Equi-Ads August 2012

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August 2012 The UK’s No.1 Equine Health, Management and Training Magazine

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EquiFlex® – joint health care 496g @ £19.95

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August 2012 www.equiads.net 1

News 1, 43

Health Care 1, 43, 18 - 29

Training 2, 36

Events 4, 42, 47

HorseWorldLive Giveaway 4

Feeding 8 - 18

Fat in diets 9

Omega Oil 10 - 16

First Aid 22 - 24

NAF Giveaway 24

Physiotherapy 24

Worming 25

Rider Behaviour 30

Tack & Turnout 2, 6, 7, 30 - 31, 42, 46

Events 31

Schooling 32

Property 32

Field & Stable 32 - 33

Insurance 4, 35 - 39

Competing 38

Transport 38 - 40

Snuggy Hoods Giveaway 42

Horse Racing 45

Back Pain 48

Directory 48

Contents

Available on the 1st of the month. Equi-Ads is published monthly by:

Equi-Ads LimitedOffice 1, Tay View Estate, Friarton Road, Perth PH2 8DG. To advertise, please call

01738 567700 Fax: 01738 567776

www.equiads.netPlease send editorial to:Office 1, Tay View Estate, Friarton Road, Perth PH2 8DGFax: 01738 567776 Email: [email protected]

Horse charity puts the focus on dogs

An anxious horse can be a danger to their rider as well as themselves, but chemical sedatives are not always the answer.

“Some horses display their highly strung temperament through enhanced muscle tension whilst others find it hard to keep still or will easily scare and even bolt. Finding the right solution takes time and persistence but some traditionally used herbs and nutrients can help,” explains John Foster, BVSc CertVOphthal MRCVS. VetVits’ new EquiCalm contains a synergistic blend of natural ingredients which has been formulated to soothe and calm equine stress without affecting your horse’s performance. EquiCalm includes triple source magnesium power - a unique blend of three distinct

sources of magnesium to provide optimum bioavailability which is rapidly absorbed to help lower muscle tension and maintain a healthy nervous system. This unique blend also includes the much acclaimed B vitamins to support emotional and mental wellbeing along with traditional remedies chamomile and lemon balm known for their relaxing properties. £16.95 for 31 servings.

Available exclusively from www.vetvits.co.uk

The British Horse Society has responded to the Defra consultation on a package of measures to promote more responsible dog ownership and to reduce dog attacks.

Dog attacks on horses, or even when a dog chases a horse but does not attack, can have serious emotional, physical and financial consequences for horses, owners and riders. They can also deprive other equestrians of exercise and access to the countryside by deterring them from using routes.

Since the launch of its dedicated accident recording website, www.horseaccidents.org in November 2010, The British Horse Society has received 316 reports of dog attacks on horses. Consequently the UK’s foremost equestrian charity has made the following recommendations:

· The British Horse Society calls for the microchipping of all dogs, logged on a single

database. This would enable the owners of dogs to be identified so that prosecutions can be brought against their owners when a dog attacks a horse or rider.

· The Society believes that the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 should be extended to cover all places, including private property, where a dog is permitted to be. In some instances it is not possible to bring a prosecution where a dog has attacked a horse and rider because that place does not fall within the current definition of a public place as set out within the Act.

· The BHS believes that the opportunity should be taken to create an offence for dog attacks on horses and other animals. A horse that is chased onto a public highway can result in tragic consequences not just for the horse but the driver and passengers of the vehicle that hits it.

Keep in Touch!Don’t miss out - keep up to date with all the latest news and events by following us on Facebook.

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perception is unique to each individual on the planet and this includes our horses. perception is dependent on your point of view or point of reference or the information you have available to you at the time.

So for example, you might be looking at a painting on a wall and be admiring it, however, if someone is standing in the doorway and cannot see the wall or the painting you will appear to be staring at nothing or smiling to yourself. Your perception is that you see a painting, their perception is that you are perhaps going mad!

Sometimes humans will stick to their already established perceptions even when confronted by a whole host of information and knowledge that tells them otherwise. This is called denial and is a basic human resistance to change. Change is frightening for most people, it threatens their comfort zone, it makes them feel unsafe as they don’t know what this change might bring about.

A horse too feels this fear or anxiety about change. They like to know what the rules are and what is expected of them and anything different in their lives can be quite alarming and they have to take time to analyse the situation and alter their perceptions accordingly. In a wild situation a horse can be confronted by change on a daily basis, be it the weather or their environment. They are well adapted to be able to cope with change as long as there is a core of stability in their lives that does not change and can give them a good reference point from which to work. In a wild herd it would be their family and although their family might change from time to time, as long as it is consistent for periods of time it allows the horse to adapt to other changes in their lives.

So how does this apply to our domesticated horses. Well, if they are lucky they will live in a pretty consistent environment with a group of friends that they have known for years. The more consistent this group is the more able the horse is to deal with changes in their lives. In competition for example a showjumper has to cope with different fences and courses that change all the time. They have to be brave enough to put their precious legs in danger by jumping big frightening obstacles. Quite often the only consistent factor

the horse has to hold on to that can help him cope with these changes is the rider. As long as the rider is consistent in how they behave and what they expect of the horse then the horse can use this as a reference point to stabilise their world and deal with the changes put in front of them.Real problems occur with the horse when they are denied any consistency either in their living environment or with their owner/rider. It is vital for us to be consistent for our horses and behave in a way that they expect to give them a base reference. Now, this might shock you as readers, but, even if the behaviour of the human is harsh (compared to what most of us would feel to be fair) as long as the human is consistently harsh, even though the horse might not like it or be frightened by it, they will accept it and it will give them a consistent base to work from.

Of course we all would rather be fair and kind rather than harsh but it is better to be consistently one way rather than chop and change from one mood or behaviour to the next without any warning. What our horses really cannot cope with is a human that is unpredictable, this might take away the only thing that he is using to deal with life. This can make the horse frightened, anxious, worrisome and unpredictable too. The horse might be lucky and have a good group of equine friends that he can rely on and if this is the case then he might become a horse who shuts himself off from his unpredictable human. Our perception of a horse that is doing this is that he doesn’t “love” us or he doesn’t care or is being a “pig” etc. Now, some people don’t care if the horse becomes indifferent towards them as long as they do the job when asked and this is fine (for the human but not necessarily the horse). Problems arise when the horse decides to show his or her lack of confidence in the owner by behaviour that is designed to either challenge the rider or drive them away.

Now let’s look at the human perception. Most people feel they are far more intelligent than their horses (lets not make any comments about that!). Humans are very adaptable creatures who tend to be quite able to change to their environments. It is emotional changes that we often find hard to deal with and because of the complex society we live in we find that more often than not we have to protect ourselves in layers of complex

behaviour that often mask our true feelings. For example, if someone pushes in front of you with a shopping trolley in a supermarket you quite often want to scream at them for being so stupid but what you actually do is smile politely and say “excuse me” or even more commonly “Sorry, my fault, excuse me please”. This avoids any unnecessary violence but you often walk away seething inside that you have been polite. The outer you is smiling serenely the inner you is furious.

Horses are very good about reading the inner you, or the real energy inside. They tend not to notice or care about the external front you are putting forward, that is why they know you are angry with them for being difficult to catch even though you are smiling through gritted teeth!

What can be really difficult for a lot of horses is to be confronted by someone who acts a certain way outside but the energy they are giving off is very different. They will almost always go with what the energy is saying, not what the person is doing at the time. Some people will call this the intent. Now, humans often expect the horse to make all the changes and adaptations to suit us and this is fine until we keep changing the goal posts. A horse just simply cannot cope with that sort of confusion and will be frightened, angry or reject the person completely. What is even more worrying is when the horse tries to show the human as obviously as possible what they like and don’t like and the human still does not get it. This might be a pony who repeatedly throws a child off but will let everyone else ride them. The pony is clearly saying the problem lies with the child. Horses are totally honest and will

show who they really are quite readily. They need to be this way to survive in horse society. So if you are faced with a horse that is trying to show you that there is something wrong with your behaviour it is really up to the person to make the changes not the horse.

This can be a very difficult thing to do for a lot of people because they may need to take a really close look at themselves and be honest about what is going on. This is where the human resistance to change comes in. For some people admitting that there is a problem with their behaviour or energy is really difficult. More often than not the “front” that they have been putting up is a habit and habits are hard to lose. The horse is genuinely wanting to help the person have an energy that is consistent and that they can relate to because this in turn will help them deal with life on a day to day basis. The human needs to look at what the horse is telling them when they are feeling a particular mood. If the horse is quiet, relaxed, willing to work and nice to ride at that moment then the human needs to think clearly how they are feeling, what they are thinking and how they are “being” when the horse is offering the behaviour they want. Likewise, when the horse is naughty, unpredictable and horrible then the human needs to look at themselves and figure out what is different in the way they are behaving or feeling. This is the beginnings of making a change that will help the relation ship with the horse. Remember though that the horse is looking at what is inside, so just pretending to be “the happy person” whilst inside your are in a turmoil or being negative just won’t work with the horse. They know very well what is and what isn’t so you need to be honest with yourself.

Aivly Country Store is expanding its range of own brand dog food, specifically for its canine customers.

Now formulated for puppy, adult, veteran and working dogs to those on light diets, the premium brand dry dog food, offers top quality and value.

Quantities vary from 2.5kg handy packs to 12kg bags for pet owners while the Patch Working Dog diet comes in 15kg sacks.

Adult dogs even have a choice of flavours – chicken and rice; turkey and rice; and salmon and potato.

Also stocking dog care products, bedding, toys, coats and more, Aivly Country Store offers a one stop shop for your dog alongside its acclaimed country products, gifts, tack, clothing and animal bedding and feeds.

Visit Aivly Country Store, Ringwood, BH24 3EA, www.aivly.com or call 01425 472341.

Tack & Turnout • Training

Equido – What Is And What Isn’t...Morag Higgins WESI MRPCH BHSAI HNCES

Aivly Country Store goes Canine


Feeding • Horsebox • Tack & Turnout


imagine if you could learn to read your horse more effectively... Would you like to discover a scientific approach to understanding equine behaviour, and therefore strengthening your partnership and increasing your success in the training of your horses?

Intelligent Horsemanship offer courses to build on your foundation of knowledge, with an emphasis on equine psychology and behavioural science. You can learn both practical handling and ridden skills, and gain a deeper insight into the use of body language, communication and logical problem solving techniques.

There are a variety of courses from the Five Day Foundation course (which includes a thorough grounding in the technique of Join Up - so useful in creating a bond between owner and horse), to more specialist subjects such as handling young stock or loading the less easy horse.

Intelligent Horsemanship has also established a network of highly trained ‘Recommended Associates’ both around the UK and abroad, who specialise in helping horse owners with an exhaustive array of ridden and in-hand problems. Based on Intelligent Horsemanship’s goal to be affordable, accessible and achievable, they are specialists in training not only horses, but their owners too! Clients can learn how to deal with everyday problems such as shoeing, loading, catching, clipping and napping, or simply get help with backing a young horse.

Kelly Marks founded Intelligent Horsemanship to provide horse owners with practical help at exceptional value. She was inspired by her own mentor, Monty Roberts, the originator of the art of ‘Join Up’, and advocate of non-violent training methods.

The world famous Californian horseman himself is back in the UK this autumn for

his Jubilee 2012 tour. You can grab this opportunity to see Monty Roberts live in action, working with a selection of local problem horses in demonstrations across the country.

Now is your chance to find out for yourself what so many other riders and owners have found so deeply moving about Monty’s non-violent methods, and learn the secrets of his extraordinary horsemanship!

Sat 13th oct Hadlow College, Tonbridge, KentWed 17th octEaston College, Norwich, NorfolkFri 19th octBishop Burton College, Beverley, HullSun 21st octMyerscough College, Preston, LancsTues 23rd octGreenlands EC, Carlisle, CumbriaThurs 25th octIngliston Country Club, Bishopton, RenfrewshireSat 27th octReaseheath College, Nantwich, CheshireWed 31st octThe Grange EC, Okehampton, DevonFri 2nd novHartpury College, GloucesterMon 5th novCrofton Manor, Fareham, Hants

Monty Roberts and Kelly Marks have helped countless leisure and professional riders alike, in various disciplines from Dressage, Eventing and Show Jumping to Racing. Why not join them and see how they can help YOU improve your performance and relationship with your horse, both in and out of the saddle?

For more information on courses, horse help and demonstration tickets go to www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk or call 01488 71300. Book noW to take advantage of our great ‘Early Bird’ ticket prices (if purchased before 30th September 2012)!

Learn the Secrets of Extraordinary Horsemanship!Find out how Intelligent Horsemanship could benefit you

Events • Giveaway • Insurance

HorseWorldLive is the ultimate three-day equestrian extravaganza held at London’s ExCel, 16-18 November! The lucky readers of Equi-Ads have the chance to win pairs of tickets to the show!

The show offers some of the biggest and best celebrities and legends of equestrianism! Including William Fox Pitt, Linda Parelli, Emile Faurie, the Team GB vaulting squad, Geoff Lucket, Sharon Hunt and David Deptford…to name just a few! A range of exceptional masterclasses, demonstrations and performances will be showcased in the World Arena. All discplines are catered for including, dressage, showjumping, eventing, showing, western, vaulting and natural horsemanship!

In addition to the star-studded line up, visitors can look forward to an unrivalled shopping experience in the vast HorseWorldLive Retail Village. Boasting some of the top names in

equestrianism, the Retail Village is the ultimate destination for every horse and rider’s needs!

To be in with a chance of winning tickets for the Friday or Sunday of the show, answer the following question:

David Deptford belongs to which

equestrian discipline?

Send your entry with your answer to HorseWorldLive Giveaway, Equi-Ads Ltd, Office 1, Tayview Estate, Friarton Road, Perth, PH2 8DG alternativly email your answer alongwith your name address and contact number to [email protected] - Entries close August 31st 2012

One winner will receive a pair of morning or afternoon seated performance tickets and two runners up will receive a pair of entry tickets to the show.

Win Tickets to HorseWorldLive


Linda ParelliLinda Parelli is renowned for her talents in natural horsemanship. Linda will give visitors an insight into her techniques for strengthening the bond between horse and rider.

www.horseworldlive.comor visit

The most exciting new equestrian show this year!

Dressage vs. Western

Shopping!

And lots lots more, check the website for full show line-up...

Express Eventing

Masters of each discipline – Emile Faurie, Geoff Luckett, Sharon Hunt will perform ‘Anything you can do, I can do better.’ They will each be tested with a new horse…and a new discipline!

Renowned western stunt rider, David Deptford and international dressage rider Paul Hayler will perform an impressive display of versatility, speed and athleticism in a ‘Pas De Dosey Doe’. A never seen before dressage and western hoedown!

A whole world of equestrian shopping under one roof! The Shopping Village boasts a vast array of the top brands in equestrian retail for all your clothing and equipment!

The Mini Marvels® will entertain with their own line-dancing routine while The Southern Miniatures will compete in the Supreme Grand Final…who will be crowned Supreme of the Supreme Champion at HorseWorldLive?

Saturday will be dedicated to the exciting, thrill-a-minute, compact version of eventing. Competitors include Matthew Wright, Sam Griffiths and Harry Meade... you’ll be on the edge of your seat!

The Dream Team

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William & Pippa Funnell The sport’s super-couple will entertain with their unique performance of ‘The Funnell Factor’ – an exciting combination of showjumping and eventing performed at the highest level.

Mediasponsors:

Experiencewww.equicirque.com

HWL_FullPage_AD.indd 2 12/07/2012 12:08


A HoST of EquestrianClearance.com BE80(T) qualifiers around the country have seen excellent support for the series which continues to prove hugely popular.

At Pontispool in Somerset, Harriet George and Treasla Bannana captured the EquestrianClearance.com BE80(T) section with a final score of 26 penalties to head the section after a great all round performance.

Twenty-year-old, Elphin Gold and Yvonne Mackay ran out the winners at Scotsburn in Ross Shire after a double clear in the show jumping and cross-country, followed their 34 dressage score.

Yvonne has owned Finnie, as he is known at home, for 11 years and as he is still fit and well they enjoy competing at BE80(T) level. Said Yvonne: “Finnie is still in great form, really enjoying going eventing and while he tells me it is fun, we are going to keep competing.”

At Berriewood in Shropshire the two EquestrianClearance.com sections went to Fiona Youde with Tettacotta Red and Phoebe Woodbine with Carnsdale Sunnyside after excellent results in all three phases.

Shelford Manor in Nottinghamshire also saw two sections running with the first falling to Anna Nichols and chance ride Bazaars Dante. Sixteen-year-old Anna stepped in to take the ride after her friend was injured riding another horse. Said Anna: “I had a flatwork lesson on the Friday evening and then went to Shelford

Manor and won, it was brilliant.” Anna has been busy with GCSE exams and is looking forward to a summer riding and competing.

The second section went to Lisa Egan and Conrad VI, her ride of just four weeks, and a seven-year-old she keeps at livery at Wittering Grange, near Peterborough. Said Lisa who works for equestrian products distributor, Westgate EFI: “We have gelled really quickly and although he is seven, Conrad hasn’t done much at all so I couldn’t have been more pleased.”

