Your free NATIONAL magazineNovember 2013

FREE

The effects of feeding ontemperament

RespiratoryProducts to helpmaintain healthyairways

DressagedilemmasHow to avoidmaking some

common mistakes

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Manyfantastic

prizes up for grabs!

WinterworriesAdvice on how todeal with threeseasonal problems

Christmas gift guide perfect products for the equine enthusiast

Jumpingwater jumps

Farrierytreatmentfor an abscess

Contact Horse ScenePost: 9 Maple Grove, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 1NQTelephone: 01707 880170

Horse Scene Teamkate@horsescenemagazine.co.ukcharlotte@horsescenemagazine.co.ukinfo@horsescenemagazine.co.uk

Subscriptions & Back IssuesT: 01707 880170E: subscribe@horsescenemagazine.co.uk

Contributing writersZoe DaviesKK EquestrianSarah WestonDWF EquineCraig D’ArcyHilary SelfWarren Lampert

Published ByHorse Scene Magazine is publishedby KCD Publishing. All contents arecopyright. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may becopied, stored or transmitted in anyform without prior writtenpermission from the publisher.Whilst every effort is made toensure accuracy, no responsibilitycan be accepted however caused.Contributed material does notnecessarily reflect the opinion of thepublishers. The Editorial policy andgeneral layout of this publication areat the discretion of the publisher. Noresponsibility can be accepted forarticles, photographs or illustrationswhilst in transmission with thepublishers.

Inside this issue...

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Horse talk news, gossip and updates

Legal scene the practicalities of equine property

Winter worries advice on how to deal with threeseasonal problems

Letter Scene your views & experiences in the equine world

Dressage dilemmas - how to avoid making somecommon mistakes

WIN A year’s worth of Verdo bedding!

WIN a Horseware outfit for you and your horse

New on the scene new products to the equinemarket

Tack talk posture management in the saddle

The effects of feeding on temperament

Farriery treatment for an abscess

Token frenzy collect your 1st token

Respiratory products to help maintain healthyairways

Herb of the month

Jumping water jumps

WIN lots of giveaways up for grabs!

Christmas gift guide perfect products for theequine enthusiast

On trial read our product testing reviews

Tackroom break relax with our puzzles

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Horsetalk

4 HorseScene

Petplan Equinelaunches newhorse ownershipsurveyThe UK’s leading equine insuranceprovider is asking horse owners totake part in an online survey to findout whether the current economicclimate is having an impact onhorse ownership. The surveyfocuses on issues includingfeeding, worming, vaccinations,veterinary treatment and roadsafety and aims to generate anaccurate understanding of theaverage horse owner and how theymanage their horse in 2013.

“Petplan Equine celebrated its 25thbirthday this year,” said Isabellavon Mesterhazy, Petplan’s Head ofMarketing, “and it is very importantthat we continue to understandour customers and the key issuesthat affect them, particularly thefinancial implications. We hopethat this survey will help us toidentify the ways in which horseownership has evolved as a resultof the economic climate and tooffer the most effective servicethat we can to ensure owners cancontinue to provide the best carefor their horses.”

Everyone who takes part in thesurvey will be entered into a prizedraw in which four people will wina Petplan goody bag, whichincludes a saddlecloth, first aid kitand Focus on Advice guides. Thesurvey goes live on November 1stand horse owners can take partthroughout November.

To take part in the survey, go towww.petplanequine.co.uk/survey/

Don’t miss out!Have you become a fan of Horse Scene’s facebook page yet?

If not, you’re missing out on Competitions & giveaways • Up to date news • Gossip & discussions ...and much more!

Horse rescued from shocking conditionsis facing a bright future

A horse rescued from terrible conditionshas now found a loving home with a wellrespected horse trainer and is facing abright future.

Along with eleven other horses, Mickeywas found locked in a barn with no food orwater, only rubble and litter. HorseWorld, aBristol-based rescue charity was one ofthe charities that came to their aid. Theydiscovered that not only were these horsesall emaciated, but both strangles andsalmonella had swept through the wholeherd. Working alongside other charities toremove all twelve horses, HorseWorldbrought home four of the poorly animals.

“It really was a shocking sight that greetedus on arrival at the scene.” SaidHorseWorld’s Husbandry Manager, JoanneVaughan. “The horses had been shut in thebarn and simply left to die. They were allweak, barely able to stand, suffering withuntreated open wounds, salmonella,strangles and worm burdens. To think thatthis suffering had been inflicteddeliberately is sickening. Sadly the twomares had such extensive worm damagethey didn’t make it, but the two youngmales now named Mickey and Einsteinfought on.”

With the help of vets, farriers, dentists andphysiotherapists Einstein and Mickeybegan to pull though. Mickey was sufferinga wound on his face and yellow dischargefrom his nose which was failing to heal.Further investigation showed that he hadsome fragments of bone floating around

his sinus cavity, probably the result of atrauma. The vets flushed out his sinuscavity and the wound began to heal.

Mickey has now found a fantastic homewith horse trainer, Bronwen Packham.Bronwen was trained by Kelly Marks (theprodigy of legendary horse whisperer,Monty Roberts) in the use of IntelligentHorsemanship techniques and is theholder of the Monty Roberts PreliminaryCertificate of Horsemanship. She has athorough understanding of horsepsychology and equine behaviour.

“We feel that Mickey has well and trulysettled in here at our farm, Harmony Fieldsand is very much part of the family - and ahappy, cheeky addition at that.” SaidBronwen. “I think it’s fair to say thatHorseWorld really do work miracles.”

To find out more about rehoming arescued horse, please visitwww.horseworld.org.uk/rehome

To find out more about BronwenPackham’s courses and clinics, please visitwww.equineharmony.co.uk

ChatBlue Cross inundated with younghorses needing help

WE ASKED Fireworks night can often bea stressful time for our horses, especiallynow that it seems to go on for weeks. Doyou have a routine to make sure yourhorse stays happy and as stress free aspossible during this time?

We are lucky that we have an olderpony who doesn't bother with much -she used to live next door to an airport!So she gets put next to any young onesand we pop the radio on in the yard tilthe fireworks stop as the constantsound seems to take the edge off. Nicola Alexandria Hutchings

Keep the same routine as normal -suddenly bringing them in or chuckingthem out is likely to stress them outmore then the fireworks. Charlotte Barker

Our 4 boys live out 24/7, they areyoungsters and don't seem bothered atall. In fact, one year we caught 3 ofthem lying down and the 4th watchingthe fireworks on the opposite hill! Wehave 2 new ones this year (ex racer andwpbr) so don't know what they will belike, but we have 12 acres naturallydivided into 4 paddocks but they haveaccess to all. I feel they are safer beingoutside, unless their field was next to abig display or surrounded by houses. Becky Young

Although I worry about the stubs andsparks, my mare likes to watchfireworks. If she can see them she stayscalm as she seems to know the bangsare associated with them. Plus she’s anold lady so she's had many years ofdisplays to get used to them! Naomi Stevens

In her stable, rugged up with a haynetand her lick = happy pony Martika Chambers

Blue Cross has seen a 28% increase inthe number of welfare cases involvingyoung horses and ponies beingadmitted to its centres this year. Thecharity is urgently seeking experiencedtemporary homes for youngsters tofree up space at centres for the furtherwelfare intakes anticipated this winter.

This year 55 of the 197 horses admittedto the leading animal charity’s horsecentres in Oxfordshire andStaffordshire have been youngstersunder the age of four – a 28% increaseon last year. In addition the charity haswitnessed a dramatic rise in thenumber of in-foal mares and mareswith foals at foot being admitted to itscentres.

Blue Cross is urgently looking forexperienced temporary homes for 23youngsters, until they are old enoughto be backed either in the home or atthe centre, as well as eight mares withfoals at foot.

Emmett was less than a year old whenhe rescued as part of a large welfareoperation by the RSPCA in January2012. He was severely malnourishedand suffering from strangles as well asa lice infestation when he arrived atBlue Cross and needed veterinary care,a special feeding regime and intensivehandling to prepare him for his future.

With lots of patience and a tailor madetraining programme to help him bondwith people and build his confidenceEmmett turned a corner and became bolder and more content, and he hasnow been rehomed as a field-mate toanother pony. He is progressing welland has settled happily into his newhome. When Emmett is four years old,he will be assessed to see if he issuitable for training as a riding pony.

Kath Urwin, manager of the Blue CrossRehoming Centre at Rolleston inStaffordshire explains: “If you have thefacilities and knowledge to help us youmight also be interested in our fostercare scheme that uses suitablevolunteers to provide short term respitecare for some of our horses and ponies.We will provide support, guidance andtraining and will reimburse for costs.” To find out more visitwww.bluecross.org.uk

Emmett on arrival

Emmett wasclipped due to his liceinfestation

Emmett enjoying turnout

Whether you plan to buy, rent ordevelop your property it is essential torecognise that where equestrianinterests are involved, thearrangements required will be muchmore complex compared to a simpleresidential property transaction, forexample. Your first port of call shouldbe to seek advice from a specialistproperty lawyer who is used to dealingwith equine property related matters.

Shelley Williams, a property lawyer andequine specialist at national law firmDWF sets out the points to considerwhen looking at making the dream ofpossessing equine property a reality.

Purchase or Rent?The decision on whether to buy or takea lease of a property is largely basedupon the amount of capital that anindividual has available, whether theycan borrow funds and whether they arecomfortable with taking on a morepermanent commitment of legallyowning a property.

The purchase of a property will involveadditional costs, such as surveyor'sfees, search fees, stamp duty premiumsand perhaps a specialist mortgage,particularly if the property will have acommercial use element, such as therunning of a livery yard or a provider ofother services, such as stud, race orcompetition yards.

Taking a lease of a property is a goodoption, as the length of the term can benegotiated and options built into thelease to exercise a break clause to bringan arrangement to an early end shouldyou find the property unsuitable oryour circumstances change. A leasecould also be appropriate if you areunable to obtain a mortgage and/or donot have the capital available topurchase. It is important to considerhowever, that a bond is usuallyrequested together with the paymentof at least the first month's rent inadvance. If the lease is taken on for arelatively short period, then dependingon what is agreed at the outset, there is

no guarantee that you would beentitled to renew at the end of theterm, nor whether the owner wouldstill want to rent the property.

