Show Circuit Magazine - December 17/January 18 by Show Circuit Magazine

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Well here it is, our December/January issue and the very last for 2017! It’s been another action-packed year and the first half of the new show season has certainly lived up to that. We’ve got 38 pages of coverage from just a few of the shows that have run across the country over the last few months - from A&P shows to Dressage Championships to the multi-disciplined spectacle of Equidays in October. We have a number of interviews and stories featuring riders, trainers and breeders involved in a range of disciplines. Our training section starting on page 62 is filled with great tips, tricks and ideas from the experts, and our health section includes an in-depth look at equine back pain with Dr Ronan Costello, along with a guide to balancing your diet around your own lifestyle. This edition we’re also proud to bring you our very first “SaleCircuit”, showcasing some of the lovely horses out there on the market. As we head to Christmas and the start of another year, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank everyone involved in Show Circuit magazine our advertisers, contributors and, of course, our loyal readers. I hope you’ve enjoyed every issue of Show Circuit this year and on behalf of the team, I wish you a safe and happy festive season.

Sheryll Davies

Ryan Teece ryan@showcircuit.co.nz

SENIOR FEATURES WRITER: Laura Hunt laura@showcircuit.co.nz

SUB EDITING: Kate Lattey

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Ann Bremner Christine Cornege Dark Horse Photography kampic.com Janis Hedley Lisa Gordon Michelle Clarke Michelle Hicks Ryan Teece

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Caitlin Madden Cedah Mayo Diana Dobson Nicola Smith Rachael Sutton Ryan Teece

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cover photo Harriet Redmond, pictured here on Lakeview Lone Desire, tells her life-changing story on page 14.

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PHOTO Ryan Teece SHOWCIRCUIT magazine is published bimonthly. Articles reflect the personal opinion of the author and not necessarily the view of Waiata Publishing Ltd or Show Circuit Magazine. 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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in thisDEC issue. 17 / JAN 18

REGULARS 12 80 82 130 145 146

Top Shot How To | Quarter Markers Retail | Christmas Shopping Guide New Products Subscribe SaleCircuit NEW

42 INTERVIEWS

TRAINING 64 70 72 74

Rose Alfeld | Complete Class Prep Focus On | Serpentines Focus On | Show Hunter Combos Amanda Berridge | Teaching Children

EVENT COVERAGE 86 96 100 106 112 116 122 126

Equidays

14 18 22 26 32 42 46 54 68

SPECIAL FEATURES 36 50

Travel | Spruce Meadows Moanaroa Station

Ellesmere A&P Show SHCNZ National Championships Hawke's Bay Royal Show Ashburton A&P Show

Poverty Bay A&P Show Canterbury Spring Dressage Bay of Plenty Dressage Championships

HEALTH 134

Veterinary Examination of the Thoracolumbar Spine

138 142 144

Emma McMurray | Helping Your Equine Athlete

Nicola Smith | Balancing Act Recipe | Coconut Curry Noodles

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top shots. THE MIRACLE OF LIFE Photographed just ten minutes after birth - a beautiful colt foal by German Riding Pony stallion, Golden Strike, out of show jumping mare Vespera SL (Voltaire II). PHOTOS Christine Cornege

INTERVIEW

POWER OF POSITIVITY Harriet Redmond’s remarkable recovery

It’s been a year since a freak accident changed Harriet Redmond’s life forever, and despite having to come to terms with losing her left eye, the 23-year-old is getting on with her life. We spoke to this inspirational young rider about her horror accident and the incredibly brave recovery that saw her back in the saddle just two months later. WORDS Laura Hunt | PHOTOS Show Circuit Magazine

quiet afternoon handgrazing her Prix St Georges dressage horse, Teodoro (Theo), at a local Christchurch show in December last year quickly turned to disaster for Harriet, when Theo unexpectedly took fright and kicked out, striking her in the left side of her face. “I’m not exactly sure what happened,” she says. “A horse got loose and galloped past us, giving him a fright. He reared up, spun round, kicked out and got me.” Fortunately, Harriet doesn’t remember anything of the accident or much of what happened after she woke up from three days in a coma. “I don’t really remember waking up. I was on a lot of medication,” she explains. “I had basically shattered the left side of my face, breaking almost every bone, and my left cheekbone was smashed, but they did an amazing job of fixing me up.” There was a lot that was unknown in the hours following the accident, with Harriet’s doctors concerned about a brain bleed she had and how it would affect her. However, it quickly became clear that the bleed came from Harriet falling and hitting her head on the ground, rather than the impact of the kick. “I was very lucky that it didn’t affect my brain,

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and I had no concussion or ongoing brain injury,” she says. “The trauma to my face is quite superficial, but luckily the kick wasn’t a little higher or it could have been much worse. My eye and the area around it took the impact, which saved my brain.” A determined Harriet was allowed home after just two weeks in hospital, just in time to see her horses before Christmas. “I could not wait to get back out and see the horses. Even though I couldn’t ride, I begged others to ride for me, so I could watch. I tried to do everything the same and as soon as I could, I was out mixing feeds and cleaning tack. I didn’t make myself do it, it just felt right.” Being around the horses was enough at the start, and even though she wasn’t allowed to ride throughout January, Harriet arranged for her friend Jesse O’Flaherty to ride her horse Lakeview Lone Desire (Puzzle) at the New Zealand National Showcase Championships at the end of January. “I really just enjoyed grooming and getting him ready,” she says. At the start of February, Harriet received the news from her plastic surgeon that she had been hoping for – she was allowed to start riding again. Heading straight home from the hospital to ride, Harriet jumped on Puzzle and says it was like nothing had changed. “My sister, Anna, thought I’d just get on and

have a trot round on a long rein, but I started working him properly straight away! It was like I had just had a big break from riding, and when I was back on, I felt totally normal again.” With the Horse of the Year show in March looming, Harriet didn’t muck around. Puzzle was entered in the Pinto classes and her new thoroughbred showing horse, My Kingdom (Duke), in the hack showing classes. “It was great fun, and Puzzle got Reserve Champion Pinto. It was my first show back and I wanted to prove to everyone that I could still do it, and this was my way of doing that.” On the day Harriet returned home from Horse of the Year, she started getting Theo ready for the Dressage Young Rider Championships in April, where they had some of their highest scores together to date. Prior to her accident, Harriet was just one exam and four months of work placement away from becoming a fully qualified nurse. However, after the accident this was put on the back burner, and following the Young Rider Championships, Harriet moved to Te Awamutu to base with her instructor, Christine Weal, as a working pupil. “I will go back to finish nursing next year, but I got the awesome opportunity to train with Christine, and I thought ‘Why not? I’m going to enjoy life for a year’. It was only meant to be a short-term thing, but I’m still here seven months later!”

Clockwise from left: Harriet with Theo, left, and Puzzle; Harriet is constantly progressing in her dressage; Duke, the show horse of Harriet’s team and Christine Weal’s, Ngahiwi Frostie.

“THERE IS NOTHING I CAN’T DO WITH ONE EYE THAT I COULD DO WITH TWO!” Despite her own team already keeping her busy, Harriet jumped at the opportunity to ride Ngahiwi Frostie when it arose at the end of August. Together the pair won the Saddle Hunter Horse Championship at Equidays in October, and more recently the Champion Large Show Hunter Hack and Champion Rider 21 – 30 years at the NZ Show Horse Council Nationals.

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Clockwise: Harriet’s love of her horses was unchanged after her accident; Christine Weal, Harriet’s coach, has treated her no differently; Harriet is as enthusiastic as ever to ride and compete; Harriet credits Puzzle with getting her riding confidently again

“PEOPLE OFTEN LOOK AT ME STRANGELY WHEN I SAY I’M LUCKY, BUT LIFE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A LOT MORE CHALLENGING.” 16

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Harriet can’t thank Christine and her partner, Zoie Gray, enough for their support over the last year and above all, for treating her no different to the way they did before her accident. “They have been so good to me and have treated me the same as always. Christine has been amazing at helping me adjust to riding the dressage arena with one eye, and now I can’t even remember my eyesight being any different to how it is now.” Harriet has her three horses, Theo, Puzzle and Duke, with her at Christine’s and is excited about the future with all of them. Harriet got the ride on Puzzle, who is owned by Jodie Lockwood, over a year ago and says he is the “coolest little horse” who has played a big part in helping her to get back riding confidently. “The accident hasn’t changed how I am around horses. I’m possibly a little more cautious, but if it hadn’t been for Puzzle, I’d be really cautious. I used to just show him, but now we’re getting into the dressage and he is competing at Level 4 this season. I would say he’ll eventually be my good horse.” Theo is the horse responsible for getting Harriet hooked on dressage just over two years ago. “I’d focused on showing from when I was about 15 years old, but I met Theo and loved him so much. He was a dressage horse, so he’s the one who changed things to a dressage focus for me.” With Theo, Harriet has progressed to Prix St Georges level in a relatively short amount of

time and hopes to keep improving with him this season. This season will be her first on her thoroughbred Duke, who she is looking forward to getting out on to compete in showing classes. While Harriet aspires to reach the top of her sport, she isn’t big on goal setting and doesn’t get hung up on winning certain events, instead focusing on getting the best from her horses, while enjoying every minute of it. “In the next year or so I’d like to do the Under 25 Young Rider Dressage in Australia and possibly compete Duke in showing in Australia too, but it’s hard to set goals with horses of what you want to do and what you want to win, so I’d rather just enjoy it and focus on getting the best out of them.” After the trauma of her accident, multiple reconstructive surgeries that followed to repair the bones in the left side of her face and her left eye socket, the removal of her eye and then a replacement with a prosthetic one, Harriet’s been through a lot in a year. However, she will still tell you that she feels lucky, not only to have had the support of her parents, Lynley and Dave, her older sister Anna and all the great friends who have been by her side through her recovery, but also that the kick wasn’t worse. “People often look at me strangely when I say I’m lucky, but life could have easily been a lot more challenging. I have no other ongoing problems other than losing my eye. The kick didn’t affect my brain, and there is nothing I can’t do with one eye that I could do with two!” C

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cking d a cra , but a h s a n h o aurer 8 seas Dani M the 2017/1 ave certainly o start t hree years h er drive and t t th fh the las een a test o aught up wi o b c rt on. We show jumpe m i t a n i determ and-based ced back fro ig un ckl rb the Au how she bo nd what he ure. t a t find ou ppointment, re for the fu a s n disa on pla el Sutt a

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he 25-year-old rider has certainly kicked off her season with a bang, notching up a multitude of placings at the first few shows, including a couple of Grand Prix wins on the stallion Dicavalli Don Quattro. ‘Quatty’, as he is known at home, is owned by Black Hawk Farm and has been with Dani since last season. She says last year was spent just getting to know each other. “It was very different for us taking a stallion around the shows. We weren’t sure which places were suitable, whereas this year we’re far more aware. I think I also have a much better bond with him now – I’ve taken him out by himself a lot and I think that one-on-one time has really helped.” With the hard work beginning to pay off, Dani feels that the start to this season has probably been her best one yet. “With the wins at Grand Prix, and the young horses stepping up really well, it feels like we’ve hit the ground running.” For the last few years Dani has been in a rebuilding phase, following on from 2014, which saw the full-time equestrian face one of the biggest setbacks of her riding career so far. Having sold her National Grand Prix champion Blue Rinse, Dani imported the promising mare Double Dutch from the USA.

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S A W “THAT OMENT THE M TIONED S E U Q O I T R E H T E H W S I H T N I Y A .” T T S O N R O T R SPO

After placing sixth in the Lady Rider of the Year, Dani had just bought the horse a World Cup passport when she lost her to illness. To add to the heartbreak, the mare wasn’t insured at the time, leaving Dani with a large vet bill and no horse. The financial setback left Dani feeling like she was on the back foot for the next couple of years. “That was the moment I questioned whether to stay in this sport or not. When you lose a good horse like that – and she was ready to go up to that next level – it was like ‘Where do I go from here?’ When you don’t have the money to go out and buy another one, I knew it required completely rebuilding from the ground up.” She found herself relying on owners to come forward and back her. Fortunately, a number of people stepped up to help get her on her feet again, including Liz and Ken Rouse of KLD Sporthorses, who gave her the ride on Mr Sparkles so she could get out there in the 1.30m classes. Fellow show jumper, Tom Tarver-Priebe gave Dani the opportunity to purchase Supernova NZPH by allowing her to

pay off the horse as she went “Losing Double Dutch really knocked me, but I was lucky enough to have those people around me to help get me on my feet again. Over the last couple of years, I’ve had a really good group of owners come forward, and I feel very lucky to have such nice horses now. A few years ago, I was definitely struggling and feeling like I had nothing on the team, whereas now it’s built up and I’ve got the best team!” Alongside Quatty, Dani has a string of young horses coming up through the levels. Her team of talented seven-year-olds includes Le Bam, by Leo Caylon and co-owned with Jacqui Coombes, who has just stepped up to 1.30m with some good results, and Yalambi’s Gucci Girl, who Dani feels is definitely one to watch over the next few years. The bay mare is by Carpino Z and is owned by KLD Sporthorses, and Dani says she’s everything she looks for in a horse, as she’s quick and careful.

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“She came in quite wild as a five-year-old, quite spooky and it was originally her way or no way. But I’ve learnt to work with her and she has continually progressed, and the bigger the heights the better she’s jumped.” Her big grey, Cassanova AF (by Cassini II), has also stepped up to the 1.40m classes this season with a couple of placings. Dani is looking to take a team of horses to the South Island for the National Championships, a long haul from her Kaukapakapa base north of Auckland. She is also aiming for the Lady Rider of the Year class at Horse of the Year. “I’ve been lucky enough to have some good horses for that class in the past, and we are also looking at the Seven Year Old class at Horse of the Year for the young ones, which will be a tough class. But the shows are what I really enjoy, and the hard work is worth putting towards those moments.” In between shows, Dani’s days are long and busy. Now in demand as a coach, her day begins at 5am, cleaning the stables with the help of her dad, riding her team in the morning and then coaching in the afternoon. She also travels to give clinics around the country, and admits it can be a hard lifestyle. “It’s not like you can take a day off – there’s always something that needs to be done. A show is like a holiday for me!” Looking to the future, the goal is to take a few horses to Australia to compete in the next couple of years. “I think Australia is such a good stepping stone. It’s a good way of testing yourself.” With such a busy schedule, Dani says she couldn’t do what she does without the support of her parents or her sponsors: Dynavyte, Callow Farrier Services, King Equine Therapy, and Stirrups Equestrian. “They all provide the team with the best products and service. Stirrups dress me, they dress the horses, and they have been a huge support. They’ve been there through the death of Double Dutch, when I felt like I was back at the bottom, and they’ve stayed with me.” C

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HEATHER FIELD Around the World WORDS Caitlin Madden | PHOTOS Show Circuit Magazine

Heather Field’s career as a professional groom allows her to follow two of her passions – travelling the world and working with horses. She has recently arrived in New Zealand to work full time for show jumper Lily Tootill, and she gave Show Circuit some insight into her past experiences, her present job and her plans for the future.

t just 27 years old, Heather Field has already travelled extensively, but is still excited to broaden her experiences in a new country. Despite having been in New Zealand for only a few weeks, she’s already feeling right at home. “I’ve really not been here long at all, but at the moment this weather is making it feel a lot like home!” she laughs. Originally from Durham in the north-east of England, Heather is here as a fulltime groom for Lily Tootill. Lily is an ESNZ Jumping HP Futures Squad member, and Heather will be with her for the 2017-2018 season. Heather’s experience with horses started when she was around eight years old, after a friend was given a riding lesson for her birthday and asked if Heather would go with her. “Before that I had never touched a horse in my life!” she recalls. “I started out having lessons for three years, then I got my first horse on loan when I was about 12. That was a shared loan with the same friend. We would go three times a week to ride this horse that was way too big for me!” The yard where the girls kept their horse eventually found another mount for Heather, and at the age of 13, she also started grooming for the yard owners’ daughter. Fast-forward to the end of her high school years, and Heather decided to have a go at a full-time career as a groom. She pursued this for a few years before deciding to run her own livery yard, which lasted for three years before she moved to Buckinghamshire in England and started working for Irish show jumper Trevor Breen.

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It was while she was working for Trevor that Heather experienced her career highlight so far, when he won the famous Hickstead Derby in 2014. It was a hard won victory, as they not only had a very short lead-in to the event, but also several mishaps before the final round, including a small injury to his horse. But the luck of the Irish was with him, and Heather was on the sidelines to witness the victory. “Even with those mishaps, as I watched Trevor and his horse go round, I just had a sense that it was their year to do it. And they pulled it off!” After two years with Trevor, Heather decided to work as a freelance groom, which has taken her all across Europe, including to Spain, France, Belgium, Italy and Austria. “It can be quite intense. When I am freelancing in Europe, I can do up to eight weeks on the road,” she explains. “It might not involve looking after more than three horses at a time, but you go from one show to another show to the next…it’s a very full on job!” After busy summers spent in Europe, Heather avoided the miserable winter months by relocating to Florida, USA for the European winter. Her first season over there was in early 2016, and she picked up work simply through word of mouth. “There is a huge scene there, because they have the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) that runs from January through to April. When I knew I was going freelancing, I made a goal that I wanted to go to Florida. I spoke to a lot of people I know on the circuit and they put out feelers, and it went from there.”

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For the past two seasons in Florida, Heather has worked for two-time US Olympian McLain Ward, who is based in New York for most of the year, but relocates to Florida for the winter circuit. “It was great fun,” Heather says. “They have a great team and I learned so much there in such short periods of time. Working on a yard in Florida can be a little different though, especially because they are only there for three months or a season. It’s all very professional as they have been going for so many years.” Another short stint late last year found Heather working for Scottish rider Scott Brash at his yard in England. Scott won a gold medal aboard Hello Sanctos at the London 2012 Olympics as part of Great Britain’s show jumping team. “It was really lovely working there,” she recalls. “It’s a great place and all the people are so nice. Scott is very easy to work for, too. He’s so busy though – he is at a show every weekend, so he’s home Monday through Wednesday and then he is gone again!” There were three or four grooms working on the yard every day, and although Scott competes at top level, Heather said the running of the yard wasn’t too different from her previous experiences.

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“I think you get to a level and standard where yards just know how they are run,” she explains. “There are little things that change slightly, and people do things in different ways, but the general stuff stays the same. Working at Scott’s was a bit like that.” With all that experience under her belt, it isn’t a surprise that Heather can fit in anywhere. The opportunity to work in New Zealand arose when she saw Lily’s advertisement for a groom on the Show Grooms International Facebook page, just as she was nearing the end of the summer season in the UK. The timing was perfect, and Heather is excited to learn about the show circuit here, and to see some of the country while travelling to shows with Lily. “New Zealand is a place I had always wanted to come to. I love travel and I love adventure and exploring. New Zealand has always appealed to me just because of how wild and far away it feels,” Heather explains. Lily is very happy with her new groom, and says Heather was the perfect person for the role. “It would be much harder to find someone in New Zealand who has the same kind of time and experience. We also needed to find someone who was happy to be here a lot, and was just really capable. I went to Australia last weekend and was really happy to leave Heather in charge of the horses.”

A “ big goal would be the Olympics, whether I went as a groom or as a volunteer. I don’t know if that will ever happen, because you have to be lucky, dedicated, and in the right place at the right time!”

