SPENCER WILTON

I’ve been waiting for

14 your horse

The oneSpencer Wilton’s no stranger to

media hype. The former other half of dressage superstar Carl

Hester, Spencer was dubbed by the press as Katie Price’s ‘mystery man’ and blamed for her subsequent spilt with Peter Andre. But those close to him know he’s not interested in drama. He’s all about his horses. They come first every time – and what a line up he’s got. In just one year Spencer has gone from having no top horses to three, so it’s no surprise he’s just a tad excited about 2011.

Keen to get to know the dressage rider behind the headlines, we’re off to the new yard Spencer’s set up with his partner, event rider Jay Halim, in Tetbury, Gloucestershire. And as we head down the drive it’s easy to understand why they chose this spot. The surrounding countryside’s breathtaking and, as we head into the American barn-style stables, Spencer already has the kettle on. As we’re introduced to Jay, the team and the horses, we get straight to business, chatting about his plans for this season…

Words Imogen Johnson Photography Matt Roberts

www.yourhorse.co.uk 15

Turn over for Spencer’s answers

to your questions

Riding

26 your horse

10best ever

exercises10best ever

exercises

Take your training to the next levelIt can be all too easy to get stuck in a rut when it comes to schooling, especially once you’ve got all the basics in place, which is why we’ve persuaded 10 of the country’s top riders and trainers to reveal their key exercises. These exercises will

transform the horse who has the fundamentals into an all-round star performer. So whether you’re a dressage diva, show jumping starlet or are crazy for cross-country, you’ll find all you need to set you on the road to success.

www.yourhorse.co.uk 27

Words Rebecca Gibson

Ten top trainers reveal their golden exercises, which you can work into your schooling routine to transform every aspect of your horse’s way of going

Riding

Training for TemperamenT

Get the best from

your horse

Whether he’s clever, fizzy or lazy, understanding your horse’s temperament is vital if you’re going to build a trusting

partnership – here specialist trainer Melanie Watson suggests simple but

effective ways to train your horse

54 your horse

Melanie runs Instinctive Horsemanship in East Yorkshire. She was trained at the Spanish Riding School of Vienna then moved to the UK to expand her knowledge of different equestrian disciplines before starting her own training business in 1985. Working across the UK, she specialises in

training problem horses, breaking young horses and retraining racehorses, as well as giving personal training lessons.

To get in touch with Melanie, learn more about her events and training, or find out about her upcoming TV series, visit www.instinctivehorsetraining.co.uk

Meet Melanie

Get him thinkinGWarming up a clever horse should be done on a long, loose rein. Ride big shapes and keep him moving forward. When you begin, spend lots of time picking up the reins and lengthening them again. If, for example, you want to lift him up in canter but he has other ideas, give him plenty of rein, ride a half circle, then pick up the reins and ask again. Also ask him to lengthen his stride on a long rein.

mix it upExercises that interfere with your horse’s way of thinking are the best

ones to keep him interested. If, for example, you want to work on your leg-yield but he simply won’t do it, change the game plan and ride a more difficult exercise, such as half-pass. After a few attempts (and don’t worry if your half-pass isn’t the best), switch back to leg-yield, which he’ll probably take as light relief.

think outside the boxProviding that you’ve done a sensible warm-up, keep your schooling sessions short – spend 10 minutes warming up and no more than 20 minutes on your session. Ride lots of

different exercises and give your horse regular breaks on a long rein – if you don’t he’ll spend the entire session anticipating the end.

Getting clever horses used to breaks is also important for competition success. If, for example, you want to ride two dressage tests at a competition rather than one he’ll be used to having breaks and won’t shut down between tests.

Keep your warm-up at competitions simple and interesting – if he’s clever you’ve got the best horse there, and you want him going into his class feeling keen and energised.

Dressage star Carl Hester is no stranger to clever, sharp horses – here are his top tips to keep their training on track

Sharp horses should be turned out as much as possible. People have to understand that with a sharp horse you’re always going to be fighting his enthusiasm, so the more time he can spend turned out the better – I find that overnight seems to be the best bet because your horse comes in ready to be ridden in the morning.

Difficulties occur when human nature takes hold, making us want to ride sharp horses with the brake always on. People tend to use too much rein and no leg because they’re afraid, and that’s something you should avoid. When you warm up, quickly get going in trot and ride lots of shoulder-in. Put your leg on and direct the movement.

Because sharp horses are always mentally fired up they’ll often be physically tired before their mind gives in. It can be tempting to ride for a long time on a horse like this but then you can risk injury if he has physically done more than enough. Keep your sessions short or consider riding him for short periods, twice a day.

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The clever horseClever horses who are keen to learn are probably the hardest to teach. They can be stubborn and might swing from being distracted one minute (if lacking stimulation) to looking for things to shy at the next. for this reason people might mistake their intelligence for naughtiness but, the truth is, they’re just thinking one step ahead of their rider. if you’re lucky enough to have a clever horse the key is to keep him motivated

Top TipCollate exercises from issues of Your Horse and keep them in a compact binder to use as inspiration for your

schooling sessions. That way, you’ll never ride aimlessly, wondering what to do next

Care

88 your horse

Horses who are difficult to bridle are common, yet the severity of the problem can

vary hugely. Some horses require a few minutes of faffing about, while other, more determined cases may need the bridle to be put together around their head every time it’s put on.

It baffles practical horseman Max that owners will spend months or even years pandering to a problem like this rather than tackling it. According to Max, even if your horse has been refusing

to accept a bridle for a number of years, it’s possible to change his attitude more or less instantly – if you employ the right tactics.

For Max it doesn’t matter what the horse’s reason is for resisting being tacked up. Whether you’re dealing with a youngster who’s completely new to the experience or working with an experienced schoolmaster who’s decided bridling is to be avoided after having his teeth knocked, the process of solving the problem is exactly the same.

www.yourhorse.co.uk 89

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

PRACTICALHORSEMANSHIP

Words Rebecca Gibson

Bridling battles

Make tacking up easy with the help of practical horseman Richard Maxwell

TRAINER PROFILE

Richard Maxwell aka Max

Having worked with the Household Cavalry and then later with Monty

Roberts, Max has experienced both conventional and natural methods

of training. Although he’s never consciously tried to merge the two,

over the years he’s found himself taking the best of both methods

to develop his own style of horsemanship, which he says is best described as practical horsemanship.

At the crux of all of Max’s training is developing a willing partnership.

For more information visit www.richard-maxwell.com

or call 07764 404723

Equestrian entrepreneurs

Andrea Oakes meets six horse lovers who’ve turned their hobby into a thriving business

Fiona Price founded Horse Hero – www.horsehero.com – an equestrian video website and celebrity blogging community described by the Sunday Times as ‘paradise for horse lovers’. A former financial expert and MD of

Horse & Country TV, she lives in Somerset and has two horses – Norris, an intermediate eventer, and Buddy Holly, a young Hanoverian gelding destined for dressage.

The story so far I’d always completely segregated my career and my hobby and often felt guilty about spending too much time with the horses. I’d previously set up and run a large financial services business, but it was when I was invited to be MD of Horse & Country TV that I recognised the time had come to pursue a career in the equestrian sector. Media was where I’d wanted to be for a long time, having done a lot of TV and radio in the financial industry. Finally it seemed possible to combine my business knowledge with my lifelong passion for horses.

I wanted to create an equestrian community with personality, a site that was interactive and compulsive, and presented information in a way you couldn’t with a book or a masterclass. Horse Hero was 18 months in the making from the early concept to our launch in June 2008. It cost a large sum to develop – money I had to raise alongside sorting out legal aspects, finding a company to build the site, engaging bloggers and filming enough video content for launch.

Having a website as an adjunct to your business is a million miles from having one as your business. It didn’t help that I’m a technophobe and knew nothing about the web when I started – in fact, if I’d known of the challenges, I’d have run a mile!

When we launched, it wasn’t commonplace to see good quality video online. Filming was new to me, too, but

relatively straightforward compared to finding solutions to technical problems and making what we film work for the web.

Like most new businesses, Horse Hero has taken a couple of years to break even. We’re now just moving into profit but we’ve had to be clever with our marketing to keep costs down. We started by putting several thousand flyers under lorry windscreen wipers at equestrian events, as well as promoting the site through Twitter and Facebook, and engaging with other equestrian websites and organisations.

Where I am now With around 80,000 regular visitors and 225,000 page views per month, Horse Hero has the makings of a global business. I manage all aspects of it, from mundane things like accounts to working with a developer to constantly improve the site. I add new content many times a day, commission, edit, moderate, talk to advertisers, arrange competitions, find new bloggers and organise filming. I have one full-time staff member and part-time marketing help.

Blurring the work/leisure boundary wouldn’t suit everyone but for me it’s a good thing. I live, eat and sleep my work. Every day I’m learning – in terms of horsemanship, it’s really opened my eyes to what’s out there.

Biggest challenge I’ve spent my fair share of time filming in torrential rain under an inside-out umbrella, but it’s not just the weather that can complicate the job. We arrived at one venue to discover that half of the arena had just been excavated, while another was a short distance from a railway line, with InterCity trains passing at five-minute intervals!

Greatest achievement People love Horse Hero – I’ve created something that I also love myself and find personally addictive.

Top start-up tip Go into business with your eyes wide open. You need to get the right advice, so ideally find a mentor – preferably in your own line of business – if you’re setting up for the first time.

The equesTrian videographer

www.yOurhOrse.cO.uk 75

I’m used to filming in torrential rain under an inside-out umbrella

Care

LATESTRESEARCH

A weightyproblem?

100 your horse

As new research sheds light on a disturbing link between obesity and life-threatening conditions such as laminitis, it’s time to take the size of our horses’ waistlines seriouslyWords Catherine Hale

CauseAlthough it’s widely recognised that laminitis can have a dietary cause, evidence is pointing to a new metabolic cause – the result, primarily, of the inability of insulin to work correctly in the horse’s body

symptomsAs with all cases of laminitis, this acute disease is characterised by chronic pain and lameness in the affected feet, as the sensitive laminae in the hooves become inflamed

preventionAs metabolic laminitis is linked to obesity it can be largely prevented with long-term weight control

treatmentLaminitis, whatever its cause, is a veterinary emergency, so call your vet for advice at the first signs and keep your horse comfortable until he arrives

Your quick guide to metabolic laminitisI f your horse is a cuddly

good-doer who lives life on the plump side, new research

suggests his waistline needs to shrink – and fast. It has shown that many health problems, including metabolic laminitis, are directly linked to obesity, and as our horses get progressively fatter due to modern day living, nutritionists are describing the ‘fat’ epidemic as a serious welfare issue.

To explain why being overweight is such a danger – and how we can halt our horses’ ever-growing waistlines – we’ve got advice from equine nutrition expert Catherine Hale, who is product and nutrition manager for feed manufacturer Allen & Page. So read on to ensure your horse tips the scales in favour of a long and healthy life.

www.yourhorse.co.uk 101

research has shown that many health problems, including laminitis, are

linked to obesity

106 your horse

Phot

o To

pham

Pic

ture

poin

t

Words Helen Milbank

OLYMPICCOUNTDOWN

Fifty years have passed since show jumping legend David Broome first earned an Olympic medal, and with just a year to go before the Olympics arrive in London, the 70-year-old has some timely opinions about why his sport has fallen out of favour with the general public and TV.

“We’ve forgotten it’s about entertainment,” he reveals. The problem, David believes, stems from two key factors – a lack of characters in the modern sport, and course builders who create courses that are too complicated and offer a pathetic variety of jumps.

For those Your Horse readers who grew up on a steady diet of televised equestrian events and were inspired by the likes of show jumpers Broome, Nick Skelton and Harvey Smith, it’s hard to argue with these views. Who can forget the volatile Yorkshireman, Smith, flicking his infamous V-sign at the

judges after winning the British Show Jumping Derby in 1971? Or how about Skelton leaping into the record books when, on wonder

horse Lastic, he jumped an amazing 7ft 75⁄16in (2.32m)

at Olympia in 1978? These were the things

that enthused the general watching public and kept the TV audiences tuned in.

But the TV crews have more or less deserted the

equine world in recent years – and so has its place in the British public’s heart.

Back in 1960, David won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. How many people, other than hardcore horse lovers, could even name a likely contender for any of our equestrian Olympic teams, let alone vote for one to be crowned the greatest personality in British sport? Not many, other than Zara Phillips who won in 2006. But may be being the Queen’s granddaughter helped put her in the public eye.

DID YOU kNOW?

The decision to strip Harvey

Smith of his winnings over his

V-sign in 1971 was reversed

amid huge public backing

for the rider – such was

the sport’s appeal

With London 2012 on the horizon we asked three olympians to compare their glory days

with what’s happening in the sport today. Better? Worse? No different? you’re about to find out…

GET READY FOR THE OLYMPICSAs the London 2012 Olympics approach, Your Horse will be bringing you an exclusive insight into the UK’s biggest equestrian sporting event. From the backstage teams

helping to create winning feeding regimes for the Team GBR horses, to interviews with the celebrity riders who are hoping against hope to make it onto the British teams, we’ll

be bringing you all the news and views from the people who really matter.

LONDON CALLING

WWW.yourhorse.co.uk 107

David Broome rides Sunsalve to bronze medal-winning glory at

the 1960 Olympics in Rome

Gear

118 your horse

BigTesTTrimmersThis month we’ve put eight sets of trimmers to the test and recommend the best ones to help you keep your horse looking neat and tidy all year round

For more gear reviews go to www.yourhorse.co.uk

www.yourhorse.co.uk 119

What to look forShapeIf you can look at several pairs of trimmers before you buy, try holding a few different shapes so you can choose the one that suits your hand shape best – you need to feel confident holding and using the trimmers

WeightAgain this is worth considering – lightest isn’t always best. You need to know you have hold of the trimmers securely and can manoeuvre them easily – you don’t want to drop them

Varying trimming lengthsSome have an adjustment on the trimmers so you can alter the length of hair they trim off. Others will come with combs that you snap onto the blades to alter the cutting length

Additional itemsMost trimmers will come in a storage box with oil for the blades and a brush for easy cleaning. Take care of your trimmers and they’ll last you for years

Horse trimmers are not to be confused with heavy-duty clippers, which are designed to cope with clipping dense coats. Trimmers are much smaller and are used for tidying up after clipping, or trimming those areas that are difficult to do with larger clippers, such as under the jaw, around the ears, head, and for trimming lower legs around the fetlock area.

If you’re uncertain what type of trimmers to buy, ask for some advice, you don’t want to waste your money on something that isn’t going to do the job you want.

For our test I used the trimmers on my two horses. Jester is an ID x TB who has quite a thick winter coat, with a fair amount of feathering on his lower legs and is particularly hairy under his jaw! Wish is a Hanoverian – she’s altogether more refined than Jester when it comes to her winter

coat, which is much finer with very little feathering on her lower legs and hardly any facial hair. She only needs a little tidying up from time to time.

Each set of trimmers were used on both horses for trimming and tidying around the head and legs. I used the following criteria to assess the trimmers:Design I considered the design and shape of the trimmers and how easy they were to hold and use Performance How well did the

trimmers did the job – did they struggle with thicker hair? And how long did the battery last? Value for money Finally I looked at the cost of each set of

trimmers – most came with additional items

including extra blades and oil. As a package, did they represent value for money? Would I recommend these trimmers for you to buy?

Alison Lowther gear editor

Trimming TipsTake your time, especially if you’re

trimming around your horse’s head.

Give him a few moments to get used

to the sound of the trimmers before

you start . Untie your horse if you’re

trimming around his head, just in

case he panics. Wear a set of overalls

to keep you cleaner

Competition £400of feed to be wonpLUStaiLored training

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

Closing date is 9 February 2011Terms & conditions: The winners will be required to cover their own travel expenses. For full terms & conditions go to www.yourhorse.co.uk

What is TopSpec TopChops flavoured with?a) Mint b) Liquorice c) Apple

The TopSpec range includeS

For more information call 01845 565030,or visit www.topspec.com

Based at Somerford Park Farm in Cheshire, Andrew Heffernan offers training on all-weather surfaces and a superb 80-acre cross-country course with fences from 2ft 6in up to Advanced height, which includes all the obstacles you’re likely to meet at a competition

Your Horse magazine has teamed up with TopSpec to offer two lucky readers tailored training and a fantastic range of feed!

British Eventing accredited trainer Andrew Heffernan has an excellent reputation as a rider, trainer and producer of event horses, and will work with the winners to suit their individual needs, including flatwork, show jumping and cross-country training.

