May issue by Equine Online NZ

Equine Online May 2017

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2 EQUINE ONLINE

INTRODUCING

some exciting new sections

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EDITOR Hayley Clarke

From the Editor

CONTRIBUTORS Grace Gray Courtney Clarke Ashleigh Davis Hayley Clarke Marie Palzer Harnessed Media Julia Latham Ashleigh Sanderson

COVER IMAGE Kuda Guru - Ashleigh Sanderson

Winter has definitely arrived right

where I will take the drive on our wee

on time... if not early! The horses are

trotter - About Last Night. And Monday

definitely fresh with the colder weather...

wll be spent with the hacks trying to get

especially mine! So what a great time

mud off them and hopefully getting their

to be able to be tucked up inside and

covers off so they can enjoy the sunshine

reading our May edition of Equine Online.

(if we have any). Until next time...

This month we have a very detailed article from Ashleigh Sanderson - our Kuda Guru and some great snaps to go along with it! Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure everyone will find the article a very interesting read on the Gili Ponies. Ashleigh Davis - our Foaling

x y e l ay

Midwife has another detailed column to guide us when we are foaling and we welcome Julia Latham back this month with an inspiring column. Courtney -

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our nervous rider begins the next step of her riding by taking up riding lessons with a very experienced instructor. So we head into Queens Birthday Weekend with plenty of reading to keep us all busy - and warm inside. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be spending my weekend at the harness races - Saturday for their big Jewels day and Sunday

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

$10 Quaddie keeps giving

We get more from the Horse Midwife

Our Kuda Guru gives us a run down on the Gili Ponies

Marie Palzer is back discussing her adventures

We get to know the Gypsy Vanner

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news

$10 Quaddie keeps giving By- MATT MARKHAM for Harnessed Media

Sir Richie photo supplied by Fokus Harness Photgraphy

Photo by Race Images

A $10 bet late in April is still reaping the rewards for Jesse Alford. The Christchurch sales rep was standing at the Rangiora races on April 23 with $10 left in his betting budget for the day and was contemplating chucking it all on Classie Brigade to win the Rangiora Classic. A last minute change of heart however and a little inside knowledge saw what would have been a $48 return become one worth more than $5,500 after he

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took a percentage quaddie on the last four races. “I think I took $50 to the races that day and hadn’t had much luck.” Alford said. “I was going to put it on Classie Brigade but decided I was better anchoring him in the Quaddie.” Classie Brigade duly delivered in the Group Three and when Forgotten Highway won the next, things were on track, albeit looking set to be rather small. But when Lavros Jack came from nowhere to run past Missandei at odds

of $16-to-one and then It’s All Over Now won the last at $12 - Alford was laughing his way right to the tote. “I’d been driving It’s All Over Now a bit lately and just chucked him in based on that.” “So I guess I was a bit lucky in that sense.” With a full wallet and a smile on his face, Alford enjoyed the next couple of days before a phone call from Jonny Cox set the wheels in motion for a little more profit from the return. “Jonny rang me and asked if I still had

any of that money left and when I said I did, he said he had a horse for me to buy with it, Regal Assassin.” “Initially I wasn’t that keen, but he talked me around.” Alford was joined in the ownership of the two-year-old trotter by Cox’s partner, Kim Butt and the Australian duo of Matt Peden and Josh Tinning. A fortnight ago things weren’t looking

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all that good though. “He wasn’t working that good to be fair but we chucked him in the non-tote at Addington to see where we were at with

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absolutely no expectations.” Regal Assassin made up many lengths behind the promising Marquis De Sade to finish second and all of a sudden, Alford could see there was some method to the madness after all. Then on Friday night, the initial return of that Quaddie at Rangiora was returned when Regal Assassin got over the top of One Over Da Skye late to win the maiden trot. And the man who got it all to happen, courtesy of a bet, never had a cent on him. “I didn’t want to jinx it, so I didn’t back him.” The performance has resulted in a couple of offers being put in front of the quartet of owners so their time together could be quite short but Alford has other interests to keep him going. He works all day until 4pm and then heads out to Cox’s stable to work a fullsister to Captain Peacock and a half-sister to American Tart to help earn his keep. “I enjoy it, it’s good fun and gives me something to do after work.” Alford is also involved in syndicates with young trainer Jack Harrington, including the talented trotter, Hey Yo.

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Show jumper wins Monty By- DUANE RANGER for Harnessed Media

Photo supplied by Trish Dunell

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New Zealand Show jumping champion, 15-year-old Tyla Hackett, is now starting to make a name for herself in harness racing.

“I especially love riding Majestic Ali. She’s definitely my favourite horse. I don’t like riding Makarewa Jake. He is a bumpy ride,” Hackett said.

Whisky won a R40 and faster saddle trot

But the New Zealand Junior Rider-ofthe-Year was always destined to be better than average with horses being the oldest daughter of Waiuku standardbred trainers Bernie Hackett and Michelle Wallis.

Hackett’s and Maattanen have now won all four Monte trots held this Autumn nailing two apiece.

to out-shine them,” Hackett joked. “I’m

Last Friday night Hackett rode three-win trotter, Majestic Ali, to victory in the first Monte Saddle Trot at Alexandra Park. It was an exhibition trot comprising six starters - half of them trained by Hackett and Wallis. Their daughter didn’t let them down cuddling the Majestic Son mare up to win easily by three lengths from Makarewa Jake (Riina Maattanen) and Cool Son (Tayla Wenn).

