Issue 477

Your Horse

Enjoy every second in the saddle

Your Horse2 min readHorses
Welcome
I CAN CLEARLY remember my first ever dressage test on my New Forest Pony, Prudence, nearly 30 years ago. I was the eldest of five cousins, and our main concern was how would we remember the test? Cue our grandmother writing arena letters on pieces of
Your Horse1 min read
A Word From The Team...
Freelance gear editor Allison Lowther: If your riding kit is looking a little tired, now’s the perfect time to treat yourself to something new. We showcase a wide range of the latest spring/summer riding wear in our buyer’s guide. Page 106. Freelance
Your Horse1 min read
Captured On Camera
■ Bluebells blooming in April marks the end of a long, harsh winter for wild ponies. Pictured are Dartmoor ponies grazing peacefully in a bluebell meadow at Emsworthy Mire in Dartmoor National Park, Devon.
Your Horse4 min read
HORSE Talk
For all the latest news from the horse world, visit yourhorse.co.uk The progress of the British Horse Society’s (BHS) Dead Slow campaign was highlighted at the 2021 National Equine Forum (4 March). The charity’s director of safety, Alan Hiscox, share
Your Horse1 min read
This Month We Love…
Green Bank Farm in the Lake District offers luxury ‘stable stays’ where guests snuggle up in a bed right next to the stable of a Friesian or Shetland companion on an open top bunk for treat-feeding and round the clock pats. From £250 per night greenb
Your Horse3 min read
We Do It For...
“I’m doing #Hack1000Miles to maintain the bond I have with my horse, Pixie. This last Covid year has been a challenge in itself. Even after four months off, Pixie has come back into work the same as she ever was.” Tess Watkins “I love a challenge and
Your Horse4 min read
Roll Of Honour
Some 19 months after hacking her first mile, Janene Hamilton recorded her 1,000th in March. “We finally did it - 1,000 miles, barefoot, in all weathers,” smiles Jane. “Thank you to my beautiful mare, Letty, for carrying me all that way. This challeng
Your Horse2 min read
New for 2021!
We’re launching a brand-new website later this month and #Hack1000Miles is going to look amazing! Sign up to appear in our digital leaderboard - a great way to keep a tally of your miles and see how your total stacks up against everyone else’s. Our m
Your Horse2 min read
Brumby
BRUMBIES ARE WILD horses that roam freely in Australia. All brumbies are descendants of escaped horses, dating all the way back to horses belonging to early European settlers in 1788. Initially these horses were required for travel and farm work, but
Your Horse7 min read
meets Sister Mary Joy Langdon
MARY JOY LANGDON is wearing jeans and a thick jumper. It is a cold winter’s day, so why wouldn’t she? After all, she runs Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre (WSPC) and a vast chunk of her life is spent in the great outdoors (or standing relatively still whi
Your Horse4 min read
Cheryl Howard
Cheryl Howard is a mother of two who works as boat crew on the Dartmouth to Kingswear Passenger Ferry, crossing the beautiful River Dart in Devon. My job involves working 12-hour shifts over four days one week, and three days the next, meaning that o
Your Horse3 min read
YOUR Say
EMAIL US AT yh.ed@kelsey.co.uk Unfortunately, we are currently unable to receive any letters by post. We reserve the right to edit letters when necessary. I wanted to write and tell you about my friend Erin and Trigger. Trigger is a rescue pony and t
Your Horse2 min read
Let’s Talk About… Confidence Out Hacking
Confidence is a fragile thing — it takes a long time to build it up and no time at all to lose it. With the evenings drawing out, now is the perfect time to get out and about and reap all the benefits hacking has for you and your horse. But for some,
Your Horse2 min readHorses
SEND A Selfie
Keep your photos coming in to yh.ed@kelsey.co.uk My funny boy Brock - making us laugh as always. Emma Edwards, Surrey This is my daughter Alana with her pony Cel. They’ve been a team for the past three years. They’ve been through a lot together, from
Your Horse5 min readHorses
Benefits Of Flatwork
FLATWORK IS AN important part of any horse’s training and should be regularly included in their exercise routine regardless of whether or not they compete in dressage or jumping or are used solely for hacking. “Flatwork will give your horse or pony t
Your Horse3 min read
Better Bascule
WILL FLETCHER is the son of legendary showjumpers Tina and Graham Fletcher. Will was under-21 national champion, has represented Great Britain on senior Nations Cup teams and is a former Young Rider European team medallist. WHEN TRAINING A horse over
Your Horse8 min readHorses
Impress The Judge
KIRSTY MEPHAM represented Britain in dressage at the Sydney Olympics on her former driving horse Dikkiloo. She teaches all levels from Pony Club through to grand prix. She is also a qualified equine sports therapist. Event rider turned dressage star
Your Horse5 min read
Assess Your Speed
International eventer SIMON GRIEVE runs a busy yard in Leicestershire. He’s sponsored by Allen & Page, Toggi, Omega Equine, Saddles Up, N.E.W., Bed-Down, Champion, PolyPads, Ruggles rugs and Flex-On stirrups. For all his latest news, follow him on Fa
Your Horse7 min read
Spring Clean
THE WARMER AND drier weather not only gives us longer days to spend more time outside, it also provides the ideal opportunity to carry out those tasks that might have been neglected during the cold, short days of winter. Here are important jobs for y
Your Horse1 min read
Top Tip
One trick I use is to allow the horse to take a few mouthfuls from the bucket before actually adding the medication. The bucket is taken away and the medication quickly added and mixed, and the feed is offered again. The initial few non-medicated mou
Your Horse5 min read
WHITE Washed
KEEPING GREY AND coloured horses’ white bits clean is a never-ending battle. Wet mud and stable stains dominate proceedings during winter, and many owners give up trying to keep on top of the challenge. But with spring finally here, now is the time t
Your Horse1 min read
5 Golden Rules
With greys, and especially those with pink skin, be careful when introducing new products. We always recommend patch testing first. Many shampoos and cleaning products can irritate and cause problems when used on a regular basis. There is plenty of t
Your Horse1 min read
WIN with Zebra Products and Equipe
■ A pair of Equipe Staf14 safety stirrups ■ A pair of Equipe stirrup leathers ■ Equipe care kit ■ Equipe grackle bridle ■ Equipe saddle cloth ■ Equipe backpack ONE LUCKY READER is going to win this amazing selection of prizes from Equipe and just in
Your Horse4 min readPsychology
FACIAL EXPRESSIONS: Jenni Nellist says...
