HubVibes May 2018 by Equestrian Hub Magazine

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NEWS & VIEWS FROM EQUESTRIAN HUB MAY 2018

Hub Hero

SHANE ROSE

Equestrian Holidays

Mel Fleming's Alchemy Place

Penny's Place Introducing

Jane Camens How to Handle Botfly

+ plenty more!

FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH

CANDIDLY SPEAKING

HOME IS WHERE THE HORSE IS

THE TOOWOOMBA ROYAL SHOW

HUB HERO SHANE ROSE

PENNY'S PLACE

16 GLOBETROTTING

THE DREADED BOTFLY

TO RUG OR NOT TO RUG, THAT IS THE QUESTION

40 AQUIS DAY OUT

22 PRODUCT REVIEW

41 YOUR CLUB IN PROFILE

KEEPING YOUR FLOAT SAFE AND SOUND

SADDLE REVIEW

BREED SPOTLIGHT HACKNEY

THE GRACEFUL ART OF VAULTING

YOUNG RIDER OF THE MONTH

STARS BY EPONA

Cover image: Shane Rose riding Virgil and leading CP Qualified.

NEWS & VIEWS FROM EQUESTRIAN HUB HubVibes Editorial: candida@equestrianhub.com.au Advertising Enquiries: promote@equestrianhub.com.au The Saddle Hub Sales Enquiries: Fiona Todd: 0414 760 067 Graphic Design: info@reidcocreative.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

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o HubVibes has been going from strength to strength to the point where we realised that we really needed some extra help. But where to find a rider, who is also a writer? We’re lucky already to have the lovely Dannii Cunnane, but Candy and I had a long discussion as to who we might be looking for. Enter one of Candy’s oldest friends – Jane Camens. Jane has had a multi-faceted career in journalism and public relations, including a 15-year-stint in Hong Kong. Throughout her life, however, there has been one constant love – horses. Jane brings us her funny, informative and heart-warming story about her love of horses, and from next month she will be writing feature stories for us.

I’ve regaled you all with stories

Dannii, fresh from working at the Commonwealth Games, has delved into the sport of Vaulting and the Hackney breed as well as telling us about Botflies and float maintenance. For myself after a two-year absence from riding after a nasty fall, the Saddle Hub’s own champion, Shae, has acquired a horse on which I feel I can regain my confidence. So, watch this space! Candy has again been humbled by the sheer strength of one of Australia’s champion equestrians - Shane Rose. Every month as I read Candy’s expose on the champions

of the various disciplines, I become quite emotional. I admire anyone who stands up and says: “I will not be defeated by this, I am chasing my dreams”. I speak of our Hub Heroes and how much they inspire me, but I must say there is very little that inspires me more than our crew here at Equestrian Hub and their desire to inspire, teach and entertain you. Enjoy the May edition of HubVibes. Cheers! Fiona

Winner of the custommade horse hair bracelet from Entwine Equine is subscriber 2308 Jess Stalling. This month’s prize draw is a saddlecloth, wraps and hay bag from LP Equestrian. Subscribe now to win!

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Autumn is almost done, the nights are cool and the rugging debate begins! We don’t have stables here so our horses all live in the elements, with which they all seem pretty happy - or at least they don’t complain. As long as someone turns up twice a day with food, that’s pretty much it as far as they’re concerned.

of my beloved chestnut mare Zarah, Bonita’s mum, on more than one occasion, she’s a horse who is perfectly happy outside and rugless – the three inch thick clumps of red mud and the happy look in her eye definitely say contented horse. Donnie on the other hand, likes to have his raincoat on to stop the wind, although quite frequently this garment is also caked in mud, and occasionally on the ground - so who knows? Thank goodness Penny has written a great article for us this month debunking some of the rugging myths.

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Jane and Harley completing their first endurance ride.

Home is Where the Horse Is

When journalist and writer Jane Camens returned to live in Australia after many years overseas and horseless, she found that horses were a way back to her soul. We welcome Jane, who will be writing feature stories for HubVibes, to our ‘stable’. My mother said I became horse addicted when I was ill as a child. She’d employed a girl to help look after me, and that terrible (according to my mother) girl not only filled me with horsey stories, but also rode her horse into suburban Brisbane for her sick charge to pat. I can still remember inhaling the sweet smell of him. Consequently, I started riding when I was five years old, first at Miss Warner’s (long defunct) riding school in Chelmer, and later at Mr Nunn’s stables out on Rafting Ground Road. I’d be sick with excitement on the drive out to ride Tommy or Duke. My best girlfriend, also called Jane, came with me. The first book I remember reading all the way through was Elyne Mitchell’s The Silver Brumby. I refurbished my cubby house as The Horsery, filling it with horsey books and riding paraphernalia. Then Jane, the other one, was given her own pony. Disaster for my parents. I nagged my poor father, a city man, until finally, when I was 13 years old, he promised I could have a horse if I did well in my exams. Subsequently - Hallelujah! - Ben galloped into my life.

I had owned Ben for just two years before I went to boarding school. I went away cheerfully, knowing the school had horses. But in the three years I attended the New England Girls’ School the school had undergone a change of policy and there were no horses at that time. My poor mother gave Ben away, blaming the untimely death of my beloved father on the stress of driving out to the agistment to feed the Horse. I didn’t ride again until I met the editor of this magazine, my friend of many decades, Candy (Candida) Baker. When were both in our mid-twenties Candy and I both worked for a magazine in Sydney, me as a writer, and Candy as a sub-editor. She still believes I befriended her only when I learnt she had horses. (Ummm, she knows you only made friends with her when you found out she had horses. Ed.) In those long-ago days on the magazine, we’d leave work early on Friday and drive for five hours, singing into the night, to Candy and her then partner’s property, just outside the old gold-mining town of Hill End. One of our favourite songs was Cole Porter’s Don't Fence Me In – ‘Oh give me land, lots of land and the starry skies above, Don’t fence me in…’ which seemed very appropriate as we drove through the night to the 1700 acre property, where Duffy lived, a beautiful and lively bay pony whom I’d ride while Candy rode her stockhorse. We’d traverse the steep stony paths to the river and beyond. It was always the best weekend. But times change, and after leaving the Sydney magazine, I moved for a job to Canberra where I leased a pretty white mare,

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Benjamin Franklin was perhaps not a great beauty—thick set, super woolly in winter, with oddly long ears— and he had a mouth like a steel trap. But, to me, he was handsome. On him I was a Joan of Arc: invincible. Although not allowed to ride a bicycle on the road, my horse-innocent parents allowed me to ride alone on Ben. We galloped up the Mount Coot-Tha fire trails, followed tracks sprinkled gold with fallen wattle to hidden water holes, and every other Saturday I’d dress up for

pony club. One Christmas holiday I joined the club’s three-day riding trek, covering many miles and sleeping under the stars, which was definitely the highlight of my short life.

Belle, whom I rode on weekends around the Mount Stromlo Forest Park trails. We gained minor notoriety when we cantered over to the cricket pitch where Prime Minister Bob Hawke was playing against the Press gallery. Gradually my professional life took precedence over my ‘horse’ life. It gave me the opportunity to work outside Australia and for the next 20 years I rode maybe half a dozen

When I made the decision to come back to Australia after many years overseas, working most of that time for international corporations in Asia, I didn’t seem to fit in — not here, or anywhere. Australia no longer resonated with who I’d become – or who I thought I was. My soul had disconnected. I imagined myself an outsider – a bit of a ‘global soul’. To be honest I was a bit of a detached snob, a malcontent. Not sure where to settle, I visited Candy up in the hills behind Byron and not long after decided to try the Byron lifestyle myself. By now Candy and I were both in our early 50s. I hadn’t ridden for years when we had our first ride with me on her son’s Arabian Johnny, and Candy on one of Sam’s showjumpers. I was instantly enchanted by Johnny, with his pretty dish-face and his feisty Arabian temperament. On our rides around the neighbouring macadamia farms I found that I was more fully in the present than I’d been since getting off the plane. We talked of horses, and of writing. And Candy said: ‘You should sing again.’ Had I stopped?

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Jane riding Charlie - her first horse since childhood.

times. The most memorable of those rides was in southern China with a group of Hong Kong Chinese male equestrians. We caught a ferry to the mainland and rode at a daredevil pace through farms and rural villages. I wrote about it for the HongKong Standard. On my occasional visits back to Australia I rode with Candy at Centennial Park or on the Central Coast, but horses were not a part of my daily life.

In those first years back I didn’t ride that often. Either I was travelling in my restless state, or my old friend was busy. But Candy - who by then had Beau, a beautiful big old Anglo-Arab - and I went out as often as time would allow. Beau was not a young horse and after seven years, it became obvious that his arthritis was getting to him. At the good old age of 30 it was time for him to retire, and I was also finding that I was increasingly nervous of Johnny’s occasional flighty leaps sideways. What I didn’t know then was that all of this was really leading to the beginning of my horse journey, which instead of ending, didn’t blossom until I turned 60, three years ago. Candy suggested I ride a horse that had taught her son’s partner to ride. To be honest,

until I rode him, I’d barely noticed Charlie in the paddock. An 18-year-old 16.1hh chestnut thoroughbred, he was a gentleman, known to look after his riders. But to ride him, I needed to buy my own properly fitted saddle – and what better 60th birthday present from my husband than my very own saddle? A couple of weeks later, I was told that Sam and Brendon had decided to sell Charlie.

riding club. Some of the riders were almost a decade older than me and been involved for years in different horse disciplines. I took baby steps into some of those new worlds and loved it, doing several natural horsemanship clinics with Charlie. But of course to have a saddle and then a horse, you actually have to have a – yes you guessed it - horse float! Thanks again to the

One of Jane's first horse loves, Tommy.

husband, and also to Candy who helped find it. (Husband isn’t sure by this stage that he likes Candy quite as much as he once did.)

Jane on her beloved Ben.

With Charlie I discovered many more ways of being with your horse than I'd ever known about before. First, I joined a nearby adult

Charlie and I found our sea (or forest) legs together, and I did a three-day trail ride in Tenterfield, and now, finally, I am home. I know this country from my time at school on the New England tableland. But it becomes gradually becomes apparent that Charlie’s age means he isn’t going to stand up to the kind of tough country riding that lifts my spirit. I look for someone to do

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Candy told me I had to buy him. I’d be insane to miss the opportunity. So I did, telling my husband there’s no point having a saddle without a horse to put it on. Husband decides (for the first but not the last time on my horse journey that he’s been tricked).

Float, horse, saddle. It was time to take Charlie to the beach and on horse-friendly forest trails, and then for overnight camps at the foot of Mount Warning. I found I had now officially reinhabited my old-self, and that I was singing again.

no more than short, gentle rides and give him a forever home, and the gods take pity on us and find Charlie a wonderful family. For several months, with no horse of my own, I rode other friends’ horses — a pushy Percheron, a gentle Morgan, a naughty brumby, a fancy Appaloosa, and take riding lessons so I’ll be ready when the right horse comes along. As it turns out Harley was waiting for me not far down the highway, having recently arrived from the south. An 11-year-old 14.3hh Quarter Horse, he didn’t look anything special at first sight, but on a two-week trial he didn’t do anything wrong and everything right. He was perfect for me. (Except, of course, Charlie’s saddle didn’t fit…) Harley and I have done many things in the relatively short time we’ve been an item. We’re so much an item someone remarked

Wcom O N e.

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the other day that we seem to have morphed into the same creature. We did our first endurance ride earlier this year and right now are doing a lot of arena work so I’m saddle fit for a week of classical dressage in Portugal. We do Working Equitation and clinics in different disciplines to find out where we are most comfortable. We already know, Harley and I, what we love most. We love discovering countryside on trails not yet taken. We are rediscovering Australia. I’m not the same person who arrived back in Australia with red manicured nails. She no longer needs to exist. I’m right at home now in my riding boots and my Akubra, still singing ‘Oh give me land, lots of land, and the starry skies above…Let me ride through the wide open country that I love….’ and I AM.

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Shane Rose

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ON HEART AND HEAT AND RISING TO THE TOP

Shane and Virgil showjumping at Camden Equestriad

Dual Olympic medallist, and current Australian eventing champion Shane Rose, is our Hub Hero this month. Direct from his win at last weekend’s Sydney CNC 3* on Virgil, Candida Baker interviews a rider who is as fearless is he is talented. “What a lot of people don’t think about when they’re competing a horse is how the relationship really works,” Shane Rose tells me. “What you need to realise is that there are not the many sports that either involve just one other team member – I can think of volley-ball and doubles-tennis off-hand – but also a sport in which only one of you is actually the athlete.” It gives me pause for a moment, I’ve never really thought about it like that. “That’s the thing,” he says, “in the rider/horse combination the horse is the athlete, and that is what makes it such a difficult sport. In the main it’s the horse that gets the injuries, the off-days, the bruises and sprains and it’s your job, as the rider to try to the best of your ability to keep that athlete in tip-top condition.”

In the main Australia’s elite horse riders have to support their competition life in some way or other – Shane’s chosen career was to break and pre-train racehorses, a choice which has seen him able to own outright his

“I’ve broken both arms a couple of times,” he says casually, “both legs – a couple of times – my wrists, my thumb, ribs – of course. I’ve had a split liver, a punctured lung and a golden staph infection.” Worst of all was a kick to his face from a recalcitrant racehorse he was attempting to load into a barrier gate, which resulted in a week-long coma, and facial reconstruction. However, he is quick to point out that in the main these were not eventing accidents but the result of working with young thoroughbreds. “They can be naughty,” he says, in what might quite possibly be the under-statement of the century. If there was a bottle of ‘brave’ medicine to be had, Shane was given a teaspoon every day from an early age. The youngest of four children, he started riding when he was two, on a Shetland pony. By the age of five he was in the local pony club at Duffy’s Forest near Sydney and as a teenager he played representative rugby. In fact, he suggests, working with racehorses is not dissimilar to playing Rugby. “You can’t play rugby and not expect to get tackled,” he says. “There’s always a high chance a player will get injured but it doesn’t stop them playing.” In recent years of course, as the Warmblood has grown in popularity, the realms of eventing, and of each individual discipline, has seen less thoroughbreds at the highest level of competition, but Shane, like many other

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Mind you, the word ‘combination’ is the key here since without a doubt no matter how talented a horse, rising through the ranks to the Olympics is no job for a faint-hearted rider, and faint-hearted Shane, who recently won the Australian Evening Champion CIC3* with his horse Virgil; is certainly not.

two most valuable horses, Virgil and Shanghai Joe, but has also caused him a litany of accidents, as long as his twice-broken arm.

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Niki with Glenorchy South Park at Sydney in late April.

Squirt Skinny at the pond.

Shanghai Joe AKA Nugget (who was sadly euthanased in May 2017 at Badminton, UK).

riders, remains convinced that a truly great thoroughbred takes a lot of beating. “A thoroughbred is still the most athletic horse in the world,” he says firmly, “and for brain, willingness and trainability you’d be hard put to find a better horse. If you look a the 4* horses around the world, a lot of them are still pure thoroughbreds.” That said his ideal eventing horse would be a purpose-bred thoroughbred. “By that I mean a thoroughbred with good eventing lines that has a bit of Warmblood in it. Like that you get the brain, speed and athleticism combined with the strength, movement and power of the Warmblood. You want a horse with heart and heat.”

Then, in 2001, Shane entered into a personal ill-health battle when he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer resulting in radiation treatment, and on this occasion it was rest and recuperation for the rider rather than the horse! “I made a full recovery,” he says. “I guess it reinforced for me my philosophy of the cup being half-full rather than half-empty.”

The garden and one of the stable blocks at Bimbadeen Park. In 2003, Shane and his then partner now wife, Niki Chapman, (a well-known eventer in her own right, who placed last weekend in the 2* in Sydney, and also competes in dressage) purchased a property in Werombi one hour south west of Sydney. They named the property ‘Bimbadeen Park’ and together set up their racehorse breaking and pre-training business along with their performance horse business. In 2006, Shane was selected with All Luck for the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany but did not complete the event.

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Heart and heat. It sounds a little like the man himself, who in between injuries and a few disappointments has racked up some extraordinary achievements since he first represented Australia at the age of 21 in the Young Rider Trans Tasman competition with Mr Joe Cool. They won both the NZ Young Rider One and Three Day Championships in 1996 Shane was selected on the squad for the Atlanta Olympic Games and went to the States with Joe. Unfortunately Joe went lame in the States just before the Games, but Shane was lucky enough to get some teaching jobs and a commission to set up a cross country course in the lead up to the Games. In 1998, Shane went to Rome with It’s A Knockout (Josh) and rode at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) as a member of the Australian team. The trip was a mixture of excitement and disappointment. After a sensational dressage test, Shane realised about four jumps before the end of the course that something was seriously wrong with Josh, and decided to walk him to the finish line. The horse was exhausted. It turned out he had caught a bacterial infection which was

cutting off his breathing. (Josh later recovered and competed in the 4* at Adelaide with no ill effect.)

a bit vague, has only heightened his desire for Tokyo. “I was originally told that the horse was tired,” he says, “but the next morning they changed the story and said his shoulders were outside the flags.” Despite the setbacks surely being a dualOlympic medal champion must be a wonderful feeling? “Yes,” he says, “but if you have a competitive nature then you feel you can always improve, and I’m hoping to have three or four horses by the time Tokyo comes around. I always want to do something better than I’ve done it before. In between times of course there’s the World Equestrian Games to get ready for, and Badminton later this year as well.” After his Sydney win, he’s sure he and Virgil are on track for WEG. “He won easily,” he says. “He had plenty in reserve, and that’s what you want.”

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Shane and CP Qualified in Aachen.

They did however have a successful Burghley CCI 4* debut in 2006 and finished in 3rd place at the prestigious UK competition. In 2008, the combination were selected for the Beijing Olympic Games and were members of the Team that won the Silver Medal for eventing. Since then, Shane has been selected to ride in another two Australian teams, firstly at the 2012 London Olympics with Taurus and then again at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, where Shane and Taurus finished as part of the 5th placed Australian team. The team successfully qualified for a place at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, bringing home a bronze medal. The disappointment of his horse, CP Qualified, being disqualified in the cross-country phase – for reasons which, he says, are still

Shane and Niki now have four children, Olivia and Harry, five and four respectively, and twoyear-old twins, Zarah and Lachlan, I wonder if the older two are showing the same passion for riding that their parents have? He laughs. “Not quite yet,” he says, “although they potter around on their ponies at the moment.” But like the young horses he’s bringing along – Finch Farm Spruce (bred by David Finch) – for instance, give their youngsters time and I suspect there’s future Olympic Champions waiting in the wings, which brings me to the question of how, as a rider, you can tell if a horse has that special ‘something’? “It’s a combination,” he says. “You train them and bring them along and at some point you realise they have something special – a great showjumper will go into the ring and grow a hand in front of your eyes and won’t want to touch a single pole. As soon as it’s finished it might go back to being as quiet as anything, but showjumping is a passion for the horse.

Niki and Glenorchy South Park cross country at Camden Equestriad.

Winx is just a normal horse until she gets on a racetrack.”

But if it’s a Shane Rose horse, it might just get a little help with an extra teaspoon of Brave Medicine from its rider.

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I’ve often wondered if horses know whether they’ve done well or badly – does the ribbon ceremony mean anything to them, or is that just the human element? “I think the special horses ‘know’ if they’ve done well, or if something’s gone wrong,” he says, “it’s the same when we leave the property - if we’re taking just the young ones for example, the top horses all carry on and race up and down when they see the truck leaving because they want to be on it. In that regard I think the top horses in the world are not that different to highly-competitive people. You can’t force a horse to be brilliant, it has to want to do it.”

Globetrotting Article courtesy of Kate Pilcher, founder and owner of Globetrotting

lean into my horse’s neck as her gallop quickens. The herd swerves to the left as my mare expertly follows, gaining ground on a couple of tail-end zebras. My hands tighten on the reins as I encourage her deep into the stampeding herd of zebra, stripes of black and white move in a cryptic wave around me. Impala leap hysterically into the air, eland stampede and giraffes dance awkwardly on the outskirts of the herd. The thundering noise of hooves hitting the ground is deafening and the heady smell of dirt and horse sweat swirls in the air as my mare tugs on the bit.

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This is Kenya on horseback.

A land of shiny, happy people, Kenya will have you smiling from the day you land through to the day you leave. It’s a country that wears its heart on its sleeve, rich with life, colour, adventure and culture. Kenya is full to the brim with wildlife and captivating, diverse landscapes. A country that can only be truly appreciated on horseback where the rider is at one with the wild, sharing the same sights, scents and sounds – seeing the animal kingdom through the eyes of your horse. You seriously need to ditch the 4x4 and jump on a horse to truly breathe Kenya’s true colours. I have a love affair with Kenya. It was in the

honeycomb, acacia tree dotted plains of the Maasai Mara Game Reserve that I fell in love with the globetrotting way of life, exploring faraway cultures and landscapes from the back of a horse. It was Kenya that gave me my first taste of this lifestyle and like the hook thorns on the ‘wait-a-little’ trees, has had me in its clasp ever since. A horse riding safari through the Maasai Mara in Kenya is the most exhilarating encounter you could ask for. It’s a honey-pot for big game and astride agile, quick-off-the-mark, swift mounts, white-knuckle speed and heart-thumping adrenalin are your friend.

These horses are well and truly accustomed to eye-balling elephants and swimming across the murky waters of the Mara River while hippos blow bubbles upstream. The panoramas are quintessential to Kenya where acacia trees mushroom from the ground, giraffes elegantly lope across the earth, young Maasai herders wrapped in brightly coloured shukas keep a watchful eye on their cattle, and the horizon is dotted with herds of wildebeest, zebra, topi and eland. As we gallop alongside the dazzle of zebra under a bruised African sky with the rich smell of horse sweat and dirt swirling in the air, I attempt to savour every single second – I’m riding shoulder-to-shoulder with the wilds of Africa. It’s at this moment I realise no truer words have ever been spoken than by Mr Ernest Hemingway himself when he said, “I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up and was not happy.”

Globetrotting is a travel agency that specialises in horse riding holidays, horse riding safaris, horse riding treks and unique cultural horse experiences to all corners of the world. To find out more, please visit www. globetrotting.com.au

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To rug or not to rug, that is the question… Penny Newbold sheds some light on the various theories behind the great rugging debate. The when, what, how and why of rugging is possibly some of the most heatedly (and yes

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that pun was well and truly intended) debated topic of equine care today.

There are some ‘rugging theories’ that have been around for a while yet are often unfounded, and nobody knows quite how they got started. People often say: “But rugging keeps my show horse’s coat from growing.” Sorry, but this one is a complete myth! Your horse’s

coat growth relates solely to light exposure, so once the light hours start decreasing, the hair starts to thicken in readiness for colder weather. Otherwise, those horses in colder climates would grow thicker, woollier winter coats, while those in the tropics would hardly grow one at all. And we all know that doesn’t happen! Yes, with rugging, the coat appears ‘less’ – keeping your horse rugged keeps the coat cleaner and an oil, grime free coat does appear thinner. A coat that is constantly rugged is also flatter just from being permanently weighted down – the natural mechanism of the coat to ‘fluff’ (a protection mechanism designed by nature to maintain body temperature) is reduced. Committed showies who want their ponies to maintain a shorter coat, stable them, keeping the lights on for a few extra hours to ensure the dreaded winter coat stays away. The alternative is to clip your horse’s winter coat. This adds another dimension to the rugging dilemma. Without their protective coat, they are not only susceptible to skin problems (their skin is now unnaturally exposed to the elements, even if rugged) requiring extra care (oils, creams, satin lining on their rugs to prevent rubbing etc), they also require constant vigilance to ensure they are adequately clothed to protect them from the weather. The best rule to follow is to rug enough that they don’t have to use a lot of energy to maintain the correct body temperature. This means not too hot, not too cold. But how do you know?

Monitor your horse and record his reaction in certain weather types. What temperature is it? Is it windy? Light breeze? Raining? Snowy? Is he sweating? Every horse will be a little different, one sweats on a 16 degree sunny day, another will be feeling chilly and have the shivers. Rugging can be very different for every horse as it can vary depending on breed, weight, climate, his work-load, and even on their coats themselves.

Remember that horses have different body temperature control mechanisms than hu-

But then again, inadequate rugging is sometimes worse than not rugging at all. If your pony, has a natural coat that would ordinarily be allowed to do its job in inclement weather (ie fluff up and hold on to dirt and oil for protection and insulation) is held down flat by a light, cotton rug and the weather turns sour, the result will be that your pony is actually going to end up colder and less protected than if he was rugless and at risk of illness. So the conclusion? Be aware of your horse’s own internal thermometer, and remember they can’t tell you if they’re not comfortable, so it’s up to us to try and do the best we can to keep them looking and feeling good.

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Horses that are used to the colder weather and have spent most of their time outside, tend to cope better with cooler temperatures than horses that are stabled all the time. It also depends on the actual weather, for example - is it just cold or is it cold and raining or even snowing?

mans. If you follow the theory of “If I feel the need to put a jumper on, my horse is feeling the same, so I’ll put a heavy rug on…” you run the risk of potentially overheating them – cruelty as a result of misguided kindness.

PRODUCT REVIEW

BEFORE

Have you ever looked at your horse and thought that something just doesn’t look right? You’re feeding them the best feeds, but their coat is still looking dull and off colour? Well, writes Shae Herwig, the Stance Equitec Toxin Binder might be the answer for you. I’ve often heard people talk about feeding their horses mycotoxin binders but until now I ‘d never thought my horses needed it. But towards the end of this summer Jasper, my black Friesian x Welsh Cob gelding, started to become itchy and irritated, with his coat colour changing dramatically from shiny black to a dull brown.

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At first I blamed the hot humid weather and insects but even insect repellents, medicated shampoos and itch creams made no difference. But then a friend and my local feed store suggested I try Stance Equitec Toxin Binder because they had both had success with it. After doing more research it made a lot of sense.

A mycotoxin is a substance produced by fungus - living near the coast in Northern NSW our area is prone to hot humid weather creating the perfect grounds for all types of fungus. Our paddocks are primarily filled with Paspalum grass which contains high mycotoxin levels in the plant close to the ground. Basically, the toxin binder works by attaching to the mycotoxins in the horse’s gut so they cannot be absorbed and they are then excreted harmlessly. My initial impression when I opened the bucket was that it had quite a strong smell to it but knowing that Jasper is a pig and will literally eat anything I was sure he would accept it in his feed. If your horse is a fussy

AFTER

eater you may need to introduce it in small doses or with something such as molasses to mask the smell. The recommended feeding dose of the Stance Equitec Toxin Binder is only 20-60g split over two feeds. After only a week of feeding I noticed a HUGE difference in Jasper’s health. His coat colour went from a dull brown colour back to shiny black, his sores from scratching and his itchiness eased and he is a much happier horse. I’m relieved to have found such a great product that has made such a massive difference in such a short time - I can highly recommend it. There are a few different brands of toxin binders on the market but I find the Stance Equitec Toxin binder to be very affordable. It sells for: 500g - $35, 1kg - $55, 2kg - $85, 6kg - $200 and is easily accessible online.

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

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Keeping Your Float Safe and Sound It’s your horse’s personal carriage, but when you tow your precious equine friend to wherever you want to go, is your float truly safe? Float maintenance is essential, even for the newest float. We go step-by-step to cover some of the main aspects that need to be checked, however we advise that you take your float to a reputable mechanic. No one wants to be ‘that’ person – the one whose horse fell through the rotten floor, or the one whose wheel came off as they were driving along, and absolutely no one wants to hear a horror story about something that could easily have been prevented.

Hitch and chains Your hitch should be free from rust and be greased accordingly. Chains should also be rust free and not too long or short when towing the float.

Tyres

While we advise that your bearings be checked by a professional, some tell-tale signs that they need attention include, but are not limited to: • abnormal or uneven tyre wear on one wheel. • hub cap is hot to touch • wheel vibration, wobble or noise • decreased braking power

Wheel bearings

• pulling to the side during moderate or heavy braking

These are another overlooked but critical

• wheel lock-up or skidding

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Tyres are one of the most overlooked parts of a float, but correct pressure is vital for smooth and safe ride for your horse as well as cost efficiency for your cars fuel. Not using the correct PSI can cause your tyre(s) to rupture and no one wants to be caught on the side of a busy highway with a trailer of horses and a blown tyre. Check your tyre pressure before you use the float and ensure your tyres are not worn, damaged or split.

part of the wheel. Your bearings should be checked regularly for wear and damage - a broken bearing can be catastrophic. The complete failure of an outer wheel bearing can result in the axle drooping and the brakes dragging which could mean that the brake drum overheats and the tyre experiences an extremely high temperature. If this happens the tyres can catch fire which can spread to the trailer body above.

float for extended periods of time to cause damage.

Floors

An electric brake control unit.

Rubber flooring The majority of float floors are protected by rubber. It is important that this be kept well maintained and checked for signs of wear or any damage to the sealed edges of the floor. If your horse damages the rubber floor it must be attended to immediately. If you see any wear or gaps in the sealed edges these must be resealed immediately. Failure to do so could result in water getting into the wooden floor and causing damage such as rotting.

Your floor and tailgate should be inspected regularly for damage and wear â&#x20AC;&#x201C; remember this is what your horse stands on and rot can set in quickly. A rotten floor can lead to an accident so remove rubber matting and inspect where your horse stands as well as getting under the float to ensure nothing is broken, cracked, bending or rotting. If your horse float has a metal floor, look for rust - you will need to repair any rust spots right away. The longer you wait, the worse the damage will become.

Brakes Your horse float brakes, including the electric brake, need to work well. Ensure your electric brake is set to the correct weight you are towing as well as any weather aspects that should be taken into account. We rely on brakes to avoid an accident, so make sure they are ready to work should you need them.

Lights

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important you check the connection each time you connect the float to your car as well as making sure the lights actually work. This includes that the brake and both indicators function at all times. The easiest way is to have someone stand behind the vehicle to make sure that the lights all work when you apply the signal.

Internal cleanliness Keep your float clean inside as horse urine, manure and mouldy hay can rot your floors and ruin paintwork. Your float should be cleaned out after every use and not left in the

Regular maintenance of your float will ensure that your trailer is safe and able to be used for a long time. We recommend regular sight inspections every few weeks by the float user or owner, as well as annual maintenance by accredited float manufacturer or repairer. Simply renewing your registration may seem like an easy option in the short-term but it will cost you much more in the long run.

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We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe in cutting corners. All of the wood pellet horse bedding youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll receive from us is made to the highest of standards, so you can confidently care for your horse and know your satisfaction is guaranteed.

High Stepping

HACKNEY Described as the ‘Ballerina of the Show Ring’, the Hackney (originally known as the Norfolk Trotter) has been purpose-bred since the middle ages to be a powerful carriage horse.

BREED SPOTLIGHT The English bred carriage horse has long been known for its presence and spectacular gait. It was crossed with the Thoroughbred and Norfolk trotter in the eighteenth century and its colour and presence makes them stand out in any show ring for carriage horses.

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The story of the Hackney horse began in the fourteenth century when King Henry VIII wanted an attractive and powerful horse than could cater to his general riding needs (and to his increasing weight). With its high-stepping trot, which it could keep up for many miles at the same speed, the Hackney quickly became primary mode of transportation throughout England and for centuries remained the carriage horse of choice due to its ability to cover ground and its stylish movement.

In 1729 a Norfolk Trotter stallion and an Arabian stallion contributed to the foundation stock for the modern Hackney Horse. The result, the Norfolk Roadster, was a heavily built horse that was used as a work-horse mainly by farmers. It was also fast, with good stamina so it could double as a riding horse, or family carriage horse. A famous Hackney was the stallion Original

Shales, foaled in East Anglia in 1955. He was by the stallion Blaze, the son of the undefeated racehorse, Flying Childers, himself a grandson of the great Darley Arabian, (one of the three foundation stallions for the Thoroughbred.) Original Shales progeny went on to greatly influence the breed. In the 1820s a Norfolk Cob (aka Hackney) was recorded as having done two miles in five minutes four seconds and was one of the famous horses of that breed along with ‘Nonpareil,’ who was driven 100 miles in just under ten minutes. (The word nonpareil from the French, meaning ‘without equal’ also came to be applied to the best carriage drivers of the day – if you were a ‘nonpareil’ you were renowned for your carriage driving skill.) In July 1800, the celebrated Hackney mare, Phenomenon, was backed to trot 17 miles in 56 minutes for a bet of £400, which she did in 53 minutes and in 1832, one of her daughters, the relatively small 14hh Phenomena, trotted 17 miles in only 53 minutes. In 1820 Bellfounder a Norfolk Trotter stallion who was able to trot 17 miles in an hour with 14 stone on board, was exported to America

where the breed quickly became established in the showring, and as a carriage horse, and in 1878 Alexander Cassatt took the first Hackney pony to the United States, where they quickly became popular. Unfortunately the advent of the railways meant that Hackney horses were no longer required for long journeys and breeding for transportation purposes slowed - although well into the 19th century, the ‘Hackney cabs’ were the forerunners of the modern taxi. After the decline in demand, the Hackney’s flashy

movement earned them a place in the show ring but the finer types were bred for showing while the heavier horses gradually fell out of favour. In 1833 the Hackney studbook was established in the United Kingdom and horses were exported to other parts of the world for carriage driving and show purposes.

In the 1880s the Hackney horse was crossed with pony stallions by Christopher Wilson to create the Hackney pony. Hackney horses stand 15-16 hands at the withers while ponies are not to exceed 14.2 hands high.

A Hackney can be of any solid coat colour. Many have white markings because of the

influence of sabiano genetics, though excessive marking is discouraged. They are typically black, brown, chestnut, or bay. The Hackney Pony tends to be bay or black more often than any other coat colour while chestnut ponies are extremely rare. There are a few spotted Hackneys that are purebred as well, though they are even rarer than the chestnut ponies.

Did you know? The global population of the Hackney is around 3,000. The breed is not common worldwide. In early 2012, the horse has been moved from the ‘endangered’ to the ‘critical’ list.

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World War II was hard on the breed because the market for high stepping show horses became non-existent. However not long after the war was over a market for them re-emerged and gradually they became the expressive, flashy horses we know today.

The body of the Hackney is compact and muscular, with a broad chest and sloping shoulder. The legs are of medium length with strong joints and good feet. The hallmark of the breed is its fluid shoulder action and long, reaching stride. The head is to be small with a slender muzzle while the ears are small but in proportion to the head. The Hackney looks noble when in action thanks to its long, arched and upright neck.

MAY

H YOUNG RIDER OF THE MONTH

ikayla Hogg is a talented fourteen-year-old rider from Victoria. Mikayla is well known for her show jumping abilities having been on the Victorian State Squad since she was nine. She recently won a sixth place in the Victorian State Championships on her beloved horse Aric, a lovely 16.2hh Warmblood gelding. “I’ve owned Aric for three years,” explains Mikayla. “He originally came from Queensland but now lives with me in Victoria. He’s taught me how to jump the higher fences and given me confidence. We’re now competing together at heights of 1.3 meters with dreams of going further together.” Mikayla will soon be packing her bags for a trip to the Northern Hemisphere, where she will be visiting Russia to compete in their Friendly Games tournament and to represent Australia for show jumping. “The Russian Friendly Games start on 31st July and conclude on the fifth of August 2018,” Mikayla says. “They will be held in Moscow this year although they originated in Germany – which is where they are normally held.” Mikayla has been paired with a Russian rider and will be riding on their spare horse for the competition, over courses of 1.10m. “We ride as a team together and then also compete for individual

places, which is great,” she says. “I’m very excited about this overseas trip because it’s such a different environment and I will never have even met any of the riders. The motto of the competition is ‘friendships not championships’ so I’m there to compete, do my best and meet new friends.” Mikayla’s dream is to eventually move to Europe and work in show jumping stables to gain experience and knowledge, but first she is bringing on her own young horses. “I currently have two younger horses that I’d like to get to World Cup Level,” she says “It’s all about your work ethic when it comes to horses. I’ve found that you need to work hard and have a passion for what you’re doing to achieve results.” We wish Mikayla all the best on her upcoming travels and look forward to seeing her results.

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Mikayla Hogg

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C A N D I D LY S P E A K I N G The Synchronicity of Alchemy Candida Baker catches up with Mel Fleming at her Moonbi property just outside Tamworth.

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I love road trips! I’m just back from a 2,000 km round trip from Byron to visit friends on the Central Coast, Bathurst and Wellington, with the final destination being a night with Mel Fleming at her wonderful property, Alchemy Place.

I was lucky enough to do one of Mel’s courses some years ago, and she was one of the many mentors who set me off on a journey of discovery into the World of Horse. The more I found out, the more I became sure that everything counts – whether it be emotional, physical or mental, and that quite often the rider, or owner, will be unconsciously projecting or mirroring their ‘stuff’ on to a horse. Working with Mel with my old Anglo-Arab, still a spritely 26-year-old at that time, I found to my surprise that under Mel’s tutelage, and with a better understanding of both of our bodies, and skeletal systems, we moved into a much freer way of riding together. When I arrived at Alchemy Place, a beautiful

100-acre property nestled in valley with massive rocks around, just in Moonbi not far from Tamworth, I found Mel working with a client’s young Quarter Horse, Xanadu. She was watching him closely for signs of stiffness, and indeed he was heavy on his front-end, but after only ten or minutes of Mel’s light suggestions, he began to flex, and to visibly lighten at the front. Mel, an agent for the fabulous BALANCE saddles, describes her ethos as: ‘Connecting with Horses and Riding with Synchronicity’. Mel has studied numerous horse training systems, equestrian disciplines, healing modalities and equine facilitated therapy programs, but it was largely the horses themselves who led her to everything she teaches today. “What I teach is to connect and riding our horses in the way THEY want it to be,” she says. Alchemy of course, was the ancient process of attempting to turn base metal into gold. It also became a metaphor for spiritual or psychological work, in which, with understanding of the ‘self’ a magical transformation takes place. In the medieval era it was closely connected with the quest for the Holy Grail – which also represented the true self. In Mel’s work, and with her partner, Tony Robinson, a long-time healer and trainer of horses, the alchemy is to transform the horse-human partnership into one of deeper understanding from the human perspective. “In my courses we cover groundwork, diet, bio-mechanics, the effect of trauma – on both horse and human – saddle fit, hoof-care – just about everything you can think of,” she says, “and sometimes more.”

Mel riding Xanadu. Opposite page: Mel working on Matriarch with friends.

In the morning, Mel is giving a beautiful big thoroughbred mare, Matriarch, a session with her PEMF (electro-magnetic pulse) machine. Matriarch, a deep dark 17hh bay, won her first race, but then broke down with a bowed tendon. Mel adjusts the machine until it’s obvious that the mare is enjoying the session; her

Candida Baker

lower lip begins to tremble, and as the pulse begins to activate the muscles you can see her relaxing into the treatment. For Mel the machine – which has been approved by the FDA for speeding up the healing of broken bones – is just one in her these days massive arsenal of healing tools – for horses and humans. Watching Mel at work, on the ground, on the horse, and in the barn was quite definitely the highlight of my road trip. HubVibes editor, Candida Baker is the President of Save a Horse Australia and also runs a Facebook page, The Horse Listeners.

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Mel spends a large part of the year travelling around Australia giving clinics, but also gives them from her property. It’s an ideal set up with a large outdoor arena, a smaller covered arena, a round-yard and an American-style ‘barn’ with bathroom and kitchen and a large lounge area so that students can be comfortable during their stays which can vary from a short weekend course, to the full six-weeks.

photo credit:

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The Toowoomba Royal Show It was all the fun of the Royal Show at Toowoomba recently. The weather was fine, and horses and humans of all sizes and ages enjoyed the fine weather. photos courtesy of:

Kate Blauw & Lucia Photography

Madeleine Gaden Zone 6. H U BV I B ES M AG A Z I N E

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

Life Lessons Penny Newbold ponders the political intrigues of life in Pony Club… Pony club. The tears, the tantrums, the panic attacks, the gossip, the arguments, the sabotage…and that’s just the parents.

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In ways I can only imagine (and hope!) were unintended by its founding members, pony club prepares your child for the best, and the worst, of the real world.

It’s difficult to forget the travesty of a young rider, with a reputation of being very competitive in the riding and hack classes, often taking home the much-coveted title of champion senior girl rider, who woke to devastation on the morning of the jamboree

(for uneducated readers, this is the big end of season pony club event aka The Pony Club Olympics).

for) had been chopped off at

Her horse’s big, thick, beautiful tail (for which he was well known and recognised

much about it, but the poor

the dock. Apart from losing

the ability to swish away the flies, he didn’t complain too

rider was left to try and figure out how she was going to

present a horse in the “best presented” class with no tail. The culprit was never identified (theories were much discussed as to whether the offender was a child or, and I sincerely hope this was not the case, a parent, but nothing was determined) yet the incident brought home just how low human nature was capable of sinking. Fortunately, the judges were informed and fellow, supportive pony clubbers were quick to come forward offering false tail replacements and the show, I mean pony club jamboree, went on.

Ultimately, the incident ended up having the opposite effect originally intended by the culprit.

can feel assured that you’re achieving a consistent level of success worthy of attracting a sabotage attack!

Despite being minus a tail, the combination went on to blitz the competition in all of their hacking and riding classes as well as the dressage, which greatly assisted the club in taking home the flatwork point score trophy. The life lesson? Sabotage is a very poor winning strategy and most likely to backfire. Instead, it’s a much better strategy to become a target for potential saboteurs – by reaching “target status” you

Accidents Happen! Hub Help is raising funds to support victims and their families in the event of an equine accident.

info@hubhelp.com.au or head to this LINK.

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If you have a story to tell or want to donate, contact:

THE DREADED

Botfly

Shoo fly don’t bother me, we don’t want your company! Dannii Cunnane looks at why it’s so important to control Botfly eggs.

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It’s that time of year! Autumn marks the season where our beloved equines are chased around the paddocks by flies that are brown, hairy and resemble the Bumble Bee. You’ll know they have been to visit by the sticky golden eggs - the size of a small grain of rice - they leave on your horse’s eyes, legs, throat and muzzle.

Botflies, also known as warble flies, heel flies and gadflies, are a family of flies technically known as Oestridae. Their larvae are internal parasites of mammals, some species growing in the host's flesh and others within the gut. While these tiny eggs look harmless, the larvae inside can cause damage to the stomach and intestines to horses so it’s

important to remove them as soon as you can. There are multiple ways to remove them so choose what best suits you and your horse. (See below for a few suggestions) The Botfly isn’t just annoying when it’s spreading its eggs, it can also interfere with your horse’s grazing time. It’s not uncommon to see horses running from this insect – some get very distressed by their presence. Use an insect spray and a light rug on your horse to keep your horse comfortable.

Did you know? The common horse bot (Gastrophilus intestinalis) lays eggs on the horse’s legs which are then ingested when the horse grooms, bites or scratches itself. The throat bot (Gastrophilus nasalis) lays its eggs on the neck and jaw where the larvae make their own way to the horse’s mouth. The nose bot (Gastrophilus haemorrhoidalis) lays its eggs around the horse’s lips. After the eggs are laid they stay on the horse’s coat until ingested. The eggs will usually hatch when they come into contact with the horse’s mouth and once there the larvae are able to burrow into the soft gum lining or under the tongue. Three weeks after being in the mouth the larvae are developed enough to migrate down the oesophagus and into the horse’s stomach

lining where they hook onto the mucus lining and leech the horse of nutrients. It will stay here for ten months. When the bots detach from the stomach they are passed out of the horse’s body via faeces where they burrow into the ground and mature into flies to start the cycle again. While this seems very innocent, these bots can do severe damage to the gastric lining of your horse. They can also cause colic this can happen when large amount of bots unhook themselves from the lining and go to pass through the horse and become stuck or impacted.

How to avoid a Botfly infestation While it’s easier said than done, apply insect repellent to discourage the Botfly from coming near your horse. If you do see eggs on your horse try to remove them as soon as possible. You can do this by using a bot knife, a grooming block or wiping the eggs with kerosene before removing with another implement. It is important that you wear gloves and do not have wet hands when removing the eggs – some types are happy to burrow when touched!

We also recommend that you worm your horse with a paste that covers bots to ensure that any that have been ingested are killed before the cycle can begin.

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Also, ensure that egg removal is not done anywhere where your horse may graze – you don’t want them being ingested.

AQUIS DAY OUT

Above: Tom McDermott winning the Mini Prix on Alpha Activity.

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Below: Russell Johnston, riding Deprice, winner of the Grand Prix.

Jessie Rice-Ward showing a clean pair on Deniro.

Jessie Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connell riding Cassis Z Ten Halvern, winner of the 1.30m Young Rider class.

Your Club IN PROFILE

YARRA VALLEY DRESSAGE CLUB

Club members Kirstie Taylor and Zoe Kendall.

PCAV Park â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Beautiful venue for our club days & competitions.

OUR MISSION

To advance the Art of Dressage and to encourage and foster horsemanship in all its forms. The Yarra Valley Dressage Club was formed in March 1979 when a group of friends joined together keen to share their interest in dressage with other like minded people in the Yarra Valley, Victoria. 61 members paid $3.00 to join the club. Judges were paid $10.00. The club ended the year with a profit of $180.15.

The Yarra Valley Dressage Club was incorporated in 1984 and the mission, as it is today, is to advance the art and sport of dressage

The Club has used many venues around the Yarra Valley including Seville Pony Club grounds, Flowerfield, Wandin Park, Glenbrae Equestrian Centre and the Lilydale and Yarra Glen Hunt Club. Today, PCAV Park in Gladysdale is the main competition venue, where we are fortunate to be able to hire their lovely indoor and all weather surfaces to hold competitions. Yarra Valley Dressage Club is a friendly, welcoming and inclusive club catering for riders of all levels and horses of all breeds and types. The club holds a club (standard EA class competition at each level) or freshmans (protocol) day each month and two official EA competitions each year as well as clinics and guest speakers. All details including how to join and upcoming dates can be found on the club website: www.yvdc.com.au

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Often during those early days members competed on ground where the arena was drawn on the ground with lime or at Hutton Lodge or in a paddock on a memberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property. Riders paid $3.00 to ride a test and competed for prize money of $5.00/ $10.00. Some of the earliest members are still members of Yarra Valley Dressage Club today.

and to encourage and foster horsemanship in all its forms.

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HUB SA D D L E R EV I EW

Margret Conley chose the Equipe Olympia because it fitted her horse the best out of the four saddles Saddle Hub sent to her to trial. “As well as fitting my horse well, the Equipe also supports me in my seat. I’m definitely able to sit better to the trot!” she says. “The saddle I bought looks as good as new. There’s not a mark on it.” Margret trialled the Equipe at the same time as the other saddles so she

Saddle r e v i e w : Equipe Olympia had an instant comparison. According to Margret, the Equipe saddle made riding ‘easy’. “I rode in another nice saddle, but I needed to put heaps more effort into the ride, so the Equipe was definitely the one for me!” The Equipe has latex panels, so no extra work needed to be done to the saddle to fit my boy.

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The Graceful Art of

Vaulting Vaulting is described as gymnastics, dancing and horsemanship on horseback and is gaining in popularity all the time. Vaulting has to be one of the most impressive and artistic of the equestrian sports to watch. Riders dress in colourful outfits and undertake routines on a single horse that is lunged on the circle at walk, trot and for the higher levels, canter, so it’s important to have a consistent horse with a smooth gait. Competitors in vaulting perform individually or as teams. The sport was originally showcased at the 1920 Olympics in Belgium, but has not been competed at an Olympic venue since, although it is recognised at International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) level and has been represented at each of the World and European championships since 1994.

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What is Vaulting?

Vaulting is a sport that anyone can learn, from young children through to adults. The sport is a great way to develop balance, strength, coordination and creativity as well as trust and teamwork. Vaulting is not trick riding as it is always performed in a controlled environment that includes a fully enclosed arena and soft footing. The horse, controlled by a team

member with a lunge line, moves in a large, consistent circle while the vaulter performs a series of gymnastics and dance moves. While there is non-competitive vaulting, which is what is what is shown at circuses and other displays, there is also competitive vaulting which is quickly gaining popularity. Depending on what level you compete at decides the movements and level of difficulty for the vaulter. The levels include: • Preliminary • Pre Novice • Novice • Intermediate • Advanced • Open Before the vaulter tries any trick on the horse, they must perfect it on a stationary vaulting barrel first. This is for the safety of the vaulter and their equine partner.

What equipment is needed? A suitable horse is one of the most important parts of the sport. Breed doesn’t matter as much as the horse’s personality and individ-

ual characteristics, but the horse needs to be calm, strong, fit, and kind with a consistent gait. Often heavier horses such as Percherons or Andalusians are used. The horsesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

surcingle as well as a bridle, side reins and a lunge line. Vaulters adhere to strict clothing regulations that must comply to Equestrian Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safety standards.

How can I get involved?

Where can I find more information? equipment is specialised for vaulting, with a surcingle with points that can be used for the vaulter to hold on to while undertaking their movements. A thick pad is placed under the

Equestrian Vaulting Australia is an excellent place to start. Their website offers information, resources and contacts to get you started.

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Currently the states of Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia have vaulting clubs in various towns. There is the opportunity to contact a club and find out what vaulting is all about.

Aries

y b s r a St pona E

Welcome to the magnificent

month of May where the stars form spectacular angles and connections. Like a mini-zeitgeist, May supports change of both the major and minor varieties, increases abundance and lines H U BV I B ES M AG A Z I N E

us up toward new, improved

destinations. Think of it as a reboot for mind, body and spirit on every level. Are you ready to reinvent yourself? It starts now!

This is your official money month. You tap abundance like a sunrise, waking up with a whole new attitude towards biz and work opportunities. It’s unique and fruitful but there’s no following the crowd. You’ll get a call to leadership, with the funds to pull it off. Of course, us four-legged Rams will feel the call too. Intractable is the watchword. Good luck.

Taurus

Usually placid and well composed, the sign of the bull goes feral this month. Extreme. Audacious. Wonderful. Trust the process and give yourself the freedom that comes with reinvention. This goes for us equines as well so be warned. We may come across as stubborn in a most out-of-character way. Prep for passive resistance.

Gemini

Radical ideas come from out of the blue. These aren’t flights of fancy. What rises up are tools that help launch you into the next phase of your life. Communicating with the ‘right’ people is key and lucky you, they appear as if by magic. Two-legged equines are easily bored during this process, so make sure you supply ample stimulation.

Cancer

Two-legged Crabs hatch plans to improve security, home and finances. By mid-month the show hits the road. Travel demands much of your focus, and the results are spectacular. A relative is of specific influence. For us equines, the keyword is lazy. You’re going to have to provide motivation to win our best effort. Carrot trumps stick, every time.

Leo

This month, the Lion roars. You are at one of your peak creative times of the year where the juices are flowing, creativity zapping and crowds cheering. Make sure to have yourself camera ready whenever you step out the front door. As for the equine Lions, much the same applies. Expect us to be a little more highstrung, showy and eye-catchingly gorgeous. Try to keep up.

Virgo

If you labour under ANY health interests, questions or concerns, this is the right month to toss them out in favour of a fresh start. Whatever doesn’t work, or feels like compromise, can go as you make room for a more authentic, empowering and vitalizing routine. Don’t be afraid to change. Four-legged Vs are the same only slightly more upbeat about it. Follow our lead.

Libra

This month is grand for renewed vows, commitments, mergers or partnerships, if you have done your introspection/homework, and have no doubts. Otherwise, the theme is out with the old and in with the new. There’s no tolerating ANYONE that wears you down around the edges. Four-legged Ls have less trouble with this due to a built-in, eternal emotional honesty meter. Watch and learn.

Scorpio

You’re bored with the current routine but I promise it’s about to change. New horizons, wanderlust (or just plain lust) will soon dominate the scene, banishing monotony and refreshing your point of view. It begins with perspective and acknowledging opportunities when they arrive. Take a page from the equine manual for success: kick up your heels and run!

Capricorn

Be ready for more attention. Success is in the wind like never before and it’s blowing straight for you at a steady speed. Think of this as a gradual energy, gaining momentum to build a solid foundation of support for those massive achievements you have planned. You’ve earned it; now enjoy the rewards. Us equines earn accolades too. Be sure to let us know you’re grateful.

Aquarius

May is utterly black and white for the Waterbearers of the zodiac. You will know, or discover the hard way, exactly what/who is a YES and what/who is a NO. The key is to act on that knowledge, having the moxie to make creative change where necessary without obliterating everything in sight. Us four-legged Aquas model an emotional honesty that wouldn’t hurt you to mime. It really never fails.

Pisces

The first half of the month is a go-slow, where you reassess and allow for grace, ease and patience. By the 15th however, you blast off like a rocket, and the rest of the world must try and keep up. Proposals of any kind are likely to meet a big fat YES, so be ready. Fourlegged Fish mirror anything and everything you are feeling so don’t be surprised if we unexpectedly flash a wildcard. It’s still all you.

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Expect the first half of the month to be exasperating as you navigate a sea of slack or shoddy workmanship and unacceptable replies. Fortunately, it turns around by the 15th where everything begins to fall into place. Your keywords are patience and perseverance. Two-legged Scorpios are with you one-hundred percent, so you can lean on us, anytime.

Sagittarius

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Thoroughbred Gelding

Flashy Thoroughbred

“Ferrero no share” 5 year old, approx 15.2hh Bay OTTB Price: $4,500

Coaldale Road (by Exceed & Excel) AKA Oggie Reg: ANSA & TB Height: 15.3 hh Age: rising 11 Price: $7,500

Ferrero is kind, smart and willing. A super prospect for the show or dressage ring. For more info click here.

Riding Pony $6,000 Brooklyn Toy Story – AKA Jasper Regs: RPSBA, SHC, Equestrian SA Dam: Beckworth Royal Fantasia Sire: Myscal Encore Colour: Chestnut Height: 12.2hh Age: 10 yo

Would excel in show ring or ODE. Just returned from training in Novice level dressage. For more info click here.

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

Beautiful true Children’s Pony.

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

For more info click here.

Quarter Horse Paint Gelding

For more info click here.

equestrianmarketplace.com.au

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$6,000 Obviously a Hillbilly 6 yr old 15.3hh Triple Reg. PHAA 13268, AmQHA 6345858 & AQHA -Q-69761 Suit someone interested in Western pleasure/western performance.

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