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Well for most of us winter is now fast approaching. Generally this is considered the more difficult time of year for many horse owners, with issues such weight loss, lack of suitable turnout and of course poor riding conditions to contend with. However, for many owners with horses that suffer with sweet itch, believe it or not, the grey skies and cold dark nights are actually quite a relief.

Sweet Itch is a distressing skin condition that affects thousands of horses across the world (globally it is often also known as Queensland Itch, Summer Itch, Summer Eczema and Seasonal Dermatitis). It is a seasonal (Summer) condition caused by a hypersensitivity to the bites of the Culicoides flies, more commonly known as “midges”/”biting midge” and “no-see-ums”, their saliva contain antigens, which sets off a reaction in the horse’s skin. (A horse with infected skin will not transmit it to another horse, it is generally considered to be genetic in cause).

The Biting Midge

Infected animals are very itchy and distressed, and rub themselves excessively. In more severe cases, this incessant rubbing can lead to hair loss and damage to the skin, including scabs and even open bleeding sores.

Sweet Itch is considered, along with laminitis, one of the major preventable welfare issues facing our equine population. Sadly, there is presently no “cure” for Sweet Itch, however, the FEI wishes to draw attention to the prevention and treatment of this condition, to promote the health and well-being of horses around the world. As the condition is caused by the biting midge, preventative measures can include stabling the horse at dawn and dusk when the midges are at their most active. The use of insecticides and fly repellents is encouraged also however, do check that the repellent in question is approved and does not contain any banned substances. Barrier techniques are also very effective, including the use of fly masks and rugs; by preventing the biting of the midge you also prevent severe reactions. Plus the future seems full of hope; there is currently a lot of research being conducted into the use of a vaccine and various other drug treatments.

If you have any other tried and tested success stories in the prevention of ‘Sweet Itch’, do get in touch with us!

The FEI blogging team

It is weird not having the same pony face pop out of the stall when you walk by. It’s weird not riding the way I was taught, it’s weird not seeing my pony everyday. Every time I ride a new horse I miss Chester more and more. I keep thinking of the positives of riding new horses, I would become a better rider and all that but I would rather be the same level rider all my life and ride the one and only pony I really love. He means the world to me and I keep trying to convince myself that he will forgive me for leaving. Unlike humans he doesn’t know that it wasn’t my choice to leave. I miss him so much, it feels like I am on another planet. The way I was taught to ride is different from the way they want me to ride. It feels like I am supposed to forget all of what I have been taught about riding and learn it this way all over.

During my last lesson in Singapore I kept wishing it was my old trainer teaching me, the same barns surrounding me and the same pony I would ride that loved me. I miss them everyday. I wish Chester was with me every time I’m at the new stable. I wish I could see his beautiful eyes looking at me or when he and Giorgio play, I just wish I could see him again. I wish we could pay to buy and bring him over here. That would be like the best thing that has ever happened in my life, but I guess that won’t happen because the costs almost seem impossible. But even when someone comes to buy him, I know he will never forget me, and I will never forget him. He was one of the best things that ever happened to me. He was my best friend and it feels like he is so close to me in my heart but in real life he is across the world.

When I fell of the other day on this horse, I wasn’t crying because it hurt, I was crying because I realized that this was it, I was going to be riding these kinds of horses that act like this and they don’t act like my pony back home. It was like hitting a brick wall, realizing that no horse is perfect, but in my mind Chester was as close to perfect as it got. When I am not near him it feels like a part of me is missing, I love him with all my heart and wish that he was here with me.

I just wanted to write this for everyone who is missing a horse that they are away from. Saying I know how they feel. As if a part of you is gone, a horse becomes more than just a pet they become a friend for life, even when they are away.

Erin Reidy

A member of Canada’s 2007 Young Riders Dressage Team, Andrea Wetzel has spent the last 10 years training with Olympian Belinda Trussell at Oakcrest Farms, just outside of Toronto. Andrea divides her time between showing at the Grand Prix level, studying in the Honours BA program at York University, volunteering at her local dressage club and managing special projects and contests for the popular Barnmice social community. Andrea can be contacted (and “friended”) on her Barnmice page.

FEI Year of Youth Blogger Lisa Stock visits the ponies of the New Forest in the South of England…

Over the weekend I decided to take a trip to the New Forest. Having been there before I knew what to expect – lots and lots of wild ponies roaming the streets! Driving through Beaulieu I came a cross two grey ponies just standing in the middle of the road, after much persuasion they walked to the verge where they were admired by tourists.

During my walk I came close to the ponies, they walk up to you and don’t mind a stroke or two which makes me question are they really that wild? Looking healthy but a tad scruffy the ponies seem happy and love the attention they receive. Nibbling the grass on the side of the road and drinking from the pond they couldn’t be anymore wild and at home with nature. With the constant contact with humans who pester them daily I am sure they are becoming more used to life outside the forest!

It is lovely to see the ponies free and wild I just hope everyone who visits them understands that they are still wild animals at heart and should be careful what they feed them and how close they get!

Lisa

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Here is a pic of two foals who were hiding in the trees…

Here are a few pics of me and the cute ponies…

It was August 2008 my best friend and I were waiting in the arena at Rancho Murieta for Junior Champs. Our two ponies in their black polos with red fringe, and our saddle pads white with black and red fringe and sequins. Pas De Deux time. We got into our starting spots, Edi started flipping his head, he was getting impatient. As the music started we trotted in, so far so good. Halt Salute the way a dressage test starts and ends. As we got to the canter part of our routine Edi got a little more hyper and picked up a faster canter, I was worried we would cut our corner to tight and go out of the area, but we didn’t. I wasn’t sure how my ride looked to judges but I knew Zoe’s ride was great.

