www.yourhorse.co.uk

Inside this preview- Meet the main arena demonstrators- What’s on in the Dodson & Horrell Arena- V isit the Your Horse Village- Win an Equi-Trek horsebox - Expert advice to improve your riding - Celebrity Q&A panels- The Breeds Village and shopping

See more online

For more info about

Your Horse Live,

including timetables

and booking tickets go to www.

yourhorselive. co.uk

Welcome

This year’s Your Horse Live nominated charity is The Donkey Sanctuary. Founded in 1969, the Sanctuary works to protect donkeys and mules and promote their welfare worldwide. It supports projects in 29 countries, including major projects in Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Kenya and Mexico, where donkey welfare is improved through community education and veterinary work.

“We’re thrilled The Donkey Sanctuary has been nominated Your Horse Live’s Charity of the Year,” says Dawn Vincent, the charity’s communications manager. “It’s a real privilege to be able to come and share our love of donkeys and mules at such a prestigious equine event. All over the developing world some of the poorest people and communities on the planet rely on donkeys for their survival. Donkeys work until they drop in terrible conditions to carry desperately needed water, transport huge loads to make their owners a living, or even work as school buses or ambulances.

We work hard to support these donkeys as well as the families who could not live without them.

“In the UK we are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of donkeys and mules coming into our care, some of whom have been rescued from neglect, mistreatment or abandonment. We currently have donkeys and mules looking for loving foster homes.”

For more information visit www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk

1 show, 2 arenas, over 70 talks and demonstrations, 300

exhibitors, and more top riders and trainers than you can count

It can only be Your Horse Live!What is it? The perfect horsey weekend! This is your chance to watch, learn from (and meet!) the world’s A-list horsey celebs. Snap up a bargain at the 100s of trade stands selling tack, rugs, clothing and everything in between, visit the breeds village to meet some unusual equines, and win some fantastic prizes – including an Equi-Trek Sonic lorry worth £28,700 – in the Your Horse village.When? 12 and 13 November 2011

Where? Stoneleigh Park, WarwickshireHow do I get tickets? Visit www.yourhorselive.co.uk or call the ticket hotline

on 0844 581 0770 and quote ‘EQ01’to receive a special

advance discount. Plus check out our new limited edition VIP tickets which offer fast track queuing, guaranteed seats to all main arena performances and other privileges – but there’s only a few left for Sunday, so hurry!

TicketsStart at just £16.50 Adults£8 Children

Ticket hotline 0844 581 0770 (quote ‘EQ01’) or visit www.yourhorselive.co.uk by Midnight 7th November 2011

Give a donk a home…

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os T

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onke

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You can show your support by

visiting the Donkey

Sanctuary stand and by using the

Shop and Drop facility at the

show

www.yourhorse.co.uk

Geoff: I wouldn’t be where I am today without It’s Otto [the dark bay gelding that took Geoff to two Olympic Games and a European and World Championship]. He took me to places I’d never dreamed of going.Oliver: I owe my success to my parents. They’ve always supported me over the years. They still come to watch me compete and they always ring me at the end of an event to see how I’ve done.Geoff: The worst thing is the travelling. Right now we’re on our way to a show in France – we’ll drive six hours before we park up for the night, and then it’s six hours on a ferry and two hours more driving on the other side. Of course the best thing is winning!Oliver: Yes –the travelling and also the financial pressures are the worst things. The best are obviously the horses, and the fantastic places we visit.Geoff: When things go wrong I analyse it – but then kick on forward! Things can go wrong a lot and I try to get my head down and not think too much about it.

Oliver: I haven’t yet found a good way of dealing with things going wrong! Even when I win I’ll think about what I did and how things could have gone better. When things go well with a big win, we’ll throw a party.Geoff: My one top tip to a novice show jumper is let the fence come to you.Oliver: And mine is be positive and enjoy it! Actually, the best advice I’ve ever been given is not to worry about the other competitors – concentrate on getting the best out of your horse rather than trying to beat the rest.Geoff: It’s always a fantastic crowd at Your Horse Live. I’m looking forward to having a bit of banter with them!Oliver: I hope people will have fun and come away from our demo feeling positive. Especially as I’m doing it with Geoff – after all, if someone of his size and stature can succeed, anyone can! Sorry Geoff!

