Show Circuit Magazine - December 18/January 19 by Show Circuit Magazine

NICK BROOKS - FROM LAWYER TO FULL-TIME RIDER | ART FROM THE HEART WITH MICHELLE CLARKE

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WELCOME

FROM MY DESK

Presenting the engaging stories and visual narratives assembled by our creative team of writers and photographers is always a privilege, and in this summer issue, we are especially grateful to all of the seriously talented riders, trainers and judges who have taken the time to allow us into their fascinating equestrian worlds. The recent changes to Show Circuit magazine have included going the ‘extra mile’ to take a look behind people’s farm gates. I truly hope that you enjoy these 'behind the scenes' snapshots – after all, who doesn't love a sneak peek? When we decided to change things up with the magazine, I thought we might receive a few emails to give us your thoughts. Instead of just a few, we have received an absolute deluge of approval from hundreds of our wonderful readers, so thank you all for taking a moment or two out of your busy lives to send us an email or message. This issue completes our little transformation for now, with a few new regular columns still to come. Don't miss our story on Canterbury artist Michelle Clarke, who continues to go from strength to strength and win plenty of acclaim for her very special artworks. She shares her story of trusting your instincts and never giving up on doing what makes your heart happy. And with Puhinui right around the corner, 2016 Young Rider winner Vicky BrownCole answers our '20 Questions', giving a fascinating little snapshot into her life. We can only hope that summer will properly arrive this year, instead of the fleeting glimpse we got last year! I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year period, and hope you enjoy celebrating your most-loved traditions.

Sheryll Davies, Publisher

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EDITOR

Pip Hume pip@showcircuit.co.nz

SENIOR WRITER Rebecca Harper

WRITERS

Ashleigh Kendall Nicola Smith Trudy Nicholson

SUB EDITING

Kate Lattey kate@showcircuit.co.nz

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PHOTOGRAPHERS Cheleken Photography Cornege Photography Dark Horse Photography Eye Witness Photography Libby Law Photography Lisa Potter Kimi Knight Photography Michelle Clarke Photography Sarah Caldwell Photography Kampic.com

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COVER IMAGE SARAH YOUNG & EQUADOR MW Photography

Sarah Lord - Kampic.com

ABOUT SHOWCIRCUIT

Our magazine is published bi-monthly. Articles reflect the personal opinion of the author and not necessarily the view of Waiata Publishing Ltd. This publication cannot be reproduced in whole or in part in any way without the publisher’s express written permission. All contributions are submitted at the sender’s risk. Waiata Publishing Ltd accepts no responsibility for loss or damage. © SHOWCIRCUIT Magazine 2018 All rights reserved.

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IN THIS ISSUE DECEMBER 2018 | JANUARY 2019

OUR PEOPLE

12 18 24 28 34 40 46 52 58 60 66 72 78

TRAINING 86 94

Janelle Sangster-Ward | Progressive Dressage Jock Paget | Show Jumping

PHOTO ESSAYS

110 118

Hawke's Bay Royal - Show Jumping NEC Spring FEI Horse Trial - Taupo

IN EACH ISSUE 82 100 125

Style Guide for Riders Insider's Shopping Guide Subscribe

HEALTH 126 130 134 138

Cellulitis | The Facts Senses | The Muzzle Rider Fitness Recipe

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ON THE COVER

SARAH

YO U N G

a versatile champion

WORDS Ashleigh Kendall IMAGES Eyewitness Photography

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Sarah Young is a familiar face in eventing, but we were pleasantly surprised to catch up with her at Te Aroha A&P Show where we found her riding her stunning black gelding Equador MW in the Saddle Hunter ring. The pair were impossible to miss as they glided around the ring with the impeccable style that Sarah has become well known for.

t was a last-minute decision that paid off for Sarah when she entered Equador MW in the Saddle Hunter division. She had planned to go along to the show to watch Natacha Otto ride Normandy, a lovely young horse Sarah had sold to her earlier in the year. “We thought that since we were coming over to watch, we might as well take something along to do a few classes on. What a great decision that turned out to be!” Sarah had a fantastic day out, with the duo winning five of their classes and coming away with the Champion Novice Saddle Hunter, Reserve Champion Open Saddle Hunter and Champion Rider sashes. “I couldn’t have asked for more than that for our first attempt!” she says. “I think it’s great for our horses to have a little variety in their work – a change in scenery once in a while never did any harm.” Proving this sentiment to be true, Sarah and Equador MW followed their fabulous day at Te Aroha with a win

Sarah and EQUADOR MW at Horse of the Year 2018

Sarah gave EQUADOR MW an outing recently at Te Aroha A&P in the showing ring

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”IT’S A TOUGH

GAME, THIS

EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS - WE ALL HAVE

HIGHS AND LOWS. JUST REMEMBER TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER REGARDLESS OF WHO WINS ON THE DAY” in the CNC 1* Plus at NEC Spring FEI Horse Trial, proving their ultra-competitive form going into the season. Equador MW is an eight-year-old gelding by Escudo out of Gina, who is the dam of the highly successful show jumper Vancouver, and was bred by Mary Wilson. As a five-year-old, he was produced for show jumping by Oliver Edgecombe before Sarah took over the ride. The horse has now proven himself as a talented eventer, successfully competing at 2* level and looking to step up to 3* next season.

Planning ahead

Not one to rest on her laurels, Sarah has plotted out her future path with the starry black horse. Her sights are set on gaining consistent results at 2* level and successfully completing two CCI2* events – Puhinui in December and Taupo in May. She is also hoping, if time allows, to squeeze in some more A&P shows so that she can qualify Equador MW for Saddle Hunter and Working Hunter classes at the Horse of the Year Show in March. Sarah has recently started working full-time in a sponsorship and events role for APL Window Solutions, based in Te Rapa, Hamilton, which has meant having to downsize her team as she travels over an hour to and from work every day. “They are incredibly supportive, and I consider myself to be incredibly lucky to be in such a supportive, driven and innovative company”, she says. “Not many people at 22-year-old can say they have their dream job. I’m very lucky!” “Unfortunately for the horses, they are somewhat on the back burner at the moment,” Sarah admits. “But if I can compete one

IMAGE Take the Moment or two really well, that would be ideal. I plan to consolidate Equador MW at 3* level over the next few seasons, and if all goes well, I would love to tackle Adelaide 4* with him sometime in the future.”

The highs and lows

Top right: LEO DEGAS at Horse of the Year 2018 in the 3* Show Jumping. Above: LEO DEGAS during the trot up at for the 3* at Kihikihi International Horse Trial 2018.

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Always humble, Sarah has some encouraging advice for other aspiring riders. “It’s a tough game, this equestrian business. We all have highs and lows. Just remember to support each other, regardless of who wins on the day. Horses are great levellers and chances are that even if you’re today’s winner, you’ll be brought back down to reality tomorrow! Everybody has good days and bad days in this sport.” Sarah is well-placed to give this advice as she reflects on the high and low points in her own riding career so far. “The lowest point to date was in 2014. It was my first time representing New Zealand at the Young Rider Oceania Championships in Melbourne, and I was riding the well-known Regal Romar [an eight-time HOY title winner in the show ring with Natacha Otto and 1* Eventing HOY title winner with Clarke Johnstone]. We were well placed after dressage, but in the crosscountry I made a silly rider error and we parted company,” she

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Sarah and EQUADOR MW, winner of the Dynavyte NZ CNC 1* Plus at NEC Spring FEI Horse Trial in November 2018 IMAGE Kampic.com

“I PLAN TO CONSOLIDATE AT 3* LEVEL WITH EQUADOR MW OVER THE

NEXT FEW SEASONS AND IF ALL GOES WELL WOULD LOVE TO TACKLE ADELAIDE 4* WITH HIM SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.” remembers. “I was so ashamed, it was such a silly mistake and it had a huge impact on the team performance. That was the biggest and most costly mistake I had ever made at the time, so it was hard to bounce back,” she admits. “It was my confidence, more than anything, that took a dive, but at the end of the day that’s the sport. We ride animals who are unpredictable and things can’t always go to plan, so we have to learn to take the good with the bad and learn a lesson or two along the way.” Sarah has also lost great, very competitive horses like High ’n’ Dry and SS Galaxy to injury, as well as losing Belize Di Cantero, a horse she gained the ride on through Vaughn Jefferis and the Plaw family, in a paddock accident.

“Unfortunately, that’s part of the sport as well,” she says sadly. As every rider knows, the low times are just as often replaced with those incredible highs that we use to keep us going. Happily for Sarah, she has also had quite a few of those. “My career highlights would be winning two National Three-Day Eventing Championships, the National One-Day Eventing Championship, being in the winning Young Rider TransTasman team, and being awarded the ESNZ Eventing Sporting Achievement of the Year Award for 2014/2015 – all within the space of 18 months, and all on my gorgeous selfproduced first hack SS Galaxy. It was an absolute dream run before he went to 3* level and then sadly sustained an injury.”

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“MUM DOES A HUGE AMOUNT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS BECAUSE OF MY WORK

COMMITMENTS. IT WOULDN’T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT HER!” Finding inspiration

EQUADOR MW during the Veterinary Associates CCI* at Puhinui International 3 Day Event 2017.

Even top riders look to others for inspiration and Sarah is no exception. “Vanessa Way is an inspiration in every aspect,” she says. “She has an incredible work ethic and deserves every bit of success she experiences. I have trained with Vanessa for over ten years, and even if you’re the last lesson of the day at 7:30 pm, she always gives you 110% and puts in the same amount of energy as she has done all day long. That alone is remarkable! I wouldn’t be the rider I am today without her, and her results speak for themselves – she’s the best of the best!” Sarah also greatly admires fellow eventer Clarke Johnstone. “If I could ride like anyone in the world it would be Clarke. He is perfectly rhythmic and accurate; it’s like poetry in motion to watch.” During Sarah’s early riding years, she was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to train regularly with Vaughn Jefferis. “He always put a huge focus on rider position,” she recalls. “For many years I was in the Eventing Development Squads, which are a credit to the organisers and trainers involved. In more recent years, it’s been great to have a helping hand from Clarke at shows. He’s invaluable for those bits of last-minute advice, and I was lucky enough as a Junior Rider to gain the ride on his retired 4* horse, Oakley Vision, who gave me invaluable experience.”

A dedicated team

IMAGE Libby Law Photography

Sarah’s team is small but mighty as she and her mother, Jenny, do all of the work with their horses. “Mum does a huge amount on a day-to-day basis because of my work commitments,” Sarah explains. “It wouldn’t be possible without her!” On big occasions, they often get help from freelance groom and good friend Lydia Beales. “She’s the best in the business,” Sarah says. Not one to leave anyone out, she also credits her dad, Ray, who “has done awfully well to put up with and fund this expensive hobby of mine all these years!” Sarah is also very thankful for her sponsors – Equiline (available in NZ from Stirrups Equestrian), BetaVet, RB Jewellers, Uberhorse, Wairau Covers, Body Focus 24/7, Spot On Photography and Back to Basics. She is also supported by NRM and PGG Wrightson’s Putaruru. “It would not be possible to do what we do without the endless support we have had from these amazing companies and people,” she says gratefully. C

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INTERVIEW

Nick with FOR FAME at Puhinui International Horse Trials, December 2017

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IMAGE Cheleken Photography

Nick riding VERSACE C in the Premier Derby at Equidays 2018

NICK BROOKS WORDS Rebecca Harper LIFESYTLE IMAGES Lisa Potter

IMAGE Eyewitness Photography

After five years of juggling a full-time job as a lawyer with producing and competing his horses, Cambridge eventer Nick Brooks has now made horses his sole focus. With two special horses in his yard, he is ready to find out how far they can go.

lthough he has ridden from a young age, Nick always planned to go to university and have a career outside horses. He was awarded a full scholarship to Waikato University, where he attained a law degree with second-class honours. Upon graduating, he joined the family law firm. “I really enjoyed working there with Mum,” he says. “It was an amazing, collaborative environment, but

as my horses got further up the grades they needed more time and attention, and juggling the two became unmanageable.” Nick has been working full-time in his own equestrian business since June, producing and training horses and teaching other riders. His two top horses, 3* eventer For Fame (Sly) and show jumper Versace C (Sace) have been racking up some impressive results. At HOY in March, Sace jumped in the Norwood

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Gold Cup and placed fourth in the Premier Stakes. That class is close to Nick’s heart, as it is a memorial for his good friend, Tom Gadsby. Sly, who has been notoriously difficult to produce and has made Nick question his sanity on numerous occasions, is finally starting to reward his rider’s faith in his ability. He now has three 3* runs under his belt, for a top-three placing each time. “Horses have always been my passion, and competing at the top level on high-quality horses I have produced myself was always my goal. I started both these horses from scratch; they’ve come up through my programme and they’re starting to get closer to the top of the sport. I want to be able to say I gave them 100% of myself. I don’t want to look back and think, ‘I could have put more into it’.” Both Sace and Sly are 11 now, and Nick has found it a challenge to change his mindset around their stage of training. “For so long, they have been the young horses I was producing. But for the future, I have to get out of that mentality, as they are actually up and going now!”

Starting out

Born and bred in Cambridge, Nick grew up on the family farm. “Mum and Dad have a 500-acre farm on Maungatautari mountain, and they have always gone above and beyond to support our riding,” he says. “The farm was magic. The whole place is sparred because we hold a hunt there, and crazy little cowboy Nick loved that!” Although his parents weren’t horsey, Nick begged until he finally got his first pony when he was seven. He did the normal ‘Kiwi kid living on a farm’ stuff, starting out at Pony Club and going on to attend Pony Club Champs for dressage, show jumping and eventing. His younger sister Natasha, also known as Tash, also got the horsey bug and is now a very successful show jumper. When Nick started at university, the family purchased eight acres closer to Hamilton, so that it would be feasible for him to continue riding. Nick and Tash now share the yard, with Nick living on-site while Tash is based in Hamilton. “We have an interesting relationship,” Nick says. “We’re super close and have always got on ridiculously well, but our approach and style of riding is completely different. “We collaborate a little bit, but we couldn’t coach each other. Tash is amazing to have at a practice fence, and I help her out there too. We can go from dance parties in the tie-ups to brawling about me forgetting to do the feed order, and back to dancing again. But we are completely behind each other.” As a young rider, Nick focused on eventing, with some success. “I had a good horse that I easily went to 2* and Advanced with, and I thought it all seemed quite simple,” he admits. “But then I had a really bad run, and got to the point where I almost didn’t have any horses at all.” Heartbreakingly, Nick lost two very promising horses within a year. “Both were really talented horses that I had big goals with,” he says. “Having experienced the gut-wrenching pain of how wrong the sport can go, it did make me question whether it was what I wanted to do with my life, and even whether I wanted to keep riding.”

“Horses have always been my passion, and competing at the top level on high-quality horses I have produced myself was always my goal.” Above: VERSACE C puts a smile on Nick’s face every day. Below: Nick’s De Niro boots are highly prized and all of his saddles are County, who are one of his sponsors.

A special bond

Sace (Versace C) is the horse Nick credits with bringing back his love of training horses. “He’s the most wonderful, gorgeous spirit. He is the first horse I’ve backed and done everything from scratch with myself. To be honest, I don’t know if I’d still be riding if it wasn’t for him. “I adore that horse; he gives me everything, every day. He’s really naughty to handle, extroverted and cheeky, but I love him so much. He’s a true gift from the universe.”

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IMAGE Eyewitness Photography

Clockwise from left: Nick and his partner Calum, with their faithful hound Jasper; Nick riding FOR FAME in the Ann Symes Memorial Horse 1.30m Derby at Takapoto Estate Show Jumping; Kropotkin the cat (named after a Russian prince) is something of an institution at Nick’s yard. Sace is by Voltaire II out of an “exceptionally nice” imported dressage mare called Coco C (which is where the C in his name comes from). Both horses were initially produced as eventers, and Sace was second in the Young Event Horse Championship as a five-year-old. But after an injury sidelined him for a time, Nick was cautious when bringing him back in. He felt show jumping would be a better fit for the horse, and Sace has turned out to be pretty good at it. “He’s not banned from eventing, I’m just show jumping him at the moment,” Nick says. “He absolutely loves it, and loves the crowds. In the main ring at HOY, he thought the crowds were there just for him. He’s such a showman.” This season Sace has started well, with a win in the Pro-Am at Woodhill and fourth place in the Derby at Equidays already under his belt. “His shows are fitting in around the eventing at the moment, but I’d like to build towards jumping the Olympic Cup on him next year. HOY is his favourite thing in the whole world – every time he goes into that main ring he grows a hand taller, puffs himself up and concentrates so hard.”

Challenging but talented

If Sace was a dream to produce, Sly was the complete opposite – the most difficult young horse Nick has ever worked with. He first went to look at the horse as a half-broke three-year-old, and he wasn’t immediately impressed. “First impressions are really important to me. I like naturally confident and interactive horses,”

he says. “Sly was standing in the corner like a terrified llama! But I got on and trotted about three steps and thought he was unbelievable. He has this sheer power, but he’s also light on his feet and athletic, like a cat. So I did what I always tell people not to do – got completely overwhelmed and pretty much bought him on the spot.” As Nick was busy with university and other horses, Sly was turned out for a year. When it came time to bring him back in, the horse had become a nightmare. “He never competed as a five-year-old,” Nick admits. “I fell off constantly for a year and we were terrified of each other.” If it wasn’t for the help and endless patience of Nicolette Barrett, who was living in the flat above his stables at the time, Nick says he would never have been able to re-start Sly. “It was actually on the cards to send him to the rodeo for a while, but she spent literally hours and hours helping us. He was just terrified of everything. Someone could cough 200 metres away and he would have a complete meltdown.” They made progress, but a low point came during a 2* dressage test at Hunua. “He warmed up amazingly, but somehow lost it on the way to the arena,” Nick says. “He scored 51% but it probably deserved 21%. There was no dressage at all, just me vaguely steering him in the right direction and him flipping his lid. His preferred way of going in the dressage is what I call the ‘bolting llama’. But sometimes I could get him through the test in a good head space, and he’d score in the

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IMAGE Cheleken Photography

Nick riding VERSACE C to 4th place in the Premier Derby at Equidays 2018

high 70s. There was no middle ground – it was either great or terrible! But he always jumped double clear.” After that horrific dressage test, Nick sought the help of his best friend, Olympic eventer Clarke Johnstone. “I was like, ‘I need help, this is a mess’. Clarke has put hundreds of hours of time and expertise into helping me make it work, and I couldn’t have turned Sly around from that point to where he is now without his help. I’m so grateful.” A huge amount of help when Sly was at his most difficult also came from Nick’s trainer, Sarah Milne. “She was absolutely the right person to help me,” he says. “I have been lucky with all three people – Sly is like a team project with all of my friends!” Things are starting to come together now, and Nick believes the horse has all the right attributes to make it to 4*. “He’s brave, scopey, fast, tough, careful and a great mover, so you never know. I’ve never done 4* but he does look promising. He’s so powerful and very gifted.” Another key person in Nick’s team is Emily Wright, who knows Sly inside and out, and travels to shows with him as his groom. “I somehow acquired Emily as a teenager. She came for a lesson when she was 13 and now she keeps her horse with us,” he says. “She’s at university now, but it’s like having a working student. She’s like a little sister, and she’s amazing with Sly. He goes off his feed, doesn’t like things, someone walks past his stable and he gets upset – he needs a lot of ‘admin’, especially at shows. As he has become more competitive, we’ve learned to refine his experience at a show. Everything in his day needs to be structured, and Emily is a crucial player in my team.” The other very important, though nonhorsey, support person in Nick’s team is his long-suffering partner Calum. “He works in the pharmaceutical industry and hardly knew anything about horses before he met me,” Nick laughs. “But he loves the social side of shows, and knows to look out for and compliment the horses with good knees!”

“My vision of success would be to be a great competitor but also to be known as a horseman; for my horses to enjoy the job and want to do it. I would like the two to go hand-in-hand.”

The approach

IMAGE Eyewitness Photography

Clarke Johnstone has been a wealth of information with his expertise and coaching approach for Nick and his horses.

Nick riding FOR FAME in the Ann Symes Memorial Horse 1.30m Derby at Takapoto Estate Show Jumping

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The relationship and connection Nick has with his horses is what gets him out of bed in the morning. “I love riding at the big shows and winning ribbons, but the training of the horses is what truly inspires me. “I’m trying to explain to the horse what I’m trying to achieve in a way that’s understandable, relevant and enjoyable for them. It’s something I spend a lot of time figuring out for each horse. I love working with them and want them to love working with me. “The horse really just wants to stand in the paddock and eat grass. He doesn’t know about half-pass or see why he should care. You have to make it a fun game, so the horse wants to do it and enjoys doing it with you.” While Nick wants to compete at the top level, aiming to ride in England at all the big events, he is focused on more than just getting great results. “I’m very competitive and want to be the best, but I also want to produce horses in a timeframe they choose and in a way that suits them. The idea of a one-size-fits-all training programme doesn’t appeal to me. “My vision of success would be to be a great competitor but also to be known as a horseman; for my horses to enjoy the job and want to do it. I would like the two to go hand-in-hand.” Nick is very grateful for the support of his sponsors, Dunstan Horse Feeds, County Saddles, Savvy Touch and Equissage NZ. C

INTERVIEW WORDS Rebecca Harper IMAGES Eye Witness Photography

H EELAN

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Image Kampic.com

Double Olympian and current Olympic Ambassador, eventer Heelan Tompkins, admits that her approach to riding has changed in recent years – although the drive to compete at the top level again is still there, should the stars align in her favour.

n invitation to become an Olympic Ambassador about four years ago has turned into the role that Heelan now describes as “the best job in the world”. Along with a group of other former Olympians, she has been employed by the New Zealand Olympic Committee to travel around schools spreading the word about the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. It is an experience that has helped her to see the Olympic Games in a whole new light. “We tell stories about the Olympics and make it real to the students,” Heelan explains. “They can see that a normal person can achieve great heights. We encourage them to be their best selves. It’s amazing, truly the best job in the world. “What they do for me is incredible too – I’ve been greeted by whole schools doing a haka, or singing the national anthem,” she adds. Heelan was part of the New Zealand eventing team at the 2004 Athens Olympics on the popular Glengarrick, who at 18, was the oldest horse in the field. The combination was the highest placed of the Kiwis, finishing seventh overall. Four years later, she competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics aboard Sugoi. At the time, it never occurred to Heelan that her Olympic experience would continue long after the Games ended. “When you’re in it and doing it, it’s not something you think about – ‘what will happen after and what will I do with my life?’ You’re totally in the zone at that time.” However, life after top-level sport is something that she is now very much thinking about. She was selected, along with 23 other female New Zealand Olympians, to take part in a two-year course called the Women’s Sport Leadership Academy. The initiative was launched in 2017 and aims to support New Zealand’s female Olympians to make a positive transition from sport performance to sport leadership, and to connect them to an international network of women leaders in sport. Funded by the Olympic Commission and Sport New Zealand, Heelan’s group has just completed their thesis on how to achieve optimal culture for women in high-performance sport.

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“It’s really important to appreciate your horse or pony and the good things it’s doing. Focusing on the negatives all the time can’t be conducive to a healthy relationship. I would love to see people giving more praise to themselves, and to their horses.”

THE SNOW LEOPARD in the trot up at the CCI3* Championship, NRM National Three-Day Eventing Championships 2017 “The course was amazing, and not something I had necessarily thought too much about before the invitation. It was really cool to be involved in, and to see there is more to being an Olympian than those moments of sporting glory. It’s also about using your credentials to make positive change, to be brave and bold. “I was the only equestrian representative in the group, but through interacting with the others, I could see that a lot of other sports face the same challenges we do,” she says. “It was very humbling to work alongside some of my sporting heroes, as a peer.” During the course, one of the areas the group touched on was helping others prepare for life after sport. “It’s a big issue, and affects a lot of sports people later on in life, after their careers end,” Heelan says. “It involves a lot of change and requires finding something new to like about yourself, or discovering something else that you might be good at.” She loves supporting athletes who are in the high-performance bubble and are striving to achieve at the top level. “I thought I was open-minded while I was competing, but at the elite level you need to be driven and totally focused on yourself, on what makes your horse tick and how to get the best results. So you’re in a little bubble, and it’s all about you. Afterwards, when you open your eyes, you realise it’s a big wide world.”

A different focus

Now living in the Bay of Plenty with her partner Craig, Heelan is wearing many different hats these days. As well as her job as an Olympic Ambassador, she has two children – two-year-old Charly Rose, and one-year-old Hudson, and a small equine operation focused on training and producing horses. She also spends time teaching jumping clinics around the country. In both her coaching and school visits, Heelan focuses on helping people to look for

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the positive aspects. “I have found it interesting. The riders will go off and do a few jumps, and when I ask them what they thought about how it went, they’re always focused on the negatives, rather than telling me what went well.” Instead, Heelan would love to see people focusing more on the positives. “It’s really important to appreciate your horse or pony and the good things it’s doing. Focusing on the negatives all the time can’t be conducive to a healthy relationship. I would love to see people giving more praise to themselves, and to their horses.” Heelan currently has three horses in her team – two young Thoroughbreds off the track, and one that she is aiming at Puhinui Three-Day. “I bought an appropriate horse for my current stage of life with having two kids,” she explains. “I love Thoroughbreds, but I wrote a list of what I wanted: safe, super easy, I can tie it to the truck and walk away, can take it to a show by itself, can not ride it for a month and still walk around the farm on a long rein. I found this horse, and he wasn’t a TB, but he ticked all the boxes.” That horse was Oranoa Greyson, a seven-year-old gelding who came from Graham and Janet Fox of Oranoa Sport Horses in Dargaville. “They’ve got a big breeding operation now, but he was one of their first horses, and they were quite keen for him to go on and do some more eventing. He is three-quarters Thoroughbred and has a really good temperament – he’s definitely a pleasure hack! His sire is a Thoroughbred called Spectator, who is a son of Aberlou.” Greyson is currently competing at 1*, and Heelan’s aim is to get him to Puhinui, though she is taking every event as it comes. “I bought him the week before Taupo Three-Day in May and decided to run him in the 1*. That was actually the first time I’d done a cross-country jump on him! But he was super and jumped a nice double clear. “At the moment I think I’m utilising his brain and keeping myself sharp. It’s nice to have a horse that can do the moves and the jumps and keeps me in the game, so I can keep producing nice horses. He’s my little confidence booster; that’s where his value to me is very high.” When her daughter Charly was born, Heelan had a nice young horse in work, so she didn’t take much of a break from riding, competing at Puhinui Three-Day when Charly was just three months old. “With my first child, I was kind of in a hurry and didn’t want my life to change that much,” she admits. “But when I had Hudson, I decided to take time out to enjoy him as a baby. I gave my horse to Jock Paget to ride and took the season off. It was good and worked out well for both of us. The horse has now been sold to Florida. “I think the reality is that everyone is different, and it depends on the type of horse you have as to how easy

THE SNOW LEOPARD in the CCI3* Championship at NRM National Three-Day Eventing Championships 2017. Heelan was 4 months pregnant with Hudson at the time. it is to jump straight back on [after having a baby]. It’s also about the team you have around you. The majority of people I’ve seen who got straight back into competition have had a huge amount of hands-on support.”

The right horse

Heelan believes that finding the right horse stems from knowing yourself and what will work for you at that time. “Glengarrick was super easy,” she says. “Anyone could have ridden him around the Olympics. He was exactly what I have now, but with an extraordinary amount of talent. He was the perfect pet.” While Heelan has learned that she prefers placid geldings, she has also enjoyed the challenge of more highly strung horses. “I enjoyed the 3* horse I had last season, The Snow Leopard. He Family time is important, and sometimes it happens to include was high maintenance, but it was all about figuring him out, which ponies! Two-year-old Charly Rose has a sit on Arnold at Flaxmere was fun. But I also only had one horse at the time – when I had Horse Trials. Glengarrick, I had 20 horses! “I like horses that I can hop on and enjoy. I think about what I’ll do with them the next day and have a plan. You have to have ones you’re excited about, and I learned that the hard way,” she confesses. “I think when you want to get to the top, you have a hard time letting go of a good horse because you know they have the potential, but sometimes it’s just not working out, and you have to admit that maybe someone else will bring out the best in them and get the results. Part of the magic is when you have a combination that enjoys each other’s company and looks like they’re both out there having a good time.” The passage of time has also changed what she looks for in a horse. “I see a few things differently now. Does the horse have a nice personality? That’s essential to me now, whereas before, I was more focused on the horse’s talent. Now it’s like – will it be a fun journey?”

The future

While Heelan sees herself staying in New Zealand from now on, she wouldn’t rule out having a tilt at the elite level again. “If everything was in place and I was riding a horse I enjoyed and hadn’t sold it, I would keep keeping on,” she says. “It’s in my blood to want to keep moving up the grades. Competing at the top level again wouldn’t be out of the question, but I’m enjoying watching and supporting massively talented younger riders coming through. “I wouldn’t say my drive has gone, but I can enjoy and appreciate supporting other people, and that’s quite cool too.” C

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“I see a few things differently now. Does the horse have a nice personality? That’s essential to me now, whereas before, I was more focused on the horse’s talent. Now it’s like – will it be a fun journey?”

S I ST E R AC T

INTERVIEW

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TAMARA & TESSA SILCOCK Nelson sisters Tessa and Tamara Silcock juggle their equestrian businesses with playing top-level rugby for the Tasman Makos women’s team. Although their approach to horses is quite different, their ambition and drive to succeed are the same, and they’ve gained a reputation for taking on and producing difficult horses. WORDS Rebecca Harper IMAGES Dark Horse Photography

Growing up on their family’s sheep and beef farm at Upper Moutere, near Nelson, Tessa (pictured right), 25, and Tamara (left), 22, were “chucked on ponies” from a young age. They started out competing in the show ring, although show jumping is their main focus these days.

What are your occupations? Tessa: I’m working 100% on my business, TMS Equestrian. I spend half of my day riding

people’s horses and giving lessons, and the other half organising equestrian construction. TMS Equestrian is a design and build specialist – we do all sorts of things including show jumps, solar lighting, mobile feed bins and tack lockers, and we’re just getting into stables.

Tamara: I do schooling and lessons. I mostly ride other people’s horses off-site rather than having the horses here at home. I’m more into the competition riding, while Tessa is the business-minded one. Tessa: Tamara has the higher quality show jumpers and I’m usually training the young

ones. I only really compete up to about 1.10m now and, if the horses show ability, they usually go to Tamara to be produced further.

How did you start riding, and why show jumping? Tessa: Mum put us on a pony when we were babies and that was it! Mum was very

keen. First of all, we had little ponies in the paddock, and then started going to Pony Club. Tamara was competing in the show ring when she was basically a baby! We’ve competed in every discipline you can think of, but when I was 15 we purchased Boris, a 14-year-old Thoroughbred, from Dani Maurer. He was just the coolest horse! I even jumped a few Grand Prix rounds on him, and ever since then, show jumping has been the preferred discipline.

Tamara: For me, the appeal of show jumping is that it’s really the only discipline where if you’re the best, you’re the best. I’ve always had cheap, naughty horses that might be well-bred but have issues, and then produced them from there. I like taking on the naughty ones, training them and getting them out in the jumping ring. I also find jumping more of a challenge than trotting around in circles!

What are your plans for this coming season? Tessa: I’ve actually had a goal to cut right back on numbers with my own horses. I only have two horses that I purchased, completely wild, two years ago. Once those two are sold, I will be back to buying only horses I think are fully capable of going up the grades in the show jumping ring. I have also taken a little Thoroughbred mare under my wing who came to me two months ago for a bit of schooling. She was destined for dog tucker and

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had only ever done a bit of hacking. She couldn’t trot or canter in a straight line and was incredibly difficult to sit on. I thought a bit of grid training would help her, and she completely surpassed all expectations. I’m going to see if I can get her to Amateur Rider level by the end of the season, since I don’t currently own a show jumper.

Tamara: This season I have my nine-year-old mare, Steel Magnolia. She’s a purpose-bred Thoroughbred by Hula Town, and was bred for jumping. I’ve had her a year now, and last season we did Pro-Amateurs and a few Mini Prix. My aim is to step her up to Grand Prix when she’s ready. Last season we won the big Derby at Takapoto and were second in the Pro-Am at HOY. It was a bit of a surprise to do so well! I bought her sight unseen through word of mouth, and when she got here I discovered that while she could jump, she’s a bit unorthodox in her style. But although she’s not much to look at, she tries her heart out and the more I got to know her, the more I liked her. We started to put some bigger jumps in front of her, and she just kept on jumping. I co-own her with another lady and I bought her with the intention to produce and sell, and she is advertised, but now I’m not so sure I really want to sell her! I also have a four-year-old who will do a few shows and another project horse that has a few issues. I will try to get him out in the ring this season and see if he’s any good.

You both play rugby too, can you tell us about that? Tessa: I’m a fullback and Tamara’s an openside

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flanker. When I was four, Dad gave me a rugby ball for my birthday and took me along to a team. Then our middle sister started playing properly at about age seven, so we all jumped in. There were the three of us, plus our brother, all playing together in the boys‘ grade, and it continued on from there. I just like running fast and scoring tries!

Tamara: It’s the physical contact that appeals to me, and it’s something outside horses – if the horses make you angry you can take it out on the rugby field! This season we’ve just finished the Farah Palmer Cup [the highest level of domestic women’s rugby competition in New Zealand] for the Tasman Makos. It’s pretty full on with training, games and travelling, since we live 45 minutes from where we

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train. As a team, we’ve only just come into the competition; this is our second season at this level and we’ve got an extremely young team. We only won one game, but we did get better as we went along, so I guess we were winning in some ways. I did a full season, but Tessa had a concussion pre-season and missed the first two games.

IMAGE Libby Law Photography

Tessa: And I missed the third game, as I organised the first Grand Prix jumping show here in Nelson that weekend. There are only six games all up and then my wisdom teeth were giving me trouble, so I elected not to continue, as I wasn’t much use to the team! I just play for fun, but Tamara would like to play rugby more seriously. Tamara: It’s getting to the point where it will become professional soon, and then there’s the goal of the black jersey. There are contracts to play in England now, too. If you want to stick at it and get somewhere, you can now. But it’s hard because it clashes with the beginning of the show jumping season, so fitting it all in is tough.

Do you think there are any similarities between horses and rugby? Tessa: Not being scared. In rugby, you can’t be scared to make big hits. It’s the same with getting horses going – you can’t be scared if they’re naughty.

Tamara: Trusting your teammates. If you don’t have trust, you can’t achieve what you want with a horse. With rugby, if you don’t trust the person on your outside, you won’t get the results you want. There are missing links if you don’t have trust.

Are you competitive with each other? Tessa: Not so much with each other, more with other people. We

do share horses and it’s like, someone’s just got to win, or place. We kind of do our own thing. I’m more of a support person at the horse competitions, on the sideline with the camera. Tamara’s strength is in the competition riding. We are pretty similar in that our strength is getting problem horses and sorting their issues out, but we have very different approaches. I’m almost all natural horsemanship; softer, and the horse has to come to me. Tamara is probably stricter.

Tamara: I ride the buckers. If it bucks, I get on.

Do you like the challenge of working with problematic horses? Tessa: Yes, 100%. Even when I’m giving lessons, I’m usually helping people whose horses are bucking, rearing, or won’t jump. I think the secret is just having worked with hundreds of horses. I’ve ridden so many now that I can instantly see what the issue is. Tamara: Most of the horses we get come from life in a stable, or

have only ever been in a small paddock. Here, they’re roaming 100acre paddocks with creeks and ditches. It opens their minds and

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Tamara Silcock - STEEL MAGNOLIA wins the Ann Symes Memorial Horse 1.30m Derby at Takapoto Estate Show Jumping they experience a lot more – hacking, river and beach riding. It also helps them in the ring, because being in these big paddocks makes them so much more sure-footed.

Tessa: I think they have a better life and respect people more when they’re allowed to be horses. I think it helps with health issues too – you don’t get them so much.

How do your approaches to horses differ? Tessa: With me, the horse has to like what it’s doing, and it has to

come to me when it’s ready. I’m not going to force a horse into a frame, so I sit there softly and wait for him to come to me. I try to do as much as I can myself, too. I do the breaking-in and their feet. The only thing I can’t really do is their teeth.

Tamara: I generally get more problem warmbloods or bronco types and just have to hang on for dear life and hope I don’t fall off! They get you once and they think they’ve got you forever. I bought a problem horse not long ago who is a bit of bronco, and you have to stay on him. He works out how to move his body to ditch you! I get a lot of horses that have already been out competing, maybe had a few different people ride them, and are known as rearers or buckers. Everyone else is scared of them. Tessa: Tamara is brave. Since we were little kids we were getting tossed off, crying every weekend at shows – but it’s done us a lot of good. We can’t afford to buy really good horses, so you have to get on the horse that’s in front of you and make something of it.

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Tamara: Usually the more quirks they have, the better they are, because they have that bit of want and fight to get out and do the job. I’d find it boring if there wasn’t a challenge! I went to Japan in 2015 and worked in a pre-training and yearling prep stable. That was a bit of an eye-opener. I hadn’t worked in racing in New Zealand, but over there everything is a colt or a stallion. There are very few mares and you rarely see a gelding. I got a lot of experience dealing with stallions and treating them like they’re just horses, and just getting on with the job. I started schooling the racehorses, getting them working in a frame and giving them a bit of a wheel realignment so they could gallop straight. All of them went on and won races, which was cool.

Tamara Silcock of Tasman Makos looks to pass, Farah Palmer Cup, Hawke's Bay v Tasman in September 2018

Tessa: I feel like, after that, Tamara was better with the broncos. I used to be the braver one by a country mile, but Tamara came back with some steel balls!

Tamara: I went to Europe on a bit of an OE and ended up at the same barn in the Netherlands that Olivia Robertson and Hannah Fraser have been to, just for a few weeks. I would still like to go back over there and do it properly. I worked for a lady here in Nelson who had imported the stallion Cachassini II. I rode him until he went to Australia and it really opened up my eyes to the kind of horses that are out there. Tessa: I’m very business-minded, while Tamara is a free spirit. I

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What are your future plans?

IMAGE Cheleken Photography

Tamara Silcock rides Steel Magnolia during the Ann Symes Memorial Horse 1.30m Derby at Takapoto Estate Show Jumping

IMAGE Cheleken Photography

went to Victoria University and studied architecture and building science. I work my arse off to make my dreams of owning an equestrian centre come true. I just work, work, work at training horses and selling products. As soon as the horses are going well, map. We’re in the middle of the country and have beautiful Tamara gets them, or they are sold to pay for future investment. weather, there’s no reason why we can’t host some big shows. I I’m a bit boring compared to her, but it’s paying off because I’m want to have the venue for that – I will have the venue for that – so buying property soon. Ideally, I would like to put Nelson on the watch this space. C

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IN THE

HOURS LIFE OF

Melissa Galloway Over recent seasons, Melissa Galloway has enjoyed great success at national level as she has taken her team of dressage horses up through the grades. But as we all know, the foundation for success is more than just luck – it’s sheer day-by-day toil! Melissa takes us through her typical day.

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MELISSA by the Numbers

25 8

National

YEARS OLD

M Y G O - TO S N AC K F O O D I S P O P C O R N – I L OV E I T ! MORNING 6 AM

I’m a morning person. My alarm goes off, and I go out and do the morning feeds straight away. It takes about 45 minutes to feed everyone, and we often muck out at that time too. I’m just so lucky this season to have my sister Sarah [Parkes] grooming for me, which frees up some time so that I can ride more and also teach more. She’s a very good rider, we work well together and we’re on the same wavelength. Plus, we have fun! My husband Lachy starts work at a similar time to me – he runs a mechanical workshop with my brother Michael, and they’re also partners in a small vineyard adjacent to my family’s vineyards. My parents Rodney and Anne Parkes have always been incredibly supportive of us all, and we’re a very close-knit family. We all live and work on the family property, Windermere, between Picton and Blenheim. 7.30 AM While the horses finish their breakfasts, I head back inside for my own, usually porridge with banana and brown sugar, which can carry me to lunch.

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8 AM I start riding, and now that I have Sarah helping me I usually get my five horses ridden before lunch, while Sarah rides her three show jumpers after lunch. The programme for each day is different and all of the horses follow the same routine, unless I have a young one fresh from the breaker. On Mondays and Tuesdays the horses work in the arena, on Wednesdays they all go hacking – we are lucky to have amazing forestry tracks for them to enjoy – and on Thursdays and Fridays they are back in the arena. Unless we are at a competition the horses have the weekend off, as I am often away teaching at weekends. I usually prefer to ride in the mornings and teach in the afternoons – although I sometimes end up teaching in the morning if that’s what suits a particular client. Through the summer months, I often teach in the evenings as well. My oldest horse Johnny (Windermere Johanson W) is

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I STA R T THE DAY WITH P ORRIDGE, BANANA A N D BR OWN SUGAR ! IT CA N CARRY M E UN TIL L UNC HTIM E

TOP - The horses love getting out of the arena for a hack. ABOVE LEFT - Wynter is Melissa’s cute and cuddly Samoyed. ABOVE RIGHT - Joey (WINDERMERE J’OBEI W) had a very successful 2018 season. RIGHT - Melissa’s cherished bangles were gifts from her Mum (Dressage) and her husband, Lachy.

My dressage journey has been

a m a z i n g. I am so GRATEFUL

to everyone that has supported me!

MELISSA’S

must-haves 36

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My Moore’s Riding Wear jackets - best jackets ever! For Horses breeches (from Moore’s) – They are the most

ten years old, and this season is his first at Grand Prix. Joey (Windermere J’Obei W) is eight, and he is competing at Level 8; and five-year-old Zita (Windermere Zephora W) is at Level 3. These three were all bred by David Woolley. I also have another five-year-old, Sid (Windermere Legato) by Lingh II in work, and I am hoping to take him out at Level 3/4 soon. He has an incredible ability to sit and I think he will be a fantastic Grand Prix horse! Then I have a four-year-old, Elmo, by super-sire Negro, who is black with a blaze. He’s a pocket rocket and we’re very excited about him – he has an amazing hind leg and amazing hocks. He is probably my favourite of the horses we have bred. I can’t stop smiling when I ride him and I’m very excited for the future with him! I’m very sure of how I like my horses to progress. I have trained for many years with Andrea Raves, and the year I spent in Germany at Hubertus Hufendiek’s yard when I was 18 gave me the opportunity to become very established both in my riding and the German training system. In Germany they work so much on the basics, on improving the rider’s seat and position and the horses’ gaits. The opportunity to ride over there was something that I fought hard for. I first approached Hubertus about going to Germany at a clinic when I was 17, but he felt that I was too young and not ready. But when he came back the next year, he agreed to let me go over for two weeks and groom. At first, he put me up on a very experienced

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comfortable and grippy breeches I have ever had. Syncroflex products – I don’t go anywhere without them.

“D RESSAG E I S MY PA S SION - I LIVE AND BREATHE IT ”

WINDERMERE J’OBEI W at Horse of the Year 2018 I do want to take my horses to Europe at some stage though, and next time Lachy will be with me. The dream I’ve had since I was a child (I wrote about it at primary school!) is to represent New Zealand at the Olympics. Realistically, pursuing that dream will mean being based in Europe for a time to access the dressage culture and the top level competition available there.

oldie to ride, and I tried super hard to impress him! When he saw how serious I was, he let me try a five-year-old by Johnson that had been a bit difficult for many of the girls. I think that was when he could see that I had some potential! Because I was able to ride successfully, I continued at his yard, grooming and riding. I’ve had a love affair with the Johnsons ever since – that horse wasn’t the most spectacular but he was amazing, and my two top horses now, Johnny and Joey, are both by Johnson. But in many ways, I found that year in Germany difficult. Initially when I got to Hubertus’s yard, fellow Kiwis Sarah Gray and Jeremy Gardiner were both there and we had heaps of fun. But they moved on within a few months, and I really missed them. It’s a huge culture shock, especially when you don’t speak the language, and I struggled with homesickness. All you do is work and ride, with one Sunday off every two weeks when you are so tired that all you want to do is sleep! In the year I was there, I had one week off when Lachy came over for a visit and a look around.

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Dunstan Horse Feeds – These have been our go-to feeds for many years now and keep our horses in great condition. Arena mirrors – The best training aid ever!

