EQUINE INTERNATIONAL AIRFREIGHT
IN-FLIGHT
ter
let s w e N
MAY 2016
Welcome to the first edition of Equine International Airfreight’s IN-FLIGHT newsletter. We hope to provide you with some informative articles and news relating to the various equine industries, including EIAF’s involvement across all disciplines. This is an opportunity for Equine International Airfreight to engage with people who are passionate about horses just as much as we are passionate about providing the best possible service to you and your horse the next time you require a horse flight. We will ensure that your horse becomes our priority during the transport process and that your horse arrives safe and sound at it’s final destination. OK, grab a seat, buckle up and get ready for some good in flight service! - CAMERON CROUCHER, EIAF Managing Director
CHUGGING ALONG NICELY It is now just over three months to Rio and Australia’s jumping team will consist of four horse and rider combinations. As a 5-time Champion Australian Show Jumper, Chris Chugg (pictured right) and his grey stallion Cera Cassiago, will be vying for one of those spots during May/June with events in Austria (Linz), Denmark (Odense) and Poland (Sopot). Equine International Airfreight (EIAF) transported Chris’ two horses, Cera Cassiago and Cristalline, to Europe in February before Chris partnered the mare, Cristalline, in the Longines FEI World Cup Final at Gothenburg in March. Chris and Cristalline eventually placed 10th, drawing rave reviews from commentators and considerable interest for the mare. “Cristalline is a bit of a freak of nature and I’m really, really happy,” Chris enthused after the pair’s magnificent performance in Gothenburg.
But now, fingers crossed, it’s on to Rio and EIAF wishes them every success. HOOFNOTE: Did you know there will be more horses attending the 2016 Rio Olympics than what is needed to stage seven Grand Nationals!
Has EIAF moved a horse for you? How about emailing us a photo of your mare and foal, maybe your horse jumping or running. Perhaps an idea for an article? This is your newsletter and it’s dedicated to an industry a lifestyle - that we’re all passionate about. admin@eiaf.com.au
ON STALL ...
Hmmm, what is it that most of us look for when we fly? Hassle-free boarding … check. Plenty to drink … check. Nice food … check. No kids crying or kicking the back of our seat … check. Professional attention from flight staff … check. Ah, there’s something else … oh, that’s right, lots of leg room … CHECK! EIAF has recently purchased new stalls which are the w-i-d-e-s-t and safest boxes for travelling across the Tasman. They are fully enclosed with adjustable partitions, have head boards for domineering colts and/or stallions (what did we say about kids?), rubber flooring, extra height and, very importantly, individual bay front and rear doors for maximum safety. Furthermore, they have side windows and the space above the front and rear doors allow for maximum airflow during transit. Now, if I can only find a decent movie …
EQUESTRIAD IS TRULY RAD Equestriad is rapidly becoming a ‘must attend’ for horse enthusiasts. An up and coming international event staged at Bicentennial Park, Camden every April, Equestriad is run by Olympic Silver medallist, Shane Rose and his wife Niki, who also own Bimbadeen Park at Werombi where they offer breaking, spelling and pre-training. Entries for Equestriad are up every year and organisers were very happy that in 2016 over 680 entries competed across all levels, with classes from EVA60 to CIC***. Always eager to be involved in such professionally-organised events, EIAF sponsored the CIC* A where we had a number of clients competing including Stuart Tinney and Rachael Lee. In the EIAF class, Emma Mason and her horse APH Marina emerged the winners with a final score of of 44.10, while Rachael finished third (on 58.80) with Amigo, a horse EIAF imported from Germany in January 2015. In addition to EIAF’s sponsorship of the CIC*, two of the fences on the cross country course - the bank and the corner fence in the main arena - also displayed our brand. Pretty fitting when you saw how some of the horses ‘flew’ over the fences!
EASTER RICHES The Australian Easter Yearling Sale is the richest thoroughbred auction in the southern hemisphere and this year grossed $106 million over three days of selling. Equine International Airfreight was proud to play its part by transporting - on behalf of Graham Bax’s Blandford Lodge in New Zealand two lovely yearlings, one of whom is closely related to champion racehorse, Criterion, winner of over $7.2 million on the track. This really is showtime for Australia’s elite and both yearlings were presented in lovely order at the sales, finding new homes in Queensland and Victoria.
