Equestrian Hub Magazine Issue 12 2022

CHRISTMASGIFT GUIDEINSIDE

Mathilde Gregoire

With over 40 countries visited, 20 on horseback, Mathilde combines her two greatest passions: horses and traveling. Through writing, her mission is to inspire women and solo travellers to follow their dreams and embark on equestrian journeys around the world. In this issue, read about two exceptional holiday options, one in Kenya, and the other in South Africa’s Winelands region.

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Amanda Mac

As editor of Equestrian Hub Magazine, Amanda’s longstanding passions for horses, writing and photography come together perfectly. An ex-coach and competitor, she works behind the scenes with the amazing EH team to ensure every issue of the magazine brings you the very best in top quality stories, informative articles and great images.

Jessica Morton

Jessica is a dual national New Zealand-Italian freelance journalist, equestrian traveller and writer. Currently based in Tuscany, she’s perfectly positioned to bring us the very latest in European equestrian trends and innovations. Christmas is nearly upon us, so Jessica suggests some great gifts ideas for horses and their humans, before exploring the benefits offered by infrared technology.

Alison Lincoln

With a degree in Equine Sports Coaching, Alison has taught on both sports science and equine science courses in the UK. She’s fascinated by human and equine peak performance and how to get the best out of the rider and horse partnership. In this issue she explains the importance of mindset in conquering nerves and improving performance.

Rebecca Ashton

Rebecca is a Pilates instructor, dressage coach, FEI competitor and equestrian journalist. For the past 12 years she’s travelled the globe covering major shows as a writer and photographer. She loves immersing herself in different equestrian cultures and interviewing those at the top of their game – and on this occasion she speaks with eight times Olympian Andrew Hoy.

Christine Armishaw

Christine is a horse trainer, coach and passionate eventing and jumping rider. A Kiwi girl based in NSW, she teaches others not just how to ride, but also how to understand their horse. If a square halt is proving elusive she explains how to improve, before continuing her conversation with Leny Beehan on the benefits of stretching.

Dr Doug English

A veterinarian and long-time turmeric researcher, Doug completed his Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland in 1974. He’s well-known throughout Australia for his work in the equine industry and is a long-time Equine Veterinarians Australia member. Don’t miss Vet Vibes, and his informative article on your horse’s precious eyes and their ailments.

Suzy Jarratt

Suzy has lengthy and varied form as a writer and presenter. She works for several Australian and overseas companies, is the author of three published books, and has won an international award for equestrian journalism. In this issue she talks to promising young show jumper Isobel Guinness, who is currently making her mark in the USA.

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Nicole Tough

An EA Level 2 Dressage Specialist Coach and National A Level Judge, Nicole has over 30 years’ experience in training, competing, judging and coaching. She enjoys presenting seminars and masterclasses, has trained in Germany, Spain and The Netherlands, and has produced nine very successful FEI horses. In this issue she explains why your horse shouldn’t be on the forehand.

Rebecca Nadge

Hailing from WA, Rebecca evented at 2* and worked in racing stables before becoming a newsroom journalist. She now works full time as a pen rider at a cattle feedlot, while juggling freelancing and a degree in Equine Science. If a well-deserved holiday is front of mind, you’ll appreciate her article on arranging care for your horses in your absence.

Jose Mendez

An international dressage trainer and coach, José and Fay, his partner, founded the Mendez Equestrian Centre in 1990 – the only Australian riding and education centre that combines the principles of Classical Horsemanship with the ASK framework in its training, clinics and coaching programs. In this issue, José offers expert tips on the art of lunging.

Larissa Bilston

Larissa, BAgrSc (Hons) is the Equine Nutritionist for Farmalogic, where she developed Equine Vit&Min and the Farmalogic Equine range. Her extensive experience is highly regarded by trainers, riders and owners who understand the importance of good nutrition. In this issue, she offers up a comprehensive guide on roughage, forage and fibre, and its importance to your horse’s health.

Rachel Roan

Wayne Copping

Wayne has served as a National Eventing Selector, a 5* Course Designer, FEI course design seminar presenter, a mentor for CDs, and is an International Eventing Officials Club board member. He participated in the early testing of frangible devices, helping to formulate the policies governing their use. In this issue, he gives valuable insights into how to approach a cross country course.

Leny Beahan

Leny is certified in a variety of equine healing modalities including Equine Bodywork, Tucker Biokinetics, Emmett Therapy, Trigger Point Therapy and gait analysis. Helping horses is something she loves and she is constantly expanding her knowledge. In the last of a two-part series, Leny goes into detail on stretching exercises that you can try with your horse.

Jamie Hocking

Based in Denmark, Jamie is the standing Australian National Champion in equestrian vaulting, holds a world ranking, and is determined to reach the top of his chosen sport. If an overseas job with horses is top of your agenda, he has some excellent tips on how to set realistic goals and properly prepare for the experience.

Rachel has ridden her whole life. A passionate horse enthusiast who’s working to establish a small stud of dressage bred performance horses, her interest in writing and storytelling grew during her university media studies. She spoke recently to Cheryl Cook about her work as a dressage penciller which may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of dressage, but it plays a critical role.

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

From the Horse’s Mouth

With Fiona Todd

Welcome once again to another exciting issue of our beautiful magazine. As I write this, I reflect on the past year, with all its triumphs and challenges. The EH team have been working harder than ever to bring you the inspiration and information you need to achieve your goals – and we’re very excited to be planning more of the same for 2023.

Andrew Hoy – well, what can I say! Rebecca Ashton caught up with the eight times Olympian while he was in Melbourne last month, and our Spotlight on Andrew is an absolute must read. Andrew’s dedication to his sport and his commitment to striving to always be better than the day before is inspirational.

With an eye to continual improvement, FEI 5* Cross Country Course Designer Wayne Copping has some suggestions on how to approach your next track, top dressage rider Nicole Tough explains why now is the perfect time to get your pony off their forehand, and Christine Armishaw has some great tips on perfecting that pesky square halt. Plus, classical dressage master José Mendez discusses the correct approach to lunging – another must read.

And pivotal to achieving your best is mindset. Alison Lincoln’s take on why it matters is fascinating, so let’s all adopt a growth mindset in 2023 and watch the magic happen!

The health and wellbeing of our horses is always paramount, and there are some cracking articles on that very subject in this issue. Equine nutritionist Larissa Bilston

offers up a comprehensive roughage, forage and fibre guide; Jessica Morton looks at infrared light as a treatment for pain and inflammation; Dr Doug English explores eye conditions, visibility issues, and what to look for in a fly mask; and in the second of our two-part series, Leny Beahan outlines stretches you can try with your horse at home.

Planning a holiday? Then turn to Rebecca Nadge’s article on ticking all the right preparation boxes for your horse’s care while you’re away – it’ll help ease your separation anxiety! And if you’ve got the travel bug but no particular destination in mind, then Mathilde Gregoire suggests you consider two exceptional horseback safari options, one in Kenya, the other in

South Africa’s Winelands. While you’re there, you might ride a Boerperd, a horse unique to South Africa and our featured breed of the month. But perhaps you’re considering a longer overseas stay which includes a job with horses. If so, international equestrian vaulter Jamie Hocking has some suggestions on making the most of your adventure.

‘Tis the time of year for giving, and if you’re struggling to find the perfect gifts (it’s a perennial problem) turn to our gift guide for some seasonal inspo – and while on the subject, volunteering is yet another way to give, as dressage penciller Cheryl Cooke explains when she speaks with Rachel Roan.

Then we introduce you to two more of our wonderful mentors (and our sincere thanks to all our mentoring program mentors and sponsors); Suzy Jarratt catches up with promising young show jumper Isobel Guinness, currently making her mark in the USA; our equipment feature is on breastplates; not for profit organisation Living Legends is the subject of this month’s Life After Racing; and our 20 Questions are very ably answered by none other than David McKinnon of McKinnon Sport Horses.

So, let me wrap up 2022 by wishing you and your families a truly wonderful Christmas, and a healthy, happy year to come. Thank you for being on this journey with us – it means so much to everyone here at EH HQ. And now let’s raise a glass and take a moment to celebrate all that we’ve achieved so far, and all that we’ll achieve together in 2023.

Cheers,

Where to from here

Growing up in Culcairn NSW, Andrew Hoy was destined to be a farmer and take over his parents’ property. He was just six years old when he started riding, but it was only ever a hobby. “People tell me I said I always wanted to ride in an Olympic Games, but I can never remember saying that.”

It began with Ginger the Shetland, and Andrew still believes that any rider who can get a Shetland to go where they want, on

the line they want, and at the speed they want, definitely has Olympic potential!

The youngster would compete at agricultural shows in the Riverina but show jumping lost its shine. “Having just one horse, if I went into a jumping class and had a rail down I had to go home because I wasn’t in the jump off.” With its three phases and more time in the saddle, eventing became more attractive.

By the time he was 15 he had Davey, his first serious horse. The five-yearold Thoroughbred was only ever meant to be a Pony Club horse, but he eventually took Andrew around the world three times. “He was a very special horse,” Andrew reflects. The first Championships was the Worlds at Kentucky in 1978. “That happened purely by default because some combinations fell over and were unable to go so I got to go last minute. From there I went to the United Kingdom where I was to stay for six weeks and ended up staying two years.”

That led to the Fontainebleau Alternative Olympics in 1980, where Australia came third. Next was the 1982 Luhmühlen World Championships, then the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, after which the bold little horse came back to Australia and at 16 was retired to Andrew’s parents’ property.

Davey also showed Andrew the ups and downs of the top sport. “When I first went to the UK with Davey after Kentucky, I rode my first Badminton in 1979 and it wasn’t good. We finished

Andrew Hoy is the most successful Australian equestrian of all time.

REBECCA ASHTON caught up with the eight times Olympian in Melbourne last month.

at Fence 11. After some other events, we went to Burghley and won, then went back to Badminton and finished at Fence 4. Talk about the highs and lows of sport. You have to think why didn’t it go well? Is there something I didn’t do? Something I missed? And you have to also seek other people’s advice. If you want to do something badly enough, there’s always a way forward.”

That advice came mainly from Captain Mark Phillips and The Princess Royal on whose property, Gatcombe Park, Andrew was based. “If I had to pick out one thing that I learnt from them, there seemed to be a very clear structure in how they went about things. That’s where Mark Phillips has just been exceptional with what he’s done with his life and The Princess Royal with hers. Her riding career and her royal duties, both were very structured.” That suited Andrew well as structure had been part of his childhood.

Kiwi was Andrew’s second Olympic mount. The Thoroughbred gelding partnered Andrew in the 1988 Seoul Olympics as well as Barcelona in 1992, where they won team gold, Andrew’s first. “Kiwi was purchased in 1983. I went to the Melbourne Cup with Mark Phillips and we were flying to New Zealand the following day to do some coaching. I said ‘if we arrive in New Zealand and haven’t backed Kiwi to win the Melbourne Cup, we’re going to look really stupid’. We put some money on it and it won, so I called my horse Kiwi.”

Andrew was awarded an OAM for his services to equestrian sport in 1993, which was also the year he decided to take up eventing full time and live in the UK, the hub of the sport. “After the success at Barcelona, I decided to event full time and I thought if I’m to do that, I need a true evaluation of where I stand in the world and the leading riders at the time were in Europe.” By then Andrew had some connections in Britain which helped immensely, and he arrived with two trunks, two suitcases, and two horses. Those two superstars were Kiwi and Darien Powers.

Darien Powers would be Andrew’s next Olympic champion. The flash grey helped Australia win team gold at Atlanta in 1996, where Andrew was also the flag bearer, and Sydney in 2000, creating history with three consecutive Olympic gold medals. “Sydney was an incredibly special event. I’d been in the UK full time for seven years, and coming back I knew so many of the volunteers. That was very special. There are Olympic performances and Olympic medals won, but I think the real heroes are the volunteers and the country behind it that make the Olympics so special. That’s something that I’ve realised over the years. It’s the one sporting event that the whole world embraces.”

Andrew, who in 2000 was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, has had so many notable mounts over the decades it’s impossible to list them all. There was Swizzle Inn who won individual silver at the Sydney Olympics: “I just happened to get him as a catch ride just before Bramham. I was offered the ride on the Monday and went to Bramham on the Tuesday and ended up winning. I think to have a catch ride,

you have to be able to understand the horse’s personality.” Gershwin was Andrew’s individual horse at Atlanta having won Luhmühlen International Horse trials. Moonfleet got him to the top of the podium at Badminton for the first time in 2006, and also ran second at Burghley the same year having won the event in 2004. Mr Pracatan went to the 2004 Athens Olympics, Master Monarch won Kentucky in 2006 and was third at Burghley the following year, and Rutherglen was with Andrew for the 2012 London Olympics.

Then there’s the latest star Vassily de Lassos, the ‘Ginger Unicorn’. “His result sheet in relation to cross country and show jumping is just exceptional. He’s a very special horse. As with all my horses now, I find myself spending more time trying to understand their personalities.”

FACING PAGE: Andrew and Vassily de Lassos at the World Eventing Championships in Pratoni (Image by Michelle Terlato Photography).

ABOVE: With Rutherglen at the 2016 Burghley Horse Trials (Image by Hathaway Photography).

The chestnut won two medals at the Tokyo Olympics, team silver and individual bronze, making Andrew the oldest Australian Olympic medalist at his eighth Olympics. “I really think that the Japanese people and the country of Japan were the only ones who could have pulled that off during COVID. They were just so organised. I went to the test event in 2019 and they could have run the Olympic Games that same day. The stabling was excellent, the cross country venue was very good, the main stadium was fantastic - just so well organised and structured. It was a joy to be there.”

So how has Andrew been so successful? “I think if you look at anyone who is successful in their life, there is a very clear structure to what they do. You have a base that you start from, a certain goal, and then be open enough so you can draw in from the sides and alter your paths if need be.”

Andrew has definitely evolved with the sport, which has changed considerably over the years: “Especially Olympic Games. It’s a very dynamic an explosive sport. I think the championship horse and the 5* horse in today’s sport are two different horses. If you follow motor racing, it’s like the difference between the Formula 1 down in Melbourne and the Bathurst 1000. Both are motor races and are very interesting sports, but you can’t run the Formula 1 car around Bathurst. Some people do ride their championship horses at Badminton, but I think they are very different.”

The key is adaptation - if you don’t evolve, you go backwards. Andrew’s main focus now is the welfare of the horse. What’s important for the horse? How can the health of the horse be improved? He’s very selective about what events he goes to and chooses competitions based on what he is trying to achieve with each horse. It’s also important to communicate that to the owners so that they’re happy as well. This isn’t just about Andrew and the horses - there’s a whole team involved and the owners are vitally important.

