Ebony Park Friesian Magazine March 2011

MARCH 2011

Kate’s Knowledge - Gastric Ulcers Tash’s Training Tip Training the Friesian Neck Friesian Gala Spectacular

Ebony Park Friesian Magazine www.ebonyparkstud.com.au

Is 2011 going the way you want it?

Is 2011 going to be your year?

The year you: Get things done Achieve your dreams Get your goals Thats great! But how will 2011 be any different from 2010 unless .... YOU ARE!?!?

“If you keep on doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep on getting what you’ve always got” -- W.L. Bateman So to get a different result you need to start doing things a bit differently!

So how do you do that?

Well thats where I come in :) For some of you you are ready to take the step to make 2011 different.

And I want to be part of it with you! So I have come up with ... drum roll please ... The Dream Team.

The Dream Team is a team of committed dedicated individuals who want to succeed and achieve this year. If you are Ready to step up and create new goals, new standards and new strategies Ready to perhaps leave your comfort zone and push yourself to experience new levels Ready to give up the blame, the excuses, the crap and start taking responsibility for all your results and all your non results.

RIDING PROGRAMS HAVE YOU VISITED www.yourridingsuccess.com YET?!?!?

Everyone is raving about Natasha’s book “How to achieve lasting riding success” After reading it you will: • Be able to define what success is to you • Know the THREE keys that are present in EVERY successful rider and how you need to have what they have if you want the same results.

• Have done your riding goals and developed your own commitment and action plan for success Here is what some superstars had to say about the book: “I have read the e-book and I found it really inspiring and helpful.” ~ Rebecca “It’s awesome!” ~ Chantelle 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 :)

Then I would love to talk to you.

Click here, to read more, and to fill out the application form.

Places are limited and filling fast - once they are gone they are gone!! :)

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IN THIS ISSUE •PAGE 4: NEWS FROM HOLLAND

•PAGE 5: TASH’S TRAINING TIP

• PAGE 6-7: KATE’S FRIESIAN TIP GASTRIC ULCERS • PAGE 8 - NOTE FROM TASH AND 2011 DATES • PAGE 9 - EXCITING SPECIAL OFFER!

From the Editor

Can you believe the summer we have been having?!! I’m feeling a bit ripped off! Oh well, I can’t say I miss the stinking hot days, and we have needed the water!

The most unbelievable thing is that it is March already! How have the first two months of the year flown by so fast?

We have been really busy this month - with the Keuring coming up so soon, we have mares, stallions and foals to prepare and make ready for this exciting event! I think we are going to go crazy taking 14 horses, but it will be worth it in the end - if you would like to help us out, we need 5-10 volunteers on Thurs 31st March, Fri 1st April day and night, and Sat 2nd April for a range of different things. Just shoot me an email or give me a call if you think this is something that you would love to participate in!

If you look at our gallery this month, you will see that we have started halter training the foals, and they are doing brilliantly!

Loes and Natasha have started riding Gjanna (one of our broodmares) who will be presented at the Keuring this year for inspection.

Achilles and Zeus are into the full swing of work, with only 4 and a bit weeks to go until their big day!

Natasha and Loes, along with a few of our horses, will also be part of the show on April 1st (Firday night) at the Friesian Gala Spectacular! If you would like tickets, you can send me an email (see the contact page at the end of the magazine).

WOW what a busy time we have ahead of us - I hope you all are having as much fun as we are! :)

• PAGE 10 - PHOTO

To Your Dreams Becoming Reality,

GALLERY

• PAGE 11 - FRIESIAN GALA

Kate Langdon Ebony Park Friesian Magazine March 2011

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NEWS FROM HOLLAND With the Keuring approaching us very quickly, I thought this month we would explore more of the meanings of different Friesian terminology.

Sport Predicate All Friesian horses are eligible to earn the Sport Predicate. This title is awarded to horses who have proven to be very successful in their chosen sport - dressage, harness, or show carriage. Abe is the first Australasian Friesian to receive the Sports Predicate in dressage! We are very proud of him :)

JASPER 366 LINEAR SCORE Example of a linear score sheet (Jasper is Jorrit’s sire) Blue - close to ideal Light Blue - moderate deviation from ideal

Linear Scores and Breeding Values The linear score is a chart used by Judges to rate a Friesian’s individual racial type, conformation and movement based on a set of FPS standards. Horses are given a score for each characteristic, depending on how they deviate from the ‘average’ or desirable trait. Some characteristics are given more value than others - these are called ‘Optimum Traits’ which means the closer they are to the middle score (100), the better, and other traits are marked in a different colour (dark Blue on the original linear score sheet), which means the higher they score over 100 the more desirable, whereas scores below 100 are less favourable. See the linear score sheet of Jasper 366 to the right as an example (this has been modified from the original sheet, so you can’t see which are actually the Optimum traits).

The breeding values are also used to gather information on a stallion’s offspring, so breeders can see which traits appear to be more dominantly passed onto offspring, and which tend to be his strong and weak traits that are passed on more often to offspring. You could also apply this to a mare’s linear score to see which stallions are going to be more likely to improve on her weaker traits.

Names Each year purebred Friesians have to be named after specific letters in the alphabet. For example, in 2009 Friesian owners had to choose their foal names from the letters D, E and F (eg.

Dante, Delta...), and in 2010, the letters were G, H and I (Gjanna, Helena, Hercules, Ivy, Illusion...). Usually there is no problem if two breeders are wanting the same name for their foals, as they will generally put a stud suffix after the name (eg, “of Ebony Park”).

With this system, horses can easily be identified by their name, as well as the year they were born in.

2011 KEURING

We are very excited about the upcoming Keuring at the start of April, where the Dutch judges are coming out to look at all of the Friesians presented to them some of these horses will be upgraded to a higher status in the studbook, which is very exciting! :) This year, we have a number of official KFPS judges attending.

We would like to make them all very welcome while they are visiting here in Australia!

Source: KFPS website

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Terrific Tash’s Tremendous Training Tip sometimes it is easy to forget about it! But this is where all the good stuff is!

Abe in a long and low position in warm up, his neck is stretching and he is taking the contact

If you have a horse that is relaxed through the back, active hindlegs, and using the back half properly, the head is where it needs to be - it simply must be! I call it ride back to front!

But if you ride front to back, and only concern yourself and worry about the neck - well, you can get it to 'look' kinda right, but the back will be tight and the hindlegs traveling out behind useless and it won't 'feel' right.

would open my eyes, and of course it was.

It is sometimes so tempting to just pull that neck in, especially on a friesian, so it looks ok. But believe, me your training and your riding, and your scores will improve so much more if you let go of the head and ride the back.

I had the Horse Physio out to see the boys this week, and we were chatting about the way Friesians tend to ride - which is up front and tending to be quite short in the neck.

She was looking at Zeus, our newly broken 3yo stallion (by Elko), and I was explaining to her, that all we do with him in the first year is to teach him how to get his neck out and away from him and then down and round in a long deep frame. Here is the first ride I had on a This is can be a hard thing for Friesian broodmare in over a year. young Friesians as they are so In this shot she has come short used to going short. The minute and behind the bit you take up a contact they suck back - and yes, it might 'look' When I was learning, I used to like they are 'on the bit' but they actually close my eyes, so I so are not!!!! could develop feel. I got it to the point that when I 'felt' the When I ride, I rarely care about horses back soften and lift, and the head if it’s up or whatever. the hindlegs engage and swing, I'm riding the back part, the that the head was right - and I engine, the important part!

Because riders can't see it,

And here is the same horse, same ride where I have pushed her back out to take the contact

Loes will tell you I am constantly saying 'let go'! Let go of the head and ride forward, especially on the young ones!

They need to find their own balance and equilibrium and learn how to hold themselves, as well as me on their back.

To your success

Tash

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Kind Kate’s Knowledge - Gastric Ulcers Before they were domesticated, horses evolved as wandering grazers with a digestive tract designed for continuous foraging.

The equine gut sits in a very delicate balance that can be disrupted all too easily. One of the many problems that occur in the equine stomach due to the artificial world we have brought them into is gastric ulcers, or equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS). Most domesticated horses will develop gastric ulcers at some point in their lives with many performance and pleasure horses affected, and as many as 90% of active racehorses the victim of gastric ulcers, which can potentially be detrimental to their performance and health – indeed the problems associated with ulcers can potentially be lifethreatening.

The equine stomach is divided into two distinct regions, both anatomically and functionally, separated by the Margo plicatus (see figure below). The lower region is covered in glandular mucosa that secretes mucous (for protection) as well as hydrochloric acid (HCl) and pepsin for digestion.

Above: Normal stomach as seen under an endoscope. Note the two distinct regions – the upper fundus non-glandular region and the lower fundic gland region of the stomach. Source: (Andrews, 2005)

The upper, non-glandular region, the fundus, is covered in squamous epithelial cells similar to those lining the oesophagus, and it is here that the majority of gastric ulcers are formed, as this region has little protection from the irritating acidic secretions of the lower region.

There are many factors that can cause gastric ulcers - such as stress, poor nutrition and feeding management, strenuous exercise or

combinations of the three. However, with the proper management, gastric ulceration can be treated and even eliminated in many situations.

Symptoms and Diagnosis Although even mild ulceration will result in some degrees of discomfort and hence loss of performance to the horse, often horses will show no outward signs, and the clinical signs that are present are non-specific and can be caused by other problems such as colic.

Gastric ulcers in foals are often found along the squamous mucosa in lines along the folds, but can also be found on the glandular mucosa in the lower half of the stomach.

The most frequent clinical symptoms are diarrhoea and interrupted nursing, but also include teeth grinding, lying on back, salivation and colic.

When clinical signs are present, the gastric ulceration is often more severe, and in foals this needs to be addressed immediately as gastric ulcers are more detrimental to their wellbeing than an adult horse with gastric ulcers.

In adult horses the clinical signs are less well recognised. They include weight loss, drop in condition, picky eater, dull or sour attitude, rough coat, drop in performance, and in more severe cases acute or recurrent colic.

A presumptive diagnosis of equine gastric ulcers relies on assessing the clinical signs present in the horse. Hence the only way to definitively diagnose gastric ulcers is via endoscopy (see figure above right). Endoscopy also provides the location and severity of the ulcers so that a plan of treatment can be made and a prognosis and management requirements assessed. Food and water have to be withheld for six hours or more in order for the stomach to be empty enough for the endoscope to see what is going on. A 3m gastroendoscope is passed from the nostril into the stomach hence sedation is often necessary.

Above: Image from an endoscopic video showing moderately severe ulcers (arrow).

Source: (Begg & O’Sullivan, 2003)

Causes The development of gastric ulcers can be viewed as an imbalance between aggressive and protective factors of the mucosa. Unlike the lower glandular portion of the stomach, the upper squamous mucosa does not have a protective mucous layer and hence prolonged exposure to gastric acid is a major cause of irritation and erosion leading to gastric lesions.

The acid level in the stomach is controlled to some extent by the bicarbonate buffering effect of saliva in well chewed food. When horses are put into artificial situations such as race training and stabling, they are usually have no access to grazing and are generally grain fed (so their stomachs are often empty), which may remove this important buffering mechanism. Gastric ulcers are hence extremely rare in horses that are maintained on pasture.

Although acid injury is thought to be the major cause of gastric ulceration, several risk factors for its development have been identified.

Exercise Intensity Exercise has been thought to contribute to ulceration, perhaps due to decreased gastric motility or increased intra-gastric pressure and stomach contractions causing gastric compression, pushing acid contents into the less protected upper half of the stomach, resulting in acid secretions coming in contact with the non-glandular region and causing irritation leading to gastric ulceration. Exercise also increases the gastrin concentration of the stomach, stimulating gastric acid production. continued...

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Kind Kate’s Knowledge - Gastric Ulcers Intermittent vs. Continuous Feeding When horses are fed only a couple of times a day and are stabled without access to ad lib pasture/hay, the stomach is subjected to prolonged periods without saliva to buffer the gastric acid. Horses secrete acid from the glandular region of the stomach whether they are fed or not. Hence horses need to be fed hay continuously in order to produce saliva to buffer the stomach pH. Racehorses (and other performance horses) are often fasted before exercise which allows gastric acid to build up in the stomach, lowering the pH and increasing the likelihood of acid contact with the upper region of the stomach, causing ulceration that is not readily healed by common antacid treatments, and will often get much worse if management practices are not changed.

Diet Feeding higher concentrated feeds and less hay are associated with higher incidence of gastric ulceration, lower stomach pH and higher blood gastrin levels.

Concentrated feeds rather than forage can cause a higher likelihood of ulcers.

Gastrin is a hormone that stimulates gastric acid production and is released in greater amounts when the horse is fed pelleted and concentrated feeds than when fed hay or pasture. Horses that are fed high carbohydrate, grain-based diets produce only around half as much saliva as horses fed hay or pasture, as well as leading to an increase in the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), which at a low (or more acidic) pH can create an increase in the severity and incidence of gastric ulceration.

