At my other Horse Work Blog (http://horsework.wordpress.com/), I've drawn attention to an item on MSN news today which highlights the dangers of fat horses. Here I want to touch upon the problems of riders who are too heavy for the type of horse they ride, or ride too heavily.
We humans all have a healthy weight-range. To put it bluntly, if your usual weight is more than 10.5 stone you are probably unsuitable for riding the majority of thoroughbred horses. Skilled riders may be a little heavier and some thoroughbreds can carry more weight. However, some lighter people ride heavily because they are novices and/or have weak seats/legs. Even people who describe themselves as "experienced" not infrequently ride more on the hand than through their seats (a style, incidentally, better suited to the Continental Warm Blood type of horse).
This is not to say that that the medium-heavy rider cannot be successful, as demonstrated by a number of international show jumpers, providing they have the right kind of horse, and acquire the skills of riding -and, as importantly, falling off - their horse lightly (which not everyone can !).
Wednesday 20 August 2008
Saturday 22 March 2008
On Lameness & Back Problems In People & Horses
Some 10 years ago a horse landed heavily on my left foot causing injury to the ligaments. This, and a fracture to the left leg sustained during a bad football tackle nearly 35 years ago, have contributed to a tendon problem in my lower left leg and current lameness, from which I am recovering. Now I know how horses feel ! These foot and leg injuries have in their turn exacerbated a back problem, mainly due to conformation and poor posture in my youth, for which, very occasionally (ie once in perhaps 5 years), I have to take a day or so's box rest. Psychosomatic factors may also have some role in all this.
I mention these "problems" because they show how in people and, indeed, horses, there can be a deep-seated and long term relationship between injuries, ailments and inherited conditions. Incidentally, horses can also feel unhappy and depressed, states of mind which can contribute to "unsoundness". Fortunately, I am able to manage the symptoms and, to a certain extent, the underlying causes of my physical and mental health, and look forward to being back in medium work by next week. Medium fitness, in both people and horses, is, in my opinion relatively easy to sustain, something which should always be kept in mind by the horseperson.
The "soundness" of horses used for hunting can be particularly problematic, where inadequate fittening has occurred after rest/light work in Summer, or, indeed, between outings. Several years ago, I accompanied some people to view a lovely mare with a fine jump who had, it transpired, been used rather intermittently, and sometimes very hard, by her teenage owner. This horse was quite unfit in early Autumn, struggling to sustain a canter but clearly an exceptionally willing mount. The vet would not pass her as sound, although passed another horse for the same people, which turned out to have major fore feet and lower leg problems.
The second animal was described as a "Sports Horse", a description which should, I would suggest, always spell a measure of danger for the unseasoned rider and would-be owner. The chances are that such animals have been developed overfast and competed prematurely, often without commensurate underlying fitness (a product of the right care and exercise). People should remember that conditions developed, and injuries sustained, in youth or some years previously require careful and long-term management in horses, as in themselves. Developing skills in this regard is an essential attribute of the true horseperson.
I mention these "problems" because they show how in people and, indeed, horses, there can be a deep-seated and long term relationship between injuries, ailments and inherited conditions. Incidentally, horses can also feel unhappy and depressed, states of mind which can contribute to "unsoundness". Fortunately, I am able to manage the symptoms and, to a certain extent, the underlying causes of my physical and mental health, and look forward to being back in medium work by next week. Medium fitness, in both people and horses, is, in my opinion relatively easy to sustain, something which should always be kept in mind by the horseperson.
The "soundness" of horses used for hunting can be particularly problematic, where inadequate fittening has occurred after rest/light work in Summer, or, indeed, between outings. Several years ago, I accompanied some people to view a lovely mare with a fine jump who had, it transpired, been used rather intermittently, and sometimes very hard, by her teenage owner. This horse was quite unfit in early Autumn, struggling to sustain a canter but clearly an exceptionally willing mount. The vet would not pass her as sound, although passed another horse for the same people, which turned out to have major fore feet and lower leg problems.
The second animal was described as a "Sports Horse", a description which should, I would suggest, always spell a measure of danger for the unseasoned rider and would-be owner. The chances are that such animals have been developed overfast and competed prematurely, often without commensurate underlying fitness (a product of the right care and exercise). People should remember that conditions developed, and injuries sustained, in youth or some years previously require careful and long-term management in horses, as in themselves. Developing skills in this regard is an essential attribute of the true horseperson.
Wednesday 30 January 2008
The Makings of a Great Equestrian Success Story
In the sporting pages of a new local paper, I recently read an article about a farming and equestrian family on the Herefordshire/Worcestershire borders.
My acquaintance with the family began with a chance encounter about 12 years ago. I happened to see a field gate leading onto a country lane had been left open (perhaps by a livery client), and was just closing this when a woman approached me. The land belonged to the woman's family, and she and her daughters, particularly the elderst, were keen horse and sportswomen : the younger daughter being a runner, who put this skill to the service of the local drag hunt.
Like many farmers in this part of the country, the family had diversified into equestrian business with a livery yard, and tourism with a holiday cottage. These were indeed busy and hardworking people, able to see projects through good times and more difficult ones : all qualities and skills which are essential in any venture, but perhaps especially where horses are are concerned. I was also struck that everyone had more than their fair share of common sense !
12 years on and the eldest daughter, now probably in her mid-20s, is described as "Worcestershire's rising equestrian star" in the sport of eventing. Like our other local horseman hero, Leslie Law - who took individual gold medal at the Athens Olympics and now lives in the US - she has made her way up from the Pony Club to compete successfully this year at the UK national and European levels, catching the attention of the GB Olympics team trainer en route.
Like Law, I also think the young woman in question has staying-power : success has come steadily. She and her mother also seemed to have a keen understanding of the right horse for the next stage of the journey upwards through competition : an essential skill. Similarly, these are people who have the knowledge and commitment to look after and manage horses properly, again essential when you are managing on a budget, as is the case here.
All this has indeed the makings of a great equestrian success story, and its all the more interesting to me, having begun with such a chance encounter all those years ago !
My acquaintance with the family began with a chance encounter about 12 years ago. I happened to see a field gate leading onto a country lane had been left open (perhaps by a livery client), and was just closing this when a woman approached me. The land belonged to the woman's family, and she and her daughters, particularly the elderst, were keen horse and sportswomen : the younger daughter being a runner, who put this skill to the service of the local drag hunt.
Like many farmers in this part of the country, the family had diversified into equestrian business with a livery yard, and tourism with a holiday cottage. These were indeed busy and hardworking people, able to see projects through good times and more difficult ones : all qualities and skills which are essential in any venture, but perhaps especially where horses are are concerned. I was also struck that everyone had more than their fair share of common sense !
12 years on and the eldest daughter, now probably in her mid-20s, is described as "Worcestershire's rising equestrian star" in the sport of eventing. Like our other local horseman hero, Leslie Law - who took individual gold medal at the Athens Olympics and now lives in the US - she has made her way up from the Pony Club to compete successfully this year at the UK national and European levels, catching the attention of the GB Olympics team trainer en route.
Like Law, I also think the young woman in question has staying-power : success has come steadily. She and her mother also seemed to have a keen understanding of the right horse for the next stage of the journey upwards through competition : an essential skill. Similarly, these are people who have the knowledge and commitment to look after and manage horses properly, again essential when you are managing on a budget, as is the case here.
All this has indeed the makings of a great equestrian success story, and its all the more interesting to me, having begun with such a chance encounter all those years ago !
Wednesday 21 March 2007
Mission
Find Us at Blogger and WordPress : www.horsework.wordpress.com
Welcome to “Horse Management through Appropriate Work” or “HorseWork” in short. Our message is : ” sound principles go a long way to creating sound horses”. These principles apply to every stage of a horse’s life - breeding, youth and adulthood - but the focus here is on horses in work, and keeping them there. We believe that horses who have a suitable job in life, relative to their type and aptitudes, will enjoy better care and health in the longer term. Therefore, our mission is to encourage people who purchase horses to do so with a clear purpose in mind and to seek to acquire an animal which is suitable for this, and them.
Our particular interest is riding horses (who may do some driving etc as well) in “medium work”. Horses in medium work are likely to be belong to amateurs who ride for pleasure, but may also compete in activities like dressage and show jumping, and even some low-level eventing. Some “riding school” horses may be in medium work : indeed, this is likely if they are to sustain a good long school life.
The key to sustaining horses in medium work over long periods is a balanced programme of care, feeding, exercise and training; or, in other words, an holistic approach to horse management. This need not be complicated, but does require some thinking through, and, when necessary, adjustments to the horse’s regime from time to time. The benefits of such an approach in terms of reducing periods off work, consequent problems of re-fittening, as well as savings on vets bills, are considerable. However, perhaps most important of all, you and your horse should enjoy a happier and healthier relationship.
Welcome to “Horse Management through Appropriate Work” or “HorseWork” in short. Our message is : ” sound principles go a long way to creating sound horses”. These principles apply to every stage of a horse’s life - breeding, youth and adulthood - but the focus here is on horses in work, and keeping them there. We believe that horses who have a suitable job in life, relative to their type and aptitudes, will enjoy better care and health in the longer term. Therefore, our mission is to encourage people who purchase horses to do so with a clear purpose in mind and to seek to acquire an animal which is suitable for this, and them.
Our particular interest is riding horses (who may do some driving etc as well) in “medium work”. Horses in medium work are likely to be belong to amateurs who ride for pleasure, but may also compete in activities like dressage and show jumping, and even some low-level eventing. Some “riding school” horses may be in medium work : indeed, this is likely if they are to sustain a good long school life.
The key to sustaining horses in medium work over long periods is a balanced programme of care, feeding, exercise and training; or, in other words, an holistic approach to horse management. This need not be complicated, but does require some thinking through, and, when necessary, adjustments to the horse’s regime from time to time. The benefits of such an approach in terms of reducing periods off work, consequent problems of re-fittening, as well as savings on vets bills, are considerable. However, perhaps most important of all, you and your horse should enjoy a happier and healthier relationship.
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