All clear in the trot up at Pratoni (Image by Michelle Terlato Photography).

Vassily’s result sheet in relation to cross country and show jumping is exceptional (Image by Michelle Terlato Photography).

Andrew keeps an eye on other sports in relation to biomechanics, a subject which has always fascinated him. “Now there’s biomechanics in our sport and I try to work with different people because I think it’s so very important. It’s not about I’ll do it this way because I’ve always done it this way. It’s about can I do it better? I’ve been amazed by how long it’s taken for biomechanics to come into this sport for both horse and rider.”

With his own personal trainer, Andrew focuses on sport specific exercise. The trainer comes over from Germany and also looks at diet and recovery. “There are so many times where I’ve won by .2 of a mark or come second by .2 of a mark. For instance, in Tokyo I won a bronze medal by .2 of a mark. It’s very close.” Every little detail counts.

Longevity in his sport has come about because Andrew is a ‘doing’ person and always wants to improve. That’s his motivation. Although competing at the Brisbane Olympics was a bit of a throwaway line, there is never a focus on retirement: “While I think about retirement, I’m not thinking about what I’m doing.” That was a piece of advice given to him by wife Stefanie. “She’s unbelievable. Really, behind every successful man is a good woman! I may have won some gold medals but I got the whole gold mine with her!”

Not only is Stefanie a mother to their two children, Philippa, 5, and Oscar, 3, her business in communications means she’s very involved with other sports, with the leading dressage and jumping riders from around the world, and with the leading shows. “So, she just sees things from taking one step back. It’s so easy to get so tied up in your own vision and what you want to do,” he remarks.

With a strong string of horses and a supportive family by his side, there’s no doubt many years are left in Andrew’s stellar career.

Andrew with the Ginger Unicorn in Aachen this year (Image by Rebecca Ashton).

Stefanie ensuring Andrew stays well hydrated (Image by Rebecca Ashton).

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It’s the one movement that always shows up, in the same part of every dressage test, right at the very end: the square halt. Many tests also require a square halt at the beginning and others incorporate the odd one in the middle too, so if you can consistently nail this movement your score will love you for it!

What is a square halt? Simply put, it’s when the horse comes to a complete stop with a leg at each corner. The FEI Judge’s Handbook states: ‘At the halt the horse should stand attentive, engaged, motionless, straight and square, with their weight distributed over all four legs. The neck should be raised with the poll at the highest point

and the nose slightly in front of the vertical’. If the nose is lower than this, the crest will end up higher than the poll, so you don’t want your horse overbent, or you will be marked down.

You’re also judged on the transitions in to and out of the halt, including the regularity of paces before and after, along with maintenance of suppleness, continuation of a soft and elastic contact, and your horse’s willingness to perform the exercise in harmony with you. With these halt goals in mind, here are some training techniques to help perfect your square halt.

Execution: Firstly, they need to be forward and on the aids. You’re looking for snappy responses to your go aid, with your horse moving briskly forward within approximately two seconds once you’ve asked. If the go response is sloppy and dull, coming into a halt will likely be the same. If your horse is lacking in energy, try a few halt to trot transitions in fairly quick succession to liven them up. These halts don’t have to be square; the emphasis here is on the crispness of the transition and your horse’s quick responses to your stop and go aids.

Once they are alert and willing, it’s time to put more focus into getting a leg at each corner. Ensure you are riding a straight line, then pick a spot ahead of you to halt. About three strides out, take a big breath in. As you breathe out, tense your core, slightly tilt your pelvis forward under your body and shift your weight a little toward the back of the saddle, aiming to distribute your weight over their hindquarters and off the forehand. Close your fingers firmly around the reins and hold this overall closed hand and tense body position until your horse has come to a complete halt. Treat it like you are riding their energy forward into the halt, rather than pulling back into it. Keep your legs wrapped around their sides, not pushing

ABOVE: Lyric and Christine nailing their square halt at the 2022 Sydney Eventing Spring Classic (Image by Elegant Exposures Photography).

COACHING WITH CHRISTINE

but maintaining that completion of the forward movement. This helps to finish with both hind legs under the body, rather than one left trailing out behind. Ideally, the whole movement should be completed between two to three strides. Once halted, let the pressure off.

Troubleshooting: If your horse always seems to leave a leg behind, usually it’s due to not being forwards enough as you come down the line, so avoid gradually slowing as you approach your halt point. Also, never correct an uneven stance by reining back, backward steps are a big no-no. Always ride forward into the halt.

Your body should stay balanced and centred in the saddle, with your weight even across both stirrups and seat bones. However, if you find your horse tends to swing their quarters out to one

side, try weighting the opposite stirrup a touch more. Sometimes a rider is inadvertently sitting with their weight off to one side and correcting this can be an easy fix for a horse that swings out.

Another tip to help with a lack of straightness is to set up two poles to halt between. Move them further apart as your horse gets better at the exercise, until you can finally remove them altogether.

Daily integration: Knowing square halts always show up means you should incorporate them into everyday riding life. Yes, absolutely train your square halts during some deliberate and intentional sessions, but don’t just leave practise until then. Every time I stop, I ask my horse to stop square. This includes at the end of every single ride, be it flatwork schooling, a jump session or a trail ride. It also applies when pausing to adjust stirrups or tack, halting before hopping off to rearrange a fence or pick up a pole, or stopping for pretty much any other reason.

If you make square the standard you expect when your horse becomes stationary, you will find the movement gets progressively easier to execute and the likelihood of nailing all those square halts and bumping up your dressage marks will increase too.

Now pop over to Equestrian Hub for video content demonstrating these techniques.

TOP: Using guide poles to help with straightness and immobility (Image by Oliver Armishaw-Webb).

LEFT: Isabell Werth and Weihegold OLD complete their winning 2020 FEI Dressage World Cup test with a textbook square halt (Image © FEI/Leanjo de Koster).

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Amanda Ross World Cup Showjumper

Wayne Copping: FEI 5* Cross Country Course Designer

Drawing on his wealth of experience, Wayne Copping answers two questions and gives valuable insight into how to approach a cross country course.

What’s your pet grievance with riders on the day?

The biggest one is not paying attention when they’re walking the course or not understanding what they’re looking at. You see the lower level riders either walking on their own or a couple together and they won’t stride the fences and have no understanding of the combinations. They’ll get

preoccupied with the cross country app and messaging people. It worries me a bit because they don’t seem to understand that the first time they walk around the course is how the horse will see it – the horse doesn’t get a chance to go around two or three times.

If they have a coach or a more experienced rider to walk with, that

will give them a better appreciation. People can stand and watch horses jump cross country fences all day and they’ll all have a different opinion, but you need to be able to understand what you’re watching and interpret what’s happening and what effect the fence is having. Young riders have not had life’s experiences to be able to cope with that.

What should eventers of any level be considering prior to riding a course?

I think it’s important to understand if there’s any balance or flow in the first few fences. Quite often it can be difficult to get away from the start because you’ve got all the horses in the warm-up area and then young horses don’t want to leave. It’s important riders understand the implications of that, and that the first fence is generally set up to get them on course and give them a good experience jumping.

In particular, pay attention to variations in light. We designers use trees and natural surroundings and place fences where the light will have a bit of an effect. With the times all published in advance it’s quite possible to walk the course at the same time of day that you’ll ride it, if your timetable allows. Some of the technical delegates will be quite cognisant of the light and they will revisit any fences they’re worried about at the time of day that course will be ridden.

You must ride to conditions. You can’t remember all the holes and dips in the ground so it’s important you ride with control. If you slip over it’s elimination but it can so easily be avoided. So often riders aren’t necessarily going too fast but they’re too loose - the reins are flapping, the ground is sloping away from them and bam, they’re down. The way you lose time is by accelerating between fences and then having to pull up for fences or to make a turn. The good riders make it look easy because the horses just do it within their rhythm.

ASK AN EXPERT

The Mentoring Program

Meet our mentors

Charlie Brister

Charlie Brister of Blue Gum Performance Horses is an all-round horseman based north of Sydney on the Central Coast. His expertise is in re-training problem horses, as well as coaching riders in the art of cross country, show jumping and dressage. For several years he wrote an informative training article for Equestrian Hub Magazine and is now the host of the hugely popular Equestrian Hub Podcast.

Charlie brings with him a wealth of experience. In his many years as an equestrian, he has made his fair share of mistakes and now enjoys passing on what he’s learned to other riders.

Growing up in a horsey family meant Charlie was in the saddle early. But the love affair with horses didn’t really begin until, as a 12-year-old, he went on a Man from Snowy River ride in the Victorian high country. It ignited his passion for horses in a big way. With that experience behind him, he began to train in earnest, and in high school was helped by eventing riders Fiona Hughes and Sharmayne Spencer and it was game on.

After a stint in the US competing in both eventing and show jumping, Charlie now competes mainly in jumping and is concentrating on developing young horses (five of his own as well as his clients’ horses), which he finds very satisfying: “I’ve won or done well in many competitions, but any time I’ve made an improvement in my horses, I’m more than happy.”

ABOVE: Charlie Brister now competes mainly in jumping (Image by Oz Shotz Photography).

Mick Taylor

Trust the process – enjoy the journey: Words to live by from Mick Taylor, one of Australia’s most successful professional reiners with multiple Championships to his credit. He’s also a professional horse trainer who produces quality horses for non-pro riders, and a respected mentor who has supported many young reiners on their journey to achieving their goals in the pen.

Focussed on continually improving his own skills, Mick was himself mentored by reining star Martin Larcombe, and as a non-pro achieved Reining Australia’s $100,000 life time earnings milestone. A highlight of his career was in 2003 when he became the first non-pro to win the Reining Australia Futurity on Docs Defender, a horse he trained himself.

As a coach, Mick works with many non-pro reiners: from beginner riders to experienced non-pro competitors. He continuously develops his own skills by working with trainers in the USA, attending training days with international clinicians, and partnering with other trainers to provide clinics throughout Australasia.

Since becoming a professional reining horse trainer, he has developed a program through which he produces quality horses for the non-pro industry: good minded, solid, competitive horses that riders at any level can compete on confidently QXH Stylish Jazz (NZRHA Open Champion) and Lil Gold Digger (numerous state titles) to name only two.

ABOVE: Mick and Heza Flashy Einstein in action in the pen (Image be MFJ Photography).

FEATURE

Mindset matters

Equine sports coach, eventer and author ALISON LINCOLN developed an interest in mindset and visualisation from an early age.

As a competitor at Pony Club

Alison Lincoln often heard phrases like ‘attitude is important’, or ‘mindset is important’, or ‘you can use visualisation’, but was never quite sure what these things actually entailed.

Like many riders, Alison suffered a little from nerves. “I really wanted to progress

to the higher levels, but I found coping with nerves quite tricky and I couldn’t really understand that.” But she didn’t let that hold her back, instead she began to expand her horizons and unravel the secrets to conquering her nerves and improving her performance.

Alison began researching what other sports people did, while also working

as a business performance and life coach – and it became apparent to her just how much mindset did matter. She discovered there were common threads in other industries that could all be related back to riding. “How you think really matters, in all walks of life, not just in sports,” she says, “it’s all about making your brain work for you.”

Growth mindset

As human beings we tend to have a negativity bias. “That means we tend to focus eighty per cent of the time on what’s wrong, what’s not going right, and what we can’t do, and only twenty per cent on the good stuff!” Alison explains. “How often do we come out of the dressage arena and instead of saying ‘that went well and this went well’, we focus on the one part we fluffed up? Or we go around the cross country over thirty fences, but focus on the one fence where we got the striding wrong, rather than all the other fences that we jumped well.”

In Horsemanship Competence, a recent study conducted by the FEI, fourteen key attributes for good horsemanship were identified. “They discovered that the best horse people in the world all have a growth mindset,” says Alison. A growth mindset refers to the ability to approach a situation in a way that has you thinking ‘how can I make the best out of this situation I find myself in?’ or ‘what can I do to change things for the better?’ The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset, where someone might think, ‘oh well, I was born with this level of ability and I can’t change it’, or ‘I’m not a cross country rider, I'm not brave enough’. A fixed mindset is very limiting.

Changing your mindset is possible, but it’s something you have to work on and practise across everyday life. Research suggests that if you do change to a more positive or ‘gratitude’ mindset, you can enjoy health, relationship and other benefits throughout your life, including an improved relationship with your horses. “It’s not about saying ‘oh isn’t life wonderful, everything’s lovely’, it’s having a realistic optimism,” Alison explains. “It’s saying ‘I know I can make the best of it; I feel positive about the future.” It’s all about reframing how you see the world. “You want to look at a situation and rather than seeing all the things that are wrong, start to see the opportunities that might be there,” she adds. “For example, top horse people view a challenging horse as an opportunity for learning, rather than a problem.”

Master your nerves

Anxiety plays a role for many riders; nearly everyone gets nervous, even those at the top of the game. But, as Alison explains, it’s the way they interpret their feelings and thus the thoughts that those nerves trigger. Anxiety can be split into two areas, somatic and cognitive. Somatic anxiety is what you feel in your body, like butterflies in your tummy, jitters, needing to go to the loo; while cognitive

Visualise riding a clear round in vivid detail.

anxiety is what you tell yourself and the thought processes that occur. “What’s fascinating,” she says, “is that successful people, whether they’re athletes, business people or whatever, get all those same physical feelings but they view them differently.”

A top event rider might say ‘I get really nervous, but I know I need these nerves to perform well. They help me to be on my game’. An amateur on the other hand, may interpret these same signs of anxiety as ‘I can’t do it’, or ‘I’m not good enough’. “That’s where the cognitive side comes in, you start to worry and experience self-doubt, which leads to the downward spiral of limiting beliefs,” says Alison. But what would happen if instead you were to experience those feelings as excitement? “How different is the feeling of excitement from nervousness anyway? Still butterflies in your tummy, still feeling fidgety and jittery,” she adds. So why not try looking at those feelings as ‘I’m

excited to get out there and I’m excited to see how I get on’.

Visualisation

The way you act has the power to affect your outcomes. Experiments have shown that people who simply act as if they’re happy actually end up being happy. How is this possible? Because your brain cannot tell what is real and what is imagined, which is why, if you are serious about upping your game, imagery and visualisation are some of the most useful tools you’ll ever use.

The point of visualisation is to enact what you are trying to improve by playing it out in your mind flawlessly, in exactly the way you’d like it to go. Visualise riding one transition, or a sequence of movements; negotiate a single fence that’s got you worried, or tackle the whole course. Alison explains how to make visualisation truly effective: “You need to incorporate all the senses and do it in real time. See it through

your own eyes, feel how your horse moves, smell your horse’s sweat, feel the bit of your horse, feel the bit of heat wafting off their body, hear their hooves pounding into the surface you’re riding on.” Then, when it comes to game time, watch the magic happen. “You don’t have to think so much, you brain sort of goes on autopilot because it thinks you’ve done it before.”

