Equestrian Hub Magazine July August 2021 by Equestrian Hub Magazine

JULY / AUGUST 2021

Jess Stones The low-down on show preparation

The love of liberty

Dan Steers on his road to the top

Jade Findlay Cross country and the fab four

Rain scald

The how, the why and what to do

Rozzie Ryan

Gems from a Grand Prix dressage great

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Editor Amanda McWhinnie amanda@equestrianhub.com.au Advertising Enquiries Fiona Todd 0414 760 067 fiona@equestrianhub.com.au The Saddle Hub Sales Enquiries Shae Herwig info@equestrianhub.com.au

Website/Subscriptions www.equestrianhub.com.au Published by Equestrian Hub PO Box 13, Tintenbar NSW 2478 0414 760067 info@equestrianhub.com.au www.equestrianhub.com.au Follow Equestrian Hub  equesthub  equesthub

On the Cover Jess Stones and Allira Park Paspaley, Champion Newcomer Ridden Hunter Pony at the 2021 Equestrian NSW Southern Cross Show Horse Spectacular (Image by Lisa Gordon). Magazine Layout Kimberley Bloom Design www.kimberleybloom.com.au kim@kimberleybloom.com.au

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Contents 4 7 8 18 22 26 34 38 42 48 55 56

Our Contributors From the Horse’s Mouth Spotlight on Dan Steers Brister’s Brief Ask and Expert: Jess Stones Feature: Kryal Castle Vet Vibes: Rain Scald Feature: Eventer Jade Findlay Nutrition: Feeding Performance Horses Feature: Colour Genetics Part 2 European Trends: KEP Italia Feature: Keeping it in Mind

ISSUE #4 • JULY/AUGUST 2021

64 Feature: EQUITANA 66 Life After Racing 70 Horse Breed: Standardbred 76 Feature: Chris Nott Special Olympics 83 Saddle Review: Devoucoux Chiberta Lab 84 On My Tackbox: Breaking it Down 88 Training Tips: Handling the Equine Athlete 98 Young Rider: Bella Napthali 100 Perfect Partners: Emma Mason & Marcus 102 20 Questions with Rozzie Ryan 104 Stockists E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 3

O U R C O N T R I B U TO R S

Enya Crockford A rider for most of her life, Enya has been a qualified coach since her teens. She's trained numerous horses up through the eventing levels and is currently working with her sweet but opinionated homebred mare. To understand the connection between your thoughts and the way you ride, don’t miss Enya’s fascinating mindset article.

Amanda Mac As editor of Equestrian Hub Magazine, Amanda’s two longstanding passions, one for horses and the other for writing, blend together perfectly. She recently chatted with Dan Steers of Double Dan fame about life in the limelight and his love of liberty, before a virtual visit to Kryal Castle revealed there’s more to jousting than meets the eye.

Dr Babak Nobari Babak joined Barastoc in 2017 as Senior Nutritionist. With extensive academic and scientific knowledge in Animal-Equine Nutrition, he is pioneering work in the development and application of technology in equine nutrition – and in this issue takes an expert look at what you can do to support a beautiful, well-built, and impressive performance horse.

Jessica Morton Jessica is a dual national New Zealand-Italian freelance journalist, equestrian traveller and writer. Currently based in Tuscany, she’s perfectly positioned to bring us the very latest in European equestrian innovations and trends. In this issue she looks at KEP Italia’s Cromo 2.0, a technologically advanced, state-of-the-art helmet that offers safety as well as fashion-forward comfort.

Jade Findlay A full time eventer and EA coach who has trained and competed horses to the top level, Jade spoke to us about a few things near and dear to her heart, including the type and temperament you should look for in your next eventing star, nerves, and her fab four cross country training fences.

Dr Kao Castle Kao has a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Advanced Chemistry, and a PhD in Veterinary Science. In 2013, she founded Practical Horse Genetics, offering DNA testing for owners and breeders keen to identify the genes underlying coat colours and health. Don’t miss Part Two of her fascinating insights on colour – it’s a must read.

4 | EQUESTRIAN HUB JULY/AUGUST 2021

Charlie Brister Regular columnist Charlie is an all-round horseman and an expert in retraining problem horses. He also coaches riders in the art of cross country, show jumping and dressage. If you and your unicorn struggle to execute a passable flying change, Charlie has you covered with the final of his two-part series on that very subject.

Dr Doug English A veterinarian and long-time turmeric researcher, Doug completed his Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland in 1974. He’s well-known throughout Australia for his work in the equine industry and is a long-time Equine Veterinarians Australia member - and if those wet weather predictions are correct, his article on Rain Scald couldn’t be more timely.

O U R C O N T R I B U TO R S

Christine Armishaw Christine is a horse trainer, coach and passionate eventing and jumping rider. A Kiwi girl based in NSW, she teaches others not just how to ride, but also how to understand their horse. In this issue she meets Special Olympics National Equestrian Coordinator Christine Nott and explores the amazing power of giving.

Chris Nott Chris shines in her volunteer role of National Equestrian Coordinator for the Special Olympics. Initially becoming involved because she wanted to help out, fifteen years later the progress she’s made is truly extraordinary. A champion of the Special Olympics Equestrian program, the growth of the sport owes much to her passion and boundless energy.

Jess Stones When she’s not notching up show jumping successes, she’s working her magic in the show ring. Jess, one of Australia's most successful show riders, has won a multitude of titles including the prestigious Garryowen. Her show preparation expertise is second to none, and she kindly shares some of that knowledge in our ‘Ask an Expert’ feature.

David Shoobridge David is an elite Australian dressage rider and highly sought after trainer and coach. His partnership with KWPN stallion 00 Seven was one of Australia’s most successful FEI dressage combinations. Don’t miss his final, information packed article on building a relationship with your young horse – the advice and tips he shares are absolutely invaluable.

Suzy Jarratt Suzy has lengthy and varied form on the board as a writer and presenter. She works for several Australian and overseas companies and is the author of three published books. Two years ago she won an international award for equestrian journalism, and in this issue turns her attention to the remarkable and very versatile Standardbred.

Sonia Caeiro Alvarez Sonia is a journalist, editor and writing workshop facilitator. She’s had a lifelong love affair with horses, although sadly does not have any and so lives out her passion vicariously through her pony-owning friends. She recently had the pleasure of talking to champion eventer Emma Mason about her delightfully quirky partner Warrego Marco Polo.

Rozzie Ryan Rozzie needs little introduction. An internationally recognised Grand Prix dressage rider, she has competed at the World Cup and WEG, and was an Olympic reserve. Along with husband Heath, she owns and manages Ryan’s Horses, an always busy equestrian training and breeding centre, but kindly took time out to answer our 20 Questions.

Wayne Copping Wayne has served as a National Eventing Selector, a 5* Course Designer, FEI course design seminar presenter, a mentor for CDs, and is an International Eventing Officials Club board member. He participated in the early testing of frangible devices, helping to formulate the policies governing their use, and in this issue discusses their development and benefits. E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 5

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Delivering Dreams Scholarship Recipients announced next issue! To find out more visit www.equestrianhub.com.au/delivering-dreams-scholarship/

Photo: Nadeen Davis Photography & Digital Art 6 | EQUESTRIAN HUB JULY/AUGUST 2021

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

From the Horse’s Mouth

And David, from all your friends at Equestrian Hub, our condolences on the sad announcement of 00 Seven’s passing. Your amazing relationship with him is embodied in the spirit of this article. In the second part of Christine Armishaw’s colour genetics series she again talks to Dr Kao Castle about genetics and how some of those fancy

With Fiona Todd

colours come about. Naturally, my fave is Champagne! But seriously, just wait

Can you believe it! We are officially on

until you learn about melanocytes,

the downhill slide to Christmas.

tobiano and frame overo!

Thank you to everyone who applied for

European correspondent Jess Morton

the Delivering Dreams Scholarship. We

gives us the heads up on the latest in

have been overwhelmed with applicants

Italian helmet technology, and in Life

from all age groups, all states, and

After Racing we have Queensland

many disciplines. Chasing your dreams,

in the winners’ circle with an OTT

however big or small, and being the

Standardbred and Thoroughbred who

best you can be is what it’s all about.

are enjoying successful careers in the

Applications for the new round (which is

show and eventing arenas.

now open and will be even bigger than

Luke Purtill, joint winner of the last

this one) will close on the 31st December.

round of Delivering Dreams, recently

But without further ado, welcome to

introduced me to the inspiring Christine

another inspirational, info-rich issue

Nott. Chris reminds me that there are

of Equestrian Hub Magazine. Dan

some truly wonderful humans in the

Steers of Double Dan fame is under the

world, and you can read all about her in

spotlight – and if you’ve ever dreamed

this issue.

of reaching the highest levels in your discipline, but question your ability, this

Wayne Copping climbs onto his Tackbox

story is a must read. It’s a great reminder

to explain frangibles, and in nutrition we

that every equestrian starts at the

talk topline. Our breed article features

beginning and gets to the top along a

In Vet Vibes Dr Doug takes on Rain

the versatile Standardbred, while this

tough and winding road.

Scald, such a horrid but very common

issue’s Young Rider is vaulter Bella

Charlie Brister brings us Part 2 of the

condition to have to deal with. Who

Napthali, and our Perfect Partners are

Flying Change series, this time aimed at

hasn’t tried to cure a case of Greasy

Emma Mason and Warrego Marco Polo.

the show jumpers in the audience. He

Heel? Our resident veterinary expert

July/August is action packed - so sit back,

also asks 20 Questions of the amazing

explains the causes and offers some

pour your favourite tipple and enjoy! By

Rozzie Ryan.

great advice on treatment.

the way, for the first time ever we’ll be

Following Charlie, we introduce a new

Do you get nervous when you compete?

column ‘Ask an Expert’, and to get the show on the road we invited the always impressive Jess Stones to share some of her tried and true strategies for show ring success. Amanda Mac talks jousting with world champion Phillip Leitch and discovers what it takes to reach the top. She

releasing this issue as an audiobook.

Jade Findlay sheds light on her coping

Have a super month everyone and

strategies, plus some of her top training

give your ponies a pat from all of us at

insights. And in a world where we are

Equestrian Hub.

becoming more and more aware that thoughts are things, Enya Crockford reminds us that what goes on in our minds affects how we ride our horses.

also finds out how heavy those suits of

David Shoobridge brings us a bumper

armour really are!

Handling the Equine Athlete Part Two. E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 7

Dan Steers working Dan James' Liberty team in Lexington, Kentucky (Image courtesy Double Dans Horsemanship).

t’s easy to look at someone who’s arrived smack in the middle of the equestrian world’s spotlight without

fully appreciating the winding, and

S P OT L I G H T

For the love of liberty

sometimes difficult road that got them there. That tongue-in-cheek saying ‘it takes ten years to become an overnight success’ is more often true than not. Stretch that out by a few extra years, and you have some idea of Dan Steers’ journey to the top. To begin at the beginning, Dan didn’t come from a horse loving family. In fact

One half of Double Dan Horsemanship, Dan Steers talks to AMANDA MAC about his journey from a Perth suburb to the international stage, and his fascinating philosophy on horses at liberty.

he had little to no interest in horses while growing up in Kalamunda, a town to the east of Perth, Western Australia. But purely by chance all that changed when Dan was 14. He and his classmates were away on a school camp, and as part of the adventure went for a trail

S P OT L I G H T

By the time Year 10 rolled around, Dan

offered and had accepted a job in the US.

knew he wanted a career with horses.

Although Dan had the option of going to

So to complete his school’s work

a different trainer, those circumstances

experience requirement, he contacted

made it easy for him to follow his heart

a local Thoroughbred spelling and

and head home.

retraining business and was accepted. It was eye-opening and he learned a lot, but he also realised that the racing industry was not for him. Although keen to begin working with horses as soon as possible, Dan’s father was adamant that if his son was to leave school at the end of Year 10, it would be to start an apprenticeship and learn a trade. A lucky stroke for young Dan, who became apprenticed to well-known master farrier and horseman Pete Webber. Pete gave Dan a solid grounding in horsemanship as well as in

She's a really great mare and pretty much the mother of my complete liberty team, and the sire is a stallion I bought in my early twenties who still performs with us.

farriering. He also helped him purchase a Quarter Horse yearling. “I kept her

During his farriering apprenticeship with

at Pete’s place and as I was doing my

Pete, Dan had met Pia, whose father

apprenticeship he taught me how to

owned a Thoroughbred stud. When the

break her in and train her,” Dan says.

couple started dating, Pia’s dad offered

With luck apparently firmly on his side, it turned out that the purchase was better than a good call: “She's a really great mare and pretty much the mother of my complete liberty team, and the sire is a stallion I bought in my early twenties ride on horseback. “That was it for me,

who still performs with us,” he tells me.

Dan a job. With little or no cutting in WA at the time, Dan had turned his hand to campdrafting, so the fact that there were also Australian Stock Horses on the property made the opportunity irresistible. “We were into campdrafting and showing, so I got to hone my skills on plenty of horses because with the

I was just fascinated. l went for another

By the end of his apprenticeship, Dan

Thoroughbreds there might be 50 or

few trail rides, and then my dad helped

had decided that farriering was not his

60 foals a year. Pia’s dad, a really good

long term dream job. As it happened,

horseman, and myself were doing most

Pete also fancied a change of pace and

of the foal handling and yearling prep,

together they began exploring the world

and then I’d also break and train the

of cutting. “The sport was probably a bit

Stock Horses with him,” Dan explains.

me find someone who gave lessons in natural horsemanship,” says Dan, acknowledging a discovery that would have far reaching future benefits.

amateurish in WA in comparison to the

His love of horsemanship grew, mainly

east coast or obviously America, but I

on the backs of borrowed horses, until he was eventually able to lease a Stockhorse cross mare. An older horse, her zest for life was undiminished. “She was pretty hot on the trail and was great to ride out, but when you turned to come home she just got harder and harder to hold. And

pretty quickly got addicted to working cattle. So I started contacting the cutting horse trainers I'd seen in magazines and landed a job with Corey Holden when I was 17.”

This productive partnership continued for a number of years until Dan and Pia moved north to manage a 10,000 acre cattle property. “I’d take a few horses in for breaking, we had our own campdraft horses, and I'd be shoeing a few days a week,” he recalls. The work/

Taking his horse and little else with him,

life balance suited the couple very well.

Dan travelled to Victoria and completed a

Pia was studying to be a vet, and the

six month traineeship with Corey before

future seemed set. Dan saw himself

not knowing any better, about a kilometre

returning to Perth for Christmas. But by

as a part time farrier and horse trainer,

from home I’d just let her gallop back,”

the time he arrived back at Corey’s in the

Pia would be a vet, they’d buy a farm

Dan recalls, amused by the memory.

New Year, Corey, a top cutter, had been

of their own, have kids and live happily E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 9

S P OT L I G H T

Practising till the horse can’t get it wrong (Image courtesy Double Dans Horsemanship). ever after in WA. But before their vision

DJ had Dan earmarked to be his partner:

Long story short, Dan eventually joined

came to fruition, Dan’s path crossed

“I blew him off pretty quickly because Pia

DJ at El Caballo after negotiating an

with Dan James (who we’ll call DJ to

and I had our own plans. Pia was in her

agreement that was very favourable

avoid confusion), and that changed the

last year at university, my business was

for them both – and it’s a decision he’s

course of things quite dramatically and quite quickly. Dan met Queensland born and bred DJ, who had had a lifelong passion for

going well and we were really happy.” So DJ took the job on his own and life went on as normal for Dan and Pia.

never regretted. Their partnership grew as they performed together in multiple weekly shows. Initially, they were training their own horses and using them in the

But not for long! Dan got a call from

show, which, Dan reckons, was a perfect

DJ asking him to come to El Caballo to

arrangement as they were getting paid to

good friends,” Dan says. “At that point

take a look at a horse with a shoeing

practice. “We often reminisce about our

I'd been campdrafting for a fair while,

problem. Always happy to help, Dan

El Caballo days. It was probably the best

but he was pretty new to it so he asked

obliged. After he had given his opinion

me for some tuition. Because I had a

on the horse, DJ invited him to lunch at

background in natural horsemanship, I

the onsite restaurant where they were

But for Dan it was also a tough time in

rode some of my horses without saddles

joined by El Caballo’s owner, who began

many ways. Pia had already taken a

and bridles, could lay them down, and

peppering Dan with questions about his

job near her father’s farm, so it was a

horses, at a campdraft. “We had a lot of things in common and we became

do some really basic liberty with them. So I showed him that too.” DJ, who had been trick riding with his horses and had performed at several shows including the Perth Royal, was then offered a job at El Caballo Blanco,

life and work.

deal we've had in our lives. We were very lucky, very fortunate.”

three-and-a-half-hour trip from El Caballo to see Pia, and 90 minutes to the farm

If at this point you suspect a set-up,

Dan managed. A hard ask that lasted for

you’d be right! “Thinking he was just

around 18 months.

being friendly, I was telling him what I was up to when he quite abruptly

Then DJ, always the entrepreneur, came up with the idea of moving east to grow

an Andalusian theme park located to

stopped me and said well, you sound

their business: “And I was pumping

the north of Perth. The idea was to bring

too busy to come to work for me. And

the brakes on it,” Dan laughs. “It was

an Australiana element to the otherwise

that was when I realised I was in a job

probably a bit outside the comfort zone

Spanish riding horse infused show, and

interview,” Dan laughs.

when it came to Pia’s and my plans.”

