Show Circuit Magazine - June / July 24

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1200 WINTER RUG SET

WELCOME

What an off-season we are enjoying through our international riders! I hope you are enjoying the coverage on our Facebook page.

Badminton Horse Trials delivered a spectacular result for Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier - from finishing last in 2023 to winning in 2024 - what a transformation! I might have awoken my neighbours with my scream of delight. Before that, we had the FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Riyadh, where Melissa and Windermere J'Obei W had us beaming with pride. Placing in a Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 73.807%, they have achieved 29th rank in the latest FEI Dressage World rankings - and on a horse bred outside of Europe!

Then, Wendi Williamson and Don Vito took Sydney by storm, clinching all three FEI Grand Prix classes at the CDI3* at Sydney CDI in impressive fashion. This combination is certainly one to watch as they solidify their partnership. Looking ahead, we have Burghley coming up, followed by the Paris Olympics. There's so much to stay up all night for!

In this issue, our cover story celetrates two riders from the Manawatu region who are part of the Police Force and share a passion for everything equine.

We've also featured some fascinating dressage riders. Firstly, Susan Tomlin, who started at Pony Club, developed a passion for eventing and landed firmly with a love for dressage. Her story is truly inspiring.

Then there's Sarah Baker, whose passion for riding is equalled only by her love of landscapes, which she brings to life on canvas. Her art depicts the essence of our natural landscapes in a modern interpretation. I love it.

Henrike Puketapu, originally from Germany, now calls New Zealand home after falling in love with the country during her OE. Choosing New Zealand over Germany for this sport is a big call, but it is paying off. After starting in eventing, she has also developed a passion for dressage.

Anna Wilson, who juggles three part-time jobs and studies alongside her drive to succeed in dressage, exemplifies the diversity we often see. The common denominator is a love of horses!

Jesse Linton has long been on our radar for an interview. He has an exceptional talent for bringing on young horses, and we catch up with him following his move to Ohaupo Equestrian Centre.

Based in Hawkes Bay with Mana Stables, Luke Dee has embarked on an exciting and ambitious plan to take his show-jumping career to the top level. With a partnership sharing his total commitment to the process and the purchase of a superstar horse in the making, Luke's journey will be one to watch.

We hope you enjoy our informative features. Also, check out the event coverage on our social media platforms.

Happy riding!

Sheryll Davies - Publisher

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Pip Hume editor@showcircuit.c o.nz

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Sheryll Davies

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y Ashleigh Kendall

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NZ Equine Photography

Rebecca Greaves

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ABOUT US

© SHOWCIRCUIT Magazine 2024 All rights reserved. FROM MY DESK COVER IMAGE: Tegan harvey and HALLUCINATE Image -Denise Flay Photography

Show Circuit is a digital magazine that 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. All images are covered by international copyright laws. Do not download or screenshoot them!

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One of the highlights of this property is the presence of two distinct dwellings. Firstly, a charming three-bedroom cottage adorned with mature gardens offers a cozy retreat. Secondly, an impressive four-bedroom family home, perched elegantly on elevated terrain, captures breathtaking views of the Maraekakaho Plains, distant ranges, and surrounding farmland. Constructed with finesse in 2012, this residence showcases exquisite polished concrete floors, an inviting open fire, and strategic positioning to maximize the picturesque landscape. The landscaped grounds further enhance the allure of this picturesque abode.

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By Negotiation

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luke.dee@bayleys.co.nz

EASTERN

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EASTERN

Boundary lines are indicative only

On the beat

WORDS - Rebecca Greaves

IMAGES - © Denise Flay Photography

Mounted police are a novelty in New Zealand these days, but two Manawatu police officers are on a mission to bring horses in blue back to the public at special events in their region, starting with the Central Districts Field Days in March.

Community engagement is important to Tegan Harvey and Casey Boyce, and both women say horses have a magical way of breaking down barriers with the public and helping increase police presence in the community.

Police have previously attended Central Districts Field Days on horseback, but Covid put a halt to that, and it’s been four years since Casey last took her horse to the event. When event organisers approached local police about the possibility of bringing horses back this year, Tegan and Casey’s names were put forward.

Based out of Palmerston North, Casey, 36, is a tactical dog operator in the Police, while Tegan, 28, is a frontline constable in the public safety team. Both women had careers before joining the Police, Casey as an animal welfare inspector for the SPCA and Tegan as a dog handler for New Zealand Customs.

“We all know each other pretty well, and it’s common knowledge amongst the team that we ride horses, so they asked if we were keen,”

Casey and ZEPHYR OF SILVERTREES (L) along with Tegan and HALLUCINATE (R).

OUR JOB CAN BE HARD, AND IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE A RELEASE. HAVING HORSES IS THE PERFECT RELEASE FOR ME. THEY ARE NOT THERE TO JUDGE.

Tegan explains. “It is pretty unusual to see police on horses.”

Both women compete their horses, having owned them for years, and felt they would cope with the environment at such a large event and were keen to be part of the field days.

Tegan’s hidden talent with a sewing machine meant she was able to whip up some outfits for the horses, who looked the part and rose to the occasion. “I sewed all through school and kept my machines, which get dragged out. When I was in Customs, I made high-vis dog coats to stop people patting the dogs during Covid because we weren’t sure if dogs could carry Covid at that point. I chopped up a whole lot of human high-vis jackets and made 20 dog coats. For the horses, I chopped up old police uniforms and bought parts, like ears, which I embellished with the coat of arms. We got the saddle blankets done by an embroiderer.”

The strategy was to take the horses in before the public arrived to give them a chance to absorb the atmosphere with the tents and flags. As the people slowly started to filter in, the horses didn’t seem to notice.

The horses were incredibly popular with the public. “The biggest thing that stuck out for me is often people only see the Police if something bad has happened. It’s nice for people to see the Police in a different light and see that we are approachable,” Tegan says. “I think it’s important to show a different side of the Police that people don’t normally see, especially in the city.”

Casey says the horses break the ice and provide a catalyst to start a conversation with people. “They come over and are really interested, asking questions like what the horse’s names are or how old they are. Policing rurally, most people know your name and will come over for a chat. In the city, we often go from job to job, always responding. This was a great opportunity to engage with people and interact with the community.”

Casey’s horse, Zephyr of Silvertrees (Zep), is an eight-yearold pinto by Gambler. “He’s always been a pretty chilled

left: While their primary focus is on police work, Tegan and HALLUCINATE, along with Casey and ZEPHYR OF SILVERTREES, also enjoy riding together at home from time to time. This shared activity not only strengthens their bond but also enhances their teamwork and coordination in the field. Their dedication to both their professional duties and their passion for riding reflects their commitment to maintaining a strong, cohesive partnership both on and off duty.

Right-hand page: Horses run in the family for Tegan. In this picture is the talented Rebecca Harvey (née Diederich), who won the Olympic Cup at the Horse of the Year Show in 1992 and 1993 on Waihoki, a horse named after the valley where they farmed.

sort of dude. He first went to CD Field Days as a four-year-old, six months after being broken in. He does dressage and a little bit of everything. It was on my bucket list to have a pinto. John Devery broke him in, and we ran into him at Field Days, which was cool.”

Tegan’s horse Hallucinate (Doris) is a rising eight-year-old bush pony originally bought by her sister, Tamsin, to be her shepherd’s hack. “We have no idea her breeding. She came from Rotorua as a two-year-old, but she was a bit forward, and Tamsin realised she wasn’t the horse for her.”

Doris was sitting at their parents’ place in Mangatainoka doing nothing. Having sold her own two jumpers to fund the purchase of her first home in Auckland, Tegan decided to take Doris over, breaking her in and then taking her back to Auckland. “She’s small in stature but big in attitude and personality.”

Doris has show jumped to 1m and dabbled in eventing and the pleasure ring. “My main goal in life is having fun. I like to fill my day at a show, so I usually have a go at as much different stuff as I can.”

Casey says the Police have been very supportive and encouraging of them using the horses. Their Area Commander visited the Field Days and saw first-hand how well received the horses were.

Above

Buoyed by their success at Field Days, they hope to take the horses to future events, such as ANZAC and Christmas parades. Having mounted police at HOY could be an option, and riding around beach hot spots at New Year’s Eve is another possibility.

“It’s about building trust and confidence with the community, and we’re keen to do it because we saw how well-received it was. The horses will only get better and better the more they do. We have more events in the pipeline, but we want to take it slowly and ensure the horses can cope,” Casey says. “It was fun; we enjoyed it, so we hope to do more.”

CASEY’S STORY

Growing up in town, Casey always dreamed of having a pony, but her mum wasn’t too keen on the idea. Determined, she never gave up on her dream and learned to ride as an adult.

“Like any small girl, I was always fascinated by horses and determined to ride. I spent a lot of weekends at my uncle’s farm in Alfredton, which I preferred to town. The more space, the better. When I got a job and moved out of home, I took matters into my own hands. I’m stubborn! I started riding when I was 22, so it was 22 years of persisting,” she laughs.

Casey is grateful to Greer Murrie for allowing her to ride Buddy, her semi-retired off-the-track Thoroughbred schoolmaster, who taught her the basics and got her started on her riding journey.

Now, she trains under the watchful eye of Julie Pearson. “I am exceptionally grateful for her support and

IT’S ABOUT BUILDING TRUST AND CONFIDENCE WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND WE’RE KEEN TO DO IT BECAUSE WE SAW HOW WELL-RECEIVED IT WAS. THE HORSES WILL ONLY GET BETTER AND BETTER THE MORE THEY DO.

I ENJOY TRAINING AND SEEING MY TRAINING RESULT IN THEM BEING ABLE TO ACHIEVE.

TRAINING A DOG TO TRACK AND THEN

SEEING IT TRACK

SUCCESSFULLY

IS REWARDING, AND THE SAME GOES FOR HORSES. IT’S GOOD FOR THE SOUL.

Horses and police work go hand in hand for this dedicated duo. They thoroughly enjoyed being a part of Central Districts Field Days, where they witnessed firsthand how horses can break down barriers and foster positive interactions with the public. They believe that the presence of horses helps bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community, creating an atmosphere of trust and openness. Photos above and below left: New Zealand Police

knowledge. It’s made me a better rider and Zep happier in his work.”

Before joining the police, Casey worked as an animal welfare inspector at the SPCA, undertaking uplifts and prosecutions. The Police offered better career progression, so she made the switch. She has been in the Police for nearly eight years now.

“I did my first six years in rural policing in Tararua. It was a community vibe. I enjoyed that and felt I could make a difference doing that sort of policing. I did the courses and fostering dogs with the hope of transitioning into being a dog handler one day – I like dealing with animals.”

She likens the challenge of working with dogs to working with horses. “I enjoy training and seeing my training result in them being able to achieve. Training a dog to track and then seeing it track successfully is rewarding, and the same goes for horses. It’s good for the soul.”

For Casey, horses are her happy place. “The fact they are such

WHEN I GOT A JOB AND MOVED OUT OF HOME, I TOOK MATTERS INTO MY OWN HANDS.

I'M STUBBORN! I STARTED RIDING WHEN I WAS 22, SO IT WAS 22 YEARS OF PERSISTING.

LIKE ANY SMALL GIRL, I WAS ALWAYS FASCINATED BY HORSES AND DETERMINED TO RIDE. I SPENT A LOT OF WEEKENDS AT MY UNCLE'S FARM IN ALFREDTON, WHICH I PREFERRED TO TOWN.

“Everyone remembers Waihoki winning HOY, but she had a lot of success with two other World Cup horses, Quest and Inflation. I still see people at shows who remember Mum from riding. Apparently, I look like her with a helmet on, and that sparks a lot of conversations. I love chatting with people who are friends of Mum’s from back in her jumping days.

“People say she had an unreal eye and natural affinity with horses. She didn’t grow up with money; every horse she had, she either started or turned someone else’s problem into a success. She is a very naturally talented horsewoman, and I am in awe of what she achieved.”

Tegan admits she found it hard when she started riding, feeling like she had a big name to live up to. But her mum never put any pressure on her or her sister to ride. “The fact is, she didn’t care if we jumped a World Cup or didn’t ride at all; she was just happy if we were happy; that took a lot of pressure off. You’d think with two sporty parents you’d have sporty kids – not true! I tried rugby very momentarily to keep Dad happy, but that didn’t work out,” she laughs.

Tegan rode from day dot, and there was no money for ready-made ponies. With Rebecca’s knowledge, she would break them in and get them going for Tegan to take over and compete. “We would turn them over to make money and fund the next one. Mum was always big on us trying everything - we did local sports, A&P shows, Pony Club - a real variety. I had a nice hack I show jumped up to 1.20m.”

When Tegan finished school, she went to university and then moved to Auckland to work for the New Zealand Customs Service as a detector dog handler with labrador Willow, whom she trained to sniff drugs, cash, and firearms.

“It was a massive help having trained horses. Training an animal is so rewarding; having done that with horses, it felt

natural to take a dog and train her. You understand the highs and lows of working with an animal – they can make you feel on top of the world one minute and at the bottom of the heap the next. I had some great successes with Willow, and I attribute that to my background with the horses.”

During her almost six years in Customs, she always had horses with her in Auckland and spent some time living and training with eventer Monica Spencer. “I’m very grateful for that; she’s an amazingly talented rider and transformed my riding, particularly on the flat. She made me see that the more you learn, the more you realise you don’t know.”

Tegan enjoys working in law enforcement and the fact that every day is different. Willow was due to retire, and she felt it was time for a new challenge, believing the Police was the next step up in her career. “I had worked alongside the Police doing search warrants in Auckland and got a taste of what the Police dog handlers were doing.”

GIVEN MY MUM, I GUESS IT WAS ONLY NATURAL THAT WE WOULD INHERIT THAT LOVE FOR HORSES AND RIDING – NOT THAT I INHERITED HER ABILITY, BUT DEFINITELY HER PASSION FOR IT.

Working in Customs limits where you can live, and Tegan was keen to move closer to home and nearer to friends and family, which was the big draw for Palmerston North. Willow came too and is living her best retired pet life. “She’s overweight and unfit, and she loves it. She’s happy.”

As well as Doris, Tegan has an exciting three-year-old Hanoverian, Everton Nui Z (Nui), by Lux Z, out of a Hold Up Premier mare, who she has broken in and is just starting to teach to jump. Nui was bred by Julie and Darryl Butson, with whom she became friends while living in Auckland.

“I was looking for a young horse to break in and carry on with. I was grazing at their place, and I’d known Nui since he was a foal. When they offered me the opportunity to buy him, I jumped at it. I’d always really rated him. Mum has had many talented horses in her time, and even she said she doesn’t know if she’s ever been this excited about a young horse. Coming from her, that’s big.

“We absolutely love him; he’s part of the family. This season, he will do some low-level showing, and eventually some working hunter, and then show jumping. I would love to go back and do the Amateur series again; that was fun. Those are long-term goals.”

Horses provide a welcome respite from what can be a tough job. “Our job can be hard, and it’s so important to have a release. Having horses is the perfect release for me. They are not there to judge.” C

A NEW

challenge

WORDS -Rebecca Greaves IMAGES - © Christine Cornege Photography

Having garnered a reputation as an exceptional producer of young jumpers, Jesse Linton has taken the next step in his career with a move to Cambridge, bringing with him an exciting team of promising young horses.

For accomplished show jumper Jesse Linton, moving his life to Cambridge, where he is leasing a 10-horse barn out of the Ohaupo Equestrian Centre, opens up opportunities to take his career with horses to the next level. They say as one door closes, another opens, and while ending the chapter on 28 years in Hawke’s Bay was bittersweet, Jesse is excited about the future, with a central base allowing ready access to training, facilities, and shows for his team.

While he loved his time in Hawke’s Bay, particularly paying tribute to Greg and Kim Best, with whom he has been based for the past 10 years, he felt it was time to make a bold move in hopes of giving his horses the best chance to succeed in the sport.

He’s also keen to keep some of his starry young horses and take them through to the top level. While the reality of the sport usually means everything is for sale, and he gets his kicks from producing young horses, Jesse says the goal for the next five to ten years is to have some horses competing at a higher level.

“It would be cool to have a horse good enough to take overseas and jump in some big classes. Everyone’s dream is the Olympics. It’s not mad in my head - if you’ve got the horse, why not? Maybe I’m in a position now to find a solution to keeping those good horses, whether via syndication or something else.”

In the immediate future, he’s focused on the team of

lovely young horses he has to work with.

“They’re really nice, and I need to do the best job for them. I respect them and want to give them the best chance possible.”

Currently, Jesse has five horses in Cambridge. He owns just one young horse himself, having sold his other good horse, Beau Balou, to Australia. The rest of the 12 or 13 horses in his care (he’s not even sure exactly how many horses he has—it’s a lot!) are turned out at the Best’s property and will join him in September. They’re all aged between three and seven years old.

Jesse’s owners in Hawke’s Bay have supported and backed the move. “Owner Angela Miller said, ‘Take the horses and have a go’. I have one of hers here now, and she’ll keep sending horses up. The owners understand why I wanted to make the move and are staying with me.

“I’m looking forward to something different. The past 10 years have been great, but it was time to leave Hawke’s Bay and take on a new challenge. It’s a massive horse hub up here, central to good shows and facilities all around us.”

