Equestrian Hub Magazine Issue 11 2022

Aaron

With over 40 countries visited, 20 on horseback, Mathilde combines her two greatest passions: horses and traveling. Through writing, her mission is to inspire women and solo travellers to follow their dreams and embark on equestrian journeys around the world. And if you’re thinking of a riding holiday, she has some excellent advice on preparing for the adventure.

Amanda Mac

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

As editor of Equestrian Hub Magazine, Amanda’s long-standing passions for horses, writing and photography come together perfectly. An ex-coach and competitor, she works behind the scenes with the amazing EH team to ensure every issue of the magazine brings you the very best in top quality stories, informative articles and great images.

Jessica is a dual national New Zealand-Italian freelance journalist, equestrian traveller and writer. Currently based in Tuscany, she’s perfectly positioned to bring us the very latest in European equestrian trends and innovations. In this issue she investigates a technology that facilitates clear communication between you and your coach, before taking the world of helmets head on.

Dr Calum Paltridge

Graduating with First Class Honours in 2013, Calum has specialised in equine practice ever since. His professional interests are performance and race horses, with a particular focus on poor performance and lameness. He also has spent many years breeding, training and competing stock horses, and in this issue delves into the problems associated with kissing spine.

Lucy is an equestrian entrepreneur originally from the Slovak Republic. After moving to Australia, she established Kentaur Australia. Her keen interest in breeding later resulted in the development of Kentaur Australia Performance Horses, which aims to breed international quality horses for today’s rider. In this issue she discusses bringing a mare back into work after foaling.

Rebecca is a Pilates instructor, dressage coach, FEI competitor and equestrian journalist. For the past 12 years she’s travelled the globe covering major shows as a writer and photographer. She loves immersing herself in different equestrian cultures and interviewing those at the top of their game – and on this occasion it’s Australian show jumper Aaron Hadlow.

Christine Armishaw

Christine is a horse trainer, coach and passionate eventing and jumping rider. A Kiwi girl based in NSW, she teaches others not just how to ride, but also how to understand their horse. In this issue she talks improving your rising trot, before showing us how to make a set of jumps you can be justifiably proud of.

Suzy has lengthy and varied form as a writer and presenter. She works for several Australian and overseas companies, is the author of three published books, and has won an international award for equestrian journalism. Lunging requires skill, patience, and if done properly benefits your horse, and in this issue

Suzy explores lunging equipment and its correct use.

Suzy Jarratt

Mathilde Gregoire

Jessica Morton

Rebecca Ashton

Lucy Galovicova

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Nicole Tough

Nicole is an EA Level 2 Dressage Specialist Coach and National A Level Judge, with over 30 years’ experience in training, competing, judging and coaching. She enjoys presenting seminars and masterclasses, has trained in Germany, Spain and The Netherlands, and has produced nine very successful FEI horses. In this issue she discusses the benefits of developing an independent seat.

Hailing from WA, Rebecca evented at 2* and worked in racing stables before becoming a newsroom journalist. She now works full time as a pen rider at a cattle feedlot, while juggling freelancing and a degree in Equine Science. She recently spoke to IRT’s Chris Burke about the finer points of transporting horses by air.

Tara is the co-creator and long-time editor of Breednet, Australia’s premier Thoroughbred bloodstock website. Combining race and sales results with stallion profiles and news, Breednet provides unique coverage of the breeding industry. Tara is also a passionate advocate for life after racing, and brings us the story of Romeo F, Olympian Amanda Ross’ beautiful OTT show jumper.

Heather is a Grand Prix dressage rider with a wealth of experience at both State and National level. She has mentored many young riders through her Danson Dressage training centre, and uses a proven system to produce her own horses, successfully competing them throughout their careers. In this issue she looks at what’s changed in the world of dressage.

Leny Beahan

Leny is certified in a variety of equine healing modalities including Equine Bodywork, Tucker Biokinetics, Emmett Therapy, Trigger Point Therapy and gait analysis. Helping horses is something she loves and she is constantly expanding her knowledge. In the first of a fascinating two-part series, Leny discusses the many benefits to be gained from stretching.

Jamie Hocking

David Nash

Director of Nutrition Technology at KER, David is an equine nutrition professional with many years’ experience. He advises on feeding and managing horses across all disciplines, and has been instrumental in quality control, laboratory management and analysis, and pasture research. In this issue, he deep dives into the confusion surrounding carbohydrates and sugar, and explains why it all matters.

Rachel Roan

Rachel has ridden her whole life. A passionate horse enthusiast who’s working to establish a small stud of dressage bred performance horses, her interest in writing and storytelling grew during her university media studies. She spoke recently to Kentaur Australia’s Lucy Galovicova about bringing a brood mare back into work - it’s not as simple as it might appear.

Based in Denmark, Jamie is the standing Australian National Champion in equestrian vaulting, holds a world ranking, and is determined to reach the top of his chosen sport. In this issue he speaks to Dr Anthony Nicholson, a teaching veterinarian and researcher, about his highly specialised work as a clinical anaesthetist for small and large animals.

Rebecca Nadge

Tara Madgwick

Heather Currie

Omega

High Fibre: For

and

Non Pelleted: Horses spend more time chewing which stimulates

production and in turn buffers the

and protects it from ulceration.

Low Starch: Reduced risk of

Balanced

Need

LETTER

From the Horse’s Mouth

With Fiona Todd

Hello again – and can you believe it’s nearly Christmas? Time flies by so quickly that there’s never any to waste, so without further ado, let’s dive into this amazing issue.

Our Spotlight is on the inspirational Aaron Hadlow. When Rebecca Ashton spoke with Aaron, she discovered that although he holds down a full time job, he’s also won the World Cup Pacific League now, that takes lots of determination as well as hard work.

Someone else who knows the meaning of dedication is Heather Currie, one of our Equestrian Hub mentors, who shares her thoughts on what’s changed in dressage in our Ask an Expert feature.

While on the topic of mentors, we’d like you to meet two lucky Equestrian Hub Magazine readers, Kristle Cross and Naomi Vanderweg who have just won a fabulous mentoring prize. Congratulations to you both! We hope that this will give your equestrian dreams exactly the right boost. We also introduce two more of our mentors, lifelong equestrian Warwick Schiller and elite Australian dressage rider and trainer David Shoobridge.

We all know how good it feels to stretch our bodies, but it’s just as good for our horses as is it for us, as Leny Beahan explains in the first of a fascinating twopart series. Then Christine Armishaw tells us why you should rise to the trot from your feet not your seat, and National A Level dressage judge and trainer Nicole Tough gives us the low

down on what it means to have an independent seat.

As you know, we love to go globetrotting with Mathilde Gregoire, and in this issue she offers some hot travel tips, but we also find out what’s involved when you pop your pony on a plane as Rebecca Nadge chats with IRT’s very knowledgeable Managing Director Chris Burke.

On the health and wellbeing front, Rachel Roan caught up with Dr Calum Paltridge to find out more about kissing spine; KER’s Director of Nutrition Technology David Nash dives deep into sugars and why you should monitor the carbohydrate levels in your horse’s diet; and Jamie Hocking speaks to veterinary

anaesthetist Dr Anthony Nicholson about his highly specialised work.

We have a super Training Tips for you with Kentaur Australia’s Lucy Galovicova, an expert on bringing a mare back under saddle after foaling, and Olympian Amanda Ross chats with Tara Madgwick about her love affair with her beautiful dapple grey OTT Thoroughbred Romeo F. How’s your budget looking these days? If you’d love a shiny new set of jumps but really can’t afford ready-made, our take on DIY jump building should give you enough ideas to get off to a flying start. And for a solid dose of inspiration of another kind, turn to our story on Dr Pam Karner who, just shy of 70 years old, won this year’s lightweight division of the 160 kilometre Tom Quilty Gold Cup - and that was after completing two of what are probably the world’s toughest horse races!

On the equipment front, Jessica Morton investigates COMTEK’s wireless communication system, technology designed to let you hear your coach loud and clear; Suzy Jarratt brings us up to speed with some of the basic items you’ll need for lunging; and we review the Prestige Lucky Idol dressage saddle.

Our featured breed this month is the Marwari, famous for their unusual but perfectly curved ears, and we let fashion go to our heads with our pick of quality helmets. Dr Rebecca Powers, an equine vet specialising in dentistry, answers 20 Questions, and rising dressage star Jessica Dertell is our Young Rider. Finally, we indulge our fantasies with yet another fabulous equestrian property.

So relax, put your feet up, pour a glass of your favorite beverage and enjoyyou’ve earned it!

Cheers,

Dedication pays dividends

Juicy Fruit. I think it cost $200.” The little horse came with a saddle and bridle. Dad Mark, a panel beater by trade, rode him home but experienced an unplanned dismount in the main street of Goulburn. Juicy Fruit went galloping off and had to be stopped by the police.

Soon afterwards, the family moved to Koonawarra near Wollongong to find better work and schooling opportunities. Aaron and his brothers befriended a lady, Karen Knight, living at the end of their street who owned a horse that they used to ride four times a week before she sold it … to them!

Most riders in Australia come under the amateur banner, but few if any have won the World Cup Pacific League. Aaron Hadlow has reached the top of his sport but had the same beginnings as many of us and continues to hold down a ‘normal’ job while competing at the top level.

The first horse to arrive in the previously non-horsey Hadlow family was when Aaron was just five years old. “My older brother won money in a drawing competition and wanted to get a horse so Dad ended up going to the sales at Goulburn and bought a horse called

Aaron was going into first grade at school and four of the five Hadlow children were riding. “My older brother had a paint horse called Cherokee who he rode for a while then gave up. I took over that ride. My sister was a very good rider but she didn’t really want to put in the hard work. She just wanted to turn up and ride. Considering how much effort she made, she was very successful before she stopped. It ended up with just my identical twin Tim and

SPOTLIGHT

You have to admire the dedication and tenacity of some of Australia’s best riders –and Aaron Hadlow is certainly one of them, writes REBECCA ASHTON.

me riding, and we’ve been riding ever since.” The pair had good horses, bad horses, horses that bolted, the works. They would ride around the streets with their friends to get fish and chips by the lake or go to McDonalds.

If the boys wanted to ride after school, Mum and Dad would send them off to get the horses from where they were agisted and bring them back so they could help them saddle up – both brothers were too short to manage that on their own. “We would go up with the bridles, jump on using logs and fences, and ride them back bareback.” But being cheeky Aussie kids, the boys didn’t go straight home. It was down to the bike track to play tip on their ponies before heading home to cranky parents who informed them it was too late to ride, and that instead they had to walk their ponies back to the paddock to cool them off. Of course, it was a gallop back up the hill to put the horses away. “That was our foundation; hooning around bareback, falling off, getting back on.” The ponies fared well, living off very simple food with never a day off lame or with colic. Perhaps kids and horses were tougher back then!

Aaron is saddened by the way the great horsey area they grew up in has changed; no kids riding the streets now, and new housing estates have marched across the landscape. Unfortunately, this is now common in many regions in Australia, so that these days kids can’t ride at will without a saddle. It concerns Aaron that those carefree opportunities to muster resilience he and his siblings experienced are no longer available to youngsters.

Things started getting a little more serious as the twins hit their teenage years, got better horses and began to specialise. Although he starting out jumping, and according to Aaron he was the better jumper of the two, Tim turned his hand to hacking after becoming too nervous to jump the bigger obstacles. He’s still successful in the show ring

today. Basically Aaron just liked going fast! “Really I just loved galloping! I loved jumping, sporting and cross country but Dad stopped me doing the latter because I was just going too quick. I did do track work before and after school just for a bit of money, but the racing never really interested me.”

After finishing school, Aaron began working for Rod Brown before moving to Hillary Scott’s Oaks Sport Horses for a time. He loved both jobs but then equine influenza hit and it was clear to the young rider that a job away from horses would be smart. Although he’d studied hospitality through his HSC and had gained an apprenticeship as a chef,

Aaron changed tack and landed himself a role as a trainee procurement officer for the Illawarra Retirement Trust, before moving into the accounts receivable department at WIN television where he still works today. “It’s a job that helps pay for the horses. I work from 8:30 in the morning to 5:00 in the evening, and then I either teach or ride owners’ horses. My partner and I also have an ice cream business. There’s never a dull moment.”

FACING PAGE: Aaron and Vahlinvader took out a 4th place at the 2019 Sydney Royal (Image by Australian Jumping).

ABOVE: Aaron and Vahlinvader, winners of the 2022 Waratah Showjumping World Cup Qualifier (Image by Simon Scully).

There is no doubt Aaron understands the meaning of hard work, but with little work/life balance, there are some cranky moments by the end of the week! Dinner with friends almost never happens and with ten horses holidays are hard to organise, so shows are the opportunity for time away. Aaron is aware that such a heavy schedule can take the fun out of competing so he’s had to learn to recentre himself, take the pressure off, and enjoy the competitions because they’re really what’s important to him and what he wants to focus on. The occasional mediocre year after a successful one and going through COVID where he struggled a little mentally, feeling he had no purpose with no competitions, has driven home to Aaron the joy of success and to never take it for granted. Every win is to be celebrated. The biggest of those successes to date has to be winning the World Cup Pacific League in 2018/19 aboard his own mare Vahlinvader. Believing the mare was too green to be taken on to such a big overseas show, Aaron instead opted to go as a spectator. “Oh my god it was incredible. It taught me we need really high quality horses. The horses over there are absolutely amazing and I think

there is a lot of depth to their education as well,” something that perhaps to a degree is lacking in Australia. “I’d love to go up and train with George Sanna at Chatham Park, but to make it worthwhile, I’d need to take four horses on the four hour round trip, and working full time, it’s just not possible.” Aaron would very much like to see Equestrian Australia offer more squad clinics for those who don’t have the

time or money to train regularly with top coaches, which he believes would add greater depth to the sport as more riders would have better opportunities.

Aaron flags winning his first World Cup Qualifier in Gatton in 2018 as one of his most memorable highlights. “I said to Dad the year before that I was so over being rusty going into those events because I was only doing one or two a year and it’s a big difference jumping at 1.45 to 1.55 or 1.60. The margin for error just gets less and less as the fences get that big.” But really the main highlight for the 35-year-old is in producing consistency with Vahlinvader and his team horses. Keeping them all sound, happy and competing well is where Aaron finds his joy.

The horses on his team are impressive. Along with his top mare, Aaron rides Bellhaven Coolibah (Slick) who is owned by Deborah Heindl of Bellhaven Stud, as well as Bellhaven Toulon Blue. He has a half ownership in the five-yearold gelding Bellhaven Santiago. Then there’s Justin and Di Wilkinson’s Cera Stiletto, Jazdan Raphaela (Ella) owned by Melinda Rechichi, and Paula Pratt’s Ironbark Grove Colonel (Jock). “I own a four year old gelding by Cornel who is

Aaron and Vahlinvader in winning form at the 2022 World Cup Qualifier (Image by Simon Scully).

Deborah Heindl’s Bellhaven Coolibah, another impressive horse on Aaron’s team (Image by Simon Scully).

Targeted Nutrition to Replenish and Rehydrate

Horses

“I wouldn’t dare leave home without Restore®. Restore replaces the minerals lost in sweat from the tough workload, or in competition and variable conditions. Restore is an absolute musthave.”

