Show Circuit Magazine - December 2020/January 2021 by Show Circuit Magazine

NEW ZEALANDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ULTIMATE EQUESTRIAN MAGAZINE

SHOWCIRCUIT DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

LOOKING AFTER

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WELCOME The 2020-21 show season may have been disrupted, and some shows cancelled, but on the whole horses and riders have been able to get out and enjoy attending shows as normal. In this latest jam-packed issue we bring you the best of event coverage, training clinics, advice and rider profiles. Our cover features the lovely Briar Burnett-Grant. At 18, Briar became the youngest ever rider to lift the prestigious Olympic Cup, and she’s a force to be reckoned with every time she steps in the ring. Read about her path to the top, her goals and aspirations for the future, and the special relationship she shares with the ‘crazy but talented’ roan gelding, Fiber Fresh Veroana. Inside these pages you can also read about talented horseman Mark Weedon, who has established a reputation for himself through his ability to start young horses. We profile show jumping young gun, Rylee Sheehan, who won his first ever start at Horse Grand Prix level with Bandito NZPH, as well as West Coast eventers Eve Hawes and Rebecca Wardle, and rising star on the dressage scene, Reece Downham-Smith. Our Q&A with equine reproduction specialist Dr Lee Morris is a must-read. Lee has worked on game-changing research and is in demand around the world as a guest speaker at conferences. Now working as a specialist equine reproduction veterinarian for EquiBreed NZ, she talks about how it all started. Dr Kristi Salonius talks about better bodies for better riders, discover how she is helping a diverse range of clients return to optimum performance and live pain-free. In our training clinics we feature Dan Greenwood who shares three exercises to take your training to another level, inspiring you and improving your horse’s way of going to reveal a more expressive, engaged and supple horse. Health features this issue include an insightful piece on ligaments – how they work and what can go wrong – and caring for the older equine, ensuring they continue to perform and maximising their quality of life before the need to consider reducing their workload. We hope you find inspiration and useful advice in this issue, and enjoy the tail end of the season as we build to the pinnacle event on the horsey calendar, Horse of the Year Show in March. I hope that you all get the chance to take a break over the Christmas period as we close the year and begin the second part of the season. I would also take this opporunity to thank our loyal readers and advertisers for their continued support. Merry Christmas to you, your four-legged friends and your families.

Sheryll Davies, Publisher

WAIATA PUBLISHING LTD PO Box 1245, Pukekohe, Auckland 2340

EDITOR

Rebecca Harper editor@showcircuit.co.nz

SENIOR WRITER Cheyenne Nicholson

SUB EDITING Lisa Potter

DESIGN

Sheryll Davies

CONTRIBUTORS

Alexandra Waespi Ashleigh Kendall Brittany Fowler Photography Caitlin Benzie Photography Cornege Photography Denise Flay Photography Dr Jason Lowe Gabi Knipe kampic.com Libby Law Photography Michelle Clarke Photography Samantha Jaquiery Tomas Holcbecher

ADVERTISING

Sheryll Davies sheryll@showcircuit.co.nz

MAGAZINE ENQUIRIES enquiries@showcircuit.co.nz

WEBSITE

www.showcircuitmagazine.com

ABOUT SHOWCIRCUIT

COVER IMAGE Briar Burnett-Grant & FIBER FRESH DELPHINE NZPH IMAGE Christine Cornege

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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 2020

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IN THIS ISSUE DECEMBER 2020 | JANUARY 2021

16 24 32 38 44 50 62 68 74

FEATURES 118 124

OUR PEOPLE

The Strongest Link | Ligaments Keeping your Older Equine in the Game

106 Kristi Salonius | Body Alignment 114 Dan Greenwood | Up Your Game

EVENTS 84 90 98

50 62

14 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

TRAINING

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RIDER spotlight

Finding trength S Briar Burnett-Grant

When Briar Burnett-Grant tried Fiber Fresh Veroana, her mum thought the horse was crazy and tried to talk her out of the purchase. But he was Briar’s kind of crazy, and she never dreamed her would carry her to become the youngest winner of the Olympic Cup and be a contender in the World Cup series. WORDS - Rebecca Harper IMAGES - Christine Cornege The diminutive form and long blonde hair of Briar BurnettGrant have been flying around coloured rails on the New Zealand show jumping scene for years. At just 20-years-old, this popular young Taupo rider has represented her country numerous times and has some serious notches on her belt. She and Flash, as the spunky roan gelding is known, won the prestigious Olympic Cup when Briar was just 18, and their first World Cup start. Other notable achievements include winning Pony of the Year, Young Rider of the Year and riding in the FEI Children’s Challenge and Youth Olympics (where she rode with a broken ankle and still finished sixth individually). Growing up in the city and coming from a non-horsey family, it was Briar’s pony-mad older sister Hannah who introduced the family to the sport, and they were soon hooked. “I guess every little girl wants a pony. For Hannah’s birthday one year, my parents hired these tiny ponies her

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friends could ride on. The next morning she woke up and cried hysterically when they weren’t there – she thought they were hers!” Hannah was allowed to start riding lessons every Friday, and it escalated from there. “I just followed in her footsteps. It took me a while to catch on, there’s quite an age difference between us – seven years – and I was a bit young to know. I started having lessons when I was about seven. “It’s just that feeling, a rush when you click with a horse. All my horses are so different, but I like building a relationship and getting the best out of them. It’s rewarding when you do well. “We’ve bred a couple, and I’m one of the only ones who’s been on their back. It’s a rush to see them become successful, and I like that it (riding) is a team effort.” Despite Hannah giving most horsey pursuits a go, Briar has only ever show jumped. “I’m not interested in anything else. I tried Show Hunter, but I didn’t like going slow.

ON THE COVER

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

Briar and FIBER FRESH VEROANA during the 1.45m Grand Prix Takapoto Estate Show Jumping

When the family moved to the farm, Briar got her first pony,

who was very cute but exceptionally naughty. “I later found out mum bought it from the RDA and they couldn’t handle it. It was only five, and my sister would hop on and get decked. It did teach me a thing or two about how to stay on! I was pretty lucky; I was a fearless child, I’d get spat off, brush it off and get back on.” She pinpoints the moment when she fell in love with the sport of show jumping when she inherited her sister’s fabulous Grand Prix pony, Mighty Maximus. Briar quickly began jumping bigger tracks at a young age, doing her first Pony Grand Prix at just 10-years-old and placing. “He probably thought there was nothing on his back. I looked like a five-year-old; there was nothing of me. I haven’t grown since I was 12, the horses must love it,” she laughs. “We’ve still got Max, he looks amazing. He just really built my confidence so fast – before then I’d had ponies that kept me on my toes. He was super honest and brave, an incredible pony. He’s very special to our family.”

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“

It's just that feeling, a

rush when you click with a horse. All my horses are so different, but I like building a relationship and getting the best out

“

Dressage I find boring, and cross country freaks me out, so I’ll just stick to sticks that fall down!” The Burnett-Grants gave up city life and moved to their 72-hectare property in Taupo when Briar was about eight. The property was a blank canvas but now sports a five-stable block, which the family lives above, a further five stables outside, a walker, arena and horse paddocks. “Dad was always a builder and loved that. He was in his element and built pretty much everything.” There are ten horses on the farm currently, including two retirees, young stock and Briar’s competition team of five horses.

of them. It's rewarding when you do well.

At 12, Briar won Pony of the Year on the super Millbrook, who was owned by the Tootill family. “I feel like it’s everyone’s dream to win POY at that age. Winning POY and the Olympic Cup I got the same thrill, it was the best thing that had ever happened to me at that time.” Unsurprisingly, Briar moved on to hacks at a young age too, stealing the ride on her sister’s horse, Ngahiwi Telephonic (Tubby). “I fell in love with him and started doing Junior Riders and Young Riders. He took me up to Horse Grand Prix; I jumped my first Grand Prix at 15.” Briar is currently riding full-time and finds it hard to imagine herself doing anything else, but she believes it’s important to have a secure income too. “I wasn’t thinking about uni after school. I finished school and passed all my NCEA levels. I’m proud that I stuck it out. I tried many times to get mum let me stay

home and ride horses, but now I’m grateful she didn’t. “I think horses will always be in my life and want it to stay like that, but I don’t want my whole world to rely on horses. I want to have something else, a secure income, but honestly, I have no idea what that will be!” Hannah is now a pilot, and Briar had considered that as a career path too, but COVID-19 put the brakes on that idea. “I want to be sure whatever I do is something I’ll carry on with. In the meantime I’m lucky, mum is very good to me.”

Along with the massive highs,

there have been some personal lows, particularly the passing of Briar’s much-loved father in 2018. He may not have loved horses, but he loved his daughters and was always on hand at shows to support them. It was a special

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

“

I remember that

first ride on Flash.

Obviously, he is crazy, and he was crazy, but as soon as I started jumping him, I knew I had to have him. He was inexperienced, but I could feel he was bold and brave and

“

could tell he would try his heart out. 20 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

moment when he was ring-side to witness Briar’s big win in the Olympic Cup in 2018. “He had pancreatic cancer and the timeline the doctors had given him, he wasn’t supposed to still be around then. It was a little blessing he was able to see that. It was a very special day and very emotional for all of us. “Dad was very supportive. He didn’t really like horses; when you asked him to hold one, he would hold an arm straight out. He made such an effort for Hannah and me, and he had a special relationship with my trainer, Jeff McVean. He was always there, with Jeff, in the warm-up, every weekend. He went above and beyond.” Briar says her dad had lots of friends at the shows, he was popular and got on with everyone. “We knew he didn’t like horses, but he did it for us.” To this day, Briar can sometimes feel his presence when she’s warming up for a class. “It sounds weird, but sometimes when it’s a big class, and I’m warming up I can feel him, it gives me a bit of luck and I seem to do well. It’s nice. I think he’s looking over me quite a lot.” Her dad had a great work ethic, something he has passed on to his children. “He taught me to work hard and also not to care what other people think. I

think having that mentality has helped me through a lot, especially in show jumping. It’s important because you have your up and down days. I won the Olympic Cup and the next week I took a young horse to a pony club event and couldn’t get it over a single fence! You can go from hero to zero so quickly.”

The other important man

in Briar’s life is Flash, the crazy but talented roan who lives for victory laps. When Tubby sadly had to be put down after he did a suspensory Briar was on the hunt for a new horse. Family friend, Jill Morrison, told them about Flash. Owned by Ike Unsworth, Flash was seven but had only done a handful of shows. “I liked that he was roan because Tubby was a blue roan and he was very special. “I remember that first ride on Flash. Obviously, he is crazy, and he was crazy, but as soon as I started jumping him, I knew I had to have him. He was inexperienced, but I could feel he was bold and brave and could tell he would try his heart out.” They took the float with them, as the plan was to take Flash on trial. On the drive home, Briar’s mum tried to talk her out of the horse. “I think my type

“

I thought he

would just be a good Young Rider horse,

I never thought he’d have a mind to be able to do bigger classes, but I kept stepping him up,

“

and he got better and better.

Left hand page Briar and FIBER FRESH DELPHINE NZPH competing at Takapoto Estate Show Jumping in the Young Rider class

of horse is crazy. I like the crazy ones – I seem to attract them. I like jumping off, and I like a hot horse and knowing he’s got that motor.” Flash has always been super horse-shy, and Briar dreads the warm-up. “Warmups are awful, and trot ups are just the worst. I took him to his first show at Feilding, and someone came up to me and said ‘don’t buy that horse, he’s dangerous’, we’ve always joked about it.” Luckily, she didn’t listen. “I thought he would just be a good Young Rider horse, I never thought he’d have a mind to be able to do bigger classes, but I kept stepping him up, and he got better and better. I never thought he’d be a World Cup horse.” Flash is her number one. “I can’t explain it. There’s nothing in this world I love more than that horse. I can never get mad at him. He tries so hard; he’s the best. I feel like we have a good bond and know each other now.” Last year Briar took Flash to Australia for the Australian Champions Tour as part of team Yandoo. She also contested the World Cup at Melbourne Royal and jumping at the incredible Willinga Park. “Willinga is insane. It’s so futuristic – they have a rider’s pool, it’s next level!” The World Cup at Melbourne was “ginormous”, the biggest track Briar had ever jumped. “We were the first clear round and ended up seventh; I was proud of that.” Winning the Olympic Cup is a highlight SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

“

It sounds weird, but

sometimes when it's a big class, and I'm

warming up I can feel him, it gives me a bit of luck and I seem to do well. It's nice. I

“

think he's looking

over me quite a lot.

Above - Briar was thrilled her dad, Dave, could see her win the Olympic Cup at Horse of the Year in 2018

of Briar’s riding career, but she’s also been on several Trans-Tasman Young Rider teams and ridden for New Zealand in China, Mexico, South Korea and Argentina. A big goal is to one day ride on a Nations Cup or World Equestrian Games team for New Zealand, and she would love to go to the Olympics. “I think it would be cool to go to the World Cup Final too. Big goals! I think if I went to any of those things with Flash people would probably be like what the heck? I do think he could do it; he would definitely try.” This season Briar and Flash will again be lining up in the World Cup series classes here. They placed fifth in the opening leg at Hawke’s Bay, and she’s hoping to crack the top two overall, having placed third in the series twice already.

22 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

Aside from Flash, Briar’s next top

horse is Fiber Fresh Delphine NZPH, an eight-year-old mare who she won the Young Rider title on at HOY 2020. Delphine is currently competing at Mini Prix level, and this season Briar hopes to step the mare up to Grand Prix. Fibre Fresh Casallita (Bia) is an 11-year-old mare the family imported from Germany in foal to Coalman. That foal, Fiber Fresh Chesall, is now also on Briar’s team and she says it’s rewarding taking the young horses from babies through to successful jumpers. “I also have Bia’s baby through a surrogate, Fiber Fresh Kasalla, she’s a year younger than Chesall.” In New Zealand, Chesall is classed as seven, and Kasalla as six, and Briar has taken both slowly. “I decided to keep the age group series out of my mind because they have quite a lot of blood and I don’t want to rush them. They’re both doing 1.10m-1.15m

and will do the style age classes at some shows. “I have high hopes for both of them, and I’d rather take my time and do it right, keep them happy.” Briar would love to see the age classes run at a slightly lower height and judged on style, to produce young horses well for the future, like those seen in Europe. As well as her family, behind Briar, all the way is her trainer, Jeff McVean, who she attributes much of her success to. “He’s perfect for me as a rider, his way of teaching, he lets you figure it out for yourself and gets you thinking. He asks your opinion, and it’s a collaborative relationship. He gives me so much confidence and is positive. I love that in warm-ups at shows, he keeps it simple and keeps you calm.” Briar is grateful to be sponsored by Fiber Fresh, Stirrups Equestrian, Canter for Cancer, BetaVet and Purepine Shavings. C

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RIDER spotlight

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eauty

fame

fun

Michael Ashton

Reality television has inspired Michael Ashton’s life on two occasions. He grew up watching the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, envisioning the glitz and glamour for his own life. And it was an episode of Made in Chelsea that reignited his passion for horses again when he was living in England. WORDS - Samantha Jaquiery IMAGES - Brittany Fowler Photography BLACK & WHITE IMAGES - Alexandra Waespi

ichael was born in Hamilton and raised in the Bay of Plenty, where he went to Bethlehem College. He was 13 when his grandfather helped him break in his first pony, a 12.2hh skewbald called Apache. He rode at Pony Club level, and in 1998 he went to the New Zealand Pony Club Champs on his dream eventer, Night Lite, where the combination placed third. “I loved eventing, when you’re a teenage boy; all you want to do is ride fast and jump. Cross-country was my favourite! “Placing third at Pony Club Champs was a really nice

way to finish that part of my riding career,” Michael says. Anyone who talks to Michael will recognise his drive and passion to excel at whatever he is involved in. He had the opportunity to pursue a career in riding, but he recognised it wouldn’t give him the lifestyle he aspired to. “I knew riding competitively wasn’t going to give me the life I wanted, so I asked myself what else I loved doing. I loved hair, and I loved make-up, I loved being around people, and I loved the relationships that you can build with clients in the salon. So, I decided then that the beauty business was going to be my new path,” he says.

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

IN THE AUTUMN SHE ASKED W H AT I WA S D O I N G O N E W E E K E N D, A N D I S A I D I W A S G O I N G T O L O O K AT S O M E H O R S E S T O B U Y. S H E S A I D S H E T H O U G H T I W A S J O K I N G,

BUT I NEVER JOKE ABOUT THESE THINGS...