At Ascott under Wychwood, Sarah Pinfield with Rossaveel Boy and Dr Maggie Wilson with Isn’t it Nice were both on top form to win the EquestrianClearance.com BE80(T) sections. Sarah and the 15hh, Rossaveel Boy finished on their dressage score of 31, while double clears in the show jumping and cross-country also saw Maggie and the 11-year-old Isn’t It Nice also head to the winner’s podium on just their dressage score.

To Derbyshire and Draycott House, and it was the turn of Maddie Beckett and Rebecca Maeers to take the honours.Maddie and her 14.2hh gelding, Mocha started the day on an excellent dressage score of 24 penalties in the 39-strong section, while Rebecca and Terry’s All Gold, headed the latest qualifier on a score of 31 penalties in another full section with 38 starting out in the EquestrianClearance.com sponsored series.

EquestrianClearance.com BE80(T) Qualifers well supported


Did you know the gut is every body’s “engine” – human and animal? So when something changes within the gut (i.e. spring or autumn grass, cold water, sugars, stress, molasses licks), it can affect seemingly unconnected body parts, e.g. feet, skin, behaviour, etc.

Research started to show this almost a decade ago in 1994, but back then, the role of ‘pure’ probiotics were still misunderstood. In 2012 ‘pure’ pre and probiotic supplements are known to play key roles. Ruggles and Stopitall became passionate about probiotics back in 1995, having researched them extensively and having seen the benefits in Thoroughbred broodmares, endangered birds and even children with eczema!

• Point 1. A tidal wave can occur within the gut and body simply by an Increase in fructans, sugars and proteins in grass. Examples; changing your horse’s grazing, seasonal weather/grass changes, forage or feed, stress, after illness…. • Point 2. The effects of live yeast (saccharomyces cerevisiae) on the equine gut has been well researched and with an understanding of lactic acid production and connections to feet issues, live yeast (probiotics) can be confidently considered for their positive effects on digestive balance, i.e. those prone to laminitis. ‘Pure’ probiotics can help bodies better ride out the peaks and troughs during stressful situations. (Moore B.E, Newman K.E, 1994. Influence of feeding yeast culture)• Point 3. As around 70% of the immune system’s responses rely on a healthy gut,

helping maintain the correct balance of friendly bacteria helps the immune system cope during a crisis. • Point 4. Dead yeasts and probiotics mixed with cereals cannot be compared to a ‘pure’ live probiotic supplement.• Point 5. Without live yeast/probiotics, a high starch diet (e.g. cereals) could lead to four times more lactic acid than a high fibre diet. (Medina B, Girard I.D, Jacotot E, Julliand V, 2002.)

So for those prone to laminitis, supporting the body internally and non-invasively is like giving it a 24/7 “walking stick” on which it can lean if it trips.

Suggestion. Ruggles and Stopitall recommend Protexin Gut Balancer - a ‘pure’ probiotic powder – basically just dried grass with fully legal pre and probiotics It is tasty, costs pennies per day and fed in small yet intensive servings. For viable benefits, it must be supplemented at quantities greater than those found within a bag of pre-mixed feed.

Natural Protection. Strong engines are less likely to trip up – they can better self-defend. With Protexin in the body, should an internal crisis loom, the walking stick is ready 24/7.

ONLINE SPECIAL OFFERS: 600g tub (lasts two to four months) - RRP £23.95 – but see online for exclusive discounts.

For further information or to purchase online visit www.karenruggles.co.uk or call 01823 259952.

in line with GWF nutrition’s on-going development programme, X-Lam Aid for Horses is the next product in their range to benefit from a soya free – non GM formulation and the addition of beneficial omega 3 to further support optimum health, fertility and performance. Developed with and approved by specialist equine veterinary practices, X-Lam Aid is a complementary feed for horses and ponies, providing a comprehensive nutritional support for equines susceptible to, or recovering from, the effects of laminitis.

Proven since 2009, the company claims that X-Lam Aid is one of the most technically advanced products available today and boasts an impressive customer base. The fact that the updated product is being marketed at no extra cost to the consumer is sure to help sales further. X-Lam Aid is fed from 100 to 150 gms/Day and a 10.5kg bucket has an RRP of £42.00. For more information, stockist advice or to order, please visit: www.gwfnutrition.com or call GWF nutrition direct on 01225 708482.

Laminitis - Lateral thinking offers year- round support…Naturally

X-Lam Aid for Horses gets the Non-GM/Omega 3 treatment.


During the last ten years or so, the shift of energy sources for horses has turned from starch to oil. Unlike starch, oil does not have the potential to over excite your horse.

The use of oil relieves the risk of starch overloading into the hindgut and the disturbance of the balance of the hindgut bacteria flora. This reduces the risk of undigested starch causing hindgut acidosis and conditions like colic and ulcers. This is why rations made of high oil/fat and high fibre, have become popular in the last decade.

Oils are made up of component parts called fatty acids and like the component parts of proteins (amino acids), some are non-essential (they can be manufactured by the horse) while others are essential (they have to be supplied by the diet). Oils are also

described as saturated and unsaturated and classified as Omega 6, Omega 3 and Omega 9. The balance of these oils is crucial for the health, productivity and performance of your horse.

One of the best sources of vegetable based Omega 3 is hemp oil. The oils that are most commonly used in horse feeds are maize, soya and sunflower oils, which are generally high in Omega 6 fatty acids and low in Omega 3’s. It is now known that an in-balance of too much Omega 6 to Omega 3 can lead to inflammation in tissues of the body and can be described as pro-inflammatory. Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids utilise the same enzyme and transport systems to produce bio-chemicals in the body, hence the relationship and effect of the balance. Too much Omega 6 is pro-inflammatory

while a higher level of Omega 3’s is anti-inflammatory.

There have been discussions regarding the ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3; the recommendations have been suggested to be 4:1. Omega 3 fatty acids in the diet offer advantages for breeding, young stock and performance animals.

For breeding - It is a crucial, essential oil for the lipid membranes of sperm, ovum and endometrium. Studies on the sperm of stallions showed survival of frozen and later thawed sperm was significantly higher than animals not receiving Omega 3 in their diets. Mares supplemented with Omega 3 essential oils showed higher levels of these oils in their plasma.

In youngsters - Omega 3 fatty acids are found in high concentrations in brain

tissues and are essential for growth and development for intelligence and behaviour.

For performance horses – muscle inflammation can cause tying up and a reluctance to compete.Omega 3 contribution to the diet will help prevent this. These essential fats are also very good for skin integrity (used in cosmetics) and thus will enhance ‘Showing’ characteristics.

Balancing feed is not just about vitamins & minerals and digestion. Correct nutrition can have a huge impact on health, fertility and development.

For more information or to order, please visit: www.gwfnutrition.com or call GWF nutrition direct on 01225 708482.

yoUnG show jumper Emily Ward has hit top form recently with her talented pony King Mac.

Now seven-years-old, the chestnut gelding, arrived at Emily’s yard on the Wirral two years ago and they have quickly gone from strength to strength with King Mac winning some major awards along the way.

Always looking fit and well, King Mac is fed on a TopSpec feeding regime thanks to support from the North Yorkshire-based company, well known for their range of feed balancers and other innovative horse feeds.

Says Kelly Ward: “King Mac is a great pony and always tries his best when in the ring. Emily has formed a wonderful partnership with him and for his age he really is doing well.

“He is always in excellent condition thanks to his diet of TopSpec Comprehensive Feed Balancer, Cool Condition Cubes and TopChop Alfalfa.

“A show jumping pony needs to be fit but also focussed to do the job. Atmosphere in a ring at some of the major shows can be quite electric but King Mac always stays calm and relaxed.”

Recent wins for Emily and King Mac include winning the Pony Grand Prix at Bolesworth Castle, as well as the European Trial.

They have also qualified for the JA final at the Horse of the Year Show after winning the qualifier at the Arena UK Premier Show.

For further information please contact the Multiple Award-Winning Helpline on 01845 565030 or visit www.topspec.com

62 • June 2009 • Equi-Ads

Classified • Directory

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EQUJun09-E.qxd 21/5/09 12:21 Page 62

King Mac and Emily Ward winning the Pony Grand Prix at Bolesworth Castle.

Chestnut Horse Feeds provide horse owners with a fresh approach to feeding, utilising the finest quality natural ingredients and raw materials to produce a range of complete horse feeds formulated to suit many different horses.

Chestnut Horse Feeds are the only company in the UK market to sell their horse feed in the unique Bulk Bin Feeding System. This storage method is becoming more and more popular amongst customers due to its ease of use and the cost effective benefits of buying in bulk. The company is now proud to celebrate this growth by marking the production of their 1000th Bulk Bin. All Chestnut Horse Feeds are available for delivery in the

Bulk Bin Feeding System. This offers horse owners and yard managers a simple storage method, for no extra cost, enabling feed to stay fresh and contaminant free, as well as reducing levels of environmentally damaging packaging.

Chestnut Horse Feeds deliver the Bulk Bin directly to a customer’s yard full of their chosen feed and once empty they simply replace it with a new one. Not only does this save trips to and from the feed merchant, but it makes keeping feed safe and away from rodents a simple task. On return to the manufacturing plant, every Bulk Bin is cleaned and sanitised in preparation for the next order.

Chestnut Horse Feeds are very proud to unveil their 1000th Bulk Bin to mark a huge milestone for the company. In celebration of this momentous occasion, Chestnut Horse Feeds have introduced an exclusive one-off Golden Bulk Bin, which will go in to circulation from July 2012.

The first customer to see the eye-catching design was none other than legendary show jumper, and Chestnut Horse Feeds sponsored rider, Geoff Billington who quickly put the Bulk Bin to good use by jumping it.

The Chestnut Horse Feeds Bulk Bin Feeding System is available in two sizes and each bin is supplied with wheels to make it easily portable on the yard. The

lockable Bulk Bins can be stored outside making them efficient where space is tight.

All products in the Chestnut Horse Feeds range are free from chemically processed ingredients, synthetic materials, animal by-products and fishmeal. Chestnut Horse Feeds is part of the BETA NOPS scheme and products can only be ordered direct, keeping costs to a minimum and ensuring excellent customer service.

For more information about the entire Chestnut Horse Feeds range visit: www.chestnuthorsefeeds.co.uk or tel: 01455 558 808 to speak to a member of the team.

Omega 3’s – essential oils for horses!

A golden milestone for Chestnut Horse Feeds

King Mac Rises To The Challenge

Feed


Feeding • Oil

Dr Derek Cuddeford, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh

Fat is a generic term that encompasses both fats and oils. The difference between these two is their physical form at room temperature; fat which is liquid at room temperature is called oil. Both are insoluble in water and are composed of fatty acids; over 300 have been isolated from plant tissue alone. The bulk of plant fat is in fact unsaturated and plant oils are preferred for cooking/eating because it is considered that they are healthier for us than saturated animal fats. Not surprisingly one does not hear of horses having problems with cholesterol or heart attacks!

Animal fat is largely saturated and is thus inert whereas vegetable oil which contains a lot of unsaturated fat can easily become oxidised and rancid. This is because unsaturated fats contain double bonds between carbon atoms (C=C as opposed to C-C in saturated fat) that are unstable. Oxidation of these double bonds leads to the formation of hydroperoxides that breakdown further to give free radicals which will attack other C=C bonds more readily than free oxygen itself. Thus, more free radicals are produced and the speed of oxidation of the unsaturated fats increases exponentially. This process is helped by UV light (sunlight) and the presence of certain metal ions, such as copper. This whole procedure is undesirable and can create toxins which damage the animal’s tissues. Thus, antioxidants are an important component of a horses’ diet to protect the largely unsaturated fats that are supplied by plant material. These antioxidants may be naturally occurring, such as carotene in grass or, may be added to the diet; for example vitamins C or E. Of course, these latter two are also present in fresh grass so a horse on a natural diet of grass will be well protected from the risks of oxidation and the formation

of free radicals. Not for nothing do we frequently refer to grass as “Dr Green”!

The most abundant plant fatty acid is α-linolenic acid which is one of the unsaturated essential fatty acids (a polyunsaturated fat). The most common monounsaturated fatty acid is oleic acid (only one double bond) and palmitic acid is the most frequently found saturated fat. Saturated fats confer physical hardness and chemical stability whereas in contrast, unsaturated fats confer physical softness (oils) and chemical reactivity.

A 500kg horse eating 50kg fresh grass daily (about 10 kg dry materials) will consume around half a kg of fat daily. So it must be appreciated that fat is a normal component of a horses’ diet although it might be hard to visualise this when a horse eats grass! One of the most important characteristics of fat generally is that it contains about 2.5x the energy content of starch so obviously, the fat content of the diet will have an impact on the overall dietary energy density. Fat can be used in diets to maintain energy intake whilst reducing the total quantity of diet fed. However, it is not often that total food intake is a limiting factor to energy supply except perhaps in very hot climates, where forage is of extremely poor quality or, when animal’s “lose” their appetite under stressful conditions (ill-health, extreme physical endeavour, etc). In most cases of horse-keeping, we try to maintain ad libitum intakes of food to avoid the development of abnormal behaviours.

Fat intakes on normal diets can be very variable depending on the exact dietary ingredients that are used. Concentrate feeds contain between 3 and 9% fat with a mean value of about 5%. Thus if we assume a fixed level of feeding at 4kg/day these feeds would supply between 120 and 360g of fat with a mean of about 200g. If the 4kg of concentrate is accompanied by about 10kg hay this would supply another 120g fat so total intakes would range between 240 and 480g fat which is still less than the quantity of fat probably consumed at grass. A racehorse eating 9kg normal oats daily would obtain 380g of fat from the oats alone but if fed naked oats (a high fat oat), it would receive 750g fat not counting that from the forage! This clearly illustrates the

Fat in horse diets

cont. on p.10


effect of ingredient choice on fat intake by the horse.

So when can the addition of fat to the diet, in the form of oil, be considered? One has to remember that this will supplement the background levels of fat that originate from the normal dietary components since no horse diet is fat-free. Most horse owners are familiar with the concept of adding a few spoonfuls of vegetable oil (usually soya but can be any other vegetable oil) to the concentrate feed with a view to improving coat condition. Feed manufacturers often use “full fat” soya or linseed to increase the oil content of their products up to 8% fat. “Full fat” raw materials are those that have not been fat-extracted so for example full fat soya contains about 20% oil and 40% protein compared to fat-extracted soya which contains only 2% oil but between 47 and 55% protein. If you wish to add vegetable oil to the concentrate beyond that to achieve improved coat condition then a guide figure would be to add 10% of the concentrate portion. So, if feeding 4kg concentrate, add 400g oil by top dressing it over the feed. One should allow about three weeks for the horse to adapt to the supplementary oil so if starting with 100g/day, it could be incremented by 100g each week to reach the final amount at the end of the introductory period. If introduced all at once there is the possibility that the faeces could become loose although in my experience horses seem remarkably tolerant to the addition of vegetable oil to their diet. It goes without saying

that the concentrate should be fed little and often and as a result, the oil will be fed little and often. The main problem with feeding a lot of supplementary oil is that there will be an increased demand for antioxidants which will not be met by the basic diet fed. When feed manufacturers oil-enrich their diets they automatically increase the antioxidant levels to meet the increased demand. This balancing is usually outwith the expertise of the average horse owner although it would be possible to feed extra vitamin E but how much? Furthermore, it is an expensive vitamin so the easiest solution for the horse owner is to either buy a manufactured feed containing a lot of oil or, to purchase a basic concentrate that contains elevated levels of E to be fed with the supplementary oil.

In conclusion, the use of oil in horse diets is to be recommended for animals with poor hair coat although in this situation, the quantities needed are not great. Otherwise, oil addition is a strategy that can be employed in situations where it is proving difficult to meet energy requirements. The latter could be due to physiological need or where appetite is impaired. Oil may also be used where the concentrate intake is very high and there is a risk of hind gut acidosis due to inadequate small intestinal digestion of starch. Concentrate intakes can be reduced because oil can replace conventional concentrate on the basis of one part oil for 3 parts concentrate because of its high energy density. Thus, 100g oil can replace 300g concentrate.

cont. from p.9

Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids (oils) play a very important role within the equine diet and balancing these essential oils is paramount to optimal digestive health. An imbalance of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids or an inadequate amount of Omega 3 can affect your horse’s temperament.

Omega 3 is the most important of these fatty acids and has anti-inflammatory properties, therefore helping to reduce pain. Omega 3 oils have been shown to have an important role in the structure and formation of the wall of red blood cells and deficiencies in this oil can lead to hoof problems and allergic skin conditions. Omega 3 fatty acid is commonly found in linseed and soybean oils and it is very important to ensure the correct level in the horse’s diet, especially in competition and performance horses, where oxygen transportation can be improved by the structure of the red blood cells.

Omega 6 is also very important to the equine diet and is most commonly found in corn, primrose and sunflower oils. Omega 6 helps maintain a healthy immune system and is a pro-inflammatory, hence why these fatty acids need to be fed at a balanced level.

It takes approximately 30 – 90 days until the benefits of feeding these essential fatty acids can be seen, but once your horse has a balanced diet with the correct levels of Omega 3 to 6 oils they will have an improved immune system, shown by a glossy coat and their over-all health and well-being.

Current research shows that the

correct ratio of Omega 3 to 6 oils is around 5:1. Feeding a balancer with the correct, balanced level of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids such as one from the Blue Chip range is the easiest way to ensure your horse or pony is getting everything they need on a daily basis to ensure a nutritionally balanced diet.

The Blue Chip range of balancers include Blue Chip Lami-light, the diet feed balancer for overweight, laminitis prone horses and ponies or good-doers. Lami-light ensures a nutritionally balanced diet without the worry of unwanted weight gain. Blue Chip Original is ideal for horses and ponies in light to medium work and can help to improve condition and topline. Blue Chip Pro is the performance feed balancer for the competition horse or pony or veterans which have a higher nutritional requirement in their diet. Pro includes a blood building formula that aids oxygen transportation and a prebiotic for optimum gut health.

All the balancers in the Blue Chip range are whole-cereal and molasses free and contain an EU approved probiotic along with the revolutionary new ingredient Nucleotides. Blue Chip are the first horse feed company to include Nucleotides, which are the building blocks for DNA and RNA and are essential components of the equine diet.

For more information on how feeding a Blue Chip balancer to your horse or pony can help to ensure a correct nutritionally balanced diet visit www.bluechipfeed.com or call 0114 266 6200.

Omega Oil is a balanced blend of superior natural oils rich in the essential Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids to support health, vitality and performance. Feeding Omega Oil will greatly contribute to a rich, glossy coat, whilst also providing an ideal source of energy. Omega Oil provides more energy than equal weights of carbohydrates or protein and has the benefit of being released slowly. Feeding a blend of oils is recommended to ensure the important omega fatty acids are

included. Each fatty acid has its own individual role to play in health and vitality - feeding a balanced blend ensures all those roles are fulfilled. NAF’s Omega Oil is a unique blend of soya, linseed and hemp oil to provide the ultimate blend of Omega 3, 6, 9 and 12 fatty acids in a convenient,

economical form. Whether looking for a “glug” of oil for coat condition, or the ultimate high fat diet, Omega Oil is the obvious choice. The rrp for 2 litres is £10.95 and £19.95 for 5litres. Available from NAF stockists nationwide. For more information please call the NAF Freephone Advice line: 0800 373 106 or go to www.naf-uk.com

Omega 3 and 6 explained

Omega Oil from NAF

Feeding • Oil


Feeding • Oil

Whilst recent research has mainly focused on the benefits of omega 3 oils in isolation, the beneficial effects of both omega 3 (anti-inflammatory) and omega 6 (inflammatory) oils (commonly referred to as essential fatty acids) in combination, should not be overlooked. In order to maximise your horse’s health, emphasis should be focused on achieving the right balance of these two oils. Allen & Page Equine Nutritionist Briony Mitchell BSc (Hons) explains.

Before exploring the effects and benefits of omega 3 and omega 6 oils in the horses’ diet, it is important to understand the basic role of fats and oils. Dietary fats and oils provide energy (calories), carry fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) and are involved in regulatory actions in the body.

As workload or activity increases, a horse’s energy requirements can often no longer be met by providing forage alone. Therefore, providing a hard feed (such as pellets or a mix) may be needed in order to provide the

required energy. Omega 6 is found in most commonly used feed ingredients, in particular cereal grains, so high levels are present in most hard feeds. This, combined with reduced access to pasture can result in a diet high in omega 6 and low in omega 3. An imbalanced ratio of omega 3 to 6 oils is far removed from a horse’s natural diet, which would consist mainly of forage and fresh grass rich in omega 3 oils, therefore, supplementing the diet with omega 3 oils can often be beneficial.

Omega 3 and 6 oils cannot be synthesised by the horse but are essential for normal metabolism. The ratio of each oil in the diet is very important in achieving the beneficial effects, as omega 3 and 6 oils compete for enzymes in the body that convert them into a useful form. The optimum ratio of these fatty acids has not yet been scientifically proven in the horse; however it is thought that possibly humans evolved on a diet with a 1:1 ratio of omega 3 to 6 fatty acids. Due to the evolution of diet and lifestyle for both the human and the horse, omega

3 oils are more often lacking in the diet than omega 6. If you are considering supplementing oils, then the diet as a whole will need to be looked at, taking into consideration forage and any other feeds, balancers or supplements given, alongside management and workload.

Regulating body functions

A major function of both fatty acids is the production of prostaglandins (hormone like substances responsible for regulating body functions). These play an essential role in immune function and regulating inflammation. Research has shown that dietary supplementation of omega 3 oils can help in controlling inflammatory responses, however, studies suggest that omega 3 supplementation is needed for at least one month before the positive effects are seen.

Although the inflammatory effects of omega 6 are often seen in a negative light, they are also thought to help to maintain the immune system and as a result, are believed to have beneficial effects, especially during times of injury, infection or sickness. There has been far less research into the benefits of omega 6 than omega 3, however, they both are equally as important in the right balance.

Horses in work

Horses in work may often benefit from omega 3 oils supplementation as it is thought that the body regulatory effects on maintaining cell wall structures can help suppleness and flexibility of red blood cells. This flexibility is necessary to allow the cells to easily pass through the narrow capillaries in muscles and lungs, which in turn, is thought to improve blood supply and oxygen delivery, therefore, reducing the incidence of exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage - an important consideration for the performance horse. Studies also suggest that omega 3 supplementation may alter exercise metabolism by slowing down the heart rate, which is thought to delay fatigue.

Breeding

With regard to supplementing the diet of breeding horses, research has found various potential benefits. Providing omega 3 oils to broodmares, is thought to increase essential fatty acids in the milk, resulting in a stronger immune system and ultimately, optimum development of the newborn foal. There is also some suggestion that omega 3 fatty acids may have an effect on

the reproductive function of the mare, however this area requires further research. In addition, omega 3 fatty acids are believed to play an important role in the fertility of stallions helping to maintain cell viability and therefore aiding conception rates.

Skin and coat

Another benefit of omega 3 and 6 oils (both of which are polyunsaturated fatty acids), is their effect on the skin and coat. Studies suggest that polyunsaturated fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins play an important role in maintaining and improving skin and coat condition in the horse.

Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO)

An example of the positive effects of omega 3 oils can often be seen in horses suffering with respiratory problems, such as recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects reducing pulmonary inflammation in horses with RAO.

Joint health

Omega 3 oil supplementation is believed to have positive effects in regulating inflammation in joints. Excessive amounts of omega 6 oils have been thought to be associated with arthritis and inflammation. Many medicines prescribed to treat these conditions work through blocking the effects of the omega 6 fatty acids - supplementing the diet with omega 3 fatty acids may create this same effect and therefore mediate inflammation. Studies investigating the effect of omega 3 on joint health reported decreased signs of inflammation in horses with arthritis and increased stride length, suggesting that omega 3 supplementation may provide benefits to horses suffering from inflammatory problems related to joints.

Allergic response

Another benefit thought to stem from the effect of omega 3 fatty acids on inflammatory responses, is the potential reduction of allergic response. Documentation suggests that omega 3 supplementation may minimise skin inflammation associated with horses suffering from sweet itch, however this area requires further research.

Gastric ulcers

Beneficial effects of oils in combination

cont. on p.14


In addition to this, there is also suggestion that the inflammatory effect of increased levels of omega 3 may be of benefit in minimising inflammation and damage to the gastric lining from gastric ulcers. It is important to bear in mind that although it appears that small amounts of dietary fat in the diets of most horses are beneficial, care must be taken when supplementing fat to those with low energy requirements or metabolic problems. As oils (fat) are very calorie dense, care needs to be taken not to feed in excess of an individual’s horses’ energy (calorie) requirements.

When assessing the diet with regard to the balance of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, being aware of key sources is a good start. The main source of omega 3 fatty acids comes from marine life. Although fish oils are a great source of omega 3 oils, some horse owners prefer to feed a vegetarian diet as it is closer to the horse’s natural diet. Good plant sources of omega 3 oils come from ingredients such as linseed oil, hemp oil and fresh grass. Omega 6 fatty acids

can mainly be found in the oils of seeds and grains such as oats, barley, maize and sunflower oil.

In summary, there may be many benefits to supplementing omega 3 oils in the horse’s diet, however it is key that the ratio of omega 3 to 6 fatty acids as a whole is considered. Further research is needed in this area to demonstrate the benefits of both omega 3 and 6 oils and in particular, to pinpoint an optimum ratio between these two essential fatty acids. However, it is widely believed that providing a dietary source of omega 3 oils, particularly in light of modern feeding and management practices, has many benefits to the horse. As with many factors concerning nutrition, considering the diet as a whole is essential.

Journal references are available on request.

For more information telephone the Allen & Page nutrition team on: 01362 822902 or visit www.allenandpage.com

cont. from p.12

Whilst the easy way to increase the oil content of your horse’s diet is to add vegetable oil or cooked linseed, there is now a plethora of “high oil supplements” available which offer a mess-free alternative. If your aim is to provide extra calories for condition or performance, be sure to look at the supplement’s Digestible Energy (DE) content as this will give an indication of “calories per kilo” and therefore of how much you’ll need to feed to get results.

For coat shine, you need to look for oils which are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids as these are the ones which are incorporated in cell membranes and therefore integral to supple healthy skin. Linseed is rich in Omega 3s, whilst soya oil has a higher Omega 6 content and other commonly used oil sources, like palm oil, rice bran and coconut meal (copra) supply almost exclusively Omega 6 fatty acids.

Baileys Outshine contains a balance of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to mimic that found in pasture and to avoid an imbalance in the

body, which can cause problems. It also contains essential supporting antioxidants, which are necessary to help the body utilise increased levels of oil efficiently, and provides a respectable 24MJ/kg DE (compared to 15MJ/kg from other supplements) so a little goes a long way.

Just ½ to 1lb per day, added to an existing balanced diet, will encourage head-turning coat shine, whilst up to 3lb per day (6 coffee mugs) will provide a significant number of additional slow release calories, without adding much to the overall feed volume. Top producer, Lynn Russell, says, “All my horses get Outshine in their daily diets and you can see and feel the difference in their skin and coats. I keep the cobs clipped out and the hair is always soft and easy to clip, revealing an amazing

natural gleam.”

Baileys Outshine is available in 20kg and 6.5kg bags, priced at around £38 and £15 respectively. www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk

If you spend your whole time trying to keep a lid on your horse’s exuberance, you’ve probably decided to avoid any kind of coarse mix and the quick release energy from cereals they provide. Don’t discount Baileys No.6 All-Round Endurance Mix, however, a high oil, high fibre mix with one of the lowest starch contents of any feed supplying performance levels of nutrients.

The energy supplied by fibre and oil is slow release so won’t exacerbate excitable temperaments and the mix supplies quality protein, with essential amino acids, to

help build outstanding muscle tone. The cereal content is meticulously micronised to maximise starch digestibility so it’s absorbed in the foregut and less likely to reach the hindgut where problems can arise. Riders in all disciplines are finding that All-Round Endurance Mix is the ultimate all-round performance feed;

providing nutrients for stamina, performance or condition whilst helping them stay in control.

For information or advice on feeding to promote a level head, contact Baileys Horse Feeds on 01371 850247 or visit www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk

TopSpec Lite is the ultimate low calorie feed balancer designed for horses and ponies that need their weight controlled.

These are usually good-doers that may be overweight and it is very important that this group of horses and ponies receive their full requirement of vitamins and minerals.

TopSpec Lite provides a generous amount of these micronutrients in a small amount of exceptionally low-calorie feed.

The feed balancer will help maintain excellent health and performance whilst improving hoof quality and promoting supple skin and a shiny coat.

Long-term trials have shown that horses and ponies on restricted/poor grazing do not gain any additional weight

when fed TopSpec Lite.

The unique ‘NoGrain’ formula is low in sugar and starch and is ‘non-heating’. Lite can be conveniently fed straight from the hand.

To compensate for the limited amount of nutrients well-furnished horses often consume, TopSpec Lite has the added benefits of several supplements.

These include an effective hoof improvement supplement and a broad spectrum supplement including powerful anti-oxidants to neutralise

free-radicals and help maintain a healthy immune system. Pure protected yeast has also been added to help maintain a healthy hindgut environment.

For further information contact the Multiple Award-Winning Helpline on 01845 565030 or visit www.topspec.com

If your horse needs a “serious calorie hit” without it going to his head, Baileys Outshine high oil supplement is the answer. Being energy-dense, oil delivers lots of calories in a much smaller volume than cereals, and in a slow release form, so there’s no danger of the fizz which may come from starch. Added to an existing balanced diet, Outshine is fed in small quantities, with ½ to 1lb supporting soft supple skin and a shiny coat and 1 to 3lb, providing significant additional calories for weight

gain or performance. It’s also ideal for horses whose starch intake needs limiting, like those prone to laminitis or tying-up, and, alongside its balance of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, there are antioxidants to support the body’s utilisation of the oil.

For more information and a free sample, contact Baileys Horse Feeds on 01371 850247 (option 3) or visit www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk

Choosing the Best High Oil Supplement

All-Round Performance with Control

Controlling Weight

Serious Slow Release Supplement!

Feeding • Oil


Archie (Coevers King) – an Irish sports horse owned by Jodie Baker was imported from Ireland a year ago as a rising four-year-old.

He was not in the best of condition, with a poor coat and feet, no muscle tone and still a huge amount to grow.

Said Jodie: “He was a bit of a fussy feeder and would pick at his feed with all his supplements in and sometimes left as much as half of it.”

“I decided to start him on Mollichaff Extra along with a simple feed balancer to ensure he was getting all the vitamins and minerals he needed without having to add lots of extra powders to his feed.”

“He loved it from the very first meal and has not looked back since!”

One year on, Archie has grown into a strapping 17.1hh horse and has been competing in showing, dressage

and show jumping and will hopefully progress to eventing shortly.

Mollichaff Extra, which has recently been reformulated to make it even better for your horse, is a high quality, molassed chaff combining high quality, chopped wheat straw blended with a lighter coating of molasses together with an improved broad spectrum mineral and vitamin supplement.

The new formulation includes vitamins A, D and E, B1, B2, B6, B12, biotin, folic acid, niacin, pantothenic acid and choline chloride. It also contains limestone and salt, and the added minerals and trace elements are copper, manganese, zinc, selenium, iron and iodine.

And, like all the products in the Mollichaff range, it is dust-extracted to help maintain a healthy respiratory system.

Each kilogramme of new improved Mollichaff Extra provides at least 25% of the daily trace element and vitamin requirements of a 500kg horse. Together these benefit the condition of all horses and ponies, especially breeding and young stock and those on a low concentrate/high forage diet.

By carefully choosing a feed or chaff that is fortified with a full range of vitamins and minerals relevant to your horse’s requirements, you may find you have no need for expensive supplements to add to your horse’s diet.

For further information please call the HorseHage Helpline on 01803 527257 or visit www.horsehage.co.uk

Horse and Pony Direct is the online equine essentials shop. Selling high quality everyday essential equine products at the

lowest possible prices, exclusively at www.horseandponydirect.com or through the dedicated 24 hour lo-call order line 0844 2472144.

Horse and Pony Direct are offering Equi-Ads readers an amazing offer of FREE DELIVERY (to mainland UK addresses) on any order quoting the code EQUIADS712. Horse and Pony Direct offers feed balancers, supplements

and sprays and creams, direct from the manufacturer at the lowest possible prices. The balancer range consists of four balancers, which include; an everyday balancer, a performance balancer, a veteran balancer and a low calorie balancer. The supplement range includes a digestive supplement, a joint supplement, everyday vitamins and minerals and garlic granules. Also available are everyday essentials including hoof oil, shampoo and fly repellent.

All the products in the Horse and Pony Direct range are 100% British made and offer the highest quality ingredients at the lowest possible prices.

While writing at the end of June, with flooding still evident in many places and rain continually threatening, there is currently little or no sun to dry what is potentially an excellent hay crop in many parts of the UK. The longer the grass is left to mature, the lower its nutritional value. So, how do we feed our horses to get them through this bout of unseasonal weather?

Three Feeding Solutions using Hickstead Horse Feeds Hi Fibre Cubes:1. Hickstead Hi Fibre Cubes have a fibre content of 22%, making them a perfect partial hay replacer. If your hay or haylage stocks are tight, replace up to 40% with Hi Fibre Cubes.2. Hickstead Hi Fibre Cubes are a versatile cube, particularly when soaked with warm water or soaked sugar beet for 20 minutes to form a mash; perfect when fed all year round to older horses

with compromised dentition, especially if they have problems chewing grass, hay or haylage.3. If your horse is fit yet has to be stabled due to soggy fields, you may find him climbing the walls, particularly if you are feeding a competition feed. By partially or totally replacing a competition ration with Hickstead Hi Fibre Cubes, you will be providing an excellent nutritionally balanced ration but with lower energy than a competition feed, producing a calmer horse. Please note however that Hi Fibre Cubes are not a tested feed.

For any information on Hickstead Horse Feeds products, or for nutritional advice of any sort, please feel free to contact us on 0845 0250 444. We really are very friendly.

[email protected] Facebook: Hickstead Horse Feeds.

Improve coat shine and condition with Brinicombe Equine’s Irish Karon Oil. This traditional Irishman’s recipe combines over 50% pure linseed oil which is rich in Omega 3, with calcium and magnesium hydroxides. Add to your feeding regime to support intestinal transit, stamina and coat shine.

A 5lt container will last up to 83 days. RRP £25.99 For further information please contact Brinicombe Equine on 08700 606206 or visit www.brinicombe-equine.co.uk

Developed to help overcome stable stress and boredom, the Likit range has something for every type of equine, from the shy retiring

type, to the inquisitive extrovert. Now, to help you decide which product suits your particular horse, the company has devised the Likit Challenge System, which grades the different levels of difficulty and ensures that your horse gets the most out his Likit Stable Toys.

The Likit Holder is an ideal entry level product for a horse that is unfamiliar with Likits, or for one who is less adventurous. If your horse is up for more of a challenge however, then consider the Snak-A-Ball and Tongue Twister. Filled with Likit Snaks or dry feed, the Snak-A-Ball releases food onto the floor as it rolls, while the Tongue Twister spins as the horse uses it,

making it harder for him to access the tasty Likit refills.

If you want to up the game further, the Boredom Breaker should intensify his interest. Perhaps try placing a Salt Likit in the top and either one or two Little Likits in the ball and mix and match flavours for added variety. Alternatively, for the horse that needs plenty of mental stimulation, try the Boredom Buster in conjunction with one or two Little Likits. As your horse licks, the Boredom Buster will move and spin and you can also clip on a Likit Holder to add another dimension. By trying different Likit flavours and introducing new interests, you will be providing your horse with hours of stimulation and fun, which in turn will make him a much happier equine.

For further information on the Likit range and the Challenge System, check out the Science page on the Likit website, www.likit.co.uk or call 01655 750523 for information and advice.

Archie Gets An Extra Boost With Mollichaff!

Horse and Pony Direct’s offer for Equi-Ads Readers

Hickstead Horse Feed Hi Fibre Cubes.

Get fantastic condition and shine…

Is Your Horse up to the Challenge?

Archie - Photograph is credited to www.simplyequinephotography.co.uk

Feeding • Oil


Feeding


Health Care

Anne Wilson

At one time complementary therapies, sometimes misleadingly referred to as ‘alternative medicine’ were thought of, by most vets and doctors, as almost dirty words. They were put in the same class as witchcraft and considered not only to be worthless but possibly damaging. All this is quite strange since modern scientific medicines originated from such things as herbs. An example of this is digitalis, used to regulate the human and animal heart, is derived from the foxglove plant, and is still a component of some heart drugs used today.

Science has made huge advances in recent years, so many of these early remedies which were widely used by vets and doctors, have now been superseded. But surely this doesn’t mean to say that we should ignore the vast array of natural remedies in the world, some of which may still be waiting to be found by some clever scientist!

The premise that natural remedies are largely worthless? – well sometimes they may be. If the wrong remedy is

chosen then it is hardly likely to help the animal, but in most cases will do no harm. However, even this premise should not be completely relied upon, since any remedy which has an effect, does have the potential to have a harmful effect if used wrongly or in excess.

Complementary or natural therapies are becoming much more widely recognised and accepted by medical doctors and vets nowadays, even though there are still some who will shun them. Acupuncture, herbalism and homeopathy, are among those which have been recognised and/or used within the NHS.

If your horse has an unexplained veterinary condition, then obviously your first port of call is the vet. In fact in many cases you are duty bound by Law to request permission of your vet to employ some forms of complementary therapy, such as Shiatsu, Chiropractic, and other ‘hands on’ therapies. In most cases natural remedies can be administered alongside conventional scientific treatment, but it is wise to

check with a qualified practitioner that there will be no clash of remedies.

Sometimes they can rightly be described as ‘alternative’. For example when conventional scientific treatment has repeatedly failed; where’s the harm in using a natural remedy, so long as you check that it is applicable to the problem, and can do no harm?

There are some cases, such as minor injuries, insect bites, and so on, where it is not necessary to call the vet, but natural remedies can be a great aid to healing, as well as being soothing. If you are in any doubt about which remedy to use, it is best to consult a qualified practitioner in that particular field. There are vets who, as well as being qualified by The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, also hold qualifications in such therapies as acupuncture, homeopathy, etc.

Here is a selection of some of the most common and possibly most helpful therapies available:-

Herbs

As mentioned previously herbalism has been used by mankind for the treatment of all kinds of ailments (animal and human) since time immemorial.

They are generally grouped into categories, according to their general effect. Some of these categories are as follows:-• Alteratives – which gradually restore proper function of the body.• Astringents – which are used to dry secretions and discharges.• Bitters – which stimulate the stomach.• Demulcents – which soothe inflamed internal tissues.• Emollients and Vulneraries – which treat injuries.

Some typical uses for the herb comfrey (which grows wild in the UK) are:-

Bony injuries, sprains, abscess.Arthritis can be helped by herbs such as:-

Comfrey, Devil’s Claw, Burdock, Cleavers, Dandelion and Nettles.

Coughs can be helped by Echinacea, Mullein and Sundew

Diarrhoea can be helped by Agrimony, Comfrey, Cranesbill and Meadowsweet.

Thrush in the feet can be helped by Echinacea

Mud Fever or Greasy Heel can be helped by topical Chickweed, Golden Seal, Marigold, and internally by Burdock Root, Cleavers, Figwort and Nettle.

Willow can help ease the pain of laminitis, but veterinary assistance is vital.

Dose rates of herbs can be very important. Beware of herbal remedies marketed by inexperienced or unqualified people, since some herbs can be dangerous, particularly if used regularly. It is best to seek the advice of a qualified herbalist. Obviously if the condition is serious, your first port of call is your vet.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a much misunderstood and maligned therapy. In simple terms it is a system of medicine which uses the extracts of plants, minerals and some animal material. This is usually diluted to an extreme extent and is based on the law of curing ‘like for like’. This law was discovered in Germany in 1790 by Samuel Hahnemann, when he discovered that a substance could cure a disease if it was able to produce similar symptoms in a healthy body. Because of the extreme dilutions used, many scientists find it difficult to accept that homeopathy has any effect, but the results have been monitored by the thousand and found to be effective in vast numbers of cases. It is, however, almost impossible, because of financial constraints, to scientifically prove its efficacy. I can only say that from personal experience, the use of the most common remedy Arnica (used for shock, bruising, bleeding or any such trauma), has been successful in every case I can remember over the years I have been using it, for both horses and humans.

In general homeopathy is gentle, safe and free from side effects. However, mistakes could be made with some of the more obscure remedies and if using anything other than Arnica I would strongly recommend seeking the advice of a qualified homeopath.

An important aspect of homeopathy is that it is holistic. It treats the animal (human or otherwise) as a whole. This is one of the reasons that the advice of a good homeopath is essential for treating anything other than minor injuries or conditions – Arnica seems to work for everyone across the board in these cases. However, there are other remedies which are far more specific and the choice of remedy for the same

Complementary Therapies

cont. on p.20


Health Care


Health Care

condition will vary according to other aspects of that animal, i.e. whether they normally feel the cold or are more affected by heat. This is why trained homeopaths have to spend time asking a lot of seemingly pointless questions about the animal before prescribing. A remedy which may work on one animal may have no effect on another, although suffering with the same condition, because of the difference in the make up of their body and/or mental characteristics. This could well be one of the reasons that many people believe homeopathy to be useless. The choice of remedy for any given condition is myriad and that choice is crucial.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is no longer frowned upon by most vets and doctors and is often used within the NHS. It has been widely used in China for centuries and works on the scientific basis of painlessly puncturing the skin at specific points (acupoints) with very fine disposable needles, to treat illness and to relieve physical and/or mental stress. It is used to treat a wide range of conditions both mental and physical with a view to recovering the balance and harmony in the body and mind. In this way it is an holistic treatment and treats the animal as a whole entity, as does homeopathy.

There are differing opinions about its efficacy, but there seems to be a consensus of opinion that it definitely helps to relieve pain. There have also been studies which show that it can bring about the following:-

• A rise in the bloodstream of the body’s natural ‘feel-good’ chemicals.• A contented relaxed state of mind – sometimes causing the animal to be slightly drowsy after treatment.• An improved appetite.• Raised energy levels.• An apparent stimulation of the actions of certain nerves, which not only promotes muscle function but also hormonal release, the combined effect of which has a very wide- ranging influence on the body and mind.• The alleviation of pain.

Acupuncture is usually very well accepted by horses. My own horse has been treated and the only place she would not tolerate the needles was on the legs, which is quite common, since there is very little flesh on this

part of the horse’s body. This treatment definitely helped her at the time.

It can be particularly helpful for conditions such as arthritis or joint and tendon injury, but there are many other ailments which can be significantly helped, if not cured, by acupuncture.

Acupuncture can only be administered to animals by a qualified veterinary surgeon, who is also qualified in acupuncture.

For more information visit the website of the Association of British Veterinary Acupuncturists.

Other therapies such as Acupressure, Shiatsu and ReflexologyThese therapies all have similarities to acupuncture. They also need to be carried out by trained, qualified, practitioners, but they need not necessarily also be qualified veterinary surgeons. They are non-invasive treatments as the practitioner uses the hands rather than needles.

Physiotherapy

Most of us are familiar with this form of treatment which is also used widely in the NHS. It is normally used for humans and horses for mobility problems and/or injury.

Trained physiotherapists can use many differing techniques such massage, stretching and manipulation.

There are also several different electrical machines such as ultrasound and magnetic therapy machines, which can be used, often to great effect, to stimulate healing.

Physiotherapy must only be carried out by a qualified practitioner.

ChiropracticThis is another form of treatment which is widely recognised by doctors and vets worldwide, mainly used for back problems.

Personally I particularly like the McTimoney Chiropractic treatment, which horses find very comfortable to receive.

The chiropractor will particularly examine the horse’s spine, poll and pelvis. Any misalignments are ‘assisted’ back into place by using short, sharp, pressure of the practitioners’ hand.

They are not pushing the bones back into place, as is sometimes thought, but moving the soft tissue to enable the vertebrae to return to its rightful position. Much emphasis is put upon the alignment of the pelvis. If the pelvis is misaligned, then the rest of the spine is bound to be put under pressure. The pelvis in the horse is encouraged back into place by manipulation mostly using the hind legs.

This is definitely not a treatment which any owner should try. It should only be carried out by qualified chiropractic practitioners.

For more information or to find a McTimoney practitioner in your area go to www.mctimoneychiropractic.org Osteopathy

Osteopathy is also used for spinal problems, but also for misalignments of other parts of the horse’s skeleton. It works by adjusting the muscles and joints that are effectively perpetuating the misalignment, with a view to correcting it.

Osteopathy makes use of manipulation, often in the form of slow, deliberate and wide-ranging massage movements and joint manipulation, depending on the school of thought (there are various forms of osteopathy). Treatment is usually slow and gentle and should be guided by the horse’s response. There should be no ‘bone cracking’ or ‘joint crunching’. The horse should not be stressed by the treatment, as this is generally counter-productive.

Above are some of the best known complementary therapies, but there are many more which may well be helpful,

such as Bowen Technique (Muscle Release Therapy), which is sometimes used by Chiropractors, Osteopaths and Physiotherapists.

Magnet therapy has been proven to accelerate healing in many cases and is often used by Physiotherapists via a machine, but we can all make use of this easy to obtain therapy, by the purchase of magnets to be strapped onto the affected area, or small magnets which can be applied to local injuries.

The list of complementary therapies available to all of us is vast, here are a few which I believe to be beneficial:-Bach Flower Remedies. Tissue Salts, Essential Oils (related to herbal medicine), Copper therapy (copper bracelets can also be easily purchased for horses)

I cannot possibly delve deeply into each therapy in one article, but I hope that this has given food for thought and wetted your appetite to know more.

Suggested reading and bibliography:- ‘Natural Remedies’ by Christopher Day MA,VetMB, MRCVS, VetFFHom – Threshold Picture Guide Number 35 – Kenilworth Press

‘Complementary Therapies for Horse and Rider’ by Susan McBane & Caroline Davis – David & Charles.

Anne Wilson is a freelance classical riding trainer, based in Bedfordshire; trained with Sylvia Loch and holder of the Classical Riding Club Gold Award Certificate – Phone 01234 772401 or email – annewilsondressage@hotmail.co.ukwww.classicalridingannewilson.com

cont. from p.18


Health Care

The “Back to Basics” Barn Bag® Adult Maintenance Equine Feeding Program

Horses evolved and flourished consuming grass and grass seed as their natural balanced diet. It is not possible to duplicate and feed our domesticated horses with the same wild horse diet consisting of such a wide variety of forages. The diet that best correlates with the native wild horse diet that we can feed our domesticated horses today is hay and oats. Oats are grass seeds. However, today’s varieties of cultivated grass and oats are different from the diet of ancestral and wild horses due to modern plant breeding programs and cultivation. In addition, the horse’s daily requirement of individual nutrients has changed due to domesticated confinement and the tasks required of them. Without these changes in both the feed stuffs and the horse’s modern lifestyle it would not be necessary to provide any extra additives to the horse’s original natural diet of wild plants, grass, and grass seeds.

In order to understand how to feed a horse, we must understand how the equine digestive system works and why it is drastically different from animals with simple gastrointestinal (GI) tracts. All mammals have similar nutrient requirements at the tissue level. Simple GI tract animals must ingest numerous required nutrients to survive. However the majority of the horse’s required daily nutrients are manufactured by microbes in the lumen (space) of the caecum, or hind gut, allowing the horse to survive on a diet restricted to grass and grass seeds only. Also, these microbes perform the critical function of converting grass cellulose to calories as the main equine calorie source. In contrast, simple GI tract creatures depend on calories obtained from ingested fats, starches, sugars and carbohydrates. Cellulose equals calories for horses while cellulose equals fibre for humans and other simple GI tract species.

Based on Life Data Labs, Inc. research, a diet of grass hay and/or pasture and oats most nearly meets the nutrient requirements of adult pleasure and performance horses and thus requires fewer additional nutrients to balance the diet. These additional nutrients are supplied in the correct amounts and ratios in the Barn Bag® Adult Maintenance for equines. Broodmares and growing horses require additional nutrients for growth and lactation.

If the horse is fed grass, hay and the Barn Bag® Adult Maintenance to meet the known requirements, without nutrient excesses, the horse will adjust or “reset” his metabolism to enable him to reach his maximum potential. An individual horse may have “special needs” such as joint or hoof problems and can benefit from a supplement. However, it is only after fulfilling the individual’s known nutrient requirements, without excesses, that we are able to determine if a horse has these “special needs”.

Today’s compounded feeds are often produced using by-products and grain hulls from the food industry. These ground and processed feeds lessen the horse’s desire to chew and therefore reduces salivation. Furthermore, when feeding compounded feeds nutrient intake is regulated by the amount of feed intake. Since there is great disparity of feeding levels between individual horses, when feeding a compounded feed most horses are either under or over supplied with various nutrients.

In contrast, when feeding the Barn Bag® Adult Maintenance and grass hay and/or pasture the daily nutrient requirement can be separated from the calorie requirement necessary to maintain the correct body weight. Whole oats (a grass seed) is the preferred grain for the horse that requires additional calories.

Barn Bag® Adult Maintenance is available to end users through veterinary distribution channels only.

Manufactured by:Life Data Labs, Inc.www.lifedatalabs.co.ukEU Sales Representative:Karen ZetscheTel +49 160 98 41 55 06Fax +49 40 / 86 62 39 [email protected] of the USA

Your Feeding Solution is in The Bag…


Health Care

If there is one fact every horse owner knows, it is that despite everyone’s best efforts, horses are very efficient at having accidents!

While all injured animals should always be visited by your veterinarian as soon as possible the steps you take BEFORE your vet is able to arrive can sometimes have a large impact on the outcome of the case.

Wounds; Wounds are common in horses, from barbed wire lacerations to kick wounds from pasture “friends”!

I cannot stress enough that ALL wounds, no matter how small and innocuous they may appear, can be far more serious than looks may suggest. There are several different types of wound that horses can suffer from;Incision- These are caused by sharp objects, such as broken glass or blades. The skin edges will be cleanly parted, and the wound will normally be linear. Because the skin blood vessels have

been cut rather than torn there can be a very large amount of blood.

These wounds are very good candidates to be sutured or stapled closed by your veterinary surgeon, as long as they are seen quickly.

Laceration- These are the most common form of wound seen, and are frequently caused by wire or kick-wounds. Due to the nature of the injury the skin will be torn rather than cleanly cut. These wounds can have multiple tear lines and are usually contaminated with dirt and hair.

Like incisions these wounds can be sutured closed if seen early, but sometimes small sections will be deliberately left open to allow drainage.

Puncture Wounds- While looking small and insignificant these wounds can be disastrous when over joints or tendons.

