We had very good entries for our recent Racehorse to Riding Horse Ireland show, which included classes for both raced and unraced horses in retraining and open classes. The open class on the day served as a qualifier for the Racehorse to Riding Horse All Ireland Championship. There were also veteran and inhand classes, as well as some dressage competitions.The retraining class was a large group of 9 horses, with Cairlinn Carroll riding Polish Partisan taking the red ribbon. In the unraced section, Jane Bruce and Minnie Minx claimed first place. The open class, was once again well supported with 6 entries and it was young rider Molly Byrne riding Departures who took first place and qualified for the Racehorse to Riding Horse Championship.The veteran class winner was Cairlinn Carroll with Polish Partisan, followed by Sarah O'Flaherty in second place. The inhand class also had strong participation, with competitors showcasing their beautiful TB horses. Jane Bruce and Minnie Minx impressed the judge in this class, while Victoria McCandless and Da Baba Elephant took second place.The overall champion of the day was awarded to Jane Bruce and Minnie Minx, with Cairlinn Carroll as Reserve Champion with Polish Partisan. Riders also had the opportunity to showcase their skills in the dressage arena. In the intro section, Jane Bruce took the lead, while Anna Morrow won the preliminary class and Cairlinn Carroll won the novice class.A big thank you to Julie Morris from Racehorse to Riding Horse Ireland, our ground judge Corey Mawhinney and ride judge Shannon Magee. Thank you also to Blackhorse Photography and Bluebell Bakery and of course all our competitors on the day.RESULTSRetraining - Raced1st Cairlinn Carroll - Polish Partisan2nd Molly Byrne - Departures3rd Katie Adams - Enemy Engagement4th Caitlin Trainor - Westbank5th Sarah OFlaherty - Laureldean Chief6th Anna Stefanini - Flippance7th Shannon Magee - The Belmont Boys8th Noel Callaghan - Wat Tyler9th Ashley Osbourne - Stone PickerRetraining - Unraced1st Jane Bruce - Minnie MinxOpen - Raced1st Molly Byrne - Departures2nd Noel Callaghan -Smokey Bay3rd Caitlin Trainor - Westbank4th RebekahBlakely- Amadan5th Sarah OFlaherty - Laureldean Chief6th Sarah Morcombe - In Our BloodVeteran1st Cairlinn Carroll - Polish Partisan2nd Sarah OFlaherty - Laureldean ChiefInhand1st Jane Bruce - Minnie Minx2nd Victoria McCandless - Da Baba Elephant3rd Anna Stefanini - Flippance4th Lilian McClemants - The Belmont Boys5th Sarah OFlaherty - Laureldean Chief6th Ashley Osbourne - Stone PickerChampionshipChampion - Jane Bruce, Mini MinxReserve Champion- Cairlinn Carroll, Polish PartisanDressageIntro1st Rebekah Blakely - Amadan 65.65%2nd Jane Bruce - Mini Minx 65.43%3rd Noel Callaghan - Wat Tyler 63.48%Preliminary1st Anna Morrow - Baile an Sceilg 68.41%2nd Sarah Morecomb -In Our Blood 62.95%3rd Deirdre OBrien - Here Comes Harry 53.41%Novice1st Cairlinn Carroll - Polish Partisan