Amanda Ross World Cup Showjumper

The brand just for men.

just coming into work, and a daughter out of Lucy (Vahlinvader) by Cornel who is also rising four and is due to foal any day now. I’m currently working from home on foal watch!” And finally there’s Aaron’s faithful old mare Step Sister, now 28, who accompanied him on the Young Rider circuit and is living at best friend Kristy Lee Hogan’s property.

According to the show jumper, the biggest challenge at the top of the sport is the feeling of isolation. “It’s a very lonely sport. It’s something that I’ve probably struggled with a lot both physically and mentally because there are times when you feel like you just want to give up. Then you go out and do well, and it gives you motivation to keep going - but it is very lonely.” Aaron would very much like to see more team events to perhaps make the sport a bit more welcoming and inclusive.

Despite this, there are still aspirations for the NSW’s south coast based rider. “I would love to go to New Zealand next February for a couple of shows. With Lucy’s World Cup win a few weeks ago, that money will go into the trip fund.” Aaron dreams of being able to produce something to take him to a World Cup Final, an Olympic Games or a World Championship, but if he can’t consistently produce double clear rounds in Australia then he believes he’s not up to the standard to go overseas. And he’d love to be based in the US for a spell: “I think it would suit my style; quick, fast in your hand horses. I’d like to take two or three horses to ride so I’m not doing stable duties. I would have to take clients’ horses and I could do it from a financial perspective. I have a very good work ethic and I don’t want to end up used and abused in a job as a yard rider. Whether I get there or not, I don’t know, but they’re my goals."

Aaron wants to be a good producer, to be at the top of the sport and to represent the country – and with that recent World Cup qualifier win on Lucy at the Waratah World Cup Grand Prix, he’s still right on track to fulfill his dreams.

Vahlinvader shows why she’s Aaron’s top horse (Image by Australian Jumping).

At Willinga Park with Vahlinvader (Image by Australian Jumping).

Rising off your feet

you firstly become an easier load for your horse to carry, and secondly, you start to take ownership of the trot rhythm.

Once you take ownership of the trot, you take control of the speed. If you've ever felt the trot getting faster and faster without you asking your horse to do so, or on the other hand if they wind down to too slow, it's because you're riding your horse's rhythm rather than setting your own.

Rising trot is something most riders learn to do pretty early on in the piece. The familiar up, down, up, down two-beat rhythm inevitably becomes second nature and the conscious effort required to maintain it often drops to a minimum while the rider puts their thought power into other areas. However, what you might not know is that you've possibly been doing it wrong this whole time.

What most riders do is sit for one beat, then for the next beat bounce up off the horse's back, using the horse’s momentum, before sitting sit back down and then repeating the process. However, what you instead need to be doing is using your own body strength to lightly push up against the stirrups off the balls your feet - the idea being to rise off your feet, not your seat. By doing this

I remind my clients that when riding horses there is always a leader and a follower; if you don't make yourself into the leader, then by default you become the follower. This is not to be confused with being the horse’s ‘boss’, but rather that as the leader you choose and set the direction, rhythm and tempo at any given time – because if you don't set it, your horse will!

When you set the rhythm of your rising trot by pushing off your feet, not your seat, it unlocks a way of riding in which you don't have to nag your horse to keep moving. Squeezing your leg against the horse’s side should be the

If you want to improve your rising trot, the trick is to rise off your feet, not your seat, writes CHRISTINE ARMISHAW.

COACHING WITH CHRISTINE

way you get the hindquarters or ‘engine’ turned on and engaged, your initial cue for forwards motion, while the speed and tempo you rise at becomes the metronome for your horse to match.

An exercise for a horse that moves too quickly is to ask for the trot, then begin to count out loud at a slightly slower rhythm then your horse tends to travel. Rise to your own rhythm by pushing off your stirrups and hovering in the upward phase of the rise for half a beat longer. The aim is to have the horse’s legs match your rise, so you slow their leg speed down a little and instead encourage them to reach out a little further and cover more ground. To start with, this can feel a bit uncomfortable because you and your horse may temporarily be a bit out of sync, but bear with me here. Keep the count, and continue with the slower rise and your horse will start to sync up with you.

To speed up, count a quicker rhythm out loud, change your rise to match and watch as your horse adjusts their stride. Once you've mastered what this feels like, you can play around with making the trot bigger and smaller every ten to twenty strides. Actually pick a stride number to work to, count out loud and stick to the plan until you nail it. It might take a few tries, but that’s totally normal especially on the first few attempts. Keep working at it and enjoy the magic feeling of your horse adjusting their rhythm in response to you adjusting your own body.

A variation on this if you ride in an arena, is to trot some big, ground-covering steps down the long sides, and then reduce the trot to the smallest trot steps you can manage without breaking into a walk on the short sides. You’re aiming to feel a distinct contrast between both. Remember, you are striving to move between big and small trot, not just fast and slow. Be careful not to simply rise faster; many horses are quite good at taking tiny, quick, washing machine type steps. Rise bigger and linger in

the upward phase of the rise for half a beat longer to encourage your horse to step out further and cover more ground with each step. Have someone video you from the ground so you can watch to see if your horse is reaching through further with the hind feet. They should reach far enough forward to be able to step into the footprints left by the front feet and, if they're really covering the

ground, they may even reach further forward than that as you rise off your feet, not your seat.

Want more? Christine’s got you covered with a video over at Equestrian Hub

FACING PAGE: Once you take ownership of the trot, you take control of the speed. Images below by Oliver Armishaw-Webb

A big trot in which the hind feet are about to step into the hoof prints left by the front feet.

A smaller trot with smaller steps in which the hind feet don’t reach into the front feet hoof prints.

Heather Currie: Grand Prix Dressage

So what’s changed in the world of dressage? We asked HEATHER CURRIE for her expert opinion.

The type of horse has definitely changed. We’ve gone for a really modern looking horse and moved away from the heavier, old-fashioned Warmblood type. We’re seeing that the best horses in the world are actually very beautiful looking horses in terms of type – I think that’s been a big improvement over the years. The tests themselves have remained quite similar with the components of the Grand Prix pretty much the same. It’s just that the execution is getting better and more refined. We’re seeing less and less of the top rider’s aids.

In Australia the sport is definitely on the up, but a lot of the people who are successful in Europe are based over there rather than here. How can we get that experience back? As far as the quality of the horses goes, we’re able to produce some amazing horses but we’ve still got to be able to train them to be competitive against other nations, rather than sending them overseas.

Judging over the years has changed and people are ensuring the horse’s welfare is number one, which is the most important thing. But what I didn’t like

about the Rollkur [hyperflexion of the neck] situation was the way the public turned against some riders. Anky van Grunsven was the dressage champion of the world and everyone’s darling, and I did not like the turn of foot and the way the public attacked her.

Social media has been both positive and negative. It's used in so many different ways now and can be very misleading about what’s really happening in the sport.

For example, riders may ride a trained Grand Prix horse that’s been produced by someone else and suddenly they’re promoted as Grand Prix riders and giving lessons.

I’ve seen that a lot, it’s all social media hype and instant success. I absolutely applaud people who buy a schoolmaster to learn on, but I question whether the riders who have purchased a Grand Prix horse without having produced a horse to that level themselves have the same experience as someone who has undergone the whole process. It could be an issue for up and coming riders who may not have the funds behind them to purchase a ‘made’ horse, as the steps that are involved in producing a young horse to Grand Prix are different to just riding the movements. The process of training a horse right through the grades is an experience that can’t be bought.

ASK

ABOVE: Heather and her Florencio import Fred Perry.

ABOVE LEFT: Wunderbar Black 59, Heather’s Mr Darcy.

The Mentoring Program

We are delighted to announce our two Mentor Program winners. Congratulation to Kristle Cross, and to Naomi Vanderweg, who with her passion for OTT Thoroughbreds, is the recipient of our inaugural Life After Racing mentorship.

Kristle will be mentored by show jumping legend and household name Vicki Roycroft, and Naomi by elite dressage rider and highly sought-after coach David Shoobridge. Our sincere thanks to Vicki and David, and indeed to all our wonderful mentors, without whom we would not be able to offer this program.

Nor would the program be possible without the more than generous sponsorship of the businesses listed below. Their commitment to the sport we all love is very much appreciated.

And finally, to submit your application for the next Mentor Program round, visit Equestrian Hub

Our Sponsors

The Mentoring Program

Meet our mentors

Warwick Schiller

A lifelong equestrian in a variety of disciplines, Warwick was in his twenties when, in order to pursue his dream of training horses, he moved from his home in Australia to the United States, where he has been working professionally since 1990.

Initially his passion was reining, which led to him representing Australia twice at the World Equestrian Games: in Tryon, North Carolina in 2018, and Lexington, Kentucky in 2010.

Along the way, he discovered not only a passion for teaching, but also that explaining concepts to people in a way they could understand came naturally to him.

His horse training journey has run parallel to his own journey into healing, self-development and personal growth. He has always been a student of the horse, and continues to learn as much as he can from many different sources and disciplines.

However, some years ago he encountered a horse that was not helped by the techniques he was using at the time. This led him on a deep dive into approaches outside the norms of current mainstream training, methods based on the concepts of connection and relationship. The more he learned about the horse’s nervous system and how it is affected by trauma, the more he looked into his own life story – and the two have been leap-frogging each other ever since.

ABOVE: Warwick has always been a student of the horse, and learns as much as he can from different sources and disciplines (Image courtesy Warwick Schiller).

David Shoobridge

David believes in gradual and consistent improvements in both horse and rider. As a coach, he conducts clinics and events throughout Australia and New Zealand and while his primary interest is coaching high performance, he finds embarking on training journeys with talented but less experienced combinations extraordinarily fulfilling.

Key to his approach is to encourage and support all his clients to develop as independent, thinking, effective riders. His emphasis on providing structure and a plan for every horse and rider combination has proved incredibly successful. Many of his students have achieved their personal goals of riding at Grand Prix, competing in Young Rider Championships, or simply discovering the joys of training a horse through the levels.

Along with consistent training, David believes mindset is vital: “And that’s not only the ability to stay calm and rationalise, but also the ability to accurately and truthfully analyse your own performance,” he says. “From there you can identify gaps in your training to work on.”

David’s philosophy of life is one to emulate. A self-confessed perfectionist, he derives great satisfaction from having dreams, goals and ambition. “I’ve learned that things happen throughout life that are often out of our control. But these moments lead into other moments creating memories, new friendships and opportunities. It’s what we do with these situations or opportunities that define us as people.”

ABOVE: Key to David’s coaching is encouraging all his clients to develop as independent, thinking, and effective riders (Image by Jessica Atkins Studio).

The Mentoring Program

Meet our winners

Kristle Cross’s proudest achievement to date has been taking a horse from never having jumped through to Mini Prix, and winning the Amateur of the Year Series at the 2015 Forbes Show. She has since followed up with a 2022 ACT Cup Mini Prix win, and was runner-up Category A Champion at the 2022 ESP Winter Festival with current horse Little Bit of Blue.

But not one to rest on her laurels, Kristle has been busy: “I attended Waratah Warm Up Weekend, show jumping and eventing at Willinga Park, and the NSW State Titles at Willinga. Now I’m looking forward to the Stonewall Showjumping Championships and Jumping NSW Summer Showjumping Classic.” And after achieving her 1.30m goal, 1.40m is on her radar.

With a long-term Grand Prix dream, the mentorship couldn’t be more appropriate. “I was so surprised when I got the call telling me I’d won that I didn’t know what to say! I’m just so excited and grateful for this amazing opportunity.”

Kristle is a firm believer in giving back to her sport and decided to get her EA Level 1 Coach qualification. “I love helping riders achieve their goals, and the more knowledge I gain on my own journey, the more I can pass on to others to help them become better horsemen and women.”

ABOVE: Kristle and Little Bit of Blue competing at 2022 NSW State Show jumping championships (Image by Oz Shotz).

One of Naomi Vanderweg’s most significant equestrian challenges was overcoming a break in her back after a bad fall. “I’m very proud of my journey to achieve the mindset I needed to retrain, relearn, build confidence and resilience, as well as create realistic goals for myself as a rider. I’m now competing to Novice level. It’s been a journey with lots of tears and many joys.”

Winning the mentorships was a shock for Naomi. “It took a couple of minutes to properly register. It’s a once-in-alifetime opportunity and I’m so excited,” she says.

With a soft spot for OTT Thoroughbreds (she has three – Lorenzo and Charlie, both now retired, and Hugo, her current partner) Naomi’s goals are first to continue to learn and grow at Novice level while continuing to support OTT dressage events, and later to compete in Country and State championships in South Australia, her home state.

And she has another dream: “I want to show other equestrians that they can reach their goals with dedication and hard work. It’s vital to have a positive and realistic mindset and, like I’ve been lucky enough to have, to create a support network of people who’ll be there to ride every stride with you.”

ABOVE: Naomi and Hugo are currently competing at Novice level and loving the journey they’re on together.

Winner: Kristle Cross Discipline: Dressage, eventing, show jumping Mentor: Vicki Roycroft

Mentee: Naomi Vanderweg (Life After Racing Series) Discipline: Dressage Mentor: David Shoobridge

FEATURE

Stretch it out Part 1

Does your horse need to stretch?

up and purchased my own horse as soon as I was able to and progressed from there,” Leny recalls. “Now I am a qualified equine bodyworker where I use various modalities to help horses feel their best.”

Leny Beahan has always been a lover of animals, particularly horses. As a child, her perception of horses was mixed: on the one hand, they seemed to be huge and rather scary animals, but on the other, she felt that they were also peaceful and

intriguing, with an energy that for her, was magnetic.

Leny’s parents were not horsey, but, kind enough to indulge her fascination, they sent her to a local camp and riding school where she was able to spend time surrounded by horses. “I saved

Interestingly, Leny has a background in soft tissue work with humans, who, because they could offer feedback, helped her refine her skills and that has given her a great feel for how soft tissue should and shouldn’t feel in horses. “I also used to be a long distance runner and understand first-hand how bodywork helps with performance and recovery, which is how I started to wonder how I could apply my knowledge to my horses to help them perform better and recover quicker,” she explains.

Why stretch?

Leny uses a wide range of therapeutic modalities, including massage, mobilisation and stretching, biokinetic work, trigger point therapy, Emmett therapy, gait analysis and biomechanics.

Leny Beahan talks to CHRISTINE ARMISHAW about the many benefits of stretching it out.

She feels that all types of therapies are great and have different focuses. “It’s super important for bodyworkers to stay within their scope of practice, and if they are in it for the benefit of the horse, then your therapist will have no hesitation in recommending another modality or therapist if needed,” says Leny.

Honing in on stretching, she emphasises the importance of first knowing what a stretch is, what stretching does, when and went not to use stretches and, of course, how to do them. “A stretch is a physical movement where we can improve muscle elasticity through elongation and lengthening to realign and reaffirm muscle tone and comfort, which is very beneficial when applied correctly.”

Stretching helps horses with their range of motion, improves stride length and increases flexibility, which results in better movement overall. And there are more benefits to be had: “Stretching also improves posture, stretches the fascia, and creates body awareness via neuromuscular pathways in the form of proprioception,” she adds, “so the horse has greater awareness when doing things like jumping and trail riding.”

The pay-offs continue, with stretching helping to improve circulation by allowing blood to flow easily, easing pain by releasing endorphins, reducing muscle tension and spasm, helping to prevent injury by strengthening supportive and surrounding tissue and structures, and reducing any muscle soreness following an increase in activity or training.

Stretching correctly

Like anything, it’s important to make sure you stretch your horse correctly and to keep your end goal in mind. “It’s always a good idea to reach out to your professional and see what’s suitable for your particular horse because, while stretching has so many wonderful benefits, there are instances where horses would not be helped,” Leny tells me. She gives the example of hypermobile horses, who would benefit

ABOVE: Safety first - never hard tie your horse, and bend your knees to protect your back. FACING PAGE: A lot of force is behind the explosive movement of pushing off for a jump (Image by Jessica Morton).

from strengthening exercises rather than stretching. Neither is stretching the right thing to do when there is an injury, an undiagnosed lameness, nerve pain, or if the horse is unwell. “When you do stretch, you also want to avoid holding tendons, and not make any strong, fast movements,” she adds.

And it’s wise to keep both your own and your horse’s safety in mind. For example, never hard tie your horse while performing any stretching. “Some horses may not be used to stretching and may dislike it or be unsure initially, or they may be really good at following your feel and drop down onto their knee,” she explains, these reactions making hard tying potentially hazardous. “You can also keep an eye on their facial expressions as an indicator of how they are feeling during the process.”

Knowing what’s normal and abnormal for your horse before stretching is

always a good place to start. “If you do feel like your horse has a problem, then get advice first,” Leny says, adding that you also need to keep your own body position safe by using your knees and legs to take the weight off your back.

To stretch or not

So, how can you tell if a horse is lacking in mobility or if they would benefit from ground based stretches? Leny suggests a visual evaluation, paying attention to symmetry and evenness. “You want to look out for any changes in things like the normal stride length, whether the muscles look even on both sides of the body, and if they appear smooth when you look at them,” she suggests.

She lists some useful points to check off while performing your assessment: Can you see individual muscle outlines, or do they blend harmoniously? Do the muscles feel really hard or tight under your hand? Is the back contracted and

the belly sunken down? Is the neck more developed underneath? Is there a dip where the neck and wither meet? Are the back muscles under-developed behind the wither where your saddle sits? Do you notice any muscle spasm when you touch the back? Do you notice any changes in your horse’s stability?

“These are some of the things that may indicate you need to stretch and strengthen your horse,” she says.

If you’ve ascertained some stretching is in order, the next question is how often stretches need to be done to be truly beneficial, and Leny believes that for basic maintenance three times a week is great.

Getting sport specific

Over all, horses use their entire body when any sort of riding activity is asked of them, but here Leny gets a little more discipline specific. Jumping creates a lot of downward force on the front of the body during landing, placing strain on the pectorals and shoulder girdle muscles, as well as the foreleg tendons. Equally, a lot of force is required for the explosive movement of pushing off and lifting up to jump. In the push-off phase, the horse uses the glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, hip flexors, and their back, so stretching these muscles can be very beneficial.

Dressage requires strength and suppleness and is very physical so, while the whole body is utilised, it is the poll, neck, back, abdominals and hind quarters that are especially involved. Western sports can require either controlled strength or explosive movement and fast turns, with the horse sometimes needing to squat very low. This requires enormous amounts of muscle and energy in the pelvis, glutes, hocks, hamstrings, hip flexors and the back, so working on these areas can be of great help. “But really, any ridden

horse will enjoy the myriad of benefits to be gained through stretches over the whole body,” Leny adds.

No matter what the discipline or the activity level, and even for horses who are inactive or retired, the wonderful benefits of stretching regularly are similar for any horse.

In the second part of this series Leny explains the three different types of stretches, and the one she loves above all others. To learn more about Leny’s work, visit Connected Equine.

Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale, exponents of the strength and suppleness dressage requires (Image FEI/Leanjo de Koster).

Western sports can require controlled strength, explosive movement and fast turns, with the horse sometimes needing to squat very low.

An independent seat

Honing your seat aid skills is not easy, but to be a good rider it’s essential. National A Level dressage judge and trainer NICOLE TOUGH explains why.

As a rider, we have rein aids, leg aids and seat aids. If we want to be a good rider, then we must work to develop these aids independently from each other, and then they must work as a team.

The seat aids are the most difficult to master, and the rein aids often take over the job simply because they’re easier to use than the seat. It is extremely common for riders to use their reins to:

slow down and/or make downward transitions

control a loss of balance in the horse

attempt to achieve collection

make half-halts

turn or bend the horse

fiddle or put the horse's head into a frame; and

inadvertently put accidental pressure on the reins when learning to sit trot. All of these uses of the rein inhibit the development of an independent seat, and thus prevent the development of the horse for dressage. To understand this, imagine the flow of traffic over a bridge. If there is an accident on the bridge, the traffic is stopped, and thus the energy flow is blocked. On a horse, the rein aids can block the flow of movement, prevent engagement, and be the cause of traffic accidents!

HANGING TOUGH

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Here are six tips to help you develop that deep, independent seat:

1. Understand the job of each aid. In a downward transition, the leg aids have the job of ensuring the transition is smooth, like a car and float approaching a red light and the driver not wanting the horse to feel the float stop. The seat aids achieve the transition by the closing of the seat bones and inner thighs and the bracing of the diaphragm, and the rein aids manage the frame. Likewise in an upward transition, the leg aids achieve the transition by applying pressure with the lower leg, the seat engages so the horse doesn’t run away either in the current or the new gait; and the rein aids manage the frame.

2. It is important to know what the correct seat looks like, and have someone on the ground nagging you when you move out of that position.

I have lessons every week with my coaches, and have many idols that I try to emulate. Those riders are in my head, and I strive for their positions and effectiveness in every ride.

3. The seat aids begin and end with a strong posture. We don’t need to be really strong to be a good rider - which is why equestrian sport is one of only two in the world where men and women compete on a level playing field but we do need the muscular endurance to hold the best posture for the entire training session.

Riders often ask ‘what exercise can I do in the gym to help me improve?’ I say, go home and watch a movie in a plank position. The plank is a body weight exercise which requires you to hold your trunk off the ground. Just like riding, this simple static exercise engages multiple muscle groups at the same time, and is effective in strengthening the core, shoulders, arms and glutes. Or, you could do what Charlotte Dujardin does and stand and squat on a gym ball for 45 minutes (but I would break a leg!) Hot tip – the more you use your core, the less you need your rein.

4. The easiest place to practise an independent seat is in the walk. Use the walk to sit as well as Charlotte Dujardin, and work on making that position your new normal. Too many riders are their laziest in walk, and yet walk is the easiest pace to sit like Charlotte.

5. Mastering dressage is not easy. Influencing a 500 kilogram animal with a mind and spirit of its own is hard enough, without trying to make it look effortless and beautiful at the same time. Investing in a saddle that wants you in the right position and therefore makes the job easier, will be the best thing you do.

6. We don’t get better at sitting trot by rising! Every sit trot step is a sit-up. That’s why it’s hard. The more you do, the better you get - but you have to practise it.

It is only through understanding, dedication, watching and learning, a coach who’s committed to telling you the truth, and so much practise, that an independent seat can be achieved. The best thing about our sport is that you improve with age. Never give up. We can all get better.

And thank you to all the coaches over the years who have helped me. Believe me, in my head I wasn’t thanking you at the time, but I thank you now!

FACING PAGE: Developing an independent seat as good as Charlotte Dujardin’s is something worth aspiring to (Image © FEI/Liz Gregg).

ABOVE: Although difficult to master, an independent seat is essential (Image by Rodneys Photography).

Come fly with me

There’s more to transporting horses internationally than you might think. REBECCA NADGE spoke to IRT’s Chris Burke to learn more.

While many owners may be well versed in transporting their horses by float or truck, the process of shipping horses internationally involves a very different set of requirements.

Chris Burke, Managing Director of IRT, tells me that a wide variety of horses travel globally: “In terms of the breeds we move around, it’s everything you can

imagine. Mainly they’re Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, Quarter Horses and performance horses, but it can also include Gypsy cobs, mini donkeys, mammoth donkeys – all sorts of different breeds. A fair few horses travel for racing or performance reasons, but probably the driving force behind the international movement of horses is breeding and bloodlines.”

Australia’s strict biosecurity laws mean that horses must complete 14 days quarantine at a government approved facility prior to leaving the country, and also immediately after arrival here.

Chris says the earlier owners get in touch about importing a horse, the smoother the process will be. If there isn’t an existing protocol within the country of origin, the risk of exotic disease may be too great and the horse may not meet entry requirements. “When they’re at the pre-purchase vetting stage, we give potential clients a list of exotic diseases to test that horse against, so they can avoid buying an animal that might never qualify to come to Australia,” he explains. “We suggest they tell the vendor they’ll buy the horses subject to those requirements. There’s nothing worse than someone ringing me to arrange importation of a horse, only for us to test it and discover there’s a problem. At that stage the vendors generally don’t want the horse back, and the buyer is stuck with a horse they can’t bring to Australia.”

IRT handles everything from collection to delivery, including agistment, quarantine, and flights, but the horse does need to have a clear form of identification. Microchips are required on all horses that travel around the world. “That microchip needs to be matched to some sort of breed registration, or perhaps an FEI passport, pet passport, breed passport, or something similar,” Chris tells me. “If the horse doesn’t have that, then we sometimes need a vet to microchip the horse so it can be identified. Then we can start the testing and vaccinations – but only once there’s a clear line of identification that the animal we are testing and treating is the animal we’re going to fly.”

When it comes to the actual flight, Chris recommends owners gradually adapt their feeding regime so the horse is carrying a bit of extra condition by the time they fly. Horses will typically lose between five and twenty-five kilograms on the flight, so a few extra kilograms can make a difference. He warns, however, that this needs to be planned well ahead of time. “Leading up to the flight we do ask that horses be weaned off the heavier grains. Your biggest risk really is colic during the flight, so you do try and wind down the feed as you get closer to the flight for that reason.” Hay is provided during the trip but hard feeds are avoided, although a couple of handfuls of feed may be offered on longer haul flights. Water intake is the bigger concern and molasses might be added to entice the horse to drink.

Horses travel in air stables on the main deck of a cargo aircraft, the same area in which passengers would sit during a regular commercial flight. Each stable can accommodate three standard sized horses. The horses are led into the stables at ground level, before being towed to the aircraft, loaded, and locked into position. Up to 87 horses can fit into the aircraft, although this will depend on how many horses are in each stable. “You can change the partitions in the stables,

so there might only be two horses, or perhaps two heavy horses that need more room. Sometimes, for example, with the high value shuttle stallions, they might have the whole area to themselves. It’s kind of like first class, business class and economy,” Chris laughs.

following September 11 has made it more difficult for people to travel on the same flight. The COVID pandemic added further complications, but Chris says in many cases it also comes down to the number of seats. “We make sure we have one of our professional grooms on the plane, and with some flights, especially some of the longer haul flights, we have a vet onboard too,” he explains.

It was once common for grooms to fly with the horses but increased security

Another consideration is that a horse’s highest risk of travel sickness after a long journey is the first 48 hours after arrival. “Quite often when someone accompanies the horse all the way through on the flight, it’s fantastic that they’re there, but when they arrive they’re exhausted,” Chris explains, “and then they’re not around to keep an eye on the horse for the slightest change in their temperament, or their temperature, and that’s when they’re at the highest risk. We often encourage team riders to have their staff fly to the destination

FACING PAGE: Waiting to load. ABOVE: Rugs are not required for the temperature controlled flight. All images courtesy of IRT

Horses will typically lose between five and twenty-five kilograms on the flight, so a few extra kilograms can make a difference.

early and get a day or two’s sleep in the time zone of the new country, and then be there at the airport to take care of the horses from the minute they land. That’s really when they’re going to need you the most.”

Unlike trucking or floating, in air stables horses are able to lower their heads and don’t need to brace during corners or when stopping at intersections. The takeoff and landing are the most disruptive and noisiest part of the journey, but changes in climate are another factor. “Every time you land at a different airport, it might be really cold, it might be high humidity. It’s a little bit different in terms of the extremes, but horses actually travel a lot better than you might think. We generally find that because they’re not moving around as much and we have the ability to get their heads down during the trip, they adapt to it.” However, transport companies are always looking for ways to take a shorter route, or to reduce the number of stopovers, as small improvements can make a big difference.

Chris encourages owners to only travel their horses in gear that they’re accustomed to wearing. Rugs are not required as the temperature, which can get warm from the body heat of the horses, is controlled. He also recommends that shoes are removed, particularly the hinds, to reduce risk of injury. “Quite often owners might float their horse without anything on - but then they put the horse on a flight and want to dress it up with everything, thinking they’re protecting the animal. Sometimes all that extra gear causes the horse to fret and fidget as they try to work out what’s on their legs. As a consequence, they don’t settle and kick out the whole flight, which defeats what their owners were trying to achieve in the first place!”

For more information, call IRT on 03 9643 3030, or email irtaus@irt.com

Air stable partitioning can be adjusted to accommodate from one to three horses.

Loading air stables onto the cargo aircraft’s main deck.

Safely loaded with the air stable locked securely into place.

Diagnosing kissing spine

Could kissing spine be the cause of your horse’s behavioural issues? RACHEL ROAN spoke to Dr Calum Paltridge to find out.

When behavioural problems in horses arise and owners begin to search for the root cause, back pain should always be on the list of issues to rule out – and kissing spine is one condition that vets often look for.

Kissing spine is a term used to describe the impingement of the dorsal spinous

processes, where the vertebrae along the spine narrow and rub together, resulting in changes to the bone, restricted mobility, pain and discomfort. “The dorsal spines are basically the pointy bits of bone that come up from a horse’s spine,” Dr Calum Paltridge explains. “The most obvious dorsal spinous processes are at the

wither, but they exist all along the thoracic spine. In horses with kissing spine, the space between those spinous processes has narrowed between adjoining vertebrae, and they rub against each other, causing pain.”

Often, a horse with kissing spine will appear sound in the paddock, and it’s only under saddle that symptoms really show. The weight from the rider on their back causes the spine to sink, so the dorsal spinous processes become closer, rub together, and exacerbate the pain.

Research into kissing spine is still at a preliminary stage, but it’s broadly believed that a variety of factors may play a role in its development. “While we don’t know the direct cause for kissing spine, there are a number of potential reasons,” Calum tells me. “It may be partly due to genetics, partly conformational, or it could be injury related.” (Follow the link for a recent study on the kissing spine gene).

ABOVE: Back pain should always be on the list of issues to rule out in a horse with behavioural problems.

VET VIBES

The strength of a horse’s back and their overall muscle strength and tone also has an impact – particularly when carrying a rider. The size and weight of the rider in comparison to the horse should also be considered.” It would also be unwise for a poor, skinny horse to be ridden, as it would put them at risk of back-related issues. “Horses that are wasted away or lack topline struggle a lot more to maintain their posture,” Calum adds.

Signs of kissing spine are often varied. “The first thing a lot of owners notice is reluctance under saddle; whether that’s over a jump, unwillingness to go up or down hills, or girthiness. Riders sometimes misinterpret the horse as being girthy when they are actually just sore from the pressure of the saddle on their back,” he notes. Pain when a rider mounts or dismounts is another sign that something could be wrong.

An initial examination of the horse involves the vet pressing along the spine looking for soreness. Calum explains that horses without back soreness dip their back away slightly from the pressure, while horses that are in pain will either hold themselves entirely rigid to avoid moving their back, or, they will make an exaggerated move away from the pressure, indicating signs of significant soreness through the axial muscles of their back. “It’s a bit of a grey area,” he admits. “Similar to back pain in people, the reason can sometimes be hard to determine. What produces pain in one horse while another horse with very similar x-rays is fine is something we are yet to understand.”

Before concluding a horse has kissing spine, it’s important to first rule out other potential sources of their discomfort. Arthritis, tendon and ligament issues, poor teeth, or a badly fitting saddle are some of the areas that should be explored. “Other things that can produce back pain, like arthritis in the spine, need to be considered,” says Calum.

“Gastric ulcers can also cause horses to perform poorly or become a bit girthy, and they can present with a varied array of symptoms. Ideally these things should be ruled out first on the list of performance issues to check for.”

A diagnosis of kissing spine can be reached through a combination of clinical signs and x-rays. An x-ray of a normal spine will show nicely spaced dorsal spinous processes that are not touching and have clean margins. In comparison, the spine of an affected horse will have close or touching spinous processes, and often changes to the bone are visible from where they’ve been in contact. “Bone on bone will obviously bring about a reaction and we will see loss of bone, calcification, or other changes,” says Calum.

However, an x-ray alone is not enough to provide the full picture. In a 2011 study, over a third of horses with no signs of back pain had evidence of overriding spinous processes on x-rays. The study found that many ridden horses showed evidence of kissing spine, without any of the accompanying signs of pain or behavioural issues. In some cases, horses were physically conformed to display kissing spine, yet

still showed no signs of discomfort. It is not known whether in these horses, their condition will evolve into a problem later on. In addition to the evidence on an x-ray, an accurate diagnosis relies on the horse showing signs of being sore in the back. “Ideally, we should be able to nerve block this with local anaesthetic to prove that’s definitely where the pain is coming from. That, in combination with x-rays, indicates kissing spine could be the issue,” Calum tells me.

For horses affected by kissing spine, having someone on their back can cause noticeable pain, and their performance may become very limited. Many disciplines require flexion and a high range of movement in the back, which might be challenging and difficult for an affected horse. So what can you do when you receive a diagnosis of kissing spine?

For mares, breeding is not ruled out. “You would just want to ensure the stallion you choose has really good conformation, and make sure that they don’t have similar issues, as there may be a genetic component,” explains Calum.

As daunting as this condition may sound, he believes owners shouldn’t worry unduly as a variety of treatment options are available. Many horses can

Equine Clinical Nutrition

be managed well through physiotherapy and strengthening, or for more developed cases, surgery is also an option. “Although expensive, there are a couple of different surgeries which can be quite effective, but you have to be certain that kissing spine is definitely the issue,” he stresses. “Depending on the horse, many can be effectively managed through exercises that build topline and strengthen the back. There are a number of exercises known as carrot stretches, which focus on stretching those muscles in the back and building topline.”

Working horses in hand to encourage them to drop their head and build topline can successfully reduce symptoms, and other treatments such as shockwave therapy and acupuncture have also been successful. In the middle ground between strength exercises and surgery is the option of cortisone injections. These are most effective in combination with physiotherapy to build muscle. X-rays, nerve blocks, physiotherapy and cortisone are all relatively inexpensive.

Calum points out that people can be too quick to look for a physical reason behind any behavioural problems. “Sometimes they need to review their training processes first. They may be pleasantly surprised to discover that there is nothing physically wrong with their horse after all.”

While back pain in horses can be complex, there are many treatments available to help make your horse happy to have you back in the saddle. With correct management, kissing spine doesn’t have to mean the end of your horse’s career.

Dr. Calum Paltridge (BVSc (Hons) MANZCVS) is the owner and veterinarian at Thunderbolt Equine Veterinary Services in Armidale, NSW.

From top to bottom: In this progression of x-rays from withers to lumbar spine, the middle x-rays show clear overriding of the dorsal spinous processes.

When only the best will do

EQUITANA Melbourne is the horse event that everyone talks about, and it’s finally back after a four year hiatus.

An undeniably iconic event, EQUITANA brings together the very best of the equine world – from star presenters who have competed at the highest level and educators who have coached the world over, to shopping that doesn’t stop, edge-of-your-seat competitions, and entertainment that’s talked about long after the event is over.

Around 40,000 people are expected through the gates at the Melbourne Showgrounds over EQUITANA’s four days, with some shows already sold out. Managing director Rod Lockwood

says it has been a challenge to keep everything in line with multiple hurdles to clear thanks to the global pandemic, but he is promising a very special event.

“After four years and plenty of heartache following cancellations, I am ecstatic that EQUITANA Melbourne is finally a reality in 2022. We have worked so hard to stay in business and deliver our beloved event - to see it happen is emotional.”

As well as four days filled with competitions, demonstrations, shopping and more, there are night shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Each day represents a discipline: Thursday is

show jumping, with dressage on Friday, the spirit of Australian equestrian on Saturday, and horsemanship on Sunday.

But there’s something for everyone every day – whether it’s learning about a new breed at the Kelato Animal Health Breed Village, watching one of the 70-plus educators who between them are delivering more than 150 sessions, cheering for your favourite competitor in a nail-biting competition, or just soaking it all in.

Star presenters include Rio Olympic Games show jumping teammates Scott Keach and James Paterson-Robinson for the Off the Track Jumping Masterclass; Tokyo silver medallist Sabine SchutKery, who will give the Sprenger Dressage Masterclass; acclaimed horseman and entertainer Guy McLean, topping the bill with the Australiana Mane Event; and internationally renowned reiner and trainer Warwick Schiller, who’s here to present his Ultimate Horsemanship Masterclass.

History is being made this year with three women vying for top honours in the Mitavite TWOTH (The Way of the Horse) competition. Hayley Hinton, Skye Liikanen and Steph Lancefield are all hugely respectful of each other’s expertise, but don’t expect any concessions – these are talented horsewomen who back their own ability. TWOTH is something quite special. It captures the very ethos of EQUITANA, and watching these competitors work with unbroken three-year-old Dylanglen Stud Connemara cross fillies over the four days will be something to behold.

EQUITANA western events manager

Sandi Simons has been part of EQUITANA since it first came to Australia and has long wanted an all-female line-up for TWOTH. “The horsemanship element of EQUITANA is the take home,” Sandi explains. “It’s the key element that educates people and something they can actually use. For some it is a real light bulb moment.”

FEATURE

Dressage superstar Sabine Schut-Kery is no stranger to EQUITANA. She’s been involved with the German event for many years, but this is her first visit Down Under and she can’t wait. She is excited to see what EQUITANA Melbourne is like but, after having her curiosity peaked by what she has seen on the international stage, she’s also curious to learn more about Australian dressage.

Sabine plans to share how she’s grown on her own journey. “It will be an insight into what I have learned over so many years, combined with my own personal philosophy on how to train a horse. I would call it old school really. I learned when we didn’t have the extravagant moving horses, so gaits were developed. I love it.”

Another dressage supremo at EQUITANA is five time Olympian Mary Hanna. Mary is competing in Thursday’s CDI-W Grand Prix and all going well, will be back in the arena for the CDI-W Freestyle during the Friday night show.

Held over two days, the show jumping at EQUITANA promises much. Getting underway on Thursday morning, rounds in the outdoor arena will be followed by the Off the Track Jumping Masterclass in the afternoon, and Jumping Full Flight on Thursday evening. And finally, Friday’s cash-rich $50,000 plus

Grand Prix in the outdoor grass arena is guaranteed to produce some of the most exciting top flight competition jumping of the entire event.

Every breed of horse is included at EQUITANA, from minis to off the track Thoroughbreds, superlatively bred Warmbloods, sport horses, and even Pony Clubbers. “We are coming back in style,” says Rod. “This is an event that is so unique in what is presented. We always seek the very best talent we can find, bringing people from all over the world to Melbourne to share their knowledge, showcase their skills, and inspire Australian men, women and

children in all sorts of ways, helping them do better with their own horses.”

There are just a handful of tickets left across the four days, so don’t waste another second. For all the information and tickets, head to www.equitana.com.au.

FACING PAGE: Sabine Schut-Kery competing with long-time partner Sanceo (Image by Annan Hepner).

ABOVE LEFT: Scott Keach will present the Off the Track Jumping Masterclass with teammate James Paterson-Robinson (Image courtesy EQUITANA).

ABOVE RIGHT: Guy McLean, topping the bill in the Australiana Mane Event (Image courtesy EQUITANA).

BELOW: Internationally renowned horseman Warwick Schiller will present the Ultimate Horsemanship Masterclass (Image courtesy Warwick Schiller).

mats

While horses evolved as free ranging herbivores, the environment of today’s domestic horse has changed and their ability to roam and forage is often diminished. With the increased nutrient density of improved pastures and supplemented feeds, horse owners should be aware of carbohydrates and understand their benefits and negatives for certain horses.

About 75% of all plant matter is comprised of carbohydrates, an extremely important part of a horse’s diet. There are different types of carbohydrates in horse feed, and how well horses digest and utilise them varies considerably. In nutritional terms, carbohydrates can be divided into two broad categories: non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) and structural carbohydrates.

NSC: Occur either as simple sugars in the feed, or are broken down by enzymes produced by the horse. Included are glucose, fructose, sucrose, lactose and starch. They range from being low in a grass hay diet to comprising a high percentage in a highgrain, low-fibre ration.

Structural carbohydrates: Occur in the plant’s cell wall, are resistant to the horse’s digestive enzymes, and must be fermented by bacteria living in the gut before they can be utilised. Known as plant fibres, they consist primarily of cellulose and hemicellulose.

Carbohydrates got their name because they contain carbon combined with hydrogen and oxygen, usually in the same ratio as water. The basic unit of a carbohydrate is a monosaccharide (simple sugars, primarily glucose and fructose), with either five carbons (pentoses) or six carbons (hexoses). Hexoses are the most important carbohydrates for horses. They appear naturally as single sugars

NUTRITION

How sweet it is Glucose, fructose, sucrose … confused?

DAVID NASH, Director of Nutrition Technology at KER, digs deep into the subject.

(monosaccharides) and are fairly rare, while glucose and fructose occur freely in nature.

Glucose: Appears in small amounts as a single sugar (dextrose), and is of special interest in horse nutrition because it is produced from the digestion of many of the more complex carbohydrates, and circulates in the blood in that form.

Sucrose: The sugar obtained from sugar cane or sugar beets, sucrose is a twosugar molecule (disaccharide). Upon hydrolysis, the sugar splits into mixtures of glucose and fructose (invert sugars). Cane molasses also contains sucrose, glucose, and fructose. After sugar cane juice is boiled down and the sugar has been crystallised, what’s left is cane molasses, which contains about 55% invert sugar.

Fructose: Sweeter than sucrose, fructose occurs freely along with glucose in fruits and honey and in combined forms in higher carbohydrates.

Lactose: The sugar in milk, lactose is another disaccharide and is broken

down by the enzyme lactase. It is less likely than glucose or sucrose to undergo acid fermentation in the stomach, a process that may result in tissue irritation. It promotes the development of acidophilic organisms in the intestine, opposes the growth of undesirable putrefactive bacteria in foals, and favours calcium and phosphorus assimilation, making it the sugar of choice for the suckling foal.

Polysaccharides: Are complex carbohydrates (strings of simple sugars of varying lengths), which are usually insoluble in water. Upon hydrolysis by enzymes and acids, they are broken down into various products and finally to their constituent monosaccharides. The most important form of polysaccharide for horses is starch.

Starches: Long strings of glucose molecules in both straight chains (amylose) and branched chain structures (amylopectin).

Because monosaccharides are the only form of carbohydrates that can

be absorbed from the intestine, more complex carbohydrates must be broken down into simple sugars before they can be utilised by the horse. Starches are broken down by the enzyme amylase, but since the horse’s ability to produce amylase is limited, a great deal of the starch in a horse’s diet may escape digestion in the small intestine. The starch source, processing, amount of intake, timing of forage feeding, and the differences between individual horses all affect starch digestibility.

Directly measuring the amount of sugar in the horse’s ration used to be difficult, quite expensive, and was therefore usually estimated. However, chemical assays are now widely available to measure the amounts of starch and other soluble carbohydrates in horse feeds and forages.

Assays commonly used to determine NSC content of feedstuffs include starch,

FACING PAGE: Sucrose is a two-sugar molecule obtained from sugar cane. ABOVE: Lactose, the sugar of choice for the suckling foal.

evolution of

water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and ethanol soluble carbohydrates (ESC). NSC is typically defined as starch + WSC, which includes most forms of soluble carbohydrates in the feed, such as simple sugars, starch and other nonstructural carbs such as fructans. In some situations, ESC may be substituted for WSC in the calculation of NSC to more closely estimate the contribution of feed components that are absorbed as simple sugars in the horse’s digestive tract.

There is a wide range in digestible energy (DE) and NSC among common horse feeds. Typically, the NSC content is lowest in straw and mature hays, and cereal grains have the highest concentration. Molasses is also high in NSC, containing a level between corn and barley, but its overall DE content is lower because it contains 25% water. Many issues can arise due to undigested starch from cereal grains and fructans from pasture, and these compounds are the most likely to contribute to lactic acidosis in the hindgut.

Carbohydrates can be digested and absorbed as monosaccharides in the small intestine, or they can be fermented in the large intestine to produce volatile fatty acids (VFA) or lactic acid. The rate of fermentation and types of end

Feeds lower on the glycaemic index include lucerne hay and grass hay.

products produced are variable and can have significant effects on the health and wellbeing of the horse.

Starch is the predominant carbohydrate in cereal grains. Although all starch is made up of glucose chains, the starch molecule is constructed differently in different types of grain, which has a significant impact on how well the starch is digested in the horse’s small intestine. Of the grains most commonly fed to horses, oats contain the most digestible form of starch, followed by sorghum, corn, and barley. Processing of grains can have a huge effect of pre-cecal starch digestibility and glycaemic index, which is particularly true for barley, sorghum and corn (the cecum is a large fermentation pouch which forms part of the digestive system).

Rapid fermentation can produce lactic acid, which may lead to a cascade of events culminating in laminitis. Slowly fermenting carbohydrates from the plant cell wall are absolutely essential to maintain a healthy microbial environment in the hindgut, and provide a major source of digestible energy for many horses.

The quantity of blood glucose produced in response to a meal is a useful

measure. The glycaemic index of a feed indicates the rate of carbohydrate absorption after the horse ingests that feed. For example, oats are 100 on the index, sweet feed rates at 129, and steam-flaked corn at 144, indicating that more glucose is derived from their prececal digestion than from oats. Feeds lower on the glycaemic index include cracked corn (90), rice bran (47), lucerne hay (46), and grass hay (23).

