YH451-minimag

MAy 2019 Your Horse ISSUE 451
DO SOMETHING INCREDIBLE THIS YEAR...
✓
£4.25
May 2019
(Issue 451)
BE CONFIDENT
✓
FEEL HAPPIER
✓
GROW YOUR BOND
The relaunch
n #HACK1000MILES: THE RELAUNCH n SPRING PRODUCT GUIDE n BANDAGING n CROSS-COUNTRY n GRIDWORK n VET: PENETRATION INJURIES
For people with a passion for horses
Spooky
horse?
Bandaging
skills
Step-by-step
guide from
Valegro’s groom
Alan Davies
12-page special
Care-free
crosscountry
n Hone your ‘What if?’ position
+ more from Mary King, Lucinda Green & Christopher Bartle
FREE
Matchy
matchy
Choosing the best
colour to suit
your horse
The little part of his
brain that triggers
big reactions grids
to slow
n The big three questions solved
Exclusive
32-page
special
inside >>
7
down a
speedy
jumper
Is sheath
cleaning
important?
www.yourhorse.co.uk

Set yourself an epic cha lenge for 2018 and #hack1000miles — every one
4 miles
84
bridleway,
Cumbria
17
A lap of
the M25
137
space in
1 second
205
Bridleway
350
Furthest
anyone has
eve run
without
sleeping
373
The height
of Hubble
above Earth
400
Combined
length of
bridleways
on Exmoor
500
The total
mileage of
the North
York Moors
bridleways
559
Half way
acro s the
600
in Brecon
Beacons
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
10
120
130
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460
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510
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830
840
850
860
870
880
890
910
920
930
940
950
960
970
980
990
621
700
746
Length
of Welsh
coastline
850
150 times
as ta l as
874
O’Groats
by car
932
Desert
984
May
Contents
38
Back to school:
make your pre-comp
cross-country
session count with
Lucinda Green
love
horses?
Subscribe to
Your Horse from
only £2.30
a month!
See page 92
REGULARS
6 Your Horse challenges you…
to joust!
8 Horse talk All the latest in the
equine world
10 #Hack1000Miles Make 2019 the
year you join our fun challenge
18 Horses around the world
The Fjord
24 Work/horse balance
The emergency medical technician
32 Your say You get in touch
34 Send a selfie You share your pics
130 Take Five with TV presenter Lee
McKenzie
Your horse’s
TRAINING
4 your horse may 2019
XC
38 Lucinda Green The three
foundations needed to boost
your cross-country confidence
44 Christopher Bartle Perfect a
secure cross-country position for
those ‘What if?’ moments
48 Mary King Two exercises to
improve you and your horse’s
accuracy
special
52 Fast and furious? Event rider
Victoria Bax shows how grid work can
help a horse who rushes his fences
58 30-minute workout Improve your
horse’s straightness and balance
60 Finishing touches Dressage star
Charlie Hutton helps a reader fine-tune
her test riding to earn better marks
features
20 Interview Eventer Neil Fox talks
openly about his personal battle with
depression and anxiety
26 Career swap Horses or desk job?
Five grooms reveal all
26
It’s
a
groom’s
game — or is it?
Your horse’s
CARE
70 Spooking demystified The
neurological reason for your horse’s
spooky behaviour
76 Well wrapped A step-by-step
guide to bandaging with the master,
Alan Davies
80 Vet notes The dos and don’ts of
dealing with penetration injuries
84 Vaccinations Why it’s crucial to
ensure your horse is protected
86 Funny bones Discover the
fascinating bone structure of your
horse’s hard-working limbs
to be Won in this issue
67 An outfit from Dublin Clothing
91 Spring clothing from Covalliero
109 Horse care products, boots and more
70
76
38
On the cover
10
120
52
102
www.yourhorse.co.uk
NAME
can do it, including you! You’ l be joining thousands of other Your Horse
readers on an exciting ques to explore the English countryside, ge to
know your horse, improve your confidence and, most importantly, have fun.
As you clock up the miles, track your progress by fi ling in the chart below.
Sign up too at hack1000miles.co.uk for exclusive newsletters, sponsor
offers and competitions — more on that over the page.
WEEK 1 WEEK 1
WEEK 1
WEEK 1
M T W T F S S TOTAL M T W T F S S TOTAL
WEEK 2 WEEK 2
WEEK 3 WEEK 3
WEEK 4 WEEK 4
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
WEEK 1
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
WEEK 1
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
WEEK 1
HACKING TOTAL HACKING TOTAL
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
Do something
amazing in
2019...