It was a difficult decision, and he credits the Bests with shaping the past 10 years of his riding. But with the Bests down-sizing and selling most of their horses, the timing felt right, and the stars aligned when the chance came up to lease a barn from Ohaupo Equestrian Centre owner Trudi Mitchell.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. THE PAST 10 YEARS HAVE BEEN GREAT, BUT IT WAS TIME TO LEAVE HAWKE'S BAY AND TAKE ON A NEW CHALLENGE. IT'S A MASSIVE HORSE HUB UP HERE, CENTRAL TO GOOD SHOWS AND FACILITIES ALL AROUND US.

Above right: Jesse riding Angela Miller’s EVEREST MH, seen here winning the Five-Year-Old Championship at the Young Horse Show.

Jesse believes that six-year-old chestnut mare GRENADINE MH, by CORNET OBOLENSKY and out of a GROSVENOR mare, has the potential to reach the top in show jumping. Owned by Angela Miller.

Below right: Jesse highly rates rising seven-year-old ICARUS NZPH, by UP TO YOU out of a MR BLUE mare, whom he co-owns with Belinda Buchanan.

Lower-right-hand page: Jesse and COPYRIGHT MH, also owned by Angela Miller (pictured) and bred by Judith Matthews of Matthews Hanoverians. By CORNET OBOLENSKY and out of a GROSVENOR mare, Jesse and COPYRIGHT MH won the Five-Year-Old final at Takapoto in February.

“Trudi had a barn available, and I came up here for four days before Takapoto with seven horses, and I loved it. We chatted, and I thought about it; everything just fell into place. It felt like the right time to make the move.”

Leasing the paddocks and barn from Trudi, Jesse has access to outstanding facilities right on his back doorstep, which include an indoor arena, grass arena, and cross-country course. “Trudi is making constant improvements to the property and it should get better and better. We need passionate people in the sport to keep it going forward. Trudi does all this by herself - it’s a big task.” A big draw north was the access to

training, with the likes of dressage star Vanessa Way, who has just been to Ohaupo for three days, and Colin and Toni McIntosh, who run a regular jump club out of the facility.

“We’re surrounded by good training here, which you need if you want to succeed. Toni and Colin are amazing people in the sport; they are full-steam and passionate. They’re always working, non-stop, and they want to make the sport better. We’re lucky to have them.”

Mikayla Plaw at Takapoto has been supportive of Jesse’s move and he’s excited to have the Plaw family’s worldclass facility just down the road. “We’re lucky to have people like that in the

THEY’RE REALLY NICE, AND I NEED TO DO THE BEST JOB FOR THEM. I RESPECT THEM AND WANT TO GIVE THEM THE BEST CHANCE POSSIBLE.

old Icarus NZPH by Up to You out of a Mr Blue mare, who he co-owns with Belinda Buchanan. Purchased by Belinda as a four-year-old, the combination was second in the Six-YearOld of the Year at HOY and won the Five-Year-Old title at the Young Horse Show.

“He’s talented, and I think he’s one for the top. He’s big, scopey, and brave and is one I would potentially like to keep. He’s an exciting horse for the future; I think he’s the real deal.”

He has a lovely five-year-old, Copyright MH, owned by Angela Miller and bred by Judith Matthews of Matthews Hanoverians. By Cornet Oblensky, out of a Grosvenor mare, Jesse and Copyright MH won the Five-Year-Old final at Takapoto in February.

“I also have her sister, six-year-old Grenadine MH. There are three very nice horses out of that mare; the other was at HOY, eventing.”

Angela also owns Graffiene MH (by Graf Top), a relation to the well-performed Graffiti MH, which she sadly lost. “I’ve got Ange back riding again with Graffiene. She’s only five but she’s really sweet and kind. Being related to Graffiti, it’s quite sentimental for Ange, and it’s nice to see her back riding.”

Angela met Jesse through Melody Matheson, who rode horses for her, notably the standout mare Graffiti MH. When Mel went offshore, it left a massive hole for Angela.

“It was really lovely to have someone like Jesse who slotted in because it’s not just the horses; it’s looking after me too –it’s a package deal - you are in the family,” she laughs. “What I have come to appreciate now is how professional Jesse is. I

sport, who want others to succeed.”

The dreams are there, but Jesse is a realist about the sport, and the need to sell horses.

“Angela is keen to keep a couple but, to be honest, they’re all for sale. That’s the game for us. I’m now at the stage of my life where, ideally, I would like to keep one. I’m not a horse salesperson; I’m far too honest, but I enjoy producing them and getting them going for other people. I only have young horses in work right now, but the plan is to carry on with a few horses to go to the top if they’re good enough.”

Of the current bunch, Jesse highly rates rising seven-year-

Jesse’s dogs, George and Harry, are never far from him when he completes feed-up at Ohaupo Equestrian Centre.

Right below: Jesse riding EVEREST MH, seen here after winning the Five-Year-Old Style Championship at the Young Horse Show. Pictured with owner Angela Miller.

I ONLY HAVE YOUNG HORSES IN WORK RIGHT NOW, BUT THE PLAN IS TO CARRY ON WITH A FEW HORSES TO GO TO THE TOP IF THEY’RE GOOD ENOUGH.

Jesse is also producing two horses for Jill Morrison. Both are out of her superb mare, FRANGIPANNE DE TOXANDRI.

Above: ELTON, by ES DIAMANT B and below right: BERNIE, by CANDYMAN GNZ . Both horses are yet to be officially named.

can turn up at any time, and the horses are always beautifully turned out, and so is he, even just at home. When he comes here, gear is always wiped down and cleaned before it’s put away. He updates me all the time, like a photo hacking out, so I feel included every step of the way.”

Angela says Jesse runs a good business and is a real talent with young horses. “True horse people know horsemanshipthat’s him.”

Jesse believes that the breeding industry in New Zealand is going from strength to strength. “The horses are getting better bred, and nicer. Judith Matthews has a few more up north that she and Angela own, which will come down to me. I’m very lucky. Judith has a huge knowledge of breeding horses and has conquered all three disciplines with top horses. Having someone like her is amazing. A lot of time and effort has been put into breeding those horses and she starts them well. They’re very well educated before I even get on them.”

For Angela, the buzz is in seeing the horses out doing well. She hated competing herself but loves everything else. She hopes they can keep some good horses for Jesse to take up the levels. “I enjoy supporting young riders if I can see a partnership, and someone who will benefit. It’s not just about producing

horses; it’s also about producing the riders to ride them. Judith is a lovely person who likes to give people opportunities and help where she can. We try to do right by her and treasure what she has done by giving them the chance to be the best horses they can.”

Jesse also has three young horses from the Morrison family. Bred by Jill Morrison, two are embryo transfers from top mare Frangipani de Toxandria, and while they are only young, Jesse says they are very nice.

“I keep in contact with Sam (Morrison) too, and she’s been supportive of me taking the horses at my own pace and has confidence in me to do a good job, which is nice.”

Karen McCann is another owner who has been with Jesse for four years; she owns eight-year-old Goldfinch NZPH. He also trained her daughter, Jess, who often travelled to shows with Jesse. Jesse helped them produce Kabo Fortune Cookie, who went on to win Pony of the Year with Molly Smith at HOY this year.

Horses of this quality don’t fall in your lap by accident and the faith put in him by breeders and owners is the result of years of hard work and horsemanship. Jesse pinpoints moving to the Best’s farm as a turning point.

“Having Kim and Greg on my doorstep for the past 10

TRUDI HAD A BARN AVAILABLE, AND I CAME UP HERE FOR FOUR DAYS BEFORE TAKAPOTO WITH SEVEN HORSES, AND I LOVED IT. WE CHATTED, AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT; EVERYTHING JUST FELL INTO PLACE. IT FELT LIKE THE RIGHT TIME TO MAKE THE MOVE.

years - you can’t even put a price on that. I have worked hard – sometimes I take nine horses to a show – and I think people notice that and think, ‘Maybe I’ll give him a shot.”

The proof is in the pudding, and Jesse has amassed more Young Horse Show titles than anyone else. He takes the horses slowly and rides a lot of show hunter with the young horses, believing it can be more beneficial than show jumping in Ring 3.

“The best thing about show hunter is the nice straight lines and nice striding to give the horse the best chance to jump, and there’s fill, which is perfect. I have found that when producing horses, it’s better to get them going well enough at home to go straight to Ring 2, where there’s fill and liverpools.

“The horses now are worth a lot of money, and running them

costs a lot. Being able to come up here and take the next step in my career will, I think, be a game changer. I still find young horses extremely satisfying – give me a three-year-old any day. I enjoy the challenge of riding them each day and teaching them. Through having a facility like this, the horses will last longer, and maybe more options will open for me, which I hope will take me to the next step in my career.”

Jesse is 100% committed to horses, and the change of scene has provided him with extra motivation to go to work each day. “Having a facility like this gives you inspiration. I loved Hawke’s Bay, but this is a new chapter.”

Jesse is grateful to be sponsored by Georgie Dormer from The Rider Shop and Liam James Farrier. C

NEW ZEALAND

HOME Calling

WORDS - Ashleigh Kendall IMAGES - © Maria Gobbie Photography

Originally hailing from Hamburg, Germany, Henrike Puketapu embarked on a new journey and moved to New Zealand in 2005 after falling in love with the country on what was meant to be her OE.

The move from Germany to New Zealand opened a whole new world for Henrike Puketapu.

“I was born in Hamburg and enjoyed growing up in a place known for its worldliness - it has been an international port for centuries,” she reminisces.

“I have loved horses for as long as I can remember, inheriting my great love for all animals from my Dad. He rode when he was younger, but no one else is quite as passionate about horses as I am.”

While Henrike started to learn to ride when she was six at pony camp and had lessons through her teens, she didn’t have the opportunity to compete until she purchased a full-sized pony in her early 30s, when she had been in New Zealand for a few years. From then on, she began to compete in dressage, showing, show jumping and eventing.

Henrike feels fortunate to have trained with several top coaches over the past decade.

“My show jumping and eventing coaches have certainly had a huge influence on my riding in general, but since shifting my focus entirely to dressage, Brett Parbery and his Performance Riders programme, Phillip Oxenius and Amanda McPherson have been my three

constants on my journey,” she reflects.

Henrike broke into the dressage scene with the striking Alexander M, a Friesian gelding she acquired as a two-year-old and trained through to Grand Prix.

“Even though we weren’t the most competitive at Grand Prix, training him through the levels has taught me so much, and he has been incredibly generous and forgiving with the mistakes I made along the way,” she says. He has been a massive part of Henrike’s life for the past 13 years and now enjoys the undivided attention of a young rider.

“I’m so thrilled to watch their very own journey over the next few years.”

Henrique spends her days managing the boutique equine stud HSP Hanoverians she owns with her husband, Steven.

“I try to work all our competition horses every morning before attending to the daily chores and general farm maintenance as well as handling the young stock,” she explains.

Right: Henrike pictured with H SP SOE (left ) and HSP RAVEN (right).

THE ACCIDENT ACTUALLY HAPPENED TEN DAYS BEFORE OUR WEDDING, SO I GOT MARRIED IN A NECK BRACE!

Right: Henrike is pictured with her three dogs. Her 18-monthold brown poodle mix, Hazel, rules the house and has everyone wrapped around her little paws. Her Foxy-cross, Ivy, is a vigilant guard dog, ensuring no one enters the property without approval. Lastly, her long-haired Weimaraner, Titan, is a loyal companion who never leaves her side.

Currently, she has three horses in work.

HSP Soe is a 10-year-old mare by Spoerken out of a De Niro mare imported from Germany as a four-year-old. “We competed in Small Tour last season, and I am hopeful that one day soon, I’ll have the opportunity to compete her at Grand Prix. Soe has the nicest nature any mare could possibly have and is absolutely faultless in her manners and attitude. She is so snuggly and always willing to work,” she says.

Her second team member is HSP Raven by Rey du Sol, out of a Gribaldi mare imported from Germany as a twoyear-old. “Interestingly, her grandmother on her dam side is a full Arab,” she says. “While she wasn’t quite as easy in her temperament in the early days of her ridden career, she is maturing into a beautiful mare with a superb work ethic.” At only six years old, the pair had a very successful season at Advanced Medium, and she is another mare Henrike dreams of competing at Grand Prix in years to come.

The youngest in the team is Total Hit VP, by the legendary Totilas out of a Sandro Hit mare, bred by Sharon Brown.

“I got him as a two-year-old, and we connected right from the beginning. I have very much enjoyed the early

days, from starting him under saddle to his first outing at a local dressage day. My dreams for us are big, but as it is with horses, it is best to just take one day at a time.”

In addition to her ridden team, she has two homebred yearlings - HSP Swarovski’s Legacy by Swarovski out of an Anamour mare and a filly, HSP Fleur Belle, by Fuerst Bellissaro out of a Centavos mare.

Henrike likes to have a clear plan of what she is currently trying to achieve with each horse.

“Structure and following a plan are fundamental in developing a training path that suits both horse and rider. I try to stick to my plan as much as possible to avoid aimlessly riding around on a 20m circle,” she reflects. “I think you need attention to detail as much as intuition to be successful. You need to know what your horse needs from you as a rider and in their daily needs to reach the pinnacle of their ability.”

Henrike has had her fair share of injuries over the years, most notably breaking her neck and two vertebrae in 2016, followed by a severe concussion after being knocked unconscious for quite some time.

“The accident actually happened ten days before our wedding, so I got married in a neck brace! But like any typical horsey bride, nothing was going to stop me from having my photo taken with

Above: Henrike competing in the Small Tour Musical Freestyle on HSP SOE at the Land Rover Horse of the Year. Photos by NZ Equine photography.

Targeted Nutrition for World-Class Performance

For over 30 years Kentucky Equine Research has continually developed innovative solutions to the health and nutritional challenges inherent in modern equine management. The results of studies conducted at its research farms, as well as advances in equine nutrition from institutions around the world, are applied and thoroughly tested in the creation of KER products.

Proprietary ingredients and science-based solutions characterise KER Targeted Nutrition. Top equestrians worldwide in a variety of disciplines know they can rely on KER to fuel world-class performance.

STRUCTURE AND FOLLOWING A PLAN ARE FUNDAMENTAL IN DEVELOPING A TRAINING PATH THAT SUITS BOTH HORSE AND RIDER.

Henrike says her horses are more than just animals; they are cherished members of her family. “They mean absolutely everything to me,” she explains. “Their well-being and happiness are my top priorities, and the bond we share is incredibly special. They have been with me through many milestones and have brought so much joy and fulfilment to my life. I can’t imagine my days without their companionship and the sense of purpose they give me.”

my horses on our special day. It took me a while to feel more confident in the saddle again, but luckily, my wonderful Friesian has always been a very safe horse to ride and helped me a lot, riding through moments of anxiety. He was also the special horse I got to have in my ‘bride on a horse’ photo at our wedding!”

“There have been many moments where I have questioned my choices, but I always have a desire to do better and not give up,” she reflects. “I am very competitive, however, not at all costs. My horse’s mental and physical wellbeing always comes first. I don’t consider myself as doing anything particularly different from anyone else. Any athlete who wants to be as good as they can be needs to be willing to dedicate themselves 100% to their chosen sport and be willing to experience a lot of discomfort to grow and improve.”

For Henrike, success goes far deeper than winning

Henrike pictured with HSP SWAROVSKI’S LEGACY (left ) and TOTAL HIT VP (right)

I HAVE LOVED HORSES FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, INHERITING MY GREAT LOVE FOR ALL ANIMALS FROM MY DAD.

Henrike with HSP SOE (left) and HSP RAVEN (right).

Right: Henrike says competing at Horse of the Year is always such a thrill but given the last few years’ difficulties, this year felt extra special. Pictured here with HSP SOE. Photos by NZ Equine photography.

alone. “In equestrian sports, success can have so many different elements - from getting a halter on a foal to riding at your first show, learning a new movement, stepping up to a new height or level or achieving a new personal best. Not every successful moment will have a rosette, but if you enjoy riding your horse every step along the way of your individual journey and forming a solid partnership, then that is certainly a success. There is an element of becoming your own biggest fan and your own worst critic and then working on increasing your competence and confidence.”

Henrike hasn’t been short of moments at the top in terms of winning, taking home titles and championships in national show rings and dressage arenas. “Winning the Novice Gold title in 2022 at the Bates National Championship and National Riding Horse three years in a row are certainly up there in terms of memorable moments,” she reminisces. Henrike is proud to be supported in her journey by Equestrian Central, The Brave Pants Company, Harvest Grains, VetPro, East Coast Farm Vets and Allan Kellet Panel and Paint. C

Above: Henrike pictured with HSP SOE who has been a game changer for her riding career. She hopes that the future holds a start at Grand Prix for the pair.

Official Saddle of the United States Eventing Association

Official Partner of British Eventing

Official Saddle Partner of British Equestrian

Official Partner of the German Equestrian Federation (FN)

Official Jumping Saddle of US Equestrian

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CONDITIONING

STRATEGIES FOR AN UNDERWEIGHT HORSE

WORDS - Cheyenne Nicholson

Building weight and condition on a horse is like constructing a house; without a solid foundation, it can never reach its full potential. The same principle applies to horses: without proper feeding fundamentals, achieving a healthy, well-rounded animal is impossible. We consulted five experts in equine nutrition and health to learn how to build condition.

GRETEL WEBBER Equine Nutritionist at Dunstan Horse Feeds

OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS:

DR ALEX LEANDER Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre

VICTORIA WALL Elite Equine Performance Nutrition

LISA JONES Sales Manager & Nutrition Expert at Stance Equitec

STOWERS Equine Nutritionist at Vani

NIKITA

A poor diet and worm infestation in horses often result in weight loss, a dull coat, and a reduced appetite.

Before you can assess your horse’s diet and make improvements, owners must first rule out underlying conditions that might be preventing weight gain. Horses can lose condition for several reasons, including dental issues, gastric ulcers, worms, deficiencies, and other more severe health issues.

Nikita says a good starting point is to get blood tested, check faecal egg counts, and have your veterinarian assess the situation to rule out anything too nasty.

“Issues such as gastric ulcers often prevent a horse from gaining weight despite getting enough feed and calories. Once problems like these are resolved, you might find your horse gains weight more easily.”

A worm burden often presents in horses as a lack of ability to put on weight, a dull coat, reduced appetite and even mild colic. Make sure you are up to date with your worming programme. Faecal egg counts (FECs) are a useful tool to identify the type of worm and ensure you can treat it accordingly.

“Not all wormers work for all worms. FECs are a good tool for keeping on top of worms and enable¬¬ us to see if there may be a resistance issue there,” says Alex.

In addition to worming, sound management practices can help in the fight against worms. These include collecting droppings, low stocking rates, and paddock rotation.

“We all know the issues we are having with resistance, and as horse owners, we need to learn a lot about managing worms better,” adds Gretel.

TEETH

Uneven wear can cause hooks, waves and other malformations that inhibit chewing. Cracked, broken or infected teeth can be painful enough to prevent a horse from chewing his food properly. In addition to weight loss, signs that a horse is experiencing dental problems might include dropping partially chewed feed from the mouth, bad breath, fussiness with the bit and unchewed grains and bits of hay in the manure.

“If a horse has bad teeth and isn’t able to chew food properly, then they may have compromised starch digestion, which can lead to poor hind-gut health,” says Gretel.

Encysted small redworm symptoms are not always easy to detect and the larval stage can’t be identified by worm egg counts, as the encysted worms are immature and not producing eggs. Horses that are badly affected with an encysted redworm burden may look bloated or overweight due to the inflammation.

HINDGUT

Horses have a highly specialised large intestine (caecum and colon) commonly known as the hind-gut. This intestine is essential to the function of the horse’s overall digestive system and for bacterial content. When feed is processed in the digestive system, it is fermented and digested by bacteria in the hind-gut, providing the horse with energy, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

“This (hind-gut health) is one thing I do think is an issue. We always assume that the more calories that go in, the fatter the horse. In the past few years, it has become apparent that for some horses, that’s not the case, and that’s because the hindgut is becoming inefficient,” says Gretel.

The hind-gut is ultimately designed to digest fibre. To increase calories, grain feed is often increased, containing a high starch content, which the hind-gut can’t process. Excess starch creates an undesirable environment for the good bacteria that digest fibre.

Bots are flies which lay small yellow eggs on the horse’s coat. These eggs are then swallowed when the horse grooms, developing into red larvae in the stomach. The larvae can occasionally cause some inflammation in the mouth or stomach lining resulting in bleeding into the stomach but more often than not, do not cause any significant problems for the horse host.

“The microbial environment changes, so suddenly, fibre digestion becomes inefficient. If they have good hind-gut health, they produce their B vitamins. As soon we muck that up, it can lead to issues like colic, biotin deficiency, vitamin B1 deficiency, reduced fibre fermentation and even laminitis or other health issues.”

The key to maintaining a healthy hind-gut is ensuring a good population of beneficial bacteria by feeding plenty of forage like hay, haylage and pasture.

“Probiotics can sometimes help to encourage the good bacteria, but if you don’t have a good basic diet in place that is high in fibre, they won’t do much good.”

Often, the main culprit behind low bodyweight is a lack of calorie intake and proper feed management.

“Often, if someone has owned a horse for a long time and weight loss has happened over time, I’ll get owners to start weighing their feed. Nine times out of ten, they aren’t feeding them enough,” says Gretel. She adds, “It’s incredible how much they get out of grazing pasture and how well they can do on it if

Research-Proven Healthy Hindgut

For over 15 years, research-proven EquiShure® has been the go-to nutritional supplement for horses susceptible to hindgut acidosis, effectively stabilizing pH and reducing risk of associated health concerns.

EquiShure provides support for laminitis-prone horses grazing changing pastures, horses consuming high-carbohydrate diets, and horses with loose manure or unsettled behaviour. EquiShure helps counteract health concerns associated with hindgut acidosis, including increased sensitivity around the flanks, mild or recurrent colic, and weight loss due to inappetence or stress related to travel or training.

By stabilizing the hindgut pH with EquiShure, fibre-fermenting microbes thrive, feed and fibre utilisation improves, and the microbiome and epithelial lining of the hindgut are protected.

there is sufficient quantity and quality.”

Stress, pain, age, and other health issues can also impact horse condition. Something as simple as a change in location or adding a paddock mate can be enough to cause stress.

Deficiency of some minerals (like selenium) can also lead to weight loss. Some feeding practices can also adversely affect a healthy gut biome, resulting in a decrease in the production of vitamins like biotin and vitamin K.

“If owners find they have to supplement excessive amounts of a particular ingredient, then the base of the feeding regime should be re-assessed. A balanced diet is the first step to optimal gut health,” says Lisa.

SUDDEN AND RAPID WEIGHT LOSS IN HORSES IS NEVER NORMAL, AND YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CONTACT YOUR VET IMMEDIATELY. FOR SEVERELY UNDERWEIGHT HORSES, IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO CONSULT WITH YOUR VET FOR FEEDING RECOMMENDATIONS AND PRACTICES.

FEEDING FOR WEIGHT GAIN

Once you have ruled out other causes of weight loss - the horse is free from worms, its teeth are in good shape, and there are no underlying health issues - putting on weight is a simple matter of the horse consuming more calories and expending less. Energy comes from three primary sources: fibre, fat and protein. When a horse does not have enough calories or protein in its diet, the body will break down muscle tissue and deplete much of the adipose tissue or fat.

Before embarking on any changes to your current feed programme, Gretel suggests assessing the horse’s current diet to see where there are gaps and where changes can be made. Weighing out a horse’s current supplementary feed and carrying out a pasture analysis, randomly selecting 12 to 20 sites where horses have been grazing, and clipping a handful of forage at grazing height can be useful to get a baseline of current nutrition.

Adequate fibre is fundamentally essential for optimum digestive health as a horse’s system cannot function sufficiently without it.

Feeding little and often is sometimes the best way for an underweight horse

WHAT TO FEED

Adequate fibre is essential for optimum digestive health, as a horse’s system is designed to process feed constantly. Pasture is the main and most readily available source of fibre; however, it can vary greatly in quality and quantity throughout the year. When pasture is limited, a good supply of hay or haylage to supplement this shortfall is important.

Horses require a minimum of 1.5% of their body weight in fibre (on a dry matter basis). For a 500kg horse, this is equivalent to 7.5kg of fibre.

“This can be made up of pasture, hay and other forage sources but should always be met to ensure their gut is functioning properly. Before looking at hard feeds, make sure you are meeting their requirement for fibre and forage; after all, they are a grazing animal that requires constant access to food, unlike humans who are designed to eat meals,” says Nikita.

Some forage sources may be better than others for underweight horses. Clover and lucerne-based hays and forages are higher in calories and protein than other options, but the amount of fibre is critical.

“It’s not just fibre for gut health; you do get calories from hay, grass and other fibre sources (like beet). They are valuable calories that help maintain hind-gut health and keep the digestive system going. The only reason we feed other energy sources is that most fibres are not as calorie-dense as we need them to be for horses in work or horses who need extra weight,” says Gretel.

Super fibres are just that: they provide a more calorie-dense fibre option. Sugar beet pulp products, for example, contain a similar calorie level to some grains. As a fibre source, they

optimise equine digestive health and calorie intake.

Out in the paddock, it’s important to remember that horses can be picky eaters. In group situations, the hierarchy can mean that the horse at the bottom of the pecking order may get less nutritional value out of pasture than dominant horses.

“It’s easy to look at a paddock and go, ‘Yep, I’ve got plenty of grass’. If you look at it and analyse it, it’s often grasses horses don’t eat until they have to or the grass is in unpalatable areas. Educating yourself on pastures and management can be handy to get the most out of your paddocks,” says Alex.

Along with nutritional benefits, fibre also creates a ‘fibrous raft’ in the stomach, which can help prevent the acidic splash that comes with gastric ulcers, adds Alex.

HARD FEED

Once you are confident that you’ve met your horse’s forage requirements, you can start looking at ways of increasing the number of calories in your horse’s diet.

“This is primarily done through starch-based feeds (more commonly referred to as hard feed) and fat supplements. Try not to feed your horse too much starch in one meal. As a general rule, don’t exceed 1.5-2g starch per kg of body weight per meal. Again, for a 500kg horse, this would be no more than 750g-1000g of starch per meal,” says Nikita. “Some horses, such as those with laminitis, require even lower levels of starch,” she adds.

If you need help figuring this out for your horse, consult a feed professional or nutritionist.

Oils are just pure calories and are great for coat health and putting on condition. They can also contribute good omega depending on which oils are fed.

Horses have the ability to digest reasonable amounts of fat in their diets.

“Fat-based supplements and oils can make up to 15-20% of the horse’s diet, usually without any negative effects, provided they are introduced gradually. Oils are very energy/caloriedense, and in one cup of oil, there is roughly the same amount of calories as one regular scoop of hard feed, so it can be a good way of increasing calories without increasing their meal size too much.”

Oils are also more slow-release than starch and a ‘safe’ form of energy, so provide calories without the unwanted ‘fizzy’

Hay is essential for horses as it provides vital fibre for digestion and gut health. It promotes natural grazing behaviour and continuous chewing, which increases saliva production to buffer stomach acid and prevent ulcers. Hay also offers a steady source of energy and nutrients, supporting overall digestive function and reducing the risk of colic.

Fibre feeds are a steady energy supply that supports sustained activity levels, while the enhanced gut function helps prevent digestive disorders, ensuring the horse’s overall health and well-being.

Beet feeds provide valuable calories that support hindgut health and keep the digestive system functioning well. They are rich in easily digestible fibre, which promotes beneficial microbial activity in the hindgut.

behaviour that is sometimes seen with hard feeds.

When choosing oils, the omega profile should be considered. Pasture is typically high in omega-3, which has antiinflammatory properties; therefore, horses with limited pasture intake require more consideration of the omega-3 profile in their diet.

“Using oils with a good omega-3 profile is important; oils such as flaxseed, canola oil and blended oils are excellent to add calories and promote a healthy omega profile,” says Gretel. As with any change to a horse’s diet, the introduction of oil should be gradual to allow the system time to adjust. Start at around 20-50ml daily and work up to one cup twice a day maximum. Every horse will have a different ‘sweet spot’ when it comes to the amount of oil they can tolerate.

“One important thing to point out is the quality control of oils. Oils can go off, but you can’t tell by looking at or smelling them. Oils that have gone rancid form free radicals that can damage cells. Don’t bulk-buy oil unless you’re going to use it quickly. Always keep it in a cool, dark place and turn it over quickly,” says Alex.

PROTEIN

Protein is vital for growing horses and muscle development. It is particularly important in older horses who don’t synthesise protein, as well as younger horses.

Cereal grains and pre-mixed feeds are other options to add to a horse’s diet to boost energy content and, therefore, calories. Horses should not be fed more than 2kg of hard feed (excluding chaff and beet) in one sitting. If the recommended feeding rate for your horse is 6kg a day, this would mean splitting the feed across three meals. The grain-to-fibre ratio should not exceed 50:50.

“Opting for a complete feed suitable for your horse, its temperament and workload at the recommended intake is a good starting point. Adding in extra calories doesn’t need to be complicated,” says Gretel, who adds, “Get yourself a set of

scales and weigh your feed! I often speak with people who guestimate their feed and unknowingly underfeed their horse.”

MINERALS

Minerals are essential for all bodily functions, from enzyme reactions to cell function. Horses evolved roaming across thousands of square kilometres where they could balance out their nutritional needs by grazing different pasture species and legumes in various locations. Modern-day horses don’t always have that luxury. Along with the seasonal changes in pasture composition and the known mineral deficiencies in much of our farmland, mineral supplementation is often needed to ensure our horses can run efficiently and get the most out of their feed.

“We always advise owners to simplify feeding regimes, focusing on the essentials, like plenty of fibre, fresh water and good quality protein. Feeding a well-balanced, high-quality mineral supplement will help minimise the occurrence of malnutrition and other health issues brought on by deficiencies or imbalances in the overall diet,” says Lisa. A mineral supplement can also provide nutrients to the gut microbiome.

Minerals are vital for thin horses as they support bone health, muscle function, metabolism, and nutrient absorption. Key minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper, and selenium help improve overall health and promote weight gain.

BODY SCORE CHART

Call your veterinarian urgently!

1 0

SUNKEN RUMP AND DEEP CAVITY UNDER TAIL. FOR EXAMPLE; OLDER HORSE NOT EATING OR STARVATION.

NECK: Bone structure felt easily, no muscle shelf where neck meets shoulder area.

WITHER: Bone structure easily felt and visible.

BACK & LOIN: 3 points of vertebrae easily felt.

RIBS: Ribs felt easily, skin tight.

HINDQUARTERS: Tail head and hip bones will be projecting.

VERY THIN WITH PROMINENT PELVIS AND CROUP, RIBS ARE VISIBLE.

NECK & WITHER: Can feel & see bone structure.

RIBS: Easily visible

BACK & LOIN: Spinous process can be easily felt, transverse processes have slight fat covering.

HINDQUARTERS: Prominence of hip bones, overall appearance is pointy.

2

THIN WITH FLAT RUMP, CROUP WELL DEFINED, SOME FAT. FOR EXAMPLE; A FIT EVENTING HORSE, POLO PONY OR ENDURANCE HORSE.

NECK: Fat covering over bone structure.

WITHER: Fat deposits over withers, dependent on conformation.

BACK & LOIN: Fat over spinous processes.

RIBS: Can’t see ribs, but ribs can still be felt.

HINDQUARTERS: Hip bones covered with light layer of fat.

3

RIBS AND PELVIS COVERED WITH FAT AND ROUNDED. FOR EXAMPLE; A HORSE IN SHOW CONDITION.

NECK: Neck flows smoothly into shoulder.

WITHER: Neck rounds out wither area.

BACK & LOIN: Back is level.

RIBS: Covered ribs.

HINDQUARTERS: Can’t feel hip bones.

4

EXCESSIVE FAT COVERING RIBS AND PELVIS; E.G. A MATURE HORSE WITH TOO MUCH FEED AND NOT ENOUGH WORK.

CREST: Slight crest, wide and firm.

NECK: Fat deposited along the crest.

WITHER: Fat padded around withers, giving a flat appearance.

BACK & LOIN: Crease along back.

RIBS: Spongy over and between ribs.

HINDQUARTERS: Can’t feel hip bones

5

SEVERE OVER-CONDITION WITH RIBS AND PELVIS THAT CANNOT BE FELT, DEEP GUTTER IN BACK; E.G. A FAT PONY PRONE TO LAMINITIS.

NECK: Bulging fat.

CREST: Wide and hard.

WITHER: Bulging fat.

BACK & LOIN: Deep crease.

RIBS: Pockets of fat and difficult to feel or see.

HINDQUARTERS: Pockets of fat with lumpy appearance

Salt is crucial for horses because it helps maintain proper hydration, supports nerve and muscle function, and balances electrolytes. It also encourages horses to drink water, preventing dehydration and associated health issues.

“We have had anecdotal feedback over the years that supports the idea that horses nutritionally supplemented with vitamins and minerals tend to utilise their feed better. Many have reported seeing improvements in their horses’ weight and condition despite not feeding any extra feed.”

Victoria says that along with getting the basics right, including looking after hind-gut health, mineral supplementation is essential to ensure horses are more than just healthy but thrive.

Minerals come in two forms: organic and inorganic. Organic refers to the structure, stability, and absorbability of a mineral to a horse. The highest level of

The equine microbiome is important for thin horses because it aids in digestion and nutrient absorption, crucial for gaining weight. A healthy microbiome helps break down feed efficiently, allowing the horse to extract and utilize nutrients effectively. It also supports immune function and reduces the risk of digestive disorders, promoting overall health and weight gain.

stability and absorption is a chelated proteinate mineral. These minerals have atoms linked with protein, which is very stable in gut acid and fully absorbed.

“The body selectively takes up high-quality organic minerals. They are completely bio-available, stable in the gastric system and the tub, and almost completely non-toxic. Any excesses are easily excreted. Synthetic minerals are absorbed by osmosis, meaning the principle of equalisation. They are taken in by the body indiscriminately, are far less stable under pH changes, and therefore are far less bio-available,” says Victoria.

