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Stallions At Stud

Well Spotted – New Stallion at Country Farm Stud with an historic story

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Horse Scout Blogger noticed a new stallion standing at Country Farm Stud in Lancashire who is a Leopard Blanket Spot Sports Horse called Moorhey Tomahawk.

Horse Scout Bloggers’ mission today: Find out about the spotted horses, which are very popular on todays circuits. The European spotted horse has developed independently of the American spotted horse. Recent research has suggested that Eurasian prehistoric cave paintings depicting leopard-spotted horses may have accurately reflected a phenotype of ancient wild horse. Domesticated horses with leopard complex spotting patterns have been depicted in art dating as far back as Ancient Greece, Ancient Persia, and the Han Dynasty in China; later depictions appeared in 11th-century France and 12th-century England. French paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries show horses with spotted coats being used as riding horses, and other records indicate they were also used as coach horses at the court of Louis XIV of France.[ In mid-18th-century Europe, there was a great demand for horses with the leopard complex spotting pattern among the nobility and royalty. These horses were used in the schools of horsemanship, for parade use, and other forms of display. Modern horse breeds in Europe today that have leopard complex spotting include the Knabstrupper, first established in 1812 in Denmark. This breed is generally based on the warmblood and also the Baroque horses such as the Andalusian, Lipizzan and Lusitano breeds.

Moorhey Tomahawk. Is an extremely well know & versatile Appaloosa Sports Horse Stallion who joins Country Farm Stud this year. Horse Scout Professional Karen Raine describes him as a true all round Sports Horse Stallion this compact stallion has it all. He has the most fantastic temperament, drop dead gorgeous looks & perfect conformation. To add to all that he has successes in Showing, Sports horse Classes, young Event Horse Classes, BSJA Show jumping & BD Dressage. He is the proven sire of a HOYS winner, numerous Showing & Sports Horse Champions, as well as Show jumpers & Dressage horses.Show Jumping He has substantial BSJA winnings showing a superb technique over a fence which he passes onto all his offspring. he is both bold & careful with plenty of scope. Dressage He has almost 200 Bd points winning at Elementary level. last year he was 4th at the National & won the Individual Elementary Section at the British Dressage Home Internationals at Rowellan. Sports Horse As both a 4 & 5year old he won numerous Ridden Sports Horse Classes & qualified for the Burghley young Event Horse Final at Burhgley. Showing Numerous Ridden & In Hand Championships,to his name. Stud Fee £400 plus VAT

Horse Breeds

Horse Scouts’ Irish Connection – Top Professionals and horses with an Irish Conncetion listed on Horse Scout

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Horse Scout Blogger was been inspecting our lists for Irish Horses today.  Wow, there are some top Irish horses listed, at stud and for sale on Horse Scout.

The Irish sports horse is evaluated on its genetic performance. This is used as a measure of the ability of all of a horse’s known relatives including parents, full‐and half‐siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts etc. Breeding values based on pedigree alone will be identical for all full siblings, however, when these horses start to compete, their own performances will be used to determine a set of genes and therefore breeding values will change accordingly.

Horse Scout also has Olivers Green an Irish Sports Horse Eventer who upgraded to Intermediate in 2014. Lucca Stubbington, who has a Professional Profile on Horse Scout along with profiles of her string of competition horses, says that Olivers’ best placing was 2nd at Scarva Horse Trials as and that he has had good placings at novice level, which included winning at Finvoy Horse Trials. He will be upgraded to CCI** in 2015, whioch must be a very exciting prospect for her. She lists his breeding as Florida Son x Brockley Green.  At the moment this horse has no connections to others on our site other than his Irish Breeding.

However, Horse Scout, the horse worlds’ answer to LinkedIn offers all our professionals the opportunity follow other professionals and their horses. It is a useful measure of pedigree to see how well horses with similar breeding are performing and by building connections, as with any social media hub, the more connections you building the stronger your profile is in the Horse Scout.

Of course a horses performance can be greatly influenced by its training, its rider and its circumstances. A multitude of things. However horse scout bloger has noticed that the Irish Horse is a popular one in the competitive field.  They are a versatile breed with great performance records in all spheres of horsemanship. The even temperament, durability and power of the Irish Draught, mixed with the speed and athleticism of the Thoroughbred, creates a potent mix which is well up to the demands of modern day competition. World famous for jumping and cross-country ability, this Irish Draught/Thoroughbred cross is not only a top caliber international athlete, but can serve as a perfect novice mount, adeptly boosting the confidence of a lower level rider.

Horse Scout has Honour Cruise – listed as a 16.2hh Irish Sports Horse stallion standing in Malpas, Cheshire with proven Cloverhill bloodlines this lovely dapple grey horse combines an exceptional jumping technique with superb correct movement and conformation. He was selected by Oliver Townend and Nina Barbour from the 2009 Elite 3 yr old sale at Cavan. He combines the very best of Irish bloodlines and has the blood and quality needed to be a top-class athlete. Honour Cruise has a fantastic, trainable temperament. Jumped a double clear in his first event, a BE100, at the end of the 2012 season with Oliver Townend, finishing on his dressage score of 25. In 2013 Honour Cruise completed his first full season, finishing the season with a consistent record at Novice level. Finishing in the top ten on five occasions.

Horse Scout also has a few Irish horses for sale on its lists namely:

Clonkyle Pilgrim in Norfolk at £5,500 Richard Pilgrim describes him as a lovely boy by Rantis Diamond who has hunted in Ireland. In six BS outings has had double clears in his Novice classes. Riochard thinks he would make lovely eventer or show jumper and that he is a horse with potential and would make a great project for someone to bring on. He is very careful over jumps and is competing now He won BN and was second in discovery at Easton colledge in two outings at BS classes on 21 02 2015 British Novice and Discovery 8 .03.15.

and Cappoquin Steel in Dorchester, Dorset, who is extremely eye catching **SERIOUSLY SMART** is how describes Aaron Millar, the international Event rider. He says his lovely 16.2hh, 6y.o. steel grey Irish gelding, with 3 tidy paces and a great attitude, is fast learner, who wants to please. Cappoquin Steel will do a super test and has a bold jump but is still snaffle mouthed and polite to a fence. Schooling well at home he hasn’t put a foot wrong. Very well mannered, a pleasure to have on the yard. Will excel in any discipline, ready to go on and realise full potential.

Professional Rider

Professional Profile – Louis Principe – International rider with an impressive track record!

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Are you looking for a top trainer in Gloucestershire? then International Grand Prix Dressage Rider – Luis Principe may be the man for you. Currently training with Carl Hester Luis is enjoying passing on the considerable knowledge & passion gained over the years to his clients. Based in Cheltenham (Gloucestershire). Luis enjoys training riders and horses from Novice through to Grand prix at his base or Freelancing.

Horse Scout blogger was looking at a video of him training Washington this morning and considering the musculature of this wonderful horse. The pure strength guilt into the base of his neck and the beautiful smooth top line all the say to his tail was so obvious as he piaffed and passaged for Louis. “Training from Novice to Grand Prix level” Louis’ approach to training the horse and/or rider (from Novice to Grand Prix) is a sympathetic calm approach with the welfare of the horse being paramount, and I think you can see this is his horses way of going.

One of the consistent things about a top class dressage horse is the evidence of “Durchlassig” When translated literally this actually means “permeable” Which I love, Germans have a way of using words which make such sense if you think in half pass or shoulder in! The Germans use the word Durchlässigkeit to mean that the horse’s energy and the rider’s aids travel in a continuous circuit without resistance in any part of the body. In English this is referred to as “throughness”; ideal state in which the rider can influence the horse with ease. When the horse is Durchlässig, or through, the half halts can form him into a “beach-ball” shape in which he can be very flexible and elastic. His topline becomes very round and he lifts up under his belly, raises his withers and softens the under-neck muscles without resistance.

Louis moved to the UK in 1999 and commented a few years later on his admiration for the pace at which the British rider trained a horse, allowing the horse to mature into its body and build training incrementally “really focusing on the basics and on getting the horse through the levels in a sympathetic and friendly manner, independently of how long it might take,” he said. He preferred this over the Portuguese’s sometimes hurried approach, in the early 90’s, where there was a temptation to just get the horses to do all the “tricks” as soon as possible… “as it just wasn’t for me to bully horses around,” he stated.

Louis Principe represented Portugal in several CDI’s and BE competitions – Highlights: World Cup Qualifiers, 2 European Dressage Championships, World Cup Finals, Reserve for the 2012 Olympics and the 2014 WEG. Whilst busy competing mainly Internationally Luis has also been establishing his own teaching clientele.. The 2015 European Dressage Championships and the 2016 Olympics are Luis’s main aims for the future.  On his Horse Scout Porfessional Profile he has “ Too many placings at International competitions to mention them all but here are a few”: 2011 – European Dressage Championships Rotterdam – Several placings in CDI’s and the World Cup Series – Several placings in BE events to include a 1st place at Pontispool Intermediate on a score of 24.6 penalties 2012 – Several placings in the World Cup Series – World Cup Finals – Reserve for London Olympics 2013 – European Dressage Championships Herning – Several placings in CDI’s and BE events 2014 – Qatar CDI 5* (placed) – Reserve for the WEG Caen.  That is an impressive record!

Louis goes on to say ‘In the new season I’m looking to bring out “Bueno” a 8 years old Lusitano Stallion (not your typical one) in Grand Prix with the aim being either the European Championships (if he is ready at the time) or the 2015/2016 World Cup Season. We have also a superb 3 years old Stallion that I’ll be aiming at the World Breeding Championships in Verden in the upcoming season 2015”

Louise is based at the BHS approved Studdington Court Farm and can offer tuition at the stud or can travel.  Please contact him here is you would like to talk to him about training or orgainising a clinic with him.

Interesting Horse Facts

Is grooming a haze of hair for you? Four Pointers For De Fuzzing Your Horse

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Spring may be sprung – but sometimes its quite hard to un stick your horses hair!

Alas, when it comes to helping a horse lose his winter coat there are no magical short cuts, and the only thing Horse Scout Blogger can offer – that is guaranteed to work is:

Daily grooming and an application of good old-fashioned elbow grease!

To make things a little less scary but no less hairy:

  1. Grooming after exercise when the horse is warm and the pores of the skin are more open is much easier and the coat will shed more quickly.
  2. Use a rubber curry comb, a dandy brush and/or a grooming mitt to remove dead hair then go over the coat with a body brush to help massage the skin and stimulate the oil glands.
  3. To help protect your clothing try wearing overalls and if you have an allergy it is advisable to wear a disposable paper mask (readily available in supermarkets and chemists).
  4. On a good note, there is nothing more satisfying or calorie busting than a vigorous grooming session that ends with the emergence of a sleek, smart horse. Welcome to spring!

After such a long, cold winter riders have been looking forward to the spring and summer so that we can get out and enjoy our horses more. However, with the onset of longer daylight hours and warmer weather comes the inevitable shedding of winter coats and many of us disappearing in a haze of loose hair and dandruff every time we groom! It’s funny how the horse ends up looking smart but we end up coughing and spluttering and covered in hair.

Like many animals, horses grow a thick winter coat to help protect them against cold weather. The long, fluffy winter coat stands up and traps pockets of air to create an insulating layer and retain the heat. It is common for a horse, particularly bays to appear to change coat colour in the spring and summer. Some bay horses have an undercoat that is almost black and others appear to have a lighter summer coat.

Several elements trigger hair growth and shedding and these include environmental, nutritional and hormonal factors. The longer, warmer days of spring help to stimulate the loss of the winter coat.

Failure to lose the winter coat can be related to several different factors including a hormone imbalance. Older horses can often develop a condition known as Cushing’s disease, or Cushing’s syndrome, which affects the adrenal glands and requires veterinary diagnosis and medication. Horses that do not shed their coats may need to in order to keep them comfortable in warm weather.

Parasites can deplete a horse of necessary nutrients and affect the coat, and so implementing a regular and up-to-date worming routine is vital. Adding a daily dose of vegetable or linseed oil to the horse’s feed may help to promote a shinier coat and speed up the shedding process.

You may notice that your horse rolls more or rubs against trees or fences to help work the old hair loose. A sweating horse becomes very itchy and uncomfortable and so grooming is very important, but excessive dandruff or greasy skin, can indicate other problems so check the skin and hair for signs of lice or skin disease.

Horse Riding Tips

Spring Is Sprung, the grass is riz….I wonder what a fructon is – 7 key facts about “Fructans” in grass

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Do you keep your own horse has spring fever struck and you are going to buy a new horse? Springtime is lovely with all the blossoms and daffodils suddenly brightening up your garden or decorating the driveway to your local competition centre or cross country venue.  However, says sage Horse Scout Blogger(!), with the daffodils comes the new spring grass is typically high in particular nutrients called fructans – to which your horse’s digestive tract is unaccustomed after a long winter on hay and which can be hard on the hindgut. As a result, the equine digestive system needs to be slowly conditioned to handle hours of grazing green pasture grass. What Are Fructans In Grass? “Fructans” in grass are fructose chain molecules, a type of sugar. This sugar is a byproduct of photosynthesis and is used to aid plant growth. On sunny days, fructose is produced in large quantities and stored within the blade of grass. When it cools off at night, these fructans are then utilized as fuel for growth. Fructans are higher in the seasons when the weather is cool: spring and fall. They are still present during hot summers, but not usually at levels that can be dangerous. Here are a few key things you should know about fructan levels:

  1. Higher in stressed pastures than in lush grass
  2. Higher when night-time temperatures drop below 40 degrees (because the grasses do not grow, so the excess remains stored in the stems)
  3. Lower in new spring grass (first 3-6 inches), but also lower in fiber
  4. High in mature grass (8-10 inches), but also higher in fiber
  5. Lower in the morning when days are sunny and nights warm
  6. Higher in the afternoon/evening on a sunny day
  7. Lower in rainy, wet weather

How Do Fructans Affect Horses? Because fructans are a non-structural carbohydrate, horses cannot digest them. Therefore, fructans must be broken down by the microorganisms in the equine hindgut first so that they can be absorbed. Because they are a type of sugar, horses love to eat grasses that are high in fructans. Horses that are unaccustomed to grass turnout, that have been on hay all winter, or that are already prone to colic and laminitis can have their digestive tracts upset easily by high levels of fructans. Here’s how it works: The types of microorganisms in a horse’s hindgut vary according to the types of food it eats. When a horse is suddenly put out on pasture after a winter of hay, the microorganisms aren’t equipped to digest the high levels of fructans, and the bacteria die. When the good bacteria dies off, the acidity of the hindgut is raised (lactic acid is produced) and harmful pathogens are released. The lactic acid and pathogens are absorbed into the bloodstream and are known causes of laminitis. When the acidity level of the hindgut increases quickly as it is prone to do when fructans are high, the horse can also colic. While some horses have a higher risk for colic and laminitis, they are very serious conditions that can affect any horse if it isn’t managed carefully. Spring Grass Management Tips to Avoid Health Risks Fortunately, careful management in feeding and turnout can help protect your horse from health risks like laminitis and colic caused by high levels of fructans in grass. The key is to build up time on grass slowly. Increase Spring Turnout Gradually For all horses that have subsisted on hay all winter, introduce pasture time incrementally over a period of weeks. At Freedom Farm, we start our horses on grass for an hour a day, and then increase that time by 15-30 minutes each subsequent day. If the weather is bad and we have to skip a day of turnout, we keep the horses at the same amount of time the next time they go out. Horses with a higher tolerance may be able to start out with a longer time initially, while horses particularly prone to issues may need to start at less. Alternatively, if you have a horse that lives out 24-7 it is prudent to bring it in off grass for part of the day when grass is newly growing and fructan levels are high. Avoid Afternoon Grasses Because fructan levels reach their highest in the afternoon on sunny days, it’s best to turnout in the morning or late at night. Maintain Pastures Fructans levels are higher in pastures that are overgrazed or where grass is too mature. Rotate pastures to give them a break, and keep them mowed to 4-8 inches.   – See more here with Succeed Equine who run some very interesting articles.

Racing

Retraining Race Horses – Showjumping Awards with RoR

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Retraining of Racehorses National Recognition Awards 2015 – Find a supporter in the Dragons Den and from a stable of professional show jumpers listed with Horse Scout.

Do you own are ore you thinking of taking on an ex racehorse and your area of interest is showjumping?

Horse scout has some epic professional show jumpers on its professional profiles page, Many of whom are experienced with rehabilitation techniques and would certainly be worth calling up if you would like to give this RoR scheme a go with your retired racehorse.

You would be in good company Deborah Meadon owns six horses – four of them retired ex-racehorses – and rides twice a day, four days a week. “I love riding and the challenges that horses bring,” she said. “There’s something very special about being around them.” She is an ambassador for the British Equestrian Federation’s Hoof project, which aims to get more people riding,

The entrepreneur told her audience at the recent BETA Trade Fair NEC, Birmingham, that her parents had not been able to afford to buy a horse when she was a child. “So I used to ride ponies on Minehead seafront,” she said. “In return for walking up and down with them, I was allowed to ride them back to the stable at night. My childhood dream was to be a showjumper.”

The British Showjumping Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) National Recognition Awards provide a focus for ex-racehorses that have started Showjumping with the national governing body. The Awards are open to those owners and riders of retrained racehorses that are registered with both British Showjumping and RoR.

A cash award will be given to the owners of the six highest graded horses that have been awarded the highest number of points during the twelve month period between 1st October 2014 and 30th September 2015 and the cash awards are broken down as follows: 1st – £2,500, 2nd – £500, 3rd – £500, 4th – £500, 5th – £500 and 6th – £500. To ensure as many retrained horses are given the opportunity of being recognised and encouraged to compete within a new discipline, previous title holders are not eligible for future consideration.

The previous winners are:
2010 – Emily Morris & Zolushka
2011 – Nicola Braidwood & Vite Etoile
2012 – Kathryn Ellison & Quel Ange
2013 – Isabelle Tomkins & Tanktastic
2014 – Jo Fulcher & Captain Willoughby

For further information about British Showjumping and the Retraining of Racehorses Recognition Awards, please contact the British Showjumping Membership Department on 02476 698824. To register your horse with Retraining of Racehorses please do so online by visiting www.ror.org.uk. ROR also has awards in Dressage, Eventing and showing.

Here are just some of the professionals who have taken advantage of free profiles on Horse scouts pages and if you are looking for a top trainer in your area click on their names to find out more.

Craig Hills – Basingstoke , Hampshire

Laura Jackson – warwickshire

Remy Ellis – Romsey, Hampshire

Ben Thomas – Suckley, Worcestershire

Harrison Polley – Maresfield, Ea

William Plunkett – Horsham, West Sussex

Ricki Hill – Benfleet, Essex

Professional Rider

Opportunity to work with William Plunkett as Showjumping and Youngstock Groom

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Horse Scout Blogger has spotted that William Plunkett has a vacancy for a Showjumping and youngstock groom. If you are looking for an opportunity to work in atop showjumping yard then this is an opportunity not to be missed.

Will is one of the top 150 showjumpers in the country. He is currently enjoying producing some talented youngsters, who are really exciting prospects for the future, as well as competing Grade A horses, with the backing and support of loyal and enthusiastic owners and has spent time working for and training with international showjumpers and trainers, here in the UK and also in America and Holland.

Will Plunketts’ produces and competes for show jumping owners

He offers Coaching and training with a professional backing and breaking service along with tailored livery services. He has an exceptional reputation within the industry competing showjumpers to top level competition. Based in West Sussex he rides and produces competition horses for owners, breeders and those from his own Lauriam Stud. He has run the business from its inception in 2002 with the help of wife Laura (BSc (Hons) Equine Studies).

Will is renowned for his integrity and honest evaluations, he has an ability to see a horse ‘individually’ and tailor its training programme accordingly. His sheer determination to see a challenge through enables him to help horses to reach their optimum performance. This talent has meant he can handle sharp and difficult horses, and also solve problems with those which other riders may have given up on. He is highly competitive and is always happy to take on talented horses to join his string.

Will is looking for a key team member for their lovely, user friendly yard, busy and successful showjumping and young horse training yard. The applicant must be proactive, hard working, able to see what needs doing and take ownership of their job. The role involves taking care of the day to day needs of the 12 -14 horses in our care, working alongside horse trainer and UKCC2 coach Will Plunkett. Experience of and confidence in handling large, fit, boisterous and green warmbloods is a must, as is attention to detail, with high standards of turnout and presentation. Small amount of stud work and travelling to local shows. Training and possibly some riding may be given to the right candidate £14, 760 PA plus accommodation and bills in lovely cottage shared with one lady.

So if you are a keen showjump groom with something to offer don’t hesitate to contact Will (click here to go to his page on Horse Scouts page of professional competition riders listings)

Horses For Sale

Rein-Back – In The End It’s Not About Reversing Its About Going Forwards! How Do I Teach My Horse To Rein-Back?

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Is Horse Scout Blogger all back to front today? No, I promise I am not.  Every movement you ever do on a horse that you are training whether it’s a racehorse, an eventer or a star show pony needs to be moving with forwards in mind…..even in reverse!

Teaching a horse to rein-back starts with good stable manners, and rein-back begins as something learned from the ground.  In the wild a horse would very rarely rein-back, however in a trained horse it has huge benefits. n.b. this is not, necessarily, a movement I would try from the back of a horse that I am buying, but it is always quite useful to watch a horse reversing from the ground before making any decisions.

Here I have six of one and half a dozen of the other – so you don’t half bake your rein back.

What is rein back for?

  1. On a practical level being able to rein-back is very useful when you are riding a horse: opening gates becomes much easier if your horse assists you rather than stands against the gate! Removing yourself from a crowd out hunting or in a warm up arena makes it easy to extricate yourself from potentially explosive situations, and so on.
  2. For the horse it can have several benefits.
  3. It is one of the movements you can use to check you have his full attention.
  4. It also has a benefit in stretching the horse over his back.
  5. In advanced training it shows obedience to the aids
  6. Also when collection is established and combined with transitions it can lend elevation and spring to the onward pace

How do I do it?

  1. Start from the ground.
  2. Start by standing beside your horse just at the front of his shoulder facing backwards. Take hold of his bridle but do not pull back. You are merely stopping him moving forwards.
  3. Make a closed cup with you free hand and place it either side of the point of his shoulder and press with the thumb on the inside of the point, as you feel him react and move away say “back” in a firm but light way.
  4. Do not be tempted to push him back, wait for him to move away from the pressure of your hand and immediately take the pressure off and praise him when he does. Soon you will find he responds to the merest touch to this point. He will also learn to respond to the word or hand as he anticipates the contact.
  5. Continue to use the word back until you are ready to ride the movement.
  6. Be clear in your intention and always use the same voice tone, the same hold on the bridle or headcollar and point and style of contact; otherwise you may find he wrongly cues and starts backing up on incorrect cues.

Move on to riding the movement

  1. As soon It’s a good idea to have someone on the ground to help you when teaching this movement. Hal squarely: establish the halt but do not wait for the energy to dissipate. Make use of the side of the arena fence or wall and have your helper stand beside and just slightly in front of your horse’s outside shoulder.
  2. Next, apply the aids for rein-back: incline your body slightly forward to lighten your seat, take both your legs back behind the girth and squeeze gently while resisting any forward movement with the reins. Do not pull on the reins as this will make your horse stiffen.
  3. While you apply the aids, ask your helper to put a hand on the horse’s chest in the way he has leaned and push him back gently, saying the word “back”. This mirrors the commands taught for handling a horse from the ground and if he has been taught this correctly he will go backwards for your helper. In time he will learn also to associate your ridden aids with stepping calmly back and you can gradually remove the ground actions. Ask your helper to repeat the same command, but without actually touching your horse, then to stand further away, dropping the voice aid and eventually moving away altogether. By this stage you should be able to rein-back solo.
  4. It is important to monitor the quality of your rein-back.  Do not perform them too often or the horse may begin to use this option as a form of evasion.  Always make sure that the movement is measured and has a calm purposeful cadence to it with a definite one two beat and movement behind the saddle.
  5. If your horse begins to scoot or stiffen begin again from the ground but also check that there are no physical problems which may be causing this evasion.
  6. As I said it is best to have a helper on hand.  If you are looking for a trainer near you then check out the Horse Scout Professional Trainers list and find someone to help with your rein back progress.
Horse Riding Tips

Spook McGill? Top Tips for de-sensitising your horse – not numbing it!

