Feed manufacturer, Spillers, is offering entrants in their Easter spring quiz the chance to win two tickets to Mars Badminton Horse Trials as well as a chocolate hamper.The equine nutrition quiz is on the subject of spring grass and weight management and participants who answer seven or more questions correctly will be entered into a prize draw for the opportunity to attend the Gloucestershire CCI5*.One lucky winner will be selected at random after the closing date on Tuesday 22 April to win a pair of tickets to the event, which takes place from Thursday 7 Sunday 11 May, on the day of their choice. The winner will also receive a Mars Easter egg hamper.The quiz will cover key topics like managing the transition to spring grass, effective weight management strategies, and busting common myths about equine nutrition.Help is available!Clues will be posted on Spillers social media channels each day to boost equine knowledge and to help those who may be struggling with the answers. Further information and advice is also available on the Spillers website.Weve seen a real hunger from horse owners to feed their equine nutrition knowledge, said Sarah Nelson, product manager at Spillers.A phenomenal30,000+played our advent calendar nutrition quiz last Christmas and the feedback was really positive, so we thought we would give everyone another opportunity to test their nutrition knowhow!The fabulous prize of two tickets to Badminton Horse Trials showcases our relationship with the famous events wonderful sponsor, Mars our parent company.To enter the quiz, click here.Main image Spillers.Related contentBrooke awarded largest slice of Spillers donation thanks to public voteHay vs haylage: how to choose which to feed your horse10 crucial feeding rules for a healthy horseFeed 80% of forage during the day to reduce ulcer risk, says vetThe post Test your equine nutrition knowledge for the chance to win Badminton tickets appeared first on Your Horse.

Lynch the King at two-star level again It was a particularly fruitful week for Cian OConnor at the lucrative five-star international show jumping event in Abu Dhabi, with the Olympic medallist posting three runner-up finishes in 24 hours over the weekend. The Breen brothers, Shane and Trevor, were also mixing it with the big guns in UAE, making the long trip pay significant dividends. As is his wont, OConnor is freshening up his crop of top-tier horses and the Karlswood Stables supremo must be very excited about the future given the evidence of the past week. The Meath-based Kildare man and Iron Man (photographed in action above) beat all bar Kevin Staut (FRA) and New Libero One dAsschaut in Sundays Presidents Cup, a 1.60m competition in which Shane Breen and Z7 Oilina were sixth. There must have been a tinge of disappointment for Breen, as he missed the jump-off by []

Mullingar Equestrian Centre played host to the second leg of the DAFM showjumping Studbook series at their Easter Horse Festival show which ran from Friday the 11th to Sunday the 13th of April. The series is delivered by Horse Sport Ireland, and funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) under National Breeding Services. This leg was a two day show with the qualifiers on Saturday and the top 25 or all double clears in the five and six-year-olds progressing to the finals on the Sunday. The venue was flooded with entries from across Ireland and the DAFM studbook series classes were no exception. The first horse was in the ring at 8:00am on Saturday morning for the five-year-old section with a massive 74 entries taking on the challenging course set by Tommy Gibbons. Twenty-three of these combinations successfully navigated the course to produce a double clear []

