Ebony Park Friesian Magazine May 2011

ns to Abe Congratulatio rand Prix and G t rs fi is h g Winnin t Friesian in being the firs o so!!

Australia to d

Kate’s Knowledge Strangles Tash’s Training Tip

Lovely Loes’ Learnings Describing the Friesian Horse

Ebony Park Friesian Magazine www.ebonyparkstud.com.au

Are you doing what you think you should be doing but still not getting the results you want?

Are you:

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Upset at constantly trying so hard in your lessons and competitions, but still not winning?

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Disappointed that no matter what you do, and how hard you try, you are not progressing?

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So go to www.yourridingsuccess.com now and fill in your details on the right hand side. You will then be sent the link to the e-book in PDF and audio format immediately! Enjoy :)

Renee Buttler

Ebony Park Friesian Magazine January 2011

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IN THIS ISSUE • PAGE 4: DESCRIBING THE FRIESIAN HORSE

• PAGE 5: TASH’S TRAINING TIP

• PAGE 6-7: KIND KATE’S KNOWLEDGE - STRANGLES

• PAGE 8 - NOTE FROM TASH AND 2011 DATES

• PAGE 9 - LOVELY LOES’ LEARNINGS

• PAGE 10 - PHOTO GALLERY

From the Editor Hey guys!!

I trust you had an awesome Easter and like me ate far too many Easter eggs!! :) We have had a hectic month in April, with the Keuring, the Dream Team’s first workshop (it was so successful we have opened up applications for a second Dream Team!) and then Easter!! :) Loes has had her first ride on Achilles, and Captain is back at Ebony Park after a short time with his new owners, and is ready to be broken in!

Tash competed last weekend in her first official Grand Prix competition on Abe which was sooo exciting! I will let her tell you all about it - see page 8!! :) Also see the front cover and the photo gallery for some photos of their fabulous day!

We are also weaning most of the rest of the foals this month - they are growing so big, and are all so cute and friendly! :) I would like to thank everyone who sent us through photos of our horses at the Keuring - much appreciated and they are all lovely!

And I also achieved a goal this month - I had my first ride on a horse in over a year!! It was fantastic! Check out the photo in the gallery on page 10 :) Until next month!

• PAGE 11 - 5 MINUTES WITH ANKY VAN GRUNSVEN

To Your Dreams Becoming Reality,

• PAGE 12 - CONTACT INFORMATION

Kate Langdon

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DESCRIBING THE FRIESIAN HORSE This month I thought I would share with you the terminology used to describe the Friesian as a breed, as well as the desirable qualities to look for in each horse. Remember that every horse is different, and your horse may have only have some of the desirable conformation qualities, but may be the sweetest, kindest, most honest horse you have ever owned!! So these are just guidelines that are used in order to judge members of the breed as a whole! :) Source: ANZFHS Website

Zeus of Ebony Park at the 2011 Keuring

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Terrific Tash’s Tremendous Training Tip Well I thought it was appropriate, as this month’s training tip, to discuss how you actually get a horse to Grand Prix.

Answer - Get on and ride, repeat 1000 times! :) I don't think there is a magic answer as to how you train a horse from nothing up to Grand Prix. But I am a firm believer that success leaves clues, so let’s look at some of the clues: 1. A BURNING ambition and passion.

I know a lot of people that would 'like' to ride Grand Prix.

I like to sing - that doesn't mean I will ever be the next Lady Gaga!!! - and that’s probably a good thing!!! :) There is a world of difference between 'like' and 'will'!

I have said since I was 16 years old I will ride Grand Prix - not ‘it would be nice to’, ‘I hope to’, ‘I wish I could’. Just pure and simple I WILL. That alone I think is one of the foundations that got me here.

So the question is - how much do you want it? Do you know you will get it? How do you know? What are you prepared to sacrifice to get it?

2. A commitment and dedication to your craft.

So you have the desire, you have the will. But all that desire and all that will won't get you anywhere if you don't have the skills. Riding is challenging. It is a kinesethetic sport, only can be done well through unconscious competence, to get there you need to be prepared to be challenged. I have a cried a river and then some, through my frustration at myself for not 'getting' what I knew I should be doing with my body. I have been bashed up, tormented and smashed up there, as I try to

navigate my way around the principles that is dressage. I am hugely AD which means I like logic and formulas and systems uh oh you don't find any of that in dressage! Dressage is about feeling, responding, behavioural flexibility and reacting differently every time. WOW was I in for some fun to change my entire personality preference to suit my sport! :)

love them?!!??!?! I know thats why I do it! When you have big goals, it can be easy to get carried away, and get goal obsessed, and reacting only to the results - when I feel myself get that way, I always bring it back to my love for the horse. He allows me on his back, he responds to me, he carries me. I love and respect him so much and it’s that love and respect that gets you through at the higher levels.

I have never felt such a connection with my horse as I did in that Grand Prix test. He dug deep when I needed him to and he responded as best he could, and he came back to me when we both got carried away. Now was it perfect? - No :) But how dare I expect or demand perfection from him when I cannot be perfect myself.

We are a team him and I, and we are both getting better and better every day, and we both need to forgive each others mistakes - and for the record, I make more of them! :) You can never ride your horse like a machine - it just doesn't work so make sure you have a bond with your Me and Abe at our first GP test! horse, that you can develop But it can be done, and it WILL trust and rely on through the be done if you have enough of years, so it’s there when you Number 1 - desire and passion. need it at the higher levels So to summarise Number 2 - do because believe me, in a Grand the work, do the work, do the Prix test - you need work, and when your tired of that, EVERYTHING you've got!!! :) and had enough of that and think you can't do that anymore, do To your success some more work, more work and more work :) Remember nothing ever worth having came easy :) 3. A love and connection with your horse We all get into riding because we love horses. At least I hope you

Tash

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swollen lymph nodes

Kind Kate’s Knowledge - Strangles Recently I have had a few people asking me if there is any point in vaccinating their horses against strangles, and what exactly it was. So this month, I thought I would go through the reasons we should vaccinate, as well as what the actual disease is.

Strangles is the most important infectious respiratory disease for horses in Australia and New Zealand and is a major cause of economic loss to the horse industry in Australia and worldwide. It is a highly contagious disease of the upper respiratory tract and lymph nodes of the head, caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi. Horses of any age can be affected, with young horses between the ages of six months to five years being particularly susceptible. Strangles is characterised by fever, going off feed, depression, purulent nasal discharge, cough and abscesses of the lymph nodes in the head and neck. Strangles is a notifiable disease so that exports and international horse movements can take place. Scientists have discovered that S. equi has very similar characteristics to the bacteria that caused human plague, also causing lymph node abscesses. Hence strangles could be said to be the equine equivalent to the human plague!

Strangles is an extremely contagious disease that is rapidly spread between horses in a number of ways including coughing, eating feeds or drinking water contaminated by infective nasal discharge from a sick horse, as well as via fomites such as contaminated grooming utensils, rugs, feed bins, or humans (clothing, hands, etc). Within 3-8 days of infection, the horse becomes depressed and develops a fever (temperatures are between 39.5 40.5°C). The throat becomes very

inflamed so that swallowing food or water becomes painful or impossible to ingest. infection. The signs vary depending on the horses' state of immunity at the time of infection, and whether the horse has obtained antibodies from previous exposure (either through vaccination or infection).

Nasal shedding of the bacteria usually ceases 3-6 weeks after infection, although recent research has indicated that the bacteria can be carried for longer in the guttural pouches, which are large air-filled sacs that connect to each side of the nasal passages. The bacteria may survive in a paddock or stable for up to two months and in water for at least 4 weeks. Horse properties are placed at risk by the introduction of an infected horse, as this horse may be showing clinical signs of the disease but is more likely to be in the incubation phase or a long term carrier of the infection - these horses will intermittently shed the bacteria, without showing any clinical signs of infection. Up to 20% of infected horses develop complications associated with strangles including pneumonia, guttural pouches filling with pus or upper airway blockage as a result of swollen lymph nodes around the throat (this is where the name "strangles" came from).

CLINICAL SIGNS The incubation period after a horse has been infected is between three and twenty days, but most horses display clinical signs after around ten days of

Early signs a horse has been infected with strangles include an increase in temperature, elevation of the total white blood cell count and changes in size and texture of lymph nodes in the horse's head and neck.

