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 w w w.yo u r h o r s e .c o.u k

Yo

ur

Ho

rs

e 359 SPR

ING

2012

UK’S

No.1 EQUINE

MONTHLYMAGAZINE

“this isn’t how it’s supposed to end” tim stockdale on his recent fall

All the gear you need for theseason ahead

Worm counts, how spring affects behaviour plus expert eye care

GearGuide care29

paGes ridinG38paGes

Understanding related distances, developing his flexibility plus hacking

Spring 2012 £3.80

64 paGe

horseY film stars

Training for the big screen

all he can eat

Why ‘ad lib’ hay is the only way

Find your inner diva

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Banishlaminitis

for good

with Michael Eilberg

Your seat

ridesPleasureWhy youshould tryone now

Improve

Your horse special

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 ew w w.yo u r ho r s e .c o.u k

Yo

ur

Ho

rs

e 359 SPR

ING

2012

UK’S

No.1 EQUINE

MONTHLYMAGAZINE

“this isn’t how it’s

supposed to end”

tim stockdale on

his recent fall

All the gear you need for theseason ahead

Worm counts, how

spring affects behaviour

plus expert eye care

GearGuide care29

paGes

ridinG38paGes

Understanding related

distances, developing his

flexibility plus hacking

Spring 2012 £3.80

64 paGe

horseY film stars

Training for the big screen

all he can eat

Why ‘ad lib’ hay is the only way

Find your inner diva

• sPr

iNg

ge

ar

gu

ide

• PLe

as

ur

e r

ide

s • ho

rs

ey

fiLm

st

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s • dr

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sag

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o m

us

ic • B

aN

ish

La

miN

itis • im

Pro

Ve

yo

ur

se

at

Banishlaminitis

for good

with Michael Eilberg

Your seat

ridesPleasure

Why youshould tryone now

Improve

Your horse special

Spring Gear Guide

2012Everything you need – or just want – for you and your horse for spring and summer – don’t miss our special section after page 98

HORSEYOuR

Gear Guide201264 page buyers' guide to all the latest products

Spring

in association with

www.derbyhouse.co.uk

24 Fun rides are a real pleasure

Find out why a pleasure ride is so much more than a hack – and well worth a try

32 Your Horse Clinic British Dressage coach David Pincus helps one

reader establish her horse’s flexibility

36 Ride to the beat Whether you’re just getting started in dressage to

music, or want to improve your routine, we point you in the right direction

42 Riding Q&As Expert advice on calming your horse at shows, how

to help your horse get over a fear of farm animals and more

46 Private Lesson Top show jumper Laura Renwick helps one reader learn how to relax – and establish an impulsion-filled canter

54 Improve your seat Dressage star Michael Eilberg shows you how to

make sure you’re sitting pretty in the saddle

60 Stride it out Follow our expert advice and you’ll be hoof perfect

on those related distances

ON tHE COvER

ON tHE COvER

ON tHE COvER

ON tHE COvER

ON tHE COvER

ON tHE COvER

ON tHE COvER

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FEATURES

REgULARS

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82 Keep laminitis at bay All the latest research on

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90 Is ad lib hay still the golden rule?

Striking a balance between an all-you-can eat hay buffet and calorie control!

94 Spring fever If you have a moody mare or a bucking monster at the

first flush of grass, we can help

102 Care Q&A Advice on wobblers syndrome, weighing your horse correctly, leading a frisky horse and more

106 the eyes have it See the world through your

horse’s eyes – and learn how to deal with tricky eye problems

113 Beat the worms Are worm egg counts the

way forward for your horse?

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6 Favourite rideShare one reader’s top ride on the Derbyshire moors8 The yardYH team news – and find out who won our Equi-Trek horsebox12 LettersYour views on the horse world20 Subscribe today!Great gift when you subscribe67 WIN Tottie gear for you and your horse119 WIN A fine art portrait of your horse 135 Freebies We’ve got loads of equine goodies to give away146 In the hot seat… with Team GBR vet John McEwen

12894 14

14 Celeb interview with tim Stockdale Top show jumper Tim talks

candidly about his accident – and his Olympic hopes

68 Could your horse be a film star? We talk to the people

whose horses star in films and on TV and find out what it takes to walk the equine red carpet

74 Be a happy camper You and your horse can have loads of fun at one of these adult riding camps

Subscribe this month and you’ll get a pair of Derby House vintage red jodhpurs to keep you looking good in and out of the saddle. They’re made from cotton and spandex, and are washable – so no need to worry about mud splatter!

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120 Share and share alikeShare the work, share the costs – share the fun! Sharing is on the increase – could it be the way forward for you and your horse?

128 First LookA brand new way to treat your horse’s soft tissue injuries 130 What’s newGear editor Allison Lowther’s round-up of the best of the products at the British Equine Trade Association

The yard

your horse

tim stockdale

I’ve no worries about getting back on

Watching tim stockdale stride across his yard,

flanked by faithful hounds tip and spice, it’s hard to believe that just a few months ago he was lying flat on his back in hospital, waiting to find out if the horror fall that left him with a broken neck spelled the end of his show jumping career or worse, his mobility.

although X-rays revealed 47-year-old tim had broken three vertebrae, the prognosis was good – with plenty of rest and rehabilitation he was told there should be no reason he couldn’t resume top-level competition. Never one to shy away from a challenge, tim

then made it known he wasn’t just aiming for a return to form but a spot on the team for the london olympics.

as he leads us into the family home, we’re greeted by kittens maisie and Ben, who make themselves comfortable while tim tells us some of the history of the 16th-century dovecote in the back garden that gives his farm its name.

the father-of-two speaks candidly about his accident and gives us the run-down on his recovery. He explains he starts each day with a range of neck-strengthening exercises using a system of ropes and pulleys, raising a smile when he says it’s “all a bit m&s”.

after a rather good cuppa and a natter with tim’s wife laura, we head out to the yard to say hello to famous faces like Fresh direct kalico Bay (Frankie when he’s off-duty) and meet team stockdale.

With a bit of gentle teasing, tim chivvies everyone into matching gear for our photos, before confidently posing for some solo shots – when we tell him it’s up to him what expression he wears he laughs and says: “smiling then, because smiling’s how i feel.”

over the course of our chat, tim reveals himself to be wry, down-to-earth and possessed of an indomitable spirit – read on to find out more.

Words Katy Islip Photography Matthew Roberts

www.yourhorse.co.uk

Turn over for Tim’s answers to

your questions

HORSEYOuR

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Riding

pleasure…It’s a

Put the joy back into your time in the saddle with our insight into fun rides - YH writer Larissa

Chapman discovers there’s no feeling quite like it!

Cantering through open fields, the wind in my hair, the sun beaming down on my face, the pounding of

hooves beneath me, like something out of film perhaps? That’s what immediately sprang to mind when I found out I was going to take part in a fun ride – and I’m pleased to report I wasn’t far wrong!

Obviously I can’t guarantee the weather – I can’t promise it won’t be the rain against your face, pummelling your hat and the squelching of hooves beneath you but I can guarantee one thing – even if the weather lets you down, the atmosphere, the people you meet and the feeling you get from taking part certainly won’t!

Your Horse

www.YourHorse.Co.uk

Riding

your horse

maestro please!Music

Welcome to the amazing world of dressage to music – it’s time to add

some real rhythm to your riding

Whether you’re just starting out or looking for tips to improve your routine, we’ve been investigating the

best ways to add music to your dressage whether you’re a complete beginner, or just want to refine your musical connections

KeyIf you like to stand out from the crowd and fancy an original piece from the man who’s

making dressage music for the stars go straight to section one

No idea where to start and need a helping hand through the entire process? Trot on to

section two

Fancy some intensive tuition in the form of a dressage to music workshop or clinic? Head to

section three

Onwards to section four to see how Your Horse gear editor Allison Lowther got on

when she tried dressage to music with the help of composer Tom Hunt

WWW.yourhorse.co.uk

Riding

Laura and Lusty’s main discipline is eventing but as show jumping is their weakest phase, Laura is keen to get

some tips from the top...With the 2012 competition season looming, their lesson with Laura Renwick couldn’t have come at

a better time

with top show jumper, Laura Renwick

privaTelesson

Laura Renwick has been involved with horses all her life and has always been a successful show jumper – but it was only when she returned to the sport after having her son that she really took the show jumping scene by storm. She is now our highest ranked female rider, at number six in the British Showjumping (BS) rankings.

Her achievements include being crowned

HOYS leading show jumper of

the year in 2010 and coming

second at Italy’s

Follonica CSI** International show in 2011, finishing

less than 0.1 of a second behind the winner.

With such a successful background, it’s fair to say her sights are now firmly set on the 2012 Olympics.

Today, Laura is helping Your Horse reader Laura Keeley, and her horse Lusty, improve their show jumping. Laura and Lusty’s main discipline is eventing, but as show jumping is their weakest phase, Laura is keen to get some tips from the top to improve this area.

Improving your show jumping techniques can be a real challenge so, with the 2012 competition

season looming, Laura and Lusty’s lesson with Laura Renwick couldn’t have come at a better time.

Name Laura RenwickExperience 37-year-old Laura grew up in Essex, in

a family centred around horses. She met her

husband, John Renwick and together they went

into business, buying young horses.

She’s proved herself to be a talented and skilful

trainer, these skills are shown to the full in the

results she gets from her horses, such as Limelight

De Breve, who was an unproven three year old when Laura first bought

her. Laura has experienced continual

success since, with numerous top three

placings throughout 2010 and 2011.

Fact file

youR hoRse

Learning to relax your position and establish an impulsion-filled canter is

crucial for show jumping success

For more riding advice go to www.yourhorse.co.uk

WWW.youRhoRse.co.uk

Meet the pupilFind out how Laura and Lusty learn to relax over fences

Riding

Michael EilbergFormer show jumper Michael began his dressage career in 2007 and won his first national title in 2008. He’s a member of the World Class

Development squad, and last year his wins included the Prix St Georges at the National Championships. He and his ride Woodlander Farouche also won the 2011 five-year-old Young Horse World Championship in Germany.

Meet the eXPeRt

Thank you to

Michael’s pupil Liz

Williams who

allowed us to observe

her lesson on her

13-year-old former

show jumper

Marco

Michael demonstrates the straight line that

should run through your shoulder, hip and heel

your horse

Get a sweet seatWhatever your discipline, having a good seat will help you be a

better and more effective rider – so get yourself sitting pretty with our lowdown from rising dressage star Michael eilberg

Seat checklistRun through these checks every time you ride:• Sit on your seat bones in the middle of

your saddle• Check stirrups are of an even length,

your ankle is relaxed and your weight stretched through the heel and lower leg

• Establish balance from side to side and front to back – all the ways a horse will move

• Maintain a straight line through the shoulder, hip and heel – more advanced riders can put a slight angle on this with the ankle in front of the line and the shoulders behind.

Getting started

A ‘good’ seat is an independent one, which allows you to be secure yet relaxed in the

saddle, balanced and able to move with your horse.

It allows you to subtly shift your weight across your seat bones to communicate with and guide your horse and means you can feel what he’s doing beneath you, enabling you to apply your aids clearly and effectively.

So what do we mean by seat? Although you’d be forgiven for thinking your seat simply equals your bottom, it actually comprises your lower back, seat bones, pelvis, abdominals and thighs – all the parts which enable you to sit and stay on your horse.

To effectively control these areas, you need a strong yet flexible ‘core’, which is basically your torso, especially your stomach and mid and lower back.

Michael says: “If you can relax and hold yourself with your core, then you can relax your aids and make them really clear.

“For example, when you ask for canter, if you’re tight and gripping, that canter will come through too much tension.

“If you can relax because your balance is good and your core is strong, you can take your leg back to give the canter aid

far easier because you don’t need to grip as much.”

Developing A feel for itFor more novice riders, Michael explains your focus should be on balance and core stability – you need both to be able to work towards being able to use your seat.

He says: “The biggest thing for novice riders is balance and learning to go with the momentum of a moving horse without restricting it in any way.

“A lot of it just comes through riding –

like anything that requires balance, the more you do it and the more familiar it becomes, the better you get.

“When you get your balance and core right you can start to use your seat as an aid to support your other aids.”

Michael says it’s not uncommon for his less advanced pupils to struggle when they go into sitting trot.

He explains: “Often people automatically become weaker in their ability to influence the horse because more of their attention is going into just sitting to the movement.

“To address this, you need to improve your muscle memory and core strength, which you can do through working on the lunge without stirrups and by using a gym ball to build your strength and balance.”

This problem is often compounded by the movement of the trot, which is naturally energetic and bouncy.

Michael says: “A lot of horses don’t allow riders to sit because they aren’t collected enough and because the rider hasn’t taken a smooth enough contact, which means the bounce of the trot travels all the way through them.

“If the rider bounces around they look for support in the rein, then the horse gets tense and so the bounce gets worse. It becomes a vicious circle, as these things are difficult to fix if you’re not strong and supple through your seat, but with a bit of work it can be resolved.”

An independent seat means you can remain effective even in sitting trot

You can use your weight to influence your horse

WWW.yourhorse.co.uk

Riding

Stride

Meet the eXPeRtSMike Benfield is a British Showjumping

(BS) course designer who builds courses from 60cm to national classes at 1.40m. He’s well-known on the Pony Club circuit, building courses for numerous clubs.

Geoff Luckett is a top show jumper and

trainer. He’s been on the international show jumping scene for years, enjoying wins at HOYS and Hickstead. Geoff has particular renown in the speed rounds.

Steve Williams is an FEI international

course designer whose been course building for 30 years. By his own admission he’s a “show jumping nut” who enjoys managing competitions at all levels.

your horse

We’ve teamed up with top riders and course designers to help you ride your related distances hoof perfect

I don’t mind admitting I’m no show jumping expert. After years of happy hacking, I was

toatlly unaware of just how much goes into building show jumping courses and the skill, training and knowledge needed to ride each course successfully.

So, when faced with writing this feature on riding related distances, I knew I needed to approach the top talent to help me figure it out. Luckily, show jumper and trainer

Geoff Luckett agreed to share his knowledge and expertise. He suggested I join him at a Solihull Riding Club show jumping event so I could see just what steps are needed to successfully master related distances. It was there, at 8pm on a decidedly chilly February night with one more horse left to jump, that I finally realised just how much goes into it – if I hadn’t been so cold, I’d have taken my hat off to everyone involved…

it outWords: Larissa Chapman

WWW.yourhorse.co.uk

your horse

www.yourhorse.co.uk

Lights, camera,

watching a beautiful horse gallop across the cinema screen is always a treat. It looks so effortless but you’d

be amazed at how many riders and trainers are required to make it happen. Join us on a behind-the-scenes peek

into this fascinating world

trot on!Words: Katy Islip

Discover adult riding camps

campers!With winter behind us (hooray I hear

you cry), it’s time to plan in some exciting stuff for summer. So why not

make your first port of call a riding camp? We’ve found a selection of adult-only camps taking place across the UK this year, so read on to see what they entail and how you can get involved.

Who can go?Adults! Adult riding camps are, of course, open to adults who want to have fun with their horses, benefit from some great instruction and spend time with likeminded horsey people.

Where are they?All over the place! Lots of riding clubs and equestrian centres across the UK and Ireland run riding camps, so it’s just a case of finding one you can get to, that suits you.

Why bother?Why not! Riding camps are a great opportunity to spend quality time with your horse. Whether there are elements of your riding you want to work on or if you just want to try something fresh and new, there’s really no reason not to give one a go.

your horse

Happy

riding camps aren’t just for the youth of today, there are plenty aimed at adult riders too. here’s how you

could enjoy one with your horse this summer…

Three-day Show Jumping Camp July 10-12 Train over a height you’re comfortable at and enjoy a fun show jumping competition on the final evening. One-day Camp August 19 With a dressage focus, this camp aims to give hints and tips for test riding. Select a test you want help with, then work on it and the movements involved in your sessions. Your training can even be filmed to help you compare what you’re feeling with what the judge sees.

Severnvale Equestrian Centre Chepstow

Camps at Severnvale Equestrian Centre are run by qualified British Horse Society (BHS) instructors who aim to help you get the best from your horse in a fun and friendly environment. They’re open to anyone with their own horse or, if you don’t own a horse, you can use one of the riding school horses. Once

at camp you’ll be grouped together with other riders of a similar level of ability to make sure you get the most from your time.

For more information, prices, or to book call 01291 623412, email svec@clara.co.uk/ellie@severnvale-equestrian.com or visit

Pontispool Adult Horse Camps Taunton, Somerset

For a great break away with your horse try this weekend camp in Somerset. During your stay you’ll benefit from six hours of tuition from your friendly and experienced instructor, either in the arena or out on the cross-country course, an evening lecture or demonstration, plus there’ll be a fun competition on Sunday morning. Nothing is compulsory, just do what you’re happy to do and head home after prize-giving on Sunday afternoon.

For more information or to download a booking form visit www.pontispool.co.uk, alternatively email info@pontispool.com or call 01823 461196

2012 Weekend Camps May 11-13, June 29–July 1, September 28-30 [For all of the above dates arrive on Friday from 11am onwards]Cost £205 to include the use of all facilities including three all-weather arenas, extensive cross-country course, full set of show jumps, café, stabling plus hay and straw, cabin accommodation, showers and toilets.

Have fun on cross-country

Benefit from a qualified instructor

WWW.yourhorse.co.uk

CareCare

Words Helen Milbank

It’s one of the leading causes of lameness in the UK, but thanks to all the research that’s being done, our horses now stand a

better chance of surviving a laminitis attack – and avoiding this deadly condition in the first place. Here, we bring you the latest information, research and expert advice from the UK’s top vets, farriers, nutritionists and alternative therapists so you can help

keep your horse laminitis free

Keeping laminitis

on the run

yoUr Horse

VETADVICE

www.yoUrHorse.co.UK

Know yoUr enemyTop vet Gil Riley, who specialises in lameness and laminitis at the Pool House Veterinary Group in Staffordshire, explains laminitis in circus terms.

“If you imagine the horse’s pedal bone as a trapeze artist and the 600 or so laminae as the ropes supporting him within the hoof capsule, laminitis attacks these ‘ropes’ causing them to weaken, fray and even snap in extreme cases,” he explains. “Because of this, the pedal bone can drop (known as ‘founder’) and rotate.”

The result? Chronic pain and an animal who’s in a great deal of trouble unless swift first aid is applied to support the frog – and, by association, the pedal bone directly above it – and take the pressure off the delicate laminae to let them repair.

A horse who’s suffered an attack in the past is more prone to one in the future, and should the pedal bone drop, or one

too many attacks leave the laminae damaged beyond repair, it’s serious news. So serious that experts from the veterinary, farriery and equine nutritional worlds have invested huge amounts of time and effort trying to pinpoint what puts a horse at risk – and how an attack can be avoided in the first place.

THe bIggesT cUlprITRising out from the mountains of laminitis-related research is one simple three-letter word that’s to blame for the vast majority of cases: fat.

For years it was thought to be an inert, ‘cuddly’ tissue, most often wrapped around native ponies’ waists, but research has shown the opposite to be true.

The experts now realise that fat is a toxic, inflammatory protein-producing reservoir, and these toxins circulate in the body, wreaking havoc. “In men, the

Discovver how the latest research is

helping prevent and manage laminitis

DID you know?If the laminae lose all supportive powers and the pedal bone is totally loose within the hoof, this is known as a sinker

most dangerous type of fat is around the midriff as the proteins produced here damage the heart and blood vessels,” says Gil. “But in horses, it’s the fat around the crest of the neck that’s the most dangerous, as the inflammatory proteins produced here prime the animal to develop laminitis.”

However, any fat is capable of this. Put simply, a fat horse is predisposed to the condition and less of a trigger factor will be required to tip him into a laminitic state – be that an excessive amount of simple sugars in the form of lush or frost-covered grass, the psychological stress of a yard move, excessive concussion to the foot, or some sort of hormonal disease – usually Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) or Cushing’s.

“I always like to explain laminitis in terms of a mountain peak,” adds farrier Glyn Trundle. “If your horse is already at the peak of the mountain because he’s fat, then if anything goes wrong he’s

www.yoUrHorse.co.UK

your horse

CareCare

your horse

www.yourhorse.co.uk

Keep itIs the rule of feeding

ad lib hay still golden? When it comes to feeding hay, experts steer us in the

direction of ‘ad lib’ all the way. Here top equine nutritionist Dr Teresa Hollands helps you find the

balance between feeding a never-ending buffet of hay and ensuring the right amount of calories

reduce forage and face the consequencesHowever, as Teresa explains, problems occur when horse owners deviate away from feeding ad lib hay and instead start to replace long fibre with concentrate feeds.

“Concentrate feed will inevitably take your horse much less time to eat, and in reducing his overall forage ration, you then increase the risk of him developing gastric ulcers, stereotypies (or vices as they’re commonly known), dental problems and even colic,” says Teresa.

You might, at this point, be worrying if your horse is overweight and in desperate need of fewer calories. But

the risks of reducing forage still remain if your horse is overweight. It’s important to keep this in mind, regardless of why you might think, you should reduce your horse’s forage intake (ie he’s overweight).

“Take a laminitic horse for example,” says Teresa. “Many owners will reduce forage rations and have their laminitic horse on bute, the equivalent of aspirin to humans. However, with a reduced forage intake, your horse is put at risk of getting gastric ulcers.”

If this all sounds too familiar, don’t despair, because there are a number of really simple things you can do so you can feed ad lib forage while keeping your horse’s calorie intake to a minimum.

www.yourhorse.co.uk

To some horse owners, the idea of feeding ad lib hay isn’t entirely practical.

Number one, if you’re unable to

be with your horse all day, every day and simply can’t check when he runs out, it’s tricky. Number two, if your horse doubles in size at the mere sight of a haynet, you’ll certainly be less inclined to offer him an endless supply. But as equine nutritionist Teresa Hollands R.Nutr explains, ad lib really is the best way to feed forage and it doesn’t need to become a problem.

“First and foremost, hay should be

fed ad lib and, as a nutritionist, I would always look to feed 2.5% of your horse’s bodyweight with his total food ration,” she says.

“In terms of leisure horses, 90-99% of food intake could be forage or grass whereas a competition horse would need 60% forage and 40% concentrate. You should only ever start to replace forage with concentrate if your horse needs more concentrate for energy due to an increased workload. So, while a 500kg horse in no work needs approximately 12kg of hay to maintain his weight and energy levels, a point-to-point horse would need 6kg of hay and 6kg of concentrate.”

CareCare

your horse

feverSpring If your horse turns into a hormonal,

buck-throwing, super-fresh handful at this time of year, our experts are on hand to

solve your springtime behavioural problems so you can get on and have fun

Gil Riley is Your Horse magazine’s veterinary expert

Dr Teresa Hollandsof Dodson & Horrell is one of the UK’s best-respected equine nutritionists

Dena Schwartz is a holistic therapist and zoopharmacognosist

Sarah Weston is a behavioural expert and Recommended Associate of Intelligent Horsemanship

Andrew Kerr Sutherland

is known as the ‘Scottish Horse Whisperer’ and helps train and rehabilitate problem horses

Meet the eXPeRtS

Words Helen Milbank

All horses love the onset of spring as much as us, but if the warmer weather sparks less than favourable behaviour, now’s the time to take action and try to nip any problems in the bud.

From taming the wild antics of horses high on the first flush of grass, to controlling the mood changes of a hormonal mare, our team of experts are here to offer advice and reassure you that spring needn’t be a wash out. With their help you’ll soon have your ‘old’ horse back and be enjoying the sunshine, rather than wishing it was mid-winter again!

www.yourhorse.co.ukwww.yourhorse.co.uk

pic: Foto Grebler / Alam

y

CareCare

your horse

Illustration: Samantha J Elm

hurst BA Hons, w

ww

.livingart.org.uk

www.yourhorse.co.uk

VETADVICE

All the better to see you with…The equine eye is bigger than an elephant’s and it’s

got some nifty features that make it unique – here we discover how life looks to our horses and get to grips

with some tricky eye conditions with the help of veterinary ophthalmologist Chris Dixon

Chris DixonChris Dixon BVSc CertVOphthal MRCVS is a veterinary ophthalmologist at the Paragon Vet Group in Cumbria (a member of the XL Vets Group). Chris sees equine eye cases from the north of England and south of Scotland. To contact Paragon vets, visit www.paragonvet.com or find out more at www.xlvets.co.uk

MEET ThE ExpErT

EyeAn eye is much like a

camera with an aperture (the iris and

pupil), lens, film or digital sensor (the

horse’s retina).

LensThe lens focuses light onto the retina, at the back of the eye, which

turns light into electrical impulses

that are processed in the brain.

PupilThe pupil is formed by the iris and will open and close, controlling the amount of light that can pass to the back of the eye. Horses’ pupils are rectangular providing a wider view of the horizon compared to a round human pupil.

CorneaThe curved cornea at the front of the eye bends light through the pupil onto the lens.

Competition

To enter visit www.yourhorse.co.uk and answer this question

Terms and Conditions We will travel to any destination in the mainland UK (or beyond such as channel islands, Ireland etc subject to ferry transportation being paid by the winner). For full terms and conditions go to

www.yourhorse.co.uk. Closing date 19 April 2012

a) Glicée b) Plicée c) Klicée

Win a Fine art portrait oF

your horse

What is the name of the printing technique used?

