Central Horse News What's On February/March 2026, issue 234
FROMTHEEDITOR
Well,our February/Marchedition has come round very quicklyindeed–whatwith festivebreaksand evena sprinklingofsnow formanyofus!
Thisissue we have threegreat veterinaryarticles for you; twoon bestpracticein controllingdifferent typesof parasiteandthethird offeringa comprehensiveinsight intoliverdiseaseinthehorse.
Cover: Horse LoggerCrunchiewithhis two cobs Teasleand Twinkle
CoverPhoto by: JoMonck
CentralHorseNews What’s Onis availableatequestrianoutlets, competition centres and events throughoutthe Central region. Ensure your copyby takingoutasubscription.Sixissueannualsubscription £25.00.Chequespayable to HD&RSolutions Ltd,credit cards welcomeor subscribeon www.centralhorsenews.co.uk CHNispublishedSIXtimesa yearas follows: February/March,April/May, June/July,August/September,October/November,December/January.
Handsupif you’ve been concernedabouthayshortages over thelast fewmonths?If you raised yourarm, you’recertainlynot aloneand we have anarticleon page16thatlooksatalternative sourcesof foragewhich canbe tailored to yourhorse’sneeds.
Thisissuekicksoffwitha reminderofwhythetraditionalvillage horseandponyshowissospecial. Celebrating two Central region eventswhichhave beenrunning formany, many yearsisboth nostalgicandagreat way to easeourthoughtsintothe2026 competitiveseason.Asalways,ourdiaryof events is packed with earlyideasofplaces to goandhave funwith yourhorse. Happy readingandjoinusagaininApril. Heather
Few events capturethe essenceofrural heritagequiteliketheBlakesleyShow, whose EquestrianClasses standasa shining testament to thepassion,skill,and resilienceofourequestrian community, writes organiserLizBlack. Each year, theanticipationbuildsasriders,horses, and families convergefrom farandwide, breathinglifeintotheshowgroundwitha uniqueblendoftraditionand excitement.
This yearwillbethe141stBlakesley Showwithclasses for WorkingandRidden Hunters, WorkingHunterand Working Sports Ponies,HeritageM&M(bothInHandandRidden), Retrained Racehorses, SSADLclasses, Performanceclassesand Pony ClubandUnaffiliatedShowing.
We willonceagainhave directqualifiers forthe LondonInternationalHorseShow which overthelast few yearshave proved increasinglypopular,with record numbers ofentries receivedin2025.Thediversity of the EquestrianClassesisoneoftheshow’s greateststrengths. Fromlead-reinponies experiencingtheirfirst tasteof competition, to accomplishedridersandhandlers displaying yearsoftraininganddedication.
Formany, theBlakesleyShowismore thansimplya contest-itisacherished traditionthatspansgenerations. Talesof pastvictoriesandmemorableridesare exchanged,whilenew storiesarewrittenin thering. Local familiesandthosethathave travelledfromfurtherafieldall take pride ingroomingandpreparingtheirhorses to ensure everydetailisperfect. Everyentrant, regardless of result, contributes to the vibrant tapestryofthe event.
Thefirst Peopleton Pony Show took place inthevillageinthelate1940sat BowbrookHouseoppositetheCrownInn. Afteraninterval,it was revivedin1975 andithasbeenheld every yearsinceat its presentlocation, LowerNorchard Farm in Worcestershire. Fromsimpleorigins ithasgrown to becomea verypopular event,organised by villagersandfriends to encourage youngrider-andsomeadultones too- to take partina varietyofclasses. Best TurnedOut,Best Rider,Show
Jumping, Gymkhana forallagesanda wonderful FancyDressClassareincludedin thescheduleanditis veryencouraging to seeparentsandgrandparentswho started their competitiveridingat Peopleton bringingtheir youngsters along to compete attheshow.
From starting outas a nervous, inexperiencedrider with a couple of cast-offhorses, Tylerhas built a successful teaching careerand become anelite dressagerider Hertireless attention to detail,and consideration for how herhorsesare prepared forevents,has helpedher become successfulwithhorses that costa tiny fractionof most dressage winners.
“You can’t prepareweeksin advance, you have to buildup over years. Everything from the tools and routinesto the relationshipwiththe horse, need to be carefully considered to make sureeverythingperformsat thehighest level,” says Tyler
Competingall year round,whilst alsorunning her teaching business, meansthewindowsfor preparing her horses are small atbest.A regular washingand clipping routine keep thehorses lookingtheirbest all year roundand Tyleralso finds time to keepherselfin competition winning health.
“Cyclingis my preferred wayto get around and I go to thegym andswim regularly But I amonly part ofthe equationand my horses need to bein top conditionand ready forevents all year,” shesays
Tylerspends time withherhorses everyday andhasbuilt relationships basedontrust,disciplineand accuracy. Sheknows how herhorse will move andisin complete controlof where his feetare throughoutatest.
“There is a balance to be struck. Horses are not machinesand can’t be engineered to perform. I relyon my relationshipwiththehorse and having repeatedlypracticed movementsto ensure that we bothperformonthe day. However, overthe yearsI have foundthedowntime I spendwith my horses as valuableastheriding time Feeding, cleaningout, washing andclippingshouldn’t be considered chores, it ’s a chanceto buildtrust,” shesays
Inthe autumn she starts a rotation
of maintenance thatinvolves clipping herhorsesevery four weeks.
“Inthe summer Ican get away with just clipping tails, fetlocks,bridle pathsand facialhair However, in autumn andwinteritis essential to keepon top oftheclipping,so I need theright equipmentandsharpblades fora closecut,” shesays
Shesuggests thatthere are norules and regulations for turnout,butthat the expectationisallhorses shouldbe as wellpresentedaspossible
“For me, it ’s really important to have thebest turnedouthorsewithout puttingin too many hours. I don’t have any help,I do everything,so I need toolsthat workwith my time constraints that can getthe same results. I need to beefficient in every
partofthepreparation,” shesays Tyleruses ProGroomshampoos the day before clippingandhas a range ofHeinigerclippers thatare usedat differentpoints intheseason.She suggests thatwithvirgin steel blades she can manage six fullcuts before theblades needsharpeningand, that by keepingblades sharp, sheleaves no lines inherhorses’ coats.
“Some new blades are notup to the taskofclipping a wholehorse and some clippers lackthedesignto clipinallareas. For thick coatsI use a Heiniger Xplorer, whichis two speed and easytotension,but I preferthe Saphirbecauseit can manage heavy workwhile stillcutting a cleanand crispline,” shesays.
Her competition horse, Burt, was something of a project when she boughthim from Holland more than a decadeago.
“Ibought Burtand DJ atthe same time Theywere practically cast offs
andBurtneeded fourpeoplejustto leadhim round,but I was determined to ridehimandbecome a dressage competitor,” shesays
Sadly, shelost DJ tocancerbutBurt hasbeenjoined by Igorand bothare now atGrand Prixlevel.
“Youdon’t needhundredsof thousands foratop-level horse, you needgritanddetermination. I liketo
thinkthat Ican demonstrate thatit ispossible to compete atthehighest level indressage by concentratingon doingthebasics right. For me, it ’s aboutputtingthe workinandhaving theright relationshipwiththehorse,” shesays
Whilst she concedes thatthere are nopoints indressage for the condition ofthehorse, she stillbelieves it ’s an
important factorinhow thejudging unfolds.
“Ithinkthe way thehorseis turnedoutshowsyour commitment to winning.It ’s not easyto keep a horselookingin top conditionall year roundbut,withtheright routineand equipment,itmightjust make the difference at yournext event,” she concludes.
Heinigerare offeringonelucky winner thechance to sample fouroftheir Progroomshampooand coat care products, in a fullsize concentrated formula collection containingoils of sage, argan, rosehipand cedarwood.(RRP£25.20 ex VATper1ltr bottle)
CleanseHorseShampoo
Transformdirty horses withthepower ofCleanse -a pre-clip must have Perfect for gettingwhiterwhites and tackling stains.Cleanse removes stubborn stains and product build-upwithoutdulling the coatandistheidealsolution for horses thatdon’t get washedfrequently.
Enhance HorseShampoo
Getthatshow-readyshinewiththe “scent-sational” Enhance Shampoo –perfect for thatultimateshowfinish Enhance Shampoo highlights natural colours usingadvancedopticalbrighteners for radiance andnaturalclassifiers for the ultimate shine Theperfect shampoo to usebefore show day.
MaintainHorseShampoo
Preserve peak condition and beauty with MaintainShampoo – perfect for keeping themoisture inandthedamage out MaintainShampoois a gentle conditioning shampoowhichisideal for thosewho want a convenient 2-in-1 solution.
Restore Horse Conditioner
Reach for Restore Conditioner to get total coat andskin repairandprotection - perfect for an after-clip rinse to seal coats andadd gloss!
Restore Conditioner’s protein-enriched formulaispackedwithnourishing emollients that replenishmoistureandvitality to skin Strengthensandprovides manageability to manes and tails.Theultimate conditioner thatprotects against elements that can causedamage Use regularly to maintain coathealthandprotectagainst damage.
as used by
Tyler Bradshaw
LiverDiseaseinHorses
ByCarysMorganBVScMRCVS
Whatdoestheliverdo?
Theliverisalargeorganwhichis responsible forbreaking downanddigesting carbohydrates, fats andproteins,it isalso responsible forbreakingdown toxinsproduced by thehorseandmanydrugswhich we useinhorsesor toxinsthatareingested.Inaddition to its responsibilitiesin breakingdownsubstances,theliveralsoplaysavital rolein manufacturingproteinsand storingvitaminsandminerals.It hasanimportantpartinthemanufactureofblood cellsand assists withtheimmune response.
Theliverhasa vast reserve, and can regenerate to an extent,sohorsesdon’tshowsignsofliverdiseaseuntila largeproportionoftheliverisseverelyaffected.
Inthisarticle we willbe concentratingonliverissues in adulthorses; foalshave adifferentsetofproblemsthat can occuraffectingtheliverwhich won’tbelookedathere.
Weightloss –oneofthefirstsignsnoticed by most ownersis weightloss fornoapparent reason. We would usually want to ruleoutother,more common, causesof weightlosssuchasdentaldisease,butthelivershouldbe checkedin casesofunexplained weightloss.
As you canseefromthewide rangeoffunctionstheliver carriesout,thereisalsoalarge varietyofthingsthat can causedamage to theliverandultimatelyendinliverdisease andliver failure.
Plants –someplantssuch as Ragwort contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids,this toxin causes characteristicchanges to the cells withintheliver.Ithasacumulative effectand can take alongtime to show itseffects Care shouldbe taken to ensure Ragwortis removed frompaddocks regularly.
Mycotoxins –these canbe found inmouldy,orimproperlypreserved hayorhaylage. Take care not to feedmouldyorpoorly storedhay to horses.If mycotoxinsare asuspected causeofliverdisease thenthehay canbesent for testing to confirmthis.
Toxins –manydrugsthat we give to horsesare metabolized by theliver, overdosesoftheseoroccasionally prolongeduseofthese can causedamage to theliver.
thefirst stepofinvestigationisusuallybloodsampling. We can test thelevelsof certainenzymesproduced by theliver andthesegiveusanideaofliverdamage. Furtherblood testingofthelevelsofbileacidsand certainproteinsinthe blood cangiveusanideaofliverfunction.Thenext stepis usually to ultrasoundscanandbiopsytheliver.Thisis carried outunder standingsedation;thisinvolvesusingalarge needle to obtainasampleoflivertissue to sendoff to thelab. Thepathologists inthelabareable to examinethe cell types andlook for certainpatternsofdamageandscarringwithin theliver to allowus to determinewhattheprognosismaybe. We cansometimesdeterminethesource oftheproblemfrom abiopsy – for example Ragwort toxicityhascharacteristic cellchanges,butsometimes wecanjustseeapatternof changesthatgiveusclues to the causeandthisallows us to determinethebest treatment.
justoneponysoit canbeusefulwhen we findasingle case ofliverdisease to screenthe rest oftheherd too. Thisnot onlyhelpsus to pickupdiseasesoonerintheherd,butalso helps to narrow downourlistofpotential causes.
Howdo we treatliverdisease?
Liverdiseaseis verydifficult to treat,andonce we have reachedthepointwhere we areseeingsevere symptoms ofliverdysfunction we areusuallyinliver failure. Once we have adiagnosisofliverdiseasethefirst step to treatment isidentifyingthelikely causeandeliminatingthiswhere possible.If we findthatabacterialinfectionispresent then wecantreatwithappropriate antibioticsandantiinflammatories.Insomeinstances where we findlots ofinflammationwithintheliver we willopt to treatwith corticosteroids to combatthisinflammation.Wherethereis mostlyfibrosis (scarring) ratherthanactive inflammation we areoften toolateto beable to treat,but wecan take steps to supporttheliver.
Inall casesofliverdisease we recommendsupportingliver functionwithmilkthistle,natural VitaminEand SAMe,B vitaminsarealsouseful forsupportingfunction. Care should be taken to ensurethatany supplementchosendoesnot containhighlevelsofironasthis canbeadirect toxin to the liver.
AbouttheAuthor:
CarysMorgan BVScMRCVS Caryshas worked inequinepractice since graduatingfrom Liverpoolin2018, andafterabriefstint workinginShropshire movedto Warwickshire. Sheenjoys allaspectsof firstopinionpractice but isparticularlyinterested insportshorse medicine,lamenessand wounds.
Whennot at work,Caryscanusuallybe foundriding or vaulting,tailed by hernaughtycollie,Ginny.She wasamemberoftheEnglish VaultingSquadandhas representedGreatBritainona numberofoccasions notably at the WorldEquestrianGamesin Tryon2018, theEuropeanChampionshipsin2019and2023,and the WorldChampionshipsinHerningin2022.She now runsherown vaulting club-MidlandEquestrian Vaulting.
A. Normalsignsofparasiteburdenssuchaspoor growth rates,poor coatandorloose faeces/diarrhoea.
Duethe extraordinarylife cycleofAscarids,withthe larval stages migratingfromtheintestine to theliver, intothecirculationandthenintothelungsbeforebeing swallowedand re-enteringthegut to maturefurther,they can cause respiratorysignsas wellasgastrointestinal signs. Respiratorysignsdisplayedincludeanasaldischarge, coughandelevatedbreathing rate. Veryhighburdens can cause colicandinthemostsevere of cases canbe sonumerousthatthey completelyoccludethesmall intestine.That canbe fatalwithoutsurgicalintervention.
Q. What canbedone to reducethe risk to foalsand young stock?
A. Goodpasturemanagement. Adoptappropriate worming protocols forthepremises,seek veterinaryadvicewhen needingguidance.
Managepaddocks to reducethe worm burden,includingpoo picking,savingthe ‘cleanest’paddocks for foals, avoiding turning foalsoutin paddocksthat foals and younghorses have inhabited previously (as young horsesaremore likely to shed/burden thepasture)and consider resting paddocksorgrazing withruminants to reducethe wormburdenonthepasture. Consider rotating wormers if resistanceissuspected,the yardshashigh stocking densitiesorhorses have beenontheland formany years. Insummary…whatisanideal wormingprotocol? Protocols varydependantonthepremises, stocking densityandmanagement.Seek veterinaryadvice for a tailored wormingprotocolspecific to apremises.
Best practiceguidelinesarelistedbelow:
-Managepastures asadvisedabove to reduce exposure to high wormburdensand resistant worms.
Special considerations fordifferent productswhentreating foals:
- Fenbendazole(panacur)andivermectinproducts can beusedsafelyin foals, evenfroma youngage.
-Pyrantel canbeusedsafelyfrom4 weeks.
-Moxidectin/ Equestcanbeusedsafelyfrom4months.
- Combinedproducts, Equest Pramox can beusedsafelyfrom6.5months.
Pleasevisitthe website forourlatest breedingservices brochureusingthe QR codeprovided.
If youwish to discuss worming your youngstockor anyofourBreeding Services at Towcester Equine Vets please reachout to Gemma at yournearestclinic.
ABOUTTHE AUTHOR: GemmaKirk
BVetMedMRCVS Gemma graduatedfrom the Royal Veterinary College in2008andhas beeninvolvedinequine practice eversince. Asanew graduateshe worked forabranch of MinsterEquineClinic in Yorkshire. Shethen undertookaninternship at ArundelEquineHospitalin WestSussexwhereshe lookedafterinpatients,carriedoutanaesthesiaand wasinvolvedinlamenessinvestigationsanddiagnostic imaging.
Uponcompletionofherinternship,shestayed at Arundelinitiallyasahospital/lamenessassistantand latterlyaspart oftheambulatoryandstudteam.
Gemmaspent four yearsdividinghertimebetween NorthernandSouthernHemisphere studseasonsasa resident vet at VineryStud,Australia. Vineryisalarge Thoroughbred farmthatishometoaround300horses with150-200maresbeingbredeachseasonand150-200 foalsarriving every year. Timespenthere servedasa valuable experienceinallareasofequine reproduction and foalcare.
Gemmahasbeenwithus at TowcesterEquine Vets sinceMarch2016andisourleadbreeding vet;however, havingbeenpractising forthelastseventeen years, she isalsoa very valuableassetinallareasofthepractice.
Years ago; fartoo many to count,when I was in my early twentiesIstartedriding a littlehorsebought by afriendof mine. He was aboutfive years oldand quite apart frombeing extraordinarily beautiful hehadthe sweetest nature. To cut a long storyshort,though I could wax lyrical for pagesabout Serraf (stablenameKinny), we clickedinlike two parts of a jigsaw slotting together andwhen my friend toldmethatshe was going to sellhim I roared off to thebankand gota loan for theprincely sumof£500.I filledout theloan form avoidingtheeye ofthe bankmanager sittingopposite me, andwhen Icame to ‘purposeofloan’ I wrote ‘Transport’ My friend gave mehispapersthefirst papersI had everhad with a horse - andI rememberlooking downatthemandthinkingin awe, “goodness, he’sa registered Arabian”. Onlywhen I delvedmore into researchinghishistorydidI become fully aware ofjust what an extraordinary story heand his bloodline have. Hislines were Crabbet.
A FascinatingHistory
LadyAnneBlunt was the Granddaughterof Lord Byronand reputedlythefirst European woman to visitArabia.She wasa keen horsewoman,artist andtraveller Anne’s diaries revealtravelsacross the desertvisiting sheikhsand providing critiques ofthehorses they saw. Her passion for breedingArabian horses wasto have a hugeimpact onthe breedas we know it today, and she becameknown to her friends as‘The NobleLadyofHorses’
Herhusband Wilfrid ScawenBlunt wasa poetand a politicallymotivated
writer;the couplemet whilst travelling andmarriedin1869. In1872 Wilfred inheritedthe family estate Crabbet ParkinSussex where they builttheir home TheBlunts travelledthrough Spain,Algeria, Egypt,the Syrian Desert,and extensivelyintheMiddle East andIndia.It was theMiddle East that really capturedtheirhearts andwiththepure bloodArabian horses they acquired in Egyptandthe NejdtheystartedtheSheykhObeyd Studnear Cairo, thentogetherthey transportedArabianhorses they had boughtback to Britain. They co-foundedTheCrabbet
Amongthegreat andinfluential horses theytookback to England were Azrek, Dajania,Queen ofSheba, Rodaniaandthe famousAli Pasha Sherif stallionMesaoud. To thisday, the vast majority ofpurebredArabian horsescan trace theirlineage to at least oneCrabbetancestor.
LadyAnneBluntonanArabmare
Beauty, temperament, performance
A coupleof years back,it was an absolute pleasureto attendthe CrabbetNationalChampionships at DavidBroome’s Event Centre nearChepstow and to seesomany examples ofthispedigree. They included RowenaBertram’s Marcus Aureliuswho I have photographedin thesettingof London’s New Years Day ParadewithAllTheQueens Horses– where Marcusdisplayed the sweet,calmand supremely bravetemperamentofthe Crabbet Arabian.
I have beenblessed toowntwo of thesemagicalCrabbetArabs,both bred byDaphne Carlisle.I hope very muchthatone dayI willbelucky enough toowna third.
CrabbetNationalChampionshipssuccess forImperialSilverPheonix,ImperialSilverHamameandImperialSilverSamariawithhandlers Peter Robinson,Alexia Ross,MargaretBower, Archie Pearce,MaddieMcDonough
Marcus Aurelius, PS Aurora SilkandIBN Aureliuswithhandlers KatherineBertram,NatalieTindalland FranBrownattheCrabbetNational Championships.
EMBRACIN G THE T RADITIO N OF HORSELOGGIN G INWORC E STERSHIRE
Iwas really excitedwhen my neighbourGilliansaidthatshe washavingsomeloggingdone andit wasbeing carriedoutnearby inthetraditional way by twohorses andalogger.Therearen’t toomany opportunities to seethisancient practiceinoperationthesedays,soI shotdown to herplacewith my camera. It waslikea fabulousscene straight outofa bygoneera. Twobeautiful cobs were standinginthesunlightofa cold
crispmorning, waiting to clear away the logsthathadbeencutinthe woodland. Thehorsesare farmore carefulthan anymachinery couldbeinanenclosed treefilledarea,theyleaveaminimal footprintand canbedirected to exactly wheretheirhandler wantsthelogs to gowithminimaldisruption to the surrounding wood.Nogrim tyre tracks here;justa fewimprintsofhooves areleft,preserving everythingaround. Nosoundofaloudenginedisturbed
Wordsandpictures by JoMonck
thepeaceofthemorning,justthe horse’sbreathvisibleinthe coldairand thesoundofthelogsbeingmovedassisted by Grendelthe LogDogwho appeared to behavinga wonderfultime helpingout.
Crunchie,thelogger,hasbeendoing hisjobinthisareaof Worcestershire andHerefordshire forabout twenty-one years.He startedoff by takingatraining courseat Canons Fromein2005run by theBritishHorse Loggers Association. Heendedup workingthere forawhile andthen wenton to makelogginghis fulltimejob,thesedays helped by hissonJonna. Togetherwithhis two cobs, Teaseland Twinkleandsuper helpfullogdogGrendel,Crunchieis outmostdays.As wellaslogging healso rollsbrackenwiththehorses, preventingthebracken fernsfrom taking overhabitatsandallowingother plants to grow.Oneoftheplaces wherethis workis carriedoutisCroft Castlewhere, he tellsme,thesceneryis fantastic.
Horselogginghasbeengoingon for around10,000 years,anabsolutely vitalpracticeuntilmechanisation took overpost World WarI.Bythe1980s, thepracticehadbeenallbutwipedout, withonlyahandfuloffull-timeHorse Loggers remainingintheUK.
Crunchy recallsloggingwithhorses takingplaceonthe Welshborders andinShropshirewhenhefirst startedinthe earlydays.A variety ofdifferenthorses wouldbeused, themostpopularpast photographs areof teamsofShires movinghuge logsbut forajobthathad to bedone, any farmhorses to hand were used, fromlittleponies to cobs.More recentlytherehasbeena resurgencein logging,highlighted by thehorse’slow impact ontheenvironmentand zero pollution,protectingwildlifeandfragile ecosystems.
It wasalovelymorning watching howthehorses,Crunchieandhisson worked together,quietlymakinglightof thelogswhich were soonclearedwith theminimumoffussanddisturbance. Team workatitsbest,andlongmay it continue.
A wellsuited foragedietis essential to ourhorses;it stimulates saliva productionthat worksinharmony to buffer stomachacid,is fermented anddigested by theirspecialisedfibre digestion system to produceenergy, heat,and extractnutrientslikeproteins, minerals,vitamins,phytonutrients andantioxidants.Itsatisfiestheir behaviouralneeds,helpstheir teeth to wearnormally, keepstheirdigestive systemmoving,createsa reservoir for waterandelectrolytes,andmore –it’s a verylonglist!
Thisisbecause forageistheprimary ‘fuelling’ system forourhorses, providingenergyandnutrients.Butif wethinkofthe feedshopasourequine petrol station,then forageiscurrently anumberof confusinglylabelledpetrol pumps.Thetruthisthat forageisnot allmadeequal,andit’s common forus to endup callingoutour vets, farriers, physios,nutritionists andothersasour bandofAAmechanics to supportour horses whenfuellingerrorscumulateto createbiggerissues.Unfortunately for us,these FuelAssistServices comeat great costto usandourhorsesin terms oftime,moneyandhealth.Soitpays greatdividends to selecttheright forage fuelpump for yourhorse.
ThisiswhytheThunderbrook forage feed range carefully considers theselectionof forages,whereand how theyaregrown,andhowtheyare processed to create feedoptions to suit individualhorseneeds.Thisincludes sourcingfromBavarianalpinemeadows andancientprotectedOxfordshire meadows,whicharechosen fortheir greaterbiodiversity, wildherbage,richer mineralprofile,andcleanliness,as well
Sohowshould youapproachthe Thunderbrook range,andwhere can you startwhendecidingwhat’s best?
Important considerationsarebased on yourhorse,suchastheirage, dentition,clinicalneeds, workload,and management,as wellas-importantly -thinkingabouttheirpreferences, for exampledotheylove mashes, nuts,chaffs,orparticularingredients? Thebest option forthemisonethat complementstheirneedsandwhich theylove to eat.Theotherimportant factoris,of course, you!Thebest feed for yourhorsewillalso work well for you by fittingintothe yard routinepractically,beingpleasant, understandableand easyto use,and deliver value formoneywithin your budget.
The tableisahelpful overviewof the range. To help youjudgewhich to choose,lookatthe‘Chaff,Nuts, Treats, Mash’sectionsandhave inmindwhat yourhorseprefers,andwhatisbest suitedpractically to you.Alsohave alookatthe‘Chewability’,whichis especiallyhelpful to guidedecisions for horseswhoaredentallychallenged.
Forhealthyhorses,afibrouschewis excellent forslowingdown eatingand stimulatingsaliva,whereas forhorses whoaredentallychallenged,unwell/poor appetite, or veryfussy,softeroptions
canbettersuit.AllThunderbrook feedsareyummyandpalatable to the majorityofhorses,whoare excellent quality-detectors!Butindividuals can beparticular,justlikewithhumans, so forthosewhoare extremelyfussy have alookatthissection forthemost temptingoptions,which typicallyinclude additionalappetisingingredients.
When consideringclinicalneeds, workloadand condition,it’s important to have alookattheenergy,sugar,and starch values.Asapointof reference, sugarand starchbeingbelow10%is verylow, and forenergy(MJ/kg),5-8is verylow, 9-11is average/medium,and 12+ishigh.Thesearealwaysimportant to consideralongside feeding rate though,asit’s the [volumexpercentage] thatmakes upthe overall content your horse eats,andthequalityand type ofingredients canalsomakeabig differencewhenit comes to suitability, soit’s bestto not over-simplifytheuse ofthesenumbers.
Have alookatthe typesof forages includedandwhethera feedis‘forage only’ forasenseofhowithasbeen made,and to guidehowsimplethe feed is; forageonlyoptions canbe excellent as forage replacers,allowing very variable feeding ratesasa‘base’ feed formixinginsupplementsetc,whereas feedswithadditionalingredientsor fortification canbeproducedwithmore specificgoalsandsupportinmind,and feedingguidelinesshouldbeadhered to more strictly.
Fromlamenessinvestigations to surgery, frompoor performance workupstodentistry —ourclinicprovides acalm,professionalenvironmentwhereyourhorse’s carecomesfirst. We alsocontinue to offerambulatory visits,butwhen more isneeded, we’reready.
surgery,frompoor workups to dentistry —ourclinicprovi acalm,professionalenvironmentwhereyourhorse’s to offerambulat we’reready.
Legmites canhave asevereimpact onahorse’squality oflife– constantsevere itchingisdebilitatingandleads to painfulsecondaryinfections.Buttheinsecticides we need to use to controllegmites aren’tselective andwill killbeneficialinsects suchasdungbeetles,bees andother pollinators,as wellasaquaticorganisms.Howdo westrike abalancebetweenourhorse’s healthandenvironmental health?
Choiceoftreatment/insecticide
Dectomax hasthebiggest environmentalimpact,asit continues to be excretedinthehorse’s faeces foratleast twomonthsafterasingleinjection!Itsuse forlegmites also drives thedevelopmentof resistance to related wormerslike ivermectin.
Permethrin/Cypermethrin(Switch,Spot-On) are less persistentintheenvironmentandareless easilyleached fromthesoilinto water courses. Switchbreaksdownafter just1dayinsunlight,andafter13days inthesoil; forSpotOnthisis8days insunlightand22days insoil
Maximisethe effectiveness of topicaltreatments
Clippingthelegsandshampooingbeforeapplyingan insecticide removessurfacegreaseanddebris,allowing better contactoftheinsecticidewiththeskin. Youalsoneed to considerthe stableenvironment–mites cansurviveoff
thehorseso youneed to changethebedding completely and washoutthe stable to prevent rapid reinfectionafter treatment!
Treattheitch,notjust themites
Thedamage to theskin caused by scratchingprovokes evenmore itching,possiblybecauseitincreases exposure ofimmune system to allergenicmaterials–mites andtheir saliva! Persistentitchingisoftendue to immune-mediated orinflammatory component ratherthanpersistenceofmite infestation– we need to treattheskinas wellasthemites.
Oilsandemollientsmay reduce colonisation by mites and reduceinflammation.Theyarealsoimportant for restoring functionalityofskinbarrier.Chooseproducts describedas ointments ratherthanlotionsorcreamsasointmentshave a higheroil contentand stick to theskinand coat forlonger.
Sallyhasbeendrawntoequinepractice since firstbeinginspired by the world ofJamesHerriot.Afterinitiallybeing told veterinarymedicine was“toodifficult”,shetook alonger route,studyingZoology at Liverpoolbefore qualifyingasa vet at Cambridge. She wentstraightinto equinepractice, workinginLambournandSuffolkbefore joiningHNVGin2010,andbecameaSeniorEquine Vet in2022.Hercaseloadisbroad,withparticularinterests in farrieryandequineinternalmedicine.In2018,Sally achievedtheCertificateinAdvanced VeterinaryPractice (EquineMedicine).Aboveall,sheaimstoensure that everyvisitleavesowners witha clearunderstandingof theirhorse’s conditionandapracticalplan forthefuture.
07/02/2026BritishDressage- Petplan Area FestivalsatSolihullRidingClub, FourAshes Road,BentleyHeath,Solihull, West Midlands,B938QE. Contact:01564 770180www.solihullridingclub.co.uk
08/02/2026BritishDressage- Petplan Area FestivalsatSolihullRidingClub, FourAshes Road,BentleyHeath,Solihull, West Midlands,B938QE. Contact:01564 770180www.solihullridingclub.co.uk
08/02/2026UnaffiliatedShowJumping at Swallowfield Equestrian,RisingLane, Lapworth, WarwickshireB946JD. Contact: 01564 784475www.swallowfieldec.co.uk
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Formore thanthreedecades, theunmistakablesplashof yellowand redfrom Syd’s Exploditionshasbeenamuch-loved sightacrossOxfordshire’s village lanes,showgroundsand country fairs.Justa few yearsago,it even capturednationalattention- earning amentionfromGrahamNortonon BBC Radio2andaHorseandHound award,asitmadethethousand-mile round‘plod’ to the Kelpiesin Falkirk. Behind everymiletravelledand every delightedchild’sgrin stood Daisy Sadler: a remarkable womanwhosepassion for heavyhorsesandtraditional carriage workbecamenotonlyalivelihood,but alocalinstitutionandalivinglegend.
Following Daisy’spassinglast October,herhusbandJosh Sadler is reluctantlybuthopefullyseeking anewguardian forthebusiness shebuiltwithsuchheart.
Whereitallbegan
“The story starts inthe90s,” recalls Josh, “when Daisy, whohadbeena prolificmotorsport competitor,lost sightinone eyeanddecided to seeka differentkindofhorsepower.”Drawn to theheavyhorsesattheShireHorse CentreinMaidenhead, Daisysoonmade alife-changingdecision.InOctober 1993, Sydneyarrived-an18-handShire namedafter SydneyAllard,creatorof Daisy’sbelovedAllard Racing Cars.
What followed wasa steeplearning curve. Trainingsuchagiantwhen you standjust5ft2in requires patience, determinationandnosmallamountof humour. Daisyspenthoursthatturned into weeksleading Sydneyaroundthe streetsof Penn.“Localsquicklygrew used to therhythmicclopofhooves asthepairtrotted to the farmshop for Sydney’s feed,”Joshsmiles. Theirfirst showouting-a“flattening ofafield” event- revealed Sydney to beanaturalperformer. Soon,more invitations followedandduringone ofthese events, Daisy tookagroup ofchildren foraspontaneous wagon ride.Thatsimpleact ofkindness sparkedwhat would eventually become Sydney’sExploditions.
Growingthedream
Asinterestgrew, Daisy refinedher setup.The wagon was rebuiltwith aluminium, strippedof rotandheavy ironand repaintedinwhat would becomeitsiconic red-and-yellow livery.In1995, Daisyand Sydney were proudlypartoftheheavy-horse communityattheprestigious Battersea ParkHarnessedHorse Parade,turningheadsamong seasoneddriversandenthusiasts.
fromscratch,usinglong reins, tractor tyresand care untilheand Sydney workedasabeautifully matchedpair for Syd’sPlods.
When DaisyandJoshmoved to Oxfordshirein1997, thehorsesmade thejourneytheonly way Daisy could imagine:pullingthe wagonthemselves, loadedwithbelongings.“Typicalof Daisy’spragmatic,single-minded approach to life,”Joshnotes.
Oneof Daisy’sgreatestachievements camein2018-her1,000-miletrek to The Kelpies.Despite recovering fromdoublepneumoniain2017, Daisy wasdetermined to joinThe LongRiders’Guild,asociety for equestrianswhohave travelledmore than1,000miles.She wantedin!
But Daisydidn’t wantthejourney to bejust forherself. After reading aboutalocal couplewhohad tragicallylosttheir twins-oneat birth,thesecond,Imogen, to abrain tumour- Daisydedicatedherjourney to TheImogenWhitby Fund,part ofTheBrain TumourCharity.
Travelling roughlyfifteenmilesa dayandsleeping everynightinher wagonwithdog Tad for company, DaisysharedImogen’s storywith everyoneshemet.“The wayshe touchedpeoplealongthe route was extraordinary,” says Josh.Theeffort ultimately raisedmorethan£25,000.
thepast year,Joshhashadhelp caring forthe Comtoispair,butheknows the timehas come to pass the reins to someonewiththesamegenuinelove ofhorsesandpeople.“Thisismore thanthesaleofabusiness,” hesays. “Ihopeit’s thepassingofa torch.”
weddinglandau,party wagon,bow-top living wagonandtraining carriages
•Thegoodwillandheritageofa business cherished by families, event organisersandhorseenthusiasts alike
“It’s a ready-madebusiness,shaped by tradition, community, purpose and Daisy’sunmistakable warmth. It’s quiteunlikeanythingelse,” Josh says.“It couldbelife-changing, justasit was for Daisy.”
Wordsandpictures by JoMonck Horsesandriders camefromall cornersoftheUnitedKingdom to take partinthe40thAnniversaryof the London ParadeonJanuary1st to welcomein2026.
Allthehorses took everythingin their strideand stopped to greet the vast crowdswhohadturned out to cheerthemon; to watch the face ofachild touchinga horse overthe barrier,possibly forthefirsttime remindedme justhowmuchjoythehorses bring toLondon eachNew Year. Aperfectunforgettableday.
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