Planning Considerations If you are looking to develop land orexisting premises for equine use then itis imperative to seek advice from aspecialist planning lawyer. Aside fromusual planning constraints that applywhere building or altering property isconcerned, permissions for change ofuse (for example from agricultural toequestrian, or residential tocommercial) may be required.

There have been occasions whenstables and outbuildings have beenbuilt on land or within existing barnswithout permission and the localauthority has subsequently made anorder for the buildings to bedemolished. Failure to comply withsuch an order can result in heavy finesand/or committal to prison for theindividuals involved. Retrospectiveconsent to planning and change of useis possible, however, there is noguarantee that the local authority willgrant this and they are not obliged todo so.

Planning fees are expensive and theprocedures involved can becomplicated. For example, it isimportant to consider that planningpermission can be required for theerection of an indoor as well as anoutdoor arena and even for theinstallation of floodlights!

Prospective newowners or tenants should checkwhether the erection of any stables,arena etc required planning permissionand whether this was obtained becausethe liability for breach of such can beenforced against them as thesubsequent owner or tenant.

Thinking of renting your field,small holding or yard?

For those looking to rent theirunused stables, or to rent their fieldfor grazing, you must be cautiousand ensure that however casual thearrangement, a written agreementsetting out the arrangement indetail is essential as it will set outhow those persons are permitted touse the property and for how long -this can mark the differencebetween that tenant or licenseevacating the property if requestedto do so, or putting forward a casefor potentially claiming rights overyour property!

6 HorseScene

For most equestrian enthusiasts, the dream of owning a horse goes hand inhand with the dream of possessing an ideal home for themselves and theirequine friend. Whether this is the purchase of a piece of grazing land,building a stable yard, opening a livery business or taking on the lease of aholding; before plans are made you should be mindful of the practicalitiesinvolved and to have a sound understanding of your legal position.

Our expertDWF is a leading national law firm with

an equine team committed to horses,with some owning and showing their own

horses in their spare time. The team hasdeveloped a breadth of expertise in

contentious and non-contentious equinematters spanning the full services that DWFprovide from varied property transactions,business acquisitions and employment mattersto complex contractual disputes, rights of wayissues and insurance related claims. We havethe capability to assist a wide range ofclientele consisting of, for example, owners/

breeders, racing managers, racecourses,corporate entities, charities and

competitive bodies/organisations. DWFare the appointed solicitors to The

Pony Club and can be contactedon 0845 404 2293

legalsceneThe Practicalities of Equine Property

Fear of Fireworks

Annoyingly for many horse owners, firework displays nolonger seem to be limited to a few nights aroundNovember 5th. Not only do people celebrate big birthdaysand New Year Eve with fireworks but they seem to be lessconsiderate about where they let them off. While theGovernment considers changes to the law, there are thingsthat you can do to lessen the risk of your horse beingterrified and injured.

The decision whether to keep your horse in or out,especially when he is normally out, is not an easy oneespecially if you are not sure when fireworks are likely tobe let off. The safety of fencing is one consideration alongwith the proximity to the fireworks. The age, breed andtemperament of your horse and his companions will allcome into play too.

It is possible gradually to acclimatise horses to all sorts ofwhizzes and bangs to lessen their impact. There are evenCDs available with firework noises on them. Whenever desensitising your horse to specific noises it is importantto work in a safe place with good fencing and make surethat you are wearing a hard hat, sturdy boots, gloves and abody protector. Your horse needs to be in a headcollarwith a long lead rein attached. Work incrementally,gradually building up the volume and frequency of thenoise. Keep repeating the noise, gently at first and waituntil your horse stands still. The instant he stands stillswitch the noise off and reward him with a lovely rub.Switching the noise on again continue in this way untilyour horse stands still and is really relaxed about it beforeincreasing the volume or intensity of the noise. The key tosuccess is to practice, practice, and practice until yourhorse is no longer worried about the noise at all.

Our expertSarah Weston is a Recommended Associate of IntelligentHorsemanship and is based in theNew Forest. She covers Hampshireand the IOW, Wiltshire and Dorset.She can be contacted atsarah@logicalhorsemanship.co.ukfor all kinds of horse help.

WinterworriesDark nights, unpredictable weather and firework displays can all add up to make the winterdifficult for horses owners. Here, Recommended Associate of Intelligent Horsemanship, SarahWeston gives advice about three winter worries and what you can do about them.

8 HorseScene

HorseScene 9

Rug-phobic

Not every horse is happy to accept a rug. Even horses that liveout all year round and are not rugged would benefit from beingable to accept one so that if they could wear one in anemergency or if they were ill. The art is to introduce the rug inthe right way in the first place and to make sure that your horseis relaxed about it before fastening it into place. Here a bit ofadvance and retreat works well – fold the rug up as small aspossible and approach your horse with it. If he stands still andaccepts it close to him move it away again to take the pressureoff him and effectively say “thank-you”. If he moves away thenyou need to move calmly with him until he does come to a halt.As soon as he stands still move away with the rug. Keep

repeating this until he is relaxed about the rug being next tohim and eventually touching him. Then work step by step to askhim to accept the rug over his back, taking care not to unfoldtoo much at once and only unfold it entirely when you aresatisfied that he is ready for it. You might want to work over anumber of sessions with a particularly nervous horse and towork on straps as a separate session. For some horses it canhelp them to accept straps more readily if you prepare theminitially by attaching a Vetwrap bandage to a surcingle andextending it around their hindquarters to the other side. Allowthem to get used to the feel of that by taking them for a walkwith it in place. The same can be done around the back legstaking particular care when putting them on to ensure that youdon’t get kicked.

It is not unknown for a horse to panic completely when wearinga rug for the first time and then subsequently. Take care to turnyour horse out into an area with really good fencing. Thinkcarefully about the type of rug you use and perhaps try a ‘quiet’rug first before one which makes more noise. Some rugs cancarry a high amount of static which can be reduced by washingthe rug with conditioner (taking care not to spoil its waterproofproperties) and not sliding the rug along your horse’s backwhen taking it off and putting it on.

It was a rug that caused me to become interested inIntelligent Horsemanship in the first place. My own horse,Petra, had never had a rug on and when it had rained foralmost a week non-stop, I thought that she should haveone on. Passing the lead rein to my boyfriend I said “Canyou just hold her a minute while I put this on?” Not eventhinking twice, I put the rug on her and she completelypanicked, dragging him along the floor and then runningthrough an electric fence. Fortunately neither of them washurt but it took some careful training before Petra wouldhave a rug on again. Nowadays she is absolutely fine andloved her sweet itch rug which protected her from beingbitten by midges. Incidentally, my boyfriend did go on tomarry me!

Scared of Stables

Horses can be anxious about going intoa stable for all sorts of reasons – a poorexperience in the past, fear of beingalone, of not being able to see or heararound them, or simple lack ofexperience. Whilst it is always possiblefor a horse to live out all the time, ithelps if they can be brought in in anemergency, for box-rest or recoveryand it also helps to prepare them fortravelling in a horse box or trailer.

Ideally horses would always havecompany when they are in a stable andit is even better if they can touchanother horse at the same time as thembeing safe from injury. Short periods inthe stable, with feed or good hay, canbe followed by a little groundwork,simply moving the horse’s feet here andthere. In time you can leave your horsein the stable, again with some food to

keep them occupied and preferablywith a good companion close by. Thetime can be built up incrementally,keeping a distant eye to make sure thathe is settled and safe. If he frets a littlethen, providing he is physically safe, it isbest to wait for him to settle slightlybefore returning to him. Reward himwith a lovely rub and turn him out.

Never underestimate a horse’s ability totry to jump out of a stable if he is afraidor really doesn’t want to be there. If indoubt, full bars can help until you aresure that he won’t attempt to escape.

Some horses are just afraid of goingthrough the threshold of the doorway,having perhaps banged their hip onone occasion. Practice going in and outcalmly.

Road tax for safer hacking?After attending a council meeting with regards to theroads around our area being dangerous for horse andriders, some of the attendees commented on the reactionof drivers being 'well you don’t pay road tax!!!' I for onewould be willing to pay a small yearly fee to ride on theroads if it gives us the respect of the drivers that drive atspeed, or with no respect for the safety of horse and rider. I am more concerned for road safety now as my 6 year olddaughter is now hacking out with me and I am so muchmore aware of the dangers that face us. Kimberley Laycock

Think first aidRecently my mum was out riding with some friends andher horse was bitten in the chest by a dog. My mum wasunhurt but her horse needed stitches. This made me thinkof what First Aid we carry, if any, when out hacking. I ride alot on tarmac roads and if I have an accident it is likely thatI could scrape a lot of skin off and I would not have anydressings with me or anything to stop any bleeding. In abad accident an ambulance and vet would always be calledbut quite often we ride in in-accessible places and I think infuture I might carry some First Aid with me to patch upany large open wound and stop any bleeding until helparrives. I hope this letter might make other readers thinkabout taking some First Aid with them, a mobile phone tocall for help and telling people where they will be when outriding. Bryony

One for the bucket list?I'm sure when someone mentions team chase, it portraysmad riders, out of control horses and huge, barely jumpable fences, well it did to me!! I was cajoled (peerpressured) by a couple of riding club friends to do thenovice team. The course was mainly hedges and somefixed xc fences. I felt physically sick the week leading up toit, couldn't sleep the night before and had to calm mynerves with a couple of glasses of sloe gin on the day, Icouldn't believe I'd been talked into it. But it was fabulous!!The most fun I've had on a horse, not once did I feel out ofmy comfort zone. I am totally addicted and I think myhorse is too. The best bit is you can relive the memoriesover and over again because you have three other peopleto share your round with. If you get the opportunity ofhaving a go, your horse is up to it and you have good teammates I think it should be on your bucket list. Tiff

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Letter Scene, Horse Scene Magazine, 9 Maple Grove,Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. AL7 1NQ or email:letters@horsescenemagazine.co.uk

Worth £144.99!

