Your Horse

Enjoy every second in the saddle

Your Horse4 min read
HORSE talk
For all the latest news from the horse world, visit yourhorse.co.uk The importance of acting on cancerous lumps on horses as early as possible was made by a leading vet at the British Equine Veterinary Association's (BEVA) Congress in September. Equi
Your Horse1 min read
Pony Club Updates Spur Policy
Pony Club riders will have to prove that they are adept in the use of spurs before being allowed to wear them in club events from January next year. In the age of social licence, the Pony Club is restricting the use of spurs to those who have complet
Your Horse3 min read
Captured On Camera
BRITAIN'S ALL-GIRL Paralympic squad travelled to the Château de Versailles, the stunning setting for the horse events for both the Paris Olympic Games and the subsequent Paralympics, feeling a considerable weight of expectation. After all, the Brits
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Girl Power
MOODY, MARDY, GRUMPY — mares are often cast in an unflattering light, but is this reputation rightly earned? I have had the pleasure of riding four mares across my equestrian life and their personalities have all been very different, from laid-back a
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Fast Facts About A Mare's Season
■ Mares are seasonally polyoestrous, which means that they come into season or heat regularly over a portion of the year - usually from May to October. ■ Some mares will cycle year-round, but most come into season in reaction to lengthening days and
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Welcome
MARES INVARIABLY RECEIVE a bad press and are described variously as ‘quirky’, ‘moody’, ‘difficult’ and ‘strong willed’. As the owner of two mares over my many decades with horses, I know what the detractors mean. Both of mine have been less straightf
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Snapping Success
Negotiating the old drovers' trail with views across the Vale of Llangollen to the ruins of Castell Dinas Brân is a favourite 17-mile route for Jane Ballinger and her 11-year-old Welsh section D, Charlie. Jane says: "I feel lucky to have so many beau
Your Horse6 min read
THE RISE AND RISE OF DEADLY dog attacks
HACKING HORSES ON beaches, over moors and in woodland are some of the greatest pleasures in life. However, riding in public areas can also be dangerous if loose dogs spook or even attack the horse. This is what happened to volunteer British Horse Soc
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Dog Approaching — How To Act
The BHS offers guidance on how to approach dogs when mounted… ■ Always slow to a walk to pass dogs. ■ Make contact with the owner if they haven’t seen you, or call out for an owner if a dog is loose or unaccompanied. ■ If necessary, ask the owner to
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'George Ran, But He Got Too Close To The Paddock Fence, Skidded And Rolled Through It, Causing Severe Damage To His Tendons'
Katie Smart first saw Sir George, an Appaloosa, advertised on Preloved. Gee Gee, as Katie called him, arrived after Katie had lost Wiggy, her coloured gelding who she had owned for 15 years. “I knew as soon as I met George that he was a special horse
Your Horse5 min read
Tanya Bradley
How I make it work: I have a passion for what I do, plus I'm between horses The creative handbag maker who reuses old horse tack explains how her popular business came about, and how Black Beauty and Follyfoot kick-started her passion for horses. I c
Your Horse3 min read
SEND A Selfie
Send in your pics! Rosie-May has just turned 15. She's a gypsy cob who I've had since 2017 and we go hacking together. I had to have my Clydesdale mare, Shira, put to sleep in October 2016, after which I went to view Rosie-May. I took one look at her
Your Horse2 min read
Tickets to YOUR HORSE LIVE
To enter, visit yourhorse.co.uk/win/yourhorselive523 The six lucky winners will each receive… ■ A pair of standard plus tickets for the Sunday of the show (worth £46 each) YOUR HORSE LIVE is Britain’s favourite equestrian shopping show—byamile. When
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Jumping FOR JOY
PART TWO IF YOU HAD to write the recipe for a good showjumping round what would it include? And who would be responsible for which ingredients: you or your horse? Well, according to UKCC Level 2 coach Liz Daniels, one half of EquiTeam, it would be… ■
Your Horse7 min read
Standing out FROM THE CROWD
PART THREE ARAB HORSES ARE certainly not in the majority when it comes to dressage competitions. Look around the ring and there will probably be Hanoverians, Holsteiners, Lusitanos and Thoroughbreds, but far fewer, if any, Arabs. These diminutive hor
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How To Steady A Speedy Horse
While riders need a jumping horse to be forward going around a course, no one wants to feel as though they’re out of control. Rider Pippa here, though, finds her horse a tad enthusiastic, and she struggles to bring him back into trot after a fence, e
Your Horse4 min read
Fix It… NAIL THAT Landing
LANDING WELL IS a vital component of showjumping. The landing at one fence becomes the preparation for the next, and so it is vital that the rider gets organised as quickly as possible for the best approach to the subsequent question. A good landing
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Dive In!
