March edition 17 by Equine Online NZ

Equine Online MARCH 2017

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INTRODUCING

some exciting new sections

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EDITOR Hayley Clarke

From the Editor

CONTRIBUTORS Grace Gray Julia Latham Natasha Jones Virginia Caro Brooke Burns Kaylee Mcbeth Courtney Clarke Kelly Allen Ashleigh Davis Jenn Savill Harnessed Media Virginia Caro Ashleigh Sanderson

COVER IMAGE Ben - Beinn Tharsuinn enjoying a wash. Hayley Clarke

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March has seen some exciting times in the Equestrian world and although I was unable to attend Horse of the Year (it’s on the bucket list!) I enjoyed a trip to the West Coast for some Harness Racing action instead. We were able to send some writers and photographers to Horse of the Year and we got some amazing content. You’ll see in our Picture Perfect section some beautiful photos from HOY! Please out of respect to our photographers - who work extremely hard – don’t use any photos without their permission. You can email me if you would like to purchase any! So, while many of you were enjoying your time at HOY, although the weather was less than ideal, I was enjoying some sunshine (mostly) in my favourite little place, Reefton. We took a couple of horses over there for the races and although we didn’t get any good results the trip was enjoyable and the people on the Coast are always so welcoming! What else has my month brought? I am a super proud little sister as my older sister competed in two shows on her

Standardbred, Poppy – read all about it in The diary of a Nervous Rider. Hockey has started which means less time for horses… or is it just longer days and later night… yes I think that’s it! Next month I will be writing a feature on myself and my families involvement with horses, how I got to where I am today etc etc. I’m excited to share my story with you guys! But for now, sit back, relax and enjoy everything horsey as we take you back over the past month and fill you in on everything you need to know! Thanks for reading!

x y e ayl

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in this issue? 6

Jay Abernathy is crowned gearing up champion

The horse midwife is back talking about maiden mares

Jenn Savill gives us tips for Standardbred owners

The Diary of a nervous rider is back!

Learn all about the Shire in our breed profile

PAGE 26

Full coverage from HOY 37

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news

Abernathy crowned NZ gearing up champion By- DUANE RANGER for Harnessed Media

Papakura horseman Jay Abernethy is the inaugural 2017 ‘New Zealand Gearing Up’ champion. The 36-year-old geared up a harness, hopples, a bridle and shin and knee boots in three minutes 14 seconds. The competition was part of the 2017 Hilux Rural Games and was staged in ‘The Square’ in down-town Palmerston North last Saturday (March 11). Olivia Picford was second, while Alan Pyers finished third. Fourth went to Scott Dickson and Kerry Tarrant finished fifth. Abernethy claimed the Blossom Lady Cranbourne Gold Cup and prizes for his victory. He was rapt to have helped out organisers by just entering the event. “I’m pretty happy. I’m just glad to help Steve (Hollander) out and promote the game. “There was a lot of interest when the public had the chance to have a go gearing up a horse. They loved that but I think next time it needs to be held at a race-meeting so more licensed horsemen can get involved,” Abernethy said. “It would create a lot more publicity which has to be good for the game but in saying that, it would be harder to win if there were a few more people in it. That is also good,” he added. The South Auckland trainer/driver/ breeder/owner also thanked the sponsors even though he never made it to the prize-giving. “I left early but will pick up the Gold Cup and prizes when I next race at Manawatu,” Abernethy said. Manawatu Harness Racing Secretary, John Doody said the first-ever Championship was run in association with Interislander’.

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Jay Abernathy photo supplied by Jess Smith “We had a lot of interest when the public were given the chance to gear up but we got five for the open sectional. We could have done with a few more. Jay was very fast and efficient. Well done to him. “The title will be up for grabs again at future Shows,” Doody said. Abernethy’s trophy was named after one of our greatest mares. Blossom Lady, who was the 1992 New Zealand Trotting Cup (and winner of 43 races and $1.3 million in stakes), was co-owned by a past chairman of Harness Racing New Zealand and former Palmerston North resident, Ralph Kermode.

Games founder and trustee, Steve Hollander said the Cup will be presented back to the Manawatu Harness Racing Club to reconfigure it as an enduring trophy for this event each year at the Games. He said the winner and two placegetters would also receive Interislander and Husqvarna prizes to a total value of $1,100, $600, and $450 respectively. Hollander said fourth and fifth also received prizes from other Games sponsors. Trackside presenter Jess Smith was MC at the event.

Eventing Super League hots up By- VIRGINIA CARO Most of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top eventers were in action at Puhinui over the weekend of March 25-26, with competition keen in the seventeen strong Honda CIC3* class and the scoreboard changing after each phase. Donna Edwards-Smith led with DSE Mr Hokey Pokey after the dressage on Saturday but a showjumping rail down relegated them to third. However Smith managed to take the overnight lead with her other ride, DSE Tangolooma, who was third after the dressage and showjumped clear. Samantha Felton moved into second place with Ricker Ridge Pico Boo, improving from seventh after the dressage with a clean showjumping sheet. Felton also moved up the order dramatically with Ricker Ridge Esacada, going from fourteenth after the dressage to be fourth equal after a clear showjumping round. The dressage scores were close, with less than 3 points covering the top seven places but the undulating showjumping course took a toll. Tich Masseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cross-country course did not trouble many, but the Puhinui terrain was a challenge as always. Smith on Tangolooma, returning from time out after injury, were back to their best to take the win after completing with 11.6 time penalties for a final score of 61.5 penalties. Rangiora farrier Brent Jury and the big striding SE Hedging devoured the course, coming home with 10 time penalties to move from sixth place overnight to finish second on 67.2 penalties. Smith was only a whisker behind on the diminutive but ever consistent Mr Hokey

Pokey, incurring 14.4 time penalties after cutting every corner for a final score of 67.3, which further extends their lead in the Super League series. The fastest time of the day went to Ashley McKinstry on Pioneer Brass Monkey, who were second after the dressage but dropped to ninth place after showjumping clear but with 9 time penalties. However they improved to finish fourth after scorching round the cross-country with 8.4 time penalties for a final score of 68.7 penalties. Felton also finished on 68.7 penalties with Escada, having added 11.6 time penalties across country but McKinstry took the higher place being closer to the optimum cross-country time. Pico Boo incurred 21.2 time penalties relegating him to sixth place, but Felton is riding

with complete confidence following her time in Australia during the spring. The next event in the Super League series is the 2017 National Eventing Championships at Kihikihi on April 7-9. A good performance there is paramount as national championships earn bonus points, and the selectors will also be watching prior to naming the training squads to prepare for the Oceania Championships. ESNZ Eventing Super League Standings: Donna Edwards-Smith (Te Kauwhata), DSE Mr Hokey Pokey, 150 pts; Virginia Thompson (Kaukapakapa), Star Nouveau, 102 pts; Brent Jury (Rangiora), SE Hedging, 90 pts; Samantha Felton (Matangi), Ricker Ridge Pico Boo, 78 pts; Felton, Ricker Ridge Escada, 75 pts; Andrew Daines (Kumeu), Spring Panorama, 54 pts.

