Looking after your horses hooves with Absorbine 

One of the many challenges facing horse owners is that of keeping their horse’s hooves healthy. Maintaining healthy hooves is essential to keeping your horse happy and sound, and every horse owner knows the old saying, "No foot, no horse" is as true today as ever.

 

 

We rely on farriers to help improve　our horse’s hooves, help keep them sound and moving well but horse owners can make a contribution too. You should check your horse’s feet regularly for any sign of cracks or damage, shoe wear or raised clenches. Leading show producer and dressage trainer, Jo Bates, reminds us, "You should check your horse’s feet carefully for any signs of cracking and loose clenches, and ensure that your farrier visits regularly to keep them in good shape. We use Hooflex Original Liquid Conditioner which is excellent to help maintain hoof condition between farrier visits."　

 

We as horse owners should do everything we can to make the experience of the farrier coming run smoothly and safely for everyone. Here are some tip for your next farrier visit:

Teach your horse to pick up his feet. This may seem obvious but it’s one of the biggest complaints from farriers – horses who don’t pick up and or hold the leg up to be worked on.



Clean out the hooves so the farrier can see what he or she is working on and doesn’t have to spend time picking them out.



Make sure your horses legs are clean and dry when the farrier arrives. The last thing your farrier wasn’t to see is you dragging your horse in from the field with wet and muddy legs.



In the summer months, apply some fly spray so your farrier doesn’t get kicked because of an annoying little insect. Try Absorbine’s UltraShield for ultimate protection against flies.



Give your farrier a clean, safe, and well-lit place to work. This will make it easier for your farriers to do their best work.



Hoof conditioner will make trimming easier. Apply Hooflex Original Liquid Conditioner or Hooflex Natural Dressing and Conditioner regularly as it helps to maintain the correct moisture balance and fight infection while supporting healthy hoof growth from the coronet band.



Don’t apply it half hour before the farrier is due to arrive– no one wants to try and hold onto a freshly-oiled hoof!



Pay your farrier. Let’s rephrase that – pay your farrier when and how they ask to be paid. You’ll be more likely to see them again in 6 weeks!



Once you find a good farrier for your horse, stick with him. He’ll learn to understand you and your horse’s needs better the longer he works with you. Remember – it’s a team effort between you, the farrier and your vet.

Sponsored riders reign supreme in the rain

Summer so far has felt more like a parody of British weather than anything else, but the seemingly constant deluge hasn’t put a damper on Absorbine’s sponsored riders and their show season. Despite an unseasonable amount of mud – who thought we’d be worrying about mud fever in June?! – the Derby Meeting at Hickstead rolled merrily along, with horses, hounds, and dogged enthusiasts braving the elements for a fantastic week of competition.

Jo Bates had a great week, with Lady Benton-Jones’ classy Gallifrey SWS coming fourth in the CHAPS Non-Native Open Ridden Qualifier, and Suzannah Welby’s Elusive taking the Large Hack HOYS Qualifier and placing second in the Supreme Hack Championship.

Jo Bates and Elusive. Photo by Spidge Event Photography.

Jayne Ross left no stone unturned, taking the Supreme Cob Championship and the Lightweight Cob HOYS Qualifier aboard the McCourt’s Cob in Hood, the Small Show Hunter HOYS Qualifier aboard Dianne Stennett’s Hello Dolly, and the Supreme Riding Horse Championship and Small Riding Horse HOYS Qualifier aboard Dianne Stennett’s Casino.

Tackling a pile of muddy laundry after a big show is the last thing anyone wants to think about, but our newly-launched Leather Therapy line will lighten the load considerably. With products available for rugs, numnahs, clothing, and even leather (yes, really – thank us later!), you can chuck your horse’s gear in the washing machine and have one less thing to worry about. Ask for the Leather Therapy range at your local tack shop or country supply store.

Well done to Jo and Jayne from the team at Absorbine UK, and fingers crossed for some summer sun!

TEAM BATES AT BRITISH DRESSAGE WINTER CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016

Team Bates headed off to Hartpury at the beginning of April to compete in the British Dressage Winter Championships. On Wednesday, the first day of competition, Cambridge and Holly were 7th in the Advanced Medium Restricted Championship. They were the first to go and a rode a good test with a couple of minor mistakes. Jo said “He was a little underpowered so plenty of room for improvement but it is amazing to think that a year ago he was on box rest due to stress cracks in his feet and we were unsure whether we would ever resolve the situation. He had a year off but we all believed in him and through endless patience and diligence we now have a fabulous horse to train on with and good feet to boot!”

Holly Bates and Chambridge, 7th in Advanced Medium Restricted 
at British Dressage Winter Championship 2016

 

The second day of competition saw Dorando, owned by Ali Fernyhough, and Holly compete in the Elementary Open. “They did a great test to finish 8th on 69.06. He was incredibly brave and well behaved in the atmosphere and we are very proud of him especially as he is just rising 6 years of age. Still room for improvement but what a clever talented young chap!” Said Jo.

Fantastic results, well done to all the team. 2016 looks set to be an exciting year for Jo and Holly, best of luck to you from all the team at Absorbine UK.

GREAT SUCCESS FOR BATES AT HOYS 2015 

Well done to all members of the Bates team, sponsored by Absorbine, for their success at the Horse of the Year Show. All their hard work and efforts bought home the ribbons:

Benny Hill II, owned by Valerie Hosegood, came fourth in the Leeman Family Maxi Cob of the Year. Volatis Oriana was placed sixth in the CHAPS Coloured Ridden Non-native Horse of the Year class ridden, and owned by, Lucy Bridgwater. Jessica Williams was second with her own Dowhills Snow Patrol in the CHAPS Coloured Ridden Non-native Pony class and Runnon Watergate owned by Debbie Thomas and Chris Yates was 4th in the Colosso Family Small Riding Horse of the Year class.

Well done to all the Bates team and congratulations, a fantastic end to successful season!

TEAM BATES HEAD TO HORSE OF THE YEAR SHOW (HOYS)

It’s the highlight of the showing calendar, and it is here. Horse of the Year Show starts today to begin a busy five days of everything equestrian and this year Absorbine sponsored Jo and Holly Bates are heading to Birmingham with a full lorry.  We caught up with the mother and daughter duo to see who they are taking to HOYS.

 

Jo Bates

 

Daldorn Lara’s Theme, owned by Lady Benton Jones’, has had a successful season in Small Riding Horse classes. At only her third show of the season she qualified for Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) and successfully qualified for HOYS at the Wales and West County Show, under Jo.

Daldorn Lara’s Theme

 

Jo was excited to take on the talented coloured mare, Volatis Oriana, owned by Lucy Bridgewater, earlier this year and she has not been disappointed.  Volatis Oriana qualified in June at the Midlands Counties Show and will be ridden at HOYS by her owner Lucy.

Volatis Oriana

 

Ex-racehorse, Sinnbad, by Sindar, has taken to his new career as a show horse, qualifying for HOYS in the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse class at Stretcholt and also in the Large Hack class at Ashbourne. Jo and his owner, Serena Leckie, will share the rides at HOYS.

 



Sinnbad ridden by Serena Leckie



 

Jo will also ride Maxi Cob, Collenridge, and Runnon Watergate who will contest the Small Riding Horse class. Downhill Snow Patrol will be rider by Jesscia Williams in the Small Plaited Coloured class.

 

We wish Jo, Holly and the rest of the team the very best of luck at HOYS. If you are heading to HOYS, the very best of luck to you too and don’t forget your ShowSheen!