusion.

Q: What challenges has the sport faced internationally?

A: I qualified for WEG the first time in 2013 and didn’t know too much about the history of the sport. Endurance is in my experience the most regulated of all horse sports. Your horse is looked at during a race between five and eight times sometimes by a whole panel of vets or a different vet each time. If your horse is tired or showing signs of distress, then you are out.

Q: What changes would you like to see brought to the sport?

A: If we want more completions, we should create a completion ranking, as a system based on finishes is too simplistic. I am very conscious of my own completion rating and take pride in it.

But there are unintended consequences to these things – the best rides in the world are tough but people won't attend if they don’t feel they will complete and will be penalised for that. The ranking needs to be weighted according to the degree of ride difficulty and take conditions into account too, for example temperature and humidity.

Q: Are you conscious of competing in a female–led sport in this part of the world?

A: All of equestrian sport except racing and polo are traditionally dominated in terms of participation by women. Endurance in Europe is different, and the difficulty is that we are losing boys from equestrianism early on.

Q: Who are your role models in the sport?

A: Of course, Jodi (Arboix Santacreu) my trainer in Spain is amazing and people like Alex Luque and Jaume (Punti Dachs), Juma’s team is highly organised and he is a very professional guy.

Q: How would you encourage other men to compete?

A: It’s a very absorbing and challenging sport, although it is a highly challenging format you finish with a sense of achievement. I am lucky because of my build but a lot of men would be precluded from the sport in terms of weight.

I would say to anyone interested – do it! Find a good trainer who can help you and your horse prepare and then pick the right rides.

Q: How do you keep fit?

A: I play polo and go to the gym twice a week, working on my core strength.

Q: How has endurance impacted on the work you do at Horseware?

A: It has made me think about the requirements of the horse in many ways. We are working with sensors and smart monitoring systems that help riders assess how they manage their horses. We always want to be at the forefront in terms of product development and this is the future. As well as applications for endurance, it is the way forward for owners who are able to spend less time with their horses.

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Team spirit

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Scottish teams take on

Red Dragon

Riders in successful teams would be the first to say that – after their horses – it’s almost all down to the support they get from crews, family, physios, vets and the team management.

The Scottish teams at the Red Dragon are no exception – and this is their chance to say Thank You.

Fionnghuala Paterson (Rider – 80k)

Red Dragon and Scottish Team 2019, what a weekend! Tannasg Psyonny and I had a fantastic time riding 80km for the Celtic Challenge team on Saturday, alongside Home International team riders Grainne Paterson and Denise Murrow.

The route was absolutely wonderful with my favourite kind of terrain, over steep hills and moorland. Psyonny was pinging (as usual) but settled very nicely into a steady rhythm. I am incredibly proud of the results of the team and of the individual successes of team members, of which there are many!

All competition horses completed their classes, round and sound without any eliminations which is a fantastic achievement! We also won 1st place in the Celtic Challenge and came 2nd in the Home International.

As a wee bonus, I was individual 9th place in 80km CER, and my wee sis was 7th! I was also part of the winning team of the Red Dragon Team Shield as part of the ‘Scottish Lassies’

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Team with Denise, Sarah Norris and Chris Macmillan.

Finally the BIGGEST thank you to crew, Mum, Dad (JS Paterson), Iain, Ruth and Malcolm. Your endless support and dedication to crewing is second to none, we couldn't do it without you from trailing to the south of Wales to making sure we're fed and watered, it means the world. I'm honoured to have successfully represented my country in the sport I love.

Grainne Paterson (Rider – 80k)

Well done to everyone competing in Wales – we all did amazingly and came away with such a great result! I would of course like to thank all the team management and everyone else who contributed to making this weekend happen and with a special mention to physio Robyn Dunn for patching me up at vet gate 1 – I don't think I could have finished without your help!

I'd also especially like to thank my super crew Ruth and Malcolm and Mum and Dad, what an incredible weekend we all had! And of course, last but not least my super little horse Tannasg Amber who did her absolute best for me.

