EDITORIAL - TAKING YOUR HORSE ON HOLIDAY |
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Taking
Your Horse on Holiday...
Preparations for a successful holiday
Brought
to you by
Horse
& Rider Magazine
Tel 01428 601020
www.horseandridermagazine.co.uk
|
Holidays
without Hassle
Our thanks to photographer Sally Huett - Click here for Sally's photo album
If
you're planning to take your horse away on holiday this year, a
bit of advance planning means you'll have maximum enjoyment and
minimum stress
|
FIRST
THINGS... |
Make
sure you worm your horse before you leave. You might also want to
do so when you return home as your horse will have been grazing
on strange land.
|
Your
horse's vaccination certificate must be up to date and you may need
to produce this where your horse is staying. |
Get
your horse shod a week to 10 days before your departure as most problems
arise just after or just before shoeing. Don't forget to tell your
farrier that your horse is going to be doing more work than usual.
It can be difficult to get a farrier at short notice in a strange
location, so it pays to minimise the risk. Pads may protect sensitive
feet from stony or hard ground. |
Remember
to pack any medication that your horse uses, even if he only uses
it occasionally and is not receiving it at the time of departure. |
Have
your saddle checked before you leave as it will be uncomfortable for
your horse if he has to be ridden all day in a saddle which is not
a perfect fit or is out of balance. Also check your tack thoroughly
for any areas which might need repairing. Don't leave the saddler's
visit too close to the departure date, however, in case the saddle
needs to be taken away for alterations or repairs. |
Ensure
you have adequate insurance, not just for you and your horse, but
for your tack and transport, too. Public liability insurance is also
advisable. |
PLAN
AHEAD... |
If
you can, visit the yard where your horse will stay in advance of your
trip to make sure you are happy with it. |
Check
what kind of accommodation your horse will have - eg field size, fencing
materials, whether there is any other livestock in the field etc.
|
Ensure
that the yard has everything you need for your horse. There may be
facilities such as a manege, but you will probably have to pay extra
for use of these. |
Find
out if hay and bedding are included and whether you need to take mucking
out tools, buckets etc. Bedding will probably be straw, so if you
want anything else, make sure you let the centre know in good time
so that they can get the bedding delivered before you arrive. Expect
to pay a supplement for this kind of bedding. |
If
you can't be accommodated at the same place as your horse, you may
be allowed to stay in your lorry - but don't slum it, it's supposed
to be a holiday! |
Ask
if there is 24-hour supervision of horses, and if any late night checks
are carried out. |
You
will probably have to supply your own hard feed, but if not, make
sure the centre has the type of feed your horse normally eats. |
On
arrival, check your horse's stable or field for anything hazardous,
such as protruding nails. |
Try
to recreate your horse's home environment as far as possible to help
him settle, eg, if you usually have the radio on, take it with you. |
When
booking a holiday, bear in mind the time of year; riding over heavily
ploughed farmland in the late autumn can be tiring for horses; the
heat and flies in high summer can make riding long distances less
pleasant. |
Consider
the type of terrain as your horse will need to be fitter if you are
riding in a hilly region rather than in a flat one. Hillwork is actually
40% more tiring than flat. Both you and your horse need to be fit
enough for the work involved. |
MUST
HAVES ... |
Use
a good numnah which will wick away sweat, and take at least two so
that one can dry while the other is in use. A western saddle blanket
can be a good solution as it can be refolded so that there is always
a clean section against the horses back. |
Sunblock
is vital for pink noses - horse and human! |
Take
rugs appropriate to the climate - if you're going somewhere colder
take thicker rugs and vice versa. |
An
emergency hoof boot is a handy thing to carry, in case of lost shoes. |
It's
useful to include a spare set of shoes in your packing in case you
need to get a farrier out at short notice - simply ask your farrier
for the shoes he removes at your horse's regular shoeing if they are
not too worn, and these can then be used in an emergency. |
Always
have a small first aid kit for horses and people, and keep your mobile
phone charged up. |
Carrying
a list of emergency numbers for vets etc in the area is also a good
idea. |
Fly
repellent is a necessity in the summer. |
Take
sufficient spares eg, reins, a stirrup leather, girth etc in case
a vital piece of equipment breaks. |
OUT
AND ABOUT... |
When
planning routes, don't make them too long. It takes longer to ride
the same distance in an unfamiliar place than it does at home. |
Don't
trot too much on hard ground as it is very concussive - try to stick
to grass. Be vigilant where the ground is rutted or overgrown, and
only canter where you can see it's safe to do so. |
When
allowing your horse to graze, look out for hazards such as holes,
ditches or poisonous plants. He can drink out of troughs and streams
but be cautious where there is a lot of cultivated arable land as
these could be contaminated by pesticides. |
Changing
your stirrup length prevents aching legs, or you can get off and walk
to stretch your legs and give your horse's back a rest. Varying the
pace will also stop you from becoming tired, so plan routes which
allow for some fast work, and remember that riding at walk is particularly
tiring. |
If
your horse gets tired, it can be better to trot. This uses as much
energy as walking but will get you to your destination sooner as it
covers more ground. |
Give
your horse a chance to relax when you're out - let him have time to
drink and graze. A mid-day break will make the day more enjoyable
for you both, unless your horse is unsettled, in which case get off
and walk him in hand instead. |
CONTACT
D J MURPHY PUBLISHERS LTD
Click here to email
[email protected]
|
HORSE
AND RIDER MAGAZINE
D J Murphy Publishers Ltd, Headley House, Headley Road, Grayshott,
Surrey GU26 6TU
Telephone
01428 601020
Subscriptions
01442 879097
www.horseandrider.co.uk |
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