The organisers of the first “world bitless horse day” hope to raise awareness and “give all riders the opportunity to think about going bitless”.
The World Bitless Association (WBA), which was formed last November, says it hopes events, including trail rides, competitions and demonstrations, will be held across the world on 7 September.
Charity trustee Johanna Richardson, who also sits on the WBA board of directors, told H&H the organisation aims to “help facilitate and promote more humane methods of horse training and to promote equality in competition for modern bitless bridles”.
“We hope the day will allow bitless riders to network, and also for bitted riders who might want to explore going bitless, or who want to switch,” she said.
“All sorts of things will be happening. No one’s registered yet as registration hasn’t opened but it’s going to be global; we’ve had interest from Brazil.”
Ms Richardson said the organisation will provide support packs and relevant advice, for individuals, organisations or event organisers who want to run events or training.
She added that the main aims of the WBA are to represent bitless riders and raise awareness of welfare in riding and training.
“It’s not just saying ‘remove the bit and put a bitless bridle on’, it’s about the whole way horses are ridden, and how all of us can improve in everything we do,” she said. “Everyone can make changes and bitted or bitless, we represent everyone on that angle.”
The final WBA aim is to “fight for rule changes” to allow riders to compete bitless and “on a level playing field” with those who use bits in all disciplines.
But Ms Richardson stressed that the charity is not anti-bitting.
“We’re not against them; we just want to bring about opportunities for personal choice,” she said. “It depends on what the rider needs from the horse and how the horse reacts to the bridle it’s in.
A pony rehomed from World Horse Welfare has helped his new loan home owner get through difficult life challenges.
Mekleth Wicca Warrior (‘Warrior’) came into the charity’s Glenda Spooner Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Norfolk in 2013.
The 13.1hh grey gelding was among a group of horses whose owner could no longer care for them.
All were living in poor conditions and one was very underweight.
Warrior had had little handling in his life and it took the team at the centre some time to build up his trust.
In December 2013 Sue Drew rehomed the pony after she had lost her horse, which had died suddenly.
“2013 was a terrible year,” recalls Mrs Drew. “In May I lost my precious horse after 35 wonderful years together. Four months later I lost my mum. I was devastated and felt completely bereft.”
“I knew Warrior had issues, he was nervous, could never be ridden and might not stable easily, but I had issues too and thought maybe we could work things through together. So just, before Christmas Warrior came to live with us,” she added.
The pony made steady progress and helped Mrs Drew over her loss.
“However, his work was yet done,” she admitted, “for in December 2014, completely out of the blue, a routine test revealed I had bowel cancer.
“Most of 2015 was taken up with surgery and a difficult regime of chemotherapy but Warrior was always there when I needed quiet reassurance and with his help I got through it.
“We’ve both survived bad times and put them behind us. We have that bond.”
Rehomer Carol Padgett said it was ‘love at first sight’ when she set eyes on Trigger at World Horse Welfare’s…
This year 286 horses and ponies have found loving new homes under World Horse Welfare’s rehoming scheme.
But the charity still has 97 equines still looking for homes.
“Rehoming remains as important as ever with a wide range of horses and ponies in the charity’s care ready to find new homes where they can reach their full potential and free up space to help World Horse Welfare reach more in need of help,” said Sam Chubbock, WHW’s head of UK support.
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday
Owners must “be better at letting horses be horses” for the sake of their welfare, the chief executive of World Horse Welfare has warned.
Roly Owers addressed a packed hall in London yesterday (31 October) at the charity’s annual conference, the theme of which was “Changing Times”.
“The passage of time always brings change, but I think few would disagree that we’re in a period of unprecedented, relentless and accelerated change across the world,” Mr Owers said.
“Seismic shifts in geopolitics, the rise of digital technology, democratisation, inequality, climate change and the reshaping of values; we ride the waves of these tumultuous times and navigate an ocean where it may seem the very foundations of our traditional assumptions are melting away.”
Mr Owers mentioned Brexit and the essential working together between different organisations on major issues from equine identification law in England to the donkey skin trade in China, adding: “We can and do achieve so much working together.”
He also cited a “growing minority” of people who “see horses almost as people”, adding: “While others expect to see them left alone with nature. We take the view that both these approaches carry grave risks for equine welfare.
“The public rightly expects the welfare of all horses used in riding, sport and racing to be paramount. We couldn’t agree more.
“But some now believe that using horses in sport is inherently exploitative and cruel, not least because they put the horse at risk of injury and fatality.”
