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OUT AND ABOUT

SEPTEMBER 2012 HOrse DeAls Tel: 01733 468000

Excitement mounts as members of the show jumping, eventing and dressage teams arrive

The magnificent show jumping arena in Greenwich Park, a former royal hunting ground

Behind the scenes at Team GB’s stable block in Greenwich Park

Zara Phillips and High Kingdom on their way to team silverPic: Georgia Chapman

Judy and Jeremy Skinner’s Lionheart makes his Olympic debut with William Fox-PittPic: Georgia Chapman

OUT AND ABOUT

Spotlight on team gB’s success at london 2012 – let’s hear it for the Brits!gold in the dressage and show jumping, silver in the eventing… never have Britain’s riders shone Brighter

www.HOrseDeAls.cO.Uk SEPTEMBER 2012 HOrse DeAls

Above & below: Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Hester and Laura Bechtolsheimer prove we Brits are the world’s best when it comes to dressage

Right: Miners Frolic, ridden by Tina Cook, was in top form after battling back from serious illness last yearPic: Georgia

Chapman

Our show jumping team celebrate their first gold medal since 1952

Left: Carl Hester and Uthopia on their way to team gold – knocking Germany into silver medal winning place

Photos: Kit H

oughton

TrackInside

About Spencer Spencer started as a working pupil for eventing luminaries Lucinda Green, Mark Todd and Ruth McMullen. After taking up dressage, he was based with Carl Hester and won the 2007 national dressage title on Dolendo. He now has a training base at Grove Farm, Gloucestershire, with his partner, event rider Jay Halim. For information on the team, visit www.spencerwilton.co.uk

EvErything was mEmorablE –

thE backdrop, thE organisation, thE voluntEErs, in fact thE wholE ExpEriEncE

Spencer Wilton and Jay Halim take time out to travel to Greenwich for the Olympics and enjoy being part of the medal-winning celebrations and excitement

We’d been looking forward to going to the Olympics since buying our tickets to the show jumping and dressage

last year and when the big event finally arrived, it certainly didn’t disappoint!

We caught our train to London on the team show jumping day just in time, tearing ourselves away from watching the fantastic results unfold on TV.

I’d booked us two nights at a hotel in North Greenwich via Laterooms.com so that we would be close to the Blackheath HQ of Horse & Country TV who’d asked us to do some commentary work during London 2012.

The hotel looked fine online, but it turned out to be a bit of a Chinese Fawlty Towers. To be honest, it was shocking! When we arrived we discovered that our room had been double booked and that was just the start of it!

We watched the first couple of days of team dressage before returning home for the weekend to ride our lot before going back on Monday, this time choosing to stay in Knightsbridge!

Although I’d been to the Athens Olympics with Carl in 2004, so had an idea of what to expect from an Olympic event, nothing prepared us for the iconic setting of Greenwich Park. It was amazing! Everything was memorable – the backdrop, the organisation, the volunteers, in fact the whole experience.

I put my hands up that I was one of the people who was initially sceptical about this venue believing that an alternative choice which would have left a legacy would have been better.

However, I’m sure that anyone who was there would agree the venue was incredible and most of the horses appeared comfortable with the crowds who were

very considerate and tried to contain their enthusiasm and excitement!

Apart from supporting our own phenomenal team, I was looking forward to watching Germany’s Kristina Sprehe and Desperados perform in the flesh as I’d only seen them online, but in my opinion they were disappointing. To be honest I was incensed by their high marks as they weren’t as polished as I thought they would be.

However, Anabel Balkenhol and Dablino were as always a real pleasure to watch, while Anky van Grunsven did a fantastic job in coaxing the best from 18-year-old Salinero. It goes without saying that our lot gave their most brilliant performances when it mattered most.

Tears and triumphs We had the best team of amazing horses and riders that I’ve ever seen at an Olympics and when our team won gold I was sobbing like a baby while drinking bottles of water to keep myself hydrated!

It was emotional for me on many levels, especially as Carl and I shared a lot of history during our 13 years together. It was fantastic to see him reach a goal and fulfil a dream. Carl was under a huge amount of pressure but I was so proud of him and when I saw him later, I gave him a big hug to congratulate him.