PART FOUR JUST LIKE HUMANS some horses are real water babies while others fear it. And to make another analogy that can equally be applied to humans, simply throwing a horse in at the deep end and expecting him to cope rarely ends well. As with all c
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Lessons Learned
❋ Up your horse’s confidence through water by giving him a lead on foot if needs be, using a lunge line so that you can position yourself out in front for safety. ❋ Always remember the golden rule: “Take it slowly and make it fun.” ❋ Keep every train
Your Horse5 min read
Three Strikes And You're Out
HOW MANY TIMES have you had to dodge your horse’s front legs? For some owners it can beadaily occurrence — and not one to be taken at all lightly. It is also a problem for professionals, with 95% of vets reporting that they work with difficult horses
Your Horse7 min read
ON THE WRONG foot
● What causes abscesses ● How they can be identified ● Top tips to successfully treat them A SUDDEN, SEVERE lameness in a horse can prompt an owner to fear the worst and reach for their phone to place an emergency call to their vet. In fact, a hoof a
Your Horse2 min read
Where Is The Digital Pulse?
Feeling for a horse’s digital pulse is an important way to assess hoof health and detect early signs of problems, especially for anyone suspecting issues like a hoof abscess, laminitis, or other foot-related problems. The digital pulse is found in th
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'The Pus From Bella's Abscess Saved Her Life, And We Still Have Her Today'
Daisy Fuller's pony, Bella, suffered a bout of laminitis in 2021. She was recovering well, but one day was so lame that she couldn't even put one hoof in front of the other. "My mum called the vet and said that she thought Bella, who is in her late 2
Your Horse4 min read
Silent SUFFERING
HORSES, BY THEIR very nature, are prey animals. This means that they are biologically inclined to mask signs of pain or weakness to avoid appearing vulnerable to predators. Unfortunately, this natural instinct makes it challenging for their human car
Your Horse3 min read
Facial Expressions That Indicate The Presence Of Pain
The Grimace Scale is a tool used to assess pain in horses, which was developed as part of a study by a group of researchers led by Emanuela Dalla Costa and published online in 2014. The scale utilises specific facial expressions or ‘grimaces’ associa
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A Valuable Welfare Tool
As a horse owner, it is essential to ensure that horse’s wellbeing. Pain is a significant factor that can negatively impact your horse’s physical and mental health. To incorporate facial expressions as a valuable welfare tool for your own horses, I r
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A Winter Tidy
GROOMING HORSES OVER the winter months, as well as clipping them, can be daunting tasks for owners, handlers and grooms. A combination of wet weather, muddy paddocks and thicker coats makes keeping horses clean and tidy a challenge. Whether the horse
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6 Top Clipping Tips For Beginners
Anyone new to clipping will benefit from the following advice… ■ Preparation— Ensure that clippers are serviced and that the blades are sharp. Choose a suitable blade grade based on the horse’s coat type. ■ Blade maintenance— Correct tensioning is cr
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Mane And Tail Tidying
Deciding whether to pull or trim a horse’s mane and tail depends on personal preferences and the look the owner is aiming for. While long manes and tails look fabulous in the summer, they can be high maintenance in winter. If the horse competes, cons
Your Horse6 min read
The Science Behind Slimming
IT HAS LONG been said that feeding horses well requires both art and science, amantra that can be applied to weightmanagement too. Recent research on obesity has offered some practical weight management tips for the here and now, while other scientif
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Have You Joined Yet?
Spillers is inviting owners of overweight horses and ponies to join its Spillers Slimmers’ Club for support, advice and encouragement to help keep their horse or pony ata healthy weight. This motivating and friendly club provides practical support an
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ASK THE experts
Email your questions to [email protected] In partnership with Simple solutions for horse owners Alison Kenward is a qualified BHS APC Performance Centre Manager, UKCC Level 3 coach and she runs Equestrian Heroes, coaching riders from around the worl
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Preparation Is Vital For A Successful Debut Competition
DRESSAGE - ALISON KENWARD says… Q I think I’m ready to compete and my horse understands what I’m asking. How do I care for him, though, in the build up to the competition and on the day itself? Lorraine Rowlingson, Suffolk Alison says: Your daily rou
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Trying Too Hard Can Scupper A Test
Q I consistently score 65% or thereabouts, but I would love to reach the magical 70% and beyond. What can I do with my mare that will makeadifference to the marksIearn? Dawn Smith, North Yorkshire Alison says: Test riding is a skill you can work on t
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Don't Feel Pressurised To Invest In A Dressage Saddle
In partnership with Q What’s the difference between a GP anda dressage saddle? I currently ride ina GP, but my friend at the yard says that I should buy a dressage saddle because it will help my performance. Is this true? Susan Cox, Leeds Alison says
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Relaxing Of Clothing Rules Is Good News For Riders