The horse often appears depressed, with a loss of appetite accompanied by a watery nasal discharge at first that becomes mucopurulent (a thick mucous) as the disease progresses.

H e a d c a r r i a g e m a y b e s t i f f e r, swallowing and respiration difficult due to compression of the pharynx, and a soft cough is often heard. The s u b m a x i l l a r y, m a n d i b u l a r a n d retropharyngeal (underneath and behind the lower jaw) lymph nodes become enlarged, and abscesses may form, which are commonly hot and painful, both from the stretching of the skin through swelling, as well as from bacterial toxins produced by the multiplying S. equi. Horses are often seen with their heads hung low and extended to relieve the pain from swollen throat and lymph nodes. The body's defence mechanisms include increasing the blood supply to the area (causing swelling), bringing in the white blood cells (leukocytes), which kill and digest the invading bacteria, causing pus to form (hence causing abscesses in the lymph nodes). These abscesses usually rupture 7-14 days after the appearance of clinical signs, discharging a thick, creamy pus (YUK!!).

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Kind Kate’s Knowledge - Strangles The horse often recovers very quickly after the rupture of the abscesses, although clinical signs may persist for days or even months. Affected horses can remain infectious for at least four weeks after clinical signs have disappeared, but some horses can spread the disease for up to eight months after infection even though they are physically healthy - these horses are called persistent shedders or carriers. Carrier animals are important in the persistence of Streptococcus equi within and between horse populations, and in initiating new outbreaks. Death can occur in 1-5% of cases (higher if there are other complications such as pneumonia and guttural pouch disease that are associated with the infection). In some cases, the infection can spread to vital organs of the body, making the infection difficult and sometimes impossible to diagnose and cure (it is usually fatal), hence the term used to describe this form - "bastard strangles".

DIAGNOSIS Accurate diagnosis of a strangles infection is based on the clinical signs the horse is displaying, as well as swabs from the nose - these are sent to a laboratory for bacterial culture.

Foreign bodies such as grass seeds are another cause of glandular swelling and abscesses in the throat region.

Lymph node enlargement under the jaw is also a characteristic of viral respiratory diseases such as equine herpesvirus in foals and young horses.

TREATMENT/CURE It is important to minimise the stress placed on infected horses. They should be rested and fed soft, moist, palatable feed to ensure the horse keeps weight on and consumes enough fluids.

Infected abscesses can be lanced and drained by a veterinarian and prescribed antibiotics that need to be administered for at least a 10-14 day period which can be costly, especially when treating a large amount of horses - hence it is best to have effective vaccination and management practices in place to prevent outbreaks. Nostrils can be cleaned, and swollen glands poulticed, but a tracheostomy may be

needed if the horse is in acute respiratory distress. Physical therapy techniques accompanied with pain relief in the form of drugs (such as NSAIDs) such as hot packs or warm, moist heat twice daily will help to facilitate drainage of the abscesses, as well as to reduce swelling allowing the horse to be more comfortable breathing and swallowing.

This treatment can be continued even after the lymph nodes have ruptured and drained to help speed up the healing process. The drug of choice for antibiotic treatment is procaine penicillin, using appropriate dosage rates for a long enough period of time so as to prevent resistant strains of the bacteria which makes the disease difficult to resolve.

PREVENTION Prevention of strangles involves a combination of vaccination and isolation practices. Newly introduced horses should be kept in isolation for 2-3 weeks, and checked regularly to ensure they are not in the incubation phase of infection, before they are mixed with or come into contact with any other horses. This management of isolation procedures needs to be combined with vaccination regularly and on arrival of new horses.

Stables and paddocks should be left empty for 4 weeks following the removal of an infected horse as the strangles bacterium can persist in the environment for several months unless the contaminated areas are cleaned with a disinfectant such as chlorhexidine.

Prevention of transmission via horse handlers is vital - stables, grooming equipment, feeding utensils and tack should be cleaned and disinfected (povidone iodine or phenolic based products are recommended), and the sharing of tack/grooming equipment between different groups of horses is not recommended.

HERD HEALTH AND IMMUNITY Isolation of infected or suspected cases of strangles is very important during an outbreak due to its highly contagious nature - horses kept in isolation from other horses are not at risk. Whether the bacterium causes isolated cases or an outbreak of infection in the whole group depends on the immunity of the herd.

Around 75% of horses develop immunity after natural infection, which can last for

Nasal discharge caused by Strangles several years. Vaccination of all horses ensures that there is maintenance of a high level of antibodies within a herd or group, preventing the onset of an outbreak of strangles - generally if all horses are vaccinated, when one horse gets strangles the others will not, or clinical signs may not be as severe or prolonged.

Immunity against strangles is short lived and incomplete, with 25% of horses infected not developing immunity after infection. This makes it very difficult for a vaccine to provide complete immunity and is hence current available vaccines are not 100% effective. However, vaccination can control the disease by reducing the degree of clinical signs that horses display together with a reduction in the number of horses affected.

VACCINATION There is no respiratory vaccine that offers complete protection from strangles, but the Equivac vaccines lessen the incidence and severity of the disease as well as the spread of infection within a group of horses. The initial vaccination course is three doses given at two weekly intervals followed indefinitely by an annual booster.

Strangles vaccine can be given alone or combined with tetanus vaccine (called a bivalent vaccine). Swelling at the site of injection is common.

CONCLUSION Although strangles is a very contagious and detrimental disease to horses in any profession, combining effective vaccination programs to ensure herd immunity with management procedures both as a regular practice and when an outbreak occurs ensures that strangles as a disease is very much kept at bay, and the wellbeing of the industry together with that of our horses is looked after.

To Your Dreams Becoming Reality

Kate Langdon

Ebony Park Friesian Magazine January 2011

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DIARY DATES

15 MAY COMPETITION VICTORIAN DRESSAGE CLUB (ABE IS COMPETING GP! AND JORRIT IN THE NOVICE)

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Note from Tash Welcome to May fabulous Friesian lovers!

I trust April was sensational for you!!!!

April here was probably one of the most exciting months, as Abe finally competed and won in his first Grand Prix! I can't even begin to tell you what it is like to take a young horse that knows nothing, and train him all the way to the top.

It was especially fun for me as I have never had Abe so 'with' me as he was last Saturday! Which was good! ... You kind of need that to get through the test! He was really listening, trying, and there for me, and I can't wait until 15th May when we do our next one!!!!!

April was also big as I ran my first Dream Team Workshop for 10 of the most fabulous, courageous, exciting, amazing women who are now going out and creating the life they want, on their terms rather than sitting back and waiting to see what life offers up. I love that I get to spend my time with such go getters! :) Here on the farm we are working steadily with Abe and Jorrit, as well as the three babies Achilles, Agamemnon and Zeus. I have a competition planned in July for Zeus which is exciting! I don't know who it is more exciting for - me or him! :) Other than that, we are still working steadily on CANI and our systems to make sure your experience with us is the best experience we can offer you. Remember if there is anything you need from us please let us know so we can help you!!! :) This month we have Abe competing Grand Prix again on the 15th May and Jorrit in the Novice. So look out for the results on facebook! :) To your success,

Natasha

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LOVELY LOES’ LEARNINGS We have had a busy month in April!! :) much chocolate!! :)

First the Keuring, then the Dream Team, then Easter... and eating too

In the middle weekend of April, Natasha had the first workshop for her Dream Team, which I was lucky enough to be able to attend!

We got HEAPS of information to think about over two days... including changing the way we think about things, deleting bad things, and focussing on the good things... such as leaving the past in the past, and only thinking about what is going to happen now and in the future.

I also learnt to write my goals down for every week and every month. This week’s goal was to ride Achilles for the first time (we have been breaking him in over the past few months)!

Next week my goal is to ride Achilles by myself without being on the lunge line... so exciting! Check out the first photo of me sitting on him without anyone holding him!

My longer term goals are to compete in Sydney at the Nationals!! :) Achilles is fast becoming my favourite horse here he and Agamemnon were brought here to be broken in at the same time... and when Natasha asked me which one I would like to ‘have’, I chose Achilles because of his personality! I am now teaching him him to bow - when we have achieved this I will make sure you see the photos!!

Austin and Lotte

Austin and Lotte are getting on really well now despite their size difference - so cute!! :)

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PHOTO GALLERY

Intrigue looking intrigued Briony and Elko just before he had a bath!

Hercules of Ebony Park at the Keuring *

Kate during her first ride on Famke!! :) Illusion of Ebony Park at the Keuring *

* Photo by Llea-Anne Vlaanderen

Ebony Park Friesian Magazine January 2011

Natasha and Abe’s first Grand Prix Test!!!

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5 Minutes with Anky van Grunsven Anky van Grunsven was born in Erp, the Netherlands.

When she was six years old she got her first pony, a Shetland pony named "Heleentje". At first she would only clean and brush Heleentje. After taking the first riding lessons from her father, she joined the pony club in Erp. At age seven she started showing, something she was not too good at in the beginning. Only after graduating from high school she decided to start riding professionally.

Prisco was the first horse that was really her own. Anky rode her very first dressage test on Prisco at "L" level in 1980. She advanced to "Z" level in 1982. There were ups and downs. Her persistence was rewarded in 1990 when she won the Dutch championships for the first time. With her mount Bonfire she became Dutch dressage champion a second time in 1991. They won the national dressage title a total of nine times.

Anky became the World Champion Musical Freestyle in The Hague in 1994. She won the World Cup Final seven times. The first time in Hollywood in 1995 where "Bonfire's Symphony", her freestyle music, played an important role. She also won in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000 where she rode Bonfire. In 2004, 2005 and 2006, Anky and Salinero won the World Cup Finals.

The highlights of Anky's career until now are of course her two gold medals at the Olympic Games in Sydney and in Athens. The first one on Bonfire (2000), who finished his career winning in Sydney. She won the second gold medal aboard Salinero (2004), who at the time just started his sports career.

In 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2004 Anky was named "Rider of the Year" in the Netherlands and she was honored as "Sports Woman of the Year" in 1994. In 2001 she was named "Rider of the Century". Anky also received two royal decorations "Ridder in de Orde van Oranje Nassau" and "Ridder in de Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw".

After the successful Olympic Games in Athens, Anky and her trainer and partner Sjef had a son, Yannick Janssen, who was born on November 23, 2004. Yannick Janssen always joins Anky and Sjef when they travel to major shows. Anky and Sjef were married in Las Vegas in April 2005 in the presence of Yannick Janssen. On March 6, 2007 daughter Ava Eden was born. Only a few weeks later she wins the National title with Keltec salinero and that year she wins the European Championships in Turin. The Dutch team wins gold. In 2008 Anky wins the two most important competitions of this year: the Worldcupfinal and the Olympic Games! Anky is the first rider even who wins individual gold three times in row with two different horses (Bonfire 2000 and Salinero 2004 & 2008) Source: Official Anky Website

Anky and Bonfire - Sydney Olympics 2000 Photo: Anrd

FACTS DOB: 2.01.1968 Country: Netherlands Website: www.anky.nl Current World Ranking: Current Trainers: Sjef Janssen (who is also her husband!)

FUN FACT Anky has her own clothing line (as well as a range of saddles) ANKY Technical Casuals, which she is very much involved with the designs for!!

This casual and horseriding clothing and saddlery company sponsor a number of top dressage and eventing riders, including fellow dutchman Adelinde Cornelissen!

Anky herself is also a “figurehead” or sponsored by the company.

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PHOTOS!!

Does anyone have photos of Ebony Park horses at the Keuring or other events that they would like to share with us? We would love to put them up on our website! :)

If you are interested in any of our young stock, or if you have anything you would like to share with us, please email us on info@ebonyparkstud.com.au or visit www.ebonyparkstud.com.au or call Kate on 0422 227 364 As always we would like to thank our sponsors:

CONTACT US

If you would like to have a chat with us dial 03 9796 8690 or 0422 227 364.

Ebony Park is located in Narre Warren in Victoria, one hour's drive from the Melbourne Airport.

If you share the love of the Friesian horse and would like to see the stallions or the youngstock, please contact us and make an appointment. We can also assist you with locating your new Friesian or with training.

Visit Us: 611 Belgrave-Hallam Road, Narre Warren East VIC 3804 Website: www.ebonyparkstud.com.au Email: info@ebonyparkstud.com.au

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