If visualising the whole ride play by play seems a bit daunting, Alison has one final tool you can use to achieve great outcomes: “Visualise the end result.”

Imagine you’re at the completion of your ride and you’re leaving the ring or riding through the finish flags. You have a massive smile on your face, so big it hurts. You're patting and praising your horse, you feel full of pride and so satisfied with how the ride went.

Your horse is warm and breathing strongly in that post-workout way, but is still relaxed and feeling great. The people around you are smiling and enthusiastically congratulating you.

Everything you see is in vivid colour, and you know you just nailed it.

Use this technique when you’re riding at home too, and set yourself up for the ride you want every time. And know, even when things aren’t perfect, you’ll be open to all the wonderful learning opportunities as they present

themselves. Remember, you are more powerful and more capable than you think you are, and it all starts in the mind.

Pay a visit to Equestrian Hub for Alison’s Zoom video interview. Hear about the positive impact of catching your horse in the act of doing good and much, much more.

Australian eventer Shenae Lowings didn’t compete in her first World Championship by thinking she’d never make it (Image by Jess Morton).

The best horse people in the world have a growth mindset (Germany’s Michael JungImage FEI / Richard Juilliart).

HANGING TOUGH

On the forehand

You’ve probably heard that expression countless times. Now top dressage rider NICOLE TOUGH goes deep into the detail.

When we observe a horse grazing in the paddock, we can see that the forehand of the horse (encompassing their front legs, shoulders, wither, neck and head) has more weight to carry than the haunches (their hind legs, hips, tail).

In other words, horses are naturally balanced with more weight distributed on the forehand. It is only when they are pumped with adrenalin do we see them change this balance and prance around their paddock like Valegro!

Now let’s add a rider on their back to this natural balance towards the forehand, and the game changes again. It is the goal of dressage training to engage the topline muscles of the horse, creating an arch in the bridge of the back, resulting in a shift in their natural balance, with more weight distribution on the haunches and a magical uphill way of going.

Even at preliminary level, the horse should be in balance towards the haunches with a degree of uphill tendency. Then, as we progress through the levels, because of increased engagement and collection, the horse should develop a more and more uphill way of going, becoming less and less on the forehand.

ABOVE: Even in the lowered frame it is possible for horses to be more balanced on the haunches.

A good tip from dressage master Vince Corvi is to imagine the first four plaits from the wither going up like steps. However, the problem lies in how we as riders try to achieve this. We should not just lift the neck with the reins. This technique is incorrect and creates a strong feeling in the hand, and/or a hollow back, a braced under-neck with hind legs trailing or wide behind, and, what’s more, it isn’t conducive to the goal of developing the muscular strength needed to progress through the levels.

Training your horse to come off the forehand and carry more of their weight behind is fundamental to success, and a hard technique to understand and master. Without it, the horse will struggle with test movements and your marks will suffer. I’m reminded of something International 5* judge Cara Whitman said in a masterclass in New Zealand: “Dressage is easy; unless you want to do it well, then it’s really, really hard.”

An important note: on the forehand has nothing to do with where the head and neck are, and everything to do with how the whole back and haunches are operating, and where the point of balance is. Even in the long and low stretch down, the horse should not be on the forehand. So, how do we achieve the uphill way of going?

Transitions are the easiest way to develop and improve your horse’s balance. Your horse can appear, and maybe even feel balanced on the haunches, but any instability in selfcarriage, or unevenness in the contact will be highlighted when you ask for a change of, or within, the pace. If the rider inadvertently allows a transition in which the horse becomes heavier in the contact (losing balance onto the forehand), it will take two to three corrections to override the transition they allowed to go downhill. In all transitions, it should feel like the horse achieves them bum first with no weight change in the hand, rather than nose

first, when more weight comes onto the hand. The goal is never to accept or finish a transition where the balance changes and goes onto the forehand.

Eventually, and with lots of practise and dedication, a rider can rebalance a horse to the haunches with an effective half-halt. With their core fully switched on, the rider can give a quick kick to produce a reaction in the hind leg (but not a faster step), creating an upward adjustment. Imagine riding your horse and someone throwing a witches hat six meters in front of your current position. What you should feel is a sudden growth; and that is the feeling you get in the saddle from an effective half-halt – that your horse suddenly becomes a hand taller at the wither with an engaged hind leg.

In short, the rein is not there for the horse to lean on, and the horse should

carry their own head and neck by being balanced on the hind leg. And a big tip is that because the horse is very good at training the rider into accepting how they want to go (on the forehand), a coach is essential to help the rider recognise the moment when the horse starts to lose balance in the transition, so that instead of finishing it, the rider makes a balancing correction and tries again.

It’s also important to remember that asking the horse to engage and develop its topline is hard work, and they will whinge about it. Let’s face it, most horses would prefer to be couch potatoes, and not go to the gym. Sound familiar? But no one gets better on the couch.

Happy training!

ABOVE: When the horse is balanced on the hind leg, we can see the hind leg under the centre of gravity.

FiberMix® is a moist, high energy, low protein, digestible forage fibre feed comprising lucerne and whole oat crop freshly harvested at the dough stage.

FiberMix ® is suitable for most horses, but especially performance horses in more vigorous exercise programmes where additional sustained energy is required.

FiberMix® is available from your leading horse feed retailer.

Perfect for performance horses with high energy requirements.

FEATURE

Separation anxiety

It’s almost time for your eagerly anticipated holiday, but have you made all the appropriate horse care arrangements?

REBECCA NADGE has some suggestions.

Your tickets are booked, your bags are packed, and your work phone is switched off. It’s holiday time! But what happens to your horses while you’re away?

There’re plenty of things to organise if you’re planning a trip without your beloved equines, but that doesn’t mean you have to feel separation anxiety

when you leave them behind! With a bit of forward planning you can put steps in place to ensure they’re as well cared for as possible so you can enjoy your wellearned break.

Feeding

The ideal scenario is to make as little change as possible to your horse’s routine while you’re away. If someone is

coming to feed your horses, find out in advance what time of day they can visit.

If you usually feed in the mornings but they can only travel to see your horses after work, it could pay to change your feed time prior to leaving so there isn’t so much disruption by the time you go.

Any changes to diet will need to be planned in advance and introduced gradually to reduce the risk of colic. If your horses have been in work but will be left unridden while you’re gone, you’ll need to revise the amount of grain they’re fed. Make certain there’s enough feed to cover the time you’re away, or ensure your horse-sitter knows where to source more. The same goes for making sure there’s plenty of hay or pasture in the paddock.

Leaving written instructions is a good idea regardless of the level of experience your horse-sitter has. It’s amazing how many details can be forgotten even if you do run through the process with them in person. Be very clear if certain feeds need to be soaked first or if horses should be fed in a particular place or

order - you owe it to your horses to be as thorough as possible.

Rugging

The time of year comes into play here, but planning ahead will work in your favour. Consider what’s possible for your horse-sitter. Rugging your horse may not be advisable if they’re only able to visit once a day. So if it isn’t possible for your horse to be rugged over winter it would be preferable to leave a rug off during the autumn months to allow them to acclimatise. The last thing you want is winter rugs left on during a warm day or cotton rugs getting soaking wet because no one was able to change them in time, and that means you need to make a call early. The same goes when deciding whether to clip your horse. Will you have someone available who’s dedicated to daily rugging?

Vet care and emergencies

No one wants to think of anything going wrong while they’re gone, but

unfortunately accidents happen and horses seem to be particularly prone to injuring themselves at unsuitable times. Depending on your relationship with your vet, it can pay to let them know you’re going away and to have a chat about the type of procedures you would authorise if a decision needed to be made quickly and no one could reach you. If you draw the line at expensive or risky surgery then communicate this in advance.

Remember, if something does go wrong there will be little you can do even if you can be contacted – so ask yourself if you trust your horse-sitter to make a judgement on your behalf, and be sure to leave them with your vet’s contact details so they don’t have to scramble to find them in an emergency.

In many situations it will be obvious when a vet is required. However, there are also plenty of scenarios when this isn’t as clear cut, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Reassure your sitter that you would

rather they contact a vet if they’re in any doubt. This will save them the angst of trying to make a call on your behalf, and it will also help put your mind at ease.

If your horses are staying on your property, make sure the water supply and fences are in good order before you leave. You’ll be kicking yourself if a faulty tap or loose wire that should have been fixed ends up causing problems. If possible, leave the details of a friendly neighbour or someone handy who might be able to help if something unexpected happens. Just because your sitter is great with horses doesn’t mean they can turn their hand to fixing a broken pump or fence!

Natural disasters could also be a consideration depending on your area. Having a contingency plan doesn’t mean you’re paranoid – it always pays to be prepared. If you live in a bush fire prone area and you’ll be away in the height of summer, plan in advance what to do and who to call for help in case your horses are impacted.

ABOVE: Ensure there’s plenty of feed in the paddock and that fences and watering troughs are in good order.

FACING PAGE: With proper planning, you won’t feel separation anxiety when you leave them behind.

Potties Cough Mixture

A palatable, syrup to relieve coughing in horses. Helps with secretion or expulsion of phlegm, mucus, or other matter from the respiratory system.

Nervine Powder

Vitamin B1 supplement for horses under stress.

Nervousness, stress and poor performance can be a result of deficiency in essential vitamins, poor quality feed, transporting, after sickness and during periods of high performance work.

White Ointment

Zinc based. Allows rapid healing, is a UV protectant and protects against invasive dirt and bacteria.

Isogel

Muscle, joint and tendon pain relief.

Produces a heating effect when rubbed into sore areas. For deeper pain, Electric Oil is recommended. Use under wet or dry bandages.

Green Ointment

Anti-fungal and anti-bacterial.

Used on greasy heal, treats ringworm and can be used for minor cuts and abrasions.

Rugging will depend on the time of year, but plan ahead so your horse is adequately cared for in your absence.

Shoeing

The length of time you’ll be away is likely to be a main consideration here. If your horses will need shoeing while you’re gone, organise this in advance and make sure a suitable handler can be available. Pass on your farrier’s contact details so any loose or pulled shoes can be dealt with promptly. If you’re away for an extended period and your horse won’t be in work it may be easier to leave their shoes off, although this won’t always be possible.

Exercise

If you have a serious competition schedule your horse may not be able to enjoy a holiday while you do! Find a suitable rider even if this means making some sort of compromise. You may prefer to have them work your horse solely on the flat or hack out rather than trying to jump. Stay realistic about what you can achieve upon your return, too. Your horse’s fitness (and your own!) may have been impacted by a less vigorous schedule, or it may take a few rides for you to both get back in sync.

Training and handling

The more obedient and well-mannered

your horse is to handle, the safer they will be if someone else has to look after them. Bear this in mind even if you don’t have a trip planned in the near future: after all, what happens if you have to leave suddenly for an emergency?

Horses that haven’t had the necessary training aren’t just a risk to the handler – they are also a risk to themselves. Suppose there is an evacuation order for your area and someone else needs to catch and float your horses. Could this be done and done safely?

Say thank you

Looking after someone else’s animals is a big responsibility - any fellow horse owner will know just how much your horse means to you! It’s important to recognise the time and energy your horse-sitter has put in and not take it for granted. Agree on a rate of pay prior to leaving, or at least purchase them a gift as a thank you. Having someone trustworthy to look after your horses will take a huge weight off your shoulders and allow you to relax and fully enjoy your break.

If your horse needs shoeing while you’re gone, make all the arrangements in advance.

IT’S BETTER TO BE META SAFE THAN SORRY.

You would do anything to keep your horse safe. Diets high in sugar or starch can lead to laminitis and the development of metabolic disorders.

META SAFE® is a grain free pellet containing a complete blend of nutrients at a low feeding rate. Formulated with less than 1.5% starch, low sugar and the added benefit of BONAFIDE®, META SAFE® is ideal to support horses on controlled diets.

META SAFE® is the safe choice for Laminitic, Cushings Disease, EMS and PSSM horses and ponies.

Take the META SAFE ® HORSE HEALTH CHECK

VET VIBES

The eyes have it

Eyes are precious and should be treated with care. DR DOUG ENGLISH goes into detail in this informative article.

It’s important to be very clear that if your horse has either injured their eye or has an ailment of some kind, calling you vet is always the best policy. That said, having a basic understanding of the eye and potential problems can help you gauge the severity of the situation.

Ulcers: Ulceration typically involves the cornea (the eye’s outer coating) and is usually the result of a trauma from bushes; sticks; displaced hoods, halters and fly masks; and even clods thrown up from galloping horses.

The cornea is a very tough organ. Composed of three layers, it resembles an onion because there are layers within each primary anatomical area. Treatment for an uninfected cut to the cornea is relatively easy - it will heal quickly, even within a day. Horses have a third eyelid (the nictitating membrane) that protects and produces substances that heal any damage to the cornea.

Rinse and clean the eye with a warm saline solution. A warm compress is helpful because it encourages tears and calms inflammation and pain. It if you have a tube of eye ointment on hand, apply it after cleaning the eye (first ensuring the ointment doesn’t contain a cortisone like prednisolone, hydrocortisone, or triamcinolone, which will delay healing and could lead to rupture of the eye). However, if the cut becomes infected the situation can be serious and you should call your vet.

Vision: The pupil is the circular area of the lens that is exposed by the iris which dilates and contracts according to the ambient light. In a normal horse, both irises are the same size. A difference in size is caused by concussion and brain issues such as tumours and infections. If there is anisocoria (unequal pupils) then a veterinary examination is essential.

If the pupils are constricted (miosis) then there is a pain event that needs diagnosis. If gentle pressure on the globe of the eye through the eyelid elicits pain and you cannot see anything wrong with the eye then there is a problem (such as glaucoma) that needs to be identified. Dilation of pupils (mydriasis) is an indication of trouble and causes include:

ƒ Various plant toxins (e.g. bracken fern) which destroy thiamine and produce cortical blindness with dilated eyes.

ƒ Other plants causing blindness are those containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids such as the Rattlepods and Senecio, a genus of flowering plants that includes ragworts and groundsels. Other signs are poor muscle control, discomfort in bright light, aimless wandering, and head pressing.

ƒ Alkaloids in plants such as Datura and Nightshades cause mydriasis and impaired vision.

ƒ Ivermectin overdose produces mydriasis and younger animals are more sensitive. Other effects are poor muscle control, lethargy, muscle twitching, drooping lips, recumbency, and coma. Horses that recover do not have residual effects.

ƒ Trauma to the head by falling over and striking the poll or blunt trauma from running into a fixed object can cause permanent blindness with dilated unresponsive eyes as a result of the optic nerve being severed by moving fractures of bone.

ƒ Optic neuritis from the migration of parasites, orbital infection, guttural pouch disease, and the accidental intra-arterial injection of phenylbutazone.

ƒ PPID (Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction) or Cushings disease has ocular manifestations with bulging fat pads above the eye sockets, and weeping eyes.

ƒ Vitamin A deficiency is rare in well fed horses on good pastures. In drought conditions accompanied by poor dry grass, a vitamin A supplement should be given to avoid retinal atrophy; night blindness; tearing; abnormal thickening of the cornea; and if extreme, blindness with dilated unresponsive pupils.

Neoplasia: Squamous cell carcinoma of conjunctival tissue and the third eyelid are a common cancer. Surgical removal with wide margins is the gold standard response.

Onchocerca: Caused by a parasite. The adult, which lives in the nuchal ligament running along the neck at the base of the mane, produces larva that migrate through the tissues and cause a dermatitis reaction when they ultimately die, as well as an eye lesion producing depigmentation in the upper eyeball.

Tetanus: signs are ‘flashing’ of third eyelids and retraction of the eyeball as the horse reacts to a menacing action (e.g. waving your arms around in front of them). A serious disease, the sooner antiserum is given the better the prognosis.

Botulism: from chewing bones. Signs are a retracted eyeball, droopy eyelids, mydriasis, staggering and paralysis.

ERU: Equine recurrent uveitis (moon blindness) is the most common blindness in horses. It is a severe autoimmune syndrome characterised by recurrent episodes of inflammation separated by periods of remission. The

condition is complex, and very difficult to accurately diagnose and treat.

Leptospirosis: historically associated with ERU, leptospirosis is a family of water and sewer dwelling bacteria with 21 types commonly found in Australia. Rodents both introduced and native are active shedders. There is no recognised vaccine for horses but there is for dogs, cattle, and pigs. The organism is responsive to antibiotics like penicillin and doxycycline.

Vestibular disease: signs are staggering, head tilt and involuntary rhythmic eye movement.

Horner’s Syndrome: caused by nerve damage, the signs are droopy eyelids, sweating on the head and neck, mitosis, retracted eyeball, elevated third eyelid, increased tearing, no loss of vision. Causes are many and include trauma,

cancers, and guttural pouch infections.

Viral Encephalitis: West Nile (Kunming) virus is spread by mosquitoes. This disease has been limited to horses in Australia. Symptoms include staggering, blindness, muscle tremors, altered mental state, depression, circling, and excessive physical sensitivity.

Managing visibility issues

The horse has a wide peripheral monocular (two dimensional) vision and narrow binocular (three dimensional) front vision. If one eye is blind then there is a wide area on that side that the horse cannot see. To avoid startling, talk to them if you approach them on their blind side.

Chronic irritation from dust and flies, conjunctivitis, and blocked tear ducts can cause weeping eyes. Make a saline wash in a spray bottle (9gms sea salt per litre of water) and, with the nozzle set to misting, spray into the irritated eye and into any wounds. Accurately measured, 0.9% saline is the same concentration as blood and does not sting, particularly if the water is at body temperature.

Fly masks: Prevention is always better than cure, and fly masks are a great option. But not all masks are created equal. As a minimum, look for a mask made from black 95% UV proof mesh

(black allows better vision than grey, and UV rated mesh won’t melt in really hot weather). The mask should have a builtin visor so it can’t collapse down and touch the eyes.

Some masks offer 100% UV protection and give improved clearance around the face area so that no part of the mask touches the horse. If your horse has had eye surgery, look for a solidly constructed recovery visor with at least a 92% UV rating. And finally, avoid masks with lightweight mesh, which, when they get wet, can become heavy enough to touch the eyes and cause irritation or an injury.

Examining the eye.

A SCC (squamous cell carcinoma) on the lower lid.

Anatomy of a horses eye (Diagram courtesy Lynne Sandmeyer, DVM).

If your horse has either injured their eye or has an ailment of some kind, calling you vet is always the best policy.

Roughage, forage and fibre

because the horse gut evolved to continuously ingest and digest fibre. The minimum amount of roughage required is 1% of their bodyweight in dry matter. Horses with access to lots of fresh pasture will graze for most of the day and consume their daily requirement. They will also drink less water when grazing lush pasture because of its high water content.

Roughage should form the foundation of every horse’s diet. Depending on plant maturity and quality, it provides the majority of their requirements, including most or all of a mature horse’s protein requirements, and often enough calories to maintain body condition. It is often the overlooked but much needed key

ingredient for weight gain. On the other end of the scale, people caring for overweight or insulin resistant horses are very aware of the need to limit pasture access, providing low sugar roughage to keep their horses healthy.

Why is roughage important?

The first rule of good horse nutrition is to feed plenty of fibre-rich roughage

Unfortunately, horse owners rarely have access to unlimited good quality pasture, and many horses kept in overgrazed paddocks, stables and yards don’t get enough roughage. Under these circumstances, they must be fed preserved grass in the form of hay, silage or chaff to remain healthy. Hayreliant horses can consume their daily dry matter requirement in a relatively short period of time. Ideally, they should have access to roughage at least 20 hours a day – there can be severe mental and physical health impacts when they do not get enough.

Because horses evolved with constant access to grazing, the horse stomach

secretes acid continuously. When acid is secreted into an empty stomach, the build up can lead to gastric ulcers, diarrhea, pain-related bad behaviour and colic. Horses become anxious when left without food, and release ‘happy hormones’ during grazing. Feeding adequate roughage is also important for maintaining a healthy population of gut microbes. Important for general good health, gut microbes not only aid digestion by producing enzymes, vitamins and nutrients, they also produce molecules critical for effective functioning of the immune and nervous systems.

What’s the difference?

Roughage and forage are terms used interchangeably to describe the grasses and plants horses graze in fresh or preserved forms. This includes fresh pasture, hay, chaff, chaff cubes, haylage, baleage and silage.

Fibre, the structural components of plant cells, is made of cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin and lignin. The cells in young, leafy grasses have relatively thin cell walls, but as the plant ages the cell walls in the stem strengthen to become the plant’s ‘skeleton’. Flowering grass plants produce strong stems to carry their flowers, so the fibre content is higher in flowering and seeded plants than in young, leafy plants.

Horses cannot digest cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin in the foregut (stomach and small intestine) because they cannot produce the enzymes needed to break down these very tough fibre components. Instead, they rely on the beneficial microorganisms in the hindgut (mainly the cecum) that are able to break fibre down into volatile fatty acids available for the horse to digest.

Choosing a roughage source

Roughage usually contains at least 18% fibre, most of which is indigestible to the horse without the aid of the gut microbiome. The most common forms of roughage in Australia are pasture, hay or chaff. Don’t confuse ‘super fibre’ feeds, such as soy hulls and beet pulp, with roughage. Super fibres contain fibre which the horse is able to digest itself, making them healthy, cool fuel

eat.

alternatives to grain hard feeds, but not a forage replacement.

When grass is in short-supply, free choice grass hay is the best replacement unless your horse is on a weight loss or low sugar diet. The addition of a kilogram or two of lucerne hay provides a wider variety of amino acids. Limit lucerne or clover hay to under one third of total forage intake because of its very high protein content. Ideally, provide more hay than chaff because the long stems encourage more chewing, which creates more saliva to buffer stomach acid. Feeding a variety of fibre types and forms is good for the gut’s microbial diversity. However, these guidelines should be modified if you are feeding an insulin resistant or laminitic horse or pony. These need a low starch, low sugar hay and may benefit from a small amount of lucerne or quality protein to aid recovery. Limit total intake to 1.5% of bodyweight for weight loss.

Hay can be fed in multiple piles around the paddock to stimulate more natural

grazing (preferably on a mat to prevent sand ingestion), in large round bales offered free choice, or in slow feeder hay nets to help make the hay last. The key is to make sure your horse never goes more than a few hours without something to eat.

How much should I feed?

As a rule of thumb, horses should consume between 1.5% and 2.5% of their body weight in total feed per daythat’s the feed’s dry matter content, not counting moisture. Whenever pasture levels are low or grasses are dry and stalky, horses need to be fed hay. They require a minimum of 1% of their body weight as dietary forage and most require closer to 2%. When grass is not available, a 500kg horse needs 10-12kgs of hay daily, 5-6kgs for a 250kg pony.

If your horse loses weight during competition season or when they’re in work, despite having free choice access to plentiful, good quality (leafy) grass or meadow hay, you’ll need to add a

ABOVE: A microscope view of a plant stem in cross section. FACING PAGE: Ensure your horse never goes more than a few hours without something to

concentrate or hard feed. The amount of hard feed can and should be varied to maintain weight at the required level. Seasonal changes in grass quality and variation between the calorie content of hay batches can necessitate adjustment to the amount of hard feed even when there’s no change to the work level.

A horse at rest should consume 80100% of their daily intake as roughage, in light work 65%, and in moderate work 55-65%. Horses undergoing intense training may only have enough capacity to consume 40-50% of their daily intake as roughage due to their high consumption of energy feeds (grains/oil). Pregnant, lactating and growing horses may also need a protein supplement to provide the necessary levels of essential amino acids, especially lysine, methionine and threonine.

Easy-keeper horses and horses needing to lose weight should be limited to 1.5% of their bodyweight in dry matter daily, mainly forage with just a token feed to provide the essential vitamins, minerals and omega-3s needed to balance the forage and meet requirements.

Balancing a forage-based diet

Hay contains most of the minerals, protein and calories present in the pasture from which it was made. But in drying grass to make hay, it loses much of the original vitamin and healthy omega-3 fatty acid content. The vitamin levels in hay decline rapidly with storage and 12 month old hay has virtually no vitamins, although it will retain the minerals it had when harvested.

Fresh grass contains around four times as much omega-3 oil as omega-6. Omega-3 is a fragile molecule easily destroyed if exposed to heat, oxygen or light (as in the hay making process), whereas omega-6 molecules survive. Thus hay-reliant horses need a supplementary source of vitamins and omega-3 fats as well as minerals and salt to balance the rest of the intake and optimize their health and performance.

Larissa Bilston, BAgrSc (Hons) is the Equine Nutritionist for Farmalogic.

Horse owners rarely have access to unlimited good quality pasture.

TRAINING TIPS

The value of lunging

A correct approach to training is always vital.

RACHEL ROAN asked José Mendez for his expert advice on lunging.

Horses have always been part of José Mendez’ life.

Growing up in Spain he began his journey with the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. From the age of 12, he refined his skills in the art of classical horsemanship, and performed airs above ground with many Spanish Andalusian stallions.

Years later, he moved to Australia and continued training and performing with Spanish Andalusians in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Mexico and the United States. His experience in high school movements allowed him to successfully train and compete on many grand prix dressage horses, and he is particularly recognised for excellence in the piaffe, passage and work in-hand.

Over the years he has trained horses of all breeds and with all levels of ability, and has helped many overcome problems thanks to his expertise and commitment to kindness.

A classical dressage master, José first explains that the aim of dressage is to create an understanding between horse and rider; to become one with and work in partnership with your horse. His philosophy is to train with appreciation, sincerity and kindness (ASK) in all interactions with the horse, and lunging incorporated with working in-hand plays an important role in achieving this aim.

Lunging is a valuable tool that is underestimated and misunderstood by many equestrians. Many believe the purpose of lunging is to warm up or wear out the horse, which can become a mindless activity that’s actually counterproductive. The real purpose of lunging is to study the horse and help them to develop balance and improve their muscle structure.

To study the horse while lunging is to gain insight and learn more about them from the ground, so that you can then transfer this knowledge to your training program under saddle.

Lunging allows you to study and observe the horse’s body, their muscles, the biomechanics of their movement, and their behaviours. For example, you can observe their neck position – how are they carrying their neck? Is one hind leg tracking up less compared to the other? Is the tail sitting to one side? And why is the horse bucking on one side in the canter?

José studies each horse on the lunge and uses the information he gathers to tailor their training program. The knowledge acquired from the ground helps to determine which approach and exercises are appropriate for that particular horse’s stage of training. Lunging helps you to create a mental image of how the horse moves, so that you better understand what you’re feeling and experiencing while you’re on their back.

TRAINING TIPS

FACING PAGE: Classical dressage master José Mendez.

LEFT: The handler does not step back, but instead steps forward.

BOTTOM: As the handler steps forward, the horse’s shoulders respond by stepping outward.

All images by Melissa Goodson, Elegant Exposures

The concept of lunging is a progression from leading a horse; essentially the horse is learning to lead from a distance. When leading a horse the handler stands at the shoulder. The same principle is applied when teaching the horse to lunge and to maintaining the horse on the circle.

When sending the horse out onto the circle, the handler asks the horse to move their shoulders out toward the circle and then forward to create the start of the circle. The handler is positioned at the horse’s shoulder and using the lunge lead and lunge whip (or bamboo) combined with their position, they ask the horse to move their shoulders outward. As you can see in Image 1, the handler does not step back, but instead steps forward and the horse’s shoulders respond by stepping outward. The horse learns to move away from the handler instead of stepping into the handler’s space.

The biggest mistake when lunging is for the handler to step back as they send the horse out onto the circle. José says that he has observed this happening on many occasions, adding that it’s something the handler is probably not even consciously aware of.

However, the problem with taking a step back is that you’re teaching the horse to move into your space. Once the horse has learned from experience that you will move out of their way, it sets a precedent. So if, for example, the horse gets a fright, they are very likely to jump into the handler’s space, expecting the handler to move out of the way. Although this might not occur when the horse feels secure in a familiar environment, when they are out and about – at a competition, for example –and they begin to feel anxious, that prelearned behaviour can become a danger for the handler who could easily be hurt.

The concept of lunging is a progression from leading a horse, essentially the horse is learning to lead from a distance.

of the shoulder, again communicating to the horse to move outward with the shoulders. At the same time, the handler holds the lunge whip straight out towards the horse’s side (between their head and shoulder) to gently reinforce the message of moving outward. Here the lunge whip acts as an extension of the arm, and is not being used to punish the horse. Knowing how to apply this approach teaches the horse to stay out on the circle. Once this lesson is understood in the walk, it should follow in the trot and then the canter, which will help build the horse’s confidence and understanding of how to lunge.

José also explains the importance of understanding how the horse’s balance and tempo are correlated. Studying their tempo at each gait on the lunge will help you determine how much energy is required to maintain a good balance – and for this, the law of gravity should be considered.

Let’s take the metaphor of a racing motorbike: when a motorbike takes a corner at speed, the rider does not turn the handlebars as such, but instead leans into the corner. The faster the rider takes the corner the more the motorbike will lean. The horse does the same; the faster they go on the circle, the more they will lean and consequently drop their shoulder inward. Therefore, the tempo or speed at which you lunge the horse is vital in helping them maintain the circle and their balance.

The handler asks the horse to move their shoulders out toward the circle and then forward to create the start of the circle

The second biggest mistake is when the handler asks the horse to move forward when they are standing towards the back of the horse. Commonly, the handler will walk towards the hindquarters of a standing horse to encourage them to move forward. This is problematic for two reasons. Firstly, the handler is putting themselves in a position in which they could get kicked, particularly if they are also

asking the horse to move forward with the lunging whip. Secondly, when the handler stands behind the hindquarters it teaches the horse to turn in to face the handler, creating a situation that encourages them to cut into the circle and move into the handler’s space.

If the horse cuts into the circle or drops their shoulder into the circle, the handler should stand about 10 degrees in front

Too small a circle on the lunge will not help the horse maintain good balance and build their confidence as they learn how to lunge correctly. So start with a circle no smaller than 15 meters. As the horse achieves better balance, they will find it easier to maintain the shape of the circle.

It takes time and patience to teach your horse to lunge. Learning how to lunge effectively will benefit your horse’s training and build your knowledge of their biomechanics.

For more on José and his training, visit José Mendez Equestrian and follow him on Facebook and Instagram

FEATURE

Mark my words

Pencillers often work quietly behind the scenes as a necessary cog in the machine, and without them, dressage competitions would not go ahead. For Cheryl Cooke, a experienced penciller often found at Boneo Park, pencilling offers a range of benefits sometimes overlooked by the uninitiated. “For starters, it can be really enjoyable,” she remarks. But clearly there’s more to it than that, so I decide

to investigate the many advantages of volunteering as a penciller.

Although she grew up with horses, Cheryl didn’t discover the joy of pencilling until later in life. Now 70, she’s a regular penciller at some of the biggest comps in the country. “It was back in the 80s when I first tried my hand at it. It was at one of my daughter’s events, and someone approached me to

ask if I could pencil a test,” she recalls. “Back then everything was handwritten on the test paper. I had tried competing myself a handful of times and I found it quite distressing, but I’m much better on the other side of it.”

Cheryl says pencilling is not only enjoyable, but an easy job that anyone can do. “If you can type, you can pencil!” She suggests that before an event, you should make sure that you’re familiar with common dressage terms, abbreviations, and their spelling. Equestrian Australia has a list of abbreviations for scribing tests, and advises that where possible, they should be used to save time. While this is a good starting point, Cheryl explains that it’s best to check with your local club prior to the event to clarify which tests you need to be familiar with, and what their expectations of you are for the day.

Many dressage riders know the feeling of anticipation that turns to frustration when they receive comments back following their test, only to have trouble deciphering them. But Cheryl tells me that that’s becoming a thing of the

Pencilling: it’s probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of dressage, yet it plays a critical role, writes RACHEL ROAN.

past. “In the last couple of years there’s been a move to iPads, which has been fantastic! Many clubs are grateful to receive your help and are supportive in making sure you’re set up for success. At Boneo Park, they walk you through how the iPad works.”

With the advent of e-scribing apps, dressage clubs across the country are replacing paper tests in favour of the new technology. For Cheryl, going digital has helped to ease her job as a penciller: “It allows judges’ comments and marks to be transcribed quickly, and they’re often uploaded before riders have dismounted. Importantly, it saves time, improves accuracy, and helps with the overall smooth running of the day. It works really well because I can quickly type what judges are saying as they speak, and then we’re on to the next movement,” she adds.

This is especially useful for higher level tests where the movements are more complex and closer together. “The tests can go so quickly, and sometimes the judge says so much that you’re still

remembering the last movement when they’re already on to the next. The Grand Prix levels are pretty quick. You’d have no chance of keeping up with handwriting,” Cheryl remarks.

If you get left behind while pencilling, it’s important to notify the judge. This gives them the opportunity to modify the detail of their comments, or reduce how much they say so you can keep up while still noting the mark for each movement. Or, they may decide to come back at the end of the test to add more detail.

“You have to sit quietly. If you haven’t picked up everything they say, it’s okay to let them know. It’s important you keep your ear attuned to the judge and listen. Generally, I can’t look up very often to watch the test - unless it’s during a free walk - because I’m so focused on writing,” she explains.

Conversation between the judge and penciller varies from person to person.

If you haven’t previously pencilled for a judge, it’s best to ask them what their preference is before you start. While it’s nice to chat and a good

opportunity to get to know the judge, it’s important that during the test you are quiet and focused on the job at hand. It’s also important to remember that conversations with the judge about riders and their tests should remain confidential and not leave the four walls of the judging box.

Cheryl tells me that developing a keen eye for detail and learning what judges look for have, for her, been two of the most beneficial aspects of pencilling. “Over the years I’ve learned so much. You develop an eye for the mistakes riders make. Nowadays, if I spot something the judge hasn’t commented on, I actually feel confident in asking them if they missed it, which they can appreciate.”

With her wealth of experience, Cheryl often has a good idea of how a horse will perform by watching them when they’re warming up. “You can tell straight away how the test is going to go,” she says. “You can read them and think ‘oh no, this one’s a bit hot’.”

Her time as a penciller has also helped Cheryl forge friendships and a sense of belonging within the dressage community. “Meeting different judges I’ve pencilled for over the years has left me with some lovely friends. Jane Ventura is lovely. She wanted to take me around the world with her as her private penciller!” Cheryl laughs. “Christine Sievers is an A level judge - we get along really well. She’s also a mine of information, as is Jane.”

After years spent listening to the nuances of how a judge marks movements, it’s no surprise that Cheryl has honed her abilities as a penciller. She tells me that she’s reached a mutual understanding with some of the judges she regularly pencils for. “Jane

FACING PAGE: The Boneo Park dressage arenas, Cheryl’s home away from home (Image courtesy Boneo Park).

LEFT: For Cheryl, going digital has helped make the job of pencilling much easier.

can just give a one word description for the movement - that’s all it takes to understand what she means.”

Besides pencilling for our own Australian judges, some of whom have adjudicated at the Olympics, Cheryl has been fortunate to have met many international judges over the years, an opportunity she’s grateful to have had. These days she tends to call Boneo home. “It’s only half an hour away and it’s a really social day. We’re lucky at Boneo Park, they’re really generous in paying us as well as feeding us,” she says. “It doesn’t matter which level I’m assigned to. There’s a lot of variety in the tests and in the combinations that come through, and at the end of the day the biggest benefit for me is just enjoying the horses.”

Finally, I ask Cheryl if any of the tests she’s seen have been particularly memorable: “I pencilled quite a few of Mary Hannah’s tests. She’s competed

at Boneo the last two years, and it’s just lovely to watch,” she smiles.

After speaking with Cheryl, it’s clear that volunteering as a penciller has a variety of benefits; the extensive insight into

how a judge marks, a sharper eye for detail, and lasting friendships to name just a few. Hopefully when your next competition comes around, you too can stop and offer to pick up a pencil.

Over her years of pencilling, Cheryl has developed a keen eye for detail (Image courtesy Boneo Park).

Stephanie McDonald and Friedolin (Image by Susan Jeffers, Equine Images Victoria).

FEATURE

Stretch it out Part 2

In the second of this two-part series, Leny Beahan talks to CHRISTINE ARMISHAW about stretches you can try with your own horse.

In our November issue, we spoke with equine bodyworker Leny Beahan, who explained the fantastic benefits stretching offers, how to assess if your horse needs to stretch, and what areas to focus on for dressage, jumping and western horses. Now let’s look at Leny’s favourite stretches, how less can be more, and the very best stretching exercise she would prescribe if there could be only one.

Getting into the hands-on side of things, Leny talks about setting up for good technique, and one thing to be aware of is limb positioning. “For instance, if you were to do a hamstring stretch with the hind leg coming forward toward the front of the horse, it’s important to keep the position of the leg under the body within the natural range of motion.

Don’t bring it too far out to the side, and always have the joints slightly flexed and not locked.”

Refrain from overdoing it. "Think about lengthening or elongating, rather than stretching; less is more in this situation,” Leny says, cautioning that before stretching you need to ensure your horse is warmed up with a five minute active walk, or alternatively, stretch after your training session.

Timing is everything

Once you’ve decided stretching is in order, the next question is how long does a stretch need to be held for the muscle to actually benefit? Leny explains that stretches can be held for different lengths of time, depending on the stretch you’re doing. There are three different types of stretches:

Dynamic stretch: This is a stretch that incorporates movement. Move the limb up and down, or forward and back in a continuous pattern for five to ten repetitions, then pause before adding more repetitions.

Passive or static stretch: Without over lengthening, hold the stretch for 10 to 30 seconds.

Active stretching: Here your horse does the work themselves. Examples include feeding your horse on an uphill or downhill slope, hay bags tied at different heights, poles laid down in the paddock, or different textured footing. “This eliminates force from the human and it’s beneficial exercise that you don’t have to do yourself,” Leny explains.

The golden stretch

If there was just one stretch Leny

FACING PAGE: Stand beside your horse, and lift their hind leg with the toe at a similar height to the opposite fetlock.

LEFT: Hold the lifted leg with one hand on the fetlock, the other on the foot, and move the foot in circles.

BELOW: Most horses generally enjoy the Wither Rock.

All images courtesy Leny Beahan

could prescribe that would give horses maximum benefit, it would be the nose to knees stretch. “It will stretch, strengthen and mobilise all the muscles and joints in the head, neck, back and hind end,” she says. There have been scientific studies on this particular stretch used alone with no other activity, and it has been shown to improve the strength and density of the muscles significantly.

Hold a treat like a carrot between your horse’s forelegs, and encourage them to bring their nose toward the ground and back towards their legs. As they get stronger and more flexible, the stretch can come back past the knees toward the girth line. The criteria for doing this stretch properly is for the horse to have their feet square and even, and not to buckle at the knees when they reach for the carrot. “If this happens it will generally mean that you have asked for too much, so make it easier until they get better at doing it,” Leny suggests. The head and neck should be straight with no twisting to either side; you can help them keep straight by gently

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guiding their head. “No grabbing for the carrot or any bouncy movements either,” she adds, “keep it polite and controlled.”

Ideally, the horse should rock backwards, contract the belly like a sit up, and lift and extend the back, withers and neck, which will increase the muscles of their topline and abdominals. What’s not to love! Start with five to ten repetitions, two to three times a week and increase incrementally from there.

More stretches to try

The wither rock: This activates, relaxes and softens the muscles of the thoracic sling as well as some shoulder muscles, and horses generally really enjoy it. Stand facing your horse at their withers. Place your hands alongside each other over the wither; you should have a snug hold without gripping. Then rock your horse slowly, shifting their weight and alternating from left to right foreleg. Once your horse is used to the movement you can increase the timeframe of the hold on either side by rocking to the left and holding for 10 to 30 seconds, then slowly release before repeating to the right.

Hind leg mobilisation: Stand beside your horse and lift their hind leg, keeping the leg under the hip, not out to the side, with the toe at a similar height to the opposite fetlock. Holding the lifted leg with one hand on the fetlock and the other hand on the foot, move the foot in circles. Circle in one direction for

a few repetitions and then in the other direction. Start with small circles, getting progressively larger. You can also do a figure eight movement. This can help mobilise the joints in the hind leg and relax the muscles, as well as telling you a lot about the joint’s health and any asymmetry between the legs.

Tail circles: These loosen and relax the muscles of the spine. Be aware that some horses love this, while others can find it slightly rude and will clamp their tail to let you know how they feel about it! Start with gently stroking under the tail and around the rump to allow them to get used to the feeling. Then, holding the base of the tail close to where it joins the body, lift the tail slightly and rotate with small circular movements. Once they are used to this, you can increase the size of the circles.

Getting stretchy in the saddle

Not all stretching benefits come from ground-based activities. Leny points out that there are advantages to be gained while you’re in the saddle too. “I recommend a really good warm up and cool down when riding; a ten to fifteen minute active walk, with a head posture that allows the horse to stretch forward and out, where the ears are level with the wither. Aim to have your horse in a relaxed state too, because if the horse has a braced, unrelaxed mind that will transfer into the body.”

Leny also likes to get people thinking about how balanced their horse is between the left and right forelegs. “If they are tight through certain muscles and use one side more than the other, they’re reinforcing asymmetrical movement,” which means the horse over uses one leg and under uses the other, creating further muscle tightness and tension in the body.

Including some cross training and varying your training, instead of just doing the same things repeatedly, is a wise strategy. Along with that, it’s important to train evenly in both directions. Finally, concluding your ride with a nice, free and stretchy walk for five to ten minutes is a great way to let your horse cool down after training, leaving them feeling positive and relaxed for the next ridden session.

To learn more about Leny’s work, visit Connected Equine.

Tail circles loosen and relax the muscles of the spine, but not all horses are fans of this stretch.

Hold a treat like a carrot between your horse’s forelegs to encourage them to bring their nose toward the ground and back towards their legs. As they gain strength and flexibility, the stretch can come back past the knees toward the girth line.

GIFT IDEAS

Gifts for Christmas giving

Choosing Christmas gifts for your besties, human or horse, can be a challenge. JESSICA MORTON has some ideas sure to please.

The festive season is fast approaching, and we could probably all use a little inspiration when it comes to choosing gifts for our besties – no matter whether that BFF is a person or a horse! So, here’s some gift giving inspiration:

Style plus: Nobody expresses equestrian aesthetics better than Ralph Lauren, who began designing women's clothing after falling in love with the English tweed hacking jacket. Even though the brand is continuously

evolving, every collection features a distinctive equestrian element – and in their new summer arrivals is a timeless, relaxed fit striped linen shirt that will take you just about anywhere.

Horsey footwear: Gucci launched their first collection of loafers, with the now iconic signature snaffle, in 1953. The snaffle was a mark of Guccio’s appreciation of equestrian style, which evolved when he worked in London. But you don't have to splurge on an expensive pair of Guccis to enjoy that minimal yet premium loafer look and feel, because Tony Burch has revisited the classic design using elegant horse head hardware in brushed brass.

Cute riding socks: The power of a good pair of riding socks should never be underestimated. The best options have padded soles and ankles to prevent pressure points and blisters, and moisture-wicking material to keep your feet dry. LeMieux has just dropped a super fun collection of colourful Christmas themed socks perfect for stuffing stockings.

Protective neckwear: Sometimes the best Christmas gifts are the practical ones. Buff’s Zeo Grey Insect Shield® neckwear is a multifunctional accessory offering UV, dust and bug protection for riders. A must-have for every equestrian, wear them as a bandana, scrunchie,

Ralph Lauren Relaxed Fit Striped Linen Shirt

Jessa Loafer by Tory Burch

helmet liner, scarf, dust mask, or hat. The Insect Shield® technology repels annoying mosquitoes, flies and other

because it’s right above your eye line. Battery life is about 150 minutes and the articulated wing system easily adapts to all visor shapes. The camera is controlled with just one button, keeping things simple for riders who hate fussing with complicated tech settings.

Content creation: iPhones are super popular among equestrians, but because their lens capacity is limited, the results can sometimes be disappointing when compared to larger cameras. The Moment Beginner Filmmaker Kit helps level the playing field and will give your filmmaker the boost they’ve been looking for.

nasty skin irritations. A zebra patterned rug is just the thing! Flies find zebra stripes confusing and tend to stay away from them. Choose a rug combo and fly mask to keep flies off your horse all summer long.

Treat balls: Here’s something to test your equine’s problem-solving abilities!

Hide special treats like apples, carrots, or homemade snacks inside the treat ball. As your horse pushes the ball around, a treat will eventually fall out. Alternatively, loosely fill a multi-hole slow feeder with hay and keep your horse happy for hours.

insects – a game changer for those long, lazy summer rides.

Heads up: Portable cameras like the GoPro have made their mark as the gold standard of action cameras - but they are not exactly unobtrusive! Helmet cams that tick the right boxes in terms of size, weight and ease of use are those that attach below helmet visors, where they are also safer. The sleek and lightweight Cambox fits snugly underneath your helmet's peak, where it offers an immersive shooting angle

Mini satellite communicator: The Garmin InReach Mini is a must-have for intrepid trail riders, or riders who regularly hack out in areas with limited mobile coverage. This lightweight gadget enables two-way text messaging so that you’re never out of touch.

Zebra pattern fly rugs: Flies are more than just annoying, they can also cause

’Tis the season for bling: And we love this Swarovski studded browband. With three glittering rows of clear crystals, if this doesn’t say ‘look at me’, we don’t know what does! With a high quality finish and a 2.5cm wide tab to fit a range of bridles, this is the perfect browband for your next centreline appearance.

LeMieux Footsie Socks Christmas Daschunds

Buff Zeo Grey Insect Shield® Neckwear

Cambox ISI2 Helmet Camera

Bucus Buzz-Off Full Neck Zebra Rug

Swarovski Crystal V Gel Browband

Moment Beginner Filmmaker Kit

Garmin InReach Mini Satellite Communicator

Blue Treat Ball & Hay Play Ball

1. ULTIMUM®: Ideal wormer for young and adult horses with a suspected large burden of encysted small strongyles. One syringe can treat horses up to 700kg. 2. KER Drink-Up™ is a highly palatable blend designed to encourage horses to drink, particularly if exercising or travelling. Available in an 80gram sachet. 3. The best tail brush you will ever use! New, innovative and effective. 4. Barastoc Supreme: Formulated with premium quality ingredients tailored for superior topline development. 5. Looking to keep your show horse in peak condition with a powerful topline? Look no further! Castlereagh Feeds ProShow. 6. TEMPI ACTIVE® Posture Brace. Postural training device specially for horse riders feel the benefits of better posture sooner. 7. SMOOCHIES® is a low-sugar, heart-shaped treat perfect for all horses. Have you got Smoochies under the tree for your horse? 8. The Polymaster hayrack prevents food waste by making it harder for your horse to pull their hay out. Excess feed drops into the bottom bin rather than on the floor 9. PSoS Diamond Ruffle Dressage Pad in Wine, reduced to $120 at Equestrian Hub. Other styles and colours 25% off. 10. Scoot Boots are for the barefoot horse and ideal for any discipline. Buy 1 pair of Scoot Boots and get free coloured pastern and front straps plus free sizing and shipping. Use code SCOOTXMAS. Valid until December 31st. 11. Fort Worth Contoured Saddle Pad. Crafted in fabric covered felt with a bright Western style design. Size: 30”x30”. 12. Woven Stretch belts reduced to $25 when you use coupon code 25OFF at Equestrian Hub. 13. Fort Worth Sports Boots in Aztec suit front and hind legs. Flexible neoprene and soft Velcro for a perfect fit and full fetlock movement. Available small/med/large.

INTERNATIONAL TRENDS

Healing with light

Danish company Broholm, in close cooperation with a team of equine professionals, recently released a collection of innovative infrared devices designed to treat horses.

Infrared therapy provides non-invasive pain and inflammation relief with infrared light delivered through specially designed boots, blankets, wraps, lamps, and hand-held lasers. The Infrapower products are easy to use, have rechargeable batteries, and a timer that can be programmed as required.

During each treatment, light emitting diodes (LEDs) deliver a concentrated source of energy to the horse's body through light photons that penetrate deep into their tissues and bones, producing a chain of physiological reactions that cause cell repair to be activated and accelerated.

When light therapy is applied to the horse’s soft tissues, the light photons interact with the cell’s cytochrome c complex, an enzyme in the mitochondria which triggers an effect that decreases pain and inflammation in the area.

Unlike pharmaceuticals, infrared therapy stimulates the horse's own healing mechanisms through molecular signaling and circulatory modulation - with no side effects associated with its use.

Treatment sessions usually last from 10 to 30 minutes and should be carried out multiple times per week over several weeks to see full benefits.

Going deeper

Infrared therapy works by delivering an energy boost at cellular level. The more efficiently cells function, the better the body will perform. The technology offers horse owners a non-pharmacological and noninvasive alternative to pain relief that helps replenish and boost the horse's cell activity. While chemical relief numbs pain, it does not address the underlying cause of the

LEFT: Infrared lights in the poll cap are positioned over acupuncture points, trigger points, and areas that commonly hold tension through the head.

JESSICA MORTON.

problem. Infrared therapy penetrates up to three centimetres under the skin to stimulate the mitochondria, tiny subcellular structures located in the body’s cells which are responsible for producing energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

An excess of free radicals within the body can lead to a condition called oxidative stress, where key cellular components such as proteins, lipids and DNA, are attacked. Prolonged oxidative stress reduces the mitochondria’s ability to produce ATP, resulting in inflammation, fatigue, lowered immunity and ultimately to the cell’s death.

When infrared LEDs are placed on the horse's skin, the light waves stimulate a heightened yet totally natural cellular response which promotes the healing of wounds and injuries, relieves chronic pain, and regenerates tissue. Light therapy also improves blood flow, enabling oxygen and nutrients to reach the cells, promoting healing and lowering toxin levels within the body.

The many applications of infrared therapy for horses include: ƒ Regeneration of collagen and cartilage

Wound and scar healing

Better circulation of the blood

Muscle tension and fatigue

Lowering of lactic acid levels

Better flexion range

Arthritis relief

Cartilage regrowth

Preventing chills

Navicular disease relief

Skin ailments

Pain relief ƒ

Faster recovery time after exercise

Chronic inflammation

Collagen makes up about 60 per cent of a horse's cartilage. While it was once thought that damaged cartilage could not be regenerated, studies have demonstrated that infrared light therapy can accelerate chromosomal activity enough to support the production of collagen and the regrowth of cartilage

in horses suffering from arthritis or degenerative bone diseases.

These deeply penetrating light treatments can also be used to target chronic inflammation around the hooves, relieving the swelling and chronic pain caused by navicular disease and hoof abscesses.

Infrapower’s hoof bell has multifunctional applications. It fits perfectly around the hoof, but can be also used on the hock and fetlock. It helps to reduce stiffness, and acts to improve hoof growth, cracks in the hoof, and the healing of small wounds. It is also a useful rehabilitation tool following an injury.

Injury relief

With no muscles below the knee, all movement in a horse's lower limb is carried out by tendons attached to muscles higher in the leg. Since a horse's forelimbs absorb up to 65 per cent of the weight-bearing impact while training, this area is especially prone to soft tissue injuries such as bowed tendons. Infrared therapy in the form of a therapeutic leg wrap can help horses suffering with lower leg injuries to heal faster.

Like the hoof bell, the Infrapower Leg Wrap is also designed to be multifunctional. It fits snuggly around the legs, but can be also used in other areas, the neck and back for example.

Innovative application

The poll cap is an innovative approach to the application of infrared treatment to the poll, and is a valuable aid to help manage poll tension. The infrared lights are positioned over acupuncture points, trigger points and areas that commonly hold tension through the head.

The cap has been found to help improve problems such as stiffness and other issues in the poll area; stress and anxiety; grinding of the teeth; behavioural irregularities; head tension and tilting; and sinus ailments.

The Broholm Infrapower Leg Pad is designed for use on the lower limbs but can also be used on the neck, back and hindquarters.

The hoof bell can also be applied to the knees and hocks.

FEATURE

Spreading your wings

If an overseas job with horses is top of your agenda, international equestrian vaulter JAMIE HOCKING has some great advice.

It goes without saying that many of us who love horses and equestrian sport have thoughts and dreams about going overseas for the ultimate job experience and adventure.

That’s not to say you can’t get great experience at home, given some of the world’s greatest equestrians are strapping, training and competing right here in Australia. But when it comes

to building skills and life experience, doing time overseas can be a real game changer. And sometimes it launches you into a whole new world of limitless opportunity, as I found out when my initial 12 months morphed into ten years and still counting!

Here are some of my tips for successfully planning and kicking off your own equestrian working adventure,

whether you go for three months or three years.

Tip One: Set realistic job goals. Regardless of how successful and talented you are, you are unlikely to be offered a rider’s gig first up. You may even find your role offer doesn’t include any riding at all, particularly when you first sign on. The message you consistently hear from the Australian equestrian superstars living and competing overseas is ‘be prepared to start at the bottom and work hard at whatever they throw your way, like I did’. Good riders are everywhere, but good character, maturity and a solid work ethic is harder to find, so expect to prove yourself over weeks and months, not days.

Staying realistic about your expectations will help prevent you from feeling down because you had imagined yourself in a much more glamorous role. In truth, anyone who wins an overseas role

ABOVE: The Australian National Champion in equestrian vaulting, Jamie also holds a world ranking.

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High Fibre: For gut health and cool energy.

Non Pelleted: Horses spend more time chewing which stimulates saliva production and in turn buffers the stomach and protects it from ulceration.

Low Starch: Reduced risk of digestive upsets and metabolic conditions.

Balanced blend of vitamins and minerals: For optimum health and vitality.

in any capacity learns so much about horses and life, and should be very proud of their achievements. It’s easy to dream, but nothing happens without your own courage and determination.

Tip Two: Research overseas work regulations and possible options well in advance. Work visas can be tricky and will dictate how much time you can legally stay and work and therefore what roles you can apply for. Start by researching your eligibility for working holiday visas as they are usually inexpensive, straightforward and offered by around 60 countries including those with great equestrian sport environments.

Shortlist your preferred countries and barns by seeking out and talking to overseas coaches, officials and competitors visiting Australia. But be respectful of their time - ask if they are willing to share thoughts on finding a job in a good overseas barn and request an appointment if necessary. Also think about approaching some of the great Aussie strappers with overseas experience. They all earned their positions through their skills and hard work. They have great international networks and understand first-hand what overseas barns look for in employees and working students.

Be sure to start conversations emphasising your willingness to start at ground level, so that you come across as having no illusions about overseas life. Don’t be afraid to say you have longterm goals as a rider but are ready and willing to shovel manure, handle horses, and support other top riders in your quest to learn everything you can.

Tip Three: Prepare yourself to live overseas, in the same way you get your horse ready for big competitions. Set a date, identify your vulnerabilities, and make a plan to be fit and ready to go. Take care with nutrition and sleep, and pay attention to the homesickness thing – nobody is immune, it’s a big drag, and you don’t want it to take the shine off your amazing adventure. For younger riders, school excursions or a few short trips interstate to stay with friends or

relatives all help to prepare your head for a bigger trip.

And be sure to learn at least a little of the language of the country you are aiming to work in. Even knowing English is spoken in most places, I’ve gotten so much back from a relatively minimal investment of 15 minutes a day for a couple of months, listening and speaking through free interactive language lessons online. Even just saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ in your host language gives you a massive leg-up by demonstrating your respect, commitment and willingness to engage with new friends in a new life – and it also helps you feel that you belong a bit more.

Tip Four: Once you start a job, record all you learn, including those things you

learned the hard way. It will keep you focused on how far you’ve come and keep you positive through a tough day. And stay upbeat when you call or write home – tell them how much experience and learning you are absorbing as you clean stables, groom horses or take part in a riding lesson.

After all, you are as close to the action as you can get, living life and proudly demonstrating courage, self-discipline, a great work ethic, resilience and determination – coincidentally the same traits you need as a top performance rider.

TOP: While following his dreams Jamie has faced many challenges, including braving Denmark’s very cold winters.

BOTTOM: Working as a strapper for a Danish vaulter, far removed from the glamour and excitement of competing.

Big on breastplates

A breastplate can be very useful, but as CHRISTINE ARMISHAW explains, knowing which one is the right one is important.

Abreastplate is a piece of tack that can serve a great purpose, but just as often they’re used without any real understanding of which styles do what, and what’s best for you and your horse.

Generally speaking, a breastplate is designed to keep the saddle sitting in place and stop it from slipping back. There are various styles on the market, each with their own pros and cons and ideal situations for use. So how do you

know when it’s the right time to add a breastplate to your horse’s wardrobe?

Conformation plays a big part. If you have a high withered Thoroughbred, a roly-poly pony, or a horse on which a saddle has a tendency to slide back, a breastplate can be very useful. Another consideration is if the work you are asking your horse to do results in a high degree of equine body movement: think jumping, cross country or trekking up and down hills. A breastplate can also enable the use of martingale rings and, with certain styles, it can provide the rider with a handy strap to hold onto in times of need!

What a breastplate should not be used for is pulling a saddle too far forward over the horse’s shoulders and keeping it there, particularly in jumping and

ABOVE: A breastplate is designed to stop the saddle from slipping back.

TACKED UP

eventing. When a saddle is fitted in this manner, you impede your horse’s ability to jump to their full potential. Before adjusting the breastplate, make sure your saddle is correctly fitted and sitting in the right position, offering your horse’s shoulder suitable clearance.

So what are your breastplate options and how do you choose which one to use?

Straight breastplate: Also known as a racing or polo breastplate, this basic style, features a band that goes around the front of the horse’s chest with a thinner loop over the neck to prevent it from slipping down. It attaches to the girth points on either side of the saddle, and of all the styles is the only one that doesn’t have a strap running down in between the horse’s front legs to affix to the girth. It’s a fairly general purpose piece of tack, primarily stopping the saddle slipping backwards with minimal fuss.