This is my super talented 5 year old mare 'Ruby Tuesday' who

didn't have a brilliant start to life after been weaned from her mum

at 8 weeks due to my mare having colic surgery and consequently

was hand reared by myself & mum. She has stayed strong

throughout and thrived she has brought us no end of happiness,

and I'm proud of her every day. This picture is Ruby at her 3rd show

ridden by my instructor Sarah Watson coming an impressive 3rd

out of 16. Sent in by Emma Kirby

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Want to be next months HOT SHOT?Send your picture to hotshot@horsescenemagazine.co.uk

Write to:

I am 16 years old and I have been riding fortwo years. A year ago, a horse came to theyard which recently came out of flat racing.She was 6 years old, 16hh with a bay coat witha white star on her face. She was gorgeousbut was in need of a lot of tender loving care -I instantly fell in love with her. I went homeand told my parents how beautiful she wasand I wouldn’t shut up about her. Unbeknownto me, my mum arranged for me to try herout. I rode her, and we instantly clicked, even though the horse knewnothing and was very spooky. My riding instructor could see that wewere a match made in heaven; which isn’t found very often. My mumasked me if I wanted to loan her, I said yes in excitement. Thefollowing weekend when I was working at the stables where she iskept, my parents came up to me and asked do I still want to loan her,and I said yes. But they had actually bought her for me! Everyone onthe yard was so happy for me, and I felt like the luckiest girl in theworld. Over the past year, I have created a very strong bond betweenme and my horse, as my riding instructor had advised me the firststep is to spend as much time as possible with her. I have currentlybeen spending every single day with my horse. I have brought her onmyself, taught her to jump, she does not spook as much as she didnow and I’ve taken her cross country schooling. Additionally, I haveentered local competitions in ex-race horse and show jumpingclasses, in which we placed. My next move is to get a trailer and jointhe pony club. I still feel like I am the luckiest girl in the world, I’m soproud of my little horse. Beth Austin

Letterscene

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A match made in heaven

DressagedilemmasDressage dilemmas.... where do we start? There are so many dilemmas, most of which areavoidable and due to ill preparation. So follow the scouts motto and "be prepared".

Make a list of all equipmentneeded at a show. If youhave a lorry some of it canbe kept on board. If not,have a plastic box or a biglaundry bag and keepeverything you need in it, with a check list.

List all the things you need at a oneday show. Have another list for anovernight show.

When you enter a competition makesure you have a couple of routes to getthere.

Fill up with fuel the day before.

Allow plenty of time, we always makesure we are there at least one hour beforewanting to start warming up. That way bothwe and our horses can settle.

Remember to declare.

Then find the café for a coffee and, of course,the compulsory cheesy chips!

Have you covered all eventualities in your training?

Check your venueIs there anything scary? One venue we go to has flagshanging down the walls which billow in and out withthe breeze. So we bought two BIG flags and put themup in our outdoor ménage. It took us three days to getour horses to put one foot in the arena! But by the timewe went to the competition, where other people'shorses had issues with these small flags, ours saw theflags flapping and thought, "Flags? They're not flags!"and promptly did a blinding test!

12 HorseScene

Conclusion

Know your competition venues and work at home

to improve your horse’s concentration.

Forgetting tack is a common dilemma, hence the check list.Buying something at a shop on site, one size too big or smallis not always the best thing to do, and usually expensive.

Sometimes the dilemma is as simple as nerves getting thebetter of you and you just can’t remember your test so youmay need to find a caller. There is usually someone there whotakes pity on you and will call it. Alternatively, some venuesmake a small charge to call your test - not bad for peace ofmind.

If you're one of those people who start down the centre lineand go brain dead, not knowing your left from right, simplesolution - just write L and R on your gloves. Make sure it isthe right way round though!!!

Of course, there's the problem of bling or no bling or howmuch bling. If riding under British dressage rules, make sureyou know what you’re allowed to wear. The rules changeslightly each year so keep up to date with them. Everythingmatching always looks smart!

Then there's the weather. What should you do if it’s raining ortoo hot? I know the expression is “ come rain or shine”, butif it’s raining and your horse isn't likely to plant its backside tothe rain and go on strike, then you should go, as you mightjust achieve the qualifying score required.

In hot weather, horses easily become dehydrated. We alwayselectrolyte our horses 2 -3 days prior to and aftercompetitions. High winds, especially the ones experiencedrecently, are best avoided as it can quite easily blow you offcourse. Always listen to the weather forecast and heed anywarnings. Better safe than sorry.

We also tend to take water with us as horses prefer their ownbrand. Waters have a different taste, would you believe! Makesure you have plenty if staying away for a few days.

There are, of course, some dilemmas that you can’t avoid. For example: the elusive crisp packet that makes its escapeas you're preparing to halt, and the small dog with JackRussell syndrome that takes chase after said crisp packetbarking frantically, and of course, the small child in thepushchair next to ring side, crying hysterically, as it's just lostthe crisps to the dog, when a gust of wind wafts it your way.Say no more!

Some dilemmas are unavoidable. C'est la vie!

1 H

Our expertsKK Equestrian is run by KateRowland and Karen Bennett.Both are national leveldressage riders and have manywins and a wealth ofexperience between them.Kate has also show-jumped formany years and is known forbringing on young and difficulthorses. One of her passionsincludes being an international

dressage groom. Karen is very good with nervous riders, sheloves judging and is a stickler for a riders position. KKEquestrian is based at East Herts Equestrian Centre andoffers competition, selling and training livery.

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The e!ects of feeding ontemperament

RespiratoryProducts to helpmaintain healthyairways

DressagedilemmasHow to avoidmaking some

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WinterworriesAdvice on how todeal with threeseasonal problems

Christmas gift guide perfect products for the equine enthusiast

Jumpingwater jumps

Farrierytreatmentfor an abscess

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One lucky winner will win a pallet of bedding – that could be enough bedding for a whole year!All you have to do is answer this question: What are Verdo horse pellets sourced from?

A year’s worth of

Verdo bedding!

Exciting launch of recession-bustingschooling aid - the Pole Cone Cup

• Bigger and more versatile • Affordable, Safe, Colourful• British designed - British manufactured

Looking for an inexpensive,versatile, robust training aid foryour horse? The simple lookingplastic jump ‘cup’, which isexclusive to JSW, can be usedto create an almost endlessvariety of schooling aids fromjumps to ground-trainingobstacles such as raisedtrotting poles, corridors, S andZ bends.Jumps can be created in amatter of seconds by placingthe lightweight cup on top of aroad cone - also available fromJSW in 60cm and 75cmheights and in multiple colourways. Poles can then be restedon the cups just as they wouldbe if using traditional jumpwings. The lightweight designof both cup and road cone

means riders of any age caneasily build jumps andobstacles. The cups are alsodesigned to withstand Britishweather offering a long-lasting, low maintenance andsplinter-free alternative tosome traditional training aids.The range of attractive brightcolours also means they areeasy to see and hard to lose -currently available in white,purple, pink, yellow, blue andred with additional excitingfashionable colours set toarrive next year.

The cone cups are an excellentChristmas gift and JSW isselling them at an introductoryprice of £19.99 a pair inclusiveof VAT for a short time only.

Before and after competition every rider wants tokeep their horse warm and dry, the GP Fleece is

double bonded for warmth and has excellentwicking properties. The matching travel boots withreinforced ends prevent wear and tear. The

Rambo GP fleece lined head collar is aperfect touch to your travel set,

comfortable and strong for yourhorse. During competition you will

look professional and stylish with theGP saddle pad and GP Earnet, and for those

cold days you will have the GPcompetition sheet to keep yourhorse’s flanks and rump warm.

For the rider Horseware areoffering the Alana Jacket in

navy, a classic piece thatwill compliment your

horse when he iswearing the GP navy

fleece. The Alana jacket iswaterproof and breathable with abelted waist and phone pocket inside making this jacket perfect for riding, yet

fashionable for every day wear. Finally, tokeep you cosy over the winter is a pair of softie

socks, every horsie girls must have in the wardrobe on those cold days at the yard or show.

The Horseware StoryHorseware started with a small team, in a small town in Ireland in 1985. After months of research and hand-stitching theprototype of the now iconic Rambo Original was born, setting the standard for modern rug design. Since then we havegrown to become the world’s most trusted producer of horse rugs. Today, our Rambo range is still made in the same town inIreland under Tom MacGuinness’s watchful eye and with the same attention to detail and high quality material that we pridedourselves on in 1985. We are constantly striving to produce the best we can and have grown into a leading manufacturer ofclothing for horses and riders. We never stop evolving; we’re always seeking out untrodden paths, pushing boundaries andfinding new challenges.

Enter online at: www.horsescenemagazine.co.ukCloses: 30th November 2013. See full T&C’s on our website.

WIN1

set up forgrabs!

Horseware outfitfor you and your horse

- worth £500!

16

In this issue we have teamed up with Horseware to give one lucky winner the chance to win all these fabulousHorseware items including the full Rambo Grand Prix elite show set!

Tatty Teddy has it in the bag!This beautiful blue themed design features the fun-loving character –Tatty Teddy – with a small scattering of subtle diamantes to brightenup all your luggage! Packed full of pockets to keep brushes andessentials in place, the Carrots Me To You grooming bag is wipe-cleanand comes with a detachable shoulder strap and drawstring top toprevent spillages! - RRP £18. The Me To You Boot Bag features cuteTatty Teddy designs that are subtle enough to be smart, yet visibleenough to make a statement! The practical, full height bag stores anyriding boots, to protect them against wear and tear - RRP £20.Keeping your hat in good condition is vital to your safety and the MeTo You hat bag allows you to protect it against dirt and damage. Therobust Hat Bag features an adjustable shoulder strap and plenty ofpockets to keep all your little essentials in one place! - RRP £18.

For more information visit www.carrotsuk.com

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Kit Bag Vintage Canvas Satchel New for 2013 our Kit BagRange!

Robust cotton canvasvintage look withadjustable shoulderstrap. Featuring a rearzippered pocket andmagnetic closureswith multiplepockets. Size 37 x 29 x 9cmand is available in

the coloursChocolate or

Sahara.RRP £28.99

For more information visit www.horseswithattitude.co.uk

Snuggle up to Ariat thisseasonAriat have made staying snug this season easywith the beautiful new Innsbruck Down Parka.For those that like a classic look – with a fewtouches of design elegance – the InnsbruckDown Parka is a winter wardrobe essential.Featuring a saddle vent, 2-way-zipper, adjustablewaist and cargo hand pockets - turning thisfashionable item into something functional aswell. For ultimate warmth Ariat’s DownInsulation has been used, providing exceptionalheat retention without the bulk. The premiumdown filling helps maintain the body’s optimaltemperature to protect against the cold, whilststill allowing skin to breath and stay comfortable.In addition, a removable fur trimmed hood hasbeen designed to fit over a riding helmet forextra protection against the elements – makingthe Innsbruck Down Parka perfect for wearing inand out of the saddle. Available in smart coalgrey, in ladies sizes XS – XXL. Priced at £189.99

For more information visit www.ariat-europe.com

Newon thescene

Nettex – keeping mudfever awayNettex Muddy Marvel Barrier Cream is awaterproof product that inhibits the entry ofmud, water and bacteria into susceptible skin.Its unique formula is ideal for horses that areprone to mud fever, helping to prevent theonset of this painful condition. While MuddyMarvel Barrier Cream keeps mud and wet out, it still allows the skin tobreathe, keeping legs and other vulnerable areas healthy and mudfever free. If, however, mud fever has already taken a hold then thiscream, which also contains a disinfectant, soothes the sores, helps toregenerate skin growth and speeds up the whole healing process. Easyto apply, Nettex Muddy Marvel Barrier Cream only needs to be usedonce or twice a week, making it a cost-effective purchase for horseowners. It’s without doubt a product that every horse owner needs intheir tack box all year round. RRP: £8.99 for 300ml, £16.99 for 600ml

For more information visit www.nettexequine.com

The Test

A number of semi professionalriders were assessed by BEF WorldClass Physio Andy Thomas for anyimbalances and weaknesses intheir posture, especially in thepelvic area.

Each rider then sat on a Plianceseat mat on a saddle which wasplaced on a static wooden horse.Pressure readings were taken andbiomechanical data was taken atfour main areas; the head,shoulders, knees and toes.

Russell Guire of CentaurBiomechanics explained that it iscommon to see riders who arecrooked, riding over to one side orgripping up with their knee moreon one side than the other. Thesesmall misalignments can have asignificant effect on how yourhorse moves and can cause him tobecome crooked too.

Half of the riders were thenselected randomly and givensimple exercises to do by Andy tohelp correct their imbalances.Following this the Pliance andbiomechanics data were takenagain to see if this had made anydifference.

Posture managementin the saddle

Tacktalk

As riders, we are always looking to improve our technique and performance in

the saddle. However, it is all too easy to develop bad postural habits. The Society

of Master Saddlers has carried out research to establish if physiotherapy can

positively affect rider asymmetry and balance in the saddle.

20

For more information on research carried out by the Society of Master Saddlers visit www.mastersaddlers.co.uk

Most importantly you need to make sure youare exercising correctly and not encouraginga bad posture. If in doubt make anappointment with a physiotherapist for apersonalised exercise programme.

The Results

Those riders who received exercises from Andysignificantly improved their postural stability byreducing sideways movement. The control group,who did not do any exercises, did not improve theirstability measure.

At all four points of the biomechanics testing it wasnoted that those who had taken part in the exerciseswere sitting up straighter in the saddle.

The Pliance testing correlated with this in terms ofimprovement measured in pressure. However, if arider was sitting more to the right, the pressure matrecorded a larger contact area on the right buthigher pressure on the left. This would imply that therider is ‘hanging on’ with their left side.

The riders who exercised were significantly moresymmetrical showing pressure readings that weremuch more even on both sides when tested again.

Tips for Perfect Posture

Improving core strength allows other muscles towork more efficiently, reduces fatigue, helpsprevent injury and improves technique.

Improving your overall fitness and suppleness isvery important; it is not all about strength.

A strong pelvis helps riders to absorb the forcesof their horses' movements without losingcontrol of their arms and legs.

Try some hip and knee exercises with resistancebands to help strengthen the legs and pelvicarea.

Upper body exercises such as ‘upper body’ pressups can help stretch and strengthen the lowerback and core muscles.

Exercising two to three times a week can helpsignificantly to improve your posture in thesaddle and hopefully help to improve your ridingtoo.

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22 HorseScene

Our expertZoe Davies Msc.,R.Nutr.A qualified and highly experienced EquineNutritionist, Zoe is one of only a handful ofRegistered Equine Nutritionists in the UK today.

Zoe is able to offer independent advice acrossthe full range of feeds and feed supplementsavailable commercially. She has over 25 years

of experience in equine nutrition and offersadvice to feed companies, supplement

manufacturers and their customers,she also undertakes veterinary

referrals and diet and forageanalysis.

The effects of feeding ontemperamentSome horses such as thoroughbredsare renowned for their sharp attitudeand tendency to nervous or excitablebehaviour. In performance horses thistype of behaviour may be desirable inthat many owners like to have horsesfit and on their toes, particularly beforecompeting. However, some horses arevery highly-strung and this often leadsto energy being wasted prior to a

competition, loss of/or difficulty inmaintaining condition or the horsebecoming unmanageable. Certainly aquiet temperament is most desirable,particularly when handling horses onthe ground.

Most leisure horses have a greatadvantage over working/competitionhorses, as they are generally turned

out every day often for 24 hours in thesummer.

Many performance horse owners nowhave turn out facilities and have foundthat even a short time in the paddockdaily, will help to keep fit horses calmerand more manageable.

There is no doubt that severetemperament problems may run infamilies and that changes inmanagement may only have slighteffects if any. However it is also a factthat some horses may have feedingprogrammes that are unsuitable forthis type of temperament.

Feeding horses with temperamentproblems should begin with assessingforage quality and quantity. Horsesshould have ad lib access to the bestquality forage as the base for theirfeeding programme.

All horses have evolved as tricklefeeders taking in small amounts ofherbage, often. Competition horses areno exception to this rule! Tricklefeeding horses forage, including thosein hard work will help to maintain acalm temperament.

It is also essential for maintaining thehealth of the digestive tract, forexample severely reduced foragerations are known to contribute to theincreased incidence of gastric ulcers.Trickle feeding top quality forage willalso contribute significantly to theenergy requirements of horses,however, hard working horses andlactating mares require extra energyand this is mostly provided in the formof concentrates.

Traditionally horses have been fedcereals as an energy source. Oats havebeen the cereal of choice.

Cereals however, are not a natural feedfor horses. Oats were traditionallythought to contribute to behaviourproblems and there is no doubt thatsome horses cannot tolerate oats, butthese horses may in fact be intolerantto most cereals.

Excitable behaviour in performance horses can be desirable, however some horses are very highly-strung and this often leads to energy being wasted prior to a competition

HorseScene 23

The energy in cereals is suppliedthrough starch. This is rapidly digestedin the small intestine and therefore isconsidered a fast release energy source.The end product of starch digestion issugar or glucose and this is rapidlyabsorbed into the horses’ bloodstream.The rise in blood sugar following acereal “meal” causes release of thehormone insulin. Larger cereal meals willcause higher levels of blood glucose andtherefore higher levels of insulin tobe released. Insulin is responsible formaintaining blood sugar at a constantlevel by diverting the rising levels ofblood glucose to the muscles and liverfor storage for later use.

These fluctuations in blood glucose arethought to be responsible for someexcitable behaviour in some horses andponies prone to nervousness orexcitable behaviour. Certainly reducingthe amount of starch or cereals in thediet of nervous horses does seem tohelp many of them. Horses needinghigher amounts of energy may be fedother energy sources such as slowrelease digestible fibre feeds such asbeet pulp and alfalfa and/or oil. Thereare alfalfa oil mixes now available.

Excitable horses may benefit from lowstarch cubes instead of coarse mixes.Cubes use more quality fibre sourcesand tend to be much lower in starchthan coarse mixes or straights. Mostmixes, including the “non heating”varieties contain high levels of cereal,mostly barley. They may be “oat - free”but may still contain high levels of starchfrom barley.

Cool mixes may contain as high as 25-30% starch, whereas a cube may be aslow as 10-15%.

Feed companies will be able to supplystarch levels in their feed whenrequested. This may help horse ownerswhen assessing rations for their moreexcitable or nervous stock.

The use of Probiotics or Pre-probioticsmay also help excitable or nervoushorses.

Caution should be used with “calmingsupplements”. Many of these lackthorough research behind them andmuch evidence is anecdotal.

True magnesium deficiency for example,is rare in horses as horses are moretolerant to low magnesium than otherfarm livestock. Ask to see the scientificevidence from the manufacturers, howthorough is this research, is it peerreviewed or published within scientificjournals? Long term use of supplementsis not advisable particularly with herbalpreparations as safety may be an issue.

To summarise, feeding a morenatural diet and knowing the starchcontent of the feeds being used mayhelp horse owners to make moreappropriate choices when feedingthe more highly-strung horse orpony. Natural feeding patterns andplenty of time out is important.

• Feed the best quality forage available as the basis for the feeding programme and make sure the amount of forage is never less than the amount of concentrates fed. This includes fit performance horses.

• If possible feed cubes or pellets as opposed to mixes. Most mixes, including many cool mixes tend to be high in starch.

• Oat free may contain high levels ofbarley and/or maize and are therefore not “cool”.

• Increase levels of quality digestiblefibre, such as alfalfa or unmolassedbeet pulp

• For horses needing more energy, such as those in hard work or mares in early lactation, add oil such as soya, linseed or corn oil to the feed. This can be introduced slowly and fed up to 400-450mls per day. A Vitamin E supplement should also be fed with oil, to maintain antioxidant status.

• Feed little and often, trickle feeding food into the gut, this will help to maintain the horses calm temperament

• Turn out very excitable horses as often as possible.

For advice on horse nutritionand feeding information, pleasevisit Zoe Davies’ website:www.horsefeeding.info

A short time in the paddockdaily, will help to keep fit horsescalmer and more manageable

Turn out very excitable horses as often as possible

24 HorseScene

Farriery treatmentfor an AbscessFoot abscesses in horses and ponies are a common form of lameness. Lameness can be mild at first butcan develop quickly until the animal becomes non weight- bearing on the affected limb. Abscesses canbe due to a puncture of the solar surface or a foreign object that has penetrated the white line. Bruisingof the solar surface can also can also lead to an abscess due to blood from the bruise becominginfected by bacteria.

This picture shows solar bruising.As can be seen in the picture thehoof capsule has suffered severebruising and has had an infection inthe seat of corn.

The reason for the intense pain horsessuffer due to an abscess is thepressure from pus that builds up withinthe hoof capsule. This places pressureon the sensitive structures of the foot.The hoof capsule does not expand toaccommodate this infection andcannot be relieved naturally by thecapsule unless the abscess tracks upto the coronary band. This tracking ofthe infection is intensely painful and ifit can be prevented by timelyintervention from the vet or farrier itwill prevent your animal suffering. .Anyone who suggests nature shouldtake its course should see the instantrelief a horse experiences once anabscess has been opened up to relievethe pressure within the hoof capsule.Long term infection can also lead tothe infection of other structures suchas the pedal bone or the lateralcartilages therefore affecting thecondition and performance of the hoofcapsule.

