NEWYHS444

NOVEMber 2018 Your Horse ISSUE 444
Your horse live
sneak preview
WIN
tickets
+ lunch with
Geoff Billington
World class
riders...
...the BEST show
for shopping!
n YOUR HORSE LIVE PREVIEW n STOP CUTTING CORNERS n CROSS-COUNTRY CONFIDENCE n DIGESTIVE SYSTEM n AUTUMN DANGERS
For people with a passion for horses
schooling
solutions
n Fine-tune the walk
n Relax your hand
n No more cutting
corners
Your
Cob
can!
Katie
Jerram’s
tips for
making
the most
of yours
cross-country
❋
confidence
November 2018 (Issue 444) £4.25
www.yourhorse.co.uk
End your summer positively with Lucinda Green
New,
fresh
look!
AUTUMN
DANGERS
TO AVOID
DIGESTIVE
HEALTH: ALL
YOU NEED
TO KNOW
WHY HAPPY
HORSES ARE
FED BUFFET
STYLE

Novembe
Contents
REGULARS
6 Your Horse challenges you…
to try team chasing
8 Horse talk Things you need to
know about in the equine world
10 #Hack1000miles Challengers
explore Burghley cross-country course
20 Work-horse balance The
personal trainer and account manager
22 Horses around the world
Strong and agile logger horses
30 Your say You get in touch
32 Send a selfie You share your pics
126 Horses for sale Find your dream
equine partner
130 Take Five With entrepreneur and
Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden
features
16 Interview Behind the scenes with
Poldark stuntman Ben Atkinson
24 Native breeds A showcase of
the nine native pony breeds that
are the pride of Britain
Your horse’s
TRAINING
36 Light and supple Show your
cob at his best with help from
Katie Jerram-Hunnable
44 Ride accurate loops Why loops
are a great way to improve your
horse’s rhythm and bend
50 30-minute workout
Showjumping coach Mia Palles-Clark
explains exercises to get your horse
thinking forwards
52 Cross-country confidence
Eventing legend Lucinda Green helps
you tackle fixed fences with ease
24
Which native
breed is your
favourite?
Your horse’s
CARE
62 The diet of choice For a happy,
healthy horse, try a cafeteria system
68 Vet notes As seasons change, our
equine vet discusses potential areas
of concern to be alert for
72 The food factory Take a tour
through your horse’s digestive system
78 Colour coded Is is possible to
breed the colour of horse you’ve
always dreamed of?
52
Become a confident crosscountry
rider with Lucinda Green
85
95
On the cover
to be Won in this issue
59 Tickets to Your Horse Live
109 Clothing, skin care products, joint
support balancers and handbags
36
52
68
72
62
4 your horse november 2018 www.yourhorse.co.uk

www.yourhorse.co.uk
9-11 november 2018
stoneleigh park, warwickshire
unbeatable shopping
Unmissable entertainment
Christopher Bartle,
Florian Bacher and the British
vaulting team will be there
show
>
Preview
86 A new day! Masterclasses from
the finest coaches on the planet
88 The BETA arena Watch world
class riders and learn their secrets
90 Country & Stable arena
Pick up new skills to try with
your own horse
92 WOW Saddles Equine
Learning Zone Saddle fit,
feeding, vet advice and more
93 Ready, set, shop!
Over 400 shops, a rescue
village and prizes galore
love
horses?
Subscribe to
Your Horse for
only £3.30
a month!
See page 82
ask The
experts
96 Legal advice Your rights when
buying a horse l Insurance cover
while trying a horse
98 Farriery Preparing hooves for
wetter weather l Dealing with flat
feet l Help to mend a cracked hoof
l Shoeing for a foot imbalance
100 Dressage Lighten your contact
l Ride good corners l Improve your
horse’s walk
104 Bonding Increase your horse’s
confidence l Should you be his leader
or his friend? l Understanding equine
body language
106 Advice from Spillers Help for
cutting calories
Your horse’s
GEAR
and yours
112 What’s new? The latest, most
exciting new products to hit the shops
114 Put to the test Discover which
brushing boots perform the best
118 On trend Six of the most innovative
bridles for your horse
120 Synchronise your riding We
test a new electronic training system
that could make you a better rider
112
118
november 2018 your horse 5

horse
Here’s what you need to
know about this month
Charity
Brooke Action for Working Horses and
Donkeys has released a poignant mosaic
of war horses, made up of 200 photos
taken by horse lovers around the UK.
Released in time for the anniversary
of Britain entering the First World War,
the mosaic depicts horses transporting
munitions to the Western Front.
Between 1914 and 1918, eight million
horses, donkeys and mules lost their
lives on all sides from fierce shellfire, gas
attacks and the appalling conditions.
Brooke’s year-long campaign, Every
Horse Remembered, highlights the
struggle of these horses and of working
horses today, many of which still endure
terrible living conditions. It hopes to
raise £1 million to make long-lasting
improvements and educate their owners,
as these faithful animals continue to
support the world’s poorest people.
On 1 July, 102 years since the start
of the Battle of the Somme, Brooke
launched its Hack to Remember day,
with riders encouraged to hack out
in memory of horses from the past.
Many of the photos used in the
mosaic were taken then.
■■For more information and to get
involved, visit thebrooke.org.
talk
Horse lovers unite to remember war horses
Brooke’s war horse
photo mosaic is made
with fundraisers’
hacking images
Your Horse Live
World class riders in action at Your Horse Live
Have you heard? Your Horse Live is now three days long!
That means more time to shop, learn new skills and watch the
best in the business as they showcase their stunning horses in
the BETA arena. The three-day equine extravaganza runs from
9–11 November 2018 at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire and is
guaranteed not to disappoint.
Four-star eventers Mary King and her daughter Emily will be
revealing their top training tips — and there are a lot of them.
They’ll work in the arena with both novice and advanced horses,
so there’ll be something for everyone.
All-action rider Ben Atkinson is bringing 14 of his equine stars
along, and you’ll be able to watch the daredevil perform stunts,
Cossack riding, liberty work and classical dressage (think Spanish
Riding School). For a taster of what’s he’s got to offer, read our
interview with Ben on page 16.
Our third celebrity rider is dressage aficionado Florian Bacher,
who trains our very own Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin, so if
you want to improve your dressage scores, don’t miss this.
■ ■ Book tickets at yourhorselive.co.uk. Read the preview on p85.
8 your horse november 2018 www.yourhorse.co.uk

horse talk
Charity
SEIB to give
£100,000
to charity
South Essex Insurance Brokers
(SEIB) has announced that the
prize fund for its popular Giving
campaign will increase to a whopping
£100,000 in 2019. £50,000 will be awarded
to the first-placed charity and a further
£50,000 split between other good causes.
SEIB launched Giving earlier this year
and is urging the public to get involved
again by nominating the charities they
would most like to see supported.
Gala Awards
Gala awards celebrate very
special volunteers and equines
The Riding for the Disabled Association
(RDA) gala awards return this
September to recognise and celebrate
the achievements of the charity’s riders,
Clare Balding (left) and
some of the winners
at last year’s RDA awards
Rescue Update
Ever wondered what happens to the
rescued horses and ponies you read
about in the news? Wonder no more…
BEFORE
Tor, a 10-year-old,
11hh gelding, arrived
into World Horse
Welfare’s (WHW) care
in July 2014 after a
member of the public
called the charity’s
welfare line to alert
them to his plight.
Field officer Sarah Tucker attended the
location and found the little Welsh section
A suffering from serious dehydration, with
no access to water or shelter from the hot
weather, and his hooves badly in need of
attention. Sarah was able to give Tor the
drink of water he so urgently needed and
then made enquiries to find his owner.
It turned out that Tor’s owner was no
longer able to care for him and so he was
signed into WHW’s care and transported
to the charity’s Penny Farm Rescue and
Rehoming Centre near Blackpool.
Once a shortlist has been drawn up, SEIB
customers will have the final say on which
projects should be chosen. No charity is
too small to be in the running.
■■For more information and to nominate
your favourite charitable organisation,
visit seib.co.uk/giving.
carriage drivers, volunteers and horses.
Your Horse magazine is delighted to be
the official media partner for the event,
hosted by RDA ambassador Clare Balding.
“The gala awards celebrate
achievements against the odds,
dedication to a cause and the unique
ability of horses to enrich lives,” says
Clare. “It’s always a privilege to meet
some of the participants and volunteers
from groups all over the UK who help
to make this charity so special, and to
recognise the horses and ponies who
make it possible.”
■■For more info about this fantastic,
life-changing charity, visit rda.org.uk.
Tor was desperate for a
drink when he was found
after
Tor at Equifest
with Jessica
in the saddle
Once Tor had finished
his rehabilitation, he was
rehomed to Carla Wraith
in February 2015 as a
lead-rein pony for her
daughter, Jessica. Since then, Tor and his
young rider have been achieving amazing
things together — most recently coming
seventh in their showing class at Equifest.
Carla said: “Tor and Jessica had an
amazing time and are working towards
their first year doing first ridden classes
in 2019. Tor was a little star from start to
finish and they both love each other so
much. I’d like to thank WHW for giving
them the opportunity to become such
a wonderful team.”
■■Find out more at worldhorsewelfare.org.
This month
we love...
Three things from the equestrian
world that caught our eye
LED wheelbarrow light
This LED powerbank light has
been created specifically for use on
wheelbarrows. This waterproof light
is attached to your barrow with the
included magnetic fixings and could
put an end to ‘seek the manure’ when
poo-picking during winter.
As well as being a fantastic portable
light source, it can also be used to
charge your mobile phone — handy
for those long, dark nights at the yard.
gizahand.co.uk
The Forager
Slow
Feeder
This feeder
provides a natural
way to slow down
your horse when
he’s eating, which
in turn reduces
the risk of colic,
gastric ulcers, obesity and laminitis. It
imitates this natural grazing behaviour,
so there’s always that all-important
forage in the stomach. The grid style
encourages smaller bites of forage
and increased chewing, which helps
maintain a flow of saliva, acting as a
natural buffer to stomach acid.
RRP £249; haygain.co.uk
Cheltenham Clutch
Beautifully teamed Harris tweed and
leather come together to make a
useful and versatile clutch purse that
will house everything you need for a
special day out — the races maybe?
The wristlet style is comfortable to
wear and easy to use, or you can
remove the sprung trigger hook from
the sturdy zip for it to become a
sensibly sized clutch purse.
RRP £59.99; fourh.co.uk
www.yourhorse.co.uk
november 2018 your horse 9

A Burghley
#Hack1000Miles explores Burghley, a rider who’s
registered blind signs up for the challenge and
another campaigner passes through the finish flags
‘I’ve loved
every minute’
Another of our brilliant
#hack1000miles challengers has
passed through the finishing flags —
well done Sarah Johnson!
“I’ve loved every minute of this
challenge with my beautiful, brave boy
Rhino — and I think he’s enjoyed it
too,” says Sarah.
“It’s taken 16 months exactly. A bit
longer than planned, but nevertheless
we’re already looking forward to the
next 1,000 miles.”
Sarah credits all the posts, photos
and conversations in our Facebook
group (search for Hack 1000 Miles)
with giving her lots of
motivation.
The
Finishing
post
Main image:
up and over the new
flyover at Burghley
10 your horse november 2018

#Hack1000miles
- sized
adventure
Imagine being able to say the
immortal words “I’ve ridden around
Burghley” — and truly mean it.
Now several #hack1000miles
challengers can, after completing
the SEIB Burghley Sponsored Ride, and
they’ve got a shiny medal to prove it.
While Kiwi Tim Price showjumped to
his first-ever Burghley CCI4* victory in the
main arena, nearly 400 riders descended on
the cross-country course for a hack. Each
one excitedly embraced the opportunity to
explore the world-famous turf where some
of the best event riders from around the
globe had galloped the day before.
“It was so much fun,” enthused
#hack1000miles challenger Louise
Horwood who steered her horse Spearmint
around the course. “My favourite parts were
going in the water and over the flyover.”
Louise won a place on the ride courtesy
of Your Horse magazine’s #hack1000miles
sponsor SEIB Insurance Brokers. She says
hacking at Burghley has really helped to
boost her riding confidence, which she’s
been struggling with (see box, p12).
Plenty to see
Burghley’s terrain is renowned for being
undulating and variable, with twists and
turns, plus road crossings, a new flyover
and a lake to navigate through. As hacks
go, this is a particularly special one.
This year’s sponsored ride takes the
amount of money raised for charities —
including the British Horse Society,
Bransby and Gurkha Welfare Trust — to
over £250,000 since 2006.
The route is around six miles long and
follows most of the cross-country course,
taking riders through areas of Burghley
Park that aren’t normally accessible by
members of the public.
Each rider gets up close with the 30
cross-country fences. Many baulk at the
size of the ditch in the Rolex Combination
and gaze in disbelief at the enormous
spread on the open corner behind it.
Others have to coax their charges into the
Land Rover Trout Hatchery. Once in, there
are cheers and whoops of joy all round.
Burghley photos: Tom Hook
november 2018 your horse 11

#Hack1000miles
Making a splash
in the iconic
Land Rover
Trout Hatchery
From the starting line by Cottesmore Leap
(it’s a big one — a Land Rover can fit in the ditch),
sponsored riders set off towards the egg boxes at
Clarence Court, before passing the old dairy and
arriving at the new flyover for the first time.
At this point in the course, horses pass
through the tunnel. On their way back, they
go up and over the top.
It takes most combinations a couple of hours
to finish — the average pace is much slower
compared to yesterday’s race to achieve the
11 minutes 11 seconds optimum time. Today,
it’s predominantly walk and trot; cantering is
allowed in designated places only.
One prime spot on the route is by the lake
where a photographer is poised to capture
images of horses and riders with Burghley House
in the background — a lovely souvenir of the day.
A stroll along winners’ avenue, which is
aligned with plaques naming the victorious
horses and riders for each of Burghley Horse
Trials’ 57-year history, takes combinations to the
finish line. Smiles all round — and a medal
hanging around their neck to boot.
Passing the
enormous
egg boxes at
Clarence Court
A ride with
a view:
Burghley
House
HOW
HACKING
HELPS
‘It’s done wonders for
my confidence’
#Hack1000miles challenger and SEIB/
Your Horse competition winner Louise
Horwood piloted Spearmint (pictured
left), her partner of six years, around
Burghley. The duo was accompanied
by Maxine Ansell on Zorro.
Louise doesn’t have access to much
hacking at home and has suffered
confidence knockbacks, including
being hit by a car.
“Riding here has done wonders
for my confidence,” says Louise.
“Spearmint has COPD [chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease/equine
asthma] and I thought he might have
to retire, but we’re managing it.
“He still loves being ridden and was
quite excited to be at Burghley —
especially when we held back for a
picture and let another horse canter
on in front of us.”
Louise and Spearmint are now
well on their way to achieving the
300-mile milestone.
12 your horse november 2018 www.yourhorse.co.uk

Your horse’s
care
Why pigs
p68 are a secret
weapon against acorn
poisoning in horses
Helping you keep a happy, healthy horse
16
pages packed
with latest
advice from
vets and other
specialists
p72
p62
p78
In this section
Feeding buffet style
62
How a cafeteria system could keep
your horse healthier and happier.
Vet notes
68
Potential autumn health dangers and
how to reduce the risk of becoming a victim.
THE FOOD FACTORY
72
Anatomy series: exactly how your
horse’s complex digestive system works.
Colour coded
78
Why the colour of your horse’s coat
isn’t always just down to chance.
www.yourhorse.co.uk
november 2018 your horse 61

