Equestrian Hub Magazine Issue 9 2022

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KlimkeIngrid What makes her one of the best ISSUE 9 • 2022 PearceSimone On dressage, life dedicationand World Championships Round up from Herning, Denmark Straight shooters The attraction of horse archery Wet weather woes Prevent and treat common ailments

SchaefferWendyOAM

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EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 3 Helping horses perform at their peak! Melbourne 3 Day CCI 4* Winner Shenae Lowing's & Bold Venture Hoofmaker Pellets by TRM have played an important role in Bold Venture's success. Does your horse suffer from poor hoof quality? Hoofmaker from TRM is the answer It contains all the nutrients required to develop and maintain a healthy and supple hoof in a convenient 50g daily serving Maxi-Top Equine G N F G u t N u t r i t i o n F o r m u l a C u r r a g h C u r r a n O i l Designed to supply a significant source of Amino Acids which will aid in the development and maintenance of muscle mass of horses during training and GNFrehabilitation.isacombination of minerals, amino acids and a prebiotic which are required for normal feed conversion. Helps reduce gastric ulceration and aids gastric health. This linseed based oil plays a role in maintaining a normal healthy skin and coat, reducing acidity in the stomach, and is also a source of extra energy for animals. H o o f m a k e r C o n c e n t r a t e d P e l l e t s www.leaderequine.com.au

4 | EQUESTRIAN HUB ISSUE 9 • 2022 74 THIS PUBLICATION IS PUBLISHED BY EQUESTRIAN HUB. MATERIALS IN THIS PUBLICATION HAVE BEEN CREATED BY A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE PUBLISHER ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR MATERIALS CREATED BY OTHERS. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS PUBLICATION DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE OPINION OF THE PUBLISHER, ITS AGENTS OR EMPLOYEES. CONTENTS OF ADVERTISEMENTS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ADVERTISERS. ANY USE OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS PUBLICATION IS AT THE SOLE RISK OF THE PERSON USING THAT INFORMATION. ©2021 EQUESTRIAN HUB EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY LAW, NO PART OF THIS MAGAZINE MAY BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR PART WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF EQUESTRIAN HUB. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. INFORMATION AND CREDITS ARE CORRECT WHEN GOING TO PRINT BUT MAY CHANGE AFTERWARDS. 58 48 30 Editor Amanda amanda@equestrianhub.com.auMcWhinnie Advertising Enquiries Sara sara@equestrianhub.com.au0480Davies315943 The Saddle Hub Sales Enquiries Shae info@equestrianhub.com.auHerwig Sponsorship Enquiries Fiona Todd 0414 760 067 fiona@equestrianhub.com.au Website www.equestrianhub.com.au Published by Equestrian Hub PO Box 13, Tintenbar NSW 2478 0414 760 www.info@equestrianhub.com.au067equestrianhub.com.au Follow Equestrian Hub equesthub equesthub On the Cover Ingrid Klimke rides SAP Hale Bob OLD during the 2021 cross country in Avenches, Switzerland (Image © FEI/Richard Juilliart). Creative Kimberley Bloom kim@kimberleybloom.com.auwww.kimberleybloom.com.auDesign  

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 5 24 56 68 10 Contents ISSUE 9 • 2022 6 Our Contributors 9 From the Horse’s Mouth 10 Spotlight on Ingrid Klimke 18 Coaching with Christine: Ready, set, compete 21 Ask an Expert: Edwena Mitchell 23 Meet the Mentors 24 Feature: Dreams of gold 30 Feature: The power of proprioception 34 Vet Vibes: Wet weather woes 38 Nutrition: Some thoughts on hay 42 Training Tips: Taking baby steps 48 Feature: Behind the scenes at Herning 52 Feature: Straight shooters 56 International Trends: Get fit with the pros 58 Feature: Simone shines 62 Tacked up: On the Bit Part 2 64 Life After Racing: Someone special 68 Travel: Indulge yourself 71 Fashion Trends: Staying in style 74 Breed: The Paso Fino 76 Property Central 79 Saddle Review: Equipe Viktoria 80 Young Rider: Hayden Parker 82 20 Questions with Stephen Dingwall

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 informativestories,articles and great images.

Dr Raquel owns Integrated BiomechanicalTherapeuticsVeterinaryandisaMedicine

Mathilde Gregoire

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Dr Calum Paltridge Graduating with First Class Honours in 2013, Calum has specialised in equine practice ever since. His professional interests are performance and race horses, with a particular focus on poor performance and lameness. He has also spent many years breeding, training and competing stock horses, and in this issue we talk to him about wet weather skin problems.

Dr Raquel Butler

Veterinarian qualified in chiropractic, osteopathic and Proprioception.horsesimportantissueherUniversityScienceamanyRaqueltechniquesrehabilitationforanimals.hasstudiedtherapies,islecturerinEquineatCharlesSturtandteachesownclinics.Inthisshediscussesanconceptforofalldisciplines:

With over 40 countries visited, 20 SpainequitationtraditionalthisaroundondreamstravellerswomenmissionThroughhorsesgreatestcombineshorseback,onMathildehertwopassions:andtraveling.writing,heristoinspireandsolotofollowtheirandembarkequestrianjourneystheworld.InissuesheexploresworkingholidaysinandPortugal.

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 wraps up her informative series on bits, and talks to our Young Rider, show jumper Hayden Parker.

Combining race and sales results with stallion profiles and news, Breednet provides unique coverage of the breeding industry. Tara is also a passionate advocate for life after racing, and in this issue brings us the story of the multitalented Lunar Rise.

OUR

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. In this issue she investigates DressurFit®, an online fitness program with a difference, and takes a look at what's on trend this spring from Holland Cooper.

Tara Madgwick Tara is the co-creator and long-time editor of Breednet, Australia’s premier Thoroughbred bloodstock website.

CONTRIBUTORS

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. She recently had a fascinating conversation with elite equestrian Ingrid Klimke, and delved into the topic of proprioception with biomechanical expert Dr Raquel Butler.

Edwena Mitchell Edwena had ridden all her life but never competed. But when her five-year-old daughter started at Pony Club, Edwena decided to keep up with her from the ground. She began with judging, followed by organising shows and stewarding. She is now a now Sydney Jump Club committee member and shares her views on warm up arena etiquette.

Hayley Chambers Hayley is a professional horse trainer at Outback Equines and has developed many skills throughout her time in the horse industry. She holds numerous industry qualifications and accreditations, and has a strong interest in Equitation Science and positive reinforcement training methods. She is also an expert in horse archery and introduces us to the sport in this issue.

CONTRIBUTORS

Rebecca Nadge Hailing from WA, Rebecca evented at 2* and worked in racing stables before becoming a journalist for newsrooms across Australia and New Zealand. She now works full time as a pen rider at a cattle feedlot, while juggling freelancing and a degree in Equine Science. In this issue she discovers why shooting arrows from horseback can be highly addictive.

Dr Mattea Davidson Mattea - BVSc (Hons) MANZCVS (Equine Dentistry) - is an equine veterinarian, a 4* event rider, and breeder of quality sport horses. Working alongside husband and fellow top level rider Shane Davidson, together they foal down their own mares as well as numerous clients’ mares each season. Don’t miss her excellent article on handling and training foals in this issue.

Wendy Schaeffer OAM In 1996, 21-year-old Wendy became the youngest woman to ever win equestrianOlympicgold– and all within weeks of breaking both bones in her lower leg. The following year, she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her storydressagewaycoachingcontribution.outstandingNowandonthetobecomingajudge,herwillinspireyou.

Leisa is an Equine Nutritionist and founder of Hof Equine. She has a Bachelor of Equine Science, specialising in nutrition, and lives on the Far North Coast of NSW. So, how well do you know your hay? There’s more to consider than you may think. Leisa explains the basics, and the pluses and minuses of some common varieties.

Rachel Roan 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. With La Niña set to once again grace our shores, she explains why wet weather skin problems should come as no surprise.

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. In this issue he catches up with dressage rider Simone Pierce who recently competed for Australia at the 2022 FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark. OUR

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Leisa Hofstetter

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Stay in style with our roundup of Holland Cooper’s spring fashions, and meet our Young Rider Hayden Parker, who’s causing quite a stir in the show jumping arena.

Until next month, cheers!

From the Horse’s Mouth PUBLISHER’S

I

And for something completely different, how about a spot of horse archery? Rebecca Nadge spoke to Outback Equines’ Hayley Chambers on the huge appeal of this fast growing sport - it’s affordable, addictive, empowering, and a lot of fun.

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This month’s featured breed is the Paso Fino; we introduce you to two more of our wonderful mentors; review the Equipe Viktoria dressage saddle; and shamelessly tempt you with this month’s fabulous property.

If you feel the need to improve your fitness (and don’t we all) you’ll be interested to learn what DressurFit® has that other online exercise programs don’t – besides being designed by sports scientist and performance fitness coach Marcel Andrä in collaboration with dressage greats Jessica von BredowWerndl and her brother Benjamin Werndl! And let’s take a moment to congratulate Jessica and husband Max on the safe arrival of their daughter, and Benjamin on a personal best in the Grand Prix special at Herning.

Perhaps a traditional working equitation holiday in Spain or Portugal sounds good? If so, Mathilde Gregoire has some handy advice - and congrats also to Mathilde and her partner who have just welcomed their baby boy!

t’s officially spring, and we have a cracker magazine for you but first, let’s wish all the dads out there, including my own very special dad, a happy Father’s Day. What would we do without you? So, here at Equestrian Hub HQ we are just a little excited to announce that this month’s Spotlight is on the incomparable Ingrid Klimke. Rest assured that no matter what your discipline or current level of training, this is the interview guaranteed to inspire. And here’s wishing our eventing and driving teams every success when they compete at the FEI World Championships in Italy later this month. On that note, you’ll love Jamie Hocking’s interview with elite dressage rider Simone Pearce, who produced Australia’s top Grand Prix dressage score at last month’s Championships in Herning, not to mention Jessica Morton’s behind the scenes insights into the first leg of that prestigious two-part event.

With Fiona Todd

Moving along, show jumper Stephen Dingwall answers twenty of our questions, and Suzy Jarratt concludes her series on bits with a look at some of the more controlling varieties, while guest contributor Tara Madgwick tells the story of Lunar Rise, a horse of many talents.

So, no better time to pour a glass of your preferred tipple, sit back, relax and enjoy.

LETTER

Equine veterinarian, 4* event rider, breeder of quality sport horses, and Equestrian Hub mentor Dr Mattea Davidson offers her expert advice on handling and training foals so that they grow into respectful and wellbehaved adults.

Plus, if you don’t already know what proprioception is, it’s high time you did – biomechanical expert Dr Raquel Butler explains why.

On the horse health front, Rachel Roan speaks to Dr Calum Paltridge on the very relevant topic of wet weather skin problems (think greasy heal and rain scald), while equine nutritionist Leisa Hofstetter covers hay basics, and yes, there’s more to growing, harvesting and selecting hay than you may think.

With spring upon us, I can hardly wait for all that gorgeous foal spam to hit my inbox! But once baby’s arrived, what's next?

Thinking of hitting the competition trail yourself this season? Then Christine Armishaw’s tips on getting your horse to their first comp, plus event director Edwena Mitchell’s thoughts on warm up arena etiquette are compulsory reading! And to inspire you, Wendy Schaeffer OAM, the youngest woman to win Olympic equestrian gold, spoke to us about her road to the top with Sunburst, her OTT Thoroughbred.

Ingrid’s day starts at around 6:00am. She’s family-orientated and enjoys breakfast with her daughters, Greta (20) and Philippa (12), before leaving to do the school run with her youngest.

“From there, I hop in the car with my dog, Lucky, drive to the horses and ride as many as I can,” she says. The first part of the day is spent schooling and in focused training. “Mornings are for work and education, with the ultimate concentration on having the horse and rider work together,” she explains. Then it’s back home again for lunch with the family. “I try to make sure my daughter does her homework as quickly as she can, because I love to get back to the horses,” she laughs.

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SPOTLIGHT

It’s not often you get the chance to talk to equestrian royalty – but CHRISTINE ARMISHAW did exactly that when she interviewed the incomparable Ingrid Klimke.

Ingrid is one hundred per cent dedicated to her sport and spends as much time as possible with her horses: “In the afternoons we do canter training, go out for hacks, or I might ride one or two horses that I haven’t ridden in the morning.” This latter part of the

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Positively passionate

hen we’re watching from the side lines, it’s easy to get swept away in awe at the world’s greats, and three-time Olympic medallist, four-time World Equestrian Games medallist, and multiEuropean Championship medallist Ingrid Klimke is one of the greatest of them all. Her successes are all the more impressive because they’re not confined to one discipline. Ingrid is one of just a handful of riders to be selected by their country to ride at the very top of their sport in eventing and in dressage, and she’s excelled in both. There’s no doubt about it, Ingrid is a superb equestrian athlete, but what, I wonder, makes her so?

A day in the life

TOP: Clearly delighted, Ingrid and Franziskus after their test at the 2022 Blue Hors FEI Dressage World Championship in Herning (Image © FEI/Liz Gregg).

LEFT: With SAP Asha P during the CCISO4* at the 2019 GBR-Saracen Horse Feeds Houghton International Horse Trial (Image © FEI/Libby Law Photography).

FACING PAGE: Ingrid with SAP Hale Bob OLD competing at the 2019 LONGINES FEI Eventing European Championships in Luhmühlen (Image © FEI/Christophe Taniere).

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 11 day is also the time for scheduling appointments with the vet, or arranging for owners to pop in for a visit, or catching up with sponsors, or doing some work for charity. And in that busy schedule, Ingrid makes sure to fit in a couple of training sessions for herself. “I go to a very good physio and make sure I exercise a couple of times a week so I stay fit and healthy,” she adds. Ingrid is 54, but seems much younger. She sounds so upbeat and full of zest as she describes her jam-packed routine that it makes me question my own daily habits! In summer, her routine gets a bit of a shake-up. She is at home on Mondays and Tuesdays, but by Wednesday, she’s in the lorry and off to a show. There she stays until Sunday when she heads home for the start of another week, swapping horses and preparing to go out to compete again the following weekend. But Ingrid also believes in living a balanced life. “Once a year we go on vacation. I love to go on horseback SPOTLIGHT

Competing in last month’s Blue Hors FEI Dressage World Championship with Franziskus (Image © LL-FOTO.DE).

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Ingrid tells me that being a mother, running a business and being with horses keeps her grounded. “I wish my day had an hour more, like many other people also wish,” she chuckles, “but I do all the things I want to do in a day, I’m full of energy and I just love my life.” The smile in Ingrid’s voice is tangible.

In memory of Hannah Francis, a young rider who died, Ingrid often had Willberry Wonder Pony clipped to her safety vest, here with SAP Asha P during the CCIO4*-L FEI Nations Cup Eventing at the 2019 Military Boekelo-Enschede International Horse Trials (Image © FEI/Libby Law Photography).

SPOTLIGHT

safari, enjoy lots of different countries, and spend time with animals and nature,” she tells me. And even though horses take up much of her time, balance still comes into play. During the week she spends time with her daughters, as well as her mother, brother and sister-in-law, who all live nearby. “I love to spend time with my family and as much time as I can with friends,” she remarks.

