HorseVibes July 2018 by Equestrian Hub Magazine

July 2018

FREE

Hub Hero CARL HESTER

Scary Obstacles THE WELSH PONY Penny's Place

+ plenty more!

FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH

CANDIDLY SPEAKING

HUB HERO CARL HESTER

CLARENDON WINTER FESTIVAL

THERE BE DRAGONS

PENNY'S PLACE

12 INTRODUCING THE DOUBLE BRIDLE

36 JEREED JAVELIN ON HORSEBACK

18 NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP ITALIAN STYLE

39 EA ANNOUNCES ITS EVENTING TEAM FOR AACHEN

23 PRODUCT REVIEW

40 YOUR CLUB IN PROFILE

BREED SPOTLIGHT THE WELSH PONY

SADDLE REVIEW

YOUNG RIDER OF THE MONTH

STARS BY EPONA

Cover image: Nettex Equine Carl Hester

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

Proud supporters of

Saddleworld Saddleworld

2018 BRISBANE CDI AND CARL HESTER MASTERCLASS

See Carl Saturday & Sunday

CDI

Photo Credit: The Horse Magazine

DRESSAGE QUEENSLAND

E QU E S TRI AN AUSTRALIA

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

E QU E S TRI AN

QUEENSLAND

18-22 July

Come along and be a part of this celebration of Dressage in Qld! Tickets: www.qsec.com.au/buy-tickets Event Enquiries: Leesa Murray - Event Director 0402 033 716 - leesa_murray@optusnet.com.au www.qld.equestrian.org.au/dressage/brisbane-cdi

Can you believe this edition of the Equestrian Hub's magazine HubVibes is our 25th? We’ve celebrated by bringing you an absolutely cracking edition. (Well, actually we always celebrate with cracker editions, but this one is a little special as you will see.)

ur magazine grew far quicker than we expected. We initially created it as a medium for advertising saddles, but it’s morphed into something wonderful and developed its own identity and personality. From this edition forward it will proudly carry a new banner and the name HorseVibes. Its name is the only thing to have changed however – we still aim to inspire, educate and inform you on all things horse. This month Carl Hester is our Hub Hero, as he makes his way to Australia to host the Masterclass at Brisbane CDI later this month. Carl is an inspiration to riders around the world and we are delighted to

bring you this round-up of his stellar career to date.

club of the month and all our lovely images.

Jane Camens takes her horse Harley to an Adrienne Bowden ‘Scary Obstacles’ clinic so he can learn to face horse-eating demons, and then, still on her European adventures she tries her hand at natural horsemanship at a Parelli-based ranch in Italy.

Our intrepid editor Candy edited this edition from Bali, so our first edition of HorseVibes is a truly global affair from our little family.

Dannii talks to inspiring your rider Chelsea de Jonge from Western Australia, and delves into the sport of Jereed as well as taking a look at the Welsh breed. We have the exciting news from Equestrian Australia on the eventing team for Aachen 2018, as well as of course our usual regulars – our product review, saddle, horoscopes,

HV is looking for editorial contributors. Email if you're interested: candida@equestrianhub.com.au

Fiona

P.S. This month’s prize draw is a 5kg bucket of Mega Horse supplement. See page 42. Winner from last month is Jessica Gilmore. Subscribe now to win! H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

Calling all equestrian creative writers!

As always, pour your favourite tipple and enjoy!

Carl Hester with Uthopia and Valegro.

Carl Hester

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

“S

The very name has become synonymous with the best of British dressage, including, of course, Charlotte Dujardin, who rides for his stable. Hold on to your helmets, writes Candida Baker because the dressage maestro is coming to QSEC to give a masterclass at the Brisbane CDI in late July.

port is demanding, we all know that. A horse doesn’t get to the top by you feeding it apples and asking it would it mind doing a Grand Prix test or jumping a six-foot fence,” says Carl Hester, who knows a thing or two about getting to the top. In this particular instance Hester was talking about his horse Escapado, also known as Peanuts, a talented Warmbloood who in a short space of time went from being last

at Aachen, to achieving the highest British Dressage Score at the 2004 Athens Olympics, followed by a fifth place in 2005 at the European Championships in Germany. “He was a nervous horse,” Hester says, ”and I realised that for him being stabled was not the best thing. A lot of people criticized my management at the time but letting him live in a natural environment was the best thing for him – when he was stabled he was so tense

we couldn’t do a thing with him. Once we moved him outside he coped with pressure so much better.”

emphasis on understanding each individual horse.

Winning gold medalists: Laura Bechtolsheimer, Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin.

London 2012 Olympic Games, Carl Hester and Uthopia Jon Stroud Media.

One of his earliest memories is of riding a somewhat stubborn donkey to the village shop, a slightly less than noble steed who was followed by a number of ponies and horses, many of whom were used a carriage horses during the day, and then ridden to Pony Club at the weekends. Like most kids, Carl drove tourist carriages in the school holidays, but he showed a competitive edge from an early age, winning the famous bareback race at a flat-out gallop and seriously outmanoeuvring his competitors.

The horse world, he has said: “Needs positive images, positive people and positive training methods.”

If there is one thing that shows up in researching Carl, it’s precisely his competitive edge that sets him apart. This is not a rider, owner or coach who rests on his laurels. Even when a horse has done well, whether it’s him riding or one of his rider, there is a lot of post-performance analysis – with a constant

In part, his ‘accentuate the positive’ philosophy came about because of his first job after he left Sark. At the age of 19, and with no winter employment prospects, he applied for a job at the Fortune Centre in Hampshire, where adults with learning and physical disabilities are given the chance to ride, and to have a sense of freedom and achievement that is often hard for them to experience. The Centre also gave Carl the chance to compete, and it was on their skewbald mare, Jolly Dolly, that Carl competed in and won the 1985 Dressage Rider Championship. After the Centre Carl worked at Jannie and Christopher Taylor’s farm in Gloucestershire where Jannie

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

Hester himself is only too familiar with the benefits of a natural environment. He was born in England, but was raised on the tiny Channel island of Sark, where there are no cars, and horses are still a way of life.

“When you train horses, you need to use methods that are not complicated to understand,” he says. “We have to get them, and keep them, in the right space so they are happy and that means developing trust and mutual respect.”

Taylor specialised in training ‘difficult horses’. “I was happy with them,” Carl says, “but I did break an ankle and a shoulder during my brief eventing career.” Mind you, he also competed at the first Blenheim Horse Trials and won the Spillers Dressage with Jumping Championship. His exposure to difficult horses built on the patience he’d learned at the Centre and he began to realise that the true basis of horsemanship, was, as he says: “Finding a way based on tact, patience, firmness and kindness when dealing with horses with behavioural problems.”

us, and it's our job to give them as nice a life as possible,” said Carl recently on a video of his property. He believes his eventing background means that he is less “fussy” about his horses than traditional dressage riders, and certainly he has the runs on the board to prove that his methods work. Just a few of his achievements include being the youngest British rider ever to compete in an Olympic Games, when he competed on Georgioni at Barcelona in 1992 and his success with Team GB since has been stellar, taking gold in the 2012 Summer Games, and

It wasn't long before destiny came knocking – in the form of German-born dressage rider and business man Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer. Dr Bechtolsheimer, (known as Dr B) and his wife Ursula run a breeding and training centre in Gloucestershire, and so it was inevitable that at some point Dr B’s attention would be drawn to Carl’s obvious talent, and that he would approach him to join his yard as a rider.

