Be Safe and Be Seen with High Vis Clothing

 How safe we are when riding horses on the roads depends on where we live; different countries have different attitudes to horse riding, while the size of the country and its amount of road networks of course influences riding safety. As an example, in Britain, around 25k people are killed or seriously injured in reported road accidents.

Horse riders have a notoriously difficult time in the UK because of the many heavily populated areas, meaning that many riders have to undertake road work if they do want to hack out. This is compounded by the ignorance of some road users that are not sympathetic to horses, and drive carelessly past equines, or too fast along country lanes.

There are alternatives to riding on the road – some regions operate toll rides, whereby members pay a set fee regularly to allow access to locally owned land. Meanwhile, farmers and land owners may open up their property to horse riders for a private fee. Look on the internet to see what opportunities are available for off road riding locally, as it is a wonderful way to engage with your horse, develop fitness and enjoy your riding.

Wherever you ride out, it is important to ride safely – as with all sports and activities, safety usually boils down to reducing the risk factors for accidents. Here are the top tips from The Saddlery Shop for staying safe when hacking -

1. Ensure that all your tack fits well and is in good condition;  two of the most common causes of equine-related legal claims with personal injury solicitors are said to be based around defective riding equipment, or the girth not being fastened correctly.

2. Put in the schooling with your horse, so you know you will be in control of pace and direction in most situations. Practice things like opening gates from on board the horse, and asking him to quickly move his quarters in a particular direction, or trot away from your leg; these will stand you in good stead when hacking or trekking.

3. Make sure you know the area where you are riding. This includes knowing things like when deliveries are made to local businesses and what times local schools finish; anything that could result in heavier traffic on the roads. Plus, it is good to know elements like the area’s other users; for example, woodlands frequented by motorbikes or quad-bikes may not be safe places for unpredictable horses.

4. It is a good idea to take a mobile phone with you, in case you need to call for help or let someone know you will be late from a ride. Many people file important friends’ and family members’ contact details in their phone’s contacts list under ICE (in case of emergency), so rescuers can trace relatives in the event of an accident.

5. In terms of your riding, keep a consistent rein contact. Loose reins could lead to a very serious accident if the horse was to spook.

6. If you are riding in traffic, give clear arm signals to indicate when you are turning left or right; hold your arm out horizontally for no less than three seconds to ensure drivers can see your intentions clearly. Ensure your whip is in the hand holding the reins, so you don’t startle your horse.

7. Be courteous to other road users; hold your hand up to say thank you to passing motorists if possible, but remember that a simple nod and smile will be appreciated if your hands are full.

8. Never ride more than two horses abreast on roads used by traffic. If riding with a young or inexperienced horse, it is advisable for the more experienced horse to ride on the side of the road nearest to the centre.

9. Wear suitable equipment for riding. The UK’s public service website, direct.gov.uk, advises that in Britain, children under the age of 14 must wear a helmet that complies with current regulations, and also advises that riders of any age should wear a helmet. The website also suggests that riders wear boots or shoes with hard soles and heels.

10. Utilise reflective ‘hi vis’ (high visibility) clothing and equipment when you ride in public places – don’t just save it for dark and dusky conditions; it is said to give motorists up to three extra seconds of time to notice the horse and / or rider, and take appropriate action. (To illustrate this in practical terms, in three seconds a car travelling at 30 miles per hour can cover 40 metres in distance – the difference between hitting a road user and taking avoiding action).direct.gov.uk states that: “It is safer not to ride on the road at night or in poor visibility, but if you do, make sure you wear reflective clothing and your horse has reflective bands above the fetlock joints. If you are leading a horse at night, it is strongly recommended that a fluorescent/reflective tail guard is also worn by your horse.”
    
    These are some of our favourite reflective products offered at The Saddlery Shop: 

The super stylish Equisafety Aspey Fluorescent Reflective Riding Jacket is a lightweight, safe and stylish jacket with a high performance design! Offered in Pink or Yellow and available in a variety of sizes. Click here to to find out more! 

We think these educational tabards  from Equisafety are very important. Offered in two choices of wording emblazoned with ther "Horse in Training Please Slow Down" or "Please Pass Wide and Slowly, Thank You." These easy to wear tabards provide a useful of getting a vital message across to drivers. Available from The Saddlery Shop in a range of sizes! 

The Luna Rider fluorescent and reflective arm or leg bands are suitable for use on the rider or on the horse. Easy to apply and offering a cost-effective way to stay safer on the road. Available from The Saddlery Shop in elasticated or non elasticated styles for just £5.99! Click here to purchase your Luna Rider Strips today! 

Bitting Advice

Bits can be a confusing subject - as you will see from the wide selection available at The Saddlery Shop, there are many available on the market; but how do you know which is the right one for your horse; and could you be using the wrong bit for your horse or pony?

In this blog post, we offer some simple advice!

The mouthpiece of the bit is an aid for communication between rider and horse, and in very simplified terms, is used to regulate speed and direction. The bit rings or cheek pieces are designed to aid rider communication.  

So, how do bits actually work?

Bits are just part of the communication process between rider and horse, and exert pressure on some or all of the following parts of a horse’s mouth, internally:

• The bars (the gummy sections between the incisor and molar teeth)
• Roof  of the mouth
• Tongue – especially the sensitive edges
• Lips and corners of the mouth

Externally, bits put pressure on the following parts of the horse’s mouth:

• Poll areas beneath the headpiece of the bridle
• The curb groove which is the ‘hollow’ just above the chin

Dressage ‘legal’ bits

Under British Dressage affiliated rules, there is a relatively small selection of bits that is permitted to be used when competing. They include:

• Loose ring snaffle
• Eggbutt snaffle
• Snaffle with jointed mouthpiece
• Racing snaffle D-ring
• Eggbutt snaffle with cheeks
• Loose ring snaffle with cheeks
• Snaffle with upper cheeks only
• Hanging cheek snaffle
• Straight bar snaffle (also permitted with mullen mouth and eggbutt rings)
• Snaffle with rotating mouthpiece
• Double jointed snaffle with a roller in the centre
• Rubber, nylon and other synthetic materials are permitted as are some of the specialist ranges such as Myler and Sprenger

It is advisable to remember that when competing in dressage, we should ideally select the ‘kindest’ dressage-legal bit your horse is most comfortable with. Always make sure you maintain regular equine dental checks. 

To see a range of articles, videos and reviews concerning equestrian and countryside matters visit www.horseandcountryside.com 

Easyboot RX for Laminitis

The Easyboot RX is the ideal therapy boot for horses that need relief from chronic laminitis, or other lower limb or hoof disorders.

Laminitis is a multi-factorial condition which sadly affects many horses and ponies in the UK, particularly during the spring and summer months, when the grass is of optimum quality. The condition is often linked to obesity, and alongside other causes is thought to be linked to lush pasture. The disease causes pain and lameness as a result of damage to the internal structures of our equines’ feet, limiting the horse's ability to work, and significantly impacting on their wellbeing. The serious condition involves the inflammation of the laminae tissues, which can in severe cases lead to tears of the internal bond between the dermal and epidermal laminae, leading to a rotation or drop in the pedal bone within the foot.

A horse diagnosed with laminitis requires sole support, hence the common advice to stable the animal on a thick bed of shavings – however, this support is often better achieved by using the RX boot on a bare (non shod) hoof, with shock absorbing Easycare comfort pads inside. The Soft density, 12mm pad is ideal.

This combination allows the horse to benefit from controlled exercise once the hoof has stabilised, while the increased circulation aids healing.

Not intended for riding, but can be used for light turnout the Easyboot RX is available in 8 sizes: (00-7). Sold Individually.  Size guide available at www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk or Tel: 0344 880 6900 

Bitting the Show Jumper with The Saddlery Shop

This month’s edition of Absolute Horse Magazine featured a fabulous article written byThe Saddlery Shop’s very own Lucy Nicholas. Taking a look at bitting, show jumping and bit options available from The Saddlery Shop. Read more below or pick up a copy of Absolute Horse Magazine today!

Lucy says…

“The concepts of harmonious bitting are the same whatever the horse’s discipline, however it is natural that the faster the horse goes and the quicker the reactions required of him are, the more targeted the bit may need to be.

Before we look at what you may need to consider when bitting the showjumping horse, let’s consider some bitting basics –

The bit is simply an aid that passes on requests from the rider to the horse regarding speed and direction. The mouthpiece of a bit is selected to suit a horse’s requirements – what fits their mouth conformation, and what they are comfortable and happy in – and the bit rings, or cheek pieces, help the rider communicate their requirements to the horse. Finding the right bit for your horse should be a blend of seeking obedience through correct schooling, tempered with the rider’s understanding of the horse’s welfare.

Now let’s look at some trouble-shooting points first, e.g. working out if your bit needs updating-

• It obviously hangs too low, or the bridle cheek pieces are ‘floppy’ or loose.
• It creates too many lip wrinkles, or the bridle check pieces appear tight.
• The horse chews or mouths the bit uncomfortably.
• The horse carries his head to one side, or raises his head uncharacteristically when ridden.
• The tongue is ‘squashed’ – look inside the mouth when the bit is fitted – does the tongue sit comfortably under the bit?
• The horse evades bridle fitting.
• The horse evades the contact when ridden, or his behaviour or way of going noticeably changes.
• You see obvious physical issues, like rubs or sore sections.

Bits for jumping

Whatever your discipline, you should always choose the ‘kindest’ bit that meets your needs and your level of riding experience. You may see some riders jumping in more complex bits than a standard snaffle – this is often to help them give more accurate commands at speed, or to help control fit, excitable or strong horses – but as generally a bit is only as strong as the hands holding it, these should only be used by riders with a steady, elastic contact. Here are some of our best-sellers for show jumping:

The Ringed Continental is very popular with adult jumping riders and is generally available with three or four cheek rings; it is often referred to as the Continental or Dutch Gag. It is available in most of the commonly seen mouthpieces, in several materials. Continental bits like this aim to emulate the effect of draw reins in the ring, and help to keep the horse between hand and leg.

Pelhams are also popular bits for jumping riders. They feature elements of both a curb and a snaffle, and are available with various mouthpiece styles. Synthetic Happy Mouths and Vulcanite are both superior to rubber, which can rub. The bit is good for over-enthusiastic horses that lean; however, as with many bits with some leverage action, it should be used only by riders with good hands.

Kimblewicks are similar to Pelhams in their action with the use of a curb chain, but milder, due to the lack of shank, so they do not have the leverage of a Pelham. However they can help to keep the horse’s head up, eg. to avoid leaning, and are popular with pony showjumpers.

Common showjumping evasions

• Head shaking. When pressure is applied to a horse with a sensitive tongue, its response may be to shake the head, or poke the tongue.  You may need a ported bit that doesn’t give tongue pressure, or one designed for horses with large or sensitive tongues. The Neue Schule range has a range called ‘Ultimate Tongue Relief’ that give generous tongue relief without causing upper palate interference.
• Raising head. The horse may lift the head if he objects to tongue pressure and also consistent bar pressure – a bit that allows independent side movement, such as the Myler range, may help – I like the Myler wide barrel snaffles, which don’t have a nutcracker action, and do have independent side action.
• Leaning down on the bit. Continuous pressure may lead some horses to lean their head down or ‘yank’ the reins – something that encourages some ‘play’, such as a Waterford, may help, while something with a roller like a Loose Ring Cherry Roller may help, as the rollers encourage the bit to roll further into the horses mouth, and being a fairly thick bit, this is quite kind to the bar areas.”

Remember dental checks by an equine dental technician or vet are recommended at least once a year, to ensure the horse is comfortable, and to avoid longer-term mouthing and bitting problems. Visit www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk for details of bit hire or purchase. Email advice@thesaddleryshop.co.uk