Cavaletti for the win I fire off a question: if Ingrid could only ever use one exercise, what would she choose? She doesn’t miss a beat: “Cavaletti work. My horses are so supple, and so loose, and so motivated because I do cavaletti work all the time,” she explains. “There are many exercises possible and cavaletti help so much because they give the horse a reason to lift their feet higher than they normally would.” Ingrid swears by cavaletti work, no matter whether it’s a dressage or jumping horse, or if they’re four or fourteen. “Every day I have another idea for an exercise which can help me and help my horse,” she adds. It’s in the outlook After hearing about Ingrid’s focussed way of life, I’m eager to find out what goes on for her mentally. I ask if she does much in the way of mindset training, and initially her answer surprises me: “Not that much,” she shrugs. But then she continues: “I pretty much take my energy from my love for the horses. I love to ride, I'm happy to have a wonderful team behind me, and my family and my friends. I feel pretty down to earth and pretty settled.”

Horse selection Given that Ingrid has partnered with so many wonderful horses over the years, she obviously knows a thing or two about picking a good one. For an eventer, she looks for a very good jumper. “It must be calm, it must be careful and it must be light on its feet; very quick, very sharp and very clever,” she says. The horse also needs stamina and strength, which often comes from the IngridThoroughbred.doesn’tfocus too much on the walk or trot, believing they can be improved with every horse. She tells me that what’s more important is the horse’s character: “I really love to try the horse first and I’ll never video, or pictures, or because someone else thinks it’s a good horse. I have to feel it, because for me, the connection is most important.” She likes a horse that’s up for a challenge, likes to work hard, and is prepared to give everything they have.

What about nerves? At this point in her competitive career, does she still feel nervous before an event? “No,” she smiles. “I love to ride but I also love the competition, I love the game. I also really like to know that if I’ve trained my horses properly and done my homework, then they are ready.” In addition, Ingrid pays attention to other horses and riders, noticing where they rank and how good they really are rather than as she might imagine them to be. “I would say for me it’s quite a routine after all these years,” she says.

It’s evident that while Ingrid is resultsfocused, she’s also very aware of the fact that horses are individuals, who have ups and downs of their own.

If she’s looking for a dressage horse, Ingrid’s adjusts her criteria accordingly. Her requirements for character are the same, but she says that for Grand Prix the horse has to be special: “You need a horse who wants to please the rider and give their very best.” Conformation-wise, it must be a horse with a very active hind end, with hind legs under their centre of gravity, and energy that lifts up from behind over the back and through big shoulders. “You want to feel the horse has balance, power and talent, you must feel the talent,” she emphasises. “It needs three good gaits, not one super gait, because out there we need good walk, trot and canter, not just trot.”

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Competing as a member of the German dressage team at the 2022 FEI World Championships in Herning was something that had Ingrid quite excited. She was “wishing, hoping and dreaming” that it would go well, which it did. The team took home bronze. But what about when something doesn’t go to plan, how does she cope? Ingrid recalls a good horse that she was eventing at Aachen. The mare was travelling well on the cross country, then had an unexpected run-out, then another. “For sure you have to ask yourself what can I do better? But sometimes that’s the thing with horses, the rider could have everything perfect but the horse isn’t having a great day, or the other way around,” she says.

For Ingrid it’s her connection with the horse that’s vital (Image © FEI/Liz Gregg).

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 15 L i s t y o u r h o r s e f o r s a l e f o r F R E E t h i s m o n t h U s e c o u p o n c o d e - l i s t 4 F R E E H O R S E S F O R S A L E WEB AND MAGAZINE OPTIONS Enquiries contact Fiona Todd E:fiona@equestrianhub.com.au P: 0414 760 067 Advertise your horse where equestrians shop

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16 | EQUESTRIAN HUB ISSUE 9 • 2022 Pottie’s Equine – An Australian Legend Since 1890. Contact us for your nearest stockist  03 8792 3000  sales@sykes.net.au WWW.SYKES.NET.AU

At the 2021 European Eventing Championships in Avenches, Switzerland, with SAP Hale Bob OLD (Image © FEI/Richard Juilliart).

Thoughts on eventing

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When it comes to the sport she loves, Ingrid would like to see some changes. In eventing, the courses are getting more and more technical to make them harder, but Ingrid feels it’s to the detriment of the horses. “We have to find a good solution to give the horse a chance to read the fences and to know what’s coming,” she explains. Riders take time to walk the course, learn the way, and know their minute markers, but the horse bursts out of the start box with no idea of the upcoming track. “Nowadays, there is more of a danger element and you have to slow down so much to make sure you get the jump right, and then you have to speed up so much to get the time. For sure you can do this, but instead, how might we keep the cross country phase more encouraging, especially for the younger horses coming through?” Ingrid ponders. Words to live by I ask Ingrid why she thinks she has done so well and made it so far, and what she would recommend for others on this journey. She barely pauses before answering: “I really love what I do. I have such a strong passion. You need to have a true love for it or you will always feel like you’re missing out on something.” She points out that being involved with horses is a full-immersion lifestyle, and likely to take an unbreakable hold on you. “Competitions will clash with occasions like friends’ birthdays and you can’t do everything. You have to really commit your life to the love of your horses and the sport.” And I realise right then and there that the secret to Ingrid Klimke’s success is intense passion coupled with relentless commitment. Ingrid touches on the need to also be resilient. “Plans change and evolve with the seasons, you go from plan A, to plan B, C and D; you need flexibility in your nature.” She adds that where there are high highs, there can also be low lows: horses becoming sick or injured, or losing a horse that you love - but that’s all part of the lifestyle. “Those times are tough, but you have to put your feet back on the ground and say, I know it’s sad, it’s a really difficult day, but I have to survive and cope with it and face it, you have to live now,” Ingrid says.

There are no two ways about it, Ingrid Klimke is a force of nature. She operates with a level of drive that would leave most people confounded. She’s living proof that with enough passion, dedication and a serious work ethic, mixed with a skill set that’s being continuously honed, this level of success is attainable – with just one hundred per cent full-immersion as the minimum requirement.

She holds a fairly similar view of life in general, and chooses not to dwell on possible future events: “Yes, I would love to go to Paris [for the 2024 Olympics]. I have a wonderful horse, but who knows what might happen a year out? You live now, so enjoy your life now, and always look for the positive things. Work hard, be as good as you can, but you can only give your very, very best. Sometimes it’s enough and sometimes it’s not, but you can’t give more. The most important thing is you listen to your heart.”

Travelling to the venue is taxing; it’s physically tiring for them to stand balanced and stable in a moving horse float, not to mention mentally stressful, especially for an unseasoned equine.

As their trainer, it’s your job to break the whole experience down into manageable chunks. From your horse’s perspective, there are a myriad of factors at play.

The idea of getting your horse to their first competition can be overwhelming and possibly a bit of a ‘hold your breath and see’ type of event. But even though there is an element of the unknown with horses, you don’t have to leave it all to chance.

Ready, set, compete

No matter what your discipline, the point of a competition should be to consolidate and display your training to date, and the preparation should be done well in advance. Thankfully, there is much you can do to set your horse up for success.

COACHING WITH CHRISTINE

Before you even think about setting a hoof off home turf, your first port of call is to create some scary scenarios at home and work through them until your horse is comfortable: walk them over tarpaulins; have a play over poles and around cones; do ground work and ridden work in different paddocks and locations, as well as the arena. Training with flapping flags, bright umbrellas and billowing streamers are all worthy uses of time. Sound desensitisation can often be overlooked. Accustoming them to a rattling plastic bottle of pebbles, or their least favourite sounds (put together in a YouTube playlist) can go a long way towards keeping them relaxed in the face of new noises. The more novel situations your horse encounters and overcomes, the more they build their confidence, bravery and ability to selfmanage in unfamiliar settings.

If you’re losing sleep over taking your horse to their first competition, CHRISTINE ARMISHAW has some training techniques sure to help.

Then once you arrive, there are tons of other horses around, but not a familiar paddock buddy to be seen. People are everywhere, intermingled with strange new sights, smells and sounds. And oftentimes their usually chilled-out rider is acting oddly due to their own tension and nerves. Here’s how to mitigate these unsettling elements.

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Desensitisation

The caveat here is that if it doesn’t all go to plan on the day, use the experience as a training opportunity. But if you have properly prepared, it is more likely to go to plan.

Level up at home first

If you are going to your first dressage test, aim to be working one level higher at home. If you’re going out jumping or eventing, aim to be comfortably and confidently jumping ten centimetres higher during training. At a base level, this gives you the advantage of knowing you and your horse are beyond capable of what you are aiming to do in competition.

Keeping yourself level and calm is just as important because it’s true your horse can feed off your energy. What tends to happen when a rider is nervous is that they stop breathing as deeply, which creates tension in the body, hands and legs that the horse can physically feel. However, this too can be overcome by working through the above techniques. The more you know how your horse is likely to react and the more positive experiences you have when out together, the more relaxed you are likely to Initiallyremain.your goal should be a good experience, where your horse does as you ask, you both stay composed, and you come home with a smile - only then will ribbons follow. Remember, take your time, breathe deep, and let your preparation pave the way to your first successful competition.

BELOW LEFT: Aim to jump higher during training, which gives you both a confidence advantage when you’re competing (Image by Oz Shotz).

FACING PAGE: Christine’s Intro Jump Clinic makes for a great pre-competition low pressure training day (Image by Olivia Salkeld, Snapshotaustralia).

Stepping stones

COACHING

There are lots of additional challenges with having your horse perform well when off-property, and it’s not uncommon to hear a rider say that although their horse goes brilliantly at home, replicating that is hard to do when on show. So make the job easier.

Once you’ve done all you can in your own space, take your horse on a few non-competition excursions. Your objective here is to start simple and gradually increase the intensity factor. Hire out an arena with a friend or arrange to meet your coach there for a one-on-one lesson (bonus points for familiarity training if it is an arena that’s likely to be the venue for a competition you may enter in the future). Once your horse is responding well, increase the atmosphere by finding a local riding club, clinic or training day to attend. Strive to amplify the environment a little at a time, without turning up your own tension or nerves.

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Once you have a few of these low-key adventures under your belt, you’ll have a pretty good idea of how your horse reacts when in a new place, which again gives you an extra edge when you’re ready to don the white breeches.

BELOW RIGHT:Evelyn desensitising Noble to 'scary' things at home before they go out together (Image by Christine Armishaw).

ASK AN EXPERT

he number one grizzle I have is riders coming in and out of the warm up arena without acknowledging the marshal. It’s polite on entering an arena you know is stewarded or marshaled to give a little nod and say: “Hello, is it alright if I come in please?” Every warm up arena is different in size and we tend to put limits on how many are allowed in at any one time.

ABOVE LEFT: There should be no more than one or two people at the practice fence. ABOVE: Always be considerate of other riders in the warm-up arena.

I also have issues with people taking dressage whips into the warm up. You’re allowed a dressage whip for flatwork, but you can’t jump with one. There are a couple of riders in Australia who I will not let into the warm up with a dressage whip because they disregard the rule or they forget – and if I don’t catch it in time, there’s room for protests from other riders or the judge. Which leads to the next point – rules! It’s all very well to say ‘know your rules’ and it’s not hard to find them, but if you’re a kid or a parent, or you’re new to the sport and not familiar with the lingo, interpreting them can be hard. Ignorance is not an excuse but if in doubt, ask a question, and if the marshal in your ring doesn’t know they can ask someone who does. I’m always happy to have a chat with people and explain the rules. Many incidents in warm ups occur when riders are worried or afraid. Rather than being mindful of their surroundings, they’re focused on dealing with whatever they’re concerned about – a horse they’re not 100 per cent confident on, a course that might be a bit big – and their awareness of others riders and horses is lessened. A good marshall can help with a situation like this by requesting the combination be moved down the draw (although sometimes that’s not always possible) to give them a bit more time to overcome the problem. My take home message is be polite to all – always!

EDWENA MITCHELL, well-known show jumping event director, has a few thoughts on warm up arena etiquette.

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My next bugbear is when a coach or parent is getting cranky and yelling, or a wife or husband is offering loud and unsolicited advice. It’s very off-putting for all the other riders, particularly if there’s anger involved. It can be upsetting and nobody likes to see or hear that sort of behaviour.

Edwena Mitchell: Event Director

Yet another concern is too many people at the practice fence. A rider is warming up, they have six people around them (there’s never enough room) and there’s mayhem! You need no more than one or two riders at the practice fence - any more and it just gets ridiculous. There’s pushing and shoving and that’s when accidents can happen.

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OAM it was a dream that came true.

Winning Olympic gold is the dream of many an athlete, but for Olympian WENDY SCHAEFFER

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How it all unfolded Wendy says she was lucky to be born into a horsey family with a very competitive rider as her mother: “My mother, who was not from a horsey family, did very well. She rode at the 1986 World Championships for Australia,” recounts Wendy, who at that time was an impressionable 11-year-old.

Dreams of gold

FEATURE

Aboard her Pony Club horse Sunburst, 21-year-old Wendy Schaeffer became the youngest woman to win Olympic equestrian gold. It was at the 1996 Atlanta Games and what’s more, after breaking both bones in her lower leg just weeks before the Games, she was barely able to walk the course. But ride she could!

Seeing her mother’s lifestyle with the horses, her ambition, work ethic, and the effort it took to achieve at a high level, Wendy decided that that was what she wanted to do. “I remember writing lists saying at this age I’ll do this and at that age I’ll do that,” she says. “I showed my mum and one of the things was that at 35 years old, I’d ride a 3* – and she said to me, ‘I think you need to be doing it a lot earlier than that!’” Wendy chuckles at the memory, noting that the dream was always there. It was simply part of her world and something she was always going to do.

Wendy rode so well that had the rules not been changed just one Olympics previously, she would have won the eventing individual gold medal as well as team gold. The following year, she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her outstanding contribution.

“Mum bought a cute little Galloway and broke it in herself, then chucked me on it as about a seven or eight-year-old kid and wondered why it wasn’t always super successful!” But Wendy was grateful for all the knowledge and training that came with riding such a variety of mounts.

Sunburst started out as a low-level Pony Club horse who Wendy systematically went up the grades with. He wasn’t the only horse she was working with either. “In 1988, I was very privileged to take over the ride on my mum’s World Championships horse,” Wendy explains. She really valued the opportunity to ride a horse that had been to Advanced level, because it meant she was able to bring Sunburst up through the grades without as much pressure.

There were other horses too, which all ultimately rounded out Wendy’s level of experience: “Mum certainly wasn’t

So, how does such a young rider deal with the build up to, and actually competing at one of the world's biggest events? Looking back, Wendy sees being younger as an advantage. “You haven’t really had many setbacks in life,” she remarks. At that point, the worst thing that had happened to her was failing her driver’s licence test, so she had no real experience of things not working out. Prior to Atlanta, Wendy went to the 1994 World Games as a 19-year-old, where she came 16th; then in 1995 she competed at the Open European Championships, placing 9th. In the Olympic year, Wendy also rode at Badminton for 11th place, before coming home to keep riding and to stay in competition mode. While she’d been away, the horses at home had been ticking over, but not competed. So Wendy decided to go to Naracoorte Horse Trials, where she’d been competing for many years. One of her novice horses ran out at a bank-tobank fence, tripping, falling, and crushing Wendy’s leg in the process. She suffered a broken tibia and fibula with the Games just nine weeks away. The leg was screwed and plated back together and Wendy was riding and walking – after a fashion – about four weeks later. “I remember doing the last of the gallops in England prior to going to America, and coming back in saying the horse was feeling great, but I didn’t dare tell them how much my leg hurt!” she laughs. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. Heavily strapped, Wendy not only made it work, but aboard her 16-yearold off the track Pony Club horse, she achieved the best overall eventing score in the Atlanta Olympics. Their double clear show jumping and cross country rounds secured team gold glory for Australia.