Commonly caused by barbed wire,

sticks or nails, these wounds can be much deeper than they appear. Another problematic factor is that if the horse was exercising when the injury occurred the skin wound, and damage to deeper tissues can be in different places. This occurs because of the large range of movement of the skin over the muscles as the horse moves.

These wounds ALWAYS require veterinary attention as contamination can be pushed and trapped deep inside tissues under the skin.

If these wounds occur over joints there is a high chance of bacteria being introduced into the joint, which can be a life-threatening situation.

Blunt Trauma- These are injuries which present as lumps, bumps or swellings, but with no obvious wound. They can suggest deeper infection, such as abscesses, or simply be bruises. While many horses will not need seeing for these swellings, if your horse becomes lame or quiet then veterinary attention is warranted.

The location of a wound is of paramount importance. Horses have evolved for speed, and so carry very little soft tissue on their legs, meaning small wounds can easily penetrate synovial structures (joints, tendons etc). Once infected these structures can rapidly deteriorate and if left untreated result in the horse needing to be put down.

The picture above shows the locations

of easily damaged structures. If your horse has a wound over ANY of these locations call your vet immediately!

Equine First Aid;If your horse has suffered a wound there are several things you can do to improve the outcome of the case before your veterinary surgeon attends. Equine first aid, like human first aid, has several key aims;

Prevent Haemorrhage (bleeding)- The best way to stem bleeding is to apply pressure, while the blood’s normal coagulation cascade takes effect.

The Coagulation (clotting) cascade is a complex system of interactions between Platelets, Coagulation Factors and Collagen. Platelets are cell fragments which exist in large numbers in blood, which are directly involved in causing blood to clot. When blood vessels are damaged their walls are exposed which allows collagen (a normally hidden protein in the vessel wall) to be exposed to the Platelets. Once platelets recognise Collagen they induce a chain reaction in which a blood clot is formed via the Coagulation Factors.

Unfortunately this process takes time but it can be accelerated by applying pressure to a wound. This reduces the amount of blood loss and slows the blood flow in the area, which allows the blood to clot faster.

Prevent further contamination of the wound with bacteria- Wounds will not heal if they are infected. It is inevitable that all wounds, no matter how clean they look, will be infected to some degree as bacteria which live normally on the skin surface will quickly find their way in.

In the majority of cases the best way to make a wound heal is to have your veterinary surgeon suture or staple it closed. This is termed Primary Healing as it brings the wound edges back together, and gives the best cosmetic result.

However these wounds need to be seen within 6 hours where bacterial contamination is low enough that the wound will not fail after being sutured. Multiple scientific studies have found that wounds will not heal if they have more than 105bacteria/gram of tissue. As bacteria will reproduce at a constant rate in wounds it has been calculated that after 6 hours the number of bacteria will be above the 105/gram limit.

This 6 hour period is called the “Golden Window”.

Bacteria multiply in an exponential

Preparing for Accidents, and Equine First Aid Peter Fenton BVM&S, MRCVS


Health Care

fashion so their numbers can proliferate quickly. A single bacterium will divide in two, producing two cells. These then divide in 2, producing 4 cells, which then divide producing 8 cells. This process quickly leads to large numbers of bacteria which can prevent Primary Healing from being an option.

The more dirty a wound looks, the more bacteria it will contain but you can do a huge amount to clean a wound without waiting for your vet. This will greatly increase the chance of the wound being closed.

A phrase often used regarding wound cleaning is “the solution to pollution is dilution”, and this perfectly describes the best method; to use large volumes of either fresh tap water or sterile saline to flush bacteria out of a wound, and “dilute” their numbers. Scientific studies have shown that tap water and sterile saline are equally good at flushing wounds clean, so while sterile saline may sound better, sometimes you can’t beat a good hosepipe!

I would recommend using a minimum of 2 litres of water to flush a wound, but this must always be done from a distance. Your horse will not thank you for scrubbing a wound with cotton wool.

The cleaning fluid is best flushed into a wound with a syringe and small bore needle. This will create a high pressure stream onto the wound that will dislodge bacteria. If you think to cleaning your car the smaller the dirt particles the larger the force needed to remove them, and the same is true of wounds.

DO NOT use hibiscrub or iodine on fresh wounds. These are both very painful on exposed tissues, especially iodine, and will cause your horse considerable discomfort.

Once a wound is cleaned it is always best to pack it with sterile wound-gel, such as Intrasite Gel, and cover it with a light dressing. The wound gel will keep the tissues moist and help to decrease the number of bacteria in the wound.

When dressing a wound it is important to use a NON-ADHERENT dressing. These are specially designed not to stick to the wound and will not cause further damage when removed later. I always use Allevyn dressings for this purpose.

The wound can then be wrapped in a light cotton-wool dressing and vetwrap until the vet arrives.

Prevent further damage to the tissues- Control painLimit inflammation/swellingKeep wounds covered to preserve tissue moisture

Equine first aid kit- A basic first aid kit should contain at least

Cotton wool Intrasite gelAbsorbent DressingsCohesive bandage ( eg vetrap)Topical creams ( eg manuka honey and e45) AnimalintexSyringes of different sizes

The Horse & Rider First Aid Kit from Robinson Animal Healthcare provides all the essential items for the yard and horsebox. Available in an easy to carry kit bag, Animalintex® poultice, Gamgee®, Dressings, Equiwrap® bandages, Vetalintex® wound gel and blunt-ended Scissors are all included. For the rider a FastAid essentials travel pack is also included for minor cuts and grazes. Rapid attention if correctly administered will have an important influence on the outcome of an injury and will often help reduce healing time. Even a fresh wound, despite not looking contaminated will normally be infected after six to eight hours and cold therapy is extremely effective if applied immediately

following a knock or strain. Animalintex from Robinson Animal Healthcare is the ONLY medicinal licensed veterinary poultice and dressing on the market. Used hot, it increases blood supply to damaged tissues, drawing out infection and ingrained dirt and encouraging healing. Used cold, it will help reduce swelling and pain following bruising or a strain. It can also be used dry on a clean open wound. The Horse & Rider First Aid Kit retails at around £24.95. Robinson Animal Healthcare has a

wide range of products for all your first aid requirements. For more information contact Robinson Animal Healthcare on 01909 735000 or visit www.robinsonhealthcare.com

Leucillin, the most versatile first aid product available, is a revolutionary anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal spray, suitable for use on all and the perfect addition to a first aid kit. Effective on all applications including open wounds, eye infections, mud fever and thrush, Leucillin provides you with a powerful Hypochlorous solution to combat all infections. Leucillin is the only product available that kills 99.99999% of bacterial, viral and fungal spores on contact whilst remaining pH neutral, non-toxic, 100% safe and will not sting!

Testimonials General Stable Management Usage “What I have found magic about LeucilJin is that whenever you are not quite sure what to do or put on, I just give a squirt of Leucillin - if it’s a weepy eye, a smelly foot, a cut, a graze, a bite or some odd skin infection, they all have the same treatment. I find it so useful that I even carry a small, bottle in my handbag.” Lucinda G Ringworm “My horse recently contracted

ringworm with about ten different lesions appearing on his head and neck which seemed to be spreading at an alarming rate. I started to apply Leuci1lin twice a day to the affected areas and within a week all symptoms of ringworm had cleared up and disappeared. I found Leuci1lin extremely easy to use by simply spraying the affected areas and rubbing in using gloves. Subsequently I have used Leucillin on cuts and wounds on the horses and found it an extremely effective way to dean wounds, keep disinfected and promote quick and easy healing. A must have product to be kept in every stable and yard at all times.” Charlie Bradstock (Mrs), Highclere Racing Cuts and Inflammation “I used the Leuci1lin on a smal1 cut behind my horses ear - it had broken the skin and was slightly swollen but nothing very severe. I have to say the following day the cut had scabbed over really well and the small swelling had gone down, so r was very pleased

and wi1l definitely be using Leuci1lin again.” Jackie Hooper T: 07771 868839E: [email protected]/leucillin

Horse & Rider First Aid Kit

Leucillin


Health Care • Physiotherapy

NAF, pioneers in natural horse health, have turned their expertise in natural equine care to first aid, with the launch of NaturalintX… Within the new NaturalintX first aid range you will find a choice of veterinary approved, 100% natural dressings for wound management, together with naturally formulated applications to support the healing of minor wounds, cuts, abrasions and strains. NaturalintX PoulticeA 100% natural, veterinary approved poultice for use on minor wounds and abrasions. The NaturalintX poultice is formed from multiple layers of 100% natural cotton wool, with a low adherent, non woven wound facing to help minimize disturbance and trauma caused to the wound when the dressing is changed and a fine polythene backing sheet to help retain the moisture and warmth of the dressing and serve as a protective barrier against external contamination. The NaturalintX poultice dressing comes as a single 41 cm x 21 cm pad which can be cut to the precise size and shape required to ensure maximum comfort and protection. Once applied it can be held easily and comfortably in place with a NaturalintX Wrap. NaturalintX Hoof Poultice A 100% natural veterinary approved poultice for use on minor wounds and abrasions of the foot. Designed to comfortably fit your horse’s hoof, reducing preparation time and enabling ease of application, the NaturalintX Hoof Poultice may be applied in three different ways depending on the wound to be dressed – either apply as a hot, cold or dry hoof poultice and hold in place with a Naturalint-X Wrap. NaturalintX WrapA cohesive, elasticated support bandage, purpose designed to hold wound dressings carefully in place. Efficient and easy to use and comes in a range of exciting, bright colours. NaturalintX DressingThe softly cushioned NaturalintX Dressing protects and insulates the leg to support minor wound management. The highly absorbent, cotton padding is encased in a tubular

non woven casing to provide a low adherent protective dressing. NaturalintX Cotton Wool RollThe super soft NaturalintX Cotton Wool Roll is made from 100% natural cotton fibres for maximum absorbency. A compulsory item of every first aid kit. NaturalintX First Aid Applications NaturalintX first aid applications - the first choice to care for your horse, naturally… Natural applications have become the more popular option when it comes to choosing between the use of either chemically or naturally formulated products to care and support the healing of minor cuts, abrasions and bruising. No first aid kit is complete without the NaturalintX range of natural first aid applications to take care of your horse’s first aid needs, naturally…

Aloe Vera Purple Spray A gentle non aerosol spray to support the natural healing of broken and chaffed skin, minor cuts and abrasions. Also helps to discourage flies from open wounds. Arnica GelA smooth, cooling gel to soothe minor strains, sprains and bruising following muscular exertion, a knock or blow. MSM OintmentA protective, natural first aid ointment for minor cuts, grazes, sores and skin irritations.

This lanolin based ointment provides a moisturizing, protective barrier to minor wounds whilst supporting the skin’s natural healing process. Wound CreamA natural first aid cream to support the healing of minor cuts and wounds. Comes in a convenient pump dispenser for easy, hygienic application directly to the wound. NaturalintX is the new name you can rely on to take care of your horse, naturally… For more details about the new NaturalintX natural first aid range please go to your local NAF stockist or visit the website www.naturalintx.co.uk

Alternatively call the NAF Freephone Advice Line: 0800 373 106.

I have been working with my young horse which I bought a year ago as a 4 year old. He was already broken in when I bought him. He is making good improvements however I feel he is uneven behind and struggles on the right rein. He also has a tendency to rush on a little and when led in hand always turns towards me and leans against me when I ask for a halt. Can you suggest anything to help this?

Firstly you should get your horse checked by a vet to make sure there are no lameness issues causing the problems. If your vet is happy there are no problems then I would suggest a physiotherapy assessment to look at his movement patterns.

If there are no underlying pain issues or structural imbalances (bones not maturing to the same length) then it is normally muscle imbalance that will cause an asymmetry in the recruitment and use of the hindlimbs. If he works like this for a period of time then the muscle imbalance will be further accentuated as the muscles that are overworking will continue to do more of the work and therefore develop more. The causes of this can be varied and may be historical rather than recent and ongoing.

Muscle imbalance can develop following an injury as a youngster causing a horse to move differently to avoid pain at a certain point of a gait pattern. This injury may be completely resolved however the alteration in movement pattern and muscle recruitment may still occur as your horse has now learnt to move in this pattern.

Another reason could be a poorly fitting saddle. If a saddle is nipping or rubbing and causing pain or blocking movement then the horse will learn to move to avoid the pain when being ridden. Once this pattern of movement is established there will be shortening of any structures that are not being moved through their full range and poor development of muscles that are being pinched. Even once a

new, correctly fitting saddle is used this movement pattern may still be adopted due to the muscle imbalance and a learnt pattern of movement.

It is important to have these imbalances addressed because if this abnormal movement pattern is not corrected there will then be altered stresses through the joints which could then lead to joint problems. Your physiotherapist will be able to work through the muscle imbalances and give you exercises to do to improve muscle recruitment and balance.

Muscle imbalance can also cause a horse to rush and not be able to stop when asked, or not be able to stop square. For a horse to walk beside you in hand it has to be able to control its own body without leaning on you. If your horse has areas of tightness and poor muscle recruitment it makes this process difficult. For your horse to be able to stop it has to be able to engage its abdominal muscles to gently and subtly lift its rib cage. If it can’t do this it will continue to move forward or may swing its hind quarters out (and therefore turn in to you). Again the treatment for this is the release of restricted tight structures and the retraining of muscles to get them to work to the correct level and at the correct point of the movement. Your physiotherapist will be able to treat the restricted and tight areas and then give you exercises to retrain the correct movement patterns required.

Kim Gunstone Chartered Veterinary Physiotherapist BSC Hons Physiotherapy, PgDip Veterinary Physiotherapy, MCSP, HPC, ACPAT Cat A. Tel: 07912378934 Email: [email protected] Based in Dundee covering Tayside and Fife

For more information on veterinary physiotherapy, or to find a chartered veterinary physiotherapist in your area go to www.acpat.org

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Health Care

In June 2012 the new Equi-Ads website went live, boasting a whole host of new and exciting features including a competition section and an Equi-Homes section. It has also still retained all of the features from the previous site such as the Advertisers Directory and the Events section. So whatever your equestrian need, Equi-Ads online will be able to fulfil it.

To thank our readers for their continued support throughout the years, Equi-

Ads are running a number of special offers on their website, including free classified adverts for a limited time.

To see what the new website has to offer go to www.equiads.net

I was thrilled to read Anne Wilson’s article in the June edition of Equi-Ads ‘Beware Hidden Dangers’ We have a pony, whom I am convinced has a sensitivity to buttercups, particularly the pollen. He was grazing in the paddock with flowering buttercups, developed blister type areas on the white side of his nose. I called the vet and we treated him with some cream, which helped the blisters to heal. She also took a blood test to check his liver enzymes. The liver enzymes were sky high and the vet wanted to do a liver biopsy. I struggled with this as the pony was clinically well. I also struggled with going against the vets advice I thought logically, the blisters must have been caused by something ‘on contact’ and then, after doing some research, decided it just had to be the buttercups.The vet was unsure about this.

We did a massive buttercup pull at that time and even now we are still absolutely meticulous about pulling up the odd buttercup we find now on a daily basis. We got on top of what I thought was the problem and the pony has remained fit and well since. [2 years since the original problem]

It has also improved the grazing and we feel we have saved the pony going through an invasive procedure, with potentially life threatening side effects, which may not have given the answers

we needed anyway.

Buttercups look so pretty in fields and photos but they could also be deadly to our equine friends. Julie Holgate

Buttercup Toxicity (Wikipedia definition) All Ranunculus species are poisonous when eaten fresh by cattle, horses, and other livestock, but their acrid taste and the blistering of the mouth caused by their poison means they are usually left uneaten. Poisoning can occur where buttercups are abundant in overgrazed fields where little other edible plant growth is left, and the animals eat them out of desperation. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, excessive salivation, colic, and severe blistering of the mucous membranes and gastrointestinal tract. When Ranunculus plants are handled, naturally occurring ranunculin is broken down to form protoanemonin, which is known to cause contact dermatitis in humans and care should therefore be exercised in extensive handling of the plants. The toxins are degraded by drying, so hay containing dried buttercups is safe. We would love to hear from other readers - whether they have similar experiences and what their preferred method of eradication may be. Please email your comments to: [email protected] subject:buttercups

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Feeding for Workload

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It is vital that you take a horses workload into account when trying to determine the correct diet as if a horses energy loss is greater than energy intake then weight, and subsequently, body condition will be lost. On the other hand if a horse is receiving more energy than they are burning off daily then this will result in weight gain.

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Health Care • Ligaments


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Horse Behaviour • Rider Behaviour • Tack & Turnout

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Alison Averis

Equitation science is not trying to make equitation into a science. It is just a way of measuring what can be measured and using that information, together with what we know about basic equine biology, to find out whether our existing ways of doing things with horses are effective and humane, or whether we could do better.

Neither is equitation science trying to take the art out of riding. Creativity, technical skills, imagination and sensitivity are always going to be needed to make the interaction between horse and rider into something beautiful to look at and enjoyable for both partners. A lot of what we do with horses really is based on opinions and feelings rather than facts: the emotional bond between horse and rider, for instance, or why you like thoroughbreds and don’t get on with warmbloods, or why some people prefer endurance riding to eventing, or whether you choose to do

your freestyle dressage to Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata or Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell, or any other of the non-material aspects of equitation. These are necessary parts of riding, but they aren’t in the realms of science.

