Your Horse & Country Magazine

Spring 2021

Health matters

Prevention is better than cure

Time to escape Britain’s best staycations

Keeping up with the Kings …A royal return

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Help horses like Teddy get the care they need

The Horse Trust is the oldest horse charity in the world. We’ve been there for horses in need for 135 years. A lot has changed since we started out but our dedication, compassion and care for horses has not. Coronavirus has hit us hard, but we must give horses the treatment and help they deserve.

Teddy

Please make a donation of £25 to provide essential medicines and help ensure we are always there for horses in need.

To donate go to horsetrust.org.uk or search The Horse Trust

This was Teddy when he first to us. He had been abandonedcame by the roadside at 6 weeks old alone, without his mother and , an appalling condition. It is har in believe it is the same horse. d to

© The Horse Trust all rights reserved. Registered Charity Number: 231748 Registered In England and Wales No: 00347417

WELCOME & CONTENTS

The UK’s largest glossy equestrian and country lifestyle seasonal magazine!

4

Sensational staycations

70

Still caring during a crisis

78

Keeping up with the Kings

Welcome A

Issue 28 | SPRING 2021

s Mary King reflects in this issue, aren’t we so fortunate to have horses to fill our days during what we all hope is the UK’s final lockdown? With bursts of warmth between the chilly winds and the odd hailstorm, we’re well on our way to spring and it’s really a joy to be out and about with our horses, spotting signs of the changing seasons. Mary and Emily are both delighted to be hard at work with their teams of horses, and keeping their fingers firmly crossed for this year’s competitions, and we catch up with them on Page 78.

As well as competing, our thoughts always turn to holidays as soon as the spring sunshine makes even the briefest appearance and while uncertainty hangs over trips abroad, the UK has some spectacular locations for both horse and rider and Kathy Carter rounds up some of some of her favourites on Page 4.

Unfortunately, we can’t spend all our time on holiday – there’s so much to be done in the yard! Team YHC have been hard at work giving the yard a complete overhaul, with our wonderful dogs only too keen to get involved – see Page 87. And for those of you planning your own exciting projects you’ll find loads of invaluable information in our Build It feature from Page 120, where we take a look at jobs for spring and arenas.

In this issue, we’ve also taken time to catch up with some of the amazing equine charities working so hard to find safe, caring homes for horses across the country while continuing to offer sanctuary to so many equines, even as the coronavirus pandemic plunged them into crisis. We’re asking how they’re weathering this storm – and, vitally, how we can help. See Page 70.

We hope you enjoy this edition – stay safe and happy riding!

Contents

10 Your Country Property

87

Yard Talk with Team YHC

Zoe Hewett on creating a cosy home for every season.

70 Equine welfare Advertising

Editor

Editorial

Katie Miller

Daniel Miller

Publishing Co-ordinator Clare Aris

Assistant Publishing Co-ordinator

Hazel Lomas & Alex Williams

With special thanks to Mary and Emily King, Dr Josefin Jansson, Zoe Hewett, Equestrian Direct Ltd, Hamptons International and Shutterstock Images

Could it be colic? Dr Josefin Jansson on the signs to look out for.

Printed by Warners Midlands PLC

Kathy Carter

Production

Joni Mann & Gary Burt

Lorraine Miller

Contributors

The latest news from the horses, humans and dogs of Team YHC.

110 Equine health

Kathy Carter finds out how equine charities have adapted in the pandemic.

Publisher

87 Yard Talk

Contact Us

01454 318 780 info@yourhorseandcountry.com

Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication YOUR HORSE & COUNTRY MAGAZINE shall not be made liable for any inaccuracies therein. The opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor/Publisher.

Brick House, 21 Horse Street, Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire, BS37 6DA

Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 3

HORSEBACK HOLIDAYS

EMBRACING THE STAYCATION While it seems there’s some distance to go until the return of holidays abroad, sometimes there’s no place like home, says Kathy Carter

*

I

f nothing else, at least 2020 really helped us appreciate the beauty and diversity of Britain.

Even before Covid, staycations in the UK were on the increase, allowing us (if we wanted) to take more tailored short breaks, rather than one super-expensive, international holiday. One of the most alluring elements of a UK holiday is that the seaside is never that far away, so it’s feasible to take a single trip that includes spending time in rural idylls as well as taking in the iconic British coastline.

2. Consider a combined trip – you can experience targeted training as well as more relaxed rides. There are lots of places across the UK that offer the chance to brush up on your riding skills (or learn new ones!) in a venue-based capacity, as well as treks, hacks and more relaxed riding experiences.

Simply schooling a different horse to the one you’re used to can massively benefit your riding.

HORSEY HEAVEN

3. Consider what you want from the trip – is it the chance to bond with friends and family, or perhaps welcome an opportunity for some “you time”? Riding holidays are quite unique in that they work very well for solo travellers.

Horsey folk can easily bond over a shared experience on a ride, and riding with a guided organisation is a safe way to travel on your own, while enjoying as much social interaction as you want to.

*

Riding holidays are as popular as ever, not least because people have been reconnecting with nature and really appreciating the benefits of bonding with animals. For those of us who ride, there’s often nothing to match that feeling of “being as one” with the horse we’re riding, especially if it’s in the great outdoors within beautiful surroundings.

With that in mind, we have collated five tips for getting the most out of a UK horsey staycation in 2021, and highlighted some recommended locations to visit:

*

*

4. Travel lightly. Packing for a horsey trip is simple – just take your riding

1. Think about what you want from your trip. Why not select an area of the UK you haven’t yet visited? Riding holidays offer a great way to see specific localities and regions in a way that you may not have experienced before. For example, if you’ve previously been on hilly trail-ride trips, is now the time to try a coastal location? The footing, weather conditions and scenery of a new location could offer a completely different riding experience for you.

4 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - HORSEBACK HOLIDAYS

 Exmoor ponies grazing; main image, trekking across beautiful English moorland

helmet, back protector if required, gloves, comfy boots (it’s not out of the question that you may have to dismount to walk in certain areas on some rides), your breeches, and a couple of layers (including a waterproof top layer). You’re good to go! This kit usually fits into a small case or bag (if you go in your riding boots and pack some leisure shoes), meaning it’s an easy trip to prepare and pack for.

*

5. Savour and document your adventure – take photos, journal your experience, and really make the most of your holiday. Try to live in the now when you’re riding, feeling the experience of bonding with your horse, witnessing the natural beauty around you, and truly making the most of the present moment. After the challenging year that was 2020, savouring every experience that we encounter is really beneficial for the soul, and of course for our mental health.

RIDING HOLIDAYS

 Photo: Mark Benham/ Shutterstock

 What better way to explore than on horseback? Inset below, a Clydesdale horse

heart of the region that’s been a popular destination for over 25 years. Boasting happy, well-schooled and forward-going horses with temperaments and sizes to suit all riders, the venue offers rides ranging from one-hour sessions to six-hour, all-day riding safaris. Pine Lodge hosts guests in a range of cosy self-catering holiday accommodations on-site. Guests can ride to Tarr Steps, an ancient stone clapper bridge spanning the river Barle, trek to the Froude stone, with stunning panoramic views from Devon to Dartmoor, or venture into a local moorland hamlet and replenish their calorie outlay at a traditional coaching inn, with tasty pub meals.

*

HOLIDAY INSPIRATION

Rugged coastal beauty in the Lake District A top ten destination in Time Out Magazine’s recent Best Places To Visit In The UK in 2021 list, the Lake District is surely one of the jewels in the UK’s staycation crown.

Interestingly, 2021 is the 70th anniversary of the Lake District’s National Park status. Boasting glassy waters and towering peaks, including England’s highest mountain and deepest lake, the region is not only perfect for family visits, watersports and hiking holidays, but also for horse riding.

Cumbrian Heavy Horses offers a unique horse riding experience, being the UK's only specialised heavy horse riding establishment. Boasting Clydesdales, Shires and Ardennes breeds, you can be sure of a safe, sure-footed and gentle equine to partner you on your riding trip.

With rides across farms, fells, trails and beaches, there’s a trip to suit your needs and wishes. The Lake District isn’t just about

lustrous lakes and picturesque hills; the coastline here is stunning too. Situated in the Whicham Valley, within the boundaries of the Lake District National Park, and nestling in the foothills of Black and White Combe, this riding location is perfect for exploring the Irish Sea coast. There are daily rides starting from 90 minutes’ duration (with suggested B&B venues to stay at), as well as package trail rides to choose from, leaving guests to plan their itinerary according to their needs.

From heavenly heather to rugged beaches on Exmoor Exmoor is an area featuring swathes of open moorland across west Somerset and North Devon. It’s a breathtakingly beautiful part of the country, boasting everything from towering cliffs and rocky beaches to pretty, heather-clad hills, green valleys and crystal-clear rivers. Famous for the roaming Exmoor ponies, the moors boast ancient trails, striking hiking routes and pretty, scenic pathways.

Pine Lodge is a riding facility set in the

Training and trekking on the Isle of Wight With sandy beaches overlooking timeless villages, the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England, is often described as being postcard-perfect. As soon as you step off the Solent ferry from the mainland, you will see why; whether you favour the coast or the countryside, this 23-mile-square island has everything close to hand, from expansive beaches and rocky coves to rolling hills and valley plains.

Naturally, one of the best ways to explore the scenery is on horseback. Island Riding Centre in Newport is a relatively new riding school that combines a fabulous equestrian centre and range of top-notch mounts with a cosy, self-catering holiday complex. With dog-friendly accommodation and facilities for non-horse riders too, you can tailor a trip to suit your needs. Maybe you will choose a three- or four-day riding break that includes dressage and show jumping, as well as trail rides and beach expeditions? The venue is a real one-stop shop for a slice of horsey heaven, with the added bonus of honing discipline-specific riding skills.

CONTACTS cumbrianheavyhorses.com pinelodgeexmoor.co.uk islandriding.com

HORSEBACK HOLIDAYS - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 5

C CU CUMUM M

BR

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S

Love Horses?

S S SE SE ES

H E AV Y H I AN O BR I AN H E AV Y HOR BR I AN H E AV Y HO R

TH T TTHE L A K E D I S T R I C T TC HEE I C I R LLA R AK K EE DDI SI STT

Live the Scottish Equi Experience!

Horse riding holidays in beautiful surroundings at the UK’s largest Horse Riding Holiday Centre

 Magnificent ‘Heavy Horses’  Beach Riding Experiences  Fell & Farm Riding Experiences  Instructional Hacks  Well managed small groups  All abilities catered for  Horses to suit everyone!

Scotland’s only 5* Equestrian Centre with its own 4* Bed and Breakfast accommodation… celebrating 30 years at Lanark and we’re still loving it! We are equally certain that you will enjoy your horse riding holiday.

★★★★★ 01555 661853 www.scottishequestrianhotel.com

Tel: +44 (0)7769 588565 WWW.CUMBRIANHEAVYHORSES.COM

An Island Escape A popular family holiday destination with golden beaches and hundreds of miles of bridleways with incredible views, the Isle of Wight is just a short ferry ride off the South Coast of England and is perfect for riding holidays with or without your horse.

Set in acres of countryside with 5*accommodation we welcome individuals, families or groups of up to 60 people with luxury on-site stabling and turn out if you want to give your horse a holiday too!

We have fully accessible units with downstairs wet rooms and bedrooms and an onsite Changing Places WC. I had such an amazing time at the “ Island Riding Centre. We were all

looked after so well, the facilities, the stabling and the indoor school are all incredible. The Isle of Wight itself is beautiful and the beaches, trails and woodland are excellent places to explore on horseback.

I can’t wait to go back!”

Esme

yard was perfect and staff so “The friendly our horses didn’t want to leave. The indoor school is to die for, the best surface I’ve ever ridden on”

Rac hel

The accommodation was amazing “ especially the Orchard. We can’t wait to come back….already dreaming of a summers evening next to the fire pit”

Amazing weekend…the “ accommodation was lovely and the beach riding was such a highlight.

Perfect way to celebrate my hen weekend!”

Meg

Emma

accommodation complex was “ fiThe rst class. Our horses and ponies

were stabled on site in the outstanding equestrian facilities.

Five stars all round… a memorable holiday for us!”

Lisa

Indoor Arena • Outdoor School • Qualified Instructors • Holiday Livery • Camps • Riding Holidays • Hen parties • Riding Clubs

EQUESTRIAN CENTRE HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION

Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2NB | 01983 214000 | www.islandriding.com

6 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - HORSEBACK HOLIDAYS

As the UK’s leading freely distributed, seasonal publication Your Horse & Country Magazine really does have it covered.

From unearthing treasured country homes and estates in our exclusive Your Country Property feature, to exploring the seasons as they change, bringing you a host of dreamy days out, fashion tips and shopping essentials!

Also working hard with our in-house vet to keep on top of your equine health care, Team YHC explore real-life symptoms and scenarios in order to keep you in the know!

Spring 2021

For just £18.99 a year we can bring all of this and much more direct to your door. Simply complete and return the subscription slip below and receive a year of back editions FREE of charge!

Health matters

Prevention is better than cure

Time to escape Britain’s best staycations

Keeping up with the Kings …A royal return

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Your horses are waiting! ~ Book now for 2021~22

PALACE TO PALACE ~ You may have heard of the ‘Golden Triangle’ - well with Horse India you ride the bit in the middle! Travelling by Marwari horse your senses are awash with the colours, sights and sounds of India. Join us to stay in old country palaces, dining on the roof by candlelight and under the stars.

“Loved the horses, the fair, the countryside and we saw two leopards! ~ so much in 2 weeks”

DESERT DUNES ~ Chat around the camp fire with shepherds and camel herders, ride over the dunes, see chinkara gazelle and watch 50,000 Demoiselle Cranes come in to feed - a truly awesome sight!

COVID ~ As soon as International travel resumes, we look forward to welcoming you on safari with us.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS ~ Take part in the colours and excitement of local gymkhanas, horse shows, processions and festivals, as well as visit the famous horse and camel fairs of Pushkar, Balotra or Nagaur.

We have a fabulous range of holidays to suit all budgets, some are date specific but others can be taken at any time.

Book now for your holiday of a lifetime!

LEOPARDS & LAKES ~ Ride from the magnificent Kumbhalgarh Fort through the shady Ghanerao forest of the Aravalli hills to Jawai reservoir in search of wild and free roaming Leopards!

Horse India offers an informative riding holiday experience, combining history, tradition and culture through our knowledge of the landscape, its people & of course, its unique indigenous Marwari horses.

A leg up in #lockdown ~ Read our story: GoFundMe: Support Horse India’s Marwari horses

ride rural Rajasthan with

horse india

“These beautiful regal horses carried us steady, strong and safe, & never missed a beat” WHAT TO EXPECT ~ A riding holiday with Horse India will find you staying in old Palaces, bespoke haveli Hotels or re-creating the days of the Raj’ by camping in their Maharajah ‘shikar’ tents - erected every night in stunning locations complete with decorated bedrooms, attached bathrooms and real beds.

THE HORSES ~ Marwari horses have curly ‘lyre’ shaped ears that rotate 180 degrees and touch at the tip!

They are desert horses,‘slight’ in build, and stand 15hh - 16hh, spirited but safe, and more importantly,

* you cannot ride this breed outside India.*

Pushkar Fair

WHO: solo travellers, couples, friends, clubs & groups all welcome. You should be an intermediate level rider.

WHAT: Some rides are date specific, others can be taken at any time of year. We ride on average 25-30km/day or 4-6 hours riding/day with a relaxing picnic lunch stop.

WHERE: We are located equidistant between the blue city of Jodhpur, the lake city of Udaipur, and within easy reach of the pink city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, INDIA. WHEN: The best climate is October to March DETAILS: www.horseindia.com e: info@horseindia.com tel: 07726 930231

photographs copyright Maria Kooy Fotographie and Horse India Ltd

house prices, a large blip in property sales and, of course, a fall in the value of the pound. The question of whether or not it’s

Welcome to

rise. Even if they do rise further that probably won’t halt the increase in house prices, as prices continued to rise at a

As we wait for the chillier months to fully thaw into spring, the first edition of interior designer Zoe Hewett shares some of her secrets for creating a warm feel at home, whatever the weather

Your Country

Property Your Horse & Country Magazine is very excited to bring to you a host of luxury properties and estates for sale across the country, coupled with inspiring ideas for your interiors. Whether you are looking for the perfect fitted kitchen or a stylish range to really complete the heart of your home, we aim to tempt you with creativity and style!

COSINESS FOR EVERY SEASON T

here’s nothing quite so comforting when it’s cold outside as the sight, the right time to buy or sell your house in rapidsound rate years ago of when interest erhaps you are looking to upsize and smell burning logs,rates the UK depends on what type of house were far higher.

Essentially, the constant from your current property or crackling and popping away in a wood buyer you are. race to own property and the limited maybe you are on the lookout burner or open fire. It doesn’t just make us housing supply, urban areas for the perfect investment opportunity. feel physically cosy,particularly it looks andinsounds where they possibly build more, Whichever it is, you are almost certainly UK house buyers warm too.

Notcan’t all homes are equipped should continue toromantic push prices asking yourself whether now is the right For your average UK citizen, it does seem with this ancient and heatup. source, In summary, seems it has always time to be buying property in the UK. With that now could be a good time to get on disappointingly foritsome perhaps, but when it been comesthe to right warming is wellinworth timethings to buyupa ithouse uncertain economic times ahead, Brexit the property ladder, if you can! Prices peeking the are interior toolkit. the UK,into if you abledesigner’s to! The biggest and interest rates all on your mind, it can remain strong with the average house Crammedlies full of multi-sensory devices, challenge with first-time buyers who be difficult to allow yourself to let your price only falling 2% since the vote. Even there arehave plenty waysof toMum use interior don’t theofBank and Dad to heart go and fall in love with bricks and during the worst recession in history design to and trickface us into besides rely on thefeeling almostwarm, impossible mortar, to take your money out of the bank prices fell 15%, only to quickly bounce just cranking up the central heating. task of saving a large deposit while living or borrow and commit it to luxury living. back and continue to rise. This might visual warmth can persuade us to inFirstly, rented accommodation.

They must The truth is everything is relative; is the seem to suggest that prices aren’t going feel cosy.

Turning the colour temperature also achieve a sufficient income to meet time ever right, or do you have to strike to fall further and waiting longer to get uploan in our can influence our to surroundings equity mortgage requirements. while the iron is hot when you find your onto the property market may only cost perception of ambient temperature.

