OCTOBER 2014
Ebony Park will have a stand at Equitana!!
Tash’s Training Tip - Let It Be You ~ Kate’s Knowledge - Seedy Toe News From Holland - Supplementing Magnesium ~ Kate’s Tips
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We are very excited to announce that Your Riding Success will have a stand at Equitana this year!! Natasha is also going to be one of the Equine Educators - you can see her there on Thursday 20th November at 11.15 on the Epsom Sand Arena talking about How to Overcome Competition Nerves, and then again on Saturday 22nd November at 3.30pm on the Mitavite Sand Arena talking about Overcoming Fear in Your Riding. We would LOVE to see you there!! :) We are looking for volunteers to man the stand at Equitana - email us at info@yourridingsuccess.com if you are interested in helping us out! We will split the day into 3 hour shifts, and in return for helping us out, you will have a ticket for the whole day at Equitana.
Join us at Equitana! November 20-23 at the Melbourne Showgrounds Ebony Park Friesian Magazine October 2014
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IN THIS ISSUE •
PAGE 4: NEWS FROM HOLLAND
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PAGE 5: NOTE FROM TASH AND 2014 DATES
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PAGE 6-9: KIND KATE’S KNOWLEDGE HOOF ABSCESSES
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PAGE 10: THE EBONY PARK HIGH POINT AWARD!
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PAGE 11: EBONY PARK FRIESIAN DREAM CATALOGUE 2014
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PAGE 12-13: TASH’S TRAINING TIP - LET IT BE YOU
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PAGE 14: : LAST CHANCE TO BREED TO JORRIT!
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PAGE 15: TRENDING ON FACEBOOK
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PAGE 16-17: WINNING OR LOSING ALWAYS TEACHES YOU SOMETHING
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PAGE 18: HIGH PERFORMANCE HORSE THERAPIES
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PAGE 19: BROODMARE SPECIAL!!
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PAGE 20-21: HAVE YOU EVER WANTED A LESSON ON A FRIESIAN? FRIESIAN LESSONS AND EXPERIENCES ARE NOW AVAILABLE!
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PAGE 22-23: KATE’S KICKASS TIPS
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PAGE 24-31: LAUNCHING OUR UPDATED, NEW LOOK WEBSITE!
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PAGE 32-33: ROCKSTAR OF THE MONTH
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PAGE 34: PHOTO GALLERY
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Page 35: TASH IS AN EDUCATOR AT EQUITANA MALEBOURNE 2014!
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PAGE 36: 5 MINUTES WITH CARL HESTER
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PAGE 37: CONTACT INFORMATION
From the Editor Hi Fabulous Friesian Lovers!! WOW!! Last month was a busy one! We had our first foal of the season born 2 weeks early... check out the photo gallery for photos of Victoria’s lovely foal Takara. We have also had Intrigue of Ebony Park give birth to a gorgeous filly 1 week early (congratulations Sharon and Christie), and Ivy of Ebony Park give birth to a colt 4 days early (congratulations Cath)!! It’s all happening!! :) Tash and Kate blitzed it on the competition arena, with Tash and Abe winning the big tour championship at JurAvon Park in the middle of the month, and Kate and Milo with their first Elementary competition! We would like to welcome to the Ebony Park family Lauren and Rhett!! They have both decided on purebred geldings and we can’t wait to see them out and about in the near future!! :) This month Tash makes it all about you in her latest article, I give you some information on seedy toe, and the other Kate and Alex give you an update on the riding horses! Keep sending photos of you and your horse in so that we can feature you in our “best friend picture board” and if you have any questions that you would like answered, please email us at info@ebonyparkstud.com.au!! We hope you had a fantastic month, and enjoy the mag! To Your Dreams Becoming Reality,
Kate Langdon Ebony Park Friesian Magazine October 2014
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News From Holland - Magnesium Supplements It is increasingly common to feed horses a magnesium supplement. Now how can this help a horse and are there any restrictions to feeding this supplement? What are the disadvantages or possible side-effects? Phryso puts the question to equine nutritional expert David van Doorn. ‘Across the world we see diverse standards for feeding magnesium supplements. When you overestimate the need you may end up feeding too much or unnecessary amounts. It is not very likely that your horse’s daily ration will show a deficiency in magnesium alone. Chances are that apart from a magnesium deficit the rations will also contain low concentrates of one or more other minerals, micronutrients and vitamins.
e.g. calcium). There seems to be a connection between the supply of magnesium and brain function, but there are no valid equine studies proving the relevance of oversupplementing. Overdosing could lead to diarrhoea, kidney trouble, a calcium deficit and could affect the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract. The level of magnesium tolerance in horses is probably dictated by the form or blend in which it is administered. The generally accepted maximum amount is 8 grams of Mg/kg of feed. It seems magnesium supplements should only be used when basic rations contain insufficient levels of magnesium.’ Source: KFPS Website
This might be the case if your horse is fed really low-quality forage with just the extra handful of cubes to top up mineral levels. Magnesium has different functions and is for example an active agent for supporting many enzymes and the contraction of muscles (together with
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DIARY DATES Sunday 12th October
Yarra Valley DC Werribee Abe - Grand Prix Milo - Novice
Friday 10th October
Boneo Park Abe - Grand Prix Milo - Novice
Note from Tash Hi Friesian lovers!!!! :)
Weeeeeee!!!! I trust you are excited as I am!!! Spring is here! The weather is FANTASTIC and daylight savings is also on its way this weekend!!!! :) We are having a lovely busy time here at EP HQ. We have had three foals born already - congratulations Sharon & Christie, Cath and Vicki on the birth of your long awaited in-utero foals! We are so excited for you and can't wait to see your journeys with them! Abe has been amazing last month winning the Big Tour at JuAvon Park in September, and doing some super Grand Prix scores over 61%!! We are working hard to improve those scores and hope this month we pull it all together and get some Personal best scores over 64%!!!! Dante is still working hard in the Medium. His changes and half pass are all almost there, and we are looking forward to hitting the competitions In January next year again! Milo and Kate are also doing super well with PB's in the Novice with a score of 70% from one judge, as well as a 9 for the centreline! They are right on track, and I look forward to seeing some even more amazing results from them this month to qualify for the Victorian Dressage Championships in December. Other than the riding, we are all very busy breeding and working with all the foals as well as getting all ready for Equitana in November. With 19 mares due to breed this year we are also realising it may be time to downsize our mare herd, so are offering two amazing opportunities for the right person to invest in their very own Ebony Park Friesian Crossbred Broodmare. This month only we are offering EP Anika and EP Venus sold in foal to an Ebony Park stallion of your choice. EP Anika is also broken in, so you can ride once your foal is born. Two horses for the price of one - a mare and your very own foal! Click here for more information on these two beautiful special, lovely mares. Trust you have an Outstanding October!!!! To Your Success,
Natasha Ebony Park Friesian Magazine October 2014
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Kind Kate’s Knowledge - Seedy Toe Seedy toe or white line disease in horses has been called the hidden enemy. Seedy toe is a microscopic bug infection which enters the hoof via cracks, injuries or separation of the hoof wall, and regenerates very quickly in a non-oxygenated environment, causing the subsequent destruction and consumption of the inner hoof wall, and is a condition that can have been establishing itself over a period of months even years - before the detrimental effects begin to show in your horse's hooves. Hoof care in white line disease - as in laminitis and quarter cracks - is aided by rapid action. Recognise the condition and treat it correctly - your farrier will be able to let you know if your horse has seedy toe, and they will generally treat it for you and keep an eye on it, so regular trims or shoes are a really good idea for more than just keeping your horses feet trimmed! Seedy toe describes what the disease looks like – seedy because the affected tissue has a dry, crumbly texture, and the toe is the place on the
hoof wall where the white line disease commonly begins. The cavity that forms beneath the hoof is also often jammed with grass seeds (another reason for the name). If you can spot the signs of seedy toe before it gets too bad, then the treatment is much shorter term and far less c o m p l i c a t e d ! H o w e v e r, detection is often difficult, as sometimes there will be no external signs visible on the hoof wall. You or your farrier may spot a black discolouration of the white line area of the toe. You may also see the condition of your horses hoof deteriorating – cracking hooves, brittle and dry. Your farrier may also notice a hidden hollow area inside the hoof wall, often quite high up towards the coronet band, which is the result of damage to the hoof tissue where it is being eaten away from within. This sets up a weakness in
Ebony Park Friesian Magazine October 2014
the hoof that affects the integrity of the entire hoof capsule. Low heels and long toes can also cause seedy toe, as there is more pressure on the ends of the toes, which can cause separation of the laminae and subsequent invasion of bacteria up the hoof wall. So having a properly balance hoof with the correct hoof/ pastern angle is important. Causes White line disease is caused by two different types of opportunistic microorganisms that exist in a symbiotic relationship. Together they produce enzymes and exotoxins that break down the protein and collagen of the hoof wall. This dynamic colony of microorganisms consists of at least one type of destructive bacteria and at least one fungus.
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Kind Kate’s Knowledge - Seedy Toe This information explains quite a bit. First, because it is not caused by a single organism, white line disease may appear different from horse to horse, depending on the particular makeup of the colony of microorganisms present. For example, if there is a very aggressive fungus present mixed in with a virulent bacterium, a fast-growing, hard-to-treat case will result.
fail miserably on the next. To add another variable to the mix, these colonies are dynamic and grow faster when the environment is wet and warm, and slower when it is cold and dry. In white line disease, bacteria and fungi live within the confines of the hoof wall in a symbiotic relationship. That is, they can live independently, but mutually benefit by each other’s presence. Each organism breaks down the hoof in a different manner while providing metabolites for the other.
Typical presentation of seedy toe
Conversely, if a slowgrowing, less invasive fungus is paired with a more benign bacterium, this case can be treated more easily. There may be two or more destructive bacteria or fungi present in the same hoof. You can begin to understand that an infinite number of combinations can result. This also explains why a certain treatment may work effectively in one case and
The fungi can be heterotrophs, obtaining their food from nonliving organic matter, or saprophytes, feeding as parasites on living hosts. They become deeply imbedded within the hoof wall and send out threadlike filaments called hyphae that absorb nutrients much like roots of a plant. The bacterium reproduces more quickly by dividing, but the fungus can produce spores that makes it harder to kill. Treating for
Ebony Park Friesian Magazine October 2014
bacteria or fungus alone is useless because when one is eliminated, the other will continue to grow unabated. You must control both simultaneously. These microorganisms are opportunistic in nature. That is, they ordinarily will not attack perfectly healthy hoof tissue but will enter into a small crack, nail hole, or fissure at the white line. These problems commonly occur at the stratum medium because this is where the horny laminae interlocks with the sensitive laminae. There is a rich blood supply here, and wherever blood is present in nature, there is a possibility of infection. Obviously a quick is an open invitation for infection. Another one is a case of laminitis that causes a split in the laminae. Even subclinical cases of laminitis, although not severe enough to cause lameness, could result in small tears at the stratum medium. Even bruising this area can lead to problems. 7
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Kind Kate’s Knowledge - Seedy Toe Any trace of dried blood from the bruise makes a perfect nutrient for growth of these microorganisms. Be suspicious of any injury in the area of the white line, however subtle. It is best to treat white line disease aggressively and early. Short Term Effects Seedy toe breaks the integrity of the hoof capsule, often resulting in a vertical crack that travels up the hoof wall in tandem with the spread of the pathogens. If left untreated, such cracks may ultimately travel as far as the coronary band, thus making it a permanent defect.
