Horse&Rider Magazine – August 2025

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One of our favourite things about riding is exploring the countryside, beautiful views framed between a pair of ears. “Whatever the day has been – or will be – like,” says Editor Lousie, “an hour spent with a horse, exploring the lanes, green fields, sandy tracks, hills, woodlands (okay, you get the idea), to the soundtrack of birdsong and hoofbeats always makes everything better.

“Except if your horse didn’t get the ‘we love hacking’ memo, it’s not quite so enjoyable – and we’ve all been there. While I’ve had horses who were dreams to hack, I’ve also started from scratch with ones whose skills, and confidence, needed building up. This issue we begin a new series, tackling the most common hacking hang-ups to help you turn your horse into a confident, relaxed riding companion. There are no quick fixes, but with time, patience and consistency, you’ll be able to enjoy the countryside together. And the effort will be totally worth it.”

Confidence knocks, unrealistic expectations of yourself, stresses and worries in other areas of your life and even horse health issues can all lead to losing your riding motivation, as our confidence coach Alison Buttery reveals. The good news is that there’s plenty you can do to get back into the groove and find your horsey spark again.

Thinking of giving dressage a go, or looking to polish your performance and maximise your marks? Whatever your riding goals, check out Tania Grantham’s tips for mastering the basics at every level. Plus, learn all about side saddle and what’s involved in this traditional style of equitation – it might even become your new favourite discipline!

It’s a common problem – a horse who lacks energy when it comes to his work but who also has a tendency to gain weight. With the right approach, feeding for energy but without weight gain needn’t be an issue, as nutritionist Keilly Gell explains. From the impact electrolytes can have on your horse’s health to signs of imbalance and a product guide, we’ve got everything you need to know about these essential minerals so you can stay one step ahead.

Last year, Editorial Assistant Kirsty had the opportunity to attend her first summer camp with her horse, Ben. They were a relatively new partnership at the time, so she wasn’t sure what to expect, but her experience exceeded all expectations! The week was filled with fantastic training and great company, and she felt her partnership with Ben really grew during that time. It was such a brilliant experience that, this month, she’s been reliving the best bits and writing all about it in our summer camps feature!

Don’t forget to claim your free Leovet fly roll-on and hoof oil, too, and enter our amazing competitions!

All this and so much more in the August issue of Horse&Rider – on sale now!