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www.groverscountryclothing.com

E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 11

S P OT L I G H T

However, fate had other ideas. While still

Not that that reduced the immensity

The show’s producers approached the

working at El Caballo, they performed

of the decision. Pia resigned from her

Dans through a friend of theirs, a show

together at the 2008 Perth Royal, which

dream job in a business owned by long-

biz agent, which, although they still had

attracted the interest of the Sydney Royal

time family friends, who nonetheless

to audition, gave them a bit of a walk up

organisers who approached Dan and

encouraged her to go, reassuring her

start. With three ‘yeses’ from the judges,

DJ, asking them to perform in the 2009

that the job would be there when she

they were planning on going through

Sydney Easter Show. “We put together

returned. “That was nice and we had our

to the next round when filming for the

a quote which included a performance

families’ support too,” Dan says. “We

show moved to the Chanel 7 studios in

fee and a travel fee. The return travel fee from Perth to Sydney was significantly higher than the fee for 20 days of performing, so combined it was a healthy sum of money,” Dan tells me. The quote was accepted, and as DJ was quick to point out, their ticket to moving east had just landed in their laps. It was a big decision for Dan

were at the right age and we didn't have too many commitments. Pia and I were engaged by then and I think our families saw it as maybe a 12 month to two year adventure, before we came home and got serious about life!” But that wasn’t the way things worked out. After their Sydney Royal

Melbourne. “We got a call from them saying that unfortunately, the horses weren’t going to be allowed into the studio. So if you were following the show, we actually never got voted out. We got the three ‘yeses’ and then we disappeared,” says Dan. While the Dans may not have progressed any further through the

and Pia, but they had a contingency

performance, bookings began flooding in:

show’s heats, the overall promotional

plan. Other than the Sydney Royal, the

Adelaide, Melbourne, a handful of smaller

value was staggering. When their

Double Dans had only two other shows

shows, Equitana, WEG, and Australia’s

episode aired, their Facebook ‘likes’

booked in the east. “So I thought well,

Got Talent, which Dan remembers as a

multiplied rapidly, followed by phone

we’ll go over, do those shows and I’ll

story in itself. “We’d seen the show, and

calls from equestrian event organisers

compete with our stock horses while

decided we were going to have a crack

wanting to book them. Their appearance

we're there,” Dan recalls. “Then when

at it, and although we didn’t know it at the

was featured on the show’s ‘best of’ reel

we get low on finances, Pia and I can

time, it so happened they were looking

and was picked up and played by other

go home and start up our life again.”

for animal talent.”

‘Got Talent’ franchises around the world.

12 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

S P OT L I G H T

“I was even recognised in Canada after it aired there,” Dan recalls. Since then, and more particularly since COVID, DJ has been based in the US with his wife and children, while for the past six years Pia and Dan have been living happily on a property they purchased in Tamworth. Given that the one or two year adventure on the east coast is now closer to 12 years, their families are pretty much resigned to the fact that they’re not coming home. And in that time, Dan and Pia’s own family has grown: “Our eldest is a girl, Zara. She’s six going on sixteen,” Dan chuckles, “and Thomas our little boy is five this year.” But that doesn’t mean the Dans’ partnership has dissolved – far from it. “Although it’s not what we originally intended, we work individually within the Double Dan Horsemanship brand. He would love me to be there in the States with him, but I stopped at moving east. I’m not going to let him trick me into the US as well,” Dan laughs. “So we perform together as much as we can, and we teach the same program. Whether he's representing the brand, or I’m representing the brand, it's still our brand.” The conversation then moves on to a subject that fascinates me: training horses at liberty. I ask Dan for his definition and he tells me that for both himself and DJ, it’s more of a philosophy than a technique. Simply put, it's about creating a clear pathway of communication with your horse without having any physical connection,

LEFT: Almora Spring, started and showed by Dan, finished 3rd in the 2021 NCHA Autumn Spectacular Snaffle Bit Futurity (Image by Liz Speed Photography). ABOVE: From Australian country shows to WEG, Dan’s horsemanship has taken him around the world (Image courtesy Double Dans Horsemanship).

We often reminisce about our El Caballo days. It was probably the best deal we've had in our lives. We were very lucky, very fortunate.

essentially have our ideas become our horses’ ideas so that they’re in control: they want to work around us, they want to lie down, because in their minds, they’re actually training the human.” And for Dan, that's the fun part, that’s the challenge. “You've got to be really intuitive and focused on your horse’s signals so you can read your horse and make adjustments. We conduct liberty clinics all around the world, although obviously not right now with the COVID

so essentially the horse is able to use their free will. “Once you have

to do is the release rather than the

situation, and it's something that I’m

communication, you want a willing

cause of pressure, which as Dan points

still inspired to teach because the only

partnership and that's what it’s ultimately

out, is far harder than it might sound.

way to succeed at liberty is to keep

all about. You can't start off without

“They have to recognise it as zero

getting better. Once you let go of your

that,” he says.

pressure because they now have other

horse, you can’t fake it,” Dan says, his

Of course horses learn through the

options. They’ve got free will and can

enthusiasm obvious. “The horse must be

release of pressure, and with liberty the

literally go and stand in the corner and

truly willing to work at liberty. I want the

aim is to create ways for the horse to

get their own release of pressure. What

horse knowing he's got other options,

perceive that what they’re being asked

we have to do with liberty training is to

but not choosing them.” E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 13

S P OT L I G H T

Always keen to learn, Dan reckons

Entertaining the 2018 Equitana audience with a hilarious dressage ‘test’ (Image courtesy Double Dans Horsemanship).

that some trainers are more intuitive than others, and they’re the people he benefits from associating with and learning from: “I've had this whole conversation with a lot of other trainers, and to them, if a horse isn’t that good, he’ll never be good enough to perform at a high level, so they’re not interested in spending time with him.” Dan recognises that if a trainer is in a niche position and is only working with top performance horses, then that approach is understandable. But his take on horsemanship is based on rather a different philosophy: the belief that it’s his job to make the horse the best they can

That suggests the need to fully

that they can be. It’s a case of figuring

engage the horse’s active and willing

out what’s preventing each horse from

be, or to get as close to it as possible.

participation: “One hundred per cent!”

getting better, he says, and that’s where

And there’s another aspect to this that

Dan agrees. “We’re encouraging the

he and Warwick Schiller align [see the

Dan is very conscious of: “Sometimes

horse to be in control. I often say in

January 2021 Spotlight on Warwick]: “We

I'm not even capable of making them the

my clinics, I don’t practice until I get

spend a lot of time talking about this.

best they can be, so it’s making them the

it right, I practice until the horse can't

Because in order to work out what the

best that I can make them, and seeing

get it wrong. We have to work on the

issue is, you have to be really focused

horse x so that they see what we're doing as a reward, as relaxation. And if he's

- Warwick calls it being present – and

enjoying it, why would he want to do

and wants to do better. If you just narrow

anything else?”

down on what you think is the problem

But that’s not how it started for either Dan or DJ, who became successful as entertainers before understanding the relaxation principle, which Dan acknowledges was dangerous

work with the horse so he understands

– he’s not good on the left, or he’s not good at this or that - and then just attack it, that's when the horse says well, I

things more from their perspective than mine. And it's really hard to maintain that. I can talk about it, I can preach it, and I can do it for periods of time, and then I get sucked back into being competitive or whatever, and I have to remind myself of my own principles.”

already didn't like that and now you're

Dan Steers is clearly all for keeping

just making it worse,” he explains.

it real.

because it relied on figuring out how to manipulate the horses into doing what they wanted them to do. “But without willingness there’s no relaxation, and without relaxation, you can only hold it together for so long. It’s totally changed how we perceive things. It means you’ve got to spend more time because it takes more time. It's no different to trying to tell an anxious person to just relax because nothing bad's going to happen. Try saying that and see what kind of response you get,” he jokes. As I talk to Dan, it quickly becomes clear that he walks the talk. His aim is to give his horses the opportunity to be the best

The Double Dans and Dan’s daughter Zara Steers (Image courtesy Double Dans Horsemanship). E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 15

Charlie and five-year-old Bellhaven Cordino in left canter.

or a show jumper, there are quite a few differences around flying changes: from the age

that they will usually ask the horse

BRISTER’S BRIEF

Jumping into a change

for it, to the aids they use, and also to their expectation of how the horse will execute it. This isn't necessarily better or worse than the approach used in dressage – as with many things in the horse world it’s just different. In dressage, flying changes are not needed until the medium level. In show jumping and the jumping phases of eventing, they’re beneficial from the very

Part One of our two part flying change series

beginning. For this reason it’s useful

was tailored for dressage riders. In the series final,

to start training your show jumper to

CHARLIE BRISTER looks at how a show jumper might approach this manoeuvre.

change a bit earlier. Still, to avoid overly stressing them be mindful not to rush past your horse’s comfort zone.

BRISTERS BRIEF

Let’s talk a bit more about why we

that doing a change will make things

What if they don't get it?

need to do a flying change in a show

easier. Start with some trot to canter

Your horse might not understand and

jumping round. If your horse lands on

transitions. Can you do these easily?

continue in counter canter. Let them

the incorrect lead, it will be less efficient

Then do some walk to canter transitions.

counter canter for a while, which will

when travelling to the next fence. Doing a simple change through trot is acceptable but will slow you down. Being able to do a smooth flying change so the

It doesn't have to be a perfect transition on the bit. You just want to feel that they are trying to give the right answer.

tire those muscles so that when you ask for the change, the new lead is more appealing. Once they have counter cantered, ask again. If you get the

rhythm of the canter is not affected is

Canter around the arena then go across

change make sure to soften your leg and

of immense value, and will enable your

the diagonal with the canter slightly

give a big scratch. Be mindful they might

bigger than a normal working canter.

kick up or get excited when they do a

horse to spend more time focusing on the jump ahead. It will also make it easier to maintain the correct number of strides between related lines.

When should you start? Most show jumping horses will be started at around the three-year-old

Bring them back to trot and change to the new canter lead. This is a simple change of lead. Do this a few times in each direction until you’re consistently getting the correct lead from trot.

change. Usually this happens when they are a little behind the leg so ride them forward and go again. Sometimes (a lot of the time with horses!) it doesn't go to plan. If it starts to fall apart just come back to trot and

mark. This is when you would expect

Repeat the exercise, but this time in

try again. Remember it won’t be a bad

them to do basic flatwork: walk, trot and

the canter get out of the saddle into

experience for the horse if you stay calm

canter in circles and straight lines in each

a half seat. Start turning to the new

and don't pressure them. If things are

direction. You wouldn't necessarily start

direction and apply your new outside

going pear shaped and you start kicking

training the flying change at this point in time. Yet, if there is a chance to ask for one you should ask for it.

Setting a young horse up for a flying change Get them in front of the leg! They shouldn't run away from the leg aid, but you should have a definite response

leg back behind the girth, using your leg aid a little more strongly than you

and pulling harder, that will generally makes things more stressful.

would normally for a canter departure.

When doing the change using this

The first footfall of a canter stride is the

approach, it's not going to be perfectly

outside hind leg. By applying your leg on the outside and back behind the girth you are more likely to activate the new

straight in the beginning. There will usually be a little drift to the new inside shoulder after the change. Gently go about correcting that without getting too

canter stride. If a horse was cantering at

worried. Go back a step and school your

you can get them a bit too sharp to the

liberty across the arena they would likely

basic transitions and introduce a bit of

leg so just be careful with that. The main

flying change in a similar fashion when

leg yield. This will prevent the shoulders

objective is to set them up so they feel

they change direction.

falling in when you ask for the change.

Asking for the change left to right canter. Horse is straight but a little above the bit.

Rod McQueen is staying out of the saddle to help the horse find his balance in the change.

Five-year-old Oaks Q is successfully into right canter.

without it being too sluggish. Sometimes

E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 19

BRISTERS BRIEF

Does your horse consistently land on a particular lead after a jump? If so it could be worth getting the chiropractor or vet to check them over for any imbalances. Remember you are dealing with a green

Here you want to remain subtle with

Feel which way the change is easier.

horse. Play the long game and eventually

your body – riders will quite often lean

Most horses find it smoother in one

you’ll be able to get the changes

in one direction, which can unbalance

direction than the other. This can usually

straighter and from more subtle aids.

the horse. Stay centred and use your

be fixed by more flatwork. Unfortunately,

How to make it easier

leg aids, eyes, and an opening rein to

most things are made better by good

indicate what you want from the horse.

flatwork (dressage)! So if you are

Since we’re talking about show jumpers,

struggling with your changes when out

why not use a pole on the ground or

Does your horse consistently land on

a small jump to help encourage the

a particular lead after a jump? If so it

change? Here you want to figure eight

could be worth getting the chiropractor

over the pole. Canter a 20 metre circle

or vet to check them over for any

to the left with the pole in the middle of

imbalances. Alternatively, they could

the arena. As you take off to go over the

have what Dr Andrew McLean would

Charlie is preparing an instructional

pole ask for the right canter while also

describe as a running foreleg: where

video to guide you through this article.

looking right and gently opening the

one foreleg (diagonal couplet) is harder

To watch these changes being ridden,

right rein. Then either give them a break

to slow down than the other. If this is the

jump into our VIP area. We’ll announce

or repeat the exercise from the right

case, go back to dressage and work on

on our social pages and via email to

rein. You can use a similar approach

getting better basic responses for go,

our VIPs when it’s live, so keep your

when doing the change over a jump.

stop, turn and yield.

eyes peeled!

Charlie and five-year-old Bellhaven Cordino in right canter

Change from right to left and staying out of the saddle to keep the forward momentum.

Successfully into left canter.

20 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

on a jumping course, maybe you need to go back to the arena for a few days. I hope this helps jumpstart your changes.

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ASK AN EXPERT

What’s the one thing you must have when you’re heading off to a show? My makeup box! We use Judges Choice makeup and plaiting products. So you've got your black and brown leg and eye makeup, and white cover cream. Then there’s the plaiting thread, elastics and my shine sprays, plaiting sprays and quarter mark sprays. Taking your own makeup box is a really key thing.

What are the most important things to train for at home? There's not one thing that outweighs anything else, but something a lot of people forget about with show horses is the walk. It’s an important part of your training ride – not just the trotting, cantering and fancy stuff. Also, try and ride your horse in an outside area. If you’re riding in an enclosed arena all the time, when you get to a show and you're suddenly out in an open space your horse doesn’t know how to follow its nose because it’s used to following a wall. I also think that with preparation and training – especially if you’re starting out with a young horse, or a horse that’s new to showing – that it’s really important to ride your horse in its complete show gear at home.

ASK AN EXPERT

Ask an expert

Show riding attire: what are the most important items to get right? Everything’s important to get right, but it can definitely be a big spoiler if you have a poorly fitting jacket, or one that’s not appropriately styled according to your event – whether you’re in show hunter, or rider classes. And it’s the same

One of Australia's most successful show riders, Jess Stones has won too many titles to count, including the much coveted Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout. So who better to ask about show preparation?

with breeches. Go for good fit and an appropriate colour. And not over the top! Less is definitely more. Things are starting to come back to a more traditional and tasteful look, so that’s nice!

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24 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

ASK AN EXPERT

What are your favourite quarter mark patterns and why?

sponsor, but I don't really change my jackets according to the colour of the

A double bridle or a snaffle – how do you decide?

We assess and decide what type

horse. If I’m at a show like the Grand

I let the horse tell me when they're ready

of patterns we put on each horse

Nationals for example, where I’ll ride a

for a double. My view is if the horse

according to its hindquarter build and

grey, a chestnut, a brown, a black, even

is good enough, it’s good enough no

structure, its rump, and how round,

a palomino pony that I show, I wear the

matter what bit is in its mouth. Generally,

plump or angular it is. Putting on

one jacket across all my horses.

bring your horse out in a newcomer

certain types of patterns will enhance

Numnahs, half pads or something else – what do you prefer in the ring?

it and make it look its best. So it really depends on the type of horse.

year in a snaffle. Towards the end of the year you might have a couple of events where you introduce the double. Then go back to a snaffle – just gently wean

In the hunters it's fairly basic because

All of our horses wear a full numnah, but

it's just stripes on the rump, and then

I'm definitely not opposed to a half pad.

shark’s teeth and a moon if needed.

I designed a numnah with our sponsor

Whether you want to fill up the space

Trailrace that’s only visible if you want

or leave it more open depends on the

than seeing a polished look, an elegant

it to be. It looks like a half pad but it’s

rider and a beautiful double bridle, but

type of horse and how you’re wanting to

actually a full numnah that’s hidden

I think whatever is right for the horse’s

enhance it.

under the saddle. From my point of view,

comfort and happiness comes first. That

What preparations can you use pre-event so your horse looks its best?

it’s more about the horse’s comfort. I

to me is more important than whether it’s

couldn't imagine wanting the leather of

got two reins attached to its bit or one.

a saddle flap rubbing on my side without

Jess and Rhys Stones of J & R

First, I’d like to stress that to me, a

any protection. So by all means put a

Equestrian have represented Australia

healthy, gleaming horse starts on the

sheepskin all the way around if you like

nationally and internationally, and

inside. So that comes back to good diet

that visual, but for me it’s the look of the

produce performance horses of the

and exercise.

half pad which is actually a full numnah but

highest quality. Visit www.facebook.

not visible under the flap of the saddle.

com/jandreques/ for details.

