The Science (and Art) of Feeding: Top Advice from TopSpec’s Katharine Mieras

The other day we were lucky enough to have the lovely Katharine Mieras from TopSpec come to visit the shop and give the staff training on the latest products in the TopSpec and VetSpec range.

Feeding horses these days seems to be a more complicated task than ever and trying to navigate your way through the myriad of products on the market can be a challenging and daunting task! Largely it’s more complicated because the science behind horse nutrition and the accompanying research undertaken into it has produced a feed palette more specialised than ever for us as owners to choose from. I remember 20+ years ago when I got my first horse (yes it was that long ago, and yes I am that old, as the much younger girls in the shop like to remind me…) and he came to me with a feed regime that consisted of barley, flaked maize and sugar beet! No wonder he was so spooky! But feeding cereals straight like that was pretty common at the time and it’s amazing to think how much the landscape of equine nutrition has changed since. Nowadays, the focus is on good quality protein and forage as the key building blocks for every horse’s diet. What we then choose to layer upon those, whether for energy, condition, joint support etc are the variables which change according to each and every horse, as well as the ambitions of each and every owner. Feed has become a personal, and hence much more specialised business, and we as owners have had to become much more skilled in the art of feeding it.

That’s why having the support of experts such as Katharine is so important. They act as facilitators, synthesising huge swathes of scientific research and data and making it accessible in a way that allows us to make informed choices about what is best for our horses – and dogs! And Katharine is wonderful at that, patiently and skilfully answering the multitude of questions the team had for her! So rather than try and do justice to her impressive knowledge on all things nutrition, here’s some of the team’s questions for your interest instead – you might find something that relates to you and your four legged friends too! 🙂

What are some of the risk factors to consider when feeding horses in winter?

It all depends very much on the individual horse and it’s workload. Quite a lot of leisure horses will do less work over winter – shorter days, worse weather, time-poor owners – and need to be fed accordingly with maybe lighter options. Whereas older horses or poor doers need to go into winter better covered and be fed with condition in mind, with a diet based on feeds containing good quality protein. Horses are often turned out for less time, so keeping an eye on the starch level of feed is important. Forage is key and it’s very important to know the quality of forage you are feeding – for example this year the hay and haylage are exceptional and the good doers are paying for it!

Leo has wintered out better than ever this year because of the excellent quality and quantity of ad-lib haylage on offer. He can often be found with his head stuck in the entire bale 🤣

What is the best way to manage weight in ‘good doers’, while still ensuring they receive all the nutrients and vitamins that they need? Especially ones in hard work who may need the extra support but not the extra calories?

Balancers are extremely useful for the horses that don’t tend to drop weight over winter. The low calorie options such as TopSpec Lite Feed Balancer will provide horses and ponies with all their essential nutrients, their hoof supplement, and a probiotic, but without adding condition. For the ones needing extra support, you can choose a higher specification supplement such as TopSpec Antilam or the powdered TopSpec All in One Multi-supplement – both containing a higher specification of vitamins and minerals but both being a low calorie option. Again it’s very important to keep an eye on the hay/haylage quality and ration or soak accordingly, if necessary.

How do horses get ulcers and what can be done to limit the risk?

Horses can develop ulcers for a multitude of reasons, including stress, reduced forage ration, pain, competition, travelling. You can limit the risk by allowing access to ad lib but appropriate forage (ie not rich ryegrass haylage for a good doer!) so they can trickle feed as nature intended. Minimising stress is also important – keeping their environment and routine as suitable as possible. Feeding forage or chaff before work can help form a fibre mat in the stomach to stop the acid splash, or a Feed such as TopSpec UlsaKind Cubes which helps the stomach contents become more viscous and ‘goo-ey’, therefore less likely to splash against the side of the stomach.

In what circumstances would you consider feeding electrolytes?

I usually recommend feeding table salt daily to horses in any form of work. Horses will only usually require an electrolyte supplement if sweating heavily – for example after cross country or gallop exercise – or if their forage intake is compromised, say during travelling. When buying Electrolytes the most important ingredient is the sodium so be sure to pick one with a high sodium content!

How much table salt should you feed?

I recommend a teaspoon of salt for a pony, a dessertspoon for a large pony/small horse,  and a tablespoon of salt for a larger horse. It’s also important to provide free access to a salt lick, although some use these more than others! If a horse is being fed a lot of hard feed then their requirement for salt is lower, but those that are on reduced rations do benefit from the addition of table salt.

What would you recommend feeding a horse with spavin?

If a horse has spavin, I always recommend a Joint Supplement. The best ones contain the scientifically recommended amounts of ingredients for joint support – 10g of glucosamine and 10g of MSM (for a 500g horse), and it’s important to include antioxidants too, to help mop up free radicals around the joint. Always read the labels and the doses recommended on the tubs!

What would you feed a lab who struggles to get enough protein intake but gets fat on air?

‘Slimming’ dog foods will sometimes be bulked up with grain to reduce the calories. Looking for a higher meat content food will mean the protein level is better, which is important not just for muscle tone but for loads of bodily functions. VetSpec Superlite is 50% chicken but contains 20% less calories than the VetSpec Healthy Dog – the kibble contains more air and is higher in fibre, to improve satiety.

Poppy the lab has a tough time watching her weight! No wonder she needs a rest! 😉

What would you feed a stiff Jack Russell who is sometimes prone to patella fixation?

For patella fixation I would suggest a food with a really good Joint Supplement. VetSpec Omega 3 Joint Mobility includes not only a good level of omega 3 oils, but also a very high level of glucosamine and chondroitin which are very important for joint health. These ingredients will help support the joint and with chicken being naturally high in MSM, it also contains a great anti inflammatory.

Super cute Jack Russell Tilly-Mint has to watch those dodgy knees!

What would you feed a very fussy dog?

Fussy dogs are usually tempted by high meat content foods, and those that don’t contain a lot of grain – makes them much tastier! We’ve found the VetSpec range at 60% chicken and being cereal grain free is excellent for dogs without a great appetite.

Gorgeous Spaniel pupper Archie may look like butter wouldn’t melt, but he’s a fussy wee guy!

What is the most common problem that you see/question that you get asked most?

By far and away the most common question I currently get asked is ‘how do I manage my horses weight?’. The winter has been very mild – combined with the excellent conserved forage, and the fact the grass has barely stopped growing – and it’s been a real issue for the good doers. Exercise is definitely the most important way of managing weight, even 15 minutes lunging or loose schooling can make a difference. Choosing low calorie options such as balancers can help, and choosing appropriate forage including soaking hay (minimum of 8 hours) or using low calorie partial hay replaces can also help in their management. Muzzles are also a very useful tool in managing grass intake.

LC

For more information or any additional support and advice, please call the TopSpec helpline on 01845566030.  And remember, there’s 25% off all TopSpec Supplements and half price on all 2kg bags of VetSpec for Dogs throughout March!

Bonkers about BOGS: The very wearable welly

I must confess that before I started working at Country Ways, I wasn’t familiar with the BOGS brand of footwear. But the more I learnt about them, the more I began to covet a pair. Not least because my own wellies had seen much better days and had started to leak. And we all know the misery of soggy feet. Indeed much akin to the old adage ‘no hoof, no horse’, the same could be said for any outdoor pursuit, in that comfort levels firmly begin with the feet!

My new BOGS and Leo! Gone are the days of cold toes and slipping about the yard…these carver boots are a revelation!

And BOGS are all about the comfort! Having worn my own pair of Ladies Carver Tall Boots (ironic that I should wear anything with the description tall given how short I am) this weekend for some snowy adventures with my both four and two-legged friends, I can testify to that! Having been used to wellies being functional rather than particularly comfortable, and cold without numerous layers of socks, I was amazed at just how cushioned the feel was and just how warm the BOGS were! I was prancing around in the snow fair chuffed with myself (prancing made possible by excellent grip and traction on the sole). Plus they are completely waterproof! Because that’s often the rub with outdoor footwear (literally), it’s hard to find something fully waterproof that are also comfy and warm enough to wear all day long.

BOGS however have achieved this by incorporating all sorts of very impressive technology that make their range of boots comfortable, warm and wearable (they’ve hit the trifecta of the welly boot world 🤣) So what I would describe as ‘cushiony’ (that’s a word right? If not then it should be), is actually a technology called ‘Rebound’, which provides a shock absorbing cushion and foot support that lasts the life of the product. Then it’s something called ‘Neo-Tech’ which provides such excellent insulation and regulates temperature with a 4-way stretch inner ‘bootie’. Oh and don’t forget the DuraFresh biotechnology to help fight unwanted odors! 😜

All this technology can also be found in an array of super cute versions made specifically for small people. Baby Bogs will keep even the tiniest of toes cosy, with an added plush lining for an extra snuggly feel and a hook and loop strap which makes them simple to get on and off. Plus they have cool things like dinosaurs or farm animals on them 🦖🦕🦖

Mine don’t have dinosaurs on them. Which would be my only disappointment to be fair. LC

Bogs are available at Country Ways, 115 Holburn Street, Aberdeen and online at www.countryways.com/brands/bogs-boots

Taking Bridle Design to the Next Level

New bridles on the block: who are House of Montar? By Lynne Clarke at Country Ways

New to Country Ways is an exciting equestrian leatherwork collection from Montar. A relatively new name on the equestrian scene, the Danish brand has the ambition to take bridle design to the next level, their products marrying style and functionality, with research and innovation.

Monarch Bridle

The showcase pieces are the Montar Monarch Bridle and the Montar Normandie Dressage Bridle, both stunning examples of the way in which the latest in ergonomic technology can be combined with comfort, elegance and style. And that’s no mean feat! As we all know from our own favourite ‘comfy clothes’ at home, (the old joggers and PJ tops we swap into when we get home from work!), comfort doesn’t always mean style! 😉 But Montar have managed the seemingly impossible and made beautiful bridles at the cutting edge of anatomical design.

Monarch Bridle

Monarch Bridle

Normandie Dressage Bridle

As is the way with building anything of quality, the foundation is key. All Montar leather items are made at the very outset with the highest quality Sedgewick leather. All the leather is tanned ecologically, making it particularly ideal for sensitive horses as it reduces the chance of irritation and allergic reaction. The gentle processing means the leather is incredibly soft and durable. Lovely stuff 🙂

And then there’s just a whole range of super cool parts – my personal favourite being the pop off browband which you can easily switch over for another one without having to labour over the long and nightmarish task of taking most of your bridle apart (only to realise once you have put it back together that nothing is in fact on the same holes as before!) Instead you just pop it on and off all while the bridle is still on the horse! Hallelujah!

Then there’s all the other exciting features, all of which are at the forefront of ergonomical innovation and designed to provide maximum comfort for your horse. The Monarch headpiece is uniquely designed with an adjustable strap to allow a perfect and individual fit to your horse. The noseband has been designed to avoid pressure on your horses sensitive mouth and jaw, with the sweeping soft curves ensuring that neither the horses facial nerves nor back teeth are impacted by the fit.

The Normandie has a padded V-headpiece to give optimal freedom and fit and combined with the soft padding at the sides, allows the neck to move freely so that even the most sensitive horse can relax and move freely. The noseband has a completely detachable flash, including the loop which is easily removed by pushing it up between the padding and top leather. The noseband has pullback closure with softly padded cushion to protect the jaw bones.

All the Montar products embody the same quality, innovation and style. Why not come in store or visit our website http://www.countryways.com to check out our range of bridles, breastplates, reins and browbands (we have some bling bling ones too… oooooh… they are always nice to look at 😉 See you soon! LC

Reaching for the Stars – An interview with Eilidh Costelloe, Eventer and Sponsored Rider at Country Ways

By Lynne Clark

When I arrive at Oldtown Equine to interview Country Ways sponsored event rider Eilidh Costelloe, the wind is howling an absolute gale and the rain is horizontal. I make a mad dash from the car to the barn and find the horses looking as happy as I am to be inside (them still in their pyjamas, me, alas, not). I am greeted warmly by Eilidh, and invited to sit down on the yard sofa (yep, a yard sofa – how cool!) and offered a much welcome cup of tea.

As I sit down, I spot Buddy (or ‘Westmuir Quality’ to give him his formal title) munching away in his stable, looking every inch the cool dude that he is. I tell Eilidh I feel a little star struck in his presence, and that I’ll have to make sure to get a selfie with the superstar before I leave. She laughs and agrees that Buddy has indeed become a star in his own right (he was after all Mark Todd’s ride for his demo evening), but just now, he looks every inch a mud monster! I smile in reply because it’s great to see him relaxing happily at home. Almost like getting a private glimpse of a famous person before they put their makeup on!

