Surviving Christmas with a horsey partner isn’t easy, but forewarned is forearmed so bears these tips in mind and your festive period with your horsey partner will go swimmingly
1. Never complain
Whether you like horses or not, they are number one in your partner’s life and always will be. You signed an unwritten agreement the moment you embarked on the relationship and complaining about your partner doing the horses on Christmas Day will only lose you brownie points (and potentially presents). So don’t even bother.
2. Man up and put up
Regardless of whether you want to stay snuggled up on the sofa in front of the fire watching festive films and eating an abundance of chocolate on Christmas day, your partner will at some point have to visit the horse to turn out/muck out/put him to bed, and let’s face facts — you will be dragged out in the cold to help. Trying to avoid it will only ruin the day for everyone.
3. Your partner WILL spend more on their horse than you
It’s a fact. It doesn’t mean they love you less, but their horse NEEDS things, and they usually cost a small fortune.
4. Get a horsey present
Want to earn major Christmas brownie points? Buy your horsey partner a great horse-related gift. Equestrians love nothing more than a photo of themselves with their beloved equine. What about an oil painting or coffee cup sporting a photo of your partner and their horse? Brownie points galore.
5. Boxing Day hunting
It’s a thing and there’s a good chance it could feature in your Christmas plans. If you’re expected to attend (which you probably are to help unload/tack up/for moral support), our advice is to invest in a hipflask and fill it with something boozy and warming. It’s going to be cold.
6. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em
Learn to ride and get yourself a horse for Christmas. That way you’ll never feel left out, and you will see your partner way more. Win win.
7. Appearance isn’t everything
While it’s Christmas Day, it’s still a normal day when it comes to doing the horse, so don’t expect too much in the way of fancy clothes, clean fingernails and tidy hair. A Christmas jumper adorning the odd bit of straw and whiffing of horse is about as much as you can expect.
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8. Gift expectations
Don’t be surprised if you end up with a pair of wellies and a waterproof coat for Christmas. Practicality is everything and you need to be appropriately dressed if you’re to help out at the impending horsey events (which of course, you will be).
9. Deck the halls
While our horse’s stable will be fastidiously tidy, adorning the most festive of Christmas decorations, probably hand made from foraged items while out hacking, and their feed lovingly prepared using a variety of ridiculously priced mixes and supplements (that the horse probably doesn’t need), don’t expect the same at home. You’ll be lucky if there’s a Christmas tree up and didn’t you say you were cooking Christmas lunch this year?
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Trainer Phil Rowley and jockey Alex Edwards have enjoyed success between the flags over recent years and they finished last season as the champion trainer and jockey.
As the new point-to-point season kicks off, H&H visited the pair at Phil’s Shropshire base to discover the secrets to their success. Here’s a sneak peek behind the scenes at their training set-up.
Alex Edwards on Now Ben cooling off and relaxing by walking up the local stream after morning exercise at Rowley Racing base at Poplar Cottage Farm, near Bridgnorth in Shropshire in the UK on the 10 October 2018
One to watch…
Levasseur is tacked up ahead of the morning lot, while Champagne Lilly (left) looks on. Phil names five-year-old Champagne Lilly as a horse to follow this season: “She is a pretty, talented filly, who took time to mature but is unbeaten to date,” he said.
In the office…
Phil takes a look at the diary and does paperwork in the on-site office once all the horses have been worked.
New shoes…
The farrier visits the horses at Rowley Racing at Poplar Cottage Farm near Bridgnorth in Shropshire.
Home sweet home…
Happy horses relax in the spacious and airy American-style barns at the yard, which used to be a sheep farm with only one shed. Phil has transformed it into a thriving training set-up, now boasting four barns with stabling for up to 65 horses.
Time for a bath…
Horses are washed down after morning exercise on the gallops.
A morning dip…
Champion point-to-point rider and the stable jockey at Rowley Racing, Alex Edwards, walks Now Ben through Mor Brook, a stream with a gentle current that runs through the farm: “We walk the horses up the brook and it cools their legs down, esprcially after cantering. It also helps the older horses to chill out,” said Phil.