After the ponies were untacked we walked to retrieve our score, on the way there I told Zoe if we didn’t get a good score it was probably because of me. After I said that our trainer walked out with a huge smile on her face. I remember we couldn’t believe our ears when she said “86.75%”. That was one of the happiest moments of my life. Everyone knew our ponies were cute but I don’t think that anyone saw this coming. And to top such a great day Zoe got Pony Champion and pony of the year for training level test 4. Our little 42 inch ponies did really well, so never judge a book by its cover…or in this case size!!!

Everyone knows the beauty of dressage and the edge of jumping. Dressage is so graceful and beautiful and show jumping keeps people on the edge of their seat watching jump after jump, seeing the horse glide off the tall fences acting as if they do it in their sleep. People who don’t ride look at riding as being sitting on a horse. That’s when all equestrians think ‘I would like to see them try and jump that double oxer, or do a perfect pirouette’. Some people at my school think that riding isn’t a sport and that soccer is. In my opinion I think that horses could beat a soccer ball in one bite…literally. But that is only my opinion.

If you really look closely at a higher level equestrian ride you can see the harmony between horse and rider how the rider adds silent aids and you can barely see them to make the horse do what they want. Most of us aren’t at that level, we still use kicking and louder aids that the eye can still see. But that isn’t a bad thing, if you put enough effort and time into it you to could be a dressage rider that people will be squinting at, and have their face up to their computer looking for a single movement in either your hands of legs and they still won’t be able to see it. To me dressage is like a dance, the rider adds the steps but the horse preforms it.

Show jumping on the other hand is still beautiful, but in a different way than dressage. Jumpers, as well as dressage riders work hard. But their riding isn’t as quiet as dressage. Show Jumping is fast and furious but at the same time graceful. The horse can’t dart around the arena like a bullet and make sloppy jumps and knock bars down. They do like speed but the rider still manages to get the horse over the jump neatly…most of the time. There are other times with both styles that the rides get ugly. Like in dressage missing a step, spooking, accidently “exiting” the arena. And as for jumping falling off (at a very fast speed) or knocking the jump. All these are disappointing but the best thing to think when this happens whether you’re a FEI level rider, just riding for fun, or you’re somewhere inbetween, just remember, never give up because that gets you nowhere, just get back up and in the saddle and try again.

Erin Reidy

Horses are always the best kind of friend. They don’t judge you on how you dress or how you look. They won’t abandon you like some people do, and they won’t break your heart. If you’re a rider you would know how your horse becomes much more than just a pet, they become a friend for life. Selling your horse or moving away from your horse is like giving away or leaving your family. Your horse gets so used to seeing you and they love how you know exactly where to scratch them.

When you really love your horse you won’t sell them or donate them when they get hurt or go lame. You will always be by their side when they need you. You get so attached to them they become your best friend, they will never dislike you or treat you badly on purpose. Some people say “Oh well my horse messed it up” when it was their fault, it is never the horse’s fault, the horse never tries to make you mess up, the horse never tries to spook and your horse definitely does not try to hurt you. People tend to blame their horses even when they know it is completely their own fault. It’s kind of like blaming your pencil for making you fail a test. Stupid right?

Horses are still animals, they aren’t robots, they still have a mind of their own. To them, a squirrel might be the scariest thing ever, or maybe the trailer looks like a big monster trying to eat them, they don’t understand that those things are harmless and you can’t blame them for that. They do a lot for you. So when you get mad at your horse or just feel like asking them for something impossible, just remember horses can always surprise you. My old pony Skipper refused every single jump I pointed her at and when ever she jumped long I would fall off. But 6 months later my friends and I had a lesson and I was just supposed to work so I was wearing my jeans with my riding boots. But Jessica wanted me to jump so I tacked up. At the end of that lesson Skipper and I had jumped a 3 foot fence. I never thought she could do it but she had it in her and I just needed to believe in her.

She lives in Nevada now and I am in Singapore but Skip will always be in my heart.

I remember the last time I got to show Chester. I was moving to Singapore 3 days afterwards. I loved him with all my heart. I remember when he first came to Rancho Del Lago, I really wanted to ride with him, but he bucked and only Jessica, my trainer, and the older girls could ride him. Jessica let me ride him once and he kept kicking and freaking out, obviously he needed a more advanced rider.

I was stuck with the little gelding Edi. After I grew off Edi I kept thinking I would ride Chester, but I ended up leasing a pony named Skipper, she refused every jump. And even if she jumped, she jumped so long I flew off like a torpedo. I was terrified of jumping after Skipper. It was the month before I was moving and the owner of Skipper decided to sell her. Skip now lives in Nevada. I was heart broken, I remember that painful day when we almost didn’t get the email to go say our last goodbyes.

Then I got to ride Chester. My whole world turned the right side up. He was my baby boy he loved me and I loved him. He did what I asked him to and jumped like a dream. The day after a great lesson I brought him up from pasture and while picking his foot I discovered a nail lodged into his frog, with him munching on a carrot I pulled it out. He went dead lame, it obviously hurt to walk. I soaked his foot everyday, and grew closer and closer. He walked over to me in pasture and was always thrilled to see me. Then I got to go to the MHA show, he was a dream in the jumper classes, we got 2 firsts, 2 seconds and came out reserve champion. Then the last day came… I spent the whole day at the barn, I walked him down to pasture to say good bye and clipped a piece of his mane so he would always be with me.

Walking away from him was like walking away from your best friend when they need you. I miss him everyday and I know that no horse can replace him. He was my best friend and we shared a bond and he trusted me.

He may hit a rail but he will never break my heart.

Check out Erin and Chester at the MHA show: