Your Horse Digital Sampler - July Issue

Your Horse 427 july 2017
Win
tickets
to
Your Horse
Live
take 3 friends with you & Meet charlotte dujardin
go affiliated
We show you how & why!
l hack 1000 miles l easy ways to bond l laminitis l ride with confidence l strangles explained l inside the equine brain
for people with a passion for horses
july 2017 (Issue 427)
10
easy ways
to bond with
your horse
Inside the
equine brain
We investigate memory,
tumours and dementia
The ultimate
guide to
laminitis
Triggers, treatment,l
feeding and morel
expert advice
Improve your
jumping with poles
What you can learn
from Western
Hack safely in
a group
confidence
Ride with
NEW
seRies!
l Manage
spooking
Simple techniques to help you:
l Remember your
dressage test
l Stay calm at
competitions
l Cope when
things go wrong
Protect your
horse from
strangles
Perfect
your hand
position
www.yourhorse.co.uk
only £3.99!

p20 Have you
signed up for
#Hack1000miles yet?
Contents
Your Horse July 2017
23
82
92
87
On the cover
26
96
57
50
74
20
Regulars
6 Our horse hero Ballaseyr Royale, we salute you
8 News & views The latest from the horse world
12 News Report Is the internet putting horses at risk?
14 Diary dates This month’s best shows and events
16 Your say You get in touch
18 Send a selfie You share your pics
128 Horses for sale Find your dream equine partner here
133 Buying a dressage horse Tips from Horse Deals
138 First-timer tales Taking on an ex-racer
Better Riding
42 Join the Confidence Club with Helen Rennie
49 Expert workout Four exercises on one simple shape
50 Schooling solutions Improve his jumping and
sharpen up your reactions with pole exercises
57 Find it, fix it! Perfect your hand position
58 How to Clear a skinny
58 Hairy Hopefuls Channel your horse’s enthusiasm
42
win!
34. A dressage training break with a pro
73. Tickets to the Festival of British Eventing
113. Loads of rider clothing to give away!
4 your horse july 2017

Subscribe
You’ll get
6 months
for £23
when you
subscribe
today!
See
p24
p74 The team saddle
up and go Western
p82 Build the
bond with your horse
Features
20 #Hack1000miles Find out how to join our epic
12-month challenge and get group hacking tips!
26 Find your focus Our guide to moving up
a level, going affiliated and more
36 Win a horse... meet the final three
66 Behind the scenes at Gatcombe
We reveal the inner workings of this awesome event
74 We go Western See how we fared on our
Western riding taster day with David Deptford
Horse Care
82 Bond with your horse Advice from equine
behaviour pro Richard Maxwell
87 A guide to laminitis The symptoms, triggers
and treatment revealed
96 Strangles Our vet expert explains the condition,
its symptoms and treatment options
92 Inside the
equine brain
Understanding
conditions affecting
our horses’ brains
Ask the experts
100 Eventing Tips for cross-country first-timers l Preparing
for cross-country at home
102 Vet advice Horses with hay fever l Bandaging tips
104 Arena surface advice Creating an outdoor arena
l Problem surfaces l Deep surface management
106 Management Helping a horse on box rest in summer
108 Feeding The benefits of tumeric l Keeping horses
hydrated l Donkey diets
111 Advice from Spillers How you can help to reduce
a horse’s risk of laminitis
Gear Guide
116 What’s new
The latest gear
118 Put to the test
Everyday riding breeches
122 Buyer’s guide
What to look for
when buying a trailer
126 On trend Stunning
competition shirts
126
july 2017 your horse 5

Send
aselfie
From cowboy hats to snuggles and smiles
– we love getting your pics!
Cheese
My friend Linda is
riding my ex-racer,
Misty. She’s only
been riding for
a few years but
she’s come on
leaps and bounds.
As you can see,
Misty is a bit of
a character.
Andra Dobson,
Wigan
New buddy
Meet Joey, my new
pony, who has been
amazing so far!
Grace Kearvell,
Buckinghamshire
Just the two of us
Kara, my veteran, and I enjoying
a cold, winter’s day hack.
Hacking is our favourite pastime.
Kelly Mawman, Shropshire
Peekaboo!
Hello from Benji,
my six-year-old.
Lydia Harrison,
Yorkshire
Photography supplied by readers
Forever friends
This is my daughter (who has had a full leg
cast on for the past six weeks) spending
quality time with our pony, Connie.
Jayne Haigh, Yorkshire
An apple a day
Galloon Orchid, my Connemara mare,
sharing an apple with her daddy, Michael.
Karen Brett
18 your horse july 2017
www.yourhorse.co.uk

Over to you
SENd in your pics! Keep your photos coming in to getinvolved@yourhorse.co.uk
Snoozy Snoopy
This is a pic of my son, Toby,
when he came across his
pony, Snoopy, snoozing in the
field. Snoopy was so chilled
he didn’t get up for ages.
Guy Procter, Stamford
Clowning around
Squeaky was rescued from Bodmin
Moor by a local charity. Him and
his friend, Amber, are both so
cheeky and love pulling silly faces!
Christian Davis, Cornwall
Hogging the camera
This is my cheeky chap, Geoff, doing a
stellar job of photobombing my selfie.
Emma Winter, Hull
Give us a kiss
My beautiful boy, Westie, with
my three-year-old daughter.
Hayley Greaves,
Nottinghamshire
Perfect pillow
Bart is my Percheron x ID
and he seems to find me
to be a handy head rest!
Teresa Lewis, Suffolk
Seaside stroll
Lovely Delilah on her first
walk to the beach.
Anna Graham, Morecambe
Ready to go
Bella and I waiting to
do our very first
dressage test.
Janet Gow,
West Yorkshire
www.yourhorse.co.uk july 2017 your horse 19

Ready, set,
Some of you are already clocking up the miles out on
Britain’s beautiful bridleways and we’ve got the selfies to
prove it! Not yet heard about #Hack1000miles? Read
on to discover more plus tips for happy group hacks
Join our campaign to hack
1000 miles in one year and
you’ll become part of a fun and
friendly community of people
who simply love to hack. You
can meet and chat to them online, share
tips and photos. Who knows, you might
even discover a fellow hacker down the
road that you never knew existed! It also
automatically signs you up for regular
updates via our newsletter, plus you’ll get
videos and tips from us, our ambassadors
and the pro riders supporting the
campaign, chances to win awesome
prizes from our generous sponsors and
more. Each month we’ll be printing
pictures of #Hack1000miles participants
and sharing your tips and stories, so it’s
also your chance to be seen in print, just
like this lovely lot.
Para dressage star and SEIB
sponsored Bert Sheffield has
been leading the charge with
three fab #Hack1000miles selfies
20 your horse july 2017

#hack1000miles
hack!
Sign up and
get started
To sign up to #Hack1000miles just visit
www.hack1000miles.co.uk - enter your name
and email address and that’s it! You can then
use our handy Progress Tracker to record
your miles. Download yours for free at www.
yourhorse.co.uk/progresstracker by inputting
the code: Hack239.
It’s a great way to log
your progress and
you’ll need to upload
a photo of your
progress tracker if
you want to enter
our #hack1000miles
competitions.
This will help us
to prevent those
‘serial competition
enterers’ winning
prizes that you
and your fellow
hackers deserve!
Use our handy
Progress Tracker
to log your miles
Sarah Hampson has decided to
give #Hack1000miles a go and
has kicked things off with this
hack with friends in North Wales
Laura Szuca and
chums on their first
#Hack1000miles hack
– a lovely Sunday
three-mile stroll
july 2017 your horse 21