Wallis and Bernie Hackett trained the winner of the first Monte Saddle Trot at Franklin Raceway on April 29 with Makarewa Jake. Pukekohe stablehand Maattanen rode the seven-year-old to a two-and-aquarter length victory. They trotted the R40 and faster 2050m stand (left-handed) in 2:58 (mile rate 2:19.7) and home in 63.8 and 28.7. A week later Saturday (May 13) on the same track the Wallis and Hackett trained three-win Majestic Son mare, Majestic

“Riina is very good at this. They do a lot of saddle trot racing in Europe and Ali, won over the same distance in in 2:47 she said it was very popular over there. even (mile rate2017 2:11), but right-handed FORpleased IMMEDIATE RELEASE 22 March I’m really that Mum and Dad are this time. Hackett did the riding. trying to get the sport off the ground here Then on May 20 the Wallis and Hackett in Auckland. I really enjoy it because it’s a

by three quarters of a length. “Mum and Dad have done well in harness racing, but now it’s time for me grateful for the opportunities they have given me and my sister Crystal (13).” The Year 11 Waiuku College student said she had been riding since she was four. She said she wanted to further her career in saddle trots but her heart lay with show jumping. “I’m doing okay in that sport and really want to go as far as I can. I also enjoy working the horses for my parents – both driving and riding, but for me show jumping is where my heart is.” And her all-time favourite Wallis-Hackett trained horse? “Delft of course. He was such a lovely horse. I grew up with him and will never forget him.”

Delft won 16 races ($360,545) in New Zealand, including the 2006 Inter Melbourne based equestrian lifestyle label with a trained and Maattanen ridden Blood And Dominion trotter’s grand Final.

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EVENTING SUPER LEAGUE LEAD EXTENDED By- VIRGINIA CARO

Donna Edwards-Smith’s second place on DSE Mr Hokey Pokey in the NRM CCI3* at Taupo has given her an unassailable lead in the ESNZ Eventing Super League, despite the best horses in the country yet to have their final run, when the NZ Oceania team contest the Melbourne Three-day Event on Australian Queen’s Birthday weekend, 16-18 June. The ever consistent Mr Hokey Pokey rose from sixth place in the twelve-strong class after Friday’s dressage with the second fastest cross-country round, incurring 5.2 time penalties, to hold second place going into Sunday’s showjumping phase. One rail down did not alter that, although

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the leader, defending champions Amanda Pottinger and Just Kidding had two rails down and a time penalty to drop to third. But Cantabrian Emily Cammock on Shaw Lee, third after the dressage and retaining that position after jumping a clear crosscountry with 7.2 time penalties, produced one of only two clear showjumping rounds to take the NRM CCI3* National Three-day Event title, leaping into fourth position in the Super League as a result. The riders behind Edwards-Smith in the League standings are jockeying for position, with Virginia Thompson moving into second place with Star Nouveau after placing fourth in the CIC3* (short format) which was run in conjunction with the

CCI3* at the Sydney Three-day Event over the weekend. The Australian Oceania team members contested this CIC3* in preparation for the Melbourne Three-day Event. ESNZ EVENTING SUPER LEAGUE Penultimate standings: Donna EdwardsSmith (Te Kauwhata), DSE Mr Hokey Pokey, 207 pts; Virginia Thompson (Kaukapakapa), Star Nouveau, 132 pts; Samantha Felton (Matangi), Ricker Ridge Escada, 129 pts; Emily Cammock (Christchurch), Shaw Lee, 114 pts; Andrew Daines (Kumeu), Spring Panorama, 96 pts; Brent Jury (Rangiora), SE Hedging, 90 pts; Felton, Ricker Ridge Pico Boo, 78 pts.

INTRODUCING

some exciting new sections

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EQUINE ONLINE 11

the horse midwife

The Golden Rule of Foaling 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 to everyone reading! I hope you’re

of Foaling (GRF) is a ballpark set of

is delivered. Obviously this is a rough

all doing well and keeping warm in New

‘guidelines’ for tracking whether your

timeframe and each mare has their own

Zealand!

mare’s foaling is progressing OK.

‘normal’ (a column for another month perhaps) but for the most part this is the

I’m currently away travelling around

In humans labour can last a LONG time.

Europe so I’m fortunately enjoying much

I don’t personally have kids but I’m sure

better weather than everyone back home!

there are mothers out there that can

As part of the foaling attendant’s role

attest to literally DAYS of labour after

in Stage two Labour the presentation

their water broke, before their child was

(position) of the foal is checked (also a

actually delivered. This isn’t a problem in

post to write at another time) - and in 97%

people.

of cases is positioned perfectly.

This month’s column will be a little shorter than normal, for two reasons. 1. Because I’m away on holiday and writing this from a hotel in Munich with a tablet/keyboard setup (which also has no spellcheck function so please excuse any typos - I’m doing my best to try and pick them up!)

This is a problem in horses. A BIG problem. In later blogs we’ll look at the Three Stages of Labour and go through some

rough guideline we work to.

