HorseVibes October 2018

October 2018

FREE

Hub Hero JOSE MENDEZ The Jump Off Challenge SPORTS BRA REVIEW WORKING EQUITATION Australia's Beautiful Brumbies + plenty more!

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FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH

PRODUCT REVIEW

4 HUB HERO - JOSE MENDEZ

39 YOUNG RIDER OF THE MONTH

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SMALL AND CUTE DOES NOT ALWAYS EQUAL SAFE

YOUR CLUB IN PROFILE

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JUMP OFF IS OUT OF THE BARRIER

THE HORSE LISTENER

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KEEPING ABREAST OF YOUR CHEST

AUSTRALIAN ADULT AMATEUR DRESSAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS

22 THE SHOW WENT ON AT THE WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES

46 SADDLE REVIEW

27 WORKING EQUITATION

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47 TANIA MACHIN'S NEW WAY OF THINKING

AND OUT OF THE WEST THE COWBOYS BROUGHT US DRESSAGE

50 PENNY'S PLACE

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Cover image: Stacy Westfall with Popcorn. 52 BREED SPOTLIGHT THE AUSTRALIAN BRUMBY STARS BY EPONA

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

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In the Northern Rivers we’ve been extremely lucky over the last month to have some really steady rainfall. Our grass is green, and our tanks are full – and for me that is not dissimilar to this month’s HorseVibes, which is so choc-a-bloc full of great articles, I’m not sure I am going to be able to introduce all the content.

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he initial episode of the much anticipated Jump Off series has finally been aired and Candy reviews the story so far, and takes a punt on the possible eventual winner.

Jane chats to Hub Hero Jose Mendez and learns about his motto, ASK - Appreciation, Sincerity, Kindness. She then goes on to give us the heads up on Working Equitation and the benefits it brings to riders of all disciplines. Pedro Torres is a maestro of Working Equitation and he is coming to Australia soon.

The page of pix from WEG wow, just wow, how amazing are our Australian riders? In

Contributor Lorraine Dowdeswell introduces us to the very complex world of buying a pony. It’s a pony, it’s safe, right? Unfortunately there are many parents out there, usually those with not enough experience to understand the complexities of the pony world, who have discovered that ‘Small’ does not necessarily equal ‘Safe’.

Dannii has gone undercover this month - well sort of, she’s actually done a fabulous article on bras. Where women might not be at all embarrassed to be careful choosing the right bra for going to the gym or running, they don’t necessarily put it high on the priority list for horse-riding.

The fact is that horse riding is a high impact sport and the wrong bra can cause damage

and discomfort, so take care of your breasts!

Finally, a DISCLAIMER – lots of our images this month feature riders without helmets. We at Equestrian Hub are firm advocates of helmets and whilst we understand that some disciplines don’t require helmets, these images are not a reflection of the safe riding practices we espouse.

So sit down, relax, pour your favourite tipple and enjoy

This month’s prize draw is a the game, Horseplay.

See page 54.

Winner from last month is Jenny Saunders.

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

Similarly, our sport this month, Cowboy Dressage, is also about a light contact – bringing together traditional dressage and western riding in one great package.

If you’ve not seen this performed before, do yourself a favour – it’s excellent.

the middle of so much adversity they did us proud. The showjumping team came 6th overall, their best ever result.

I couldn’t have been more proud.

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Jose Mendez ASK and you shall receive.

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

Respect for, and partnership with your horse are key to Jose’s approach to training horses and riders around Australia, the United States and England, writes Jane Camens.

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lways remember ‘ASK’,” says one of Australia’s master horsemen, Jose Mendez: The word is emblazoned on his jacket. Below the capitalized letters he has unpacked the meaning: Appreciation, Sincerity, Kindness.

Jose moved to Australia at the age of 19 from southern Spain. Now in his mid-50s, he’s worked with horses all his life, starting on his

family’s property and later, from the age of 12, at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in the city of Jerez de la Frontera. The school is famous nowadays for its ‘dancing horses’ performances, but when Jose began it was a family business, concerned mainly with supplying horses to men who worked the bulls. Along with full board and the friendship of other student trainers — who are now among Spain’s best horsemen — Jose was pleased to earn the equivalent of about $15 a

hour’s drive from Sydney. “It had always been my dream to have my own place,” he says.

“I can help people understand. Appreciate the horse. Don’t just pick up the reins and ride.”

It was a long journey from his arrival in Australia to the amazing reputation he now enjoys. Among the highlights were being selected in 1986 on the beautiful Andalusian, El Caballo Blanco Cadiz, for the World Equestrian Games in Toronto. In the early 1990s he represented Australia three times in international competitions on his magnificent

month, most of which he sent to his mother.

“The years at the school cemented my skills in the art of classical horsemanship,” he says.

“It was an essential learning period.”

“I loved Australia,” Jose said. He also fell in love with Fay, who worked at El Caballo and whom he later married. Australia became Jose’s new home – and now, nearly 40 years later, he and Fay run their own classical riding school, the Mendez Equestrian Centre at Tallong in the Southern Highlands, about an

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

At the age of 19, Jose took a six-month leave of absence from the school to join his older brother, Monolo, in Australia. Monolo had trained at the same school and, wanting to see more of the world, had taken up an offer of a three-year contract with El Caballo Blanco in Perth. By the time Jose was invited to join him, El Caballo had a lot more horses and not enough trainers.

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fortunate to work with and own many beautiful horses and I have loved them all. I look on all horses as my teachers,” Jose says.

Hanoverian stallion, Leonardo 68.

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

Jose has performed in front of thousands of people with different horses. With his soulmate horse Fortuno he performed in the Spanish opera Carmen in Australia and New Zealand and Singapore. With the beautiful horse Nevado he performed many times throughout Australia and New Zealand. He gave demonstrations at Equitana in 1999 and 2001 and has featured in numerous television commercials. “Sometimes I’d have to do a quick wardrobe change from dressage tails which I wore to compete in, to my performance Spanish costume, then change quickly back into tails for the rest of the competition,” he laughs.

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Cupboards in the Mendez home are full of ribbons and prize rugs, testament to the long journey they’ve taken to arrive where they are today. Jose rarely shows people these cupboards. There are so many stories in there of events and spectacular horses he’s partnered with. He says he doesn’t much like standing in front of an applauding crowd, taking credit for something he couldn’t have achieved without whichever horse took them to that glory.

He prefers to take the horse for a walk and perhaps lie on the grass to bask together with his horse in their shared triumph. “I’ve been

He hasn’t competed for a while because he’s so busy working horses and training riders at his equestrian centre as well as giving clinics all around Australia, travelling regularly to Swan Hill, Geelong, Murwillumbah, the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast and Gosford. He has also been travelling twice a year to America to give clinics down the east coast of the United States. “I’m not doing that this year, because I want to focus here,” he says. “I have enough work in Australia, which is great.”

A typical day for Jose is to ride (in training) five to eight horses and give between two and four lessons – and he would love to find a top-level competition horse again. “I have several possible Grand Prix level horses, but I don’t like to predict,” he says. I ask him about the importance of his motto: ASK – Appreciation, Sincerity, Kindness. “The horse deserves more respect than most people give them,” he says. “They are not machines. They are compassionate beings.”

He talks of the need for slow learning, or of

not being impatient for the right outcome, because to overload a horse with too much will only confuse him. He speaks of learning the alphabet and how a child has to learn each letter one at a time, making the analogy of how a horse needs to be taken gently from one step to the next. He can watch a horse under its rider and see immediately that the horse hasn’t been taught the basics and has, for instance, been forced to bend when it’s not yet natural for him. Impatience being a trait of this rider (myself), Jose spent three-quarters of an hour helping me and my little quarter horse learn how to ride a circle correctly. Yes, it’s basic, but it was a valuable foundation lesson.

