Your Horse

Your Horse inspires its readers to enjoy every second in the saddle. Written by a team of passionate equestrian experts, Your Horse magazine helps you improve your riding, care for your horses and stay up to date on the latest gear. We also encourage you to try new and exciting adventures! Our three main areas of content are: Riding advice: From the best riders and trainers in the world Horse care advice: Expert tips and advice on all aspects of horse care Buying Advice: Helping you spend your money with confidence Your Horse magazine: share our passion for horses.

Welcome

This month's highlights…

HORSE talk • Here's what you need to know about this month

New opportunities arise for pentathlon contests with showjumping

A Welsh and a Connemara steal the show

HOBBY HORSING AROUND

ONE-EYED WONDERS • Hacking a one-eyed horse doesn't need to be a drama, or even a deal-breaker. Charlotte Cooper discovers from those in the know why equines with monocular vision can still make excellent riding partners

Freeze frame fame • Every month Your Horse‘s #Hack1000Miles challengers are in line to win some fantastic prizes. The riders whose pictures are featured here both win high-vis neck straps from Equisafety for their excellent snapping abilities

The stories that defined 2024 • We look back on a year of triumphs — the Paris Olympic Games to name just one — but also dramatic lows in which dubious training practices by a few leading riders are exposed to a shocked world

Aletia Thomas • Equine and pet portrait artist who runs Art by Aletia

SEND a selfie • Send in your pics!

Treats THAT TEACH • Everyone has days when their horse isn't really feeling it, but what if there is a way to train more harmoniously while working on the skills required in a competitive setting? Emma Massingale shares how cues and rewards can help a horse fall in love with schooling again

WHEN SHOULD I TREAT?

Let the horse work it out

A is for effort

Fix it… Let's polish that LATERAL WORK • Leg yields a little left field? Dressage maestro Spencer Wilton shares his training secrets and how they can revolutionise a horse's lateral work

First THINGS first • The warm up is a much misunderstood and maligned part of dressage training. In the first of a new series looking at garnering top marks from competition judges for each pace, British team contender Lara Butler explains that by getting this initial element correct everything else should follow on seamlessly

WHEN polework BRINGS PACE PERKS • The usefulness of polework can cross disciplines, as former eventer Melissa Chapman explains as she mixes and matches pace adjustment exercises for showjumpers, eventers and dressage horses. Faye Archer watches the session

AN IDEAL ALTERNATIVE TO TWO POLES

WHEN PERSISTENCE pays off • The pupils participating in the confidence clinic at Twyford Mill Equestrian Centre put their two days of learning to good use when they string a course of poles and jumps together. Mel Beale watches them in action

LIZ'S TOP JUMPING TIPS

Handling a horse who locks onto fences

Courses FOR HORSES • Stringing a course of cross-country fences together isn't as easy as it sounds. In the final part of our cross-country series featuring Alex Postolowsky, the top eventer offers her advice for tackling a complete track with confidence. Helen Milbank watches the session

Feet first

Lessons learned

Hanging up THOSE HORSESHOES • There is no handbook for calling time on a horse's ridden career, whatever his age, and the process can be traumatic for the rider. Bethany Stone finds out from three owners how they knew that retirement was the right choice

LET'S REDUCE THAT...