THE vision of a much-loved old horse seeing out their days in lush grass, comfort and good company is one most of us aspire to, but few of us manage. For one thing, as many know, a lot of effort goes into keeping that horse — and field — healthy.
Ann Atkinson, whose beloved gelding Patrick is now 25, agrees, but it’s a commitment she is very happy to meet.
“After seven years of fun with Patrick, he retired when he developed white line disease and a shopping list of ailments, including arthritis,” she explains.
Patrick has now been retired at Ann’s Isle of Man home for six years, living with her other three horses and with access to “two superdeluxe field shelters”.
“I pick his feet out religiously each day, groom him twice a week and rug him in winter,” Ann continues. “With a sachet of Danilon [anti-inflammatory] in his small daily feed, farriery and the dentist and so on, it’s quite a commitment and if I was having to pay livery for him I’d have to think again. But we have nice fields, I absolutely adore him and he’s given me so much. That daily cuddle with Patrick is worth it emotionally for me.”
Turning a horse out to enjoy his final years sounds simple, but it’s vital to have the right fields, routine and company. Mud fever seems more prevalent on some soil types than others, for example.
Vet Karen Coumbe of Bell Equine Clinic in Kent, advises: “You need enough space to allow horses to move freely and maintain some degree of muscle strength when they are no longer in work. If you have more land with fewer horses in it, you will have less mud, too, which is kinder on older limbs.
Denne historien er fra November 07, 2019-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
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Denne historien er fra November 07, 2019-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Rider Denies Doping After Team Loses Olympic Placing - Tine Magnus and the Belgian team said they do not know the source of the drug that caused the positive test
Olympic eventer Tine Magnus has denied ever doping after her Paris ride Dia Van Het Lichterveld Z gave a positive test at the Games. This means the Belgian team, which came fourth, has been disqualified. On 4 September, the FEI said the 10-year-old mare, owned by Kris van Vaerenbergh, tested positive for trazodone, which is listed as an antidepressant on the FEI's prohibited substances list.
Michael Eilberg
The top dressage rider talks to Polly Bryan about the special horse with the potential to carry him back onto the British team, how to be a better coach and using his talent for teaching to help the sport
Schooling success
Combining school and riding can be tricky, but horses can benefit a child's education. Lottie Morgan uncovers some options for horse-loving pupils
How to get a job in hunting
The British Hound Sports Association's apprentice scheme is providing young people with excellent all-round training in the skills required - and many others besides, as Tessa Waugh discovers
Burke's Affair to remember
A fast round delights one rider who comes away with a coveted grand prix trophy and a rankings class concludes with an unusual tie
Derby winner returns for further Hickstead glory
After watching wife Pippa compete at Burghley, William Funnell returns to the scene of his Derby triumph to win the All England grand prix
Derby winner returns for further Hickstead glory
After watching wife Pippa compete at Burghley, William Funnell returns to the scene of his Derby triumph to win the All England grand prix
'I'm grateful to have such a wonderful partner'
The brilliant duo of Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei seal back-to-back grands prix after a dramatic turn of events
Hamlett takes centre stage
Two horses round off their competitive careers with victories, a championship specialist earns her fourth title and a pair with a combined age of 105 prove invincible
'This is the ultimate five-star test'
Mark Phillips on Burghley's highs, lows, challenges and champions