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Rockstar Angel lands first Aussie Jewels invite By- ADAM HAMILTON for Harnessed Media

a luckless third in the Breeders Crown 3YO fillies and has returned this season with six starts for four wins, a second and a third. “She won her first four starts back and has run really well in defeat at her past couple,” Aiken said. “Initially we were a bit disappointed when she led and Four Ex Dan beat her in the Wangaratta Cup but the inside was a bit off that night and the winner has since gone to Melton and won in fantastic style. He’s obviously very good.” “Her only run since was a close third at Kilmore last weekend when she had to come with a long three-wide run without cover and was beaten in a three-way photo.” Rockstar Angel’s form says she will be very competitive with the right draw and some luck in the Jewels. Photo supplied by HRNZ Top Aussie trainer David Aiken is excited and ready for a new challenge. The man behind Australia’s two best open-class pacers Lennytheshark and Hectorjayjay will be part of this year’s Harness Jewels. Aiken and owner Brendan James last night delightfully accepted an invite to contest the Jewels at Ashburton with their classy four-year-old mare Rockstar Angel. It was the first official Jewels invite offered to an Australian horse for this year’s Jewels.

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The added bonus of having Aiken, “This is a thrill and Brendan (James) is really keen to give it a go,” Aiken said. “We think she’s a really nice mare and still improving.” “It fits her season well. She’s got the final of a mares series she’s already qualified for as a lead-up to the Jewels and then her next target at home isn’t until the Vicbred 4YO mares series, which is well after the Jewels.” “We know going across to run against the Kiwis over there won’t be easy but we’re up for the challenge.” Rockstar Angel finished last season with

Australia’s top trainer at the moment, part of the Jewels is a real coup for the event. In other stable news, Aiken said Lennytheshark was having a freshen-up then a stint on the water-walker before returning to racing in the Bulli Cup at Menangle in May. “Then comes the Len Smith Mile and probably a trip to Queensland for the winter carnival,” he said. More immediately, Hectorjayjay is finishing a water-walker stint, returns to Aiken’s stable this week and is being set for the Warragul Cup on April 16.

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the horse midwife

Foaling maidens Part 1 of 2 - Pre foaling behaviours Column - ASHLEIGH DAVIS Equine Online is excited to have Ashleigh Davis on board to write a monthly column about Foal Education. Ashleigh is a well established ‘horse midwife’ who will bring us plenty of knowledge through her monthly columns. You can find out more about Ashleigh’s FoalEd business on her Facebook page or by emailing her. www.facebook.com/FoalEd info@foaled.co.nz Hello all! I can’t believe it’s been a month already – time flies! Thank you all so much for your feedback on the last article – it was really great to hear from all of you. This week I thought I’d tackle a topic I get asked about a lot – maiden mares. The only foalings I’ve ever missed in over 200 mares have ALL been maidens. It’s not a nice feeling to find a surprise foal – especially when it’s your job to be watching them! We’ll do a two part article on maidens – this month’s will be on maiden behaviours leading in to foaling, next month we will look at behaviours during and after foaling. If you’re not familiar with the term it refers to a mare who hasn’t had a foal before. A mare is called a maiden whether she is pregnant or not, right up until she delivers her first foal. It differs, obviously, from the term maiden which is used to refer to racehorses who haven’t won a race. The reason it’s important to talk about maidens and the reason I get asked about them so much, is because they can be quite different to experienced or ‘multiparous’ mares. They’re so different that I generally dedicate an entire section of our Intro to Foaling Seminars to talking about maidens.

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I recently posted a picture to my Facebook page that had a quote:

might have in store for you when they’re foaling.

“My maiden mare’s foaling followed the text book exactly.”

Waxing up reeeeeeally early: It’s not uncommon for maiden mares to wax up weeks in advance of their foaling date. This wax will normally be the colour of earwax and will be very small, on one or both teats. This can be quite normal for maidens. Keep a close eye on them for other behavioural changes and take note of any changes in consistency of the wax – as it gets thicker/more milk coloured she may be moving closer to foaling.

- No one ever Needless to say I got a LOT of comments on that post – mainly from people who had had fantastic maidens and pointed out that theirs did in fact follow the textbook. So of course there is going to be some – and if your mare ends up being one of those that does follow the textbooks then great – count that as a win! I’d be stretching the truth if I said that any mare follows the textbook. We learn about all these signs and behaviours and gather all this information that’s going to help us to perfectly predict when our mares will foal – and they do what they want anyway. But maidens (making gross generalisations here) tend to be even less loyal to the textbook than multiparous mares.

Foaling with no bag or wax: But wait a minute – didn’t I just say maidens can wax up early? They can. This is what can make them so challenging – while one may wax up weeks in advance, it’s also not uncommon for maiden mares to foal with no wax and a very small/no bag. No wax means there’s one less sign to look out for – so don’t always count on seeing wax leading into your maiden mare foaling. Mares that foal with no bag (maidens

My rule of thumb is to treat all maidens as though they’re going to show no signs and drop a surprise on me and then if they do follow the normal signs great – no harm done!

or otherwise) can be a bit more of a

Below are some (not all, but a lot of common ones) surprises that maidens

in the first few hours of its life. If your mare is looking like foaling on no bag it

problem. Generally mares that have no milk will require vet intervention to help stimulate them to produce milk and the foal will need supplementary colostrum

may pay to speak to your vet and make a plan of action just in case. Being very uneasy and restless: As maiden mares have never foaled before it can be a confusing time for them and they can be very uneasy and restless as the foal begins to move into position. Behavioural changes are a very good sign that things might be moving in your maiden mare. But…….

TIP #1: In the final weeks before your mares due she should be being checked at least once per day, preferably twice – in the morning and in the evening. Mares can develop bags and other signs of foaling in quite short periods.

TIP #3: Foaling alarms! Foaling alarms have saved many a difficulty foaling and helped owners to get some well-

TIP #2: In at least the last two weeks before foaling check your mare every 90 minutes where possible. Obviously you’re

when your mare is foaling. Many vets and

going to be at work for a large portion of

deserved sleep. Different foaling alarms work in different ways but they all serve the purpose of helping you to be notified saddleries hire alarms out so it’s an option that’s well worth looking at.

Showing no behavioural changes before foaling: This is ALSO commonly seen in maidens. Confusing right? As I mentioned earlier, the only foals I ever missed foaling were maidens. Most of them had been checked inside of the last 60-90 minutes and had (at that point) shown no signs of foaling. Then when I turned up for their next check – surprise! Babies were landing/had landed.

the day – so you can only do what you

- If you’re checking her every 90 minutes

That’s it for pre-foaling. The key is to remember there is no guarantee what behaviours any mare will show foaling and the best thing you can do is to gather as much information as possible and be checking your mare as regularly as possible. As always, if you have any concerns about the health or wellbeing of your mare or foal you should always contact a vet. I would also encourage you

Confused? Don’t worry – there’s a solution

and she has problems then these

to do some research – the more armed

shouldn’t have progressed too far,

you are with information, the better;

Maiden foalings can be a bit overwhelming – especially when I tell you they can behave one way, or do the complete opposite. But there is one thing you can do to put your mind at ease if you’re foaling your maiden mare yourself.

provided everything was normal and she

but hopefully this has given you a good

wasn’t looking like foaling when she was

starting point!

last checked

Next week we will cover common maiden behaviours and problems during and immediately after foaling.

can. And because you probably work, you’ll need sleep. But wherever possible I would recommend checking your mare every 90 minutes at the minimum. The reason for this timeframe is that: - You should be able to notice any obvious behaviour changes between checks

- If you arrive to a foal 90 minutes after your last check then she clearly didn’t need your help!