After her season in New Zealand, Heather hopes to travel for six weeks before making her way across the ditch to see Australia, or heading to the Pacific Islands for a holiday. There are still plenty of places that she would like to work as well, naming Calgary in Canada (with Spruce Meadows nearby) as a dream destination, as well as Aachen in Germany. And there is one other big dream that is still on Heather’s bucket list for the future. “A big goal would be the Olympics, whether I went as a groom or as a volunteer. I don’t know if that will ever happen, because you have to be lucky, dedicated, and in the right place at the right time!” Olympics aside, Heather is clearly committed to pursuing grooming as a career, and is always looking to gain more experience. “I want to get better at what I do and to push the idea that grooming can be a career. I think a lot of people struggle to understand what I do and why, but there are people out there now who are career grooms and who do make a business out of it.” However her short-term goal is to enjoy her time here and see as much of New Zealand as she can while working with Lily. “It’s always a stab in the dark and a leap of faith coming somewhere new, but so far, so good!” C

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Eighteen months ago, Sarah Wilkinson was offered the opportunity of a lifetime to fulfil her dressage dreams, so she packed her bags and headed to Germany.

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any Kiwis graduate from university, buy a plane ticket, and head off to experience the world. Sarah Wilkinson did just that, but with a dressage twist. The bubbly 24-year-old had just finished a Communications Degree, majoring in Television and Screen Production, when she decided to pursue her equestrian passion. “I had always wanted to move to Europe to work in a stable. Once I had finished my degree, I decided I really did want to take my riding further and give it a shot.” Sarah is no stranger to the international dressage scene. At just 12 years of age, she won the World Children’s Challenge on her little Gisborne bred horse, Greendowns Laredo, and earnt a spot in the finals to represent New Zealand in Germany. During that trip, she had the opportunity to train with Leonie Brammal at her stable, arranged through her long-time coach Bennet Conn. “That was an amazing experience, to be so young and training with them over there!” So when Sarah decided to try her luck in Europe, at the end of 2015, she got back in touch with Ben. “He had advertised for someone to join his stable, BC Dressage, in Germany earlier in the year, so I messaged him to see if he knew of anyone else who was looking. It was my lucky day, because he still was!”

“I DECIDED I REALLY DID WANT TO TAKE MY RIDING FURTHER AND GIVE IT A SHOT.”

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Three months later, Sarah sold her Medium-level mare, Diamondior, in New Zealand, then shortly afterwards touched down in Germany, along with her partner Jack. “I’m lucky that Jack is so supportive of my riding and was happy to move over with me.” she admits. Sarah and Jack now live half an hour from where BC Dressage is based in Tönisvorst, just out of Düsseldorf. Firmly ensconced in German life, Sarah drives to the stables each morning where her day starts by helping to feed the horses at 7am. After getting all of the horses out into paddocks or on the walker, she will work up to eight horses each day. Sarah really enjoys Ben’s approach to training the horses, with his emphasis on getting the basics correct and solid, and the horses supple and flexing, before trying any of the higher-level movements. “Starting from the babies, we work on getting them forward, straight, flexing, making them supple and listening to the aids. With the more schooled horses, Ben still emphasises getting the suppleness and flexion established before working on anything else.” She describes him as being “extremely disciplined”, and says he has also worked with her a lot on her position.

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“I HAVE LEARNT SO MUCH ALREADY IN A YEAR AND A HALF. MY RIDING HAS IMPROVED A LOT!” Sarah’s job as a rider involves working a lot of young horses, and while she loves all the young ones she gets to sit on, she does have a couple of favourites. Her first is the 4-yearold El Capone Stallion, Imagine, who Ben found last year and gave Sarah the opportunity to buy a share in. She believes the stallion will be something special as he progresses up the levels. “He’s so clever and has such a great attitude. He has so much natural ability that he finds the work easy and just gets it so fast.” Sarah’s other rising star is a five-year-old Jazz mare called Hello. She has had the ride on the big chestnut for the last 18 months, and describes her as “super hot, with so much power”. Excitingly, the mare’s owner, Michelle Hicks, offered Sarah the chance to buy a half share in Hello earlier this year. “I was super lucky, as my Mum wanted an interest in a horse, so it was the perfect opportunity, which I’m very thankful for. I can’t wait for the future with this mare.” In August, both Imagine and Hello made their competition debuts with Sarah at a show in Holland, which she says has been a highlight of her time overseas so far. “They both performed really well, and we qualified for the semifinals of the Pavo Cup, which was super.” She is now working toward qualifying Hello for the 6-yearold class at the World Young Horse Championships in 2018. “That’s a year away, and she is on track with her training to get there, so that is what I’m focussed on.” The decision to shift her life to other side of the world has been a dream come true for Sarah, and she says she’ll stay on in Europe as long as she continues to enjoy it. “It’s such a great place to be in for this sport, and the opportunities I’ve been given already have been great.” As well as watching the big shows such as Aachen, Horses and Dreams, and the World Young Horse Championships, Sarah has also had the opportunity to train with top riders and coaches, including Leonie Bramall, Theo Hanzon, and Morten Thomsen. “At the moment I’m focussing on training and improving, but I would like to start competing a bit more, now that I have a couple of horses at that point.” She admits it was hard to say goodbye to her family and friends (and New Zealand coffee), but says she truly loves being in Germany and counts herself very lucky to be working with quality horses every day, along with the help she gets from Ben. “Every single day he trains me on several horses, and I have learnt so much already in a year and a half. My riding has improved a lot!” C

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INTERVIEW

A VERY SPECIAL PONY

Braeburn Park Oscar de la Renta WORDS Caitlin Madden

Six-year-old Braeburn Park Oscar de la Renta is going from one success to another. The 13.2hh pony has had an incredible 2016/2017 season in Australia with plenty more wins on the horizon. Show Circuit caught up with his breeder, Andrea Shore of Braeburn Park Riding Ponies, to find out more.

s soon as Andrea Shore saw Braeburn Park Oscar de La Renta (Oscar), she knew he was something special. The pony, bred by Andrea at her South Island property, is by Urubula Regal Promise and out of Willowcroft Diamonds Forever (owned by Andrea). She describes it as a match made in heaven, but one that wasn’t without its difficulties in obtaining. “I managed to get some semen that I was very, very lucky to get,” she says, explaining that Urubula Regal Promise, previously owned by Margot Maitland, had been sold privately to an Australian family. The new owners hadn’t released any semen and weren’t allowing any services. “I had one contact in Australia that had done the deal with them and knew the sire extremely well. My contact asked the new owners if they would mind me purchasing some semen of his [Regal Promise’s] that was still in Christchurch,”

“My gosh, he can move – it is truly amazing.” Andrea says. “In the end they said I could have all of it!” And she is grateful they did, with Andrea finding it hard to name just a few reasons why Oscar is so successful. One in particular, though, is his beautiful movement. “My mare has out of this world movement and so does the sire,” she says. “That’s one of Oscar’s best qualities. My gosh, he can move – it is truly amazing! It has always been what gets the judges’ attention. He comes into any ring and he is up and ready, his ears are pointed and to top it off, he has outstanding conformation.” After breeding Oscar in 2011, Andrea took him to his first show when he was just four months old, the Southland Otago Foal Show in 2012. He won everything she entered him in, as well as the Supreme Award. Later that year Oscar, led by Anthony Mountney, won Champion Yearling, Supreme In-Hand Pony and the

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Supreme All Breeds Exhibit of the Show at the 2012 Canterbury A&P Show. Three weeks later in Christchurch, Oscar, again led by Anthony, won the Supreme Led Pony title and the Supreme All Breeds Exhibit title at the South Island Premier Championship Show. “He basically cleaned up the South Island,” she says. Andrea says the natural next step was for Oscar to compete at the Horse of the Year Show in 2013, but living so far away meant sending him up north a few months in advance. This unfortunately meant he wasn’t at his best on show day. “Sending them up early gives them time to acclimatise,” she says. “However with young ones, they will often drop weight and that happened with Oscar. That extra time is so we can try and get condition back on them, but we didn’t quite do that.” Oscar still finished in third place in the In-Hand Young Stock Yearling Pony of the Year. “I found out later that the judge thought he just needed more condition on - which was fair enough!” It was off to Australia for Oscar then, with Andrea sending him to Alan Dillingham in Sydney, NSW. Oscar enjoyed a little time off before doing a few in-hand shows, including the Sydney Royal. Not long afterwards, Alan, who had been looking after Oscar for Andrea, moved to the UK and it was time to find the pony a new home, as well as have him professionally broken in. That home was with Trinnette and Trina Crawford, who run a showing business called the Crawford Twins. “When we put him out under saddle, first we put him in the Riding Pony classes and he did very well there. Then one day I was talking to Trinnette on the phone, and she said to me, ‘Trina and I have talked about this and we think if we put him in the Show Hunter Pony section he could win Grand Nationals’. I have complete trust in Trina and Trinnette – they are amazing people – so we did it.” The Crawford Twins were right, and in April this year, Oscar won at the Gallery Equine Grand National Championships, taking out the Willowcroft Riding Pony Stud Grand National Show Hunter Pony 12.2-14hh Championship. “It’s been a thrill to have won many HOY titles in the past, but to have actually bred a winning pony, and to have still owned the pony when he took that prize, was the most unreal moment I have ever had.” Sadly, Andrea wasn’t at the Sydney-based show when Oscar won, as she had to unexpectedly return home to New Zealand. In fact, she only realised he won once her phone started going off.

“We think if we put him in the Show Hunter Pony Section he could win Grand Nationals.”

A rewarding pat from Trinette for Oscar after being crowned Grand National Large Show Hunter Pony Champion PHOTO Show Circuit Magazine

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South Island.” “I was watching online, which is always slower,” she says. “I started getting all these texts and messages saying congratulations and I clicked!” After this success, Andrea sold Oscar to Heather Kyros and her 12-year-old daughter Kate, who are based in Adelaide. They keep their ponies with Chris and Vicky Lawrie – legends of the showing world over in Australia. “They have sent me videos every day of what is going on over there,” explains Andrea. This was part of the deal when she sold Oscar to the family. She says seeing how great they are with him also helped her decide to sell them another Braeburn Park pony, Heavenly Soprano (Daizi). Heather and Kate have five or six ponies that Kate competes, and Andrea says she

Trinette Crawford rode Oscar to win the Grand National Large Show Hunter Pony in Sydney while he was still owned by Andrea PHOTO Show Circuit Magazine

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Winning Supreme Champion All Breeds at the Canterbury A&P Show 2012

PHOTO Dark Horse Photography

cleaned up the

Champion Child’s Large Show Hunter Pony at the SHC Champion of Champions Show in Adelaide with his new owner, Kate Kyros PHOTO Lisa Gordon

“He basically

is always so impressed by their dedication and the hard work they put in. “I feel very happy, my heart is full with joy to have two ponies with them at that home. And hopefully more in the future.” It was also a huge honour for Andrea to hear that Vicky liked Oscar so much. “They [Heather and Vicky] saw him compete in the Large Show Hunter Pony Grand National and Heather was sitting beside Vicky. She said to Heather, ‘You’ve got to find that owner and buy that pony. You have to do it. This is the pony’. That was without Vicky knowing that Heather knew me anyway!” Kate has been going well on Oscar, competing in a few shows so far this season with some great wins, including qualifying for the 2017 EGO Sunsense Australasian Show Horse Championships in December. Oscar also qualified for the Australian Show Horse Council Grand National while he belonged to Andrea, and the competition is held in early 2018. As for what is next for Oscar, Andrea is certain he will win at the Grand National again, and take out some even bigger titles. “I would like to see him come through and go for the Open Equestrian Australia Show Hunter Pony of the Year. He is more than capable of doing that. I can’t wait for him to win that and I have no doubt that he will at some point.” C

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Spruce Meadows is undoubtedly one of the most visited equestrian sports venues in the world. Privately owned by a Canadian family, the 400-acre complex has multiple arenas, barns, beautiful gardens and plenty of artwork.

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ALL ABOUT SPRUCE MEADOWS The purpose-built venue has an incredible atmosphere, is meticulously maintained and staffed with friendly volunteers, making for an extra special experience. With 15 tournaments held each year from January to October, there are plenty of opportunities to see world class competition at Spruce Meadows, particularly at the three top events in the calendar – the National CSI 5* in June, the North American CSI 5* in July and the Masters CSIO 5* in September. The iconic Spruce Meadows clock tower overlooks the International Ring where much of the excitement happens during these events, including introducing visitors to the current crop of foals bred that season. You can even enter the Name the Foal competition while you’re there! One of the great things about Spruce Meadows is that guests don’t feel like they are separate from the athletes. There are very few parts of the grounds that are off limits to the public, and the onsite restaurants and bars are frequented by competitors just as often as by spectators. When you’re not watching the impressive competition in the International Ring, you can take a tour inside some of the barns on the property, view the incredible array of bronze sculptures and art throughout the

area, listen to live music, and watch the nonhorsey entertainment. You can even walk certain courses, including the famous Spruce Meadows Derby course, giving you an upclose and personal look at the jumps, right alongside the riders. Take a photo from the top of the Hickstead Bank and try to imagine riding down it! Visiting Spruce Meadows is free unless you’re visiting during one of the main tournaments mentioned above, and even then, entry is only $5 (CAD). This gives you entry to all public areas and still allows for a great view ringside. To guarantee seating in the premium area of the International Ring, reserved seating is available at an additional cost. These tickets can be booked online. You might end up rubbing shoulders with McLain Ward or Beezie Madden as they eye up the competition. Although Spruce Meadows is primarily an equestrian event venue, there is something for everyone on the grounds, and during the off-season, the complex hosts winter iceskating and Christmas markets. One of the most remarkable things about Spruce Meadows is its accessibility. For only $5 a day you get the whole experience of a professional, well-organised and well-oiled machine, without losing the charm of being a family-run enterprise.

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CALGARY

E R E

I T T

AUCKLAND

Luckily for us, getting from New Zealand to Calgary in Alberta, Canada doesn’t pose too much of a challenge. There are a few options for a stopover, including Los Angeles and San Francisco in the USA, and Vancouver in Canada, and Air New Zealand flies direct to all three cities. It is then just a 1.5-hour flight from Vancouver to Calgary, or an approximately three-hour flight from LA or San Francisco. Internal flights are usually with Air Canada (if you’re flying within Canada) or United

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If you are going on to the USA after Spruce Meadows, you can actually clear US customs from Canada!

Airways (if flying from the USA). Many people who have made the journey suggest Vancouver as the better transit option, as it means not having to make your way through the notoriously tricky LAX, or go through busy USA customs. New Zealanders visiting Canada need to apply and pay for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) which can be done on Canada’s governmental website. This costs $7 CAD. Travellers transiting through the USA will also need to apply for an ETSA ($14 USD).

WHERE TO STAY AND HOW TO GET TO SPRUCE MEADOWS Calgary is a popular tourist spot, and if you are visiting during the summer season, booking ahead is essential. Spruce Meadows is a 30-40 minute drive from the centre of Calgary, so it pays to plan your accommodation accordingly. Try and stay close to the bus route or near other public transport. Accommodation on the south side of the city puts you even closer to the venue, and Spruce Meadows have an official hotel partner in Wingate by Wyndham Calgary, which is just a 10 minute drive away. Other options include the Delta Calgary South Hotel, Carriage House Inn or the Residence Inn or Courtyard by Marriott Calgary South. The Spruce Meadows/Red Arrow Shuttle Bus service runs during the bigger events held at the venue each year, and picks guests up from stops along the route, including one a few minutes’ walk from the Wingate. However this free service only runs on certain days and doesn’t run particularly late into the evening, so it is worth making your plans for the day before getting on board. Parking is complimentary when attending Spruce Meadows events, so if you are travelling in a group, picking up a rental car at the airport could be a good plan, as this allows for flexibility in visiting Spruce Meadows as well as sightseeing outside of the city.

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Spruce Meadows is a 30-40 minute drive from the centre of Calgary, so it pays to plan your accommodation accordingly. Try and stay close to the bus route or near other public transport.

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WHAT (ELSE) TO DO

If you’ve gone to Spruce Meadows during the North American CSI 5*, you will also be in town for the world famous Calgary Stampede. The Stampede is a 10-day show, blending events, rodeo, music and more. 40

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Although visitors tend to spend a lot of their time at Spruce Meadows, there is plenty to do and see in Calgary, as well as outside of the city. Banff National Park and Lake Louise are two of the most popular destinations outside Calgary, and are an absolute mustdo when in the area. There is a range of options to get you there, including luxury coaches, or if you have hired a car, it’s easy to make your own way there. The drive time to Banff is about 1.5 hours and Lake Louise is just a little further (approx. 2 hours) away. It is a very manageable day trip, or is great to explore over a few days as it’s one of Canada’s most beautiful spots. If you are tempted to stay in the Calgary area, there is still plenty to do. If you’ve gone to Spruce Meadows during the North American CSI 5*, you will also be in town for the world famous Calgary Stampede. The Stampede is a 10-day show, blending events, rodeo, music and more. Even when the Stampede isn’t on, Calgary is home to some great shopping, including plenty of places where you can pick up cowboy boots and hats to look the part. While in the city, make sure to check out the Calgary Tower, which gives a 360-degree view of the city, as well as out to the Rocky Mountains. It would be a shame to go all the way to Canada without seeing an ice hockey game, and Calgary is home to the Flames, part of the National Hockey League. The season runs from October through to April each year and the team play at least five home games a month. Tourism Calgary has an extensive list of activities for visitors to check out here: www.visitcalgary.com C

INTERVIEW

Melbourne-based showing rider, Rebecca Farrow, has consistently been at the top of her game, right from when she competed at her first Royal Show at the age of nine. We spoke to this successful businesswoman about making time for the sport she loves, why she’s never gone full-time with horses, and her current superstar show hack, Stage Presence. WORDS Laura Hunt | PHOTOS Lisa Gordon

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Showing the way Rebecca Farrow

ebecca Farrow didn’t grow up with horses in her backyard – living in an inner-city suburb of Melbourne meant that wasn’t an option. However, Rebecca’s mother, Janet, was a competitive rider herself when she was younger, and she was keen for both Rebecca and her older sister Katrina to learn to ride. “Mum took my sister, who is five years older than me, to learn to ride at Tooradin Estate Riding School, which was the place to go to learn. A lot of top Melbourne riders who didn’t grow up on a property learnt to ride there,” says Rebecca. “I started going down to watch at the age of about three, which got me interested, and I never got rid of that interest.” Rebecca’s first pony was handed down to her from Katrina when Rebecca was six years old. He was a “cheeky” little Welsh Mountain pony who quickly taught her to ride. “He was my sister’s pony, and my parents leased him out for a year or two until I was ready to handle him. He really taught me a lot and wasn’t a plod-along type, so I learnt through a few falls!” Though Rebecca was an all-rounder when she was younger, competing in showing, jumping and eventing, she knew from age 12 that showing would be her focus. “While I enjoyed going around a cross-country course and jumping, I just loved the finesse of showing and the attention to detail. Even when I was at Pony Club, I was so particular about every little thing in my turnout and was forever cleaning my gear.” It helped that she was successful in the show ring from the get-go. “I can remember at my second Royal Show on my own pony, I won five classes and Mum had to sit me down and tell me this wasn’t normal and not to expect it all the time!” Rebecca has always produced her own ponies and horses from scratch. “I was never bought a going pony, I always had them from the start. My first horse was a beautiful Galloway that was three-quarter thoroughbred. He was broken in for me, but I had to do the rest. He was the horse that we got to set me up for the transition to hacks, and to give me an idea of what riding and training a thoroughbred would be like.” Having produced and ridden so many top horses, Rebecca knows exactly what she’s looking for in any showing prospect. “First thing I like is a really leggy, classy thoroughbred with a nice head and good length of rein. Then I like a good mover with three correct paces, although they don’t need to be the world’s biggest mover – they are not dressage horses. Finally, they don’t have to be the easiest horse in the world, but need to have a trainable brain and want to do the work.” Rebecca’s eye for spotting a horse, combined

with hard work and dedication to her sport, has led her to many victories throughout her years in the showing ring. There have been many highlights, but winning the Garryowen Trophy on one of her best horses ever, Stage Whisper, at the Royal Melbourne Show in 2002, remains her proudest achievement. “It is such a beautiful, prestigious event and is marked across six categories out of 200 points. To get everything right on the day is hard, so it’s very special to win.” She has come close to winning it again on her current horse, Stage Presence (Percy), on two occasions, both times placing third. Percy is a nine-year-old ex-racehorse who Rebecca spotted as a six-year-old in Sydney three years ago. “He was with a young girl who had competed for about a season on him, and I thought he was a lovely rangy big horse that I could do something with.” Not long after getting Percy, Rebecca came very close to losing him when he was rushed to Werribee Vet Hospital two days before Christmas for colic surgery. “Percy had a nephrosplenic entrapment, where his colon literally floated up and got stuck between his kidney and spleen. Luckily I made the decision to send him straight to the vets, as they said in another couple of hours they wouldn’t have been able to wake him up from surgery.”

I like a good mover with three correct paces, although they don’t need to be the world’s biggest mover – they are not dressage horses.

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“I just don’t ride in anything else! The range of saddles is incredible, the way they are cut which frees up the horse’s shoulders to move, and the technology they have with the Cair Cushion System, which enables them to fit all types of horses, is just amazing.” It was a long, slow road to recovery, including three months of stable rest and a very slow return to work following the surgery, but Rebecca says that the time and effort has been well worth it. “He’s carried me to Champion Rider at Sydney and Melbourne Royal Shows, and has been Runner-Up Large Hack for Victorian State Titles. One of our biggest achievements was winning both Champion Lady Rider and Champion Hack at Sydney Royal this year. It was the first time one combination has won both titles since 1976.” Alongside the famed Stage Whisper, Rebecca says Percy is the best horse she’s ever had. “He is so talented, and he’s incredibly trainable and athletic with incredible movement. I’m likely to even dabble in some dressage with him at some point. I don’t think I’ll ever find another one quite like him.” Rebecca has a busy time ahead, with several major shows earmarked for Percy, including the upcoming Australasian Show Horse Championships in December (where she will be representing Victoria in both Hack and Rider classes), Barastoc Horse of the Year Show in February and the Sydney Royal Easter Show in April. As Rebecca’s mother is unwell and unable to help with the horses these days, she’s become pretty independent at shows. “It’s just me, really. It was always a team thing with Mum and myself, but that’s different now, so I’m very lucky to have a horse like Percy who doesn’t require hours of work-down and makes showing a lot of fun. Mum still comes down to the stables most days, and is an avid supporter from the sidelines!” Rebecca works full-time running her own business, Bags Plus, which she purchased earlier in the year, and she splits her life between the city and Yarra Valley, where Percy lives on her parents’ property, so she does need some help during the week to make looking after a competition horse feasible. “I’m very lucky. I’ve had a girl work for me for about 14 years, and she does the boxes in the morning and feeds. I ride in the evenings and aim to be on around 6.30pm.” Rebecca is also thankful for other long-term support, including her sponsorship from Bates Saddles, who she has been an Advocate for since 2004, after first riding in their saddles about 17 years ago. “I was originally riding in a Prix St Georges, all those years ago, and loved the

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way it sat on a horse and put me in the right position. Before I knew it, I had three of their saddles, and Bates have come such a long way in that time.” Rebecca says there is so much to like about Bates saddles and she can’t imagine life without them. “I just don’t ride in anything else! The range of saddles is incredible, the way they are cut which frees up the horse’s shoulders to move, and the technology they have with the Cair Cushion System, which enables them to fit all types of horses, is just amazing.” Rebecca trains and competes in the Bates Isabell and finds that it’s not only comfortable and supportive for her and Percy, but it looks good in the ring too. “It has the concealed knee rolls for an extra bit of support, but without being chunky-looking. You still have to look elegant in the show ring!” We asked Rebecca why she hasn’t made a career out of horses and has worked full-time for years in sales and marketing roles instead, before buying Bags Plus. “I made the decision in my early twenties, when it crossed my mind that I could do horses full-time, that I wanted to always keep horses as my passion, rather than let them become the daily grind. As much as horses are a huge part of my life, I like travel, fashion, and being exposed to other things too. It’s a lot of hard work to have these two major commitments, but it’s worked for me. I always want horses to be my passion, not my job.” C

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YOUNG RIDER

INTERVIEW

Ellie Bestwick & the big-hearted Moose WORDS Cedah Mayo PHOTOS Show Circuit Magazine

Inside the Grand Prix warm-up arena the energy is electric, time is limited and riders take advantage of the last few minutes to prepare their mounts. Young rider Ellie Bestwick stands out from the crowd on a small horse who she describes as “dorky and out of proportion”, but she knows that none of that will matter once she’s in the ring.

s a tall thirteen-year-old on a tight budget, Ellie Bestwick was determined to bring her next horse on herself. She heard about a four-and-a-half-year-old gelding for sale in her local area of Kerikeri and went to check him out. On arrival, she found a small gangly youngster, covered in winter fluff, with a splint on his hind leg and a rather large head. “I had brought a friend along with me who was from a showing background and she found him most unappealing,” laughs Ellie, who insisted on riding him anyway. She soon clicked with the Hanoverian x TB/Clydesdale, finding him cuddly and easy-going. “He couldn’t canter on the left lead, and when I took him over a few uprights and cross poles, he knocked three out of five of them down! But I really liked him. I like horses I can catch easily and spend lots of time hanging out with,” she explains. It’s been just over five years now since Ellie starting working with that gawky young horse, aptly nicknamed Moose, and known on the circuit as EB Solado. Together, Ellie and Moose have developed a strong and successful partnership in

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the competition arena, jumping up the heights to take on the challenges of Mini Prix, Young Rider and Grand Prix classes, and proving that while Moose may not have the physique of a champion, he has the heart of one. In order to dedicate more time to training horses and hanging out with Moose, Ellie dropped out of high school and continued her Year 12 education via correspondence, while working part-time at New World supermarket in Kerikeri. “I needed to make more time to ride and I like to do as much as I can to support myself,” she says. She now works for herself clipping, riding and breaking in ponies for clients. Her first summer with Moose was a memorable one. “I was a working student at the Wilson sisters’ camp. At the time there was only around 11 kids at the camp – these days it’s more like 40! I told Vicki (Wilson) about Moose, who was back at home, and she told me to bring him down. When he joined me at camp, Vicki helped us a lot, and we worked our way up to jumping 1.10 – 1.20m.” Together with the Wilsons, Moose and Ellie

12 - Balanced - ShowCircuit.pdf 1 09-Nov-17 11:25:27 AM

“When I left the ring, I was like... ‘Wow!’ You are actually going to be an awesome Grand Prix horse.”

headed down to Horse of the Year 2014 where they did some low-key classes, and although they had stops and rails, Moose was improving. “Someone approached Vicki asking if Moose was for sale, and even offered what I considered a generous price, but there was no way I was going to sell him.” After HOY, Ellie and Moose returned to Kerikeri and to Redcliffs Equestrian, where they trained under the guidance of Kate Hewlett and Tim Featherstone. Originally hailing from Derby in the United Kingdom, Ellie moved with her family to New Zealand as a six-year-old after her mother accepted a position as a policewoman in Northland. At the age of nine, Ellie began riding lessons, and for her 10th birthday her parents bought her a 16hh, 14-year-old exracehorse named Buddy. “We didn’t have any idea what we were doing, so friends recommended that we head up to Kate and Tim’s for lessons,” Ellie explains. In addition to coaching, Kate and Tim offered her ponies to ride that were more suitable for a 10-year-old beginner, although Buddy was not forgotten and is still with the Bestwicks today. Consistent riding and coaching with Moose at Redcliffs allowed Ellie to hone in on her horsemanship skills, thriving in the environment and gaining confidence as an equestrian and as a person. “I went from being apprehensive about the jumps and their heights to being positive and confident. We had such good times with a good bunch of people. We would put the jumps up to the top of the standards and play Tip & Out, then we’d all head out to the movies together. I made some of the best friends I have today over that winter.” The next season enabled the duo to show the progress they had both made and start working their way up the heights, including a memorable first start at 1.25m. “Tim had entered us, thinking that because it was a speed class I wouldn’t focus on the height of the jumps! I could hear him on the sideline yelling ‘Go Moosey, go Moosey!’” she recalls.

“And we went clear!” Together, the pair took risks and realised their secret weapon lay in the tight turns they could pull off. “Moose doesn’t have big strides or speed, and he is not naturally brave, but he is such a trier and he’s smart. He can figure things out, and I believe he knows what he’s capable of.” Despite the support Moose and Ellie have received, they have also had people sharing their doubts about Moose’s style and ability. Moose doesn’t exactly match the sport horse industry’s expectation of a top show jumper – he is out of proportion and when he jumps, he tends to hang his legs. “There has always been someone saying ‘Really? Moose can’t do it!’ because he is different,” Ellie admits. “You either love him because he is such a dorky oddball or you dislike him for the same reason.” But Moose has proven that his conformation and technique is in no way holding this combination back, and during the 2016/17 season, Ellie quietly entered Moose into their first Grand Prix. She kept it a secret, not even telling her mum beforehand. “I thought to myself, if I can just learn the ropes of Grand Prix now, then that will be great for when I get a horse that’s more capable, because I will know what I’m doing. But when I left the ring afterwards, I was like wow, Moose is actually going to be an awesome Grand Prix horse!” This unorthodox jumper and his nownearly six-foot-tall rider had a remarkable result when they placed fifth in the Grand Prix Classic at the Waikato FEI World Cup Show held at Mystery Creek. Moose jumped brilliantly, undeterred by the loss of a shoe at the last jump, and Ellie was thrilled by his performance. The goofy crossbred has surprised Ellie with what they’ve achieved together, and they won’t be stopping anytime soon, with Ellie’s eye firmly fixed on the World Cup arena as her next port of call. With a relaxed, yet intent attitude, it seems that this combination will continue to punch well above their weight for some time to come. C C

CMY

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

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SPECIAL FEATURE

MOANAROA - S TA T I O N -

Sitting on my horse at the top of a hill on Moanaroa Station, with the shimmering ocean spread out in front of me, I can only imagine that this is what being at the edge of the world feels like. WORDS & PHOTOS Rebecca Harper

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“It’s home. It’s the hills and it’s part of who you are. You feel privileged to be part of that because it’s a special place.”

he views here are breathtaking, looking north to Cape Turnagain at Herbertville and south all the way down to Castlepoint in the Wairarapa. Moanaroa is an iconic station, located at Akitio on the East Coast of the North Island, and has been home to the Ramsden family for generations. It is farmed today by Dan and Barbara Ramsden, their son Hugh and his wife Kate. Hugh’s sister Fiona lives and farms on the nearby Ware Ware Station, also owned by the family. Both stations are steep, rugged, coastal hill country properties, where horses once played an important part in daily station life, though they are less commonly used for work these days. The 4000 acre station is also home to 4500 ewes and 400 cows. The station is run mainly as a breeding property, and the Ramsdens also operate an Angus cattle stud and a Romney sheep stud. Moanaroa has been in Barbara’s side of the family, the Smith family, since 1936. Moanaroa Angus was established in 1908 by the Smith and Humphries families, when Marainanga (now the neighbouring farm) and Moanaroa were all

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one property. It was divided up in 1936, and Moanaroa was established. The bloodlines of the Angus stud are derived from the original Marainanga Angus Stud, which has the first recorded landings of Angus cattle in the North Island, back in 1886, when the cattle were dropped off from a boat and had to swim through the surf onto Akitio Beach. The woolshed at Moanaroa is over 100 years old and is registered with the NZ Historic Places Trust. Built in 1883, it used to have 12 stands (only six are used now), and has an ancient screw press. At one time, when the property was part of a 36,000 acre station, 28,000 sheep were shorn in the woolshed. It is in good condition and is still used today as part of normal farming operations. The station has also hosted many Pony Club camps over the years, as well as the Great New Zealand Horse Trek once and various trekking groups every year, as the coastal route is popular with riders. Kate has always loved horses, although she didn’t get her own horse until her early 20s. When she moved to Moanaroa about 10 years ago she bought one with her, and her herd has slowly multiplied since then. The couple have three children, Annabel (6), Tom (4), and Millie (1), and Kate also works as a nurse. She currently has five horses, including a pony for Annabel, and recently bred her first foal, Rui. She has a broodmare as well as two riding horses by the Clydesdale stallion Kalahari, and likes them for their exceptional temperament. Rui is also by the same stallion. For Kate, riding is not about going to shows, but more about getting together with friends and having a good time. She also sometimes uses the horses on the farm for things like docking and calf marking.

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“A big part of our lives has been stock work and leisure on horses.” “I enjoy hunting and going to the local sports, but mostly I ride for pleasure and to have something to do with my mates. I love making people happy and seeing everyone having fun. Riding is my sanity, my time out from work and the kids. Hugh says I’m a better person when I ride!” she laughs. “Annabel has a pony and loves coming riding on the beach. I can’t wait for the day she can come around the farm with me.” For Fiona, growing up at both Ware Ware and Moanaroa, horses were always a way of life. They were an important tool on the station, and a means of getting things done. “Back in the day, mustering was all done on horseback. You got up in the early hours of the morning with your packed lunch and off you went for the day. Growing up, Dad was always out on a horse,” she recalls. “A big part of our lives has been stock work and leisure on horses. Mum bred a few racehorses and was able to go to the races as an interest outside of farming life. There were Pony Club camps down at the beach and we went to the local Aohanga and Pongaroa Sports.” When her parents first purchased Ware Ware Station in 1971, there were some 50 horses on the property, including a station stallion, as the previous owners bred their own horses for the shepherds to break in and use as hacks. We head out on our ride across the farm, going straight up a steep climb that’s sure to take the sting out of any horse feeling a bit fresh! We wind our way through native bush, spotting the prolific numbers of wild goats that dart around the hillsides. “It’s all pretty steep and rugged – the only way is up. But once you’re up there, you

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get these amazing views where you can see for miles,” Fiona says. As we ride, Fiona points out pockets of QEII bush, explaining that QEII is a national trust that partners with private landowners to help protect special places on private land for the benefit of present and future generations. This land is fenced off and stock is excluded from grazing it. As we make our way to the top of the hill and then along the tops of the ridges, we are treated to stunning views of the sea the whole way. Ewes and their lambs, and cows and their calves graze the paddocks that we ride through. We are lucky that it’s a fine day, as it’s not uncommon for the wind to be absolutely howling on the exposed hilltops. The horses pick their way back down the hill and we pop out in the middle of the beach houses, crossing the road and scrambling over rocks and driftwood to get down on to Akitio Beach. Even though it is a public holiday, there are not many other people out enjoying the beach and as it’s low tide, we have no problem letting off some steam by galloping up and down. There are also plenty of logs to pop over and rock pools to wade through on the horses. Some of the braver ones head out into the river mouth, where the water is deeper, for a swim. Then it’s back down the road and time to head home, all of us feeling privileged to have been able to ride over such a stunning property. “It’s a special part of the world,” Fiona acknowledges. “It’s home. It’s the hills and it’s part of who you are. You feel privileged to be part of that because it’s a special place.” C

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INTERVIEW

“I had always wanted to have a stud, I just never envisaged it going as well as it is now.”

PHOTO Janis Hedley

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

CALEDONIA DRESSAGE HORSES A lifelong dream At 65 years old, Reay Campbell is busier than she has ever been, running Caledonia Dressage Horses in the Scottish Highlands, breeding horses from some of the best dressage bloodlines in the world. We found out what took this Nelson-raised horsewoman to the other side of the world, why she always dreamed of having her own breeding stud and how she got started 17 years ago. WORDS Laura Hunt

eay Campbell met her husband-to-be, Pete Campbell, while travelling the world in 1978. When she mentioned her interest in horses, he assured her that she could have a pony when she moved to Scotland to live with him – but he never envisaged the scale of what was to come. Fast forward to 2017 and Reay, with Pete’s support, now runs Caledonia Dressage Horses from their home at Balblair Farm in the Scottish Highlands. “I’ve always said I married the least horsey man in the least horsey part of Britain,” laughs Reay. “When we first met, I told him I was interested in horses and he said ‘yes, yes, we’ll get you a pony’. At the time I had 11 horses back in New Zealand, so he really didn’t get it! But I’ve gradually worn him down over the years and he is now hugely supportive.” Growing up in Nelson, New Zealand, Reay’s love of horses started when she was just three years old, and when she was 10, her non-horsey but supportive parents finally relented and bought Reay her first pony. “My first pony was a naughty but pretty mare called Wendy Legend, who came into line with her determined little rider and won Champion of Champions at the Nelson A&P Show, amongst many other successes.” Reay went on to compete in a range of other disciplines, including eventing, in which she produced her special horse, John Peel, up to national level. “I did quite a lot of eventing and Pony Club, including gaining my A certificate,” she recalls. When she was 16, Reay met Enid Goulter of Sevenoaks in Marlborough, a thoroughbred breeder who Reay describes as “a horsewoman way ahead of her time”. Despite a significant age gap, with Enid being 60 at the time, they forged an incredible friendship through their shared love of

horses, and it was Enid who ignited Reay’s interest in breeding. “We were such good friends for years and she made it her mission to teach me everything she knew about conformation, pedigree and breeding. She still sits on my shoulder today when I look at a horse.” Enid gifted Reay with two well-bred thoroughbred broodmares, and continued to drill in her principles of breeding. “Only the best with the best, a deep analysis of conformation and performance, family strengths, strong mother lines, and assessment of the ability to pass these on through other progeny produced from these families,” Reay explains. “I bred some beautiful, successful racehorses and loved it!” After meeting Pete on her overseas travels, marrying him and moving to Scotland in 1979 to live at Balblair Farm, Reay put her horse breeding ambitions to one side while raising her family. “We had three children, Sarah, Rick, and Hamish, and they all rode and did Pony Club eventing. But I didn’t ever manage to do much horsey stuff for myself.” However, Reay’s desire to breed horses and establish her own stud never went away. So once her two older children had left home, and her youngest was at boarding school, Reay grabbed her chance to get started fulfilling a dream. A stud farm about 10 miles from Balblair Farm seemed like a logical place to buy her first broodmare, but when she went to look, all the horses had disappeared. “The owner’s wife drove me about 80 miles away to see them, and that’s where I found 12 horses, starving in a field. I rang my husband and he agreed that I could bring them all back until we could work something out.” The owner of the horses had gotten into financial difficulty, and a week later he called

and offered Reay all of the horses – for the price of one. “I’d only intended to buy one! It took me about two weeks to decide, but I ended up doing it, making a deal with myself to sell all the foals and any broodmares I couldn’t get in foal that season. I ended up with five broodmares from the twelve mares and foals,” she explains, and just like that, Caledonia Dressage Horses was born. Luckily for Reay, the horses had strong bloodlines to help her get established. The previous owner had imported a stallion and mare from Germany, and the thoroughbred mares were graded with the Hanoverian Society, so their foals were able to be registered as well. “They were very nice horses, and three of the mares became the foundation of our breeding at Caledonia. They were an imported German mare by Werther, a two-year-old filly by Friedensherr (the stallion imported by the original owner), and her mother, who was a beautiful thoroughbred mare by Lochnagar.” Reay only bred four foals in that first year, and built her programme up slowly. The first foal from the thoroughbred mare was a filly called What A Lark, named after Enid Goulter’s stallion. Lark’s first foal, Don Caledonia, by Don Schufro, is now a double British National Champion and on his way to Grand Prix dressage after winning his first Inter 1 competition. “We started very small, some years not breeding any foals at all. Initially we bred jumpers as well as dressage horses, but I found that people were much keener to buy dressage foals. It’s easy to get an idea of the quality of a foal and its chances as a dressage prospect, whereas it’s much harder to see with jumpers at that age. We gradually sold out of jumpers and focused on dressage breeding entirely about six years ago.”