Charlotte has an amazing quality with so much self belief and confidence, but is also incredibly likeable – she rose to the occasion like a true pro and her youthful exuberance makes her even more appealing.

I loved Laura’s music, based on the score from The Lion King, it made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck and for me Alf produced the best piaffe and passage of the competition

British dressage owes a lot to the Bechtolsheimer family – they gave Carl a leg up when he came to work for them which led to his ride at the Barcelona

Olympics in 1992 and have backed the sport all the way – they are incredibly selfless and generous.

Jay and I were gobsmacked at how many supporters there were for equestrian events, with more than 23,000 flag-waving fans enjoying every minute of world-class dressage – we kept looking around the arena in disbelief – never has equestrian sport been so popular!

I also felt incredibly proud of Valegro and Uthopia, both of whom I’d known as youngsters while I was with Carl. Valegro came to us as a two-year-old – he always had an outstanding temperament, trainability and spectacular paces! Watching how both horses have progressed through their training was just fantastic.

With the excitement of London 2012 behind us, we’re now focusing on our preparation for the Espayo National Dressage Championships later this month. Zamboucca has qualified for the Advanced Medium, while Neville [Super Nova] and Doogie are entered for the Inter I and Prix St Georges classes.

Keep your fingers crossed for us and give us a cheer if you’re there watching, we’re really looking forward to it!

Carl Hester watches the action with Charlotte Du Jardin’s support team

Team GB supporters show their appreciation at Greenwich Park

SEPTEMBER 2012 Horse Deals Tel: 01733 468000

BUYING ADVICE

www.horsEDEAls.Co.Uk september 2012 horsE DEAls

all-rounder

and find your ideal

all-rounder. Visit

www.horsedeals

.co.uk

Go online now...

Whether you’re looking for a RC horse, all-round competitor or hack, our

buyers’ guide will ensure you make the right choice

Words: Andrea Oakes

The ideal

Selling advice

Talented all-rounder 16.2 hh, 12 yo, dark bay gelding

This exceptional quality horse excels in show jumping and eventing. He is good to handle, shoe, box and hack out; previously placed at two-star level. Video can be seen.

£12,000

Tel: 01733 468000 (Horse Deals office)

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a horse with a good, up to date

competition record, whether at riding club or affiliated level, is bound to attract interest

Selling advice

Trying To

then make sure the price is right…

sell your horse?

Flick through this issue of Horse Deals and you’ll probably find several horses of roughly the same height, type and age.

But look at the asking prices and you could find that this is where the similarities end – and in some cases, it may seem as if the sellers have plucked a figure out of thin air.

Dealers’ prices are always a benchmark, as a professional seller knows the state of the market and knows what is in demand. However, you can’t assume that because a dealer asks and achieves a particular figure, a private seller can do the same; many buyers are prepared to pay more from a dealer with a good reputation because they know that the horse should be as described and that they have protection under the Sale of Goods Act.

If you buy from a private seller and the horse is not as described, you have very little comeback. But if you buy from a dealer, then the horse must be as described and fit for the purpose for which it is sold.

How saleable is your horse?Before you try and decide on a price, work out how saleable your horse is. There are some factors which always make a horse more attractive and others which may work against him.

Top class competition horses with current records will always attract interest, though this is a specialist market and animals will be priced accordingly: in the run-up to the Olympics, when some countries were shopping for contenders, animals were rumoured to change hands for up to £1.5 million.

Some categories will always attract wide interest, even if they can’t command telephone number prices. For instance, if your horse fits one of the following descriptions, you’re bound to attract interest for him:• A horse aged up to about 13 years who

has a good, up-to-date competition record, at riding club or affiliated level.

picture: matthew

roberts

BUYING ADVICE

september 2012 HorsE DEAls

best start

Off to the

Buying a pony that’s right for your child’s level of experience – and future ambitions – can be a challenge. Carolyn Henderson

explores the options

T he most valuable pony in the world isn’t a top competition animal with lots of noughts in the price tag – it’s one that gives a child

fun and confidence, both on the ground and in the saddle – and in those respects, is totally priceless.