FACING PAGE: Koyuna Sun Dancer at Badminton in 2014 where he was the only double clear in cross country and show jumping.

LEFT: Wendy and her younger brother, AllTony.images courtesy Wendy Schaeffer

FEATURE

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 25

Retrospection

A fractured road to glory

Following her dramatic success, Wendy came home with her beloved Sunburst and, after letting her leg properly heal, continued to do great things. She took another horse to the Melbourne International Three-Day Event and placed second; she became the first rider to win the Adelaide 5* twice; and she competed at all the 5* events around the world.

Reflecting on what she might have done differently, Wendy is contemplative. “If someone had said to me in advance ‘this is what will happen’, I would still have taken the whole package,” she says, although in hindsight she wishes she’d capitalised a little more on her Atlanta success.

Finding ‘the one’ It was at this time that Wendy found Sunburst, an off the track Thoroughbred. Wendy laughs at how she discovered the horse that was ‘the one’ before the boyfriend that was ‘the one’: “I’d been riding a lovely little horse prior [to Sunburst], who tragically broke his leg in the paddock,” she recalls. In a random turn of events, it happened to be the very same day that Wendy’s mum heard about Sunburst. He came for a one-week trial and ended up staying.

the person who would put you on the ‘right’ pony,” she says, recalling what she describes as a few different ‘feral’ ponies.

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EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 27 Sun Quest, the 2021 Wandin CCI3*-L winner, at the Naracoorte SA State Championships.

Words to live by

“We’ve got a beautiful 110-acre property with a cross country course, so another goal is to keep developing that,” she adds. After suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in August 2021, life has changed a little for Wendy in recent times. “It was a mild TBI, but I suppose it was a result of repeated concussions throughout my career,” she says. She blacked out while in the air over a 1.30m show jumping fence, which didn’t end prettily. “But life is a risk. You could get hit by a bus. I’m still riding, but I’m just selective about which horses I get on,” she remarks, smiling as she chats about the two cute four-yearolds she is currently bringing on.

Go to Equestrian Hub for Wendy’s full interview, including her hilarious stories and memories. Believe in your dreams and be prepared to work on the issues that are going to come along.

Looking ahead Wendy has dabbled in coaching as she’s gone along, but in recent years has found it becoming more of a focus: “I have students coming through who remind me of myself at that age, which is really fun. Looking ahead, it would be great to focus on coaching some teams.” On top of that, Wendy has just begun her journey on the pathway to becoming a dressage judge. It’s plain to see that she’s got a lot to offer, and wants to give back to the sport.

Wendy’s jumping mare Koyuna Sun Set (who qualified for the 2012 Olympics but was injured before the event) contesting the famous Hickstead Derby.

For anyone looking to chase their dreams, Wendy’s message is this: “Believe in your dreams and be prepared to work on the issues that are going to come along. If you really want to do something, you can, but you’ve got to want it enough and believe in yourself.”

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The power

Proprio what?

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proprioceptionof

It’s all about awareness. CHRISTINE ARMISHAW discusses proprioception with biomechanical expert Dr Raquel Butler.

Simply put, proprioception (pro-pree-osep-shn) is the perception or awareness of the position and movement of the body and its parts in space.

The body’s proprioception switchboard is made up of a network of receptors located within the muscles, fascia, and joint capsules, as well as touch and pain receptors, all of which relay information back to the nervous system including the brain. Working hand-in-hand with visual input and input from the balance

FEATURE ot a horse that trips on the flat, falters across country or knocks rails while jumping? Your horse’s proprioception might need some work. While it might be a tongue twister, it’s something you should definitely know about if you want to improve your horse, and working on it is easier than you might think.

Biomechanical medicine vet, Dr Raquel Butler, who specialises in chiropractic, osteopathy and rehabilitation treatments, explains: “Proprioception is the awareness of your legs. It’s your ability to not have to look and think about every step you take and the placement of your feet. For example, you are able to walk in the dark and navigate uneven surfaces and obstacles by feel without stumbling or falling.”

G

Akin to other characteristics that vary from one individual to the next, the degree of natural proprioception present in each horse can differ. Raquel suggests this is a trait that definitely falls into the ‘more is better’ category: “A horse that is lacking in proprioceptive awareness is really not a safe horse for us to be riding.” The good news, however, is that this awareness can be improved with targeted exercises and the potential results are worth the effort.

At the most basic level, an increase in sure-footedness and reduction in stumbling and tripping can result in a horse that overall is safer to ride. At a competitive level there are big gains to be made too. The more proprioceptively aware your horse is when galloping over undulating terrain across country, the safer and more successful you are likely to be in eventing. The advantage in show jumping is potentially leaving more rails neatly in the cups, as your horse has a more developed sense of their leg position in relation to the placement and size of the fences they are attempting to clear.

When we look at the relevance of proprioception in a riding horse, it becomes super important from a safety perspective. “When you’re on board, you want your horse to know where their legs are, to be able to navigate small changes in the surface they are moving across and make adjustments within the muscles and fascia as they go, even if they don’t actually see a divot or mound in the earth,” Raquel says. Without this tactile ability, your horse would be less able to accommodate such changes underfoot and would be more prone to a misstep or worse, a fall. Tangible rewards Assuming they are neurologically and biomechanically sound, horses, like humans and other animals, are hardwired for proprioception. If your horse is tripping or stumbling, first rule out with your vet any underlying pathology creating spinal canal narrowing and spinal cord pressure. Imbalanced feet can also be an underlying cause.

Simple exercises for improvement The interesting thing with improving proprioception is that it’s not about the big movements. “When a horse goes faster, even in the trot, they can compensate for poor proprioception by using speed for balance,” Raquel explains, adding that when we want to improve proprioception, we have to connect the mind to the legs, which is a slow and controlled process. Her favourite go-to exercise for assessing and improving a horse’s proprioception is straightforward and requires just one pole on the ground. The horse is walked up to the pole,

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 31 system in the inner ear, this kinaesthetic awareness enables us to interact with the environment around us, without falling over or crashing into things, and without having to consciously think about every single movement we make. Raquel likens it to driving a car, once you know how to do it, you don’t think about how to hold the steering wheel, your hand position, the tightness of your grip, how much pressure to apply when turning, you just automatically do it. Similarly, when you close your eyes, you can still touch your finger to your nose – or at least you should be able to! How good is your proprioception right now? So, what is the relevance of this type of sensory awareness for horses? “If we first think about horses in the wild, proprioception is important for them to get away from a predator. They need to be able to navigate obstacles and to run quickly, without falling over, stumbling or missing a step, because if they miss one step, they’re out!” Raquel explains.

FACING PAGE: Navigating obstacles in hand is a great way to improve proprioception (Image by Lynne Murray).

ABOVE: Standing on variable surfaces such as SURE FOOT pads is another useful exercise (Image by Dr Raquel Butler).

FEATURE

Remember, the key is to focus on small, deliberate movements, rather than ones that are fast and momentum-based: “Otherwise, you’re bringing in all the bigger muscle groups and you’re not really training postural control and limb awareness as you should,” Raquel says.

FEATURE

32 | EQUESTRIAN HUB ISSUE 9 • 2022 asked to pause in front of it and given a moment to look at it, sniff it, and acknowledge that there is something in front of them.

The biggest temptation to avoid is rushing your horse. If it seems like it’s taking a while to see results, then that simply highlights how much you need to spend time focusing on kinaesthetics.

Raquel tells me that another great way to improve proprioception is to ride at walk across as many different surfaces and at varying speeds within the walk as you can: “Having your horse walk on sand, then over a really rocky area, then around and between logs is all great proprioceptive training.” She even trains horses to negotiate their way through tyres on the ground, boot-camp style, but recommends starting with just one tyre first. The caveat is that it always has to be slow, controlled and relaxed.

“Sometimes it can take 20 minutes for the horse to step over the pole, and that’s proprioception. That’s the horse establishing new neural pathways,” Raquel explains. The rider or handler’s role is to simply help the horse maintain their balance and prevent any rushing while they wait for the horse to figure it out.

Be the tortoise

A horse with healthy proprioception will be able to walk in a slow, controlled fashion over the pole. “They will be able to stop in any position, with any of their limbs over the pole, and will not take an elongated or pronounced step. They know exactly how to get their legs over that pole and where the pole is in relation to their body,” Raquel says. From there you can increase to two, three, or four poles and repeat that same steady, controlled exercise in walk with the expectation that your horse will still figure it out with ease.

It’s important that your horse first acknowledges the poles or obstacle when training proprioception (Image courtesy Dr Raquel Butler).

Walking over alternating angled poles (Image by Lynne Murray).

However, a horse that rushes over a single pole, even in walk, is not using proprioception properly and needs to be slowed down. Other horses may stop completely in front of the pole and find it seemingly impossible to walk over (even after previously rushing over it).

When you aim for precision in the slow work, it has the potential to transfer across to an improved show jumping technique, an enhanced nimbleness on the cross country course, and to create an altogether steadier horse on your journey toward riding success. Keep your tactile training sessions short but integrate them regularly, and enjoy proprioception becoming another handy item to add to your horse training tool kit. Watch the full interview with Dr Butler at Equestrian Hub. Learn how proprioception can improve float training, and hear about the horse that took 40 minutes to step over a single pole.

Recent wet weather in Australia, particularly in the eastern states, has created the perfect conditions for greasy heal, rain scald and other similar scabby skin conditions. Broadly speaking, these ailments are a form of dermatitis; an infection of the dermis (the top layer of the skin).

Given the recent wet conditions, an increase in greasy heel, rain scald, and similar conditions should come as no surprise, writes RACHEL ROAN.

Reassuringly, equine veterinarian Dr Calum Paltridge says that although these ailments are common, they often

Greasy heel Greasy heel, also known as mud fever, is commonly caused by bacteria, mites, allergens, or a fungal infection. While the cause may vary, the condition presents with the same build-up of thick, crusty, and painful scabs on the pasterns. Horses with white socks and pink skin pigment are predisposed to infection, as are horses who have spent time in wet or humid conditions. “These conditions weaken the defence barriers of the skin, allowing entry to pathogens,” Calum explains. “For the most part, the cause is normal skin bacteria or bacteria from the environment, which can easily get past the defence barriers if the skin is continuously wet, cracked, or damaged. Once it’s in, it starts an infection in the skin.”

aren’t serious and the treatment is straightforward.

34 | EQUESTRIAN HUB ISSUE 9 • 2022 VET VIBES

Wet weather woes

Antiseptic scrubs and washes, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory creams, or other topical treatments such as Prednoderm - which contains a mix of steroids and antibiotics - are on the list of treatment options. Calum says that in most cases, topical treatments are sufficient, and in healthy horses, greasy heel (and other forms of equine dermatitis) is usually self-limiting. However, there is potential for the condition to turn into cellulitis, a more serious infection. Unlike dermatitis, which is only skin deep, cellulitis is an infection of the soft connective tissue structures in the legs. Calum advises that best practice is to treat severe greasy heel in order to reduce the chance of it developing into cellulitis.

A wet, humid environment creates the ideal conditions for rain scald to develop, and like most things, prevention is better than cure. During wet weather, it’s worth investing in a good quality, waterproof rug to help protect your horse. “If you have a cheap or poor quality rug that isn’t waterproof,

In some cases, greasy heel can also cause swelling in the joints beneath the infected area, and your horse can show signs of tenderness or lameness in the affected legs. “If they get greasy heel over a moveable area like the back of a fetlock, it can be quite painful when their joints are moving and pulling at the skin.”

For advanced cases of greasy heel, Calum suggests the safest approach is for your vet to sedate your horse, so the affected area can be clipped back and thoroughly cleaned before continuing with the treatment. “Once sedated, we aim to remove the scabs and affected tissue to get it back to healthier tissue. Scab removal can often cause bleeding if it’s severe, so it may be kinder to do it over a couple of sessions instead of all at once.” By removing the scabs, cleaning the area with a solution to kill the bacteria, and opening it up to the air, you can target the infection directly and hopefully reduce healing time. Rain scald Rain scald is an easily identifiable type of dermatitis that affects a horse along their back, neck, and head. “Rain scald presents as chunks of hair coming off with scabs and pus underneath it,” Calum says. “It typically occurs where the saddle sits and it can cover quite large areas.” A horse suffering from rain scald will usually be too uncomfortable to be ridden if the saddle area is affected. To avoid exacerbating the problem, Calum’s advice is to treat the condition before attempting to ride your horse again.

ABOVE: Greasy heel presents with a build-up of thick, crusty scabs on the pasterns.

It’s important to recognise that even the quietest horse can become irritable and lash out, so approaching with care is strongly advised. “Scabs, pus discharge, hair loss, and a red, inflamed appearance are all signs of greasy heel,”

Calum explains, and with this thick, scabby build-up, it’s difficult for topical treatments to reach the root cause unless the scabs are removed, which is painful but necessary.

VET VIBES

FACING PAGE: Wet weather creates the perfect conditions for greasy heal and rain scald.

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 35

To successfully treat greasy heel, removing your horse from muddy, wet conditions is crucial. Without stabling, or at least somewhere to keep your horse dry for a sustained period of time while the condition clears up, it is difficult to completely rid them of the infection and treatment time will be prolonged. “When it’s continuously wet, it doesn’t matter how good your management is. Greasy heel is very difficult to treat if horses are standing in mud for a large part of the day, for weeks on end,” Calum tells me.

In his experience, greasy heel seems to be more painful than rain scald, and ensuring you don’t get kicked while treating your horse can be a challenge.

“If it turns into a secondary infection like cellulitis, it will need a more intense treatment. In severe cases, the horse will need to go on systemic antibiotics to treat the infection, and bute to reduce pain and inflammation,” he adds.

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On a final note, it’s important to distinguish between rain scald and Queensland Itch, which are sometimes confused. Rather than a form of dermatitis, Queensland Itch is a hypersensitive reaction to insect bites, which causes an allergic reaction followed by intense itching. “They drive themselves mad scratching,” Calum says. “Although rugging can help prevent this, it’s really hard to deal with in areas along the coast. The only solution is to avoid contact with insects by moving the horse further inland to colder climates,” he adds.

Dr. Calum Paltridge (BVSc (Hons) MANZCVS) is the owner and veterinarian at Thunderbolt Equine Veterinary Services in Armidale, NSW. Rain scald affects a horse along their back, neck, and head.

