Horse Vibes November 2019 by Equestrian Hub Magazine

NOVEMBER 2019

I N F O R M AT I V E , I N S P I R AT I O N A L & A S P I R AT I O N A L

Inside: WINNERS ARE GRINNERS

THE TOP THREE DELIVERING DREAMS SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS TELL US THEIR STORIES

THE BUTTMOST IMPORTANCE

CHARLIE BRISTER ON AN ‘INDEPENDENT SEAT’

OUR HERO SUBZERO AN EX-RACEHORSE TURNED ICON

SEATBELTS SOLD SEPARATELY THE SHEER THRILL OF TRICK RIDING

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20 38

40 INFORMATIVE, INSPIRATIONAL & ASPIRATIONAL

HorseVibes Editor: Candida Baker candida@horsevibes.com.au Deputy Editor Amanda McWhinnie editorial@horsevibes.com.au Advertising Enquiries: Lainie Towner advertising@horsevibes.com.au The Saddle Hub Sales Enquiries: info@equestrianhub.com.au Website/subscriptions: www.horsevibes.com.au

Cover photo: Our ‘Delivering Dreams’ Scholarship winner, 18-year-old Billie Morgan. Photograph: Lindon Josefski. Published by Equestrian Hub PO Box 13, Tintenbar NSW 2478 info@horsevibes.com.au www.equestrianhub.com.au

19 NOVEMBER

FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH

BRISTER’S BRIEF

OUR HERO SUBZERO

#LIFE AFTER RACING

SEATBELTS SOLD SEPARATELY

SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

TIGHTEN YOUR GIRTH

THE HORSE LISTENER

MASTERS GAMES

YOUNG RIDER

HORSE BREED: IRISH SPORT HORSE

HORSE HISTORY

QUEENSLAND ATHRA RIDE

ON MY TACKBOX WITH LUCY MORTON

GIVING BACK WITH JO MCKINNON

SADDLE REVIEW

AROUND THE TRAPS

TRAINING TIPS FROM RHYS STONES

TRIBUTE FOR MADONNA HEDBERG

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PUBLISHER’S LETTER

From the Horse’s Mouth

with an independent seat. Have you ever heard your coach say something along those lines? Charlie breaks the concept down into digestible chunks. Training Tips this month comes from the fabulous stables of J & R Equestrian. We talk to Rhys, who gives us the low down on selecting your show horse and what you

With Fiona Todd

should be looking for in a horse. Deputy Editor, Amanda McWhinny, dives

headfirst into the confusing world of girths and gives us some sage advice regarding

rum roll please. First up, a word for a project close to my heart. We are absolutely thrilled to announce the winner of the HorseVibes Delivering Dreams Scholarship. 18-year-old trick rider Billie Morgan was the unanimous choice of our three judges, our editor Candida Baker; columnist, eventer and coach Charlie Brister, and coach Charlotte Inglis. All three were in complete agreement that Billie shone out. HorseVibes will be working with Billie over the next few months to help her towards her dream of traveling to America to take her trick riding skills to the next level. We also like to congratulate our runners-up, showjumper Melinda Rechichi, an ambassador for the older generation, and team-penner Lily Dessart who at only 13, is showing a great competitive – and community spirit. Coincidentally, before Billie’s win, we were already working on a feature on trick riding with two of Australia’s greatest trick riders, Hollie Shiels and Rebecca Klingenberg. Our Hero this month is a horse – as it should be during this Melbourne Cup time. Jo McKinnon interviews Graham Salisbury,

types, tightness and construction materials. Do you worm you horse regularly but they still don’t seem quite right? Well, perhaps there’s a little pesky blighter hiding in there? Candy, in her Horse Listener column talks about a particular type of worm that most wormers don’t kill, causing scouring and possible small lesions. In Tackbox this month, Lucy Morton of Kasperado Warmbloods gives us some useful hints to help us find the perfect home for a horse in the challenging current climate. Jane Camens ‘had a go’ attending the Masters the owner, or perhaps partner of the lovely

Games in Lismore, as well as completing

Subzero, winner of the 1982 Melbourne Cup

a trek through Killarney to raise funds for

who has gone to have a positive impact on

drought relief. She sure gets about!

the lives of everyone he meets. We are keen

On another very personal note, we pay

to shine the light on every great life after racing story, and as such we have done our take on the current racehorse welfare scan-

tribute to Madonna Hedberg, whose passing will definitely leave a void in breeding circles. She will be missed by the Queensland Young

dal, and a small piece acknowledging the

riders particularly and the equestrian com-

amazing work Amanda Ross has done taking

munity at large. We extend our condolences

her beautiful Off The Track thoroughbred,

to all who knew and loved Madonna.

Koco Popping Candy to 4* eventing. Charlie Brister tells us what it means to ride

SCHOLARSHIP

Delivering Dreams Scholarship Congratulations to winner Billie Morgan, and thank you to everyone who applied.

As usual, pour your favourite tipple, grab your copy, kick back and enjoy!

BRISTERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BRIEF

Main image and bottom left: Charlie demonstrates an independent seat on his five-year-old gelding, Finch Farm Pharaoh. Photos by Toller. Bottom right: Charlie gave Katherine a pool noodle to use as a soft encouragement for her horse to go forward and also because of its spongy size, she couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use it to grip on too hard. 10

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

BRISTER’S BRIEF

lack of balance here would severely hamper the changes.

Why riding is a bummer

Let’s look at a few examples where a rider who doesn’t have an independent seat causes confusion because of poor balance which can result in contradictory aids.

Example A: A rider gives a strong leg aid and their hands pull back. This can confuse the horse as the leg aid is telling the horse to increase its tempo and the hands are telling it to slow down. Is it any wonder the horse reacts by throwing its head up?

CHARLIE BRISTER looks at why an independent seat is of the buttmost importance..

Example B: A rider is attempting to canter at a steady pace and they can’t maintain a steady lower leg. The horse feels the leg bouncing against its side, which confuses it, causing it to increase, or sometimes decrease speed. More than likely the seat is also bouncing around which can throw the horse’s timing out.

s riders we’ve often heard coaches comment that a rider really needs an independent seat, when the rider appears a little too unbalanced on the horse. But what exactly is an ‘Independent Seat’? Could it be a chair that has no legs? Or a bicycle seat, or an armchair wandering about the countryside all on its own? Well, for a start, it’s not all about the seat of the saddle or even your butt. It’s about all your body parts being independent. For most of us we didn’t have to work hard to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time, but to ride well we need to be a lot more aware of what’s going on with every part of our body.

Now we come to on-horse exercising, there are plenty of off-horse exercises which we can cover in a later episode, but for the moment let’s concentrate on what a rider can do to improve their seat on the horse.

On the lunge:

Independent seat in action: Have you ever seen a top-notch reining rider? They only have to give the smallest

Each part of your body needs to be harmonised with all the other parts of your body and also the horse’s body movements. And each part also needs to be able to operate independently at all times if needed, as in, for instance, when you keep the contact on the outside rein and soften a little on the inside rein.

aid and the horse reacts with precision and speed. This wouldn’t happen if they allowed their hands to jump around while their feet bounced off their horse’s side. Grandprix showjumpers too, have their body balanced and whilst in the air their hands are

left behind or worse, go over the front.

Mount the horse and ensure that you and the instructor can control the horse before moving on to any exercises.

The ultimate independent seat may be seen

Stirrups and no reins:

in the best GP dressage riders performing

It is recommended that for these exercises there is a monkey grip or neck strap to be used for support if necessary. Establish a pace that is consistent, with most riders

forward and down. The below average rider may pull back, lean back or forward and get

Having all your body parts working separately means each will focus on balance – and there is much less chance of falling off. It also comes back to my biggest bug-bear which is people asking the horse to go forward while pulling on the reins to stop. We all need very clear aids and less confusion for our horses.

Lunging can be dangerous so only allow an experienced person (preferably a licensed coach) to assist you. Apart from your saddle (and a horse) you will need a good quality lunge lead, gloves and lunging whip. Never hop on a horse until you know the horse can be lunged at all three paces, is relaxed and will halt! There are differences of opinions regarding the bridle, side reins or cavessons but you should check with your coach and use the tools with which your horse is comfortable. If side reins are to be used, ensure they are loose enough to allow the horse’s head carriage to come in front of the vertical.

one-time changes. Their body remains stable, the hands are steady and their independent legs give the clear aid to change. A

NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

BRISTER’S BRIEF

Charlie likes to encourage an ‘independent’ seat in his students. Here Katherine demonstrates how independent she can be! starting in walk. Let go of the monkey grip/ neck strap with the inside hand and make circles with an outstretched arm. Work to keep your outside hand steady and your lower body and leg stable. This exercise will create independent movement of your hands. Keep your breathing regular! Once mastered repeat the exercise with the other hand and eventually let go with both hands and move them in different directions.

Two Point – with stirrups without reins: Start seated and when balanced move to the two-point position. Focusing on your lower leg, keep your heels down, steady, close to the girth and not sliding back or moving excessively. Let go of the monkey grip and practice rein releases, softening the inside rein or a crest release as if jumping. The movement of your hands should not alter your balance or change your leg position. Many riders, when starting this exercise, 12

fall back into the saddle so maybe keep a light grip on the monkey grip/neck strap until you are balanced in the two point with independent hands. When established in the walk, move to the trot and canter with the ultimate aim to be able to make transitions between the paces without losing balance or position

No stirrups, no reins: This requires that your horse is well educated, safe and your coach is confident with your balance to ride with no stirrups. Start in walk and allow the leg to relax. Don’t grip with the knees – this pushes you out of the saddle and generally creates bounce. Hold on to the monkey grip and once you are comfortable with no stirrups you can start to add some exercise with the hands such as letting go, hands forward (replicating giving an inside rein), hands on hips, hands on head etc. A fun way to do this is playing ‘Simon Says’ (or Charlie Says in this case) and move your

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

hands as instructed. These kinds of exercise work to create independence between your legs and hands and build confidence in your seat and balance. When established in the walk with these exercises, repeat them in both directions at the trot and canter. The ultimate is to be able to make transitions between the paces without losing balance or position. Spending as much time as possible on the lunge means that you can work on your independent seat without the distractions you have when out riding. Soon you will be galloping around bareback like a Cherokee Indian, or my (slightly annoyingly very well balanced) 12-year-old brother. I would particularly recommend Kottas on Dressage, by Arthur Kottas-Heldenberg. Charlie Brister can be contacted for any questions on: charlie@bristerequestrian.com

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OUR HERO

Ex-racehorse turned icon It was 1992, and a rainy, muddy Melbourne Cup day when Subzero streaked first past the winning post, writes JO MCKINNON, of the horse that’s gone on to win hearts all over the world.

hat Graham Salisbury still remembers about his old mate Subbie, is that even during his racing career, he was a kind and gentle horse. Says Graham, who worked at Flemington as a Clerk of the Course: “When I first saw him at the races, I would get up alongside him on the way to the barrier and I would pat his head, around his legs and on the rump and there was absolutely no dirt in him. He was a beautiful horse with a nice big eye.” The Clerk of the Course horses that accompany the racehorses to the bar-riers are traditionally grey, and Graham kept his eye on the kind grey. When Subbie retired, after a stellar career of 48 starts and six wins including three Group 1s and winning just over $2 million – Graham’s long held dream of snaring him as a Clerk of the Course mount finally came true. With Subbie’s racing career over and after receiving permission from Sub-bie’s owners, his trainer Lee Freedman agreed to rehome the horse with Graham. To ‘formalise’ the arrangement the group asked Graham to pay them a dollar for the horse and sign a piece of paper. That agreement still sits in pride of place in a frame on his wall at home. 27 years on, and I can still remember that wet, muddy day when Subbie won the

3,200metre race. He’s fascinated not just me but multitudes of oth-ers ever since. Not because of those racetrack heroics long ago – exciting as they were – but for the extraordinary life he’s led since, contributing to and connecting with the community in his unique fashion. Former champion jockey Greg Hall, who was his regular partner in the sad-dle and rode him to victory in Australia’s greatest race, lights up whenever he’s invited to talk about this equine hero. “He’s my favourite horse,” says Greg, “and he gave me my greatest gift, a Melbourne Cup. But it’s quite extraordinary what he’s gone on to do since. He just loves people. Someone said to me once, I wonder if you could replace him and I said you could never replace him. They’ll never find another horse like him in the world.” Subbie’s service to humankind – visiting hospitals, nursing homes and all manner of public places, has made him one of the world’s most loved Thoroughbreds. The incredible popularity he enjoys was evident in the depths of winter this year when he was suddenly fighting for his life at the Bendigo Equine Hospital after a bout of colic. Social media went into meltdown with updates and well wishes shared. Nobody could bear the thought of losing him. The

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

vet clinic received get well cards and phone calls from people all over the world wanting to know if he was okay. Miraculously, and thanks to the unwavering dedication of veterinarian Dr Sarah Jalim, he survived the episode to see in his 31st birthday on August 1. “For a thoroughbred to get to 31 is absolutely outstanding and I think that’s because he’s a tough horse who has been looked after spectacularly well,” says Sarah, who thoroughly enjoyed nursing the gentle Subbie back to health. As I write this, Subbie is enjoying the peak of spring back at Graham’s home in Central Victoria where Graham is enduring his own set of serious health challenges with cancer. “I reckon if he could talk, he would say it’s great to be home. The old bloke is going better than me. He’ll outdo me at this rate,” he jokes, although it’s not a joke that sits well with me. Because this pair – horse and human – are inseparable, and they’ve been that way since Subbie’s retirement in 1993. It’s impossible to imagine one without the other. For the next 17 years after Subbie’s retirement from racing, Graham’s partner as a Clerk of the Course horse went on to work at race meetings all over the state of Victoria,

OUR HERO

Graham Salisbury with his beloved ‘Subbie’ (Image courtesy of Bendigo Advertiser).