Seedy toe may also cause lameness by forming an abscess. Long Term Effects Seedy toe can be more sinister in the long term if
left untreated. Not only can it leave scar tissue in the dermal laminae which becomes a permanent weakness in the hoof capsule's integrity, but the pathogens can penetrate the dermal layer and ultimately affect the pedal bone itself, leading to bone infection and bone erosion. Prevention Preventing seedy toe is all about not giving the pathogens a chance to penetrate the fortress of the hoof capsule; in other words maintaining the integrity and strength of the lamellar line by: • maintaining the length of the hoof wall so that hoof cracks are not created through mechanical forces. • maintaining the health of the laminar line by preventing laminitis. • providing relief from wet environments. Treatment The best way to treat white line disease is first to recognize it early and then treat it with a product that is
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a broad-spectrum bactericide as well as a f u n g i c i d e . Yo u m u s t remember that dry, cool conditions are your ally and that warm, wet ones are your enemy. Because some of the different organisms present are capable of producing spores, you must choose a product that is powerful and stays active for a long time. It takes time and patience to treat these infections once they gain a foothold. Even if you don’t kill all the organisms initially, you may kill enough of them to slow the advancement of the disease to the point that it may grow out with successive trimmings. The first step is to trim with a more aggressive roll on the outer wall to remove any mechanical forces. It also requires the hoof wall to be filed to expose the affected areas to the air, which kills the infection. It is important to remove all of the unhealthy material, and leave only healthy hoof wall. If the seedy toe is bad enough, some of the hoof may need to be reconstructed with a
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Kind Kate’s Knowledge - Seedy Toe synthetic material. The hoof needs to be kept clean and dry, and a hoof supplement containing biotin can be fed to the horse to encourage hoof growth. If the seedy toe fails to show significant improvement after two or three trim cycles, it will need to be resected and killed. It is very important to remove all of the pathogen, which means resecting beyond the visible seedy toe and a small way into the healthy inner wall to ensure removal of penetrating spores. It is very important to augment the integrity of the hoof capsule when a major part of the wall has been resected. If the resection goes beyond about half way up
the hoof wall, a stabilizing patch should probably be used. Once resected, there is the need for topical treatment to kill any remaining 'bugs'. There is an endless possibility of treating agents, the important thing is to use something that is strong enough to kill the pathogens, but not strong so that the dermal layer is damaged. Initially a hydrogen peroxide solution is good to clean the cavity with as the pathogens are generally anaerobic. For topical treatment it is best to use an agent that is effective against fungus and bacteria ie Ti tree oil, diluted bleach or iodine. However, a mixture using copper sulphate (fungicide) and Vaseline has been commonly used. It is important to treat every day for a week and probably about once a week after that until the cavity has grown out, to ensure that
Ebony Park Friesian Magazine October 2014
any fresh arrivals of pathogens are killed off. In severe cases, the best way to access the seat of infection is by "keyholing" drilling into the wall which maintains a bridge across the lower wall. Treatment of seedy toe is a job for professional trimmers who know the anatomical boundaries of the foot, and where and how much to drill into/debride away the hoof. Seedy toe is an inconvenience for both trimmer and horse owner, but it should not be ignored. If you have any questions about seedy toe, or if you would like to ask a question that I can answer in a future article, make sure you email me at info@ebonyparkstud.com.a u
To Your Dreams Becoming Reality,
Kate Langdon Source: Contact Ebony Park for a full list
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Feel free to share this publication with your friends, family, club... anyone who might find its content useful. Attention All Ebony Park Family Members!!
Introducing the Ebony Park High Point Award!! When you invest in an Ebony Park horse, it’s more than just a horse - you become part of the Ebony Park family!! So for the first time this year, those of you that are part of the Ebony Park family - i.e. those of you who have an Ebony Park horse - will be able to enter your horse to be in the running for the Ebony Park High Point Award!! This will be judged by Natasha at the end of 2014, based on results that you send in to us from the whole of 2014! There will be three categories for the Ebony Park High Point Award: 1. Best Performing Crossbred Friesian for 2014 2. Best Performing Purebred Friesian for 2014 3. Best Dressage Performance for an Ebony Park bred horse for 2014 The winners will receive Ebony Park woollen rugs to fit their horses! If you would like to check out the standings for the Ebony Park High Point Award, and see what horses from the amazing Ebony Park family are doing, click here! If you would like to submit your results of an Ebony Park horse to be part of the Ebony Park High Point Award, make sure you email them through with any photos of the event that you have, to info@ebonyparkstud.com.au We can’t wait to share your results!!
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Reserve Your Dream Foal‌ with the Ebony Park Friesian Dream Payment Plans taking on a whole new look!! At Ebony Park, our mission is to help all Friesian lovers with a dream - to own a Friesian - and to make that dream a reality. Click on the catalogue below to check out the possibilities and to reserve your Dream Friesian now!!
There are no foals for 2014 left! 5 sold for 2015...
Ebony Park Friesian Magazine October 2014
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Tash’s Training Tip - Let It Be You Hi Amazing Riders! :) How are you?!?!?! I trust well and enjoying your last month of Winter! Have you been training hard and ready to come out this Spring in a new level and getting new results? I hope so! :) Today I want to talk about ...... YOU!!!!! Yeah baby! It’s all about you!!!! :) In particular... Let it be you! Somewhere out there, someone is moving up a level in their riding. Someone is experiencing a great fulfilling, e x t r a o r d i n a r y relationship. Someone is getting richer, someone is getting promoted, someone is getting healthier, someone is laughing, smiling, giving. Someone is doing it... so why not let it be you! Success is not luck, it’s not fate and it’s not circumstance. IT’S STRATEGY!!!! And it’s possible! People prove it e v e r y d a y. M o r e importantly it’s possible for YOU!
Have you ever wanted to be a better rider? Have you ever looked at someone who has progressed through the grades, and wished that it could be you? People think about achieving success all of the time, when only a small percentage actually does. But any person in the population could. Someone is going to get to Grand Prix. Someone is going to score 100%. Someone is going to begin the journey to great success. So why not let it be you? Someone is going to get out in the rain and ride. Someone is going to work harder and get more money to pay for more lessons and training. Someone is going to do more courses and more study to improve their riding and move up the grades. So why not let it be you? Someone is going to make a decision. A decision to not accept the failures of the past, as a dictation of the future. A decision to step up, be more, act more, and have more than before. A decision to change and
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improve. So why not let it be you?
Someone is going to become a life long l e a r n e r. S o m e o n e i s going to set a goal to watch one training video a week for the next year. Someone is going to commit to riding 4 times per week, with no exceptions. So why not let it be you? Every day in every way, average people, normal people, people like you or I are improving their lives. They are doing it, whether you do or not won’t change or influence the people that are already doing it. The question is will you join them? Will you make the decision and let it be you? So by now I’m guessing you might be a bit pumped, a bit excited! A bit hell yeah! Why not me! And you are wanting 12
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Tash’s Training Tip - Let It Be You the success that others are going to have! Awesome! Bring it on!!!! But you might like to know… how? While there a r e s o m a n y d i ff e r e n t strategies and components that go into the recipe called success let’s consider these three crucial steps. 1. Commitment Commitment to CANI Constant And Never-ending Improvement. The commitment to work on yourself. Are you committed to improving yourself? Or staying the same? Are you committed to raising your standards, working harder, doing whatever it takes? Everything you have done in your life has got you to this point, everything you have or don't have is a result of the choices you have made in your life so far. But the past has no bearing on the future, it is
meaningless. What your future will be is based on the decisions you make each and every day. Each day people are making decisions which will move them closer to their goals. Let that person be you! 2. Planning You need a plan. It never ceases to amaze me when people say they want to go to Grand Prix, and I ask them their plan of how they will get there, and I get a blank stare. You need a plan! It doesn't have to be crazy! For instance - you may want to be a millionaire, so your plan is save a dollar a day. For the riding it may be ride 4 times a week, read a training book a week and watch a training video a month. Someone is going to devise a plan with simple steps that will take them into the future of their dreams. Let it be you! 3. Action As you know, action is where the magic happens! Nothing happens without ACTION! All great ideas, inventions and compositions become stale and useless without action. I'm sure you all know
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someone who always has an idea! A new shiny object they are chasing, a new thing they are doing... but how many of those people follow through? How many of those people actually achieve their dreams? People who ACT, people who follow through on their plans and ideas are the select few, but they are the ones who get their dreams. Someone will act today. Let it be you! So my plea, my hope for writing this article is to get you to stop looking at others and saying I wish that could be me. Instead look to others for inspiration, and take the three steps of commitment, planning and action to get your dreams. Someone is going to... will it be you??? Love to know how this article is helped! Email me natasha@yourridingsucces s.com to let me know of your commitment, plan and actions! :) To Your Success,
Natasha
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Last chance to breed to Ebony Park Jorrit!
Ebony Park has decided that the 2014 breeding season will be the last season that Jorrit will be a stallion... we are planning on gelding him shortly after the 2015 Keuring so that he can make a return to his competition career.
This magnificent stallion has produced some wonderful foals for us... if you think he would be a valuable addition to your breeding plans, then he is available as a breeding stallion to the right home. Therefore the 2014 breeding seasons are your last chance to get hold of his exceptional bloodlines. Jorrit is a foalbook stallion that holds a current breeding permit from the KFPS. Click here to go to his page on our website and enquire about breeding to him this year!
Born 12/05/2003, 16.2hh, Jet Black imported ster stallion By the Grand Prix Dutch Approved Dressage Friesian Jasper 366 Scored 82% for the IBOP (2009 Keuring) Foalbook ster stallion with a Current KFPS Breeding Permit for 2013-2014
Trending on Facebook Click here to go to our Facebook page to check out more posts by Ebony Park Performance Friesians!
Tash's Training Tip: Every time you do something and it’s perfect - exactly how you would like it to be, you should stop and take the time to take a mind picture of it. What specifically were you doing with your toes, heels, feet, ankles, calves, legs, seat bones, stomach, back, chest, shoulders, arms, hands, fingers, head?What were you thinking to create this perfect moment? Once you have taken the picture in your mind, use it to compare to the next time you do the movement, by contrasting and comparing the two pictures of the way it should be, to the way it is, you can ride towards the picture of how you want it to be.
Left: Quote of the Week
Below: Caption this and some competition photos!
Natasha is now blogging for EQ Life! Winning or Losing Always Teaches You Something Hi riding Superstars!!!! :) I trust your riding is going super and you are enjoying your riding and kicking your goals as we start to head into the end of 2014. With spring arriving, the competitions have started back with a vengeance, and I am loving all the learning opportunities that are coming my way as I compete every weekend. Winning or losing always teaches you something, and I am very lucky at this stage in my riding journey that I am wise enough to know neither mean much! I am constantly striving to learn more, understand more, and be a better rider
and trainer. My biggest belief is that I am doing the best I can with what I know, if I knew how to do better I would, and I will know more tomorrow from the learning opportunities of today.
We then got to Boneo Park three weeks later, and taking my learnings from Treehaven we had a much better test and scored 61.1%, improving by 6%. Happy me! :)
With this belief, I love all feedback from my competitions, as even when I lose or get a lower score, I win as I get a huge learning opportunity!
However we changed something again in my next competition at Werribee for the Victorian Dressage Club competition, and it didn’t work out... we went back down to 55.96%
I have had a fun month competing! We started off at Treehaven where Abe and I scored a fabulous 55.1%. :) It was a really crap test! I rode like an idiot, and Abe was resistant and against me pretty much the whole time.
So... coming to Juravon last weekend I knew I had to change something again, and try and do what I did at Boneo Park and even more so. It paid off with a 60.133% in the Grand Prix in the late afternoon, and then a 62.5% in the Kur that night to win the overall big tour champion! My biggest riding philosophy is take the feedback! If something gets a good result - keep doing it and try and improve it. If something gets a bad result... Stop doing it... Try something else. Riding and competing dressage is always a learning curve, and you never really do arrive and ‘know’ it all.
Natasha is now blogging for EQ Life! That’s the fun of it! The joy, the fun, the bliss is enjoying the journey, the every step of winning or losing that tells you keep doing that, or stop doing that and find another way.
muscle and movement. Part of her service is watching me ride, taking video with a slow motion camera to pick up any slight unevenness and weakness and to assess the range of motion.
Again I take the feedback. If the massage didn’t help I would have stopped it, but it really helps him feel looser and more connected and with me, so we keep doing it!
One of the biggest things I have also done this year is find an amazing equine sports therapist to massage Abe in the week before competition.
She then treats the underlying cause of what would cause these problems, and gives me a stretching and work plan to strengthen those areas.
I am very lucky to have the support and guidance of Shauleen from High Performance Horse Therapies.
This coupled with me constantly seeking to ride him better, with less hand and leg, and working hard to improve my PB’s and learn more and more about the Grand Prix test.
I trust this has given you some insight into the ups and downs and learnings gained from riding and competing at not only Grand Prix level, but every level along the way.
She is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to horse biomechanics and
If you would like to know more about how I work through the grades and compete successfully go to www.yourridingsuccess.com to get your free competition success videos. To Your Success,
Natasha Althoff
If we want our horse to perform at its best, we need to think of them as an athlete. If we have a very heavy competition schedule , lets consider having regular massages for our Equine Athlete, this way we can keep their muscles loose and supple and also pick up any tension before it becomes a problem. This way we have our horses feeling great , ready to perform. When our Equine Athlete starts not to perform as well as before, it might be that they sore , tight muscles. They might not want to canter on the correct lead, rush their gaits, not want to do lateral work , buck through transitions or even a particular gait. This might be the time to use an Equine Sports Therapist they can pick up sore, tight muscles and relieve the tension and bring the Equine Athlete back to performing at their best. As an equine sports therapist I see myself as part of your horses health care team and know that every member is important be that the vet, farrier, dentist , trainer , owner etc I'm regularly converse with the other professionals on how best to keep your equine partner performing to their best. An example had a client whose horse was very stiff, I was asked to assess the horse, I noted that he range of motion in the fetlock was very limited and said they needed the vet to make a diagnoses , owner agreed ,the vet was there and we were able to discuss what the course of action was and what was the best outcome for the horse. As a equine sports therapist we want the best outcome for our client and their beloved equine. To Your Equine Performance, Shauleen Rooney 0407955267
Spring has Sprung Broodmare Special!
Have you ever wanted a Friesian mare? We are so excited to be offering, to the right home, two of our 1/2 Friesian mares!
Spring Special! These mares are available for $9,997 in foal for the month of October only – that’s 2 horses – mare and foal – for the price of one!!
They are both very sweet mares - half sisters in fact, out of the same thoroughbred mare, with different purebred Friesian sires. Both are also around the 15.1-15.2hh mark... but that's where the similarities end! EP Anika Anika is a solid type dark brown mare and was born in and is by Grand Prix stallion Ebony Park Abe. She was broken in at 4 years of age, and was such a lovely mare that we decided to keep her to breed a couple of foals from before finding a new forever home for her. She has produced 2 lovely foals for us - EP Kate and EP Arnie, and is available either back in work, or in foal to the Ebony Park stallion of your choice.
EP Venus Venus was born in and is by flamboyant Friesian stallion Ebony Park Jorrit. She was the first born in her year, and has liked the attention from the get go! This bay mare is much finer than her sister, and has produced one lovely fine foal by Ebony Park Elko so far, and is in foal to him again this year. She will be available in foal to the Ebony Park stallion of your choice, once her 2014 foal has been weaned early in 2015. So if you have been looking for a part bred Friesian, and perhaps want to have your own foal that you can experience from the very start - then maybe one of these mares is right for you. The added bonus is - you get two for the price of one, as they will be sold in foal! Click here for more information and to register your interest!! :)
Have you ever wanted a lesson on a Friesian? Well now is your chance‌
Ebony Park is now offering lessons on Grand Prix schoolmaster and 1/2 Friesian gelding, The Carrock Tambo. This is your opportunity to experience what the Friesian paces are like, as well as ride an educated horse that has been there and done that - has all the buttons - but is also super quiet and safe for those of you with less confidence! Lessons are conducted by new young horse rider and trainer, Kate Richmond, and are starting this month! If you would like to book a lesson, click here to fill out the form on our website, or call Kate on 0422 227 364 for more information!
Ebony Park Gift Vouchers! Stuck for a gift idea? Ebony Park has the answer... why not gift an Ebony Park Friesian Experience!?! Have you or someone you know ever: Dreamed of sitting on a Friesian? Wanted beautiful photos of you with your dream black horse? Been curious to go behind the scenes of Ebony Park, meet all the horses and really see what we do every day with our Friesians? The Ebony Park Friesian Experience will give you all this and more! If this is the perfect present for you or someone you know, click here now to reserve your experience, and to find out more. We will personalise the voucher and send it to you (via email or express post if needed).
Have a lesson on a purebred Friesian!! Ebony Park is very excited to be offering lessons on one of our purebred Friesians - Friesian stallion Ebony Park Jorrit, who has competed to Medium and trained up to the PSG movements. We will also have another purebred Friesian available for lessons soon - so stay tuned!!
If it is your dream to ride a purebred Friesian, then make sure you click here to book in your lesson now!* *Lesson are subject to horse availability and rider experience. First lesson is given on Grand Prix 1/2 Friesian schoolmaster The Carrock Tambo to assess rider ability.
Kate’s Kickass Tips! Hey guys, This month I thought I would share my recent success in the competition ring with EP Monte Carlo (Milo). On the 13th of September the Ebony Park team set off to Werribee for the Victorian Dressage Club Champs. I decided to go into this competition with a new mindset, I found that the more I made each test a big deal, the more Milo stresses out and tenses. So in order to move forward, I had to change my way of thinking while competing. Immediately I could feel a difference, he felt softer through the mouth and back, and so much more out in the bridle – I just had to let go a little and not over-ride everything!
My first test was good, scoring a 65.517% and my second test even better with a 66.357% putting me in 2nd place. Although I was hoping for a higher score, I was very happy as one judge gave me a 70% and a 9 for my centreline! Overall I came 4th in the Novice Championship. I improved my scores with a lot of help from my awesome coach Tash! I must stress A LOT -without her guidance I wouldn't be improving so quickly. But also the thing that really changed was me. I was always saying that Milo was super hot and tense in my warm-up and tests, and don't get me
Kate’s Kickass Tips! wrong – he can be a total stress head sometimes, but so can I! Once I changed my mindset and attitude, I was able to feel him being tense and fix it. Competitions aren't always about getting the most amazing scores and
winning every test, sometimes you need to sacrifice a few comps to train and be the rider your horse needs you to be. And yes this sometimes sucks but in future comps you will have a relaxed and well rounded horse and rider! If you are having trouble with nerves in both horse and rider, remember to ride the test as if you were at home training. Forget about your surroundings and what everyone else is doing, it is just you and your horse in the arena training like you always do at home! Have fun with it, one of the best things about watching Tash ride her Grand Prix test is that when she makes a mistake or having a bad day of riding she smiles and laughs. And I really do mean a big grin and laughter pouring out. It can be so refreshing to see a top rider having fun through her test and that she is human, she makes mistakes just like us!! If you have any questions about competition or any awesome results send them though to: info@ebonyparkstud.com.au Until next month, Kate Richmond
Launching our Updated, Revamped Website!! Welcome home to Ebony Park Performance Friesians... where your Friesian dreams are made reality! Over the last couple of months we have been busy little bees reformatting, revamping and revitalising the Ebony Park website, so that we can give you the most value, the most information and the best experience possible when reading about and looking at Friesians. We have an all new, mobile-friendly website that has just been launched, and to make it easy and effortless to navigate around the website, we wanted to give you a simple walkthrough, so that you know everything that is contained in the website, and how to get around and look at everything! Head on over to www.ebonyparkstud.com.au to start your Ebony Park experience, and enjoy browsing over the next few pages, and if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please make sure you contact me on 0422 227 364. Have a fabulous day! To Your Dreams Becoming Reality, The Ebony Park Team In our new look website, we navigate through a series of menus. Your main menus are across the top, and then underneath the graphic, there is a sub menu taking you to all of the related topics to that top menu item. Everything is colour coded, which makes it easy to navigate around the website. If you want to contact us - it’s there on every page! If you’re using a smartphone, you can click on the phone number in the top right corner of the page, and it will automatically take you to your calls so that you don’t have to worry about cutting and pasting the phone number! Otherwise click on the text below the phone number, and this will take you to our contact page where you can email through your enquiry. So let’s start exploring...