Q Horses have such expressive faces. Do their expressions really denote the mood they look as though they denote? For example, a wrinkled nose looks like pure disgust, but is this possible? Gemma Stonehouse, Co. Durham Jenni says... Equine facial exp
Your Horse3 min read
SHEATH CLEANING: Kat Seeman says…
Q What exactly is a bean and what are the symptoms of a male horse having one? Jill Stanley, Devon Kat says… A bean is a hard mass of skin cells, fat cells, dust and urine that collects at the tip of the horse’s penis, in a small pocket just above th
Your Horse3 min read
FLATWORK TIPS: Kate Carman says…
Q When we halt, my horse either fidgets and swings his quarters out, or rests a hindleg when he does finally stand still. How can I teach him not to do these things? Christian Jones, Cheshire Kate says… When asking for halt it is essential that your
Your Horse2 min read
FLATWORK TIPS: Kate Carman says...
Q My horse always strikes off with the correct leg leading on the right rein, but not on the left. Why might this be happening and what am I doing wrong?Tilly March, Aberdeen Kate says... The first thing you need to address when a horse consistently
Your Horse2 min readBiology
Win
For a chance to get your hands on these goodies*, enter at yourhorse.co.uk/477 SPILLERS Fibre Lite Molasses Free is a low-calorie soft chopped fibre feed with the flavoursome additions of grass nuts and garlic but no added sugar. Used as a double han
Your Horse3 min read
What’s New?
The Mochara belt bag is an ingenious accessory that will put an end to bulky, unattractive pockets. This clever bag fits neatly onto your belt with loops and will keep your belongings safe and sound. It is made from the same technical woven four-way
Your Horse2 min readFashion
BUYER’S GUIDE Spring clothing
COVALLIERO Quilted waistcoat RRP £57 SIZES S-XXL FOR STOCKISTS zebraproducts.co.uk MOUNTAIN HORSE Unisex star vest RRP £70 SIZES XXS-XXL FOR STOCKISTS mountainhorse.co.uk YARIS Padded body warmer RRP £35 SIZES 8-18 BUY AT yarisequestrian.co.uk CAVALL
Your Horse1 min read
Your Horse Magazine
Email: yh.ed@kelsey.co.uk Editor: Aimi Clark Freelance Gear Editor: Allison Lowther Freelance Horse Care Editor: Stephanie Bateman Freelance Design: Geoff Johnson Commercial manager: Sharon Joanes Email: sharon.joanes@kelsey.co.uk Chief Executive: St
Your Horse1 min read
Next Month
■ How other riders recovered from a setback ■ Ways to think like a confident rider ■ Common riding anxieties solved ❋ Why essential oils have health benefits for horses ❋ Tips to manage a mare who’s in season ❋ Advice for preparing to compete again ❋
Your Horse3 min read
TAKE FIVE WITH Daisy Honeybunn
What do you love most about Hickstead? There is no other feeling in the world like on Derby day. It’s a magical travelling circus that comes together, and I love the feeling on the Sunday morning when the best is yet to come and history will be made,
Your Horse1 min read
Welcome Step Into Spring
SPRING IS FINALLY here — hurrah! We’ve packed this 32-page special full of topical and practical advice to help support you and your horse at this time of year. I had great fun working out which of Baileys’ stereotypes match my horses. It turns out m
Your Horse4 min readMedical
The Hunger Games Which Horse Is Yours?
