HubVibes June 2017

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NEWS & VIEWS FROM EQUESTRIAN HUB

June 2017 Olympic Champion

Gillian Rolton YOUR CLUB IN PROFILE

THE RISE OF Riverside Stables Important WARM UPS Breed Feature

The Paso Fino Plus plenty more!

Photo Credit: Little More Grace Photographics

Clarend Winter Festival 2017

Thurs 8th, Fri 9th, Sat 10th & Sun 11th June

Dressage NSW Arenas—Hawkesbury Showground Clarendon

Come join us for 4 days of great Competition at our lovely Dressage NSW Clarendon Arenas.

Champions and Reserves in all Levels from Preparatory to Grand Prix

Saturday “Happy Hour” during Freestyle Competitions Levels split into Open Horse, Open Pony, Amateur Owner Rider Horse/Pony, Junior/Young Rider Divisions* Camping and Stable are available

Entries close Monday 16th May Heaps of trade stands too, so come and do some retail therapy!

Organised by: Dressage NSW Clarendon Grounds Sub Committee Competition Enquires, Trade stands and Sponsorship: Karen Lever 0405 384 201 dnsw.clarendonsec@equestrian.org.au

*Division splits will be subject to entries received and will be combined if less than five entries are received

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FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH

YOUNG RIDER OF THE MONTH

4 GILLIAN ROLTON

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INTERNATIONAL CHARITY HIGHLIGHT

CONQUERING THE FEAR

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10 DONGES SUPER IGA YOUNG DRESSAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017

12 YOUR CLUB IN PROFILE

HUB SADDLE REVIEW

24 75 AND SHE'S NOT HANGING UP HER BOOTS

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15 RIVERSIDE STABLES

WARMING UP

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PRODUCT REVIEW

THE PASO FINO

NEWS & VIEWS FROM EQUESTRIAN HUB HubVibes Editorial & Advertising Enquiries: candida@equestrianhub.com.au The Saddle Hub Sales Enquiries: Fiona Todd: 0414 760 067 Graphic Design: Joanna Reid: 0408 773 851 Published by Equestrian Hub PO Box 13 • Tintenbar NSW 2478 Phone: 0414 760 067 • Email: info@equestrianhub.com.au www.equestrianhub.com.au

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INTRODUCING YOUR VERY OWN EQUESTRIAN HUB

There is truly nothing better than starting your own business and watching it grow!

What started out as The Saddle Hub, with the goal of filling the void in the quality second-hand saddle market, has grown so much in the past few years, that now we are truly making massive leaps towards my ambition of creating a fully-integrated Equestrian Hub, with all things equine in one place.

Our philosophy has always been to add value wherever possible, and also to give back to those that invest in us, and to our equine community around Australia.

This month we’re delighted to announce in HubVibes that we have now added horses and property to our list of what’s for sale.

These categories will be promoted by the Equestrian Hub team as they progress.

Our absolute commitment to our saddle sales is that our buyers should always be 100% happy with the saddle they purchase, and we do believe that this key element has been fundamental in our success.

The Equestrian Hub will always be a place of integrity, and we hope very much that you will recommend us to your friends and family as we grow – and that you will grow with us!

Fiona Todd

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On top of this we have some exciting community developments underway which we can tell you about further down the track.

Fiona Todd with her warmblood colt, Donny.

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Gillian Rolton AUSTRALIA’S OLYMPIC HEROINE Gillian Rolton became one of Australia's best known equestrian heroes after her gutsy performance in the Atlanta Olympic Games, when she clung on to her horse after breaking her collarbone and several ribs to take Australia to a Gold Medal in eventing, writes Dannii Cunnane.

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Any of us who are glued to great moments in equine history are unlikely to forget the sight of Gillian, after two falls off her beautiful grey mount Fred - or to give him his full name, Peppermint Grove - as they managed to make it past the finish post. But even before then Gillian was already in the history books as the first Australian woman to win any medal at an Olympic Games event.

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Magnificent as her effort was, it’s not something she could repeat today. “Back then, the rules allowed a rider to get back on their horse if they had a fall,” she says. “I was riding Fred and during the cross country phase he skidded after clipping a hoof on a tree root and we both fell to the ground. Luckily he just had some gravel rash so we were able to carry on. I received a leg up and we continued on the course. It wasn’t until I started riding again that I realised I was injured – I couldn’t use my left arm. At the next water jump I took the shorter route to make up the time from my fall but unfortunately that didn’t work in my favour and I somersaulted into the water!”

Gillian managed to remount once more, but with three kilometres to go and fifteen more jumps to clear it wasn’t easy. “I was in pain from my injuries but Fred and I had a wonder-

Photo Credit: Farm Online

The Dual gold medallist takes a break to pose for a photo with her young warmblood Punk, and Jasmine the Golden Retriever. ful rapport and he got us home,” she says. “I couldn’t steer well so I believe it was mental telepathy and his good training that got us through…I was adamant that I wasn’t going to quit!”

Gillian hasn’t always competed in Eventing, she came into the sport at the age of 21 after becoming interested in horse fitness. “I always had an interest in horses but my

Photo Credit: © Mike Hewitt, Getty Images

The Australian 3-day equestrian jumping team standing on the podium after receiving their gold medals. They are (from left) Andrew Hoy, Gillian Rolton, Phillip Dutton and Wendy Schaeffer. parents didn’t purchase a horse for me right away,” she says. “Until I was ten I went to friends houses and helped them clean the stables and groom their ponies while I just hoped for a ride. Eventually my non-horsey parents caved in and purchased a dear horse called Randy.”

After Gillian finished school she started a teaching degree and developed a keen interest in Physical Education. Two years into her

Gillian on Peppermint Grove (Freddie) towards the end of the cross country course at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Note gravel rash on Freddie and Gillian protecting her collar-bone! course she took some time off and travelled to Canada for a riding instructor’s course – the Professional Horseman’s Association of Canada’s level one. “In those days, Equine courses weren’t offered in Australia,” Gillian says. “I passed the course and travelled around working at various stables but I was itching to return home and apply my skills to

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Gillian’s non-horsey parents weren’t the first, or probably the last, to be sold a horse that wasn’t quite what they thought they were buying. “Randy was sold to us as a seven year old Thoroughbred gelding,” she laughs, “but it turned out that he was actually a 17-year-old ex-pacer and also a rig! He had no canter or jump but I took him to Pony Club and had a good time. My next horse was a freshly broken in four-year-old riding pony called Petrella and we had a lot of fun together in showing, dressage and Pony Club games.”

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my own horses. Before I’d left for Canada I’d purchased a weanling called Monty (Saville Row) and I started him under saddle once I returned home. Part of my level one course included jumping and as luck would have it, Monty was a natural jumper - although as part of his education I took him out to hacking and dressage events just to keep him well rounded, but Monty’s natural ability to jump shone through and when I realised he was never going to be a champion hack I thought we would give eventing a try.”

Monty went up the grades very quickly – and he was an ideal horse for Gillian. “He was very competitive and gave me so much confidence,” she says. “He kept winning faster than I anticipated, so much so that the dream of the Olympics truly didn’t enter my mind until I suddenly found I was being spoken to by selectors.”

confidence while Benton taught me to be gutsy. While I would never consider myself to be a courageous rider, I truly believe that the training you do at home makes you confident that you can get out there and achieve your best.”

These days, Gillian juggles a lot of activities.

She is currently an international judge and worked as part of the ground jury at the 2012 London games as well as at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in France. “I’m really enjoying the judging side of things,” she says.

As the Parton of Pony Club Australia Gillian is still involved in equestrian at a grass roots level and is also Event Director for the Australian International Three Day Event (Aus3DE) in Adelaide.

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Unfortunately for Gillian, Saville Row missed out on selection after sustaining a leg injury in the final selection trial for the Los Angeles games in 1984. In 1988, Gillian also missed out on her Olympic dream to ride Benton’s Way in Seoul after dislocating her elbow the day before the final selection trial was to take place.

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It was a huge disappointment for a rider who had now come to realise that the Olympics was actually a goal she could achieve, and even though the consolation prize in 1988 was winning the Advanced Class at the prestigious Gawler 3 Day Event she also had to cope with the devastating news that Monty would no longer be able to compete at the top level due to his injury. For Gillian, it’s the partnership she’s enjoyed with each horse that has made her eventing life so special, and looking back at her 40-year career 40 years, she is thankful for every horse she has worked with. “Each horse has taught me so much,” she says. “Fred and Monty gave me

Gillian on Peppermint Grove at the height of their success.

Somewhat surprisingly, Gillian says that she would never consider herself a courageous rider – but for those of us who watched her extraordinary effort that day, her left arm hanging limply by her side, pain etched on her face, she is the ultimate symbol of courage, and a continuing inspiration for all aspiring eventers. If having courage means never giving up, then Gillian Rolton is courageous in spades!

Want to know more about Gillian’s journey?

Why not purchase her autobiography.

Conquering the Fear of Riding WITH JONAH OLIVER Jonah Oliver is a registered psychologist and travels the world working with athletes, teams and corporate professionals to help them overcome fear so that they can achieve their peak performance. Jonah is no stranger to the crazy world of equestrian sports he tells Dannii Cunnane.

There’s no doubt that all riders experience fear at one stage or another, says psychologist Jonah Oliver. “The key to conquering fear,” he say, “is not to try to conquer it. It sounds strange but to truly master riding with fear, you must embrace it, accept it and not try to get rid of it.”

While some riders just get on with things and push through it, there are a number of riders who struggle and actually stop riding because their fear is too overwhelming. With this in mind, Jonah offers some top tips to harness the fearful emotions and get back in the saddle.

“You need to acknowledge that there will be those negative thoughts floating through your head but that is all they are…thoughts,” he says. “Similarly, fear is just a feeling - we don’t get gold medals for feeling good.

Instead of worrying about whether you are thinking and feeling, how about you shift your focus on how you want to ride. “

Wrangling the fear “Riders need to connect with the type of rider they want to be and ask themselves two questions,” he says. “Question one is: ‘If I was fearless and filled with confidence, how would I want to ride?’ Be specific, and make sure the answer contains only behaviours not feelings and thoughts. Question two is: ‘Do I want to feel good before the ride or after the ride?’ Hopefully, it’s the latter, in which case the solution is to connect with what you need to do to feel good at the end of the ride.”

Jonah says that asking a coach or friend to assist can help with riding fear, particularly if you tell them what you are wanting to achieve. “Tell them your goal of not letting your fear change your riding,” he says. “Have them hold you accountable through honest feedback. Did they see you riding-safe or were you consistent and committed? Accept what they tell you and use it to stay focused on being the rider you know you can be. The key is to stop worrying that you're scared.

Instead, accept that fear is normal, bring yourself into the present-moment and commit to the way you want to ride.”

If you want to find out more about Jonah or book in a private session – visit www.jonaholiver.com.

H U BV I B ES M AG A Z I N E

For a lot of people, ‘riding-safe’ and not pushing themselves is the common response to fear. “While this may make the rider feel better in that moment, they feel far worse at the end when their score is low or they haven't attacked the competition like they wanted to,” Jonah explains. “This is the critical point, we often try to reduce our fear by changing how we ride, but this leads to

far greater emotional pain… the pain of disappointment.”

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Reputable brands at great prices.

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the TACKShop

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Donges Supa IGA YOUNG DRES

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Nina Boyd rode Anwen Lovett’s Brierley Scarlett to success in the Flexible Fit Equestrian OC Advance 5.2.

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Rebecca Holmes and Bellaire Cobra.

Melinda Parbery and Good as Gold.

Mark Kiddle and Waitano won both the Edinburgh Horse Rugs FEI Prix St.George and the Jodie Dunstan Dressage FEI Inter I Horse.

Brierley Scarlett and Anwen Lovett competing in the Equilibrium OC Novice 2.2 Horse.

Megan Bryant riding Mr Jackson.

SSAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017

Jindalee Enterprises CU Breed Limited Novice 2.2 won by Megan Bryant and Rivington Blissful.

The combination also took out the Cevello Nero Frisians CU Novice 2.1 Pony and the Tuff Rugs CU Novice Pony.

Glenda De Wit and Milfield Dominque won the BSM Sport Equestrian OC FEI Grand Prix.

Far right: The Amy-Sue Alston Photography CU Novice 2.1 was won by Linda Saunders and Story of Mon Amour.

Right: Gina Montgomery with Mayling Sideris-Hau’s Hemingway II took out the Aitken’s Saddlery OC Elementary 3.2, the Dara Pastoral Co OC Elementary 3.3, Alev8 OC Medium 4.2 and the Hiscock’s Saddlery OC Medium 4.3.

Photo Credit: Amy-Sue Alston - www.asphotodesign.smugmug.com

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY www.equestrianevents.com.au

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HubVibes Pix

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Your Club IN PROFILE

HAWKESBURY RIDING CLUB

Photo Credit: Pixeleight Creative Verity Muscat and her horse "Little G Kid Coady" also know as Cisco.

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Originally founded as Kellyville Riding Club in 1978, Hawkesbury Riding Club (HRC) was started to provide facilities for the many people involved in equestrian activities in the Hills District of Sydney.

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The club is one of the very few that welcome riders of all ages – a fact that we believe is a key to the growth of our membership. Now located in Clarendon NSW in the heart of the Hawkesbury, HRC offers members fortnightly training days and regular open competitions throughout the year.

Photo Credit: Ashleigh Truscott Melissa Endres & Benji

The HRC grounds have been developed to feature comprehensive equestrian

Photo Credit: Sandi Palmer

There is also a canteen, clubhouse and plenty of parking.

HRC AIMS TO:

• Promote the development of horsemanship skills and knowledge.

• Expose riders and their horses to a variety of equestrian disciplines and activities.

Melissa Endres & Benji

facilities, including; • Four full size sand dressage arenas • Show Jumping arena • Wash bays • Sporting area and • A multi-level cross-country course

• Provide opportunities for riders with inexperienced horses, exposing them to situations they may expect to find in a more competitive environment.

• Prepare interested riders for formal competition.

• Provide an opportunity for people of all ages to interact in a spirit of friendship and good sportsmanship.

H U BV I B ES M AG A Z I N E

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TOWING SAFELY WITH TOW-ED Are you new to towing?

Would you like some lessons to ensure you are confident on the road?

Do you know what to do should a dangerous situation arise?

Not many people know that Australia has nationally recognised towing courses and TOW-ED is available to teach individuals or groups the practical and safe way to tow a float. This will give you the confidence and skills to travel safely whether a towing

· safety and maintenance checks · legal aspects of towing · trailer dimensions · loads and loading · types of hitches Jeff Palmer is one of the course trainers of TOW-ED and with decades of experience floating horses for his equine-crazy daughter, he is passionate about providing quality education.

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“Our courses are offered across Australia,” Jeff says. “The training sessions are conducted in a controlled environment with large open spaces, without an audience and away from traffic with skilled instructors who teach you in a friendly supportive environment.”

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The course is designed to build confidence and skills with lots of practice. From nervous nellies to seasoned travellers who would like to brush up their skills, according to Jeff, everyone can gain knowledge and take something away with them.

While some people think that towing is as simple as hitching the vehicle to the trailer and driving off into the sunset, there is a lot more to it than that to stay safe on our roads.

“We find that most people who attend our

a standard float or gooseneck float.

Tow-Ed, a division of Getabout 4WD Adventures (Registered Training Organisation), provides attendees using their own towing vehicle and float, personalised practical and general knowledge training.

· driving and manoeuvring techniques · braking techniques · reversing · carry out vehicle and trailer pre and post trip inspections. courses lack the legal and general knowledge about towing, including mass/weights, mass distributions and other associated equipment,” Jeff says. Because attendees bring their own car and float, TOW-ED are able to check and make sure that the towing equipment is up to standard and provide drivers advice if it’s incorrect for the job.

“We also notice that drivers do not always display correct driving behaviour – they may not think about the increased stopping time required with a fully loaded float (Live Load), for instance,” says Jeff. “The course covers this in great detail and also how to handle an emergency situation should it arise.”

Riverside Stables RISE FROM THE DUST Change is in the air at the Inglis’s iconic Newmarket site in Sydney as they prepare for the big move west, writes Candida Baker.

When the bloodstock and auctioneering firm of William Inglis & Son moved to Randwick over a century ago, the suburb was still very much the country. But gradually as the city encroached, so did the site become more and more advanced, until, with its then state-of-the-art sale ring, restaurant, function centre and 800 stables it was without doubt the premier site in Australia for the sale of the beautiful young thoroughbreds that graced the sale ring.

now the fifth generation to grow up with the business in their blood. “We were also very conscious of what we were leaving behind, and we are really pleased that Cbus are keeping so many elements of the original site, including the house and the big old barn.”

In a way, those key elements are being reproduced at the new impressive Warwick Farm site. The original old coaching inn, later the house, is becoming a 150 room 4.5* hotel; the big old barn is going to be a state of the art function centre, complete with stables and air-conditioning; the sale ring is now an integral part of an auditorium style restaurant and café with private boxes and the stables are a modern version of the gracious boxes that have lined the Newmarket site, but with state of the art facilities.

“We wanted somewhere that could be our home for the next 150 years,” says Arthur Inglis, who, with his cousin Jamie Inglis are

The complex is due to be completed by December this year, and the first sale will be held in February 2018.

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But times move on, and Randwick with its University, hospital, schools and urban environment meant that a few years ago the family began to think about moving once more. Enter a developer, Cbus, who bought the site for $260 million, and the search for a new site could begin.

“We’re also including as much recycled timber as we can in the new buildings,” says Arthur, “and we’ve commissioned two huge sculptured figtrees as reminders of the fig trees on the Randwick site. We didn’t want to reinvent the wheel – but we wanted to roll a lot more smoothly and the fact is that time moves on – the middle of Sydney is not a place for horses, and here at Riverside everything has been planned to be as comfortable as possible, whether it’s for the horses, their owners and grooms, international buyers or visitors.”

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H U BV I B ES M AG A Z I N E

PRODUCT REVIEW

Make-up That Makes its Mark SCENEGENCE INTERNATIONAL FINDING MAKE-UP IS HARD ENOUGH, BUT WHAT ABOUT MAKE-UP THAT

CAN WITHSTAND THE DAY-TO-DAY CHORES OF THE BARN OR THE HARSH

ENVIRONMENT OF THE COMPETITION ARENA? WELL, WE MIGHT JUST HAVE FOUND THE PERFECT MAKE-UP FOR THE EQUESTRIAN WORLD!

SceneGence International has released SenseCosmetics an amazing line of make-up products that are work-proof, sweat-proof and, most importantly, horse proof.

SenseCosmetics act as a mechanical shield whilst delivering essential nutrients to create healthier skin. Whether you are using these products for day-to-day use or at competitions – you won’t be disappointed. You can have an intense workout and run your hand across your face and have the confidence that your make-up hasn’t budged.

(We can attest to this having put it through a gruelling dressage lesson!)

The highlight of the range is SeneGence’s LipSense, which is a liquid lip colour

with many shades to choose from. It is waterproof, does not kiss-off, smear-off,

rub-off or budge-off. Like the rest of the SenseCosmetics

products, you can customise your colour by combining multiple shades.

Equestrian Hub have been using the LipSense lip

colour and have given it

multiple thumbs up. With

easy application, you just

glide it on your lips, apply

the gloss over the top and it stays put for hours.

Interested in more information or purchasing the SceneGence International products?

Contact Lesleigh Everitt on 0427 379 400.

You’ve tried the rest, now try the original and best!

EQUINE AND CANINE COAT & SKIN CARE PRODUCTS

www.groomersproducts.com.au

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You can contact us by phone 03 9728 1444 or by our website on our contact/orderform

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Berrima Horse Trials Photo Credit: Brittany Bates Photography

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Where to Find Us

H U BV I B ES M AG A Z I N E

More images available at: http://www.geosnapshot.com/e/berrima-horse-trials

Come and have a chat about how we can help you find a home for your pre-loved saddle, or check out the saddles we currently have available.

We can also answer all your questions about our HUB DIRECTORY and HUBVIBES E-zine.

J U N E - J U LY 2 0 1 7 June: Home!!

July: 12th - 16th Brisbane CDI at Caboolture

27th - 30th Glen Haven Park Sunshine Tour at Kilcoy August: 3-6 Aug Gatton World Cup showjumping at Gatton

JUNE Young Rider of the Month

Lindsey Blanch Lindsey Blanch may only be 17 years old, but she is blowing her competition out of the water after winning Champion Large Hunter Hack on Dicavalli Royal Gustav at the 2017 Show Horse Council Grand Nationals recently held in Sydney.

"It was such a proud moment to win that title on Gus," Lindsey tells me. "He was an inexperienced baby when I first got him so it was an amazing feeling to know that it was my training that got us to the Nationals and the win was the icing on the cake."

Lindsey stresses that constantly learning is the key to success. "To keep progressing you need to listen to your trainer and not assume you know best,” she says. “I am always open to learning new things and I always work hard. In my experience, the

harder you work the luckier you get.

Every win has contributed to my success and so has every loss – you learn from your losses as well."

We wish Lindsey every success as she continues on with the 2017 season.

If you are a young competition rider and would like to be considered for HubVibes Young Rider of the Month, send us a pic of you and your horse and 150 words about who you are, what you want to achieve and why you love your sport to info@hubvibes.com.au.

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L

CHARITY

HIGHLIGHT

Horse Shepherd Equine Sanctuary LAST YEAR THE HORSE SHEPHERD EQUINE SANCTUARY MOVED TO THEIR NEW 200 ACRE SANCTUARY IN GORDON, VICTORIA - WHICH WAS PROMPTLY FOLLOWED

BY THE ARRIVAL OF 113 HORSES AS PART OF THE LARGEST RSPCA HORSE SEIZURE IN AUSTRALIAN HISTORY. physical and psychological wellbeing of every animal that resides with them, along with actively lobbying and advocating for all companion animals.

In April, HSES was selected by the RSPCA to care for the tragic Bulla horses who had suffered the most horrific neglect. The case generated unprecedented public outrage.

How can you help?

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The Horse Shepherd Equine Sanctuary (HSES) was founded by passionate animal lovers and advocates in 2014, in response to an ever-increasing number of horses passing through the saleyards, and into the hands of knackeries.

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The name was selected to pay homage to the brilliant protective work done by the Sea Shepherd, and to reflect the mission of providing sanctuary and solace to unwanted, injured, and otherwise vulnerable horses and ponies. HSES is fully registered with the Australian

Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and relies largely on funding from committee members and a small number of sponsors to continue their work.

Today, HSES is currently home to more than 150 horses and ponies along with many other rescue animals including dogs, cats, donkeys, goats, sheep, cows, ex-battery hens, geese, ducks, alpacas and even turkeys!

HSES is committed to sustainable and ethical equine rescue and rehabilitation.

It believes in improving the

As a registered charity HSES accepts financial donations.

You or your workplace/ organisation may also wish to sponsor or adopt a horse.

Alternatively, you can create awareness by liking the HSES Facebook page, visiting our website, or simply talking to your friends and family about current horse welfare issues.

Selling an equestrian property?

Promote it on a site dedicated to equestrians.

Excellent WEB TRAFFIC

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For enquiries contact:

info@equestrianhub.com.au equestrianhub.com.au: WE’RE HERE FOR YOU!

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Kent and Masters 17.5”

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For more saddle information visit our website.

$750 County Competitor 17”

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Making the Team Equal E Q U I N E ONLINE COACHING AND PROGRAMS

R I D E R

F I T N E S S

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County Sensation 17"

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$3,500 Loxley by Bliss 17”

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For more saddle information visit our website.

equestrianhub.com.au $3,750 Antares Evolution 17”

$2,250 ATM Jump Saddle 16.5"

HUB SADDLE REVIEW

“I asked Fiona to keep an eye out for a certain saddle for me and she suggested the Vega,” Alex said. “I tried it and loved it and my horse is super happy with it! I’ve found that the Vega puts me in a great position and it’s so comfy – even if I’m riding for hours. The leather is great quality too.”

Saddle r e v i e w : Alex Strange Alex Strange recently purchased an Amerigo Vega dressage saddle through The Saddle Hub and is extremely happy with her purchase.

Alex commented that The Saddle Hub staff had been very easy to deal with, which of course is great to hear. She is also a great fan of The Saddle Hub’s trial period. “It’s definitely given me peace of mind

knowing I can trial the saddle for two weeks,” says Alex.

Want to purchase your dream saddle? The Saddle Hub has more than 200 saddles to choose from.

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Seventy-five and she’s not hanging up her boots yet…

If you’ve ever thought you were too old for riding lessons, head down to the Byron Bay Equestrian Centre on a Friday morning and you’ll see something quite inspirational, writes Candida Baker.

I’m standing on the sidelines of the Byron Bay Equestrian Centre arena watching 75-year-old Janet Edgerton and her fellow rider, Beeb Fleetwood, a mere 65, going through their paces on two of Tesse’s most precious horses. Beeb is on Junior, a somewhat ironically named massive 16.3hh warmblood, and Janet is on Lucy, Tesse’s own personal Percheron.

I’m catching the end of the lesson and Beeb and Janet are going through their final paces.

I’m impressed, not least because I suspect I wouldn’t last 20 minutes without gasping for breath, but afterwards when I talk to Janet about her late re-entry into her best-loved hobby, I’m not surprised at how fit she is.

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“I ride every week,” she tells me, “but I also ride my bike, do a one-kilometre swim a couple of times a week, and play badminton twice a week, so I’m pretty healthy.”

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‘Pretty’ healthy doesn’t even begin to cover it really – but I do wonder why Janet came back to riding after so many years away from it.

“I grew up in England with horses,” she says, “we were into hunting and showjumping, and I competed until I was in my twenties, and rode until I was 37. But then I met my husband over in the UK, who was Australian, and we had three children, all of them born over there,

and life just simply got too busy. He was keen that we try living in Australia and so we moved here in 1984.”

At first Janet wasn’t sure if Australia was for her. “It took me about a year to settle in,” she says, “it was so different. We settled up near Pottsville, but somehow life was so busy there never seemed to be time to ride or get into it properly. It wasn’t until a couple of

Janet Edgerton (75).

years ago that I was talking with Beeb about her lesson down here, and she suggested that I come along.”

Janet took her time – checking out the centre, and watching a couple of lessons, until in March last year, she had her first half-hour lesson. “I took to it like a duck to water,” she said. “I do think it’s a bit like riding a bike – you never forget. Now it’s a highlight of my week and I really look forward to coming down and sharing my lesson with Beeb.”

Beeb Fleetwood, Janet’s lesson partner, also came from a horse background. Beeb

Tesse Ferguson, owner of the Byron Bay Equestrian Centre, with Janet and Beeb.

grew up on a farm in Western Victoria, and like many kids do, started off small. “I learnt to ride on a Shetland pony, as you do,” she laughs, “and I progressed through Pony Club and onto bigger ponies and horses. I continued to ride intermittently on the farm into my teens and twenties, and then when I was older started doing some trail riding in the High Country which I really loved. Later on I did a bit of Adult Riding Club, and I also used to have lessons, but for me it was always more about the trail.”

It was Tesse who suggested to Janet and Beeb that they have their lessons together and for both of them it’s been a rewarding experience.

And not just for them. “To see the pair of them so passionate about horses gives me some-

As for Janet, she’s got no plans to hang up her boots and spurs just yet. “I just feel that while I’m enjoying it, why not keep on doing it?” she says.

Why not indeed? Janet and Beeb certainly prove the old adage that you’re only as old as you feel.

For more information on lessons you can contact: the Byron Bay Equestrian Centre.

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Recently Beeb found a six-day ride in Sicily which she loved. On the ride, Beeb was in the saddle for six-eight hours a day, but thanks to her regular lessons she felt fit enough to handle it. “I loved it so much I’m going again,” she says. “I’m really hooked on the adventure of it.”

thing to look forward to,” says Tesse. “They’re literally my idols. When Janet first came she was walking on a horse for just five minutes, three or four months later I put her onto Lucy, my own horse, and the next moment she was thundering around the arena with the biggest smile on her face, and galloping as if she was on a hunt! I’m so happy that her confidence has built up so much. Beeb had a lot of deep-seated issues with her parents telling her that she wasn’t good enough, and she’s physically improved out of sight. She has a beautiful natural seat and all the natural ability there - it was just teaching her that she had it, and she became an amazing rider.”

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WARMING UP Attention riders!

Warm up, stretch, cool down – and we mean you as well as your horse!

Everyone knows that in order to get the best out of our equine friend we need to warm them up and cool them down.

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So how many of you warm yourself up before jumping on your horse in order to get the best performance from yourself? I’m going to take a wild stab in the dark and say possibly 5% of riders actually take the time out to warm themselves up. That pre-comp morning rush really doesn’t leave time for us to be stretching in the back of the horse float or jogging around the grounds to warm up. But the fact is that we really need to make time for this before we get on our horses. Just 5-10 minutes will greatly improve your ability to be in sync with your horse in the saddle in order that you can produce everything you’ve been working towards.

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Think of it like this: Imagine if you have a cold rubber band and you keep stretching it - it may not break straight away but gradually it will create little tears, and then eventually the band will snap. This is the same with our muscles, and lack of care can end in muscle and joint pain or injury. A quick warm up will not only give you better response in the saddle because your muscle are prepped and ready but will also extend your riding life.

There are two different types of stretching Dynamic Stretching and Static Stretching.

Dynamic stretching uses movement to stretch and warm your muscles, such as arm circles and leg swings. Static Stretching is the more traditional way of stretching, with your arm across your chest or bending your leg at the knee and pulling your foot up behind you.

Dynamic stretching is perfect for warming up your muscles while getting the stretch; static stretching is great for cooling down once our body has already done what’s needed and is still warm. Static stretching shouldn’t be used for a warm up - think of the cold rubber band theory again, it can cause damage over a long period of time.

I have created a little warm up and cool down routine for you to try next time you’re about to get in the saddle: WARM UP

COOL DOWN

5 mins – jogging on the spot, star jumps, skipping rope

Hold all stretches for 30 seconds

1 min arm circles – rotating forward and backward

Shoulder stretch

1 min walking leg swings – forward and back

Back stretch

1 min leg swings – side to side (this is super important as we use our adductor – inner thigh muscle - a lot when riding)

Hamstring stretch

1 min high knees- moving legs up towards chest 1 min butt kicks – jogging and kicking your legs up to your buttocks

Calf stretch Quadricep stretch Abductor/Adductor stretch Hip Flexor stretch Thigh stretch Tricep stretch Torso stretch aspects of your riding and your horse’s performance.

Next month we will have some workouts that are perfect for increasing the rider’s fitness.