Such ponies aren’t easy to find, even if you have a healthy budget. Geoff and Candy Martin, who run Martins Irish Horses in Kent, sell everything from family friends to competition ponies, and find that some would-be buyers don’t actually know their children’s capability and don’t appreciate the difference between a schoolmaster and a pony who will help build confidence.

“One lady told me she had £6,000 to spend on a competition schoolmaster,” says Geoff. “I asked her what her daughter had done and she said she’d just come out of a riding school. I had to explain to her that what she really wanted was a pony who had been there, done it all and got the T-shirt.

“A competition schoolmaster isn’t necessarily a quiet all-round ride, it’s a pony that will do a job if the child knows how to press the right buttons.”

He and Candy, who is a BHSII, have it down to a fine art. First, they try and talk to the children on their own for a few minutes to find out exactly what they’ve done. Next, they get them to have a test ride, but not necessarily on the pony they have come to see. “We put them on a really quiet pony to

see how they get on,” he explains. “If you get a child who has only ridden on riding school lessons, they sometimes get used to following the one in front and don’t actually steer.

“So while the parents may think they’re doing really well, they aren’t actually riding independently. If a child is happy on a really quiet pony, then we’ll let them progress to trying another that is more responsive, if necessary.”

Toni Molineux (see our Sales Talk feature on page 27) agrees. “A lot of parents, especially the non-horsey ones, often think their children ride better than they actually can,” she says. “They see their children cantering and jumping on riding school lessons and don’t realise that they won’t necessarily be able to do it on their own.”

Whilst parents are naturally ambitious for their children to have fun and do well, pushy parents can be a nightmare. “You do get some who are more enthusiastic than their children,” says Geoff diplomatically.

So be honest. Does your child really want a pony who will help win rosettes and team places, or are those ambitions yours? Encouragement is one thing, but pressure is quite another.

Geoff and Candy have seen it all, so have been very careful not to push their 15-year-old son, Oliver. As a result, he rides because he wants to, not because it’s expected of him, and is now taking part in British Eventing pony trials, which have been organised to

spotlight potential British team stars.“Oliver wasn’t really interested in riding

until he was nine,” said Geoff. “It would have been very easy to become pushy parents, but we knew we had to stand back and let him make up his own mind.

“Then we had a little 12.1hh called Jasper, who a little girl used to come and ride. He suddenly said, ‘I think I might ride Jasper’ and that was it.”

Six years on, Oliver has a great partnership with Farrells Hill Lad, a Connemara cross warmblood whom his parents bought from one of their trusted Irish suppliers.

Be patient after you’ve bought a pony, too. Giving a new partnership time to gel before you start going to shows will pay dividends.

First and foremostNo matter how many ponies and horses you go on to own throughout your riding life, you will always remember your first pony. Hopefully, it’s for the right reasons. As Geoff points out, the main job of a first pony is to instil confidence. And as Nicki Herbert, former director of training for the Pony Club, puts it: “As his rider will often only have ridden at a riding school, he needs to be the sort that answers questions, but forgives mistakes.”

The perfect first pony for a small child won’t be too wide, because this can compromise a tiny rider’s security in the saddle, but he will be totally reliable to

Toni Molineux has years of experience of pairing children with the right ponies

ExpErt advicE

Off to a

There’s lots you can do to settle your horse into his new home fast and guarantee a successful partnership from the start,

as Carolyn Henderson discovers…

winning start

september 2012 HorsE dEals Tel: 01733 468000

Moving to a new home or starting a new job come very near the top of the most stressful experiences life can throw at you. Imagine,

then, what it’s like for a horse who is suddenly faced with a new owner and a new home.

One of the best ways to get a new partnership off to a good start is to find out what sort of routine a horse has been used to and to keep as close to it as possible. There may be things you need to change, but continuity helps the settling-in process go smoothly.