This picture shows a sagital sectionof the hoof capsule and structuresinvolved for the abscess to reachthe coronary band.

Diagnosis and treatment of an abscessshould be undertaken by a vet. Inpractice most vets prefer to work withthe farrier as his level of dexterity witha hoof knife means he can dig theabscess out quickly and successfully.Most farriers if asked will look at ananimal on a first aid basis but theowner should get the vet to look at thehorse at the next suitable yard visitand check that it is currently up todate with tetanus injections.

The horse will usually have anincreased digital pulse and the hoofcapsule may be warmer whencompared to the other foot, althoughthe main sign will be lameness in theoffending limb. The abscess can belocated with the use of hoof testerswhich most farriers and vets will carry.A foot search will be undertaken tofind a potential puncture wound ortract of a foreign object. This area iffound will be pared down normally bya small abscess knife until the signs ofwetness appear which are the firstsigns of an abscess. If the horse is insevere pain some will be fractious butas soon as the abscess is relieved thehorse will settle down.

A large amount of pus can be expelledfrom the abscess tract thereforedrainage is important.

The picture below shows a freshlyexcavated abscess. Pus is stillflowing from the hole that has beenexcavated.

Once the abscess has been drained itis standard practise to apply a poulticeto draw any lingering infection. Mostold horsemen traditionally haddifferent recipes for poultices buttoday an Animalintex poultice availablefrom your vet or tack shop makes thejob easier. It is always worth having apoultice as well as vetrap in your firstaid kit. Apply your poultice after it hasbeen soaked in hot water and thenapply to the foot. Vetrap should beplaced over the poultice. Horses thathave been severely lame may needsome extra padding under the footsuch as gamgee or even babiesdisposable nappies.

Your vet will advise you on howfrequently the poultice needschanging, but morning and eveningchanges for three days should show avast improvement. If your horse is notimproving please call your vet asprobably the abscess is not drawingproperly and will re infect the hoofcapsule. Do not carry on poulticing thefoot hoping for the best.

Our expertCraig D’Arcy BSc Hons AWCF, is the President of the National Association of Farriers,Blacksmiths and Agricultural Engineers (NAFBAE) as well as an Approved TrainingFarrier (ATF). Established for 20 years, Red Rose Farriers specialise in quality hotand cold horse shoeing and therapeutic and remedial shoeing and trimming.www.rrfarriers.co.uk

Take home messageDo not give your horse a bit of Bute and hope for thebest. Hoof abscesses can be treated quickly andsimply, but if left untreated, can infect otherstructures in the foot causing long term issues.Seek advice from a farrier/vet.

This foot had been left too long before treatment andthe abscess had broken out at the coronary band. Thehoof capsule had become unstable and a bar shoe wasneeded to help the foot support weight.

Once the horse is sound call your farrier who will access ifhe can get a shoe back on the foot and if any extraprotection is needed for the area that was infected.

This picture shows a hoof where the abscess burst fromthe coronary band but has grown down. This tookapproximately 12months

TOKENfrenzy

Collect all 3 tokens and you could

win these fabulous NuuMed goodies

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3 lucky winners will receive....1 x NM03 -HiWitherLightweightwoolnumnah A very effectivenumnah givingexcellentcomfort levels,made using ourLightweight woolpile. A first classeveryday woolnumnah offeringexcellent value for money.Available in GP, dressage orworking hunter; colour - black, brown, or white; size -small, medium, large, or extra large.

1 x EA01 - British wool girth sleeveA very useful item for every rider in case of girth rubs oras a tool for preventing rubbing on a very sensitive horseor newly clipped horse. Very robust and easy to put on.Made using our Classic wool. Available in 28" & 40"

lengths; colour - black,brown, or natural.

Please state sizeand colour requiredwith your entry.

TOKEN 1#

Nov13

How to Enter: To be in with a chance of winning, collect the''tokens'' from the November, December and January issues.Once all 3 tokens have been collected, send them along withyour name, address and contact number to: Token Frenzy,Horse Scene Magazine, 9 Maple Grove, Welwyn GardenCity, Hertfordshire. AL7 1NQ

Please visit our website for full terms and conditions.

Spend in November and save inDecember with Leonard CoombeSaddlers!

www.leonardcoombe.co.ukFree UK mainland delivery on all orders over £75

www.lexvetsupplements.com

Maintaining weightover winterLexveT Mineral Mix 22kg RRP£88.80for an eleven month supplyWith the forecast of a hard winter it is imperative that ownersare proactive in feeding their horses over the winter months.Ensuring adequate energy and protein is provided in the diet iscommonly recognised, however many owners forget aboutensuring their horse has adequate vitamins, minerals, salts andelectrolytes over the cold months. Electrolytes and salts arecritical to maintain hydration, dehydration can result in reducedfeed intake, feeding electrolytes and salts will encourage properhydration and prevent feed intake being reduced. Ensuringhorses receive balanced ratios of macro minerals, trace mineralsand vitamins to maintain normal digestion and metabolism iscritical over the winter months.

LexveT Mineral Mix contain balanced ratios of essential macroand trace minerals, vitamins and electrolytes but have no fillers,energy or protein. LexveT supplements are used by a variety ofcompetition and performance horse homes including showing,dressage, eventing, polo,endurance and racehorses.

For nervous and fizzy horsesuse LexveT B1 Cool Mix, itcontains the same ingredientsas LexveT Mineral Mix, thedifference is it has higherlevels of Magnesium andVitamin B1.

LexveT is not just anothersupplement – we get theresults you really want!

www.nuumed.com

Spend £50 get a £5 voucher or spend £100and get a £10 voucherTopping up on winter supplies or starting to think about Christmas?Leonard Coombe Master Saddlers stock a wide range of leadingequestrian brands including: Barbour, Ariat, Dubarry, HorsewareClothing, Musto, Rambo, Amigo, Jeffries and Bridleway.

Throughout November, we are running a great offer. If you spend£50 or more we will give you a £5 voucher that can be redeemed inDecember and if you spend £100 or more we will give you a £10voucher to spend in December!

Leonard Coombe Master saddlers is a family run business that hasbeen established over 200 years and earlier this year we launchedour online shop. We aim to offer the same excellent level of customerservice through the website that we offer in store. If you need anyproduct advice, you can email or telephone and it will be a memberof our trained, knowledgeable shop team that be able to advise you.

The website is linked to the store so you can seeexactly what we have in stock. If we don’t haveit, we are happy to order in for customersand let them know when an item is back instock. Buying is easy, we except mostmajor credit cards plus Paypal.Although we authorise a card at checkout, we won’t actually take paymentuntil the items have been picked and areready to send. Orders are picked andpacked as they come through to us andshipped next working day so you get yourorder as fast as possible.

28 HorseScene

HAYGAIN hay steamersMore than 1 in 6 horses suffer from respiratory disease such asRecurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO/COPD), HAYGAIN hay steamersare scientifically proven to kill mould, fungal spores and bacteriathat are naturally found in hay and haylage. The result is a sweetsmelling-palatable forage that is completely clean and safe tofeed. The HG-600 accommodates half a bale, hay nets or haywedges up to 20kg and is ideal for smaller yards and for useat competitions. The unit is extremely durable as it isdouble skinned and thermally very efficient whilst easy tomove around on wheels, whether in use at the stables orwhilst travelling. The revolutionary concept has beenresearched, developed, tested and repeatedly proven atthe Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. Findingsshow that one gram of untreated good quality hay willcontain around 7,750,000 spore colonies: HAYGAINreduces that number to virtually 0. The hay remainsclean for up to 24 hours. Recent studies have shownthat haylage steamed in a HAYGAIN is not onlycleaner than a freshly opened bale but has anincreased shelf life too.

For further information visitwww.haygain.com

Products to help maintain healthy airways in the modern day equine

Respiratory

Let your horse breathe easilythis winter…..Think Clear

Exposure to dust from feed and bedding during the wintermonths is inevitable, affecting the health of the horse’s airwaysand increasing the risk of respiratory infections developing. Oneof the ways in which you can help is by supporting your horsenutritionally by feeding Brinicombe Equine’s, Think Clear.Think Clear from Brinicombe Equine is a fast acting formulacombining natural ingredients which produce an extra-strongformula that works in three distinct ways: antioxidants help tobuild the body's natural defences, specially selected herbs toclear the airways, while minerals and MSM help to support thesensitive lining of the respiratory tract. It is therefore not justmasking the symptoms, but actually reaching the root causeto help your horse breathe more easily through the wintermonths. Think Clear starts to work straight away with

results seen in as little as five days and is recommendedfor all sensitive horses who are exposed to a dusty, dry

environment.Available in 1kg tubs priced RRP £32.99, which will

last a horse for up to 33 days.

For further information visit www.brinicombe-equine.co.uk

Keep airways clear with Nettex

Air Power Respiratory Boost is a dual purpose formula that soothes respiratory irritation

and congestion. It works by aiding the intake of oxygen in order to improve stamina during

hard exercise. Easily administered via your horse’s feed or through a syringe, Nettex Air

Power Respiratory Boost loosens deep seated muck in the lungs, helping your horse to

breathe and perform much more easily.

If airways are restricted and left untreated, the horse will have a limited lung capacity

which reduces the amount of oxygen that can be delivered into the blood. As a result,

performance is highly reduced because the muscles are unable to work efficiently.

Affected horses can also develop a cough as the delicate lung tissue becomes more and

more irritated. Containing Echinacea, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Menthol, Liquorice, Ginger

and Aniseed, Nettex Air Power Respiratory Boost (Formerly Carl Hester) gets to work

quickly, allowing your horse to perform beautifully without any airway restriction. Part of

the Nettex Nutrition range, Air Power Respiratory Boost has been newly repackaged in

purple for the 2013 season, so be sure to stock up and see the difference it can make to

your horse’s performance this year. RRP: £17.50 for 500ml

For further information visit

www.nettexequine.com

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Respiratory

30 HorseScene

Most of us think of liquorice as a tastysweet which we either love or hate, butdid you know that at one time the UKwas one of the world’s major growersof liquorice. It was introduced by theDominican friars in the 15th Century toPontefract in Yorkshire which becamefamous for Pontefract cakes (a liquoricelozenge). Liquorice is still used as abase for many pharmaceutical laxatives,and cough medicines, while its extractsare added to beer, soft drinks or usedas a foaming agent, this is due to itssaponin content.

