Show Circuit Magazine - April / May 22 by Show Circuit Magazine

NEW ZEALAND’S ULTIMATE EQUESTRIAN MAGAZINE

SHOWCIRCUIT

MOTIVATING

INTERVIEWS

OVERCOMING FEAR AFTER A FALL BEN THOMSON’S

TOP SHOWING

SECRETS

CONTROLLING

Bacterial Infections

APR-MAY 2022

THIS WINTER

Lisa Coupe

HAS UNFINISHED BUSINESS

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FROM MY DESK #FAMILY Someone recently asked me, 'why do you profile riders propped up by family?' To me, the answer is self-evident. I honestly think it is very nearly impossible, for young riders especially, to continue riding competitively without that level of support. This is particularly so through those crucial last years of school, during tertiary education, or even while beginning a career. Having said that, I often think of the equestrian community as one big family. Along with our 'real' family, we count our horses, pets, friends, and those who support the quest to further our equestrian dreams as our wider family. So here's to family! This issue features interviews with young riders who rely heavily on the support of their families. However, what's also very apparent is that this support is earned, with these riders giving it their all and making the most of their gifts through sheer hard work and self-discipline. We all know that it's one thing to have a lovely, well-bred, talented horse in the paddock and quite another to make the most of that opportunity by doing the 'hard yards' - the (often solitary) daily grind of mucking out, feeding, grooming, schooling and training, whatever the weather and whatever else is going on. Of course, this degree of tenacity is not limited to our younger riders. We also profile riders who have 'made it' both internationally and on the local scene in this issue. Lisa Coupe became a household name in equestrian circles with show jumping success nationally, followed up overseas. For now, Lisa is back home with her young son Finn, but her time on the international stage has only whetted her appetite for more. Lisa lets us in on her plans in our cover story. Speaking of dedication, competing at a high level means factoring in a lot of travel for busy Southland farmers and riders Rebecca and Tyler McKee. Michelle Clarke hit the road to go and photograph them and their talented son, James. Breeding definitely means being in it for the long haul. Tracy Crossan's long-term commitment to the Irish Draught has seen her produce some lovely horses onto the New Zealand scene. Catch up with her in our extensive interview with gorgeous photos of her outstanding stallions. We talked to dressage rising star Lucy Cochrane about her pathway in the sport and up-andcoming young dressage rider Mikayla Wildermoth. Our show jumping young guns include Johanna Wylaars, Tara Gower, Mikayla Trott and Madison Jackson. It is always exciting to see new stars come through in the show jumping scene. This time around, our featured trainer is showing rider Ben Thomson, who shares his tips for success in the show ring. It is not often that showies are willing to share their secrets, so make sure you check it out. And in the all-important area of equine health, we focus on how to deal with bacterial infections and gain an insight into the workings of the equine jaw. Hopefully, we're now seeing the restrictions of the past two years beginning to lift. The possibility of a return to 'normal' equestrian competition is exciting for all of us, and no doubt riders will make the most of the autumn and winter competitions. Until next time x

Sheryll Davies - Publisher

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EDITOR Pip Hume

editor@showcircuit.co.nz

DESIGN Sheryll Davies

CONTRIBUTORS Ashleigh Kendall Bella Maitland Photography Caitlin Benzie Photography Christine Cornege Photography Densie Flay Photography Libby Law Photography Lisa Gatley Photography Kristel Mack Sanders Photography Michelle Clarke Photography Rachel Stringfellow Photography

Rebecca Greaves

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NEW ZEALAND’S ULTIMATE EQUESTRIAN MAGAZINE

SHOWCIRCUIT

ABOUT US

MOTIVATING

INTERVIEWS

OVERCOMING FEAR AFTER A FALL BEN THOMSON’S

TOP SHOWING

SECRETS

CONTROLLING

Bacterial Infections

APR-MAY 2022

THIS WINTER

Lisa Coupe

HAS UNFINISHED BUSINESS

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COVER: Lisa Coupe and WALLINGFORD DORADO Breeder and owner: Gareth Dunkerley Breeding: DIARADO X PRINZESS VI Image: Christine Cornege Photography.

Show Circuit magazine is published bi-monthly. The articles reflect the personal opinion of the author and not necessarily the view of Waiata Publishing Ltd. This publication cannot be reproduced in whole or in part in any way without the publisher’s express written permission. All contributions are submitted at the sender’s risk. Waiata Publishing Ltd accepts no responsibility for loss or damage.

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SUPA JOINT

IN THIS ISSUE APRIL | MAY 2022

LISA COUPE Unfinished Business!

MIKAYLA WILDERMOTH Committed to Dressage

REBECCA AND TYLER MCKEE Focused on Family

JOHANNA WYLAARS Priceless Dedication

LUCY COCHRANE Pursuing Excellence

MEL BARTON Success in Two Codes

MIKAYLA TROTT A Love for Jumping

TARA GOWER Staying Grounded

TRACY CROSSAN The Love of Irish

AMY MCMULLAN A New Direction

MADISON JACKSON

Making Dreams a Reality

100

OUR SHOPPING GUIDE What's Hot!

102

TRAINING Showing Training with Ben Tho mson

116

HEALTH

54 22

Controlling Bacterial Infections

120

FIND YOUR FOOTING Arena Surface by Treadlite

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HEALTH The Equine Jaw

128 MENTAL HEALTH Overcoming Fear

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UNFINISHED

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Building a coaching business and establishing a training hub at her Tamahere property has been the focus for Lisa Coupe since returning home in 2019. But when it comes to her riding career, she is not sitting idle, and she’s hungry to get back in the ring.

Lisa Coupe has hardly

set foot in the competition ring since December 2020, but she's ready to get back in the game, and she has big plans. She may not have been competing but has been far from idle. She's currently riding a spectacular young stallion, Wallingford Zorro, who she says might be the best horse she has ever sat on. And that's saying something - Lisa has produced and ridden numerous horses to the top level, both in New Zealand and internationally. She has represented New Zealand multiple times, including on a Nation's Cup team in Rome. Lisa was riding high in Europe with a strong team of horses, competing on tours and with her eyes firmly on a pathway to the Tokyo Olympics. However, in July 2019, a change of circumstances meant she returned home to New Zealand with her young son Finn. It was a massive shift from focusing on her professional competition career to coaching and training, something she genuinely loves. Lisa's goal is to get more like-minded people on board with improving the Kiwi training culture and mentality. She has been chipping away at redeveloping her sevenacre Tamahere property into what she hopes will eventually become a training hub.

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"I've had the property here for eight years, and, luckily, we didn't sell it while we were off gallivanting overseas. Building a really good training business is what I want to achieve here. I was overseas on a strong pathway to Tokyo with a big team of horses, competing on tours, so this has been a significant recalibration and regrouping, starting again. From a personal career competition focus, I've switched to a training focus." The property has ten stables, a jumping arena, and post and rail paddocks, which she is about to replace with specialised horse fencing. A purpose-built shed and client bar and lounge is a recent addition. The idea behind the lounge is to create a welcoming place, somewhere people enjoy coming to, and where they want to stay, hang out and come back to again. Lisa says she's not done with her international riding career. Still, she chose to come home at this stage of her life and establish the training business. "While Finn is at this age, it's about having stability and routine for him too."

Lisa has been no

stranger to success on the competition scene, rising through the show jumping ranks to win the Young Rider series multiple times and the Young Rider title at Horse of the Year. She began competing at Grand Prix level in New Zealand

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

Lisa’s business is developing in a direction she is proud of. She takes in clients’ horses for training, produces her own, and coaches at home and around New Zealand.

from a young age and enjoyed success with numerous horses up to World Cup. There were training stints overseas while continuing to produce horses here and representing New Zealand on Tri-Nations and Trans-Tasman teams. She has won the Lady Rider of the Year title twice and the Norwood Gold Cup. In 2016 she moved to Australia to ride for Oaks Sport Horses, taking her 2015 Land Rover Horse of the Year winning mount Amaretto MVNZ with her (the horse was later sold in Australia). The following year she relocated to the Netherlands with Oaks for a further year. Coming home to New Zealand in 2018, she won Lady Rider again at Land Rover Horse of the Year on Matawai Sentana, a horse she had been riding for just a few weeks. Returning to Europe, Lisa's star continued to rise, and she got a surprise call-up for the New Zealand Nation's Cup team at a 5* show in Rome. "Oh my goodness, that show has an atmosphere like no other. Even if you went there as a spectator, you'd think it was unbelievable. It was a bit of a late call-up, and, to be fair, the horse was probably a bit out of its depth. I would have loved to do it later

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with the horsepower I had then. I never felt like I finished what I wanted to do in Europe. "It is unfinished business, 100%. I was devastated at how circumstances changed the professional outcome for me with that international career, but I'd like to think I'm not done yet. There are goals I want to kick, and that time will come. I was just getting there; I was close to cracking the top 350 riders in the Longines world rankings." In typical Lisa fashion, she's philosophical about what happened and the fragility of riding horses for other people. "I also knew when it's not yours - when you don't own the horses, and you're not in charge, it's fragile. I was always aware of that." Life with horses has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows for Lisa over her whole career, and if there's one thing she knows, it's how to pick herself up and go again. "It has always been highs then lows; highs then lows - it's not new. But I've never had just one ride; I've always come back and produced another horse. I think I have resilience. It has always been - this is the situation, make a plan and go again. That's just constant; that's life."

It is unfinished business, 100%. I was devastated at how circumstances changed the professional outcome for me with t h a t i n t e r n a t i o n a l c a r e e r, b u t I ’ d like to think I’m not done yet. There are goals I want to kick, and that time will come. I was just getting there; I was close to cracking the top 350 riders in the Longines world rankings.

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

It might have been a curveball, but there is more than

one way to skin a cat. Lisa instead turned her attention to being the best trainer she could be and establishing a highly respected training barn. "I'm enjoying being back in New Zealand, and I chose to be here. Now I'm forging ahead and trying to establish something I'm passionate about here; training." Lisa believes we could have a better training culture in New Zealand, and the DIY mentality is holding us back when it comes to show jumping. "For me, a training hub and educating clients is more than just jumping. It's flatwork, management, and looking at the whole picture. Having spent time overseas, I can see holes in our training. "I wish people would invest in their riding and their horse's education rather than going to shows week after week having problems, but not investing in fixing that. The attitude towards training is a work in progress here; I think that's why we're behind. "You invest in education for your children; this is no different. Going to shows is expensive, and training is one thing that can make a difference to your results. To change that mindset here and help Kiwis get on a better pathway would be my goal. I have an opinion, and not everyone will agree with me, but I back myself, and I think I have a lot to offer." Through her business, Lisa Coupe Equestrian Coaching and Training, a typical day involves a 50/50 balance between riding and training horses in the morning and coaching in the afternoon,

Left: The recent adorable addition to the family is Gertrude. Right hand page: Lisa & RLE CAMORRA DES NONAINS Z competing at Azelhof, Lier, Belgium. Image: EquusPix Photography. Below: WALLINGFORD DORADO (DIARADO X PRINZESS VI) is a horse that Lisa thinks can go to the top.

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often seven days a week. She travels around the country, giving clinics every few weeks too. With a passion for training and educating horses correctly for the future, schooling is a big part of what she does, and taking on schoolers is the other primary focus of Lisa's business. Her coaching clientele encompasses a broad range of riding abilities, and Lisa's ethos is to keep things simple. She focuses on the basics and building a solid foundation to instil confidence in all riders. "I genuinely enjoy teaching horses and watching them progress. I also love flatwork, I'm OCD about straightness, and I love the training process. It's a bit the same with people; introducing a concept and helping someone work through the idea, seeing the penny drop and the progression of others gives me a thrill. "I like to think a strength I have in my teaching is that I've done it myself. I'm always watching and picking things up. Yes, I have had

the opportunity to train with some amazing people, but I want to learn, and I seek that out." Lisa says the coach/rider fit is different for everyone, but she firmly believes people gravitate to where they belong. "A lot of people just want to hear cheerleading. I think the people who work with me like how I work with them. Communication is hugely important, and having a coach/rider relationship where you can problem-solve together, and you feel like your coach supports you in more than just your 45-minute lesson." The students she's achieved the best results with are those who come with an open mind. "I have people who have worked hard on the flat. We've found the right horses. I've hooked them up with a sports psychologist, educated them on the importance of building a relationship with the vet and farrier, and opened all the doors to make it work. Those people who are open to the bigger picture are the ones I've had the most success with." Ultimately, Lisa's dream would be to have clients base themselves with her, working with them daily and travelling to shows together. "At the moment, New Zealand has a real DIY mentality, and everyone has their own place, so they don't necessarily need to base somewhere."

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

Aside from the training

base, Lisa has been quietly working with some exciting young horses, with plans to have them out competing next season. A short trip to Europe over winter to ride for a month is also on the cards. According to Lisa, stallion Wallingford Zorro (Zorro) is the real deal. Owned by Gareth Dunkerley, a small animal vet from Auckland, the seven-year-old is by Zirocco Blue out of Prinzess VI by Cassini. "He's a seriously spectacular animal, possibly the nicest horse I've ever sat on. We'd like to look to Australia, Florida, Europe with him in the next couple of years. We know he's good enough, but obviously, he hasn't had the mileage yet, and we'll be training through winter to be prepared for next season. "New Zealand is a great place to produce horses, but I feel that a horse of Zorro's quality deserves to get a shot on the world stage. With Covid, it has been frustrating not being able to get out there and get stuck in. He's probably a little bit behind, but I rate the horse, and I'm excited about his future."

Above: Lisa & ENCORE competing at Piazza di Siena, where they placed an impressive 10th in the 1.45m Accumulator class in Rome.

Zorro is a half-brother to Cassina Dior; the mare Phillip Steiner is currently riding at World Cup level. Lisa also has Cassina Dior's full sister, by Diarado based with her. "It's exciting to be working with and riding for a passionate breeder like Gareth, who is breeding these horses like .Prinzess VI out of exceptional imported mares. It's also exciting for the sport and industry in New Zealand. "I'm riding horses for other people too, but have sold some nice ones. With starting from scratch financially, it will take a while to be able to invest in horsepower, and I'm open to anyone who might like to come on board! "I'm hungry to get back into it now. I haven't felt like it was the right time. I haven't ridden at a proper show since December 2020, just training days, but I'm ready to come back." Lisa is grateful to be sponsored by Prestige Equestrian Ltd, having ridden in the Renaissance saddles since 2018 and Ego7 riding apparel and Tucci boots. C

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DRESSAGE spotlight

COMMITTED With talent to burn, Mikayla Wildermoth is on the rise, and she has a big dream to train her young horse through the grades, all the way to Grand Prix and international competition.

COOL TO BE PART OF A TEAM BECAUSE RIDING IS QUITE A SOLO SPORT. TRAVELLING OVER TO AUSTRALIA AND THE EXPERIENCE OF RIDING DIFFERENT HORSES WAS GREAT. THERE’S A LOT OF PRIDE IN REPRESENTING YOUR COUNTRY, AND IT’S MY DREAM TO REPRESENT NEW ZEALAND IT WAS

IN DRESSAGE OVERSEAS.

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WORDS - Rebecca Greaves IMAGES - Michelle Clarke Photography

to dressage

The opportunity to

ride one of Vanessa Way’s top dressage horses when she was just 11 piqued Mikayla’s (Mikey) interest in dressage. Since then, it’s been dressage all the way. Mikey started in the show ring, enjoying great success, but dressage has captured her heart. The Wildermoth family recently moved south, shifting from Taranaki, where Mikey was born, to 10 acres at Ohoka, Canterbury. The property has been developed, and Mikey’s horses will join them any day. In the meantime, they have been

fortunate to keep the horses at Sarah Gray’s agistment property, Tedeschi Farm, just 10 minutes down the road. “Moving here gives Mikey the opportunity to go to university and continue riding. There are good schools down here, and we’d always liked Canterbury,” mum Michelle explains. “We’ve got the fencing up, the arena was finished yesterday, and the hay has been cut. Once we get the horses here, it will feel like home. We’ve been blown away by how supportive and welcoming

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

the young dressage riders have been down here; it’s been refreshing.” Mikey, 15, attends Rangi Ruru Girls’ School in Christchurch and hopes to attend university when she finishes school.

Michelle had horses growing up and competed

Right hand page: Mikey and DON DOUGLAS CFH (Dougal), winning the South Island Back on Track Advanced Medium Super 5 League. Image: Bella Maitland Photography.

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in low-level dressage and showing. A miniature horse she bought 20 years ago (and still has today) became Mikey’s first pony. Not surprisingly, Mikey started showing an interest in horses as a toddler, and it snowballed from there. She began competing in the show ring in the Lead Rein section at age five and continued showing until she was 12, competing at HOY every year from the age of six. Mikey won First Ridden and Paced and Mannered titles at HOY and travelled to Australia three times for showing, riding borrowed horses. She competed at Grand Nationals in Sydney in 2017 and as part of the New Zealand Arabian Horse Youth Team in 2018 and 2019, winning the Rider title in 2019. “It was cool to be part of a team because riding is quite a solo sport. Travelling over to Australia and the experience of riding different horses was great. There’s a lot of pride in representing your country, and it’s my dream to represent New Zealand in dressage overseas. “I did showing and dressage for a while, but I enjoy the dressage, progressing up the grades and doing the different movements. When I was eight, I started having lessons with Abbie Deken. I would go out to her and Vanessa’s stables and see them training the high-level dressage horses.” The turning point that cemented her love for

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

Above: DONNEROCK EH (Diesel) is by DONNERUBIN and is Mikey’s latest exciting prospect. Right hand page: Above: DON DOUGLAS CFH (Dougal) is Mikey’s first hack and they have already had wonderful success. Image: Bella Maitland Photography. Lower left image: Mikey loves her Celeris boots from LH Equestrian (Louisa Hill).

dressage was when she took her pony to Abbie one school holiday, and Vanessa (Way) let 11-year-old Mikey have a ride on Pronto. “She let me have a ride and was teaching me flying changes, passage, and piaffe. I’d never ridden anything like that before and loved it. It was all on from there! After that it was dressage, dressage, dressage. I didn’t really want to do the showing anymore, and we started looking for a dressage pony. “I definitely enjoy dressage over jumping. I’m a perfectionist; I like to be nice, calm, and polished – everything perfect. I like that there’s always something more to do, to go up the grades and teach your horse something new.” The search for a dressage pony commenced, and they soon purchased Thumbelina II (Dinky), starting at Level 2. Together they won the Level 2 Championship at the Youth Festival and worked their way up to Level 5. Dinky was recently sold due to Mikey’s long legs. The combination had hoped to compete at LRHOY, something they never got to do in their time together. Still, it wasn’t to be with Covid forcing the

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show’s cancellation two years running. “Mikey has never competed at HOY in dressage, and we held on to Dinky in the hopes of it happening this year, but it wasn’t to be, and she has just grown too tall. The nice thing was that we were approached by people we knew; we didn’t advertise, and it seemed a perfect home for Dinky.” Mikey got her first hack, Don Douglas CFH (Dougal), about a year after Dinky. By Don Ricoss out of an Anamour mare, Dougal had just started at Level 5 when they bought him. Mikey was only 13, and he is a big Warmblood – 16.2hh – luckily, Mikey is tall, and he’s been the perfect gentleman under saddle. “He’s been the perfect first hack, and they’ve made a great team and are advancing,” Michelle says. Dougal is now 10, and this year the pair made the New Zealand team for the Livamol World Challenge. Mikey’s exciting young prospect is four-year-old Donnerock EH (Diesel) by Donnerubin out of a Royston Rockstar mare, which they bought 18 months ago, just before he was broken in.

