A leading welfare charity is urging owners to take action on ragwort after a mare was brought into its care with severe liver damage.

Dolly was found by a World Horse Welfare field officer in Dorset in March 2017 with a foal at foot.

The mare was weak and struggling to survive while caring for her foal, named Rocket by staff at the charity.

“When Dolly first arrived she was very thin, with all her ribs and vertebrae clearly visible,” said Glenda Spooner Farm supervisor Grace Vooght.

“When new horses come into our care they are always examined by our vet and routine blood tests are undertaken to ensure they are not suffering any underlying problems.

“When Dolly’s results came back it became apparent she was suffering from severe liver damage which could have been caused by a number of poisons.

“One of the most common causes of liver damage that we see is ragwort poisoning, but without knowing her background, it was difficult to determine what had caused Dolly to be in such a terrible condition.

“The first step was to wean Rocket on to eating more independently so he was less reliant on Dolly’s milk, which worked well as he was quite a greedy foal.

“This allowed Dolly to put what little energy she had into repairing her damaged liver.”

Ms Vooght added that Dolly’s condition did not seem to be improving, with blood tests showing little progress in her liver’s healing.

Rocket now

“We continued to monitor Dolly and provide her with all the nutrition she needed so she could bring up her young foal and it was very much touch and go as to whether she would survive,” she said.

“After a few months of dedicated care and attention, Dolly miraculously began to recover and her liver finally started to function properly, which amazed us all.

“Both ponies are now living out in their herds and have undertaken their handling training as well as learning to go into a trailer – all in preparation for them to find loving new homes on our rehoming scheme.”

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World Horse Welfare’s chief field officer Claire Gordon is urging owners to remove the toxic plant from horses’ fields.

“It’s vital that your horse doesn’t eat ragwort, and you can’t assume they will choose not to eat it,” said Ms Gordon.

Dolly now

“Spraying in April and early May while the plant is growing is the most effective way to eradicate it from your pasture, but you must be able to rest the field after spraying.

“For those without access to additional grazing, pulling the whole plant up — including the roots — is the next best option.

“It’s best to do this at the seedling or rosette stage, before the plant flowers and while the ground is still soft — so the sooner you act, the better.

“Seeds can remain in the ground for 15 years before germination, so even if you’ve removed ragwort in previous years, it’s important to do it again every year.”

Click here for more information on how to control ragwort

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.

One evening a couple of weeks ago, long term livery, Lauren, persuaded me to enter an arena one-day event that is coming up in June.

Presumably Lauren had drunk far too much of those fine wines we were duped into buying at a wine tasting evening back in the winter. Okay, possibly not ‘duped’, as such — my hazy memory of the evening seems to recall me merrily and willingly throwing fistfuls of cash at our wine consultant when it came to purchasing time.

Both Lauren and I are keen and excited for the event, but we each have our individual demons.

Lauren, you see, has the pony for the job but is yet to find a reputable stockist of ‘Brave Pants’ in our area. We are still two weeks away from competition day, but poor Lauren is already experiencing regular anxiety dreams.

Chunky and I at home

In turn, I am a little daunted by the fact that my mount’s, (Jo Bunker’s Chunky) last showjumping outing (alright, his only ever showjumping outing) resulted in the whole course having to be reconstructed in our wake. We weren’t so much showjumping, as bowling. So you can imagine, the prospect of aiming our beloved Chunky at solid obstacles invokes feelings of terror and lunacy.

With this in mind, we have entered ourselves into the smallest class of the day, 30-40cm, and are fully prepared to be annihilated by a load of seven-year-old kids on their Shetlands and Welsh section As. Should it occur that ‘Brave Pants’ cannot be sourced in Lauren’s size by June then, at 40cm, perhaps a pair of ‘Still Terrified But Willing To Give It A Go Pants’ might suffice.

Doing hill work with Chunky

I have spent longer than is psychologically healthy pondering whether a rotational fall at the giddy heights of 30-40cm is even possible. But I mustn’t joke about these things, of course, because serious accidents can happen at any height — or even on the flat! (How are those anxiety dreams coming along, Lauren…?)