They will also receive TopSpec feed to the value of £400 each, and a consultation with a TopSpec nutritionist to develop a feeding plan for their horse or pony.

TopSpec produces high-quality feed balancers, supplements, blends and chops, in fact everything you need to feed and supplement your horse. The company is owned and run by experienced equine nutritionists who provide advice at every level within the equine industry.

TopSpec Comprehensive Feed Balancer A palatable, pelleted product formulated without cereal grains, designed to promote muscle development and function with the added benefit of improved feed efficiencyTopSpec CoolCondition Cubes A blend formulated without cereal grains, providing a good level of calories for performance and/or condition

TopSpec Calmer A powdered, apple-flavoured additive for horses with anxious temperaments, producing a wonderfully laid-back approach to life in responsive horsesTopSpec 10:10 Joint Support An apple-flavoured top specification additive that provides a nutritional support system for jointsTopSpec TopChops Unmolassed and additive free, flavoured with real mint

win training &

topSpeC feed

Gear

FURTHER10%off at the Swish sale

Offers

FREE Sheepskin wash worth £13.99

Valid until 04/03/2011Buy a saddlecloth, numnah or half pad from the KM Elite distinction range and you’ll receive a free bottle of Woolskin sheepskin wash worth £13.99.

The sheepskin wash is perfect for all wool products, keeping the soft texture and retaining the lustre of sheepskin gear.

To order visit www.kmeliteproducts.co.uk or call 01403 759659

SavE £10on a massage courseValid until 01/03/2011EMA (Equine Massage Academy) founded by Angela Hall is holding these practical and excellent one day workshops designed for all owners who want to provide the best care for their horses and discover a new equestrian skill at the same time. By the end of the day you’ll be able to undertake a full equine massage on your horse.

This fun and intensive course is normally £95. Angela is offering Your Horse readers £10 off the price.

For further information visit www.massage-for-horses.co.uk. To claim your discount, quote Your Horse when booking online at www.massage-for-horses.co.uk or call 07852 957407

136 your horse

Valid until 01/03/2011Swish Equestrian is giving Your Horse readers a further 10% off its online sale prices.

The Swish Waterproof Exercise Sheet is a great example of the savings you can expect. The retail price of this fully waterproof, breathable exercise sheet with thick fleece lining was £49.99 but, with sale prices and an additional 10% off, you can get it for just £23.39!

To claim your discount simply enter the discount code YH10 at the checkout on www.swish-equestrian.co.uk

For more info, visit the website or call 01904 704264

HORSEYOuR

ExclUSivE monEy-Saving dEalS

Terms and conditions• All offers available only while stocks last

• Only original vouchers acceptable – no photocopies allowed • Unless stated, offers

limited to one item or discount per voucher• Please refer to individual vouchers for

specific terms and conditions

Everyone likes to save money, especially horse

owners, as our much-loved steeds aren’t the cheapest of

partners to have! Here at Your Horse we’re on a quest to

help our loyal readers save a few pounds where they can so we’ve worked our

socks off this month to bring you these fantastic

money-saving offers. Enjoy!

Julie Brown editor

Dear readerHere are nine ways YOU can get involved

with your favourite magazine.

Come on, don't be shy

1 Drop us a line

Opinions, funny stories, whinges, observations - they're all welcome

2 Tell us about your favourite ride

Do you hack somewhere special? Let us know and we'll dispatch our snapper

3 Take part in a Your Horse Clinic

If you need a specific riding issue sorted we have trainers waiting

and willing to help

4 Have a Private Lesson

Reckon 60 minutes of celebrity training will transform your season?

Get in touch

5 Get stuck into our Dressage Championships

If you compete then your name may already be on the list

- take a look on p140

6 Ask us a question

Whatever your conundrum we have equine experts ready to solve it

7 Tell us about your experiences

We need real life tales on anything to do with your life with horses

8 Chat on our online forum

If you want to natter to other YH readers go to www.yourhorse.co.uk/forum

9 Write about the kit you buy

Bought some brilliant boots or a sumptuous new saddle?

Give us your views

Your opinions, stories and involvement really are

important to us. So get in touch today and help us create the

most informative and entertaining magazine possible

Email your questions, requests & opinions to getinvolved@yourhorse.co.uk

Alternatively, write to us at: Your Horse, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough, PE2 6EA