1 PM If we are lucky, Mum might have made soup or bacon and egg pie for us, but usually we just grab a sandwich or something easy. Michael and Lachy often eat on the go and work through lunch, but Sarah and I have a break. I definitely need to eat properly, otherwise I get too tired. My go-to snack food is popcorn – I love it! After lunch, we finish up the riding if we didn’t get through all of the horses. We also take care of anything that needs to be done with the broodmares and youngstock, here on the home property or over on our run-off block about five kilometres away, then I

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Bags of carrots and sugar cubes – Welldeserved treats for the horses. My biggest must-have is my family. I wouldn’t be anywhere without them! SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

I LIKE TO CO OK SIM P LE D ISHES , LIKE THA I GRE E N CH ICKEN CURRY teach. I typically have two or three lessons scheduled each day. I have dressage pupils of every age and stage, and along with coaching local riders, I travel to Nelson every month, and to Queenstown every six to eight weeks. I’m also getting consistent enquiries about coaching in Christchurch, so regular trips there may happen in the future. 4 PM By late afternoon, we are finishing off whatever else needs to be done – cleaning and putting away tack, sweeping up, changing rugs, and then feeding. I prefer to mix the horses’ feeds myself; it’s something I enjoy doing. I also like my tack clean, and I wipe it over every day. My pet hate is people who don’t clean their bits after riding! I love sweeping up, and do that every day as well – it’s lovely when everything is done! I don’t think I’m obsessive but I like everything tidy and I don’t like lots of clutter. I’m the same in my house. 6.30 PM I usually cook dinner for Lachy and myself. I’m a fair cook but not great, and I like dishes that are simple and easy! I love anything with chicken – crispy chicken wraps and Thai green curry are favourites. When Lachy and I were first married, I used the slow cooker a lot. Lachy is a very good cook and is amazing around the house too, but he tends to work later than I do, so I end up doing most of the cooking. I love having Lachy with me at competitions. He doesn’t take things too seriously and helps me stay very relaxed and in the zone. We started going out as teenagers and have been together for ten years.

Sarah, riding WINDERMERE ZEPHORA W, enjoys a lesson with Melissa

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After dinner we just like to chill, watching Netflix or dressage on YouTube. I’m not into social media. I am on Facebook but it’s for business purposes only, as a way of promoting my business and also giving back to my fabulous sponsors, Moore’s Riding Wear NZ, Devoucoux Saddles NZ, Dunstan Horse Feeds, Syncroflex HA, Watson Equine Photography and The Equine Cobbler. 9 PM In our house, it’s ‘early to bed, early to rise’. I can’t push at both ends of the day, as I get very tired. C

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INTERVIEW

CHRIS HARRIS Positively Passionate

WORDS Rebecca Harper IMAGES Michelle Clarke

Longevity has been a feature of show jumper Chris Harris’s riding career. The Canterbury rider has been a stalwart of the New Zealand jumping scene for 35 years and has consistently produced horses to Grand Prix level.

uick to brush off the term ‘riding career’, Chris points out that being called a professional rider implies that you’re being paid to do it! But there’s no denying that he has had a long and successful association with horses. It was always on the cards, really. His mother, Mavis Harris, was a keen show jumper and also represented New Zealand. “She’s always been the biggest support behind me,” acknowledges Chris. Growing up, there was always a pony available for him to ride, although he didn’t really get the riding bug until he reached his mid-teens. He went on to produce a number of top-level horses, starting his first two from scratch and getting them to Grand Prix by his late teens. One of those horses, Jolly Poacher, took him to Australia on one of the first Junior Rider teams New Zealand ever fielded, with teammates Bruce Goodin, Catriona McLeod

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and Helen Smith. “Jolly Poacher and Rhythm were the first horses I took up the levels as a young rider,” Chris says. “I had to travel to the North Island to be selected for the team back then, as we had no Young Rider classes in the South Island. That was when George Morris was coming out here too,” he recalls. Chris’s first love was hunting, and he also enjoyed Round the Ring jumping. He dabbled in eventing but preferred the more immediate result of a show jumping class. “It’s then-and-there, it’s fast, and show jumping is a summer sport, which meant it worked well with hunting and skiing,” he explains. Skiing was his other love growing up, and his mother always encouraged him to participate in another sport, alongside riding. “It’s good to have something outside of horses,” he says. “Horse people do tend to only have one conversation!”

IMAGE Sophie Simson IMAGE Sophie Simson

Main image, opposite page: Chris with his starry stallion CASEBROOKE COMMISSIONER (Buzz) This page, colour images from top: Buzz is always eager to be brought into the yard for work. Chris competing GLENBROOKE ARCHIE BUNKER at the NZ National SJ & SH Championships 2018 CASEBROOKE COMMISSIONER competing at last year’s Christmas Cracker Show at McLeans Island

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“I WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO WHAT I’VE DONE WITHOUT

MY WIFE MARIA’S SUPPORT AND HELP BEHIND THE SCENES OVER THE YEARS.” A jack of all trades

Chris jokingly describes himself as “a jack of all trades, master of none”. He was a farrier for years and also trained gallopers (again following in his mother’s footsteps), as well as breaking-in horses. “I recently retired from training gallopers, but still shoe a few horses and break in a bit,” he says. “The only reason I became a farrier was so I could afford to shoe my own horses!” These days, he prefers a more sedate pace on the back of a rideon mower. Along with his wife Maria, Chris purchased Malvern Mowing, a mowing contracting business, about five years ago. “We do residential and commercial, schools, anything that requires a ride-on,” he explains. “I don’t push a mower – though it probably would be good for me! We thought it would be a change of scene and, long-term, it’s not as hard on the body as shoeing and breaking-in.”

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The couple lives on just over 10 acres at Aylesbury, West Melton, and have an 11-year-old daughter, Kimberly. “I wouldn’t have been able to do what I’ve done without Maria’s support and help behind the scenes over the years,” says Chris. “Kimberly rides, but she hasn’t got the bug badly. She’s always had a pony and been around the racehorses, but she’s only just getting into riding now. She’s keen on show jumping but isn’t in a major hurry to get out competing, and we’re not in a hurry either.”

Getting the bug

As a child, Chris preferred the hunt field to the competition ring. “I always loved hunting and RTR, which was what got me into jumping,” he says. “In those days, I would have been the only boy at my school riding, and I also had skiing and played other sports. I definitely wanted to go down a sporting path as much as possible.”

“I ALSO HAD A VERY NICE HORSE YEARS AGO CALLED GODFATHER, WHO WAS SOLD TO

SPRUCE MEADOWS. HE WAS THE CLOSEST I’VE HAD TO THE COMPLETE PACKAGE.” Chris made a number of Junior and Senior New Zealand jumping teams, and the aim has always been to represent his country. His top horses over the years have included Devilment, who won a World Cup and did well at HOY and, more recently, Te Peka Luciano. “He had all the scope but sometimes not a lot of brain,” recalls Chris, “but he got me onto my last New Zealand team. I also had a very nice horse years ago called Godfather, who was sold to Spruce Meadows. He was the closest I’ve had to the complete package.” When Kimberly was born, family life became the priority, and Chris downsized his show jumping team. “I was training gallopers full-time in partnership, and I have always continued to show jump, but I scaled back the team. Now I just have two horses. “I have usually managed to have something at Grand Prix level, but when you’re not putting the numbers through, it can be a long time between drinks. Family life and finances mean that I don’t do anywhere near the number of shows I used to.” For a horse to be successful at the top level, there are two main things Chris looks for – scope and temperament. “Scope is a biggie, you can’t go past scope, although a lot of horses don’t have scope when they start,” he says. “A horse can have all the technique in the world, but if it doesn’t have scope, you’re never going to jump a big fence. And temperament is key. Temperament and scope are the two big things – and you need both.”

The current horses

Chris has two horses this season, Glenbrooke Archie Bunker and his stallion Casebrooke Commissioner. “Archie Bunker jumps Grand Prix and is a handy horse, though he probably doesn’t get to enough shows to get to his full potential,” admits Chris. The 11-year-old gelding is by Cassini II out of a mare previously ridden by Chris’s friend Tania Davey. “I was fortunate that Tania was having babies herself, and she asked if I wanted him. He has his quirks but is a nice horse. I’ve had him since he was five.” The stallion Casebrooke Commissioner is by Cassius GNZ out of a mare called Lindis Lara I, the dam of the well-performed stallion Casebrooke Lomond, ridden by Katie Laurie. “I was fortunate to ride the mare when she came out here to be a broodmare and they were trying to get her in foal,” says Chris. “She was a spectacular jumper and won a couple of Grand Prix down here. I also rode Casebrooke Lomond for Paul Ffoulkes for a season.” When Lara scanned in foal to Cassius, Chris and some friends managed to get a syndicate together and buy her foal as a weanling. Casebrooke Commissioner, known as Buzz at home, is seven this season and is currently jumping 1.20-1.25m. “We’ll just work him through,” says Chris. “He definitely has a lot of potential, and he’s quiet. I’ve ridden stallions before but never stood one, so that part’s a bit daunting, but Paul is helping us.”

Opposite page, from left: Chris and Buzz enjoy each other’s company. Resident pony Sheryl sports an impressive mane. Chris has collected a huge array of bits over the years which are cleverly displayed in the stables. Tickles the stable cat is constantly on mouse duty. This page: Chris and his fox terrier Oreo are never far from each other’s side. The farm is filled with memorabilia, including the striking red stable clock, milk churn, and an old bell which Chris is tempted to ring from time to time.

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Archie is always interested in what’s going on around him. Chris uses his training track to develop his horses’ fitness. The old anvil is not just decoration - it still gets used when the horses are being shod.

many people get involved that don’t even have children riding.” It’s a problem faced by every show in the country – a lack of people willing to help. Chris would like to see more riders step up and help out, rather than just leaving it to their parents. “Even if you have a big team of horses – actually, those people are the ones who get the most out of it,” he points out. “I’d like to see more riders on committees and involved in decision-making. There are a lot of meetings held in the back of trucks, but it’s hard to get riders to meetings, even just the riders’ meetings.” Although the horse is available for services, they are yet to advertise him. “Because [his sire] Cassius was bred here but has completely European bloodlines, we thought it would be silly not to keep Buzz as a stallion. He is the only stallion out of Lara that’s standing at stud. In theory, he will go well with Lansing mares. That’s where the interest is coming from at the moment,” Chris says. “I’m hopeful he can make it to Grand Prix, there’s no reason he shouldn’t, but you never know. I will never say ‘they will jump Grand Prix’ because to have them there for five minutes is one thing, but to keep them sound and happy at that level is another.” While Chris thinks the national age group classes have merit, they aren’t his primary focus. “I couldn’t care less about chasing an age group series around the country,” he admits. “I would rather focus on the horses staying sound and happy – that’s the game.”

Giving back

As well as riding, Chris is in his third term as a New Zealand selector, has been on the Canterbury Show Jumping committee, and is the Vice-President of the Canterbury A&P Show. When asked why he chooses to get involved at this level, he simply replies, “It’s my turn.” “Everyone knows there are people behind the scenes doing the work, and it’s a bit of a cliché, but I don’t think people realise just how much work goes into running our events. It always amazes me how

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The future

Getting into a New Zealand team again is still a goal for Chris. “I’ve been lucky enough to be on a few Junior and Senior teams, and that’s always the aim. I’d love to have another horse at World Cup level, but mainly I want to just keep enjoying myself. It’s more about the fun of getting a horse up to Grand Prix. And Kimberly is riding more now, which is great. “When it comes to show jumping – and horses in general – it doesn’t really matter how old you are as long as the body is willing and able. Mark Todd is proof of that! “Probably the only negative of our sport at the moment is that it has become so pricey, and it can be hard to compete with the horses that people are importing now. Everyone wants a quick fix and a quick jump.” Chris rates the highlights of his career as the Senior teams he has made, and his longevity. “I’m still going!” he points out. Looking back, he says he was lucky to have great riders to look up to and compete against, including the likes of Harvey and Anne Wilson, Maurice Beatson, Merran Hain and John Cottle. “John Cottle would’ve been my absolute idol – and still is,” Chris says. “He has always given back to the sport, big time. “We had all those riders competing at the top level and winning World Cups, and sometimes we had two or three horses in a class that went on to the Olympics. We had a lot of people to look up to.” C

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BETTY BROWN

A Love Affair

As newly-weds, Southern Californian Betty Brown and her husband Greg visited New Zealand on their honeymoon and fell in love with this country. They have now lived here for decades, during which time Betty has embraced everything equestrian.

Betty works both her horses first thing in the morning

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oving from Malibu Beach to Opunake on the Taranaki coast seems like a massive step, but when Betty and Greg Brown decided they wanted to become dairy farmers in New Zealand, they set about making it happen. “We were staying on a dairy farm in Stratford on our honeymoon when we made the decision,” recalls Betty. “We looked in the local newspaper and found a job in Opunake, and went down to Wellington to arrange visas and so forth, with the plan that Greg would start his job

here while I went back to the States and packed up.” Unfortunately, it turned out not to be that easy. “We had to leave New Zealand before we could apply for work visas, and at that time, in 1977, dairy farm workers didn’t fall within one of the acceptable categories. However, my profession as a neonatal nurse allowed us to get the appropriate visas, and we were able to come back. I worked at Taranaki Base Hospital for three months (which involved quite a long drive each day) before I was able to start working for a local doctor.” These days, the couple lives in Karaka, just out of Auckland.

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Clockwise from top left: Family is very important to the Brown family and Betty is involved each day with her grandchildren. A cluster of stunning rosettes adorn Betty's home. Betty's beautiful granddaughter, Amelia Raines. Betty's favourite tree in the garden is a glorious Viburnum in full bloom. Exquisite horse ornaments are displayed throughout their beautiful Karaka home.

“Around ten years ago, we’d reached a stage of our lives where we felt that 35 years of milking was probably enough,” explains Betty. "We had decided to go to Auckland and celebrate our daughter's birthday, and we had seen this property advertised, so thought we’d have a look while we were up there. As soon as we came down the drive, we were sold! “Although we have done a bit of upgrading, the property was set up with a full-sized arena, four stables and yards, a truck shed, beautiful grounds – everything we needed. We had just six weeks to sell our farm, but luckily everything fell into place for us. “We’ve got ten acres here, which is quite a bit of work. I am very lucky to have a Finnish girl, Kaisa, working for me. She’s been here for four years and now has NZ residency. She is amazing with the horses, and she gets up in the morning and feeds and does the boxes – which saves me from having to do it! I ride the two horses

in the mornings. “Both of our daughters live close by, so we pick up one of our granddaughters from school each day, and we have another after kindy on Thursdays. We are involved with the grandkids every day, which is great!"

A love of horses

Betty has ridden from the age of about five years old. “In the States, children often go to summer camp for three months over summer while school is out, so that was my riding time," she explains. "We had some land at Malibu Beach, and I got my own horse when I was about 12 years old, but then I quit when I went to university to do my nursing studies. Of course, in the States, I was riding western,” she adds. In New Zealand, the owners of the farm where the couple first Below: Everyone enjoys the lake, including the family dogs Opposite page, centre: Betty's stables overlook the dressage arena.

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IMAGE Eye Witness Photography

Betty riding NEVERSFELDE RUPERT at the ADMG Dressage in January 2018

"There are rides when everything goes well, where you ask the questions of your horse and he says, ‘yep, I can do that’. Then there are the days when you wonder where you have gone wrong, and you just need to go for a hack and leave it all for another day!"

settled were heavily involved with horses. “Their daughter was into eventing and show jumping, and when they realised I was interested, they found a nice B-grade show jumper for me to ride. It was quite a switch from western! I started in the show jumping arena and did a little eventing, and then through the years I have had a go a pretty much everything. And I’ve had a lot of horses,” Betty laughs. She has also had a lot of success, with Horse of the Year titles across the disciplines, from showing to Show Hunter to dressage. These days she concentrates on dressage, campaigning two horses. Hot Gossip (Odie), by Let’s Kiss & Tell out of a Salute mare, had just been broken-in when Betty bought him as a three-year-old. He’s competing at Level 5 this season, and was recently selected onto the Dressage New Zealand Development Squad. The partnership was very successful last season, winning the Zilco Musical Freestyle

Series North Island Level 4 competition, as well as the Flying Horse Masters Championship (Section 5) which earned them a very nice rug! Betty hopes to take him through to Grand Prix. “He’s a really nice horse, with the sweetest personality – everybody just loves him! He has a great work ethic and enjoys both doing things and having things done with him; he loves going to shows and travels well. He’s a bit of a mischief, though, and loves to chew things – he will destroy anything within reach! Bridles, rugs, anything!” This season, Betty will have Neversfelde Rupert (Rupert) out competing at Grand Prix. “Although I’ve taken almost all of my horses through to Advanced, they have mostly gone on to be Young Rider horses or schoolmasters. I had a Grand Prix horse years ago and wanted another, so when Rupert, who was Advanced at that time, came up for sale in Australia a couple of years ago, I went over and rode him for a few

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Betty and HOT GOSSIP at the ADMG Spring Dressage 2018

days, then brought him home. I felt sure he would step up to the Grand Prix work in time.” She loves the mental challenge of dressage. “You never stop learning, and you are always having ‘lightbulb’ moments. There are rides when everything goes well, where you ask the questions of your horse and he says, ‘yep, I can do that’. Then there are the days when you wonder where you have gone wrong, and you just need to go for a hack and leave it all for another day! “It’s nice to see the horses grow in strength and confidence. Looking back on videos from a couple of years ago, I can see how far they have come. “Plus, dressage is one of the sports you can participate in right through your life. I’ve come to an age where I just enjoy riding and training nice horses. I want to see how far I can take them, and I want to be a 70% rider!”

Different hats Betty and NEVERSFELDE RUPERT at the ADMG Dressage 2018

Alongside her riding, through the years Betty has served equestrian sports in many different capacities. She was a founding member, and is now a life member, of the Taranaki Dressage Group, was the NZ Horse Society (now ESNZ) Secretary for Taranaki, and served as Marketing Manager for Dressage New Zealand for six years. Currently, she is the Area Delegate for AucklandManukau Dressage Group, which keeps her involved on a day-to-day basis. Judging has also been a big part of Betty’s equestrian lifestyle. “Joan Matheson started me on my judging career,” she reports. “I started judging at Pony Club and eventing, then when Show Hunter was introduced into New Zealand, I became very involved there. As dressage gained in popularity, I became a dressage judge as well, going up through the grades to become a List 1 judge. Eleven years ago, I travelled to Turin in Italy and sat the FEI Judges’ exam to become a 3* FEI judge.”

IMAGES ABOVE Sarah Caldwell Photography

MY FAVOURITE HORSE Valentino. He was the sweetest little horse, lovely to deal with in every way. He would stand happily for hours while I was prepping him for shows – he loved all the attention. I bought him as a five-year-old through Vaughn Jefferis. He was a very pretty Thoroughbred, and although only 15.2hh, he won a lot. He took out the Reserve Champion Park Hack of the Year twice, and on one of those occasions also won the Medium Dressage Horse of the Year, Show Hunter of the Year, and the Lightweight Working Hunter. I had a great Horse of the Year Show on him that year! He had the perfect 12-foot stride for Show Hunter, and I sold him to the States.

MY FAVOURITE HOTEL My Dad owned a hotel on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood – so we’ll say that one! It was called Sunset Sands, and he built it back in the early ‘60s.

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- FAVOURITES MY FAVOURITE HORSE EVENT Has to be Horse of the Year! Having said that, I don’t think it’s the show it used to be, when it was an elite event that the top riders aspired to attend. The problems now with overcrowding and lack of infrastructure, facilities and warm-up areas make it a real challenge for elite riders who also have to deal with the general public at close quarters. I would love to see the show revamped – somehow it has become unworkable.

because it gets information out to so many people so quickly. I’m also involved in some very interesting special interest groups, some of which are global in nature, where I have the chance to have conversations with people I ordinarily would never be in touch with. There are so many positives, but of course, there can also be negative aspects as well.

MY FAVOURITE HORSE MOVIE National Velvet. I loved it as a kid – I wanted to be Velvet! We used to re-enact it as kids in the backyard.

MY FAVOURITE WEBSITE

MY FAVOURITE GETAWAY

I love Euro-Dressage and Facebook. I am quite active on Facebook – I think it’s a great way to keep up. There are so many local sites targeted especially to where you live, so if you’ve got a job that needs doing or you’ve lost a pet, it’s great

Maui, Hawaii. My sister lives there, near Paia, which was settled in the ‘70s by the California hippies, so it has retained a very arty culture – health food stores and yoga, not too touristy. It’s a beautiful place. C

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INTERVIEW

SADDLE

WORDS Rebecca Harper IMAGES Kimi Knight Photography

When doctors told Jane Burmester that she would never be able to ride again after she broke her back ten years ago, she set out to prove them wrong. Today Jane is not only supporting the sport of show jumping as an owner and sponsor, but she’s also back out competing herself. 52

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longside her husband Ray, Jane is living proof that the harder you work, the luckier you get. From a young age, she knew that there would be no handouts in life and that if she wanted something, she’d have to go after it herself. Years of hard graft have put the couple in their dream position, living on their own block of land in Waimauku, north of Auckland, and able to give back to the sport they love. In reality, luck has had little to do with it. At 51, Jane still fits riding in around working full-time at her real estate company, Burmester Realty. She also helps Ray with his handcrafted equine-themed business, Ray Burmester Equestrian Jewellery, taking care of the company’s marketing, sales and website. The couple sponsor a number of equestrian events, from grassroots level right through to

elite classes. They are also involved in helping to fund quality horses for some of New Zealand’s top riders, most notably four-time Olympian Bruce Goodin, who they’ve had a long association with. Jane was instrumental in drumming up enough money, through about 25 owners, to secure Bruce’s recent World Equestrian Games mount, Backatorps Danny V. The couple has just returned from a trip to watch Bruce compete at WEG and Jane says that it’s good to be home. “I really appreciate that we live in a beautiful country,” she says. “It’s great to be in a position to be able to go and see Europe, but I still love New Zealand – it’s the best country in the world. “You can work full-time here and still enjoy horses. You may have setbacks in life, but if you really want to do something, you can work hard to get past those obstacles. And that applies to anything in life, not just horses.”

Main image, opposite page: Coco Casall (by Casall Ask), one of Jane’s many broodmares. Top right: Jane aboard Jack (Corpus K by Quick Star, previously owned with Bruce & Ulrika Goodin), enjoying a good gallop down Muriwai Beach. Left: Jane leading Ariki Z (by Lux) out to the paddock in the morning.

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Early days

Jane’s enduring love for horses has never left her, despite a number of serious injuries. “I got my first pony when I was ten,” she recalls. “Mum saved for a year to get me one, as I hadn’t shut up about wanting a pony since I was four! We were just a normal, hard-working family. I rode for the first year without a saddle because we couldn’t afford one.” Each pony was produced and sold to fund the next one. “I got Harriet, my first hack, as a five-year-old. I was just a Pony Club kid, but our West Auckland team went on to win Timberlands. As I was doing well, and my horse seemed to be good at it, I carried on eventing.” Jane and Harriet ended up on the New Zealand Young Rider squad and were selected to compete in Australia. But injuries were starting to take their toll on Jane’s body, and at just 27, she suffered an aneurysm and a clotted artery. “I’m lucky to be alive, really,” she admits. “I decided to turn to show jumping as a safer bet.” After leaving school, Jane started out working at a bank, then moved to INL in the marketing and advertising division, before shifting into real estate. In the early years, she would get up at 4:30 am to ride her horses before work. “I met Ray when I was 18, and we bought our first house at 20. I wanted to work, to make money to be able to afford the horses, and owning property was a way to do that. We would do the houses up on evenings and weekends. We renovated and sold, over and over, until eventually we got our own land.” They slowly made improvements to the property, extending the house, fencing off paddocks, and adding stables and an arena as they could afford to. “I do find it frustrating when I hear kids now say that they can’t afford to ride. If you really want to do it, you make it happen,” she says.

Jane is never far from her phone - her busy lifestyle means that she is always in demand

“You can work full-time and still enjoy horses. You may have setbacks in life, but if you really want to do something, you can work hard to get past those obstacles. And that applies to anything in life, not just horses.” Above: Arni is a real character and an important part of the Burmester family. Below: Cassie (Abacini), is one of the stunning broodmares advancing their breeding programme.

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Overcoming setbacks

Jane not only overcame the aneurysm, she went on to face a gruelling recovery after breaking her back in a riding accident ten years ago. It would be enough to make most people give up riding entirely, but not Jane. “I was in a spinal brace for five months,” she says. “I was very lucky to walk again, but I was determined to get back on a horse, although it took me ten minutes to get on the first time.” Battling pain and fatigue, Jane found a kind mare to get her back in the saddle. “I found the coolest little first hack. She had absolutely no scope, but she was the best mare out. When I decided I wanted to go jumping again, I would do one Show Hunter class and just about be on the ground fainting with the pain.” Her solution? Start running marathons to strengthen her core. That worked well until her knee blew out. “You have to be strong and have willpower,” she insists. “Life’s not easy, but if you work hard, you can overcome obstacles.”

HorseSports IMAGE Libby Law Photography

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Backing Bruce

When Jane broke her back, and it became apparent that she’d be taking a lengthy hiatus from riding, the Burmesters decided to help Bruce to secure a horse. “The Goodin family have been great friends of ours for a long time,” she says. “We had a little bit of money set aside – not a lot. Bruce was in Europe doing the hard yards, so we went in with him to buy a horse. “We told him, ‘you find something, and we’ll support you’. He is an amazing friend and rider.” Through their association with Bruce, the couple has the chance to travel to Europe most years and visit some big horse shows. And it was through Bruce and his wife, Ulrika, that Jane acquired her current horse, Jack. “My back has come right over the years, and now I’m show jumping again. We bought Jack as a fiveyear-old, in partnership with Bruce. He rode him for about five years and then Ulrika show jumped him. Then they said ‘now it’s your turn,’ so we flew him to New Zealand, and now he’s my nana horse.” Last season, the combination competed in the Amateur classes, and this season the goal is to contest Pro-Amateurs. “I’ve always enjoyed bringing horses on, and never had a ‘made’ horse before,” admits Jane. “With Jack, I do have to be really correct in how I ride him. If you don’t ride him properly, he won’t go properly, but he’s the first ‘made’ horse I’ve ever had in my life – it’s like winning Lotto! “It was an amazing opportunity to bring Jack home. I appreciate my health, and I’m just enjoying riding and having fun. I still get up early to ride my horse and fit it in with doing real estate seven days a week and helping Ray, but I still love it. I certainly couldn’t do this without Ray; he has been amazing, always supportive of the horses – and the injuries!”

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“For the future of New Zealand show jumping, we have to have the horsepower in place, and we have to get our young riders over to Europe. But the younger generation coming through has to want to learn, and be willing to do the hard yards, too.”

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“You have to be strong and have willpower. Life’s not easy, but if you work hard, you can overcome obstacles.”

Clockwise from top left: It’s not very often Jane gets a moment to put her feet up; The paddocks are never really empty at the Burmesters’ farm in Waimauku; Casalla (by Casall Ask) is fifth-generation progeny from Harriet, Jane’s great eventer, and is presently in foal to Chacco Silver; A photo of the very talented Centina at WEG in Caen, France in 2014; The breathtaking view across their farm. Although not a sponsored rider, Jane has had a long association with Bates and has ridden in their saddles for several years. What really appeals to her is the ability to easily adjust the saddles between horses, and their suitability for the New Zealand climate. “I find them very good, especially when young horses are muscling up and altering in shape, with the Easy Change Fit Solution system you can alter the saddles as required. They are very hard-wearing and durable. Jane rides in a Bates Elevation Plus jumping saddle and the Bates Isabell dressage saddle, and uses the CAIR system, which her horses are very happy in. “The Bates after sales service is also excellent.”

Giving back

The Burmesters take a big picture view on equestrian sport in New Zealand, and Jane has some strong opinions on the future of show jumping. “It’s not just what you take out; it’s what you put back in,” she

Jane competing Jack (Corpus K) in Woodhill Sands’ Winter Series.

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insists. “Woodhill Sands is our local venue, and now that it’s community-owned, we really have to support it. “What motivates us is putting something back into the sport, because it is a fantastic sport. I’ve never got onto committees, so I thought if we could do sponsorship and look at the bigger picture – not just with Bruce – that we could help in a small way. “We do have the riders in New Zealand, but it’s so expensive to own top quality horses. You’re talking one million Euro for just an average international horse! If we could just get some money together in a pool to support our riders…that’s what we tried to do to get Danny for Bruce, and to get a team to WEG.” Unfortunately, Danny is now on the market, as that was the deal agreed with all of the owners. “The deal was that they would get their money back after WEG. Tokyo [Olympics] is in two years, and Danny would be the perfect horse for Bruce to take to that, but a deal is a deal, so that’s what is happening.” Jane is hopeful that they will find another horse for Bruce to ride, and says that some of Danny’s backers are already keen to recommit to funding another horse. For New Zealand to stay on the world stage and keep improving, she says we need both funds and horses. “For the next generation of riders coming through, every little bit helps when it comes to sponsorship and support,” Jane says. “People are quick to want to be involved when it’s all going well, but not necessarily when the riders are doing the hard yards.” When looking back at the New Zealand team’s historic FEI Nations Cup win at Abu Dhabi earlier this year, Jane points out that most people wouldn’t comprehend the challenges the riders faced just to be there, let alone to win. “Those guys deserve a gold medal just for getting there! They were like dogs with a bone – they wouldn’t give up, and they achieved the impossible. “For the future of New Zealand show jumping, we have to have the horsepower in place, and we have to get our young riders over to Europe. But the younger generation coming through has to want to learn, and be willing to do the hard yards, too.” C

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20 QUESTIONS WITH

INTERVIEW

VICKY BROWNE-COLE Words Rebecca Harper IMAGES Eyewitness Photography

Young event rider Vicky Browne-Cole, 19, is based in Waiuku, South Auckland. She hopes to make it all the way to the top of the sport internationally, and this season her goal is to step her top horse, Eli, up to 3* level. When did you start riding horses? What is your riding background? I started having lessons when I was six and got my first pony when I was eight. I went to Waiuku Pony Club and to PC eventing champs. The reason I got my first pony was because I used to ride one of our cows and it accidentally got butchered (we do homekill) – Mum and Dad felt guilty, so I got a pony! Poor Chocolate (the cow) took one for the team.

What discipline do you ride or compete in right now? Eventing, although I do a little bit of show jumping too.

Did you have a special pony/horse in the early years? Tell us a little about him/her. Probably my first hack, Nicholas Nickleby. He was an absolute cross-country machine and amazing to learn on. I had always wanted to event, but had mad ponies, so when I got him that was my first step towards eventing seriously.

How do you balance work commitments and riding? I’m mainly riding but have a part-time job for my sponsors, Golden Horse Feeds, driving a delivery truck for them. They are incredible and understand my riding commitments. I do sales and schooling (of horses), so I’m just trying to build that up.

What are your riding goals? Vicky with ZIP IT UP, who she rode for Jen Buchanan, and has now been sold to the South Island

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To compete at 4* - Badminton, Burghley, and championship events like the Olympics and WEG. The ultimate goal would be to win the Grand Slam, that’s the dream!

How do you handle high-pressure situations, for example right before you enter a big class? Mum has a saying, ‘focus on the process and the result will take care of itself’. She coaches netball and is into the mental side of sport, which helps a lot. I just take each jump as it comes and know that if I’m prepared, I can rely on my preparation. I know I’m ready and can do it.

What is your proudest moment in the saddle? Competing at Melbourne International Three-Day last year. I took Eli over and finished eighth overall in the CCI2*. Kim Berry produced him to Training level and I have produced him myself from there, so it was a pretty proud moment to be competitive, especially as it was only our fourth 2*. The whole experience of being part of the Trans-Tasman team was great and made me really proud to represent New Zealand. Winning the 1* Junior Rider Three-Day Championship on Eli at Puhinui in 2016 was a good moment as well.

What are your riding goals for 2019? To make the Young Rider Trans-Tasman team again in May and to produce Eli to 3* level.

Tell us about the horses in your team. My top horse, Eli, is a 10-year-old 16hh Thoroughbred by Snitzel and is currently competing at 2*. He was born in Australia, then went to Hong Kong before coming here, so he’s got a few airpoints! My other horse is Cutting Edge, a seven-year-old Thoroughbred mare by Guillotine. She’s at 1* this season and I hope to step her up to 2* in the autumn. I also have another horse here on behalf that I am competing at Pre-Novice.

What do you look for in a horse? Brain would be number one. If they have a good temperament you can do anything with them. Then I look at their jump, movement and conformation.

What level are you riding at with your best horse?

One of Vicky’s memorable moments - wining the Junior Rider Championship in 2016 at Puhinui Horse Trials riding ELI

Are you superstitious – do you have any good luck charms or lucky clothing/equipment? I suppose I am, I don’t like things that might jinx me before a competition. I always touch the rails in the show jumping as I walk the course. I think if I touch them, they won’t fall down. It doesn’t always work, but I still do it! Also, I always eat properly before cross-country – normally a steak does the trick.

Eli is at 2*, hoping to step up to 3* this season.

Tell us a bit about yourself outside of horses.

What is your best riding strength?

Horses started off as my hobby. I do also go to the gym and hang out with my friends. But mostly, horses are my life.

Probably cross-country because it’s my favourite and I love it the most. I’m pretty bold, and I think that gives the horses confidence.

Who are your riding mentors? How have they influenced your riding? Penny Castle helps me on the flat and is incredible, Tracy Smith helped me a lot when I got Eli, and Jeff McVean with show jumping. When I was younger, Jock (Paget) was a big one. I spent two months with him in England when I was 15. All of these people have always been really positive and I’ve gained a lot of confidence from being in those environments. Going to England showed me the pathway, what the life is like over there and that it’s possible.

Are you sponsored by any brands? Golden Horse Feeds is my sponsor.

If you had to switch your discipline, which one would you choose? Show jumping. I think I might get bored if I did dressage fulltime. I just love to jump.

If you could ride any famous horse from history, who would you ride? Charisma or Michael Jung’s Sam, they’re both horses that have achieved so much.

What is the most challenging part of progressing in this sport?

If you can spend a day with any equestrian who would you spend it with? What would you do?

You only know what you know – you don’t know what you don’t know. Without regular help you can get stagnant, so it’s having that guidance to help you identify the next steps.

Michael Jung, because he is just incredible. To spend a day at his yard riding and learning from that environment would be simply amazing. C

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INTERVIEW

JESS LAND Back on Top

WORDS Pip Hume COMPETITION IMAGES Michelle Clarke Photography

Well-known as one of those gutsy riders who can hop on anything, Jess Land suffered a serious setback last season. But with her characteristic determination, the 23-year-old is back onboard and set to continue on her chosen path.

ronically, I’ve hurt myself more show jumping than I ever did when I was eventing,” admits Jess. “My worst fall ever was in September last year and it was just one of those things – a silly, unpredictable mistake by a young horse at home. I was schooling over a wee 70cm jump, the horse made a mistake and got caught up in the poles, and we both crashed. I caught a flying rail which smashed my collarbone, and it was four months before I was cleared to ride again. “Then, when at last I was able to get back on the horses in February, I had another couple of falls, and my confidence took a serious knock – to the point where I didn’t really even want to trot over poles on the ground! I’m still a bit funny if something starts tripping, and I’m not as confident yet with horses I don’t know. I used to hop on pretty much anything, but I go about it a bit more carefully and take a bit more time now, which probably isn’t a bad thing.” Recognising that she would need to take a proactive approach to

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rebuild her confidence, Jess started training with Canterbury show jumper Harry Feast in April. “Harry had been competing Milo [Emilio MSH] for me while I was injured. Then, once I was riding again, I broke in my young mare at home, but I was still feeling quite nervous at the time, so she went over to Harry’s for a couple of weeks. That ended up working out so well that she just never came home! Both she and Milo are at Harry’s now, and I go over several times a week to ride. It’s good to have consistent eyes on the ground. “Milo has got me back into jumping, and now that I’m finally old enough to compete in the Amateur Series, I’m looking forward to the season and having a Series to compete in!”

The Business End

With her successful business near Rangiora based around riding, schooling and selling on behalf for clients, as well as her own project horses, Jess’s accident posed some serious logistical problems.

Left: Jess with PAYBACK. Main image this page: EMILIO MSH. Right (from top): promising youngsters earmarked for Jess’s competition team - HURRICANE SANDY, the resident diva; five-year-old CORRINE HSH; four-year-old JL AMAPOLA.

“SELLING

ON BEHALF

HAS TURNED INTO MY MAIN REVENUE STREAM,” SHE SAYS. “I LIKE MAKING

SURE

THAT THE

COMBINATION IS

RIGHT.”

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Below: CORRINE HSH loves her job. Right (top): Ollie, Jess’s dog, is never far from her side. Right (bottom): LV BALOU SKYE is a favourite in the stables. Opposite page: Jess and EMILIO MSH won the Amateur Rider class at the 2018 Southern Canterbury A&P Show.

“Sarah Davies was my groom at the time, and she single-handedly managed the whole operation while I was broken,” Jess recalls. “She was awesome – I keep hoping she might come back if I offer her a big enough bribe!” Being small and lightweight allowed Jess to school and sell ponies on the side as a means of funding her own team prior to her accident. Her injury meant that she had to cut back her own competition team, and she now typically has around 10-12 projects, schoolers and horses for sale on behalf in work. Jess wryly estimates that about 90% of her time is taken up with her clients’ horses – schooling, taking photos, advertising them through her business page, showing them off to prospective purchasers, and attending to the constant messages she gets “all day and all night!” “Selling on behalf has turned into my main revenue stream,” she says. “I like making sure that the combination is right. With so many horses and ponies going through the yard, you get to know pretty quickly which combinations will work. It’s a win-win for everyone when you have a happy horse and a happy rider.” Jess is an admirer of the Thoroughbred breed, and has twice competed in the Beyond the Barriers competition at Equidays. “The Thoroughbreds tend to have a lot of life experience and I find them much easier than the crossbreds, but I have stepped away from them a little,” she admits. “Although the crossbreds can be spookier and sometimes come with more baggage than the Thoroughbreds, and can take longer to settle in, it’s easier to pick up crossbred projects and turn them over quickly for a profit.”

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The Competition Horses

For her own show jumping team, Jess likes “something that tries”. “I like a horse that’s genuine. I don’t care if they come with issues, but they have to want to do their job. I don’t mind if they are spooky or reactive, as long as they are prepared to give it a try and work with me.” She currently has Milo [Emilio MSH], Krista [Double J Krista], Corrie [Corrine HSH], and Skye [LV Balou Skye]. Milo came to Jess from the North Island, along with a reputation for being “a bit of a bronc!” “He needs managing in a slightly unconventional way, but he’s really cool!” Jess says. “Although he’s 12 years old, he

“I LIKE A HORSE THAT’S

GENUINE .

I DON’T CARE IF THEY COME WITH

ISSUES, BUT THEY HAVE TO WANT TO

DO THEIR

JOB.

I DON’T MIND IF THEY ARE SPOOKY OR

REACTIVE,

AS LONG AS THEY ARE PREPARED TO GIVE IT A

TRY AND

WORK WITH ME.” has only done one season of show jumping with Harry last season, so he’s still fairly inexperienced. We’ve had a successful start to the season competing in the Amateur classes. “Krista is my six-year-old and is the fun horse of the team. She might not be my top horse, but is such an uncomplicated and genuine mare that she’s a favourite. She’s the horse I hop on at the end of a bad day, and she just puts a smile on my face!” Jess bought her five-year-old mare Corrine HSH just before she broke her collarbone. Bred by Hokonui Sport Horses, Corrie is by Corofino II out of Xena NZPH, and Jess regards her as a nice, straight-forward type with class. “She’s quite exciting. She’s starting to really jump, and she’s feeling great and doing all the right things. I’m not sure yet how I will feel about cantering into a 1.60m fence but I do feel like I could jump anything on her! “I’ve also fairly recently picked up an eight-year-old Balou du Rouet mare, Skye, who’s a bit quirky but I think she is going to be cool. Once she’s had a competition career, she will probably go into the broodmare herd to improve the quality there.” Jess feels that her greatest strength as a rider is her ability to work with her horses. “I’m not a very good competition rider,” she admits, “but I can work out what the horses need to be happy and get them to the point where they are happy with other riders as well. It’s about getting them through the initial problems, and then getting them established, happy and confident. I don’t follow any particular doctrine; I just grab the bits and pieces that work and do it my way. “It’s different for each horse; there’s no one way of working that suits all horses. For example, Milo doesn’t school much. He does no flatwork; he hacks to the forest and the beach on a long rein and pops around little fences fairly regularly, and that’s what keeps him happy. I love turning around those horses that come to me with a story, giving them a chance to go out and do what they always had

the ability to do, rather than just sit in a paddock. “If I could do anything at all, I would produce young horses all day long, but the problem ones are extra rewarding.” Jess is looking forward to getting the first of her homebred youngsters, now four years old, under saddle and out to shows. “There are some exciting babies in the paddocks as well,” she adds. “I can’t wait to start bringing them out over the next few seasons.”

Getting Started

Jess is hugely indebted to her parents, and says that despite being non-horsey, they have always backed her 200%. “It’s not just the financial support. If Mum didn’t work from home I couldn’t do what I do,” Jess admits. “She helps keep the place running on a day-to-day basis and does a lot behind the scenes, especially when I’m away!” When the Land family emigrated from the UK, they initially settled in the Christchurch hill suburb of Cashmere. Jess began her riding career in 2007 at Kowhai Riding School, just out of Oxford. In 2012, she got the opportunity to work for show jumper Katie Meredith as a working student, and the family relocated to North Canterbury in 2013. As a Pony Club rider, Jess went to Springston Trophy and Pony Club Show Jumping Champs, and achieved her H Certificate. She is particularly grateful for the time that she spent with Katie, who introduced her to her first ‘good’ horse, enabling Jess to show jump at Young Rider level. Over the winter of 2014, she also went to Philip and Sally Steiner as a working pupil. “They are awesome to work for and taught me such a lot. They have been a huge help in setting up this business and still help me out regularly,” she says. To date, this season is proving to be one of Jess’s most successful so far, with placings in her first three starts, including a win in the Amateur Rider at the Southern Canterbury A&P Show. C

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EQUESTRIAN MASTERPIECE FOR SALE - Private sale -

Situated in the heart of Karaka, this special equestrian property is ready and waiting for its new family.

Set on 13 acres, the property is an equestrian lover’s dream. The land is divided into 11 paddocks, all flat to rolling and appropriate for horses. Add to this; a 60 x 40m arena, lunging yard, three stables (complete with tackroom), threebay Econobarn (set up for hay storage plus a workroom) and a share of a bore. You couldn’t ask for a better set up. The main house consists of four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a study, both a formal and informal living room, huge kitchen and separate dining room. It is surrounded by expansive covered decks overlooking the well maintained gardens and surrounding farmland. In addition, the main house is complete with triple car garaging, separate W/C, a heated pool and spa – catering to your family’s every need.

The property also has a one bedroom self-contained apartment with its own entrance, double bedroom and private outdoor area, completed to the same high standard as the main house.

Located only five minutes from the Karaka motorway exit, in close proximity to great local schools and the private Strathallan College, there’s every reason to arrange a viewing to really take in all that this property has to offer.

Email karakaproperty2018@gmail.com for more information or to view

INTERVIEW WORDS Rebecca Harper

The Masterstroke - of -

Michelle Clarke

Canterbury artist Michelle Clarke has gained a following for her stunning equine watercolour canvases, but she’s also a talented photographer. When she’s not creating beautiful images, you’ll find her rearing calves on the Rakaia dairy farm where she lives with her fiancé Steve and her two horses.

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“Horses are the thing I like painting most, but I also like painting sea life and birds, though I hate birds in real life! If there’s one in the house, I’m out. They’re a bit flappy and unpredictable, but nice to paint, especially ones with bright colours.”

hen Michelle, 25, started chronicling the antics of her lovable, if slightly unhinged, Thoroughbred Sydney on social media, she had no idea his exploits would become so popular. The hilarious ‘Sydney Sunday’ blog and accompanying cartoon regularly details the latest in a long line of bad behaviour from the “ginger nitwit” as he tries to cope with daily life on a large dairy farm. “I have been asked by so many people to do a kids’ book about Sydney,” Michelle admits. “That’s in the pipeline – it’s definitely something I’d love to do.” Michelle says she’s lucky to live on the 900-cow dairy farm, where her fiancé Steve is the contract milker, as it allows her to indulge her love of painting and photography. She also helps out on the farm and is the fulltime calf rearer during calving. Although she has now gained a significant equine-based clientele and business is going well – her Facebook page The Art of Michelle Clarke has over 11k followers – it wasn’t always this way. Michelle stopped painting for a few years after a failed attempt at a Fine Arts degree left her feeling that it would be impossible to make a living as an artist while retaining

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her own individual style. It was at this time that she started to focus more on photography, mainly at horse events around Canterbury, and on weekends she can often be found behind the lens at local competitions.

Art from a young age

Michelle grew up on a lifestyle block in the Waikato town of Otorohanga. “I was lucky enough to have horses growing up,” she says. “I started riding at about 10 and did the whole pony club thing.” As well as horses, art has always been a passion of hers. “I remember being in kindergarten when I was three and Mum having to bring home about ten scribbles every day. I loved it. I have the fondest memories of kindy, painting all day and not wanting to clean up and go home.” She pursued her love of painting through school, taking art and photography at high school. “And now I’ve got quite a few of my old teachers who follow me and have bought my art – they remember me as that kid who always drew in books!”

After finishing school, Michelle took a gap year before heading south to pursue an Architecture degree. She quickly discovered it wasn’t for her and decided to try a Fine Arts degree instead. “I thought that was one thing I wouldn’t fail at, but I hated it with a passion. I tried my arse off and still failed everything. I lasted nine months, and they implied I should drop out. It was awful, and no part of it inspired me to keep painting.” Disheartened, she stopped painting entirely and bounced around several jobs, trying her hand at bartending and working in a vet clinic. “I’d never thought about doing art seriously, and the attempted art degree had only confirmed to me that it was a stupid idea, so I focused on my photography a bit more, just shooting low key horse events in Canterbury.”

Building a following

Michelle can’t pinpoint exactly how her art took off as a serious way to make a living, but says social media played a significant role.

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“I didn’t really push anything, I just started painting again and posting it online. There was a competition I entered, a worldwide equine art competition, that was invite only, and I got selected to put an entry in. That really boosted things.” That competition was for the official poster of the 2015 Equus Film Festival in New York. From more than 275 entries, Michelle made the top 12. The competition was the first time she’d painted watercolour on canvas. “Painting large scale horses on paper is hard, so I tried watercolour on canvas, and it worked out well. I am moving towards doing more paintings on paper though, as canvas is quite limited.” The majority of her work features horses, as equestrians were the first audience she broadcast to. “I do paint other things,” she admits, “but it’s mainly horses, as I have a big horse clientele. “Horses are the thing I like painting most, but I also like painting sea life and birds, though I hate birds in real life! If there’s one in the house, I’m out. They’re a bit flappy and unpredictable, but nice to paint, especially ones with bright colours.” Michelle likes to follow her own unique style, though she does admire other artists, such as equine artist Tony O’Connor. “I think, at high school and in a Fine Arts degree, you’re always being told you can’t do your own thing – you have to be inspired by other artists and study them. But I’ve always done my own thing, and now it’s working out, which has totally changed my perception of what art is supposed to be. “I love Tony O’Connor’s work because it’s something I could never do. He does oils on canvas, big horse portraits. Every now and again I get inspired to paint in oils, but I never finish them. I have a love-hate relationship with oils!”

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Being accessible

Michelle hopes she will always be able to offer art that’s affordable to a wide audience, without sacrificing the quality of her work. “It’s hard with art, as the only way up is to get popular and start charging insane prices. I want to be an artist that everyone can afford. I always want to have options for everyone, not to be elitist,” she says. “But I can’t clone myself and produce more paintings – the only thing I can do is put prices up, so I’m a bit stuck really. I don’t want to be all about quantity and compromise on the quality. It’s a fine line.” One of her most significant achievements was having her art displayed in the VIP marquee at this year’s Horse of the Year Show. “It’s been a career highlight to have people I don’t know approach me, from top riders to young kids to friends of friends of friends, and tell me they follow me and love what I do – that means a lot. I always I assume I live in this little shell where people don’t know me.” Her studio is set up in one of the spare bedrooms in their house, though she admits in winter she’ll drag everything into the lounge and paint where it’s warm by the fire. “I paint better when it’s a rainy day, so I can’t procrastinate and go outside to play with my horses. If it’s sunny, beautiful weather I get cabin fever being inside. I’m lucky I can have both, being on the farm. “I’m a master procrastinator. Equidays is a classic example, I’ve had months to prepare, but then it was calving, and I did nothing. I’ll probably still be painting on the ferry, to be honest, but that’s

just how I’ve always worked. I’m terrible at time management.” Luckily, Steve is very business-minded and helps keep her on track. “To be able to do my dream job at 25 is horrendously lucky, but I wouldn’t be able to do it without Steve and living on the farm. His support is what makes it work. Like with Equidays prep, I can go weeks without earning a cent because I’m stockpiling work. If I lived in town and had to pay rent, that couldn’t happen. I never want to take that for granted.”

Sydney Sundays

Horses are taking a back seat at the moment competitionwise, though Michelle has her trusty Sydney, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred she got off the track as a six-year-old, and another young Thoroughbred as well. “Sydney is the naughtiest of them all. When I met Steve, he was farming on the West Coast. I moved over there and took Sydney with me. I moved him from his cushy stable, with an arena and other horse friends, and dumped him on a West Coast dairy farm, and he could not cope. “The first time he saw a cow he bolted through about three fences. It started as a one-off blog post – ‘my horse is an idiot, here’s a funny cartoon to go with it’. But every week he did something else stupid – running riot, pacing the fence. He did eventually get used to it, but he just constantly does dumb stuff. So I started doing a weekly ‘Sydney Sunday’, and he’s never failed to deliver.”

She was surprised by how much people loved the Sydney series. “I never thought I was that witty, but people think he’s brilliant. Now, when he does dumb stuff, I can’t be mad because at least it’s story content!” Despite his nutty behaviour, Michelle loves him. “He’s not the easiest horse, but he’s awesome. I’d never let him think otherwise, as he’s such a delight! He’s jumped around open cross-country, is cool to hunt and show jumps well, sometimes. And I could never sell him, because I’ve written all these terrible stories about him now!” she laughs. “I went to Equidays in the South Island last year and took a couple of Sydney pictures. The number of people who came up to me to tell me they loved ‘Sydney Sunday’ was amazing. Of all the things I do, these little drawings that take ten minutes are so popular – it’s crazy.” Check out more of Michelle’s work on her Facebook page ‘The Art of Michelle Clarke’ https://www.facebook.com/ michelleclarkephotography/ C

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SHOWCASE YOUR STALLION - Quality Equine Photography -

Stallions & Studs discounted pricing

And if you are looking for that special portrait of your favourite equine, get in touch. Pictured; Swarovski owned by Renai Hart

For more information contact Pip Hume - Email darkhorsephotography@xtra.co.nz

INTERVIEW

SHOW JUDGE EXTRAORDINAIRE

MARG HENDY

Marg Hendy has been involved in the showing scene for most of her life, and her exceptional eye for a horse is what sets her apart as a show judge. When choosing her champions, she has high expectations and is always looking for the horse or pony that truly stands out from the crowd.

WORDS Trudy Nicholson IMAGES Dark Horse Photography

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s a Grade One judge, Marg expects to see a high standard of turnout and riding in the ring. She is a stickler for detail – horses must have very correct conformation, and good movement is also essential. Horse of the Year is one of her favourite shows to judge, as she gets a real thrill from seeing New Zealand’s best competitors lining up together at the same show.

The wow factor

First impressions count, according to Marg. “I’m looking for the ‘wow factor’ when the horse or pony first enters the ring.” She likes to see a full performance and says that ringcraft is key. “Riders need to be aware that they are always on show, from the time they enter the ring until the time they leave it.” She likes to see a horse up in front, in a nice outline, not jammed in. Marg does not have a breed or colour preference and doesn’t play favourites. “I’m a great believer in judging what I see on the day, and not on a horse’s past performance,” she says. “Quality prevails every time.” Her high expectations extend to the riders as well as their mounts. “The horses are there to be judged, and riders need to be paying attention at all times. If called in, they need to listen carefully when the judge is explaining the workout.” She also expects riders to be courteous and polite to judges and officials.

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When judging a rider class, Marg likes to see an effective and correct rider, rather than one “just sitting pretty” on a horse. Correctly fitted tack and riding wear is something she is very particular about. “The saddle and bridle don’t need to be new, in fact, I prefer it to look used and comfortable, but most importantly it must fit both the horse and rider well.” Marg always wants to see horses presented immaculately, and prefers the traditional understated look, rather than a lot of bling and heavy makeup. “The horse and rider should complement each other,” she says. “Choose the colour of your jacket and accessories to complement your horse.” Show etiquette is essential, especially when being placed. “For example, if you’re placed second, don’t leave the ring – you should follow the first-place getter. Be proud that you were brought in and selected. Sometimes in a big class, it is an honour to be brought in and get any colour of ribbon.” She sees a bright future for the showing discipline in New Zealand. “There is a big improvement of the quality of horses and ponies, and there are some beautiful little riders out there. They are our future. Nowadays there is an abundance of instructors for any discipline.” She is pleased to see the Thoroughbred classes introduced throughout New Zealand. “A well conformed Thoroughbred can make a beautiful show horse.”

“Riders need to be aware that they are always on show, from the time they enter the ring until the time they leave it.”

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“I’m a great believer in judging what I see on the day, and not on a horse’s past performance. Quality prevails every time.” Small beginnings

Marg’s love affair with horses started at a young age. She began riding at age eight on a borrowed pony and had to ride bareback for six months before she was lucky enough to get an old saddle. Having a good jumping pony meant she never had to get off and open gates while riding on the family farm where she grew up, and she moved onto hacks when she was thirteen. Her father, Tracy Rodgers, took an interest in Marg’s riding pursuits and would transport her horses to shows and events in the general farm truck. She recalls her father arriving at the show and taking off to build the show jumping course, leaving her to attend to her three horses on her own. “I just got on with it!” she recalls. The family was active in the showing and eventing scenes, and over the years her father built show jumping courses for A&P shows, Pony Club events and Horse Trials, and designed and constructed cross-country courses all around the district. “Mum wasn’t horsey, as such, but was very supportive and kept us all fed [at shows and events] with loads of food.”

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A family affair

Today, as she did with her children, Marg takes pride in helping her grandchildren prepare their ponies for the ring. “I help with the turning out of the ponies – it’s my thing.” She is particularly fussy on attention to detail, with a focus on classic attire and everything being correct. Her fourteen-year-old granddaughter, Georgia Livingstone, produced and competes a pony Marg picked up as a two-year-old while in the North Island. Marg started many of her granddaughter’s ponies, including KS Peaches & Cream, who is now eight. Georgia and ‘Peaches’ have had much success in the ring together. However, due to a growth spurt, Georgia has moved onto her first hack, a Thoroughbred off the track that she will produce herself, and she has already managed to get her grandmother on board to try out the new mount. Georgia’s mother Felicia is an accomplished show rider herself and has taught Georgia the finer details of ring-craft and showing etiquette. Georgia’s brother Josh is taking a little break from riding, but Marg hopes he will get back into it again one day.

Downsizing

Now that her daughters Felicia and Amy have properties of their own, Marg and her husband Bob have downsized from forty acres to a smaller holding in rural Wakefield. They now have only three acres, which is just enough room to bring on some youngstock. Marg enjoys tending her English-style landscaped garden where the roses are in bloom. The gently rolling lawn, set against groves of trees, leads to a paddock where her two ponies graze. Bandit, a two-year-old Welsh Mountain Pony, is the latest addition. Marg enjoys having a project, and no matter the size she likes educating and bringing something on. She believes in taking youngstock out and about so that they get used to the show environment long before they are ridden in a class. “Establishing a bond with a horse beforehand is important. They will behave when they trust you, and they are much more confident.” With only two ponies on the property, and her show horses out on lease, Marg now has the freedom she needs to travel, judge, and tutor judges around the country. “I love going off and judging. I’ve met so many wonderful people, including both national and international judges.” And little Bandit is already proving to be a champion in his own right. “I’ve always liked nice horses and ponies,” Marg says. “I couldn’t show something I’m not happy with.” C

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INTERVIEW WORDS & IMAGES Trudy Nicholson

COACHING THE COACHES

There is no doubting that Jeanette Garrett is a woman of vision. Her foresight and equestrian coaching skills have taken her from one side of the world to the other, and 25 years after emigrating from the UK, Jeanette is still actively involved in coaching in New Zealand, facilitating courses for coaches throughout the country. 78

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“Pony Club is about the quality of the coaching, and having the skills to understand how a particular child likes to learn.” DUST FREE

ABSORBEN

ack in 1993, Jeanette Garrett quite right, they can dip into their toolbox for was tutoring equine courses at the tool that may assist them. For example, Houghhall Agricultural College they might try a leg yield to get the horse into ABSORBENT DURABLE DUST FREE in the UK when she first met the outside rein, things like that.” Jeanette points out that a different coaching Kiwi student Sue Graham, who NATURALLY ABSORBENT DURABLE DUST FREE RE EASY TO children was to be the catalyst for her approach is required for teaching ANTIBACTERIAL EC USE ABSORBEN DUST FREE rather than for adults. move to New Zealand. “Pony Club is about the quality of the coaching, “We took on a lot of Kiwi girls as they were highly motivated,” Jeanette says. “Sue and having the skills to understand how each suggested that I make a visit to her country child likes to learn. Children are so different to facilitate seminars for New Zealand’s Pony from adults to teach – they say it how it is, and NATURALL ABSORBENT DURABLE DUST FREE NATURALLY EASY TO RE DURABLE DUST FREE are delightfully honest.” Jeanette laughs. “I onceABSORBENT Club coaches.” ANTIBACTER ANTIBACTERIAL USE EC The idea certainly appealed to her. “I bought asked a little boy how his pony was going, to my ticket, and it wasn’t until I looked on the which he responded, ‘Rotten, he just won’t go, ABSORBENT DURABLE map that I realised just how far across the even though I’ve told him I love him’.” DUST FREE But no matter what age or level you are globe I’d be travelling! But, if you take the first teaching, Jeanette says, “You want coaches step, other opportunities come to you.” Jeanette was soon offered an opportunity with good knowledge of how to coach. That’s why FREE new coaches need to train, and DURABLE to be that would prove to be life-changing. “I wasDUST NATURALLY ABSORBENT TO ABSORBENT DUST FREE EASY ABSORBENT DURABLE DUST FREE approached by NZPCA to move permanently open to being mentored by more experienced ABSORBENT DUST FREE ANTIBACTERIAL USE to New Zealand and become a NAT [NZPCA coaches. We should be pooling our knowledge National Coach] to get their Pony Club coaching and sharing with those who are going ahead NATURALLY ABSORBENT DURABLE DUST FREE systems established. They were aware that of us. Rather than holding that knowledge in a ANTIBACTERI to share it.” EASY TO RECYCLABLE & I’d been training coaches for donkeys’ years. hierarchical way, we should wantNATURALLY NATURALLY EASY TO ANTIBACTERIAL ECO-FRIENDLY ANTIBACTERIAL USE USE All my students were doing BHS exams and wanted to become coaches.” For over a decade she travelled the country, Jeanette helped to develop the NZQA Equine coaching horse and rider combinations, Unit Standards and equestrian qualifications ABSORBENT DURABLE NATURALLY ABSORBENT DURABLE DUST FREE DUST FREE and RECYCLABLE EASY TO NATURALLY EASY TO training and assessing equestrian coaches for for equestrian coaches, stable hands, and ANTIBACTERIAL ECO-FRIEND USE ANTIBACTERIAL NZPCA and the New Zealand equine industry.DUST competition horse grooms. She also facilitates USE NATURALLY EASY TO ABSORBENT DURABLE FREE courses for coaches throughout the country. ANTIBACTERIAL USE “The general equestrian public often doesn’t “I have a strong passion for coaching. I never realise the importance of using a qualified want to stop doing it,” Jeanette says. “I like coach, especially now, with the new health and the variety I have now, and I have a fantastic safety rules. The modern-day implications of DUST F safetyFREE law mean that coaches variety of coaches and riders to coach. It the health and ABSORBENT DURABLE DUST NATURALLY RECYCLABLE & EASY TO need to be aware of their responsibilities. doesn’t matter to me what level they are at, NATURALLY ABSORBENT DURABLE DUST FREE RECYCLABLE & EASY TO ANTIBACTERIAL ECO-FRIENDLY USE as long as they are focused on getting better. If someone is coaching – outside ANTIBACTERIAL of RDA ECO-FRIENDLY USE or NZPCA – they will be liable. If a coach I like seeing the step-by-step progress of NATURALLY EASY TO RECYCLABLE ABSORBENT DURABLE DUST FREE students, and, when coaching, I like to provide is registered with Equestrian Sports New ANTIBACTERIAL USE ECO-FRIENDL my riders with tools. I want them to become Zealand, they are covered by their registration NZ FREEPHONE autonomous and able to solve their own fee, but all other coaches are not, and should problems, so I provide them with a ‘toolbox’, hold public and indemnity insurance.” ABSOR DUST FREE ABSORBENT DURABLE Jeanette says that many coaches out there which contains the right tool to help withDUST any FREE NATUR NATURALLY RECYCLABLE & EASY TO issue. So, when schooling at home isn’t going may not know this. She also points out that

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this liability applies whether a coach is remunerated for their work or is a volunteer. “If you take on the responsibility of being a coach, you will do credit to yourself and the people you coach by keeping an open mind to learning about how to coach and updating your skills,” she says. “It’s easy for Pony Club instructors to update – there is a course which they can do in small bites if they re-register every year. We have a lot of people out there with knowledge, and if they just knew how to deliver it effectively, it would be good.” The best plan for anyone interested in becoming a coach is to contact their local regional sports trust, as they offer coaching courses. There are seventeen regional sports trusts around New Zealand, and Jeanette says this will give an insight into how to become a coach and what is involved. “While it doesn’t give you an equestrian coaching qualification, it will give you a way to get started. Whether you coach tennis or equestrian sports, you’ll be amazed by how much common ground there is. It’s about learning how to teach and gives a few basic tools on how to coach. Some of the graduates fold back as mentors, training new coaches.”

Competition days

Jeanette gained her BHSI qualification in her early twenties, and in the years following, ran many competition yards and riding schools in the UK with up to seventy horses, staff, students and full-time instructors at any one time. She imported Dutch Warmbloods, bringing them over to the UK from Holland. She trained and competed them, and sold them on for jumping and dressage. But it was an Irish horse that stole her heart. “I was ambitious, and the chief instructor of the Household Cavalry told me about a three-year-old Irish-bred horse he had, to keep his weanling company. When I first saw George, he was quite gawky and a bit of an ugly duckling, but I could see he would grow into something good, and he had a kind eye. I followed my gut instinct and had him until he was twenty-eight. He did anything I asked: point-to-point, 2* eventing, dressage… He turned out to be a fabulous horse.” During her UK riding days, Jeanette describes working in Austria

“When coaching, I like to provide my riders with tools — I want them to become autonomous and solve their own problems.”

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as her ‘gold experience’, training with Arthur Kotas and Hans Riegler, riders at the Spanish Riding School, in their private yards. “I would watch the advanced horses at the school, and at the riders’ yards. I later bought a Lipizzaner stallion called Tarno from John Lasseter at Goodwood House. I learnt such a lot from that horse, not just the higher-level dressage movements, but about understanding stallions – he was a whole different genre. Stallions are very different to work with – you don’t treat them in the same way as a gelding or mare. It had to be a shared conversation.” Competition still calls her. When she’s not coaching, Jeanette puts on her ball gown and dancing shoes and competes on dance floors with her partner, David; not only in the Tasman district where she lives, but all around the country. She says she especially enjoys Ballroom and New Vogue dances. Like riding, dancing demands a high level of fitness, so it is not unusual for Jeanette to be swimming laps of the pool at 5:30 a.m. She also enjoys walking beside the sea on the walking track close to her home in Motueka. “Keeping fit, selfimprovement and continued learning is important to me.” Although Jeanette no longer rides, her energetic and encouraging approach to the equestrian world continues, and she enjoys sharing her knowledge with others. Twenty-five years after her move to New Zealand, Jeanette’s enthusiasm for coaching remains as strong as ever, and she is an invaluable resource to coaches around the country. C

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TRAINING

PROGRESSIVE DRESSAGE WITH JANELLE SANGSTER-WARD In this article, our trainer, coach and dressage rider Janelle Sangster-Ward demonstrates the progression of the dressage horse from Level 1 to Level 4. Riding two of the mares in her current team, Janelle gives a practical demonstration of the training scale in action.

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MEET THE HORSES

LEVEL 1 – RASPBERRY

LEVEL 4 – LILLI

Dunstan SWE Furstinberri (Raspberry) is a five-year-old mare by Furstenball out of SWE Rascalina (Rascalino). She is a second generation of the Sangster-Ward breeding programme and is owned by Janelle in partnership with her parents Helen Sangster and Ross Ward. Last season Raspberry was aimed at the Young Dressage Horse show, where she won both rounds of the Four-Year-Old class and was overall Four-Year-Old South Island Young Dressage Horse champion. This season she will do a few Level 1 and 2 shows and Five-Year-Old dressage horse classes. Janelle really rates this mare, saying, “She has amazing natural energy. We are taking her quietly but next season will be exciting with her!”

Vollrath Liason (Lilli) is a ten-year-old Lessing/Worldwide mare owned by Richard and Sue Woerlee. Janelle says that she has taken her time over the winter to form a partnership with Lilli, after doing one show with her since she took over the ride, for Reserve Champion Level 4. This season, the aim is to compete at Horse of the Year and Nationals at Level 4, with the goal for next season being Prix St Georges. The ultimate aim for Lilli is Grand Prix. To date, her extended paces have been her strongest point, however Janelle says that she is showing great promise in the collected work.

THE LEVEL 1 HORSE

THE LEVEL 4 HORSE

At Level 1 the horse will be slightly lower and longer in her neck than for other levels, with a little flexion and the nose just in front of the vertical.

Shows more throughness; more engagement. The connection to the bit needs to be more established.

WHAT IS THE TRAINING SCALE? Janelle explains: The training scale (or scale of training), was originally formalised in Germany. It is a training system that establishes the progressive requirements to develop horses through to Grand Prix level. In training, it’s critical that everything is very black and white so that the horse can understand what is required. Horses don’t understand grey areas. As riders, we have to constantly work on being more disciplined and more precise, so that our aids are totally consistent. I work on that every day – no one’s perfect, and everyone needs eyes on the ground to give feedback. It can be anyone; you don’t have to have a high level rider there to tell you what it looks like. Once a week, I work solely on my position, including work without stirrups. My horses only spend three or four days each week in the arena and they hack twice a week to keep their brains and their bodies fresh. If I can’t manage to get away to hack, I will ride them in the paddock on the grass. I ride my young horse bareback in a halter and rope. I do a lot of pole work on my horses, teaching them to stretch over the poles. Teaching them to jump helps get a little more bounce in the canter and also keeps them fresh in their minds, plus you are strength training without the stress of, for example, trying to ride collected canter every day.

SCALE OF TRAINING COLLECTION Increased engagement, lightness of the forehand, self carriage

STRAIGHTNESS Improved alignment and balance

IMPULSION Increased energy and thrust

CONTACT Acceptance of the bit through acceptance of the aids

RHYTHM With energy and tempo

RELAXATION With elasticity and suppleness

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TRAINING WITH PURPOSE

Day to day, I try to always have a goal and a plan for my rides – but sometimes the plan changes according to how the horse comes out of the paddock, and how the day is going! But no matter what, the number one rule is that it’s always about the horse’s relaxation – the first element on the training scale. I never want to finish a session with the horse uptight, tense and not going well. If what I am doing isn’t going well, I go back a few steps. I stop and have a breather and a think. If this isn’t working, why not? If she is losing her relaxation, then doing an exercise a hundred times isn’t going to improve it! If she’s stressed, it’s not going to work.

Not every horse understands the questions in the same way, so as to be able to give the rider the correct answer. If your horse is struggling to understand what you are asking, stop and think about how to explain it better. Sometimes you just have to try a few different things – a different way of explaining it to the horse. Sometimes it’s simply that the horse tries too hard! If all I can achieve one day is walk and trot on a soft contact, then at least I finish in a good spot. If your horse is having behavioural issues, look at the bigger picture. Does your tack fit correctly? Are her feet right? Does she need bodywork?

THE WALK FOR LEVEL 1 For the lower level horse, the free walk on a long rein is one of the most important movements. In a dressage test, this movement has a coefficient of 2, meaning that it scores double points. The walk is the one movement that has coefficient scores right through to Grand Prix, so obviously it pays to practice and execute it well!

LENGTHENING THE NECK In the walk, I allow the neck to lengthen as I ask for a longer stride. Although my reins are longer, the connection is maintained and I make sure that her nose remains in front of the vertical.

WALK The walk must be active and purposeful, with a clear over-track. To check if your horse is over-tracking, look at his hoofprints. In walk, the hoofprint left by the hind hoof should be slightly ahead of that left by the fore.

“IT’S IMPORTANT THAT ALTHOUGH WALK MY REINS ARE LONG, I CAN STILL FREE As I ride the free walk, I want to push her neck out so it lengthens, then ask for the stride to lengthen. Her poll should FEEL A CONNECTION WITH THE be slightly lower than her wither, with her nose just in front the HORSE’S MOUTH.” vertical. 88

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THE WALK FOR LEVEL 4 By Level 4, we are asking for collected walk, medium walk and extended walk. In all of the walk movements, the pace should be active and purposeful, with the nose slightly in front of the vertical.

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COLLECTED WALK I ask for the collected walk with small half-halts – a little touch with my leg, a little squeeze of the reins (not pulling back) to catch the energy so that she comes up a little, rather than stretching more forward. Lilli remains active with the same brisk rhythm, but as she takes a shorter, higher step she doesn’t cover as much ground. She feels more bouncy under my seat.

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TROT LEVEL ONE In trot, the lower level horse will be slightly lower and longer in her neck than for the other levels, with a little bit of flexion – but not behind the vertical. I have to keep pushing Raspberry’s nose out all the time!

WORKING TROT I want a gentle ‘feel’ forward into my hands; it’s a soft but positive feeling of connection. When Raspberry starts to run, or trots too quickly, I slow my rising to help her adjust her rhythm, rather than pulling back on the reins. I try to have a metronome in my head to get that rhythm I’m looking for. She should feel as though she is swinging softly through her body, not running along or falling forward onto her forehand.

STRETCHY TROT In the stretchy trot, again I want that positive ‘feel’ forward into my hands, with the nose in front of the vertical. The rhythm doesn’t change, and I need to make sure I can keep her shoulders up and she doesn’t tip onto the forehand. As her strength improves I will get a better stretch, but I only ever ask for what she can do right now while maintaining her balance. I prefer to do my stretchy trot on a circle because it’s easier for her to maintain her balance, and I don’t ask for too many steps at once - I stretch, then bring the horse up again, then stretch again.

CARRYING ON FOR CIRCLE AFTER CIRCLE DOESN’T NECESSARILY IMPROVE THE QUALITY!

TROT LEVEL FOUR

WORKING TROT

By Level 4, the horse is capable of showing much greater differences between collected, working, medium and extended trots.

In working trot, Lilli is showing nice activity. She is forward and is tracking up, so that her hind hoof will land in the track left by her fore, and she is showing nice suspension. Extended paces have been Lilli’s strength, so at this stage I am working more on collection and I am always trying to improve any weaknesses that come up in training.

MEDIUM TROT In medium trot, Lilli is covering more ground, over-tracking and showing more lift and suspension.

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COLLECTED TROT Because my ultimate goal with Lilli is Grand Prix, she has started learning baby half-steps of passage. She can only manage one or two steps right now, but over the next couple of years she will do little bits all the time so she can build up her strength. I allow her to do this work with a very light contact and make it fun – she can bounce in and bounce out!

IF SHE MAKES MISTAKES, FOR EXAMPLE COMING ABOVE THE BIT, I REALLY DON’T CARE AS LONG AS SHE STAYS RELAXED AND ENJOYS IT. This work can be very physically demanding for the horse, so it has to be a party trick that she can show off rather than something that’s forced. I play with it a little bit every day, although on a day when she is feeling very tight in her body, I would leave it alone.

CANTER LEVEL ONE

With young horses, I like to keep the canter big, loose, soft and as straight as possible, particularly with a big striding horse. I don’t do too many small circles; I like to focus on big 20 metre circles or squares using half of the arena to concentrate on straightness.

I DON’T EXPECT AS MUCH COLLECTION AT THIS LEVEL

WORKING CANTER You can use half of the arena to make a rectangle with curved ends and straight sides, thinking about keeping the horse as much in shoulder-fore as possible and not trying to slow the canter by pulling her in from the front. Over time, the horse learns, through the use of transitions and circles, to sit a little more. I never ride deep into the corners in canter because that makes it difficult for the horse to balance. I am always striving to keep the quality of the canter.

CANTER SHOULDER-FORE In shoulder-fore, the horse’s shoulders should be just slightly to the inside of the track. If you look at the horse from above, in canter they will naturally want their shoulders to be the outside and their quarters in, so we need to teach them otherwise.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EVERY TIME YOU RIDE THE CANTER, YOU RIDE THAT SLIGHT SHOULDER-FORE WITH A YOUNGER HORSE SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

CANTER LEVEL FOUR

I often start Lilli’s sessions in canter, which works better for some horses. I stretch her in the canter, then put in some collection, then stretch her again a little, adding some working canter to freshen her up. This work is about getting her to adjust her body so that she becomes loose and doesn’t hold herself in one frame.

COUNTER CANTER Moving from Level 4 to Level 5, I am training flying changes. I have a very clear system for setting the horse up for the change, so that the horse waits for the rider’s final leg aid before changing. I also continue training counter canter and make sure it is established in every session before I train flying changes.

COLLECTED CANTER To help develop collection in canter, so that I don’t start pulling on my reins to collect her, I use a smaller circle to help her shift her weight a bit more onto the hind end. I generally introduce this work when the horse is working at Level 2 or 3. As the horse gains in strength and ability to maintain her own balance without leaning on my hands for support, I can decrease the size of the circles I am asking for, from 20m down to 15m and then 10m.

THE HALT To halt from trot, I want to bring the trot back almost to walk speed and still feel that the balance is on the hind legs. I focus on letting the horse halt naturally, rather than pulling her into an abrupt halt. If we just pull on the reins, we lose the connection and the hind end goes out the back. I make the halt quite gradual with a lower level horse, slowly bringing the trot back and making sure I have the balance, and then even if the horse walks into the halt, I don’t mind. Once the balance into halt is established, then I teach the horse to be square. This picture demonstrates that although Raspberry is not square behind, she has maintained her balance. When I’m training at home, it’s about keeping the balance, rather than necessarily halting in the perfect spot. When riding a test you do have to aim to halt in a particular spot, but when I’m training at home I don’t want my horse to drop her front end and leave her hind legs out the back into walk and then into halt. Sitting through the transition helps me to keep the horse engaged.

IF THE BACK IS SOFT AND SWINGING AND THEY STAY BALANCED WHEN I’M SITTING, THEN I WILL BRING THE TROT BACK GRADUALLY INTO WALK AND THEN INTO HALT 92

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

Although the halt is not square, Raspberry has maintained her balance well.

Lilli has made a nice, square halt, but her hind legs are not sufficiently underneath her body.

JANELLE UP CLOSE

Over a number of trips to Germany, Janelle Sangster-Ward gained a thorough understanding of the German training scale, which provides a solid basis for the progressive training of horses. Based in Canterbury, the 36-year-old rider has an impressive client base that spans the equestrian disciplines, for both her coaching and her muscle therapy businesses. “Initially, I went to the PSI [Performance Sales International] as a rider for six months, and following that I went to Hubertus Schmidt’s stable for a further six months, riding horses from breakers through to Grand Prix,” explains Janelle. “Over the subsequent three years, I spent each winter with Hubertus Hufendiek. “That experience in Germany has given me a solid knowledge of the scale of training, and I still think back for the ‘feel’ I learnt over there. I was especially lucky to go to Hubertus Schmidt’s yard, as not many people get that opportunity,” she adds. “His horses are extremely happy and he works with each one as an individual – that’s something that really came home to me when I was at his stable. The horses have to enjoy their work. Keeping the horses happy and relaxed is fundamental; more important than anything else.” Unfortunately, some setbacks along the way have severely limited Janelle’s upperlevel competition over the past few seasons. An injury to her very successful mare, SWE Roulette, while competing in Australia, ended Rolly’s competition career, although she has gone on to be an outstanding broodmare. After taking Astek Ghisella through to the upper levels, Janelle sold the mare to Australia, in part to help fund the purchase of a property in Canterbury for herself and her partner Josh King, and also to concentrate on her ‘dream horse’, her homebred Sir Donnerhall gelding. However, an unfortunate injury meant that he had to be euthanised, leaving Janelle with just a three-year-old in the paddock at that time. “We had to make a choice,” Janelle recalls. “We either sold Ghissie, or we sold the good young horses. We found the absolute best home for her in Australia, so now we’ve got some really nice young horses that just have to grow up. I knew I would be lacking horsepower for a time, but the young horses are special. I am currently starting my three-year-old by Negro out of SWE Roulette under saddle, and he is particularly exciting.” Janelle also suffered a serious injury last year, fracturing her back in two places, and considers herself lucky to be back in the saddle, riding her own horses as well as Lilli. However, she says that while work commitments (and a mortgage!) make it difficult to get back to Germany, she continues to work with Hubertus on his regular trips to New Zealand, and she also enjoys training with Vanessa Way. “My goal is to consistently produce my homebred horses to the best of their ability. The goal is always Grand Prix – but some of them might prefer to show jump or event! Financially, I don’t think competing for New Zealand is realistic for me, so I just want to consistently produce happy horses.” Alongside her coaching business, Janelle provides muscle therapy services to the sport horse and racing industries. Having completed a B.Sc. at Lincoln University, Janelle went on to gain a post-graduate diploma in myofunctional therapy. “In New Zealand, equine therapists are unregulated, but I believe practitioners need a formal qualification, because you can do damage,” she says. “I’m really interested in equine biomechanics and keeping horses sound at the highest levels.” C

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13 STORES NATIONWIDE SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

TRAINING

ESNZ TRAINING CAMP FOR EVENTERS PART TWO

The South Island Eventing Camp held in August at McLeans Island brought together a large group of riders and ESNZ High Performance coaches for an intensive and interactive two days, spanning all three disciplines. Our three-part series follows a group of three riders and horses at 1* level.

In the second of three parts, we follow our three riders, Annabelle Jones, Claudia Faulkner and Georgie Dickson as they tackle the show jumping phase with Performance coach Jonathan (Jock) Paget. Words Pip Hume Images Dark Horse Photography

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

MEET THE TRAINER Now based back in New Zealand with his wife and young son, world-class eventing rider Jonathan (Jock) Paget is enjoying his role as Performance Coach with ESNZ. He sees the role as an opportunity to help with the development of eventing riders in New Zealand, and as a chance to ‘give back’ to the sport he loves. Jock is keen to share the experience he gained during the seven years he spent overseas, competing at the world’s top events, with young and developing riders and combinations throughout New Zealand. As he continues to campaign his own small team, the equestrian public will be able to follow his progress at close quarters on the local scene.

ANNABELLE JONES I’m 15 years old and in Year 11 at school. I’m from Arrowtown, but I go to school in Christchurch. I’ve been riding since I was four years old, and have learnt so much from it. I’ve always loved the challenge of constantly trying to better my riding – it’s certainly not an easy sport! My horse is Quintero, known as Tommy, a nine-yearold Thoroughbred who is around 17hh and competed at 1* level with his previous owner. We are a new combination and have only been together for a month. So far, I have really enjoyed getting to know him and am very excited to see where the next few seasons take us!

DEVELOPING BALANCE After watching Annabelle canter Tommy over some jumps, Jock comments that, at this stage, Tommy needs a lot of help with his balance. “He gets quick in front so you need to slow him down; it might even feel too slow to you. Ask him to become shorter, then give him the rein. When he runs away, slow him down again, then give him the rein again. You need to teach him to carry himself; that you’re not going to carry him.” As the jumping progresses to short courses, Annabelle finds that Tommy often disunites in the canter. “Don’t worry about it,” Jock reassures her. “It’s common for this to happen when the horse is learning to carry the weight behind. Correct him – come back into trot and get him to strike off correctly. Put him in balance and get him to carry himself.”

Lack of balance makes jumping difficult

“Think about it like driving a car,” Jock urges Annabelle. “When you land in fifth gear, think about coming down through the gears. Land from the fence, feel him wait, then you can kick away. Create that habit.”

“I like him when he backs off and you can put the leg on.”

Maintaining better balance makes the course easier for Tommy

Tommy also tends to lose power after the jump, which makes him long and flat, so Annabelle needs to pick him up and rebalance him. Once he is better balanced and carrying himself, Annabelle can let him travel more, making the fences easier for him.

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

ANNABELLE’S COMMENTS

JOCK’S COMMENTS

My show jumping lesson with Jock was very good! Again, as for my cross-country lesson, the main focus was balance. Since Tommy is such a big and powerful horse it was very hard for a start to find the right canter where I could let go and he wouldn’t run away from me, but would instead stay balanced. Jock and I spent some time working on giving Tommy the rein and then shortening him back up again until he wouldn’t canter off with me. Very quickly Tommy relaxed and began to carry himself, while staying in the same rhythm. Once we found the right balance it made jumping a lot easier. It was also really good to get an idea of how to ride Tommy through a course and to build our bond.

Tommy’s a big fellow and kind. When Annabelle puts him in his rhythm, he looks really happy. Once he becomes more consistent, she can add more power – in six months’ time she will be able to add another gear, then after another six months, another gear. Add the gears over the years!

CLAUDIA FAULKNER I’m 23 years old and a Health and Physical Education teacher at Lincoln High School. Currently I have a team of six horses in work, ranging from a four-year-old OTTB to my more experienced horse Citadel, who I am aiming to compete at 2* this spring. Tripel Shot, otherwise known as Elvis, is a seven-year-old Thoroughbred gelding by Road to Rock. He has recently been competing at CNC105 and I’m hoping to start him at CNC1* this spring. Elvis is great across country and has a very good jump; he just needs more experience and to see different types of jumps to gain confidence.

DEVELOPING THE CANTER “The canter is the foundation for the jump. The quality of the jump directly reflects the quality of your canter,” Jock says. For Claudia and Elvis, the lesson is about adding power to the canter, making the jumping efforts easier for Elvis.

“Use the half-halt to balance him and sit him up, then ride him forward to add the power.”

“Use the half-halt to balance him and set him up, then ride him forward to add the power,” Jock instructs. “Land from the fence, half-halt to get that feeling of sitting him up, then ride him forward.” This is particularly important in the combinations – doubles and trebles.

“When you jump in with more power, you’ll have enough in hand to have some adjustability and you won’t run out of power for the second and third fences. It makes it easier for him.” The increased power in Elvis’s canter makes the jumps easier 96

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

CLAUDIA’S COMMENTS I need to make sure I don’t have Elvis in his smallest canter; I need to have more power so there is some adjustability there when I need it. When his canter isn’t big enough, there’s no adjustability.

JOCK’S COMMENTS

With more power in his canter, Elvis is able to cope much better with spreads

It’s important that Claudia keeps the power in Elvis’s canter so that she doesn’t let his jump get too weak. Jumping him out of an underpowered canter puts him at the limit of his range and makes it difficult for him – he needs more revs! Once she puts that power into his canter and there’s more adjustability, Elvis is able to cope much better with spreads, combinations and related lines.

GEORGIE DICKSON

I’m 18 years old, and from Dingleburn Station - an isolated station up the east side of Lake Hawea. I spent my primary school years at home, learning by correspondence, and I’m now a Year 13 student at Craighead, a small school in Timaru. I am lucky enough to privately board with the Rowley family, which has been a huge advantage for my riding over the past five years. A unique aspect of life at the Dingle is that it takes an hour and a half to drive a float down our driveway, or two hours to ride out the road! Tigger (Tigerhertz) is a 16.1hh, eight-year-old Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding. His previous owner Alex Anderson successfully competed him to CNC105 and I have owned him for just over a year. I have enjoyed coming together as a partnership and completing our first 1* at the end of last season at Central Districts, where we were second in the Junior Rider class.

DEVELOPING ADJUSTABILITY Georgie would like to work on making Tigger more adjustable as she travels around a show jumping course. His tendency is to travel too fast, which makes for a difficult ride for Georgie. After Georgie jumps the first few warm up fences, Jock asks her to halt Tigger after each jump. “He’s thinking forward, wanting to run to the next jump. Halting him after the jump will encourage him to wait a little.”

“Between the fences is the place to check him, and that’s best done in time with each stride, so it’s whoa, whoa, whoa – a give and take. There’s no point in pulling at him because he just grabs the bit, leans and pulls again.” Tigger keeps wanting to run to the next jump SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

Georgie checks Tigger as they travel around the course

He encourages Georgie to sit lightly so that Tigger is more accepting of her seat.

“When you’re coming to the fence, take the pressure off,” he explains. “Keep the leg on, but make it more passive. An active leg will encourage him to run off after the jump.” With Tigger, it’s especially important that Georgie gives him a ‘reset’ as he travels around the course. “Keep working on refining the ‘whoa’ so that you can use a smaller check to keep Tigger from running off,” explains Jock. “At this stage, you have to make it happen – be firm with Tigger and say, ‘no, you can’t grab the bit and run off.’ The most effective way is to check him in rhythm with his strides, for say three strides. If you just take a pull it gives him something to pull against.”

“You can’t change what is happening in the last three strides going into the jump – all you can do is half-halt with both reins and then let go.”

GEORGIE’S COMMENTS

A more harmonious partnership

The main points Jock focused on were adjustability and balance between the fences and through combinations. He set up challenging lines and combinations in the show jumping course which reinforced just how important it is to be able to adjust your horse. Jock kept it simple and straightforward, yet I got a lot out of my lesson.

DEVELOPING YOUR PLAN RIDING A COURSE All three riders have shown that they know how to ride a line, so Jock urges them to make a plan when they are walking a course. “By walking the course and understanding the mathematics of the questions the course designer has set, you can be flexible if things don’t go according to plan. For example, if you walk a related line and plan for four forward strides and then the horse jumps well but shifts to one side, you will know that you probably won’t get the four strides, so you will go for five. If you don’t understand the mathematics of the question, you won’t know what to do when things go wrong.”

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JOCK’S COMMENTS Georgie was able to use her sense of feel and good timing to rebalance Tigger between the fences and keep him in his rhythm. Working with him in this way made the job easier for both of them – a good job!

If you don’t know what the mathematics of the course are, you won’t know what to do when things go wrong. “The important thing is to have a plan,” he says. “If the canter is right and the planned striding is right it will work; if not, the mathematics won’t add up. Having a plan will help you deal with those unexpected ‘curve balls’ that course designers like to throw in!” “When you walk the course, look for the spaces where you will have room to reset, where you can rebalance the horse and set yourself up for the next line.”

JOCK With an Olympic bronze medal from the 2012 London Olympics, a win at Badminton, a win at the British Open and second place at Burghley amongst his numerous high-level international placings, Jock Paget has had an illustrious eventing career to date. With so much success under his belt, his move back to New Zealand may have come as a surprise to some, but Jock remains certain that it was the right decision for him. In late 2016, Jock and his wife Tegan returned to New Zealand from their UK base and settled at their property in Reporoa, close to the National Equestrian Centre at Taupo. Although there has been a drastic reduction in the number of horses at home (from a team of 15 in the UK, he has downsized to just two), Jock has kept busy with developing the property, his coaching duties as Performance Coach with ESNZ, and the birth of his son Billy in 2017. “I miss the action, but with that action came a certain lifestyle,” he explains. “During the seven years I was in the UK, I was constantly on the road through the season and only had maybe one or two weekends free between March and October. Now I’m loving being at home with my family. “It’s been quiet on the competition front over the past 18 months, but I’ve learnt more during that time than at any other stage of my career, because after all that time on the competition treadmill, I’ve had a chance to step back and reflect. For the first time, I’ve had the time and space to process everything I learnt over that period.” His participation in High Performance Sport NZ’s three-year Coach Accelerator Programme has definitely aided that, he says. “It’s a life-changing course; some of what I am learning is just

mind-blowing. I wish I’d known it when I was riding in the UK!” Jock loves working with so many different horse-and-rider combinations through his coaching role with ESNZ. “It’s about finding a way of articulating what you want so that each individual understands the message. Sometimes it’s frustrating not to be able to find the right words, and I just want to hop on the horse to see if it can go how I want it to! I’m learning to work through that without getting on the horse. It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s also the really fun part!” He is excited about the future of eventing. “There are just so many good riders and good horse people in New Zealand. The major challenge when it comes to competing internationally from a base here is the lack of exposure to the standard required to win on the world stage, but Clarke Johnstone has proved that it can be done.” Jock plans to travel to international events each year. This year, he’s been to the World Equestrian Games with the Eventing team, although his own plans for competing there didn’t quite come together. Angus Blue, who came here from the UK with Jock, is a horse he really rates. He had a successful outing at Melbourne in June last year, winning the CCI3* before an injury later in the year sidelined him for the season. “He looks and feels good now,” Jock reports. He also has the young Holsteiner Bing Bong in his stable, and is looking to add another couple of horses. “Four will be my limit,” he says. “Competing four very high-quality horses will be a very different dynamic. I will have to learn how to do it a different way.” C

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

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

CANDYMAN GNZ 16.1hh 4-year-old stallion CandyMan GNZ is a sensational young stallion with the looks, movement and pedigree of a superstar and almost unlimited abilities with a refined technique. 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.

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Kira XVII (Holsteiner)

Caletto II (Holsteiner)

Isidor

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Lavall I

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PENNSYLVANIA THE ONLY STALLION IN NZ THAT HAVE COMPETED AT 5* LEVEL

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Grannus

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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! ***

QUINEUS GNZ

CARTELL GNZ

16.3hh - Bay

17hh - Chestnut - 2008

POWER - SCOPE - TECHNIQUE - ELEGANCE

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.

16.3hh 4-year-old stallion Are you looking for an international quality show jumping prospect? Quineus GNZ has it all, he is an eye-catching stallion that exhibits scope, beautiful form, technique and confidence over fences. Quineus GNZ is a modern, elegant stallion with super conformation. He is very uphill, with a great shoulder and shape to the neck. He has 3 outstanding gaits; lengthy walk, expressive trot with excellent mechanics, and an uphill, active canter which is very balanced. He displays this super movement both at liberty and under saddle. Quineus GNZ has an exceptional character, with a very willing and happy attitude towards work. He is quite a unique young stallion, with immense jumping prospect, rideability and focus. He is an eye-catching welldeveloped stallion with his gleaming coat, light chrome, leggy good looks, and correct conformation. Suitable for breeding a modern jumping athlete.

FRESH SEMEN AVAILABLE STUD FEE - $2000 + GST - LFG

(Selle Français)

Quantum

(Selle Français)

Ulla V

(Holsteiner)

(Hanoverian) (Thoroughbred)

Raenga

(Thoroughbred)

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

SERVICE FEE $2500.00 + GST - LFG

(Selle Français)

Dirka

(Selle Français)

Cor de la Bryère (Selle Français HLP)

Ella

Gambaldi (Hanoverian)

Dreamy

(Hanoverian)

Te Pek Galeno

POWER - PEDIGREE - PRESENCE

Jalisco B

(Holsteiner)

Gineus

Goldengrove Stud Farm believes that Cartell has and passes on the crucial three P’s:

Postillion

(Thoroughbred)

Puherangi

CARTELL GNZ

QUINEUS GNZ

Quidam de Revel

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.

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)

(Thoroughbred)

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! ***

LAMONDO GNZ HOLST

CASSIUS GNZ

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.

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.

17hh - 2011 - Bay

16.3hh - Bay

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 superb 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

STUD FEE $2000 + GST LFG APPLIES

SWE DEMPSEY Rhineland Stallion by Damsey FRH X Dressage Royal/ Sir Donnerhall/Rubenstein Just started under saddle as a 3-year-old Dempsey displays all the wonderful attributes you would expect to experience with these bloodlines. The image of his famous sire this handsome young stallion is turning heads already making him a smart choice for breeders looking for show qualities partnered with movement and trainability. This his first season at stud. Stud fee $2000 plus GST. LFG applies

STUD FEE $2000 + GST LFG APPLIES

KINNORDY GYM BELLO Hanoverian Stallion by Gymnastik Star / Graf Landau Sire of multiple champions over all disciplines Gym Bello progeny are known for their exceptional trainability, good movement, lovely heads and athletic bodies. With the passing of his sire Gymnastik Star A1 classified stallion and Graf Landau / gottard lines more difficult to find Gymbello combines these bloodlines and has proven his worth throughout NZ with many now also exported as competition mounts

STUD FEE $2000 + GST LFG APPLIES

ASTEK QUATERMASTER Oldenburg Stallion by Quaterback / Flemmingh/ Weltmeyer/Grannus Highest classified Champion Stallion NZWBA Classification Tour 2016. Astek Quatermaster is one of those stallions that impresses all who tour the stud. His majestic presence and beautifully balanced correct conformation are noticed instantly alongside his kind eye and wonderful temperament. He holds enormous power in his straight, balanced, elevated movement and it creates a total package hard to ignore. Astek Quatermaster is breeding exceptional horses for both dressage and jumping homes.

E info@astek.co.nz | P Sue Fowler 027 222 5037

www.astek.co.nz

CORNET’S AIR Astek Stud announces the arrival in December of this outstanding stallion

INTRODUCTORY OFFER

Purchase 3 services to CORNET’S AIR for NZ $6000 + GST. * To be used within 2018/19, 2019/20 or 2020/21 breeding seasons.

NORMAL STUD FEE $2,500 + GST. LFG APPLIES.

Holsteiner stallion by Cornet Obolensky x Dark Air/Diarado

By the mighty Cornet Obolensky (Clinton X Heartbreaker) rated as #4 in the world and represented by a growing number of champions. His Dam Dark Air – by Diarado (obvious winner in his 2007 licensing) alongside her motherline hold extraordinary connections of winners and approved stallions in their pedigree. In partnership with Gerd Küst’s Stamm 8888 Holsteiner Stud which now has four generations of elite mares and 12 licensed stallions Astek sees the arrival of Cornet’s Air as the epitome of its breeding career. “Breeding just doesn’t get any more exciting than this! to have a stallion of this calibre available as fresh semen in NZ heralds the beginning of the countries downunder becoming Internationally VERY competitive”

E info@astek.co.nz P Sue Fowler 027 222 5037

www.astek.co.nz

PHOTO ESSAY

HAWKE’S BAY ROYAL SHOW 2018 SHOW JUMPING

WORDS Diana Dobson PHOTOS

ood-sized fields, exciting jump-offs and happy riders were the name of the game at the Hawke’s Bay Royal A&P Show in Hastings. While the opening round of the New Zealand World Cup League was the star attraction, there was plenty of exciting competition in the other National Series classes. Roger Laplanche (Timaru), who at Level 3 International is one of New Zealand’s highest-ranked course designers, says it is his love of the sport that drives him to create the best courses he can for Kiwi riders. He travels the country, challenging riders with his courses. As one of just three active Level 3 course designers in New Zealand, he is on the road a lot during the season, leaving his wife Marie at home to keep their 350-acre beef farm ticking over.

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Kampic.com

Cornege Photography

“I couldn’t do this without her support, that’s for sure,” he acknowledges. “A lot of time and thought goes into the planning of courses – they must test both horse and rider. Hawke’s Bay is early in the season, so that has to be taken into account, but riders also expect to be challenged in the likes of a World Cup course.” Roger has a reputation for being a little tough sometimes, but he makes no apology for that. “The height system introduced a number of years ago made building courses quite simplistic – the height is the height and I set them to whatever that is.” His aim is for nice flowing balanced lines with – ideally – at least 25% of the field clear in the opening round. “It’s not always

ESNZ World Cup Qualifier Round 1 1. Lily Tootill - ULYSSES NZPH, 1st 2. Fraser Tombleson - MEA I, 10th 3. Maurice Beatson - MANDALAY COVE, 3rd 4. Jasmine Sketchley - BRAVADO EGO Z, 4th 5. Brooke Edgecombe - LT HOLST AUNTY ANDREA, 2nd

possible,” he admits. “In the age group classes, I am happy if the whole field goes clear.” He described himself as “thrilled” when Lucinda Askin, a South Island competitor on debut at World Cup level, was first on the course at Hawke’s Bay and went clear aboard Portofino. “That set the tone for the competition and was just fantastic.” She was followed by Steffi Whittaker (Christchurch), another firsttime starter in a World Cup, who picked up just four faults. Roger has been building courses for around 40 years. An A-grade show jumper from “way back”, he got into course design after being disappointed in some of the courses he was jumping. “So instead of just criticising I got out there, assisted course

designers and learnt their trade.” When he finished competitive jumping, he carried on course building. He is also a former national selector and was master of the Waimate Hunt, another passion he pursued for many years. But these days, it is his love of show jumping that drives him. “Over the years I have been lucky to work with a lot of international course builders who have come to New Zealand, including Leopoldo Palacios and Werner Deeg, who are both very talented.” He also seeks feedback from the riders, who he says face far more difficult and technical courses than he ever did as a rider. “At times we make mistakes, and we need to be told. Some riders may lack knowledge but there are a huge number of

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3 4 senior competitors who are very talented, and I respect and listen to them.”

Lily Claims WC Opener

Lily Tootill would have been happy to just go double clear in the opening round of the New Zealand World Cup League, but her much doted-on ‘ginger’ Ulysses NZPH had other ideas. The Karaka combination notched their second World Cup victory when they headed off Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) aboard LT Holst Andrea – the only two riders to go double clear. “To win is a bonus,” said Lily, who has her sights set on heading to the UK with Ulysses NZPH towards the end of the season. Fourteen combinations started in the international class, with clear rounds coming from first-timer Lucinda, along with former series winner, Olympian Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) on Mandalay Cove, Lily and Brooke. Sitting on four faults apiece

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were the stallions – Eros K with Steffi Whittaker (Christchurch) and Bravado Ego Z with Jasmine Sketchley (Whangarei). Those six were the only combinations to come back for the second round where Steffi and Lucinda both finished on 16 faults to place fifth and sixth respectively, Jasmine added eight to finish on 12 faults for fourth, and Maurice also picked up eight faults to finish third.

Sassy Madam with the Big Heart

Pony of the Year title holder Olivia Apatu (Waipukurau) and Alasaan Arzu were convincing winners of the Country TV Pony Grand Prix class, jumping the only clear in the opening round. It was a small class, but Olivia knew there were some classy combinations to beat. “It was our second Grand Prix of the season, so I just wanted to give her a nice ride,” she stated.

1. Simon Wilson - MCMILLANS ARIADOS, 3rd in the Horse 1.35m Championship 2. Olivia Apatu - ALASAAN ARZU, winner of the Country TV Pony Grand Prix 3. Lily Moore - SHOWTYM HIGHLIGHT, 5th= in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix 4. Lilly Carpenter- TALLYHO MYSTIC, 5th= in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix 5. Daniel Blundell - LAVELLO, 7th in the ESNZ World Cup Qualifier 6. Oliver Croucher WAITANGI WI-FI in the ESNZ World Cup Qualifier 7. Steffi Whittaker - EROS K, 5th in the ESNZ World Cup Qualifier 8. Emily Hayward - AP NINJA, 10th in the ESNZ World Cup Qualifier The pair won their warm-up in the Pony 1.20m the day before, so headed into the ring with confidence on their side. “She jumps so well on big grass arenas, so it was perfect. She is extremely sassy but has such a big heart that it doesn’t matter about that side of her!”

Trier Winston Takes Young Rider

Drew Carson (Putaruru) and Winston V Driene have had the perfect competition start to their season, but a sinus operation will see this top young rider sidelined for a few weeks. They were the only double clears in the FMG Young Rider class at Hawke’s Bay, which saw 11 combinations start and seven go through to the jump-off. “I didn’t even realise we were the only double clear – I just went out to do the best we could. He has a humongous stride so can be deceiving. He has been jumping so well,” said Drew. “He

tries so hard but is cheeky – if I am not onto it he will certainly take advantage.” The successful partnership won the Young Rider crown at HOY in 2017 and would dearly love to repeat the feat in 2019. While Drew had hoped to jump him in World Cups this year, she figures it will now be on hold until the following season.

Hi Ho Silver . . . kee

When Emma Watson (Morrinsville) watched Samantha Carrington (Takapau) and Double J Breeze On fly around the jump-off in the Dunstan Horsefeeds and EquiFibre Junior Rider class, she knew she and Maddox Kiwi Silverkee had to really be on their game. She needn’t have worried though – they matched Samantha’s double clear and sliced 1.1 seconds off her time. “I went in just thinking ‘whatever will happen will happen’,” said Emma. “There wasn’t much more I could have done.”

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1. Daniel Blundell - ATHENA NZPH, 7th in the ESNZ World Cup Qualifier 2. Duncan McFarlane - BE MINE NZPH, 4th in the Horse 1.35m Championship 3. Katie Bridgeman - CENTINO, 4th in the Fiber Fresh Junior Rider 4. Olivia Dalton - MASTER OF HOSSACK, 5th in the FMG Young Rider 5. Samantha Carrington - DOUBLE J BREEZE ON, 2nd in the Fiber Fresh Junior Rider 6. Claire Wilson - MCMILLANS FREDRIKA RE in the Horse 1.35m Championship class 7. Phoebe Burns - GALAXY MASTERPIECE, 2nd in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix 8. Tara Gower - NGAHIWI ROANY PONY, 3rd in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix 9. Emma Watson - MADDOX KIWI SILVERKEE, winner of the Fiber Fresh Junior Rider 10. Alex Loiselle - BANDITO NZPH, 2nd in the Horse 1.35m Championship 11. Heloise Tolo - DANGERMOUSE NZPH, 1st= in the Mitavite Speedi-Beet Six-Year-Old 12. Lily Tootill - DYNAMIC NZPH, 1st= in the Mitavite Speedi-Beet Six-Year-Old

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11 12

She has plenty of confidence in her 12-year-old grey gelding, but wants to build the horse’s confidence up more before moving up to more Young Riders. “He just keeps getting better and better, so is more than capable.”

Sally’s Not-So-Secret Star

Sally Clark took out the Dunstan Horsefeeds & EquiFibre ProAmateur Rider class aboard her home-bred mare Victoria’s Secret. Thirteen started the class with just Sally (Dannevirke) and Will Lyles (Taupo) on Mangatu Bandito through to the jumpoff where both had four faults apiece, but Sally’s time of 43.16 seconds took the honours ahead of Will’s 50.49. The current Horse of the Year Pro-Amateur Rider title holder was really pleased with her “sharp” little mare. Victoria’s Secret is by a Sir Tristram stallion out of a Distelfink mare, which Sally and her partner Maurice Beatson thought could be “a good cross”. “You never know what you are going to get when you breed,” she said. “She [Victoria] is careful, and that is what makes a winner. She is such a trier and doesn’t want to hit the poles.” Sally has been slowly bringing the mare through the grades,

and only in recent seasons started competing in the ProAmateur classes. “Hawke’s Bay was a premier show so it was built tougher – it was a really decent track,” she admitted. As the second combination to go in the jump-off, they knew just what they had to do to win. Next on their list are Mini Prix up to 1.35m level, which Sally says will be quite a challenge, and then the lovely and very spirited black 12-year-old will likely head to the broodmare paddock. “She has the most beautiful temperament and is very smart.” The Atlanta Olympic Games silver medallist is hopeful that their great start to the 2018-2019 season will continue.

Dusk Dances to Victory

Keeping Dining at Dusk in work over the winter months is paying dividends for Lower Hutt orderly Jess Giles. The two headed home a 24-strong field to take the honours in the Hinterland Amateur Rider class. Six came through to the jump-off, where Jess and Shelley Bridgeman (Auckland) aboard Midway Smooth Dude were both double clear, but Jess’ 41.27 second time proved the difference.

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1. Emily Hayward - YANDOO LADY GOLD, winner of the Horse 1.35m Championship 2. Robert Steele - DELTA BLUE in the Horse 1.35m Championship 3. Claire Wilson - MCMILLANS CHUCK in the Horse 1.35m Championship 4. Christine Cornege - VAREKAI SL in the Horse 1.35m Championship “The plan was just to go for it and see what happens,” said Jess. “It all went pretty smoothly and he gave me a really good ride. I’m pretty happy!” She bought the horse as a bit of a problem horse, but that has all changed in the four years she’s had him. While still cheeky, he is a different horse now. Jess recently changed his feed and kept him in work through the winter months, which she said has made a huge difference to his attitude and behavior. However, Jess has just been accepted into Police College, so Dining at Dusk is now on the market. “And just when I got him so well sorted. Typical!”

Can’t Touch This Seven-Year-Old

The age group series classes attracted some good entries and

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plenty of double clears. Heloise Tolo (Wellington) and Can’t Touch This NZPH took out the Matthews Hanoverians SevenYear-Old Series ahead of Robert Steele (Dannevirke) aboard Two Eye See. The class attracted 17 starters with four through to the jump-off, where just Heloise and Robert left everything in place. The winner stopped the clock at 40.83 seconds, with Robert coming home in 42.15. Fourteen lined up for the Mitavite Speedi-Beet Six-YearOld Series where eight were double clear, with two of the five starters in the East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series finishing the class with clean slates. C

7 10

11 12 5. Alyvia James - CODICEA in the Horse 1.35m Championship 6. Logan Massie DOUBLE J KELVIN, 1st= in the Mitavite Speedi-Beet Six-Year-Old 7. Ally Carson MT ROBINSONS STATEMENT, 6th in the Junior Rider 8. Harry Feast - DOUBLE J BARISTA, 1st= in the Mitavite Speedi-Beet Six-Year-Old 9. William Willis - CHIO MS, 1st= in the Mitavite Speedi-Beet Six-Year-Old 10. Drew Carson - WINSTON V DRIENE, winner of the FMG Young Rider 11. Amy Moore - KIWI KING, 3rd in the Fiber Fresh Junior Rider 12. Maia Coster - CLEARWATER, 5th in the Fiber Fresh Junior Rider

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PHOTO ESSAY

NEC SPRING

FEI HORSE TRIAL PHOTOS Kampic.com

1 2

1. Sarah Young - EQUADOR MW, 1st in the Dynavyte NZ CNC 1* Plus, 43.6 2. Madison Crowe - WAITANGI PINTEREST, 4th in the Dynavyte CIC 3*, 55.3 3. Christen Lane - HENTON ARMADA, 3rd in the Dynavyte NZ CNC 1* Plus, 58.7 4. Heelan Tompkins - ORANOA GREYSON, 6th in the J.A.M Medics CIC 1*, 53.4 5. Sophie Abbott - HENTON FIRST CLASS in the Spot On Photography CNC 95 Restricted B, 71.2 6. Nick Brooks - FOR FAME, 2nd in the Dynavyte CIC 3*, 46.4 7. Abby Lawrence - ANONYMOUS, 1st in the Taupo Vet Centre CIC 2*, 31.6 118

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Complete Equestrian Project Management

10 11 1. Christen Lane - THUNDER CAT, 3rd in the Taupo Vet Centre CNC 2*, 58.7 2. Jock Paget - BING BONG, 1st in the Take the Moment CNC 105, 19.7 3. Claudia Hurley DARTANIAN, 5th in the Taupo Vet Centre CNC 2*, 93 4. Sophie Wilkinson - Conway GNZ, 1st in the Dynavyte NZ CNC 1* Plus, 48.6 5. Beth Wilson - ALTO ET AUDAX, 3rd in the Taupo Vet Centre CIC 2*, 39.3 6. Samantha Felton - RICKER RIDGE RILEY, 2nd in the J.A.M Medics CIC 1*, 43.6 7. Samuel Amon - TROJAN WARRIOR, 4th in the Taupo Vet Centre CIC 2*, 42.6 8. Denise Rushbrook - ASTEK GADZULKS, 3rd in the J.A.M Medics CIC 1*, 47.6 9. Ellie White - TUI TEKA, 5th in the Taupo Vet Centre CIC 2*, 53.7 10. Abigail Long - ENZO, 3rd in the Dynavyte CIC 3*, 48.9 11. Tayla Mason - CENTENNIAL, 6th in the Taupo Vet Centre CIC 2*, 56.6

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1 3 2 1. Greer Caddigan - GYMNASTIK SHOWDOWN, 1st in the J.A.M Medics CIC 1*, 40.4 2. Abbey Thompson - ROCKIN IT, 5th in the Dynavyte CIC 3*, 60.4

3. Fleur Rohleder - THE ALCHEMIST, 4th in the Dynavyte CNC 1* Plus, 61.3

4. Samantha Felton - RICKER RIDGE RUI, 6th in the Dynavyte CIC 3*, 64 5. Jane Callaghan - WEITI WEST END, 5th in the Dynavyte CNC 1* Plus, 66.6

5 4

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EQUINE LAW

with Megan Gundesen

I am told that this Equine Law column is very popular, so I hope I can live up to your expectations as Show Circuit’s new legal columnist. I am getting used to the term ‘equine lawyer’– it somewhat frighteningly conjures up images of a person with an incredibly long face and big teeth, wearing thick glasses and a black horse rug instead of a gown! The image I’d prefer to give is one of myself and my trusty steed clearing massive fences at Horse of the Year before popping back to my computer to send off my latest legal opinion, but neither is exactly me. However, law and horses are certainly my passions and I am thrilled to be bringing them together in this column, drawing on my knowledge of the law and my personal equestrian experiences. I was born into a non-horsey family, and got my first pony at ten years old. The equestrian world was a great mystery to both me and my family – I will never forget keeping my first pony in the backyard for two nights before we got her grazing sorted out! Given that my entry into the horse world came at a young age, and that I consider it highly likely I will only exit it in a coffin (hopefully after a sedate hunt or trek when I’m in my 90s!), I can safely be described as a lifelong horsewoman. My daughters inherited the horse gene, and amazingly, my husband has recently decided to give riding a go too, so we are now exploring the world of trekking and hunting from our farmlet on the outskirts of New Plymouth. In my family, we’ve bought, sold, leased and shared horses. Truck ramp chat has also provided me with great insights into where the horse world intersects with the law, and this has led to a new venture that I’m very excited to share with you. It was about six months ago that I first came up with the idea of blending my legal nous with my horsey knowledge to create robust, low-cost, user-friendly horse agreements. The result promises to be a game-changer for the equine community in Aotearoa. As luck would have it, my vision coincided with the emergence of local software development company Autom.io, founded by New Plymouth lawyer Claudia King (who also happens to be a rider). Autom.io allows people to create instant customised contracts, and it’s already taking the legal world by storm. My own ‘a-ha!’ moment came along when I realised how this software could be customised for equestrian use – namely, for legal agreements that are easy for people to create themselves online, and which capture the specifics of their individual situations. I have partnered with Autom.io to develop a ground-breaking new business, FairPlay Equine, which allows customers to use our legal assistant bot (that’s an online interview, not an unwelcome egg on your horse’s leg!) to create the horse agreement they need. FairPlay Equine is an extension of my existing employment law business, FairPlay Legal Limited. Having witnessed so much uncertainty, worry, fear and conflict throughout the equestrian world when it comes to horse agreements, I’m convinced of the glaring need for this service. I want to improve communication right from the outset so that potential issues are agreed to up-front, before any problems arise. FairPlay Equine’s thorough contracts ensure risk reduction and legal protection so that horse enthusiasts can get on with their riding, breeding, showing – whatever it is that they love. Our first agreements will be ‘Simple’ and ‘Comprehensive’ versions, covering the sale and purchase of a horse, and I envision that they will transform the equine industry. That’s a big call, I know, but I liken it to the standard agreement that lawyers and conveyancers use to sell houses. Everyone in that industry understands what the

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vendor is liable for and what it is not, and the same thing needs to happen in the equine industry. I spoke with a Disputes Tribunal Referee who judges highly contentious horse-related cases all the time, and he said that if there is a contract involved, it is usually very badly worded and often complicates matters even further. I am hopeful that through this column and via FairPlay Equine, we can reduce these negative experiences, leading to much better outcomes. Another catalyst for creating a suite of horse agreements was being part of the exciting but daunting experience of buying a pony for my niece. My brother and his wife wanted their daughter to have a pony of her own, but had absolutely no idea what to expect. Their intention was to keep the pony at their local riding school and to enter into a sharing agreement. Not exactly an unheard-of situation, but it came with a series of questions. What would happen if the pony went lame? Who would pay the vet fees if the damage happened when ridden by a riding school rider? Who would pay the vet fee cover excess? How long could the pony be kept at the riding school for if it was unable to be ridden? (We are talking about people who live in central Auckland, so land for horses is not exactly abundant if things go wrong.) On and on the questions went, and I decided at that point that I also needed to create a ‘Riding School Share Agreement’, so that this common entry point for people can be much more transparent and easier to understand. The anticipated launch date for our Sale and Purchase Agreements is early 2019 and we can let you have the website and facebook addresses in the next edition of Show Circuit. Our aim is to achieve peace of mind for all parties involved by supplying quality horse agreements for use when buying, selling, trialling, leasing, grazing, competing, schooling, and sharing our wonderful equine friends. The opportunity to inform Show Circuit readers on a wide range of legal issues that come up in the horse world seems a perfect outreach for FairPlay Equine. I hope you will have plenty of questions and provide plenty of feedback as I take up the reins – and the keyboard.

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HEALTH

Cellulitis explained

Primary cellulitis usually develops on a horse’s legs, and most commonly on their hind legs. The term ‘cellulitis’ is very general, referring to an infection of the skin, but it can also include subcutaneous fat and tissues under the skin.

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a painful bacterial infection of the skin, and in some cases also of the subcutaneous fat and tissues, which usually occurs after a trauma of some sort. The bacteria gains access through a wound, a scratch (which doesn’t need to be full skin thickness), a blow, a bite or the rubbing a horse may do as a result of these injuries, or from the simple colonisation of the skin by an infection such as mud fever. The condition is characterised by the degree of pain – a horse with cellulitis will be very touchy and sore. It usually occurs in the legs, more often the hind limbs, but can occur elsewhere. Cellulitis almost always requires

veterinary treatment, and if left untreated it can progress to the point of causing lymphangitis, the swelling of the lymphatic vessels which drain tissue fluid from the horse’s legs as he moves. If they become infected it can be very serious and may make the horse so lame he appears to have a broken leg. However, it can also disguise other more serious problems – if a horse has a cut around the fetlock or pastern with swelling and lameness he may be diagnosed with cellulitis, when really the joint capsule has been punctured, which if not dealt with urgently can turn into a serious issue and prove fatal.

Symptoms & diagnosis

Although the initial cause of cellulitis cannot always be identified, certain environmental conditions can promote cellulitis development, including prolonged exposure to deep mud or sand, both of which can cause drying and irritation of the skin, allowing bacteria to break through the skin’s protective barrier. Identifying and treating the cause of cellulitis is ideal, but is not always possible. Very painful swelling, heat and lameness of the affected leg are all signs of cellulitis, and your horse will be obviously sore if you touch the affected area. In more advanced cases of cellulitis, the skin may even discharge a sticky fluid containing pus, which leads to

scabbing. As with any presentation of lameness, you should carefully examine the affected area or limb for any clues as to what is causing the problem. If you find a wound, clip away the surrounding hair so you can examine it properly. Thoroughly clean it using dilute disinfectant and warm water, and call your vet for advice if you have any concerns there could be something serious going on, such as cellulitis or a wound over a joint that could have punctured the joint capsule. If your vet suspects cellulitis, they’ll examine your horse and in severe cases may take a sample for culture, although this is rarely necessary.

Prevention

Cellulitis typically starts with sudden swelling that is warm and painful to the touch.

As cellulitis can develop after a wound or scrape, making your horse’s environment as safe as possible is an important preventative measure – horses are very good at injuring themselves! Check that his stable is free of protruding nails, screws, splinters or sharp edges. In the paddock, check that fencing and shelters are secure and solid, and water troughs are free of sharp edges. Remove or fence-off anything that shouldn’t be there, such as old farm equipment. Taking good care of your horse’s skin can reduce the risk of him developing cellulitis. In winter, support the skin’s natural barrier properties by ensuring it’s kept as clean and dry as possible, with dry mud brushed off and

wet mud washed off before the legs are thoroughly dried. If stabling, using stable bandages will help with this. Knowing your horse’s legs well will help you spot wounds or changes early so they don’t progress into a real problem. In the summer months protect him from biting pests by using fly rugs and insect repellents. As previously discussed, the disease outcome and the potential for disease reoccurrence depends on the severity and degree of damage from previous episodes. Generally, most cases resolve uneventfully with minimal risk of reoccurrence, but if enough damage has occurred to weaken the skin and the protective defenses of the underlying tissues to infections, reoccurrence is likely.

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Cellulitis causes heat, swelling and pain. In extreme cases it may also cause a discharge

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Cellulitis is common and in most cases won’t resolve without help, so your vet will need to see your horse. It’s often caused by a staphylococcal infection which is fortunately usually vulnerable to antibiotics, so your vet will usually give two days of high-dose antibiotic injections and then oral antibiotics. They’ll also usually prescribe anti-inflammatories, and together these should give a good response to the infection. In terms of external care, spray the skin twice a day with diluted disinfectant (e.g. Farmassist) and patting it dry has two benefits – you’re removing any bacteria that could be colonising the skin, and the warm water will encourage blood supply to the area, opening up the capillaries to help take some of the heat of the infection out. This will also help to bring in fresh blood cells and the antibiotics to fight the infection. In cases where there’s no deeper damage, encouraging your horse to move will improve circulation and reduce swelling to make him more comfortable, and veterinary wound gels can also be incredibly soothing for painful areas.

Farmassist Antibacterial Multi-Disinfectant Wash is for treating bacteria or fungi on the skin (ie. Mud Fever). The wash is not only an effective treatment, but also a safe medical grade guard against cross-contamination between horses and their equipment. Add to the washing machine with towels and saddle blankets, disinfect all animal housing, and sterilise professional equine tools (stain free and non corrosive).

Essential healing + hygiene for every equine environment. Clipping hair away from a wound will help you to assess it

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ee VET RECOMMENDATIONS Since horses are great at getting into scrapes, knowing how to deal with wounds is crucial.

Here are three pieces of advice to help you deal with those inevitable equine injuries.

If a wound is anywhere near a joint you must consider this an emergency and call your vet immediately. A badly infected joint will require flushing with large quantities of sterile fluid, usually performed under general anaesthesia, and the sooner this is done, the better the odds of the horse surviving and making a full recovery.

Hair provides a good barrier to trauma and infection. However, if infection does manage to penetrate the underlying skin, then the hair should be clipped off. This means discharge from the affected skin can’t matt the hair, resulting in a messy, dirty and infected area. Removing the hair also means you’ll have much better access to the wound to clean and dress it.

Speaking generally, wounds below the knee or the hock are better off dressed. However, wounds above the knee and hock should not be dressed, as a dressing here will restrict drainage from the lower limb and cause swelling and pain.

If your horse has any heat and swelling accompanying a lameness it’s worth calling your vet for advice straight away, especially if there’s a wound near or over a joint. If an infection sets up within the joint capsule it will need urgent attention.

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Hibiscrub diluted with water to a very pale rosewater colour is a very useful disinfectant, because at this strength you won’t have to worry about it being too abrasive on your horse’s skin.

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HEALTH

THE MUZZLE EXPLORED

It’s time to delve deep into the inner workings of one of your horse’s most important features, his muzzle. It may be soft, velvety, prickly, hairy, or smooth, but how much do you really know about it? Muzzles may look very different, but their function remains the same. Discover how your horse’s muzzle works and the best ways to care for it.

1 THE NOSTRILS

The nostrils are the muzzle’s biggest and most important feature, and some believe they can make or break a horse’s expression. Their unique shape is imposed by supporting cartilages, which create the ‘false nostril,’ a blindending (with no known function) that isn’t possessed by any other species.

2 THE SKIN

The skin on the muzzle is thinner than elsewhere on the body with little hair coverage, making it incredibly sensitive and perfect for feeling around for food.

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3 MOUSTACHE

Some horses have magnificent moustaches. These are more common in heavier breeds like cobs and those adapted to living on mountainous terrain where food is sparse and coarse. The moustache grows to prevent the sensitive muzzle area from becoming rubbed and sore while grazing.

4 THE LIPS

The lips have a light covering of short, fine hairs that have a velvety texture. The lips are very mobile and sensitive, and are used in the selection and collection of food. The lower lip is joined to the chin, which is made up of a pad of fatty fibrous tissue.

5 THE MUCOUS MEMBRANE The mucous membranes that line the inside of the mouth are salmon pink in colour and contain many blood vessels, which will bleed heavily if cut.

6 WHISKERS

The positioning of a horse’s eyes on either side of his head means he has blind spots, so to compensate he has special whiskers on his muzzle which help him to feel around for food, and prevent him from bumping his nose and chin. The removal of these tactile hairs is controversial but horses can, and do, adapt to being without them.

UNDERSTAND HIS SENSES Horses evolved as grazing animals, eating small amounts of food over long periods, and travelling great distances to find it. As a result, their muzzles have evolved to be incredibly sensitive so they can feel out the food they need, while their sense of smell and taste also play important supporting roles. It’s difficult to assess the horse’s sense of smell exactly, but it is thought to be better than that of a human. Horses’ advanced sense of taste allows them to sort through fodder to choose what they like most and, thanks to their sweet tooth, most will avoid eating poisonous plants as they have a bitter taste.

THE MUZZLE IS AN EXTREMELY SENSITIVE AREA – SALT WATER IS THE SAFEST OPTION WHEN CLEANING CUTS

THE FLEHMEN RESPONSE This is when a horse curls up his top lip. It’s used to transfer pheromones and other scents, and is often seen when a stallion smells the urine of a mare in heat. A grimace, similar to the flehmen response, may also be seen in association with pain, and is most often associated with low-grade abdominal pain or colic.

Image Bob Langrish

USING A TWITCH Applying acupressure on the sensitive top lip area causes endorphins to be released and the horse’s heart rate to lower, helping him to relax and sending him into a sedated state. It may seem cruel, but it has been suggested that the endorphins do activate a pain-decreasing mechanism, and twitching can be a useful tool when performing essential tasks that your horse wouldn’t usually let you do, such as clipping or the administration of injections by your vet.

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HEREDITARY CONDITIONS OF THE MUZZLE ATHEROMA

WRY NOSE

ALAR FOLD COLLAPSE

An atheroma is a cyst within the false nostril. It’s seen as a soft swelling on the muzzle, behind the nostril, and can be up to 5cm in diameter. Atheromas are painless, rarely cause any obstruction to breathing and are a cosmetic blemish only. They are thought to develop from hair follicle cysts, as they contain greasy grey material and are present from birth, increasing in size over the first two years of the horse’s life.

Wry nose is a complex deformity of the nose where the horse’s upper and lower jaw grow to one side. This leads to difficulty chewing and occasionally swallowing, and in some cases there will be abnormal noise when breathing. While mild cases will often improve by themselves, surgical treatment has been tried in some more severe cases, but remains controversial and is unlikely to give the horse normal function for eating, swallowing, and breathing during fast work.

The alar fold is the fleshy fold of cartilage dividing the false nostril from the airway. It’s elevated during exercise and closes off the entrance into the false nostril. The cause of collapse is unknown but may be due to genetic conformation abnormalities of the nostril. Affected horses emit a loud, vibrating noise from the nostril during exercise when breathing both in and out. Surgical treatment can be effective as long as there are no other abnormalities.

ATHEROMA A painless soft swelling on the muzzle

WRY NOSE

ALAR FOLD

The jaws grow to one side

Alar fold collapse is not usually visible from the outside

COMMON CONDITIONS AFFECTING THE MUZZLE SUNBURN

NASAL DISCHARGES

BOT FLY ULCERS

We all know how painful sunburn can be and, just like humans, horses with little pigment in the skin (those with white or pink skin) are more likely to get burnt. Susceptible areas that aren’t protected by hair (such as the muzzle) are at even greater risk. Repeated exposure to the sun will result in chronic skin changes, which can eventually become cancerous, but this can be easily prevented by using sunscreen creams or UV protective face masks.

They’re not strictly conditions of the muzzle, but nasal discharges and nose bleeds can signal problems elsewhere and should be investigated by your vet. A few drops of blood from the nostrils are unlikely to indicate a problem, but significant nose bleeds always need immediate veterinary attention. Nasal discharges are often a sign of an infectious disease and so early, strict isolation and veterinary attention is a must.

Bot flies can lay their eggs around the horse’s legs or lip area, which can cause significant ulceration on the lips and inside the mouth. The ulcers usually have a circular or ‘punched-out’ appearance, but are not painful or itchy. They can be easily treated with an Ivermectin or Moxidectin wormer, but may have a slow healing process.

SUNBURN

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NASAL DISCHARGES

ULCERS

MELANOMA

WARTS

MELANOMA Treatment varies according to the type of the melanoma and its location. Small growths are often successfully treated by surgical removal but in some cases this is difficult, owing to the size and/or position of the mass(es). Cryosurgery (freezing) has been used with varying results, and the treatment often has to be repeated. Other methods of treatment can include radiotherapy and chemotherapy, again depending on the size of the growth and the veterinarian’s recommendation. There is no guaranteed method of removal for melanomas and it is always important to call your veterinarian should any growths begin rapidly changing in appearance.

equine dental care

georgia worth

equine dental care

WARTS Warts can develop on the muzzle, genitals and lower limbs, but they don’t generally cause problems. They’re more commonly found on younger horses, often developing during their first year at grass, and are caused by a virus that’s specific to horses and not contagious to humans. Left untreated, warts will normally go away on their own over a period of six to eight weeks.

WOUNDS

Image Bob Langrish

Horses are inquisitive animals, so wounds to the lips and nostrils are not uncommon, as they use their muzzle to explore their surroundings. The muzzle bears the brunt of most cuts and grazes caused by sharp edges of doors and fences but fortunately, due to an excellent blood supply to these areas, wounds heal remarkably quickly and often leave little or no scarring.

Ensuring that your horse’s muzzle can function to the very best of its ability is much easier to do when you know how it works. Follow these simple steps to help prevent any problems developing, and if you’re ever concerned, consult your vet for advice.

KEEP WOUNDS CLEAN

PROTECT HIS LIPS

BEWARE OF THE SUN

Balms are available and can be used on your horse’s lips to help protect them from rubs and scrapes from bits.

THINK BEFORE TRIMMING

Trimming the whiskers or tactile hairs will reduce your horse’s ability to ‘feel’ with his muzzle accurately.

STOP CONTAGION SPREADING

If you suspect ringworm or anything contagious, seek early treatment from your vet, isolate your horse, and ensure strict hygiene to prevent the contagion spreading.

ACT ON LUMPS EARLY

Lumps and nodules are more easily treated or removed when they’re small, so get your vet to check them when you first notice them.

Keep small wounds and grazes clean and apply a wound cream to prevent infections such as rain scald. The muzzle is a highly sensitive area, so any strong or irritant substances should be avoided. Salt water is the safest option when cleaning small cuts.

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

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If your horse does get sunburnt when he’s out on a sunny day, don’t just leave it to get worse over time! Always have severe sunburn checked by your vet as this could also be a sign of liver disease.

NASAL DISCHARGES

Nasal discharges and nose bleeds need further investigation by your vet. Horses with a nasal discharge should be isolated until it can be shown that they’re not infectious to others. Nose bleeds, particularly from both nostrils, should be checked out by your vet.

WATCH OUT FOR SIGNS OF COLIC

Repeated raising of the upper lip and curling of the tongue when the mouth is open can be a sign of mild colic or other low-grade pain. C

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HEALTH

S O O T H I N G S T R E T C H E S

TO HELP IMPROVE SCIATICA IN RIDERS Sciatica is a condition that is quite common in horse riders. It refers to pain radiating down the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches down from your lower back, through your hips and buttocks, and down through each leg. While there are many different causes for sciatica, there are some stretches that can help soothe the intensity of the issue. WHAT CAUSES SCIATICA? Sciatica can be caused by prolonged sitting, carrying heavy loads, obesity, age, and diabetes. Stretching is a great way to help in both treatment and prevention of sciatica, and these poses may help to relieve nerve root compression. The reason sciatica can be so prevalent in riders is due to the pressure that is applied to the region surrounding the sciatic nerve when in the saddle. This means that virtually any seated activity can prove to be painful and cause flare-ups. When you add the rising motion and movement that is created in the saddle, an existing issue can be aggravated.

Now, these stretches certainly aren’t a magic bullet, nor do I want to suggest that they will work for all sciatic cases or that everybody should do them. It’s essential that you treat sciatica with care, but understand that prevention is the best medicine and keeping your hips mobile and active will help with the occurrence or recurrence of sciatica. You may find that these stretches are useful to do before and after a ride to help prevent any flare-ups that may occur from being in the saddle.

TRY AND DO THIS SERIES AS A CIRCUIT AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN

AS GREAT PREVENTION.

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CHILD’S POSE WITH HANDS BACK This is great for loosening up the lower back and glutes. Start by kneeling on the floor, then slide your knees wide while drawing your feet together. Fold your upper body down over your thighs and let your head rest on the floor. Let your hands rest down by your thighs, and breathe here for 30 – 60 seconds.

BRIDGE POSE This pose helps to stretch tight hip flexors while strengthening your glutes. Lying on your back, slide your feet in close to your bottom and lift your hips by engaging your glutes. Let your hands rest on the floor and lengthen the back of your neck. Aim to hold this for 30 seconds.

3 4

PIGEON This helps alleviate tightness and pinching of the sciatic nerve through the release of the lower back, glutes, and hips. Come around into a pigeon pose, with both legs bent at 90 degrees. Position one leg bent in front and the other leg out straight behind you. Turn your body around to face the ground and lower yourself down over your front leg onto your forearms. If the stretch is too deep, you can bend or straighten your back leg, and rather than lower yourself to the ground, you can bring yourself up higher with your arms straight.

KEY HOLE STRETCH This stretch relieves compression of the sciatic nerve by stretching the glutes, piriformis, and the lower back. Lying on your back with your legs straight, bring one knee into your chest. Taking hold of your ankle, pull your leg towards the opposite side. As you do so, you’ll feel a stretch in through your bottom. If the stretch is too deep, bending your straight leg may help make the stretch more comfortable for you. If you wish to intensify the stretch, bend your straight leg and place your heel on this thigh. Holding this knee, pull your legs toward you, deepening the stretch.

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“UNDERSTAND THAT PREVENTION IS THE BEST MEDICINE AND KEEPING YOUR HIPS MOBILE AND ACTIVE WILL HELP.”

BUTTERFLY STRETCH This stretch relieves compression of the lower back and hips. Sitting on the floor, bring both of your feet together in front of you and join the soles of your feet together. Have your feet further away from you for less intensity and closer for more. Using your elbows, gently press your thighs down to open your hips more.

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SINGLE LEG HAMSTRING STRETCH This pose relieves tightness in the hips and glutes while also opening the hamstrings. Sitting on the floor, extend one leg out straight and bend the other in to your groin. Reach towards your long leg and let your body fold forward in that direction. Hold here for 30 – 60 seconds, then repeat on the other side.

CROSSED ANKLE FORWARD FOLD Relieves tension in the lower back, hamstrings, tensor fascia latae, and gluteus medius. Standing tall, cross your right leg in front of your left and tip forward from your hips. As you do this, try and press down through both of your big toes to flatten your feet on the floor. Hold this stretch for 30 – 60 seconds.

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LYING TWIST Helps loosen up the lower back and glutes. Remaining on your back, take one knee over your body. Turn your gaze to the opposite direction and stretch out your arm. Allow yourself to sink down into the floor as your body eases into the stretch. If you wish to intensify the stretch, you can straighten the leg crossing over your body.

“YOU MAY FIND THESE STRETCHES ARE USEFUL TO DO BEFORE AND AFTER A RIDE TO HELP PREVENT ANY FLARE-UPS THAT MAY OCCUR FROM BEING IN THE SADDLE.”

SEATED TWIST Helps relieve tension through the lower back and glutes while also getting into the iliotibial band (ITB). Sitting up, tuck one leg underneath you and cross the other over the top. As you hug your knee, twist your upper body right around to the back. Ensure both seat bones are down as you rotate your spine. Your hand behind you can be used as a support to keep your body lifted, and your spine supported and straight. If the stretch is too challenging, you can straighten your lower leg out while crossing the other one over.

These are some great stretches you can try to help soothe your sciatica or prevent it from coming back. Not all sciatica is created equal, so do listen to your body and remember, prevention is the best medicine. The more you take care of your hips and keep them supple, the better they will be. C

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RECIPE

Cauliflower Pizza

Here is a fabulous simple recipe for an all time favourite meal. I am not going to pretend that it tastes like real pizza base, but the consistency is firm when cooked and easy to manage. It also carries flavour really well so you can place all your favourite pizza toppings on and sneak in those extra vegetables.

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

Florets from 1 cauliflower

•

Preheat the oven to 200°C and line a baking tray with baking paper.

•

Coarsely chop the cauliflower, place in food processor and blend until it is broken down into a crumb similar to the consistency of rice.

•

Measure 3 cups of the cauliflower ‘rice’ and place in a mixing bowl. Add eggs, ground almonds, herbs and seasoning and mix together until well combined. Transfer to the baking paper and spread it out to form into a pizza base by flattening the dough with your hands.

•

Pre-bake for 25 minutes or until golden.

•

Remove the crust from the oven. Cover it with your favourite toppings and place back in the oven for a further 5-10 minutes. Serve straight from the oven.

¾ cup ground almonds (almond flour) 1 tbsp dried herbs such as thyme or oregano ½ teaspoon sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 3 eggs

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Nicola Smith has plenty of tasty recipes in her cookbook Real Food, Real Health which is available for download on her website www.foreverfit.tv along with 300 more recipes that will get your taste buds excited!

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CARE for your horse on the

INSIDE

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