Safe group hacking
Hacking in a group is the perfect way to
enjoy your adventures in the saddle
with friends and, with just a little
forethought, you can do it without any
hitches or drama. To help you make the
most of your outings, the Your Horse
team has some top tips for making sure
you have a happy group hack.
Set rules and roles
Before heading out it’s worth having a chat
to decide who’ll do what and to determine
things like where you’ll go and at what
speed. “As the saying goes, too many cooks
spoil the broth, so knowing what you’re
responsible for can help to avoid confusion
and problems,” says Your Horse editor
Imogen. “For example, if you come to a
gate, as you often do, decide who’s best to
open the gate, and hold it open, as the rest
of you walk through. Pick the rider with the
horse who’s best for the job and you’ll save
a lot of time and energy, you might even
prevent an accident.”
In addition to gates, there are other
things to consider. Who’ll lead when you’re
riding single file? Who’s in charge of
planning the route and whose horse will
cope best at the back? “Discuss all of these
things before your hack and if you have any
concerns, make them known. Worrying
about things like cantering in an open
space if you don’t feel confident can ruin
a hack, so let the group know if you don’t
want to do it. It’s better to set expectations
early, and be honest about your confidence
and your horse’s ability than find yourself
in a situation you don’t feel safe in.”
Communication is key
Communicating with your group as you ride
is so important. “Things can change in a
heartbeat when you’re hacking so be aware
of how everyone’s doing so you know when
someone needs help,” says Your Horse
associate editor Allison. “Feeling worried
when you hack is no fun and you should feel
able to say if you need help.”
On the flip side, it’s important to listen
too. Someone might spot something you
don’t, or warn of a problem up ahead and,
if you’re not listening, you’ll be the last to
know and could end up in trouble.
“Finally, be considerate of the horses,”
adds Allison. “If one gets excited or upset,
try letting them lead for a while and see if
this helps.” Some horses will find group
hacks exciting, or even nerve-racking if
they’ve never done it before, so be sure to
give them support.
Before heading
out, it’s worth having
a chat to decide
who’ll do what and
to determine things
like where you’ll
go and at
what speed
Our top
5
Our number 1 golden
rule – wear high-vis!
Be visible
1 This is one tip you’ll get from us
over and over again, we can’t say it
enough – please wear high-vis,
whenever you hack out, and even if
you don’t plan to go on the roads.
High-vis helps drivers to see you and,
should you have an accident, makes
you more visible to emergency
services. Just think, if you fall off in the
middle of a field of long grass in dark
clothing, how will an air ambulance or
passer by spot you? Food for thought.
Respect the land
2 We’re lucky to be able to ride in
lovely places, often with permission
TIps
from farmers and landowners,
so keep in mind that riding in a
group means more hooves and,
therefore, more hoof prints.
Stick to paths and tracks and
be mindful of where you ride.
Keep your distance
3 A quick kick or a bite can
happen in the heat of the
moment with even the best
behaved of horses so be
sure to maintain safe
spaces between you and the rest
of the group.
Pay attention
4 It’s easy to get distracted in a
group but it only takes a moment for a
bird to spook and send you on a little
trip out of the saddle. Yes, chat to your
friends (when and where it’s safe to do
so) but don’t forget where you are or
what you’re riding.
Choose locations wisely
5 Hacking in a group on a ride that
involves lots of roadwork isn’t a good
idea so try to choose places to hack
that don’t involve much, if any, road
work. Safety is key.
22 your horse july 2017

Win
tickets
to
#hack1000miles
Your Horse Live
If you and your friends love to hack
together, we bet you like going to shows
together, too. What better way to enjoy
a horsey day out than to head to
Your Horse Live? With that in mind,
we think a #Hack1000miles competition
is in order! Fancy winning four tickets
to Your Horse Live on Sunday
12 November? Not only that, but you
and your three friends will also get to
meet Charlotte Dujardin at the show.
How to enter
Send a picture of your group, before,
during (if it’s safe to take a pic) or after
a group hack and send it to us at
getinvolved@yourhorse.co.uk with the
subject ‘Group Ride’. We’ll pick our
favourite snap to win so be sure to slap
on a smile and give it your all. Extra
points for lots of high-vis and a
#Hack1000miles pledge card or
two (you can download these at
www.hack1000miles.com)! The
closing date for entries is 3 July.
Full t&C: www.yourhorse.co.uk/meetcharlotte
#Hack1000miles
is sponsored by...
Throughout our #Hack1000miles
campaign you can find advice and
information from our fantastic
sponsors online.
Visit www.hack1000miles.co.uk
to see what they have to say.
Plan for a safe
and fun group hack
with our advice
july 2017 your horse 23

Find
your
focus!
The 2017 season is on and maybe you’re thinking it’s time to
move up a level or go affiliated. We’re here to tell you how
Words: Rachel Williams
26 your horse july 2017

competing special
Get set to take the
competition world
by storm – you’re
capable of more
than you think
Moving up the levels in
an equestrian discipline is
an exciting experience, but
unless you’re one of the
lucky few with nerves of
steel, it can be daunting. It doesn’t matter
whether you’re trying a more advanced
dressage test, jumping a new height, or going
the whole hog and affiliating for the first time,
there’ll be many questions playing on your
mind. Am I ready? What will it cost? Will I end
up looking silly, or worse, hurt?
A survey of Your Horse readers showed
that only 45% of you are already affiliated,
having taken the plunge for a new challenge
and access to more opportunities in your
chosen discipline. If you’re teetering on the
brink of going affiliated but still aren’t sure,
it’s important to remember that everyone
has to start somewhere. Ernest Dillon, one
of Britain’s most respected show jumping
coaches, believes that many riders never
achieve their full potential because they
don’t want to push themselves beyond their
comfort zone.
“You don’t get to be Nick Skelton if you
never try,” he says. “Although it can be
daunting walking courses alongside pro
riders all of a sudden, you need to think of it
this way – you’re jumping against the course
builder, not the other riders. Put what other
people are doing to one side.”
This philosophy is echoed by Anne-
Marie Perry-Cowan, a Grand Prix dressage
july 2017 your horse 27

For riders like Will
Furlong, pushing
yourself will help
you get the most
from your riding
Did you
know?
The fences at many
cross-country venues around
the country can be viewed
in advance, by visiting
Shoestringeventing.com
Be sure you’ve got the
basics sorted and, if it
helps, ask your trainer
to come along to
support you on the day
It’s
important to
remember that
even the top
riders had to get
going somehow,
so it’s important
not to apologise
for being
there
rider coached by Carl Hester. “It’s important
to remember that even the top riders had to
get going somehow, so it’s important not to
apologise for being there,” she says. “Ride
down the centre line with your chin up, and
look the judge in the eye.”
Sometimes, staying at the level you’re at
means training can actually become stale for
both horse and rider. Top young eventer and
World Class Development Programme rider,
Will Furlong, has found that setting goals
and giving yourself a new challenge is
28 your horse july 2017
www.yourhorse.co.uk

competing special
Whatever your
level or discipline,
being mentally
prepared is vital
Mind over
matter
Many riders fear they’ll
freeze up and look silly on
the day, so rider
psychologist Helen Rennie
suggests thinking of it as a
‘data-gathering exercise’
rather than a competition.
“A common problem
when riders move up a
level is they throw the
baby out with the bath
water. Suddenly, they stop
doing the things they’d
normally do, which can
have a negative impact on
mindset and performance.
It’s imperative to follow
your usual routine. Write a
step-by-step plan and stick
to it. I also encourage
riders to try meditation,
or try listening to a
relaxation podcast
as you go to
sleep.”
For more
from Helen
Rennie, turn to our
brand-new rider
confidence series
on page 42.
incredibly important.
“Personally, I find moving up a level
really helps to focus what you do with
your training and it gives you something to
aim for. It also gives you a great sense of
pride when these training goals are reached.”
Ready to make the leap?
While unaffiliated competitions can be run by
anyone, affiliated competitions can only take
place at venues that are British Dressage (BD),
British Eventing (BE) or British Showjumping
(BS) approved. As a result, these events are
run according to the standards and rules set
out in each governing body’s handbook, and
so an extra cost is incurred for competing at
this level. It’s a good idea, then, to be certain
you are ready, so don’t neglect the basics.
“It sounds silly, but make sure you can start
and stop, turn, adjust the canter stride,
half-halt and so on,” says Ernest. “If you can
do these things correctly, it’s harder to get it
wrong on the day.”
“Consistent performances are essential,
and a good indication that you’re ready; be
that regular double clears or the same level of
percentages,” adds Will. “Be aware that it’s a
partnership; you both need to feel safe and
confident before you move on.”
Many affiliated competition venues now
advertise their unaffiliated events as being
run under BD/BE/BS rules as well. Keep an
eye out for venues near you as this is a great
way to test the water. Paddy Muir competed at
the top level of eventing, riding at Badminton,
Burghley, and winning at Blenheim. She now
www.yourhorse.co.uk july 2017 your horse 29

coaches at her property in North Yorkshire.
“There are many more unaffiliated events
held at approved establishments, which
means it’s easier to practise and check you’re
ready. Stay at your current level until your
horse is taking you to the fences. No spook or
stop. It needs to be smooth and confident.”
Affiliated competition benefits
Although affiliation costs can be quite high,
Ernest firmly believes they are justified.
“All venues are of a very high standard.
You’ll benefit from better collecting ring
etiquette; trained judges; professionally built
courses with safe footing and accurate
distances, and adults won’t find themselves
having to compete in classes with children.”
“We all experience the highs and lows of
the sport, which creates a very unique family
atmosphere,” says Will. “Being able to
compete with top professionals is unique to
our sport too – warming up or competing
against Olympians is a special feeling.”
While some may find this nerve-racking,
Paddy sees it as a real opportunity.
“Watch experienced riders and learn. They
may only be in the same class as you because
they have a youngster, but you can get so
much out of watching them.”
Prepare for success
Working back from the date of the
competition and creating a plan can
help you stay more focused during
training.
“Goal setting is vitally important,
especially when moving up,” says Will.
“The fitness of horse and rider are
obviously really important but I’d
suggest you practise above the level
you’re competing at so that, come
competition day, it doesn’t seem like
such a big deal. On a smaller scale, do
as much as you can the night before.
Things like putting studs in can be
stressful when your horse won’t stand
still tied up. Tap the stud holes out and
leave cotton wool in overnight so it’s
less of a job on the day.”
Part of your preparation should
involve getting off the yard. “There are
more venues that permit schooling
sessions now,” says Paddy. “Riders
should take up these opportunities and
get their horses out and about as much
as possible. For cross-country, do your
research. Know what kinds of fences to
expect.”
Clinics and lessons should be utilised
regularly too, so that someone more
experienced on the ground can talk you
through any issues you encounter.
“It surprises me how few people are
willing to invest money on instruction,
yet are willing to turn up underprepared
to a competition and
effectively throw it away,” says Ernest.
“Also, riders must never underestimate
how long it’ll take to travel somewhere
or to walk the course. The last thing
anybody needs is to be rushing. Fail to
prepare – prepare to fail.”
Full dressage tests should be
practised regularly at home, not only to
help you memorise the movements, but
to ensure that your training has worked
to create a more gymnastic horse, who
is strong and supple enough to perform
well.
“I dedicate a full day to going through
my tests,” says Anne-Marie. “Keep going
along to unaffiliated comps at affiliated
venues if you can. This way, you’ll be
able to practise under BD (or BE) rules
and get high-level feedback without the
same pressure or expense, so when you
do enter your next affiliated class, you’ll
be more confident, riding better and
raring to go!”
Simple planning will help
you get your day off to a
good start so think
about when you’ll do
the little, but important,
things like plaiting
30 your horse july 2017

competing special
The bang you get for your buck
Our survey revealed that for 40% of you, the cost of going affiliated was a big turn off. So, to weigh
up the costs involved, here’s a breakdown of exactly what you can expect to get for your money
Full competing
membership
British Dressage British Eventing British Showjumping
£90 £145 £137
Horse registration £80 £100 £80
Riding on a ticket
A day ticket costs £8 per class
plus entry fee. If you qualify,
you must become
a full member to proceed.
It costs £10 for a season's day
pass membership, plus £16 for
a rider day pass, £16 for a horse
day pass, plus entry fee. If you
qualify, you must upgrade to full
membership to continue.
A small fee can be paid for a
ticket to ride, plus the normal
fee at BS approved venues.
Rosettes may be awarded,
but no points or prize money.
(Discounts may apply – see websites.)
Typical entry fees £18-£22 Start at around £70,
plus £15 starting fee
£12-£20 for a Category 1 show
What you get
Members of all three organisations receive:
• A handbook
• A bi-monthly magazine
• Access to members only section of website
• Third party public liability insurance cover
• Access to highly trained judges and officials at approved venues
• Tests and licensed music
for freestyle tests
• Legal helpline service
• Ability to qualify for Petplan
Equine Area Festivals
• Access to training events
and initiatives
• Apprentice opportunities
• Personal accident cover
• Monthly e-newsletter
• Members' pass for entry to
events, exc. 1* and above
• 10% discount at training events
• Ability to qualify
• Guaranteed safety standards
based on latest fence safety
research
• 400+ member discounts with the
Member Advantages website
• Opportunity to compete on
national circuit for points
and prize money
• Ability to qualify
• Access to BS's academy
structure
• Training programmes
and events
What riders think…
For advice from those in the know,
we spoke to three riders about going
affiliated in their different disciplines
Dressage
Name: Sam Prior, 32
Horse: Off-track Thoroughbred, RHF
Double Take (Holly)
“You do need to be on top of your game to
avoid wasting money but I found there
were some great benefits. I wanted to stop
faffing around and going affiliated made
schooling really mean something. It gave
us access to new centres and listed judges,
many of whom teach lessons.
Make sure you’ve studied your rule
book. The wrong tack won’t be tolerated
in the way it might be when unaffiliated.
Finally, don’t be put off by flashy horses
or more experienced riders that might
make you feel as though there’s little point
going in. Breathe, focus and enjoy it.”
www.yourhorse.co.uk july 2017 your horse 31

Is he losing his
marbles?
From yawning and box walking to unusual changes in behaviour, we’ve enlisted the help of
an expert to guide you on what could be symptoms of a brain condition in your horse
MEET the expert
PROFESSOR
JOSH SLATER
is the professor
of Equine
Clinical Studies
at the Royal
Veterinary College.
Horses are curious
creatures. One
minute, they’re
astounding us with their
ability to dance through
a dressage test, the next they’re
spooking at their own shadow.
While the latter can make us think
that he has nothing between his ears
but cotton wool, your horse’s brain is
an incredibly complex system,
boasting an impressive memory and
ability to learn.
Even though your horse’s brain is
the driving force behind everything
he does, we rarely consider its health
on a day-to-day basis, let alone
conditions that might affect it.
With this in mind (pardon the pun),
we decided to investigate the equine
brain and its health, and we’ve
enlisted Professor Josh Slater to help.
He’s the Professor of Equine Studies at
the Royal Veterinary College.
What conditions affect the horse’s brain?
Like humans, horses are at risk of brain
conditions that can cause behavioural
changes at any stage of their life.
These can be primary brain conditions,
like infections and tumours or, more
commonly, diseases of other organs
like the liver that affect the brain.
Primary brain diseases like tumours
sound scary but, thankfully, in horses
they’re very rare. Any problems with
your horse’s brain will need to be
Frequently yawning and
other other behaviours
that seem out of the
ordinary for your horse
should be checked by a vet
diagnosed by your vet, but there are a
few tell-tale signs that you can look
out for, including:
l Walking in circles
l Frequent yawning
l Compulsive behaviours like box
walking (even when out in the field)
l Personality changes – a once happy
horse suddenly becoming angry
and aggressive
As Professor Slater explains, it’s also
important to consider that any subtle
changes could be a sign there’s
something amiss in your horse’s brain.
“Where there’s an abnormal
behaviour, we have to make sure that
the horse doesn’t have an underlying
disease, which could be disease of the
brain or diseases in other parts of the
body that cause abnormal brain
function,” he says. “A health
check in horses with behaviour
changes – no matter how small
– is very important.
“These can be dramatic
symptoms (like the ones listed
above), or it could be something
more subtle. For example, he
might look disorientated, or not
recognise objects or particular
people. He might also start to
interact differently with familiar
horses. All these subtle
changes can be associated
with a problem with
recognition and memory.”
92 your horse July 2017
www.yourhorse.co.uk

Horsecare
www.yourhorse.co.uk July 2017 your horse 93

If your horse
seems to be
focusing as you
flow from one 10m
circle to another,
it’s probably
becuse he’s trying
to remember
where to go next!
What your horse remembers
‘An elephant never forgets’ is a wellknown
adage but horses have also been
found to possess excellent memories.
A study published in 2013 found that
horses could recall a test nearly two
years after they were originally taught
how to do it – one of the tests was to
walk backwards, the other was to cross
an obstacle after a bell rung to avoid a
puff of air1.
Researchers found that even 22
What about brain infections?
Along with brain tumours, infections of the
brain are another reason why your horse
might show behavioural changes. Currently
in the UK, viruses that cause brain infections
are rare, but could become more common in
the future as the climate changes.
Diseases like the West Nile Virus (WNV)
have displayed a significant spread through
Europe in recent years, becoming wellestablished
in areas such as eastern Italy and
Hungary. The reason it’s been able to do this
is because the mosquitoes that carry the
virus have also been able to invade new
areas of the world, due to the changing
climate. Once spread, WNV has the potential
to cause brain infections in both horses
and people.
As the climate changes, it’s expected that
the UK will become home to diseases, like
WNV, that in the past have been considered
tropical as increasing numbers of
mosquitoes establish homes in the UK.
It seems doom and gloom, but as Professor
Slater explains, the UK is already prepared
for the worst. “If the UK started to see cases
of WNV, it wouldn’t be a catastrophe,” he
says. “We already have an effective vaccine
against it and we are ready. There might be
a few initial cases, but as awareness spread,
months after being tested, the horses
were able to recall the test perfectly.
Another study in 2009 found that
horses could recognise the calls of their
family members, when compared to the
calls of horses who were strangers4.
It’s this brilliant memory that has
allowed us to form such close bonds
with horses and train them to high levels
– just think how good Valegro’s memory
must be!
people would have their horses vaccinated
and it would be controllable. It would just be
another thing that horses owners would
need a vaccine for.”
photo: Cultura Creative (RF)/Alamy
Similar diseases have
been observed in
dogs and humans,
but the same
can’t be said
for horses
94 your horse July 2017
www.yourhorse.co.uk

Horsecare
Just because
dementia hasn’t
been observed in
equines, doesn’t
mean that it
doesn’t exist
While old age can leave some
horses a little doddery,
thankfully, dementia-like
disease in horses is rare
photo: Cultura Creative (RF)/Alamy
full deTAIls of references can be found online AT WWW.yourhorse.co.uk/brAInreferences
Can horses get dementia?
Thanks to modern medicine, our horses
are living longer than ever and diseases
that affect older horses, like PPID (formally
known as Cushing’s), are becoming more
common. It stands to reason that older
horses may be at a similar risk to diseases
that we see in the ageing human
population, such as dementia.
In humans, dementia is a condition
that’s considered to affect older people
and is associated with memory loss,
changes in mood and difficulties thinking
but this doesn’t seem to be the case in
our four-legged friends.
“When we think of dementia,” says
Professor Slater, “we think of changes that
we see in humans but there’s not much
evidence that these changes happen in
horses. It’s difficult to know for sure
because not that many elderly horse
brains have been looked at in detail.”
And, although horses don’t appear to
get the same kind of dementia as humans,
they do exhibit similar behaviours
(changes in habits, personality or loss of
learned skills). Scientists believe that this
can be caused by a disturbance of the
forebrain in horses caused by a range of
different factors, from encephalitis and
head trauma to metabolic disorders.
Does it really affect animals?
The idea that dementia affects animals
isn’t as out there as it might seem. Studies
in the past have found that older cats’
brains1 show similarities to those of aged
people and dogs have been found to
suffer similar dementia-like symptoms to
those seen in humans2. “Dementia-like
changes are common in geriatric cats and
dogs,” says Professor Slater.
There’s huge differences between cats,
dogs, people and horses, but it’s important
to remember that just because dementia
hasn’t been observed in equines, doesn’t
mean that it doesn’t exist.
“It could be that owners notice changes
in their cats and dogs more because they
spend much more time with them than
they would a horse,” adds Professor Slater.
Should I be worried?
While the jury’s still out on whether horse’s
suffer dementia as they age, brain
infections and tumours are seen in horses
and generally don’t have a good prognosis,
but they’re also incredibly rare.
Professor Slater advises: “In terms of
what horse owners need to worry about,
they’re towards the bottom of the list, but
any changes in your horse’s behaviour
should be checked by a vet.”
www.yourhorse.co.uk July 2017 your horse 95

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