Show Circuit Magazine - February / March 23

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WELCOME

FROM MY DESK

It's been an exciting start to the year; let's hope that 2023 delivers on all your equestrian dreams and that the imminent recession does not affect equestrian sport too severely.

Samantha Lissington graces our cover, and it is so good to see that she is recovering from her horrible fall at Blenheim Horse Trials, where she lost Ricker Ridge Ricochet during cross-country. It's a scenario that is every rider's worst nightmare. Still, Sam has refocused on her long-term goals for her UK campaign, revealed in this inspiring interview.

From a completely different perspective and equestrian field comes successful author, photographer and all-around saviour of wild horses, Kelly Wilson. Kelly, Amanda and their mum have acquired a 120-acre property 12 minutes from Taupo, which they have subdivided so that they each have a share. Kelly is focusing on providing facilities for wild horse training, clinics and the Kaimanawa horses that are her passion. We caught up with her while she was side-lined after fracturing her neck to see what the future holds.

We feature riders from across the spectrum - some younger and some older! The first article in our new series, 'Where Are They Now?' features eventing legend, Trudy Boyce. Trudy was highly competitive and won a Silver medal at the World Eventing Champs in 1986 - so what is she up to now? You will have to read the article to find out - but her career sees her still on the fringes of the equestrian world.

Caitlin Benzie needs no introduction - she's a fantastic writer for Show Circuit. For those who don't know her, she's also an accomplished dressage rider, eventer, stunt rider, musical composer and photographer! So, we thought, why not tell people how our writers are also involved in the sport. Paige Fitzgerald is one to watch for the future. Coming from a showing background to demonstrate that stepping into dressage on her lovely ponies was something she was ready for, Paige won the World Youth Challenge at last year's Bates Nationals. She lets us have a wee sneak peek behind the gate at the farm and one of her lovely ponies, Greenmoor Euphoria. No-nonsense farmer Daniel Webb swapped his successful career as a young show jumper for the Hunterville farm, where he and his wife Chrissy have raised their family and populated their paddocks with gorgeous, talented youngstock. Daniel has now returned to Grand Prix and will be one to watch in the coming years as the young horses emerge. Everyone should read this article for a broader perspective on life with horses.

Cooper Oborn and James Blackwood have purchased the gorgeous Capel Farm in Masterton to further their equestrian dreams, and what a property it is! We were lucky to take a look soon after they took possession. Read about their bond forged through horses, the permanent move to New Zealand for Cooper, and their dressage ambitions.

Again we feature our opinion piece (and it is just that!) in this issue. This deals with concerns raised via emails from our readers - please take a look and let us know your thoughts.

Christine Weal looks at keeping your horse's training uphill with our writer, Ashleigh Kendall, who rides her lovely horse PSL Jahzara (Ruby).

Coming into the hot end of summer, please keep in mind that heat stress is a severe condition and one that must be kept in mind. We spoke to vet Dr Hannah Bowen from Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre for the signs and recovery options should your horse look remotely stressed. Lastly, what is your competitive edge? Ashleigh Kendall takes a look at some tips for managing a great mindset and speaks to Madison Schollum about what she does to keep on track. Well, that is all for this issue. The next issue encompasses Land Rover Horse of the Year, so until then, happy riding everyone.

Sheryll Davies - Publisher

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ABOUT US

COVER IMAGE:

Samantha Lissington and MR COOKIE TIME

Breeding:Dutch-bred gelding by Casgo out of Cumarna (Grafiet)

Image - Play Creative

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

© SHOWCIRCUIT Magazine 2022 All rights reserved.

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right THE TIME IS

Kiwi eventer Samantha Lissington has adjusted to life in England, positioning herself in a prime spot for a tilt at the New Zealand team for the Paris Olympics with three potential horses. She also has a team of exciting young horses and a growing network of supporters and owners backing her all the way to realise her dream of winning medals for her country.

The UK is the mecca of world eventing, and Sam always felt her path was to move to the Northern Hemisphere and challenge herself at the elite level of the sport. Having achieved virtually all there is to do in New Zealand, the time was right, and Sam moved to England in June 2019. She based with fellow Kiwi Ginny Thomasen for three months before moving to long-time Team NZ supporter Joe Giannamore’s yard in the southwest of England. Her husband, Brayden, joined her in November of that year. Since then, it’s been a whirlwind three and half years, from the high of a Burghley completion to the low of losing a top horse.

Escaping the UK winter, at the time of our interview, Sam was on holiday in New Zealand for a month. It’s been the summer for eventing weddings, with Sam filling a crucial role as a bridesmaid for best friend Ginny Thomasen on New Year’s Eve. She also attended eventer Maddy Crowe’s wedding in early January.

“We weren’t planning to come home unless Mitch proposed. He and Ginny have been together seven years, so we’ve been hanging out for that – we said we were only coming home if there was a wedding, and it turned out there was!”

The couple flew back to England on January 11 with a firm plan in mind and the Paris Olympics at the top of the ‘to-do’ list.

WORDS - Rebecca Greaves IMAGES - Nicola Franks - Play Creative

Right: Sam with MR COOKIE TIME, a Dutch-bred gelding by Casgo out of Cumarna (Grafiet). Owned by Rachel Bessell and Team Lissington.

Above - QUANTAS is certainly one to watch and Sam is thrilled to have the High Flyers Syndicate (Kiko Velge, Jane Burmester, Annabelle Greville Williams, Jules Humphreys and Team Lissington) on board.

Opposite page - Bradyen, Sam, Kaitlyn Freeman (rider/groom), and Fran Dakin (Head Groom) and farm dog, Kiara beginning the day with a plan.

Brayden often records Sam when she is riding so she can critique herself.

It was almost inevitable that Sam would make the leap to the other side of the world; it was not so much ‘if’ but a matter of ‘when’.

“Along the way, all of our top role models have ended up taking this road - the likes of Mark Todd and Blyth Tait. It was always the path that was laid out for us. I felt I had finished what I wanted to achieve in New Zealand and wanted to head to the heart of the eventing world and have a crack.”

Like many who have gone before her, the reality of life in the UK, setting up a base and business in an unfamiliar country, hit home quickly. The grit and determination required can’t be overstated. Sam admits she quickly started to second-guess herself on the smallest things.

“In the UK, everything has a different spin on it. In New Zealand, my brain used to operate on auto-pilot, and I only worried about the

Left to right - RICKER RIDGE SOOTY GNZ and Team Lissington; Fran Dakin, Sam and Brayden Lissington, Kaitlyn Freeman, SENOR CROCODILLO, another German-bred gelding by Connor out of Marni (Exorbitan XX) owned by Joe and Alex Giannmore.

riding. For the first two and a half years here, you are thinking about every little detail, and it’s the culmination of all the tiny things that’s exhausting. It means that when the big setbacks happen, which you were expecting, they’re even harder to cope with.”

“Overall, I am much happier because we are on the other side of that tough adjustment period. And not having a global pandemic to deal with has also helped!”

On paper, 2022 was Sam’s most challenging year ever.

The horse who took her around Burghley, 13-year-old Ricker Ridge Rui (Littorio x Rei-huia Patriotic x Corlando, injured a suspensory ligament last year, and Sam is unsure what the future holds for him. A horse she’s had

since he was three and who made her wildest dreams come true in completing one of the toughest events in the world, Rui is dear to Sam.

“He had six weeks of box rest, then went out in the paddock. He’s due for a scan soon. You never know, but I don’t think he will return to 5* level. Maybe he could be a Young Rider horse.”

But the most brutal challenge to deal with was the grief of losing Ricker Ridge Ricochet (Ricky) in a cross-country accident at Blenheim in September. Sam’s parents (Dale and Nanette Felton) bred Ricky and Sam brought her over from New Zealand. The mare had recently stepped up to 4* with solid results. Sam was knocked out in the accident, sustaining broken ribs and a lacerated liver, and was later told in the hospital that her special mare was gone.

“The undulating ground took away so much more of her stride than I was expecting, and instead of taking off long, which she would usually do, she put a foot down, and we both flipped.”

Mercifully, Sam says Ricky went quickly and didn’t suffer, but the grief of losing her has been hard to process. She was offered counselling immediately after the accident by the British Eventing Support Trust, which has helped.

“The first thing I had to do was analyse the heck out of it. I watched the video a bunch of times to work out what I would do differently next time. It was a good distance, and we landed well after the first element, but I now know to be more cautious with the undulating ground on that type of horse.”

The financial reality of the sport means the impact of losing such a valuable horse was also a consideration. “I feel guilty even saying it, but she was worth a lot of money, and we owned half of her. You feel terrible worrying about the financial situation, but it was a huge hit. Sharon Honiss, who owned the other half of Ricky, has been

amazing and such a rock for us through a challenging time.”

Sam’s recovery has been remarkably good.

“It doesn’t make it any easier, but moving forward, I know the dream is still alive, and I’m lucky we have developed such a strong team. I have other horses to look forward to riding this year, and big dreams and aspirations, though Ricky is still sorely missed.”

When Sam moved to the UK, her long-term goal was to contribute to winning medals for New Zealand and to stretch herself to see how far she could take it. That goal remains unchanged, and she’s realistic about how long it might take.

She loves the personal challenge of eventing and mastering all three disciplines. “I find that exciting and motivating. You’re always learning, and you will never know it all. That’s why I love the sport; it isn’t

Above - The team running through the weekly timetable and making sure everything is accounted for. Right - Sam holding MR COOKIE TIME.

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Above and right hand page - Sam believes MR COOKIE TIME, a Dutch-bred gelding has the potential to go to the top. easy, and there are so many facets. Add to that trying to stay afloat and run a business and compete.

“It’s a personal challenge, with the goal of winning medals for New Zealand. And I knew that would take time. I wasn’t expecting to turn up and fulfil my dreams straight away.”

Sam says she’s on track to achieve her goal and is heading into 2023 feeling optimistic about the year ahead.

“We feel established, we have a great group of owners, exciting young horses, and we know what we’re doing and where we’re going. We’re ready to tackle the next few years to Paris and beyond. Paris is definitely in mind - if we didn’t have that as a goal, then we’re wasting team New Zealand’s money,” she says frankly.

“We have to ensure there’s also a pathway for the generations to come, and that’s why the Olympics is so important for any sport.

Sam started 2022 with a number of potential Paris mounts and ended the year with three to keep the dream alive.

“We would love to acquire one more at the same level – dreams are free!” laughs Sam.

Top of the list of her current team of 10 horses is Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ (Sooty), a rising 12-year-old gelding bred in New Zealand by Golden Grove Stud by Caretino out of Quantum Flash XX, owned by Pip McCarroll and Team Lissington. Sooty won the 3* at Taupo two years in a row before departing for the UK and, since arriving in England, has given Sam valuable mileage at 4*-Long level. Notable results include 4th at Pratoni in the 4*-L and 2nd in the 4*-L in Portugal.

“He’s a real professional in all three phases. We’re finalising the plan for him this year - whether he has another two 4* -L starts or maybe does Luhmulen 5*.

Bing Bong (Theo), a German-bred gelding by Cyrkon xx out of Z-Courouche (Calos DZ), is another rising 12-year-old. He campaigned in the UK with Jock Paget, who brought the horse with him when he returned to New Zealand and competed him to 3* level. Theo’s owners, Joe and Alex Giannamore, brought him back to the UK, and Sam now has the ride, stepping him up to 4* in 2022 after finishing 2nd at the Millstreet International 3*-L in June.

Rounding out the top string is new mount Lord Seekonig (Charlie), by Lord Fauntleroy out of Seekonigin (Carpalo), a rising 10-year-old

purchased as a backup Paris horse with Sharon Honiss.

“We bought him in July, and he’s quite experienced already. He ticked a lot of boxes, had already done three 3*-L events, and was ready to step up to Advanced and crack on.”

Of the up-and-coming horses, Sam is most excited about the eye-catching grey, rising seven-year-old Quantas R, a German-bred by Qualito out of Galaxy R (Grey Top. He is owned by the High Flyers Syndicate (Kiko Velge, Jane Burmester, Annabelle and Greville Williams, Jules Humphreys and Team Lissington). Quantas is at 2* level and will step up to 3* this year, aiming to return to Le Lion. Ginny (Thomasen) did a superb job piloting Quantas at Le Lion recently while Sam was injured.

“He just finds everything easy and is intelligent. He has a

Below - The master spreedsheet used to organise Team Lissington.

Right - QUANTAS R (Quantas) is currently competing at 2* but will step up to 3* next season.

massive gallop and feels really exciting.”

Also in the stable are a six-year-old, three rising five-year-olds, a competition schooler, and one horse that has just completed her first 3* and will consolidate at that level this year.

When looking at potential horses, Sam says jumping ability is her number one consideration, followed by movement for dressage and the usual attributes needed in an eventer, like stamina.

“As a caveat, we try to only buy commercial horses. By that, I mean horses that we can sell for top money as Young Rider prospects if, for some reason, they don’t make 4* or 5* level. For this reason, they also have to have a good attitude and be very sound. We need to make a return on investment for our

owners if they don’t go up the grades.

Her advice to other young riders aspiring to follow in her footsteps is to work on resilience and adaptability, being able to bounce back when things inevitably go wrong, rather than purely riding ability.

“I think more emphasis should be put on that aspect to prepare riders before they come over. The other big thing is horsepower and making good decisions about what horses to continue putting time and energy into. It’s hard, but sometimes it’s better to cut your losses and move on to something with more quality.

“We all need our journeyman horses, but beyond that, we need to focus on horses that can have a place on New Zealand teams. That might mean starting with a three-year-

old if that’s what your budget dictates.”

She says that reaching out for help and advice and utilising the networks around you regarding horsepower is key to this.

Looking

forward, Sam can picture her ideal 2023 unfolding in front of her.

“At the end of 2023, we would have a solid team of exciting prospects for Paris, a bunch of young horses that have stepped up well, and we would have taken a talented group to Le Lion, where they proved themselves to be great prospects for the future. We would have a growing network of owners and supporters. That’s the goal.”

Training is mainly done under the watchful eye of ESNZ trainers, and this year Sam hopes to work with UK-based Australian

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Chris Burton, too. “He’s very busy and hard to get hold of, but he has always impressed me with his analytical approach and style of riding –he just makes everything look easy!”

She makes special mention of owners Sharon Honiss and Pip McCarroll. Pip owns half of Sooty and is Sam’s longest-standing owner. “Pip is in it for the long haul, and Sharon owns half of Charlie. Sharon also owned half of Ricky, she lost her horse too and had to deal with the grief, but all she was worried about was me. I really appreciate both of them.”

Finally, her husband Brayden is an essential member of the team and Sam’s number one supporter. In a nice connection, Brayden recently started a job with team New Zealand sponsor Keyflow Feeds, the horse feed company run by Cam Price, Tim Price’s brother.

Sam is grateful to be sponsored by Fairfax and Favour, Beyond the Bit, RockinHorse, Flexible Fit, and Butet saddles supplied by Sederholm.

Team Lissington has limited ownership shares available for like-minded people with big goals and a healthy appetite for adventure. n

Sam and Bradyen with the very talented QUANTAS R Below - Sam riding BING BONG

AN INSPRING journey

A serendipitous turn of events led this inspirational horsewoman to discover a love for wild horses and set her on a pathway to dedicate her life to documenting them, taming them, and helping others to do so too. Now, she’s developing a world-class wild horse sanctuary and facility to work with them.

Kelly Wilson was at university in Auckland and had all but given up riding when she got a call from her sisters, Vicki and Amanda, who had pitched an idea for a documentary on their journey to tame wild stallions from the Kaimanawa muster in 2012.

“My involvement with wild horses came about by accident, really. One week into filming, Vicki broke her arm and couldn’t work with the horses, so I moved home to help train the 11 Kaimanawas we’d saved from slaughter.”