Until then, happy foaling all!

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P.S. if you have a question please feel free to get in touch and ask us at info@foaled.co.nz, or over on our Facebook page or Facebook Support Group P.P.S If you haven’t already – this information and more is available for download as part of our Foaling Roadmap

WANT TO ASK ASHLEIGH A QUESTION? SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO INFO@FOALED.CO.NZ AND THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION WILL FEATURE IN NEXT MONTHS MAGAZINE

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kuda guru

THE BEST LESSONS Text - ASHLEIGH SANDERSON

One of the best riding lessons that I ever had was from a back pack and an escalator. The day before was a tenlesson teaching day, a dash to taxi, airport, jump on a plane and a long haul, overnight flight across the world to the next teaching venue. I was wearing a heavy, badly fitted back pack that had shoulder straps just too long and as I bumbled along through the landing airport, sleep deprived and slow and stepped on the upward escalator, the backward force of the pack pulling back on my shoulders almost over ran the forward force of the escalator pulling me forwards. Just in time, muscle memory engaged my core, I went forwards to counteract the backward pull and without leaning

forwards, came into balance with the escalators force. Lightbulb – hello, this is how a horse feels when his rider is a fraction behind the movement – as the horse is trying to go forwards, as the rider is trying to send him forwards, the rider’s slight drag, which increases their weight with a leverage effect, drags the horse backwards. A very simple physics lesson that all rider’s need to understand and that was clarified to me – already a trainer teaching this – in a simple non-horse lesson. Over the years, I have been very lucky to have had some incredible training with a range of awesome riding instructors. Many Olympic athletes, judges, brain surgeons, physicists to name a few. There have been many moments of “Oh – that is what you mean,” as well as many

incredible four-legged learning partners. However... Some of the truly incredible learning sessions have been with other trainers. Learning to use my breath to influence a horse in spectacular ways came from a hugely talented scuba diving instructor. His talk through of finding buoyancy, of being able to float up or sink down and using the breath to control where you are, is something that I teach all the time. (Still haven’t managed to master one of the underwater exercises that he showed me… I suspect when I get it, I may have a better key to teach collection). A martial artist teaching me how to go from defence to attack was the only person who clarified distribution of balance and weight over both feet and controlling direction of

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If you would like to follow my travels, thoughts, blogs and learn more you can follow my Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Kudaguru or my new and improved website will be up and running this month at www.kudaguru.com forces, how to flow seamlessly from one to the other with no outward signs but the control of directional forces. A rock climbing trainer taught me how an obvious looking movement, isn’t what it may seem – you don’t climb a wall by pulling yourself up with your arms, you engage you core to the wall, get your (hind) legs under you, propel yourself upwards and the only thing your hands do is give guidance and balance. A pole dancer taught me about elevation, while a belly dancing guru taught me just how little I know about isolating muscles within the core (note to self, you need to re-visit that particular subject). An indoor sky diving trainer taught me about firming up certain parts of the core to change direction, while a zip lining wild child taught me about committing to movement. An archery trainer taught me a very surprising lesson about mindfulness and finding focus while being relaxed in motion. You cannot

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tense your fingers and force the arrow away, you have to find soft eyes, breathe where you want the arrow to go and relax your shoulder to send it there from the core. And most recently, a porter jogging up Mt Kilimanjaro taught me that dig deep (sit deep) has nothing to do with sitting down on your horses back but activating a deeper line of muscle to get to a higher point. Not all of these lessons came from teachers either. My teaching of an elite dancer taught me more about movement, poise and balance than I was able to teach her and all three of us (pupil, horse and trainer) left the arena with the biggest grins on our faces. And of course, my back pack and that escalator taught their lesson too. These are all subjects that we as riders need to understand and embrace. It isn’t fluffy, tree-hugging new age, feel good nonsense (as some seem to think) but practical physics that the elite riders

practice inherently and that we nonelite riders need to fully understand and embrace. (By elite riders, I am thinking of the top 100 in the world, not just farmer Jo down the road, even if he is doing a great job). The reason this is on my mind today, is the trip that I am currently working a timetable for. Once a year, a friend and I organise a riding and yoga retreat. Now this, I hear you think, must be the fluffy, tree hugging bit. But no, yoga and horses are a perfect match. It isn’t all about green tea, rice cakes and downward facing dogs… Yoga is (partly) about teaching balance, poise, being fully present, feeling the body in a movement and stretching out tension and tightness in blocked areas.

Pretty much matching what I am spending my time teaching in the arena. In today’s modern world, we are constantly putting our bodies under pressure. Stress or emotional pressure. Physical pressure by eating highly processed foods, being exposed to chemicals, electrical signals and bad posture from things such as cell phones, computers and sitting in cars. We are too busy, too rushed and in a world of instant gratification and often lack commitment or patience. All of these things have an impact on your riding too. If you rush into the yard, grab your horse, hurry through preparing him, leap on and then get after him for not being fully present or immediately accessible, he will often (rightly) get upset or uncooperative. Slow down, breathe, smell the roses (or coffee) and enjoy your horse. The vast majority of people ride for pleasure, so slow down and enjoy it… Yoga and horses are a great combination. Looking at the other side of the coin, horses can help your yoga practice too. Horses loosen off the lower back in a way that is hard to do. (Which is why they are often used for Riding for the Disabled or Hippotherapy). Horses make you breathe, they make you get outside, both physically and on the outside of your comfort zone. And often, working through the ride will make a yoga movement clearer. The last two yoga retreats were in Costa Rica and Kenya (yes, we do choose our locations with great care!). It isn’t all about the work and yoga. Costa Rica involved incredible food, awesome people, jungles, beaches, zip lines, unrivalled scenery, riding a pig, swimming in the river with horses – oh, did I mention the incredible food? My personal break through was working with a yoga massage therapist there and understanding the GL (quadratus lumborum) muscle that I was battling with in both my riding and pain in my back. Each and every rider there had a break through – be it in confidence,

becoming more relaxed, a break-through in a riding aspect, or simply turning off their technology and reconnecting with the human within them. Kenya was similar, but so totally different. The vast African savannah, those views, sunsets and who could forget the wildlife? Galloping through the bush on schooled, happy and willing horses with a herd of giraffe. Meeting elephants head on and simply enjoying heading home under a twilight sky. Again, the food (yes, I become a little food obsessed during these weeks), the people, the guests. Camping under the stars, waking up to ponies in the garden and lions roaring in the bush. Another week of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual break throughs. Yoga by the pool, yoga in a tree platform overlooking the hippo pool. Stretching, finding balance. Fixing the canter, feeling the moment a horse offers his back up in a lateral movement. Again, my personal moment came from lessons on breathing from the yoga teaching and another range of exercises that I am working through to improve the strength and elasticity of my diaphragm and core through my breath. A week of special friendships made and personal triumphs achieved… In September this year, our Yoga and Horse week takes us to stunning Italy, the Lucca region, home of wine and olive farms, where we will find ourselves in a luxury villa, surrounded again with indulgent yet healthy food, friendly horses and a yoga teacher I am excited to be working with. A specialist in Fascia tissue, in balance and alignment, I think I will be on a learning week as well as a teaching week. Strange advise from a riding trainer, but my thought for this month – give your horse a day off, get out of the arena and go and do something else. Go for a hike, take a sky diving, scuba diving, pole or belly dancing lesson. Do something that takes you out of your comfort zone, into a place where you have to feel your muscles doing a new range of motion. And maybe

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Preparing your Standardbred Written by - JENN SAVILL

With the Anything but Standard challenge happening I thought some advice for first time Standardbred owners might be in order. Breaking in an off the track Standardbred is an easy job for someone who knows what they are doing. They have already had all the gear on, it’s only backing them that is left to do. Some horses take to this like a duck to water, others don’t adjust to their new life so well. More important than breaking your Standardbred in is conditioning them to be ridden. From saddle fit to feeding and body work, there are many components to producing a quality horse. Giving your horse a ‘WOF’ before you start is a great way to prevent behaviour issues and to encourage your horse to want to work. Pulling a sulky and wearing an overcheck requires different muscles to those used when ridden. It is important you allow for this and have your horse seen to regularly by a bodywork professional, whether it be a physiotherapist, a bowen therapist, an osteo or a chiropractor. They will advise the best course of action for you to take with starting your horses new career. Using different muscles means the horse may get sore, preventing them from trotting and cantering and even causing behavioural issues, it is important to prevent these from happening to avoid long term effects. As a racehorse your Standardbred will have had a high grain diet, these types of diets can cause ulcers which will put a horse off eating and cause weight loss, behaviour changes and girthiness. Your vet is the best person to consult for this issue, there are many treatments available. To prevent ulcers a diet high in

fibre is the best option. It is important to allow your horse time to adjust to its new diet and avoid changing feeds quickly. Once you find a diet that works, stick to it and avoid changing feeds all the time. It’s also important to have your horse seen to by an equine dentist to check there are no sharp points. In order for a horse to perform well under saddle they need a correctly fitting saddle. Your horse will change shape as

its muscles develop. Having a well fitted saddle will make training a lot easier and you will see less resistance from the horse. A good saddle fitter will be able to alter or recommend a saddle to fit your horse, having your saddle fit checked regularly helps greatly. Choosing a bit to suit your horse is a case of trial and error. For most young horses a simple full cheeked snaffle is enough (the cheeks giving you some power steering

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on your green horse!), some horses prefer a double-jointed bit while others do not. When choosing a bit it’s important to listen to your horse – they will tell you what they are comfortable with! Having worn an overcheck for most of its career some horses develop a ewe neck, this correction requires time and correct work. Encouraging the horse to work long and low, stretching the topline is one of the best ways to reverse the muscle build up. A horse will only build its topline when it is working correctly from the back to the front. Hill work is also great for muscle development, if you don’t have access to hills then raised poles are also good. When doing this work it is important to only do it for short periods of time, remember; this work is hard for your horse and they are trying hard to learn something new! Sometimes a quiet hack can be just as beneficial. Correcting a pacer takes a lot of time and patience, it will not happen overnight. When asking your horse to move forward to a trot, be clear and consistent with your aids. Don’t be afraid to use your legs, ask for the trot and if a pace is offered correct the horse straight away by bringing it back to a walk. Ask again and when a trot is offered it doesn’t matter how many strides it is but praise must be given. It may take a while for your horse to be balanced enough to trot with a rider, lunging with a saddle is a great way to help this and to teach your horse some voice aids. It is important to take your time and bond with your horse, they have no idea what you are asking a lot of the time so patience is key. Don’t be in a hurry to push your horses training.

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columns

The road to success

It’s your choice Column - BROOKE BURNS In school, you either pass or you fail. Whether you receive an excellence, or a mere achieved, you have still passed. In equestrian, it’s nothing similar. You set yourself a goal, your own personal goal. Not your trainers, not your parents and not your friends. And as long as you have put your foot in your stirrup and hoisted up onto the back of your faithful companion, then my friend, you have passed with flying colours. I set myself a goal after my mother had

passed, a goal that I would complete the Mini Grand Prix we had trained so hard for. Many tried to influence my decision to continue on with my career after her death, almost as if they were trying to talk me out of it. But it wasn’t their goal, no. It was my own way of paying my respects, showing her that the countless hours in that arena were worth it. So I told them to shove it, the old fashioned kiwi way. And that day, with my support crew there once again, already

cheering for me as I cantered around the warm up ring. I finished the course, a few rails on the grass. But, I achieved my goal. In fact, I passed with flying colours. Finishing in 5th, I cried in that lap of honour. In school you either pass or you fail. Whether you receive an excellence, or a mere achieved, you have still passed. In equestrian, it’s nothing similar, no. Because out in that ring, the only one who can grade you is yourself.

But WHAT IF? Column - JULIA LATHAM Last month I wrote about getting stuck in and striving to constantly improve. This month I want to talk about when we try to do that but a big, nasty WHAT IF gets in the way. WHAT Ifs are nasty and they have a habit of breeding uncontrollably if we let them. I have a few tips to help you keep them under control. • Acknowledge them. After all in small doses they are a form of self protection. But don’t let the WHAT IF take over. Use each WHAT IF as an opportunity to learn more about yourself. • Isolate them. Don’t give the WHAT IF power over you. OK so you had a bad fall and are afraid of getting back on. But I bet you can still catch your horse and groom him; take him for a walk around the paddock or arena. Doing those things will stop the WHAT IF taking control until you can find someone to help.

• Stop them breeding. WHAT IFs are clever. They prey on your insecurities and suddenly they have multiplied and you can’t do anything with your horse. Make sure to silence the WHAT IF when it starts to intrude on other areas of your horse relationship which you know are in good health. • Find a WHAT IF tamer. I am an expert in that field as I have had my fair share of WHAT Ifs! You need a trainer who will understand your fears and can help you work through them in a structured fashion. They should be able to recognise a WHAT IF and have strategies to reduce them. • Increase your comfort zone. WHAT Ifs can’t get you when you are in your comfort zone so you need a trainer who will help you to increase the size of your comfort zone. Next month I will give you tips to help grow your comfort zone. Happy riding!

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The DIARY of a nervous rider Column - COURTNEY CLARKE

Keep up to date with the diary of a nervous rider - coming to you each month

Last month I talked about how finally the want was bigger than the fear, how I had finally trotted that figure of eight and how I was going into the ridden Green Horse Show with the intention to be brave and help Poppy and make sure she knew that she could rely on me. I did just that. For the week leading up to the show I didn’t sleep properly, I was grumpy towards everyone and I was stressed. What was I thinking entering a show, I was sure I wasn’t ready. Our ride the day before wasn’t the best at all and I knew this was because I was tense and nothing to do with Poppy but the whole occasion was just getting to me more than I had realised. The morning of the show there were tears and we were late! Poppy wouldn’t go on the float and I had to completely remove myself from the float loading and let my family take over so I could take a couple of minutes and remember why I was actually doing this. I had to pull myself together and remember there was no point in actually loading her and going if it wasn’t going to be fun. Why put myself and Poppy through something that wasn’t going to be fun for both of us? She finally went on and off we went. On arrival to the show two of my very good friends were there and they got to work. One of them helped my family get Poppy ready and the other took me away for a wee walk and to get ready. By now I wasn’t feeling too bad. I had completely turned my thoughts around to Poppy and what was best for her and I knew I had to get on her relaxed because if I didn’t the whole day was going to be a disaster. That mindset was the key to a successful day. I had to remember that Poppy is sensitive, she picks up everything I feel

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and if I was nervous she was going to be nervous. I took 10 deep breaths and got on. My sister asked me if I needed her to walk with me while I warmed up but I said no and off we went. Once I had walked a couple of circles I started to relax completely and I felt Poppy do the same which actually gave me confidence. I was too worried to trot in the warm up and looking back I really shouldn’t have been there if I couldn’t do that but we made it through all the classes in one piece. We trotted every time the judge asked and we did insanely well for our first proper outing together. I was so proud of myself and so proud

of my pony. She was incredible. Like I mentioned last month I am a novice rider and only just learning the technicalities of riding so I am sure I confuse Poppy on a daily basis but she was just perfect. The love I felt for her on the way home was indescribable. The way I felt was indescribable. I had achieved the thing that I had wanted to achieve for so long and I had actually done it! Well of course now after this I wanted to enter another show! So I did. The next show I was entered in a beginner ring and it didn’t go as well as the first show but I learnt a hell of a lot. Poppy and I were both unprepared – it

had been raining and I had been away so I hadn’t ridden her enough or handled her enough and it really showed. We didn’t have the same relationship and trust that we did the first time. We were both trying to rely on each other and both not getting what we needed. I was relying on Poppy to be as well behaved as the last show but I hadn’t put in the hours with her during the week before so that was an unfair expectation. She was trying to find comfort from me and because I still wasn’t 100% comfortable trotting I couldn’t give her that and that was unfair on her. Probably the best advice I have read and been given has been this – “you can’t expect to do well away from home if you can’t exceed your expectations at home.” This rung very true in my head as I scratched from the final class at this show. I am not 100% comfortable trotting at home some days. Some days I am but mostly I’m not – and that’s hard to admit after doing so well at the first show but it’s true. How can I expect my horse to be 100% confident with what I am asking her if I’m not? It’s not fair on either of us. I look back now as I write this and I am still proud. I have still come a long way from that girl that wouldn’t even lead a horse four years ago. I still achieved the three small goals I had set myself for this show, I came away with two second ribbons and I went into the show feeling confident, not nervous. The thing about setting goals that are so important to me is that it gives you purpose and makes you push yourself. I have pushed myself this last month more than I ever have before but I also feel the proudest I have ever felt and that feeling is the best feeling in the world. So I set some bigger goals. Christchurch A&P 2017, Horse of the Year 2018. These are massive goals for me but with a bit of hard work, some lessons, some smaller goals and that all important relationship with my pony, we can achieve whatever we want to… Thank you to everyone for the support before the shows, during and afterwards, you know who you all are. xx

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Looking after your horse float Column - NATASHA JONES

Apart from your four-legged pride of joy, a horse float will be one of the bigger (if not biggest) financial outlay you will make throughout your time spent owning a horse. Unfortunately, unlike tow vehicles and horse trucks, horse floats don’t require strict warrants of fitness requirements and are often found in various states of repairs at the start (and end!) of every competitive season. Not only has this been an ageold problem in the equestrian world, there has been a rise in cases of poor workmanship on NZ floats that have been constructed from poor quality materials, especially those that are cheaply made and imported from China to name a few. Many float owners find that the floors and walls of their trailers are not withstanding the harsh New Zealand climate. To protect the integrity of your float heading into winter (and throughout the rest of the season), here are some tips to keep you, your horse and your wallet safe from nasty float surprises. Usage - The biggest issue facing many horse floats is their lack of use - many are parked up for long periods of time, especially during winter when competitions are often few and far between. When a float is not used, water (from rain, condensation or humidity) still attacks the float and rust becomes a major issue and becomes the secret killer of floats. If your float has been stored for a long period, or before/after every competition season, inspect the entire float chassis and sides inside and out to keep them clean from dirt or moss or grime. This attracts and holds moisture which accelerates the degradation of the paint and protective surface. Even a simple process of housing and washing the float on a regular basis can reduce this process.

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Cleaning - When a float is used, the movement of air over the float helps move the water off and keep it somewhat clean, however a dirty float doesn’t receive this and both the inside and outside will rust away if water is allowed to pool. And always wash the inside of the float out after every use- horse poo and urine are especially corrosive and to leave it on the floor seeping into the underframe (especially under rubber matting) is inviting for premature corrosion. - If you happen to have a Chinese made float, or you are unsure of the thickness of your float floor, please take the time to peel back the rubber matting and check for any weak points in the floor (this is a key aspect to keep in mind when purchasing a float). There have been many reports of imported floats having been purchased with thin, substandard plywood floors used to support horses, which over time will rot under urine, water and poo if it is not cleaned up. The last thing you want is your horse or pony putting their hooves through the floor. This should be a frequent check throughout the year as well no matter where your float was manufactured. - Make sure to clean the wheel wells and the underneath and top of mudguards as well. These are often neglected and is where most damage from rust occurs. Winterising your float - If you are not planning to travel out much with your float or you would like to make sure that it is good shape before winter, ensure it is parked on hard dry ground- a trailer load of gravel is not too expensive and only takes half a day’s labour to lay onto the ground to provide a more solid base for your float to rest on. This will save you having your float stuck

in boggy ground and will protect the integrity of your grounds so you are not parking in rutted areas. - On the other hand, if you plan to park up your float for most of winter or long periods of time, your best option is to jack your float up and put it on blocks so the tyres are off the ground, then cover the tyres. Prolonged exposure to sun light can degrade the rubber on the tyres, leading to punctures and blow outs - normally at the most inconvenient time the next season! - Lubricate and cover the tow bar hitch/ coupling to keep the water out of the tongue and lever mechanism and ensure the mechanism is operating freely with a bit of oil or lube spray. Again, there is nothing like a little tension in your life to go to the float after winter to find you can’t get the tow bar hitch to work cause its stiff and frozen through a lack of use. Empty plastic feed bags and some baling twine are excellent to use for this situation. - At the end of winter or when you are beginning to use the float again, make sure that you connect the empty float to your tow vehicle and take it for a quick drive around to ensure that your brakes, indicators and wheels are working fine. Also, stop at intervals to feel the hubcaps on your float - lack of use may cause brakes to seize, which may cause them to jam and in turn catch fire. Any heat that causes your hand to feel excessively hot will suggest you need to cease towing and take your float in for repairs before you travel further or take your horse on any adventures. Remember, it is better to be prepared for the winter and to make sure all your equipment is working order than to get to the next season and find your best laid plans go to waste due to your float being out of action. All the best for the upcoming autumn riding season!

product review

Naturally Equine Bee Good Cream

Each month we will be reviewing products from Naturally Equine! Keep an eye out for more great products to use for your horse in many different ways.