What needs to be highlighted to those perfect property? you more when you eventually can. Also, If you are someone who still feels cold among Generation Rent who wish to The Brexit vote caused a slump in interest rates are low despite August’s even when the radiators are raging then you become house buyers is that time is house prices, a large blip in property sales rise. Even if they do rise further that might well benefit from a splash of colour of the essence. While many lenders and, of course, a fall in the value of the probably won’t halt the increase in house from the warm end of the spectrum – think  Be bold and use a rich colour like aubergine on the walls to create a snug room

P

pound. The question of whether or not it’s

prices, as prices continued to rise at a

10 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - YOUR COUNTRY PROPERTY

have extended their age limits to satisfy

even 90s, if you don’t want to be pay mortgage long into retirement, the ea you can get on the property ladder th

become house buyers is that time is of the essence. While many lenders have extended their age limits to satisfy

Should overseas investors buy in the UK? For the overseas buyer the UK property market has long been seen as a safe haven for investment that can provide great returns. Many people were spooked by the uncertainty of exiting Europe, but it appears that these fears have subsided to an extent and there are some great reasons why now could be the right time to buy a property in the UK:

rich terracotta, russety red and red bordering on purple, like wine, berries or even aubergine.

These deep and sometimes dark colours can only envelop us with a snug, cosseting feeling. Colour can help lift mood too, particularly oranges, yellows and reds, which can be particularly useful during winter. Committing such bold tones to the walls may seem daring or even daunting, but there are plenty of examples of dark decor done well. Think how inviting our Victorian pubs can be with the their richly painted walls, gilt frames, sign-written mirrors and twinkling lights.

The addition of metallic elements like brass hardware, copper accessories or gold picture frames is a brilliant way to brighten and warm up such a space.

Large expanses of rich colour work best when used bravely with abandon. To succeed with this look you need to fully demand for “later-life” borrowing, allowing commit. That means all over the ceiling as people to borrow into their 70s, 80s and well as the walls. Imagine for a moment how even 90s, if you don’t want to be paying a jarring a white ceiling would be glaring starkly mortgage long into retirement, the earlier over walls painted in Farrow & Ball’s beautiful

you can get on the property ladder the

1. The value of the pound – The pound is at its lowest rate compared to the dollar in years after it fell sharply following the Brexit result and hasn’t really recovered.

At the time of writing, the exchange rate stood at $1.29 to the pound. It could be a great opportunity to buy cheap and make a substantial profit from the dollar when values have the potential to return  Add scent and an inviting glow a simple left,when lighting can instantly to a with similar level candle; to 2014, it was change the mood in a space; inset, gold or copper accents add warmth around $1.70 to the pound, or even the levels seen in 2007, when it was over $2 aubergine Brinjal. away ready to cosy up the windows again to the pound. That could be a profit of Designer Abigail next winter.

50% to 60% without property prices even Ahern is well worth Light is an important and often overlooked increasing.

investigating for confidence boosting tips when it comes to using those deeper tones. See abigailahern.com There’s no denying that repainting is disruptive and inconvenient. It might seem a little overzealous to repaint the walls every season, but you could always change the atmosphere to better fit the bleaker months with methods that require a little less dedication and upheaval.

Changing smaller areas like beds and sofas with throws and cushions, or even temporarily swapping a rug, is very easy and much more convenient to achieve.

These rich and warming red and orange colours work fantastically well not only in paints but also fabrics, lending themselves particularly well to better to keep monthly repayments as velvets. For a dramatic transformation low as possible. Our advice would be to consider velvet curtains for the colder talk to your broker, lender or advisor to months, then switch back to something look at the options available and them for fullsafely lighter as spring arrives, stowing

terms and conditions.

design tool when it comes to interiors.

2. Colour-changing There are moreLED properties currently lights allow you to forinstantly sale – change Since the decision to leave the the mood of a space.

EUWhite thereorare currently 2%bemore homes pale walls can washed or forflooded sale. Atwith the colour same to time the up number warm the whole of room transactions haseffort. fallen,Wash meaning that for minimal one or all of the is walls in to red, or orange light for a there likely bepink a number of homes all-encompassing effect, or forforanlonger arguably that have been on the market more approach, why not than thesophisticated seller intended and some pick out architectural with precisely opportunities to grab adetails bargain.

light. With so many 3. focused, There isdirectional still a discount available clever and low-energy light fittings now due to Brexit – Property prices across available on the domestic market this kind of the UK are down 2%. This isn’t a massive slightly specialist lighting is no longer only the reduction but it’s small enough to not preserve of architects and most committed cause concern about the housing market independent lighting retailers should be able and a sign that property in the UK should to advise on how to achieve this in your continue to be a safe bet. home. that all tooby high-tech, the This Ifarticle is sounds compiled Your Country humble Itcandle be powerful and offers Property. is notcan intended as financial forAlways addingseek scentprofessional to your design or opportunity legal advice. scheme as well.

Pure essential oils have guidance on investments. health benefits besides simply smelling

lovely.

Particular oilsrepossessed have upliftingifproperties * Your home may be you do notand keep upof repayments on your too, most us need mood-boosters mortgage when natural light levels are low so consider aromatherapy Don’t underestimate * Mortgages are candles. offered subject to status, just how well as visually, terms andphysically, conditionsasapply warming a number of lit candles can be and enjoy the ritual of lighting and extinguishing them. 

sponsored by : BRYANT ASSOCIATES Wealth Management - Est 1995 www.bryantassociates.co.uk

YOUR COUNTRY PROPERTY - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 11

Tetbury Rocking Horses Traditional Wooden Rocking Horse Makers

Each horse is exquisitely carved and the saddle and bridle handmade from fine quality tanned English leather.

Available in four sizes, a range of hand painted colours and stands to match your surroundings  For Sale  Special Commissions  Restoration and Repair

Create more space in your garage at the click of a button

Vertical opening saves space on your drive and allows more room in your garage.

We also repair standard garage doors locally or can give you advice on your best options.

Why not ask for a free quotation for a new electrically operated rolling garage door, fitted with a free alarm and can be supplied with an extensive range of extras.

Hand carved, hand painted and handed to you

for years of enjoyment.

See our website and facebook page to discover more or call to arrange a visit to our workshop in Stroud

01453 873 853 or 07717 47 21 29 www.tetburyrockinghorses.co.uk

Emerald Green handmade wall tiles 70 x 190mm.

Thickness - 9.5mm

Call us today to discuss your requirements

01454 326606

www.avongaragedoorsltd.co.uk Unit 4, Armstrong Way, Great Western Business Park, Yate BS37 5NG

Our unique Emerald Green Glossy tiles are inspired by the traditional tiles of London’s tube stations and Eastend pub exteriors. Perfectly imperfect with a handmade finish.

www.naturallyofearth.co.uk e: sales@naturallyofearth.co.uk t: 07979606961

12 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - YOUR COUNTRY PROPERTY

YOUR COUNTRY PROPERTY

Why not warm your cockles with art as well? That doesn’t have to be limited to painting or prints either. Think of wall hangings like tapestries, rugs, embroidery, appliqué quilts, macramé and woven pieces handmade using yarns of different finishes, feels and thicknesses. Texture is a fantastic and criminally under-utilised design tool.

To deck the halls with wool in this way is like putting a cardigan on your home and If you’re not one for too much colour then texture is almost the certainly the best trick for you. Wall hangings can easily be rolled up and stowed away somewhere dry for the warmer months when you might want a lighter, brighter, clean-lined aesthetic.

To warm yourself up more literally, beautiful blankets are the way. Fluffy sheep skins are the ultimate, whether underfoot or strewn over a bed or bench. Although there are many convincing fake furs and hides available now, there is just no substitute for the feel of these natural textiles, and this avoids the plastic content of faux. Best sourced from small batch producers working with local farmers and rare breeds, there are several conscious sheepskin suppliers across the UK, with Hayley Hanson in Wales, and Skye Skins in Scotland.

For the vegans and vegetarians who are not so keen on animal products for the home, rather than buy new faux fur throws it is well worth looking at recycled polyester blankets. Spun from waste plastic bottles they are surprisingly, unexpectedly soft.

Welcome to the first edition of

Your Country

Should overseas investors buy in the UK? For the overseas buyer the UK property market has long been seen as a safe haven for investment that can provide great returns. Many people were spooked by the uncertainty of exiting Europe, but it appears that these fears have subsided to an extent and there are some great reasons why now could be the right time to buy a property in the UK:

Property

1. The value of the pound – The pound is at its lowest rate compared to the dollar in years after it fell sharply following the Brexit result and hasn’t really recovered.

At the time of writing, the exchange rate stood at $1.29 to the pound. It could be a great opportunity to buy cheap and make a substantial profit from the dollar when values have the potential to return to a similar level to 2014, when it was  Is there anything better than soft sheep skin around $1.70 to the pound, or even the underfoot?; right, textiles for warmth and style levels seen in 2007, when it was over $2 to the pound. That could be a profit of With fringing and patterns from classic herringbone to stripes, diamonds and bolder 50% to 60% without property prices even geometrics in a variety of colours there increasing.

Your Horse & Country Magazine is very excited to bring to you a host of luxury properties and estates for sale across the country, coupled with inspiring for is plenty to love ideas about these, and your lots of choice. interiors. Whether you are looking for the Nola Interiors stocks a considerable perfect fitted kitchenselection or a ofstylish range recycled rugs, blanketsto and cushions www.nolainteriors-bristol. really complete the heart oftoo.your home, we co.uk aim to tempt you with creativity and style!

2. There are more properties currently for sale – Since the decision to leave the EU there are currently 2% more homes for sale. At the same time the number of transactions has fallen, meaning that there is likely to be a number of homes that have been on the market for longer COSY UP WITH HANDS-ON CRAFTS than the seller intended and some opportunities to grab a bargain. theatright time to buyupor sell your house in rapid rate years ago when interest rates erhaps are looking to both upsize Movement is keyyou to keeping warm outside and home.

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Indoor hobbies, with a little more charm than endless television series, reduction but it’s small enough to not where they can’t possibly build more, it is, you are almost certainly UK house buyers areWhichever a great way to stay warm, engaged and entertained.

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YOUR COUNTRY PROPERTY - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 13

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Dorcas Farm, Dorcas Lane, Stoke Hammond, Milton Keynes

A period five bedroom former farmhouse with a detached one bedroom annexe, outbuildings including stables and workshops, a double carport and over 10 acres of grounds with panoramic countryside views.

Situation: The main house has a reception hall, three principal reception rooms, as well as a home office and a more informal family/boot room. There is also a kitchen, utility room and cloakroom on the ground floor. On the first floor the master bedroom has an en suite bathroom and is currently using a fifth bedroom as a dressing room. The guest bedroom has an en suite bathroom, two other bedrooms share a Jack and Jill bathroom and there is also a four piece family bathroom. There are two separate stable blocks, one with seven stables. The second block has two stables in one half and the other half has been fitted with a kitchen and shower room which could be used for riders to change and get refreshments. The barns include a hay barn and there is also a manege.

Guide Price £2,250,000

Period detached former farmhouse | Five bedrooms, four bathrooms | Four principal reception rooms and a family/boot room Kitchen/breakfast room | Utility room, cloakroom and cellar | Self-contained one bedroom annexe Nearly 5,800 sq. ft. of versatile outbuildings including stables, barns and workshops | Over 10 acres of gardens and grounds, tennis court

This property is available to view on

Thinking of selling your property? Call us on 01454 318 780

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16 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - YOUR COUNTRY PROPERTY

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Highfield Farm, Scamblesby

Highfield Farm is set within a quiet scenic location with some superb views over the surrounding Wolds Countryside and enviable country walks straight from the doorstep.

Situation: Positioned in the heart of the scenic Lincolnshire Wolds area of outstanding natural beauty with no near neighbouring homes, this unique detached character farmhouse has grounds of approximately 9.5 acres (STS) and an extensive range of outbuildings, most recently operated as a racehorse stable with multiple looseboxes but providing scope for a variety of other uses (STP). The property represents a unique opportunity within a quiet scenic location with some superb views over the surrounding Wolds Countryside and enviable country walks straight from the doorstep.. Superb characterful 4 bedroom home with a beautiful bespoke handmade kitchen with Rayburn, spacious living areas with wood burners, underfloor heating and air conditioned conservatory.

Guide Price £895,000

Detached farmhouse with land and extensive outbuildings | 9.5 acre grounds (STS) with no close neighbours | Most recently equestrian with 39 looseboxes Potential for alternative uses STP | Superb characterful living accommodation | Bespoke handmade oak din-kitchen Exceptional air-conditioned conservatory with u/floor heating | stove and log-burner, utility and boot room | 1 single and 3 double bedrooms, bathroom Oil Ch system, DG windows, alarm, NO CHAIN

This property is available to view on

Thinking of selling your property? Call us on 01454 318 780

Commissioning a Portrait www.sallylancaster.co.uk

A

Once a photo has been decided upon and the deposit has been paid, I can give an idea of when the painting will be started. There’s generally a waiting list of a few months so it’s wise to think in advance as to when the painting will be needed, but it’s always worth asking if I can move any commissions around to fit in a painting.

wonderful way to capture your special horse in an image that will last forever is to commission a painting. This can often be a misunderstood profession and I’m here to hopefully dispel myths and explain that it can actually be quite an easy process.

My name is Sally Lancaster and I am an artist based in Devon. I am entirely selftaught and have been working as a full time artist for over 15 years, producing both commissioned portraits in oils and original art. The majority of my commissions are of horses, dogs and people, but I have even been asked to paint a hamster in the past!

Horses were a big part of my life growing up, learning to ride from a young age and constantly drawing them. Those who have had a horse in their life know what a special animal they are, their huge personalities and their big hearts. I adore recreating this bond in my commissioned paintings, providing my customers with something to treasure that has truly captured their horse.

One of my career highlights was to be commissioned by Princess Ameera Al-Taweel in 2012 to produce a painting for HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to commemorate him winning the FEI World Endurance Championships [See below]. I also have several awards for my art, including the Banstead Stud Prize for the Best Sporting Picture with the Society of Equestrian Artists and the Directors Award in the International Art Competition Ex Arte Equinus II

Photo courtesy of Athwenna Irons, Western Morning News

I draw up the basic outline and then get painting. I often post on my Facebook page Sally Lancaster – Artist or my Instagram @sallylancasterart work in progress photos or videos of me working on a painting so that people can understand my process a little better. I have a fascination with detail and this becomes evident in some of the videos!

I work entirely from photographs. I produce highly realistic paintings which take a minimum of 3 weeks to produce so require beautifully clear, close up images to work from. I love getting to know the subjects behind the image. It’s not just simply a horse or a dog. As I work on the painting I am learning more about them every day, the character in their eyes and any little quirks they may have, such as a constantly poking out tongue, like the wonderful Stamford, a gorgeous little Yoodle that I had the pleasure of painting recently. [See Stamford above] I’m always here to answer any questions and to help make the commissioning process as easy as possible. I can advise on the best photographs, I can produce computer mock ups to help with the visualisation of how a painting will look and I can send work in progress photos of the painting. I want people to be able to come to me with an idea and for the process from start to finish to be a pleasure for them.

Once I have finished the painting, I will email a photo to the customer so that they can view it and ask for any tweaks if needed.

Once all is approved, the remaining balance is required and then I leave the painting to dry until it is ready to be varnished. Once the varnish has dried, the painting is ready for me to send via courier.

Working from photos and using a courier service means that I can take commissions from pretty much anywhere. I have paintings in many homes all around the world and it’s always an honour to be asked to produce a special commission for those who contact me.

Further information about commissioning a painting can be found on my website www.sallylancaster.co.uk and don’t forget to contact me with any questions you may have. I look forward to producing a special, unique painting for you to treasure for many years to come!

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Oaks Hollow Grove Lane, Ashow, Kenilworth

Situated on a quiet, no-through road on the edge of the delightful village of Ashow is Oaks Hollow, a very stylish barn conversion that not only boasts superb equestrian facilities but also 17 acres of rolling grounds.

Situation: A detached contemporary open plan barn conversion with a total of 17 acres and a simply breath-taking private position looking out on to the River Avon and the land owned by the Stoneleigh Abbey Estate. The main house has five bedrooms two with en-suites. Detached coach house with garaging, store and annexe.

Specialist equestrian facilities including mange and premium stabling.

Guide Price £2,500,000 22 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - YOUR COUNTRY PROPERTY

Equestrian | Detached barn conversion | Open plan contemporary living | Five bedrooms | Two en-suites | Detached coach house with annexe Private location | Just over 17 acres of grounds and garden

This property is available to view on

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School House, Oakley Park, Frilford Heath, Oxford

School House ia an exceptionally spacious five bedroomed three bathroomed luxury property, with an open plan 820 sq ft kitchen/living/dining room, with handcrafted kitchen cabinetry by Ewan House of Cirencester.

Situation: School House is an exceptionally spacious five bedroomed three bathroomed luxury property, with an open plan 820 sq ft kitchen/living/dining room, with handcrafted kitchen cabinetry by Ewan House of Cirencester. Situated within a former private Oxfordshire country estate, offering twenty-two acres of pasture, (including seven acres of paddock), stabling, and woodlands, the rural private setting has to be seen to be fully appreciated.

Guide Price £2,500,000

Five Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | 3 Reception Rooms | 22 acres – (7 acres of paddock) | 4 Stables + Tack Room / Store | Riding out over the heath No menage or horse walker currently but plenty of space to create.

This property is available to view on

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West Tyning, Beach, Gloucestershire

A substantial and beautifully appointed detached residence nestled within superb grounds with detached Garden lodges.

Situation: West Tyning is a large detached house believed to date from the mid 1930’s. Originally a smaller and thatched property it has seen a substantial extension and roof replacement over the years and enjoys a good quality finish and wonderful gardens. The property is blessed with an enviable position, located centrally in the plot, it enjoys fine views of the grounds from all angles and has complete privacy. The early extension was designed sympathetically to the original house and helped to elevate the statue of the house as well as complete its look and style. The accommodation is extensive and lends itself to multigenerational living or income generation as the current owners have it. This is possible due to its twin staircases and entrances.

Guide Price £1,400,000

Entrance hall | large family kitchen/breakfast room | drawing room | dining room | study, sitting room | conservatory | utility room 5 bedrooms including – Master suite with ensuite and dressing room, guest suite, 3 further bedrooms | 2 further bathrooms gardeners WC | 2 detached garden lodges, currently run as B&B accommodation

This property is available to view on

Hamptons International is a premier estate and letting agent based in London UK with over 140 years experience. www.hamptons.co.uk

Thinking of selling your property? Call us on 01454 318 780

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Monks Haven, Winscombe, Somerset

An historic Arts & Crafts House with delightful gardens and a detached coach house near the well regarded Sidcot School.

Situation: Built in the late 19th Century for a member of the eminent Clarks (shoe making) family which then had close ties with Sidcot School. No expense was spared with the quality or design of the original building or later additions. The original architect – W H Bidlake was a leading figure in the Arts & Crafts Movement who designed numerous now listed grade l & ll listed buildings, demonstrating his notability in this field. The original half-timbered house was then extended sympathetically in 1908 to support the growing family and adding larger more congenial rooms such as the kitchen/ breakfast room and large bedroom. The present owners have lived here since 1969 and have in turn added their own mark to the house with the erection of the Coach House and garaging in 2005 and continued to enhance the garden and grounds – a wonderful feature of this property.

Guide Price £1,250,000

Entrance hall | drawing room | dining room | study | family kitchen/breakfast room | utility room, cloakroom | sitting room | wc 5 bedrooms | 2 bathrooms | separate wc | generous top floor attic rooms | Main driveway with ample parking and access to Coach House and garaging 2 further driveways | Spectacular formal gardens with various well laid out ‘zones’ and an abundance of mature year round foliage Vegetable garden | mature woodland | large lawned area | discrete working area with various sheds | Coach House – Modern construction including 3 car garaging, loft rooms, independent reception rooms (could be converted to accommodation – subject to planning). Overall home estate of about 2.13 acres.

This property is available to view on

Hamptons International is a premier estate and letting agent based in London UK with over 140 years experience. www.hamptons.co.uk

Thinking of selling your property? Call us on 01454 318 780

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

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Woolmersdon House, Woolmersdon, Somerset

A quintessential Georgian house sat amongst rolling Somerset countryside with stunning views.

Situation: Woolmersdon House is a beautifully appointed, stunning Georgian property sat elegantly in its well-maintained grounds and overlooking both the adjacent farmland and the rolling hills of Somerset. Built in the late 18th Century this attractive Georgian residence, listed by English Heritage as a “Small Country Villa”, has superb grandeur and is adorned with Georgian elegance throughout every room. It is awarded its Grade II Listing as a result of the plethora of period features including sash windows, fan light windows, stripped wooden floors, cornicing, generous proportions and a rarely seen semi-circular music room which is currently used as an elegant drawing room. Given the layout of the property, all of the principal rooms enjoy the exceptional south and west facing views and light. The current owners have cared for the house well, both remodelling and continuing to update the property throughout their time here.

Guide Price £1,250,000

Entrance hall | drawing room | dining room | sitting room | dining room | orangery | library kitchen | kitchen/breakfast | utility room | master suite | guest suite | 3 further bedrooms | two futher bathrooms | open cellars large triple garage | workshop | formal gardens with ha-ha | pasture land and arable land

This property is available to view on

Hamptons International is a premier estate and letting agent based in London UK with over 140 years experience. www.hamptons.co.uk

Thinking of selling your property? Call us on 01454 318 780

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38 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - YOUR COUNTRY PROPERTY

Lucknam Park Wiltshire, England FIVE-STAR INDULGENCE Located near the historic city of Bath, Lucknam Park is a magnificent Palladian mansion dating from 1720. Maintained as a family home until 1988, it then opened its doors as one of the UK’s top country house hotels. Set in 500 acres of listed parkland and beautiful gardens, Lucknam Park has been lovingly restored to the elegance and style of the past era. The distinguished hotel boasts 43 individually styled rooms and suites, Michelin star dining in Restaurant Hywel Jones, casual all day dining in The Brasserie, an award-winning spa, equestrian centre with 35 horses, family play facility and three country cottages. Lucknam Park is truly one of England’s finest hotels, providing 5-star luxury at every turn. To book call 0044 1225 742 777 or visit www.lucknampark.co.uk Three for Two offer This fabulous offer is available from Country Rooms and above and includes breakfast each morning of your stay and full use of our spa facilities.Offer valid from January to March 2021 subject to availability.

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Wedmore, Somerset

A stunning Grade ll Period Gem nestled in the sought after village of Wedmore with substantial accommodation, tennis court and walled garden.

Situation: This Period Gem sits centrally within its generous Village plot and enjoys fine period features, Modern state of the art fittings and good views.

The current owners undertook an extensive top to bottom renovation of The Hall after their initial purchase in 2007. They spend considerable time and energy bringing back to life the period features and cleverly combining these with modern finishes and high end quality such as the Novo Home Audio system, Dolby Atmos, underfloor heating to principal rooms, new pressurised heating system and modern minimalist kitchen. This clever design has helped to create a comfortable family house within easy access to this thriving and well regarded village.

Guide Price £2,000,000

Grade II listed house | Over 6500 sq ft | Recently extended kitchen/dining/living room | Cinema room | Games rooms | Opulent master suite 5 further bedrooms | 3 further bathrooms | Private gated access | Tennis Court

This property is available to view on

Hamptons International is a premier estate and letting agent based in London UK with over 140 years experience. www.hamptons.co.uk

Thinking of selling your property? Call us on 01454 318 780

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42 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - YOUR COUNTRY PROPERTY

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Baswich Farm, Baswich Lane, Stafford, Staffordshire

This fantastic detached farmhouse, originally part of the Shugborough estate, has been extensively renovated and extended by the current owners and now stands as an impressive four bedroom family home.

Situation: Situated in Baswich, on the edge of the county town of Stafford, Baswich Farm offers excellent equestrian facilities with approximately 35 acres of paddock and fields, together with 11 stables, manege, tack room, hot wash room, solarium, clipping bay and hay barn. There are also a variety of outbuildings with planning permission granted, and a coarse fishing lake within the grounds.

Guide Price £1,000,000

Detached Extended Farm house | Ideal Family Home and Equestrian Property | Approx 35 Acres of Fields and Paddock 11 stables, Manege, Hot Wash Room, Tack Room, Hay Barn, Lunge Pen | Coarse Fishing Lake and River Fishing | Income Potential Close to Stafford Town Centre and Local Amenities | Outbuildings include Games Room and Planning Permission for Farm Shop | Tenure: Freehold

This property is available to view on

Thinking of selling your property? Call us on 01454 318 780

FINANCE

SIZING UP A BIG PURCHASE?

Make your investment purchases count in 2021 with some savvy spending and saving, writes Kathy Carter

A

new year can bring exciting times – such as a new yard build like those we are looking at within our construction and maintenance feature in this issue. Or, for those of us who didn’t venture out much in 2020, a new trailer or horsebox could be on the cards; particularly if our “old faithful” has now seen better days, after a year of intermittent travel!

Other expenditures in 2021 could include new horses, home-office investments and all manner of spends that are definitely considered investment purchases. If the challenges of 2020 have taught us anything, it’s that we must prepare for the unexpected – so, counting the pennies can be worthwhile,

and can leave more funds for other projects or treats, such as holidays (check out our horsey holidays travel feature in this issue for UK-based inspiration!). Here, we look at some ways to get more “bang for your buck”.

to offload unwanted items and source new ones. Remember, too, that under the new Green Homes Grant scheme, homeowners in England may be able to get up to £10,000 to cover (or go towards) the whole cost of energy-efficiency improvements.

MOVING HOUSE

CARRYING OUT YARD IMPROVEMENTS

The stamp duty holiday on properties costing up to £500,000 has been extended by the Chancellor until June 30, with the nil-rate band moving to properties priced at £250,000 after that before returning to the normal £125,000 threshold on October 1. Therefore, sooner rather than later may be good advice if you are preparing to move home. Savings can be made by comparing removal suppliers and using communities like Freecycle

46 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - FINANCE

One way of saving money may be to share equipment with other landowners locally – the biggest cost for farmers and yard owners can be machinery, both in terms of depreciation and running costs. Working with neighbours to form a syndicate, with a set price or cost of use for resources like tractors or construction vehicles, could cut your costs, if the alternative is to hire a vehicle or pay a supplier. If you’re having facilities like arenas and stables built, work with your supplier to see where savings could be made, based on what’s important to you.

(Top tip – don’t scrimp on the arena surface!)

FINANCE

LORRIES AND HORSEBOXES Choose the best horsebox for your needs, but consider whether it could also be a revenue stream as a rental vehicle and, if so, whether buying bigger could be beneficial in the long run. (You will need to obtain insurance for self-drive hire.) As the wear and tear with self-drive hire could be more significant, maybe you could consider a higher-quality or bigger vehicle that is older, rather than a very smart, newer vehicle?

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BUYING A HORSE Aside from haggling with the existing owner about a purchase price, there’s little that can be done about the cost of a horse – if you pay “top dollar”, you are potentially (and hopefully) paying for years of training, good nutrition and care. You could of course look at rehoming a horse from one of the many   Could you save cash on larger purchases by sharing equipment such as a tractor or turning an unused corner into an office instead of embarking on a larger building project?

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FINANCE

p You could splash out on a horse riding break or some family days out with cash saved from your savvy spending, or donate to a good cause

excellent equine rehoming charities – all of the main charitable organisations have useful online guides, and you can find out what equines are available for loan. But there could be other ways to save money – for example, looking at horses of a similar “stamp” to existing or previous equines you’ve owned, in order to share equipment (especially rugs and other investment pieces like tack – obviously saddles will need to be refitted by a saddler). Remember that bigger horses cost more in terms of food, larger-sized equipment, shoes etc – could downsizing to a large pony or smaller horse work for you? Consider hardy breeds that can live out more, too.

*

USING YOUR SAVED CASH WISELY

Careful spending can yield all kinds of benefits. If you are consistently watchful of all of your expenditures, for example checking or switching energy and digital suppliers and getting different quotes for hired service providers, you may end up with a nice savings pot. Here are some ideas on how you could spend the loot:

MAKING MEMORIES WITH FAMILY As mentioned, holidays are great ways in which to recharge the batteries and experience something new. Our riding holiday ideas elsewhere in this issue all work very well for families. Elsewhere, as the pandemic restrictions ease, we will surely be spoiled for choice in terms of days out, food and music events and

established attractions – even though new distancing restrictions may be in place.

A great idea is to support the many zoos and wildlife parks that have suffered so terribly in terms of visitor numbers in 2020.

DONATING TO IMPORTANT CAUSES Many people are facing hardship, but there are ways in which we can help and feel altruistic with spare funds. Here are some ideas: l Foodbanks need our help. The Trussell Trust charity forecast a huge 61% increase in foodbank over the winter months – visit www.trusselltrust.org and donate, or find a local foodbank to support. l Donate funds to your local animal centre. The RSPCA has many local divisions

that would welcome your financial help – visit www.rspca.org.uk/ whatwedo/yourlocal to see what you can do in your community – or seek out your local independent charity, and see if you can assist.

SAVE OR INVEST SPARE FUNDS Saving your money is a great way to fund future expenditure. ISAs are savings or investment accounts that you never pay tax on; you can save up to a maximum of £20,000 per year, and this can be in a cash ISA, a stocks and shares ISA, an innovative finance ISA, a Lifetime ISA, or a mixture of all of them. Ask a financial advisor for advice. n

FINANCE - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 49

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Putting you firmly in the saddle Time is precious; we want to spend as much of it doing the things that make us happy. So keeping on top of our finances and managing our wealth – a task that can be both time-consuming and complex – can often fall way down our list of priorities.

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54 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine

AT T E N T I O N TO D E TA I L I S S TA N DA R D.

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The surprisingly important role of forage in the stable The hay or haylage which you offer to your stabled horse provides much more than just ‘something to eat’.

Many horses are required to spend long periods in their stable throughout the year, so it is worth understanding how forage, or lack of it, impacts on them both physically and mentally.

Whether it is yard rules preventing turnout in certain weather conditions or personal choice to stable part or full time, it is important to remember that it is not natural for horses to be in a confined space and for some horses it could induce varying degrees of stress. This stress may not be visible, for example the horse may not be box walking, crib biting or weaving; but it could manifest itself by increasing inflammation within the body, and one way to help mitigate this stress, is to ensure forage is on offer 24/7. Lack of forage is a stressor, because quite simply, lack of forage in the wild can mean starvation.

So apart from forage helping to keep stress levels down in the stabled horse, what other benefits can it provide?

The way forage is fed can have profound impacts on the biomechanics of the horse. Horses have been found to have more developed or uneven muscling on one side of their neck when they stand for hours in the same position pulling forage from a net and then turning to look out of the stable door. This repeated movement can work one side of the neck and body more than the other, potentially leading to performance issues. Placing forage in various locations around the stable, not only tries to mimic the horse’s natural desire to move to find food, but if the hay or haylage is also placed at varying heights, this can help to exercise a range of muscles. Horses in the wild will spend around 20% of their eating time reaching

and stretching to find tempting plants or leaves which is particularly helpful in engaging the thoracic sling; we can make stabled life a bit more interesting by mimicking this, by using nutritionally safe branches suspended from the ceiling for example, alongside loose forage and some in nets or other feeders to add interest and reduce repeated movements.

Quite often, I will be contacted by a new customer to enquire how our haylage can help their horse, only after they have noticed a cough or a diagnosis of equine asthma. However, sub clinical reactions to dust, mould and fungal spores in forage and bedding can occur weeks before anything is noticeable. If a horse is to be stabled for considerable lengths of time and soaking or steaming hay is impractical, then along with ensuring the bedding is dust free, haylage is the perfect option to prevent the airways from being aggravated from dust and spores, after all, prevention is always better than cure!

The type of forage on offer can also have profound implications for the stabled horse. The energy requirements for stabled horses with low work requirements are lower than for those who can potentially walk miles a day at pasture. Ensuring that the forage your horse eats is nutritionally suitable is vital so that they do not put-on unwanted weight or conversely, that it contains enough energy and/or protein for those who need a bit of extra support. Our four types of Devon Haylage are thoroughly tested every year, allowing you to select the most suitable haylage for your horse. We have a haylage type suitable for both laminitic Shetlands or underweight thoroughbreds and everything in between! The full nutritional and mineral ratio reports are available on request, assisting you to fully balance your horse’s forage-based diet.

Because forage is the most important aspect of a horse’s diet, it stands to reason, that when we stable a horse, we are taking away their ability to find food for themselves and so we have the obligation to ensure that enough good quality, nutritionally suitable forage is always on offer. Ensuring the gut is continually supplied with a trickle of forage acts to guard against dehydration, ulcer formation and colic, whilst providing the vital gut bacteria with fibre, which they then break down to provide internal warmth. Providing enough forage in the stable goes a lot further than just keeping the horse occupied – it maintains the health of many bodily processes, so always focus on the feeding of forage, and only add a bucket feed if considerably more energy or protein is required. Most horses when fed adequate amounts of forage (unless they are very poor doers or in hard work) do not need huge amounts of a concentrate feed. Healthy grass is almost a completely balanced feed but when conserved it does lack some vital nutrients. It is easy to replace what is missing in forage with simple supplements; for example, micronized linseed can provide Vitamin E and the correct ratios of omega fats, hemp oil can provide extra protein and always offer salt.

By focussing our attention on the quality of forage, how it’s fed and its vital role in keeping our horses healthy from the inside out, we can mitigate some of the problems that stabling for long periods of time can bring. Forage really is your horse’s best friend, and although it is not the most exciting aspect of horse care, the feeding of well made, nutritionally suitable forage is one way to make a huge difference to your horses mental and physical state this Winter.

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happy FIND YOUR

Step into spring with new-found positivity – and it all starts at home, writes Kathy Carter

W

ho would have thought that 2020 would bring so many challenges – but at the same time, a real chance to press a pause button and reevaluate our lives? The big question for many of us is how to get through to spring and summer with a sense of wellness, resilience and positivity, combat challenges brought about by seasonal affective disorder (SAD), while also making the most of whatever the chillier, darker months bring us this year.

Here, we share some easy, home-based tips that have the potential to deliver some muchneeded clarity, grounding and positivity to your life.

CREATING FAMILIARITY AND COMFORT AT HOME One’s home is one’s castle, if the oft-quoted phrase attributed to 17th-century judge Sir Edward Coke, who declared that our house represents a fortress and refuge, is to be believed. Our home is the place we retreat to for familiarity and comfort, so it needs to work for us, from a functional point of view.

Of course, our homes are often also our workplaces in the current climate!

Start the streamlining process off by considering each room in your home, and establishing the room’s use. Are you maximising the space? Could innovative

storage solutions transform how you use the room? If your home isn’t yet a place of calm, why not take the time to redecorate, thinking about calming colours, bringing in some tactile furnishings, and feng shuiing your space to create an environment that wraps you up, like a comforting hug?

Colours of nature are surely the way forward, to bring peace and harmony – blue is said to be great for managing stress and slowing down the heart rate, green is said to attract harmonious feelings that diffuse anxiety, while white symbolises clarity and freshness.

Do make sure your “work from home” space is clearly defined as that area, with a suitably comfortable work chair, neutral background for Zoom calls, and household paraphernalia stored elsewhere. You could consider a pin board or wall-mounted clipboard to make an interesting backdrop to your work area, transform a boring dividing wall into a study space, hide your desk inside a cupboard, or even turn an existing outbuilding or shed into a cosy home office!

Cool storage solutions are the way forward, to keep things tidy and help keep you feeling organised.

REUSE AND RECYCLE YOUR CLUTTER

 Separating your work and living areas and using natural colours can create a calm space

60 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - FIND YOUR HAPPY

Along similar lines, if your home is too cluttered to be tidy, can you streamline it?

Focusing on enjoying life’s simple pleasures is what we all need right now, and this

FIND YOUR HAPPY

concept can be easily applied to our home spaces. Increased time at home represents a great opportunity to declutter, donate to charity, reassess any excessive tendencies to shop and hoard, and reorganise the wardrobe!

This process is as much about decluttering the brain as it is the physical environment, and perhaps changing the way we consume as a whole. When you come to declutter your wardrobe, it’s key to be ruthless about keeping only what you need and love to wear. For example, if an item needs special care, excessive ironing or specific underwear, do you have the inclination to keep it? Remember, this process is about gleaning enjoyment from as many small things as possible. Clean and spruce up the wardrobe, pack unwanted items into a charity bag, and we guarantee that you will feel more positive as a result.

The same process can be repeated with children’s toys, and will help them develop a sense of altruism.

BEING PRESENT AND THANKFUL Resilience and positivity benefited so many of us last year. Weren’t those exercise sessions vital in the first lockdown, and didn’t we appreciate nature and the outside world more at the time? Now, more than ever, we need to strive to find meaningful connections in this world. Mindfulness is one way to help “ground” ourselves. Being present is actually a simple step to take, once you recognise your own “barriers” to being mindful. A simple practice is meditation.

Taking five minutes to sit quietly and follow our breath can help us feel more conscious and connected – hold the in-breath for several seconds before releasing, and help your mind slow down by imagining a simple waterfall cascading, or rhythmical, gentle waves lapping on a beach. Why not try a guided meditation?

A key part of mindfulness is savouring what we are doing, whether it is drinking a cup of tea from a beautiful, favourite cup, or being still and focusing on the taste and feel of an indulgent snack we’re eating. (The decluttering process we described previously is a great way to really notice what items in your home give you pleasure.) Don’t fear that mindfulness or meditation is mystical or other-worldly – it can be as simple as savouring the moment you’re in at any given time. In worrying times, when it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the news coverage, we must try to take a step back to connect with our surroundings and give thanks – this will help develop personal resilience and inner strength.

 Give your brain some food for thought with a book; top inset, try some decluttering

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FIND YOUR HAPPY

a useful tool to help us connect our bodies and minds, and focus on what’s important.

The UK’s Mental Health Foundation has a range of links on its website that include wellness podcasts, while if you have time on your hands, Harvard’s free online Buddhism Through Its Scriptures course could develop your higher consciousness, and help expand your mind (www.online-learning.harvard.edu).

COMBAT SAD Opinion on the causes of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) varies, but one theory is that a lack of sunlight causes the brain to work overtime producing melatonin, the hormone that regulates your body clock and sleep patterns, which is also linked to low mood.

Sunlight (potentially artificial) may be the key if you’re affected, as it reportedly helps redress the imbalances caused by this condition.

“Light enters the eye, which activates a body clock system that is similar to what controls seasonal breeding and hibernation in animals,” explained psychiatrist Daniel F Kripke, MD, when conducting the world's first controlled study of bright light therapy for depression, in 1981. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that SAD is treated in the same way as other types of depression, using talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The organisation states that while light therapy is a popular treatment, “it's not clear whether it's effective”. Nevertheless, a lightbox or “SAD lamp” could be worth a try, if you experience low mood in winter. 

 Some experts in seasonal affective disorder (SAD) point to the effect of reduced sunlight on the brain; inset, some use a lightbox to try to combat low mood, although it’s not clear if this is effective

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Meet 3 Donkeys Clothing and Apparel

Based in the heart of Devon, we’re 3 Donkeys Clothing – a fun, ambitious, and innovative clothing company, bringing something of a revolution to women’s workwear.

Launching at the end of 2018, our exclusive 2-into-1 ladies coveralls have brought some much-needed practicality into women’s workwear for the first time. Designed by women, for women, and proudly made in Great Britain, our range of versatile coveralls are adaptable, functional, feminine – and just a little bit fabulous.

Featuring our own innovative 2-into-1 design, our coveralls are the only coveralls like this on the market and here’s how they work: Consisting of a jacket and trouser, they can be joined at the waist for full coverall protection or unzipped for fast and easy removal, and worn separately whenever you need to. We’re currently stocking two sets of ladies coveralls with the same 2-into-1 design, but for two separate uses.

The Dartmoor – best suited for wetter autumn and winter outdoor work – is made from 100% breathable Ventile® fabric that gives you full windproof, rainproof, and water repellent weather protection. Ideal for riding and equestrian activities or any outdoor country pursuits when you need ultimate protection from the elements.

The Classic – made from hard-wearing, breathable

polycotton fabric – is perfect for keeping you protected for everyday jobs or leisure interests where dirt or dust is unavoidable. From farming, equestrian, or smallholding duties to animal grooming, dog walking, or gardening.

From mucking out stables to grooming and polishing duties at trials and competitions, the hard-wearing Classic coverall is designed to be worn outdoors as long as it’s dry, or undercover if it’s raining, keeping your clothes and event gear clean and protected. In fact, the Classic is ideal for any undercover and dry outdoor work or lifestyle activities you can think of.

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A lot of people use these to keep themselves clean when doing day to day yard jobs but I also find them useful over show gear to stop me getting dirty at competitions.

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We do apparel too!

While 3 Donkeys ladies coveralls are perfect essentials for any yard and stable work or outdoor activities, we also have a range of 3 Donkeys apparel to go with them.

We’re always dreaming up new ideas, but we currently have a range of t-shirts, hoodies, headwear, and accessories – all ethically sourced and manufactured – to keep you looking stylish, comfortable, and warm wherever you are.

Visit www.3donkeys.co.uk for more information about us, our coveralls, and our apparel, and buy from our online store today. And don’t forget to say hello and give us a follow on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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AUTUMN - Your Horse & Country Magazine AUTUMN 2020 | 67

So Country

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Cotswold Country Ltd was established over 18 years ago and prides itself in selecting the best products from all the top country wear brands. Our large shop is spread over two floors and houses an extensive range of clothing, footwear, accessories and gifts for all lovers of the country.

Whether you enjoy walking in the countryside, working outdoors or going racing, there is something for everyone in-store or online. Our small but experienced team of staff are very knowledgeable and are always on hand to help to make your shopping experience enjoyable.

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68 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - FIND YOUR HAPPY

When Activewear & Equestrian combine Introducing the new Activewear Collection from Derriere Equestrian

Who are Derriere Equestrian?

Derriere Equestrian revolutionised the equestrian marketplace in 2014 by launching their innovative (and quickly becoming award winning) riding underwear. They deliver luxury equestrian lingerie that empowers riders to feel confident, comfortable, healthy, and stylish while in the saddle.

Why Activewear?

After worldwide success with their underwear, bra and breeches range Derriere wanted to bring an equally outstanding Activewear range to riders. Over recent years activewear has become everyday wear, heightening during the global pandemic, and equestrians now spend countless hours in base layers and riding leggings, therefore, it seemed a natural progression to deliver the same level of innovation, bespoke style, technical performance, functionality, and exceptional comfort to these core pieces.

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Covid-19’s human impact has been devastating – but so has its effect on animals as welfare charities’ income has plummeted while demand grows. Kathy Carter looks at how they have adapted.

storm

WEATHERING THE

T

he coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly affected the charitable sector significantly. According to the Petplan Charitable Trust (PPCT), all equine welfare organisations have experienced unprecedented financial and operational challenges as a result of the crisis.

On top of looking after the horses and ponies in their care with limited rehoming activities, equine charities have had to close their centres to visitors, cancel fundraising events, and have seen vital donations dry up during the ongoing pandemic. This has been especially devastating for smaller charities. As a result of the coronavirus challenges, the PPCT has collaborated with World Horse Welfare and the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) to create the Covid-19 Equine Rescues Emergency Fund, offering grants for smaller equine welfare organisations.

In December, leading equine welfare organisations including Bransby Horses, Blue Cross, HorseWorld, Redwings, World Horse Welfare, the RSPCA and British Horse Society published a report entitled Britain’s

Horse Problem. It outlines the significant demand facing the equine community, and cites issues such as inadequate enforcement, a failure of ownership and lack of effective regulation as being factors in the current systemic failure in equine welfare.

The situation is certainly bleak. However, there have been some positive results achieved during the recent Covid-19 pandemic, with organisations being forced to look at their operations with fresh eyes.

VIRTUAL REHOMING Ruth Court, horse welfare manager at Blue Cross, says that while equine charities have faced many challenges, the Blue Cross

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team has been able to adapt to successful virtual rehomings. “We have been able to find loving homes for many of our horses,” she explains. “People still want to rehome, and although we have not been able to bring as many horses onto our sites as in previous years, our Home Direct and Home to Home services have enabled us to help more owners find a new family for their animals, without having to bring them to our locations.”

Ruth says she has been encouraged by the extent that charities have been able to adapt, to remain a vital option for horse owners in need. “We work closely with other charities, and projects like the Covid-19

With no specific government help being offered to animal welfare charities, we will now be operating at a deficit for months, potentially years, to come

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EQUINE WELFARE

charity’s emergency coronavirus appeal, with online gift shop orders soaring in the run-up to Christmas, and many companies and individuals making practical donations.

SPLENDID SUPPORTERS

 Work has continued at equine charities throughout the pandemic – top, Warhol, with mum Kahlo, was one of seven foals born during the first lockdown at Redwings; below, wearing masks at HorseWorld in Bristol; bottom, Snow White receives care in Redwings’ horse hospital

Bransby Horses, one of the UK’s largest equine welfare and rescue charities, is extremely thankful to its supporters, and has managed to continue to raise vital funds during a time when community-based fundraising could not take place.

Sally Crawford, executive director of engagement and income generation, said: “Following the floods in 2019 and impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, we continue to adapt our outlook, with teams across the charity using their ingenuity and determination to keep the charity moving forward. We’ve been significantly impacted by the pandemic, with a massive loss of our usual fundraising revenue. However, our supporters have been amazing throughout, adapting to new ways that they can help us during this difficult time.”

In late 2020, the charity saw huge success with the introduction of a fictional character, Pudding, who represents many of the mistreated and neglected equines arriving at the charity. “We wrote the Pudding’s Christmas Miracle storybook to highlight equine welfare issues to a younger audience, engaging with schools and running interactive events, raising muchneeded funds,” explains Sally. “Although the rehoming programme is suspended at the time of writing until lockdown eases, our teams continue to be there for horses in need, like Pudding; we took in 51 new equines and rehomed 82 in 2020.”

AN INNOVATIVE SCHOOLS PROGRAMME Equine Rescues Emergency Fund will be essential for us to protect, rescue and rehabilitate horses in need,” she adds.

Redwings’ Nicola Knight, head of communications and campaigns, says that as a charity 100% funded by donations from the public, and which cares for more than 1,500 rescued horses, Redwings always has to be very financially prudent. “However, this extraordinary year has pitched us into one of the most challenging periods in our history,” she explains. “The closure of our visitor centres has so far resulted in a loss of income of over £250,000, while the cancellation of community fundraising events and an 11% rise in internal welfare costs, such as hay, feed and farriery, have further tightened our budgets. With no specific

government help being offered to animal welfare charities, we will now be operating at a deficit for months, potentially years, to come.”

Despite the challenges, however, Redwings brought almost 180 horses and donkeys into the safety of the sanctuary last year – one of the charity’s largest recent intakes.

“We also managed to rehome a record number of our rescued ponies by adapting our application process to make it virtual, while maintaining the necessary checks,” Nicola adds. Redwings’ supporters also offered an incredible response to the

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While HorseWorld’s rescuing and rehabilitating work has continued wherever possible, the Bristol-based horse rescue charity has been focusing on its Discovery programme in recent months, which uses rescued horses to help vulnerable children and young people who have difficulties accessing mainstream education.

The organisation is proudly supporting hardworking teachers, as HorseWorld continues to provide equineassisted learning sessions to local children and young people.

“Through sessions with specially selected and retrained horses, the young people develop the skills needed to build 

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EQUINE WELFARE - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 71

A once emaciated rescued pony is now winning rosettes in the dressage ring thanks to the life-saving care provided by Redwings Horse Sanctuary.

Cookie was rescued by the registered charity in 2016 with two other horses from a site in Norfolk. All three were extremely thin with their body condition scores ranging from 0 to 0.5 (an ideal Body Condition Score is 3).

Sadly, Cookie would become the only survivor from the rescue as the other mares had severe damage to their digestive systems due to heavy worm burdens and irreparable liver damage.

However, beautiful Cookie thrived at Redwings and was rehomed in November 2019 to her new Guardian Angela in Suffolk as an unbacked project horse.

This meant that she had received basic handling training at the Sanctuary, and then Angela took over ‘the reins’ to help Cookie fulfil her potential as a ridden horse.

Just over a year later and the pair have become an amazing team! From working on their schooling and building up their hacking together, the duo have come on in leaps and bounds. They even do some volunteering for Suffolk Police as they go about their hacking routes. The pair also entered their first dressage test and came home with a rosette!

Angela said: “I've loved every moment of being Cookie's Guardian. She's been such a joy to work with, from building her trust and confidence, to backing her and then getting her out and about. Every step of the way has been packed full of rewards.”

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Redwings has introduced a new virtual application process to match their rescued horses and ponies to suitable Guardians, and last year saw a record-breaking 75% increase in the number of horses finding loving new homes outside of the Sanctuary.

Rehoming a horse from Redwings is free of charge, but £50 is requested towards the cost of their passport and additional donations are welcome. The charity retains the ownership of all its rehomed horses.

To find out more about Redwings’ Guardianship Scheme, visit

www.redwings.org.uk/rehoming.

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EQUINE WELFARE

p A BBC film crew visits Redwings to cover an appeal to help raise funds for hay, while Baby Face Nelson supervises hand-washing, right

confidence and resilience and improve communication skills, and as a result, better cope with the challenges of life,” explains Petra Ingram, HorseWorld’s chief executive.

“Hearing from our students about the impact that living during these troubling times is having on them is a huge reminder of how essential these courses are for the vulnerable young people who come to us. Our team is doing all they can to ensure courses can continue as one-to-one sessions, whilst keeping everyone safe and Covid-compliant,” said Petra.

The charity now faces another challenge: how to deal with the inevitable increase in demand for the Discovery programme once lockdown is over, as individuals struggle to cope with the longer-term impact of the Covid-19 crisis.

over their animals to reach out for help, however,” Ruth advises.

HorseWorld’s Petra Ingram says while this period will be hugely challenging for all equine charities, she is especially concerned for smaller charities. “HorseWorld is fully expecting to see not only a surge in rescues, but also in the need for our Discovery horses to be there to help the young people who really need their support,” predicts Petra.

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MOVING FORWARD The immediate future of many needy equines is unclear. Redwings’ Nicola Knight says that in 2021, it is expected that the impact of the lockdowns will start to be truly felt.

“The Britain’s Horse Problem report states that the number of horses requiring help continues to outpace the spaces provided.

There are currently more than 7,000 horses on charities’ radar as being at risk of neglect or abandonment.”

Blue Cross’s Ruth Court is also concerned about how the uncertain future will affect equines, for example regarding extended furlough and job losses that will increase the need for horse owners in crisis to seek charities’ help. “We can only really wait to see the impending impact. We always encourage those facing challenges or anxiety

Bransby Horses’ Sally Crawford agrees that the economic impact of Covid-19 has overloaded charities, and put horses at risk.

“There is continued concern. But we hope to reopen our rehoming programme after April, and will continue to adapt our fundraising efforts, and focus on new, exciting projects – we may see Pudding make another appearance in the coming months!” she concludes.

HOW TO HELP

l Giving isn’t always about money.

Can you give up any time to volunteer at an equine charity? Blue Cross has a large number of Borrowers, who kindly dedicate their spare time to helping horses in the charity’s care; one Borrower made over 60 fabric face masks to raise valuable funds.

Recent creative ideas to raise money have included sponsored gymkhanas, donating tack, hosting bake sales and even writing a children’s book. Why not get your creative thinking cap on and see if there is a way to support your local equine charity? l Donations needn’t be large-scale.

Bransby Horses welcomes regular monthly donations starting at just £3 per month, while supporters can sponsor a horse, pony or donkey, or purchase an item from their online gift shop or their Amazon Wish List. Becoming a Friend of Bransby Horses or buying their lottery

tickets are other ways to support the charity. l Why not support HorseWorld’s Discovery programme with a charitable donation? The project provides an essential source of support to vulnerable young people, while giving rescued horses a unique second chance at a happy life. Information on how you can help can be found at www.horseworld. org.uk – click on ‘discovery’. l Redwings’ Adoption Star concept offers adoption of horses or donkeys – a lovely gift idea. A year’s sponsorship costs from just £15, and supporters will receive an adoption pack, postal updates and access to the equine’s story-filled diary. Other ways to get involved include purchasing items from the online gift shop, joining in an online fundraising event, or setting up a regular monthly gift. n

EQUINE WELFARE - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 73

Together we can save the ones in need

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Charity No:1131399

In August 2020, Margaret provided 84 hours of medical care to a dying horse, saving its life.

Margaret in the 1950s

Margaret passed away March, 2020.

help our charity rescue and care for hundreds of equines every single year.

T 01427 788464 BransbyHorses.co.uk/legacy Charity No: 1075601. Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England and Wales No: 3711676 Mrs Penney’s family generously gave permission for this image use and message; continuing Margaret’s incredible legacy.

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ahead STRIDING

Mary and Emily King are hard at work preparing their teams of horses – some old hands, some novices – for the year ahead and hopes are high for a return to eventing soon. They share their progress so far...

Mary

H

i everyone! It’s lovely to be back writing for the super Your Horse and Country Magazine this year, and sharing my horsey life with you!

With the evenings getting noticeably lighter, and the daffs coming out, there is light at the end of this long winter tunnel.

Aren’t us horse owners so fortunate to have these lovely creatures to fill our days through “Lockdown Three”?

Following a complete break for two and a half months – turned out 24/7, shoes off and out in two groups – my six horses started work at the beginning of January, as soon as Nick Rule, my great farrier, could come.

I started off with hacking all the horses on the roads at walk. I’m very fortunate to have winter turnout, so the horses are turned out every day after they have worked, which keeps them happy and more relaxed. The five-year-olds stay out all the time, even when clipped. I clipped the horses during their second week of work – they had a full clip, but we left their legs, saddle patch and front of their face on so they have protection from the elements when they are turned out! Bucas is my rug sponsor and it makes such comfortable, warm rugs I never have to worry about them getting cold.

The horses had a worm egg count done and my vet advised me to worm them with Equest Pramox. This is the only combination wormer licensed to control small redworms, including the inhibited and developing

78 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - KEEPING UP WITH THE KINGS

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encysted small redworm larval stages, as well as other roundworm species, bots and all three species of tapeworm. It also has the longest dosing interval of any combination wormer at 13 weeks.

My equine dentist, Keith Evans, came mid-January and, with his assistant Ian Hargreaves, checked all the horses’ mouths, filing off any sharp edges.

After three weeks of road work, during which I gradually built up the length of the rides and the hill work (I am lucky to be surrounded by huge hills!), I started to lunge and school the horses, as well as continuing with hacking. In the fourth week I introduced some pole, and jumping work.

Unfortunately, after four weeks I was down to five horses to compete this year – but it was half expected. Kings Tilly, my lovely homebred mare, started eventing in 2019 as a five-year-old. She was beautiful and won at BE100 level then progressed to Novice level – but her jump became very inconsistent.