It was to be a pivotal moment in Kelly’s life. “I loved the experience and the relationship I built with those horses. Winning over the trust of a wild horse resonated with me, and knowing I was giving them a second chance at life was very rewarding. The honesty of the horses was the most life-changing aspect, though. When you tame them well, the results are fantastic, but if there are holes in your own training, that mirrors through to how well the horses transition to domestication. The horses taught me a lot, and I had to upskill.”

Kelly wrote a journal documenting the journey of Major, an 18-year-old stallion Vicki worked with.

WORDS Rebecca Greaves

MY INVOLVEMENT WITH WILD HORSES CAME ABOUT BY ACCIDENT, REALLY. ONE WEEK INTO FILMING, VICKI BROKE HER ARM AND COULDN’T WORK WITH THE HORSES, SO I MOVED HOME TO HELP TRAIN THE 11 KAIMANAWAS WE’D SAVED FROM SLAUGHTER.

CONCORD TAUGHT ME EVERYTHING I WISH I’D KNOWN BACK WHEN I FIRST GOT ELDER. BUT I WASN’T READY FOR IT BACK THEN. WHILE ELDER TAUGHT ME EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW TO TAME CONCORD, IT WAS CONCORD THAT TAUGHT ME EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW TO TAME EVERY WILD HORSE SINCE.

Left: Kelly and CONQUISTADOR after winning Team Gold, Silver and Bronze in the 2021 KHH Ultra-Mox Stallion Challenge, as well as taking out Reserve Champion overall.

Above: Kelly with the five stallions she tamed in 2018, from left: CONCORD (six-year-old), ADMIRAL (17 years), CAPTAIN (eleven-year-old), LOUIE (three-year-old) and ALLEGIANCE (seven-year-old).

Right hand page: Kelly and CONQUISTADOR working at liberty, four months after he was mustered from the wild as a nine-year-old stallion.

“He died five months out of the muster, but what he achieved in that time broke the stereotype of what could be achieved with an older stallion. He was just amazing and impacted us greatly. I wrote his memoir as a record for our family, so we would never forget how special he was.”

Those who read it thought it was good and worth trying to get published. Kelly approached Penguin Random House, and they loved it. But they didn’t just want to hear about Major; they wanted to know about all 11 wild horses the sisters had saved and commissioned an autobiography.

That first book was the No1. bestseller For the Love of Horses and included Major’s story. “I can thank the Kaimanawas for becoming an author as well.”

Since then, Kelly has succeeded as a photographer and author, with 20 books published and two more due out this year. Her favourite book to write was Wild Horses of the World, where she travelled for six months, photographing and living out with wild horses in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the US, and Portugal

– the countries with the five largest populations of wild horses. Alongside her sisters Vicki and Amanda, Kelly has also been featured in two documentaries. The sisters went on to become household names through their popular television show, Keeping Up With the Kaimanawas, gaining notoriety when they tamed twelve wild horses from the 2014 muster.

Since then, Kelly has gone on to work with iconic wild horses worldwide, contesting the Kaimanawa Stallion Challenge, Extreme Mustang Makeover, and Australian Brumby Challenge, and is the only trainer in the world to have Top Six finishes in wild horse competitions on three continents. Through her work with wild horses, Kelly has also discovered a love of liberty work, both for her domestic horses and as the foundation for taming her wild horses.

“I guess I had a natural talent for working with the wild horses, but in the beginning, a lot was trial and error. Over time, from all the lessons the wild horses have taught me, I’ve developed a gentle and effective pattern for taming them at liberty, using the horse’s body language to determine the time needed to progress through each milestone.”

But the pattern may never be complete, Kelly admits.

“Every horse has taught me a profound lesson about life or horsemanship. That’s what I love the most, the progression in my own training – every time I’m assigned a new wild horse, I wonder, ‘What will this horse teach me?”

Two wild horses have particularly impacted Kelly’s life - Kaimanawa stallions Elder and Concord.

Elder came from the 2014 muster. Kelly’s followers will be familiar with the aloof grey stallion she tamed during the television series, who never completely adjusted to domestic life.

Above R-L: Kelly and ELDER, who was mustered in 2014 as a 18-year-old stallion. Kelly navigating obstacles with ATAHU, who was mustered in 2021 as a three-year-old colt.

Of the 20 books Kelly now has published, five feature both her and her families work with the Kaimanawas.

It took 1000 days for her to be able to touch him all over, and no one except Kelly has ever been able to halter him in a paddock. “He taught me patience and how little I knew. He is the horse that set me on the path to acquire more knowledge, so I’d have the skills to tame him.”

Despite this, Kelly says the things they achieved were phenomenal. “He didn’t transition to domestication at all well, yet he trusted me to ride him out in a halter for hours through the forest or on the beach. I was riding him before I could even touch him past his withers, but when you got on his back, he was amazing. He loved an adventure, so I never rode him on the arena.”

Kelly estimates she has spent over $10,000 on his feet as, for the first few years, every time his feet were done he required a vet to sedate him and lay him on the ground. “His feet were, and still are, so bad. It used to cost me $600 for every trim or shoeing.”

Many people would have given up, but Kelly persevered. “I felt he still had lessons to teach me.”

The pattern Kelly now uses to tame her wild horses was first taught to her by a stallion called Concord, who was mustered in 2018. “Apart from Elder, he was the most challenging wild horse I’ve ever worked with. He needed everything to be specific and built on step by step.

“Concord taught me everything I wish I’d known back when I first got Elder. But I wasn’t ready for it back then. While Elder taught me everything I needed to know to tame Concord, it was Concord that taught me everything I needed to know to tame every wild horse since. Of course, the pattern has continued to evolve over the past five years, but it wouldn’t have come to pass without Concord.”

Above: Kelly photographing Rudolph’s band in the Kaimanawa Ranges in 2020, during her Wild Horses of the World tour. Below: Kelly taming WIND DRIFT, a 6-year-old stallion from the 2021 Muster.

Having grown up in Northland, Kelly, her sister Amanda and their mum made the move to Taupo 18 months ago. Purchasing a 150-acre farm 12 minutes from town, they set about developing their dream properties.

They first subdivided the farm into six and sold three 10-acre blocks, retaining 120 acres. “Mum has 20 acres at the front, Amanda has a 55-acre property in the middle, and I have 45 acres overlooking Lake Taupo and the Kaimanawa Ranges. It has lots of native bush, which is beautiful.”

While Amanda was after more rolling country suited to show jumpers, Kelly wanted a haven for her wild horses, where they could enjoy a life as close as possible to their days in the wild. The unique property fit the bill perfectly, offering what each family member was after.

“We’re all different in what we’re doing. I was searching for land to make a dedicated wild horse sanctuary because that’s my passion,” she explains. Kelly has been side-lined from riding for the last five months after a fall from a horse that resulted in a fractured neck and herniated disk in her lumber spine. She is awaiting surgery; it will be at least another five months before she can get on a horse. While frustrating, she has been able to oversee the training of the wild horses through mentoring, spend some time writing, and devote time to planning the development of her property, with earthworks currently underway.

In the past six months, she has finalised plans for an indoor training facility for wild horses, as the majority of the work is done over the winter months, when the weather can be unpredictable. Kelly offers workshops for those who want to be mentored through the process of taming their own wild horse and has clients stay at her property for up to four weeks at a time.

“There will be indoor and outdoor round pens, covered yards, and massive stockyards that run out to the high-fenced paddocks. The paddocks are fenced appropriately so horses can go straight out on the grass after the muster. It’s better for their welfare, reduces the risk of ulcers, and gives them a little less of a culture shock.”

There will also be sizeable live-in accommodation for guests. The

Above: Kelly and CONQUISTADOR after winning Team Gold, Silver and Bronze in the 2021 KHH UltraMox Stallion Challenge, as well as taking out Reserve Champion overall.

Below: ATAHU placed top three in all of his classes in the 2022 KHH Ultra-Mox Stallion Challenges.

Right hand page: Kelly haltering her 2021 stallion WIND DRIFT for the very first time.

Kelly with ANZAC performing bridleless in the 2014 Stallion Challenge at Equifest, five months after he was mustered.

LANGUAGE AND BEHAVIOUR. IT’S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE HORSES NEED, NOT WHAT HUMANS THINK THEY NEED.

remainder of the property is fenced into large paddocks to enable the horses to live out in bands of up to seven horses. Her native bush paddocks are 3-5 acres and give the horses access to shelter, ponds, logs, and beautiful ferns to hide in –exactly as Kelly pictured it. Elder, who Kelly has now had for nine years, continues to enjoy his life living with a group of mares and youngstock.

Kelly’s vision is to create her dream property, which she will still be using 20 years from now.

“I want a base where national and international clients can stay to participate in my Wild Kaimanawa Workshops, liberty clinics and photography retreats.”

She hopes it will also serve as a venue for international trainers to use as a base and is looking to fly over a top USA liberty trainer this winter to co-host clinics.

Kelly says it is exciting to live her dream and watch her sisters fulfil theirs, too. “With the TV series, we were all doing the same thing, but all those experiences made us realise our individual passions, and for the past few years, we’ve been focusing on those.

“I felt I was in the shadows for a long time because I wasn’t competitive in the show jumping arena. It took me a while to realise it wasn’t where my heart lay. As soon as I discovered the wild horses and liberty work, I spent thousands of hours training and upskilling, whereas I wouldn’t have put that effort into my show jumping.”

While show jumping is more of a hobby for Kelly, she still has a small team of jumpers. She hopes to fulfil her dream of winning an Amateur Rider class with two youngsters by Vicki’s starry stallion Daminos.

I’VE DISCOVERED AN AUTHENTIC STYLE OF HORSEMANSHIP THAT MAKES SENSE TO THE HORSE. I THINK LIVING OUT WITH THE WILD HORSES HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THEIR BODY

“Even my young showjumpers are trained at liberty. For me, it’s the foundation of everything; I don’t want a horse just to jump at competitions; I want a horse with which I can have the ultimate relationship, a horse that I can canter around the farm bareback.”

Over time and through experience, Kelly has developed a training style based on the horse’s body language and ensuring they remain relaxed.

“In the US, the special forces have worked with FBI agents to develop the Combat Hunter Programme. It’s all about anticipating what will happen before it happens because of pre-indicators in someone’s body language. From my years spent taming wild horses and observing them in the wild, I have established a baseline of a horse’s authentic behaviour. When it differs, I can anticipate what’s going to happen. Usually, I can keep both myself and the horse very safe.”

One of the biggest reasons Kelly is so committed to the Kaimanawas is the need for them to find homes.

“I think, for a long time, the number of homes was more important than the quality, and many were not well-trained. There was no pathway in place, especially for the mature horses.”

She could see a need for better training, and in 2014 helped create the Kaimanawa Stallion Challenge in conjunction with Kaimanawa Heritage Horses. She’s working with the group to develop more pathways for horses from upcoming musters.

“These pathways, like my Wild Kaimanawa Workshop, have become a focus for me because 11 years ago, we were thrown into the deep end. We were passionate, and we were successful in taming those horses, but we learned on the job. People don’t need to learn through a decade of trial and error; they can come to a workshop and do it right the first time, which I think is vitally important for the welfare of the horse.”

The pattern Kelly has refined over the years works across the board and fundamentally creates a well-rounded horse that enjoys its life in domestication.

She has offered workshops since 2018, which are sold out each year. “In 2022, I had three return clients. They loved it so much the first time they

THESE PATHWAYS, LIKE MY WILD KAIMANAWA WORKSHOP, HAVE BECOME A FOCUS FOR ME BECAUSE 11 YEARS AGO, WE WERE THROWN INTO THE DEEP END.

WIND DRIFT (above) and CONQUISTADOR (below) navigating obstacles at liberty, in preparation for the 2021 KHH Ultra-Mox Stallion Challenge.

Bottom image: Patriotic, Kelly’s 4-year-old Kaimanawa, Reserve Champion Newcomer Show Hunter Galloway, at the NZ Show Horse Council. Ridden by Morgan Chandler-Bruce while Kelly was out of action with her injury.

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wanted to come back and tame another Kaimanawa.

“Every year, I’ve had international clients, with participants from Australia and America, which is why I want to put in a worldclass facility. I’m considering hosting similar clinics in Australia for Brumbies and in America for Mustangs.

“It’s not just about taming a wild horse; it’s about learning a pattern of horsemanship that you can apply to any horse, domestic or wild, for the rest of your life.”

Along with her passion for wild horses, Kelly discovered an interest in training horses at liberty. This method involves training horses without using any gear.

It started in 2015 when she tamed a Mustang for the Extreme Mustang Makeover. “In 100 days, Jackie was better trained than most of my show jumpers. I came home and thought, if I could achieve that with a wild horse, then the horses I had owned for four or five years had so much more potential.”

She began a 100-day challenge with every horse she owned, focusing on things like lateral work and bridleless riding.

“I hadn’t planned to learn liberty, but one of my young horses was recovering from an injury and couldn’t be ridden.”

That horse was Showtym Moonlight, who has since gone on to become her top liberty horse, performing at the likes of Equifest and Equidays.

“I did my first liberty performance in 2017, which was very raw. It wasn’t until 2018 when an American liberty trainer stayed to attend my Wild Kaimanawa Workshop, that I understood the pattern of liberty. She did 10 sessions with each of my horses, and watching her work was pretty transformative for me.”

Showtym Moonlight can now side pass, rear on command, jump,

navigate obstacles, rein back and gallop to Kelly on command – all at liberty.

The experience affected Kelly so much that she flew the American trainer, Hannah Catalino, back to New Zealand six months later to further her knowledge.

“I was so inspired by her. Initially, I could only repeat the cues she’d taught my horses, but I still needed to learn how to train them to that level myself. The second time she stayed for three weeks and did 10 sessions on seven different horses, four of which had never been trained in liberty. The three advanced horses she progressed further, teaching them more advanced movements and tricks, like laying down and side passing to the mounting block to be mounted.”

In 2020 Kelly got an unhandled four-year-old stallion (not wild) and did all his training at liberty. She used him as an experiment to merge her pattern of taming wild horses and what she’d since learned about liberty. Then in 2021, she applied that training to her Kaimanawas.

“I love both taming wild horses and working at liberty for the same reasons. With both, if you make mistakes, the horse is brutally honest with you. If your body language is wrong or your communication is unclear, the horse will leave you. People get away with so much when they’re using a halter and lead. I honestly believe that most issues, both in groundwork and ridden, could be improved if their horsemanship was improved.

“I’ve discovered an authentic style of horsemanship that makes sense to the horse. I think living out with the wild horses helped me understand their body language and behaviour. It’s about understanding what the horses need, not what humans think they need.” n

FOR HORSES Destined

Growing up in Ramarama in South Auckland, Caitlin Benize started showing her love for horses early. Her mum, Jeanette, had ridden since her early teens, making her way up to (old) 3* level eventing before moving to dressage a few years after Caitlin was born.

“I got my first pony when I was three,” says Caitlin. “Jane Burmester called Mum to say she’d found the perfect pony for me. Mum and Dad weren’t quite sure they wanted me starting so early, but I was far too keen to be around Mum’s eventers, so they decided it would be a bit safer to get something more my size. Twinkles was a super-cute little piebald who came from the Blair Family and was the first of many horses Jane found for me.”

Progressing through t he ribbon day and Pony Club ranks, Caitlin began her eventing career at 11 on the wonderful little grey hack, Gun. In the end, she competed through to 1* level, including winning Timberlands with the lowest score in the history of the competition, before hanging up her eventing boots at 17 and moving to dressage.

“Gun had competed to old 2*and was leased to me by family friends. He was older when I got him, and when he decided he wasn’t so keen on jumping anymore, he gave me my first taste of proper dressage when we became Novice Reserve Champion at the 2008 Auckland Young Rider Champs. My last eventer was a failed show jumper as he didn’t want to jump up the heights. He was great, but he ended up not

super-keen to go any higher eventing either, so we decided to sell him. By that point, I’d had a pretty solid taste of dressage and eventing and would have loved to continue with both. However, we only had the money to buy one horse, so I had to decide which discipline I wanted to follow.”

At

the age of

12, Caitlin was fortunate to be offered the opportunity to ride the well-known schoolmaster Greendowns Laredo. Larry was started in dressage in the late ‘90s by Andrea Raves when he was discovered at her friend’s trekking business. He competed through to Small Tour level with Andrea, culminating in winning the 2002 Small Tour National Championship.

He was purchased from the Buckleigh Family for Sarah Wilkinson in 2003, who had massive success with Larry. Known as Hannibal Lecter in his early days, Sarah’s mother, Helen, and Jeanette often laughed that Larry only managed to tolerate them but absolutely adored Sarah and Caitlin.

“Larry was another find by Jane Burmester; she didn’t know the Wilkinsons but had heard from her housekeeper that they were looking for a lease home for Larry, so off she trotted to them at Waitemata

WORDS - Ashleigh Kendall IMAGES - Show Circuit Magazine

I’M LUCKY TO HAVE A REALLY VARIED LIFE DOING LOTS OF THINGS I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT. I HAVE A VERY BUSY BRAIN, SO IT’S GREAT TO BE ABLE TO FLIT BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT JOBS WITHOUT BEING STUCK IN AN OFFICE FOR EIGHT HOURS A DAY.

WE DOWNGRADED HIM TO ELEMENTARY. I SPENT ABOUT THREE MONTHS JUST TRYING TO LEARN HOW TO SHOULDER-IN, BUT ONCE IT

CLICKED, WE WERE FLYING, AND WE COMPETED IN MY FIRST LEVEL SEVEN TEST A YEAR LATER.

Champs. I remember Mum getting home from Waitemata Champs, showing me the Advanced results list, and asking if I wanted to go and try riding that horse. At that point, I only had a tiny bit of dressage experience from eventing and a handful of dressage shows. Still, the Wilkinson’s somehow saw through my greenness, and before I knew it, Larry was at our house.

“We downgraded him to Elementary. I spent about three months just trying to learn how to shoulder-in, but once it clicked, we were flying, and we competed in my first Level Seven test a year later.”

Together Caitlin and Larry won the Children’s World FEI Challenge and Pony Club Dressage Champs, as well as finishing 3rd in the CDI-Y at Horse of the Year.

“I’ll forever be grateful to the Wilkinson’s for the opportunity to ride Larry. He was the making of me as a rider, and I would be nowhere without them. When he retired, he was supposed to head back to their farm, but I couldn’t bear to part with him, so he spent six years hacking around the roads and being babysitter for the young horses. Then, heartbreakingly, we lost him in 2019,

and it really was like losing my best friend.

“Larry was 15.1hh in front and 15.3hh behind, built like the most stocky Quarterhorse you could find. He spent most of his life with a face like thunder (unless the Oddfellows came out), but his work ethic was unparalleled. I’ll spend the rest of my riding career trying to find a horse with the same work ethic that Larry had.”

With the sale of her eventer in 2012, Caitlin’s first straight dressage purchase was another horse suggested by JaneLe Connoisseur, a 17hh NZ Sporthorse by Playboy and out of a Kingsway Diamond mare. Odie was six when he was purchased and proved to be a quirky character from day one. However, he had plenty of successes, including winning Pony Club Champs, regional titles from Novice to Medium, placing at Horse of the Year, winning the New Zealand Young Rider Performance Awards, being part of the New Zealand Young Rider Squad and representing New Zealand in a Young Rider team.

“Odie is an interesting character; we’ve always said if he were a human, he would walk around with a metal hat on so the rays

The future for GSD LUCIUS looks very promising. He is very trainable and tries hard.

can’t get him,” Caitlin laughs. “I actually went to try a different horse, but Odie was suggested too, and the owner basically said if I could get on him, then I could try him. For the first six months, I would have come off him at least once a week - he was never dirty but just so scared of life. You’d put your leg on when you got on, and you’d be doing a spinning rodeo act. Our first year or so competing wasn’t much better; there was a lot of launching across arenas because a leaf had come near him and random spins in the opposite direction. We competed to Prix St Georges level, but with his size and having shivers, he struggled with collected work, so he went to be a schoolmaster for a young rider, who he took through to Advanced level. He’s now back home babysitting my yearling and will live out his days with us.”

TEAM TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH FOUR SHOWS SO FAR; MYSTIC, RINGS OF POWER, MY LIFE IS MURDER WITH LUCY LAWLESS AND ONE THAT’S NOT RELEASED YET.

At the end of 2014,

Caitlin was offered a half-share in Rosari Royal Gem by Bill Noble. Bred by Fiona McCrostie, Rosari Royal Gem is by Royal Diamond and out of the Noble’s own Kinnordy Gera. Caitlin and Jason competed to Grand Prix, winning the Young Rider of the Year at Horse of the Year, Grand Prix Young Rider of the Year at the New Zealand Youth Champs and placing in the CDI*** at Nationals along the way.

“I love Jason to pieces, but he is diabolical; there’s no other word to describe him! He was an absolute angel to ride at home; he was even the horse I chose to ride first after breaking my back in two places, but at a competition or on the ground, he was a bit of a nightmare sometimes. However, I’m incredibly grateful for the experience Jason gave me riding at the upper

I’M VERY GRATEFUL TO THE NZ FILM HORSES

levels. Bill had done an amazing job training him, as he does with all his horses, and Jason just needed some time to grow into himself before we could move up the levels. Then, devastatingly, just as we were starting to find our feet at Grand Prix, Jason had a career-ending injury which put paid to our future dreams.”

While she has a gorgeous Sezuan yearling in the back paddock, Caitlin currently only has the beautiful grey GSD Lucius as her competition mount. Lorenzo, who’s by Limonit and out of River Park Arlington, was bred and started by Greg Smith. Although the past two seasons have been quiet competition-wise, not only due to Covid but also Caitlin having bilateral knee surgery, Lorenzo and Caitlin have made a relatively quick move up the grades to compete in their first Small Tour start in December.

“Enzo is probably my favourite horse of all time; he’s a giant puppy dog and loves any form of attention. He’s super-intelligent and learns everything really quickly. He also has the world’s shortest attention span, which ran us into some trouble competing at the lower levels when he didn’t have enough to think about. I think we’ve found a happy medium with the busyness of the tests and his strength levels at

Small Tour, though; he’s only eight, so we’ve got plenty of time to just sit at this level and wait. He’s got his baby piaffe and passage coming on, so I have high hopes that with time and strength, he’ll be a Grand Prix horse.”

Now based in Waiau Pa, Caitlin finished a Bachelor of Broadcasting Communications a couple of years ago and is kept busy with a hugely varied work life. She operates an equestrian photography and social media business, takes horses for schooling and competition, creates musical freestyles, is one of our writers at Show Circuit, and also works as a horse wrangler on film. Although life is busy, Caitlin has a great team surrounding her, and with some promising horsepower in the paddock, the future looks very exciting!

“I’m lucky to have a really varied life doing lots of things I’m passionate

Caitlin firmly believes in cross-training. Her eventing background comes into play when hacking could take in a good canter around the farm.

Caitlin is lucky to have her mum on hand for training at the equestrian property in Waiau Pa, South Auckland as most days are full to overflowing with work and then training the horses.

about. I have a very busy brain, so it’s great to be able to flit between the different jobs without being stuck in an office for eight hours a day. It would be hard to pick a favourite, but the film work is probably pretty high up there; I’ve met some of the most fantastic friends I’ve ever had from it. I’m very grateful to the NZ Film Horses team to have been involved with four shows so far - Mystic, Rings of Power, My Life is Murder with Lucy Lawless and one that’s not released yet.

“I’m not sure what the future will hold for the horses and me, but I know I’ve got the best people possible around me to make it all happen. Since day one, Mum has always had my back with everything to do with the horses, and I’ve been fortunate to also have some fantastic coaches over the ten years I’ve been doing dressage. Andrea Raves was instrumental when I first started, especially in my years with Larry, and Bill Noble has been a part of my journey since I was part of the Dressage NZ mentor program with him. John Thompson also really changed my understanding of dressage and the horse itself in my time training with him on Jason. More recently, Cooper Oborn has kept Lorenzo and me on track with his incredible knowledge. I’ve also been very grateful for the past year to have the support and eyes on the ground of Greg Smith to fine-tune all the little things.

I’m also fortunate to have a great group of sponsors to complete the team, including Balanced Saddle Fitting, Oakridge Equestrian, LG Forge, RB Jewellers, Mainstream Freight, Body Balance Acupuncture and Gretel from Dunstan Horsefeeds.” n

I’M LUCKY TO HAVE A REALLY VARIED LIFE DOING LOTS OF THINGS I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT. I HAVE A VERY BUSY BRAIN, SO IT’S GREAT TO BE ABLE TO FLIT BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT JOBS WITHOUT BEING STUCK IN AN OFFICE FOR EIGHT HOURS A DAY.

I’M NOT SURE WHAT THE FUTURE WILL HOLD FOR THE HORSES AND ME, BUT I KNOW I’VE GOT THE BEST PEOPLE POSSIBLE AROUND ME TO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN.

PONIES on her

MIND

WORDS - Caitlin Benzie

IMAGES - Michelle Clarke Photography

No stranger to success, Paige Fitzgerald has taken numerous Champion titles in many show rings. Now partnered with arguably one of New Zealand’s top dressage ponies, the future is bright for this rising star on the dressage scene.

Born in Timaru, Paige virtually grew up in the show ring, making her debut at just four years old in lead-rein classes. Her mum Sarah had been involved with and ridden horses for many years, so it was only natural that Paige would follow in her footsteps.

“I started riding when I was two and competing in lead rein showing classes just after I turned four; it’s fair to say that I was on a pony before I was walking! My first pony was a gorgeous Australian Riding Pony called Merivale Park Serenade Rose, who was just the most wonderful lead-rein pony I could ever have asked for.”

Paige’s next mount was KS Precious Gem, a gorgeous little buckskin Welsh Part-Bred mare by Kolbeach Rembrandt and out of Klondike Opal, bred by the Bostock family from KS Show Horses.

“One of my favourite ever horse memories would have to be when Mum and Dad got me Gem for my eighth birthday. She was a fabulous little pony, and I won my first ever

Horse of the Year title on her in 2018, when we won the Part Bred Welsh First Ridden Pony of the Year. I couldn’t believe it when they called me up; I heard them call the runner-up, who I had thought would definitely win the class. I was devastated because I thought it meant I didn’t even make the lineup! But then, when they called my name, I don’t think I’ve ever smiled more!”

In 2018, Paige began dabbling in a little bit of dressage with her show ponies. However, when she was offered the opportunity to ride the impressive pony Aspley Backchat Kid, she really started to make her mark in the dressage world. Owned and started in the competition world by eventing rider Brittany Fowler, Reuben is a 14.2hh English Riding Pony by Apsley Backchat. Together, Brittany and Reuben had competed through to 2* level eventing and even had a start at 3*, along with winning the South Island Level Two Pony Championship and finishing as the Reserve Champion Level Two Pony of the Year in 2018.

I STARTED RIDING WHEN I WAS TWO AND COMPETING IN THE LEAD REIN SHOWING CLASSES JUST AFTER I TURNED FOUR; IT’S FAIR TO SAY THAT I WAS PRETTY MUCH ON A PONY BEFORE I WAS WALKING!

I’M VERY GRATEFUL TO MUM FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR THE PONIES AND ME; WITHOUT HER, PLUS THE REST OF MY FAMILY AND CHRISTINE, I WOULDN’T HAVE ACHIEVED EVEN HALF OF WHAT I HAVE.

Paige and Greenmoor Euphoria had a very successful Bates National Dressage Championship, where they won the World Challenge Youth class and the overall FEI Pony Classic for 2022.

“Brittany was basing at Clarke Johnstone’s in Matangi long-term and had decided that as Reuben was 17, it was about time for him to retire from upper-level eventing. So when I was offered the chance to ride him for a season, I absolutely leapt at it. We did a few non-graded shows to start with, so I could find my feet. Then in October of 2021, we did our first Elementary tests at our first Regional Championship show and managed to place in all of our classes, even against the hacks!

My biggest highlight with Reuben was winning the Youth section in New Zealand and Oceania at the FEI World Dressage Challenge in 2021. It was such a thrill and a great way for Reuben and me to end our time together. I’m very grateful to Brittany for allowing me to ride him; he was just the best.”

Thirteen-year-old Paige attends Rolleston College and is now based in West Melton near Christchurch with her parents, Sarah and Michael, and her younger brother, Taylor, on a gorgeous equestrian property where they have

Image: Libby Law Photography

lived for the past nine years.

“Dad has always supported everything I’ve done. He’s often chief truck driver and chef at shows, but he isn’t super horsey. However, he owns West Melton Engineering, and through that, he makes a large number of stable fit-outs, which is very convenient,” Paige laughs. “Taylor likes the ponies but has only ridden a handful of times; he’s following in Dad’s footsteps with the engineering. He even made arena harrows for Mum at one point.”

Paige currently has two ponies on her team - the incredibly accomplished Greenmoor Euphoria and a young pony named Baxter, who will hopefully come out next season. Previously she also competed Baxter’s sire, KS Helter Skelter, an English Riding Pony who was, like her gorgeous KS Precious Gem, also by Kolbeach Rembrandt but was instead out of Pemmain Lilly of the Valley. Skittle had been with Paige since he was a yearling colt and was owned by Paige’s Nana, Liz Pyke. Nanny Liz, as she’s known, has always been a huge supporter of Paige’s riding journey, coming to as many of the shows as she can and is someone Paige is very grateful for. Together, Paige and Sarah produced Skittle through until he was a six-year-old, winning the Rising Star Show

Paige feels very fortunate. Not only does she own the incredibly accomplished GREENMOOR EUPHORIA, but also she enjoys the support of her family and trainer, Christine Weal.

Pony of the Year (one of Paige’s proudest achievements) and the Supreme Young Dressage Pony Champion along the way.

Greenmoor Euphoria (Richie) is no stranger to the winner’s circle. He competed to Level Six dressage with Dani Simpson, placing third in the Dressage Pony of the Year. He also excelled in the show ring, winning the Paced and Mannered Saddle Hunter Pony and the Wonder Memorial Junior Turnout at the most recent Horse of the Year with Lucy Cochrane. Dani also took him to Australia to compete in the Grand Nationals, taking home the Champion Small Show Hunter Galloway title – that was where Paige and Richie had their first meeting.

“The first time I ever sat on Richie was in Australia in 2019. I was so excited I could hardly contain myself, and I would never have believed you if you had told me that he would be mine less than three years later. Richie joined the family at the start of 2022, and I’ve had such a great time getting to know him; he’s taught me so much already in the year we’ve been together. Richie is just a dream to have around; he’s so cuddly but also very cheeky. We went straight out at Level Four and had a dream end to 2022, winning the National FEI Pony of the Year, as well as being selected for the winning New Zealand team for the FEI World Dressage Challenge and winning the New Zealand and Oceania section of the Youth Challenge. The whole thing felt so surreal!”

Above: Paige and GREENMOOR EUPHORIA, with event sponsor David Jones-Parry at the Bates National Dressage Championship, where they won the World Challenge Youth class and the overall FEI Pony Classic for 2022. Image: Libby Law Photography

When Paige first sat on GREENMOOR EUPHORIA in Australia In 2019 she could hardly contain her excitement. Now he belongs to her!

Paige is fortunate to be under the incredibly knowledgeable eye of Christine Weal each month when she travels down to the South Island to teach, as well as having her mum provide day-to-day help. With talent to burn, one of the best coaches around and arguably the best dressage pony in the country to learn from, it’s easy to see that the future is shining very bright for Paige.

“I’m very grateful to Mum for always being there for the ponies and me; I wouldn’t have achieved even half of what I have without her, plus the rest of my family and Christine. Next on the cards for Richie and me is Horse of the Year, which will be really exciting as it’s always my favourite show to compete at. I love that we get to ride the FEI tests there just like the other pony riders around the world – I also love the social side of it, plus the shopping,” she laughs. “I’ve been fortunate to have some amazing schoolmasters to learn from, so in the future, I would love to take that knowledge and train Baxter up to FEI Pony level myself. Long term, I would love to ride for New Zealand again – hopefully at an Olympics or World Championships this time!” n

they now? WHERE ARE TRUDY BOYCE

Once a force to be reckoned with on the Eventing scene, Trudy won an individual silver medal at the World Champs at Gawler at just 22. But while she had a huge future ahead of her in the sport, her path was dramatically altered. In 2009, leaving her equestrian life behind, she embarked on a new journey that has brought her immense joy and success.

When did you first start riding, and why?

I remember getting my first pony when I was eight years old. My family lived on a dairy farm in South Waikato, and neither of my parents really rode, but they were amazing and got all four of us kids a pony each. It was very much a family affair! We all went through to competing for Waikato at Pony Club Champs, which was a huge deal as Waikato was always such a competitive area.

What inspired you to pursue eventing?

Going through Pony Club to start with, I did a bit of everything but being on the farm helped grow my passion for eventing because I had the scope on our farm and neighbouring farms to ride and keep the horses fit. Mum and Dad built a cross-country course on the farm, which was

amazing. My brother runs the farm now and still runs an annual ODE.

The facilities enabled me to do it really well, and I loved the challenge of all three disciplines. The thrill of cross-country was my favourite, and indeed, that was my strong point. Dressage was something you had to do for the event, and it never enthused me as much. To get a horse to be good in all three phases is a real challenge but very rewarding. Mum and Dad were very involved in the sport as well - Dad was a TD, and Mum became involved in the running of some events.

Who was the best or most rewarding horse you have ever trained?

This is an incredible story in itself. When I was 13, my parents bought me my first hack,

WORDS - Ashleigh Kendall IMAGES - Show Circuit Magazine

Clockwise: The Seoul Olympics 1988 recognition certificate. Trudy proudly showing the Individual Silver Medal she won at the World Eventing Champs in 1986.Trudy with her sister Kim at the World Eventing Champs (Gawler, Australia) in 1986. The certificate of attendance for the Olympians Club of New Zealand.

Mossman, a three-year-old off-the-track Thoroughbred. He was a racehorse that didn’t have the speed, so he only trialled with no ability to go further. I remember setting the goal then that I wanted to get to the Olympics. I didn’t know if it would ever happen, but I hoped so. I didn’t know if he would get there, but he turned a corner when he was about eight years old and just came into his own.

We did Pony Club Champs; then we won an individual silver medal at the World Championships in Gawler, Australia; then finally, we made it to the Seoul Olympics in 1988 when I was 25, and he was 15! I was disappointed because he had an injury a few days before the competition. It was probably the lowest point of my career. He did come back, but only to compete at a lower level.

The fantastic thing about that journey was the bond. To get a horse at such a young age, and we had the will to get there, and we did it. I did a lot of coaching, and their eyes open up when I tell people and kids this story. It’s possible for anyone; you have to set a goal. Anything is possible. I had fantastic support, especially from my parents.

What was it like winning silver at the World Eventing Champs in 1986?

Winning a silver medal at such a young age - I was only 22 - was my most significant achievement. I never thought that was possible; we were up against the best in the world. The cross-country was challenging and quite

steep, but we were used to that from our training at home. We had a couple of heart-in-the-mouth moments, but I had a fantastic horse under me.

Did you make a comeback after the Olympics?

I did have a lovely horse called Van Gogh, who won the National Three-Day Event at Taupo, and I was looking at the World Champs with him, but he wasn’t quite right. Then I had another nice horse, Hunter Brown, for which I had really high hopes. He was competing at Advanced, and we had our eye on the Sydney Olympics when my parents passed away one year apart when I was in my early thirties. They were such a big part of my world, and I struggled to carry on after that. Hunter Brown wasn’t quite right then, and to be honest, neither was I; I was struggling with grief. But I was always really proud of the horses. I made them all myself.

What life lesson might you share with an aspiring rider coming into their own?

Focus, stay positive, and believe in yourself. Stay on your track, and don’t get side-tracked by what is happening around you or what other people are doing. Some people will look around and think they aren’t as good as others

&I was struggling with grief. I was always really proud of the horses. I made them all myself.

Winning a silver medal was my biggest achievement at such a young age - I was only 22.

Every day is different, but the one constant thing is that it is always busy! I can juggle so many things in one day. If I am listing a property, there is lots of paperwork and documentation that goes with that.

Above: Trudy and MOSSMAN competing on the cross-country at the World Eventing Champs in Gawler, Australia.

Top right: The Silver medal from the World Champs in 1986 is certainly something to be proud of.

Centre: Trudy riding VAN GOGH, who won the Taupo National Three-Day Event in 1994. He had fantastic talent but sadly mild soundness issues became a problem. He is pictured competing at the One Day Champs in Northland.

Bottom right: Trudy riding SEA LAW (owned by Sally & John Wigley), whom she rode to Advanced. Pictured at ‘The Crossing,’ in Litchfield, Putaruru.

or their horse isn’t as good. Work out your goal and how you will achieve that, and stay committed.

What made you get into real estate?

I first moved into real estate in 2009, and it was a matter of survival at first. I realised that I needed to make some financial changes. Coaching, riding and selling horses overseas can be up and down and seasonal. It’s a real love and passion, but only sometimes will it pay the bills. I also realised I could apply my skills and everything I learned from sports to my new career. There are similar values and principles that I still work by. In real estate, even though you are working for a company, you are working for yourself to a certain degree. You only get out of what you put in, and I could fully commit to it; being results-driven certainly helps. I enjoy building relationships and working with people. It is a big deal selling property, and to be able to help with this process with any vendor is very gratifying. It’s easy for me to enjoy this role - I feel so lucky! I sell lifestyle properties and have sold some lovely equestrian properties, which naturally are my favourite. I am very fortunate that the company I started with (Barfoot & Thompson, Pukekohe, where I still reside) and the manager there were fantastic.

I had an excellent support network that helped me grow into the role and succeed in it. Whatever you do in life, surround yourself with the

&

right people and listen to positive people. Your state of mind is essential, and you must look after your belief.

What does a day in your life look like?

Every day is different, but the one constant is that it’s always busy! I can juggle so many things in one day. If I am listing a property, there’s lots of paperwork and documentation that goes with that. I could be doing a photo shoot of a property, negotiating an offer, or at a final inspection. Amongst that, also showing properties during the week, talking with potential clients and customers on the phone, vendor reports and updates, and open homes at weekends. I am juggling things all the time, and I have to prioritise. One minute I might be doing something, and then I have to drop it to attend to something more urgent. You must have mental strength and perseverance to succeed in real estate and be calm and not overreact. In my downtime, I enjoy exercise. Walking or getting on my bike is excellent, and I also have a home gym that I use too.

What do you love about real estate?

Helping people achieve their property goals is always very rewarding for me. Working with them and helping them get to where they want to be is fantastic. I have people I met in real estate that have become amazing friends. It was tough for me to move on from my equestrian world, but it was a decision I had to make at the time. I stayed away from watching events for a while because it would make me sad not to be out there. Nowadays, I can go to an event and watch and enjoy it, but I haven’t ever been tempted to get another horse. I know the commitment and time it takes, and I am competitive, so riding for fun wouldn’t be enjoyable.

What life goals remain?

It’s important for me to look after my health and keep active, and I very much enjoy my job, so those are my current goals. Having success in my work is essential. This job is a lifestyle, you must be

committed to it, and it can be seven days a week. I enjoy getting down to see my sister in Queenstown. We do lots of biking down there, so I do look to do that more. I recently got back into skiing too. I had two knee replacements simultaneously, and now I am a new person! I can do so much more now, so I want to stay active and enjoy life.

Do you have any regrets?

No, I don’t live with regrets. I am a forward-thinking person; I try to make the right decision at the time and go with them.

What brings you the most joy in life?

Being with my family and, of course, great friends and good health. I want to stay active and keep enjoying life. n

There are similar values and principles that I still work by. In real estate, even though you are working for a company, you are working for yourself to a certain degree.

I SUPPOSE I LIKE HORSES BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU GET. A HORSE IS ALWAYS HAPPY TO SEE YOU. I WOULD RATHER DEAL WITH HORSES THAN PEOPLE.

Daniel riding WSJ NINETTE, imported from Europe as a three-year-old, mainly for her bloodlines and breeding ability. She has also proven her own jumping ability.

THE GIFT OF

HORSEMANSHIP

Shearing has already taken this quiet achiever all around the world, and he hopes that, if the cards fall right, horses could do the same. Hardly touching a horse for 20 years, Daniel came back to show jumping at 38, won his first Grand Prix at 50, and is now jumping in World Cups, proving you’re never too old for the sport if the will is there.

Daniel Webb is not one to shy away from hard work. Once he had purchased his Hunterville farm 33 years ago, he focused on making a living, and horses barely rated a mention.

Now, the years of shearing and bulldozer driving alongside farming mean the coin has flipped, and the farm allows him to dream about breeding a horse good enough to make it to the very top of the sport internationally.

Daniel and his wife Chrissy live ten minutes west of Hunterville in the hills, where they own 900 acres. They lease a further 400 acres of better country closer to town. Sheep used to be key, but Daniel says he has got old and sheep are hard work, so these days they mainly run bulls - and horses, of course.

The horse breeding operation has slowly grown, and there are usually five to seven foals born each year. This year there were five foals, and there are eight pregnant mares for next year.

The sheep flock has been downsized, but they’re not

entirely gone. On the evening of our interview, Daniel has just walked in from a day in the shed, shearing lambs. He admits his body is tired – he has three ruptured discs in his back to show for the years on the handpiece and bouncing around on the dozer. Still, he’s focused on keeping fit and managing his health so he can continue to do what he loves.

When it comes to equestrian sports, show jumping has always been the focus for Daniel, who says he’s never once done cross-country and is pretty sure he’s never done a dressage test either. “Show jumping is our thing,” he says simply.

“I suppose I like horses because you know what you get. A horse is always happy to see you. I would rather deal with horses than people. We have horses we’ve done everything with since they were foals. Any bad habits or mistakes they make are our fault. I like that, trying to do things better and better.”

The Webbs are breeding horses predominantly for

WORDS - Rebecca Greaves IMAGES - Denise Flay Photography

themselves but also to sell in New Zealand and offshore. Daniel hopes they can ultimately produce a horse good enough for him to foot it with the best in the world.

Both Daniel and Chrissy grew up with horsesthey’re in the blood - and it’s a shared passion the couple enjoys together.

“I competed to a reasonable level on ponies. I came from a pretty motivated family. My old man (Tony Webb) rode at the World Cup Final and World Equestrian Games in 1990 with a horse called Reservation,” Daniel says.

Chrissy, who comes from Scotland, had competed to a high level there, making the National Scottish Young Rider team for show jumping. Her mother was a judge and her father a course builder. She came to New Zealand to groom for Tony, which is how the couple met. They’ve been together ever since.

Daniel’s ‘reasonable’ level on ponies includes winning Pony of the Year for two consecutive years. He was offered the opportunity to go to Europe to ride for an Olympic medallist when he was 20, but having met and married Chrissy and purchased a farm, he turned it down.

This isn’t the first time he’s had an article written about him, but he jokes that it’s been a while. He usually tries to dodge the limelight, preferring to do his own thing behind the scenes. Life might look very different had he chosen horses earlier, but Daniel was more interested in his farm and making a living at that point.

WHEN HORSES ARE IN THE BLOOD IT’S PRETTY HARD TO GET AWAY FROM THEM, AND YOU JUST KEEP MIGRATING BACK TO THEM.

Right: Daniel riding WSJ CENTAUR in Poli Payments World Cup Qualifier at Central and Southern Hawke’s Bay.

Image - Christine Cornege Photography

Below: Daniel enjoys the carefully bred youngstock. Breeding quality is definitely paying off.

WE COULDN’T DO HORSES AND TRY TO GET INTO A FARM. I SHORE SHEEP FOR A LONG TIME, ALL AROUND THE WORLD, AND AS MY BODY GOT A BIT TIRED, I TURNED INTO A BULLDOZING CONTRACTOR TO SUBSIDISE THE FARMING.

Daniel riding WSJ NINETTE, a sevenyear-old mare by Naldo

“We couldn’t do horses and try to get into a farm. I shore sheep for a long time, all around the world, and as my body got a bit tired, I turned into a bulldozing contractor to subsidise the farming.”

It was Daniel’s father, Tony, who got them back into horses after 20 years out of the sport. “When horses are in the blood, it’s pretty hard to get away from them, and you just keep migrating back to them,” he says.

“Dad gave us a mare, Chinook, a sister to his good gelding called Reservation. She was very well-bred, and he said, ‘breed from her’. We’d just had kids, so he said that when the kids got old enough, we could either sell the progeny and use the money to buy some ponies or keep them and ride them ourselves.”

As it turned out, the two horses they bred both went to Grand Prix. “I whistled back into show jumping and went straight to Grand Prix really. We’ve been doing it ever since. We did a lot with our kids, going to shows regularly with a truckload of horses and ponies. We’ve been breeding all the way through, although our mare line is much stronger now than when we started. We’re finding that the mare is far more important than most people realise. Now, our breeding is a lot more selective and higher quality than initially.”

Daniel and Chrissy’s two children, Meg, 27, and Jack, 24, also inherited the family love of horses. Meg has worked in the outback of Australia on cattle stations, exercising racehorses in England, and is now a qualified saddle fitter living in Scotland.

Jack has been riding horses in Europe for eight years. Having ridden in Belgium, Holland, and Germany, he is now based in Holland, riding for Hendrik-Jan and Frank Schuttert. The large jumping stable has three 5* riders, and Jack is riding young horses there.

“Both kids have been home for a short holiday in January, which has been great. Although not much of a holiday for either of them, with Meg reflocking, repairing, and refitting the saddles to all the horses. Jack has been in the arena every day sharing his knowledge, coaching, and riding.”

Daniel is realistic about what might be possible with the horses while

I WHISTLED BACK INTO SHOW JUMPING AND WENT STRAIGHT TO GRAND PRIX REALLY. WE’VE BEEN DOING IT EVER SINCE.

quietly working away at the breeding program and hoping a superstar might be grazing the Hunterville hills right now. He knows he’s a bit late to the game; there are always up-and-coming young riders, while the older riders have it over him in experience. But the possibility is there, and he’s giving himself every chance.

The core focus of the breeding program is their three best mares and getting foals out of them. They do a lot of embryo work and have started to look more at frozen semen and European stallions that can inject that bit of extravagant blood to complement the stallions they use from Euro Sport Horses in New Zealand.

The focus has always been on temperament and rideability; horses that are easy to deal with are always saleable, even if they don’t make top level. “If someone turns up, we could basically put them on any of our horses to go for a ride on the farm,” Daniel says.

“Our baseline mares have been that way. Now we are stretching a bit with frozen semen traits that are a little bit more extravagant,

Top image: The couple’s children, Meg and Jack, also share their parents’ passion for horses. WSJ CENTAUR (left) and WSJ NINETTE (right).

Above and left: Daniel riding WSJ CENATUR in Poli Payments World Cup Qualifier - Waikato Show Jumping at Takapoto. Images - Christine Cornege Photography

looking to breed ourselves a top-level horse. We have a mare line we are really happy with - three mares that have great temperaments, are great to ride, and could all jump.

“Most of the horses we are riding now we have bred and taken through. Along the way, we are putting some nice horses out for sale to fund the operation. Unfortunately, I probably started a bit late in life, but we have made progress.”

Looking ahead, the couple would like to head offshore. The goal is to head to Australia first, likely NSW, for a month to six weeks over our winter.

“If it goes well and we have good enough horses, the goal is to go further afield. I have no real ambitions to represent New Zealand at this stage, but I guess those opportunities could come. It would be good, but we’re realistic about our aspirations. We’re doing our thing and having fun along the way, if it happens, it happens.”

Daniel says it’s nice to have reached the stage in life where he and Chrissy can enjoy doing the horses together. Although they have sold some nice horses, he says there’s no way it is self-funded with the huge costs involved. That’s where the hard work they’ve invested in the farm over the past 30 years is paying dividends.

“We have a great team around us, which everybody needs. I used to shoe all my horses until two years ago, but now Pat Schimanski comes every week to shoe horses and Julie Bell from SRVS takes care of most of our horse vet work. We are very lucky to have these guys as part of the team, as they do an amazing job.”

They have two young women working for them full-time. Brianna Wallace has been there for nearly a year, and Hana Bognuda is coming up to three years with them. Hana even clocked up her first 100 shearing lambs on the day of the interview. “They can turn their hand to whatever needs to be done around the farm as well as looking after and riding horses.”

Daniel says Chrissy is the glue that holds everything together. “Chrissy organises everything, making it all tick.”

Daniel and Hana do most of the riding and all the competing, though Brianna also rides every day. Horses are given a mix of farm riding on the hills and arena work or shows. There is ample stabling for 12 horses, built by Daniel, and an arena with a watering system that allows them to ride on it year-round.

IF IT GOES WELL AND WE HAVE GOOD ENOUGH HORSES, THE GOAL IS TO GO FURTHER AFIELD. I HAVE NO REAL AMBITIONS TO REPRESENT NEW ZEALAND AT THIS STAGE, BUT I GUESS THOSE OPPORTUNITIES COULD COME.

Number one in the Webb team is WSJ Centaur (Spider) an 11-year-old gelding by Centavos, out of an American Thoroughbred mare. Together they were 5th overall in the World Cup series last season.

“We haven’t had a lot of joy in the World Cups this season, but he’s a very good consistent Grand Prix horse. Emily Gray bred him and we bought him as a two-yearold. We’re really happy with where he’s at. He’s very easy to ride, and while he might not be a top horse, he’s a very good horse.”

Then there are two lovely homebred eight-year-olds, both jumping at Grand Prix level this season, with the potential to go all the way.

WSJ Astros is also by Centavos, and out of Anasazi, the first foal the Webbs ever bred. “She jumped to Grand Prix and goes back to our original bloodline.” Daniel has high hopes Astros will make the step up to World Cup next year, saying he feels good enough.

WSJ Apache is by Double J Repicharge out of a mare called Cheyenne, also bred by the Webbs. “He’s pretty cool, he’s done one Grand Prix and was clear. We’re stoked with him and also have high hopes for him; I think he will go to World Cup as well.”

WSJ Ninette is a seven-year-old mare by Naldo. They imported Ninette from Europe as a three-year-old, mainly for her bloodlines and breeding ability. A bonus is that she has also proven to have a talent for jumping.

“I think she will be a good horse; time will tell. We have taken embryos from her; that was the main reason we brought her out. It’s a bonus that she happens to jump pretty well, which will add value to her progeny.”

Thanks to their breeding program they also have a bunch of quality young horses coming through the ranks, with nice horses feeding through each year.

Of note are WSJ Cartalusa and WSJ Starline, two promising six-year-olds jumping in the age group series with good results.

Daniel says Chrissy is the person who has been most influential on his riding over the years, and they are mainly self-taught. Apart from seeing Jeff McVean three or four times a year, they’ve never had lessons.

“We do our own thing. We spend a lot of time watching how I ride, how the horses go and watching the top horses and riders in Europe. Jack has learned a lot and is a good rider on the flat; while he’s been home, we’ve been getting a lot of information from him.

“I was 50 when I won my first Grand Prix. I think this is a game you’re never too old for, as long as you’re fit.

“I enjoy seeing the young horses running on the hills, and the rewarding part is bringing them through, working on them, and turning them into good horses. I love show jumping and how technical it is getting, and I love jumping big fences. We have goals, and we want to get to the top, but our expectations are realistic.” n

Above: Chrissy in a paddock of youngstock with promising futures.

Right: WSJ ASTROS in the Mini Prix at Hawera 2022 as a 7-year-old. ImageDenise Flay Photography.

Below: Daniel with WSJ CENTAZ (gelding) by ES Centavos out of WSJ Anasazi, who is by Anamour.

A BOND FORGED THROUGH HORSES

WORDS - Caitlin Benzie

IMAGES - Belinda Pratt Photography

A shared love of horses brought Cooper Oborn and James Blackwood together. Since then, through a lot of hard work, they’ve gone on to create a dream life that would have many people in the horse world envious.

Well-known in

New Zealand dressage circles, Cooper began his riding career in the Adelaide hills of South Australia. He began riding properly when he was 10, competing in eventing and showing before switching the showing with dressage.

“My Nan bred Arabs, which my sister rode for her. Nan also had a pony, and I remember waking up one day and having this overwhelming urge to ride, so I rang her up and told her I wanted to ride today; I pretty much haven’t gone a day without riding since. My first ever show was actually on a donkey,” Cooper laughs. “My dad arranged for me to ride one of his work colleague’s donkeys at a local show; I wore my school jumper and Dad’s work tie. My first pony of my own was called Becky, a lovely little paint Shetland, whom my Nan used to lunge me on, on the side of a hill with no stirrups. I guess I have her to thank for my seat!

The purchase of Capel Farm has been a game-changer with training and a forward plan.

Below: Cooper pictured with Elton John who is considered one of the children along with two cats.

“When I started eventing, I had one horse for each discipline, and I guess at the time because my event horse was the better of the two, that became my main focus. I was lucky to be pretty successful through to the old 3* level and was named on the Australian Young Rider squads. However, my dressage coach at the time offered me the ride on their horse, which I competed to Grand Prix on when I was 21, which sparked the dressage flame in me. I loved anything at an elite level and the purity of dressage. I would find myself watching anything I could about dressage, and I took up dressage full-time after finally coming to my senses,” he laughs. “I haven’t ever looked back; I love what I do and the sport of dressage.”

On the other hand, James grew up on an 800-hectare sheep and beef farm 20 km southeast of Masterton in the Wairarapa. Horses came along slightly earlier for James. Growing up, his family had a Shetland Pony called Tommy, who all the kids learned to ride on before they could even walk.

“We lost count of how old Tommy was, but I feel like we said he was 30 for a good ten years,” James laughs. “One year,

James riding FURST HENRI BHI, a classy black gelding by Finest out of a Furst Heinrich mare. The stable complex is fully functional and both James and Cooper say it will only be a matter of time before each stable has a horse in it.

MY NAN BRED ARABS, WHICH MY SISTER RODE FOR HER. NAN ALSO HAD A PONY, AND I REMEMBER WAKING UP ONE DAY AND HAVING THIS OVERWHELMING URGE TO RIDE, SO I RANG HER UP AND TOLD HER I WANTED TO RIDE TODAY; I PRETTY MUCH HAVEN’T GONE A DAY WITHOUT RIDING SINCE.

- Cooper Oborn

my sister got a new, younger pony named JB for her birthday, and I would go out and steal her for a ride whenever I could. I remember neither my sister nor I could rise to the trot, and one day I was out riding JB by myself and figured out how to do it. I raced her up to the house and rode past the kitchen window, rising to the trot. Mum was in disbelief, and my sister was less than impressed that I’d learned how to do it before she had! I was hooked then, and shortly afterwards, my parents bought me my own pony.

“My most influential eventer in New Zealand was called What 2 Do; I saw him jumping around the National One Day Champs, which used to be held at Tauherenikau, and I instantly wanted him. He had evented to the current 2* level before we got him and was the ultimate schoolmaster. My first event was a local one-day held at Solway Showgrounds, and I had very little idea of what I was in for, but I entered the 2* class. I think he would have gone around the course whether I was on him or not,” he laughs. “But we had a blast and won the class. We went on to place at the National One Day Champs, take out top secondary school combination at Pony Club Champs down in Nelson and

did our first Intermediate Horse Trial (3*) together. I will never forget that horse – he was a horse of a lifetime, although show jumping wasn’t our favourite phase!”

After finishing school,

James moved over to the UK to work for Caroline Powell. While he didn’t take a horse over with him, he was fortunate enough that Caroline found him two owners that needed a rider.

“I learnt a huge amount while there for just shy of two years. Caroline is a hard worker and expected us to work hard, it was my first ever job, and it certainly set standards for me in terms of work ethic.”

His UK youth visa expiring meant relocating to Australia, where he began working for Megan Jones. Here, he had a horse of his own and also rode the young horses. It was also at Megan’s that he first came into contact with Cooper.

“It was a very different work environment from the UK, and I loved it. Over time I developed an awesome group of friends who all rode and lived locally. One day a wellknown young eventing and dressage rider named Cooper Oborn walked into the stables looking for Megan; I don’t think I even managed to say anything beyond a quiet

ONE YEAR, MY SISTER GOT A NEW, YOUNGER PONY NAMED JB FOR HER BIRTHDAY, AND I WOULD GO OUT AND STEAL HER FOR A RIDE WHENEVER I COULD. I REMEMBER NEITHER MY SISTER NOR I COULD RISE TO THE TROT, AND ONE DAY I WAS OUT RIDING JB BY MYSELF AND FIGURED OUT HOW TO DO IT.

- James Blackwood

hello,” he laughs. “Cooper and I ended up in the same friend group, so quickly got to know one another – that was back in 2011; the past 12 years have gone so quickly!”

After two years at Megan’s,

James decided it was time to move on, and he and Cooper moved in together. He spent a year riding track work in the morning and his own in the afternoon but soon realised it wasn’t his choice of a long-term job and something needed to change. Cooper had recently made a move to focus purely on dressage. After much deliberation, James decided to get into the property industry and returned to New Zealand in 2015.

“We did long distance for three years while I finished my degree,” says James. “Looking back, that was a little crazy, but we coped fine. With my parent’s help, I purchased a property to have

horses, rented out the rooms, and agisted horses to pay the mortgage. While studying, I got a job at a property valuation firm, and they offered me a full-time role when I finished my degree. Coop and I would do six-week visits – every six weeks, either he would fly to me, or I would fly to him. After some serious discussions, I managed to convince Cooper to move to New Zealand, and in July 2018, we were finally permanently reunited!”

“I came with only two horses, but we quickly filled up the property,” laughs Cooper. “James then took some time off riding to focus on his career but could still get his fix with all of mine we had.”

I ENJOY HELPING PEOPLE AND SHARING MY KNOWLEDGE AND THE TRAINING ASPECT OF BUILDING ON EACH LESSON; IT IS SO REWARDING WHEN PEOPLE COME BACK, AND THEY’VE PRACTISED WHAT WE WORKED ON LAST TIME AND ARE READY FOR THE NEXT STEP.

- Cooper Oborn

Recently Cooper and James have moved to their dream property, the gorgeous Capel Farm in Masterton. Cooper spends every moment he’s not riding teaching, and James is still working in property as a registered valuer, specialising in residential, lifestyle and rural valuation. He has, however, also made a comeback to riding, having decided in 2020 that he’d spent enough time on the sideline. His competition partner is Arkenwood Donnervalde, a 12-year-old bay mare by Donnerubin and out of an Anamour mare with whom he competes at Small Tour level. Cooper meanwhile has four competition horses on his team; Aphrodite, a Grand Prix Anamour mare bred and owned by Belinda and Emily Stuchbery; Irish Coffee, an imported gelding by Winningmood; Joniro, a Hanoverian by Glock’s Johnson and bred by Diana Edgley, and finally Furst Henri BHI a classy black gelding by Finest and out of a Furst Heinrich mare.

“Cooper now has a huge client base across the country,” says James. “He’s worked so hard to get there, and I’m so proud of him. He’s away every weekend, either at a show or teaching a clinic, and during the week is usually out working from dawn until dusk – you certainly can’t say he doesn’t work hard! I’m very grateful to have him on the ground with my own horse Donna. She’d competed up to level six when I got her, so I thought she would be a good horse for me to get out competing on without too much effort. Little did I realise after several years of not riding, it was much more challenging than I’d remembered! This season is our first out competing together, and we’ve managed to take out the Level Seven at Wellington and Central Districts; it’s been a fun season so far, and I’m certainly learning a lot. We have just started working towards Level Eight, and Donna is showing a super talent for piaffe, so I’m excited to see where she can go.

Top right and above- Cooper is extremely excited about JONIRO’S future as he is an extremely trainable horse.

“The possibility of Capel Farm came into our lives when we visited my parents one weekend in mid-2021. As someone in property, I’m always interested in what’s selling and what’s on the market, so we went to an open home where we ran into the owners of Capel, who said they were thinking about selling. We went and viewed it that afternoon and fell in love, but long story short decided it would be too much of a push for us financially to purchase. Six months went by, and we were back visiting my parents, who were now considering retiring from the farm. Mum pitched the idea to us that, since Capel was on three titles with a bare 10-acre title at the back, they could buy that and build a house for themselves, leaving us to be able to afford to buy the front two titles. It was a dream come true; however, it was also a very nervous seven-month wait to sell our property in Palmerston North. Rose and Alistair, the old owners of Capel, were great to deal with; I lost count of how many times we had to extend the purchase contract. We are extremely lucky it all went through and appreciative that my parents could help as they have. Cooper and I would never have imagined when we met 12 years ago that we would be here; we pinch ourselves every day that we own it!”

COOPER AND I WOULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED WHEN WE MET 12 YEARS AGO THAT WE WOULD BE HERE; WE PINCH OURSELVES EVERY DAY THAT WE OWN IT.

Above: Cooper rides FURST HENRI BHI in the Novice at Wellington Champs. Cooper is looking foward to the futrue with JONIRO (eight years old) who is competing at Advanced Medium level. Cooper and James find time to hack out together along the beautiful walkways at Capel Farm.

With gorgeous horses , a beautiful property and a wonderful little four-legged family, James and Cooper are, through sheer hard work, determination and a little bit of luck, living many people’s dream lifestyle. However, this delightful pair couldn’t be more grateful for the cards they’ve been dealt, and they are both incredible assets to the dressage community in New Zealand.

“We have four children of our own now,” says James. “A schnauzer named Elton John, two Maine Coons called Liza Minelli and Willie Wonka, and Henri the horse. We purchased Henri when he was four days old from his breeder, a former owner of Cooper’s who owns Brockhurst Stud, and imported him to NZ as a two-year-old – he actually moved over before Cooper did. So

he’s very special to us. We consider him one of the family; Cooper broke him in over the first lockdown, and he’s now out competing at Novice.

“Since moving to New Zealand, I have really focused on coaching,” Cooper says, “I enjoy helping people and sharing my knowledge and the training aspect of building on each lesson; it is so rewarding when people come back, and they’ve practised what we worked on last time and are ready for the next step. I love that you can train a horse to be beautiful and change and influence them so much that they transform. It’s a pretty great way to spend my days; riding beautiful horses, helping my wonderful clients, and getting to do it all with James by my side! n

Left: James rides FURST HENRI BH at home.

Above: James pictured with ARKENWOOD DONNERVALDE during the Small Tour at Wellington Champs.

Schnauzer; Elton John is never far from the action when the boys are out on the farm.

BUI LDING A dream

Laura Daly was made redundant on a Monday afternoon in 2012. On Tuesday morning, she walked back into the office and asked to buy the company website and the work ute. She was sure the brand of Econobuilt she'd worked for over the previous 15 months just needed a bit more time to succeed.

Ten years later, and in 2022 Laura has led the Harrison Lane team to its 11th Award at the Registered Master Builder's House of the Year Awards. This year they took out the Regional Supreme House of the Year for Auckland/Northland/Coromandel in the $750,000 - $1 million range for their character-filled home in Karaka.

"Working towards and winning the awards is the icing on the

cake, and we're extremely grateful to our immediate and extended working family and clients that we have around us that enable us to do this. We know daily we deliver the best product and service."

The icing on the cake for Laura is all the happy clients over the past decade.

"They welcome us back long after the builds are finished, and for me, the longevity of the relationships is the most important aspect. We aren't here to be a 5-minute wonder. We look forward to sharing many more awards with our HL family."

Running an award-winning construction business wasn't why English-born Laura decided to make New Zealand home. She

came here in 2005 on her OE to work with horses after her grandmother gave her some money with one criterion.

"She told me not to do anything sensible with it! So I flew here with one contact in Hawkes Bay and one phone number for a friend of a friend in Auckland. The Hawkes Bay connection didn't work out, so I rang the number and the person who answered said, 'come work for me'."

Laura worked as a groom for a professional showjumper, then got a job with Ross Coles, Huntsman of the Pakuranga Hunt for 25 years.

When construction company Econobuilt formed a rural division

called Harrison Lane specialising in equestrian facilities, Laura moved into design consultation, advising rural clients on stable and arena projects.

When Econobuilt decided it wanted to concentrate on other projects and made her redundant, Laura decided Harrison Lane needed a second chance. "The speculation was a five percent chance of succeeding," she laughs. "Our first job was a big, beautiful stable in Huapai, and it still looks really good today. Even now, I always enjoy catching up with Harrison Lane owners, and I love hosting our current and past clients when we go to Horse of the Year."

THEY WELCOME US BACK LONG AFTER THE BUILDS ARE FINISHED, AND FOR ME, THE LONGEVITY OF THE RELATIONSHIPS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT. WE AREN’T HERE TO BE A 5-MINUTE WONDER.

Scott Munro was one of the subcontractors who worked with Laura when she took over the company. He grew up on a farm in Pukekawa and started his building apprenticeship when he was 16. His first 13 years of experience included home and commercial construction that involved warehouses and the Pukekohe cinema.

"He's a very quiet guy. In the first six months, he barely said ten words to me. But he is an exceptional builder, and we worked together really well."

When Scott asked for an increase in his contract rate, Laura decided to make him an offer he couldn't refuse.

"I told him I'd go one better, and we could go into business together. And to my surprise, he said yes, even after I explained – and I was only half-joking – that it is going to be like a marriage!"

Below: A country style Karaka home received recognition with a Gold, Regional Category and Regional Supreme award and scored in the National Top 100 at House of the Year.

Below right: Harrison Lane directors Scott Munro & Laura Daly with Nigel Owen of Altus Window Systems at the Master Builders Regional House of the Year awards.

Today, Laura is Harrison Lane's managing director, and Scott is the construction manager, heading the building team, which now numbers over ten. The company has its own designers, builders, and specialist earthworks team, constructing bespoke country homes, equestrian complexes, arenas, and barns.

"As joint owners, the two of us are far stronger together," says Laura. "We've now done over 100 projects in 10 years, and many are repeat clients – we do one build for someone, then another and another. Many of our early clients get us in to do renovations, sell their property; then we build them another house on their new farm.”

Two important keys to their success in creating unique

Opposite page - top: A modern Whitford country home received Gold at the House of the Year awards and scored in the Top 100 nationally awards. Below The stunning award-winning Karaka country home.

country homes and buildings exist. Laura and Scott oversee every project, right down to the finest details.

"We stay involved the whole way through, from the introduction right down to every tap, every tile, every touch-up."

The process means clients get a custom project with people who know and care about every detail.

"It's a very enjoyable process, rather than dealing with a salesperson whose motivation is to sell a design, then a rotation of contractors and subcontractors who might be working on a range of other houses simultaneously."

The other key to providing clients with a unique home is creating a relationship based on trust and honesty.

"For us, it's about keeping people informed of the real journey, not telling them what they want to hear. We can always come up with solutions for something that might at first look like it's going to cost a fortune.

"We've also built value into our processes, like having our own architectural designer in-house, our own earthwork machinery, a tight team of builders. It's that total project management that gives clients good value for money."

Laura and Scott also understand first-hand the stress homeowners face when building. Both have built their own homes – Scott is onto house number three – which means they also

benefit from hindsight.

"We can talk to you about our lessons from each project, the things we would do differently. We know how much a building costs, so we can offer guidance and still create something very personal, practical, functional, safe, timeless."

The best part of the job is working with people to make a project a pleasant experience.

"I really love working with people," says Laura. "I so enjoy getting to know them and forming relationships. We want it to be a fun journey. If you see our number come up on your phone, we want you to be happy to take that call." n

WE WANT IT TO BE A FUN JOURNEY. IF YOU SEE OUR NUMBER COME UP ON YOUR PHONE, WE WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY TO TAKE THAT CALL.

Above: A beautiful example of Harrison Lane’s Ascot stable design completed in 2019

Above: A dream equestrian lifestyle property project. Harrison Lane worked closely with clients to develop their blank canvas by designing the property layout and constructing riding tracks, ebb & flow arena, barn and a beautiful country home with integrated stables.

LUXURY, LIFESTYLE & EQUESTRIAN CONSTRUCTION

Design, build and develop your rural or lifestyle property with Harrison Lane, for a seamless construction experience.

www.harrisonlane.co.nz

IT IS A MATTER OF OPINION - THE ROUND UP!

As we move into a new year, it's a good time to reflect on how we want to be perceived and what values are important to us as equestrians and as people. How we treat each other and how we give – either to our families, our sport or our friends. How do we contribute to the relationships essential to the organisations we rely on to provide opportunities for us and to us? One thing that presents itself as a real opportunity is the role of transparency. How transparent should an organisation be?

WORDS - A Musing

What is in the public's interest? What is just business that needs to be transacted sensitively and carefully?

Over the years, there have been many instances where the sport has not been entirely transparent when people behave contrary to the rules and values it upholds. It's a tough decision to publicly release the name of someone who has breached rules – even if they did so knowing full well what the consequences might be. But doing so limits the inevitable speculation when the notorious grapevine tries to figure out the situation without the facts. This can be more dangerous than the truth - scuttlebutt becomes fact in a very short time!

In the past few years, ESNZ has sometimes published the judgements of judicial hearings on its website. These are a bit hard to find, but they are there (if you have a day to search), providing some credibility that the organisation takes these issues seriously and is not afraid to uphold the rules and regulations everyone expects to abide by. The Judicial Committee decides whether the names and details should be published.

Just before Christmas, on the 21 th (sic) December 2022, when no one was taking any notice, a news item appeared in the ESNZ news section that a Judicial committee had presided over a positive equine doping case in New Zealand show jumping – a horse had tested positive for Bute. But no name or event was listed, which got people talking. The release said the person responsible had accepted the penalty of two months suspension dated from 5 th November 2022 – which was essentially over by 21 st December. It doesn't take Einstein to figure out that the event likely took place on 5 th November 2022 and that it probably wasn't an FEI class because if so, it would not have been handled by a New Zealand judiciary.

The event that would have attracted testing on 5 th November was most likely a Waikato Premier show. Now what has happened is people speculating and trying to figure out who it was – honestly, you could probably figure it out if you had an ounce of Sherlock Holmes and enough hours of your life you'll never get back. In the interests of the sport and out of respect for our equine partners, the names of people who compete using banned or controlled substances should be published. ESNZ should change the General Regs anti-doping rules to reflect this, thereby giving judicial committees no option. Continuing the theme of transparency – shall we re-ignite the perennial subject of Rachel Hughes/Shiree/Stock/Holm, or something or other – too many names to remember.

Rachel was found guilty of fraud in the Papakura District Court. Earlier that year, ESNZ had taken her to a judicial hearing after she left Australia with a trail of unpaid accounts. She was issued an official warning after finally paying the bills.

We get a lot of feedback that ESNZ should have sanctioned Rachel, cancelled her membership or ensured she would not represent NZ again as a Paralympic or dressage rider (and we do not disagree with all those who have written in). Now we hear she's back competing and lined up for an NZL team rider position at the World Dressage Challenge.

This issue will not go away. ESNZ will field the calls and emails about this and cop the criticism for Rachel's previous offending for as long as she continues to ride. It takes some arrogance and lack of remorse by Rachel to continue turning up at Dressage and Para-equestrian competitions when she has allegedly ripped off people she competes alongside. For the background story, just Google Rachel Hughes on Stuff NZ.

Another hot topic this year for the FEI officials in NZ jumping is the addition of a new FEI rule that allows the President of the Ground Jury or their nominee – in their sole discretion – to eliminate any combination during their round if the ground jury member believes it would be contrary to the welfare of the horse to continue. And there is no right to protest or appeal; the decision is final. Now that does not sound like natural justice at work, but hey-ho. Remember, this is just for classes run under FEI rules.

FEI Dressage already has a rule where the judge can eliminate the horse at "C" if they believe it is lame, and there is no right of protest or appeal. While one cannot disagree with the intent of the new rule - horse welfare is of paramount importance – it begs the question about our horsemanship if, as riders, we cannot tell our horse is as lame as a cat (funny saying that - never met a lame cat) when we ride into an arena.

Because, let's face it, it's going to have to be significantly lame or under the weather for a judge to pull out the bell and eliminate it.

On to the final topic for this month's issue – the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS).

The RAS, as we have come to know it, is a regal institution borne out of the halcyon days of a dominant agricultural sector where the rural gentry ruled the social hierarchy and turned up in town in their tweed jackets to enjoy a bit of horsing about and show off their prize heifers or a few pimped and preened chooks, pigs and sheep.

The equestrian section of the RAS is a peculiar beast, and the RAS has long drawn on the resources of ESNZ and NZ Pony Club to do the legwork on safety procedures, equine welfare initiatives and programmes. It's not all one way. Without the 90-odd RAS Agricultural & Pastoral shows around the country, jumping, in particular, would miss more than half the opportunities for members to compete. The RAS wins financially as the rider entries prop up A&P shows, and the ESNZ and Pony Club communities benefit from having opportunities to jump and compete at all levels from 40cm upwards. The kids with a halfdecent little pony can compete in jumping and Show Hunter, hunter classes both flat and over jumps, flat showing classes and rider/equitation events.

The showing community has long been fraught with difficulty - personal disputes and judging scandals, judges thrown out of the sport, internal fighting and people, including some executive members, not always behaving with the sport's best interests at heart.

So it is with intrigue that we report to you on the extensive review conducted in 2021 into the relevance and the future of the RAS and how it might position itself going forward. The review, led by a highly reputable firm and funded (partially at least) by MPI, resulted in some changes.

IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, ESNZ HAS SOMETIMES PUBLISHED THE JUDGEMENTS OF JUDICIAL HEARINGS ON ITS WEBSITE. THESE ARE A BIT HARD TO FIND, BUT THEY ARE THERE (IF YOU HAVE A DAY TO SEARCH), PROVIDING SOME CREDIBILITY THAT THE ORGANISATION TAKES THESE ISSUES SERIOUSLY AND IS NOT AFRAID TO UPHOLD THE RULES AND REGULATIONS EVERYONE EXPECTS TO ABIDE BY.

The CEO and the President apparently left the building. In February 2022, the Executive - probably with some helpannounced the appointment of the competent Phil Holden. Although Phil has some history, he has held CEO positions at the Coffee Connection, NZ Rugby League, Greyhound Racing, NZ Shearing Contractors and Breadcraft.

Most intriguingly, Phil was (and still is) the Chair of Cycling NZ through a challenging time, most notably (not judging, just saying) through the first "independent review" and set of recommendations, whereby nothing changed. That was followed by the dreadful, most horrific time of the treatment of highperformance cyclist Olivia Podmore, which resulted in her allegedly taking her own life. Then a second review – by the poor QC, who may have thought he had already done this job, and it seems like no one listened.

Phil's appointment as RAS CEO was announced on 1st February 2022. It was stated that he would work part-time alongside his role with the Shearing Contractors Assn and that he held governance roles with Cycling NZ, Kaiaka Wool Industry Training NZ and as an independent Director of Harness Racing NZ. He wrote a very engaging column on the website on 5 th April 2022, and then, randomly, nothing until 22 nd April 2022 when his name popped up again - at the Tractor and Machinery Association, where he has become the CEO.

How can someone who has worked with sports and rural-based entities in challenging times stay with RAS for such a short period? He must have been seen as an angel sent from heaven. We wonder if he thought something was rotten in the state of Denmark –figuratively speaking, of course – and galloped for the innate sensibility of tractors and machinery.

Enquiries have discovered that no one is at the helm of the RAS; the Executive is handling the CEO role for now. We wish the RAS all the very best, but in the interests of transparency and integrity, please sort this out and get the show on the road, as they say!

Happy days, a couple of months, and we will be on the south side of the Horse of the Year; what fun, drama and fabulous shopping. See you there!

COOPER ALLAN SOPHIA LADIES BREECH

These full seat breeches, are super stretchy and comfortable. They have two back pockets and faux leather piping on the pockets on the front and back. Black. Sizes: 8-18. $99.99. See the extensive range here: www.saddlerywarehouse.co.nz

S Our hopping guide

THE EQUILUME STABLE LIGHT is the newest innovation in lighting technology that replicates the benefits of nature’s environmental lighting for the stabled horse, providing blue light by day and restful red light at night. It strengthens your horse’s internal body rhythms and ensures they get maximum value from their nutrition, training and management so that they perform at their best. To give your horse the competitive edge, visit www.equilume.com

DUBLIN TOPAZ METALLIC HELMET

Lightweighted helmet with multiple air vents for airflow to keep you cool and comfortable. Modern matt finish with carbon look sides. Quick release buckle and adjustable sizing dial for the perfect fit.

Approved to ASTFM F1163-04A standards. Available in navy metallic, pink metallic & teal metallic in x small/small to medium/large. RRP $149.99. www.dublinclothing.co.nz

MAXIA BALANCE combines vitamins and minerals in their most bio-available form to deliver a balanced formulation of micro-nutrients essential for your horse’s good health.

See the full range herewww.seahorsesupplements.co.nz

FAGER JULIA LOOSE RING

This double-jointed mouthpiece creates space for the tongue and relieves it from constant pressure. The roller reaches further down than the joints. This increases the point pressure on the tongue if your horse pulls or is heavy in your hand, not consistently. With a sweet iron and copper taste, this bit is accepted even by very picky and sensitive horses. It increases acceptance and steady contact. $175.00. www.southridgeequine.co.nz

WEATHERBEETA

SUMMER SHEET LITE

STRETCH HOODED

COMBO features a strong and lightweight 190g outer shell with 60% cotton for natural breathability, 90% UV protection and an attached hood for all-over protection. With a stretch panel in the hood and an elastic insert at the wither for additional comfort when grazing. Available in white/navy/red in 3’9 to 5’9. RRP $139.99. www.weatherbeeta.co.nz

CARR & DAY & MARTIN DREAM

COAT - Outshine the competition with Dream Coat, the ultimate high gloss finish. The unique non-slip formula highlights muscle definition and can be used on the saddle patch, leaving no grease or residue. Spray Dream Coat onto manes and tails prior to plaiting for a high shine finish. Size: 500ML. RRP: $45.50.

CARR & DAY & MARTIN MANE & TAIL - Canter Mail and Tail Conditioner is never equalled in its ability to keep the mane and tail sleek, tangle-free, and luxuriously soft. This long-lasting conditioner makes grooming quick and easy, and reduces hair breakage all while leaving an immaculate, oil free shine. It is a world-wide favourite for a reason! Size: 500ML. RRP: $45.50

Both these wonderful products are available from all good retailers or check and you can see the range here: www.arionefv.co.nz

Horses aren’t fond of pastes, and you probably aren’t either. Now there’s a much easier way - treat your horse’s gastric ulcers with in-feed Equestra. Available from your veterinarian and you can see more information on the website: www.troylab.com.au

EQUILUME LIGHT MASKS are a mobile lighting solutions that allow your horse to receive optimum daylight hours whether they are kept outdoors, indoors or on the road to competition.

The extended day length delivered as soft blue light keeps your horse in peak summer condition with a sleek summer coat, beautiful topline, summer mood and much more! More useful information can be found here: www.equilume.com

EQUESTRA EQUINE OMEPRAZOLE for Gastric Ulcers.

Elegant

CAVALLO LINUS JUMP CROSS NATURE

Made of hard wearing water-repellent, greasy nubuk leather. These boots are perfect for hunting or any outdoor adventure you and your horse want to try. Available in black, brown, hazel and deep olive.

RRP $680.00

www.classicequestrian.co.nz

NANO-E® is a revolutionary naturalsource vitamin E supplement for horses. Nano-E is research proven to be six times more bioavailable than synthetic vitamin E and three times more bioavailable than other natural vitamin E sources. This allows for rapid absorption for peak antioxidant protection to aid immune, cardiovascular, circulatory, neuromuscular, and reproductive functions in horses. For more information take a look at the full range here: www.ker.com

The MB101 FLUSH STABLE BIN is a must have. It’s indestructible plastic and rolled external lip keeps the bin from catching feed in any unwanted crevices. It takes a 38L capacity. Check out the full stable equipment range at www.magnum.co.nz.

The EQUIFIT IMPACTEQ HALF PAD offers the greatest level of comfort & protection of any saddle pad on the market thanks to its ImpacTeq foam construction. It reduces shock & distributes pressure points for both horse & rider and rcovers to the original shape after each use.

www.maddoxequestrian.co.nz

Essential

CAVALLINO TRAVEL BOOTS

The Cavallino Travel Boots are designed with superior protection at front of mind. Features include: 3 wide Velcro straps for quick and easy application, a 1200D waterresistant shell, and PVC heel protectors. Not only are these boots excellent value but co-ordinate with the other products in the Cavallino Range to provide a complete outfit for your horse! Size: Pony, Cob, Hack. RRP: $200.00. available from all good retailers or check and you can see the range here: www.arionefv.co.nz

KORSTEEL EQUALISE RELEASE STIRRUP IRON

They are made from high-quality aluminium metal and assist in maintaining the ideal foot and leg position while riding. Features a safety mechanism which is opened by the foot in the case of a fall and allows the foot to easily ease out of the stirrup in that instance. Available in gunmetal black, blue/silver and silver in 4.75” RRP $359.99.

Available at Equestrian Connection storeswww.equestrianconnection.co.nz

WOOF WEAR BRIDLE NUMBER HOLDER

This 3-digit bridle number holder is made of leather-looking and tough waterproof material and secured using a hook & loop. The folding numbers are easy to change. Available in black. RRP $34.90 at all good retailers. www.zilco.co.nz

ZILCO JUMPING BLOCK

Sturdy, durable high-density plastic block, ideal for home training. Measures 30cm x 30cm x 14cm. The light weight of 1.3 kg. RRP $52.90. Available at all good retailers.

www.zilco.co.nz

ME

& THE BRAVE - DON

A special occasion wide-brim hat and an ode to one of the greatest. In early 2020, Founder Tania Eves spent lockdown caring for her terminally ill Grandad, Don. Inspired by the hats Don used to wear whilst courting Tania’s Nana Pat, this beautiful wide-brim hat was designed by the two just before Don passed. The special occasion hat to be adored and cherished forever. Designed in New Zealand. $149.00 www.fivepercentbrands.co.nz

Stylish

JO & JOE NAUTICAL LOAFERS

Available in a wide range of fabulous colours, the ‘Nautical’ loafer is smart, stylish and sophisticated, super comfortable, easy to wear and made with 100% real leather. RRP $80.00. www.loafshoes.co.nz

Essential

EQ-3 ™ Athletic demands often dictate that performance horses are fed diets consisting primarily of hay and concentrate, a scenario that skews the critical ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 ratio in the diet. To correct this imbalance, choose EO-3™, a research-proven source of marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids. As a direct dietary source of key long-chain omega-3s, EO-3 offers superior, direct supplementation when compared to plant-based sources such as linseed.

For more information take a look at the full range here: www.ker.com

DEVELOPING AN UP HILL HORSE with Christine Weal

Conformationally speaking, some horses are better able to carry themselves in an uphill balance than others. All horses do naturally carry around two-thirds of their weight on the forehand. Still, there are always ways that you can improve your horse’s way of going, regardless. Just as there are plenty of horses that aren’t conformationally able to work in uphill balance, there are just as many horses with uphill conformation working on the forehand. Correct training and good riding make the most significant difference at the end of the day. Here are some exercises you can incorporate into your training to help all horses gain strength, balance and self-carriage.

OUR TRAINER:

Christine has represented New Zealand numerous times and twice been National Advanced Level champion. She has either won or placed in the NZ Young Dressage Horse Championship whenever she has had a horse compete; has trained multiple Grand Prix level riders, national champions, international representatives; and has invested in her professional coaching and riding skills by spending ten New Zealand winters obtaining international experience and knowledge. Her philosophy is: “Performance focussed training that meets the rider’s goals for achievement. Enabling a harmonious and fun partnership for horse and rider that brings out all available talent from the horse.”

OUR RIDER & HORSE:

Ashleigh Kendall, rides PSL Jahzara (Ruby), an eight-year-old 17.2hh Warmblood mare. Ashleigh, who has competed through to Prix St Georges, started Ruby under saddle. The pair currently compete at Medium level and have begun working on the more advanced movements. They have goals of continuing through to the FEI levels in the not too distant future

MAKE TRANSITIONS YOUR FRIEND

Transitions ridden correctly are a game changer when it comes to improving strength, overall paces and uphill balance. There are various ways to ride them in training. Direct up and down transitions, for example, walk - trot - walk – canter, are one way, but you can also ask for transitions within the gait.

TRANSITIONS IN THE LATERAL WORK

Exercises such as leg-yield, shoulder-in, travers, or even half-pass riding forward into medium and back to collected are great places to start. You can ride these exercises anywhere in the arena. They are a great way to improve uphill balance, refine the half-halt, and have your horse listening and on your aids.

To introduce this work, you can start with leg-yield. Come across the diagonal and ask the horse forward in leg-yield before asking for a few smaller strides and then going forward again. Once you get better at it, you should be able to ask the horse forward and back a few times across the diagonal. Do remember, however, in the beginning, and when the horse is still weak, you only need to ask the horse to come back for a few strides before riding forward. Please don’t stay in collected trot or canter for too long, as this makes the exercise too hard for the horse.

When you have mastered leg-yield, you can move on to shoulderin, travers and half-pass in the same exercise. Remember, too, that you can make full transitions or mix them up within the gait. Ride the exercise in trot sometimes, sometimes canter, and make full transitions as well as within the gait. Keep the work interesting so your horse is thinking and attentive.

Another exercise you can ride to lift the forehand is to pick up the trot and go large around the arena. On the long side, make a walk transition and ride a walk pirouette before riding straight into trot and repeating on the long side. If you want to mix it up, you can ride a turn on the forehand for something different. Be creative in your work!

Building a medium trot, bringing the horse back to a small trot while keeping the hind legs active and stepping under before returning to medium, is a fantastic exercise. It doesn’t stop there, though. Asking for direct transitions or transitions within the gait in your lateral work is yet another way to develop carrying power, adjustability, suppleness and strength.

Transitions are the glue that holds the dressage horse's performance together, and that's why every dressage test contains so many!

A good upward transition should feel like it’s being “pushed” from the horse’s hindquarters, instead of “pulled” from the front.

These transitions also refine the half-halt, which in turn helps the horse balance, sit and push up to the bridle. Correctly ridden transitions are the best way to improve overall paces and develop collection. They are valuable, and every rider at every level should focus on riding good transitions every time.

The small trot, keeping the hind legs active and stepping under

COUNTER CANTER

When your horse is working in a good balance, and you have adjustability forward and back in the canter on the circle and straight lines, it is an excellent time to begin training counter-canter. Not only is counter-canter a movement in tests (the beginning stages come in at Novice level where the tests require a 10m loop), but it is also a helpful training exercise and helps the horse and rider in various ways. Some areas of note are: suppling, obedience to aids, straightening, strengthening and, of course, it helps the horse improve balance which is essential in creating carrying power for uphill self-carriage. It is also an important step before teaching flying changes.

When first introducing counter-canter, make it easy for the horse with a five-metre loop off the track, then as the horse becomes more comfortable and understands the exercise, increase the loop to 10 metres. You can also ride true canter down the long side, make a ten or 12-metre circle, return to the track, and continue straight for a few strides before coming back into the trot.

As your horse becomes stronger, you can ask the horse to keep the counter-canter around the corners. At first, the horse may become unbalanced and break, but keep your legs on and build the time in counter-canter. In the beginning, resist the urge to overdo it, as you will make the horse tired and unmotivated to keep trying. Build up their strength and keep them happy.

Once your horse is established in the counter-canter, you can do various exercises to improve balance and strength. Making transitions in counter-canter is a great way of doing this. At Medium level, the tests require walk transitions from the countercanter, which is hard if you can’t collect and adjust your horse within the counter-canter. Adjustability in the counter-canter is a super way to help create balance and strength, so it is essential to get it right.

Aids for counter canter on the right rein are:

n Left leg on the girth for bend and impulsion

n Right leg behind the girth to control the hindquarters

n Left rein to indicate direction and bend

n Right rein to control the pace and degree of bend – it has a balancing effect

n The rider should sit centrally, but put more weight on the seat bone of the leading leg side, although you may find you need to move the hip forward on the leading side if your horse finds it difficult.

GIVE AND TAKE THE REIN

Always think of riding the horse into your light hand, not pulling the head in. When you do this, you let them stay light in front and give the hind legs somewhere to go. If you are too focused on the front, you usually pull them onto the forehand and get very little in training.

Let your horse have the opportunity to find their own balance by giving the rein forward a few strides and taking it back. This can be particularly useful if the horse leans on the bit. Although we are often told to soften the rein when the horse softens, some horses need us to give the rein so they can let go themselves.

Giving the rein forward a few strides and taking it back allows you to see how they are carrying themselves and ensure you maintain soft contact. Don’t make the mistake of holding onto your horse. You miss out on the chance to teach them to be light. It might not be great, to begin with, but they only learn by doing, so let them do it. This is a great way to find harmony in the partnership too.

Young and novice horses will find working in self-carriage very difficult and may only achieve it for a few strides. As you both move up the levels, the degree of self-carriage your horse will achieve should improve as he develops his strength, balance, and ability to carry more of his weight on his hind legs.”

USE YOUR CIRCLES

Small circles and even leg-yielding in and out of the circle are great ways to encourage the hind legs to step underneath, so the horse stays balanced on the small circle.

When you move out onto the bigger circle, try to keep the jump you created on the small circle, then ride in again and repeat. You can ride this in trot and canter, and you can even add some lateral work to it too. Riding renvers on the circle is a fantastic way to encourage the hind legs to step under!

THE AIDS

Your horse should continue to work forwards, in a good rhythm and showing a clear uniform bend along his body around the circle. The smaller the circle, the more bend the horse must show.

n Your inside leg on the girth keeps the impulsion, develops the engagement of the inside hind leg, and asks for bend.

10m circle

n Your outside leg slightly behind the girth prevents the hindquarters from escaping to the outside of the circle and generates some forward movement

n Your inside hand asks for some bend through the horse’s neck

n Your outside hand controls the pace and prevents too much neck bend, which would allow the horse to drift out through his shoulder

20m circle

n Keep your hips and shoulders parallel with your horse’s shoulders, keep your body upright, and look ahead of you around the circle

For the horse to develop a more uphill tendency, the rider needs to be well balanced with good core stability and elasticity with an independent seat, legs and hands and all tension-free.”

- Keep the training interesting, so lots of short, quick exercises keep the horse listening and engaged. Don’t get stuck trotting around in circles wracking up miles and getting nothing done.

IN CONCLUSION

Vary the training by incorporating some hill work in a paddock. The easiest way to incorporate hill work into your dressage training regimen is to take your horse out hacking. Although many dressage riders may find hacking tedious, your horse will appreciate the change of scenery that the ride provides. Also, riding out in the countryside or even a paddock can help to desensitise spooky horses, which is very important for dressage shows.

Your job is to choose the pace you’re moving at and regulate the tempo of the rhythm. Concentrate on using half-halts to ride your horse from behind into the bridle as if you were about to make a transition. If the horse speeds up or jogs, ride a downward transition and rebalance him before continuing. Remember to have fun and reward your horse with a good stretch and a pat! n

Start in the middle of at the 10m circle and travel out to the 20m circle.

HOW TO PULL YOUR HORSE’S MANE NEATLY!

Mane-pulling removes individual hairs of the mane from the root to thin and shorten it. This is done for the horse’s professional presentation and to maintain a manageable thickness and length for a neat presentation in codes that do not plait and for neat plaits, should that be the desired look. The best time to pull your horse’s mane is after exercise while the hair follicle is open. This is because the hair is already loose and more comfortable for him if he’s sensitive.

THE TOOLS OF TRADE:

Before you begin have the right tools for pulling your horse’s mane.

• Narrow metal comb.

• Stool to stand on.

• Twitch (optional).

• Gloves (optional).

• Hand clippers and scissors for trimming the bridle path and wither areas.

Working along the length of the mane, grab the bottom of a section of mane with your left hand and hold the ends firmly. If the mane has hairs of multiple lengths and your goal is shortening, try to focus your grip on the longest hairs. Gently but firmly stretch the length of mane you grabbed towards you.

With one hand, use the comb to backcomb most of the mane upwards until you are holding just a few strands with your other hand. If you are new to pulling manes I recommend you only pull a few strands at a time. Once you become proficient with pulling, you can increase this quantity.

Wrap the few hairs you are still clinging to around your index finger, and then give it a sharp tug downwards. Whilst doing this, you should support the crest with your other hand. If the hairs don’t come out, or your horse shows discomfort, you probably attempted to pull too many hairs at once.

Once the entire mane is pulled to the desired length, you must complete the process by tidying up any long strands left behind. The finished look should never have a scissored appearance.

The above tips, combined with experience, patience and a practised eye, will allow you to start pulling a horse’s mane with absolute accuracy and ease.

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TOP TIP:

DO’S

Ensure your horse’s mane is not tangled by combing it thoroughly to ensure consistency; the mane must be lying down flat and evenly.

Take your time; mane pulling should not be finished in one session. It’s a slow and steady process and requires patience. Your horse may become fidgety or uncomfortable if you attempt to pull the entire mane in one session.

Consider using a glove if you want to protect your hand without resorting to a pulling comb. We recommend purchasing a pack of disposable rubber gloves. They will give you the protection you need without hindering your flexibility and skill.

Find ways to minimise fidgeting. Hanging a hay bag near his head is a great way to distract your horse. Another good trick is to position your horse against a wall to tie-up in cross-ties, so he doesn’t have room to sway back and forth.

DON’TS

Don’t pull a mane when your horse is cold. The cold tightens pores, while warmth opens them up. So to minimise pain and discomfort, it is advised to pull a horse’s mane after a decent exercise session because the hair will provide the least resistance.

Do not wash the mane! You don’t want to be trying to pull a sleek and slippery mane. You want the bit of “grip” afforded by dust, sweat and oils.

If your horse has a thin mane, pulling is not advisable to control length; just trim lightly with scissors.

Working methodically in small sections is the best way to pull a mane. If you try to speed things up by grabbing large tufts of hair, you’ll bother and possibly agitate the horse.

The best time to pull your horse’s mane is after exercise while the hair follicle is open. This is because the hair is already loose and more comfortable for him if he’s sensitive.

HEAT STRESS

Equestrians everywhere are celebrating the arrival of summer, with longer days and warmer weather allowing us to get out there and do more of what we love. However, the heat that comes with the summer months can have extremely harmful effects for our equine friends. Hot and humid weather can cause heat stress in horses, a condition that should not be taken lightly. If left untreated, heat stress can lead to a whole host of other horrors.

Like all mammals and birds, horses are homeotherms, meaning their core temperature sits within a relatively narrow range: between 37.2 and 38.5 degrees Celsius. The thermoregulatory system is responsible for maintaining this core temperature and allows them to live within a wide range of different environmental conditions, from the -40-degree lows in Canada and Russia to the 50-degree highs in Northern Australia.

Heat stress occurs when the heat load on the horse’s body exceeds the capacity of the thermoregulatory system to dissipate heat. Although it is commonly seen in horses during exercise, it is important to be aware that horses can suffer from heat stress without any activity.

WHAT DOES HEAT STRESS LOOK LIKE?

The symptoms of heat stress may vary between individual horses. However, there are a number of classic signs and symptoms to look out for.

Read on to find out more >>

OUR EXPERT:

Dr Hannah Bowen

BVSc CertAVP (Equine medicine) RCVS

Hannah qualified in 2004 and worked as an equine veterinarian in the United Kingdom and Australia before settling in New Zealand, where she now works with a wide variety of equines and their humans at Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre. She enjoys all aspects of equine clinical practice but is particularly interested in equine medicine and dentistry. When not caring for her patients, she enjoys keeping active and hanging out with her family and their expanding menagerie!

“Heat stress and heat stroke are equine emergencies that are most commonly observed in the summer months when the temperature and humidity outside are at their highest.”

WORDS - Elise Cacace

Stage 1

Behavioural changes such as irritability and agitation can indicate that a horse is suffering from heat stress. Sometimes mistaken for signs of colic or fly worry, these behaviours include kicking, twitching, stamping and a reluctance to stand still.

Heat stress impacts the horse’s neurological system and coping mechanisms, which often leads to reduced thirst and appetite. The horse’s skin may also feel dry to the touch and have a surface temperature higher than 39 degrees Celsius. This can be tested using an infrared thermometer.

Horses in work will resist performing at the level they are ordinarily comfortable at and may even refuse to keep exercising. Their heart and respiratory rate will also increase dramatically, and the horse might take longer to recover from a period of exercise.

Stage 2

A drastic increase in body temperature will start to compromise and damage cell function in the horse, leading to gastrointestinal issues. This includes reduced urine and faecal output, where urine will appear darker in colour and pass in smaller streams.

Horses suffering from heat stress can become highly aggressive, making the colic-like signs appear more severe. Changes to neurological function can cause incoordination, extreme agitation and kicking out. The horse may become unsafe to be around.

Another presentation of heat stress includes the horse becoming depressed and quiet and their eyes appearing glazed over.

Stage 3

Severe symptoms of heat stress include rhabdomyolysis or ‘tying up’, where abnormal alterations occur within the horse’s muscles. The horse may appear to have a strange hind-limb gait or be uncomfortable moving.

If things progress further, the horse may begin showing signs of organ failure, which can eventually lead to convulsions, seizures and a comatose state. If left untreated, this can be fatal.

HORSES MORE AT RISK

Despite what many may think, endurance and high-performance horses are not necessarily more at risk of heat stress as they are acclimatised to working in specific conditions. However, some horses are more sensitive to heat than others.

Horses whose thermoregulatory mechanisms are compromised by other health issues are at increased risk of heat stress. Conditions such as Cushing’s disease, heart disease and respiratory disease reduce the ability of the horse to compensate for an increased body temperature. Unfit and overweight horses, or those not used to hot and humid conditions, will also be more at risk, as well as horses who have been recently transported or are receiving certain medications. If you are concerned about your horse’s well-being, you should discuss this with your veterinarian.

PREVENTING HEAT STRESS

Thankfully, there are many ways to prevent heat stress in horses. Owners of working horses should ensure that their horse is fit for the exercise they are performing and accustomed to the climate they are

performing in. Carefully monitoring the horse’s condition before, during and after exercise in hot and humid conditions helps prevent or immediately identify heat stress. Also, avoid excessive warmups in hot weather and utilise the shade as much as possible.

Being mindful of your environment is also really important. Horses that have travelled across the country or have moved from one set of environmental conditions to another may be at risk, as well as horses being exercised on those hot, early spring days when they still have their winter coats. Studies have shown that a horse needs an average of three weeks to acclimatise to a new set of environmental conditions.

Ensuring your horse has access to fresh food, water, and perhaps a salt lick before and after exercise is also essential in preventing heat stress, as well getting your horse used to drinking during outings. Some horses are a bit fussy, so bringing water from home and their favourite bucket might help!

Avoiding travel on the same day as competition in the warmer months may also prevent heat stress. This is because the horse may have already had a period of heat stress or be sweaty or slightly dehydrated before beginning work. Transporting in the cooler times of the day and allowing a period of rest and acclimatisation is best.

Horse’s that are suffering from heat exhaustion can demonstrate levels of aggression.

Other preventative methods include a routine check-up before the warmer weather kicks in, especially if it coincides with your busy riding time of year, to ensure your horse’s heart and lungs are functioning as they should and that there are no underlying conditions.

TREATMENT

If all preventative methods fail and you think your horse might be overheating, call a vet immediately! The symptoms and consequences of heat stress can be severe.

Once the vet is on the way, you will need to start actively cooling your horse. Be aware. The behaviour of a horse affected by heat stress can change dramatically due to the different processes happening in the body. Human safety is also essential.

COOL IT ALL DOWN!

A step-by-step guide to cooling an overheating horse down efficiently:

Step 1: Remove all tack and covers

Step 2: Get your horse into a shady, well-ventilated area with fresh water available and keep them still. Studies have shown that horses prefer drinking water of about 20 degrees – the temperature of running hose water. Allow the horse to eat if they would like.

Step 3: Constantly apply cold water to the horse’s body. The best temperature for the water is between 6-12 degrees; however, water colder than body temperature will do. Scrape off the water as it warms, and repeat. If you have limited water, focus on the lower limbs, the lower half of the neck and the inside of the thighs where the blood vessels are visible.

Step 4: If it is safe, apply cold packs or crushed ice over the horse’s jugular groove on the under part of the neck. You can apply the ice by either carefully bandaging it or holding it in place. This helps drop the temperature of the blood reaching the brain and has a protective effect. You can also use a fan to help cool the horse.

Step 5: Keep your horse in a well-ventilated area, and allow a period of rest and recovery before exercising again

A veterinarian will be able to assess the horse’s condition and administer any additional fluid therapy, especially if the horse isn’t drinking much. Sometimes medications such as sedatives, anti-inflammatories and electrolyte supplements are needed to alleviate symptoms. The vet will also monitor the horse for signs of organ failure and may take blood samples to test hydration levels.

WHEN IS IT TOO HOT TO RIDE?

Basically, it comes down to acclimatisation. Horses that are used to living and exercising in a hot climate will be able to cope with the higher temperatures better than horses that are not used to it. If we feel uncomfortable and hot, then it is sensible to assume that our horses will feel uncomfortable and hot. The best advice is to avoid exercising in the heat of the day and to utilise shaded areas when riding in warm weather.

EXTRA CARE IN SUMMER

Even horses that aren’t being worked need to be monitored for signs of heat stress. Horses obtain heat directly from the sun, and this heat is significant in climates where the sun is as intense as ours. Horses kept outdoors during the summer months need constant access to fresh water, salt and shade. If your paddock has limited or no shade areas, perhaps set up a sprinkler in the hottest times of the day as an alternative cooling area.

A light, white cotton summer rug can also be used to block the heat absorbed by solar radiation; however, summer covers make a horse’s ability to cool down through evaporating sweat less effective. Horses that may benefit from a summer rug include those with sensitive areas of non-pigmented skin or dark-coloured coats. Any horse wearing a summer cover must be checked frequently for signs of sweating and overheating. n

Always have water on hand at events, even if it means lugging a bucket to ringside; remember to take a halter, as some horses are reluctant to drink with a bit in their mouth.

A good rule of thumb is, if you are hot, so is your horse. Walk him around and if he does not cool off quickly remove all of his tack, and get him to a shaded area.

COMPETITIVE THE EDGE

WORDS - Ashleigh Kendall

It is easy in equestrian sports to see the same people enjoying success time after time and wonder why that seems easy to them - especially if you are struggling to get top placings despite all the hard work and time you put into your training and care. Some people will put it down to talent alone, and others will credit having money or good horses. However, the truth is that even without these advantages, you can still maintain a competitive edge. Successful people commonly share similar success-oriented attributes and belief systems that enable them to compete at their very best time and time again.

While talent and money can undoubtedly give a great start in the sport, the truth is that being competitive and advancing in sport comes down to far more. It is not enough anymore to rely solely on these factors. There are plenty of talented horses in New Zealand now, but you still need to ride and produce them well enough to do them justice. Likewise, many riders at the top of the sport, both in New Zealand and internationally, didn’t begin their lives looking like they were born on a horse. They got there through sheer grit, determination and hard work. Here are some ingredients for success that top sportspeople have in common.

THE

- WALT DISNEY

WHAT MAKES A WINNER?

PASSION

With passion, it is easier to put in the hours and make the progress you need to go to the top. You will need loads of passion and willpower to excel in your sport and get through the tough times and the good.

HARD WORK AND GRIT

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work. To be the best athlete you can be, you will need all the grit you can possibly have to push yourself and get down to work, especially when times are challenging.

DISCIPLINE

Motivation is fickle, and it isn’t always going to be there. When it’s absent, you will need to rely on discipline to push you through. You need the drive to succeed that doesn’t rely on others pushing you and to be prepared to work even when you don’t feel like it. You won’t get very far if you wait to rely on motivation to help you in sports.

DIFFERENCE IN WINNING AND LOSING IS MOST OFTEN, NOT QUITTING.

CONSISTENCY

Consistency falls under the same umbrella as discipline. When you have discipline and are consistent, progress comes on in bounds. Consistency is far superior to intensity.

GOALS

Set your goals and use them to guide you in the direction you want to go. Sometimes you will need to readjust them, and that is totally fine. The main thing is to have them and keep working towards them.

FOCUS

Focus on yourself and your horse, stay on your path and don’t get distracted by what others are doing. Stick to what you know works for you, and avoid going into the warm-up at the show and becoming distracted by others.

COMMITMENT

Stay committed to the dream. On the days when it is hard, show up anyway and when you have had success, celebrate your win and then get back to it.

KEEP COOL

Many riders struggle with the pressure of competing, which keeps them out of the ring. Avoiding competition won’t help, so try and lean in, reframe your mind from focusing on the pressure and instead focus on what you will learn in the ring and how you can use the opportunity for growth. Above all, keep focused on your horse and ride every step. You don’t have to be a champion from day one, but a champion mindset requires you to keep trying no matter what.

ATTITUDE

How well do you bounce back? A good positive attitude is essential for success. Learning and picking yourself up on tough days determines how well you will come back next time. It isn’t always going to go to plan, even for the top riders.

A SUPPORT NETWORK

Having a team around you can make the most significant difference to your success as a rider; it takes a village to get to the big shows. Build those people up with you, express gratitude for their input and nurture them as much as they do you.

CONFIDENCE

Confidence comes not only from wins but how you handle losses. Knowing you can handle anything builds an unflappable belief in yourself. Build your confidence by often setting yourself up for success and pushing yourself, too.

WATCH OTHERS

Any time you can, take the time to watch others train and compete. It is amazing what you can learn in these sessions. Try to see what makes them different to the rest and what their winning edge is made of.

ADVICE FROM MADISON SCHOLLUM

Despite Madison Schollum’s young age - she is just 22 - she has been climbing the dressage ranks and has experience beyond her years. Her most significant achievements include winning the Young Rider Champion at New Zealand Young Rider Championships in 2022 and, most recently, the National Small Tour Champion with her elegant mare Kinnordy Golda. Madi is based with Team Williamson at Waitekauri Farm, where she enjoys her job as a groom and rider.

PRESSURE AND EXPECTATIONS

If I am at a show and I feel I’m doing really well, I try not to get my hopes up or get too excited or focused on the result because, with horses, things can change at any time. I go out to do my job well, but I find it important to be able to zone out from results. This helps me take the pressure off myself and not let it affect Golda. Riding in the moment, I think about myself and the job I have to do. I try not to focus on what other people have done. If I watch a test and see that another rider has made a mistake, I can pressure myself not to do the same thing, so I like to go in not knowing how others have gone.

NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER GIVE IN, AND WHEN THE UPPER HAND IS OURS, MAY WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO HANDLE THE WIN WITH THE DIGNITY THAT WE ABSORBED THE LOSS.

- DOUG WILLIAMS -

PREPARATION IS CRITICAL

You can be more relaxed, cool, calm and collected at a show if you have prepared well beforehand. At the end of the day, you can’t drastically change things on the day or even in the week of a show. Generally, in the lead-up to a show, I will only school Golda a couple of times and focus on keeping her happy and fresh.

LISTEN TO YOUR HORSE

It is essential to stay focused and calm. Golda motivates me to do well because I want to show the best work I know we are both capable of. I want to try my best so Golda can have the spotlight she deserves. Seeing our improvements at each show motivates me on a daily basis to continue developing our training together.

STAYING POSITIVE

I find it really important to stay positive and recognise what went well, not just focus on the negatives. I like to find ways to fix what didn’t go so well so I can change it next time. This helps me keep a positive mindset, so I go into my next test in a good headspace. There are always things to improve on; that applies to every rider.

PAY ATTENTION TO BASICS

You know you can do the movements, but sometimes you need to go back to the basics because they underly everything, and that’s often where you lose marks in a test.

HARMONY

I think it is crucial that you enjoy each other as a combination. It really is a beautiful thing and makes any success so much more special. You see so many videos of the fancy top riders, like Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, really loving her horse behind the scenes, and then when you see them in the ring, it’s so special to watch. That mare works for her because she loves her job and trusts what her rider is telling her. I think you have to love your horse and what you do every day, otherwise it would be a very hard sport.

CONFIDENCE

I have had to work quite hard on gaining confidence. Like most riders, I don’t always believe in myself, and I sometimes doubt my abilities. I have developed my confidence by doing exercises and tests more and more. It is essential to back yourself with a team and a great trainer who can support you and give you confidence when you have self-doubt.

DISCIPLINE

We (Team Williamson) are very good at making plans. A couple of weeks before the show, I will make a plan, working back from the show. I figure out what she needs and what I will do each day in the lead-up and stick to that. I am pretty disciplined because I know when I have prepared for the show by creating a schedule, I am setting us up to feel and perform our best. This makes me so much more confident going into it. It goes back to wanting to do well for my horse.

Wendi is very much the same. We schedule what we do riding-wise and what we need to achieve in the lead-up to the show. Over winter, we relax a little more, but we have set things we need to work on and improve, so we write those down and give ourselves a target time. Over COVID, we sat down with Wendi and had some goal-setting sessions; this was extremely beneficial and gave us all something to work towards while nothing was on.

I think it is so good to be surrounded by disciplined people. It’s special to be part of such a great team. It makes riding really fun and exciting, and helping each other makes it more enjoyable on the days you might need more motivation.akes you enjoy it more on days you might not be so motivated.

TAKING TIME OUT

Time out is essential. We mix it up with days of hacking and playing in the paddocks as well as our training sessions. I do try to have Sundays away from the horses to do “normal” people things! When horses are your job, it is easy to spend every day with them. It’s important to have some time away to stay fresh and focused.

Madison Schollum and Kinnordy Golda, Level 7 Champion at Bates National Dressage Championships.

Image - Libby Law Photography

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THE FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS