News

Opening of Para Show Jumping Season

3rd June 2009

Para show jumping rider Rachel Maddocks has been working closely with Dengie’s Performance Horse Nutritionist Claire Akers to get her horse Harry’s ration just right. Here Rachel reports on a successful trip to the Opening of the Outdoor Para Show Jumping Season, Chateaux Bleu, Temblay en France on the 18th/19th April 2009.

Rachel’s Diary

Following a successful trip to France in Sept 2008, I was really hoping to be invited to compete again this year. The French are the masters of Para Show jumping and the inspiration for the current organisers in GB alongside the BSJA. I’m a Grade 3 Para rider and compete at 1.10m under French rules, although previously restrictions within the French Federation have meant that British riders have been unable to take their own horses, instead having to borrow French horses for each competition. This has often been pretty scary! 2009 has seen an exciting change with all GB riders now able to travel and compete their own horses.

I found out with just 10 days notice that Harry (Woodlander Illya K) and I had been entered for Chateaux Bleu, so I’m sure you can imagine there was a bit of rush and panic to get ready….especially as this would be my first time travelling a horse abroad !

My first concern was Harry’s health and well being during the trip. He’s a 12 year old big 16.3, very forward going warm blood who tends to get very excited on competition mornings before he travels, resulting in loose droppings and a good bit of rushing around his stable. He’s also a poor drinker when travelling and competing. These issues were potentially problematic considering we had an overnight stay to contend with in Dover, followed by another 6 or 7 hours to travel to our destination in very warm weather.

Fortunately I’d met with Claire Akers earlier in the year, and we’d changed Harry’s diet to suit his requirements both for his level of work and his general behaviour. Claire put Harry on Alfa-A Oil to maintain his condition and provide him with more controlled energy, together with Alfa-A Balancer to provide additional nutrients and improve digestive health. Additionally we’d had our hay supply tested at Dengie to review the nutritional levels provided as well as the overall quality. I’d been really pleased with the results so far, but this would be the biggest road test yet ! Here’s how we prepared for the trip and how Harry fared during his first foreign jaunt….

Departure 15th April 2009

Harry has had a couple of days of Dengie “Digestive Health Plus” to support his digestive system before the trip, aid his digestion and hopefully protect him if he suffers from loose droppings pre travel. As he’s travelling in a friend’s lorry rather than ours this will be even more important as he’s likely to get even more excited ! We’ve packed plenty of feed, and our own hay despite the offer from the French organisers to provide all this for us. Harry has had some pre travel electrolytes and soaked hay to prevent dehydration and a good helping of Alfa-A Oil at lunchtime to give him a good intake of calories to prevent him losing condition, but without the fizz factor. As the 40 foot lorry arrives, I feel really glad we’ve prepared well….Harry is pretty excited.

We arrive at Dover and I’m pleased that Harry hasn’t had loose droppings during the journey. However, the stable has no window to see other horses and the full grille means he can’t get his head over the door to see his neighbours. He won’t eat much hay, so I increase the helping of Alfa-A Oil to go with his balancer and he’s soon munching on that quite happily. Harry likes the fact that he gets larger portions with this feed and eating seems to help him settle.

Arrival Thursday 16th

Harry is settled and happy and eats his breakfast well. I’m still adding Digestive Health Plus and so far it’s doing a good job! I really soak his feed and hay to make sure he’s taking on water, even if he’s reluctant to drink.

Having loaded well, Harry settles well on the lorry, and despite having his first sea trip, he barely moves a muscle throughout the journey. He eats a bit of hay en route, and doesn’t seem phased by anything. At the other end Harry is calm and controlled and I can easily manage to walk him off by myself with just one good hand!

I keep a close eye on him throughout the evening to make sure he’s OK, and am really thrilled that there’s no sign of any loose droppings. Disappointed however that the other horses have huge cow pat like droppings all over their stables…..as we feed that night, I make sure that I recommend Digestive Health Plus.

Friday 17th

Riding Harry today he feels as fresh as a daisy, but easily controllable riding with one hand. He feels energised without being fizzy, and fit to perform. We have a test jump and he feels great. The other horses still have cow pat droppings and I’m pleased to see that Harry doesn’t.

One big mistake I made was to ignore the benefits of Alfa-Beet. Clare did tell me about it, but for some reason it didn’t register……..I’m completely soaking Harry’s Alfa A Oil to increase his water intake, so the poor boy is eating Alfa soup….he could have had soaked Alfa-Beet to keep him hydrated, as well as provide fibre as he’s eating very little hay. Note to self…buy some when I get home.

Jumping 18th & 19th April 2009

Harry starts out with a good clear in the warm up class, but he seems to be backing off the new bit I’ve got him in. Maybe his new diet has lessened the need for such a strong mouth piece, or maybe I shouldn’t have changed the bit so close to a competition!

Day 2 we change the bit back to the old one and he feels much better. No wins unfortunately for us in this competition, although we go home with a wealth of experience. Great Britain wins every class entered and so we really have nothing to complain about!

The Return Journey 20th April

A long wait at Calais and a rough sea crossing really worries me. Having left the show ground at 8.45am …Harry doesn’t arrive home until nearly 10pm and hasn’t had a drink, despite being offered one every 2/3 hours. However, a good amount of soaked hay and feed seems to be keeping him going.

The next day I have a good look at Harry, he looks gleaming, muscled and relaxed. No one in this climate can afford to use feed products or supplements that don’t work….the way Harry looks and feels tells me my money has been well spent. I hope this is the first of many trips for us, and hopefully we’ll bring home some red rosettes next time.

Back to news page