Black Lion Guest House What's On - Reflect Magazine

24 Equestrian25Saddle Up!Feature by Rochelle Taylor-SmithAnyone who has ever owned a horse willknow the special bond horse and rider shareand the endless joy they bring. The trust andunderstanding that builds over time is unlikeany other and the relationship gets stronger withpractice, but like any relationship, there has to bea bit of a spark to start with.Finding the perfect horse is the ultimate dreamfor the majority of riders, but unfortunately, theexperience can quickly turn into a nightmare!Whether you’re looking for a horse simplyfor pleasure, for hacking, hunting, dressage,gymkhana, or even carriage driving, there arehundreds of breeds to choose from. From abeautifully poised horse from a top progeny,to a more humble mare from a less renownedbackground, it’s so important for the right horseto be paired with the right rider.When looking to buy a horse, it’s importantto firstly consider the cost of not only buying ahorse, but also the cost of keeping the horse – doyou and your family really have sufficient time,money, and experience to look after a horse?As well as food and shelter, horses need regularexercise and grooming, as well as veterinary care,all of which will take up a large amount of time,and money.Once you’ve agreed that you have the time,money and experience to care for a horse, youhave to decide what type of horse you’d like.Reflect suggest making a list of the qualities thatare essential in any horse you buy, as well asa separate list of what would be desirable. Anyhorse you consider, should have, at least, ALLof the qualities listed on the essential list, and,hopefully, one or two off the desired list.Anyone who has ever owned a horse will know‘the special bond’ horse and rider share and theendless joy it brings. The trust and understandingis unlike any other and gets stronger over time,but like any other relationship, there has to bea bit of a spark to start with. To make a mistakeand buy the wrong horse could be costly andheartbreaking to everyone involved. So, take yourtime and ensure you find a horse with a pleasantmanner, and one that’s not only good to ride, butalso one that is likely to remain healthy, as well asbeing suitable for the type, and amount, of ridingyou anticipate.Although you might consider it to be economicalto buy a horse that can take you through yourriding career, or challenge your skill, buying ahorse beyond your capabilities is not advisable. Itmay be too much for you to handle or even proveto be a danger.Also, buying a horse without a pre-purchaseexamination, by a qualified professional, can beboth risky and costly – you wouldn’t buy a carwithout seeing its MOT certificate. A pre-purchasevetting will not only identify existing healthproblems, but should also find potential issues.If you are a competent rider, there are plentyof events to enter to show off your ridingprowess and test your skill, from show jumpingto gymkhana, point to point and dressage. Alldisciplines are equally challenging with their ownrules and regulations, so it’s a good idea to havelessons from an expert who knows the tricks ofthe trade.Many people would like to own a horse, but don’thave the time to look after it fully. Liveries offerthe ideal solution with flexible options to suit yourneeds and requirements including, DIY and fulllivery. Some state-of-the-art liveries not only lookafter your horse, but also offer the luxury of beingable to view your horse whenever takes yourfancy with an in-stable web cam.If you want to indulge fully in your passion,why not opt for a riding holiday in some of thebeautiful and diverse areas across the UK. Gallopalong an empty beach in Devon, along a clifftop path in the North Yorkshire coast or througha magical forest in Wales. Stop off for lunch at acountry pub before riding home and laying thebed for your weary stead.Buying a horse is a big decision and a seriousinvestment, so take the time to do your homeworkand find a company who have the knowledge andexpertise to find your dream horse.Strange Horse Facts• Horses like classical music.• The oldest horse was named Old Billy. He wasa cross breed, born in 1760 and he lived to be62.• The World’s Largest Horse was a Shire geldingnamed Samson, measuring 21.2 1/2 handhigh in 1850, and weighed 3,360 pounds.• The luckiest horseshoe you can have is onefrom the hind leg of a gray mare.• The current record holder for the world’ssmallest horse is Thumbelina, a fully matureminiature horse affected by dwarfism. She is17 inches tall and weighs 60 pounds.• Horses have two blind spots - one directlybehind them and one directly in front of them.(facts taken from www.ultimatehorsesite.com)Stormhill MinkA veryintelligent allround horse,with a fantastictemperamentand extravagantmovement. Heis suitable for alltypes of maresfrom cobs to athoroughbred.CHAPS & BSPAgraded stallion,also registered Wetherbys NTR.His offspring are proving in their own wayto be champions covering all disciplinesfrom the Pony Club all rounder to showingand eventing.He has competed on a continuous basisfrom 2004 with enjoyment and success inall areas.From April 2010 Storm will be standingwith Jerome Harforth at Stanley GrangeStud for natural coverings, Fresh, Chilled,and Frozen semen.Miss Rebecca WalkerSunnybank Riding StablesSunnybank RoadBatleyWest YorkshireWF17 0LJPhone: 01924 473484 / 07976 535336Fax: 01924 473484www.stormhillmink.co.ukFour Seasons StudSG Kai 6 year pure bred. Arabian stallion by AHKuda Many wins in hand. Fabulous temperamentand spectacular action that he passes to hisoffspring, produces beautiful foals both purebred and part bred.Stud Fee POAWe have fantastic facilities for visiting mares.Tel 07785 316529 or 01934 820722(Evening up to 9pm)North SomersetAlderwood Hot shotPink paperedOslo, as heis known athome, is a16hh stallionout of countryMarksman.He has anexceptionaltemperament and a fantastic attitude to work,which is always commented upon in the ring byjudges and fellow competitors. His striking looks,coupled with athletic paces, gain a lot of attention.Oslo combines movement and power with the mostamazing technique over a fence. He has embarkedon his ridden career and is showing great potential.His jumping ability is no surprise with both Zeusand Zeoliet in his breeding, as well as G,Ramiro.Alderwood Hot Shot is a promising young stallion.He has two BEF Futurity First Premiums in bothdressage and show jumping.Stud fee: £300 NFFRContact Rachael Cowburn 07773683830email: oslorach@yahoo.co.ukPhantomis our HackneyX warmbloodstallion. Hestands 16.2hhaged 13. He hasgood stablemanners, verygood moverwith a nice bold jump, 3 good paces, his sireOberon.Stud Fee: £250NFFR 1st October rule applies.Mr Jonesis our colouredcob stallion. Hestands 16.1hhand is aged 9. Hehas impeccablestable, floor andridden manners.He has very goodmovement and 3very nice paces.Mr Jones has the cob DNA test heterozygousnT and homozygous EE.Stud Fee: £250NFFR 1st October rule applies.Young stock to follow, due this yearClaire: 07742 490116Kevin: 07742 490180thorpestud@hotmail.co.ukCreated in April 2009, Unibed’s premiumquality bedding is a great product.Whether you’re an individual horsekeeper, or a professional within theequestrian industry, Unibed Original andUnibed Pro bedding could be of greatbenefit to you and your horse.Both products have been finely choppedand the put through a rigorous dustextractionprocess to ensure dust levelsare kept to a minimum. The straw (wheatfor classic and rape for premium) is thentreated with a unique formula of threenatural, non-toxic oils - Muna, Moringaand Arnica - which combine to createa clean and soothing environment foryour horse. All three oils are natural antiparasitic,anti-bacterial, anti-fungal andhave anti-inflammatory properties. Munaoil can also help horses avoid respiratoryproblems, whilst Moringa contains vitaminsA, C and E, which help soothe and softenskin. Arnica oil has been used in connectionwith tender hooves and bruising.• Unibed Classic is made from premiumquality Wheat Straw to create a soft,comfortable bed with good absorbency.• Unibed Premium is suitable for use as adeep bedding material, removing droppingson a daily basis and wet bedding once aweek.Both products are available wholesale directfrom Unibed in 20kg bales. The products areavailable from numerous stockists aroundthe country, retailing between £5.50 and£6.99.Choose fromour prints ordesign yourown.Great forsponsors’logos etc.Printed full colour on vinyl,Equitility Training Bannersare easy to use and suitablefor outdoor use all year round.Currently being used byaccredited trainers in bothequine & canine training.www.equitility.comwww.agilitybanners.comcall 01442 822064High Performance Quality BeddingAs well as medicinal benefits, Unibed canalso help to cut down the time it takes tocomplete your daily mucking out routine.Unibed products also rot down veryquickly compared to wood-based products,therefore keeping the muck heap down to aminimum.As well as horse bedding, Unibed also offerPoultry and Game bedding, made from finelychopped straw that, like the Unibed horsebedding, is also put through a rigorous dustextraction process, before being treated witha non-toxic disinfectant that is anti-viral andanti-fungal.For more information on the Unibed range,visit www.unibed.uk.com or call01977 796278.