Welcome
IN THIS ISSUE we’re celebrating Your Horse hitting the grand age of 35 (p22). It’s astounding how much the horse world — and this magazine — has changed over the years, which made this a particularly fun one to research. I remember my family’s tack room was filled with all things leather: no synthetic or webbing materials to be seen. My first synthetic saddle (when I was about 10) was made from material that ripped easily. It was dressage shape but I still used it for all Pony Club activities, including gymkhana and cross-country. I’m not sure that would be allowed in 2018. There weren’t many professional saddle fitters. Instead, my sister and I relied on our grandmother’s wisdom to ensure we had happy ponies, and she didn’t fail us. My hat (with fixed peak — a no-no now) only had a piece of elastic to hold it in place and I always admired the chin guard on my Dad’s helmet. “I’ll get one of those when I grow up,” I thought — alas, now I can’t think of anything worse! Veterinary medicine is so advanced these days that it’s easy to forget about the time when we trotted up the road without worrying about concussion — it was a staple of every horse’s fitness regime, regardless of their job. We wormed routinely every few months, not knowing the massive problem with resistance it would cause us today, while oats and bran were staples of the feed room. We know so much more about everything now — or there’s a qualified expert to seek out and ask. Positives rarely come without negatives, however. Roads are busier now (see p36 for advice on making a nervous horse more confident in traffic) and there appear to be fewer places to ride (get tips for staying motivated this winter on p10). Lifestyle changes mean horse owners are working harder now than ever before: longer hours in the office; rising costs (of everything!) and finding a healthy work/life balance is a constant battle (read one reader’s story on p18). But when you get to the yard of an evening for a quick ride or cuddle with your horse, it’s all worth it.
PS: It would be great to hear from you, so feel free to email me at aimi.clark@bauermedia.co.uk or follow me on Twitter @Aimi_clark.