Dream of being a happier, fitter, more confident
you? Then now’s the perfect time to join
#Hack1000Miles. Inside this relaunch issue:
p10 Meet the family!
PROGRESS
TRACKER 2019
HACKING TOTAL
MILES MILES
MILES
HACKING TOTAL
MILES
HACKING TOTAL
MILES
HACKING TOTAL
MILES
HACKING TOTAL
MILES
START DATE / / 2019 END DATE / / 2020
WEEK 1
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
WEEK 1
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
WEEK 1
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
WEEK 1
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
WEEK 1
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
HACKING TOTAL
MILES
HACKING TOTAL
MILES
HACKING TOTAL
MILES
HACKING TOTAL
MILES
HACKING TOTAL
Sponsored by
MILES
You’ve hacked this far
Length of the
Badminton
cro s-country
course
Eden Va ley
Loops
How far you
travel through
Length of
the Pennine
Sahara Desert
The miles of
bridlepaths
National Park
Length of the
Mongol Derby
Furthest a
lost dog has
been found
from home
Mount Everest
Land’s End
to John
100
Cro sing of
the Gobi
London to Lisbon
200
YOU
300
400
500
p12 ‘It’s changed our lives’
— testimonials
p14 NEW official clothing
& goodies
p15 NEW column
p16 How to get involved
Plus, don’t miss your
FREE progress tracker
bagged with this issue!
600
Fill
me
in
700
800
900
1000
112
ask The
experts
96 Flatwork Relaxing a hot horse
• Teaching flying changes
98 Spring nutrition Avoiding grassy
colic • Field maintenance
100 Boots and bandages Helping
a horse who overreaches • When
to use exercise bandages • Picking
the right boots
102 Sheath cleaning Safe sheath
cleaning • Symptoms of a dirty sheath
• What are beans? • How often does
his sheath need cleaning?
104 Advice from Spillers Why
Spillers Senior Mash proved a real hit
with one golden oldie
Your horse’s
GEAR and yours
112 What’s new? The latest products
to hit the shops this month
114 Big test Lightweight turnout rugs
118 On trend Sports bras that support
you in all the right places
120 Buyer’s guide On trend colour
coordinated accessories for your horse
124 Lungeing The benefits of using a
Lungi Bungi
120
may 2019 your horse 5

Anna works 12-hour
shifts attending
emergency calls —
“It can be tough”
WE
NEED
YOU!
Have you got a demanding job and would be
perfect for this page? Tell us more by emailing
stephanie.anthony@bauermedia.co.uk
Work
horse
balance
Anna keeps Teddy
on DIY livery —
“I get up at 4.40am
to be at the
yard by 5.30”
Anna
Hales
Emergency medical technician
How I make it work: early
starts, a supportive partner
and a helpful livery yard
All photos: Anna Hales
Anna Hales, 34, is a full-time emergency
medical technician. She lives near Aylsham
in Norfolk with her partner Dan and is
based at Cromer ambulance station. She
has a rescue cob called Teddy on loan
from Redwings Horse Sanctuary.
My job…
I’ve been an emergency medical technician
(EMT) on a frontline ambulance for the East
of England Ambulance Service for four years.
I’m part of a two-person crew alongside
other ambulance clinicians, including
paramedics, emergency care
assistants and other EMTs. Our roles
all vary slightly, but we attend the
same kind of work. We do 12-hour
shifts, attending emergency calls and
providing pre-hospital care. This
ranges from major traumatic injuries
and cardiac arrests through to mental
health crises, social care problems
and everything imaginable in between.
How I got the job…
I’ve always had an interest in the emergency
services, so when a firefighter friend of mine
told me the ambulance service was
recruiting, I applied. I was feeling unfulfilled
in my job as a test analyst for an insurance
company. Following a year of medicals,
advanced driving training and assessments,
clinical training and appraisals, essays,
exams, plus hundreds of hours signed off on
the road, I finally qualified as an EMT.
It isn’t easy…
The 12-hour shifts are a mix of days and
nights and can be tough, both physically and
mentally. Late finishes are common, meal
breaks are limited to 30 minutes per shift
and working a 60- or 70-hour week is routine.
I never know what to expect. I could be
arranging social services referrals for a
“The 12-hour shifts are a
mix of days and nights and can
be tough. Working a 60- or
70-hour week is routine”
dementia patient one minute and performing
CPR on a heart attack patient the next.
How I cope…
I’ve become good at putting my emotions to
one side to deal with stressful situations. It’s
important to stay calm and in control at all
times, so that I do what’s right for the patient.
It’s worthwhile, knowing I’ve made a
difference to someone’s day, maybe even life.
I work with an incredible bunch of people
and we all look out for each other. There’s a
reason we call ourselves the green family!
My horse…
Working long hours means I tend to get
several rest days in a row. That’s when I
devote my time to Teddy, who I’ve had on
loan from Redwings Horse Sanctuary for
over three years. Luckily, he’s a lowmaintenance
sort who doesn’t care if he’s
first in or last out and copes well with my
sporadic routines.
Teddy is a 14.1hh, 12-year-old cob
rescued from the high-profile
Amersham case in 2008. He’s kept
on DIY livery at a yard that’s a
15-minute drive from my house.
How it all started…
I don’t come from a horsey family,
but I became interested in horses
shortly after losing my mum to cancer. I
think horses became my escape from grief.
When we went on family holidays to Great
Yarmouth, there were pony rides on the
seafront. My nan would give me £2 and I’d
be gone for a few hours. I started having
riding lessons when I was seven and since
then, I’ve begged and borrowed rides, shares
and loans. I was the local horse pest who
knocked on the door of anyone I saw riding,
the back-up plan
If I hadn’t been
an EMT…
I would probably have returned
to working with horses — I
started my career as a groom.
I’d possibly have trained as an
equine veterinary nurse or an
equine sports massage therapist
begging to help out. Because of this I’ve
ridden a variety of horses, including learning
western riding on an Anglo Arab barrel racer.
My typical working day…
I get up at 4.40am and I’m at the yard by
5.30am. I have 20 minutes to turn out, muck
out and get feeds, nets and water ready for
coming in. As my finish times aren’t
guaranteed, my partner Dan will often bring
Teddy in after work and there are also lovely
people at the yard who help out.
It’s hard to make plans when shifts can
last up to 16 hours. If I’m on nights, I’ll do all
my jobs straight after the shift and return
before work to bring Teddy in. He lives out in
summer, which takes some of the pressure off.
How I de-stress…
Due to the nature of my job, it’s important to
have interests outside work to help de-stress.
Other than horses, I enjoy keeping active in
the gym, which keeps me strong for the
physical demands of work. I also enjoy
walking and hiking. I’ve set myself a goal to
climb a mountain — although which one and
when is still to be decided.
Next Month The busy deputy head
teacher and mum of two with a variety
of rescue animals.
24 your horse May 2019 www.yourhorse.co.uk
www.yourhorse.co.uk May 2019 your horse 25

Your horse’s training
EXPERT WORKOUT l straight & SUPPLE
On the
straight
and
narrow
MEET THE EXPERT
Caroline Harris is an
international event rider who
started her career under the
mentorship of Olympic medallist
Sam Griffiths. Last season she
produced top 10 finishes
at both CIC3* and CCI2* level
at Ballindenisk. Her top horses
going into the 2019 season
include Billy Bumble and
Woodlands Springtime.
top tip
Take your time. Prepare
for every transition carefully
and when you ask for canter
transitions, make sure your horse
is straight through the shoulder
and not falling in or out. When
riding the 10m circle in trot,
keep your horse’s frame up
so he can engage
behind.
3o
mins
Expert
wo kout
What you'll learn:
l How to keep your horse straight
and evenly balanced
l Why you should ride with a
deep seat and a soft arm
Ensuring your horse is straight through
his body is vital for a strong and balanced
athlete, says event rider Caroline Harris
Whether your
horse is a four-star
eventer or weekend
happy hacker, it’s
important that he is straight through
his body and not falling in or out
through the shoulder. Being onesided
can cause a multitude of
issues, including problems with
bending and suppleness, pain and
injury. This is why it’s important
to perform exercises equally on
both reins and ensure your
horse is seen regularly by a
physiotherapist to be certain
he’s in good physical health.
The following exercises are not
only beneficial for keeping your
horse straight, supple and
responsive to the rider’s aids, but
they’re also good for testing the
rider’s ability to stay soft in the
arm without tension and to
make sure you are riding the
horse to both reins evenly.