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Today, Reay has 12 broodmares and a couple of younger competition mares, which are used for breeding through embryo transfer. Breeding through embryo transfer is something Reay now does every season. One of her best broodmares, Loretta Live, is the maternal half-sister to Sandro Hit and Diamond Hit, and full sister to Royal Hit, who was a successful stallion in Australia. She is 17 years old and Reay decided she deserved an easier life. “Loretta Live is out of the famous Loretta, who has been one of the most influential mares worldwide in dressage. I was amazingly lucky to be able to buy her three years ago and we now have three foals each year from her through embryo transfer. In total, we have about eight or nine foals by embryo each year.” Also in the broodmare herd is the Ampere daughter out of Damon Hill’s only full sister, two mares from the famous Love Story family and several mares that Reay has bred herself. “I have bred three mares by Don Schufro and three granddaughters as well.” While the mares are the foundation of her breeding programme, Reay invests a huge amount of time in choosing stallions to pair with them, selecting from the best across Germany, Holland and Denmark. “I spend loads of time pairing pedigree and type. I know my mares very well, what qualities the stallions will bring and how they will improve them.” Reay finds it most beneficial to see the stallions in the flesh and watch their progeny competing, so she travels a lot. “I go to a lot of stallion shows and gradings. I attend the World Young Horse Championships, European Championships and World Championships, so that I can get my eyes on who is doing well and which

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

“I spend loads of time pairing pedigree and type. I know my mares very well, what qualities the stallions will bring and how they will improve them.” stallions are producing great horses in their first crop. I have a strong idea of what I’m wanting to produce.” Reay’s extensive research and breeding results over the years have led her to using almost all European stallions, with a preference for stallions available from Helgstrand Dressage in Denmark. “I’m very keen on the Helgstrand stallions. Almost half of our foals this year are by their stallions.” Of the 14 – 18 foals bred each year at Balblair Farm, almost all are sold, though recently Reay has kept a small number for competition. “I have a really nice mare that I bred and still own, Sugar Plum Fairy, who has won 23 of her 26 competition starts with an average score of 73%. We are very excited about her. It’s a fairly new venture for me to have them out in competition with riders, but I also have a four-year-old that has just been backed and two three-year-olds going away to be broken in soon.” Though Reay used to miss New Zealand dreadfully, she is very much a highlander now and loves her life in Scotland. She still has a strong connection to her home country, with Pete’s auntie, Rachel Sloan, playing an important role in the breeding operation from the other side of the world in Cambridge.

Due to the time difference between Scotland and New Zealand, Rachel (or “Auntie” as they call her), has the important job throughout the foaling season of watching the cameras in the stables during the New Zealand day, while Reay sleeps in Scotland. “Rachel grew up here at Balblair Farm, so this gives her a great interest in what we do, and when I go to bed during foaling season, I just send her a text to ask if she’s awake and she’ll text back ‘yes, go to sleep’. She watches any mare who is about to foal and notifies us. So many times when she’s seen something not right, she’s called us straight away so we can leap out of bed. She’s a darling person, we just love her!” With many promising horses now rising through the ranks, the future is looking bright for Caledonia Dressage Horses, and Reay’s looking forward to watching what happens over the next few years. “I had always wanted to have a stud, I just never envisaged it going as well as it is now. The majority of horses sold this year have gone to international team riders or professional homes. For the last five or so years, we’ve really focused on breeding top quality dressage horses, and we’re at a point now where we are watching and waiting. I’m 65 and busier than I’ve ever been in my life, but I just love it!” C

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Quineus GNZ is an eye-catching stallion that exhibits scope, beautiful form, technique and confidence over fences. He is quite a unique young stallion, with immense jumping prospect, rideability and focus. He is an eye catching well-developed stallion with his gleaming coat, light chrome, leggy good looks, and correct conformation. Suitable for breeding a modern jumping athlete.

CandyMan GNZ is the complete package. He offers the best of both his legendary sire, with additional benefits and refinements from his exceptional dam line and shows endless promise for future success. This superb young stallion exhibits athleticism, scope, correct conformation that is suitable for breeding of a modern type of showjumping or eventing athlete.

FRESH SEMEN AVAILABLE STUD FEE - $1500.00 + GST - LFG

(Selle Français)

Quantum

(Selle Français)

Jalisco B

(Selle Français)

Dirka

(Selle Français)

Cor de la Bryère

Ulla V

(Selle Français HLP)

(Holsteiner)

Ella

(Holsteiner)

Gambaldi

Gineus

(Hanoverian)

Dreamy

(Hanoverian)

Te Pek Galeno (Thoroughbred)

(Hanoverian)

Raenga

Postillion

(Thoroughbred)

Puherangi

CANDYMAN GNZ

QUINEUS GNZ

Quidam de Revel

Carentino Casall

(Holsteiner)

Kira XVII (Holsteiner)

Caletto II (Holsteiner)

Isidor

(Holsteiner)

Lavall I

(Holsteiner)

Maltia

(Holsteiner)

Corrado 1 Lily GNZ (Holsteiner)

(Holsteiner)

Fleets Treat Jnr GNZ (Holsteiner)

(Thoroughbred)

*** QUALITY YOUNGSTOCK FOR SALE! *** Please contact: Paul Ffoulkes for more information about all the listed stallions and youngstock available through Goldengrove Stud. Email: p.ffoulkes@xtra.co.nz Ph: 03 318 7337 - Mobile: 021 919 262 Visit us for updates on Facebook

Cor de la Bryère (Selle Français HLP)

Soleil

(Holsteiner)

Corlando (Holsteiner)

Fleets Treat (Thoroughbred)

EXCELLING ON THE WORLD STAGE PERFORMANCE - PEDIGREE - POWER PRESENCE - RIDEABILITY !!

EUROCOMMERCE PENNSYLVANIA

STOP PRESS:

ONE OF ONLY TWO 5* STALLIONS IN NZ AND THE ONLY ONE WITH 5* PROGENY!! Last season alone has been hugely successful with a 85% embryo recovery rate!! Pennsylvania has competed internationally for the Netherlands, when ridden by Gerco Schröder. He is the only stallion to come to the Southern Hemisphere that has competed in Nations Cup events and the Global Champions Tour, and despite having had limited mares due to his competition career, has progeny currently jumping at 4*. PENNSYLVANIA IS ONE OF ONLY TWO STALLIONS IN NZ THAT HAVE COMPETED AT 5* LEVEL (THE SECOND IS LORDANO, WHO IS ALSO STANDING AT GOLDENGROVE STUD). Pennsylvania is fully approved by KWPN, Oldenburg and the Bavarian Warmblood studbooks. He stands at 16.3hh, and is a modern type of blood horse with an outstanding technique.

PENNSYLVANIA

Grannus

(Hanoverian)KWPN, OLDBG, HANN

Gambrinus (BAVAR)

Perle

(BAVAR)

Pilot Goldfee

(WESTF)

(BAVAR)

Goldperle (Hanoverian)

Graphit

(Hanoverian)

Odessa

(Hanoverian)

Karim

(BADWU)

Panja

(BAVAR)

Pilatus (WESTF)

Gratia

(WESTF)

Goldstern (Hanoverian)

Glorie

(Hanoverian)

STUD FEE: $3000.00 + GST NZD with LFG Please contact: Paul Ffoulkes for more information about all the listed stallions and youngstock available through Goldengrove Stud. Email: p.ffoulkes@xtra.co.nz Ph: 03 318 7337 - Mobile: 021 919 262 Visit us for updates on Facebook

EXCELLING ON THE WORLD STAGE PERFORMANCE - PEDIGREE - POWER PRESENCE - RIDEABILITY !!

*** QUALITY YOUNGSTOCK FOR SALE! ***

CORLANDO (IMP) - FULLY APPROVED & LICENSED HHAA & NZ 16.3hh - Bay -1996 Corlando’s pedigree features some of the world’s most renowned Holsteiner bloodlines. Progeny includes: n My Super Nova – owned and bred by Rose Alfeld, who

produced him to win the NZ Young Rider class at HOY 2014. n Triple-X – sold to Australia, where he is doing very well in

Grand Prix classes.

n Brooklynites – bred by Georgie Power, sold to Australia

where he is winning Young Rider Classes

Corlando’s brother, Da Vinci’s Pride, was the winner of a gold medal in the European Championships for Young Riders for Team Ireland 2013.

TRANSPORTED SEMEN AVAILABLE $1500.00 + GST - LFG

CARTELL GNZ

17hh - Chestnut - 2008 Cartell is into his fifth season at stud. His first crop of foals has exceeded all our expectations, producing a very modern type that is tall with fantastic natures and movement that everyone desires. Cartell uniquely carries very prominent Holstein sire lines – the great Casall Ask, and Corrado 1, who has won at Aachen. He offers New Zealand breeders the opportunity to breed power, scope, athleticism, quickness and stamina into their progeny. Cartell’s presence, along with his extreme quality in type, scope and jump, makes him a breeder’s dream. Goldengrove Stud Farm believes that Cartell has and passes on the important three P’s:

POWER - PEDIGREE - PRESENCE

He has a very easy disposition and an excellent canter. His grandsire Carentino is the top ranked Holsteiner stallion in the world (as of November 2012), and other grandsire Corrado 1 is the sire of top horses including Clinton, Corradina, and Indorrado.

“This horse is fantastic through his body over a fence.”

- Daniel Meech

Contango II (Oldenburg)

(Oldenburg)

Abraxis

(Hanoverian)

(Holsteiner)

Adisa III

(Hanoverian)

Alme Z

(Selle Français)

Gotengold (Hanoverian)

Lander Lamona

(Holsteiner)

Lorenz

(Holsteiner)

Mametta

Elegant Princess

Skid

(Thoroughbred)

(Holsteiner)

(Thoroughbred)

Grisaille

(Thoroughbred)

CARTELL GNZ

CORLANDO

Contango

SERVICE FEE $2500.00 + GST - LFG

Contender

Caretino Casall

(Holsteiner)

Kira XVI (Holsteiner)

Caletto II (Holsteiner)

Isidor

(Holsteiner)

Lavall I

(Holsteiner)

Maltia

(Holsteiner)

Jadalco

(Holsteiner)

Yetar Springs Jayne (Holsteiner)

Fabio

(Holsteiner)

Ladalca

(Holsteiner)

Coral

(Holsteiner)

www.goldengrovenz.com or visit us for updates on Facebook

Corrado 1 (Holsteiner)

Unknown

INSISTING ON ONLY THE BEST IS PAYING DIVIDENDS GOLDENGROVE STUD ONLY OFFERS QUALITY SIRES

*** QUALITY YOUNGSTOCK FOR SALE! ***

CASSIUS GNZ

LAMONDO GNZ HOLST 17hh - 2011 - Bay

Here’s an opportunity to breed to a LORDANO direct family line, through the dam line of the 2012 European Championships gold medal team winner (Ireland) at Aachen. An outstanding son of the super stallion Lordano, an international GP show jumper who, with Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, jumped clear to gain 3rd place in the prestigious Hamburg Derby, beating horses such as Corrada, three-time winner of the Hickstead Derby with Peter Charles. Lamondo’s dam, Lamona, is an imported Holsteiner, who has produced three approved stallions and numerous World Cup-winning horses. Lamondo is an outstanding stallion, standing at 16.3hh and carrying a modern blood type. He is the perfect outcross for Cor de la Bryère and Capitol bloodlines, and would be a brilliant cross for NZ thoroughbreds, producing progeny endless scope and rideability.

16.3hh - Bay

Cassius GNZ is a brother to Cartell GNZ. In competition with rider Chris Harris, he was the South Island 6YO Champion, and won the first 7YO class of the season. He is the only purebred Holsteiner by Caretino’s son bred and available at stud in New Zealand. Cassius GNZ produced the National 5YO champion (Sabine MS) in 2015/2016, ridden by William Willis, and the pair also won the style prize at the New Zealand Young Horse Show 2016/2017.

SCOPE - POWER -TECHNIQUE Cassius GNZ has had an incredible strike rate from limited opportunities. Cassius GNZ has many young progeny about to commence the 4YO and 5YO classes, and all are showing excellent young horse attributes. He has been a barn favourite for his excellent temperament, and has always been admired for his presence and enormous athletic ability.

FRESH SEMEN AVAILABLE $2000.00 + GST - LFG

Lord Lordano

(Holsteiner)

Ladykiller

(Thoroughbred)

Viola

(Holsteiner)

Varese

(Holsteiner)

Coriolan (Holsteiner)

Larese

(Holsteiner)

Lander

(Holsteiner)

Lorenz

(Holsteiner)

Mametta (Holsteiner)

Lamona

(Holsteiner)

Elegant Princess (Thoroughbred)

Caletto II

Skid

(Thoroughbred)

Grisaille

(Thoroughbred)

(Holsteiner)

GNZ CASSIUS

LAMONDO GNZ HOLST

FROZEN SEMEN AVAILABLE $2000.00 + GST - LFG

Carentino Isidor

(Holsteiner)

Cor de la Bryère (Selle Français HLP)

Deka

(Holsteiner)

Metellus (Holsteiner)

Corbala

(Holsteiner)

Jadalco

(Holsteiner)

Yetar Springs Jayne (Holsteiner)

Fabio

(Holsteiner)

Ladalca

(Holsteiner)

Coral

(Holsteiner)

Corrado

(Holsteiner)

Unknown

Contact Paul Ffoulkes E: p.ffoulkes@xtra.co.nz | P: 03 318 7337 | M: 021 919 262

TRAINING

Learn something new or refresh an old technique with advice from our leading trainers in this issue

JUMPING

FOCUS ON

COMPLETE CLASS PREP

SERPENTINES

FOCUS ON

SHOWING

SHOW HUNTER COMBOS

TEACHING CHILDREN

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

HEALTHY & HAPPY INSIDE & OUT!

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COMPLETE CLASS PREP

TRAINING

WITH ROSE ALFELD

Walking your course and warming up for a class are the final stages after weeks, months, even years of preparation to get to a competition, and getting those elements right can make the difference between a good performance and a bad one. We sat down with show jumping rider, Rose Alfeld, to learn how she prepares for her classes with her team of horses, and followed her preparation for the Grand Prix class at Equidays in October. WORDS Laura Hunt PHOTOS Show Circuit Magazine

THE EXPERT

Rose Alfeld is a World Cup and Grand Prix show jumping rider with a team of five horses. Rose has been riding since she could walk, focusing on show jumping at the age of 10, and now rides and teaches full-time. In 2015, Rose spent four months riding young horses at Kennedy Brothers Sporthorses in Ireland, and has had great success in New Zealand show jumping, including winning Young Rider of the Year in 2014.

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A THOROUGH COURSE WALK

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Rose can’t stress enough the importance of a thorough course walk, and she has a number of suggestions to help you make the most of it, and to prepare for your best possible performance.

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GET OUT THERE EARLY AND MAKE A PLAN Rose recommends getting out into the arena as soon as the course is set, so that you have time to plan and can reflect on the course before you get on your horse. “As you’re walking, start making a plan, factoring in your own horse’s way of going and concentrating on what you’re doing – not talking to friends,” she says. “You

HAVE SOMEONE ON HAND

While Rose likes to walk the actual course on her own to allow full concentration, she still thinks it’s important to have someone around to talk to, that knows your riding and your horse well. “I like to walk the course on my own, but when I come out of the ring, I will bounce ideas off Mum, and tell her my plan. It’s mostly just so I can reconfirm

STAY CALM

Rose says it is crucial to stay calm walking the course, even if it’s a little more technical or bigger than you may have expected. “I always try not to get nervous, and stay cool, calm and collected by believing

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need to know your plan off by heart, and even though it might change along the way, you’re much better off going in with a plan than not. Once I’m finished walking the actual course, I like to go through it a few times in my head, making sure I know exactly where I’m going and repeat to myself all the distances that I plan to ride between fences.”

EACH

and go over again what I’m doing, which is essential,” she says. Rose acknowledges that in many cases, particularly with younger riders, it is beneficial to walk with someone who can help and offer guidance. “If you’re walking the course with someone, make it a senior rider, coach, or parent that is going to give you positive advice.”

in the training work I’ve done at home and reminding myself that I’m ready for the class I’ve entered. A positive attitude is essential – you need to go out there believing you can do it.”

Helene Navy

“AS YOU’RE WALKING, START MAKING A PLAN, FACTORING IN YOUR OWN HORSE’S WAY OF GOING AND CONCENTRATING ON WHAT YOU’RE DOING – NOT TALKING TO FRIENDS.” THINK ABOUT YOUR OWN HORSE With several horses in her team, Rose says she walks each course with the horse/s that she is going to ride the course on in mind, and says that even if you only have one horse, it’s important to know what will and won’t suit them in the ring. “Every horse is different and needs a different ride, and there are different factors that need to be considered with all of them,” she says. “For example, my top horse, My Super Nova, has got a massive stride and can be spooky, so

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I will walk the course for him thinking about how I will manage the striding and anything inside or outside the ring which he might spook at.” Rose likes to watch a few horses go before she gets on to warm-up, if possible. “I like to see how the course is riding, if I can, but I don’t talk to lots of other people about different striding and how things are riding, because I know how a line will work for my horse better than anyone. I will stick to my plan, unless I am sure of a good reason to change it.”

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SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

A TAILORED WARM-UP

As with the course walk, Rose stresses the importance of having a warm-up plan based on what suits your horse, without worrying about what others are doing. “You need to know your horse and have the confidence to believe in what you’re doing in the warm-up and what works for your horse. The warm-up ring is not a time to change things! Everything has been practised at home, and the warmup is the chance to give yourself and your horse confidence before you go into the ring.”

“I NEVER EXPECTED TO WIN!”

FOCUS ON THE CANTER

Rose’s warm-up usually takes about half an hour in total, involving plenty of walking and stretching to loosen the horse’s muscles, before doing a little bit of trot work, incorporating plenty of bending to make sure the horse is listening to her aids. “Once they are ready, I spend most of the flat warm-up working on the canter, because that is what you need to jump from,” says Rose. “I work on getting the strong canter that I need in the ring and get it to a point where I have the adjustability I need before moving on to jumping.”

EYES ON THE GROUND

Rose is grateful to have the support of her mum, Lisa, on the ground at competitions and finds her eyes and ears on the ground invaluable in allowing her to have a focused warm-up. “I really like having someone on the ground to check how far away I am and to follow the class while I’m warming-up on the flat, to tell me if there any issues with the course, like one fence catching people out,” she says. “I also think that everybody needs someone in the warm-up to adjust fences so you can jump what you want to, rather than what’s there at the time. It’s also good to have someone just to provide positive reinforcement. I don’t want a full lesson at the practice fence, just someone reminding me to travel forward in a strong canter.”

DON’T OVER JUMP

When she’s ready to head to the practice fence, Rose usually limits her warm-up to about 10 fences in total. “I don’t like to do much jumping in the warm-up. I usually jump a couple of cross bars, a smaller upright and a little oxer, then we catch our breath and have a walk before putting the fences up bigger. It’s normally about 10 fences, including the cross bar, for most of my horses,” she says. If the first fence on course is an oxer, Rose will usually jump one big oxer before she goes in. “That last oxer will always be about the height of the class, so I know that I have a good enough canter going to make the oxers in the ring. I aim to be finished warming up in time to watch the horse before me, and give my horse a breather before we go into the ring.”

ADJUST ACCORDINGLY FOR YOUR HORSE

Just like when you’re walking the course, Rose says it is important to know what kind of warm-up works for your horse and adjust it to suit that horse. “For example, with my six-year-old, Cadenza NZPH, I know I’m usually lucky to get to jump one or two fences in the practice arena because he is very quirky. I do my flat warm-up in a quiet area and then brave the practice arena for one or two fences before heading straight in. It’s a bit different, but I’ve gotten to know what works for him and there’s no use letting him get wound up. Your plan is allowed to be different to what others are doing, if that is what works for your horse.”