The long and short of it was “kissing spine”.

Spinal X-rays, taken last August, sadly revealed five very tight vertebrae. The vet advised me to give her a bit of time off (four months) to let her mature and then try to see if there was any change. But sadly there isn’t. She has a lovely character, and luckily is a mare – not that I would breed from her, as kissing spine can be hereditary, plus she hasn’t got the greatest shaped hocks. But she can become a “recipient mare”, carrying competition mares’ embryos. Emily and I are planning to both do embryo transfers with two of our mares this year (my Kings Crystal, and Emily’s Mellow Lane, both of whom are smart, well-bred young mares who will be competing this year, but from whom we would like to try to breed). If it works out, Tilly may carry one of their embryos – fingers crossed. This will save us paying around £2,000 for the “rent” of a recipient mare... so Tilly will be earning her keep!

MARY’S TEAM OF HORSES FOR 2021  Kings Rose – 10 years Intermediate homebred mare (Kings Temptress x Grafenstolz)  Kings Tilly – 7 years Novice homebred mare (Kings Temptress x Chilli Morning)  King Seamus – 6 years Novice Irishbred gelding (by Rainstown Hollow)  King Cyrus – 6 years Novice homebred gelding (Kings Temptress x Future Gravitas)  Kings Crystal (Kizzy) – 5 years homebred mare – starting eventing this year (Kings Temptress x Cevin Z)  King Louis (Dobby) – 5 years Frenchbred gelding – starting eventing this year (by Upsilon)

KEEPING UP WITH THE KINGS

KEEPING UP WITH KING LOUIS

D

uring this year I am going share my training tips and progress with my new horse King Louis... Dobby!

Dobby is by the awesome stallion Upsilon, out of a Selle Francais mare. Sam Ecroyd, Emily’s boyfriend, bought him as a three-year-old in France in 2019 and I bought him in December 2020. Sam had produced him quietly and well, and he was at the stage of cantering in an open frame around an 80cm course.

I loved Dob’s attitude, (he is ultra-friendly and interested in everything), he is naturally very athletic over a fence and has average to good movement. He has a good, powerful, active hind leg and although he is rather big for me (17 hands), he is such a sweetheart and is naively brave and willing! I started by hacking him on his own around the country lanes which he hadn’t done, and then through the woods and up and down the banks, which he took in his stride.

We have The Donkey Sanctuary nearby, which can be very frightening for some horses initially – seeing a whole group of donkeys for the first time can really freak them out! So I always go with a friend on a quiet horse to give my young one confidence. Dobby was pretty cool with them – pictured inset (he has such long ears I think he thought they were relations!).

I took him down to our local river with a

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friend on a more experienced horse, and worked away at getting him confident with the water until he was very happy going in on his own and paddling up and down.

I’ve worked on some pole exercises, trotting then cantering over a line of poles, which I then raised so he eventually was bouncing over four raised poles in a line (4m apart). Then I worked on four poles on a 20m circle, getting him to canter evenly over each single pole.

I then got him trotting over a placing pole to a crossbar, insisting on straightness, a calm approach and after the fence.

Dobby found it hard controlling his enthusiasm after and would try to happily charge forward, not wanting to stop!

So I insisted on him coming back to halt after every little fence I jumped until he got the hang of waiting when he landed!

I started to introduce him to more spooky fences with fillers, ladders, barrels, tyres etc, initially with guide rails, and then taking them away. Because he was strong in a snaffle I changed his bit to a small gag (universal bit) and found him so much more respecting of my hand. I hope when he learns to curb his enthusiasm and become more balanced I will be able to go back to a snaffle. He is now jumping well around a course of spooky fences and I’m thrilled with his progress. I can’t wait for the jumping shows to start! 

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KEEPING UP WITH THE KINGS - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 79

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KEEPING UP WITH THE KINGS

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ello again, everyone! I hope you are well and are staying as happy and healthy as possible in these strange

times.

What a hard and different old year it has been, hey? It seems weird entering March this year and finding life is quite similar to how it was last March… very, very hard and sad indeed for many families and businesses, so I feel very lucky being able to work outside (at a safe distance from other people!) and go about the training of the horses pretty much as usual.

So, let’s meet my horses!

Valmy Biats – an 11-year-old French-bred gelding, owned by his breeder Philippe Brivios. Val is the “King of the Stables” at the moment, being my top horse, and certainly milks as much attention as possible for having that title! He is the most lovely horse and would have to be one of my favourite personalities I’ve had in my yard. All being well he’ll aim for the CCI4*L U25 National Champs at Bramham Park.

Langford Take The Biscuit – Hobby (who I’m sure quite a few of you know!) is a nineyear-old, Irish-bred gelding and a horse who is very close to my heart. He is kindly owned by the Hobnob Syndicate, which consists of

over 500 people, and with the help of Your Horse and Country Magazine we manage to keep them all regularly updated. Hob has been progressing well up through the grades and (again, all being well) he will aim for the CCI3*L U25 Irish National Champs at Millstreet.

Imposant – Impy is an eight-year-old Dutch-bred gelding, owned by Minnie Kerr-Dineen and Peter and Susan KerrDineen. Imps came to my yard about a year ago to be sold, and since we had some great results together last year the KerrDineen family have very kindly asked me to carry on competing him for them, which is extremely exciting. I am very grateful for the

‘

* Emily

opportunity. Imps will aim to do a CCI2*L at the end of the spring season at either Houghton Hall or Millstreet (hopefully!).

MBF Arctic Emperor – Penguin is a sevenyear-old thoroughbred gelding. He is a lovely horse who is being produced slowly with his future in mind. He will be getting established at Novice level this spring then, the same as Impy, will be aiming for a CCI2*L at either Houghton Hall or Millstreet.

EDS Lancaster – Ash is a six-year-old Dutch-bred gelding owned by Andrew and Corrina Reid. Ash started his eventing career last year doing two BE90 Opens and will step up to BE100 and Novice this year.

He is a talented horse but a very sensitive 

All of the horses are now back in full work, with us all keeping our fingers firmly crossed that the event season IS going to start up again! They all had a lovely couple of months out in the field, really allowing them to switch off, relax and have some downtime as natural horses again.

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KEEPING UP WITH THE KINGS - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 81

KEEPING UP WITH THE KINGS

character, so he will be produced slowly with the future in mind.

Lara – Lara is a beautiful little grey mare owned by David and Tina Broadhurst.

She came to me in November and will be produced and get out competing as soon as Covid allows. She’s a gorgeous, talented little mare, so I’m really looking forward to getting to know her better!

Special – Special is a Dutch-bred gelding owned by Penny Ecroyd and Mike and Julie Hall. Special is an exceptionally talented young horse (hence his name!). He will be aiming at the young horse classes and championships with a view to then being sold.

Mellow Lane – Mellow is a stunning fiveyear-old Irish-bred mare. She has just been away training a couple times so far and, like the other five-year-olds, will aim to start her eventing career this year after getting a good handful of cross country schooling outings

*H

under her belt along with getting established showjumping at BS shows. I’d hope to get them to their first show at the end of the spring season, but the four five-yearolds I have at the moment are all extremely talented so they will not be rushed. They will be given as much time as they need in training before they are confident enough to enter the big wide world of eventing shows!

Kilbunny Emperor – Bunny is a five-yearold Irish-bred gelding. He, like Mellow, is planning to start his eventing career this year.

All of the horses are now back in full work, with us all keeping our fingers firmly crossed that the event season IS going to start up again! They all had a lovely couple of months out in the field, really allowing them to switch off, relax and have some downtime as natural horses again. They did a month’s hacking up and down the Welsh hills and mountains, building up muscles and slowly developing a solid foundation of fitness to

build from with their flat work, jumping and galloping.

Now all of the horses are getting pretty fit, but with no definite start date for the event season I’m not feeling the need to gallop the horses yet (they will start this roughly a month before their first event), so I’m using this time to really work on each horse’s weaker phases/areas. For example, Valmy struggles with his flying changes and this is a movement which he will have to nail in a 4* test if he stands a chance of scoring a top mark. So we have been working very hard on this – and I’m glad to say that there is some improvement happening!

This year is my last year in the U25 classes so I really hope that Bramham is able to run and that I can go back with Valmy and try my absolute hardest to defend my British U25 National Champ title. I’ve told Valmy this, and he promises to try his absolute hardest!

KEEPING UP WITH HOBBY

obs, like the other horses, has enjoyed a lovely winter holiday. He always makes the most of it and becomes as fluffy and chubby as possible!

It’s actually quite hilarious how he looks when he comes in from his break.

Being an Irish horse, Hobby isn’t naturally as perfectly muscled as some warmblood horses may be, so I’ve made sure to take my time with his hacking and conditioning work to really build muscles in the right places. This involved not always hacking on a long rein – working him long, low and nicely rounded over his back while hacking up and down the hills, and keeping this feeling through to when he started trotting up the hills. After all, this is the position he will hack to be working in on the flat, so I want to build up his muscles for him as much as possible in the right place to enable him to work well as easily as possible in his dressage.

At the moment he will still hack two or three days a week, with his hacks now always including trotting up the hills, on the bit, into a round contact. With his flat work, I’m making sure all the basic elements of his way of going are perfect – transitions, change of tempo, flexion – as, after all, it’s still early and it’s important not to get too ahead of yourself and just make sure we revisit our basics so they are perfect.

Throughout February we started getting back in touch with our lateral movements – leg yield, shoulder in, travers, half pass and counter canter. I will also slowly start to teach him walk pirouettes as this is a movement which is required at 3* level,

and also slowly introduce him to flying changes – he won’t need these until he’s at Advanced level but it’s good to start training them while they’re younger so it’s not so much of a shock to the system when the time comes! I’m really pleased with how he’s working on the flat at the moment, the conditioning work seems to have really helped and I’m impressed with his development.

Hobs has had a couple of jumps so far this year and is feeling super. I’m wanting to take him out to BS shows as

soon as possible as it is practice in the ring which he seeks the most – jumping a 1.20/1.25m course, in a show atmosphere, with different lines and fences. So I will keep training him at home over gymnastic exercises and course jumping until Covid rules relax.

I’m looking forward to keeping you all up to date with the team of horses, so I really hope we are able to get to get competing in the not so distant future!

Until then, guys, keep kicking and keep safe! 

82 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - KEEPING UP WITH THE KINGS

Feed With Confidence!

T

he choice of forage you buy for your horse should be the most important feed decision you make, as 70- 100% of the equine diet should be provided by forage. Choosing HorseHage will allow you to feed with confidence.

HorseHage offers all you and your horse could wish for in a forage and the company has over 40 years of expertise in producing the highly compressed, dust-free product that has become widely recognised as a premium quality product.

Unlike most haylages, HorseHage is not re-wrapped. It is compressed down to half its size and packed into heat-sealed, double-skinned bags. It goes through a fermentation process that causes the sugars in the grass to break down, reducing the acidity level and giving it a sweet smell whilst preserving the grass.

This gives it a sugar content of around 4% which is much lower than most other forages.

The highly compressed bales take up less room and are great for travelling and HorseHage splits very easily into wedges for netting up. It can be stored outside on a pallet too.

We don’t add anything to HorseHage. No chemicals, mould inhibitors or inoculants.

It’s a totally natural product and has BETA NOPS and FEMAS certifications.

So if you’re looking for a forage that is dust-free, low in sugar, easy to use, totally natural and comes with a guarantee, HorseHage is ideal. It is available in four different varieties offering a choice of energy levels for every type of horse or pony including those prone to laminitis For more information please call the HorseHage Helpline on 01803 527274 or visit www.horsehage.co.uk

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

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Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 83

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YARD TALK

YARD TALK WITH TEAM YHC

 Jack Russell Timmy and our dalmatian trio Darcie, Dexter and Mikka have been doing their bit in the yard too – supervised by Lottie, inset below

*

WORKING LIKE A DOG! PROMOTION

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W

ith the competition season not really kick-starting this year and Badminton Horse Trials cancelled for the second year running, there’s not much to be positive about at the moment for our sport. Team YHC have used most of the lockdown and the Covid period to rest the horses and let them be horses, playing and generally becoming very expensive field ornaments. It’s actually been lovely to let them be and build a different kind of relationship with them from on the ground instead of on their backs – although we are eager to get back on board and are already planning lots of hacking as soon as the clocks spring forward!

Instead of riding we planned a complete overhaul of the yard, which has seen an overwhelming amount of jet washing, brushing and hundreds of litres of paint and varnish being applied to all the walls and doors. It looks fabulous and the horses love the fresh, bright feeling that their stables now offer! It’s one of those jobs that we

have always tried to do a little of as we work around the horses, so we are thrilled to have finally found the time to complete this mammoth task!

Days spent walking the paddocks, checking the horses, troughs and fence lines has been a pleasure not only for us but for our four wonderful dogs as well.

They have thoroughly enjoyed the wet, muddy conditions that winter brought and all the new smells from foraging wildlife. It was incredible while rolling the fields recently to see how the natural instinct of our dalmatians kicked in. Originally bred to run alongside horse-drawn carriages, they seemed to know exactly what to do with the tractor, keeping the right pace just off the rear wheels and at a safe distance. Every time we turned a corner they would run up ahead and come in front, almost guiding the tractor along its tracks. As soon as we found ourselves back on a straight they seemed to fall back to a steady jog at the 

*

YARD TALK - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 87

YARD TALK

PROMOTION

*

ECO-FRIENDLY, SUPER ABSORBENT HORSE BEDDING Miscanthus Horse Bedding by Terravesta Equine is a natural, sustainable alternative to wood shavings and other bedding types. Made from 100% finely chopped, British-grown Miscanthus, it’s a high quality, clean material which makes a deep firm bed.

Miscanthus is super absorbent, locking in smells and naturally carrying less bacteria, which reduces unwanted odours and the transfer of ammonia. The bedding is also dust extracted, helping to improve horse respiratory health.

Miscanthus bedding is long-lasting and increases yard efficiency, reducing time spent mucking out and producing smaller muck heaps, which can be can be incorporated back into the soil after use.

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TIPPING MADE EASY The LCPTP’s tough, tear-proof plastic can often have a lifespan longer than a steel equivalent. The wide-profile wheels give the trailer stability over rough or wet ground, and the steel chassis provides the plastic body with necessary support.

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 Making the most of the spring sunshine while, below, the sheep take shelter from a shower!

rear wheels. All three of the dogs seemed to work together, taking it in turns to lead or trail behind at the back. Unfortunately, our little Jack Russell (Timmy) was not so keen to be out in the fields! He has been more intent doing what he knows best, keeping pests like rats or mice under control! Although he’s yet to catch anything, he seems to be having a wonderful time sniffing and working his way around the yard, stables and feed rooms looking for any unwelcome intruders! That said, we are lucky and have never seemed to be bothered too much by rodents, and I wonder if just his presence keeps them at bay.

With the colder nights and after hours of working on the farm, the dogs were treated to a lovely warm headlamp in their kennel this year, something they seem all too happy to cuddle up underneath and rest their eyes!

With a decrease in the horses’ work we naturally had to adjust their feeding this winter, offering less high-energy feeds and replacing them for a more fibre-based, slowburning food type. While considering feed types for the horses, our attention was also drawn to what the dogs were eating. Was it offering them everything that they need, was

88 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - YARD TALK

it the best food type for their lifestyle? Our dogs are always on the go and have access to 10 acres to roam daily. They have always maintained a healthy coat and weight so we have always believed what we are feeding them was right. But we have from time to time found them eating grass or something they shouldn’t, so it begs the question whether they are searching for a mineral or supplement that their daily feeds aren’t giving them.

We have since taken to the internet where there is a host of informative and useful websites to help advise on the different dietary options and essentials for different types of dog, be it the pampered pooch, the working dog or even show dog, for best coats and so on. Although the dogs’ diet is something that we are actively researching, we have not made any sudden changes to their food at the moment and will be sure to introduce any changes gradually, just as we would when changing the horses’ feeds.

Well, we’re off to bath the horses now and wash out all the winter coats that are coming out in handfuls so, until next time, take care of yourselves and, of course, your fourlegged friends too! 

*

*

TEAM YHC LOVES

YARD MUST-HAVES FROM IDOLO YHC’s head groom Alex says she wouldn’t know what to do without her Idolo Tether Tie. This invaluable, innovative tool offers a flexible tension that has a little give if the horse pulls back, avoiding the typical tethering situations that tend to occur with a “fixed” rope with no give.

Alex says: “With limited events and outings to attend, we have found the horses have become slightly more ‘fidgety’, to say the least! The Idolo Tether Tie has been the exact tool I need for the tie-up areas, especially with the horses who do not typically like to stand still, the Idolo Tether Tie gives them a gentle reminder that they are tied up, without giving the usual yank that leads to panic.

“Being a petite person, handling 17hh horses, I have personally found the Idolo Training Coloured Pressure Halters to be a crucial asset, this friendly but firm halter provides me with complete control leading the excitable horses in and out to the fields!

“These products are not only an amazing addition to our yard, they provide us with peace of mind that our horses are safe while being tied, and handled. A must-have from me!”

IT’S A CLEAN SWEEP FROM DUB’L-LIF! Alex says: “With the awful weather we have faced the last couple of months, the stable yard has been wet, muddy and snow-filled at times! Trying to sweep wet mud really is a task I wouldn’t wish on anyone!

However, life has been made a whole lot better now I have the Dub’l-lif Squeegee Scraper. This tool means I can easily push slurry around the yard, into drains or simply scrape left-over hay off the floor with ease. A thumbs-up from us at YHC for this amazing product!”

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YARD TALK - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 89

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YARD TALK - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 |

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horsebedding.co.uk 92 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - YARD TALK

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94 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - YARD TALK

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Want faster, more natural healing and pain relief?

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S

ince 2013 the Vetcare has been championed by vets, vet nurses, animal physiotherapists and complementary practitioners nationwide.

Vetcare is also designed for home use as a non-invasive red-light therapy device that’s an affordable alternative to therapeutic laser.

It promotes natural healing and pain relief for all musculoskeletal conditions, atopic skin conditions and wound healing.

Easy to use with pre-programmed ‘evidence based’ 30 second doses, Vetcare increases energy production in the mitochondria, triggering a cascade of biological reactions at a cellular level. This process accelerates the natural repair process throughout all stages of tissue healing.

Caroline Hearn Dip ICAT, integrates the Vetcare into her practice. When her own Welsh section B gelding, Duncan, was diagnosed with severe laminitis in all four feet, including rotation of the pedal bones and frequent foot abscesses. A full recovery was in the balance. Caroline explained: I would give him two treatments a day with the Photizo. I treated each hoof for five minutes, twice a day. Concentrating on the bulbs of the heels, the front aspect of the coronary band and on the inner and outer quarters of the coronary band. After two weeks I decreased the treatments to once a day. Photizo was invaluable to Duncan’s recovery.”

Sophie explained: ‘Belle’s wounds were severe but healed in just 10 days. Jöelle invested in her own Vetcare, believing one should be in every equine first aid box!

Photizo is a great to integrate into post-event massages, relieving any strained tendon/ ligament or pulled muscles. On older horses, prone to swelling in the lower legs, Vetcare gives the circulatory and lymphatic system a boost. I believe that every yard should have one!”

Ruth Milner MD at Photizo’s sole UK distributor, Danetre Health Products, commented:

Unlike laser light, Vetcare’s LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology isn’t harmful to the eyes and there’s no need for protective eyewear.

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Proving its worth in the equine world, Vetcare’s pocket size makes it perfect for use in the field and in the yard.

Whether it’s to keep horses and ponies in top condition for hacking or competition level, Vetcare addresses early warning signs of discomfort like poor flexion on one side, not tracking up as usual or unevenly.

Over enthusiasm at being turned out can cause tendon, ligament and muscle strains, Vetcare promotes healing fast and naturally, reducing inflammation, stimulating lymph flow and oxygen to the affected area.

unable to visit, prescribed a five-day course of antibiotics. Belle’s massage practitioner, Sophie Whymark of SLW Equine Sports & Rehabilitation Massage & Therapy, suggested borrowing her own Photizo Vetcare to use it alongside the antibiotics.

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Find out more about Photizo’s Vetcare here:

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YARD TALK - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 95

The Idolo tether tie

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96 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - YARD TALK

Keep your horse healthy in 2021!

Even with Spring round the corner, the unpredictability of British weather means that some horses continue to spend a lot of time indoors. Limited turnout can lead to health problems due to spending less time outside grazing in their ‘natural state’. Physiologically horses are not designed to be kept in confined, poorly ventilated areas for prolonged periods of time, which could increase the chance of them developing respiratory or even digestive problems through being exposed to harmful airborne particles. Continuous inhalation of these harmful particles and bacteria often leads to respiratory diseases such as Equine asthma, (formerly known as RAO, Heaves, COPD and IAD) which have a detrimental effect on a horses’ ability to perform at its optimal.

However, there are a few easy management practices that can implemented that will decrease the chance for any health issues and the need to call a vet.

Bedding As lovely as the thought of a deep, fluffy, cosy bed is for your horse, this is the worst thing for their respiratory health as you will be exposing them to thousands of dust particles.

Selecting a dust free bedding will help but the whole concept of a deep, fluffy bed can be costly in terms of supplying and muck heap removal, as well as taking a lot of time to muck out thoroughly.

both the horse musculoskeletal and respiratory health. The orthopaedic design of ComfortStall means only a small amount of dust free bedding would be needed to ensure urea is soaked up, eliminating the need for thick dusty stable beds as the flooring itself is comfy enough alone and supports and protects your equine in the stable.

It’s a real gamechanger as unlike other rubber matting systems that you must fit together with multiple matts, ComfortStall has a fully sealed impermeable Ironclad Top Cover, meaning there are no gaps, joins or seams that bedding and bacteria can get stuck in.

It is just one single piece of matting made to measure of your stable and secured up the side of the walls with anchor strips.

The amount of bedding you use can be decreased by up to 75% as only a small amount is needed to soak up urea, so removing all bedding and disinfecting can become your new mucking out regime with minimal effort.

Thoroughly mucking out your stable is vital in terms of respiratory health to remove all traces of faeces and ammonia to reduce build up. That “horsey smell” is a huge problem many equines do not even realise the hazard of and is often the reason stable air quality is compromised.

What is even better is it can pay for itself in just over a year by saving you money on bedding, labour, and muck heap removal costs.

Ammonia releases noxious gases that if inhaled by both horse and owner, will inhibit the movement of the cilia leaving the horses natural respiratory defence mechanism weakened. Ammonia can cause irreversible health problems that will greatly affect both horse and human performance, so it is important that you and your equine are in contact with it as little as possible when in the stable environment.

So how can we ensure our equines are warm, comfortable, and safe in their stable over the winter if we are not bedding them down as we traditionally would?

ComfortStall was developed with the goal to create a flooring system that supports

Forage Despite being such a huge part of their diet, forage is often the main cause of horses developing respiratory problems due to it containing thousands of harmful particles such as dust, bacteria, and mould.

Traditionally wetting or soaking forage was the go-to for reducing dust, however doing so increases the bacteria content by up to 150% and leaches the nutrient content from the forage.

Steaming with a Haygain steamer is the only way to ensure up to 99% of unwanted particles are eliminated from the forage.

The patented manifold spike system enables the forage to be evenly and completely steamed, as without fully penetrating the hay and steaming at a temperature of at least 90 degrees for a minimum of 10 minutes, the forage will become even more harmful due to bacteria thriving in the warm and damp environment. Forage must be steamed above 90 degrees to reduce pathogenic bacteria, yeast, mould, and fungi.

Through years of testing to achieve scientifically proven results, Haygain were the first to develop a steamer that provides health benefits to horses’ respiratory system, that in turn helps improve performance.

Treatment

These management practices can also help a horse that is already suffering from a respiratory problem; however, nebulisation is one of the best ways to effectively treat respiratory illness and airway disorders.

Flexineb nebulisers easily allow horse owners and veterinarians to administer a range of medication directly to the respiratory tract and lungs.

These include saline solutions that break up mucus, antibiotics to treat infections, corticosteroids for inflammation and bronchodilators to open the airways.

Administering medication this way can save on the cost of the drugs as approximately only 20% of a dose is needed compared to being given through an IV. For any respiratory issues, always consult a vet for a diagnosis before administering any medication.

For more details call 01488 854005 or email

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98 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - YARD TALK

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100 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - YARD TALK

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& Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 103 TEL: 07971 995445Your Horse www.shadyhorsemanship.com

VET’S ADVICE with Dr Josefin Jansson DrMedVet MRCVS

colic?

COULD IT BE

C

olic in horses is one of the most frightening things to experience for a horse owner. Rather than a disease, it is a term for abdominal pain which can have different causes, many of which can be life-threatening. It is important to know the signs so that a veterinarian can attend to the horse as soon as possible. There are some husbandry pointers that can help prevent some types of colic, which this article will focus on.

TURNOUT AND EXERCISE The horse should have daily turnout or exercise. Stable confinement for longer periods has been linked to colic. Encourage movement by placing forage in different parts of the paddock, turn out the horse with a friend or incorporate other forms of enrichment such as logs on the ground. A horse walker can be an excellent addition

for daily movement. Keep daily exercise varied and interesting by mixing schooling with hacking, long reining, or lunging.

However, any change in the intensity of exercise should be done gradually to allow the horse to adapt.

DENTISTRY Inability to properly chew the forage will lead to longer fibres being passed down the intestinal tract and it can over time build up to impactions. The horse’s teeth should be checked at least annually by a veterinarian or certified equine dentist and rasped if needed. This will also ensure that any dental problems can be picked up and treated early.

ENDOPARASITE CONTROL A well thought-out parasite control program should be the foundation of any yard management. This involves good pasture management such as weekly removal of droppings in the turnout paddock, co- or cross-grazing the pasture with sheep or cattle and rotational use of pastures. It is recommended for adult horses to have a faecal worm egg count done regularly throughout the grazing season, treating with an anthelmintic drug if the result is high. With endoparasite resistance emerging against all known anthelmintic drugs it is good practice to do a second faecal worm egg count test two weeks after treatment to check if

For those prone to laminitis www.spillers-feeds.com

104 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - EQUINE HEALTH

©Mars, 2020

EQUINE HEALTH

Co-grazing the pasture can help with endoparasite control; right, behaviours such as crib biting are linked to certain types of colic

*

KNOW THE SIGNS

The severity of the colic symptoms does not always reflect the seriousness of the colic. Do not miss or ignore subtle signs, and always call your veterinarian if unsure.

the egg output reduced in response to the treatment. In the winter, the horse should get treated against the encysted small red worm larvae and tapeworm, both of which can cause severe colic. In the last few years specific tests for these two parasites have been developed and are available as blood test or saliva test.

Using a test to determine whether to treat or not for these parasites can save some drug usage and further help in the battle against anthelmintic resistance. The above recommendations apply for adult horses (over four years of age). Speak to your local veterinary practice for advice regarding youngstock.

NUTRITION Diet has an obvious link to gastrointestinal health.

With a small stomach and continuous gastric acid and bile production, the horse is made for constant feed intake.

Long periods of not eating will lead to problems such as gastric ulcers. However, ad lib access to forage can be tricky for some horses. For example, native breeds are bred to graze where nutrients are sparse so continuous access to hay with a high nutritional value can be detrimental in terms of excessive weight gain that predisposes to laminitis.

This demands some amount of husbandry creativity! Feeding small frequent meals,

slow feeders, double hay nets or soaking the hay to reduce sugar content are a few of many ways to enable longer feeding time.

Implement any dietary changes gradually.

Regardless of the horse’s dietary requirement, choose a good quality forage as foundation. Mouldy forage has been linked to colic. Make it a habit to sift through the bale checking for bad patches or foreign material such as plastics or dead animals.

Avoid feeding directly on the ground as it can predispose the horse to sand colic.

Grain-based feedstuffs often referred to as concentrates should be fed in small portions to avoid overloading the digestive tract. Many horses do not need concentrates if the forage is of good nutritional quality. Large portions of concentrates can shift the pH of the large intestine in favour of some microbial overgrowth and that can cause colic and diarrhoea. 

 Reduced appetite  Dull or depressed  Lower head position  Cuts over the eyes  Pale gums  Cold limbs, ears and nose  Elevated pulse  No gut sounds  Very loud gut sounds  Few or no droppings in the stable  Hard and dry droppings  Curling of the upper lip (flehmen) or frequent yawning  Stretching out as if going to urinate  Breathing heavily  Flank watching  Pawing on the ground  Kicking the belly  Rolling or getting down and up  Lying flat out on the side  Abnormal sweating  Distended abdomen

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©Mars, 2020

EQUINE HEALTH - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 105

EQUINE HEALTH

Concentrate feeds have also been linked to gastric ulcers.

Grass contains mainly water and provides a large portion of the horse’s daily water intake. During the winter when grazing is less available, it is important to maintain other sources of water intake to prevent dehydration of ingesta and impaction colic.

All horses should have free access to fresh water, both in the stable and at turnout. Be aware of cold nights and days when the water may freeze at the surface. Check the turnout water regularly as drowned rodents or birds will make the quality of the water foul.

Furthermore, horses do not like to drink cold water (this is also relevant for donkeys) so keep the water lukewarm with water

trough heaters. Furthermore, apple bobbing, soaking the hay or introducing sloppy mashes can help maintain the water intake.

STRESS Colic has been shown to be associated with stress related to diet, exercise and travelling.

It is not uncommon for stress to cause development of stereotypical behaviours such as crib biting or wind sucking which are linked certain types of colic. To reduce stress, it is recommended to adhere to firm daily routines for feeding, turnout and exercise. Ideally, feeding and turnout routines should be the same for all horses in the yard. Any changes to the routines should be done gradually to allow the horse to accommodate. 

*

COLIC DICTIONARY

Colic: abdominal pain Colitis: inflammation of the large intestinal wall Displacement: a section of the intestines moves to a place where it naturally should not be Enteritis: inflammation of the small intestinal wall Gas colic: build-up of gas in the intestines Gastric ulcers: ulceration of the stomach lining Hindgut: laymen term for the large intestine Ileus: failure of intestinal motility Impaction colic: build-up of ingesta that blocks further passage Intestinal strangulation: blood supply is cut off to a portion of the intestine Intussusception: one part of the intestines slides into another part, like a telescope Sand colic: ingestion of large amounts of sand causes irritation of the intestinal wall and can lead to impaction if large amounts are ingested. Strongly linked to geographical area and associated with feeding on the ground Spasmodic colic: erratic motility of the intestines. Can be associated with tapeworm Strangulation: the blood supply to a part of the intestine is stopped Torsion: a part of the intestine twists on itself

 Rolling could be a sign that your horse is suffering with colic

Volvulus: the intestine twists around the mesentery (the suspension)

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A horse can inhale up to 4.6 million airborne dust particles in every breath. A lot of these particles come directly from hay so a simple way to eliminate them is to treat the hay with a Haygain Hay Steamer. Haygain provides the only scientifically proven method of reducing up to 99% of dust and pathogens such as bacteria, fungi and mould in all types of forage. Find out more at Haygain.co.uk

For those prone to laminitis www.spillers-feeds.com

©Mars, 2020

EQUINE HEALTH - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 107

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2

YEARS 2001 - 2021

YHAC_HalfPg_Spring_20210225.indd 1

108 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - EQUINE HEALTH

25/02/2021 15:43

From our farm to You

Yeoman Haylage is a family run business with roots in farming and horses.

We take pride in producing top quality ryegrass haylage for the equine industry, grown on the rolling Devon hills.

Yeoman Haylage owned by John, his Daughter Liz and Son in Law Nick have deep roots in farming and horses and recognise the importance of good quality forage. Since John started producing haylage in 1999, John and Liz’s wealth of knowledge and expertise as far as feeding horses is concerned, is why they have developed a reputation in the industry for growing and producing only the best top-quality forage, used by some of the top names in equestrian sports including Olympic eventer Kitty King from Chippenham, the top scoring British rider in the 2019 European Championships, whom they sponsor.

So popular is their haylage from the many comments and positive feedback they get, that John, Liz and Nick have seen demand increase and their business grow as they distribute their haylage to many areas of the country, to retailers and private customers. They have listened to

what their customers have been asking them and new for 2020 has been the very popular Timothy haylage alongside their core Ryegrass haylage. In 2021, another new product to add to their line will be Meadow Mix haylage.

This family team have a traditional farming approach to haylage production using modern technology and everything they produce has no additives or preservatives. Each bale can be fed in easy to feed slices which is very popular with their customers. They remain true to their values which in turn keeps quality as the highest priority which is why they guarantee their haylage to every customer. They maintain a fair price all year round and will not compromise on quality particularly now as the winter approaches. They have been in the industry for the last twenty years and plan to carry on until the youngsters in the family decide to take over the reins.

Customers enjoy the good old-fashioned personal service they get from John, Liz and Nick. Of particular importance to the team is the relationships they build with customers along the way, delivering a guaranteed product and a first-class service.

In the face of the global pandemic this year, Yeoman Haylage have remained steadfast in supplying their top quality haylage to their customers around the UK. You will find out how they are keen to do their bit to help the communities they serve if you look at the many news stories on their website www.yeomanhaylage.uk or find and connect with them on Facebook or Instagram.

I have fed my horses on Yeoman Haylage for the past six years and they have always looked fantastic on it.

It is very palatable and they love it.

Their performances speak for themselves. The small bales are extremely user friendly and are a great size for stay away events.

Kitty King British Olympic eventing rider

Specialist producer of quality horse haylage www.yeomanhaylage.uk Email: info@yeomanhaylage.co.uk | Tel: 01884 250389 Photo: One of the ryegrass fields at Yeoman Haylage

Barley Free – Low Starch Molasses Free – Low Sugar Fully balanced with vitamins and minerals

Low energy Est. DE 8.0 MJ/kg At rest or light work

High energy Est. DE 12.8 MJ/kg At hard work

Feeds to suit all workloads The Allen & Page Barley & Molasses Free Range can be viewed as a stepping stone range, from low energy feeds to high energy without containing barley, molasses, alfalfa or whole cereal grains. These feeds also contain all the essential vitamins and minerals your horse or pony needs for a balanced diet.

Depending on the horse’s workload, condition and health throughout the year, moving up or down the Barley & Molasses Free Range can help to achieve an ideal body score and adequate energy levels.

Contact our award-winning helpline for nutritional advice 01362 822 902 | helpline@allenandpage.co.uk www.allenandpage.com

The feeding steps of moving up and down energy requirements

E

very horse’s energy needs will vary according to the time of year as well as their age, temperament, workload and how easily they lose or gain weight. Joanna Palmer, nutritionist for Allen & Page Horse Feeds looks at how to provide your horse with just the right amount of energy to maintain an ideal body condition and successfully fuel their workload.

Horses obtain energy from three main dietary constituents; namely fibre, glucose (from starch) and oil. Fibre and oil are good sources of slow release energy; whereas cereals including barley, oats and maize contain high starch levels which provide fast release energy. It is well recognised that too much fast release energy can have a negative effect on some horses’ behaviour, causing them to become over-reactive, sharp and excitable.

Slow release energy is much less likely to have this effect on behaviour, so when looking to increase the energy content of your horse’s diet, avoid cereal based feeds and instead choose one which is high in oil and low in starch and sugar Allen & Page’s Barley & Molasses Free Range is designed to offer ‘stepping stone’ feed options to allow you to meet your horse’s changing energy needs. Fast Fibre has a low

digestible energy (DE) level of 8MJ/kg, which is ideal for horses at rest or in light work who may not need too much additional energy from a bucket feed. When a horse’s energy needs increase due to a higher workload or a tendency to lose weight, providing there are no veterinary issues that will affect feeding requirements (e.g. laminitis), you can simply step up to another feed in the range that is more nutrient dense and higher in energy.

Calm & Condition is a high energy bucket feed that utilises fibre and oil as the main energy sources and is ideal for meeting the slow release energy demands of poor doers and harder working horses. Balanced feeds like those in the Barley & Molasses Free Range will provide your horse with all the essential vitamins and minerals and quality protein required, providing you feed within the recommended amounts for your horse’s size and workload.

drier, conserved forage and some horses do not physically drink as much as they need to.

As important as it is to increase a horse’s energy intake as their workload increases, it is also vital to decrease energy intake as workload reduces. Not only will this help to prevent unwanted weight gain and exuberant behaviour it will also make the horse less susceptible to muscle disorders that can be exacerbated by over-feeding. Providing injury or illness do not necessitate a sudden drop in activity, always try to reduce workload gradually so that you can slowly lower the quantity and energy level of the horse’s feed to a maintenance level.

Make all changes to your horse’s diet gradually to allow the digestive system time to adapt to a new feed or a change in feed amount. Always weigh feeds to be sure you are feeding recommended amounts accurately and split daily feed amounts into as many smaller meals as possible to avoid overloading the digestive system.

Some fibrous ingredients are termed ‘super fibres’, this means they provide much higher levels of energy than forage. Sugar beet pulp is one such ‘super fibre’ that is used in varying amounts in many of the feeds in the Barley & Molasses Free Range as a source of slow release energy. Feeds that incorporate sugar beet will require soaking before feeding which is highly beneficial in increasing a horse’s water intake, particularly during the winter months when there is a greater reliance on

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

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It is energy work and the word Reiki means universal life energy.

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I am based in Scotland but that does not get in the way of me helping horses and riders all over the UK and overseas.

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I have many options to help both the horse and rider, including pre, during and post competition and can travel to you or the venue if preferred

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Tel: 01787 476400 112 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - EQUINE HEALTH

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Planning a diagnostic-led worm control programme

By Dr Corrine Austin (Austin Davis Biologics) and Prof Jacqui Matthews (Roslin Technologies)

A

ll horses are exposed to worms while grazing, but how we control these parasites is essential to horse health and performance. Most horse owners are aware of testing to determine whether their horse needs deworming. The tests comprise faecal worm egg counts (FEC) for redworm/roundworm detection and EquiSal Tapeworm saliva testing to detect tapeworm infections (standard FEC methods are unreliable for tapeworm). Until now encysted small redworm larvae have remained undetectable as FEC only determines the presence of egg laying adult worms.

This has meant that routine winter moxidectin treatment has become recommended practice to target potentially life-threatening burdens of small redworm encysted larvae. Excitingly a new small redworm blood test is being commercialised* which detects all stages of the small redworm life cycle, including the all-important encysted larval phase.

Together, these tests offer a complete worm control programme for common horse worms using diagnostic information, this is known as ‘diagnostic-led worm control’ (see Figure 1 for common worms in horses). Essentially, testing is used to tell you whether your horse needs deworming or not.

Figure 1. Common horse worms in the UK

“Treatment should only be administered to adult horses in response to positive serum or salivary antibody testing.” Figure 2 highlights that testing should be carried out every six months, preferably during spring and autumn. The saliva test provides a low, borderline or moderate/high diagnosis and deworming is recommended for horses diagnosed as borderline or moderate/high.

Redworm and roundworm programme FEC analysis should be carried out for measuring worm egg shedding throughout March to October (Figure 2) for detection of adult redworm (strongyles, including small redworm) and roundworm (ascarids). It is recommended that at least three FEC tests should be conducted to monitor for egg shedding in spring and summer periods. Horses with high egg shedding (for example, those excreting >200 eggs per gram of dung) should be treated with a dewormer, ideally effective against adult strongyles.

The new small redworm blood test can now be used to detect the presence of small redworm (including encysted larval stages) at a time when previously an annual treatment with moxidectin was recommended. The optimum testing period for these small redworm stages is September to December, but if this is missed, testing should still be considered until April the following year (Figure 2).

Before the small redworm blood test can be carried out, your veterinarian will assess each horse’s risk of small redworm infection. If signs of active infection are evident, such as previous and consistent high FEC results, or is in a high-risk environment (for example, high herd turnover, high exposure levels and poor paddock management), they may recommend treating with moxidectin without testing. To get your horse blood tested, contact your veterinary practice for advice. They can sign up for the testing service by contacting info@austindavis.co.uk.

Figure 2 Seasonal diagnostic-led worm control programme

Why should you use testing to determine whether you should use dewormers or not?

Gone are the days of routinely administering dewormers to every horse and hoping for the best. That strategy is out-dated as it has caused widespread drug resistance in worms - meaning that worms are able to survive the killing effects of dewormers and remain in place after treatment, which can lead to disease and in worst cases, death. To reduce the risk of further resistance occurring, we need to ensure that dewormers are only used when they are genuinely needed – when testing detects that horses have a worm burden requiring treatment. Regular testing also helps identify horses likely to be more susceptible to infection and thus at risk of disease in the future.

How to plan your horse’s worm control programme Figure 2 illustrates a seasonal diagnostic-led worm control programme that can be put in place for most adult horses in the UK.

Tapeworm programme Recently published UK Vet deworming guidelines states that blood or EquiSal Tapeworm saliva testing should be conducted to detect tapeworm burdens. The publication states, “The traditional approach, to routinely treat for tapeworms annually or six-monthly without diagnostic testing, is obsolete.”

Visit www.equisal.com or www.austindavis.co.uk for more information.

Note: Moxidectin is the only licenced drug to effectively kill encysted stages. Although 5-day fenbendazole treatment is licensed to kill encysted stages, there is widespread resistance to this product so without knowing the worm population sensitivity status to this type of dewormer, its use would not be recommended. *Commercialised by Austin Davis Biologics Ltd, providers of EquiSal Tapeworm testing, and developed by Prof. Jacqui Matthews’ group at Moredun Research Institute (funded by The Horse Trust).

EQUINE HEALTH - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 113

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114 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - EQUINE HEALTH

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PERFORMANCE MADE TO

PREVENT+PROTECT The Fabtek Solutions range includes Meditek Silver wound dressings and the Mudtek range of antibacterial equine leg care products.

Meditek Silver, cutting edge wound care technology The new generation antibacterial carbon and silver wound dressings promotes and maintains a healthy wound environment.

They are anti-odour, non medicated and non invasive and designed to enhance wound healing rates. The unique construction means that dressings can be cut to size and shape The Mudtek range is designed to promote and maintain a healthy environment of the horse’s leg and provide effective protection against the adverse effects of mud and rain.

They are designed because prevention is better than cure!

Antibacterial horse leg wear – stable boots, pastern wraps or bandage pads/leg wraps are easy to use and machine washable, handmade in the UK and available as bandage pads/leg wraps, pastern wraps and stable boots What makes these products stand out from the rest is that both ranges use exceptional quality branded activated carbon with silver cloth to ensure that the antibacterial qualities are of consistently high quality. It is a hi-tech carbon fabric with microscopic metallic silver particles. It’s been used in the human wound dressing market for many years and has a really powerful antibacterial action.

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These products were very effective in helping a variety of mud related conditions and wound types.

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Your Horse Country SPRING 2021

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BUILD IT – ARENAS

BENEATH THE SURFACE W

hether a private yard, busy livery yard or competition venue, we are using our arenas more than ever, expecting the surface to suit a range of different disciplines and be ready to use whatever the weather. The soggy, waterlogged and frozen arenas we have avoided all winter can soon be replaced with dry, deep and dusty surfaces come

spring. A surface that isn’t performing is at best annoying and disruptive, and at worst has the potential to cause injury.

Poor surfaces can damage soft tissue, joints, muscles and hooves, as well as respiratory and vascular systems. A quality riding surface is necessary to maintain a horse’s safety, longevity and performance.

CHOOSING A SURFACE

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Economical, suitable for all equestrian disciplines, rot-proof and highly shock absorbent, rubber is still a popular surface choice.

PROS  Long-lasting alternative to woodchip. Pretty much indestructible if properly maintained.  Low maintenance. Once a week with a flat back leveller will ensure an even rubber coverage; however, regular top-ups will be needed.  Weather resistant. Less likely than woodchip to dry out, become waterlogged or freeze.  Good for jumping on as horses are less likely to skid on landing and the “spring” of the rubber reduces the risk of concussion injuries.

CONS  Not the eco-friendly choice.

Traditional rubber surfaces can take more than 50 years to decompose. Good news for the longevity of the rubber in the arena;

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SAND (WAXED SILICA SAND WITH FIBRES)

RUBBER

however, rubber crumb migrates easily.  Regular topups needed. Once the rubber topping has dwindled, the sand beneath may freeze in winter and become deep in summer. Without the “spring” of the rubber, the sand will also start to “ride dead”, taking the energy out of the horse’s stride. Deep, dry sand will cause horses to travel through the surface rather than over it, increasing risk of injury.  Rubber needs a sand base and drainage system to make sure it doesn’t puddle during the wetter months.  Disposal. Bear in mind that as rubber is not biodegradable, it can be expensive to get rid of.

Sand combination such as sand with a rubber topping or waxed sand with fibres mixed through are popular choices. High-quality, waxed silica sand mixed with fibres is currently the surface of choice for most competition venues and professional yards.

PROS  Secure footing. By replicating the natural qualities of turf by mimicking the binding ability of top soil, sand and fibres minimise kickback and provide a secure footing, which allows horses to travel over the top of the surface rather than through it.  Problem-solving top-up. Sand with fibres can transform most types of poorly performing surfaces, rejuvenating loose surfaces which dry out easily and ride deep.

The BENEFITS of using our Carpet Gallop Surfacing: • Increased Stability • Cushioning to reduce stress on joints • Suitable for all weather down to -15C

120 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - BUILD IT

BUILD IT – ARENAS

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WOOD CHIP/WOOD FIBRE

A natural surface, wood fibre which has been produced especially for equestrian surfaces consists of smaller wood particles, whereas woodchip can be anything out of a timber yard’s chipper. Environmentally friendly and economical, wood surfaces are, however, the least durable and have the shortest lifespan of all the different types of surfaces currently available.

PROS  Eco-friendly if the wood is not treated with chemicals or colourings. However, avoid using recycled wood which may contain nails, wire or staples. Cheap offcuts will breakdown quickly and may block drainage, splinter or become slippery.  Versatile. Can be used indoors and outdoors, as well as for gallops, lunge pens and turnout paddocks.

CONS  Ground works are needed. Like traditional sand and rubber schools, a drainage system and membrane are required.  Slippery. Wood surfaces can become very slippery when wet, and deep when the wood begins to rot.  Lifespan is roughly two to six years depending on use.

 Versatile. Top-up or complete

surface, sand with fibres can be used for outdoor arenas and on gallops.

Ideal for indoor use as it’s dust-free, the natural light colouring also visually brightens enclosed arenas.  Minimal maintenance. Silica sand and fibres move less, meaning less maintenance is needed.

READER OFFER 5 Arena Mirrors professionally installed £3400 Each 8ft x 4ft x 6mm is safety backed to British Standard.

The safety backing ensures that no large shards of glass break away on impact.

Our arena mirrors are secured within a sealed galvanised framed unit, which prevents water ingress. The impact layer absorbs any shock, which also prevents breakages, flex or distortion.

CONS  Abrasive. Sand, as soon as it is laid,

will begin a natural process of grinding against itself. Through the action of the hooves, it will gradually become finer and the surface progressively deeper.

Adding fibres will prevent movement in the surface and slow down this process.  Not a complete solution. Sand without the fibres can freeze in winter and, if unwaxed, sand will also need to be watered in dry weather for optimum performance. 

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www.mirrorsfortraining.co.uk BUILD IT - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 121

GTECH ECO PRO NOW ON OFFER BUY ONE GET ONE FREE! This offer will finish as soon, so be quick!

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BUILD IT – ARENAS

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CARPET

Carpet surfaces are versatile and suitable for most disciplines, in all weather conditions.

PROS l Environmentally friendly. Most carpet surfaces are recycled from surplus and waste carpets, saving large amounts of carpet fibre ending up in landfill l All-weather. High-quality carpet surfaces will not freeze, rot or blow. l Versatile. Carpet can be used on both indoor and outdoor surfaces, added to most types of existing surface as a top-up or, if you are building your arena from scratch, laid directly on top of a simple, stone drainage layer, negating the need for additional materials and labour costs. l ‘Cushioning’ ride. Carpet surfaces offer a springy, forgiving feel, making them ideal for most disciplines. l Low maintenance. Surfaces made from carpet require very little

PROBLEM SOLVING AN EXISTING ARENA

CHOOSING A SURFACE PROVIDER Purchasing new or topping up an arena surface can be a high-cost investment – however, choosing the cheapest option could prove costly down the line.

• Years of experience. Look for a company which has been around for a while, and is likely to still be in business in the next few years, should you need them.

• Social media reviews are a great place to start when researching a surface company.

temporary. Surface top-ups are a quick and cost-effective solution.

A top-up of a sand and fibre surface works by rotating additional fibres into the existing surface, meaning more moisture will be retained, as well as vastly improving the top “riding” layer. A top-up of a multipurpose surface can be used to improve footing and retain moisture on the majority of existing surfaces. The carpet-based surface also works as an insulating layer preventing the surface from drying out in the summer and freezing in winter.

• Customer service. Give the office a call to discuss what they would recommend for your specific circumstances. Some will send out surface samples if requested.

• Try before you buy service. Most good manufacturers or suppliers will offer the option of going to see or even riding on one of their previously constructed arenas. This can’t always be expected so it is a question well worth asking. n Editorial content supplied by Equestrian Direct Ltd – visit www. equestriandirectltd.co.uk or call 01564 794020. n

The foam will quickly break down, meaning a surface top-up will be required just a few years after installation. l Can be costly. Surfaces made of carpet offer a wide range of benefits, but only if they are good quality and if you have enough surface to cover your arena. Beware of companies offering cheap carpet surfaces. If something looks too good to be true, it usually is. Poor quality carpet will break down quickly, and too sparse a covering will not give you the benefits listed above. Making an investment now will pay off in the long run.

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NEXT GENERATION A new generation of synthetic rubber crumb, containing fibre, and laid on top of silica sand, has removed some of the downsides of choosing a rubber surface. It is still rot-proof, shockabsorbent and all-weather – but with the addition of the fibres, which prevent the surface from drying out. l Adding fibres means moisture is

retained, reducing surface movement and required maintenance. l Clever membranes. New products, such as Equitex-Drain System Membrane, allow arenas to be constructed without the need to dig drainage ditches. Made from multiple layers which contain an internal band of drains, the system provides a cost-effective option for well-draining land.

International event rider Ben Way, pictured right, uses a synthetic rubber crumb and silica sand surface, on top of an Equitex-Drain System Membrane.

He says: “The membrane was put down over eight years ago – directly onto a mown grass area, with silica sand and synthetic rubber placed directly on top. We work at least 12 horses a day on it, including jumping, lunging and loose jumping. I am very pleased with the surface and how well the horses move and perform it.”

Photo: Simon Bratt/Shutterstock.com

Reconstructing an arena is a costly business, but there are other options available for improving what you already have.

A short-term solution to a deep, sandbased surface is to level and water the arena, replacing the moisture which has been lost due to the warmer weather.

However, the beneficial effects will only be

maintenance to remain in peak condition. A weekly harrow to ensure even coverage is often more than sufficient.

CONS l Lifespan. The lifespan of carpet surfaces can differ depending on their original use. While they may look similar, a surface recycled from industrial sources will last significantly longer than domestic carpet. Surfaces made from virgin material (surplus clean, industrial quality carpet) also offer UV protection, for even greater longevity. l Quality. Surfaces made from used, domestic carpets may be contaminated with unwanted extras such as carpet grippers and wire. Poor quality carpet can also become dusty when used in indoor schools, whereas larger pieces of carpet will not lay correctly, giving an uneven surface. l Foam. Beware of carpet surfaces which contain high quantities of foam.

The BENEFITS of using our Carpet Gallop Surfacing: • Increased Stability • Cushioning to reduce stress on joints • Suitable for all weather down to -15C BUILD IT - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 123

PROMOTION

GET YOUR HORSE FIT AND READY TO ENJOY SPRING

D

o you give your horse a winter holiday? Unless you take part in an equestrian sport or pastime that takes place over the winter, those cold and dark months are a natural time to allow horses some time off. A few months off with plenty of forage, a fluffy coat and time to relax are ideal after a busy year keeping you company on hacks, pub rides and days out at competitions!

If your horse has been in light work or totally turned away, it’s worth planning an equine fitness regime to ensure both of you are ready to make the most of good weather when it arrives.

You wouldn’t expect to go from sitting on the sofa and pottering

WALK THIS WAY If your horse has been roughed off over the winter and not in work at all, start with lots of walking for the first week or so. This can be under saddle, on a horse walker or on the long reins or lunge (though it’s not a good idea to lunge for more than 20-25 minutes and not every single day).

HAPPY HACKING After a week or two of walk work, it’s time to hit the trail and raise the tempo a little bit! Walk and trot work out hacking will help build fitness up quickly, but it’s worth noting that trotting on

around the shops every day to running a 5k race, so don’t expect the same from your horse. Whether your aims are to reach new competitive heights or fun rides on the beach, you risk injuring your horse if you don’t build up their fitness gradually. In addition, younger horses will benefit from a slow increase in work while they are growing, while many older horses stay sound for longer with gentle work rather than being left in a field all day.

So where to start in your spring fitness regime? Depending on your horse’s base level of fitness and your eventual aims, it can take eight to 12 weeks to get them to an appropriate fitness level.

Bearing that in mind, here are some ideas:

roads should be avoided to protect legs. Trotting along tracks and gallops are a good option if you have access to them, particularly if they have an incline (hill) to work up. Bring in steady canter work after a week of walk and trot.

ARENA WORK Riding a horse in the arena and asking for an outline will help them to become supple, and balanced. Grid work and other school exercises help to build athletic as well as cardiovascular fitness and, of course, they are essential if your end aim is show jumping, eventing or dressage!

www.topridesurfaces.co.uk 124 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine

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PROMOTION

‘

It’s worth planning an equine fitness regime – you wouldn’t expect to go from sitting on the sofa and pottering around the shops every day to running a 5k race, so don’t expect the same from your horse

GALLOPS AND INTERVAL TRAINING If you are aiming to compete in eventing (or any other equestrian sport which demands a high level of fitness), time spent on the gallops will be key. Interval training is where you aim to raise the horse’s heart rate with fast work but intersperse it with steadier canter or trot work to improve fitness more quickly.

THE TOPRIDE DIFFERENCE If you’re aiming for early events you’ll need to get cracking straight away, and that means training when the ground is still wet or even

frozen. An arena, particularly with floodlights, is worth its weight in gold for conditioning, and gallops are essential for fast work unless you’re lucky enough to be based near long turf bridleways. Many people imagine extensive groundworks and huge diggers if they think about having their own arena put in, but it doesn’t have to be that way. TopRide is a fibre all-weather surface developed by a Cotswold-based family business in conjunction with racehorse trainers. Perfect for both gallops and riding arenas, TopRide is stable, shock-absorbing and can be placed directly onto stone with no pre-surface treatment required!

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY If you’re interested in installing TopRide for a gallop or arena surface, did you know that you can visit the company and try it for yourself (with your horse) at their base near Badminton in Gloucestershire? Just drop the company a line to find out more and book your visit.  Go to www.topridesurfaces.co.uk/contact-us/

www.facebook.com/toprideequestriansurfaces Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 125

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126 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - BUILD IT

Manufactured in the UK, Equestrian Reflections world class training mirrors are designed as individual units or unique interlocking combinations.

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Products offer clarity of vision, strength, durability and style.

The service package includes a project manager, site survey and personalised calibration.

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www.soilshs.co.uk Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 129

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If you are looking for a West Country based company to construct a quality riding arena or horse stabling, then look no further!

• Post and rail fencing in either straight or half rounded finish • Any size sand school can be constructed to meet your requirements • All riding surfaces are available, Refurbishments to existing sand schools • All site work undertaken and completed by CJ Arenas in the Devon and Cornwall area

CJ Arenas will construct or build either block stables or wooden stables to meet your requirement (subject to correct planning permission)

Visit www.cjarenas.co.uk or call 07813 574160 for more information a no obligation quote Youror Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 131

SYSTEMS

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TACKLING THOSE ‘LITTLE’ SPRING TASKS W

ith a quieter period at the beginning of the year, we often find the ideal opportunity to tackle those essential jobs that need doing regularly at an equestrian establishment. Weathering, wear and tear and equestrian damage are constantly taking their toll on our facilities, no matter what size the premises. So now’s the time for those much-needed yard improvements, from padlocks and feed bowls to new constructions!

Let’s start with the “little” jobs that always need doing at least once a year: 1. Yard equipment – this can be anything from your mucking out tools and wheelbarrows (pushing a barrow of muck with a flat tyre is just no fun!) and your water and feed containers, to your yard vehicles, and anything needed to carry out your day-to-day horse care. Check that everything’s safe and functional.

2. Roofing – it’s time to shimmy up a ladder and check for any missing tiles or shingles, and to clear the gutters of leaves and debris. Make sure the downspouts align to collect and drain rainwater (which you can re-use, for example for hay-soaking, if you collect it in a suitable container.)

3. Windows – does any wood need treating, or is it just in need of a lick of paint? Is the glass safe? Are the metal bars and grilles strong and wellsecured? At the very least, a good window wash is probably in order!

4. Building hardware – does the tack room lock work OK? Is everything functioning well, rather than being held together with bailer twine? Do the doors all shut properly, and the hinges function smoothly? These small jobs are worth doing, to ensure longevity of equipment.

5. Timber – is your exposed wood in good health? Does it need treating at all, either for insect damage or weathering?

Are your gates and fence posts still strong and well-sited?

6. Security – is it time for a security overhaul? Thieves are still prolific, and horse tack is extremely valuable.

Remember that tack room hinges and fixings should not be accessible from the outside; mortice locks and padlocks should be of a high grade, while windows and roof-lights should be fitted with metal bars or grilles, to prevent access. CCTV and intruder alarms are highly recommended. Make an inventory of your equipment with clear descriptions and photographs 

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BUILD IT - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 133

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* pWooden fencing has a lot of charm but mesh wire fencing is widely used nowadays, left; grass mats can be very useful in well-used areas that become muddy, below inset PROMOTION

of anything valuable, and only share passwords and keys with trusted staff or livery members.

7. Muck heaps – does this need collecting, or could you improve the area with some brickwork, to keep things tidier and more discreet? If you use a ramp to a trailer or muck heap, is it safe? Maybe a grass mat (see below) would help the access area, and make it less treacherous!

8. Gateway and grass mats – if you have a muddy gateway or walkway, grass mats are a great way to save your fields (and your stuck wellies). They can provide a nice, anti-slip surface for well-used areas, and in a field will get covered by grass, but still leave the area with improved grip and drainage.

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FABULOUS FENCING Is it time for an upgrade? If you’re looking to update your fencing, it’s wise to invest

in the best you can afford. Think about the height – fencing should ideally be high enough to deter horses from jumping out, and strong enough to prevent them from leaning over it. The British Horse Society recommends that horse fencing should be approximately 1.08m to 1.38m (3ft6ins to 4ft6ins) high, with the lower rails placed at approximately 0.5m (1ft6ins) above ground level. l Timber post and rail fencing is often the preferred solution, but it can be expensive for large-scale facilities. There’s something so charming about a timber-lined field and beautiful, solid timber gate, however – it’s so quintessentially “horsey”! Vinyl post and rail is another strong type of fencing, and doesn’t become weather-damaged like timber, or rot and become stricken by insects. It’s very popular in America, but used less frequently in the UK. Similarly, plastic fencing or stud rail is an alternative u

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Cheval Liberte offers high-quality equestrian transport for one to four horses. Using innovative design, our range of forward-facing and herringbone trailers are manufactured to ensure safety and comfort for the travelling horses and effortless towing for the driver. Our iconic car-like Pullman2 suspension and endless ergonomic features ensure you and your horse arrive ready for optimal performance, every time! For more information, visit www.chevaltrailers.co.uk

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BUILD IT - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 135

Equestrian and Agricultural Construction Bespoke stables and steel-framed agricultural buildings

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136 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - BUILD IT

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modern material to consider – this is used in place of horizontal wooden rails.  Mesh wire fencing is widely used now, although of course it’s arguably not as strong as a fence made entirely from timber, but it requires very little maintenance. Choose high tensile mesh designed especially for horses and look out for a product that’s galvanised, for maximum longevity.  Many people use a combination of materials, e.g. part timber post and rail and part mesh – there’s also always the option of electrifying a top rail of wire fencing, for extra peace of mind.  Electric tape is always useful, to mark off a smaller area of a field, or for use with a natural hedge – now’s probably a good time to replace any plastic posts that have broken, and check your battery.  If your fencing isn’t in need of replacement, check it is all secure and strong, replace any broken gates, hinges or bolts, and treat any wood that’s become weathered.

CANNY CONSTRUCTION Is it time to invest in a new field shelter, or even go all-out with a new stable or yard construction? Let’s start with shelters – they’re increasingly popular now, as horse owners embrace year-round turnout.

Every equine field needs some form of field shelter, although sometimes natural hedges, overhanging trees or existing walls can provide this.

Mobile field shelters can be useful – they’re

 Shelters are increasingly popular as horse owners embrace year-round turnout

open-fronted constructions, often with metal skids, for relocation (although they don’t always have to have these if they can be dismantled easily). To keep within the spirit of the local authority’s planning guidelines, you could move the shelter around periodically – this is also good for the healthy upkeep of the field. Now’s a great time to do this on a nice, dry day with your farm vehicle! If you want to erect a permanent field shelter, check with your local authority for advice.

If you’ve moved to a new equestrian property and are planning to build stables,

again seek the advice of your local planning authority. Visit www.planningportal.co.uk for information. An experienced construction company can work with you on areas such as visual and environmental impacts, security aspects, vehicular access, stable design and ventilation, as well as logistics for water, electricity and drainage.

Watching a contented horse with its head over a beautiful stable door, in a safe, immaculate yard is surely one of life’s great pleasures!  Kathy Carter PROMOTION

would like, please just ask. And finally, why not give your stables a makeover with our fast and efficient re-roofing service offering a choice of roofing materials? Contact us on 01952 812201 or visit www.county-equestrian.co.uk

* *

County Equestrian Buildings is a family-run business established for nearly 20 years and based on the Staffordshire/ Shropshire border. Whatever your requirements, large or small, we will endeavour to supply you with a reliable and quality service. We offer Premier and Standard Range stables in addition to bespoke stabling, or maybe you’re looking for a field shelter, tractor shed, hay store or workshop. Each building is handmade to order so if there’s something in particular you

Typical smallholders can cater for five to 10 horses so need something to keep paddocks and areas of general use as clean as possible. The Predator Cub from Kylix UK is just the thing. Perfect for general ground maintenance such as leaves and other garden refuse, and wide turf tyres to look after the horse droppings in your paddock even during the wettest periods. Visit kylixuk.co.uk or call 01799 542137 for further information.

The best choice for you and your horse

Call us today about our kits and installation prices Recommended by professionals for lunge pens, turn outs, arenas or gallops

BUILD IT - Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 137

The Complete Construction Package Suppliers and erectors of high quality Farm & industrial Buildings including groundworks, erection and internal fitments.

Whatever your needs RT Farm & Industrial Buildings, with over 30 year of experience and in-depth knowledge of the farming and industrial industry, can accommodate you. Whether it be livestock, storage, workshop areas or equestrian buildings From simple to complex, we deliver a high level of service and construction.

If you have a problem, we will have the solution.

Telephone: 01548 550003 E-mail: rtfarmbuildings@gmail.com www.rtfarmbuildings.co.uk 138 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - BUILD IT

Europe’s Leading Manufacturer of Quality Equestrian Stabling

We Supply, Build & Install...

Internal Stables, Frontages & Partitions Stable Doors, Windows & Shutters Barn, Stable & Tack Room Doors American Barns External Timber Stables Static & Mobile Field Shelters Stables Mats, Cross Tie Posts, Hay Racks, Swivel Feeders & Automatic Drinkers t. 01490 736 323 e. enquiries@cheval-liberte.co.uk w. www.cheval-liberte.co.uk @ChevalLiberteUK

@ChevalLiberteUK

20mm Rubber Crumb The low maintenance all weather surface

Bespoke Quality Timber Framed Buildings Family run business and trading for over 15 years

20MM RUBBER CRUMB is the most economic and versatile surface available in the market.

RUBBER CRUMB does not freeze easily and is an excellent all weather surface that will not rot or blow away.

It is ideal for turnouts, horse arenas and gallops.

RUBBER CRUMB is environmentally friendly, extremely

cost effective and is virtually maintenance free.

It provides exceptional cushioning qualities to help reduce the risk of potential injury or lameness.

Visit our website for more information: We are based on the Staffordshire/Shropshire border and supply to a 150 mile radius

%T 1I0 UN O C S u quote

Bespoke stabling from standard to luxury, Mobile field shelters and stables, Tractor sheds, Hay barns, Garages, Workshops, Heavy duty sheds and storage buildings, Other buildings, Refurbishment including re-roofing service

D hen yo

e& Hors zine Yourry Maga t n Cou

w

Telephone: Mobile: Email: &

WE ONLY DELIVER IN SCOTLAND

email: info@angusrubbercrumb.co.uk

01952 812201 07855 262863 kevin@county-equestrian.co.uk steph@county-equestrian.co.uk

www.county-equestrian.co.uk

Specialists in Bespoke Equine Contruction and Fabrication

Arenas, Stables, Shelters, Buildings…

T: 01254 580524 M: 07733 227216 E: enquiries@yellowhillequine.co.uk

www.yellowhillequine.co.uk

140 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - BUILD IT

Equestrian buildings expertly crafted for you

“Complete project solutions by British craftsmen”

As well as our robust and beautifully designed ranges we also provide a design through to completion service.

From the initial design right through to completion we will deliver you a custom crafted and tailored building that totally fulfills your needs.

Whether you need one stable or a complex, the wide range of options within our Intro, Ideal and Elite ranges is sure to meet your requirements. When you purchase any of our fine range of quality buildings we want you to feel proud you have selected a Jon William Stables product.

We do this by creating equestrian products that have been built by craftsmen. We strive to build the best possible product we can, so we are confident you will be proud to own it. We firmly believe our business cornerstones drive us to perfect every Jon William Stables product.

Jon William Stables

quality equestrian buildings built by British craftsmen We want you to be proud of your purchase. We are proud to create it for you.

Call us now and select which product is perfect for you and your horse. & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 141 www.jonwilliamstables.co.uk Your | Horse 01380 850 965

 Fence Panels  Trellis  Gates  Posts  Decking  Garden Buildings  Garden Structures  Timber  Hardware

Quality fencing supplied and installed Over 60 years experience

OFF

materials

WITH THIS ADVERT

Of YHC Spring 2021 1 fer 2 ends 31 May 20

Country Style Supplies Ltd Tel: 01454 294414

Open: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm Sat 8am-2pm

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142 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine - BUILD IT

• Round Bales • Square Bales • Trailer Sides • 500L Water Bowser • Poo Picker

I would not have been “ able to get feed out this Winter

without it, I was taking the trailer places I struggled to walk.

Granville, Warwickshire

”

We are a small family run business who have been working alongside a large agricultural machinery manufacturer over the last year to produce a product that we believe could revolutionize the feeding of livestock across the world.

The BBT is built as a standard with three bale spike bushes giving users the option of a single spike (recommended for round bale users) or a twin spike (recommended for square bale users).

Have you got a trailer in mind that you can’t find anywhere?

With state of the art computer designing we can design and manufacture any trailer you require.

Making a mess of your paddocks because of the rain this winter?

We’ve got the trailer to solve your problems!

The BBT is an ATV multi tool trailer - which can be used to transport round and square bales and also act as a hydraulic tipping trailer.

Designed, developed and manufactured in the UK from tough and durable materials making it one of the strongest and robust ATV trailers on the market.

The BBT rides on flotation tyres to reduce ground compaction and disruption during the wetter months of the year - keeping your gateways and local roads cleaner than ever. The BBT is sold with removable trailer sides and a swinging tailgate which can easily be lifted and slotted into place giving you a versatile hydraulic tipping trailer. Fitted with a electronically controlled double acting hydraulic power pack and a 12V leisure battery operated with a simple ‘up / down’ remote.

All this makes moving bales and tipping trailers much easier than before.

Daventry, Northamptonshire

BUILT IN

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Find out more and see the trailers in action www.jbbt.co.uk or get in touch info@jbbtltd.co.uk - 07947 965215 Follow our story - Facebook: JBBT Ltd - Instagram: jbbt_ltd Paddock Cleaners supplied by Fresh Group Products www.fresh-group.com - 084537 31832

Refer a friend Introduce your family and friends to the lovely team at Rowe Equine.

If you recommend a friend/family member to Rowe Equine and they register with us, we will give you both a FREE call-out!

Book a visit at a time and day to suit you, and with your preferred vet if applicable.

There is no limit to the number of friends you can recommend, we will keep crediting you with free call-outs! *Terms and conditions apply

www.roweequine.com 01453 844337

So if you like what we do, please tell your friends and family!

144 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine

CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY HEALTHCARE SPRING PADDOCKS EQUINE LTD

SERVING THE WHOLE OF THE MIDLANDS AREA 24 HOUR AMBULATORY SERVICE

Your guide to the best horse and country products and services

EQUINE ONLY VETERINARY SURGEONS FULLY EQUIPPED CLINIC and ACCREDITED BEVA AI CENTRE CLOSE TO M40, J12

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Call 01926 612937 visit www.springpaddocksequine.co.uk EQUIPMENT, MACHINERY AND TOOLS

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Advertise your business to over 120,000 readers nationwide.

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 5ft wide super leveller towing/tractor mounted Prices starting at £1450  5ft wide towing models for fibre/sand Prices starting at £810  6ft wide tractor mounted models for fibre/sand Prices starting at £980  All prices exc. Delivery & VAT  Manufacturing a range of Arena Levellers for all surfaces  Specialising in robust designs ideal for large establishments, professional arenas and gallops  Models also available for Quads, compact tractors and garden tractors  All come with Side Grader Blade for pulling in track  Easy to operate  Fully adjustable tines for depth

MAYFIELD enginering

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Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 145

CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY FEED & BEDDING

CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE

SMALL BALE MEADOW HAY Delivered nationally by the single pallet – great for smallholders, limited storage and perfect to travel with!

YORKSHIRE

• • • • •

Round Pens Horse Walkers Stable Matting Internal Stables Stables & Field Shelters

We are a family business designing, manufacturing and installing stables, pens and exercisers for competition horses, livery yards and private horse owners.

We also supply and install a wide range of rubber matting products to both equestrian and commercial clients.

As all our products are manufactured in house we are able to offer bespoke designs and sizes cost effectively.

Please contact us for a no obligation quote or advice.

We also sell small bale haylage and horse bedding by the single pallet.

Call for a sample t: 01837 849222 /849200 m: 07871 609345 Colehay, The Croft, South Zeal, Devon EX20 2NX

www.colehay.co.uk e: info@colehay.co.uk

M:

07793 707837 W: www.rssyorkshire.co.uk E: info@rssyorkshire.co.uk

The Bungalow • Clarence House • Scorton • Richmond • North Yorkshire • DL10 6EW

EQUIPMENT, MACHINERY AND TOOLS

J. E.50Graham Ltd years of experience Selling quality new machinery for pastures and paddocks www.jegraham.co.uk t: 01379 384444 m: 07775 764540 e: info@jegraham.co.uk

SUFFOLK SWEEPER COLLECTOR • British designed and built • Low running & maintenance costs.

• 1.8m wide with large easy discharge hopper • PTO driven - low HP requirements • 3 point linkage with four independent rubber wheels • Rejuvinates grass, removing dead and loose materials, including horse manure

SUFFOLK PASTURE TOPPER • Safe - Fully guarded • Strong - British built design by J E Graham • Simple to use and adjust - no spanners required • Variety of sizes - 4’ 5’ and 6’ • Can be used in an off-set position for cutting near fences and hedges

"For every job there is a great tool you'll need"

J E Graham Limited Woodlands Farm, Brundish, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 8BP

146 | SPRING 2021 Your Horse & Country Magazine

Activestable The Future of Horse Keeping

Horse keeping solutions in a natural herd environment

Find out how to make Activestable your profitable equestrian enterprise

Email: info@jelka.co.uk Tel: 01304 273620

Jelka are exclusive UK partners with HIT Aktivstall - HIT (Hinrichs Innovation & Technology) are the founders of the Activestable concept.

Jelka are experts in horse husbandry

www.jelka.co.uk/activestable Your Horse & Country Magazine SPRING 2021 | 147

No painting, cracking, fading, warping or splintering the choice is easy!

With a 30 Year Warranty, Horserail has unmatched durability.

Unlike traditional wooden post and rail Horserail won’t fade, warp or become brittle in extreme weather conditions.

No painting, cracking or splintering to repair.

We all know that owning a horse is an investment in money, patience and dedication.

That is why Horserail pay special attention to all that goes into our products to provide a long lasting, attractive fence that requires little to no maintenance.

When selecting a horse fence, compare the cost of any rigid fence, with its added maintenance, repairs and possible vet bills from injuries, to the cost of horserail fence…

and the choice is easy!

Contact us now

For the highest standards of form, function, durability and most importantly safety

w: www.horserail.co.uk e: horserail@mmg.ie t: 0808 2344766 | m: 07785 986645

SAFE • STRONG • ELECTRIFIABLE