After finishing year 12, Michael sold Nite Lite and moved to Auckland to study hairdressing at Servilles Academy of Hairdressing. He explains to be a makeup artist at the time, you had be able to do hair and do it well. After winning the Wella New Zealand Young Protege award at age 18, followed by becoming a senior stylist at a high-profile salon in Auckland, he then went on to shoot covers, editorials and campaigns for the country’s biggest designers and publications. He had his sights on heading abroad, and an agent scouting talent encouraged him to head to Europe and Germany for work opportunities. He secured work visas for both Germany and England and jumped on the plane. After a few months travelling between Munich and Hamburg, he realised he wasn't on the right path. The work in Germany was well-paid catalogue and commercial work, but he wanted to reconnect with beauty and fashion again, so he headed to London. Working weekends on the M.A.C. counter in Harvey Nichols and doing dancer’s makeup at a famous strip club in London's West End, The Windmill, allowed him time during the week to begin building his international portfolio, shooting editorial and working with a growing list of celebrities. “I started working with people like Elle McPherson, Bianca Jagger, and Gillian Anderson and it was through a mutual friend who is a publicist that I was introduced to Adele right before her album ‘19’ came out.”

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Michael is recognised globally as the make-up artist who created Adele's iconic signature eyeliner and has been working with her for the past 13 years. A major highlight of his career was when she received the Oscar for the James Bond theme song Skyfall. He has been creating vision boards for most of his life, and when he was 16, he cut an image from Vanity Fair about the glam teams and stylists that work with actors and actresses for the Oscars red carpet. He set his sights on making it there himself one day, but he never expected to do it with a singer. He advocates vision boarding to achieve goals. “Everything I've ever wanted and have achieved has been on one of my vision boards.”

Michael is known worldwide for this expertise in beauty and make-up.

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

WHETHER IT’S HORSES, CAREER OR LIFE IN GENERAL, I’VE REALISED OVER T H E Y E A R S I S T H AT THE JOURNEY IS OFTEN MORE REWARDING THAN THE

DESTINATION...

Thirteen years after leaving his riding lifestyle

behind, Michael found himself engrossed in his career and started feeling like he needed more of a work/life balance. “I had been watching an episode of the British reality show Made in Chelsea, where they were riding at a beautiful estate called Bedgebury Park Equestrian Centre that looked absolutely stunning,” he says. He used to Google to find the estate's owner, Gabriella Atkinson, and reached out explaining his background and connection to riding and asked if he could visit. He rode one of Gabriella's horses who had been to the Beijing Games, and his passion was reignited. He began making the trip to Bedgebury Park to ride once or twice a month, and in the summer, he went to watch one of the most prestigious events on the equestrian calendar, the Badminton Horse Trials. “I was watching the grassroots class and thought maybe it was something I could aim towards. The friend I was with thought it was a joke when I said I was going to buy a horse and try to qualify for Badminton Grassroots. “In the autumn she asked what I was doing one weekend, and I said I was going to look at some horses to buy. She said she thought I was joking, but I never joke about these things,” Michael says with a laugh.

He lived the London lifestyle,

utilising public transport which meant he had to travel up and down the country by train and taxi to view horses. He finally found one he loved, a 16.2hh bay gelding called Rockabilly. Rocket had been out of work for a while, but Michael bought him in, spending months fine-tuning a fitness and training programme and securing four major sponsors before beginning the British Eventing season. They competed in classes against fellow New Zealanders like Andrew Nicholson, Jock Paget and Mark Todd.

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Michael riding Rockabilly at Aldon International 3* Day Event With Rocket stabled at Bedgebury Park, it took an hour train and 20 minute taxi ride from home in London. He started renting a cottage when he didn't need to be in London for work. Eventually, he moved his base to Kent, buying a Range Rover and employing a groom to keep Rocket competition ready when he was away with clients. Michael was living the quintessentially British dream! He competed Rocket for three seasons, during which the pair qualified for the National Amateur Dressage Championships and completed the Aldon International 3DE. “It was amazing! We were coming third after the dressage, and it was looking promising, but we got a bunch of time faults in the

steeplechase phase, which was frustrating but for my first big three day it wasn't too bad.

“Even though we didn't

reach my goal of going around Badminton Grassroots, I loved competing again. Whether you have successes or losses with horses, it all boils down to you and the horse and the work that you do together, which always bought a great sense of pride and achievement. “Whether it's horses, career or life in general, I've realised over the years is that the journey is often more rewarding than the destination,” he says. After twelve years in England, Michael again sold his horse and moved around the world to Los Angeles, where he has been based the past three years. He has continued to build his client list to include Hollywood heavy hitters such as Hilary Swank, Keira Knightly, Penelope Cruz, Chris Pratt and Joaquin Phoenix. He spent 70 days self-isolating in his Los Angeles apartment after Covid-19 swept the world. U.S officials then announced restrictions would go on for at least another two months. Watching New Zealand’s success at handling the virus and the country’s dropping restriction levels, he decided to get on a plane and come home to spend time with family and friends. Since moving abroad 14 years ago, he's only been home five times. He has been enjoying reconnecting and looking forward to a beautiful New Zealand summer. Riding is on the cards on horses like 'Aces High' and 'Balmoral Sensation' who are owned by friend and New Zealand Olympic equestrian team member, Clarke Johnstone.

He is currently working as a personal hair

and makeup artist for an American actor filming a U.S. production on New Zealand shores and continuing to develop his beauty brand, which will launch ahead of the holiday season 2021. “I've been working on formulas for a couple of years, and now I am working on finalising the brand identity and visual direction. Beauty can be intimidating for people. I want to take that element out of it, create products that are aspirational yet accessible and help people find their own iconic signature beauty look,” he says. Michael is incredibly proud to call himself a kiwi; he values the grounding and upbringing it has given him. When asked what advice he has for others in the equestrian community or aspirational makeup artists, he claims the same applies to both. “I always say it's about passion, patience, and perseverance. Whatever you're doing, you must really be passionate about it. “It's also about being patient, and you can't expect things to happen overnight, you must be in it for the long game if you really want to be successful at something and have longevity. Then perseverance. You just have to keep going! There will be times that you'll feel you're not making the progress that you'd like to be making at the speed that you'd like to be making it. But it will definitely happen.” C

EVERYTHING I’VE EVER WANTED

AND HAVE ACHIEVED HAS BEEN ON ONE OF MY

VISION BOARDS.

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Daughter

RIDER spotlight

WORDS - Caitlin Benzie - AT HOME IMAGES - Denise Flay Photography COMPETITION IMAGES - Libby Law Photography

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Mother

Bronwyn & Vaughn Cooper

duo

fter an extremely successful showing career, this talented mother-daughter duo made the switch to dressage and with national titles now behind both of them, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve certainly never looked back.

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

From an early age, Vaughn was desperate for a pony, her non-horsey parents had hoped that a pet lamb would suffice, but once the lamb grew into a sheep and ended up with a very swayback, they decided that it was time to relent. “The neighbours lent me a Shetland pony who was an absolute beast of a thing, whenever you tried to get on, with or without a saddle, she would try to bite you – she was definitely a true Shetland!” After a few years, Vaughn moved on to her own pony Aladdin, a 13.2hh black mare who had been recently broken in; she never looked back. “When I was fourteen, I started showing and Pony Club eventing, my showing pony was called Prince Adonis, and we had a huge amount of success over the years. At the time I was trainig with Colonel Dornboss and Jenny Young who were both instrumental in my early showing career. I then moved on to horses and won quite a few champion riders, my main focus at that point was still on showing as dressage wasn’t that big in those days.” In her twenties, Vaughn became more serious about dressage and started bringing her first set of horses up the grades. “I had a beautiful Thoroughbred called Centurion, who I took up the grades and then sold on to the late Shirley Watts. During that time, I also had Mozart, who was an Anglo Arab x and was the one that taught me how to ride spooky horses,” she laughs. “From there I moved on to warmbloods, but as John and I had married by then, Bronwyn was learning to ride, and Grayson had traded his pony for a motorbike, it meant that my horses took a step back. It was wonderful to spend time as a family with the children’s sports; I was certainly still riding at home, but there was very little competing.”

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Below - Vaughn and RIVER JIM,1st (71.89%), Bronwyn and KALIMNA PRESTIGE, 2nd (71.84%) with a 05% difference in the Aussie Equine Supplies NZ Senior I, Livamol FEI Dressage World Challenge, Solway Showgrounds, Masterton.

I ALSO, OF COURSE, STILL

KALIMNA PRESTIGE A S P A R T HAVE

OF THE TEAM. PETE, OR

TWINKLETOES AS WE OFTEN CALL HIM...

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

IN 2015 I HAD A

CALL F R O M

PHONE

MY TWO CLOSEST

F R I E N D S , M A R I TA H I R D NICHOLSON AND GEORGIA B R U C E S AY I N G T H AT P E T E

WAS ON HIS WAY DOWN TO ME;

(KALIMNA PRESTIGE)

THEY WEREN’T KIDDING, HE W A S L I T E R A L LY O N T H E T R U C K COMING FROM CAIRNS!

Bronwyn got her first pony at the age of four, and then

followed her mother’s footsteps into the world of showing. “I got my first pony Gussy when I was four, mainly to babysit me in the cattle yards while mum rode her horse! I started competing in showing at the age of eight with Nala Lynnaire, she was a beautiful pony, but her and I spent the first six months on the lunge as Lyn would often take me for a ride, and Mum was a little concerned that I couldn’t stop her,” laughs Bronwyn. “Lyn and I had a wonderful partnership of about eight years, and she taught me such a huge amount. Together we won many pony and rider championships, including the 13.2hh pony championship at the Manawatu A&P show three years in a row – Lyn actually won it five years in a row herself!” When Bronwyn was fourteen, she moved onto bigger ponies and Lyn was retired; here is where she began a dressage journey that would take her to multiple national titles. “I first started dressage when we began leasing the ponies from Brookfields Stud. Brookfields Forget-me-not was the first one; Petal was a fantastic young pony, she was not easy, and there were some hair raising moments with her, but she taught me how to really ride.

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In our first show together at Carterton A&P, we won from Maiden right through to Supreme. “The following season Greenlee Dreamtime joined the team from Brookfields. In 2000, my last season with Dream (or Dreamie as she was known in the dressage world), we won the North Island and National Dressage Pony Championship, as well as Reserve Champion Dressage Pony of the Year and Reserve Champion Show Pony of the Year in 1999.” At this stage, Bronwyn’s focus was still on showing, and she began riding a “beautiful Thoroughbred hack” called Kyrewood Redhill, for Fred and Pauline Gorton. “We won many champion riders together, culminating in winning the Senior Rider of the Year, which earnt me a place in the NZ Showing team to compete at the Australian National Show and Rider Championships in Werribee in 2004. I was lucky enough to have the ride on Sue Abbiss’ beautiful big hunter Silverton, and we took home the Trans-Tasman Senior Rider Championship. In 2005 I decided to move to Queensland to ride for Vince Corvi for a season. After this, I chose to stay in Australia, where I competed lightly in dressage until I lost my horse at the time, Rangeview Tanjana.

RIVER JIM IS MY BIG S TA R , H E H A S S U C H A

BIG CHARACTER AND MAKES ME

LAUGH E V E R Y D AY

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

SHE HAD SUCH A

BEAUTIFUL, L O V I N G N AT U R E , A N D A N I N C R E D I B LY

KIND SOUL; S H E S TAY E D W I T H M E UNTIL SHE WAS 27... “ln 2015 I had a phone call from my two closest friends, Marita Hird Nicholson and Georgia Bruce saying that Pete (Kalimna Prestige) was on his way down to me; they weren’t kidding, he was literally on the truck coming from Cairns! Marita had purchased Pete to compete at the Paralympics but met her now-husband, so Pete had gone to Georgia Bruce to campaign for the Paralympics. Georgia was away coaching dressage or taking clicker training clinics all the time, and felt it wasn’t fair on Pete not to be worked consistently, so he was sent to me and that is where our journey together started. In 2017 and after 12 years in Australia, I decided to move back to New Zealand. Marita and Georgia suggested that I take Pete with me, as they thought he would have a better life in New Zealand; he suffered terribly from Queensland Itch, and so we both made the move back!”

As her children grew older, Vaughn was able to get back into

her own riding and competing, bringing out a beautiful, grey, Holsteiner mare called JK Lady Fair. “I competed to Advanced Medium with her, and we were practising all of the Grand Prix movements at home, but sadly injury prevented me from competing her further on. She had such a beautiful, loving nature, and the most beautiful kind soul; she stayed with me until she was 27, and is buried on the family farm. “The next horse I purchased was Kiteroa Leila, who I took through from a three-year-old to Medium Tour, and also trained the Grand Prix movements at home with the help from Peter Storr when he came out from England. She was a bit quirky, to say the least, she taught me never to be disappointed with a test, as with her if I was able to complete the test with some good movements it was a significant achievement,” she laughs. “The horsemanship I learned from her has definitely set me up for HV Destino, River Jim and Redwood Dastan; the next three horses I purchased.” Now based together in Hunterville on a beef and sheep farm not far from Vinegar Hill, the Coopers have put together a beautiful team of Australian imports. “HV Destino is part of the Desperados/Londonderry line, and when I came back from Australia, mum had two horses and so gave me the ride on him,” says Bronwyn. “He was amazing to ride and would often put his spontaneous flair in his dressage tests when not required, but that was who he was and made it exciting for the future. In April 2018 we were North Island Future Stars six-year-old reserve champion, but sadly he has injured himself since; we’re hoping for a miracle that he recovers, but it’s a very long shot. “I also, of course, still have Kalimna Prestige as part of the team. Pete, or Twinkletoes as we often call him, was introduced to clicker training by Marita and Georgia, and to this day I still accidentally push buttons and Pete will suddenly start doing tricks. He is such a fun horse, and we combine his clicker training with our dressage training, so nothing is ever boring for him. Pete’s party trick was rolling, and I always had to be careful when we got back to the stable because if I didn’t tie him up, he’d sit down

36 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

Opposite page Bronwyn and KALIMNA PRESTIGE after winning the Back on Track Amateur Level 4 Championship at 2019 Bates NZ Dressage Championships.

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with the saddle on and try to roll! Together we won the Amateur Level 4 Championship at the Dressage Nationals in 2019.” Vaughn’s stable star is River Jim, a nine-yearold black gelding by Riverside; in the wings, she also has Redwood Dastan, a six-year-old with similar bloodlines as HV Destino. “River Jim is my big star, he has such a big character and makes you laugh every day – he always has a big cheeky grin on his face, but he’s also incredibly sharp to ride and so intelligent. Cooper Oborn has helped me so much with this horse. Our biggest win together has got to be the Medium class at the Livamol FEI World Challenge; the biggest bonus though was Bronwyn being a fraction of a point behind me to be reserve with Kalimna Prestige – the whole thing was like a dream come true!”

Outside of their accomplished

skills on the competition circuit, Vaughn and Bronwyn are also heavily involved in horses in their professional lives.

“I have been an Equine Craniosacral Therapist since 2014; I began studying while I was in Australia and have continued ever since,” says Bronwyn. “Just recently, I have trained with Annis Parker - Animal Healing Touch and our team have really benefited from both the Craniosacral as well as the Healing Touch.” “Once my horses are finished for the day, I keep busy with my coaching of both dressage and showing; however I’m also a List 1/Tutor showing judge and a list B dressage judge working on upgrading with just the theory to go,” says Vaughn. “It takes a while to upgrade as I’m competing as well, but I feel that competing and judging really complement each other, and it’s something more riders should look into doing – giving back to our sport is also so important, and there’s a real shortage of judges at the moment. While there’s no race to get to the top level of judging, the more you do, the more you learn along the way; it’s all incredibly satisfying.” C

M: 021 627 082 E: sandij@xtra.co.nz www.classicequestrian.co.nz F: classic.equestrian SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

TRAINER spotlight

“I stayed in Denmark for three months the first time, and it was certainly a pretty

mind-blowing experience”

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the

ight start Mark Weedon A trip to Europe to follow his Show Jumping dream saw Mark find a career that has developed into a true passion. Now breaking-in horses for some of our country’s top riders and breeders, this talented horseman is well on his way to establishing a highly respected name for himself within the New Zealand equestrian community.

