Opinion

Good grooms who are willing to work and who really care about horses have become like unicorns. What has caused this worldwide shortage of grooms, across the disciplines?

One factor is that competitions have popped up all over the world so one week horses need to be in Hong Kong, the next they need to be in Calgary. It’s impossible for one groom to be in all these places, so with the demanding show schedule of some top riders, there has been an ever-increasing demand for freelance grooms to help accommodate their horses’ needs as they follow the tours.

They get paid a hefty daily rate, travel to many chic destinations, then don’t need to work a good part of the year so take some downtime. They have half the amount of work but get paid the same. Who wouldn’t want to do that?

We also have a growing number of wealthy amateurs in showjumping who offer high-paid grooming positions but less work than most professional working stables. Experienced grooms who have paid their dues certainly deserve to get paid well, having put a lot of sweat and hours into the job, but not all grooms deserve these high-end jobs.

The younger generation of grooms seem to think they deserve these high-paying jobs without putting in the time. Unfortunately, these particular jobs have raised the base salary in normal working stables. There are unqualified grooms wanting to work for above their pay grade, but employers don’t want to pay for a service they don’t get.

Escalating problem

Times are changing and the economics of many countries are improving, giving opportunities in new industries to many people. Life as a groom can be exciting because of the opportunity to travel, but it is tough physical labour. Younger generations with better opportunities simply take different paths rather than groom horses.

Over the years, small family breeding operations have fallen by the wayside because costs have increased above their means. These types of places throughout the world were full of kids who were born and raised around horses — they were true horse people. These families were a great source of grooms, but we are losing that.

With economies improving, there are also more people who can afford horses. This then adds to a higher demand for grooms and therefore the problem escalates.

Teach the fundamentals

Our sport has been so commercialised that we haven’t spent enough time teaching the younger generations enough about proper horsemanship. Many grooms once rode as kids, but perhaps weren’t talented enough as riders, so the one way for them to stay with horses was to become a groom.

Trainers simply don’t take the time to teach the fundamentals of proper horsecare any more, they only teach riding. I see it over and over again with young grooms who can ride pretty well, but have no idea how to make a horse look good because they were never taught.

What we need urgently is qualified grooms who are willing to put in the necessary hours to make the money they deserve.

Ref Horse & Hound; 24 May 2018

Take a virtual walk around the 90cm cross-country course at the 2018 H&H Festival of Eventing.

The cross-country of this three-day unaffiliated event takes place on Sunday (27 May).

Fence 1 (orange numbers)

Fence 2

Fence 3

Fence 4a

Fence 4b

Fence 5a

Fence 5b

Fence 6

Fence 7

Fence 8

Fence 9a

Fence 9b

Fence 10

Fence 11

Fence 12a

Fence 12b

Fence 13

Fence 14

Fence 15a

Fence 15b

Fence 16a

Fence 16b

Fence 17

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk.

If you’re on the lookout for a horse to teach you the ropes, take a look at these schoolmaster horses for sale on the Horse & Hound website this week.

1. ‘Safe and smart’

Height: 16hh

Age: 14

Gender: gelding

Selling points: “‘Hilton’ is a safe, talented, honest and fun all-rounder who has evented up to British Eventing (BE) novice level and is currently competing at BE90/100. He has successfully competed in British Dressage (BD) up to elementary and has also showjumped up to newcomers. He is currently in full competition work and has been placed at his first and only outing so far. Last season he was placed every time out eventing too. Hilton knows and enjoys his job and is a real confidence giver that has transformed his current owner from dressage diva to an eventer — he always brings you home safe and smiling. He is easy to do and does not need to be ridden every day.”

View the advert

2. ‘Amazing’

Height: 16.2hh

Age: 15

Gender: gelding

Selling points: “This wonderful horse is very easy and sensible to ride. He isn’t strong or fizzy and is snaffle mouthed at all times. He is very laid back and an absolute sweetheart to handle. He can be ridden by the most novice of riders in the school and has done everything. He has jumped up to 1.30m in Ireland and has a very good record. He loves to be fussed and is good to do in all ways. He would suit someone who is nervous and doesn’t want anything sharp or too forward going. He is a real kick-on type of ride and schoolmasters like him rarely come onto the market. He has a wealth of experience in all fields and could teach someone a huge amount.”

View the advert

3. ‘Total all-rounder’

Height: 16.2hh

Age: 12

Gender: gelding

Selling points: “This horse hacks alone and in company and has been ridden by both a tall man and teenage girl. He is an honest chap that is scopey and keen to a fence but not silly or spooky. He doesn’t have an affiliated record but he would easily go eventing.”

View the advert

4. ‘An absolute pleasure’

Height: 15.3hh

Age: nine

Gender: gelding

Selling points: “This horse is an absolute pleasure. He works well on the flat and has beautiful paces — his canter is to die for. He jumps a course of fences and has cross-country schooled. He has done lots of pleasure rides where he has always behaved impeccably. He hacks alone or in company and is very good in all traffic. He is fantastic to clip, box, shoe and catch. He is a dream to have on the yard and is one of those horses that brightens your day. We all argue over who is going to ride him in the morning and he makes us all smile. He has shown up to county level in his previous home and he deserves only the best.”

View the advert

5. ‘Quality horse’

Height: 16.2hh

Age: 10

Gender: gelding

Selling points: “This is an exciting one-star/novice event horse that would suit a competitive rider. He has four BE points and 30 BE foundation points and has previously showjumped in age classes in Belgium. He is big moving with a scopey jump and is very brave and honest. He isn’t spooky and knows his job. He hacks alone or in company and travels well, happily standing on the lorry all day at competitions. He is a straight forward horse to do and is always laid back. He is currently fit and out competing at novice/CIC* level and is an excellent schoolmaster to take a rider up through the levels.”

View the advert

Like this? You might also enjoy reading these:

6. ‘Super’

Height: 15hh

Age: nine

Gender: mare

Selling points: “‘Sugar’ has been working in our riding school for the past four years. She has been used for lessons, hacking, cross-country, showjumping and hunting. She has been ridden safely by riders of all abilities and is well schooled. Sugar goes in a lovely soft outline and responds to the leg. She is a great jumper, a confidence builder across country and a super safe hunter — she is snaffle mouthed for all activities. Sugar would be perfect in a riding club or Pony Club home where she can have fun.”

View the advert

View more horses for sale on horseandhound.co.uk

NB: Horse & Hound has not checked the accuracy of the claims made in these adverts and cannot be held liable if the information included above is inaccurate in any way

Take a virtual walk around the 100cm cross-country course at the 2018 H&H Festival of Eventing.

The cross-country of this three-day unaffiliated event takes place on Sunday (27 May).

Fence 1 (pink numbers)

Fence 2

Fence 3

Fence 4a

Fence 4b

Fence 5a

Fence 5b

Fence 6

Fence 7

Fence 8

Fence 9a

Fence 9b

Fence 9c

Fence 10

Fence 11

Fence 12a

Fence 12b

Fence 13

Fence 14

Fence 15a

Fence 15b

Fence 16a

Fence 16b

Fence 17

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk.

A seven-year-old part-Warmblood, part-Dartmoor pony who was conceived by accident in the field is heading for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) after winning his first even SEIB Search For A Star (SFAS) working show horse qualifier at Stretcholt.

Melissa Northwood and her partner bought the 15hh gelding Mendip Voyage (Barney) from his breeder Sandra Partridge when he was a four-year-old.

“I was looking for a bigger horse to event and actually had one I was going to buy, but was let down at the last minute,” said Melissa. “I saw him on the internet and thought he’d make a good project so went to see him — he was only 14.2hh.”

It was not until after she’d bought him that Melissa, who works as a saddle fitter and also teaches dressage and eventing students, found out how he came about.

“He was a complete accident. His mother is a 16.1hh eventer by the stallion Tallents Asa and his sire is a naughty Dartmoor pony who escaped into her field,” she said. “No one knew she was in foal.

“He has a big jump but is also very nimble and quick, which is where the pony is evident.”

After a a couple of seasons eventing, Melissa made the decision to hit the show ring and in four shows, the pair have had four victories. “He was looking so well and had matured so much, mentally and physically, that I thought we’d give working hunter a go.”

Although she has successfully competed in British Show Pony Society classes and rode for the Hunnables as a young girl, Melissa will be making her Birmingham debut.

“HOYS is the one thing that has always eluded me,” she said. “So I’m excited to get the chance to compete there after a lot of near misses when I was younger.”

Even though the duo beat 20 other competitors to win their SFAS qualifier, Barney and Melissa’s pre-Stretcholt training did not quite go as planned, as the gelding suffered an injury over winter.

“We’d only jumped twice before going to the show,” she added. “But on the day he jumped a beautiful round. One of the judges said he was a lovely chap.”

Continues below…

Barney will be aimed at competing at Bath and West show and Melissa also has hopes of trying some elementary dressage with him this summer.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

In this week’s edition, out on 24 May, don’t miss our “cob special”, including how to find the perfect cob, meet champion cob Our Cashel Blue and more.

When my friend ‘A’ announced we were off to Shropshire for another weekend of trail riding, my heart missed a beat.

“Oh that’s great,” I said, feigning excitement, when in reality my old bones were creaking in advance protest at the thought of 12 hours in the saddle. Was this really a good idea? Surely we were too old for such capers.

But A is a forceful woman and I knew better than to protest so, like a dutiful friend, I agreed with a smile and rushed out to the local saddlers with just two hours to spare for a new pair of lightweight jods. After trying on some strange new-fangled riding tights which made me look like I was about to do a shotput event, I plumped for a looser pair — not as lightweight as I had hoped, but extremely comfortable all the same.

The temperature for the weekend was set to get hotter than Barcelona and the thought of sweltering in thick clothes, long boots and a hat didn’t appeal. So armed with sun cream, wine, painkillers and my new purchase, we set off with our latest recruit ‘C’ in the driving seat.

Now for anyone who hasn’t been, Shropshire is a beautiful county with superb riding through stunning countryside. There are quiet country lanes, miles of off-road tracks and a number of wide, sweeping paths cut around the edges of farmers’ fields for horses and riders to use. The pubs even offer tie-up areas and turn out fields for horses while riders nip inside for a quick drink or spot of lunch. Perfect. It really is riding country and our destination, Country Treks, was situated in the lovely village of Stottesdon, just a few miles from Bridgnorth. The only problem was that each time we had been before, we struggled to find it.

Like some enchanted Brigadoon, rising out of the Scottish mist once every 100 years, Stottesdon always seems to be three miles away. No matter which route we follow, my old road atlas, is quite unable to take me there. We have spent literally hours circling the same few miles until finally we stumble across it, exhausted and irritable, vowing to throw the old map away and invest in a sat nav.

But this trip was different. C was driving and she had an in-car navigation system that looked sophisticated enough to land planes at the airport. Rather than our usual inept efforts, with A and I bumbling around like a pair of short-sighted day trippers, we drove straight to the door without incident. The pub beckoned but the Knackered Riders Club lived up to its name and it wasn’t long before we scurried home, moaning that the music from the live band was too loud.

The next morning, after enough breakfast to sink a battleship, it was down to the yard and we were given our horses. Mine was a 16.3hh coloured mare called Puzzle who looked strong enough to carry me, with my scrambled eggs, toast and all. So with the help of the mounting block, I got on. Much taller than I was used to, she felt very comfortable indeed. C was given a pretty grey mare called Willow, while A snaffled her favourite, Lucky, a New Forest type that she had ridden before.

Led by our instructor Chloe, we set off through the village, heading for the Clee Hills. On our way to Brown Clee, we took in tracks and fields, with plenty of canters and before I knew it, my face was fixed in a permanent smile. There really is something about breathing in the clean country air and being on horseback that makes you feel so joyful that everything else pales into oblivion.

The hedges were cloaked in swathes of creamy hawthorn blossom with delicate fronds of cow parsley and clumps of pink campion wild flowers beneath. Cantering up a sloping field, a deer appeared at the top, watching us as we approached, then popped smartly over a fence to disappear into the woods just at the last moment. As we dropped back down to the lane, a brown hare sunbathed at the edge of the field while a hawk hovered overhead, effortlessly floating on the breeze. A herd of wild ponies trotted over to us, their eyes alert, their nostrils blowing as we rode past.

Continued below…

Like this? You might also enjoy reading these:

The second day was equally spellbinding. My back was starting to stiffen up by now and my legs were aching but there was no way I was going to miss a single moment of our wonderful trip. Sadly as all good things must come to an end, so did our trip to Shropshire.

“We must come again next year,” I said, as we packed the car. “Don’t be silly, that’s far too long to wait — I’ve already been into the office and booked to come back this summer,” replied A. I smiled. There’s no point arguing with a woman on a mission.

Diane

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

In this week’s edition, out on 24 May, don’t miss our “cob special”, including how to find the perfect cob, meet champion cob Our Cashel Blue and more.

A few years ago, I wrote about the Mongolian horses.  You can read that post here.

Now, there is a new documentary about The Mongolian Eagle Hunters as well a gorgeous video.

Click here to view the stunning photographs.

Click here to watch the video.

Below are some stills from the video.  This is really worth the watch.  Breathtaking.

All credits:  Jimmy Nelson.

KAZAKH EAGLE HUNTERS by Jimmy Nelson.

Gorgeous

They walk across ice like it was nothing.

That is COLD!

Gorgeous!

Look how high up they are – yikes!!!

These horses come in many colors.

Not the greatest form… but they can ride.

A new equestrian game? Class?

They ride starting at very young ages. The number of horses outnumber the number of humans in Mongolia.

Amazing footage.  Amazing history.

The post THE HORSES OF THE MONGOLIAN EAGLE HUNTERS. Amazing video. appeared first on Horse and Man.

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

Your purchase with R.W. through this link helps the Bucket Fund!

When you shop @AmazonSmile, Amazon will make a donation to Horse And Man Inc.



Supporting The Bucket Fund through Amazon Smile is HUGE for the horses. Please choose HORSE AND MAN when you make your Amazon purchase through this link. THANK YOU!

A director is producing a “dramatic and haunting” film about horse and rider safety on the UK’s roads.

Film-maker Danielle Scott is currently working on the “hard-hitting” short film, which she hopes will make viewers sit up and take note.

“Unlike other films of similar themes currently out there, this won’t be an infomercial,” she told H&H.

Storyboard image

“We are applying our film-making experiences and skill to hit the same dramatic level as the ‘don’t drink and drive’ adverts which really make a difference with a haunting message.”

The footage will be shot in North Ayrshire, Scotland, but the film’s message will apply to all UK viewers.

Filming will take place at the end of June and the finished project will premiere online this summer.

Storyboard image

Ms Scott is a rider and horse owner herself and has had near-misses on the road.

She enjoys attending local shows and hacking with her 20-year-old Anglo Arab mare Bailey.

“We do a lot of hacking and always ride with a camera,” said Ms Scott.

Storyboard image

“We’ve had numerous incidents of people driving too close and honking their horns.”

Ms Scott is working on the project alongside Paul Gilmour with the support of Police Scotland, Think! and North Ayrshire Council.

Continued below…

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/wp-content/themes/keystone-theme/shortcodes/js/collections.js

“Despite this support we do not have any financial contributions,” said Ms Scott, who has set up a GoFundMe page (https://www.gofundme.com/respect-the-ride) to help fund the project.

“We are trying to raise £1,000 and need lots of help to make this film possible. We are non-profit.

“Money raised will be covering the costs of equipment hire, cast/crew costs and location fees.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

This week’s edition (17 May) features a full report from Royal Windsor Horse Show, including all the showing, showjumping and dressage action. We go behind the scenes with the Household Cavalry as they prepare for the royal wedding, plus check out our interview with Irish eventer Padraig McCarthy.

A pony who was taken in by the RSPCA after he was abandoned as a yearling has competed at his first championship.

Storm was rescued from a field along with a number of other ponies in 2009 and it took him a year to recover physically from his difficult start in life.

But the nine-year-old coloured gelding has beaten the odds to enjoy a new life to compete at the Dressage at Hickstead South East Championships on 19 May.

“I spent 15 years supporting my daughter with her horses and when she went off to university I thought I should find myself a pony,” Jo told H&H.

“My friend was looking after him at the time and said ‘come and have a look’. He wasn’t what I was looking for, but I decided to take him on.”

Jo added that Storm was rising two at the time and rather an “ugly duckling”, who has the personality of a “17hh chestnut mare inside the body of a 14hh skewbald gelding”.

With the help of her daughter, trainers and Jason Webb clinics, she started to bring him on.

Jo and Storm joined the Rother Valley Riding Club’s “building rider confidence” group with the aim of enjoying some grassroots-level dressage.

“They have been fantastic with Storm, they hold clinics and everything is super low-key, with sympathetic instructors and everyone is very supportive,” said Jo.

The pair started at intro, topping the members’ league table at the club last year, then moving up to prelim and qualifying for the Hickstead finals.

“My initial response was ‘obviously I’m not going’,” said Jo.

“But my daughter said ‘don’t be silly — be proud, take Storm out and show him off.”

The pair have also enjoyed success at British Dressage’s My Quest classes, achieving plus-73% scores, which gave them the confidence to make the trip to Hickstead.

“I was just delighted with him, he stayed with me for the whole test and was super-reactive,” said Jo, who survived a couple of spooks to achieve a score of 62.2% with the pony.

“We have worked so hard to be able to get there and now we are going to be able to go forwards from it.”

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Jo also thanked her trainer Anna Levy for her help.

“It breaks my heart [to hear of horses being abandoned], people are always really surprised about his start in life, they think I paid money for him,” said Jo, adding that “endless patience” has been the key to Storm.

