Trot ON Hot Topics

Connect with your horse - BE HERD

noreply@blogger.com (John Bethell) — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 18:08:00 +0000

All of us want a strong bond with our horses don't we? However, achieving that can sometimes feel like a daily challenge. When we saw the moving video about the Trust Technique, we really wanted to find out if they had the answer.

I Have A Dream
Learn The Trust Technique For FREE And Be Part Of The Dream.Click this link for free video access http://goo.gl/ugL5WA Share if you care :)
Posted by Trust Technique Animal Rescue on Wednesday, October 21, 2015

So,last week Trot On went to visit the Mane Chance HorseSanctuary in Surrey, established by the actress Jenny Seagrove and set up by James French and Shelly Slingo. The horses they have taken in and rehabilitated at their 47 acre sanctuary have experienced the very worst treatment by humans and reading any one of the case studies on their website is enough to make you, well, just weep. How can humans be driven to behave like this towards horses you find yourself asking again and again?

It was to help horses and humans connect that James and Shelly developed The Trust Technique at the Mane Chance Sanctuary and we were lucky enough to be shown first-hand what the technique involves. Breaking it down to the most essential level it teaches you….

1 BE PRESENT: “Unthink” to be in the NOW because when you think, you are generally either in the future or the past. To connect you need to be still and focus on the NOW, the present.

2 REGARD and respect those that are around you. Your horse. Your dog. Your cat. Your partner, friends and family. (only kidding lol) Acknowledge their presence, their right to be there with you in the PRESENT. Give your horse REGARD

3 NARRATE and RELATE between your NOW selves. You and your horse. You mirror each other. Neither the past nor what is to become, but NOW – the NARRATIVE of your respective journeys that led you to be here.

…and that's it – Simple and powerful and it works!

So how can "unthinking" lead to a happy horse and :) owner? In one word HERD. What James and Shelly have done is to provide a framework for getting back to the HERD-like behaviours horses and other animals have used for millennium to live lives of trust and respectfulness. It is a system that has worked for them very well but it is us humans that have introduced FEAR and FORCE into it. It is human behaviour that has undermined the natural way of doing things.

As a wild HERD of horses roams, MOVES ON – it grows as it flows in an environment of high trust and mutual regard. The HERD is more in the now -the PRESENT. Each herd is made up of members who are young, old, capable, and incapable in varying degrees. Each member of the herd has a respected part, and role to play. Each individual has their own narrative which they bring to the HERD when they arrive, and by mirroring and relating to that narrative the newcomer is both accommodated and integrated into HERD ways and to each member of the herd.

In short the Trust Technique provides a HERD like framework which all animals understand when their human partners are willing to give it a chance to happen.

If you want to learn this wonderful technique then click here and take advantage of a FREE 24 hour access to James' online training course-over 30 hours of video tuition divided into 14 sessions. This could be the start of an even more beautiful relationship between you and your horse.

John Bethell

Ten reasons to SHARE a PASSION for HORSES

noreply@blogger.com (John Bethell) — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 09:44:00 +0000

It's GOOD to TALK HORSE.....TEN reasons to SHARE our PASSION for HORSES

1- Horses....are Good Jumpers

2.....are Adorable even at 3 days old

3.....make excellent Photo captions

4....Lend us wings when we most need them

5....Make light of heavy work

6...Give you - the ride of your life

7- ..Provide some - trials and tribulations (part 1)

8..are inspiring - Event legend Jane Holderness-Roddam

9 ...are clever-Performing Houdini like escapes

10.. are Fun - OMG...Playing Fetch?

Trot ON SHARING a PASSION for HORSES

EIGHT great TV HORSE ADS

noreply@blogger.com (John Bethell) — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 11:48:00 +0000

Down the years there has been a great deal of HORSE to be seen in various TV Adverts - Beer, Fashion, Water , Phones, Cars have used horses to sell their products but what have been the BEST Horse TV Ads from the perspective of the horse riding community? - What have been the STAND OUT Ads we remember and will remember for a good while yet -
Budweiser and Lloyd's Bank stick in the mind some others are set to join them .....Here is our top 8

1- ODI nail lacquer ....Set to be the classic? three dancers stand off with "the lady in black"...Fabulous...or should we say LUSH

2- Guinness surfer ....filmed in 1998 but for many the current CLASSIC

3- Rosport Water.....Very smart and good imagery...LOVE this!

4- Honda Cars....Girl wants a pony and Dad has to find.....Photoshop at work but Good

5- Three.....Shettie moonwalking....It is Funny!

6- Lloyds Bank ...after a pause they are back to black horses - Kleenex at the ready- sorry this is a bank ad right?

7- Woucher....this is an ODD one....but hey if it sells more loo rolls got for it!

8- Budweiser - They have done so many CLASSICS and their super bowl ads are legendary ....from donkeys to snow ball fights the Clydesdales have it - this one their tribute to 911 victims only aired commercially once.

8 VERY Good reasons to LOVE Horses

noreply@blogger.com (John Bethell) — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 12:31:00 +0000

The Queen admires horses

What are the qualities we most admire in horses? Apart from the fact that The Queen likes them ALOT!

1- They are Magnificent!

2- They are Daring

3- They can be Scary

4- Mostly Tolerant

5- Caring and kind

6- Sometimes Playful

7- AND They can even snore just like us!

8- HORSES talk to your very soul

Does your horse have PERSONALITY? and if so WHAT TYPE?

noreply@blogger.com (John Bethell) — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 10:11:00 +0000

Every horse has a personality however it was a delight to hear Rose Brown (www.equipoiseshiatsu.co.uk) give a fascinating talk on equine shiatsu - think finger pressure massage applied to horses - and the great importance she attaches to making a diagnosis of the patient horse “personality type” before undertaking any of her work.

So what are the types she looks to identify? Essentially she goes back the heart of traditional oriental medicine (which has been around for thousands of years) and to the theory of the five elements and phases – Fire , Earth , Metal, Water and Wood – each horse will have traits of each element and broadly speaking only one dominant element.

Her first job is to identify that dominating element

Without going too much into the rich loamy detail – it takes over 3 years of hard study to qualify to practise equine shiatsu – There is a science, (and Rose would know - she was formerly an industrial chemist) but it is complex to understand so here are just a few of the specific characteristics of each element type she looks out for ( with thanks and credit to http://www.equineshiatsu.org/) Recognise any of them?

Fire horses are the “beautiful people”. Physically, they are usually quite pretty, but always eye-catching and while they can have good musculature, they tend to be finer or more delicate than a Wood or Water horse. They adore attention and are often very friendly to both people and other horses – life is one big party! They are playful and sociable and love to be with others.

Fire horses are "Beautiful people"

Earth horses are safe, reliable and dependable. They represent security and support. An Earth horse is grounded. When under stress, this horse is likely to comfort eat and so food has an important part in its life. Earth horses like to be comfortable and working too hard is not appreciated and so they are often quite well rounded.

Earth horses are "safe, reliable and dependable"

Metal horses are associated with strength and accuracy. Metal is precise and as such rules and regulations are important to a Metal horse. These horses are often very polite as it’s against the rules and regulations to bite, kick or show extreme behaviour and therefore the communications are much more subtle and you will have to be very much aware of what the horse is telling you.

Metal horses "have strength and accuracy"

Water horses flow. They have good bone structure and easy flowing, effortless movement. Their musculature is good and they usually have good conformation which makes them attractive to look at. They can appear to be quite laid back as when water meets an obstacle, it’s usually easiest just to flow around it rather than fight. However, it can be a tsunami and smash its way through without thought to destruction or personal injury. But whatever happens, it will MOVE – forwards, backwards, away and so the negative side to these horses is that they can be fearful.

Water horses "flow"

Wood horses have that never-say-die quality. Wood is constantly growing, spreading and looking for ways to move on. Physically Wood horses have great musculature, self-confidence and an air of purpose. They are very competitive and know where they are going and how they are going to get there. The negative side of this is that if they become hindered or prevented from doing what they want, or if they think that people are not listening, they can become angry, frustrated and even aggressive.

Wood horses have "never-say-die" quality

Once you have cracked the personality type you are able better understand which “meridians” you need to probably focus upon and develop a plan of action – that is probably best left as a subject for a future posting!

I thought that this was an intriguing analysis – I was aware of the Parelli segmentation of horse types into introvert/ extrovert and right hand / left hand dominating sides of the brain – however this segmentation seems a lot more comprehensive somehow. Certainly it all seemed to resonate with everybody else at the event – it didn’t take long for everybody there to be thinking of horses that were typically Fire, Wood or Water.

Try it out? Does it work for you? Can you recognise your horse?

Shout Out for Equestrian Bloggers Everywhere - Trot ON is looking for YOU!

noreply@blogger.com (John Bethell) — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 15:51:00 +0000

Over the last 5 years Trot On has built up one of the largest and most diverse Equestrian Networks anywhere - over 160,000 people at the last count.

These are exciting times for Trot On - in the last month we have gone live with our NEW and much enhanced Platform with lots of exciting new features and functionality which make talking HORSE 24/7 a whole lot simpler!

We are proud of the energetic and friendly community we have created and we are now actively looking for Equestrian Bloggers to join us.

Everybody who joins our community can contribute a blog posting - All postings will get profile and those postings we especially LIKEwe will promote on the Platform and our other social media properties so you get the VISIBILITY you would expect from a community like ours

We give you PROFILE - A stage on which to perform - a place in which you can say your piece – speaking your mind on our established platform means that you have an immediate audience to listen to what you saying. Give it a GO - we will help when we can.

As Trot On continues to grow we will of course be on the lookout for editorial talent - those that are 100% Equestrian - 100% get social media and 100% love the way Trot ON looks at the equestrian world.

OUR MISSION: We want to inform and ENGAGE our fellow equestrians. We also know that everybody involved in the horse world has an opinion so whether you are an established Equestrian BLOGGER or a NEWBIE or a WANNABE and want some PROFILE give us a SHOUT....Trot On is looking for YOU!

Starting Yoga and how to approach your first class

noreply@blogger.com (John Bethell) — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 11:25:00 +0000

There is no doubt we all know that YOGA helps you to be a BETTER EQUESTRIAN .....physically it improves balance, aligns the body and builds up your core strength....emotionally it can make you a lot more at ease with yourself more "comfortable in your skin"... emotionally and physically you will be a better equestrian if you do Yoga.... The issue though for many is how do I get started? It's so daunting, or is it?

Yoga is good for equestrians and their horses

Starting Yoga is no different to starting any other activity - like learning to ride a horse for the first time. It can cause a little uneasiness at first until you get into the hang of it - everything is strange - the lingo is different - as are the muscles you are being asked to stretch - the positions look impossible...why should I have to feel like I'm a pretzel?!!

So here are a 5 practical tips to help you get over this initial hurdle - tips that are passed on to you from others that have trodden this path overcame the pain and got to the gain .

Those who have come to fully understand how YOGA and equestrianism work perfectly to improve yourself and your riding abilities in all kinds of ways

1- Go with the flow - Accept it may be a little confusing for the first couple of classes: Many times when you just accept "confusion" as the prevailing state of mind it suddenly becomes a lot less threatening - in fact,dare I say it can become FUN...I remember reading a story about a couple whose Sunday afternoon pastime was to drive out into the countryside and deliberately get lost....once they had got totally lost - the game was to see how long it would take them before they knew where they were again....ENJOY the emotion of being confused

2- Have patience and be like the rest of us "a happy work in progress" - You are asking your body to do different things to that which it has done before...Muscles and joints get comfortable doing the same things even if they aren't good for the rest of the body. Often times in YOGA you are asking muscles to RE SET themselves - resetting is good for you but in the immediate time the muscle will resist " Why are you asking me to do this differently?" Be kind to your body - accept that decades of muscle alignment one way will take more than a few sessions to RESET themselves. Accept you are a work in progress and a HAPPY one at that! What's the point of being an unhappy work in progress?

3- Appreciate NOBODY is looking at anybody else ( apart from your instructor !) - they are all too busy trying to sort themselves out. I have personal experience of this - In one of my first sessions I was late and the only place available was right in front of the class - right in front of the instructor who was very very FLEXIBLE . I was very very INFLEXIBLE and I thought how embarassing...all these people knowing what they are doing and me not having a clue.....as the class progressed... I soon realised my focus needed to be on the YOGA ....I also realised ( when I managed to get a second or two to look at the others in the room) that nobody else was getting it right and that nobody was in the slightest bit interested in looking at this NEWBIE.

The REALITY is nobody is ...they are far more concerned about what they are doing!

4- Compete primarily against yourself not against others. In all the classes I've attended you will find people who are stronger, weaker, more flexible , less flexible than your self in all the different muscle groups that are being worked.- Legs, Arms, Torso, Spine - everybody is different and inevitably most people have hangs up about themselves somewhere or other ....The truth is everybody is different, everybody has their own story to tell.

The beauty of YOGA is it can help everybody and anybody for the good.

5- Always remember It's all about having FUN and keeping a Good Sense of Humour ...understanding your self, your body and how it all fits together .. You get to understand biomechanics - what alignment means, how to stack your spine, how one piece of the body is attached to another , which muscles extend when others flex and how you can use this insight when you are on a horse....what having an independent seat really means....great knowledge to take on board even better when its done in a spirit of humour

ENJOY!

And that is all there is to it - go for it and make that first move - it can really change your life..seriously : )

An Extra Helping of Trot On Horse Quotes and Captions!

noreply@blogger.com (Trot ON Comment) — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 07:40:00 +0000

www.troton.com-sharing a passion for horses.

Every Day is HUG A HORSE DAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Trot ON Comment) — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 13:24:00 +0000

Today is International Hugging Day, but we don't need an excuse to hug our horses do we! Just in case you want to know what the benefits of hugging are, here's a quick rundown...

HUGGING makes us HAPPIER. Studies have shown that it releases a happiness hormone.

HUGGING reduces STRESS. Yes, it's been proven to alleviate stress levels and lower our heart rate too.

HUGGING keeps us HEALTHY. Hugging stimulates the thymus gland which controls those important infection fighting white blood cells. It also helps us recover more quickly from illness.

HUGGING makes us a WINNING TEAM. Team members who hug each other are more likely to produce a winning team.

So, what are you waiting for, whether it's humans, your horse or your pet, it's time to get HUGGING!

www.troton.com-sharing a passion for horses.

'Tis the season to be equine charitable when buying Christmas cards and pressies.

noreply@blogger.com (Trot ON Comment) — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 13:25:00 +0000

Police horses in retirement Christmas card from The Horse Trust £5 for 10 cards.

We know, Christmas shopping seems to come earlier and earlier doesn't it! But while you're compiling your gift list we thought we'd just like to suggest some equine rescue and rehoming charity gift ideas that will make you feel twice as good about giving at Christmas.

First up, an easy way to do your bit is to buy equine rescue charity Christmas cards. Most charities do them but for starters we spotted some we particularly liked at The Horse Trust (see above), Heroes (homing ex-racehorses), World Horse Welfare, and we can't resist a Thewell card like this one from the Blue Cross....

Christmas Hold Up from Blue Cross £5.99 for 10 or £15.47 for 30 cards.

We've found one very well received gift for pony loving girls and boys who can't afford their own is the various 'adopt a horse/pony schemes.' Redwings provide a really good service for £12.50 and you can choose from a Standard Nosebag package (postal) or Online Nosebag package. Horseworld also an adoption package for £15 which includes a cuddly toy. Other equine charities provide similar schemes so we recommend that you look around and choose a charity within visiting distance especially as with the two we've mentioned the recipient is usually invited to their adopted horse or pony's birthday party!

Redwings also got the thumbs up from us for their gift shop. We particularly liked these cute keyrings, £6.99 each.

And we thought this hand painted sparkly Carnival horse (14cms), £4.85, that we found prancing around in their Christmas decoration section would actually look good hanging on the wall of a girls bedroom all-year-round.

Happa had quite a few good gifts too including these mini handbags £4.99 each.

We have to say though, some equine charity online shops could do with offering some more interesting and well designed pressies!

However, some charities like World Horse Welfare have come up with some novel ways you can give to the horses and ponies in their care. For instance you can treat a World Horse Welfare horse to their very own Christmas TLC Gift package for £12.50.

Or for £3 you can buy a Hero's ex-racehorse a sack of carrots for Christmas morning.

So, these are just a few ideas that will hopefully give you a charitable Christmas feeling! Happy Shopping!

www.troton.com-sharing a passion for horses.

Rise in cases of Atypical Myopathy warning for horse owners.

noreply@blogger.com (Trot ON Comment) — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 16:55:00 +0000

There has been a sharp rise in the number of horses who have died from Atypical Myopathy in the UK recently with cases reported in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Vets still don't know as much as they would like to about this disease (we first wrote about it back in 2010) but it is now thought to be caused by the neurotoxins in the seeds from sycamore trees, which ingested whilst grazing, attack the horse's central nervous system with devastating effect. Atypical Myopathy strikes grazing horses in Spring and Autumn but this sudden rise in fatal cases is being attributed to a particularly warm summer followed by recent high winds.

Symptoms to look out for are a depressed demeanour, laboured breathing, shivering, twitching, sweating, an inability to stand and dark, reddish/muddy coloured urine, (some owners have reported that to begin with they thought their horse had Colic.)

If you think your horse is displaying any of these signs then it is imperative that you contact your vet immediately. And as a preventative measure it's probably best to inspect fields to check sycamore seeds and leaves haven't blown in from nearby trees and remove horses and ponies from pasture where sycamore seeds and leaves have fallen until you can fence these areas off.

www.troton.com-sharing a passion for horses.

Tribute to the Equine Heroes of WW1 in pictures.

noreply@blogger.com (Trot ON Comment) — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 11:23:00 +0000

At the Suffolk Spectacular this year they held a moving pageant paying tribute to the many horses, mules and dogs who took part in WW1. Along with the men and women involved, they endured terrible hardship and many lost their lives. Here are some of our favourite photos from the day.

We will always remember them.

Photos by Nicola Bethell.

www.troton.com-sharing a passion for horses.

Making the roads safer for horses and riders.

noreply@blogger.com (Trot ON Comment) — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 17:36:00 +0000

Most of us complain about how dangerous it is to ride our horses on the roads, but how many of us actually do something about it? Well, these people actually went the extra mile and last Wednesday (8 October) their efforts were recognised at The British Horse Society’s Sefton Awards, held at the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment's Barracks, Knightsbridge, London.

The awards for outstanding contributions in the field of riding and road safety were set up by the Society in 1990 as a legacy to Sefton, the Household Cavalry horse who survived the IRA bombings in London in 1982. Sefton was 19 years old at the time of the bombings. He underwent eight hours of surgery and became a household name.

This year there were three recipients of the honour. The first of these was Robbie Woolford, from Windsor, Berkshire. In December 2012 Robbie was out riding when an irate taxi driver drove straight at her and her horse, stopping just a yard away. The experience left Robbie traumatised and convinced that something had to be done. Already campaigning with her Parish Council for lower speed limits and horse signs on the roads, Robbie raised her game. She began addressing local drivers of the need for consideration when passing horses on the road and earlier this year the council erected the long awaited horse signs.

Speaking of her achievements she said: "This is only a small part of it, I'm not finished yet! I would like a Pegasus crossing [a specialised road crossing for horses and riders] and I would like the speed limit to come right down. I was amazed to be nominated for this award and today really has been very special. It's been a really wonderful day and I feel very undeserving."

The second recipient was Alison Harris from Harrogate, Yorkshire. Through her hard work and enthusiasm Alison was able to use the Tour de France starting in Yorkshire as a great opportunity to ensure that visiting cyclists were aware of how to act when they met horses on the winding Yorkshire lanes. By distributing guidance leaflets and organising trade stands at Festivals on the Tour route, Alison not only helped to keep horse riders and cyclists safe during the busy weeks of the Tour but also raised awareness of the wider need for cyclists and horses to work in harmony on the road.

“I feel very honoured to have been singled out to receive this award as someone who has done something for road safety,” said Alison. “As a horse rider myself I am acutely aware of the fact that educating all road users is extremely important in the interests of all our safety.”

The third recipient, Mary Lloyd from Crewe, Cheshire, was due to receive her award in 2013 but unfortunately this was not possible due to her mother’s ill health. Mary was recognised for her efforts to raise awareness amongst drivers of the need to take care around horses following a number of incidents involving horses and vehicles near her home. She worked tirelessly in her local community, distributing advice literature, talking to drivers, and even successfully erecting a roadside billboard which is seen by huge numbers of drivers on a daily basis.
“To receive the award today has been very special,” said Mary, who dedicated the award to her mum. “It's been very emotional but a wonderful experience and probably one that I will never get to repeat in my lifetime again.”

If you have an accident then please report it to www.horseaccidents.org.uk and help them make a difference to road safety.

www.troton.com-sharing a passion for horses

Attitude is EVERYTHING!

noreply@blogger.com (Trot ON Comment) — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 11:54:00 +0000

When it comes to successfully riding and training horses, Attitude is EVERYTHING, and we're talking about yours! So, over the next few weeks we're going to share some techniques that have worked for us to stick up on the tack room wall or somewhere you're bound to see them to remind yourself to keep focused on having the right attitude. If you change these few things then we're sure you'll see a big improvement in the relationship between you and your horse. But like any changes, you need to keep practicing them all the time to rewire the way you think-that's why we reckon it's good to just work on one change in attitude at a time. Your mind really is a powerful tool if you use it correctly!

FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE.

Start focusing on the positive things that happen in the day with your horse. Sometimes all we focus on are the things that went wrong. Are you one of those people? For instance, do you come out of a show jumping round and see the one refusal you had and not all the other jumps that your horse sailed over?

Every time you catch yourself thinking about the things that went wrong, whether it's something you did or your horse, STOP IT!! That's it, right NOW..no, no don't you dare think about it! If you're someone who habitually hones in on the negative then you'll find this very hard to do to begin with, but if you're strict with yourself and keep working on it, you will see change.

Now, at the same time start noticing and rewarding yourself and your horse for the good things that you've done that day, however small - maybe it was just one fantastic transition- and afterwards keep repeating that thing or things over and over in your mind. Really hold on to how good it felt. Let it get stuck into your brain.

You also need to start focusing on a positive outcome for future events. If you're worried that something is going to go wrong, start visualising it going right. Again, when you get that negative thought come in to your head, scratch it out, screw it up and stamp on it!

The more you focus on something going wrong, the more it's likely to happen because by actually focusing on it, you will send all your brain's attention there. Instead, focus on what you want and not what you don't want. Look for the positive with all your energy.

Only you can change the way you think, and you need to start practicing in the mind manege now!

www.troton.com-sharing a passion for horses.

For Horses with Pulling Power Visit the Suffolk Spectacular 2014!

noreply@blogger.com (Trot ON Comment) — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 14:01:00 +0000

It's time to celebrate that gorgeous redheaded heavyweight beauty, the Suffolk Punch horse, by trotting on down to the Suffolk Spectacular on Sunday Sept 7th at The Animal Health Trust in Newmarket.

Did you know that the Suffolk Heavy Horse (known colloquially as the Suffolk Punch) is a Category I, critically endangered livestock breed? Luckily, there are a dedicated few who put a lot of time and money into protecting this fabulous breed which is why we in return should support them whilst treating ourselves to a fantastic sight!

This Sunday you can expect to see around 50 Suffolks – the largest number that you will see gathered in one place anywhere in the UK today. At the time of writing this they have 56 horses booked in, 49 pure-bred Suffolks, including foals, some part-bred Suffolks and a few representatives of other breeds of heavy horse attending by invitation.

Alongside a fun-filled programme, they've got a wide range of craft and trade stands booked, together with an excellent exhibition of original art and last, but not least, in this special anniversary year, there will be a pageant paying tribute to the horses of the first World War.

So, get yourself down there for an inexpensive, fun, family (and that includes the dog) day out!
Adults £6.00, Children £3.00, Parking Free.

www.troton.com-sharing a passion for horses.

Trot On with more Horse Quotes and Captions!

noreply@blogger.com (Trot ON Comment) — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 11:24:00 +0000

All Photos by Nicky Bethell.

www.troton.com-sharing a passion for horses

MEMORIES OF THE SHIRES-Hunting in Victorian & Edwardian England.

noreply@blogger.com (Trot ON Comment) — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 14:19:00 +0000

The author's daughter, Lady Jaffray, hands over a copy of Memories of the Shires to The Duchess of Cambridge during her recent visit to Bletchley Park

From Victorian times to the present day, the hunting field has been divided into those who hunt to ride and those who ride to hunt; J. Otho Paget's Memories of the Shires is definitely for the latter.

Otho Paget was hunting with the Quorn and writing reports of the day's sport for The Field during the Golden Age of Hunting in Victorian and Edwardian England, long before the ban on Foxhunting came into view. What struck me however, when reading this book, was how little some things have actually changed.

Buy it HERE

It depicts the same egos and rivalries, the same crime of riding over hounds in a bid to be right in the heart of the action, the respect for the courage of horse and rider who take on the most fearsome jumps countered by a dislike of bad horsemanship.

"With beautiful hands, good judgment and splendid nerve, he always got the best out of his horses without overtaxing their powers."

It reflects the same hunting hierarchy with the 'elite' packs of the Quorn, Belvoir and Cottesmore looking down on the 'provincial' ones, and discusses the new fashion for riding with short stirrups, judged by the author to be more effective and better for the horse, against the more 'graceful' long stirrup length of the old-fashioned seat. In hunts today you still see the same extremes, especially with hunt staff.

A particular difference though was the argument for having more pink coats in the field, rather than black. At this time, the author feels that the sight of a sea of dashing scarlet was the payback to farmers who generously let them ride over their land Today of course the argument against pink coats is that it inflames the ire of those who are anti-hunting.

A typical modern day field enjoying a day out with the Essex & Suffolk Hunt.

This book also very much reflects it's time, having only a light smattering of women amongst it's pages. How things have changed there too, as today a large proportion of the hunting field is female. In the Appendix however it does mention the wonderfully colourful lady rider known as 'Skittles,' who, "defied the conventions of the day that only married ladies-with permission from the MFH - were allowed out." That's just the beginning of the story of a wild and flamboyant woman, out of her time- now I'd love to read more about her.

Some of my favourite pages in the book recount the advent of the Melton Midnight Steeplechase. The author and fellow hunt members, dressed in their hunting kit topped with nighties, race off on their steeds in 'inky darkness' over a distance of four or five fields, encountering jumping obstacles and ridge and furrow along the way. Unfortunately, someone had made a mistake and chosen a date without a full moon so that the jumps had to be marked with railway lamps!

Memories of the Shires is a book for hardcore hunting fans, with an emphasis on the working of huntsman and hounds, and of course the 'gallant' fox who leads them on these chases, often lauded as 'the hero of the season.' Unfortunately, for many riders the horses are simply a vehicle for sport, but let's face it, this attitude still occurs today, and in other equestrian sports too.

'Otho Paget was a legendary rider to hounds and it is fantastic to read of his courage, daring and skill in an age when hunting was a way of life for some. A beautifully edited book which evokes a lost age' Hugo Vickers

So, if you're looking for a present for someone who loves a good dose of nostalgia and enjoys unearthing interesting snippets of hunt history, this could be the book for them, especially if they hunt or have hunted in the Shires.

You can BUY your copy HERE.

Get Set for the Bigger and 'Badders' Badminton Horse Trials 2014!

noreply@blogger.com (Trot ON Comment) — Wed, 07 May 2014 07:13:00 +0000

Harry Meade and Wild Lone-Badminton 2013.

Last year, the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials came in for a bit of a post event moaning and groaning, and that wasn't from the competitors who had bitten the dust! It seems a lot of riders, spectators and journos felt the jumps in the cross-country phase had got a tad tame for a four star event, leaving the final result too dependent on the dressage score. But after a bit of a shake-up we're promised that it's back on form with a high octane mix of technical questions, and the gasp inducing jumps it used to be famous for.

In the following video newly appointed cross-country course designer, Giuseppe Della Chiesa, previews the 2014 course with Hugh Thomas so you can get a flavour of what's to come....

Lucinda Green, one of last years most vociferous critics reckons Badders is back to it's thrilling best. She told the Western Daily Press, "It's Badminton with modern, skinny jeans on. It's Badminton like we knew it."

Sounds great, we can't wait!! So are you going? Or will you be 'oohing and ahhing' from the safety of your couch whilst watching the action on TV or online?

Here are the TV times....

In UK
Saturday May 10 on BBC Red Button at 11.50-6pm live cross-country.
Sunday May 11 on BBC2 at 2.30-4.30 cross country highlights and live final rounds of showjumping.

Outside UK
Saturday May 10 on FEITV.org (subscription) at 10.50-6pm (BST) live cross-country.
Sunday May 11 on FEITV.org (subscription) at 2.30-4.30 (BST) live showjumping.

You can also watch on....

Horse & Country (UK, Eire, Sweden, Netherlands)
Universal Sports (USA)
Fox Australia (Australia)
Country TV 99 (New Zealand)
The Rural Channel (Canada)
Dubai TV (Middle East and North Africa)
Equidia (France, DOM-TOM, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Andorra, Monaco, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Madagascar)
Horse 1 (Sweden)
CTH (Thailand)

Check local listings for dates and times.

www.troton.com-sharing a passion for horses.

Trot On with Horse Quotes and Captions.

noreply@blogger.com (Trot ON Comment) — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 12:01:00 +0000

Photos and design -Nicky Bethell.

Headshaking Survey Launched.

noreply@blogger.com (Trot ON Comment) — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 13:02:00 +0000

Headshaking is a condition that is estimated to effect at least 10,000 horses in the UK and can be very distressing for both horses and their owners. Unfortunately, it's not a case of one cure fits all and even though some horses who are irritated by insects or pollen can be helped by using a nose net for other horses the cause and a solution prove harder to pin down. Which is why Kirstie Pickles, John Madigan, Monica Aleman, Jane Williams and David Marlin want to discover why some horses become Headshakers and they need your help!

And they don't just want to hear from owners of headshakers but from those those of you whose horses don't headshake, as these horses will act as useful 'controls' for the study. All you have to do is complete a simple survey which takes about 10 mins. As an extra incentive Science supplements are offering a cash prize of £250 for one owner who fills it in, who will be selected at random.

So, what are you waiting for - Go and fill out the HEADSHAKING SURVEY now!

www.troton.com-sharing a passion for horses.

HOW TO BE A HORSE HERO.

noreply@blogger.com (Trot ON Comment) — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 08:26:00 +0000

"Horses have less protection than any other domestic animal," says Mark Johnson. "All we want is to ensure that they have access to fresh water, food and a safe place to live. It's not much to ask."

Not much to ask, but far more than many horses in the United Kingdom enjoy, notably those living on flooded land near Fosse Park in Leicester.

These horses have become part of a Facebook phenomenon - and all because one man refused to look the other way.

Mark, a farrier, saw what he thought was a horse lying down on the saturated ground and thought that was odd. "When I got close," he says, "I realized it was a decomposing corpse, it was awful. It was just left there, rotting away.

"Then I saw another horse lying down at the end of the field by the water line, we tried for a while to get her up and out but she was just too exhausted."

Since that day, when Mark called out the emergency services and the RSPCA, he has been fighting a battle to bring the plight of neglected horses to a wider audience. He launched a Facebook page to generate awareness (Help the horses of Fosse Park, Leicester now has nearly 44,000 'likes'), organised a protest outside the site, developed an e-petition, ensured the story was featured in the local and national media and is now arranging a protest outside the Houses of Parliament.

"We believe horses should be covered by livestock laws and we will continue to campaign for that," he says, "so animal charities have greater powers to remove horses from locations with unsuitable living conditions."

The peaceful protest will be the climax of this very personal and yet now very public campaign. It takes place on Wednesday April 16th at Old Palace Yard, SW1 (the House of Commons). The aim is to highlight the need for the implementation of welfare law for horses, ponies, donkeys and their hybrids, affording them the same basic standard of care as that afforded to farmed livestock.

If you are wondering what happened to the mare lying down by the waterline, well, the RSPCA and the Fire Service tried to rescue her but she was so weak that she had to be put to sleep.

"We named her 'Hope'," says Mark. "And it is my hope that she will not have died in vain.

"People keep asking me, 'What can I do to help?' Well, come to the protest in London on Wednesday April 16th. We timed it to coincide with the school holidays as so many young people feel strongly about the issue. If you are not able to attend, then make sure you sign the e-petition, which we will be handing over on that day.

"This," Mark says, "is our chance to be heard. This is our chance to make sure that the UK's Equus population is heard. It's something that I'm sure touches the heart and conscience of all horse lovers."

Details on the peaceful protest:
https://www.facebook.com/events/249954348518890/
The e-petition:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/60985
The Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-the-horses-of-Fosse-Park-Leicester/215018828693901

post by Issy Clarke.

www.troton.com-sharing a passion for horses.

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Is it time for Equine Vets to change their approach to horse health care?

noreply@blogger.com (Trot ON Comment) — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 14:02:00 +0000

In a thought provoking guest blog post, Natural Horse Management expert, Lucinda McAlpine, argues that a change in the way vets approach Veterinary Medicine is long overdue and what better time to start than in the Chinese Year of the Horse.

"Chinese Medicine is the prevention of disease and maintenance of health. Historically, a Chinese Medicine doctor was paid a retainer to keep their patients healthy. If a patient became sick, the doctor would not be paid until the patient's health returned. In a similar vein, a doctor that resorted to surgery was considered an inferior doctor. If he/she did their job correctly and helped their clients stay healthy, there would be no need to perform surgery."

This paragraph was lifted directly from Google but was exactly as I remembered it whilst musing as I tidied the yard today. I don't normally like to be controversial but I would dearly love to see this principle applied to Veterinary Medicine. Despite almost 20 years of in-depth research into horse care I am amazed that I do not get more interest from equine vets. In fact one once said to me, when I offered to share some ideas, "Well, we can't all have your facilities. We've all got to earn a living so we just patch them up and send them on their way 'til next time!" The conversation ended pretty abruptly as I tried to stop the steam coming out of my ears.

Just imagine how things could change. Vets would be scouring the country finding the healthiest horses to study how they were kept instead of making up conditions such as my pet hates, Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Kissing Spines. Perhaps they might catch Pre-Cushings and Pre-Laminitic cases and make sure the conditions never came to fruition. At last they might wonder why we go without shoes and keep horses outdoors as much as possible. They might even recognise stress, both environmental and psychological as a cause of a weakened immune system. They would become healthcare as opposed to ill-health professionals. The pharmaceutical companies would be working hard to provide drugs that really work to keep pace with their rivals rather than scaremongering with expensive advertising. What an exciting prospect!

I do realise that I live in a very idealistic dream world almost all on my own but fortunately not all vets are the same. Most of the ones that I know and love would be up for this idea. They are genuine people, not known for blowing their own trumpets and often undercharging for their undoubted skills. Interestingly, they have all got involved with homeopathy, acupuncture, herbs etc and are constantly researching and upgrading their knowledge. Sadly they are a minority group but they would be trailblazers if the Chinese system was applied.

Perhaps it is not such a silly idea to throw about in the Year of the Horse? I am certainly up for it - are you?

For further information about Lucinda McAlpine visit her website http://www.lucindamcalpine.com/

You may also like to read our articles on Vets Less Ordinairy and Herbs, Horses and Health, by Issy Clarke.

www.troton.com-sharing a passion for horses.

Why we LOVE horses.

noreply@blogger.com (Trot ON Comment) — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 11:56:00 +0000

Horses-how much do we love them....we thought we'd count the ways by picking out some of our favourite quotes from Trot On members....

"Never know where love for horses ends and blind obsession begins!" Dazzle.

"They make the World a better place." sophieandcallum.

"They make you stop worrying about everything else - in the moment with your horse is where it's at." Loes and co.

"Horses are better listeners than anyone . They're also the best huggers. Horses are a girl's best friend....screw diamonds! Brealyn10

"They are still wild at heart but they are willing to share that with us." EspritCheval.

"You can't hide from a horse - they know you for who you are and don't judge you by anything else. You can just be you with your horse." Gallante.

"...just the smell of them is better than any drug, legal or illegal, that will ever be made!" Fi919

"Because you can tell them every little thing and never ever will they tell another soul." vesophie.

"My horse is half of my heart, my soul, my very being. You take her away and you will lose half of me...." Polkadotpolly.

"I have no choice.....they are in my blood. Part of who I am." MoonShadow.

"If you could have someone running the country for us, wouldn't it be great if it was a horse. There is no falseness or lies, no nasty back biting." Leah2004

Now tell us why you love horses....

www.troton.com-sharing a passion for horses.

TIME TO CELEBRATE-2014 THE YEAR OF THE HORSE!

noreply@blogger.com (Trot ON Comment) — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 11:18:00 +0000

Welcome to the Chinese Year of the horse. The Chinese zodiac is made up of a 12-year-cycle of different animal symbols and of course this year happens to be a particularly good excuse to celebrate the qualities of horses...as if we need one!

People born in the Year of the Horse are said to be, like horses, energetic, animated, and active - often seen galloping around from one thing to another. They love being in a herd..sorry, crowd. They have a straightforward and positive attitude to life-yes, let's face it, it's only us humans who make things complicated-and they are known for their communication skills-if only we'd listen!. They are also exceedingly witty....Oh yes, most of us can give examples of our horse's sense of humour, even if we sometimes find it hard to see the funny side!

Previous years of the horse have been 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978 and 1990, but let's face it, every year is The Year of the Horse for us!!

www.troton.com-sharing a passion for horses.

Would eating horses help the welfare crisis? It's a neigh from us!

noreply@blogger.com (Trot ON Comment) — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 12:41:00 +0000

Hmmm, why's he feeding me fatty foods?!!

Princess Anne's call for a debate about eating horsemeat, suggesting it could be the answer to the equine welfare crisis in the UK, has been backed by leading charities including World Horse Welfare, the RSPCA and the BHS.

Even if it is an unpalatable issue, we're also grateful that the Princess Royal's comments have put equine welfare back in the headlines, but here are a few reasons we're not convinced the answer to unwanted and ill-treated horses is best served warm on a plate.

Yes, the French may think we're strange for making such a fuss about finding horsemeat in our beef burgers and yes, for many people in this country this was more of a trades desciption and health issue, but we still still don't think the majority of the British public have an appetite for putting horse on the menu.

Canine charities are also overwhelmed with unwanted dogs but does that mean we should suggest eating our smaller four legged friends too?

Don't worry Son, if the eventing doesn't work out, you can always go into catering.

Surely it's better if we don't get to this desperate postition in the first place. Which is why we think we should keep repeating that mantra "THINK BEFORE YOU BREED," think before you buy and take responsibility for what happens to your horses when they become un-rideable for either behavioural or physical reasons. Very often the decision to euthenase a horse, isn't avoided because of the monetary cost, it's the emotional one. Unfortunately, many horse owners would rather pass on that difficult decision to someone else and turn a blind eye to where their once loved horse ends up.

If you want to read more on this issue please read our previous post Our Moral Obligation to Horses.

So, if we did decide to be a nation of horse eaters, would that automatically mean they'd be better cared for? It depends on your idea of caring. Does it just depend on a horse looking well fed? Much of our current livestock no doubt boasts a generous display of prime cuts but that doesn't necessarily mean they're kept in a way that is good for the animal emotionally or physically.

Better lose some of this weight or I'm burgered!

And if you can earn money from horsemeat won't that encourage those people not interested in horse welfare to keep breeding them?

Maybe you agree with some of the points we've raised and maybe you don't, but whatever your opinion we'd love to hear from you. We'd like to thank Princess Anne for putting some important welfare questions back on the table again.

www.troton.com-sharing a passion for horses.