Bec Niit is from Equine Rider Fitness and is a qualified personal trainer and riding instructor with 20 years riding experience. Bec is dedicated to making the team equal, by improving rider fitness, balance and flexibility to ensure that horse and rider can reach their full potential together, creating a long term and successful partnership.

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So next time you’re going for a ride try this little warm up and cool down routine and see if it improves your riding and recovery just a little. With proper training, both in and out of the saddle you can greatly improve all

Chest stretch

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Paso Fino: The smoothest Paso Fino means ‘fine step’ and this is just what this horse does. The Paso Fino is one of the most beautiful moving of the naturally gaited horses.

riding horse in the world.

There are two main groups of this breed - the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino, which originated in Puerto Rico, and the other, often called the Colombian Paso Fino or Colombian Criollo Horse which was developed in Colombia.

The Paso Fino was originally from Spain and was brought to the Americas in the 1500’s along with Andalusians, Spanish Barbs from North Africa, and smooth-gaited Spanish Jennets (now extinct) to the ‘New World’ by Spanish Conquistadors.

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Descendants of the Conquistadors’ horses are believed to have spread into North America after the Spanish soldiers forayed for a brief time into this territory. To this day the modern mustang has traces of his Spanish forbears.

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It’s believed that the Nez Perce Indian tribe in America, renowned for their expert horsemanship and sophisticated knowledge of breeding spotted horses, may have mixed some Spanish stock into their famous Appaloosas, whose name is derived from the Palouse River region of the Nez Perce’s tribal homeland in Oregon.

Awareness of the Paso Fino as we know it today didn’t spread outside Latin America until after World War II, when American servicemen came into contact with the stunning Paso

Photo Credit: Candida Baker

Fino horse while stationed in Puerto Rico. Americans began importing Paso Finos from Puerto Rico in the mid-1940s.

Several decades later, Paso Fino horses began to be imported from Colombia.

PASO FINO BREED INFORMATION

The Gaits

Disposition: The Paso Fino is an extremely willing horse that truly seems to enjoy human companionship and strives to please. It is spirited and responsive under tack while sensible and gentle in hand.

The gait of the Paso Fino horse is totally natural and normally exhibited from birth. It is an evenly-spaced four-beat lateral gait with each foot contacting the ground independently in a regular sequence at precise intervals creating a rapid, unbroken rhythm.

Size: 13 to 15.2 hands with 13.3 to 14.2 being the most typical size. Full size may not be attained until the horse is five years of age.

Colour: Every equine colour can be found, with or without white markings.

Head: The head is refined and in proportion to the body, with a defined, but not extreme jaw, and large, expressive eyes.

Neck: Gracefully arched, medium in length and allowing for a high carriage.

Executed perfectly, the four hoof beats are absolutely even in both cadence and impact, resulting in unequalled smoothness and comfort for the rider.

The Paso Fino gait is performed at three forward speeds and with varying degrees of collection. In all speeds of the gait, the rider should appear virtually motionless in the saddle, and there should be no perceptible up and down motion of the horse’s croup.

Classic Fino - Full collection, with very slow forward speed. The footfall is extremely rapid while the steps and extension are exceedingly short.

Forehand: Shoulders slope into the withers with great depth through the hearth.

Paso Corto - Forward speed is moderate, with full to moderate collection. Steps are ground-covering but unhurried, executed with medium extension and stride.

Midsection: The top line should be proportionately shorter than the underline. The back is strong and muscled.

Paso Largo - The fastest speed of the gait, executed with a longer extension and stride, and moderate to minimal collection. Forward speed varies with the individual horse, since each horse should attain its top speed in harmony with its own natural stride and cadence.

Legs: Straight with refined bones, strong, well-defined tendons, and broad, long forearms with shorter cannons. The thigh and gaskin are strong and muscled but not exaggerated. Pasterns are sloping and medium in length.

The Paso Fino is capable of executing other gaits that are natural to horses, including the relaxed walk and lope or canter, and is known for its versatility. Paso Finos often compete in Western classes, dressage, carriage driving, cow penning, endurance and historical costume classes.

The Paso Fino is a rare breed in Australia, however breeders and information on gaited horses can be found here.

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Hindquarters: The croup is slightly sloping with rounded loins, broad hips, and strong hocks. The tail is carried gracefully when in motion.

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NEWS & VIEWS FROM EQUESTRIAN HUB Published by Equestrian Hub • PO Box 13 • Tintenbar NSW 2478 Phone: 0414 760067 • Email: info@equestrianhub.com.au www.equestrianhub.com.au