Phase Key Points Phase 1: Early Handling and Imprinting - Halter Training - Pressure Training Phase 2: Groundwork and Basic Training - Leading - Backing Up - Yielding Hindquarters Phase 3: Desensitization and Sensitivity Training - Calm behavior with new objects - Positive reinforcement Phase 4: Progression to Advanced Training - Collection - Lead Changes Phase 5: Introduction to Riding and Saddle Preparation - Saddle familiarization - Progress to rider's presence Phase 6: Long Lining and Balanced Riding - Lunging Circle Techniques - Build confidence with progression Challenges and Considerations - Monitor physical condition - Balance and trust during growth spurts Effective Tools and Apparel - Jodhpur - Horse Riding Boots - Gloves Nutritional Support - Vitamins and minerals for optimal health - Everyday Horse Vitamins & Supplements The Art of the Glow-Up: How to Transform Your Youngstock into Stunning Horses Transforming young horses into stunning, well-trained companions is an art that requires patience, dedication, and a structured approach. If you're in the horse training and care space, you're likely aware of the joys and challenges that come with nurturing a young foal into a majestic equine. Let's delve into the comprehensive steps you can take to ensure a successful transformation. Phase 1: Early Handling and Imprinting Early handling and imprinting are the foundations of a young horse's development. Just like with any young creature, the first experiences significantly influence their future disposition. Halter Training: Use a small, adjustable halter to ensure comfort. Let the foal familiarize itself with the halter gently without force. Pressure Training: Teach the foal to respond to gentle pressure, aiding in future handling and lead practices as suggested by American Quarter Horse Journal. Phase 2: Groundwork and Basic Training Groundwork is essential for instilling obedience and responsiveness. These exercises are the building blocks of a horse's educational journey. Leading: The aim is to have the horse walking calmly beside you, understanding verbal cues and respecting boundaries. Backing Up: Train the horse to back up gently, promoting compliance and enhancing maneuverability. Yielding Hindquarters: Developing control over the horses movements by training it to yield its hindquarters improves trust and leadership. Phase 3: Desensitization and Sensitivity Training The objective of desensitization is to cultivate a horse's confidence in novel contexts while minimizing its propensity to spook. Introduce your horse to new objects and environments gradually, rewarding calm behavior. Apply positive reinforcement to encourage curiosity, not fear. Phase 4: Progression to Advanced Training Once the basics have been mastered, its time to embark on advanced training, including complex movements and commands. Collection: This focuses on harnessing the horses power through intricate exercises like dressage. Lead Changes: Mastering lead changes demonstrates your horses athleticism and obedience. Phase 5: Introduction to Riding and Saddle Preparation Introducing a horse to riding requires a gradual and considerate approach. Start with saddle familiarization and progress to weight applications. Introduce the saddle with gentle pressure, allowing the horse to adapt without stress. Progress to having the rider lie across, eventually sitting upright, ensuring the horse remains calm and composed. Phase 6: Long Lining and Balanced Riding Long lining acquaints the horse to a riders aids and balance without the direct weight of a rider initially. This method promotes strong foundational balance and communication. Lunging Circle Techniques: Use a lunging circle to navigate various gaits and transitions using voice commands. Gradually involve the rider more actively, incrementally building the horses confidence. Challenges and Considerations Throughout a young horses development, growth spurts can pose significant challenges, often impacting balance and energy levels. Monitor your horses physical condition vigilantly, adjusting training regimes to avoid overworking or causing unnecessary stress. Focus on maintaining balance and trust, especially during rapid growth phases. Effective Tools and Apparel for Training Equipping yourself with the right tools and apparel can make all the difference in your training journey. Consider exploring collections for Jodhpur, Horse Riding Boots, and Gloves tailored to optimize your riding experience. Nutritional Support for Optimal Development The right nutritional support ensures your horse maintains optimal health throughout their formative years. Supplement their diet with necessary vitamins and minerals, exploring options within Everyday Horse Vitamins & Supplements. Conclusion Transforming young horses into stunning companions demands a thoughtful, patient approach. Through proper early imprinting, meticulous groundwork, desensitization, and advanced training, you lay a solid foundation for a successful equine partnership. Incorporate supportive nutrition and proper equestrian gear to enhance this journey further. Remember, the path is as much about forging a trusting relationship as it is about technical training milestones. For more insights, connect with professional trainers and equestrian communities that share a passion for the art of horse development.```html```

Nice to see one of our former horses sold as a 3yo jack daniels and jack mantel in the top ten at burnham international 4* amongst a world class fieldAlways been a class horse that ,congrats to all connections and best of luck for the season..