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

“I was overawed at the interview,” Carl has said. “I’d never seen a yard like that or horses of that calibre.” When Dr B asked him how much he would want the startled Carl told him nothing at all. In the end he got a cottage and a salary and thought all his birthdays had come at once.

Carl has come a long way since his ‘cottage’ days. His spread in Gloucestershire is on 30 acres, with an historic home, 18 stables, an indoor and outdoor arena, and a menagerie of animals including peacocks, hens, guineafowl and dogs. The older horses are stabled at night and turned out during the day, and the younger horses stay out at night and come in for their training sessions in the morning and are stabled during the day. “At the end of the day, these horses work very hard for us, travel the world, win medals for

Young Carl. many other medal positions at the World and European Championships. In 2012 the FEI ranked him 12th in the world on Uthopia and in 2013 Carl was honoured with an MBE for services to equestrianism. But back at the beginning of his illustrious career - after three years with Dr B, Carl went into a partnership with Kate Carter at her yard at Stow-on-the-Wold. When Kate decided to move to make more space for her stud, Carl made the decision to buy his own yard. Since then his horses have gone from strength to strength.

Uthopia, Valegro, Dances with Wolves – these Horse & Hound Groom of the Year award. He are names that make the hearts of dressage is also the first to ever receive the prestigfans sing. It was, people have said, typical ious British Equestrian Federation Medal of of Carl that as Charlotte Honour. It’s this attention Dujardin’s coach he could to detail in all aspects of see Valegro’s special horse care that puts Carl’s "Carl's method and connection with Charlotte, message are always yard a cut above, and and was able to watch his Alan, Carl has said, is an the same, whether it’s two superstars move into essential part of that care. another strathosphere as a Grand Prix horse or One of the most exciting they bonded so completely. horses coming along is a young horse." These days both Valegro and Uthopia make public appearances, enjoying time in the fields and hacking out.

A perhaps unsung hero for many yards is the international travelling groom. In Carl’s case Alan Davies has travelled with the horses to Olympics, World and European Championships. In 2015 he was awarded Team GB Groom of the Year and in 2016 he won the

the 16-year-old Dances with Wolves, with whom Carl has clocked a massive amount of firsts at Grand Prix level. “Dances With Wolves is really going to be my next one,” Carl has said. “He is a top horse but he is still very nervous and temperamental. I have to be very tactful with him and train him in the right way. Like Escapado. It’s a full time job having a horse like that.”

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After Rio, Carl was a little disappointed in his other 16-year-old’s performance, the massive 18hh Nip Tuck, even though Team GB received the Silver Medal and Carl was placed seventh in the individual dressage. “One minute it’s a camera, one minute it’s a flower, he’s got a tiny mind,” Carl said after the event with his customary humour. “In the transition to walk he saw a tiny flower. I think he needs glasses.” He firmly believes that Great Britain is the best country in the world for equestrian

knee-roll position – all to make sure that the horses I ride who are all big movers – can have maximum movement.” For Leesa Murray, Event Director of the Brisbane CDI & Carl Hester Masterclass, bringing Carl out for the Brisbane CDI is an important achievement. “Of course he’s been to Australia before and given a Masterclass at Werribee and appeared at Equitana, but Melbourne is a long way from Queensland,” she says. “A few hundred of us went down to see him, and I have to say he was spellbinding. My husband was not a horse person, but he came down with me and he was spellbound too.” For Leesa the most important thing is to give as many people as possible the chance to see the maestro teaching. “People still tell me how much it meant to them to see Charlotte Dujardin teach last year, and at first I was amazed but I’ve realised that it’s such a wonderful chance to watch teachers working with five or six horses, and that it gives us time to soak up the knowledge,” she says.

Carl Hester and Nip Tuck.

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

sports. “It’s not just about producing winning horses,” he says, “it’s about discipline and breeding, longevity and the way we keep and care for our horses.”

He is excited by the future and moving with the times in terms of the never-ending possibilities of improving the performance of horses with the best of the best. “Biomechanics, saddle-fitters, nutritionists – anything that makes our performance better,” he says. His interest has included his input into the PDS Integro Mono Flap Saddle. “I was involved with the flocking, the size of the flap, the

As for Carl, according to Leesa, he is: “Simply everything. His method and his message are always the same, whether it’s an established Grand Prix horse or a young horse. His message is consistent and that’s why everybody gets so much out of it. There’s not enough of him to go around for all of us to get a lesson, and so it’s my job to make sure that the price is reasonable enough for us to get a large audience, who can then go home and build on what they’ve seen.”

For more information on Carl’s life, his autobiography, ‘Making it Happen’, co-authored with journalist Bernadette Hewitt is a fascinating look at the story behind the story of the most successful British dressage rider in history. To book tickets for the Carl Hester Masterclass go here: Carl Hester Masterclass

There Be Dragons Adrianne Bowden has been breeding, training and competing stock horses most of her life. She also runs ‘Scary Obstacles’ clinics, for those who want their horses to learn a little bravery, writes Jane Camens.

ome people know Adrianne – who’s usually known as Ade - Bowden through MegaHorse, the all-natural balanced horse supplement she created, that, as her promotions say, ‘doesn’t cost the earth’.

of Crabbes Creek, in northern New South Wales. Ade has lived there for 40 years, since her parents moved up from Melbourne when she was eight-years-old and now runs the property herself. Driving in, I pass a series of paddocks where she keeps horses she’s bred and those she’s currently working with. In other paddocks, or in the paddocks and stables on the hill, are horses she’s training for other people. Nowa-

Ade also has a reputation as a successful stockhorse breeder and trainer. On her walls at home are photos of her horses bedecked in winning rugs and ribbons. She loves the challenge of beating guys at the same game. Or, as she puts it succinctly: ‘Kicking the guys arses.’ After I’d bought my Quarter Horse, Harley, one of the first things I did was to take him to Ade’s ‘Scary Obstacles’ clinic. To paraphrase Ade, some instructors forget how many steps they’ve taken to get to where they are, and not everyone can ‘just do it’ like they do.

Adrianne Bowden.

The Scary Obstacles clinic was a gentle twoday affair at Ade’s family property, at the back

Also on the hill, behind a working area set up with ‘scary’ obstacles, is a shed from which

days, Ade rides five horses a day, five days a week, which is her idea of slowing down. She used to ride two or three more each day.

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

“For me great horsemen and women are energetically attuned to horse energies,” she says. What such a person can achieve with a horse in a short time might take others — me, for instance — much longer to understand. Ade, who was a natural sportsperson as a child, tries to keep in mind that when she’s working with the different energy and skill levels of people and their horses in her clinics.

Ade's stockhorse horse, Ace now 16, who was bred, started and competed by Ade, showing off his scary obstacle skills at Rock Valley. she sells her supplement MegaHorse. “I developed the mix 20 years ago, after I’d studied nutrition as part of a Horse Husbandry diploma at Gatton,” she says. “I realised how lacking in nutrition the grasses are in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales.”

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

But despite the ongoing popularity of her supplement these days she spends more energy training horses and riders than on marketing and distributing MegaHorse. “I’m a bit ‘over’ hauling bags,” she laughs.

As for me and partner in crim - Harley ended the weekend balancing on a tire, walking up and over an unstable plank, negotiating a forest of swinging ‘noodles’, and overcoming the terror of several other potentially scary obstacles. The clinic was at least as beneficial for me as it for Harley, as I found out in a safe environment that this

new horse was pretty unflappable, and that he’ll do what I ask, if ask clearly and make it easy for him. As long as we take things step-by-step, we’re good. Ade has another passion these days as well. She started working with horses and volunteers at Riding for the Disabled (RDA) a few years ago. “The old horses weren’t engaged and they needed to find new horses to bring in,” she said. “I did about three months training with every horse there until they were at a level where they engaged with everyone. Once I got the horses sorted, I need to turn to the volunteers. I started with basic horsemanship with the staff.” At a recent show, five of the disabled riders rode in the dressage and three of the volunteers rode in the open dressage and won fourth and fifth.

In the meantime, she has three clinics scheduled: May 26-27 ‘Intro Cattle Clinic’, Wooyung; June 16-17 ‘Advanced Cattle Clinic’ (Wooyung); and June 30-July1 ‘Scary Obstacles and Trail Riding Clinic’ at her place in Crabbes Creek. She can be contacted by email: Mooball.Produce@activ8.net.au

Memphis was dangerous when Ade took him on and retrained him for the RDA. "Now he's one of their stars," she says. If they can do it, I think Harley and I can too. In July and August, Ade is off to the United States with an open heart and mind, looking for new ideas and opportunities. She’ll be back in the spring to train more horses.

Jane Camens with her horse Harley.

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

Introducing the

Double Bridle The double bridle is an easily misunderstood item of tack. In the right hands it is a delicate instrument of communication with the horse in the higher level of dressage. Used in the wrong way, writes Dannii Cunnane, it can be harsh on the horse and cause problems that did not exist before.

ost trainers and riders have a different opinion on when to introduce the double bridle. Traditionally it was thought that the double should be not be introduced until a horse is in its fifth year, but there are many factors at play. Ideally before a horse is introduced to a double bridle the horse must be going forwards properly in their work. This means they must be accepting a snaffle bridle and engaged behind - it's all about the horses self-carriage and lightness. If this basic foundation is not met, it is not time to introduce the double bridle until it is. It's vital for the horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance longevity not to rush the horse and shove hardware into their mouth for which they are not ready.

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

While it may be tempting to put one on and

simply ride, the double must be treated with respect. It needs correct training for the horse and rider else it is very probable that it will create issues that were not present with the snaffle. So before we move forward, let's find out more about what the double bridle is and what purpose it served. The double bridle consists of two bits: the bridoon (snaffle bit) and the curb. The centre of all discussion is the curb bit as it is the most delicate instrument. The way it is fitted and the way it is handled decides if the curb is one of brute force or one that refines riding. Historically the curb was invented to serve as a tool of force because it was a bit that enabled knights and cavalrymen to control their horses one-handed in dangerous situations in which control could be the deciding factor between life or death.

It was only during the Renaissance in France that riding masters, most notably Pluvinel and de la Guérnière, discovered and began to spread the awareness that the curb bit can be used (back then occasionally in combination with a cavesson) as an instrument that enables the rider to ride with a higher level of communication with the horse. Gradually the double bridle came to be considered an essential part in the art of riding dressage, because correct usage leads not only to refined communication, but also increases the horse's collection. To understand how this happens let’s take a closer look at the way the double bridle works.

The purpose of a double bridle:

All of this means that a horse is only ready for the double bridle when it has gained a certain degree of collection since at the level it has also already obtained a certain degree of self-carriage. ‘Collection’ means that the horse increases the activity of its hind legs, takes more weight by bending the joints, and comes towards the vertical, has risen in the withers and has a strong top line. But while the usage of the double bridle requires a horse to have collection, it can also increase the amount at the same time. How does this happen? Due to the curb the rider is able to give very refined and minute impulses. The energy of the hind legs flowing to the

Both bits of the double bridle fulfil two completely different tasks. The bridoon (snaffle) acts by elevating and bending the horse whereas the curb causes the horse to give the neck and bring the head towards the vertical. It is the hand of the rider that initiates the desired head and neck position of the horse with the help of the double bridle. However the rider is never allowed to use it as a tool to force the horse into a specific head and neck position. To do this is cruel and defeats the point of riding - it's all about horsemanship and the horse being comfortable, light and receptive to the hand.

front gets redirected very promptly back onto the hind legs and as a result the collection and self-carriage improve. Taking the above information into account, the requirement and use of the double bridle in higher-level dressage seems to make great sense. However, the sense of the curb is questioned more and more as a direct consequence of the totally wrong use of the double bridle as seen in negative images of dressage with gaping mouths and blue tongues as a

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

There is no doubt that the correct use of the double bridle leads to improved collection and self-carriage. Consequently the correct use of the double bridle has become inseparably linked to the concept of the classically and well-schooled horse. The activity of the hind legs of a well-trained horse creates a flow over the back and into the rider's hand. This corresponds with the concept of riding a horse from behind to the front; the only way natural for a horse.

firmly pulled curb is pressing on the tongue. It is very disturbing to any horse lover to see these images, but often hard for those who are not riders to understand that these images absolutely do not reflect the correct usage of the double bridle. Each horse has different needs so the snaffle and curb must be fitted comfortably. Conformation of the mouth is so important.

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

When fitting a double brilde the length of the jaw is incredibly important. This is because horses, especially Thoroughbreds and ponies, have tiny mouths and it can be difficult, sometimes even impossible to fit a double.

tends to come behind the bit would usually be happier with a fixed cheek, while a sliding cheek would be better for one who is inclined to lean. Similarly opt for a loose ring bradoon for a horse who needs more play on the mouthpiece and an eggbutt for one who responds better to a mouthpiece which stays relatively still. The type of curb chain used is also important. You have to be flexible and work out what suits the individual horses. Horses do not like chains banging around their mouth so ensure the one you use is suitable for your horse and cut to size. Ensure your chain is perfectly flat – never twisted – otherwise it will cause pinching and discomfort.

You also need to look at how Catago 3D-Tech Double low the molars are - with Obviously it’s important then Bridle with Swarovski Stones/ geldings, the tushes are not Eaglewood Equestrian to know when to introduce always in the correct place Supplies. the double bridle, and in and may cause the hardware short, the double bridle must to bang against them. It’s only be introduced when the vital to make sure the teeth horse is ready and when the rider is skilled are checked regularly by a good equine enough to use it correctly. It should never dentist, preferably one who sedates and does be placed in the hands of someone who ‘whole of mouth’ equine dentistry. wishes only to use it because it ‘looks good’. Also, some horses have big, fleshy tongues. Using a double bridle too soon can result in This must also be taken into account and anxiety in the horse, mouth problems and if this is the case for a horse the use of an irreparable damage. arched mouth Weymouth or one with a In hacking it is used as the rider decides, but higher port to make more room for the in dressage it is introduced at Medium level tongue will work. – the level at which the horse’s collection is The length and type of cheek piece add now established. While it might look nice and another dimension. Some horses go better grown up to be in the double bridle, ensure with a sliding cheek, others with a fixed your horse’s welfare comes first and that it is cheek. The horse who is naturally light or being used for the right reasons.

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LESSONS IN NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP

Italian Style

Going from classical dressage in Portugal to natural horsemanship in Italy (not to mention Scary Obstacles in Crabbes Creek), Jane Camens is in on a quest to improve her horse knowledge.

hilst I was on holiday in Europe earlier this month I had the chance to return to an Italian agriturismo attached to a school of natural horsemanship. I’d been there three years earlier on a previous visit, but this time I was worried about switching from a school of classical dressage, where I’d just spent a week in Portugal. Would taking classes in natural horsemanship in Italy be too confusing? Would I mix up the languages?

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

I decided (after about 30 seconds) that finding different ways of communicating with my horse couldn’t be a bad thing. I’m open to learning whichever language my horse is most willing to understand. Sadly, on this occasion I had time to master only a little vocabulary, not much grammar.

The Equinatura Toscana Natural Horsemanship Centre is run by one-star qualified Parelli instructor, Francesca Dinelli. When I first met Francesca in 2015, I had no more than a rudimentary idea of natural horsemanship, despite efforts by HorseVibes editor Candida Baker’s to explain the fundamentals. (Ed: Only over the past 15 years!) When I saw the horses grazing outside the hotel, my dream was to

ride through the Tuscan countryside while my husband learnt to make pasta. I was a little put out when Francesca said I could possibly do that, but only after she gave me one or two basic natural horsemanship lessons. No matter how well people say they ride, she told me, she didn’t want anyone pulling at her horses’ mouths or kicking them. I slightly reluctantly agreed to Francesca’s lessons. Three years on, I was in less of a hurry to ride out into the Tuscan landscape. I’d now done a couple of natural horsemanship clinics at home in Australia. Francesca’s gentle approach is slightly different, inspired more directly by Pat Parelli’s method. In the short time we had together on this visit - only four hours - I wanted to spend most of my time working with her horses on the ground. One thing had stayed with me from my first time with Francesca. I must have appeared serious with concentration while I was riding her pinto. She came over and said, kindly, “You should look beautiful on a horse.” I didn’t feel beautiful. I learnt from this that if you can do no more than smile, that’s one way to practice beauty. The first thing Francesca talked about this time was energy: the energy of different people and horses, and how these change depending on the energy travelling between the two. She thought it would be interesting for me to work with two of her horses, Aries and

Gandalf, one with high energy, the other with a tendency to dominate. ‘We’re really concentrating on the relationship,” Francesca says, explaining Parelli’s method. “We believe the performance is born after the relationship. Your horse is your mirror. I believe horses heal the heart of people. You have to find a way to allow your horse to say “yes”, not make him do what you

shoulder movement. We also talked about doing up the girth in response to my concern about my own horse’s girthiness. Francesca insisted I send Gandalf out in circles several times before the final hole was tightened. At last in the saddle we repeated the moves begun on the ground. We ended with me side-stepping on Gandalf around the en-

Jane learning to communicate with Gandalph under Francesca's instruction.

Francesca took me through the seven basic Parelli exercises, or games. She wanted me to ‘search for the yes from your horse’ using steady pressure and release. Before she was ready for me to mount, she gave an extremely useful tutorial on saddle fitting, stressing the need to have enough room for the horse’s

closed arena. Without doubt I made progress in understanding this gentle way of being with a horse. Francesca established Equinatura Toscana because, she says, “I wanted a good environment where people can learn what I have learned. Horses have taught me. They have healed me.’ Although she’d ridden since the age of seven, she attributes everything she knows to

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

want. Anyone can make a horse do something. But if you have a heart connection then you have a mind and a body connection.”

Parelli’s method, which she discovered only many years after she’d been riding traditional English style. Her life changed after seeing a demonstration by Australian three-star Parelli instructor, Sandra Pye. She remembers clearly that she wanted to ride bareback as freely as Sandra. Afterwards, Francesca held back to talk to her. “Tell me whatever I have to do,’ she said to Sandra, “I have to know how to do that.” Since then Francesca has done many clinics with Parelli instructors, including Western Australian based Sam Capron. In 2012 Francesca gained her Parelli first star. Her teacher in Italy is a four-star instructor, Gigi Pini, whom she brings regularly to her centre.

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

If you’d like to do Natural Horsemanship training in Italy, Equinatura Toscana would be a good place either to start your journey or to

organise advanced classes with Gigi. There are other places in Italy that teach Natural Horsemanship, but I know only Francesca’s school. It has the advantage of being attached to a charming rural hotel, where we had a separate cottage overlooking the paddocks. I wish others as much happiness in horse travels as I’ve enjoyed - and I smile much more often these days! Equinatura Toscana can be found near the village of Massaciuccoli in the Provence of Lucca. We stayed on site in La Casa Rossa Agriturismo. www.agriturismocasarossa.it My lessons cost €50 (about AU$77) per hour. Francesca can be contacted through her Equinatura Toscana Facebook page.

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PRODUCT REVIEW

AKUBRA HAT – ROUGH RIDER Dannii Cunnane has worn Akubra hats for as long as she can remember. She puts the case for an essential piece of Australian equipment.

rowing up in the country Akubras were a staple in my wardrobe – they could really put up with a beating and they always outlasted the cheaper alternatives. Although I usually wear the Pastoralist style, I recently tried the Rough Rider, which is more of a western style hat. I’m out in the sun a lot, particularly competing with horses at competitions. There’s a lot of waiting around on hot days with dressage so the western style was a perfect choice for me with its wide brim that offers a fair amount of shelter from the sun. As someone who always comes home with a burnt face and neck, even when I’ve applied sunscreen, I’ve not had the familiar sting of sunburn since wearing my Akubra. Like all Akubras, the Rough Rider is made from rabbit pelt which is tough and durable. I choose to wear a light colour and even after falling in the dust, being rained on and trod-

den on by a thoroughbred (thanks Dexter!) it retained its shape and was easy to clean back to its beautiful sandy colour. When purchasing any Akubra, ensure that you buy one size larger than the size that fits you when you try them on. This is because the leather band inside shrinks with wear and becomes difficult to stretch. You can pad the inside of the hat with foam or paper to ensure a good fit until it shrinks. Akubra hats are an iconic piece of Australiana and the best part is the company is Australian owned and all of the hats are Australian-made. Whether you need a hat for fashion, working in the garden or out on the farm, there will be a hat to fit your head and a style to suit your needs. For more information on the Akubra, visit their website.