Anna: Roland and I have known each other for 20 years. The most difficult thing about working together is we both want to be in charge – it’s a bit of a power struggle! We recently teamed up to ride a pas-de-deux and argued the whole way round – the judge almost had to come out and referee us!Anna: I listen to all sorts of music to see if it might work with the horses for dressage. I have a very bizarre CD collection. I actually quite like listening to Classic FM, but I also like a bit of Rhianna.Roland: I like listening to the Live Lounge on Radio 1 and also lots of clubby dance music. I think it’s better I appreciate dance music from my car than a club – if it comes on in a club I look around and realise I look really old compared to everyone else!

Anna: If I have a day off from the horses

I like to cook. Roland: Ideally

on my day off I wouldn’t see a horse at all, but

that never

happens! I also steer clear of shops – I’m the sort of person that can go into a tack shop and spend £700 – good for the economy but not for my relationship with my bank manager! Anna: A good teacher is always committed and enthusiastic. And a good pupil is someone who does what they’re told! Roland: To me a good teacher is personable and sympathetic. And a good pupil is someone who is open minded, and who has enough respect for the person teaching them to try it their way. How I do it and how Anna does it can be completely different, and yet I can have a lesson with Anna and still get the result I was looking for. Anna: I’m really looking forward to meeting people from lots of different disciplines at Your Horse Live. [Anna is taking part in the celebrity riders’ panel in the Q&A Live zone]. I hope people who see our demo will be entertained and inspired.Roland: I’m looking forward to it too. People can expect to be entertained by us – we’re like something out of X Factor!

Geoff Billington & Oliver Townend

Main Arena

BEHINDTHESCENES

Familiar faces to Your Horse Live and back by popular demand

Anna Ross-Davies & Roland Tong

Bringing humour and irreverence to the dressage arena

Geoff Billington Oliver Townend Anna Ross-Davies Roland Tong

TimetableTo find out who’s

performing in the

main arena and when,

go online to www.yourhorselive.

co.uk

78 Your Horse

Main Arena

your horse

Laura BechtolsheimerBEHINDTHESCENES

1 I wouldn’t be where I am today without Alf [Mistral Hojris, Laura’s 17hh chestnut gelding]. He’s my horse

of a lifetime. I’d been to the World Championships before on Douglas Dorsey, but Alf has taken it to a new level, and has given me my biggest successes.

2My philosophy is that enjoyment for both horse and rider should always come first. Ambition and taking

things too seriously should never override that. You’ve got to be driven by your desire to train horses, not by pure ambition.

3 I tend to choose quite big horses to ride – for no particular reason it just always seems to happen that way!

I prefer them a bit sharp – preferably on the too sharp side than the lazy side – and I like horses with a strong character. I do have a five-year-old homebred mare but my horses generally tend to be geldings. I’m not a massive fan of stallions – they can be a bit dull off the leg.

4The first thing I do when I arrive on the yard each morning is walk down the row of stables and check that all

the horses are happy and look normal. The last thing I do is write my list for the next day, so the girls know who I’m riding when.

5Before I get on my horse at a competition I visualise myself riding my test – not just thinking about

where I’ll be going, but actually properly visualising how I’m going to ride it. Once I’m on I do my warm up and then there’s nothing really left to do, just ride!

6I event as well as do dressage. I didn’t this season because my horse had an injury but I bought a fun horse at the

beginning of 2009 which I’ve evented two seasons on, just up to Novice level. I love going cross-country!

7 I try to turn pressure into a positive, rather than something scary. Pressure comes because you’ve done well, and

so that should give you confidence. You wouldn’t be under pressure if you hadn’t done well in the past. And I won’t be changing anything in preparation for 2012. It’s a championship like any other so you do the same thing, same routine, same training, same shows…

8If I have a day off I like to sleep in. I also enjoy going down to London and having a night out with some of

my old uni friends, or playing tennis.

9 I couldn’t live without my iPod – I need music! I listen to all sorts of things – a lot of old school stuff,

so 60s, 70s.

10My guilty pleasure is Home and Away. And I could probably go through a packet of biscuits

dunked in tea or coffee while watching it.

11My one tip for any aspiring dressage rider is ‘preparation’. The better prepared you are for the test

and the more comfortable you and your horse are doing it at home, the more likely you are to be able to do it when out of your comfort zone.

12 A good teacher enables the rider to recreate results when the teacher isn’t with them. So you

don’t just create a puppet, but someone who understands what they’re doing.

13 I don’t teach that many people, and I don’t do many lecture demos either, so I’m really

looking forward to Your Horse Live. It will definitely be challenging teaching people and horses I don’t know, but that makes it more interesting. It’ll be good!

Fresh from victory at the european Championships, with her sights firmly fixed on London 2012, Laura will give

some fantastic demos at your horse Live. here she spills the beans about Alf, ambition and a liking for soaps…

Laura and Alf at the 2008 Olympic Games

www.yourhorse.Co.uk

Guido performs one of his crowd-thrilling

stunts

1 If I wasn’t a professional stunt rider, I’d like to have been a musician. I’ve always

wished I could sing, but I’ve got no voice whatsoever – though I do play lousy drums!

2 I was 15 when I left home to join the

circus. My mum said: “Look, if that’s what you want to do, you go and do it. If it doesn’t work out, you can always come back.” She stood by me, and that gave me a lot of strength, because I knew that OK, I can take this plunge but it doesn’t mean that I’m actually going to drown if it all goes bad! So, I came back home once or twice and then I left again, because at the end of the day I couldn’t resist the calling.

3The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is “Don’t do it!” No, seriously, there is a

saying that I really like. It goes: “May you be strengthened by yesterday’s rain, walk straight in tomorrow’s wind, and cherish each moment of the sun today.” Not my words but I try and live by them and I’ve always made sure that I enjoy today just as much as I enjoy making plans for the future.

4The first thing I look for in a potential stunt horse is a calm head, strong legs and

good joints. Size, he would be

around 15.1hh to 15.2hh – you want something that is fast and furious – but not too furious! I have one horse called Tosca and he is very, very fast, and he stops me from doing stuff like going

under his belly – I couldn’t do it on him.

5Fear would be a

very bad adviser in my job. We have to try and stay

calm. Having

said that, when I’m

doing my stunts I’m often,

well, not scared so much, but worried, yes! But it’s more that you worry before the show

than when you’re actually doing it. When you’re doing it there’s not much time to be scared.

6I’m motivated by doing things that no one else can do. That’s why I go under

the bellies of horses in our act or take horses over a barrier that’s been put on fire and stand on the back of three and take them over a jump – no one else does that. I’m always trying new things.

7 If you come to our demo you can expect a good time! When I’m in there I don’t

think about anything else. It’s all about making the audience happy.

8The ambience at Your Horse Live is amazing – it’s a fantastic arena to get the

crowd involved in.

Guido from Rockin’ Horse

Their jaw-dropping stunts are responsible for much collective

holding of breath at your horse Live. Charismatic frontman Guido Louis

tells us what motivates him to risk life and limb to entertain

pic: Kit Houghton

My philosophy is that enjoyment for both

horse and rider should always come first

TimetableTo find out who’s

performing in the

main arena and when,

go online to www.yourhorselive.

co.uk

Dodson & Horrell Arena

your horse

Understanding the problem horse

WATCHANDLEARN

Whether dressage, jumping, Western or showing is your thing, we’ve got it covered in the Dodson & horrell arena. Take a

look at this year’s fantastic line up.

with Jason Webb and Charlie Unwin

Australian Jason Webb has made a name for himself by handling and starting young horses, and

rehabilitating ‘problem’ horses, sympathetically and effectively. His philosophy is based on traditional Australian methods, but includes a hefty dose of common sense, as well as a sound understanding of horse psychology. From the Australian Horsemanship

HQ in Kent, Jason and his team start a number of young horses under saddle each year, and also tackle common ridden and behavioural problems such as loading, spookiness and bad manners.

