The Lingfield Instructor Group

It is ages since I have had time to put fingers to keys on this blog spot.  I know I should have tried to find time, but somehow things have a habit of getting in the way or it just isn't the right time to blog.  Things happen in life to prevent me blogging regularly at times.  There are lots of work commitments here and I always feel I am being pulled in 10 different directions what with all the admin and post, emails, phone calls and general office related 'stuff'.

Then there are holiday breaks to try to fit in and in all this you find there are also some sad times too which mean it is just too hard to blog and this has been a very sad time at home as well as in the office.   Our little terrier, Min, who literally adopted us a few years ago, had to be put down.  She had a good, long and happy life.

That doesn't make it any easier for me though because in recent years she spent much of her day with me here in the office lying beside my chair.  If she wasn't right next to me she was lying on the path outside in the sun watching and listening for passing walkers and ramblers on the footpaths which cross this an neighbouring properties.

She was a real little trooper,  She felt it her job in life to 'warn off 'the numerous local foxes, badgers, rabbits and red deer by barking her territorial rights to oversee this land of Leigh every single evening of the year.  However, beyond all things she loved to go for walks.  Little Minnow will be remembered by many in the neighbourhood and by many walkers whom over the years she had accompanied on walks across the fields (uninvited of course).

Very often a local farmer would bring her home or, after a phone call to alert us, was collected from neighbouring farms, isolated cottages or from the pub in the nearest village.  More recently she struggled with bouts of pain from arthritis and a good deal of stiffness the next day if she went off on one of her jaunts.

Her walking - even up to the end, entailed rushing ahead to check out the smells and to put up pheasants and rabbits and then coming back to find you.  Ultimately she always covered at least twice the distance of anyone she walked with.

One occasion in particular last Summer comes to mind right now.  I heard some walkers passing and knowing the little old dog was outside and would jump at the opportunity to go for a walk, I had to run after them and ask them to wait a moment while I grabbed her before she disappeared over the field with them.

"Ah yes", they said "that's right, we remember her from a few years ago now - she joined us for several miles until we reached a farm.  The farmer said he knew who she belonged to and kept her there but you could tell that she was having such a good time we felt a bit guilty at making her stay behind".

Such a happy little dog will be missed by many.

Losing her brings to mind the sadness and issues many of us have had to overcome of losing any pet be it large or small.  Many animals however are just put down because they have no one who loves and cares for them.  A great many horses and ponies in the UK reach this state. It is a sad thing to see them at the market and know that they will more than likely go to the slaughter man at the abattoir.  They are slaughtered for no more reason than there are just too many of them for them all to have good homes.

The British Horse Society have a good campaign running at the moment.  'Drawing the Line' on indiscrimate breeding.  It is all too easy to breed from a loved horse or pony but is that foal going to be one of those animals which in a few years time long after you have sold or passed it on to other owners then stands dejectedly or nervously at market awaiting it's fait.  Think carefully before you breed - is this really the best thing to do.

Many personalities have supported this campaign and there is a collection of drawings and paintings on offer at auction soon as well as other items donated by well known people.  Check it out on facebook on the link below and on our own facebook page too

Drawing the Line on Lingfield Correspondence facebook page

Donate if you can to support the campaign to prevent so many horses going to slaughter.  If we reduce the number of unwanted horses we will reduce this totally unnecessary slaughter.   The office will be closed from Friday 27th August through to Tuesday 7th August.  I will be accessing email during that time.

Drawing the Line

Riding Holidays & B & B's for horses & riders

More and more of us are now holidaying at home instead of flying overseas to other sunny climes.  For horse owners however, it can sometimes be difficult to find someone to look after your horse.  There are plenty of people prepared to look after it but not those who would do it in the way you prefer!  so why not take your horse with you?

There is nothing better than being on holiday and being able to ride every day without having a care in the world.  You wont have to worry about all the normal daily-life commitments we all seem to have these days.

Plenty of riders live in areas which are great for hacking and riding out around the countryside.  Many however, live in more built up areas and do not have acres of riding country on their door step.

There are more and more B & B's in fabulous areas of the UK offering stabling for your horse as well.  It is such a fantastic way to get out and see some different parts of this wonderful country.

Hidden benefits for you and your horse:

For some horses having a different places to go means a whole new approach to their life.  Most react well to being ridden in new areas and if you can go along with a friend it makes the riding all the more pleasurable.  The change of scenery is beneficial to your riding as well as to your horse.  The type of terraine and ground over which you will ride is probably quite different to what you are both used to and will build confidence in you and your horse.  As well as this it will build and tone some of the muscles rarely used at home. Furthermore, although not everyone realises this but one of the best things to give a horse a good set of decent feet is to walk regularly over uneven terrain.

If go with a like minded friend it can be a great and memorable holiday for you both.  If persuading your other half to come with you is on your list but he or she isn't into horses and riding, there are B & B's places that cater for both horse rider and the non rider too. Walkers of course are bound to be catered for if it is riding country, but maybe there is a good shopping nearby or a golf course, mountain biking, good local pubs or craft venues, clay shooting, fishing and more.   Do a bit of searching and you will find somewhere to suit you all.

If you have a partner or friend who doesn't own their own horse but would like to join you on your riding holiday there are B & B's and riding centres which cater for those who want to hire a horse too.

There are places which offer holiday courses and training on all sorts of aspects of riding - perhaps you fancy Western Riding?  Maybe you need help with learning how to load properly - well it is all out there if you search hard enough.

I spoke recently to Lucienne Bennett who runs The Wern - a 4 star B & B in mid Wales.  Now this is a truly spectacular area in which to ride.  Your days will be filled with awe at the fantastic views. You can even take your horse for a swim in the lake - how can you refuse this one.

As well as being and experienced horsewoman, Lucienne is a brilliant cook so 3 course evening meals are on the agenda here too.  She loves entertaining so you are well looked after and treated to home grown food at every meal.

Lucienne is an organiser for the circular riding route - the Brecon Beacons and Radnor loop ride.  She will organise ongoing B & B accommodation for you and your horse at friends along the route - take a 5 day break and return to lap up more of Lucienne's hospitality on you return to The Wern.  Check The Wern out here.

Yet another spot to check out is Auchencheyne Country House estate in Dumfries, South West Scotland.  Mary and Neil Gourlay at Auchencheyne tell me they offer holiday cottages or B & B and have lots of activities for non riders too.  On offer are rough shooting, fishing, mountain biking and even a snooker room.  You can BBQ in your own garden if you are in the cottages and get fresh vegetables and herbs from the farm and gardens.  The riding is of course excellent as would be expected with rides around the 5000 acre estate and woodland rides in the surrounding countryside.

One word of warning

If you generally only ride for an hour a day and a couple of hours at the weekend it is ABSOLUTELY vital to get your horse a little bit fitter.  They will be sore in the back and shoulders and aching all over if you don't. This is really really important.

For the month before you should try to build up to doing longer rides during the week - or two rides a day and gradually longer rides on both days of the weekend.  To be fair to your horse, you should be doing at least 4 hours a day on both days at the weekend by the time you are ready to leave.  Be sure that all their shoes are in good and new condition, so book your farrier WELL in advance (it's a busy season for competition riders too, so they may have to fit you in) and check also that tack and rugs don't need repairs.

New B & B Links page

So popular is it now becoming to take a riding holiday in UK or to take your horse on holiday, we have a B & B's for horses links page on www.horse-care.co.uk for our students to find their own special holiday B & B.  We have a link to a place in Somerset which also offers professional horse transport from anywhere and to anywhere in UK or Europe.  Some are listed with the BHS Horses Welcome scheme too.

If you have a holiday destination for horse and rider and would like a link on this new B & B horse-care page contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sponsorship for course fees in June 2010. 

• Win yourself £150 towards a home study course (No HC1) on equine care & management.
  
• You don't have to be a horse owner to get sponsorship, but you must be over 15.
  

• Maybe it will take you on that first step on the road to a new career.

The sponsorship is only open until the end of June so you have to be quick.  Send an email with your name and address, age and previous horse experience - since the age of 14 only.  Tell us how you think you would benefit from taking a Lingfield Level 1 email course.

email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and put June Sponsorship winner in the title.

• Mature students welcomed too. Get cracking and send that email

• If you have already taken Level 1 with Lingfield, we will offer you either a short course or the Level 2 HC2 course at half price.  Taking the Level 2 means you would be eligible to achieve the Intermediate Diploma - so include your student number.

STRANGLES:

The vaccine which innoculated horses against strangles - that dreadful disease which regularly tours the country  - was withdrawn back in October 2007.

Since then the company which produces it has been running more tests to make it more stable.  It seems that the vaccine has been re-introduced in new form in Europe and will be in this country again in October 2010.

It really is an unpleasant problem with huge ulcers forming around the head.  It is extremely debilitating and highly contagious.

More details to follow in next blog.

Buying a Horse

Someone recently rang me to ask for advice about buying a horse. This is quite a common enquiry in this office.   The person wanted to run a few things past me and this is something that happens all the time.  I am more than happy to chat about the horses they have looked at or are worried about or the type of horse they would like.

This time the person asked if I felt it necessary to have a horse vetted - even if they knew the person from whom they were buying.  I was a little amazed to be honest that in this day and age there are people who although they are not hugely experienced, who would buy a horse without having it vetted for soundness and suitability for their needs.

Some people are wary of buying a car on eBay and yet most of the time you would have more comeback on eBay than you might with buying a horse if you are not altogether fully experienced at doing so.  With a horse purchase the seller does not have to tell you anything unless you specifically ask.  If you don't ask the right questions you will never know about any problems or any reasons why this might not be the horse for you.  It is not down to the seller to tell you everything - it is down to you as the purchaser to find out.

I would not hesitate to suggest that everyone buying a horse, for no matter what purpose, should go for the full 5 point vetting system.

It sounds complicated but it isn't.

Stage One

The horse's heart, lungs, eyes & teeth are checked whilst the horse is at rest in the stable. The general condition and any behavioural abnormalities are noted.

Stage Two

The horse / pony is taken outside - into daylight and the vet now checks it as it stands square on all four legs - he is looking at the confirmation and how it stands. It is then trotted-up by someone - the seller usually, on an area of hard, level ground. Some vets may lunge the horse on a circle at this stage, and initial flexion tests may also be performed  (each hind leg is lifted quite high and held for a period of time to see if there are any problems on release)

Stage Three

This is the strenuous exercise stage at which the horse is ridden (preferably if it is a riding horse) or lunged, and observed in circles and straight lines on both reins. The horse will usually be cantered or galloped to assess the heart and wind. The vet will usually want want to see the horse tacked up and mounted if it is a riding horse, to check for any back or other problems with weight carrying.

Stage Four

A short rest period is now given to the horse or pony to see if any stiffness appears. The vet may also complete the identification overall (looking at markings and colour etc) or undertake a more detailed examination of legs, feet and rest of the body at this stage.

Stage Five

A final trot-up being led on hard level ground now takes place - once the horse's heart rate has returned to normal.  Once again flexion tests may be performed. A blood sample is usually taken at this stage and stored by the vet - should there be any disputes this is called on for tests to see what can be identified that might relate to the dispute. (doping with drugs or other ailments)

Extras

X-rays (radiographs) of joints and feet are sometimes requested by buyers, as are other detailed investigations such as an endoscopy, tendon scans and pregnancy tests. Blood tests are also optional. None of these are part of the routine vetting procedure.  This though might come under the banner of buying quite an expensive horse !

Do you ride alone? (from Quondam)

Many of us do, after all it's one of life's little luxuries to be able to get away from everyone and just share some time with your horse. I've done it many times and never given it a second thought, but a rather disturbing incident recently has made me reconsider the wisdom of this activity.

You can find the details on the newpaper site Herald Sun but, in a nutshell, what happened was that a 17 year old girl was assaulted while riding alone on a quiet public road in broad daylight. Fortunately she escaped unharmed but it could have been a lot worse.

Two things caught my attention about this story. The first was that it happened only about 10 minutes from my place, a nice quiet semi-rural area on the outskirts of Melbourne. The second and more important point though was that I have often ridden alone with absolutely no "safety net" if something went wrong. Now it's highly unlikely that I would be the victim of a sexual assault or anything of that ilk BUT, I could easily have a heart attack, a fall or some other mishap and no-one would be any the wiser.

Scuba divers use a "buddy system", you never dive alone even if the second person is only in a boat above you. In that way you can watch out for one another. In the event of an equipment malfunction, sudden illness, shark attack or other incident your "buddy" is there to render assistance. Maybe it would be an idea worth considering for riders, after all ours can be a fairly hazardous pastime. At least make sure someone knows where you are going and how long you'll be. Carry your mobile 'phone, I know they're a pain but they do have their uses.

OK, so now I've scared the living whatnots out of everyone let me say this. I will continue to ride alone because I think that incidents like the one that prompted this entry are so rare that they represent a very small risk compared with the enjoyment I get from riding. Anything worth doing is probably risky so that's a chance I'll take. However, it had never dawned on me that someone would assault a horse rider in broad daylight so next time someone approaches me on a quiet country road I will at least be alert to the fact that they MAY have some felonious intentions. Of course they may just be lost and looking for directions.

Quondam

Horse management of those who get slightly overweight can be a real problem.  We often see overweight and fat horses and there are a number of reasons for this - but in depth discussion on all the reasons is for another day. 

Here in the office at Lingfield I have already had three or four emails from students asking what to do about their grazing because they know that with the lovely Spring grass coming through their horse or pony will soon be getting too fat.  A horse carrying too much weight can so very quickly come down with Laminitis and although this used to be quite a rare disease it is now all too common and is a death sentence for some - literally.

What is Laminitis?

How do I prevent the intake of too much grass?

Mow it - quite simple really isn't it?  Get that lawnmower out!

It might take a while but the easiest thing to do is to get the lawn mower out and mow it - that’s right - go and mow the field!

If you can’t face doing it alone try and get some help with it.  Your partner might be up for this one if you offer a few cans of beer or a jug of Pimms.

How about getting a few friends together and have a Pimms mowing party or a BBQ in the freshly mown field.

For some reason people don’t ever think of simply mowing their grazing and yet it is one of the most simple ways to reduce the grass.  It needs doing regularly of course - just about as often as you mow the lawn at home.  You MUST however, use a grass collector on the mower - but with the wheelbarrow nearby you can empty it regularly as you mow.

More Horses

The next best thing is to get more horses on the field.  The more who are there to eat it the less there is for everyone.

Strip grazing

Next is some form of strip grazing.  Most people historically have done this by putting an electric fence line across the field and move it every couple of days further up the field.  The problem with this is that you need then to have buckets of water available if you have fenced off the trough.  It also means that in some instances the horse has less area to move around in so doesn’t walk very much so isn’t getting the exercise and working off any food.

Be inventive

Try being more inventive with your electric fencing.  You will need a little more fencing this way but it works and makes life a whole lot more interesting for the horse too.  Instead of straight lines across your field why not fence off a square section more towards the middle with a wide passage way to the trough.  This means the horse has to walk to reach water so works off a bit of food each time.  The middle square can be moved around yet you can still keep a passage way to the trough.

Another way is to try U shapes around the field with the water trough at one the end of the U shape.  You make your fence into a wide passageway from the trough all around the field coming back to the same fence line a but further along.  You can change the shape of the U regularly yet still keep the water trough at one end.

Alternatives to hay in the stable

If the horse comes in and has hay in his/her stable then you can always substitute some of the hay with oat or barley straw. If they are older they may struggle with chewing it though so you might need to ensure the teeth are in good condition and have them rasped if necessary. If the straw is not being digested properly it could cause digestive problems such as colic.  Check their droppings to make sure there are no recognisable pieces of straw which have not been digested properly.

Calories or Carbs

During Spring the average leisure horse is getting loads of calories from the grass so probably doesn’t need any hard feed at all.  In fact if you ARE giving hard feed make sure it isn’t a high energy one.  If you really MUST feed calories - perhaps because they are working hard - e.g. 2 hours schooling & jumping etc a day (and that would probably be the only reason you would need to feed lots of calories - unless they have been ill and the vet suggested it) change to a feed which will keep them laid back and full of fibre - not one which is full of those lovely bits and bobs of energy giving cereals.

Exercise

Next on the list of keeping weight down is exercise.  Now most of us must have heard that we should walk a certain amount of time every day to keep our weight down.  We may also have heard of power walking to get fit.  Well this is what the horse needs too.  It isn’t trotting or cantering which will keep the weight down -(that is going to use up carbohydrates, but it is calories we need to reduce) it is walking we need to get them to do - and briskly at that.  Think of it as their power walk. 

Ride them in a brisk walk in the school every day before going out on a brisk walk hack - or you could lead them around the school if you can’t get out and walk them on a ride.  It is a time when you and your horse can bond on the ground - so use it well.

Be inventive

Whether you are riding in the school or leading, make it interesting - put down some cones to bend in and out of.  Make a few pole shapes to walk over and between - use it as an exercise in bending and suppling.  You can kill more than one bird with these exercises.

I am sure other people have other exercises they use or invented - why not drop a comment in here with suggestions for others in the same boat.  Why not tell us your experiences with laminitis last year and how you aim to approach it this year.

It seems to have been a year of horrific road accidents involving horses and or their riders.  All happening in various places around the country.

The latest to be top of the news is Katie Price's riding companion who had a nasty fall a couple of days ago.  Katie is reported to have been riding with Melodie Pope near Katie's home in Woldingham when Melodie's horse spooked resulting in the fall.  Katie evidently put Melodie into the recovery position until the arrival of the air ambulance. It seems there is some injury to the spine.

Latest reports tell us that Melodie is in East Surrey Hospital and is in a stable condition.

The comments from Katie appear to tell us that she will in future wear the Point Two Air Jacket.  I wonder if she means that she will also wear a body protector along with it as suggested by BETA recently.  Some readers might just take it from her reported comments that you should wear only the Point Two jacket.  I guess this will all add to the ongoing discussions about this jacket.

Spring grass problems with horses is not quite upon us yet (well not in the fields round here anyway) - so my blog on FAT will be coming soon.

Easter is upon us and here in the Lingfield office it is a little quieter than usual which has encouraged me to consider taking a rare short break. I managed a couple of half days off last week when my niece and her 6 yr old son came to stay.   We  went to see some of the newborn lambs in a nieghbouring farm and unfortunately just missed one being born by only a few seconds.  Isn't that always the way of things when you have visitors.

A couple of days completely away from the office is a must now and again to keep fresh and on top of the many varied tasks I have to handle here, so will have to try hard to get a break soon.  First though, I have a number of things to clear on my desk.  I know full well that many students catch up with their course work over a bank holiday weekend so we are bound to have lots of work coming in early next week (not to mention a million emails to respond to after the weekend.)  My hoped for break is likely to come s day or two later than everyone elses.  I have also taken on the admin for the little camperhire business running out of the same office now.

There are quite a number of student assignments here in my pile of marking, so I must get those done and Certificates and Intermediate Diplomas will then need issuing to my own students. Course tutors Hannah Haskew, Liz McIlwraith and myself have had plenty to do over the last couple of weeks on the assignment marking front.  A good many of Hannah and Liz's students have recently completed their home study horse courses and have been sending in their final assignments for marking by their tutors.  This means requests for me to issue those Certificates have been coming in to the Somerset office from Hannah & Liz. Students have all been working really hard on their courses and all have achieved very good passes.

It makes it so worthwhile when we tutors read the final assignments and know that the students on our courses have all achieved what they first set out to do when they enrolled on the horse course   i.e. to learn more about feeding and equine psychology and general welfare and care of the horse.   The feedback is great and they tell us that with our help  they have all learned a great deal or have broadened their knowledge on equine care quite considerably.

Anyone reading this who teaches or trains people in any way will know how much it means when a student you have worked with achieves their goal.

To all those who have been working so hard and have achieved their own personal goal, this is to let you know that your Lingfield Certificates will be on their way soon.  There are several being issued over the next few days for passing the Feeding & Nutrition, Equine Psychology, Livery Yard Management short courses, and a good number of students have completed Equine Care & Management horse courses too.  One or two have sat the British Horse Society Horse Owner's Certificates exams and are awaiting their results but we are pretty sure they have also achieved a pass.  Well done  to all you guys.

A few more have been working towards achieving their Intermediate Diplomas and those awards will be sent out shortly as well so my congratulations on those well earned Certificates.  My own personal goal then is to complete all the outstanding work I have here so that I can take a break for a couple of days.

My next blog will be discussing equine weight problems associated with Spring grass which we HOPE will be coming through very soon. In this part of the UK Spring seems to be taking a good long time to arrive.

Overweight horses are a serious problem in the UK today.  It seems that loads of horse owners consider their horse to be 'just the right weight' when in fact they are often obese. I will be taling about how we can tackle that problem before it becomes a real issue causing illness and pain.

Signs: of an animal having stomach  ulcers are listed below
•    Showjumpers hitting jumps, twisting or jumping left or right over a fence.
•    Dressage horses resisted work and generally difficult to train.
•    Colic
•    Loss of normal appetite
•    Loss of Weight
•    Behavioural problems
•    Apparent back pain

Horses at grass rarely suffer from ulcers !

Treatment is simple: The quickest treatment is to :

• Turnout more often and for longer periods
  
• Do not keep the horse stabled for long periods
  
• If concentrates are fed, make sure it is in several small feeds - a minimum of 4 a day
• Provide sufficient roughage in the way of hay or haylage etc. during stabling periods to enable virtually constant chewing.

Some of the above information extracted from reserach by
Dr. A. M. Merritt, a researcher in equine gastrointestinal problems
Michaela Bowles, BSc Hons Equine Nutritionist