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For all enquiries, please don’t hesitate to phone Stable Equestrian on 01772 600555, email enquiries@stable-equestrian.net. Alternatively you can complete the online contact form below and we will reply as soon as possible.
Lisa Smith can be contacted on 07821 782135.
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Weight Management- How to optimise your horses summer diet – KEYFLOW UK
As we look around us there is almost unprecedented grass growth this summer in the UK. We are managing concerns of horses and ponies with, or at risk of laminitis, whilst also trying to control the weight of our horses in general. It is hard to imagine that by feeding the right hard feed we may be able to assist in controlling the horse’s seemingly inevitable weight gain. Our natural human instinct is to link hard feed to condition and adding weight, but this is simply not always the case; much like ourselves if we restrict our intake of nutrients, we have a tendency to cling on to the weight we have left. When we think about ‘hard feed’ for the horse, it is important to consider the following elements, and to ‘decouple’ the different nutrient components. Hard feed is made up of vitamins, minerals, protein and energy. Energy is generally counted in calories, these will contribute to weight gain on any animal. If we dissociate energy from the hard feed, we are left with protein, vitamins and minerals, which are essential for a horse to function correctly. Considering a horse needs an efficient metabolism and one that is well-fed in terms of nutrient requirements, it is imperative that we do not stop feeding these essential nutrients in the hard feed, otherwise we allow the horse to function sub-optimally. It is very often that we see people withhold food, or stop feeding in the spring and summer because their horses are getting larger and larger. However, the ones that adopt the correct feeding patterns and feed a high quality concentrated balancer through the spring and summer, will see their horses tone-up, and also manage their own weight better and even reduce the bodyweight they are holding. This is despite the fact that they may be out on a grassy field or in an environment that is seeing them get a lot of calorie intake from pasture. We go one step further with this, and recommend you do not just feed a watered down low specification balancer, but they actually go for a full quality high specification balancer that provides the full and balanced range of nutrients, vitamins and minerals as well as high quality protein and amino acids that a horse requires on a daily basis. To put this into practical terms, when we are feeding a balancer to a horse, we have to remember we usually only feed about 100g per 100kg equating to about 500g per day, for a normal sized horse. This is a very small quantity of feed, the difference in calories (often labelled DE) from one balancer to the next is in our opinion negligible and mostly irrelevant when it comes to the actual effect it might have on body condition. The Keyflow range can offer the perfect summer diet with a combination of Perfect Balance, especially when fed with Pink Mash. Perfect Balance is low in sugar and starch, and high in Precision Equine Protein. Wet steam extrusion ensures maximum digestibility, whilst high levels of Omega 3 oil to support all round health and vitality and will also help towards a healthy skin and coat. It works out as a very economical way to feed with a low cost per day. Pink Mash has been scientifically formulated to support hind gut health. It provides a significant source of highly digestible super fibre, combined with the goodness of...
read moreVoltaire Design sponsor Hickstead, The All England Showground
Images courtesy of Lucy Hall Photography- all rights reserved and are subject to copyright Voltaire Design are delighted to announce a package of sponsorship of Hickstead, The All England Jumping Course including the ‘Big Screen’. In an exciting new partnership Voltaire Design will sponsor the screen overlooking the famous international grass arena at the All England Jumping Courses during both the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting which takes place next week (20 – 23 June), and the Longines Royal International Horse Show in July. Commenting on this announcement, Matt Tarrant, General Manager at Voltaire Design UK, said, “Voltaire Design are proud to be sponsoring at Hickstead, it is a privilege for us as a brand to be supporting this iconic British venue which over the year’s has played host to so many leading lights in international showjumping.” Voltaire Design’s mission is to create a range of saddles for the forward thinking rider who demands style and substance to enable every rider to fulfil and express their potential. With the comfort and performance of the horse and rider as the principal concern, Voltaire Design’s daily motivation is innovation in order to create a solution to every possible need for horse and rider. Voltaire Design are proud to partner with leading international riders who include Amanda Derbyshire, Will and Olli Fletcher, Geoff Billington, Harriet Nuttall, Louise Saywell, Beezie Madden, Rowan Willis, James and Tom Whitaker and Shane Sweetnam. Commenting on the new partnership Hickstead said: “We are delighted to welcome Voltaire Design who will be providing sponsorship of the screen overlooking the Longines International Arena during the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting and the Longines Royal International Horse Show this season.” Simon Gaskin – Sponsorship Manager Hickstead Ltd. Further information about Voltaire Design can be found on their website www.voltairedesign.com Voltaire Design: Established in 2010 Voltaire Design has become the leading French manufacturer of high performance sports saddles. Handmade in France using the finest French leather, Voltaire Design saddles have become renowned for their innovation, comfort and the ability to fully customise each saddle to the horse and rider Voltaire Design produce saddles for the forward thinking rider who demands style and substance, while prioritising freedom of movement for the horse, together with elegance, durability and customer service. Follow...
read moreAndrew Nicholson Finishes 5th At Badminton
Article sponsored by Le Jabot and Stock Company Main image by Mike Bain Photography – All rights reserved and are subject to copyright Andrew and Swallow Springs finish their first Badminton in 5th place, this was only the horses second ever 5 star event. Andrew was as cool as ever and was super focussed on entering the ring but unfortunately they had two poles. We caught up with Andrew after his showjumping round to hear his thoughts……. Tell me about your round Andrew… He felt very babyish the first part of the course, It is difficult here when you are up against the people at the start and the trees. He only just showed his inexperience here, he just went into himself a bit and he wasn’t really concentrating but the second half of the course felt very very smart, like he can do it, like he will have learnt a lot from it. How Would sum up Badminton for you this year? Oh I have been very pleased with him, he is a youngish horse at this level and I thought he has done a very good job. So what is next on the cards for you and Swallow Springs? Probably Burghley for him. We look forward to following Andrew and Swallow Springs at Burghley later in the year. For full results click here Follow...
read moreBill Levett and Sparkles (Lassban Diamond Lift ) Shine at Badminton 2019
Article sponsored by Le Jabot and Stock Company Bill Levett and ‘Sparkles’ as he is known at home complete their first 5 star event as a combination. Bill Levett showed all his experience giving Sparkles a really positive experience at Badminton. Though it may not have been the finish they were hoping for as sadly two rails in the show jumping cost them, however they still finished a very respectable 15th which for a horses’s first 5 star is not to be sniffed at. We caught up with Bill to find out his thoughts on his show jumping round and what his plans are with this horse now….. You have just finished your round on Lassban Diamond lift, a couple of poles Bill…. yeah it was just a couple of poles, he was a bit buzzed up in there with the atmosphere. he is an adrenaline horse so that was a shame. He just got a little bit inverted so it’s not bad but its disappointing. He is a young horse and he won’t have been in too many atmospheres like that so it will bring his experience on. After he had that rail through the double he jumped tiger. The jump’s there but it’s just being able to get him to concentrate and relax enough the whole way round. He looked quite fresh at the start He was a bit buzzy so you had to protect him a little bit. If they are a little bit keen then they are a little bit quick in the air , and thats whats happened out there. It is his first 5 star you must be really pleased with his performance ? Yeah he has done well and, he needs to be a bit more settled in there, hopefully he will grow and learn from being in that atmosphere and come out better next time. So will he head to Burghley now? Yes he will, Burghley will be his next plan. We look forward to following Bill and Lassban diamond Lift at Burghley later this year. Follow...
read morePietro Sandei – The Italian Stallion – The new Eventing Pin Up – See How He Got On At Badminton 2019
Article sponsored by Le jabot and Stock Company Images by Lucy Hall Photography – all rights reserved and are subject to copyright Italian Eventer what more could a girl ask for!! Biography Italian owner/rider Pietro Sandei (27) who is based near Parma in Italy enjoyed a successful Badminton debut in 2017 with his former ride Mouse. With Badminton entry Rubis De Prere he was a member of the Italian team for the 2018 WEG, won team bronze at the 2017 European Championships and that same year the combination won the Italian Championship at Montelibretti. Since 2011 he has represented Fiamme Oro, the sports section of the Italian police force. Pietro was a former member of Italian Pony, Junior and Young Rider teams competing at four European Championships. He was a winner of Pony team bronze (2007) and in 2011 rode Mouse at the 2011 Young Rider Europeans. In 2015 he represented Italy as an individual at the European Championships at Blair Castle. Pietro trains with James Connor and Jacopo Comelli and outside of eventing enjoys cycling, running and mixed martial arts. His mother is now breeding horses for the future. Rubis De Prere is a 14-year-old Selle Francais gelding. He is by Fedor De Seves out of a mare by Quandy Du Mayne (a daughter of Galoubet A). Rubis was acquired as six-year-old. In 2017 the combination won the CCI3* at Vairano. Dressage Pietro Sandei completed his dressage on Thursday and put in a fantastic performance to see him sitting 8th overnight on a score of 30.6 in front of UK’s Pippa Funnell and Izzy taylor. The uniform definitely had us weak at the knees!! You have just finished your Dressage, are you pleased with that performance? The first impression was very good. I love this place. For the first time in my horses life he was a little tense but we do our best but for today I am very happy. Are you looking forward to the cross country? I think that it will be exciting. I think it is a good track and we shall do our best but we shall see. After the second day of dressage Pietro and Rubis De Prere went into the cross country sitting in a respectable 18th. Cross country What a lovely round Pietro Sandei and Rubis De Prere had they got some lovely jumps around the course. Fence 7 and 8 Joules Corners just looked effortless. The Shogun Hollow at Fence 10ab which was causing some issues just looked effortless for this combination as they jumped it spot on. Rubis De Prere gave a huge jump over 11/12 the kbis Bridge which was a decent size fence in itself, they must have felt airborne for quite some time there!. I had my heart in my mouth moment at the Outlander PHEV Bank but some clever footwork from the horse got them out of trouble and then they just bowled on round the course. Rubin De Prere looked full of running still at the end of the course and they jumped clear though unfortunately 33.6 time penalties cost them dearly and they dropped from 18th place to 42nd place going forward to showjumping. However they were a delight to watch go across the country and we here still very are taken with...
read moreTom Rowland Completes Badminton 2019
Article sponsored by Le Jabot and Stock Company Images by Lucy Hall Photography – all rights reserved and are subject to copyright. The third and final day for Tom and Possible Mission. They sailed through this mornings trot up and got themselves ready for their showjumping round which took place in the morning session. I have a feeling it wasn’t the round Tom was looking for with the very first two fences coming down but after that they picked up a gear and got themselves into a fluent round of showjumping – jumping the rest clear and looking very stylish as they did. It was a very frustrating round I would Imagine ,however they have completed their first ever Badminton and only second ever 5star. Again this is an exciting combination to watch as I am sure we will see much greater things yet to come from these two. Just the two first fences – very unlucky Tom, I am mad so mad, and they were almost the two spookiest fences on the course and for him thats makes it difficult, he was just a bit tight. I rode a really really bad line into the second fence and I thought ‘oh my god this is going to be a long round!’. In a way it was a kick up the backside we needed. To have the first fence down was not great. He settled into the round well though after that, He got going really well and that was the thing it was a difficult start for him. Burghley last year was an attacking course really early on so thats the difficulty, it was just a hard course for him to get into really. Still your first Badminton under your belt He is amazing, he does tire a little bit on the cross country towards the end but I know that the next day he comes out feeling good. Like within 5 minutes he has recovered. The best scenario that we were joking about last night would be to held on a course about three quarters of the way round you know like if someone could “streak” across the course and held everything up for a few minutes then we could get his blood going again!! To be honest he could of jumped yesterday evening, by the time he has recovered for 5-10 minutes he is absolutely good to go again. What are you plans with him now? I would love to take him to Burghley. We were very much just thinking about this week to be honest. We will give him a bit of a break, but love to go to Burghley, he still has several years in him and touch wood he seems to fly through these events in that respect so I would like to think he could have 4 or 5 Burghleys and Badmintons ahead of him, well that would be the dream. Tom and Possible Mission finished 36th overall – full results here i must say what a pleasure he was to interview and we look forward to seeing many more great this things to come from this pair. Follow...
read moreCaptain Mark Phillips To Build At Exciting New Three-Leg Eventing Grand Prix Series
Article sponsored by Le Jabot and Stock Company Images by Lucy Hall Photography – All Rights Reserved and are subject to Copyright One of the worlds leading cross- country course designers, Captain Mark Phillips, has been confirmed to build at a new three-leg Eventing Grand Prix series. Notable for course-designing at Burghley Horse Trials for the last 13 years, Captain Mark Phillips will be responsible for the course at this year’s Cazenove Capital Eventing Grand Prix held at the Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show. As part of a new innovation, the top five placed riders in the class will qualify to compete in the final leg at the Theraplate UK Liverpool International Horse Show in December. A second qualifying leg will run at the boles worth Young Horse Championship Show, 14th to 18th August. This exciting feature class will take place during the evening performance on Thursday 13th June and is et to be a fast and furious competition which will provide great entertainment for ringside spectators. This high calibre invitational event, with a £4000 prize fund, will see 20 leading event riders tackle a course of showjumps and feature cross-country fences, against the clock in the International Arena. Captain Mark phillips stated: Having visited the Theraplate UK Liverpool International Horse Show last year on New Year’s Eve, where the production exceeded all my expectations, I am delighted to be involved with this exciting new Eventing Grand Prix series which will give Event Riders a fantastic opportunity to compete in a world class environment Nina Barbour added: Last year’s Cazenove Capital Eventing Grand Prix proved a fantastic competition and this year we want to build on its success and make it part of a three event series. The second qualifier sits really well as part of the programme at the Bolesworth Young Horse Championship Show and the final will hopefully prove a real crowd pleaser indoors at the Theraplate Liverpool International Horse Show at the M&S Bank Arena. I vented for a number of years, it is a fantastic sport and the Eeventing Grand Prix brings a new dynamic to all three of our shows. The competition will see showjumps standing at a maximum of 1.25m, with three seconds added for each fence knocked down. There will also be an optional joker fence at a maximum height of 1.35m providing a greater thrill and more excitement throughout the competition. The cross-country fences will be at British Eventing Intermediate level. Visit www.bolesworthinternational.com to book for this year’s show. Follow...
read moreBill Levett Climbs the Leaderboard After A Super Cross Country Round
Article sponsored by Le Jabot and Stock Company Main Image by Lucy Hall Photography – all rights reserved and are subject to copyright Bill has had 20 runs at 5 star level and has completed 4 out of 6 runs at Badminton and today he added another run to his accolade. Not only did he complete on a horse who has never ran at a 5 star until today but he climbed up the leaderboard from 29th to 9th place! Yesterday Bill wondered if Lassban Diamond Lift would answer the questions of a five star and he certainly has done that. he looked super bold and came home full of running. There was a few moments where the combination saw a long stride but they were on form today. Lassban Diamond lift looked strong through the Mirage water and they popped in a circle but went clear it just cost them some time I would think this is because bill got a huge jump over the ditch with water! They look absolutely super round the rest of the course especially through fence 19 the Nyetimber Heights which was text book riding. They also produced a lovely smooth ride through The Lake with L200s at 25abc. Lassban Diamond Lift finished clear full of running but unfortunately just over the time which incurred them 8 time penalties but still a fantastic round to move them on up the leaderboard. We caught up with Bill after his round to find out his thoughts: How did the course ride for you? He was a bit green early on, I think he was a bit taken back by the size of them all. Then he was just landing in some places a bit heavy. I am not sure what he did down the steps but he just ran down them a bit quick then he just landed in a heap then it was a bit of an awkward jump out, but he got better and better. We just shifted through the gears after the lake. The jump at the corners and the ditch ( 17/18 Mirage Water ) I would have ridden that quieter if I had been able to do it again, but I didn’t want to under -ride it and have an awkward jump. That cost me ten seconds there which was a shame because he was full of gallop and we could have got a lot closer to the time. It is his first five star and he has jumped round super and answered every question so I am pleased. He is super, He is a young horse who has only done the one three star and he only did the one two star ‘in the old money’ so to come here and to grow in confidence rather than shrink is super. I always knew he was a fantastic cross country horse otherwise I wouldn’t have brought him. I knew he had lots of gallop and lots of stamina which he showed again this afternoon and I am over the moon. My wife has always believed in him from day one and she has been his biggest supporter and to jump round Badminton well….. we have had him since a 5 year old so thats a great feeling, just to produce...
read moreTom Rowland Goes Clear Cross Country With Possible Mission
Article sponsored by Le Jabot and Stock Company Images by Lucy Hall Photography – all rights reserved and are subject to copyright Tom Rowland put in a great performance for Possible Mission and his debut at Badminton. This is Possible Missions second ever five star test and they certainly did not disappoint. They looked great across the course and rode some of the combinations beautifully. Possible Mission was rather bold at times and Tom managed to contain this conjuring a clear round across the country though a circle at the Mirage Water cost him some time penalties but still a very impressive performance for their first Badminton. We caught up with Tom after his round: How was your round, we didn’t see much on the screens after fence 19 the Nyetimber Heights? Probably not the end of the world, it was a bit scrappy in places, it can not always be the most stylish in the world but I am kind of learning about that, but give him his due he keeps chipping away and he keeps asking and he’s tough. He is not the fastest but he just keeps going. He looked pretty bold on to the Outlander PHEV Bank at fence 13. Yeah I know, there was places where I got a little bit backwards then suddenly the one place where I wanted to be a little bit closer to a fence I was a bit too far away, but no it was cool. Talk me through the Mirage Water Oh I wussed out there! I could have done it, Chris Bartle keeps telling me about peripheral vision and looking at the fence. I could have done it and I was so busy staring at the ditch I just wasn’t looking at the corner and I wussed out, I should have done it and I could have done it and I am kicking myself about that. I need to get a little bit braver. I wanted to look after him but that wasn’t the plan and I am regretting it now What does it mean to complete the cross country at Badminton? It’s cool, I really really want to be here, every year and have two horses here and be nailing it like the pro’s. He is an amazing horse and he is only 12 and I hope he can keep coming back for a few more years. I have got some amazing horses at home that I think are like him and more. I just want to get back home after this weekend and work really hard and get all those ones going. What is his showjumping like? He can be a spooky horse, but I have learnt that he comes out well on the last day, he recovers well so I am happy. So what is the plan now? Well we look after him thats the first thing. Ice him, check him over, see that he recovers well so thats the main thing. Tom currently sits in 37th place going g into the show jumping tomorrow. Follow...
read moreAndrew Nicholson and Swallow Springs Sitting Pretty in 4th Place After XC Badminton 2019
Article sponsored by Le Jabot and Stock Company Main Image by Lucy Hall Photography – all rights reserved and are subject to copyright Heading out on the cross country course Andrew has had 73 five star runs since 2008 and averages 1.8 time penalties when he goes clear so it was no surprise to see him add another 5 star run to his accolade. This was Swallow Springs second ever 5 star event after finishing 3rd at Burghley. Andrew Certainly set off with purpose out of that start box and was not hanging around. As Expected Andrew used every bit of his experience and they jumped the Joules Corners at 7 and 8 just text book like. There was a lovely expression on the horses face coming into fence 10a/b the Shogun Sport Hollow. Fence 13 the Outlander PHEV Bank was a little heart stopping for those looking on but Andrew used all his experience and they were safely through. The Mirage Water at 17/18 was a fence Andrew talked about yesterday about having to ride what was under you but he jumped it very fluently which what makes him such a pure joy to watch. Swallow Springs and Andrew Nicholson were just bowling along at the Badminton lake and it was again textbook riding he really does make the fences look so easy! To see the horse full of running at the end of the course was just lovely to see and in true Andrew style he was clear in the time, intact 1 second inside the time! with only five riders going inside the time all day!! This is just what makes him a true master of the sport. We caught up with Andrew after the cross country to see what he had to say about the course and his ride: You have just finished inside the time with Swallow Springs, He looked great, how did he ride? He felt very very good. I can only compare with Burghley last year, Burghley I thought was bigger than this, but smoother, he felt much easier round Burghley. Here it felt like I had to work a lot more, like I thought walking it. Eric wants you as a rider to sit down and work sometimes, like the corner ditch corner (fence 17/18 Mirage Water). I felt like I was working a lot. Then the next one the brush down the dip and turn on to the other brush ( Fence 19 Nyetimber Heights) . This is what it is all about we don’t want course designers doing all the same thing. We want them to be a bit different it makes it more interesting. You have to put to your horse a bit don’t you? Yeah, like you seen at the Outlander PHEV Bank, I did two strides but I was a long way off the brush, because I came to the bank and I didn’t have the best stride and I waited so he could have done three up there if I had wanted even though it is a short two. That is what he is like. He can play with them can’t he? Yes for a little horse he can produce a lot of scope. Its good to have. One second under the time and he...
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