Daily dressage
All of the Rowley horses start their morning lots in the 20x60m sand school, which also has mirrors, doing some flatwork. Phil believes it is vital to build the horses’ core strength through flatwork — an influence of his dressage rider wife, Mel, who schools the horses weekly.
Catch up with the boss
Phil chats to his team of work riders during the morning, before heading out to the gallops.
Chilling in the field
The horses benefit from being turned out in the paddocks on the 75-acre farm following their work in the morning, allowing them some downtime.
On the gallops
Phil watches his string work up the five-furlong all-weather gallop set amid the stunning Shropshire countryside.
Don’t miss our ‘Point-to-point special’ in the 22 November issue of Horse & Hound, we visit Phil Rowley and Alex Edwards at home and more — on sale now.
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A CAT IN THE TRAILER.
Today, I was going to see if Gwen was fit and willing to go for a ride at the nearby training facility. Gwen is 23 and I haven’t ridden her since her huge ligament injury 5 years ago. She seems fine and eager to go, she carries a saddle and lets me sit on her. So, I thought we’d give it a try on a very easy, flat area.
I got up early to feed early so I could get going early.
Gwen was totally on board to participate in the familiar ‘pre-ride’ human behavior (getting the trailer ready, loading the hay bag, cleaning the shavings, assessing the items in my tack room, open the gate, bring horse out for grooming…) and she fell right into line, as if I rode her just last week.
Side Note: Gwen is Mama Tess’ first foal. I was there when she was born – and interestingly enough, Gwen was a ‘dummy’ foal. I was told she wouldn’t survive. She did (we did wrap her like a burrito, but with our arms. We didn’t give up on her to nurse. This was 23 years ago, before any science was done with dummy foals). Gwen has always been a very smart but an unsocial horse. The idea that dummy foal syndrome is a type of horse autism – fits her. You can read about her dummy foal history here.
Anyway, Gwen is a very solidly trained horse. I did it all myself and she is therefore perfect for me because she understand me exactly (and probably no one else since all of my quirks are part of her now). And she is short and perfectly smooth, which I love. Her sire was a government bred, old-style Morgan horse. Gwen has waaaaaay more hair than Tess did and is not as fine as Mama Tess.
FAST FORWARD… I get all ready, put Gwen in the trailer and I drive to the training facility and park.
Since Gwen is already groomed, I take her out of the trailer and walk her around so she can see the place and get acquainted. I’ve brought her here before, but that was back in the Spring, so we do a reminder loop or two.
La laaalaaa la la… I chat with the owner (CeCe) of the place and we hand walk the horses in the perfectly groomed arena where CeCe has a trail course set up (Yay!).
Laaa de dah laaa laaa, do-de-do…. We’re just having a relaxed, easy time… (I forgot my camera so I have no pics.)
Gwen is fine and settled so we walk back to the trailer to put on her saddle. I tie her up and open the tack room door.
LIKE A BULLET my cat, Floppy, darts out of the tack room and runs off! OMG. She must have gotten into the trailer tack room when I was grooming Gwen – and I didn’t notice.
Holy Crap! If she gets away, I will never find her on these 500 acres!
This is Floppy Kitty. We named her that because this is what she does when she sees a human. She flops and wants to be picked up.
You should have seen me dive after her like a kid in a sheep riding race! I’d come up with a patch of hair but no cat… then I’d see her running towards a tree, get scared, hesitate, look back and I’d pounce on her again, only to have her dash between my arms.
Arrrgh!!!
Meanwhile, the CeCe is still chatting with me, loudly so I can hear, totally unaware, as she rides in the arena.
I’m waiting for some dog or coyote to come up and snatch Floppy right in front of my eyes…
Me: “Floppy, ho!”
Floppy: ????
I crouched really low when I saw her hesitate again. I knew she was scared but I also knew that she wanted to explore. This was a kitty in a dilemma.
She saw me on the ground and started towards me.
I bit my tongue to keep myself from flinching or jumping up too soon.
When Floppy got really close, asking for reassurance from me, I GRABBED HER.
