veteran vitality Checking veteran saddle fit
With many older horses and ponies still in active ridden work, including competition, the need to check saddle fit remains important. We’ve got a commonsense guide for all owners and riders of veteran horses and ponies on how to do a basic check of saddle fit and understand when it’s time to call your saddle fitter.
It’s doesn’t matter how old a horse is, he will continue to change shape depending on work, fitness and weight, but it’s especially important to check veteran saddle fit because unless a horse or pony is in regular, correct work to keep him supple, using his back and maintaining his musculature, he can change shape quite dramatically.
Tip 1. Weigh tape your horse weekly and measure his back monthly – use a flexitape like the saddle fitter does, taking one measurement two fingers behind the shoulder blade, one under the middle of the saddle and a third, one inch before the back of the saddle. Do it after you’ve ridden so
you can see where the saddle has been and if there’s a change, speak to your saddle fitter.
There is no need for an old horse to have a dippy back and even if yours has, working correctly and regularly will improve it. Assuming the horse has no other soundness issues and is happy with life, maintaining suppleness and building muscle steadily will bring the back up again.
Tip 2. Older horses and ponies need to be in regular work, not ridden only at weekends or in the holidays. Saddle fitters report seeing more problems in older horses who are allowed to become stiff and are not in regular work, but there’s no need for it to happen – dippy backs are not an inevitable consequence of age.
When it comes to workload, you should ideally aim for sensible schooling two or three times a week, with suppling exercises to ensure the horse works correctly over his back. If your
‘golden oldie’ has had time off or is not moving as well at he might, you could consider using an air filled saddle pad under the existing saddle, as this gives the comfort and softness of the air bags whilst the horse is built up again with steady work, but avoids the cost of a new saddle.”
Tip 3. Feed your veteran correctly, from the floor ideally so that he stretches his topline and use extra rugs to keep him warm if necessary, because a cold back will lose muscle. Have his teeth checked more regularly than once a year as his digestion will be less efficient and he may struggle to maintain muscle. Take time to get him fit after a break – little and often is a far better way to do things.
Veterans are very often the real gems amongst horses and provided we care for them correctly, they have a lot to offer – it’s up to us to make sure we do.
Hi-tech skin care
Hypocare by Horseware is a gentle cleansing spray that instantly helps to soothe irritated skin and provides relief from scratching, stings and insect bites. Its non- sting formula is safe even for sensitive skin. A topical application that mirrors the body’s own immune system, it works naturally with the body and is available in an easy to use bottle (250ml. You can use Hypocare on any and it is safe if ingested, so you won’t need to worry about your pet licking the affected area. Best of all, Hypocare doesn’t sting. The formula emulates skin pH, which means it works in harmony with the body.
Because Hypochlorous is a chemical that the body produces naturally, it is a non-toxic, non-sensitising, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral solution and is safe to use around eyes and other sensitive areas. Unlike antibiotics where overuse has resulted in resistance, pathogens cannot become resistant to Hypochlorous.
Hypocare does not contain any of the banned substances listed by the FEI. The active ingredient in Hypocare is Hypochlorous acid, which is produced naturally by the body’s own immune system. When a wound or infection occurs in the body, neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, are deployed to the site of infection. The neutrophils then engulf the invading pathogen and produce Hypochlorous acid, which kills the bacteria.
Hypochlorous acid is between 80-300 times more effective at killing pathogens than hypochlorite or bleach. Although its disinfecting powers are unrivalled, it is kind to healthy tissue and has a skin neutral pH, so it won’t slow down healing. It has long been acknowledged that Hypochlorous is highly effective at killing a wide range of micro-organisms, is safe for users and has no environmental implications – unlike traditional chemical sanitisers or disinfectants. Until now, it was not possible to produce high strength Hypochlorous with a shelf life of more than a few hours. Visit
www.hypocare.com
www.theequinesite.co.uk Equine Page 15
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