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New
Horse - New diet?
I
have just bought a new horse and for the last 12 weeks
he has been out in the field with only grass as his
diet - I got him 2 weeks ago and since then he is
out all day and in at night. He has been showing some
signs of stress but has started to settle in the last
48 hours a lot more into his routine, which is promising.
I am keen to make sure that the diet he is getting
is really helping him to digest his food in the right
way and give him all he needs to build condition and
I think at the moment there is more I can do.
Currently
he is being fed 1/2 mix and 1/2 chaff, 2 hay nets
at night and is out all day but in at night. He is
only in light exercise being ridden for 40 mins in
the school at night twice a week and at weekends for
an 1 hour both days - hacking- this work will increase
in the next 2 weeks to 3 times in the week 30/40 mins
and 2 hours each day at the weekends - but once he
is little more settled.
I
look forward to your advice
Lorna
Jowett (BSc Hons) Equine Nutritionist, Baileys
Horse Feeds replies 
Staying
Out - What Should I Feed?
I own a very fat welsh sec d mare, she at the moment
lives  out
24/7 but will be in the winter months.
She is in a 8 acre field that is full of lush grass,
she is I would say three times over her 'Normal' weight.
BUT she can't be separated from my other 5 horses,
she goes mad and try's to jump back in with them.
At present we have no stables (are saving up) so she
has to stay in the field with the others.
She is worked about 4/5 times a week only light schooling,
I was advised to STOP feeding her but thought that
she might lack something (Vitamins and minerals ECT).
I would like some kind of advise on what I should
and shouldn't feed her?
And also I was advised by a vet to feed my horse (Whae
she had lamanitis)Bran and only bran, this made her
lose alot of weight and took a lot of pressure off
her bones but in the end she had to be put down. What
affects would feeding just bran (with limestone) have
on my mare?
Lorna
Jowett (BSc Hons) Equine Nutritionist, Baileys
Horse Feeds replies
Reluctant
to go forward in trot
I have recently purchased a 13.3h 8 year old Arab
X Connemara Mare pony for my 10 year old daughter.
She is a lovely pony in good shape and was previously
liveried in a riding school environment where she
was used for lessons.
She
is an excellent ride out, 100% safe in traffic. However
when is comes to lessons with my daughter she is very
reluctant to go forward in trot (She is not even phased
by a crop!). She will trot no problem if you lead
her, although she will throw her head in the air in
protest.
Do
you have any suggestions or tips to help?
Sharon
Shinwell Dip Couns. Dip HP(NC)MNRHP.CCC replies
Should
I Change the Bit?
I
have a 4 yr old Section D mare that was only backed
2 months ago ( 5 days before she arrived at our yard
for sale.... i had to have her!! she is my first pony!!!)
I am only riding her 2 to 3 times a week on both long
and short hacks as i feel that she needs time to take
in what she is learning. She is doing very well and
gaining alot of confidence. I am concerned because
she has started placing the bit under her tongue during
our ride. This must be painful for her and unsafe
whilst we are out because she will throw her head
down mid canter to release it or will halt in the
middle of a busy junction to adjust it! I tell myself
that at least she is comfortable in traffic but I
am concerned.
I have experience of youngsters but this is the first
time i have come across this, what shall i do? Leave
her to work out that it will hurt her? Add a flash?
Change the bit ....jointed eggbutt snaffle?
HELP!!!! I want to make sure she is comfortable and
happy......thanks. Mich
Gill
from Gill's Bitbank replies
My
Horse Panics At Shows
I
want to show-jump my horse. I have had him a year
and he was bought from a dealer so very little is
known about his past. He is a 10 year-old Dutch Warmblood.
At home he is an excellent jumper if a little clumsy
sometimes but if I take him jumping at shows, he panics
and refuses to jump. The minute I enter the ring he
goes all rigid and his head comes up. I can get him
over a couple of jumps but not without a fight and
considering he loves jumping at home, it is strange
and frustrating!! He loves the atmosphere at shows
and I compete in showing classes with him fine. He
is, at times, nappy which I am sure is part of the
problem but not all of it. At the weekend I took him
to a cross-country course with my friend and her horse.
He cleared a couple of little jumps really well. But
when I asked him to stand still while my friend jumped
he panicked again and started to buck and threatening
to rear. In the end I got off him and he stood still
and behaved perfectly.
Any
ideas what could cause him to behave like this and
what I can do to solve it?
Abby
Sharon
Shinwell Dip. Couns Dip HP(NC)MNCP.CCC replies
Cross
Country - Mental preparation
I
am studying the sports psychology of cross country
riding and was wondering if you could give me any
info or point me in the right direction of what type
of mental preparation a rider goes through leading
up to the cross country phase of an event how they
train their attentional focus specifically after completing
one jump and approaching the next. What type of cues
are invloved and so forth.
Lauren
Sue
McIntyre from The Consulting Room replies.
Change
the Bit?
I own a 15hh Irish Cob and he appears to be very
uncomftable in the mouth. He regularly has his teeth
checked and eats fine etc. He is currently ridden
in a half-cheek snaffle and I have tried him in various
snaffles(waterford, french link, mullen). He 'chomps'
on the bit and hangs his head. Occassionly he opens
his mouth and pushes his head down. I am soft with
the hand and ride relaxed but he still constantly
leans on my hands and chomps(salivates alot). We go
for long fast rides,hunt and jump. I don't have any
problem stopping him and he is not resistant to move
foward.
I have heard of myler bits, could these help at all?Would
a change of bit help if so do you suggest any?Or would
a certain trainning technique be more help?
Cicley
Thorne from the Myler Bitbank replies.
Sinus
Problems
About six weeks ago my horse developed a runny eye.
A couple of days later I noticed a small lump on his
head, between his eyes. I left it alone for a week,
as I tought that he had maybe banged it on something.
When
I realised that there was no improvement I called
out the vet who has diagnosed either sinus problems
or a blow to the head. He was put on a three week
course of bute to try and ease the inflamation. Up
to now their has been no improvement and if anything
the lump seenms to now be forming a band between the
eyes. Other than this there are no other symptoms,
and the affected eye is only weeping a little more
than normal. Any advice would be much appreciated
as this is not something that anybody seems to have
seen before (I am on a livery yard with seventy horses).
Thank You
Derek C Knottenbelt BVM&S, DVMS, DipECEIM,
MRCVS
replies
Strained
Fetlock?
My Part Bred Arab mare, twisted her two back
shoes & had to have them removed I then rode her
in the school. Which she did with no complaint. She
was then lame & has been ever since, she's now
got all new 4 shoes on & her fetlocks are very
slightly swollen.
After
walking her for 5-10 mins & cold hosing her legs
she walk's nearly 100%. Any tips on what to do next
or anything I could give?
Thanks,
Kelly
Andy
Carnell BSc. Hosn BVMS MRCVS, Ashbrook Equine Hospital,
replies
What
to feed my new horse...
I've got a new horse coming next week that has
been turned away for a year and I do not have any
winter grazing, so he's going to have to live in all
thetime. His owner said she has been feeding him hay
to supplement the sparse winter grass and a once daily
feed of chaff and pony nuts.
I am going to put him on ad-lib hay with twice daily
feeds of chaff, nuts and sugar beet with succulents
too. I'm wondering if the
sugar beet needs to be introduced gradually and what
weights of food should I give him. He's 15hh, not
over
or under-weight and very high-spirited.
I
will be riding him for 1-2hrs every day. Also, are
there any
other feed types or supplements you would reccommend?
Would coarse mix be better than nuts or should I feed
straights? Hope you can help.
Thanks.
Katy from UK.
Lorna Jowett BSc (Hons) Equine Nutritionist, Baileys
Horse Feeds replies
A
reader wrote to us asking for more information on
Equine Motor Neuron Disease.
Derek
C Knottenbelt BVM&S, DVMS, DipECEIM, MRCVS replies.
Marie
wrote to us about one of the common dilemmas riders
can have if they engage a different trainer, namely
which way is right?
Read
her dilemma and James Loffet's reply
Mandy
wrote to us with the following query
I
have recently purchased a 2yr old Arab Gelding &
would like to know what kind of things I should be
doing with him, can I start mouthing him yet &
If so how do I know what size bit to use, also would
like to know what age does he have to be before being
backed as he is 14.2hands now & quite a handfull,
please help any advice welcome.
Regards
Mandy
Read
James Loffet's reply
Maureen
wrote to us with the following query
Hi
My problem is my little girl's 11.1hh section a, she
rides in an eggbutt snaffle, when being ridden in
a large open space she has trouble turning and stopping
him, he is otherwise quite safe, but this does tend
to frighten her. I wondered if there was another bit
I could try, He only has a small face and I wondered
if a fulmer would make his face look over crowded
Thank you,
Maureen
Read
Heathers reply
A
Stabletalk reader wrote to us with the following query
My
horse is a 5 year old skewbald tbx light weight 14.3h.