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However good a rider you are or how well you know your horse, and it can be the quietest of cobs or the hottest of horses, if you are not concentrating and your horse suddenly flips round; like our horse Dolly does for a pass time! Your heart can’t help but flutter and your breath become short. Oh! And you bottom sore if you landed on the floor.

One of the first things that happens when a horse spooks – is the rider spooks too! So, take a break; don’t think Kit Kat, think Cadbury’s Caramels’ Rabbit and “Take it easy” says Horse Scout Blogger (who particularly likes chocolate).

So, top tips time:

First you: (six on one)

The following tips will help you can calm yourself down, and in turn help to calm your horse:

  1. Breathe! When we are anxious our breathing becomes rapid or stops. Take deep breaths to relax yourself.
  2. Relax your shoulders. Drop your shoulders down and let your arms relax a little too.
  3. Relax your legs. The tenser you are the more your legs will dig in. A sensitive horse may confuse this as an aid.
  4. Talk in a soothing voice.  Talk calmly to him in a low husky “whickering” voice.  You can practice this at home, soothing your horse when grooming and just making it a relaxing time for him/her. This will also relax you. You can try this on other people too…..but don’t blame me for any consequences!
  5. Laugh and Yawn. Even if you are on the verge of tears, yawn and giggle even sing! If you are doing this at home when your horse is relaxed, he will associate the sound with no danger.
  6. Know your horse  If you know what your horses limits are then you can work on them.

And now your horse: (half a dozen of the other)

  1. Soothe Your Horse. Horses don’t like to be afraid, so work on their natural instincts to bring them back to harmony.
  2. Encourage your horse to lower its head by having low and open arms. (Keep your arms soft thought!) A horse is relaxed when its head and ears are down.
  3. Scratch your horses withers and neck as if you are mutually grooming.
  4. Introduce potentially spooky things when you horse is in a safe enclosed space.
  5. At first leave things far away but clearly seen then gradually move them nearer.
  6. As he becomes accustomed move things into the arena and ask him to work around them.

 

A little bit extra –(six of the best)

  1. Don’t always put scary things in the same place – or the horse might come to associate that particular area with spooks and then continually spook just there even when there is nothing to actually spook at!

 

  1. Working from the ground initially and give him something else to think about such as asymmetric poles laid on the ground, or jump stands to walk around and through; anything which will ask him to think about other things.
  2. Again introduce all new things slowly, take your time and praise then stop and return another time.
  3. Many people use the following in an arena to desensitize their horses: umbrellas, wheelbarrows, bikes, cars/lawnmowers, tarpaulins or plastic bags on the fence or even the ground.
  4. Do this safely though and think about yours and the horses safety.
  5. Let your horse look. If it sees no danger it will calm down. Be prepared for it to not like what it sees and spin, but if it does keep it going in the circle to face the problem again until it understands there is no danger.
Equestrian Equipment Equestrian Transport

Do you know someone who deserves a powerful pat on the back? – RDA Nominations are now open

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Nominations for the Riding For The Disabled Association 2015 Gala Awards are now OPEN

RDA Gala Awards 2015Nominate now to be part of the Gala Awards Wednesday 30 September 2015, The Long Room at Lords Cricket Ground, London

Tell us about the outstanding achievements of RDA participants, volunteers, horses and supporters. Send in your nominations using the forms below, to download just click on the link. There are two versions of each form, a Word document which can be filled in electronically and a PDF version for printing and submitting hand written nominations.

The six award categories are:

Volunteer of the Year – sponsored by Perkins Slade

Brilliant Idea – sponsored by Automotive Insulation

Business Partnership – sponsored by BETA

Most Improved Participant – sponsored by Childs Farm

Vet of the Year – sponsored by Merial Animal Health

Horse or Pony of the Year – sponsored by Snuggy Hoods

Guidance for Writing Citations

The closing date for nominations is 30 July 2015.

Awards will be presented by Clare Balding at the 2015 Gala Awards dinner at Lords Cricket Ground on Wednesday 30 September 2015.

GOOD LUCK!