Great preparation for the big one next month for the Irish breeders, with 5 of the Top 10 Places in the CCIs at Burnham Market going to ISH. Plenty of Irish success in Rome. A quieter week again in the USA. See below the full list of International Eventing Results for this week. Burnham Market International and One Day Event (GBR) 11th 13th April 2025 CCI 4* Short Sec B 1st Cooley Rosalent (ISH) 2014 mare by Valent (KWPN) out of Bellney Jewel (TB) by Roselier (TB). Breeder: J W Rosbotham (Armagh). Rider: Oliver Townend (GBR) 25.6, 0, 0.0 = 25.6 3rd Ballaghmor Class (ISH) 2007 gelding Courage II (HOLST) out of Kilderry Place (ISH). Breeder: Noel Hickey (Limerick). Rider: Oliver Townend (GBR) 25.0, 0.4, 0.0 = 35.8 8th Shanbeg Cooley (ISH) ]was Shanbeg Me Not] 2014 gelding by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD) out of Graf []

Hives caused by a food allergy are visible over the horses entire body, rather than just a small area.| Michelle Anderson/TheHorse.comQ:Can a nutritional imbalance or food allergy cause hives? My gelding broke out into hives after I started feeding him pure alfalfa hay, but when I switched him to Timothy grass hay the hives disappeared.A:Owners often attribute itchy skin, hives, loose manure, and even behavioral changes as potentially being the result of food allergies, and they commonly presume alfalfa is the culprit. Whether these reactions are truly allergiesspecifically food allergiesis often a point of debate. A food allergy is defined as an immune-mediated adverse reaction to food, where the body is reacting to a protein within that food or other substance, such as pollen. Allergies are reactions to substances that would not normally be problematic for most individuals.Food allergies in horses do exist; however, most researcher and veterinarians consider them rare. If a horse has hives because of a food allergy, they would be expected to be all over the body rather than in isolated areas, which would point more toward a contact allergy from something like laundry detergent. The reaction might manifest as itchy hives or be solely in the gastrointestinal tract and result in clinical signs such as diarrhea.Owners and veterinarians often reach for blood tests to diagnose allergies. These panels often include foods such as hays and common feed ingredients; however, research has shown that these tests are frequently inaccurate. The only true way to diagnose a food allergy is to do a withdrawal diet and then reintroduce the specific ingredients you believe the horse is allergic to. This takes time (often eight to 12 weeks) and dedication, and most owners are not willing to reintroduce ingredients that might be allergens, especially if the horses symptoms have resolved.Horses can also have food intolerances or sensitivities, which are not immune-mediated reactions. They tend to present as loose manure and changes in behavior rather than hives, but hives could be present. Sensitivities might have a threshold such that the horse can handle the feed until consumed at a certain level. This is similar to lactose intolerance in people, where affect individuals might be able to consume small amounts of lactose in ice cream, but if they also eat a cheese pizza at the same meal, they show symptoms of their intolerance.It is possible that your horse is not truly allergic to alfalfa and could handle alfalfa fed in smaller amounts, but a solely alfalfa hay diet causes issues for him. The only way to know whether thats the case would be to add some amount of alfalfa back into the ration with the Timothy hay and see whether the hives return. This sensitivity threshold is likely why many horses can cope with supposed problem ingredients when they are in relatively small amounts such as in supplements but cannot cope with them when fed in greater quantities.Another component of managing allergies is horses with allergies tend to be allergic to multiple things, such as insect bites and certain pollens. If you can control even a few of the allergens the horse is exposed to, you might eliminate or reduce allergic symptoms. So, if you can remove certain allergens that are easier to control from the horses environment, the horse might be able to handle exposure to other allergens, such as feed ingredients, without issue. Horse Nutrition Question Submission Form Do you have an equine nutrition question? The Horses editors want to hear from you! Submit your question via the form below. Name(Required) First Last Email(Required) Submit your equine nutrition below!(Required)CAPTCHA

What a successful weekend for Narrow Water at the Dressage Ireland National Winter Finals! Congratulations to Molly Byrne and Rostrevor Ard R (Diego) for being crowned Junior Preliminary Champions and also taking 3rd place in the Junior Novice championship. Shannon Magee and Wannabe (Whizz) also put on a great performance in the category 2 Elementary class, despite some tension creeping in. This is Shannon's first season competing at this level and Whizz's first time back in the ring after a while, so we are proud of their progress and gaining valuable experience. A big thank you to Dressage Ireland, judges, and volunteers for putting on a fantastic show! #NarrowWaterEquestrian #DressageIreland #WinterFinals #Champions #HorseRidingGoals