Carbohydrates and sugars can be an excellent source of calories to fuel a high-performance horse. However, for horses not requiring that quantity of fuel, an excessive caloric intake can lead to obesity and other clinical signs in those horses with equine metabolic syndrome, or PPID (equine Cushing’s disease).

Obesity is a growing problem in the horse population and an important risk factor for laminitis through its association with insulin resistance. Owners should monitor body condition and seek professional advice to assess the carbohydrate levels in their horse’s diet.

Take the guess work out of formulating a healthy diet for your horse with the Kentucky Equine Research free diet analysis.

Corn contains one of the more digestible forms of starch, with oats ranking number one for digestibility.

From weaning to winning

Lucy Galovicova is an expert on bringing a mare back under saddle after foaling. She shares her knowledge with RACHEL ROAN.

Lucy Galovicova is an equestrian entrepreneur and the Director of Kentaur Australia, which she established here in 2004. She is also a successful show jumping competitor in Western Australia, and has been for well over a decade.

It was Lucy’s keen interest in breeding performance horses that led to the

development and growth of Kentaur Australia Performance Horses. Her vision is to breed international quality horses to meet the needs of today’s rider, and in the process she has gained considerable experience in the best way to manage her mares.

There are many points to ponder when bringing a mare back into work after

foaling. It’s not as simple as saddling up and getting on with it. Considerations such as how long the mare had off while foaling, whether she was ridden in the lead up to or during her pregnancy, whether the pregnancy and/or birth were difficult, and whether the foal is weaned or still at foot, all need to be taken into account when deciding how best to approach bringing her back into work.

When it comes to weaning, Lucy believes that there are no hard and fast rules. “We generally wean our foals at around four to five months, depending on the foal and mare. But, I’ve also taken foals off mares at six months, and I’ve taken foals off mares at three and a half months. It really varies and depends on each pair. Some mares give everything to their foals and end up looking a bit poorer, so for those mares, and for those foals that are super independent, we wean a little bit earlier. You need to assess each pair on a case by case basis.” As with so many aspects of good management, a one size fits all approach clearly isn’t appropriate.

Regardless of the weaning age, Lucy follows the same process. Mares are left

relatively undisturbed up until the time of weaning, at which point the foals are taken off the property, often in pairs, for the first week. Lucy finds that this gives the mares’ milk supply sufficient time to dry up.

She notes that not all her horses need to be brought back into work after foaling. “We have three types of mares in our breeding operation,” she explains. “There are the younger mares that we put into foal before they go on to have ridden careers, then we have the older ones that are at the end of their careers and are not going to be ridden ever again.” Thirdly there are the Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, which Lucy and her team use to carry embryo transfers from mares that are under saddle. “Mares who are currently in full competition work are not taken out of work to be bred. Instead, they are put in for embryo transfer,” she explains.

So for Lucy, the issue of bringing a broodmare back into work really only ever comes up for her younger mares.

Following the first week of mare and foal separation, the mare is started on light work, either with light lunging or by spending some time in the walker. Gentle exercise is beneficial not only in terms of regaining fitness, but also in helping the mare to eliminate any fluid left over from the pregnancy.

But the key here is gentle exercise. “You don’t want to put too much strain on your mare too early,” Lucy advises. “Early sessions may look something like walking for ten minutes and trotting for five. As you slowly increase the exercise you can include light riding for 10 to 15 minutes and build up from there. We sometimes introduce a chambon to slowly build up the top line and ease them back into it. Every day and every horse is different – but you need to do things in moderation.”

When I asked her if she would ever start working a mare earlier, while the foal was still at foot, Lucy tells me that while she personally doesn’t do this, it doesn’t

mean that it’s necessarily a bad practice. Again, it really depends on your mare and also on your set up. “There are 20 show jumpers on our property. Can you imagine what would happen if I rode out with the mares and foals?” she laughs.

The rate at which each mare is brought back into work is largely determined by their level of fitness, whether or not they were ridden through their pregnancy, and how easily they foaled – whether that was with or without complications.

If mares are going to be ridden while pregnant, Lucy always abides by the advice of her vet and never rides them before the 45-day pregnancy confirmation scan. “In my experience, riding can actually decrease the chance of them getting pregnant,” she says.

It’s only when the mare is well and truly in foal that Lucy hops back on, and she

stops riding them before the mare’s last trimester. “Most of the foal and the size of the foal form in the last three months,” she explains. “I believe it’s the majority of the growth. That’s why we’re also particularly careful with what we feed our mares in the last three months of pregnancy.”

Good nutrition is essential for any horse, and it plays a significant role in the success of the breeding program, and later in bringing the mare back into work. “A lot of people underestimate the importance of feeding a lactating mare,” says Lucy. “It’s important to follow the recommendations of the feed brand that you use. Here in Western Australia, we don’t have a lot of quality, nutritious grass, so we essentially control around 95 per cent of their food intake.” When broodmares are pregnant, Lucy gives

ABOVE: Mares and foals are left relatively undisturbed up until the time of weaning. FACING PAGE: Kentaur Australia Performance Horse foals Liamantono and Diamanta (Image courtesy Lucy Galovicova).

them around six kilos of hard feed per day. When they are lactating, this goes up to nine or even ten kilos per horse.

Another consideration is the age of the mare and the number of foals she’s previously produced. “Older mares can come back into work with a weaker pelvic floor,” Lucy notes. “Some may also have required a Caslicks procedure during pregnancy to prevent prolapse. If that’s the case, you would need to follow a different exercise regime from three months after bringing them back into work, and before making any attempt to jump again.”

Similar to humans, pregnancy has a considerable impact on a mare’s body. Both her abdominal muscles and the pre-pubic tendon (which runs from the sternum to the pelvis) will stretch. Additionally, she will lose top line and carrying the weight of a foal will change her musculature. And in the lead up to the birth, her ligaments become increasingly slack to allow for easier delivery of the foal.

So understandably, the two areas to concentrate on with exercise, regardless of the mare’s history, are firstly to increase fitness, and secondly, to strengthen the pelvic floor. Lucy starts all her mares back with lunging, then slowly introduces trot poles and cavalettis before moving on to transitions and hill work. She finds that it can take from twelve to eighteen months to return a mare to peak performance fitness and eliminate any weaknesses.

To reduce the risk of injury, it’s important to take things at a rate the mare can handle. Stretching exercises are also invaluable, as it encourages the horse to use their back and activate their core muscles.

While mares that have been embryo transferred are out of work for a much shorter period of time, there are unique considerations that apply to these girls. “In Perth, it gets quite hot after Christmas,” Lucy says. “But the season is still going. And you have to consider any potential clashes with shows. Once the vet does the flush, the mare is then

given prostaglandin, which essentially aborts anything that’s left, so one minute they’re pregnant and the next minute they’re not,” she explains. “So it must affect their hormones and behaviour and put them out a bit.”

Physically, mares recover more quickly from an embryo transfer, hence the reduced time frame for them to be out of work. “Plus, it’s a lot less risky for the mare,” Lucy adds. “Embryo transfer is the new way of doing things. If you have a young mare and you breed her early on and then put her into sport, you will have a much better chance of breeding her again down the track. I think this strategy is much preferable to say breeding a 12-year-old maiden mare that has been in sport for her whole life.”

In general, the best advice is to pay close attention to how your mare is responding as you bring her back into work. “Pregnancy is not a disability,” Lucy adds. “Following the pregnancy, just use common sense and don’t put too much strain on your horse.” And of course, if you have any concerns, or if your mare has had a particularly difficult birth, always seek the advice of your vet.

For more information on their stallions, brood mares, and horses for sale, visit Kentaur Australia Performance Horses

The rate at which each mare is brought back into work is largely determined by their level of fitness.

Lucy sometimes introduces a chambon to slowly build up the top line.

Getting crafty

A set of ready-made jumps may be your dream, but sometimes we have to get a bit crafty and hone our DIY skills, writes CHRISTINE ARMISHAW.

While a glitzy set of new horse jumps might be your ideal training set up, sometimes you have to make do by getting creative with what you have lying around. The great news is there are lots of DIY options and, in the long run, you might even finish up with a better horse for your efforts. But please note: the following is intended as a guide only. It’s up to you to assess your jumps for suitability and safety before using them.

Repurposing

You can create basic jumps by using items you have lying around at home or that you might be able to source from a local business. Tyres are an easy one. Retailers often have to pay to dispose of used tyres, so if you offer to take them it might be a win-win situation.

Tyres can be stacked up and used as rudimentary jump wings, with heightbuilding as easy as adding another one to the stack. When I was younger, I distinctly remember discussing with my

friends how many tyres high we were currently jumping on our ponies. They’re pretty safe as far as DIY jump stands go; they have rounded edges and can easily be knocked out of the way if hit by a horse travelling less than straight. Just don’t stack them so high that they start tipping over on their own!

If you’re keen to jump tyres as more of a wide, cross country style fence, secure them so they stay put. Many Pony Clubs have brilliant tyre fences as part of their course; they’re often fed over a pole fixed at each end to a post in the ground.

Another great multipurpose and budget friendly option is old drums or barrels. Ensure they are free from rust and haven’t previously been used for anything toxic that may leech into your land. Jump heights are a bit limited with only two options (the drums either upright or on their side). Anytime you use drums in a position where they can roll, make sure you butt a pole or plank of wood up against the sides to keep them securely in place. The last thing you want is the wind rolling them or your horse knocking them out of position while you are mid-

jump! Three drums lying on their sides end-to-end with vertical drums positioned on either side as wings makes for quite an inviting fence.

Just like a bought one If you are working to a budget but still want something that looks really neat and tidy, why not turn your hand to making your own stands?

A few years back, when I was trying to set myself up as a horse trainer in New Zealand, buying a full set of show jumps was simply not in the budget. We scoured the internet for ‘how to’ guides on building our own jumps, but didn’t find much. Kiwi ingenuity prevailed, however. After a bit of trial and error we figured out how to build some decent stands and I ended up with a lovely set of show jumps. Other people liked them too, so we made some to sell and ultimately started a family business! We sold the business before moving across the ditch and it’s still in operation today.

Here’s the recipe for our most popular stands:

1) Start with two square 1.25m fence posts, round the top edges off.

2) Cut eight pieces of thick fencing board to approximately 40cm in

length and screw four onto the base of each stand for feet.

3) Next, screw keyhole track with matching cups (all sourced online) onto the posts. Finish your stands off with a couple of licks of white paint, and voila!

If you are going to build your own jumps, some things to consider include using treated wood, it will last longer outdoors; purchase metal key hole track, the plastic or nylon varieties crack or break and cost more to replace; always trim away or smooth off any sharp edges; and steer clear of any thin or brittle timber for the feet as it’s more likely to break.

Rail and fill ideas

Once you’ve got a few safe stands sorted, you need rails and ideally some fill options too. Poles can be sourced from your local hardware store, usually sold as round fence posts. Ideally, get the longest ones you can find. These will still generally be shorter than those used in competitions, but there is a training advantage to be gained here. Jumping is all about straightness and keeping on a line. If you can confidently steer your horse down a line of narrower fences, the wider ones you’ll face at shows should feel easier to navigate. There

is an optical illusion that occurs too; a fence with shorter poles appears slightly higher than the same height fence built using longer poles. It can give you a nice confidence boost at an event when you approach a fence that feels lower than the ones you train over.

ABOVE: Homemade jump stands (Image courtesy Christine Armishaw).

FACING PAGE: Leo jumping truck tyres on Tempo (Image by Stefan Schmitz).

A wing design with garden trellis, plus white poles with yellow self-adhesive strips (Image courtesy Christine Armishaw).

And use tanalised poles for longevity. Painting them will make them look smarter and help prolong their useable life. An awesome hack here is to paint them all white, then purchase sheets of vinyl sticker (used for making signage). Cut strips and stick them on to create your coloured stripes. Steer clear of using plastic pipes as jump rails. These become brittle and thus dangerous over time and, due to being so light, teach your horse not to respect the fence.

When rails are limited, use a single pole with filler underneath to make the jump less airy and more inviting for your horse. Bales of hay or straw work well, but they will deteriorate over time. I have seen a solid wooden door upcycled into two great little jump fillers. The hinges were removed, the door cut in half length-wise, and wooden feet attached so each half became free-standing fill that could be positioned under a rail or two.

A tarp is ideal for a makeshift Liverpool, perfect for training over at home. Pin it to the ground using poles to stop it flapping or lifting off the ground. Giving the tarp a hose down to create a puddle

can jazz things up a bit once your horse finds it easy, but build their confidence to that point gradually.

Be sensible

Home-built jumps are usually more cost-effective and the interesting ideas you can come up with will do wonderful things for desensitising your horse in advance of arriving in the jumping ring. The world is your oyster when it comes to DIY paint jobs and having your horse jumping happily over any colour of the rainbow is a big benefit.

But remember, safety is paramount: no sharp edges or pointy bits; make sure rails can knock down cleanly if the horse hits them; and ensure hooves can’t get stuck between any gaps in stands or fill. Your creations need to be constructed strong enough to withstand being knocked by a horse without breaking, while remaining inviting. And if you do it right, you can create a brave and skilled horse without breaking the bank.

A tarp pinned to the ground is a good stand-in for a Liverpool (Image courtesy Christine Armishaw).

These stands were upcycled from timber reclaimed from an unwanted bed base (Image courtesy Christine Armishaw).

Never say never

Pam Karner has a philosophy.

“Never shrink. You never want to say no, or that you can’t do things. You get scared of pain, you get scared of failing, you get blinders on and you get smaller. So, just keep going.” The 68-year-old retired vet is worth listening to. In recent years, she’s not only completed two of what are arguably the toughest horse races in the world, but she also won this year’s lightweight division of the 160 kilometre Tom Quilty Gold Cup.

The American grew up in New Jersey in a non-horsey family. “As a child, I saved babysitting money so I could take riding lessons.” Pam went on to become a large animal vet, not something women did in the early 80s. Her drive for the more interesting things in life was already becoming apparent.

After marrying an Australian and visiting her in-laws in NSW, Pam found that the only jobs available to female vets in Australia were in small animal

medicine, so the couple moved back to the States where Pam started a large animal practice. “The first breakthrough was when a gentleman phoned me. His beef cow had a prolapsed uterus. He called me because he’d made a bet with his buddies that I couldn’t do the job. Anyway, I got it in and suddenly people started to call.”

It was during this time that Pam began riding endurance. She loved riding and being in the woods so it was the perfect sport. She had to train at odd times, like at night when the kids were in bed, and was able to fit in a couple of competitions a year. A friend would often take her horse while she drove through the night to the competition, rode, and then drove home. “It was insane. You can’t say no, though. You need to follow your passion.”

After selling her practice, the time was perfect for Pam to undertake the first of her recent big adventures, the 2018 Mongol Derby. “I remember going to the museum as a girl with Mum and seeing pictures of Mongolia. You know how some places just draw you in? I never forgot

Pam Karner is a remarkable woman whose philosophy on life has taken her where others might fear to tread, writes REBECCA ASHTON.

that.” The 1,000 kilometre race must be completed in 10 days and requires riders to cover 100 to 160 kilometres a day, switching horses every 40 kilometres.

It took Pam eight and a half days to finish and it was a pretty tough slog. “I had a hard time. I got really sick on day four with a bad stomach ache and never got well. I hadn’t drunk enough and had taken too many electrolytes. Unfortunately, I just happened to half fall off my horse at a horse station with a medic watching. I told them to give me a minute to stretch my stomach out and really, if there was something life threatening going on with me, I would have stopped. I had to sign a waiver that I wouldn’t hold them responsible! There was no way I was stopping. The Mongol Derby is a lot of luck,” she concludes, “you just have to push through.”

She followed that ride with the Gaucho Derby in Patagonia earlier this year, attracted by the romanticism and excitement of the region. “It was amazing. You try to put it into words and it kind of diminishes it.”

For Pam, the most memorable part was the horses. Eight of them carried her on the 500 kilometre route and her respect for them grew as she recognised their capabilities. “The first day I got off and walked up a very, very steep mountain. I realised that they actually did better if you just stayed on them. You get on their neck and they stay straight and lunge. If you see this from behind you think the horse might flip over. We went over rivers with monster boulders, and through forests with no tracks because it’s too high for cattle.”

The tough Criollo cross horses were tied to a bolder at night and ate lichen and sparse grass whilst en route, drinking from the cold rivers they forded. Navigation was a challenge and the ride wasn’t without its mishaps. Although a bond was formed while riding the horse, once off, they were often skittish. At one stage Pam lost her horse as it

took off down a river, her saddle and gear dumped in the glacial run off. Pam retrieved her horse and her gear, most of which had thankfully been in wet bags with a broken toothbrush the worst casualty.

The Gaucho Derby must be one of the world’s most remote. Gauchos herd as many as 40 horses at a time up

mountains for the riders. Medics and vets ride with their supplies on pack horses. The reality of the situation hit

FACING PAGE: Tobias Endress and Pamela Karner finish the 2022 Gaucho Derby.

TOP: Pam draws her first mount for the 2022 Gaucho Derby.

BOTTOM: On the home stretch. All images by Richard Dunwoody

home for Pam when fellow rider Daniel was kicked in the head by his horse. Pam recalls: “Right behind me I heard this smack. He was on the ground. Luckily he had his helmet on. I ran over and he wasn’t breathing. I tried to feel for a pulse and vaguely remember someone calling for a medic. Just as the medic arrived, he took a deep breath.” Because it was a clear day and they were on a mountain top, a rescue helicopter could land. Five kilometres further on, it might have been different. But Pam warns against focusing on such events. “If you were fearful of that sort of thing, you just wouldn’t do it. You have to have the attitude that nothing is going to happen, just like when you did those crazy things as a teenager. You have to be really prepared and train well, but just enjoy winging it.” Basically, you deal or you don’t deal.

Straight after the Gaucho, Pam and her husband were back in Bellingen, NSW, where they now live half the year. Without missing a beat, Pam was onto her next project, the Tom Quilty Gold Cup. “I have this amazing horse, an eight-

year-old mare Flamingo Saphire. I looked for three years to find her. I’ve had her for two seasons.” The pair won the lightweight division, were fifth over the line and crowned best condition for the lightweight section. “It’s taken 25 years of distance riding to get all the skills and then it’s all got to come together. Plenty of times it doesn’t.” The planets have certainly aligned for Pam this year. And what’s next? At the moment she’s back in America taking a vacation from chasing her dreams. “The Gaucho especially was so spectacular that I feel

I need to soak it in a bit. I’m not getting any younger, but I don’t want it all to become a mad dash.” But don’t think Pam is hanging up her boots. She has her eyes set on more adventures.

Her final words of advice for the older thrill seeker are to never let yourself become riding unfit. “I think that’s really one of the keys. Getting that fitness back as you get older really sucks,” she says. “You have to be someone who will persevere and not give up, have a forward looking attitude, never think of quitting and you just can’t let any fear creep in.”

Near the finish LtoR: Ciara Cahill, Sarah Endress, Tobias Endress and Pam.

Pam with Daniel Von Eeden, who suffered a life threatening kick to the head.

White

Potties

TRENDS

Clear communication

comfortably under their helmet.

The earbud is fitted with a control button so the rider can adjust the volume to the right level, while the coach’s microphone has a mute button which can be activated whenever required.

Train in the moment

The system is tuned to a 216 MHz radio frequency that directs the audio from the transmitter microphone to the rider’s ear while filtering out ambient noise. The frequency, a static-free radio channel, is especially suitable for equestrian sports since the signal is maintained while riders move around in a larger area, a cross country course for example, all without losing signal.

Because there is no time delay between a coach’s instructions and what the rider hears, the rider can immediately follow recommendations and make adjustments without interrupting the tempo of the ride. Plus, a programmed EQ setting enhances the frequencies that help define speech intelligibility, so the crystal clear audio ensures ease of understanding, enhancing the rider’s confidence and hence their ability to improve their technique.

Inclusive communication

Wireless communication systems have been used for years to give clear instructions to athletes at busy shows. More recently, these communication tools have become popular with coaches and professional and amateur riders alike thanks to their many benefits.

How the system works

Hear better to train better – nice work if you can get it! And now you can with the COMTEK wireless communication systems. Originally developed for use by film and television crews,

COMTEK transmitters and receivers offer coaches and riders the same high quality sound, rugged construction, durability, and outstanding transmission and reception capability.

The system delivers instant audio communication between rider and coach through a designated radio frequency. Coaches use the COMTEK M-216 transmitter’s omnidirectional lapel microphone to talk to the rider. The rider wears a PR-216 receiver, usually clipped to their belt, and listens through a discreet MDR-J10 single earbud that fits

Useful for group lessons or during clinics, multiple COMTEK receivers can be set to the same frequency. An optional extra to the basic kit, a linkup receiver can connect to a speaker, creating a portable PA system. Used simultaneously with the rider’s receivers, this is an ideal option for clinics and shows in which the audience also needs to hear what’s being said. Even at a distance, the audio quality is better than a first-rate mobile phone connection.

Thanks to this system, coaches can focus on what they want to say rather than being heard, while riders can concentrate on riding instead of straining to hear it’s a definite win-win!

ABOVE: The rider wears a receiver clipped to their belt.

Gone are the days of shouting across the arena, or straining to hear the faint voices of coaches at riding clinics, writes JESSICA MORTON.

Out for the count

Veterinary anaesthetists are veterinarians who undertake further study in order to specialise.

JAMIE HOCKING spoke to Dr Anthony Nicholson about his work.

in relation to that? They're easier but still right up there; because they’re big animals that can panic and become dangerous to themselves and to the people around them.

They’re also challenging in an anatomical sense. For some procedures, such as CT scans or abdominal surgery, they’re positioned on their backs even though they’re not designed to lie on their backs for extended periods. Because of their shape, their abdomen pushes up against the diaphragm and can potentially collapse the lungs.

JH: What are common procedures where horses have to be fully anaesthetised?

For the past 10 years, Dr Anthony Nicholson has worked at Adelaide University as a teaching veterinarian, researcher and hands-on clinical anaesthetist for small and large animals.

JH: Did you always want to be a veterinary anaesthetist?

AN: Originally I wanted to work with marine mammals. I did a PhD looking at marine mammal lung structure, and became interested in the respiratory system, which is an integral part of general anaesthesia. I was offered a really good anaesthesia internship at UC

Davis in California where I worked on many horses and other animals. I’ve been involved with the anaesthesia of every kind of animal from mice to elephants, although more mice than elephants!

JH: In terms of anaesthetic complications, where do horses rate compared to other animals?

AN: Wild animals are certainly challenging as they are hard to handle and restrain before and after procedures. Once I found myself as the anaesthetist for a large adult orangutan in a van, stuck in a traffic jam on a California freeway. So where are horses

AN: Most commonly it’s for orthopaedic surgery, where bone is being scraped or pinned and joints are involved. I’m also anaesthetising a lot of horses for serious wounds, particularly if tendons are exposed. We put the horse straight into emergency and suture the tendons back together as quickly and cleanly as possible, otherwise the tendon contracts and it’s much more difficult to achieve the best prognosis. And we do a fair amount of emergency colic surgery, which can be challenging because the horses are metabolically unwell and need to be positioned on their backs.

There are other procedures that don’t need full anaesthesia. Advances in equipment, pharmaceuticals and surgical techniques mean we can do more standing procedures under sedation using a surgical stall and local anaesthetic. Laparoscopies, arthroscopies and other procedures are possible using just sedation and local analgesia, but it still depends on the horse’s temperament.

JH: Which is the riskiest part of anaesthetising a horse?

AN: Starting anaesthesia (induction) can be tricky. We use injectable sedatives and anaesthetics to collapse the horse, before intubating and anaesthetising with gas. Equine hospitals usually have special padded rooms, a swinging wall panel and floor mats to hold and gently drop a horse to the floor without injuries. For me, anaesthetic recovery is definitely the riskiest phase. In fact, research data shows this is the most dangerous time for them and their handlers. A panicked and still groggy horse can inadvertently damage themselves, even break a leg, and hurt their handlers. The horse has no idea where it is or how it got there. Instinct tells them to get out as fast as they can. Controlled sedation helps make them less likely to hurt themselves or others.

The other risk is hypotension and poor oxygenation during anaesthesia, particularly if they’re on their backs. Horses do much better when they're on their sides. Well-equipped equine hospitals always have padded surgical tables to ensure good blood flow to all tissues. Good blood flow and welloxygenated muscles will prevent serious muscle damage caused by the sheer weight of the horse.

JH: Do you worry if the surgeon is taking longer than expected?

AN: Duration of a procedure can impact the outcome to a certain extent. If the horse is having problems maintaining good oxygenation or blood pressure, then you want to get them off the table sooner than later. But you and the surgeons have no real control – the

surgeons need to do what’s necessary and it can be hard to predict how long things will take. If it’s going to take another two hours, you can't say, ‘Time's up. We have to wake the horse up now’.

JH: Is there anything owners can do to make it easier for horses to have procedures?

AN: Good handling and training at home helps. A horse that’s used to different things; calm, happy to have their hooves wrapped in preparation for surgery, always makes it easier and safer for everyone.

JH: What makes your life difficult as an anaesthetist?

AN: Clients can be a little difficult at times. Some say ‘this horse is worth so

much money, you have to take special care of it’. They don’t realise we are totally committed to our profession, taking as much special care with the old neddy from down the road, as we do for the $2 million dollar racehorse. Every horse is equally important and will get the best help we can give.

FACING PAGE: For some procedures, such as CT scans, horses have to be positioned on their backs (Image courtesy Adelaide University).

TOP: Anaesthetist Dr Anthony Nicholson prepares a patient for surgery (Image by Sarah Hocking).

BOTTOM: Padded surgical tables help to ensure good blood flow to all tissues (Image by Sarah Hocking).

Lunging equipment

If done correctly, lunging can build muscle, suppleness, balance and trust. SUZY JARRATT explores the equipment and its uses.

Riding requires skill and patience – and so does lunging. It isn’t something you do just because you’re in a hurry or too tired to saddle up. Hanging on to a rope attached to a circling horse while you chat on your mobile is not what lunging is about.

Done correctly it can benefit your training program. It can help start a young horse, assist in retraining, provide exercise when riding isn’t an option and build trust between handler and

horse. Good lunging practices can also build muscle, balance, suppleness and rhythm. And if you have any doubts about how to go about it, seek advice from an instructor.

Some basic items are required when lunging, and also on the market are several styles of equipment to help solve specific problems:

CAVESSON: A bitless method of control which has a hinged attachment on the

front of the noseband for the lunge line to clip onto, so you don’t have to unfasten and reattach the line when changing direction.

Lunging from a bridle offers a more direct contact and attaching the line directly to the bit gives you greater control. It’s also a good way to help generate lateral neck bend. But this can give conflicting messages so try both set-ups to see what works best.

LUNGE LINE: Made of 100 per cent cotton webbing, nylon or a blend of the two fibres, with a swivel clip at the end. Cotton is the friendliest material for novices as it is the least likely to kink, twist or slip. And never wrap the line around your hand!

WHIP: Used primarily to move the horse forward or outward on the circle. Needs to be long enough to be effective, but also well weighted so it’s easy for you to carry. If possible test the feel of a few before you buy. Some are designed to collapse for easy storage or travel.

ABOVE: Lunging with a training surcingle, also known as a roller.

TACKED UP

ROLLER: Also known as a training surcingle, this is a wide band of leather or webbing, fitted like a girth and equipped with D-rings placed at various intervals on either side to attach side reins or long lines.

SIDE REINS: These run from the surcingle to the rings of the bit. Many people favour a thick snaffle with fixed rings for stability during lunging, especially when working with young horses. Available in leather or webbing, some side reins have rubber ‘doughnuts’, others an elastic insert making them easily adjustable. They can help a horse learn contact with the bit, gain balance and suppleness or find self-carriage. However, used incorrectly, they can cause over-flexion. A horse has to become accustomed to the feel of them so initially, adjust them so they are loose and over the coming weeks shorten them to where they need to be. Any doubts ask your instructor.

CHAMBON: This comprises a cord which clips to each bit ring and then passes upwards and through a loop on each side of a poll strap. The cords drop downwards and are attached to a single strap that passes between the forelegs and loops onto the girth or roller.

Its aim is to encourage a longer, lower frame where the horse will learn to use back muscles and engage their quarters. To achieve the best results the horse must go forward into the contact. Introduce slowly and with care.

PESSOA: This can help create greater engagement and connection. Designed by Brazilian Olympic showjumper Nelson Pessoa, this lunging system, which can be purchased in kit form from saddleries, is made up of ropes and pulleys which run along your horse’s sides, attaching to the bit, with an elastic tensioner positioned around their hindquarters. The tensioner and its supporting lines put gentle pressure on the quarters, encouraging your horse to step under their body with their hindlegs so they stretch and lift their back.

At first you might be overwhelmed when trying to correctly fit the ropes and pulleys, so seek assistance from an instructor experienced in what goes where and why, or have a look at one of the YouTube clips in which the fitting process is demonstrated.

Ask first

Before investing in any of the above, speak to your instructor to help you decide what might work best for your horse. Then try to borrow the gear from a friend to check its suitability before making a purchase. And for some general pointers:

ƒ Prior to working on the lunge ensure the horse is wearing protective boots or leg wraps.

ƒ

ƒ

Always put a pad or numnah under the surcingle.

When lunging, you’re at close quarters to a horse who’s moving, potentially at some speed. Therefore, standard safety equipment is important –gloves, helmet and sturdy footwear.

ƒ Generally, the wider the circle the better it is for the horse as circling is stressful to tendons, ligaments and joints. The smaller or tighter the circle, the harder it is on their body.

For more about lunging you might like to look at the FEI’s article

Aintree Chambon from Zilco

Webbing Side Reins with Rokko Fittings from Zilco

Horze Lunge Cavesson from Ashbree Saddlery

Waldhausen Lunge Rein from Trailrace

Equi-Prene Anti-Gall Training Surcingle from Ashbree Saddlery

Bred to win

Romeo F is excelling in his new off the track career. TARA MADGWICK recalls the big grey’s past and spoke to Amanda Ross about his future.

Born beautiful and bred to win a Melbourne Cup, life has not turned out quite as expected for Romeo F, a dapple grey Thoroughbred gelding by champion sire Frankel, who turns heads wherever he goes.

Conceived in the UK, born in Australia, and in 2017 sold in New Zealand as a yearling for $475,000 to respected bloodstock agent Duncan Ramage of DGR Thoroughbreds, he was the subject

of keen interest at the Karaka sales complex that year.

A rare grey son of one of the world’s best racehorses in Frankel, he is also a half-brother to Group 1 Royal Ascot Gold Cup winner Colour Vision and to the dam of this year’s Group 1 Australasian Oaks winner Glint of Hope, a contender for the 2022 Melbourne Cup.

Duncan Ramage reflects on his purchase of the colt: “The late Trevor Stuckey and

his partner Penny Yan came to me with the idea of buying a Melbourne Cup type horse for James Cummings to train and they were very keen on Frankel, so this grey colt fit the bill.”

James Cummings was subsequently appointed head trainer for Godolphin, so the colt was sent to Peter and Paul Snowden and named Switching to Win in keeping with all the other horses raced by Trevor and Penny, which include champion miler Racing to Win, another charismatic grey that won over $3 million.

Switching to Win took a long time to mature, but his success as a racehorse was limited: “He was always very athletic and a great mover, but he lacked a change of gear … as Bart Cummings used to say about the slower horses, they can stay, but the trouble is they stay too long in the same spot,” Duncan laughs.

Switching to Win won a maiden at Gosford over 1,900 metres, but progress from that point was not forthcoming and he was eventually on-sold in 2020 for $27,500 through Inglis Digital, joining the Victorian stable of Amy and Ash Yargi.

LIFE AFTER RACING

Retired earlier this year, Switching to Win has been given the opportunity to pursue a new career in the hands of professional equestrian Amanda Ross. A well-known Olympic eventer with years of experience in transitioning off the track Thoroughbreds into equestrian disciplines, Amanda is based at Mornington in Victoria. Given a new name for a new phase of his life, the ever-handsome Romeo F has settled in well to the training required to produce a show jumper.

He made his debut at Boneo Park earlier this year, pleasing Amanda with his willingness and can-do attitude. “He’s a very rewarding horse and very trainable. One thing I love is competing at the highest level, but I also enjoy training horses at the lowest level and taking them up step by step,” she explains.

At age seven, Romeo is at the perfect time in his life to make his mark in the equestrian world with many Thoroughbreds still active into their late teens. “Their racing career is relatively short in terms of their life span, often coming to an end by age six, but they can easily go on for another 10 years after that,” she adds.

An Ambassador for the VRC since Cup Week in 2020, Amanda’s role includes the promotion of Thoroughbreds, an easy task given some of her most successful eventers have come off the track. “My 2000 Olympics horse was a Thoroughbred and 20 years later

so was my almost Olympic horse for Tokyo. Their endurance and work ethic is something you just don’t find in other breeds. My duties as ambassador are mixed and take me to the races and various charity functions, always with the goal of raising awareness for life after racing and what these wonderful horses can achieve outside of the racetrack.”

Amanda is now moving away from her previous focus on eventing to concentrate more on show jumping and Romeo’s future is likely to lie down

that path. “He has two important key ingredients to making a successful show jumper in that he is brave and careful.

He’s just very light on his feet,” Amanda says. “He’ll do some off the track dressage, but mostly I see him as a show jumper working up to 95cm and 1m early next year as he gains in confidence and experience. When we bought him, we had him vetted and x-rayed and he is a very sound individual with great feet, so there is every reason to be confident he can enjoy a long and successful equestrian career.”

While the Melbourne Cup dream was not for Romeo, his close relation Glint of Hope may well take her place in the race that stops the nation this year and Amanda Ross will be at Flemington to cheer her on. “Romeo is a very special horse and I would love to find another one just like him,” she says.

FACING PAGE: Amanda and Romeo have developed a strong bond (Image by Katherine Jamison Photography).

TOP: Life off the track is different, but Romeo has settled in well (Image by Katherine Jamison Photography).

LEFT: Romeo F recently progressed from 75cm to 95cm without batting an eyelid (Image by Flick Johnston).

Preparing for a riding holiday

If you’re thinking of a riding holiday, MATHILDE GREGOIRE has some excellent advice to help you prepare for the experience.

Going on a riding holiday is a great way to break from your day-to-day at the barn and embark on a new and exciting adventure. You may have dreamt of visiting a new country or region on horseback, but are hesitant to travel solo – and yes, that can seem a little daunting! Or, perhaps you are eager to take that step, but are concerned about logistics, travel, visa

requirements, and, if you’re a lone female traveller, about safety.

Nonetheless, going on a riding holiday can be a liberating experience and a fantastic opportunity for personal growth. If you are joining a group you will have the chance to meet other riders, and sharing new experiences in a different environment can build bonds and friendships that can last a lifetime.

To prepare for your riding holiday, think of it as a project: What do you want to achieve? What’s your budget? What clothing or equipment will you need? And make sure to research your destination and learn as much as you can about its culture, customs, and climate before you get on that flight!

How will you book? Choosing between a tour operator or booking directly with a stables is one of the first decisions you’ll need to make. You might prefer to plan the trip yourself and reach out to one or several stables to create a predetermined itinerary of your choice, or alternatively go through a tour operator to join a group for an organised ride. For many, booking through a tour operator brings the reassurance of having a point of contact who can offer recommendations based on your wishes and priorities. That the stables may have been visited by travel advisors who care about the wellbeing of horses is an added advantage.

The cost of your riding holiday is generally the same whether you book directly with the stables or go through a tour operator. Tour operators also provide a degree of financial protection,

which guarantees payment security in the unlikely event of an operator becoming insolvent. On the other hand, booking directly with the riding center can help support a small business, with a larger portion of the fee available for the care of their horses and improvement of their facilities, while also offering you more flexibility in organising activities during your trip.

Whatever you decide, the good news is that there are riding holidays to suit every level, discipline, and destination. From the aspiring show jumper to the dressage enthusiast who recently picked up riding, or for those looking for an adventure in a remote area, there are usually a wide variety of destinations to choose from. So, here are some tips that will serve you well no matter what your destination:

BYO: I recommend taking your own helmet, breeches, and boots. While most riding centers provide basic safety equipment, it is always more comfortable and convenient to have your own. If you are planning on going on a trek, make sure you take enough warm clothing, as well as sunscreen and mosquito repellent depending on your

destination and the season you intend on travelling.

Get fit, get ready: If you have booked a holiday which includes a few hours in the saddle each day, it can be quite physically demanding. To get in shape ahead of your trip, you may want to do targeted exercises to help you strengthen certain muscle groups. Some apps and online courses offer equestrian fitness programs which will help you achieve your goals.

Single supplement: Keep in mind that if you travel alone, some accommodation providers may require a single supplement (a surcharge for a solo guest who uses a room that caters for two). If you’re on a tour, you may be offered the option to share a room with another traveller but that’s not always guaranteed, so make sure to ask to be paired with someone else if you are more budget constrained.

Purchase travel insurance: Whether you are booking via a tour operator or directly with the stables, including travel insurance in your booking is highly recommended. Ensuring that your holiday insurance covers the

specific riding activities and disciplines you are participating in is important, and it should also cover medical expenses abroad and repatriation if needed. Opting for COVID cover in case of lockdown, travel restrictions, or cancelations is also advisable.

Visas and vaccines: Visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website, as well as the consulate or embassy sites of the countries you’re planning to visit for information on visa and vaccination requirements. If you’re booking through a travel agency, they should be able to provide you with upto-date information.

Finally, it’s important to keep an open mind! Different cultures do things differently, which may initially surprise you. Being respectful and showing genuine interest can be truly enlightening and a great opportunity for learning.

FACING PAGE: Making memories in Sierra de Gredos, Spain.

ABOVE LEFT: Riding through Chile’s Atacama Desert as a solo female traveler. ABOVE RIGHT: Riding holidays are a great opportunity to meet new friends. All images by Mathilde Gregoire

Headwear we love

We know our sport is not without its risks so investing in quality protective headwear is a must, writes JESSICA MORTON.

Whether you're a happy hacker or racing the clock over fences, spending a little bit extra on a good helmet is a sound investment. If a rider falls, the likelihood of serious injury is much higher than with other sports due to the speed, height and force of impact so the benefits of wearing a helmet are obvious.

A well-designed helmet can significantly protect your head and brain by deflecting and absorbing the impact of an accident and dispersing its force. You don't have to gallop fast or jump high to appreciate the benefits of a good helmet. With a variety of quality helmets on the market, here’s an overview of some that we liked:

Back on Track EQ3 LYNX Smooth Top: While many helmets are designed to help prevent severe traumatic brain injuries, they are not designed to prevent concussion caused by rotational falls. The Multi-Directional Impact Protection System (MIPS) technology found in the EQ3 LYNX can mimic the natural defense rotation of the brain by absorbing rotational energies and forces that would otherwise be transferred to the brain, neck and spine. Rated as one of the markets top-performing equestrian helmets, this model has a deeper profile and dial-fit system, which makes it easy to fit a variety of head shapes and sizes.

KEP Cromo Endurance: Created for endurance riders, this low-profile helmet has a modern look and a fun range of colourways. Featuring KEP’s unrivalled ventilation system, this model has extra

KEP Cromo Endurance

coverage at the back of the helmet and is exceptionally lightweight – great to wear over the summer months – with a focus on comfort without sacrificing performance.

Charles Owen SP8 Plus: With its deep, wide brim, the SP8 Plus helmet offers wearers exceptional sun protection over the face and neck (a huge plus in Australia). A flattering and feminine design, it features front and rear ventilation slots and a Free Fit system

ABOVE LEFT: Back on Track EQ3 LYNX Smooth Top

that pairs the frontal air channel with Coolmax mesh to improve the evaporation of perspiration while riding.

Samshield Shadowmatt: The luxurious and customisable Shadowmatt helmet ticks all the important boxes. Functional, lightweight, breathable and protective, the matte finish outer shell is made from high quality polycarbonate (also used in high-end motorcycle helmets). Samshield’s ventilation differs to other brands, channeling fresh air from the front to back through the lining to provide cooling and circulation without unsightly ventilation inlets in the shell.

CASCO Mistrall-2 Edition: Founded in 1989, CASCO has been producing highquality helmets and eyewear for decades. The Mistrall-2 Edition utilises fan-like air outlets to improve ventilation, while the sleek titanium outer can be personalised with interchangeable colored stripes or Swarovski crystal detailing.

Uvex Cross Country Perfexxion II: For those who like the simple design of a skull cap but are looking for something a little more refined, the Uvex Cross Country Perfexxion II is a great option. Extremely versatile and secure due to its slim, lightweight, and ergonomic design, the innovative shape extends over the neck to provide extra protection for the back of the head, while a ponytail cut-out is a helpful feature for riders with long hair.

GPA First Lady Concept Model: French brand GPA were the first to create a helmet exclusively for female customers wanting elegance and superior fit as well

down over your eyebrows or pushes the tops of your ears down, it is very likely too big.

as safety. GPA helmets are used by the French army and police; the Republican Guard; the English, Norwegian and Italian police; and the Irish and Italian military. This year, GPA redesigned their patented rigid concept chinstrap to ensure even more support, safety, and comfort for riders. The First Lady Concept Model incorporates this feature to provide additional neck protection, improved vision, and enhanced stability in the saddle.

Choose the one that fits

For a helmet to prevent concussion, it must be correctly fitted. When trying on new models, assess the fit of the helmet, not only its design and look. If a helmet feels 'tall' on top, or as if it’s perching on top of your head, it is likely too small or shallow for you. Conversely, if it drops

If you find a helmet is pressing against your forehead and the back of your head, but not around your temples, you probably have an oval skull, and the helmet you are wearing is made for a round skull. If, on the other hand, the helmet feels tight on the sides of the head and rocks front to back, you likely have a round head and you are trying a helmet that is designed for oval skulls. Everyone's head is shaped a little differently, but luckily helmets are made to suit a variety of shapes and sizes – some brands even included padded liners that can be adjusted for a custom fit.

And finally, the golden rule: Never sacrifice safety in pursuit of style.

GPA First Lady Concept Model

Samshield Shadowmatt

CASCO Mistrall-2 Edition

Uvex Cross Country Perfexxion II

Charles Owen SP8 Plus

Gateway to the heart

Native to India, the Marwari were in bygone times a favourite of the subcontinent’s kings and warriors, writes SUZY JARRATT.

Horsewoman Francesca Kelly once wrote: ‘To ride a Marwari is to realise new levels of joy that demand in turn, a receptive stillness for its appreciation. It is to view the way ahead through a pair of perfectly curved ears, gateway to the heart of India’s spiritual and ceremonial heritage’. It is unlikely anyone will ever experience such enjoyment in Australia, India’s export rules are very strict regarding their native horse. Several can be seen in Spain and Oman, and Francesca took

some to her property in Massachusetts. She later donated two to Kentucky’s Horse Park and relocated her remaining herd to the UK. There is the head of a Marwari at London’s Marble Arch. The giant statue was created by sculptor Nic Fiddian-Green, who was inspired by the elegant horses popular with the kings and warriors of ancient India.

The Marwari, which can be traced back to the 12th century, were bred for war by the Rathores, a Suryavanshi Rajput clan who once ruled India’s Marwar

region. Renowned for their stamina, brave heart and unique ears, the Marwari were neglected when India was colonised in the 19th century by the British, who replaced them with English Thoroughbreds, which couldn’t cope with the conditions, and then with Australian Walers. The breed declined until independence was declared in the 1940s and it took several decades for the native horses to make a comeback.

Francesca, the stepdaughter of a British ambassador to Cairo, was immediately enchanted when first meeting these unique horses in 1995, and campaigned tirelessly for approval to import some to the U.S. In recent years, she and her business partner Raghuvendra Singh Dundlod, a descendant of Indian nobles and better known as Bonnie, tried to revive international interest in the Marwari after founding the Indigenous Horse Society of India in 1999.

Bonnie has run Dundlod Marwari Safaris in Rajasthan since 1985. It was he who sourced the horses for the BBC television series The Far Pavilion. Initially he was hired to find suitable locations, not livestock. But when the producers were unhappy with the cavalry scenes for

BREED

failing to capture the exotic and thrilling charges depicted in ancient paintings, Bonnie told them they’d used the wrong horses, and procured for the anxious filmmakers twenty-five Marwari. It was with these that he later began his safari business, offering tourists rides out through desert sands and ancient towns.

A large army mounted on Marwari was featured in Samrat Prithviraj, a big budget historical drama recently filmed in India. Specialist animal trainer and horseman Cody Rawson-Harris, one of a handful of Australians to ever encounter these special horses, was involved in their training. He remembers seeing Marwari on TV as a kid. “I thought what funny ears they have; I’d like to work with them one day.”

And he did. “I had to teach some to do stunt work, to run with riders swinging swords, to rear, work at liberty and become accustomed to fire. They were very responsive, and I was impressed with their stamina. We galloped them through the sand for a week straight. A Quarter Horse or a similar breed couldn’t have coped.”

The Marwari’s shoulder bones are less slanted than other horses, allowing them to easily pull their legs up and out of deep desert sand. This bone angle creates a leg action that’s comfortable for the rider, but doesn’t allow the horse to extend their stride as much as other breeds. Cody worked with them for months admiring their toughness. “And they have great minds; I really liked them.”

A perfectly adapted desert horse, the Marwari has a fine and silky coat, hard hooves and can travel great distances on little water. To cope with sandstorms they have developed long eyelashes and unique lyre-shaped ears which can rotate 180 degrees individually or together. This skill gives them superior hearing, as the ears act as a radar warning them of danger.

Generally with long backs and sloping croups, males reach an average of 15hh and females 14hh. They can be of any colour. Greys are considered the most valuable with piebalds and skewbalds the second-most favoured. Superstitious buyers avoid black horses as the colour symbolises death and darkness. Those with a blaze and four white socks are considered lucky.

Hair whorl placements are similarly important to some. Long ones down the neck are a good omen and those on the fetlocks are thought to bring victory, whereas horses with whorls below their eyes are unpopular as they usually have above-average intelligence and are therefore likely to be a nuisance.

The facial profile is straight or slightly Roman, the neck is arched and carried high running into pronounced withers with a deep chest and broad, muscular shoulders. Recent DNA tests suggest the Marwari aren’t descendants of the Arabian, as was originally thought, but come from an older breed indigenous to India. If so, it would make the Marwari one of the oldest known breeds in the world.

ABOVE: Marwaris working on the set of Samrat Prithviraj, a historical action drama. FACING PAGE: Marwari horse at liberty and running through fire.

Animal trainer Cody Rawson-Harris on set and in costume.

Elite equestrian property

King’s Park is located at 485 Mornington Tyabb Road, Moorooduc, Victoria – and this one has it all.

Right in the heart of horse country and yet only minutes’ drive to Mornington town centre, the racecourse, and the Peninsula link, King’s Park is an elite equestrian property that blends lifestyle and vocation on approximately 27 stunning acres.

Set on wide expanses of park-like gardens dotted with 100-year-old eucalypts, this private paradise includes a beautifully modernised four bedroom

home ideally set up for family life. Two large living areas and two dining zones with timber flooring, soaring ceilings, and exposed beams offer glorious views from every window. The master suite includes an ensuite, and his and her walk-in robes. The home is kept comfortable and secure with the convenience of split system heating and cooling, and security cameras throughout the property.

The contemporary kitchen is fitted with stone bench tops and stainlesssteel appliances, while outside a luxurious outdoor area with solar heated swimming pool, a spacious deck beneath a Bali bungalow, expansive sun patio and children’s play equipment offer endless opportunities for relaxed outdoor living and entertaining.

The world class equine facilities include a two-storey office complex, manager’s

PROPERTY

cottage and maintenance sheds. The 28 paddocks are hardwood fenced with Gallagher zoned hot wire. There are 11 yards and 12 boxes, including six luxury double stables with safety feeders and automatic waterers, as well as a high speed treadmill, huge float bay, loading ramp and a covered isolation yard. The property also has ample room for an 800 metre canter track and arenas.

At King’s Park you’re within walking distance to Moorooduc Primary School

and Woodleigh Penbank, with a local bus for secondary schools, and just moments from local wineries and the Devilbend Golf Club. The property includes a renovated cottage ideal for the holiday rental market, or as ground keeper’s quarters, plus a board room, and separate toilet in the office building.

Contact Homes & Acreages on 1300 077 557 to arrange an inspection or for further information.

FACING PAGE: A sweeping driveway through electronic gates leads into the property’s delightful grounds.

TOP: The luxurious outdoor area features a solar heated swimming pool and a spacious deck beneath a Bali bungalow.

LEFT: There are two large living areas with timber flooring, soaring ceilings, and exposed beams.

RIGHT: The spacious barn includes 12 boxes, six of which are luxury double stables with safety feeders and automatic waterers.

Prestige Lucky Idol

With adjustable anatomically shaped Velcro blocks, the Prestige Lucky Idol offers excellent rider comfort and influence.

Animals are her life – she works and plays with them, rescues those who have been abandoned, and comforts the ones who are sick.

Kate Prestney is a vet nurse at Camden Equine Centre and has a variety of horses agisted close to her home in Pheasants Nest, a village southwest of Sydney. “I have a mixture of Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds, two mares in foal, a couple of German Riding Ponies and a Welsh Cob gelding,” explains Kate, who coaches regularly and holds an EA Level 1 coaching qualification specialising in dressage.

Prior to nursing at Camden she worked as a rider and groom, was a breeding and foal manager on stud farms and prepared yearlings for sale.

Today her main discipline is dressage, but she also does some low-level eventing because she likes to cross train, “and from time to time a little bit of showing.” She is also on the committee of Camden Equitation Inc., which runs a variety of events including both EA and Working Equitation (WE) dressage. She recently did some WE dressage at SIEC with Glengarry Eclipse (London Park Warragul x Pen-nant Evening Star), aka Boots. This 10-year-old buckskin Cob is the latest addition to her equine family. “Due to all the wet weather we haven’t done much riding recently,” says Kate. “In the past he’d been successful

at EA Medium level but this was our first competition together. It went really well.”

For Kate, preparing for that weekend event was a little like a military manoeuvre. “My house is full of animals,” she says. “Four dogs, three cats, all rescued creatures, some fish, and several chooks in the garden. The dogs came with me to SIEC, the others stayed at home and a friend fed them and all the horses.”

It was also Boots’ first outing in his new saddle. “My others were all wrong in the panels. He’s very roly-poly, short in the back and doesn’t have much of a wither.” As she has done on many previous occasions Kate consulted Elizabeth Lewis from Superior Steed, who suggested a Lucky Idol. “The Saddle Hub sent one for me to try and

Elizabeth only had to widen it. Finding what works for the horse is paramount.” Kate is most appreciative of The Saddle Hub’s service. “I’m always pretty short for time and I like their efficiency. I sold a saddle through them some time ago which I found to be simple and straightforward. They updated me regularly and it went in no time. The Lucky Idol was just right, the purchasing process was good and communication was excellent and swift. I never had to wait long for a reply to a call or email. Highly recommended.”

The Saddle Hub has a wide variety of top quality second hand saddles, so why wait? All saddles come with a two-week trial, finance options, and a courier right to your door. Terms and conditions apply.

The Prestige Lucky Idol proved to be a great fit for Boots.

On the move

Jessica Dertell is a widely travelled equestrian. She has competed in dozens of dressage events, ridden across scores of showgrounds, gone for long distances over Australian bush tracks and Arabian sands, and next year hopes to be riding on arenas in Europe. Already a versatile horsewoman and successful competitor, Jessica only

turned 18 in July. Her home is Future Farms about half an hour from Melbourne Airport. On 28 hectares at Bolinda, it enjoys international success in breeding, showing, dressage and endurance.

Just before COVID hit Jessica was in the UAE competing in a race for one of the Farm’s Middle Eastern clients, which she says was “awesome” as are the top

of the range facilities at Bolinda. Quite simply the complex is magnificent. “It was created by my parents,” explains Jessica. “Dad was originally from Canada, he moved to America, began working for an Arabian stud and then came to Australia where he met my mum. They were both winning trainers in halter and performance events.”

Her father runs the breeding side of the business, brother Kody does much of the breaking-in, and Jessica’s normal routine when she’s not away at events begins at 8.30am and finishes nine hours later. “I ride ten to seventeen a day, some are my horses, others belong to clients.”

There are also on-line assignments to prepare for Virtual School Victoria and, because she’s interested in make-up, study to do for a Certificate III in Beauty Services. Then there’s her partner, World Cup show jumper Conor Reed, who she likes to spend time with when he comes down from Adelaide. “All of this would be impossible to do without the great team around me,” she says.

Not one for letting the grass grow under her feet, Jessica Dertell has plenty of plans for the future, as SUZY JARRATT discovered.

YOUNG RIDER

Two of her most dedicated supporters are Brett and Samantha Thomas of Sabble Farm, another prestigious establishment in nearby Tylden. “I’ve had an amazing relationship with them in recent years. When my old schoolmaster broke down they decided I should continue my journey with their buckskin mare, Gleniph Tiramisu.”

This ten-year-old partbred Arabian has won countless Small Tour titles with Jessica, and is one of many Sabble horses she has successfully campaigned in the showring and dressage arena.

The two families recently went shopping in Europe and the Thomases purchased Cennin (Vivaldi x Donnerhall) from Dutch rider Madeleine Witte-Vrees. The 15-yearold stallion, a former Dutch team horse, arrived in Australia at the beginning of the year. Jessica has since ridden him to CDI3* Grand Prix victory in his Australian dressage debut in Brisbane.

Productive Grand Prix schooling requires commitment, sensitivity and talent; doing

it alone is challenging and Jessica is grateful for her mother’s ‘eyes on the ground’ whenever she is aboard the handsome chestnut. “And being on the Victorian Young Rider Squad I’m able to attend protocol days given by high profile riders like Rozzie Ryan and Jenny Gehrke. Before she went overseas, Mary Hanna helped me enormously with my riding and with all the horses.”

Like Mary, who is aiming for the 2024 Olympics, Jessica is keen to have a crack at competing on Cennin in Paris. And Mary believes she is well equipped to do so. ”Her energy and enthusiasm never cease to amaze me. Apart from being a very talented rider she has a super work ethic. She’s always positive and in a good mood making her a pleasure to teach. I’ve loved watching and being part of her development as a rider and I think she definitely has what it takes to go on to the international stage. I look forward to that happening in the near future.”

ABOVE: A congratulatory pat for Kilimanjaro at Boneo Park this year (Image courtesy Jessica Dertell).

TOP: Striding it out with Eskara de jeu (Image by OneEyedFrog Photography).

FACING PAGE: Jessica and Kilimanjaro competing at the 2022 Carlton Performance Horses Winter Dressage Championships (Image by Angie Rickard Photography).

QUESTIONS

20 Questions with Dr Rebecca Powers

Rebecca Powers grew up in Melbourne and worked on a Thoroughbred stud prior to starting her veterinary medicine degree at the University of Adelaide. She now specialises in equine veterinary work.

Q: What ignited your interest in Veterinary Science?

A : A combined love of animals and science.

Q: You took various courses prior to going to the University of Adelaide’s veterinary school.

A : As part of my Victorian Certificate of Education, I completed a Certificate II in Equine Industry for which I received a Victorian Premier’s Award. In my gap year, prior to attending university, I completed a TAFE Cert III in Horse Breeding and worked at a number of riding schools and at a Thoroughbred stud. After graduating, I undertook a year-long internship at Agnes Banks Equine Clinic in Sydney.

Q: Have you ever worked as a small animal vet?

A : No, I went straight into equine veterinary work as I love horses and working outside.

Q: Where are you based?

A : In Macclesfield, Victoria.

Q: What’s the most challenging part of treating sick or injured animals?

A : Definitely seeing an animal in pain, and assisting owners who are upset and distressed.

Q: Elite Equine, the practice you have been working for since April 2019, has a strong focus on equine dentistry. Is this something which has been around for long?

A : Dentistry for horses has been documented over many centuries but only in the past few decades has it been recognised as being equally as important as all other areas of horse health.

Q: What significant advancements have been made in recent years?

A : Yes, ever since I was a little girl.

A : No, I ride for pleasure only.

A : We have better sedation protocols, which allow for a full and thorough examination of the mouth with a light source, dental pick and mirror. It’s also much safer for both the horses and their handlers. And we have better equipment, like video oroscopes and

Q: Have you always had an interest in horses?

Q: Have you ever been a competitive rider?

digital x-rays so we can see much more than we ever could before. This helps us to make a full examination and come up with a plan on farm to improve the dental health of the horses we assist.

Q: Do horses in different countries have different mouth problems?

A : Horses all over the world forage on different types of pasture, and management protocols vary greatly from country to country. This can certainly affect the type of wear on a horse’s teeth.

Q: When it comes to the maintenance of equine teeth how did the word ‘float’ evolve?

A : I believe it’s a stone mason’s term for smoothing out mortar, and in equine dentistry it refers to rasping, when tungsten carbide grit rasps are used to smooth off sharp enamel points on horses’ teeth. But the use of motorised equipment allows for more precision as you can visualise your treatment as you go.

Q: What are some of the most disturbing examples you’ve seen of neglected equine mouths?

A : As horses’ teeth continually erupt there is, unfortunately, a constant risk of pathology forming. Horses with fractured teeth are disturbing examples but that’s not always due to neglect. I also find the large

hooks that dig into opposing gums when the horse closes its mouth very disturbing.

Q: Are there some bits which are bad for a horse’s mouth?

A : Yes. Speaking to a qualified bit fitter, along with your vet, can ensure you select a bit which fits correctly, and is suitable for your horse’s mouth and the type of work they’re doing.

Q: If a horse loses a tooth in an accident does the equine dentist seek ways to provide a replacement, as is done with a human?

A : It’s not common practice due to the large forces generated in the horse’s mouth but, depending upon the state of the tooth, it can be done by a specialist veterinary surgeon.

Q: Just as people are given bands and braces, are horses ever fitted with appliances to correct various dental problems?

A : Yes, some orthodontic procedures are carried out on horses, especially in the case of trauma or developmental problems.

Q: If a horse is parrot-mouthed should this, or can this, be corrected?

A : This can be corrected as a foal or, if not corrected, regular dental check-ups are essential to maintain a comfortable and functioning mouth as the incisors often don’t meet.

Q: Have you ever come across a horse whose teeth you were unable to examine and treat?

A : Some horses suffer from painful conditions that can make it difficult to carry out a full dental exam and treatment. Pain relief and specialised equipment allow us to treat and help these horses as best we can.

Q: How can we best look after our horse’s teeth?

A : A regular check up with a fully qualified vet dentist will ensure you give your horse the best possible chance at good dental health. Because, like us, horses have nerves in the pulp of the tooth, it’s so important to use a qualified

veterinary dentist to ensure important tooth structures and nerves are not damaged. If you notice your horse dropping feed (quidding), a smell from their mouth, nasal discharge, or failure to maintain weight, then these can be some of the many signs that your horse’s teeth may be in need of attention.

Q: Is it OK to give a horse sugar lumps as treats?

A : In moderation – but look for healthier options like carrots. Just like humans, a good diet is essential for overall health, including tooth health. Avoiding sugary or sweet feeds is recommended.

Q: If you could meet any horse personality, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

A : A horse personality would be Thowra from The Silver Brumby. And I would love to meet Dr Chris Pearson, a dental specialist in the UK, to learn worldleading techniques.

FACING PAGE: Dr Rebecca Powers combined her love of animals and science to become a veterinarian.

ABOVE LEFT: Molly, Elite Equine’s resident mare, showing off her dazzling smile.

ABOVE RIGHT: Dr Bec adjusting the gag on a sedated horse in the practice’s mobile dental unit.

All images courtesy of Elite Equine

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