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

EQUIDAYS 1.40 – 1.50M GRAND PRIX

We took the opportunity to follow Rose’s preparation for the Equidays Horse Grand Prix class at the Mystery Creek Events Centre in October, on her top ride, My Super Nova (Case). This was Rose’s first big start of the season, having only jumped in one class at a show in the South Island a few weeks earlier. It was also Case’s first time in the indoor at Mystery Creek and only his second time ever jumping indoors, so Rose knew it would be a big ask for him. “I know I’ll have to get out there and let him have a good look around and make sure he’s not spooky or backing off,” she explains. “For an older horse, he is very spooky, so I’m thinking about everything he might look at, like the spooky fillers, the crowds, the big screen. I’m going to make use of all the time I get inside before I start, showing him everything and allowing his eyes to adjust to the different light of the indoor arena. I’m really happy with how the course looks, it flows well and the lines walked well. It will be quite tight in there for Case as he loves a big ring, but I’ll just need to focus on getting my strong canter before I go through the start flags.” As this is his first big class of the season, Rose wants to focus on giving Case plenty of confidence in the warm-up, and even though it’s a tight ring, she won’t be turning him tighter than usual in the practice arena to prepare. “I know he can turn up when I need him to and we do all of that training at home. I just want him to go in as confident as possible,” she says. After a great warm-up, Rose and Case start brilliantly, and are going clear right up until the last line, where she comes unseated over fence 11 and can’t get organised in time to get down to the narrow final fence four strides away. They have an unfortunate run out, and then four time penalties are added, leaving them on a total of eight. “I was super happy with the way he jumped, just a little disappointed with the run out!” Rose tells us. “He just spooked and I didn’t have time to get organised after getting unseated at fence 11.” Coming back in tenth position for the second round meant that Rose was first to go, and she knew that it was important to put the disappointment of round one behind her and go for a quick clear, which she and Case managed easily. As faults came thick and fast for the remaining nine riders, Rose’s eight fault total ended up being the best on the night, and to her surprise, she clinched the win and took home $5,000 in prize money. “I knew that he wouldn’t be so spooky [in round two] because he’d jumped around already, so my strategy was just to set the standard for the second round and jump a good clear. I thought I’d be in for a chance at a place, but I never expected to win!” C

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INTERVIEW

“I CAME OFF HIM AND BROKE A RIB, SO WE HAD TO GET OUR CONFIDENCE BACK AFTER THAT. WE’VE JUST HAD TO BELIEVE IN EACH OTHER.”

ROSE UP CLOSE PHOTO Natasha Smith

This season is shaping up to be one of the best yet for 22-year-old Christchurch-based show jumper, Rose Alfeld. While she was on her most recent tour of the North Island show jumping circuit, we took the opportunity to catch up with this upand-coming full-time rider and trainer to talk about her season ahead and her horse of a lifetime, My Super Nova. Growing up in Christchurch in a horse orientated family, Rose Alfeld was naturally in the saddle before she could walk. She shares a passion for horses with her father, Murray, who trains Standardbreds and her mother, Lisa, who also rode in eventing and show jumping. Rose was mad on horses from the start. “I was literally riding before I could walk. Both my parents are horsey and my brother Ben and sister Holly used to ride too,” says Rose. “I started with a really great little skewbald Shetland pony called Midgie, and I started focusing on show jumping at about 10 years old. Before that I’d

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

also evented and hunted a lot as well.” These days, horses are her full-time job, after she put studying towards a primary school teaching degree to one side a year ago, in order to pursue her riding career. “I was at university, but put that on hold to focus on riding, which I’m now doing full-time. I’ll spend the morning riding my own horses and schooling others, then the afternoons are for teaching, mostly show jumping kids after they finish school.” Like many full-time riders, Rose has a great support team behind her that she couldn’t be without. “My parents are an incredible support. Mum will come out and help me most days and comes to all the shows. I’m sponsored by Mitavite, who have fuelled the whole team for a few years now, Hinterland and Cavalleria Toscana. I work with a few different trainers, usually Greg Best and Jen Hamilton when they are in New Zealand.” Working full-time with horses makes it easier for Rose to get away a couple of times a season to compete in the North Island for about a month at a time. It’s a big trip,

but something she says is very important for her and the team in order to get more competition starts. The World Cup rounds on offer in the North Island are a big draw card too, with Rose wanting to start in as many as possible this season on her top ride, My Super Nova (Case). “It’s about an eight-hour trip to the ferry, then crossing over and travelling to wherever we are competing, but there are more competitions up here. I can also do the World Cup Series, which they don’t run in the South Island. I always stay at least a month and pick a good run of shows.” Rose’s most recent trip to the North Island, starting with Equidays in mid-October, proved to be more than worthwhile, with all her horses performing well and picking up several wins and placings between them. Major highlights of the trip included Case winning the Horse Grand Prix at Equidays, just their second start of the season. They then went on to place second in the first two World Cup Qualifiers held at Hawke’s Bay Royal A & P Show and APL Show Jumping Waikato Festival of Jumping, before taking their first World Cup Qualifier win at Egmont A & P.

Rose has five horses in her current team, with three out on the competition circuit regularly, including the homebred Case, who is a 12-year-old by Corlando out of a St James Stationbred mare. “We’ve done everything with him from the start – we bred him, Dad broke him in and I started on him when he was a four-year-old,” says Rose. Though he’s an impressive jumper these days, Rose says he wasn’t always one she thought would make it to the top. “He wasn’t super flash, and when Dad rode him I used to call him a plonker! But he kept on improving and getting better, and he just tries so hard.” Along with Case, Rose is competing her seven-year-old Irish import, KBS The Irishman, and six-year-old Cadenza NZPH, who both had wins or placings in their respective age group classes on the recent North Island tour. Back home, Rose has two four-year-olds in work. One is a New Zealand Performance Horse (NZPH) by Kannan, and the other is by Cassini D’Eclipse. She also has a three-year-old, also by Cassini D’Eclipse, who will be starting work soon. After taking a bit of a break from breeding after My Super Nova, Rose and her family are also breeding a few horses again, with three broodmares going into foal this year. “We have an NZPH mare by Orlando, another by Corlando, and another mare we imported from Germany,” says Rose. “Two of them will go in foal to Clinton, and one to Chacco Silver.” After some bad luck over the last couple of years with injuries, Rose is welcoming the good season she is currently having. “I jumped Case in our first World Cup the season before last and we placed seventh, then he got injured. We came back last season and I had a couple of accidents, one where I came off him and broke a rib, so we had to get our confidence back after that. We’ve just had to believe in each other.” Even with a few setbacks last season, Rose and Case still had plenty of good results together, winning the New Zealand Nationals Grand Prix, the South Island Grand Prix series and the Premier League class at Series Finals in April. Carrying their good form into the current season, the plan is to do the World Cup Series and have their first Olympic Cup start at HOY in March, with Rose also looking further ahead to international competitions. “I’m hoping to do my first Olympic Cup this season. I’ve been so close a few times. I’d also like to take Case to Australia at the end of the season to compete, which is a real possibility if he finishes well. I’d love to represent New Zealand overseas in the future, too. I’m just waiting to see what opportunities arise!” C

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

TRAINING

FOCUS ON

SERPENTINES What are serpentines? A serpentine is an S-shaped figure, usually with three or four loops, although for training purposes there may be many more. The size and shape of the loops may vary: some loops might have several straight strides between each bending phase, while others may have only one straight stride between change of bend. In all cases, however, the loops should be of equal size and shape to the others in the serpentine. The serpentine is used mainly as a training tool for bending, as it requires at least two changes of bend across the arena. Change of bend should always be smooth and the horse should not fall in or out while looping.

Like many riders, do you find yourself overlooking the humble serpentine because they are too basic? If ridden correctly, they can be a fantastic training aid for both horse and rider…

Serpentin es are the sort of exe rcise that be used o can ver and o ver again, to improv e your ho balance a nd rhythm rse’s , as well a his straigh s tness, sup pleness and bend . They can also help with lateral movemen ts later on .

How they help the rider: • • • •

Work on maintaining consistent bend Learn to keep horse balanced and in alignment Enhance rider position Learn to achieve a consistency of pace.

How they help the horse: • • • • • • •

Improve bend Increase suppleness Improve responsiveness Help with collection Improve impulsion Build balance Regain focus in training.

How to execute: • Begin with rising trot • Half-halt in the middle of the short side of the arena, using the outside rein

• Bend the horse to the inside using the inside rein and applying pressure at the girth with the inside leg • Slide the outside leg back slightly to control the back-end • Allow the horse’s neck to bend to the inside by “giving” slightly with the outside hand • Ride half of a 20m circle, then continue straight across the arena • When crossing the centre of the arena, change the horse’s bend/flexion • Repeat with alternating aids for the remaining two loops.

Rules

Serpentines are a great exercise for horse and rider, but must be ridden correctly to get the right results.

• Every time there is a change in direction, there must be a change in flexion and bend • Your contact should be light • The horse’s body should adjust smoothly in the lateral bend • Serpentines should be performed in basic movements and collected pace • Serpentines can be ridden in the warm-up or the work phase of a schooling session.

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

Getting it wrong Some common mistakes are making the loops unequal widths and sizes, tempo changes, losing the purity of the gaits and incorrect flexion and bend. In addition, allowing the horse’s shoulders or hindquarters to fall in or out can create a loss of balance, straightness and difficulties in producing a correct serpentine with smooth changes of bend.

Some riders lean a little to one side, and the serpentine can be a good test of where their weight is being unevenly distributed. Don’t rush the exercise, but think before, during and after the serpentine, and use the learnings to help you determine what needs work. Remember to change your diagonal through the centre line. C

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FOCUS ON TRAINING

SHOW HUNTER You are bound to find a variety of combination styles when you step into the Show Hunter ring, regardless of the level you are competing at. These can challenge even the most prepared riders, but as they say, ‘practice makes perfect,’ so here’s a few tips to help you fine tune your next Show Hunter round.

COMBOS

Things to take into consideration when navigating a combination: •

The distance between obstacles

•

The type of obstacle, and their order

•

Jump height

•

Terrain

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TOP SHOW HUNTER TIPS 1.

The judge will gain their first impression of you from the moment you enter the ring - even before your horse has jumped the first fence! Come into the ring well-prepared and properly turned out in order to catch the judge’s eye and get their attention.

Always ride into the ring with a plan. The judge is looking for a ride that is executed according to the rider’s plan, rather than watching someone having to make a lot of last minute adjustments. You are aiming for a soft, forward, rhythmic ride around the course, and it’s important to have a plan to achieve that with your particular horse.

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

Remember that Show Hunter courses are designed for riders to be able to make wide, sweeping turns at the ends of the arena, which allows horses four-five straight strides onto each fence or combination. This gives the horse more space and time to be brought to the fences in balance and on an accurate distance, which will show off their optimal jumping technique to the judge.

Show Hunter jumps will always have a ground line or fill in front of the front rail, and the back rail of oxers will always be higher than the front rail, to encourage the horse to take off well and make a better shape over the fence.

PRACTICE THESE AT HOME! Vertical to Oxer This is by far the most common combination found in the Show Hunter ring, and can be set anywhere from one to six strides apart. This is such a mainstay in any Show Hunter program because it develops confidence in horses and teaches them to jump better. Jumping the same

distances repeatedly helps a horse’s balance as he gets used to jumping in a consistent rhythm. Practicing these types of combinations at home can also help solve training challenges such as drifting, lengthening a short stride or squaring up uneven legs.

Vertical to vertical to oxer The difficulty of this triple depends on the spacing between the fences. Longer distances force a rider to keep forward impulsion without losing balance or allowing a horse to get strong. Shorter distances are easier to navigate as they leave less time for a horse to collect speed and lose balance. Setting up this combination, as shown below,

with three to four strides between the first two fences will encourage the horse to keep a nice rhythm down the line. Having one to two strides before the last fence will encourage the horse to back himself off the final fence and push off from his hocks, ultimately producing a lovely bascule over the final element.

Add a Bending Line Most combinations in Show Hunter courses will be built on straight lines, but sometimes the judge will add a bending line to test the horse and rider. The correct number of strides between the fences will be noted on the course plan (e.g. five strides). It is up to you to decide what line you take

between the two fences. Ideally, you will jump the middle of both fences, but if you have a big-striding, scopey horse you might ride out a bit wider on the turn; or if you have a smaller-striding horse, you would ride to the inside of the line so your horse isn’t ‘reaching’ for the second obstacle.

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Show Hunter courses are built on an exact length of stride (12 feet for hacks, 11 feet for Category C ponies, 10’6” for Category B and 10’ for Category A). If your horse’s stride is naturally longer or shorter than this, gymnastic exercises and canter poles at home can help. Start out by making the

distances comfortable for your horse until he is confident, then gradually space them out to the correct distance. This will help you to find and train the canter you will need in the show ring, in order to make it through each combination in the correct number of strides. C

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TRAINING

THE RIGHT WAY FROM THE BEGINNING Teaching a child can be hard, particularly if you are used to training with a more technical approach. Amanda Berridge has a wealth of technical knowledge at her disposal from years of competing at the top level of showing and dressage, but it’s being a ‘big kid’ herself that has given her the edge in training upand-coming young riders. Show Circuit caught up with her to find out why teaching children is a little bit different, and to learn more about her approach. WORDS Ryan Teece PHOTOS Show Circuit Magazine

ABOUT AMANDA

Amanda Berridge is one of New Zealand’s most successful showing riders. Her many accolades include Senior Rider of the Year and Park Hack of the Year, multiple Champions and Supremes in every section from 12.2hh ponies through to large hacks, and points up to Level 8 in Dressage. She runs a busy stable in Te Miro, near Cambridge, with the help of her family. With ponies for breaking in and selling, a team of show and dressage horses and a considerable list of weekly clients for coaching, Amanda keeps herself extremely busy.

ABOUT CHARLOTTE & POPPY

Charlotte has had limited competition experience so far, with a naughty pony that knocked her confidence. Now she has moved on to the 13.2hh mare Poppy (Roulette Rosa Belle) who is by Willowcroft Grand Mikado (imp) and out of Nala Emblems Nichole. Although Poppy is still young, the pair have the basics well instilled, they have qualified for HOY 2018 and are growing in confidence together. They are ready to tackle the season ahead, where they will be competing against older riders and more experienced ponies. At the time of this lesson, we are just two days away from Equidays, where Charlotte and Poppy will compete in the Novice and Open 138cm Pony sections. Last season Charlotte struggled with remembering her workouts, so Amanda plans their lessons with this in mind.

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

s we head out to the arena to start the lesson, Amanda chats with us about child riders in general. “I think many parents struggle to teach their own children, as they have this expectation that everything has to be perfect from the beginning. That is not the case,” she explains. Amanda points out that not every kid wants to be amazing, and it’s essential that their parents understand what their child’s desires are, as far as riding and competition go.

“Kids do sports for different reasons. Some do it as a hobby, and some do it because they want to be the absolute best at it. Every kid, every person really, has their own level of satisfaction.” Amanda explains that she essentially instructs a child the same way as she does an adult, but uses simpler terms in order to achieve the same outcomes. “Kids have an incredible understanding. It’s just explaining things in a way that they can get it.”

“Kids have an incredible understanding. It’s just explaining things in a way that they can get it.” IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT

Amanda has noticed that parents often expect their children to get on their pony and do things perfectly right away. “Quite often when I’m teaching young children, the parents will be on the sidelines calling out things like ‘oh, their hands are moving’, or ‘their legs are moving’. My reply is always ‘that’s fine’. It may not look perfect at the start, but it’s all part of doing what you must to get the ponies going correctly.” Amanda suggests to these parents that they go and watch a warm-up ring, of any discipline, at a big show. “You will find people moving, bending, flexing, bringing their hands higher, lower

and so on, all so that they work through any problems and the horse can go its best in the ring. That’s where it is ideal to be sitting still and in the correct position. But if the child just gets on and sits still, those small problems they have in the warm-up will worsen as they enter the ring, and they won’t have the tools to correct them.” She compares it to school athletics. “The kids don’t just run out there and start jumping high jump. The teachers will get them to warm up and do stretches, just like you should with your pony. Make sure they are forward, bending left, bending right and going off your leg, and then you can sit still and ‘look pretty’.”

ON THE BIT!

According to Amanda, there are a lot of parents out there inventing “the weirdest and wackiest ways to get ponies on the bit,” because it’s all about the look. “I’ve seen it all!” she laughs, but is quick to point out that it is a shortcut to nowhere and in the long run will damage a rider’s position and feel. “Often you see kids with hands locked on their knees, and with no bend in their elbows, because that’s the only way they can get their ponies ‘on the bit’, and ‘on the bit’ is what matters. It doesn’t matter how it happens; it’s just ‘get your pony on the bit’.” “I find that it happens mostly with parents who haven’t ridden. They don’t understand feel, engagement or suppleness because these are not things easy to see to the untrained eye. But whether your pony is ‘on the bit’ – or isn’t – is!” Teaching riders who have not yet learned any bad habits is much easier, of course, but often the children that Amanda coaches have already been riding for a few years, and like all of us, have accumulated a bad habit or two along the way.

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

LEARNING THE RIGHT WAY

The priority for Amanda from the outset is a pony that is working freely, going off the rider’s leg aids and into the bridle softly. Once that is established, she can start to work on position. However, she doesn’t see the point in telling a rider to sit in a particular position, if their pony is making that more challenging than it needs to be. “How can a rider sit up tall with her hands out lightly in front of her if the pony is bearing

down and pulling her hands forward?” Getting a pony to go forward is not always easy, especially an older or seasoned pony, but Amanda encourages people to resist the urge of using gadgets. “It’s easy to resort to a whip and spurs,” she admits, but stresses that when these aids are not used correctly, they can make the pony even duller, and before you know it, you will have a pony that is not going

forward, even with the added gear. “I would rather teach ponies and their riders that leg means forward. Later we can teach variations of that, but ponies absolutely must go off the riders’ legs.” When the ponies are forward off the aids, they will also be lighter in front, creating self-carriage, going correctly on the bit and using their hindquarters to push.

DIAGONALS

Some children grasp the concept of trot diagonals quickly, while some adults still struggle with it. But we have all heard ‘wrong diagonal!’ screamed from the sidelines of a show at least once! Amanda’s approach to teaching diagonals is positive reinforcement. Rather than just telling the rider when they are on the wrong one, Amanda will give them a chance to figure it out for themselves. She suggests asking the children if they are on the right diagonal, and only telling them to change if they are not. “Sometimes Charlotte can go a full lap or two of the arena before she gets it right,” she says, but explains that it is an essential part of the learning process. “Once they have the confidence to say ‘I think I’m right’, they seem to work it out quickly.” She points out that it’s important not to tell riders off for getting it wrong. Everyone will learn at their own pace, and some find certain things easier than others. Give them a chance to figure it out and never let it worry you – or more importantly, them! As Charlotte sets off in trot, she glances down to the outside, and Amanda confirms what she is looking for. “Charlotte knows that when the outside leg comes forward, she should be rising and as it comes back, she should sit. Up and forward at the same time and then back and down.” Like a lot of kids, when Charlotte was first learning her diagonals, she found it a little bit tricky. So, Amanda encouraged her to say ‘up…up…up…’ as the outside leg came forward to help her grasp the right time to be rising. Now Charlotte is learning the correct diagonal by feel. “As easy as it is to jump in and say, ‘no you’re wrong, change,’ you need to allow the kids to process the movement and make a decision for themselves.” Unless they are in Lead Rein, children don’t have someone beside them in the ring to tell them whether they are on the right or wrong diagonal, so by encouraging them to feel or see it for themselves, they will feel more confident going into the ring, knowing they can do it on their own.

