Dengie is delighted to be able to support Devon based adventurer, horse trainer and free rider, Emma Massingale.

Emma has a wealth of experience of working with horses at Liberty and has developed a language that is so well understood by horses that she can communicate with herds of horses at any one time, carrying our complex exercises and manoeuvres as a team.

In 2015, Emma embarked on an adventure to the coast of Connemara National Park, spending one month with four Connemara ponies from her Liberty team and two new unhandled Connemaras. Living a solitary existence with just the ponies, Emma’s challenge was to work with and ultimately start two unhandled Connemaras completely at Liberty.

“Horses give you an incredible perspective on life.” says Emma. “Starting a horse at Liberty is the perfect challenge, there is nowhere to hide, you can either do it or you can’t, there is no cheating, no shortcuts, no easy wins.”

“I’ve always fed Dengie to my horses. There is a wide variety of feeds to choose from that are suitable for the varying requirements of my horses, from Healthy Tummy for the sport horses to Healthy Hooves for the Connies.” said Emma. “Dengie’s ethos of using natural and nutritious ingredients in their feeds that allow horses to eat as nature intended fits with my beliefs. Whenever we go on our adventures I know that their Dengie diet will keep their digestive systems healthy and them happy!”

Dengie is delighted to be able to support the Turnbull family and the Ashton Stud.

The Scottish-based stud was established in 1989 and is the home of renowned sport horse breeders and producers Mary and John Turnbull along with their children Katie and Mark. The family specialises in producing elite sports horses and is the breeder of FEI former world number one show jumper, Ursula XII and Nations Cup Winner Hello Whisky Mac IV, to name but a few.

Mark Turnbull is a young, up and coming show jumper competing nationally and internationally on Cartouch III and Ashton Dakota along with a string of up and coming youngsters. He’s on the HorseScotland Performance Squad where he receives additional support and training from John Ledingham and Erik Mackechnie. Mark has spent the first part of this year producing Ashton Stud’s youngsters along with owners horses at home but plans to head abroad to compete later in the year.

Katie’s focus is dressage. Currently she has Ashton Solitair, another home bred who formerly show jumped. Currently competing at medium level with plans to step up to advance medium this year and is aiming for the the Area Festival in July along with Scottish Championships. Katie has a very exciting homebred yearling for the future and the family intend to breed a few more with dressage lines.

“We’ve fed Dengie for years”, says Mary. “Starting with Alfa-A Original we’ve always based the horse’s diet on fibre whatever their job might be; breeding, youngstock, jumping or dressage. My horses have always performed and looked great on Dengie,” said Mary.

“Mum and Dad always had horses, both rode and were competitive so naturally it was always going to be horses for me,” said Mark. “I’m involved in all aspects of the horses lives, whether that’s training or their management. Nutrition and Dengie is a vital piece of that performance jigsaw. I want to feed them the best so that they’re healthy and ready to perform. All of our horses, are being fed on a fibre based diet of Alfa-A Oil, Alfa-Beet in addition to a balancer and their hay and turnout.”

For further information and advice on feeding the performance horse click here.

Anand Patel’s horses have been enjoying their Dengie diet of Alfa-A Oil and balancer since January, so now was the perfect time to revisit and review how they were getting on.

When we visited back in late December the horses were a little lighter than was ideal especially with Bandit and Annabelle, being large horses, looking less ‘finished’ and in need of some condition. This gave Performance Horse Nutritionist Claire Akers something to work on. “Alfa-A Oil is perfect for building condition and providing energy without the fizz. As you can see from the before and after photos the horses look amazing and they’re a picture of health.”

“Even the new boy Ferrari, aka Dream Catcher, has taken to the new diet. He came over from Holland so is predominantly a mix and cubes boy. At first we had to wean him gently on to his Alfa-A Oil, but now he’s tucking in and looking fabulous on it. He’s got plenty of go and his coat is gleaming”, said Anand. “I plan to bring him out at Prix St George and aim him at Int I when we’re feeling more comfortable with one another in the arena. He’s got all the moves, he’s one for the future, I’m really excited and privileged to be riding him.”

Competition season is now well upon us! April saw us take a trip to Hartpury College for the Petplan Area Festival Championships where we competed at Novice. Unfortunately we didn’t get the results I hoped for but wow, what a great experience! Hopefully we will be lucky enough to qualify again this year.

Sherbert and I have been busy out competing at local venues and have gained the points required at Novice for the Summer Regionals with the next round taking place in July at Bicton Arena. We are also on our way to getting the qualifications needed for the Petplan Area Festivals at Elementary level with just one more qualifying score needed.

Away from competing we have been working on some medium movements in our training sessions with lots to take home and practice! Hopefully we will be out competing at this level soon. I never thought I would get to Novice level let alone Medium! The hard work is paying off!

We have also been doing lots of hacking in the lovely weather and had a couple of trips to the beach. I am so lucky to have beaches so close to home that allow horses. Sherb loves the beach where he gets a change of scenery and a chance to clear the cobwebs. He isn’t great at galloping but he improves each time and it really helps with his fitness levels. His Dengie diet is really helping with his stamina and energy levels.

I am lucky to be taking a trip to the dressage at Hickstead in June to help and support my great friend and trainer who is competing there. It is a lovely venue and hopefully I will get to compete there myself one year! Always good to have a goal!

The 2018 Pony Club Winter Show Jumping and Dressage Championships, generously sponsored by Dengie Horse Feeds Ltd, returned to Addington Manor Equestrian Centre, Buckinghamshire, on 14-15 April 2018

A total of 266 Members took part in the Championships following qualification at Prelim Rounds and Area Qualifiers, and a further 28 entered the Dressage to Music classes which ran alongside.

Day one welcomed some much-needed sun for competitors taking part in the Dengie Winter League Dressage, Dressage to Music and Open Grand Prix Show Jumping.

• Lydia Ward (16) from the North Cotswold Hunt took the top spot in the Novice Dressage riding Heathcliff III with a score of 76.35%. Lydia, who bought Heathcliffe III just last November, said: “The win is totally unexpected. Our very first competition was the Dengie qualifiers, and since then he’s got better and better.”

• At Intermediate level, twenty year old Evie Hardwick rode Roxlan Jasper to success with a score of 71.37% for the Bramham Moor Hunt Branch. Evie, who also enjoys coaching younger Members in her Branch, said: “I knew he’d do a nice test, but to win is such a surprise!” Evie has owned Roxlan Jasper, who is six this year, for just over a year. She continued: “I plan to try Eventing next, and see what he enjoys doing most.”

• The Open Winter League Dressage saw some very close finishes, with just 0.07% separating 1st and 2nd places, and 0.07% also separating 2nd and 3rd places, but it was Florence Human (16, Polden Hills) whose beautiful performance with Fulgencio scored 71.54% to clinch the win. Florence and Fulgencio, aka Dylan, had a second sensational victory in the Open Dressage to Music, securing the top spot with a score of 75.89%.

Florence, who has a dog and two other horses named after characters from the Magic Roundabout, said: “Dylan turned seven yesterday and this is his first ever Dengie Championships, so to win is amazing! I didn’t expect to even get into the ride-off.” Florence hopes she and Dylan can continue to work their way up the Dressage levels.

• Cheshire Hunt North’s Emily Entwistle (14) rode Arch Rival to win the Novice Dressage to Music on a score of 69.38%, narrowly pipping Iona Stokes (10, Beaufort Hunt) and Bubbles and Ellie Tomkinson (14, East Cheshire) and Eglwysfach Rosebud who took joint 2nd with 69.06%.

• Meynell Hunt’s Holly Clarke was delighted to do one better this year in the Intermediate Individual Dressage to Music, finishing 1st with Red Dandy on a score of 78.06%. Last year Holly took the runner-up spot riding Newoak Truffel.

• In the Pairs Dressage to Music, Evangeline Taylor and Olivia Wilkes rode Penanns Goldeneye and SFS Annette respectively for the North Staffordshire Hunt Branch, winning with a score of 67.81%.

• The standard was high in the Open Grand Prix, but Paul Thompson’s testing course asked all the right questions and after two rounds just 11 riders went through to the jump-off.

Victory went to an ecstatic Grace Wallace (17) and Eau Claire V riding for the Cheshire Hunt South Branch. The combination also took the runner up spot in the Warm Up class.

Grace said: “Eau Claire V is nine years old now, and I’ve had her for just over a year. She is quite quirky! She can be a nightmare at times but she loves an atmosphere; we have previously competed in amateur classes at Bolesworth International and Liverpool International.”

Grace, who hopes to step up to 1.30m next, last competed at the Dengie Winter Championships in 2014. She returned this time around with Eau Claire V and Ilena VD Bischop, who came 5th in the Open Grand Prix having been withdrawn from the Warm Up class because she lost a shoe.

More Show Jumping was on the cards for day two, with the Debut and Winter League Series Championships.

• Debut saw an increase in competitors since its introduction last year, with 65 riders tackling courses of 80cm in height. Charlotte Hosking (14) and Macsimus took the win for the Axe Vale Branch, making the four hour drive from home worthwhile.

Charlotte said: “I’m proud and really happy! This is our first Dengie Championships, so to win is amazing!” Charlotte has owned Macsimus for two years and they also take part in Eventing.

• Victoria Barrow (16) took the top spot in the Winter League Series Show Jumping Championships riding Filo Blueprint (aka Gadget) for the Bisley and Sandown Chase Branch. A very happy Victoria said: “This is our first Dengie Championships, so I was happy just to have qualified. I knew Gadget was capable, but it’s so difficult to win. I hoped for the best, but expected someone to be faster.” Gadget was sold after qualification, but his owners kindly allowed Victoria to ride him at the Championships. Victoria now has a horse on loan over the summer and is helping her sister with her youngsters.

• It was a good day for Elysia Heagren-Bond from the Garth Hunt Branch, who was presented with the Horsemanship Award for both the Debut, in which she finished 4th, and the Winter League class, where she took the runner up spot. The Debut was judged by Amanda Kent and the Winter League by Pauline Ricketts. Elysia also picked up the award for the Highest Placed Rider under 12 years of age.

Lisa Wilson, Marketing Manager for Dengie, said: “The Dengie Winter Championships continue to go from strength to strength. Dengie has supported the event for over twenty years; the standard of riding, competition and camaraderie was fantastic to watch and just gets better and better. Well done to the partnerships who qualified and congratulations to all of those that were crowned champions and came away in the ribbons!”

Well it’s been a busy couple of days since I last blogged.

Flores L had done his second test. It was much more settled than the previous experience. His heart was racing and he was a little tense, but he held it together to complete the Medium Gold Freestyle. No rosette for us this year, but he was much less of a racing car and much nearer the Rolls Royce today.

So as we prepare to leave, the sun has come out and the people are flocking to go watch Charlotte Dujardin compete in her classes. It was very exciting to ride in the arenas with her, watching her prepare her horses. I now need to up my game. I do wonder if she gets bored of winning some many thermatex rugs and sashes. If she does, donations are gratefully received.

The horses look really well having stabled away and not had their usual turnout time. Thanks can only go to Dengie for keeping them munching all week. Ivanhoe particularly loved the Dengie Meadow Grass with Herbs – his healthier alternative to a lifetime supply of polos.

I’ve just picked up my gold plated door plaques. Proof that we qualified. Each equating to about £200 a piece. I think I’ll sleep with them next to my bed they are that precious.

So Fabian and I are loading the lorry in preparation for the dreaded M5. Hope the gin is poured when we finally get home.

Craig

Hello all,

Well it’s been a hectic week and all systems are go for the boys tour to the Winter Championships. I can’t decide whether I’m nervous or excited. Probably a combination of the two!

Since I last babbled on to you the horses have all had a steady week in preparation for their Finals. I’m a firm believer that their bodies don’t cope with working twice as hard because we have a major show coming up. Every day is the same for them. So we don’t need to hammer them because that quest not to be last is looming. They’ve spent the week doing some pole work, stretching and generally being pampered.

Both Flores L and Ivanhoe had a visit from my long-term friend and guru Chiropractor, Tomasina Spilman. She is my angel from heaven and is paramount in keeping them in good condition. She’s also very capable of giving me a good slap if I have a meltdown over a dodgy canter transition or not-so-square halt, when I’m panicking that it’s all going bottoms up!

Lucky Fabian deserted me over the weekend, as I was lucky enough to win a trip to Denmark through Elite Stallions to the Helgestrand and Blue Hors Stud open days. He has been fabulous this winter. Wading through mud every day to get the boys their turn out time and generally yielding pitch forks and poo buckets doing anything to help whilst I was at work. There was no way I dared give the boys the weekend off before the show, so it only seemed fair that Fabian should go (Though he owes me a day off now!)

Today has been chaos. Horses were ridden, lorry is half packed with enough Dengie Alfa-A Oil to sink a battleship. Saddlecloths, boots, bandages and rugs are cleaned and preened and Marilyn bathed the horses to within an inch of their lives. And I went to work hoping that my list has reduced itself whilst I was away. All under the careful supervision of Ladies Gloria and Dorothy the Danes who are very much looking forward to meeting their adoring public at Hartpury.

I do question the sanity of two adults, two horses, two Great Danes and a road trip for four, four and a half minutes of sheer fear, adrenaline and horror and a bill that could have paid for a weeks all inclusive in the sun. But that’s why we do this. We love the sport.

So whilst I am sat here updating you all on the preparations for the event, Fabian is making a weeks supply of chilli con carne for our friends that are eating with us this week in a quest not to run up a mortgage repayment in the café. The horses are shining in their stables, totally unaware of the fear I possess at the three judges of doom at C, M and E over the next week. The dogs are laid on the sofa that we haven’t yet arrived at and now are unlikely to get a seat on. And Marilyn is still restoring order to her gin collection.

Tomorrow we are heading down to Hartpury. I’ll look forward to updating you from the dark side.

Hi everyone,

I’m Craig Millard from Northamptonshire. No, this is not a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous (Friends, keep your opinions to yourself!) but my first blog for Dengie covering The NAF Five star Winter Dressage Championships.

So, a little background on myself so you don’t think I’m random punter scribbling his thoughts for a fortnight.
Like a lot of you reading this, I’m a working rider. I have a full time job as a saddle fitter for Tower Farm Saddlers in Rugby. I’m also lucky enough to have two super horses to compete that I ride and care for before and after work, with the help of my partner Fabian, my landlady and close friend Marilyn, and not forgetting, the most important part of the team, Lady Gloria and Lady Dorothy, our two Great Danes.

After a long wet, cold, miserable winter of nocturnal riding and horse-care, that I am sure you can all sympathise with, I managed to qualify for the Winter Champs in four classes.

My two lovely rides will both do two classes so its all systems go in the Countdown to the “family-outing” down South.

Ivanhoe (Apache x Havidoff) is five years old and owned by Davina Wilson. He’s contending the Novice Gold and Novice Gold Freestyle. He’s a beautiful type but the arena will be a big ask for his age. And a bigger ask for me with all those shops. How is a boy supposed to concentrate when valuable spending time is lost on horseback.

Flores L (Beau x Ferro) is eight years old and on permanent loan to me from a good friend, Shirley Rixon. He’s competing in the Elementary gold Freestyle and the Medium gold Freestyle. He’s a sensitive boy and is affectionately known at home as Flower! He’s a bit like a supermodel. Long legged, elegant and a fussy eater hence my involvement with Dengie, when Danielle Gautrey put on her superwoman cape and came to the rescue. We totally changed his diet, removing all grains and moving him onto a fibre based diet of Dengie Alfa-A Oil and a balancer. Within a week he ate everything and became much calmer in his response to work. For the second time in my life, I’m converted!

So with one week to go until the Boys and the Danes hit the M5, on route to gaining the most expensive door plaques in the history of man, I am writing lists of things in a quest to feel organised. Fabian is making the saddle cloths white again. The dogs are causing chaos. The horses are enjoying their time snorkelling in the mud bath, and Marilyn is restoring order to her gin collection. Much like most dressage yards really.

I’ll keep you posted on how things are going. Enjoy your week.

Dengie caught up with Olivia Langley as she finished her lesson with Dan Sheriff for an update on their progress.

“Since the last British Dressage Youth Pony Progress training I’ve been working hard at home with help from my trainers Vicky Humphrey and Sonia Baines on keeping Albert loose and working over his back. When we did our test riding in January he was great, much more off my leg and well behaved but in February, well it didn’t go very well, as he was a bit spooky.”

“My lesson with Dan today was great; Albert was really listening to me. Dan said that we had improved a lot and were much better as a partnership.”

Claire Akers commented on the difference since first weighing and condition scoring Albert back in October.

“Albert was a condition score 4 back in October and had a bit of weight to lose. The combination of working correctly, monitoring his hay and a diet of Alfa-A Lite with a vitamin and mineral supplement shows a much trimmer Albert. In total he has lost 28 kg which is equivalent to 8% of his body weight. He’s now the ideal weight for him to be able to perform at his very best. Olivia can now relax Alberts diet a little to help him maintain rather than lose weight. To do this it was suggested to increase his soaked hay and his Alfa-A Lite. Alfalfa supplies a very good source of quality protein, this combined with his increased work load will help him develop a little more topline.”

Next for Olivia and Albert is British Dressage Youth Northern Camp at Sheepgate and then looking forward to our first Premier League of the season at Keysoe.

Earlier in the year, three lucky Horse&Rider readers won a 12-month training bursary from Dengie. As part of their prize, they won lessons with Dengie ambassadors, Hannah Esberger-Hancock and Lucy Jackson. Their horses were also given a nutritional consultation with Dengie’s Performance Horse Nutritionist, Claire Akers. We catch up with one of the lucky winners, Libby Gill on how her competition preparation has gone with Sherbert, her 12-year-old, TB X Welsh Section D gelding.

“So the competition prep for the Petplan Championships in April isn’t going quite to plan!” reports Libby

“I managed to have a few dressage training sessions in January and February and got to our first show of the year. As we hadn’t been to a show for a few months I decided just to do the one class. He took it all in his stride and behaved brilliantly and even though we didn’t get in the top placings I was very pleased with how he went. We have been working on getting Sherb to carry himself more and not lean on me and this is going well but with lots more to work on.”

“Then the Beast form the East struck!! It is very rare for Cornwall to get snow at all and when we do, everything seems to come to a standstill!! Someone also crashed into my car so I had no towing vehicle for a couple of weeks which put a halt to training and shows!”

“With the evenings very gradually getting lighter, I have managed to fit in a couple of short hacks after work this week and I am really looking forward to the clocks changing, lighter evenings and hopefully some dry weather!”

“Being fuelled by fibre really suits Sherbert and his temperament and he is looking and feeling great on his Dengie diet.”