The Fat One is a lover of food who can’t help piling on the pounds and is frequently a trifle wide in the barrel. As The Fat One lives on fresh air, their frustrated owners often find it hard to control their weight while giving them the nutrients th
Your Horse3 min readMedical
A Little Less Sugar
WITH SPRING UPON us, the better weather and longer days mean lots of horses and ponies will be spending more time out in the fields. This is a welcome relief for many owners after the demands of winter. Still, the risk of laminitis rises sharply at t
Your Horse1 min readFashion
A Family Affair
COVALLIERO HAS CREATED a spring/summer collection for the whole family! Does your daughter or niece look up to you and admire your clothing? Now is their chance to dress like you. The Covalliero riding tights sport are made from an extremely elastica
Your Horse2 min readFashion
Well Dressed
The new Celine X Grip breeches from Cavallo are designed with comfort in mind and make an ideal choice for anyone who spends long hours in the saddle. They are made from 70% polyamide, 23% elastane and 7% polyurethane with a CAVA TEC GRIP PU full sea
Your Horse4 min readTechnology & Engineering
Hitting The Road
HOW MANY TIMES have you driven your horsebox in the last year? Most horseboxes will only have had light use since March 2020, when Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions triggered competitions to cancel, lessons and clinics to be called off and horses b
Your Horse1 min read
Ask The Experts
Simple solutions for horse owners Kay Hastilow is a master saddler and former president of the Society of Master Saddlers. Kay has more than 50 years’ experience, and often lectures around the world. Jenni Nellist BSc(Hons) MSc is an Animal Behaviour
Your Horse2 min readDiet & Nutrition
Golden Oldies
OVER THE LAST few years, the team at Rowen Barbary has noticed an increase in calls to the helpline relating to older horses suffering from a number of health concerns. These can either be associated with more common problems, such as joint or digest
Your Horse1 min read
Get The Look…
RRP: £39.95 SIZES: 4-16 COLOURS: azure, musk and sage RRP: £24.95 SIZES XS-XL COLOURS: musk, sage and black RRP: £9.95 SIZES: adult and junior DESIGNS: pineapples, dragonflies, seahorses, rocking unicorn and watermelons RRP: £34.95 SIZES: XXS-XL COLO
Your Horse5 min read
In High Spirits
Northamptonshire based equine behaviourist KAY WILLOUGHBY has a lifetime of experience with horses, and is a registered, qualified and insured equine behaviour consultant and yard owner. She is a member of the Society of Equine Behaviour Consultants
Your Horse2 min read
Buzz Off!
ALTHOUGH WE LOOK forward to warmer days, summer brings its own problems. Flies become a concern for many, although exactly when the flies will arrive is generally dependent on the weather conditions. This is even worse for those whose horses are affl
Your Horse7 min read
The Right Position
Jockey turned showjumper turned eventer JOHN THELWALL trains riders and horses of all levels and enjoys producing youngsters. He has natural empathy with horses and this transfers to his students, filling them with confidence. WHETHER YOU’RE A regula
Your Horse3 min readBiology
Spring into ACTION
WINTER IS OVER and spring is under way, bringing with it warmer days and the prospect of more turnout time. The winter to spring transition is an exciting time and important when it comes to nutrition; it’s time to take stock and review concentrate r
Your Horse3 min read
THE BIG TEST Brushing boots
IF YOUR HORSE is prone to brushing, then wearing a pair of brushing boots will provide a useful layer of protection from injury. If you’re looking to buy a new set our team of testers have been using a selection to find out which do the best job. Eac
Your Horse3 min readFashion
Brilliant Breeches
UPDATE YOUR SPRING wardrobe with a pair of LeMieux breeches from the exciting new SS21 Collection. There is something for every style from casual Denim Breeches to ultra-chic new Dynamique Breeches with shimmering frosted gem pocket detailing. Comfor
Your Horse6 min read
Sizing Up For Spring
BEVA President LUCY GRIEVE MA VetMB MRCVS is an ambulatory vet at Rossdales in Newmarket. She works with all types of horses, from happy hackers through to amateur sports horses to elite racehorses. Her main areas of interest are lameness, diagnostic
Your Horse6 min readChemistry
In Disguise
DR KIERAN O’BRIEN MA MVB(Hons) PhD MRCVS worked as a clinician and lecturer at the University of Bristol before joining Penbode Equine Vets in Devon 20 years ago. His special interests are respiratory and skin disorders, and pre-purchase examinations
Your Horse3 min readMedical
A Weighty Issue
WITH OBESITY IN horses and ponies unfortunately on the rise, there has been an increased focus on research into the effects that extra adipose, or fatty tissue, has on the normal functionality of the body. In humans, we know that there are strong lin
Your Horse3 min readBiology
Why The Microbiome Matters
THE SKIN IS the largest organ. It separates our internal structures from the outside world. So, it should come as no surprise that microorganisms living in that world — bacteria, fungi and viruses — decide to make a home on skin. The “microbiome” is
Your Horse4 min read
SADDLE FIT: Kay Hastilow says...
Q My new horse has some white patches beneath his withers where a previous saddle has rubbed. Why does the hair turn white and will it grow out with his summer coat? Tabitha Williams, North Yorkshire Kay says... White patches under the saddle are due

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