WORDS & IMAGES - Caitlin Benzie Growing up in a non-horsey family in Bethells Beach in North-West Auckland, Mark began his equine journey when he was nine. “In the school holidays I would attend a farm holiday camp which had all of the usual farm activities, but this particular one also had horse trekking. It was the first time I’d ever sat on a horse, and I really enjoyed it, so I started riding lessons with Denise Finlayson.” With a move from Bethells Beach to a farm two minutes up the road from Woodhill Sands, Mark’s mum, Debbie, bought him a 13hh pony called Marcel, when he was ten. “Denise was instrumental in the first few years of my riding, I was so lucky to have her helping me; she definitely gave me the best possible start to my riding journey. From the ages of ten to thirteen, I did a bit of everything; ODE’s, dressage, show jumping, but the main focus was on Show Hunter. When I was thirteen and got my first hack, that all had to change though, the hack was way too hot and a little too expressive to be a Show Hunter horse, so I made a move to show jumping.” SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

In 2013, Mark began

having lessons from Greg Jamieson at Chester Farms, a decision that would end up being the catalyst for his eventual career choice. “Greg had been my show jumping coach for about a year when he suggested that I come and work for him over the winter, in the end, he offered me a full-time position, so I stayed for almost three years; it was here that I began learning about the process of breakingin horses.” Mark was lucky enough to receive help over the years from Liz Vokes, Vaughn Jefferis, Phillip and Sally Steiner, Angela Learmonth and Tracey McIntyre, as well as many others. He also often sought advice at shows from David Goodin and when he began making noises that he was keen to learn more overseas, he was offered the opportunity to head over to Denmark and work for Riders Cup where Bruce Goodin (David’s son) was based at the time. “I stayed in Denmark for three months the first time, and it was certainly a pretty mind-blowing experience - the facilities were incredible, our standard working space was a 35x80m indoor arena. Bruce was running the stables, and he was always absolutely flat out with competing; even though he would arrive home late on Sunday night, he would always find time on the Monday and Tuesday to give us lessons, before he would then be off again on Wednesday for the next show.” The following few years were a flurry of flights backwards and forwards from New Zealand to Europe for Mark, spending six months at a time in each hemisphere and enjoying an all year-round summer. “In 2016, I went to Ireland and spent four months with Mark O’Sullivan, a top Show Jumper and broker. I attended a heap more competitions during this trip and learnt a huge amount from Mark about preparing horses for sale and also marketing them – this meant attending a lot of auctions too. During

Mark says groundwork is foundation training at its best for the untrained horse. When done correctly, horses learn simple cues that build upon one another to be more complex.

“My job over there ended up being breaking

teaching them to jump,

them in,

and then taking them along to their first shows; Riders Cup were breeding about ten horses a year, so there was certainly enough to keep me busy!”

2017’s trip I went to Miranda Harrington’s yard in Holland for a month, and then back to Riders Cup.” It was during those five months at Riders Cup where Mark was given the opportunity to begin breaking-in the Riders Cup horses by himself, and with his methods. “I had been riding a lot of their young horses, so it progressed to the point where I began starting them as well. My job over there ended up being breaking them in, teaching them to jump, and then taking them along to their first shows; Riders Cup were breeding about ten horses a year, so there was certainly enough to keep me busy! “My absolute favourite horse that I’ve worked with there was born the first time I went over in 2015. I was present for his birth and offered the chance to name him, which I was told had to start with C, I figured

Mandy Littlejohn’s horse, VALENTINO O, has progressed through groundwork training and is ready for the lunging procress to begin. Mark uses lunging as a tool for young horses; it is a great way of assessing and validating the work of a horse at any stage of training.

40 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE

“I had been riding a lot of their young horses, so it progressed to the point where I began starting them as well.”

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

Throughout the ground training period Mark is constantly assessing a young horse’s development so that the right time can be chosen to back the horse to ensure the transition is as smooth and easy as possible. Carlsberg was a Danish beer, so it worked quite well, and to be fair I quite liked the beer too,” laughs Mark. “He was absolutely stunning, and I was lucky enough to break him in and take him to his first shows a few years later; it’s always such a great feeling to see him progressing through the levels and looking as amazing as ever when I go back to Riders Cup each year.”

After spending six months

in 2018 and 2019 based at Riders Cup, Mark officially started MW Equestrian in September 2019 and based himself in Glorit in North-West Auckland. Now based in Kumeu, only ten minutes from Woodhill Sands, Mark has 23 acres and a full equine facility available to him to carry out the system he has created. “Over the years, I’ve picked up a lot of different tips and tricks from the range of people I’ve worked with, which have all pulled together to create my own system. Stage one is groundwork, teaching them to lunge and getting them to respect my space and build trust with them – I make sure that I can touch them all over and that there are no areas that they are not confident with human touch. I also begin getting them used to having someone on their back by applying different pressures and then eventually laying over them, all done bareback until they feel comfortable. Stage two is about introducing gear, and by the end, I like to have them long reining for a day or two. Stage three is laying over them with a saddle on and then slowly building them to actual riding; mainly walking with a little bit of trotting, but also practising our turning skills and brakes – both essential

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“Patience is the biggest thing

horses, and also knowing exactly when to push and when to let the horse process things for a bit.”

when you’re starting horses, and also knowing exactly when to push and when to let the horse process things for a bit.”

broken-in at his yard at any one time, Mark certainly isn’t one to be lazing around – he’s also incredibly lucky to have Charlotte Treneary, a 17-year-old eventing rider, working for him. “I try to stick to having a maximum of around ten horses here for starting at a time, any more and I don’t feel like I can do them the service they deserve. Charlotte is based at the same property I am, so in between working her team of chestnuts she helps me out with the horses; she’s a very talented rider and a much-appreciated member of the team!” The future only looks bright for Mark, who has not only already built up a clientele that includes the likes of Wendi and Becki Williamson, Xtreme Sport Horses, Renai Hart and David Wooley, but also has plans to return to the Riders Cup for two months each winter. “At the moment I haven’t really got a team of my own; with so many horses coming through it isn’t viable timewise, but I’d love to think that; in the future when I am more established and have a few people working for me, and I’m in more of a supervising role, that I’ll be able to have a couple of really nice quality horses that I could take through the levels myself. “For the time being, I’m just loving getting to work with so many great horses and great people, it’s an incredibly rewarding job, and I’d like to think that the horses enjoy the experience just as much as I do.” C

things of course,” he laughs. “Stage four is establishing trot and canter, and in stage five they’re pretty confident about walk, trot and cantering in a small area so we take them out over the farm so they can become just as confident in a large area.” No horse is rushed with Mark, and they’ll never be pushed through a stage before they’re confident. “All horses are different, it’s certainly not a case of week one we will do exactly this and week two we will do exactly that, they all move up the phases in their own time frame, and there’s no deadline. You can never rush them; they need to be ready and relaxed before you can move up a step. Some will fly through in the early weeks but then slow down, while others will take a while to cotton on, but then come on in leaps and bounds later on in the process. Patience is the biggest thing when you’re starting

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RIDER spotlight

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xciting an

journey

Reece Downham-Smith

Whilst Reece Downham-Smith may not have started her riding career in dressage and then a once in a lifetime opportunity has meant that she’s exploded onto the scene with tremendous success. WORDS & IMAGES - Caitlin Benzie

“Horses have always been a part of my life,

my Mum rode when she was younger which meant we always had ponies, so I’ve been riding for longer than I can remember,” laughs Reece. “I first started riding when we lived in Australia, but when I was six we moved to New Zealand and settled in the Waikato in a little place called the Hauraki Plains – I then went to Te Aroha college, and after I finished school we moved down to Palmerston North.” Even though Reece and her siblings were lucky enough to have ponies when they were young, they certainly weren’t just handed everything on a silver platter. “We had two Shetland cross ponies, and Mum said to my sister and me; once you can walk and trot

bareback then I’ll think about getting you a saddle, and once you have independent hands then I’ll think about a bridle. My older sister and two younger brothers all rode when they were younger, and to be honest I’m not really sure how Mum kept up with us - there wasn’t a lot of skill or control in our riding at the stage!” Once her riding became a bit more polished, Reece focused mainly on Showing and Round the Ring jumping, with great success. However, in 2018 an opportunity arose that would take her down a new and completely different pathway. “Amy Sage and I had been friends for years because we competed in ‘showing’ at the same time. After she shifted to dressage and started working at Vanessa Way’s yard, she sent me a message asking if I would SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

be interested in a job working up north with Matthews Hanoverians. She then made me message Vanessa, which seemed very daunting to me at the time, and Vanessa rang me and offered me the chance to have a trial at her yard as she was a bit closer to Palmerston North than Matthews Hanoverians was,” laughs Reece. “Judith then rang me almost straight away and offered me the job and, a few weeks later, I made the eleven-hour drive to my new home! “It was a huge change to come up here and specialise in dressage, and I’m so grateful that Judith took the chance to take me on with my very minimal dressage experience – I think before I came up to MH I had done maybe a handful of tests over my whole life.”

Matthews Hanoverians is a sport horse breeding facility

situated in Awanui in the far north of New Zealand and is the brainchild of founders Judith and Peter Matthews. Initially purchased in 1984 in a run-down state, Judith and Peter have gone on to make significant changes to their property. They’ve added more land (now with nearly 300 acres to ride over), a 20x60 outdoor arena, 20x40 indoor arena with five stables and a self-contained flat, and finally a four-block of stables for the mares and foals. “I originally started breeding horses because I went to buy a Hanoverian and couldn’t find one that I liked,” says Judith. “I bought two Thoroughbred mares and bred from them, but at that stage, you could only get semen from within New Zealand, you couldn’t get frozen semen. In the end, we decided to go to Germany and purchase a mare, Wel Kantje, and she was the beginning of our breeding program. We’ve come to the stage where we now breed around ten foals a year, a lot are sold, but we do keep a few to carry on the breeding program.”

Reece is kept busy with

young stock continually coming through, and currently has a competition team of four in work, plus several youngsters not yet at competition level. “First up on my team I have Georgia MH, who is a seven-year-old bay

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mare by Gymnastik Star, bred by Judith and is currently competing at Medium level. We also have a mare called Ruby Tuesday T who’s a rising eight-year-old, by Royal Classic. Judith bought her in Germany as a three-year-old at a mare show and imported her in foal to Buckingham. She has now had two foals (Burberry MH by Buckingham and Trelise MH by Totalis) and came back into work in May 2019. She’s also going to be competing at Medium level this season; we had our first Medium start last weekend for some great scores, so I’m very excited about her this season! “Ruby MH is a five-year-old liver chestnut mare by Royal Mirage bred by Judith who’ll be competing at Novice level this season, and last but not least is Felize MH who is a five-year-old mare by Furstenball, who is, of course, also bred by Judith! She is a full sister to Fanfare MH, competed by Casey Burton, and she will also be competing at Novice level this season.” Not only was she a massive factor in Reece getting the job at Matthews, but Vanessa Way has also gone on to provide coaching for the whole team for the last two years. “I’m super lucky to have Vanessa as my coach, she’s amazing and has taught me so much in a short time, and I am so grateful for all the support she’s given me. Because I am based so far away from her, she also gives us Skype lessons which is certainly a different experience – but nonetheless very helpful! I’m also super lucky to have Casey, it’s amazing to be able to have a pair of incredibly experienced eyes on the ground all of the time, and she’s always there to help out if I need to work through anything specific.” Since her move to dressage in 2018, Reece has proceeded to bring home quite the haul of covers and sashes for the Matthews team.

“

I ’ M S O L U C K Y T H AT I G E T T O R I D E S O M A N Y

PHENOMENAL HORSES T H A T

ALL TRY

THEIR HARDEST FOR ME...

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

“

AT T H E M O M E N T I ’ M J U S T R E A L LY

APPRECIATING

“

W H AT I H AV E A N D ENJOYING THE PROCESS...

“I’m so lucky that I get to ride so many phenomenal horses that all try their hardest for me, so it’s hard to pick just a few highlights. My most successful horse at the MH stables would have to be Georgia MH; we’ve had a pretty good few seasons always coming home with good results – my favourite bit though is she always gives her best and is a pleasure to deal with too. Together we won the Novice Amateur class at Nationals in 2019, and also the Champion five-yearold at the Future Stars show in the same year. “Ruby MH winning the champion developing horse at Auckland Manukau last season was a pretty big highlight for me too though. I think it’s probably the first time I’ve cried about winning anything; I got pretty emotional when she got the rug!”

As with anything in the horse world though, there always has

to be some of the lowest of lows to go with the extraordinary highs. “My most heart-breaking moment since I’ve been with the MH team definitely has to be losing the beautiful big young horse Baretta MH last winter. He was just the most incredible horse to work with, and it was just such a horrendously tough time for everyone because he was such a huge character in the stables. I miss him every day, and he ended up being the inspiration behind my dog’s name, Bea. I got her almost exactly a year after we lost him and, even though they never got to meet, I know they would have got on so well - she reminds me of him every day with her big, happy and goofy personality.” Even with such heart-breaking moments, Reece wouldn’t change her job at Matthews for the world and has big plans for the future with her gorgeous team of horses. “I can’t wait to get some of our up and coming horses out over the next few years, including my young horse! Ideally, I’d love to eventually get one of my horses to Grand Prix level and also head overseas and compete in Young Horse classes, but we’ll see where the world takes me. At the moment I’m just really appreciating what I have and enjoying the process; from the young horses learning something new to just watching them grow in confidence in themselves - it’s an incredibly rewarding job, and I’m just so grateful to Judith for the opportunity.” C

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Reece rides RUBY TUESDAY T who’s a rising eight-yearold, by ROYAL CLASSIC.

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RIDER spotlight

Rylee and BANDITO NZPH during the Young Rider Class at Takapoto Show Jumping 2020

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orn to ompete Rylee Sheehan WORDS - Rebecca Harper IMAGES - Christine Cornege

This talented young show jumper made his mark on the season with a classy win in the Grand Prix at the Jumping Wairarapa Showjumping and Show Hunter Labour Weekend Show on Bandito NZPH – his first start at this level. Horses are in the blood for 15-year-old Rylee Sheehan, his mother Sheree competed in dressage, and his grandfather owns a racing stable, so it's no surprise he showed natural ability from a young age. Stepping up for his first Grand Prix start with 10-yearold gelding Bandito NZPH (Malcolm) it was a shock to Rylee to take the top spot, capping off a great show where he also placed third in the Young Rider class on Malcolm and fourth in the Pony Grand Prix with the seasoned Tony the Pony. Hailing from a dairy farm in Te Aroha, he is lucky to base his horses five minutes down the road at his grandfather's racing stables, giving him access to

excellent facilities, including a water walker and track. In Year 11 at St John's College in Hamilton, Rylee began riding lessons at age eight. "My little sister used to go to lessons at Phillips Equine in Cambridge, and I felt like I was missing out – they were leaving me at home – so I decided to go along one day." Sheree bought a pony for Rylee and his sister to share, another pony soon following, who Rylee competed in Show Hunter and show jumping classes. "The first pony I did proper show jumping on was a roan Gisborne-bred called Toe, an awful name! It was naughty, hence the name." A leased pony from the Butterworth family, Flicker,

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got Rylee jumping 1.10m by the time he was ten. The family purchased her only foal, by Craighaven LeviOsa, as a yearling with the intention of breaking it in to be Rylee's future pony. He competed that pony, Freestyle Twist and Shout, as a fouryear-old before it was sold to the South Island, going on to compete in Pony Grand Prix classes. That sale enabled them to purchase Galaxy Samurai (Jack) from the Watson family, the start of an enduring friendship between the two families.

I focused on show jumping, I'm quite competitive and like going fast, and also knowing when you have won instead of going off someone's opinion. Melissa Watson and Sheree have become good friends, and Melissa has been hugely influential on Rylee's riding and also looking out for him. "She's like my second mum," he explains. "I focused on show jumping, I'm quite competitive and like going fast, and also knowing when you have won instead of going off someone's opinion." Jack and Rylee enjoyed great success, winning the Pony Six Bar and Emerging Rider classes at Horse of the Year, as well as competing up to Pony Grand Prix level. With Rylee being tall for his age and Jack not quite being a full-sized pony, the decision was made to sell Jack and buy Tony the Pony in 2018. Now aged 19, Tony is well known on the circuit, having won multiple titles and series crowns. “He's pretty laid back at home, but he knows his job well and gets pretty fired up when we get to the ring! He's 19, but you'd think he was seven.” The pair had a great start to the season, winning the Pony Grand Prix at Hawke's Bay A&P Show and Rylee's goal for the season is to be competitive in the series and Pony of the Year. “I'm not going to over-jump him because of his age, but we will aim for some nice placings.”