Liquorice for the respiratory systemSo why should horse owners considerusing liquorice? Well let’s start with itsapplications for the respiratory system.With winter approaching, many horseswill be spending more time confined tothe stable, where the air quality may be

less than perfect, and it is at times likethese that respiratory conditions candevelop. Hay, straw, dust and pollens inthe environment can lead to allergicreactions such as wheezing, coughing,nasal discharge, increased respiratoryrate, and swelling of the lymph glandsin the throat lash area. In addition withmore horses sharing the airspace, thereis a greater risk of infections beingpassed from one horse to another.

Liquorice is an excellent anti –inflammatory and has both a soothingand healing action on the airways whichhave become irritated and inflamed byexposure to airborne dust, pollen or hayspore allergens. When the respiratorysystem is inflamed more mucous isproduced which can build up. This iswhere the herb‘s expectorant actionshelp by liquefying and loosening anysticky tough mucous present in theairways or lungs and encouraging itsexpulsion from the airways. If the horseis coughing the herbs anti-tussiveaction can help to reduce irritation andthe severity of the cough. If infection ispresent the plants isoflavanoidcomponent has been found todemonstrate strong antimicrobialactivity, especially when administeredorally. Whether used alone or incombination with other herbs for therespiratory system such as thyme,eyebright, or elecampane, liquorice canbe relied upon to offer natural healingand support for respiratory conditions,such as coughing, COPD, nasaldischarge, and respiratory infections.

of themonth

Whilst trying to decide which herb I was going to focus on, I noticed that the November issue of Horse Scene was due to cover both respiration and “the effects of feeding on temperament”. This meant that my herb of choice just had to be Liquorice, not only because it is one of the best herbs for both the respiratory and digestivesystem, but because its many constituents offer multiple medicinal actions for both horses and people.

OUR EXPERTHilary Self, BSc (Hons) MNIMH is co–founder of Hilton Herbs Ltd, aSomerset based company that for22 years has been at the forefront ofmanufacturing and formulatingherbal supplements for animals.Hilary is a member of the NationalInstitute of Medical Herbalists, andalso of the USA’s National AnimalSupplements Councils ( NASC)Scientific Advisory Committee. Sheis the author of two books "AModern Horse Herbal" now in its 8threprint, and “A Veteran HorseHerbal”.Hilary has lectured frequently onthe application of herbs for horsesin the UK, Europe, Australia,America and Austria.

Common name Liquorice

Latin Name Glycyrrhiza glabra

Parts used Roots, stolons

Active Saponins, Flavonoids, Coumarins, Polysaccharides,

constituents Volatile oil.

ActionsAnti inflammatory, expectorant, anti-tussive, soothing

and healing to the gastric and duodenal mucosa,

adrenal support, mild laxative, anti – viral ( topical)

of themonth

Liquorice for the digestive systemIn past years it was generally believed that gastric andduodenal ulcers were confined to competition horsesand in particular race horses, brought about by lack ofaccess to grazing and long fibre, dependence on highprotein feeds, higher stress levels and chronic use ofmedication. Unfortunately more recent research hasshown that in fact up to 50% of foals and 1/3 of adulthorses confined to stables may have mild ulceration,resulting in symptoms such as poor appetite, weightloss, changes in temperament, poor performance, mildcolic and failure to thrive.

Liquorice has been used traditionally for digestivedisorders for thousands of years, dating back as far asthe Egyptians, and in modern times the plant has beenthe subject of many clinical trials. One of the herb‘sconstituents, Glycyrrhizin (GL), which is derived from theroot, was found to have excellent anti-inflammatoryactions, and have both a soothing and healing effect oninflamed gastric mucosa. In further trials it wasdiscovered that GL not only reduced inflammation in thedigestive tract but that a derivative of GL had the abilityto heal ulcers, both gastric and duodenal, resulting in itbecoming one of the major antiulcer drugs of the 1960’s.

In more recent research the whole plant has been foundto improve the protective qualities of the gastricmucosal barrier, promote mucus secretion and cellproliferation in the stomach which encourages healing ofulcers. In fact in recent clinical trials on people, apreparation made from the plants constituents, wasshown to be as effective in healing gastric ulcers as thethree main pharmaceutical drugs. In animal studies aderivative of liquorice has been found to prevent ulcerdevelopment and inhibit gastric acid secretion. In view ofthe fact that equine ulceration is directly linked to gastricacid building up in an empty stomach this would be agood enough reason to feed liquorice prophylactically tohelp prevent the development of ulcers.

Just one of many reasons to include Liquorice, alongwith herbs such as Meadowsweet, Slippery elm, andCentella, in a herbal mix for a horse with digestivecomplaints such as ulceration, diarrhoea, irritable bowel,or constipation.

These and other herbs will be covered in future “Herb ofthe Month” articles.

So just remember, when you next eat a stick ofliquorice or a Pontefract cake, how much yourhorse would benefit from the inclusion of sometasty liquorice root in the feed!

The principles of jumping these obstacles follow what wehave discussed in previous articles. Keep the horse'sshoulders in front of the hindquarter so the horse can rocksquarely back onto its hocks in the take-off. You would besurprised at the number of horses that move on to three oreven four tracks in the last few strides before take offopening up the option of drifting over the fence. Your line isimportant; perpendicular to the take off, otherwise you arejust making the jump wider. As a rider it is also importantthat you stay in balance and wait for the horse to jump. Asthe jumps get bigger or wider it is very easy to start tryingto jump for the horse, getting in front of the movement andhindering rather than enhancing the jump. This is mostembarrassing when the horse decides it isn’t coming withyou and stops - leaving you sitting in the water!

32 HorseScene

Water jumps range in concept from water trays that can fit under fences through to great wideexpanses just short of 15 feet in width. If you’re looking at jumping a water jump that wide,then you probably don’t need me to help you with that.

Water jumpsSHOW JUMPING

Our expertWarren Lamperd is Aussie through-and-through, but hasbeen in UK for about fifteen years – arriving as a rider forWorld and Olympic champion, Sir Mark Todd. Warren hascompeted in high level dressage, show jumping and eventing on a worldwide scale including Australia, NewZealand and Malaysia, jumping at the AustralianShowjumping Championships and various World Cup Shows. He also competed at the Australian DressageChampionships, winning his classes. Warren runs White HartStables along with his wife, together combining almost fortyyears coaching experience.

Visit www.warrenlamperd.com for information on clinics and coaching.

A water jump is asking the horse toopen up its stride and jump long andwide. You want the horses to take offfrom near the front edge with a goodopen canter or even gallop in order tolet it clear the back of the water. It asksyou to ride at a higher tempo than therest of the course. When facing a waterjump in a course you then have to see itin relation to the fences around it. Howis the course designer using the waterjump as a test of you and your horse?When you see them used at Grand Prixlevel you will often see the horses askedto open up for the water and then haveto come back onto their hocks for a tallvertical or a holding stride in a relateddistance. These are all scenarios youhave to simulate and practice if you aregoing to be jumping these fences, sothat the horse learns to take instructionin such a test.

Training a horse to jump water is likeanything, start with it small, let thehorse understand the question and then

build the size and complexity of thequestion over time. When you push thehorse's boundary then take a step backand consolidate the horses' confidence.It is the same process with riders and ifyou are new to water fences thenconsider this for yourself. Personally Ilike to keep it small but make it spooky,to the point that the horse could walkover it, so that the horse learns that itisn’t going to bite and starts to trust memore when I ask it to do something itisn’t sure about.

If you are show jumping regularly youare already familiar with water trays butthis would be the place to start. If thehorse is confident over these then it is acase of building the width. I don’t thinkmany people have a series of waterfences of varying widths to train over soyou have to think of the alternatives,what are you asking the horse to do?You have to train the horse to jump upand over the water. The best suggestionI have would be to go to a good cross-

country training venue and get used tojumping open ditches. The sameprinciple applies, start small and moveonto more open ditches. This is a greatway for you to get used to the feel ofjumping a water fence and the questionis more obvious for the horse. Youmight even be able to put somethingblue in the bottom of the ditch, if youask nicely, to get the colour right. Youcould even then organise some showjump fences around the ditch so youcan practise the ditch in relation toother fences.

In your arena you want to practicejumping something that asks the horseto jump wide without too much heightand encourages you to come at anincreased tempo. Waters often have abrush box at the front to give the horsea good take-off point. In the arena youcould use two or three poles set lowbetween wings as the front of thewater. Ideally you have a heavy dutycanvas water tray to practise jumpingover that will handle a horse stepping init if it makes a mistake. If you are usinganything else to simulate the water bevery careful that the horse isn’t going toget scared or hurt if it was to make amistake and step on or through thematerial you are using. As you start tojump your wider question well , thenbuild in a related question that asks youto bring the horse back to a shorterstride pattern.

If you are jumping regularly then youshould run into these questions on thecircuit. If you are selecting your classeswell then the question will beappropriate for you and your horse. Thehorse will learn as it jumps, you justmight have to reassure it when it firstsees the jump. In such a case let thehorse go past the water jump so he hasseen it without facing up to the fence.

HorseScene 33

I hope that gives you

some ideas and good

luck.

Go to a good cross-country trainingvenue and get usedto jumping openditches

You might have toreassure your horse when

it first sees the jump

LITOVET Equine JointSupplement worth £49.00

3tubs up forgrabs!

This gorgeous 'Bling Up Front' HorseshoeDiamante Leather Belt from the BlingEquestrian range will make anyone stand out in the crowd instyle! The beautiful, quality leather belt is surrounded bycrystal horseshoes and features a snap on Diamante buckle, a must have for every Bling Diva!Available in sizes S/M or L.

Bling up front beltworth £50.00 3

up for

grabs!

The Easyboot Transitionworth £100.00

Enter online at: www.horsescenemagazine.co.uk

Closes: 30th November 2013. See full T&C’s on our website.

34 HorseScene

Elico Equine Decahedronworth £18.00

LitoVet is a 100% natural and scientifically proven equine feed supplement developed to help maintainsoundness, suppleness and mobility. Entirely plant-based,LitoVet does not contain glucosamine or chondroitin and is arich, source of GOPO (glycoside of mono and diglycerol), akey component of the specially cultivated rose-hip RosaCanina. High in antioxidants, particularly bioavailable vitaminC, essential to the formation and maintenance of jointcartilage, tendons and ligaments. LitoVet reduces thelikelihood of loss of performance due to over-training and theeffects of age and uniquely, is supported by clinical trials thatsubstantiate its efficacy in horses.