Mr Owers said all risks in horse sport do need to be minimised, and fatalities reduced, and cited World Horse Welfare and the RSPCA’s work with the British Horseracing Authority. But he said the key message is that no equestrian sport or activity is without risks, so all horse sports need a “social licence” to operate, with transparency, accountability and “adherence to the ethics of wider society at its heart”.
Mr Owers mentioned a recent parliamentary petition and debate calling for an independent body to regulate horse welfare in racing, which attracted more than 100,000 signatures, as “a clear sign that the public expects much more than business as usual”.
“Then there are those who pamper their animals, over-feed them treats, keep them in stables all day and pile rugs on them all year,” he said.
“The rise of conditions like EMS, laminitis, obesity, gastric ulcers and behavioural stereotypies are the tragic health and welfare consequences. We’ve talked about it so much before but we have to be better at letting horses be horses.
Don’t forget to use the discount code to save an extra 10% on a subscription to Horse & Hound on…
“That’s not to say we can’t have fun with or fuss over our horses, as long as we keep their health and welfare at the centre of our thinking; and that thinking has to be grounded as far as possible in the facts.
“For example, recently more than 200,000 people signed a petition to ban pony-painting parties. Really?
“While I appreciate this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, we have to keep a focus on the genuine welfare problems.”
For a full report from the conference, don’t miss next week’s edition of horse & Hound magazine, out 8 November.
Riders are being urged to sign a government petition campaigning for laws to protect horses being ridden on the roads.
The petition, set up by Debbie Smith from Cornwall who created the Facebook group Pass Wide and Slow, has until 2 November to reach the required 100,000 signatures in order for it to be considered for debate at parliament.
Debbie told H&H: “The roads are getting worse and drivers are getting more impatient – they see us as a nuisance. Generally there’s got to have been an accident happen before we can take any action which seems crazy. If a horse is left dying on the road nothing is done, unless a rider has been hurt and taken to hospital.
“We want the petition to bring in laws to protect horses being ridden on the roads and I hope we can get it into parliament. Personally I want to see a change in the Highway Code so it becomes law to abide by a rider’s stop and slow down signals — I think that is one of the most important laws we should have. If we can have the power to ask a car to stop or slow dow it’s going to stop a lot of accidents.”
Debbie, who hacks out with her daughter around five times a week, successfully got a similar petition to parliament two years ago.
“It got discussed but at the time the transport minister wasn’t very compliant with what we wanted and so I decided to start another petition this year,” she said.
“Our aim is to keep getting attention, keep going to parliament and keep getting it discussed and hopefully at some point they’ll realise we’re not just going to go away. That’s all you can do, keep drumming away.”
The petition currently has 13,969 signatures.
“It’s a short time limit on getting those remaining signatures so we need a lot more in the next couple of weeks,” said Debbie.
“I just got mad out riding one day and thought, ‘I’m going to change the law’”
“There’s so many people that ride out on the roads, we need them to read it and sign it – not think ‘I’ll do it later’ and forget. We all ride out on the roads and we all want safe riding.”
Debbie said she wants riders to keep reporting incidents on the roads to the police.
“As part of the Pass Wide and Slow Facebook group we want to encourage riders to wear cameras because we have to get that evidence and send it in to the police, it’s the only way they’ll take action. If we don’t do anything we’ll be seen as unimportant. We have to make it an important issue and keep on at them.”
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 four leading jockeys headed down to the Surrey yard of Pippa and William Funnell for a showjumping bootcamp — some, perhaps, with a certain amount of trepidation as they stepped way out of their usual comfort zone on the racetrack.
The intrepid quartet of Bridget Andrews, Lizzie Kelly, Hollie Doyle and Josephine Gordon are taking a crash course over the coloured poles ahead of the annual Markel Champions Challenge in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund.
Bridget Andrews in action
Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey Bridget will be captaining the team of female jockeys, which will also include top National Hunt jockey Bryony Frost, and they will be pitted against the 20-time champion AP McCoy and his all-male team for Friday’s big “race night” in the International Arena at The London International Horse Show, Olympia (17-23 December).
Josephine Gordon is put through her paces
Under the tutelage of showjumping and eventing legends William and Pippa Funnell, the star-studded team of jockeys were put through their paces over the coloured fences and now have victory firmly in their sights.
“The training today with Pippa and William has been lots of fun,” said Bridget. “They’re heroes of mine and we couldn’t have asked for better coaches. I can’t wait for ‘race night’ — the atmosphere is going to be electric and I just hope we can make Pippa and William proud.”
Pippa Funnell said: “They’re obviously all incredibly talented in their own right and I’ve been impressed with how quickly they have adapted and improved throughout the day. The girls have mastered the technical side and we’ve almost managed to perfect their jump-off style, so I really fancy their chances against AP McCoy and the boys!”
Race night at Olympia is sure to be faster than a five furlong sprint at Epsom and always makes for great entertainment — and the box office is open so snap up your tickets now via www.olympiahorseshow.com or phone the box office 0844 995 0995
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday
“We made a ton of mistakes,” the boss of Tryon has conceded, but he is “unbelievably proud” of what has been accomplished at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) venue.
Mark Bellissimo, of Tryon Equestrian Partners, spoke to reporters at WEG on Saturday (22 September).
He spoke of the challenges faced by the venue, which had had less than two years to prepare for the Games, having stepped in when original hosts Bromont, Canada, pulled out.
“I’m so very proud of all the things that have happened in the last two weeks with the exception of the things we started on [early problems such as with grooms’ accommodation] I take responsibility for, I made mistakes along the way,” he said.
“If that’s what’s remembered about this WEG then shame on me, shame on all of us, as I think what we’ve seen is probably some of the best sport WEGs have had.
“All the people who said this would never be done: they were wrong. What’s most important to me is that we’ve stepped up in difficult circumstances and did our best. It wasn’t perfect but perfect is the enemy of the good. We accept the fact we’re human and we make mistakes but in the end they’ll hopefully become afterthoughts.”
Mr Bellissimo said WEG is a “very tough” event that “has to be restructured”, suggesting that in future it could be shared between two or three venues running the Games on a cycle, and that he would not decide on whether or not to run the event again until he had talked to his team.
High humidity after heavy rain forced cancellation of the competition today
“We made a ton of mistakes,” he said. “Great organisations take those mistakes and learn. If we ran it again, would it be unbelievable? Absolutely.”
The FEI has said there have been no bids to run the 2022 Games yet, but there has been interest from various countries, and that the organisation is to review the event’s cost-effectiveness, sustainability and format.
Horse & Hound had two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September.
In The Middle Are The Horsemen is a book newly written by Tik Maynard, where the international athlete and equestrian bares his soul to the world. It is a must-read for all those involved with horses. The ups and downs of his career with horses rings true, particularly if you are trying to make it in the horse world.
In 2008, 26-year-old Tik, who was a university graduate and modern pentathlete, faced a crossroads. He suffered both a career-ending injury and a painful break-up. The Canadian decided spend the next year as a working student.
Over time, Tik evolved under the watchful eyes of world-renowned figures in the horse world, including Ingrid Klimke, David and Karen O’Connor, Anne Kursinski, Johann Hinnemann, Bruce Loagn and Ian Millar. He was ignored, degraded, encouraged and praised. He was hired and fired, told he had the “wrong body type to ride” and that he had found his “destiny”. He got married to US eventing team member Sinead Halpin and lost loved ones. Through it all, the book’s blurb describes, he studied the horse and human nature, and how the two can find balance. And in that journey he may have found himself.
Taken from an extract in the book, here Tik recounts his time as a working student at Johann Hinnemann’s German dressage yard:
“Around the time I started my twentieth stall, Hinnemann wandered out, dressed in a dark suit with creases like knives. I watched his polished black leather shoes make their way through the courtyard to his Audi. I watched them step into the freshly vacuumed interior. I had been up already for almost two hours, but my arms and shoulders were used to the work by now, and I felt fresh. This will be every day and every week, I told myself: stay positive. This will be the day when you finally start getting more help. I still craved the feeling that this was all for something. I wanted a lesson. I wanted to learn so badly my brain itched.
“Sure, a part of me realised I was getting better, and though time has given me other perspectives, I felt like I was getting better despite Hinnemann, not because of him.
“‘Good morning,” I called neutrally.
“Hinnemann looked at me. We made eye contact. And then he turned his back to me and lowered himself into his new car. As he shut the door, I thought I heard a reluctant ‘Morgen’, but perhaps not. As his car wound along the tree-lined drive out to the road, I stood in the doorway of the barn, pitchfork in one hand, staring after him.
“The afternoon passed quietly, but monotonously, as did the following morning. It wasn’t until Monday afternoon that my suspicious that something was up were confirmed. Herr Hinnemann, his secretary, and his head rider were meeting in the glass-fronted office that overlooked the indoor. I was riding a young horse so I was taking plenty of walk breaks. I could see them as they talked earnestly, studiously avoiding looking into the indoor arena where I circled below. Only Hinnemann glanced my way a couple times.
“That evening while I was untacking my last horse, Julia marched in her efficient step down the aisle. She paused and looked at me. She looked so warm and clean. I felt like a ground-beholden soldier that see a pilot wrapped in fur walking to his plane. Her head held high, Julia, it seemed, flew in the sky above the sludge and muck of normal barn life.
“‘Tik, please come to the office when all the work in the barn is done.’”
“‘Of course,’ I said quietly. I made myself meet her eyes.
“For the last three weeks my motivation to sweep, muck, clean tack, and clip horses had been waning.
“You’re not here as a volunteer, I told myself. You’re here to learn, and in exchange, to perform physical labour.
“Shhh. I said to myself. Stop whining. Be patient.
“And then, No! Stand up for yourself.
“To muzzle the voices in my head, I concentrated on finishing with the horse, then cleaning the saddles and bridles, then sweeping.
“Back in my room I gathered my thoughts, and quickly prepared myself for the discussion I expected by making some notes. I took my notebook with me.
“In the office Julia sat at a desk, her hand around a steaming mug. Steffi stood, her arms crossed, not looking at me. Hinnemann was not there.
“The whole meeting lasted less time than it took me to clean a stall, and with me talking just about as much. There was no preamble — Julia just jumped right in.
“‘You aren’t good enough to be here,’ she said unemotionally. ‘And you aren’t improving.’
“I looked at Steffi, who briefly made eye contact but remained silent. I waited.
“‘This is a professional stable,’ Julia continued. And then just to make her point clear she added: ‘We can’t leave you alone on a horse for five minutes.’
“I said nothing. I felt myself turn inward and get in my own head, a weakness that admittedly often came far too close to self-pity for my liking. The only advantage, if I could call it that, was it meant a lot of potential arguments were avoided. I sat and looked at her, and kept my hands in my pockets, my notebook full of observations remaining closed on my lap. As Julia talked on, I studied her closely. There was a certain light in her eyes. She was beautiful, like a bird. A falcon maybe… or a hawk. Her mouth was still moving. Her lips glistened, and I wondered if she was wearing lipstick.
“‘Did you hear me?’ she demanded to know.
“I nodded.
“Then she said, ‘It would be better if you left’.
“I nodded again.
“She then offered me the chance to work until the end of the week.
“‘No,’ I said, speaking for the first time. ‘I’ll leave tonight.’
Price: £19.95 paperback, or from 10.46 onAmazon Published by: Quiller Publishing, 2018
For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine out every Thursday
Hand of veterinarian holds syringe. Horse in background. Vaccination concept.
Vets have welcomed a government decision to relax restrictions on sales of an “essential” equestrian painkiller – but say they do not understand why they were not consulted about the move.
BEVA said it was “perplexed” by the move, without prior consultation with vets, as flunixin is the most commonly used painkiller for horses undergoing surgery and those suffering with colic and other conditions.
The VMD has now relaxed the restrictions by allowing the release of stock from manufacturers, and says it will let vets know when the drug is available to order.
“It remains a concern to BEVA that this mechanism was not put in place before the suspension of flunixin was imposed,” said association president Jon Pycock.
“Contrary to assertions by the VMD, wholesalers were unable to meet the demands of the veterinary profession and clinical use of this medicine was disrupted within 24 hours of the VMD’s initial announcement. We are surprised by the regulator’s lack of awareness of availability in the supply chain and question why there was no consultation with the veterinary sector before the suspension was enacted.
“The VMD has been aware of this issue since March 2018 and it appears no contingency was put in place to consider the animal welfare impact of this decision until it was too late.”
Vice-president and equine surgery specialist Tim Mair added that flunixin is a “unique” product in managing pain and sepsis in horses.
“The VMD appeared to believe that this medicine could be substituted for other veterinary medicines and this is simply not the case,” he said. “The release of stock from manufacturers is a short-term solution and, looking forward, we would like assurances that the VMD will fast-track applications for the modification of product licenses to ensure that equine vets have continued access to these products.”
Riders have been advised against a treatment being promoted on social media and in forums
The VMD said it stated when the restrictions were announced that it was “investigating potential ways to maintain the availability of injectable flunixin for use in non-food producing horses”.
A spokesman added: “The VMD is actively working with marketing authorisation holders to allow them to release further currently labelled flunixin product on to the market for non-food horses only, provided it is accompanied by a ‘caution in use’ letter (to be approved by the VMD) which outlines the conditions of use and restricts supply to non-food horses.
“We will inform vets when flunixin product is available to order.”
BEVA reminded all equine vets that horses’ food chain status must be checked when flunixin is used, either by checking passports or chips, on the Central Equine Database website.
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.
A beautiful yet compact country estate set in prime Chiddingfold countryside in Surrey is looking for a new owner.
Well Meadows is located is a part of Surrey which is renowned for its accessibility to Central London. Despite these super communication links, the property is slap bang in the middle of some of the prettiest countryside.
While the area is perfect for lazy weekend hacks, if you like to compete, check out equestrian centres in the area. These include: Parwood (12 miles), Silvermere (23 miles), Great Bookham (25 miles) and Oldencraig (45 miles).
There is a cross-country course available just seven miles away at Slades Farm.
Pachesham EC (27 miles) also hosts regular BD and hunter trial events throughout the season.
Local hunts include the Kent & Surrey bloodhounds and the Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt.
If you fancy hitting the show ring, get signed up to BSPS Area 14 or NPS Area 20.
There is a point-to-point track seven miles away at Peper Harow, and don’t forget about the racecourse at Epsom Downs (31 miles).
Offered for sale by Knight Frank, this delightful estate could be yours for the tidy sum of £2.7m.
How would you rate this horsey nest out of 10?
The grounds extend to just under 16.5 acres. Located just a stone’s throw away from the stunning house is the immaculate stable yard…
The equestrian facilities comprise four spacious loose boxes, two additional foaling boxes, a feed room and an alarmed tack room. Note: this little guy isn’t included, sadly.
There is also a large barn used for hay and lorry storage
The outdoor school — which has an all-weather surface and is fenced with post and rail — is located west of the yard and is raised above the surrounding paddocks.
There is plenty of pasture within the acreage for grazing.
The main house was completed in 1999 and then extended in 2004. It has five bedrooms and on the ground floor is this scrumptious country kitchen, which is adjacent to a cosy family room.
One of the main features of this home is the fully fitted wine cellar.
Outside, there is also a tennis court.
As well as a one bedroom cottage complete with a living/dining room and a bedroom, there is an office which overlooks the tennis court.
For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday
An estate with circa 40 acres of luscious land and a recently constructed equestrian centre of some 21,000 square feet is being offered for sale…
Elm Hill Estate occupies an elevated position with views over the Severn Valley in the county of Worcestershire.
It is situated in the village of Sinton Green, bordering the western banks of the River Severn within the spectacular Malvern Hills. The property is also well placed for access to Worcester (6 miles), Birmingham City Centre (32 miles), Wolverhampton (32 miles) and Cheltenham (32 miles).
Equestrian centres just a stone’s throw away include: Gracelands EC (12.5 miles), Hereford Equestrian (29 miles), Allens Hill (19 miles) and Hillgrove Stud and Training Centre (1o miles).
If you like to show you won’t be far from the Royal Three Counties Show Ground, which is a 35 minute (16 mile) drive away from the door step. Make sure you also get signed up to BSPS Area 15A for a range of local fixtures.
Riding clubs in the area include: Worcester & District, Bromsgrove & District and Malvern Hills Riding Club.
Get involved with the Worcestershire Hunt if you like to head out with hounds and you can use cross-country facilities at Bissell Wood Equestrian Centre (16 miles) or Lincomb Equestrian (11 miles).
Offered for sale by Fine & Country, this well-placed equestrian haven does come at a price; £3.5m to be exact.
Come and see if you think Elm Hill lives up to the hype (Hint, it certainly does…)
Set in 40 acres, the property has stunning hacking opportunities around the Worcestershire countryside. There is a 270 degree view across the Severn Valley.
The recently-built equestrian centre includes a main arena measuring 22x42m.
There are also 14 spacious loose boxes, one foaling box, a tack room and a rug room.
In the same building is the staff room as well as a WC and a galleried landing.
In addition the original stable block remains. It incorporates five loose boxes, a feed store and a tack room.
The main house is a Grade II listed country home, which is set in perfectly manicured mature gardens.
It comprises a kitchen at its heart which includes a range of units and a central island. There is a dining area next door.
There are seven bedrooms in total, with six on the first floor and one on the second. The house has several traditional features — such as exposed wooden beams — throughout.
The perfect rural retreat for you and your squad of horses.
For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday
