To celebrate WeatherBeeta becoming the Official Main Arena Sponsor of Your Horse Live 2026, theyre giving one lucky winner the chance to win a 250 WeatherBeeta voucher to spend on their fantastic range of equestrian, canine and rider essentials.For over 40 years, WeatherBeeta has been helping horses, riders and dogs stay protected and comfortable with innovative, high-quality products designed to perform in all conditions. From their renowned turnout rugs and stable rugs to stylish rider apparel and dog coats, WeatherBeeta combines durability, comfort and performance you can trust.Whether youre preparing for the winter months with a new rug, updating your riding wardrobe, or treating your four-legged friend to a cosy new coat, this 250 prize could help you find exactly what you need.WeatherBeeta will be showcasing its exciting new Winter Collection at Your Horse Live 2026, giving visitors the opportunity to be among the first to see the latest products, explore the technology behind the designs and receive expert advice from the team.How to EnterSimply complete the entry form below for your chance to win. Or enter on this link hereThe post Win 250 to Spend with WeatherBeeta! appeared first on Your Horse.

Numerous horseboxes seem to come with the same unspoken rule: the front seat is reserved, and the four-legged passenger is already in place before the engine starts. Here we look at why lorry dogs are the best breed and shares tips for raising a top lorry dogNot every dog is suited to the role. A good companion needs a specific mix of temperament, training and adaptability to handle life around horses and lorries.SteadinessThe most important quality is steadiness. Horsebox areas are noisy and unpredictable: horses loading and unloading, engines running, equipment clattering, people moving in all directions. A good lorry dog doesnt panic or overreact to this activity. That doesnt mean it has to be low-energy, but it does need to stay under control. Some dogs naturally cope better with this than others. I own a Cocker Spaniel and although they are high-energy, my dog Reggie fits in wonderfully with the lorry dog lifestyle, says Collette Fairweather, who also owns a Jackapoo called Beans. They are both trainable, which is a huge advantage. Beans & ReggieAwarenessClosely related to this is awareness. Of course, it goes without saying that all dogs should always be on short leads at equestrian events. A good horsebox dog learns to keep a sensible distance and behaves calmly around horses. Many seem to pick this up over time, but the ability to read situations and respond appropriately is essential.SociabilitySociability also matters, but it needs to be balanced. Shows bring together lots of people and dogs in shared spaces. Aggression is obviously a problem, but overexcitement can be just as disruptive. A dog that constantly jumps on people or tries to play with every passing dog becomes difficult to manage. The ideal lorry dog is friendly without being pushy. It can interact calmly when needed and settle down when not. My pair of Labradors, Bea and Bear, are just the right amount of sociable, says Kate Matthews. This is one of the traits that makes them great lorry dogs, as when they go to events, I can rely on them to be friendly to passers-by, but without getting too much in anyones face including small children, which I think is essential. Calm and relaxedAnother key factor is how well the dog handles the lifestyle itself. Horsebox dogs often travel long distances, spend hours waiting between activities and move from place to place. They need to be comfortable with this routine. Dogs that are highly anxious, struggle with being left alone or need constant stimulation may find it difficult. NIKON D5 f/1.8 1/2000s 85mm ISO400Content doing nothingEqually important is the ability to do nothing. A large part of a lorry dogs day involves waiting. Dogsthat need constant entertainment or become destructive when bored are not well suited to this setting. The best ones are comfortable settling down for long periods. They rest, watch whats going on and dont demand attention all the time. 9 tips for raising a great lorry dog The authors Jack Russell, Toast1. Start them young Expose puppies to busy environments early. Show them lorries, horses and bustling yards, so that they become accustomed to noise and movement from the outset. Gradual exposure reduces fear and builds confidence.2. Teach boundaries Set clear rules around horses, equipment and people. Practise stay, wait and leave it commands consistently. Dogs who understand their limits are safer and easier to manage.3. Build calm confidence Use positive reinforcement to reward composure. Encourage settling on a mat or designated area, even amidst activity. A dog that can relax on cue is worth its weight in gold at busy shows.4. Practise travelling Get dogs used to spending long hours in a lorry or horsebox gradually, with breaks for water and exercise. Comfortable travellers are calmer at shows and less prone to anxiety or motion sickness.5. Socialising matters Expose your dog to different people, dogs and environments regularly. A well-socialised dog can handle the hustle of shows without stress or overexcitement.6. Reward settling Encourage your dog to enjoy downtime. Long waits are part of the lifestyle. Dogs who can relax are safer, happier and better company.7. Safety first Always supervise dogs around horses and equipment. Even the calmest dogs can react unexpectedly, so vigilance and proper control are essential.8. Include them in your routine Dogs thrive when they are part of daily routines. Let them ride along, be near the lorry and participatesafely. Inclusion builds trust and improves behaviour.9. Know your dogs limits Not every dog will love the lorry dog life. Respect their personality, as pushing them into stressful environments can cause anxiety and misbehaviour.Related content Jason Webbs tips for what to do if you meet a loose dog out hackingOn the move: Buyers guide to horseboxes and trailers What to look for when buying a second-hand horseboxThe post Horsebox dogs are great heres why and how best to raise one appeared first on Your Horse.

Hacking is the time youre supposed to be at your most relaxed, enjoying moments with your horse. But its not unusual for riders to be fearful of leaving the arena.Trainer and eventer Tanya Bridgeman has some tips to make your time out of the arena as fun and carefree as it should be.Theres all sorts you might encounter in the big wide world and lots of scenarios for you (and your horse) to deal with, so its understandable that some riders fear leaving the security blanket of fences or walls.But this fear can affect the way you ride. You may become tense, shorten your reins, grip with your knees, tip forward and, without meaning to, send a message to your horse that theres a reason for everyone to be afraid and then hell be on the lookout too.Theres only so much speed your horse can get up in a 20x40m arena, and if things do get a bit tricky, its relatively easy to deal with, says Tanya. When riding out, though, much of what happens is out of your control and this is the scary bit.Theres plenty you can do to nip any fear firmly in the bud, though.1. Take small stepsTry boxing your horse to a venue nearby for a training session in a different outdoor arena. Then try working in a small paddock at home. Think of it as a progression of experiences adding one new thing in, letting your horse cope with that, then giving him something else to think about.2. Plan aheadIf you or your horse are nervous, going out with other sensible and friendly horses (and riders!) can be a great confidence boost. Think about your route too, if you can, try to avoid busier times on the roads. If you ride near a railway or have to cross a railway bridge, check train times. If your horse is nervous of dogs, avoid times when lots of dog walkers tend to be about.3. Still in schoolTreat your initial hacks as if youre still in the school to keep your horse focused and listening. Ride transitions, shoulder-in, leg-yield, go from walk to halt to walk and so on. Bending to the inside then the outside before going straight is a very useful exercise if you need to get past something your horse is worrying about.4. Dealing with distractionsSpook-proofing at home during the winter is a great way to make your horse more bomb proof when hacking. Of course horses can still lose focus at times and it pays to be ready for this. A neck strap can give a bit of extra security.5. From safety comes confidenceIf wearing a body protector helps you relax and ride more effectively, then wear one. Dont let others pressurise you into anything different. High vis is also vital.Meet the expert: Tanya Bridgeman BHSII is an eventer, dressage judge andproduces young event horses. She coaches riders across the disciplines.Related articlesNervous out hacking? How hypnotic language could boost your confidenceFrom adding variety to calming nerves: The many benefits of hacking on a cross-country course exploredKeep going forward whatever the hazard: How to build your horses confidenceThe post Escape the arena and find your hacking confidence appeared first on Your Horse.

We are hardwired to keep ourselves safe and failure in any sphere can feel threatening. NLP (Neuro-linguistic programming) specialist Tracey Cole explains what this means for equestrians and how to overcome it. The fear of failure is deeply rooted in our biological survival mechanisms. Your unconscious mind has one primary job, which is to keep you safe. For horse people, failure is rarely just about a missed rosette or a poor dressage score. Generally, fear is often linked to physical safety and the primal fear of losing control. For equestrians specifically, it is losing control of a large animal.Potential loss of control switches on your alert systems and, when you contemplate failure, your brain often perceives it as a threat to your survival or your social standing. This triggers the amygdala, the brains emotional response centre, and creates a physical fight-or-flight response.Because riding involves an equine partner, the stakes feel higher. You may feel that you are not just failing yourself, but your horse, too. Recognising that this fear is simply your brain trying to protect you can be the first step in dialling down the intensity of that response. PROBLEM: I get so disheartened when I cant repeat results from a lesson at home. Its like Im not good enough on my own.FIX IT: This is a classic case of an external locus of control, where you believe your success is dependent on someone else, in this case your instructor. Your thoughts disempower you as you surrender your own agency over to someone else.To shift this, you can use an NLP technique called anchoring.During your next lesson, when things are going well and everything comes together, take a moment to notice exactly how it feels in your body.Associate that feeling with a physical trigger, such as touching your thumb and forefinger together.When you are at home alone, you can fire this anchor to bring back that resourceful state.Additionally, try to internalise your instructor. Record your lessons and listen back to the specific phrases they use. By repeating these instructions to yourself out loud while riding on your own, you bridge the gap between having an expert present and becoming your own coach. PROBLEM: My negative thoughts about failure start to spiral before I get on my horse. How can I stop them in their tracks?FIX IT: When thoughts spiral, they are usually running on a loop that your brain has practised many times. You need to break the cycle. A simple technique is the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise. Before you mount, stop and name: Five things you can see Four things you can touch Three things you can hear Two things you can smell One thing you can tasteThis pulls your brain firmly into the present. If the thoughts persist, use the stop technique. Say the word stop out loud, or loudly and firmly in your head, and visualise a big, red stop sign. Then replace that thought with a how question, such as, How can I make my first transition smooth? This moves your brain from problem-mode to solution-mode. PROBLEM: When I mess up a stride or schooling exercise, I become overwhelmed with the feeling that I am letting my horse down and I stop wanting to try. How can I escape this pattern?FIX IT: In NLP, we say there is no failure, only feedback. A missed stride is simply a single data point telling you that the preparation wasnt quite right.Your horse does not have the same concept of being let down as you do. If you dwell on a mistake from two minutes ago, you are no longer present with them and your communication could become fuzzy and unfocused. This is what truly affects your horses performance. To break this pattern, try the memory-sandwich technique. Acknowledge the mistake, immediately recall a time when you got that same exercise perfectly right at this level or lower, then focus on the next step you need to take. By sandwiching the error between two positive or productive thoughts, you prevent the emotional overwhelm from taking hold. With practice, youll move from receiving feedback as a mistake and instead reframe it as an example of learning and growing your skills.PROBLEM: My fear of failure is linked to what other liveries think of me. I feel ridiculous for caring about it so much. Can I get past this?FIX IT: Humans care about what others think due to our ancestors needing the protection of a tribe. We need to feel part of a community and be respected. However, we often suffer from the spotlight effect, where we overestimate how much others are truly noticing us. Most people are far more concerned with their own horses and their own insecurities.Use the following perceptual positions to reduce your focus on what others think of you: Imagine you are standing on the side of the school looking at yourself. From that distant perspective, you will likely see a rider who is simply trying their best. Really embody the observer as you do this: what are they thinking, watching, noting, if anything? Then, shift your perspective to that of your horse. Do they care what the liveries think? Not at all. He only cares about your clarity, your calmness and the conversation you are having with them. Be your horse for a minute. How do you react when your rider focuses more on others than on you? By focusing entirely on the conversation between you and your horse, you can tune out the background noise of the yard. Lastly, imagine being you, on your horse. How do you feel now, knowing about these extra perspectives?Meet the expert Tracey Cole is a master trainer of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and trainer of hypnotherapy, with a specialism in equestrianism. Visit traceycolenlp.comRelated contentHow to stop worrying about what other riders think of youEight ways to feel more confident in the saddleFeeling the pressure? Annikas tips for managing competition nerves *VIDEO*Escape the arena and find your hacking confidenceThe post Do you suffer from a fear of failure? What it means and how you can beat it appeared first on Your Horse.

Badminton 2026 saw the event bathed in sunshine and blessed with some of the best horses and riders from around the world and of course our record-breaking winners, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. Here is Badminton 2026 in numbers3The history making number of times Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo have won the Mars Badminton Horse Trials title.186,000The number of visitors we welcomed to the park across the 5 days of the event40,000,000 +The number of views our social media platforms received during the event cycle800The number of amazing volunteers and officials who came to help500The number of hand selected trade stands that attended200Members of the media were accredited to attend62Competitors from across the globe including USA, Brazil and New Zealand24Weeks until the Box Office opens for Badminton 2027!

Horse Sport Ireland High Performance Eventing Manager Sam Griffiths has announced the five combinations selected to represent Ireland at the FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany, next month.The selected team brings extensive championship experience and top-quality results from some of global eventings biggest events. Between them, the athletes have represented Ireland at multiple Olympic Games, World and European Championships, underlining the strength in depth of Irish eventing heading into the championships.Selections were made following the recommendation of the High Performance Eventing Selection Panel, comprising High Performance Manager Sam Griffiths, selectors Declan Cullen and Gillian Kyle, and Independent Chair Brian Mangan.The Irish Senior Eventing team competing in Aachen (listed in alphabetical order) is:Ian Cassells with Millridge Atlantis, owned by Ber, Fiona and Gerry LeahyAoife Clark with Full Monty De Lacense, owned by the Ace of Spades SyndicateGeorgie Goss with Kojak, owned by Georgie Goss, Suzanne Doggett, Lucy Fleming and Kelly Holmes.Padraig McCarthy with MGH Zabaione, owned by Peter Cattell and Diane Brunsden.Austin OConnor with Colorado Blue, owned by The Salty Syndicate.The following reserve combinations have also been selected (listed in alphabetical order):Susie Berry with John The Bull, owned by Nick & Helen Caton.Sarah Ennis with Dourough Ferro Class Act, owned by James and Niki Potterton.Padraig McCarthy with Pomp N Circumstance, owned by Rachel and Sarah Gough.Joseph Murphy with Calmaro, owned by Richard and Tanja Ames, Annette OCallaghan and Alan Bell.Announcing the team, Griffiths said: Were incredibly excited to announce the team for Aachen. The selection panel had some incredibly tough decisions to make, which really reflects positively on the growing strength of Irish eventing.There was lots of combinations that could have made the team but just missed it but having said that, the combinations we have are very strong. I firmly believe that if they can maintain their current form and compete to the level of their current form, well be very competitive.Weve got a really strong team. We know were going to be against some fierce competition but were going with a lot of confidence and were all very proud to be able to represent the nation.The FEI World Championships in Aachen will bring together the worlds leading eventing nations, with team qualification places for the LA28 Olympic Games on offer for the first time in the Olympic cycle, alongside the opportunity to contest team and individual World Championship honours.BREEDING:Millridge Atlantis (ISH) 2014 gelding by Dinan Cascaletto (ISH) out of Kereen Sue (ISH) by Warrenstown You 2 (ISH). Breeder: Sean OLoughlin, Co Kilkenny. Owner: Fiona Leahy and Gerry LeahyMGH Zabaione (ISH) 2016 gelding by Zavall Vdl (KWPN) out of Viancara VDL (KWPN) by Acobat II (HOLST). Breeder: Padraig McCarthy. Owner: Lucy and Padraig McCarthy. Rider: Padraig McCarthy (IRL).John The Bull (ISH) 2011 gelding by Luidam (KWPN) out of Think About It (TB) by Houmayoun (TB). Bred by: James Byrne (Westmeath). Owner: Nick and Helen Caton.Dourough Ferro Class Act (ISH) 2015 gelding by S CREEVAGH FERRO (KWPN) out of ISHD CLASS ACT (ISH) by O.B.O.S. QUALITY 004 (OLD). Bred by Gordon Drury, owned by James and Niki Potterton, ridden by Sarah Ennis.The post Irelands eventing squad named for World Championship at Aachen appeared first on .