Review- HAYLEY CLARKE

This month we received a manuka honey cream from Naturally Equine called Bee Good. It was perfect timing for us as we had a horse that got his leg stuck around his rope and gave himself a nasty rope burn. This cream can be used for cuts, wounds, burns, abrasions, bruises, bites, stings and skin infections. We have been using it on the burn for the last couple of weeks and it has healed up incredibly well! The wound was borderline needing veterinary care however with a good clean up and consistent use of the cream it has healed up on it’s own really well. We haven’t had any side effects from using the cream and the horse was very comfortable with us applying it. It doesn’t sting them or cause discomfort when applied but rather soothes the wound instead. We recommend having some of this on standby, not just for burns but for any other abrasions too!

18/03/17

31/03/17

Want to check out the products at Naturally Equine? Head to naturallyequine.com or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/naturallyequinenz

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fact file

Breed profile Research- GRACE GRAY

This month we take a look at one of the strongest and most beautiful horses in the world - the Shire! I must admit my opinion on these horses is quite bias as my horse is quarter Shire so please bare with me as I rave about just how amazing these beauties are! The Shire, formerly known as the ‘War horse’, originated in the 18th century in England and traces back to the ‘English great horse’ which has descended all draft breeds. It was originally bred for carrying knights into battle due to its strength, height and weight but later proved to be essential as a workhorse on many farms. Shires historically have black coats but today also come in bay, brown and grey and are known for their huge average height of 17hh+ and excessive feathers. Some other interesting facts about the Shire are they are considered the largest breed in the world, as a pair some can pull approximately 45 tonnes and despite their strength and height they are one of the most placid breeds known. Today Shires are used for showing, pleasure riding and many other disciplines. Many horses today are Shire crosses and excel as sport horses, especially in dressage and show jumping! I’d totally recommend meeting one of these beautiful horses… they have the sweetest temperaments and are super willing to please!

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Quote it!

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T call it a dream... call it a plan!

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INTRODUCING

some exciting new sections

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HOY SPECIAL

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The road to Horse of the Year 17

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HOY 17

18-year-old Kaitlin Feast is a hard-working young rider living in West Melton, Canterbury. Her life revolves around horses, hockey and university. She is juggling many different committments in this stage of her life which makes for a busy schedule. Kaitlin gave us an insight into what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like to lead a busy life and prepare for the biggest show in the country! Horse of the Year.

Vivaldi NZPH (lucky) is an eight-year-old chestnut NZPH mare. She is by Cabdulla Du Tillard out of Ophelia NZPH. I have had Lucky since she was a rising seven-year-old and we have competed up to 1.30. We are currently sitting 10th (as at 17/03/17) in the NZ Junior Rider Series. Our highlights for this season have been placing second in the premier Junior Rider at South Island Championships, this being our first ever start at this height. Another highlight was having our first Junior Rider win at Ashburton A&P show this season and also placing 4th in our first 1.30 start at Nationals this year. I am looking forward to stepping up to Young Rider next season on lucky and I will also be taking over the ride on my brothers five-year-old, Double J Barman with the aim of competing in the six-year-old series. I am currently in my first year at Canterbury University, studying a Bachelor of Sports Coaching, majoring in Health Education. I plan to qualify as a PE teacher. I also work part time at Hornby Physiotherapy clinic. Over winter when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not show jumping I play hockey for Hornby Hockey club.

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Monday 6th February: With no competitions this weekend we had a training weekend with Ross Smith who was over from Australia. After a big weekend of jumping, the horses had a much-deserved massage today from Nicolette Geldermann. Tuesday 7th February: Today Lucky had a light stretching ride after her massage yesterday. She also had a pulse rug treatment to keep her feeling good and prevent muscle soreness. Wednesday 8th February: Today we just gave the horses a small jump to work on a few things before nationals. Thursday 9th February: Lucky did some fitness work today and then had a pulse rug treatment. Friday 10th February: Lucky didn’t get ridden today as I always tend to give her the day off before competition starts just to keep her feeling fresh, she had a wash and a pulse rug treatment ready for nationals tomorrow.

Tuesday 14th February: Instead of being ridden Lucky had a pulse rug treatment today as we don’t have another competition until HOY so I can afford to give her a couple of days off fitness work. Wednesday 15th February: The horses went for a beach ride tonight just for a change of scenery and to keep them feeling happy. Thursday 16th February: Today’s ride consisted of fitness work as HOY is a long week with a lot of jumping so it’s important to keep the horses feeling their best all week in the build up to their big classes. Friday 17th February: Again today Lucky just did fitness work and a bit of stretching work on the arena. Saturday 18th February: We took the horses for a gallop down the beach today to give them a chance to really stretch out and also to build up their fitness as well as keeping their work enjoyable. Sunday 19th February:

Saturday 11th February: We had the National Junior Rider series class today. The height of the jumps in this class range from 1.20-1.30m. The course designer built a very challenging track today and unfortunately Lucky had 2 rails down however I was still reasonably happy with this as there were only three clears out of 21 riders in the class. Sunday 12th February: Today I entered lucky in the 1.30 class which is a step up for us having never jumped this height however I felt she was ready and this is a good step for us to take before Horse of the Year. She jumped very well just having one rail down to finish fourth.

Lucky had the day off today to recover and relax after the beach yesterday. Monday 20th February: The horses were lucky enough to be treated by the amazing Debbie Rolmanis today. Debbie use to give the horses regular physiotherapy treatments however this is the first time she has been back since moving overseas at the start of last year, we are very lucky to have her back at such a critical time of the season even if it is just for a short visit. Tuesday 21st February: Lucky just had a light stretching ride today after her treatment yesterday. Wednesday 22nd February:

Monday 13th February: Lucky had a day off today to rest after the show.

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Today consisted of more fitness work and concentrating on the things we need to improve on before HOY.

Thursday 23rd February: We had a jumping lesson tonight with our amazing coach Fiona Gillies, Lucky jumped very well and felt amazing after her physio treatment. Friday 24th February: Due to me having a full on day with university, work and hockey trials and with Lucky jumping last night she had the day off to rest and recover. Saturday 25th February: Lucky had another day of fitness and stretching work today. Sunday 26th February: Today we took the horses out to McLeans island for a jump training day, Lucky was very good jumping around 1.25m in less than ideal weather conditions with some very heavy rain, it was good to have this final preparation before Horse of the Year. Monday 27th February: Lucky got lunged today using the Pessoa lunging system which is a key part of her training as it helps her work in a correct frame and keeps her stretching across her back. Tuesday 28th February: We were lucky enough to have Debbie back again to treat the horses one last time before she heads back overseas which is perfect timing for us as well for them to be feeling good before we make the trip north. Wednesday 1st March: Today was a busy day for me leaving home at 8am and getting home at 10pm with university, work and then hockey trials, so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m lucky enough to have a very helpful brother who lunged Lucky for me with the Pessoa lunging system to keep her moving properly and feeling good after her treatment.

Thursday 2nd March: Lucky had a wash and a pulse rug treatment today ready for the trip. We left this afternoon to head to Murchison for the night with just a slight set back with a blow out in Culverden, we will travel through to Blenheim tomorrow. We arrived in Murchison at 9.30pm and the horses got walked for 15 minutes then got watered and fed. Friday 3rd March: We arrived in Blenheim at about 9am and walked and fed the horses, we then took them for a light ride to get their muscles moving and Lucky got pulsed Saturday 4th March: We sailed at 9am this morning and arrived in Wellington around 12.30. We drove through to Otaki and stopped to give the horses a walk and a drink there before carrying on to Hastings. We arrived in Hastings at about 5pm and put the horses in their yards with feed and water. Sunday 5th March: Today we took the horses for a light ride around the show grounds and did a bit of schooling work. Lucky then had a pulse treatment, we got our rider packs and got everything set up for the week. Monday 6th March: We gave the horses another good ride today before competition starts tomorrow, they also got washed and pulsed. Because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re stuck in yards all week we try to take them for a decent walk 3-4 times a day. Tuesday 7th March: We had our first day of competition today. I was competing in a horse 1.20 for a bit of a warm up class. Lucky jumped well just unfortunately having one rail down.

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Wednesday 8th March: I had a day off today so I took Lucky for a light ride around the show grounds and gave her a pulse treatment to keep her feeling well. Thursday 9th March: I had a 1.25 speed class today however Lucky wasn’t really feeling herself and was lacking a bit of energy and with some errors on my behalf we had 3 rails down, this was definitely a huge learning curve and gave me a lot to work on before Junior Rider of the Year. After discovering Lucky’s tiredness we decided to slightly change up her feed and add in some more energy feed just to get her feeling like her normal self again. I also gave her a pulse treatment and took her for lots of hand walks to try and keep her from getting bored. Friday 10th March: I had the day off again today to give Lucky a break before she has two days of jumping over the weekend. So I just took her for a light ride on the flat and did some sitting trot work as I wasn’t happy with my leg position in the first two classes. It wasn’t part of my plan to be jumping Saturday and Sunday however a new rule came in this year and this required me to jump in a qualifying class for the Junior Rider of the Year although I finished in the top 10 of the series.

Sunday 12th March: I had an early 5.30am start this morning in order to pulse Lucky before her class and allow time for her to be plaited and get her ready. I walked my course and once I’d done that it was time to get on and warm up as I was 20th to go. The ground conditions were certainly less than ideal so I didn’t have very high expectations going into the class as I didn’t know how Lucky would handle the ground. We unfortunately had one rail down after losing momentum in a muddy patch off a tough corner. I was still happy with this as she jumped well considering the circumstances, we ended up finishing in the top 25. We’re leaving the show grounds late this afternoon to travel to Foxton where we will stay the night before catching the early ferry. We arrived in Foxton at around 9pm, walked the horses then put them in some yards with feed and water. Monday 13th March: We got up at 2am this morning and got everything packed up as we had to be in Wellington by 5am and it was a two hour drive. We made it to Wellington on time and got on the ferry. It was pretty rough sailing but we knew this would be the case considering the weather conditions.

Saturday 11th March: Due to extremely bad weather and terrible ground conditions all classes were cancelled today for obvious safety reasons. This means that the Junior Rider of the Year which is only meant to have a maximum of 30 competitors for the final will now be run as a straight final with 65 competitors. Obviously this is a bit disappointing but everyone is in the same situation so we’re just hoping for some better weather tomorrow. I gave Lucky a pulse today because it was too wet to ride her.

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We arrived in Picton at around 9.30am, we then drove through to Blenheim racecourse where we let the horses off for a stretch and some water before loading back up again and heading through to Murchison where we did the same thing. After that it was straight home with no stops. We got home around 6.30pm and began the worst part of the trip, unpacking which was made even worse considering all our gear was soaked and it was still raining.

“All in all it was a pretty good trip, I wouldn’t say it was the best Horse of the Year I’ve been to due to obvious reasons but hopefully next year will be better. We now look to prepare the horses for Canterbury Champs in two weeks and then another trip North to Series Finals in three weeks.”

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Perfect timing Words - HAYLEY CLARKE

17-year-old Steffi Whittaker has been wanting to claim the Pony of the Year title for a long time now and at Horse of the Year 2017 she finally did that. Whittaker and her horse Blaze (Moonlight Glow) who is also 17, were able to share that special moment together. Whittaker got Blaze off the “James family” who had leased him to her cousin. Whittaker was then able to purchase Blaze and they haven’t looked back. “I have had Blaze for five years now and he is my best friend and pony in a million, he is an absolute delight and we have an amazing bond. He is extra spunky, can be a bit lazy until he sees jumps but really just an amazing pony to have around. He is a special part of our family and is loved by all,” Whittaker said. The journey to Horse of the Year was a long one – as it is for anybody living in the South Island. After leaving on the Thursday morning they travelled to Blenheim where they then crossed over on the ferry on Friday morning. They were lucky enough to be able to stay at a big property on Friday night where the horses could get out into the paddock and stretch their legs. After 18 hours of travelling the Whittaker’s arrived at HOY on Saturday morning ready to prepare for the week ahead. Coming from a harness racing background Whittaker knows all too well how important it is to have her horses in the right condition leading into a show. “My Dad trains race horses and we also breed and prepare yearlings for the Premier Sales so from a very young age I was around horses. I loved horses so much

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and always ended up riding as many each day as I could and was happy if I got to ride my brothers ponies if they had footy training. I have learnt a lot from a racing background and how to care, prepare and fine tune my team for competition.” “Pony of the Year was our main goal for the season but each week we are preparing for each show and coming from a racing family it is very important to have them in the right condition and in peak fitness. Blaze was extremely fit but also fresh, we never over jump them and he only did the qualifying class before POY,

which was beneficial in the conditions.” Whittaker was well prepared for her class and although a little more nervous than usual she was more so excited to get out there. “I don’t usually get nervous, I love to compete and it’s great to be riding in the big classes. I was focusing on keeping calm and giving him the best ride and riding jump to jump.” The moment Whittaker knew she had won the POY title was emotional. “It was pretty exciting, everyone was crying and it was a special moment for all

the family. Amazing to finally win POY in the last year on ponies,” she said. Away from Horse of the Year Whittaker has plenty to keep her busy with school work as well as her five horses that she has been competing on. “I am at school still (year 13) so I’m concentrating on that at the moment and I have three new schoolers coming in and I also have two young ones to bring in. I am also off to Australia to compete in the South Island Young Rider team in Victoria, which will be exciting.” Once Whittaker leaves school she

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plans to travel and continue on with her equestrian lifestyle.

“I would like to thank my awesome

Whittaker also wanted to acknowledge

Coach’s Duncan McFarlane and Helen

“I want to travel overseas to get more

McNaught. They have helped me so much

experience. I am already taking lessons

and always have me ready to perfection.

which I really enjoy and have been

One of the biggest thanks is to Nan and

schooling ponies for some time now too

Grandad, I couldn’t do it without them,

which is really fun, I love a good challenge

giving me the best pony, they have given

and it is really rewarding.”

me the best five years with the perfect

her sponsors and of course her wonderful pony. “My amazing sponsors NRM and Equissage NZ are the best for our Team. I would also love to thank Blake Keene for his volunteering as the gate caller, he always gives the best prep talks, he’s the best and has mentored me for many years now. And the last to my pony Blaze, he’s been the best to me and I’m going to miss him more than anything, I just love him to the moon and back and for giving me so many amazing titles and special moments.”

With such a major win comes a lot of

pony I love to bits. Also to my great

work behind the scenes. Whittaker has a

parents taking me around the shows

lot of people to thank for getting her to

and helping me so much, I wouldn’t be

where she is today including Farmlands

where I am today without them. I have a

who sponsored the POY class.

wonderful support team.”

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ADVERTISE WITH US Want to advertise with us here at Equine Online? Go to equineonline.co.nz to view our Rate Card or email hayley@equineonline.co.nz

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A proud ambassador Words - HAYLEY CLARKE Stacey Markham and J D Fortune (JD) made the long trip from Christchurch to compete in the Standardbred section at Horse of the Year. Hayley Clarke caught up with Stacey to find out how her journey North went and what it felt like to represent the Standardbreds at such a prestigious show. A lot of time and dedication goes into showing horses and you have to have that drive and want to be better than anybody else to succeed. You’ve also got to go out there and do it for not only yourself but your horse as well. And when you’re showing a retired Standardbred you’ve got to do it for all of their supporters, past and present too. Stacey Markham is the perfect ambassador for retired Standardbreds. Her horse always comes first and she waited until she had won nearly every wide ribbon in the Canterbury region before she made the decision to tackle the big time – Horse of the Year. Monday, March 6 saw the start of a long trip North for Markham and her Mum Lyn. Her number one supporter was right by herself to see that JD and Stacey made the trip safely. “The trip up North was long, we left on Monday morning and arrived late on Tuesday. We stopped over in Blenheim for the night and caught the early ferry on Tuesday morning,” Markham said. When they finally arrived they were lucky enough to stay with Markham’s good friend Charlotte Hunter, where JD had a nice paddock to relax in. Not only was the trip up to HOY long but the preparation beforehand was ongoing. “We prepared for HOY the same we would any other show, we went for a ride most days mixing it up with hacking and schooling. We’d been to a handful of shows throughout the season to qualify for HOY and were lucky enough to take

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home a Champion or Reserve Champion ribbon at each of them. We had a few other outings including the beach and the Amberley Races where we got to do a life after racing demonstration in the birdcage and lead out the Cup field.” When the day finally came JD unfortunately wasn’t at his best but the pair were able to take out Best Presented which is a huge achievement at such a big show where you are competing against the best in the country. “Horse of the Year is a very prestigious show, so everyone works hard to ensure

the overall picture of themselves, their horses and their gear is immaculate so to be able to win the best turnout meant a lot to me. I always take pride in presentation and it was such a great feeling to see that pay off.” “With any show it is hard to go in with any expectations as you don’t know what will happen on the day but just to be there was a huge achievement for us and something that is not easy to do.” For Markham, HOY has always been on the bucket list and to do it with her best friend JD, was even more special.

“I’d always dreamt of getting to HOY but I never actually thought it would happen. But once the Standardbreds were included I knew there was a real possibility that if we worked hard we could get there. I have a real passion for the Standardbreds due to my upbringing and to get up there with JD and represent the breed was a truly remarkable feeling.” Markham would love to return to HOY at some stage but for now she is ready to face some other challenges and JD will get a well-earned break before Markham (or JD) decides what his future will hold. “I’d love to get back up there eventually, if I do it’ll be a few years away yet as I’m stepping back to focus on a few other projects for the next couple of years. But the experience of HOY was incredible and I’d love to do it all over again and have another crack at bringing home one of the elusive titles.” Markham put in a lot of work to get herself to HOY but there are also many people that she owes thanks to for their support in getting her there.

“I was overwhelmed by the amount of support I received from the harness racing industry, without them all the trip never would have been possible. In particular I need to thank Derek and Adele Jones, Methven and Mount Hutt Trotting Clubs, Jo van der Wored and Gavin Burgess, P3 Equestrian, every one of the companies who donated prizes for my raffle, my partner David and of course my family, especially Mum who was by our side at every show this season and travelled us up to HOY.” “Also it was great to see Tash Bol take home the Champion Ridden title, she has been part of the Standardbred ring for many, many years and does such a wonderful job with her team of Standardbreds so it was great to see her hard work and dedication pay off on the day.” As Standardbred’s become more recognised in the show ring Markham is proud of how far they have come and hopes to keep seeing them rise up the equestrian ladder.

“The breed has so much to offer both on and off the track and I think people are starting to notice and appreciate them now more so than in the past. It also helps that the breed is becoming more refined. There are also so many people who are doing such a great job of promoting the Standardbred in their lives after racing which is also beneficial to the breed.” “It’s so great to see that more and more trainers are getting on board and getting behind life after racing. They are giving the suitable Standardbreds a chance at a new life when they are retired from racing and providing so much happiness to people around the country who take on these horses. The breed is very versatile and can excel in so many different disciplines.” Markham is clearly doing a great job at pushing Life after Racing for Standardbreds and we will surely see her promoting the breed for many years to come, she is a true credit to the idea of Life after Racing.

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Picture perfect

Want to purchase a photo? Email hayley@equineonline.co.nz 40 EQUINE ONLINE

Horse of the Year 2017

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check it out Stay tuned while our Check It Out section gets up and running!

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monthly madness

OF E M E

ON M E H

TIP TIME Always begin showing as soon as you enter the ring and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop until you leave the ring.

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha JOKES UP!

Q: What disease was the horse scared of getting? A: Hay fever! Arion Animal of the Month

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Name - Beauty - Boer Goat Age - 8 months Favourite Food - Everything! Fun Fact - Loves to escape from her paddock!

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next month

We begin our Thouroughbred Life After Racing Section! Keep an eye out for another product review from Naturally Equine to help your horse become a healthier, happier horse. We have part 2 of our Maiden Foaling section. Our monthly columns will be backto inspire you in every way! Courtney will return as she takes us through her journey from being nervous around horses to her dream of competing in a one-day event. Keep an eye out for our next Arion Animal of the Month! Our Kuda Guru is back sharing her exciting adventures and tips with us! AND keep an eye out for some exciting giveaway competitions! We will give you an insight into the life of our Owne/Editor Hayley Clarke including a run down on her family and where her love for horses began!

Want to feature in Equine Online? Look out for the Facebook prompt or send us your photos to hayley@equineonline.co.nz for your chance to be our

PHOTO OF THE MONTH!

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