The first thing you may want to do, even before you get your horse home, is arrange insurance for veterinary fees cover and, if you don’t already have it, third party liability. Insurance companies say that a greater

percentage of accidents happen in the first two weeks of ownership than during any other period.

A good dealer or knowledgeable private seller will tell you as much as possible about the horse’s routine, including what he has been fed, the amount of work he has been doing and the regime he is used to. The closer you can stick to that at first, the better, even if you have to make compromises to fit in with the demands of a livery yard.

You should also check the horse’s health history. Vaccinations will be recorded in his passport and, of course, it’s now illegal to sell a horse without a passport. Some horses, particularly those which come from Ireland, will not be vaccinated. If you have a horse

‘If someone’s bougHT a Horse prIvaTely, and knows IT’s been

vaCCInaTed, eTC, I wouldn’T neCessarIly keep IT aparT Livery yard owner Cheryl Gordon

Make sure your new horse is correctly vaccinated

ExpErt advicE

www.HorsEdEals.co.uk september 2012 HorsE dEals

vetted, you can ask the vet to give the first vaccination in a course if the vetting is satisfactory, if this is thought to be appropriate.

If you know the horse’s worming history, this will help you plan your programme. If you don’t, talk to your vet about when to do it and what type of wormer to use. “A lot of yards used to insist that all new horses were wormed on arrival,” acknowledges vet Richard Pridmore. “But depending on the horse’s history, it may be advisable to take a faecal egg count and go from there, especially if you are keeping him at home rather than on a livery yard.”

Should horses be kept apart from others when they arrive? Again, this may be advisable in some circumstances, but you need to make sure that your horse isn’t made to feel so insecure that he becomes too stressed. “If someone has bought a horse privately, had it vetted and knows it’s been vaccinated, wormed and so on, I wouldn’t necessarily keep it apart,” says Cheryl Gordon, who runs a large livery yard in Surrey. “But if it’s come from a dealer who hasn’t had it for very long, I do keep it so it can see, but not come into contact with, other horses – and make sure the owner doesn’t, either!

“A lot of horses develop coughs and ringworm after they’ve come over from Ireland or the Continent and you don’t want these to spread to other horses.”

Depending on the horse’s history, it may be advisable to take a faecal egg count when he arrives at his new yard

If you know your horse’s worming history, this will help you plan your programme ongoing

Winning partnerships

If you’re looking for a competition prospect it pays to keep an open mind, as talent comes in

many guises, says Carolyn Henderson…

september 2012 horse Deals Tel: 01733 468000

Hidden talents

Cob Billy Whizz, who’s just 14hh, has proved himself in the dressage arena, having competed up to Medium level with owner Sam Turner

WWW.horseDeals.co.uk september 2012 horse Deals

Talent can take time to develop and, sometimes, blossom in the most unlikely seeming prospects. And time and again

the equestrian world’s top partnerships have shown that often choosing a performance horse isn’t just about conformation, movement and trainability, it’s also about developing a partnership and being able to build a horse’s athleticism.

“Some horses can surprise you,” says show jumping coach Lauren Aske. “A lot of people are impressed if a young horse throws a massive jump over a fence, but all that matters is that it leaves the poles up.

“One of my clients has an ex-racehorse that is almost Grade B. He jumped economically over a cross-pole, economically over British Novice and economically over everything since.

“When I first saw him I never thought he’d be more than just a riding club horse, but while he never jumps any higher than he needs to, he carries on improving.”

Dressage trainer Stella Macleod agrees. “It obviously helps to have a horse who is born on the bit and has fantastic paces,” she says. “But too many amateur riders, even good ones, get carried away by flashy movement.

“Horses with huge movement might be fine for professionals, but they aren’t always easy to ride or to train. You’re often much better off looking for a horse who moves from the shoulder and has a good enough hind leg to be able to flex his joints, but isn’t particularly extravagant.”

Stella believes that a lot of riders make the mistake of assuming that to succeed at affiliated level, they need a warmblood. In doing so, she warns, they ignore other potentially good buys. “A native cross TB or cob type that’s trained correctly can win at Elementary and do well up to Advanced Medium,” she believes. “You won’t win against the professionals, but how many riders could do that anyway?”

