TURNING OUT A horse to be a head-turner in the show ring begins long before the actual competition — months before, in fact. It begins in the field with the way the horse is rugged and when and how often he is turned out. It also begins in the feed room, where a carefully thought out diet in conjunction with nutritional experts is essential for vitality and wellbeing. It also begins in the school and on the roads with an exercise programme that will get him fitter and will build up his muscle, all at the right speed and in the right way.
The right recipe
My horses tend to have hard feed in the morning at 7am, at which point their haynets are hung up. Once they have digested their food, they are worked or some are turned out, depending on their individual routines. Some have lunch (at 12.30-1pm), and they are given an evening feed at 4.30-5pm.
Two essentials are a regular routine, plus access to ad-lib water all day.
My horses have been fed on Spillers for years —their skin and coat is in the best possible condition, and this takes months.