Organic and inorganic minerals have different absorption levels. So, if you feed a supplement with varying forms of minerals, the horse absorbs different amounts of each one, causing imbalances.

“The benefit of feeding a supplement over a pre-mixed feed is that the nutrients your horse is getting are not dependant on feed quantity. Horses will only get the full dose of minerals if they are fed at the recommended feeding rate. If you have a good doer, they might not be getting enough.

“If feeding a pre-mixed feed at the recommended intake for your horse, then additional vitamin and mineral supplementation should only be undertaken if advised by your vet or equine nutritionist, other than basics like salt,” adds Gretel.

GUIDELINES FOR WEIGHT GAIN

Nikita warns that owners often make basic mistakes when trying to increase a horse’s weight, which can actually cause weight loss. Here are some tips to help your horse gain weight without falling into this trap:

FEED LITTLE AND OFTEN

This is especially important when feeding large amounts of hard feed, which cannot be fed in a single meal due to the relatively small size of a horse’s stomach and the risk of starch spillover to the hind-gut. Splitting feed into several small meals a day without increasing the feed amount will mean you get much more from your horse’s diet.

WEIGH YOUR HORSE’S FEEDS

This way, you know how much they get of each feed. Try to increase the amount slowly up to the recommended feeding level. Check the packaging for recommended feeding rates.

AVOID FREQUENTLY CHANGING YOUR FEEDING ROUTINE.

Be patient! Weight gain should be a slow and steady process, not something that happens overnight. Be prepared to achieve this over a few months rather than weeks.

TRACK YOUR HORSE’S PROGRESS

Use photos, a weight tape, and body condition scoring. These tools help you notice small changes that might be missed when you see your horse daily. This approach keeps you motivated and reassures you that progress is being made. C

MAN ON A MISSION

WORDS - Rebecca Greaves

IMAGES - © Denise Flay Photography

Although Luke Dee was adamant he was done with show jumping, the opportunity to purchase a top-level horse from overseas, with a goal to make it to the World Equestrian Games in 2026, was too good to pass up. Now he’s back in the saddle, with his eyes firmly focused on Aachen.

I WAS ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT, AND I MEAN A REAL OPPORTUNITY. NOW, TO HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE IT TO WEG IS SURREAL AND HUMBLING BUT ALSO EXCITING AT THE SAME TIME.

Horses like Gangster WW

don't come along every day—Luke Dee should know. Luke has spent his career searching for the opportunity to make it to the top of the sport globally, and the realisation that it could actually happen is both surreal and exciting.

Two years ago, Luke and his partner Amelia Clark, along with Fiona Hall, who was keen to purchase a suitable horse, set about mapping a pathway to the World Equestrian Games, to be held in Aachen in 2026. The group then turned their attention to finding the horse they believed could make it happen.

The result was a trip to Europe and the subsequent purchase of Gangster WW, an eight-year-old gelding by Grand Slam VDL out of Kannan mare Candela from Irish jumping legend Cian O'Connor.

While the plan seemed ambitious at the time and looked good on paper, Luke and Gangster are making steps towards achieving their WEG goal. In the second half of last season, the horse really stepped up, culminating with a big win in the Premier Stakes on the final day at the Land Rover Horse of the Year Show. Now, they're heading overseas again to source a second horse that can be competitive and sit below Gangster, giving Luke a second horse to jump at shows.

The horses are based at Mana Stables in Havelock North, Hawke's Bay, where Luke's partner Amelia (Mimi) works for Fiona Hall. It was Mimi who first introduced Luke to Fiona, and now they're all on a crazy ride to try to make dreams come true.

“I was always searching for an opportunity to do it, and I mean a real opportunity. Now, to have a chance to make it to WEG is surreal and humbling but also exciting at the same time. We're all on board. Seeing our plan coming together, you do pinch yourself. Each day, we are hopefully getting closer," Luke says.

Mana Stables runs several shows, last year hosting the inaugural Mana Stables Show

Jumping Masters, a new boutique show offering excellent grounds and good prize money. The show was a welcome addition to the equestrian calendar and well-received by the equestrian community.

Luke is no stranger to success on horseback. Coming up through the ranks, he was riding and winning Pony Grand Prix classes at just ten years old, progressing through to winning a World Cup round with Ombudsman.

“Dad was a racehorse trainer in the Waikato when we were growing up. Horses were always part of life; it was inevitable I would get a pony and progress," Luke says. He took up show jumping at age seven and hunting, which was a lot of fun.

“I was always quite determined to do the biggest heights I could and be successful. I was very competitive."

He had three super ponies, Wild Thing, Maximus, and Condolezza, and enjoyed plenty of success in the pony ring. He made New Zealand children's teams to compete in South Africa, Columbia, and Mexico. "They were exciting, and I was proud to do them as a kid."

It's the thrill of show jumping that gets him. "The excitement of going out on another living being - it's unique when it comes to sport. It's a neat sport - to be able to work with your horse and get the best out of your horse and yourself - it pushes you and challenges you. The rewards are probably what kept me hooked. I love winning, and the excitement of winning is something I will never take for granted."

After ponies, Luke worked for NZPH for several seasons. Graduating

Luke's partner, Amelia (Mimi), works for Fiona Hall (pictured left). Mimi was the one who introduced Luke to Fiona, and now the three of them are on an exciting journey together, striving to make their dreams a reality.

THE REWARDS ARE PROBABLY WHAT KEPT ME HOOKED. I LOVE WINNING, AND THE EXCITEMENT OF WINNING IS SOMETHING I WILL NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED.

onto hacks, he's probably best known here in New Zealand for his feats on a chestnut called Ombudsman.

“I was fortunate to have him. He was a brave and honest horse; he had his quirks, but he is the horse I do owe a lot to for stepping me up to that next level and being competitive on horses at the bigger heights."

The combination had success from Young Rider right up to World Cup level, winning a round at Mills Reef Winery in Tauranga. “That was a very exciting win at that period of my life," he recalls.

Titles eluded Luke at HOY in his pony years, but with Ombudsman, he won the Norwood Gold Cup and the Silver Fern Stakes and was placed in the Olympic Cup.

Luke credits his parents for their unwavering support in the early years, saying that without them, none of it would have been possible, and he wouldn't be in the position he is today. Once he finished school, Luke was quick to head offshore

to gain experience in our winters. He alternated between the Southern and Northern hemispheres, working and jumping in Australia and the UK, spending the majority of his time in America and Europe.

After winning the Norwood, he took Ombudsman to America, and the horse was eventually sold over there.

Luke worked for Ashland Stables and was fortunate to have the ride on a nice horse, on whom he was selected to ride on a Nation's Cup team for New Zealand at Ocala.

“I was the best performed in the team with one down in each round; that's something I'm proud of. I was probably 21 at the time, and I felt a lot of pressure, so doing well was a highlight of my career. It's always a privilege to represent your country, whether it's a Trans-Tasman test in New Zealand, but doing a Nation's Cup against the best riders in the world is something else. It's extra special, and hopefully, I will be able to do it again one day."

After America, Luke went to work for Olympic medallist Cian O'Connor, based in Europe but moving to Florida in winter, spending three years there.

But making it to the top globally is hard—extremely hard. The money and horsepower at the elite level of the sport are hard to comprehend, and reality was starting to bite Luke.

“That was when I first came home, and it was my first ‘retirement', I guess you could say. It is tough to get ahead overseas. I was at a point in my life where I needed to make it work or look at doing something else. The whole overseas thing in terms of the sport is another level. The first time I went, I didn't know much. Getting over there and seeing the sport in the flesh was a real eye-opener, realising how far I had to go to even get close to the best riders in the world and be competitive with them.

“The horses are phenomenal. Good horses are everywhere. The whole thing is a completely other level. The best way to describe it is that I felt like a big fish in a small pond in New Zealand, and very

IT’S IN MY BLOOD; HORSES HAVE BASICALLY BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE. IT WAS PROBABLY NAÏVE TO THINK I WOULD EVER GIVE UP COMPLETELY. I GOT TO A POINT WHERE I WAS MISSING IT.

Luke’s base, Mana Stables, is not only fully equipped for horses but also exceptionally beautiful. The facility boasts state-of-the-art amenities designed to meet every equine need and hosts annual events. Luke couldn’t be happier to be based there.

quickly, I learned I was a small fish in a very large pond overseas."

Luke had been home for six months when Irish Olympian Darragh Kenny approached him to see if Luke wanted to ride for him in Europe. After a period working for Darragh, Luke returned to New Zealand, and this time, he was adamant he was done with horses. He decided he had better get a real job, so he sat his real estate papers and went to work for Bayleys in the lifestyle and rural team. “I thoroughly enjoy it. Having flexibility, being my own boss, and having my independence is something I enjoy."

Luke

thought he was done with horses, but it turns out they were not done with him. Nearly three years ago, Mimi, now his partner, introduced him to her boss, Fiona, who asked if he would be interested in riding a horse, Blackall Park Penny Lane, that Fiona had imported from Australia for her daughter. That was the start of their relationship.

“For a long time, I didn't miss it (riding). It's in my blood; horses have basically been my whole life. It was probably naïve to think I would ever give up completely. I got to a point where I was missing it. When I was in Europe, if the right opportunity had presented itself, I would have stayed. It's one thing to be riding for someone, but it's difficult to find that security and unconditional support you need to get ahead."

The introduction to Fiona was the catalyst for picking up the reins again.

“Fiona is very passionate about the sport and very generous. She gets a lot of excitement out of it, and I was fortunate that she asked me if I wanted to get back into riding permanently. I said I would love to be able to get back in and have the opportunity to go to WEG or the Olympics. Unexpectedly, she was very excited by that, for which I'm grateful."

The three sat down and planned how they would make it happen over a four—to

five-year period from that day until WEG 2026. They then flew to Europe, intending to purchase a horse good enough to go to WEG.

“We were very specific that we wanted to buy a horse good enough to get there and one that could be competitive. Fiona has been great; she's got right amongst it and never doubted anything."

Gangster WW was the very first horse they tried in Europe. A six-year-old, Gangster was difficult and not the easiest horse. “He was very hot and sensitive. I knew that when I tried him, but there were a lot of qualities about him that we liked – he's scopey, careful, extremely brave, and very, very athletic. He has the qualities I think you need for the modern sport."

They purchased the horse from Luke's old boss, Cian O'Connor. “I always had a good relationship with Cian and loved working for him. I like his programme and system and how he trains and manages his horses. It was a natural fit to go back and have him help us find a horse. It's easy to be burned over there; you need someone you can trust."

When they got the horse home to New Zealand, Luke knew he would be tricky and take time; he didn't expect to take him out immediately and be competitive. It was all about the long-term goal.

“Everyone wants to progress, don't they? It all depends on the horse. Gangster is not like any horse I've ridden before. Things are completely different with him, and my big thing has been his brain, keeping it nice and calm and relaxed."

Luke quickly discovered the horse likes bigger spaces, so spends a lot of time working him on the grass arena. With his tendency to be hot, he doesn't jump him at home much, either. Flatwork is a huge focus, and Luke believes that the more relaxed and soft he is, the better he will jump.

“We've had him 18 months, and I finally feel that now, this past season, he has started coming into his own and being more consistent. He really stepped up, especially in the last part of the season. He has matured a lot, and I feel he will continue to improve."

Next month, they will return to Europe to purchase a second horse. When they looked for Gangster, they had a specific brief – to find a WEG horse. This time around will be a little different. “It's very costly to find another Gangster. This time, we hope to get a nice horse to sit just below Gangster, be competitive, and keep me going at shows. It will be a very nice horse nonetheless."

Gangster is back in work following a short break after series finals and will contest some winter shows at Taupo and Takapoto. The plan is to take him to Australia in August/September, a good test before heading offshore to compete at three World Cup shows. Whether the horse has a World Cup start remains to be seen.

He will return for the New Zealand season and hopefully step up to World Cup level. By the end of 2025, the goal is to take both Gangster and the new horse back to Europe and start preparing to be selected for a team to WEG.

Getting a tune out of Gangster and working with him has taken time. But patience is paying off, and if all goes according to plan, Luke's dream of making it to the top internationally could become a reality.

Luke is grateful to be sponsored by Cambridge Grains and The Rider Shop. C

BALOU DU ROUET

Baloubet du Rouet x Continue - Domino

BLOOMINGDALE

Belantis x Rubin Royal

BENICIO Bellissimo M x Velten Third

Stoneylea Farm NZ agents

TOTILAS

Gribaldi x Glendale

EXTREME US

Escamillo x Vivaldi

STAKKATO Spartan x Pygmalion

TOTAL HOPE

Totilas x Don Schufro

CONTHARGOS Converter x Carthagos

CHACCOTHAGE BLUE PS

Chacco- Blue x Conthargos

FIRST MAGIC For Romance 1 x Desperado

LORD EUROPE Lord Leatherdale x Boston

TIE BREAK

Toto Jr x Grey Flanell

A LIFE OF

Art & Horses

WORDS - Ashleigh Kendall IMAGES - © Julia Murch Photography

Growing up in small-town New Zealand during the 1950s and 60s, Sarah Baker's childhood was filled with the simple pleasures of beachside summers, the trials of school, sibling antics, and the discovery of her artistic talents. Her formative years were marked by a deep, innate drive to create, a trait she attributes in part to her family's artistic lineage. Her story is of artistic passion and a lifelong love affair with horses.

Art has always been a significant part of Sarah's life. She was captivated by painting, drawing, and making things from an early age.

"I think I'm too deeply involved in the art-making thing to talk about it objectively yet. Unlike horse riding, I don't really know why I do it. Well, I did, but it's more than that. Art is largely esoteric, and the 'why' of it remains a mystery to me. But I love paint the same way I love horses," she reflects.

This fascination was nurtured by her mother, grandmother, and even her father, who documented his wartime experiences with sketches.

"My father did lots of drawing when he was in Italy and Egypt during the war; he kept a diary and illustrated it, and later, when he retired, he and my mother made wonderful watercolours of the mountains and farms around the Waitaki and Central Otago. So, there were background genetics at work as well as a creative environment.

"I took art at school through to the 7th

form, abandoning most other subjects in the process."

This rich creative environment, combined with her own determination, led Sarah to pursue formal studies in art. In the early 1970s, she attended Canterbury University School of Fine Arts, followed by teacher training at Christchurch Teachers College. After that, she moved back to Northland, where she began teaching art and art history.

Sarah’s childhood was not just defined by her burgeoning artistic skills but also by a profound and early-developing love for horses. She vividly recalls the day her passion for horses was ignited: she was only four years old when her mother took her to see the local hunt. The scene of powerful horses and their riders in vibrant scarlet coats under the tall gum trees left an indelible mark on her young mind. From that moment, horses became her constant companions, initially in her imagination and later in real life.

ART AND HORSES ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED, BOTH REPRESENTING PROFOUND SOURCES OF INSPIRATION AND JOY.

HE IS THE MOST FUN TO RIDE, ALWAYS SURPRISING ME WITH HIS BOOGIE, ALTHOUGH WE ARE STILL WORKING ON GETTING THE BOOGIE RIGHT DURING SHOWS!

Above: Sarah and Arlo with her dog Bob who is about three or four years old. He started life as a stray near Kaitaia. He's very smart and very sociable and Arlo is very strict about where Bob needs to be when they are out hacking.

Left: Sarah and REGENTS LEGACY during the AMDG Amateur, Pony, and Young Rider Championships in April 2024. The duo won the Generation Homes Masters Award at Level 5.

"From that day we saw the hunt meet, all I ever wanted was a horse. 'When I sell enough paintings,' my mother would say. I endured years and years without horses, but always they were there in my heart, my imaginary friends," Sarah reminisces.

This early fascination with horses grew into an enduring passion that paralleled her artistic journey. Her dream of owning a horse, however, was not immediately fulfilled. Sarah endured years without having a horse of her own, but this did not dampen her enthusiasm. On road trips with the family, she imagined herself riding alongside the car, jumping hedges and rivers, keeping pace with them. Her persistence paid off when, at the age of 13, her uncle and aunt gifted her a farm pony. This pony became her first real riding experience.

"We explored every inch of the roads and tracks around

WEATHER.BEATEN.

NEW SEASON COMFITEC.

Sarah riding ARLO, a 10-year-old Warmblood/Thoroughbred cross, bred by Rose Hill Sporthorses.

Below: Kaipara Harbour - Tuhirangi towards Glorit (from Gibbs Farm) 2012.

our small Waikato town over the next few years—I had Mum's old saddle and bridle and used a sack for the saddle cloth. Our favourite thing was to gallop along the grass strip that divided the main road into town, then navigate the steep tracks down to the lake—a good gallop around the lake and home again before breakfast," she remembers. These early rides cemented her love for horses and set the stage for her future equestrian pursuits.

Sarah’s equestrian journey was further enriched by Peg Yarndley, a local racehorse trainer who became a mentor to her. Peg taught Sarah essential riding skills and helped her participate in the Light Horse Club activities. This invaluable mentorship provided Sarah with the foundation and confidence to pursue her passion for riding more seriously. "Peg showed me how to bridge the reins and put my feet 'home' in the stirrups," Sarah explains. "She persuaded my parents to let me ride the ten miles out to Light Horse Club every second Sunday in the summer. Peg also found me my

first hack—she'd ridden trackwork on him, and he'd not long finished racing. He was a gentle and courageous horse owned by the Keyte family. When Max was sold, I was loaned a succession of horses—always racehorses that needed hacking around the network of roads where we lived and just the occasional hunt."

Despite starting competitive riding relatively late, at nearly 30, Sarah found joy in one-day events and later in show hunter competitions. "One-day events were such fun! Galloping for six minutes without taking a single breath! And one time, OMG, we jumped a picnic table!" she laughs. "Then Maree McAteer brought us 'The New American Show Hunter' (sponsored by New American Ice Cream). I was hooked by that for some time. I was one of the first NZ Show Hunter judges. I only ever rode locally—it wasn't until after my first hip replacement that I bit the bullet and travelled as far as Taupo and eventually Horse of the Year, so fairly recently, really, the early 2000s. I wasn't terribly successful in a competitive sense - and I was still riding ex-racehorses!"

I ENDURED YEARS AND YEARS WITHOUT HORSES, BUT ALWAYS THEY WERE THERE IN MY HEART, MY IMAGINARY FRIENDS.

As Sarah's passion for dressage grew, and she reached new heights with the acquisition of Smarten Up (Oreo), a beautiful Thoroughbred.

"He had an unfaultable temperament. He'd trialled as a young horse, then became an eventer and Young Rider horse. He was almost 10 when I bought him—hoping to maybe get to Elementary dressage (he was Novice) and do some forest and beach riding. He took me so much further than that!" she says. Under the guidance of Coralie Williams, Oreo and Sarah danced all the way to Horse of the Year - twice! "We even brought home ribbons both times. When we retired him, he was performing at Advanced Medium (Level 5)." Oreo's beauty, great movement, and gentle, obliging nature made him a standout horse and a cherished companion for Sarah.

Today, Sarah continues her equestrian pursuits with two horses: Turkish Delight, another ex-racehorse and eventer who is now retired, and Arlo, also known as Regents Legacy. Arlo holds a special place in Sarah’s heart. “He is curious about the world, loves the forest, and has a playful nature. He is the most fun to ride, always surprising me with his boogie, although we are still working on getting the boogie right during shows!”

The bond with her horses reflects her belief that success in riding comes from commitment, patience, and a compassionate partnership with the horse. She emphasises the importance of understanding and connecting with the horse, as this relationship is fundamental to achieving great performances in dressage. For Sarah, true success is embodied in the happiness and well-being of her horses. A shiny, content horse greeting her with delight is the ultimate reward.

Beyond her equestrian achievements, Sarah’s life philosophy is grounded in joy and gratitude. She relishes the freedom and fulfilment that come from spending time with her horses, painting, and enjoying the natural beauty of New Zealand. Her approach to adversity is one of determination and reflection, always seeking to understand and grow from challenges. She believes that difficult times are valuable learning experiences that build character and reveal the true level of one’s commitment.

Sarah’s dedication to her passions is evident in her daily routine. She describes her days as wonderful, filled with activities that she loves. From spending time with Arlo and Bob the dog to painting and exploring the forest, Sarah's days

Top art: On Taylor Road - Wharauroa Valley limited edition, signed quality art reproduction.

And left: On Taylor Road - Wharauroa / Kukupa.

Top image: Sarah and REGENTS LEGACY during Amateur Champion at Level 5, Advanced Medium, which they won at Auckland Dressage and left with a wonderful rug sponsored by Canter for Cancer.

Art: Ngunguru Remembered (e tangi hotu nei 2) 2020.

are a testament to a life lived fully and joyfully. She finds immense satisfaction in life's simple pleasures, whether it's a ride through the forest or capturing the beauty of the New Zealand landscape on canvas.

For Sarah, art and horses are inextricably linked, both representing profound sources of inspiration and joy. She views dressage as a performance art, where the goal is not just about winning but achieving harmony and precision with the horse. When she wins, it's a celebration of getting something right rather than just beating the competition. The competitive format in dressage is valuable to her because it continually raises the bar, challenging her to improve and grow alongside her fellow competitors.

Despite the challenges and occasional setbacks, Sarah has never considered quitting. Her passion for horses and art is too deeply ingrained. She views having a horse of her own and being able to ride when, where, and how she chooses as a miracle. Making her horses’ lives as happy as possible and achieving success together brings her immense joy and fulfilment.

Looking to the future, Sarah's goals remain ambitious. She aims to advance in dressage, reaching Prix St. Georges level, and continues to find inspiration for her artwork in the stunning landscapes of her homeland. She dreams of painting the amazing hill at Wharekaho and achieving well-established tempi changes in her dressage performances.

Sarah’s legacy, she hopes, will be one of passion, perseverance, and a life lived fully in the pursuit of art and the love of horses. She advises young riders to focus on enjoying their rides, embracing the opportunities and choices they make, and always finding joy in the journey. Her life is a testament to following one's passions wholeheartedly and finding joy in every moment. Whether swinging through the forest on Arlo or capturing the beauty of Wharekaho on canvas, Sarah’s story is one of dedication, joy, and a deep connection to the things she loves most.

You can see Sarah's artwork here: sarahmcbeathpaintings.com. C

with unwavering BALANCING PASSION

DETERMINATION

WORDS - Ashleigh Kendall

IMAGES - © Christine Cornege Photography

At just 22 years old, Anna Wilson has much to smile about. Aboard her stunning schoolmaster, Neversfelde Rupert, she has progressed through the levels of dressage with remarkable skill and dedication. Her journey has been marked by numerous successes at Small Tour level, showcasing her talent and commitment to the sport. While balancing her studies and multiple jobs, Anna’s passion and determination have driven her to excel in dressage.

Anna grew up in Tamahere, Waikato, with her parents, Doug and Jane, and younger sister, Sarah, none of whom are involved with horses. Despite this, they have always supported Anna and her dreams. “I had an awesome childhood,” Anna beams. “We had lots of opportunities for fun activities, and my parents have always been very supportive of our goals and ambitions. I think I was just born loving horses! I had a chance to ride a friend’s horse when I was about five or six, and I was hooked! After that, I constantly begged my parents for riding lessons, probably annoying them greatly!”

Anna spent several years at Phillips Equine, her local riding school, pestering her parents to buy her a horse. They finally relented and leased a pony called Mandy from Amy DeLangen. “Amy is a fabulous dressage

coach, and I caught the dressage bug there. Although I like jumping for fun, I am not cut out for big heights, and dressage suits the perfectionist in me,” she says. Her parents eventually bought her a pony called Pepee from the South Island, which she describes as a super dressage pony. She began competing when she was around 11 years old in 2013, starting with an inter-school show jumping competition and then the Waikato Equestrian Centre dressage series.

“Amy has played a huge part in my dressage career, coaching me to numerous successes and supporting my parents and me in understanding the horsey scene. She gave me so much knowledge, and I owe a lot of my success to her,” Anna reflects. “Pepee definitely made my dressage dreams come true! He was a schoolmaster in every sense, never put a foot wrong,

I THINK I WAS JUST BORN LOVING HORSES!

I HAD A CHANCE TO RIDE A FRIEND’S HORSE WHEN I WAS ABOUT

FIVE OR SIX, AND I WAS HOOKED! AFTER THAT, I CONSTANTLY BEGGED MY PARENTS FOR RIDING LESSONS, PROBABLY ANNOYING THEM GREATLY!

and made dressage so much fun. He was safe as a house and always looked after you. Plus, you could enjoy all the other activities, including jumping, Pony Club camp, beach rides, and more! We were Reserve Champion Level 3 Pony at Horse of the Year and U25 champs in 2017."

While studying for her Bachelor of Science at the University of Waikato, where she majored in psychology, Anna worked as a coach at Phillips Equine. “I was fortunate to receive the Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship for Equestrian, which funded my studies. They supported us a lot with personal development workshops and allowed us to compete in our sports while at uni," she reflects. After graduating, Anna began working as the programme developer at the

equestrian centre at St Peter's School. "I organise the lesson programme, events and activities alongside general administration and horse care.

"Additionally, I run a tutoring business, teaching math, science, and English to intermediate and high school students. I have been tutoring since 2018, one of my first jobs to fund my horses! I also work for Sweney Productions, selecting music for musical freestyles. I also have some Pony Club coaching and admin roles.

Anna's typical day begins between 6 and 7 am when she heads out to ride her horses first thing. "Once I have finished riding, I head to St Peter's until around 4 or 5 pm. On days I tutor, I also have up to three tutoring sessions in the evening! I am lucky that all my jobs are very flexible, allowing time

Above: Anna riding the very talented NEVERSFELDE RUPERT in the Prix St George at Oro Dressage by the Lake 2023.

Left-hand page: Anna holding gorgeous GIZBO, a 21-year-old Gisborne Stationbred, who is now on lease and expertly teaching a friend the ropes of dressage.

Ridden image on the left-hand page: Anna riding AD CATCH PHRASE, a four-year-old Warmblood-cross gelding by JHT CHEMISTRY, bred by Amy DeLangen.

for the horses and other extras," she explains. "This can all change if there are shows, events or classes at work. During the busy parts of the season, I will do music selection for Sweney Productions in the evenings as well. On top of it all, I am studying for my H Pony Club exam.” Phew!

showman in the ring. He has taught me the ropes of upperlevel dressage. I look forward to continuing to consolidate and improve the quality of our work."

Currently, Anna has two horses on her team. Neversfelde Rupert is a 20-year-old Australian Warmblood gelding by Rotspon. "He is a quirky old man with plenty of personality. He likes to make his preferences known, and I love him very much. We have been competing at Small Tour and Young Rider levels," she explains. "This was our first full season of Small Tour, with me ageing out of Young Riders. Rupert has been a super schoolmaster, a talented horse, and a real

Winning the Small Tour Pro-Am Title at Nationals in 2023 and 2024 on Rupert was a career highlight for the duo. "It was my big goal for both seasons, and it was pretty special to win it. Also, winning the Waldebago trophy for the U21 FEI Young Rider Champion at U25 champs,” she says.

Four-year-old AD Catch Phrase, ‘RJ’ is a Warmblood cross gelding by JHT Chemistry, bred by Amy DeLangen. “He has just had his first preliminary start at AMDG, and I hope to have him out competing in the Premier Leagues next season. He is an old soul, wise beyond his years, with a generous nature. He loves cuddles and has a huge canter – he feels like

a rocking horse to ride,” she says. “I also have my pony Gizbo, a 21-yearold Gisborne Stationbred who is now on lease, teaching a friend the ropes of dressage. Giz and I competed up to Level 3 together. He is the most fun and versatile horse, a real 'best friend' type. He can do a cracking dressage test!"

Anna likes to have a weekly plan for what she will do each day with each horse, adding variety to keep them happy and engaged.

“When schooling, I usually focus on a particular movement while always working on the basics. The basics are so important; you can’t do the movements well if the basics aren’t there! But you also have to be flexible enough to adapt to the horse you have on the day.”

Determination and self-motivation are key for Anna. "It takes dedication to go out in rain, hail, and shine, showing up every day to make small improvements that transform into big changes over the season," she says. "I also think it's important to treat each horse as an individual and adapt your riding and horse management to

suit each one. Every horse has its own needs and requirements to help them perform at their best. Success is achieving something new, no matter how big or small. Sometimes, it might just be cantering your young horse around the paddock successfully; other times, it might be a big win at a show. Setting a goal and achieving it is so rewarding."

Anna believes that having nonhorsey parents has equipped her with many skills and independence and taught her self-motivation. "I am fully independent at home and shows with my horses—float towing, grooming, riding, and everything in between. Although it is hard work, I am grateful I've learned to selfmotivate and manage," she says. Despite ups and downs, Anna has never wanted to quit riding. "I love it too much! Managing fulltime study, competing two horses, and having up to three part-time jobs was a big juggle. It got pretty stressful at times, but my high drive for success and achievement got me through. Horses were my number one motivator, and I was lucky to have the support of my family and friends to make things easier.”

Above: Anna holding the horses - NEVERSFELDE RUPERT (Rupert), GIZBO, AD CATCH PHRASE (RJ).

Below: Anna and NEVERSFELDE RUPERT in the Prix St George at Oro Dressage by the Lake 2023.

IF YOU’RE WILLING TO LISTEN, PRETTY MUCH EVERY PERSON THAT COMES INTO YOUR LIFE HAS SOMETHING TO TEACH YOU, BE IT BIG OR SMALL. THAT ONE SMALL PIECE OF ADVICE THEY HAVE FOR YOU COULD BE A GAME CHANGER!

Above: Anna riding NEVERSFELDE RUPERT, a 20-year-old Australian Warmblood gelding by ROTSPON. T hey have been competing at Small Tour and Young Rider levels.

Anna feels fortunate to have a wonderful team of people supporting her journey. "For the past six years, I have been grazing my horses at a family friend's property. Tania and the Bradley family have been so supportive of my riding, offering advice, support, friendship, and a fabulous place to keep my horses—I couldn't be more grateful," she says.

"My friend Nicole Sweney has been a big part of my riding journey over the past couple of years. She’s a fabulous coach, mentor, and friend. I am very lucky to have her help at home and at shows. She has taught me so much, both with upperlevel dressage and with my young horse. I am very grateful for all the time she has put into my riding and for employing me at Sweney Productions.

“My boss at St Peter’s, Dna Wells, has also been hugely supportive of my riding. She has a wealth of knowledge of riding and horse management. I am super grateful for all the help and advice she has given me—not just for my riding but also for my role at St Peter's.

“I've also been very lucky to train with Wendi Williamson this season, who has had a huge influence on my riding. I've thoroughly enjoyed her lessons!

“And there are so many other people who have helped me along the way, for whom I am eternally grateful. Most of all, I wouldn't be here without the immense support from my parents! If you're willing to listen, pretty much every person that comes into your life has something to teach you, be it big or small. That one small piece of advice they have for you could be a game changer!"

MANAGING FULL-TIME STUDY, COMPETING TWO HORSES, AND HAVING UP TO THREE PART-TIME JOBS WAS A BIG JUGGLE. IT GOT PRETTY STRESSFUL AT TIMES, BUT MY HIGH DRIVE FOR SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT GOT ME THROUGH.

Anna also gives back to the sport she loves as a member of the Dressage New Zealand Youth Council. “We advocate for youth riders in dressage, run events, and have regular meetings to plan and develop new initiatives,” she explains. “I have also been very involved with my local Pony Club—Hamilton Pony Club.” She was branch head coach at Tamahere Pony Club for two years and has now completed one season as head coach for the Hamilton Club, on top of being a committee member and volunteering at events. "I won the NZPCA Young Coach of the Year award in 2022. Pony Club has offered me many opportunities in both riding and personal development—you learn a lot of skills from being in those administrative roles." C

Natural

No

Includes

FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO DRESSAGE ELEGANCE

A stalwart on the New Zealand dressage scene, Susan Tomlin has consistently been a formidable force through the levels for years. However, as we discovered, her competition career began in an entirely different fashion.

WORDS - Ashleigh Kendall IMAGES - © Denise Flay Photography

Born in Wellington into a non-horsey family, Susan started riding when she was seven years old, attending the Ohariu Valley Riding School once a week. What began as a few riding lessons for her birthday quickly grew into a lifelong love for horses. At nine, her family moved to South Auckland, and she had the opportunity to have her own pony, a blue roan called Pedro, which she bought for $120 with her own money saved from birthdays and Christmases. “I kept Pedro at Pointways Pony Club and spent all my free time there galloping madly over the crosscountry jumps and up and down the steep hills. Mostly, I rode bareback! We were commonly in the consolation classes at gymkhanas and ribbon days,” she remembers.

Her desire for speed and jumping led her to eventing in the early days. “I rode a half Stationbred, half-Thoroughbred gelding called Jonathan Grace (Teddy). He belonged to the chief instructor at Pointways, Shirley Swain,” she reflects. “Shirley was the matron of Homai School for the Blind in Manurewa. She was probably in her 60s when she offered him to me to ride as she thought he

had more potential than she was utilising hacking around the Pointways Pony Club property.”

Together, the pair became unstoppable. They won the A1 Cup at the New Zealand Pony Club Champs in 1984, were third at the 3 Day Championships in Taupo, and won the Forest Gate Trophy at the National One Day Horse Trials Championships. From there, they were selected as part of the New Zealand squad to compete at the World 3 Day Event Championships in Gawler, South Australia, in 1986. “Unfortunately, he was not 100% sound at the initial trot-up, so we didn’t get to compete, but it was a wonderful experience being part of the team with Tinks Pottinger, Mark Todd, Trudy Boyce, Andrew Scott, Blyth Tait, and Merran Hain.”

They were also part of the Australian team in the American Express International Invitation event at Pukekohe in 1985. “Teddy had a bigger following than I ever appreciated at the time, I think because we were the underdogs, a young redhead from a non-wealthy, non-horsey family, riding her half-Thoroughbred, half-Stationbred, atypical event horse,” she reflects. “People still talk about him all these years later. He was actually pretty consistent in the dressage phase,

THE EQUESTRIAN

COMMUNITY IS WHERE I BELONG; IT IS WHAT DEFINES ME. IT IS MY LIFE .

but I will always be grateful for the help of Bill Noble, who had turned up at Gawler as Mark Todd’s trainer, for helping me explain the intricacies of the half pass to Teddy. It was one of those revelation moments. Bill was still based in England at that stage and was just in Gawler to train Mark, but was very generous with his time and knowledge towards the New Zealand-based Kiwis on the team.” Susan still considers Jonathan Grace as being among the most special horses she has had. “He was incredibly brave, he never stopped at a fence his whole career.”

I AM ALSO GRATEFUL FOR ANDREA’S PROFESSIONAL HELP AND FRIENDSHIP. IT IS GREAT TO HAVE SOMEONE TO SHARE THE JOURNEY OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE HORSES WITH.

The Martelli family of Brookby were also very supportive of Susan in her eventing days. “They generously let me keep Teddy on their dairy farm, which was a few kilometres down the road from Pointways, in the year or two leading up to Gawler,” she says. “This allowed me to have a 600-acre property, including hills, to do my fitness training on.”

Susan had always enjoyed the dressage component of eventing, but it wasn’t until 1993 that she got into pure dressage. “I bought a Thoroughbred to event called Okavango, but it turned out that he didn’t like to jump!

Above and right: Susan cherishes her close friendship with Andrea Raves and is deeply grateful for her guidance and coaching.

So I turned him into a dressage horse,” she explains.

“The next horse I bought, Kilimanjaro, was a purposebred dressage horse. By that stage, I had qualified as a veterinarian, owned my own small veterinary clinic, and found it difficult, without my own property and resources, to continue the rigorous fitness requirements needed for eventing.” Her trainer at the time, Joanne Wilson, had suggested Kilimanjaro to her. He was by Mt Everest and bred by Kerry Sanders. “He was my first purpose-bred dressage horse; I trained him to advanced level. He was a sensitive individual. I would probably make a better job of training him if I had him now.”

In more recent years, Susan had great success with Domino MH and Giusto MH, both of whom she took through

Susan says that DANCE HIT SW (Duncan) is very special to her because he is such a laid-back, cool dude that she adores.

Susan describes Felix as an unusual character. He is quite energetic and lively in the paddock, sometimes even a bit obnoxious, but they affectionately call him a lovable rogue. She believes he might become an amateur’s horse one day, but he’s not there yet. Felix is very trainable and already more advanced in his work as a four-year-old.

from youngsters to advanced, and then later her gorgeous Dancealong, whom she trained from two years old all the way to Grand Prix. “Pat Dalrymple rang me out of the blue one day whilst I was at work to offer to give me Dancealong, who was an unbroken two-year-old at the time,” she explains. “Pat was a stalwart of Dressage in New Zealand, being the mother of Kathryn Gorringe and Sally Clark. She was also part of the Anamour syndicate. Dancealong was the last of many good horses that she bred. Pat was 88 years old at this stage. He had an operation for removal of an OCD fragment but had developed a cardiac arrhythmia under the anaesthesia which hadn’t resolved, so Pat didn’t think she could sell him, but I, being a local veterinarian, would be the perfect person to keep an eye on him.” Christmas, as he was known to friends due to being born just before Christmas Day, was a wonderful journey for Susan to share with Pat. “She would come to my place to watch him train, and I would take him riding on the Dalrymple family farm in Bulls.”

“He was a gentle and sensitive soul,” she reflects. “He was the first horse that I trained all the way through to Grand Prix level. He was Horse of the Year champion at level 8 despite never enjoying the HOY atmosphere and won many area and

Competition images: Susan riding DANCEHIT SW at the Bates Dressage Nationals 2023 during the Level 7 test.

Photos by Belinda Pratt Photography

I LOVE BATES SADDLES, NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY ARE SO COMFORTABLE FOR ME AND MY HORSES, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THEY ARE SO ADJUSTABLE.

national championships for me. Christmas didn’t have the most spectacular movement but was built with an uphill frame and had a lot of presence when performing. Obviously, to make it to Grand Prix, his cardiac condition never bothered him, and he was very trainable. We had a great bond. He was a very special friend.” In recent years, Susan had given him to her friend, Miranda Sage, as a schoolmaster. She adored him and treated him like royalty. “Unfortunately, he tragically passed away in mid-January. It is possible he suffered some sort of cerebral event that caused him to run blindly through a deer fence and was found dead in a roadside culvert.”

Nowadays, she has a talented team of young horses who she is once again producing through the levels. She owns stable star Dance Hit SW with her trainer of many years, Andrea Raves. The pair have enjoyed immense success through the levels and currently compete at Small Tour. At only eight years old, he is certainly showing his talent for the sport. He is by the super sire Danciano out of Rosari Sable Hit (Sandro Hit) and bred by Sheena Ross of Sterling Warmbloods. She is planning to move him up to Medium Tour next season. “Dance Hit SW (Duncan) is special because he is such a laid-back, cool dude,” she says. “He makes friends with everyone and has been so obliging in every way since we purchased him from Sheena as a newly started three-year-old.” She also has a few exciting youngsters coming through in Riverrock Firenze, a four-year-old by Fürstenlook out of advanced mare Sinderella FE (Salutation), who was bred by Aliesha Moroney-Ormsby. “He started at preliminary this year and then moved up to novice. I will decide which level to compete at next season after our winter training,” she says. Susan and Andrea have also recently purchased another flashy addition, a yearling gelding by Jovian out of Ira de Jeu (Glocks Dream Boy) from David Shoobridge in Australia. At the time of writing, Susan, in partnership

Left: Susan riding DANCEHIT SW at the Bates Dressage Nationals 2023 during the Level 7 test. Also pictured above and below.

Right-hand-page: Susan rides RIVERROCK FIRENZE (Felix), a rising superstar of the stables. Felix is by Fürstenlook and out of the advanced mare Sinderella FE (bred by Aliesha Moroney-Ormsby). At just four years old, Susan believes he has the talent to progress up the grades with ease.

YOU DO HAVE TO BE RESILIENT IN THIS GAME BECAUSE THERE CAN BE A LOT OF NEGATIVES AND SETBACKS ALONG THE WAY. I AM VERY DETERMINED, ESPECIALLY IF I AM TOLD I CAN’T DO SOMETHING. THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS; YOU MUST GET THE BASICS RIGHT TO START WITH.

with Andrea, was in the process of buying a colt foal from Nikita Osbourne of Seaforth Farm. “He is by Fusionist out of a Carbine/ Jaybee Alabaster mare. The plan is for him to stay with Nikita until weaned in a few months’ time.”

Susan is a strong advocate for Bates Saddles. She loves them and appreciates their continued sponsorship of events.

“I rode in a Bates saddle that I had purchased myself for around 20 years. I started with the Bates Isabell and then moved on to the Bates Innova with the Extended Block. Bates Saddles, along with Annette Burmester from Prebble Equestrian in Palmerston North, always looked after me. Around six years ago, Bates Saddles decided to formalise our relationship with sponsorship. I still ride in the Bates Innova Extended Block simply because it’s the model that I find works best for me. There have been a few models released since; these days, many riders love the Bates Artiste Monoflap or the new Isabell Icon, both of which have narrower twists and more modern panels.

“I love Bates Saddles, not only because they are so comfortable for me and my horses but also because they are so adjustable. This on-the-spot adjustability means that I am not having to use a different saddle when my horses change shape as they develop and grow. I simply adjust the one that I am riding in at the time,” says Susan.

Her days are long but rewarding, getting up at 4 am to ride her horses before work. “I work full-time in the small animal veterinary clinic at Massey Vets. Obviously, I have lights

on my arena, but most of the year I am dealing with my horses in the dark,” she says. “During the week, since I am working in the dark, I am really limited to working the horses in the arena, but on the weekends, I like to do other stuff like hacking, road, beach, or farm riding. My dream of marrying a rich farmer with extensive acreage never happened, unfortunately! Duncan isn’t much of a jumper, but I have incorporated a bit of casual jumping into my previous horses’ work.”

Extremely competitive and determined, Susan believes the key to success is to remain dedicated and 100% committed even through adversity. “You do have to be resilient in this game because there can be a lot of negatives and setbacks along the way. I am very determined, especially if I am told I can’t do something. There are no shortcuts; you must get the basics right to start with,” she reflects. Despite some testing times, Susan has never thought about quitting. “The equestrian community is where I belong; it is what defines me. It is my life.”

“I am not sure where I will be in ten years’ time,” she says. “Not sure if I will still be competing; I don’t want to do it badly. We are so fortunate, though, that with equestrian sports, we can be competitive in our senior years. Although sometimes I wish I could be twenty-one years old again and do it all again with many more lovely horses. Seeing the horses improve and training them up through the grades is so rewarding. I am also grateful for Andrea’s professional help and friendship. It is great to have someone to share the journey of development of the horses with.” C

S Our hopping guide

STANCE EQUITEC ULCABUF

is designed to support your horse’s intestinal health longterm. It supports proper intestinal pH, helps maintain the protective layer in the bowel, and contains prebiotics and a live probiotic.

www.stanceequitec.co.nz

SOFT IMPACT ALUMINIUM SPURS

Gentle spurs with a thick rounded neck end offer a soft impact, especially good for horses sensitive to traditional spurs or riders new to wearing spurs. They are light and comfortable to wear. Available in five colours: Matt Grey, Shiny Gun, Matt Silver, Shiny Silver, and Rose Gold. $29.99 per pair. Available in all 14 stores nationwide and online at: www.saddlerywarehouse.co.nz

EQUIBUFF SPONGE

The all-in-one grooming sponge designed for all-year grooming needs. Effective on dried mud, dust, dander, sweat, and saddle marks. Gentle enough for the face and sensitive areas, while also versatile enough for everyday grooming, equipment cleaning, or shampooing. RRP $13.50. Available at equestrian retailers NZ-wide. www.arionefv.co.nz

VET DIRECT MUD GEL

Apply to areas affected by wet and muddy conditions to soothe and heal the skin. Continue application for 3-4 days after symptoms have subsided to protect the skin against further issues. Available in 250ml for $24.99, and 500ml for £44.99. Available in all 14 stores nationwide and online at: www.saddlerywarehouse.co.nz

ENZO CENTO HACKAMORE

An all-in-one bitless bridle featuring a fully adjustable noseband and all-around padding for ultimate comfort. Comes complete with web reins. Available in Black or Brown, in sizes from Pony to Full. Price: $89.99. Available at all 14 stores nationwide and online at: www.saddlerywarehouse.co.nz.

WEATHERBEETA COMFITEC PREMIER FREE II DETACH-A-NECK MEDIUM

Super strong waterproof and breathable 1200 denier triple weave outer with a warm 220g of polyfill. A Full embrace wrap with an Ezi-buckle front closure, Freedom system and a Memory foam wither relief pad to reduce rubbing and provide extra comfort. Comes with a detachable neck and is compatible with the WeatherBeeta Liner System.Available in Dark Blue/Grey/White and New Pink/Rose/Green Plaid in 4’3 to 5’9. Dark Blue/Grey/White -RRP $339.99. Pink/Rose/Green Plaid – RRP $349.99. www.weatherbeeta.co.nz

KYLA II WATERPROOF JACKET

An update to our bestselling Kyla Jacket, same fit and fabric with updated styling and waterproof specifications.10,000mm, waterproof rating, 10,000gsm breathability rating with additional padding for warmth. Features a concealed hood with toggles that can be tucked away when riding, side slant pockets with waterproof zips and centre front waterproof zipper with concealed placket.Available in Black, Navy/Iris and Redwood. RRP $269.99. www.weatherbeeta.co.nz

CAVALLINO ENDURO LONG BOOTS

The perfect winter boots! Handcrafted with a combination of canvas panel and nubuck leather outer. Featuring a Puratex® waterproof and breathable membrane, ensuring your feet stay dry and comfortable even during wet riding conditions. The elasticated side gusset, accompanied by a buckle, allows for easy adjustability. Available at equestrian retailers NZ-wide. Sizes: 37 - 43. Colour: Brown. RRP: $359.00. www.arionefv.co.nz

Star product!

DUNSTAN VITS+MINS

A vitamin and mineral concentrate pellet for all horses. Enjoy 10% extra FREE for the month of June. RRP $49.99

Available at your local rural retailer. For complete nutritional information, visit: www.dunstan.co.nz

Keepwarm

RAPIDE STAIN REMOVER DRY SHAMPOO

Ideal for spot cleaning on cold days or when only a small area needs attention, this spray effectively removes dirt and stains from your horse’s coat. Simply spray, leave for 10 minutes, then wipe off or brush out. Repeat if necessary. 500ml, $24.99. Available in all 14 stores nationwide and online at: www.saddlerywarehouse.co.nz

EQUILUME PRO LIGHT MASK

Success starts with superior care. The Equilume Pro Light Mask is the perfect solution to ensure your horse stays in the best health and condition possible whether stabled, on the road or at pasture. This 12-month rechargeable Light Mask delivers 15 hours of blue light daily ensuring your horse benefits from consistent light exposure, regulating their circadian rhythms and transforming them from the inside out. Enhance show coat shine, mood and behaviour, muscle development, and more. Perform, train and care like a PRO!

www.equilume.com

Star product!

DUBLIN EVERYDAY RIDING TIGHTS

DUNCAN EQUINE STALLION RAIL ULTRA

Stallion Rail Ultra features one electric edge, completely encased in highly conductive carbon, giving the wire nearly 10 times the surface area for maximum conductivity. Stallion Rail Ultra uses exclusive advanced technology; premium-grade UV stabilised polyethylene is molecularly bonded to high tensile wire, meaning it will not dangerously come apart.

Backed by a premium 15-year New Zealand warranty.

Available in Black or White. www.duncanequine.co.nz

Combining comfort, support and style these tights are mid-rise, have side phone pockets and a full seat gel for stability. With 4-way stretch and Comfort Dry Technology fabric that provides moisture control for all day comfort. Available in Beige, Black & Naval Academy in 6 – 16 (Black also in Curve Sizes). RRP $99.99

Available at Equestrian Connection stores.

BIO-BLOOM HF

It is a dual-action pelleted supplement designed to promote and maintain healthy hooves and skin from the inside out. In the winter, hooves may become soft or misshapen due to overexposure to moisture. In addition to environmental conditions, Bio-Bloom HF supports horses with damaged hooves due to recurrent abscesses, frequent shoeing, laminitis, thin soles, and other problems. Horses fed Bio-Bloom HF demonstrated a 23% increase in hoof growth compared to horses not fed Bio-Bloom HF. www.ker.com

GRAZE - BY ELITE EQUINE NUTRITION

This supplement is specially formulated to address the challenges of grass sensitivity in horses. This exceptional supplement boasts a potent blend of active ingredients that have proven highly effective in managing and alleviating symptoms associated with grass sensitivity. For a comprehensive full range of Elite Equine’s products, please visit their website at: www.eliteequine.co.nz

CAVALLINO WHITBY DOG COAT

Featuring a breathable 600D outer and 100gm cotton fill, this coat ensures maximum comfort. Reflective strips add a touch of safety in the dark. Easy to adjust with Velcro straps. Colour: Black with reflective paw print. Sizes: 35cm to 80cm in 5cm increments

RRP: $58.00. Available at equestrian and rural retailers NZ-wide. www.arionefv.co.nz

SLOW-FEEDER CANVAS HAY BAG

Crafted from durable 17oz canvas and reinforced with strong webbing, this net is designed to slow your horse’s feeding. RRP $115.90. www.zilco.co.nz

WALL-MOUNTED RUG RACK

This heavy-duty metal rug rack easily mounts on your tack room wall. It features six fully adjustable arms. RRP $254.90. www.zilco.co.nz

CAVALLINO NORTHAMPTON DETACHANECK

Give your horse ultimate comfort with this exceptional rug. Featuring a 1200D waterproof outer, cotton lining, and a detachable neck cover to reduce mane rub. Stay-Dry Freedom gussets prevent shoulder rub, while reflective binding and a quick-release front closure ensure safety. Sizes: 3’6 - 5’6. Fill: No fill220gm. Comes with a 2-year warranty on hardware and waterproofing. RRP: £300.00. Available at equestrian retailers NZ-wide. www.arionefv.co.nz

RIGHT

GET THE BIT

WORDS - Cheyenne Nicholson

MAIN IMAGE - Cornege Photography

Mullen mouth, double-jointed, straight bar, leverage or snaffle? There are options within options when it comes to finding the right bit for you and your horse, and many people find themselves a little overwhelmed by the choices on offer. We caught up with Charmae Bell, owner and bitting specialist at Bit Bank Australia, to discover the ins and outs of finding the right bit.

The purpose of the bit is to create a communication channel between horse and rider. Different styles of bits can be used to refine or enhance communication, signalling various movements and influencing the horse’s reactions. It is important to remember that finding the ‘perfect’ bit can never compensate for a lack of rider ability.

“One of the biggest mistakes we see people make is thinking that rideability problems can be solved with a new or ‘special’ bit,” says Charmae.

TYPES OF BITS

Snaffle bits:

The snaffle bit is the most common type and is often considered the gentlest. It operates as a ‘direct action’ bit, meaning it does not apply curb or poll pressure. Initially, the bit affects the horse’s lips with an upward motion. Then, as the horse flexes more at the poll and works correctly, the pressure lies more on the tongue and bars.

Curb or leverage bits:

LOOSE RING SNAFFLE BIT BY MYLER

STAINLESS STEEL

EGGBUTT SNAFFLE BIT BY SPRENGER

These bits employ pressure across the lower jaw and tongue, the poll, and if a curb chain or strap is fitted, this also applies pressure in the curb groove. They give riders additional power through the rein aids in much the same way a tyre iron helps you undo nuts on a car tyre. These bits are often useful in asking a horse to lower its head.

Mouthpieces

There are three basic mouthpiece styles: single-jointed, double-jointed, and mullen. These styles have many variations, including curves, ports, angles, and joint shapes and sizes.

Single jointed:

A traditional single-jointed bit works via tongue and bar pressure. It often gets a bad rap for its ‘nutcracker’ effect.

“People often believe that these bits hit the horse in the palate, where, in actual fact, the joint pushes down on the tongue. The ‘nutcracker’ effect is actually used to describe the action of the bit closing up under contact and squeezing the lower jaw – like a nutcracker on a walnut.”

A more modern single joint has been designed with a locking action or a pronounced curve to reduce this ‘nutcracker ‘action.

Double jointed:

These bits use more gentle, even whole-mouth pressure, with the main focus on the tongue.

“Traditionally, they work directly on the horse’s tongue with some bar and lip pressure. Some fantastic innovations in biting technology have greatly increased the popularity of doublejointed bits that offer tongue relief.”

Mullen mouth:

Mullen is the term for a straight bar with no join or movement. It can be straight across, ported, curved, or ported and curved. These bits are great for overreactive mouths, as there is no movement.

Material of the mouthpiece:

This is all about bit acceptance. Sweet iron and copper alloy-type materials are developed to be warm and sweet in the mouth to encourage salivation.

“In

SLIDING CHEEK

WEYMOUTH BY ZILCO

TITANIUM SINGLE JOINTED LOOSE RING SNAFFLE BY BOMBERS

“Synthetic materials are fabulous for very sensitive horses who object to metal or just have no confidence in the bit.”

Cheeks:

These vary just as much as mouthpieces.

“Fixed cheek bits tend to be better for young, green or inconsistent horses as they are much quieter in the mouth than, say, a loose ring, which is great for an established horse who has reached a point in his education where the communication through the reins is very light.”

WEYMOUTH HAPPY TONGUE TITANIUM BY BOMBERS

BY TRUST BITS WINNING TONGUE PLATE LIGHTWEIGHT FULL CHEEK BY WTP

DOUBLE JOINTED TRAINING EGGBUTT BY ZILCO

essence, they all work to communicate with the horse by using different pressure points in the mouth.”

BRIDLE AND BITS

In some cases, the type of bridle used may impact the effectiveness of the bit you use. The traditional English bridle is much more effective for the leverage bit family as there is a direct one-piece strap from bit to poll, which enables effective poll pressure.

“The Collegiate Comfitec bridle is an excellent piece of tack that helps hold the bit stiller, higher in the mouth and off the tongue without having the bit cranked up tight in the horse’s mouth.”

DOES MY HORSE NEED A DIFFERENT BIT?

It is important to remember that a new bit is never a quick fix, and training should be utilised alongside any new piece of tack. However, a few key things to watch for might signal your horse isn’t happy with their current bit.

SIZE MATTERS

“Bits that are too big and/or too thick are the most common issue I come across. With the advances in modern biting technology, we simply don’t fit bits the same way we did 20 years ago.”

For example, the new double-jointed bit in loose ring form only needs a 2-5mm gap maximum between the lip and the ring as these bits come further out of the mouth under contact. In fixedside forms such as eggbutt, dee, and full-cheek, the bit needs to sit right up against the lips, with no gap at all. A bit that is too big will slide in the mouth and potentially pinch the outer edges of the tongue, also creating friction and rubbing the outer lips.

Thicker bits?

“Thicker Bits are perceived to be kinder; this is not entirely the case. A bit that is too thick will not enable the horse to comfortably close the mouth around the bit, creating discomfort and potential contact and tongue issues. The maximum thickness I recommend for any horse is 16mm in diameter.”

Put your finger in your horse’s mouth between the top and bottom jaw over the top of the tongue. You’ll quickly realise that there’s not a lot of room between the top and bottom jaw to accommodate a big, thick bit.

Mouths with a small gap between the upper and lower jawbone will exert strong pressure on the fingers. They will require a bit with a narrower mouthpiece in order for it to fit comfortably.

Horses are also considered ‘obligate nasal breathers’ - their

Common signs of bit discomfort

• Common signs of bit discomfort

• Opening mouth under contact

• Pulling

• Aggressive chewing

• Leaning on the rider’s hands

• Head carriage above, behind or below the bit

• Putting the tongue over the bit or sucking it back in the mouth

• Resistance in the jaw and lack of lateral flexion

• Head shaking

• Reefing the reins out of the rider’s hands

• Reluctance to go forwards

• Over-tight noseband

Left: A correctly fitted noseband and a well fitted bit shows the horse’s comfort in the contact.

Below: Poor fitted or over tight nosebands are a contributor to horses being uncomfortable.

physical anatomy means they cannot breathe orally. The epiglottis sits above the soft palate while the animal is not swallowing, which forms a seal. A thick bit affects the action of swallowing and nasal breathing, which often causes a horse to suck its tongue back in an attempt to make the airtight seal, leading to:

• Tension in the jaw and neck

• Displacement of the soft palate

• Tongue over the bit

• Horse can get seemingly ‘hot’ or ‘panicked’ unexpectedly

• So the lovely thick bit spreads pressure over a larger surface area, but the horse can’t close his mouth comfortably around it, leading to:

• Fussing with the bit

• Inconsistency in the contact

• Non-acceptance of the bit

• Grinding the bit

• Opening the mouth

•

• Breathing inconsistencies

UNDERSTANDING YOUR HORSE’S MOUTH

Finding the right bit for a horse’s mouth is a little like finding the perfect-fitting pair of shoes- there are a lot of variables.

One of the most important is the size and shape of a horse’s jaw, which can vary from horse to horse. Any bit you choose should fit comfortably in the space between the upper and lower jaws (the interdental space), which may impact the type of mouthpiece that will suit your horse best.

“A horse with a narrow lower jaw cannot tolerate a three-piece bit with a larger centre link as it will impact on the outer edges of the tongue as well as the bars of the mouth. A horse with a small interdental space should have a bit of the appropriate thickness so as not to crowd the mouth.”

Carefully insert two fingers in the horse’s mouth at the point where the bit usually lies. Pressure on the fingers will be felt in

mouths with a small gap between the upper and lower jawbone. These horses require a bit with a narrower mouthpiece to fit comfortably.

“A bit that is too big will slide in the mouth, causing injury to the outer edges of the tongue and creating rubs on the side of the face - when the bit slides in the mouth, it creates friction and causes skin folds to rub together.

“A bit that is too small will squash the horse’s inner cheeks into the teeth, causing the horse to bite the inside of the mouth. Newer, modern loose-rings don’t need any more than a 2-5mm gap between the ring and lip - any bigger and they will actually rub.”

Charmae says the ‘one wrinkle rule’ is outdated, and riders should open their horse’s mouth to check for bit position.

“The bit should lie equally between the upper molar and lower canine (or in the case of a mare, where the lower canine should be, you can usually feel a bump in the jawbone if you run your finger along the bar).

“A horse with a short lip line will be much more comfortable with the bit sitting a little tighter and not falling into their teeth, and a horse with stretchy lips will be much more comfortable with the bit dropped lower so as not to hit on the molars under contact.

“The only way to know for sure is to trial different bits. Qualified bit fitters often have a good range of bits to try out, and bit banks are a great way to buy on a 30-day trial without the financial risk of purchasing several bits that won’t work.

“Finding the right bit isn’t an exact science. What works for one horse may not work for another. Often, we have two similar horses with similar symptoms that end up in two completely different bits. Your horse will tell you what it does and doesn’t like.”

It is also important to remember that bits behave differently under contact, and it’s essential to understand how your bit works when pressure is applied – a qualified bit fitter can help you through this process.

STRONG HORSE EQUALS STRONG BIT?

The ‘red mist’ horse is one that performs elegantly on flat ground, but the moment they spot a cross-country or hunt field or show jumping course, they are eager to go at full speed. This behaviour indicates not a ‘bit’ problem, but rather a training issue.

“Many ‘strong’ horses can be corrected with the right training. A different bit can accelerate this training and give the horse and rider a safer, more harmonious ride,” says Charmae. She adds that there are two scenarios that, to her, warrant a stronger bit.

The ‘red mist’ horse. Typically, a horse who goes beautifully on the flat, but as soon as they see a cross-country course with its big open fields and jumps, they want to go hell for leather.

“They stop listening to the snaffle, which served them fine on the flat, and the rider’s safety is compromised. People often perceive gags and the like to be stronger or harsher. I’d much rather see a rider over cross-country safely using as little force as possible on the rein and allowing release in the gag than hanging on for dear life with a snaffle for the sake of being ‘kind’.”

Charmae says many of the bits she recommends when a horse gets strong are still kind within the mouth but add another pressure area. Going from a snaffle that uses mouth pressure only to a leverage bit that uses poll pressure as well is usually enough.

Big horse, little rider. A stronger bit is often needed here to allow the rider to communicate effectively with the horse. A bit that uses different pressure can give the smaller rider the mechanical advantage needed to perform.

“And, of course, any situation where the rider’s safety becomes an issue may call for a more suitable bit.”

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The reasons for your horse leaning or pulling when jumping can be many and varied, so you

Have you recently increased the workload or difficulty of work?

Is he fit and strong enough for the work being asked?

Is your horse pain free in both mouth and back?

Is your horse educated enough to understand your rein aids?

Are you allowing your horse to travel at an adequate speed for him to have the power to jump in a balanced way, or is he pulling to try and get more power?

Sometimes though, a change of bit can help you through a training bump. If you are using a fixed cheek snaffle, such as an eggbutt or full cheek, then the first thing for you to try is to

If you have tried that, and it’s not quite enough, here are a few specific styles of bits that I recommend to help the rider with a horse that can be strong when jumping, either cross country or showjumping. As with any training issue, be sure to seek the advice of your coach when changing your bit to tackle a “control” issue:

• Pelham

• Neue Schule Verbindend

• Running Gag

LIFESPAN OF BITS

Contrary to popular belief, modern bits are not lifelong items.

“Stainless steel will last mostly forever, the copper alloys such as Sprenger Sensogan and Neue Schule Salox Gold are copper alloy materials designed to increase bit acceptance, these materials will wear through over time and should be inspected regularly. Plastic and synthetic rubber bits do degrade over time and become brittle – keep them out of the sun and well washed for the longest performance.

Six monthly to annual checks are very important for all horses.

021 152 9044

georgia@equinedentalcare.co.nz equinedentalcare.co.nz

DENTISTRY

A common sign that a horses teeth need tending to is bit reluctance and discomfort, the first thing to do is get your horse’s mouth and teeth checked. Ideally, your horse’s teeth should be checked by a professional at least once a year. Learn the signs that it is time to call an equine dentist or veterinarian to check your horse’s teeth even if it has been less than a year. A horse that fusses with the bit may be reacting to discomfort caused solely by the bit, or as with head tossing, dental problems that make holding the bit uncomfortable. Sometimes extra teeth could be the problem and your horse might need a bit seat or teeth removed.

“A horse with a severe structural issue such as parrot mouth may need some specialist bitting considerations and again that’s where a qualified dentist or bit fitter can assist in making the right choice from the beginning to prevent any issues down the track,” says Charmae. C

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TRAINING THE OUTSIDE REIN

‘Inside leg to outside rein’ is one of those phrases riders are all too familiar with. But what does this phrase actually mean? And how is it achieved?

IN SHORT, THE PHRASE

is a simple explanation of a complex pattern of movements designed to improve the horse’s way of going so that he becomes straight, balanced and supple and his gaits are energetic, elastic, and light. To achieve this, the horse’s hind legs must step far enough under the body to support the back – if the hind legs are not under the horse’s body, the back will drop, and he will be unable to demonstrate quality movements showing impulsion and suppleness.

Because horses are naturally crooked, engaging and flexing both hind legs under the body is complex. The hind leg on the stiffer side (the convex side) will tend to lag a little, while the hind leg on the hollow side will tend to not step under the body. The dressage movements are used as gymnastic exercises to counter this natural crookedness.

INSIDE LEG

The ‘inside leg’ part of the phrase ‘inside leg to outside hand’ is the rider’s inside lower leg, which asks the horse’s inside hind to step more under the horse’s body.

The ‘outside hand’ is usually the one closest to the outside of the arena. In lateral work, it is the side away from which the horse is bent; for example, if you are leg-yielding across the arena to the right, the horse will be bent left, so the right rein is the outside rein.

It is easiest to engage the inside hind leg because of the bend of the horse’s spine and the fact that the inside hip is placed slightly ahead of the outside one. The rider’s inside leg creates the power and push from the horse’s inside hind leg (and therefore from both hind legs), and the outside rein catches that energy and makes it available to the rider for lateral work, transitions and changes of direction.

Single-track exercises, such as circles and voltes, are used to create lateral bend and engage the inside hind.

Sidestepping exercises in which the horse is bent against the direction of travel (such as spiralling on the circle, shoulder-fore

and shoulder-in, and leg-yield) are more demanding than the single-track exercises but are effective. Shifting the weight to the outside, for example, in shoulder-fore and shoulder-in, makes it easier to engage the inside hind.

To bring the outside hind underneath the body, use changes of direction such as serpentines, figure-8s, or counter-movements in which the horse bends to the outside of the arena.

OUTSIDE REIN

The role of the rider’s inside leg is to activate the horse’s inside hind. This initiates a shift of the horse’s weight from the inside shoulder onto the outside pair of legs, encouraging an expansion and stretching of the muscles on the outside of the horse’s bend. The horse will then stretch into the rider’s outside rein, thereby creating contact with the outside hand.

Once the rider can feel the horse in her outside rein, she can use a half-half in the outside rein as the horse’s outside hind touches down to harness the pushing power of the outside hind, engaging, flexing, or releasing the hind to create power and impulsion. This increased power and impulsion can be directed either into more elevated, collected gaits or into greater forward movement in medium and extended gaits.

However, communication with the horse cannot begin until the rider feels the horse in the outside rein. Once the horse initiates contact, the process of recycling the energy, which begins with the horse’s inside hind swinging forward, can commence.

The outside rein is also important in being able to ride straight. The horse’s hindquarters are wider than his shoulders, so all horses and ponies have a habit of ‘leaning’ on the outside track of the arena, which leads them to travel with their quarters in. Correct use of the outside rein helps to reposition the shoulders in

front of the quarters. When the horse is straight, he can move in better balance, and this makes him easier to ride.

The outside rein is vital in all lateral work as it prevents the horse from bending too much to the inside or falling out over the outside shoulder. Exercises such as leg yield, shoulder-in, and spiralling out on a circle help a rider get the correct feel for the balance of how much outside rein is enough.

Uniform bend is supported by the combination of aids with the line of travel set by the outer circumference of the circle, controlled by the outside rein. An example of the outside rein influence can be found in bicycle riding. If only the inside handlebar is pulled to make a turn, the bike will over-rotate, and the rider will need to stop or fall. To control the turn, the inside hand indicates direction, and the outside hand controls the turn and keeps the bike stable and upright. A horse requires the same support from the outside hand to control the bend and influence the roundness and engagement.

Directional control and balance are lost without that connection with the horse through the outside rein. The horse falls in or

out, drops onto the inside shoulder and twists its head to try and avoid discomfort. The correct use of the outside rein allows the horse to work in self-carriage in a gymnastically correct state and free of the paralysing effects of fear and resistance.

THE FEEL

When your horse is balanced, vertically straight under you and accepting working from your inside leg into your outside rein, turns, lateral work, and transitions become easy. The outside rein – as with any contact with the mouth – should feel elastic. Imagine the security you feel when someone holds your hand, not too tight, just enough that you know they are there.

CHECKPOINT

If you think you have the correct contact and feel on the outside rein, give your inside rein away for a few strides on a circle or shoulder-in. If your horse maintains the correct lateral flexion and bend and continues the correct line of the circle, then he is working correctly from your inside leg into the outside rein.

Outsidereinwithnosupport

A straight, motionless horse, framed by both legs and energy directed to both hands. The outside rein influence is better understood if the rider follows the outer circumference of the circle and only uses a soft vibrating inside rein to lighten the horse and indicate direction and bend. The outside rein also helps to keep the horse upright and straight.

Uniform bend supported by the combination of aids with the line of travel set by the outer circumference of the circle, controlled by the outside rein. An example of the outside rein influence can be found in bicycle riding. If only the inside handlebar is pulled to make a turn, the bike will over-rotate, and the rider will need to stop or fall. To control the degree of turn, the inside hand indicates direction, and the outside hand controls the degree of turn and keeps the bike stable and upright. A horse requires the same support from the outside hand to control the bend and influence the roundness and engagement.

The outside rein is lost, along with the directional control and balance. The horse falls in or out, drops onto the inside shoulder and twists head to try and avoid discomfort.

The correct use of the outside rein allows the horse to work in self-carriage in a state we call “gymnastically correct” and free of the paralysing effects of fear and resistance.

SUPERCHARGE YOUR MINDSET THIS WINTER

WORDS - Ashleigh Kendall

Are you ready to build the confidence and fortitude necessary to reach your goals? Whether you’re competing at the top level or a happy hacker, confidence is crucial for riders of all ages, experience levels, and disciplines. This confidence helps us feel secure in the saddle, accomplish our objectives, and maintain our passion for riding. If you’re looking to find new confidence, rekindle your previous bravery, or boost your confidence to the next level, this article is tailored for you.

THE BENEFITS OF MENTAL SKILLS TRAINING

We invest significant effort into preparing our horses, honing our riding abilities, and dedicating ourselves to hard work. However, what happens when we face pressure if we overlook the mental aspects? Just like physical skills, mental skills demand practice, education, and commitment. Similar to having a trainer for your riding, a mental skills coach can assist in enhancing your mental acuity. Riding entails a mental component. If you’re training your horse and conditioning your body, shouldn’t you also train your mind?

It’s important to note that seeking mental coaching and acquiring mental skills doesn’t imply a problem or a need for ‘fixing’. Rather, it’s about mastering how to remain present, forge stronger connections with your horses, stay aligned with your motivations, and make decisions conducive to your goals.

FIXED VS GROWTH MINDSET

Given the choice, would you opt for validation and success or challenge and growth? Your response to this question can reveal significant insight into your current mindset.

A fixed mindset is the belief that abilities, intelligence, and talents are static traits that cannot be significantly developed or changed. People with a fixed mindset tend to think their qualities are set in stone, leading them to avoid challenges, give up easily, and see effort as fruitless if they do not achieve immediate success. They often seek validation and avoid situations where they might fail, as failure is seen as a reflection of their inherent limitations.

This mindset contrasts with a growth mindset, where individuals believe that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. People with a growth mindset see

WHEN WE EMBRACE

A

GROWTH MINDSET,

FOCUS SHIFTS TO SELF-IMPROVEMENT RATHER THAN SEEKING VALIDATION

challenges as opportunities to grow, view effort as a path to mastery, and understand that failure is a part of the learning process. They are more likely to embrace new experiences, seek feedback, and persist in the face of setbacks, believing their skills and abilities can improve over time with dedication and hard work.

Often, riders feel they have something to prove to others - a classic example of a fixed mindset. When we embrace a growth mindset, our focus shifts to self-improvement rather than seeking validation. By staying present and accepting mistakes as part of the journey, we see setbacks as opportunities to learn, grow, and enhance our skills as riders. Those with a growth mindset embody true horsemanship as they welcome evolution and are free from the need to prove themselves. This doesn’t imply they don’t strive for success; on the contrary, they often achieve success more effortlessly because they don’t allow nerves, fear, or negativity to hinder their progress.

Creating a sense of inner confidence serves as the cornerstone of our path forward. By laying down this foundational level of assurance, we pave the way for developing the enduring, unwavering confidence that we aspire to achieve.

IT’S VITAL TO STAY CONNECTED TO THE ESSENCE OF WHY WE FELL IN LOVE WITH HORSES AND WHAT FUELS OUR PASSION FOR EQUESTRIANISM

Reconnecting with the joy and passion that first drew us to the world of horses – that's our 'why'.

CONNECT WITH YOUR ‘WHY’

As riders, we embark on this journey for a reason. However, amidst the pursuit of grand achievements, that initial motivation, our ‘why,’ can often fade into the background. It’s vital to stay connected to the essence of why we fell in love with horses and what fuels our passion for equestrianism. Relying solely on tangible outcomes to sustain our happiness in this demanding sport, one that exacts physical, mental, financial, and timerelated tolls, is ultimately unsustainable. By staying attuned to our personal ‘why,’ we strengthen our confidence by grounding ourselves in the authentic sources of joy along the way.

RE-WIRE UNHELPFUL THINKING PATTERNS

The manner in which we communicate with ourselves directly impacts our confidence levels as riders. It’s fascinating to note that the average person processes between 50,000 and 70,000 thoughts on any given day—a significant amount of internal dialogue!

These inner conversations hold immense power over our sense of confidence. Consider what would happen if someone were to accompany you throughout the day, constantly reinforcing the notion that you’re inadequate. Over time, it would undoubtedly erode your spirits, likely leading you to internalise those negative sentiments. While we’re typically mindful of avoiding such negativity from others, it’s equally important to monitor the way we speak to ourselves. Our inner thoughts and the language we employ are pivotal in shaping our confidence.

Human evolution has equipped us with a sensitivity to danger. Our limbic system, responsible for managing emotions, sifts through information to assess potential threats. Consequently, our brains naturally prioritise negative stimuli, often overshadowing positive ones. This tendency explains why negative thoughts tend to dominate over positive ones. For instance, after leaving the

show ring, even if 90% of the performance was stellar, we often fixate on the 10% that fell short of expectations. The first step to breaking these unhelpful patterns is to become aware of our self-talk. A great way to do this is to jot down any recurring negative and positive thoughts you have over a few days, noting what themes and patterns are presenting. Also, take note of what thoughts influenced your mood and emotions throughout the process and consider what that might be telling you. Did they occur while you were with your horse and riding? Why do you think that is?

THE POWER OF DELIBERATE PRACTICE

The great news is that you have the power to transition from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset whenever you choose. The initial step is awareness – recognising where your mindset currently lies. Once you’ve pinpointed the areas where you hold a fixed mindset, you can employ strategies to make subtle yet significant shifts in your thinking.

Success isn’t solely dependent on innate talent; rather, it’s the result of deliberate practice. In the realm of equestrian sports, this translates to being specific about your areas for growth and improvement every time you mount a horse. Numerous top athletes have admitted that they weren’t necessarily the most naturally gifted players. Instead, they honed their skills through purposeful and intentional practice until they achieved mastery. Their journey to becoming sports icons underscores the importance of intentionality and a focus on growth.

TRY THIS: Instead of aiming to become a generally better rider, select one or two specific aspects to concentrate on until you’ve perfected them. Develop a comprehensive game plan outlining the skills you need to advance to the next level, then break it down into manageable goals. This approach cultivates a growth mindset by providing your mind with clear objectives (all centred on growth) to concentrate on rather than seeking validation, impressing others, or attaining specific outcomes.

REFLECTION

It is essential to allow yourself time after a training session to reflect on your pockets of mastery or what went well. We often fixate on the negative or what we want to improve, so we get dragged into negative thinking patterns. Focusing on what is going well fosters inner confidence that you have got this! The most successful people always focus on improvement.

TRY THIS: Keep a journal of your rides, document any goals you have (best written down before the ride to stay accountable), your reflections (keeping this in a positive tone), and then areas you want to focus on improving. This way, you are allowing yourself to enjoy what is going well while remaining focused on where you are headed.

SUCCESS ISN’T SOLELY DEPENDENT ON INNATE

TALENT;

RATHER, IT’S THE RESULT OF DELIBERATE PRACTICE

.

SUPERCHARGING YOUR MENTAL GAME

- STEP BY STEP PLAN -

• Evaluate Your Current Mindset – fixed or growth, be honest with yourself to expect meaningful change!

• Connect with Your 'Why' – what inspires you to do what you do in life?

• Identify Negative Self-Talk and assess why these patterns occur.

• Deliberate Practice – take comfort in knowing that natural talent will only get you so far; deliberate practice is what makes the most significant difference in successful people's lives. You don’t need to be born naturally gifted to be successful.

• Reflect – document your progress and pockets of mastery each training session and bottle that positive feeling you have from when things have gone well –this boosts your confidence! Confidence comes from within, it isn’t sustainable to rely on results alone to maintain it!

UNCOVERING SOME SURPRISING ASPECTS OF BONE HEALTH

Did you know that your horse’s skeleton is continuously influenced by their environment? Bone issues are one of the most common causes of lameness, but many of these problems can be avoided by how we manage our horses. Bone related lameness can be linked to training and nutrition, but also confinement, such as stabling, yarding, and box rest.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

WORDS:

DR CLARISSA BROWN-DOUGLAS

EQUINE NUTRITIONIST, KER

BONE IS DYNAMIC

living tissue, which means it is continuously remodelling through a process called bone turnover. This process involves the coordinated action of bone-resorbing cells called osteoclasts and bone-forming cells known as osteoblasts. Bone turnover serves multiple purposes in horses, including repair of microdamage, adaptation to mechanical loading, and maintenance of mineral balance. In general, the skeleton is strengthened by use and weakened by rest. Mechanical impact on the bone from moderate exercise, whether it is daily training or simply playing in the paddock encourages osteoblasts to lay down bone tissue, which is converted into healthy, strong bones. When a horse does not exercise regularly, bone renewal slows down and bones can eventually demineralise. Over time, this demineralisation weakens bones, which reduces the strength of the entire skeleton leaving the horse at greater risk of fracture. Regularly exercised horses have stronger skeleton than their stabled peers.

BUILDING BONE AND PREVENTING INJURY

A major concern with performance horses is the high incidence of skeletal injury. When the rate of bone adaptation lags with the demands placed on the skeleton—as happens with overtraining, increasing exercise too quickly after a spell, or overuse— microfractures, also known as stress fractures, can occur. These tiny fractures may go unnoticed at first, as some horses do not show any

unsoundness. Horses with microfractures are at risk of developing full fractures which can be career-ending and even catastrophic.

Young, growing horses transferred from pasture to yards or stables at the beginning of training may also be predisposed to injury. A decrease in bone mineral density of the third metacarpal (cannon bone) has been demonstrated in young Thoroughbreds entering training and housed in small yards and stables. This has not been shown in horses trained out of the paddock, where free access to exercise is likely to provide sufficient loading on the legs to promote normal bone growth. Though horses in paddocks may not run excessively, only a few fast strides per day may be necessary to prevent bone loss associated with limited physical activity available to horses housed in stables. Consequently, paddocked horses may have a skeletal structure that is better prepared for training and competition. Keep this information in mind when housing horses in yards or stables for convenience reasons –muddy feet may be a small price to pay!

Paddocked horses may have a skeletal structure that is better prepared for training and competition due to the natural exercise and varied movement they experience while grazing and interacting in the paddock. This environment promotes stronger bones, healthier joints, and overall improved musculoskeletal development compared to horses that are kept in stables for extended periods. The freedom to move at will encourages weight-bearing activity, which is crucial for building bone density and resilience, thus enhancing their physical readiness for the demands of training and competition.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REGULARLY TEST

PASTURE GRASS TO ENSURE IT MEETS THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF YOUR HORSES.

Kikuyu grass (pictured above) is lower in calcium and higher in phosphorus than other grasses, which contributes to body-wide mineral imbalance. The grass also contains oxalate chemicals that bind calcium in the gut, which dramatically reduces calcium digestibility.

BOX REST

Box rest is often necessary during recovery from an injury or disease. In these cases the reintroduction of exercise needs to be gradual and careful to ensure the bone has adequate time to adapt following a period of inactivity. During confinement, supplements can help combat the negative effects of extended stabling on bone demineralisation. Recent study by Kentucky Equine Research has shown that targeted supplementation using a combination of bone supporting nutrients coupled with a unique calcium source prevented the loss of bone mineral density in horses confined in stables.

NUTRITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

It goes without saying that all horses must be provided a diet supplying quality roughage and balanced for energy, protein, vitamins and minerals. Specific nutrients that support bone health include protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, zinc, and manganese. Vitamins C, D, A and K also work to support bone-remodelling efforts. Correct and balanced nutrition

Sound Skeletal System

is particularly important when growing and breeding, or for horses grazing tropical pastures, such as Kikuyu, or when on certain medications. We highly recommend using an equine nutritionist to assess your horse’s diet and provide individual advice to ensure that their needs are being met.

KIKUYU PASTURES

and minerals that play important roles in optimising bone development, health, and strength

Bone Food Plus is formulated to supply equine diets with vital bone-building nutrients and supplies the essential building blocks to optimise bone development, health, and strength.

Triacton® is a research-proven, triple-action supplement designed to improve bone density in horses Triacton is an easy-to-feed pellet that contains an array of highly bioavailable vitamins and minerals essential for sound skeletal development and maintenance

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In subtropical areas of New Zealand, Kikuyu pasture is common, which comes with both advantages and disadvantages. Kikuyu is a productive and persistent warmseason grass that provides good ground cover, tolerates heat, and responds quickly to rain. It also copes well with heavy traffic. Unlike cool-season grasses, Kikuyu doesn’t contain fructans, which are indigestible sugars that can lead to hindgut disturbances.

Triacton is a research-proven, triple-action supplement designed to improve bone density and support digestive health in horses. Research has shown a correlation between a loss of bone density and shin soreness in horses.

Distributed and marketed in New Zealand by EA Veterinary Marketing Ltd. Phone: 0800 800 624 Email: info@ethicalagents.co.nz

www.eavm.nz or www.ker.com Exempt from registration under the ACVM Act 2001

Above: Nuclear scintigraphy, or bone scan, is a diagnostic tool used to localise orthopedic conditions in horses such as bone fractures, joint inflammation, osteoarthritis and other injuries that may cause lameness or poor performance.

Despite its advantages, Kikuyu has a few downsides. Kikuyu tends to dominate other grasses, dries off in winter, and is less digestible than cool-season grasses. However, a key problem with Kikuyu relates to calcium and skeletal health. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus in equine diets should be at least 1.5:1, with the diet providing more calcium than phosphorus. Kikuyu is lower in calcium and higher in phosphorus than other grasses, which contributes to body-wide mineral imbalance. The grass also contains oxalate chemicals that bind calcium in the gut, which dramatically reduces calcium digestibility. Both of these factors lead to calcium being pulled from the skeleton to maintain adequate blood levels. As more calcium is removed from bones, they become weaker, which can cause reduced bone density with shifting lameness or fractures and big head disease characterised by enlargement of the upper jawbone.

Supplementing calcium and other minerals is vital in preventing big head disease in horses grazing Kikuyu paddocks with large grass intakes. Adding lucerne hay to the diet will help as it has high calcium content. However,

SUPPLEMENTING CALCIUM AND OTHER MINERALS

IS VITAL IN PREVENTING BIG HEAD DISEASE IN HORSES GRAZING KIKUYU PADDOCKS WITH LARGE

GRASS INTAKES. ADDING LUCERNE HAY TO THE DIET WILL HELP AS IT HAS HIGH CALCIUM CONTENT. HOWEVER, A FEED OR SUPPLEMENT WITH HIGH LEVELS OF CALCIUM, AND OTHER TRACE MINERALS AND VITAMINS IS TYPICALLY NECESSARY FOR THESE HORSES.

Adding lucerne hay to the diet provides a valuable source of calcium, but it’s often necessary to include a feed or supplement rich in calcium, trace minerals, and vitamins to meet the nutritional needs.

a feed or supplement with high levels of calcium, and other trace minerals and vitamins is typically necessary for these horses. If horses don’t need extra energy, a ration balancer is an appropriate choice due to its low feeding rates and concentrated nutrients.

KERA_BH_Ads.indd 11

ULCER TREATMENT

You may not be aware, but ulcer treatment can indirectly and negatively affect bone health. Omeprazole is the most common medication used to treat and prevent gastric ulcers and is widespread across the industry, especially for horses in training. New research at KER has shown horses on omeprazole have reduced absorption of calcium from their diet. Because calcium is a vital substrate for bone growth, it is important to supplement these horses with a bioavailable source of calcium to prevent reduction in bone mineralisaton and a weakened skeleton.

BALANCED DIET, BALANCED TRAINING

Targeted supplementation in conjunction with a balanced diet can help support the growth of strong, healthy bones when used in conjunction with training regimes that match the horse’s level of skeletal fitness. Proper training and supplementation allow bone enough time to adapt to stress. A well-designed program should avoid overtraining with excessively fast works to protect bone health, with adequate rest periods to allow for remodelling, and a gradual increase in training loads after rest. Equine bone health is a multifaceted aspect of equine management influenced by various factors including nutrition, confinement, training, and grazing practices. Understanding the dynamic nature of bone remodelling and implementing appropriate management strategies is essential for ensuring the long-term skeletal health and performance of horses. By prioritising balanced nutrition and regular exercise, owners can help their horses thrive and hopefully enjoy a lifetime of skeletal soundness.

A

program should avoid overtraining with excessively fast works to protect bone health, with adequate rest periods to allow for

and a gradual increase in training loads

Targeted Nutrition for a Sound Skeletal System

Bone Food Plus® is ideal for stabled horses at risk of bone demineralisation and for horses grazing pastures with high levels of oxalates. Bone Food Plus supplies key vitamins and minerals that play important roles in optimising bone development, health, and strength.

Triacton® is a research-proven, triple-action supplement designed to improve bone density in horses. Triacton is an easy-to-feed pellet that contains an array of highly bioavailable vitamins and minerals essential for sound skeletal development and maintenance.