| EDITORIAL - TAKING YOUR HORSE ON HOLIDAY |
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Taking
Your Horse on Holiday... Brought
to you by
Horse
& Rider Magazine |
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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 |
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| FIRST THINGS... | |
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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. |
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