Thankfully, Chunky has spent most of the winter pretending to be a Lipizzaner stallion on the ground, perfecting his in-hand rearing (bleedin’ youngsters!). The unexpected perks of this being that Chunky has massively strengthened his hind end and, much to our delight, has developed the ability to (sometimes) leave a fence standing. To the point where I am starting to think we might almost consider going to this event to actually compete rather than merely survive.

Competing in my new hat

Entries done and training commenced, the next step was to update my safety gear.

In the spring of 2017, I managed to swindle myself a generous sponsorship from Gatehouse. I could hardly believe my luck when my smart new Conquest MKII riding hat arrived in the post.

Recently, the time came for me to approach Gatehouse and see if they wanted to continue to support me. This was not an easy thing to do. Especially for someone who finds it slightly embarrassing even asking for the salt and pepper at the dinner table. Asking for a direct hand out is almost unbearable. But I needed to know where I stood, so I sent an email to my contact at Gatehouse. Quite quickly, a reply came that this lady no longer worked at the company.

“Oh God!” I thought. “The poor woman has clearly been fired for sponsoring an incompetent and blowing the annual budget on a nobody.”

As advised, I emailed the recommended colleague who I was told might be able to help me. Much to my surprise, Gatehouse appear to be reasonably pleased with my promotion on social media for the brand. To celebrate a commitment of continued mutual support, Gatehouse have sent me a stunning Chelsea Air Flow Pro Crystal hat. I have been drooling over this helmet for a while now and feel very privileged to own two gorgeous Gatehouse hats (or three if you count the battered old Pegasus that I just use for turning out) now.

My new subtle cross-country colours…

I seem to be turning into something of a magpie in my old age and when organising what gear Chunky and I will need for his event, I was slightly concerned at the lack of bling on the average cross country attire. Thankfully, I have found some colours that hit the spot for me.

I am renowned for my subtlety and taste. No surprise, then, that I have gone for bright red, plastered in huge amounts of gold glittery stars.

Gilly fitting my body protector

The final element of preparations was an update of my body protector. My current body protector was purchased from ebay for the princely sum of £10 in the dark ages, when it seems I had the body of a heavyweight wrestler.

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I organised a trip to our local tack shop, Barnstaple Equestrian Supplies. I did have the thought in the back of my mind that body protectors could surely be bought much cheaper online than in an actual shop. But, a trip in-store meant that I got professionally fitted by a lovely lady called Gilly Davidson.

Without Gilly, due to my uncontrolled body dysmorphia, I probably would have ordered a size online more suitable for a seven foot tall rugby player. Indeed without Gilly, there would have been no one to shoot my husband a fierce glare when he commented in all naivety and without any malice, “Get the small size, not the medium. Don’t forget you are still carrying a bit of baby weight.”

All that is left to do now is to train a Shire x cob that he wants to fly!

Katy x

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.

One of the most successful ridden Connemara mares of all time has been retired to stud at the age of 10.

Lady Sue Huntingdon’s double Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) winner Slieve Bloom Jill, or Hermione as she is known at home, has made the move to Ireland to stand as a broodmare with Dublin breeder Paddy Kearns, after an illustrious career under saddle.

“I was introduced to her when she was a four-year-old, by my good friend Mitch Doyle who had just bought and had her on his yard in Suffolk,” said Sue.

“She was in poor condition, with dreadlocks and mites, but she just had the most unbelievable movement with an exquisite head. The main thing I noticed, however, was that she never once put her ears back. She has always been such a happy, talkative mare.”

As a five-year-old, the Brocklodge Buster daughter made her show ring debut in-hand at the East of England Connemara show. Sue added: “It was an amazing day. She won her class, was champion and then took overall supreme of show — even then she just had that ‘look at me’ factor.”

For the three and half years she was shown under saddle, Hermione was produced by the Berkshire-based Ramsey show team and was ably piloted through the ranks by Hannah Horton.

“They just have the most amazing bond. I used to love watching them together,” said Sue.

During their time together, the duo notched up an enviable tally which includes two HOYS Connemara class wins, in 2015 and 2016, 2016 HOYS reserve mountain and moorland (M&M) champion, 2016 Royal International M&M supreme champion, 2016 Royal Windsor M&M champion, multi-Olympia best of breed and two time Hickstead Derby M&M champion — to name just a few.

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“Her wins are even more significant because she is a mare,” continued Sue. “Native classes are full of stallions, so she has done a lot for the ‘girl power’ movement.” 

Hermione will soon be put in foal to a stallion of Paddy’s choice, and the aim is to contend some in-hand classes with her as a broodmare and then with her foal at foot.

“She has done all she can do in the ring, so it’s time for her to do something new,” said Sue.

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

The eyes of the world were on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as the happy couple tied the knot at St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle on Saturday (19 May 2018). All eyes, that is, except those belonging to equestrians.

Horse & Hound takes a look back at the best horsey moments from the royal wedding…

1. The spicy grey

Well sat to the outrider on the sprightly Windsor Grey accompanying the newly-wed Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

2. The spell-binding Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

Eagle-eyed viewers may have recognised the gleaming horses from the musical ride at the Royal Windsor Horse Show the previous week.

Credit: Getty Images

3. The Household Cavalry… Again

Because you can never have too many photos of the Household Cavalry — and we’re still feeling mesmerised by that sparkly tack.

Credit: Getty Images

4. The heroic police horses

Thames Valley Police’s mounted section were out and about, protecting the crowds and the happy couple. We know they’re trained for the job, but staying calm with those patriotic crowds spilling onto every street in Windsor would push the calmest of horses to the limits.

5. Star rider spotting

Is that top British eventer Harry Meade accidentally photobombing George and Amal Clooney? (Answer: yes, it is)

Credit: Getty Images

6. Talking of riders…

Zara Tindall makes a seamless transition from jodhpur-clad four-star eventer to glamorous wedding guest, accompanied by her husband Mike

And the (equestrian) celeb-spotting didn’t stop there, with Olympic dressage rider Laura Tomlinson and her England polo-playing husband Mark…

…Princess Anne…

Credit: REX/Shutterstock

…polo player Nacho Figueras…

And of course the ultimate equestrian hero: The Queen (who we imagine would have been keeping a keen eye on the equine stars of the day…)

Credit: AFP/Getty Images

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 issue (17 May 2018) 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, plus check out our interview with Irish eventer Padraig McCarth 

Promotional Feature with NAF

by Kate Hore RNutr (animal) senior nutritionist at NAF

A question we’re commonly asked is ‘is it safe to compete on?’

How do you advise riders correctly? There are two main considerations we have to look at: firstly does the product knowingly contain products that are not allowed for competition; and secondly, what are the chances that unknown contamination by a prohibited substance has occurred?

Some natural products, although not appropriate for competition, still have a role to play within equine welfare and therefore are still available as natural supplements. While herbs such as valerian, a natural sedative, are well known and rightly avoided, others are not so well known. Those particularly to be aware of include chilli pepper and devil’s claw.

NAF undertake strict quality control operations and retain samples of all raw ingredients and finished products

For all disciplines, besides racing, the FEI prohibited substances list is followed, and there is an online searchable database which allows you to check the products you’re advising. The database can be found at here.

Simply check the label and input the ingredients into the search bar. As an example if we search for ‘Glucosamine sulphate’, used in quality joint supplements, you get a negative result, i.e. ‘Your search returned no results.’ However if we search for valerian we get :-

For either result, if you’re in any doubt check with the product’s manufacturer who should be able to give you a clear answer.

Devil’s claw was added to the list of prohibited substances in January 2016, as the FEI recognised the active constituent, harpagoside, to be a natural anti-inflammatory. However, this doesn’t mean it doesn’t still have its uses, and devil’s claw products are great for maintaining comfort in the joints of older or retired horses. Of course it does mean that competing horses should not be fed devil’s claw products. If competition horses are on a yard we’d advise keeping any devil’s claw products in the medicine cabinet and well away from feed, to avoid any confusion.

Don’t forget to also check applications, as it’s not just through feed or supplements that riders can fall fowl of the rules. One high profile case at the Athens 2004 Olympics saw Germany lose its team showjumping gold medal as one of their horses had a positive result after a topical rub had been used on the horse.