Tilly Hepburn Wright (Crew – 160k)

I just want to say a huge thank you to the whole team! The mucking out fairies, the catering team, any encouragement that we were doing well (both in Wales and from home!), the fetchers, carriers, bucket holders, rug grabbers, even just the sea of happy, willing to help faces! And of course, the organisation behind it all. Someone else taking heart rates – that’s a lot less pressure.

Quarry’s regular muscle checks (and not to mention the quick patch up so I could actually drive comfortably). And one of the things that was truly invaluable was an extra crew member joining two very tired (possibly slightly crazy) crew (hope we didn’t put you off, Emily).

Honestly, something you think is tiny can actually take a whole lot of pressure off a tired crew when their sole focus is on horse and rider! I can probably say I’ve crewed my share of big rides but this one I think will stick with me! With my best friend and sister beside me crewing my incredible mum and our ... how to put this politely... gritty? little 13.1 Fell pony. So from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU for any form of support!

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Denise Murrow (Rider – 120k)

"So many people to say thank you to, a real team effort."

I cannot thank my crew Allison Roebuck and Gill Steven enough as when I say we completed it, I mean us four together ... without you it would never have happened. To Scottish Chef d’Equipe Francis Bakker thank you for selecting me, it has been an honour and a privilege to be part of Team Scotland. Robyn Dunn, Justine Armstrong and Nancy Murdoch, you have all been outstanding, always where you needed to be constantly helping and advising where required, thank you.

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Jacqui Macmillan and Misty on their way to winning Best Welsh Cob.

And to all of the other riders, crews and helpers, what a great bunch of people to spend time with. Fionnghuala and Grainne Paterson, I thoroughly enjoyed riding with you both on day 1 and I just hope you are both ok after your injuries. So many people to say thank you to, a real team effort.

Faith Clark (Rider – 2 day 80k)

So what a fab result: Team Scotland won the Celtic Challenge. All 6 ponies/horses round safe and sound, and the Home International all 6 horses round and sound so the result went to riding time and were just pipped into 2nd place. Amazing respect to all riders and horses/ponies/crew/vets/physios/chef and of course the people who give up hours upon hours of time to put this event on. Jazz was just amazing and he was chosen to be the Scottish Mascot so I was so very proud.

Peter and Bryn going well

Photos courtesy of David Saunders Photography

It’s been a year in the planning and on Saturday and Sunday we completed it. 125km at the Red Dragon in Wales over two days, round, sound and fit to continue. So, so proud of my superb 14.3hh gutsy, tough, opinionated, often stubborn but absolutely tremendous little horse Copshawholm Opal. She knows how to look after herself over that type of terrain, never slipping, tripping or going faster than it was safe to and as a result, she looked after me, I feel so lucky to have her. Yes, there were some tough times and we hit at least a couple of walls, especially on day 2 as we were on our own for the majority of the route, but, we kept going and climbed over them. It’s not the toughest ride I’ve ever done as Borders 50 still holds that banner, but it was definitely the second toughest.

This was such a fab week. Made possible by my parents / sponsor/ and the kind people who helped me along the way by donating items for us to sell. And of course my ride buddies David Tidmarsh, Emily Barnes and Katy.

Alison Cannard (Parent and Crew – 50k)

Team Cannard had a super weekend, good banter, yummy food and the weather wasn’t too awful! Peter and Bryn did so well with 48km completed in 4.45 hours with a speed overall of 10.1kph, a starting heart rate of 44 and 50 to finish. They both found it tough going but finished in style. New riding partners of Jacqui Macmillan and Iona Scott didn’t faze them at all and new friendships were made with lots of like minded folk. Final results revealed Peter as 4th placed junior rider in the Home International and by default highest placed junior boy overall – such a proud moment for me. Many thanks to David Tidmarsh for transporting Bryn, doing the early morning feeds and all the advice and to Annie Fraser Tidmarsh for the shared giggles, map reading skills, chocolate and dancing hints!

I found the weekend very inspirational and...you never know...might give endurance riding a go in the future. Many thanks to all the members of SERC Highland who helped the boys achieve this, their greatest endurance moment, and who also kindly showed me time and time again how to read a map so I could become a useful member of the crew!

Iona Scott (Rider – 50k)

The most amazing week at the Red Dragon in Wales. Maisie was an absolute superstar passing the team vetting on Friday with a heart rate of 36. Her lowest heart rate to date! On the Saturday me and Maisie tackled the Welsh hills with two of my team mates. All 3 ponies stormed round the tough course of 50km finishing in a good time and most importantly we all passed the final vetting. I am so incredibly proud of my amazing pony.

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To top off this fantastic week we were also part of the winning Celtic challenge team against Wales, Ireland and Cornwall. Thank you so much to all of team Scotland for being fantastic team mates and a big well done to Scotland’s Home International team who came 2nd. Also a massive thank you to my amazing parents who were the best crew and kept me going throughout the ride and have supported me every step of the way. What a fantastic way to end my last season being a junior rider.

Rosie Barron (Rider – 50k Novice) The amazing Turbo Cob has done it again!

53km at 10.36km/hr with a gold heart rate of 48 at the end, gaining our Bronze Thistle Final award. First attempt at vet gates and he handled it all like a pro, I’m so proud of him; even more proud seeing that he did it all barefoot. Thank you Anna and Matt for riding with me, Steve, Emma and Arlene for being crew extraordinaire and Ian for doing all the driving and crewing at the venue. Also thank you Cerian for giving me such an epic pony.

Chris Macmillan (Rider – 160k)

Fantastic few days in Wales with the Scottish Endurance Squad. Great to see so many young ‘uns on the team and doing a great job. Huge thank you for all the support from the Chef d’Equipe, physio, vet, catering corps, mucker outers, sweeper uppers and everyone else who helped in any way. It was great to be part of it all.

"Top crewing from the team and loads of laughs all week!"

Top crewing from the team and loads of laughs all week! Thank you guys you are the best: Lucy Simpson, David Simpson, Becca Macmillan.

And what a pony! Best ride he has ever given me with the absolute minimum of prattery for the whole 100 miles!

Denise Playfair (Rider – 50k Novice/Novice)

What an amazing week in Wales. There have been so many people invested one way or another over the past year in getting Ginge and me there. I want you to know that your contributions, great and small, are very much appreciated.

Special mentions to my sponsors without whose help I could not have gone... Greaves, West and Ayre, Carrs Billington and Saracen Feeds.

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Scots on the march: (left to right) Emily Barnes, Faith, David Tidmarsh and Katy

And Team Scotland... What more do I need to say? We done good!

Most especial thanks to Team Playfair. Poor Patrick and Alex left home to look after puppies and who were on tenterhooks for the prize giving just as my phone battery died! To Mary Vernon, Top Crew, without whose help this year I could not have dreamt of being there. We have laughed and cried (mostly happy tears).

And finally, the Ginga Ninja that is GR Moneer.

What an absolutely top dude. He makes this amateur newbie look like she knows what she is doing when actually only Mary and I know the truth! He has not put a foot wrong although it was a bit hairy coming off a hill when he decided to race the hill ponies! My apologies to Francis as he was never going to do 11kph... but we didn’t do over 13 (elimination!). Tie Up Hill slowed him up a wee bit. We walked the steepest part of that but I think that was only so he could get his photo taken… We were there to win the Novice Novice. We did the best we could and we could not have done more.

Francis Bakker (Chef d’Equipe)

Well, what can I say. What a fantastic team effort we had in Wales this weekend. Super support team with Robyn Dunn working round the clock to keep horses and riders fit to continue. Justine Armstrong checking all the horses and doing a sterling job in the remote vetgate getting all the horses through on both days. Nancy Murdoch keeping all the admin right. And then the riders: team Scotland likely had the lowest average age with 6 juniors, 1 young rider and 7 adults, you all did absolutely brilliantly and showed incredible team spirit! Your horse management and crewing skills were superb!

Catering team Roebuck did an amazing job keeping us all fed and watered over the five days with burgers, currries and pastas, not to forget eggy bread and bacon butties.

Super proud of you all, no horses vetted out, amazing result. Love you all.

endurancegb.co.uk

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