Of course, she acted like a wild cat, which is silly for her since she has no wildcat in her – we named her “Floppy” because she is so floppy in your arms or on the ground…
I quickly thought of my options – could I still ride? Where could I put her? In the nanoseconds that I had to decide (as she is squirming in my arms and scratching my arms), I realized that the only safe place was my trailer tack room… however, if I put her back in my trailer tack room, I wouldn’t be able to open the trailer door again until I was home. Hence, no saddle. So, no ride.
I went back into the arena and told the CeCe the situation. She thought I was kidding. I told her that I just spent the last furious 5 minutes, cat catching.
Gwen went back into the trailer… and we drove home.
As soon as I parked in our regular trailer spot, I could hear Floppy crying in the tack room. I opened the door and LIKE A BULLET – LIKE A FRAZZLED AND VERY UPSET BULLET – she rocketed out of the tack room and was gone into the garage.
I bet she’ll never do that again. (And you can bet I’ll never close the trailer tack room door without checking for a Floppy.)
Floppy. She’s really beautiful… I should have given her a better name.
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 06: Kerrin McEvoy and trainer Charlie Appleby pose with Cross Counter after winning Race 7, Lexus Melbourne Cup during Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse on November 6, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)
Newmarket-based trainer Charlie Appleby has enjoyed a remarkable year and today (6 November) added the Melbourne Cup to his Derby victory in June.
When Masar won the Investec Derby at Epsom in the summer, Charlie was providing powerhouse Godolphin with a first success in the English Classic. It was the same famous blue silks that dominated the “race that stops a nation” in Australia — a first Melbourne Cup victory for Godolphin owner Sheikh Mohammed and the first British-trained horse to win.
Carrying just eight stone, the three-year-old Cross Counter was given an inspiring ride by Aussie jockey Kerrin McEvoy, coming from the back of the 24-runner field and flying home with an impressive charge.
The last Melbourne Cup winner from this side of the globe was 25 years ago when Irish trainer Dermot Weld’s Vintage Crop triumphed.
It may have taken a quarter of a century to prove it can be done again, but British trainers dominated this year’s Group One contest, with a remarkable one-two-three — courtesy also of Marmelo (Hughie Morrison) in second and A Prince Of Arran (Charlie Fellowes) in third.
“I am delighted — this is everybody’s dream,” said Charlie afterwards. “It is all down to Sheikh Mohammed, he’s the one who has given us the encouragement to take the chances in what we do.
“We have campaigned this race over the past three years and we have been competitive, but we have learned a lot each time about what it takes to win on a big day like this,” he added.
“Coming into the race today, Cross Counter ticked a lot of the boxes [despite a minor setback during preparation]. I thought turning in for home, if he finds the gap he has the gears to pick up. This is all for Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin. I’ve just been in the fortunate position to have a great team behind me.
“It has been a learning curve [finding the right horse for the race], but I am lucky to have the horses to make the call on which one to bring over and thank the Lord we brought the right one over for today.”
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One of the most common causes of surgical colic in a mature horse is the pedunculated lipoma, which accounts for more than 40% of the lesions found in the small intestine.
A lipoma is a benign fatty growth, or tumour, that grows in the mesentery — a thin, veil-like tissue that carries blood vessels and nerves to the intestines and attaches the intestines to the abdominal wall. Lipomas typically develop in the mesentery of the small intestine, but can also occur in the small colon mesentery.
After starting life as a small, discrete lump of fat, a lipoma slowly enlarges over months to years and typically pulls away from the mesentery on a stalk of tissue called a pedicle. The pedicle can vary in length from a few centimetres to 50cm or more, while the lipoma itself can range from the size of a golf ball to a grapefruit.
A lipoma that grows close to where the mesentery attaches to the intestine may press against the intestine walls, causing a partial obstruction. This narrowing of the intestine can subsequently result in repeated bouts of colic that usually respond to medical treatment with either painkillers or dietary changes, or both.
A lipoma that is pedunculated — attached to a pedicle — can wrap itself around a portion of the intestine and create a physical obstruction.
The stalk acts like a ligature, cutting off the blood supply to the affected segment and causing rapid death of that part of the intestine. This “strangulating obstruction” usually results in signs of severe colic.
Who’s at risk?
Intestinal strangulation by a pedunculated lipoma is typically a disease of older horses with an average age of 14 to 19 years at diagnosis; horses under 10 rarely suffer from the condition.
All types and breeds can be affected, although some studies have suggested that ponies, Arabs, American saddlebreds and quarter horses are at a higher risk and thoroughbreds are at a lower risk. Affected horses are usually in good condition, but not necessarily obese. Geldings seem to be significantly more susceptible to the condition than mares.
Diagnosis is usually made at the time of surgery. The signs associated with the condition are usually similar to those of other causes of small intestinal strangulation. This is a form of moderate to severe colic pain that does not respond or responds only temporarily to painkillers.
Although small intestinal strangulations most commonly result in severe colic pain, some stoic horses will show little sign of discomfort.
When the affected portion of intestine has died, the pain may subside. Affected horses may therefore appear dull and depressed rather than showing classical signs of colic pain.
In evaluating a horse with colic, a vet will be looking for other signs that may indicate a small intestinal strangulating obstruction. These include: congested mucous membranes; a high heart rate; the presence of gastric reflux when a stomach tube is passed into the stomach; a distended small intestine that can be felt on rectal examination, and abnormal peritoneal fluid, a sample of which can be obtained by popping a needle into the abdomen along the midline of the belly.
Ultrasound examination of the abdomen can be helpful in identifying small intestinal obstructions and will occasionally reveal the presence of a lipoma.
Surgery is the only effective treatment. Once the affected portion of intestine is identified, the lipoma pedicle is cut or broken to relieve the constricting effect on the intestine and its blood supply.
Depending on how long the strangulation has been present, and whether or not irreparable damage has occurred, the affected intestine may need to be cut out (resected) and the remainder re-plumbed (anastomosed) to re-establish a healthy and functional intestinal tract.
Intestine that has completely lost its blood supply and has died as a result — a process known as infarction — is usually dark red or black in colour, whereas intestine that has been damaged but can survive once the blood supply is re-established may appear bruised and swollen.
The decision as to whether or not intestine needs removing is not always straightforward, even for an experienced colic surgeon. If just a small segment of dead intestine is left behind, the horse will not recover and may require a second surgery to remove that piece of gut.
The amount of intestine that needs to be resected will depend upon the length of the strangulated portion. Most commonly, a loop of intestine is involved, which may vary in length from 30-50cm to many metres. The small intestine of the average adult horse is around 25m long — up to half of this length can, if necessary, be removed.
Survival stats
A proportion of horses that undergo surgical correction will not survive.
Short-term survival rates of 48%-78% have been reported. Sometimes a horse is found in the morning after colicking all night, resulting in treatment at a later stage in the course of the disease. The resulting shock and toxaemia (blood poisoning) associated with the strangulating obstruction can result in damage to many other organs and may prove fatal.
In addition, a significant number of horses undergoing surgical treatment will develop post-operative ileus. This complication results in a failure of the intestine to move the gut contents along the intestinal tract, so that gas and fluid accumulate in the stomach and small intestine.
The lining of the intestine then suffers further damage as the pressure increases. Since horses are unable to vomit, the fluid that accumulates in the stomach must be removed by repeatedly passing a stomach tube to prevent the pressure increasing to the point where the stomach ruptures.
There is no specific effective treatment for post-operative ileus; management is primarily supportive in the hope that intestinal function will return. If this happens within a day or two of surgery, the horse can make a full recovery.
Unfortunately, the longer it persists, the less likely it is that the horse will survive. A second surgery is sometimes undertaken after a few days of post-operative ileus to allow decompression of the distended intestine and to check no irreparably damaged intestine is still present.
The underlying cause of lipomas is not yet fully understood, so there are no proven preventative measures. Since this is a disease of the fat, however, it is sensible to maintain an older horse or pony in an appropriate body condition instead of allowing him to become obese.
A lovely story of an orphaned baby elephant and the human she loves. Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre saves many orphaned wild ones… Click here to check out all of their good deeds.
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If you’re keen to show willing and impress on the hunting field, take a look at these useful tips from Tessa Waugh
You have far more of a chance of being helpful if you pay attention to what is going on around you. Stop chatting (not all day — we’re allowed a bit of fun) about last night’s party or so and so’s new horse, and look and listen.
When you come to a closed gate and you see the field master looking around, quickly volunteer to open it. If you have to get off your horse, so much the better. It’s great for your hunting-cred — everyone will file past thanking you and thinking that you’re marvellous.
Similarly, if you see the huntsman or master and the hounds heading in the direction of a closed gate with no-one to help him, ask the field master if you can go and open it.
If you hunt with a pack which doesn’t have nominated gate-shutters, try and close a few gates after everyone else has gone through — and not just the nice swingy ones with the latches that you can do from your horse. Get off and do the miserable one off its hinges in a bog. With any luck, someone else will be there to hold your horse.
Look out for any stock in the fields you are going through. If you see a herd of cattle charging towards an open gate which members of the field are exiting, position your horse between the gate and the cattle to prevent them from escaping. If any stock get out, offer to help get them back in.
Try to get to know the farmers whose land you are crossing so that when you come across them, perhaps holding a gate open, you can smile and politely pass the time of day, rather than barging through and shouting “gate please” without giving said farmer (whose land you are on) a second glance.
If one of your fellow field members is struggling with a piece of tack or wanting to get off for any reason, volunteer to hold their horse. Likewise, if you see the master or hunt staff getting off their horse for any reason, offer to go and hold it for them.
Simon Lawrance, MFH, four-star event rider and UKCC
Credit: TI Media
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If you see a loose horse, try catching it and taking it back to its rider. It is a massive bore going back, particularly if hounds are running, but the shoe might be on the other foot another day.
When you are on a road, be aware of any traffic that can’t get through, get out of the way quickly and send the message forward by shouting “car please”. Any communication that encourages better relations between hunting and non-hunting people is a good thing.
For all the latest veterinary advice, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday
There are plenty of ways to get your horsey kicks (pun absolutely intended) while enduring a horseless patch, says Jane Hutchison
Spring looks like it has finally arrived, the clocks are about to go forward and the competition season is kicking into gear.
It’s a great time of year for horsey people after the drudgery of a long winter. But for those of us who are firmly in the horsey camp but for any number of reasons currently find ourselves without a horse, it’s a strange challenging and frustrating time of year.
Here are nine ways to get you through a horseless patch:
1. Offer to help friends. If they are the kind of friends who have more horses in the family than riders, so much the better. Riders who are students might be busy with exams at this time of year whilst trying to get horses fit for the season. Let them know that you are happy to help with chores as well as riding. Poo picking is much more fun when you haven’t done it for six months. Ditto hacking out on the road in walk at the beginning of a post-winter fitness campaign.
2. Be creative with your spectating. If dressage is normally your discipline, go to a point-to-point, if you are a showjumper, go to a horse trials. You will still have the pleasure of watching horses perform and compete but won’t be putting yourself through watching the people you were competing against this time last year in the classes you would be in, if you still had your horse.
3. Or, if you are going to go to an event you would have been competing at, offer to go with a friend as a groom. Pick up numbers, hold the horse while your friend goes for their fourth nervous pee, bring the correct rug to the collecting ring. Bring cake. Oh, and pick up poo in the trailer.
4. If you have several extra hours in your day that would previously have been spent at the yard, you are likely to have more time to be tempted to have a peek at social media. Peek in moderation. Looking at pictures of what your friends are up to with their horses can be a great way to still feel in the loop and they will appreciate your positive comments and likes but spending whole evenings looking at people doing what you are currently missing out on can be soul-destroying. Unfollow anyone who moans about the early starts or going to two events in one weekend. Seriously?
5. Go for lessons in a completely new discipline on a hired horse. The Side Saddle Association has lists of approved teachers, some of whom will teach you on their own horses. Or why not try your hand at polo or barrel racing?