Q Can you suggest how to choose a competition outfit now that the rules have relaxed and become more inclusive. I’m terrified of turning up in the wrong gear. Bethany Lee, Co Durham Alison says: It’s an exciting time to be considering updating your c
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Non-toxic Saline Solution Is The Perfect Choice For Wound Cleaning
EQUINE FIRST AID - NICOLA KINNARD-COMEDIE says… Q The other day I saw an owner at the yard using saline solution to clean a cut on her horse. Is she right to be using this rather than plain water? Ros Hawkins, Kent Nicola says: Saline solution is an
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Key First Aid Items Will Cover All Eventualities
Q I have purchasedahorse for the first time, but I feel that I need to be prepared for every eventuality and that includes buying items for a first aid kit. What are the most important things to include in it? Teresa Pickford, Aberdeenshire Nicola sa
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Emergencies Are Made Easier With A Plan In Place
In partnership with Q I’m going away on holiday soon and my friend has kindly offered to look after my horse. What information do I need to give her in the event that something unexpected happens? Linda Foster, Devon Nicola says: Creating an emergenc
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Droppings Are A Barometer Of A Horse's Health
Q I seem to take out a lot of muck from of my mare’s stable. Is it possible that she passes more droppings than other horses and should this be a cause for concern? Rebecca Biggs, Northumberland Nicola says: As horse owners and riders we do seem to s
Your Horse2 min read
Equine Sports Massage Can Be The Solution To A Whole Host Of Ills
MASSAGE - MICHELLE WOOD says… Q I’ve become more interested in complementary therapies over the last couple of years and I’d like to know more about equine sports massage so that I can make a decision as to whether it will suit my mare, who I compete
Your Horse3 min read
Refusing May Be Cured By The Right Therapy
In partnership with Q My horse keeps stopping when we’re jumping, both at home and at competitions. My trainer has been helping me with this and we’ve tried all sorts of things, although she recently suggested that massage may be able to help. Frankl
Your Horse1 min read
Massage Can Help Behavioural Issues As Well As Physical Problems
Q I took on a mare recently froma rescue centre and whileI don’t ride her, she has come with a few issues, including a distrust of strangers. My livery yard manager mentioned that she may benefit from massage, but I can’t see how this could possibly
Your Horse2 min read
Avoid The Temptation To Overestimate Workload And Feeding Rates
FEEDING - EMMA SHORT says… Q I realise that I should adjust my mare’s diet according to her workload, butI find it really difficult to decide how much work she’s actually doing. Can you help? Miranda Jones, Co Down Emma says: A horse’s requirements f
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Consider Late-cut Hay For A Good Doer
Q I have just moved yards and have the option of feeding either hay or haylage this winter. My cob is a good doer and I’ve been told by my friend that haylage is higher in calories, so should I choose hay? Beth Hill, Ayrshire Emma says: It is often t
Your Horse2 min read
Many Horses Thrive On Diets Containing Well-cooked Cereals
In partnership with Q I’ve noticed that some feeds are described as ‘barley-free’. What are the benefits of barley and does it mean that I should try to avoid feeds that actually do contain barley? Jack Bates, Norfolk Emma says: Barley has traditiona
Your Horse2 min read
A Bundle Of Prizes From British Horse Feeds
To enter, visit yourhorse.co.uk/win/bhf523 NEXT YEAR WILL get offtoa flying start for one lucky Your Horse reader when they win this fantastic prize from British Horse Feeds. Their horse’s feeding needs will be taken care of for 12 months and they wi
Your Horse9 min read
Buyer's Guide Seasonal Statements
AS THE LEAVES turn and the chill of autumn and winter arrives, horse owners and riders know that the time has come to update their wardrobe with the appropriate clothing for the seasons ahead. Autumn and winter equestrian wear is all about combining
Your Horse9 min read
THE BIG TEST Weathering THOSE STORMS
A GOOD WATERPROOF coat is vital for anyone who spends time outdoors with horses. Think of all those days when grey skies send rain cascading down and there is no escape either when in the saddle, when doing yard work, or when simply out and about. Se
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Your Horse
EDITORIAL Seventeen Hands Media Ltd Editor: Julie Harding Email: [email protected] Freelance Gear Editor: Allison Lowther Freelance Content Producer: Mel Beale Design: Marisa Bailey ADVERTISING & CREATIVE SOLUTIONS Stacey Boyce Tel: 01732 44
Your Horse4 min read
Rebecca Wood
Did you always want to be a weather presenter? When I was growing up I wanted to be a vet. I spent all my time around animals, in particular horses — I was lucky enough to live next door to a yard of racehorses — and so I wanted to work with them. As
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Rescue Update
Orphan Buddy was just six weeks old when he was brought to Hope Pastures equine rescue centre in Weetwood, Leeds. He had been rescued by a kind-hearted person after his dam died, but was becoming lethargic. Upon arrival in June 2023 Buddy was given b
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In Brief…
The on form Ros Canter and her wonder horse Lordships Graffalo won the Defender Burghley CCI5* in September, which came just six weeks after their team gold medal winning run at the Paris Olympics and 16 months after they secured the spoils at Badmin

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