your horse april issue
DESCRIPTION
This month Your Horse is bursting at the seams! It’s packed full of practical riding tips and tricks plus ways to ensure that you’re getting 2012 off to a brilliant start with your horse. Whether you love Your Horse for our care, gear or riding section there’s so much on offer in all of them we just don’t know where to start so here’s a full run down of what you can expect …..TRANSCRIPT
B e a B e t t e r r i d e r , g e t t h e B e s t f ro m yo u r h o r s e
Yo
ur
Ho
rs
e 358 A
pril
2012
UK’S
No.1 EQUINE
MONTHLYMAGAZINE
“with time off he’s so cheeky” BeN mAheR oN his top hoRse tRipple x
Overreach boots on test, kit to keep you and your horse dry and the best travel boots
Groundwork, preventing ulcers and feeding cobs
GeARcARe 19pAGes
21pAGesRiDiNG38
pAGes
Jumping canter, riding tight turns and coping with spooky venues
• Be
n m
ah
er
ce
leB
rit
y in
te
rv
iew
• mu
tu
al g
ro
om
ing
• en
joy
you
r r
idin
g • t
ra
inin
g c
linic
s • tr
an
sitio
ns w
ith
oliv
er
to
wn
en
d
Apr
il 20
12
£3.8
0Sharpen
those transitions with Oliver
Townend
tRAiNiNG cliNicsGet your
season off to a flying start
Improve your bond with mutualgrooming
scRAtch AwAy
hours in the life of an
equine vet nurse
uNsuNG heRoes
24
every second in the saddle
Try our insider tips and
eNjoy
Contents
RidingGreat advice to help you become a better rider from the horse world’s top experts, plus all the latest gear, must-enter competitions and loads more
B e a B e t t e r r i d e r , g e t t h e B e s t f ro m yo u r ho r s e
Yo
ur
Ho
rs
e 358 A
pril
2012
UK’S
No.1 EQUINE
MONTHLYMAGAZINE
“with time off he’s
so cheeky” BeN
mAheR oN his top
hoRse tRipple x
Overreach boots on test, kit
to keep you and your horse
dry and the best travel bootsGroundwork,
preventing ulcers
and feeding cobs
GeARcARe 19
pAGes21pAGes
RiDiNG38pAGes
Jumping canter, riding
tight turns and coping
with spooky venues
• Be
n m
ah
er
ce
leB
rit
y in
te
rv
iew
• mu
tu
al g
ro
om
ing
• en
joy
you
r r
idin
g • t
ra
inin
g c
linic
s • tr
an
sitio
ns w
ith
oliv
er
to
wn
en
d
Apr
il 20
12
£3.8
0
Sharpen those
transitions with Oliver
Townend
tRAiNiNG cliNics
Get your season off to a flying start
Improve your bond with mutualgrooming
scRAtch AwAy
hours in the life of an
equine vet nurse
uNsuNG heRoes
24
every second in the saddle
Try our insider tips and
eNjoy
Shop online for you and your horse! Our sister magazine Horse Deals has launched its own online shop full of equine bargains – to find out more go to www.horsedeals-shop.co.uk
The UK’s BiggesT for BUying and selling
Our guide to picking the perfect
stallion, whatever your discipline
The righT
sTallion
equine-friendly homes to suit every pocket
specialoVer1000
horses & horseBoxes for sale
plUs• Vet health ed lyall’s
spotlight on spines
• at home with
eventer nicola Wilson
• new products
The Arabian stallion spicing up the sport horse market
horsedeals.co.UK
Breedingdirectory
h ToBago
show tips for arabsMake your arabian
top of the showing
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24 On your marks for your best year yet
Top trainers Matt Lanni and Caroline Moore show how the 3Ps - preparation, practise and positivity – will help you enjoy every second in the saddle