Prior to a show, our horses are all

them into it. That said, some judges are prejudiced towards a double. There’s nothing nicer

shampooed and conditioned with Judges Choice products. We generally put on a hot oil rinse to give extra shine to the coat and take out any dead hair. I use a taming wax to plait the mane, and for the tails I use Showsheen Absorbine before brushing and putting in their false tails. I might only use water to prepare their rumps for quarter marks, and then use Judges Choice Quarter Mark spray over the top.

What basic coats should riders have? Should you match your coat colour to your horse? Always go for something tasteful, well fitting, and appropriate for your event. There're a lot of Australian companies that aren’t ridiculously expensive and have a good range, so shop around. When it comes to matching your jacket with your horse’s colour – yes and no. It would depend on whether you’re talking hunter or open. I have quite a few jackets thanks to Just Neigh, my

ABOVE: Jess and Mikimoto won the 2019 Col A. V. Pope Cup the day before they triumphed in the prestigious Garryowen (Image by Lisa Gordon). OPPOSITE: Champion Newcomer Ridden Hunter Pony at the 2021 Equestrian NSW Southern Cross Show Horse Spectacular (Image by Lisa Gordon). E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 25

Lisa and Phillip Leitch performing with Cremello Lusitano Lucio Do Rei at the 2019 Baroque Horse Festival. All images by Rachael Walker Equine and Pet Photography.

F E AT U R E

Tales from the castle

hen you first glimpse the impressive turrets of Kryal Castle, you may well

think you’re having a Game of Thrones flashback. You’re not! Mind you, take a stroll around the castle grounds, and that first impression might linger, particularly if you happen to hear the pounding of hooves and a lance snapping as it connects with a knight’s shield. Kryal Castle is the legacy left behind by Keith Ryall, who, driven by a vision and a passion for the Middle Ages,

If you don’t know a chanfron from a caparison, read on. AMANDA MAC speaks to Kryal Castle’s Phillip Leitch about his love for all things medieval.

began building the castle in 1972. So it’s really quite fitting that the castle’s site manager is the equally passionate Phillip Leitch. Phillip, a world champion jouster, lives on site with wife Lisa and their 19-year-old daughter Mieka, with

the whole family contributing to a very

heads are protected with a plate armour

The castle’s horses are all Percheron

special brand of Kryal magic.

chanfron, and the colourful ornamental

– one full-blood and two Percheron

While there are plenty of medieval-style

rug-like covering worn over their body is

crosses – and most of the knights who

attractions within the castle walls, the

known as a caparison. The saddles used

ride and train at the castle with their

most fascinating by far is jousting, to

at Kryal Castle are reconstructions of

own horses favour the baroque breeds.

which there is very much more than

15th century war saddles and are made

first meets the eye. For starters, we’re

from timber. Well-padded and worn with

talking a small but global community of

saddle cloths, each saddle is designed

enthusiasts, who at the top of their sport

to spread weight out over the horse’s

travel to competitions all over the world.

back, and is usually custom made to fit

In Australia, besides the tournaments

one particular horse.

held at Kryal Castle, there’s the annual St Ives Medieval Faire, which is probably the highest level of competition in this country. Jousters at the faire use solid lances with sharp steel tips, so their armour needs to be of high quality to ensure safety. This type of armour – which Phillip tells me

Phillip’s horse Valiant is a magnificent Friesian stallion. “He’s the main horse that works here because I’m the main jouster, and he’s the horse that people want to see. One of the other knights here has one of Valiant's progeny, a Friesian Andalusian cross,” he adds.

When it comes to bits, Kryal Castle

Clearly the Leitch family are devoted to

horses wear whatever is best suited to

their horses. It was Lisa who imported

each individual – a modern mouthpiece

Lucio Do Rei, a stunning Cremello

that has been decorated to look like the

Lusitano, the only pure bred stallion

genuine medieval article.

of his kind in Australia. “He brings

BELOW: Dressing for battle with Valiant, Phillip’s magnificent Friesian stallion, wearing chanfron protective headgear and colourful caparison.

is more correctly called a harness – is usually custom made and can easily cost upwards of $20,000. “Mine was made by a professional armourer based in Queensland,” he says. “He’s very well-known and has been working pretty much full time for over 20 years now.” Not a bad indication of the sport’s popularity. But what about the weight of all that metal? Phillip’s harness weighs in at 36 kilograms, which certainly sounds a lot, but once the jouster is wearing it he says it’s a different story: “You can still move quite well because the weight is distributed and supported by your entire body. So you can run, fight and ride a horse quite comfortably.” Equally important is the comfort of the horse, which is why harness weight is kept to under 25 per cent of a horse’s body weight, which, Phillip says, is quite acceptable. “We also train them to carry that type of weight. Riding them in frame, doing lots of short trot work and piaffes, and really strengthening their back muscles so not only can they carry us, they can carry us easily.” So that’s the rider kitted out, but how about the horse? Jousting horses’ E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 27

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28 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

F E AT U R E

something very unique to the Australian gene pool with his double dilute,” Phillip says, “so we’re able to breed him with a chestnut mare and get a guaranteed palomino, as well as lots of other nice colourings. And his temperament and conformation are of an extremely high standard.” (Read more about coat colour on p.48 and in our May/June issue). No surprise then that Lucio has become a bit of a feature at Kryal Castle’s annual Baroque Horse Festival. Organised by Lisa, the festival is usually held in October and showcases baroque breeds

The jousters we send out have practised every week and are well and truly prepared. We’re known around the world for having some of the best, if not the best jousters. and their history. “On the day, we’ll do a special kind of joust using baroque horses, as well as a pas de deux, working equitation, and other displays, all with riders in period costumes,” Phillip explains. Joust training for both horses and riders is taken very seriously. It can take several years of hard work before you’re considered ready for a tournament. “Australia is ranked pretty highly where jousting is concerned, and Kryal Castle contributes quite significantly to that. We train jousters to a high level and support them in the big tournaments,” Phillip says. “The jousters we send out have practised every week and are well and truly prepared. We’re known around the Sir Phillip and Valiant shatter the misconception that knights and their horses were less than agile.

world for having some of the best, if not the best jousters.” E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 29

F E AT U R E

Jousting requires a significant degree of

dressage moves down is essential to

physical fitness and strength, and most

allow for manoeuvrability during a joust.

jousters will do some sort of training other

“I’ll want to go into a bit of a collected

than their riding. Phillip, for example,

canter at the beginning of my run and

usually starts a fitness regime two or three

then extend it towards the middle,

Perhaps the biggest ask for the horse,

months out from a big tournament to

before pulling up to a nice halt at the

a herd animal who usually runs with

ensure he’s in peak condition.

end,” Phillip says. “Dressage is very

other horses to escape danger, is to run

And if you were thinking jousting might

important. If you’ve got a horse whose

against another horse into what they

ABOVE: Lances splinter at the Australian vs England tournament held at Kryal Castle and won by the Australian team.

be gender biased, think again! There’s

might perceive as danger. “They need

no competition that’s especially for

to be exposed to that step by gentle

women – they compete against the men – and there have always been females on the Kryal Castle jousting team. In fact, Phillip’s daughter Mieka recently cut her jousting teeth in a public competition at the castle, something of which the whole family is very proud.

People will often have to train for years before I feel they’re ready to go out and joust.

step so they realise that it’s OK. Ideally, you want the horse to think it’s all pretty boring!” Phillip laughs. When it comes to injuries, they’re almost non-existent. Kryal Castle has policies and procedures in place around how everything is done, as well as the appropriate safety equipment, plus an

Training a jousting horse also takes time. Making sure they’re desensitised

flatwork is good it can be quite easy to

emphasis on high level training before

to various stimulus and getting the basic

train them to joust.”

anyone can joust there. “People will

30 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

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F E AT U R E

Jousters at Kryal Castle wear the correct armour, ride the right type of horses and are jousting to a very high standard. Their aim is to show people what horsemanship and jousting actually looked like in the Middle Ages. “I think visitors expect to see knights come out who can’t see, hear, or move very well in their armour, riding big plodding horses that can only go in a straight line and then stop,” says Phillip. When the Kryal Castle jousters canter pirouettes and demonstrate other movements that require a significant degree of equestrian expertise, there’s little doubt that misconceptions are shattered. “If people get an insight into history, at the way knights and horses worked together as a unit, and the high level of horsemanship they had, which is what we replicate, then I would be more than happy with that outcome,” Phillip says.

Want to know more? Visit kryalcastle. com.au for information on their Working equitation the medieval way. often have to train for years before I feel they’re ready to go out and joust,” Phillip

attractions and opening hours. Phillip and Mieka Leitch celebrate her first public joust.

says. “With all those strategies in place, injuries to horses are basically nil and riders may go home a bit muscle sore with a couple of bumps and bruises, but nothing terrible.” Other than the colour, the spectacle and the excitement of jousting, Phillip is very clear around the kind of experience he would like visitors to Kryal Castle to have. “A really nice lady came up to me after we’d finished a performance and all she said was thank you for preserving history. And that really nailed it for me because there’re places where they joust as a bit of a fun novelty show, but that’s not what we’re doing here.” E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 33

Wet weather creates the perfect conditions for Rain Scald, Mud Fever and Greasy Heel.

xxx

VET VIBES

It’s raining again

skin infection resulting in the formation of hair encrusted scabs, Rain Scald is also known

as Greasy Heel, Rain Rot, Mud Fever and, more officially, Streptothricosis. In mild cases, you might have discovered a few scabs matted with hair. When you remove the scab, the underside is moist and can sometimes leave raw skin behind. But if the case is severe, the coat over your horse’s back and hindquarters will feel hard, with numerous scabs in close proximity.

If weather predictions are to be believed this winter is likely to be wet, creating the perfect conditions for a case of Rain Scald. Veterinarian DR. DOUG ENGLISH takes a closer look.

Rain Scald on the lower limbs is known as Mud Fever or Greasy Heel, with similar symptoms presenting. Although uncommon, Rain Scald may also affect the face.

VET VIBES

Who’s the culprit?

Rain Scald on the lower limbs is known as Mud Fever.

Rain scald is caused by a dermatophyte named Dermatophilus congolensis which is a Gram-positive filamentous actinomycete, a unique organism that has properties of both fungi and bacteria but is not classified as either. They can produce serious skin disease in a wide range of domestic and wild animals throughout the world, especially in the humid tropics and subtropics. The skin lesions are characterised by patches of raised, crusty, matted tufts of hair, and pustular crusts that pull off leaving a wet or pussy skin surface. Tightly adhered crusts will cause some pain to remove. The condition affects all mammals –

proper. On the down side it's mostly

What to look for

found in the external environment. It

Lesions may be in one area or more

can survive for even longer periods of

widely spread, and their distribution

This organism has an unusual life

time (up to seven months) on gear like

gives a clue as to the underlying cause.

cycle involving two forms: a long,

boots, rugs, and girths. Many times, I’ve

Conditions which can predispose a

branching, filament-like structure, and

seen it spread in stables from trackwork

horse to infection include areas where

mobile spores that can reproduce. The

riders’ boots where they’ve come into

excessive moisture and/or biting insects

organism can be found on the skin

contact with an infected horse while

are present, if the horse has wet hair,

of healthy horses, who although are

working. Bedding is also a factor,

or where skin trauma is common, under

and a significant increase in airborne

the saddle or girth for example. In this

microbial contamination has been

latter case, the organism can be spread

found in stalls with straw bedding when

by contaminated straps and a four per

compared to stalls with wood shavings

cent chlorhexidine solution will kill off

On the plus side, the organism only

and paper‐based bedding. Both Biting

the organism after soaking for an hour.

attacks the epidermis and mostly does

Stable Fly and the common House Fly

Crusts from infected horses pose the

not go deeper to infect the skin's

have been demonstrated to carry and

highest risk because of their large

keratin in stratum corneum or dermis

spread the organism.

infectious load.

sheep, cattle and goats are commonly affected, and unfortunately, so are horses.

symptom-free, carry it and can infect other horses.

Pluses and minuses

The cracked, inflamed skin typical of Greasy Heel. Horses are prone to this condition if they stand in muddy yards and paddocks during wet weather.

E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 35

EQUESTRIAN HUB | BOUTIQUE

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6 8 7

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36 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

VET VIBES

Apart from skin infections, in rare

Rain Scald is characterised by patches of raised, crusty, matted tufts of hair.

instances the organism can apparently cause infections in the lymph nodes, but I have never seen this in my 46 years of practice. A common site of infection is the horse’s pastern because it is an area often wet from dew, or from walking in water or mud. But infection in this area shouldn’t be confused with Chorioptic mange, the most common form of mange in horses, which is usually associated with pastern dermatitis in feathered horses, draft horses for example You should also be aware that, although uncommon, Dermatophilus congolensis can affect humans, causing infections in the skin, fingernails and toenails. Interestingly, diagnosis of human infection is underestimated in people in contact with animals or contaminated soil.

Conditions to avoid Conditions that predispose horses to infection include: biting insects; overcrowding; ticks and other parasites; an illness e.g. Cushing’s disease; an inadequate diet; stress such as cold weather; age; wet humid conditions; and a long, water retaining coat. However,

You should also be aware that, although uncommon, Dermatophilus congolensis can affect humans, causing infections in the skin, fingernails and toenails.

the organism itself is infectious and does

Injections of antibiotics like penicillin or

before applying the tea tree oil blend.

not need any predisposing conditions,

oxytetracycline are reasonably effective

Alcohol sanitisers can also be wiped

but do not penetrate sufficiently to affect

over potential problem areas.

the thread-like hyphae in the far outer

Keep it clean

but the lesions are made worse if those conditions exist.

Treatments

skin. Injections are generally unnecessary

Hygiene around infected horses is

The scabs protect the organism and

except in severe conditions where there

removing scabs by hand is painful for your

particularly important because the

is deeper penetration by the organism,

horse. Applying coconut oil, almond oil,

organism will spread if you don’t take

and should always be used together with

raw honey, albarol oil, or baby oil to the

appropriate precautions. Wash your

topical applications, which remain the first

hands or use alcohol sanitisers when

choice for treatment.

handling infected horses, disinfect gear,

off. Adding tea tree oil in a ratio of one part

Protecting your horse by stabling and

and wear overalls which must be removed

per 100 in any of the oils mentioned above

rugging is recommended, but if rugged,

when you’ve finished the treatment.

is proven to kill the organism.

remove the rug daily to inspect and treat

Blankets, wraps, and similar items should

the lesions. The tea tree/carrier oil blend

be washed and hot-air dried.

is also effective if applied to the lesions

Finally, learning to differentiate

Malaseb, Topizole, or Austrazole with a

daily (after washing and removing

Dermatophilus congolensis from

sponge and leave on for approximately

scabs). This mixture can also be rubbed

ringworm infections is most important.

30 minutes before rinsing off with

into areas that look a bit suspicious and

Ringworm is an outwardly growing

a bucket of water containing a cup

have emerging bubbles and crusts. You

hairless lesions with minimal scabbing,

of vinegar to help re-establish the

can also spot sponge wash suspected

is highly contagious, and requires a very

protective acid skin mantle.

areas with a disinfectant shampoo

different approach to treatment.

scabs helps to soften them so that, after an hour or so, they are then easier to wash

Alternatively, apply a disinfecting shampoo such as Aloveen, Hossgloss,

E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 37

F E AT U R E

Cross country and the fab four A full time eventer and EA coach who has trained and competed horses to the top level, JADE FINDLAY talks to us about all things eventing.

ive-star event rider Jade Findlay attributes much of her knowledge and success to the fantastic

discover the temperament you’re likely to work best with. “You really want to select a horse that wants to try for

early start she experienced under the

you, that’s important for anybody. A

guidance of Christopher Bartle while in

horse that doesn’t want to try is a very

the UK on her gap year, and then with

hard horse to train and will break your

Stuart Tinney when she returned home.

heart,” she says, adding that not every

And armed with that expertise, she’s the first to agree that one ‘ideal’ event horse may look quite a bit different to another. But when we dig deeper it’s clear there

horse will suit every rider and ultimately, whatever you decide is the best temperament to match your personality is what you have to look for.

are a few boxes you can tick when

Jade’s personal ideal type is something

looking for your next star. Jade says the

a little bit tough and a little opinionated,

two most important things are type and

with a bit of sass – ideally a mare. All

temperament. “When considering type,

of Jade’s four horses are mares, her

I aim to select a horse with a naturally

daughter rides a mare and most of her

balanced body: it has a nice length of

clients even ride mares. Jade reckons

rein; it’s uphill in its wither and neck;

the girls have it for sure. She says

shorter in the back with a nice, round

she finds mares to be more difficult at

bottom; straight legs; not too long in

the beginning, to gain their trust and

the pastern; nice, long forearm; short cannons; and good feet – all of those things are important,” she says. While she may have in the past, she would no longer buy something that wasn’t conformed well, purely because she knows how much easier it is to train a horse when the horse also finds it easy. But for Jade, even more important than type, is temperament.

Temperament

respect, but once you have that, a mare will give you her heart. Mares are so tough and they try so hard for you and, for Jade, a horse that tries is more important than anything else. She believes you have to ride a mare a bit differently to a gelding – remember the old adage ‘ask a mare, tell a gelding’? – and you have to be ok with that: “I won’t always be winning with those young horse and lower level classes, because at that point my girls

Temperament can be tricky to talk

still have a bit more to say than I do,”

about, because the temperament she

Jade laughs, but she is adamant

likes may not be right for every rider,

that once you ‘get’ a mare, they are

so it’s worth trying a few horses out to

just phenomenal.

38 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2021

Dealing with nerves We wanted to know if, even though Jade is a successful 5* event rider, she still gets nervous. The answer is yes, absolutely. However, it’s all about how you manage and deal with those nerves. She recommends a great Ted Talk called ‘Zoo Tiger, Jungle Tiger’: “It’s all about how you can condition yourself to act in certain situations and how you can become better at that conditioning in a way that benefits you,” Jade explains. In a nutshell, it talks about how if you live a ‘zoo tiger’ life, and never put yourself on the edge of your comfort zone and experience stress, or nervousness, or discomfort from time to time, then you’ll never get better at dealing with those states. You have to put yourself in ‘jungle

The girls have it – leaving the course start box with Piks Dancing Queen.

tiger’ situations: being uncomfortable, not knowing what’s going to happen and getting out on the edge of your comfort zone, to be able to grow and become a better rider and competitor. For Jade, the ‘jungle tiger’ approach has been critical: “Now, even though I do get nervous, I’m used to dealing with those

Now, even though I do get nervous, I’m used to dealing with those nerves. I know to expect them, I know they’re coming. I know the feeling and I embrace them as a good thing ...

nerves. I know to expect them, I know

Cross country know-how

phase so you have to train it. You can’t

they’re coming. I know the feeling and I

Jade cross country schools her horses,

just assume it will be ok,” she explains.

embrace them as a good thing, not a bad

in some form or another, at least once

In saying that, Jade doesn’t train at a

thing.” She firmly believes nerves never

every fortnight – although when she

cross country course every time. She

go away and, in reality, if you don’t feel

has younger horses coming through

has some portable solid fences she can

some level of nerves, you're probably

she increases that to every week. “It’s

bring into the arena or move around, plus

not taking it seriously enough. Nerves

really important to school cross country.

she points to the benefits of using show

can keep you sharp, but you have to

Sometimes people can get caught

jumps for cross country training, as it’s

teach yourself to turn them into a positive

up schooling mostly in jumping and

the lines and the technique that need to

attribute, rather than a negative.

dressage, but cross country is an equal

be practised. For example, you can set E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 39

F E AT U R E

cross country fences. Sometimes she’ll set up an oxer show jump to an arrowhead, on either a straight line or a curving line, or perhaps two arrowheads together, each time set at different distances. There are options aplenty to prepare for this commonplace obstacle. You don’t want to leave teaching your horse to read a narrow fence until you’re on the course. Apex fences also make the top four list because it’s the only fence where you teach the horse to jump an angled face, rather than squaring up to the front rail. Jade mentally bisects the apex through from the point of the triangle to the middle of the wide side and jumps that ‘straight’ line. She recommends always starting with one that’s not very wide, initially jumping it like an oxer, and as you slowly widen the angle, the more precise you have to be on your line. The final fence type to make the high priority list, of course, is the water jump. “No matter what, every single time I go out cross country schooling, no matter the level of the horse and no matter how good they are with water, I always, always school the water jump," Jade says. Something she has recognised is the need to actually teach a horse how to canter through the water. She elaborates: “For example, I will canter a 20m circle through the water, until the horse regulates its canter and doesn’t worry about the splash, doesn’t accelerate or decelerate, but just stays together, ABOVE: Acing the dressage phase at Wallaby Hill on Wasabi.

then you can start to increase or decrease the canter while in the water. If you can’t

up an apex with a drum and two poles,

The fab four

which enables you to school the accuracy

Jade has four types of cross country

water, you can’t jump out of the water off a

of the line, teaching the horse how to

fences that she religiously incorporates

good distance to a fence out.”

read the front rail on that fence type.

into her training. The first are related

And here’s some final wisdom from

fences on angled lines. “Even from the When schooling, Jade is goal orientated.

Jade: successful schooling is all about

80cm classes, these fence types are

She always works towards ensuring

often included, so you need to make

building confidence and teaching the

the horse is relaxed and confident in

sure your horse understands how to

what it’s being asked to do, rather than

jump this question,” she says.

relying on the horse to jump from an

Next on the list are arrowheads, which

horse is more rideable which,

adrenalised state, as is the case when

usually appear as you go up the grades.

invariably, is more likely to lead to

you’re riding in a competition.

These make up some of Jade’s portable

eventing success.

40 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2021

regulate your horse’s canter speed in the

horse to be calm and relaxed when faced with all the scenarios they may encounter on course. A well-trained

F E AT U R E

ABOVE: Jade’s pupil Courtney Cusack schooling her horse in the water. BELOW: Jade and Piks Dancing Queen safely over the roll-top at the Sydney 3DE 3*.

E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 41

A beautiful horse is a healthy horse – Greg Micken with Christine Frost’s Ink (Image courtesy Barastoc/ Little More Grace Photography).

NUTRITION

The science of topline

beautiful horse is a healthy horse. In addition to a healthy and shiny coat, beautiful mane

and tail and healthy hooves, well-built muscles are among the most critical aesthetic indicators in any horse. For a healthy horse, a combination of optimised exercise, customised nutritional support, and regular monitoring of their body condition score (BCS) results in bulking up and muscle building. An excellent topline (a

Equine nutritionist DR BABAK NOBARI PhD, MSc, BSc, takes an expert look at what you can do to support a beautiful, well-built, and impressive performance horse.

smooth transition from neck to withers), proportionate lengths to the neck, back, and hip with a tucked tummy are promising signs of a successful start to muscle building.

NUTRITION

feeding approach to match the horse’s

topline building or improve a horse’s

training load and nature.

performance. However, a healthy horse

The question is, how?

needs a balanced amino acid profile

Horse nutrition is an art, a harmony of physiology, biochemistry,

in the diet, which means high-quality, balanced protein sources.

biomathematics, and system biology

Besides Lysine, an abundant amino acid

sciences. An optimised diet is a delicate

in muscle tissues, branched-chain amino

balance of all required nutrients and not

acids (BCAA) constitute about one-third

just a single nutrient’s piling. Hence, a

of the muscle’s protein. It has been

targeted diet for supreme training and

scientifically demonstrated that Leucine,

build-up of a horse must include;

Valine, Isoleucine, and Glutamic acid as

essential and limiting amino acids

BCAA play a crucial role in stimulating

and protein for muscle repair and

protein synthesis. In equine studies,

recovery,

it has been well established that the

carbohydrate and fat appropriately timed for fuel, and; vitamins and minerals for fine tuning

protein synthesis stimulating effects of BCAA help in the recovery process from exercise, glycogen restoring, and delaying fatigue by increasing the lactate

of biochemical reactions, along with

production threshold during exercise.

nutrient digestion and absorption

Energy for training and topline

enhancers.

Energy intake has an essential effect

Protein for training and topline

on the capacity to build muscle.

Muscle fibers are structurally specialised

Several studies have shown that

protein complexes that need amino

higher energy intake, combined with

acids as building blocks for protein, and

progressive resistance training, induces

energy to fuel up the building process.

greater increases in muscle mass gain

Re-grading protein requirements doesn’t

and a better topline build up when

mean that excess protein will maximise

compared to lower energy intake.

Muscle building science We need to understand that muscle tissues have a dynamic environment, with a continuous turnover of muscle cells (degeneration and regeneration). While a high-quality pasture or hay may be adequate to meet the nutrient requirement in an average idle horse, active, athletic horses under training have an increased demand for nutrients to support the elevated physiological functions and to maintain/or gain muscle mass. Optimal nutrition aligned with the intensity and duration of training increases muscle gain via acceleration of muscle cell regeneration and suppression of degeneration. So, we need to have a customised nutrition and

If your aim is to develop topline, feed must be specifically formulated and contain essential nutrients for muscle repair and development. E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 43

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NUTRITION

Still, overconsumption of energy can

excellent topline is essentially a game

(NSC), protein and fibres into the

also result in increased fat deposition.

of well-tailored energy partitioning, or

different pathways of energy generation

Therefore an equine nutritionist’s main

ensuring that most of the calories your

at different stages of exercise and

challenge in formulating energy for

horse consumes are used to build and

during different types of activity.

horses in training is balancing a caloric

fuel muscles.

surplus threshold that delivers maximal

What is energy partitioning?

diverse and balanced sources of slow-

During training and competing in all

release and fast-release energy pools,

disciplines, the work is a blend of

which helps riders and trainers to feed

A balanced diet for slow-release and fast-

anaerobic and aerobic activity, so all

the best combination of dietary energy

release energy with energy partitioning

the physiological fuel systems are in

sources to meet an individual horse's

from fat, carbohydrate and soluble fibre

play. Energy partitioning describes the

fuel needs for the desired performance

energy sources helps with achieving

relative contribution of different nutrients

and topline building, as well as meeting

these goals. The aim of building an

such as fat, non-structural carbohydrates

that horse's specific metabolic needs.

topline and muscle building with minimal body fat increases.

It’s important to look for a feed that has

For peak performance, correct nutrition and gut health are key.

E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 45

Feeding for topline development

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Feed must be explicitly formulated with developing topline in mind, and contain essential nutrients for muscle repair and development, brilliant coat shine and hoof integrity. This means an optimised amino acid profile that includes essential amino acids Lysine, Threonine and Methionine, and branched-chain amino acids to support muscle development, protection and repair. Targeted multiple fuel sources not only support a more rapid recovery of muscle cell integrity after exercise, but also support muscle development for a more athletic body type. Feed should also be fortified with quality micronutrients nutritionally

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46 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

NUTRITION

Enjoy flexible payment solutions at The Saddle Hub

A shiny coat, beautiful mane and tail and well-built muscles are among the most critical aesthetic indicators in any horse.

How long does it take?

topline development, muscle strength

Topline building can take several weeks

and repair. A concentrated low-dose

to several months and is subject to both

muesli feed may be fed as a horse's sole

proper nutrition and disciplined regular

ration along with quality hay or pasture

exercise. If your topline building program

to provide the proper balance of protein,

is working, you won't have to wait long

vitamins and minerals. It can also be fed

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with unfortified whole grains like oats,

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barley or corn.

exercise practice, you should see topline improvement after eight to twelve weeks.

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Big, white body patches are often the work of the tobiano gene.

ast issue I caught up with Kao Castle B.Sc.(Hons.)(Advanced) PhD, founder of Practical Horse

Genetics, and learnt about base equine

F E AT U R E

Colour genetics 101 Part 2

colours: what makes a horse turn grey, and the dilution effects of the cream, silver and dun genes. Now it’s time to delve deeper and find out about some of the even rarer dilute genes. Plus, we’ll discuss various white genes and how they impact a horse’s white markings or body patches, and which of those genes are linked to potential health issues.

Champagne tastes Seen in the likes of Quarter Horses,

Welcome to the world of champagne, pearl, and white as CHRISTINE ARMISHAW dives even deeper into fancy coat colours in the final of our two-part series.

Paints and sometimes Miniatures, the elusive champagne gene is really very beautiful and has properties that can be described as a cross between cream and silver genes in that it can

F E AT U R E

affect both red and black genes. Kao

A touch of tobiano

spine,” Kao says. A horse that displays

describes it like this: “While a chestnut

The common gene that gives you those

this gene will usually show white

horse with a champagne gene will look

big, white body patches is called tobiano,

markings on the side of the neck, the rib

much like a palomino, a black horse

and that will give you your classic pinto.

cage and/or the belly, with a solid colour

with a champagne gene presents as a

“It can go on top of any other colour. So,

(not white) running down the spine. A fun

stunning, lightened colour. It’s not quite

you can have a chestnut tobiano, you can

feature sometimes seen in horses with

the same as a silver, as the mane and

have a buckskin tobiano, you can have

this gene is the appearance of blue eyes.

tail don’t tend to lighten up as much.”

a dunalino tobiano, and you can have

Another standout attribute often

a dunalino tobiano that’s going grey!”

When white gets wicked

associated with the champagne gene is

Kao says, explaining how the genes are

that instead of the normal dark brown,

layered on top of one another and how

the horse's eyes are an amazing green.

many genes can be possible, all in the

“They’re kinda stunning!” says Kao. And

one horse.

if anyone knows a stunning colour, she

Then there’s frame overo

with overo lethal white syndrome

The frame overo gene is responsible

are born either completely white or

for the next most common white and

95 per cent white, with blue eyes.

colour patch arrangement. “The reason

Unfortunately, their intestines aren’t

it’s called ‘frame’ overo is because it’s

formed correctly, so they can’t move

very rare for the white to cross over the

anything from the stomach through to

does. Acting on bay, this dilute has a particularly eye-catching result: “When you get the champagne gene on a bay base, you’ll get a golden body, and the mane and tail will also lighten up to a really silvery colour,” she adds.

Certain white genes are linked to serious health risks and the frame overo is indeed high-risk when both the mare and stallion carry this gene. According to Kao, the result is devastating: “Foals

The beauty of pearl The rarest of all the dilutes is the pearl gene. It’s so rare, you won’t see any of the coat-changing effects unless the horse has a pearl gene from from both mum and dad. “A horse can carry one copy of the pearl gene and just look ‘normal’, but when it carries two copies of the pearl gene, it has a lighter coat colour and you get quite a beautiful, iridescent effect to the colour,” Kao explains.

Whiteout From white socks and a blaze to full-on body patches, white can take shape in all manner of patterns on a horse, and multiple genes are responsible for all the different representations. At a biological level, when we look at the areas of the body that are white, like socks, for example, what we’re seeing is a failure to produce colour over that area, thus the hair presents as white. “The colour hasn’t spread itself all the way around the developing horse foetus. The melanocytes, which are the cells that produce pigment, simply don’t make colour in those areas. So when your horse has a blaze, the colour just hasn’t made it to that part of the face,”

If your horse has a blaze, pigment-producing melanocytes simply didn’t make it to that part of the developing foetus’ face.

Kao explains. E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 49

F E AT U R E

Dilution genes like silver or champagne can cause the mane and tail to become lighter.

the bowel. They can often stand up to

breed from them. “If you have a pinto

can also cause blue eyes. The problem

drink, but then they end up with terrible

horse that has white patches already

with this gene is that when it causes

colic. It’s heartbreaking, because it’s not

from the tobiano gene, the frame overo

white face markings to be so extensive

something that can be fixed, so they

gene could be hiding in there as well,”

that they reach the bottom of the ears,

have to be euthanised.”

she explains. The good news is that if

deafness can occur.

And this is where the benefits of colour genetic testing get ramped up. Testing the parents to ascertain whether they both carry the frame overo gene can prevent a foal that may potentially suffer

you’ve had your foundation breeding stock tested and they come back clear of the gene, it’s not something you need to continue testing for as it’s not going to just suddenly pop up.

However, splash white doesn’t always cause big markings. “Sometimes it may present as just a couple of short socks. It’s a good one to test for if you happen to get one surprise blue eye,” Kao

this sad fate from being conceived in the

Splash genes

advises. “The most stunning example

first place. “Paint people are fantastic

Other white marking genes that harbour

I’ve seen was in a black Miniature that

about doing that, it’s super rare for

a potential health risk are the splash

had no white, but had two blue eyes. It

paint horse breeders to not have an

genes, which can cause deafness.

was like a made-up horse. We tested

understanding about avoiding overo

“Splash doesn’t cause isolated patches

it to figure out what was going on and

lethal white syndrome,” Kao says.

the way tobiano and frame overo do. It’s

it had a splash white gene, which was

When to test

got its own distinctive way of distributing

presumably making the eyes blue. But

white over the body,” Kao says. “It’s

Miniatures don't really like to follow the

called ‘splash’ white because it looks

colour rules,” she adds.

like the horse waded into a dam of white

Classic sabino

So when should you have your horse tested? Horses can carry either one or two copies of the tobiano gene without passing on any adverse health

paint and put its face in there.”

While there are other white (W) genes

conditions. However, Kao’s advice is that

A classic example of a splash white

that also produce an assortment of body

because of the very serious possible

coat pattern is a horse with high white

markings, the sabino gene is the one

health effects of the frame overo gene,

stockings, a bald face and a tail that’s

behind those big expanses of white.

you should test any horse that shows

end has that dipped-in-white effect and,

“Think of typical Clydesdale markings

patches of white if you are planning to

like the overo gene, the splash gene

with really high white socks, a lot of

50 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

EQUESTRIAN HUB | BOUTIQUE

BLING Life’s too short not to shine

2 1

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52 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

F E AT U R E

Splash genes will often produce a Along with bay and black, bald face and blue eyes. chestnut is one of the three base BELOW: Thecolours. frame overo gene can sometimes create startling blue eyes.

roaning and a big white blaze, that’s your traditional sabino look. Clydesdales don’t have the sabino gene, but that gives you an idea of the classic sabino stamp,” Kao explains.

