advice line Advice Line Diary: Adam Forster
Hello to all hope you and your ponies are well and managing still to ride and compete despite this hideous weather. Glenwood Show Team were at The Royal Highland Show last weekend and I can honestly say I have not experienced such wet conditions showing for some time; however in true British style we soldiered on through the mud and rain. Senrif Primula was 5th in the 4 year old and over Connemara class and this was definately the busiest show she has been to and she behaved very well considering all the distractions. Congratulations to Dianna and John Staveley, who had a good day at the Royal Highland with two daughters of Rosenaharley Laughris, who stands at Glenwood Stud, out of their champion mare Eastlands Burnibrae and are full sisters to Eastlands Hollybrae, who also stands at Glenwood. Eastlands Katiebrae won her class and was reserve champion. Eastlands Mossiebrae was 2nd to the Champion. Glenwood Show Team had yet another successful day showing at Greenlands Equestrian Centre, NECPA Show. Eastlands Hollybrae looked a picture and came 2nd in the Mixed Mountain and Moorland large breeds, closely followed by Senrif Primula taking third. Both ponies qualified for PUK and Pony of the Year. We are as always having a busy stud season and also foaling mares for outside clients, some of which are: Dissington Bam Bam - a colt by Jumbo. Barbara Anderson’s Issie - a really beautiful colt by Wise Guy R. Rachael Jones mare - a lovely filly foal by Royal Dick. Sally Enderby’s Bunny - a stunning colt foal. Glenwood stud has a new dun colt by Minsmere Sunseeker out of Hookey Regina, a full brother to Glenwoodstud Dun in the Sun. More foals to come so still watching the monitors - will keep our news updated. I enjoyed my first probationary British Connemara Pony Society Filly Inspectors appointment in May, probationing under Dianna Staveley and Susan Poole. I have to carry out two probationary appointments and then, providing my senior inspectors think I am up to the standard, I will then be added to the list of BCPS Filly Inspectors. Also this month The BCPS held a Filly inspection held at Glenwood Stud; all went well and it was very enjoyable. Diana Staveley and Val Williams inspected and Barbara McGrath did a great job probationing.
More good news, as Fancy a Night, by Knightley Park, has completed Hexham Horse Trials. Also By Knightley Park the lovely Lightweight Alder Park gained 3 RIHS tickets in three outings this season; he also went on to win the hunter class and stood Reserve Champion at Northumberland County Show. I was invited along with Mrs Ann Redpath, to judge the Novice and Open Working Hunter classes at Northumberland County Show, where thankfully the weather ‘behaved’ and we managed to stay dry. The classes were well attended and we were presented with some lovely animals to judge. As always it’s nose back to the ground now preparing the ponies for their next outings, we have a string of shows each weekend over the next month so hopefully lots of good results to share next time along with more news on foals……until next month…… bye for now….!!
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Q. I have three Fell ponies. Two have quite fine hair and they shed their winter coats to leave wonderfully sleek and glossy animals that feel like velvet. The other has a very dense coarse hair and seems to keep shedding right until around July when he then starts to shed his summer coat! I groom him daily to help remove the old hair but it is a never ending job. Do you have any grooming tips to remove the old coat quickly and effectively?
A. Use a shedding blade to help remove the ponies’ shedding hair. Be gentle so you do not hurt them. The shedding blade will pull free lose hair from their coats using only slight pressure. Exercise your ponies. Getting plenty of exercise, along with a healthy diet, will help their bodies ‘realise’ it is time to shed the unwanted hair. Using rugs on them during early spring causes their bodies to begin shedding early; there are a lot of my show horses that will have a rug on all year round and more than one rug during the coldest parts of the winter. Also in the summer month be aware that for all it may be hot during the day and your pony will not be wearing a rug, at night the temperature can drop considerably and exposing ponies, especially show animals to this, will cause their coats to ‘break’ leaving you with a dull coat that is slowly changing back to a winter coat. Also during the summer months I use a fly sheet on horses and ponies that are turned out, as the sun when at its hottest can easily bleach a summer coat, and I am sure you will agree a ‘broken’ and or ‘bleached’ summer coat will not do your ponies justice when in front of the judge in the show ring. Make sure to keep them covered so they won’t get cold. Use a rubber or soft plastic currycomb and take time each day to brush your ponies. Even children can be taught to use the currycomb. It is the single most effective tool you can use. Rub the currycomb in circular motions through a pony’s coat. Give your ponies a bath to help wash out dirt and loose hair that hasn’t fallen out during combing. It will make both you and your ponies feel better to have less hair flying around in the air. Hope this helps.
Q. We see so many different presentations of feet when we go showing, so is there a ‘rule of thumb’ about how to turn out and prepare the hooves for the show ring?
A. Daily equine hoof care starts before the show and should form part of your normal grooming routine. However, on the eve of a show you should still check each of your horse’s shoes to ensure that none are loose or worn down too far. There are many different do’s and dont’s when it comes to the turnout of horses’ feet. If you are showing a native then they are to be shown in their natural state, so maybe a little clear hoof oil just to enhance is appropriate. However if you are in other classes it is entirely up to the rider/producer on how much or how little oil is used and whether black polish or clear polish is used. I like to use a black polish on a black hoof and once dry a touch of sparkle spray over the top to hold and for extra shine (hairspray gives just as good a finish). I would use a clear polish on a white
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