“I can help people understand. Appreciate the horse. Don’t just pick up the reins and ride,” he says. “You pick them up and say thank you for letting me be on your back. You do this with sincerity. If the horse does something naughty, tap him with the whip to guide him.

Horses are never wrong. They only do what they know how to do. When they do something well, give him a pat. Tell him he’s a good boy. Treat him with kindness. You will get the reward.

A horse has a great memory. After the elephant, the horse could be the second. He

remembers who it was who punished him and who was kind. The horse can see clearer than we can about many things. The memory is not just the brain. It is stored in the muscle.

If it was just in the brain, you could play your training DVDs in the stable and he’d learn. No, he has to feel it in his body. He learns with repetition. He learns rhythm, the paces, commands and aides. If I ask him to do something in a different way from one day to the next, it’s difficult for the horse to understand. You start with rules and repetition, like with little kids learning to paint a picture. They learn to join the dots. You repeat the exercises pretty much every day.”

So, with my circle riding, they can get bigger or smaller, but they must be true circles, done at the same rhythm. We ride around a clock face, aware of where the numbers 3,6,9 and 12 are. Without pointers, says Jose, “It’s like walking randomly around the city without landmarks.”

Fortunately for Classical Dressage enthusiasts around Australia, Jose Mendez is there to give us those pointers.

You can contact Jose and Fay at their centre.

Mendezeqcentre@bigpond.com.au

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Small And Cute Does Not (Always) Equal Safe.

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

Ever thought about buying a pony for your child? If you’ve ever owned a horse or wanted to own a horse, you have probably at some stage thought about a pony for your child, writes Lorraine Dowdeswell, but it’s buyer beware in the pony world.

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t’s no secret that children love ponies, often dreaming about owning one of their own and through this dream they can sometimes lead their unsuspecting parents into a complex world. For both sets of parents, those who are currently involved in horses and those who have yet to be introduced to the wonderful world of horse ownership, there are many things to consider in purchasing a pony.

Children's ponies are everywhere – all over the glossy magazines and on the internet – but beware because there is a widespread misconception that just because a pony is small and cute, it is safe for your child. And this is simply not so. As parents, it is crucial to choose a pony that suits the needs and personality of your child as well as the job that you would like this pony to do, such a going to pony club, trail riding or competition. As a horsemanship coach and horse owner for many years, I like to advise pony-seeking parents to take the time to educate themselves. The sad fact is that most ponies out there on the market are generally not suitable for beginner children, and before unsuspecting parents venture out into an already overflowing market of ‘children's ponies’, it’s good to know why that is and why it is essential to have an understanding of what an educated pony should be.

Good children's ponies are worth their weight in gold and most of them are rarely sold. If they are, the sad truth is they’re not cheap.

They stay with their families for years, being passed down to the next child or passed onto close friends or relatives because they have been educated to be ‘safe’. Educated

to know when to stop and go as asked, to stand still for their young rider, to be polite and respectful, to have a calm demeanour and to be able to leave their friends if needed - such small things you may think but they all mean the difference between being safe and unsafe.

The fact is that small ponies are the same as larger horses on the inside, regardless of how small and cute they are, they are animals with their own instincts

their strength and to pull away from pressure or go when they choose. I’ve seen incidents where adults have struggled to even lead a pony, not an ideal situation for a child.

An educated pony can think their way through all kinds of situations that they may find themselves in. Reacting to situations is what has helped the horse to survive for millions of years but reacting is not what you want for your child when all of the instincts in your new found pony are saying run for your life or do whatever it takes to get this child rider off my back.

Educated ponies are the ones that are happy to stand still while being decorated with ribbons and glitter. They are the ones that allow children to climb all over them, they lift their feet politely when asked, they are willing to leave home for adventures, they are calm and reliable, they can offer a steady and comfortable ride and are much more accepting to follow all of your suggestions for go and stop all of the time!!! In horsemanship terms, we call it emotional fitness, and these cute little ponies need to earn the right to carry their precious cargo.

Finding the perfect pony will take time and effort - and buying the ideal pony will need to be a conscious and educated decision, not an emotional one, look beyond what you see, look for more than a pretty face or a lovely colour, keep in mind that your choice will always primarily be for the safety of your child and their pony loving future.

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

of survival, and with the same size brain. When they are fearful, they will do whatever it takes to remove themselves from that situation including running off with your precious child on board, with no thought whatsoever about their passenger. They think and move just as quickly as a bigger horse but because ponies are small, there is a tendency to push and pull them around rather than trying to communicate effectively with them, leaving the ponies to learn how to use

As a parent, please consider your options carefully and if you are unsure, then please ask for advice from someone who already has one of these precious ponies or take advice from an equestrian professional.

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

Jump Off

is Out of the Barrier How easy is it to take retired Off the Track racehorses and turn them into showjumpers? When time is of the essence, it’s an interesting challenge writes Candida Baker, who reviews the first episode for us.

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ake some of the most famous race horse trainers in Australia, team them with some of Australia’s highest-profile showjumpers – what do you get? Eye-popping, high-adrenalin television, that’s what.

The series, which kicked off last Sunday on Channel 7, features five teams made up of leading Victorian racehorse trainers David Hayes, Darren Weir and Mick Price, alongside the brother-sister duo of Patrick and Michelle

Vicki Roycroft is

“When Russell first pitched it to me, because the producer, Stephen Dundon, is a client of his, I was obviously keen, but I’ve heard these pitches before and they’ve never come off,” she says. “But this time was

The series, sponsored by Racing Victoria and its Off the Track program, aims to show why ex-racehorses are still so popular with many of Australia’s leading equestrians. different. I think they’ve done it very well, and the main thing I loved was that what Stephen has managed to portray is how much we – jumpers and trainers – all love our horses.”

It wasn’t easy having only five months to create a jumper out of a racehorse. “They needed to tick a lot of boxes in order to be able to cope with the speed of their training,” she says. “I was very impressed with the horses James Cummings delivered to me. They were all very cool and well behaved. The beautiful chestnut I chose ticked all of them, the little liver chestnut reminded me of Apache but he’d only been two weeks off the track and simply wasn’t ready. He possibly had the sacroiliac issues they get from jumping out of the barriers, and he needed six months in a paddock for his feet to regrow.”

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

no stranger to international competition having been a member of three Australian Olympic and World Championship teams; she’s won the Australian Show Jumping Champion title twice and is a highly sought-after coach and trainer and one of Australia’s most successful World Cup finalist riders. She’s open about the fact that she wasn’t sure that Jump Off would actually happen.

Payne, as well as Godolphin Australia's head trainer James Cummings, paired with showjumpers David (Dave) Cameron, Russell Johnstone, Vicki Roycroft, Jamie Kermond and Peter McMahon, to re-train former racehorses into show jumping champions.

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Russell Johnstone, Peter McMahon, Vicki Roycroft, Jamie Kermond and Dave Cameron.

At this stage (at least for us out here) the winner is anybody’s guess, although of course since television has to work ahead, the fact is that the final was held in June, so it’s interesting watching it and trying to assess right from the first episode who might have been successful on that final night, after only five months of retraining their mounts.

I was interested listening to the different comments of the showjumpers – and what they’re looking for in a horse. All of them were looking for an upright horse, one that isn’t too heavy on the front, and will tuck up its

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

They’re a tough mob in this show, make no mistake, and at the same time, because these are the cream of the crop in both disciplines, it’s obvious that horses from these trainers go to good homes and are well cared-for, which perhaps slightly dilutes the equine welfare message Racing Victoria are hoping to promote, since plenty of thoroughbreds, sadly, are still going to fall in between the cracks, but it shows the versatility of the thoroughbred, and its willingness to learn, and adapt to new circumstances.