8 luckywinners will

each receivea red Elico

EquineDecahedron -

the stable toywith a persona of

its own! Helps toprevent stable boredom

and can also be used as a trickle-feeder to avoid overeating - proven in tests to reducestereotypical stable vices. The Elico Equine Decahedron is atwenty-sided equine boredom-beater - fill with treats andlet the horse play - with tasty rewards!

Giveaways1

pair up for grabs!

One lucky winner will receive a pair of hoof boots forbarefoot horses. The technologically-advanced EasybootTransition fits many hoof shapes and sizes, including round,slightly longer than wide, and even slightly wider than long.The ideal hoofboot to provide shock absorption to hoofstructures / limbs. Please see www.trelawneequine.co.ukfor boot size charts.

8up forgrabs!

LITOVET Equine JointSupplement worth £49.00

Your

ChristmasGift Guide

Starts here...

36

Gifts for the youngsters!

THE No.1 CHRISTMAS TOY IS HERE!

Pony Cycles have been reviewed, tested and recently credited 5 out of 5 for Fun Rating by the “Good Toy Guide”

www.pony-cycles.co.uk or call 02871864813

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The Carrots Kids Colouring Calendar allows creative equestriansto embrace their artistic side, while keeping them occupied forhours during the Christmas period! Comes complete with felttips and is undated for a year-round gift! www.carrotsuk.com £5.99

This handy torch is also a photoprojector that projects horse

and pony images up to onemetre wide onto walls and

ceilings of a darkened room.View the images of 22 breeds of horses

and ponies including Shire Horse, Morgan,Andalusian, Friesian and more. The LED

torch comes with three slide discsincluding 24 amazing, colourphotographs. Also includes a keychain so it is great for hanging upand keeping safe. A perfect fun, yeteducational gift for boys and girlswho are interested in horses andponies. www.brainstormltd.co.uk

Hugo Chatter Horse is a soft toy with adifference. He mimics up to 6 seconds and

repeats everything you say with his funnyvoice. (He is not pre-recorded). His head

moves back and forth, mockingeveryone and everything - bringing asmile and laughter to everyone! Hugostands 16cm tall and is battery

operated 3 x AAA (AA) included.www.jenkinsonsequestrian.co.uk

Pony Cycles are a revolutionary plush toy whichincorporates fun and fitness, aimed at children upto 9years. No motor, no battery, and no power isrequired. Pony Cycles come in a variety ofcharacters: ponies, zebras, unicorns anddalmatians. Children can touch, feel andexperience the exhilaration of riding a reallive pony. Pony Cycles encourage active,creative and imaginative play.www.pony-cycles.co.uk £17.95

£6.00£150.00From

Around

These board games will guarantee your family a funChristmas! The ‘Hackaway’ game offers a fun ride withobstacles, penalties and questions that require skill, luckand good fortune to complete the course. The‘Burlington’ game offers a complete a cross countryevent like Burghley and Badminton; you will tacklevarious cross country obstacles with a good mix ofgeneral horsey questions. The winner with the leastnumber of penalties wins and is awarded their very ownchampion certificate. www.ponygang.co.uk

£17.00 The Yeeha Pajamas will ensure every pony-mad girl looksforward to bedtime. Made from soft cotton, the shortsleeved bright pink T-shirt is adorned with a rearing horsedesign with matching three quarter length trousers and adrawstring waistband sporting a horse motif in pretty pinkand blue. Available in small, age 7-8, medium, age 9-10 andlarge, age 11-12. www.carrotsuk.com

£22.00

What better gift than a Bossy’s Bib for your bestfriend? Make rug rubs a thing of the past with this

simple effective, anti rub bib. Silky and lightweight, itwill give your horse maximum protection under all rugs.

Bossy Bibs are a firm favourite in yards/stables around theworld because they work well for all types of horses and

ponies. A Bossy’s Bib makes the perfect stocking filler orChristmas gift. www.bossysbibs.com

Gifts for your horse!

38

Fun Christmas stocking for yourhorse! The stocking containsthree packs of 150g tasty LincolnChristmas Horse Bix that yourhorse will love!www.battles.co.uk/lincoln

£3.50

Nettex have some great ideas for horsey habitsthis Christmas - grab some Nettex Mini’s and fill up a stocking!

Girly Grooming EssentialsNettex Mane & Tail Detangler; Lavender No-Rinse wash; Coat Shine

Lovin’ the leather for under a tenner Nettex Traditional Tack Cleaner; Traditional Tack Conditioner

Muddy MarvellousNettex Seven Day Mud Away; Muddy Marvel De Scab; Muddy Marvel Barrier Cream

www.nettexequine.com

£13.00Under

£10.00Under

£20.00Under

If you havefabulous fleecebandages orbeautiful boots,then you’llwant to keepthem clean andgreat condition,which is whyGolly Galoshesthe cleverequine gaiters are the perfectpresent for the style consciousrider! The waterproof, breathableand versatile leg gaiters help tokeep bandages and boots cleanand dry, so that your protectivehorse leg wear stays in great condition. Golly Galoshes arequick and easy to put on and take off and are designed andmanufactured here in the UK, so you can be assured they aremade to last! Available in a variety of colours, Golly Galoshesfeature a secure hook and loop fastening and full length zipwith protective fleece lapel for security and comfort.www.gollygaloshes.com

£25.99From

£20.00From

Give your horse the pain free, natural look thisChristmas with the ‘Solo Kit’. The kit includesthe Solo Rake which gives a well-tailoredprofessional finish, the Solo Brush whichgrooms and massages in one, and the SoloComb which is an essential item for anyonewho wants a tidy mane and tail.www.sologroom.com

£39.99

Make sure the HG-600, half bale hay steamer, istop of the Christmas List! The Haygain HG-600 isideal for non-stop use in a yard or away at shows.Incorporating the unique HAYGAIN patentedsteam manifold, the HG-600 has five steamspikes enabling steam to penetrate the centre ofthe hay outwards at temperatures in excess of100ºC to kill all fungal spores, bacteria and dustmites without nutritional loss. By rehydrating thehay, it also makes it more palatable and sweetsmelling. Hygienically clean HAYGAIN treated haycan be fed immediately or within 24 hours.www.haygain.com

For price

information please

contact Haygain

The Easyboot Transition - the industry’s ultimate hoof boot? Thetechnologically-advanced Transition fits many hoof shapes andsizes, including round, slightly longer than wide, and even slightlywider than long. The ideal hoofboot to provide shock absorption tohoof structures / limbs. www.hoofboots.co.uk orwww.trelawneequine.co.uk

£84.99From

The Equi-Med stable boots areone of the Equi-med Agwound boot range. All of thewound boot range contain alayer of activated carbonand silver, which has veryeffective antibacterialproperties. The boots areextremely effective attreating and preventingskin and woundinfections, reducingswelling and in trialshave shown 100%success rate at treatingand preventing mudfever. They are designedfor indoor use only, arehard wearing, breathableand machine washable.They can be used as partof everyday stable

management and with theunique seamless design,

they allow for total comfortand freedom of movement.

www.EquiMedAg.co.uk

£98.95From

For those who love traditional equestrian style, the Ariat Women’s Wexford H20 boots provide the perfect classic design, combined with patented ATS technology to keep the wearer on their feet! The jodhpur boot style is made from a waterproof full-grain leather upper and waterproof membrane construction to keep feet dry in the unpredictable winter weather, meanwhile an elastic twin gore stretches to allow ease of wear. The Wexford H20 Boots are available in coffee, black or tan, in sizes 3 – 7.5 & 8.5.www.ariat-europe.com

Gifts for the rider!

40

£149.99

Get the winning look with these beautifully crafted stylishHyCLASS Diamante Spur Straps. Choose your diamantedesign from either, hearts, stars, flower, crown or 2diamante studs. www.battles.co.uk/hy

£7.30

To help friends stay snug and look stunning, getthem a pair of Hot Togs’ Fashion Leggings withBamboo this festive season. These fun leggingscan be used as a thermal layer under clothing andon their own, as an alternative to ‘normal’

leggings. They are made using a unique mix ofyarns that include bamboo charcoal fibres to keep

the wearer warm whilst being breathable andhypoallergenic. Fashion Leggings are comfortable to

wear, offer the perfect fit thanks to the stretch includedin the fabric and they won’t sag either. Fashion Leggings

with Bamboo are available in diamond and flower designsin sizes S, M and L. www.hottogs.co.uk

£15.00

This stunning Glamour Watchfrom Horses with Attitude will

make a fantastic present forany equine enthusiast. Whiteice style watch with arotating bexel, silver dial and a beautiful SilverGlamour horse, featuring arubber strap.www.horseswithattitude.co.uk

£18.99

The Crosshaven Wax Trapperhat from Jack Murphy, is aclassic trapper hat style inquilted wax with a cosyluxurious microfleece liningand faux fur trim. A wintermust-have for all outdooractivities this season.Available in three colourways:Rich Brown, Port and TrueBlack and comes in one size.www.jackmurphy.co.uk

£34.99

Made from brushedpolyester fabric with aDWR coating and taped

seams, the super stylishShelly ladies country coat from Toggi, is

fully waterproof and breathable to ensure you stay dry,whilst looking amazing. With a generous, detachablesnug faux fur collar and zipped pockets at the side frontseams, Shelly is an extremely versatile piece perfect forwarmer days. With a pretty floral lining, mid-thigh lengthcut and studded back for a gorgeous feminine shape,Shelly is a must have for any country lady thisChristmas. www.toggi.com

£135.00From

Set theworld alightin the brandnew SparkleHoodiesfrom Carrots.The stylish,cottonhoodies areavailable inclassic blackor fun pinkto suit everytaste. Thecomfy, practical and functional hoody dazzles withsparkles for any pony princess! Available in children’ssizes ages 7-8, 9-11, 12-13and adults sizes 10 or 12.www.carrotsuk.com

From

£28.00

42

Blow the budget with theultimate winter warmer –Ariat’s beautiful Women’sCordova Down Coat hasbeen designed to keepyou cosy in the coldest ofclimates! The mid-lengthcoat is made with duck downinsulation and features aremovable hood with funky furtrim and zippered hand pockets.The flattering, tailored fit looksfabulous with breeches, jeans oreven smart work wear, makingthis a versatile coat perfect forthe festive season! Available inespresso in sizes XS – XXL.www.ariat-europe.com

£199.99

Gifts for the rider! continued

Toggi’s Waltham leather holdall is uber stylish yet oh soversatile making it the perfect gift for someone special thisChristmas. Made from real leather, Waltham is large enough tobe a weekend holdall or a smart sophisticated bag foreveryday needs. Comes in fabulous Chocolate colour.www.toggi.com

£175.00From

Give the gift of safety thisXmas - the perfectfestive gift! The RS-torwas designed as asafety aid to helpprevent falls, orallow the rider tofall in a morecontrolledmanner. Thestrap has a‘bungee’element thathelps preventsrider falls by ‘absorbing’ the

velocity of being unseated. It fits easily to thestirrup bars. The RS-tor’s fall prevention aspect

comes into effect when the horse spooks, bucks,rears, cat-leaps or stumbles, although its

confidence-boosting benefits are always experienced.Available in Childs, S and M/L sizes. Typically, adult

riders between 5ft 4" and 6ft select size M/L.www.rstor.co.uk

£44.99

Thermolite Socks from Hot Togs are ideal gifts for anyone who

spends time outside. The socks are made using 59% Thermolite yarn

for warmth and comfort and have been designed to be warm without

adding bulk. They are hardwearing and durable at the same time as

being comfortable, breathable, moisture wicking and quick drying. These

clever socks retain their thermal properties when wet,

are ribbed up the full length and have arch support too.

Thermolite Socks are available in pink, khaki,

blue/grey and brown, in sizes 4-8 and 8-12.

www.hottogs.co.uk

£9.50Per pair

Thermolite Socks from Hot Togs are ideal gifts for anyone who

spends time outside. The socks are made using 59% Thermolite yarn

for warmth and comfort and have been designed to be warm without

adding bulk. They are hardwearing and durable at the same time as

being comfortable, breathable, moisture wicking and quick drying. These

clever socks retain their thermal properties when wet,

are ribbed up the full length and have arch support too.

Thermolite Socks are available in pink, khaki,

blue/grey and brown, in sizes 4-8 and 8-12.

www.hottogs.co.uk

The Horse Scene Team hope you fill your Christmas list up with

these fabulous gift ideaswww.carrotsuk.comwww.brainstormltd.co.ukwww.pony-cycles.co.ukwww.jenkinsonsequestrian.co.ukwww.ponygang.co.ukwww.battles.co.uk/lincolnwww.gollygaloshes.comwww.nettexequine.comwww.bossysbibs.com www.sologroom.com

www.haygain.comwww.EquiMedAg.co.ukwww.trelawneequine.co.ukwww.ariat-europe.comwww.hottogs.co.ukwww.jackmurphy.co.uk www.horseswithattitude.co.ukwww.battles.co.uk/hywww.toggi.comwww.rstor.co.uk

Fill more than just your stockings this Christmas withthe gorgeous Shelburne fleece welly boot liners from

Toggi. Made from cosy anti-pill fleece for superb comfortand featuring a fab faux fur trim be sure to add Shelburne

to your Christmas wish list! Comes in small and medium.www.toggi.com

£17.50From

£56.99

The Ariat Tall Boot Bag keeps boots clean, away from the elements and protected, to prevent the leather from drying out and cracking. Smart and practical, the Ariat Tall Boot Bag is made from a durable poly canvas, which has a wipe clean outer and weather resistant finish. Features include a full-length zipper for side access, an inner boot divider to protect boots from knocking together and scuffing and extra room at the top for long-legged footwear!Comes in black/tan or navy/red. www.ariat-europe.com

44 HorseScene

We have put 5 products to the test thismonth, check out what our testing panelthink to them, their honest opinions mayhelp you to make a good choice...

Competition Jacket fromHorseware

With it’s lightweight, stretchy softshellmaterial, this jacket could easily pass

as a lot more expensive than it is!When I first received this show

jacket I was amazed thatsomething of such good quality,

that looks just as stylish as themore expensive show jackets,

could be a fraction of theprice - this is priced at only£64.95. I found this jacketwas very good at keeping me cool if it got toohot while I was riding, but was also was thinenough to wear a coat over the top when Igot cold. I received many compliments whilstwearing this jacket and I think it’s because ofthe lovely fit and the colour of the jacket Itested was stunning.

For more information visitwww.horseware.com

Sallywood Wax JacketThe Sallywood Wax jacket fromJack Murphy is an extremelysmart, fashionable andpractical jacket, whichhas kept me bothwarm and dry as the cold and wet winterweather has startedto descend upon us!It has a faux sherpalining which helpedto keep me toastywarm while at theyard, it also has ainternal drawcordfor keeping a nicefigure shape and Ihave never knowna coat to keep mewarm whileflattering myfigure. I thoughtthe wax would bedifficult to clean as it saysto ‘sponge clean’ the jacket, however I have worn the coat everyday and found that hair and dirt doesn’t stick to it in the same way as othermaterial. At £150 I would highly recommend this coat as it can be worn to both horsey and non-horsey events.

For more information visit www.jackmurphy.co.uk

i

i

Horze Rovigo Tall boots

These Horze boots are excellent quality. They are chunky, and

extremely attractive and have kept my feet comfortable when out

walking and out hacking. The boots are lined with synthetic fur which

makes them really comfortable and warm and they are some of the

nicest looking boots I have worn. Having bigger calf muscles I often

find it difficult to find boots to fit but these have a double velcro strap

across the calf and I found that they were no problem to get in to but

would also fit someone with a slim leg as they are adjustable. The

boots are made from strong nubuck leather and when cleaned they

came up looking brand new even when they had previously been

covered in mud! The sole is also very robust and even with continued

use they show very little sign of wear. I would highly recommend these

boots and feel they are excellent value for money at £99.99.

For more information visit

www.horze.co.uki

Golly GaloshesGaitersAnyone who ridesthrough mud, sand orgrime will know thefeeling of completeannoyance when youhave finished ridingand dismount to seeyour once clean boots or bandages are wet, dirty andnot going to dry out in time for their next use! Whenreceiving the Golly Galoshes I was quite skeptical thatsomething that seemed so simple could solve theseproblems. However, after using them for the first timeout on a hack, I whipped them off and my horses legsand boots were clean and dry! I found with theirfunky design, the cars that met us on the roadsslowed down or stopped earlier, and seemed tonotice us from further away. Also, I noticed a massiveimprovement in my horses skin around the joints inhis legs where previously theboots had got wet andrubbed which had causedsmall scabs - the skin waslooking very healthy. I woulddefinitely recommend theseto anyone, with all the coloursand designs to choose from,everyone could find a pairthey like. They encouragedrivers to slow down or stop,they keep your gear cleanand dry and they’re beneficalto the horses welfare! Whatmore could you ask for?

For more information visit www.gollygaloshes.comi

Cheltenham gold coatAfter wearing this jacket in both very heavy wind and rain,I can definitely vouch that it is both wind and rain proof!The jacket dealt very well with the awful conditions and Ifound the features on this jacket excelled where otherjackets have failed. The coat has a two way zip systemwhich was very useful for riding in, it also is very quietwhich helped calm my spooky horse. Although it appearsquite thin it is surprisingly very warm, and looking lessbulky means I can wear it wherever I want and it isn’theavy to walk around in at all. This jacket is priced at just£30.00 and is incredible value for money - highlyrecommended!

For more information visit www.resultclothing.comi

B K F Z X U E U K P N B A D M A O L T M L T I T M I I Q J N

Q B B R W Y G N M M M A O G L G G Y K P R I N G B O N E Z O

X C P R F F K R M F B L O C L K B L V Z Y C E Q B A L I R I

Q N K X U L Q U Z U T N E M A R E P M E T Z O N Q E V Y I T

S Q M D E K H L I P V Q O V S J S T E B H F T I S S M P E A

B E G S U K A N I M A U L Z H Z Y R O H I O Y I B P Y C H R

R T B J G Q E M Y C P J M P G L S R P J P N H J O B D Q I T

X K H U F W K M Y O R I I K X X D T F L S O X J C X M S R N

J Y O J S A Z E O A F J E G I P C F M K O U M O Y C H D I E

H O J C J V U I M L I O G L P Y M Z E O B S B P J G J O G C

G J O W A H I N D Q U A R T E R S K O I E T C F U N A F X N

M F S K A V W H N R M P Y E D J G S F C C A I H I Y V L I O

O D R G I Q T Z M A S G W V H Z H X U C M E I Y O G U F D C

Q X P Y B O P D O S M T G A W A L Z M X E Y J B A O U M H H

H Z W Y Y R C T E R A A V H H R N I S R O G G W N Y L R H W

A O Z I R O S C D I L E M M A A N D F N N L I Q U O R I C E

P P V T E O S N X R M B Q B D H S O U A O P D R M L F C N G

L I B I T B T G U I C H O W S Z P O U Y G I I E Q Y O W N G

O P Y T A R H A T G B Q I H O E X P E C T A T I O N R B X M

E Y H N P R O G R E S S I V E K R K W A N G N I N I A R T X

F R H Y P X E X M I F M C B S N G G B K E J J A S A P J X H

D D U R Y Z F S Q N P W G Y P K C X K X M Z V O Y N Y Z Y Z

K A J T C U U N B E L S Y T H U K C Z J E F M W G L A C N P

R Z B P S J S G P H E C E F N Q B N F W V T I A G G P R Z P

K G Q D P O F T Y F O W G R K E T Q J N O B V E C L V Z T U

X N L J S O P F A E I A G W D J D S H V M C T T X N F H C Z

U U B B A I N A Z Z I E E D T R U Z X E X J H K E K K S V P

B B M L M I D E H L Z F I L B X C L D S O X Q Q D G X A H J

Z O F X N H L B H P I N L U F F B N I P P P I W W S V L F T

V V O H H Q Y L R F G S W H Z L Y D R M J O T K C E A P L G

Hidden words

POSTURE

RESPIRATORY

LIQUORICE

TEMPERAMENT

RING BONE

DILEMMA

ABSCESS

TRAINING

CONCENTRATION

BEDDING

SCHOOLING

TRANSITIONS

GAIT

PROGRESSIVE

MOVEMENT

EXPECTATION

HINDQUARTERS

FOREHAND

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L G W R

M T I O T T

I M P A I M O N D H I N E N

S O G E T N E E T E S L I C M R

C O M E O H E S B E L E S D A E

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