Horse&Rider Magazine – January 2024

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Whatever your feelings about Christmas itself, the festive season signals the passing of the winter equinox and – finally – extra minutes of precious daylight returning. The consensus among the team at H&R Towers is that one of the main benefits of the numerous bank holidays is more time to ride, and we’ve rounded up 12 different ways to pass the 12 days of Christmas with your favourite equine – turn to p46 for some ideas to inspire you.

We’re also gearing up for an exciting summer of sport, with the 2024 Paris Olympics on the horizon. While Greenwich was an impressive backdrop to London 2012, the Palace of Versailles will host the equestrian disciplines this summer. And what a great location it promises to be! This issue, we delve into the logistics of creating a temporary equestrian venue to house – and test the skills of – the world’s best horses, surrounded by one of the most important historical sites in France. Turn to p8 to find out how the organisers are working to achieve just that.

In this issue, vet David Rutherford explains all about kissing spines. While the diagnosis of this progressive – and relatively common – condition can feel very overwhelming for owners, management and treatment options are varied, so it doesn’t necessarily mean a horse’s ridden career is over. Head to p68 to find out more.

Looking back at the 2023 shoot season, we were worried that it would be a summer like 2022, cancelling shoots from the extreme heat. As it turned out, that wasn’t so much of an issue. Even our rescheduled photoshoot with showjumper Yazmin Pinchen-McCulloch was cut short due to a dramatic thunderstorm and sudden downpour. But we didn’t let the weather dampen our spirits and being at Hascombe Stud – the home of Tom Whitaker’s horses – with such fantastic facilities meant our day was still a success, plus Yazmin’s jumping exercises have given us plenty of inspiration for training over the winter months. Turn to p34 to discover one simple exercise that will help you create a smoother showjumping round.