Jason will be working with sports psychologist Charlie Unwin to explore and demonstrate how the behaviour of both horse and

handler are

inextricably linked. Jason will be working with one lucky

Your Horse reader’s horse at the show, as well as sitting on a youngster for the very first time. Plus, Jason’s superstar

polocrosse stallion Diesel will also be on hand to show

off some of his party tricks!“I’m really excited to be

demonstrating at Your Horse Live”, says Jason. “It will be a challenge – working with horses that I don’t know really tests my skills as a trainer and behaviourist, but that’s what I love about this job.”

Jason Webb – looking forward to

demonstrating how to help horses with

problems

Charlie Unwin

TimetableTo find out who’s

performing in the

Dodson & Horrell

arena and when, go

online to www.yourhorselive.

co.uk

WWW.yourhorse.co.uk

Sylvia Loch is the UK’s greatest authority on classical riding, and has been

spreading the word about the benefits to both horse and rider of the classical way for the last 35 years.

She founded the Classical Riding Club in l995 in the hope of putting the emphasis back on better riding, worried that the traditional, classical ways and ethics were being by-passed in favour of quick-fix modern methods.

Taking time out from her base in Scotland to return to Your Horse

Live this year, Sylvia will demonstrate how the same basic principles and concepts

underpin classical, correct and humane riding at all levels, from beginner up to Grand Prix.

“In particular I’m really looking forward to showing the correct aids at Your Horse Live,” explains Sylvia, “as so many people tell me that they are confused about this. 

“One person says this, another that, but in fact the classical way of riding can be easily demonstrated with minimum rein aids or fuss!”

Going Western, with Lee Rutter

L ee Rutter is one of the UK’s most respected Western riders and trainers. He began riding Western-

style when he was just 10 years old, and went on to become part of the Bronze medal winning team at the FEI European Reining Championships in 2009.

He was also part of the reining team that competed at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, finishing in fifteenth place in the Individual Final.

He’s currently British Reining Open champion.

Now a full time trainer based at Oakridge Quarter Horses, Lee will be giving an introduction to Western riding, showing the precision, accuracy and responsiveness that are its hallmarks.

“I’m really looking forward to showing Western riding to an audience who might not have encountered it before,” explains Lee. “It’s a way of riding that requires the horse to be relaxed but responsive and I hope to show how we achieve that.”

ALSOappearing in the

Dodson & Horrell arena

Top show judge Lucy Killingbeck will be working

with some budding show riders to polish their

ringcraft, and explain just what the judge is looking for.

Popular show jumping coach Carol Mailer (above) will

demonstrate some fool-proof gymnastic jumping exercises that will help any horse and rider improve their timing,

balance and accuracy.

And rider, trainer and author Claire Lilley (below) will be

demonstrating how to effectively work your horse from the ground, including

using long reining and lungeing to improve their way

of going.

Ex-eventer and head trainer from the Thoroughbred

Rehabilitation Centre, Kath Pinington, will explain what goes into preparing ex-racers

for a new career, and will show some practical exercises

to help them adjust to life away from the track

If you’re intrigued by Western riding and want to find out more, then this is the demo for you

This demonstration of the tried and tested principles of classical riding is a delight to see

pic:

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Classical riding with Sylvia Loch

Your Horsevillage

Queues form to see

Ellen Whitaker in 2010

your horse

The Your Horse Village – it’s the place to be!

Pay a visit to the your horse Village to meet your favourite celebrities, win some fantastic prizes, and take advantage of some

special show offers. here’s the round up of what’s in store…

Thank you to all the sponsors who have made Your Horse Live 2011 possible:Baileys, Mountain Horse, Dodson & Horrell, Martin Collins, Dengie, Protexin, Green Mile

Special show subscription

offers!There’ll be exclusive

deals on subscriptions

to both Your Horse and

our sister publication

Horse Deals over the

weekend on the Your Horse stand

Find your horse his perfect home at the

stand If you’re looking to sell your horse (or buy a new one) then make sure you visit the Horse Deals stand. The Horse Deals ‘wall’ will be packed with adverts of horses for sale – just bring along a postcard-sized advert and pin it up, completely free of charge. With around 15,000 visitors expected over the weekend it’s a great way to advertise.

Celebrity autograph signingsIf you fancy saying hello to your favourite riders and getting their autograph, then make your way to the Your Horse stand. Over the weekend Oliver Townend, Geoff Billington, Laura Bechtolsheimer, Anna Ross-Davies, and Guido from Rockin’ Horse will all be popping by to sign autographs and meet fans. Check out the timetables at www.yourhorselive.co.uk or pick up a free show guide on the day.

Plus ... for our subscribersIf you’re a loyal subscriber to Your Horse then the subscribers’ lounge is our way of saying thank you. Put your feet up and enjoy a complimentary tea or coffee while planning where to go next – just wear your special wristband for entry

Our ‘Must Have’ productsThere are certain horsey products that the Your Horse team just couldn’t live without – our ‘Must Haves’. Get us started talking about them and we can’t stop! We’re so keen to give others the chance to find out

how great they are, that we’ve set up this fantastic competition. Dozens of our favourite Must Have

products are up for grabs. To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is hang on to your admission

ticket stub and bring it along to the Your Horse stand. From feed to saddles, supplements to safety equipment, there are some fantastic prizes to be won. Good luck!

horsebox worth £28,700!

We’ve teamed up with Britain’s largest horsebox manufacturer, Equi-Trek, to bring you the chance to win a fantastic Equi-Trek

Sonic horsebox worth an eye-watering £28,700!

Win an

Find out more

For more information

on the Equi-Trek

range of horseboxes,

go to www.equi-trek.com

Win a horsebox

COMPETITION

WWW.yourhorSE.co.uk

The Sonic is a compact, easy-to-drive box which carries two horses in complete comfort. There

is a separate tack/changing room as well as additional storage over the cab, meaning there’s plenty of space for all you and your horse’s gear.

Plus, Equi-Trek has generously added

the following extras to the competition prize vehicle: alloy wheels, mud flaps, head divider, corner seat with storage, CCTV camera, digital reversing camera, padded partition, padded walls, extra height partition and road tax until June 2012.

One lucky winner and their horse will

certainly be taking to the road in style!For your chance to win, just visit the

Your Horse stand in the Your Horse Village, where the lorry will be on display, and fill in the simple entry form. Good luck!For full terms and conditions visit www.yourhorse.co.uk

Q&A LiveThere’s a packed timetable with loads of expert advice on all things equine

www.yourhorse.co.uk

Sarah Lavelle-BowdenSPEAKERPROFILE

saddle buying made simple

Would you like to be able to discuss a potential saddle purchase, or the fit of

your existing saddle, with confidence?

Sarah Lavelle-Bowden, the owner of Saddles Direct, will be giving talks each day in the Q&A Live zone, to give horse owners the knowledge they need to be able to make an

informed purchase of a new or used

saddle.As an

independent supplier of quality used saddles, Sarah will explain what to look for when buying a saddle, and will give a basic understanding of how a saddle should fit. She will also give an independent opinion on how various brands differ, making some more suitable than others for horses of particular shapes and sizes.

“I’m really excited about talking and exhibiting at Your Horse Live,” says Sarah. “I’m passionate about correctly-fitted saddles and enjoy nothing more than talking to people about horses and saddles!”

DON’TMISSA lso sharing their knowledge

and answering your questions in the Q&A Live

zone will be equine dental practitioner Jonathan Keen, who will explain the importance of dentistry for your horse’s comfort, and Nicky Jarvis MRCVS chief veterinary officer at Redwings Horse Sanctuary, who will talk about how best to care for a veteran.

Sports psychologist Charlie Unwin will look at how to prepare mentally for competition, while The Horse Bit Shop explains the importance of the right bit for comfortable, effective communication with your horse. Hoof care specialist KC la Pierre will discuss alternatives to traditional farriery and Dena Schwartz will explain the benefits of aromatherapy for horses.

Sarah will be giving advice on getting the

best saddle for you and your horse

Celebrity Q&A

We’re giving you the chance to quiz some of the best riders and trainers

in the business, with our c

elebrity Q&A panels. Ready to be put on the

spot will

be Olympic, World and European m

edallists, a

nd winners of

some of the most prestigious events in

the sport. What w

ill you ask? To

find out who’s on the panel a

nd when, g

o to www.yourhorseliv

e.co.uk

I’m passionate about correctly-fitted saddles and enjoy

nothing more than talking to people about horses and saddles

No horse? No problem!Iron out position

faults without a horse

in sight, on one of the

riding simulators at the show

Improve your riding

www.yourhorse.co.uk

Pete DohertySPEAKERPROFILE

self hypnosis for sports people

DON’TMISSA lso on hand to help

you Improve your Riding will be

British Dressage Registered Trainer and EquipilatesTM founder Lindsay Wilcox-

Reid, and human and equine Bowen Therapy practitioner Beth Darrall. BHSII Ruth Dickens will talk about riding with confidence on the roads, while Jo Cooper

will show how neuro-linguistic programming can help riders make positive changes to their performance. Russell Guire from Centaur Biomechanics

will look at how computerised rider analysis can shed light on position problems and Claire Lilley will show exercises to improve your riding at home!

I f anxiety and a lack of confidence is getting in the way of you really enjoying your riding and achieving

your potential, then pay a visit to the Improve Your Riding zone when Peter Doherty takes to the stage. Peter will explain how self hypnosis can help people manage and eliminate overwhelming anxieties, which can in turn help them become a better rider.

A certified life coach as well as a trainer in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), Peter is also qualified in clinical hypnosis.

“I work with sports people a lot, especially in the equestrian world,” explains Pete. “Helping people to ride with confidence allows them to have that special experience where the horse and the human develop a co-operative relationship. Without the intervention of hypnosis many people would simply never know that pleasure. I’m really looking forward to demonstrating this at Your Horse Live.” 

Pete Doherty

Expert advice

Looking for top tips on how to

improve your riding ? Then this is

the place to find them

Marvel at the Icelandic’s unique gaits, discover the Quarter Horse, and watch

the Mule prove it’s more than just a pack-horse

The tough Eriskay pony will be rubbing shoulders with the

powerful Hanoverian in the Breeds Village

Breeds & shopping

your horse

More than just a one horse town...Do you know your Curly Coat from your Cleveland Bay, and your

Mule from your Merens? Well if not, don’t fret – the your horse Live Breeds Village is your chance to get to know these unusual breeds

Don’t

miss

Catch these amazing

equines in action in

the

daily Breeds Parade

Over 300

exhibitions

I f there’s one thing we horse owners like even more than shopping for ourselves, it’s shopping for our horses.

Whether it’s a new winter rug for him, a new winter coat for you, or the perfect Christmas gift for that pal at the yard who’s helped you through those horsey ups and downs, you’ll be sure to find it here, in one of the four halls dedicated to retail therapy.

Over 300 exhibitors make Your Horse Live the UK’s premier equine shopping event. And with many top retailers offering

unbeatable show discounts and bargains, treating yourself and your four-legged friends doesn’t have to break the bank.

It’s all under cover, and when you need to take the weight off your feet and refuel there are plenty of refreshments available. Plus with the show’s Shop and Drop facility there’s no need to carry your purchases around with you – leave them safe and secure while you watch the arena performances.

So what are you waiting for? – time to write that shopping list!

O riginating high in the Pyrenean mountains of France, the Merens breed was very close to

extinction in the late 1970s, but these hardy horses have now made a remarkable comeback. Meanwhile numbers of Cleveland Bays – England’s oldest breed of horse – are still critical, although the future is looking brighter for this versatile equine.

The Vikings’ horse, the Icelandic, will be showing off its unique gaits in the daily breeds parade.

The Hanoverian is one of the most popular sports horse breeds, while the American Quarter Horse is quite simply the fastest equine around over short distances.

The only breed of horse native to the Netherlands, the beautiful Friesian will

be on show, as will the Curly Coat with its unusual, hypoallergenic hair. For something a little different, don’t miss the Mule – these tough equines are long-lived, and full of character!

Don’t miss the chance to meet these wonderful

equines face-to-face!

Your Horse Live – your one stop shop for everything equine!