Electrolyte administration practices may also be a factor in causing or worsening gastric ulceration in endurance horses, due to the large

amounts of electrolytes given to horses at each checkpoint during an endurance race, although the mechanisms are not known.

Transport Stress Stress during transport can increase likelihood of ulceration, and decreased water and feed consumption causes an increase in stomach gastric acid leading to ulceration.

Non-steroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs Although the majority of gastric ulcers occur in the upper unprotected part of the stomach, ulceration in the mucosal part of the stomach can occur when the horse has been treated with NSAIDs such as phenylbutazone (Bute). This is due to their effect on prostaglandin suppression, an important hormone in the regulation of mucosal blood flow and mucous production.

Treatment Treatment of gastric ulcers is aimed at eliminating the clinical signs, reducing or neutralising the acid secretion of the stomach, promoting healing of the existing ulceration, and preventing the recurrence of ulceration as well as reducing the cost and duration of treatment.

There are a number of drugs that can be used for the treatment of gastric ulcers, including H2-receptor antagonists (Ranitidine), proton pump inhibitors (Omeprazole), sucralfate and antacids. Other less common treatments include systemic prostaglandin which inhibits the secretion of gastric acid, and the pectin-lecithin complex which is a mucosal protective agent.

Prevention Prevention really needs to revolve around reducing known agents of the ulceration. Hence factors such as diet and stress need to be addressed, as prevention is the best cure. The natural antacid and buffering mechanism in the horse is saliva production induced by chewing, and hence the most effective way to prevent and treat gastric ulceration in horses is to turn the horse out on pasture, as the horse is able to graze continuously

throughout the day. If this is not possible, more frequent feeding will help buffer the acid in the stomach, as well as a decrease in the concentrate feeds offered and an i n c r e a s e i n f r e e - c h o i c e h a y.

Replacing grain with fat perhaps in the forms of oil or sunflower seeds will compensate for the possible loss of energy from the decrease in grain ration.

In situations where it is not possible to eliminate causative agents such as stall confinement, antacids such as Neigh-Lox, which is proven to neutralise stomach acid can be added to the normal grain ration of the diet to protect and preserve the stomach lining from exposure to gastric acid. This allows horses with mild ulceration, or horses entering stressful situations to continue to train as it makes the horse feel better so that it will eat and train without a drop in performance or condition.

The obvious multifactorial nature of equine gastric ulceration often makes it difficult to prevent.

H o w e v e r, a r m e d w i t h a n understanding of how the equine stomach and digestive tract works, along with the implementation of the correct management practices ensuring a more natural and hence effective approach to feeding and keeping horses, the incidence of equine gastric ulcer syndrome can

be kept to a minimum.

To Your Dreams Becoming Reality,

Kate P.S. For a full list of Sources from this article, or for more information, feel free to email me!

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DIARY DATES SUN 13 MARCH COMPETITION AT BONEO PARK

FRI 1 APRIL FRIESIAN GALA

FRI 1 & SAT 2 APRIL KEURING

Note from Tash

Wow MARCH already!!!! I am so excited!

In less than 5 weeks we have the Friesian Keuring and the Friesian Extravaganza Gala!!!!

If you thought it was busy here before!

You should see us know!

Between Loes and I we have 10 horses in work. There are also 5 foals to work with and prepare - so what can I say, we are having a super time!

For those of you in Victoria, I would love to see you all at the Keuring and the Gala. The Keuring is on Friday and Saturday 1st and 2nd of April, with the Gala starting at 8pm on the Friday night. The Gala has everything Friesian ... I don’t know how much I can say?!?! But it will be a show!!! ... There is everything in there from Friesians riding together, carriage, even jumping! Abe, Jorrit, Gjanna and Famke are taking part, so it will be great to check them out doing their stuff! You can get tickets through Kate, just email her and she will sort it for you! So if you want to see a spectacular evening of Friesians ... come along!

Also, if you are in the market for a riding horse or you know of anyone that is, I am really excited about the opportunity I can offer two lucky people - you can read about it all on page 9 and on the website (click here) if this sounds like you!

Personally, I am also completely excited about launching my Dream Team! Its going to be such an amazing group of riders and I feel so lucky and privileged I will get to assist and watch these amazing people learn grow and improve to reach their goals and dreams. Click here to read all about it and fill out the application form now!

I hope all of you are living your full potential and rocking on with all your goals!

To your success,

Natasha

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EP Paris EP Paris needs to be sold to a great new home!!!!!

It is time for Paris to leave Ebony Park and make some lucky rider's dreams come true. We have had Paris for sale for a while, but we haven't found the perfect match for her.

As her asking price is $12,777.00, this means she is out of some peoples’ budget, and they haven't been to see her.

BUT I don't want money to get in the way of Paris having a perfect home, and a rider having their perfect horse.

So if you are looking for a very quiet, loving, sweet, kind, easy, fuss free dressage horse that is schooled up to the Elementary movements fill out the form on our website by clicking here. You will need to explain your home and your plans for Paris as well as the amount you are prepared to pay for her.

I am looking for the best home and the rider that is going to suit her the best. Out of the applicants the five best will be invited to come and view her and ride her and who ever makes the best connection and falls in love will be the lucky owner for the price they have bid!

I can't wait to meet you and see someone fall in love with Paris! :)

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Intrigue strutting her stuff (below and middle)

PHOTO GALLERY Halter training Illusion

Illusion and Intrigue... very inquisitive babies!

Loes riding Gjanna for the first time since the birth of her foal in 2009

Hercules - Elko x Gjanna, our youngest foal this year

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5 Minutes with Adelinde Cornelissen Since you all seemed to enjoy last month’s interview with Edward Gal, I thought we would continue on with the theme of Dutch dressage riders, and introduce Adelinde Cornelissen! :) When did you start competing - what discipline and at what age?

Dressage at around the age of 7. At age 16 and 18 years old became Dutch champion showing my pony Ayesha in 1995 and his son Mr Pride in 1997.

Why riding?

It is something I wanted to do all my life. The relationship with a horse to perform together is something very special for me. I am quite athletic and love many sports including cycling, running, skating and swimming.

When and where did you participate at your first international competition?

2007 - In Falsterbo, Sweden.

(She surprised the world by becoming the runner up behind Swedish star Jan Brink.

Most memorable riding story...

Adelinde’s first international contest was in Falsterbo, Sweden, in 2007. She surprised the world by becoming the runner up behind Swedish star Jan Brink.

She surprised the world even more by becoming the runner up behind Isabell Werth in the biggest international CDI of the world Aachen 2008, only her third international contest abroad. The choice for the Dutch Olympic team had been made before Aachen and Adelinde and her horse Parzival became the reserve rider for the Dutch squad for the Olympic Games 2008. The year 2009 became rather unbelievable. Adelinde scored a World Record in the Grand Prix Special (84.04%) and won the individual gold medal at the Europeans in Windsor, next to the team gold medal with the Dutch and the individual silver medal in the Freestyle. After all those successes, coincidences that decided her choices in the past, now again helped her further. Through a new Grand Prix horse Jerich Wünschtraum owned by Herbert Jerich from Austria, she finally could welcome a sponsor who helped her to buy the second half of her medal horse Parzival from co-owner Henk Koers.

Hobbies?

All sports.

Adelinde & Parzival (Source: admin.fei.org)

FACTS DOB: 08/07/1979 Country: Netherlands Website: www.adelinde.nl Current World Ranking: 4 Education: University Graduate - English Teacher Current Trainers: Sjef Janssen Johan Hamminga (trainer to GP level)

STATS

Superstitions?

None

Sponsors:

Most influential person and why?

It's not just one person. I am grateful to my Mum and Dad for teaching me everything in life and to my trainers who helped me to the place where I am now, especially Johan Hemmings at the start and Sjef Janssen now.

Ambitions during sporting career Simply to get better every day and to improve with Parzival and hopefully with a lot of other horses to come.

• Jerich International • Havens • Anky Technical Casuals • Olaf Bijlsma

Languages: • English • Dutch • German

Source: FEI Official Website

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KEURING 2011 - APRIL 1-2 We are all excited about the upcoming Keuring! Ebony Park is taking 14 horses to be presented to the Dutch judges, as well as being a part of the Friesian Gala on the Friday night!! As you can imagine, it will be very hectic will all of those horses, so we need 5-10 dedicated, hardworking volunteers for Thursday 31st March, Friday 1st April day and night, and Saturday 2nd April during the day. Duties will range from mucking out stables, preparing horses, holding horses, helping out the other groom, as well as Natasha and Loes. If you think this sounds like something you would love to do, 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 (remember you simply have to call this month to hear what welcome we will use, and to allow us to personally wish you a Merry Christmas).

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

We would love you to join us on Facebook!

Click on the icon to visit our page!

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Ebony Park Performance Friesians Where Dreams Are Made Reality Ebony Park Friesian Magazine March 2011

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