“I feel like I’m the lucky one [to have found him], it has always been a dream to ride at Hickstead and I never thought I would get there, let alone on a 14hh rescue pony.”

Jo, a teaching assistant, added it has been rather a role reversal from supporting her daughter for so many years.

“It is a positive change though,” said Jo. “I get to see what it was like from her point of view and she gets to see it from mine!”

Jo added that she would encourage those with the right experience and time to consider rehoming when looking for their next horse.

“It is not for the inexperienced, but if you have the knowledge, a big heart and a lot of time, give it a go,” she said.

Don’t miss your chance to take part in the inaugural Horse & Hound Festival of Dressage, an unaffiliated show for all held at Sheepgate Equestrian (20 – 22 July 2018) with sections from intro to medium as well as music classes.

This week’s edition of Horse & Hound (17 May) features a full report from Royal Windsor Horse Show, including all the showing, showjumping and dressage action. We go behind the scenes with the Household Cavalry as they prepare for the royal wedding, plus check out our interview with Irish eventer Padraig McCarthy.

Living in a country with a climate as inclement and grey as our own, it’s easy to forget that the sun can be harmful to animals, as well as humans, with horses who live out all through the summer being particularly vulnerable.

“The pigmentation in hair and skin protects against the penetration of ultraviolet light, so any non-pigmented horse or an animal with white-skinned areas is prone to sunburn damage,” says Dr Janet Littlewood MRCVS, a specialist in veterinary dermatology.

“Although the horses most at risk are those kept at permanent pasture in the summer months, it’s important not to forget that sunlight can also be damaging at other times of the year.”

The face and heels are most commonly affected because these often have non-pigmented patches and less hair coverage.

“It’s not a breed-related problem because nearly all breeds produce horses with white facial markings and legs,” explains Dr Littlewood, “but owners of animals with a thin coat should be particularly careful.”

What harm does sunburn cause?

In most horses the only harm caused by sunburn is occasional discomfort, redness and peeling. However, repeated damage can cause significant long-term problems, warns Dr Littlewood.

“It can result in thickening and scaling on the surface of the skin [keratosis], which can sometimes transform to skin cancer — squamous cell carcinoma,” she says.

“Ultraviolet light exposure also has adverse effects on skin immune mechanisms. Hence, horses with white legs tend to suffer more problems with infections, such as bacterial folliculitis and mud fever. These conditions tend to become worse and harder to manage with time.”

What can you do to prevent sunburn?

Ensuring fields have shady areas is essential, but even the most severe weather conditions won’t stop some horses grazing. There are equine sun barrier lotions available, but many owners prefer to use products made for people — high-factor water-resistant creams that are safe for children are a popular choice. But, unlike a child, it isn’t possible to bribe a horse into co-operating with ice-lollies and treats. Coloured “stick” sunblocks can be easier to apply and show up any “missed bits”.

Head and muzzle masks may provide some relief and rugs can help shield horses with more widespread sensitive areas.

What should you do if your horse is already sunburnt?

Dr Littlewood suggests that where prevention has come too late, horses should be brought inside until the problem has been resolved.

“If skin is blistered or oozing, veterinary attention should be sought. Generally, treatment is symptomatic: gentle topical bathing to remove crusts; emollient creams and antibiotics if there’s evidence of secondary infection,” she says.

All owners should monitor signs carefully, especially in an animal that has become inexplicably more sunburnt, to ensure that the horse isn’t suffering from photosensitisation. This is a condition where non- and lightly pigmented skin reacts abnormally to ultraviolet light.

“This occurs when there are reactive compounds — photosensitisers — in the horse’s circulation that cause tissue damage,” explains Dr Littlewood.

Photosensitisers can be found in some drugs, dyes and plants, including St John’s Wort and some clovers. Other plants, such as buttercups and cow parsley, contain light-reactive substances that can be absorbed directly into the muzzle during grazing.

“The prognosis for horses with primary photosensitisation is good,” says Dr Littlewood. “The underlying cause can be removed and the sores treated.

Continued below…

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/wp-content/themes/keystone-theme/shortcodes/js/collections.js

“Photosensitisation can also occur when a horse has severe liver damage, most commonly caused by eating ragwort. When the liver isn’t functioning properly, it cannot process chlorophyll fully. This results in the presence of photosensitive phylloerythrin in the tissues. The prognosis for horses with this ‘secondary’ photosensitisation is poor, so any animal showing clinical signs of the condition should undergo thorough investigation of liver function by a vet,” she warns.

This article was first published in the 9 June 2005 issue of Horse & Hound magazine