15 Exercise 1
mins
Transitions on circles
help to gain your horse’s attention
and will help to get his shoulders up
and straight in front of you. They’re
also brilliant for getting a horse
listening to your aids.
l1 Ride a 20m circle on the left rein
in trot at one end of the arena (see
10m
20m
diagram below). When you cross the
centre line in the middle of the school,
ride a 10m circle to the right in trot.
l2 Once you’ve completed this circle,
rejoin the 20m circle on the left rein,
then ask for a canter transition left.
l3 Ride the 20m circle in canter and
when you approach the centre line at
the middle of the school, ask for a
trot transition, then continue on to
your 10m circle right.
l4 Again, once you have finished the
10m circle, carry on to the 20m left
circle and transition to canter.
l5 Continue riding the exercise until
your transitions up and down are
smooth, then repeat on the other rein.
Focus on the shape of the circles. On
the 10m circle, make sure you keep
your horse’s shoulders and frame up.
15 Exercise 2
mins
For the more experienced
horse, leg-yield in canter is a great
exercise for getting him to sit and be
more engaged in the canter, as well
as developing straightness.
l1 Pick up canter on either rein.
l2 When you canter out of the
corner, take a little outside flexion
and put your outside leg back, asking
your horse to bring his quarters in.
In this position, leg-yield down the
long side. Make sure his neck is soft
and he’s sitting on the hindleg.
l3 Straighten the hindquarters before
the corner and make sure your horse
is bending around your inside leg.
l4 When you leave the second
corner, again take outside flexion and
ask the horse to leg-yield in canter,
making sure he is sitting behind and
soft in the neck.
l5 This is a difficult exercise, so don’t
push your horse too much, too soon.
Aim to reach the three-quarter line
first and then, as he finds the exercise
easier, aim for the centre line. Repeat
this exercise a few times, then allow
your horse to stretch out in canter
before repeating on the other rein.
l6 Make sure you sit deep into the
saddle with a soft arm. This will make
sure your horse is really sitting on his
hocks and the soft arm keeps the
neck soft and prevents tension.
GET your free audio download!
To help you get the most from our expert workout, each month
we create an exclusive audio download just for you. Visit
yourhorse.co.uk/carolineharris to download this month’s audio lesson.
MAIN IMAGE: Bauer library; inset: ANGUS MURRAY
58 your horse May 2019
May 2019 your horse 59

Your horse’s GEAR
lungeing aids l Lungi Bungi
Developing
a consistent
contact
Let the clever Lungi Bungi
help establish that elastic
contact we’re all striving to
achieve, revealing a more
relaxed and supple horse
A
good contact isn’t
just about the mouth, but
involves the whole of your
horse working forwards into
the bridle so he’s truly
connected. Achieving that soft, steady
connection between your hand and your
horse’s mouth takes time to train and some
horses can be a little shy to take a contact.
Some riders may not fully understand
what an elastic contact feels like. What’s
important is contact shouldn’t be achieved
through a backward action of the hands; it
should result in your horse working through
from behind with a pushing hindleg.
If your horse doesn’t fully understand
what you’re asking, then showing him what
you’re after on the lunge can help him get the
idea without you on board. This is where the
simple yet effective Lungi Bungi is useful.
How does it work?
What is it?
The Lungi Bungi was designed and
developed by event riders Lucinda and
Clayton Fredericks. It encourages your
horse to accept the bit while you’re
lungeing — it can also be used for
riding and polework.
“This simple and tidy aid can really
help a lot of horses,” explains Lucinda.
“It’s non-invasive and teaches your
horse to go into the contact.”
The Lungi Bungi consists of a short
strap called an equaliser, which attaches
to the bit rings, and an adjustable
elasticated bungi cord that passes
through the equaliser and attaches to
D-rings on your saddle or roller.
The benefits
n Develops a light and even contact
n Improves suppleness through your
horse’s jaw, poll and back
n Develops topline muscle
How to fit it
When fitted and
used correctly, a
Lungi Bungi helps
teach your horse to
work into a contact
How to work your horse in a Lungi Bungi
The Lungi Bungi works by giving your
horse an elastic contact to work into.
Because the bungi is elastic, the pressure
isn’t fixed, so it encourages your horse to
accept and work into the contact.
Once your horse is on the contact, the
Lungi Bungi then encourages relaxation.
This helps to develop softness through his
jaw and poll, allowing him to use his back
muscles and engage his quarters correctly.
The clever thing about the Lungi Bungi
is that even if your horse has a tendency to
lean on one side more than the other, the
even give in the elastic stops him from
doing it. In effect, the Lungi Bungi mimics
a perfect pair of hands and encourages
your horse to take an equal contact.
Wherever your horse’s head is, the
Lungi Bungi will be equal as it’s not fixed
and doesn’t force your horse to lower
his head.
The Lungi
Bungi is quick
and easy to fit
The Lungi Bungi is simple to fit. Clip
the equaliser (a nylon strap with a
clip at each end and a central fixed
ring at the centre) to each side of the
bit, thread the elastic cord through
the central fixed ring and attach at
either end by passing it through the
D-rings on your saddle or roller. Loop
the Lungi Bungi back onto itself and
clip onto the loosest ring. Repeat this
on the other side.
You can gradually adjust the tension
as your horse warms up — there are
three D-ring adjustments that let you
lengthen or shorten the elastic cord.
If your lunge roller has a number of
D-rings, you also have the option to
fit the Lungi Bungi low down near
your horse’s elbow, or up near the
withers, depending on your horse’s
level of training.
Lucinda suggests passing
the lunge line through the
roller to help create bend
As with any lungeing aid, it’s
important your horse is working
forwards — pushing forwards into
the bridle. Start with the Lungi
Bungi on the loosest setting. As
your horse gets used to it, you
can adjust it so it’s shorter.
Lucinda suggests that rather
than lungeing off a cavesson, you
attach the lunge line to the bit
ring, then take it across and
through the roller.
“I find that in this position you
can encourage your horse to bend
a little, which has a more positive
effect on your horse’s way of
going,” Lucinda explains.
Buy at lucindafredericks.com
n Next month: The Pessoa
124 your horse May 2019 www.yourhorse.co.uk
www.yourhorse.co.uk
May 2019 your horse 125

Take five with
Lee McKenzie
The TV presenter and journalist best known for Formula One talks Olympia,
plans for getting a dog and riding with Michael Schumacher in Switzerland
Lee McKenzie with
Paralympic dressage
rider Natasha
Baker in Rio
PHOto: Lee McKenzie
How did you get into horses?
My mum used to ride and took my brother Grant and I
for lessons. Grant was — and still is — much better than
me. My brother and his partner have dressage horses,
eventers and they take breakers and schoolers.
Do you still ride?
Yes, whenever I can at home and if I can build it into a
work trip, I will. When I presented the F1 in Austin, Texas,
I added on a trip to a ranch.
Have you ever owned a horse?
My first pony was Woody, a 13.2hh Welsh section B. Then I
had a 15.2hh Thoroughbred called Rowan. My family has
always had horses. I’m also an ambassador for the Jockey
Club Cheltenham and South West Syndicate and a patron
of World Horse Welfare, so horses are a big part of my life.
How did you get into journalism?
My father was a Fleet Street journalist, so I used to go to a
lot of events with him as a child. I then started writing
about rugby and had an equestrian column in the Ayrshire
Post from the age of 15.
What is a personal highlight of your career?
I love the events I cover for both the BBC and Channel 4.
“I got
to ride
Valegro
last year,
which was
such a
treat”
Lee McKenzie
is a patron of
World Horse
Welfare. Find
out more at
worldhorse
welfare.org.
Wimbledon, the Olympics and Paralympics are all very
special, as is Formula One (F1) and rugby. I particularly
loved covering the equestrian disciplines in Rio.
Olympia is my perfect run-up to Christmas — we used
to go as a whole family.
What did you want to be when you were younger?
I always wanted to be a journalist.
Do you have any pets?
Not at the moment, but I’ve just finished doing F1 and
that involves lots of travel. I’m hoping to get a dog soon.
Gin or prosecco?
Never Prosecco. Mostly gin!
What’s your most memorable riding moment?
Competing in Switzerland with [retired F1 racing driver]
Michael Schumacher. We were at his ranch and he
challenged me to learn reining. I also got to ride Valegro
last year, which was such a treat, thanks to my good
friend Carl Hester.
What is your favourite film?
I love all Christmas films. I’m also a big fan of the Harry
Potter series.
130 your horse may 2019
www.yourhorse.co.uk