24 November 2022 - Flipbook - Page 78
78
HORSEWEEK
FARMWEEK
SEPTEMBER 01 2022
Sian Coleman takes victory
at Millstreet Horse Trials
W
HILE Irish show
jumpers
were
performing well in
Europe and Canada,
closer
to
home,
Millstreet International Horse
Trials in County Cork saw an
Irish winner in the Horse Sport
Ireland sponsored CCI4*-L. Sian
Coleman and the Irish Sport
Horse ‘Hush A Bye Baby’ took
the top prize with a score of 35.3,
just ahead of British runner-up
Aaron Millar and ‘KEC Deakon’
(ISH), who finished second on
35.9.
BREEDING
Hush A Bye Baby (ISH) - 2003
mare by Indoctro (HOLST), out
of Rock Me Baby (AEAS) by
Rock King (WNTR). Breeder/
Owner: Kate Jarvey, Co. Cork.
Rider: Sian Coleman (IRL).
From the
horse’s
mouth
BY JACQUI PORTER
Oral lesions in equines
WELL DONE: Sian Coleman and ‘Hush A Bye Baby’ were winners of the Horse Sport
Ireland sponsored CCI4* at Millstreet International Horse Trials. (FW35-555NN)
PICTURE: courtesy of Bit Media
Erin makes her mark at Millstreet
E
RIN Mathieson and ‘Longwood Dawn’ had a great
spin at Millstreet International Horse Trials in County
Cork at the weekend. Competing in the CCIP2*-S
class, Erin placed sixth individually and was a member of
the pony team that placed third.
A respectable score of 66.52% saw the pair ranked 11th
after dressage, but they moved up to seventh after show
jumping and a super clear cross-country round saw them
move up again into sixth place.
Erin and ‘Longwood Dawn’ are certainly making their
mark on the eventing world - very well done!
TEAM: Right, Erin Mathieson (far right) was on the team
that placed third in the pony team event at Millstreet.
(FW35-556NN)
DRESSAGE: Erin and ‘Longwood Dawn’ were ranked 11th
after dressage at Millstreet. (FW35-558NN)
CROSS-COUNTRY: Erin and ‘Longwood Dawn’ jumped
clear cross-country to finish in sixth place in the CCIP2*-S
class at Millstreet. (FW35-557NN)
WE have looked at how a bit and bridle can impact your horse’s
performance, but what about your horse’s oral health? Every
horse is different and, as most bridles are sold as pony, cob or
full sized, it is increasingly difficult to find a bridle to fit correctly
and comfortably, which can result in oral lesions.
The most common site for oral lesions or ulcers are the inside
of the cheeks and the corners of the lips. Lesions of the soft
tissue inside the cheeks occur when the loose cheek tissue rubs
against or is accidentally bitten by the horse’s molar teeth. As the
upper molars develop sharp enamel points on their outer edges,
these are liable to rub against the cheek and cause ulceration,
especially with ill-fitting tack.
Having a tight noseband can compress the cheeks, increasing
the likelihood that the teeth will injure the soft tissue. The type of
noseband and the position can impact the severity of the lesions.
A cavesson noseband, the upper strap of the crossed noseband
or the Micklem bridle encircles the head directly over the
premolars (first three cheek teeth). When these straps are
tightened, the cheeks are pressed firmly against the teeth, which
adds to the likelihood of abrasions. Generally, a drop noseband,
a flash or the lower strap of a Micklem or grackle bridle, fit in
front of the premolar teeth and lessen the squeeze on the cheeks
against these teeth.
The traditional guidelines on fitting a bridle are that a
recommendation of a two-finger space is left between the bridle
and the horse’s face. This is to allow the horse to comfortably
open and close its mouth, promoting relaxation through the jaw.
When a noseband is over-tightened, horses do not get relief from
the pressure, causing tension and tightness.
The areas of highest pressure under the noseband are the
edges of the nasal bones and under the jaw, where the noseband
crosses the mandible. High pressure can also be applied to these
areas when using bitless bridles.
In a study of Icelandic horses, lesions around the corners of
the lips were associated specifically with the use of a loose ring
snaffle bit, especially if the mouthpiece was either too wide or
too narrow for the size of the horse’s mouth. In another recent
study of Danish sport horses, who were examined during
competitions, revealed that 9% of horses had oral lesions or nips
on the inside corner of the lips.
The best way to reduce the risk of oral lesions in horses is
to firstly ensure they are having regular dental care. A good
dental professional can help a horse owner to understand the
conformation of the horse’s mouth and help ensure the horse
is on the correct dental schedule to allow preventive measures
of very sharp enamel points. Also taking care that tack and
equipment, especially the bit and noseband, are correctly fitted
and adjusted.
Irish feature in five-star Grand
Prix prizes in Europe and Canada
IRELAND’S show jumpers continued
their great run of form on Sunday,
with two impressive results in fivestar Grand Prix competitions on
both sides of the Atlantic.
At Ottawa in Canada, County
Down’s Conor Swail and ‘Vital
Chance De La Roque’ scored a
runner-up finish in the $215,000 fivestar Grand Prix, coming just a week
after Swail also finished second in
the Longines Grand Prix of Ireland
at the Dublin Horse Show.
Just four of the 28 starters jumped
clear in the first round, with Swail
jumping clear again against the
clock in a time of 36.42 seconds.
The winner’s prize went to Kent
Farrington (USA) and ‘Orafina’, who
stopped the clock clear in 35.75.
Meanwhile at the Stephex Masters
in Belgium, Tipperary’s Denis
Lynch and the 13-year-old gelding
‘Brooklyn Heights’ finished fourth in
the five-star Rolex Grand Prix.
One of seven combinations to make
it into the jump-off, Lynch went clear
again in the second round in a time
of 33.66.
Victory went to Sweden’s Peder
Fredricson and ‘Catch Me Not S’
with a clear in 32.61.
The results came less than 24
hours after Kildare’s Mikey Pender
claimed his first ever five-star Grand
Prix win with a spectacular victory
in the Longines Global Champions
Tour Grand Prix of Valkenswaard in
The Netherlands with the Irish Sport
Horse ‘HHS Calais’.
BREEDING
KEC Deakon (ISH) - 2010 gelding by
Chacoa (HOLST), out of KEC Hotfoot
(ID) by Glidawn Diamond (ID).
Breeder: Anna Kennedy (Kerry).
Rider: Aaron Millar (GBR).
HHS Calais (ISH) - 2011 gelding
by Cavalier Royale (HOLST), out of
MHS OBOS Cruise (ISH) by OBOS
Quality (OLD). Breeder: Ita Brennan,
Co. Kilkenny. Owner: Bravo Hughes
Ltd. Rider: Michael Pender (IRL).
LESION: An oral lesion on the inside of a horse’s cheek.
(FW35-500NN)
Jacqui Porter BSc (Hons) BAEDT
EQUINE DENTAL SERVICES
Tel: 07395 830535
Email: jpdentistry@icloud.com