6. Get a subscription to Horse & Hound. For the same price as a couple of bags of feed, a whole week’s worth of horsey news and gossip will be yours every week. With all the money you are saving not having a horse, you can definitely afford a few little comforting treats.
7. And while we’re on the subject of comfort shopping, get yourself the breeches, boots or body protector you have been eyeing up for years. You will look smarter when you go to ride your friend’s horse and you will be investing in your future riding.
Hurrah for the Easter holidays! We’re excited about the impending chocolate fix, yes. But there are plenty other horsey reasons
8. At risk of sounding like non-horsey mothers up and down the land; think about something else. Most of us are not so one track minded that we have no other interests. Go to the theatre, read that book you always meant to read, agree to play tennis or go for a round of golf. (Let your friends and yourself know that your availability for non-equestrian sports on summer evenings is temporary).
9. Most importantly don’t give up hope. Horses are in our blood and that never changes. Trust that you will find a way to get back into the game as a horse owner again when you have a new job/move house/your children are older. The state of horselessness is temporary. It will pass.
For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday
The prize fund at the Royal Windsor Horse Show Rolex grand prix has been increased to €500,000 (£428,500) this year, a hike of £85,700 from 2018.
The culmination of the showjumping action at this year’s event, which runs from 8 to 12 May, is set to be “something special”, former world number one Scott Brash believes, with the record-breaking prize on offer.
“Royal Windsor Horse Show is set to become the UK’s richest show for competitors,” a spokesman for the show said. “Showcasing a star-studded line-up in its spectacular setting, the increased prize fund and new additions to the event reaffirm its prominence in the global equestrian calendar and popularity among fans.”
The prize boost brings the total cash on offer at the show to €875,000 (£749,850), and organisers believe the “heightened status of competition is expected to draw in the world’s best horse and rider combinations in showjumping to date”.
Scott, who will be aiming to beat 2018 grand prix champion Steve Guerdat to the prize this year, said: “Royal Windsor is like no other show; it’s set in one of the most spectacular outdoor settings and attracts an incredibly knowledgeable and informed showjumping crowd.
“Having such a strong line-up of world-class competitors each year really reflects the show’s growth and importance. I believe spectators will be in for something special this year and I really look forward to competing.”
The CSI5* showjumping starts on 10 May, while CDI4* dressage runs on 9 and 10 May. The show also features carriage driving, endurance and more than 120 showing classes.
Fed up with Monday? Let us transport you back to those moments from this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show that
New to the show this year are the Pony Club dressage championships and the under-25 showjumping competition, on 10 and 12 May respectively, while The Pageant 2019, a 90-minute “musical feat of entertainment” will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth, on 9, 10 and 11 May.
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.
A previous Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) winner and Olympia Best of Breed has passed away aged 18 after a short illness.
The Connemara gelding Sydserff Lord Of The Dance (Dancer) was one of the most successful ridden Connemaras of his time.
Owned by Joan MacCallum, Dancer was partnered by show horse producer Kirstine Douglas and together they won at every major county show in the country. His tally includes four Royal Highland Show wins and three championships and three Great Yorkshire Show wins and three championships. He also won at the Royal Show.
The grey, who was by Cocum Camelot, stood at just under 14hh
“I had ridden ponies for Mrs MacCallum for a while and I first met Dancer when he was two,” said Kirstine. “He came directly from his breeder, Eileen Simpson, but he didn’t start his ridden career until he was five.”
The gelding’s destiny was cemented on his first outing where he won and took champion.
Kirstine added: “If you actually went through everything he had won you would be there for hours, he had amazing success.”
In his first season, the pair qualified for HOYS. They took second at the final on two occasions and ended up winning the class in 2007. He was also Best of Breed at Olympia.
“Judges would say that they just couldn’t take their eyes off him and that he just owned the ring; for such a small pony he didn’t half cover some ground. He was a proper pony.
“He was always such a good boy but I do remember, on the morning of his HOYS victory, he threw me off in the warm up arena before the class; he was piaffing around and as I gave him a small smack on his neck he proceeded to put me right over his head, before going onto win the class — we still laugh about that to this day.
