Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) can occur in horses and ponies of all ages, breeds and types. It isnt a disease itself, but the name given to a collection of risk factors that increases a horse or ponys likelihood of developing laminitis, which poses a serious threat to horse health.We now know that over 90% of cases of laminitis occur secondary to underlying hormonal (endocrine) disease, namely EMS, Cushings disease, or both. Risk factors include insulin dysregulation in the form of high blood insulin levels or abnormal blood insulin responses, or both, plus obesity, or abnormal fat deposition.Signs of equine metabolic syndromeMost horses with equine metabolic syndrome are obese andhave regions of abnormal fat deposition.Such fat deposits are generally on thecrest of the neck, over the shoulders, overthe back musculature and in the rumparea.It is important to remember thatsome lean horses may also have EMS.These equines tend to have regions of abnormalfat deposition despite their ribs beingvisible or easily palpable.It is also worth remembering that not all overweight horses have equine metabolic syndrome, and this highlights the importance of confirming abnormal blood insulin levels by performing the relevant blood tests.Equine metabolic syndrome: risk factorsEMS was alluded to as early as the 1980s in veterinary literature, but only in recent years has there been an increase in knowledge and awareness of the issue.An abnormal blood insulin level is integral to the development of laminitis. Some horses with EMS will have persistently high blood insulin levels, whereas in others it may only be evident following a sugar challenge, such as a period of time at grass.Experts currently dont know exactly how abnormal blood insulin levels cause laminitis, but we do know that high blood insulin is associated with episodes of laminitis. Research is ongoing to determine the exact reason why.Other risk factors for the development of abnormal blood insulin levels include inactivity and ageing.Which horses are most at risk?Although any equine can have EMS, we know that there appears to be a higher incidence of it in British native ponies, Shetlands, minis and donkeys.A scientific study* published in the Equine Veterinary Journal identified the high prevalence of equine metabolic syndrome in UK native ponies and cobs along with a set of risk factors.The research, which was undertaken in 2020, included 354 horses at 64 properties in the northwest of England and north Wales, including studs, livery yards and riding schools.Diagnosing equine metabolic syndromeIn an ideal world, a proactiveapproach would be undertaken toidentify horses with EMS, managethe condition and, in turn, preventthe development of laminitis.Sadly,a diagnosis of EMS is frequentlymade when a horse or pony hasalready come down with laminitis.Therefore, if your equine is agood-doer, struggles to lose weight,or has areas of abnormal fatdeposition, then you should discuss equine metabolic syndromewith your vet andbe pro-active rather than reactive.EMS is often suspected based ona horses history, appearance andclinical examination findings.However, blood work is requiredto confirm abnormal blood insulinlevels.A number of tests and testingprotocols are available, and your vetwill be able to discuss the mostappropriate one for your horse.How to manage equine metabolic syndrome1 DietThe affected horses diet should be closelyexamined and the necessary tweaksmade. Grazing should cease until normalblood insulin results have been obtainedand the affected patient has lost weight.Hay should be fed at a rate of 1.5% of body weight in kilograms per day, and should be weighed dry prior to soaking for 8-12 hours in clean, fresh water in a shaded area. Your horses daily requirement should then be fed at regular intervals throughout the day.Try being inventive in making the hayration last for as long as possible. Thereare many ways of achieving this, fromdouble netting or using trickle nets, toplacing some of the daily ration in a treatball and feeding forage cafeteria style in order to mimic the natural roaming horses do in the wild.If the horses previous daily hay intake vastly exceeded the new calculated amount, then reduce gradually to this lower recommended quantity.If feeding soaked hay, in order to meetthe horses vitamin and mineralrequirements, a low-calorie balancershould also be fed, or, alternatively, avitamin and mineral powder. Othersuitable feeds include light, unmolassedchaff or unmolassed sugar beet pulp.2 ExerciseExercise has been proven to improvecellular insulin sensitivity. However, ifyour horse or pony is actively laminitic,exercise cant commence until they havebeen given the all-clear by your vet.Yourhorse should then begin an exerciseprogramme that is increased onlygradually in intensity in line with their fitness level.In horses diagnosed with EMS butwho dont actively or havent recentlyhad laminitis, then the aim should bethat they do at least 20 minutes ofcontinual trot or canter work at least fivetimes per week.Once visible weight loss has occurred,bloods can be repeated to ascertain thehorses response to the managementchanges.3 Medication for EMSA number of drug therapies are available for managing equine metabolic syndrome. Metformin, levothyroxine andertugliflozin are all used, but in the UKtheir use is currently off-licence.Drugtherapy doesnt replace diet and exercise,but it can help in severe and non-respondingcases, and it can beparticularly useful when laminitis occursbut exercise isnt permitted or possible.He lost a whopping 99kgWhen one of my clients nine-year-old Welsh gelding developed laminitis in December 2021, blood work confirmed equine metabolic syndrome.Kyes restingblood insulin level was 63.9mIU/L(normal being less than 32 mIU/L). Overthe years, Kyes weight had crept up and,at the point of diagnosis, he weighed602kg. Kyes owner knew thatdrastic action was required.Kye required six weeks box rest to allowthe laminar inflammation to settle. Duringthis time, he was taken off haylage andplaced on a diet of 9kg of hay per dayweighed dry and soaked for 8-12 hoursbefore feeding, divided into four small-holednets. A balancer was also provided.His owner felt that she was starving Kye, but her determination paid off and six weeks after the diagnosis, a hand-walking exercise programme could begin.Ten weeks later, a weigh-in showed that Kye had lost 53kg. At this point, swimming rehabilitation at a local centre was introduced.Using a combination of diet, controlled walking exercise and swimming, Kye lost a whopping 99kg. He was now ready for a further increase in work, including ridden work.Quality of lifeGiven Kyes weight loss and to assist with ongoing loss, his daily forage requirement was reduced to 7.5kg per day of dry hay soaked.At this point, Kye was being hand grazed, but he began to be turned out in April. Eventually, 45 minutes of loose grazing was permitted with a muzzle in place, but unfortunately Kye suffered a mild laminitic flare-up.Luckily, this settled following a short period of box rest and a course of oral anti-inflammatory drug therapy.As a result, Kyewas soon able to restart a hand walkingexercise programme. Equine metabolic syndrome bloods wererepeated, revealing a normal blood insulinresult Kyes level was now 16.9 mIU/L.As quality of life is hugely important, Kye restarted hand grazing. This increased to 25 minutes of grazing per dayand he was turned out in thefield with his pony pal Neville for the first timein several months.Soon after that, Kyes owner began riding him again.Prevention is better than cureManaging a horse with equine metabolic syndrome requires time, patience and dedication from the owner. Diet and exercise form the cornerstones of management and it is possible to restore a horse or pony to good health.However, prevention is better than cure and lowering the risk by keeping their weight at a healthy level will go a long way to keeping your horse healthy.Research links*Equine metabolic syndrome in UK native ponies and cobs is highly prevalent with modifiable risk factorsRelated contentEverything you need to know about laminitisHay vs haylage: which is best?Soaking hay: how to do it correctlyWhat does fat really do to your horses body?Why metabolism is important for horse health and four ways to support itAll about cafeteria-style feeding and its huge health benefits for horses *VIDEO*The post Equine metabolic syndrome explained: why every horse is at risk appeared first on Your Horse.

The cases were confirmed in El Paso, Ellis, and Hunt counties. The post 3 EIA Cases Confirmed in Texas appeared first on The Horse.

Back by popular demand! Crowd favourites Oliver Townend and Geoff Billington are teaming up for Your Horse Live 2024 (8-10 November). Its the only place you will see them performing together this year and tickets are on sale now.The equestrian worlds favourite double act will appear in the main arena twice on both Saturday and Sunday. They will also be interviewed on stage and there will be meet and greet opportunities.Oliver and Geoff have a brilliant way of being entertaining and passing on their horsey wisdom at the same time. So be prepared to laugh a lot and learn even more!About Oliver Townend MBEOliver Townend is one of the worlds most successful event riders. He has held the title of World Number One on multiple occasions, including at the end of 2023, when he topped the FEI Rider Rankings table with 569 points.Oliver was pathfinder for the British team at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where he helped secure team gold and finished fifth individually with Ballaghmor Class.This was Britains first Olympic eventing team gold since 1972. As a result, Oliver and his Tokyo teammates were awarded MBEs in Her Majesty The Queens New Years Honours list for services to equestrianism.Fast forward to 2024, and Oliver won the CCI5* in Kentucky in April for the fourth time. It marked the eighth five-star title of his career, after wins at Burghley (in 2009, 2017 and 20230) and Badminton in 2009.In 2022 Oliver was signed up to be Caunton Studs official rider in a deal that replicates a Formula One and Premier League type of deal and is unprecedented in equestrian sport.Oliver began riding when he was seven. His first success came at the age of 11 riding his pony Cool Mule at the Horse of the Year Show. At 13 he represented Great Britain on the European Pony Championships and he was stable jockey for the late Team GB showjumping trainer, Kenneth Clawson, for three years.When Oliver set up his own yard in Leicestershire he had just a few pounds in his pocket. With a lot of hard work and determination, less than five years later he was able to buy his own farm in Shropshire, where he is still based.About Geoff BillingtonGeoff Billington has showjumped at two Olympic Games, competed in more than 50 Nations Cups for Britain and has been on the worlds top ten list for years. He has also won various medals at World and European Championships.He is perhaps best known for riding the wonderful Its Otto, whom Geoff describes as being one of the best horses in the world and credits with changing his life.Otto arrived at Geoffs yard as a novice six-year-old in 1992. Four years later, they finished sixth individually at the Atlanta Olympics.Geoff and Otto went on to win European team bronze in 1997 and team bronze at the 1998 World Equestrian Games in Manheim.They won another bronze the following year in Rome before heading to the Sydney Olympics in 2000.Geoff credits Otto with keeping him in the top 10 riders in the world for more than two years.Geoffs parents werent horsey. He started riding when he was nine after following a group of pretty girls to the local riding stables.He got his first pony after 10 children nine girls and Geoff announced in the local newspaper that they were saving up to buy a pony.That same day, a local man rang up and said his children were not interested in the four-year-old pony hed bought as a surprise and if they gave 10 to charity they could have the pony.That was only 1 each and within a few weeks the girls had either got boyfriends or lost interest so Geoff got his first pony!Geoff still competes and produces horses today. He also coaches up-and-coming riders and runs clinics around the UK.Buy your Your Horse Live tickets hereImages: copyright Your Horse Library/Kelsey Media LtdRelated contentLatest Your Horse Live newsOliver Towends training tactics for a fresh or tense horseGeoff and Oliver explain why lateral work is crucial for a showjumperTop tips for jumping a youngster from Geoff and OliverThe post Oliver Townend and Geoff Billington confirmed for Your Horse Live appeared first on Your Horse.

The GAIN Equine Nutrition Irish Junior Show Jumping Team finished an agonising fourth at the FEI European Championship in Peelbergen this afternoon. James Kernans quartet of Emily Moloney with Temple Alice, James Brennan with Eskola M, Eoin Brennan with Mhs Everything and Coen Williams with Conthanja, made a charge in the second round, having gone into it in sixth place overnight on a score total of 16.61. That left the team with plenty to do to peg back leaders France on a score of 9.06 but this team are made of stern stuff and got straight down to the business of hunting their rivals down. Moloney and Temple Alice were first into the arena and were foot perfect to give Ireland hope, jumping superbly for a clear round. They were followed by Eoin Brennan and Eskola M, who duly obliged with their own clear round for Ireland to move Ireland []

The para equestrian squad has been named for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games (3-7 September), with four combinations representing Team GB. Three medal-winning riders from Tokyo 2020 feature in the all-female squad, in addition to the current para dressage world number one, who will be making her Games debut.Natasha Baker has been selected for her fourth Games and her second with Keystone Dawn Chorus (Lottie). As a new partnership in Tokyo, they won team gold, individual silver and freestyle silver, adding to the five golds that Natasha previously won at London 2012 and Rio 2016.The Grade 3 rider, who is contesting her first Games as mother to one-year-old son Joshua, said she was ecstatic to be part of the team.A lot has happened since Tokyo not least the arrival of Joshua and returning for what will be my fourth Paralympics Games, now as a mother, makes me incredibly proud, she said. To be at the top of my sport again is such an incredible feeling, especially with him as my number one supporter.Im so grateful to my team for enabling me to go through such an amazing journey over the last couple of years and supporting me more than ever before. Im really excited for the new challenge and to see what Lottie and I can achieve in Paris.Mari Durward-Akhurst will make her Paralympic Games debut in Paris. Previously a team silver medallist at the FEI Para Dressage European Championship in 2019, the Grade 1 rider now partners experienced horse Athene Lindebjerg, who contested Rio 2016 with Sophie Christiansen to win triple gold.Mari, who in June became the world number one ranked athlete across all five para dressage grades, said she was incredibly excited to have been selected for her first Paralympics.Its a dream come true, she said. Im honoured to be riding Diane Redferns Athene and look forward to us competing together on the worlds biggest stage. I cant thank everybody enough who has got us to this point.Georgia Wilson and Sakura made their Games debut at Tokyo 2020 and went on to win individual and freestyle bronze. Since then, their partnership has achieved podium placings at the FEI Para Dressage World Championship 2022 and FEI Para Dressage European Championship in 2023.On her return to the ParalympicsGB squad, Grade 2 rider Georgia said she was proud to be selected for Paris 2024.I cant believe I get to go to a second Paralympic Games with Sakura, she said. Im honoured and I cant wait to go out and try my best in Paris.Sophie Wells is another athlete to make her fourth Games appearance in Paris. The Grade 5 rider took three golds and three silvers across London 2012 and Rio 2016, followed by team gold and individual silver at Tokyo 2020 with new ride Don Cara M.Sophie, who has represented ParalympicsGB at every Paralympic Games, World Championship and European Championship since 2011, said she was thrilled to be selected.It still feels surreal when we get to this point, she said. Ive been so proud of my horse, Don Cara M, throughout his selection campaign this year and am very grateful to his owner, Rowland Kinch. Its starting to feel much more real now as we head into the final preparations for the Games.While all four combinations will compete for individual honours, three will also contest the team competition. The decision on this will be made before the start of competition in Paris.Para equestrians Team Leader, Georgina Sharples is leading the squad for her second Games.Its been a very strong campaign for all the British combinations aiming for the Games this year and they certainly didnt make this an easy decision for the selection panel, she said. However, I must offer my congratulations to Mari, Georgia, Natasha and Sophie for being the chosen four and the achievements that lead them to this point.Theres a great balance of experience and potential between our four athletes, and I look forward to seeing what they can achieve when we reach Versailles. The competition from other nations has never been fiercer, but we go to Paris with every intention of challenging for podium placings and hopefully we can do everyone proud.None of this would have been possible without the support of our horse owners and the athletes home teams, who play such a vital role in our quest for success on the worlds biggest sporting stage.Penny Briscoe, ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission for Paris 2024, added she was very proud that Team GB has such a successful record on the Paralympic stage.Its clear Natasha, Georgia, Sophie and Mari and their horses are terrific talents, she said. I look forward to seeing them in action in Paris later this summer.The squad is as follows:Grade 1: Mari Durward-Akhurstwith Diane Redfern, Nick Durward-Akhurst and Rob Waines Athene LindebjergGrade 2:Georgia Wilson with Geoff and Julie Wilson and her ownSakuraGrade 3: Natasha Bakerwith Joanna Jensen, Christian Landolt, Phil and Lorraine Baker and her own Keystone Dawn ChorusGrade 5: Sophie Wells with Rowland KinchsDon Cara MLiz Geldard and Beth Revill will act as travelling grooms for the horses in Paris.Further readingSchedule and how to watch equestrian sport at Paris 2024 Olympic GamesBritains teams of three and alternate named for dressage, jumping and eventing at Paris 2024Natasha Baker makes winning return after having babyThe post A great balance of experience and potential: Para equestrian squad named for Paris 2024 appeared first on Your Horse.

Whatever you most enjoy doing your horse, whether its hacking, dressage, jumping or something else, there is something very special about liberty horse training. It is a real thrill to see a horse work with a human completely freely.To truly be at liberty, a horse is free from tack (not even a headcollar) and has no restrictions. Yet they can be so tuned into their trainer that they move seamlessly from one trick to another, totally focused on the next command.The communication is clear and smooth and horses willingly gallop, leap, rear and lie down for their trainer, totally trusting in what is being asked of them. Such horses are never forced to do anything; they have total autonomy and yet choose to carry out the things being asked of them.To have that level of trust and respect between horse and human is the ultimate goal.Whether you are watching a master Liberty trainer like Ben Atkinson at work at Your Horse Live or you are trying it at home with your own horse,What are the benefits of liberty horse training?As well as offering something new to your horse in terms of training and improving your bond, liberty horse training can offer other benefits.Everyone who meets my liberty horses wants to take them home because theyre so beautiful to handle on the ground, says liberty master and trick rider Ben Atkinson, who is a crowd favourite at Your Horse Live. When you stop, they stop. You dont need to pull or force them.Having a horse that is safe to handle also means that they are safe to ride and train.A big part of liberty is called being the rock in the stream. The human is a large boulder and the horse is the stream, and while the human doesnt move, the horse meanders like water around the human, explains Ben. You want the horse to move around you, but never into or over you.Good for bondingBen was just four years old when he first witnessed horses working at liberty. He explains that liberty horse training removes all the kicking and pulling from a rider/handler.It means that you can show the horse what you want on the floor before you get on board.Equally, if you teach a horse these movements on the floor first, whether thats a young horse or an older horse, you as the trainer and rider can see which rein the horse struggles on most.You can see which legs move where, which movements the horse finds difficult, and where theyre getting in a tangle. This allows you to view your horse in the same way that your instructor can, advises Ben.Liberty horse training is also transferable.For example, if you teach your horse to do hind quarters towards you, you can teach any horse to line up to a mounting block and stand up beautifully while you get on, says Ben.For riders, this opens up the door to teaching horses more complex movements, such as piaffe and passage, where there need never be resistance or confusion.Which horses suit liberty training?Any age, breed, or type of horse from any discipline can be taught to work at liberty.I dont care if theyre a wild pony off the New Forest or a chunky cob, the horse will tell you what they are talented at, says Ben. Liberty is great for any horse because it gives them a clear route of communication and reliability.For horses who have experienced trauma, liberty teaches them that the pressure is off and they will never be made to do anything until theyre ready.I had a mare who used to nap and we taught her vocal cues and physical cues for acceleration which meant that when we rode her again the napping vanished.Horses are creatures of logic, and all youre doing is putting the information to them in a way that they understand and so those problems evaporate.For horses who are lazy or unreactive, liberty will teach them to be responsive to lighter aids, and for sharp horses who like to let off steam at the start of a session, allowing them to work at liberty before you ride them will let them get rid of that negative energy before you climb into the saddle.Liberty horse training: the aidsJust like the times we ride and handle horses, liberty uses aids to signify what we want the horse to do. The signals you use in liberty horse training are your false aids, such as the whip, vocal aids like a whistle or your voice, and your body language, such as your positioning and footwork.By being precise with your footwork, you can teach a horse when they can step towards you and when they shouldnt, so when our horses spook at something they can still explode, but they wont move into the humans space as they know that human wont move, states Ben.As with any horse training, the ultimate goal of liberty is to get the horse to react to the lightest aid or touch.The horses end up beautifully light, but only if they are trained light, so always start with the lightest aid and gradually build up until you get the response you want, and then release at the first sign of movement, adds Ben.The three CsTo check that you are training in the right way, Ben suggests checking the three Cs:Clarity: Be clear in your goal and how you are going to ask for it.Consistency: Consistently ask for the same movement or behaviour in the same way.Confidence: If you keep asking in the same way, the horse will become confident in a movement or behaviour.Its not just about the horse either.Liberty is a two-player game its 70% human and 30% horse, says Ben. Liberty doesnt stop when you leave the arena; liberty continues with how you handle your horse in the stable, lead them and tie them up for the farrier, and catch them from the field and bring them in.Liberty horse training is a form of communication that is always the same, and its the absolute clarity that allows the horse to become so relaxed because they know what the rules are, and they know what they should and shouldnt do.Human vs horse mindsetWhen working at liberty with your horse, it is important to understand that the human mind works in very different ways.The horse is a prey animal and will think about several things at once. They cant just concentrate on eating because otherwise theyll be eaten by a predator, explains Ben. Humans are hunter and so will only concentrate on one thing at a time. We want to break down the barrier between horse and human. The human has to decide to open up more to the world around them and see like a horse does.People often arent aware of the personal development that comes with liberty.It can really open peoples minds to their own emotional regulation, says Ben. Our horses see us as their leader and look to us for reassurance if something is wrong. Therefore, we need to be able to control our own emotions, and I find that breathing can help to do this breathing in for four seconds and breathing out for four is such a simple way to ground yourself. It always helps to exhale longer than you inhale your body will believe it is a safe place.If the horse gets scared, we need to stay monotone and calm regardless of what happens.Ben explains, too, that an owner reserves the right to walk away. If you become upset or heated about something, it is best to take a few minutes out to calm down and reset.I use songs and music to calm down and get mentally prepared for liberty sessions, he says.Liberty horse training: getting startedIf you fancy having a go at liberty horse training, you dont need any special equipment just a simple headcollar, a lead rope, and a schooling whip, plus a secure place to work.These exercises might seem basic, but they are your essential tools and without them liberty wont work, says Ben. To start with, you want to be able to move the horse forwards and backwards, move their hindquarters towards and away from you, their shoulders away and towards you and move them fully sideways towards and away from you from both sides.Exercise 1: Hindquarters awayThis is one of the first times a horse might be asked to move backwards away from you and not forwards into you, so its a very important early lesson. It also teaches them that whenever energy is added to an exercise, it never means walking on top of the human.Were aiming for the horse to be travelling around the human like the hands of a clock, so that their tail is on the outside with their head facing you and they step sideways while you stand in the middle, turning with them.How to do it:Its important that you stay in the same spot, so start by taking an old lead rope, lay it in a circle on the floor and stand inside it.Ask your horse to move away from the whip. Start by flexing the horses head with the halter towards the same side as you a bit of inside flexion and then point the schooling whip towards the thigh just above the hock.If the horse wont move away from the stick, wiggle the whip until it makes a sound. If they step away, even just an inch, praise them. How you praise is important. I go for a scratch on the forehead, but it could be a scratch on the neck, stomach, or bottom. If they still havent moved, tap them with the whip in a different place, or use a different rhythm.If that still doesnt work, go for the old fashioned plastic bag on the end of the whip, which makes more noise. Then gradually start using the normal stick with the same commands until the horse moves away from the normal stick.We have taught the horse to move away from pressure, but not simply by escalating the pressure; weve just used a different pressure.Practise in both directions, performing a full circle on each rein.Exercise 2: Backing upSimilar to the above exercise, backing up teaches the horse to move away from the handler instead of forwards and into them.How to do it:Position the horse against a fence while you stand with your chest in line with their eye.If the horse is standing with their off side against the rail, and youre on the nearside with your chest level with their eye, carry the leadrope in your right hand and the stick in your left hand.Lift the stick about 1m up in front of the horse as far away as you can reach and make that swishing sound with the whip. If they lean back or take a step back, stop and praise them.Practise using less of a reaction to get them to move backwards.Exercise 3: Send away and recallSend away and recall does what it says on the tin: you teach your horse to go away from you and then teach them a command to come back to you. You begin on the lunge and then progress to loose schooling this is the very beginnings of true liberty horse training. To begin with, you will require a headcollar or cavesson, a lunge line and a lunge whip.How to do it:1 Starting positionStart by standing facing your horses shoulder. Then ask them to go on a circle on the lunge anti-clockwise. My signal for sending a horse out onto a circle is to hold the lunge line in my left hand and lunge whip in my right hand.Then I gently lay my left hand flat on the horses check and point and push to the outside of the circle. As I do that, Im going to point the lunge whip towards the floor behind the horse 1m away.The idea behind the push and point is that you open your left shoulder and close the door with your right shoulder, while the whip is creating energy to ask the horse to accelerate onto the circle.TOP TIP!Never touch the horse with the whip. This is all about creating energy with the whip.2 The drive lineHorses have what we call a drive line and this is the line where the girth sits. Pressure in front of the drive line is going to slow down the horse, and pressure behind the drive line is going to speed them up.Horses are also all about intention; they are prey animals and a great example of how we can use this in our training is to imagine that the horse has headlights like a car and that they come out of their chest.As a human, our headlights also come out of our chest. Imagine that the beams of light dictate our attention and intention. While were asking the horse to trot around the circle, were going to point our headlights at the horses tail.Our intention is to drive the horse forward at this point. Were not connecting with them or trying to get their attention. Were focusing on the section behind the drive line to get the horse to move forwards.Following this process also helps to build clarity, consistency and confidence. It gives clear instructions to the horse what our bodies and whip are doing.TOP TIP!I always suggest starting this exercise on a smaller circle in walk, but once your horse is established on this small circle, you can make it even bigger. You will need to take into consideration the size, age and history of your horse.For example, with a big, aged horse with a history of lameness, you will have to adapt your training so that they are on a bigger circle and going slower.3 Getting them to come to youOnce the horse is going round happily, the next step is to get them to come into you.Swap hands so that youre holding the lunge whip in your left hand, still pointing at the horses rear end, while the lunge line is in your right hand.Next you need to leave the centre of the circle and swing your chest so that your headlights point towards the horses front end. Then gently raise the lunge whip up in front of the horse to stop them on the circle.4 The lunge lineWhen the horse stops and turns in towards you, walk backwards, keeping the lunge line as slack as possible, but while gathering up the excess rope so that the horse doesnt stand on it and scare themselves.What is vitally important is that as you ask the horse to come in, if theyre coming straight at you, you need to then lower the whip because you want to teach them to come straight at you as you walk backwards.You dont want to accidentally push the horse left or right by having the whip pointing at their rear end by accident.TOP TIP!You must have an established back up signal in front (see exercise 2: backing up) because that is the bridge of knowledge that the horse will use when you introduce this exercise so that they dont feel overwhelmed.5 StoppingOnce you have the horse so that you can send them out on the lunge, put the whip in front and they will stop and come to you.This is when you can begin to add your verbal cue. I like a whistle, but you can use any verbal cue you like I once taught a horse to do this using the word pineapple!It doesnt matter what the sound is as long as it consistently happens with the movement.Dont, however, add the vocal commands until the horse understands the process with the movement to the signals because otherwise you are just using that sound or word in too vague a way before they know what theyre doing.6 Loose and at largeWhen you get to the point where you can loose school your horse around the arena, hold up your whip and they will stop and come in to you. Then its time to start working with them at liberty.Stroke them all over and then give a click. After that, begin to walk off and hopefully the horse will walk with you.You might get two or three steps to begin with, after which you should praise them.Later you can built it up and start to add turns and transitions. If you get these few steps with your horse and they go off, go straight back into loose schooling around the arena, asking them to come back to you.7 RecallOnce your horse has understood the concept of send away and recall, you can progress this next to me work.A common issue when doing this type of work is that the horse heads off in the opposite direction to you, but this isnt a big deal and is going to happen.It is no different to a showjumper knocking down a pole or a dressage horse striking off on the wrong canter lead. It is part of the process.Simply make your come to me command until you have your horses attention back again.Exercise 4: The bowThe bow is a downwards and backwards liberty horse training movement, and once a horse has learned to bow, they can then progress to kneeling and subsequently lying down.The method a liberty trainer uses to teach the bow garners the same result as horses together in play. When they go to bite each others legs and go to kneel down. It is this that we tap into to teach the bow.Ben asks the horse to lower their head and applies pressure to encourage them to step backHow to ask for it:1 Yielding the headStand your horse against the arena fence and start by working on the yielding of their head with the halter.You need to apply downward pressure with the lead rope and pulse on the lead rope. The moment they lower their head, even a single centimetre, you need to stop and praise them.2 Lowering the headNext you want the horse to lower their head so you apply backward pressure on the halter and a bit of pressure from your hand onto the horses head to encourage them to lower it.Then take a couple of steps backwards. You dont need to go miles because you dont want the horse to think that the aim of this exercise is to walk backwards.You just want them to think down and back.3 Downward flexionHold the horses headcollar and lead rope, and ask for downward flexion with backward pressure and tap on the side of their knee until they lift their leg.You just want a bend of the knee, not an extension outwards, so stop asking when the horse lifts and holds it.The aim is to tap their knee and get them to hold their leg at a 45-90 angle with their hoof under their belly.4 Putting it togetherOnce your horse starts to understand the concept, you are going to start to put these two things together.Tap the side of their knee for a bend, at the same time as you ask for that downward flexion in their neck and a rock backwards.5 Asking for moreSlowly increase the tilt backwards and lower their shoulder. Then stop and praise. You are looking for these little milestones to mark.6 Take a bowOnce your horse is going down so that they are touching their cannon bone to the floor, use the same training mindset you used to increase the depth of the bow to increase the length of it.Remain calm and persistent when holding the bow.Ben asks the horse to increase the tilt backwards and lower their shoulder for a bowLiberty horse training: top tips1 Stick to the same directionWhen you are loose schooling around the arena, your horse must stay on the same rein as you started them on unless you ask them to change direction.2 Get the right speedA good hacking trot is more than enough in terms of speed. If you have an energetic horse who likes to canter, or a fat pony who needs to burn off some calories, let them canter, but otherwise this hacking trot is plenty. If you push the horse into a gallop and their adrenaline gets too high, they will go into fight or flight mode and will stop learning.3 Practise makes perfectI liken this to whipping cream. It takes time to get it right and, just as with whipped cream, it seems that its not working for a while, but as long as you stay consistent and calm, you will get there. Some horses learn this in half an hour, but for others it might take weeks. However, it will all come to all of them eventually. The important thing is to give clear instructions.4 Dont overdo itIn the early stages of working your horse loose, keep it short and sweet. Achieve and then move on, going back to working on your other tools with a halter and leadrope.Ben Atkinson works alongside his father, Mark, in the family business Atkinson Action Horses, training horses for films and shows, as well as live performances. Ben rode his first display aged 11 and was building his own team of stunt riders and horses by the age of 16. His displays include the art of liberty, classical dressage, airs above the ground and Cossack trick riding. To find out more, visit actionhorses.co.ukImages by EJ LazenbyRelated contentLearn to listen and understand horse behaviourTap into a horses way of thinking with natural horsemanshipHow to read a horses body languageGroundwork exercises to build trustHow to tell if a horse is happyThe post Introduction to liberty horse training plus exercises to try at home appeared first on Your Horse.

Burghley's Olympic History with Carl Hester & Andrew HoyBurghley Horse Trials and Burghley House have many Olympic connections, but one that is especially significant this year. Exactly a century ago, David, Lord Burghley who founded Burghley Horse Trials in 1961 competed as a 19-year-old undergraduate in the 1924 Paris Olympics. He went on to win individual gold in the hurdles at the following Games in Amsterdam four years later, and silver in the team relay in 1932.With these links in mind we invited two of the greatest Olympians ever Burghley Ambassador and twice Burghley champion Andrew Hoy, and Defender Ambassador and dressage legend Carl Hester, who also gives a Main Arena Masterclass on the Friday of the horse trials here for a very special meeting.After learning about Burghley's own Olympic history from Miranda Rock, Burghley President and granddaughter of Lord Burghley, they headed out on course in a Defender to compare notes about their own Olympic triumphs, disappointments and other memories, and to chat about how Olympic success compares with becoming Burghley champion.Enjoy their wonderful meeting here and find the full programme on Burghley TV: https://burghley-horse.co.uk/burghley-tv#DBHT #Burghley #OlympicHistoryPosted by Defender Burghley Horse Trials on Monday, July 15, 2024You may or may not have already been aware, but the historic site of the Burghley Horse Trials, the UKs fall CCI5* event, has much tie-in to the Olympic Games. Recently, Burghley ambassadors, dressage Olympian Carl Hester and multi-Olympian in eventing, Andrew Hoy, stopped by for a special visit to the hallowed grounds. You wont want to miss the video above to help you get even more excited for next weeks Olympic action.Tickets for Defender Burghley are on sale now! Snag them here.

Ocala, FL The $24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix was the highlight event of Week VI of the 2024 Summer Series. Twenty-five horse-and-rider combinations competed for top honors, but it was Alberto Michan (ISR) and his new partner, Joint De Canabis Van De Doornhoeve (Canabis Z x Evidento V.d. Doornhoeve), who emerged victorious. FEI Level II course designer Tucker Williams (USA) set a challenging[...]Read MoreThe post Alberto Michan and Joint De Canabis Van De Doornhoeve Top the $24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix appeared first on World Equestrian Center.

Electrolytes play an important role in equine health and performance. Discover when, what, and the correct amounts of electrolytes your horse needs in the Summer 2024 issue of The Horse.The post Electrolytes for Horses: What You Need to Know appeared first on The Horse.