34 Your Horse ClinicTrainer Mia Korenika helps one reader establish her
horse’s jumping canter
38 Riding Q&AsExpert help on jumping
fillers, getting fit, lengthening strides and more
44 Training success Alison Short reveals how to
get the most from your trainer and your lessons
50 Private Lesson International eventer
Oliver Townend helps one reader unlock her horse’s dressage potential
58 Going somewhere different?
Our expert tips will take the fear out of trying out something new with your horse
64 Four exercises to improve your turns
Follow British Showjumping coach Candice Williams’ simple steps to improve your accuracy and speed
ON THe COveR
ON THe COveR
ON THe COveR
ON THe COveR
ON THe COveR
ON THe COveR
ON THe COveR
ON THe COveR
6458
CARE
FEATURES
REgULARS
gEAR
SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR HORSE And gET A CHARLES BENTLEY GROOMING SET
86 All tied up? Everything you need to know to beat Monday morning disease92 Brain trainingWe show you a different approach to training your horse
100 Care Q&As Advice on avoiding rain scald,
feeding cobs and more106 Keep ulcers awayPreventing, diagnosing and
treating ulcers112 Mutual groomingTop tips on how you can use
it to improve your bond
ON THe COveR
ON THe COveR
ON THe COveR
ON THe COveR
ON THe COveR
ON THe COveR
ON THe COveR
ON THe COveR
6 Favourite rideShare one reader’s top ride in Windsor Great Park8 The yardYH team news, Amersham update and War Horse artist12 LettersYour views on the horse world20 Subscribe today!Great gift when you subscribe69 WIN A lesson with Beverley Brightman thanks to HorseHage110 WIN A dressage masterclass and LitoVet 129 Freebies We’ve got loads of equine goodies to give away162 In the hot seat… ...with Team GBR farrier Haydn Price
144112 14
14 Celeb interview with Ben Maher
Olympic hopeful Ben talks about his burning desire to succeed
70 Unlock your positive power
Banish self-doubt for ever!
78 An amazing journey Celebrate your horse’s life from foal to OAP
Subscribe this month and you’ll get this Charles Bentley Deluxe grooming set as well as making sure you never miss your fave mag. The gold and black Slip-Not Pro Deluxe set, worth £33, is practical and stylish too – you’ll be the envy of your yard!
SeePAGe20
132 Big test: overreach bootsWe reveal which ones protect
your horse the best 140 First LookEvery rider’s dream – a bespoke saddle (with or without bling!)
114 Be inspired!Find out how top riders stay motivated through the good and bad times
118 Life as a vet nurseYH goes behind the scenes at Rossdales Equine Hospital
142 What’s newGreat new equine products
144 Buyers’ guide to travel bootsBoots designed to help your horse travel safely
150 Our kitGreat products our testers
can’t live without
152 Bargain to blowoutGear to keep you and your horse dry – whatever your budget
The yard
your horse
Ben Maher
I always believe I can do better
arriving at elsenham Stud, Ben Maher’s impressive base in
north essex, we’re greeted with a cheery wave before the show jumper disappears to wind up a phone call.
Ushered in by secretary Fiona, we’re given a run-down on the joys of returning from a trip away – mis-timed central heating (power cut) and no milk (Fiona admits she forgot to buy some), before the key to managing Ben’s fearsome travelling and competition itinerary is revealed – three synched iPads: one for Fiona, one for the yard and one that travels with Ben.
Before more trade secrets can be divulged Ben appears, bright-eyed and ridiculously bushy-tailed considering he stepped off a plane from Miami less than six hours earlier.
With under 24 hours before he flies to Zurich, ahead of another six-week stint in Florida, time at home is precious for the 29-year-old, but he’s happy to chat while Fiona ploughs through admin in the kitchen, occasionally breaking off to gently rib Ben or pose her own questions.
Ben’s enjoyed a fairly meteoric rise in the world of international show jumping,
going from his first european pony team gold to a place on the 2008 Beijing Olympic team in less than 10 years. at Beijing, he finished 20th in the individual competition, the second highest GB placing.
Following last year’s bronze european team medal, Ben’s got his sights firmly set on London 2012, and while he’s keen to stress life in the show jumping fast lane is harder work than the glamorous exterior implies, it’s clear he wouldn’t have it any other way.
So read on to find out more about this Olympic hopeful’s burning desire to succeed.
Words Katy Islip Photography Matthew Roberts
www.yourhorse.co.uk
Turn over for xxxx’s answers to
your questions
Turn over for Ben’s answers to
your questions
Ben with lovely grey Mr Bean, who’s resident at his Essex-based yard
HORSEYOuR
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GEAR CARE18PAGES
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MONTHLYMAGAZINE
Yo
ur
Ho
rs
e 357 M
AR
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2012
RIDING38PAGES
Using half-halts, dressage training on your hacks and thinking positively
“It’S Not All ABoUt ME” RolAND toNG oN why A GooD tEAM IS CRUCIAl to SUCCESS
4 exercises to solve water jump wobbles
with top ridersKaren Dixon and Richard Davison
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Get ready for your best year yet with a dash of the three Ps… preparation, practice and positivity
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Riding
your horse
training successRegular training can be a brilliant investment of money
and time. The right trainer can transform the relationship you have with your horse, ironing out problems,
strengthening the bond between you and helping you realise your riding dreams. Our expert Alison Short is here
to reveal some of the secrets of training success and help make sure you get the most from your lessons
10
Words Andrea Oakes
MeeT The eXPeRT Alison Short
Alison Short has been a freelance teacher for more than 20 years. She trained with Olympic dressage rider Doris Ramseier, before returning to West Sussex to apply her expertise to her own horses and those of her clients – some of whom have gone on to achieve regional and national dressage success. Alison recently launched iRide, instructional audio downloads that bring top-level tuition within the reach of every rider. To find out more, visit www.alisonshort.co.uk
steps to
Riding
In true northern style, Oliver ignores the miserable weather and leads the way to his spacious arena, explaining he doesn’t have an indoor school because he believes in
training his horses in the same environment they compete in – outside
With international event rider Oliver Townend
privaTelesson
From his first taste of international competition as a teenager, Oliver Townend has never lacked the drive to succeed and is now
considered one of the UK’s best eventers.
Arriving at his base, the attractive
Gadlas Farm in Shropshire, we
find stable lads and
lasses braving persistent drizzle to keep everything shipshape, before we’re welcomed by Oliver himself.Your Horse reader
Amy Jones is hoping Oliver’s expert tips
will help her fulfil her eventing dreams with her mare Ella.
In true northern style, Oliver ignores the
miserable weather and leads the way to his spacious arena, explaining he doesn’t have an indoor school because he believes in training his horses in the same environment they compete in – outside.
Amy explains she and Ella began competing at BE100 last year and successfully moved up through Novice to Intermediate level, scoring a double clear
first time out. However, she feels their dressage is lacking the polish required at this level, and worries Irish-born Ella’s lack of breeding could be holding her back.
With a wealth of experience to draw on, Oliver’s perfectly placed to help Amy unlock Ella’s potential. As the lesson progresses, he helps Amy realise she shouldn’t talk her horse down, as given the right support, Ella’s more than capable of holding her own.
Name: Oliver TownendExperience: Began his
international career aged 13 as a member of the GB pony eventing team. Won a European Championship
gold medal at Pratoni in 2007. Won both
Badminton and Burghley in 2009, and finished that
season at the top of the British Eventing points table. Finished in third
place in the 2011 British Eventing Rider Rankings and is now aiming for the
London Olympics.
Fact file
yOur hOrse
Good dressage looks effortless, but perfecting a “push-button” response requires consistency
and patience in your schooling
For more riding advice go to www.yourhorse.co.uk
www.yOurhOrse.cO.uk
Meet the pupilTurn over to find out how Oliver helps Amy realise Ella’s dressage potential
Riding
If your horse turns into a nervy, hot-headed monster away from home, here’s how to take
the stress out of training and competing somewhere new with our experts’ advice to
help him relax and perform at his bestWords Helen Milbank Photography Matthew Roberts
your horse
It looks scaryin there!
Riding
your horse
4exercises toimprove your turns in show jumpingWhen accuracy and speed count, make sure you’re a winner with our easy ways to a better, faster round
www.yourhorse.co.uk
Riding over a fence or two in the comfort of your arena at home is very different to riding a full course at a competition. Show jumping requires balance and skill, whatever level you’re competing at, and when you’re against the clock you need to be able to keep your cool around even the tightest of turns. The ability to tackle a sharp bend, then gather your horse up quickly to clear a fence will give you the winning edge – but cracking your turns can be tricky. To help, we’ve enlisted the help of rider and trainer Candice Williams, and here she give us four simple but effective exercises to keep you on your hooves around those hairpins.