It’s called ‘splash’ white because it looks like the horse waded into a dam of white paint and put its face in there.

Interestingly, all the white genes that are commonly tested for are actually quite closely related to one another. “Sabino, all the ‘W’ genes, and roan, are basically just different versions of each other, genetically speaking. They’re mutations of the same gene, which is why there are certain similarities to their looks,” she adds. A noticeable one is W20, which is the gene generally responsible for your average horse sporting a couple of medium height white socks and a blaze. Less white than that, say a star or a small sock, won’t necessarily show up as a specific gene in a genetics test, rather it’s your horse’s own beautiful individuality coming through. For more information, visit www.practicalhorsegenetics.com.au

Buckskin is the result of the cream gene acting on a bay horse.

E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 53

JUMPING @WILLINGA 16–19 SEPTEMBER 2021 We are excited to be back in 2021, and we are set to make this the best year yet with the use of our brand new, state of the art, Otto Ebb & Flow Outdoor Arena. Stay updated via willingapark.com.au

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EUROPEAN TRENDS

Injury prevention evolves with KEP Italia There’s no compromise on function in the name of fashion with the Cromo 2.0 by KEP Italia, writes JESS MORTON.

leek and lightweight, KEP Italia’s newest helmet, the Cromo 2.0, was released in May 2021. This stateof-the-art helmet integrates Near Field Communication (NFC) technology with a chip implanted under the front panel that can be read by rescue teams or other riders by hovering an NFC enabled smartphone over the helmet. The chip requires no power to operate, but can store information such as your name, allergies, emergency contacts, blood type, and even insurance details, allowing responders and medics to retrieve critical information if you’re unconscious. The NFC chip is technologically unique in protective headwear. It allows your helmet to to 'talk' on your behalf and provide vital data in the event of an accident.

The danger of TBI

the primary cause of death among professional riders. Documented instances of trauma or mild traumatic brain injury among equestrians are even higher than those reported from boxing and professional football. Survivors of brain injuries can endure long term neurological impairment and the resulting implications for an athlete’s career and health can be significant.

Getting it right Just as important as wearing a helmet is wearing the right helmet. KEP founder and CEO Lelia Polini is an endurance rider herself and insists on particular attention to safety when new helmets are designed. Five different safety authorities, as well as KEP’s in-house design team, test KEP helmets to ensure maximum compliancy and protection for riders around the world.

ABOVE: The KEP Italia Cromo 2.0 helmet with onboard NFC technology. BELOW: KEP Cromo helmet options include interchangeable linings in a range of sizes.

Safety plus comfort KEP helmets offer exceptional comfort with removable winter and summer liners providing ventilation or heat as required, and there are a multitude of fashionable options for the shell, front and rear panels, frame, strap color and liners. Combining fresh design and technology, KEP Italia helmets are 100 per cent Italian made. The Cromo 2.0 offers all the features you would expect from a high quality helmet. Front-to-back ventilation draws sweat and heat out of the shell, ensuring maximum comfort on long rides, and the helmet easily converts with customised visors that can be removed and installed as needed. KEP helmets come in a wide variety of original designs and finishes, plus there are configuring options for the frame,

Equestrian sports are dangerous and the risk of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is very real. These injuries are severe and can have a lasting impact. Even though the risk of injury for equestrians has been notoriously difficult to quantify accurately, one American survey found that 81 per cent of enthusiasts reported at least one injury during their riding career, with a fifth of these classified as serious.

strap color and liners so you can choose

Head injuries resulting from a fall are among the most prevalent of injuries sustained by riders. TBI is also

Keep up to date with Jess, log in

the design that best matches your personal style.

Interested in the latest products and European news? Jess Morton lives in Italy and writes regularly for our VIP area. She covers fashion, products, events and what’s trending in Europe. at www.equestrianhub.com.au/vipmember/ E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 55

F E AT U R E

ur mindset makes all the difference not just to how we ride and how our horse

performs, but the experience of our ride

F E AT U R E

– whether we’re confident and happy, or looking the part but actually

Keeping it in mind

a nervous wreck. The bad news is improving your mindset takes ongoing commitment. Unlike downing a sav blanc before your dressage test as a way to settle the nerves, it requires awareness and practice. The good news however, is it

These days there is a growing awareness around rider mindset, and rightly so. What we think and feel when we work with our horse makes all the difference, as ENYA CROCKFORD explains.

will absolutely transform your progress with your horse, your performance in the ring, and your general confidence and enjoyment of your time in the saddle. In this article I speak with Selina Iddon, the Equestrian Mindset Coach,

F E AT U R E

to discuss the tools for developing a positive mindset, and some simple but powerful exercises to influence your riding for the better.

Awareness is key Getting to a more confident and calm state of mind always starts with

Our thoughts and feelings are always there, but we can choose which ones we want to focus on. Developing a more productive mindset involves becoming conscious of our thoughts and feelings so that we have that choice.

awareness, Selina says. “Our thoughts and feelings are always there, but we can choose which ones we want to focus on. Developing a more productive mindset involves becoming conscious of our thoughts and feelings so that we have that choice.” This is especially important for negative emotions like fear and frustration, where our first instinct is to push them away. Unfortunately, doing that tends to make them worse. “Many years ago, shortly after I started riding, I was standing on the mounting block with a calm horse, but for some reason I felt a grip of fear,” Selina recalls, “I even had tears running down my face. And my instinct was to say ‘this is totally irrational, I’m still going to get on and go’. I would stop trying to feel my feelings and fake it. Trying to do this actually further destroyed my confidence because I wasn't able to understand or manage those feelings.” Rather than trying to ignore negative feelings or make them wrong, it’s much more productive to accept them and work on understanding why you have them in the first place. “To improve our mindset, it’s important that we understand why we have the feelings we do. Then we are able to be okay with them and still get on and do what we want to do, without losing connection with the horse,” Selina explains.

How to start When it comes to improving your riding mindset, there are so many techniques, trainings and coaching available; from NLP (Neuro-linguistic programming) to equestrian-specific meditation. While many methods are effective, it can sometimes be hard to know where to

ABOVE: Enhancing you riding mindset takes consistency, but the benefits are many (Image by Jess Barratt). LEFT: Focus on your horse rather than external pressures by changing ‘I’ to ‘we’ (Image by Lauren Mitchell). E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 57

F E AT U R E

Mindset will transform your progress, performance, confidence and enjoyment of your time in the saddle (Image by Roger Foster).

your horse,” Selina explains. “Compare this with out of the saddle where usually we’re completely focused on our horse. We bring our absolute best to the way we feed them and care for them. So if you can say ‘we’ when you’re riding, you’re subconsciously putting your energy into your horse and doing the best for them, rather than for your surroundings. And that’s what makes for good riding.” Exercise Two: Anchoring Anchoring is perfect for anyone who struggles with nerves when riding or competing. It involves creating a physical trigger that makes you feel confident and calm, no matter what’s happening with your horse or around you.

begin. Surprisingly, Selina says it can be

Getting into the habit of saying ‘we’

beneficial to start with techniques you

instead of ‘I’ can have a major impact on

This one does take regular practice, but

might feel less comfortable with. “The

the way you ride. “Fear of being judged

not a lot! “For one minute a day, sit quietly

human mind naturally wants to keep

is a common fear for most people, and

and submerge yourself in a memory of

you in your comfort zone. So if you see

it’s especially prevalent when you’re

a time you felt confident, powerful, calm,

something that makes you think ‘oh that

riding your horse. But focusing on

or any other emotion that will help you.

sounds nice’, it’s probably not going to

judgement is one of the worst things

For that minute replay the memory and

get you out of your comfort zone and

you could do, as it takes your focus off

feeling over and over,” Selina suggests.

get you the best results. Whereas if you see an option that appears a bit more confronting, that’s unlikely to get you far more powerful results.” To get you started, Selina shares three simple exercises for being more confident and focused in the saddle. Exercise One: Change ‘I’ to ‘We’ Riding comes down to the connection and communication between you and your horse. But it can be easy to forget that when faced with external pressures, like people watching you or the judge at a competition. Selina tells me that fortunately, a simple change in your language can make all the difference. “Most of what I teach around mindset is based around the language and the words we use. But one thing I often hear from riders is ‘Oh my test is in 30 minutes, I’ve got to warm up, I’ve got to go to gear check.’ It’s always I, I, I. And the crazy thing is, there is no harmony or connection with the word ‘I’.”

ABOVE: Visioning helps build confidence in whatever you're working on (Image by Oz Shotz).

58 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

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F E AT U R E

Anchoring helps you feel confident and calm, no matter what's happening around you (Image by Stephanie Heysen). “At the same time, regularly touch your

visualise how you will deal with it ‘if

podcasts. The most important thing is

tongue to just behind your front teeth on

things happen’ unless something is

consistency – Selina suggests at least

your top pallet. Then when you’re riding,

likely to happen. In that case, visualise

three times a week.

if you feel at all anxious or frustrated you

yourself easily catching any problem

can take the same action to bring yourself

in advance and managing it as a joy,

back to a state of calm.”

rather than anticipating issues,” Selina

Exercise Three: Visioning As a rider, you may not be able to train as much as you would like, particularly

explains. “There are different types of visioning and some that do deal with empowering you to manage challenges. This visioning is not that.  This is about

And once you get more aware of your thoughts and feelings, you will find improvements out of the saddle as well. “Quite often our horses act as our mirror, and whatever is going on with our riding will often be happening somewhere else in our lives. So if we can focus

if you only have one horse. Visioning

building the confidence that you have

helps you build confidence in whatever

done this before and know what you are

you are working on, so that it comes

doing.  It’s about the brain saying ‘I’ve

more easily to you in the saddle. It is

got this’. That way, as you enter the ring

also perfect pre-competition to prepare

you can reassure your horse ‘we’ve got

for your test or round.

this, I am here for you and I know what

Find a quiet place free of distractions

we are doing’.”

and close your eyes. Visualise your

Keep it consistent

jumping round, the shoulder-in you’re

There are so many ways to enhance

mindset articles. To read more from

training at home – whatever it might

your riding mindset, and it can be as

Enya log in to www.equestrianhub.com.

be – as if it is going perfectly. “Don’t

simple as listening to confidence-related

au/vip-member/

on recognising our state of mind and what’s causing it, we can achieve improvements not just with our horse, but across the board,” she adds. Want to read more? Enya writes regularly for us in our VIP members area, where you’ll find a raft of her great

E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 61

ADVERTORIAL

Oxalate pastures and horse health The detrimental effect high oxalate grasses can have on horses is a major issue for owners. Oxalates bind to calcium and other minerals in the body, locking them into a form that can’t be utilised by the horse. Calcium is essential for many body functions, but if not

What can we do?

enough of this important mineral can be absorbed from the

If possible, remove your horse from the pasture overnight

diet, it will be sourced from the body’s main calcium store:

to allow the oxalates to pass through the digestive tract.

the skeleton.

Give them a large feed of roughage, followed by their meal

What are oxalates, and why are they a problem?

feed which should contain minerals, herbs, supplementary

Also known as oxalic acid, oxalates are a naturally occurring compound found in plants such as tropical grasses, rhubarb

calcium and a digestive support to help protect and heal the gut from the damage caused by the oxalates as they

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Ensure they have constant roughage whilst locked out from

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the pasture overnight.

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If they can’t be removed from the pasture, they’ll have a much

However, these compounds are extremely inflammatory

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additional calcium available for absorption in the small intestine.

horse with continual exposure to oxalate rich pastures will have good integrity of the intestinal wall. Once this damage occurs there can be infiltration of the insoluble oxalate through the gut lining.

Symptoms of an oxalate problem Most horse owners are aware of Bighead. This is a common oxalate-related problem, and although physically obvious, it is often one of the last symptoms to appear. Many subtle changes can occur prior to the obvious deformity of Bighead. If you’ve noticed sudden changes in your horse, pain or a nutritional issue is often the cause: Behavioural problems Shifting lameness Cardiovascular issues Gastrointestinal issues

Setaria clump, no seedhead

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more advice on how to protect your horse, please contact

Cardiovascular issues Calcium mobilisation can occur within days of being on oxalate pasture, and Bighead can show up within 12 weeks. This is not a condition to be left unchecked.

62 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

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All images by Stephen Mowbray. F E AT U R E

F E AT U R E

ith the EQUITANA community at the heart of the decision, this iconic

event, planned for July, was postponed due to the recent COVID outbreak in

EQUITANA back to its regular timeslot

Melbourne. Managing Director Rod Lockwood says community safety is top priority: “For our fans and ticket buyers, EQUITANA Melbourne is a gathering place for community – making friends, and celebrating equestrian and shared passions. We desperately miss that, and when it's safe to come together in November we’ll appreciate it that much more. While we missed meeting in July, November will be an even bigger celebration of everything we love,” he adds.

COVID may have clipped the wings of the

With the very apt tagline ‘Celebrating the

world for a bit, but EQUITANA Melbourne

Spirit of the Australian Equestrian’, the

will be back for its 22nd year

event will return with all its usual style.

from 11-14 November 2021.

likes of Guy McLean and Brett Parbery

The all-Australian line up will feature the

F E AT U R E

and play together. It’s an incredibly

look to introduce innovation and new

intimate thing to witness such trust,

elements to EQUITANA so it continues

communication and connection, which

to evolve – and this year brings so many

inspires everyone – with or without

exciting new things to the event as well as

a horse! Trainers can enter a single

crowd favourites. I can’t wait for the state

horse or a team in a creative liberty

of origin TWOTH. Despite border closures

performance designed to impress the

to international talent, the value to ticket-

public and the judges.

holders has only increased and we think

One of the most anticipated events at EQUITANA is always TWOTH and this year it’s state versus state. Over four days three talented horsemen and women will take an unhandled horse from wild to willing, after spending just an hour a

across the four-day showcase.

great reason to come to Melbourne and experience the biggest celebration of everything horse-related in Australia.” For a full statement on the July postponement or to keep your

year, it delivers. Spectators are drawn

finger on the pulse with all the latest

into the round pens with the handlers as

announcements for the 11-14th November

they work their magic towards the all-

event, Rod suggests that you head to the

important final day presentation.

EQUITANA website. “My team and I are

of the best in the land, an entertainment

knowledge and delight the audience

will only add to your wish list – it’s another

awe-inspiring event in 2005 and every

in 2021: educator sessions from some

taking to the stage to share their

money package and shopping on offer

day with them. EQUITANA created this

All of the old favourites will be returning

Fast and furious Barrel Racing is always a huge drawcard at EQUITANA.

EQUITANA fans will agree. The value for

really excited to deliver another stellar event to the equine community,” he adds, “so see you all there!”

schedule chock full of goodies and of course, all the shopping your heart

WHAT: EQUITANA Melbourne 2021

could desire.

WHERE: Melbourne Showgrounds

Rod says with so much going on,

WHEN: November 11-14, 2021

attending the event for just a single day is never going to be enough. “We always

MORE INFO: www.equitana.com.au

EQUITANA will once again present an event that has a little something for everyone, celebrating all aspects of the Australian equine community. “We’ve got nine featured presenters across all disciplines,” says Rod, “from Western to English in both competition and education, and with feature days for jumping, dressage, reining, exhibition eventing, and for the first time ever, liberty.” True to form, EQUITANA is introducing some fantastic new events to the card. First up is the inaugural Liberty Championship, which while similar to the much loved The Way of the Horse (TWOTH), takes things to the next level. Liberty showcases a connection between horse and trainer that only comes after hundreds of hours of work

Professional level competitions will include FEI CDI-W level dressage and Grand Prix show jumping. E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 65

Kate Dreverman and El Campeador taking a dressage test in their stride (Image by Oz Shotz).

S LIFE AFTER RACING

Queensland stars shine off the track OTT programs are off and running in the Sunshine State. JORDAN GERRANS takes a look at two former Queensland racing stars, both making a great success of their new lives off the track.

tandardbred gelding Everydays A Sunday (Sunny, to his friends), is still turning heads up on the Brisbane peninsula. Hours before the first Wednesday afternoon race at Redcliffe, a club staff member wandered past Felicity Reinke and asked if the horse she was holding was Sunny, a winner of 10 career harness races. Felicity is delighted: “See! He’s a bit of a star. He loves to have something to do and to be the centre of attention.” And considering that the now retired pacer was at Redcliffe so Racing Queensland could capture footage of him for a video story, he certainly wasn’t lacking in attention on that occasion! Now seven years since his last race – a career which included 68 starts in NSW

L I F E A F T E R R AC I N G

and Queensland between 2011 and 2014

the Year, Ridden Standardbred of the

her team, including El Campeador, The

– Sunny is loving life with Felicity at her

Year, Harness Standardbred of the Year,

Ambassadore and two horses that were

Wondai home.

Show Standardbred of the Year, and

previously based in Europe.

Racing, a Reinke family occupation,

Versatile Standardbred of the Year.