If your horse has rain scald it’s important to let the area breath (Images by Paula Campion). and your horse is sitting there with a wet rug on, that will definitely predispose them to rain scald,” Calum tells me. “It’s the wet rug combined with the horse’s body heat that causes the problem.” Similarly, leaving your horse to sweat on a warm day under a synthetic or canvas rug can also cause rain scald. I ask if washing your horse and rugging them before they’re dry would have the same effect: “Definitely. If you work your horse until it’s sweaty, wash it down and don’t thoroughly dry it before throwing a rug back on, they’ll be back in the paddock with a wet, humid environment on their back,” Calum says. “Most synthetic rugs don’t breathe well – they can be great if they’re waterproof and your horse is dry, but if the horse is damp before you rug, it can really trap the moisture.” While rugging helps reduce the risk of developing rain scald, if your horse already has the condition it’s important to let the area breath. Unless they are being kept dry under a cotton rug, rugging can actually increase the severity of the symptoms. In Calum’s experience, rain scald will heal best if the coat is clipped, exposed to air and sunlight, and allowed to dry out. Similar to greasy heel, topical treatments can improve the symptoms. Change in the weather In most cases, dry, cold weather will improve cases of greasy heel and rain scald. “If the weather dries out, a healthy horse will usually come good without treatment,” Calum explains. “Treatment can definitely speed the healing process and reduce the level and length of discomfort your horse endures, but for the most part, if you leave it alone it will usually sort itself out.”

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 37

Equine nutritionist LEISA HOFSTETTER explains.

n addition to providing extra roughage for horses, in times of scarce fresh fodder certain hays can provide extra nutrition. Although the digestibility of protein in grains is better than that in forages, the quality of protein in forages is superior to that in grains. Quality protein contains a good variety of amino acids and most, if not all, essential amino acids (which a horse can’t synthesise and must therefore consume).

Testing hay Gathering a sample of hay for testing involves inserting a hay corer into the side of selected bales. Alternatively, expose the inside of the bale and select handfuls of hay representative of the rest. For both methods, a 200 to 500 gram sample is needed, and is best stored in a ziplock bag before couriering to a testing facility. Depending on the facility, hay can be tested for content such as protein and amino acids, carbohydrate, fat and volatile fatty acid, vitamins and minerals. Your equine nutritionist will be able to advise you regarding a testing facility.

38 | EQUESTRIAN HUB ISSUE 9 • 2022 NUTRITION

Hay may be lower in vitamins E, A and the B group than fresh forage, so it’s important to adjust your horse’s diet accordingly. Your equine nutritionist can suggest any supplements or changes that may be needed. Testing your specific hay is also an option.

I

Someonthoughtshay

How well do you know your hay? Sowing, cutting, testing, choosing: there’s a lot to think about.

The methods used for seeding a hay crop vary depending on the type of forage. For example, lucerne is sown at an optimum depth of 0.5-1cm, teff at 0.3-0.6cms, Rhodes grass at less than 2cms, and oaten hay at 3-6cms. Rolling the seeds in after sowing can increase germination rate and reduce losses to wind and pests. Using a herbicide against weeds prior to sowing lucerne can increase the yield, as lucerne competes poorly with weeds. To reduce weed competition the same can be done with grasses, but an alternative is to make the first cut once the grass reaches about 30cm, then harvest with a subsequent cut. Omitting the herbicide might reduce the yield slightly, but may be more cost effective. Additionally, not using herbicide may decrease the potential for a detrimental effect on the local ecosystem, which in turn will improve the longevity of your property for growing purposes.

Making hay

NUTRITION

Rhodes grass is lower in oxalates than most other warm season grasses.

There are many reasons why making hay is beneficial. Storage of nutrients in the form of hay can allow horse owners to provide a good level of nutrition year-round, improve the energy yields of pastures, and generate an income. But making hay can be a tricky business; a lot depends on the weather and timing. Grasses and legumes (forages) commonly used to make hay for horses can be categorised into warm season and cool season. Warm season forages, such as lucerne, Rhodes and teff, will grow slowly in temperatures less than 15°C. Often these types grow best in areas where there is less chance of frost or freezing temperatures. Cool season forages, including fodder or cereal oats, will grow at a reasonable rate even below 15°C, but are slowed somewhat in temperatures below 7°C. Perennial cool season grasses appear to thrive over the cooler months and may become dormant during warmer weather. Along with other forages, these are higher in fructans (types of sugars that act like antifreeze for the plant) than warm season grasses. It’s partly due to these fructans that cool season forages are higher in starch and other non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) than warm season forages, making them less suitable for horses prone to obesity and/or laminitis.

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 39

Teff may benefit horses prone to stomach ulcers.

Sowing the crop

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For horses prone to stomach ulcers, lucerne, teff or other hays high in calcium and/or protein may be of more benefit than other forage hays. Lucerne in particular has been shown to have a better buffering effect on stomach acid in the digestive tract than other grasses.

Choosing the right type of hay for your horse involves assessing their needs.

Enlisting the help of an expert will help you find the best hay for your horse. In doing so, you can avoid some health problems and even improve current ones. No hay is completely perfect, but an equine nutritionist can help you balance the nutritional benefits and drawbacks so that your horse is the happiest and healthiest they can be.

Leisa Hofstetter, BEqSc, is an Equine Nutritionist and founder of Hof Equine. Call her on 0415 120 454, or visit her on Facebook

Left: Cut oats at the watery, ripe stage. Right: More mature plants produce a milky white juice (© State of Western Australia, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, WA).

The nutrient profile of various hays can differ substantially. For example, lucerne hay is a better source of vitamin A than grass hays, but contains less vitamin E. It is important to seek professional advice to help you decide which hay would be best. Of course, your horse might make the decision for you, as some hays are more palatable than others. Lucerne is generally more readily eaten than teff and other grass hays, and most horses prefer lucerne hay over fresh grass.

Each hay has its own benefits and drawbacks. Horses prone to laminitis or obesity may benefit from legume hays such as lucerne, as these are lower in starch than most grass hays. There is also variability of starch content in grass hays.

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Warm season grasses, although lower in NSCs, are likely high in oxalates, a form of calcium which actually prevents calcium absorption to the point where the mineral is leeched from skeletal calcium stores, causing swelling and the characteristic ‘big head’. Rhodes grass is comparatively lower in oxalates than most other warm season grasses, including teff.

Cutting the crop

As with seeding, the best time to cut your forage for hay varies by type. This process can be the most sensitive to weather and timing. When harvesting lucerne hay, the optimum time to cut is at early bloom, when 10-15% of the lucerne plants are flowering. Cutting at the mid-bloom or even full bloom stage will increase the yield, but the quality of nutrients is sacrificed. Alternatively, cutting at the pre-bud or late bud stage of growth will increase nutrient quality, but will sacrifice yield. For example, lucerne will typically contain 22-26% crude protein at the pre-bud stage, 1822% in early bloom, 14-18% in mid bloom, and just 9-13% in full bloom. This same decline in nutrient quality occurs with grasses as they mature.

Oaten hay is high in starch, whereas teff hay is renowned for being low in starch and other NSCs (less than 10-12%) making it a possible choice for laminitic horses.

Lucerne has been shown to produce the best yields for hay when harvest cuts are done at six week minimum intervals. To ensure there is no damage to the crown and to allow for good regrowth for subsequent cuts, it’s important to cut the lucerne at no less than 7cm in height. When harvesting grasses for hay, there is some variability in optimum cutting times and heights. The best time to cut oats is at the watery, ripe stage. This is when the top floret on the main stem produces a green juice when squeezed (in contrast to the milky white juice produced by a more mature plant). There is a five to seven day window for this stage of growth for oats. The optimum cutting height to achieve maximum yields in subsequent cuts is around 15cm. For teff, the best time to cut is when the crop has reached a height of 0.7-1m, and cutting to 10cms allows for the best yield in subsequent cuts. Which hay to feed?

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As a qualified equine vet, 4* event rider and breeder of quality sport horses, Dr Mattea Davidson, BVSc (Hons) MANZCVS (Equine Dentistry) knows her stuff when it comes to producing a high level horse from the ground up. Mattea works alongside husband and fellow top level rider, Shane Davidson, and together they foal down an average of ten of their own mares each season, as well as numerous clients’ mares.

While the intention is always to produce an elite equine athlete, ensuring the foal blossoms into a respectful and manageable adult is an integral part of the process. So, when should that training begin? Quietly, at the very beginning, with that very first breath. Welcome, little one For Mattea, the highest priority is to have a healthy live foal and a healthy live mare, so everything goes back to that. “Sometimes a foal will get more handling at the point of birth if there is a medical issue, in which case the health of the mare and foal is our top priority,” she Generallysays. speaking, Mattea doesn’t aim to imprint per se, rather she goes through more of a health and well-being checklist. "We go in and do what we have to with the mare during labour, checking foal presentation as they’re being born, that their airways are open once they’re out, and we give them a quick once-over to examine for any abnormalities that may pose a risk.”

There’s nothing like the arrival of a new foal. But what’s next? Equestrian Hub mentor DR MATTEA DAVIDSON offers some expert advice.

Taking baby steps

TRAINING TIPS

Over the next few hours, Mattea is checking that the foal has got up, had a drink from Mum and passed the meconium (first stool). The mare is checked to make sure she has passed the placenta. “So, there is a fair bit of handling that happens in that first period of time,” she explains. Early days During the early stages of a foal’s life on the Davidsons’ stud, their mother

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 43 dictates how much human interaction they receive. “Our embryo transfer foals often don’t get as much handling while they’re still on the mare, because those mares have their foals and then go back out into the paddock and that’s it for that season, they’re not put back in foal until the following year,” says Mattea. In comparison, mares who carry their own foals are put back in foal six weeks later, so their foals get more handling. They live in the stables, and they’re in and out of the crush multiple times a day and in the middle of the night. The foals are handled and interacted with a little.

"We do a bit of ‘foal hugging’, where we get them used to being touched by holding them around the front of their shoulders and around the base of their tail,” Mattea explains, adding that most foals attempt to sit down when you put your hand around their back end, so putting your hand specifically at the base of their tail helps to avoid any accidental fractures.

Mattea points out that due to time constraints, their foals are only lightly handled prior to being weaned. But ideally, the more you can do with them early on, the better. “Even at just six months old, a foal is big and strong and potentially much harder to work with,” she cautions.

Importantly, if they try to kick out, keep holding on. Otherwise, they learn very quickly that kicking is a means of making you let go and release that pressure.

Some foals are great with their feet right from the start, but others can be touchy and may try to kick out. “You’ve got to be very careful and make sensible decisions around them. There are a lot of injuries that happen to people because of foals – don't treat them like a big dog,” Mattea warns. When you do go to pick up a leg, start from the top of the limb and run your hand down.

Picking up feet From the youngest age it’s a good idea to get them used to having their feet picked up. “You really need a couple of people to make that safe,” Mattea says. The Davidsons tend to start picking up their foals’ feet when they’re in the partition next to their mother in the crush. One person holds or ‘hugs’ the foal, while simultaneously pushing them up against the wall to offer more stability, while the other person picks up the foal’s feet. “When you pick a leg up, often they want to kneel or lie down because they’re not sure what’s going on; they’ve actually got to get used to standing on three legs,” she adds.

Halters and leads To get them used to it, Mattea suggests putting a halter on your foal as soon as you can. “Just the cheapest, plainest halter you can find. And I say that because you don’t want something sturdy, you want something that’s going to break if it needs to.” Have them in a space, a stable or similar, where they can’t hurt themselves when you first put it on. If they become anxious and want to run away, you don’t want them to gallop through a fence!

TRAINING TIPS

Shane with a foal sired by Reserve Champion Stallion Check In (Image courtesy Davidson Equestrian).

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Tying up Mattea recommends a sturdy hitching rail or a strong tree for safe tie-up training. “If you’re going to tie them up to something, it’s got to be super solid. There can’t be any chance that they’re going to pull it over or pull a rail off.” You want to avoid your impressionable baby becoming injured, or getting a fright.

Initially, youngsters should be tied to the hitching rail in a rope halter and a neck rope, which aids in reducing poll pressure. It’s important to use a lead rope with a clip that won’t break. Mattea has found many leads come with poor quality snap clips. So before use, these are always swapped out for a strong bull clip.

The next stage is patiently standing with friends while tied. “We’ll often have three foals tied to a tree so they have to learn to stand quietly next to each other,” says Mattea. And she always has something close by in case of emergency should a horse become stuck and need to be cut free.

Leading It’s important for a foal to first be able to tie up before you start doing much leading. “If they understand tying up and Mattea caring for a foal who required a plasma transfusion due to insufficient IgG levels (Image courtesy Davidson Equestrian).

Everything for a foal is brand new, so even getting them accustomed to simply having a lead dangling from under their chin takes some careful thought. “When they’re young, we initially attach a piece of bailing twine to the halter, so they get used to having something there, but there is no hard clip or anything to hit themselves with as they flick their head around,” Mattea explains. Plus, bailing twine will break easily if they put their head down and stand on it. “I can’t stress enough how important it is that you get your horse used to standing on their lead rope without thinking it’s a bad thing,” she adds. You can leave them with their dangling twine lead, but again, do so in a safe space. Once they have grasped how to step back off the twine when they tread on it, you can upgrade to leaving an actual lead rope on.

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Mattea foal hugging in the crush next to Mum (Image courtesy Davidson Equestrian).

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 47 that pressure and release, then they’re less likely to nick off on you when you’re leading them, Mattea says.” Using a rope around the rump as well as the halter rope is a tried and true method of safely teaching the foal to come along where asked without having to drag them. “You want to have the rope quite short, so that if they get a fright and jump forward, you don’t end up with their back end in front of you,” she adds.

TRAINING TIPS

To reduce poll pressure, foals are tied with thick neck straps and rope halters (Image courtesy Davidson Equestrian).

Head to Equestrian Hub for the twopart video interview, where Mattea explains the differences between threeyear-old colts and fillies, the perils of processionary caterpillars for pregnant mares, and much more.

Final tasks For Mattea, a ‘must do’ training component is integrating the concept of a ramp and horse box into everyday life. “We have a float and a truck parked nearby, and will walk the foal up to the tail gate, get them to take a step up, give them some food, then take them back to the stable and repeat it again the next day. It simply becomes part of their everyday life.” It also pays to accustom your foal to the wash bay with a focus on hosing the legs; moving them away from whip pressure in the round yard; and grooming – which some foals find a bit tickly! “Once we’re content with where they’re at, we put them out in a paddock for a month, before bringing them in and running through it all again,” Mattea concludes. When done correctly, those all-important foundations are set. The young graduate is turned back out and given time to grow and mature, being handled along the way for regular treatments such as worming and hoof trimming. Breaking in is scheduled when they turn three and, with a bit of luck, they’ll have a very bright future ahead.

Behind the scenes at Herning

After I arrived on site, I met my colleagues at the accreditation desk. I was a member of the team issuing passes to 500 athletes and the 11,500 partners, vets, grooms, officials, volunteers, and media visiting the games.

As the biggest equestrian event ever to be held on Danish soil, Herning Council pulled out all the stops to

The World Championships wouldn’t be possible without thousands of people working behind the scenes, and JESSICA MORTON was one of them.

Volunteer perks Volunteer accommodation turned out to be fairly basic, the food was definitely not! Volunteers and staff were provided with a lavish buffet breakfast, and a three course lunch and dinner every day. I think most of us probably left a few kilos heavier - I certainly did! However, the main perk for volunteers was free access to the field of play, which meant we could watch the world’s best equestrian athletes warm up, train and compete whenever we weren’t working.

Clean and green

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Jutland is horse country Herning is located in Jutland, a peninsular bordering Germany that's famous for horse breeding. The Blu Hors stud, one of Europe’s leading sporthorse breeding facilities, is located nearby, and the annual Danish Warmblood Stallion

Show, held at the same venue as the World Championships, is considered the biggest of its kind in Northern Europe.

W ithout being there, it’s hard to imagine the complexities of organising an event the size of the FEI World Championships. I was one of the many volunteers who worked behind the scenes in Herning, Denmark, and was transformed by the experience.

FACING PAGE: After five faultless rounds, Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward had earned their individual win (Image © FEI/Leanjo de Koster).

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ABOVE: A jubilant Danish dressage team celebrate before an equally ecstatic home crowd (Image © FEI/Leanjo de Koster).

As part of a sustainability pledge, the event organising committee and Herning Council agreed to plant 60,000 trees when the games ended, a permanent legacy for future generations to enjoy. And while remaining respectful of the environment, the Equipark, the Jyske Bank Boxen and BB Horse arenas, and the Stutteri Ask Stadium were decorated with stunning purple floral creations and live Otherplants.eco-friendly initiatives included a free shuttle bus between the accommodation village and venue, liaison with the catering team to ensure efficient waste management and the use of compostable plates and utensils, and digital schedules instead of printed. Even the Stutteri Ask Stadium’s special footing was repurposed at the end of the games and will be used by local riding centers for years to come.

LEFT: The accreditation desk team issued passes to 500 athletes and 11,500 vets, grooms, officials, volunteers, media and other guests (Image by Jessica Morton).

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 49 make the experience unique. The MCH Messecenter is the largest entertainment facility in Scandinavia, and the multitude of warmup and stabling facilities (there was even a horse wellness spa) were much admired and well-used.

Charlotte Fry (GBR) and Glamourdale won individual dressage gold with a sensational Grand Prix Special freestyle test (Image © FEI/Leanjo de Koster).

Groom gratitude was a big deal at Herning. Each groom was mentioned by name on the arena information screen and formally included in prize-giving ceremonies. The grooms also had their own lounge within the heavily guarded stable area, where they could relax and enjoy a meal.

And there were plenty of highs: Henrik von Eckermann with his fantastic King Edward was one of only two combinations to make it through all five rounds without dropping a pole; Latvia’s Rihards Snikus snared the country’s first ever equestrian gold medal; and Lottie Fry’s freestyle test left everyone in awe. But for me, nothing beat the collective euphoria of Denmark winning team gold on home soil.

Front desk reflections I worked with a wonderful team of Danes and Swedes, who tirelessly translated Danish into English for me. The job itself was great fun, and I had a wonderful time assisting guests, athletes, officials, and wide-eyed new arrivals. There were occasional dramas, mostly caused by flight cancellations, COVID, or missing luggage – but everyone was always ready to find a solution.

Groom gratitude

The highs and lows I was delighted to be able to cheer on the dressage team from New Zealand (my home country) and then the vaulting, show jumping and para dressage teams from Italy, my adopted country.

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Sadly, there were also some gutwrenching lows: André Thieme’s show jumping fall robbed his team of a medal; and the elimination of Gaylene Lennard and Jax Johnson, who had worked so hard to get to Denmark, marked the end of New Zealand’s hopes of qualifying a team for the 2024 Olympics. Both Frederic Wandres and Mary Hanna had to withdraw their horses due to injury, and Japanese rider Akane Kuroki made a last-minute COVID withdrawal. Stage two is coming I was so grateful to be part of this exciting and exceptionally well organised event. Next up, stage two of the World Championships (eventing and driving) at Pratoni del Vivaro near Rome. Stay tuned for the details next month.

Many of the most interesting people I met were fellow volunteers, some of whom came from as far afield as New Zealand and Argentina. Many were equestrian athletes themselves, or worked as stewards and officials back home. There were vets and animal behavioralists, as well as many locals who wanted to do their bit to ensure the event was a success.

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One of the drawcards is that there are very few restrictions on the tack that can be used in events, meaning riders from different disciplines can give it a go. Buying a bow, arrows and protective gear is also relatively inexpensive, with most riders able to kit themselves out for less than $500.

It was a photo of an archer shooting at a gallop that inspired her to get involved.

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Straight shooters

And as Hayley points out, there’s another plus: “From a horse welfare perspective I think it’s probably one of the best sports because it’s kind to the horses and quite easy on them. To be riding your horse and have to drop the reins and trust them to carry their pace, whether it’s a walk, trot or canter, you’re essentially not controlling them, you’re trusting them to do their job.”

It might have its roots in ancient warfare, but horse archery is one of the fastest growing sports in the modern world, writes REBECCA NADGE.

f you’re thinking of taking up the sport of horse archery, Hayley Chambers of Outback Equines has a warning: dropping the reins to shoot at targets from horseback is highly addictive!

“It looked so wonderful! I thought, yep, that’s something I would love to do. As I got into it more I realised there are so many different aspects and dynamics of the sport that make it really appealing.”

I

It’s these factors that make horse archery a readily accessible and inclusive sport.

Many nations have a history of archery.

If you’re thinking Vikings or Robin Hood you’d be right – but take a step even further back to the Iron Age when shooting arrows from horseback was gradually replacing the Bronze Age chariot as a weapon of war. In Australia horse archery got its start through medieval reenactments rather than as a sport in its own right.

Globally, the sport is governed by the International Horse Archery Alliance, which was established in 2013. “There were a lot of different organisations across a number of countries that were embracing the sport, building their own tracks, and running competitions,”

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Like other equestrian disciplines, horse archery has different types of competitions with variables such as pace, the length of the track, shooting distance, and the number of targets. Australia was one of the first countries to incorporate competitions at a walk, rather than catering only for those who could shoot from a faster gait. Ground archery has also been growing in popularity amongst women. Hayley believes this can be attributed to the success of films like The Hunger Games. “What I see with my clients, and the feedback I get from them, is that when they’re shooting the bow and they hit the target, there’s a real feeling of achievement. It’s a feeling of empowerment that’s hard to explain until you’ve experienced it. But imagine you’re galloping along on your horse, you’ve dropped the reins and then you’re shooting - there’s no feeling like it in the world.”

Hayley tells me. “A country can incorporate elements of their cultural heritage into a track, and apply for it to be approved and included as an international competition.”

TOP: Jai Shaw mastering the basics with Hayley’s help (Image by Katy Driver BOTTOM:Photography).The number and type of targets can vary (Image by Katy Driver Photography).

FACING PAGE: Hayley and Larrykin, bareback and bridleless (Image by Katy Driver Photography).

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For Hayley, who has competed in show jumping, eventing and dressage, horse archery ticks every box. But even if you’re coming from another discipline and are already a competent rider, you still need to practice the fundamentals of good archery on the ground. “Newcomers to the sport are obviously super keen, and the sooner we can get them shooting off the back of their horse, the quicker they’re addicted,” Hayley laughs. “But eventually they’ve got to come back to their ground archery and become competent in the basics. On the back of a horse it’s easy to fall into some bad habits with your actual archery style.” There are fundamentals to archery that any good coach will teach, whether they’re involved in horse archery or not. But caught up in the excitement of their new sport, many riders forget the basics;

sometimes, Hayley adds, striving to be a little further ahead than their current skill set allows: “The biggest challenge is getting riders to go back to their groundwork – which is probably similar to a lot of other equestrian disciplines,” she muses.

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Hayley suggests that anyone interested in learning more about the sport should seek out a clinic, or make use of instructional materials online. “There are a few horse archery coaches around, and I’ve made an online instructional series on starting off in horse archery; I think there’s over three hours of footage there. If you can’t get to a horse archery clinic, I’d say find a good coach and get archery lessons. Good basic archery at any of the archery clubs can usually get you started.”

Pony Club Australia has also recently approved horse archery as a sport, which, Hayley says, is a huge boost.

She regularly teaches between eight and ten riders and their horses in one-day clinics, and estimates she has a 99 per cent success rate in getting the horses confident with their rider shooting from their backs.

“Along with some colleagues of mine, I was so proud to be a part of that process. We posted a webinar not long ago to encourage some of the other clubs to take it on.”

But be warned, anyone willing to give it a go might just end up hooked on a new sport! Interested in setting your inner warrior free? Visit Hayley at Outback Equines, the International Horseback Archery Alliance, or Pony Club Australia.

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Although there is no particular breed that is better suited than others, horses do need self-carriage and engagement to carry themselves properly without relying on the reins for balance.

Hayley starts horses on the archery track with barriers along the sides to prevent any extracurricular meanderings. “We teach them to go along nicely with rhythm at a walk, trot and canter, which is essentially dressage – and in this sport, good dressage basics are an advantage for both horse and rider. We always voice train our horses and I use a lot of positive reinforcement, teaching them to understand that when we ask for the stop, or the ‘whoa’, they get a little treat at the end. Very quickly the horses are traveling down the track quite Desensitisinghappily.”horses to the sound of the bow and the rattle of the arrow is another important step. Again, Hayley uses positive reinforcement by pairing treats with the sounds and movement of shooting. “What they start to learn is that as soon as the bow is shot they get a lolly, and after about five or six repetitions most horses will be looking forward to that sound and will be waiting for their treat.”

Ella McBain and Gypsy working on their skills (Image by Remi McBain).

And riders aren’t the only participants who need to get their groundwork in order, it’s the horses too. “We start all their training on the ground, shooting in front of the horses, next to the horses, and we might even pair them up with a horse that’s really confident so they can see that their buddy is quite relaxed and happy,” Hayley explains. “This is just basic horse training; your groundwork comes first before you start doing anything under saddle.”

Get fit with the pros may wonder what DressurFit® has that other online fitness programs do not. MORTON investigates. TRENDS

he 12-week DressurFit® program was designed by sports scientist and performance fitness coach Marcel Andrä in collaboration with dressage greats Jessica von BredowWerndl and her brother Benjamin Werndl.Together the siblings have won double Olympic gold, World, European, and German Championships. They are winners at both Aachen and on the World Cup circuit, and Benjamin, riding Famoso OLD, recently achieved a personal best of 78.24% in the Grand Prix special at Herning.

After being flooded with requests for private lessons and courses, which they could not accept due to their busy schedules, the talented siblings joined forces with renowned sports scientist Marcel Andrä (who also coaches Andrew Hoy). The end result is DressurFit®, through which they can share their training philosophy and methods with anyone, anywhere, anytime.

It’s this philosophy that underpinned the development of the DressurFit® Fitness Test and Advanced Test. The tests provide valuable insights into each rider’s fitness, allowing the team to create personalised training plans specifically tailored to the individual’s needs.

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The regular fitness tests implemented through DressurFit® allow riders to track their own progress, while giving the program’s coaches the feedback necessary to offer support, and to tailor exercises to meet the rider’s needs.

According to Marcel Andrä: "If you want to systematically train and improve your rider fitness effectively, you first have to figure out the capacities of your own body. Thus, the selection of exercises take into account any individual imbalances and weaknesses, because your overall performance is only going to be as strong as your weakest link.”

This one-of-a-kind program, delivered online through the Aubenhausen Club, helps riders improve their position and communicate better with their horse through conditioning, neuro-athletics and yoga exercises. It’s designed to address rider muscle imbalances, mobility restrictions and injuries through functional fitness, with regular tests pinpointing strengths and any weaknesses that need to be overcome.

You

JESSICA

INTERNATIONAL

The right one for you Rider fitness is just as important as the horse's fitness, and since the pandemic, online fitness courses have become more popular than ever. But deciding which program best suits you can be challenging. Many courses deal with equestrian fitness and balance problems in a generalised way, sending out a list of exercises without any one-to-one mentoring or personalised support. In many cases, solutions given to problems aren't effective because the root cause goes unresolved.

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How it started Jessica and Benjamin have long been dedicated to improving their riding fitness to support their horses. They share the belief that it’s often the rider who prevents the horse from developing to their full potential. While we might invest time and money in improving our riding and training our horses, by not working on our own fitness there will always be the possibility that certain underlying issues prevent us from seeing the very best that our horses have to give.

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ABOVE: The program is tailored specifically for riders and delivered online.

INTERNATIONAL TRENDS

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Regular fitness tests allow participants to track their progress.

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Customised individual corrective exercises Workouts and yoga designed for equestrians Neuro-athletic drills Live training sessions and mentoring

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The DressurFit® Program offers riders anywhere in the world the means to train with Olympic level equestrian athletes and an internationally acclaimed performance coach - all without breaking the bank, travelling long distances, or committing to a difficult time schedule.

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The 12-week program is available in three levels – each of which expands upon the fitness developed in the previous level. Based on information obtained in the tests, each workout is designed to be performed at the level that best suits the rider, with variations possible to make the workout either easier or more challenging. With equestrians specifically in mind, the tests are used to identify any strengths, weaknesses, one-sidedness, or balance problems. To increase the effectiveness of the customised training plans, homework exercises targeting issues identified by the tests are assigned. Each rider receives two personalised exercises to improve their mobility, balance and stability in the saddle and to optimise their general fitness level.

Support by sports coach Marcel Andrä.

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Suitable for all fitness levels

Personal appraisals and fitness tests

At the end of the 12-week program, participants are given three months access to the DressurFit® Online Gym, so that they can take advantage of new workouts and yoga videos. After six months, they become members of the DressurFit® Club, giving them access to the advanced DressurFit® series to help their dressage fitness progress long term.

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Putting in the work

Even with all this cutting edge information at your fingertips, some riders may find it hard to find the motivation to exercise regularly without anyone holding them accountable. However, one of the secrets to success in any fitness program is consistency combined with the self-motivation to stay focused on your goals as you work through the system. It takes commitment! Be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any new health routine and if an exercise causes you pain, stop and seek feedback from the DressurFit® team.

FACING PAGE: Along with her brother Benjamin Werndl, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl was instrumental in developing DressurFit®.

The course includes:

JH: What’s been one of your toughest moments? SP: Last year’s Olympics [Simone’s first] was really hard for me. I had a situation where I was a bit doomed before I even started and that was a terrible feeling. And afterwards too, when I couldn't find any way to pull one out of the bag. I was really, really down. Then I had to compete at Aachen two weeks later but was still so disappointed in myself, the results, and everything that happened that I really had to fight to keep going. But then at Aachen, Destano and I achieved a second place!

SP: The tick spray they used on the horses for the flight to Japan affected Destano’s skin. I didn't know it could be so bad. All the skin came off his chest and I couldn't ride him for the seven days before the test. He’s a big boy and it was terrible: worrying about him, worrying if he was feeling pain, and then the pressure of finally being at the Olympics and not being able to prepare.

JH: Although you can learn a lot of life lessons from other people, I’ve often had to learn the hard way, if you know what I mean?

SP: Yes, I really do. Where to start? Doing this, on this level and as a professional, you have to learn not to

FEATURE The atmosphere here at the World Championships in Herning, Denmark, is electric – and I’m backstage talking with Australia’s elite dressage rider, Simone Pearce.

Simone Pearce produced Australia’s top Grand Prix dressage score at the 2022 World Championships. JAMIE HOCKING caught up with her backstage.

JH: Was it your spray or one that was mandated? SP: Mandated. It affected a few others but poor Destano was by far the worst. So you arrive at the other end and there’s the horse’s skin and hair just falling off. It was a shock and really unfortunate, but it is what it is - you just have to deal with it.

SP: I've always ridden. I grew up on a farm in Australia and by age one I had my first pony, learning bush-style. My dad's a jumper and my mum teaches kids, so I was born into it.

Having that magic feeling happen in the test, for me, is definitely the highlight.

JH: Do you prefer training horses from the start, or retraining experienced horses? SP: I'm into everything. At the moment I've taken over some Grand Prix horses and I really enjoy working on solving their individual problems. But I also love the young horses, so it's a mixed bag.

JH: What happened that set you back so badly?

JH: What are your career highlights so far? SP: I'm most happy when I get a great feeling test, more so than if I win. The result is secondary to me because I really enjoy the thrill of taking the horses, producing and improving them.

JH: The Aussie equestrian contingent has done us proud, with you and Fiderdance turning in Australia’s top Grand Prix score. You must be delighted with all you’ve achieved, but it takes years of dedication. When did your career begin?

58 | EQUESTRIAN HUB ISSUE 9 • 2022 Simone shines

JH: So if you want a certain riding style, you go to that area to train?

SP: I have lots of young riders contacting me, wanting to be tomorrow’s star. They have such big expectations. But I’ve done my time grooming, helping working students, breaking in horses, being a sales rider, a stallion rider. I was always willing to work and do everything that was put in front of me to get to where I needed to go. A lot of people want it handed to them and that's just not reality. Everybody needs to do an apprenticeship. You must be willing to do the hard yards. For sure you need to dream your own dream, but expect to take it one step at a time. Work hard, be dedicated and then go for your goals. That's absolutely the priority, I think.

ABOVE LEFT: Simone and Destano at the Tokyo Olympics (Image by Libby Law).

JH: What are your passions outside of riding? SP: Definitely my Chihuahua. I love travelling, Chihuahuas and shopping. Is that sad?

SP: I'm not sure to be honest. I think I will focus on the World Cup series over winter, and maybe try to qualify one of the horses for the World Cup final in America next year.

SP: No, but I really like the German way.

JH: Do you feel you’ve missed out sometimes? SP: For sure. I think you're always hoping that people are more invested than they are. But at the end of the day, it's a business and I understand that. So if you have the chance, even if not ideal, you just gotta go for it.

JH: You lived in Denmark for four years. How did that come about? SP: Andreas Helgstrand found me and said, “I'm going to make you a star”. And in the beginning, to be honest, I said, no, it’s not really for me, because I liked small stables and to be really personal with my clients and the horses. But eventually he persuaded me to have a go.

JH: When is your next big competition after this one?

JH: What made you decide to return to Germany? SP: I never intended to stay in Denmark for a long time - that was never my end goal. I just wanted to get fantastic experience and do the best I could with that opportunity. It was always my intention to go back to Germany.

JH: Is it like vaulting where everyone has the same basic skills, but if you have a special style, people remember? SP: Yes, definitely. I think the top 20 in world dressage are all very individual. You like what you like, and you can really become a fan of one style.

SP: I think it's what you said about all of us in our different disciplines. We all have that passion and drive and want to be the best we can. With horses you can always improve and that's such an addictive feeling. You can always develop and change. I find that inspiring and I can never get enough.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Simone and Fiderdance in the Blue Hors FEI World Dressage Team Championship Grand Prix at Herning (Image ©Australian Equestrian Team/Libby Law).

JH: Not at all. I like your Chihuahua. What’s your favourite thing about riding - what keeps you coming back for more?

JH: What tips would you give to young riders?

I think it's very classical and they take time with the horses and I appreciate that. The Danish are fantastic riders, but it's a smaller community, with not as many people who have the time to invest like they do in Germany.

ABOVE RIGHT: Simone on Quando Unico at the Young Horse Championships (Image by Timo Martis).

SP: Totally. I wouldn't say that I have a German style, but it's in there a little bit. I've been in Holland, I've been in Germany, I've been in Denmark. So I think I now have my own style. It's not really based on any one area. I just like the mentality of the Germans. They're very forward thinking. I think all the top riders have their own style.

JH: Is that because you believe Germans are better at dresseur?

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 59 FEATURE take things for granted. I take every opportunity, because these are not my horses and horses get sold. You have to go with that and really live in each moment, take every opportunity as it comes, and go for every experience you can. That’s been a huge life lesson for me. Don't wait, just go.

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Full Cheek Snaffle: An option when a horse stops well but isn’t always willing to turn. It encourages bit acceptance, but is not a good choice for tongue sensitive horses.

Baucher or Hanging Cheek Snaffle: Promotes a round outline. The mouthpiece simultaneously lifts up within the mouth taking pressure off the bars and tongue, and is often recommended for horses who are poll sensitive, or tentative into contact. Good for shoulder control and helps prevent falling in. Horses can sometimes over-bend in this type of bit so it is unsuitable for those tending to go behind the vertical. Gag Bits Gags can be too strong for some horses and should only be used by riders with independent hands and seat.

Pelham: Designed to comfortably promote a rounder outline whilst also encouraging more freedom through the

On the bit Part 2

Bendy Rubber Pelham: A mild, flexible mouthpiece ideal for novice riders using a stronger bit for the first time. The horse should have enough space in its mouth to comfortably accommodate this bit.

One bit with two sets of reins and a curb chain. Pelhams use leverage and the action of the curb chain to lower the horse’s head and achieve a more rounded outline. Used where a single mouthpiece is preferred but the look of a double bridle is desired.

TACKED UP Last month we profiled some of the simpler mouthpieces on the Australian market. This time we outline a range of stronger, more controlling bits which may assist in training.

Pelham bits

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Nelson Gag: Popular with show jumpers and eventers, it provides extra control and assistance with turning. The full cheeks reduce friction and lessen the risk of rubbing. Balding Gag: For sensitive mouthed horses who tend to block through the rein. The rings have more play than a fixed cheek thus discouraging the horse from leaning.

Dutch Gag: Not really a gag; a leverage bit normally featuring three or four rings. The cheek pieces are attached to the top rings and the lower rings offer a variety of rein settings depending upon how much control is required. In the wrong hands it can cause severe overbending.

Neue Schule Tranz Angled Lozenge

The cheekpieces run through holes in the bit’s rings directly onto the reins, and they have a head raising effect by working on the corners of the lips.

Cheltenham Gag: Useful when riding a strong horse with a sensitive mouth, or with one who’s prone to leaning or snatching the reins.

If you find the world of bits confusing, you’re not on your own. SUZY JARRATT sheds light on the more complex designs.

ƒ Ultimately horses must learn to control themselves

Kimblewick: This bit has D-shaped rings and a curb chain. Like a Pelham it combines a snaffle and a curb bit but with only one rein. The mouthpiece attaches to the top of a D-shaped cheek and not to the shank, offering a slightly different action to a Pelham. The shank is shorter so Kimblewicks are usually considered a little milder than Pelhams.

Warwick believes the goal should be to use a stronger bit on a temporary basis.

Focus on light hands and gentle aids to improve the horse’s response, and then carry those lessons over to a milder bit. Your horse will appreciate this, especially during those ‘oops’ moments when you accidentally yank his mouth – it happens!

Start Softly Double: The Weymouth mouthpiece forms a wide, low bridge over the tongue which takes pressure away from the sensitive outer edges and distributes it evenly across the tongue. The thick bradoon is simple and comfortable, sitting evenly in the mouth. This set can encourage lengthening of the neck and a consistent contact - ideal for horses transitioning from a snaffle to a double bridle.

However a little extra ‘oomph’ doesn’t hurt in some circumstances when:

For more information visit Bit Bank Australia and Horse Bit Emporium – but when in doubt, always consult a bit fitting specialist.

Pony Double: Kind for sensitive little mouths. The snaffle or bradoon features a lozenge link and the pony Weymouth has short shanks. Neue Schule Warmblood Double: For horses slightly heavy in the hand or with very fat or over-active tongues. Combines a Warmblood Weymouth’s forward tilting wide port with a NS Verbindend bradoon which helps with lightness, flexion and turning. Not suited to thinner tongued horses or lightweight Thouroughbred types. Bit tips

If you’re facing a difficult problem you probably need to go back to basics.

ƒ The horse leans on the forehand or bucks

shoulder. Often sourced for control and self-carriage. Slimma Show Pelham: Its loose rings help when a horse tends to lean. The port shape suits finer types such as Thouroughbreds, or horses with thin tongues. Avoids contact with the palate.

Equestrian Hub mentor Warwick Schiller suggests that when choosing a bit for control you should keep in mind that:

ƒ Beginners or timid riders ride a strong (but safe) horse ƒ The horse speeds up in certain situations

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 63

“Focus on light hands and gentle aids to improve the horse’s response, and then carry those lessons over to a milder bit. Your horse will appreciate this, especially during those ‘oops’ moments when you accidentally yank his mouthit happens!”

ƒ A well-trained horse needs a tune-up.

Neue Schule Slimma Show Pelham Neue Schule Tranz Angled Lozenge Pelham Stübben Full Cheek Snaffle Double Broken Copper Link Sprenger Rigid Mullen Mouth Kimblewick with StübbenPortBaucher Double Broken Copper PelhamMouth Flexible Rubber Mouth TACKED UP

ƒ ‘Big’ bits are for pulling less, not more ƒ Complicated bits are meant for welleducated horses.

Double Bridles

These comprise a Weymouth (curb bit and chain) and a bradoon (small ring snaffle), and come in many different combinations.

Some horses own your heart in a very special way, and for TARA MADGWICK that someone was Lunar Rise.

Someone special

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The first time I saw him, he was the centre of attention. It was at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2011. Arrowfield Stud were parading their yearlings on the lawn at the front of the historic Big Stable and a handsome bay colt with a prominent blaze was much admired. He later sold for $380,000 to the bid of bloodstock agent Duncan Ramage and was the most expensive yearling by his sire sold at that sale. Named Lunar Rise, he was sent to the ‘Cups King’ Bart Cummings to be trained and raced in the famous colours of Dato Tan Chin Nam, previously carried by numerous champions including So You Think.

LIFE AFTER RACING

In my role as Breednet editor, I kept tabs on Lunar Rise as his racing career progressed and was not surprised when he won the prestigious Group III VRC Carbine Club Stakes. As with all good racehorses, there comes a time when they can’t quite compete at the level they once did, and in the case of Lunar Rise, retirement in 2017 was the option chosen for a gelding who left racing 100 per cent sound. He did not enjoy life in the paddocks of Think Big Stud and found the job of nannying boisterous yearlings a tiresome experience best left to others, so the question of what to do with him was one Duncan Ramage was left to ponder.

My teenage twins and I live on a small horse property on the South Coast of NSW where I grew up, and Daybreak Farm has become our little piece of horse heaven. Duncan rang me one day: “I’ve got to find a home for a special horse. He needs some sort of rewarding and fruitful career post racing and I thought you might be interested. He’s a nice person.” I was intrigued when he said the horse was a nice person and hooked completely when he told me it was Lunar Rise.

Show jumping is the discipline my children and I pursue, so Lenny was looking down the barrel of a new career as a show jumper. His willingness to oblige and do his best took him a long way and he competed at numerous shows all over the state for two years, earning a swag of ribbons. He loved nothing better than getting on the truck and heading to places unknown. When the tail gate dropped on arrival, Lenny was always the first horse off with his big happy face and eyes bright in anticipation of a new adventure.

Emma reflected on the tragic loss of her beloved partner: “He was genuinely one in a million and the sweetest most special horse I’ve had the pleasure of working with. I’m so grateful for the time I had with him even though I feel very robbed of the years of love I didn’t get to give him. However, the perk of being a beautiful horse is that he was never short of love in his lifetime, he was very loved in every career and home he’s had. I think I will spend most of my career finding another horse like him, he’s left massive hooves to fill and I can only thank Tara and her family for bringing him to the Mounties.”

We went to Think Big Stud to try him out and long story short, Lunar Rise was soon on the float and headed to Daybreak Farm, joining us in March 2018. Somewhere on that trip home he acquired the name Lenny.

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 65

In early 2020, my children and I saw an ad for the NSW Mounted Police. They were recruiting new horses and we all concluded Lenny might be just what they were looking for. He fit all the criteria and following a three-month trial in the heart of the city, he was accepted into the Mounties and so began the next chapter of his life as Troop Horse Martin. They retained his stable name of Lenny and he set about mastering a whole new skill set that was to take him on the ride of a lifetime, learning the art of meet and greet on street patrol, and the control and accuracy under pressure required for the spectacular Police Musical Ride at Sydney Royal. Lenny formed a close partnership with Senior Constable Emma Dickens, who was clearly smitten and happy to share their adventures with us as his career unfolded. An early morning phone call from the NSW Mounted Police in June brought sad news out of the blue to Daybreak Farm. Just shy of his 13th birthday, Lenny suffered a bout of colic, which was not unusual in itself, but this one failed to resolve and led to surgery which was successful, but a post-operative complication resulted in his being put to sleep.

Our Life After Racing feature is proudly sponsored by Arrowfield Stud

TOP: The multi-talented Lenny fitted right into his new career as a show jumper (Image by Oz Shotz Photography).

BOTTOM: Lenny looking sharp in his NSW Mounted Police headcollar (Image courtesy Tara Madgwick).

FACING PAGE: In the pink – Lenny and NSW Mounted Police officer Emma Dickens (Image courtesy Tara Madgwick).

It’s a scene of peaceful tranquility as a crisp fog blankets the Segenhoe Valley in the NSW Upper Hunter on a cold July morning.

Established by John Messara in 1985, and 100 per cent Australian-owned by the Messara family, the 2,500 acres of Arrowfield are home to nine stallions, currently headed by four-time Champion Sire Snitzel, and more than 300 broodmares with a remarkable record of racetrack and sale ring success that rivals the best in the world. In the 2021/22 season alone, Arrowfield has celebrated a dozen graduate stakes winners including Group 1 winners Hitotsu, Profondo, Stronger and Yearning.

It was also a memorable season in the sales ring. Arrowfield’s $30.5 million total at the 2022 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale is an all-time record, and includes seven lots sold for $1 million or more on behalf of the stud and its clients. These industry leading results are achieved by a dedicated team working together to breed and sell large numbers of quality Thoroughbred horses. The scale of the operation becomes clear as the first foals arrive from early August, the stallions begin covering mares on 1 September and the first sale yearlings begin their preparation in October.

Full steam ahead in the Hunter

W inter is the quiet heart of the year at Arrowfield Stud, but in a few weeks’ time the farm will once again be a hive of activity.

From 1 September the stallion team will rise at 5:00am to prepare for the first covering session of the day. During the day the team is kept busy mixing feed, cleaning the barn and stables, and organising stallions and mares for up to 30 matings a day.

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Foaling Unit The foaling unit ensures the safe delivery of each foal born at Arrowfield and provides aftercare for mares

Stallions and Breeding Barn

BOTTOM: Adam Shankley, winner of the 2022 Horsemanship Award, with an Arrowfield yearling.

FACING PAGE: Yearlings at the Arrowfield Sales Centre.

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 67 ADVERTORIAL and foals. The day commences with handover from the night watch team and an inspection of the new arrivals, followed by checks of mares due to foal, as well as the older foals.

Yearling Sales Centre

TOP: The foaling unit provides aftercare for all Arrowfield’s mares and foals

Each season approximately 200 yearlings are prepared for sale at live auctions held from January to June in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia, and for online sale. Each day yearlings are fed, handled, exercised, washed and groomed, with on-farm parades for buyers scheduled for the final weeks leading into each sale. Yes, it’s busy and sometimes demanding, but there’s a lot of fun, excitement and satisfaction to be had as well, as Arrowfield horseman Adam Shankley explains. “John, Paul and Alice [Messara] look after you really well and I think that shines through and allows us to do a great job. The way the place is managed it’s a fun place to work. We take our job seriously but have fun along the way. It’s not just hard work. There are a lot of exciting times, whether it’s watching the first foals of a new stallion get born, or being in the covering shed and seeing so many unbelievable fillies and race mares you’ve seen on the track come to the barn. It can be super fun and an exciting place to work which makes getting up and going there every day Adam,enjoyable.”winnerof the Horsemanship Award at the 2022 Australian Stud and Stable Staff Awards, also recognises the importance of supporting and encouraging newcomers: “It’s part of our role as older people to help young people coming through and show them what we know and help educate them. People ask me why I still go to the yearling sales, and I do it because I love being around the horses and the atmosphere. It can be very, very rewarding.” Interested in what Arrowfield has to offer? Visit our website to find out more.

MIDDLE: Yearlings are fed, handled, exercised, washed and groomed every day.

Is working equitation your thing?

I

Successfully negotiating a working equitation course requires great agility: horse and rider speed up, stop, spin, jump small obstacles, cross bridges, and open gates – all scenarios they might come across when working in the field. National competitions and championships, in which horse and rider display the great depth of their partnership, are common in both Spain and Portugal.

MATHILDE GREGOIRE has a few suggestions as to how you might indulge your passion.

Indulge yourself

But all is not lost! On the beautiful southern Portuguese coastline you’ll find a little gem known as Quinta Lusitana where there’s a focus on riding holidays centered around traditional Portuguese working equitation.

While interest in working equitation is certainly growing outside of southern Europe, when compared to other disciplines it generates significantly less tourism for the region – one of the reasons why only a few riding centers in either country offer exclusive working equitation programs, while others list it as an additional activity in an otherwise classical dressage or touring holiday.

TRAVEL

f you have ever been interested in learning the skills needed for cattle work and ranch riding, perhaps southern Europe, the cradle of working equitation might be your perfect holiday destination. Referred to as Equitação de Trabalho in Potuguese, and Equitación de Trabajo or Doma Vaquera (cowboy dressage) in Spanish, working equitation stems from ranching techniques used by the region’s horsemen for centuries.

Spoil yourself With several of the most prestigious classical dressage schools in the world, stunning landscapes and year-round gorgeous weather, Spain and Portugal top the list as two of the most popular riding holiday destinations.

Gems in Portugal

Quinta Lusitana’s private stables offer classes on stunning schoolmaster Lusitano stallions, all with impressive lineages. The equestrian facilities include a newly renovated outdoor arena with a working equitation course where guests can try their hand at a variety of exercises, including flying changes around slalom poles, small jumps, bridges, gates, and lateral work exercises. And the spectator terrace, with its views to the ocean, is a great place to relax and watch riders in the arena.

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Discover southern Spain

TOP: A Lusitano stallion in traditional Portuguese saddle and bridle.

LEFT: Re-enacting a bull fight in Quinta Lusitana’s working equitation course with Lusitano stallion Dardo da Broa.

What could be dreamier than a riding holiday in a traditional Spanish Hacienda? Located one hour east of Sevilla, Las Alcabalas is a luxurious 16th century estate nested in the Sierra de Esparteros. With its own private stables, Las Alcabalas is renowned for its world-class Andalusian horses, who are schooled to perform some of the most advanced figures in Doma Vaquera as well as classical dressage. This magnificent property welcomes working equitation enthusiasts. With teachers experienced in classical dressage, haute école, and traditional working equitation, Hacienda Las Alcabalas is a wonderful riding holiday destination if you’re looking to expand your knowledge and switch between the different disciplines. With a focus on groundwork and long reins, guests have the opportunity to learn the Spanish Walk, piaffe, levade, and other haute école movements.

As a bonus, Quinta Lusitana also offers stunning trail rides. You can admire the breathtaking beauty of the Algarve coast, with its sharp edged cliffs, lagoons and white sandy beaches, all from the back of your horse. Further north, in the vicinity of Lisbon, the Lusitanos Riding Center prides itself in its ‘puro sangue Lusitano’, it’s magnificent purebred horses. Offering working equitation package holidays which include riding, food and accommodation, the Centre’s stunning Lusitanos, fully equipped with artistically crafted traditional saddles and bridles, will take you through an unforgettable journey of dressage, agility, and the speed required to complete a Portuguese working equitation obstacle course.

Affordable and fun Spain and Portugal are two of the cheapest European countries for food, as well as accommodation, particularly if booked in advance. Essential eating in Spain? Mouthwatering seafood dishes, paella, and pastries. In Portugal, seafood rules with succulent pork a close second, and no visit is complete without sampling their signature custard tarts. For more information, visit Lusitanos Riding Center and Quinta Lusitana in Portugal, and Hacienda Las Alcabalas in Spain to book your working equitation holiday.

FACING PAGE: Traditional Doma Vaquera (cowboy dressage) is alive and well in Spain.

The hacienda itself has a traditional Andalusian patio, tastefully decorated rooms, and an organic vegetable garden from which is harvested much of the produce for the delicious meals guests enjoy each day. The perfect setting for a peaceful holiday, the hacienda’s swimming pool overlooks the Andalusian countryside and is the ideal spot for a relaxing afternoon after your ride. Choose one of Hacienda Las Alcabalas’ vacation packages, or customise one of your own to include the riding discipline and activities you are most interested in. You may even be treated to a flamenco show!

Images by Mathilde Gregoire

With a maximum of two riders per class, students benefit from individual attention to fast-track their progress. And if you’re interested in discovering the region’s culture, take one of the tours that include visits to local towns, wineries, and a traditional tack shop.

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Find us on Spotify, Apple and Google Hosted by all-round horseman Charlie Brister Sponsored by Streaming Streaming FREE FREE

It began at Badminton Brand founder Jade Holland Cooper was at Badminton in 2008 when she identified a gap in the country fashion market. There was a lot of tweed around but little feminine tailoring – so she set out to fix that.

Longline coats

There’s something about good quality, a great cut and practical styling that never goes out of fashion, writes JESSICA MORTON.

With competition season upon us, you might be considering updating your wardrobe. Look sharp this spring with some of of our favourite, effortlessly cool, and very wearable Holland Cooper equestrian pieces.

FASHION TRENDS

ABOVE LEFT: Carl Hester Gilet

Whether you're watching cross country or dashing to grab your horse in a rainstorm, you’ll never go wrong with a good piece of outerwear designed for country life. Durable and practical, HC’s longline field coat was made for moody weather (it was designed in the UK, after all!). Constructed from 100 per cent waterproof fabric with an internal lining for added warmth, plus tonal embroidery, gold hardware and a

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The daughter of a farmer and a fashion designer, 21-year-old Jade used modernist thinking and some good old fashioned practicality to hand-cut her first designs, which were put together by a local machinist. She sold her first samples, tweed miniskirts, in small fairs and horse shows around the UK, modelling them herself until she could afford to pay for professionals. Her designs were an instant sensation, resonating especially well with Hollandequestrians.Cooper now has an enormous online following, a residency at Harrods, London’s prestigious department store, and an estimated worth of more than £20 million. Jade defines Holland Cooper as a manifestation of her vision to curate pieces that every woman can see in her wardrobe.

Staying in style

A n official supporter of British Eventing Youth teams, the Holland Cooper (HC) equestrian line was first launched in 2018 in collaboration with British Olympian Carl Hester. Compliant with British Eventing and FEI regulations, the collection includes performance tested gilets, outerwear, breeches, base layers and accessories. Adorned with signature gold hardware, these pieces often feature in Badminton Horse Trials’ best dressed rider contests.

Tweed jackets

A sleeveless version of a jacket, they offer the same wonderful warmth and are the perfect layering piece for spring. The stylish Carl Hester Gilet features two hip pockets and one internal pocket all with microfleece linings, water-resistant fabric, and gold metal HC and Carl Hester hardware for that final elegant touch.

Base layers

Hurlingham Sweatshirt in white with navy stripe Short Sleeve Base Layer

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In a range of stylish fits for a functional and versatile look, base layers are an equestrian’s best friend. Designed to keep you warm, wick away moisture, and prevent muscle soreness while riding, the Holland Cooper range is made from Hydrocool® fabric to ensure breathability and comfort. Available in a variety of colours and cuts, they’re perfect for keeping you dry whilst training, or as an insulating layer on a cold day. Gilets Timeless and chic, gilets are a perfect alternative to everyday riding coats.

The true beauty of leggings is that they are practical and fashionable both on and off your horse. HC’s Heritage Sport Legging combines cool style with sportswear functionality. The retro highwaisted cut is perfect for busy schedules and relaxed dress codes. Stretchy with a super slim fit, the Sport Legging has monogrammed silicone riding grips and gold rivets for a touch of class to what is otherwise an athletic look. Made from a quick dry technology fabric, these are the perfect leggings to take on vacation or for riding in unpredictable weather.

flattering silhouette, it’s almost too pretty to wear just for riding.

Rugby shirts The rugby shirt is a simple but timeless staple. As a slightly more rugged alternative to the traditional polo shirt, you can easily dress this item up or down by complementing it with cute accessories. Since the fit is trim but not tight, you can sneak something underneath to keep you cosy without adding bulk, making it highly versatile.

With its distinctive collar and breathable 100 per cent cotton fabric, HC’s Hurlingham Sweatshirt looks great tucked into jeans with a statement belt. Detailed with a button placket, metal hardware and finished with a vintage inspired dull back graphic, this piece is easy to dress up or down and works in every season.

Holland Cooper’s elegantly cut tweed riding jacket has been ergonomically designed in a fitted style that ensures ease of movement whilst riding. Finished with understated horn style buttons and made from the finest Scottish tweed, this smart jacket is hand cut and made entirely in the UK using wools woven in Scotland. And for something a little more street savvy, HC’s blazer range is just the thing. With multiple designs and fabric options, spoiled for choice doesn’t come close. Accessories Add some chic accents to your spring wardrobe with a feather trimmed hat, silk scarf, gloves and a belt. You can wear Holland Cooper’s accessories in so many ways; you just need a bit of confidence, and you’re set.

Sport leggings

Tweed Riding Jacket in Glen Green Dark Olive Wax Longline Field Coat

Ink Navy HC Heritage Sport Legging

Equine Clinical Nutrition www.jenquine.com

There are only a few purebred mares and stallions on this side of the world.

In Europe and the Americas they are widely used for pleasure, endurance, harness and mounted games, and as workhorses on Peruvian coffee plantations. Closer to home you might glimpse one or two in an obscure breed class in New Zealand, or out on an Aussie bush ride if you’re sharing the trail with Dr Christiane Bahlo.

Meaning ‘fine step’ the Paso Fino was originally bred for travelling in comfort, writes SUZY JARRATT.

Dr Bahlo runs Narrawin Stud at Dereel in Victoria, and is an authority on these endangered horses. Her interest in them was ignited by the late Jorge de Moya, a Cuban civil engineer who created OliVaylle, an olive oil company on Telopea Downs. “In 2000 he imported some Paso Finos and a year later I was appointed as his stud manager. His enthusiasm for the breed was contagious,” she says.

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BREED

Pregnant ladies, elderly clergymen, postmen with parcels and farmers surveying their land could all go about their business without being shaken in the saddle, courtesy of the Paso Fino (PF). Today the breed is still coveted for their smooth movement, and is much loved by the aged and infirm keen to continue riding despite their ailments. Riders sit securely with long stirrups as rising is not required. Even chiropractors recommend this gaited breed to patients with bad backs! But not in Australasia – here the Paso Fino’s status is critical.

The Paso Fino

The Paso Fino descended from 15th century Spanish horses brought into the Caribbean in 1493 by Christopher Columbus, and the breed developed over hundreds of years. Puerto Rico, where the first registry started in 1943, is regarded as their home. There are two main types: the slightly smaller, finer Columbian PF and the bigger Puerto

Dr Bahlo was breeding and training other gaited horses prior to working with de Moya. American Saddlebreds, Icelandics and Peruvians all fit the definition and there are many in-depth articles about their unique movement which is exhibited from birth. A simple description is that each hoof hits the ground independently, with forward power coming from the rear legs, allowing for a higher (but not exaggerated) action from the front legs.

ABOVE: Dr Bahlo often participates in jousting events with Reverende de United (Image by Amber Fitzpatrick).

Two Winnfarm progeny are now with Dr Bahlo. In 2016 Pacifica Baile came to Narrawin in foal. “She’s fun on trails, loves obstacle courses, has done horse archery and armoured riding. I regularly ride her at Military Equitation training days. She’s a buckskin Tobiano and was the first pinto Paso Fino in Australia. Her colt foal, Darien, was born in 2017.

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 75 BREED

Paso Finos stand between 13hh to 15.2hh, with most in the 13hh to 14.2hh range. They are intelligent, come in all colours except spotted (there are no restrictions by the various breed associations) and often have thick manes and tails. Their legs are strong with well-formed tendons, large hocks, and a fairly straight hind leg that comes well in under the body. They have strong backs and loins, well-defined shoulders and strong hooves. The Puerto Rican PF is the only breed in which the distinctive ‘tiger eye’ has been found. For more on the Paso Fino, visit Dr Christiane Bahlo’s Narrawin Stud.

Another to sing the horse’s praises is Marti Winn, who ran Winnfarms in Christchurch, NZ until sidelined by ill health. “I was born in the Panama Canal Zone and lived there until I was eighteen. Gaited bush ponies were everywhere and we’d ride them all over the place,” she recalls. “Twenty-two years ago I developed my Paso Fino stud which I’ve now had to close. I would ride all of them without bits and they would just glide; I miss them so much.”

FACING PAGE: The Paso Fino has many appealing attributes.

The ‘paso corto’ (short step) is more forward, and the ‘paso largo’ (large step) is increasingly ground covering.” In the past Dr Bahlo has taken them into open ridden and led classes at some smaller ag shows. “And we’ve displayed them at Equitana and lifestyle expos. My passion is mounted combat, and I’ve successfully competed on them in Extreme Cowboy and skill-atarms contests.” She also participates in jousting events, wearing full armour, often with Reverende de United. This PF stallion had a successful show career before being exported to New Zealand, where he sired a number of lovely foals before arriving at Narrawin in 2013. At one time ‘Rev’ was owned by Shania Twain when she had a property in Queenstown. The country singer loved the breed for its gait, soft eye and kind temperament.

ABOVE TOP: Marti Winn and Pacifica Baile (Image by Brian Pelham).

Rican PF. “Some Columbian bloodlines aren’t gaited, but all other Paso Finos are bred to perform a smooth gait,” explains Dr Bahlo. “The breed signature ‘paso fino’ is very short and fast with little forward motion, mainly for showing.

A smokey black Tobiano, sensible and beautifully built.”

General Characteristics

Clearly this breed has many appealing attributes yet only a few Australians know anything much about them. “We need to raise public awareness by being involved in breed displays and getting them out and doing things,” Dr Bahlo tells me. “They’ll give everything a go and they have ‘brio’, which is a desire to work and a lot of pride. They’re nice medium-sized horses and a great pleasure to ride.”

PROPERTY

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Absolute quality

The home itself is configured as two vast, single level, adjoined residences, perfect for multi-generational living. Each features a gourmet kitchen, multiple living and dining zones, grand master retreats and private home offices. There are twelve bedrooms and ten full bathrooms in total. Beautifully appointed interiors offer modern luxury, ducted air conditioning, fireplaces and bespoke finishes. Wide verandas wrap around the residence, and the spectacular

The property represents luxury in every conceivable form. Tranquil, private, and elegant, it exhibits the design features reminiscent of a grand Australian homestead. From the moment you drive through the entry gates, you can’t fail to be impressed by the beautifully landscaped gardens, expansive paddocks, and tranquil lake-like aerated dams – Elizabeth Farm makes a statement.

If you appreciate unparalleled quality and excellence in design, 1078 Nowra Road, Fitzroy Falls, NSW, offers all that and more.

his is a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase a truly exquisite property. Elizabeth Farm is a premium country estate that really does tick every single box. Located on a stunning 27.54 hectares in the NSW’s Southern Highlands, it’s only two hours from either Sydney or Canberra, and an easy drive to the picturesque town of Bowral and to Shell Harbour on the spectacular South Coast.

T

The airy, light-filled stables are nothing short of stunning, with six spacious stalls, a feed and tack room, and for added convenience, a kitchenette. With an outside arena, plus multiple fenced and irrigated paddocks, this magnificent property is perfectly suited to a variety of equestrian enterprises.

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TOP: The spectacular great room with its skylight roofline is an architectural masterpiece.

LEFT: With six spacious stalls, the airy, light-filled stables are nothing short of stunning.

RIGHT: A unique entertainer's barn with fireplace and bar adds to the lifestyle options.

FACING PAGE: Elizabeth Farm is reminiscent of a grand Australian homestead.

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A

great room with its skylight roofline is an architectural masterpiece. A floodlit championship tennis court with pavilion, and a unique entertainer's barn with fireplace and bar add to the lifestyle options. There’s also a picture-postcard two bedroom caretaker’s cottage, as well as multiple storage and machinery sheds, two garages plus a carport, a cold room, and a bus service right at the front gate.

Contact James Hall of Christie’s International Real Estate on 0413 101 020.

SPECIALISING IN EQUESTRIAN TOURS, RIDING HOLIDAYS AND ALL TYPES OF www.snaffletravel.com.auTRAVELATAS Accreditation A13358, AFTA 13529, TIDS 96851775, ABN 92 610 274 407 *Terms and conditions apply Badminton Horse Trials and Royal Windsor Horse Show | 2-14 May 2023 From $6999 pp twin share includes flights* Contact Snaffle Travel for more details on +61 427 286 061 or info@snaffletravel.com.au More upcoming tours in 2023 Jerez Horse Feria and Optional Riding Holiday 14-21 May 2023 From $2699 pp twin share* Blair Castle Horse Trials 21-28 August 2023 From $4999 pp twin share* Burghley Horse Trials 29 August – 7 September 2023 From $4999 pp twin share*

Jennifer works full time with Community Health at Wellington Health Service, so much of her riding is done in the evening. “I have an all-weather arena which drains beautifully and has solar lights, which are very helpful in the dead of night” she says.

“I rode in four different styles before making my selection. The customer service department was so efficient and accommodating, and for someone wanting a saddle who lives out the back of nowhere they made the process so simple. I can’t thank them enough.”

The Equipe Viktoria has proven to be a great fit for Jennifer and Anaki Park Sofinest (Image by Glenys Lilley, Foxwood Photography). REVIEW

The Saddle Hub purchase was for SoFinest. “The Hawkesbury River Equitation was fine on a gelding I’d had previously but it wasn’t one hundred per cent right on SoFinest. I wanted something where I could really feel the horse underneath me with a deep seat.”

Competing as an Amateur Owner Rider, Jennifer has enjoyed success at many Sydney and regional dressage events and is setting her sights on the Australian AOR Dressage Championships at SIEC next month. There she will be riding her six-year-old Warmblood Anaki Park Sofinest who is now back at home: “When I smashed my femur from hip to knee I was out of action for quite some time, so I sent him to Megan Bryant Equestrian to keep him educated and exercised. After several shows with great scores and prizewinning percentages, I was able to jump back on. At home I’m also working SoSecret a four-year-old NZ OTT. He was never a winner on the track, but will be a lovely dressage horse as he has an amazing temperament.”

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Jennifer Wailes’ first pony was a little grey Welshie. “Her name was Cheryl and I’d just turned seven. I’ve been riding ever since then, apart from when I had broken bones,” says Jennifer, who had been sidelined for 12 months after a fall. But now she’s back in the saddle –an Equipe Viktoria from The Saddle Hub, and she couldn’t be happier.

During these nocturnal sessions her husband Guy, a branch manager at Ag’n’Vet, makes up feeds, cleans boxes, and sees to maintenance. Dinner is usually around 10:00pm. “He’s the husband of the century” declares Jennifer. “He also saddles up and hoses the horses down, which makes my life a lot easier with time management and training.”

Jennifer lives in Yeoval, Central West NSW. In the past, she has worked with Quarter Horses and participated in different disciplines such as hacking, cutting and reining, but in recent years Jennifer has immersed herself in dressage: “which is where I’ll stay – it’s such a challenge and I love it.”

She heard about The Saddle Hub through magazines and the internet.

SADDLE

Equipe Viktoria

The Saddle Hub has a wide variety of top quality second-hand saddles, so why wait? All saddles come with a two-week trial, finance options, and a courier right to your door. Terms and conditions apply.

Crafted from supple Italian leather, the Equipe Viktoria features a narrow twist designed to enhance a correct and effective rider position.

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YOUNG RIDER

Serious fun

It wasn’t long before he was on the Victorian Jumping Development Squad with his first competitive horse, Fat Boy Slim. One of their impressive performances was at a very wet 2019 Aquis Championship in Canungra. The combination travelled fearlessly in the mud and slush to win the Children’s Tour. “Unfortunately, just a year later he had colic surgery and broke his neck at the vets. He had to be euthanised. It was very sad,” Hayden recalls.

It all began as a bit of fun when he was nine, riding around the farm and at the Emu Creek Pony Club. Then he began to show jump, and Hayden Parker instantly became a seriously committed equestrian. Now, at 16, he has represented his state four times at Interschool championships, was on the winning junior team at the 2021 Australian Jumping Championships, has won a bunch of awards, and has his heart set on World Cup events.

It wasn’t long after Hayden Parker caught the show jumping bug that he became one of the sport’s most successful Young Riders, writes SUZY JARRATT.

The future is looking bright for this young man from Mortlake in Victoria. “I tried eventing and straight dressage, neither of which I liked very much, but I was really attracted to show jumping and have been doing it ever since I was twelve.”

When Hayden won the Junior Victorian State Titles in May it was with Warmblood mare Yirrkala Pippi Longstockings. “She was competitive at 1.25m and is now retired on our 1,250 acres with a couple of old geldings and brood mares. My main horse now is Tulara Spangenberg, a six-year-old Warmblood gelding currently jumping 1.45. He’s sometimes a pain because you can’t always catch him! And I’m training a young one we bred at home, Bingarra Park Flash. He’s competing in the 1.05m classes with the hope he’ll

YOUNG RIDER jump Grand Prix and World Cups which are 1.45 to 1.60m.” Hayden was recently considered to represent Australia at the World Youth Equestrian Games in Aachen: “I rode in Sydney with four other Juniors. Maleah Lang-McMahon was eventually chosen and she did really well in Germany. It was an honour to have participated in the selection process.”

FACING PAGE: Hayden and Tulara Spangenberg took out Young Rider at the Australian Jumping Championships.

Of course, Hayden can’t take his horses away without someone driving him. Usually at the wheel is his father Steve, who runs the family’s sheep farm. Although born on the land he never had an interest in horses, while Hayden’s mum Lisa rode for pleasure. It was she who encouraged Hayden and twin brother Mitchell to ride, and she’s one of Hayden’s biggest supporters. “Without Mum and Dad I wouldn't be where I am now,” he says. “Dad’s become very involved in the sport. He helps run shows, works with the Caramut Riding Club, assists in squad days and drives me to events and my lessons, which I have with Kristy McSween, who’s local, Jamie Winning-Kermond in Sydney, and Brook Dobbin at Yarra Glen.” Brook speaks highly of Hayden: “He has an enormous amount of natural talent, is dedicated and wants to learn, and his family has put so much back into the sport. He’s a pleasure to teach.”

Hayden’s formal education happens at home with Virtual School Victoria: “I can work on the subjects in my own time and also ride the horses. We have an 80m x 50m arena and a roundyard and much of my training is on the flat, keeping them fit, and then jumping once a week.” When he’s older he’d like to ride overseas, following in the footsteps of other successful Australians such as Jamie Winning Kermond, Edwina Tops-Alexander and Matt Williams. “First I’ll need to earn some money or get a sponsor or two. If horses don’t work out my brother and I would like to start a contracting business on the farm. I’ll just have to wait and see.”

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 81

TOP: Hayden and Tulara Spangenberg competing at the GDP classic.

BOTTOM: Winning the Junior Championships at the Victorian State Titles with Yirrkala Pippi Longstockings (All images courtesy Hayden Parker).

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Trainer, athlete, and riding coach, Stephen Dingwall is the owner of Cavalier Performance Horses in Murrumbateman NSW, and renowned for his successful show jumping career.

Q: Was yours a horsey family?

A: When I met her she was an accomplished Mounted Games rider having competed at two World Championships. She’s had a lot of show with Stephen Dingwall

A: After competing in showing, hacking, dressage and eventing, I began training with Grant Hughes, who at that time had a great team of horses and was competing at the top of the sport in Australia. He was a massive influence, mentor and friend. I later worked and trained with him for several years.

Q: When did you begin riding?

Q: Who fuelled your interest in show jumping?

Q: Do you train with your wife, Niki?

20 QUESTIONS

Q: Your age and where are you based?

A: Thirty-eight. I’m based at our family training facility in Murrumbateman, NSW amongst some of Australia’s best wineries. We work closely with my mother-in-law, Jan Smith, and her dressage horses. We’re extremely fortunate to be able to base ourselves here and work together. Our side of the business [Cavalier Performance Horses] produces show jumpers, trains and breaks in young stock, works and shows sale horses, and coaches riders and their horses.

A: Like many people, when I was a child I had the odd ride on the lead at a carnival or sideshow. At about 13 I rode at riding camps and then went through the great learning process of working at a riding school in return for lessons.

20 Questions

Q: Do you work outside of show jumping? A: I mainly work with the horses but around the property I’m a part-time plumber, electrician, fencer, counsellor etc.

A: My uncle and cousin, Paul and Sean Dingwall from Caithness Stud, are very successful breeders and producers of many high quality Thoroughbred yearlings, but otherwise I came from a suburban non-horsey family.

A: There are lots of different pieces of equipment that are very useful. I tend to find what each individual horse needs rather than all must wear this.

Q: What are you looking to improve in your own skill set?

A: Here it would be the Australian Championships. As a coach, I love just seeing any of my students have success, mainly because the success gives them belief in themselves as riders, and that allows for their growth.

A: Be in a championship team, compete at Spruce Meadows, and I would love to ride in a big derby at least once, like Hamburg or Hickstead.

Q: Is there a particular competition you would most love to win?

TOP: A strong bond - Stephen and Cavalier Du Rouet (Image courtesy Cavalier Performance Horses).

Q: If you could have any horse past or present which one would it be?

A: Our shows have improved a great deal thanks to some great committees and some private facilities which aim to grow the sport. I believe we need to star rate our shows, and continue putting emphasis on footing, facilities and prize money so our horses have every opportunity to be sound and confident at high levels.

A: I’ve always been a rider and trainer who’s not afraid to have lessons, be that dressage or show jumping, ask advice from riders I respect and watch what other top riders are doing.

A: I’m not rigid in the horse I ride. I have and have had good horses of all types and sizes. I do believe that our sport is moving in a direction where no matter what the breed, we need horses that have more blood. I’ve always been a fan of Warmbloods, with some good Thoroughbred blood, be that a quarter or a half.

Q: Up to now, who’s been your best horse and why?

A: More than superstitions I have rituals which revolve around feeling that everything’s ready and organised. It’s something I’ve had to learn as I have a pretty casual personality. Also, coffee’s a high priority and included in my time schedules.

Q: Do you have a favourite breed?

Q: Do you have any pre-event superstitions?

Q: Recent successes?

A: Not had a huge amount of time in the ring due to a shoulder surgery. I’m chomping on the bit to get back to it.

Q: What skills does a rider need to show jump? A: Resilience, and they must be patient and do the many miles required to gain experience. And balanced. I believe the very best riders, although they have different styles and techniques, all have good hands.

FACING PAGE: Stephen and Cavalier Du Rouet competing at Willinga Park (Image by Australian Jumping).

EQUESTRIANHUB.COM.A U | 83 20 QUESTIONS

BOTTOM: Stephen and Cavalier Du Rouet triumphed at the 2018 Aquis Champions Silver Tour (Image by Oz Shotz).

Q: What changes would you like to see in events here?

Q: Do you have a particular piece of gear you can’t do without?

A: I’ve been very lucky and not had any serious calls or injuries in the ring. Inevitably, having spent 21 years breaking in horses, I’ve had my fair share of bumps and bruises.

Q: If you had to stop riding completely, what would you do?

A: I’d still enjoy finding and sourcing show jumpers and coaching.

Q: Have you had any serious bingles?

A: Depends what you’re sitting on. I’ve ridden some 1.10 tracks that felt like the Olympics and 1.50 classes that felt like a breeze. If I had to pick one it would be Leopoldo Palacios’s Grand Prix track.

jumping success and has jumped up to 1.40 but since having our beautiful children she’s focused on them and supporting me in every way she can. But watch this space; I smell a comeback!

A: Gem Twist ridden by Greg Best and, today, Peder Fredricson’s H&M All In. She’s the perfect example of an uncomplicated horse doing her job and is so very consistent.

A: All my good ones have been amazing; they’ve all given 110 per cent and I’d have any of them back in a heartbeat.

Q: The toughest course you’ve ever ridden?

Q: Three things on your bucket list.

videos.warwickschiller.com rewriteyourhorse ’ rewritestory.syourhorse ’ story.s Everyone’s journey is di erent, with Warwick Schiller’s online training library you’ll be able to make educated training decisions that work best for you and your horse. Start your 7-day free trial today! Getaccessunlimitedto: - Over 650 Videos - 3 Training Courses - Mobile App & Training Checklist