On a slightly calmer note, two-time Australian Showjumping Champion Dave Cameron, who also wowed us in The Wild Boys and was a stunt-rider in Pirates of the Caribbean, is paired with Mick Price, and was really happy to be given the chance to try out Lankan Rupee, the beautiful bay with a heart on his forehead, who won 11 of his 29 starts, and over $4m in prize money. “He’s got a real presence about him,” Cameron says when the horse is first led out, and it’s absolutely true – he looked like a star in the making, although there was an immediate downside to the horse’s long career on the flat. There was absolutely no way he was going to jump, or even walk over that scary looking pole on the ground!

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Popular coach, trainer and showjumping rider

Russell Johnstone

has represented Australia at the Olympics, ridden Internationally and recently took top honours riding Borealis Centurion at Sydney Royal, winning the first ever CSI 2* Showjumping Event in Australia.

One of the horses Johnstone took a punt on was a big grey horse that hadn’t been ridden for several years. He took the precaution of lunging him in the round-yard first, and showing his technique for teaching ex-racehorses to get used to the idea of the leg, using his whip as what he called a ‘motivator’, to simply touch it on the flank. Jockeys don’t have their legs down on the horse’s stomach which can often be an issue in the early days of re-training.

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

Jamie Kermond,

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the current Australian Show Jumping Champion is paired with the brother/sister trainer duo of Patrick Payne and his sister, Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne. Kermond is one of Australia’s most virtuosic show jumpers to watch. He has won back-to-back show jumping titles and has spent much of 2018 competing overseas on the World Cup circuit. Personally I love Kermond’s riding style – elegant and quiet – it will be really interesting to see how he takes a horse through the process.

Johnstone was a keen supporter of the series right from the start which was suggested to him by Steve Dundon, a television producer who also happens to be a client of Johnstone’s. "With the continued popularity of show jumping in both Europe and the United States, and the participation of more Australian riders overseas, the interest in Australian show jumping is on the rise," Johnstone says.

If every team delivers something special, there’s no doubt that

Peter McMahon

and his wife Michelle LangMcMahon are delivering the ‘must watch’ factor. Having represented Australia on the world stage in both the Olympic Games and the World Equestrian Games, Peter has a wealth of experience and is a fierce competitor on the show jumping circuit. Together with his wife Michelle, Pete also runs Kolora Lodge in Queensland - a first-class destination for breaking, pre-training and spelling of racehorses.

Peter might well have been the Olympian, but Michelle’s credentials as a WEG and World Cup Rider mean she’s not short of a few opinions. Personally I think Channel 7 could do worse than to film the couple for a year, and make a documentary of their fiery spats! Paired with horses supplied by Darren Weir, who also has steeplechasers in his stable, the Lang McMahon’s were looking for a horse that could already hold itself over a jump. Will they succeed? It would be great to have a crystal ball!

front legs, as well as lifting at the back – one that’s brave, but not so brave that it doesn’t care if it hits the rails, one that’s careful, but not so careful that it won’t hit the rails, one that’s calm, but has energy. Sort of a ‘Wonder Horse’ I guess, and with a $100,000 prize – the richest showjumping prize currently on offer – all the teams are keen to win.

"Equine welfare is at the heart of this show and the horses are the heroes of Jump Off, which is why we’ve decided to support it," RV chief executive Giles Thompson, has said.

"Horses are the centrepiece of our industry, and Racing Victoria is dedicated to ensuring they're afforded appropriate care and attention before, during and after their racing careers. We’ve sponsored more than 500 equestrian events in which over 11,000 retired racehorses have competed. And we see this as an effective way to drive the demand for Off The Track thoroughbreds in a secondary career."

So how does the series progress? In the first episode the five Jump Off teams began the

search for off the track thoroughbreds. We got to see some of the incredible back stories of the potential horses, their owners and trainers, and to hear from those in the industry who are all passionate about a positive ‘life after racing’ outcome for ex-racehorses. On next week’s episode the training will begin in earnest. Once their selection is complete, the riders begin the challenging task of re-educating their horses and getting them ready to jump. As training progresses, the Jump Off horses will be put to the test at local shows and some of the best equestrian events at premier equestrian venues in Australia.

The Grand Final event sees the five teams compete with two horses each for $100,000 at the Boneo Park Equestrian Centre in Victoria.

My tip? I wish I had a crystal ball, but based only on that first hour, I’ll go Vicki Roycroft all the way.

And what Vicki has to say about it: “If you love horses, get behind this show because if it’s successful it will snowball and it will increase awareness for all racehorses.”

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Keeping Abreast of Your Chest

Dannii Cunnane looks at why a supportive bra is a necessity for horse-riding women.

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

pologies to the blokes out there, this may not be an article that interests you, but for women, bras are quite definitely an issue.

So let’s talk about chests and the support they need for a high impact sport like horse riding. We’ll start with a bit of an anatomy lesson.

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First up, the fact is that breasts are made up of ligaments and fatty tissue. There are no muscles, which means that if you don’t provide your breasts with a supportive bra, especially while undertaking a high impact sport, the Coopers ligaments (which give the breast its shape and size) can stretch and cause sagging - as well as breast pain. Once these ligaments have stretched, there is no going back unless surgery is involved.

Why a Supportive Bra is Important It’s really important that women wear a wellfitting, supportive bra. While many sports or activities can cause your beasts to bounce up and down, few are as hard on the body as equestrian disciplines. It doesn’t matter if your breasts are large or small, they all need support, so choosing the right bra is an important step.

At HorseVibes, we recommend you invest in a quality sports bra. While they are not all created equal and we all have different needs, the fabric plays a good part in keeping you supported and cool while wicking away sweat. It may take a little trial and error before you find the perfect bra to suit your body shape and requirements.

Minimise the Movement With exercise, your breasts move. It’s important to understand that they don’t just move up and down, but they also move side to side and in and out recreating a butterfly pattern during rigorous activity.

When unsupported, the average A cup can move approximately 1.5 inches in either direction and a D cup can move between two to three inches. Investing in a good quality sports bra with the right support limits this movement.

When purchasing a bra, make sure that you are wearing the correct cup size and band that you need. If you don’t do this you will not be receiving the support you require and the bra may be uncomfortable or dig in.

We recommend actually going into a store that offers professional fitting to find the right fitting bra. Every brand is different so you may fluctuate between brand sizes.

Not All Bras are the Same There are different types and styles available, so take your time and try a number on. What suits you may not suit the next person and they may not sit under your clothes as well as you’d like, so don’t be in a rush. Take some your riding tops with you so you can see how the bra sits under a shirt to make sure you’re happy with the outline.

Some of the bras you may encounter may have:

• Encapsulation: These are bras with individual cups that support each breast.

• Racerback: These bras cinch in at the back and the straps anchor the bra closer to the body giving good support.

Once you’ve found your perfect bra, you’ll need to look after it to make it last. A quality bra has an average lifespan of nine to fifteen months.

Some tips to keeping it supportive and looking good include: • Washing the bra in cold water with mild detergent is best. Avoid fabric softener and bleach.

• Dry your bra flat or on a washing line.

If you have to use a dryer, use the cold tumble cycle. Heat breaks down the spandex, which will affect support.

• Replace your bra once the ends of the spandex fibres start showing or the fabric no longer snaps back into shape.

• Wide straps: Wide shoulder straps help distribute weight and are usually adjustable and have some padding.

• Pullover: These are tank style bras that are pulled over the head and down over the chest. They have an all-over stretch and anchor the breasts in.

• Back claps: These claps allow you to loosen or tighten the band under the breast and across the back.

Support comes from different points in a sports bra and this support depends on what type you purchase. The three main points are the straps, the cups and the band (including any side panels). If you want to see if the bra you’re trying on is offering you the support you need, try the following stress test.

• Straps: The less stretch the front straps have, the more motion control they will

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

• Compression: these are shelf type bras that work for small cups and are good for low to moderate exercise.

The Care Factor

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have. To try and see how much ‘give’ the straps have, hold the top of one strap while placing your finger on the corresponding cup and give it a tug – the movement you feel from the cup will tell you if it’s supportive or not. The rule of thumb here is the less movement the better.

• Cups: Repeat the stretch test as above but tug the top and bottom of each cup. The less give they have means the better motion control. Make sure that the cups hold your whole breast without spillage. If there is spillage or the cup isn’t fitting the breast, you will need to try a larger sized cup.

• Band and side panels: Slide a finger under the band between your breasts – you should not be able to pull it more than an inch. If you can move it more than an inch, adjust the clasps. Reach your hands over your head and if you feel the band creeping up the bra is too big for you.

straps). Some can be pull-on while others have a zip-up at the front - try a few on and see what works for you.

Q-Linn: These bras are specially made for horse riding and come in different styles.

The most popular is the Amsterdam sports bra that has a thick panel under the breast, separate cups, generous padding on the shoulders and has a rear clip that can turn it into a racerback. Other styles have different looks and colours and you’ll find that some horse stores stock them so you can try them on for size.

Bras for Riders Here at HorseVibes, as horse riders ourselves, we know how important a well-fitting sports bra is. Our top three picks are:

Lorna Jane: There are plenty of styles and colours to choose from, but the LJ brand brings support to the table. Avoid the Yoga bras as they aren’t for active sports (they are a dead giveaway with their spaghetti straps and the cut across the chest) and choose the types for sports activity (thicker bands and

No matter what bra you purchase, make sure that it’s the right one for you and can withstand the activity you’re undertaking.

It’s about comfort and practicality. If you’re ever unsure if a bra is the correct fit, seek help from knowledgeable staff and ask to be measured.

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

Triumph: There are multiple styles and colours to suit your needs. The company has been around for a long time and were a staple in the sports wardrobe until sports bras became trendy and you could trendy up your riding outfit. Most styles are thick straps with individual cups but the quality can be felt and seen.

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Andrew Hoy on Vassily de Lassos were placed 4th individually in the eventing.

Despite the weather the show went on at the World Equestrian Games

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

Australia was one of only five nations to be represented in all eight FEI disciplines at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon last month.

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EG 2018 got off to a stuttering start when the endurance event was cancelled due to dangerously high heat and humidity with more trouble looming as Hurricane Florence barreled towards North Carolina.

But nevertheless the Australian Jumping Team qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after finishing sixth in the team competition at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon.

It was the best performance ever by an Australian Jumping Team in WEG history and Chef d’Équipe Todd Hinde was elated: “We’re living on a high at the moment,” he said. “All four of the boys – Jamie Kermond, Above right: Rowan Willis on his ‘electric’ mare Blue Movie wowed the crowd.

Centre right: Driving legend Boyd Exell won his third successive individual gold medal.

Bottom far right: Kristy Oatley with Du Soleil gained a personal record score in the Grand Prix Special.

Bottom right: Shane Rose on Virgil in the dressage phase of the three-day event.

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

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Scott Keach, Billy Raymont and Rowan Willis rode text book rounds over the three days. To have all riders jump eight faults or less every day I couldn’t ask for more.”

Rowan Willis & Blue Movie with a time total of 8.31 went clear, placed 11th individually and went through to the final, as did Billy Rayment with Oaks Redwood.

But it wasn’t just in the jumping that records were made – Boyd Exell, as usual ‘excelled’ himself, and despite competing in the marathon with compromised brakes went on to win his third consecutive individual WEG medal. First in the dressage, third in the marathon and second in the closing clones phase, was enough to see him finish well ahead of crowd-favourite Chester Weber.

Five of our vaulting team finished in the top 20 and in the Para-Dressage, Emma Booth and her horse Zidane who together performed beautifully in the Individual Test Grade III went on to earn fourth place with a score of 71.618%.

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

Booth and Zidane represented Australia at the 2016 Rio Paralympics but 12 months ago she nearly lost her beloved horse after he went through colic surgery. His effort at WEG amazed even her: “This is a horse that 12 months ago had surgery so to be out here on the world stage is incredible. I wouldn’t be here without him,” she said

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The Australian Eventing Team finished in 6th position and also qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Equestrian legend Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos stole the show with an incredible clear round and finished on their dressage score of 29.8. They just missed a podium finish and were fourth placed individually.

Australian Equestrian Team Chef De Mission Chris Webb said after the day’s competition:

Emma Booth on Mogelvangs Zidane was placed 4th in the Para-Dressage.

“We came to WEG to qualify for Tokyo and we have achieved that…Stuart Tinney and his team should be proud of what they’ve achieved at WEG, however they are under no illusion about what lies ahead in the next 18 months.”

Andrew Hoy could not have been more delighted with how his nine-year-old Anglo Arab performed throughout the event. “He’s just the coolest horse mentally when I was walking down here I had to squeeze him then I could feel him take a deep breath and he grew and the more I went around that jumping course he could have gone again,” he said.

There’s no doubt the rapport between Hoy and Vassily de Lassos is unique and the stuff that could propel them to the top of the Eventing tree in the years to come.

Shane Rose and Virgil also went clear in the jumping and finished on 57.4. “He’s a very good jumper especially at 3day, he’s more responsive and patient,” said Rose.

Team mate Chris Burton and Cooley Lands also posted a clear round (48.6). “He’s a lovely horse and gives you a feeling of confidence around a jumping course,” said Burton.

effort earned her 12th place overall against the world’s best. Oatley now holds the Australian record for the Grand Prix Special and Freestyle.

The jumping didn’t go so well for Emma McNab and Fernhill Tabasco who had an uncustomary refusal and rails down (59.8).

The Australian Dressage team also went on to finish 8th overall out of a field of 15.

It was also a watershed moment for Australian Dressage when Du Soleil carried Kristy Oatley to a record score of 74.605% in the Grand Prix Special at the FEI World Equestrian Games.

In hot, humid conditions the pair kept their cool and everything came together for a memorable test that thrilled the large crowd of Australian supporters and left Oatley overcome with emotion as she left the arena. The

e b i r c s b Su

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Despite the best efforts of the whole Tryon 2018 team and the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) World Equestrian Games (WEG) Officials, who had been working on plans for rescheduling due to the heavy rain, the logistics of putting all necessary elements into place in time proved insurmountable and as a result, and regrettably, the Helgstrand dressage freestyle dressage freestyle was cancelled.

(Information courtesy of Equestrian Australia)

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Ride Against Cancer

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

The Saddle Hub still needs to raise more funds to assist Sue-Ellen have a saddle that she feels both safe and comfortable in - bareback is not an option.

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The saddle will be sold at the end so funds will still assist the cause! If you are able to help with Sue-Ellen’s saddle, follow the link below.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE!

Working Equitation: A Fun Way to Train Seriously Jane Camens looks at the rise and rise of Working Equitation in Australia.

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arlier this year I was lucky enough to meet World Champion Equitation rider Pedro Torres and his long-term partner, the beautiful Lusitano stallion, Oxidado, is coming to Australia. I was thrilled to hear that Pedro Torres is a special guest, featured performer and masterclass coach at the nation’s biggest horse show, Equitana in Melbourne (15-18 November).

the UK and Brazil, it’s now also a growing sport in the USA. Australian stock horses are considered particularly suitable for the sport, although any breed can compete and benefit from the training.

Working Equitation was introduced just over a decade ago into Australia and is still a relatively new sport in Australia. Established in Portugal, Spain, France and Italy before it was quickly picked up by Sweden, Germany,

Gill first discovered Working Equitation in the late 1990’s at Portugal’s famous annual great horse show, the Golega Feira. From Gill’s home in the UK she was able to visit Portugal regularly and train on the wonderful Lusitano

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

In the week immediately after, Pedro will be conducting a clinic in Sydney for members of Australian National Working Equitation Ltd (ANWEL).

English classical international dressage trainer Gill Kennerley believes she was the first to bring the sport to Australia in 2007.

“I brought it here because it’s the finest way to train horses and riders at every level,” she says. “I call it a fun way to train seriously. If you train Working Equitation you get a beautifully trained horse. A lot of dressage riders are starting to appreciate how good Working Equitation is for their horses.”

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

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horses originally used for the sport. Gill then bought Lusitanos back to the UK and one of them, Rouxinol, she brought to Australia. “He’s now 29 years old and still beautiful,” she says.

Working Equitation comprises a number of disciplines and, at the highest international

level riders have to ride with one hand. The disciplines include dressage, obstacles (which at the higher levels are ridden at speed), and cattle penning.

“In Australia there are so many people who work with cattle and the stock horse is perfect for that,” says Gill. “When stock horses are trained in dressage they can last for years.

The reason I decided to develop Working Equitation in this country is because I’d seen a lot of very inferior riding. I was going to retire when I came here, but I really felt I couldn’t.”

She’s now in her late 70s and still riding and training.

“I feel that training in Working Equitation is

good at every level of the rider and horse. It’s good for people who are nervous or coming back to riding,” she says. “The levels go up to a very high standard. The highest level is as high as Grand Prix, done in true collection, with one hand! Working Equitation trains the horse’s mind. All the lateral work – shoulder in, side passing, and so on – all these things make a really good horse - balance, collection, lightness and self-carriage.”

Clubs began to form, in order to hold competitions and develop the sport to the higher lev-

Christine Fowles, one of Australia’s highest level WE riders and judges, is a director of ANWEL. She talks of how the organisation

brought together three different groups trying to promote Working Equitation, and how important it was for ANWEL to finally achieve affiliation with the World Association of Working Equitation (WAWE). ‘The next thing we now have to achieve is recognition from Equestrian Australia, which goes hand-in-hand with the FEI (the International Federation for Equestrian Sports).’

Christine’s hope is that by 2020 Australia will be in a position to send a team to Munich in Germany for the World Championships, organised each year by WAWE. And the man who has won those championships most often is - Pedro Torres. The fact that his event is a feature of Australia’s Equitana this year attests to the growing popularity of the sport and bodes well for its future here.

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

To start interest in the sport Gill invited horsemen and women to watch DVDs of people competing in Europe. “Then I realised I needed to get trainers. I went all around Australia and accredited 29 trainers. Fortunately, people now come to me.”

els. Eventually, to standardise rules and bring a formal structure to the sport, the Australian National Working Equitation Ltd association was registered.

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And out of the West the cowboys brought us –

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

Dressage!

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Western Dressage competitor Eitan Beth-Halachmy. photo courtesy Hobby Horse

Western dressage, also known as cowboy dressage, is a relatively new discipline in Australia, writes Dannii Cunnane but just as with Europeanbased dressage, the aim is to further enhance the harmony and partnership between the horse and rider.

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he main difference between English dressage and Western Dressage is the movements performed – they are distinctly different and designed to express the highest qualities of a Western trained horse.

Western Dressage provides systematic and progressive training for the horse and rider and they undertake their tests in western style tack and attire. The aim is to integrate the lightness of the western horse and classical dressage foundations to improve performance.

to 10 (excellent). The marks take into consideration the following items: • Gait: the freedom and regularity of the horse’s movement.

• Impulsion: the horse’s desire to move forward, elasticity of steps, roundness.

• Submission: the horse’s attention and confidence, harmony with rider, lightness of movements, and acceptance of the bit.

• Rider’s position and seat: correctness and effect of the aids.

The western dressage arena is the same as a classic area, where tests are undertaken in the usual 60m x 20m space and if you’re not confident that you’ll remember your test from beginning to end (hey, we’ve all been there!) you can organise a caller to call your test for you.

A good test will flow seamlessly with rhythmic gaits, precise transitions and accurate manoeuvres.

The Specifics Western dressage consists of a basic test performed by horse and rider. At lower levels, competitors must perform a walk, trot or jog, and canter or lope. Higher level tests include lateral work and flying lead changes.

The levels are: • Intro level • Level 1 • Level 2 • Level 3 Freestyle tests are also available. Competitors are scored on how well they perform each movement within the test by means of a score from 0 (not performed)

Equipment If you’re already a western rider, you won’t require any special tack. A western saddle, half-breed, stock-saddle, bridle or bosal and reins may be used. Riders can perform the tests in either a standard western snaffle bit,

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

• Basic level

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Any breed of horse can compete in Western (or Cowboy) Dressage.

which is defined in the current rule-book, or in a standard western bit.

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

Don’t be concerned if your tack is basic.

When it comes to Western Dressage the judges are seeking conservative ranch or schooling equipment. This means no over the top bling, but check the association rules for the extensive list of what you should or should not use.

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Riding Apparel It is strongly recommended that a properly fitted helmet to current standards is worn, however a western hat may be worn at some events. When dressing for a competition, a western style shirt with any type of collar and western style jeans are the way to go – you

can also wear chaps or chinks if you have a pair. A beautiful pair of clean western boots will also finish off the outfit. Spurs and gloves are optional. It’s important to note that English style jodhpurs and dressage boots are not allowed in Western Dressage competitions.

What breed is most suited?

The beauty of this new discipline is that all breeds are suited for it and any horse can compete. This includes all the stock horse breeds, such as Quarter Horses, Paints, Appaloosas, Palominos, and Buckskins. You'll also see many non-stock breeds, including Morgans, Arabians, Standardbreds, Thoroughbreds and everything in between. You could even compete your mule! It’s all about having a go, having fun and sticking to the Dressage philosophy of harmony between horse and rider.

and the steady progression of training is the key to building a safe confident horse.

How can I get started?

Once you have a horse and your western gear, look for a local group close to you for information on their training and competition days.

It’s all about having a go so don’t be scared about getting started – we all have to start our journey somewhere.

Why Western Dressage?

The sport is relatively new in Australia, but has been established in America for a number of years so don’t be frightened to have a look at some clips on YouTube to understand the basics.

Like normal dressage, Western Dressage will develop the quality of the horse’s movement.

It will pave the way for the building a solid lasting relationship between horse and rider

The https://www.westerndressage.com.au/ is the source of truth about all things Western Dressage in Australia.

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BREED SPOTLIGHT

THE AUSTRALIAN BRUMBY The Brumby is a hardy horse and unique in its ability to have adapted to the harsh Australian climate and environment, writes Dannii Cunnane.

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Brumby. When he left his property in Mulgave Place in New South Wales to move to Tasmania in 1804 he left his horses behind to freerange and breeds such as the Thoroughbred, Arabian, Draft and Clydesdale are said to have shaped the bloodlines of the horse that would become known as the ‘brumby’.

Where did the name originate?

Brumbies are rarely of consistent size, conformation or colour, evolving has they have from mixed breeds and surviving in an unforgiving environment where the strongest traits are

The word ‘Brumby’ is thought to have come from one of the early settlers, Sargent James

Breed Characteristics

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

orses are not native to Australia originally the Brumby evolved from horses that escaped from the ships sent from England with the first settlers. The mares, foals and stallions that survived the six month journey on the fleets where very hardy and through natural selection and survival of the fittest, only the best survived.

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shown over multiple generations. Any colour is accepted in the breed, from solids to appaloosas and everything in between. The height can range from pony to horse size but are all hardy and well-muscled. A trait of the breed is their strong, hard hooves which have evolved over the past few hundred years.

Brumbies in War During the first and second world wars, Brumbies were captured and sent overseas where they were broken in and used as military mounts. Their use as war-horses is testament to their good temperament, sure footedness and resilience. Horses from the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales were captured and bred for the remount trade and were known as Walers; the Brumbies roaming free today can be traced back to those early bloodlines including the great Arabian stallion, Saladin.

Feral Herds and the Environment

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

In the early 1900’s, the settlers and explorers branched out of the Sydney region and crossed the Blue Mountains. Horses were used for exploration, cattle and sheep work and some escaped when fences were not

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While we might all have a feeling the breed is something special, the facts below cement it: • The Australian Brumby has been wild for at least five generations or bred from wild parents.

• Brumbies are highly intelligent with heightened senses and are generally easily trained to all riding disciplines and contact with people.

• They are known for being incredibly faithful to their owners.

• Compared to commercially bred horses, Brumbies have very little or next to no inbreeding, as stallions in the wild choose their mares carefully to ensure the health of the herd and long-term survival. Their DNA has been tested to prove this fact.

• Brumbies can be used for a variety of purposes by people and are highly regarded as tough, go-all-day horses.

properly installed. Some horses also became wild due to pastoralists abandoning their settlements and in later years horses were simply let go as motorised vehicles and machines took over the bulk of farming work.

It is estimated that Australia has close to 400,000 wild horses running on the continent and concerns of environmental issues have arisen. The government has taken action against brumbies, poisoning and shooting large herds, with the culling of the horse becoming a touchy subject. Rehoming of the

Brumbies in the Snowy Mountains. photos courtesy Greg Lloyd-Smith horses has been successful, with selected horses brought through sales where purchasers have the goal of offering them a new lease on life.

current times the Brumby is the star of the show in the Australian Outback Spectacular - a live show featuring horses and actors on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

The Brumby has been a big part of Australiana, with Banjo Patterson’s famous bush poem The Man from Snowy River inspiring two feature films. The Silver Brumby, starring a silver coloured Brumby, by Elyne Mitchell quickly became popular around the world. In

Where can I find out more?

Keen to know more about this awesome Australian horse? Visit the Australian Brumby Alliance for further information and facts on this unique breed.

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

Capturing Imaginations

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PRODUCT REVIEW

PROTEQ EQUINE BEDDING

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ike a lot of horse owners, I found it difficult storing a large amount of wood shavings due to space restrictions, and also time consuming as a lot of it would be wasted due to decomposition from the ground so I would then have to transfer it to somewhere in the garden. Proteq Equine Bedding is an all natural bedding sourced from within Australia and comes in easy to use bags that weigh 15kg. My stables have previously been left wet and smelly but since using Proteq Equine Bedding they dry quicker, save me time as the product falls

through the rake plus I had the extra bonus of trusting my Partner to muck out the stables for me (saving me time) where he previously would struggle to clean them to my standards, and there is a significantly less amount of odour from their wee and poo. I actually found that I had to give the stables a light spray to maintain the fluffy texture every few days. I also love this product because it is hypoallergenic; respiratory problems effect a large number of horses in Australia due to the dusty environment, Proteq offers us the dust free solution for stable bedding.

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of competition I ride five to six days a week,” she says. “I take a lesson once a week with my coaches Elizabeth Coe and Emma Flavelle – it’s sometimes a bit of a struggle as I have a couple of health issues but that gives Finn a lot of mini holidays, which he thoroughly enjoys!”

photo courtesy

Oz Shotz

Mackenzie Boundy Mackenzie Boundy has been riding since she was seven, trying everything from pony club to eventing to showing until she found her true passion dressage.

“I

In their relatively short time together the pair have won Champion Novice at the NAGs 2* Regional Championships, Champion Medium Youth at the AAOR and Young Rider Championships and a third overall in the Medium at the 2018 Queensland State Championships and they were recently awarded Reserve Champion Elementary and Champion Elementary freestyle at the Queensland State Youth Championships.

Mackenzie’s not afraid of hard work. “To be fit enough to ride at this level

While Mackenzie is a talented rider, she never forgets the people who have helped her get to where she is now: “I would definitely like to give a shout out to my family, especially my mum who helps me with all things horse related, whether that’s feeding the horses when I’m unwell or driving me to comps and my dad, who would much rather be living on a golf course or on the waterfront!”

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.

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

love dressage and I solely compete in that discipline,” explains the 20-year-old Queensland rider. “I was lucky to have a couple of wins at some major events on my previous horse, Prayer, who passed away at the start of this year. My current horse, BZ Fortune Cookie, or Finn as he’s known as at home, is a

16.2 hand high, eight-yearold Australian Warmblood I purchased in March this year after Prayer passed away. Since then we’ve been getting to know each other.”

Mackenzie plans to start on Advanced work with Finn over the summer. “I would also like to go and ride overseas to expand my knowledge so I’m looking into doing that in the near future,” she says.

“Of course it’s every horse girls dream to compete at the Olympics and represent their country, and that would be my ultimate aim.”

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Your Club IN PROFILE

TERRANORA LAKES EQUESTRIAN CLUB

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LEC is located in scenic Bilambil in the Tweed Valley.

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

The Club was founded in 1989 as a beginners club, as such, it is always a wonderful relaxed place for new riders and combinations to go and to feel comfortable and supported.

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The club hosts many relaxed and happy Fun Days in the disciplines of Dressage, Hacking, Show Jumping, Cross Country and sporting events. The also run regular clinics for members and visitors as well as a Dressage Series, all the whilst keeping everything casual.

TLEC has great facilities including concrete wash bays, round yard, stabling, round yard, dressage and jumping arenas and a cross country course. There is plenty of parking space for cars and floats, so newbies can easily avoid the dreaded reversing of the float.

TLEC holds various events during the year, including Dressage and Hack days, and their popular Fun Days and T-Shirt Hack Days.

Junior and beginner riders, senior riders, young and green horses all benefit from the days, gaining experience, confidence and knowledge.

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

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THE HORSE LISTENER

The Lightness of Liberty Candida Baker looks at how liberty work can transform a working relationship with a horse into a true friendship.

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

believe that a lot of horse people actually under-estimate how highly intelligent a horse is. If you think about it, for most of its life, a horse is simply ‘expected’ to adapt to human requests, (or orders) and to act upon them. It’s supposed to be athletic in its chosen field (the field chosen for it) obedient and well-behaved. If it has to change discipline, from racing to dressage for instance, it’s supposed to forget everything it’s learned, and re-learn another discipline. It’s a bit like us going to school after school after school during our lifetimes, without the verbal ability to say to our teachers, ‘I’m sorry, I don’t understand what you’re saying’. The only way a horse has to register its non-understanding is physically, and that can often get it into trouble!

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In her 2014 book, A Year at the Races, reflections on Horses, Humans, Love, Money and Luck, well-known author and horse woman Jane Smiley talks about Howard Gardner’s Frames of Mind, in which he suggests that there are seven kinds of intelligence: verbal, spatial, musical, logical, kinaesthetic, and psychological – firstly, as it deals with the self and secondly, as it deals with others. She posits the theory that these can equally apply to horses.

It’s easy to see that a major difference between horse and human is that humans are high in verbal intelligence and horses are high in kinaesthetic (of the body) intelligence.

Candy and Eila, working it out together...

They have an innate knowing of where to put their feet, and move their bodies at different speeds, how to avoid pot-holes, the amount of energy they need to expend for a jump or a dressage move, or to chase a cow. This is deep within them.

But as more research is conducted into how horses think, it’s becoming apparent that they obviously have not just spatial intelligence, but also psychological intelligence of both kinds – self-awareness and other-awareness - and even, apparently, musical intelligence in terms of enjoying and recognising certain kinds of music.

I’ve known some extremely clever horses in my time. Once a small pony came to get me

ably short time for it to grasp the concept of taking a step backwards without the need to shake the rope or jiggling it. Depending on the horse the rope or a physical aid are helpful in the beginning but once it understands it’s only a tiny step for it to adapt that to a purely visual cue.

do an actual headcount of our horses on the day I’d sold a float, and he thought a horse had left the property. He didn’t settle until he had checked that every single horse was still there.

The importance, if you want to try this, is to make your visual clues very clear, and very distinct. In a sense, you create a very simple four-word language to begin – back, comein, stop, left and right, starting one word at a time. You don’t worry if the horse doesn’t get it straight away, just practice, make your cues overly large to begin and very distinct from each other, give your horse time to work out what you’re asking and soon - very soon usually - your equine friend will work it out.

And there is no better feeling than playing at liberty with a horse who is enjoying playing with you.

So where does the concept of liberty training come into all this? Namely that it’s my belief that even in some natural horsemanship training we don’t give horses enough credit for a) their intelligence b) their ability to think things through c) their desire to ‘play’ d) their desire to ‘please’.

As a simple example – over the past few years I’ve learned that once a horse and I are ‘listening’ to each other it can take a remark-

Candida Baker is the editor of HorseVibes and runs a Facebook page – The Horse Listeners.

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

from my farmhouse to tell me that his companion, a taller mare, had jumped the fence into the next paddock, and he couldn’t get in. I’ve seen horses work out how to open gates; avoid stepping on baby chooks in their stables; lie down and let me lie with them; and in one incident I saw my old grey horse

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AUSTRALIAN ADULT AMATEUR DRESSAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS Thursday 13th September to Saturday 15th September - QSEC

Top left -Tina Ridley on Spring Collection. Top right - Marlies Ravn on Kenlock Invincable.

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

Bottom - Charlotte Cox on Kinnordy Geronimo

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Kerry Higham on Kah-Mah Supremacy.

Wendy Ward on HB Rhodium.

Flash Pony

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

Fiona Hills on Hot Promise.

photos courtesy

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HUB SADDLE REVIEW

Saddle r e v i e w : Anna Lory

A

nna Lory recently purchased a dressage saddle for her Quarter Horse x Arab mare, Georgia-Mae. “I decided on the Kent & Masters dressage low profile/cob dressage saddle for Georgia-Mae,” says Anna, “it’s the leather version of the Thorowgood, which I’ve had for three years. I wanted to upgrade to a leather saddle and this was the closest to the original saddle I could find.”

Anna had the saddle professionally fitted by a master saddle fitter. “She changed the gullet from a wide to a medium wide and added some flocking to ensure a perfect fit,” says Anna. “I love this saddle for my chunky monkey – it’s specifically made for low withered, short-backed horses so it fits my mare perfectly and is really comfortable for me.”

Anna loves her saddle and also found the Equestrian Hub service a positive experience. “The Equestrian Hub are fantastic! They are easy to do business with and an added bonus was that I had the saddle within three days!”

Visit www.equestranhub.com.au to browse our saddles. Saddles come with a two week trial, finance options and "flat fee" shipping.

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

THINK Horsemanship Magazine, Australia’s only Equine Publication committed to the teachings and appreciation of the Masters of Horsemanship.

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Our friendly, knowledgeable and professional team help inspire, educate and problem-solve for the student of the Horse.

thinkhorsemanship.com.au

TIANA MACHIN'S NEW WAY OF 'THINKING' When Tiana Machin launches her printed quarterly magazine, Think Horsemanship, on November 1, she’ll be following the launch with a Weekend Fundraising event for Buy a Bale Rural Aid. She explains to Candida Baker how her own personal dark night of the soul led her towards natural horsemanship.

T

iana Machin didn’t start her horse life until she was in her early twenties: “Much later than some in life,” she says. Like many others, she chanced across natural horsemanship at a critical juncture in her horse journey, when she needed help.

her desire to understand ‘the horse’.

“Horsemanship is a lifetime pursuit,” she says. “It’s not something that can be hurried or rushed – and you definitely can’t just buy it. But we can most certainly invest in it and this is the key. Time gives us experience, experience gives us knowledge and knowledge gives us freedom.

To quote BB King ‘The beauty about learning is that no one can take it from you’.”

One thing Tiana discovered is that finding a good coach was essential, and in her search she decided to bring some of the best in the world to her own territory. It was a deci-

Tiana went through a difficult period, with a lot of self-doubt about her capabilities, but beyond everything the motivation to keep going was

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

“I’d had a bad accident when I was trialling a horse,” she says, “and I found after my recovery that my self-preservation had kicked "Good horsemanship is good in, in a major way. But even though my mind was saying horsemanship and should not be ‘maybe you should take up thought of as a fad or a style." knitting’, I wouldn’t be beaten. I was really trying to hold on to that childhood dream of riding through the meadow experiencing the freedom and adrenalin that horses bring with them.”

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sion that’s paid off big-time with some of the world’s master horsemen and women giving clinics in Australia.

“I’ve hosted clinics for a number of years now with excellent horsemen from Australia and the USA including people like Master Horseman Martin Black,” she says. “Through my clinic organisation and the involvement with The Legacy of Legends Australian event, I’ve met so many inspirational people in the

“Which is how Think Horsemanship Magazine came into being,” she explains. “My work with The Legacy of Legends Foundation alongside Deb and Anthony Desreaux inspired me to pay tribute to the masters of horsemanship no longer with us. The Foundation is committed to keeping the memory of horsemen such as Ray Hunt and Tom Dorrance alive, honouring their work and commitment to the Horse, and passing on the torch of knowledge.”

Tiana’s ambition behind the quarterly printed magazine is to serve the horsemanship community with something tailor-made.

“We’re not trying to be like any other publication or forum out there,” she says. “We’re an Australian publication about Australian horsemanship and we additionally hope to communicate to the equine community that good horsemanship is a way of being and thinking with your Horse.

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

As David Stuart says: ‘Good horsemanship is good horsemanship and should not be thought of as a fad or a style’.”

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horsemanship community, people that have amazing talents, not just with horses but with everything that is involved with horses – including people who make beautiful equipment for both horse and rider.”

Six years ago Tiana formulated the idea for The Horseman’s Diary – a What’s On guide to Australian Horsemanship, so practitioners could see what clinics were available in their areas at just one glance.

All proceeds from the charity event will be going to the registered charity, Buy a Bale Rural Aid. The event is being held at Elmore Equestrian Park, Burnewang, Victoria on December 8 and 9 with a weekend of horsemanship clinics and demos; trade stands for Christmas shopping; activities for the kids; food trucks and Saturday Night Live music by award winning Country music band Ruckus. A weekend pass is $20 and kids are free. Tickets are available via Try Booking on the following link https://www.trybooking.com/407511 THINK Horsemanship Magazine will be a quarterly, available in digital and print. Subscriptions start from $35 a year available on the website thinkhorsemanship.com.au Contact them on email@thinkhorsemanship. com.au or via their website and Facebook page for more information. photos courtesy

Gen Quinn, InGenius Photography

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

Her fur baby arrivals have been anything but on the due date, writes Penny Newbold…

Foal Watch: Expect the Unexpected

F

oaling season is well and truly upon us, and watching my own expectant mare’s belly growing bigger and bigger as her impending birth ‘due date’ becomes imminent, I’m reminded of how misleading the term ‘due date’ is when it comes to horses.

While my own two-legged kids chose to arrive either spot on or very close to their originally prescribed due dates, my four-legged kids have been anything but reliable or accurate.

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

When my first foal was ‘due’ (more than a decade ago now) I was excitedly prepared with the foaling alarm and foaling stable ready to go. I’d read all the books I could find on foaling, organised the foaling kit, researched the internet and spoken to the vet – and this was all before the mare was even pregnant.

Naturally.

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Fortunately, she became pregnant quite easily and everything progressed as it was supposed to, while I was brimming with excitement and preparedness for the great event.

The foal however, wasn’t quite as excited and prepared – he ended up arriving a month after the expected date. In the meantime, of course I was busy over-preparing like crazy.

The foaling alarm, which I had attached to the mare’s halter some three months earlier

(I know, I was pretty keen) had had a few, or rather lots of, false alarms resulting in many nights of family slumber being broken by the screaming alarm. (Or by my screaming at the very idea the foal was on its way!)

And if you’ve ever heard a foaling alarm, you’ll be familiar with just how loud and screamy they can be! Especially at 1am, and 2:45am, and 4:30am, and… (How my marriage survived this experience is a testament to my long suffering – and non-horsey – husband’s patience). Although, granted, foaling alarms are designed to be heard across paddocks and through shed walls – they’re not really supposed to be set up next to the bed.

In the end, the foaling alarm never even came into effect. My little colt was born at the very civilised time of 11 in the morning and with little fanfare, a far cry from the 2.00am wakeup call I’d been expecting.

Having been there and done that numerous times previously, the mare made short work of delivering her baby without the need of any assistance from the alarm, the foaling kit, the vet or even me. (Which, just quietly, I was slightly devastated about - how could she not need me?!? How was that even possible?).

Imagine that, Mother Nature does know what she’s doing after all!

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

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Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

If anything will help improve your game this month it’s a steady, methodical, focused approach that knows how to say yes as well as no. Voices from the past, exes, bosses, trainers, students, family, all seem to think they know best, but nix that idea. You are your own motivation and driving force.Acknowledging that is your greatest reward. It’s as simple as the Delphi inscription, “Know Thyself.”

October brings a time of rising emotions, enhanced sensitivity and, for some, strong gut feelings that will pan out. The pace slows, especially as Venus, the planet of love, values, art and finances, turns around for her once every eighteen-month retrograde phase. This is the perfect time to re-evaluate choices made over the last two years, take stock and begin to form a new strategy.

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

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Aries

Action in your house of personal one-to-one relationships, business or pleasure, has a sobering feel. You are letting go of anything that smacks of ‘toleration’ and moving on with your life. This is not the time to haggle over expenses or count every cent owed or due.

Instead, tap into a feeling of generosity, and give the benefit of a doubt. Us four-legged Rams are strikingly wilful the entire month.

Patience. Persistence. Resolve.

Romance is in the air for two-legged Twins.

It’s fun, light and breezy, but also déjà vu to the max. Literally. Prep to bump into old flames when least expected, and be ready with a light smile and a cute shrug. It will also help to remember that time has passed, you aren’t the same person anymore and things have changed. For us equines, we’ll take more pleasure in a ritual routine. Making time for that brings the best results.

This month is like a call back home where you find yourself returning to old haunts, connecting to family and friends and also carving out some space to spend time on your own. If you can lighten your public appearance schedule, all the better. When that’s not possible, the stable is your sanctuary, and on this side of the fence, an extra rubdown, ride or stroll through the paddock won’t go astray.

Your point of focus this month is on a new idea, one that has you all lit up. The only issue is with execution, and this is key. Don’t push, rush or take shortcuts. The temper of the month is ‘slow and steady wins the race.’ If you aren’t sure of your next move, take a little

time to goof-off. That’s right. Shelve the effort, for a while, and go have some fun. You’ll be back with inspired action in no time. All work and no play…

Virgo

October takes careful handling, but if you stay collected, moving easily between thought and execution, the benefits abound. It’s also a great month for finances, reflecting on your income and ways to expand it. Opportunity to ‘make it big on your own’ never looked better, as long as you are living your heart’s desire, not somebody else’s. Amp the positive self-talk, and with us equines, listen. There’s wisdom right under your nose.

Libra

This is you new moon month, but don’t let it go to your head. Your ruler is retrograde and the ‘three Cs’ – children, creativity and connections – dominate life as you know it. It may help to spend time thinking about the clan, and how to expand and grow your own. Same goes for expanding the herd. It’s definitely on your mind, but hold off on ANY major purchase until early in 2019. You’ll be miles ahead for it.

Scorpio

Sagittarius

This month is a time to brainstorm your goals for the future, even if you dead-set already

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

This is a breakthrough, or break-out month when it comes to your career or profession.

Not necessarily the day job, think of it as your mission, your calling in life. Part of it is about a social identity that feels authentic to you.

It’s all on the rise as long as you’re headed in the direction that makes you smile. When it comes to us equines, we’re rearing to go, so bring your steeds with you on the adventure.

Of all the sun signs, yours is the most likely to run into old flames, exes or long-lost people from your past, especially when you aren’t looking. It can feel like two steps forward, one back as you push for progress, so why not ease up on the expectations and take things one day at a time, just for now. Us four-legged friends benefit from a more chilled atmosphere, less high-performance vibes.

Trail ride?

Venus retrograde links to your sun and rulers Jupiter and Neptune in extraordinary ways.

If you need to call on the muse, it act like a megaphone, giving you all the energy, ideas and amped up mojo you need be creative.

Now you just have to work out where to apply it. Hint: collaboration is the name of the game, you and a partner, you and a friend, you and your equines. It brings magnificent results.

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

Venus retrograde in your sign may feel like misfires and wrinkled plans, but actually, it’s a time of opportunity. It supports new developments, conceived after careful and deliberate contemplation. There are some questions to ask yourself and answer honestly. Are you in the career of your dreams? Do you have the home life you desire? If not, why not?

think you know what it is. Because, do you?

What you put in place five years ago could be off track, so do your best work by staying in the present moment. Take some quiet time off with a close friend or partner and explore your desires. Is it possible that’s you’ve aimed too low and it’s time to raise your sights?

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NEWS & VIEWS FROM EQUESTRIAN HUB

WINNING TONGUE PLATE BIT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

WINNING AND LOSING! EP

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Amazing for any breathing problems and the only bit in the world to stop displacement of the soft palate.

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The bit arms have limited travel to prevent outer ring pressure and pain to the cheek and lips.

P ictu re s 1 & 2 sh ow a Sn af fl e

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F Stops the bit pinching the tongue F Stops the tongue getting over the bit F Stops roof rubbing and lip pinching F Stops the tongue hanging out of the mouth F Stops the horse headshaking, pulling & bolting F Stops the horse hanging, rearing & bucking

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

b it ro of ru b b in g an d b it pi n ch in g.

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NEWS & VIEWS FROM EQUESTRIAN HUB

Published by Equestrian Hub • PO Box 13 • Tintenbar NSW 2478 Phone: 0414 760067 • Email: info@equestrianhub.com.au www.equestrianhub.com.au