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Home
The first top menu item is of course the home page. Click on the house icon to go to the main homepage menu. Here you will find: • News - keep up to date with Ebony Park and everything that is going on at the farm and out in the competition arena. • Results - check out our dressage results • Events - when are our mares due to foal? What competition will we be at next? click on this tab to check it all out! • Success Stories - what our clients have to say... • Extra - Here’s all the extra stuff we couldn’t fit anywhere else! Check out previous editions of the Ebony Park Friesian Magazine, the Ebony Park TV archive, free articles on Friesians and horses in general, our photo gallery, accreditations, and find out how to become a member of the rewards club! • FAQs - We answer your questions in this section - if you have a question that isn’t here, 25 make sure you fill in the form linked to the page to ask your question!
Horses for Sale
Let’s move to the next top menu item - Horses for Sale. This is where you go if you are looking at making your Friesian Dream come true!! Here’s what to expect: • Design Your Dream Horse - Our popular in utero payment plans start here. You choose the mare, you choose the stallion, and we create your Dream Friesian - there are over 15 mares to choose from! • Young Friesians - Prefer to see a horse already on the ground? Here’s where our young purebreds will be. • Dressage Friesians - Don’t want to wait for a horse to grow up and get broken in? It doesn’t happen very often, but occasionally we have purebred Friesians trained in dressage and ready to go to their new forever home! • Young Crossbreds - Want something more versatile? Check this page out if you are looking for a young Friesian cross. • Dressage Crossbreds - If you prefer to have us do all the work for you, and have a horse ready to go - then here is the place to go to check out our crossbred Friesians broken in and ready to rock! 26 • Success Stories - hear about what others have to say after making their Friesian Dream come true after investing in an Ebony Park Friesian
Coaching & Training
Moving along... if you are looking at having lessons, or if you have a horse already and you would like us to compete or train it for you, click on this tab! Here’s what we offer: • Training • Grand Prix rider and NLP Master Practitioner Natasha Althoff takes on selected horses to train and compete in the FEI levels of dressage • Her student and young horse rider and trainer, Kate Richmond, can train and compete your younger horse in the lower EFA levels. • Lessons • Natasha takes on only selected students for lessons on their own horse. • Kate can give you dressage lessons on your own horse, or if you want to feel like what the higher movements are like on a schoolmaster, or just what it feels like to ride a Friesian, we also have lesson horses available. • Our Lesson Horses - we have three gorgeous lesson horses, all trained to different levels of 27 dressage, and all for different levels of experience available for lessons at Ebony Park • Agistment - Having your horse trained here? We offer full care agistment.
Breeding
If you already have your own mare, and would like to breed to a Friesian stallion, then this tab is for you! Here’s what to expect: • Friesian Stallions - we currently have 4 Friesian stallions, all unique and different in their own special way, to match to your mare and produce your dream foal! • Contracts - the nitty gritty of what to expect when breeding with an Ebony Park stallion, and all of the forms associated with breeding at Ebony Park • Gallery - check out our stallions and their offspring to see what your foal might turn out like! • Success Stories - check out what others in the past have said about their experience with breeding at Ebony Park
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Pro Shop
We are very excited to be offering you a number of products in our pro shop. This shop is geared toward dressage riders on baroque horses. Here’s what you can purchase: • Ebony Park Merchandise - we have a range of products available throughout the year with the Ebony Park logo including dressage saddle blankets designed for Friesians and other baroque style horses. You can also check out KNI, our new sponsor and up-and-coming equine dressage apparel brand when they launch their new range later in 2014. • Gift Vouchers - stuck for a gift idea? Gift vouchers can be purchased for Friesian lessons, Friesian experiences and credit in the gift store. • Friesian Rugs - do you have a heavier horse such as a Friesian that never quite fits into the rugs you purchase? Perhaps their neck or chest are too big to fit into their rugs properly so you are always purchasing a size up? Our show sets are designed with the Friesian in mind! • Your Riding Success Products - Natasha also has a coaching business, with a number of programs and books available for purchase to help you in your riding journey. 29
VIP Area
If you are a member of the Ebony Park family already, and you have invested in a horse from Ebony Park, you get your own exclusive VIP members Here’s what you get: • Login - if you are an Ebony Park family member, login here to access your family member content. • Ebony Park Family - check out all of the members of the Ebony Park Family • Ebony Park High Point Award - this is where you will find the current standings for the Ebony Park High Point Award, and if you are an Ebony Park Family member, you can submit your results to be entered in for the award at the end of the year. • Events - exclusive Ebony Park Family member events are listed here for you. • Resources - as an Ebony Park Family member, you have access to extra resources that are not available for the general public.