While some opt to rename their ex-

plays a big part in Felicity’s life. She

Sunny’s a winner in the personality

racehorses before they step into the

trains and drives in her own right, as well

stakes too: “We can do everything with

equestrian arena, Kate is of a different

as working a couple of jobs and running

him. My 10-year-old daughter rugs him

opinion. She believes it’s vital that they

her own farm. “I received a phone call

and rides him occasionally. He’s a real

keep their racing names, allowing racing

from someone I used to work for. They

character to have around,” Felicity says.

industry enthusiasts, past owners, and

had a nice horse in the paddock that

“He’s always there waiting for me every

general spectators of the sport to follow

was looking for a new home.” The ‘nice

afternoon. These horses deserve to

former turf champions and gain a better

horse’ was of course Sunny: “I happened

have a second life because they are all

understanding of the possibilities for ex-

to remember him from his racing days

beautiful, lovely, forgiving horses and

racers when their track careers are over.

and my partner said ‘you always wanted

they just want to be your friend.”

a chestnut with white’ – so he came home with me. This fella has been very, very special,” she says.

He’s a bit of a star. He loves to have something to do and to be the centre of attention.

Kate stresses the importance of providing

Which brings us to the Thoroughbred

these beautiful horses with a safe

racing world and Queensland’s Kate

environment so they can learn new skills

Dreverman, who takes considerable

and enjoy their lives. “I’ve lived on both

pride in offering former gallopers a chance to learn new skills.

sides of the world. I was a track work rider for five years and had a lot to do

Kate describes retraining retired

with breeding and yearling preparations

racehorses as her passion. She currently

and on, right through a racehorse’s

has four former gallopers as part of

career. I really want to make sure that

Felicity, who has taken on quite a few ex-racehorses over the years, wisely gave the pacer a period in the paddock to “just be a horse”. But Sunny had been around people and routine for much of his life and she quickly noticed that he hated living in a paddock. So he was put back into work and soon embarked on his post-racing career. Instead of racing at Redcliffe and Albion Park, Sunny now spends his time taking out events like the Racing Queensland sponsored 2020 Standardbred Association of Queensland Track to Hack Series Finals, while also successfully competing at a number of shows, including the Brisbane Royal. Not too surprisingly, this led him to claim a swag of firsts in the 2020 Standardbred Association of Queensland Annual Performance

Sunday and Felicity taking out Champion Led Standardbred at the Brisbane Royal (Image by Lisa Bahr Photography).

Awards, including Led Standardbred of E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 67

about him. He’s the kind of horse that, just on his looks, people will stop and ask about.” The son of Captain Sonador has shown great promise across several disciplines including success at Horse of the Year. “He really cleaned up at that show and he’s had a very successful start to life in eventing too,” Kate says.

ABOVE: Versatile El Campeador has shown a real talent for cross country (Image by Oz Shotz). post racing, they’re looked after as well

track, rather than just a few official race

as they are during the breeding, sales,

starts. “Some horses who’ve had just

racing and training phases.”

one or two starts can have a noticeable

She points out that there are many people in the racing industry who care for these horses as if they were their own. “It’s about ensuring that the care continues post racing. These horses make brilliant performance horses particularly in the sport of eventing.” Kate, who has been involved in racing in Tasmania, New South Wales, and now in Queensland, has worked with all types of horses over their journey.

He’s like a big teddy bear. He has such a kind eye, a lovely personality, and is a joy to have in the stable.

fight or flight response, as compared to horses who’ve had a lot of starts and are not quite as stimulated. The more experienced horses are calmer, more mature and easier to retrain. But in saying that, each horse is an individual,” she adds.

If you’re located in Queensland, and reading these inspiring stories has you considering an OTT horse, you may be eligible to receive support from the newly launched Queensland Off-TheTrack Subsidised Lessons Program. This is a major Queensland Off-The-Track initiative, and has been developed to support retired Standardbred and Thoroughbred racehorses as they transition from the racing industry into the community. Approved applicants to the program are eligible for ten individual lessons with a Queensland Off-The-Track Approved Coach. To learn more about the Queensland Off-The-Track and the Subsidised Lessons Programs, go to www. racingqueensland.com.au/off-the-track, or if you have a Queensland OTT story to share, contact the team at offthetrack@racingqueensland.com.au.

El Campeador came from the stables of Brisbane’s Tony Gollan, and won eight races in his time at Eagle Farm while he was with the premier trainer. And while the horse is now under Kate’s care and guidance, the Gollan family has not cut ties with the ex-galloper. Tony’s wife Jane, who earlier owned a share in the horse, is still very much involved in his equestrian endeavours. El Campeador joined Kate’s eventing team in 2020, and she says he is a treasure to have around her facility. “He’s like a big teddy bear. He has such a kind eye, a lovely personality, and is a joy to have in the stable. He’s well-

She believes re-training former

mannered and a gentleman.” She says

racehorses to compete in the equestrian

that El Campeador means something

and eventing world is much easier

along the lines of ‘the master of the

when they’ve had a long life at the

battlefield’: “And he has that presence

68 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

BELOW: Felicity Reinke and stunning Standardbred Everydays A Sunday have been more than successful in the show ring (Image by Allira Batstone Photography).

E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 69

plain headed creature good for nothing but harness racing? Not so! Over the years

the Standardbred has proved to be

HORSE BREED

Raising the standard

diversely talented, making its mark in many Olympic disciplines and shining in the show ring. The breed was established in the United States in the late 1700s, when some of the first trotting races were held. In the pursuit of developing a faster horse a combination of breeds was crossed, including the Narragansett Pacer (now extinct), English Thoroughbred, Canadian

In bygone days, the Standardbred was often regarded as the Thoroughbred’s inferior cousin. But times have changed and this once underestimated breed has made its many talents abundantly clear, writes SUZY JARRATT.

Pacer (rare), Hackney, Norfolk Trotter (extinct) and the Morgan. A register was begun in 1867 to record trotting horses’ pedigrees, and twelve years later the National Association of Trotting Horse

HORSE BREED

LEFT: Baily Stanaway with 2021 SPPHA NSW State Championships Grand Champion Led Exhibit Diamond Park Khaleesi (Image by Melissa Goodson). BELOW: Megan Warwick with her coloured Standardbred Khan Touch This at the 2021 Sydney Royal (Image by Rodney’s Photography). which has only recently been linked

And it worked, and not just with show

to a specific genetic mutation which

jumpers. Perhaps one of the most

influences the spinal cord and the way

notable Monopol progeny was Falkrich,

the limbs can move.

who sired Judy Dierks’ Grand Prix

Harness racing began in this country in the early 1800s and was soon regarded as ‘the sport of the people’ instead of kings. The first meeting took place in Parramatta and was won by Miss Kitty, a mare sired by Hector, an imported Arabian stallion of some

dressage horses Finigan and Frontier. In total, Gerhard bred around sixteen Grand Prix dressage horses from Monopol, twelve of whom had trotter blood, and out of one half-trotter mare he produced twelve excellent A-grade show jumpers.

note. The sport’s history has been well

One of the German horses that inspired

documented and its two thousand

Gerhard was a mare named Halla.

meetings held annually are keenly

A famous jumper, she was out of a

followed by broadcasters, reporters and

French trotter of unknown breeding by

punters across Australia. However, many

a Standardbred named Oberst. Ridden

of the Standardbred’s achievements and

by Hans Gunter Winkler, she is the only

influences in other equestrian sports are

show jumper ever to win three Olympic

scarcely recognised.

gold medals. She was retired in 1960 to

In 1956, Gerhard Quast migrated to Australia from Germany and established himself as a strawberry farmer. But he saw the market for Warmbloods and imported his first Holsteiner stallion,

begin a career as a broodmare. After she died in 1979 aged 34, the German Equestrian Federation ruled that no other horse could ever be registered with the same name.

Monopol, in 1975. Gerhard had seen

While Halla was still having foals in

Standardbred mares used successfully

Germany another talented mare with

to breed jumping horses in Germany.

similar blood was doing great things

So he decided to follow suit here in

in Australia. Veteran show jumper

Breeders agreed upon standards to

Australia, putting Monopol to both

Maree Hewitt recalls when she first

define the eligibility of horses which

Thoroughbred and Standardbred mares.

saw Springtime: “She was a part

could be accepted. One of the rules was that a stallion had to trot a mile in two-and-a-half minutes or faster. The high standard required for registration led to the name Standardbred. All Standardbreds can trace their ancestry through direct male line to Messenger, an English Thoroughbred from the Darley Arabian line, brought to America in 1788. Today’s Standardbred owes its existence to Hambletonian 10, a prolific grandson of Messenger. Within the breed there are both trotters and pacers and certain bloodlines are more likely to produce one than the other. Pacing is a specialised gait E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 71

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HORSE BREED

prestigious class is the domain of the Thoroughbred but in 2013 Kathleen Mullan made history with MF Hollywood (a.k.a. James). She was the first person mounted on a Standardbred to compete in the event since its inception in 1934. James, a 14.3hh chestnut by P. Forty Seven (U.S.) had been bred by Kathleen’s family and raced before his show ring success. Although not finishing in the final placings, the unique combination gave a near faultless workout and were cheered by a legion of Standardbred

I believe influence from American stallions has given us a horse that’s of a lighter more athletic build. Plus the breed is smart and so very willing to please. fans, plus others who were aware of the significance of the moment. Kathleen and James returned to Melbourne in 2014, taking out Best Novice Show Hunter. Several years earlier she had been successful in the hack ring with Titan Kathleen Mullan and MF Hollywood competing in the 2013 Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout (Image by Julie Wilson Equestrian Photography).

Thunder, a Standardbred stallion who dominated in open company as well as his breed classes. Presently on maternity leave in

Standardbred from Western Australia

over there including Lady Rider, Hunter

ridden by Geoff Harley in the Australian

of the Year, and the Grand Prix at the NZ

Racing Australia’s Equine Health

Championships. She set a jump record

Horse of the Year Show. She was a good-

and Welfare Manager, says people

of six feet seven inches [that’s a whisker

looking bay with a nice head and a calm

are slowly realising the old style

over two meters]. Everybody noticed

temperament – a fantastic horse with so

Standardbred is fading. “I believe

her, especially Olympian Kevin Bacon.”

much power in her jump.”

influence from American stallions has

But it was Maree who ended up with the

While at the Melbourne Show Maree and

given us a horse that’s of a lighter more

mare. “Dad rang WA and bought her over

Springtime also won the Alice Laidlaw

athletic build. Plus the breed is smart

the phone. She was 13 and I was 19 when

Memorial trophy. This annual award,

and so very willing to please.”

we won the jumping at Melbourne show.

presented to the best woman rider

While similar in conformation to the

I was the first woman to do so. In 1973 we

over hurdles, is regarded as the show

Thoroughbred, the Standardbred has

were on the Australian team visiting New

jumping equivalent of the Garryowen

stronger, shorter legs, a narrower chest,

Zealand and Springtime and I won a lot

Equestrienne Turnout. Traditionally this

long sloping shoulders, a long underline

Melbourne, Kathleen, who is Harness

E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 73

HORSE BREED

Stunning Standardbred stallion Spare Me Days, owned and shown by Judy Frisby (Image by Melissa Goodson).

and a strong back. On average they

in the open show ring with her horse

Movie animal trainer Cody Rawson-

stand between 14.2 and 16hh, and

Champagne King. Being coloured and

Harris has been working with horses for

usually weigh between 410 and 545

a Standardbred did not help at all back

forty years. His latest picture is a remake

kilograms. Maree Lund, registrar of the

in 1993 so she created the Association

of Black Beauty starring Mackenzie

Standardbred Pleasure & Performance

as a means of providing fair and equal

Foy. He has a soft spot for the breed

Horse Association of Victoria (SPPHAV)

competition for Standardbreds and part

says there are still some out there

bred Standardbreds in Victoria, as well

with short necks, and big heads and

as offering owners encouragement

shoulders. “But the main thing is they

and support.

are generally very trainable and willing to become your partner. They come in many colours apart from bay, grey, brown and black, as well as piebalds, skewbalds, buckskins and cremellos.”

and recalls selecting and training two Standardbreds back in the late nineties for Star Runner, a New Zealand film about harness racing. “Wolfie and Duri

A similar association in NSW is

were highly intelligent. Unlike other

dedicated to promoting Life After

horses which tend to leap away and

Racing. Megan Warwick, a SPPHA NSW’s committee member, recently had a brilliant time at the Sydney Royal. From

jump in the air when they’re scared, these would ‘grab the ground’ and just spread their legs and look at what had

Maree also emphasises the breed’s

an enormous class of solid coloured

suitability for endurance. “Today’s

horses she and her 12-year-old coloured

competitions offer opportunities

Standardbred, Khan Touch This (a.k.a.

to ease newcomers into the sport

Apache), came second in the Working

when we flew to the North Island to film

with introductory rides as short as

Hunter Galloway.

at Kumeu, and when we returned to

16 kilometers.” She adds that in the inaugural Tom Quilty in 1966, the second placegetter was Rarmar, a Standardbred ridden by Susan Mitchell.

For Megan it was a dream come true: “To qualify and compete in the class and then be standing in the winners’ line

frightened them instead of fleeing the scene,” he says, “I travelled with them

Australia. Both behaved beautifully on location and on the plane – they were quite special.”

was more than I could ever have hoped

It was Maree’s daughter Rebecca

for. And I’ve another Standardbred back

Visit www.standardbred.org.au or

who founded the SPPHAV because

home who’s going to make an amazing

www.spphav.org.au for more information

she’d experienced double prejudice

dressage horse!”

on the versatile Standardbred.

74 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

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F E AT U R E

Ready or Nott

Admiring the view after a three hour ride up to the Hollywood sign in LA (Image courtesy of Chris Nott).

Some people give of themselves more than others, and as CHRISTINE ARMISHAW discovered, Special Olympics National Equestrian Coordinator Chris Nott has turned giving into her superpower.

o be in the volunteer role of National Equestrian Coordinator for the Special Olympics doesn’t require one to be a superhero, although that’s what the riders and supporters involved with Chris Nott think she is. And when you hear everything this amazing woman has put into orchestrating the Australian team, time and again, you wouldn’t be chastised for thinking she might be a version of Wonder Woman too! But to Chris, this all cropped up simply because it was just something she thought she might be able to help out with. Fifteen years later, the progress she’s made is astonishing.

of the highlights she’s experienced in

Australia was held in Melbourne in 2014.

her role. Before she even begins, she

Initially the first 10 to 12 participants came

forewarns me: “If I cry, I’m only crying

from Riding for the Disabled centres, with

because it’s such a good experience

a grand total of eight athletes travelling

and I’m reliving it!”

down to Victoria with Chris as part of the

The backstory

Queensland State Team.

The structure of the Special Olympics

The next major event was the 2015

is much like any other riding discipline,

World Summer Games in Los Angeles.

with certain qualifications required to

“Being Australia’s very first contribution

enter the next stage. Athletes aim to

to a World Games, we got an allocation

Chris is a warm, funny and genuine person. I ask her to tell me about some

The very first national Special Olympic

hear the emotion in her voice: “Oh, it

Games to feature equestrian events in

was such an amazing, amazing event,”

make each team at the stepping stones of regionals, states and then nationals, in the hopes of being selected for the World Team.

76 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

of two athletes for LA. I was accepted as Head Coach, and we took a young man from South Australia and a middleaged lady from Western Australia,” Chris recalls. This memory gets her and I can

F E AT U R E

she says, as she tries to hold back those

Games on the Gold Coast, and I thought

ended up as the MC in the main arena!

happy tears she said might come. “The

well, I’ll just go down and volunteer

After that, I went down to Newcastle as

whole world was there, the competition

for it. I stood in this line of about 300

the announcer for the Junior National

was so tough. We came back with gold,

people, and it was the funniest thing. I

Games basketball and swimming. I

silver and bronze medals, and the young

was way down the end of the line and

absolutely enjoyed it; it was so good.”

man actually won the very last event of

chatting to the people next to me,” Chris

all the sports, on the very last day of the

explains. Obviously curious, they asked

whole games!” With the rider from WA winning silver and two bronze, it was a cracking success for the newbie head coach and our fledgling Australian team, who now had their sights firmly set on Abu Dhabi, where the next Games were to be held in four years' time. The equestrian programme in Queensland grew in leaps and bounds. “Our biggest problem was, and still is, sporting equipment,” says Chris, referring to horses. “In most organisations, to get equipment, you can apply for grants and funding, but you can’t for horses because they’re livestock.” On top of financial constraints, the challenge of finding horses that are suitable mounts adds another layer. “Everybody is happy to give you a broken-down racehorse that’s

The whole world was there, the competition was so tough. We came back with gold, silver and bronze medals, and the young man actually won the very last event of all the sports, on the very last day of the whole games!

you can imagine, these are not much

whether she had a son or daughter

use to the Special Olympics athletes.”

with a disability, or if she knew anyone

around, Chris again applied for the head coach role and was successful. “This time I took four athletes and that

simply a genuine, super-awesome good Samaritan, she chuckles: “Oh, no, it wasn’t like that, I just thought there was something I could do to help out,” which to me, confirms she is one. The equestrian program wasn’t introduced into the Special Olympics in Australia until Adelaide 2010, when it was a demonstration sport. “With the lead up to the 2014 Games underway, I decided to give it a crack and see how Equestrian would go on the Gold Coast. I had phenomenal support from the Gold Coast committee, and there’s not one equestrian bone among them!” she tells me.

When there’s a will So that explains how she first made it to a Games as a volunteer and how the equestrian component of the Special Olympics came to be, but to get from there to National Equestrian Coordinator,

sprung a tendon,” she tells me. “But, as

When the Abu Dhabi Games rolled

When I suggest that perhaps Chris is

surely she must have had some serious previous involvement with horses.

with a disability. “And I said no, I just

Chris pauses, then dumbfounds me:

thought there might be something I

“Ah, no,” she laughs. “This is the weirdest

could do, you know, run around, time-

story ever, but it’s the truth. In 2002, I was

keep, all of that,” she says. “Anyway, I

on my back porch reading a Sunday Mail

trip was the biggest eye-opener in the world. The money over there is just off the planet! Princesses and sheiks were presenting the medals,” she recalls. The experience was truly something else and the Australian team of two boys and two girls did their country proud. “They did amazingly. We got three golds and three silvers,” Chris says, smiling as she relays the results.

Happy to help I ask Chris what made her decide to get involved in the Special Olympics in the first place. “They had a call-up for volunteers for the 2006 National

At the 2021 State Games with Tarsha Tupper and her horse Maia, who took out the Judges’ Choice award (Image by High Flyer Images). E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 77

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F E AT U R E

article ‘Five things to do in the Year of the Outback’. The very first one was ‘Go Cattle Droving’, and I thought, I’m gonna give that a go.” When Chris told her husband he wasn’t exactly supportive, pointing out that she knew nothing about horses and had never been further than the Great Dividing Range.

That’s the hardest thing I struggle with. With the thousands of disability riders that there are, you’ve only got so many horses. Fuelled by his words Chris booked in, paid the $500 deposit, and then went and did it. “The hardest thing was leaving my kids. I’d never even left them with a babysitter before and there was no phone reception out there back in those days,” she says.“I signed up for eight days. By day two I was so sore. They put me on this ex-race horse, if I’d have known then what I know now …” she trails off with a laugh. “I’ve never been in so much pain in my whole life! Anyway, I got through the eight days, then I went home.” But Chris couldn’t settle back into her office job, so she rebooked for another eight days, which evolved into a threemonth escapade. She went back a total of four times, going to work for short stints in between. By the end, she was obsessed with the whole horse and cattle scene, and in a curious twist of fate was given a Quarter Horse by a gentleman The Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi were widely promoted with these posters, the perfect backdrop for a team shot (Image courtesy of Chris Nott).

on one of the drives. From there, Chris became immersed in campdrafting - the horse bug had bitten her! E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 79

F E AT U R E

Facing challenges and looking ahead Our Special Olympic athletes are more than brave, but as Chris points out, they have to have one hundred per cent trust that you’ll give them a horse that’s perfect for them. “That’s the hardest thing I struggle with. With the thousands of disability riders that there are, you’ve only got so many horses,” she explains. Her commitment is seemingly endless. She gets on every horse herself, to ride it, understand it, and have the clearest picture of which athlete she should pair it with. “I would love to see a continuation of training for coaches who coach athletes with a disability. It’s a big issue nationwide, because there is a shortage of such people,” she tells me. “I have athletes call me every week wanting to join the equestrian program, but we need more coaches.” Does Chris have any plans of stopping?

Chris at home in the Gold Coast hinterland with her Brumby Joker, a seasoned Special Olympics horse (Image courtesy of Chris Nott).

Hardly! The next Games will be held in April 2023 and her hand is up once more for the head coach position, a role in which she clearly excels – and this time it’s destination Berlin, Germany.

I have athletes call me every week wanting to join the equestrian program, but we need more coaches.

ABOVE: In Sydney at the farewell lunch hosted by Special Olympics Australia before the team departed for Abu Dhabi (Image courtesy of Chris Nott). 80 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

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SADDLE REVIEW

Devoucoux Chiberta Lab If you’re in the market for a cross-country saddle that combines lightness, flexibility and chic French design, this is the one for you.

riginally from New Zealand, Rhonda Thomson and husband Paul moved to Melbourne six

the market for a new saddle. While style, comfort and quality were on her wish list,

To say that Rhonda is thrilled with her purchase is an understatement. In fact, she’s so enamoured of her new acquisition that she would happily display it as an ornament in her home rather than relegating it to the tack room!

she also wanted one that was a good fit

And the fit? “It’s been great on all my

years ago to set up their equestrian

for all her horses. Deciding that another

three girls. The lovely wide panels

property Harney Park - electing to leave

French saddle – which she loves for their

and gusset really suit the Warmblood

behind, she jokes, their three uni student

exceptional design and quality – would

shape.” She’s also very impressed with

kids while bringing five horses with them!

be ideal, the hunt was on.

her Saddle Hub experience, particularly

An equestrian since she was just six

But when you’re in the market for a

with the option of a trial period: “The

years old, Rhonda’s passions are

second hand saddle, trying them out

service was fabulous and I liked the fact

dressage, show jumping and hunting

is far from easy. Until, that is, Rhonda

I could try the saddle and send it back

– a fairly mixed bag if you will. A great

discovered The Saddle Hub: “I had

if it wasn’t right. I received the saddle in

believer in the importance of good

heard great feedback about Devoucoux

just a few days, and they even included

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an orange belt to match the orange

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So I couldn’t believe it when I visited

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The Saddle Hub website and saw one

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Currently the proud owner of three

that was $4,000 less than the new

But the proof, as they say, is in the

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pudding. So how did the saddle shape

and three-year-old Calais, Rhonda was in

condition,” she adds.

up in the heat of competition? With its light composite saddle tree and a design that encourages close contact, it was, of course, a comfortable and versatile success. “I rode in the saddle at the recent Melbourne Show Jumping Club event at Werribee with five-year-old Chilli and Lilly my dressage horse. It was so much fun and the saddle was fabulous,” a delighted Rhonda reports. The Equestrian Hub has a wide variety of top quality second-hand saddles, so why wait? Visit www.equestrianhub.com.au and browse through their fantastic range.

Rhonda, Chilli and their new Devoucoux Chiberta Lab saddle.

All saddles come with a two-week trial, finance options, and a courier right to your door. E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 83

One of the positives of the MIM frangible system is that it holds rails of up to 250kgs.

or those of you reading this article who are unfamiliar with eventing, your comment will likely be: what

on earth are frangibles?

O N M Y TAC K B OX

Frangibles: breaking it down

Frangible devices are the end product of a long-term initiative by eventing organisations to try and make eventing safer. This all started in the early 2000s when the FEI began keeping statistics of all cross country results, focusing principally on the amount of horse falls in the sport. This record-keeping

An FEI cross country Course Designer with many years’ experience, WAYNE COPPING was instrumental in helping to fine tune and introduce frangible devices to Australia.

involved officials manually recording all details of all jumps in FEI classes, such as the jumpable width, the top spread, the base spread, the shape or outline of the obstacle, and the different facets

O N M Y TAC K B OX

of jumping into water, out of water,

diameter. This pin was inserted into the

This type of pin was not universally

landings and approaches, and whether

front of a post and used to support the

accepted as it could fail on a number

uphill or downhill.

rail. It had a predetermined weak point,

of occasions depending on the speed

Many officials grumbled about this, as

which was centred under the middle

of approach and the siting of the fence.

it was an extra burden on the already

of the rail and would break under a

The result was the development of the

huge workload as a Course Designer or

rotational force (that is downward) and

reverse pin system. With this system the pin was placed at the back of the post

Technical Delegate for a competition.

and tensioned with a pulley and wire

We all knuckled down though, as we acknowledged it was in the best interests of the sport in the long run. The end result was that some types of fences clearly showed up as regularly causing more horse falls than many other common types. The FEI had also been proactive in commissioning investigative

... reduce horse falls and you will improve the safety of the sport immensely.

studies into the sport and the overriding

worked on both forward and downward force resulting in a much more equal and reliable frangible device. The drawback was that it could only be used with rails up to about 70kgs and required quite a few minutes to replace the pins resulting in lengthy holdups on course. An automobile accessory factory in

comment above all else was ‘reduce horse falls and you will improve the safety

cable system to a certain tension. This pin

Sweden took up the challenge and drop 40cms onto a supporting block.

produced a steel hinging bracket and a

This then halted the rotational force and

clip that had a weakened point designed

The first frangible device developed by

resulted in the horse not completely

to break at a certain pressure. This

British Eventing was an aluminium pin

falling and in most instances regaining

arrangement is placed on the back of

or bar about 40cms long and 30mm in

their feet.

the post and works on forward, upward

of the sport immensely’.

The reverse pin system works with both forward and downward force, resulting in a more reliable frangible device. E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 85

O N M Y TAC K B OX

it meets the parameters of the above FEI rule, and the safety of the obstacle can be enhanced by the fitting of a frangible device, then it must be fitted. That brings us to another question: why build a fence that needs a frangible device anyway? This subject has led to a major overhaul of course design through the production of the FEI Cross Country Guide for Officials, which has resulted in a major improvement in course design worldwide. Course Designers are now working from a set of guidelines developed as a result of all the data collected and the statistics gathered by the FEI. It is felt that some fences still need to be built from small diameter rails to encourage riders to better train ABOVE: If the red clips are broken, it’s a quick and simple process to lift the rail and re-attach with two new clips.

their horses, and not take away the initiative required to safely jump obstacles at speed.

and downward pressure. The red

For instance, hind leg pressure with

clip is the connecting point between

a downward landing could trigger an

This has also resulted in stricter

the post and the rail. This is known

activation, and other variables were also

qualifying standards being applied for

as the MIM system and it has been

taken into account.

riders to progress up the grades and

accepted worldwide for use in eventing. Subsequently the MIM factory has gone on to develop different kits for corner (apex) jumps and table-top fences among other things.

Frangible devices have progressed to such a stage now that the FEI, along with many other prominent eventing nations, have brought in the following rule: ‘At all levels, all open oxers, open

spend more time at the lower levels to better refine their own skills and their horse’s skills. The statistics have clearly shown that the higher the level, the higher the risk.

The great advantage with this system is

corners, verticals or near verticals with

In summary, have frangibles been good

the fact that you only need to replace

open rails, top rail on triple bars and

for the sport?

the red clip. When the clips break, it is a

gates where the rail dimensions and

very quick and simple process to swing

I think an unforseen consequence of

weight fit the acceptable parameters of

the rail up and re-attach with two new

them having been made mandatory is

an FEI approved frangible device, must

clips. The clips also have an indicator

an increase in rider ability, a change

be fitted with frangible devices.’

in the type of horse now required for

flag which hinges out if they have been stressed but not broken. When this

What is an approved device? The FEI

happens you simply replace the clip so

maintains a product register of approved

the integrity of the system is maintained

devices which have undergone rigorous

for every rider. The other positive is

testing in controlled environments. Only

this system can hold rails up to 250kgs

these devices are allowed to be used.

and as long as 3.6m with a maximum

I suppose the next question will be: how

diameter of 30cms.

do you work out where to use these

Along the way, the FEI instituted an

devices? It is very clear in the FEI cross

11 point penalty for the activation of a

country guide that a Course Designer

frangible device, as long as it changed

must never use a frangible device to

the dimensions of the jump. This

justify the design, siting, and materials

penalty could be challenged if the clip

used to construct the jump. The obstacle

was seen to break without the normal

must be designed and built as a solid

pressure required in various situations.

in-ground obstacle in the first instance. If

86 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

eventing, and an acceptance of greater responsibility for the sport by the riders. For more information, visit www.equestrian. org.au and search for ‘frangible’.

ABOVE: The MIM red clip system has been accepted worldwide to enhance safety in eventing.

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E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 87

Canter is one of the most important paces to feel the horse’s natural balance. All images by Jessica Atkins Studio.

TRAINING TIPS

Handling the equine athlete Part 2 An elite Australian dressage rider and highly sought after trainer, DAVID SHOOBRIDGE shares some top tips in the final part of this exclusive series on building a respectful relationship with your horse.

n the May/June issue, we looked

For this, you and the horse need to

at training and partnership building

be spatially aware. The horse should

with horses from brood mare,

respect your personal space, and they

through infancy, and into the early

also need to respect what is being

stages of preparing the horse for a

asked of them.

competition career. In this issue we’ll look further into the training of the young horse, and how to develop our relationship moving up the grades.

Getting started

When we're teaching the horse to lead, a useful tip is to carry a dressage whip in your outside (left) hand, bringing it behind your back to give the horse a little tap almost where your leg rests. This

Young horses need structure. It's really

action should be enough to encourage

important to develop a routine, so the

the horse to step forward, allowing you

expectations of both horse and rider

to walk at their shoulder. You would only

are clear from the outset. Structure is

need to do this once or twice for the

not only what we do under saddle, it’s

horse to understand what’s expected.

how we approach day-to-day training, handling, animal husbandry, and all things associated with the care of the horse. Everything from catching your horse from the paddock, leading, tying up, stabling and holding for the farrier, it all matters – it all plays a part in how you and your horse communicate.

The key is to repeat the same way of leading the horse every time. Horses aren't like humans. As humans, we can move the goalposts and rationalise the differences whereas horses can’t. They need repetition, so ensure you lead the same way with the same expectations, and that will help develop a better

Take leading for example. It's important

relationship on the ground. The same

that the horse leads with forward

goes for when you're holding the horse

tendency, so they walk beside you

for the farrier or the vet, tacking up,

rather than behind you, or in front of

floating, or anything else requiring your

you, and that you're not dragging the

horse’s concentration. The horse needs

horse along with the lead rope, or

to stay in their own personal space and

pulling it back.

not encroach into yours. E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 89

TRAINING TIPS

Time out of the arena is wonderful for the horse’s mind and gives us a chance to reconnect.

Develop a system

Mount slowly, confidently and carefully,

a young horse under saddle it's important

many different systems on the market that when used correctly give a positive outcome to the frame and the way of

to develop your own system. This might

going for the horse.

to the horse’s back. Take up the reins

As I’ve mentioned before, when starting

include lunging the horse first, or walking

and where possible, always use a mounting block. This reduces the pull and walk around to feel how the horse

out, or hand walking, but whatever you

It’s important to note that equipment

is moving, feel the swing and the rhythm

chose you need a system that gives

in wrong hands, or riding with the

of the walk.

you confidence and gives clarity to your

wrong mindset can, and generally

communication with the horse.

will, be extremely dangerous.

Connecting through the walk

My team and I have developed a system

We must always take absolute care

that works for us. For the young horses,

when riding and lunging and respect

we lunge them for a few minutes before

the horses as living beings. DS.

each ride and assess how they’re moving, feeling, reacting. We then use this information to decide on the best course of action for the day’s training program. It also means we can observe any spots of tension or soreness/ stiffness from the previous day, and we can see how the horse relaxes into the

Whatever we do on one side, we’ll always do on the other. So when we're lunging a horse to the left in walk, trot and canter, working on the transitions, straightness and balance, we will always repeat that on the other side.

prefer not to have any side reins, others

Once we’ve lunged for a few minutes, we’ll see what the horse’s frame of mind is and what we may need to work on under saddle. We will be able to see if they’re working evenly on both sides, or whether we need to focus on a

lunge with running reins – there are

particular issue.

contact. We tend to lunge with correctly fitting side reins, but selecting the best lunging apparatus for each combination is a very personal choice. Some people

90 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

It's vital as riders that we connect our body to the horse through the walk when warming up. We can allow our body to move with the horse’s back, and allow our hands to move back and forth while maintaining contact with the mouth. Once we’ve walked around, feeling what's happening underneath our saddle, we then start the trot. Letting the horse stretch forward and down is the perfect way to start most horses, it helps develop swing and rhythm, suppleness into the contact and allows the middle of the back to come up under the saddle. Generally, the rounder we can have the back and the neck, the better the rhythm and pace will be.

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TRAINING TIPS

will have trouble maintaining the canter for very long and the turns will be, well … possibly a bit wild! It’s really common for young horses to fall through the short side in canter, and our natural reaction is to bring them back to balance. What if I said, rather than bringing them back, try pushing them forward more! Would you give it a go? When you’re doing this, really try to think of the shoulders turning the horse, not the head. Using your outside leg, try and make a wall that the horse can follow. Try it!

Be accountable and make a plan A tip for less experienced riders when deciding on a training program is to put pen to paper and write one down. Stick the paper to your tack room wall or put it in your grooming box, or anywhere you’ll see it for that matter! Read it before deciding what you’d like to achieve with your horse each day. It might list some key goals such as suppleness, straightness, or rhythm, but it's important to focus on your own program to deliver a clear, concise message to the horse. Writing down a plan for your day’s ride, for your week, or maybe for a month is a great tool to look back and reflect on your routine, check the goals, The partnership and trust between horse and rider is important both in and out of the saddle.

become accountable, and to make sure there's balance for the horse. Write some notes on a daily or weekly basis and make sure your program includes arena/training time, lunging, riding out,

Exercises such as leg yields and shoulder in are a great way to develop connection and suppleness. They also help to develop the natural paces of our horses. It's important to remember that where

towards moving them away from our legs.

there are rules, there are exceptions. It

Exercises such as leg yields and shoulder

might not be safe to simply stretch your

in are a great way to develop connection

horse first up, so this is where you, as

and suppleness. They also help to

the horse’s rider and main person, will

develop the natural paces of our horses.

need to use your judgement.

training over poles or jumps, or simply hack out in your favourite location (for example the forest, beach, hills, roads). Break it up – it’s great for the horse to be worked on different surfaces and in different environments.

The young competition horse Getting our horses ready for the first competition is extremely exciting. There are a lot of unknowns we need to prepare for, and by this stage in the horse’s training, we should know

We canter our young horses a lot. Once

what our horse’s triggers are. Whether

We then move the horse forward and

they’re in canter, we can really feel their

it's noise, sights, objects, or different

back in transitions, before working

natural balance. Those less balanced

locations, we should have a clear E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 93

TRAINING TIPS

Partnerships come in all shapes and sizes. understanding of how best to manage

It's important to remember that we’re

for the rider to do some last-minute

our horse’s safety and security when

likely to put more pressure on ourselves

adjustments to their partnership, making

we’re out and about.

when we're out and about, and the

sure your horse is listening and your

horse can pick this up. They feel the

aids are effective. It's common to see

energy and they’ll be in tune to changes

riders simply trotting the lap of the

in our riding style. So, the more focused

arena. I find it a really important time to

you can be, the more clear with your

ride some transitions, a little leg yield

A great idea before your first competition is to travel to a competition venue and have a casual ride to familiarise yourself and your horse with the surroundings. Another idea could be a protocol day/ training day in front of a judge. It’s a practice run that also allows you to identify parts of the test that might need a little fine tuning. I find these days extremely beneficial for the young horse in terms of their confidence, and it gives us as riders a chance to show the horse competition venues without the pressure of competing.

Before trotting down our very first centre line, we should do a lap of the arena to familiarise our horse with the judges’ box and the letters.

Routine at a competition should reflect

both ways, to ride close to the arena and then close to the judges’ box, just to give the horse that last little bit of confidence. If the horse tends to be spooky or uneasy, and a little tight in the back, let them have a stretch around the arena, and pick up the reins just before going into the test. Your first test should be great fun. The outcome isn’t important, so long as you execute the plan as best as possible. It's really normal for horses to be a bit spooky,

the routine you’ve developed at home:

aides, and the more prepared and

from your personal space, controlled

consistent, the more effective and

tacking up, to your pre-ride preparation,

positive the outcome.

whether that be lunging, hand walking,

Before trotting down our very first centre

your test paper and you’ve reviewed the

or getting straight on and walking on

line, we should do a lap of the arena to

video, and then develop your training

a long rein, it should be no different at

familiarise our horse with the judges’

strategy to focus on the areas that need

a competition.

box and the letters. This is a great time

attention based on the test.

or for the wheels to fall off a little in the first few tests we do, so don’t take it to heart. Instead, reflect on your test once you have

E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 95

TRAINING TIPS

It's easy for us to make excuses for mishaps, or miscommunications. But at the end of the day, it's our responsibility to the horse, and to our partnership to deliver the same message as we do in training, with the same expectation of commitment from the horse. This will only happen if our training strategy has consistency, effectiveness and is result driven and we as riders have the ability and intelligence to look at the progress and recognise those areas requiring improvement.

Moving up the grades When you move up the competition grades, your general strategies should be the same but more finely tuned. So, you may move from walk/trot transitions to walk/canter, or half pass, or piaffe/ passage. But it's always the same message: it’s forward, back, listen, wait, and develop that relationship so that you can connect with the horse and get the most out of both you as a rider, and the horse as an athlete. For news of clinics, events and horses for sale, visit www.davidshoobridge.com.au David will be recording a Q&A for our VIP area with reader questions about this ABOVE: Take time to feel the horse underneath you: how they’re using their back, their connection and their willingness. This will help you tailor your system to your horse’s needs. ABOVE RIGHT: Trying to understand how the horse thinks will give us a much clearer path in our training programs.

article. Get your questions to us by email or DM us on social, and see if David answers you! Keep an eye out for when it’s live and view by logging in to www. equestrianhub.com.au/vip-member/

96 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 97

eventeen-year-old Bella Napthali, who’s currently studying for her HSC, already has a string of equestrian vaulting successes behind her. Based in the NSW’s Southern Highlands, she’s the only equestrian in the family and arrived at the sport while taking gymnastics lessons from coach Lani Maher, a talented vaulter herself. Spotting potential, Lani offered Bella some vaulting training, and the then nine-year-old Bella, who has no problem with being upside down and delights in a challenge, fell in love with the sport and to this day is coached by Lani and Lani’s mother Kerri Wilson. And then there’s Andre. Owned by Bella’s vaulting club, Andre, an ex-police horse, is a 17.2hh Warmblood x Quarter Horse who’s built quite a bond with Bella. “He’s very gentle and kind. He does get a bit anxious at times,” she says, “but we work together really well.” To no small degree, Bella’s success is the result of sheer hard work. Although she vaults only three times a week, training is a daily occurrence. “I do endurance work so I’m fit enough to vault,” she tells me, “and I work on the barrel [a wooden horse] to improve my technique and strength.”

YO U N G R I D E R

Flying high When it comes to moves like the flag, mill and scissors, Bella Napthali has it down pat. Making a serious mark in the world of equestrian vaulting, she spoke to AMANDA MAC about her very promising career.

Because flatwork is essential for building the muscle and balance a horse needs to lunge on a circle while the vaulter performs, Bella and Andre also train in dressage up to five times a week. Interestingly, 50 per cent of competition scores are dressage based, and therefore directly related to the horse’s performance. “Every couple of weeks we have a lesson with dressage rider Janice Usherwood, who has been amazing in helping us improve,” she says. Bella’s most recent pre-COVID success was placing third at the 2019 Nationals, which, she says, was “pretty exciting.” But prior to that was a European sojourn, largely courtesy of Bella’s Austrian citizenship. “My mum’s family is Austrian and I was born there. So as a family we spent nine months in Europe in 2019, and I was lucky enough to compete and

YOUNG RIDER

FACING PAGE: Flying high at the 2019 Nationals in Scone (Image by Samual Noakes Photographics). RIGHT: At the 2019 FEI Junior World Championships in Ermelo, the Netherlands (Image by Daniel Kaiser). BELOW LEFT: Competing in the 2020 Sydney Vaulting Group Christmas event at Evans Park, Glossodia (Image by Rodney’s Photography). BELOW RIGHT: Bella and ex-police horse Andre (Image by Maridi Napthali). train in Austria, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands, where I went to the Junior World Championships. I came twentieth overall, the best score for any Australian in that particular championship,” an achievement of which Bella is justifiably proud. Bella hopes to be back training and competing in Europe by the end of the year. She’d also like to do as many CVIs as possible and maybe another championship if she’s selected. “My main goal is to keep working as hard

My main goal is to keep working as hard as I can for as long as I can, as long as I’m loving what I’m doing. as I can for as long as I can, as long as I’m loving what I’m doing. And I’d love to help grow the sport in Australia,” she adds with remarkable maturity. When I ask her who she’d like to thank, she’s momentarily lost for words: “That’s such a big question. I’m so grateful for every single person in my life that makes vaulting happen for me, but number one I’d like to thank my mum, her never ending love helps me fulfil my dreams. All of my coaches, trainers, mentors, physios, lungers, and of course all the horses that I ride. Just so many people and I’m so very grateful for them all.” We wish Bella every success and look forward to seeing all her dreams come true. E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 99

Emma and Marcus competed with the Australian team at the 2019 NZ Oceania Championship held in Taupo (Image courtesy Equestrian Australia).

M P E R F E C T PA R T N E R S

Emma Mason and Warrego Marco Polo Choosing between a special team of horses for this article proved very difficult for champion eventer Emma Mason. So, SONIA CAEIRO ALVAREZ helped pick one, and he proved to be the quirkiest of them all.

ost perfect partnerships start with a love story and the beginning of this one is no exception. Around five years ago Emma Mason serendipitously came across a Facebook photograph of a bay gelding, Warrego Marco Polo (more usually known as Marcus), taken at an eventing competition in Scone, NSW. She was immediately captivated and fell in love with the horse, owned and ridden by Justine Streater. From thence the journey began. Emma rang Justine on the off chance the horse was for sale and says that her connection with Marcus was immediate. “I loved him from the very first ride. He was just such a cool horse. I loved the feeling he gave me under saddle. Everything about him. I was hooked.” However, the ownership deal fell through and it seemed that fate would not unite these two, until serendipity struck again in the shape of an accident.

P E R F E C T PA R T N E R S

“A few weeks later, Justine unfortunately broke her leg, and rang me back to see if I was still interested in Marcus,” Emma says. “Which of course I was, and at that stage we had a syndicate of owners, and finally he was ours.” Based in Central Mangrove, just north of Sydney on the NSW Central Coast, Emma has her hands full having moved with her husband, equine vet Brett Jones to a new property only 18 months ago, and even more recently relocating all the horses. “We basically started from scratch as it wasn’t originally an equestrian facility,” Emma says. “But we love the property. We have 47 acres, a recently set up arena and cross country jumps. We also have a perfect 400 metre hill for galloping, so it’s coming together very well,” the eventer says. Emma has four long-standing horses on her competition team. “They each have their own special qualities and yes, it’s like choosing a favourite child, but I think Marcus stands out. He’s an overgrown pony, really. He is quirky. You can’t always catch him,” she chuckles. “However, he’s extremely clever, tries hard and is a great jumper, and there’s not a single day I don’t feel lucky to ride him. He’s given me a lot of confidence as a rider and in competition.” According to Emma, Marcus is strong in all three phases. “He’s a good mover on the flat, brave and clever across country, and a careful show jumper,” she says. “He wants to please and hates to think he’s done the wrong thing – a bit of a teacher’s pet, actually.”

is more about mutual respect. I respect

a few combinations to post a clear

the horse and I think he respects me.

show jumping round on the final day of

For an eventing horse being faced at

competition. They have since taken a

challenging obstacles, that respect and

swag of gongs – a second in the 2020

mutual trust between us is the most

Albury 4*, fifth in the 2020 Wallaby Hill

important thing.”

4* long format, and in 2021 a third at

From there the pair won in the

Quirindi and a second in the Sydney 4*.

2017 Adelaide 2* (now a 3* event)

Emma’s confidence in Marcus and his

– a significant feat for a very new

ongoing potential reached the point

partnership at such an early stage

where she found his two-year-old

I loved him from the very first ride. He was just such a cool horse. I loved the feeling he gave me under saddle. Everything about him. I was hooked.

three-quarter sister on Facebook and bought her immediately. “She is sassy and opinionated but I see lot of Marcus in her. Even if she has 10 per cent of his capability, she’s worth it.” From her Central Coast base Emma also works as a lawyer, takes horses in for schooling, squeezes in some coaching when she can and is a mother to 18-month old Eddie. The adage, ‘if you want something done, ask a busy person’ springs to mind. “I’m very fortunate to have a great family and

in their competition career. Emma

team around me. It’s a juggle, but it’s fun

also treasures their place on the

and I think there is a work and family life

Australian team at the 2019 NZ

balance," she says.

Oceania Championship in Taupo.

Her legal expertise often draws her from

Despite a tumble in the water that

her core work towards equine related

was considered unlucky by coaches

cases and Emma believes in the value

and fellow competitors alike, she

of uniting these two fundamentals in

says the competition was a wonderful

her life. The power and the passion one

experience, and to their great credit,

might say – and the passion with Marcus

Emma and Marcus were one of only

has a very bright future.

But no matter the connection, or the love at first sight, Emma understands that it takes time to strengthen a partnership. “I have the view that when you take on a horse, it's at least 12 months before it begins to really feel like your horse,” she says. “Justine trained him beautifully, but it took a good year or so before he started to feel like one of my horses.” Interestingly, Emma doesn’t think of the bond she shares with Marcus as purely emotional: “There’s definitely an emotional connection and I love Marcus like he’s part of the family, but the bond

Competing at the Melbourne 3DE (Image by Tazzie Eggins Photography). E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 101

Q: How old were you when you started riding?

A : Three Q: Was your family horsey or were you the odd one out?

A : Dad was very tolerant and paid the bills. He thought riding was an expensive way of hurting yourself. He’s right! Mum and I learnt together, and she was always my biggest supporter. Char Lassetter Carter is my sister and has been riding and teaching in England since we were kids. Blake my brother is the sensible one who earns money in a normal job.

Q: Where did your dressage interest come from?

A : It started as something you had to do if you wanted to event. It became serious when I met Stirling Wilton who belonged to Bob and Judy Mitchell. Wilton was a very reluctant eventer and we graduated towards dressage and ultimately WEG in Stockholm.

Q: When did you start to learn about the finer points of riding?

A : Well, I learnt to ride along the beach at West Mersea on the Essex coast at Miss Catchpoles riding school. ‘Catchy’ was the best first coach anyone could wish for. I’m still learning the finer points.

Q: Who were your mentors in the early days?

A : My mother, Jane Goldsmith who was a big influence and a wonderful coach, and Anthony Crossley who allowed me

20 QUESTIONS

to ride one of his horses and feel the

20 Questions with Rozzie Ryan

piaffe and passage for the first time. After England, Heath’s ‘just get on with it’ attitude was refreshing.

Q: How did you afford to compete when you weren't a well-known professional?

A : Initially my parents were a huge support, but when Heath and I started

This celebrated Grand Prix dressage rider has competed at the World Cup and WEG, and was an Olympic reserve. Along with husband Heath, Rozzie owns and manages Ryan’s Horses, an equestrian training and breeding centre in NSW.

in Australia his parents helped us. We competed on a shoestring and I seem to remember the truck breaking down on every trip. We soon went to work for Bob and Judy Mitchell at the NSW Equestrian Centre. They were terrific supporters and innovators on the equestrian scene.

20 QUESTIONS

FAR LEFT: Rozzie and Jarrah R at PSI Dressage & Jumping with the Stars (Image by Simon Scully Photography). ABOVE LEFT: Triumphant with Jarrah R at the 2019 Sydney CDI (Image by Stephen Mowbray). ABOVE RIGHT: Total focus in the dressage arena (Image by Simon Scully Photography).

Their truck broke down a lot too though!

there in 1990 and it is the most beautiful

horse and so on. Some of that seems

Q: How did you end up with Heath? A : I ask myself this quite often! But

setting. It was also the last time my whole

to get missed now

family was together at a competition.

Q: If you could have any horse past

I met him in England when I was

Q: Who was/is your favourite horse

working for Jane Goldsmith (then

and what makes them so special?

Houghton-Brown). Heath came and

A : Every Grand Prix horse I’ve had is my

groomed for me at Bramham three

favourite at the time. You invest your

day event. Love at first sight.

heart and soul in them and they in you.

Q: Did you ever intend for Ryan’s

Q: If you had to specialise in a

Horses to become such a large

different area of riding what would

breeding, training and sales business?

it be and why?

or present which one would it be?

A : Heath would disagree but probably Exellent. He was amazing. Somewhat crazy, but amazing.

Q: Is there anything you are looking to improve in your own skill set?

A : Oh, are you kidding? Everything.

A : Have you seen Stacey Westfall?

All the time. Awareness, focus …

Fascinating!

Q: What is something that all riders

to for inspiration?

Q: What can people learn from

can work on regardless of their

A : All the riders in the Grand Prix. I love

horses?

discipline?

the warm up arena and seeing what

A : Lots if they listen to them.

A : One hundred per cent focus one

everyone else is up to. I had Donna

Q: You’ve had several top riders work

hundred per cent of the time, and don't

A : I didn't but Heath did. Q: Which dressage rider do you look

for you over long periods. Do you have

do that hundreds of times but thousands

Europe before Beijing. We were lucky

any tips for staff retention?

of times.

enough to do a few CDIs. I was always

A : Be inclusive and give people a

Carrera (owned by Susie Duddy) in

at the arena familiarisation early in the morning and Isabel Werth was always

positive goal to work towards.

Q: Favourite food? A : Cheese and most vegetables. I have

there. She is a truly inspirational rider.

Q: What’s something that riders do

Q: What’s your favourite venue for

better today than when you were

my own devices I probably wouldn't cook

growing up and vice versa, what do

another meal for a long, long, long time.

a dressage competition?

A: Lots. Sydney feels like home turf. Boneo

today’s riders need to work on more?

A : Riders have better information,

to cook for everyone most days but left to

Q: When you’re not riding, how do you relax?

has wonderful surfaces, but I did have to

horses, surfaces to ride on and

pinch myself when Exellent and I competed

competitions. We were drilled in

A : I read a lot and like a good coffee

at the Bercy stadium in Paris. But my all-

Pony Club about basic horse care:

with friends. After COVID I’ll be going

time favourite is Goodwood. I competed

temperature, respiration, points of the

back to England to see friends and family. E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 103

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Equestrian Hub Magazine July August 2021

Articles inside

20 Questions with Rozzie Ryan

Perfect Partners: Emma Mason & Marcus

Young Rider: Bella Napthali

On My Tackbox: Breaking it Down

Training Tips: Handling the Equine Athlete

Saddle Review: Devoucoux Chiberta Lab

Horse Breed: Standardbred

Feature: Chris Nott Special Olympics

Life After Racing

Feature: EQUITANA

European Trends: KEP Italia

Feature: Colour Genetics Part 2

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