MeeT The expeRTCandice Williams
Candice Williams BHSI and BS Coach is head of sport at Oaklands College in Hertfordshire, where she’s helped create a programme that focuses on preparing and conditioning young riders to
form the Advanced Sports Programme for Equine Athletes. Contact her on 01727 737772 for details or email [email protected]
A
B E
C
M H
KF
Pole Pole
Pole/fence
Pole/fence
FenceFence
Fence Fence
Fence
BefoRe You STaRTUsing a small selection
of jumps, set your
school up as Candice
suggests in this
diagram.
your horse
From his first faltering steps, your horse’s journey through foalhood to old age is a fascinating one. There’s something to celebrate at every stage – and ways you can strengthen your relationship with your horse, whether he’s three or 33
Words: Andrea Oakes
F rom bright-eyed and spindly-legged foal to wise old veteran, a horse’s life can span three decades or more. Those first tottering steps lead him on an amazing journey, through his early
education learning about being around humans into his adolescent years when he develops new skills, including how to carry a rider. In his prime, he gains the strength and confidence to become a trusted riding companion, a show ring star or an equine athlete. Then he’s the schoolmaster, teaching us – before it’s time for that well-earned retirement. So come with us for the journey of his lifetime – packed full of insights to help you guide your horse in the right direction, whatever his age.
journey...
Anamazing
A horse’s life
pic: Bob Langrish
There are challenges and
rewards at every stage of a horse’s
life, from foal to oAP
amazing
www.yourhorse.co.uk
without limitsUnlock the positive power of your mind with our expert tips and say goodbye to self-doubt and hello to confident riding
Imagine you had a friend who always pointed out the downside of every situation, who played
on your fears by constantly asking ‘what if?’ and belittled your abilities whenever you tried to achieve your dreams.
Chances are you wouldn’t stay friends for long – but most of us are guilty of doing the same thing to ourselves, allowing self-doubt to creep
in just when we need to be at the top of our game, whether at a competition or out hacking.
We’ve brought together experts who can show you how to harness the power of your mind for positive ends. Follow their advice and you’ll banish those negative thoughts, creating in their place a positive mental environment for achieving your goals – you’ll find the sky’s the limit!
Charlie Unwin
Clare Goldie
Barry Cridland
Charlie Unwin is a performance psychology coach who
works with athletes including top flight riders. He’s running a series of competitive rider workshops over Easter. for details visit www.performance legacy.com/equestrian
Clare Goldie is a master practitioner of neuro-linguistic
programming (NLP), hypnosis and Time Line Therapy. She also has more than 20 years’ experience as an equestrian trainer. Find out more at www.empathyrider.co.uk
Barry Cridland is a motivational coach and sports
hypnotherapist who helps athletes including show jumpers achieve their goals. For more information visit www.dreamtime-hypnosis.co.uk
Meet the eXPeRtS
RideConfidence
Special
CareCare
Tuber coxae(point of hip)
Internal abdominal
oblique
Medial gluteal muscle
Deep gluteal muscle
Head of femur
Semitendinosusmuscle
(hamstrings)
Semimembranosusmuscle (hamstrings)
Quadriceps
Patella
Help your horse avoid that Monday morning feeling…
VETADVICE
your horse
Illustrations: Samantha J Elm
hurst BA Hons, w
ww
.livingart.org.uk
www.yourhorse.co.uk
Charlie BriggsCharlie is an equine vet who works for the Hale Veterinary Group in Wiltshire. She’s also team vet for the GB Endurance Development Squad
Dr Richard PiercyMEET ThE ExpErTS If you’re tied up in
knots over ‘tying up’, vet Charlie Briggs offers advice on preventing it – and what to do if it does strike
Dr Richard Piercy, veterinary expert in neuromuscular disease at the Royal Veterinary College
your horse
CareCare
Words Lisa Ashton
Brain training for horsesDiscover a different way to teach your horse
the basics using equitation science
www.yourhorse.co.uk
Dr Andrew McLeanDr Andrew McLean has a PhD in equine cognition and learning and has been an accredited riding coach for over 25 years. He developed and manages the
Australian Equine Behaviour Centre (AEBC), the internationally recognised horse training and behaviour modification centre in Australia. Andrew has written a number of top-selling books. For more info visit www.aebc.com.au
Lisa AshtonLisa works closely with Andrew and has the International Certificate in Equitation Science from the AEBC. As the director of EquiSci, Lisa delivers clinics
throughout the UK and Europe. She’s also the International Society for Equitation Science education officer. For more information, visit www.equitationscience.co.uk
Meet the experts
www.yourhorse.co.uk
what is eGus?EGUS is surprisingly common and can affect any horse, from racehorses to once-a-week hackers. Put simply, gastric ulcers form in the stomach – often as a result of a high-concentrate, low forage diet – resulting in pain and discomfort.