I have had her a year .She was bred from a flat racer
sire and a standard feathered coloured mare.She is
very sweet.
After
various health problems such as very poor skin condition
on purchase, lack of weight and then a large sarcoid
on her inside left leg at the groin site.The last
3months she has been fit and well,so I began her schooling
in earnest, as she was very green when I brought her
.
With
the help of a very qualified and skilled rider and
dressage instructor. My horse goes so well on the
lunge, balanced and happy but in the saddle however
she changes .With draw riegns I can achieve good contact
and work in walk and trot.
But
without them and in canter she becomes a bucking bronco.
Although she will stop when I pull up, the whole swituation
is becoming so stressful to both of us. Her saddle
fits and her bridle, bit and teeth are fine. My instructor
thinks its just attitude, I just cannot except that
and I don't want to employ more discipline. Please
help!!
Read
reply
Nicola
wrote to us with the following query
I
have recently taken a 5 year old thoroughbred (ex
race horse) mare on loan, with view to buying her.
She has a lovely sweet temperament and has adapted
to her change in lifestyle very well. The only problem
is that she seems to hate being tacked up. She lowers
her head beautifully to allow you to put her bridle
on, but when it comes to putting her saddle on, it
is a completely different story.
She
raises her head, pulls faces, blows out and tries
to kick under her belly and threatens to bite you
(although she knows never to follow through with the
threat). I have had her saddle checked and believe
it to be the correct fit for her, she has a new more
padded girth and a nice padded numnar to offer her
back extra protection, but none of this seems to have
made a difference.
As
soon as her saddle is on, she resorts back to her
usual sweet self. Can you recommend any exercises
that may help us get over this grumpiness in an otherwise
sweet horse.
Nicola
Read
reply
Judith
wrote to us with the following query
In
short, my horse tends to hang in my hands, and when
I try to get his neck up and head down, he overbends.
My
horse is a 15 year old Thoroughbred gelding. He used
to be a beautifully schooled B-grade jumper, but unfortunately
he has not been ridden for the past few years and,
kept on a farm, was living from grazing. I`ve had
him for four months now and although his condition
is improving, he`s still quite thin. I ride him with
an eggbut snaffle.
I
am only a novice adult myself, and I know I have a
problem with leaning forward in my seat, and with
stiffning my hands, arms and back, making my contact
harsh.
The
problem is that he tends to be very heavy on the forehand.
With his very long neck stretched long and low before
me, I tend to bring my elbows forward from my sides,
throwing me off balance. When I start playing with
the bit, his head drops even further, but from the
shoulders rather than the poll, bending in behind
the bit so he almost touches his knees. He also slows
down his pace - not to a nice strong rythmic trot,
but a plod.
The
same happens after a canter. He really prefers cantering
(a nice, slow but very long canter) to trotting -
probably because I`m unbalanced on the trot. So when
I come back to a trot after a canter, he trots very
fast and without control. When I try to slow him down
with the reigns, he again drops his head and overbends.
When I give him some leg to lift his head, he of course
decides to interpret this as a sign to speed up his
trotting, or even an excuse to canter again, the clever
equine! :-)
I
would welcome any suggestions on how to address this.
Regards,
Judith Retief (from South Africa)
Read
James Loffet of Moreton Saddlery reply
I
have a 9 year old Thoroughbred cross, of which I showjump
on a regular basis at BSJA standard. I school him
at home, of which 90% of the time he proves to go
in a nice outline. He does lean on your hands and
is constantly on the fore hand if you let him, it
proves to be hard work. My problem is on a course
of fences. He is quite a long horse and when he jumps.
he stretches that far, his head goes down and I lose
control.
I feel like I need something to help me keep control
and his head up, however I am frightened of putting
a stronger bit in his mouth as he shys away if you
take a tight hold.
He is ridden in a french link egbutt snaffle at the
moment. Do you have any suggestions that may be able
to help me out.
cheers Sandra
Read
James Loffet of Moreton Saddlery reply
My
horse is very prone to thrush and has had an infection
in the past because of it.
Starting on his frog and extending to the back of
the heel is a vertical crack that is about 1/2 inch
deep.
I have to keep it clean and flush it out with hydrogen
peroxide every day. But winter will be here soon.
Is there anything else I can do. And is there a name
for this peculiar fault.
Thanks.
Read
Reply
"I
have recently bought a horse trailer to travel to
local shows and am
having
difficulty getting my horse to go in it. Sometimes
he will walk
straight in and
at other times he just stands with his feet on the
ramp. He doesn't appear to be scared but more stubborn.
Please help."
Read
Ron Meredith's in-depth article:
Loading The Disobedient
Horse
Louise
wanted to know if her horse should try another kind
of bit as he was experiencing problems like getting
his tongue over the bit and somehow managing to get
the rings into his mouth
Ken
Perrin gives his response
A
Stabletalk reader asked for information on cremation
and what happens if you decide to have your horse
cremated.
Information provided by Leyland Pet Cemetery
Jane
has a 16.2hh Middleweight 5 year old and has just
started feeding haylage. She wanted to know how much
she should feed and how to provide a balanced diet.
David
Willey from Equimins gives his response
 Helen
wrote to us with a very rare combination of problems
indeed. Her horse suffers badly when in 'season' and
also has epilepsy. Could herbs help?
Hermione
Ball MSc, Nutritionist at Natural Animal Feeds, gives
her reply.
Helen
& Cara
Dawn has a problem with her horse when being schooled
or hacked he tends to put his tongue over the bit.
Ken
Perrin from the Sale or Return BitBank gives his reply.
Rebecca
wanted to know more about Loan Agreements as she is
thinking of getting a horse on loan.
Judy
Knight from the Loan Arranger gives her some tips.
Graham
asked for a diet and excercise regime for his gelding
who is a little underweight.
Hermione
Ball MSc Nutritionist at Natural Animal Feeds gives
her reply.
Clare
emailed us with a request for a diet for her 5 year
old Irish Cob.
Isabel
Stewart, Technical Assistant at Spillers Feeds gives
Clare some advice.
Jennie
sent a query regarding stiffness in her horses shoulder.
Hermione
Ball MSc Nutritionist at Natural Animal Feeds gives
her reply.
Teresa
from Ohio in the United States has a Shetland Pony
which has lost a little bit of weight recently.
Isabel
Stewart, Technical Assistant at Spillers Feeds gives
Teresa some advice.
Alison
wrote to us about her Egyptian Arab gelding who has
the tendancy to box walk.
Hermione
Ball MSc Nutritionist at Natural Animal Feeds gives
her reply.
Lucy
wrote to us about the problem she is having with her
horse which "bombs on" when jumping.
Ken
Perrin from the Sale or Return BitBank makes some
suggestions.
Jodie
wrote to us requesting information on how to look
after an ex-racehorse.
John
Maxse from The Jockey club makes some suggestions.
Jacquie
asked
what fencing should she use for her new paddock.
Baden
Powell from Fieldguard replies
Claire
told us about her young horse that constantly chews
or grinds it's teeth. She wondered what kind of bit
may help to curb this habit.
Ken
Perrin from the Sale or Return BitBank gives Claire
a few suggestions
Beth
asked if there was a supplement that could help as
a pain reliever for her horse which is thought ot
have stifle lameness.
Hermione
Ball MSc Nutritionist at Natural Animal Feeds gives
her reply.
Jeanette
emailed us to ask advice on obtaining a top line for
her horse with the added complication that her horse
has suffered from azutoria in the past.
Hermione
Ball MSc Nutritionist at Natural Animal Feeds gives
her reply.
Fiona
Lace BHSII replies to two queries sent into us
by Tacy and Alison.
Alison's
horse had started to shake it's head when she put
on his bridle or headcollar.
Read Fiona's reply
Tracy
has recently had problems with her horse being frightened
of oncoming traffic.
Read Fiona's reply
A
reader wrote to us requesting information on herbal
medicines to help build up the immune system of their
Trakener mare.
Steve
Russell from Equine Health and Herbal replies:
Madeleine
wrote to us about her cobs annoying habit of door
banging and wood chewing.
Dodson and Horrell give Madeleine some
advice
Jane Cockerton emailed a
request for help on controlling her horse when out
riding. She wondered if it may be a problem with the
bit she uses.
Ken Perrin form the Sale or Return BitBank
offers some advice which may help Jane and others
who experience this problem.
Dave
emailed us with a request for information on a feeding
regime for his horse that had, in the past, had Azoturia.
We contacted Spillers
Feeds and they sent us information on how to diagnose,
relieve and prevent this condition.
Hannah Price emailed us about her horse napping
when she tries to ride out from her yard.
Fiona Lace, BHS II, gives some sound advice
for Hannah and others who experience this frustrating
problem.
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