Summer 2022
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Explore Your Summer 2022 IH Magazine!
Hello IH Members and friends!
This issue is brimming with thoughtful, practical, and even eye-opening content to help you and your horses thrive this season. Whether you’re building new habits, brushing up your fitness (both yours and your horse’s), or just enjoying a well-deserved tea break in the shade, this one’s for you.
What’s Inside?
• Kelly’s My World: Creating Atomic Habits (for Horses!) and morning routines with Pie and Blondie
• Polework Prowess with Gillian Higgins – transform your training with clever gridwork ideas
• Muscle, Speed & Stamina – Clare MacLeod busts feeding myths and fuels smart fitness
• The Secret of Stickability – brilliant tips from IH experts to help you stay on top
• Emma Sharman explores why backing up might be your most powerful tool
• Equine Brainpower – Kelly takes a deep dive into how horses think (and blink!)
• Difficult Conversations – how to approach tricky topics with compassion and clarity
• IH Debate: Grooming – is it the dream job or just plain underappreciated?
• The Big Interview with Jim Eyre, CEO of British Equestrian
• Foal Special Members’ Photos, Book reviews, Survey results, and so much more!
Why You’ll Love This Issue
This summer edition really gets to the heart of what matters most – building strong, trusting partnerships with our horses. With the lighter evenings giving us more time to play, train, and simply enjoy being around our four-legged friends, there’s never been a better moment to reflect on your horse’s physical and emotional wellbeing.
Kelly’s own journey with Blondie and Pie shines a light on the power of small, consistent habits – a reminder that systems matter more than goals. And Gillian Higgins’ polework ideas (especially the angled ones!) are perfect to try on a warm evening when the ground’s just right. Clare’s practical feeding advice might surprise you (hint: more food ≠ more energy), and the article on “Stickability” is a must-read if you’ve ever found yourself unexpectedly airborne!
So whether you’re managing spring grass, finessing your groundwork, or deepening your understanding of equine behaviour, this issue is here to support and inspire you every stride of the way.
Complete Contents with Article Descriptions
4 – My World: Atomic Habits (for Horses)
Kelly Marks reflects on routines, training with Blondie, and what Atomic Habits can teach us about becoming the kind of horse people we want to be.
6 – Letters and Feedback
Member insights, lovely stories (including a clever feed bucket trick!), and bridle fitting success.
7 – IH News
From worming strategies to global IH Awards – all the latest from the IH community.
9 – Members’ Photos: Foal Special
Cutest alert! A joyful collection of fluffy young faces to make your heart melt.
10 – Meet a Member: Charlie and Skye Bransden
Grandad and granddaughter team share their Shire-filled journey, from showing to driving.
12 – IH Photographer of the Year Launch
Your chance to win £500 – plus photo tips from IH’s Ele Milwright to get your best shot!
14 – The Big IH Survey
What you love, what you want more of, and how we’re making IH even better for you.
16 – The Big Interview: Jim Eyre
Candid conversation with the CEO of British Equestrian on inclusion, welfare, and the sport’s future.
18 – Improving Performance with Polework
Gillian Higgins shares how raised poles can support posture, proprioception and power.
22 – Feeding for Muscle, Speed & Stamina
Clare MacLeod separates fact from fiction in fuelling horses for fitness.
24 – The Secret of Stickability
What’s the secret to staying on board? A look at rider balance, mindset and movement.
29 – Is Backing Up the Most Useful Exercise of All?
Emma Sharman explains why this one movement could change everything.
32 – Blinking Horses: A Look at the Equine Brain
Explore how your horse’s brain works – and why blink rate matters more than you think!
34 – Difficult Conversations
Tackling tricky subjects with trainers, vets or fellow livery yard mates? Start here.
38 – IH Debate: Groom – Dream Job or Overworked & Underpaid?
An honest look into the reality of working behind the scenes in the horse world.
40 – Spotlight On: Kathy Whitham
Meet the woman behind the scenes making a difference.
42 – Book Review: You Decide!
Christin Krischke’s latest work reviewed with thoughtful takeaways.
43 – IH Trainer Client Feedback
Real stories from the field – see how IH trainers are changing lives every day.
Navigation Tags
groundwork, horse psychology, polework, backing up, summer, nutrition, rider positioning and biomechanics, brain & senses, training aids, photo competition, young horse, worming, foaling