An unnatural diet is the main culprit. Horses evolved to be trickle feeders, designed to eat little and often with free access to grazing 24 hours a day,
interrupted only by bouts of sleep and the occasional flee from predators. In contrast, many of today’s horses are stabled, especially over the winter months, and given two or three cereal-based feeds a day, often with small amounts of forage or limited grazing time. This can result in long periods with little or no food intake – and therein lies the danger.
An important feature of the horse’s
stomach is that gastric acid is secreted continuously, whether or not he’s eating. A horse who’s constantly grazing as nature intended on hay, haylage or grass has a high average stomach pH, resulting in a nice, healthy environment. However, if a horse doesn’t eat for several hours, this continued secretion means the pH can fall rapidly to a dangerously acidic level and ulcers may begin to develop.
it’s a condition that affects racehorses, performance horses and even once-a-week hackers, but equine gastric ulcer syndrome
(eGus) often goes undiagnosed, its symptoms mistaken for bad behaviour. however, the condition is detected by a simple
endoscopic examination, and there’s lots you can do to help prevent it happening. here’s how, from the experts at Merial animal health
www.yourhorse.co.uk
Help your horse stay ulcer free
VETADVICE
Keep him eating
Horses are designed to trickle feed little and often, and offering ad-lib forage is vital for their gut health. Allowing your horse to stand in his stable for
long periods with nothing to eat puts him at risk of
gastric ulcers
Spitting image
Several litres of saliva are produced as your horse chews
to lubricate food as it travels down his oesophagus – and this saliva helps neutralise stomach
acid (a major reason why time without food can lead to
digestive problems)Keep your horse’s body working as it should by feeding ad-lib forage
MotivationPh
oto:
Fio
na S
cott
-Max
wel
l
your horse
Don’t stopTo ensure you stay on top of your game
in 2012 read how these celeb riders remain motivated through the highs and lows of their careers
believing
DiD you know?Jay came from a non-horsey background and started riding when he was seven
I’m hungry to be number one
www.yourhorse.co.uk
Phot
o: N
igel
God
dard
/KSD
igit
al P
hoto
grap
hy
Jay loves eventing, but also competes to a high level in
show jumping (see pic opposite) to keep his eye on the ball
International eventer and show jumper Jay Halim
Jay Halim has a successful career in both eventing and show jumping, working hard all
year round to ensure he’s always focused, but he admits it can be hard to maintain that when things go wrong.
“I really had to work hard to stay motivated last year. I had some great results and rode some really good horses, but some of those have now been sold or become injured.
“Being short of horses made 2011 really tough for me – I still feel like I’m waiting for horses to come along and complete my string and it just doesn’t seem to be happening at the moment.
“It’s horrible when your horse gets injured. Last year I qualified for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) with Adagio III. It would have been
my first HOYS appearance so it was a big one for me.
“I took Adagio to Tattersalls International in May 2011 where he was brilliant. We were overnight leaders, but he didn’t trot up on the Sunday – and, just like that, our HOYS plans were over. Adagio had been so fantastic all year and it was just so upsetting.
“I’m ultra fussy about my horses’ management and always do my best to ensure they’re the best they can be. But over the years I’ve been forced to come to terms with the fact that some horses will break along the way, regardless of how well you look after them.
“Some days I can get down about things. I used to be a lot worse but now I really push myself to think positive and look ahead – some things
are just unavoidable so I focus on things that are within my reach and that I can work on.
“I’m always looking to improve myself and stay at the top of my game. As well as being an eventer I also compete to a high level in show jumping, especially in winter – it keeps me going and ensures that my eye stays on the ball.
“I had some international shows lined up this winter so that’s one of the ways I’ll kept my motivation up outside of the eventing season.
“I’m hungry to be number one and I love what I do, which drives me to stay positive and on track. For me, it’s also important to have a social life – life is too short to be stressed all the time!”
Confidence SpecialMotivation is the driving force needed to achieve our goals
– but it’s easy to lose and hard to maintain. To find out what drives them to keep going, even when they feel they’re at rock bottom, we spoke to eventers Jay Halim and Sarah Cohen, para dressage rider Anthony Dawson and endurance rider karen Jones
Behind the scenes at Rossdales
your horse
Access all areas Your Horse Deputy Editor Imogen Johnson
visited world-famous Rossdales Equine Hospital in Newmarket to experience a day
in the life of an equine veterinary nurseWords Imogen Johnson Photography Matthew Roberts
Access all areas Your Horse Deputy Editor Imogen Johnson
visited world-famous Rossdales Equine Hospital in Newmarket to experience a day
in the life of an equine veterinary nurseWords Imogen Johnson Photography Matthew Roberts
Access all areas Your Horse Deputy Editor Imogen Johnson
visited world-famous Rossdales Equine Hospital in Newmarket to experience a day
in the life of an equine veterinary nurseWords Imogen Johnson Photography Matthew Roberts
Access all areas Your Horse Deputy Editor Imogen Johnson
visited world-famous Rossdales Equine Hospital in Newmarket to experience a day
in the life of an equine veterinary nurseWords Imogen Johnson Photography Matthew Roberts
Competition
To enter visit www.yourhorse.co.uk and answer this question
Terms and Conditions The winner will be given the opportunity to state with which AM trainer they would like to take their masterclass however, this will be subject to availability and in the event that the first choice of trainer is unavailable, training will be offered with another. The prize must be taken by 31 December 2012. The winner will be responsible for their own and their horse’s transport to AM Dressage, and
their own accommodation. AM Dressage will provide accommodation for the winner’s horse. Closing date 22 March 2012
a) GOPO b) DOPO c) POGO
Win a dressage masterClass
and litoVet
LitoVet is the only supplement in the UK to contain what?
Your Horse has teamed up with the makers of joint supplement LitoVet to give one lucky reader the chance to win a two-
day masterclass with AM Dressage trainers Adam Kemp, Matt Frost or Justine Sole. Our winner will also receive a LitoVet branded polo shirt and jacket as well as a four-month supply of LitoVet for their horse. Three runners up will each win a two-month supply of LitoVet, a branded polo shirt and the opportunity to attend the masterclass as a spectator.
The winner will have a private lesson on their own horse each day and the chance to watch other riders’ training sessions. AM Dressage, based in Gloucestershire, has become one of the UK’s leading training establishments. Taking a holistic approach, it concentrates on the horse as much as the rider, recommending a range of strategies for getting the best from each partnership. This includes supplementing the horses’ diets with LitoVet to help maintain soundness, suppleness and mobility.
LitoVet is a scientifically proven, award-winning joint supplement which helps your horse’s natural recovery processes. It’s the only supplement in the UK that contains GOPO – a unique key active component derived from specially cultivated rosehip and Rosa canina. It’s high in bio-available vitamin C, which is essential for the health of cartilage, ligaments, tendons and muscles.
For more information on LitoVet visit www.litovet.co.uk or call 01452 524012 and for further information on AM Dressage, visit www.amdressage.com
AM Dressage trainer
Matt Frost
For more gear reviews go to www.yourhorse.co.uk
www.yourhorse.co.uk
Overreach bootsOverreach boots are designed
to protect your horse's heels from nasty injuries. Find out which of these 12 pairs our testers would
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rider fine tune her jumping skills in our latest Private
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DON’T MISSOur 64-page Spring Gear Guide featuring all the kit you and your horse need for the warmer months ahead
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