Mixing powders in the NAF Factory is a complex operation

BETA NOPS
Luckily there is such a scheme that competitors can trust. BETA (British Equestrian Trade Association) working in combination with globally recognised quality audit bodies launched the BETA NOPS Code in 2009. This is an assurance scheme to reduce the risk of accidental contamination by naturally occurring prohibited substances (NOPS). Those prohibited substances they are particularly looking for include the following, although please note this is not an exclusive list (source in brackets).

• Caffeine – (coffee)
• Theobromine – (chocolate)
• Theophylline – (tea)
• Morphine – (opium poppy, Papaver somniferum)
• Hyoscine – (nightshade, Datura)
• Hordenine – (germinating barley)
• Atropine – (nightshade – Atropa belladonna)
• Nicotine – from tobacco

The BETA NOPS Code ensures all materials used are risk assessed, all suppliers are carefully chosen and all manufacturing processes are carefully controlled to minimise the risk of NOPS contamination from farm to shop. Here at NAF we go above and beyond, and check every batch of every raw material and every end product, taking clean sport very seriously.

Checking that any feed or supplement for competition horses and ponies carries the NOPS logo should reassure owners, producers and trainers that everything possible has been done to minimise the risk from accidental contamination.

What can you do?
Owners, riders and producers have their own role to play in feed safety for competing horses. Look back at the list of NOPS and you can see how ill-advised it would be to enjoy a cup of coffee and a chocolate biscuit in the feed room!

Anyone handling feed for competing horses should be aware of the risks and take suitable precautions such as keeping your own snacks away from horse feed, keeping any medications strictly separate and cleaning buckets after every use. For further information how you can reduce the risk on your own yard, see the BETA guide to avoiding prohibited substances online.

Care should be taking when mixing feeds to avoid contamination

It’s one of the biggest accolades a show horse can take, and this year, a lightweight hunter pinged his way around the Castle Arena to the supreme champion title on the final day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show (13 May 2018).

Let’s get to know the 2018 victor, View Point (AKA Sean). The now seven-year-old Irish-bred bay gelding is owned by Gill Day. By Loughahoe Guy and out of Quality Dame, Sean is ridden and produced by Cheshire-based showman Robert Walker and his team. He was bought as a foal from his breeder, Sean Jones.

View Point: 2018 Royal Windsor supreme champion

1. He has great genes

While his own record is certainly an impressive one, View Point’s older brother Vantage Point, also piloted by Robert, notched up several successes in the show ring a few years before. Vantage Point’s tally includes the 2015 Hunter of the Year title.

2. Novice success

As a four and five year old he took the novice circuit by storm, standing novice champion twice at the British Show Horse Championships and also winning the novice hunters at the Great Yorkshire Show, when he was a five year old.

3. He’s a HOYS champion

In 2017, on his HOYS debut, View Point claimed the overall Hunter of the Year title. “He performed beyond his years in that arena,” says Robert, when the pair won the title. “I thought maybe we had brought him a year too soon, but he’s just got better and better while he’s been here.”

4. In the Windsor limelight

With 16 other contenders, the supreme championship was judged by none other than dressage supremos Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin. “The winner was the only one who had the length of frame and looked up hill the whole time,” says Carl. “I can imagine it’s like sitting on an aircraft waiting to take off.”

5. He’s the first in the field

“He love to go out,” says Robert. “He loves a routine so knows when it’s time to go in the field — in the morning he is waiting to be turned out. In summer, he’s out by himself but in winter he goes out with our heavyweight, Patrick’s Choice.”

6. He’s a quick learner

“He does a lot of hacking as he is a very quick learner and would get bored going round and round in the school. This also means he doesn’t need too much work in between shows,” says Robert.

7. He’s a chatterbox

“When he’s out and about at shows, he often whinnies,” says Robert. “Sometimes he even does it when the judge is on him. He doesn’t even move his head but you can gently hear him. He did it just before my gallop at Windsor, but I just laughed as it’s part of his charm.”

8. He loves attention

“He can often be more relaxed at bigger shows. He loves the cheers and clapping from the crowds and just laps up the attention,” says Robert.

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 issue of Horse & Hound magazine (17 May 2018) features a full report from Royal Windsor Horse Show, including all the showing, showjumping and dressage action

SO BRAVE!