Are you heading to the Gold Coast Magic Millions National Sales series (29 May - 10 June) & looking to have your horse re-located? Give EIAF a call on 02 8817 0300
STAFF PROFILE
Nelson Bennett (Post Arrival Quarantine Manager)
All EIAF staff play an integral role in ensuring that each of the horses entrusted to our care are delivered safe and sound and Nelson’s role as Post Arrival Quarantine Manager is vital to ensuring everything runs as smoothly as possible. It takes dedication, experience, professionalism and … Nelson! So Nelson, how long have you been working in a post arrival quarantine role? Five. Nearly six years. I’ve always loved being around horses and working with them. As a kid I helped out trainers such as David Irving, Tommy Wong and Ross Simpson, while after I’d left school, I was with Graeme Rogerson, Gai Waterhouse and also spent time with John Hawkes and then Peter Snowden. What horse breeds do you receive into quarantine? You name them! Arabian, Thoroughbred, American Quarter, Friesians, Miniature horses and Miniature donkeys, Andalusian, Icelandic, Fjord, Haflinger, German Riding Ponies, Gypsy Cobs, Lusitano and then of course we have the Warmbloods - Dutch, Oldenbury, Belgian, Hanoverian, Westphalian, Trakehner … and that’s just off the top of my head. How long is the post arrival period? Usually around two weeks. And how often do you receive horses in post arrival quarantine? Usually every month. You relocated from Sydney to Melbourne at the end of 2015, when the new post arrival quarantine station at Mickleham opened – what do you think of the new facility? Moving to Melbourne was a really big deal and the hardest part was finding a new house. Fortunately, it was all made a whole lot easier by the fact that the PAQ station is amazing: the facilities are a big improvement on Sydney - the layout, the stables … everything just flows. What do you see as the most important aspect of your job whilst in post arrival quarantine? Individual horses require individual care and and I take the responsibility of caring for other people’s horses VERY seriously. Owners invest a lot into horses and I don’t just mean financially. I care for horses as if they were my own: rugs on, rugs off, brushing, washing, bedding. I also take special care with their feed and work in closely with farriers and vets. EIAF gets a lot of repeat business and that’s because clients know we do our utmost to ensure their horses have the best stay possible. Post Arrival Quarantine complex at Mickleham
When you are not doing quarantine, what other duties do you undertake for EIAF? When I’m not in quarantine my other duties include helping out Shauna and Holly with some office work and also getting around to the export farms where I take photos and help out the vets to get the horses on their way. And the best part of all? Flight groom!
Have you always wanted to work with horses? Horses have been a part of my life for a long time: waking up at 4.30am every morning, going to the track and then on to school, before coming home and feeding out. After school I worked for some of the best racehorse trainers in the country, then after that I got job on a dressage stud in Kurrajong Heights. I got into polo in Richmond and have been working on and off doing the PAQ and polo for the last few years before the shift to Melbourne. Why did you choose to work with horses as a career? There are some very long days - early mornings, late nights - but when you come into the barn and hearing them neighing and they put their heads out over the door and just seem happy to see you … well, you can’t beat that feeling. Even the smell of freshly baled hay puts a smile on my face.
Nelson is a fan of Japan!
What would be your favourite flight / trip / destination? Japan would have to be one of the best places I have been to. From the food to the scenery, it’s just amazing. And what is your favourite thing about working for EIAF? Definitely the frequent flyer points! No, I’m only kidding. What I really enjoy is the variety - whether it’s flying around the world or regular activities in quarantine. There’s something different every day and you’re always learning. I also get to work with some amazing horses - from the youngsters through to the school master. I wouldn’t - couldn’t - do anything else!
IN AND OUT EIAF likes to keep a close eye on the progress of horses we fly in and those we fly out. brings ‘em in and takes ‘em out. One racehorse EIAF imported from France (quarantined in Germany) is named Gabella and is raced by leading breeder & owner Robert Crabtree & Woodside Park’s Mark Rowsthorn, who has the flashy grey mare with David Hayes. In the best of her three runs thus far in Australia, Gabella finished second at Caulfield on 30 April. Whose Else’s - a horse we exported to the Singapore stables of Stephen Gray - went one better however, winning on 1 May and has now had 3 starts for a win, a second and fourth since leaving Australia. He must have enjoyed his flight! Gabella - fit and ready to run!
w w w. h o r s e p o w e r. c o m . a u
AND THEY’RE RACING! Two thoroughbred industry leviathans in Gerry Harvey (left) and John Messara decided to face off in a foot race with Gerry getting home by a nose. John has plenty of weight for age and we all know he’d go better without a (tongue) tie, but you have to hand it to Gerry who still, clearly, has the Magic. Why were they racing? Heaven knows, but can we suggest that next time they decide to fly instead! And if they must continue to do the whole alpha male thing, you’ll note from our article on page 2 about EIAF’s new stalls, they have “head boards for domineering colts and/or stallions”.
LEST WE FORGET We love this photo! It’s an incredible tribute to the 8 million horses, donkeys and mules that died while faithfully supporting their respective armies during the time of war. Faithful to the very end.
With 25 years experience, groom Ian Dunn enjoys the Cathay 747 Cargo flight enroute to Korea
A groom’s eye view!