ASKHQ: NON-DISCLOSURE AND WELFARE, LEGAL LIABILITY AND INSURANCE

ASKHQ: How does non-disclosure affect horse welfare, legal liability and insurance? Answered by Hollard Equipage A: Transparency is a critical part of any successful horse sale, insurance application, or ownership transfer. Yet many challenges arise when important medical, behavioural, or management information is not openly shared. When key details are withheld, intentionally or unintentionally, the consequences…

BylizzieMay 16, 20260Comments

Horse Health

ASKHQ: CURB ON THE HOCK

AskHQ: I’ve been told my horse has a curb on his hock. What does this mean? A: A curb on a horse’s hock is a form of soft tissue swelling or thickening that appears just below the point of the hock, at the back of the leg. It’s usually caused by strain or injury to the…

BylizzieMay 11, 20260Comments

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ASKHQ: HOW TO STAY CALM FOR MY HORSE

Q: My horse picks up on my nerves and gets tense. How do I stay calm for his sake? A: Horses absolutely sense rider tension and often mirror it. Your elevated heart rate, rapid breathing, and tight muscles communicate to your horse that something is wrong. They respond by becoming more alert and reactive themselves,…

BylizzieMarch 9, 20260Comments

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ASKHQ: MANAGING WARM UP ARENA NERVES

Q: What should I do in the warm-up arena to manage my nerves? I feel like everyone is watching me. A: First, the reassuring reality: almost no one is watching you. They're focused on their own horses, their own nerves, and their own warm-up. Everyone in that warm-up arena is managing their own anxiety; they're…

BylizzieMarch 6, 20260Comments

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ASKHQ: HOW TO STOP COMPARING MYSELF TO OTHER RIDERS

Q: I watch other riders and think everyone else is so much better than me. How do I stop comparing myself and feeling inadequate? A: Comparison is called the 'thief of joy' for good reason. It's also remarkably unproductive. You're comparing your internal experience (all your doubts, mistakes, and struggles) with other people's external appearance…

BylizzieMarch 5, 20260Comments

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ASKHQ: MY NERVES MAKE ME HOLD MY BREATH WHEN I RIDE

Q: My nerves make me breathe shallowly and hold my breath. How do I remember to breathe properly while riding? A: Breath holding under stress is incredibly common and significantly impacts performance. When you hold your breath, you tense your core, stiffen your seat, and restrict your horse's movement. Your brain also receives less oxygen,…

BylizzieMarch 1, 20260Comments

Close-up of a horse's legs showing the horse cantering on a fibre surface in the arena - HQ Magazine

Ask HQ Horse Channel

ASKHQ: STUMBLING

AskHQ: My horse has started stumbling more frequently. Sometimes it’s just a toe drag, but other times he feels as if he loses his balance for a stride. How do I know what’s ‘normal’, and what’s a sign of something serious? A: Occasional stumbling can happen to almost any horse, especially when they’re tired, on…

BylizzieDecember 21, 20250Comments

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ASKHQ: MY HORSE SEEMS SLOW TO SHED HIS WINTER COAT

Q: My horse seems slow to shed his winter coat this year. Why might that be? A: A horse shedding more slowly than usual can have a few different causes - some completely benign, others worth checking out: Seasons and environment Shedding is driven by daylight hours (photoperiod), not temperature, so even if it…

BylizzieSeptember 28, 20250Comments

Breeding

SO, YOU WANT TO BREED A FOAL?

The what, when, who and how of it all... Text: Amelia Campbell-Horne As we’re still in the heat of the breeding season, we thought we’d investigate exactly what goes into breeding a foal - from the moment the thought is conceived in your mind up until the bundle of joy graces you with his presence. To do…

BylizzieSeptember 1, 20250Comments

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ASKHQ: ADJUSTABLE TREES

Q: How does an adjustable tree work? A: The tree of the saddle is essentially its framework, and its purpose is to distribute the weight of the rider evenly over the horse’s back. Saddle trees were developed more than 2000 years ago, and whilst their role remains the same today, there have (thankfully) been many developments…

BylizzieAugust 30, 20250Comments

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