So how do you know if something is going wrong? I give you the Golden Rule of Foaling, or the 5/30 rule.

of the details with a little bit more focus

If the mare has been pushing (and I

so important that I don’t want to crowd it

but for now it is suffice to say that a mare’s

mean really pushing, not pretend “hope-

with so much information that you forget

labour is very different to a human’s.

it-will-fall-out-on-its-own” pushing,

2. Because the information in this post is

the main point.

We call the bit between when the

It’s literally so important that when

mare’s water breaks and when the foal is

it has been more than 30 minutes

people come to the Intro to Foaling

delivered “Stage two Labour.” And while

since the water broke and the mare is

Courses that I run with FoalEd, I stress

this stage can be reeeeeeally long in

not progressing well and pretty close to

to people that, if they take nothing else

humans, it is referred to as the “explosive

delivering the foal,

away from the day, that they understand

stage” in horses. (Please note that

THEN

what I call:

explosive refers to the speed at which

it is likely that there may be a problem of

THE GOLDEN RULE OF FOALING

things progress, rather than any literal

some sort. Generally this means that the

So I won’t muck you around - let’s get

explosions of anything).

foal is in the wrong position and in most

into it. What is the ‘golden rule of foaling’ and how is it going to help you? It’s simple really. The Golden Rule

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A normal Stage two Labour should take no longer than 20-30 minutes from when the water breaks to when the foal

cases will require vet assistance to get the foal out. These are the timeframes I use when

I’m foaling a mare myself (even when

when to call a vet. But at the heart of

Remember this rule as a guideline but

I’ve checked the presentation myself -

making that decision about whether

also remember that even if you call the

because not all abnormal positions or

something is going wrong is the 5/30

vet and they’re not needed it’s better to

foaling issues can be felt to start with).

Rule, or the GRF. This is a tool that you

be safe than sorry and if nothing else,

As part of our Training Courses we cover

don’t need any past experience foaling

having the vet there is good for your

the correct and incorrect positions of the

to use or understand and all it requires is

peace of mind and a great opportunity to

foal, as well as how to manipulate and

for you to take note of the timings as your

learn a little bit more about foaling (albeit

correct minor issues and how to know

mare passes her foaling milestones.

a slightly expensive way to do it!)

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Have you noticed similar timelines in your mares? What signs do you look for to know something is wrong or as triggers to call the vet? I’d love to hear about your experience from you so feel free to get in touch at info@foaled.co.nz and remember – if there’s something you want to see just let me know! Until then, happy foaling all! The Horse Midwife P.S. if you have a question please feel free to check out our Website (www.FoalEd.co.nz) or Facebook Support Group (www.facebook.com/ groups/foaledsupportgroup).

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

HARD WORKING GILI PONIES Text - ASHLEIGH SANDERSON

Indonesia is the world’s largest island country, made up by a chain of over 17,000 separate islands, Bali and Java being the most famous. It’s the 14th largest country according to land mass, and the 7th largest country when you combine sea and land. The world’s second highest biodiversity. So, why is this important? Well, it is interesting for me, since I spend a lot of time there, and important since there is something

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close to my heart in Indonesia that needs context. Only a fraction of the islands are inhabited, and are known for different reasons. Four of those seventeen thousand islands are known as Lombok and the Gili Islands – Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. Lombok has always been populated, mainly by locals, but the Gili islands have only had people for about 25 years, and even now it is a transient,

tourist population. Gili Trawangan, or “Gili T” as it is more known, is the biggest of the three and the most populated. It is famous for its diving, snorkelling and night life. 30 years ago, the Gili islands were totally unhabituated, and it was the Bugis people from Sulawesi who first discovered their white sandy beaches. Back in the late 80’s and early 90’s, the Gili islands started to become popular, first with scuba divers,

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

and then with the party crowd – beautiful location, cheap alcohol and no police. The commercial dive centres followed, and although there are only about 800 permanent residents on Gili T, tourism abounds. Lombok does have an airport, but most people travel there by flying into Bali and catching one of the fast ferries that zip across in a couple of hours. There is a line, drawn on the map, just in front of Gili T, known as the Wallace line. Now, a very clever man, back in the day, called Sir Alfred Russel Wallace was studying botany in Asia, and noticed that in Bali, the birds, plants and animals were definitely Asian. And as you hit Gili T, the birds, plants and animals were a lot more Australian. The distinction between the Oriental and Australian zoo geographical regions. The first island in the Australasian region is Gili T – yes, I am the kind of person who likes to know things like that! The islands don’t have motorised transport – there are just three ways to get around. A bicycle is great – currently about Rp60,000 (US$4.50) per day, and it takes only an hour to ride around the whole of Gili T, although at points you need to get off and push through sand. Walking is awesome – who needs to be in a hurry? And the third method is… by pony. A cidomo is a pony drawn taxi.

This non-motorised way of life is partly because the islands are so small and the government want to keep them old school. Partly logistics. Currently, there is a move to count every pony on the island, and make a record of owners, good and bad. It is thought that there are 250 – 300

ponies on Gili T and 600 throughout all three islands. The ponies are split into three jobs – taxi ponies, who pull small, light carts (cidomos) for tourists to move around the island. They’ll work 10 – 12 hours a day, but they spend a lot of that time standing

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in taxi ranks. They’ll move a tourist to their hotel, and then park. In their shift, they may only actually be moving 5 hours. They also have a strict kampong (village) elder in charge, and the drivers know that if their pony doesn’t look good when it arrives to pick up a guest, they may well be turned away and a better one brought. This is the best life for a Gili pony. The carts themselves generally run 24 hours a day, with two or three different ponies pulling it in shifts. It is a party island, so much of the business is taking drunk revellers to hotels at 3am. Cart ponies are the delivery trucks – they move groceries, building equipment, furniture, bicycles etc. etc. Whatever comes to the islands on the boats has to be moved, all of which is done by pony. These ponies have a tougher life, but spent a fair amount of time standing in the harbour waiting for boats and waiting

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at the other end for offloading. There is a weight limit, which is slowly being enforced. It is incredible to watch the good drivers, standing behind the cart, with no actual contact with the pony, yelling right, left, back, slow, forward, whoa, and the pony manoeuvring it’s cart into place, all on vocal commands. The worst of the lot are the rubbish / garbage ponies. There are only ten ponies working, and they move 20 tonnes of rubbish every day, mainly in the early hours while the tourists are sleeping. Before lunchtime, they are all back in their stables. It is such a huge task, that these poor ponies don’t stop. They move from bin to bin, back to the dump or recycle centre, and back to bins. This work is back breaking, for both human driver and pony, and they don’t get to rest since the other nine can’t take up any more work. If one is sick or lame, it’s a huge problem for the

others. Before help arrived, these ponies lasted six months. They were bought from Lombok, worked for 6 months and returned to Lombok for meat, as a bag of bones. Now, with proper tooth care, worming, feed, harness, they are keeping up with the work for several years. However, until recently they are still over worked and still tired. These ponies could not be replaced – someone had to do this work. Finally, the board of elders has approved two tiny, electric golf cart type vehicles, which now tootle around the island in the pre-dawn light, collecting a huge share of the rubbish. This is done before the tourists are out and about, and has lightened the load greatly. Several years ago, a French lady, Delphine, moved to Gili T to study the marine life, coral bleaching and the effects of global warming, fishing with dynamite etc. She saw that the whole

island was in trouble, sinking under the weight of its vast rubbish dump, polluted, over fished and being raped for its natural beauty. She set up, and is running The Gili Eco Trust, and doing an awesome job getting recycling and rubbish control sorted out on the island. She also started to work with the Gili Cart Ponies. There are now three lovely ladies who live and work on Gili T, who look after the ponies there. Delphine does much of the campaigning and looks after the rubbish ponies, seeing them at the recycling centre. Tori and Sarah, both dive centre owner / managers, are hands on, dealing with drivers and ponies daily. I worked for a year in Bali, as chief instructor for a big, international equestrian centre. The plight of the Gili ponies popped up on my radar a couple of times, but I never got there. After finishing my contract, I went to Gili T to visit, mainly to do some diving, and on seeing what was there, had to get involved. I now go every November to help at the twice yearly clinics. At these clinics, they get a team of volunteers together, a couple of vets, some vet students and a bunch of us, non vet volunteers. We go and try to help educate drivers, showing them where there ponies could do with a bit more TLC. Lovely people all over the world collect tack for us – mainly bits, bridles, boots and padding, and this is a big draw card to get drivers through the door – they don’t like their broken kit any more than we do, but you make do with what you have and can afford. The whole issue is tricky. There are many people who are campaigning hard to have the ponies removed entirely. There were no ponies there until 20 years ago – these islands have no natural water supply, and no naturally occurring ponies. So, it is not as if this would break the natural pattern of these islands. The ponies live and are bred on Lombok. They only came to work for tourism. By

removing them, we would remove the problem. They bring their own issues – their manure is too much for the island to cope with, and the grass seeds that they eat and pass through them are bringing in invading weeds. There is nothing there for them – no grass or feed, so all of this needs transporting in. And, no vets. But, the island needs transport, and in the foreseeable future, these ponies are going to be working. The other lobby is for tourists to boycott the island, to demand better working conditions for these ponies. Which I totally do not agree with. The surfer dude, partying, young holiday maker is not going to boycott. So, the ones boycotting, will be those of us who care about these ponies. And people who don’t care, will keep going – what do you suppose will happen to the level of care that they get? If we don’t go, help, try to educate, things will get worse – they are improving, don’t go backwards now. And, the drivers themselves live in appalling conditions. I would not expect my animals to live in their housing – they are genuinely poor people trying to get by, they are not deliberately injuring or starving their ponies (who are their only means of earning) but, if it came down to

feeding your child, or buying your pony a pair of brushing boots, what would you do? The following is an extract of my thoughts on leaving Gili T at the end of our week last November….. The trip to the Gili Islands is always bittersweet. I hate to leave a job half done, and that is always how it feels when we leave there again. This time, I travelled with Sherri Rimmer, a very experienced equine therapist from South Africa who had offered to come along and help – and thank good ness she and I were going together, since I had 50kg of tack and donations to get from Singapore to Bali, plus another 60kg waiting in Bali, that I had got that far on my last trip but hadn’t managed to get all the way through to the Gili islands. So, Sherri and I went from the airport, on our shuttle bus, off at the dock, and then onto our boat with 110kg of tack in four suitcases, plus our own two bags of clothes for the week. To say we got odd looks is an understatement. At least the boat company didn’t put up any objections. Luckily, Tori Taylor of Horses of Gili had offered to meet us at the dock with a couple of her strong staff to

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grab our cases and get them to the Gili Eco Trust office, only a couple of blocks away. When your boat docks on Gili T, it docks in the sand along the beach, so you hop out of the boat into ankle deep water. Not easy with that much luggage, and then to have to carry it up the beach would have been a nightmare. Straight to the Gili Eco Trust office to unpack all the bags, make piles of saddle pads, bits and bridles, halters, boots, padding, medical supplies, de-worming syringes, vitamin injections and injectable medicines. Get it all packed away into bags and suitcases to make stations for the morning, and the end of the first long day. Tori had also very kindly organised rooms for Sherri and I, as well as two of my clients from Singapore, mother and daughter Vikki Lynn and Alisha Wilson. To have clean, comfortable rooms in a stunning setting every night, somewhere to escape the madness of the days, was such a massive bonus so a huge thanks to Tori and Lutwala Dive for sponsoring all of that. My only regret being – with feeling quite flu / sinus-y, I decided against going diving, so watching the dive boats come and go, and not being on one was a tough job! The first three days were on Gili T, in the market square. Ponies tend to come and go all of the time, making an exact number of ponies on island difficult to work out. Tori has been getting into the yards, and ponies have been coming to her for treatment, so we didn’t expect to see all of them, but hopefully most. Over the four days we saw 142, which is pretty good. When you arrive, there are generally 10 – 20 ponies waiting. Most of these are taking a break from work – so they have driven there in their carts, park outside the market, unhitch, bring them in, quick quick – take a photo, get the translator, brilliant Ika, to fill in the driver name, pony name, driver phone number, if they are sick or not eating, any problems, and send them on.

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At that point they were coming to me for a vitamin injection, during which I’d have a quick check for obvious wounds and to check again if they were sick, and try to convince them to see Doktor Gigi – the dentist. Some do, especially if we are worried about their weight or condition, or if they are not eating, but sadly many of the drivers are in a hurry and know that if they agree it will take a couple of hours of earning out of their day. Most of them won’t agree to tranquilizers since they have to go straight back to work, and even with a team of vet students doing teeth, they back up very quickly, making it a long wait for owners. From me, they were passing through to Sherri, Tori and a host of others for wound care, skin care, fitting of harness padding, distribution of take home wound creams, bits and bridles, boots if needed, the dentist if they agreed and a dose of de-wormer on the way out. It gets quite slick, we can turn a pony around in 10 minutes if they refuse the dentist and have nothing major wrong with them. Vikki and Alisha arrived on the boat mid-morning the first day. Sherri had said she would shadow me the first morning, but all three of them learnt very quickly that they had

been chucked in at the deep end – any spare pair of hands gets used fast… Can you scrub that wound, fit that bridle, find him padding, organise him some cream, translate that issue, fit him with boots. Absolutely fantastic job they all did, jumping in and within minutes holding their own and dealing with whatever they saw in front of them. All are experienced with ponies, and are horse owners, but nothing quite prepares you from that first day. Alisha in particular, having only just finished school the week before, showed maturity dealing quietly, kindly and respectfully with both drivers and ponies, far beyond her years. Overall, the ponies of Gili T have improved greatly from last year. Last year, I would have said around 50% could do with carrying more weight, now, in the market square I only saw one or two who really could carry more condition. Apparently the big battle won over the year is an increase in ponies being given free access to fresh water, rather than limited access to salty water. Just this one, simple change has been hard fought, and a huge trust issue. The drivers firmly believed that giving free access to water would cause colic and that we would be damaging their vital working equipment – their pony is their means of earning to feed their family, it is in their best interest to keep it running well. They only gave water mixed in with the feed, never alone in a bucket. Slowly, slowly, they are being convinced. The salt water they were using was free, the clean water coming through desalination plants is expensive, so that was mainly a financial issue, but again, they are seeing that investing in clean water will prolong the ponies working life… The other big thing I saw, was a drop in the number and severity of wounds. By improving the equipment being used, the rubs and galls are reducing year on year, great news for ponies. The other thing that is obvious is the acceptance that is coming – drivers are more open to the idea, they are actually coming in for advice and asking questions about things that they need help with.

