It can be a very worrying time for horse owners and the British Horse Society has some advice about how to keep your horse calm.

Keep your horse in its normal routine. So, if it is normally stabled, it should stay in. If it is normally out in the field, keep it there as long as it is safe and not close to a firework display area.

Make sure you, or someone experienced, stays with the horse if you know fireworks are being set off.

Playing music on a radio close to the stable door can often mask sudden noise and be soothing.

Putting cotton wool in your horse's ears will help to muffle the noise.

If you know your horse will be very distressed, you could ask your vet about sedation but this would be a very last resort.

Make sure you stay safe yourself and don not risk riding when you think fireworks might be set off.

YORKSHIRE'S top polo players were rewarded for their contribution to the sport at an end of season celebration.

The event is organised jointly by the White Rose, Beverley and Toulston clubs and was held at the KP Golf Club near Pocklington.

Members of the clubs voted prior to the event to determine the winners in a number of categories and the results were announced on the night.

Tony Wesche, from the White Rose, was named best male player and the best female player award went to Debbie Stabler, from Beverley Polo Club.

Ashley Foreman, also from the Beverley club, was named the most "up-and-coming" player.

The best polo party category was won by White Rose for the 2009 Summit Cup and the best polo ground award went to Beverley. White Rose's Summit team also won the award for the best Yorkshire team.

"ANIMALS – especially horses – that are in training are like athletes," says Sarah Gill.

"Although they are performing at high levels of physical exertion, they often get no physical therapy afterwards."

Sarah, 23, from Tockwith, recently qualified as an animal physical therapist and specialises in the McTimoney-Corley method, working with horses and dogs.

The treatment helps to restore nerve function, relieve muscle tension and improve movement and performance.

Sarah, who is from a farming background and is a keen rider, studied animal science at Newcastle University and then went to the Oxford College of Equine Physical Therapy.

Since launching her own business, she has treated performance horses from various disciplines, including racehorses, around Yorkshire.

Sarah will be talking about her work, along with human physiotherapist Helen Wallace, next Friday at an evening with the theme Improving Horse and Rider's Performance.

Helen Wallace will talk about how the rider's physical problems can translate to the horse and vice versa. She will also have tips on what the rider can do to improve their horse's performance from a physio's point of view.

For more information about the evening, which is at Norton Bowls Club near Malton on November 13, contact Margot Tiffany on 07768 296088.