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Get to Know Us
Get to know the Ebony Park Team and everyone involved in Ebony Park... including the horses and other animals Here you will find: • Our Team - Learn more about the Ebony Park team, what our passions and dreams are, and who our extended team (including the animals) are and what they do. • Our Horses - Check out our mares, stallions and other horses, including videos and photos! • Our Culture - What are we all about here at Ebony Park? • Our Proud Sponsors - Ebony Park is proud to be sponsored by a number of fabulous horse companies - check them all out here! • Our Results - check out the results we have had over the years in the dressage arena and elsewhere. 31
Ebony Park Rockstar of the Month EP Vince and Megan A few years ago I decided my best chance at getting the horse of my dreams was to breed it. I have always l o v e d friesians and thought this would be as good a time as any to finally have my own. After months of research I came to the conclusion that the costs and risk in breeding my own were just too great and without a suitable broodmare of my own it looked like my plan was not going to be feasible. I had heard great reviews about Ebony Park so had a quick glance at their website where I saw the chance to pick one of their broodmares and stallions on their in-utero payment plans. After talking with Tash and Kate, while they patiently
answered all of my questions, it looked like my dream could finally come true! The next step was a visit out to the gorgeous stud to look at the available broodmares and meet the stallions and look at some of their progeny. I decided on a sweet warmblood broodmare named Penny, who caught my eye out in the paddock. Now the really hard part of picking a stallion came. It was wonderful being able to meet each of the stallions individually, they were all so unique. I narrowed it down to two of the stallions, Jorrit who had the laid back temperament I was looking for and Elko
Ebony Park Rockstar of the Month EP Vince and Megan His spunky nature was everything I had wanted in my dream horse. The team at Ebony Park send me regular updates on how my (not so) little man is doing, complete with photos. As I live close to 3 hours away it takes a full day to go for a visit, so I like to plan a lesson with Kate at the same time and make the most out of my trips. The team at Ebony Park have been utterly wonderful throughout the whole process and I cannot thank them enough. I finally have my dream horse! Megan Kennedy
who had the height and movement I wanted. It was now time to head off home and consider all of my options, yet again. The decision was made, after a few days of careful thought, to breed Penny with Jorrit and my dreams horse was finally on its way! As we approached Penny's due date, when no foal had been born, and it didn’t look like she was going to foal anytime soon... she was scanned and we devastatingly discovered she had lost the foal somewhere along the way. The team at Ebony Park were amazing and that next weekend I was back to look at my options. When I got there, I immediately fell in love with Vince, a 3/4 friesian foal by Elko out of EP Venus who is by Jorrit.
Photo Gallery
Above and left -one of the newest additions to the Ebony Park family, Takara of Ebony Park, born 2 weeks early to Victoria of Ebony Park Left: a late addition to the magazine - Ivy of Ebony Park foaled early to a gorgeous colt! Right: Intrigue also decided to foal early a filly!
Tash and Phil’s gorgeous niece Pippa having a ride on Ebony Park Pony Silver!!
We are very excited to announce that Ebony Park will not only have a stand at Equitana this year, but that Natasha will be one of the educators, talking about confident riding success and competition success!! Make sure you stay tuned on the Equitana Melbourne 2014 website for ticketing information!! :) www.equitana.com.au We are looking for volunteers to man the stand at Equitana - email us at info@yourridingsuccess.com if you are interested in helping us out! We will split the day into 3 hour shifts, and in return for helping us out, you will have a ticket for the whole day at Equitana.
Join us at Equitana! November 20-23 at the Melbourne Showgrounds
5 Minutes with Carl Hester Carl was raised on the tiny Channel island of Sark, the island has no cars and horses are very much part of Sark life. It is no surprise that Carl learnt to ride, what is more surprising is where his early introduction to horses on this sleepy island has led him. The first equine to be subjected to Carl’s skill was a donkey that Carl would ride to the village shop. Always eager on the way there for the chance of a carrot he stubbornly refused to leave for the journey home. Carl would get on board, then be handed the shopping and with a flap of the carrier bags that frightened the donkey they set off home at a spanking gallop. At 19 Carl had no ambition or aspirations but with no jobs on Sark and winter coming he decided to apply for a job with horses on the mainland. Through an advertisement in Horse and Hound Carl arrived at the Fortune Centre in Hampshire, where adults with learning and physical disabilities are given a sense of freedom and achievement through riding. It was there Carl had his first opportunity to compete and it was on the Fortune Centre’s skewbald mare, Jolly Dolly, that Carl won the 1985 Young Dressage Rider Championship. Carl’s career took the most dramatic turn when Dr Bechtolsheimer approached him to join his yard as a rider. “I was totally overawed at the interview; I had never seen a yard like it or horses of this calibre. When Dr B asked me how much I would want I said nothing! To ride the horses would be enough! I remember Dr B smiling and saying how does £XX a week and a cottage sound. I thought all my birthdays had come at once!” This part of Carl’s career is well documented but it is sufficient to say that Carl feels a lasting fondness and debt to Dr and Mrs B who literally gave him the chance of a lifetime.” I rode and trained with Dr B for three and a half years and in 1990 went to the World Championships on Rubelit von Unkenriff, the European Championships in 1991 and in 1992 the Barcelona Olympics on Georgioni. I was the youngest British rider to ever compete in an Olympic Games. It was the most amazing thing that had ever happened to me, and a period that changed the course of my life.” Source: http://www.carlhester.co.uk/story/
Facts:
DOB: 29/06/1967 Nationality: British Height: 1.83m Weight: 81kg Did you know? He was the youngest ever british rider to compete in an Olympic Games. Achievements: Gold team medal at the 2012 London Olympics
WE WOULD LOVE TO THANK OUR AMAZING SPONSORS
Narre Warren
To stay up to date and in the know with all things Ebony Park, connect with us on Facebook! Ebony Park does not assume any responsibility or liability for any loss or damage which may result from any inaccuracy or omissions in this magazine, or from the use of information contained herein, and we make no warranties, express or applied with respect to any of the material contained herein.
CONTACT US
Address: 15-25 Finlay Lane, Garfield, VIC 3814 Website: www.ebonyparkstud.com.au Email: info@ebonyparkstud.com.au Phone: 0422 227 364
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