OUR HERO

work, has been in much quieter places – at homes for the sick and elderly. “One of the homes which was only small with about 30 people, rang me and asked if we could come to visit,” says Graham. “I told them it would be a month before we could get there but they insisted and said there were a couple of people there without long to go and could we please come earlier.”

Subzero winning the 1992 Melbourne Cup. ensuring that the competing racehorses were safely guided to and from the starting barriers. And it was during that period Subbie’s special bond with the public started to build. Between races he would be regularly seen with his head over the running rail being petted by an adoring audience of all ages. “They just couldn’t get enough of him,” recalls Graham. “They would chant ‘Subbie, Subbie’. When I was taking him to the races or we would go anywhere with him and we’d pull up at a set of lights with the float that had his name written on it everybody nearby would yell out ‘Subbie, you’re the best!’ I made the decision not to stop people wanting to pat him and take photos.” Graham remembers one particular day at Caulfield races when Subbie decided to take advantage of some attention being shown by a member of the younger generation.

But little did Graham know there was a whole new life out there waiting for them, because as he was retired from the Clerk of the Course duties another journey began. Well known in racing circles for his quiet temperament, event organisers all over the country invited him along as a special guest to everything from black-tie awards’ dinners at Crown Casino to Spring Racing Carnival launches. He became so popular that on occasions he command-ed more attention than rock stars.

That moment caused a complete turnaround in Tom’s life. “The woman that ran the place said it was unbelievable,” recalls Graham. “A month or two later she rings me and she says: ‘Do you remember old Tom? Monday night they play bingo, Tuesday cards, Wednesday they dance, Thursday is picture night and Friday night they sit down for two hours with three or four form guides for the races on Saturday. Tom’s got this place rocking and rolling!”

“Three years in a row I took him to the Adelaide Cup and the third year I went Kylie Minogue was there,” Graham recalls. “After she had done her show at the racecourse, she walked right past me and gave him a pat and told him, ‘Subbie I’ve been outdone by you!’”

But it’s not just in Australia where Graham and Subbie have worked their magic. They’ve also brought joy to people overseas, traveling as far as Dubai to attend the World Cup meeting there as special guests. In fact, if the hosts had managed to have their way, Subbie wouldn’t have returned home!

But despite the public adulation, the place where Subbie has had his deepest impact on people and has done his most important

It wasn’t long before someone tried to buy him. “A man came up to us and said, ‘That’s a very nice horse.’ I told him: ‘This very nice

“He put his head in a kid’s pram and the kid started crying. The lady said to me in a worried fashion, ‘he hasn’t bitten him has he?’ and I said ‘no way’. But when he pulled his head out of the pram he had the kid’s apple in his mouth – that cheeky horse had pinched the apple!” Together Subbie and Graham served in the Clerk of the Course role until 2008 when arthritis took hold of the by-then ageing thoroughbred. 16

When they arrived at the home there was a man standing at the gate. “They told me old Tom hadn’t mixed with anyone and he’d been there for three weeks so I said let’s start with him first. I said ‘g’day Tom’. He said nothing. I said ‘Tom, you been here long?’ Nothing. Then I said: ‘This is Subbie. Do you want to meet him? He said ‘yes’… and started patting and kissing him.”

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

To ‘formalise’ the arrangement the group asked Graham to pay them one dollar and sign a piece of paper.

OUR HERO

Jockeys (left to right), Mark Zahra and Chris Symons, with Stephen Baster holding one of Subbie’s little fans. (Image courtesy of Racing Victoria). horse is going back to Australia,’ and he said, ‘What if I give you $US200,000 for him?’” But Subbie, Graham told the man, was not for sale at any price. “Brian said to me, ‘Jeez, you’re pretty strong.’ I told him Subbie’s part of my family. You don’t sell your family. He wasn’t going anywhere but back home with me.” Being part of the Salisbury family has also meant Subbie playing a particularly important role there as well. He means the world to Graham’s daughter Nicole, who, after a series of operations that saw her contract a blood disease, has lost the use of her legs from the knees down. “He’s everything,” she says. “I don’t know

life without him. He’s like a big four-legged brother. I’m very lucky. As far as I’m concerned there will never be another horse who will come close to him.”

to you in spades. He’s also been a fantastic bridge between the community and the racing industry, and we should thank him for that.

One of Subbie’s original owners, David Kobritz, is immensely proud of the positive impact on people’s lives the ex-racehorse has had - and is still hav-ing to this very day.

And the greatest part of this whole story is that Subbie, after his health scare, is currently in good health and doing well in his paddock at home. He’s not ready to leave this world just yet.

“We should celebrate his life and all the good things he’s done. We are so proud in terms of what he has contributed to racing and all walks of life,” says David. “He’s connected with school kids right through to people in aged care and retirement. To make that connection is very, very special. It’s a wonderful message about what horses are and can be. If you treat them well, horses will give it back

Perhaps one of the highest compliments of all is that he’s even had his own race, The Subzero, named after him. The race, exclusively for grey horses, has become a regular feature of the Melbourne Cup carnival, and is one of the highlights of Thursday’s Oaks Day program. There’s nothing quite like a bit of grey power.

NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

FEATURE

Amanda Ross on Koko Popping Candy (Image courtesy of Geoff McLean, Gone Riding Media).

FEATURE

#LifeAfterRacing The scandal and shockwaves from the revelations about the racing industry are creating pressure for real and positive change, writes CANDIDA BAKER

n the intensely emotional arena of horse welfare, nothing is easy, and there is much work to be done before racehorses – and all horses – can be assured of lives that are cruelty-free. Here at HorseVibes we are happy to say that we know of so many people who have chosen ex-racehorses, both Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds as their equine companions post their racing lives, that we’ve decided we would like to celebrate those beautiful horses – the ones that reach for the stars, and those who may simply be your best friend forever as a companion horse. (See the bottom of the page for details.) For decades, before the rising popularity of the Warmblood as a performance horse, Thoroughbreds were the absolute backbone of every equestrian Olympic discipline in this country, but there are still competitors out there who have taken Off The Track racehorses to even more stellar careers, and Amanda Ross, with her beautiful mare Koko Popping Candy, otherwise known as Zarzy, is an example of one of the best. Out of Moonlight Tango (sired by Luskinstar), by Bianconi, in the past two months alone, this 12-year-old black mare months has won the Werribee CCI 4* three-day-event and come second in the Canberra CCI 4*.

Last year the pair placed 8th at the highly competitive prestigious Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials.

national registration scheme for all horses; the need for improved regulations re breeding, transport and welfare standards

Amanda, rated 49th in the FEI Eventing World Ranking Ratings, has commented that she’s been lucky with Zarzy, and that due to her easy-going nature, she’s a chilled horse. Nevertheless the hard work and dedication required to take an ex-racehorse to one of the top eventing horses in the world is an amazing achievement. We think this beautiful photograph of Koko Popping Kandy with Amanda, taken by Geoff McLean from Gone Riding Media, sums up what hard work, trust and that special partnership bond can create. In my role as President of a small equine charity, Equus Alliance, and as someone who has personally taken on numerous Off The Track horses over the past 40 years, I know that life out there post racing is not rosy for far too many horses. Here at HorseVibes, as a team, what we feel needs saying is that many of the welfare issues facing the racing industry – both Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds – are also true for all horses in Australia. HorseVibes supports whole-heartedly the need for a

across the board and a much higher standard of accountability for the entire equine industry. However, we are also very aware of the changes that the various racing bodies and concerned trainers and breeders have been putting in place to ensure that there is life after racing for their beautiful thoroughbreds, and that many of the initiatives put in place over the past few years have the welfare of the racehorse as their primary concern. The fact is that individuals CAN make a difference. We feel so strongly about #lifeafterracing, and we know that so many of you out there love your ex-racehorses we are asking everybody who has a photo of their ex-racehorse, to post a photo and a short paragraph on the HorseVibes facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/horsevibes/ Show us your horses, give us your stories. We’ll announce some Christmas gifts for the top ten, and publication of the best photos and stories for the December issue, just in time to celebrate Christmas with your OTT friend.

NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

FEATURE

Seatbelts sold separately The fearless, daredevil world of the trick rider is something to behold, writes CANDIDA BAKER

ll riders have a dream, don’t they? They may change over time, but I’m sure most of us can still remember what initiated our passion for horses. However, I have to say, that I’ve always been what you might call a saddle, or at least a bareback-bound rider. I’ve never really experienced a massive desire to stand on a galloping horse, or fling myself off my equine friend at high speed in the appropriately named suicide drag, but I sure do admire those that can trick-ride. It’s fast, furious and fun to watch, and those that do it love nothing better than the thrill of a well-practiced trick on a well-trained horse, as two of Australia’s best trick riders, Hollie Shiels and Becky (Beck) Klingenberg explain. Gold Coast-based Hollie Shiels is one of the original members of ‘Girls, Girls, Girls,’ the team put together by trainer Heath Harris that started the whole trick-riding craze in Australia. “I was 15 at the time,” she says, “and I’d actually gone there for a jumping lesson with Krissy Harris. I’d known Heath and Krissy since I was born, because my mum knew Heath as a teenager. Heath watched me ride, and asked me if I wanted to join the team. I’d never even heard of it, let alone seen it, but I went, ‘ok’. They were still new at training horses for trick riding then, but then over the next few years there we were – performing at Sydney Royal, at Equitana, at the Ekka in 20

Brisbane, we were in the Outriders TV series. It was all massive, and great fun.” But even though Hollie didn’t start her trick riding until she was a teenager – relatively late these days – she came from a perfect background to immerse herself in the world of horses. Her mother managed a large riding school at Ingleside in Sydney’s Northern Suburbs, and Hollie was riding from an early age. “Mum bought me a black Welsh Mountain pony when I was six,” she says. “He’s still going today. He went on to our neighbour, but he’s been in our extended family for 28 years, so he’s at least 31 now – and that’s if he was only three when we got him.” I get a wonderfully misty-eyed vision of a little girl and her black pony, but when I mention it Hollie laughs. “Actually, he was quite a little turd,” she says cheerfully. “He wasn’t very nice at all!” Back to the trick-riding, and it wasn’t long before Tony Jablonski, the Horse Master for the nightly dinner shows at Movie World on the Gold Coast, who knew Hollie’s mother well, asked if Hollie would be interested in doing the shows. At the time, Hollie wasn’t sure. “I didn’t want to leave where we were living, or leave my trick riding horse from Heath’s behind. I just couldn’t see myself doing it, but then he rang again a year later, and suggested that we just meet up. I agreed, along with a friend

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

Becky Klingenberg riding out on Rose. (Photographer © Sarah Duguid.)

FEATURE

NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

FEATURE

of mine, and we were the first two outsiders to be hired.” The move brought Hollie to her own business. She started off with trick riding lessons in 2015, but now – like mother like daughter – runs a riding school, although she tries to keep as many lessons as possible as oneon-one coaching. These days, she no longer trick-rides but she trains her HLS trick riding team, and helps them train their horses. “We do different shows,” she says, “and I’m very choosy as to who I invite. I really want to see that level of passionate commitment you need to do this sport. You can have someone who shows talent and comes along for a few lessons but they don’t give it their all. Then you can get a student who may not have that much money behind them, but they are obsessed with it – they watch Youtube videos, they read about it, they come back and back, they live and breathe it, and those are the ones you know will make it.” I don’t like to ask about accidents, but the question hangs there in the air, because after all, trick riding at the very least, looks dangerous. Hollie laughs. “Well, the thing about trickriding is that it actually isn’t as dangerous as it looks, the gradual progression of the horse and rider learning the trick means that by the time they do it there is total trust between them, but yes, it’s true there is the occasional stack, strangely enough not nearly as often as in general riding as a rule though, because the horses are so welltrained and safe. You’ve got to know that when a stack happens, it’s a one-off incident and not something that’s going to happen again because of a failing in the training.” Mind you, Hollie has had her fair share of injuries, from a damaged coccyx to a badly broken arm, and pain, she says, is part of the stuntwoman’s life.

Top: Becky Klingenberg (left) and Hollie Shiels (right) riding together in the Northern Territory. Bottom: Hollie and Daquiri Loredo Moon.

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

“You get used to being sore. Many years ago, I hurt my tailbone. I was doing what is called Hippodrome at Canter’ and I fell off, landing right on my tailbone. It was agonising but no permanent damage,” she says cheerfully. Another time – not connected with trick riding, she was double-barrelled by a horse that kicked out with both its hind legs – and it shattered her elbow, resulting in nine

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weeks off a horse, and 12 months away from trick riding. But still, in general, she says, there is no more danger with trick riding than in any other equestrian discipline. These days Hollie’s business is a family affair. She’s been with her partner James since 2012, and they have two children, five-yearold Zaidon and two-year-old Addison. At five, Zaidon is already rising to the trot, and strutting his stuff at Toowoomba Royal, no less, in the lead-line classes. He’s also joining in on the practice barrel. “I can’t see any point in pushing them,” she says. “If he loves it he’ll find his way to it. Addison’s been on a horse, and even though she’s only two she’s confident on the ground. James, my partner, is a truck driver, and he’s not a rider, but he’s confident around horses.” A later quiver to her bow, quite literally, is teaching beginner archery lessons. “I learnt archery from Outback Equine,” she says, “and my show horse is an awesome archery horse. These days I have five horses that are able to do mounted archery.” For Hollie, life is about achieving goals, and at the age of 34, there’s much that’s she already done. “My biggest goal initially is to get a trick riding team to Equitana and to the Royals. This year we made it to the Ekka, and our name is becoming known out there. But also, I have another discipline I love, and that’s showing my five-year-old paint and pinto registered stallion, Daiquiri Loredo Moon. He’s also ANSA registered, and we’ve started to travel to some of the much bigger shows. He’s pretty close to being a finished

Flying the US flag in the Australian desert (Photographer © Sarah Duguid).

horse, and he’s so quiet I can even use him from her hometown of Melbourne.

for lessons.”

Becky Klingenberg

Goals are something that Hollie believes

Sometimes, just when the universe seems at its most unkind, it offers us an unexpected opportunity.

everybody should strive for. “I like to systematically kick goals and I don’t stop until I get there,” she says. “But I make my goals within limits. When we decided we had to buy our own property, I had to sell my best horse to buy it. These days Mum lives with us, she helps with feeding, and the kids, and she has a granny flat. We both ride Loredo at the shows – which I love. She’s 61 and going strong.” Like mother, like daughter again.

For 27-year-old trick rider Becky Klingenberg, who is based in Katherine in the Northern Territory, it was the combination of a terrible injury to both herself and to her beautiful trick riding mare, Rose, a legend in trick riding circles, that in the end opened up the possibility for something even bigger than the already-huge life Becky has carved out for herself in a state that is a long, long way

“My parents aren’t horsey at all,” she says, of her city background. “My dad’s a truck driver – he’s touring with Jimmy Barnes at the moment, but my uncle was a steeplechaser, and my grandparents had a hobby farm, so Nan would send the retired horses to the farm. Us grandkids got into the horses, and every school holidays I would go there, eat and sleep with the horses, then I’d be miserable when I got home.” So miserable in fact, that Becky joined Pony Club even though she didn’t have a horse.

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Becky Klingenberg and Rose perform the Suicide Drag. (Photographer © Sarah Duguid) “I used to ride my bike to the pony club grounds,” she laughs, “I’d wear my jodphurs, and leave the bike at the gate, and then just watch everything going on. The woman running it asked me if I wanted to be put on the waiting list, and I said that I would. When they rang my mother sometime later to say there was a spot for me, my mum said, ‘But she doesn’t have a horse!’ I was seven or eight at the time, and my parents had no idea I was so obsessed.” The horse-obsessed child grew up into a “naughty” teenager. Something Becky understands looking back. “I was really good at sports, but if I wasn’t playing sports I just wasn’t interested, and I couldn’t explain it to my parents, who felt that I should just focus on my school work, but it was impossible,”

she says. “All I wanted to do was go to the country, it was like a driving force inside me, so I ran away from home and went to live with my grandparents for a year. Netball became my connection to the community, and for a year I just worked on farms in any capacity I could. After I got my driving license I applied for a job in the Territory, and my Dad said that if I would go home, he’d take me there. So he did, and I’ve never left.” It was a late entry into trick riding for Becky – with lessons from Hollie when she was in the Northern Territory – but once she discovered it, that was it. “I suddenly knew what my purpose was,” she says. By 2016 Becky had already interned twice in the US with the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls, before she chose to move to Kununurra in

...they read about it, they come back and back, they live and breathe it, and those are the ones you know will make it. 24

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

2017. “I wanted to work as a stunt rider, and I was also working in Child Protection,” she says. “But then unfortunately in July 2018 I got my knee injury playing netball, and so I moved to Katherine to teach and train horses while I was recovering.” She was still in Kunnunarra on December 2018 Rose was injured badly in a freak accident, and Becky was devasted. You can still hear the pain in her voice as she describes what happened. “Rose had become an icon up here – any kid could sit on her, she was such an engaging horse, but on this day I was training a girl in Kununurra who was already doing bull-riding, and I said I’d take my horses down,” she explains. “Rose is quite a dominant, sassy mare, and we get on like a house on fire, but she tried to back out of the float before the tail-gate was quite down, and I tapped her politely on the butt to warn her – I’ll never know what went on for her, because she just suddenly got a fright, and my heart aches because of it. She kicked back at the tail-gate, and wouldn’t stop until finally she did because of the pain, and by then she was in a terrible state. I’ve thought and thought about it, and I think what happened is that I always closed the back of the car before I took the horses off, and on that occasion I hadn’t closed it.

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Hollie Shiels’ HLS Trick Riding Team I think perhaps she didn’t realise it was me behind her.” With no equine vet nearby, Becky and the local bovine vet did their best, but within just a short time it was obvious something was wrong, and the leg was very swollen. “I took her straight to Darwin where the vet told me she had an infection in the bone, and I should put her down. I said to him, ‘no way, there has to be another solution.’ He said he’d put a case together, and I went and sat in a café for an hour.” Becky sat there trying to make sense of it all. Her knee operation had personally cost her $18,500 because she wanted to have it done quickly, and now she knew she was facing a vet bill of thousands to save Rose. “But what I thought was that Rose had earned me every cent I’d made trick-riding, that I am who I am because of her, and I thought that I had to try,” she says. When the vet put the care package together for Becky, she was facing down the barrel of a $12,000 bill, but when her mother, who is an admin on her Facebook page, went to write the terrible news, Facebook prompted her to create a fundraiser, and her mother encouraged Becky to go ahead.

“That really didn’t sit well with me,” says Becky. “But mum said that people would want to help her, and she was right! People donated over half the amount, and sent all these beautiful messages about how their child had met Rose, or they’d been to see us ride. It was amazing – there she was, a brumby straight off a station, and now she was famous around the world.”

months to realise the purpose. I’d be crying inside asking why it happened, when we were both so fit and healthy. They say it takes five years to make a great trick rider, and that would have been this year – and what the hell happened? I didn’t hurt my knee trick riding and she didn’t hurt herself in a trick ride – she hurt it going 3k’s down the road to help someone out! Hooley Dooley.”

At first it seemed as if everything would be sweet, but then there was a major setback in the form of another infection. This time Becky was determined to pay for everything herself. “In the end the vet bills were over $26,500,” she says, “but I don’t regret a single cent. She’s a bit wonky on that leg, but she’s recovered, she gets around, she’s happy, and she’s such a funny horse, and every day I’m so grateful.”

But Rose’s retirement is looking good. She’s in a lush paddock on a friend’s station, where, in return for keeping Rose, she’s lent their daughter a trick saddle.

And in the strange way of the world, Rose’s retirement is what’s allowed Becky to make the decision to go to the US for as long as she needs with her hearing in March this year that she’d been awarded a scholarship to go to the US to work with the Mississippi Trixie Chicks, “Every time I go there I get better and better. I’m so happy my career has been so successful with Rose, it took me eight

For everything that’s happened in her relatively short life, Becky has developed a remarkably optimistic philosophy. “I don’t like to hear limiting words from anyone,” she says. “Parents should give their kids positive feedback. Being supportive, mentoring your kids, finding them mentors – these things are important. Also for kids to learn that even if they don’t have what they want they can save towards it, work towards their goal and get there in the end. That’s what I want to teach. Prepare yourself the best you can. Fight through your set-backs. Hope things go your way. And if they do be thankful and be grateful for your blessing.”

NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

SCHOLARSHIP

Delivering Dreams Scholarship Winners are grinners, and so they should be. Meet the top three applicants for our inaugural HorseVibes Delivering Dreams Scholarship.

e were looking for community spirit, and we found it in spades in all our top three applicants, but the judges, our editor Candida Baker; columnist, coach and eventer Charlie Brister and coach Charlotte Inglis were all unanimous in their opinion that 18-year-old trick rider Billie Morgan stood out from the crowd. We were thrilled with the quality of the applicants, and we would like to thank everybody who applied. We hope you enjoy reading about our top three as much as we did. Watch this space, as they say, while we bring you news of what the scholarship will mean to Billie Morgan, who was thrilled to hear that she’s won.

Our winner, Billie Morgan Billie Morgan, from Bundaberg, Queensland, grew up in a horse-loving family and began riding lessons when she was just six years old. It was while she was still very young that she saw a video of a trick rider in action, and from that moment, Billie knew exactly what she wanted to become. Now 18-years-old, Billie‘s long-held trick riding dream began three years ago when she started to learn the ropes. She has since trained her own horse and has purchased a trick riding saddle. But Billie isn’t just about pursuing her own goals, she likes to help others along the way. A regular assistant coach volunteer at the Bundaberg Riding for 26

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

Billie Morgan, winner of the Delivering Dreams Scholarship, with four-legged friends (Image courtesy of Lindon Josefski).

the Disabled (RDA) Centre, she last year won two national RDA awards in recognition of her efforts. Billie hopes to inspire others to pursue their dreams by achieving her own, one of which is to become a professional trick rider and travel around Australia performing and teaching, and ultimately to perform in America.

Melinda Rechichi Originally from the USA, Melinda Rechichi arrived in Australia with her family at the age of four. Her obsession with horses began as a pint-sized child, when a 17hh Thoroughbred came to stay in the family’s backyard. It was the horse’s owner that taught Melinda to ride, and eventually she got a pony of her own. Pony Club followed, then eventing, and, through the years, a series of off-the-track horses which she re-schooled as jumpers or eventers – some with great success.

Runner-up Melinda Rechichi with Sylvestro – aka Vinny.

Third placegetter, 13-year-old Lily Dessart.

Right now, Melinda is the proud owner of Sylvestro, the warmblood she bought as a 10-month-old foal that was placed third at last year’s Tamworth World Cup Rising Stars event and won this year’s Amateur at the Caboolture World Cup. Melinda’s love affair with horses remains central, and she happily confesses to being in awe of all the wonderful events and people in her life – all there because of horses.

Lily Dessart Thirteen-year-old Lily Dessart is a young rider with a big future ahead. Hailing from the Eyre Peninsula, she’s competed in local agricultural shows, gymkhanas, hunting events, team penning, and ranch sorting. Following last year’s successes – which marked her first year of competition – she has been exploring liberty training with Theory, her standardbred mare, while getting to know her new cow pony, Maple, with whom she hopes to compete in the 2020 Lower Lakes Stockman’s Challenge. Having experienced a variety of disciplines, Lily has settled on cattle work and obstacle challenges as her preferred areas, but she is also keen to learn more about liberty work and to explore the benefits this offers in strengthening the relationship between horse and human, something which she has found to be of great value in overcoming personal obstacles.

Melinda Rechichi and Vinny showing a clean pair of heels at QSEC (Queensland State Equestrian Centre).

Lily and her pony Maple take on the barrels. NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

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If you’ve taken the time to measure for the correct girth length, you’ll be able to secure it evenly on the same billet holes on either side of the saddle, no matter whether you’re using a long girth, or a shorter girth for a monoflap jump saddle or dressage saddle. And while on the subject, for shorter girths make sure that you have around four fingers width (inserted flat against your horse’s side and the girth) between the top of the girth and the bottom of the saddle pad and flap on either side to avoid your horse’s skin being pinched.

Always tighten your girth But which type of girth to tighten and how tight should it be? This month AMANDA MAC looks at some essential English saddle girth know-how.

At the very least, don’t use a girth that needs to be buckled at the top of the billets. This allows little or no room for tightening, plus riding with buckles pressing into your inside upper thigh is just plain uncomfortable.