Maintaining a healthy weight can be one of the most challenging parts of taking care of a horse. Worryingly, 50% of horses in the UK are reported to be overweight or obese, with this figure creeping up to 70% in some native pony breeds. At the BHS, wework with a significant number of horse owners and carers who are struggling to keep their horse at a healthy weight.Excess weight gain can be a contributing factor to equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), laminitis, arthritis, and soft tissue injuries. In fact, equine obesity can more than double the risk of laminitis, which will cause significant pain and lameness. EMS is similar to type two diabetes in humans. It can also increase a horses risk of laminitis.This was a real worry when we met veteran Shetland pony Diamond at a BHS Horse Health Day, as she was very overweight (pictured above).The 22-year-old mares weight loss journey led to her shedding 30kg, completely transforming her health (and life) in the process. Ill come back to her story later.A big differenceWhile excess weight on a horse can be down to a number of reasons, we often identify diet and exercise as being the main contributing factors.It is hard to strike the right balance. Many of our horses have access to quality grazing all year round and are exposed to milder winters, with additional rugging and stabling. This year has been exceptionally challenging in the UK, with the amount of rain we have had coupled with trying to manage pasture and turnout.The resulting factor is that our horses dont have to use as much energy to keep warm. So when they are also consuming plenty of calories, it is easy for weight to increase because they arent burning enough off.During a typical BHS Horse Health Day, where we visit different establishments such as livery yards or riding schools, I work directly with each horses owner or carer.First I get to know the owner and their horse by asking questions such as the horses age, if the horse is in work and what their current management routine is.I then weight the horse on a weigh bridge and also with a weigh tape. Interestingly, Ive seen a big difference of between 1kg and 100kg in weight measurements for the same horse when they are weighed on a bridge and with a tape.Fat or muscle?The next stage is to demonstrate how to fat score (also known as body condition scoring) the horse, and encourage owners/carers to get hands on and feel the different areas prone to storing fat. Ive found this to be a valuable tool, because it enables people to confidently assess their horses weight at any time.This overall assessment allows my team to determine if the horse is a healthy weight, underweight or overweight. We can then advise owners or carers on tailored steps they should take to support their horses weight.Best practice is for owners/carers to fat score their horse every two weeks. There are three key areas to consider: neck, middle and hindquarters.You will need to get hands on and touch the horse to determine whether you are feeling muscle or fat.Fat will feel spongy whereas muscle is firmer. However, dangerous crest fat on the neck can start to feel hard and become difficult to move from side to side. If a horse is underweight, the skeletal points on the horse will be more visible and easier to feel, and the neck is often weaker.We are what we eatWe are what we eat and the same can be said for horses. I talk to owners about feed and forage, along with the horses current grazing routine.There are several things that we recommend, depending on the horse and the owner/carers circumstances. This includes:Weighing all feed and forage to help ensure the horse is being provided with the right amount they need.Soaking hay to reduce its calorie content.Feeding a low-calorie forage.Discuss if a feed is needed at all. Often, a balancer or vitamin and mineral supplement will be sufficient for the overweight horses that we assess.Using small-holed haynets or trickle feeders to make a horses forage ration last longer.With all of the above advice, I always recommend that any changes to the diet are made gradually to avoid upsetting a horses delicate digestive system.Positive conversationsWe also have conversations with owners/carers about restricted grazing, whether that be by using electric fencing to strip graze, setting up a track system or by using agrazing muzzle.To rug or not to rug is a question we often address too. It can be easy to over-rug a horse, particularly if they need to lose weight. Instead of unused calories being laid down as excess fat, the horse will benefit from using the calories to keep warm.Ive had some really positive conversations at our BHS Horse Health Days. It is great to be able to support so many horse owners and carers with a targeted weight management plan for their horse.There is a secondary challenge when it comes to weight management. Its not always easy when you see your horse every day to recognise if they have gained weight. It can also be difficult to recognise what a healthy body looks like.I meet owners and carers who measure weight with weigh tapes, but they can only provide a guideline and may produce significantly varied results. Taking photos of your horse from the side and a safe distance behind the hindquarters every 2-3 weeks will provide another method of monitoring any weight changes.Shetlands 30 kilo weight lossShetland pony Diamond lost 30kg in weight after being assessed at a BHS Horse Health DayWeight loss needs to be achieved through a carefully planned programme. This starts with knowing the accurate weight of the horse.By taking measurements at a BHS Horse Health Day, weve also been able to produce some great before and after comparisons. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a horse again and the brilliant improvements they have made by losing weight.One pony that stands out for my team and I is Diamond. When BHS Horse Care & Welfare Field Officer Dawn was first introduced to the Shetland pony in 2022, there was no doubt that she was a happy, well-loved pony.Like many Shetlands, however, Diamond had a good appetite and was carrying too much weight (see main image, top of page).After assessing the mare on the weigh bridge, Dawn advised the proprietor and yard manager on the best steps to take going forward. On a return visit, we were so pleased to see that she had lost a total of 30kg (see inset image, above).At 22 years old, this is a positive result for Diamond and we are thrilled to continue to hear about her weight loss journey, in particular her new found love for loose schooling over poles.In great shapeHealthy weight: Pollyanna receives an In Great Shape rosetteiPhone XS f/1.8 1/1490s 4.25mm ISO25Prevention through education, support and learning is something we strongly believe in at the BHS. This includes investing in, and engaging with, people from a young age.Along with BHS Horse Health Days, we run sessions at riding club and Pony Club camps, which comprise of presentations and fun interactive games such as guess the weight of the pony.We dont want people to feel daunted by the topic of weight management and as a team we understand the different challenges faced by owners or carers. As I said, it is not an easy thing to manage and every single horses journey is unique.I think a nice touch is that we hand out In Great Shape rosettes to horses that are assessed as having a healthy fat score.There have been some really lovely exchanges with those owners/carers who have been presented with a rosette. Being part of initiatives such as this one really reminds me of just how special my job is, as well as the work we get to do every day to improve the lives of horses.Find out more about the British Horse Societys Horse Care and Welfare team.Have you heard about Your Horses#FitNotFatcampaign? Equine obesity is an enormous welfare problem and were on a mission to provide owners and riders with the knowledge, skills and information you need to keep your horse in tip-top health. It could be life saving! FindoutmoreRelated contentEquine metabolic syndrome explainedLaminitis in horses: warning signs and prevention tipsFitness plan for a healthy horse or ponyHow to do interval training (and why you should)What does fat really do to a horses body?The post Shetland loses 30 kilos after weigh in at BHS Horse Health Day appeared first on Your Horse.

Quentin Jabet takes a picture of Team France after winning the Nations Team gold during FEI Vaulting World Championship 2024 Bern (SUI) © FEI/Martin Dokoupil The FEI Vaulting World Championships came to a close with the ultimate battle of the nations. In a record-breaking finale, Team France won back-to-back Nations Team titles scoring 9.239. The combination of the French squad with...

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