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

“As easy as it is to jump in and say, ‘no you’re wrong, change,’ you need to allow the kids to process the movement and make a decision for themselves.” REINS

In Amanda’s eyes, shortening the reins can fix a lot of problems in the ring, from incorrect bend to straight elbows. “Having the reins even is important too,” she says, adding that there’s nothing wrong with getting little stoppers or making markers with tape, so the kids know where to hold the reins. If they can see the marker, then they know their reins are getting too long. It is significant, however, to also be realistic about how short the reins can be. If you have the reins far too short, the rider will end up leaning forward, or be pulled forward by the pony. “It’s good to get them into the habit of shortening their reins before and after a canter,” Amanda advises. “Otherwise, the reins tend to get longer and longer!”

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BREAK IT DOWN, THEN PUT IT TOGETHER When asking riders to do exercises or workouts, Amanda likes to break the test down to make it as simple as possible. For example, when she asks Charlotte to do a three-loop serpentine, she explains that each loop needs to be the same size, and tells her to plan her arena to be able to fit them all in. Amanda likes the kids to practise any workouts or tests, if they know what they are, leading up to a show. One class that this pair is eyeing up at Equidays is the Novice Pony Challenge, which has a set workout already available online. But rather than showing Charlotte the entire test and getting her to do it over and over, Amanda breaks the workout down and makes sure they can do each movement individually. “You see a lot of ponies going around on autopilot, bending the wrong way and falling in, with the riders sitting there like passengers. I want Charlotte to be able to ask Poppy, or any pony she is riding, for a movement when she is ready, not the other way around.” One part of a workout that children (and some adults) seem to struggle with is a change of canter lead through trot, partly because the ponies end up doing so many of these throughout their career that they know what’s coming. The problem there is that they tend to run through the whole transition, and

it can all get a bit messy. Amanda suggests getting children to ride a 20-metre circle in canter, then go through the circle to change the rein as normal, but once the pony is back in trot, keep trotting on the new rein for a few circles. Then change the rein again, this time asking for canter where you usually would in a simple change. Another variation of this is simply cantering on a 20-metre circle, bringing the pony back to trot for three or so strides, and then popping back into canter on the same rein. This all ensures the pony is doing as it’s asked, rather than going around anticipating. It is also setting the child up with valuable tools that will come in handy in the ring. If the pony drops out of canter, for example, rather than panicking, the rider is prepared to simply ask again. Or, if they get a wrong leg through the centre of a circle, they know they can come back to trot, change the bend and ask for the correct lead. When Charlotte and Poppy do practise a complete change of rein through trot, they get a perfect one in each direction, and Amanda stops them there. “You’ve done one really nice one each way, so we won’t do anymore. Why drill the ponies and riders over and over if they have done it right the first time?”

Canter Trot

A simple exercise to stop ponies anticipating a canter transition

they tend to run through the whole transition, and it can all get a bit messy.

BACK TO FRONT

When Charlotte and Poppy head out to practise their full workout, Poppy apparently feels that she has done enough for the day. She gets a little dull to the leg and starts moving her head around. Charlotte’s initial reaction is to fiddle with her reins to get her back on the bit, but Amanda quickly reminds her to ride from the back to the front. “Keep your hands nice and still, so that you’re not causing any of the head movement, and then ride her a little more forward.” Amanda uses an analogy that the kids seem to like. “If you’re drinking out of a cup with a straw, when the cup is full it is easy. But when it starts to get empty, bubbles start coming up through the straw as well, which makes it harder to drink.” She explains that this is much like a pony’s forward energy. “If they are forward, the drink is full, and everything is smooth. If it’s empty, bubbles come up – their heads start moving around, and everything gets hard again. So, fix the forward first.”

HALT

At the end of their workout, Charlotte and Poppy make a transition to halt, but it’s far from perfect the first time. Amanda points out that it is a movement that is more challenging than you would think. For her, the priority lies with the pony standing nicely still and relaxed. When asking for the halt, make sure that there is an even weight in both reins, both stirrups, and both hips. If you are not even, then the pony is not going to halt square, as they will adjust where their feet land to counter-balance the rider. “Sit up tall and hold your tummy muscles,” she encourages Charlotte. Amanda likes to let the children feel where their pony’s feet land, rather than looking down to see. When riders look down, their ponies are thrown off balance and often they will take a step to fix it, making their halt worse. While riders might get away with this when they are small, that won’t be the case when they grow, so it’s best that they learn the feel from the beginning, rather than needing to look. From the ground, a halt looks like it should be easy, but Amanda reminds parents not to get frustrated if their rider can’t quite get it. “There’s plenty of Grand Prix dressage combinations out there that can’t do a square halt either,” she laughs.

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

“Saying a simple ‘I’m proud of you’ always goes a long way.” So what’s the secret to Amanda’s success in teaching children? “Just keep it simple. Don’t get angry or upset if things don’t go to plan, and keep it fun,” she says. “Enjoy your time together with your children and their ponies. And,” she adds with a smile, “saying a simple ‘I’m proud of you’ always goes a long way.” C

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Marks

HOW TO

ON YOUR

Sharks-teeth

Quarter marks add a final touch and a real professional finish to any horse, competing in any discipline. Whether you are giving them a go for the first time, or you’re an old hand looking for new tricks, brush up on your skills with a little help from Show Circuit Magazine.

Firstly, spray the quarters liberally with Supreme Products Deluxe Coat Gloss. Once dry, this will help to set the marks in place. Then, brush the quarters with a soft brush in the direction of hair growth to a smooth finish. Position the brush below the point of the hip, about midquarter. Use the brush in an upwards direction at approximately 25° (more angle equals wider sharks-teeth, less angle equals narrower sharks-teeth)

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

Differ lengths ent widths an d of shar drama tically c ks-teeth can hange of your the lo ho play ar rse’s quarter ok ound u s, so ntil yo the per fect ba u find lance.

From the same starting point as the first brush stroke, brush downwards at roughly the same angle (in this case, 25°).

Starting one brush width (roughly) below your first stroke, repeat the process until you have the desired amount of sharks-teeth. Approximately 4 - 5 is a good number if you are starting out.

To finish, take the brush, and starting from the top of the tail, brush downward in a gentle arc.

Show Hacks & Ponies Hunter Hacks & Ponies Sport Horses

For show hacks and ponies, you want to think elegant and pretty. Using finer combs means more squares on the rump, which gives you the beautiful look you see on so many of the top performers in the show ring. You can achieve so many different looks with one size comb, but it’s good to have a few options in your grooming kit. The looks here are all achieved with the same comb width (1 inch) which is a nice, safe size for Show Hacks and Ponies. However, spend a day wandering around a show and you will see a huge variety of widths making up so many different patterns. Here are just three simple options to practise.

For hunters, you want to think bold and strong. Consider the size of your horse when choosing your brush size - for example, thick wide stripes will look out of place on a 12hh pony. To start, simply use a hard-bristled brush or comb (with teeth close together) and drag straight down against the hair. You should aim to fit three - four lines on the rump with space between each one. Once you have completed the number of desired downward lines, run the brush in the direction of the hair growth to finish off the pattern. Depending on the horse, you can finish the lines off at the bottom straight across, or on an angle, as shown here.

The options are endless when it comes to Sport Horses, but remember not to get carried away. The idea is to enhance the overall look, not detract from it. A popular option is shown here. These are used on Olympic Gold medallist and World Champion, Valegro. They are simple and quick to put on and would suit any discipline. They are also popular in the United Kingdom on Show Riding Horses. For this style, start on the side closest to the tail, pull the brush or comb downwards and across at approximately 45° to a point in the middle. Then, do the opposite on the left hand side. You can stop at this point and simply leave the ‘V’, or add in the final stroke in the centre. Finish by squaring off the bottom by brushing in the direction of hair growth.

Something Different

, nished Once fi preme h Su set wit rter ts Qua Produc ay to keep g Spr d add a Markin lace an reme p in m the h Sup ine wit final sh cts Sparkle. Produ

Feeling creative? Send a photo of your best or most creative quarter markers to info@supremeproducts.co.nz and be in the draw to win some goodies courtesy of Supreme Products NZ. C

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# Dark Horse Photography

KAY, in the Honda Pony Derby 1. Ella Hawkeswood - KAYCEE MAC nd E JOBÈI W, 2 in the Wade 2. Melissa Galloway - WINDERMER Equine Coaches Prix St Georges , in the G.H. Mumm 3. Brayden Aarts - CHRIALKA JAGO Prix Champagne Horse Grand INO, 2nd in the Purepine 4. Katharine Van Tuyl - CENTAV Shavings/Equidays 7yr Old Series LLO, winner of the Wade Equine 5. John Thompson - JHT ANTONE Prix Freestyle to Music Coaches Grand Prix and the Grand Beyond the Barriers OTT 6. Philippa Whitaker - BOOMING, Thoroughbred Champion G, 6th overall in the Dunstan 7. Hollie Wynyard - DREAMLININ X-Factor competition in the ESNZ/Equidays Young 8. Elmo Jackson - DR FEELGOOD, Rider Series the Dunstan EquiFibre/ 9. Parys Marshall - DELANEY, in es Equidays Junior Rider Seri E, in the Livamol Horse 1.25m 10. Alyvia James - LC VICTORIEUS , winner of the JLT Pony 6 Bar 11. Georgia Bouzaid - REDCLIFFS BILL A, winner of the G.H. Mumm 12. Rose Alfeld - MY SUPER NOV Champagne Horse Grand Prix I FROSTIE, winner of the North 13. Harriet Redmond - NGAHIW ice Horse Challenge Island Premier Designer Bars Nov er Star Nutrition Saddle Pow ier and the North Island Prem Hunter Horse Championship th M CASSINII, 4 in the Purepine 14. Amanda Wilson - LC SHOWTY Shavings/Equidays 7yr Old Series ENSES OF RENTON, in the 15. Nakeysha Lammers - ALL EXP es Seri r ESNZ/Equidays Young Ride F, winner of the ESNZ/ 16. Oliver Croucher - WAITANGI SUR Equidays Young Rider Series Livamol Horse 1.25m 17. Katelyn Harper - TYCHE, in the I SILVERKEE, winner of the 18. Emma Watson - MADDOX KIW Livamol Horse 1.25m T, winner of the Dunstan Cup 19. Dannie Lodder - MONEY SHO stan X-Factor, with Gretel Dun the for the overall winner of Webber from Dunstan

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1. Olivia Miller - MISS LINDAUER, in the ESNZ/Equidays Young Rider Series 2. Sharnaye Lammers - ROMEO NZPH, 4th in the Livamol Horse 1.25m 3. Eden Annabell - LINDEN TALISM AN, winner of the Intermediate Rider 12 - 14 yrs 4. Amanda Berridge - WOODY GOO DWIN, North Island Premier Roulette Rugs Park Hack Champi onship winner and Pryde’s Easifeed Supreme Champion Ridd en Horse 5. Julie Brougham - VOM FEINSTE N, 2nd in the Wade Equine Coaches Grand Prix 6. Mikayla Wildermoth - JYM-AU D DEW DROP MAHOGANY, winner of the North Island Prem ier Roulette Rugs Saddle Hunter Pony Championship, ove r 128 - 138cm 7. Vanessa Everton - LADY’S HON OUR RP, winner of the North Island Premier Roulette Rugs Hac k Championship 8. Andrea Kewish - SPRING FLIN G, winner of the Caledonian Holdings Amateur Series 9. Brooke Cadwallader - NANTEO S AUTUMN GUARDSMAN, winner of the North Island Prem ier Saddle Hunter Pony Championship, 128cm and under 10. Janine Hayde – BRENTWOOD ADDICTION, 2nd overall in the Dunstan X-Factor competition 11. Emma Gaze - WOODLAND BUG , winner of the Dunstan EquiFibre Pro Amateur Series 12. Georgia Lawrie - SP BLUE EYE D GHOST, in the G.H. Mumm Champagne Horse Grand Prix 13. Kate Herdson - EON, in the Dun stan EquiFibre/Equidays Junior Rider Series

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1. Peta Kuluz – FRED FLINTSTONE , Nicholson Imports Freestyle winn er 2. Josh Lavelle – CHARLESTOWN , in the Agbuild Off Road Challenge 3. Oliver Croucher - WAITANGI WI FI, 5th in the Hyundai Premier Derby 4. Sarah Norton-Collins - ATAAHU A ALLURE, winner of the North Island Premier Saddle Hunter Pon y Championship, over 138 - 148cm 5. Kelsey Leahy - SHOWCAUSE, winn er of 14 the Reyna Equestrian Horse Derby 6. Charlotte Cotter - NGAHIWI BES T WISHES, in the Livamol Horse 1.25 m 7. Duncan McFarlane - BE MINE NZPH, 5th in the Purepine Shavings/ Equidays 7yr Old Series 8. Sacha Rennie - DANCED ALL NIGHT, 4 th in the Nicholson Imports Freestyle 9. Helen McNaught - LA RIVIERE , winner of the Purepine Shavings/ Equidays 7yr Old Series 10. TC Equestrian - ROSEDENE COV ER GIRL, North Island Abercothi Saddlery Supreme Led Pony 11. Olivia Montgomery - BON VOYAGE, 3 rd overall in the Dunstan X-Factor competition 12. Lindsey Osborne – CATCHMOIIFYOUCAN, 4th overall in the Dunstan X-Factor competition 13. Billie Roach - LINDEN JUST A DREAM, Pryde’s Easifeed Suprem e Champion Ridden Pony and winn er of the Lisa Chittick Memorial Gra nd Champion Ridden Exhibit 14. Vanessa Way - NRM ARAWN, 6th in the Wade Equine Coaches Grand Prix 15. Matt Irvine - LA PERLA, winner of the Dunstan EquiFibre/Equidays Junior Rider Series

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SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

ONSPIRIT 1. Olivia Newsom - MO the Honda of r ne win , RE TREASU Pony Derby ith - DSE LANIKAI, 2. Donna Edwards-Sm or competition 5th in the Dunstan X-Fact rd ARY MOVE, 3 in 3. Katrina Davis - MILIT ce an rm the Show Hunter Perfo th BROSE, 5 in the 4. Abbie Deken - KH AM x Pri d an Gr Wade Equine Coaches - OVER EASY, 5. Brooke Hawthorne ational Animal ern Int the winner of 1.15m Health Products Pony - RICKER RIDGE 6. Samantha Felton rd in the Purepine SOOTY GNZ, 3 Old Series Shavings/Equidays 7yr DDOX FUN 7. Emma Watson - MA eval Liberte HOUSE, Country TV/Ch ner win x Pri d NZ Pony Gran EA r - STDALE DIVA, 8. Brooke Cadwallade Island Premier rth winner of the No nship, 128cm pio am Ch Show Pony and under

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SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

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SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

PHOTO ESSAY

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

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DURABLE RECYCLABLE EASY TO ANTIBACTERIAL ECO-FRIEND USE ANTIBACTERIAL USE NATURALLY EASY TO ABSORBENT DURABLE DUST FREE ANTIBACTERIAL USE Joely Townley - STONEYBROOK CHRISTMAS LILY, Champion Pony Group B and winner of the

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SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

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SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

Maddi Thompson - IPPICO

Nicola Lancaster - CAHONCHO

S Glassey - WINSTON, Champion Saddle Hunter Pony

Stephanie Wendelken - BEWITCHED OF FLAXMILL, Reserve Champion Park Hack

Nichola Hamburger - BELLWOOD CERGIO, Champion Novice Riding Horse

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PHOTO ESSAY

New Zealand Show Horse Council

Nationals PHOTOS Show Circuit Magazine

TC Equestrian - TC ARTISTRY, Reserve Champion Small Show Hunter Hack, ridden by Ben Thomson

Julie Wylie-Parkinson - SPARKLING GALAXY, winner of the Open Hunter Gala

Kerry Shearer - CARDONALD DELIVER, Champion Led Hunter Galloway 4 Years and over, Champion First Season Show Hunter Galloway, Champion Newcomer Show Hunter Galloway and Champion Large Show Hunter Galloway

Lillie Wallace - WHITMERE MINUETTE, Champion First Season Small Show Pony, Champion Newcomer Small Show Pony, Reserve Champion in the Newcomer Gala and Reserve Champion Small Show Pony, owned by Villa Park Equine

TC Equestrian - KS HONEY BOO BOO, Champion Small Show Galloway and Top 6 in the Open Show Horse Gala, ridden by Ella Hansen

Billie Roach - BROOKFIELDS VON STRAUSS, Reserve Champion Rider 17 years and under 21 years

Philippa Whitaker - STARSTRUCK, Champion Small Show Hack, owned by Liz Kingston

Harriet Redmond - NGAHIWI FROSTIE, Champion Rider 21 years and under 30, Champion Large Show Hunter Hack and Top 6 in the Open Hunter Gala, owned by Christine Weal

Mia Cadwallader - NANTEOS AUTUMN GUARDSMAN, winner of the fancy dress

10. Show judges, from left, Mark Kenzig (Vic), Kate Dolan (Qld), Lisa Cleary-Gutierrez (NSW) and Carlene Nossiter (NSW)

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Sarah Norton-Collins - ATAAHUA ALLURE, 4th in the Child’s Show Hunter Galloway

Lindsay Everton - GLENMOOR SAM I AM, Champion Small Show Hunter Galloway

Liam Murphy - LINDEN HEAVENLY MUSIC, Reserve Champion Rider 12 years and under 15 years

TC Equestrian - RP RICOCHET, Champion Led Hack 4 years and over, Champion First Season Show Hack and Champion in the Newcomer Gala, owned by Tracy Martin and ridden by Ben Thomson

Mia Cadwallader - EASTDALE DIVA, Champion Rider 6 years and under 9 years

TC Equestrian - JUBILEE SUPANOVA, Champion Small Show Hunter Pony, Top 6 in the Open Hunter Gala and Champion Child’s Small Show Hunter Pony, owned by Tracy Martin and ridden by Billie Roach

10. Vanessa Everton - LADY’S HONOUR RP, 2nd overall in the OTT Thoroughbred Show Horse series, Champion Large Show Hack and Top 6 in the Open Show Horse Gala, run over two phases

Roulette Equine - MON STEVOS ANTHEM, Champion First Season Show Galloway and Champion Newcomer Show Galloway, ridden by Amanda Berridge

11. Lillie Wallace - NALA NICHOLAI’S HOLLY, Champion Rider 9 Years and under 12 Years and Champion First Ridden Show Pony

Gaylene Lennard - DONZELLO, Champion Rider 30 years and over, Champion Small Show Hunter Hack and Reserve Champion in the Open Hunter Gala

12. Adrienne van den Berk - BROOKFIELDS DREAMS ARE FREE, Reserve Champion Large Show Pony, Top 6 in the Open Show Horse Gala and Champion Rider 17 years and under 21

Ruby Norton-Collins - SANLIRRA PRETTY POLLY, in the Child’s Small Show Pony

13. Lucy Jackson - RIDGEVALE OYSTER BAY, Champion Leading Rein Show Hunter Pony

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SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

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Simone Simpson - INVICTUS RP, Champion Newcomer Show Hunter Hack and Top 6 in the Newcomer Gala, owned by Leesa Anderson

Brooke Cadwallader - EASTDALE DIVA, Champion Child’s Small Show Pony, Champion Small Show Pony and winner of the Open Show Horse Gala

Ryan Teece - DEANHILLS PRINCE CHARMING, Champion Led Pony 4 years and over, owned by Lille Wallace

Lucy Norton-Collins - CHELTON LIGHT ENDEAVOUR, Champion Large Show Galloway

Mikayla Wildermoth - JYM-AUD DEW DROP MAHOGANY, Champion Led Hunter Pony 4 years and over, Champion Large Show Hunter Pony, Top 6 in the Open Hunter Gala and Champion Child’s Large Show Hunter Pony

Sue Reynolds - SEATTLE, Champion Newcomer Show Hack, winner overall of the OTT Thoroughbred Show Horse series, run over two phases and Reserve Champion Large Show Hack

Eva Norton-Collins - BORDERSHOW LIGHTENING BUG, Champion Leading Rein Show Pony, led by Kira Gilmour

Billie Roach - LINDEN JUST A DREAM, Champion Large Show Pony, Reserve Champion in the Open Show Horse Gala and Champion Child’s Large Show Pony, owned by Linden Stud

Roulette Equine - KINKORA JULIET, Champion Newcomer Small Show Hunter Pony, ridden by Lucy Dagnall

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Hawke’s Bay Show

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PHOTOS # kampic.com # Show Circuit Magazine

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Melody Matheson - GRAFFITI MH, in the Bayleys Real Estate Hawke’s Bay Championship - World Cup Qualifier

Lillie Wallace - NALA NICHOLAI’S HOLLY, Champion 12.2 Pony and winner of the Thomas Salver

Chloe Hansen - KIWI MOTTO, 5th in the Horse 1.30m

Lucy Fraser - EASTDALE FELICITY, Champion First Year Ridden Pony and winner of the Pony Breeders sash

Brett Horsburgh - SHOWTYM ENDEAVOUR, 4th in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix

Sue Reynolds - SEATTLE, Supreme Champion Inhand Horse and Champion Hack

Maureen Harvey - TATARANUI FANTASY, winner of the Pony Breeders Society of NZ Adult Sash and Champion Led Adult Pony

Lucy Fell - TINAPAI, in the Bayleys Real Estate Hawke’s Bay Championship World Cup Qualifier

12 - Balanced - ShowCircuit.pdf 1 09-Nov-17 11:25:27 AM

11 12 13 14

Samantha Morrison - BIARRITZ, 4th in the Bayleys Real Estate Hawke’s Bay Championship - World Cup Qualifier

10. Billie Roach - LINDEN JUST A DREAM, Champion 13.2 Pony and Supreme Pony 11. Anya Peterson - TAIRAWHITI LAD, Champion Junior Pleasure Rider 12. Rebecca Aplin - WOODLANDS PARK LIGHT O DAY, Champion 14.2 Pony, Supreme Paced and Mannered Pony, Supreme Led Pony and winner of the Bary Salver

13. Ben Thomson - TC ARTISTRY, Champion Riding Horse, Supreme Horse and winner of the Beamish Salver

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14. Katie Laurie - BREEZE, winner of the Bayleys Real Estate Hawke’s Bay Championship - World Cup Qualifier 15. Georgia Massie - LARINIUM LS, in the FMG Young Rider 16. Tess Clark - SINATRA II, in the Bayleys Real Estate Hawke’s Bay Championship - World Cup Qualifier

15 16

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108

Catherine Nichols - LEIGHTONVIEW BELLE, Supreme Champion Purebred Welsh Exhibit

Felicity Keyte - TOP SHELF, winner of the RAS Livamol Thoroughbred Series Class

Daniel Blundell - LAVELLO, 4th in the Horse 1.40m

Zaria Johnston - LANGTREE JUST SAY SO, Champion Lead Rein Pony

Lucy Olphert - EVE SAINT LAURENT, in the Bayleys Real Estate Hawke’s Bay Championship - World Cup Qualifier

Emily Hayward - AP NINJA, winner of the Horse 1.30m

Linda Santo - GREENMOOR SHIRAZ, Champion Senior Derivative Arabian and Supreme Champion Ridden Arabian

Caitlin Rennie - HESASUPERSTAR, Supreme Champion Saddle Hunter Pony, Supreme Champion Led Pinto and Supreme Champion Ridden Pinto

Leeshelle Small - AMS AJACCIO NZPH, 4th in the FMG Young Rider

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

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10. Bex Penberthy - CHANGE OF PACE, Champion Standardbred 11. Julie Coker - SWANHAVEN BOOTS ‘N’ ALL, Supreme Champion Gypsy Cob 12. L Geddes/KS Show Horses - KS HARRY WINSTON, Champion Led Youngstock Pony, winner of the Pony Breeders Society of NZ Young Stock Sash Class and Supreme Golden Horse 13. Laura Foss - SILVER XANADU, in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix

13 14

14. TC Equestrian/Michaela Wildermoth, JUBILEE SUPANOVA - Champion Partbred Welsh Adult and Champion Ridden Partbred Welsh 15. Ally Carson - TONY THE PONY, 6th in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix 16. Kim Best - LT HOLST TEACHER’S PET, 1st= in the East Coast Performance Horses 5-Year-Old Class 17. Belinda Sorensen - PHOENICIAN HIGH FLYER, Champion Park Hack

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Lauren Dolan - ABALONE PEARL, Champion Senior Rider

Elise Stables - SE RUMOUR HAS IT, 6th in the FMG Young Rider

Phoebe Burns - GALAXY MASTERPIECE, 2nd in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix

Debbie Sloan - TWIN PINES SOUTHERN JAZZ, Champion Adult Pinto Horse

Sophie Williams - A VIKING, Champion Youngstock Pinto Horse

Lily Tootill - ULYSSES NZPH, 5th in the Bayleys Real Estate Hawke’s Bay Championship - World Cup Qualifier

Wendy Nichol - GIFTED, Champion Saddle Hunter (left), and Anne Hjorth - SAVILE ROW, Reserve Champion Saddle Hunter

Sarah West - MISS MAE WEST, 3rd in the Pony Power & Speed 1.15m-1.25m

Caitlin Officer - BROOKFIELDS ROYAL COMMAND, Champion Novice 14.2 Pony

10. Dani Maurer - DICAVALLI DON QUATTRO, winner of the Hastings Championship 1.40m

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SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

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ASHBURTON A&P Show PHOTOS Michelle Clarke

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SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

Charlotte Waddell - TORBAY, Reserve Champion Park Hack

Steffi Whittaker - EROS K, 4th in the Horse 1.30m

Georgia Allison - PIONEER HIGH JINX

Tania Boyd - ARCODA’S I’M XCEPTIONAL, Reserve Champion Riding Horse

Olivia Adams - MR BLACK MAGIC, winner of the Pony 1.10m

DeFilippi Family/R Rowlands - CITIZEN, Champion Hack Jane Ross - DASHING, Champion Riding Horse

Jessica Townsend - TALLYHO NEPTUNE, 4th in the Pony 90cm

Kaitlin Feast - VIVALDI, 4th in the Mini Prix

10. Lucinda Askin - PORTOFINO, winner of the Young Rider Class

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3 1.

Harry Feast - DOUBLE J BOUNCER, winner of the Horse Mini Prix

Morgan Baddeley - MR JERRACO, 3rd in the Horse 1.30m

Emma Waite - RENOIR NZPH

Kirstin Beaven - AA BEDAZZLED, winner of the Horse 1.20m

Kelly Pullyn - STAR SALUTE, Champion Saddle Hunter

Louise Marriott - CONCUR

Grace Manera - REDNALHGIH COWAN, winner of the Pony Mini Prix

Taylor Burnett - THE GAMBLER, winner of the Open Gentleman’s Riding Horse

Margaret Ridley - ROCKAHOY, 2nd in the Horse 1m

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SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

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PHOTO ESSAY

Gisborne Show

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SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

IT’S A GOOD SHOW, WHERE THE FOOTING IS SUPERB AND RIDERS ARE GREETED WITH A SMILE. 1.

Annie Moffett - PIRIPI, 3rd in the Open Working Hunter Pony over 138cm n.e. 148cm

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Deanna Horsburgh - NGAHIWI POSSUM, 6th in the ESNZ Junior Rider

Sinead Dolman - KIWI LANSING, winner of the ESNZ Junior Rider

KS Show Horses - KS GIN AND TONIC, Reserve Champion Lead Rein Pony

Claire Wilson - MCMILLANS FREDRIKA RE, 2nd in the ESNZ Horse Grand Prix

Felicity McNutt - SANCHO

Fraser Tombleson - MEA I, 4th in the ESNZ Horse Grand Prix

Adrienne Van den Berk - ROYAL SALUTE, Champion Open Hack

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SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

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Phoebe Burns - GALAXY MASTERPIECE, 6th in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix

Sam Brooks - GOLDENWILLOW ROMEO, 3rd in the Open Saddle Hunter Pony n.e. 128cm

Kirsty Harnett - NGAHIWI KNIGHT, 2nd in the Open Gentleman’s Riding Horse

Samantha Peters - ELOTTIE, in the Open Horse Classic 1.25m

Andrea Baxter - FOURCEES, Champion Riding Horse

Rebecca Aplin - SHERLOCK (left), Supreme Horse and WOODLANDS PARK LIGHT O DAY, Supreme Champion Pony

Libby Fussell - SPOCK, 3rd in the Novice Pony Hunter over fences

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WORDS Judith Wear | PHOTOS Supplied

wo bright stars are shining in 2017 – Dejavu MH, in American and European dressage, and Clifton Signature, winner of this year’s CIC 3* at the Barbury International Horse Trials in England. Both are New Zealand-bred Hanoverians. They are the latest brilliant performers in the Hanoverian breed which, 40 years after the first registered Hanoverian stallion came to this country, has now emerged as New Zealand’s top sport horse breed. Dejavu MH, ridden by his owner Wendy Williamson of Auckland, was bred by Matthews’ Hanoverians near Kaitaia. He is by DeNiro and out of a Weltmeyer mare, and placed a creditable sixth in the FEI CDI Grand Prix Special at Hartpury Festival of Dressage. Clifton Signature (previously named Stoneylea Elessar) is by Espri PB out of a New Zealand Thoroughbred mare, Happy Melody xx. He was bred by Angela and John Smith at Waiuku, and is ridden by top English eventer William Fox-Pitt.

Wendy Williamson & Dejavu MH

Hanoverian breeding in New Zealand started on a small scale back in 1977, but things began to move quickly, and by 2016, the New Zealand Hanoverian Society was excelling in producing competition horses. Like the German Society, the Rheinland studbook was established and integrated here in New Zealand in 2016. Vom Feinsten (Fidermark/Weltmeyer), a registered Rheinland horse, represented New Zealand in dressage at the Rio Olympic Games with his owner/ rider Julie Brougham, from Palmerston North. These lofty competition heights were not new ones for New Zealand bred Hanoverians, however. Back in 2000, New Zealand was represented in dressage at the Sydney Olympics with Waikare (Witzbold/Rocky Mountain xx), ridden by Kallista Field; and at the Athens Olympics in 2004 with Gabana (Genius/Winnebago), ridden by Louisa Hill. Louisa also rode at the London Olympic Games in dressage on Antonello (Anamour/Winnebago).

Now, with frozen semen being used, a much wider breeding pool has opened up, broadening the range and quantity of top, registered performers that can be accessed.

In the jumping scene, more New Zealand bred Hanoverians have excelled. Bago (Winnebago/ Whakapirau xx) was a New Zealand show jumper who competed at the 1988 Seoul Olympics with Mark Todd, and Super Moth (Distelfink/Little Brown Jug xx) was also an outstanding show jumper for John Cottle. Monopoly (Witzbold/Abridge Member xx), was rated in the top 20 show jumpers in the world, and was in the Canadian team at the Barcelona Olympics. Success came thick and fast over the last 10 years, and by 2016 there were no fewer than 70 Hanoverian competition winners listed. KH Arvan, with rider Vanessa Way, was being noticed in New Zealand’s top dressage competitions by 2007. He was by the imported Hanoverian stallion Anamour, and another horse by this stallion was also being noticed – Winter Acacia, who, with Marlborough rider Laurel Cross, won the New Zealand Prix St George International Challenge. In the following years, other Anamour progeny were being noticed in dressage – All Black, Aristoc, Ashanti and more recently Avante Garde. On the eventing scene, there was plenty of success for Henton Attorney General, Henton Executive and Henton After Dark, who were all bred by Bridget and Dave Sutton at Pukekohe. At the Limit, Gymnastik Showdown and Lexington were other top performers being noticed in eventing circles. Meanwhile, new approved Hanoverian stallions were arriving in this country – Dream Boy, Limonit, Royal Mirage W, Prestige VDL, Worldly, Swarovski, Landro L and Doringcourt. Breeders with classified mares could now have their progeny branded with the valuable, worldrecognised Hanoverian brand.

Dream Boy’s progeny are already being noticed in dressage, with Domino MH, Dream World MH, Donnergrollen, and Dancealong all competing with success. Limonit’s progeny are also winning as they begin their competition careers. Now, with frozen semen being used, a much wider breeding pool has opened up, broadening the range and quantity of top, registered performers that can be accessed. Every two years, a representative from the German Hanoverian Society visits New Zealand to inspect breeding progress and to classify stallions outside the Hanoverian breed that can be accepted into the breeding programme, especially for show jumping. There are more horses to be seen each year as increasing numbers of foals are born into the Hanoverian family. The spark for it all was lit back in 1977, when Kalman de Jurenak, an internationally famous trainer who had come to live in New Zealand, looked at the sport horse scene and saw a gap. He decided there was a need for Hanoverian blood, the best in the world, to enhance the performance of our competition horses. Kalman de Jurenak invited senior Hanoverian leaders from the German Society to come and look at our outstanding thoroughbred mares and our healthy environment. The result was the formation, in 1977, of the daughter Hanoverian society in New Zealand and the beginning of the importation of classified Hanoverian stallions that could be bred with very carefully chosen thoroughbred mares. The great stallions Winnebago, Witzbold, Distelfink, Allermund, Genius and Dynamit were brought to our country over those early years. They produced winners and provided the foundation of today’s breeding programme. C

Sir Mark Todd & Bago

William Fox-Pitt & Clifton Signature

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ADVERTORIAL

40 YEARS ON, Hanoverians Celebrating

Tradition Counts

POVERTY BAY AGRICULTURAL & PASTORAL ASSOCIATION - SINCE 1875

WORDS Diana Dobson

radition counts for a lot at the Poverty Bay A&P Show. This year marked the 142nd year since Gisborne held its first show, and while things may have changed a lot in the world since then, the ethos of this very popular event remains. It’s that time of year when you can feel summer in the air, when mums lay out good outfits for the kids and don their best, when the car boot is packed with homemade goodies for the quintessential show picnic, and town meets country for their annual catch-up. Farming is very much part of the tapestry of the region, and nowhere is that more evident than at the show. Beef is judged on the hoof, hook and plate, sheep are judged in their pens and on the shearing room floor, dogs get their chance to show their skills by helping their owners win top triallist titles, and goats also get their moment in the sun. There is plenty more going on too, from cakes to pikelets, sand saucers to jerseys, with bunnies to pet and wine to be sampled. But right at the heart of the show are the horses – show jumpers, show hunters, show hacks and more. Many a big name has competed here, including Olympians, World Cup finalists and World Equestrian Games representatives. There’s a reason they make the long trek to Gisborne – and let’s be honest, it is a long way to the first city of the sun. This is a show where everyone is made to feel welcome, run by a group of volunteers who are happy to help and who are proud of their historically significant event. It’s tougher these days, with other events scheduled on the same weekend boasting bigger prize money and a few other trimmings, but Gisborne keeps on keeping on. Riders brought their horses here from all over the upper North Island, choosing to travel the distance because it’s a good show ,where the footing is superb and they’re greeted with a smile. Lucy Olphert (Tauranga) has a long association with the event, and the trip was well worthwhile for her. She headed home with the Bayleys Real Estate Horse Grand Prix prize in her truck, after her mare Eve Saint Laurent won the day.

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The homebred horse almost didn’t make it to the show, but thankfully the stars aligned and it all ended well for Olphert, who first came to this show when she was nine years old. Her parents – Lin and the late Jeremy – would load them all into the truck and head off to what was one of their favourite shows of all. Olphert figures she may have had a little divine intervention at Gisborne, with the win coming around Jeremy’s birthday. “Every year something happens like this,” she said. Five of the eight starters came back for the jump-off over the Roger Laplanche-designed course. Olphert and her Selle Francais mare were clear in 45.44 seconds, with Claire Wilson (Waipukurau) and McMillans Fredrika RE also leaving everything up, but stopping the clock at 47.69 seconds. In the Country TV Pony Grand Prix, Olivia Dalton (Coatesville) and Simply Samantha HH headed home a small but quality field to take the honours after a super slick jumpoff. Isabella Narracci (Havelock North) and Pintara Park Jack Frost were slightly faster but took a rail and had to settle for second. “It is so exciting to win this,” said Dalton, who thinks her bright pink jacket (an early birthday present) may be a good luck charm. “Sammy (Simply Samantha HH) just jumped so well out there. I am very glad we came to Gisborne for the show. It’s amazing to win – it is very early in the season and this is a good start to it all.” The combination have been placed in each of their three PGP starts so far this season. Dalton also featured in the NZL FEI World Jumping Challenge, finishing second to Vicki Ridley (Auckland) and Mosaic II in the Category A class. Dalton, aboard Bling du Rouet, and Ridley were the only two double clears and just .02 of a second separated them for first and second. Rebecca Porter (Hastings) and her 21-yearold Mr Harrison took out the Category B class. In the showing, a rather unique effort from Dannevirke teen Rebecca Aplin saw her head home with four supreme titles, an achievement that has left plenty wondering if it has ever been

done at the show before! She took out two supreme titles apiece on her pony Woodlands Park Light O Day and new horse Sherlock, who she has only had for four months. Aplin and Woodlands Park Light O Day are well known in showing circles, and have won the Horse of the Year Large Show Pony of the Year crown four times on the trot. She got the pony as a four-year-old, and he was intended for Pony Club and jumping. He was broken in, but had never competed. Seven years later, they are the combination to beat in showing. Aplin rode Woodlands Park Light O Day to take out the Champion Junior Rider on the flat, along with the Supreme Champion Paced and Mannered Pony and Supreme Champion Pony. Sherlock won the Supreme Champion Horse and Supreme Champion Paced and Mannered Horse of the Show. “You always hope you will do well but you never know,” said Aplin. “It is a lot of work and I ride every day. We decided to come to Gisborne because it is my last season on ponies, so I want to do as many shows as I can.” She’s hoping she can repeat the feat at the Horse of the Year Show. Interestingly, more than 40% of the horse entries for the show came in late, with final numbers around 2000. Poverty Bay A&P Association general manager, Erica McNeil said the near-perfect weather combined with huge community support, a solid team behind her and an event steeped in tradition combined to make the 2017 show one to remember for all the right reasons. “Right from the start, this year had excellent support,” said McNeil. “All our trade spots filled early and we had close to record numbers through the gate.” The show has the support of Gisborne District Council too, including help putting on free buses over both days to ensure families from across the city can attend. “We have had so much positive feedback from all sorts of people involved with the show,” said McNeil. “It is a show that so many want to be involved with and I look forward to doing it all over again in 2018.” C

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12 - Balanced - ShowCircuit.pdf 1 09-Nov-17 11:25:27 AM

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Sophie Griffith - FRANGELICO F, winners of the World Dressage Inter I

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BAY OF PLENTY

Dressage Championships

PHOTO ESSAY

PHOTOS Show Circuit Magazine 1.

Gaylene Lennard - JAX JOHNSON, Level 4 Champion

Peter Barke - PARKRIDGE DONNAMOUR, 6th in the Reyna Equestrian 5B

Melissa Galloway WINDERMERE JOHANSON W, Level 8 Champion

Catherine Scott - LAYLA L’MOUR, 3rd in the Reyna Equestrian Level 5D

Christine Weal - FIS LUCIFER, 2nd in the Zilco Musical Freestyle Level 6

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Sophie de Clifford - ALAMO BL, Level 5 Champion

Karla Tarr - PARKRIDGE BOLERO, 5th in the Dressage Rider Training. Level 3B Open

Christine Weal - SCHINDLERS LISZT, winner of the Fiber Fresh Feeds Level 5C

Bella Vujcich - FALCONHURST FIRST CYTE, in the Williams Tack & Feed Level 1D Open

Wendi Williamson - BON JOVI MH, Level 3 Open Champion

Nicky Pope - SASKATOON, Level 8 Reserve Champion

Kim Whitelegg - DAVROL DUCHOVNY, 3rd in the Dressage Rider Training Level 3B Open

Corey Miln - AVANTE GARDE, 3rd in the Total Industrial Solutions Level 6B

Wendy Skelton - DONATELLO MH, in the Total Industrial Solutions Level 6B

10. Alicia Zeludko - LEO DONNA, 4th in the Zilco Musical Freestyle Level 6

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HEALTH

Keep your horse and yourself happy and healthy with our tips for achieving peak performance

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THORACOLUMBAR SPINE

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HELPING YOUR EQUINE ATHLETE

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A BALANCING ACT

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COCONUT CURRY NOODLES

Dr Ronan Costello outlines how to identify equine back pain and some of the diagnostic tools available to your veterinarian to identify and treat back pathology in the horse. After graduating with a Diploma in Remedial Massage from Wellpark College, Emma McMurray went on to a career in working with horses, which has spanned more than two decades. It can be difficult to figure out your optimum diet, so we take a look at the basics of getting your meals balanced. Try this delicious recipe for a satisfying and healthy meal that’s quick and easy to make.

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HEALTH

DR RONAN COSTELLO

Having worked with performance horses in the USA and Ireland before moving to New Zealand in 2005, Ronan has an extensive knowledge in thoroughbred racing and sales. He has been attending the yearling sales in Karaka and Australia for the past 10 years. Ronan is a member of the NZB Endoscopy panel, working at both the ready to run sales and the national yearling sales. Attending weanling, yearling and breeze up sales allows him the opportunity to advise on both pinhooking and racehorse purchases. Ronan routinely performs pre-purchase examinations for Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore and other racing jurisdictions.

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VETERINARY EXAMINATION OF THE THORACOLUMBAR

SPINE

In this article, I will outline how to identify equine back pain and some of the diagnostic tools available to your veterinarian to identify and treat back pathology in the horse. This article will focus on the thoracolumbar spine (TL) which starts at T1 and ends just before the pelvis at L6. WORDS Dr Ronan Costello

IS THERE A

PROBLEM?

A behavioural change may be the first symptom of a sore back that the rider notices. The classical symptoms of back pain in the cranial thoracic spine are a resistance to placement of the saddle or tightening of the girth, a negative reaction to the rider mounting the horse and a reluctance to move once the rider is in place. This behaviour may become slowly evident over time and as such, is accepted by the owner as a behavioural problem and not a reaction to pain in the horse’s back. The judicious use of an anti-inflammatory, like phenylbutazone, may aid in the differentiation between a behavioural problem and a response to pain. In the lumbar spine, the symptoms mentioned above may not be evident, and poor performance is the most likely finding. Stiffness, a reluctance to canter, and uneven upward and downward transitions may be noticed. Depending on the discipline, intermittent erratic behaviour may be observed, such as a reluctance to jump, or running away on landing. Close examination will show a loss of musculature (atrophy) in the area and a generalised stiffness may be noted. With the availability of so many therapeutic aids (massage machines, magnetic rugs etc.) a horse can continue to perform at a high level with significant pathology present. While all athletes need some help, if the horse is noticeably underperforming without these aids, then an underlying problem is probable. Saddles receive a large portion of the blame for back pain in horses, and a poor fitting saddle will certainly cause pain, but muscular asymmetry due to back pathology may mean that the horse has changed shape, not the saddle. Asymmetry of the musculature of your horse’s back can be an early indicator of a back issue. Riding your horse bareback or standing at a height above or behind your horse will sometimes give a different perspective and allow early identification of muscle asymmetry.

SIMPLE TESTS THE OWNER CAN PERFORM It is important to remember that these tests are a guideline only and are not meant to replace an examination by a qualified professional

These tests may indicate that your horse has a decreased range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine and may indicate underlying spinal pathology. These tests can take a little bit of practice and must be done in a safe, calm manner.

WITHER LIFT LATERAL MOVEMENT LUMBAR LIFT Applying digital pressure on the Running a finger along the dorsal Running a hand against the hair horse’s sternum behind the point of the elbow should make the horse elevate and arch its back. It should be easy for the horse to hold this position for 2-3 seconds. However it should be noted that horses may react poorly to this stimulus, as this author knows all too well – his hand has been kicked several times!

musculature of the back should stimulate the horse to laterally bend their back away from the stimulus. The amount of bend should be symmetrical from the horse’s left and right side. The horse should not resist and should hold the position for 2-3 seconds.

along either side of the sacrum should stimulate a reflexive elevation of the horse’s trunk, and flexion of the lumbosacral junction. An inability to do this can be indicative of reduced core strength, weak lumbar musculature or lumbar spinal pathology, among other things.

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“EXAMINATION OF THE HORSE UNDER SADDLE IS ESSENTIAL, ENSURING THAT THE HORSE IS SEEN TO CANTER AND TO TRANSITION UPWARD AND DOWNWARD.”

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EXAMINATION

An extensive history is essential, including all details of the horse’s past performance, however arbitrary they may seem. A poor canter from an early age does not mean that the horse was born incapable of cantering – it may be due to an injury as a young horse. A detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the spine is vital in carrying out an examination of the TL spine. The shape of the horse’s back may vary between breeds, disciplines or maybe as a result of muscular change due to the presence of pathology, so assessing the range of motion of the back as a whole and the individual vertebrae is important. The absence of pain on palpation does not signal the absence of pathology. In chronic cases, due to muscular spasm or weakness, the horse may not be able to move its spine when stimulated to do so. This in itself is a major issue, as the spine is not

functioning as it should. The absence of core stability will, in time, lead to spinal pathology including impinging spinous process and articular facet osteoarthritis. On examination, it is not unusual for a lameness to present in one or more limbs, and a common theme is that lower limb lameness causes a sore back. Although this is true, a sore back may also cause a lower limb lameness, so it is wise to investigate both. Examination of the horse under saddle is essential, ensuring that the horse is seen to canter and to transition upward and downward. Depending on the discipline involved, the horse may be asked to perform certain movements which exacerbate its condition. Clear communication with the rider is important, as the rider may have become habituated to erratic behaviour of the horse. We have all heard “Oh, he doesn’t canter well on the left” before.

X-RAYS The most common diagnostic tool used by veterinarians in the diagnosis of spinal

pathology is radiography. Lateral x-rays of the dorsal spinous processes (DSP) allow the veterinarian to diagnose impinging spinous processes (kissing spine) and DSP fractures. Due to the size and shape of the horse’s back, most mobile x-ray units are not capable of imaging the articular facets, body and ventral aspect of the vertebrae. As technology improves, imaging of the ventral spine will be possible and aid in diagnosis of conditions such as spondylosis. X-rays during pre-purchases have identified kissing spines in horses that are not only pain-free and performing normally, but are competing at an elite level. Although being identified more often due to increased spinal x-rays at pre-purchase vettings, the classification of impinging spinous processes as normal is under debate and each case should be categorised based on the clinical findings, performance history and severity of the lesions identified.

ULTRASOUND Ultrasonography is an underutilised but essential tool in diagnosing spinal

pathology. It is used in the imaging of the supraspinous ligament, impinging spinous processes, and osteoarthritis of the articular facets (especially in the lumbar region) as well as measuring of muscles to identify asymmetry. Ultrasound guided injections can be useful in diagnosis and treatment of some spinal pathology. Transrectal ultrasonography can be used to assess the hypaxial (under the spine) musculature, ventral aspects of L4-L6 and the lumbosacral junction.

Lateral spinal x-ray showing multiple kissing spines. The white area is sclerosis or hardening of the bone due to contact between processes.

NERVE BLOCKS Infiltration of local anaesthetic into the affected area can be used as a diagnostic tool. Improved performance or behaviour is a positive diagnostic sign. The use of ultrasound to improve accuracy of the injections, especially in the case of articular facets, is recommended.

SCINTIGRAPHY A very useful tool in the investigation of back pathology, allowing the veterinarian

to image the deeper portions of the thoracolumbar spine that conventional imaging is unable to reach. Scintigraphy, which examines the whole horse, can be useful in identifying changes within the limbs which may be the cause of the back pain present.

Nuclear scintigraphy. The bright red and yellow colours are as a result of an increased uptake of radioactive dye indicating bone inflammation. This shows the mid-thoracic region.

TREATMENT

Treatment for back pain in a horse varies hugely from rest and anti-inflammatories for a ligament strain, to intraspinal ligament resection in severe cases of kissing spine. The most important idea to remember is that accurate diagnosis is the most important factor in treating back pain. The treatment of any spinal issue must involve a controlled exercise programme. The resolution of a lower limb lameness will not automatically lead to the resolution of the secondary back pain. The use of training aids such as draw reins is not advised in the rehabilitation of a back. Initially all exercise should be in hand, and should slowly increase in diversity and intensity. C

The use of ultrasound is an essential tool in diagnosing back pathology and can markedly increase the accuracy of spinal injections.

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HEALTH

Our horses are athletes, just the same as people, and we have quite high expectations of them. We put a lot of money into them in many other ways and this kind of therapy just made sense to me.

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Emma McMurray

HELPING YOUR EQUINE ATHLETE Emma McMurray’s equine career spans more than two decades. A horse-mad teenager from a non-horsey family (except for her great-uncle, who rode in the Grand National), Emma went on to become a competitive rider. She trained at Wellpark College after leaving school, graduating with a Diploma in Remedial Massage. Her work on injured people, including riders, naturally led her to work with horses too. WORDS & PHOTOS Caitlin Madden

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Horses don’t bring a lot else with them when you treat them; they are quite simple. They either like what you are doing or they don’t! A human won’t necessarily tell you that.

mma uses a wide range of therapies. She trained firstly in Bowen Therapy, then added massage, acupressure, low-level laser therapy and Equine Craniosacral Therapy. It is the latter that Emma uses most, with amazing results. “It’s good for balancing the nervous system or helping a horse recover after a head injury or a trauma, whether physical or emotional,” Emma says. Craniosacral Therapy is a light touch manual therapy in which the whole craniosacral system is worked on. This system includes the cranium and all of the bones in the horse’s head, the spinal column, sacrum and spinal fluid. “These therapies can be good if you have a horse that is uptight, or even a rider or owner that simply wants a bit of maintenance done on their horse to help them work better,” she explains. With a wide range of skills to call on, Emma uses information gathered from both horse and owner to decide what will achieve the best outcome. Firstly, an in-depth history is taken from the owner, which is added to Emma’s own static and dynamic observations of the horse. “This includes anything that has happened in the past, what the horse is experiencing right now, what the owner’s plan for the horse is and

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what they are hoping to achieve,” she says. “I will assess the horse visually, assess their movement and then palpate and see what I can find. Then I use all the information I have gathered to choose a modality, and we go from there.” For Emma, success might be something as low key as a horse finally eating his feed after months of not eating, or it might be feedback from the rider regarding improved performance. “If the rider notices a difference after they have had me do some work, I’m happy. Oddly enough, success can be when the horse or rider doesn’t need me anymore!” Another example of success that Emma recalls came when she was called out to treat a warmblood gelding that had been kicked in the head by a pony. The x-ray showed a star fracture in his forehead and it was recommended that the owners wait a month for the bone to start to heal before treatment. Emma came to see the horse, and the owners were initially skeptical about the outcome and what difference she would be able to make. Emma performed Craniosacral Therapy on the horse for his treatment. When the owner went out to see the horse the next day, the swelling around the fracture had gone completely and the fluid in his face had begun to break up and drain, including the fluid that had been draining continuously from his eyes. Overnight it had moved to his cheek and throat, and it eventually drained completely away through his neck and down through his chest and legs.

“I was so pleased with that outcome. It just really showed how this kind of treatment can speed up healing, and that horse has gone on to compete and perform as usual.” With her true passion for helping horses, it is no surprise that Emma has sought out a variety of experts to study with. Dissections have also helped Emma gather understanding of the complexities of a horse and its anatomy. She has done four dissections over the years, including two at Lincoln University under the expertise of Dr Deb Bennett (USA), who has studied horses all her life. As well as a biomechanics course with Australian equine anatomist Dr. Sharon May-Davies, Emma has undertaken a range of other formal training. She completed the first Equine Sports Massage course that was held in New Zealand, and has a certification as an IEBW (International Equine Body Worker). Add to that an Equine Craniosacral Therapy course (which included a cranial dissection), a Diploma in Equine Acupressure with Alan Moffat, and finally an Equinology course on Clinical Reasoning with Dr Kerry Ridgway in South Africa. “Our horses are athletes, just the same as people, and we have quite high expectations of them. We put a lot of money into them in many other ways and this kind of therapy just made sense to me,” she says. She also admits that working with horses

is a little easier than with humans, although she still practices on both. “Horses don’t bring a lot else with them when you treat them; they are quite simple. They either like what you are doing or they don’t! A human won’t necessarily tell you that.” While Emma’s riding never took her overseas, she practiced and treated horses in Singapore for three years at the Singapore Jockey Club, the Singapore Polo Club and the National Equestrian Centre. “It took a while to get things going over there and it was a very different experience, but I worked with a lot of racehorses, polo ponies and riding school horses.” It wasn’t just equine therapy that kept her busy in Singapore – she also rode other people’s horses for them. “It was quite weird to begin with, as you just turn up and get on. Someone else has done all the work getting them ready for you. It was quite a rude awakening when I came home!” Since being back, Emma hasn’t lost her passion for horses or for what she does. “I just think the horse is an amazing animal. I mean, look at what it does for us,” she says. “A lot of the time if something is going wrong with a horse, people can be quick to say it’s behavioural stuff, but I like to give the horse the benefit of the doubt. And I really like helping a horse and rider achieve their goals. It’s all about enabling the horse and rider to perform.” C

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HEALTH

A BALANCING ACT

BALANCING YOUR MEALS FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH It can be difficult to figure out your optimum diet, especially with a landscape of fad diets all claiming to make you leaner, healthier, fitter, stronger… the list goes on. But like many things in life, the key is to find the right balance. WORDS Nicola Smith

veryone is different, and so are their nutritional requirements. It’s important to remember that what’s right for one person won’t necessarily be right for someone else. Some people can’t tolerate certain foods, while others adhere to certain ways of eating like veganism or vegetarianism. There are people who train really hard, and some who hardly move at all. There are those who need to lose or gain weight, and when you add the active lifestyle that managing horses brings into the equation, working out your ideal diet can become tricky territory. However, the simple truth is that if you eat balanced meals, you will be setting yourself up for success and giving your body the opportunity to create more energy. Energy is the one thing all riders need, in order to be able to ride with optimal health and performance. The key, then, is to start with a solid nutritional foundation, and alter it to suit your individual food and lifestyle requirements.

PROTEIN

Protein is one of the key macros you should include in every meal, as it’s the main component of our body’s cells, soft tissue, skin and hair. Protein is essential for our growth and repair, but it’s also used to make hormones, enzymes, antibodies and neurotransmitters. The best quality protein foods are meat, fish, eggs, quinoa, lentils and legumes. Aim to include foods that are higher in protein into your meals, with a daily consumption approximately the size of your fist.

SMART CARBOHYDRATES

Carbs are the body’s main fuel and are available in two forms: fastreleasing, from foods such as sugar, honey and most refined foods, and slow-releasing, from foods like whole grains, vegetables and some fruit. Slow-releasing carbs are considered to be ‘smart carbs’ because they contain more complex carbohydrates and fibre. By eating slow-releasing carbs, you’ll be providing your body with sustained energy rather than sudden bursts, which result in an energy crash. My favourite smart carbs are foods like quinoa, brown rice, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, leafy greens and vegetables such as zucchini.

HEALTHY FATS

Over the years there has been much controversy over fat. In the past, fat was considered to be the enemy, which led to the rise of sugarlaced low fat and fat-free products. In more recent times, we’ve come to realise that certain fats are essential for the health of our brain and nervous system, immune system, cardiovascular system and our skin. Women need about a thumb size of fat per meal and men twice as much. Fats should make up about 20% of your plate. Some of my preferred sources of healthy fat include avocado, nuts, coconut oil, olive oil, and cold-pressed nut oils.

VEGETABLES AND FRUIT

Eat an abundance of vegetables and in-season fruit. Begin by aiming to include vegetables in every meal. Vegetables not only provide your body with extra fibre, but are also a great source of slowreleasing carbohydrates. Fruit is higher in sugar, so keep it to 2-3 pieces per day.

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EAT ONLY WHEN YOU ARE HUNGRY, AND STOP WHEN YOU ARE 80% FULL. SUIT YOURSELF

As mentioned earlier, the amount of food and the ratios you consume throughout the day depends on you. However, keeping your macros balanced will help you maintain your health long-term. Some of the reasons you may want to adjust your portions include: • How frequently you eat • Your health goals • Your appetite and satiety • Your caloric requirements • How active you are • Your nutritional needs. There are several habits I suggest you adopt if you want to adhere to a well-balanced diet: • Choose foods which are nutrient-dense • Eat nutritious meals with lots of variety • Base your meals around vegetables first, then add to them • Practice moderation • Keep yourself hydrated • Avoid processed and refined foods • Aim to eat your last meal three hours before bed • Eat only when you are hungry, and stop when you are 80% full. C

georgia worth

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Qualified Equine Dental Technician & Member of the IAED Available in the wider Waikato & Auckland Region’s. Other areas by arrangement.

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HEALTH

Be sure make ple to so that nty enough f you have o the nextr lunch day!

t u n Curry Noodles o c Co I love curry dishes and this is one of my favourites. Very simple to make and a great dish to have vegetarian or add in some lovely fish or chicken. Be sure to make plenty so you can have some for lunch the next day too.

Instructions: 1.

Soak the noodles in a bowl covered with hot water. Once they are cooked, drain and rinse.

What you need:

To make the sauce, heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the onions and ginger; stir fry for 3-5 minutes. Add the curry paste; stir fry for 1 minute.

If you are adding in a meat like fish or chicken, add this now and cook.

Follow by adding the coconut milk, honey, chilli paste, broth, fish sauce and coconut aminos. Allow it to simmer for 10-15 minutes and thicken up slightly.

Add to the mix your vegetables, onion, carrots, broccoli and leeks. Stirfry until tender and well combined with the sauce.

Place noodles into bowl and spoon over your curry. Garnish with some fresh cabbage and herbs.

FOR THE CURRY SAUCE

FOR THE BOWLS

•

1 tbsp. coconut oil

•

Vermicilli or rice noodles

•

2 onions

•

1 tbsp. olive oil

•

1 tbsp. fresh ginger, minced

•

½ red onion chopped

•

2 tbsp. red curry paste

•

1 cup chopped broccoli florets

•

1 can regular coconut milk

•

1 cup shredded carrots

•

½ cup vegatable or chicken broth

•

1 cup chopped leeks

•

2 tbsp. honey

•

1 cup shredded purple cabbage

•

2 tbsp. fish sauce

•

2 tbsp. coconut aminos or soy sauce

Spring onion and/or coriander for topping

Want more? Nicola Smith has plenty of tasty recipes in her cookbook - Real Food, Real Health which is available for download on her website, foreverfit.tv, along with a further 300 recipes to get your taste buds excited! C

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Quality NZ Horses presents for sale

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RIDING ISN’T WHAT I DO. IT’S WHO I AM.

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