How tight is tight? An overly tight girth can be uncomfortable for your horse, as well as potentially interfering with their performance in sports that require a high level of exertion. The harder a horse works, the more their chest must expand in order to increase the flow of oxygen to their muscles. A girth that is too tight can limit their capacity to breathe correctly.

oogle ‘horse’ and ‘girth’, and some fairly hilarious (and at times blood chilling) images pop up depicting the

consequences of failing to ensure your girth is adequately tightened. Clearly riding with your saddle located somewhere over your horse’s rump or hanging beneath its belly is counterproductive, although it may well give

Girth Length Estimate what length of girth you need by first placing your saddle, saddle cloth, and any additional special padding on your horse. It helps to have a second pair of hands at this point, so ask a friend to hold a fabric tape measure on the middle billet hole on one side of the saddle, while you run the

you an alternative view of the world!

tape under your horse (approximately one

Obviously a girth is designed to keep

elbow) and up to the corresponding billet

your saddle firmly in place. But of course,

hole on the other side of the saddle. The

there’s more to it than that. So, before we

measurement you obtain translates to the

explore some of the styles and types of

girth size you need. Beware of measuring an

girths on the market, let’s first look at some

old girth to ascertain the length for a new

girth fitting basics.

girth, as the old one has probably stretched.

hand’s width away from the back of the

The trick is for the girth to be sufficiently tight to secure the saddle, without it being so tight that it interferes with the horse’s ability to breathe and move freely. And keep in mind that a well-balanced rider with an independent seat (be sure to read this month’s Brister’s Brief on that very topic) will help stabilise the saddle, while a poorly balanced rider may increase the likelihood of the saddle slipping. So as a general rule when tacking up, first secure the girth sufficiently to hold the saddle in place but with room to spare. Then over the next few minutes gradually tighten the girth so that it has a snug fit against your horse’s body but with enough room for you to slide three fingers underneath it. And always check your girth approximately 10 minutes into your ride – chances are it will need tightening.

Fit, comfort, style and type A properly fitted girth is essential for both the security of the saddle and the comfort of

NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

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your horse. Girths are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, colours and styles, and that’s without considering the wide selection of girth covers and accessories that are also on offer.

Leather Girth

Neoprene Girth

However, the right girth for your horse will depend on how your horse moves, its skin sensitivity in the girth area, its confirmation, how much they sweat while working, and whether the shape and width of the girth will distribute pressure evenly and comfortably along their barrel. Additionally, the girth should move slightly with the direction of the horse’s hair, but not so much as to cause rubbing or chafing. Some girths have belly guards built into their design, which protect a horse from injuring itself on its shoe studs as it tucks its forelegs up over a jump, while others have built-in rings for training purposes. You’ll find girths with anatomical contours that allow your horse’s elbows to move relatively unimpeded, some that are similar in design to a straight belt, and others that are shaped to relieve pressure on the horse’s sternum.

Neoprene Girths: While these girths are affordable and easy-care, some horses are allergic to neoprene. Riders who have had problems with leather girths slipping often opt for these girths, which are generally wide and include elastic ends for greater comfort. Synthetic Girths: If you’re looking for a girth that’s reasonably priced, easy to clean and surprisingly durable, this might be the right choice for you. The down side is that although they are constructed similarly to leather girths, they may not last as long. But there again, if you need several girths for different horses, this is definitely an affordable option. Synthetic girths are available in either black or brown, and can be either contoured or straight, while some are lined with sheepskin, synthetic fleece, or gel for added comfort. String Girths: Made of multiple strings of mohair, wool, cotton or nylon, this girth is cool, allows air flow, dries quickly and is a popular choice for combating slippage and irritated skin. However, while they may

Synthetic Girth

Nylon String Girth

Girths with elastic at one or both ends, or with built-in elastic panels offer greater flexibility and comfort for the horse’s ribcage during exercise, as well as making for easier girth fastening, while elasticated wool-lined girths are a popular choice for jumpers and eventers.

be perfect for some horses, others may be

What are they made of?

nylon. For mohair and wool, wash according

Girths are manufactured in from a variety of materials – some natural, others synthetic. One of the main considerations here is whether or not your horse has an allergy to any materials – so, let’s take a look at some of your options: Leather Girths: Definitely a traditional look, these girths are usually folded over three times so that the horse’s skin doesn’t come into contact with the cut edges of the leather. The girth may be constructed entirely of leather, or include webbing or elastic inserts. They are easy to care for, and if of good quality become softer over time. Usually available in black or brown, they can either be quite simple or feature contrasting colours, fancy stitching and overlays.

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

pinched or chaffed by the strings, which can move independently of one another. Cotton string girths should be hand-washed in cold water to avoid shrinkage while nylon string girths can be machine washed but never bleached, which permanently yellows the to the manufacturer’s instructions. Webbing or Fabric Girths: These are often the girth of choice for a horse that does well in a soft girth. They’re simple, affordable and are best hand washed in cool water. Wool or Synthetic Fleece Lining: Many girths are available with the option of either a wool or synthetic fleece lining. Genuine wool helps to wick sweat away from the skin, but both options are ideal for a horse that needs a soft surface against its skin. Some horses that tend to be ‘girthy’ (see our sidebar) will often benefit from the comfort of a fleecy lining.

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Dealing with ‘girthy’ horses Horses who object to having the girth tightened are sometimes known as ‘girthy’. They might flick their tail, stamp, try to move away, pin their ears, bite or kick out. Although bad manners and dangerous behaviour should never be tolerated, chances are that in this instance, your horse is trying to tell you that they are uncomfortable or in some way distressed. This shouldn’t ever be ignored, so here are some potential problem areas to investigate: Check for pain and discomfort: And not just around the obvious back and girth areas, but also their legs, head and mouth. While not directly related to the girth, horses are good at connecting the dots, and if they’re in discomfort in any way while they’re ridden, they may associate being tacked up with what later causes them pain. It’s also possible that a problem with the hindgut is causing girthing to be uncomfortable – so if in doubt, talk to your vet.

Assess your horse’s tack: Look for problems with positioning, fit, wear and cleanness. Has the bit developed any rough or sharp edges? Is the bridle clean and supple? Are there any potential pressure points on the underside of the saddle and does it fit properly? Are your girth and saddle cloth clean and in good condition? Is it you? Do you carefully place the saddle on your horse’s back, ensuring that your saddle cloth is properly positioned and wrinkle-free? Do you tighten the girth gradually, or in one swift movement? Take stock of your approach - if you’re not gentle, or tend to be a bit impatient as you tack up, your horse is likely to become distressed. Try out a different girth: Some girths have no give and can be restricting and uncomfortable. Borrowing different girths to see if they make a difference can be helpful – just be sure that they’re the right size so you have enough holes to tighten them gradually.

‘That’ girthy horse: The fact of the matter is that every now and then there is ‘that’ girthy horse – the one that no matter what you do or how gently you treat it, will register their disapproval at the idea of the girth being tightened. This may well stem back to problems from their early training days, or from a too-tight girth when they were competing, and no matter if you have tried your best to solve the problem, they may remain forever girthy. That said, it’s extremely important to make sure that all possible causes of discomfort have been examined, for the sake of your horse’s comfort and for your peace of mind. If you can’t pinpoint that ‘girthy’ problem on your own, don’t be afraid to seek out expert advice, perhaps ask your vet when he or she is paying a visit anyway, or talk to your local saddlery, or a riding school instructor for example.

NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

THE HORSE LISTENER

Sometimes you just don’t know what you don’t know CANDIDA BAKER recently discovered that wormers ain’t wormers, when it comes to those pesky little cyathostomes.

ighteen months ago I adopted a beautiful grey thoroughbred mare, Tyra, to come to my place with a few young ones in order to be their matriarch. A job, I must say, she did in a splendid fashion, keeping them in order, but kindly. I fell in love with her extremely gentle and loving nature, and very quickly decided that she’d found her forever home with me. When she arrived, the first thing I did was to worm her. I knew that she had been wormed regularly; I was careful about rotating wormers; she was coming onto a ten-acre

paddock with plenty of feed that had not been over-stocked, and she had good weight on her, so all in all, she was (and is) a very healthy large mare. However, I noticed as soon as she arrived that she had some grey-horse melanomas under her chin, and a few tell-tale bumps around her bum, and when Richard Gregory, from Mullumbimby Veterinary Clinic, my dentist and also my vet, came to do her teeth, he confirmed there were a few in her mouth. I also knew, having cared for several grey horses with them, that horses, as Richard says, are more likely to die with

them than because of them, so I wasn’t too concerned. She was also scouring a little when she arrived, and in the weeks after, but again, it was something that didn’t surprise me too much, I’d seen horses come from very dry areas arrive onto the lush green grass of the Northern Rivers, and take some months to adjust to the (usually) plentiful grass. I checked with Richard, and he suggested I should add a product such as Dynavyte or Fibre Protect into her feed as well, to help boost the probiotics in her gut, and I duly did that. Both products certainly helped, and I’m a fan of both of them for keeping horses really healthy – plus horses seem to truly love the taste of Fibre Protect. For a long time, the scouring was so minimal that it seemed that it was possibly just a case of an older horse, a different diet, and potentially internal melanomas, and since Tyra was obviously fit, happy and active, it didn’t occur to me that it could be another problem. But back in August, just when I was due to go on holidays for over a month, the scouring suddenly got worse. I brought forward my next worming because of being away, and mentioned to the people feeding her for me that if she was still scouring when I got back I would do something about it, and fit it in with her Hendra vaccination – particularly important in our area because of the amount of bats present flying over pasture.

THE HORSE LISTENER

When I got home, Tyra was still scouring – although not as badly – and I also noticed she had a couple more new lumps and bumps. They seemed a little different to the melanomas, more like raised bumps after a mosquito or tick bite, so I treated them with some antiseptic cream, and called the vet to organize the Hendra appointment, and asked him to give her a general health-check.

thoroughly. It seemed as if she had been a host for these worms for sometime, and because of all the logical reasons associated with her scouring, I had overlooked the importance of changing my wormer to one that would counteract all worms. Richard recommended Equest Gel, if I wanted to do only one treatment since it has proven efficacy against the dormant stages, or a product such as Equimax Elevation, with a second treatment two-to-four weeks later. When I researched further, I also read that the combination of the ivermectic, pyrantel and praziquantel is actually supposed to help delay resistance, although that has not been scientifically proven.

And this was when I found what I didn’t know. “She’s showing signs of a cyathstomin infection,” he told me. I knew enough to say that I wormed her regularly and rotated wormers regularly. “Yes,” he said, “but do you use a wormer that kills all cyathostomes?” he asked. Now, I know full-well that worming strategically involves worming your horse based on the parasite lifecycle, and the lifecycle of different parasites mean that they may be more active at different times of the year – with autumn and spring being the most important times to worm all horses. What I didn’t know is that in a lot of older horses who have been on mectin, as in ivermectin-based wormers, for some years, the small strongyles, i.e the cyathostomes, have developed resistance. Research suggests that it is not just a problem of resistance, but also that it’s possible the dormant/hypobiotic larvae within the intestinal wall are able to evade the wormer because it can’t penetrate the intestinal wall

Candy administers worming medication at great enough concentration. Typically, a horse with an overload of cyathostomes will experience scouring, and perhaps the presence of small sores – often referred to as summer sores – as well. Also the encysted larvae can live in the animal’s large intestine for anything from two months up to three years before symptoms appear, depending on the species. If untreated the horse may become lethargic, have extreme diarrhoea and possibly colic. I was at least able to say to myself that Tyra was still in fine fettle, just scouring a little, with the presence of these tiny mosquitostyle bites, but I felt very guilty that I had not done my ‘worm’ homework more

I got so interested in the different brands of wormers and what they do, I disappeared down a worm-hole for several days. (One warning, a wormer that only contains mectin plus a tapewormer should be not be used in horses less than two-years-old because of the risk of Ascarid worms in foals resistant to mectin based wormers.) What I discovered was that when I was worming her, it was helping, and accounted for the lack of severity of her symptoms. However, the resistance to the wormer and the fact that the cyathostomes she was carrying were the type that can have arrested development meant that the symptoms were on-going. If I’d also thought outside the square I might have got a Faecal Egg Count (FEC)

THE HORSE LISTENER

At left: Photomicrograph of encysted mucosal cyathostomin larvae in the large colon and worming medicine. Main image: Candy and Tyra. (Photography: Paulina Howfield.)

done which could have given me an instant insight into the worms she was carrying, that were not being killed by my choice of wormers. The good thing about an FEC is that it can mean less reliance on wormers, and more targeted treatments as well. So I found out that I didn’t know what I didn’t know, and I’m very happy to report that Tyra responded incredibly quickly to the treatment. Richard recommended following up with another worming dose, Equixmax this time, rather than Elevation, a few weeks later, which I duly did. Tyra now has absolutely zero scouring, and is looking as fit as a fiddle, and I’ve learned yet another valuable lesson. Candida Baker runs a Facebook page, The Horse Listener. She is also the President of Equus Alliance.

Equine Cyathostominae Etiology: There are two nematode subfamilies: the Strongylinae (large strongyles) and Cyathostominae (known variously as small strongyles, small redworms, trichonemes, cyathostomes, or cyathostomins). Epidemiology Eggs are shed by horses of all ages, the life cycle is direct, infective larvae develop seasonally on pasture, and hypobiotic cyathostomin larvae can cause severe disease when they resume development in late winter.

Signs General strongylosis: Ill-thrift, weight loss, poor hair coat, and impaired performance Verminous arteritis (associated with Strongylus vulgaris): Variable, including colic and diarrhea Larval cyathostominosis: Rapid weight loss, often with sudden onset diarrhea

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

Clinical pathology: Strongylid eggs in feces (except disease caused by larvae); reduced hemoglobin, erythrocyte counts, and packed cell volumes; leukocytosis; eosinophilia (with migrating larvae); reduced hemoglobin, erythrocyte counts, and packed cell volumes; leukocytosis; eosinophilia (with migrating larvae); hyperglobulinemia, particularly IgG(T). Larval cyathostominosis: Ivermectin, moxidectin. Cyathostominae (small strongyles/cyathostomins) – eight general – over 50 species, of which 10 occur commonly. • Direct, non-migratory life-cycle. • Adult stages – large intestinal. • Prepatent period – 6 to 20 weeks. • Arrested larval development in large intestinal mucosa – period of arrest may be from several months to two to three years duration.

FEATURE

Main image: Asa Chegwyn on Jawarra Oliver won silver in the 1a and 1b preliminary dressage in the 50-59 year-old age group. At right: Northern Rivers Easy Riders displaying their Masters medals. Natalie Skillings, Fiona Grayfoner, Astrid Gran-Innes (president), Sarah Connellan, Kristen Fleet (back row), Lisa McFadgen (front row, white shirt), Barbara Gosper, Donna Purtle, Jane Camens

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

FEATURE

You’re never too old to have a go JANE CAMENS discovers that the Masters Games provides a great opportunity for older equestrians to continue competing.

’m in my mid sixties, and my mare,

The Equestrian Convenor for our region’s

(obstacle) and speed tests. We didn’t do

Beauty, is the distinguished age of

Masters for the past eight years has

well in the Maneability phase, which taught

17, so we are a team whom some

been Judy Mason, a past president of

me valuable lessons for the future. Our

might think is a little passed our

the Summerland Dressage Club, which

wonderful judge, Janet McCormack, took the

use-by date. Think again. We might not be

organised the dressage events. She stressed

time to explain, gently, that it would have

terribly interested in fastidious plaits or

the social element of the Masters Games.

been better had I been there to walk the

colour-matching, but we’re willing to have a

“The idea is that we give the older age group

course. The nice thing about these Games

go at strutting our stuff just for the fun of it.

riders a go and also the chance to socialise

is that it’s not so serious that the judges

with others in your age group,” she says.

need to be fierce. I was allowed to finish the

Not only that, but due to our mature ages, in

course, despite elimination. Surprisingly,

the Masters Games we can compete without

Beauty and I somewhat missed the

the stress, even embarrassment, of going

socialising opportunity because we’d spent

up against young, more agile, gorgeously

15 hours trail riding that same week. (See

primped riders on their stunning steeds.

my story on our ride for the drought.) On the first day of the competition we came, did

I’d competed only once or twice in local

our dressage test and left immediately so

club events, but Beauty is an old hand at

we could both take a breather. Most people

competitions. So in the spirit of ‘ave-a-go, I

stayed overnight, enjoying dinner together.

registered us for the 2019 Lismore Workers

But you can’t do everything. Though I try.

later that day we managed a modified version of the same course at speed and did quite well. I wasn’t the only one grinning from ear to ear at the presentation ceremony. I ended up with two silver medals, and most, if not all, my friends had medals and ribbons hanging off them.

Masters Games. My club, Northern Rivers Easy Riders, had been invited to organise the

Riders came from near and far to compete in

Working Equitation events and our president

the Dressage, Working Equitation and Stock

had asked me to register in order to support

Horse events.

The Masters Games in our region will be held again in two years time. Don’t say you’re too old to come along and have some fun.

the club. Advantage to the Lismore Masters Games The minimum age for the equestrian events

is that you don’t need to be a member of

was 35. I wasn’t aware until later that ribbons

Equestrian Australia to compete. Instead the

and medals at the Masters are awarded in

Council imposes a $60 fee to participate,

age categories, so if you’re over 55, you have

which covers the Council’s liability as well as

a pretty good chance of winning something.

providing a meal voucher, medals and entry

It turned out there weren’t so very many

to any of the other Lismore Masters sporting

people competing at my level in my age

events.

It’s a great way to connect with other likeminded souls in the same age bracket. The equestrian Masters Games are held at various places around Australia, including Victoria, South Australia, Lismore and Alice Springs. Cities or Councils can apply to hold an Equestrian Masters Games in their area. For

category. (I’d put a laughing face emoji in here if my editor would leave it in, but she

The next day Beauty and I were back to have

won’t. You got that right. Ed.)

a go at the Working Equitation Maneability

more information go to: https://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Australian_Masters_Games

NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

YOUNG RIDER

A cut above Addison Dudley may only be 12 years old, but she has a maturity that goes well beyond her years, writes AMANDA MAC.

n a western style cutting contest, horse and rider work together to cut out a cow from a small herd of cattle and then prevent it from

returning to the herd. This process is known as a ‘run’ – and it’s something that Addison Dudley, who hails from the Queensland town of Goondiwindi, is particularly good at. “In 2018 at the Victorian Futurity, I was Champion in the Junior Youth and got my very first buckle,” says the 12-year-old wunderkind. “I was shaking when the presentation was happening because I was so excited. I also won the Darling Downs Cutting Club Champion Champions Junior Youth.” So far, 2019 has also proved to be a very good year with Addison winning Reserve Champion at the Balonne River Cutting Club in the Junior Youth competition, Champion and Reserve Champion at the Northern Rivers Cutting Horse Club Junior Youth competition, and Reserve Champion at the Interschools Horse Extravaganza.

Top image: Addison and Superman, North Star Champions. Main image: Addison and Cherrys Duplicat at the Victorian Futurity with (L to R) owner Natasha Wrigley, mum Jackie Graham and little brother Aiden. (All images courtesy of Liz Speed Photography).

One of the advantages of western riding is that includes sports that can be enjoyed by the whole family – and the Dudleys are no exception. Both mum Jackie and stepdad Todd are well-known in the cutting world.

Addison’s riding career began with Comet the Shetland pony. “Mum first held me on a horse when I was two weeks old, but when I was three, some family friends gave me Comet. I was so excited,” she remembers.

Addison usually rides Superman, her 15-year-old bay Quarter Horse, but on other occasions she is not averse to ‘stealing’ her mum’s Quarter Horses. “I really like

She got into cutting because her parents always had cutting horses of their own. “I used to go and watch them compete, which was pretty cool. I think I like it so much

Tapt Choice, who’s five years old, and One Stylish Turpentine, a nine-year-old bay,” she confesses.

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

because it’s a great bonding experience with friends as well as with the horses,” she says. Addison, who starts high school next year, also enjoys boxing and swimming and rides as much as possible. “Because I go to school and do other sports as well, I can’t ride every day. But a week before I compete I practice really hard. Sometimes my mum or my stepdad Todd will try and help out by riding the horses before I get on them to settle them down,” she explains. Remarkably mature for her age, Addison already has a great take on life: “I want to

YOUNG RIDER

Main image: Addison and Cherrys Duplicat at work. Below: Addison and Tapt Choice winning at the Darling Downs Cutting Club championships.

continue going well on my horses when I compete, and when I don’t have a great run, to remember there will be other times to try again and that everyone has a bad day.” She is also very appreciative of her family: “Mum is always there to help me get ready to compete, and she teaches me to try my hardest. I’d really like to thank her, as well as Todd, who talks me through all of my runs and helps me to pick good cows. And also my little brother Aiden for keeping me happy all the time. Sometimes we have a little fight but he’s lovely and he makes me happy. My family keeps me going.” Congratulations to Addison from all of us here at HorseVibes – and we wish you every future success. NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

HORSE BREED

The intelligent and versatile Irish Sport Horse From an amiable general riding companion to international show jumping and eventing star, it turns out that the multi-talented Irish Sport Horse can do it all, writes AMANDA MAC.

he Irish Sport Horse – sometimes known as the Irish Hunter due to its early popularity as a fox hunting

horse – is one of the finest sport horses in the world. It’s not unusual to find them topping world class championships in dressage, as well as in show jumping and eventing. Standing on average between 15 and 17hh, this breed is renowned for its strong, athletic build and surprising agility. Coupled with a gentle disposition and an even, kind temperament, the Irish Sport Horse is as well-suited to an amateur rider as they are to the international show ring, where they do very well indeed.

A composite breed The Irish Sport Horse is traditionally a mix of Irish Draught and Thoroughbred bloodlines – and in order to better understand its unique characteristics, it’s not a bad idea to take a closer look at its forebears. Used in both battle and on the land, the profile of the Irish Draught Horse (already possessed of a sturdy confirmation with energy to burn) first underwent a change in the 12th century when its blood lines were 40

mixed with the mighty war horses brought to Ireland by the Anglo-Normans. Then in the 16th century, several Spanish breeds were added to the mix during a period of trade between southern Ireland and Spain.

Times were changing However, changes in agriculture in Ireland meant that there was less need for the sheer strength of the heavy draught horse, and greater demand for a horse that yes, would work the land, but could also pull a dog cart, as well as take the farmer fox hunting, successfully jumping any obstacle along the way. No pressure! So the Irish Draught was next bred with a focus on developing an ability to effortlessly gallop and jump crosscountry, and to have the stamina to keep on the move all day if required. The result was an extremely hardy horse, valued for its jumping ability, soundness and versatility. They also had the endurance to easily handle a tough day over rugged terrain, and yet were gentle and calm enough for a child to ride. But it wasn’t until the early 1920s that it occurred to someone that introducing Thoroughbred into the Irish Draught equation might prove interesting. As

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

it turned out, the idea was much more than that. When the characteristics of the Thoroughbred, known for its speed, endurance, athleticism and heart, were combined with the strength and jumping prowess of the Irish Draught Horse, the end product was nothing short of spectacular.

Half and half As a general rule, horses that are half Irish Draught and half Thoroughbred tend to be quiet all-rounders suitable for amateur riders and for low-level eventing, while those that are closer to or greater than three quarters Thoroughbred are sought-after by top class riders from around the world as eventers and show jumpers. In addition to their exceptional jumping ability, these horses have beautiful, elevated movement, which

HORSE BREED

Main image: An Irish Sport Horse showing style in the show jumping arena. Right: A high-level eventer (Photo Â© Peter Nixon). Below: Irish Sport Horse mare and foal.

NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

Top left: Top dressage horse Peninsula Top Man and Canada’s David Ziegler (Image by Terri Miller Photography). Bottom left: Chippison, a beautiful example of the breed. Main image: Irish Sport Horse stallion Brandenburg’s Windstar.

gait, the Irish Sport Horse is a late bloomer and doesn’t reach maturity until around five years of age.

goes a long way to explaining their success in the dressage arena. In recent times there has been an infusion of European warmbloods into the breeding program, apparently with the idea of producing more internationally competitive showjumpers that reach maturity at a younger age. However, given the breed’s already renowned ability in the show jumping arena, the wisdom of this is questionable – and more than one expert has expressed grave concerns that with fewer true Irish Sport Horses being bred, the bloodline is in real danger of being lost completely.

International reputation With a strong head and well-conformed legs, the breed is characterised by its sculpted, well-muscled structure. Sure footed and well-balanced with an even, comfortable 42

Considered a top class all-round competitor, these horses have certainly made their mark and are held in very high regard amongst elite equestrians. Show jumping success stories include outstanding results at the Olympic Games, Show Jumping World Championships, European Show Jumping Championships, the Show Jumping World Cup and the Pan-American Games. Perhaps one of the most striking examples is the Irish Sport Horse stallion Cruising. Standing at 16.2hh, Cruising partnered Ireland’s Trevor Coyle to notch up wins, placings, and appearances in numerous nation cup teams, competing at some of the most prestigious Grand Prix events in the world, including Aachen, Dortmund, Lucerne, San Marino and Wolfsburg. Sadly, Cruising passed away in 2014 at the age of 29. But while the stallion achieved many successes in the arena, his contribution to both show jumping and eventing didn’t end there. His legacy continues with progeny that have gone on to great victories in their own right, firmly

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

establishing the reputation of the Irish Sport Horse as a competitor to be reckoned with.

Giving the best care Irish Sport Horses are generally robust, healthy and hardy. Usually easy to feed, their Thoroughbred metabolism may require a more concentrated food source to meet their energy needs if they are involved in training and competing. As with any horse, high-quality hay should form the basis of the feeding program, while concentrates and nutritional supplements can be added as needed to match each individual’s requirements. Because the Irish Sport Horse is athletic by nature – and let’s not forget that famous abundance of energy – they require plenty of regular exercise, either through access to outdoor areas, or by being ridden. In fact, the need for these horses to release their energy is so great that it’s essential to their overall health and wellbeing. They also enjoy spending time with people, so make sure you dedicate sufficient time to grooming and riding your Irish Sport Horse to strengthen your bond with this truly exceptional equine companion.

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HORSE HISTORY

From frightened to fearsome What do you get for the man who has everything? A horse, of course. But not just any horse – this one had to be exceptional, writes N. G. QUINLAN of Bucephalus, Alexander’s legendary war horse.

y the age of thirty, Alexander III, ruler of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon, had established himself as conqueror of the-then known world. Born the son of King Philip II, he had succeeded his father as king at the tender age of 20, and during the next decade his empire expanded from Greece into Asia, northwest India, and northeast Africa. It’s little wonder he became known as Alexander the Great. Melbourne Museum, forever keeping alive the memory of one of Australia’s greatest racehorses. Although he was surrounded by advisers, his constant companion throughout every campaign was a bull-headed black stallion with a white star on his brow. The horse was branded on its haunch with the ancient mark of the ox head, known in Greek as the Βουκέφαλοι, or Bucéphaloi. Along with

another two markings, the Samphórai and the Koppatíai, this brand was commonly used in the ancient world, with the black stallion proving to be as stubborn as its brand would suggest. According to ancient tales, Alexander’s father first became aware of Bucephalus (pronounced as byew-SEFF-ah-luss) when the horse was brought to him by a trader named Philonicus. The year was 346 BC and the trader, a bold man from the rich pastures of Thessaly, was asking about three times the usual price for a horse. The currency of the day was the talent, with one talent equal to about sixty pounds of gold or silver. Philonicus the Thessalian had set his price at 13 talents, a remarkable amount for any beast. However, the skittish stallion proved to be unmanageable and impossible to mount. He

Such was Alexander’s regard for Bucephalus that he built an entire city in memory of the great steed... 44

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

snorted and flicked his mane, bucking and tossing any man who attempted to climb upon his back. King Philip was unimpressed and stated that he was not interested in buying the horse. But on the other side of the wooden fence, his twelve-year-old son leaned on the weathered rail and watched as each potential rider was cast down into the dust by the wilful horse with the star on its brow. Alexander began to notice a certain pattern in the stallion’s behaviour, and with his hopes buoyed by his new discovery, he ran to his father the king asking for a chance to tame the stubborn Bucephalus. King Philip considered his son’s request and said that if Alexander could ride Bucephalus, he could have him. The king’s only condition was that if Alexander failed to calm the wild heart of the black stallion, he would have to repay the purchase price of the horse. Alexander agreed to the proposal, sure that what he’d seen in the dusty yard had convinced him that he knew the secret to taming the bull-headed beast. The young boy took off his cloak and walked into the yard. He sensed that the stallion had been spooked by something and believed that he knew what it was. Without Alexander’s long flowing cloak flapping in the breeze, the horse was less distracted. Alexander approached him slowly and spoke to him in a soothing voice as he took the rough bridle and turned the horse’s face toward the sun. Mighty Bucephalus grew calmer now that his own shadow no longer frightened him. To the amazement of everyone, now that Bucephalus was no longer seeing his shadow on the ground, the young prince mounted the horse and rode him around the yard. Legend has it that King Philip granted him the stallion with a proud smile, saying: “O my son, look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy of thyself, for Macedonia is too little for thee.” Bucephalus carried Alexander the Great through many military campaigns including the Battle of Hydaspes River, during which the horse was apparently wounded. When Bucephalus was kidnapped after the defeat of the Persian king Darius, Alexander threatened to lay the entire countryside to waste and slaughter every inhabitant unless

HORSE HISTORY

his horse was returned unharmed. It was not long before Bucephalus was restored to him, along with pleas for mercy. Alexander reputedly once said: “I would rather live a short life of glory than a long one of obscurity.” Sadly, his wish was granted. The young conqueror died in Babylon at the age of 32, possibly poisoned by hellebore, or perhaps expiring from a severe fever. Bucephalus predeceased his master by about three years, dying in 326 BC. Some ancient sources say the great stallion died from battle wounds, others suggest that he simply succumbed to old age. The exact cause of their deaths may never be

known, but their bond in life cannot be doubted.

Top left: Alexander astride the mighty Bucephalus (statue by ARH Studios).

Such was Alexander’s regard for Bucephalus that he built an entire city in memory of the great steed that had once been afraid of his own shadow. Located east of the Indus River in what is now modern-day Pakistan, the city was named Bucephala.

Bottom left: Alexander The Great on his horse Bucephalus (colour litho by Angus McBride 1931-2007). Main Image: Alexander taming Bucephalus (late 19th century drawing by F. Schommer).

As the truth of antiquity slips into legend, the tale of Bucephalus lives on. The facts of his story may be difficult to determine, yet the inspiration remains. Perhaps the final lesson is – if you can tame the beast, you can conquer the world. NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

FEATURE

A pleasure ride with a practical purpose This year’s Queensland ATHRA ride raised over $7,000 towards drought relief, writes JANE CAMENS.

e knew there were fires. The skies in northern New South Wales were brown with smoke haze, and news reports were dire, but it was the time of year when the South-East Queensland branch of the Australian Trail Horse Riding Association (ATHRA) holds its annual eightday not-to-be-missed September camp. Most of us who’d booked held our collective breath, waiting to hear whether it was safe to ride. Some Tenterfield riders who usually join the camp cancelled early because they were too busy rescuing horses from fire-affected neighbouring properties to come this year. But the Beaudesert ATHRA Club, which organised this year’s camp with the support of the Queensland Government, said the ride was on. We loaded up our floats and hit the road.

The Killarney Showground was base camp.

but, by September this year, following the

Across the road, all that remained of the

worst drought the area has ever seen, almost

former golf club was a sad, peeling sign. The

all the dams and remaining lakes were dry.

Condamine River was now no more than a

Most of the creek crossings were dry. One

muddy creek. The air smelled of smoke from the fires just across the border. I’d never seen land so dry that wasn’t designated ‘desert’. It’s ironic that Killarney was given its name in 1840 by two Irish brothers, the Leslies, who were reminded of the green and lush Killar-

that had never been empty before. It’s strange to think that in February, only seven months earlier, when Erin Quirke, President of the Beaudesert Shire ATHRA

ney in County Kerry in Ireland. In those days

club, made a reconnaissance trip to the area,

in its Australian namesake, there were many

the country was green.

lakes and wooded hills. But most of the lakes were drained for agriculture, and the timber

“It was a completely different place,” she

felled. Nevertheless, although drought has

says. “The country was lush and the river

ravaged this country, it’s always recovered,

crossings knee deep.”

Every mile driving northwest from the relatively green coastal strip of northern New South Wales, across the Border Ranges into Queensland, the country grew progressively drier. Around each bend the land stretched out in increasingly parched vistas. Finally, my mare Beauty and I arrived in Killarney, a small township 35 kilometres southeast of Warwick on the Condamine River, where we joined some 60 other riders. 46

local told me that there were dams empty

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

The air smelled of smoke from the fires just across the border. I’d never seen land so dry that wasn’t designated ‘desert’.

Erin Quirke, the camp organiser, on her horse Tim.

FEATURE

Main image: Riding by the Killarney Pub. Below: 60 riders set off on this year’s south-east Queensland’s ATHRA ride to raise money for drought relief. The past seven months have been devastating to the country, even though there is a strange beauty in the drought-devastated landscape. Erin stressed that all the riders were required to respect the drought conditions. Only bucket sponges for horses were allowed and smoking was prohibited. Three fund-raising nights held during the camp (an auction and two fun ‘fines’ nights) raised $7,310 and this was donated to the local Country Women’s Association for its drought relief fund. The camp chef, hailed for his ability to cater for so many hearty appetites, bought all his supplies from local stores and donated the camp food scraps to a local chicken farm. The local produce store was the source of all the ordered feed for the horses, and the local pub must have made a bit of money 48

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

from sun-downer sessions. Additionally, the showground earned $10,000 from the eightday camp. “We’re putting money into the local businesses,” says Claire Bourke, veteran ATHRA camp organiser. “If there’s one thing you should write about this camp its that we’re trying to give back to the community.” What the camp gave to the community in the way of cash, the camp attendees got back from Killarney in the form of memories, friendships, and strengthened bonds with our fabulous horses who carried us for up to six hours a day. It was a great lesson in how communities can band together to create a bigger purpose than their original intention.

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ON MY TACKBOX

Finding the right home for the right horse LUCY MORTON the owner of Kasperrado Warmbloods, offers some expert tips on the delicate art of selling horses

reeding is a fickle business filled with enormous highs

and devastating lows. However there is that moment when you can step back, take a deep breath and say: ‘That was all worth it.’ And that moment generally comes when you’ve matched your beloved horse up with the perfect new owner. There are a number of milestones in breeding: the first is achieving the pregnancy; second is managing to get a live, healthy foal on the ground (more of a challenge than you can imagine); the third is starting them under saddle (one of my personal favourites); and fourth is passing a vet check and sending your horse off to its new ‘forever’ home. However, if your fairy-tale ending is not quite panning out the way you had hoped, I’m happy to impart what knowledge I’ve gleaned from my 18 years of breeding horses as a Director/Owner of Australian Warmbloods Luda with David Prior, and as owner of Kasperrado Warmbloods, combined with my 25 years as a professional photographer – a handy skill to have when selling horses, 50

although thankfully not a necessity! Occasionally all the stars align and that perfect owner calls you up and says: “What have you got? Pick one for me.” That was the case with one lovely Kasperrado owner. I offered to show her three prospective horses, but her response was “No, just show me the one for me”. I presented her with a mare that I knew would be a perfect fit. She jumped on, walked 10 to15 paces and said: “Yes, I’ll take her,” and they lived happily ever after. Another wonderful sale occurred by default when a certain not-to-be-named vet failed a spectacular gelding on the basis of some rather questionable ‘Reiki’ concerns. The anxious buyer could allegedly feel heat in the hind quarters whilst hovering her hand two inches above the rump. Needless to say, the sale fell through. But five minutes after the ‘unsuitable’ verdict was passed, a friend drove up the driveway and asked how the gelding had gone. When I told her that he had failed the vet check, her response, without missing a beat was: “I’ll buy him! What rubbish, there’s nothing wrong with that horse.”

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

That sale did go thorough, and they too lived happily ever after.

The sales process So, you have grappled with the pros and cons of keeping your beloved horse and you have finally made the decision to sell, sell, sell. Naturally, your next step is to advertise. There are a series of steps that can be followed to maximise the impact of your advertisement, giving you and your horse the best possible opportunity for a time efficient sale to a wonderful home. First impressions count! When advertising your horse you need to put his or her very best foot forward.

It’s all in the timing In my opinion nature’s spring makeover cannot be beaten. When spring has sprung, gone are the woolly mammoths with dull coats and in their place are shiny, healthy horses. Timing plays a big part in selling and your time is right now! In the depths of winter the majority of riders, including myself, tend to opt for the fireplace rather than their horse’s back. So you’ll find that buyers tend to come out of hibernation as spring blossoms bloom.

Preparation It is important to put as much time as you can into preparing your horse so that they look good for sale. Give them an unbiased once over. Consider their virtues and faults – be honest and be critical. Now think about what you can do to improve their overall appearance: groom them; either feed up or diet down to trim off any extra winter weight; pull and plait the mane; call out the farrier; invest in a good quality bridle or halter (or make sure your current tack is spotless); and finally, apply white leg bandages for that thousand dollar facelift!

A picture’s worth a thousand words Once your makeover is complete it’s time to get the glamour shots. It’s best to have two helpers – one person to hold the horse, and the other to distract them.

Showing off: AW Kasperrado Dante.

ON MY TACKBOX

so that you’re slightly closer to the horse’s shoulder than you are the mid-way point of their body. And keep in mind that you want the horse to be full frame rather than lost amid a vast background. When you have your horse in the right position your ‘distractor’ should stand a few meters away from you in the general direction of the horse’s head. The idea here is that when your horse looks at those ‘mystery’ objects, they’ll present a three-quarter view of their face to the camera. Ideally, you want the horse to arch forward and stretch out his neck to inspect the object – but it’s a fine balance between the perfect moment and the horse leaning forward too much, or in most cases, stepping forward. If the horse tries to walk forward to inspect the object, the handler can do small jumps on the spot to surprise the horse and stop the forward movement, or they can lean forward and gently tap them back.

AW Luda Tarantella There are a number of objects you can have nearby that are designed to get the horse’s attention: an old drink bottle half filled with stones to gently rattle, an umbrella, stick or whip for waving, and, of course, that sure-fire winner – a feed bucket. It’s very important not to show the horse any of the objects until they’re in position and you are ready to capture the shot. This way you have the element of surprise on your side. Once they habituate to the objects they will cease to react. Stand the horse so that the sun is directly on the camera’s side with the shadow falling behind, and choose an uncluttered background - one that contrasts with the horse so they can be clearly seen. Now here comes the tricky part: manoeuvre the horse to stand so that they are almost square, yet all four legs are still visible. The 52

foreleg should ideally be vertical rather than leaning either forward or back. The handler should be well presented in jodhpurs and riding boots. It helps if you have taught your horse to ‘park’, so that the handler can be out of the picture. However, they should be close enough so that if the horse makes a move forward they can tap the leg gently with the crop to keep them parked.

Tricks of the trade When you’re preparing to grab that money shot, stand as far back as you can and use a zoom or a long lens. This will compact the horse and show them at their best. Avoid using a wide angle lens or photographing from close proximity. It will distort the horse making the head seem too large and the rump too small, which is far from ideal. For a better result, line yourself up

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

Of course, all of these movements should be small and quiet. Their safety and yours is always the first priority. The biggest key to success is to shoot as many frames as possible at the moment when it looks like it’s all coming together. Invariably there will be one sensational shot in amongst the awkward moments. Once you have ‘that’ shot, photograph your horse standing square on from the front, behind and both sides to show conformation. Buyers often request these images before they are prepared to make the trek out to visit the horse.

The pros and cons of video It is much better that the potential purchaser comes out to see your horse, but there are some buyers who are prepared to buy sight unseen and they will invariably request a video. If that’s the case, ensure your video includes all three gaits – either ridden or in hand. However, videos can put some buyers off. Many of my clients have remarked on how much better the horses are in real life, so I am in two minds as to whether or not videos are a good idea.

ON MY TACKBOX

Showing your horse’s best features: AW Kasperrado Dante. However, if you do decide to make a video, don’t miss the opportunity to also capture some stills of your horse’s walk, trot and canter. When photographing a moving horse, use a fast shutter speed and keep your finger on that trigger! It’s much easier to capture the perfect moment when you shoot in continuous bursts.

But where to advertise? There are many wonderful magazines that provide both digital and print advertising options. Facebook also has groups that reach prospective local and international buyers.

Auctions are popular in Europe and are becoming more so here in Australia - Auction of the Stars is one such example. And finally, be prepared to have many wonderful conversations with prospective buyers about your horse. They may share a critique of their current horse as well!

In addition to breeding fabulous warmbloods, Lucy Morton is a professional photographer. Contact her through her Instagram account: @ lucymortonphotographer Australian Warmbloods Luda in conjunction with Highfield Equestrian. All images courtesy of Lucy Morton.

There’s many an evening that I’ve spent happily talking horses into the wee small hours. One thing’s for sure, we are all united in our love for the horse. Happy selling! NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

GIVING BACK

A driving force for equestrians in remote Australia As Nicole Mutimer was growing up on a remote cattle station in the Northern Territory, horses were her access to sport, writes JO MCKINNON.

It was historian Geoffrey Blainey who coined the phrase ‘the tyranny of distance’, which, he believed, was a driving force in shaping Australia’s unique history and its identity. It also helped shape the identity of Nicole Mutimer, a remarkable young woman who grew up on a cattle station located somewhere in the middle of the Northern Territory. With hundreds of kilometres of outback in every direction, the facilities that youngsters in regional centres take for granted were simply not available to Nicole. “My parents weren’t horsey but riding was just one of those things you did because there was no access to other sports,” she explains. “There was no playing netball or anything like that. Horses were all that we had. You got on and rode, and learnt to stay on and made it up as you went!” Fortunately for Nicole, the Tapp family, who owned Maryfield, the neighbouring station, were very definitely horsey, and they helped introduce the young girl to the finer aspects of riding. “The Tapps were a pioneering cattle family in the Northern Territory,” Nicole recalls, “and I was influenced by them a lot in the early days. They lent us gear and gave us a few tips

here and there. We would go to some of the local rodeos and campdrafts with them and that was my introduction to horse sports.” That extensive exposure to horses during childhood ignited a passion for the equestrian life that has dominated Nicole’s life to this day. Now a full-time riding coach, she owns and runs the Darwin Equestrian Academy. She is also a keen competitor across a range of disciplines and has won numerous champion show jumper and show horse titles including Supreme Champion Show Horse at the 2019 Royal Darwin Show. In 2012 Nicole was named Litchfield NT Sportsperson of the Year, in 2017 and 2019 she was awarded NT Coach of the Year, and over three consecutive years – 2015 to 2017 – she collected the prestigious NT Horse of the Year Title. And whilst teaching is her profession, she also volunteers a considerable amount of her time and expertise to the Pony Club movement in the Northern Territory. “Pony Club Chat was my introduction to formal training and I realise how crucial that phase was in my riding career. That’s where it all came from in terms of opening doors for competition and more training. I’ve stayed

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

actively involved in it because there are lots of riders who might not be that wellresourced financially and so Pony Club is really important for a lot of kids that may not have other access to horses,” she explains. It’s that passion and dedication that have been the driving force behind Nicole’s enormous contribution to the development of young Pony Club riders throughout the Northern Territory for more than 20 years. “I’m fortunate that I get to travel around and go to different Pony Clubs like Alice Springs and Katherine, and various clubs around Darwin. It’s good to see Pony Clubs still thriving in those more regional areas and that they are doing great things for riders,” she says. Deeply passionate about teaching, Nicole derives huge satisfaction from working with riders of all ages and stages. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see riders just enjoying their horse. They love riding and coming to lessons and being able to kick goals and tick boxes they didn’t think they could,” says Nicole. “I see a lot of riders from young kids to adult and for them to have that growth is very important. Riders put their trust and faith in you to steer them in the right direction and keep them safe to share their dreams. The relationships that you build with riders is the real privilege that comes with coaching. I often remind myself of how privileged I am.” Nicole’s unashamedly parochial when it comes to talking about equestrian in the Northern Territory and is proud of how far the sport has come in this isolated part of Australia. In October she coached the Territory’s Australian Interschool Championships team which competed at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre. They fielded a tiny team of just four riders and had the experience of a lifetime. “I think that’s really big because for some of the riders I took to the nationals it was a dream that they had had for a long time, and it took them a long time to work towards

GIVING BACK

Above: Helping kids learn to trust and play with their horses is a passion for Nicole Mutimer. Below: When she has time, Nicole likes to compete, particularly in jumping. NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

GIVING BACK

those goals. It was a privilege to be there,” says Nicole.

Riders put their trust and faith in you to steer them in the right direction and keep them safe to share their dreams.

And keeping that tyranny of distance in mind, you won’t be surprised to learn that the logistics involved in getting the team there were enormous. “It’s really big for riders from here to go interstate and compete. Four riders took their own horses and for those that drove, that’s a week of travelling there and giving a horse time to spell, and then a week of competition and a week travelling back again,” she explains.

enjoyed – and to me that is success,” she says.

riders learn more about training their horses. Everybody is training behaviour all the time whether they intend to or not,” she muses.

Whilst there might not have been any blue ribbons to take home, the team were winners in many other ways. “Part of my job as a coach is to help them and support them through a lot of nerves and excitement. It was an amazing opportunity for them. I think they will definitely go again because it was something they really

Nicole’s heart is certainly in the right place when it comes to giving back to equestrian. Coaching and keeping riders involved in the sport are her key priorities. “I’m about creating happy, comfortable horses because that improves safety for riders. Horse welfare is a really big one for me, as well as horsemanship and seeing

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

“We will lose fewer riders if they do not get frustrated and scared, or think it’s getting too difficult. If they’re not having fun then that’s where we lose them,” she adds. And for Nicole Mutimer, every rider lost to the sport is one rider too many.

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SADDLE REVIEW

Black Country Show Hunter Finding a saddle that you love is often a challenge – but if you happen to be in a little town located kilometres from anywhere, the going gets even harder.

ebecca Bell, who lives in Lake Cargelligo, a rural town way out in the Central West region of NSW, has been riding for

sixteen years.

As for Rebecca’s discipline, well, that’s a bit of a mix: “Because we’re so isolated out here we do a little of everything – and that includes showing, gymkhanas, camp drafting, and ranch sorting, which is a new sport that’s pretty much a cross between cutting and team penning,” she explains. “I’m a bit of a saddle collector and I’m really fussy about what I buy. I have a Black Country Eloquence that I love,” she says. “It was professionally fitted and custom made to accommodate my big gelding’s odd shape. But obviously that saddle was never going to work with my other younger horses and ponies, so I needed another option.” Given Lake Cargelligo’s remote location, finding a saddle fitter who’s prepared to go the distance is tricky – so Rebecca, who had previously visited the Equestrian Hub website, decided to make a return visit and found a Black Country Show Hunter saddle that was perfect.

Jade Smith and Sugargum Las Vegas try out Rebecca’s new Black Country saddle at the recent Leeton Show. and a wide channel which makes it very comfortable on the horses’ backs, and it’s a good general fit for all my horses.” And that includes the ponies that young rider Jade Smith shows for both Rebecca and her mum. “I really like the Show Hunter model because

“I particularly like the calfskin cover, which looks really elegant in the show ring, and the fact that the smaller knee blocks sit snugly and don’t look overly chunky,” Rebecca says. “The saddle has soft, broad panels 58

trial period was a fantastic option, plus the pictures and description of the saddle on the site were really helpful.”

it has a nice open seat while still feeling

The Equestrian Hub has a wide variety of second hand saddles, so be sure to visit www.equestranhub.com.au and browse through their fantastic range.

secure, and puts the rider in a great position with good alignment for the shoulders, hips and heels,” Rebecca says, “and as for buying from the Equestrian Hub, the 14-day

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

All saddles come with a two-week trial, finance options, and a courier right to your door.

AROUNDTHE THETRAPS TRAPS AROUND

Philip-Jon Westaway and Atalanta Acres DreamÂ relax after winning Supreme Champion Led at the 1019 Tully Agricultural Show (Image by Sarah Woodhouse Photography).

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

AROUND THE TRAPS

Tamarra Love and Custer competing at the Scenic Rim Equestrian Club open dressage event (Image by Laine Virgulti Photography).

Mikhaila Modistach and Ballinton Holly at their very first ODE in Tamworth (Image by Oz Shots Photography).

Tara Corry on Camoflage at the Mudgeeraba Pony and Hack Club Combined Training (Image by DKA Photography). NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

AROUND THE TRAPS

Above: Lachlan Hill with Shout to the Top competing at the Agnes Banks Equine Clinic Sydney Eventing Spring Classic at SIEC (Image by Brittany Bates, Geo Snapshot). Left: Camilla Macdonald and Zartop after taking out 2nd place in the Off the Track 1:10 at the North and Northwest Showjumping Club Winter Championships (Image by Erin Buswell).

AROUND THE TRAPS

Rebecca Humphries with Super Docs Gold Rush competing in the Queensland Teams Dressage, Southport Pony Club (Image by Paul Smith Photography).

Jessica Northey and Four Winds Nero wasting no time at the Jimboomba Holly Sturgess and Doolans Partnership Bella playing for the Chinchilla Club in the A Grade Junior Division of the Qld Polocrosse Championships (Image by Junior Gymkhana (Image by AJAY Images). Amanda Dunstan). NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

AROUND THE TRAPS

Erika Vodopic aboard Stylish Silver at the Barwon Valley Horse Trials (Image by Mane Memories Photography).

La Tonia Morgan and Missy competing at the Burpengary Hunter Trial.

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

AROUND THE TRAPS

Tayla Bunt and Southern Swagger in Tamworth International Eventing’s CCN1* competition (Image by Oz Shots Photography).

Lesley Fitton and Sal Scott’s Mighty Flying Major NZ qualifying for the Southern Cross Show Horse Spectacular 2020 at the Newcomer Horse of the Year Show (Image by Megan Warwick). NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

AROUND THE TRAPS

Nicala Lange and Marlee Park Indian Summer at the Fig Tree Pocket ODE (Image by Oz Shots Photography).

Above: Rebecca Chown with Jacks or Better at the Agnes Bank Equine Clinic, Sydney Eventing Spring Classic (Image by Oz Shots Photography). At right: Amelia Strivens with Clayton Poddy Dodger in the Australian Horse Archery Associations 2019 National Championships (Image by Alexandra Loccisano).

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

AROUND THE TRAPS

Tara Heap and Naughty Baby placed 2nd in the Prelim 1A at the Northside Riding Club Dressage Day (Image by Bronwyn Evans from GeoSnapShot)

Jayde McKinnon riding Kenda Park Edwardian for the Queensland Team in the Interschool Nationals SIEC EVA 80 (Image by Oz Shots Photography). NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

AROUND THE TRAPS

Annabel Cusack riding Dynamoey in the CCN 1* at the Canberra International Horse Trials (Image by Elizabeth Borowick Photography).

If you would like you and your horse to be featured in next month’s HorseVibes, please send a high-resolution photo with the name of the event, rider and horse, as well as the photographer’s credit, to info@horsevibes.com.au 68

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

AROUND THE TRAPS

Above: Susanne Jahnel and Wicked Style getting lots of air in the National Capital Horse Trials Association EvA 95 event (Image by Elizabeth Borowik Photography). At right: Natasha Housley and It’s Billy strut their stuff at the Lockyer Equestrian Group’s dressage event (Image by Braid Up Photography).

NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

AROUND THE TRAPS

10-year-old Kaitlyn Phillips on Leannda Scottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grandchester Spring Melody placed fourth in the Show Horse Council Queensland Horse of the Year Childs Open Large Show Pony event (Image by Flash Pony).

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

A safe go-between for buyers and sellers of second-hand saddles.

NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

TRAINING TIPS

The show must go on As well as being beautifully turned out, a successful show horse should have ideal conformation, move with elegance and display good manners. For some expert tips AMANDA MAC caught up with one half of J & R Equestrian, the renowned Rhys Stones.

f you’ve been around the show circuit for any length of time, the chances of you never having heard the names Jess and Rhys Stones are

next to zero. Two of Australia’s best-loved and most decorated riders, the couple have been equestrian professionals for many years, and have combined their extensive showing and show jumping knowledge under the banner of J & R Equestrian.

They’ve both competed successfull y at a national level, and have represented Australia internationally. Jess is one of Australia’s most decorated show riders, with over 100 Royal Show Championships as well as numerous State, national and Horse of the Year titles. And at this year’s Royal Melbourne Show, having placed second on two previous occasions, she added the much-coveted Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout to her lengthy list of wins.

Rhys, one of the country’s elite athletes, is a Royal, Horse of the Year and Grand National winning show rider, with the Australian Show Jumping Speed Championship, the prestigious AQUIS Gold Champions, and the Australian Mini Prix and Speed Championship all to his credit. Along with Jess, he also has an enviable reputation as a successful trainer and producer of a wealth of quality horses. We recently caught up with Rhys and asked him for his take on some of the elements he considers essential to building a solid foundation for show ring success.

Selecting your horse First things first: if you’ve decided that showing is the discipline for you, your choice of horse is critical – and to a very great degree, that choice will depend on the division in which you’d like to compete. In Australia, show horses are exhibited in three divisions: Pony, Galloway and Hack. Entries in the pony class mustn’t exceed 14hh, a galloway must be over 14hh but no more than15hh, and a hack is over 15hh. Whether you enter in the show horse or show hunter class – a hunter is a horse with more substantial build and bone – is up to you, but you can’t enter in both categories. While there’s no doubt that Thoroughbreds still dominate the show ring, Rhys believes that no matter what the breed, a nice horse is a nice horse irrespective - a certain breed or colour doesn’t necessarily equate to a winning horse. “I think a good show horse should have attractive facial features, great conformation, elegant movement – three great paces is a must – and overall ride-ability,” he suggests.

The number one virtue Once you have found your horse, what’s next? “Patience, patience and more patience,” Rhys quips. “Patience is the number one virtue when it comes to producing horses. Trying to rush or push them on to the next stage of their education when they’re not ready can be completely counterproductive.” Jess and Rhys take out the Champion Large Hunter Pony and Champion Show Hunter Galloway at the Canberra Royal. All images courtesy Lisa Gordon of A Little More Grace Photography. 72

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

For Jess and Rhys, education is the number one priority: “We start work on our horses’

TRAINING TIPS

Jess and Dreamtime Diva, Champion Show Hunter at the Canberra Royal.

TRAINING TIPS

Left: The Stones family celebrate Jess’s Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout victory at the 2019 Royal Melbourne Show. Right: Winning the Novice Show Hunter Galloway at the 2019 Royal Adelaide with Gentry Park Take Note. Oppopsite: Staying composed despite the conditions - Rhys and Gentry Park Take Note win the Gent’s Show Hunter Galloway at the 2019 Adelaide Royal. training well before we try to improve or develop their condition. If you approach it in reverse, you’ll be attempting to train a horse that’s uneducated but on full feed – and trying to get them to settle down and listen to you in that state can be unnecessarily time consuming and frustrating. Always go for education first, and as that progresses, you’ll find muscle and great definition will follow through along the way,” Rhys explains.

It’s the basics For Rhys, success in the show ring is all about the basics: “Everybody tends to forget the basics. A good walk, trot and canter are really all you need. We train our horses to be up in the front so that they are essentially working off their hindquarters. But they’re not dressage horses that need to perform half passes or other tricky movements. They just need the fundamentals: how to go straight, to move away from your leg, and to come off your hand. I just can’t emphasise the importance of the basics strongly enough.” Rhys reminds me that a show horse isn’t a racehorse either. “They don’t need an intense fitness regime, but they do need to be conditioned, fit and healthy – and the way to 74

achieve that is through good management. It’s easy to get your horse to the top of their game, but much harder to maintain it. It’s only good management that takes into consideration each horse’s individual needs that keeps them in peak condition. Like any athlete, the horse needs to be at ease and confident within themselves. When they’re well, happy and relaxed, they’ll give you the best outcome. If your horse isn’t happy, it shows, and that will lose you competition points,” he adds.

it’s the way you manage your nerves that’s key. Horses pick up on the slightest nuances of body language, and they then become a mirror image of their rider.”

In the show ring

“The long and the short of it is that your nerves will always get in the way of you producing a winning ride. You become a good rider when you’re relaxed, confident, in the moment, and not worried about what anyone else might be thinking. That’s when you’ll produce your best result,” he concludes.

In Rhys’s opinion, ring craft is an essential but a difficult skill to master: “The thing is that some people, like Jess, for example, have it naturally while others don’t. The skill is to remain relaxed while you’re experiencing the pressure of competing, and that can be hard. If you get flustered or upset, or if you’re anxious, that communicates itself to your horse. The slightest fear, the slightest wrong move can create a chain reaction of negative aids that will spoil your performance.” Rhys and Jess train a lot of riders, but can’t teach them how not to be nervous. “Even the best riders get nervous,” Rhys remarks, “but

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

Rhys believes that a rider’s emotional state is of such importance to their success in the ring, that if anxiety is getting the better of them, they should consider making the time to learn techniques that will help them manage their nerves.

Based in NSW, husband and wife team Jess and Rhys Stones have together created J & R Equestrian. They offer a comprehensive range of services including training, breaking-in, clinics and competition preparation. Email jess@jandrequestrian.com or rhys@jandrequestrian.com for further information.

TRAINING TIPS

NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

TRIBUTE

Vale Madonna Hedberg The horse community around Australia was in mourning earlier this month with the passing of horse breeder, businesswoman and generous equestrian supporter Madonna Hedberg.

ccording to the late Madonna Hedberg’s husband, Lars Hedberg, his wife quickly learned about branding and weed spraying when she left behind her city life to run a cattle property outside Warwick in Queensland in the late nineties. The move to the country allowed Madonna, with

Lars, to follow her passion for horses, and to become involved in many different ways with the Australian horse community, who are in shock from her sudden death. Madonna, who was born Madonna Haughtey in Brisbane on December 14, 1956, went to school at St. Margaret’s Anglican Girls

School. After she left school, she worked for 23 years as a Qantas hostess. It was while she was working with Qantas that she met her future husband, businessman Lars Hedberg, with the couple marrying on September 12, 1998. After a stint on the cattle farm the couple moved to Gympie in 2000 to take over the McDonald franchise in the town, later spreading their ownership to include Hungry Jacks and Saddleworld. But for Madonna, her passion was always her horses. The couple used their involvement with Saddleworld to become proud sponsors of the Brisbane CDI and numerous other competitions. They were well known for their support of riders throughout the equestrian community. The Hedbergs were also the owners of Arnage Warmblood Stud, located in the Mary Valley of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. The stud has been operating since 1999, breeding from a select group of mares with bloodlines from stallions such as Rotspon, Sandro Hit, Alabaster (GER), Koyuna Genesis and now Dancier, Royal Classic, Fürstenball and Desperados. The Hedbergs were rightly proud of their stud and the condition of the property, which allows pregnant mares to graze in large pasture improved paddocks. As a stud owner and breeder Madonna Hedberg took her duties very seriously, the foals being handled from birth, taught to lead, float and pick up their feet for the farrier. Lars Hedberg last saw his wife alive on the morning she died. He had left her to sleep in, but later that morning when she did not answer a call from him, he asked a friend to check on her, where she was sadly found already dead. Lars Hedberg has said that the response from everyone has been “overwhelming”. Madonna was the daughter of Fred and Wanda Haughtey, sister and sister-in-law of Carol-Anne and Geoff Greensill and aunt to Samantha Greensill. Madonna Hedberg will be sorely missed.

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

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STARS WITH EPONA

Aries Mercury retrograde in your house of shared resources can coincide with a little dispute over who owns what. It’s a good time to come to a collaborative agreement, working out any kinks in your joint financial arrangements. As you explore options, you’ll discover creative ways to organize and restructure. Meanwhile, consistency is the best policy with us four-legged creatures. How else will we understand what you want?!

Taurus

ovember is a fiery month with plenty of desire for action and a quick pace, but alas, Mercury is retrograde for the first three weeks, slowing things down and potentially gumming up the works. But on the bright side, this is your chance to learn to chill out. With ease and grace, things will begin to move forward again soon. Meanwhile, think of it as a time for reflection, trusting that come December, it’s all systems go!

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - NOVEMBER 2019

Focus on your relationships, personal and business. Don’t expect them to coast along, especially if anything - and I mean any little thing - needs adjustment. Not the best time to sign contracts or strike up a new commitment unless you have zero doubts or hesitations. Use your intuition to make choices that can’t be put off until December. For us equines, we need a new routine and fast. Bored. Bored. Bored.

Gemini The activation in your house of health and well-being says reconsider your lifestyle ASAP. Even if you believe you’re on track, give habits and routine a rethink. Is this what you want to eat-pray-love, or are you doing it because you should? Take stock and make changes before the New Year. With us fourlegged Twins, we could use some variety too. Maybe swap the arena for trails or vice versa. That could do the trick!

STARS WITH EPONA

Cancer Good news. This is the perfect time to go into cruise control when it comes to the creative realm. The idea is to stop trying and start allowing. Instead of struggle, go for play, recreation, romance and relaxation. That’s where you can expand your beliefs and live more in the ‘now’. For us equine Crabs, we’re extremely receptive to rewards. Anything from praise to pats, from treats to rests breaks. Please be generous.

Leo October brings a chance to learn, teach In November, your thoughts lean towards the home life, family and connections to the past. The key is to give yourself enough ‘me’ time to appreciate recent inner growth and development. Ask what home means to you, and then listen for the answer within. A parent or parental figure could be of influence. Us four-legged ones, if we aren’t doing what you want, it’s because we don’t understand. More patience, please.

Virgo Of all the signs, Mercury retrograde hits you the hardest, giving the Trickster free-range through your house of communication. What you say, face-to-face, typed, voice message or text, can and will be misconstrued. But it’s excellent for revising manuscripts, biz plans or creative projects if you stay focused. For us equines, our fear radar is amped up, making us hyper-vigilant. A strong, kind hand goes a long way towards calming us down.

Libra

Capricorn

Use this Mercury retrograde month to get in touch with what really gives you a sense of peace and happiness, then let go of all the actions that aren’t taking you there. Awareness is the first step. It will lead to skill and talent development that is more authentic than you ever thought possible. Us four-legged Libras don’t take kindly to being pushed right now, but you can counteract crankiness by always ending on a good note.

Scorpio

Mercury retrograde through your house of friends and likeminded others might have you reconsidering some old acquaintances. Are they really in alignment with who you are? Even best mates go under the microscope but remember they are there for a reason. Discover it and all makes sense. For us equine Sea-goats, loyalty is everything. When we feel yours, there’s nothing you can ask that we won’t do.

Aquarius

Mercury retrograde meanders through your home, work, personal and relationship life for the better part of the month. Think of it as pretty much stirring up everything! The results? You’ll discover how you really feel about what you do, where you do it and whom you do it with. Hold off on changes until December, if possible. For us equines, the only question is, do we feel appreciated? If not, remedy immediately!

Sagittarius

Someone in authority is agitating you this month whether they have a valid point or not. It can affect your professional or personal life, so be aware. Rather than dismissing them out of hand, do take (constructive) criticism under consideration. Usually that’s enough to smooth the waters again. Whatever you do, don’t dwell or take it too personally. Us equines can offer solace and a fresh perspective. Just spend some time with us!

Pisces

With your house of drawn shades activated, it’s time to go ‘in’ and listen to Higher Guidance. You might call it intuition, gut feelings, spirit guides, angels or muses. In any case, connecting with this energy will move you a little further along the Path (to enlightenment). Because us four-legged Centaurs are already ‘there’ the more time you spend with us, the more will rub off on you. Truth!

If you plan to travel or study this month, know that the Trickster will be riding along every step of the way. That means surprises abound. To balance any unexpected events, give yourself more time to reach the airport or hit deadlines. The best-laid plans etcetera. There is one thing you can count on though, and that’s us four-legged Pisceans. The simple tasks involved in our care are a great comfort to both of us.

NOVEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

ZILCO SUMMER RUGS. we’ve got YoU CoveReD.

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