Your Horse

ANYONE WHO HAS been involved with horses for several years is likely to have experienced a near miss on the roads, especially if they hack out regularly. I have certainly had my fair share of unwanted close encounters with vehicles, and the worst occ

Western rider Emma Chapman: We're always told not to look down when we're riding, but as humans we like to seewhat's happening. That's when groundwork is great because you can see what the horse is doing and know where his head or feet are, page 28 V

Leicestershire Police has recruited a new team of volunteers on horseback to spot and report crime in the countryside. Twenty riders have volunteered to become the ‘eyes and the ears’ of the force to protect rural communities while out riding. They w

The majority of livery yard owners would support the licensing of yards and similar equestrian establishments, according to a recent survey conducted by SEIB Insurance Brokers Ltd and LiveryList. Of the 420 survey respondents, almost 60% said that th

June and her two companions were brought back to the yard, in the heart of the Kent countryside, where the team set about nursing them back to health. Jo Considine from the charity said: “June was so emaciated that she spent time living in our back g

The opportunities for children to learn to ride and benefit from the emotional support that horses provide has nosedived as a result of spiralling living costs and a lack of staff. The British Horse Society (BHS) has revealed that at least 75% of rid

Most riders have some special Christmas traditions or seasonal celebrations that they follow every year. Some head out for a Christmas morning ride or join a Boxing Day hunt, while for others the festive season is a time for friends and family and so

During the festive period Kirsty Davies takes on the role of Christmas ‘postwoman’ and hand delivers her cards. “I started delivering Christmas cards when I was 10 years old and got my first pony, Jake. My mum didn't want to pay for stamps for local

HACK 1000 MILES

When hacking, a whip can perform a role unrelated to riding, according to #Hack1000Miles stalwart Rosie Martin. “I find a whip useful for opening and closing gates, and moving undergrowth and tree branches out of the way of my face while hacking out,

The term social licence comes from the mining industry and describes the ongoing acceptance of a company or industry's practices and procedures by its employees, stakeholders and the general public. In reference to horse riding, social licence descri

All British horse sport bodies are examining their rules to see if they can make welfare improvements. ■ Only cushion-type padded whips are allowed in British Showjumping competitions, in British Riding Clubs (BRC) jumping competitions and the jumpin

How I make it work: My groom, my husband and my mother all muck in and help The former insurance industry high-fiyer discusses her myriad horses, her breeding venture and her latest job at the company which manages the UK's Central Equine Database I'

RHEA FREEMAN is a social media expert and Meta lead trainer who is also an award-winning PR adviser. She works with equestrian brands, associations, federations and riders, and also guest lectures at two universities. Rhea produces an awardwinning we

My husband Steve's gentle giant Clydesdale is called Clyde. He's 17 years old and stands at 18.2hh. We bought Clyde in February and he not only brings much happiness to our family, but he and Steve have a great bond together. In fact, Clyde has helpe

In Western there are three different leg positions and each controls a different part of the horse. Think of it as each being a button on a TV remote control that changes the channel. ■ Position 1: Slightly further forward than where your leg natural

“In this session Tegan has learned how tomanage a hot horse inaway that puts his energy to good use by utilising lateral work to increase suppleness,” says Alex. “The more you can get your horse to accept the aids and work over his back, the more rel

Since being diagnosed with kissing spines at the end of 2021, Bronia Hill's 13-year-old eventer, Albert, has been on a rollercoaster road to recovery, but chiropractic treatments have played a key part in his comeback. “I know from my own experience

There are three words that are often talked about in relation to chiropractic that are less likely to be used in other therapies… ■ Restriction ■ Adjustment ■ Thrust “A restriction is where we can feel that themovement isn't within the normal range.

Lisa Ebdy's French trotter gelding, Chester, first saw animal chiropractor Gill Maybury in 2019 after he tried to avoid a puddle and slipped up a bank, “nearly doing the splits”. He was 19 at the time and enjoying a quieter life hacking and doing low

■ Poor performance. This might mean that the horse is reluctant towork, or simply not quite performing as well as he did before, perhaps withmore faults occurring during a competitive showjumping round. Out hacking he may be slower when going down hi

Lucinda Ticehurst's horse, West Cork Flash, was a racehorse until the age of 13. Originally racing under rules, Lucinda purchased him as a schoolmaster point-to-pointer and they enjoyed three years racing together. After Flash had been retired from r

A group of researchers at Michigan State University, USA, have identified abnormalities in the brain of horses with shivers. They compared horses with shivers to normal horses and showed that the shiverers had suffered from a deterioration of cells w

Spillers is inviting owners of overweight horses and ponies to join its Spillers Slimmers'Club for support, advice and encouragement to help keep their horse or pony at a healthyweight. This motivating and friendly club provides practical support and

Q I fell in love with Icelandic horses while on holiday in Iceland a couple of years ago and have been thinking about buying one. How difficult are they to source in the UK, and where should I start to look? Heather Davies, Co Antrim Jemimah says: Th

Q My cob is prone to putting on weight, but she tends to lack energy. What sort of feed could I consider inorder to give her extra sparkle without the calories? Ruth Johnson, Hampshire Emma says: First you need to be sure that your cob's current diet

EDITORIAL Seventeen Hands Media Ltd Editor: Julie Harding Email: julie.harding@kelsey.co.uk Freelance Sub Editor: Ellie Hughes Freelance Gear Editor: Allison Lowther Freelance Content Producer: Mel Beale Design: Marisa Bailey ADVERTISING & CREATIVE S