Y breastplate: The name gives the design of this one away. The top two straps run up either side of the horse’s neck and attach to the D rings on the saddle. The lower strap runs down between the horse’s front legs where it attaches to the girth. This style is commonly used by jumpers, especially the elasticated variety, as it has a lot of give, allowing the horse full expression of movement through the shoulders while clearing a fence. Rings for a martingale can also be attached to the chest ring if required. The Y design is also great for a horse with broad shoulders and a large barrel and, with elastic inserts, it can really contour to the body and hold the saddle in place without being too restrictive.

Three point breastplate: Also known as the stockman’s breastplate and not dissimilar from the Y-point style, the three-point has the same attachments, but with an additional strap crossing over

the horse’s wither and connecting the two sides to each other. While this style can be a little more restrictive, the benefits are added security, especially for hill work and riding over a varied landscape, plus the extra strap can be very handy for the rider to grab onto if required.

Five point breastplate: This last one on our list builds on the three point version, but with additional attachments running to the girth billets. For the same reasons a five-point breastplate scores highly on security of saddle positioning, it can also create a level of restriction, so correct fitting and regular assessment of the fit after use is a must. It is commonly seen on eventing horses, while they gallop and jump at speed across undulating terrain. There is often fleece or padding of some sort to help prevent rubbing. With any breastplate, care should be taken when fitting. It needs to be secure enough to hold the saddle on, with no loose or gaping straps, especially between the front legs. With a horse that really tucks up when jumping, a foot can get stuck in that loop and the result isn’t pretty. Also, be sure to check for over-tightness around the shoulders by picking up a front leg and pulling it forward, similar to a horse’s movement when in motion.

Equipe Elastic Y Breastplate

Equipe Five Point Breastplate

You sometimes see images of horses jumping where the breastplate is visibly digging in because it’s too tight, but this can easily be mitigated with a careful assessment at the time of fitting. Fitted correctly, a good breastplate used for the right reasons can be a lifesaver.

Equipe Straight Breastplate

Equipe Emporio Y Breastplate

Equipe Elastic Three Point Breastplate

LIFE AFTER RACING

Stonewall success

The inaugural THSA National Titles have made a significant impact on the OTT Thoroughbred competition landscape, writes TARA MADGWICK.

Creating a meaningful and rewarding program of events for off the track Thoroughbreds has been a long-term goal for the NSW based Thoroughbred Sport Horse Association (THSA) – and their inaugural 2022 National Titles on November 18, 19 and 20 represented the culmination of a dream.

The event venue, picturesque Stonewall Equestrian centre on the NSW Central Coast, was developed by the late Heath Harris and wife Krissy, a World Cup show jumper and the driving force behind TSHA. The centre was the perfect backdrop for nearly 300 Thoroughbreds and their riders to compete in show jumping, dressage

and show horse classes over three days, with the Maserati sponsored VIP marquee offering next level comfort for owners and supporters.

Krissy Harris was delighted with the end result: “It’s been a long time in the planning and there are so many people to thank for making it happen. We always hoped it would attract national interest and we had riders competing from all over the country, so we probably exceeded expectation and importantly everyone had fun. The racing industry has been very supportive and it’s been a great collaboration between racing and the sport horse world. Everyone that was involved in sponsorship this year is keen to be on board next year, so we’d be looking at expanding to a five day show to give the show and dressage horses greater focus.”

Day One produced some dazzling show jumping with the $20,000 Six Bar Contest delivering a national height record for a registered Thoroughbred

when young Hunter Valley rider Charlie Richardson cleared 1.75m in his final run on 15-year-old gelding Mavrick. Krissy believes Mavrick has thrown down a challenge to other Thoroughbred jumpers around the world: “It was an elite event and it would be good to see other countries pick it up. Our Australian Thoroughbred has just jumped 1.75m, what can the Americans and the English do? Bring it on!”

Over 30 riders contested the lucrative class sponsored by OTI Racing & Bloodstock’s Equine Welfare Program. The field featured Olympian eventer Shane Rose as well as young gun eventers Sam Woods and Shenae Lowings, who with her OTT Bold Venture competed in the recent FEI Eventing World Championships.

Saturday featured the $10,000 Maiden Teams Challenge (90cm) and was won by Peachester Lodge, the team sponsored by Linda and Graham Huddy. The Huddy’s have enjoyed great success racing and breeding Thoroughbreds with Group I winners such as Shoot Out and Volatile Mix running in their familiar brown and gold colours. They take the lifetime care of Thoroughbreds, their retraining and their eventual rehoming, very seriously. All three horses in their winning team were formerly successful Peachester Lodge racehorses.

The National Group I Champion (1.2m) point score, another noteworthy event on Saturday’s program, was taken home by West Australian visitor Sophie Stott and 13-year-old Allwest. Krissy was delighted to be able to offer Sophie and Allwest accommodation: “I didn’t know her at all until she rang up and said she was coming, but she’s a lovely girl and has a been a great help to everyone while she’s been staying with us. Off the Track WA gave her $1,000 towards her travel costs and then she’s come here and won a couple of big classes, so she’s paid her way home and paid off her credit card!”

Sunday’s highlight was the thrilling $70,000 Racing Teams Challenge (1.15m) won by the Strawberry Hill Stud team featuring Australian show jumping champion Olivia Hamood. John Singleton’s Strawberry Hill Stud was also the naming rights sponsor for the entire event, literally held just up the road from his iconic Mount White farm where countless champion racehorses have been produced.

There were tears prior to the show when Strawberry Hill’s champion Tuesday Joy was laid to rest, but Stud Manager Bridie Sparkes had good reason to smile again after their team of Nikita Moore riding Moon Landing, Paton Simpson on Port Commands and Olivia Hamood aboard Showem Flash claimed victory.

Six-year-old Moon Landing was the baby of team and is showing huge potential under Nikita Moore. Bred by Strawberry Hill Stud, he was injured as a foal and never raced, but the three-quarter brother-in-blood to leading sire Better Than Ready has gone far in his first year of competition.

Another highlight of the event’s final day was the $20,000 Puissance won by Queensland rider Sarah Weiss and her wonderful 14-year-old gelding Waratone, who cleared 1.68m over the wall.

Olympian Shane Rose was the most successful rider by wins at the National Titles, claiming the $10,000 Heath Harris Horsemanship Medal. “Shane had a quality team of Thoroughbred eventers at this show that proved very effective when switched to straight show jumping,” Krissy commented. “We hoped this award would be won by the very best rider and we couldn’t have asked for a better result.”

FACING PAGE: Australian show jumping champion Olivia Hamood and the Strawberry Hill Stud team clearly delighted with their big win.

ABOVE LEFT: Charlie Richardson and Mavrick won the $20,000 Six Bar while at the same time setting a new national height record for a registered Thoroughbred.

ABOVE RIGHT: The National Group I Champion (1.2m) point score was won by West Australian visitors Sophie Stott and Allwest.

All images by Nicole Scrivener

TRAVEL

Into the heart of Africa

safari on horseback in Kenya. Traveling between four campsites along the border of the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara National Reserve, she tells the story of her adventure with Safaris Unlimited. Galloping alongside a herd of zebras was one of the highlights: “Such a thrill to follow our guide Gordie as he wove between different groups of zebras at a full gallop. Another very exciting moment was the crossing of the Mara river, with the knowledge that there are crocs and hippos about!”

Does the idea of an African safari entice you? Combine it with a touch of wine tasting, and MATHILDE GREGOIRE has you covered.

The word ‘safari’ comes from the Swahili language. It means ‘long journey’ – add in a horseback element and suddenly you have a fantastic opportunity for experienced and adventurous riders to test their limits. Nothing will fire your adrenalin like riding alongside Africa’s Big Five –the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and African buffalo – as you venture off the

beaten track into the vast landscape and encounter wildlife up close. With many different types of safaris on offer, we have focused on two exceptional options, one in Kenya, East Africa, and the other in South Africa’s Winelands region.

Kenyan safari

As a seasoned traveler and experienced equestrian, Rebecca Turk recently fulfilled a lifelong dream: an eight day

The Safari Unlimited experience usually consists of a morning and an evening ride, while some days include longer stretches. For their comfort, guests can at any time choose to travel in a jeep instead of on horseback. A variety of breeds and types of horse are available: from Quarter Horses to Friesian crosses and South African Boerperds, all are well-trained and used to encountering wildlife. “They were all very rideable, able to gallop in a group while still maintaining control, could confidently cross deep rivers, were sure-footed on all types of terrain, and were very polite on the ground,” Rebecca recalls.

But would you feel comfortable riding so close to wildlife and predators? Rebecca did not seem fazed: “I felt one hundred per cent safe. I always felt that our guide was being cautious and conservative with how we approached the wild animals. You could tell he had a strong sense of which animals were dangerous and what their body language was saying. He did not carry a gun, only a bullwhip.”

The atmosphere, Rebecca says, is like no other. “It’s feeling as though you are part of a really caring family while being at a five-star hotel. The food was incredible: full breakfasts, lunches and three course dinners. Being woken up in the morning by two crew members bringing you hot tea and a freshly made shortbread cookie, having your boots polished while taking sundowners at the fire, bucket showers with water at a temperature to suit you, everyone knowing your name and asking how you were – you just felt genuinely cared about.”

For experienced riders, Safaris Unlimited offers horseback safaris during the June to October dry season. And if that particular adventure is now on your list for 2023, be warned, you’ll need a few

days to recover from the magic before you settle back into everyday life!

South to the Cape

Cape Winelands Riding is located in South Africa’s beautiful Winelands region, just an hour’s drive east of Cape Town. If breathtaking scenery interspersed with memorable wine tastings grabs your undivided attention, Cape Winelands is for you. Guests are based at the riding centre and enjoy treks winding through the mountains, valleys, vineyards and wine estates of South Africa’s Western Cape.

Cape Winelands Riding welcomes riders of intermediate to advanced levels. Their herd includes a wide variety of horses from Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds, to a mixture of local breeds. Comfortable English style trail saddles are the order of the day, while the horses are ridden bitless or in a simple bit.

Louis Geyser, Cape Winelands Riding’s owner, describes the center’s offerings as a relaxing gourmet experience and the perfect complement to a safari. “If clients combine their holiday with a safari ride they normally visit us after the safari as the Cape Winelands experience is like a holiday from your holiday. The pace is

relaxed with the opportunity to sleep in rather than being up at the crack of dawn to chase down animal sightings.”

For those wanting to see nature in full bloom, the best time to travel is either in October, or in April as temperatures start to cool and autumn dresses the vineyards in a tapestry of glowing colour. If guests wish to take a day off from riding, a plethora of activities are available, including a visit to Cape Town, or exploring the nearby towns of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, all of which have a rich history and some truly wonderful food options. Other outdoors activities include hiking, mountain biking, and golf, or a visit to the nearby crocodile, ostrich, eagle, and cheetah farms.

To book your horseback Safari in Kenya, visit Safaris Unlimited and in South Africa contact Cape Winelands Riding.

FACING PAGE: Western Cape scenery is nothing short of spectacular (Image courtesy Cape Winelands Riding).

ABOVE LEFT: An encounter with giraffes (Image by Rebecca Turk).

ABOVE RIGHT: One of Africa’s Big Five, sightings of elephants often occur (Image by Rebecca Turk).

Derived from the Afrikaans word for ‘farmer’, ‘Boer’ was the title given to the Dutch, German and French Huguenot who settled in South Africa from the 1600s. ‘Perd’, also Afrikaans, means ‘horse’. Thus, horses the settlers used on their farms were known as Boerperds, which translates to ‘farmer’s horse’.

The Boerperd’s bloodlines can be traced back to the middle of the 17th century, when Dutch settlers brought Barb Arabian crosses to the Cape of Good Hope. Shortly after, Persian Arabians were introduced, adding new genes to the pool and thereby preventing inbreeding. A few Andalusian and Isabella horses were later included in the mix and for the next 150 years, these crosses were foundational to the Boerperd, sometimes known as the Cape Horse.

South Africa’s own

Influenced by many breeds, the Boerperd has been closely linked to South Africa’s history for 400 years, writes MATHILDE GREGOIRE.

The Boerperd is a breed unique to South Africa. A competent and versatile sport horse, they are also

a trustworthy partner on trails and safaris, and bring with them an interesting history, including the origins of their name.

Even in the early days, these horses were recognised for their stamina, endurance, and temperament. Then in the 1700s, Thoroughbred stallions were imported and crossed with the Boerperds, adding increased height to their confirmation. Breeding had by this time proved to be a successful industry, and many Boerperds were exported as war horses, especially to the British Army in India during the mid to late-1700s. As well as native South African breeds, such as the Basuto and Namaqua Pony (now extinct), the Boerperd influenced several other breeds, including the Australian Waler. In the 19th century, Flemish Stallions, Hackneys, Cleveland Bays and others were introduced, shaping the Boerperd into the horse we know today.

During the Boer Wars from 1880 to 1902, many Boerperds were killed either in battle or shot on farms by the British in an effort to deny the Boers the advantage given to them by their sturdy horses. In 1905, a formal movement to conserve the Boerperds dwindling numbers began with an Auxiliary

ABOVE: The Boerperd is renowned for their stamina, endurance and temperament (Image by J C Brand)

BREED

Register in the Breeders Association of Transvaal Stud Book. Interest in the register was minimal and it became redundant between 1918 and 1921. In its place, a National Riding Horse Breeders Association was established, later becoming the Boerperd Breeders Association of South Africa.

In 1973 the Boerperd Society of South Africa was formed, complete with a constitution and breed standards. Horses genotypically and phenotypically suitable for breeding were identified, and a strict selection policy adopted. In 1977, the society’s name changed to the Historic Boerperd Breeders Society, and in 1980 the breed was officially recognised by the Department of Agriculture, achieving recognition from the Registrar of Livestock Improvement as an indigenous breed in 1996, and two years later, receiving the formal title South African Boerperd.

Robust and well-built, the Boerperd thrives in the South African climate, with its hot, dry summers and cold winters. The horses are renowned for their calm temperament and willingness to serve their rider, making them wonderful under saddle. Traditionally, Boerperds stand around 13.3hh for mares and 14hh for stallions. They have a straight or slightly concave profile, with a broad forehead and prominent eye sockets. The withers are pronounced, the legs are strong, and the hind quarters well-muscled. The most common coat colours are black, bay, and gray, but other colours including palomino, dun, and buckskin are also accepted in the registry.

In order to be accepted into the Boerperd studbook, each horse must conform to strict criteria and undergo DNA verification before being approved for registration. A breed peculiarity is that many Boerperd’s are capable of a fifth gait, a four beat running walk known as the rack or amble. Similar to Standarbreds and Icelandic Horses, the DMRT3 gene is believed to determine their ability to pace.

The Boerperd excels in a wide variety of disciplines, including showing (three and five gaited), dressage, show jumping, eventing, endurance, equine archery, western and driving. Referred to as the ideal sporting and pleasure horse by the Boerperd Society, the breed has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in its homeland. Regional breed championships are held throughout the year, culminating in an annual national championship.

Today the Boerperd contributes to South Africa’s economy, particularly in the tourism industries. Their calm and responsive temperament makes them popular for safaris and trails through national parks, where wildlife encounters often occur. A forward going lead horse, the Boerperd is eager and loves to jump. Many game reserves use Boerperds and Boerperd crosses for their riding safaris because of their suitability for riders of varying abilities.

Whether for showing, tourism, pleasure, or competition, the versatile Southern African Boerperd has many desirable traits, with something to offer equestrians of every discipline.

To learn more, visit SA Boerperd Horse Breeders' Society of South Africa.

ABOVE: The breed excels in many disciplines including eventing (Image courtesy Stamboek Studbook).

Boerperd are a popular choice for safaris and trails around national parks (Image by Rebecca Turk).

THIS COMPETITION SEASON, FEED LIKE A PRO.

Barastoc’s range of feeds for all types of performance horses are packed with vitamins, minerals and Barastoc Superfibres™. Plus, they include unique ingredients Gastrolize™ and Diamond V® XPC for enhanced gut health. For more information visit www.barastochorse.com.au BARASTOC

Windsor Park Equestrian Estate

Located at 136 Hallards Road, Central Mangrove, NSW, this property has everything you could want, plus potential aplenty.

If you dream of escaping to the countryside yet still want Sydney within easy reach, this may be the property for you. Located in the epicentre of the area’s superb estates and studs, Windsor Park is just minutes’ drive from the highly regarded Stonewall Equestrian competition facility.

Accessed through a stunning tree lined drive, the 100-year-old renovated country farmhouse exudes character

and charm with its timber floors, and ornate ceilings. Ducted reverse-cycle air conditioning ensures you enjoy perfect temperature control all year round. The home is surrounded by established gardens featuring a variety of mature trees, shrubs and roses, and from the large entertaining deck you can relax and enjoy spectacular views, and stunning sunrises and sunsets.

The property’s 50 cleared acres can be fully utilised year-round in all weather

conditions, and the facilities are ideal for multiple equine pursuits. There’s an Olympic size dressage arena complete with adjustable mirrors, a fenced round yard, a show jumping arena, cross country fences and plenty of space to gallop. The estate’s back gate leads out into Ourimbah State Forest and hours of trail riding. Large turnout paddocks, seven stables, seven new double field shelters, a tack room, a hot water wash

PROPERTY

bay, and acres of post and rail fencing complete the package.

With its easy access for large floats and horse trucks, Windsor Park is ideal for coaching, weekend clinics, and agistments. There’s a three bay machinery shed, a workshop, double garage and office, all with electric roller doors. Other features include a generous spring-fed dam; a second small spring dam; a bore and irrigation license;

3-phase power to the stable area; and solar, water and power to all paddocks. The property also has separate selfcontained studio accommodation.

And for your added convenience, Windsor Park is close to The Springs Golf Club, restaurants, cafes, shops, schools, Peats Ridge Saddlery, and produce and hardware stores.

Contact The Property Market’s Tyson Nicholson on 0418 251 312.

FACING PAGE: The 100-year-old renovated country farmhouse exudes character and charm.

TOP: The home is surrounded by established gardens featuring a variety of mature trees, shrubs and roses.

LEFT: The Olympic size dressage arena is fitted out with adjustable mirrors.

RIGHT: Ornate ceilings and polished timber floors add a touch of old-world elegance.

DISCLAIMER: WE HAVE GATHERED THE ABOVE INFORMATION FROM SOURCES WE BELIEVE TO BE RELIABLE. HOWEVER, WE CANNOT GUARANTEE ITS ACCURACY.

Antares dressage

Antares Sellier was founded in 2000 and has successfully risen to be among the best saddle makers in France.

When it comes to owning mares everyone has an opinion – ‘too hormonal’ some say; others declare: ‘I’d never ride anything else’. ‘Tell a gelding but ask a mare’ is an oft-repeated saying and, from American folklore, there’s a fanciful suggestion that if you meet a man who only rides mares – marry him!

Christina Gledhill has four horses and all are mares who she loves unreservedly. “When the two older ones were pregnant I really wanted fillies and that’s what I got,” she says from her home on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. “And these younger ones [Indy and Foxy] have now reached the age when I can begin taking them out.” The youngsters share the same saddle – an Antares which Christina recently

purchased through The Saddle Hub.

With all the mares agisted five minutes from her home, Christina is able to tend to them daily while working full time in stroke rehabilitation as an occupational therapist.

Up until her early twenties she was eventing and then moved into dressage.

“In recent months I’ve been doing some little comps at Boneo Park which is an absolutely beautiful facility. I’ve also been going there when grooming for GP dressage rider, Holly Cutler.”

Helping her with schooling is trainer Greer Moloney. “We have a good working relationship which certainly makes a difference. We’re taking things slowly. The mares are now both seven and have the potential to be a couple of very nice horses,” predicts Christina,

adding that Indy was by Fuerstenball, Danish Warmblood Stallion of the Year in 2018. “Her mother is by RegardezMoi. Foxy is by Fiderstern who stood at Bloomfield Farm. Sadly, he was put down earlier this year after sustaining a serious fracture. Her mother is an Anglo-Arab, now aged 27, who was a 1* eventer before moving to medium dressage. Indy’s like a good-natured puppy and Foxy picks up things very quickly. They’re like chalk and cheese but they both have lovely natures and are good in the paddock.”

She avoids using gadgets and gimmicks in her training. “Foxy has a French link D-ring snaffle and Indy a Neue Schule turtle top. As the horses matured they outgrew their Prestige saddle. I tried a Childeric which was fine for them but disagreed with me.” Then she borrowed a friend’s Antares which fitted the bill. “The young mares are similar in shape, plus it was comfortable for me, so I contacted The Saddle Hub.”

Christina had heard about them on social media and found dealing with them was simple and straightforward. “I was especially attracted to their 14-day trial period,” she adds.

By the way, Antares is a bright star 600 light years from Earth – The Saddle Hub is so much closer! Plus, they have a wide variety of top quality second hand saddles. All saddles come with a two-week trial, finance options, and a courier right to your door. Terms and conditions apply.

Seven-year-old Foxy in her new Antares dressage saddle.

SADDLE

YOUNG RIDER

Adventures in the USA

She was the leading young show jumper at the 2019 Melbourne Royal; was a placegetter in the 2020 Chatham Park Classic and in the 1.40m class in the YRC Show series. One of the highlights before going overseas was being part of the winning Coolmore Peachester Team in the 2021 Australian Jumping Teams League (AJTL is run on similar lines to the renowned Global Champions League).

For two years she was made to ride in jeans. “They’d rub me raw but my family wanted to see that I was genuinely committed before investing in expensive jodhpurs!” So Isobel Guinness showed them that she was serious about horses. Each weekend she rode at her family’s farm in Scone NSW and began having lessons with Sue Bettington in nearby Gundy.

Later she participated in Interschools competitions and began successfully eventing as a young teenager. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without Tallara and Dave Cameron’s guidance. I started riding with Tal back in the eventing days when I was 14; and my number one supporter is my mother, Holly, who loves my horses as much as I do.”

On that team was Laura Sloey, also from Sydney and now in Ocala, Florida with Isobel. The two girls, and Goulburn show jumper Sam Watson, live in an over-55s community. “And there’s a golf course outside my window,” says Isobel, excitedly. “I used to play a lot of golf with my father, Jonathan. I’ve been doing Sports Business at university and when I go home for a month to do my internship it will be with the PGA.”

Joining her in Ocala is 16-year-old Copabella Verdi, formerly owned and ridden by Tal, who arrived at the end of 2021. “He’s by Copabella Visage. Tal used to event and show jump him and

From a horse obsessed youngster to one of Australia’s most promising young show jumpers, Isobel Guinness’ future looks bright, writes SUZY JARRATT.

Isobel is learning all the time and feels that Verdi is improving with each week. ‘You want to be better because everyone around you is better. The entry fees are expensive but the prize money is very substantial.”

Her mentor, David Cameron, a former Australian champion who’s been in Florida for a couple of years, is pleased with her dedication. “Her riding is definitely improving,” says David, “because it’s consistent. At twenty-four she was at the perfect age to come to Ocala.”

Isobel is athletic by nature and when she isn’t riding, enjoys either running or going to the gym. And because takeaway food in the US is far from healthy, she, along with the other Aussie athletes, tends to cook at home. For Isobel, healthy living and a good mindset are essential. “Learning from your mistakes is important, but don’t hold on to them,” she says, “you have to let them go.”

he’s done six-bars. He’s an extraordinary horse.” And Isobel’s 10-year-old Cassandro B, purchased in 2020, flew into Florida a few months ago.

An average day for Isobel begins at 6.15am, when she rides, helps around the stable block and exercises a couple of horses at a professional yard. Nearby is the World Equestrian Centre. “It’s incredible, I’ve never seen anything like it,” she says. “Massive industrial fans in the stable blocks, air conditioning everywhere and magnificent arenas. It’s the largest equestrian complex in the States. I did a couple of events there and had goosebumps riding into the arena. I had four fences down in my first Grand Prix but I still couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. It was phenomenal!”

She is also pleased that there are so many other Australians around Ocala. ”They’re all so friendly and helpful. South Australian Olympian Scott Keach has been over here for years. He hasn’t lost his accent,” she says delightedly, “and he wears board shorts and flipflops when he’s teaching.”

ABOVE: Isobel competed in her first Grand Prix at the World Equestrian Centre 2022 Winter Circuit (Image by Andrew Ryback)

TOP: A congratulatory pat for Copabella Verdi (Image by Andrew Ryback).

FACING PAGE: Isobel and Copabella Verdi in full flight at the World Equestrian Centre 2022 Summer Circuit (Image by Andrew Ryback).

20 Questions with David McKinnon

David and Robbie McKinnon own and operate McKinnon Sport Horses, a boutique training and teaching facility in the beautiful NSW Southern Highlands.

Q: Do your parents ride?

A : No, I don’t come from a horsey family. I was born with a love of horses and as a child slowly convinced my parents to buy me a pony – and it went from there.

Q: What led you into working full time with horses?

A : After school I worked for Mark

Dowling at Centennial Vineyards. I was studying horticulture and riding some of his horses. I had a few lessons on Mark’s horses with Brett Parbery who offered me a job to ride and groom for him. After a few years with Brett, my wife Robbie and I started a business together - McKinnon Sport Horses – the rest is history.

Q: In the early days were you attracted to other equestrian sports or disciplines?

A : Before I knew what dressage was I was riding at home around the paddocks and over trees which I made into jumps. I often rode without a saddle or bridle. One day at Pony Club I rode a dressage test and the club’s instructor told me I could be good at it. That was it. From then on I put all the time and effort into dressage.

Q: In those formative years who were your trainers/mentors?

A : Sarah Venamore, Mark Dowling, Brett Parbery and Sue Hearn.

Q: What was your earliest major dressage success?

A : Riding the Healey family’s Bradgate Park Jatzz – a big brown gelding by Jazz. I competed him as Brett was unable to. He was elementary champion at the state championships. It doesn’t sound really amazing, but at that time it was like my being at the Olympics! It was about eleven years ago I think.

Q: Robbie is an exceptionally successful equestrian competing at

top level dressage and as a show rider. How did you meet?

A

: At an Equestrian Australia awards night in Sydney in 2007. It was a bit of a set up from a mutual friend.

Q: Do you happily train together?

A : We ride and train together on most days. It works very well most of the time although we do have the occasional disagreement about things, but we don’t hold a grudge and are usually over it by the afternoon.

Q: Where are you now based and do you have staff?

A

: At Centennial Vineyards on the outskirts of Bowral in the Southern Highlands which is just over an hour from Sydney and an hour and a half from Canberra. We rent some amazing facilities which include indoor and outdoor arenas, two stable blocks, an apartment, and horse paddocks which back onto five hundred acres of National Park with great trails. And we have a good team who help us every day with the care of our horses.

Q: Describe an average working day for the McKinnons.

most important trait is a willingness to work and then good basic paces and conformation.

Q: Who’s helping with your dressage training these days?

Q: Past or present, who do you really admire as a rider and why?

A : I have to say Patrik Kittel. His ability to get the horses to work so they’re really expressive but still so relaxed is pretty amazing.

A

: It begins at 5:30am. I sit in the office and deal with paperwork and Robbie organises the riding list and the daily plan for the team to follow. They feed up at 6:30, turn out the horses into the paddocks and do the morning chores while Robbie and I go to the gym. We ride from 8:00am through to 3:00pm, then we coach until 6:00 in the evening. Afterwards we eat dinner, do the night hay and feed at 9:00 and are in bed by 10:30. Then do it all again!

Q: Who does the cooking?

A : My wife (when we’re not arguing) and I have regular online lessons with Lyndal Oatley and Patrik Kittel.

Q: You’ve travelled overseas to ride with internationals. Where did you go and what are some of the major things you learnt?

A : I went to Germany to train with Kittel and Oatley. I learned attention to detail on the basics and the importance of praising the horses and really making it fun for them.

Q: Do you suffer from competition nerves?

A : Yes, but I really try to stick to a plan for warming up and doing the test and that helps.

Q: Do you have any superstitions?

A : No, I’m more OCD. I’m very fussy about how everything is with the horse at a competition from the gear to feeding to bedding and everything in between.

Q: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you when competing?

A

: We share it but Robbie is far better than me!

Q: How many horses are you working at present?

Q: What’s your advice to young competitors here who want to compete on the European circuit?

A : Definitely having food poisoning while competing and, yes, exactly what you are imagining!

Q: Do you have other interests?

A

: We ride eight or nine daily. Some belong to our wonderful owners and we own four of the ridden horses.

Q: What’s the most important thing to look for in a good dressage horse?

A : When looking at a horse for us the

A : I think it’s really important for our young riders to travel overseas. Before I rode there I thought I was pretty great! Then when you’re there you realise it’s another whole level compared to Australia. However, I do think they should first spend some time in a professional barn here so they don’t get too much of a shock!

A : My other obsession is the ocean, fishing in particular.

FACING

ABOVE:

PAGE: David and Forlan competing in the Willinga Park CDI (Image by Amy Sue Alston).

David and Robbie at home (Image by SWD Images).

Mikey is a talented 10yo eventer with incredible scope. He has been ridden successfully to 1* with potential to go higher with a committed rider. He has outstanding movement, always scoring well in dressage. He is very willing and forward going, without being strong. He has a very soft mouth and no obstacle on XC is a challenge. He has never pulled, and has a beautiful natural rhythm. Mikey suits an experienced performance home to fulfill his full potential, as he is not for beginners.