So if you’re scanning Horse Deals for your next superstar, keep your mind as well as your eyes open. As our case studies here show, you can sometimes find more than you bargained for!

picture: matthew roberts

SEPTEMBER 2012 Horse Deals Tel: 01733 468000

WIN a HorseBoX

Ride in styleHere’s your chance to win this Equi-Trek horsebox, plus a complete performance pack from Animalife worth over £300!

WORTH£28,900

Win an equi-TRek sOnic HORsebOxThis Sonic Horsebox is worth a

cool £28,900 – and it could be yours if you enter our

fantastic competition today! The Sonic is compact and easy to

drive and carries two horses in total luxury. It has the added benefit of a tack/changing/sitting area, with two saddle racks, two bridle racks and two coat hooks so you can carry all your equipment with ease, totally separate from the horses’ area.

There’s also additional storage over the cab. Equi-Trek has generously added a package of incredible extras including:

• Alloy wheels• Mud flaps• Head divider• Corner seat with storage• CCTV camera• Digital reversing camera• Padded partition• Padded walls• Extra height partition• Road tax until June 2013As well as the fantastic Equi-Trek Sonic Horsebox, we’re giving you the chance to win prizes every month from our Win a Horsebox sponsors Petplan Equine, Musto, Animalife and Kent & Masters.

HOW TO enTeRFor your chance to win…Go to www.yourhorse.co.uk/win and follow the instructions. special terms and conditions apply. closing date is midday on 2 January, 2013. alternatively visit Your Horse Live at stoneleigh Park on 10-11 november – the horsebox will be on show for you to have a look at and you can enter while you’re there (turn to page 88 for more info about this fantastic event).• For more information on the Equi-Trek range

of horseboxes, go to www.equi-trek.com or call 01484 852121

• Competition open to UK entrants only, who must be 18 or over and own a horse

WIN a HorseBoX

WWW.HorseDeals.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2012 Horse Deals

when performance mattersPerformance Nutraceuticals

A nimalife is the No.1 provider of performance nutraceuticals – food

products that provide health or medical benefits. It has developed a complete range of scientifically advanced health, wellbeing and performance nutraceuticals for your horse that are vet approved, 100% natural and contain no banned substances. It has an equine supplement for every situation encountered during training and performance, from anxiety and nervousness to reduced stamina. Products include Vetrofen, a natural bute alternative for the ongoing maintenance of your horse’s natural inflammatory

response and antioxidant activities, to maintain comfort and flexibility of joints and muscles, and Vetroflex, which helps joint health and rejuvenation. It works by regenerating cartilage at a faster rate than is normally possible. Equine Oxyshot is a fast-acting calmer, while Vetrocalm is a maintenance calmer, counteracting nervousness and aggression. Vetroneuro helps maintain behaviour, memory, coordination, mood and concentration, and Vetrocell is a fast-acting, iron-rich formulation. Vetroimmune supports your horse’s immune system, while VetroCPH12 helps muscle tone and function.

Win a cOmPLeTe pErFormanCE paCKThis month we’ve teamed up with animalife to

offer two lucky winners a complete performance pack for their horse worth over £300

To enter, and for full terms and conditions, go to www.yourhorse.co.uk/win – closing date is 24

September, 2012. For more information about the full product range visit www.animalife.co.uk

OuR PRize incLudes• Vetrofen (21 sachets)• Vetroflex (1kg) • Equine oxyshot (3 calms) • Vetrocalm (42-day supply)

• Vetroneuro (7-day supply) • Vetroimmune (30-day supply) • VetroCpH12 (14-day supply) • Vetrocell (14-day supply)

Character buildingWhen new and old meet

OntheMarket

SEPTEMBER 2012 Horse Deals Tel: 01733 468000

Something old, something new, something borrowed… and blue skies would be nice.

Character properties with exposed beams, a family-sized kitchen and feature fireplaces are much sought-after. But character doesn’t necessarily mean old, and some recently-built properties combine the wish-list of character with modern design. Though of course, for some, only the original will do.

Chaney Plough in Exfords Green, Longden, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, is a detached family house with four acres, which will appeal to period property seekers. Priced at £600,000 with Balfours [www.balfours.co.uk, 01743 241181] the part-timbered property dating back to the late 16th/early 17th century has exposed beams, dormer windows and a large kitchen. Planning permission has been granted to extend this four bed property to five plus bedrooms, and you can live the dream with a productive vegetable garden and orchard. A range of outbuildings include a brick-and-tile former cow house, three-bay Dutch barn and timber block of three stables, as well as a tack room and paddocks.

Also with Balfours with a £425,000 price tag, the modern-day equivalent is Sunnydale in Sandford, West Felton, Oswestry – a dormer bungalow believed to have been built in the 1950s with a range of outbuildings and stables standing in 11 acres.

The three-bed property with large feature windows has eight looseboxes, a Dutch barn and various smaller barns.

Character properties offering unique design features are proving a popular choice, but not every buyer wants period charm – original modern homes are in demand too!

ExposEd bEams, a family-sizEd

kitchEn and fEaturE firEplacEs arE much sought-aftEr’

Spring Acre Farm, Thorpe-in-Balne, Doncaster, Yorkshire£899,999

Manor Farm Cottage, Astwood Bank, Redditch, Worcestershire

Garden Cottage in Whepstead, Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk – a charming three-bed home retaining many original features, situated within the grounds of the magnificent grade II listed Plumpton Hall – is priced at £425,000 with ECR Properties [ecrproperties.com, 07767 327327]. A barn and four stables adjoin the property, offering scope and potential to create further accommodation, subject to planning consents.

Two acres of paddocks – a remaining 1.75 acres is available by separate negotiation – and four stables a

short distance along the drive complete the property.The Stables in Feltwell, Norfolk, a two acre property,

also with ECR Properties, with a guide price of £435,000, is a superb conversion with spacious, flexible accommodation in the former domestic accommodation and stables of a local estate. Currently divided into a two-bed house and one-bed flat, there is further scope to develop subject to planning consents. A stable courtyard with two looseboxes,

tack room, four stalls, a three-bay garage, barn and paddocks make up the property.

Tollgate Barn in Crowfield, near Ipswich, a detached barn-style home built in 2008, is another with ECR Properties priced at £525,000. The three-bed home has conservatory, study, summer house, paddocks, a large barn, three looseboxes and tack room.

Rural and Equestrian [ruralandequestrian.com, 01553 829400] have the full-of-character Baileys Farm

£875,000

This five-bed Georgian farmhouse has been extensively modernised

Manor Farm Cottage boasts a fully equipped boarding kennels business

When new and old meet

www.horsedeals.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2012 Horse Deals

in Breachwood Green, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, with its high ceilings, inglenook fireplace, exposed beams, cellar and magnificent baronial-style dining room with vaulted ceiling – all for offers over £870,000.

The spacious, five-bed grade II Listed farmhouse standing in seven acres has extensive outbuildings offering huge potential for annex, offices or storage subject to planning consents. Seven stables, a feed room, hay storage, three timber-framed barns,

six large paddocks, excellent out-riding and no near neighbours make this an attractive property.

Manor Farm Cottage in Astwood Bank, Redditch, Worcestershire, is another seven acre Rural and Equestrian property with a guide price of £875,000. The six bed accommodation is currently divided for two families and, alongside the stable block of four, barn and outbuildings, is a fully equipped boarding kennels business. Planning permission has also been

granted for a new stable block, all-weather turnout arena, horse-walker and manege.

The substantial Spring Acre Farm, Thorpe-in-Balne, Doncaster, Yorkshire, is a five-bed Georgian farmhouse dating from 1800 in 10 acres priced at £899,999 with Rural and Equestrian. The improved family home has an attached two-bed cottage, nine internal stables, two tack-rooms, manege, workshop, barn and two acre stocked lake.

£435,000 The Stables, Feltwell, Norfolk

Baileys Farm, Breachwood Green, Hitchin, Hertfordshire

£870,000

The Stables is a superb conversion, currently divided into a two-bed house and one-bed flat

Garden Cottage, Whepstead, Bury St

Edmonds, Suffolk£425,000

Garden Cottage retains many original features, set in the grounds of grade II listed Plumpton Hall

Sunnydale was originally built in the 1950s and offers a range of outbuildings

Sunnydale, Sandford, West Felton,

Oswestry, Shrops£425,000Tollgate Barn, Crowfield, near Ipswich

£525,000

Chaney Plough, Exfords Green, Longden, Shrewsbury, Shropshire£600,000

Baileys Farm is full of character

Chaney Plough will appeal to period property seekers

Tollgate Barn is a stylish three-bed home

BE A BETTER RIDER, GET THE BEST FROM YOUR HORSE

To subscribe, visit www.greatmagazines.co.uk/yourhorse

Also in this issue…• The Your Horse Training Academy with Jay Halim and Spencer Wilton

• Two top horsemen, Western pro David Deptford and driver extraordinaire Boyd Exell, swap disciplines!

• Get to know Sylvia Loch in our celebrity interview• Six in-hand exercises to develop your horse’s manners

• Learn about your horse’s teeth as we look inside the equine jaw• In gear - choosing the right bedding AND a guide to long casual boots on the market

If you’ve just bought a new horse and want to brush up on your equestrian knowledge the neW Your Horse Essential Know-How section is your one-stop shop for the basics and beyond. We bring you advice on everything from

how to ride the perfect circle and get the correct

canter lead to easy rein adjustments.On

Sale nOw

All-nEw ESSEnTIAl knOw-HOwmagazine

AlternAtive forAge sources

As more and more top riders, including eventers Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks, switch to new ways of providing quality forage,

we explore the world of hydroponic feeding systems

A forAge AlternAtive

Reliable, consistent, fresh green forage, all year round, whatever the weather… It may sound too good to be true, but that’s exactly what

Fodder Solutions is offering via its revolutionary new hydroponic (or soil-less) feeding system. The manufacturers claim it takes the uncertainty out of providing reliable, good quality feed for your horse, and in the wake of recent poor harvests the system’s success looks set to continue.

As horse owners brace themselves for ever-rocketing feed costs after Britain faces drought conditions followed by floods, consistent good quality hay is hard to find, and hydroponic systems offer a viable alternative, with potential cost savings and added health benefits.

How does it work?• Fodder Solutions’ system is a self-contained

thermal unit providing the optimum conditions for sprouting grains.

• It grows fresh ‘grass mats’ from barley seed, providing a consistent supply of fresh feed, which suits the horse’s natural digestive system.

• The feed is grown in trays from barley seed and, as it grows, it forms a mat.

• Traditionally, high quality barley seeds are used to grow the sprouts, although sunflower, lupin or mung beans can be added to the seed mix to add more protein or oil.

• It takes six days from seed to feed, and the rotation system is recharged daily to ensure a reliable, continuous supply of fresh green feed every day.

The grass mats (above); main pic: Lucinda Fredericks uses the

system with her team of eventersPIC: MITsubIshI MoTors/KIT houghTon

Mitsubishi M

otors/Kit H

oughton

PLUS!

• Exclusive behind the scenes news and views from dressage rider Spencer Wilton and Olympic eventer Clayton Fredericks• Essential horse care and riding advice• The latest products and gadgets on the market

Horse DealsNext month in

On SalE 25 SEpTEmbEr

HorSe DeaLS – ThE numbEr OnE magazinE FOr hOrSES and hOrSEbOxES

Expert advice

ChOOSing yOur idEal hunTErhow to find the right horse and get the season off to a flying start

buying an OldEr hOrSE The pros and cons explained

Taking ThE WOrry OuT OF buying The steps you can take to ‘vet’ your new purchase

hEavyWEighT OpTiOnSWhat heavy horses can offer every discipline

to help you buy and sell with confidence, including:

SUBSCrIBe!To Horse Deals magazine at www.greatmagazines .co.uk/horsedealsSee page 50 for details

Picture: Arterra picture Library/A

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