Horse&Rider Magazine – December 2025

Description

If you haven’t already, now is the time to look closely at your body and how you can improve it to uplift your riding experience, your horse’s comfort and also their way of going. And if you’ve been living with the issue for some time? Well, you’re not alone – as Editor Louise reveals. “The realisation that my weak right knee explained an awful lot of the schooling issues I found with my horses was shocking, and was the catalyst for a lot of focused work to redress as much of the issue as possible. And now? Well, not only do I have no knee pain, but I’m straighter and better balanced. And so are the horses I ride.”

This issue, qualified and experienced Pilates and Equipilates Biomechanic trainer, Ali Williamson explains how symmetry plays a significant role in both you and your horse’s posture and performance.

Successful jumping is all about getting the right canter rhythm – once you have that, everything else should fall neatly into place. In the first part of her new series, event rider Caroline Powell has one simple exercise to help you find your flow and practise adjustability. Do you enjoy hacking with your horse? It’s one of the most pleasurable things you can do together, but it doesn’t come without risks. Knowing how to do deal with tricky situations you might encounter will go a long way towards boosting your confidence and enjoyment of your rides, as well as minimising accidents so follow our tips to get started.

During the wet, cold and dark winter months (yes, we hate to admit it, but they are rapidly approaching), motivation and mood can be at an all-time low. While the weather can’t be controlled, we can adapt to whatever it throws at us so we can make the most of it, whether that’s glorious, sunny days or continuous rain for what seems like weeks on end. Mindset coach Angie Jones-Moore shares her expert advice on how to lift the gloom and see winter not as a limitation, but as an opportunity. Also in this issue, Alison Buttery explores how to navigate doubts and build a clearer, more confident partnership with your horse.

Inevitably, this time of year brings an increased risk of mud fever. We take a look at this common condition in detail to bring you the symptoms to look out for, as well as how to treat and prevent it. The lack of sunlight, seasonal hair growth and dietary changes are all factors that can leave your horse’s coat looking dull, so we’ve come up with some shining solutions on how you can get him looking great in no time, from nutrition and post-exercise care to clipping and rugging.

This is also your public service announcement to get the hand cream out and add it to your daily routine. The H&R team put a range of products through their paces for the whole of last winter, and you can find out which performed best in the battle to save skin savaged by central heating, as well as yard chores and riding in the worst of the winter weather.

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