I ask Eilidh how she found him, and she explains that it was on a visit to Ireland where her husband’s best friend insisted that she buy this horse he had seen. She wasn’t looking at the time though, and certainly not for a massive 17.2hh who was built slightly downhill in his conformation. But the friend was not to be dissuaded and so she agreed to try him. “He had these big swinging paces and was so obedient off the leg. And boy could he jump. Any angle, any stride. And he was so obedient. I knew then that he was special”.

Two weeks later, Buddy landed in Scotland, having never evented nor done a dressage test. Within 2 years, the pair were competing at 3*. A meteoric rise when you consider Buddy made his debut at BE100 having never seen a solid fence and Eilidh having only owned him for two weeks! This isn’t just testimony to Buddy’s inherent natural talent, but also to Eilidh’s drive and determination, “I’ve never been one to stay at a level too long, I love the buzz of pushing myself and the bigger the better”.

And they certainly are getting bigger. This year, the two piloted their way around some of the biggest dates and beefiest tracks on the BE calendar, including Tattersalls, Blenheim and Blair. Blenheim Palace was particularly special to Eilidh. When I ask what her proudest moment of her 2018 season was, she replies, “completing my first long format CCI 3* at Blenheim was a great feeling”. Perhaps it goes hand in glove that Blenheim was also her favourite event of the year. “Blenheim Palace was amazing! We were invited into the Palace by the Duke of Marlborough for drinks – I felt very important! The shopping was brilliant, the course was lovely and just the whole atmosphere. I loved it!”

Of course, there is also the fact that she won the Ladies Best Dressed Trot Up Award at Blenheim too. The winning outfit was provided by Country Ways and consisted of a Dubarry Tweed Skirt, Fairfax & Favour Boots, a Dubarry turtle neck top and a Hicks & Brown hat. “I do love wearing the hats”, Eilidh laughs. “I have had so many lovely outfits from Country Ways to wear. The winning outfit at Blenheim was so far removed from what I normally wear! So maybe that tells me something! Haha!”

Joking aside, sponsorship is now a fundamental underpinning of the sport at the elite level. Horses are expensive. Fact. And there’s no getting away from it. Eventing is expensive. And there’s no getting away from that either. Especially when you are running a string of horses and aiming to climb the ladder to the top. Eilidh is emphatic in just how grateful she is to have the support of Country Ways, but she’s smart too and knows that in this digital age, where the world is viewed through the social media lens, raising and maintaining your profile is key. “I really enjoy being associated with Country Ways because it’s so well known. Even my non-horsey aunty knew who Country Ways were”. In tangible terms, Eilidh tells me that her Instagram profile had 200 more followers the day she won Best Dressed at Blenheim. I was surprised to learn that there were as many as 500+ photographers at the trot up alone. It pays to look good and stand out where that level of coverage is concerned.

She admits that self-promotion didn’t come easily to her, that she struggled to find the balance initially between maintaining a line between her private and professional life. “It’s a balance, and one I’ve had to work at”. She uses the example of Buddy’s recent wind operation, designed to help him gallop easier next year, as an example of the conflict she faces between how much to share and how much to keep private. It’s a dilemma faced by any one in the public eye, not just professional riders.

Talking of the spotlight and those in it, I take the opportunity to ask Eilidh if she has any role models of her own? “I have never had role models as such”, she replies, before continuing, “I love watching and learning from all the top riders, looking at their training techniques, warm up routines or horse management. And take bits from each to apply to my routine or plans”. She explains how she spends a great deal of time watching collecting rings and how much you can learn from them. Conversely I ask what advice she, as a role model herself, would give to aspiring eventers? “Go for it! If you have the confidence and desire then don’t hold back. While you have a sound horse and gain the qualifications, keep going!” I get the feeling that Eilidh is as bold and brave as Buddy – no wonder they make such a great team. Her passion for the sport is something which has driven her to qualify as a BE Development Coach, something which she says she always wanted, to allow her to share her experience and knowledge from going through the levels herself to other budding event riders. “I’m out there doing it at that level. That way I can give first hand feedback”.

If that’s what it takes to be a great coach, what makes a great event horse I ask? “They need a genuine, bold and honest temperament above all. Then good conformation to stay sound for the job”. It helps to have a good eye of course, as Eilidh continues, “I always get a good gut feeling about a horse. Most of the time I have been right”. No doubt about that when it comes to Buddy. I ask what it is that makes him so special? “His heart”, Eilidh replies. It moves me that of all the things she could have chosen about this remarkable horse, his heart is what is most important to her. It speaks volumes of what must be a deep and profound bond between the pair. And as horse people, we all understand that. She continues, “he keeps jumping and doesn’t ever look for the exit, only between the flags! He isn’t a natural on the flat and finds it hard. He is built downhill, making things harder for him. But he is genuine and obedient”. It makes me think even more about that heart of his.

Given Buddy is an Irish lad, it prompts me to ask whether she looks for all her horses over there? “Mostly”, she replies, explaining that her and Paddy (her husband) have a lot of contacts over there. Paddy’s Dad is a showjumping judge in Ireland, so they know all the right people! But they’ve also been successful at breeding their own at home too, with 5 healthy foals and no issues. “We’ve been very lucky”, and she points out to me the youngsters of what she calls the ‘Boys Squad’. Clearly they are set to be a talented bunch if Ozzy’s results are anything to go by. May Day III, to give him his formal name, completed his first 1* at Osberton in September, having begun the season at Novice. He is out of another homebred, a mare which Eilidh took to 2*. It was actually Paddy who started Ozzy as a 4 year old and evented him to BE100. Eilidh explains that he was due to compete him at Kirriemuir, but when he couldn’t manage at the last minute, she took the ride – and never gave it back! “I keep stealing horses off him”, she laughs, pointing to a palomino gelding and explaining it’s a recent purchase of Paddy’s that he’s had to buy in order to keep at least one ride! As if on queue, the yard door swings open and Paddy walks in carrying a new rug for one of the youngsters. Eilidh explains our laughter as he exclaims “I better produce it quickly then!”

It must be pretty great having a horsey husband I say, especially given they broke ground on the new livery yard just a week before their wedding, and were taking phone calls on their honeymoon about the build! “It’s been stressful”, Eilidh says, which I think anyone would agree with! Especially considering her liveries also moved in the week before Blair! Oh and they moved house too. “My poor husband barely sees me and when he does, it’s to pick up the pieces! Haha. My family have been very supportive and involved in the yard build as well as planning the wedding and helping with the house move! I would be stuck without them”.

It took 5 years for planning permission for the yard to come through as the land is green belt.  Just as well Eilidh studied business at university to deal with all that paperwork! She explains how she wants the yard to be a rehab type facility, as well as being able to offer schooling and coaching to her clients. To this end, a horse walker has already been installed in the barn. Eilidh fires it up and shows me just how it works with one of the horses – a handy bit of kit for both rehabbing and fitness work.

Aside from the physical challenges of the build, I ask her how it feels to be running a livery yard now, as opposed to having her own place? I have a wry smile on my face as I do so, because we all know what us liveries can be like about our horses! 😉 She replies that it’s again about striking the right balance between meeting their demands and pursuing her own goals, and admits the company takes a bit of getting used to when you have been on your own so long. She strikes me as being completely at ease with the role however, along with all her others.

As winter takes hold and we all hunker down against the dark and cold, I ask her what her plans are for the next few months? “This winter I am making continued improvements for the new yard. Filling drains, fencing, all of that! Buddy has had his wind op, which I hope will help him gallop easier next year, so he is coming back into work now. The other event horses are doing lots of flatwork training and jump practise. So it’s full on and planning for next season begins now”.  That means weekly dressage lessons and showjumping competitions, as Eilidh explains how she will register BS to jump some bigger tracks. It also means working on her own fitness too, and we have an interesting chat about the difference between being ‘riding fit’ as opposed to general fitness. Eilidh has 6-8 horses to ride every day (totally putting me to shame for making excuses when I don’t find the time to ride my one horse! Haha). She explains how she would love to find the time to do more off the horse exercise such as Pilates, planking and more floor exercises. “After all, the rider is the athlete too”, she says.  “Oh and I really need to do more sitting trot!” Don’t we all! And we both laugh.

How Eilidh can possibly find time to squeeze anything else in I have no idea! She explains that it’s again about striking the right work/life balance. But when your passion overlaps with your profession, where do you draw the line between the two I wonder? “You have to love what you do”, Eilidh replies simply. I guess you just couldn’t do it otherwise. And if there’s one thing all us horse folk can agree on, it’s how much we love the sport and our four legged friends, whatever we choose to do with them, at whatever level.

Looking beyond the cold winter months (as hard as that seems now!) and to the 2019 event season, I ask her what her goals are and what she would like to achieve next season? “I would love to do more 3*’s and be consistent in gaining more qualifying runs”, she replies, “and the younger horses getting confident runs to move up the levels”.

It seems a natural conclusion to the interview to end with looking forward to the future.  As I drive away from Oldtown, I think to myself what a remarkable young woman Eilidh is to have already achieved all that she has, and to keep all those spinning plates in the air at once.  I think what an excellent role model and ambassador for Country Ways she is and how exciting the future is for her.

And then I turn the corner and think how I should start doing more sitting trot too… and get back to Pilates 😉

Over and out for 2018! Lynne x

An evening with Chris Bartle – Olympic Event Rider & Coach

Our roving reporter at Country Ways, Lynne Clark, summarises a demo evening at Fountain Equestrian Centre with the legendary Chris Bartle.

(Eilidh Costelloe, Shaun Murray, Chris Bartle and Jodie Neill)

It’s safe to say that the Chris Bartle demo took place on a night of some of the wildest winter weather in a long time! A howling gale and torrential rain didn’t stop the equestrians of Aberdeenshire turning up – though to a chorus of “we must be mad” echoing through the gathering crowd (we are horsey folk, it’s a prerequisite that we are a bit mad). But gather they did, a sea of blankets and bobble hats, because despite the horrendous weather conditions, it’s not every day that you get the opportunity to watch and learn from one of the world’s best eventing coaches, the man credited with the phenomenal rise and dominance of the German team, and more recently, the resurgence of British success –  eventing super coach, Chris Bartle.

(Eilidh MacAulay flying over the oxer!)

Chris’s list of accomplishments are too numerous to list here. But highlights include a sixth place in individual dressage at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, eventing team gold at the European Championships at Burghley in 1997 and winning Badminton a year later in 1998. During his tenure as German national coach from 2001 to 2016, the team won gold at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, World Team Gold in 2014 and European Team Gold in 2011, 2013 and 2015. In 2017, Chris joined the British team as Eventing Performance Coach. Later that same year, Britain won team gold at the European Eventing Championships, their first since 2009 (incidentally beating Germany to do so). And earlier this year, they won both team and individual gold at the World Equestrian Games. With such a distinguished record behind him, the moniker of ‘super coach’ is both a well earned, and well deserved one.

(Millie Lawson with her pal Dakota and Chris Bartle – Instagram @Millie_lawson or Facebook Millie Lawson Ponies)

From the outset the key theme of the demo was communication, perhaps not surprising when one considers what it takes to not only motivate and inspire individuals, but to mould their different styles, attitudes and experience into a successful team. It’s a theme that underpinned his approach to each of the riders, (Rosanagh Davison, Sophie Bultitude, Pollyanna Smith, Eilidh MacAulay, Millie Lawson, Jodie Neill, Shaun Murray and our very own Country Ways sponsored rider Eilidh Costelloe), all of whom did an incredible job given the severe weather conditions. His philosophy was clear; whatever level you may be at, communication with your horse via your body language is key. The performance of the horse can only ever be as good as that of the rider, thus every training session starts with assessing the riders ‘position statement’. What are they telling their horse with their legs, seat and upper body? And what should they not be telling it with their hands!

(Eilidh Costelloe and Westmur Quality aka Buddy)

Throughout the demo Chris stressed that the hands are there to guide, not pull, and that they are never to be used as a primary aid. The body is the most important influence over the horses way of going and Chris demonstrated this in a tangible way by coaching the riders through various types of seat; light, contact, racing, preparation and landing. Each seat has a different effect, but the principle is the same, that the horse should respond to the riders body, not hands. This is further demonstrated by his insistence that the riders lengthen their reins and let their horses necks out. By letting them poke their nose slightly, the distance between the nose and point of shoulder is more, which stops them getting too close to the fence. Shorten the neck too much and you close the gap and increase the risk of hitting the fence. While it also seems counterintuitive to lengthen your reins on a strong horse, this is exactly what you should do, rather than shorten them, which will only make the horse stronger. One audience member asks why this is the case, when she is told by her own trainer to shorten her reins when she is jumping her strong horse? Chris used the excellent analogy of a tug of war, in that you wouldn’t lean forward and shorten the rope to win, you would let some length out, lean back and let your back do the pulling, not your arms. Again it is the body position that influences the horse.

(Check that angle! Shaun Murray showing us how it’s done!)

Chris also stressed the significance of our eyes – where we look has a crucial influence over our position (and it shouldn’t be down!) He demonstrated his point by instructing the riders to imagine the fence they are jumping is much higher, to place their gaze as if it was 1.60 instead.  He explained this is the same advice he gives to the likes of Ros Canter when warming up for championships. His reasoning is that it immediately lifts the riders eye line and encourages them to stay up in the body. The effect is clear as the riders became more open in their shoulders on approach to the fences. Chris explained that the riders job is always to look for the next fence, the horse can sort its own stride out if we don’t interfere. This also encourages an upright position in landing, as well as take off, ensuring that the rider doesn’t end up in front of the point of balance. He asked some of the riders to read out the phone number of one of the banners in their eye line as they jump the fence to demonstrate his point.

(Pollyanna Smith, Chris Bartle & Eilidh MacAulay)

Perhaps not surprising given Chris’s dressage background, he also emphasised the importance of flatwork training to the jumping phase. The horse first and foremost should be relaxed and accepting of the contact and a showjumping course should be akin to a dressage test, only with jumps in the way. He instructed the riders to bend their horses to the outside, then to the inside and forward in a light seat. All the time encouraging relaxation and connection, whilst also working on rhythm, straightness and balance. This is the way in which you give the horse options, and it’s amazing what they can do when they have them.

I am lucky enough as a staff member of Country Ways, one of the sponsors of the event, to have a quick chat with Chris during the break. I’ll admit I was pretty nervous at the thought (although a glass of prosecco did help!), but I needn’t have worried. Chris is incredibly approachable, friendly, and relaxed – a thoroughly nice guy (no coincidence that he is able to get such a great tune out of riders and their horses I think)…

Q: “Does your philosophy change coaching a team as opposed to an individual?”

A: “The principles are the same. The riders must do their homework and follow the system. The mental side is the same too. It’s my job to instil the self-belief that they can win, that they know they are good enough to win, to produce a personal best, that they know they can do it”.

Q: “What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?”

A: “Never give up. Keep remounting!”

Q: “What is the proudest moment of your career so far?”

A: “I am very proud of my first Olympics in LA. Winning Badminton as well. London 2012 was a huge thrill for me as a Brit too”.

Q: “Do you have a favourite horse you’ve ever ridden?”

A: “It’s hard to compare them because they belong to different eras and are all so different in their own way. Wiley Trout I have a sentimental attachment to because he took me so far. Word Perfect was tricky but I had the hugest respect for him”.

Q: “What combination are you most excited for in the future?”

A: “I love the buzz of working with them all. They all have the potential to win an Olympic medal”.

Q: “How have you found the day’s coaching today?”

A: “I’ve been so impressed with all the enthusiasm of the riders and their willingness to tackle anything”.

One of the audience members asks Chris what his highlight of being a coach is? He replies that it’s difficult to say because he is always looking forward for the next one. That means to the Europeans in 2019 and to Tokyo in 2020.

And with Chris at the helm, both are an exciting prospect for team GB…

(Team Country Ways!)

This event was organised by David Lawson Equestrian Events and we are delighted to say that the raffle in aid of Parkinsons UK also raised £2,325. Sponsored by Patterson Equestrian Arenas and Country Ways.

All images by George Michie Photography http://www.georgemichie.co.uk

~ Lynne Clark for Country Ways