Banish the Winter Blues

Posted on Friday, September 28, 2018 by Sasha Melia

Horse owners look ahead to winter with a sense of trepidation. Riding on a crisp, frosty morning sounds idyllic but in reality it is often more a case of battling the muddy elements just trying to turn your horse out in the field. As the nights pull in so does the sense of dread.

At Grove House Stables LLP based in Misterton, Nottinghamshire, owner Andrew Stennett knows only too well the difficulties of caring for a horse through winter. Running a busy equestrian centre, Andrew and his team have 35 horses and ponies to look after.

Organisation is the key advises Andrew: “We all own horses because we enjoy riding and very often during winter the chores can take up all the time, leaving very little time for actually riding, especially if you are juggling a full-time job with caring for your horse.

“When you are dashing to the yard before work at 6.30am in the morning it is vital that everything is ready, feeds are mixed and haynets are filled in advance. Also, it can be tempting to rush off to work, with the intention of mucking out in the evening. I would always recommend mucking out in the morning and leaving the stable ready for your horse to come in at night.”

That said, not all horses have the luxury of still being turned out all day during winter. If your horse must stay in the stable for long periods this brings with it extra pressure to ensure your horse is still ridden every day or is at least allowed and hour in the field or an arena to guarantee his welfare needs are met.

Think about which jobs are essential and which can be left until the weekend. Grooming your horse is important but when time is limited just removing the mud from areas where the tack might rub is fine if it means the difference between riding and not.

When prioritising jobs, don’t neglect the daily checks. Thick winter coats and rugs can prevent you from spotting wounds and swellings early. Keep an eye out for signs of mud fever. Prompt first aid treatment is crucial to a quick recovery.

Andrew’s top tips to cope with winter:

• Fill a weeks’ worth of haynetsat the weekend to save time.
• Stock up on hay and bedding if you have access to storage space.
• Turn your horse out daily if possible and prepare the stable in the morning, ready to bring your horse in, in the evening.
• If your horse must be stabled, try to turn them out in an arena for an hour, while you muck out.
• Just remove mud and dirt from areas of the body to prevent the tack from rubbing.
• Don’t neglect daily health checks.
• Hire an indoor school if your facilities are frozen or water-logged.

Winter can be a challenge for horse owners so if you are really struggling ask yourself if it would be better for your horse to be on full livery for the winter months.

This way you only have the enjoyable part of owning a horse to worry about. It can seem costly but by the time you have added up the fuel from two trips to the yard a day on top of all the feed and bedding, it might seem the more sensible option.

Grove House Stables LLP offers both their indoor and outdoor all-weather arenas for hire to help ease the burden of winter for horse-owners, providing a solution to riding during bad weather and the dark nights.

Prices start from £20 an hour for up to two horses and can be booked online via the Grove House Stables online booking page.

For further information please contact Grove House Stables on 01427 890802, ‘Like’ our Facebook page or visit www.grovehousestables.co.uk

Serving up 70 Years of Horse of the Year Show

Posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 by Sasha Melia

In recognition of the Platinum Jubilee year, a Horse of the Year Show commemorative plate has been designed to celebrate what has made Horse of the Year Show the equestrian spectacle that it is today. It is a tribute to everyone who has supported the show over the years and continues to make the Show what many consider to be the ultimate equestrian event. The plate will be on sale from the HOYS merchandise stand , so don’t miss out on your chance to get your hands on this limited edition piece of HOYS memorabilia!

The plate tells a unique and interesting story of Horse of the Year Show through the decades; each image has been thoughtfully selected to represent iconic moments of the Show.  With every plate you will find enclosed detailing about the individual images and the story behind why this moment has been chosen to feature on the 70^th Anniversary commemorative plate.

From the iconic image of John Whitaker’s famous steed Milton, to last years’ Supreme Pony Thistledown Van-Der-Vaart, each moment captured in a photograph from Horse of the Year Show has been delicately hand-painted onto the plate for the production of only 500 items.  Featuring a hand-painted item number on every plate, you will have your own individual piece of HOYS to celebrate an iconic milestone for the show.

Over the years the show has influenced the careers of many riders and breeders, and has been enormously important in the promotion of equestrianism, stimulating international success and providing a huge melting pot for competitors from all walks of life. Horse of the Year Show has and continues to touch the lives of so many people over the years, their stories and memories will truly live on forever.

Horse of the Year Show takes place at Birmingham’s NEC Genting Arena from 3^rd – 7^th October. With tickets starting from just £34.00 and a jam-packed timetable from 7am – 11pm, there is lots of fun to be had and something for every member of the family to enjoy. For more information and to buy tickets visit www.hoys.co.uk or call the Box Office 0844 581 8282.