A big issue is the bits that are used in the ponies’ mouths. There is a basic harness shop on Lombok, but no bits, so the majority of bits are homemade, and many are monstrous. Some of the drivers have tried to make improvements – bit rings made from old flip flops to stop the lips being pinched is ingenious. So, a common problem is ponies with sore mouths. We handed out hundreds of bits, checking the pony’s mouths for injury, fitting the bits correctly, showing the drivers how they work. All good. And frustrating when, two days later we see a pony we clearly remember giving a new bit to, back in one of their homemade affairs. (We do confiscate their old bits, doing a direct swop – yours for mine, but they seem to have an endless supply of the homemade jobs). This time, a few of the drivers were willing – in fact keen – to chat about it. Many of these ponies have mouths like concrete, after years of bad handling. They go from their twisted wire bits, to our lovely soft snaffles. And they won’t stop. Now, you have to have walked the main street in Gili T to know chaos. It is a single track, with hundreds of tourists (drunk and otherwise) bicycles, hawkers, divers walking to the sea or back with tanks, and lots and lots of pony carts. There is no one way system or lanes – you just go with the flow like a dead fish. And if you hear a honking horn, you move because there is a trotting pony coming through. The ponies do wear bells which helps too. But then, bicycles also have bells… Running over a drunk tourist is a huge issue. Really, if that drunk tourist falls out of a bar at 3am with no warning, and a pony is trotting past innocently, or someone stops in front of a moving pony on the main street, it won’t be the tourist who gets in trouble. It will be the driver who takes all the fallout. So, they have to have control, they cannot, safely, have a pony who isn’t listening and on the ball. The next problem we are looking for solutions for, is finding bits that are comfortable and non-abusive for ponies, allow the drivers to have light, soft hands, but which can stop or steer a pony quickly if needed. No easy fix here.

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Overall, things are improving for these hard-working little guys. Yes, things could get a lot better, but they have come a long way, thanks to some hard-working people. What can you do to help? Well, there are a couple of things. Have a look at their Facebook page, https:// www.facebook.com/horsesofgili/ Or their website, http://www.horsesofgili.com/. Through this website, you can donate cash, or simply share to create awareness. There is always a need for new or second hand tack and equipment for these ponies. Getting it to them can be tricky, contact me or Tori directly if you would like to gather things together, or ask for more details. I can, as ever, be contacted through my website, www.kudaguru.com or through my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Kudaguru/. And, if you go to Gili, think. Do you need that cart ride, or could you walk? If you are going in a cart, does the pony look in good condition? Is he wearing good, clean tack? And finally, there is a limit to two people and their suitcases in one cart – don’t be that idiot who insists that all four friends must travel together…. Please, think of how many trips that pony is doing in a day and make his life just a little easier… We can all make a difference!

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life after racing

Crash pulls through to claim HOY title Written by - HAYLEY CLARKE Amanda Burton and her eight-year-

champion for the season, that year at HOY

and a half hour visit from the vet who

old gelding Change Of Pace had a very

crash was sashed Inh Hand Standardbred

was very worried about crash and then

memorable day at Horse of the Year

of the Year and Burton and Crash were

walking him from just before midnight till

2017. And the weeks leading up the big

third in the ridden title.

4.30 in the morning before crash looked

event will never be forgotten either.

“After HOY my husband David and& I

Change of pace is known as Crash at home, he didn’t race… Burton says, “going fast just isn’t his thing.” Burton hasd owned crash for three and a half years now and he came sight unseen from Michelle Morrison who runs the Standardbred Rehoming and Recycling in Canterbury. “She is very honest about the horses temperament and how they go under saddle,” Burton says. “I

can’t

recommend

her

highly

enough for anyone looking for a new Standardbred as a happy hacker or one to become a show horse.” “I got into showing with him down in the Manawatu where we qualified

moved to Reporoa, this meant I was closer to more Standardbred shows, again crash proved that he is a very consistent horse winning all but three inhand champions and was champion under saddle at all but one show where I had to scratch him and call a vet to him as he was not right. We also stepped out into the park hack

ok.” Although the lead up to HOY was stressful, Crash came through for Burton on the day. “Crash was for the second year running sashed as Inhand Standardbred of the Year.”“I shed a few tears as I was so happy to still have my boy so winning it for the second year in a row was a bonus.” “We only competed in a few of the ridden

ring at Te Aroha and Fielding A&P shows.”

lead up classes as I was saving his energy

At Te Aroha the pair came away with two

for the ridden title, I was super happy with

seconds and two thirds for his four classes,

his workout as he didn’t put a foot wrong

Burton was very pleased and received

and we came away with runner up ridden

lovely comments from the judge.

Standardbred of the Year.”

A few weeks later they were back out in

The future is very exciting for Crash and

the park hack ring this time down at the

Burton as they aim to step out of the

Fielding A&P show where they placed

comfort of the Standardbred class and

well in most of the classes.

show what they are made of in the Park

for pPleasure hHorse of the yYear after

“The trill of the day was placing second

only three months under saddle, this

Hack ring.

in the Open paced and mannered park

“Next season we are moving up to

non-gaited

hack class, the judge commented that

bigger things as I’m going to try and

horses, unfortunately Crash was injured

he was a lovely trotter... I corrected her

qualify for the Park Hack of the Year as I

in his yard at HOY the day before our

and said he was a pacer... she was very

had quite a few judges say he would do

competition, the following year I got into

shocked and told me I had done a lovely

well out in the open classes, so I can only

Standardbred showing but there weren’t

job of reschooling him.”

step up and see how far this awesome

was

competing

against

many of these down in the Manawatu so still did the pleasure horse classes and again qualified for HOY but decided not

But not everything was smooth sailing for Crash and Burton leading up to HOY.

little ambassador for the breed can go.” “I would like to thank my friends who

“Eight weeks before HOY crash got a

have helped when I’ve need it, Morag - Crash’s chiro for keeping him in top

that that was going to be their main aim,

splint so he missed a couple of shows and then was only getting very light work of 10mins two-three times per week then three and a half weeks before HOY I

Crash was very consistent winning all but

thought I was going to lose my precious

work to keep this underestimated breed

two inhand champions and one ridden

boy to a sudden bout of colic, after a two

at HOY.”

to go that season.” In

2016

after

the

return

Standardbreds at HOY Burton decided

shape. And a huge thanks to the NZ Standardbred Breeders Association for their sponsorship for HOY and their hard

EQUINE ONLINE 23

columns

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

This month has been a pretty quiet one

the whole time (we had been working

thought to myself this is not fun at all. I am

on this so much as well so it was super

not enjoying this at all. I was scared and

Early in the month I attended another

disappointing). She didn’t listen and all

I was nervous and that was not helping

ridden show which was an absolute

she was worried about was Gordy. In Best

Poppy or myself. So I got off. My sister got

disaster. There really is no other way to

Mare we were asked to trot and she just

on and rode her in a couple of classes for

describe it. It was doomed well before the

trotted straight for the fence and I had

me to try and finish on a good note. I was

day even arrived.

no control at all. This scared me and I

really disappointed and upset for the next

really.

I am rehoming another Standardbred Gordy who is paddocking with Poppy. I knew deep down that by taking Gordy to the show in the inhand section and then riding Poppy wasn’t going to work because Poppy is a bit of a baby when a stablemate comes to a show. In an inhand show a year ago when her other stablemate came along she was rearing and had ants in her pants and all her manners were out the window. S I knew that I needed to take her to some inhand shows with a stablemate before I rode but I didn’t and I wish I had! It also didn’t help that she didn’t go on the float and when we actually arrived we had no time (we had to take Gordy to the show and then Mum and Dad had to go back and get Poppy). And as I expected once Poppy saw Gordy all her manners and everything we had been working on was gone. I had to ride out the back of the line-up for Best Presented as she wouldn’t stand still or stop neighing out or listen at all. In Best Walking she paced

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few days and I hated that we finished our ridden season on a bad note especially after how far we had come. But I had to find the positives and I did. In this season in inhand we got three wides and seven first place ribbons, we entered our first Premier Show and got third in Mare and in ridden we attended four shows where in every show we placed in the top three in the majority of the classes. For our second ever season where we are both learning I was pretty stoked with those results! Every goal I made I achieved and I am so proud of what we have done together. After every season we all want a break so Poppy is out eating lots of grass and I have started to go to riding lessons once a week on a very, very quiet riding school horse. I was really, really nervous to begin with but those feelings are starting to ease and I am learning more and more every time. I even had my first canter the other day - I did think I was going to die but I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to have another go next week and just relax! I truly recommend getting lessons if you can. I am learning a lot about myself and the more I learn the better I will be for Poppy. The horse I ride is pushbutton and really slow and quiet but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good! Because I am learning those technical things that I read about all the time but I can actually do them on a horse who knows what I am asking. Poppy will stay out for another month or two and then we will look at getting serious for the next season!

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The adventures of Hoofing Around for Change Long Distance Horse Rider, Adventurer, Public Speaker

Column - MARIE PALZER

Marie Palzer featured in our February edition of Equine Online and we are excited to announce that Marie has decided to come on board as a monthly columnist. We can’t wait to hear all about Marie’s exciting adventures!

What story would your horse say about the experience he/she had with you today if he/she could talk? Would it be a happy, frustrated or joyful story?

is filled with excitement, anticipation, fear and research.

believed that the ‘how’ would reveal itself. Over the past six months I have worked

It is a time where you plane some of the

harder than I ever have before not only

greatest days that you will ever get to

training but also saving money. My ‘lead

experience.

up’ time for the Mongol Derby has been

In November 2016 I received the email

The best thing of embarking on

one that has managed to remind me yet

from ‘The Adventurist’ which held my

adventures that involve your horses is

again that we are living our own story,

rider intervention to compete in the

that throughout this period of time, you

a story which is written by no one but

worlds longest and toughest horse race

priorities your time with your horses

ourselves.

the Mongol Derby.

above almost all else, which leads to your

Training for a 1,000km horse race isn’t

relationship becoming much stronger,

something that you can just take lightly,

filled with a powerful sense of trust.

I know that every little bit of training I

Since this day I have embarked on a long journey, a journey which I would call the

I knew that the lead up of the Mongol

do will make my life easier whilst I am

Looking back now to when I planned my

Derby was never going to be easy as one

in Mongolia. I am currently completing

four month solo horse back trek some of

of the hurdles was/is to save and fundraise

between two or three cross-fit classes per

my greatest memories are within the ‘lead

$20,000 so that I am able to pay the entry

week, to strengthen my muscles.

up’ stage. It is a period of your life which

fee. From the very start I committed and

‘lead up’ journey.

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I am training my endurance and stamina

through running and cycling no less than 40km per week and of course keeping ‘saddle fit’ by ridding my three beautiful ponies every spare second of day light. I know that the Mongol Derby is going to be one of the toughest things that I would have embarked on so far and perhaps it will be the toughest thing I will ever do. Because of this I am also doing a lot of mental preparation, allowing myself to think and process thoughts and feelings both positive and a negative. I am spending time in the great outdoors, camping and tramping by myself to allow myself to strengthen my mental mind, to learn how to push myself when things get tough and to put myself in situations where I concisely need to take over my instincts to deal with a situation most effectively and safely for me and the horse. After each ride I try and imagine what my horse would say about his experience with me that day. I endeavour for my ‘horses stories’ to be filled with respect, friendships, excitement, a sense of adrenaline and of course a sense of security. Until next time - Marie Palzer, Hoofing Around for Change.

For more info have a look at Hoofing Around for Change’s facebook and Instagram accounts.

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How to be BRAVE... Column - JULIA LATHAM

Ever had that What if?? JULIA LATHAM talks us through getting ourselves past this crucial moment.

Feeling a little better I led him over for

I had made competing Charlie at the

They consume us and dominate our

arena familiarisation. A couple of riders

South Island Champs my goal when

thoughts and deprive us of the thing we

were coming out and they stopped and

he was so sick from the chemotherapy

love . And they also isolate us.

asked me if I was really going to be riding

(another story to be told at some stage!)

In February I drove into the showgrounds

an Arabian here and were they even

At the time it felt impossible yet here we

for the South Island Dressage Champs.

allowed to do dressage. My confidence

were! We slowly worked away at getting

It was a lovely sunny day; beautiful

hit rock bottom.

him fit and healthy. I ticked off the steps

What ifs…

warmbloods were everywhere looking fluid, impressive and imposing. The riders looked posh and elegant and in control. I very nearly turned around and drove home! What was I thinking! I shouldn’t be here with my little, finely built Arabian… and he’s chestnut with lots of bling… and he makes up these quirky arab dressage moves AT THE WRONG TIME… and I can’t ride... and, and, and!! I got out and walked slowly to the float and opened the door. Charlie gave me a little nicker as if to say “come on! We can do this!” So I unloaded him and we went for a walk.

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But then I stopped. I put into practice what I tell my clients.

in my plan. I have a wonderful support crew of

1. Be prepared, do the training at home

fellow riders who are always there for me

and get a trainer who believes in you

when the dressage queens get me down.

even when you don’t believe in yourself.

I love Charlie to bits and he makes me

2. Break your goal into bite size chunks. Have a progressive plan that gets you to the end result. 3. Surround yourself with positive people. 4. Do it for you! Compete against yourself and aim to improve each time. 5. Ride a horse you love and who suits you.

smile every time I ride him. So I decided I was going to be riding the highest scoring, blingy, chestnut Arabian at the South Islands… and I was! And what really made my day was a judge who came to find us and say that watching Charlie floating around the arena always makes her smile as we always look like we are having fun.

Breed profile Research- GRACE GRAY

GYPSY VANNER History: The Romany people of the British Isles began breeding these horses to pull their living wagons in either the late 18th century or early 19th century, however the breed was never registered to the middle to late 19th centuries and this was done by people other than the Romanichal. Physical characteristics: This breed has an average height of 14.2hh although their normal height ranges from 13.2hh to 15.2hh. They are most common in Piebald and Skewbald colouring although itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible for them to have other coat colours. Known for their strength, they are short coupled, have short yet strong necks, large bones and are compact with powerful hindquarters. Their most beautiful characteristics include their long and thick feathers, tail and mane! Disciplines: Known historically for being cart horses, this breed excels in most disciplines including driving, hunter/fox jumping, pleasure riding and showing - just to name a few!

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Quote it!

Never, ever

underestimate

the impotance of having fun!

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INTRODUCING

some exciting new sections

Your Youradvertisement advertisement here here

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Picture perfect

THE EQUINE ONLINE FAMILY

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

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Franco Tallis (Gordy) 5 year old brown Standardbred gelding Retired from racing on 1st April. 15.2 unofficially measured Well put together and moves nicely. Will need time to fill out. Gordy went to his first show on 7th May. We were very late (floating issues with my mare!!) We got there and the first class was already started so we literally pulled him off the float and into the ring and he was such a gentleman. He really seemed to love it and was perfectly behaved. He then was happily tied up for the afternoon while I rode my mare and again he was perfect!! I would love to see him in the show ring when he has built up

and I think he will really enjoy showing. A good home is absolutely essential $200 Rolleston, Christchurch Phone or text 0276364355

WANTED 5ft Show set - hood/tailbag/cover Phone or text - 0273751609

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monthly madness TH F O E

MEM

NT O M E

TIP TIME Too much shampoo is difficult to rinse out and can leave skin itchy, so go easy on the soap. Use only about half the amount you think you need!

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha JOKES UP!

Q: What do you call a scary female horse? A: A nightmare!

Arion Animal of the Month

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Name - Ella Age - 10 months Favourite Food - Bread Fun Fact -Ella is a super playful Jersey Cow

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next month

We have an exciting giveaway coming up! Keep an eye out for another product review from Naturally Equine to help your horse become a healthier, happier horse. We have more from our foaling midwife. Our monthly columns will be backto inspire you in every way! Stay tuned for Courtneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Diary as she tackles cantering! Keep an eye out for our next Arion Animal of the Month! We will have more up to date news from around the country. AND keep an eye out for our new pony club section!

Want your pony club to feature in Equine Online? Send us your details and we will be in touch with details on our exciting new section!

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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