Specialist equestrian photographers Sharon Malone and Andy Hopkinson have teamed up with Your Horse to

offer a fantastic prize. One winner will get the opportunity to have a photoshoot with their horse and receive a 24in x 30in portrait, a 10in x 8in print of their favourite image and a beautifully presented keepsake DVD slideshow of all the images from the photoshoot.

In addition, three runners-up will each receive vouchers worth £200 towards a creative portrait session.

Sharon and Andy have built their business to the success it is today by creating tailored and unique horse portraits.

The Fine Art Portraits are a new addition to their range and are created from one of the many images taken at photoshoots. They’re always in monochrome as these particular images are designed to capture the

connection between the horse and his owner or companions. They believe colour distracts from the simplistic beauty of the images which are printed onto the best canvas, using fine art glicée printing techniques – high quality digital prints – personally hand finished and signed by the creator and then framed in a stunning silver frame.

Sharon and Andy plan their photoshoots to reflect the personality of the horse and owner in the photograph.

There’s no limit to what they can do – they’ve captured a girl in her prom dress amongst bluebells, children with their painted pony in a wigwam, beach portraits and even a photoshoot in a river.

For further information please contact The Horse Photographers on 01423 323776 or email sharon@thehorsephotographers.co.uk. You can view many examples of their work on www.thehorsephotographers.co.uk

www.yourhorse.co.uk

Words Helen Milbank Photography Matthew Roberts

Care

meet our guinea pigGerry the cob is typical of many horses in the UK. Routinely

wormed since birth, his owner has just started the worm egg count

(WEC) method. Read over to discover the results – and find out

whether WECs are the way forward for your horse

Out for the countAs more of us move away from the blanket use of

chemical wormers in favour of a targeted regime, we explore whether worm egg counts really do add up

Make horse sharing work for you

your horse

Share and share alike

If you’re feeling the pinch or wish there were more hours in the day so you could also have a

life away from the yard, sharing your horse could be the ideal solution. We bring you the

must-have facts on sharing and a personal view on the benefits from yh writer Katy Islip

WWW.yourhorse.co.uK

Words Katy Islip Photography Matthew Roberts

Whenever I go home to Yorkshire, alongside my teddy bear and toothbrush I always pack my

riding kit, as I’m in the privileged position of being second mum to Mac, a 16hh pocket rocket who I absolutely adore.

Mac belongs to my school friend Vicki Wallace, and I’ve ridden him since 2004, when Vicki spent six months in Canada.

During this time I treated Mac as my own, riding after work and each weekend, and although Vicki’s return coincided with me getting a job down south, thanks to her

generosity, whenever I go home I’m able to pick up the reins again, hacking out and spending precious downtime with Mac.

Although my situation is more unusual than most, horse sharing – allowing someone else to ride your horse in return for help with or a financial contribution towards his care - is increasingly popular.

It allows owners to enjoy a break, and gives those without their own horse a regular equine fix outside the confines of a riding school. Read on to find out how it could work for you.

*W

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Visit www.horsedeals.co.uk or call our expert team on 01733 395007Horse Deals is the sister publication to Your Horse Magazine

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“The buyer was within one hour of my location – the magazine is not even out yet, and I’ve sold my horse! I would definitely use Horse Deals again!”Fiona Bowery Lancashire

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HORSEYOuR

Gear Guide

201264 page buyers' guide

to all the latest products

Spring

in association with

www.derbyhouse.co.uk

OnSale19 aprNEXT MONTH In YOur HOrsE

LOOk THE parT!At this time of year we’re dusting off our Sunday best and sprucing up

our gear, so read our Big Test on competition shirts, our Buyers’ Guide to

tack cleaning products plus see what’s worth your money (whether you’ve

got a little or a lot) in this month’s Bargain to Blowout on showing gear

prEparE TO TakE THE

suMMEr bY sTOrM!

• Take your horse on holiday• Enjoy a sneak peek into the

life of a male rider starting out in dressage

• Read our up-close-and-personal interview with

carriage driver extraordinaire – Boyd Exell

• If your horse rushes, pulls or bolts, discover the best

way to develop better brakes and take back control

• Soak up our 25 top tips for perfect summer hacking

• If your horse has had an accident or been

massively spooked, help him to overcome his

deep-rooted fears • Show jumping trainer

Barrett Watson helps one rider stop her horse

clattering through fences

PLUSRead our step-by-step guides to opening gates while mounted, sewing plaits – and more