Not long after purchasing

Tony, they realised Rylee's height meant the need to find his first hack sooner than anticipated. Fortunately, his grandfather, Don Alison, bought Malcolm for him. “We realised there was no way Rylee would be able to stay on a pony until he was 17, so we had to change plan and get a horse earlier. We were lucky his grandfather bought the horse, we bought him Tony, but we have three kids and the farm, we can't be stupid about it,” Sheree explains.

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Above Rylee takes all the horses hacking each day. Rylee and TONY THE PONY during Pony of the Year 2020 BANDITO NZPH during a schooling session at home

Malcolm is quite hot, but I liked how he always wanted to get to the fence. I think we suit each other quite well. We both like to win, I think. Rural and Equestrian Construction Design, build and develop your rural or lifestyle property with Harrison Lane, for end-to-end project management..

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Mum, especially, and dad, has been the biggest help I have. Dad drives the truck, and mum is number one groom. It's a team effort.

Rylee loves his Butet saddle and has had it specially inscribed. Sierra Lodge in Te Aroha, Waikato is where the family are based. This will be Rylee's last season on ponies; then Tony will be retired and live out his days on the farm. “We were lucky to get Bandito NZPH. He's quite a hot little number but they kind of clicked. We knew it would take time, but we would get there.” “Malcolm is quite hot, but I liked how he always wanted to get to the fence. I think we suit each other quite well. We both like to win, I think,” Rylee says. Bandito NZPH is by Consul de la Vie Z, out of a mare called Manon des Souches, and had competed at Grand Prix with his previous rider, as well as winning the sevenyear-old at Takapoto and the 1.40m at HOY. The Sheehans were looking for a horse with some experience that Rylee could ride in the Junior Rider classes and work his way up the grades. Having their first Grand Prix start at Wairarapa, Rylee never expected to win. "I just wanted to give the horse a nice ride around the track and aim for a clear. I was a bit shocked, but it was pretty cool, and I was pleased with how he jumped. “We're stepping up to Young Riders this season, and I'll be happy to get a few nice rounds. Hopefully, we'll do the Young Rider of the Year at HOY and be consistent at that 1.30-1.40m height, with a few bigger tracks scattered around, the ones that look nice for him to go in.” Long term, he would love to get to World Cup level with Malcolm and make some Young Rider teams. “I need to go to uni once I'm old enough, so that might make the horses a bit harder. I think it's important; you need to have something to fall back on.” As well as Tony and Malcolm, Rylee has a young horse, Castakko Xtreme (Sting) who the family purchased at the Xtreme Sport Horses auction during the lockdown. The goal for Sting is to be consistent at 1.10m and possibly step up to Junior Riders by the end of the season, as she's showing a lot of promise.

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“We bought her as a six-year-old, still quite green. Because of COVID-19, we bought her sight unseen, but her breeding appealed to us because she's a mare, we might breed from her.” Sitting in the young stock paddock at the farm, there are also two nice youngsters bred and owned by his grandmother, Karen Holten, out of her Thoroughbred mare who proved too slow for the race track. The first is a two-year-old by Centavos and the second is a yearling by Chacco Silver. “I've had a sit on the Centavos, and it feels nice. It's exciting to have the young horses for the future.”

Riding is very much a family affair for the Sheehans, although Rylee's

sister no longer rides, with his grandparents following his exploits, as well as supporting him through breeding and owning horses. “It's cool to have them involved and come and watch, being able to celebrate the good times, and bad. Both sets of grandparents like to keep up with what I'm doing on Facebook and come to watch at shows like HOY. “Mum, especially, and dad, has been the biggest help I have. Dad drives the truck, and mum is number one groom. It's a team effort.” Over the years Rylee has trained with Melissa Watson, and she's still a part of the team, sometimes helping him in the warm-up at shows and walking courses. “I owe a lot of what I have achieved lately to her. She's like a second mum to me, and she just cares how I go, as she does for Emma.” This season, he's enjoying having top show jumper Tegan Fitzsimon living with them. South Islander Tegan has based herself with the family for her North Island campaign, and Rylee is soaking up her knowledge. “You can't get much better help than her at home, and it's cool to watch what she does with her horses.” Sheree echoes that sentiment. “Tegan has been amazing. Just for him to watch what she does daily, the attention to detail and what you need to put in to have horses at that level. Everything is so clean now! Things like bandaging and polticing after jumping he has become very particular about..” Sheree says it was evident right from the first lesson that Rylee was a natural on a horse. “He started rising to the trot straight away. We tried with our daughter, and she didn't want a bar of it, but he just had it naturally.” Early on, Sheree's friend Wendy Skelton was a big help when they saw potential in Rylee. “He had a lot of flatwork lessons with her, and she was so helpful with

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Rylee is quite a humble kid. The first thing he does when he comes out of the ring is pat his horse and praise their effort. He wants to win, but he doesn't have too much expectation. Sheree Sheehan

L-R TONY THE PONY during the Pony of the Year class The backdrop to dairy farm in Te Aroha is breaktaking Rylee holding his newest superstar, BANDITO NZPH

his connection with the horse. When we realised he wanted to stay with the show jumping, she organised for him to have lessons with Vaughn Jefferis. Vaughn set Rylee up early on with his position; he's a super coach.” She believes her son's easy-going nature and calm demeanour have stood him in good stead in the ring. “Rylee is quite a humble kid. The first thing he does when he comes out of the ring is pat his horse and

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praise their effort. He wants to win, but he doesn't have too much expectation. “I don't think he lets any outside influence get to him; he's taken his own time. He's got a real respect for the animal and puts them first. He takes it seriously, but he doesn't stress himself out, and he knows that things take time.” Rylee is grateful to be sponsored by Te Aroha Veterinary Services and Canter for Cancer. C

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Terms & Conditions: 1. Prices excluding specials indicated in this publication are recommended retail stock held by us on order at time of going to print. 2. Prices shown are recommended retail only. 3. Every item listed may not be available in all stores and stock is available only while stock lasts. 4. All items have been included in good faith on the basis that products, as described, will be available from our suppliers at the time of sale. Failure by our suppliers to deliver in accordance with sample or description or at all, or unintended delay with the supply to us of stock may result in some lines being unavailable or delay in availability or delivery. 5. Display accessories and props shown are not included in the price shown unless specified. 6. Prices on our saddles do not include mounts unless specified. 7. Prices on our bridles do not include bits unless specified. 8. Prices effective until 31st December 2020. Equestrian Connection reserves the right to alter or correct pricing or printing errors.

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RIDER spotlight

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ES W T

BEST is

Eve Hawes

Where thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a will, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a way. From working as an aircraft mechanic to driving dump trucks and ferrying beer kegs from Greymouth to Reefton, West Coast eventer Ewe Hawes has put in the hard yards to keep her passion for horses alive. WORDS - Rebecca Harper IMAGES - Michelle Clarke

Looking out the window on the morning of her eighth birthday, Eve Hawes was devastated to see a black and white cow. On closer inspection, it was the much-longed-for pony; she'd just never seen a coloured horse before. Having announced to her non-horsey parents at the age of four that she would ride horses for a living, they kept their promise of a pony when she turned eight. "There was a guy down the road who bred coloured ponies. He told dad he could have whatever he could catch. Then he had to lead it 15km home down the main road too!" That pony, Molly, was two and so Eve became the proud owner of an unbroken coloured pony

and learned to ride bareback. "I didn't have a saddle, but the local leatherworker gave me a bridle for my birthday too, with Molly's name carved in it." Born and bred on the West Coast, Eve keeps her horses at her parent's lifestyle block in Reefton and lives 20 minutes away in Mawheraiti. She's left the coast over the years, including several stints riding in the UK, but always returns. Once a coastie, always a coastie. For the past seven years she's worked as the local farrier, as well as breaking in and training horses and coaching riders locally and in Canterbury and Nelson under her business, Eve's Equine Education & Consultancy. "I'm a jack of all trades, master of none!"

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Eve and THE ENCHANTRESS during the cross-country at the FEI South Island Three Day Event Championships 2020

Eve's introduction to riding coincided with her aunt and

granny coming to live with the family. "I was lucky my aunt had been a racehorse trainer and had worked for the likes of John Cottle and Ken Browne. She was a renowned horse trainer in her own right and conned dad into getting me a bigger pony, a Standardbred from the trekking centre up the road." Unsurprisingly, Eve's aunt ended up as the head instructor at the local pony club. "My initial training was pretty darn good. She was also the local farrier, and I grew up watching her shoe horses." In 1996 Eve went to Telford to study equine but soon realised she'd need to cut costs somewhere if she wanted to continue riding. That's when she started shoeing her own horses. Eventing was Eve's first love. Her first ever competition was a one-day-event, and she got the bug. "I liked eventing most because it's the three disciplines together and I got more bang for my buck – I got to do dressage, show jumping and cross country in one day. I find it challenging. When you put the three disciplines together, it can be tough to come out on top." Living on the West Coast is a challenge logistically, with no local eventing competitions, which means she frequently travels to Canterbury to compete.

Deciding she needed

to earn decent money if she wanted to continue riding, Eve trained as an aircraft mechanic in the air force. "Mainly because they paid for my studies and dad told me it would pay well." When the Skyhawks were sold, Eve took redundancy in 2001. "I realised life in the air force wasn't getting me where I wanted with the horses, and also the twin towers had just happened. No one wanted to fly anywhere, and no one was hiring aircraft mechanics." Returning to the West Coast and struggling to find a job, she wound up driving dump trucks, loaders and diggers. This allowed her to save enough pennies to head to the UK. "I started with Joe Meyer and then got a job through Horse & Hound in Devon. It was lucky for me, not so much for the

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woman I worked for, she fell off and broke her arm, so I ended up competing the horses, mainly in working hunters." If she worked hard and won a working hunter class the reward was she got to go eventing the following weekend, competing up to 2* level. "Then, I came home. I didn't like the English winters and got chilblains on my ears! I was meant to come home for summer and then return to the UK. I bought two horses and thought I could train and sell them, but being on the West Coast that didn't work quite as well as in England." Eve stayed in New Zealand and bought herself a little freight truck, carting beer kegs and all sorts of goods from Reefton to Greymouth. "I did that for seven years. Back in those days, I could lift two times my body weight." Being a one-man-band made it hard to get away to compete, and eventually, Eve sold the business and went to groom for eventer Emily Cammock. "She and her family are the best people I've ever worked for, so down to earth, they'd give you the shirt off their back. I was allowed to have a couple of horses and was lucky. Emily had a big truck and would take me up North with her." Now, Eve still turns to Emily for advice whenever she's in a tough spot and says she's been one of the most influential people on her riding career. "She's relatable, and we're friends, so I think that helps. It's not like a trainer situation; more we can bounce ideas off each other." In winter she returned to England and worked for Caroline Powell. "Unfortunately I was taking studs out at an event, and someone drove their bus-sized lorry up the horse's arse, and it ran over me, studding me in the calf muscle. I ended up with a haematoma and couldn't fly because of deep vein thrombosis, so I went to recover with a friend in Devon for five weeks and missed Lenamore jumping around the London Olympics." Returning to the West Coast after another stint with Emily, Eve again battled to find a job. It was then she went out on her own, doing horses full-time. "That's when I started shoeing horses for a living, as well and breaking and training horses. Specialising in one thing on the West Coast would never earn you a living, I have to go to Nelson shoeing just to make ends meet." Despite the hardship and battle to make the horses work, Eve has never given up, nor left the West Coast for good. "It has gone through my mind (it's too hard) but I just love the horses, and it's not a job when you enjoy doing it. I generally run out of money and have to come home – but I do love the West Coast! And my long-suffering partner, BJ, is here too. He's a contractor, and I don't see him leaving. "When I was younger, all I wanted to do was get off the West Coast. Now, I always want to come home; it's my place. My family is here. The travel with the horses is hugely expensive, but land and rent are cheap, and my parents have a property where I can keep my horses."

Eve has four horses (one retired and one in-foal

broodmare), two large ponies and two small ponies. It seems an odd mix, but she explains that being the local farrier means you're also the local rescuer, hence the small ponies, including one mini. “Dad conned me into getting a little cart. I broke it in to cart and we tootle off around town, it’s a great old lady’s pastime!”

IT HAS GONE THROUGH MY MIND (IT'S TOO HARD) BUT I JUST LOVE THE HORSES, AND IT'S NOT A JOB WHEN

YOU ENJOY DOING IT.

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I LIKED EVENTING MOST BECAUSE ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S THE THREE DISCIPLINES TOGETHER AND I GOT MORE BANG FOR MY BUCK â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I GOT TO DO

DRESSAGE, SHOW JUMPING A N D CROSS COUNTRY I N O N E D AY. I F I N D I T CHALLENGING. WHEN YOU PUT THE THREE DISCIPLINES TOGETHER, IT CAN BE TOUGH TO COME O U T O N T O P. Left - Eve and THE ENCHANTRESS during the cross-country at the FEI South Island Three Day Event Championships 2020

Eve usually brings on a couple of large ponies each season for a bit of extra cash. As far as competition goes, she has the memorably named Spookee Possum, her top mount. Spookee is an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, by Scaredee Cat out of an O'Reilly mare, which she got from Eventstars as a three-year-old. Spookee is the most consistent horse she's had, winning the South Island 2* title at the Three-Day-Event several seasons ago and notching both a second and third placing in the one-day champs at 2* over the last few years too. She credits his love of liquorice rewards with his rise up the grades. "I don't think I would have been able to train him to jump if he hadn't taken a shine to liquorice, and I'm pretty sure I could train him to stand on his head for it." Her other eventer is The Enchantress (Tess), another Eventstars purchase. Seven-year-old chestnut mare Tess is a Thoroughbred by Thewayyouare, and Eve describes her as hotter than the fires of hell. "But she's quite a talented jumper if you can keep her brain in the game." Tess recently made the step up to 2* level at the South Island ThreeDay Event. Hurlingham Lansong, a horse Eve took to 3*, is in foal to Heartbreaker KS and due to foal shortly. It's her first foray into breeding, but she hopes it might pay off in the form of a future top event horse.

Eve tries to keep the work varied when it comes to training

her horses. "I do a bit of everything, at the local rodeo I do barrel racing and things like cowboy challenges. If anyone runs games days, I go and do it, just to have a bit of fun and keep it real." "I guess that's part of the reason I keep gravitating back to the West

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Coast. There are so many places to ride; I go around jumping people's garden fences and nobody minds. There's the river to swim in and that many trail rides up through the hills. They let hacks use the sand track at the racecourse too. The facilities here are second to none. "My horses have heaps of variation. It keeps them sane; they're not just getting thumped around an arena all the time." Producing horses through to 3* has been a highlight of Eve's riding career, though finances and selling horses to keep afloat means 4* remains elusive, for now. "I think I get something out of every horse I train. I just enjoy watching them grow in their personalities. We all have our dreams, and I would love to go 4*, but money is always an issue. I've kind of taken a step back and thought if I can produce nice horses to a certain level that allows me to do the sport I like. "If I want to keep bringing horses on I have to sell off the top. I try to have one at FEI level and one or two coming through behind them, that's my insurance policy." She wants other young riders to understand it is possible to follow your dreams, even if the money is tight. "Don't get me wrong, money helps, but if you are passionate about something, a lot of hard work will get you most of the way. Particularly for those West Coast kids, to see top riders, the likes of Emily Cammock, Tegan Fitzsimon, Todd Magner, who have come out of the West Coast over the years, it's great for the local kids to see those people excelling." Eve is grateful to be sponsored by Coast to Coast Honey, Nicolett Geldermann and Aratuna Freighters, as well as her supportive parents. A builder, her dad helped her build her first horse truck as well as horse shelters and renovating old stables she had transported to the property. "Mum looks after the horses when I have to go away for days at a time shoeing and teaching." C

A L I T T L E C A R T. I B R O K E I T I N

“

DAD CONNED ME INTO GETTING

TO CART AND WE TOOTLE OFF

A R O U N D T O W N , I T ’ S A G R E AT O L D

LADY’S PASTIME!

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

SPECIAL feature

“

I W O R K E D F O R P R O F E S S O R T W I N K A L L E N, A K A,

“

‘THE GODFATHER OF EQUINE REPRODUCTION’. IT WAS A VERY AMAZING, PRODUCTIVE GROUP OF S C I E N T I S T S T H A T I W O R K E D W I T H.

WORDS - Cheyenne Nicholson IMAGES - Christine Cornege

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with Lee Morris

BVSC DVSC DIPACT, REGISTERED SPECIALIST IN VETERINARY REPRODUCTION

Dr Lee Morris is a highly respected specialist in equine reproduction. With a lengthy list of achievements, Lee has worked on game-changing research and is in demand as a guest speaker at conferences all around the world. She now works as a specialist equine reproduction veterinarian for EquiBreed NZ, winners of the Service Excellence Award in 2019. We caught up with Lee to talk about how it all started.

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What were your parent's professions?

My father is a civil engineer, and my mother is a school teacher.

Do you have any siblings? What are their careers?

Yes, I have two brothers, one younger, one older. My older brother is a human resources manager, and my younger is a neuropsychologist.

Did you ever want to be anything other than a vet growing up?

Nope. I will say that I did always want to be a really good cow vet. I was only 43kg when I graduated, and I loved shocking farmers when I arrived to calve their cows!

Theriogenology has been your focus for most of your career – what about it appealed to you?

“

T H A T S A Y I N G,

WORK HARD, PLAY HARD C O M E S T O M I N D.

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When I was a little girl, I grew up in the Hunter Valley in Australia. There was a lovely local vet called Gavin. We lived in town, and I'd been watching James Herriot on tv and wanted to live on a farm. My mum arranged for me to spend time with Gavin, he took me out every school holidays and on weekends to jobs. All we ever seemed to do was go to horse studs or dairy farms for reproduction cases. Ever since then, I wanted to be a vet, and I guess that's where my passion for reproduction was founded. Now that I'm older, I realise just how lucky I was and what a kind man he was for doing that. I went with him on jobs for years, right up until I finished vet school. He used to write references for me to get into university and things. I always try to live up to the things he said in the references. He was my first inspiration in the field, and I owe a lot to him.

Have you always been around horses?

I've always been interested in them, but if you put me on a horse, well, I'm not a very good rider. I lack the confidence, I think. I went hunting in Gisborne once, I was quite nervous, but it was great fun. I had a really good horse, though.

Do you have any children? Yes, my son, Toby, He's 10.

What were you like as a university student?

The saying ‘work hard, play hard’ comes to mind. It was so long ago that it was in the days that you had all your exams at the end of the year. We didn't have mid-year exams or assessments, just 13 exams at the end of the year. So you didn't have to study hard until October, so until then, it was about having fun. It could be stressful, but as you go through vet school, it gets more interesting as you do more clinical subjects. The exams almost become fun because you have all this knowledge that you want to get out to show you're ready to hit the ground running and save lives or whatever you want to do.

You've lived and worked in several different countries – which did you enjoy the most?

Other than Australia? That's, of course, the best country. Maybe I'm biased. No, I've enjoyed living everywhere. I enjoyed England a lot, but I do really love living in New Zealand. It's so beautiful and green.

From 1998-2001 you were the Senior Research Scientist in the TBA Equine Fertility Unit, Newmarket in the United Kingdom, what did that involve? I did my post-doctorate here. The TBA Equine Fertility Unit was part of the University of Cambridge Veterinary school. I worked for Professor Twink Allen, aka, 'the godfather of equine reproduction'. It was a very amazing, productive group of scientists that I worked with. We developed low dose insemination techniques for sex-sorted semen. We then produced one of the worlds first Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) foals. This is where we cultured embryos in the lab for eight days, this allowed us to do a non-surgical transfer. There were a lot of exciting projects, and it was a life-changing time for sure. I still work with Professor Allen and other colleagues from "The Unit".

“

You've been in NZ since 2002, what made you want to call NZ home?

I came here in 1996 for a conference and fell in love with the place. Then I had the opportunity to come and work with animal breeding services so naturally, I couldn't pass that up.

We know you are in demand as a guest speaker around the world, do you ever get nervous? I wouldn't say that I find it intimidating. If you're talking about something that you're passionate about and know about, then it flows. My biggest problem is knowing when to stop talking! It's a great opportunity to present research results, have a peer-reviewed public discussion about the projects and their limitations and opportunities. It's probably my favourite part of the research process.

You were elected onto the committee for the International Symposium of Equine Reproduction? What has that been like?

That's been another great opportunity. It's like the World Cup of equine reproduction. It's a big international conference held

ICSI IS THE

HOLY GRAIL FOR NZ BREEDERS.

“

I T ’ S TA K E N M E A B O U T T H R E E Y E A R S O F RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TO SET I T U P H E R E F O R O U R N Z B R E E D E R S.

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every four years in a different part of the world. Being on the committee, I get to review abstracts and papers before everyone else, so it's a great sneak peek into research from around the world. In 2014 I chaired the ISER conference in New Zealand, which was a great opportunity for kiwi vets as we often miss out on these opportunities due to the cost of travel to other parts of the world. The committee was made up of Kiwis and Australians and gave our vets a chance to met some of the world leaders in reproduction. A lot of comradery was developed as well as a lot of learning. It was such an honour. When you leave university, you don't have the same access to libraries and research, so it takes a lot of effort to keep up to date.

“

I LOVE

We see that your interests include artificial insemination (AI), embryo transfer (ET), epididymal spermatozoa, hysteroscopy, equine laparoscopy, semen freezing technology, sex-sorted semen. Tell us about Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) and why it is so important and has there been success in NZ with this fertility process? The ICSI is a human fertility treatment that was developed in the '90s. As I mentioned earlier,

MY LAB TIME!

while I was in Newmarket (UK) we produced the first foal via ICSI and in vitro culture for 8 days, which helped make the technology commercially practical. It means that it is now possible to recover eggs from the ovary, inject one sperm into each egg, culture them in a lab and transfer them without surgery. A normal embryo transfer program can take a horse out of competition for a couple of weeks during the busy breeding and competition season. With ICSI it's a walk-in, walk-out procedure for the egg retrieval from mares. It can be done at any time of year, so it's not taking competition mares out of action, and it doesn't have to be done during the breeding season so practically speaking, it's far easier. It's also a really good fertility treatment for horses as it bypasses some of the issues they can have in that space. For people who have limited semen, like where the stallion has died, it means that semen can go a lot further. The flipside of that is we only want to be using semen that owners have agreed for it to be used for ICSI because it can result in a lot of foals from one straw.

What are the success rates like from this procedure?

Success rates have recently been really good. Nothing is 100%, but over 60% of mares will produce eggs, there's over an 80% chance of producing viable embryos from an oocyte pick up (egg retrieval) session and over 70% survival rate of those embryos. ICSI is the holy grail for NZ breeders. It's taken me about three years of research and development to set it up here for our NZ breeders, including a lot of personal blood, sweat and tears to get it to be a commercially viable option.

You can now produce a foal by epididymal sperm – supported by NZ Equine Research Foundation (NZERF) – using semen recovered from colts' testicles when they're gelded, what is the importance of this?

The ability to recover and freeze semen from the epididymis (the sperm storage site adjacent the testicles) means that you can conserve the colt's genetics quite cheaply without training him for semen collection. We can still geld him and it can be useful if a stallion dies unexpectedly. Fun fact: The very first foals produced by frozen semen were reported in Canada in 1957 after insemination with frozenthawed epididymal sperm.

Your DVSc thesis work encompassed in vitro studies (IVF) on the production of embryos and the assessment of male fertility. What made you look more closely at that?

My thesis was actually in sheep, which was great because we were able to apply lots of interesting reproductive techniques such as laparoscopy, IVF, cryobiology and embryo transfer.

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However, one of the big impediments to the commercialisation of the technologies was the variability in male fertility.

You are also involved with stem cell therapy of lameness, can you explain why you began researching that?

the end of the season after you've tried everything you can think of. That's the most challenging part because the owner has invested so much in their dream, and you want their dream to come true. While we get most of them pregnant, there are always those challenging mares.

A few years ago, I can't remember precisely when, some vets in the Waikato asked me to do some due diligence into the use of stem cells to treat lameness. Out of that, I had two masters students complete their stem cell projects. We now have a really cool bank of what's called allogeneic stem cells, that are now really useful to treat lameness conditions in horses. It's not my main knitting, but we have plans for further studies in this area involving collaboration with other groups. That's another exciting space to be working in. We've successfully treated a mare with laminitis, but it has been the most useful for tendon issues.

Would you call yourself an extrovert or an introvert?

When did you know that equine reproduction would become central to your life?

Toby. Workwise, producing the first ICSI foal in New Zealand.

When I heard Professor Twink Allen speak about horse and elephant reproduction at a seminar in Canada and then again New Zealand in 1996, he was like an artist in the field, so passionate and motivated to solve practical problems with the best technologies possible. It sounded so exciting!

What's the most challenging part of the job for you? Probably when a mare isn't pregnant at

My mum calls me an extrovert, but I do really like working on my own at times, I love my lab time! So perhaps both.

How do you recharge your batteries?

Spending time with my husband and my son at home on the farm. We don't really go on holidays or anything because we have such valuable horses on the farm. This year we've been trying to have family Sundays just to get a bit of work-life balance. Toby is ten though so he's often busier than I am.

What is your greatest achievement?

What piece of advice would you give to aspiring veterinarians?

If your heart is in it, and you're passionate about it, just go for it. But, always remember to see the bigger picture. It is hard, but worth it!

Do you still have any goals that you would like to achieve? Eight hours sleep? No, my next goal is a bit secret, but some amazing things are frozen in my tanks so watch this space is all I'll say. C

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R RIDER spotlight

all oads lead to

this

Rebecca Wardle

Working as a beekeeper for her familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s honey business gives Rebecca Wardle the flexibility to do her sport, and this young eventer focuses on getting the best out of her horses and having fun along the way.

WORDS - Rebecca Harper IMAGES - Michelle Clarke Photography

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Horses aren't a full-time job

for Hokitika's Rebecca Wardle, but she does them as much as she can, as often as she can. Her parents have owned a honey business, Coast to Coast Honey, for many years and Rebecca works as a beekeeper for them. As if the horses and bees didn't keep her busy enough, Rebecca, 19, also dabbles as a part-time farrier. "I can't afford a farrier. Eve (Hawes) shod my horses previously. Sometimes she couldn't get down, or a horse lost a shoe. Dad used to put them back on, but he broke his leg falling off a horse and, by default, I had to learn to put a shoe back on. I learned with help from Eve, reading a lot of books and watching YouTube, and I love it. "I'm up early and ride horses before work, which is usually 8 am to 3 pm. At the moment we're getting the beehives ready for honey gathering, making sure the bees are all healthy after winter. After work, I do more horses and feed up." All of Rebecca's horses carry the WS prefix, for Woodstock Sporthorses, the name of the family's equestrian facilities. Based just out of Hokitika on about 30 hectares, they have slowly developed the property into horse pasture, with a show jumping arena and small cross country course, and often host clinics and rallies.

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Rebecca's parents had horses

long before they had children, but sold them all and swore they would never let their kids ride because of the expense. "I was always keen. I begged and begged, and when I was five, I went on a school camp and rode horses. I pestered them after that, and they finally caved when I was about nine." Starting at Kowhai Riding School in Oxford, Rebecca rode there and for View Hill Pony Club for about four years. "They were incredible people, they gave me such a good introduction to riding, and I owe everything to them." It was a big commitment. Living on the coast meant travelling three and a half hours to ride. By then, her parents had purchased a couple of Thoroughbreds and started riding again. "Dad had a cool little Thoroughbred, and I was obsessed. I was teeny tiny, and I wasn't allowed to ride him until I could climb on by myself. Once that happened, I started riding him and moved over to Greymouth Pony Club, where I began eventing." The horse's name was WS Sponge Bob, and within a season they were jumping 105cm eventing. They went on to be part of the winning Pony Club Eventing Champs Team in Canterbury in 2017 and jumped successfully to 2*. "When I started riding at Kowhai, they gave me an introduction to competition, and they do pony club level eventing. I got the eventing bug and never stopped, I just love it. Cross country is such an adrenaline rush."

Slowly, Rebecca began to pick up

rides on other horses and worked her way up to 1* (now 2*) level before the pony of a lifetime came along â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Dingmac Disco King (Elvis). Purchased from the Dingmac Stud as an unbroken three-year-old, Elvis was 13hh and meant to grow to 14.2hh, but he only made it to 13.1hh. "I had him for five years, and he jumped 1.35m pony Grand Prix and 2* eventing tracks. He's one of the smallest ponies in the Southern hemisphere to jump to that height. I was blessed to have such an incredible pony to produce." Rebecca is no giant, and she never outgrew the pony, but she was approached by an agent who had a buyer, and he was sold to a wonderful home in Australia. "I love all my horses so much, but a perfect home came along. I had achieved everything I could with him, and the universe worked it out, it was meant to be." Another special horse came in the form of WS Paradise (Dyson), who she got from Eve. "She was an amazing chestnut mare who jumped to Mini Prix and Young Rider level, and evented to 3*. She died last year in May in a freak accident at home." Her current top mount is another from the Dingmac Stud, Dingmac Eccles. Rebecca got him as an unbroken four-year-

“

I ' V E R E C E N T LY D I S C O V E R E D T H AT YOU CAN BE PROUD OF THE LITTLE THINGS YOU ACHIEVE, LIKE A YOUNG HORSE NAILING A DRESSAGE T E S T M O V E M E N T. LITTLE THINGS CAN BUILD UP TO BE

SOMETHING BIG AND SPECTACULAR

“

O V E R T I M E.

SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

“

I FIND IT SO THERAPEUTIC AND FUN BEING AROUND MY HORSES, AND I WANT T O K E E P I T T H AT W AY. DON’T GET ME WRONG,

“

old. Now nine, Eccles had been on the backburner until Dyson's death meant it was his time to shine. Half-brother to her super pony, Elvis, Eccles is, fortunately, bigger, though still stands at just 15.3hh. "He's been naughty. I've been bucked off him more times than any other horse, but in the last year I've stepped him up to 2* and Young Rider classes, and he's awesome now." The goal for Eccles this season is to step up to Mini Prix show jumping and 3* eventing in the autumn. "I've also collected a few Thoroughbreds. They have great brains and are athletic. I love the Thoroughbred and recently jumped in the young event horse class at the SI Three-Day with a five-year-old, WS Empyrean, who got second and won best Thoroughbred." Rebecca rates WS Empyrean (Perry) highly, even though she says he's "a bit funny looking". "He's got the most fantastic brain on him. He's nothing to look at in the paddock, but he's a phenomenal horse to sit on, power plus. He loves his job and attitude is everything. If they have a good brain, they will jump the world for you." Perry is good, but she reckons WS Beeline is even better. "He's a horse I recently got off Jess Land. He's a Hong Kong Thoroughbred

I’M COMPETITIVE, BUT I WANT TO ENJOY M Y H O R S E S.

and has a lot of air miles! He's the most difficult horse I've ever had, he makes you question everything and challenges me daily, and I'm besotted with him. "He has the attitude. If the going gets tough, he digs in and tries for me. I can't crack him, but I'm working on it! He's really special, he's got all the jump and is beautiful – I think he's going to be amazing. I think that's my Olympics horse."

HE HAS

THE ATTITUDE.

Rebecca says she wants to get the

best out of her horses, and have a good time doing it. But she does have big dreams. "I find it so therapeutic and fun being around my horses, and I want to keep it that way. Don't get me wrong, I'm competitive, but I want to enjoy my horses. "I think it (the Olympics) is a broad goal. I'd like to get to the top of the sport, but we'll see. The goal at the moment is to get to 4* and go to Adelaide in the next three to five years and jump a 5*, that would be insane." Rebecca is fortunate to have been blessed with so many horses of a lifetime and lucky

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to have a lovely team of young horses for the future. She's also been jumping her dad's partWelsh horse, as well as having several excellent young Thoroughbreds in the paddock maturing or letting down from racing. The Welsh sport pony stallion Machno Sportsman stood by the Dingmac Stud, has been influential on Rebecca's riding. As well as being the sire of Elvis and Eccles, they currently have a broodmare brewing a foal by him. "Every horse we've had by this little stallion has been an absolute champ. They're go-

getters and have egos to boot. If I can breed more like Eccles, maybe I will have some flash horses on my hands in the future." Horses and work consume most of Rebecca's waking moments, and she admits she has no social life, but she's content. "I've got it amazing. My parents are so accommodating and are the most incredibly supportive people when it comes to working. I think I would struggle otherwise. "I've had so many amazing horses, and I've had some amazing results, but jumping Elvis, who was so little, in the Grand Prix sticks out as a highlight." Rebecca has trained with Australian-

“

THE BIGGEST THING FOR ME

“

I S T H AT I ’ V E M A N A G E D T O

SELF-PRODUCE MOST OF MY HORSES, AND IT MAKES ME

SHE HAS SAVED

“

SO PROUD.

SHOW JUMPING L I F E.

based show jumper Hayley Morris for many years. "She has saved my show jumping life. Pre-covid she would come over to the coast every six weeks. I think it's important to find a coach you click with. She's taught me to be more disciplined in my riding, and I understand everything she does, and the reason she does it." Last year, Hayley and Ross Smith (where Hayley is based) invited Rebecca to

Australia, and she had the chance to jump at Aquis. "That was a pretty incredible experience. I also had an opportunity to jump in Ireland last year for a few weeks, which was amazing." Rebecca says she also owes a lot to Eve, who has coached her over the years and gave her Dyson. "That set me up to jump some bigger tracks. "The biggest thing for me is that I've

managed to self-produce most of my horses, and it makes me so proud. It's the cherry on top when your self-produced five-year-old struts his stuff in the young event horse class and gets recognised. That sense of satisfaction is massive, and it's more important than anything else. "I've recently discovered that you can be proud of the little things you achieve, like a young horse nailing a dressage test movement. Little things can build up to be something big and spectacular over time." Rebecca is grateful to be sponsored by The Saddlery Barn and Dunstan Horsefeeds. C SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

S1 hopping guide Our

4 5 1. Jumping Block - Made from sturdy black high density plastic. Measuring 30cm x 30cm x 14cm and weighting 1.3kg. $39.90 RRP each or $79.80 RRP a pair. From all good retailers. www.zilco.co.nz 2. Sergio Grasso Evolution Long Leather Boots - Nappa

calfskin upper and lining, SG Ultratech ensures perfect grip in the saddle and a comfort gusset. Made in Italy. $799.00. www. stirrupsnz.com 3. Tetbury Clutch by Mackenzie & George. The Tetbury Clutch is perfect for keeping your essentials safe! This clutch will add a luxury pop of animal print detail to ANY outfit, $139.00. www.scsaddlery.co.nz 4. Cavallo Boot Socks Perfect for Christmas and always popular with a comfort foot and thin leg. A variety of styles available. 68% Polyamide, 30% Cotton, 2 % Elastane. RRP $25 for one pair $40 for two pairs. www.classicequestrian.co.nz 5.Equiline Ruben Soundless Earnet Soundless single-tone ear net in hypoallergenic and antibacterial cotton with loop that can be attached to the bridle. Made in Italy. $130.00. www. stirrupsnz.com 6. The Michel Robert CPS Saddle has been well know for quite some time for its effectiveness to put the rider in the optimum position and balance, without constraint. The new Michel Robert CPS features a new â&#x20AC;&#x153;unisexâ&#x20AC;? tree, for improved performance for both the horse and rider. www.prestigeequestrian.co.nz

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w e N

8 10

7. Kincade Comfort Anatomical Flash Bridle - Made from high quality leather with an anatomical shaped crown, nose and cheek pieces for comfort. Features soft padding on the noseband and crown piece, is adjustable for the perfect fit and comes with soft padded reins. Available in black. Size; Pony to Warmblood. RRP $ 149.99. Available at Equestrian Connection stores and leading retailers. www.equestriancentral.co.nz 8. Antarès Leather Conditioner. Nourishes and protects the leather. To be used once or twice a month, $40.00. Antarès Glycerine Soap with sponge. Removes dirt and sweat. Use as required. $40.00. www.maddoxequestrian.co.nz 9. Estate Fleece Saddlecloths - These ergonomically shaped saddlecloths have been engineered for optimum comfort for the horse. Available in both jumping and dressage. Colour options are Claret, Ink, Petrol. $144.90 RRP. From all good retailers. www.zilco.co.nz 10. Dublin Rapture Zip Paddock Boots - Made from quality European full grain leather with a leather and breathable mesh lining. Features the RCS Memory foot bed system for ultimate comfort and support. High arch and in-built shank designed outer sole for improved lateral stability. Available in black & brown. Child’s 13 to 3, $119.99 RRP. Ladies; 5 to 11, $129.99 RRP. From all good retailers. www.dublinclothing.co.nz 11. Antarès Comfort Girth - Comfortable thanks to calfskin leather, memory foam and anatomic shape. Available from 105 - 140cm in malt and black, $550.00. www.maddoxequestrian.co.nz SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

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1. Smooth Mover - Your horse’s daily B boost plus other functional nutrients! This supplement is an exciting new approach to optimising

muscle function, suppleness and recovery. Smooth Mover effectively supports horses prone to muscle disorders and Tie Up. Starting from $59.50. www.eliteequine.co.nz 2.Vetmax Fly Stoppa - With DEET, Tea Tree Oil & Glycerine. Sizes: 500ml, V724 1 Litre From: $38.00. www.arionefv.co.nz 3. Shires Lycra Fly Mask - Unbeatable comfort, featuring a soft, stretchy lycra material for ultimate comfort and fit. Max visibility with mesh eyes for unobstructed vision and protection. The mesh ear openings and lycra encourage airflow and fast cooling. Easy to slip on featuring a finger loop tab at the top for easy pull on and off. Cob – Full $29.99. Visit Saddlery Warehouse stores or shop online: www.saddlerywarehouse.co.nz 4.Aurora Tall Boots - The perfect all round field boot for daily use, these new boots from Swedish brand Mountain Horse offer classic looks and superior comfort for all day wear. Made in durable, yet supple full grain leather, the boots feature the all new advanced Vertysore™ 4D shock impact reduction technology to further improve comfort for long hours of riding and walking around the stable. www.prestigeequestrian.co.nz 5. Silvermoor Treatsies - These treats are the perfect titbit for your horse and pony. Low in sugar, low in starch and high in fibre. We only use the very best quality natural ingredients. Available in three tasty flavours Calming Chamomile, Tremendous Turmeric and Brilliant Beetroot. 1Kg $12.99. Visit Saddlery Warehouse stores or shop online: www.saddlerywarehouse.co.nz

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Shop our equine range online Horse feed, wormers, supplements, fencing, irrigation, troughs and more

store.pggwrightson.co.nz

DELIVERY

EVENT coverage

HAWKEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BAY A&P SHOW

- SHOW JUMPING IMAGES - kampic.com

1. Tegan Fitzsimon - WINDERMERE CAPPUCCINO winners of the POLi Payments World Cup, Round 1 2. Logan Massie rides BRAVADO EGO Z, 4th in the POLi Payments World Cup, Round 1

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1 3

2 4

1. Tara Gower - WTF CABELLO, 13th in the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider 2. Rylee Sheehan - TONY THE PONY, winner of the Country TV Pony Grand Prix 3. Briar Burnett-Grant - FIBER FRESH VEROANA, 5th in the POLi Payments World Cup, Round 1 and also winner of the FMG Young Rider class 4. Olivia Dalton - CIL DARA BONAPARTE, 7th in the FMG Young Rider class 5. Annabel Francis - CARADO GHP, 2nd in the POLi Payments World Cup, Round 1 6. Samantha Carrington - DOUBLE J HURRICANE for a double clear in the Ultramox 6 Year Old Breeder Series

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1 3

2 5

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8 9 10

1. Maurice Beatson - FINAL WARRIOR in the Ultramox 6 Year Old Breeder class for a clear round 2. Sophia Blackbourn - LT HOLST ZALATO BLUE in the Ultramox 6 Year Old Breeder class 3. Lucy Buchanan - REDCLIFFS COLOUR ME QUICK, 3rd in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix 4. Milly Waldin - Alasaan Arzu, 7th in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix 5. Keira Page -REDCLIFFS COLOUR ME IN, 2nd in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix 6. Jeremy Whale - BANNOCKBURN ECPH went double clear in the Ultramox 6 Year Old Breeder class 7. Brooke Edgecombe - LT HOLST ANDREA, 3rd in the POLi Payments World Cup, Round 1 8. Larina Dolman - KIWI LANSING won the Harrison Lane Pro Am Rider 9. Dylan Bibby - DAISY PATCH, 4th in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix 10. Kimberley Bird - CERA CASSINA, 9th in thePOLi Payments World Cup, Round 1 11. Sam Whale - FLEUR DELACOUR won the Matthews Hanoverians 7 Year Old Breeder class 12. Simon Wilson MCMILLANS ARIADOS, 7th in the POLi Payments World Cup, Round 1 SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

EVENT coverage

EVENTING HAWKE’S BAY HORSE TRIAL (Northern Hawke’s Bay) IMAGES - Caitlin Benzie Photography

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“James (Ballahowe Osprey) is the real deal. He felt elegant and relaxed in the dressage, scopey in the show jumping and has a great gallop for cross-country.” Brea Walker

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Previous page - 1. Brea Walker - BALLAHOWE OSPREY, CCN105-S,1st This page - 2. Clarke Johnstone - BALMORAL SENSATION, CCN3-S, 2nd 3. Charlotte Penny - FESTIVAL, NZ Junior One Day Championship, 2nd 4. Anna Hughes - MAC DADDY, CCN80-S - 2nd 5. Vicky Browne-Cole - CUTTING EDGE, NZ Young Rider One Day Championship, 2nd

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;She has a big engine for a little horse and an even bigger heart. I am very excited for the future especially once we can contain the desire to jump every fence out there!â&#x20AC;? Vicky Browne-Cole

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1 2 3 4

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5 6

7 8 1.Bundy Philpott - TRESCA NZPH, CCN3-S, 7th 2. Madeline Kawana - TOP NOTCH, CCN2 NZ Junior One Day Championship, 4th 3. Emily Marett - NIGELLA WARRIOR, CCN105-S, 2nd 4. Amanda Pottinger - JIMMY, CCN95-S, 23rd 5. Jonathan Paget - GREEN EGGS AND HAMMER, CCN3-S, 6th 6. Julia Leusink - LSL BROOKLEIGH VERMONT BEAUTY, CCN80-S U18, 1st 7. Issha Phillips - KMR DELGARDO, CCN80-S U18, 6th 8. Madison Crowe - WAITANGI PINTEREST, CCN3*-S, 4th SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

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1. Lana Korsten - VALENTINE DELUXE, CCN105-S, 18th 2. Abbey Thompson - CADBURY KSNZ, CCN95-S, 7th 3. Ruby Morgaine - RM TSARCRAFT, Vet Services CCN80-S, 14th 4. Zoe Haylock - MELMARIE KING KONG, Rockinhorse CCN95-S, 11th 5. Kaitlyn Freeman - LANDISOHN, NZ Young Rider One Day Championship CCN3*-S, 3rd 7. Amalia Rowley - ALBERT, CCN105-S ,15th 7. Matthew Grayling - NRM TRUDEAU, CCN3-S, 1st

5 6

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“Trudeau thinks he’s doing the energiser battery ad when he comes out to compete. He’s full of enthusiasm and taming that can be a challenge - he has a big ticker, huge heart and will go and go!”

Matthew Grayling

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EVENT coverage

FEI SOUTH ISLAND THREE DAY EVENT CHAMPIONSHIPS 2020 IMAGES - Michelle Clarke Photography

1 2 1. Beth Coleman - MY ROCKET MAN, 6th in the Hobson Horse Coaches and Motorhomes CCN1* - L Championship 2. Charlotte Campion - BLUEWATER, winner of the Dunstan Horse Feeds CCN105 - S Non Championship

3. Ella Morshius - WORLD FAMOUS, winner of the Best Conditioned and 2nd in the Bates Saddles CCI2* - L Championship

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“Another fabulous weekend of eventing run by Eventing Canterbury, very proud of both of my horses!” Ella Morshius

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3 4 1. Rebecca Wardle - DINGMAC ECCLES, 3rd in the Bates Saddles CCI2* - L Championship 2. Lauren Enright, winner of the Turnout Prize 3. Cam Robertson - WAIROA RENEGADE, 2nd in the Ultimate Design & Renovation LTD CCI3* - L Championship 4.Toni Finch - DOBBY THE HOUSE ELF , 4th in the Rangiora Equestrian Supplies CCN95 - S Championship 5. Jordan Shrimpton - KA PAI KIWI - 3rd in the the Ultimate Design & Renovation LTD CCI3* - L Championship

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“This has been a great competition, with an impressive cross country, and an incredible horse to ride it all on!”

Jordan Shrimpton

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“I was over the moon with my horse on cross country. He’s still fairly green but he cruised around the course like he’d been doing it his whole life. He made my job very easy!” Lindsay Colwell

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2 3

4 5

6 7 1. Lindsay Colwell - WAITING NETFLIX, winner of the Hobson Horse Coaches and Motorhomes CCN1* - L Championship 2. Meg Glasset - KEMDALE, winner of the Statesman Horse Floats CCN95 - S Under 21 Years Championship 3. Abby Lawrence - CONTIKI KSNZ, winner of the Astek Stud CCN95 - S 5, 6, & 7 Year Old Championship 4. Kayla Wilson - REDNALHGIH GALAXY FLEUR DIOr - 2nd in the Dunstan Horse Feeds CCN105 - S Non Championship 5. Abby Lawrence -ANONYMOUS, winner of the Ultimate Design & Renovation LTD CCI3* - L Championship 6. Molly Moffatt - NGAHIWI MAKES, winner of the Bates Saddles CCI2* - L Championship 7. Brodie Roberts - SKYHI SENSEI, winner of the Eventing Canterbury CCN2* - S Non Championship SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

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1 4

1. Julie-Anne Some - VOGUE I, Winner of the Canterbury Saddlery CCN80 - S Championship 2. Ciara Rayne - EL CAMINO, winner of the Rangiora Equestrian Supplies CCN95 - S Championship 3. Alice MacDonald -YIPPEE KI YAY, winner of the Melwood Equestrian CCN80 - S Under 21 Years Championship 4. Georgia Allison - SANDOW JACOB, winner of the The Cover Queen CCN65 - S Championship

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HEALTH spotlight

Better bodies for Betterriders

WORDS - Ashleigh Kendall IMAGES - Christine Cornege

Passion meets profession

Dr Kristi Salonius is the founder and director of her specialist chiropractic, massage therapy and rehabilitation clinic Bettabody, based in Cambridge. A registered New Zealand Chiropractor, Kristi has been involved in musculoskeletal health and wellbeing for over 20 years. In addition to her professional knowledge and qualifications, Kristi has enjoyed success competing on the show jumping circuit up to Mini Prix level. She currently competes her two promising young Holsteiner bred horses six-year-old MF Starbound and five-year-old Quintessa. She also has managed a busy competitive schedule participating in a diverse range of sports including half-marathon running, road cycling races and skiing. Coupled with 17 years of personal training, she offers a unique perspective and knowledge base in working with clients to return to optimum performance and live pain-free. Kristi helps a diverse range of patients return to their chosen lifestyles and pain-free, enjoyable performance. From those suffering from 20 years of chronic, dysfunctional, debilitating pain, but also those in acute, traumatic or surgical recovery pain situations. In

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addition to equestrian athletes, she has been involved with a variety of athletes including international competitive European team road cyclists, competitive swimmers, triathletes, ultra-distance runners, marathon runners, rugby players, netballers, rally car drivers and rowers. Her goal with every patient she sees is to help them back to optimal function, performance and physically independent lifestyle. “Some injuries and conditions do cause permanent tissue damage, and so recovery is limited, but often it’s the compensation patterns for injuries that cause the ultimate physical limitations”, she explains. “These situations impact on lives can be reduced or managed significantly.” Kristi helps her clientele recognise activities they need to be wary of doing too much of, and those they need to do more of, and she prescribes physical therapy to focus on the cause of the symptoms. She incorporates specific strengthening, stability and range of motion rehab exercises to achieve functional results so that the patient becomes ultimately independent of appointments for reduction of dysfunction, discomfort and pain.

“Riding is physically demanding and to excel it is important to remember riders are athletes too and they need to train and manage their bodies accordingly.”

Every rider’s journey is unique;

it is a very physical sport, both on and off the horse, not to mention the accidents that inevitably happen along the way. Many riders don’t realise how physical limitations influence their performance and their horse’s way of going. “Riding is a combination of strength, balance, flexibility, and lightning-fast reflex reactions. To excel, it is important to remember riders are athletes too and they need to train and manage their bodies accordingly,” she explains. “Focusing on each rider’s specific issues and addressing any inadequacies can make a huge difference not only to competitive achievement in the sport but also having the energy to enjoy your sport.”

Function influences form

- Many riders underestimate just how much their body and movement influences and affects their horse’s way of going. When we look at the whole approach - rider and horse - there are many areas in which we can improve just by removing limitations within the rider’s biomechanics. “Often, we are aware of our bad habits. However, we don’t always understand where those come from, believing we need to practise more, try harder, or get new and improved tack/gear and gadgets. Much of the time these habits are stemming from compensation in the rider’s body to correct muscle imbalances, tensions or weakness”, she explains. Fatigue combined with the energy demands of the compensation patterns will take its toll. “The volume of riding - the number of horses and training time on the horse - will influence the speed of the physical decline of the rider and the rider’s ability to compensate to find a good position and greater recovery time until there comes a time where there is no recovery.” SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

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Case study - shoulder impingement syndrome

Kristi works with young showjumper Georgia Bouzaid using physical therapy techniques to address a shoulder impingement syndrome that has symptoms that are often common amongst riders. Symptoms and related symptoms include: n Forward shoulder posture n Sore neck, limited neck range of motion n Sore, achy shoulders n Sore achy and or sometimes pinching biceps n Possibly numbness or tingling in fingers/ forearms n Aching or occasional sharp pain beneath shoulder blades n Headaches n Temporomandibular joint pain (jaw pain) n Tight chested/difficulty deep breathing In the horse, this may look like: n The horse may evade the bit, go above, behind the bit and hollow in their backs n Have difficulty maintaining contact n Nodding, unsteady, unsettled in the contact A rider struggling with this can look like: n Forward shoulder position and inability to stabilise to correct neutral spine posture n Heavy and unsteady hands exerting downwards pressure n Collapsed ribcage/tight abdominals (in this case traditional core strengthening will make this condition much worse) n Forward head carriage n Straightened forearms and low hands that may be inclined to rest on the horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neck n Sore wrists and forearms n Repetitive headaches n Difficulty maintaining consistent contact with horses n Tension in front of neck muscles n Winging scapular n Dowagers hump (soft tissue fatty deposit on the first thoracic vertebrae) n Excessive forward curve of the upper spine in the shoulder area and corresponding lower back and pelvis posture in what people refer to as swayback with an anterior pelvic tilt n Inability to sit in the saddle and relax into the canter n Lower leg instability

Kristi has a thorough discussion with Georgia and explains the plan for the day regarding Georgiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history of shoulder discomfort.

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Focusing on each rider’s specific issues and addressing any inadequacies can make a huge difference not only to competitive achievement in the sport but also having the energy to enjoy your sport.”

Kristi watches Georgia

ride at walk, trot and canter, noticing her hand position, shoulder position, spine alignment, general balance and straightness for related or secondary issues related to the shoulder pain and dysfunction issues that have been troubling her. For this article we have asked Georgia, our model rider to exaggerate certain aspects of her position to illustrate it clearly in photos.

Ridden work at the walk

- We see a slight kyphotic (forward bend) to the thoracic spine (upper back), slumping/tension in the riders’ abdominals (rectus abdominus) and flexed wrist position causing a disconnect in the line of tension from elbow to bit.

✗

In trot, we can see the rider is slightly leaning forward

through the upper torso, straightening of the arm at the elbow, flexed wrists and pronated (hands down) wrist position. She has a more exaggerated rounded shoulder posture and forward head carriage (neck in slight extension, chin pushed forward).

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Forward and dropped shoulders with an inward rotation of arms

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Forward and dropped shoulders with an inward rotation of arms

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Horse is braking as a consequence of discomfort and tension created by the rider

Rider downward hand pressure on reins, forward and out of the saddle, horse starting to hollow in reaction to rider tension and position

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In the canter, we see the upper back is flexed forward (more

visibly kyphotic), and the centre of gravity is also forward and weight further over the horse’s shoulder. Georgia is fantastic at compensating; she allows Evie a slack contact so as not to interfere with her mouth. Riders also may notice at the canter they are blocking their horse’s movement and bouncing in the saddle rather than finding that fluidity and moving with the horse. The bouncing riders may notice, is due to the tension in the core, and front of shoulder muscles making it very difficult to relax in the lower back. The horse may also be shut down in the canter and consequently may have some jumping issues. Softness in the lower back and pelvis allows a rider’s pelvis to nutate (rock subtly forward and back) with the horse’s movement, this prevents the bounce or blocking feeling and sometimes horses shortening their canter to avoid discomfort. Bit and bridle evasion caused by rein tension and resisting downward pressure before approach. Each rider needs to troubleshoot with the approach to the jump to allow the horse to become balanced.

Rider is slightly behind the horse’s movement

Landing correctly becomes compromised

✗

When we view an approach to the jump, we notice how

the downward hand pressure, flexed wrists and straight arms result in bit evasion. The horse’s head is above the bit and spine in extension and hollowing and breaking/backing off just before take-off spot. Aside from not allowing the horse to see the distance or jump and making it difficult to achieve the desirable bascule over the jump, setting the rider up for an awkward position over the fence. The rider becomes left behind and starts to ride more defensively over the fence, either throwing the reins forward to the horse or catching the horse in the mouth is a typical compensation behaviour. There is then significantly more reorganisation and recovery to happen on landing in preparation to get to the next jump, becoming even more challenging to manage if this is a combination or a jump requiring a technical turn on landing.

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Reorganisation phase to find balance and line for next jump

✗

Kristi then takes Georgia into the Bettabody

clinic where she uses gentle musculoskeletal manipulations, massage and exercises to create more mobility, muscle activation and strength to get Georgia started on the track to function, form and fitness. Bioptron light therapy is a fantastic compliment to Kristi’s work as it works to reduce inflammation, increases circulation/healing of soft tissues and reduces pain. She uses kinesiotape to stabilise the shoulder in a specific position in between appointments or to support a person through training and competition. This allows progress to continue but is not used as a long term solution as it can create weakness and dependency and further compensation. Once a person’s brain has gotten into compensation mode, it needs to be rewired to make the connection with the weak and inactive muscles. Hands-on therapy with specific exercises unique to each person and their situation is vital for this. Otherwise, the body will find the easy way out and continue to compensate to “get the job done” with no more progress to resolving musculoskeletal issues.

Gentle thoracic spine/ rib adjustment

Assessing soft tissue tension, rib position and shoulder blade positioning

Massage therapy to release soft tissue tension to promote circulation and healing

“Once a person’s brain has gotten into compensation mode, it needs to be rewired to make the connection with the weak and inactive muscles.”

Kinesiotaping for temporary support, relief and to promote circulation to the area

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Shoulder range of motion is assessed

Helping Georgia locate and turn on previously inactive shoulder girdle muscles so that she can start the strengthening and stability process

Understanding compensation patterns and dysfunction “Everyone has a unique compensation pattern for pain and dysfunction,” Kristi explains. “It depends on many things including history of health, activity and injuries, patterns of overuse/sports, biomechanics, age, strength/fitness and also how long the symptoms have been present.” These aspects are considered when creating and prescribing rehabilitative exercises to assist with a return to full function. “Generic programs and group exercise classes have their place in motivating us to get off the couch and achieve general fitness. However, most people have a unique set of injuries, compensation patterns, tensions and muscle recruitment,” Kristi says. “No one is perfect or completely balanced, so a generic program does not always work as a long term solution. “We have all experienced notable changes to our biomechanics through day to day repetitive postures, movements, sports and physical activities. We, therefore, cannot expect that generic exercise

During the afternoon Kristi is pleased to see Georgia’s improvement with improved balance & confidence

✓

programs will create strength in muscles that have not been working. Our brains can struggle to connect these inactive muscles to create the movement with correct technique necessary to gain strength or stability.” Based on the client’s posture, biomechanics and muscle recruitment Kristi selects exercises for her clients that are appropriate for them and allow them to isolate and identify muscles that are lazy and inactive and relax tight and overactive muscles. She helps clients to perform all exercises, supporting and correcting the exercise techniques as she goes and educating the client as to intended intensity necessary to achieve desired results. “Depending on the individual’s set of circumstances, a frequency of hands-on physical therapy appointments and self-directed versus supervised exercise is scheduled,” she says. “On and off horse exercise recommendations are incorporated in the plan to return the rider to optimum performance.” C

“No one is perfect or completely balanced, so a generic program does not always work as a long term solution.

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TRAINING clinic

Up your game IMAGES - Matthew Roberts

Quick transitions and lateral work are a surefire way to boost your horse’s suppleness and engagement. Dan Greenwood shares three exercises that will take your training to another level.

Keen to progress your

horse’s training, but feel like your schooling sessions consist of the same old movements? You’re not alone: it’s all too easy to get stuck in a rut with your schooling — especially if you ride on your own, or don’t have access to regular lessons. Dressage rider and trainer Dan Greenwood helps spice up your sessions with three useful exercises that will inspire you and improve your horse’s way of going to reveal a more expressive, engaged and supple horse.

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“We’re all guilty of using the same set of exercises when we’re schooling,” says Dan. “However, this can mean that your training doesn’t really progress and, over time, the pair of you will lose your motivation. “The three exercises I suggest are great for improving your horse’s way of going and getting you both thinking. Each exercise is progressive too, so you can tailor it to your own and your horse’s individual needs.”

Exercise 1:

Use your upper body to bring your horse back to trot

TESTING REACTIONS Canter-trot-canter transitions are

a great exercise to incorporate into your warm-up. “This is good for testing your horse’s reactions to your aids and getting his hindlegs closer to his front legs,” says Dan. The exercise isn’t as straightforward to ride well as you might think. If your horse does it properly, he’s engaging his core.

TOP TIP You need to resist helping him out and let him do it himself. If he lands in a heap, check you’re not helping him out too much.

How to ride it Add in a 10m circle if your horse isn’t listening to your aids

1 Ride a 20m circle in canter. 2 As you ride across the arena towards

3 4

5 6 7 8 9

the centre line, position your horse in shoulder-fore. This will help to maintain the straightness and engagement into the transition. Just before you cross the centre line, make a transition to trot. To ask for the transition, bring your shoulders back over your hips, breathe out and have a down feeling into your stirrups. If you’re riding it correctly, you’ll feel as if you’re engaging the middle of your horse and lifting his tummy. Make the transition short and sharp - only stay in trot for a couple of strides before asking for canter again. Repeat these quick transitions each time you cross the centre line. Remember to ride the exercise equally on both reins. If your horse isn’t listening, add in a 10m circle in trot the other way, then come back to canter on the original 20m circle. SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

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Leg-yeild improves suppleness and engagement

Exercise 2:

SIDEWAYS TO SUPPLENESS Riding leg-yield from

the three-quarter line to the track is another good exercise to incorporate into your warm up. “It’s great for encouraging you to ride from your inside leg to your outside rein,” says Dan. “It also improves suppleness and teaches your horse to step through with his inside hindleg for better engagement.” Depending on you and your horse’s level of training, you can keep it simple and ride just this first element, or add in a few extra questions. “I often find it easier and better for the horse to ride these exercises in canter,” explains Dan.

Step 1

How to ride it 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Turn down the three-quarter line off the short side of your arena. Ride straight for a few strides. Turn your shoulders to the inside. Ask for a little flexion at the poll to the inside. Ride your horse forwards and across from your inside leg. Control the speed with your outside rein. Your outside leg stops your horse moving across too quickly. Ride the leg-yield several times on each rein.

Shoulder-in is the begining phase of teaching half-pass

Step 2

You can change this

exercise a little and add in another step so that once you return to the track you continue down the long side in shoulder-in. This lateral movement is great for improving suppleness and straightness. Shoulder-in is also the start of teaching your horse half-pass. “The aim is for your horse to be on three tracks — you’re bringing his shoulders in, not pushing his quarters out,” says Dan.

How to ride it

1 Ride leg-yield from the three-quarter line to the track. 2 Maintaining the flexion to the inside, ask him to bring his forehand off the track.

3 Keep your inside leg at the girth and your outside leg just

behind the girth to control the position of your horse’s hindquarters and stop them stepping out. 4 Your outside rein regulates the bend in his neck. 5 Your shoulders should be parallel with your horse’s. Make sure that you keep looking down the line you’re travelling.

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Bent in the direction you’re travelling, your horse will move forwards and across in half-pass

Step 3

Depending on your horse’s level of training, you can add in one final element. From shoulder-in, you’re going to ask for half-pass back to the three-quarter line. “This is a good introduction to half-pass as the shoulder-in sets you up well for the movement,” Dan explains. In half-pass, your horse moves forwards and sideways. Your horse should be bent in the direction he’s travelling, with his forehand slightly in front of his quarters.

How to ride it

1 On the left rein, from shoulder-in ask your horse for a bit more bend to the inside.

2 Point his nose towards the marker in the arena that you’re riding to.

3 Your left (inside) leg stays at the girth maintaining impulsion. 4 Move your right (outside) leg behind the girth to ask him to move to the left.

5 Your inside rein maintains the bend, but without pulling, and your outside rein controls the speed.

Upping the challenge

Now you’ve perfected the three steps of this exercise you can up the difficulty even more. Add in a transition to trot during part of the movement, or a nearly transition. These will check your horse is still listening as well as encouraging further engagement of the hindlegs.

Exercise 3:

CHANGING BEND

This final exercise builds on some of the previous movements and works on your coordination and ability to change the bend, which will further improve your horse’s suppleness through his body. Still in canter, you’re going to ride leg-yield from the three-quarter line back to the track and then ride half-pass to the centre line. “The aim is to keep the same rhythm throughout the two movements,” explains Dan. “If there’s any stiffness as you change the bend, it’s likely that your horse’s rhythm will change.” Depending on your level of training, Dan suggests you ride a 15m circle in travers (haunches-in) when you reach the centre line.

TOP TIP If your horse isn’t listening, ride a 10m circle to reactivate him and then carry on with the exercise. It’s much better to do that than continue to ride the exercise trying to patch up the mistakes.

In travers, your horse’s forehand stays on the line of the circle while his hindquarters move inside this line

How to ride it

1 As you reach the centre line, start riding a 15m circle. 2 In travers, your horse’s forehand stays on the line of the circle with him bent to the inside.

3 Using your outside leg, ask your horse to bring his hindquarters to the inside.

4 Your horse’s shoulders and your shoulders follow the

line of the circle, and your outside hip is slightly back with weight in the direction of the bend. 5 Ride a couple of circles in travers before straightening your horse. 6 After you’ve ridden the exercise a few times, repeat it on the other rein. C SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

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HEALTH spotlight

the

strongest

Ligaments â&#x20AC;&#x201D; short bands of tough, flexible connective tissue â&#x20AC;&#x201D; connect bones and hold joints together. Vet Hetty Hill explains how they work and what can go wrong.

A complex arrangement of tendons and ligaments in the lower limb works together to aid limb movement.

Inferior check ligament

Nuchal ligament Supraspinous ligament

Periodontal ligament

FORELEG LIGAMENTS

Proximal suspensory ligament

Suspensory ligament branch Extensor branch of suspensory ligament

Annular ligaments

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link

LIGAMENTS USUALLY DESCRIBE

soft tissue structures that connect bone to bone. There are some exceptions to this when studying the anatomy of the horse, however; for example, the check ligament, which connects bone to tendon, or the nephrosplenic ligament, which runs between the kidney and the spleen. Ligaments are composed mostly of collagen fibres that run in parallel to one another, with large numbers of these fibres giving healthy ligaments great strength. The primary role of ligaments is to keep bones in alignment and provide support to joints. To maximise their athletic potential, horses have evolved with no muscle below the carpus (knee) and hock. This reduces weight carried and also allows the horse to travel at speed â&#x20AC;&#x201D; around 35mph in the case of a racing Thoroughbred. A complex arrangement of tendons and ligaments in the lower limb works together to aid limb movement.

Sacroiliac ligaments

HINDLEG LIGAMENTS

Inferior check ligament Proximal suspensory ligament Suspensory ligament body

Suspensory ligament branch

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Injury to ligaments

Injury occurs to ligaments when the amount of force applied exceeds the elastic capacity of the collagen fibres. This results in tearing of the fibres and may occur due to direct trauma, or abnormal forces placed on joints. Ligament injuries should be considered on a spectrum, with some injuries being mild (just a few fibres disrupted), to severe (complete rupture of the ligament). The degree of damage will influence both the horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s treatment plan and the prognosis for return to the previous level of exercise.

Signs

Typical signs of ligament injuries include lameness, heat, swelling and pain on palpation of the affected area. Contact your vet promptly if you have any concerns that your horse or pony may have suffered a ligament injury.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of ligament injuries is based on an examination and may also involve nerve blocks carried out by a vet to confirm the source of pain. Imaging can then be targeted at the required area and diagnosis is usually made by ultrasound examination.

Hydrotherapy can help build strength without putting too much pressure on a horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legs

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Signs of injury include heat and swelling

Rest, followed by a careful and gradual return to work, is often successful in treating ligament problems

Good foot balance is one factor that may prevent injury

Injury prevention

Treating ligament injuries The mainstay of treating ligament injuries is rest, followed by a controlled exercise programme. Ligaments heal slowly and the tissue that replaces the injured areas tends to be weaker and less elastic, which may leave them prone to re-injury. Your vet may recommend a number of therapies to improve healing, including:

Biologic therapies

n Platelet rich plasma (PRP): Blood taken from your horse is processed to produce a concentrated sample full of platelets, which can be injected into a ligament at the site of injury. When platelets arrive at the injured site, they are stimulated to release growth factors that promote healing. n Stem cells: These have the ability to transform into different cell types that may encourage regeneration, growth and healing of the ligament injury. n Other compounds, such as hyaluronic acid or polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG) may also be considered. n Shockwave therapy: Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) involves shockwaves being delivered to the affected area to provide short-term pain relief. This

is said to stimulate healing by increasing blood flow to the area. n Laser

therapy: Early research suggests that laser therapy may allow horses to return to their previous level of exercise faster than those treated without and re-injury rates may be reduced. Further research is needed. n Farriery:

Ensuring that your horse has adequate foot balance is vital, not only in the prevention, but also in the treatment of ligament injuries. Unbalanced feet transmit forces unevenly through a horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s limbs and may overload soft tissue structures.

n Hydrotherapy:

Swimming or use of a water treadmill may be useful in some cases as it allows a horse to build muscle and improve fitness and core strength with a reduced load on the limbs.

n Surgery:

Some ligament injuries may benefit from surgery. A vet can advise on whether this will benefit your horse or pony. The progress your horse makes during rehabilitation is usually based on soundness and repeat ultrasonographic examinations to assess the size of the ligament and the fibre pattern.

Consider your horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conformation in relation to his workload. A horse with good conformation will be more likely to stand up to strenuous work. n Always ensure that workload is appropriate to the degree of fitness. Avoid working your horse beyond his capability â&#x20AC;&#x201D; this applies to both his current level of work and his athletic potential. A thorough pre-season conditioning programme is essential. n Consider the surfaces your horse works on. Repetitive work on deep or uneven surfaces may increase the risk of ligament injury. n Maintain good foot balance by ensuring that your horse is seen regularly by a farrier.

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Check ligament injuries

Annular ligament injuries

The role of the check ligament is to aid the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) in shock absorption and to prevent excessive lengthening of this tendon during extension of the carpus and fetlock. Injury occurs in forelimbs where the ligament overextends during turning. It is more common in horses who jump.

The palmar and plantar annular ligaments (PAL) support the DDFT and the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in the tendon sheath as they pass over the back of the fetlock joint in the forelimb and hind-limb. When damage occurs to the PAL, thickening of the ligament results in constriction over the back of the fetlock and causes distension of the digital flexor tendon sheath. This produces a characteristic ‘notch’ above the annular ligament.

Anatomy

Clinical signs

Lameness is variable. Cases typically present with heat and swelling below the carpus on the inside of the leg.

Diagnosis

Anatomy

Diagnosis

Check ligament injuries will be diagnosed by your vet based on clinical signs and an ultrasound examination.

An ultrasound examination will measure the thickness of the PAL while also ruling out any other soft tissue injury inside the tendon sheath.

Treatment

Minor injuries can be treated successfully with a period of box rest and controlled exercise for three months. A repeat ultrasound exam will be needed to confirm healing before your horse returns to full work. If the initial ultrasound confirms a hole in the check ligament, injections may be considered. Surgery to cut the check ligament is available for cases that don’t respond to regenerative therapies or rest.

Some cases can be managed with rest, anti-inflammatories and a controlled exercise programme. Injections of corticosteroids into the tendon sheath will reduce inflammation, but if the annular ligament remains thickened they may only provide short-term relief. Other cases may require surgery to cut the PAL.

Ligament damage can often be diagnosed using an ultrasound scan

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Horses with chronic hindlimb PSD are challenging to treat and may need long periods of rest. Shockwave therapy and other regenerative therapies may be tried.

Where lameness is subtle, a nerve block may help to pinpoint the area of injury

Suspensory ligament injuries Anatomy

The suspensory ligament is an integral part of the suspensory apparatus, which provides strength and stability to the fetlock joint and prevents over-extension. It originates at the back of the cannon bone and runs down the back of the limb, splitting into two branches two thirds of the way down the cannon bone and inserting on each of the sesamoid bones at the back of the fetlock.

INJURIES TO THE SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT INCLUDE:

Proximal suspensory desmitis This can occur in forelimbs or hindlimbs and may affect one or multiple limbs. Bilateral hindlimb PSD may present with subtle symptoms, with your horse lacking impulsion or performing poorly. Typically horses with PSD show more lameness on deep surfaces when the affected limb is on the outside of a circle.

Diagnosis

Nerve blocks can be used to confirm a diagnosis of PSD. In subtle cases your vet may nerve block your horse and watch his response during ridden exercise. Ultrasonography can assess the proximal suspensory and X-rays may be taken in cases where ligament fibres have torn away from the attachment of the ligament to the cannon bone. In some cases, bony change at the suspensory origin can be detected using nuclear scintigraphy (bone scan). MRI is also useful for evaluating changes within the ligament.

Treatment

In general, forelimb PSD responds well to rest and a controlled return to exercise. Consistent rehabilitation programmes are vital, as a premature return to work may result in re-injury. Horses with chronic hindlimb PSD are challenging to treat and may need long periods of rest. Shockwave therapy and other regenerative therapies may be tried. Surgery (a neurectomy and fasciotomy) is available for some cases of PSD, but is not recommended in horses with straight hindlimb conformation.

Suspensory body injuries These are less common than PSD or branch injuries and are more often seen in steeplechase horses. Damage to the suspensory body following splint bone injuries is also possible. These cases will be diagnosed with ultrasonography.

Suspensory branch injuries These occur in all populations of horses in forelimbs or hindlimbs. Usually just one branch is affected, but multiple branches may be injured and a thorough examination of them all will be carried out by your vet. Treatment is as discussed previously. Foot balance should be carefully addressed in horses with branch injuries as any imbalance may delay rehab or increase the risk of re-injury. C SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

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EQUINE health

Keeping

equine your older

in the game!

WORDS - Samantha Jaquiery - MAIN IMAGE - Tomas Holcbecher

There is no mythical magic potion to keep our horses young and majestic forever, and sometimes it feels like they age before our eyes. But with an abundance of products on the market and advances in veterinary medicine, there are ways to ensure the older horse continues to perform and we can maximise their quality of life before we need to consider reducing their workload.

OUR EXPERT Dr Jason Lowe MBA, BVSc, Cert EP.

A keen interest in business led to completing an MBA at Waikato University whilst working as an equine veterinarian. He established IMS Vet in 2014 to undertake the clinical research on Arthramid Vet.

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Owners Lexi Jackson, her mother Janie Mackinnon and rider Caroline Powell made the decision to retire Lenamore (aged 20) after the 2012 Olympics. He was one of the most popular and enduring event horses of all time.

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Jason says -

“For a basic wellness examination, after an initial clinical exam (heart, eyes, teeth, lungs), I then begin with an assessment of the musculoskeletal system at walk and trot, and in light of the owner’s expectations for the level of exercise. It also takes into account the horse’s hoof condition (laminitis and regular foot care). The overall physical condition (too light or too overweight), skin and coat condition, I also look for melanomas, lumps and bumps, sarcoids and more. All of which could affect the animals quality of life in the later years. “Vets are also good at asking open-ended questions during this time to get an idea of how the animal is being managed overall with regards to feeding, parasite monitoring (faecal egg counts), and mental well-being. I usually ask how the horse is being regularly attended or exercised.” A good fitness and conditioning programme is vital to any competition horse’s longevity.

Veterinarians talk about two critical phases in a horse’s career where problems can arise, firstly between eight and twelve there seem to be a few problems developing in many horses, and again around fifteen or sixteen. Especially if they have been competing a lot, some seem to wear out. Let’s take a look at what we should be looking for and what we can do to help reduce the risk of a stunted career.

Proactive management

An annual vet check is a wise investment. Jason Lowe of Innovative Medical Solutions spent 20 years in clinical practice in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. He regularly performed pre-season checks on client’s performance horses. “We would get the horse in at the start of the season, inspect them during a trot up and give them a full examination and health check. I would discuss their goals for the season, and we would wrap a plan right around that. “It pays to be proactive rather than wait until the horse is lame. You have a better chance of getting the outcome you need if you tackle any potential issues early. It seems expensive, but a lameness problem can be more costly,” Jason says. “A team approach is an asset to support ageing equine athletes. Listen to the farrier’s comments, consider utilising video technology and even have someone else ride your horse to feel and you can watch.” Jason explains the breed and type of horse has less impact than the kind of competition they’ve been doing, and whether they have any conformation faults. “Conformation plays a big role in whether a horse is at risk of developing joint problems later in life,” he says. The type of work and rider ability also play a significant role.

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A higher level rider can help guide a horse, but when the horse is compensating for their teammate, it can add strain to their body. Knowledge is power, and having an awareness of the horse’s working, and competition history will help when it comes to making decisions in their golden years. Talk to your veterinarian about various options to support your horse’s joints as they age. There are a number of oral and injectable products on the market and it’s important to get the right advice on what’s best for you and your horse.

Training and conditioning

A good fitness and conditioning programme is vital to any competition horse’s longevity. It is especially crucial for the older horse because it takes longer to get them fit and ready compared with younger horses. Older horses are also more prone to injuries if they are not fit when they compete, and they are susceptible to losing muscle mass and muscle stiffness. Their cartilage is becoming stiff and more brittle, making it more prone to damage during exercise. Regular movement encourages the production of synovial fluid and helps to strengthen the muscles and ligaments that support the joint. The goal of any conditioning program is to stimulate adaptations within the horse’s body systems to improve performance while minimising the risk of injury. Horses need to regularly perform the type of activity that will be performed in competition, and at an intensity that will induce the physiological change, they need to allow optimal performance. Exercise sessions and rest periods need to be carefully considered to ensure they are sufficient and balanced. Generally, it takes around 90 days to get back to performance fitness

after any spell, and maintenance of condition usually means exercising five days per week. Exercise doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be exclusively under saddle; for example, long-lining and lunging could be included in a training programme. We must keep in mind older horses can show a decline in their tolerance of high-intensity exercise, because they can fatigue at lower intensities compared with young animals. There is a decline in their maximal aerobic capacity, which is the amount of oxygen the body can utilise during intense exercise. When exercising the older horse, it is essential to monitor their tolerance for exercise, which can provide early signs of other things developing. It is also important to ensure their fluid and electrolyte levels are well supported, especially in the warmer months or with heavier workloads. Recovery from exercise is vital and having a solid strategy around this is crucial to enable the older athlete to continue to perform.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Regular movement encourages the production of synovial fluid

A annual examination of the limbs by sight, palpation and manipulation to identify any obvious problems.

and helps to strengthen the muscles and ligaments that support the joint.â&#x20AC;?

Jason trots a horse on a firm surface to look for limb flight, movement and unevenness.

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“Using a general supplement can form the basis of a good nutritional plan and if any specific supplements are needed it’s important to ensure they are good quality as this affects absorption.”

Nutrition

A diet must be designed to cater for the desired body condition and level of work for horses of any age, but considerations of the particular physiological changes linked with age are crucial when formulating a diet to prolong the active years of an older horse. Their digestive efficiency is reduced, which is related to loss of dental integrity and the natural ageing of the intestines, which affects the way they absorb and utilise nutrients. Their muscle fibres also change, and they have a higher daily protein requirement. Supplementation with the specific amino acids lysine and threonine can help optimise muscle recovery. Other supplement recommendations to consider include; a probiotic formula that includes prebiotic ingredients will optimise the health of the bacteria that live in the horse’s hindgut. Antioxidants like vitamin E and vitamin C support the immune system, which naturally declines with age. Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation and support a healthy weight in seniors who are prone to leanness when working hard. And a joint supplement that contains ingredients such as glucosamine sulfate and avocado unsaponifiable, which can support joint health in any aged athlete. Jason explains New Zealand pasture provides a good basis for a diet, and supplements should only be used to ensure a balance where needed. “Using a general supplement can form the basis of a good nutritional plan and if any specific supplements are needed it’s important to ensure they are good quality as this affects absorption,” he says. He suggests being careful not to commit to using products unless you are seeing and feeling the results. He recommends trying a product for a period and only continuing if it seems to be making a difference and utilising your support team to help you determine whether it is or not.

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Your vet will do a range of health checks, including flexion tests when investigating arthritis.

Common health issues

The most prevalent health and welfare issues in older horses are osteoarthritis and chronic laminitis. The prevalence of osteoarthritis is greater than 50% in horses older than 15 years and up to 80% to 90% in horses over 30. It affects the function of a joint and causes painful or stiff movement. Arthritis goes through various stages and the effects on a horse’s capacity for work can range from little to career-ending, depending on how early it’s caught and how it’s treated. In most cases, however, it’s possible to continue to enjoy your horse while offering them a great quality of life; it just requires some adjustments to their daily routine. It’s vital to understand that the effect that arthritis has on your horse’s body isn’t just limited to that joint. As they compensate for soreness, stiffness or limitations to their movement, discomfort can extend around their body, resulting in stiffness or inflexibility under saddle and often sending you on a wild goose chase trying to pinpoint the cause of the changes. Treatment may consist of local treatment of the affected joint(s),

Image - Cornege Photography

Cushings causes an excessively long and curly coat that fails to shed in the summer being the most recognisable signs. Vaccines are an essential part of equine health management. Horses can need vaccinations to protect them against common and potentially deadly diseases.

pain management, and supportive treatments such as farriery, physiotherapy, and exercise management, and is often a combination of these. Obesity and weight management are essential considerations in an older horse. Their nutritional requirements are different, their bodies respond differently, and their workload may have changed. Keeping their weight in a healthy range will reduce the stress and impacts on their joints, particularly if they have arthritis. A common endocrine disorder most commonly seen in horses over 20 is Cushings. It is caused by a tumour on the pituitary and is rarely seen in a horse under 15. Development of insulin resistance is also common in ageing horses, leading to equine metabolic syndrome, laminitis and obesity. Like any horse, the older equine should have a regular vaccination and dentistry programme and have an appropriate worm monitoring programme. Keep them correctly rugged in cold, damp weather as it can cause compromised joints to stiffen up and, most importantly, pay attention to their needs on a dayby-day basis, and be flexible with your plans.

Drew Carson and WINSTON V DRIENE

A prime example

Drew Carson has a senior performance horse Winston V Driene, who is fondly known as Bruce. He was imported to New Zealand and Drew bought him from the over-committed rider when he was 12. They made their World Cup debut when Bruce was 16, he is now 18 and still a strong competitor. “He’s a super special horse to me, and he gets the gold star treatment. Although all of the horses at our place get royalty treatment, I do go the extra mile to look after Bruce as best as I can to make sure he’s fit and healthy,” Drew explains. “They all get supplements, acupuncture, a massage rug, but Bruce gets the rug daily to keep him limber.” After a show Drew packs his feet to protect him from the concussion from jumping, if he suffers any bumps or bruises, or even just when he’s done some hard work, she uses a combination of warm and cold hosing on his legs to encourage circulation and support recovery. She is very conscious of his mental health and well-being too, she’s very focused on making sure he’s enjoying his job and keeping happy. “I don’t jump him a lot, he only has so many jumps left in him, and he doesn’t need to prove to me he can jump. I utilise lower classes to keep his spark without wearing him out.” She monitors his attitude and is in tune with how he feels and performs. “He’s a clean jumper with a lot of personality, and I’m always aware of how he’s feeling and behaving. He has a few quirks and loves his job, and as long as he’s happy I will keep competing him in the World Cup,” she says.

Drew’s top tips 1.

Always do what’s in the best interest of the horse, be mindful of not running them into the ground.

Take extra time to check them over, tend to any bumps and bruises.

Ultimately, be proactive with their care. C SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE -

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