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BREED SPOTLIGHT

THE WELSH PONY The Welsh Pony is a favourite with families around the globe – and with good reason. These hardy little horses can be seen competing in almost every equestrian discipline.

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

he Welsh pony is held dearly in the hearts of many, partly because the Welsh breed is one the whole family can enjoy. This breed has had a large influence on many others, which has resulted in some great blood lines and an all-round mount that is versatile, staunch and bold.

The Welsh pony has been in Australia since the early 1800’s, and was originally imported due to its reliability as a great carriage and riding mount as well as for its adaptability to the Australian climate and environment. The Welsh pony’s Arabian influence is thought to go back as far as 1000 to 1500 in Wales. The Arabian stallions were brought back to

England by Crusaders who crossed them with the hardy native horses to produce a mount that had good bone and height to serve them in battle. In 1188 some Spanish stallions were crossed with the native Welsh ponies that produced a heavier set mount – which is thought to be the difference between the ponies and the Welsh cobs. While the original Welsh breed was small, in 1535 King Henry VIII passed legislation that forbid breeders to cross their mares with stallions under 14hh. Any horse he deemed too small was to be destroyed and as a result, these ponies were kept hidden by their owners or moved to the mountains and set free where they became extremely hardy. Henry’s daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, annulled the law and the mountain ponies were re-domesticated. They have been used every since and are renowned for their versatility. In 1901 the Welsh people formed the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of Wales and sections

were allocated to cater to the different types and heights of the Welsh breed. In the late 1920’s with the need for ponies suitable for children to ride, two stallions of 50 percent Oriental and fifty percent Welsh parentage were accepted into the studbook with the intention of breeding children’s riding ponies. These ponies became today’s Section B. The present day Sections A, B, C and D came into force in 1949, resulting in greater consistency of type within each particular section, as follows:

only protection a pony has against flies, rain

Section A of the Stud Book

Section B of the Stud Book

Height: Not exceeding 121.9 cm (12.0 hands) Hardy and spirited and any colour except piebald and skewbald. For showing any long hairs that protrude outside the ears must be trimmed off. The hairs inside the ear are the

Height not exceeding 137.2 cm (13.2 hands) The general description of ponies in Section A of the Stud Book is very similar to those in Section B, but more particularly the Section B pony is also described as a riding pony, with

and cold and therefore should be left alone. The hairs under the jaw should be trimmed, but to give as natural a line as possible. The main and tail should be left to look as natural as possible. One long thin plait is usually put at the top of the mane, the reason being to show off the line of the throat. All Mountain Ponies should have some silky feather at the back of the fetlock.

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

and an extremely competent performer in all competitive horse sports. In recent years they have had great success in the international driving world and their abilities in all spheres are now fully recognised throughout the world.

quality, riding action, adequate bone and substance, hardiness and constitution and with pony character.

Section C of the Stud Book The Welsh Pony of Cob Type Height: The height should not exceed 137.2cm (13.2 hands) General Character: Strong, hardy and active, with pony character and as much substance as possible.

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Section D of the Stud Book The Welsh Cob

Height The height should exceed 137 cms (13.2hh) and there is no upper limit. Often described as ‘The best ride and drive animal in the World’, the Welsh Cob has been carefully bred throughout many centuries for their courage, tractability and powers of endurance. Their general character is the embodiment of strength, hardiness and agility. The Welsh Cob is a good hunter

The Welsh breeds have extravagant movement as a very strong characteristic which breeders must maintain and when exhibited at Society approved events, all Welsh Ponies and Cobs must be shown in a natural state. This means that manes and tails must be free flowing and feather retained to display their native quality. As you would expect at a show, a clean healthy coat and a well-conditioned animal are very important as with any other breed of horse being exhibited. Discreet tidying up of unruly manes and tails is not frowned upon – judges love to see a well-presented animal. Want more information? Visit the Welsh Pony and Cob Society Australia Incorporated website to learn more about the breed, the stud society and upcoming events.

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H YOUNG RIDER OF THE MONTH

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Chelsea De Jonge Meet fourteen-year-old Chelsea De Jonge - our Young Rider for July. Chelsea was born with Symbrachydactyly, a syndrome that affects the limbs. Chelsea was born without fingers on her right hand and uses three loops on the right rein which attach to her wrist so she can maintain good contact with her horse’s mouth. In 2018 Chelsea was selected to be part of both the Rising Stars Squad and High Performance Squad for Western Australia on her mount ‘Boy’, an imported Dutch riding pony. Chelsea has ridden since toddlerhood and now competes in Para classes as well as open dressage. “After we purchased a pony from my Coach I got into dressage and absolutely loved it,” says Chelsea. “I love the feeling of going up that centre line and knowing I’ve done everything I can.” Chelsea competes in FEI Para classes as well as open Medium dressage and Interschools, and currently has three competition horses in training - Aspen Way Royal Gala (Max) an 11-year-old 14.1 hand high Australian Riding Pony gelding competing at open prelim – novice competitions; Boy a 22-year-old 13.3hh Dutch Riding Pony gelding, imported from the Netherlands in 2012 and is Chelsea’s schoolmaster for Elementary and Medium dressage and Savio H, a 16.3hh

19-year-old gelding imported from he Netherlands in 2014. Chelsea attends High School via correspondence so she can concentrate on her horses. “After I finish school I hope to become a riding coach and hone my skills in The Netherlands,” she says. We wish her all the best with her horses and upcoming competitions.

Chelsea’s biggest achievements to date: Champion Medium Pony Of The Year 2017 – Boy Champion Para Athlete of the Year 2017 EWA Interschool Equestrian Champion overall secondary rider 2017 – Max Most Outstanding Para Rider High Performance WA Athlete 2017 - Boy

If you are a young competition rider and would like to be considered for HorseVibes Young Rider of the Month, email us for a questionnaire to complete: promote@equestrianhub.com.au.

C A N D I D LY S P E A K I N G Teaching Young Horses to Float If you own a young horse, make life easy for yourself, and teach your baby that a horsefloat is a comfortable and safe place to be in. Just take your time! Some years ago now I once bought myself the most beautiful three-in-one-package – a splendid young palomino Quarter Horse mare, who was pregnant to a Paint stallion and with a six-month-old palomino filly at foot. It was the start of a wonderful six-year journey with those horses – Glimmer, Jewel and our baby Storm. Sadly for me each one of them – having come from the cold climes of Canberra – succumbed one by one to Queensland itch, and although it broke my heart to part with them, particularly Jewel, I had to make the decision that for their quality of life the sub-tropical climate of the Northern Rivers was not for them.

After their safe arrival, there was a couple of years while Jewel grew up where she did not need to be floated but I felt that it was very important she stayed very comfortable with the idea, and when her baby half-brother, Storm, arrived on the scene I embarked on

my own journey of finding out how to create a float-proof horse. To me it was essential that floating was as easy as possible. Over the years of taking on Off the Track Thoroughbreds and the occasional difficult floater, I had seen – as most horse people have – the difference between a confident, happy horse who will self load, or walk calmly on and off, and a horse that for some reason is scared of floating, or scrambles, or in a few cases has just learnt that resistance can be entertaining! First and foremost, of course, and as with anything to do with horses, it’s the groundwork that has to be correct before you ask a baby horse or pony to get into an enclosed box. If you don’t have your backing-up, walking at the side of you and stopping on request fully enforced then life will be more difficult. This groundwork can start even with a foal, but by the time your horse is a yearling good manners should be firmly established. It’s a bit like teaching toddlers to stay please and thank-

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

However, this isn’t the story of my little horse family, it’s more a story about the importance of teaching young horses to float. I was extremely lucky that the breeder I bought my threesome from was a kind and patient horse owner, who told me that she would take the time to teach Jewel how to float so there wouldn’t be a problem when she was put on the truck with her mum for the long journey from Canberra to the Byron hinterland.

John Chatterton explaining the concept of calm floating.

Off we go! A horse heading off for adventures in a calm fashion.

Not quite so willing.

you before the terrible twos hit – because you’ve buckleys once they do!

to floating is to feed them in it – if you give yourself the time to simply put a bit of feed in a bucket first on the ramp, and gradually over a period of a week put the feed bucket further into the float, you may be resorting to bribery but your yearling will associate the float with good times.

Of the three skills you want your horse to have, the back-up is the most important because it is essential that they back slowly off a float, and not careen back in fear the minute you untie the lead-rope. The secret to floating is repetition of your request – not making it louder and louder, but simply repeating it until the request is understood. With baby horses, one way to introduce them

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The first time I led Storm into the float as a yearling, I had already established very strong groundwork with him. I was hoping that he would walk willingly beside me, and he did.

It was a thrilling moment, and one I’ve never forgotten. We then fed him in the float, and groomed him for good measure. After a week or so, we put another, older horse in with him, and took him for a tiny drive. By the time he was 18-months-old he was as easy to float as any old campaigner, and not once had we experienced resistance. But what if you do experience resistance, or inherit a horse with floating problems and you are not perhaps experienced or comfortable with groundwork. I would say there are still a few things you can do to make your life easier – one is to part the float next to a fence, so you have one side blocked in. The other is to have someone else to help you so that they can hold a rope as a visual guide on the other side of the float. Also ask them to be in charge of the guiding-stick – and I mean to guide, not smack. Just for very light taps if necessary – because and I can’t say this

strongly enough if you FORCE a horse onto a float, if it doesn’t cause you trouble on this occasion, it will one day and it can be highly dangerous to the horse, to the float and to yourself. A lot of people advocate the rope behind the bum of the horse so you can pull it in as you walk on. I have had to use this method myself, and it does work, but I would still say that the better course of action is to always allow the horse to make the decision – if it’s their idea to walk on then they will not resist or go into flight. In the beginning it may just be a hoof on the ramp and they may back up a little. No problem. Just take the time you need, and gradually, very gradually, they’ll learn that there’s no punishment involved and will become a willing partner on your horse adventures.

Candida Baker is the Editor of HorseVibes and runs a Facebook Page, The Horse Listeners.

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Exciting Young Weanling serious jumping power! Amenable temperament and a delight to handle. Expected to mature at 16.2hh. Already showing very light, uphill movement. Reason for selling is she's too good to sit in the paddock and have babies. Her movement and looks will also dazzle in the dressage arena.

Email: fiona@equestrianhub.com.au or call 0414760067

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

Bred in the purple, fully imported bloodlines by the fantastic Diamond B stallion Baluga and an Oldenburg mare, Zarah Leander. Enviable bloodlines carry the double cross of Galoubet A, through Baloubet du Rouet on her sire’s side (from Baluga) and Quattro B on her dam’s side (Zarah Leander). Add in some of European’s jumping foundation sire Zeus and you have some

C L A R E N D O N W I N T E R F E ST I VA L

Tanisha Ryan on Quizzical.

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Matthew Dowsley on Santiago.

Sally Walker riding Woolaroo Donnerschwartz.

Lucy Herbert on Edgecote Mr Big.

Alexis Scott on Lotus Park Rendezvous.

Viv Motbey on Wishlist II.

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

Emily Shannon on Casino Crown Prince.

Down on Penny Newbold’s farm you’ll find her family and animals, and of course, horses…

Perfect Pony Presentation Penny Newbold looks back at her early riding career, and the importance of keeping your feet on the ground (or even in the stirrups).

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

he skill of equestrian show horse presentation has never been my strong point, a fact that very few people (probably none, if I’m honest) would disagree with.

But there was a time in my life, albeit extremely brief (for everyone’s sake) that show ring presentation became a genuine focus of mine. The colour of the ribbon, or even a ribbon at all, was at stake. Of course the size of each rosette or bobble in my pony’s mane was of extreme importance! I was so proud the day I

Double riding with my little sister, Cait. succeeded in securing a false tail in my poor old pony’s non-existent one, with its few sparse hairs attempting to blend the tail in. The idea was to give the effect that her rubbed and chewed tail, which, in reality, resembled

a wispy, dying bottle-brush, was in fact a thick, luscious, jet black, trailing veil of glory. Of course it didn’t help the situation that the colour of my pony’s tail was not quite the rich, jet-black colour of the false one. Nor did it help

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that she was perfectly happy to let the baby calves chew it down to the dock, as long as they didn’t try to pinch her hay. Not ideal for a pony for whom my grand plan was to enter her in the pony hack classes at our local show! Of course, I had the solution. I’d dye my pony’s tail to match the falsie. Perfect plan.

I think the judge felt sorry for me when she called us in to do the workout. She definitely felt sorry for me as she handed me the glorious falsie after we finished. It had slipped out and dragged on the ground behind us from the moment we started holding on until the bitter end just finished, before finally deciding to let go. We ended being placed last in the line-up (not surprising,

even to me) and it was then that it occurred to me that maybe show jumping was the better option. At least perfect presentation wasn’t compulsory.

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

Except that a tail dyed to be blue black doesn’t look quite right on a greying, flea-bitten bay, especially one who’s lost a large amount of hair to Queensland itch over the years and had large white patches all over her. And the tell-tale black stained hands

and spatters on my face were a dead giveaway even if she hadn’t looked like an equine version of Morticia from the Adams family (or at least the hair did anyway!).

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Jereed JAVELIN ON HORSEBACK Originally a tool of war, the art of ‘jereed’ or javelin throwing from horseback has evolved into a traditional – and thrilling – sport.

In simple terms, one player from one team is to be chased from one side of the field to the other while the opposing team tries to strike them with their jereeds.

Referees are posted at the centre line and at each end of the field and award both positive and negative points with their flags.

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

ereed is a traditional sport across large parts of central Asia and the Middle East, but it is most popular in Turkey where it is considered to be a sacred national sport. Originally jereeds - sharp spears - were used in war and thrown from horseback to injure and kill members of opposing cavalries. In peace times it evolved into a sport that is still enjoyed today.

So how is it played? Each jereed team is made up of seven players and the game takes place on a pitch of either 70 or 130 meters. A single game is broken up into two halves, each half lasting 80 minutes. The players try to score points by throwing their jereed and striking their opponent. (The tip of the jereed is covered in rubber, and participants wear helmets to protect themselves from harm.)

A player receives points when they manage to hit their rival, ride them out, or catch an incoming jereed in mid-air. A player will be issued negative points for actions that might endanger the horse, such as riding out of bounds or striking a horse intentionally, falling off their horse, throwing the jereed from inside the neutral zone or throwing from closer than five meters during a pursuit. The players make several different defensive manoeuvres in order to avoid being hit by their opponent. They can avoid a strike by leaning towards either side of the horse, by moving under the horse’s stomach or even perching on the horse’s neck.

Some players score more points by hitting their opponent three or four times before that player manages to escape to take their place back in their team row. It was only in 2002 that rubber points were added to the jereed and riders in tournament games were required to wear helmets that helped lower the amount of injuries but it is still a game of high-risk and frequent injury. Fatalities are from players falling from their horses while performing manoeuvres at high speeds to avoid a jereed strike. In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

If a player accidentally dies in the playing field they are considered to have lost their life in battle as a martyr, which stems back to the days of battle from which this sport has come. While any breed of horse can be used, the preference, naturally, is for Arabian or Turkoman horses, who are fast and bold and hold historical significance to the game as the original war mounts of centuries ago. They are also the most common breeds around the areas where jereed is played.

Did you know? From 1826-1839 this sport was banned in Turkey by Mahumd II for being too dangerous.

game a strike to the playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head, ears or eyes may cause injury but rarely results in death. However, because maiming and death are a possibility in these games, if there are known issues such as players being hostile to one another they will be left out of the tournament or put in the same team so that the game does not become unsportsman-like.

Ottoman horsemen play Jereed.

A jereed spear is made from poplar branches that are dried and then treated with resin to make them strong. Rubber tips are placed on the end to stop the spear penetrating skin as well as to lower the possibility of serious injury.

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

Arabians and Turkoman horses are relatively nimble - speed as well as agility are highly prized in this sport. The Arabian and Turkoman horses are perfect for jeered they are a good height standing at 15 to 15.2 hands high and agile enough when riders want to accelerate away from their opponent or to quick to slow down or to turn sharply to avoid the jereed striking them.

which will give the opponent points - itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about putting on a show for the spectators. The sport of jereed is highly regarded and players are treated like football heroes in the countries in which itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s played. Crowds visit the lower level games as well as the highly regarded official competitions. Energetic music plays to keep the crowds excited and players try their best to entertain by providing daredevil gymnastic movements when chasing or fleeing an opponent.

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

Riders can use a saddle and bridle or ride bareback if they wish. Whatever makes it easier for them to avoid a jereed strike! This game is known for rider acrobatics and horsemanship in a highly charged environment so as well as avoiding a jereed hit -

In Turkey alone there are 50 national clubs playing in regular tournament matches which ends in a grand final when the teams are whittled down to the top two. Jereed isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t played in Australia, however there are small followings in France, Germany and the Middle East.

Warmblood Yearling Gelding Price: $15,000 $10,000 Don Gold foal born 25/10/16, expected to grow to 16hh+ Lovely quiet nature, fun and easy to do things with. By Don Gold (Donnerhall) out of an Aachimedes / Monopol mare.

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Equestrian Australia announces its eventing team for Aachen Equestrian Australia (EA) have announced its Eventing team for CHIO Aachen 2018. The combinations are: Chris Burton - Quality Purdey (owner Claire Poole) Sammi Birch - Hunter Valley (owners S Birch & L McLeod) Robert Palm - Koko Story (owner Cassie Palm) Christine Bates - Adelaide Hill (owners C & M Bates, W & V McLeod)

The pair competed recently at the gruelling Luhmuhlen and finished a credible 6th in the CIC3*.

Andrew Hoy - Vassily de Lassos (owners P & D Evans) Rio Olympics bronze medallist Chris Burton is currently riding in white-hot form and won leg 3 of the Event Rider Masters Series at Arville last weekend.

"I am very happy to be selected for the team at

Aachen this year. It is the best event in the world and Rüdiger Schwarz always provides a challenging course. I am really looking forward to it," said Burton. Like Burton, Sammi Birch and Hunter Vallery II were also part of the FEI Nation’s Cup Team at Aachen in 2016.

Australian based riders Robert Palm and Christine Bates have been rewarded for their strong domestic performances this season by receiving the Aachen call-up for Australia.

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

Burton and his Aachen mount Quality Purdey have proven to be a lethal combination during the past year winning the CCI3* class at Saumur in May and the CICO3*-NC at Le Pin au Haras last August. Chris Burton was part of Australia’s winning FEI Nation’s Cup with the eventing team at Aachen in 2016.

Australian Eventing legend Andrew Hoy is also coming off good recent form in the saddle. With Vassily de Lassos he finished fourth in the Tattersalls CCI3* in May. Hoy, a three-time Olympic Gold Medallist and member of the Sport Australia and Equestrian Australia Hall of Fame, last competed individually at Aachen in 2016.

Your Club IN PROFILE

TANSEY POLOCROSSE CLUB

H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

Tansey 2 v Warwick 1 in a lineup.

Tansey Polocrosse Club continues to cement its reputation as one of the best polocrosse clubs in Australia, featuring players in State and National Polocrosse team selections. At the Club’s home carnival recently they continued to show why they are so strong by winning both the Men’s and Women’s divisions. The second carnival for Tansey this season was attended - under crystal clear skies by a total of 32 teams from far and wide, including players from South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. In the Men’s ‘A’ Grade Competition, Tansey 1 won the Carroll Cup in an exciting final played

Photo Credit: Carolyn Line

against some up and coming male players in the Tansey 2 team. Tansey Polocrosse Club President Justin Hafey was named Best Horse and Rider in the Men’s A Grade, and not to be outdone by the top teams, Tansey 5 won ‘C’ Grade from Stanley Rivers and Tansey 3 were Runners Up in ‘B’ Grade after a tough game against Gold Coast 2. In a dedicated Women’s Competition, run over two grades, the women’s teams put on a great display of toughness, horsemanship and racquet skills to showcase just how good women are in the action packed sport. Tansey Polocrosse Club member Lisa Johnson said

the traditional Ladies Competition provided a great warm up for the Queensland Polocrosse Association Ladies Competition to be held at Tara next weekend. Young up and coming players also showed

Australia in 1939 and is dubbed the ‘King of the One Horse Sports.’ Australia, as befits its inventor, is the largest polocrosse country in the World. The Polocrosse Association of Australia boasts a membership over 4,000

Clockwise from left: Chris Sillitoe from Tansey with Braydon Beck from Warwick. Chris Franklin for the Gold Coast. Christopher Cooper for Tansey 2 in a game against Warwick. players nationwide spread over 135 clubs. Anyone who can ride a horse can play polocrosse at an amateur/club level and the sport will definitely help improve riding skills. Unlike polo, only one horse per player is needed, making polocrosse an affordable family sport. For more information contact: South East Zone – Queensland Polocrosse Email: carolynlmim@gmail.com Phone: 0403 386 053

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their skills in the dedicated Juniors Competition, held to expose younger players to a high level of play. In the leadup to the carnival, Tansey Club members spent many hours in the past weeks renovating the playing fields after running our first carnival of the year with six fields providing a soft and safe surface for players and horses – extremely important in polocrosse which is a fast paced team sport. It combines the speed of polo, the strategy and tactics of netball (in terms of the field being divided into three sections), the toughness of rugby and AFL and the ball handling ability of lacrosse. This unique sport originated in

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Drawn 31/7/2018

NEWS & VIEWS FROM EQUESTRIAN HUB

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HUB SA D D L E R EV I EW

Jacki Reed recently purchased her beautiful Black Country Adelinda from The Equestrian Hub and it has been a match made in heaven.

“I purchased the Adelinda because I felt so safe in it,” explains Jacki. “I ride a sensitive, spooky horse so it’s important for me to feel secure and held in place in the saddle. I also love the way that it helps me maintain a great position in all gates.”

Saddle r e v i e w : Black Country Adelinda on my horse, it fits him perfectly and he’s comfortable in it too. Overall it’s the best saddle I’ve ever ridden in!”

Jacki is thrilled the saddle is so comfortable as well. “It’s made with good quality leather which is really soft and looks great,” she says. “I found the Black Country to be a great fit

Are you looking to purchase your next saddle? Why not visit The Equestrian Hub and see what we have in store. All saddles are able to be sent to your door, and come with a two-week trial. We also have finance options available.

Buying or selling a horse? Avoid unpleasant disputes with you next equine transaction. Equestrian Marketplace is now providing professionally customised Buy/Sell Contracts. Go to the Hub Horses menu at H O R S E V I B ES M AG A Z I N E

equestrianmarketplace.com.au

Aries

y b s r a St pona E Welcome to July, a serpentine month with Mars, the planet of bold action, drifting retrograde until August 27th. It doesn’t mean that all actions will be thwarted or your

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plans for the future will derail. But

you will want to put extra thought into the choices you make and examine the source of any resistance or challenge. When in doubt, baby steps.

With this month lighting up your home sector, you want to take a good look around at your comfort zone. Is it the way you want, or does someone else call the shots? When it comes to us four-legged Rams, routine and ritual can improve everything, be it feeding, training or grooming. Stick to it.

Taurus

For you two-legged Taureans, this is the perfect time to create new habits around self-talk, the verbal and intimate conversations you have with YOU. In other words, notice how you treat yourself. The key is to never underestimate the power inner dialog has on your life. Examine also the way you speak to us steeds. Call me the devil and I will gladly oblige!

Gemini

This month’s stars amp up your house of money, which is a code word for your core and self-esteem. It’s an excellent time for boosting feelings of self-worth and setting in place new habits of care, respect and generosity. Let go of judgment and embrace one new talent or aptitude you’d love to try. When it comes to us equines, the more confidence you can show, the more we shine. Trust!

Cancer

This is your New Moon month, even if you’re born in June, and ideal for starting any new project that holds your heart’s desire. Plans may be slow to start, but opportunities are coming your way. Cherry-pick your favs and fuel them with optimism. With us equines, the trick is to avoid becoming totally obsessed. Start a habit of balance in everything you do.

Leo

Sagittarius

Virgo

Capricorn

Goals and aims you fired up last month may suddenly hit a snag, but you don’t give up. This is your ‘Dream Month’ activating your unconscious mind and with it comes all the buried treasures like inspiration, epiphanies, synchronicities and romantic attractions. Yes, the odd gumboot or tin can may surface as well, but don’t worry. This month you relax, nurture, respect, revel and enjoy.

July ignites your friendship sector giving great opportunities to socialize, connect and be seen. If you have your eye to purchase or sell, go for it! Your powers of discernment will multiply, helping you intuit when to make an offer and when to pass. Note: one particular meeting may not go your way initially, but things turn out well eventually.

Libra

A spectacular month for healthy ambition, July brings a feeling of new beginnings that light up your career sector. This is where you put new habits into place. If you’ve been overworking, ease back, create more balance. If it’s been difficult to focus, you practice new skills that hone your craft. For us four-legged friends, you need to spend just a bit more time with us. Think of it as money in the bank.

Scorpio

It’s your ‘Relationship Month’ where you examine your personal one-to-ones and renew or initiate supportive, loving and caring habits. This goes for both two and four-legged companions. Just one note: there is a very small chance that once examined, you might come to the conclusion that a particular connection isn’t worth the trouble. If so, don’t resist.

Aquarius

This month brings a storm of energy to your health and well-being sector, making it the perfect time to start new habits in the realm of diet, exercise and daily ritual. Think of your body as your best friend. What do you feed her? How do you keep her fit and active? When do you let her rest? Play? Explore? Connect? Amp up the self-care for YOU and all else will fall beautifully into place.

Pisces

Fun and games are awakened this month, but with Mars retrograde, it feels like you’re slightly out of sync with everyone else. Same goes for the goals you set for your four-legged companions. Take this lull as a time to tune into the ways and means you get things done. Is it lax, haphazard or so strict there’s no room to breathe? Consider finding a middle ground where the playful spirit dwells.

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This is your ‘Exploration Month’ as a thirst for the unknown activates every cell in your body, higher mind zinging. What you thought was a closed door, a limitation or no-fly-zone, opens wide and you parade on through. The habit of open-mindedness can be developed now with very little effort. As for us equines, an easybreeze aura imbibes every workout, lesson, trail ride or show. It’s hard to lose!

This month is a chalice overflowing with opportunity around shared resources. Think of anything from joint finances, borrowed or loaned funds, creative collaborations and even romantic hook-ups can take on new meaning in your life. It’s like a Renaissance if you remember the essential ingredients is trust. Use your good horse sense to know those you can and those you cannot…

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Ferraro No Share Price: $4,200 Talented TB Gelding 5 year old, approx 15.2hh Bay OTTB Ferraro is kind, smart and willing. A super prospect for the show or dressage ring. For more info click here.

Warmblood Mare Price: $45,0000 Sire: QEB Superstar Dam: QEB Swing on By FEI Mare Eve is an 11 year old, 16.2hh, Bay Warmblood. Would be an awesome interschool mount for a dedicated young rider. For more info click here.

16.3hh WB Gelding

Thoroughbred Gelding

$6,000

*EXPRESSION OF INTEREST* FLASH Off The Track Height: 15.1 hh Age:8 year old Colour: Brown Gelding Sire: Aussie Rules

15 yo (October 2002), 16.3hh, brown. By Jive Magic out of Shannon R. Jamie didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t start his competition career until this year but he has already achieved impressive results.

This boy is an absolute pocket rocket, well put together and 3 incredible paces

For more info click here.

Flashy Thoroughbred Coaldale Road (by Exceed & Excel) AKA Oggie Reg: ANSA & TB Height: 15.3 hh Age: rising 11 Would excel in show ring or ODE. Just returned from training in Novice level dressage. For more info click here.

equestrianmarketplace.com.au

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Price: $7,500

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