Talk about stepping into action!

This girl was about to go into her show class… saw the other horse get loose from its halter and bolt…

What does this teenager do?  She goes after the loose horse, of course!  ONTO THE HIGHWAY!

A huge tribute to the skill of the rider and sane temperament of the horse being ridden!

Click here to read the story and watch the video!

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The post CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?! TEENAGER AT HORSE SHOW RUNS DOWN A RUNAWAY HORSE ON THE FREEWAY!! appeared first on Horse and Man.

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A former racehorse has made a remarkable recovery following a terrifying accident last year (17 October).

David Lloyd George (“George”) was turned out in his field in Northampton when something spooked him and he attempted to jump out over a five-bar gate.

The gelding fell and skidded several metres across the ground, after which he got back on his feet and galloped to the gate of the yard.

He smashed through heavy iron gates and galloped for two miles into Kingsthorpe in heavy rush hour traffic.

His owner, Clare Lewis was lunging a pony when she heard George bolting out of the yard.

Credit: Adrian Howes Photography

“Something had petrified him — I think he may have been stung under his rug,” she told H&H.

“I was driving round for 20 minutes and there was no sign of him. I don’t know what I was thinking, it was just mad and so scary not knowing where he was.”

Claire contacted police who informed her George had been caught.

A member of the public had caught him with a piece of string and put him in their garden.

“When I arrived he screamed at me and came running over — he’s never been so pleased to see me,” said Clare.

“I couldn’t believe he was upright. How he dodged all the traffic, I don’t know. He’d gone through a really horrendous junction.”

George was left with scrapes to his legs and shoulder, a deeper cut to a foreleg, and a cut through his frog.

George’s crashing fall from the field was captured by the yard’s CCTV cameras.

“I couldn’t believe it and the vets were gobsmacked,” said Clare. “They couldn’t believe he got up from that fall.”

George was put on seven weeks of box rest with pony Cheeko to keep him company.

He made good progress and returned to the field for a month, and was ridden for the first time since the accident on 9 January, having been given the all-clear by the vet and osteopath.

George has since gone from strength to strength and is going to his first dressage competition since his accident this weekend.

“He feels amazing,” said Clare of the 13-year-old, who she has owned since he was retired from the racetrack at four. “He’s really fit and strong.”

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Clare said George’s behaviour on the day of the accident was completely out of character.

“He’s so laid back it’s painful,” she laughed.

Clare praised her vets, Swanspool Veterinary Clinic in Wellingborough, and equine osteopath, David Powers of In Motion Equine, for all their help with George’s rehabilitation.

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

The latest 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 police horse who was punched on the nose by a drunk football fan but “still loves people” has retired after 14 years on the beat.

Bud, a part-bred Shire, has come off duty aged 20 to spend the rest of his days at the Horse Trust.

He was unharmed in the incident at a Newcastle v Sunderland match in April 2013 – his attacker was sent to prison for a year – and was transferred from West Yorkshire Police to the Met two years later.

“Throughout his career, Bud was involved with all aspects of mounted policing, the good, the bad and, as we know, the occasionally ugly face of public gatherings including local patrols, ceremonial events, public demonstrations and countless sporting events,” said a Horse Trust spokesman.

“Thankfully this isn’t the sort of thing that happens very often.”

The spokesman said that Bud’s calm temperament made him ideal as a mount for officers new to riding, and for escorting inexperienced horses on the streets of London.

“But even he couldn’t go on for ever,” the spokesman said, adding that Bud’s former riders described him as a loyal and steady horse.

“As soon as he arrived, everyone at the Horse Trust fell in love with him. Incredibly he still loves people and that’s a testament to the great care police horses in service are given and to the very strong bonds they develop with their regular riders.

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“It was an emotional farewell when he arrived here, with more than a few Polos and kisses to go around.”

Horse Trust chief executive Jeanette Allen said Bud would join fellow former Met recruits Gawain, Hadrian, Kathleen, Cumbria and Jedburgh as well as Boris, Huntsman and Trojan who served with other police forces.

“It is our privilege to care for these incredible animals later in life that along with their officers give so much to our communities and I will personally make sure that Bud will never see another football scarf while he is with us!” she said.

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