The business of science is to find out what is true, as opposed to what we would like to be true. For example, people can argue endlessly about whether a particular bit is ‘kinder to the horse’ than another, but it is possible to measure the amount of pressure exerted on the horse’s mouth by the bit, and the amount of stress caused to the horse by this, and to give a much more objective answer. It is becoming increasingly possible to compare various training methods, riding techniques and pieces of equipment and measure their effects on the horse. Yes, all horses are different, but if you do the measurements enough times on enough horses, patterns emerge. And by doing the tests in a methodical, objective way you minimise the effects of human bias, tradition, peer-pressure, wishful thinking and financial conflicts of interest, all of which can blind us to the reality of what is going on between us and our horses. By applying science to equitation you come closer to answering the really important question: how is this for the horse?

I can’t see why anyone would be threatened by this approach to

horsemanship. Knowledge makes things better, not worse. It doesn’t detract from the emotional rewards of riding and being with horses. It helps. For instance, we all know that horses can be trained by rewarding them when they do the right thing. What we easily forget, though, is that when they habitually do the wrong thing it’s because they’ve been rewarded in some way for doing that. If you are aware of this; aware of the science behind learning theory and how it works; you are much more likely to find out how your horse is inadvertently being rewarded for undesirable behaviours, and more likely to find a way to train him that doesn’t involve inflicting force or pain, or unrealistic assessments of his mental capacities or motives.

It’s understandable that a lot of riders and trainers might be afraid to have equitation scrutinised, just in case their own dearly-held ways of doing things turn out to be unethical or ineffective. It’s a sad fact that the horse word is full of reactionary folks who really don’t admire others for changing their minds or doing things differently. This is a consideration for anyone who makes a living as a rider or a trainer. It’s also understandable that for some people it just feels nicer

to think of riding as an expressive art, even if that means ignoring some basic facts of human and equine biology.

Whether we think equitation is an art or a science or a mixture of both is immaterial – what matters is what the horse feels. As far as we know, horses have no appreciation of either art or science, but we riders have all sorts of ways of justifying and rationalising what we want to do – interpreting our horses’ behaviour in human terms or assuming they have thoughts and opinions similar to ours, in ways completely at odds with what is known about equine brains and learning abilities. That’s why there truly is a place for using science in equitation: it is the best tool we currently have to cut through all our illusions and delusions about how we think it is and get straight to the pure, simple point of how it really is for the horse.

Alison Averis is a rider, horse owner and the Editor of Equine Behaviour, the journal of the Equine Behaviour Forum. If you are interested in how horses behave and in what might be going on inside their heads, please see the advert in this issue or go to www.equinebehaviourforum.org.uk.

I just wanted to say I love your magazine and enjoy all the helpful training features. I read it from cover to cover every month!! I found the showing feature sponsored by SupremeProducts really helpful as I have just started showing my horse thisyear, in hand and under saddle. It is also the first time I have everparticipated in showing. I love getting my wee horse all ready spending hours with my friend getting him looking spik and span for the show ring. Supreme Products are a must for him being a skewbald. Anyway I just wanted to comment on the feature especially the part on manners of the horse. I am sorry to say I have witnessed

some shocking behaviours from other people’s horses, one horse actually throwing itself to the ground, the other rearing and towing the person showing it around the show ring, can you believe they came first and second. Other horses refusing to trot or cantering off, dragging the person alongside etc. Why do judges not mark down for this sort of behaviour? We have picked up a few rosettes which I am very proud of for showing in hand and under saddle. I have to say my wee horse behaves impeccably in the ring and I find it disheartening when judges place out of control horses up the line. Manners don’t seem to count in many show rings sadly. Thanks for reading!! Rant over.

Fran Riley

Science in Equitation

In the Show Ring


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Arenas • Field & Stable • Property • Schooling

Schooling Exercises - JumpingRowan Tweddle BHSII (SM) B.Sc Hons

Linking fences together

You will find this exercise easier in an arena of 30x60 metres or greater, or a field, though if you only have a 20x40 metre arena you can keep the jumps closer together and small. The distance between the first (red) jump on the centre line and the second (black) one in a big enough space works well when 20 yards / 18 metres / 20 human steps. The distances of the curving lines from the first jump to the angled ones at the sides should be about the same or a metre shorter. These distances are competition length, so if you are on a small horse or a pony, or just want

to train a novice horse or rider, then shorten them by a yard or two.

The purpose of this exercise is to work on keeping a consistent rhythm between the fences on straight lines and turns, and makes the rider look up and ahead and consider their canter leads.

Start by building the jumps as small uprights in such a way that they can be jumped from both sides. Then approach the first jump (A) in canter and continue on in canter to pop over jump B. You should get 4 canter strides in here if you have put 20 yards in between the jumps. Ride away in a straight line in a good canter. If you can do flying changes then do so before you turn at the top of the arena / area, or break to trot to correct your canter lead. Practice looking up and where you plan to go – your horse will soon tune into your body language and start landing on the correct leading leg for the direction you are planning on going. Practice jumping from B to A and see if you can

do that in the same rhythm and number of strides.

Now approach from jump A off the right rein in canter and instead of continuing straight to jump B; take the left hand curving line and jump fence C. How good is your preparation? Were you looking at fence C before you had jumped A? Did you let your horse know through subtle signals that he was going to be asked something different? Did you ride forwards through the curved line and achieve the same number of strides as on the straight line?

Approach fence A from the left rein in canter, and take the right hand curving line to fence D. Ask yourself the same questions, and aim to be able to do the curved lines from both directions as equally as possible.

If this has all been easy enough, move on and link the fences using the red curved lines in the diagram. For instance you could jump fences A, C, B and A again. Or A, D, B and A again. Always aiming to keep the same number of strides between the related distances, and keep each one of those strides a consistent length, and to either land on the correct lead for the direction you are going in, or to change it quickly

and smoothly if your horse lands on the wrong one.

Lastly you can bring in the green curving lines too, to make a course. So for example you could jump A, B, D, A, C, B, A, C, D and A! You see now why you need to be able to jump them from both sides. Have a bit of fun and just keep jumping until you can do so out of a really consistent rhythm – but make sure you know what your “course plan” is otherwise there are no signals re leading leg for your horse to pick up on!


Arenas • Field & Stable

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It’s easy to forget that prior to the torrential rain the UK has experienced during the last few weeks, the country was in the grip of a severe drought. Exactly the same conditions prevailed the year before, and for owners of sand or sand-based arenas, the lack of rainfall became a significant problem.

Any riding surface that does not have a wax coating must be kept moist for optimum performance, and a surface that is allowed to dry out will soon start to ride deep and loose, lacking crucial stability. Schooling repeatedly on a deep or uneven surface makes the going enormously difficult for the horse and will, over time, cause fatigue, joint damage and lameness.

Leading equine surface manufacturer and installer, Martin Collins Enterprises, supplies its patented CLOPF® Fibre to riders and establishments countrywide, and in addition despatching stock from their northern manufacturing plant in Cheshire, recently entered into an agreement with Rowallan Activity Centre in Fenwick, Ayrshire, to stock the fibre ensuring a convenient supply for riders in Scotland. Lord John Rowallan, owner of Rowallan Activity Centre, has first-hand experience of CLOPF®. He added the fibre to the large outdoor arena at the Centre, which had a surface that was often hard and dead. Lord Rowallan comments: “The difference was incredible. Whereas before you could hear the horses jumping as they landed and cantered around the arena, suddenly there was a ‘spring’

in the surface and horses started jumping with more confidence and no noise. Our customers really loved it, and we found more people entering the big classes - where the surface matters most. In dressage, too, our customers were impressed and felt the horses were moving more freely.

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Horse Behaviour

Speaking The Language, Part 3A series by SUSAN McBANE explaining equestrian and scientific terminology in relation to equine behaviour and psychology, and its effects on horses and training

(THIS series is based on a glossary of equestrian and scientific terms presented at the First International Equitation Science Symposium, 2005. The glossary description is given in inverted commas, followed by Susan’s discussion.)

ACTIVITY, TEMPO and RHYTHM:

THESE three topics are closely related and, in the glossary, have almost identical meanings, so I’ll deal with them in one article. Their glossary descriptions are:

ACTIVITY: ‘The rhythmical speed of movement of the horse’s legs within any gait. See Tempo.’

TEMPO: ‘The timing or rhythm of the horse’s strides.’

RHYTHM: ‘The beat of the legs within a particular gait. In ideal equitation, rhythm is trained to be self-maintained.’

I think that it is confusing, in a formal setting like a lesson, to use more than one word to mean practically the same thing as in the above descriptions, and that it is better to separate these terms by giving each a clear definition. My own preferred definitions of the three terms under discussion are:

Activity – energetic movement.Tempo – speed.Rhythm – beat.

This gives each of the terms a definite, clear and unmistakable meaning, each of which is also quite different from the others.

The word ‘activity’ has come to mean in equitation energetic movement,

usually of the horse’s hind legs as the main propulsive force, but in a rider’s efforts to obtain activity he or she often ends up getting more speed whether or not this is appropriate, rather than a more energetic, powerful way of going. Sometimes, of course, we feel that our horse is, indeed, going in too slow a tempo within a particular gait, particularly if the horse is green, unfit or big when his longer strides, due to longer legs, can be mistaken for laziness.

The glossary definition of activity says ‘speed of movement’ and it seems that speed is what is meant by many instructors when they ask for more activity, although I am sure that there are some who are not guilty of this misunderstanding. Horses can, of course, go in a regular rhythm and be going too fast or slowly for the gait they are in and the work being done.

The word ‘tempo’ is often used indiscriminately to mean ‘rhythm’ and we often hear both being bandied about with no clarity as to what is meant. Taking ‘tempo’ as meaning ‘speed’, then, I find that many riders are taught to make their horses go fast, particularly in trot, and into a resisting hand with varying degrees of overbending or going behind the bit. Their horses have learned this way of going effectively and do it as a matter of habit, regardless of who is riding them, at least at first. In practice, excessive speed often results in horses powering down on to the bit, often taking a fairly heavy contact to balance themselves. This makes them go on the forehand, stressing their forelegs and feet, and going with their backs down and their hind legs trailing, with all the physical problems that posture involves.

Horses going in this way are usually not happy about it because it is physically uncomfortable and psychologically pressurising. Having to rely on something (the bit) in his mouth on which to balance himself is an alien situation for a horse whose survival has always depended on independent, free self-balance and movement. Horses tolerate this kind of discomfort and pressure and perform nevertheless because they know that is how they are going to be asked, or made, to go. In the worst cases, there may be an element of learned helplessness involved, too: their riders make them go this way and they feel powerless to improve matters.

The word ‘rhythm’ in equitation means the regular, even beat of the footfalls in the different gaits of walk, trot, canter and gallop. Regularity can be defined as a beat which takes up the same amount of time between each element, or footfall. If a horse goes in an erratic rhythm it is usually a sign that he is in pain or discomfort, or his natural rhythm is being interfered with by his rider or handler. Also, his rhythm can vary if he is working on a difficult surface.

If you don’t have a good sense of rhythm, you can’t do better than get a metronome and spend some time just calmly listening to it, changing the tempo of the rhythm and trying to set it to your inner ‘feel’ of your horse’s natural rhythms in each gait.

Spending time watching your horse moving around when free is also a good way to absorb his natural rhythms and tempos, particularly when he is moving with intent, such as if going over to a friend or the water or towards something interesting. Count the rhythm to yourself and maybe relate it to a

particular tune so that you can recall it readily when riding or working from the ground.

Jumping also comes into this picture. ‘Jump-cam’ your horse jumping at liberty, then do the same with you or his normal jumping rider on top, and see if there is any difference in his movement patterns, his use of his body and his posture. If there is, the rider is at fault.

THE WHOLE POINT OF EQUITATION IS TO TRAIN AND STRENGTHEN A HORSE TO CARRY A RIDER SAFELY FOR BOTH PARTIES WHILST BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN THE HORSE’S NATURAL GAITS. This sentence has huge implications which cannot be dealt with here, but please do bear in mind the words ‘strengthen’ and ‘natural’. It is abusive riding to make a horse perform movements or work he is not conditioned to perform or to change his natural gaits according to fashion.

Let’s see basically how to meet the requirements of these three terms.

Activity: Generally, I like horses to go ‘smartly’ whilst remaining calm and bright in outlook. It is not pleasant to ride a horse who is slopping along

cont. on p.36

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Training

at a snail’s pace and who will not ‘go forward’. Many riders’ answer to this is to give a leg aid (usually a grind with the heel or spur, or a kick) at every stride to at least keep the horse going which becomes ‘white noise’ to him, and maybe a spurt of several kicks to get a bit more activity now and then. If they use their whip, this is usually just one strike of the whip back on the sensitive flank which is useless and can really hurt.

Let’s assume that there is no clinical reason for this lack of energy, that the rider is not so bad that he or she is giving the horse constant or frequent pulls on the mouth (meaning ‘stop’ or ‘slow down’) and that the horse is not in discomfort or pain. Let’s say you want him to trot, or keep trotting. A quick fix (yes, sometimes they’re acceptable) is to do whatever the horse understands to get him to speed up – such as a spurt of kicks but not with spurs, cheerful vocal encouragement using the command for trot, and sustained, rapid tapping with the whip immediately behind your leg whilst holding the reins in your other hand so as not to jab him in the mouth.

It is essential that you keep giving your aids until he trots. If you stop them before, even for a moment, you have ‘rewarded’ him for not trotting and confused him as well. The instant the horse does trot, stop the aids

completely, praise him and maintain the gait with your rise, being careful for now not to put any pressure on the bit which might stop him again. Stopping the aids instantly teaches him that trotting is the right response, and he will maintain it from your seat movements. If he returns to walk, repeat the sequence. If you do this correctly and every time without fail, getting your timing spot on, he will learn within one short lesson that he needs to keep going. Make sure you, and anyone else who rides him, always ride him like this or, again, you’ll just confuse him. The aid stimulates him to act, but it is its cessation that teaches him the right response.

If your horse is better schooled and you just want more engagement and thrust from the hind quarters and legs, an occasional, effective aid is to put both your legs back from the hip joints (not just the knees) and give him a nudge-like squeeze with them, being careful not to stop his response with the bit. As ever, stop the aid and praise the horse the instant he responds correctly.

Tempo: Taking tempo as meaning speed, the important thing is to find your horse’s natural speed, at which he feels balanced, active, in control of himself and malleable. Excessive speed is a very common error and problem in modern riding because it is widely mistaken for forwardness. (‘Forward’ actually means that your horse is ready to respond instantly to light aids, not necessarily to zoom along at high speed.)

When I meet riders and horses going as described earlier in this article, I find that they have often called me in because they feel that they have reached a plateau and, despite regular lessons, are not progressing. They usually feel that something is wrong but don’t know what, or what to do about it. When horses are stuck in the habit of going too fast and on the forehand as described above, they are not malleable, and being on the forehand prevents them correctly performing school movements and exercises and, so, of progressing.

We must first slow the horse to a comfortable tempo and, usually, to get his head and neck up a bit so he can see properly where he is going and is encouraged and enabled to take his weight back off his forehand to assume a more horizontal balance. ‘Long and low’ is, indeed, beneficial but not with the horse on the forehand, virtually in Rollkur and going too fast.

Initially, walk your horse on a light contact at his natural walk tempo, and teach him a head-raising aid. Raise your hands straight upwards (not back towards your body) with a light but present contact, releasing (stopping) the aid as soon as the head comes up. If the horse is unsure of this aid,

gently vibrate the bit upwards, with your hands up. When he raises his head, stop the aid and praise him. He’ll start to understand reliably after five repetitions.

Next, take the horse into trot, when he may well assume fast tempo and head down from habit. First and at once, bring the head up, then slow him down with a sustained, gently vibrating bit aid as described till he slows, then stop the aid. If you need more slowing, repeat. If he speeds up, repeat. If you let him go fast and/or get his head down even once without correcting it immediately, you will confuse him. Always remember to stop the aid at once and to praise a correct response.

Once the horse is going at a sensible speed in horizontal balance, you can start to get somewhere. He’ll need to strengthen up in his new posture, but you are now on the way to progress, using lengthening and shortening of stride, transitions and careful bending exercises to develop his musculature and get his weight back more on to engaged hindquarters.

Rhythm: You know that generally walk is four-time, trot is two-time, canter three-time and gallop four-time. We are usually told that horses should walk in a regular one-two-three-four rhythm. Quite a few horses walk in a one-two three-four rhythm, with a slightly longer time between two and three. It should not be criticised or penalised if it is the horse’s natural rhythm and he is engaged and going well.

Having absorbed your horse’s natural rhythms in all his gaits, as described earlier, your objective is to learn to let your seat go with his back and leg movements in each rhythm. Stretch up from your waist and keep your upper body erect and still but not rigid. Drop down from your waist and, by loosening and relaxing your seat and leg muscles,

allow your lower body to be soft and absorbing. Let your seat and thighs feel the movements of your horse’s back and follow them. Full details of how to do this were given in my previous series when discussing the classical seat. If you tighten your seat and leg muscles, or swing your shoulders thinking you are ‘going with’ your horse, you will not be able to feel his back movements.

Feeling the back movements is key to keeping and, later, controlling your horse’s rhythm, if necessary. In rising trot, maintain the rhythm with your rise. In canter, keep your inside seatbone and shoulder forward slightly (on the side of the leading leg) which is your horse’s signal to keep cantering, loosen your seat and legs and allow your lower body to go with his back. To revert to trot, just bring your inside seatbone and shoulder back level with the outside ones and your horse will trot with no other aid, unless you are stiff in the saddle.

(Copies of the back number of ‘Equine Behaviour’ containing the original glossary are available for £3.50 inc p&p from its Editor, Dr Alison Averis. Make your cheque payable to Equine Behaviour Forum and send it to 6 Stonelaws Cottages, East Linton, East Lothian, EH40 3DX. Website: www.equinebehaviourforum.org.uk)

SUSAN McBANE has an HNC in Equine Science and Management, the Classical Riding Club Gold Award and is an Associate (practitioner) Member of the International Society for Equitation Science (www.equitationscience.com) as well as author of 44 books. She and Anne Wilson publish ‘Tracking-up’ (see advert this issue). For lessons and clinics in and near Lancashire, ring 01254 705487 or email [email protected]. www.susanmcbane.com

cont. from p.34


Field & Stable • Insurance


Transport

cont. on p.40

Transport – buy new or patch up old?Fiona ReedWhether it be a lorry or a trailer, if you compete with your horses, some sort of transport will be essential. Whether to opt for a sparkly new one or to tick along with an older version may be a decision that is beyond our financial control, and in the case of a horsebox could well be the second most expensive item we ever purchase, only surpassed by our house.

Rather than a villa in Spain or an open topped sports car, most horsey folk would have a fabulous, all singing, all dancing horsebox at the top of our wish-list if we won the lottery. In reality many of us have to settle for something a little older, and these much cherished vehicles often become a member of the family, stay with us for years and many even have nicknames!

When deciding on what type of transport will suit our equestrian needs best, there is the lorry versus trailer debate as well as the financial constrains which usually govern the final decision on new versus slightly older or even much older. A more recent consideration is also the restriction on drivers who have passed their car driving test from the

1st January 1997. Drivers with their full licence prior to that date can tow a trailer and drive a vehicle up to the laden weight of 7.5 tonnes (also known as Non HGV), but anyone passing since then needs to take a further test to tow a trailer and yet another to drive a vehicle exceeding a laden weight of 3.5 tonnes. Many families with younger drivers are now opting for the smaller 3.5 tonnes 2 horse horseboxes, therefore saving the need and expense for further testing. This demand for a size of vehicle previously not commonly required or available has left a serious shortage of older vehicles on the market and a surge of manufacturers developing innovative and technically improved ideas and designs to this section of the marketplace. More robust building while keeping weight down, lower centre of gravity, more head room for the horse, better partitioning and exceptionally clever ideas for day living and the little extras normally associated with bigger horseboxes are all being shoehorned into every nook and cranny.

Going to the other end of the spectrum, those younger drivers opting to take a ‘lorry’ test tend to take the full HGV

version of the test as this costs no more than the 7.5 tonnes version and gives them a qualification that will be of use both in and out of the equestrian world and widen their shopping list for horseboxes to much bigger and heavier weights.

Those who choose a trailer but would like a little more luxury and a bit of living space, have an ever increasing choice on the new market, but a similar problem as those seeking the under 3.5 tonne horseboxes in that only a few are filtering through to the second hand market.

However, for those looking at used options there is ample choice of standard 2 horse trailers, lorries of 7.5tonnes and of bigger HGV weights, and for those looking to buy new off the shelf or built to specification wagons there is a mind boggling array of fabulous vehicles to browse, contemplate and choose from.

For those who have finances in place and can afford it, what better than to have a lorry designed around your specific needs, being able to select colour schemes both outside and in

the living and have it delivered to your door in pristine condition. There will of course be a waiting time for this as build times can be lengthy and on occasions prone to delay. Payment will often be in instalments at various points of the built, cost can be reduced by using an older chassis, and your shiney new ponymobile will have a warranty to keep you repair-bill-free for some time. Warranties are often subject to servicing and maintenance from the manufacturer who could be some distance from you causing logistical problems and further expense. Many of the larger manufacturers will take your old horsebox as part-exchange but be aware that as with all new vehicles, your new lorry will depreciate in value the minute you take it on the road and put a horse in it for the first time, but a well cared for and maintained horsebox from a reputable maker will hold a good value well into old age as well as giving you years of happy travelling and competing.

And so we come to the purchase of older vehicles. With prices out there to fit just about every budget, view with


Travelling Safe with Equimat

Equicruiser – No HGV No Hassle

With the show season under way, travelling safely is the number one priority for any horse owner. Arriving feeling calm and confident gives you the best chance of achieving your best results. Equimat has taken away one worry of travelling with their purposely designed 18mm matting for the floor and 10mm thickness for the walls.

Equimat provides cushioned comfort for your horse gained from protecting against hard, rough and splintered surfaces, which prevents unnecessary scrapes and knocks. The floor matting reduces the pressure of standing which protects against injury and concussion. Your horse will be composed and confident while travelling, because they will have been standing securely and comfortably throughout the journey. This enables them to be in the optimum condition when they arrive at your destination.

Equimat provides the best possible environment, to help with the added stresses of travelling. As you would expect from Equimat, it is a high quality product which is slip resistant which is essential when loading and unloading. It is easy to cut and is fitted to your trailer or transporter and will give you many years of loyal service. Being easy to clean and light enough to move and carry are essential to keep your trailer or transporter fresh and hygienic.

For more information on Equimat for your trailer or transporter please phone 01536 513456 or visit www.equimat.co.uk.

Hampshire based manufacturer, Equicruiser have introduced an ever so helpful offer to make it easier when choosing whether to purchase a HGV or NON HGV. Customers purchasing a brand new Equicuiser are entitled to a donation of £1000.00 towards the HGV training and test. Equicruiser director, Cliff Evans comments “By introducing this offer, customers have more flexibility in choosing the right vehicle to suit their needs”.

Equicruiser offer a complete range of horseboxes suited to every requirement

from a 2 stall horsebox through to a 7/8 stall Super luxury living with a TRIPLE slide out.

To find out more information about their horseboxes and this offer, please visit www.equicruiser.co.uk or contact your nearest office:-

South Office: Tel: 01256 381635E: [email protected]/Midlands Office:Tel: 07855293858E: [email protected]


Tack & Turnout • Transport

your eyes very wide open as particularly some of the very, very old lorries could cost you several times the purchase price to get it through its annual test each year. Whereas most of us horsey people would feel quite competent and capable of assessing the quality and condition of the living and horse areas, partitions, windows etc, pop the ramp up and down to check we can cope with it on our own and may even be happy to lift rubber matting and crawl underneath to have a poke at the floor with our trusty screwdriver in the hunt for rotting timbers, most will admit to little or no mechanical knowledge. Therefore, when you find the horsebox that you feel fits your needs and budget try to get your mechanic who will be looking after the lorry for you, to go and

give it the once over. You otherwise run the risk of arriving at the garage with your ‘new’ and exciting purchase all puffed with pride at your bargain of the century for your mechanic to sink his head into his hands at the sight of the rusty chassis or the engine that is burning more oil than diesel. The older your horsebox the more important a reliable and reasonably costing mechanic and garage are, one who will be happy to patch up old or source second hand parts for you. Someone who works on their own is more likely to suit your needs best as with lower overheads they will charge less per hour and be more flexible than some of the large commercial garages.

Trailers are easier to assess by us ‘amateurs’, with few mechanical parts the most essential thing to check with

the older ones is the condition of the floor, especially if wooden. Double check the trailer weight though, as the older ones tend to be heavier and therefore require a heavier and more powerful towing vehicle.

And speaking of weight .... whether you tow or drive a lorry, check on the weight allowances. The authorities have really tightened up on checks in recent years and we should all be more aware of towing with a big enough and heavy enough vehicle, there is no doubt that a 4 x 4 is the most reliable and if you plan to tow 2 large horses will be essential. Horseboxes too are far more subject to weighbridge checks, so it is always wise to know the empty weight of your lorry as well as how the weight is likely to be spread over each axle when fully laden. Many of the older lorries are

heavier and a lot of the ones built for 3 horses can probably only carry 2 legally, not a problem for many of us provided we know our limits.

For those who would like to buy a new or slightly newer lorry than we thought we could afford, there is another option. Consider the thought of hiring your lorry out when you are not needing it and this can help finance the purchase price and the running costs. Websites and agencies that book your lorry out for the hour, day or week on a commission basis can make a new purchase a possibility rather than a dream.... either that, or, like me, keep buying those lottery tickets and remember that what comes out of the back of your lorry or trailer is more important than the vehicle they travel in!

Buying your first horsebox can be a dream come true for many horse owners. Having struggled for years with a variety of methods of transporting horses including clapped out old trailers towed by the sublime to the ridiculous and begging and borrowing lorries from friends (including the horribly embarrassing incident when my dad drove one under an archway that was too low), I vividly remember getting my first proper 7.5t complete with a very respectable day living. It was just wonderful!

Little did I know what I was letting myself in for however. My long suffering husband is very tolerant of my antics, but he’s not exactly the most practical and he certainly wasn’t any use when it came to problems with the lorry. And there were a few…..

It turned out I had bought a rather bossy and really very needy addition to the equine family and somehow every warning light, every squeak and rattle was met by the local mechanic with a grim shake of the head, a deep sigh and a “ well I canny fit you in ‘til a week next Thursday and it’ll take a few days and a fair whack of cash to

fix that problem…and no, you can’t use it ‘til its fixed.” So there goes another £100 of entry fees to boot. Fantastic..

It was just a bit of a nightmare. Even moving garages seemed to provide no respite each one blamed the other for things that hadn’t been checked and had been fitted wrongly and by and large it seemed nothing was done right. The really frustrating thing was I just didn’t know whether this was just the way it was or whether actually just turning up in my (rather lovely looking) horsebox and saying “excuse me…there seems to be a little light on I don’t recognise” was just an invitation to double the bill!

So rolling on a number of years and still determined to have a lovely horsebox which wouldn’t consume my entire monthly salary, I started the Myrentalhorsebox.com self drive hire network which allowed people to rent out their horseboxes on the days that they weren’t using them themselves. The network has been a great success and with over 100 members across the UK, there are loads of people now benefiting from getting a good income from their lorries to help pay for those horrible bills.

However, the advantage of being in a network is the combined buying power of 100 horsebox owners. We have recently managed to negotiate an amazing deal to provide our members with an industrial strength solution to the lorry maintenance problem. MyRentalhorsebox.com members can now access national fleet servicing offering the same reduced rates that some of the largest vehicle fleets in the country get. With commercial rates on parts and labour and an annual servicing and MOT offering for a fixed annual fee, it’s an amazing way to reduce and manage the cost of your lorry. Rates start at just £226 per annum for all your preventative maintenance and MOTs for a year! And best of all, you get the same 24/7 priority service offered to some of the biggest logistics companies in the UK.

So when my lorry developed a fault the evening before my daughter’s first pony club rally, one phone call later, the nice man turned up on a Saturday evening and sorted it straight away! He wore a nice clean boiler suit, smiled a lot and spoke to me in mechanical speak that even I could understand. A big pipe had come off a little one and needed to be

reconnected. It wouldn’t be expensive or take very long….so refreshing! It’s great to know you have someone on your side inspecting the bills and managing down the costs and checking the garage guys are doing a great job on your behalf.

So what if you like the idea of being in the network and getting all the benefits but don’t want to rent out your lorry? Well no problem, you can join the network as a non-participating member and still get all the benefits afforded to the self-drive hire members, (although of course nobody pays you to have your lorry when you don’t need it, which seems a shame!).

So, what more can you ask for? Well actually, they are still expensive to run with the cost of diesel being what it is. Oh alright then, we’ve even negotiated a fuel card for our members, so you can get commercial group rates on fuel! So really, is there any reasons left not to join? Have a look at www.Myrentalhorsebox.com and give us a call. We would love to have you on board.

With shows and events during the summer months, our focus turns to how to keep our horses safe and comfortable in transit. Here, Ride-Away gives us five top tips:

1. Choose long travel boots that cover knees, hocks and coronet bands, or

supplement your horse’s legwear with other boots to keep everything covered.2. Use a fleece rug- it is lightweight yet warm, and wicks any moisture away from the horse to maintain comfort.3. If you transport in a trailer (and

it’s likely to rain), consider taking a breathable, waterproof, lightweight turnout to help protect backs from driving rain.4. Make sure your horse’s headwear is in good condition and that it fits. Many people use leather headcollars for travel as they are smart and, if put under extreme pressure, the leather should break.5. If you’re loading a horse, make sure

you’re wearing protective clothing (hat, gloves, suitable shoes) to keep yourself safe.

For all your travel kit needs, see www.rideaway.co.uk, or call 01347 810443 to order a catalogue or speak to the knowledgeable team.

cont. from p.38

Owning a horsebox need not cost the earth with Myrentalhorsebox.com

Fit to travel?


Does your horse’s mane have a mind of its own or does he drive you mad when he rubs those plaits out before you even get to the show? Snuggy Hoods Lycra° Hoods are made from the finest yet durable Lycra® and are a firm favourite with top showing professionals. The Lycra Hoods are used to keep plaits tidy the night before a show and to help kick start training the mane to lie flat. In addition, they are ideal at keeping both plaits in place whilst travelling and native locks hay free, so your horse or pony arrives at the showground clean, tidy and ready for the ring. The hood comes in sizes XXXS-XXL.

Experience has taught us that using a Lycra® ‘all in one’ can cause many problems, including the face riding up and cutting in the horse or pony’s eye.

This is mainly due to ill fit and not enough length in the fabric to account for a fully extended neck. Therefore we created the Snuggy Hoods Lycra rug to be used alongside our successful Lycra Hood. It has a built in belly band, Velcro fastenings and elasticated rear for a snug fit. It is available in sizes 2’0 to 7’6. Both the hood and the rug are available in navy, royal blue, black and limited edition sparkle! The Lycra Hood and Body also forms part of the Snuggy Hoods Value Showing Pack. Other money saving packs are available.

For more information please visit www.snuggyhoods.com or email [email protected] or call 01225 783399.

Equilibrium products, the award winning company behind the brands Tri-Zone®, Stretch & Flex™, Field and net Relief®, Equi-Chaps® and Equilibrium Therapy® is looking for new RiSinG STARS with the chance to win £1000 worth of products for your horse.

Equilibrium is inviting applications from riders of all ages, in all equine disciplines and at all levels who are regularly competing in any discipline and are looking for support to help achieve their goals.

From the entries received one winner will be selected every month to win £100 of product. The monthly winners will then be put forward and votes will be invited early next year for you

to choose the rider who you think most deserves the prestigious title of Equilibrium’s RISING STAR 2013 plus £1000 worth of product. The Equilibrium Rising Stars programme is aimed to benefit amateur riders by sharing the knowledge gained from our investments in research and education, our experience as horse owners and our innovative product solutions.”

if you would like to apply or know someone who may be interested visit the Rising Star section on their website www.Equilibriumproducts.com for more information and entry details.

over the summer months hundreds of racing fixtures take place across Britain and ireland, but i’m not talking about your ordinary race meetings. i’m talking about racing that many of you will never have witnessed before.

Harness racing has a long tradition as a popular equine sport in parts of the UK, although in many countries around the World it forms a major industry on a par with Thoroughbred racing.

The British Harness Racing Club (BHRC) is the governing body and STAGBI is the

breed society that regulates the sport in the UK.

In the UK harness racing is a minority sport but has the ability to win over fans from their first involvement. With races over a mile on a half mile track, you are never far away from the heart stopping action. For a brilliant day out, find your nearest fixture and witness it for yourselves, you won’t regret it!

For further information about the sport and all fixture dates and locations visit www.ceredrotian.com

Lycra Hood and Rug from Snuggy Hoods – keeps your horse immaculate!

Come racing, come harness racing!

Your chance to become one of Equilibrium’s new RISING STARS plus £1000 worth of product

Events • Giveaway • Tack & Turnout


not quite finishing in the top line up in the show-ring? Don’t panic, there is still time for improvement!

Show rider, producer and judge Loraine Homer is top of her field, courtesy of Aloeride, the organic natural aloe vera equine feed supplement, Loraine gives readers some winning advice. Make sure you have plenty of space to show off your horse. The judge will be looking for a good walk, so encourage your horse to stride out without kicking and looking busy.

In the trot try to keep an even rhythm and always be ready for the steward to ask you to change into canter. Ask for canter in a corner, if you are not sure your horse will strike off on the correct lead.

You will generally be asked for a change of rein so when you come across the diagonal regain the rhythm and ask for plenty of step.

When it comes to the gallop make sure you build round the corner so you have your full extension in front of the

judge. Practice to ensure that your horse comes back to you with ease and remains balanced.

The conformation section is vital. When it comes to stripping the horse off and trotting up, nothing looks worse than the rider having to drag the horse along and someone flapping behind it to get it to trot. Make sure that your horse is also used to and happy with different riders onboard.

www.aloeride.com01858 464 550

A horse dealer was found guilty and forced to pay a total of £10,000 in fines and costs for license and passport offences when trying to export low value ponies from Essex to the continent. James Harbour was found guilty by Colchester Magistrates Court on 29 June with offences including exporting horses and ponies without health certificates, forging export licences and travelling horses without passports. Essex Trading Standards prosecuted the case which was investigated by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency’s (AHVLA) portal team based at Dover, after a tip off from a World Horse Welfare field officer who had obtained information that the horse

dealer had been exporting vulnerable ponies through the port of Harwich in Essex.

Tony Tyler, deputy chief executive of World Horse Welfare, said: “We are very concerned about the welfare of horses and ponies that are transported out of the country without the necessary checks and paperwork, as often that means the dealers responsible cut corners on welfare too. I hope this case sends a clear message to those who do not follow the rules that they can be found out. It’s an important part of our field officers’ jobs to speak to people in their local communities and we get a lot of useful information that way. People can also contact us anonymously with information at [email protected].”

A spokesperson for AHVLA said:“The valuable intelligence that World Horse Welfare provided alerted us to Mr. Harbour’s increased export activity and to concerns that he was attempting to flout rules designed to both protect the welfare of animals and prevent the spread of animal diseases. As a result, and by working closely with Essex Trading Standards and the Port of Harwich, we were able to identify Mr Harbour’s travel patterns, assess the degree of non-compliance and to decide upon the appropriate action to take. Further investigations resulted, from which a pattern of offending emerged. This prosecution will demonstrate to all that organisations concerned with the welfare of animals and the prevention of disease can and do work

together extremely effectively, enabling resources to be concentrated against those intent on ignoring the law in the pursuit of profit.” Compliance with health and welfare legislation is vital to protect the UK Horse Industry from the introduction and spread of notifiable disease. AHVLA’s portal team based in Dover continually monitor the movement of horses and ponies shipped through ports in the South East of England. Working closely with other agencies and organisations such as World Horse Welfare helps to identify issues of concern, which in turn helps to target resources to where they can be most effectively deployed, all with the goal of helping to ensure high standards of animal health and welfare are maintained.

Moving On Up!

Warning to unscrupulous horse dealers as man must pay £10,000 for license and passport offences

Photos: David Miller

Healthcare • News


Racing

in 1880 the identity of the winner of the Epsom Derby – the classic race run this Saturday - was famously disputed in a squabble worthy of a Dick Francis novel. now analysis of DnA taken from the bones of key historic horses has solved the mystery conclusively - and has also confirmed the authenticity of the skeleton of one of the most famous stallions of all time.

A team of researchers examining DNA extracted from the skeletons of historic horses in order to throw light on the origin of diseases found in modern horses have, in the course of their work, solved some of the mysteries that have long puzzled the horse-racing world.

Their meticulous analysis answers the question of which of two horses actually won the Epsom Derby of 1880, revealing that the winner was running under the name of another horse. The same study has also led to the authentication of the 220-year-old skeleton of Eclipse, a legendary name in racing worldwide.

The research – published in the current issue of the journal Archaeometry – involved not just laboratory work to analyse the DNA contained in bones, hair and blood of 300 living Thoroughbred horses but also an examination of historic archives held in Cambridge University Library and close scrutiny of some of the most iconic paintings of horses.

The research project was led jointly by Dr Mim Bower of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, who is an expert in the domestication of horses in pre-history, and a team from the Royal Veterinary College, including members of the Structure and Motion Group.

“The purpose of the research was to develop tools that will help us understand the genetic history of the Thoroughbred horse – and, in particular, to discover when certain catastrophic genetic diseases might have entered the gene pool,” said Dr Bower. “Knowledge of the history of these diseases will help us in improving the health of living racehorses.”

The Epsom Derby is one of the great classics of British racing. In the race of June 1880, a horse named Bend Or crossed the finishing line a whisker

ahead of his rival, Robert the Devil. Celebrations turned sour when the owners of Robert the Devil claimed that Bend Or was running under the wrong name and was in fact a horse called Tadcaster. They argued that the two had been confused as yearlings - and that Robert the Devil was therefore the bona fide winner.

Bend Or and Tadcaster came from the Duke of Westminster’s Eaton Stud in Cheshire. With the same sire but out of two different dams, the three-year-olds looked strikingly similar – though the dam of the horse running in the Derby as Bend Or came from a lineage that had never won a race and the dam of the horse known as Tadcaster came from a winning line.

At a stewards’ inquiry the owners of the two horses – who had long been arch enemies - argued their cases. The inquiry found for the owners of Bend Or who went on to stand at stud and, on the basis of his Derby win, made the Duke of Westminster a small fortune. In a twist worthy of a Dick Francis thriller, one of the stud grooms who had handled the two horses as youngsters was reported to have confessed on his deathbed that the two animals had been confused – but he had been dismissed by the Duke of Westminster so his word was doubted.

Samples of DNA taken from the skeleton of Bend Or, which is archived in the Natural History Museum, were shown to match that of the living relatives of Tadcaster, proving almost without doubt that the horse running under the name Bend Or in the Derby of 1880 was indeed Tadcaster.

The same team of researchers have also looked at the DNA of Eclipse, a chestnut stallion named after the solar eclipse of 1 April 1764, during which he was foaled. Bred by the Duke of Cumberland (known as the Butcher of Culloden), he easily won all 18 of the races in which he was entered, inspiring the phrase “Eclipse first, the rest nowhere”. He was immortalised by George Stubbs who painted several portraits of him, the most famous of which hangs in the Jockey Club’s Newmarket offices.

Once retired from racing, Eclipse became a phenomenal success at stud, siring more than 300 winners. Some 95 per cent of modern Thoroughbreds have him in their

ancestry. “His descendants include Desert Orchid, Shergar, Red Rum, Pharlap and Northern Dancer to name just a few,” said Dr Bower. The racing world was keen to discover the secret of Eclipse’s awesome speed and on his death in 1789 an autopsy took place. Performed by a French veterinary surgeon called Vial de Saint Bel and thought to have been the first-ever formally-documented animal autopsy in the UK, the procedure revealed that Eclipse had a massive heart – at least 25 per cent larger than average. His large heart, combined with a physique that gave his paces tremendous scope, is thought to be the reason for his outstanding speed on the racecourse.

During the autopsy detailed drawings were made of Eclipse’s physiology and measurements of his bones were noted. These records are held by Cambridge University Library together with early volumes of private and national studbooks (including the General Stud Book) going back to the 17th century. Vial’s autopsy led to the foundation of the London Veterinary College (now The Royal Veterinary College) and Vial became the first Principal of the College on 8 April 1791.

Dr Bower said: “The records of this early autopsy represent a vital historical resource for pedigree research which we use to trace the spread of desirable or undesirable genetic traits, for example. Today, the identity and parentage of every Thoroughbred horse is verified by genetic typing. In the past, records relied on the accuracy of recording at each of the Thoroughbred foundation studs.

“However, our research has shown that early Stud Book records are considerably more accurate than

previously thought, and that errors, where they exist, are as a result of a lack of understanding of the precise biological modes of inheritance in the past. For example, fraternal sisters being recorded as part of the same maternal lineage, despite sharing a father rather than a mother.”

Eclipse’s skeleton was put on display as a curiosity and later transported up and down Britain, packed into boxes and reassembled at different destinations. It was eventually acquired by the Royal Veterinary College, where it is now on display in its resource centre, known as the Eclipse Building.

It has always been thought that the skeleton of Eclipse, if authentic at all, was likely to have been a composite of bones from different horses including some from the famous stallion himself – and it did seem highly possible that over the years the bones had been confused. Rumour had it that the head, in particular, came from a different horse. The existence of five “Eclipse” hooves added to scepticism about the skeleton.

Now evidence from meticulous ancient DNA analysis, and cross referencing scientific findings with contemporary sources, indicate that the majority of the skeleton (including the head) is authentic. The authentication of the bones involved several strands of research which were undertaken in the laboratories at the McDonald Institute in Cambridge and at the Royal Veterinary College in London.

“We matched the mitochondrial DNA taken from Eclipse’s skeleton with DNA taken from his direct female descendants, traced by referencing their lineage from the records contained in the volumes of the

Solved: two of the historic riddles of horse racing

The Flying Dutchman and Voltigeur by John F Herring (1795-1865). Credit: Wikipedia Commons.


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Stud Book, early historic studbooks and Bobinsky’s Thoroughbred breed tables, held in Cambridge University Library,” said Dr Bower.

“We also matched the coat colour genes with the colours in Stubbs’s paintings. We looked at the stable isotopes across different elements of the Eclipse skeleton and matched high precision measurements of the skeleton with those taken at the time of the autopsy in 1789. The comparison of measurements was a real puzzle because the inch – which in England was based on three barley grains lying end to end - was not formally standardised until 1959.”

The research that led to these discoveries has implications both for archaeo-geneticists and for veterinarians. It is thought that humans first domesticated wild horses at least 7,000 years ago. Ever since, horses have played a central role not just in everyday lives but also in the human imagination with the ultimate horse being the fine-tuned athlete of the racetrack.

“Archaeological finds such as chariot burials suggest that horses were selected for specific traits, such as speed and colour, and that humans were making sophisticated active choices about which animals, and therefore which desirable traits, they

chose to proliferate,” said Dr Bower.

In the early days racing took place over long distances, typically four miles, with horses being tested for stamina as well as speed. Races were head to head with just two horses being run against each other, in multiple heats. The end of the 19th century saw the number of runners being increased and race distances being dramatically shortened. Short bursts of intense speed put a strain on a horse’s body with some horses beginning their racing careers at the age of two.

“Thoroughbred horses are elite athletes capable of impressive performances – but they are also prone to debilitating conditions such as bone fracture and tendon injury and exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage, many of which are thought to have a genetic basis. Our study of elite horses from the past will help us trace the spread of genetic disorders into the present – and it’s also been fascinating to have some historic puzzles along the way,” said Dr Bower.

For more information contact Alexandra Buxton, office of Communications, University of Cambridge, [email protected] 01223 761673.

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Gatehouse is working with the Child Brain injury Trust to help raise the charity’s profile in the equestrian sector. The company, which is also supplying its Design Headwear cycle helmets to the Trust, is supporting a range of fundraising activities for the 21st Anniversary celebrations. Tracey Woods, sales and marketing manager for the brand, said, “We are delighted to help the Child Brain Injury Trust in any way we can. This amazing charity supports families of children with acquired brain injury, as well as carrying out educational work in relation to prevention, awareness and increased understanding of how brain injury can affect behaviour in the longer term. As with so many worthy causes, the charity receives no government funding, so really is reliant on public donations in order to continue and expand its work.” Gatehouse became involved with the charity when it stepped in to support

a fundraising course walk by charity patron, Mary King, as part of the Trust’s Challenge 21 campaign. The event was planned for Badminton but has now been rescheduled for Burghley Horse Trials at the end of August. A raffle is also being arranged for later in the year and will feature, among other items, a Gatehouse HS1 Jockey Skull signed by a large number of leading equestrians. In the meantime, people can support the Trust by buying copies of the Child Brain Injury Trust Cookbook, 21 Treats for 21 Years, where you can find Mary King’s favourite flapjack recipe alongside contributions from Dame Judy Dench, Raymond Blanc, Mary Berry and children, families and staff associated with the Trust. For more information visit www.childbraininjurytrust.org.uk or telephone 01869 341075www.gatehouserange.co.uk

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A heart felt apology: “it is with great regret that i Ben Sturgeon of sound mind and body do write this article containing many long words for which i greatly blame the Romans and any anatomy teacher for not calling things by the obvious, i.e. “that muscle which bends the back n stuff”.

It is with regret that I must use such words but I feel it time we bring to the great horse owning public of this proud nation the chance to try and leave the dark ages and accept that as our understanding grows so must it be shared and communed”. But if you don’t like it - tough.

Horses and I have an affinity, we’re both hypochondriacs. We both can’t get out of bed when there’s exercise to be done. Bad back you see, comes on at the most inopportune moments. There are many parallels in the causes and effects between our 2 species but there is a large difference in the rehabilitation process. The hot topic is core stability or retraining the muscles to allow us to transmit strength and power to our limbs without overloading the spine. In human medicine emphasis is placed on the “motor” relearning allowing us to eventually optimise spinal stability. This simply means moving correctly. Instead of picking up a penny with a bent back, you pick it up by bending your knees. Repeat this 50 times and your muscles will begin to retrain and undergo the process automatically.

This may be obvious but in the horse there is very limited research confirming a similar approach would work. To an extent this has allowed the “back men” to flourish and sustain but science is catching up.

Stabilization of vertebrae (specifically the thoracolumbar spine) is absolutely necessary for transmission of power from and to the horse’s hind limbs. This stability is provided by the interlocking of the vertebrae (articular processes), the thin intervertebral discs, and the surrounding musculature (epaxial multifidus and sacrocaudalis dorsalis and hypaxial iliopsoas) along with the abdominal muscles (especially the transversus abdominis), which together provide the dynamic core stability in response to movement,

inertia and unfortunately gravity. If any of this stability is lost then a multiplicity of signs can occur. They may be as simple as a sore back, but they may progress to behavioural changes, loss of performance and changes in gait, often without a true lameness.

Specific causes of back pain that have been identified include muscle strain, ligamentous lesions, fractures, vertebral body spondylosis (osteoarthritis), arthritis of the transverse spinous process joints, impingement of the dorsal spinous processes (kissing spines), sacroiliac disease, degenerative intervertebral disc disease, and osteoarthritis of the synovial intervertebral (facet joint) articulations as possible sources of pain and dysfunction.

Without doubt under-diagnosis is common with vets missing many or all of these possible conditions. This I must stress I do not recognise as a failure of us, but as a failure of science. With limited information, only “quacks” to discuss the potential conditions with, and an absence of suitable imaging (scintigraphy and penetrative radiography and ultrasonography) to identify lesions it is little wonder we struggled to appropriately identify problems. And it is not until recent (2010) post-mortem studies have highlighted a significant level (77%) of “severe osseous pathology in the thoracolumbar and pelvis, many of a degenerative nature &/or related to excessive cyclical loading, such as stress fractures of the facet joints” that we have been awakened to definitive evidence of disease. The only thing we don’t know is the relationship between the changes observed at post-mortem and the evidence of pain or poor performance in the live horse? It is not a great leap though to assume that muscular dysfunction (or loss of core stability) occur secondary to an underlying pathology and confirmed with experiments (in pigs) demonstrating that back pain patients display delayed activation of the transversus abdominis and of multifidus, depriving the painful areas of muscular support. Furthermore, in both acute and chronic back pain multifidus was both reduced in cross sectional area and in density

within 24 hours of injury and did not resume normal function (in people) even after resolution of the back pain necessitating specific exercise based treatment to restore size and function. In people who did not undergo treatment, recurrence was 84% compared to 30% in those treated. Furthermore, like these people, horses may get caught in a vicious cycle in which pain stops the spinal stabilizing muscles and the resulting instability of the vertebrae further predisposes to pathology and pain that again inhibit the muscular motions. Based then on this human model it would be an understatement to say that it’s sensible to develop exercises targeting activation of the multifidus in horses as a minimum.

Rehabilitation, done along side regular clinical re-evaluations and ultrasound guided feedback (i.e. cross-sectional measurement or asymmetry of multifidus), is aimed at re-education of the muscles to provide the spinal stability with additional therapy aimed at the underlying cause. Initially the muscles are statically and repeatedly activated, progressing to a loaded or dynamic exercises as control is improved. The initial exercises need to be “dynamic mobilization exercises” based on flexing the cervical (neck) spine &/or lateral bends. These will activate the deep epaxial muscles and abdominal muscles. It has been shown in one study (where the horses under went 3 cervical flexions, 1 extension and 3 lateral bends each side to left

and right), that with 5 repetitions/day every day for 3 months resulted in multifidus enlargement and a loss of any asymmetry between the 2 sides of the spine. The exercises themselves follow the KISS principle of Keep It Simple Stupid and are basically that, getting your horse to kiss itself. The basic movements consist of chin-to-chest, chin-between-knees, chin-between-fetlocks, chin-to-girth, chin-to-hock and lastly chin-to-bum (you see, the title wasn’t so inappropriate), with the horse being encouraged to hold each position for approximately 5 seconds. These exercises combine both dynamic and static components, dynamically getting the horse to move into position and then statically holding it before moving back into a neutral position. For any of you out there with an unhealthy knowledge of spinal anatomy you may recognise that these stretches do not actually “stretch” multifidus, but what it actually does is activate the muscle to counteract the various flexing, bending and rotation produced by the exercises.

Perhaps as important as the use of these exercises in injury rehabilitation is their potential use in injury prevention and even performance enhancement, the exercises will not simply restore spinal function and stability but also play an important role in collected gaits and movements. They are laughably simple but could go a long way to getting the most out of your horse. Now after all that sitting I need some Paracetamol...

Back Pain: it’s not just kissing spines, so kiss my a...Ben Sturgeon BSc, BVM&S, Cert EP, MRCVS

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