Your horse’s care
Self
Piles of hay, buckets of chaff, apples and
carrots — it’s time to let your horse help himself
We all know that
our horses are meant
to eat just about
constantly throughout
the day, but for many
this isn’t a reality.
Your horse’s evening haynet lasts just a few
hours, then he’s got nothing to munch on until
the next day. This isn’t healthy, but there’s a
workable alternative called cafeteria feeding,
as nutritionist Nikki Meggison explains.
62 your horse november 2018

FEEDING l the CAFETERIA SYSTEM
our expert
NIKKI MEGGISON is
an independent equine
nutritionist and has a
BSc (Hons) in equine
science. Find out more
at equinenutritionist.info.
PHOTOS: BAUER LIBRARY
Cafeteria system explained
“Cafeteria-style feeding isn’t complicated,”
explains Nikki. “It’s basically providing
your horse with a selection of forage
feeds to pick at, giving him some control
over what he eats and when. It works
equally well whether he’s in the stable
or out in the field.”
If your horse is turned out with others,
they’ll all need to be on the same system,
so check that the forages you’re feeding are
suitable for all, and always put out more
piles of forage (or buckets of processed
forages and soaked nuts) than there are
horses, otherwise they may tussle over it.
Spread out the feeds as much as you can
too, to give them plenty of room.
“Most horses in a small, established herd
will have no problems with this, although
for you it does make it more difficult to
know exactly what your horse has eaten
and how much,” says Nikki.
november 2018 your horse 63

Your horse’s care
Split up your horse’s
hay ration so he eats
some from the floor,
some from haynets
The cafeteria
system ia a
healthy way
to feed
“Succulents have a high water content, so
they add hydration into your horse’s diet”
The healthy
alternative
This feeding system will ensure your
horse is as healthy and happy as possible.
Horses need to eat for between 16 and
20 hours a day, but many currently don’t.
“Feeding in harmony with your horse’s
digestive system and ensuring fibre
requirements are met can control, prevent
and cure many dietary diseases — colic
and gastric ulcers, for instance,” says Nikki.
The benefits of ‘help yourself’
For horses that are stabled, particularly for
long periods, this method of feeding helps to
enrich their surroundings by encouraging
natural foraging.
“Rations can be split by feeding some hay
from the floor, as well as hanging two or
three haynets in different spots in the
stable,” says Nikki. “Not only does this help
to satisfy your horse’s natural instincts, it
extends his forage eating time as he’ll be
moving around while he eats — and that’s
what he’s designed to do.”
Feeding this way also helps the digestive
system to work as it should. (Read our
feature about the digestive system on p72).
Mix it up
Try feeding succulents too, such as carrots,
apples, turnips, beets and soaked sugar beet.
“They all have a high water content, so they
add hydration into your horse’s diet,” explains
Nikki. “They’ll also boost the appetite of
fussy eaters or those recovering from illness.
Don’t overdo it and cut them into a size and
shape your horse can tackle easily, then hide
them in his hay for him to find.”
Making a vegetable kebab is another good
way to feed succulents. Horses and ponies
love them. Veggie kebabs help to keep your
horse occupied, so they’re particularly useful
if he has to spend a lot of time stabled.
CORRECT RATIONS
n A horse should eat between 2%
and 2.5% of his bodyweight a day
in feed, depending on how hard
he is working.
n Establish his bodyweight first,
so that you can be accurate with
his ration.
n His body condition also determines
how much to feed.
n To work out the amount to feed a
500kg horse in hard work and ideal
body condition (so being fed 2.5%
of his bodyweight) the calculation
is: 500 ÷ 100 x 2.5 = 12.5.
n This horse should therefore eat
12.5kg dry matter per day, split into
80% forage and 20% hard feed.
n For advice specifically geared to
your horse, contact a nutritionist.
TOP TIP
If you worry your
horse will bolt his
hay too quickly, try
small-holed haynets
or use two haynets,
one inside the
other
Succulents like carrots
boost the appetite
of fussy eaters
64 your horse november 2018 www.yourhorse.co.uk

Proud sponsors of
Ask The Experts,
spillers-feeds.com
Ask The Experts
Email your question to stacey.carter@yourhorse.co.uk
How do horses
show affection?
— see page 106 Simple
solutions
for horse
owners
Meet this month’s panel of experts
Buying and
loaning p96
Rebecca Stojak is a
solicitor specialising in
legal matters for horse
owners. She’s been
giving legal advice to
horse owners for many
years. For more details
visit shma.co.uk.
Farriery p98
Simon Curtis FWCF,
BSc (Hons), HonAssoc
RCVS has been a
farrier for 42 years.
He's a former master
of the Worshipful
Company of Farriers
and chair of the Farriers
Registration Council.
Dressage p100
Lizzie Murray is an
international dressage
rider, BHSII and UKCC
level three coach. She
has trained many
combinations who've
gone on to compete at
Olympic, European and
World Championships.
Bonding p104
Sarah Clark BSc (Hons)
SEBC PTC is a qualified
and registered equine
behaviour consultant.
She is passionate
about helping owners
understand and
improve their horse’s
behaviour.
Got a
problem?
Need an answer?
We’ll know
someone who
can help
Welcome to our Ask
The Experts section.
In the next nine pages
we solve your horsey
dilemmas by taking
them to those in the
industry who know
best. This month our
panel answers your
burning questions
about dressage,
bonding, farriery and
your rights when
buying a horse.
photoS: BAUER LIBRARY, UNLESS stated
www.yourhorse.co.uk
november 2018 your horse 95

Ask The Experts
Your rights when buying: Rebecca Stojak says...
What are my rights?
Q
I’m on the hunt for a new horse.
Do my rights vary if I buy a horse
from a dealer or an individual?
Mary Grant, Essex
Rebecca says... If you buy a horse from an
individual, then the horse must match any
description given — ie, in the advert, written
messages or orally before you buy the horse.
If you buy a horse from a dealer, the
Consumer Rights Act 2015 (the “Act”) will
apply if you are what is classified by the Act
as a “consumer” — ie, buying the horse is
outside of your trade or business. Most
amateur riders will fall into this category.
If you buy a horse at an auction, you are
not a consumer and you don’t have the same
rights as you do against a dealer. If the dealer
denies that you’re a consumer, it will be for
them to prove that they are right.
The Consumer Rights Act
The Act confirms that you can reject the
horse (or possibly claim damages, depending
on the facts) if the horse is:
l1 Not of satisfactory quality (ie, the quality
that an average person would consider
satisfactory quality, taking into account the
price, description and other relevant
circumstances). If the defects have been
pointed out to you by the seller before the
purchase, or an examination (such as
vetting) should have revealed the defect, you
cannot rely on these defects to reject the
horse or claim damages.
l2 Not fit for the purpose you made the seller
aware of before you bought the horse, either
expressly or by your conduct. For example, if
you said you wanted the horse to get back into
showjumping, this means the horse would
need to be able to jump a course of jumps.
You will not be able to rely on fit for
purpose if it’s unreasonable for you to rely on
the judgment or skill of the seller, for
example if you took your trainer with you or
you relied on a vetting.
l3 Not as described — ie, in the advert, in
conversations or in correspondence before
you bought the horse.
If he’s not quite right
If the horse isn’t right (for the reasons set out
above), you can reject it within 30 days of
buying the horse and get a full refund. This
is the short-term right to reject.
After the 30-day period has expired, the
trader has one chance to repair (for example
re-school) or replace (if, say, the dealer has
other suitable horses at their yard). If repair
or replacement are impossible, you would
have the right to a price reduction, or final
right to reject the horse for a full refund.
For the first six months, the burden of
proof is on the seller — ie, they must show
that the horse was of satisfactory quality and
fit for purpose. After six months, it’s for the
buyer to prove the faults were there.
Don’t panic!
It’s not uncommon to buy a horse
and feel like it’s not working out —
it happens to the best of us. If you
have a problem with the horse, it’s
important to act as soon as possible.
I recommend that you get a
contract of sale and receipt, and also
keep copies of the initial advert and
all correspondence until you know
you are 100% happy with the horse.
Finding the perfect
horse can be tough.
Make sure you know
your rights when buying
Taking a
tumble
Q
When trying out horses
to buy, what are the
implications if I fall off
while riding on the seller’s
yard? Should I take out extra
insurance to cover myself?
Bailey Temple, Reading
96 your horse november 2018
www.yourhorse.co.uk

Is your horse on a
calorie-restricted
diet? See p106
Proud sponsors of Ask The Experts, spillers-feeds.com
Riding a new
horse for the
first time comes
with its risks
Rebecca says... It very much depends
why you fell off the horse in the first
place. For example, if you fell off
because you are an inexperienced rider
and could not cope with the level of
horse that you went to try, then it’s
unlikely that the horse’s owner would
be 100% responsible (“liable”).
However, if you fell off because the
horse bolted or was rearing and
bucking, it’s likely the horse’s owner
would potentially be liable for any
injury or damage that was caused.
Ideally, the horse’s owner should be
insured against any potential claims.
However, it is not a legal requirement
that a horse is insured.
I would advise that you do take out
extra insurance or notify your insurance
company to ensure you are personally
insured for riding someone else’s horse
in case you fall off and hurt yourself.
n✓Your Horse’s tip…
Always take a friend or family member with
you when you try a new horse. Not only will
they spot things if you happen to fall head
over heels quite quickly, but having another
person by your side if the seller is being a
little pushy, or you haven’t bought a horse
before, will help you feel more confident.
www.yourhorse.co.uk
november 2018 your horse 97

Ask The Experts
farriery: Simon Curtis says...
A flat-footed
horse may
benefit from
having pads
fitted
Wet weather
doesn’t do
hooves any
favours
Wet weather worries
Q
What can I do to help
prepare my horse’s feet for
autumn's wetter weather?
Nina Wolf, London
Simon says... Hooves don't like sudden
changes in hydration. Cracks appear
during abrupt dry spells and wet periods
increase shoe loss. The hoof is waterproof
to some extent, with the outer hoof wall
full of tightly packed horn tubules, which
are water resistant. There’s also an outer
varnish called the stratum externum,
which descends about halfway down
the hoof. However, hooves do appear to
soften in continually wet weather and
lose some of their strength.
Maximising protection
The best bedding for wet hooves is
wood shavings, which dries the hooves
quickly and seems to produce stronger
hooves. Many topical treatments are not
98 your horse november 2018
scientifically proven, but lanolin-based
products appear to protect hooves and
improve their external quality.
Another useful product is Keratex
Hoof Hardener, which contains formalin.
Formalin binds keratin proteins — the
main elements of hoof and skin. It's
particularly good to use after shoeing
and/or trimming, when the natural
veneer of the hoof has been removed.
Be wise
Good management of
your horse’s feet reduces the
environmental impact on
hooves. They should regularly
be cleaned and picked out, so
that mud isn't caked onto the
wall, sole or frog. Do this
every time you bring him
in from the field
Flat foot plight
Q
My horse is flat-footed and my
farrier has suggested taking his
shoes off. How does this help?
Bethany Jackson, Bristol
Simon says... Removing shoes from horses
with flat feet may help because it re-engages
the hoof with the ground. With each step,
your horse’s weight makes the pastern rotate
backwards and sink into the hoof. If the frog
has ground contact, then these forces
equalise and the hoof capsule flexes healthily.
However, having a horse’s shoes removed
may not be the most practical solution, unless
he didn’t need shoes in the first place. The
primary function of shoes is to protect the
hooves from excessive wear, and also to
provide grip and purchase. If your horse
doesn't need shoes to perform at the level
required of him, then remove them, but still
have your farrier give the feet a regular trim.
The farrier’s solution
There are durable farriery solutions to flat
feet. The aim must be to re-engage the frog
so that the foot functions close to normal.
Pads have a synthetic frog in their surface
that is hollow and filled with impression
material. Your farrier will first trim the hoof
to normal proportions, getting the heels back
so that loading is more even across the base
of the foot. The shoe is then fitted for size
and shape and the pad attached.
Next the impression material is mixed,
placed on the foot and the shoe and pad
nailed over it. Excess impression material is
then squeezed out. Once set, the material is
highly elastic — a bit like a child’s 'superball'.
Pads are very robust and can usually be
refitted several times. Your horse does not
have to be permanently shod in this way, but
it may take between six and 12 months
before a significant improvement is seen.
www.yourhorse.co.uk

Take five with
Deborah Meaden
The business entrepreneur, famed for her sassy attitude in Dragon’s Den, talks about
her favourite horsey event, how she’d let Valegro ‘go feral’ and business success
Where did your love of horses come from?
I’ve no idea. None of my family were horsey but I loved
them from very early on. I remember having a hobby
horse made of cardboard, but the bug really caught hold
when I was seven and started helping out with pony
rides on Minehead seafront.
How many horses do you have now?
Between us, my sister Gail and I have 14 horses. Four of
these are ridden — two of mine and two of Gail’s. They’re
all rescued, mostly ex-racehorses, My two mares, Beau
and Summer, were terribly mareish when I got them
and, having only had geldings in the past, I struggled a
bit. Now we’ve come to an understanding and all is OK.
I get to ride at least four times a week.
Do you compete?
No, we just hack around the beautiful Somerset
countryside. I like to lose myself on the hacks and let my
head be full of things other than business.
Which horse-related product do you use the most?
Right now, it’s copious amounts of fly spray and sweat
scrapers because I’m forever washing the horses off to
cool them down. I try not to rug the retired horses as I
like them to be as natural as possible, but I’ve had to give
in and put fly rugs on at times, as they’re pestered.
Do you have a favourite equine event?
I do and it’s Horse of the Year Show. I think it’s because it
was on TV when I was a child and I really looked forward
to it. I’ve visited the show lots of times and it still gives me
tingles — I only have to hear the music and I’m excited.
“I’ve got
the horses
I’d most
like to own.
There’s
no horse in
the world
that’s as
special as
my lot”
Deborah is
a passionate
supporter of
horse charity
Brooke. Visit
thebrooke.org
for information
about its work.
Deborah’s horses
are all rescued
and mostly
ex-racehorses
Which horse would you most like to own?
I’ve got the horses I’d most like to own. All mine found
me — most were about to be destroyed and I’d get a call
asking if I would have them. I couldn’t say no. There’s
no horse in the world that’s as special as my lot. If I had
Valegro I’d ruin him anyway — he’d be out in a field
doing what he likes. I’d turn him feral.
How do you take your tea?
Loose tea, because T-bags contain plastic. Made in a glass
teapot with a dash of oat milk as I’m trying to cut down
on dairy. I drink out of a mug — a cup isn’t big enough.
What’s the most successful business you’ve
supported through Dragon’s Den?
It depends how you measure success. If you’re talking
about making money, then it would be Gripit Fixings.
It was started by a 13-year-old, supported by his grandad.
He came into the Den at 18, he’s now 21 and we’re in
32 countries, with 5,000 stores in the UK.
But it’s not all about money. Good Bubble makes
natural bath and hair products for children and is hugely
successful. We had the chance to break into China, but
this would have meant them being tested on animals, so
we refused — I have to sleep at night. Excitingly, we’ve
had reports from parents that the products help with
eczema, so we’re entering clinical trials right now.
Flats or high heels?
Both. Flats at home and beautiful high-heeled shoes
when I’m working or at an event. I straddle two worlds
with this. I’ve still got my riding boots and breeches on
now, even though it’s hours since I dismounted.
PHOto: Charles Glover
130 your horse november 2018 www.yourhorse.co.uk