IT’S MY

DREAM

T O TA K E A Y O U N G H O R S E THROUGH TO

GRAND PRIX AS IT’S ALL YOUR OWN WORK. W E ’ V E J U S T S TA R T E D COMPETING; HE’S

JUST A BABY, BUT HE’S BEEN SUCH A G O O D B O Y, A N D I ’ M ENJOYING WORKING WITH HIM.

“He had all the paces we loved and a sweet nature about him. We looked for a Donnerubin because they’re known to have a good brain, and as this was a young rider bringing on a green horse, we wanted to make sure the fit was right. We wanted the potential to go to Grand Prix because that has always been a dream for Mikey. He ticked all the boxes,” Michelle says. “It’s my dream to take a young horse through to Grand Prix as it’s all your own work. We’ve just started competing; he’s just a baby, but he’s been such a good boy, and I’m enjoying working with him. I’ve found it helps with riding Dougal too, as you go back to your basics more,” Mikey says.

Days are often long for Mikey, who is committed to her

sport, and it has always been an expectation that she’ll do the work herself. With younger twin brothers who are also busy with sport, she needs to pull her weight. “When the horses are at home, there is not a lot anyone else does with them. I’m working full-time, so it’s on Mikey – if she wants

it, she does it. Otherwise, as a family, it wouldn’t work, and we’ve always said to her that if she wants to compete at this level, there’s an expectation she puts the work in,” Michelle explains. “It’s a massive time, money, and family commitment. What you put in is what you get out, and she’s very capable.” Usually, when the horses are at home, in summer Mikey rides before school and feeds and mucks out if they’re stabled. She rides after school, feeds up, and then does her homework. “I love the horses and having a partnership with them. I love what they give back to you; they try so hard. It’s such a weird sport for an animal to be doing that; it’s a special partnership.” Mikey’s goals are to get to Level 6 with Dougal in the coming season and compete in the Young Rider classes when she turns 16. “I want to go overseas and compete at an international level. The big dream is the Olympics. I definitely want to keep riding my whole life but also go to university and have a career outside of horses. I think I will study business or something like that. “It’s the reality in New Zealand. It’s tough to make a career with

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Mikey and DON DOUGLAS CFH (Dougal), winning the South Island Back on Track Advanced Medium Super 5 League. Image: Bella Maitland Photography.

horses. Having the backup of tertiary education is something we would like her to follow as well,” Michelle adds. Mikey credits Abbie Deken with being influential for her riding, taking Mikey under her wing, and providing plenty of help and support over the years, including when purchasing horses. “Everyone at Surrey Hill, including Vanessa and her working pupils, inspired Mikey. They have all been amazing, and we’ve been lucky with the people she was surrounded by in Taranaki. It’s been hard to move away from that, but she’s been training with Andrea Raves since being down here, and Andrea has a similar style, so we’ve been lucky to have that too. We’ve always put a big focus on the training side.” Mikey says her family has always supported her, with Michelle driving to shows and helping with the turnout of the horses, especially in the showing days. Her Oma and Opa often come to shows in their motorhome to support her too. Dad Mike is usually at home with the boys, but he never misses the big shows like HOY. C

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Above: Mikey training DONNEROCK EH (Diesel).

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FAMILY spotlight

FOCUSED ON

family

A shared love of horses brought Rebecca and Tyler McKee together, and this fiercely competitive duo works as a team to run their northern Southland farm, as well as an equestrian business, competing their horses and juggling family life.

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Tyler McKee isn’t joking when he says that life in

their household is a circus, but you get the feeling he and wife Rebecca wouldn’t have it any other way. Living remotely means long hours driving to get to competitions is just the norm, and there’s always work to be done on the farm. Add to that their equestrian business competing, breaking in and schooling horses, as well as teaching students and busy 10-year-old son James, and life gets pretty hectic. “I call it the circus. It is a juggling act, and people do say we are mad! I’ll leave home at 3 am to drive to Christchurch the day before a competition, but when you’re on the farm and doing it all yourself, things have to happen,” Tyler says. The couple leases 700 acres off Tyler’s mum and dad, and they are the fourth generation of his family to farm the land. They are transitioning to taking over the farm, which runs breeding ewes and does dairy support. “Tyler is the farmer; I’m the helper, sheep pusher-upper, runner-around on the motorbike and do the office stuff,” Rebecca explains. The evening of our interview, it’s 8 pm, and Rebecca has just returned from teaching. After the call, Tyler is off to put lambs in the shed – he plans to be up at 4 am belly crutching them. It’s all in a day’s work for these two. Rebecca’s chosen discipline is dressage, while Tyler’s main love is show jumping. Still, both have dabbled across a wide range of disciplines and are

WORDS - Rebecca Greaves IMAGES - Michelle Clarke Photography SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

Left : As the family tacks up the horses, they have 10-year-old James involved in every aspect. Above: Rebecca riding FIS GET SMART, a nine-year-old by FIS SANTO out of an URBAN mare. Right hand page: James with his superstar pony Shady aka NIGHT SHADES KV. accomplished riders at whatever they turn their hand to. The pair are regulars at HOY and Nationals and, between them, have a slew of titles to their names. “We met at HOY, in the pub! Tyler was riding a horse for Allie Harper, who I knew through showing, and they came back and hung out at the truck – the rest is history.” Now, Rebecca’s 10-year-old son James is carrying on the family tradition, collecting plenty of wide ribbons in the showing ring around the A&P show circuit this season. Seeing his success is a big thrill for them all. The family recently tried working the hounds with the local hunt, and they hope to get out on the hunt field this winter. “James’s pony has never been hunting, but by the end, he was up with the Master, and they gave him a whip, which he was cracking. All three of us riding out, doing that together, is cool,” Tyler says.

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Rebecca’s story

Ballet was Rebecca’s first love, and she grew up in a town section in Christchurch, a world away from her life today. “Mum rode as a teenager but gave up when she got married. She had a friend whose daughter had got too big for her pony; she rang Mum and said the pony is coming down; you’d better find a paddock.” By this stage, Rebecca had already decided she was keen to give riding a go and had booked herself in at the local riding school. Eventually, her parents bought 25 acres, and they left town. “Mum was self-taught and could only afford Standardbreds off the track, so she could kind of sit on anything. When we started, she’d buy these naughty three-year-old ponies and ride them first because they bucked like nothing else.” Rebecca did everything from Pony Club, showing and eventing to show jumping, but always gravitated back to showing. “I had a really lovely mare that show jumped quite well, but she broke down, so I bred from her, thinking I’d breed show jumpers. In the meantime, I had James and decided show jumping wasn’t for me anymore. Because they were young horses and I hadn’t done a lot of dressage, I ended up showing them.” Rebecca enjoyed plenty of success in the show ring, winning the Riding Horse of the Year title several times on her lovely bay by Ramirez, Kinsella Razi (Johnny). She also won Saddle Hunter of the Year with Loretta Tait’s Southwell Rendezvous (Mouse), a horse she then campaigned in Australia, taking runner-up in the Australasian Saddle Hunter class. Mouse was the horse that piqued Rebecca’s interest in dressage as they took her to Nationals at McLeans Island as a four-year-old. There she was runner-up to Solo, Rebecca’s now top horse. Dressage became her focus on both Johnny and Mouse, and nine years ago, she applied for and made the Canterbury dressage squad on Mouse. It was then that she met Christine Weal, who has been her coach ever since. Through Christine, she purchased Solo, a gelding by Salutation out of a Krack C mare, who was at Level 2 at the time. Together,

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Top image: James leading WINDERMERE WANDERLUST at the Welsh and Cob Show for the champion ribbon. Image: Kristel Mack Saunders Photography Above: Tyler trains CORRIDA often in the paddock, just to break the boredom of arena time. Opposite page: Tyler competing CORRIDA at Ashburton Show Jumping Championships in the Mini Prix class. Tyler hacks out on the stunning Southland family farm.

they won the Level 4 title at the Horse of the Year Show. Now 12, Solo is at Level 8, and Rebecca hopes he will start at Grand Prix next season. Rebecca has had a break from competing for much of the season, as the couple tries for a baby through IVF. Solo is currently up in the North Island with Christine being worked. As well as Solo, she has FIS Get Smart (Smarty), a nine-year-old by FIS Santo out of an Urban mare, who also came through Christine. “I hope to get him to Level 5 next year. He’s very talented; just a little tricky when he goes out.” Rebecca loves the challenge of dressage. “With dressage, you are always learning, and there’s always something to improve on. If

WITH DRESSAGE,

YOU ARE ALWAYS LEARNING, AND THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO

IMPROVE ON. IF

SOMETHING BECOMES EASY, IT DOESN’T

INTEREST ME. I LIKE TO BE CHALLENGED AND PUSHED, AND THAT’S WHY

I LOVE TRAINING WITH CHRISTINE; SHE’S ALWAYS

PUSHING FOR YOU TO BE BETTER. - REBECCA -

something becomes easy, it doesn’t interest me. I like to be challenged and pushed, and that’s why I love training with Christine; she’s always pushing for you to be better. “I would love to get the Grand Prix and take Solo to Australia. We had talked about taking him to Australia to compete maybe last season or this season, but it all went by the wayside. That would be the goal. I can’t see myself going further overseas than that. At this stage of my life, I haven’t thought past James and being the number one person for him.” Not competing much herself this season, supporting Tyler at shows and having James out there doing it too has been a great source of enjoyment for Rebecca.

Tyler’s story

It all started when Tyler’s grandfather imported a stallion from England and began breeding Welsh ponies as Willow Lodge.

With two older brothers riding, by the time he was 18-months-old Tyler had a pony. “I was basically shoved on top because I was crawling around their legs, and it all went from there.” He started riding around the farm and progressed to Pony Club and eventually showing and jumping. “I followed the A&Ps because you could do showing in the morning and show jumping and Round the Ring in the afternoon. I rode a show pony for Julianne Baines for three years and was collecting all these hand-me-down ponies – sometimes I’d have three or four ponies at a show.” Growing too tall for ponies, Tyler got his first hack, and while he was away at boarding school, his mum would ride one and lead one during the week. On finishing school, Tyler started a building apprenticeship and travelled to a stable in Holland for three months on a working holiday. “It was a stable that broke in young dressage horses and jumpers, a trading stable. I came home and finished my apprenticeship and then went back to the same stable for three years. Some stallions came in for a lady, and I started riding them, including a four-year-old I trained to go to Germany and get classified. He passed that, and when he came home, I continued riding her stallions.” While it was nice, the reality was that working at the stable wasn’t

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HE WAS SO

BIG AND WEAK THAT HE STARTED AS

A DRESSAGE HORSE, GOING UP TO LEVEL 5. LAST YEAR WAS HIS

FIRST PROPER

SEASON JUMPING AS

A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD, AND HE FINISHED THE SEASON

JUMPING 1.30M. - TYLER - CORRIDA -

going to pay his way, and the farm beckoned. Tyler returned to New Zealand. He had kept a few horses at home while he was away, and one, Repertoire, became the first horse he produced to Grand Prix level before being sold. “I also had a young horse we bred, Daniel, who I still have now, and two grey mares. One, Lumarzo, I jumped to Mini Prix, but she was only 15.1hh, and I was too big for her, so I thought I might breed from her. She was only 12, so I gave the ride to Sam Gillies as she was short of a ride, and in the end, we sold her.” Stratos, the other grey mare, was competing up to Mini Prix until a niggly abscess that lingered side-lined her for much of this season. Tyler considered breeding from her but decided it was too late in the season. He hopes she’ll be out again next season. He also rode a chestnut mare by Heartbreaker out of the same mare as Lumarzo, who he broke in for Vicky Hammond. “She came back to me as a six-year-old and finished the season jumping 1.20m. She was a very promising mare with a big heart, but she broke down and is now in foal to Candyman.” Tyler’s top horse is Corrida (Daniel), by Corofino out of a Grosvenor mare, who he bred and broke in himself. The horse was big and weak, and Tyler took him slowly. At eight years old now, he’s just starting to show his true potential. “He was so big and weak that he started as a dressage horse, going up to Level 5. Last year was his first proper season jumping as a seven-year-old, and he finished the season jumping 1.30m. Even now, he’s still filling out and growing. I probably threw him in the deep end at Nationals, putting him in the 1.30m-1.40m Championship, and he jumped a little green on the first day, but by the second day, he was really good. He doesn’t look like he has to try.”

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Top and middle: Arena training goes hand in hand with hacking out for the couple. Above: James riding WINDERMERE WANDERLUST at the Welsh and Cob Show for the First Year Ridden championship. Image Kristel Mack Saunders Photography.

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*Turmericle not recommended for pregnant mares SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 37

Tyler isn’t hung up on chasing age group series and says he wants to have a horse when it’s 16, not just for now. “I don’t believe in the series classes so much. Many people do them, and you never see those horses again. Sometimes people get caught up doing the heights when the horses aren’t mentally or physically ready. “With Daniel doing dressage to Level 5, he learned to sit, to push correctly, to be good in the bridle, and understand what the leg means. When you start jumping, all that stuff is already there.” He hopes Daniel can progress up the levels but says they also joke about how he should be an eventer, as he’s built like one. During the season, Tyler also acquired a project horse, 11-yearold Hashtag Yolo (Corey), a Hokonui Sporthorse by Corofino. “He was pretty tricky but is now jumping 1.10m – 1.20m. He is a bit of a dude, and hopefully, he’ll make a hunter – it could go either way!” Tyler’s goal is to get back to the main ring at HOY and, eventually, jump a World Cup round. “I need to get to a few more shows with atmosphere. I think, with a gelding, when they get to 12, they have to be gone; I don’t want to have old horses. Mine are low mileage because they don’t have the legs run off them at the start. I like to produce them and take them up the levels.”

Making it work

With Tyler increasingly busy on the farm and with family, he admits it’s probably time to back off the breaking-in. “I do all the tractor work – the cropping and balage we do ourselves, and it can be full-on.” Despite the madness, Tyler says the horses are his time away from the farm, and he enjoys seeing their students’ progress with their riding at shows. “You work hard to get away, and it’s my ‘out’. And it’s being with like-minded people. With James, seeing him out there doing it is quite a buzz.” Rebecca points out that a big motivator is they are both fiercely competitive. “I have been since the age of four when I first stepped on stage to do ballet. I would get FOMO if I didn’t go to shows, which keeps pushing you to get out. And you know the people you compete against are always improving too,” she says. “We’re all winners in our own arena; it’s not until you get out

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Top left: Reecca and SOLO, Advanced Champion at Canterbury Dressage Championships. Image Pip Hume. Top: Riding as a family is important to the McKees. Above: James riding NIGHT SHADES KV. The combination has done extremely well this season. and get amongst it that you can see what’s missing in your training and really test yourself,” Tyler sums up. Having a partner who rides and supporting each other in training and at shows has been a huge plus for the couple. “It’s pretty important. We look to each other. I’ll ask him, ‘how does this look? Does it look right?’ I help Tyler with his jumping and flatwork and vice versa. At shows, I’ll be out there on the practice fence,” Rebecca says. The couple is grateful to be sponsored by Dunstan Horsefeeds and Equilibrium Vitamins and Minerals. Bespoke Equestrian also sponsors Rebecca. C

SHOWJUMPING spotlight

Johanna Wylaars has

PRICELESS

dedication WORDS - Rebecca Greaves IMAGES - Michelle Clarke Photography

This talented young show jumper dreamt of winning the National Pony Grand Prix title. To bag it at the New Zealand Jumping & Show Hunter Championship in her final season riding ponies on her special Wembleybrook Tiffany was the icing on the cake.

Johanna was just

nine when the Wylaars family purchased Wembleybrook Tiffany (Tiffany) as an unbroken five-year-old. She never imagined the pony would be her ticket to the Rangiora Vet Centre NZ National Open Pony Championship. “I was thrilled with how Tiffany jumped at Nationals. I’ve always wanted to win the title, so to win it on Tiffany was cool,” she says. The fifteen-year-old lives with her family in Belfast, near Christchurch, and attends Marian College. She has been riding for as long as she can remember, starting on a naughty little Shetland pony, who she fell off almost daily. “Mum (Pip) got her first horse when she was 12 and has ridden her whole life. My older sister rode, and my younger sister Eva still rides too. Mum often comes on hacks with us; she loves riding Tiffany.” Johanna came up through the Pony Club ranks and is still a keen member of Eyreton Pony Club. She loves the teams competitions like Springston Trophy and Pony Club Show Jumping Champs

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and also does a lot of eventing. “We try to go to Pony Club as much as we can. It’s a really good community, and everyone is friendly and nice. Mum is the President and has been for quite a while. Everyone is supportive, and I enjoy it.” Johanna’s first competitive pony was Corivale Fairylights. This super wee pony carried Johanna around her first Springston Trophy at just eight. She then got 13.2hh Corivale Greased Lightening, a half-brother to Fairylights, who she evented to 1.05m. “Mum’s an eventer at heart, so we did lots of eventing before we went show jumping. I love eventing because of the thrill of cross-country. I’m not sure what it is about show jumping - it’s so much fun, and it’s a great community. I guess you could say I just caught the bug!”

Johanna has had

two super ponies at Pony Grand Prix level this season, Tiffany and Larabelle (Lara). The family has produced both ponies, making their success even sweeter.

Needs to be shot landscape with lots of room

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COMPETITIVE A S I A M . S H E LOVES T O G O O U T A N D PERFORM H E R B E S T. S H E ’ S DEFINITELY N O T T H E EASIEST, A N D S H E ’ S Q U I T E OPINIONATED – T I F FA N Y D O E S I THINK SHE’S AS

W H AT T I F FA N Y W A N T S !

Middle left image: Johanna with her trusty dog, Po. Lower left image: Johanna leading LARABELLE and WEMBLERYBROOK TIFFANY. Right hand page: Five-year-old Annie is by CENTAVOS out of a ZABALOU mare. Lower: Johanna and LARABELLE during the Pony Grand Prix at the NZ National Championship jumping and Show Hunter Show.

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Tiffany was purchased from Wembleybrook Stud in 2016 as an unbroken five-year-old. Pip broke the pony in, and they had help from Georgie Dormer and Katie Meredith in the early days. “She’s very sassy. I started riding her at nine and did go eventing, but she was very keen on cross-country, so we started show jumping. I loved it on her so much. Since then, she’s gone from strength to strength and loves it.” When Johanna first started riding Tiffany, she was teeny tiny, and the thought of winning a

national title seemed unlikely. “I never imagined it. She was this big, chunky, full-height pony. Mum has always seen it in her, but I have struggled sometimes. I’m glad I persevered because she’s a fun pony to jump.” By Dragonwick Havana out of Wembleybrook Miss Twiggy, Tiffany is now 11, and Johanna describes her as having the competitive edge. “I think she’s as competitive as I am. She loves to go out and perform her best. She’s definitely not the easiest, and she’s quite opinionated – Tiffany does what Tiffany wants! But she’s got the heart and wants to please. She would never say no.” Aside from winning the national title this season, they won the South Island title last season and won the Canterbury Series in their first season at Pony Grand Prix level. “She’s the first pony I have jumped Grand Prix on, and we learned together and kind of taught each other along the way.” Her other pony is seven-year-old Lara, who they purchased as a green-broke four-year-old

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I’D

LOVE T O

CARRY ON WITH HORSES AND SEE

FAR I T TA K E S M E . I D O N ’ T HAVE M U C H IDEA W H AT HOW

I WANT TO DO WHEN I

LEAVE S C H O O L , BUT I SEE HORSES

PART O F M Y LIFE. I ’ M TA K I N G

BEING

IT AS IT COMES, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO

REPRESENT N E W Z E A L A N D O N E D AY. Above: Annie often gets worked out of the arena and Johanna is a fan of improving the flat work. Right: Nothing wrong with a little bit of playtime in the river with WEMBLERYBROOK TIFFANY. Far right: A highlight of last season was Johanna and WEMBLERYBROOK TIFFANY winning the Rangiora Vet Centre NZ Pony Grand Prix National title at the Nationals.

from Jess Land. This was Lara’s first season at Pony Grand Prix level, and, given her young age, Lara has stepped up in a short space of time. “She’s done a bit of everything, has evented to 1.05m, and excelled in the show jumping ring. It’s been a fun journey with her. “She was quite weak when we got her, but Mum has a really good eye, which is lucky for me. Mum always had faith in her. Breeding-wise, she’s a bit of a mystery; we don’t know anything about her apart from the fact she’s seven.” Although Johanna hasn’t technically aged out of ponies, her legs have grown too long, and both ponies are sadly for sale. “I’m too tall – I have Dad’s genes to thank for that. It’s a tough decision because they become part of the family, but someone will be very lucky to end up with them in their paddock.” Younger sister Eva has taken over the ride on hack,

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MUM’S AN

EVENTER AT

HEART, S O W E D I D L O T S O F E V E N T I N G BEFORE W E WENT SHOW JUMPING. I

LOVE E V E N T I N G BECAUSE OF THE THRILL OF

CROSS-COUNTRY. Blossom NZPH, which Georgie Dormer owns. “I show jumped her last season and this season, but Eva has just stolen the reins. She loves her so much, and I’m excited to see them out competing. Blossom is small, about 15hh.” Luckily, Johanna has two exciting young hacks waiting in the wings, and she’s looking forward to getting them out to training days over winter. Five-year-old Annie is by Centavos out of a Zabalou mare, while four-year-old Sam is also by Centavos out of a mare called Lilliana. “I would love Sam to do some Five-Year-Old classes next season. Annie, unfortunately, missed that boat this year, as I was a bit busy with the others. They both have a cool jump and are very trainable, and I’m excited to see where they will go.”

Johanna says she’s

fortunate to have the support of her family, especially her younger sister, when it comes to horses.

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Above - Although TIFFANY (DRAGONWICK HAVANA out of WEMBLEYBROOK MISS TWIGGY) has attitude, she also has a big heart and is a firm favourite.

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“Mum and my sister are number one grooms, and last season, Dad started coming to shows too. He brings his BBQ and is the number one cook and horse holder! I am lucky to have such supportive parents, and my little sister is so helpful too – it’s quite a family affair when we turn up at shows.” As well as her family, she’s had several people help with her riding over the years, notably Georgie Dormer and instruction from Andrew Scott and Tracy Kovacs. “Penny Jones, who comes over from Greymouth regularly, has been hugely influential on my riding, and we get lots of tips from her.” Johanna attributes her success to her excellent support network and hard work. “I love seeing the ponies improve. It is hard work, but with hard work, the results come. It can take a long time, but eventually, it does pay off, and it’s so rewarding to see your hard work pay off. “Both my Corivale ponies were going when I got them, but they were very cheeky and taught me patience and determination. Bringing on your own ponies takes time, but you feel so proud when you get there, and knowing you have done it all yourself is such a cool feeling. It feels much sweeter when you have put the work in yourself. “I’d love to carry on with horses and see how far it takes me. I don’t have much idea what I want to do when I leave school, but I see horses being part of my life. I’m taking it as it comes, but I would love to represent New Zealand one day.” Johanna is grateful to be sponsored by Hinterland and The Rider Shop. C

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DRESSAGE/SHOWING spotlight

SUCCESS IN

two codes WORDS - Ashleigh Kendall IMAGES - Christine Cornege Photography Every morning, Mel Barton’s alarm buzzes at 5.30. Her days are jam-packed as she juggles her corporate career with her passion for horses.

Home for Mel and fiance

Chris is a 20-acre property in Hamilton, where she works as the Operational Buyer for GEA Milfos International Limited. This very supportive workplace allows her to adjust her hours so she can ride, along with being able to work from home some of the time. Mel usually works from 8.30am through to 2.30pm before getting to the stables around 3pm to do the horses. “Sometimes we go hacking early morning, and then I work from lunch,” she says. “I try to be finished and back inside by 6.30 or 7pm to feed the dogs and have dinner; then I continue working until about 10pm. I work every night, and sometimes I will take my laptop to horse shows so I can use any downtime to keep on top of it all.” She is not one to sit idle. Any spare time when she isn’t riding is usually spent on board the tractor or quad doing farm work, spraying, harrowing, weeding, or mowing. Mel’s small but mighty team is made up of KS Raspberry Roll (Pebbles), Latino (Larry) and Lord Gallaher (Gally). Pebbles is a 14-year-old Thoroughbred mare who is now retired. Together, she and Mel enjoyed a successful career in the show ring. “I bought her as a three-year-old, and we had lots of success over many years. She could be a spicy number at times, preferring to be on two legs and not four! If I got in the ring, I was winning,” she reminisces. They won many wides over the years, and one of Mel’s fondest memories is coming

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third in the Sue Yearbury Memorial amongst top company when it was held in the oval at the Epsom Showgrounds. “She was such a joy in that class and got comments about what a kind ride she was. I have since bred two lovely horses from her - my own Lord Gallagher, and La Belle Havana, who I recently sold to Deborah Crosby,” she explains. Larry is a 15-year-old Trakehner by Holme Park Flute. He is a horse with many quirks but with the most beautiful soul. “I love this horse dearly; he has the most gentle big eyes,” she says. “Initially, I was just riding him for my good friend Lisa Gately in the show ring. Larry and I clicked; I may not be the best rider, but he lets me fumble away, learning what I can. He has the kindest nature, albeit super-sensitive.” The pair currently compete at Level 4 dressage and enjoy the Riding Horse classes in the show ring. Recently, they were Runner-up Large Show Hunter Horse at the Show Horse Council Nationals, securing a golden ticket to Grand Nationals in Australia. They were Runner-up in the Senior Musical, in terrible conditions and torrential rain. Gally rounds off Mel’s team. He is a five-year-old gelding she bred by Aspen Hills Shellfire and out of KS Raspberry Roll. “He’s lucky he’s stunning as he takes quirky to a new level! He is maturing well now, but as a young horse, he struggled to stand still and would piaffe on the spot or jiggle his head

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T H E M O S T I M P O R TA N T T H I N G

BELIEVE I N Y O U R S E L F ; T H AT ’ S A HUGE T H I N G . E V E N

IS TO

WHEN THINGS DON’T GO TO PLAN,

POSITIVE, K E E P T R Y I N G , DIG DEEP, R E S E T A N D TRY AGAIN. I T R Y A N D J U S T FIND SOMETHING

L E AV E T H E N E G AT I V I T Y W H E R E I T I S .

LATINO (Larry) is a 15-year-old Trakehner by HOLME PARK FLUTE. He is a horse with many quirks but with the most beautiful soul.

and pull faces and eat everything,” she laughs. “He tests everything with his mouth. He can open stable gates, move other horses from their boxes and undress them, and nothing is safe around him. He has broken his jaw and had braces more than once. He has always been a handful, and doing in-hand was more like taking a kite to a show. I need eyes in the back of my head but wouldn’t change him.” Even though they have had limited show starts, he has already won numerous championships and has taken well to the dressage ring, scoring into the high 70s. Mel explains that Gally is the best and most rewarding horse she has ever trained despite his quirks. “He is a punk and has tested me and the world from the time he greeted us,” she recalls. “He is my first home-bred horse and the first one I’ve brought through from a foal. I have put so many hours in with him. He has always been super high energy, sparking off, kicking out, or rearing off the lead. Or you will lose your cap or ponytail. Even mucking out, you have to have your wits about you. He has ripped my in-hand

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outfits at shows, eaten my gear, pulled rosettes off his bridle with a back hoof, you name it! People laughed, saying I’d never be able to ride him, but I do, and every ride is a reward. At Horse of the Year 2020, he was Runner Up Young Stock Show Horse of the Year, which was pretty exciting, especially after sparking off when we arrived, busting my sternum!”

Long term, she is looking forward to continuing to learn

what she can with Larry, being the best she can be with him and enjoying the journey for as long as it lasts. “I would love to ride in the Dressage Oval at Horse of the Year one day. That would be fun,” she says. “I have my young horse and a new one to bring through, so anything is possible.” She currently trains primarily with Wendy Skelton and occasionally Christine Weal. “Wendy has the patience of a saint and has helped me understand so much. I had never ridden at Level 3, which is where I had to start with Larry, so the language was foreign. I had so much to learn,” she reflects. “I also have training

Below: Mel and LATINO at Morrinsville Te Aroha Dessage two day where he was Reserve Champion Level 4. Image: Rachel Stringfellow

days with Christine Weal when I can as it’s great getting another perspective in training and enjoyable. I love learning.”

She does what she can to pay it forward to others,

particularly donating to a local sanctuary and helping where she can. “I like to donate to places like New Lives Rescue. When I can, I will clean out the tack room and give to them.” Her work also made a significant donation for a local Kaimanawa rescue. “That was a tearjerker with amazing results,” she reflects. “It’s really important to me to help out when I can. No matter how big or small, everything adds up.” Her mum is always the first person Mel calls after training or competitions to chat about the highs and lows of the day. “She has always supported me when she can. She lives in Auckland, so it is always special when she can come to shows,” she says. Her good friends Lisa and Carl Gately have also been an enormous support, helping her achieve many goals because they believe in her. They

are always encouraging and full of knowledge, plus there are many laughs along the way. “And Annalise, who owns Paitai Cottage, generously sponsors the boys with lovely soaps and different creams from her range,” Mel adds. “She also comes to events where possible to support and encourage. I have many close friends from near and far who come along, comment or message. I’m always really grateful to so many people because even for someone to pass a drink or open a gate makes a huge difference. Doing everything by yourself is hard, and any help is always appreciated.”

Mel has enjoyed

many successes in her career, but she has also had to overcome adversity. In 2010 she suffered a traumatic brain injury after landing on her head when a horse she was riding spooked and bucked. “He had a fast, dirty buck that even launched my trainer at the time who could stick to most!” She had to take over a year off riding. “It was a tough time mentally to come to terms with such sudden changes,” Mel reflects. “Life changed a lot.

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I’m not very good at letting people help me, but I couldn’t even dress myself as I’d broken my back, busted my neck and ribs, so mobility was limited. Thankfully Mum came to help for a bit. I wasn’t allowed to go to work, and when I could, I went from a full-on day job to working two hours a day doing photocopying. It really messed with my brain because, at the time, I thought I was okay.” When she started riding again, Mel noticed she was experiencing vertigo and would feel like she would fall off. “There was no way I could remember a simple workout, let alone a dressage test. It took a very long time to gain confidence.” She worked hard to regain her confidence through her recovery, and things got a lot better over time. “I try and be always positive. If something doesn’t work, I work to try and make it work. I don’t like to give up. If I fail, I get upset like most, but I manage to compose, dust off and get ready to try again,” she says. Through her tough times, there has never been a time when Mel ever contemplated giving up. “My horses have been my strength to push through when life has been tough. They have made me get up every day and embrace life,” she explains. “There have been times in training when it has been so hard I’ve wondered if I should give up, but then a fire

Above: Mel pictured with LORD GALLAGHER (Gally), a five-year-old gelding she bred by ASPEN HILLS SHELLFIRE, already performing well in dressage. Below: Ribbons and garlands adorn the walls, along with a picture of much loved Bart (THORNFIELD OVERCOURT),whom Mel sadly lost a few years ago. Right: Mel competing LATINO (Larry) at Waikato A&P. Image: Lisa Gately.

burns to try harder to do better because dressage isn’t easy! At times I’ve felt like giving up at a competition when things become overwhelming. Still, kindness from others has helped me to reset and carry on. It’s an amazing thing when we can help others. Everyone has tough days.” She loves that feeling when she achieves goals, no matter how big or small. “Each is a step in the journey, whether remembering a test, a new movement or understanding a feeling in training. Looking back and seeing where your journey has taken you. I remember riding my first Level 4 test recently, and I was just delighted to have remembered it, let alone winning,” she says. “The most important thing is to believe in yourself; that’s a huge thing. Even when things don’t go to plan, find something positive, keep trying, dig deep, reset and try again. I try and just leave the negativity where it is. If negativity were like rocks and you carried them all around, it would get heavy so just leave them. It makes life much lighter.” C

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Awa r d -w i n n i n g equestr ian & lifest yle construction

COUNTRY HOMES

BARNS

S TA B L E S

ARENAS

FARM DEVELOPMENT

CON TAC T laurad@harrisonlane.co.nz

VISIT www.harrisonlane.co.nz SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

SHOW JUMPING spotlight

STAYING

grounded WORDS - Caitlin Benzie IMAGES - Christine Cornege Photography

Although 15-year-old Tara Gower comes from a family of polocrosse royalty and has achieved plenty on the polocrosse field herself, it’s in the show jumping ring that this talented teenager is choosing to make her mark.

Growing up on a sheep

and beef farm on the hills of Ohura in the King Country, it was inevitable that Tara would learn to ride. Her early days were spent with her siblings, Kyla, Jesse and Curtis, racing their ponies around the hills. “From day one, I loved being on the horses. Mum (Sue) would put me in a little backpack and take me for rides while she worked the horses. Eventually, I was able to hold on by myself, so the backpack was discontinued,” laughs Tara. “I was lucky enough to grow up in a family where horses are so important for work and recreation. We use them a lot on the farm - I often go out mustering and doing jobs for Dad with my brothers - but the whole family is really into polocrosse as well. I would do anything I could to be able to ride as many horses as

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possible and would want to ride everyone else’s horses as well!” Given her family’s involvement in polocrosse, it’s no great surprise that the sport was Tara’s first love. Her parents were two of the most talented players in the game and represented New Zealand many times, and her greatuncle was a founding member of the Kaitieke Polocrosse Club. In 2019, Tara competed in Australia, and in February this year, she was named in the New Zealand Girls’ Junior Polocrosse team. Alongside her brother Curtis, she was also in the winning B Grade team at this year’s Sponsors’ Carnival. However, when she became interested in show jumping while riding her first pony Tammie, she

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found a passion that has only grown since. “Mum and Dad have always encouraged us to follow our dreams, with us all playing polocrosse and me show jumping. I had a polocrosse racket in my hand from the day I was strong enough, but when I was six, the West’s offered me the ride on their amazing pony Clipper, and I found a love for show jumping. There was no going back!” “When we first started going to competitions, we went with two ponies,” reports Sue. “But in a very short time, we progressed to travelling with five that Tara would be riding, so in a day’s competing, she would often ride those five in two classes each. She did all the riding at home - each one had to be ridden every day, and we could see then just how committed she was to the sport.” Now based for most of the year at St Peter’s School in Cambridge, where she has been a boarder and member of the Equestrian Academy since 2020, Tara has put together a small but winning team of show jumpers. Her stable star is Double J Image, a nine-year-old bay mare by Repicharge and out of Mrs Mac (Omnicorp). “I have had Immy (Double J Image) for two and a bit years now and have loved every minute. At only our fourth show

MUM AND DAD BRED BOTH B A Z I N G A ( R I V E R H I L L S B AY L I N E R ) AND EPIC (RIVERHILLS LEGEND), SO IT’S VERY EXCITING TO NOT O N LY H AV E T H AT C O N N E C T I O N B U T T H AT T H E Y ’ R E H A L F BROTHERS AS WELL.

Above right: Tara competing WTF CABELLO (Tyson) in the Horse 1.30m class at Takapoto Winter Series at Takapoto Estate. He was owned by Catherine Cameron and was sadly lost this year. Other images: Tara riding DOUBLE J IMAGE, bred by the family. together, we won the 1.25m Copper Tour Final at Takapoto Estate in 2020. We competed against almost 100 riders to qualify for the final - only 30 riders from New Zealand and Australia got through. We consistently placed in Junior Rider and 1.20m classes in the 2020/21 season, through to competing in the Young Rider Series this season, where we had our first win at the Wairarapa Show and won our first Mini-Prix together.”

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FLY We don’t hold back!

My leg finds a natural groove in my super-soft and grippy Wintec Pro Close Contact, making communication effortless! I feel balanced and in-control over jumps so we can confidently tackle any course.

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I’VE LEARNED SO MANY

DIFFERENT M E T H O D S F R O M B E I N G U N D E R THEIR WING, A N D T H E Y ’ V E B E E N A HUGE HELP IN KEEPING ME

MOVING FORWARD I N DEVELOPING MY HORSES AND MY

SKILL SETS.

These pages: Tara and DOUBLE J IMAGE, definitely a firm favourite for the future.

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O N T H E H O R S E S.

LOVED B E I N G F R O M D AY O N E , I

The family has started their own breeding operation. Tara also currently competes the homebred Riverhills Bayliner (Bazinga), a nine-year-old bay gelding by Umunga and out of Destiny (by Ranfurly) along with Riverhills Legend (Epic), a five-year-old black gelding by Centavos and also out of Destiny. “Mum and Dad bred both Bazinga and Epic, so it’s very exciting to have that connection and that they’re half-brothers. The Riverhills prefix is the name of my Dad’s farm, so that’s another cool connection to add to it all too. “We also have a two-year-old filly by Double Whoopy and out of my Grand Prix pony Brandii Snap II, plus a yearling filly, again by Double Whoopy, but this time out of Destiny. I’m very excited about the future for both of these, too.”

For the past seven years, Tara has been

coached by Helen McNaught-Mcfarlane and Duncan McFarlane. She says she wouldn’t have achieved any of what she has without these two.

“I’ve learned so many different methods from being under their wing. They’ve been a huge help in keeping me moving forward in developing my horses and my skillsets. Whenever I’m having a bit of trouble or am not sure where to go next, I am so privileged to be able to go to them and ask for their help. They’ve also played a big part in the horses I’ve been lucky enough to ride over the last few years. They chose my three best horses for me; they are very good at knowing what will help to improve my riding and matching horses to riders. I would definitely attribute a huge amount, if not all, of my success to them; they’re just the best!” As is often the way with horses, the highest of highs are followed by the lowest of lows, and after losing two of her treasured horses, Tara is no stranger to this. “In December of 2019, we lost my beloved Ngahiwi NedKelly to a paddock accident. It was a heart-shattering moment for my family and me, as well as my amazing coaches, Helen and Duncan, who were the ones that allowed me to look after and ride Ned. “Then, just a month ago, we were faced with the

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Above: Tara and DOUBLE J IMAGE (Immy) competing at Auckland Show Jumping in the Inkster Landscapes Horse Super Series. heartbreaking decision to have to put WTF Cabello (Tyson) down. I had been lucky enough to ride Tyson for around 16 months, and I loved having a horse with his experience and nature as part of the team. I also couldn’t be more grateful to Helen for organising this and Tyson’s owner Catherine Cameron for entrusting me with him and for the opportunity to ride him. Tyson and Immy were responsible for helping me heal after Ned’s loss, and to then lose Tyson as well just made things so much worse. Losing those two horses is the most difficult thing I have ever had to deal with. I loved both of them with all of my heart. They were each the most special of horses to me; they were my big happy goofballs and made every day brighter with their fun, can-do attitudes and adorable personalities.” Even though her heartbreak is still fresh, Tara is determined to achieve everything she possibly can in the show jumping world and has big plans in place to do so. “In the near future, I aim to have Immy and Bazinga both consistently competing at Grand Prix and Young Rider level. I also want to start helping people with their riding and training, and breaking-in horses. Long term, I would love to head overseas and compete at the Olympics someday. Looking ahead within New Zealand, my goal is to do my first World Cup round on Bazinga when I turn 18. It seems pretty lofty at the moment, but I know I have the best support team behind me, so with a lot of hard work, we can definitely get there!” C

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BREEDER spotlight

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WORDS - Rebecca Greaves IMAGES - Michelle Clarke Photography

An absolute love for the Irish Draught horse and unwavering commitment to securing the future of this rare breed in New Zealand has been a lifetime passion for Ranfurly farmer and breeder Tracy Crossan, of Trevalda Irish Sporthorses. SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

This page: Foundation stallion, BALLINEEN BLUE MOUNTAIN (Brian) owns a special place in Tracy’s heart. He has proved to be a huge influcence in the New Zealand market.

I S TA R T E D W I T H

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING BUT A

LOVE F O R

THE

BREED. IT'S BEEN ABOUT STICKING WITH

A GOAL, S T I C K I N G WITH THE BREED, AND STICKING WITH

THE TYPE.

N O W,

IT'S ALL COMING

TOGETHER.

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When Tracy began breeding Irish horses, she

had one goal in mind - to breed herself the perfect Saddle Hunter. She had no clue her breeding hobby would lead to standing stallion Ballineen Blue Mountain (Brian), and importing a second Class 1 Irish Draught stallion, Derrynasagurt Silver (Silver). Silver is only the fifth Irish Draught stallion to stand in New Zealand. Irish Draught horses are on the rare breeds list, and there are only 200 stallions worldwide. In England, there is only 21 Class 1 stallions currently standing. Tracy was born in New Zealand. Her dad died when she was young, and she was an only child. “Mum wasn’t horsey but has always supported me and all my crazy ideas. She did have a cousin who raced horses, and in the school holidays, she’d bundle me up and send me to his farm down south. I would follow them around the races, and that’s probably what got me into horses.” When her family lived in England for a time, Tracy spent hours absorbed in the pages of Horse & Hound magazine and first saw the Irish Draught. “Horses with the lovely big Roman noses, that was what I gravitated towards, that type.” These days, she lives on a 720-hectare farm in Ranfurly, Maniototo, where she and husband Gavin run a farming operation, predominantly sheep breeding and fattening lambs. Farming is Tracy’s full-time job, and the horses fit around what’s happening on the farm. “I do anything that needs doing on the farm; we don’t employ any staff, so it’s Gavin and I and his parents, who are in their 70s. I do all the bookwork too. It’s hard to get away; farming is 365 days of the year. If I want to compete, I have to travel pretty much two hours in any given direction.” The couple has two children, Hamish, 15, and Ryan, 13, who are five-day boarding at school in Alexandra and come home at weekends. The Crossans spend a lot of time getting around the country supporting their sons in their sport. “We’re either farming or on the road following kids; we don’t have holidays, I can tell you that!” When Hamish was a baby, Tracy spent a year in Starship Hospital with him and never touched a horse in that time. At just five and half months old, Hamish required a liver transplant, becoming the youngest baby in New Zealand to have the procedure. Tracy was the first-ever mother-to-child donor in NZ. “Something like that gives you a whole different outlook on life. I absolutely believe life is what you make it; it’s there to be lived. Do the things you want to do. “My husband and kids support their mad mother. My boys don’t ride, but they’re extremely good at handling foals and young horses or holding horses for photos. They play a big role in what I do. I started with absolutely nothing but a love for the

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Tracy is riding new stallion; DERRYNASAGURT SILVER (Silver). Oposite page: TREVALDA MOUNTAIN DANCER (Dancer), a five-year-old that Tracy believes is one of the best she has bred.

breed. It’s been about sticking with a goal, sticking with the breed, and sticking with the type. Now, it’s all coming together.” Making her own way Horses had well and truly got under Tracy’s skin. When she left home at 17, she got a student loan, attended polytechnic for a year, and picked fruit to save enough money to buy her first horse, a float, and a car. Naturally, that first horse was Irish, one of the first crop by Kingsway Diamond, and cemented her love of the breed. “I went to Canterbury with $2,000 and looked at four horses. I vividly remember pulling up to this lady’s place. There were about eight horses in the paddock running towards the gate. There was one out the front, and I said to my friend, I hope it’s that one, and it was. “It was the type, that lovely athletic Saddle Hunter type; she stood out. She had presence.” The mare, Kingsway Salix (Lu), stayed with Tracy for eight years. Together, they did everything – Saddle Hunter, eventing, mustering, and cavalcade. Tracy ended up breeding her first foal from Lu, putting her to Zabalu because she’d always had a soft spot for greys.

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H O R S E S W I T H T H E L O V E LY B I G

ROMAN NOSES, T H AT

W A S W H AT

I G R AV I TAT E D T O W A R D S , T H AT T Y P E .

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These days she has paddocks full of lovely greys, and she has never been without an Irish horse from that point on. She loves the temperament of the Irish horses, their work ethic, and the fact that they’re incredibly trainable. “I really and truly believe they are a horse that could suit 99% of people riding in New Zealand. They’re easycare. They don’t need to be ridden every day, are good doers, and have good bone and soundness. “I think horses are such wonderful, majestic big animals, and the fact that they are so willing to please is what gives me joy. Particularly the Irish horses, they love to work; they’re friendly – in your face. Most of my horses would live in the house with us if we let them – especially Brian!” Tracy was working for PGG Wrightson and living alone in a cottage with a bit of land by this stage. She couldn’t afford to buy anything flash, and her only option was to buy young horses, break them in and bring them on herself, so that’s what she did. “I had friends in Maniototo and heard there were lots of eligible bachelors here. I came to Ranfurly to manage the PGG Wrightson store and met Gavin coming through the door, so it was a great move!” She teamed up with Gavin’s aunt, who also lived in Maniototo, to breed from a handful of mainly Thoroughbred mares, which they put to Coalman’s Touch, the only Irish Draught stallion standing in New Zealand at the time. “I was competing and breaking in and bringing horses on, and at the time, I had two lovely horses by Coalman’s Touch, HV Wolfetone and Thornfield Coalition. They were both beautiful, talented horses.” Tracy’s ears pricked when she heard someone was planning to import a new Irish Draught stallion, Ballineen Blue Mountain (Brian). She got in touch with Lisa Beck, who imported Brian, because she was keen to breed some foals by him.

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When Brian arrived, he stood for a season at the Beck property in Hawke’s Bay and had just a handful of mares. Tracy had never entertained the idea of standing a stallion. Still, when she got a phone call asking if she’d be interested in taking Brian, she took the plunge. “I’d never had anything to do with stallions. The idea was that he would come here, and I could use him over my mares, and outside service fees would go back to them. I watched a lot of YouTube videos to learn about collecting and visited a stud to see their setup and what I would need. I still have the photo of me holding the bottle containing our first collection!” Gavin built all the facilities - scanning crush, stables, yards, and ‘Doris,’ the dummy. “He goes along with my hare-brained ideas and is extremely clever; he can build anything. You name it; he can do it. Horses don’t really interest him, but he’s keen to support me.” This arrangement worked well for a season, but the Becks did not gain New Zealand citizenship and returned to the UK. They asked Tracy if she wanted to buy Brian. “I had no money, so there was a lot of negotiating. They knew I loved the horse and wanted to help make it happen. I sold the two lovely Coalman’s Touch riding horses I had, and with a little help, Mum loaned me some money, we scraped it together. He was only seeing about 15 mares a season back then, but I never started breeding horses to make money.” Tracy set about getting Brian, rising seven at that point, out competing, riding him herself. His first outing was the stallion parade in Christchurch. She was a nervous wreck, but Brian was a perfect gentleman. After that, she threw him in the deep end and took him to Christchurch Show, where he was Champion Ridden Stallion and Supreme Champion

I THINK HORSES ARE

SUCH

WONDERFUL, M A J E S T I C

BIG

A N I M A L S , A N D T H E FA C T T H AT T H E Y ARE SO

WILLING TO PLEASE

I S W H AT G I V E S M E J O Y.

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I’M EXCITED

FOR THE FUTURE OF THE BREED IN NEW ZEALAND. W E H AV E S O M E L O V E LY

YOUNG HORSES AND PEOPLE WHO

ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE BREED. I THINK THERE’S

A REAL BUZZ OUT THERE NOW AROUND THE

IRISH HORSE.

Led Sporthorse. Brian and Tracy enjoyed great success in showing and Show Hunter, even placing at South Island Champs. He was a champion working hunter and placed in the Rising Star Saddle Hunter title at HOY and top 10 in the open Saddle Hunter class the same year. “He was an amazing horse to do everything with, a gentleman to travel and compete. He started to gain a lot of admirers.” Brian even turned his hand to eventing and full wire hunting with Ben Lott and was used as a whips horse. His progeny is also starting to make their mark on the competition scene, with Trevalda Mountain Storm (Zak) probably the best known. “Zak is the flag bearer because he is one of the oldest. There are lots of lovely five and six-year-olds coming through now. For HOY last year, there were four of Brian’s progeny entered in the Saddle Hunter classes.”

The whole reason

Tracy got into breeding was to breed the perfect horse for herself, and she thinks she’s cracked it with Trevalda Mountain Dancer (Dancer), a five-year-old she believes is even better than Zak. “I am keeping him for myself; he’s my nana horse. I will aim for the HOY Saddle Hunter classes. He’s special to me in the fact he’s purebred and is the only purebred Irish Draught competing in New Zealand currently.” Dancer represents the epitome of what Tracy has tried to produce. For her, he is very true to type, an English-type Saddle Hunter with an unflappable nature. “But he’s tough, extremely

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tough, and we have lots of battles over who is in control; it’s all part of his charm! I think he has lots of presence, and in another couple of years when he’s fully matured, he’ll be the sort of horse you can’t help but go ‘wow’ at.” She also has two full sisters to Zak and Dancer, both yearlings. “I’ve never kept fillies before, but now I have the new stallion, I’ve kept those two special fillies to put to him. Both of their mothers are back in foal to Brian.” With Brian now 16, the timing to import a young stallion and provide a larger gene pool for the Irish Draught breed was good. Typically, Tracy says she had no intention of importing a stallion, but here we are. Derrynasagurt Silver (Silver) is rising five and arrived in May 2021. He was already broken in and schooled over jumps, so Tracy hoped to get him out competing this season, but Covid had other ideas. “Brian currently sees about 70 mares a season, and that creates lots of work; it’s a real commitment. I can’t leave the property for those five months. I’m very committed to the future of the Irish Draught breed in New Zealand, and that’s what keeps me going. We only have seven purebred mares unrelated to Brian in the country, and I have four of them here. Two were brought in from Ireland, and one I imported from Australia.” Between Covid, Brexit and a lack of direct flights to New Zealand, the cost of importing horses has skyrocketed, and Tracy fears it will become utterly uneconomic in the future. “For me, it’s really sad, as a breeder of a rare breed trying to

Tracy is extremely excited about the future with DERRYNASAGURT SILVER.

keep the breed alive here because I don’t believe anyone will bring mares and fillies in now.” Both Brian and Silver are Class 1 stallions, and Tracy says the opportunity to buy such stallions is rare. To gain Class 1, the stallions are performance tested on the flat and over fences. They are conformation and type assessed and fully vetted with scopes and X-rays. “As soon as I saw Silver, I loved his type. He’s that athletic type the market demands.” Next season Silver will be aimed at the Show Hunter ring. “He’s awesome to ride, like a kick-along Pony Club pony but with a fabulous rhythm in the canter, and he jumps out of that lovely rhythm.” Tracy says it’s an exciting time for the breed, increasing the bloodlines and giving people more options. She recently sold a purebred colt to Australia and is working hard to get more Irish horses registered with the Irish Horse Society of NZ in her new role as Registrar. The Society has some fresh faces, new members, and a substantial increase in horse registrations. “I’m excited for the future of the breed in New Zealand. We have some lovely young horses and people who are passionate about the breed. “I think there’s a real buzz out there now around the Irish horse. I probably get three to five messages or emails a week from people wanting to buy horses. I couldn’t breed enough – mine are all sold at weaning. My last foal for the season sold the day it was born!” C

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a new direc

SHOWJUMPING spotlight

WORDS - Rebecca Greaves IMAGES - Michelle Clarke Photography

A talent for producing young horses is helping this Timaru show jumper to realise her dream of competing at the top level in New Zealand, and she’s relishing the move to work with horses full-time.

When Amy McMullan

was made redundant from her full-time job at a bank, it was the catalyst she needed to pursue horses as a full-time career. “In a way, getting made redundant was lucky because I was over the job. It paid well and allowed me to do the horses. Still, I decided it was time to do something I was passionate about, not just something I got paid for,” Amy explains. She took the redundancy and headed overseas for three months to work in England at a stable with James Fisher. She then travelled for a month and then headed home to dive straight into self-employment. Days can be long but never dull for Amy. Going out on her own in 2018 as Amy McMullan Equestrian, she combines her qualification as an equine deep tissue massage therapist with schooling and selling on behalf, as well as running her competition team. On top of that, she has a casual job with an insurance company. She has a house in town and is lucky to keep her horses at her parents’ 40-acre property ten minutes out of Timaru, where plenty of hills and hacking provide variety for the horses in their work. It has been a long road for Amy to afford the sort of horses she wants to ride. She has produced and sold many along the way to fund her goal of buying purpose-bred jumpers, but it’s all coming together now. “I love the horses because they are always a challenge. There’s always something new to figure out, and no horse is the same – what works for one might not work for another.”

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ction

for Amy McMullan

Producing quality young horses is the Canterbury show jumper’s passion, but she’s mindful of keeping the balance between enjoyment and work when it comes to her riding.

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Amy’s mum rode and mainly competed in dressage, and

Amy got her first pony at the age of two. “He was called Prince, and he was a cool pony. He was about 27 by the time he got to me; he’d been through all my cousins. I wasn’t a very confident rider to start with and then got a very lazy pony that wasn’t keen to jump, so I did a lot of dressage, which has been helpful for my riding with what I do now.” When she got Waiareka Toy Soldier, a fabulous jumper who took her from 60cm to 1.20m, she got the jumping bug. “He was a speed demon and took me all the way to 1* Pony Grand Prix. We paid $3,000 for him, and he was a little brat. He used to go flat out, and I thought it was awesome. I just held on and steered!” By the time Amy had finished on ponies, he was 20 years old, and the family couldn’t bear to part with him, instead leasing him out for a few years. But that left Amy without much money to buy her first hack. She started with off-the-track Thoroughbreds, producing and selling a number of pleasure and show hacks until she had saved enough money to buy her first Warmblood. “Show jumping is my passion, but because I pay for it all myself, if I have a horse that’s not going to make it as a show jumper, I need to make it into something else, so I can sell it on and fund the next horse. Dad’s an accountant (and he’s my accountant), so I can’t get away with anything!

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When I went out on my own, I had to prove to Dad that it was going to work. He looked at the accounts three months in and said, ‘oh, maybe it is a real job’. “I also really enjoy producing young horses, teaching them to jump, schooling them, and bringing them through. Everything is my work, and I find it really satisfying. Little things, like one day you get a great canter, and it’s such a great feeling. You don’t get that with an older horse.” All her horses get a good variety of work, including hills and hacking, which she believes is essential. “I don’t think young horses should be hammered in an arena all the time. If I’m schooling and we achieve what I wanted in the first 10 minutes, I’ll take them for a hack instead as a reward.”

Eventually, Amy sold

a show hack that enabled her to buy Silversmith (Charlie), an eight-year-old by Centavos out of a Pony Grand Prix mare, sight unseen off TradeMe. “I had a couple of Centavos mares at the time and liked his breeding. Plus, he was a lovely grey and had been out hunting. I thought that with his breeding and having been hunting, someone else would love him, even if I didn’t.” It wasn’t love at first ride, but fortunately, Amy quickly grew to love Charlie. “The day he arrived, I didn’t like him; he just wasn’t my kind of ride. It’s funny because if I’d gone to try him, I probably wouldn’t have bought him. But he has ended up being the best horse I’ve ever had. I thought we’d have some fun doing Amateurs while my young horses were coming on, and I’d sell him after a year. He

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Above right: PURE CASCADE (Cassie) competing in the Six-Year-Old class at the NZ National Championship Jumping and Show Hunter Show. Below: Blitzen is always by Amy’s side, even during a photoshoot. Right: Amy and COSMOPOLITAN ECPH on their way to winning the Norwood Five-Year-Old Style Prize.

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ended up being far better than that, and we had our first Grand Prix start last season. I sold one of my young horses instead. “I love his personality; he’s such a cool horse to have around. I love that he has so much heart and is so brave. When I got Charlie, I went to Duncan McFarlane, my instructor at the time, and he said to me, ‘if you can get this horse going, you’ll have a really nice horse.” With Duncan’s help, plenty of schooling, and jumping exercises and grids, Charlie certainly fulfilled that prediction. More recently, as Duncan is no longer travelling, Amy has enjoyed the help of Greg Best and Jeff McVean. As well as competing in their first Grand Prix last season, in 2020, the combination won the Pro-Am Qualifier at HOY and delivered two clear rounds in the 1.30m championship class on the final day of Nationals which Amy rates as a highlight. Unfortunately, Charlie has been out this season after doing a suspensory, but it’s slowly coming right, and Amy hopes he’ll be back next season.

LOVE T H E

HORSES BECAUSE T H E Y A R E A LW AY S A

CHALLENGE. T H E R E ’ S A LW AY S SOMETHING NEW

FIGURE OUT, A N D N O TO

HORSE IS THE SAME – W H AT

WORKS

FOR O N E

MIGHT

NOT WORK FOR ANOTHER.

Next up in the team is small but mighty six-yearold Pure Cascade (Cassie), by Cassiano out of a Lansing mare. “I swapped a horse for her. I had a mare by Heartbreaker I bought to produce, and she grew too big for me. Cassie was listed on TradeMe, and I emailed her owner to ask for videos. I liked her but said I needed to sell my mare first, and did she know anyone? She suggested we do a swap, as she wanted something bigger.” Cassie had a cracker five-year-old season, winning the Five-Year-Old title at South Islands, coming second in the title class at Nationals, and taking second overall in the series. “She’s very consistent and has jumped well with placings in the Six-Year-Olds this season. She’s just really brave and has the perfect jump – good frontend and back-end action. She might be little, but she’s really big striding, so it doesn’t bother her. She’s a little hothead though, and a bit of a brat, but I love her. I think they have to have a bit of spunk to be any good.” Amy hopes Cassie will do the Seven-Year-Olds next season and maybe step up to Mini Prix; all going well. “I think she has plenty of scope and hope she’ll take me through the levels, but you never know with horses.”

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SHE’S ONE OF THE

SWEETEST MARES I’VE EVER HAD, SO GOOD TO DO EVERYTHING W I T H . S A D LY S H E ’ S F O R SALE. IF I WANT TO KEEP

PRODUCING YOUNG ONES, I NEED TO SELL – T H O U G H I F S H E S TAY S , I WOULDN’T MIND EITHER!

Above: Amy and COSMOPOLITAN ECPH (Cosmo) doing hillwork on the farm. Right: Winning the Five-Year-Old Style Prize at Nationals has been such a highlight to finish the season.

Rounding out the team is Cosmopolitan ECPH (Cosmo), by Cassiano out of a Corofino II mare, who recently won the Five-Year-Old title and the Style prize at Nationals. Amy bought Cosmo in partnership with her mum in December 2020. The mare had been broken in but was out of work. “I slowly produced her through winter last year and then turned her out for a wee bit. She won her first Five-YearOld, and we played around at 1m and 1.10m all season, then everything just clicked at Nationals. “She’s one of the sweetest mares I’ve ever had, so good to do everything with. Sadly she’s for sale. If I want to keep producing young ones, I need to sell – though if she stays, I wouldn’t mind either!” Having to sell nice young horses is the reality of funding the sport for Amy, but it’s still hard. “Most of the horses I’ve sold it was because they weren’t jumpers, but it’s getting harder to sell because they’re all talented. But I have a mortgage and fund the horses myself. It’s not a cheap sport, so that’s the reality.” Amy plans to keep producing young horses, something she finds hugely satisfying. She would love to progress up the levels to compete in more Grand Prix classes and potentially World Cup in the future if she has the right horse. She is grateful to be sponsored by Grains and Gains, AJ Equestrian, Equine Mementos, Maddy Ferguson Photography, and Kiwi Horse Jumps, and for the support of her aunt Phil Phillips, who helps her at most shows. C

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DRESSAGE spotlight

PURSUING

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While Lucy Cochrane is a rapidly rising star on the dressage scene, the 19-year-old’s talents extend far beyond pure dressage. Her diverse skills range from multiple successes going through the ranks of Pony Club eventing and the show ring, to competing her striking coloured gelding Gymanji at Advanced level and working as groom for Vanessa Way. WORDS - Ashleigh Kendall IMAGES - Denise Flay Photography

EXCELLENCE

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Teamed with the strikingly marked 13-year-old Gymnastik Star son Gymanji

(Splash), the pair has progressed up through the levels since she got him as a green eight-year-old. They clicked almost immediately. “Mum had seen Splash on TradeMe as a two-year-old for sale by his breeder, Ros Beck,” Lucy says. “We missed out on him, but Mum did meet Ros, and mentioned that if she bred another, we would love to buy it. We ended up buying his sister from the same dam Saffron, called Lovely Rita.” Interestingly, Saffron, who is by Anamour, is out of a Sunday’s Sensation mare called Sunday’s Debutante, and this dam line has given both Splash and Rita spotted blankets. Rita, a nine-year-old by Riverdance, belongs to Lucy’s mum Anne. Still, Lucy was fortunate enough to take her over for a season, and it was Rita who cemented Lucy’s focus in dressage, despite still loving the jumping. “When I was younger, I wasn’t so enthused for dressage, but I did have a couple of good lower-level ponies around 2016-2018 that gave me a good foundation and taste for it,” Lucy recalls. “When I got to ride Rita, I became more interested. I completed my first Young Rider on her, and by the time I took the job with Vanessa, I was 100% committed to dressage.” In the meantime, Splash hadn’t clicked with the person who purchased him, and she approached Anne, to see if they still wanted him. The Cochranes jumped at the chance to own him. Lucy had just lost her good jumping pony to colic, so it was fate that Splash came into their lives at the time. “Splash had mostly done trekking and riding club before we got him. The first week we had him, we took him to Pony Club to see how he was out and about, then a couple of weeks later, we took him to a jumping day, and I ended up doing 70 and 80cm on him. He had never really jumped, so it was quite amazing, he jumped the stands, and we realised then he is quite a talented jumper!” Lucy then competed in Pony Club level eventing with Splash. In just over six months from partnering, they were competing in 1.05m classes. “It sounds quick, but he wasn’t young when I got him, so it wasn’t a big push for him, it was just teaching him to jump and the ropes of eventing,” she explains. “He took everything in his stride. He was just so cool and so amazing to bring through.” The first year they competed at Springston Trophy, Lucy recalls, “It was a great big course, I am quite a brave rider, but I was packing myself. I was so exhausted at the end of the course!” They then focused on

H E W A S T E R R I F I E D O F T H E O VA L , B U T I W A S STILL SO HAPPY BECAUSE WE CAME T H I R D O V E R A L L A G A I N S T S O M E R E A L LY AMAZING HORSES AND RIDERS.

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pure dressage and successfully competed in a few Premier League shows. They took out the prize for the highest percentage in the Novice musical at South Island Premier League and won the overall Preliminary Champion. At New Zealand U25 Champs, they won Novice Champion in good competition. Also, they won at the World Dressage Challenge in the 2018/ 2019 season. “We had horrendous rain at the World Dressage Challenge. Half the class were eliminated because their horses wouldn’t go through the puddles, but because we evented Splash doesn’t care about puddles!” she laughs. The following season they came out at Medium level and enjoyed several successes. “He was champion at every show but one, which was Horse of the Year,” she recalls. “He was terrified of the oval, but I was still so happy because we came third overall against some amazing horses and riders.” They also competed in the show ring, qualifying for Rising Star Riding Horse of the Year, where he did what Lucy calls the workout of her life. If that wasn’t enough for the overachieving partnership, they competed with placings up to Junior Rider level show jumping.

When the opportunity

arose for Lucy to head north to work for Vanessa Way as a groom, she knew she had to take it. “Vanessa has done so much for me over the past couple of years. We certainly wouldn’t be where we are without her,” she says. “Being with her has taught me a lot - riding, horse-mastership and personal skills. I think the consistent help and work that not many people get is what helped us the most.” While Splash and Lucy didn’t compete much last season as she was grooming for Vanessa, they still achieved excellent results. They won the Super 5 North Island Series at Advanced Medium, boosted by a fantastic Super 5 test at Nationals worth double points. They also won the U25 Advanced Medium Champion that season. Moving

Below left: Lucy and GYMANJI (Splash), Medium Champion at Canterbury Dressage Championships. Image: Pip Hume.

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“

HE IS JUST A

DREAM HORSE, AMAZING TO RIDE,

A R E A L S U P E R S TA R , AND HE IS MY

HEART HORSE I N E V E R Y W AY. H E IS JUST SUCH A

CHARACTER, S U P E R - I N T E L L I G E N T, AND IT IS LIKE YOU CAN READ HIS THOUGHTS. up to Advanced, they again didn’t have a lot of starts. Still, when they did, they made it count. They won Champion at Southern Hawkes Bay Premier League and had some great results at U25 once again, including winning the warm-up test and gaining over 70% in the Musical Freestyle. Lucy is also grateful to have earned a spot on the Dressage New Zealand Youth Performance Squad for the past two years with Splash. “We have been working really hard training with Vanessa and making the most of our time with her,” she explains. “We are establishing the one and two-time tempi changes as well as the piaffe, which he is really good at. He is just a dream horse, amazing to ride, a real superstar, and he is my heart horse in every way. He is such a character, super-intelligent, and it is like you can read his thoughts.” Lucy’s big goal is to work towards competing at Grand Prix with Splash as she feels he has all the talent in the world for it. However, she is also pragmatic because anything can happen with horses. “It would be really cool to take him to Willinga and Sydney when he is more established,” she says. “I think he could do well over there.” All good things come to an end, and Lucy is heading home to Christchurch in April, which she is looking forward to despite knowing she will miss training so often with Vanessa. “My aim when I go home is to do an online lesson every week with her,” she explains. She is excited to get cracking with the rest of her horses waiting in the wings for her at home. Mimi Amour is a five-year-old Welsh Pony/ Warmblood cross by Awara Commodore and out of Saffron (Splash and Rita’s dam). “She has been started and did one show in April last year after only a couple of weeks in work, and she was an absolute champ,” Lucy says. “I plan to bring her on through the levels to Young Rider level and sell her. She is smaller at 15.2hh, so she would be a fantastic Young Rider level horse.” In addition, Lucy has two-year-old Frida (by Fugato and also out

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of Saffron) growing up in the paddock, plus a showjumping mare to have some fun with, called Playoff (Nelly), who is by Davidoff out of a Corlando mare. “I haven’t had the chance to give Nelly any priority because I have been away, but she will be my jumper now. I’m looking forward to getting going with her, and I would love to move up to Young Rider level jumping.”

While Lucy has proven to be versatile in her equestrian career, with successes in dressage, eventing, and show jumping, many people wouldn’t realise she also had a fantastic youth career in competitive BMX. “My brother Robbie and I both competed in BMX together. We have always been really adventurous and out there, but I had to stop because it got to the point that I had to choose which sport I wanted to pursue. There’s not enough time to do justice to both,” she explains. “I was ranked New Zealand #5 for a while, which was pretty amazing! I loved it, and if I could still be racing today, I would be, but something has to give.” Robbie still competes, but now he focuses on downhill racing. “He is more focused on the bikes than horses, but still, the biggest smile you will ever see from him is coming off cross-country. He loves it so much. It’s really special that we have been able to share our love for horses and bikes together.” Lucy feels grateful to have massive support from family and some close, lifelong friends. While her mum has ridden all her life, her dad Pete and grandparents Lindsay and Margaret were brought into it by Ann’s love of horses. Her 16-year-old brother, Robbie, also rides. Despite not being horsey initially, Pete will often be seen bringing horses in, feeding or changing rugs like a good horsey dad and Lindsay loves working with the young horses on the ground. “Grandad is famous for fence judging in the South Island; everyone knows him, and you can hear him before you see him,” she laughs. “Nana loves dressage writing. They bought Splash

WOULD B E R E A L LY COOL T O TA K E H I M T O WILLINGA A N D SYDNEY W H E N H E I S MORE ESTABLISHED.

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Lucy and Splash continue to focus on their training that will hopefully lead them to an international platform. Below: Back in 2011, Lucy rode the adorable HIGHSTYLE DOLLY. Image: Pip Hume.

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for me when my pony died, so Grandad always asks, ‘how is my horse going? How did my horse go this weekend?” They are both over 80 years old, but Lucy says you would never know it if you met them because they are so involved and love volunteering in the sport. “We will put their names down to help with jobs without even needing to ask if it is okay because they just love being involved so much,” she explains. Her dad’s parents, Heather and Brian, have also been involved, coming to watch Lucy compete whenever they can. “I am so lucky to have such supportive grandparents,” she says. Ros Beck, the breeder of Lucy’s horses, has also been an enormous support. “She is fantastic. She asks about them like they are her own and is really involved,” she says. Family friend Mandy Blokland has been there from the beginning for both Ann and Lucy. “She coached me until I went to Vanessa’s,” she says. “I had lessons with some visiting trainers, but she was there from the beginning for every horse. She is not just a coach but a mentor, friend and outstanding support. She is just the most beautiful lady, and she would do anything for you.” Liz and Becky Thomas of Kowhai Riding School lent Lucy and Robbie their good pony that they had both enjoyed success on for many years. Dani Simpson gave Lucy the ride on Greenmoor Euphoria for two seasons and took her to Australia to compete with him, where they won a couple of titles. “There have been so

many wonderful people on the journey that I could go on for hours. It is just incredible,” she reflects. She is sponsored by Equine America and Gunn Valley Equestrian. They provide her and her horses with products from their ranges.

Looking to the future

aside from horses, Lucy has a few ideas in mind, although she isn’t set on any one yet. “It has been a thing of mine for years and years to get into air traffic control, but it has a minimum age of 20.5 years, so I have to wait a little longer before applying for that,” she explains. “That is my ultimate career. For the next year, I plan to work and save some money. I don’t want to rely on horses, but it is a skill set I can use, so I will take on some schoolers and do some lessons too. I am also really looking forward to taking the skills I learned with Vanessa to apply to bringing on my young ones.” Lucy has also made musical freestyles for riders a side hustle for the past four years. “In the past two years, it has become successful, which has been amazing,” she says. “I come from a musical family. I have done grade 5 piano and theory exams, so it is something I really enjoy. And the more I do, the better I get.” She has made musicals for some American riders and is looking to advertise and push it a bit more to get more international clients and New Zealand riders. “I hope to keep it growing as it has been. I especially enjoy it because I am musical and love music.” C

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SHOW JUMPING spotlight

A LOVE FOR

jumping Mikayla Trott WORDS - Caitlin Benzie IMAGES - Christine Cornege Photography Having cut her teeth in the show ring, 16-year-old Mikayla Trott is now making a name for herself in the show jumping arena, where she is known as one of the most competitive riders on the Junior Rider circuit.

There hasn’t really ever

been a time when horses weren’t part of Mikayla’s life. Her mum, Kay, had competed in eventing and dressage, and her older sister, Casey, started riding when she was four years old, so it was only natural that Mikayla would follow in their footsteps. “I started riding properly when I was five. It was all pretty casual at that point; Casey and I used to go to Pony Club together, and we did lots of ribbon days and Pony Club competitions. I used to follow Casey around everywhere, but when we were out riding, I was the one who had absolutely no fear and would just give anything a go. I had a particularly big love for jumping, though.

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“When we were younger, we were always with our ponies, brushing them, bathing them, plaiting them, climbing on and off; we were basically absolutely obsessed. Much to my parents’ horror, I even led my first pony through the brand-new house they had just built. It’s fair to say they were very unimpressed with me,” laughs Mikayla. “In the end, Casey gave up riding, but she’s still always there in the background supporting me and keeping track of my results – plus she’s a great groom at the shows she can get to!” Mikayla’s parents bought their land at Riverhead, northwest Auckland, before Mikayla was born, and have continued developing a perfect equestrian paradise for Mikayla and her horses to thrive in.

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Above and right - Mikayla and REDCLIFFS ARMANI RF during the Fibre Fresh Grand Prix Show Jumping at Woodhill Sands. Image above - Kay Trott. Other images - Christine Cornege Photography “Mum and Dad have been my biggest supporters throughout my riding career. Dad didn’t know anything about ponies when my sister and I started but always pitched in to help with things, like making an arena with jumps at home so we could practice. He even built two horse trucks over the years to get me around the country. Over time he’s started to connect with the horses, and although he may not know how to put a halter on correctly, he now knows how to put studs in! Mum has been through it all with us, from lead rein to Pony Club, learning about showing and horse makeup, and now show jumping. She drives me from one end of the country to the other, videos all my rounds, and is just as committed as I am.

The first pony to partner Mikayla to considerable success

in the competition ring was Tui’s Keepsake (Tutu), a 13.2hh Morgan x Arab mare. Tutu was purchased in 2014, when Mikayla was eight, from Bridgette Cameron from Tui Morgans. Together, Mikayla and Tutu turned their hand to dressage, eventing and Show Hunter, with success in every discipline. However, it was in showing where they found their most significant successes. “If I had to choose, Tutu would be my favourite pony of all time. There was absolutely nothing she wouldn’t do, plus she was always amazing at everything she tried. It was hard to keep the smile off my face when I rode her, and my true competition days started when Tutu and I went out in the show ring. Our best moments together would have been winning at Showing Nationals two years in a row. From these wins, I was lucky enough to represent New Zealand as an Under Eleven-year-old rider in Sydney. We were also runner-up at Horse of the Year in the Saddle Hunter and Working Hunter. “Showing was a fantastic way to start competing nationally, and I’ve never looked back. However, Working Hunter was always my favourite part, so I decided in 2017 to switch to

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show jumping. Tutu was just perfect in every way, so it was absolutely heart-breaking when we had to sell her after I decided to change disciplines.” Currently in Year 12 at Westlake Girls’ High School, Mikayla is fortunate to have incredibly supportive parents and also a coach extraordinaire. She has trained with Dani Maurer for three years now and credits her for many of her successes. “I don’t know where I’d be without Dani; I’m so lucky to have a coach who supports me through every moment of my journey. We have a lesson every fortnight and share the highs and lows together after each competition. Dani has such a good eye for

seeing things that I am still learning about, so it’s so rewarding when I make the change she suggests and see the results.” Mikayla’s show jumping team comprises two horses, Cassanova AF (Joey) and Redcliffs Armani. Joey, a grey gelding by Cassini II and out of Jessie (by Corlando), was the first to join the team in 2020. A Thoroughbred x Dutch Warmblood by Denim out of a Voltaire II mare, Armani is a relatively new addition and was purchased from the Sheard family last year.

“When I was fourteen,

I really shot up in height, so we decided it was time to move onto hacks. Dani had been competing up to 1.40m on Joey and suggested that I come and try him. I immediately fell in love, and that was that. Going from my 14.2hh pony to Joey’s 17hh was a considerable change, and it has taken us a while to click. Still, although he’s been out with an injury for the past few months, we’ve had some great moments

together, including winning our last 1.15m class, and I’m really looking forward to bringing him back in over winter. Joey has a huge personality and is always the entertainment around the place. He keeps me laughing every day with his silly antics; there’s never a dull moment! “Armani was originally leased to us for a few months by Georgia Sheard. We had an amazing time, and I jumped my first Premier Junior Rider on him. At the end of the lease, he went back home, but Mum and Dad surprised me by buying him – I came home from school one day, and there he was, waiting for me! Many tears were spilt! Armani is a quite different ride to Joey; he’s very forward-thinking and, at times, becomes quite excited and playful in the ring. However, he knows his job so well and is teaching me so much. We have worked hard on the flatwork to help establish our bond, so we have a better understanding in the ring, which is now paying off.”

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SHOWING WAS A

FANTASTIC W AY

START C O M P E T I N G N AT I O N A L LY, A N D I ’ V E N E V E R LOOKED B A C K .

H O W E V E R , W O R K I N G H U N T E R W A S A LW AY S MY

FAVOURITE PA R T, S O I

DECIDED IN 2017 TO SWITCH TO

SHOW JUMPING.

Left: Back in the day, Mikayla and TUI’S KEEPSAKE, winner of the North Island Premier Saddle Hunter Pony over 128cm and up to 138cm in 2016 at Equidays. Image - Show Circuit. Below: Mikayla and REDCLIFFS ARMANI RF during the Mainline Coachworks Junior Rider Serie at Fibre Fresh Grand Prix Show Jumping at Woodhill Sands.

Unfortunately for Mikayla, being based in Auckland and stuck in lockdown has had hugely detrimental effects on the length of her competition season. However, even though they’re only a few months in, she and Armani have shown how highly competitive they are at Junior Rider level, currently sitting second in the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider Series with wins and placings from most of their starts. The future looks bright for this pair, and with another two years left at Junior Rider, Mikayla and Armani would definitely be worth betting on for a Horse of the Year title.

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“Although we’ve been lucky enough to win a handful of starts this season, I feel like our biggest achievement is coming second in the Junior at the World Cup Final in Taranaki. There were 27 of us in the class, and nine got through to the jump-off; we were off the pace by just .54sec, which was pretty exciting. This is our first full season in Junior Rider together, and so far, Armani is proving to be very consistent and capable of a lot more. Show jumping will always be my passion, and I’m so grateful for every opportunity it has given me!” C

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SHOWJUMPING spotlight

MAKING DREAMS

a reality

On the show jumping circuit, 18-year-old Madison Jackson is no stranger to the winner’s circle. With her star on the rise, her confidence is unwavering that the best is yet to come. WORDS & IMAGES - Caitlin Benzie

Madison’s love for horses

was almost apparent from the moment she was born. Luckily for Madison, her mum Carolyn Lockstone had evented successfully and worked as a groom. So, with that horsey background, there was always a pony waiting for her as soon as she was ready. “With her background, Mum was pretty keen on getting me into horses and following what she had done. Although Dad was keener on me getting into motorbikes and following his hobby, the decision had to be made as to which path I wanted to take and, of course, a pony appealed more to a young girl than a motorbike. So unfortunately for Dad, ponies it was!” laughs Madison. Living in Patumahoe in South Auckland, Madison attended ACG Strathallan from preschool to year 12 before completing her final school year at King’s College in Otahuhu. Now studying law at the University of Auckland, her time is spent between home, university and the Small’s property

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in Ramarama, where she has decided to base her competition horses this season. “With the facilities that Leeshelle and Aria have, it’s so much easier to have my competition horses based there so I can continue to train. Their facility is beautiful and has everything you could ever need.” Madison’s competition introduction came much later than most horse-mad children, and she calls herself a ‘late starter’ to the whole competition scene. Her first pony, a 10hh skewbald miniature called Jimmy, was known as the most tolerant kids’ first pony ever and spent many hours being led around the forest off Madison’s Mum’s horses. When she was seven, Madison got her second pony. She continued with Pony Club and started having lessons with Cheski Brown at Abderry Equestrian Centre. “From the age of seven through to fourteen, I trained with Cheski. She was the first to suggest getting a bit more serious with my riding and giving Show Hunter a go. I spent two seasons competing

I TRY TO KEEP MY HORSE NUMBERS LOW TO

ENSURE

I CAN SUCCEED WITH MY

EDUCATION AND MY HORSES.

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

Above: Madison and HENTON EXCALIBUR in their winning round during the Junior Rider class at the National Show Jumping and Show Hunter Show. Image: Michelle Clarke Photography.

in Show Hunter aboard my two ponies, Wilful and Hi Ho Tonto, before officially transitioning to show jumping. She has probably been the most influential person in my riding career. She began it all for me and set me up to be the rider I am today. Without her guidance, support and knowledge, I don’t know if I would ever have taken the leap to show jumping. “These days, I am coached by Jeff McVean, who has been helping me since I was fourteen. The huge amount of help he provides behind the scenes during training and at shows means a great deal to me. It always makes me feel at ease knowing he is with me at shows, whether it be walking the course, warming up or giving me the boost of confidence I need before my class. I’m very lucky to also have Stirrups Equestrian and 4Cyte as

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part of the team to keep the horses looking and feeling great at shows too!” Since beginning her showjumping career, Madison has been fortunate to have had some talented ponies to pair with and to have made a smooth transition into the hack ring. “Wilful was my first proper show jumping pony who aided me to many wins at 1.10m and Mini Prix level. He had previously placed in Pony of the Year and won the Show Hunter Pony of the Year, so he was perfect and able to teach me everything he knew. “Rednalhgih Cowan was my next pony, and he was well and truly a pony of a lifetime, one I will always cherish. Together we came away with a placing in every Pony Grand Prix we started in, and he brought me home countless rugs. “Kiwi Monarch was my first hack, who was recommended to us by Matt Dickey. I don’t

think he could have been more right about matching the two of us! Kiwi Monarch was the perfect first horse; he introduced me to competing at Junior Rider level, with the highlight of winning the Junior Rider Final at Takapoto Estate in 2020.” Due to currently undertaking such a time-consuming degree, Madison has only two horses on her competition team. The first is Henton Excalibur, a 14-year-old gelding by El Bundy and out of a Dynamit mare. The pair have been competing at Junior Rider level and recently won the National Junior Rider title in Christchurch. Madison’s other teammate is Henton Foreign Affair; both horses were bred by Dave and Bridget Sutton from Henton Lodge Hanoverians. “I try to keep my horse numbers low to

T H E S E D AY S , I A M C O A C H E D B Y

JEFF MCVEAN

WHO HAS BEEN HELPING ME SINCE I WAS FOURTEEN.

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

KIWI MONARCH WAS MY

FIRST HACK,

WHO WAS RECOMMENDED TO US BY

MATT DICKEY

I DON’T THINK HE COULD HAVE BEEN

MORE RIGHT A B O U T M AT C H I N G T H E TWO OF US! Above: Madison and KIWI MONARCH after winning the Junior Final at Takapoto Show Jumping 2020. Image: Libby Law Photography

ensure I can succeed with my education and my horses. Henton Excalibur, or George as he is known at home, was purchased in April 2021 from Oliver Edgecombe. George and I have spent this past season getting to know each other as he can be quite a quirky, playful ride, but I am enjoying him. I find him a pretty similar ride to my old Grand Prix pony, which I definitely think has helped us click quickly. He can be pretty quirky in the warm-up, but he knows his job once the jumps are in front of him, and he absolutely loves it. So far, we’ve jumped Junior Riders together

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for a few wins, most recently at Hastings at the end of March, and some 1.30m starts. I’m looking forward to progressing further up the heights with him. “Henton Foreign Affair is the newest member to the team, which we purchased in November 2021. Pierre is a five-yearold gelding out of Henton Elite and by For Edition, the same sire as World Cup mare Henton Faberge. He is my first young horse, so I’m having a great time taking my time producing him and seeing what he can do. He has spent this season just finding his feet training at home, and I’m

looking to have him out through the winter at some training shows in preparation for his first competition season.”

In 2019, Madison

was lucky enough to be selected for the Longines World Equestrian Academy, which meant three weeks of training at the Riesenbeck International Stables in Germany under the tutelage of four-time Olympic gold medallist Ludger Beerbaum. This experience left Madison inspired and is a massive part of her drive to achieve her goals and head back to Europe in the future.

THE TRIP CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR ME AND WAS EVEN A GOOD CHUNK OF

THE REASON I

DECIDED TO COMPLETE

MY UNIVERSITY STUDIES IN AUCKLAND. “There have been many joyful moments throughout my riding career, but getting the opportunity to be part of the Academy and that key trip has shaped my perspective on show jumping. While I was there, I rode one of Ludger’s seven-year-old horses and had lessons with Ludger, the craziest experience! We also travelled to the Longines Global Champion Tour shows in London and Valkenswaard to watch the best of the best. It was an unforgettable experience

that opened me up to my future aspirations and hopes of getting to compete over there myself. The trip changed everything for me and was even a good chunk of the reason I decided to complete my university studies in Auckland, as I knew I wanted to be able to keep competing and improving my skills. Once I’ve finished my bachelor’s, I would love to head back to Europe to gain more experience with the horses. That would be the ultimate dream!” C

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

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opping guide Smooth Mover Your horse’s daily B boost plus other functional nutrients! This supplement is an exciting new approach to optimising muscle function, suppleness and recovery. Smooth Mover effectively supports horses prone to muscle disorders and tie-up. www.eliteequine.co.nz

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TRAINING clinic

SHOW RING

SECRETS

WITH BEN THOMSON WORDS - Ashliegh Kendall IMAGES - Christine Cornege

ABOUT THE TRAINER:

Top show rider Ben Thomson is based at Tracy and John Martin’s beautiful property in Tirau. He has enjoyed tremendous success, winning countless National and Horse of the Year titles. In this clinic, Ben rides the formidable TC Artistry, a 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding by Bernardini, owned by his friend Brittany Symes. Art was purchased off the track as a five-year-old and has been one of Ben’s most successful horses to date, winning titles up and down the country, including Nationals and Horse of the Year.

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1. LOOSEN UP

Ben likes to give the horses some time at the beginning of the ride to loosen up in the walk. He takes the time to feel how they are and warm up their joints, ligaments and muscles. He encourages them to stretch in the walk, bending them and riding a few serpentines to ensure they are supple before moving into the trot.

TOP TIP:

Like any movement, the stretch needs to be taught to the horse. When the horse is young or green, he won’t know how to take the rein forward and long naturally. The rider needs to teach the horse so he understands. It’s not always easy to have a young horse stretch right at the beginning of the ride, so sometimes it’s easier to introduce this once he has worked for a while and is ready to stretch tired muscles.

2. MASTER YOUR WARM-UP

After the walk, Ben moves into warming up in the trot. He begins by stretching Art, working long and low to open up his frame and relax the top line. He rides easy lines of large circles, serpentines and changes of rein, keeping it nice and straightforward to get Art listening and giving the muscles enough time to loosen up before he moves onto the more challenging work.

BEN SAYS - Try concentrating on combining short spells of working with frequent intervals of stretching. Once

they understand, you can ask them to stretch at the beginning of the ride. A key to a lovely stretch is to ensure the rein is soft, but the horse is still following the rein. Don’t just drop the reins and let them flop. Keep your legs on and the horse moving forward to the bridle, keeping an even connection in both reins. This will promote an excellent contact as well as increase suppleness and engagement.” SHO WCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

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3. SUPPLENESS IS KEY

Like us, horses need to be loose and flexible through their bodies to access their full potential in their work. The warm-up must be thorough and well thought out to ensure a great training session or even a good workout at a show. Ben gives Art enough time to work through any stiffness before asking him to work harder.

4. RIDE HIM FORWARD!

When Ben picks up the rein and asks Art to shorten his frame and outline, he continues to make sure Art works forward from the hind leg to the bridle. It is essential that the horse moves forward and doesn’t get stuck behind the leg to ensure correct training and create a positive impression and harmonious picture on show day. The last thing the judges want to see is a horse plodding along with no motivation to go forward. It is also essential that the horse moves forward to create a nice positive connection between the leg and hand, rather than the horse being pulled into a frame by the hand only. It’s important to remember that forwardness isn’t about speed. Instead, it is having your horse focused and attentive to your aids. He should be eager and willing to work. An excellent way to test if your horse is forward is to assess whether he is travelling forward on his own or if you have to push him along at every stride. A horse who is genuinely forward won’t need to be kicked along. If he’s a bit dull, you can apply a sharper aid before leaving him alone and giving him the chance to keep going on his own.

TOP TIP: Stay consistent in your approach. Even if the horse is struggling or

having a tough day, keep the aids clear, so the horse learns the correct, desired response. Be disciplined in your training as to not confuse your horse.

TRY IT YOURSELF:

ca nt

t tro

Use a series of trot - canter - trot transitions to encourage the horse forward and loosen his topline. You can ride these on the straight line, circle or even through a change of rein. They will help get him thinking forward and eager to listen to what aid you will ask for next.

For this exercise, the circle

BEN SAYS -

can be large or as small as 20 metres, depending on

Some riders think that the way to get your horse

your horse’s experience.

on the bit is to pull on the reins, but it requires a lot more work than that. A horse can’t be on the bit

forward, and then capture the forward energy between your hands and your legs.”

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tro t

to get a horse on the bit. Use your legs to push him

generate the forward movement and energy needed

r te n a

unless he responds to your seat and legs. Your legs

6. PRACTICE THE HALT -

Often overlooked, the halt is an integral part of the training, especially for the show horse who must learn to stand still. At the show, riders are expected to halt for the judge, and they need to be patient, standing still in the line-up.

TRY IT YOURSELF:

To ride an accurate square halt, you need to make sure you, the rider, are entirely even and straight in the saddle. If you are off to one side, then there is a good chance you will unbalance your horse, and he will struggle to make a nice, square halt. Another essential to remember is that even though you are riding a downwards transition, you still need to ride it forward. A big mistake riders make is riding with too much handbrake into the halt rather than riding forward and positive. Keep your leg on and half-halt with the rein as you ask for the halt.

5. LENGTHENED TROT

The judge will require you to show a nice, balanced, lengthened trot in the show ring. Like the stretch, it’s a movement that the rider will need to train and develop in the horse when he is strong and ready. In the beginning, ask for only a few quality strides. It will take time for the horse to be strong and balanced enough to complete a whole diagonal or long side in the lengthened trot. Remember, in the beginning, it’s the quality of the steps over quantity.

BEN SAYS -

Be clear with your aids! If the horse doesn’t respond to your aid at first, make it sharper; it is important the horse is attentive and listening. Even if he doesn’t respond perfectly, he at least needs to make an effort to try. Try to ensure your aids are the same each time, so they aren’t causing the horse confusion.”

TRY IT YOURSELF:

n Turn down the diagonal of the arena,

half-halt coming from the corner n Put your leg on n Allow with the hand and ask for a few

bigger steps before rebalancing and returning to the working trot n Don’t forget to reward your horse’s effort with your voice and a pat, so he knows the answer you are seeking. It is also crucial to remember that the aim is that the horse is doing most of the work, so put the aid on and then allow him to offer the correct response without overriding him. You shouldn’t have to kick the horse along at every step. Try to sit balanced in the saddle and go with him while keeping a nice, even feel on the reins to help him. Aside from the requirement to show the lengthening in the show ring, it’s also a fantastic exercise to use in training to help the horse lift and loosen his back while engaging the hind leg and pushing up forwards into the bridle more.

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7. CANTER WORK

When Ben works on the canter, he keeps both legs supporting Art’s sides. The inside leg is on the girth to stop Art from falling in on the circle, and the outside leg is back a little to encourage him to keep the canter and stop the hindquarters from swinging out. Ben holds the inside flexion while maintaining a steady contact on the outside rein to balance Art around the turn. It is important to remember the outside rein as you guide your horse around the circle and not just rely on the inside rein or he will fall out through the outside shoulder and become crooked.

TOP TIP: COUNTER CANTER

Even though counter-canter isn’t required in the show ring, Ben likes to train it at home. “I find the counter-canter helps with keeping the horse straight and balanced. It helps get them stronger and straighter,” he explains. “The exercise does the work for you. We never do this at a show, but the horses are all trained well above what they will do at a show, and the exercises all help to make the quality better.”

8. THE SIMPLE WORKOUT

On show day, it is common for the judge to require competitors to make a change of rein in the canter. This can be ridden with a flying change or a change through walk or trot. Ben tailors this question to each horse, his main priority being what will present as tidiest to the judge. “It all depends on how the horse feels on the day. If he is hot or is going to rush a flying change, I will ride a simple change through a walk or trot. The judge wants to see it done well, over flashy,” he explains.

HALT WALK TROT

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT! START AT TROT

CANTER LENGTHENED CANTER

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HORSE LINE-UP

LENGTHENED TROT

JUDGE

Most judges want to see all paces in a simple workout, so let’s imagine a show ring with a lineup of horses and a judge. As you walk out of line up, ensure your horse has stepped through from behind, so he is in the bridle. Pick up the trot at the beginning of your workout, turn right at the corner, and make sure the trot is active. Across the diagonal, you can sit or rise to a lengthened trot. Pick up the canter on the left lead and turn the corner, remembering to keep balanced, for a figure of eight. You can choose what pace to ride through the change, either walk, trot or, if advanced, you can do a flying change. Canter on the right lead around to the next corner. Make sure you use your corners well. Judges love to see a nice rounded, balanced horse. Pick up lengthened canter down the long side and before the corner, come back to a nice balanced canter to the final corner, where you trot, then walk and halt. Remember to pay your respects to the judge by saluting.

9. FIXED WORKOUT TO PRACTICE AT HOME Pulling it all together on show day can be challenging. This is why it is good to practice your workout at home, which can make all the difference between being in the line-up or being left out of it.

HALT WALK

LENGTHENED TROT

TROT

LENGTHENED CANTER

CANTER

n Enter arena at a trot n At the top, turn right, trot

to end, turn right n At the centre, turn right. n Lengthen trot through the

centreline. n Working trot turn left. n Pick up the canter. n Turn left through to the

centre of the arena. n Walk four strides and

change rein to canter, turn right. n Canter until top of arena,

lengthen canter through diagonal. Return to working canter before the corner. n Trot left from corner, at

next corner turn left. n Walk 8-10 strides and halt

n Salute and exit at the trot.

ENTER ARENA

EXIT

for 4 seconds before the judge.

JUDGE

10. FREE WORKOUTS

At some shows, you might be asked to do a free workout. This means you get to make up your own! Always dazzle the judge by using your horse’s best paces more! One way to show that your horse is lovely and soft in the bridle is to ride part of your free workouts one-handed. Art has a beautiful canter, so Ben can show off his training by riding his circle with one hand, making an impressive picture that sets them apart from the rest. Ben also recommends that you show how balanced and elevated your horse can be with a lengthened sitting trot. Remember, all paces need to be fluid and forward.

BEN SAYS -

I am a firm believer in riding with confidence; It takes a certain amount of courage to let the horse really move underneath you. Many of us tend to hold back the horse and hinder the movement. We have to remember that showing is all about theatre. Judges and spectators alike are there to see a forward-going performance. And you want to catch the judge’s attention!”

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11. REWARD

As with any horse, rewards are integral to training. Use the exact words at shows as you would during training at home. Once the horse has learnt that your phrase reliably precedes an edible treat, your voice becomes rewarding. The phrase tells the horse he has had the correct response, and a reward is coming. But don’t let your magic phrase lose its reward value. You can gradually lengthen the time between using your trained voice reward and delivering the food reward, but you can’t forget the carrots entirely. Keeping your horse calm in the arena at home and using the same strategies to reduce stress during show day creates the best opportunity for him to learn and recall your training when it matters most. Positive reinforcement for new learning and keeping your horse attentive through more complex concepts can make training more rewarding for both of you.

12. HACKING OUT AND TRAINING

Hacking out is something that Ben considers very important. He believes that if your horse is used to hacking out with a bit of training simultaneously, the horse will respond well to working in at shows. It is especially essential for young horses. Take the opportunity to desensitise your horse to unexpected sights, sounds and smells. If you can do this a little bit at a time and in many different places, it won’t be overwhelming when you get to a big show, and he’ll take it in his stride. You might come across farm machinery or livestock, and, unlike with traffic, you’ll have the time and space to hang around and ride nearby for a bit, allowing your horse to become accustomed to the object or animal. Take advantage of natural lines and obstacles. When you’re hacking, a tree isn’t just a tree; it’s a marker. Rather than riding past it without another thought, ride a transition between or within the pace, or a halt. You can ride a circle using it as the centre point if there’s space.

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BEN SAYS -

I use the exact phrase for rewarding my horse. Most commonly, I say, good boy/girl. I always use a different phrase to reassure my horse, usually something like whoa or a low voice tone to calm. The better the reward and understanding, the deeper the associative learning. In other words, we can adjust the value of positive reinforcement by altering the type of reward.

BEN’S TOP TIPS FOR SHOW DAY SUCCESS!

KNOW YOUR HORSE:

Use your time in the ring to show off their best assets. For example; if your horse’s best asset is a big trot, use that to impress the judge, or if you’re on a green horse and know they are still struggling to get the correct canter lead, you’re better off to take your time and set them up correctly before you ask. Don’t rush them just because the judge has asked for a canter.

7 8 9

FINISHING TOUCHES: Horse and rider should

1 2 3 4

THE COLLECTING AREA: Left shoulder to left shoulder

is the etiquette rule. Remember this rule if you are riding in a ring where horses travel in opposite directions. As you approach someone coming straight at you, please pass on the side that enables your left shoulder to be adjacent to their left shoulder.

RESPECT YOUR HORSE:

Just like you, your horse can be under stress during the show. They can have a hard time changing environments and being with so many strange horses.

LISTEN TO YOUR JUDGE/STEWARD: You

may be surprised to know that judges and stewards are volunteers. It is only fair that they do not hear your critiques. Show them the courtesy of being polite.

LINE UPS AND WORKOUTS: Some judges like

to work the horses out and line the horses and ponies up. Always line up in the order you were called in and line up on the left-hand side of the first horse called in. You will be given a workout, listen carefully and repeat back to the judge if you are unsure. If your horse is unsettled, without fuss, walk a small circle behind the line up until it is your turn to workout. For a conformation class, and depending on the judge’s requirements, you may be asked to stand square before (or after your workout) to enable the judge to assess your horse or pony’s conformation. Acknowledge your judge at the end of the workout and head back to your place in the line-up.

FIND YOUR OWN SPACE: So you can show

your horse off to its full potential and use the whole arena! Don’t be afraid to cut across the circle to do this.

look their best when entering the arena. Do a last minute grooming and check of both horse and rider to make sure they are spotless when entering the arena.

ENTERING THE RING:

It is usual to take the left rein on first entering the ring unless instructed otherwise. Usually, you will be asked to walk in or trot in. As you enter, be aware of the direction the horses are travelling and give way to anyone about to be in your path. Don’t be afraid to ask the steward which rein they would like you to be on.

THE RIGHT WAY TO PASS:

Almost always pass on the inside and also think ahead and don’t put your horse between another horse and the rail while passing. While passing, allow enough room for the horse you are about to pass from the side, front and back. As you pass, look over your shoulder and make sure you have left a reasonable distance. Be sure never to cut off the horse you just passed.

10 11 12

BE KIND: You never know who is sitting within earshot.

Friends of competitors, judges, or even other competitors. You’d be surprised how much people around you can hear and potentially repeat.

GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP: Treat all exhibitors and

show management nicely. You never know they may show you the same courtesy. Offer to help someone in need, and don’t forget to thank the sponsors of the class. A simple email or post on the official show social media page will keep them investing in our sport.

BE WELL-PREPARED:

Before leaving home for a horse show, check all your equipment and make sure you have everything that you will need during the show and everything is in order. It is ok to ask others when you are missing something but doing it too often might annoy them. C

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RANGIORA EQUESTRIAN SUPPLIES 623 Lineside Road, Rangiora, Christchurch Phone: 03 313 1674 Visit: rangioraequestrian.co.nz

HORSESPORTS SADDLERY Unit 2/84 Spartan Road, Takanini, Auckland Phone: 09 269 6518 Visit: horsesports.co.nz

HORSEWYSE SADDLERY 4A Cloverlea Road Palmerston North Phone: 06 354 7787 Visit: horsewyse.co.nz

PREBBLE EQUESTRIAN 422 Gillespies Line, Palmerston North Phone: 06 353 8822

SUMMIT GRAINS & SADDLERY 16 Oliver Street, Cambridge Phone: 07 827 6091 Fax: 07 827 3881 Visit: summitsaddlery.co.nz

SOUTH ISLAND STORES CANTERBURY EQUESTRIAN (CHRISTCHURCH) 823 Main South Road, Templeton, Christchurch Phone: 03 349 6241 Visit: canterburyequestrian.co.nz

CANTERBURY EQUESTRIAN (NORTH CANTERBURY – WOODEND) 50 Main North Rd, Woodend Phone: 03 310 0570 Visit: canterburyequestrian.co.nz

CANTERBURY EQUESTRIAN (DUNEDIN) 92 Gordon Road, Mosgiel, Dunedin Phone: 03 489 2299 Visit: canterburyequestrian.co.nz

EQUESTRIANCONNECTION.CO.NZ

RICHMOND SADDLERY 430 Paton Road, Hope, 7081 Phone: 03 544 4177 Visit: richmondsaddlery.co.nz SOUTH CANTERBURY SADDLERY LTD Shop 2, 300 Hilton Highway, Washdyke, Timaru Phone: 03 688 2555 Visit: scsaddlery.co.nz THE STABLE DOOR EQUINE 114 Hepburns Road Ashburton 7776 Phone: 02 7220 2249 Visit: thestabledoor.co.nz

HEALTH feature

CONTROLLING

BACTERIAL INFECTIONS When an infection strikes your horse, it pays to know what you’re up against. Read on to discover more about common infections, treatment options and how to protect your horse.

healthy horse is a happy horse, and it’s usually easy to tell when he’s a bit off-colour. However, it’s far harder to determine whether he’s just feeling a bit glum or falling ill. There are plenty of bugs and germs out there that love to get under your horse’s skin, with effects from irritating to deadly. We’ve asked vet Colin Mitchell to give us the low-down on a range of both common and some more unusual infections which can affect our horses. He also looks at treatment options and the best methods of protection, because, when it comes to your horse’s health, forewarned is definitely forearmed.

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OUR EXPERT COLIN MITCHELL studied at Edinburgh Vet School. He’s a partner at Scott Mitchell Associates, Colin’s an attending vet at Hexham and Newcastle racecourses in the United Kingdom.

SO WHAT’S AN INFECTION?

Put simply, an infection occurs when the body is unable to protect itself from micro-organisms, such as bacteria, viruses or fungi. In humans, an example of this would be the ’flu, versus a non-infectious disease such as asthma. An infectious disease doesn’t have to be contagious (ie it won’t necessarily pass from horse to horse), but if it is, there are different ways it can spread, and knowing how an infection spreads is the key to managing and containing an outbreak. One way is through direct contact, for example by horses touching or sniffing each other, or through an intermediate host such as a biting insect. Other conditions are spread by aerosol, when

particles travel through the air – a single cough can transmit an infection to many other animals – or through shared items, from water troughs which serve neighbouring paddocks, to tack or grooming brushes. When an infection is suspected, the first thing to do is have the diagnosis confirmed through laboratory tests, then work with your vet to keep your horse comfortable as he fights it off. Although recovery can be slow, most common infections can be dealt with by good nursing, careful hygiene and isolation, so the diagnosis of an infection isn’t the end of the world and may not even need treatment with drugs.

Infections spread easily among group grazing

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COMMON TYPES OF INFECTION Vets see lots of different types of diseases, but the following are the most common equine infections

STRANGLES OUTLINE FACTS INFECTION TYPE: Bacterial INCUBATION: 7-14 days, but up to three

weeks also reported

VACCINATION: Yes

Strangles is an upper respiratory infection, where the bacteria responsible localise in the lymph nodes in the throat and then enlarge, causing inflammation and internal abscesses. It spreads through direct contact and also through shared kit such as tack or brushes. Signs of infection vary between individuals and their severity is usually linked to the health and immunity of the individual horse. Symptoms may include a raised body temperature (39.4C and above), nasal discharge and a sore throat, which can cause difficulty in swallowing and a lack of appetite. An infected horse may also suffer noisy breathing and may have enlarged and painful lymph nodes between his lower jawbones, or less commonly under his ears. “These will feel hot and swollen, and they’ll occasionally burst open and be visible as abscesses with pus running out,” says Colin. Throat swabs will be taken to confirm

strangles, and once diagnosed an isolation strategy should be put in place to limit and control the spread of the infection. Treatment is usually a case of good nursing care, alongside careful hygiene and isolation. Pain-killing anti-inflammatory drugs such as bute can be used to combat high temperatures, and a vet will assess cases individually to decide whether antibiotics will be of use.

WHAT’S NORMAL? The normal temperature of a horse is between 37.5C and 38.5C A strangles outbreak usually takes between six and eight weeks to resolve, but recovery can be hastened by carefully following isolation and hygiene advice from your vet. Although strangles can make your horse quite poorly, the mortality rate is very low, with the main after-effects being the time it takes for him to recover and be brought back into work. Colin says: “Strangles can be vaccinated against, and to prevent future outbreaks on a yard, it’s worth implementing an isolation policy for new horses of around three to four weeks, and also have them tested for the infection.”

NASTY SIDE-EFFECTS

Dealing with infections is doubly important if they can cause serious side-effects – for example both the herpes virus and strangles can cause a very painful condition called uveitis, which affects the inside of the horse’s eye and can lead to blindness.

A flexible camera, called an endoscope, enables Colin to visually examine a horse’s respiratory tract

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Nasal discharge can be a clinical sign of EHV respiratory disease

EQUINE HERPES OUTLINE FACTS INFECTION TYPE: Viral INCUBATION: 2-10 days VACCINATION: Yes, usually every six months

Spread by direct contact between horses, equine herpes causes respiratory problems, a raised temperature, cough and nasal discharge. It can also cause abortion in pregnant mares and disease in the organs of very young foals, as post-infection the virus travels into the bloodstream in a process termed a viraemia. There are five known strains of equine herpes, with one rare form also causing neurological problems which can lead to paralysis. When equine herpes is suspected, it’s important to isolate the sick horse to prevent it spreading. A vet will take nasal swabs to confirm the infection, and blood tests are also useful in the diagnosis and management of affected horses. Treatment is similar to that for strangles – good nursing care while your horse fights the infection off. “Horses will usually continue to eat normally and recover in themselves, so it’s mainly a case of providing rest from exercise, good care and as much time outside in the fresh air as possible,” says Colin. Antibiotics are sometimes used in cases where secondary bacterial infections occur, otherwise rest and keeping your horse comfortable are the keys to recovery. Thankfully horses can be vaccinated against equine herpes, and mares can even be vaccinated during pregnancy to give some protection against abortion.

INFLUENZA OUTLINE FACTS

Taking a nasal swab from a horse with a suspected respiratory infection

INFECTION TYPE: Viral INCUBATION: 1-3 days VACCINATION: Yes, usually annually

Influenza is another respiratory infection and is spread by aerosol, making it highly contagious. Symptoms including coughing, a raised temperature (above 39.4C), nasal discharge, and secondary bacterial infections are also possible. Colin says: “The severity of the clinical signs is usually dependent on the dose of the virus that your horse is exposed to, so if your horse has only been in passing contact with an infected horse he’ll tend to be less badly affected than if he’s been stabled next to an ill horse.” Vets will take throat and nasal swabs to confirm the diagnosis, and management of influenza is similar to other respiratory infections in terms of isolation and rest from exercise. Because influenza is caused by a virus, there’s no specific antiviral therapy, although any secondary bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics. Recovery usually takes between four and five weeks, but in a small number of horses can run to several months. The ’flu vaccine is the most common one administered by vets.

WOUND INFECTIONS OUTLINE FACTS INFECTION TYPE: Bacterial INCUBATION: Various VACCINATION: No

Wounds can become infected if bacteria from the horse’s skin (or whatever caused the injury) enters the wound, contaminating it and leading to infection. Colin says: “The problem with horses is that they tend to get wounds on their legs, which are of course nearer the ground, making contamination

Leg wounds are especially prone to infection

ROTAVIRUS

Although most of the adult equine population carry this virus, it doesn’t cause them problems as immunity develops with age. But in very young foals, rotavirus causes diarrhoea which can lead to dehydration. Good nursing, plenty of fluids and good hygiene are all important in treating rotavirus, and protection can be offered by vaccinating mares during pregnancy.

antifungal shampoo. To prevent ringworm spreading it’s important to avoid sharing equipment or brushes, and to disinfect potentially contaminated materials to avoid the risk of reinfection.

TETANUS OUTLINE FACTS INFECTION TYPE: Bacterial INCUBATION: As little as a few hours VACCINATION: Yes, annually

Tetanus is an infectious but not contagious condition which horses are very susceptible with dirt easier. Wounds also tend to be caused to. It’s caused by bacteria in soil, which enters by other horses’ feet, transferring dirt and the body through an injury such as a puncture causing contamination – the things that cause wound. How long it takes for the infection to the initial injury are usually very dirty.” take hold depends on how far the toxin has to If your horse has a wound which may be infected, travel from wound to spine. Colin stresses it’s important to call your vet out The infection causes muscle spasms, usually sooner rather than later, so they can examine the first noticed in the horse’s tail and legs, and wound, remove hair from around it and flush out eventually causes spasms in the jaw muscles, so any dirt or debris, usually with an isotonic (sterile he can’t open his mouth or eat – hence the and saline) solution. Antibiotics can be used if common name ‘lockjaw’. Once this stage has necessary, and sterile bandages will help keep been reached, tetanus will almost always lead to things clean while the wound heals. death, so vaccination is hugely important. Colin says: “Most owners are aware of the dangers of tetanus which is a real help – I’ve seen four cases OUTLINE FACTS in my patch over the last 18 years, sadly all led to the horse being put down.” C INFECTION TYPE: Fungal INCUBATION: Up to three weeks VACCINATION: No

RINGWORM

Despite the name, ringworm is not caused by a worm but a fungus which is spread from horse to horse by direct contact, or through shared items such as tack or brushes. It can also spread to humans – a disease which can do this is called a zoonosis. Ringworm causes small patches of hair to stick up, usually in circular patches, with the hair eventually falling out. Ringworm will usually clear up by itself, but because it can spread to humans and is quite unsightly, affected horses are often treated with an

Vaccinating against tetanus is a real life-saver

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Find you

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hen you want an exceptional surface for your horse, and to feel good about the planet at the same time, Treadlite is the innovative new option for riders of any level. From high-performance through to grassroots riders at Pony Club, this surface is for everyone. Designed by riders for riders, Treadlite is making waves with some of the country’s top riders, who love the recycled rubber surface mix made right here in New Zealand. Elite dressage rider Vanessa Way is sold on the premium Treadlite product and is using it in her arena.

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“This product is the best, and most definitely my product of choice for the horses, and I to train on to perform at the top of our game. It provides an incredible, even surface for the horses to work on,” Vanessa says. “There are so many perks from using this product – reduced concussion on joints through better impact absorption; it maintains a more even spread than traditional sand surfaces; it can be mixed with your existing surface; reduced dust means less respiratory issues – and these are just a few of the benefits.” Treadlite sales manager Tracy Smith ought to know a thing or

ur footing

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two about surfaces - she’s ridden to Grand Prix level in dressage and coached many of the country’s top riders. She thought her arena, which had been in for 20 years, was done, but Treadlite breathed new life into the surface. “I was ready to pull it up, but Treadlite completely changed it – I would call it an absolute premium surface now.” The beauty of Treadlite is the fact that it’s made from a mix of three different elements of recycled rubber tyres – shred, crumb and fibre - and has been trialled by riders from day one to ensure it is perfectly tailored to meet top-level performance needs. Treadlite prides itself on taking care of the whole supply chain,

from picking up tyres to delivering them to their own plant in Cambridge, where they are turned into premium surface mix. They offer delivery and spreading options too. Service is a high priority, and Treadlite aims to make the whole process as simple as possible. The business is saving more than 1.2 million tyres from landfills every year. “It’s good for the environment and solving a problem, too. This is a really innovative business that’s fast-paced and dynamic,” Tracy explains. Such is the popularity of Treadlite that they have already commissioned a new plant and are on the cusp of launching into

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“

An arena is not cheap, but vet bills are more expensive and can be heartbreaking. It’s like

sleeping on a good bed; we should put our horses on

“

a good surface, where we do the most work.

CARE FOR THE PLANET: the Australian market, based on the level of enquiries and demand. But Treadlite is not just for arenas. They are now putting the surface into training tracks, race tracks, lunging round pens and walkers at rehabilitation centres, with great success.

Care for your horse and care for the planet at the same time - it’s a win:win. Studies by engineers and council environmental planning reports have also shown that a Treadlite surface does not have a detrimental impact on the environment.

WHAT IS TREADLITE?

The surface consists of between 5-8mm tyre shred, crumb and a third product produced from the fibre of tyres, which gives the surface more bounce. “The fact it’s not one straight chip gives a more dynamic feeling when the horses land on it.” Tyres are collected from multiple points throughout the North Island and brought to the plant in Cambridge. The plant is capable of processing 5,000 tyres a day. From there, the product is bagged and shipped. “We do most of our own shipping. We’re big on customer service and making it easy. We have a team of guys who do the spreading. We’ve streamlined the whole process; it’s basically click and collect.”

BENEFITS OF TREADLITE

Better impact absorption and less wear and tear on hooves: Everyone knows the saying, ‘no hoof, no horse’. The big benefit of Treadlite is easing joint concussion. “All four feet are important, and those feet should be on a premium product.” Those who care about their horses and prolonging their performance life know the importance of taking care of joints, and the surface we ride on is a huge factor in this. “An arena is not cheap, but vet bills are more expensive and can be heartbreaking. It’s like sleeping on a good bed; we should put our horses on a good surface, where we do the most work.”

REDUCES DUST, LESS RAIN AFFECTED AND NO NEED TO IRRIGATE:

Treadlite is the surface for all seasons. Dust reduction is a massive benefit. There is no need to irrigate Treadlite, and in winter, you get fewer puddles than other surfaces.

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Treadlite provides a cushioning that reduces injury The arena mix you will receive arrives in easy applied bags and is premium quality

GOOD FOR YOUR HORSE GOOD FOR THE PLANET! As used by Olympian Clarke Johnstone

Treadlite is excited to offer a new Premium Arena Mix made right here in New Zealand from recycled rubber. The recycling process takes used tyres which would otherwise be disposed of in landfill, stockpiled, illegally dumped or shipped offshore to be burnt. At our plant in Cambridge our triple treated refinery process uses a series of shredders and magnets to produce a consistent evenly sized material that is 99.9% metal free. Why use Treadlite arena mix: • Less wear and tear on horses’ hooves • Reduced concussion on joints through better impact absorption • Lively surface allows horses to get more air above the ground and better take off for jumping • Maintains a more even spread than traditional sand surface • Less affected by rain • Reduced dust means fewer respiratory issues • Can be used alone over base-coarse or spread on top and mixed with existing sand

No. of Bags Arena Length (M)

PREMIUM ARENA MIX

100

Arena Width (M)

Available in recycled Treadlite bags NI - $250 + gst ex Cambridge SI - $300 + gst ex Darfield BEFORE

Contact Tracy Smith on 021 928 231 or Chris Lovelady on 027 206 1737

For more information follow us on Facebook or visit www.treadlite.co.nz

AFTER

PROUDLY SUPPORTING

HEALTH feature

THE EQUINE JAW In this article, we’re looking into what happens to your horse’s teeth from birth to old age and getting you clued up on dental ageing, common problems and essential dental care.

NATURAL DEVELOPMENT

OUR EXPERT: Jonathan Keen is a qualified Equine Dental Technician who runs Pimbury Equine in Gloucestershire.

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When he’s five, your horse’s teeth are still largely buried deep within his jaw. These teeth erupt at a rate of 2-3mm per year, wearing themselves down as a selfsharpening mechanism until he’s 18-20, when the eruption rate slows and eventually ceases. Suppose he lives out in a paddock of coarse grass. In that case, the eruption process can happen quite naturally. Still, due to the way the majority of us keep our horses, it’s much more difficult for them to wear down their teeth at the necessary rate – eating soft grass, soft hay, wearing bits and time in the stable are all contributing factors to this problem. Read on to find out more about your horse’s teeth and to learn how you can ensure his pearly whites stay in excellent condition.

Premolars

Canines

Molars

Where wolf teeth may be found

Incisors

ESTIMATING A HORSE’S AGE A horse’s age can often be accurately assessed by examining his teeth. Knowing how to spot the telltale signs that differentiate one age bracket from the next will help to ensure you always get the horse you pay for – not a twoyear-old being sold as a horse rising five or a 16-year-old sold as a five-year-old. To give you some pointers, here’s a quick guide to help you on your way.

Illustrations : SAmantha J Elmhurst BA HONS www.livingart.org.uk

A NEWBORN – 1 YEAR Your foal’s 12 baby premolars will have erupted at birth or within a week after birth. Then his central incisors will erupt at six days old. At six weeks, his intermediate incisors erupt (either side of his centrals), and at six months, his corner incisors will come through (either side of his intermediates). At around five to six months, his wolf teeth will erupt – these sit just in front of his premolars. Not every horse gets wolf teeth, so don’t be alarmed if none are present. Your foal will now have 24 deciduous (baby)

1 YEAR

teeth and potentially two wolf teeth at one year. His first molars erupt at one year and his second at two years.

2½ - 4½ YEARS Central incisors

At 2½ years old, your youngster will shed his top and bottom deciduous central incisors. Underneath, you’ll see his permanent teeth, which will now start to erupt. Within six months (at three years old), his top and bottom permanent centrals should now be touching – or be what your dentist will describe as ‘in wear’.

Premolars The premolars are shed from the front of the mouth backwards (one by one) at two years, 2½ years and three years. Like the incisors, the permanent teeth will be worn six months later.

Molars His third molars erupt at the age of three, but unlike his premolars, these won’t be in wear until one year after they erupt.

FIVE YEARS

These are shed at 4½ years, and his premolars will be in wear six months later.

At the age of five, your horse should now have all of his permanent teeth – between 36 and 42 in total. The canines in male horses will also have erupted by this age and can be found on the upper and lower ‘bars’ – the space between his incisors and premolars. His corner incisors will now be in wear, and at this stage, his gums should look healthy and less red as his teeth have now stopped erupting.

2½ YEARS

5 YEARS

Intermediate incisors His deciduous intermediates are shed at the age of 3½, and his permanent teeth will be in wear six months later.

Corner incisors

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TEN YEARS At the age of 10, the formation of ‘Galvaynes Groove’ occurs on the horse’s corner incisors – you’ll see a small, indented groove, which can become slightly stained over time. This appears at the top of the tooth, close to the gum (pictured right).

LOOK AFTER HIS GUMS

15 YEARS At 15, Galvaynes Groove will now reach halfway down the corner incisors, and the angle of the incisors is becoming noticeably oblique (although the angle does start to change from the age of five).

20 YEARS At the age of 20, Galvaynes Groove will now have reached the bottom of your horse’s corner incisors, and the angle of

TEN YEARS

the incisors will be noticeably oblique. The upper incisors may also appear shorter in length. It’s important to note that the likelihood of ‘diastema’ (gaps The importance of between the teeth) increases now healthy gums should because the older horse’s incisors never be overlooked, become less oval and more especially as your triangular in shape and the average horse ages. Over time width of the teeth reduces. the stability of the Diastema, in turn, increases older horse’s teeth the likelihood of ‘feed packing’ becomes more reliant whereby excess feed and on healthy gums grass matter becomes trapped because the teeth between the teeth. It’s therefore no longer have large essential to take measures to roots anchoring them prevent this – see the crucial into the gum. dental care tips above for advice on how to do this.

Galvaynes Groove

15 YEARS

20 YEARS

ESSENTIAL DENTAL CARE

REGULAR CHECK UPS

As an owner, of course, you want to make sure you take care of your horse’s teeth and gums. As well as ensuring regular dental checkups with your EDT or vet, here are four simple steps you can take to help keep your horse’s teeth and gums healthy:

1. Pay attention to his eating and general behaviour. For example, dropping feed, quidding hay (dropping balls of food or hay after chewing), drinking during feed time, slow eating, poor digestion of feed and more seriously colic or choke can indicate a dental problem. If your horse develops any behavioural issues, these may be linked to problems with his teeth. Get it checked out, just as you would his back or the fit of his saddle. 2. Ensure that feed isn’t getting trapped between your horse’s incisors by using a stiff toothbrush to remove any excess feed or grass build-up.

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Ensure your horse’s teeth are checked regularly

3. As well as brushing away any excess build up between the incisors, which is especially important for older horses. Many horses will benefit from having their mouths flushed with clean water from a hose or a large dose syringe to get rid of any bits of feed.

4. Feed your horse from the ground – this is beneficial as it’s how horses were designed to eat and ensures his jaw remains aligned when breaking down food, reducing the risk of abnormal wear to his teeth.

It’s recommended that a horse below the age of 18 who’s in work and stabled should be checked every six months. A horse out at grass (such as a broodmare or retired) should be checked every 12 months unless otherwise advised or if there are any signs of pain or discomfort. Flushing the mouth is beneficial to older horses

For a healthy horse that can graze well, have your horse’s teeth checked annually

COMMON DENTAL PROBLEMS the height of the horse’s molars. As a result, the teeth wear unevenly, affecting growth and developing a wave-like appearance from the side.

CAPS occur when deciduous teeth are retained after the permanent tooth has erupted. These can be problematic, causing impaction, displacement of teeth and the prevention of normal tooth eruption – they can also cause laceration to the gums and even infection.

HOOKS are common dental abnormalities and occur due to abnormal wear, usually resulting from misalignment of the upper and lower jaw. When misalignment occurs, areas of the tooth don’t wear down as they should, instead of forming a ‘hook’. Hooks are commonly found on the first premolar and the corner upper incisors.

WOLF TEETH are usually only on the top. Hook Hooks are common and easily treated

RAMPS can be found on the first upper and lower premolars and the last upper and lower molars. Unlike a hook, a ramp can take up a more significant portion of the tooth and occur due to abnormal tooth wear. These usually happen due to the misalignment of the upper and lower arcades.

PARROT MOUTH is a hereditary condition in which the horse’s upper jaw is longer than the lower jaw. Because of this misalignment, there’s no contact between the upper and lower incisors, first premolars or last molars. It’s therefore critical that horses with parrot mouth are treated by an EDT or vet every six months to reduce the height of the overgrown teeth.

It’s not entirely unheard of to find them on the lower jaw, but it’s rare (unlike canines that are staggered on the top and bottom). Often owners will have wolf teeth removed at an early age to prevent irritation and interference with the bit.

PERIODONTAL DISEASE begins when bacteria in the horse’s mouth multiply around the teeth and gums, causing inflammation and discomfort. Factors such as food becoming trapped between or around the teeth and plaque formation are both potential causes. The earliest stage of the disease is gingivitis. C Regularly check his teeth for build up and embedded grass seeds

WAVE MOUTH often occurs in Parrot mouth must be carefully managed

conjunction with parrot mouth and the occurrence of caps leading to a variation in

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HEALTH mindset

OVERCOMING FEAR AFTER A FALL If you ride for long enough, you will inevitably fall off at some point. It can be a frightening experience and can shake our entire belief system within a split second. Injuries are common, and no one likes to hit the deck. Even if you are physically okay, one of the biggest struggles for riders following the event is regaining their previous confidence. Here is some advice on how you can bounce back after a fall.

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OUR EXPERT

Failure doesn't mean you are a failure; it just means you haven't succeeded yet. -Robert H. Schuller

Ashleigh Kendall mentors riders through her business, Empowered Mind. As a mental skills coach, qualified Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner and an advanced dressage rider, she offers a multifaceted approach to guide riders towards reaching their goals.

WHAT IS FEAR?

The simple definition is fear is an unpleasant feeling triggered by the perception of danger, real or imagined. It is a natural core emotion that dates back to our primitive existence to keep us safe from harm, whether that danger is physical or psychological. It comprises two primary reactions, being biomechanical and emotional. Our biomechanical reaction is about how our body responds physically to fear. Some of these reactions include increased heart rate, heart palpitations, chest pain, sweating or chills, high adrenaline, dry mouth, nausea, digestive changes, faster breathing or shortness of breath, trembling muscles, to name a few. We react with a ‘flight or fight’ response where your body is preparing you to fight the danger or get away from it. These responses are all evolutionary and have been critical to our survival as humans. The emotional response to fear is more complex as it is different for each of us. We might feel overwhelmed, upset, out of control, paralysed, have the urge to run or have a sense of impending doom. Some adrenaline junkies love to chase fear because of the hormones released that give them a high from their chosen activity. Some people will watch a scary movie for the same reason. Many, however, will feel an adverse reaction to fear and try to avoid it as much as possible. So, despite the physical reaction being much the same for all, the experience of fear is unique to each of us, depending on whether we perceive it as positive or negative. Those who avoid fear will struggle more with their confidence after a fall. The good news is that confidence is like a muscle, and it exists on a moving spectrum. Just because you aren’t naturally a thrill-seeker doesn’t mean that you can’t be a highly confident person in the saddle with a bit of work. Likewise, if you are confident but don’t maintain it, you can lose it. It is worth recognising that it is natural and perfectly normal to have anxiety following a fall or close call. Fear is a helpful emotion, and our brains are wired to keep us safe, so when we experience something that it perceives as harmful, the alarm bells fire off. There are many reasons why we might be feeling worried to ride again, including: n Anxiety about the same incident re-occurring n Doubt in your ability to ride, or doubt in your horse n Perception of others’ judgments of you

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SOME WAYS THAT WE NEGATIVELY MANAGE OUR FEAR INCLUDE: Reaction avoidance - making excuses why we can't do what we are frightened of so we don't have to do it. This is problematic when overcoming fear as it reinforces fear, making it even harder next time. Freezing - is common in jumping when riders don't commit to a fence or pull their horses off it. It also happens when getting

1. KINDNESS IS KING

Before you take a punitive approach to your comeback and beat yourself up for feeling the way you do, take a step back, take a breath and remember to be kind to yourself. You don’t grow from being down on yourself, and you most likely wouldn’t be mean to a friend in the same situation, so there is no reason to be unkind to yourself. Take a nurturing approach in your self-talk and recovery.

2. REFLECT

It is good to go back and analyse what happened and why. Did your horse unseat you when he got a fright? Or maybe he bucked? There are a myriad of reasons why you might have fallen off, and it is good to look back to understand what happened so you can address it moving forward. Sometimes it is just one of those things, and sometimes there is more to it, and you might need to take a proactive approach to prevent it from happening again. Determining the cause is valuable feedback in the rebuilding process. It is beneficial to reflect and consider what positive learning you can take away from the experience. Once you have figured out why it happened, you can make an effective, positive plan to move past it, helping reduce the ‘what if’ selfdoubt type of thinking and feeling out of control.

3. ACCEPT

Once you narrow down the ‘why’ and the most fearinducing part of the incident, then you can take charge. When you isolate the worst part of it or the part that is causing you the most worry, you can work to understand and accept it for what it is. When you come to ride and feel that overwhelming sense of fear, rather than stepping down, avoiding it and letting it win, you can accept the feeling for what it is and take it with you. You don’t have to feel good to do it. Every time you push past it and take it with you, you overcome it a little more. Accepting that we don’t always have to like how we feel unlocks a considerable amount of your own potential for growth in every aspect of life. Life isn’t about feeling great all the time.

4. TAKE YOUR TIME AND START IN YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Take all the time you need. Avoid feeling pushed or rushed into doing something you are not physically or

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into trouble on a horse and wanting to apply the handbrake rather than riding it positively forward through the issue. Hyper-vigilance - being extremely conscious of everything your horse does. Anxiety - feeling like you are going to have a panic attack.

mentally ready for, which often backfires and sets your progress back even more. There is no shame in taking tiny steps every day. If only walking at the beginning is what you need to do to get back in the saddle, then walk. When you feel like you can challenge yourself more, set a goal to do a few trot steps. If you do more than that, that is amazing, but if you do a few steps and that is enough before it pushes you into the stress zone, that is okay too. Pushing yourself past the stretch zone and into the stress zone will negatively affect your confidence. Learn where your comfort zone is and expand it safely. Your comfort zone is where you can do an activity without feeling overly stressed about it. This is your starting point. Your stretch zone begins when you start to feel some anxiety, but you are still in control of your thoughts and can still think clearly. Anything beyond this becomes the stress zone, so you want to be just growing that stretch zone a little bit at a time. A few steps every day is more productive than extreme, giant leaps. Consistency is your friend here.

5. BANISH NEGATIVE SELF-TALK

We all know it well; those conversations in your head serve to belittle you and make you small. The good news is you can rewire your thoughts to fire towards positivity. When you do this, you increase your capacity for growth and confidence. Resist letting negativity corrode your positive mindset and self-esteem. Attitude is everything. Learn to notice when you are being overly critical of yourself and then unhook from that thinking. One way you can do this is to counteract it with a positive or reframe it from a belief to, “I am having a thought that….” This creates some distance between you and the thought, especially those thoughts that tend to have a judgmental tone to them. For example, “I am having the thought that I am not a capable enough rider for my horse,” instead of, “I am not capable enough for my horse.” You instantly become removed from it when you reframe it in this way. Another way you can detach yourself from the negative self-talk is to imagine the thought as if it were an object. Visualise it as if it is floating around in a cloud above you. Notice what it looks like, how big it is, the colour and shape. Ask yourself questions about how this metaphorical cloud appears. It sounds like a bit of a funny exercise, but it is super helpful and has

TOP TIP

Go back to something you have already mastered and enjoy it for a while before pushing yourself with more challenging things.

been proven to be an effective way to unhook from our thoughts and take a more rational approach to deal with them as they are. When you notice negativity creeping in, you can also take the approach of treating your mind as a separate entity and a storytelling machine. Not everything we think is useful or helpful, and our minds have a knack for creating fantastic stories that may or may not have any factual basis. It is just how we are wired. When you notice negative narratives taking hold, you can gently remind yourself, ‘Oh, there’s the storytelling machine at work again’, unhooking from the thought, so you don’t take it on as belief. Programme yourself to notice when you are thinking negative thoughts to begin to unhook from them. If you wouldn’t say it to a friend, those thoughts you want to unhook from.

“Don’t try and climb the whole mountain all in one go; take small steps every day, and before long, you will notice the fear is no longer overwhelming.”

6. FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT Yes, this is a scientifically proven strategy to help gain confidence! Showing up and faking it until the feeling and emotion catches up with you. Stand/sit tall, look up and where you are going and smile. Your feelings will start to match until you notice that the fear has vanished.

7. VISUALISATION

Another exercise that might seem a bit pointless but actually is surprisingly powerful and adopted by some of the biggest names in sport and business in the world is visualisation. It is so powerful because the mind is not capable of knowing the difference between an actual or imagined event. Even memories are just recollections of the previous time you thought of that memory. It changes over time, and memory is notoriously unreliable. Find a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted, close your eyes and create a mental picture about riding your horse, where you feel confident, happy and secure. Notice the feeling in your body and mind

while you are riding in your mind. Create it to be a positive experience where you feel immense love and joy for what you are doing. Replay it often. This mental rehearsal will work on your mind, so you have had a positive experience before you even get on your horse, increasing your ability to relive that in realtime. Visualisation is an essential component of mental healing in recovery. You can even visualise correcting an error. This can be extremely powerful if the fall was due to rider error or even perhaps caused by a delay in correcting your horse’s behaviour which then escalated, causing you to fall off.

8. GET HELP

It can be tough and daunting to regain your confidence on your own, so if you can get help from your trainer or even have someone experienced to support you from the ground, this can be hugely valuable in making progress. If you are worried about riding your own horse, then find a schoolmaster you can take some lessons on to help get your confidence back. These horses are worth their weight in gold.

9. LEARN TO BREATHE

It sounds basic, but anyone who has experienced anxiety will tell you it isn’t when fear takes hold. As explained above, fast or slow breathing is a physiological response to fear, so it makes sense that learning some simple breathing exercises will help regulate your breathing and simultaneously soothe that physiological response. One great exercise is to set a timer for four minutes. Breathe in for four counts, hold for two and out for six. Continue until the time is up. This is the time that has been scientifically proven to reset your body and calm your anxiety. If you feel worried before getting on, saddle up, put your helmet and boots on, take a seat and do the exercise before hopping on. If you need to repeat the exercise until you feel the anxiety lower.

REMEMBER, FALLS HAPPEN TO EVERYONE

As I said in the introduction, we all will fall off at some time. Even the best riders in the world fall off from time to time. That doesn’t make you any less of a rider. Growth means bouncing back from it and getting back to what we love doing most - riding! C

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