7 minute read
Fuelling the fire
NRM and McMillan Equine Feeds have been supplying the equestrian circuit with top-quality supplementary feed for generations. From show jumping and polo to dressage and racing, getting equine nutrition right is a priority for many riders looking to make their mark within their respective discipline. In this article, The Farmlander caught up with a couple of riders who work closely with NRM and McMillan and are achieving great success on the competition circuit.
Name: Emma Watson Location: Morrinsville, Waikato Discipline: Show Jumping Horses: Maddox Letino, Maddox Kiwi Silverkee Sponsored by: NRM
As with many top riders in the equestrian circuit, 17-year old Emma Watson began riding before she could walk. With both her mother, Melissa and father, Bruce involved in show jumping and polo, Emma fell into the sport with ease. A successful pony show jumper, Emma has ridden for New Zealand five times. After winning the New Zealand Pony Grand Prix show jumping series multiple times Emma has now moved onto hacks and enjoyed being competitive in both the Junior Rider (riders aged 12-18 years) and the Young Rider (14-21 years) series before making the step up to Grand Prix level with Maddox Letino. “It was a real accomplishment to make the New Zealand Young Rider Squad again this season and to have already won a Grand Prix class with Maddox Letino,” Emma says. “Having a good feed routine has always been a big part of my riding and competing. Mum has fed NRM since she was young, so it has been a product we have trusted and fed for years. “NRM has been great at doing tutoring sessions with us and have taught us a lot about the difference in the types of feeds and how to get maximum benefits out of them for each individual horse. “I always know what to feed my horses and what will help them feel their best thanks to the team at NRM,” Emma says. Name: Simon and Claire Wilson Location: Waipukurau, Central Hawke’s Bay Discipline: Show Jumping Horses: McMillans Ariados, McMillans Chuck Sponsored by: McMillan Equine
Claire and Simon Wilson know their way around a show jumping arena. From humble beginnings in Pony Club, hunting and jumping, Claire and Simon have enjoyed a huge amount of success in the arena. Both have won the coveted Olympic Cup at the Horse of the Year show in 2006 and 2004, respectively and have also represented New Zealand. The Wilsons started their relationship with McMillan Equine 10 years ago. “In those early days, we were introduced to start promoting this new South Island feed to the North Island equestrian community,” Claire remembers. They now have regular contact with Equine Nutritionist Luisa Wood, whose expertise has been invaluable in recommending the perfect diet for each of their horses. “The whole family are involved — we have horses in a wide variety of disciplines, from racing and jumping to hunting and Pony Club… no two are the same! The horses have been in perfect condition and this has given us the time and energy to focus on all the other aspects of our riding and training. “We are also passionate about encouraging younger riders into the sport and for many years, McMillan Equine has supported our various initiatives. We are very proud to have been part of this adventure!” Claire says.
Name: Vanessa Way Location: Oakura, Taranaki Discipline: Dressage Horses: NSC Andreas, NSC Timbermill Prequel Sponsored by: NRM
A self-confessed “pony stalker”, Vanessa Way spent much of her early childhood feeding ponies over the fence of a local stud. The owner eventually invited her in for a ride and with non-horsey parents, Vanessa managed her horses herself, getting into eventing as a teenager. Winning the 1993 Bell Tea Horse Trial was the highlight of her career before a horrific fall on the cross-country track in 1998 left her with little love for jumping. Renowned dressage rider and trainer Bill Noble convinced her to give dressage a try and she hasn’t looked back. Having fed NRM to her horses since she first began riding, Vanessa was already very familiar with the brand when she began working as a flight attendant while still competing as an eventer. “Our relationship began 20 years ago at least! The reps would be on my flights, so I used to hassle them about sponsoring me,” Vanessa laughs. “I really appreciate the sponsorship as I had to work hard to build up my unbroken youngsters to Grand Prix level. There has been a lot of trial and error in training my own horses up the levels but NRM has fuelled the fire.” Winning the Dressage Horse of the Year trophy twice with her legendary warmblood Arvan and consistent results overseas have been testament to Vanessa’s focus on quality over quantity. “Dougal Scott from NRM helps with the nutritional department and being New Zealand made, you know that the product is going to work with New Zealand horses,” Vanessa says. “In saying that, NRM was also very good at linking me up with international feed companies when I was in Europe so that my horses could stay on a similar diet and feeding programme. They were an excellent sounding board and really supported me. “It’s 100% all about the product and my horses are just looking and doing so well.” Name: Tessa van Bruggen Location: Blenheim, Marlborough Discipline: Dressage Horses: Fiorenza Sponsored by: McMillan Equine
Dressage is in Tessa van Bruggen’s blood. Growing up around her mother, Franzi and grandfather, Melle’s dressage stable meant that Tessa was never far from the arena. “Mum had Grand Prix horses when I was growing up and it was on my parents’ imported stallion, Furst Jupp, that I was able to feel the movements of higher-level dressage and can now translate that through to my own horses,” Tessa explains. Tessa is currently campaigning the talented Fiorenza, a daughter of Furst Jupp. Bred on the property, Tessa has trained Fiorenza since she was young and is currently competing at Level 7 after winning the Level 5 class at the Horse of the Year show. “Winning at Level 5 was a huge achievement on a mare I’ve trained myself, it was such a reward,” Tessa says. Treating the horses as athletes has been a running theme through the van Bruggen stable and it was while Tessa was purchasing some McMillan feed in a Farmlands store that the first mention of sponsorship came up in conversation “I ended up going up to the McMillan Equine team at a show, introducing myself and asking for sponsorship,” Tessa laughs. “Just like the All Blacks have nutritionists, our horses also have top nutritional needs. If we can’t meet those needs then we can’t expect good results.” Tessa manages her equine nutrition through her Microsteed account, set up by Equine Nutritionist Luisa Wood. Microsteed creates meal plans specific to each horse and creates a direct link between Tessa and Luisa to tailor feeding plans. “I’ll put in how much each horse is getting into the account and it will send off the report to Luisa to check. She will then email back and advise on where the diet needs work or whether it’s right on the money. Any time I have an issue, Luisa is there to help or to direct me to the right place,” Tessa says.
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